The unofficial drink of last summer, frosé seems to be sticking around for another season — not that we're complaining, we love a glass of the frozen pink stuff as much as the next person. This year, though, it's getting a serious upgrade at Untied. The Barangaroo bar has launched a pour-your-own frosé bar, called Froze Your Way, with six different slushie flavours: peach riesling, kiwi melon blanc, watermelon, passion pineapple blanc, frozen Aperol and the good ol' standard frosé. As well as being able to pick your flavour, you also get to pick your own next-level garnishes. [caption id="attachment_753549" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jasper Avenue[/caption] Think pick 'n' mix candy, but on top of your alcoholic slushie — a win for and your inner child alike. The toppings you can choose from include jelly beans, lolly bananas, gummy bears, rainbow straps and sour worms, as well as dried and fresh fruit A big glass of frosé (with add-your-own toppings) will set you back $12 — or $7 if you head by during happy hour, 4–6pm daily. Or, if you really want to go all out, you can enjoy two hours of bottomless glasses for $39 from Thursday to Sunday. Talk about a sugar high. Updated: January 28, 2020. Images: Jasper Avenue.
Arisun has long been a late-night favourite for big, rowdy groups sharing their signature beer towers and Korean fried chicken sets. The Seoul-style beer garden offers an extensive menu, but you'd be remiss to overlook the fried favourite, which is really perfected by the house-made sauces on offer — including spicy garlic, shallots and wasabi, sweet, sour and spicy options. Choose from boneless or bone in (all $32) and make sure to keep the beer flowing. There's just something special about tucking into a big bowl of fried chicken with a cold beer late at night, and Arisun has perfected this.
The Oaks Hotel is celebrating the second in their six states of beer event, with a tribute to Tassie on tap. Enjoy the best craft beers the region has to offer while sampling their signature cheeses. Self-titled 'Beer Diva' Kirrily Waldhorn will be in attendance to inform and educate guests about the craft beers they are sampling. Some of the featured Tassie beers are Cascade Blonde Wheat Beer, Van Diemen White Hills, and Morrison Brewery English Bitters, among others. Chef Danny Russo is cooking up dishes that incorporate Tasmania's finest cheese, including cheese and truffle toasties, cheese risotto with thyme and almonds, and stout-battered apple fritters with blue cheese. If you're able to stuff down any more cheese after that, there will also be blind cheese tastings. With two states down, The Oaks has four more to cover, including a New South Wales sampling of beer and local pork in August. A national passport ticket is available that gives access to all remaining events (including Tasmania) for $200.
If there's one thing the world needs more of, it's art that celebrates and educates, particularly when it comes to topics that most folks don't really talk about. The Glitoris is designed to do just that. And yes, if the name hadn't already given it away, it really is a giant sparkling clitoris. Taking over the front window of Redfern's The Bearded Tit from January 24 until February 25 as part of the venue's month-long focus on the female anatomy, Bush Magic, the installation is a 100:1 scale model of the pivotal female body part. As part of the exhibition's women-focused art attack, it'll offer a close-up look in all its shining glory. You'd best prepare to be dazzled — not only is the massive model gold all over, but it is covered in intricate sequinned nerves, making it light up the room like a disco ball. In the words of Sydney artist Alli Sebastian Wolf, "it's the most fun anatomy lesson you'll ever have." She continues, "The Glitoris was made to educate people — it's political and feminist, but also a celebration; it's a hell of a lot of playful fun. After all, isn't that the whole point of a clitoris — the only part of the human body whose exclusive purpose is pleasure?" To help make the kind of fuss the clitoris really deserves, the installation's opening night will see three performers wearing clitoris crowns and vulvacious tunics take The Glitoris on a journey down Regent Street. It'll also feature at events around the city throughout February and March. Unlike the real thing, no one will be able to miss it. Find The Glitoris at The Bearded Tit, 183 Regent St, Redfern from January 24 until February 25. For more information, visit the Bush Magic Facebook page. Image: Alli Sebastian Wolf.
Trivia gods Shag (FBi Radio) and Al Griggs (Palms, Straight Arrows) will take on the noughties at April 8's edition of Goodgod music trivia. So if you weren't stalking Britney Spears when she executed her transition to skinhead, following Beyonce and Jay-Z when they put a ring on it, watching the rise of Arctic Monkeys or listening to Arcade Fire, it might well be time to hit the books. It was also the decade in which the internet took over, hip hop hit its commercial high, Robbie Williams signed the biggest music contract in British history (a whopping $157 million number with EMI) and we lost Michael Jackson. Goodgod trivia is free to enter and takes place in the Front Bar from 8pm. Winners score both major and minor prizes. Get there from 5pm to prepare with a Belly Bao steamed bun feast.
Love watching Audrey Hepburn cruise around New York city on the hunt for a millionaire beau, as the oh-so-charming Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's? Chances are you're going to love it even more when backed by a full orchestra. This May, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra is giving Truman Capote's classic tale the live concert treatment, across two special shows at the Sydney Opera House. You'll see the Academy Award-winning 1961 film played on the big screen, while Henry Mancini's famed score is brought to life by a crew of Sydney's top musical talent. For this one, they'll be led by guest conductor Marc Taddei, who's currently Music Director of California's Vallejo Symphony Orchestra. Catch memorable tunes like 'Loose Caboose', 'Mr. Yunioshi', 'The Big Heist' and of course, the award-winning 'Moon River', as Hepburn graces the screen, larger than life. Head to the nighttime performance, on Saturday, May 4, or catch the matinee on Sunday, May 5.
If you dote over your vinyl collection with obsessive passion — or even if you just casually collect whichever albums you happen to come across whenever you're in your local record store — then you probably have one Saturday in April permanently marked on your calendar. That'd be Record Store Day, the annual celebration of ace music, a beloved format and the shops that trade in both. Sadly, RSD has been postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Instead of its usual timeslot, the huge vinyl event will now take place in June. But that doesn't mean that your record pile has to remain static for the next couple of months, with record companies banding together for a huge vinyl sell-off: The Great Australian Warehouse Sale. Across the weekend of Saturday, April 18–Sunday, April 19 — when RSD was originally scheduled — music aficionados will be able to snap up vinyl galore, plus CDs, DVDs, cassettes and even books as well, via indie record stores. Record companies such as Universal, Sony, MGM, Warner and more will be diving into their vaults, clearing out their warehouses and making as much stock available as possible, while individual shops will also be adding their own spin to the fun. Because we now live in social-distancing times, you'll be able to pre-order your purchases — then either have them posted or delivered to you, or, if and where stores are open, drop by to pick them up. For further details — including a rundown of what'll be available, and which stores are taking part — head to The Great Australian Warehouse Sale website.
From barley to rye and juniper to the meek potato, our favourite spirits start from humble beginnings. From there, these ingredients embark on fascinating journeys to bring us some of our most cherished pleasures – crisp vodka, smooth whiskey and piney gin. From complex flavours to masterly craft, there's a lot to celebrate. That's why the experts have come together for the inaugural Sydney Spirits Festival, running from Friday, May 10 to Sunday, May 12. The festival will be held at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, 130 Argyle St, The Rocks, with close to 150 spirit brands on display, promising something for novices and enthusiasts alike. Highlights include two exclusive masterclasses: a special Espresso Martini masterclass to celebrate Mother's Day and a Planteray Sealander Rum masterclass hosted by Grazia di Franco, exploring all you need to know about rum. There are also general tasting sessions with some of the nation's most esteemed spirit experts. Plus, there is a selection of premium international food to enjoy, including some indulgent Caviar Bumps from Hugo Vodka. So, if you want to discover more about the wonderful world of spirits, join the celebration this May. General Tasting Sessions cost $80, and Premium Session Tickets are available for $120. See the full program and get your tickets here.
At The Distillery, the phrase 'made with love' seems like an understatement. A design and printing studio that idolises printers and crafters of eras bygone, The Distillery makes all of its products — stationery, cards, invitations, letterheads and much more — by hand. The team uses old-school printing presses to make the paper goods, and even mix the ink by hand. It's an extraordinary process to witness, which you're able to if you stop into the studio on Crown Street — everything is created in-house. The spectacular, light-filled space also plays host to various after-work design events and workshops, so there's plenty to see and do if you're into art, design and the near-forgotten artistry of print.
One of the most influential artists on the Australian hip hop scene of the last five years, BLESSED is taking to the Sydney Opera House as part of Vivid Sydney for a night of genre-blending performance that he's titled Aussie Blackstar. The Ghanaian-born Sydney-based artist has worked with the likes of Milan Ring, Manu Crooks, Amaarae and Maina Doe. He even produced now-global superstar The Kid Laroi's breakout EP 14 With a Dream when Laroi was still in his early teen years. Along with performing cuts from his debut album Aussie Blackstar — which is set to be released via Matt Corby's Rainbow Valley Records on Friday, June 3 — BLESSED has pulled together an all-star roster of hip hop and RnB favourites. He'll be joined on the night by Baby Prince, Chirine, Maina Doe, Manu Crooks, Matt Black and the mysterious hip hop collective BBGB who will be making their Australian debut at the show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGHfiZIu8y0
Geology and music fans alike will be awestruck by the Sawn Rocks. This unusual wall of basalt is the result of molten rock cooling and cracking to create a structure that looks like a giant set of organ pipes. The flutes shoot up out of a shaded creek in Mount Kaputar National Park, ready to be marvelled at from the lookout that's an easy 15-minute stroll from the main picnic area. Visit this northeastern NSW site at midday to capture the moment when the sun strikes the rock surface to fully appreciate the layers of columns — it's hard to believe they've been crafted without human intervention Image: Fiona Gray, DPE
On Tuesday, February 13, exactly ten years will have passed since Kevin Rudd, then Prime Minister, apologised to Australia's Indigenous people on behalf of the nation. To mark the anniversary, a free concert is happening on the front lawns of Parliament House in Canberra, starring Queensland guitarists Busby Marou, Aria Award–winning singer Archie Roach, folk musician Shellie Morris, dance duo Electric Fields and pop band The Preatures. Acting as hosts will be Aboriginal comedian Steven Oliver and TV and radio presenter Myf Warhurst. "For many Elders [the Apology] was an emotional event and it is one worth celebrating," says Torres Strait Islander Jeremy Marou, one half of Busby Marou. "Ten years on, sadly, I feel words are not enough." He hopes the concert will boost awareness of intergenerational trauma and energise the reconciliation process. Legendary singer-songwriter Archie Roach says, "the tenth anniversary will bring attention to the fact that there is much more work to be done, and that all Australians can work together to heal the past." The concert is the work of the Healing Foundation, a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation that, since 2009, has been working on healing trauma through culture and community. Running from 6–10pm, the concert is a chance for Australians to acknowledge what happened to the Stolen Generation and to celebrate the strong culture of the nation's First People. And, while it is an alcohol-free event, concertgoers can purchase snacks and refreshments from a handful of food stalls on site. They're also encouraged to arrive at 5.30pm to grab a spot before the concert kick offs at 6pm. Image: Andrew Rosenfeldt, Apology 6, 2014
With winter fast approaching, you may be looking for ways to spruce up your living quarters as you prepare to spend a little more time at home. If so, The Balcony Garden's upcoming Spend & Save sale is going to get those green thumbs tingling. The brand is hosting a five-day sale where you can score discounts on its entire range of carbon-neutral garden pots and planters. With over 150 styles to choose from, you're sure to find something that'll suit your space. Here's how it works: prices start at just $29, and the more you spend, the more you save. If you spend $500-plus in a single transaction, you'll score a 10% discount. For a 25% discount, spend $1000-plus. Or, if you spend $2000 or more, you'll get a tidy 35% off. The sale is running from Thursday, May 4 to Monday, May 8 at The Balcony Garden's showroom in Frenchs Forest. But to revamp your space without leaving home, the leafy biz will have the deals available online across the sale period too. The Balcony Garden's Spend & Save Sale runs from 12.01am on Thursday, May 4 to 11.59pm on Monday, May 8 online and in-store. For more terms and conditions, check the website.
As we learn more and more about the impacts the fast fashion industry has on the environment, more people are looking for sustainable alternatives. A stylish and simple way to shop is uncovering secondhand gems, and Revivre has been doing just this since 1986. The consignment store has racks of preloved designer fashion in mint condition and it only takes authentic pieces, so the quality is guaranteed. Whether it's some blood-red Dries Van Noten silk slacks, a black double-breasted Jean Paul Gaultier blazer or a timeless Chanel button-down cardigan, you'll be able to hunt down a designer piece at a nice price. Images: Arvin Prem Kumar
The Cannery is expanding yet again, this time with a new health and wellness studio. Selph offers chiropractic care, physiotherapy, remedial massage, acupuncture and energy healing services, plus a yoga and meditation studio. Selph is the brainchild of accredited chiropractor Dr. Evan Sgammotta, whose career focuses on Neuro Emotional Technique (N.E.T) therapy — a new-age treatment that is said to help reduce stress. The focus on natural health extends to the entire team of wellness practitioners, who work together to treat each individual holistically. There's a focus on Eastern philosophies and approaches to health here, though these are complemented by Western medicine, too. In general, the studio channels a 'free flowing' sanctuary vibe with curved walls and ceiling and custom designed furniture. Apart from treatments, the yoga and meditation studio — run by Lululemon ambassador yoga Amy Guiliano — puts on regular classes for all levels, with everything from vinyasa flow to restorative yin. To launch, the studio is offering 21 days of unlimited yoga for $21. The offer is only valid for new students and can be booked here. Selph Health Studios is now open at The Cannery, 61 Mentmore Avenue, Rosebery. Opening hours are Monday through Friday from 6am–8pm and Saturday from 7.30am–5pm. To book a treatment or class, head here.
For seven decades, Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama has been brightening up galleries around the globe with her dot-filled art work — and bringing smiles to art lover's faces in the process. Come October 1, she'll not only be doing just that; she'll also have her own museum dedicated to her lively geometric designs. Expect circles galore, colour aplenty and pumpkins. Slated to open in Tokyo's Shinjuku, the new facility will become a permanent celebration and showcase of the 88-year-old's inimitable pieces, spreading the vibrant joy across five storeys. According to The Japanese Times, the Yayoi Kusama Museum will feature a collection of her art, including her immersive installations, plus documents and related material. Launching with the inaugural exhibition Creation is a Solitary Pursuit, Love is What Brings You Closer to Art from October 1, 2017 to February 25, 2018, it will host two per year, as well as regular lectures. In what's proving to be a great time to surround yourself with Kusama's art, the news comes in the lead up to her next Australian exhibition, Yayoi Kusama: Life is the Heart of a Rainbow, which heads to Brisbane for four months from November. Kusama fanatics (aka everyone) in the vicinity of Japan rather than Brissie can snap up advance tickets to the Tokyo museum from August 28, for a cost of 1000 yen (around AUD$11). The site will run year-round, opening Thursday to Sunday across a series of staggered entry times. Via The Japan Times. Image: Yayoi Kusama in front of Life is the Heart of a Rainbow (2017) ©YAYOI KUSAMA, Courtesy of Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo/Singapore, Victoria Miro, London, David Zwirner, New York
Looking for a(nother) reason to hit the south coast this spring? As if uncrowded beaches and fresh air weren't enough, the spring series by the Institute of Interesting Ideas is also on. This bunch of live conversations featuring healthy-living celebrities is promising to delve into food, wellbeing, sex and death. And every one of them will take place by the sea at The Pavilion Kiama. If you're a fan of My Kitchen Rules, you'll know the host, Pete Evans, who'll speak on Thursday, October 24, on the Joy of Food. Has your love of a good meal lately been corrupted by confusion around what's healthy and what's not? This is your chance to rediscover it — and eat happily again. On Friday, November 1, meet Victoria Spence, holistic funeral director and celebrant. Expect to encounter everything you've ever wondered about death, from facing mortality without panicking to managing funeral costs. Following her on Friday, November 1, will be sex therapist Jacqueline Hellyer, who'll tackle another taboo in her chat Sex: the Naked Truth. And, as summer draws near, it'll be time for Matt Preston, food writer and TV personality. He'll discuss food, food and glorious food – while launching his new book, More — on Thursday, November 21. The Institute of Interesting Ideas will run from October 24–November 21. To purchase tickets, and for information places to stay and eat in Kiama, head this way.
Cosmic bass visionary Flying Lotus (aka Steven Ellison) specialises in crafting a whirlwind of sounds you've never heard in combination before. Praised as the most revered producer of his generation, he is the supreme genre-traverser and genre-creator. Before sneaking down south to showcase his mind-melting magic at Golden Plains Festival, he will be treating Sydneysiders to the years-in-the-making audiovisual spectacular Layer 3 at the Opera House on March 9, 2014. Over the years, Ellison has carved out a unique brand of ambient hiptronica that folds together the pulse of contemporary urban life with sci-fi futurism. With his hypnotically off-kilter beats, Flylo's musical palette is meticulously designed. He creates immersive soundscapes that voyage through downtempo jazz, pulsing electronica, and 1990s trip-hop. In an interview with the UK magazine The Wire, he described his recent album Until the Quiet Comes as a more pared back attempt at "a children's record, a record for kids to dream to." And true, there is a sense of musical wanderlust embedded in this record, with its thick dreamy textures and mystical harmonies. Ellison has had a busy year collaborating with Odd Future's Earl Sweatshirt and Kendrick Lamar, as well as curating the soundtrack for Grand Theft Auto V. Thus, we are truly fortunate to have scheduled in a session of head-spinning avant-garde electronica. This one-off performance will be a swirling array of video-game funk and room-rupturing beats, translating basslines into cinematic beauty. It is fair to say that no-one can do what Flying Lotus does. Simply unmissable. Tickets will go on sale at 9am on November 15, 2013, from the Sydney Opera House website. https://youtube.com/watch?v=rbuQuvoc0YE
The hit rock musical based on Green Day's iconic album American Idiot is coming to Sydney for the first time in 2018. Following a hit season in Brisbane in 2017, this next run of Green Day's American Idiot will see Grinspoon frontman Phil Jamieson reprise his lead performance as St Jimmy — a role played internationally by the likes of Melissa Etheridge, Chris Cheney and Green Day's own Billie Joe Armstrong. The acclaimed Aussie musician will again be joined on stage by Phoebe Panaretos, whose performance as Whatsername during the show's Brisbane run scored her a Helpmann nomination. Hailed as a bold and explosive production, the Tony and Grammy award-winning show features every song from the band's eponymous album, along with a number of tunes from Green Day's follow-up record, 21st Century Breakdown. It's the tale of three lifelong mates, torn between remaining in their safe, aimless ruts, and challenging the status quo to embark on a journey of self-discovery. The American Idiot 2018 tour will begin with a brief season at the Sydney Opera House, before runs in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane. Images: Dylan Evans.
Variety isn't just the spice of life, as the old saying goes; it's also a necessity when it comes to grabbing a bite to eat. Even if you know what kind of food you're in the mood for, sometimes you're after something quick and tasty to devour with a cocktail in hand, and sometimes you want the full sit-down meal experience. An izakaya-style sashimi bar and restaurant on the site of a former sushi train, Kenny Rens offers both for anyone keen for a feast of Japanese cuisine. Get comfy in the pink stone bar that takes up the front room, or settle in for a leisurely dinner out the back. Either way, prepare for an explosion of flavours courtesy of dishes prepared with authentic but not necessarily traditional methods in mind, cooked up on a robata grill, and accompanied by an extensive range of Japanese whiskeys to wash it down with. From the selection of fresh sashimi and poké bowls, menu highlights include Balmain bugs infused with spicy yuzukosho garlic butter, plus scallops with white fungus, buttermilk, yuzu dressing and coriander oil. Those after something without seafood might be tempted by the wagyu tri tip with mushroom salad, amadare sauce, nama wasabi, garlic chips and baby shiso. As well as amber spirits, sake and a hefty wine list, the drinks range features signature cocktails such as the Akuma (with blood orange juice, agave, Suntory Hibiki distillers reserve and jalapeno) and the Cherry Blossom (with cherry brandy, orange curaco, lemon, grenadine and IWIA non traditional whiskey). Opening on March 23 with 20 seats before expanding to 40 seats down the track, the bar and eatery comes from businessman Nick Diamond. He's brought on interior designer Paul Kelly, and together, they've drawn on inspiration from their travels in Japan to create this new venue. "Tokyo has an energy that is arguably unparalleled by any city in the world," says Kelly, who also took care of Kenny Rens' interiors and has worked on Sokyo, Black by Ezard and Salaryman. "I wanted to bring a touch of that excitement, quality and effortless innovation back to Sydney." Find Kenny Rens at 146 Queen Street, Woollahra. For more information, visit their Facebook page. UPDATE MARCH 30, 2017: This article initially stated that Kenny Rena was a joint venture, which was incorrect. The article has been updated to reflect this.
The minds behind Tokyo Lamington boast some pretty serious pedigree when it comes to dreaming up wild and wonderful dessert creations, with Eddie Stewart an alum of the legendary Black Star Pastry and Min Chai the founder of N2 Extreme Gelato. So it feels only fitting that the duo has chosen Newtown as their base — and in the famed building once home to Black Star's OG digs, no less. Tokyo Lamington has swapped its former Haymarket home for this new set-up on Australia Street, where it's continuing to celebrate that signature fusion of Japanese and Australian flavours. The brand's untraditional lamingtons are once more the stars of the show, with clever variations like Ferrero Rocher, vegan red velvet, black sesame and yuzu meringue rotating through the menu. The Neapolitan lamington pulls inspiration from the iconic three-piece ice cream combo, too, while a rose and strawberry creation features layers of rose cream, strawberry jellies and white chocolate, plus a coating of rose petals and toasted coconut. But Tokyo Lamington isn't only about Stewart and Chai's reimagining of a classic Aussie treat. At its new store, the brand is also serving up a handful of other fusion eats, including a range of savoury onigiri. Right now, you'll find crafty variations like sausage and tomato relish, kombu and mushroom, and even bacon and egg. To match, there are milk, black and batch brew coffees, as well as a new black sesame latte crafted with an extra smooth sesame paste imported from Japan's Saitama prefecture. And that pooch of yours can get in on the Tokyo Lamington action, too — the store's also slinging specialty warm puppacinos made with stretched milk and liver treat powder. Find Tokyo Lamington at 277 Australia Street, Newtown. It's open daily from 7am–3pm. Top image: Nikki To.
Twice a year, the Sydney-based Queer Screen team puts together a film festival — because condensing the year's best LGBTIQ+ into just one event is a tricky feat. The first, the Mardi Gras Film Festival, happened earlier in 2020. Now, in this new pandemic-afflicted world, the crew's second fest for the year is heading to your screens. That'd be Queer Screen Film Fest, which runs from Thursday, September 17–Sunday, September 27 — and, adapting to this chaotic year, will largely be held virtually. If you're located outside of Sydney, that's particularly excellent news, as the festival is going national in 2020, too. On the bill: more than 40 feature films, documentaries and shorts, with the majority streaming to your chosen device during the fest period. That means that you can curl up on the couch and watch everything from queer German coming-of-age film Cocoon and Japan-set drama Moonlit Winter to New Zealand rom-com Same But Different: A True New Zealand Love Story — plus cross-cultural romance Breaking Fast, documentary Steelers: The World's First Gay Rugby Club and a heap of shorts as well. For Sydneysiders keen for a night out, that is still an option — at the Skyline Drive-In and the Chauvel Cinema. Hop in your car to see the Jacki Weaver-starring Stage Mother or Aussie classic The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert under the stars, or get cosy in the theatre to check out acclaimed doco Welcome to Chechnya. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N0bzQ-qzCg The 2020 Queer Screen Film Fest runs from Thursday, September 17–Sunday, September 27 , with most of its program available online nationally. It's also hosting physical events on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20 at the Chauvel Cinema, and on Saturday, September 26 at the Skyline Drive-In.
Pizza lovers of Melbourne, this is all the news you need to justify tucking into a slice today. Fans of the Italian staple elsewhere around Australia, here's a reminder to add a delicious destination to your next Victorian trip. For the third year in a row, 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar has been recognised as one of the Asia Pacific region's best pizzerias — and Australia's number-one standout — as decided by the experts at the 2023 50 Top Pizza awards. The Melbourne pizzeria with outposts in South Yarra, Elsternwick and Spotswood is no stranger to international praise, having claimed the title of Best Pizzeria in Oceania in 2021's 50 Top Pizza awards, then coming out on top in the entire Asia Pacific in 2022. It was also crowned #1 Pizza in Australia at the Pizza World Championships in 2019. For the 2023 50 Top Pizza accolades, it placed fourth in the Asia Pacific, which also means that it also came first in Australia for the third year in a row. This year's best pizzerias were named at a ceremony at the Italian Institute of Culture in Tokyo, ahead of worldwide rankings being unveiled in September. Last year, 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar came in 13th globally, a placing that it's hoping to beat in 2023. Running for the last six years, the 50 Top Pizza awards are chosen by around 1000 experts across the globe, who visit the pizzerias anonymously to judge and rank their offerings. The annual international pizzeria guide names its top 50 Asia Pacific picks based not just on the merit of their slices, but on each pizzeria as a whole, rating the food, drinks, service and overall ambiance. In top spot in the Asia Pacific this year: The Pizza Bar on 38th in Tokyo. In second came Bottega in Beijing, then another Tokyo eatery, Pizzeria Peppe – Napoli sta' ca", ranked third. And, Hong Kong's Fiata by Salvatore Fiata rounded out the top five. A handful of other Aussie venues were also named in this year's Asia Pacific top 50 best pizzerias, including Sydney's Al Taglio (11), Pizza Madre (24), Lil Franki Pizzeria (28), Queen Margherita of Savoy (32) and Gigi's Pizza in Balmain (33); fellow Melburnians +39 Pizzeria (34), Shop225 (37) and Il Caminetto (41); and Maestro Sourdough Pizza in Perth (46). Find 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar at 373 Malvern Road, South Yarra; 15 Gordon Street, Elsternwick; and Grazeland, Spotswood. For the full 50 Top Pizza Asia Pacific awards list, jump over to the website. Craving a slice, Melburnians? Check out our top picks for pizza in Melbourne. Top image: Hi Sylvia.
Turn your love of spirits into a scholarly pursuit, as the International Spirits Academy (ISA) launches a new Sydney school. Established by the team behind the Australian Gin Distillers Association, Australian Gin Awards and Gin Events Pty Ltd, a fully fledged certification program aims to set global benchmarks in distilled spirits knowledge and certification, helping put Australia even more on the map as a hub of distilling prowess. With established programs like the Master Sommelier and Master Cicerone teaching the ins and outs of wine and beer service, the ISA will now offer a four-level spirit certification. If you stick with the course to complete the program's highest level, you'll have earned the rather fancy-sounding Master of Eau de Vie title. Yet don't think earning this qualification is as simple as answering a few multiple-choice questions. With courses beginning in July, the ISA will provide in-person lectures, deductive tastings and examinations at progressive stages, with each needing to be completed before you can move on. This certification is primarily aimed at hospitality and spirits industry professionals working across cocktail bars, fine-dining restaurants, hotels, retail stores and production facilities. However, enrolment is also open to spirits producers and enthusiasts seeking deeper expertise. "As the global spirits industry matures, the demand for true spirits professionals will only grow. Our vision with the International Spirits Academy is to provide a rigorous, independent path to mastery — giving students the knowledge, tasting expertise, and service excellence needed to lead the next generation of hospitality experiences," says Judith Kennedy AM, Founder and Chair of the International Spirits Academy. Covering production methods, sensory analysis, service, sales and international legislation, students will graduate with a detailed understanding of distilled spirits. While the first couple of stages instil foundational knowledge, giving students a strong grounding in the basics, the advanced levels ramp up the depth and breadth of the studies, with seasoned experts working towards "encyclopaedic knowledge and exceptional sensory skill." As for who's leading your learning, expect an esteemed team of distilling masters, including Bill Lark — aka the godfather of Australian craft distilling — Charles Casben, Dr Sarah Fletcher, Ned Goodwin MW, Huon Hooke, and Mikey Enright. Combining decades of experience and unmatched industry connections, these ISA experts, mentors and gurus will undoubtedly help you master the art of distilling spirits. Enrolments at the International Spirits Academy (ISA) open this May, with courses beginning the first week of July, 2025. Head to the website for more information.
Last week, Justin Hemmes was making his first incursion into the inner west, with Merivale’s purchase of Enmore’s Queen Vic. And now, competing hospitality empire W. Short Hotel Group is about to made their own western move — they've bought Redfern’s Tudor Hall. Owners of The Rocks' Australian Heritage Hotel, The Royal in Leichhardt and Scubar in the CBD, W. Short has acquired the hotel in conjunction with Sydney hospitality-lovin' family The Andersons. This isn’t their first venture together, however — the two already co-own The Glenmore in The Rocks. While the two parties share financial responsibilities, W. Short takes care of running the place. The same plan will be set into motion at Tudor Hall. The nitty gritty details of what will result from the change-of–hands haven’t been released yet, but we do know that the pub’s name will be shortened to The Tudor. And that Martin Short, CEO of the W. Short Hotel Group (and not the SNL comedy legend), is pretty excited about the location. "What we look for in the group are venues that are at the heart of vibrant, local communities, which is what a good pub should always be," he told The Daily Telegraph. "We think The Tudor will fit perfectly into the portfolio." Sitting at 90 Pitt Street, the Tudor is a local stalwart, and within proximity to Redfern’s burgeoning small bar and cafe scene — it's just up the road from the likes of Arcadia Liquors, Eathouse Diner, Scout's Honour and Redfern Continental. Yep, if you're looking to buy in Redfern, you should have already handed it over. Via Daily Telegraph.
The year of the dog is fast approaching and, to celebrate, the Sydney Fish Market is staying up late to host its inaugural Chinese New Year night market on Friday, February 16. Done up with red hanging lanterns, the boardwalk will become a bustling nighttime hub and traditional red envelopes and special fortune cookies will be passed around — the former of which are meant to bring happiness and prosperity, and latter of which will include "fishy puns" for the new year. This will all go on from 4–10pm amidst the madness of the fish market, which will include red fish species that are seen as a sign of good luck and fortune. The licensed restaurants will also have the requisite yum cha and other traditional Chinese dishes to feast on. The market's expecting over 100,000 visitors throughout the week, so it's sure to be one helluva celebration of 2018.
Stretch your brain a little with this series of thought-provoking talks by UTS. These lectures by some of the university's great minds examine pressing contemporary issues and will be sure to provide ample food for thought. Check out Consuming the World, for an exploration of the tension between environmentalism and mass consumerism, and Analogue Body in A Digital World for a reflection on how hyper-digitalisation impacts human engagement with our surroundings. While the talks are free, pre-registration online is required.
Broughton Island — which lies near Hawks Nest off Dark Point — is the only spot in New South Wales where you're allowed to sleep among a sea bird colony. Here, you'll wake up surrounded by wedge-tailed shearwaters. The pint-sized campsite is set at Little Poverty Beach and fits just five tents, so you can enjoy the island's pristine beaches and walks without having to worry about the crowds — even in the height of summer. The limited size also means it's crucial to book in advance, though. And facilities consist of toilets only, so be prepared to boat in with everything you need, including drinking water. [caption id="attachment_601927" align="alignnone" width="1280"] National Parks NSW[/caption] Top image: Great Lakes Tourism
Food is a love language for many. None understand that better than co-owners of Crown Street Italian restaurant Giuls, Giulia Treuner and Esmeralda Perez, who opened the eatery in Surry Hills in August 2022. A nod to the nickname Treuner's grandfather gave her growing up, Giuls takes inspiration from the region of Tuscany with a hyper-focused and curated menu of handmade pasta, Italian wine and seafood. "Giuls is all about fresh pasta. Esmeralda and the team produce almost everything in-house and fresh each day," Treuner says. To start you'll find focaccia with smoked rosemary and olive oil ($9) made in-house, fresh oysters with a strawberry vinegar and thyme dressing (market price), and arancini with scamorza smoked mozzarella ($10). Smaller plates run to grilled Tasmanian octopus ($26), market fish crudo with ginger and capers ($22), or steak tartare eye fillet with truffle aioli ($25). The slurpy stars of the show reflect 15 years of Italian cooking experience, with a squid ink fettuccine ($36), with crab, cherry tomatoes and chilli crowning the pasta choices. The conchiglie paired with a vodka, pancetta and taleggio sauce ($34) is another favourite, or opt for the heartier rigatoni with lamb ragu and parmesan ($34). A concise Italian wine menu and a small selection of cocktail favourites round out the offering. Giuls brings together Treuner's decade of hospitality experience hailing from Rockpool Dining Group and Head Chef Perez's deep knowledge of Tuscan cuisine. Perez collaborated with Florence-born Alessio Rago to curate the menu, who has trained under three Michelin Star chefs in his career. "Esmeralda and I are convinced the people make a venue. As an almost all female team we are so inspired to see more female restaurateurs and entire teams killing it in Sydney, a city with such a competitive restaurant scene... particularly after such a trying year for the food industry," said Treuner.
The Sydney Rides Festival, now in its fourth year, is about so much more than cycling. From October 11-25, the city will transmogrify into a kind of two-wheeling utopia. There’ll be bike-inspired art shows, free pedal-powered smoothies, complimentary breakfast and coffee for cycle-commuters, a checkpoint challenge offering loads of prizes, public talks about cycling history in The Netherlands and much more. Whether you’re a riding addict who doesn’t leave home without your bike or a newbie who’s hesitant about taking the plunge into traffic, there’ll be something for you. And to cap it all off, there’s the grand finale: the first ever Sydney Rides the Night event. At the end of the action-packed fortnight, thousands of cyclists are expected to gather at Mrs Macquaries Point for a nocturnal mini-festival within the festival. Between 6pm and midnight on October 25, a 2.5-kilometre course, starting at The Domain and extending along Mrs Macquaries Road, will be illuminated with installations and special effects, creating a kind of surreal adventure with the Harbour as a backdrop. Attendees will be welcome to ride the loop as many times as they like. At the same time, Mrs Macquaries Point will be transformed into a free outdoor party. So, before, after and in-between rides, participants will be able to hang out on outdoor couches watching short films on a big screen, sample fare from a herd of gourmet food trucks, kick back to live DJs and get involved in a silent disco hosted by Today FM. For anyone who doesn’t have their own bike, there’ll be plenty available for hire, including several of the electric variety. And, if you’re wondering how your fitness levels are travelling, you’ll have a chance to find out. “The National Institute for the Experiential Arts are also coming along,” explains City of Sydney marketing manager for cycling James Adams. “They’re setting up an installation, where there’s a stationery bike, which people can pedal. There’ll be a projection of their ride, as well as biometric data, like temperature and heart rate.” Sydney Rides the Night is the first event of its kind for, not only Sydney, but Australia, too. “It’s not just about the bike,” Adams explains. “It’s also about the experience. It’s for people who ride all the time and for those who are new to it. On our Facebook page, we’ve had lots of people commenting that they’ll get their bikes out and fix them up. Hopefully, this will then lead to them riding more often or even commuting to work. Sydney Rides the Night and the festival are all about stimulating interest and encouraging cycling culture in Sydney.”
Everything in its right place: when Thom Yorke takes to the stage Down Under in spring 2024 for his debut solo tour, performing songs from across his four-decade career, that's how Radiohead fans will feel. The English musician has announced a six-date trip to Australia and New Zealand, on his first jaunt this way since the band that he's synonymous with last made a visit in 2012. Yorke has four Aussie and Aotearoa cities on his agenda in October and November, and he's going big at each of them (no surprises there). The Everything tour will kick off at Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch, then hop to Spark Arena in Auckland. When he makes the leap to Australia, Yorke will play two evenings each at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne and the Sydney Opera House Forecourt in Sydney. [caption id="attachment_959883" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Avedon[/caption] Yorke aficionados elsewhere across Australia and NZ, this does indeed mean that the tour is leaving you high and dry for local shows — so we foresee a trip in your future. The singer whose voice echoed through Radiohead's 'Creep', 'The Bends', 'Just', 'Karma Police', 'Paranoid Android' and more will be busting out select tunes from the band's catalogue. He also has three studio albums as a solo artist, so expect tracks from them to also get a whirl. And, his film score and soundtrack work — see: Suspiria, Motherless Brooklyn, Peaky Blinders and Confidenza — will also pop up. [caption id="attachment_959885" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Raph_PH via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Before the Everything tour, Yorke has been hitting the stage with The Smile, which also features fellow Radiohead alum Jonny Greenwood plus Sons of Kermit's Tom Skinner. The Smile's second album Wall of Eyes dropped in April 2024. Of the Sydney Opera House shows, the venue's Head of Contemporary Music Ben Marshall said this "this is historic. I'm ecstatic to announce the long-awaited Opera House debut of one of the greatest musicians of our time". "A multi-award-winning artist, Thom Yorke rose to cultural and critical acclaim throughout the 90s with his boundary-pushing reimagination of contemporary rock, and has soared through recent years with a plethora of wildly innovative solo and collaborative creative projects. Yorke will bring his hauntingly existential lyrics, inimitable falsetto and rapturous arrangements to the Forecourt for two nights only," Marshall continued. [caption id="attachment_959886" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Glenn8881 via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Thom Yorke: Everything Australian and New Zealand Tour Dates 2024: Wednesday, October 23 — Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch Friday, October 25 — Spark Arena, Auckland Tuesday, October 29–Wednesday, October 30 — Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne Friday, November 1–Saturday, November 2 — Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney [caption id="attachment_959887" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Popcornfud via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Thom Yorke is touring Australia and New Zealand in October and November 2024, with Australian tickets on sale from 10am AEST on Wednesday, June 5 and New Zealand tickets on sale from 11am NZST on Monday, June 10. Head to the tour website for more details. Top image:Raph_PH via Flickr.
If summer for you means tequila cocktails at rooftop bars with your mates, then we have the perfect event for you. Towering Sydney rooftop bar CIRQ is hosting a Patrón El Cielo tequila takeover from Friday, December 1, until Sunday, January 28. Perched 26 floors above Barangaroo, CIRQ boasts one of the best views of the city. The open terrace has a blend of indoor and outdoor spaces with comfy lounges and chairs for punters to sip and savour the views. The iconic tequila brand is celebrating the launch of its new super-premium tequila, Patrón El Cielo —the world's first four-times distilled tequila — with this takeover of CIRQ and a bespoke cocktail menu. Punters will not only enjoy tasty tequila tipples, but they can also groove to electrifying beats from the Patrón DJ Booth or snap the perfect selfie at the photo station overlooking Sydney Harbour and the CBD. Patrón El Cielo marks a new stage for the Hacienda. Patrón's master distiller, David Rodriguez, added a fourth distillation — unusual for tequila — using the smallest copper pot still, which unlocked the natural rich sweetness and citrus notes from the agave to deliver an exceptionally sweet and smooth tequila. Its signature serve is over ice with a slice of orange or in the Patrón El Cielo Spritz, a summery cocktail made with Patrón El Cielo, rosé and chilled Fever Tree ginger ale. Both feature on the exclusive Patrón x CIRQ cocktail menu as well as other classics like Tommy's margarita, Paloma, and a classic Patrón Silver tequila and soda with lime. So head up to CIRQ, watch the bartenders pop the gold cork off the sleek bottle of Patrón El Cielo, and chill in the summer sun. CIRQ is open Wednesday to Friday from 4pm until late and Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm until late. Bookings can be made on the website.
Whether it's opening a sprawling art museum, taking over a 400-year-old castle, turning old oil tanks into a digital waterfall or bringing waves of light to Melbourne, teamLab's digital installations are never less than dazzling. The term definitely applies to the interdisciplinary collective's latest venture, too, with teamLab: A Forest Where Gods Live transforming Japan's Mifuneyama Rakuen Takeo Hot Springs into its latest awe-inspiring artwork. Currently on display on Kyushu, the third largest and most southern of Japan's islands, A Forest Where Gods makes the most of its huge site. Created in 1845, and featuring gardens, shrines, forests, rocks and caves, the hot springs stretch across 500,000 square metres — within which teamLab has placed 21 installations, all playing with light, colour and movement as the group's eye-popping attractions always do. In Mifuneyama Rakuen Takeo's bath house ruins, visitors can watch flowers, people and water particles dance across huge megaliths, and feel like they're wandering through a place where time has stopped in the process. Or, over at the hot springs' pond, you can see the water's surface come to life with koi and boats, the former reacting to the latter. Other highlights include floral displays blooming repeatedly on a 5.5-metre-high moss-covered rock, a digital waterfall falling on a shrine, lights fading and glowing across a valley of azaleas, butterflies fluttering through underground ruins, and multicoloured bulbs brightening up cherry blossoms and maple forests. And, it wouldn't be a teamLab site takeover without cups of tea filled with digital flowers, or without a sea of rainbow-hued lamps — both floating on a lake and suspended from above in spiral patterns. The interactive exhibition is split into two parts, with The Nature of Time running from 11.30am–sunset, and Earth Music & Ecology kicking in from sunset–10.30pm. The daytime element has a greater focus on Mifuneyama Rakuen Takeo's existing wonders, while the evening session lets teamLab's shine under the night sky. Whichever you're keen on, if you're going to be in the vicinity and want to head along, you'll want to book a ¥500–1400 (AU$6.95–19.55) ticket in advance — unsurprisingly, teamLab's gorgeous work is always popular. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmCaGTKxy54 teamLab: A Forest Where Gods Live runs until November 4, 2019 at Mifuneyama Rakuen Takeo Hot Springs, Kyushu, Japan. For more information, visit the exhibition website. Images: teamLab.
Forget ocker comedies and downbeat dramas — when it comes to Aussie cinema, there's a new trend in down. Sure, plenty of titles have made the leap from theatre to film during the country's movie-making history, but with Ruben Guthrie, Holding the Man, Last Cab to Darwin and Spear all hitting cinemas within the last year, the nation appears to be in the middle of a stage-to-screen renaissance. Next comes The Daughter, with actor and playwright turned filmmaker Simon Stone leading the charge. After treading the boards with his own take on Henrik Ibsen's 1884 work The Wild Duck, he now turns the tale into an Australian-set feature film. When Christian (Paul Schneider) returns to the mountainous outskirts of New South Wales after years spent in the US, his homecoming stirs up mixed emotions. His father Henry (Geoffrey Rush), is pleased to see him, but Christian has more than a few reservations about his dad's impending marriage to the much younger Anna (Anna Torv). And while his reunion with childhood best mate Oliver (Ewen Leslie) proves happy, the more time Christian spends with his pal, his wife Charlotte (Miranda Otto) and teenage daughter Hedvig (Odessa Young), the more troubles start to emerge. Some characters know things they shouldn't, others are hiding details they're trying to forget, and everyone gets caught up in the chaos when certain truths are exposed, making secrets and lies The Daughter's primary currency. There's more than a little bit of melodrama at play, though there's not much in the narrative that's unexpected. Even if you're not familiar with the source material or Stone's previous theatre version, it's not hard to see where the soapy story is going. That's disappointing in terms of delivering real twists, turns and mysteries, but it does showcase the movie's true focus: its characters and performances. Corralling an impressive, mostly Australian cast — a scene-stealing Sam Neill among them — Stone hones in on the actions and emotions of a close-knit group struggling with the weight of past and present deeds. Accordingly, the tension that bubbles throughout the feature stems from their reactions, rather than the many not-so-surprising revelations. Whether frozen with shock, arguing with anger or crying in pain, their response to the situation always feels real. Take the figure of Hedvig, the titular daughter, for example. She seethes with a blend of confidence and vulnerability not often seen in teens on screen, with Young giving her second great performance, behind Looking For Grace, of the year so far. It certainly helps that Stone, as a director rather than a writer, favours an empathetic, subjective approach in his stylistic choices. With a colour scheme that reflects the characters' moods, and camera angles that mirror their perspectives, he crafts a movie that looks as intimate as the age-old issues it trifles with. The end result may be obvious and histrionic, story-wise, yet it's still for the most part engrossing. As such, The Daughter doesn't just bring the stage to the screen, but the messy nature of life as well.
Similar mechanics, new skin: when It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day branched out from their cult-hit sitcom back in 2020, that was the approach. Co-creating what was then known as Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet alongside fellow It's Always Sunny writer Megan Ganz — and with McElhenney also starring — they took a comedy formula they knew, loved and excelled at, then swapped out the specifics. If this Apple TV+ series was a video game, rather than being set in the industry that creates them, it'd be the latest workplace-comedy expansion pack. Whether watching The Office, Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine or Mythic Quest's platform stablemates Ted Lasso and Loot, laughing at the ups and downs of working life means spotting familiar elements, after all, because much about nine-to-five grind is universal. Now streaming its third season, with new episodes dropping weekly since mid-November — and also going by a shortened name since season two — Mythic Quest slots smoothly into its genre. Far more conventional than It's Always Sunny, which smartly and savagely satirises despicable behaviour in, around and tangentially related to a Philly bar, McElhenney and Day's second series unpacks its gaming-industry setting and the attitudes that come with it. Still, the Mythic Quest crew isn't afraid to blow things up and respawn, as it virtually has between season two and three. At the end of 2021's batch of episodes, the eponymous studio fractured, with guru-like founder Ian Grimm (McElhenney) and his Australian lead engineer Poppy Li (Charlotte Nicdao, Content) chasing new challenges by starting another company. Since episode one, Ian has been Mythic Quest's visionary, with Poppy as his righthand woman. And, since the first season charted their troubles with the latest expansion pack for their massively multiplayer online role-playing hit, that relationship has ebbed and flowed. Sometimes, Mythic Quest HQ's general mayhem has been the cause, including the pressures of keeping their popular game profitable and its fans happy. Sometimes, it's been a battle of egos, wills and personalities between Ian, Poppy and their colleagues. In its first few episodes, the show took time to find its groove, but it has kept shining and brightly since it did. The key, including through season two, is that central dynamic. McElhenney plays Grimm as someone drunk on his own idea of himself, not to mention the celebrity and status that's come with his game, as well as the adoration and power. Meanwhile, Nicdao's Poppy barely manages to cope, especially with her confidence in such a male-dominated industry. By sending the pair out on their own at GrimPop, where they're now endeavouring to launch a new title called Hera that's Poppy's creation rather than Ian's, season three doubles down on that contrast between the duo — and, in the process, on the struggle for women in gaming to be given the room they deserve to thrive, lead and shatter the glass ceiling. A gifted coder, as well as the technical force behind Mythic Quest the game, Poppy has always wanted recognition and respect. That's been a running theme in Nicdao's roles over the past few years, in fact, given that the also-excellent ABC iView short-form series Content had the Aussie talent playing a wannabe influencer who desperately hoped her online antics would bring her fame. Nicdao's career dates back almost two decades now, including past roles on The Slap, Please Like Me and Get Krack!n, but she's certainly catapulted to stardom herself after her #Flipgirl days thanks to Mythic Quest. On-screen, though, Poppy's version of seeking the spotlight involves having her own success rather than just always being stuck in Ian's shadow. So, branching away from the title that made their careers but still remaining together, the pair are now meant to be in a true 50/50 partnership. Thanks to that big season-two finale move — which could've doubled as an overall farewell if the show wasn't renewed for both a third and a fourth season — Mythic Quest's current stint contemplates breaking out of comfort zones, embracing new challenges and welcoming fresh voices. Like most of the series' comic stylings, that thematic thread aims to call out the insular nature of gaming and its many imbalances, widening its scope to examine getting something new off the ground rather than toiling for an existing hit. Within the storyline, though, Ian and Poppy are just on a different floor of the same building as Mythic Quest's regular crew. Encounters with neurotic executive producer David Brittlesbee (David Hornsby, Good Girls), his brusk assistant Jo (Jessie Ennis, The Flight Attendant), disgraced ex-finance head (Danny Pudi, Community), and former testers Dana (Imani Hakim, Cam) and Rachel (prolific voice actor Ashly Burch) are still a regular part of their days, and a source of chaos. While a new level awaits for Mythic Quest's characters — including goodbyes to some — the series itself isn't completely in the same situation in season three. It shakes things up in a narrative sense, but understands what has always made the show power up: its well-written and wonderfully cast characters. Indeed, by focusing on Ian and Poppy's relationship, as well as plenty of other pairings within the series, McElhenney, Day and McElhenney still keep finding new depths to explore. Unlikely couples are an old workplace-comedy favourite, and not just because it's easy to wring humour out of stranding opposites together. In a genre already so steeped in the everyday regardless of the kind of business its on-screen figures get their paycheque from, navigating clashing personalities isn't just relatable — it's reality. Rounding up a motley crew, watching them bounce around, seeing how they change and grow — if the characters in It's Always Sunny were actually capable of significant change and growth (and if it suited the show for them to evolve and mature, which it doesn't), then McElhenney and Day's two series would have plenty in common. They still do, of course, including an incisive ability to parody and play around with the whole workplace setup. As Mythic Quest keeps going, it too gets sharper and funnier, and more aware of the flaws that make all of us who we are. It mightn't end up breaking records as the longest-running live-action sitcom ever made, as It's Always Sunny has after 15 seasons (and counting), but pressing play for another astute and amusing round keeps proving easy. Check out the trailer for Mythic Quest below: Mythic Quest streams via Apple TV+.
When Hercule Poirot returned to cinema screens in 2017's Murder on the Orient Express, the infamous Agatha Christie-penned sleuth was always going to hang around. Hollywood loves a franchise and, on the page, the fictional Belgian detective has featured in more than 80 tales. Accordingly, a sequel to the Kenneth Branagh-starring and directed movie was always inevitable. Death on the Nile is that follow-up, as once again based on the book of the same name. It's due to hit cinemas sometime in the future — in this COVID-19 world, movie release dates aren't really set in stone anymore, as anyone who has been hanging out for months to see Tenet or Mulan knows — and, as the just-dropped first trailer shows, it trots out the familiar Poirot formula. In the current film series, that means bringing a whole heap of famous faces together in a confined location, dressing them up in luxe threads, interrupting their trip with a murder, then watching the moustachioed detective put his skills to the test. Obviously, here, everyone is on a boat in Egypt. In fact, Poirot is on vacation on a glamorous river steamer when duty calls — in the form of a couple's idyllic honeymoon that's been cut short by tragedy. Branagh is back both on-screen and behind the lens, while this time around he's joined by Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Annette Bening, Russell Brand, and even comedy legends Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. Also popping up: Murder on the Orient Express' Tom Bateman, Game of Thrones' Rose Leslie, Black Panther's Letitia Wright, Wild Rose's Sophie Okonedo, Sex Education's Emma Mackey and Victoria and Abdul's Ali Fazal. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRP57Bz842A&feature=youtu.be Death on the Nile is slated to release in Australian cinemas at a yet-to-be-revealed date — we'll provide exact details when they come to hand. Top images: © 2020 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
There's a lot of history packed onto Macquarie Street in the Sydney CBD. At the south end of the road is a stretch of especially historic buildings, including Hyde Park Barracks, NSW Parliament House and The Mint, which is over 200 years old. Despite its age, The Mint can still throw a party. Each Friday in March, its Bullion Store will transform into a bar after hours. Expect tasty snacks (think wagyu beef burgers, parmesan shoestring fries and sriracha popcorn chicken) and Brix Distillers-made rum cocktails alongside drop-in tours exploring the history of the building. Here's a quick intro lesson: The Mint started its life as Sydney's first general hospital, built in 1816 for the cost of 45,000 gallons of rum (hence the rum cocktails). Then in 1855, to manage the NSW gold rush, it became the first branch of the Royal Mint bank outside of London. That's just a sample of the fun facts you can learn. You'll get the full story on one of the drop-in tours — which run at 5.30, 6.30 and 7.30 pm. The doors to the event are open from 5pm to 8pm, giving you plenty of time to snack, sip and study your way through the halls of The Mint. Fridays at The Mint runs every Friday throughout March, from 5pm to 8pm. Entry is free. For more information, visit the website.
You've binged your way through HBO's excellent Chernobyl mini-series. If you're a Melburnian, or you've taken a trip to the Victorian city recently, you may have wandered through a recreation of the exclusion zone around the exploded nuclear reactor as well. Soon, you also might be able to sip shots of vodka from the region — made from grain from the Ukrainian area that has been off limits for more than three decades. The tipple in question is called Atomik Vodka. Brewed by a team of scientists from the UK and Ukraine, it's part of a three-year research project investigating the transfer of radioactivity from the soil to crops grown in the closed-off spot, as well as in the Narodychi District within the Zone of Obligatory Resettlement. (People still live in the latter location, but the land isn't officially allowed to be used for agriculture.) While the grain itself showed some signs, all traces of Chernobyl-derived radioactivity was lost in the distilling process, which inherently reduces impurities — leaving the vodka with the same level of natural radiation that you'd find in any other spirit. The vodka also uses local mineral water, sourced from a deep aquifer below the town of Chernobyl, around 10 kilometres south of the nuclear power station. It's been found to possess chemistry similar to water from limestone aquifers, like the one in the Champagne region of France, and was used to dilute the distilled alcohol to 40 percent. At present, only one bottle of the vodka exists. And, if you're curious about giving it a taste, it's not for sale. But the team behind Atomik hope that will change, and, that after clearing a few legal hurdles, they'll be able to begin a small-scale experimental run of the grain spirit by the end of this year. If they're successful in their efforts, they plan to donate 75 percent of Atomik Vodka's profits back to the affected Ukrainian community. It's also hoped that the research project will assist residents around the exclusion zone by showing that the land is now safe to be used for agriculture, opening up further investment and economic benefits. For more information, visit the Atomik Vodka website. Via the University of Portsmouth.
UPDATE: MONDAY, JULY 29 — Brick Lane has advised that all remaining seats for this limited-edition feast have now been booked out. We'll let you know if the restaurant decides to extend its offer. Even if your bank account's looking a little light pre-pay day, it needn't mean resorting to an entire week of Mi Goreng. Not when you've got the legends at Brick Lane offering what might just be the best value dinner deal around. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights in July, you can book a table at the cheery Darlinghurst restaurant and enjoy an eight-course feast for just $29. Better yet, that price includes an hour of bottomless wine and beer. Yowsa. If you've ever wrapped your mouth around some of Brick Lane's mod-Indian fare, you'll know this is exceedingly sweet value (usually it costs $55). The special edition menu will feature a mix of Brick Lane favourites an, including the likes of spiced cabbage momos, naan wraps and slow-cooked beef curry. You can view the whole menu here. The catch? You have to book a table at or before 6pm (and your sitting will be limited to an hour and a half). That might seem too early, but it's cold and dark by then anyway — and the deal is such good value that the early timeslot might just be worth it.
Harry Seidler is the second most popular result when searching 'Harry S' on Google. Amongst a lifetime of achievements and accolades, his Google popularity would probably be of little concern to him if he were still alive today. Seidler was one of Australia’s most prolific architects, who throughout his career designed over 180 buildings embracing modernist methodology and fully expressing the principals of the Bauhaus. Take that Harry Styles! On Friday, November 7, the foyer spaces of three iconic Harry Seidler buildings in Sydney’s CBD will be transformed as part of the 2014 Sydney Architecture Festival. Expanded Architecture have curated an exclusive one-night only event called Temporal Formal at Seidler City. Guests are invited to join a guided tour through some of the city’s most identifiable buildings, exploring specially commissioned, site-specific installations that explore the intersections between art and architecture. The exhibition includes light, sound and performance art as well as installations made from "crushed glass, water-dissolving lace, liquid chalk, modulated furniture, fog, digital interactive projection, cross stitch and crochet.” That's no mild foyer art.
Marrickville's made-to-order furniture and joinery studio, So Watt, is turning ten, and it's throwing a free birthday bash to celebrate. Featuring delicious food, local drinks, prizes and DJ-spun tunes, this party is one to add to your calendar. On Saturday, October 11, So Watt will open its showroom and workshop for a peek behind the scenes. It's a chance to meet the team and check out its sustainable and Australian-made approach to furniture, with drinks and dancing included. Running from the afternoon into the evening, this one-night-only event is set to be a true Marrickville-style community celebration. Expect food courtesy of refugee-led kitchen initiative, FoodLab Sydney, and drinks from Thirstville. There's even a limited edition ten-year birthday beer created in collaboration with Kicks Brewing. Named Against The Grain, it's a DDH Hazy Pale Ale that celebrates local crafters and the community. [caption id="attachment_1021302" align="alignleft" width="1920"] FoodLab Sydney[/caption] Add prizes up for grabs, vinyl tunes by DJ Juzz One, and a room full of design lovers, and you've got a birthday bash worth raising a glass to. Plus, if you've always wanted to have your own So Watt piece, this is your chance. The team is running a raffle on the day, with the main prize being a $1500 So Watt voucher. The team is also taking ten percent off orders placed on the day, so consider this your sign to support local Australian makers. [caption id="attachment_1022502" align="alignleft" width="1920"] DJ Juzz One[/caption] Despite being around for a decade, this is So Watt's first showroom launch, meaning it's a chance to get to know the family-owned and operated Marrickville business. So Watt has a sustainable focus on furniture that highlights the natural resource of plywood — no fibreboard or fake wood-grain laminates here, only the real stuff. [caption id="attachment_1019894" align="alignleft" width="1920"] So Watt[/caption] Speaking with Concrete Playground earlier this year, co-owner and designer Sophie Biet reflected on their decade in business. "After ten years, we feel like this is still only the beginning … We've been learning and watching, and are excited to be working on some pretty big concepts to crack the industry open and allow homeowners a more accessible option for custom furniture and joinery that isn't complicated and won't break the bank." Intrigued? Come and celebrate a Marrickville success story in true community style. Grab your mates, raise a glass and join the So Watt crew for a free birthday celebration this October. RSVP for your free ticket here. Images: So Watt
Sometimes you need to wait for the things you love. In Hacks, that's true off- and on-screen. It's been two years since the HBO comedy last dropped new episodes, after its first season was one of the best new shows of 2021 and its second one of the best returning series of 2022 — a delay first sparked by star Jean Smart (Babylon) requiring heart surgery, and then by 2023's Hollywood strikes. But this Emmy- and Golden Globe-winner returns better than ever in season three as it charts Smart's Deborah Vance finally getting a shot at a job that she's been waiting her entire career for. After scoring a huge hit with her recent comedy special, which was a product of hiring twentysomething writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder, Julia), the Las Vegas mainstay has a new chance at nabbing a late-night hosting gig. Fictional takes on after-dark talk shows are having a moment, thanks to Late Night with the Devil and now Hacks' third season. At times, some in Deborah's orbit might be tempted to borrow the Australian horror movie's title to describe to assisting her pitch for a post-primetime chair. That'd be a harsh comment, but savage humour has always been part of this showbiz comedy about people who tell jokes for a living, which returns via Stan in Australia and TVNZ+ in Aotearoa from Friday, May 3. While Deborah gets roasted in this season, spikiness is Hacks' long-established baseline — and also the armour with which its behind-the-mic lead protects herself from life's and the industry's pain, disappointments and unfairness. Barbs can also be Deborah's love language, as seen in her banter with Ava. When season two ended, their tumultuous professional relationship had come to an end again via Deborah, who let her writer go to find bigger opportunities. A year has now passed when season three kicks off. Ava is a staff writer on a Last Week Tonight with John Oliver-type series in Los Angeles and thriving, but she's also not over being fired. Deborah still sees it as a necessary move, and a push for her protégée to chase her own dreams. Ava feels scorned and betrayed, particularly since she was the catalyst for her mentor ditching the act that she'd been performing at a casino residency for decades, then getting raw and real by sharing stories about being a woman in comedy over that period, reinventing her image in the process. Back in Vanceland (our term, not the show's; Deborah's mansion is sprawling enough to warrant such a name), everything is gleaming without Ava — but Deborah isn't prepared for being a phenomenon. She wants it. She's worked for years for it. It's taken until her 70s to get it. But her presence alone being cause for frenzy, rather than the scrapping she's done to stay in the spotlight, isn't an easy adjustment. She's hardly fond of her new writers (Dream Scenario's Dylan Gelula and Orphan Black: Echoes' Jordan Gavaris), and crowds feeding off her merely standing onstage means that none of her material actually matters. Deborah's life is now unfettered praise and no challenges; as her Estate Manager Josefina (Rose Abdoo, Leo) remarks to her Chief Operating Officer Marcus (Carl Clemons-Hopkins, The Beanie Bubble), the comedian staying up all night rearranging her salt-and-pepper shakers isn't a great sign. Hacks creators Lucia Aniello, Paul W Downs and Jen Statsky — all Broad City alumni, all co-writers, with Aniello also directing and Downs co-starring — were never going to keep Deborah and Ava apart in season three. The reunifying developments: first crossing paths at Just for Laughs in Montreal, then tucking into Tom Cruise's famous coconut cake, then attempting to win Deborah a hosting job that she once almost had and hasn't recovered from losing. With Ava's show on hiatus for three months over summer, she agrees to head back to Vegas to help do whatever it takes. If it sounds like a reversal of season two's finale, that's because it is — instead of Ava being free to pursue her own passions, she's parking them for Deborah's — but codependency has also long been at the heart of this always-astute gem. Although Deborah can't stomach being seen to rely upon someone, Ava has changed her. As for the latter, she can't divorce her own career from the comedy legend. But time away, and also the success of the special that neither could've made without the other, puts them on more-even footing when they reteam. Hacks season three again also explores the other pairings in Deborah's life, including her daughter DJ's (Kaitlin Olson, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) festering hurt over her mother's absence in her childhood, and Marcus feeling undervalued and stagnant while running her business empire. Now out on their own, Deborah and Ava's manager Jimmy (Downs, How It Ends) and his assistant Kayla (Megan Stalter, Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain) have their own codependency to grapple with, especially as they work their way through the industry (which is where guest stars such as Blindspotting's Helen Hunt and Knuckles' Christopher Lloyd come in) on Deborah's behalf. Hacks' third season has a comedy roast, where DJ revels in the catharsis of slinging mean words at her mum; a dress from Deborah's treasure trove that Ava describes as "giving Big Bird"; and Mad Men great Christina Hendricks as fellow big-name guest. Its main duo get lost on a hike, navigate a golf trip and weather a chaotic Christmas party. Deborah also admits to feeling the passage of time, as well as the urgency to achieve everything that she's ever wanted ASAP that snowballs with it. The season surveys humour today from high-profile ridicule sessions to cancel culture. It's unsparing about the glass ceiling in late-night TV, as it should be. Along the way, Aniello, Downs and Statsky keep improving their series — and keep proving some of the smartest and funniest writers in the business. Crucially, the pursuit of Deborah's all-time coveted gig takes Hacks into new terrain, ambitiously for the show and the character alike. A sitcom built around an odd couple, the show could've coasted by on its mismatched intergenerational lead twosome. It could've remained a must-see thanks to the excellent performances that the never-better Smart and equally engaging Einbinder bring to their parts, because they're both that magnificent. But while Deborah might've clung to a routine for much of her life, the series hasn't, and it's all the greater for it. If longevity is about taking risks, Hacks makes its latest confident and hilarious claim for a long-haul run. Check out the trailer for Hacks season three below: Hacks season three streams via Stan in Australia and TVNZ+ in New Zealand from Friday, May 3. Read our reviews of season one and season two.
When it comes to being happy, what personality type are you? A Perfectionist? (Happiness? What's that?) A Giver? (I'll be happy as soon as I've burnt myself at the stake.) A Boss? (You'll be happy when I tell you to, and not before.) A Tragic Romantic? (I'm not sure, but I've written lots of poems about what it might feel like.) A Mediator? A Performer? An Optimist? An Observer? A Devil's Advocate? If you've ever sat an Enneagram Test, these categories might be familiar to you. If you haven't, you're in luck, as they'll be getting a good workout in front of Sydney audiences when Happy as Larry hits the Seymour Centre. The creation of cutting-edge Australian choreographer Shaun Parker, the show combines ballet, break-dance, roller-skating, comedic antics and philosophising in an explosive theatrical performance that explores the meaning of happiness through nine archetypal characters. Originally staged at the 2010 Sydney Festival, Happy as Larry has since toured the world and sold out an entire season on London's West End. It's a NZ Banksy Award Winner and received a nomination for Most Outstanding Choreography in the 2011 Australian Dance Awards. It'll play the Seymour Centre for just one week before heading overseas again. If you're enthusiastic about supporting Shaun Parker's work (and hanging out with VIPs) you might still be able to nab a ticket to the September 12 Fundraising Event, where the man himself will be conversing with the crowd and raising funds for the development of his 2014 projects. https://youtube.com/watch?v=r5mUJnZf3FQ
Eerie things happen in shipping containers when Realscape Productions is around. Across the country, the team has been creeping everyone out with its immersive installations for a few years now, with Séance, Flight, Eulogy and Coma each serving up different unnerving experiences. Sensory deprivation, simulating sitting in an aircraft cabin when events turn unsettling, wandering through a labyrinthine hotel, falling into a dream state in a bunk bed: they're all part of the Darkfield suite, terrifyingly so. Next up from the Realscape Productions crew comes a dance with sci-fi, this time in a 40-foot haulage truck. Future Cargo sees Darkfield's David Rosenberg join forces with UK-based choreographer Frauke Requardt on an otherworldly outdoor performance, which will make its Australian premiere at 2024's Adelaide Fringe from Friday, February 16–Saturday, March 17. The aim: combining a vast spectacle with intimacy, and putting on a dance show filled with shiny aliens and seduced humans that will lure in all kinds of audiences, even if watching dance isn't normally high on your to-do list. So, as attendees sit in the open air at twilight, the truck will roll up its side to reveal a machine, which starts a mysterious process. Cue power surges, electromagnetic waves and making contact, with viewers listening in via binaural sound while wearing headphones. "We've come together to develop Future Cargo because David and I are constantly fascinated by how to connect performance and audiences in unique ways in public space," explains Requardt. "By working with different architectural constraints and inviting audiences to discover bold and beautiful contemporary dance in and amongst them, we hope to ignite a passion for the arts in people who wouldn't usually watch dance, while also captivating those already in love with the art form." So far, only an Adelaide run is confirmed — but cross your fingers that Realscape will tour its latest production, as it has with Séance, Flight, Eulogy and Coma. "David and Frauke have developed a show unlike anything that has ever played in Australia before. We know Australians have developed an appetite for multidimensional experiences, and Future Cargo brings something new to Adelaide Fringe, creating a spectacle through dance, lighting, binaural sound and science fiction. We can't wait to watch Adelaide fall in love with a new way to experience dance at the Garden of Unearthly Delights come February," said Realscape Productions producer Amy Johnson. Future Cargo will premiere at Adelaide Fringe 2024 from Friday, February 16–Saturday, March 17 at the festival's Garden of Unearthly Delights — head to the fest website for further details and tickets. Images: Camilla Greenwell / Henry Curtis.
"I've had an incredible life," says David Bowie in Moonage Daydream. "I'd love to do it again." Alas, even for a music icon who always seemed beamed in from the future, another world or both — his casting in 1976 sci-fi masterpiece The Man Who Fell to Earth was perfection, as was the movie's title — that isn't possible. For viewers, however, reliving that spellbinding, shapeshifting, stratosphere-blasting existence is as easy as watching Brett Morgen's documentary. The Cobain: Montage of Heck filmmaker calls it "an experience", and that's exactly what the mind-blowingly immersive and spectacular blend of sound and vision delivers. It doesn't sound difficult, making a movie about someone as visionary as Bowie. There's so much to his life, so many decades of music and live performances to draw upon, and such a wealth of other touchstones — his acting, art, reinventions, alter egos ("I collect personalities," Bowie notes in the film) — to layer in. But Moonage Daydream isn't a Bowie biopic and was never going to be. That simply isn't Morgen's style; instead, he's all about digging into what makes his subjects tick, delight and surprise, then conveying that in a manner that so deeply captures their essence it feels like no other picture about them could've existed. In Moonage Daydream, that means using Bowie himself as the kaleidoscopic feature's narrator via soundbites and interviews from across his entire career. It means not only weaving archival materials spanning half a century-plus into an ever-twisting and spinning collage, but recutting famous footage, such as revered concert film Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, from the original camera reels to unveil something new. It also means being driven by a playlist that covers Bowie's whole discography, and speaks to doco's exploration of chaos, fragmentation and transience, plus their constant relevance to his work. It truly does mean a big-screen spectacular, as the man recently voted the most influential British artist of the last 50 years deserves. "I don't know why they stopped at 50 years. Who's topping him, and why not century?" says Morgen, in Australia for this year's Melbourne International Film Festival back in August, chatting to Concrete Playground the morning after Bowie topped that British arts industry poll. "I would go a little further and say perhaps the greatest artist globally of the past 50 years," Morgen advises, before stepping through why Bowie remains such an enduring cultural presence, how Moonage Daydream came together, getting approval to make the first authorised film after Bowie's death and what he learned from living the Bowie dream. ON BOWIE'S EVERLASTING INFLUENCE "I think to reframe that question is: why does he continue to have so much influence and resonance? Because David meant something in 72 when Ziggy [Stardust, the seminal album] came out that was specific to that moment in time — and until the internet came about in the early 90s, as there were less sources for media and to find subcultures and tribes, Bowie united a lot of likeminded individuals and nurtured them. Moving forward, what's amazing is that each generation seems to discover and embrace Bowie, and they seem to discover him on their own. Sometimes you hear 'oh my dad played him' or whatever, but most of the time, talking to fans, they all arrive at Bowie on their own around the time they're sort of entering puberty. He becomes a kind of rite of passage — this sounds a bit cliched and we have other sources now to reference, but perhaps musically he captured that sense of alienation and confusion, and some of those feelings that we all experience at 12, 13 or 14 as we're all trying to feel our way throughout this world. Bowie, one of the reasons that he is one of the few artists of that era to continue to resonate with young audiences has to do with the fact that Bowie was so far ahead of his time that we might now just be entering the age of Bowie. David used to say in 1971 that he was writing for the 21st century in the 1970s. David's stock and trade was chaos and fragmentation — those were, as he would say, the throughline for his art. If we think of it, the world has only become more fragmented and more chaotic, and Bowie was writing the soundtrack for that world. Great artists have an ability to hear and see what is happening all around us but most of us can't see or hear yet, and Bowie had that gift for several decades. I had shown the film to Bono, who sent me an email the day after he saw it saying that he saw a lot of similarity in my style with Moonage and [U2's] Zoo TV. I went back and looked at Zoo TV, their 91 tour, and at the time the Zoo TV tour was presented as something futuristic and sci-fi — the internet, I don't even think it had started yet, but when you look at Zoo TV, it looks like something you would do when you were doing a tour today. And what I said to Bono was that 'I think like David, you weren't a futurist; you weren't writing about the future, you were writing about the present, just none of the rest of us were able to access it yet'. I think that has a lot to do with why certain artists are able to resonate across time, and David had that gift." ON HOW THE FIRST AUTHORISED BOWIE FILM AFTER HIS DEATH CAME TOGETHER "I had been doing theatrical documentaries for 23 years, and so the way I was able to get approval was most likely my previous endeavours, Cobain: Montage of Heck and The Kid Stays in the Picture, resonated with the estate. Where do you start a film or how do you construct a film that's designed to be an experience? It wasn't easy. It was slightly torturous. I made a decision from the get-go that I had no interest in producing a biography — that my interest was purely in sound and vision, and that I had no interest in trying to define or explain Bowie. That, I thought would be a fool's interest. So I just kind of embraced that, and it was a bit like trying to find your way out of a maze in the dark. I stumbled, I ran into walls, I cried, I felt Jack Torrence in The Shining: all work and no play make Jack a dull boy. [caption id="attachment_869789" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Liam Arthur[/caption] There was a point — I didn't have a producer, I didn't have a staff, I was making a David Bowie film for IMAX by myself, it was like an arts and crafts project. And it was weird, it was not a traditional approach. I don't mean in terms of the methodology — I just mean the actual genre that I was trying to explore is not a genre that exists. So about six months into the cutting, no one had seen a frame, I didn't even have an assistant editor in the building, and I needed a change of scenery. I was going to take my media to a place I had rented out of town, and before I left I called my wife who's my executive producer, partner and brilliant filmmaker Debra Eisenstadt, and said, 'listen I need you to come and look at what I have'. She said, 'do you want me to take notes?'. And I go, 'no no, I don't want notes, I just want you to tell me if it's a film'. She goes, 'what do you mean, if it's going to work?'. And I go, 'no no, I mean like does it actually make sense shot to shot? Am I insane, you know? Like, literally is it in English or have I lost my fucking mind?'. She came into my office. I pressed play, and I was sitting behind her. She couldn't see me — I was shaking, I was so uncomfortable because I thought I was about to get exposed, and I thought when she would turn to me and with deep concern in her eyes going 'what have you done?'. And she looked at the film and turned back and said 'it's a diamond in the raw — a diamond in the raw'. She goes, 'keep going', and that was wildly important in the genesis of the film. So it really wasn't until the film was at rough cut stage that anybody including the financiers saw a frame it. ON STARTING MOONAGE DAYDREAM AS A CASUAL FAN, BUT ENDING IT A DEVOTEE "I was a casual fan at best. I think that when I was 12 or 13, Hunky Dory was one of my favourite albums. I probably stopped listening on an active basis when I got to college. I liked Bowie, but I never read a book about him, never did any sort of deep dive, but had obvious tremendous respect and admiration. Rediscovering him at 47 was as illuminating and inspiring as discovering him at 12 or 13. Most people gravitate towards Bowie's 70s catalogue — and for those who are well-versed in the 70s catalogue, I am thrilled to report that his later period work beginning with Outside, to me, is as revelatory and inspiring as any of his earlier endeavours. He's just one of a kind. Oh my god, if I ended the project a casual fan — I am, I believe, as hardcore as it gets right now. After spending years living and breathing David Bowie, you would think I'd had enough. But yesterday I was driving around Melbourne with my 14-year-old son, and he's like, 'dad, really, we're going to listen to Bowie? You haven't had enough?'. And I was like, 'no, I haven't.' I'm very blessed that I didn't enter the film from this vantage point because it would've, I think, felt too much of a burden given my reverence and appreciation I currently hold for David." [caption id="attachment_869788" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Olivier Borde[/caption] ON LEARNING FROM BOWIE TO APPRECIATE EVERY MOMENT "Everything that's embedded into the film was revelatory for me, and it has to do with his philosophy and approach to his day-to-day living. His appreciation for life and for challenging oneself to make the most out of each and every moment — that was something that I did not anticipate unearthing in my journey with David Bowie." Moonage Daydream screens in cinemas Down Under from September 15. Read our full review.
"Authenticity is paramount for us," says The Maybe Group's co-owner Stefano Catino. "We didn't want the concept to be a nod towards Mexican culture, spirits or food — it had to be a respectful homage." This is the approach the team behind multi-award-winning cocktail bar Maybe Sammy has taken to its latest opening, El Primo Sanchez. First announced back in 2022 and swinging open its doors on Wednesday, February 22 inside Paddington's The Rose, the Oxford Street haunt will be led by Bar Manager Eduardo Conde — who will bring his Mexico City heritage to the bar — in collaboration with Catino and The Maybe Group's Creative Director Martin Hudak. While Maybe Sammy and some of its sibling venues like Dean & Nancy on 22 are built on luxury, El Primo Sanchez brings the group's passion for quality cocktails to a more casual affair. [caption id="attachment_889910" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] The venue can accommodate up to 100 guests with intimate tables for two, ten-person lounges and standing tables all filling the space. The energy is fun and playful, with spotlights drawing attention to patrons with shots of tequila on the way to their table, and a two-person karaoke room hidden behind the DJ booth loaded up with hit songs — plus a functional 'Press for Tequila' button. An exciting selection of food and drinks brings unexpected twists and turns to the venue's offerings. Highballs feature prominently, ranging from mandarin palomas to the Charro Negro, a smoky twist on the batanga made with corn liqueur, mezcal and cola. Elsewhere on the beverage list, you'll find a gimlet that uses cordial made from toasted leftover tortillas; a fruity watermelon, rose, strawberry gum and lime slushy; and the venue's take on a margarita. [caption id="attachment_889913" align="alignnone" width="1920"] DS Oficina[/caption] Most of the cocktails can be ordered by the glass — the margarita even comes in specially designed glassware — or in a jarrito, El Primo Sanchez's version of a carafe. And, while there's plenty of unique creations to discover, there's also a healthy selection of classics done in the El Primo Sanchez way. "For us, it is not about having the biggest collection of tequila and mezcal in Australia; it's about celebrating and appreciating this highly nuanced selection of spirits," says Hudak. "Tequila replaces vodka in our espresso martini, we swap bourbon or rye whiskey for aged tequila in an old fashioned and for our negroni, Blanco tequila is the substitute for gin." Mexican-born and -raised chef Alejandro Huerta heads up the kitchen, bringing his experiences from across Sydney (No. 92, Chica Bonita) and the world (Alinea, Noma) to The Rose. [caption id="attachment_889914" align="alignnone" width="1920"] DS Oficina[/caption] Pork belly is marinated for 12 hours before being cooked over coals, and brussels sprouts are roasted and tossed in chilli vinegar — both ready to be placed on tacos. Outside of the tacos, the share plates are best ordered for the table around a jarrito of the cocktail of your choice. Highlights include snapper ceviche, chorizo con papas, guacamole, dry-aged steak and charred broccolini served with a creamy chipotle sauce. The bar is the first collaboration between The Maybe Group and Public Hospitality (Oxford House, The Strand Hotel). Together, they've transformed this 1940s pub into a vibrant cocktail bar. The colour palette is bright, boasting orange and blue floor tiles. And, the LED lights change colour throughout the day so that it's always just bright enough. "In order for us to restore an asset and give it a new lease of life, we need to understand what the community is missing and what they want from a new hospitality venue," says Public Hospitality's Principal Architect Tom de Plater. "There's no point developing what we think is a brilliant concept when it really has no place in that community or neighbourhood. We feel this is a great evolution for The Rose." [caption id="attachment_889916" align="alignnone" width="1920"] DS Oficina[/caption] El Primo Sanchez opens on Wednesday, February 22 at 27–33 Oxford Street Paddington. It will operate from 4.30pm–midnight Wednesday–Thursday and 4.30pm–1am Friday–Saturday, with Sundays coming in the future. Images: Steven Woodburn and DS Oficina
Nature documentaries rarely simply spy the earth's wonders, point cameras that way and let the planet itself do the talking. Instead, films such as 2017's The Ancient Woods are by far the exception rather than the rule. And yet, the best footage within any movie about our pale blue dot makes viewers wish that more favoured the "a picture is worth a thousand words" approach. Take The Giants, for instance. When it includes talk, which is often, it's no lesser a feature. The conversation and commentary offered is illuminating, in fact. But when it wanders through Tasmania's colossal foliage within the Styx Valley, Southern Forests and the Tarkine, which is also regularly, it feels like it barely needs to utter a single thing. This isn't merely a factual affair about flora, with environmental campaigner and pioneering former Greens senator Bob Brown firmly at its core, but The Giants knows that paying tribute to both is best done by staring at leafy surroundings as much as it can. It's no everyday feat to get a movie-watching audience admiring the natural world while peering at a screen, even if the frequency with which David Attenborough's docos arrive has helped everyone both think and expect otherwise. Indeed, notching up that achievement is a mammoth accomplishment on the part of The Giants' filmmakers Laurence Billiet (Freeman) and Rachel Antony, plus cinematographer Sherwin Akbarzadeh (Carbon — The Unauthorised Biography). Crucially, it assists what was always going to be a fascinating ode to bloom as much as any plant that it waters with attention. When you're crafting a documentary that intertwines a love letter to Australia's ancient native forests and their ecosystems with a powerful portrait of a hefty figure who has devoted much of his life to fighting for them, showing all the green splendour it possibly can is equally a must and a masterstroke. A doctor who turned politician after first establishing roots in Tasmania's environmental movement in the 70s, Brown has spent many of his years either around or battling for The Giants' woody namesakes. The film tells that tale, plus more before it, deploying the familiar birth-to-now doco format. Thanks to its human subject, aka the movie's other giant, it's a greatly inspiring story — one that on its own, assembling the usual archival photos, news clips, home videos and talking heads, is a hearty piece of motivation to follow in Brown's activist footsteps. As an interviewee, he adds insights about his experiences, dreams and goals, and the way that Australia's lavish landscape has been treated. Among those joining him: his twin sister Jan, partner Paul Thomas, successor as Greens leader Christine Milne and current Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. Brown was born to a family of police officers, but enforcing the law wasn't his calling, as The Giants steps through. His closeness with his mother also earns the spotlight, as does the way that nature provided solace and excitement from his early years onwards. The decision to study medicine, his struggles with his homosexuality, his shift to Australia's southernmost state, the first sprouts of his passionate crusading and his move into politics are all covered, as are his stint fasting on top of Mt Wellington to protest the nuclear-powered USS Enterprise sailing into Hobart, the jump to the federal level and interrupting US President George W Bush's 2003 speech to Australian parliament. There's no surprise that the film needs 112 minutes to fit all of the above in and more, like Brown's status as the first out gay man in parliament, and also to highlight the breathtaking beauty that's been Australia's for millennia. On-screen as in away from the cinema, don't ever underestimate the impact that trees can and do make. Here, in a picture that starts with 100-metre-tall eucalypts regnans that dwarf dinosaurs, and similarly heroes Huon pines and Tasmanian myrtle beech, majestic rainforests and the gargantuan plants within them make a rousing and riveting documentary even better. The arresting imagery would bring to mind Peter Dombrovskis' famous photography of the Apple Isle's Franklin River — specifically Rock Island Bend, as captured in a snap that's widely credited with saving the waterway — even if it wasn't given a shoutout. Courtesy of the University of Tasmania's Terra Luma research project, 3D forest scans dazzle as well, as turned into surreal and striking cloud animation by Alex Le Guillou. As much as roving one's eyes over the wilderness speaks for itself, The Giants gets chatting to deepen viewers' understanding of nature's marvels. Accordingly, an appreciation of algae and mushrooms also springs — 2023 is the unofficial year of the fungus on screens big and small, after all, given that it's a year that's seen both The Last of Us and The Super Mario Bros Movie become hits. Regardless of how popular spore-producing organisms are in pop culture right now, knowledge about their pivotal function is a call to act within Billiet and Antony's film. The Giants also gleans that explaining what's threatened by logging, damming and climate change, especially while showing it in intricate and impressive detail, is a stirring way to encourage viewers to do their part for the cause. It's one thing to ask people to make an effort to make a difference when the movie stops rolling, whatever their personal version of facing deforestation, bulldozers, expansive mining operations and the like is. It's another to demonstrate that playing a part for the planet can and does bring about change, as Brown's life story epitomises. He has the right words to stress the case as well, whether he's noting that "there is nothing a small group of people can't do when the idea they're espousing's time has come" or championing civil disobedience as obedience to nature — and, yes, aiding with justifying why the film isn't solely gorgeous shots of tremendous trees. The Giants has the right overview of his five-decade impact to go with it, alongside all that wondrous forest footage that says everything, including that the living world in the 21st century always needs all the help that it can make blossom.
Fans of 'hard-to-kill' indoor plants should make tracks to Marrickville's newest nursery, Plant Girl. What started out as a same-day delivery service has now expanded to open a bricks-and-mortar store along Sydenham Road — and it's offering black thumb-proof gifts in brightly coloured ceramic pots. Plant Girl is run by inner west local Felicity Keep, who wanted to add a bit of quirk to your indoor plant game. Customers can mix-and-match any combo of plant and pot, with the goal of creating a highly styled, personalised gift or cute new green baby for yourself — with predominately easy-to-keep-alive plants on offer. The shop is open Wednesday through Sunday and offers a much wider range of plants, ceramics and giftware than had previously been available online. At the moment, the plants on offer include snake plants, zanzibar gems, dragon tails and boston ferns, all of which land in the 'low maintenance' and 'hard to kill' categories. That means you don't need to worry about you or your recipient's green thumb (or lack thereof). For more experienced gardeners, the bird of paradise is also up for grabs. As far as the packaging goes, the vibrant pots range from metallic to turquoise and bright pink. You can also nab neem oil leaf shine or a bottle of indoor plant food (in store and online), both of which will help keep your new babies happy and healthy. For those still after delivery, Plant Girl continues to offer door-to-door service within a ten-kilometre radius of their Marrickville shop, which includes all of the inner west and the CBD, plus a chunk of the eastern suburbs and a bit of North Sydney and the lower north shore, too. You can check out the map over here. And, if you order before 11am, you can opt for same-day delivery Monday through Friday. But, when the weekend rolls around, the only place you'll be able to get your hands on these goods is in store. The PlantGirl store is now open at 100D Sydenham Road, Marrickville. Opening hours are 11am–6pm Wednesday–Friday and 10am–4pm Saturday–Sunday. It'll also continue to offer same-day delivery across Sydney from Monday–Friday. To order, head to the website. Images: Felicity Keep and Hipster Mum
One of the world's leading bartenders is landing in Sydney for an exclusive residence. Jim Meehan, founder of New York speakeasy-style bar PDT (Please Don't Tell) and winner of the prestigious James Beard award, is bringing his skills to Suntory Bar. For three months, Suntory Bar is taking over Whisky Thief in Sydney's Japanese dining hub, Prefecture 48. On Wednesday, August 27, Jim will be in town to serve a menu of exclusive highballs and cocktails inspired by his lengthy (and impressive) bar career. The world-renowned bartender is kicking off the series of guest takeovers at Suntory Bar, with more to come, so keep your eyes peeled. These cocktails include the Longball (a play on highball and oolong), which features Haku Vodka, oolong tea syrup and sparkling wine; the Peeking Duck, a Singapore-sling-inspired cocktail with Haku Vodka, mandarin liqueur, ginger beer, and orange juice; and the Dragonfly, a unique riff on the Ramos Gin Fizz that includes Roku Gin, oat milk and white crème de cacao. There'll be a number of other delicious cocktails to choose from at this one-night-only takeover, with limited seats. It's an exclusive chance to experience one of the most influential figures in hospitality serving behind the bar, so add it to your calendars. If you can't make it to see Jim in person, his cocktails will also stay on the menu for the rest of the week. Suntory Bar is open for walk-ins and bookings, Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm each week. Suntory Bar runs from Friday, August 8–Saturday, November 8 at Whisky Thief in Prefecture 48, 230 Sussex Street, Sydney. Jim Meehan's takeover is on Wednesday, August 27. For more details and bookings head to the website.
