The need for wellness doesn't take breaks, especially when life and the world start to get you down. But, in times like these, there's a major barrier blocking you from getting away from it all on an overseas adventure: when a dozen eggs cost an hour of work, how can we justify a plane ticket? The good news is that you've got some amazing getaways on your doorstep. Stop looking to Europe, Japan and the Pacific Islands when you can have the adventure of a lifetime just four hours south of Sydney — all for the price of petrol instead of a plane ticket. Home to beautiful vistas, quiet country towns, cutting-edge culinary adventures and enough wellness activities to strip away the stress of living in 2025, start your adventure in the Shoalhaven region with these experiences you couldn't find anywhere else. Berry: Heritage and Handiwork The supremely cosy town of Berry might be best known for a certain unnamed vehicle serving out freshly made fried desserts, but it's not all strolling and snacking; not when you've got the likes of other fabulous breakfast spots like the Queen St Cafe or artisans like Appleye and David Collins Pottery to keep you busy. The former is found on the busy main thoroughfare — just down from the aforementioned dessert van — and runs half-day silver smithing workshops to help you create fashionable bangles, rings and more. The latter is up the hill from Berry and will get you on a stool, wearing an apron and making pottery with a master — set upon the backdrop of one of the best bush views you've ever seen. Once you're feeling mighty proud of your accomplishments, return to the Berry township and enjoy a hearty meal at The Berry General Store or partake in a steaming cuppa with a perfectly paired slice of cake at the Berry Tea Shop before retiring for the night in the surprising Palm Springs-style luxury of The Berry View Hotel. Nowra: New Heights of Wellness Further to the south along the A1, Nowra sits at an intersection for travel through the Shoalhaven — and while some travellers break off to journey east or west, there's plenty to do in the surrounds of Nowra itself. If you've been in the car too long and need some fresh air, you'll probably find a decent breeze with a picnic. How about the Nowra alternative, a cliffnic, which adds verticality and vistas to your typical picnic experience? Too much? That's understandable. If you want to unwind with two feet firmly on the ground, you could attend a Vedic Meditation course at Be Here Nowra to really ground yourself. Or to nourish your body as much as your mind, pop by the First Nations-run Blak Cede Gunyah Cafe and Shop for a hearty feed of contemporary, bush tucker-fusion. [caption id="attachment_998739" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Tim Clark[/caption] Kangaroo Valley: A Walk on the Wild Side The Shoalhaven's own wild paradise, Kangaroo Valley, is countryside scenery at its very best, where heritage townscapes are backed by soaring escarpments and deep forests are home to all sorts of native wildlife. No trip to the Shoalhaven should ignore this verdant wonderland, but a scenic drive-through won't do it justice. You're much better off parking the car and exploring the region's forests, rivers and ridgelines via guided canoeing, walking or horseback tours, afterwards be sure to explore the quaint local village (and get a top-notch cup of coffee at Maddison's in the Valley). Once you've had your fill of adventuring, you needn't drive up the steep hillsides in search of a quality stay since the valley is home to all sorts of cosy accommodations. Our pick? A cottage property with boutique-yet-luxury stays for groups, Barranca. Get your fix of comfy beds with bushland views and toasty firepits for a slice of privacy without leaving the valley. [caption id="attachment_998742" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Jason Bowen[/caption] Jervis Bay: Relaxation on Land and Adventure by Sea The blue gem of the Shoalhaven, Jervis Bay, is a beating heart of maritime merriment for all of NSW and plays host to some of the most memorable aquatic adventures around. For one, Jervis Bay is home to thriving marine wildlife populations year-round, with everything from dolphin and whale watching for the casual ocean-goer to marine encounter freediving for those who prefer to get up close and personal. On dry land, you're still spoilt for choice. Don't get into bed too early, or else you'll miss an accessible tour of our celestial neighbourhood with Jervis Bay Stargazing. If you prefer a daylight adventure, the surrounding area of Booderee National Park is well worth exploring in full. When it's time to put your feet up or hang your swimmers out to dry, you could do so in the Jervis Bay grounds of the aforementioned Barranca, the cosy Huskisson-adjacent cabins of Bay and Bush or the nearby luxury Paperbark glamping site. Milton: Float, Flow and Frolic Heading south to Milton, this sunny coastal town is ideal for some serious R&R after extensive adventuring. Earn that rest by getting your legs moving and hitting the trails on Pigeon House Mountain Didthul . Wear some high-grade shoes, be prepared for slopes and even scale some ladders; but the payoff will be some properly breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding region. Now you've earned a day off from rigorous physical exercise. If you must, you can still enjoy some easy exercise that's good for the soul at Om Sweet Om Yoga. If you want pure, unadulterated unwinding time, make a beeline for The Heal Zone Milton, where you can enjoy a private space with infrared saunas and cold plunges for both ends of the wellness spectrum. Mollymook: Surf and Spa Our southernmost stop is scenic Mollymook, where the seas are blue and the surf is absolutely pumping. In fact, Mollymook is regarded as one of the best surf beaches in the country, so it makes sense that trailblazing pro surfer Pam Burridge would set up a surf school here. Pam offers tutoring for surfers young and old, beginner and intermediate, and more in-depth three-day surf and wellness retreats for the especially interested. Beyond the surf, but still on the coast, is one of Mollymook's most famous attractions: Bannisters by the Sea. While this picturesque hotel has a lot to offer guests, what's most caught our eye is the spa. After all that sun and surf, you probably need a bit of relaxation, and there's no better way to do it than scrubs, massages and infrared saunas at Spa by the Sea. Explore the Shoalhaven region and uncover your own wellness escape.
On Saturday, February 16 and Sunday, February 17, 2019, the Royal Botanic Garden will be hosting its annual Tomato Festival for the sixth consecutive year. As well as eating tomatoes — obviously — it'll feature an abundance of cooking demonstrations, talks, tips and tricks that are guaranteed to inspire your creations in the kitchen. If cooking doesn't suit your weekend relaxing plans, take part in the Longest Tomato Lunch, a dining table that stretches 70 metres long on the Garden's foreshore lawn. No surprising for guessing the main ingredient on the menu — yes, you'll indulge in an Italian and tomato-inspired meal, with award-winning chef Luca Ciano putting together the menu. The 2019 fest promises more stalls, more food and beverage offerings and more places to sit — and, as usual, highlights include pop-up bar and cafes, a mandala made out of tomatoes, a produce market filled with some of Sydney's highest quality produce, and taste testing a-plenty. Tomatoes will be judged on their colour and smell, and you'll be able to witness some of the best in show, from the best local and homegrown farmers. Just don't wear white. Images: Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney.
Northern Beaches hotel Manly Pacific has unveiled the results of its $30-million transformation. The extensive revamp features next-level wellness suites, a sparkling new facade, a rooftop pool and multiple bars primed for tourists on the hunt for a distinctly Australian beach stay — or Sydneysiders looking to get out of the city for a staycation. As first announced in 2022, and overseen by local designers Coco Republic, the hotel now boasts 213 revamped rooms, all of which come with a sleek coastal-inspired fitout, a stacked minibar filled with local, independently made products, and access to the hotel's newly upgraded facilities. On entry to the lobby, you'll discover 55 North, an eclectic adjoined bar consisting of timber veneers and paved marble. This inviting drinking hole offers hotel guests and Northern Beaches residents the opportunity to enjoy a cocktail with an ocean view. [caption id="attachment_884496" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 55 North[/caption] Elsewhere in the hotel sits two dining options — Japanese restaurant Tokyo Joe and French diner Bistro Manly — plus a rooftop pool with its own bar serving up caviar, lobster and champagne, and a range of wellness facilities and packages. Guests can visit the infrared sauna adjacent to the pool and the neighbouring Manly Beach Health Club. Or, if you're looking to head offsite for some leisure, you can book surfing lessons, kayaking, beach yoga and massages through the hotel. While these standard stays are already overflowing with laidback coastal luxury, the new Manly Pacific also boasts a selection of deluxe rooms that will really take things up a notch. There are nine two-bedroom Coastal Suites equipped with sweeping ocean views, plus a customisable wellness menu featuring a Peloton bike and classes, a yoga mat, Leif skincare, LaGaia face masks and a nightly turn-down service. The real big-hitter, however, is The Infinity Residence. This all-out luxury one-bedroom suite comes equipped with everything you could ever think of for a beachside stay — and then some. Guests who splurge on The Infinity Residence will be treated to a 177-square-metre room with underfloor heating, a fireplace, a kitchenette, a free-standing bathtub, a 100-square-metre private terrace and a premium mini-bar. The extremely lavish experience also comes with a beach butler who will set up towels, umbrellas and an outdoor dining table for up to eight people on request, and the ability to book a sea plane flight from Rose Bay. Completing the revamp of the accommodation is the introduction of dog-friendly rooms so that you can book a stay with your four-legged pals, and specific work-from-hotel packages that help facilitate working staycations, including a study table, unlimited coffee, complimentary room-service lunches and a knock-off cocktail at 5pm. [caption id="attachment_884492" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Infinity Residence[/caption] Manly Pacific is located at 55 N Steyne, Manly.
Sydney Festival turns 50 in 2026, and it's marking the milestone with a citywide celebration of culture and connection. From January 8–25, the annual summer spectacular will take over stages, parks and galleries — plus unexpected spaces like alleyways, pools and even a working funeral home — for a three-week program spanning theatre, dance, music, cabaret, visual art and immersive experiences. It's all designed to spark imagination and reframe how we experience art in the city. The 2026 program — the first under new Festival Director Kris Nelson — puts multi-generational storytelling front and centre. That includes everything from the world premiere of Virginia Gay's roller derby-meets-theatre hybrid Mama Does Derby, which transforms Sydney Town Hall into a full-scale derby track, to Dear Son, a moving stage adaptation by Thomas Mayo of intimate letters between First Nations fathers and sons. Over at AOC On The Pier, American polymath Lonnie Holley will lead two nights of improvised jam sessions, joined by elder Kankawa Nagarra and emerging Sydney neo-soul vocalist Yasmina Sadiki. The outdoors will be just as lively. Live at Hickson Road: Effectos Especiales sees trailblazing Argentinian filmmaker Alejo Moguillansky turn Walsh Bay into an action-packed live movie set, with festivalgoers invited to play extra or spectator. Meanwhile, the much-loved Sydney Symphony Under the Stars relocates to Tumbalong Park for a special 50th-anniversary edition beneath the night sky. And in Darling Harbour, acclaimed sculptor Julia Phillips' Observer, Observed makes its international debut after a year-long installation on New York City's High Line, inviting passers-by to peer into a giant pair of bronze binoculars — only to find their own eyes broadcast live on a nearby screen. Theatre and dance lovers will have plenty to choose from. At Roslyn Packer Theatre, LACRIMA (pictured below) is a sweeping, multilingual epic from French director Caroline Guiela Nguyen tracing the global creation of a royal wedding gown, from Parisian ateliers to embroiderers in Mumbai. British actor and activist Khalid Abdalla blends the personal and political in his genre-defying solo work Nowhere, while South Korean choreographer Eun-Me Ahn brings her kaeidoscopic Post-Orientalist Express to town for a rare Australian appearance. And in EXXY, Dan Daw revisits the early memories and identities that shaped his celebrated practice as a queer, disabled dance artist. [caption id="attachment_1044135" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jean Louis Fernandez[/caption] Cabaret also forms a core part of the program. Comedy firebrand Reuben Kaye storms the Sydney Opera House for one night only — and with an 18-piece ensemble, no less — with enGORGEd, his flashiest show to date, while WAKE, by boundary-pushing Dublin troupe THISISPOPBABY, combines breakdancing, tap, aerial artistry, slam poetry and live music as it reimagines the traditional Irish wake. Other cabaret highlights include Bad Hand, a raw, big-hearted musical memoir by theatre and screen star Natalie Abbott and a stirring tribute to Nina Simone featuring the commanding vocals of Ursula Yovich. There's also a stacked music lineup. London synth-pop darlings Hot Chip return to the Sydney Opera House for two euphoric nights, while UK singer-songwriter Paris Paloma brings her feminist anthems to City Recital Hall. Elsewhere, global club favourite Nooriyah teams up with DJ Habibeats for a high-energy set, while South London's Raf-Saperra brings his electrifying fusion of Punjabi folk, garage and drill to Sydney for the first time. And in addition to Holley's improvised jams, ACO On The Pier will also welcome Mongolian jazz vocalist Enji, Indigenous Mexican hip-hop powerhouse Mare Advertencia and genre-bending Persian-Aotearoan artist CHAII (pictured below). Sydney Festival's revered Blak Out program also returns for its final year under Creative Artist in Residence Jacob Nash. Highlights include Lucy Simpson's sculptural installation series HELD at Barangaroo, which will also serve as the setting for Vigil: Belong, a moving sunset ceremony honouring songlines, ancestry and Country by the artist's sister, musician and writer Nardi Simpson. Also on the billing: Garabari, a massive outdoor dance ritual that transforms Sydney Opera House's Northern Boardwalk into an openair dance floor, Bangarra Dance Theatre's The Bogong's Song: A Call to Country, an all-ages journey into the Dreaming and Redfern Renaissance, which celebrates the art and activism of the 1970s National Black Theatre through performance readings and conversations. Rounding out the program is the expanded Summer School, which turns galleries, pools, laneways and a working funeral home into pop-up classrooms for workshops and talks, plus a suite of family-friendly highlights like WAVERIDER, staged on a giant inflatable wave at Bondi Pavilion.
Sunny springtime afternoons are just around the corner, and to ring it in, Sydney's Primus Hotel has just announced it will open its luxe rooftop bar to the public. The poolside bar atop the five-star hotel has been open since 2015 — but, up until now, it has been restricted to guests. But from September 1, Level Seven will be a space for everyone to enjoy, complete with lush greenery, sophisticated styling, and some pretty stellar city views. It's the kind of urban oasis you're going to want to have on-hand over the coming warmer months, for after-work drinks in the nautical-themed cabanas, weekend cocktails by the pool, and late-night libations beneath the rows of twinkling fairy lights. The drinks list is far from basic as well; expect customised Champagne cocktails crafted on Veuve Clicquot Rich, a signature rosé spritz, and a range of cocktail popsicles befitting the breezy poolside location. A menu of casual bites by the hotel's executive chef Daniel Menzies will feature plenty of oysters to sit alongside that bubbly. You can make bookings for large groups, and sundown DJ sets will help those weekend afternoon sips glide easily into the night. Level Seven will open on level seven of the Primus Hotel, 339 Pitt Street, Sydney on Friday, September 1. For more info, visit primushotelsydney.com.
Shopping at this time of the year can be a lot — a lot of people, a lot of running around and a lot of money spent. You deserve a sip of something special while you're out and about this holiday season. David Jones and Veuve Clicquot have teamed up to help you treat yourself amongst all the madness this summer with an in-store pop-up champagne bar. Running till January 5, the bar has popped up at David Jones Elizabeth Street Level 7 Designer Shoes. It's offering glasses of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label, Veuve Clicquot Rosé and gourmet cheeses, allowing you to feel extra fancy as you browse some luxury footwear. So, if you're planning on heading to the CBD store to grab some last minute gifts or wanting to hit up the sales in the new year, make a beeline to the bar and sip fine French bubbles. For $60, you'll get a cheese platter and champagne for two. Otherwise, its $25 for a glass and $12.95 for just the cheese. The Veuve Clicquot Champagne Pop-Up Bar at David Jones Elizabeth Street Level 7 Designer Shoes will be open at various times until January 5. It'll be closed Christmas Day. Images: Esteban La Tessa.
Beginning as Dustin Payseur's bedroom pop project, Brooklyn's Beach Fossils showed an immediate knack for jangly lo-fi gems, with 2010's 'Daydream' delivering them instant hype band status. Since then, they've continued to knock out slacker pop gems and have expanded their lineup to include four touring members. This year's Clash the Truth was their second full-length and saw them ditch the bedroom for a high-end studio, and producer Ben Greenberg was enlisted to give the songs a new sheen. Beach Fossils have managed to evolve without losing what initially set them apart. While the production values are better than before, that familiar reverb-drenched sound and Payseur's distinctive laconic vocals remains their stock-in-trade, and Payseur's ability to write unassuming but incessantly catchy songs remains undiminished. In their first Australian headline shows, fans can expect Clash the Truth highlights like 'Careless' and 'Shallow' in a live show noted for its energy. https://youtube.com/watch?v=iOEqwcdrjOY
Judy Garland may be the quintessential Dorothy, but she wasn't the first. Fourteen years before Garland followed the yellow brick road in glorious Technicolor, Dorothy Dwan did so in Larry Semon's silent film. Largely lost from the cinematic history books (the film bankrupted its production company and distribution was therefore squandered), Semon's take on L. Frank Baum's famous tale will now be screened as part of the Opera House's Screen Live series. Australian pianist Jan Preston will be on hand to provide live musical accompaniment. Preston is no stranger to silent film, having composed and recorded music for Fritz Lang's 1928 classic The Spy. Fans of Dorothy and her motley crew of friends will be sure to delight in this original filmic adaptation, which will be introduced by Jay Katz from the Mu Meson Archives. https://youtube.com/watch?v=nX5g0AOy53U
Maybe you jumped on the Saltburn bandwagon early, catching Promising Young Woman filmmaker Emerald Fennell's second feature when it was in cinemas. Perhaps you saw the Barry Keoghan (The Banshees of Inisherin)- and Jacob Elordi (Euphoria)-starring thriller when it hit streaming over Christmas. Either way, once you watched the movie, you were probably as obsessed as Oliver Quick is about Felix Catton — and after you've ordered your Jacob Elordi's bathwater candle, you can hit up a party that's all about paying tribute to the instant cult-favourite flick. A series of shindigs is touring Australia, kicking off at Sydney's Oxford Art Factory on Thursday, January 25. From there, the Saltburn soirées will head to Ballers Clubhouse in Melbourne on Saturday, February 3, then to The Court in Perth on Friday, February 16. Come Saturday, March 2, it's Brisbane's turn at The Wickham. What does celebrating one of 2023's best movies at a boozy party entail? Dressing like it's Oliver's birthday party, for starters. From there, you'll enjoy a 'Murder on the Dancefloor' sing-along — even though you won't be dancing naked around a mansion — as well as crooning karaoke and hearing 'Mr Brightside', all while sipping Bathtub Brew, Grave Grinding Gulp and Felix's Fangirl Fizz drink specials. If you're keen to add some sparkle to your look while you're there, there'll be a free glitter bar. And the best-dressed attendee at each shindig will win a prize. In the film, Keoghan plays Oliver, who arrives at Oxford University as part of the future class of 2006, but finds himself stuck as an outsider among his well-off classmates. Enter Elordi as Felix Catton, the charming campus favourite who gains a helping hand in Oliver, then invites his new pal to his family's eponymous estate for the summer. Fennell won a rightly deserved Oscar for her Promising Young Woman script, and reteams with Carey Mulligan (Maestro) again here. Also demonstrating the actor (The Crown)-turned-filmmaker's knack for casting: 2023 Academy Award-nominee Keoghan, aka one of the screen's most interesting and talented rising stars, plus Elordi, Rosamund Pike (The Wheel of Time), Richard E Grant (Persuasion) and Lolly Adefope (Miracle Workers). As Felix's sister Venetia, Conversations with Friends' Alison Oliver is similarly excellent — as is Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story's Archie Madekwe as fellow Oxford student and Catton cousin Farleigh. 'SALTBURN' PARTY AUSTRALIAN TOUR: Thursday, January 25 — Oxford Art Factory, Sydney Saturday, February 3 — Ballers Clubhouse, Melbourne Friday, February 16 — The Court, Perth Saturday, March 2 — The Wickham, Brisbane Saltburn parties are touring Australia from January–March 2024. Saltburn is available to stream via Prime Video. Read our review.
It's little surprise New Year's Eve celebrations are set to look a little different for 2020, thanks to a certain global pandemic. But if you've got a thing for good food, you're sure to be pretty chuffed with the brand-new event helping Melburnians wrap up the year in style. Descending on popular dining precincts across the CBD and beyond on Thursday, December 31 and Friday, January 1, is the inaugural New Year Street Feasts. The event is a collaborative effort between the City of Melbourne, the Victorian Government and Melbourne Food & Wine Festival (MFWF), which was itself postponed and then cancelled this year due to COVID-19. Featuring offerings from dozens of local bars and restaurants, it promises to help you make up for lost time on the wining and dining front. And tickets are on sale now. [caption id="attachment_791281" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jake Roden[/caption] Eleven outdoor dining precincts will be created for the festival, appearing in top culinary spots like Flinders Lane, Little Bourke Street and Domain Road. Nearby venues from each precinct will be on board, serving up a jam-packed program of special menus and feasting experiences. Pulling inspiration from the famed piazzas of Europe, the pop-up outdoor dining set-ups will see thousands more restaurant seats added to Melbourne's streets for the occasion. You might find yourself tucking into a six-course unauthentic Indian feast at Jessi Singh's Daughter in Law, a Spanish-inspired Bomba dinner complete with heirloom tomato gazpacho and buttermilk-braised lamb shoulder, or perhaps a Bar Margaux soiree featuring champagne cocktails and roast duck. Though, with a wide lineup of venues involved, including everyone from Pellegrini's to Chin Chin and Tipo 00 to Sunda, you might find it hard to pick just one feed. Better clear that calendar, stock up on stretchy pants and dive right in. New Year Street Feasts will run at various locations across the city from Thursday, December 31 to Friday, January 1. To check out the full program and make bookings, head to the MFWF website. Top image: Bar Margaux by Parker Blain
Peter Jo, better known in the industry as 'Kimchi Pete', boasts a resume from the likes of Sydney's Berta, Momofuku Seiobo and the now-closed 121BC and Melbourne's Belles Hot Chicken. While working as a sommelier at the aforementioned venues, the self-taught chef has also been in the kitchen for a host of pop-ups. Luckily, his latest venture is more permanent. This month, Jo opened the doors to his first solo venue Restaurant Shik. The new Korean diner along Niagara Lane is combining a family-style, ethically sourced menu with an expertly curated wine list. The restaurant is inspired by the food Jo grew up with, having started out at his parent's popular Korean barbecue joints, Madang and Danjee in Sydney's CBD. He has continued to expand his knowledge and love of the cuisine, with a keen interested in how it fits into the Australian dining culture. The restaurant offers casual dining for 65 guests — bar seating included. The concise menu uses traditional recipes and techniques like lacto-fermentation, salt-preservation, curing, pickling and drying. Jo has also worked closely with farmers, foragers, producers and suppliers to source ethical, sustainable and fresh Aussie ingredients. He aims to demonstrate the scope of Korean cuisine, splitting the family-style menu into four sections: entrée, grilled, braised and banchan (traditional side dishes). Think pig skin terrine with garlic chive dressing, kimchi-marinated grilled pork neck and braised blue mackerel with Korean radish and chrysanthemum leaf. The banchan includes seasonal kimchi along with jangajji (pickled veg) in perilla leaf, green tomato and Korean cucumber varieties. The wine list is an epic sommelier's collaboration between Jo, Liz Carey (ex-somm at Semi Permanent) and Josh Begbie (ex-Embla), who will act as the restaurant's sommelier going forward. Like the menu, the wines are similarly concise but diverse, focusing on eco-conscious vineyards. It is sure to have some extra special drops on there – as to be expected from this caliber of wine minds. Restaurant Shik is now open at 30 Niagara Lane, Melbourne. Opening hours are Monday through Saturday from 5pm to 11pm.
If you've been missing Mr Wong's special fried rice, Totti's puffy woodfired bread and Bert's duck liver pâté, we have some good news. While you currently can't go and dine at these restaurants, they can come to you, thanks to Merivale at Home. The Sydney hospitality giant has launched a new delivery service, which is bringing signature meals from its most popular restaurants right to your dining table. Launching on Monday, April 6, Merivale at Home features a weekly rotating lineup of menus from the group's restaurants, each costing $70–95 for two. Week one includes Mr Wong's king prawn wontons, kung pao chicken, steamed barramundi and fried rice for ($95); Bert's brioche rolls, duck liver pâté, prime rib, crushed potatoes and butter lettuce salad (for $95); and a vegetarian menu from Paddington's Fred's with whole roasted cauliflower, jewelled rice with sultanas, chopped tomato salad and chocolate mousse (for $80). There's also a pizza-heavy menu from Vinnie's — with prosciutto, mortadella, burrata, salad and two pizzas — for $70, and a selection of pasta, cheeses and meats from Totti's in Bondi for ($90), which is continuing to offer its own pick-up takeaway service every night from 5–10pm and lunches on weekdays, including Good Friday. All the meals arrive "nearly ready to eat", so you just need to add the finishing touches, which is doable by a cooking novice, supposedly, and doesn't require the skills of Dan Hong (Mr Wong) or Danielle Alvarez (Fred's). [caption id="attachment_766987" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fred's at Home[/caption] For special occasions — a date night with your housemate, say, Easter or just that you made it to Wednesday — you can also add on a drinks pack ($40–115) of wines and cocktails selected by Merivale Master Sommelier Franck Moreau and Group Bars Manager Sam Egerton to pair with each menu. Wines, cocktails and beers are available to purchase separately, too. If you prefer to do your own cooking, Merivale at Home also offers produce boxes ($60–100) from some of its suppliers. So, you can get fruit and veg from Parisi, restaurant-quality meats from Haverick, and mussels and snapper from Poulous Bros — without having to make tracks to a supermarket. Each box comes with recipe idea from Alvarez, too. Merivale temporarily closed all of its restaurant and bars in late March, in response to the government's ordered close of non-essential indoor venues, while it worked out "how to best operate under the government's new takeaway and home delivery guidelines". Since then, it has launched Pick Up at Totti's and, now, Merivale at Home. To find out more and order from Merivale at Home, head to the website. Orders must be submitted by midnight Monday, April 6 to arrive on Thursday, April 9. Top images: Mr Wong, Bert's, Vinnie's and Totti's.
Arcade Fire already established themselves long ago as pioneers in the realm of music video interactivity: 'We Used to Wait' used HTML5 and Google Maps to feature the viewer's own home in the video, and a flock of new windows popped open all over your screen as the song progressed, birds flying in each of them. 'Neon Bible' similarly tapped new technology to create a fresh way of experiencing the band's sounds. Now the band has shown it has the finger on the pulse once again, with a dazzling interactive video (one of two videos, actually) for their song 'Reflektor'. Between its groovy beat and whisperings in French, 'Reflektor' is already uber cool. But the video Just A Reflektor, filmed in Haiti, is next level: a short film whose visuals you can affect, just so long as you have three basics of the modern tech era: Google Chrome, a computer webcam and a tablet or smartphone. That's when the real magic begins. Director Vincent Morisset takes us on a journey with a beautiful young woman who switches between her world and ours. Dancers in motion-tracking costumes, gyroscopes and mixed video assets add to the technological melee. Depending on how close you wield your handheld device to the screen, and its tilt, you can watch the action unfold from a variety of viewpoints and both conceal and reveal what you're seeing via whacky kaleidoscopic tunnel vision. Presto: the theme of reflection is seamlessly woven into the multimedia experience, with light effects swimming over the screen at your command in ways that are totally mesmeric and super fun to play with. The team consciously aimed for a strong visual metaphor that would chime with the song's lyrics, as you can see in the behind the scenes video below. They've even made it possible for computer geeks to mess around with the code, which is downloadable from the Just A Reflektor Technology page. Via PSFK
Print is dead, or so we've been told for the past few years. Newspaper sales are down, Borders and Angus & Robertson stores are closing their doors and our attention shifts more and more to computer monitors. But is it a full stop or just another stage in the cycle? The nature of books is changing. They are moving online but aren't remaining stagnant in their form. A more discerning palette for information is leading readers to different forms of consumption. The same person might skim through the paper online, read a Kindle Single (a digital book a seventh the size of a regular book) during their lunch-break, flick through a broadsheet on the train home and indulge in a traditional hardcover before bed. The prophecies that people aren't reading anymore are unfounded. Readers are just diversifying their source. With traditional bookstores feeling the backlash from this new plethora of information outlets, unconventional ventures could prove the way forward. Ed's Martian Book is the creation of author Andrew Kessler, and sells over three thousand books. Well three thousand copies of the one book. His book. Although not the most financially sound move, Kessler freely admitting "I'm not a very good businessperson." He has sold a few hundred copies but at least his book is getting some attention in this store. Instead of ruthlessly vying for the attention of customers with displays and discounts, in his store he is guaranteed an audience. The current state of affairs in publishing has been reached through the advance of technology but it wasn't a march towards an ideal, but rather a winding road of adaptation. Visual Loop recently teamed up with Brazilian designer, Flavia Marinho, to cover the history of printing. What it reveals is the rise of the book, the rise of the newspaper, the fall of the book, the rise of the novel, the collapse of newspapers, the rise of the magazine, the resurrection of the newspaper and so on. Overall it shows a trend of peaks and troughs, it has happened before, it is happening now and it is going to happen again. Whether tablet PCs will destroy print media is yet to be seen, but there's something to be said about the smell of a new book, the feel of paper between your fingers and the satisfaction from a finished book on the nightstand that can't be mimicked by a computer. Well not yet at least.
The average ambler wouldn't want to hike up Ball's Pyramid. At its peak, this incredibly steep structure is 551 metres above sea level, making it the largest volcanic stack in the world. The jagged spearhead juts out of the ocean around 23 kilometres southeast of Lord Howe Island, like a solo spine of a giant stegosaurus. You can visit the monolith up-close to snap truly epic pics on popular sightseeing boat tours, or get to know the cave systems beneath on a scuba diving or snorkelling trip. You'll encounter all manner of marine life on underwater excursions, including sea turtles, massive schools of marlin and wahoo, and rare species like the ballina angelfish and the luminous spanish dancer sea slug. Image: Destination NSW
Ground-level drinks are so passé these days. While a majority of Sydney's bars remain firmly on the street level, Sydneysiders can't get enough of moving their catch-ups either up into the sky or down below the ground with the swath of fantastic rooftop and underground bars opening throughout the city. With new Clarence Street venue Ginny's Canoe Club, the Old Mate's Place team has seemingly cornered both markets, offering both sky-high and subterranean drinks at the same address. Ginny's Canoe Club will just be around for a limited time in the former site of Spawn Point on Clarence Street, as the Old Mate's Place team prepares for the next reincarnation of this space. After experiencing delays on the big plans for the building's basement, the team has created a pop-up venue that brings the energy of Old Mate's downstairs, filling the space with accommodating staff and a playful assortment of knick knacks and antiques. The menu is built around tacos, cocktails and wine. Chef Joey Astorga (ex-Cho Cho San and Smalls Deli) has helped pull together the selection of share plates, snacks and late-night eats. If you do arrive taco-ready, there are four flavours on offer — jerk mushroom, eggplant, squid and a fancy take on fish fingers. Accompanying the tacos are oysters with pineapple hot sauce, crab sandwiches, mussel tostadas, zucchini flower quesadillas and Albacore tuna with avocado and nori. There's also an after-hours menu that's only available from 10pm — helping to combat Sydney's severe lack of late-night restaurants. Here you'll find highlights from the pre-10pm menu like the tostadas and quesadillas alongside oysters, chips with dip and olives. The team has worked to pull together a refined wine list that compliments the food, and enlisted the help of RE's Evan Stroeve who's concocted an assortment of flavoursome cocktails. And, as for the name, it's derived from Old Mate's Place crew member Corky's mum. Director and Owner Dre Walters tells Concrete Playground that "she is so hospitable and fun that we wanted to name it after her, and the canoe club didn't have as good a ring to it as when you put Ginny in front of it." Ginny's Canoe Club is located at the basement level of 199 Clarence Street, Sydney. It's open 5pm–1am Wednesday–Sunday. Images: Chris Pearce
It's one of the world's biggest sporting goods retail brands, found in over 30 countries and dubbed by many as 'the ALDI of activewear'. And now, France's famed Decathlon — which launched an online store here last year — has physically hit Aussie shores, yesterday opening the doors to an enormous Sydney flagship store. Located in Tempe Retail Park next to Ikea, the new space is a monster 3800 square metres, stocked with an impressive 7000 sport-related products and promising savings galore. And to see locals happily through the festive season, it's set to stay open 24/7 for the next two weeks. If you've got a sports nut or fitness fiend in your life, put this one at the very top of your Christmas shopping hit-list. CEO of Decathlon Australia Mr Olivier Robinet said that the company wants to make sport accessible to all locals. "Australians are some of the most active people in the world, the whole country is like a playground," he explained. "Until now many Australians have had to spend hundreds of dollars to get a quality product. Decathlon has now changed this." So how cheap is it? Well, a pair of yoga pants range will set you back between $12 and $40, while a two-person tent is $30. More than just a standard store, Decathlon's Tempe venue also features dedicated active zones, where customers can roadtest certain products, and its own community sporting areas, where local sports clubs can host sign-up days, barbecues and fundraising events. Find Decathlon at Tempe Retail Park, 634–726 Princes Highway, Tempe. The store will be open 24/7 in the lead-up to Christmas and then 5am till midnight in 2018. For more info, visit decathlon.com.au. Image: Decathlon via Facebook.
ENESS, the team behind 2022's Airship Orchestra, is back with another magical inflatable installation, appearing in Tumbalong Park as part of Sydney Festival. Following the success of its previous luminous larger-than-life figures, the Melbourne-based design studio is back with another dose of public art plucked from your wildest imagination. This time around, with the addition of water, these six-metre-tall figures are also helping you cool off through summer. [caption id="attachment_874184" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sam Roberts Photography[/caption] As the name suggests, Cupid's Koi Garden takes inspiration from cheeky cupid water fountains, pairing ENESS' interpretation of the famed winged baby with a family of inflatable koi fish. These colourful figures are all equipped with water jets spraying choreographed spurts of water paired with motion-tracking LED lights and a playful soundtrack. All up, it creates a multi-sensory world that's designed to both spark wonder and help you beat the heat. Head to Darling Harbour to discover this free, family-friendly playground of light, sound and art. Open daily for little ones and kidults alike, the immersive activation is running throughout the festival until Sunday, January 29. [caption id="attachment_884090" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dianna Snape Photography[/caption]
Although the holidays are over, the sun is still shining and Sydney's favourite season is now in full swing. But, summertime doesn't need to be all about sand and surf. When you're not hanging by the beach, why not head to the CBD to get your cultural kicks? This summer, The Rocks Goes Pop — a series of pop-up events — has your artsy side sorted, with the precinct's cobblestone laneways jam-packed with art tours, themed high teas, outdoor sweat sessions and weekend markets peddling locally crafted goods. We've partnered with The Rocks to help you plan an activity-filled day out in the area, so all you have to do is pencil in a day in your diary. [caption id="attachment_787817" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lindy Lee, 'Secret World of a Starlight Ember' (2020), installation view, 'Lindy Lee: Moon in a Dew Drop', Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, 2020, stainless steel, image courtesy of the artist and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney. Photograph: Anna Kucera[/caption] THE ROCKS ART TRAIL If you really want to get to know these cobblestone streets from a cultural perspective, spend the day following The Rocks Art Trail. Curated by Sydney artist Squidinki, the tour will guide you through the area's latest galleries, artisanal shops and creative spaces. To help you on your way, Squidinki has created a custom map of The Rocks highlighting 22 art retailers, which include everything from Indigenous art at Argyle Gallery to steampunk jewellery at AHW Studio, and surrealist art at Billich Gallery, plus local makers, boutique shops aplenty and, of course, the MCA. To download the map, head to the website, or keep an eye out for the QR codes in participating store windows. [caption id="attachment_790083" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Kucera[/caption] GIN AND TONING In the latest line of booze-fuelled exercise classes, The Rocks is hosting a weekly Gin and Toning event over summer. Running each Wednesday from January 13 through February 24, it kicks off at 5.30pm with a free one-hour pilates class at First Fleet Park. Following your sweat session, you'll receive a free gin cocktail voucher (in the form of a Mahjong tile) for post-pilates bevvies at Sergeant Lok that evening. The cocktail in question is called Never Say Never and the deal is only available to those who attend the class, of course. No bookings are required, but the maximum pilates class size is capped at 30 — so first in, best dressed. For more information, head here. [caption id="attachment_785522" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lindy Lee 'No Up, No Down, I Am the Ten Thousand Things' , Lindy Lee: Moon in a Dew Drop, MCA. Image credit: Anna Kucera[/caption] LINDY LEE: MOON IN A DEW DROP AT MCA Any cultural trip to The Rocks should include a stop at the Museum of Contemporary Art — especially this summer, when the blockbuster retrospective of Australian Chinese artist Lindy Lee is on. Lindy Lee: Moon in a Dew Drop has taken over the Museum until February 28 and features over 70 works from the artist's illustrious career. Expect Lee's early photocopy works, newly commissioned sculptures and even whole-room installations. And, we've even picked out six must-see works, should you be short on time. Best of all, the exhibition is free to attend. [caption id="attachment_797555" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Kucera[/caption] THE ROCKS MARKETS A mainstay in the precinct, The Rocks Markets is particularly worth a visit over the warmer months. Running every Friday through Sunday, the markets is your go-to spot for picking up goodies such as jewellery, cosmetics, textiles, candles, leather goods, quirky homewares, hand-crafted chocolates and more. You can expect the usual makers to be there, with stalls selling the likes of vibrant prints from Emilio Frank Designs, fashionable threads from Ederbyanna, fun picnic blankets from Glorious Difference and adorable children's clothes from Applecart Co. There's also heaps of gourmet street food to keep you fuelled and harbourside views to enjoy while you're at it. For more stall details, head here. AUSSIE HIGH TEA AT THE TEA COSY Once you've taken in all of the art and culture you can handle — and shopped till you've (almost) dropped — it's time to enjoy a relaxing bite to eat. Go for something beyond the usual pub feed and sit down to an Australian-themed high tea at The Tea Cosy instead. The elegant affair is offered from 10am–3pm every day between January 20–26 and will see you feasting on an array of sweet and savoury delights. Think scones, fancy pies, prawn sangas and the Tea Cosy's signature fairy bread. The entire sitting will be served with Australian sparkling wine and Billy Tea, with a Dame Edna impersonator hanging around from 11am–2pm on January 26, too. Check out more pop-up events happening in The Rocks this summer over here. Top image: Destination NSW
Things have come a long way since your ma or pa tied a threadbare rope to a used tyre, slung it over a branch and hoped for the best. These days, swings are manifesting as art, cutting-edge design concepts and even political statements. Not that any of this takes away from their primary purpose: fun. Jumping on a swing, kicking back in the air and letting the world go by can be a tiny reminder that we don't have to be all serious all of the time. In the words of George Bernard Shaw, "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." Whether you're a stuntman who doesn't even acknowledge a swing unless it's at least 20 metres above the ground, a socialite who wouldn't mind hosting a swinging dinner party, or a more peaceful type who's keen on some quiet time and a good view, you're bound to find a swing here that'll bring out the little kid in you. The World's Largest Rope Swing Just watching this in action will get your stomach churning. Thrill seeker (and maniac?) Devin Graham made the world's largest rope swing famous last year when his YouTube clip went viral, receiving over 20 million hits. Harnessed to a 45-metre long rope, he freefalls for over 35 metres before swinging back and forth in an enormous arc, coming dangerously close to the rock face. The swing is located at Corona Arch in the desert country of Moab, Utah. Double Happiness French-Portugese architect Didier Fiuza Faustino transformed this billboard into a swing set for two. He describes his "nomad piece of urban furniture" as a response to "the society of materialism where individual desires seem to be prevailing over all". It was erected in 2009 for the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Bi-City Biennial of Urbanism and Architecture. Waterfall Swing Dash 7 Design presented this marvel at the 2011 World Maker Faire, New York City, and it also features in a Honda Civic ad. Swingers get their thrills by narrowly escaping a cascading wall of water each time they pass under the steel beam. Two hundred and seventy-three independently functioning solenoid valves control the liquid movement. What's more, the swing has the capacity to print water letters of up to 270 pixels in width. Memorial Swing Polish artist Kamila Szejnoch came up with this concept for a 2008 public space project in Warsaw titled Carousel Slide Swing. The swing is slung over the hand of a statue that represents a memorial to the soldiers of Berling's Army, who fought under the auspices of the Soviet Union's Red Army in the Second World War. According to Szejnoch, the swing is all about opening up a dialogue between the present and the past. Swinging Dining Table For $11,000, you can have the whole dinner party swinging. This one is the brainchild of Christopher Duffy of Duffy London design studio. Each of the eight chairs moves independently, and a lampshade is suspended above the centre of the table. It is definitely a good way to guarantee conversation, plus it makes life much easier for whoever's doing the vacuuming. Musical Swings Designers Mouna Andraos and Melissa Mongiat of Daily Tous Les Jours design studio came up with this for Montreal's Quartier Des Spectacles. The piece consists of 21 different swings, each of which 'plays' a different note once it starts to move. Only by working together can the swingers create a coherent song. The project seeks to highlight the importance of cooperation and the joy of collective experience. 'Mua' Swing This one is so cute that it was kind of difficult to leave it off the list. Designer Victor Aleman describes the 'mua' swing as "furniture where love happens". It's made of steel wrapped in wicker, and the interior features cosy red cushions. An Enclosure for a Swing Winner of the 4th CDL Sculpture Award (2009), this is located in Bishan Park, Singapore. It aims to make visible the usually private space that surrounds an individual when he/she is swinging in isolation. The wavy shapes of the steel appear to contract and expand as the swing moves back and forth. Swinging Sculptures Swinging inside your own sculpture is definitely taking the experience to a new level. Myburgh creates swings in organic shapes — leaves, lilies, bubbles and pumpkins, to name a few — that blend in easily with gardens. The World's Biggest Swing Operated by A J Hackett Bungy, New Zealand's Nevis Swing is, indeed, the most momentous swing you'll find anywhere on Earth. Participants are propelled 160 kilometres above a yawning canyon mouth at a speed of 120 kilometres per hour. You can opt for the standard forward-facing ride or choose to take this one on upside-down or backwards.
Moseying along George Street can involve many things. Rushing to get the train at Town Hall, weaving in and out of QVB or The Galeries, trying to avoid throngs of people doing the same thing — they're all on the list. But on Friday, December 2, the stretch between Market and Park streets will host a huge three-course lunch, serving 600 people right there on the pavement. The literally sprawling al fresco midday meal sold out last year and is back for a second iteration called A Feast for the Senses. Luke Mangan's Glass Brasserie at Hilton Hotel has been enlisted with pulling together the food, while sommelier Samantha Payne is in charge of the wine and the Ministry of Sound Orchestra will be dishing up the soundtrack to the lunch. On the menu will be smoked King Ora salmon, roasted spatchcock with citrus and tarragon salsa, and passionfruit meringue with coconut anglaise and fresh berries. There's also a vegetarian version of the meal featuring grilled sugar loaf cabbage with white polenta and soffritto. [caption id="attachment_860256" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ministry of Sound Orchestra[/caption] If you're wondering why Sydneysiders are being asked to sit down for lunch in the middle of the city street, it's part of a day-long series of dining pop-ups around town that's been dubbed Open for Lunch. Aiming to highlight the culinary talent we have in this city, the overarching event is all about long-table lunches, other dining and drinking activations, and just spending a day out of the house. Four sections of George Street are set to be shut down on the day, alongside a pop-up out west in Parramatta. At the latter, a Western Sydney Long Lunch will take place at Commbank Stadium. There, diners will first wander between stations, sampling food and drinks from Parramatta restaurants like exciting new opening Misc. From there, guests will be seated at a communal table and be treated to a two-course set menu from Matt Moran, followed by a Mowtown Greatest Hits performance from Human Nature. In the YCK Laneways precinct around York, Clarence and Kent streets in the CBD, another feast will be taking over George Street between Market and King Street. At this neighbouring long lunch, members from the Cash Only Diner, Stitch Bar, NOLA Smokehouse, The Barber Shop, Esteban, PS40 and Rockpool teams, as well as Anna Polyviou, will be handling the food and drinks for a three-course meal accompanied by music from Gretta Ray and Yorke. If you want to inject some Nashville energy into your work week, Porteno's Ben Milgate and Elvis Abrahanowicz are hosting the George Street Hoedown between King Street and Martin Place. Think: eats inspired by the city, music from Josh Hedley while he's in the country from America, cold beers and Tennessee whiskey. And, Merivale is also getting in on the action with the Disco Picnic on George Street between Angel Place and Hunter Street. This summer party is being curated by mimi's Jordan Toft and Totti's Mike Eggert. You can expect antipasti, porchetta, beers, wine, negronis, and live entertainment from Groove City and two special guests. [caption id="attachment_757522" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mike Eggert, Bar Totti's[/caption] Sydney's Open for Lunch will take place across Sydney on Friday, December 2. For further details and to buy tickets, head to the event's website. Images: Destination NSW.
Take one secret Sydney location and one celebrated Perrier mixologist, and what do you have? Concrete Playground’s first covert cocktail, that’s what, brought to you from one of Sydney’s best kept hideaways: Wendy’s Secret Garden. Tomas Vikario is a beverage innovation manager and top mixologist from Croatia. He divides his time between New Zealand and Australia, working on new cocktail ideas for brands like Perrier. “The source was discovered a long time ago by the Romans,” Tomas tells us, “and today, it’s an iconic brand found in many of the world’s best bars and restaurants. Perrier, is great for mixology, because of the long-lasting bubbles. It’s 100% natural, from volcanic soil.” The mixologist, who is a little like the Adriano Zumbo of cocktail making, has been creating innovative drinks for 18 years in Europe and Australasia. He loves to travel, and says that he likes to take inspiration from the places he visits and convert the aromas and flavours from a place into a drink. For the first in a series of new cocktail recipes for Concrete Playground, Tomas is making a ‘Perrier Tea Break’ in the luscious surround of Wendy’s Secret Garden, Lavender Bay (here's a map). A formerly derelict space, owned by NSW Rail Corp, the public space was restored by Australian artist Wendy Whiteley, widow and former muse of the Archibald Prize-winning painter Brett Whiteley. Wendy removed old train carriages and dumped waste, creating a truly hidden spot that anyone can visit, at any time. After heading down the secluded path into the gardens, Tomas found a spot in the sun, overlooking Sydney Harbour, to show us how to make a ‘Perrier Tea Break’. “It’s like a garden,” he says, “oranges, apples and lemon... It’s easy to make and it’s romantic. I can imagine two people escaping to this garden, hiding away, and enjoying something like this. It’s very refreshing; perfect for a hot day.” In his picnic basket: 1 orange1 lemonOrange blossom water, or essential orange oil330ml bottle of Perrier water (chilled)Apple flavoured vodka (optional) Step 1 First, peel approximately 4cm of the zest of an orange. Using a knife, score the zest length-ways, then twist and squeeze over a glass or cup to release the fruit’s oils and aroma. (To look like a true pro, swirl the zest along the rim of the glass before popping it in the bottom of the cup). Step 2 Peel and score the zest of a lemon. Twist and squeeze the lemon zest, as with the orange in step one, to release the fruit’s oils and aroma. Place the lemon zest in a teapot or glass container. Step 3 Add two drops of orange blossom water, or essential orange oil, in to the teapot. If you don't have a nifty measuring pipette like Tomas, one or two teaspoons will work just as well. Step 4 Add one 330ml bottle of Perrier water and stir. For the best results, ensure the Perrier is chilled. (Perfect! No need to pack the ice). Step 5 (optional) To take this refreshing mocktail to a cocktail, simply add 60ml of flavoured vodka. Tomas uses Smirnoff’s apple vodka to create a his Perrier Tea Break, but he also recommends Belvedere orange or lemon flavoured vodkas. Enjoy! Finally, kick back and enjoy this refreshing, clean and fruity drink with sweet treats and sunshine. A glorious garden picnic!
Swedish illustrator Anneli Olander's cartoon-like subjects have a lot in common with fashion models. They possess an unconventional Nordic beauty that often manifests itself in extraordinarily wide-set eyes, they can rock high-fashion accessories like feather-trimmed sunglasses or a pair of antlers, and frequently find themselves on the glossy pages of magazines. But Olander's quirky illustrations have retained their cult appeal despite the artist herself achieving impressive commercial success in the last few years. Girls and Ghosts, Olander's Australian debut, opens at Surry Hills' Friends of Leon gallery this week as part of an exclusive exhibition presented in association with Australian Fashion Week. Detailing the illustrator's vision of beauty being found in the imperfect, the exhibition will feature 14 original works plus a series of prints in Olander's favoured mediums of watercolour and ink — which invest her doll-faced young misses with an ethereal perfection only somewhat disrupted by blotchy, black explosions or a Stygian, skeletal bird-leg. Olander studied design and illustration at Australia's University of Newcastle before being named one of the top 100 illustrators in the world and having her work showcased in fashion magazines, books and apparel campaigns across the globe. We’re proud to have her back. Image: Girls and Ghosts 2011
Encompassing York, Clarence and Kent Street in Sydney's CBD, the Harbour City's YCK Precinct has just been recognised in an international pilot program as an outstanding hub of nightlife, becoming Australia's first designated Purple Flag district. The Purple Flag program is an international accreditation scheme dedicated to recognising nightlife areas that are diverse, vibrant and safe. Each recognised district must meet a set of criteria judging its public transport, street lighting, food and beverage offerings, and entertainment. YCK Precinct will join areas across England, Sweden and New Zealand as Purple Flag districts, as the program strives to highlight the best after-dark cultural spots the world has to offer. [caption id="attachment_654874" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alana Dimou[/caption] "We are working to deliver a better night out for all and Purple Flag will boost Sydney's reputation as a global nightlife destination, creating a thriving 24-hour economy across the state as more precincts apply for accreditation," said New South Wales' 24-Hour Economy Commissioner Mike Rodrigues. "A collaborative and coordinated effort is required to build a vibrant and strong 24-hour economy and the YCK team has shown considered planning and a willingness to innovate in earning Purple Flag status." Boasting beloved and accomplished venues like Since I Left You, PS40, Esteban, Cash Only and The Prince of York, the YCK Precinct launched in 2021 in order to bring more attention to the three busy inner-city streets. Since then, it has worked to capitalise upon its venues, and the forces behind them, to promote the vitality of the Sydney CBD — and host several multi-day food, drink, music and arts festivals in the process. "Whether it's for some retail therapy, to visit one of the superb small bars, grab a late-night bite or enjoy one of our regular arts and cultural events, we are committed to delivering our patrons a safe, friendly and fun experience," YCK Laneways Association Vice President Karl Schlothauer said. Also in Sydney, the Purple Flag pilot program is still running in the Parramatta CBD, Haldon Street in Lakemba and Marrickville, with these three hotspots still yet to be given the official go-ahead as a Purple Flag district. Don't live in New South Wales? Sydney's latest accolade is bound to reignite Australia's capital-city rivalries. [caption id="attachment_805684" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Lobo[/caption] Learn more about the Purple Flag program in Sydney at the NSW Government's website.
While seeing fruit mince pies in your local shopping centre in October feels downright disturbing, there's one Christmas treat that no one ever minds arriving early: Four Pillars annual Christmas Gin. The latest iteration of the Healesville distillery's seasonal sip is coming in strong, set to hit shelves on Saturday, October 31. It's the delicious result of a yearly tradition that sees a bunch of Christmas puddings handmade with distiller Cameron Mackenzie's mother's recipe — the 1968 Australian Women's Weekly recipe, in fact — distilled with various festive botanicals to create a sought-after tipple that pretty much screams December 25. The flavours of an Aussie Christmas are captured in notes of cinnamon, star anise, juniper, coriander and angelica. The Christmas gin is then blended with some earlier gin that's been carefully ageing in 80-year-old muscat barrels. It's all finished with a hit of Rutherglen muscat for a bit of added richness and complexity. [caption id="attachment_785822" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The last five years of Four Pillars Christmas gin.[/caption] Each year, a new unique label is chosen to wrap up this Christmas creation, setting out to evoke that same festive spirit. The 2020's bottle design is the work of Melbourne-born artist Lucy Dyson, who has created a whimsical collage of a traditional Christmas day celebration happening in a surreal Aussie landscape of giant flowers and floating puddings. The distillers recommend you sip the limited-edition gin neat, mix it with ginger ale or whip up a Colada Punch with the festive gin, coconut water, sparkling wine and pineapple and lime juice. Or you can just splash a bit of it on your own Christmas pudding. If you want to nab a bottle, have your fingers poised over the 'buy' button when they go on sale online on October 31. Alternatively, you can stop by the Four Pillars HQ in Healesville, Victoria (if restrictions allow, of course) or the new Surry Hills shop. Bottles are $100 a pop and would make stellar Chrissy pressies, if you're already thinking about that. Four Pillars Christmas Gin is available to buy online, from the Healesville distillery and Surry Hills shop from Saturday, October 31. But you'd best be quick — there's only a limited amount of bottles.
Every 13-year-old has played that game at a sleepover where you write one line on a piece of paper, fold it over and pass it on to the next pimply, excitable friend in the aim of contributing to a (no doubt hilarious) unfolding story. Although we probably didn’t know it at the time, Cadavre Exquis or "Exquisite Corpse" is a technique long used to collectively tell a story. A tradition so thrilling it is being brought to the Sydney Festival in 2014. A performance of chance, Cadavre Exquis is written by many people, each adding to the story in sequence. With four internationally acclaimed theatre companies here asked to contribute a 15-minute section of text — guided only by the last image of the previous part — this is performance celebrating innovation, delight and collaboration. In the lead will be Kassys (The Netherlands) , devising the first and final sections, with the in-between parts taken care of by the likes of Nature Theatre of Oklahoma (the New York group who brought the 12-hour epic Life and Times to the Melbourne Festival), Tim Crouch (the UK theatre maker also here presenting
It has been a long time since the humble Cleveland Street Theatre was put to regular use. That will change on Monday when, after an almost seven-year hiatus, the (now) 'Giant Dwarf' is revived. The odd name is actually shared with The Chaser's production company, who are the crew behind the new venue. Never ones to lose connection with their Sydney performing arts roots just because of one, two or a dozen TV success stories (recently, The Hamster Wheel, The Checkout), they see the new live venue as feeding into the work they already do. "The main aim for the theatre has always been to extend the vision of the production company — to create an inspiring environment for new talent to develop skills and produce original and engaging content," says the venue general manager and Giant Dwarf program director Nikita Agzarian. "In doing this we hope we can create a vibrant space that offers a point of difference in live performance to the Sydney audience." The space is focusing on those funny-shaped hybrids of comedy, storytelling and performance that have become popular but nomadic fixtures on the Sydney scene — events like Story Club, Erotic Fanfiction and scratch night Cut & Paste. "We are excited for Giant Dwarf to be the platform that exposes a larger audience to some of the most amazingly talented writers, comedians and performers that we have been lucky enough to work with on a regular basis," says Nikita. Formerly the home of Performance Space (now based out of Carriageworks), Cleveland Street Theatre was first established in the early '80s as a venue by and for emerging artists. The space was seen to encourage contemporary performance makers in Sydney and challenge conventional notions of theatre. Performers did things like turning off all the lights and leaving the audience to fend for themselves in the dark and eventually discover they were locked in. (That one didn't go down so well; read more here.) Aside from a few brief, pop-up events over the years, the Cleveland Street Theatre has since been an empty vessel. Until now. It came to the Chaser team's attention when they were moving offices nearly a year ago, and they found they couldn't drop it. "We actually came close to going with a few other properties, but the theatre had a hold over us, we always seemed to come back to it," says Nikita. "Since moving in, we have been restoring it to its original state. It's been a lot of work to get to where we are but it's totally worth it." Giant Dwarf will open officially on Monday, February 10, kicking off with the uber-popular comedy/storytelling/all-round-riot-of-a-night Story Club. This month it features Ben Law (The Family Law, Gaysia), Tom Ballard (former co-host of Triple J Breakfast, general legend), The Chasers' own Andrew Hansen and other super funny people. Giant Dwarf is at 199 Cleveland Street, Redfern. Get your tickets and more info via Eventbrite. By Mairead Armstrong and Rima Sabina Aouf.
Finding greatness in Bong Joon-ho's Parasite isn't difficult. The perceptive class-clash and eat-the-rich story, the array of pitch-perfect performances, the acclaimed director's stunning mastery of tone, the insightful and revealing production design: they're all examples in this Oscar- and Cannes-winning South Korean masterpiece. Another instance comes courtesy of composer Jung Jae-il's score, which soundtracks the film with tunes both disquieting and baroque. It's no wonder that accolades came Jung's way, too, including from his homeland's Grand Bell Awards. Hearing Jung's contribution echoing as Parasite screens is the best way to appreciate it, of course — and watching him perform it live in Australia with Orchestra Victoria will dial what's already a spectacular experience up a few notches. For the first time, the composer is heading Down Under, all thanks to 2025's Melbourne International Film Festival. The event's commitment to honouring the art of screen composition via screenings that pair live tunes and movies is continuing, and two Parasite in Concert sessions are set to be among this year's fest highlights. At 2pm and 8pm on Saturday, August 23 at Hamer Hall in the Victorian capital, Jung is taking to the keys. He's also conducting Orchestra Victoria as he plays. Seeing Parasite on a big screen is already a treat, no matter how many times you've watched it before; however, giving the picture the concert treatment is something extra special. Jung isn't just known for Parasite. If you've felt the tension emanating from Squid Game's score, then you've also appreciated the composer's efforts. Prior to Parasite, Jung collaborated with Bong on Okja, then did so again afterwards on this year's Mickey 17. The tunes in Hirokazu Kore-eda's Broker hail from him as well, as does the score for MIFF 2025 title Twinless.
Despite the increasing levels of shopping restrictions currently in effect across Australia, limiting the amount of various products anyone can buy at one time, trying to get your hands on — and covered in — sanitiser is much harder than it should be at present. The liquid disinfectant is on everyone's must-buy list, causing empty supermarket shelves seemingly everywhere. But if you'd like to slather your digits with hand sanitiser made from gin, that'll soon be on the cards. In normal, non-COVID-19 times, north Sydney's Manly Spirits Co makes gin, vodka, whisky and liqueurs. Of course, these aren't normal times, so it's switching part of its focus to making hand sanitiser. The distillery was inspired by its own staff's troubles buying the coveted product, and decided to use some of its high-grade alcohol to whip up its own. Specifically, Manly Spirits Co is re-distilling some of its gin alcohol — so you'll not only be able to disinfect your hands, but make them smell like gin botanicals, too. That's likely to make you thirsty, so the company is making 50ml bottles available for free with every Manly Spirits Co bottle of spirits purchased. To discourage stockpiling, however, there is a limit of one free sanitiser per person. Manly Spirits Hand Sanitiser with Gin Aroma will also be supplied to local community groups, charities and organisations in larger five-litre sizes, to assist with their crucial operations. The hand sanitiser is expected to become available next week — and, for folks outside of Sydney, the distillery's online store delivers Australia-wide. A specific date hasn't been announced, so keep an eye on the company's Facebook and Instagram for updates. Manly Spirits Hand Sanitiser with Gin Aroma will be available with spirits purchases, with one 50ml bottle available for free per person. For further details, visit the distillery's website. Images: Manly Spirits Co.
Touring to Australia for the first time in more than five years for your first Aussie festival headlining slot since 2011 is one way to celebrate 35 years as a band. The group: Tool. The fest: Good Things. First, Good Things confirmed that it would be back in 2025, and also announced its dates. Then came the next key detail: where the festival is heading this year. Finally, it's now lineup time, starting with Maynard James Keenan and company, and also including Weezer and Garbage among the event's big names. [caption id="attachment_1016515" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Scott Moran[/caption] Get ready to hear 'Sober', 'Forty Six & 2', 'Buddy Holly', 'Island in the Sun', 'Vow' and 'Only Happy When It Rains' like it's the 90s and early-00s again — all on the festival's three annual stops in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The rest of the bill includes All Time Low, Machine Head and The All-American Rejects, as well as Knocked Loose, Lorna Shore, Refused, New Found Glory and Make Them Suffer. And, you can catch Dayseeker, James Reyne, Kublai Khan TX, Cobra Starship, Goldfinger, Tonight Alive and more. In the Victorian capital, Flemington Racecourse is again playing host to Good Things. In the Sunshine State, Brisbane Showgrounds is doing the honours again, too. Sydneysiders are hitting up Sydney Showground in 2025 instead of Centennial Park, in a move made to increase capacity, shelter, transport options and accessibility. As it has in past years, the fest is playing all three cities across one huge weekend. So, mark Friday, December 5 in your diaries for Melbourne, then Saturday, December 6 in the Harbour City and Sunday, December 7 in Brisbane. Good Things 2025 Dates and Venues Friday, December 5 — Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne Saturday, December 6 — Sydney Showground, Sydney Sunday, December 7 — Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane Good Things 2025 Lineup Tool Weezer Garbage All Time Low Machine Head The All-American Rejects Knocked Loose Lorna Shore Refused New Found Glory Make Them Suffer Dayseeker James Reyne Kublai Khan TX Cobra Starship Goldfinger Tonight Alive Bad Nerves Civic Dead Poet Society Fever 333 Gwar High Vis Inertia Palaye Royale Scene Queen South Arcade Wargasm Windwaker Yours Truly Good Things plays Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in December 2025, with pre-sale tickets from 10am AEST on Tuesday, August 19 and general sales from 10am AEST on Thursday, August 21 — head to the festival website for more information. Good Things images: Kane Hibberd.
Celebrate love and the arts with QUEER ACT/IONS, presented by The Q, young turks MKA: Theatre of New Writing and nurturers of experimentation PACT Theatre in association with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival. First off: A Boy & A Bean, written and performed by Nick Atkins (from 12-15 February). Atkins dives into the very vital debate of marriage equality in an honest and tender performance that sees a boy called Jack stray between love, legislation and folklore. Unsex Me, Mark Wilson's performance of whispered confessions and hilarious self-mockery, will then run from February 19-22. Want more Mardi Gras events? Check out our top ten picks of the festival.
If your days spent working from home and social distancing could do with a few more adorable animals — or your days in general if you're not currently living in a part of the country that's in lockdown — you'll be happy to know the internet is filled with many. Melbourne's zoos have live streaming their penguins, leopard cubs and giraffes, its aquarium wants you to bliss out while watching marine life, and a Queensland wildlife sanctuary has cams on its koalas 24/7. And, after first launching last year, Taronga TV has made a comeback. The online television station was established by Taronga Zoo Sydney and Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo in 2020 for obvious reasons, and the Sydney site has now brought it back — again, you know why. Head here to get your cute animal fix, because every day can be improved by peering at seals swimming, meerkats playing and otters frolicking. They're three of the new live-streams on offer, alongside capybara cam — so you can spend your days looking at the world's largest rodents if you like. In the returning camp, fellow 24/7 live-streams take a gander at the zoos' sumatran tigers, lions and elephants. The station is also releasing regular videos across its Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channels. Also online: keeper talks, which is where the zoos' baby goats and echidnas come in; a Tasmanian Devil getting a health check; a baby black rhino calf; and a look into where giraffes sleep. "Although we aren't able to welcome guests to the zoo in Sydney, we're thrilled that we have the chance to showcase all the work that goes on behind the scenes that we normally don't get the chance to show," said Chief Executive of Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Cameron Kerr. "We'll be giving people the opportunity to see our keepers care for our animals and showcase our world-leading conservation work to protect our precious native wildlife. We are thrilled to be keeping our wonderful guests and supporters updated through Taronga TV during this difficult time, until we're able to throw open our gates again." To check out Taronga TV, head to the channel's website — or keep an eye on its videos on its Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages. Top image: Rick Stevens
Bangarra Dance Theatre is renowned for creating theatrical stories through dance, pushing the envelope of performance and showcasing the fresh and inspirational voices of contemporary Indigenous culture. And their latest production, Dance Clan 3, will not disappoint. For the first time ever, an all-woman assemble have choreographed a work of diverse style and concept, in celebration of the inaugural Corrobree Sydney Festival. Led by Bangarra's own Deborah Brown, Yolande Brown, Tara Gower and Jasmin Sheppard, Dance Clan 3 will be performed by the entire Bangarra ensemble, inviting audiences to explore the heart and soul of contemporary Indigenous experience. This exciting new production is a fusion of story, dance and music, proving the strong cultural integrity and spirit of Aboriginal tradition and showcasing the new choreographic voices of the Bangarra company. With a deep connection to culture and artistry, the Dance Clan 3 season will be held at the Bangarra home studio in Walsh Bay. Tickets are on sale now. Image: Greg Barrett.
The heritage-listed Capitol Theatre has been around since 1928 and continues to host some of the best musical and theatrical productions in Sydney. The gorgeous interior will take you back to another time. Meanwhile, the theatre pulls in all of the modern Broadway favourites, including Andrew Lloyd Webber's School of Rock: The Musical, which ran in early 2020. Coming up is the Tony and Olivier Award-winning musical Come from Away, which will take the stage in 2021. The venue also offers a free membership program, which offers members pre-sale tickets, access to the best seats in the house and special offers aplenty. It's one of the best ways to see this year's blockbuster Broadway hits on the cheap.
If you've ever wanted to become best buddies with a seal while floating around the Pittwater waterways you're in luck. Experienced kayaker Ian is currently running guided tours around Palm Beach and Pittwater, including a stop off at to visit the local seal colony. Suitable for all levels of experience on the water, this 3.5–4 hour journey gets you up close to these impressive marine mammals. The seal colony seasonally sunbake in groups of around 15-to-20 on the rocks in Pittwater. On your adventure, you'll have time to marvel and take photos of the seals before heading over to a nearby beach for a picnic lunch. All equipment and lunch are provided as part of the ticket price, with sessions starting at $225 a person. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Renovating a house is stressful, as no shortage of television shows keep stressing. Trying to flip a house when you've been hexed for snatching back a $100 bill from a child? That sounds disquieting, and it also looks eerie and sinister in the just-dropped full trailer for The Curse. Forget the usual series about household makeovers, buying real estate, blitzing backyards and building dream houses — even though it's about a couple who hosts their own home reno program, this isn't that kind of show. Indeed, no one has watched an entry in bricks-and-mortar genre quite like this spoof, which gets Emma Stone (Cruella) and Nathan Fielder (The Rehearsal) playing a focusing on home improvement on-screen — and having some bad luck. An initial teaser arrived in September, and now a full trailer has hit for the A24 effort, which looks like far from your average series on this topic. Unsurprisingly, Fielder doesn't just star but also co-created, co-writes and co-directs. In the first sneak peek, the Safdie brothers' collaborator Oneohtrix Point Never set the unsettling mood — and yes, not just the talent that made Good Time and Uncut Gems sound so unnerving but the sibling filmmakers behind both flicks are also involved in The Curse. Benny Safdie (Oppenheimer) co-stars, co-created, co-writes and co-directs, with Josh Safdie an executive producer. Fielder and Stone play Asher and Whitney Siegel, who host a show on HGTV — American pay TV network Home & Garden Television — called Fliplanthropy. Newly married, they're trying to have a baby, but find their plans disrupted after that incident with a kid in a carpark. Cue The Curse's title, obviously. Benny Safdie plays their producer, with Barkhad Abdi (Little America), Corbin Bernsen (White House Plumbers) and Constance Shulman (Search Party) also featuring. Like everything almost everything of late, it seems — Close, Beau Is Afraid, You Hurt My Feelings, Past Lives, smash-hit Australian horror movie Talk to Me, fellow TV series Beef, the return of iconic Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense to cinemas, the Nicolas Cage-starring Dream Scenario, Sofia Coppola's Priscilla, wrestling drama The Iron Claw — The Curse hails from A24. In Australia, it'll stream from Saturday, November 11 via Paramount+. Check out the trailer for The Curse below: The Curse will stream from Saturday, November 11 via Paramount+. Images: Beth Garrabrant and John Paul Lopez/A24/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.
Not all that long ago, the idea of getting cosy on your couch, clicking a few buttons, and having thousands of films and television shows at your fingertips seemed like something out of science fiction. Now, it's just an ordinary night — whether you're virtually gathering the gang to text along, cuddling up to your significant other or shutting the world out for some much needed me-time. Of course, given the wealth of options to choose from, there's nothing ordinary about making a date with your chosen streaming platform. The question isn't "should I watch something?" — it's "what on earth should I choose?". Hundreds of titles are added to Australia's online viewing services each and every month, all vying for a spot on your must-see list. And, so you don't spend 45 minutes scrolling and then being too tired to actually commit to anything, we're here to help. We've spent plenty of couch time watching our way through this month's latest batch — and, from the latest and greatest through to old and recent favourites, here are our picks for your streaming queue from February's haul. Brand New Stuff You Can Watch From Start to Finish Now Mr & Mrs Smith 2005 movie Mr & Mrs Smith isn't the first time that title adorned a spy caper about a literally killer couple. That honour goes not to the Brad Pitt (Babylon)- and Angelina Jolie (Eternals)-starring, Brangelina-sparking film, but to a 90s TV series. No one remembers 1996's Mr & Mrs Smith, where Scott Bakula (who was not long off Quantum Leap at the time) and Maria Bello (Beef) took on the eponymous parts. It didn't last, with just nine episodes airing and a further four made but left unseen. But its existence gives 2024's Mr & Mrs Smith a full-circle vibe, with Donald Glover (Atlanta) and Maya Erskine's (PEN15) now both adopting the monikers and ushering the premise back to episodic storytelling. Bakula and Bello's Mr & Mrs Smith didn't inspire Pitt and Jolie's; however, the latter did give rise to Glover and Erskine's — and any history isn't mere trivia. Instead, it speaks to a concept that's so appealing that it keeps being reused, whether coincidentally or knowingly, and to an idea that's now being given its full Mr & Mrs Smith due, in line with True Lies and The Americans: that relationships are mysteries, missions and investigations. The backstory behind Glover and Erskine bringing glorious chemistry to John and Jane Smith doesn't stop there, because Mr & Mrs Smith circa 2024 has been in the works for three years. When announced in February 2021, it was with Atlanta-meets-Fleabag hopes, with Glover co-starring and co-creating with Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny). Then creative differences with Glover saw Waller-Bridge — who also co-wrote the No Time to Die screenplay and created Killing Eve — leave the project within six months. While it's impossible to know how that iteration of Mr & Mrs Smith would've turned out, whether with more overt comedy, talkier or boasting a darker tone, Glover's interpretation with fellow Atlanta alum Francesca Sloane lives up to the promise of two creatives from one of the 21st century's best dramedies turning their attention to espionage and romance. There's an intimacy, a lived-in feel and hangout charm to this Mr & Mrs Smith, even as it swaps Brangelina's already-wed pair discovering that they're assassin rivals for a duo only tying the knot for the gig. Mr and Mrs Smith streams via Prime Video. Read our full review. Shōgun Casting Hiroyuki Sanada (John Wick: Chapter 4), Cosmo Jarvis (Persuasion) and Anna Sawai (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) as its three leads is one of Shōgun's masterstrokes. The new ten-part adaptation of James Clavell's 1975 novel — following a first version in 1980 that featured Japanese icon and frequent Akira Kurosawa collaborator Toshiro Mifune — makes plenty of other excellent moves, but this is still pivotal. Disney+'s richly detailed samurai series knows how to thrust its viewers into a deeply textured world from the outset, making having three complex performances at its centre an essential anchoring tactic. Sanada plays Lord Yoshii Toranaga, who is among the political candidates vying to take control of the country. Jarvis is John Blackthorne, a British sailor on a Dutch ship that has run aground in a place that its crew isn't sure is real until they get there. And Sawai is Toda Mariko, a Japanese noblewoman who is also tasked with translating. Each character's tale encompasses much more than those descriptions, of course, and the portrayals that bring them to the screen make that plain from the moment they're each first seen. As Game of Thrones and Succession both were, famously so, Shōgun is another drama that's all about fighting for supremacy. Like just the former, too, it's another sweeping epic series as well. Although it's impossible not to see those links, knowing that both battling over who'll seize power and stepping into sprawling worlds are among pop culture's favourite things right now (and for some time) doesn't make Shōgun any less impressive. The scale is grand, and yet it doesn't skimp on intimacy, either. The minutiae is meticulous, demanding that attention is paid to everything at all times. Gore is no stranger from the get-go. Opening in the 17th century, the series finds Japan in crisis mode, Toranaga facing enemies and Blackthorne among the first Englishmen that've made it to the nation — much to the alarm of Japan's sole European inhabitants from Portugal. Getting drawn in, including by the performances, is instantaneous. Shōgun proves powerful and engrossing immediately, and lavish and precisely made as well, with creators Justin Marks (Top Gun: Maverick) and Rachel Kondo (on her first TV credit) doing a spectacular job of bringing it to streaming queues. Shōgun streams via Disney+. Read our full review. American Fiction Here's Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison's (Jeffrey Wright, Rustin) predicament when American Fiction begins: on the page, his talents aren't selling books. Praise comes the Los Angeles-based professor's way for his novels, but not sales, nor attendees when he's part of writers' festival panels. And even then, publishers aren't fond of his latest manuscript. Sick of hearing that his work isn't "Black enough", and also incensed over the attention that fellow scribe Sintara Golden (Issa Rae, Barbie) is receiving for her book We's Lives in Da Ghetto, he gets a-typing, pumping out the kind of text that he vehemently hates — but 100-percent fits the stereotype of what the world keeps telling him that Black literature should be. It attracts interest, even more so when Monk takes his agent Arthur's (John Ortiz, Better Things) advice and adopts a new persona to go with it. Soon fugitive convict Stagg R Leigh and his book Fuck are a huge hit that no one can get enough of. Because of the story spun around who wrote the bestseller, too, the FBI even wants to know the author's whereabouts. Deservedly nominated for five 2024 Oscars — including for Best Picture, Best Actor for Wright and Best Supporting Actor for Sterling K Brown (Biosphere) as Monk's brother Clifford — American Fiction itself hails from the page, with filmmaker Cord Jefferson adapting Percival Everett's 2001 novel Erasure. Wright is indeed exceptional in this savvy satire of authenticity, US race relations and class chasms, and earns his awards contention for his reactions alone. Seeing how Monk adjusts himself to a world that keeps proving anything but his dream is an utter acting masterclass, in big and small moments alike. As the film dives into the character's personal chaos, that's where Brown's also-fantastic, often-tender performance comes in, plus Leslie Uggams (Extrapolations) as Monk's mother and Tracee Ellis Ross (Candy Cane Lane) as his sister, and also Erika Alexander (Run the World) as a neighbour who is a fan of his — not just Stagg R Leigh's — work. Don't discount how excellent American Fiction is beyond its literary hoax setup, in fact; as a character study, it's equally astute. American Fiction streams via Prime Video. The Vince Staples Show It was true when Seinfeld made a series about a real-life standup comedian playing a fictionalised version of himself one of the world's biggest sitcoms in the 90s. It remained accurate when Larry David started riffing on his own existence in Curb Your Enthusiasm — and also when Pete Davidson leapt from making his life movie fodder in The King of Staten Island to turning it into TV in Bupkis. Donald Glover wasn't directly referencing his own career in Atlanta, and neither The Other Two nor Girls5eva bring exact replicas of real-life figures to the screen, but the same idea pumps through them as well: fame or proximity to it doesn't stop anyone from grappling with life's frustrating minutiae. Add The Vince Staples Show to the list, with the five-part series featuring its namesake as a take on himself. Whether or not you know who he is is part of the show's joke. On- and off- screen, he's a rapper and actor. Staples' very real single 'Norf Norf' gets quoted to him in the TV comedy. The fact that he's been in Abbott Elementary is referenced in the debut episode. But just attempting to have an ordinary day doing everyday things in an average way — driving home, heading to the bank, attending a family reunion, visiting an amusement park and returning to his old school — is as impossible for him as it is for us all. Sometimes, Staples' celebrity complicates matters in The Vince Staples Show. It also never helps. Usually, he's stuck navigating Murphy's law, so asking for a loan ends up with him caught up in a robbery, while endeavouring to source something decent to eat at a theme park takes him on an absurdist odyssey that winks at David Lynch and the Coen brothers. Having an entertainment career doesn't stop him from being confused for someone else by the police (Killing It's Scott MacArthur, You People's Bryan Greenberg and The Menu's Arturo Castro) — the same cops who ask for free tickets to his shows while they're locking him up — or ensure that cashiers treat him politely. If it assists with anything, it's with giving Staples a deadpan acceptance that anything and everything might come his way. Twice asked if something interesting happened during his day by his girlfriend Deja (Andrea Ellsworth, Truth Be Told), his reply is "not really", even though viewers have just witnessed the exact opposite in both instances. The Vince Staples Show streams via Netflix. Read our full review. Orion and the Dark Learning to face life's chaos, or even just recognising that life is chaos, has a particular term when Charlie Kaufman is making movies and audiences do the confronting. Describing something as Kaufmanesque sprang from the screenwriter and filmmaker's stunning run at the end of the 90s and beginning of the 00s — the Spike Jonze (Her)-helmed Being John Malkovich and Adaptation, plus the Michel Gondry (Microbe & Gasoline)-directed Human Nature and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind — and it's stuck ever since. Joining the trio of Synecdoche, New York, Anomalisa and I'm Thinking of Ending Things as well, all three of which he penned plus helmed, is new family-friendly animation Orion and the Dark. A Kaufmanesque kid-appropriate flick? It exists, and it's wonderful. Feature first-timer Sean Charmatz (TV movie Trolls Holiday in Harmony) directs, and Emma Yarlett's 2014 children's book provides the source material; however, this account of a boy afraid of the dark who then meets the literal Dark (voiced by The Afterparty's Paul Walter Hauser) is a Kaufman affair through and through. Also, iconic German filmmaker — and one-time Parks and Recreation star — Werner Herzog (The Fire Within: A Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft) pops up. Loaned the vocal tones of Jacob Tremblay (The Little Mermaid) as a child and Colin Hanks (The Offer) as an adult, Orion is petrified of sleeping without the lights on. And, just like the kids in Monsters, Inc that are scared of creatures in their cupboards, Orion and the Dark's protagonist is frightened of something real. Dark exists and, alongside Orion's parents (The Fall of the House of Usher's Carla Gugino and Bull's Matt Dellapina), is exasperated by the boy's response to nighttime. He can't help taking it personally, in fact, then offers to assist. For one 24-hour period, as darkness falls around the world, he gets Orion to accompany him on his travels with friends Sleep (Natasia Demetriou, What We Do in the Shadows), Insomnia (Nat Faxon, Our Flag Means Death), Quiet (Aparna Nancherla, The Great North), Unexplained Noises (Golda Rosheuvel, Bridgerton) and Sweet Dreams (Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) to demonstrate that being distressed is unfounded. It isn't just Herzog's involvement and a joke about David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest that prove that this is a movie as much for adults as kids; amid its gorgeous animation, its understanding of existential dread is also that astute. Orion and the Dark streams via Netflix. Dario Argento: Panico Filmmakers love filmmakers, so much so that new documentaries about directors arrive all the time. Paying tribute to the creative forces behind everyone's big-screen obsessions: what's not to love? With Dario Argento: Panico, there's plenty to adore, including the considerable participation of the Italian master of giallo himself. A film about the man behind Suspiria, Inferno and Tenebrae was always going to be a portrait of his influence upon his chosen genre. Accordingly, who better to take viewers through it? He begins the doco unhappy about the location of the latest hotel that he's decamping to to write, as has been his custom for decades, but he's a fascinating interviewee, especially when he's reflecting upon his work and his processes in his own words. For company, he's joined among Dario Argento: Panico's talking heads by his sister Floriana, daughters Fiore and Asia, ex-wife Marisa Casale, and collaborators such as Franco Ferrini (who co-penned screenplays such for Phenomena, Trauma, Dark Glasses and more) and Claudio Simonetti (the composer, also of the band Goblin, who has been so instrumental) in giving the filmmaker's movies their sound. And to unpack his impact both in general and on their work, Guillermo del Toro (Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio), Nicolas Winding Refn (Copenhagen Cowboy) and Gaspar Noé (Climax) all feature as well. Noteworthy quotes and links abound from the documentary's chats beyond its titular figure, such as when del Toro notes that "everything in Argento's movies is trying to kill you", Refn admits that Tenebrae's synth-heavy score is responsible for the tunes in his own features and the fact that Noé had Argento star in his drama Vortex. Simonetti's reflections on Goblin's role in helping Argento's work have such resonance, and the ripples that his film's scores have enjoyed across the industry since, are also riveting — and accurate. And for an understanding of who Argento is personally, Asia (who has acted in her father's flicks since making her debut at ten) is particularly enlightening. Simone Scafidi also deftly weaves in clips from Argento's movies, plus behind-the-scenes footage and archival materials, to ensure that audiences have a burning yearning stirring while watching: the need to see everything featured, whether for the first time or again. He knows how to make this kind of movie, after all, given that he did the same with 2019's Fulci for Fake, about fellow giallo talent Lucio Fulci. Dario Argento: Panico streams via Shudder. The Greatest Night in Pop One of the biggest songs of the 1980s was largely recorded in one night. 'We Are the World' wasn't just huge on the charts, either. When it came to people buying the single, it was massive — it's still the ninth biggest-selling physical single ever — but the list of talent making it happen was just as hefty. Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Dan Aykroyd, Harry Belafonte, Bob Geldof, Waylon Jennings, Bette Midler, Smokey Robinson, The Pointer Sisters: they're just some of the names involved. Even Kenny Loggins, fresh from 'Footloose' being a hit, joined in. This roster of names and more teamed up in 1985 as supergroup USA for Africa, taking cues from Band Aid and 'Do They Know It's Christmas?', to raise funds for African famine relief. Belafonte had the idea. Richie and Jackson wrote the tune. The whole thing came together on the night of that year's American Music Awards, with everyone going from the ceremony to the studio. The Greatest Night in Pop tells this tale, and adds another entertaining music documentary that's also a blast from the past to Netflix's catalogue (WHAM! in 2023 similarly fit the bill). Regardless of whether the song itself suits your taste in music, or whether it's before your time and so you haven't heard of it, this behind-the-scenes look at its creation is illuminating — especially if you're interested in the recording process, how it works when there's so many figures involved and simply what it was like to have all those people in the one room. Accordingly, The Greatest Night in Pop is the kind of documentary that thrives thanks to its archival material. Putting audiences in the space with all those famous faces as they navigate who sings what when, and how, and also their various personalities, is can't-look-away viewing. A number of the talents involved also reflect upon the experience now, and the notion that some didn't want it to end at the time echoes through in both recent and decades-ago glimpses. Watching along, it's easy to understand why. The Greatest Night in Pop streams via Netflix. New and Returning Shows to Check Out Week by Week Constellation If a great getaway to a beach, island or faraway city can be life-changing, what does a journey to space do? So ponders Constellation, among other questions. Inquiries are sparked instantly, from the moment that a mother in a cabin in northern Sweden, where there's snow as far as the eye can see but a frost infecting more than just the temperature, leaves her pre-teen daughter to follow a voice. The screams that she seeks out are yelling "mama!" — and what they mean, and why she's abandoning one girl to find another, is just one of the matters that Constellation interrogates. The woman is Jo Ericsson, as played by Noomi Rapace with the maternal devotion that also marked her turn in Lamb, plus the protective instincts that were key in Prometheus and Alien: Covenant as well — and the fierceness that helped bring her to fame as Lisbeth Salander in the original Swedish The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo films. Jo, an astronaut, is Europe's representative on the International Space Station when Constellation jumps backwards from its opening icy horror to a different kind of terror. Not long out from returning back to earth, she FaceTimes with her nine-year-old daughter Alice (Rosie and Davina Coleman, The Larkins) and husband Magnus (James D'Arcy, Oppenheimer). Then, something goes bump in the sky. Trauma leaves people changed, too; what if this incident, during which setting foot on our pale blue dot again is anything but assured, isn't the only distressing facet of travelling to the heavens? On the at-risk ISS, on a spacewalk to locate the source of the collision, Jo finds the mummified body of what looks like a 60s-era Russian cosmonaut. There'll soon be another astronaut dead inside the station, destroyed infrastructure, the first escape pod shuttling her three remaining colleagues back to terra firma and Jo left alone trying to repair the second so that she herself can alight home. Where both Gravity and Moon spring to mind in Constellation's initial space-set scenes, plus Proxima in the show's focus on mother-daughter connections (Interstellar, Ad Astra and First Man have dads covered), it's the earthbound Dark that feels like a touchstone once Jo is back among her loved ones. There's a similar moodiness to this series, which also features Nobel Prize-winning former Apollo astronaut Henry Caldera (Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul), who has had his own incidents in space — and there's a feeling that characters can't always trust what they think is plainly apparent to the show, too, plus a certainty that nothing is simply linear about what's occurring. Constellation streams via Apple TV+. Read our full review, and our interview with Jonathan Banks. Curb Your Enthusiasm A quarter of a century is a long time to spend with Larry David, even with gaps along the way. Friends and acquaintances of the fictionalised version seen in Curb Your Enthusiasm might have some not-so-positive things to say about investing that chunk with TV's great curmudgeons. If you're a fan of the satirical series that's been airing since 2000, however, 12 seasons isn't enough. But David has called time on his second small-screen smash. CYE won't beat Seinfeld's episode count, but it has been on-screen on and off for far longer than the famous show about nothing. And with its ending in sight, of course the inimitable force behind both starts Curb Your Enthusiasm's final season with the series' version of Larry going where Seinfeld's characters closed out their story: jail. He's there not due criminal indifference, though, but rather thanks to the opposite. In Atlanta to attend a rich fan's (Sharlto Copley, Beast) birthday party, on a paid gig courtesy of the success of Young Larry — CYE's in-show show about David's childhood — he gives a bottle of water to Leon's (JB Smoove, Office Race) Auntie Rae (Ellia English, Blood Pageant) while she's in line to vote. That's illegal, the cops pounce immediately and one of the season's key threads is born. Larry being Larry, of course he wasn't really trying to make a stand against ridiculous voter-suppression laws. Larry still being Larry, he's also content to capitalise upon being seen as a hero, complete with droves of media attention. And, Larry never able to be someone other than Larry, he's still his petty normal self regardless of how much praise flows from Bruce Springsteen. Before Beef was winning Golden Globes, Emmys and other awards for trivial squabbles, David got there first — and before The Rehearsal and The Curse's Nathan Fielder was inspiring cringing so vigorous that you can feel it in your stomach, David was as well. The show's swansong season so far is vintage Curb Your Enthusiasm, including when a lawyer who looks like one of David's many enemies, overhearing golfing lessons, throwing things at CODA Oscar-winner Troy Kotsur, getting disgruntled over breakfast menus cutting off at 11am and bickering with the late, great Richard Lewis (Sandy Wexler) are involved. As always, it continues to be fascinated with whether someone as set in his ways as David, who was the inspiration for George Constanza, can and will ever change. He won't, and watching why that's the case will only stop being comedy gold yet when the ten-episode 12th season says farewell. Curb Your Enthusiasm streams via Binge. The New Look The New Look, Apple TV+'s ten-part series about Christian Dior and Coco Chanel, hasn't chosen its points of focus because they were frequently in each other's company; as depicted here, at least, they weren't. Instead, it's a portrait of rivals, but it isn't that concerned with why the two Parisians might be adversaries beyond their shared field. That said, they're tied by more than both being French fashion figures who were working at the same time, made pioneering haute couture choices and started labels that retain household recognition today. And, when the show opens in 1954, it does so with Chanel (Juliette Binoche, The Staircase) offering harsh words about Dior (Ben Mendelsohn, Secret Invasion) to the press as she's about to unveil her first post-war collection. Her chatter is crosscut with his at the Sorbonne, where he's being honoured — and asked by students why he kept working during the Second World War while Chanel closed her atelier. Dior's answer: that such a description of the two designers' actions during WWII is the truth, but that there's also more truth behind it. Unpicking the reality — and stitching together Dior and Chanel's plights at the same time — is the series' mission. The garments that its two couturiers make might be pristine in their stylishness, but neither's history can earn the same term. Creator Todd A Kessler (Damages, Bloodline) makes a drama about choices, then. Again, it isn't fuelled by the pair being in close physical proximity, which only happens twice in the show — or even acrimony between them — but by comparing and contrasting the moves that Dior and Chanel each made during Nazi-occupied Paris and immediately afterwards. The New Look also takes its overarching perspective from the notion that haute couture's impact in assisting to revive French culture following the war was revolutionary and "helped humanity find beauty and the desire to live again". That said, with Dior and Chanel's prowess treated as a given, the bulk of its frames, handsomely shot as they are, hone in on the personal. The New Look streams via Apple TV+. Read our full review. Recent and Classic Movies to Finally Watch — or Revisit The FP, The FP 2: Beats of Rage, FP3: Escape From BAKO and FP4: EVZ Part-dance movie, part-dystopian comedy, The FP is a rare beast of a movie. It's an instant classic that feels both alluring familiar and completely its own creation, and that immediately sears every frame into your brain. Given the premise, none of the above should come as a surprise. This low-budget 2011 flick is set in a time when gangs fight over control of their home turf, aka Frazier Park, by dance-fighting it out while playing a Dance Dance Revolution-style game called Beat-Beat Revelation. Basically, if Footloose was set in a post-apocalyptic future, it would look something like this. As, yes, it would look rather amazing. Indeed, that's The FP from start to finish. That isn't where it ends, however. After becoming a true cult-favourite, it has spawned three sequels over the years since: 2018's The FP 2: Beats of Rage, 2021's FP3: Escape From BAKO and 2023's FP4: EVZ. This isn't the kind of saga that's blown up and sold out, either — every single entry feels like you can see the filmmaker's fingerprints on every frame. That writer and director is Jason Trost, who also stars as well. Beyond The FP movies, he was last seen in Foo Fighters-driven horror effort Studio 666, with his mere presence there showing the huge gap between the kind of midnight movie that flick wanted to be and the real thing. Trost plays JTRO, who starts The FP franchise training to defeat a rival — but that's only the beginning of a storyline across four films that needs to be experienced by going in as fresh as possible. In a different world, the OG movie and its sequels would get The Room treatment, returning to cinemas regularly. In Australia, big-screen sessions have been rare. That makes being able to settle in and watch all four at once via Brollie quite the treat, and a unique way to spend some couch time. Wanting to play Dance Dance Revolution also comes with the territory. The FP films stream via Brollie. Yuni Again and again in Yuni, a heartbreaking clash echoes. Its sounds stem from schoolyard gossip, superstitious tut-tutting, ultra-conservative demands and reminders that its titular character shouldn't steal anything purple that she sees. In the third feature from Indonesian filmmaker Kamila Andini (The Seen and Unseen), Yuni (Arawinda Kirana, Angkringan) is a 16-year-old in a Muslim society where agreeing to an arranged marriage is the only thing truly expected of her. When the movie begins, a proposal from construction worker Iman (Muhammad Khan, Memories of My Body) already lingers. After she declines, her classmates chatter. Then another offer comes from the much-older Mang Dodi (first-timer Toto ST Radik), who is looking for a second wife. Yuni knows the accepted myth that any woman who refuses more than two proposals will never wed, but she's also keen to make her own choices. She has a crush on teacher Mr Damar (Dimas Aditya, Satan's Slaves), and spends time with the younger and infatuated Yoga (Kevin Ardilova, Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash). She's also the smartest student at her school, with dreams of attending university. Andini's film is full of specifics, diving into the minutiae of Yuni's life — surveying Indonesian society and its customs, the roles thrust upon women from their teenage years, and enormous gap between the path that she's supposed to follow and the yearnings of her heart. This is a movie where scenes of its protagonist hanging out with her friends, whether kicking back on the grass talking about boys or dressing up with her beautician pal Suci (Asmara Abigail, Satan's Slaves 2: Communion), could be scenes from almost any teenage girl's life. Of course, then the reality sinks in, be it in discussions about husbands, babies and virginity tests, or in the teary worries about horrific power imbalances. The ability of poetry to capture everything that can't be easily uttered otherwise also floats through Andini's deeply moving picture, so it should come as no surprise that Yuni is both naturalistic and lyrical. It's precise and universal, follows an easily foreseeable path and yet proves full of surprises, and is astutely directed as well — and Kirana is a star. Yuni streams via SBS On Demand. Need a few more streaming recommendations? Check out our picks from January this year, and also from January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December 2023. You can also check out our running list of standout must-stream shows from last year as well — and our best 15 new shows of 2023, 15 newcomers you might've missed, top 15 returning shows of the year, 15 best films, 15 top movies you likely didn't see, 15 best straight-to-streaming flicks and 30 movies worth catching up on over the summer.
Highly awarded cocktail bar Maybe Sammy, which was named the 11th best bar in the world in 2020, has just welcomed a sister venue to the CBD. First announced last year, and throwing open its doors today, Tuesday, March 23, Sammy Junior is slinging cuppas by day and mini cocktails by night — until 5pm Monday–Wednesday and 10pm Thursday–Friday, that is. Sitting in the heart of the CBD along King Street, the new espresso bar takes its design cues from Maybe Sammy, with its interiors overseen by famed architect George Livissianis (The Dolphin Hotel, Chin Chin Sydney, The Apollo, Cho Cho San). Patrons can expect pistachio hues aplenty, including in the terrazzo floor and bar surfaces and stucco walls. Seating-wise, you can choose from the ten chairs around the bar, banquettes in the back and scattered tables elsewhere. For its coffee, the cafe is offering a blend that's been specially crafted for the venue by coffee connoisseur and Maybe Sammy Co-Founder Martin Hudak (2017 World Coffee in Good Spirits Champion). Sammy Junior Spiritual Coffee features hand-roasted Brazilian, Columbian and Ethiopian beans, or you can choose from a seasonal bean selection — or from Ms Cattea's teas, chai from Bespoke Chai and Callebaut's hot chocolates. Classic Aussie breakfasts, as well as sandwiches and salads for lunch, cater to both takeaway and dine-in customers, with around 50 seats for the latter. The food menu has been created by Chef Robert Lechowicz of Cronulla's Blackwood Pantry, and includes tomatoes on toast, smashed avo, toasted banana bread and strawberry chia pudding to start the day, as well as a daily pastry selection from Sonoma Bakery. For a midday bite, tomato and basil paninis and smokey chipotle chicken wraps sit alongside both Mediterranean and Asian-style bowls. Then, in the evenings on Thursdays and Fridays, Sammy Junior will have similar cocktail-den vibes to its sibling. Mini cocktails in 100 millilitre servings are available on tap — and at lunchtime five days a week, too — including coffee negronis and an Aussie take on the martini made with lemon myrtle. A few wines and beers are also on the docket, with the vino sticking to the small-sized theme by coming in half bottles only. And, on the two nights that the venue stays open late, $2 oysters are available from 3pm, while marinated olives and a salumi and cheese selection are on offer from the same time Monday–Friday. Explaining the hybrid cafe and bar setup, Hudak said "traditionally, a venue is either great at coffee or great at cocktails but there's not many venues that combine those two offerings successfully. We're fortunate to have a team who is internationally awarded for delivering exceptional bar and coffee experiences, so it made sense to combine them into one venue." You can also pick up something from Sammy Junior's retail arm while you're onsite, including take-home coffee packs, its bottled cocktails in mini and 500-millilitre sizes, T-shirts, cocktail glasses and Sammy Junior takeaway cups. And, head by between Tuesday, March 23–Friday, March 26 and you'll also score a free cuppa, with one free coffee available per person, per day across the four days. Find Sammy Junior at 66 King Street, Sydney — open from 7am–5pm Monday–Wednesday and 7am–10pm Thursday–Friday. Images: DS Oficina
Now that we all carry digital maps in our pockets, finding our way around is as simple as whipping out our smartphones, typing in a location and following the stated directions. And, with Google Maps featuring extensive real-life images of the globe's roads and spaces in its Street View mode, it couldn't be easier to double-check that the place in front of you is your intended destination. If the above describes your usual process when you're trying to navigate your way to somewhere new, then you'll also be keen on Google Maps' new Live View feature. Using augmented reality, it combines the service's directions with Street View, superimposing arrows, street names and directions over the actual view that's in front of you — rather than a map or photographic representation of it — literally pointing users in the right direction. Whether you've been distracted while walking around New York and ended up in the wrong place, or found Tokyo's busier districts a bit of a labyrinth, this'll help. The same applies if you're notorious for paying more attention to the sights and sounds around you instead of looking at where you're going, which, when travelling, is an experience we can all relate to. After testing Live View with its local guides and via Pixel phones over the past few months, Google is now expanding the feature — which is currently still in beta testing — to Android and iOS devices. To use it, your phone will need to support ARCore (the company's platform for building augmented reality experiences) and ARKit (Apple's equivalent). Then, after typing in a location into Google Maps, you'll just need to tap the directions button, select walking directions and look for the Live View option. The rollout comes part of the tech giant's broader suite of updates in the travel space. Users can now also use Google Maps to track hotel and flight bookings, find restaurants tailored to their tastes and use their Location History timeline to make notes on each place they visit. Google Maps' Live View is now available on Android and iOS devices. For more information, visit Google Maps.
Few Brisbanites can boast the intimate knowledge of the city's burgers, doughnuts and freakshakes that foodie and prolific Instagrammer Adam Pinzone does. As @foodieadam, he captures these stars of Brisbane's dining scene close-up in all their oozy, glistening glory — a pastime he's devoted himself to since moving to Brisbane from the US in 2015. In partnership with Pullman Hotels and Resorts, we're helping you explore more on your next holiday and make sure you get those experiences that the area's most switched-on residents wouldn't want their visitors to miss. In Brisbane, we've called in Adam, whose favourite spots range from the city's most over-the-top burger eatery to a Japanese dessert bar blasting comforting cover songs. A stay at Pullman's King George Square hotel in Brisbane — located in the centre of the city and just a stroll over the Victoria Bridge from South Bank — will not only put you in the thick of all this action, it will let you rest and digest in five-star luxury at the end of the day. Read on for Adam's perspective on Brisbane's food hot spots, and check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. REVERENDS FINE COFFEE Located in the city centre, Reverends Fine Coffee has a kitchen that punches well above its weight for how small it is. Plus, the staff have so much character, they make each visit feel like coming home. The atmosphere inside the narrow, exposed-brick space feels very Melbourne, and it's a nice escape. Of course, the coffee is still the major draw, with aeropress, pour over and cold-brew options, a house blend sourced from local roaster Uncle Joe's and a constant rotation of new single origin beans on offer. THE BREWER'S PANTRY Part of The Charming Squire — James Squire's industrial-chic brew bar in South Brisbane — The Brewer's Pantry does breakfast, lunch, dinner and all the bits in between. The weekly brekkie specials here are the kind of thing you can't find anywhere else, and are borderline crazy at times. Think cookies and cream french toast with Oreos, or cheesy-garlic-bread-inspired eggs on toast with pickled enoki mushrooms. You can't go wrong when you put yourself in the hands of a bearded chef who has a passion to always one up himself. VAQUERO DINING A night at European/contemporary Australian restaurant Vaquero Dining in Albion means dinner and a show. There aren't many places where you can watch the meat being prepped while you eat. Plus, because everything is done in house, the prices are affordable and the portions are generous. Their Scotch eggs are perfect, and Vaquero also provided me with my introduction to sheep's brains. I've slowly worked through the whole dessert menu — though for me nothing tops the chilli granita chocolate cocktail to finish a meal here. SONDER There's not many places I lose track of time in, but I can easily spend hours in Sonder relaxing and eating Japanese desserts. There's something about a dessert cafe that plays cover songs and serves delicious sweets that is just relaxing. Located in Sunnybank Hills, Sonder makes a particular specialty of ice-cream, even offering mini-cone flights of four, six or eight. And the absolute best thing? It's open till midnight. VIEILLE BRANCHE Sweetly cluttered with antiques from the Normandy seaside, Vielle Branche is a French cafe tucked away in the industrial part of Albion. The menu ranges from traditional croque monsieur — made with creamy bechamel, gruyere and double smoked leg ham — to the more intense smoked duck tartine (the French style of open sandwich) and a platter so indulgent it's dubbed the Complet Gerard Depardieu. Everything is made in-house, including their insanely delicious chocolate brownies. Plus, on Sunday it transforms into a jazz hall. Magic! CHARBOYS I always get asked what are the best burgers in Brisbane. There's no one obvious winner, but Charboys would definitely be on the list. After starting life as a market stall years back, Charboys opened on Boundary Street before moving to the current spot on Edward Street in 2016. Their offering is nothing too over the top; just great quality burgers and fries with addictive seasoning. FLOUR & CHOCOLATE There aren't many places that I casually travel an hour to get to, but this is one of them. Flour & Chocolate Patisserie in Morningside has earned its place as one of Brisbane's best bakeries, with the friendliest staff and pastries that break diets. Lines often snake out of the doorway as Brisbanites show up on the days dedicated to producing the full range of their favourite baked goods. Doughnut day (Wednesday) is well worth taking the day off work for (or at least a long lunch). COFFEE ANTHOLOGY Coffee Anthology on Margaret Street in the city offers up great service, premium coffee and a delicious, affordable breakfast menu that is worth waking up early for. The seasonal waffles are a particular highlight, with flavours ranging from matcha to Cherry Ripe (that's a chocolate cherry waffle with cherry coulis, toasted coconut, French vanilla ice cream and herbs). Ultimately it's all in the service of the coffee, though. Coffee Anthology is all about showcasing beans from Australia's best boutique roasters, including Small Batch Roasting Co, Reformatory Lab and Proud Mary. ZE PICKLE Ze Pickle have creativity and personality. With so many burger joints in Brisbane, it helps to be different. At Ze Pickle, that means they do a doughnut burger (the Doughnutfukwitdis) with Nutella smoked bacon, and a dessert (named #WhothefuckisMaxBrener) consisting of a cookie skillet-baked just enough to hold its shape and topped with marshmallow gravy. You even have the choice to order with Reece's Peanut Butter Cups baked inside. I used to travel once a month to the Gold Coast for this. Fortunately, word of mouth drove Ze Pickle to expand to Fortitude Valley. JULIUS PIZZERIA South Brisbane's Julius Pizzeria is Italian done well. It's about the quality of the ingredients, not quantity. The service and execution is always on point, too. I will always come here every season for the new range of frittelle (fried ricotta dumplings) and late-night comfort food. They don't take bookings so you have to rely on your luck when coming to Julius Pizzeria, but it is well worth the wait. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
A very unconventional coffee shop is coming to Newtown for two days at the end of March. Alternate milk brand Minor Figures will be opening a pop-up cafe where the patrons have to climb inside a carton to order a free latte. Across Thursday, March 30 and Friday, March 31, a Minor Figures Barista Oat M*lk carton will be set up in front of a two-level terrace house on King Street. Anyone who enters can climb up and poke their head out of the carton's nozzle where they'll be greeted by a barista serving up free oat lattes. Each coffee will be made using Sample Coffee's Pacemaker Espresso blend as well as Minor Figures Barista Oat, of course. The peculiar pop-up will be open 7am–3pm each day at 424 King Street, Newtown, directly across the road from Repressed Records and Maiz. If you get lost, just venture south down the bustling Inner West street and you should be able to spot the giant carton of oat milk.
Another exciting Turkish takeover is looming — and this time, it'll be right here in Sydney. Following the success of the collaborative Sunday lunch takeover at Melbourne's Lezzet restaurant, the team behind Efendy and Anason are partnering with hatted Melbourne restaurant, Tulum, to serve up another huge Turkish feast. On Thursday, October 26, the Tulum crew will descend upon Sydney's CBD for a Turkish team-up at Maydanoz. From 7pm, the Carrington Street spot will host a one-night exclusive dinner featuring a fusion of nostalgia-infused Anatolian flavours and an Aegean coast-inspired menu, with Maydanoz's Executive Chef Arman Uz and Tulum's owner and Head Chef Coskun Uysal leading the charge. [caption id="attachment_921681" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Maydanoz's Executive Chef, Arman Uz[/caption] To start the night, the elegant bar & restaurant will be offering enticing cocktails and bite-sized canapés curated by the Tulum crew, before unveiling the main event: a Turkish feast for the ages. The sharing-focused menu will boast a selection of flavour-filled dishes served in three separate courses alongside an optional wine pairing. The first course will be comprised of an array of small plates, where you can look forward to dishes like Tulum's specialty whipped cheese and chilli jam, white anchovy alongside candied orange zest, hearty lentil kofta and pickled turnips, all with grilled Turkish pide bread to pair. Larger plates fuel the second course — expect raw yellowfin tuna with green pepper borani and smoked cherry tomatoes, and icli kofte (a lamb and walnut kibbeh) with buttermilk and potato flatbread. Finally, a dessert course will conclude the evening. The collaborative menu will feature a semi-traditional take on a Turkish dish hailing from the Ottoman Empire, consisting of a chicken and milk pudding paired with lemon thyme ice cream and a caramel mousse. There will also be a familiar favourite — baklava — as well as Turkish black tea to accompany. Head over to the official Maydanoz x Tulum event page for the full menu and to secure your spot.
Some things are just so stunning that they need to be seen multiple times, and getting to walk through Vincent van Gogh's dazzling artworks at Melbourne's multi-sensory digital art gallery The Lume is clearly one of them. So, the popular exhibition that it first opened with, and that's also toured a version around the country, is coming alive again in the Victorian capital from Boxing Day 2024. Made your own Lego version of The Starry Night? Next, you can walk through the iconic painting projected large across the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Arriving a few weeks after Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius closes in early December, the timing of the experience's return means that you can pair summer's sunny days with some sunflowers. The big two are back, of course — aka two of van Gogh's most popular works transformed into vivid new guises. Again, when you see The Starry Night, you'll actually be walking through it as it takes over an entire room. Love Sunflowers (the painting, as well as the plant)? Then get ready for the immersive Sunflower room, where golden petals stretch as far as the eye can see. A family-friendly experience, the van Gogh exhibition creates the sensation of diving right into the Dutch artist's paintings — and you definitely won't feel like you're just standing in an ordinary gallery. Attendees encounter van Gogh's world-famous works in fine detail thanks to state-of-the-art technology from the Melbourne-based Grande Exhibitions, which is behind The Lume. Think: high-definition projectors throwing 360-degree images onto four-storey-high walls in a 3000-square-metre gallery, with a classical musical score accompanying the vibrant colours, too, as presented in cinema-quality surround sound. While plenty will be familiar when the experience brightens up Melbourne again — including an immersive cafe inspired by the artist's Café Terrace at Night and an artist studio where you can learn the techniques behind his pieces — Finding Vincent in shared VR is making its global premiere, taking the idea of stepping into van Gogh's creativity up another level.
Imagine an informercial, but instead of steak knives and stain-proof trousers, this one's selling nothing less than The Great Society itself. You've got your host, Michael Moore, waddling his way from one set piece to the next and reacting with staged incredulity to every deal and reveal ("you get HOW MUCH annual leave in Italy!?") Then there are the interviews, not strictly scripted, but painstakingly selected to ensure they provide every piece of tantalising information without any of the fine print or shortcomings. And, finally, the offer: "Act NOW to adopt the Norwegian penitentiary system and we'll throw in Finnish tertiary studies ABSOLUTELY FREE!" The thing is, unlike so many of those late night absurdities, this one's genuinely enticing. The premise of Moore's latest documentary is a simple one: America hasn't won a war since WWII, so he's giving the US Armed Forces a well-earned stand down order and is instead single-handedly invading countries to steal the things America's most desperately in need of, including France's healthy school lunches, Germany's recognition of past national atrocities, and Italy's fair workplace conditions. Yes, Moore is selective in his 'spoils of war', only showing us the instances where such programs work, but as a model for better government, better business…better living, it's a forgivable choice. Unlike many of Moore's previous films such as Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11 and Capitalism: A Love Story, there's a refreshing absence of cynicism in Where To Invade Next. Even with the overarching message, which basically boils down to "look how much better than us the world does these things", the film ends by reminding us how so many of those initiatives were born in America and, with just a little legislative courage, could easily be reintroduced to sudden and sweeping effect. Greed, unsurprisingly, is identified by Moore as the chief source of America's ills, and it's no grand revelation that the privatisation of prisons, schools and healthcare invariably precipitates a clash between value and values. However, as Moore seeks to prove, a healthy and educated society where welfare is considered a strength rather than an embarrassment is, in the long run, both a cheaper and a more productive one. Moore's trademark one-liners, musical gags and, for want of a better term, 'clowning', repeatedly threaten to distract (or even detract) from his message. Thankfully he demonstrates enough reserve throughout to let the compelling facts speak largely for themselves. And they are compelling, speaking directly to many of the same shortcomings here in Australia that few would deny are in need of significant redress. Most notable of these are Norway's humane treatment of incarcerated criminals to combat recidivism, and Iceland's massively increased female representation at the executive level across both business and politics. This is a film that shows you how things can be done better, then compels you to ask why it's not already the case. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KeAZho8TKo
If you compare theatre to sports, opera will sit somewhere at the Olympic level. The statement "I've got tickets to the opera" is so laced with cultural flavour that it's practically a four-course meal. There are some stellar opera venues in Sydney including a certain world famous House. But if you're looking for an experience that will make you the star of the "did you have a good night?" chats at work the next day, look no further than Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour. They're preparing for their next season, when the iconic Madama Butterfly returns to the outdoor stage with a suitably iconic vista, truly a ticket worthy of your hard-earned funds. So, what sets this opera apart from the rest? And why should you, the audience member, be interested? Well settle in, dear reader, and prepare to find out. The story: An opera that has inspired and enchanted audiences worldwide Madama Butterfly is, at its core, a tragedy. But it's also a story about personal growth and extraordinary determination. The original opera was based on a short story written in 1898 – it follows a Japanese geisha who falls in love with a wealthy American named Pinkerton and enters an explosive, whirlwind romance with him (for better or worse). Italian composer Giacomo Puccini adapted the story from a one-act play to an opera that premiered in 1904 and initially the show was unsuccessful. After several revisions it finally became a global success with the premiere of the enduring fifth version in 1907. It's the most commonly performed iteration of the opera and is the version that inspired this show, with contemporary influences. For example, historically the Pinkerton character is a naval officer and in this production he's a property developer. The venue: An outdoor stage with room for a show to soar As mentioned, the Sydney Opera House traditionally dominates the opera scene but other fantastic opera venues are scattered across Sydney, chief among them the Fleet Steps at Mrs Macquaries Point. The epic outdoor venue has massive seating capacity, jaw-dropping harbour views and a range of dining options onsite. The dining: Al fresco dining and themed menus to bring wonder to your taste buds The Fleet Steps bring the views and the entertainment, but you can't bring your own food into the event area. Fret not, because the menus here top whatever you can fit into a picnic basket. There are five bar and restaurant areas to choose from so let's dig in. For the maximum experience, book a table at the HSBC Platinum Club operated by the Kitchen By Mike team and is as luxe as it sounds. Here, you have access to two or three courses on the Japanese-inspired menu (think steamed coral trout served with pickled cucumber, avocado and a black bean and ginger sauce) before the show and a VIP drink voucher for the interval. Beyond that, you can also get a pre-show feed at one of the other eateries — serving up everything from katsu chicken burgers to teriyaki tofu bowls and cheese and charcuterie boxes. The dining options all open from 5pm, which gives you a two-and-a-half-hour window to get your food fix plus the interval for topping up your champagne flute. The costume and production design: A performance that evolves in front of your eyes During interval, you can also watch the stage transform from one spectacular set to the next. This isn't a simple spruce with moving furniture and changing the lights — there is heavy machinery involved in the transformation. It is production design and staging of this enormity that has made Madama Butterfly stand out among its peers. Not only does the set evolve midway but you'll see 'floating' suns and moons and a literally explosive finale. As well as an evolving stage, pay close attention to the costume design. As the protagonist Cio-Cio San goes on her journey, you'll see her emerge from figurative and literal cocoons alike. Costume designer Lluc Castells said: "Through the costumes, I want to narrate the cultural shock that Cio-Cio San feels and all their consequences, such as the loss of her identity and the dependence on a dominant culture that blinds her." The cast: Powerhouse creatives behind a powerhouse production A killer production is nothing without a killer team to bring it to life. The behind the scenes talent is led by director Àlex Ollé of renowned Spanish theatre group La Fura dels Baus, joined by equally talented (and also Spanish) revival director Susana Gomez and set designer Alfons Flores. Conductor Brian Castles-Onion, a veteran of over 500 opera performances, will be leading the orchestra and steering Puccini's iconic compositions. On stage and in complete view of the audience is a cast of performers who have each performed on global stages, including in past editions of Madama Butterfly. Karah Son and Eva Kong perform the role of Cio-Cio San, Diego Torre and Thomas Strong star as Pinkerton, Sian Sharp and Agnes Sarkis as Suzuki and Michael Honeyman and Luke Gabbedy as Sharpless. For more information on Madama Butterfly, the production and the experience, or to secure your tickets, visit the Opera Australia website.
What does a perfect Sydney summer afternoon look like to you? An icy bottle of sauv blanc at the Opera Bar? A picnic table abundant with the kale and quinoa spoils of Maloneys? Or maybe a wild sunset boat party on the harbour with three of the world's most amazing DJs pumping inimitable summer beats into the earholes of you, a special +1 and 700 fellow revellers? There are approximately 90 days each year when the nights are warmish and superfoods actually taste good, but only one evening where you can party on a boat with Rudimental, Flight Facilities and producer/tastemaker/international party icon Steve Aoki. Riding the floating festival wave scheduled to hit the northern hemisphere later this year, You+1 marks an exciting first for the local dance scene, mixing the buzz of big-name international acts with homegrown talent and a quintessentially Sydney harbour setting. The line-up is also pretty diverse sonically, with the three headliners all falling under one sweepingly broad genre. Aoki climbs aboard having just been named the highest grossing dance artist in North America, renowned for delivering a cornucopia of electro house hits via an insane live performance. Investing the festival with a dash of feelgood Hackney soul are youth workers-turned-electro quartet Rudimental, who have already made waves in their native UK with this addictive track, while our own Flight Facilities put a halcyon spin on the genre as they return to their home city. An extremely limited number of tickets will be up for grabs via Durex's Facebook page from 3 September, so mark that date in your iCal to get 'em while they're not only hot but free. Date: Sunday 14 October, 2012 Time: 5pm – 9pm (boarding from 4.45pm) Location: The Starship, Wharf 4, King Street Wharf, Darling Harbour (adjacent to Cargo Bar) Tickets: facebook.com/Durex.Australia https://youtube.com/watch?v=JI6fDb6IBmU
Maybe you've already been and can't wait to head back. Maybe it's sat on your must-attend list but you haven't yet made the trip. Whichever fits, add Parrtjima - A Festival In Light to your 2023 travel plans, with the luminous Alice Springs event — which might just be Australia's brightest festival — set to return for another year from Friday, April 7–Sunday, April 16. Parrtjima's 2023 fest will fashion its dazzling artworks and installations around the theme 'Listening with Heart', as inspired by the artwork surrounding the Statement from the Heart. That piece depicts Uluru-Ku Tjukurrpa, the Uluru story of connection, and was created by a group of artists from Multijulu as led by Maruku artist Rene Kulitja — and Kulitja will work with other of artists for Parrtjima to turn the Statement from the Heart artwork into a large-scale immersive light and sound installation. That means that Parrtjima attendees will find themselves plunged in the world of the Aṉangu people of the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands surrounding Uluru. The idea is to feature ancient songlines, plus Indigenous viewpoints on Country, as well as connecting to First Peoples' strong links with the land, water and sky. "There has been a growing realisation across the nation that Australia has something incredibly unique — its First Peoples. We are the oldest living, adapting culture," said Parrtjima Curator Rhoda Roberts AO, announcing the 2023 theme and key artwork. "The installation at the heart of Parrtjima 2023 will take guests on a journey through the lands surrounding Uluru, Australia's most iconic landmark. The installation will remind people of the eons of oral storytelling, and the story of Kuniya and Liru that shaped the landscape of Uluru through art." One thing that'll also be on the bill: the festival's regular annual attraction, aka a huge artwork that transforms a 2.5-kilometre stretch of the majestic, 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges, showering it with light each night of the festival. While it's too early to unveil the rest of event's lineup just yet, visitors can once again expect a big — and free — ten-day public celebration of Indigenous arts, culture, music and storytelling, including an eye-catching array of light installations. That'll all take over Alice Springs CBD's Alice Springs Todd Mall, as well as tourism and conservation facility Alice Springs Desert Park Precinct just out of town, as 2022's festival did. Registrations for the 2023 event have just opened, if you'd like to nab an early spot in line for tickets when they go on sale. Of course, Parrtjima is just one of Northern Territory's two glowing attractions in 2023, with Australia's Red Centre lighting up in multiple ways. The festival is a nice supplement to Bruce Munro's Field of Light installation, which — after multiple extensions — is now on display indefinitely. Parrtjima – A Festival in Light will run from Friday, April 7–Sunday, April 16, 2023 around Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. For more information, visit the festival website.
When it comes to street art exhibitions, it really doesn't get any bigger than this. A retrospective of Banksy's work has made its way to Australia, featuring more than 80 of the artist's off-street masterpieces. Opening today, Friday, October 7 at The Paddock in Melbourne's Federation Square, The Art of Banksy is a massive collection of pieces by the art world's chief enigma — including the darkly satirical, overtly political work that has turned the stencil-loving artist into such an infamous icon. Endeavouring to take audiences on a journey through Banksy's output and mindset, the exhibition includes the well-known Girl with Balloon, Flag Wall and Laugh Now pieces, as well as three efforts that have never before been displayed to the public. If it sounds epic, that's because it is. The art featured has been sourced from over 40 different private collectors around the world, and comprises the largest showcase of Banksy pieces to ever make its way to our shores. As curated by the artist's former manager Steve Lazarides, the exhibition is also a little controversial. While every piece is original, unique and authentic, The Art of Banksy proudly boasts that the entire show is 100 percent unauthorised. No, Banksy hasn't signed off on the event. As well as displaying Banksy's work in a custom-built enclosure, The Art of Banksy also shines a light on a range of pieces by well-known and emerging local street artists. Expect to find them on the surrounding external surfaces and the inside walls of the exhibition's own Circle Bar, which will serve craft beers and cocktails. Outside, the Welcome to Thornbury team will corral a heap of food trucks into an area called 'The Railyard'. Plus, on Friday nights and Saturday arvos, DJs will also provide appropriate tunes to suit the occasion. Of course, Melburnians will know that this isn't the mysterious figure's first dalliance with the city. The artist's stencils have popped up around the city previously courtesy of a visit in 2003, though many have been destroyed and damaged in the years since. The Art of Banksy will run from October 7 to January 22 at The Paddock in Federation Square, Melbourne. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the exhibition website. Images: Olga Rozenbajgier. Words: Sarah Ward.
Eight years since Netflix arrived Down Under, the streaming era has brought so many different platforms our way that switching between Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+ and the like is the new changing channels. But, however many different services you subscribe to, and why, only one platform hails from Australia's National Film and Sound Archive: the just-launched NFSA Player. As a bricks-and-mortar celebration of sound and vision, the Canberra-based NFSA fills its walls and halls with the country's screen history, a task that it has embraced since 1935. In fact, when it was first established, it became one of the first audiovisual archives in the world. Almost nine decades later, the institution features more than four million items, including scripts, props, costumes and promotional materials — a range that keeps growing in order to continue maintaining this pivotal record of Aussie creativity. In the online space, NFSA is now sharing its expertise digitally, which is where the on-demand NFSA Player comes in. As part of an aim to make the national audiovisual treasure trove more accessible — and all over Australia, too — viewers will now find everything from feature films and documentaries to TV shows and animation in the streaming platform's catalogue. Getting things started: its very first collection Buwindja. Spanning 17 titles, this debut selection of screen content is timed to celebrate NAIDOC Week, and showcases Indigenous trailblazers in the process. Both as part of the collection and in the future, NFSA Player features free and pay-per-view content — so you can rent Warwick Thornton's Samson & Delilah for $4.99, or opt for a half-hour biographical documentary about Bundjalung author and historian Ruby Langford Ginibi without paying a cent. Other highlights from Buwindja include Mabo, stunning Bangarra dance film Spear, drama series The Gods of Wheat Street and rock n' roll doco Wrong Side of the Road. Also included: more documentaries such as Black Divaz, The Song Keepers, Buried Country and My Survival as an Aboriginal. "Buwindja represents an opportunity for Australians to reflect on the part they play in ensuring that the voice that our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders have fought for in the past and present continues to be heard," said Gillian Moody, a Wodi Wodi woman, filmmaker and the NFSA's Senior Manager, Indigenous Connections. "I curated it with the hope of inspiring audiences to reflect, imagine and act when they listen to and watch these stories." To check out NFSA Player, head to the streaming platform's website.
Take a historical figure, but someone from several centuries back who isn't a worldwide household name. Use them as the basis for a new comedy series which doesn't promise to stick to the facts for a second. And, enlist famous hilarity-inspiring folks to tell the tale. The above description sums up Our Flag Means Death, which has sadly departed the streaming seas after being cancelled following a two-season run. It also fits Apple TV+'s upcoming six-part effort The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, with The Mighty Boosh's Noel Fielding in the titular role. Where Our Flag Means Death's Stede Bonnet was an 18th-century pirate, The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin's namesake stuck to land in the same era as a highwayman. You can look up how his story turned out, or you can see how the series gives it the comic treatment from Friday, March 1, as it follows Turpin and his gang of fellow outlaws. As the just-dropped trailer demonstrates, working in plenty of dick jokes — well, it is the show's main character's moniker — is high on The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin's agenda. So is Fielding in his usual comic mode, as seen on The Great British Bake Off and Never Mind the Buzzcocks as well. Turpin's quest: to evade the corrupt Jonathan Wilde (Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey: A New Era), who fancies himself as a thief-taker, and just generally stay alive. And if you're wondering what kind of antics are in store, Fielding is also one of the series' writers, so anything could happen. Wild costume changes are a given. So is Fielding playing charming but chaotic. "I know what you're thinking: who is this guy with the incredible cheek bones? Where does he get his hair done? One day, I'll be the most-famous highway man in all of England," Turpin tells a crowd to start of the show's sneak peek — only for it to be revealed that he's standing on a gallows, about to be hanged. Joining Fielding in the cast: Ellie White (Wonka), Marc Wootton (High & Dry), Duayne Boachie (You Don't Know Me), Tamsin Greig (Sexy Beast), Asim Chaudhry (Barbie), Dolly Wells (The Outlaws) and Joe Wilkinson (Sex Education) — and also Noel's brother Michael (also The Mighty Boosh) and his Never Mind the Buzzcocks host Greg Davies (The Cleaner). Check out the trailer for The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin below: The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin streams via Apple TV+ from Friday, March 1, 2024.
