When the first motion pictures flickered across the big screen 120-plus years ago, audiences were reportedly scared. The line between truth, embellishment and fiction has become muddled over time, but the idea viewers were astonished and startled when they watched the Lumière brothers' famous The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station makes one hell of an urban legend. That was back in 1896. As we know all these years later, cinema hasn't stopped causing bumps and jumps since. The world's first horror film is thought to have released the same year — Georges Méliès' three-minute short called The House of the Devil — and plenty of folks have taken his lead afterwards. Today, that means horror's on-screen cup truly runneth over. Thanks to streaming, a wealth of unnerving flicks linger at everyone's fingertips. If you prefer celebrating Halloween by dimming the lights, popping some corn and getting cosy on the couch for a marathon of unsettling movies, we've put together ten classic recommendations — from creepy vampire films that are almost a century old to more modern must-sees. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hQ40cI5C0E NEAR DARK Before she took Keanu Reeves surfing in Point Break, tasked Jeremy Renner with defusing bombs in The Hurt Locker and dramatised the international manhunt for Osama bin Laden in Zero Dark Thirty — and before she became the first woman to win the Best Director Oscar, too — Kathryn Bigelow sunk her teeth into the vampire genre. Near Dark, her 1987 sophomore film, takes elements of the western genre, throws in a clan of roving bloodsuckers and lets atmospheric horror thrills ensue. Bigelow's work has always been lean but weighty, and her dance with the fanged undead is no different. In fact, it's a flat-out vamp classic. Near Dark is available to stream on SBS On Demand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX5SG_2n4sM TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME As 2017's Twin Peaks revival proved, no one conjures up unsettling imagery quite like David Lynch. He's been thrusting eerie visuals out into the world since 1977's Eraserhead — but if you like your Lynchian unease with some damn fine coffee and a slice of cherry pie, there's nothing better than 1992's Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Set in the lead-up to Laura Palmer's (Sheryl Lee) death, the prequel flick burrows deep into the sinister forces at play. It's a movie of sheer dread, even though viewers know what's going to happen. As only he can, Lynch steeps every frame in the pain, terror and suffering of his doomed protagonist, all while baking in his usual surrealist touches. No wonder it lingers long after watching, like the two seasons of Twin Peaks before it and the belated third season that followed 25 years later. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me is available to stream on Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyW5YXDcIGs THE EXORCIST Back in 1973, the horror genre was possessed — and it has never truly recovered. That's not a criticism; The Exorcist is a landmark piece of spine-tingling cinema, with William Friedkin's film leaving a heavy imprint on everything that's followed. It even became the first horror flick to score an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, a feat that's still much more rare than it should be. When a movie spends the bulk of its time with a 12-year-old girl (Linda Blair) whose body has been overtaken by a demon, as well as with the two priests (Max von Sydow and Jason Miller) trying to cast the devil out and save her soul, it's going to make an impact. The fact that the film was based on a William Peter Blatty novel inspired by real-life exorcisms also helped, as did Friedkin's handling of Blatty's script, which gives the supernatural details a raw, visceral feel. The Exorcist is available to stream on Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-daIHTY4NQ BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER How funky is your chicken? How loose is your goose? And, to keep the questions going, how well do you remember the original Buffy? Before Sarah Michelle Gellar stepped into her shoes in the cult TV show, everyone's favourite vampire slayer shouted the above cheers, took guidance from Donald Sutherland, battled Rutger Hauer and romanced Luke Perry in the 1992 big-screen comedy. The Joss Whedon-scripted flick still takes its premise seriously, but there's a looser vibe to the movie than the television series. And a thoroughly early 90s vibe, as well. While you're enjoying the undead-killing antics, keep an eye out for everyone from Hilary Swank to Thomas Jane and Ben Affleck among the cast, too. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is available to stream on Foxtel Now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmvQ_ii42mc HALLOWEEN This time last year, the latest Halloween film hit cinemas. In 2020 and 2021, sequels Halloween Kills and then Halloween Ends will reach the big-screen in late October. But, when it comes to the absolutely best franchise for this time of year, 2019 is unfortunately an anomaly. While Michael Myers isn't terrorising a theatre near you at this very moment, John Carpenter's original 1979 flick is always worth revisiting — in the slasher-thriller realm, it's an utter masterclass. From Jamie Lee Curtis' pitch-perfect performance as formidable babysitter Laurie Strode, to the pervasive air of unease looming over suburbia and Carpenter's own exceptionally unnerving score, the original Halloween is both supremely scary and sublime. Halloween is available to stream from the Apple Store. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJew_11l6n8 HOUSEBOUND Scaring cinemagoers while simultaneously making them laugh isn't as easy as it might sound. Plenty of films call themselves horror-comedies, but they're usually just comedies with horror theming — and they're about as sinister as clown without makeup. While 2014 New Zealand picture Housebound falls into the tried-and-tested sub-genre that is haunted house flicks, writer/director Gerard Johnstone finds the ideal balance between spooks and giggles, all by following a small-time criminal placed on house arrest. Kylie (Morgana O'Reilly) would rather be anywhere but stuck at home for eight months with her mother (Rima Te Wiata); however she soon discovers that they have company in a movie that serves up jumps and chuckles in tandem. Housebound is available to stream on SBS On Demand and Tubi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NOipA99GxY NOSFERATU It's the best Dracula film that doesn't actually mention the word "Dracula". In fact, when FW Murnau adapted Bram Stoker's gothic classic in 1922 without getting permission to do so, a court ordered that the movie be destroyed. Thankfully, a few prints survived, which is how we can still soak in the wonders of Nosferatu. Even with a few changes (the famed bloodsucker is now called Count Orlock, for example) the story lures viewers in, but it's not just the plot that's captivating. As proves the case with all German Expressionist cinema from the 1920s, it's how the tale is told in a visual sense that makes an enormous impact. Also significant today, almost a century later, is how free Nosferatu is from everything that's since become a vampire cliche — with the film cutting to the heart of Stoker's disquieting narrative instead. Nosferatu is available to stream on Tubi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyWuHv2-Abk TRAIN TO BUSAN Forget Snakes on a Plane — if you want to see what happens when something scary is let loose in a confined space, but you don't want to cringe the whole time, opt for zombies on a train instead. Yeon Sang-ho's instant classic doesn't use the obvious moniker; however this frenetic thrill ride definitely fits the description. It's far, far better than that simplistic outline might seem to suggest, though. As well as forcing a father (Gong Yoo) and daughter (Kim Su-an) to fend off the shuffling hordes while they're in mid-transit, and fleshing its protagonists out more than most zombie flicks manage, Train to Busan also paints a probing picture of modern-day South Korean society. It's part of a franchise, too, with animated prequel Seoul Station exploring another aspect of the outbreak, and a sequel is also in the works. Train to Busan is available to stream on Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWin2LZkvrA THE CRAFT Is a horror classic really a horror classic if it hasn't spawned a remake? In The Craft's case, no one will need to ponder this question for much longer. A new version is currently in the works, but that doesn't mean that the 90s original is going anywhere — and if you like your retro horror fun packaged with teen goth witches, then you'll always want to go back to where it all began. Starring Neve Campbell, Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk and Rachel True, the 1996 hit charts the fallout when a group of high-schoolers start messing around with the occult and using it to rule the school. It owes a significant debt to Heathers, just with added witches, but The Craft still casts its own enjoyable spell. The Craft is available to stream on on Google Play. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7hLdktC_jY THE STUFF If you ever come across a gooey substance on the ground, don't eat it. Things don't turn out well when this exact scenario happens in 1985 satirical horror/sci-fi The Stuff — especially after the titular substance is sold in supermarkets, marketed as being calorie-free and starts a huge food craze. Where it goes from there is best discovered by watching, but don't expect anything in the way of subtlety or realism. Larry Cohen sits in the director's chair, and this is the kind of playful horror fun that the prolific B-movie filmmaker was known for. Everyone needs their spooks with a dose of silliness now and then, after all. The Stuff is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Thanks to Sydney's year-round calendar of events, big nights out look a little different these days. This month, instead of squeezing into a bar, we're headed for the stands — because from March 1–21, Sydney becomes centre stage for the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™, welcoming the region's best women's football teams to Stadium Australia and Western Sydney Stadium for three weeks of world-class action. As the premier women's football competition in Asia, the tournament brings powerhouse national teams — including Australia, China PR, DPR Korea, India and more — to two of Sydney's biggest arenas. Expect electric atmosphere, high-tempo matches and edge-of-your-seat finishes as players leave it all on the pitch for national glory — all dialled up to 11 when you're there in person. [caption id="attachment_1077381" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Football Australia, Photo by Misch Bocska | MB Photomedia[/caption] Sydney hosts an incredible run of fixtures across both venues, from early group-stage clashes to blockbuster knockout matches — including the showpiece Final at Stadium Australia. Mark your calendar for Australia's International Women's Day clash against Korea Republic at 8pm on Sunday, March 8; two quarter-finals on March 14 and 15; a semi-final on March 18; and the final on Saturday, March 21. With most matches taking place at night, you'll have plenty of chances to shake up your after-dark routine and catch some of the world's brightest footballing talent up close. For local fans, it's a rare opportunity to catch the Matildas in action on home soil, with star players Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler returning after long-term injury layoffs. Under new coach Joe Montemurro, the Aussies enter as one of the favourites — and will be looking to the home crowd to help lift the AFC Women's Asia Cup title for the first time since 2010. [caption id="attachment_1077384" align="alignnone" width="1920"] AFC Photo Library[/caption] Whether it's a night out with family or mates — or even a different kind of date night — this is the kind of event that feels bigger than 90 minutes of football. The women's game is in the midst of a generational rise, and this tournament is where the next breakout star or the next iconic goal could unfold live in front of you. Add affordable ticket options — with prices starting at $20 for adults and $10 for kids — and a festival-like stadium atmosphere, and your next night out is sorted. [caption id="attachment_1077530" align="alignnone" width="1920"] AFC Photo Library[/caption] The AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ takes place between March 1–21 at Stadium Australia and Western Sydney Stadium. For the full Sydney fixture and to get your tickets, head to the ticketing website.
Sydney's Chinese regional dining scene just welcomed a bold and fiery newcomer with the arrival of 25 Spices, a visually striking new dining room dedicated to the layered, complex flavours of Hunan cuisine. Now open in Market City, the two-level restaurant is the latest venture from Vincent Wei, the chef behind cult-fave Newtown spot Pappa's Stew, and marks the chef's most ambitious chapter yet. Hailing from central China, Hunan (or Xiang) food is one of the country's eight great regional cuisines (八大菜系), and is known for its unapologetic heat, sourness and smokiness. After finding little Hunan representation in Sydney when he moved from China, Wei opened his first takeaway spot in 2016, which then led to Pappa's Stew. Now with 25 Spices, he's created what he calls "the restaurant I've dreamed of creating for many years". The menu showcases a range of Hunan signatures and explores the interplay between sour, smoke and heat. Highlights include Hunan-style chilli with eggplant and century egg, beef with pickled green chilli, and a winter-only slow-cooked lamb hot pot. It's not all firepower though — options like braised beef noodles with crunchy peanuts, tomato beef brisket pot, and wood-smoked pork belly with garlic sprouts cut back on the spice, but not the comfort. You can balance it all out with aromatic bi luo chun tea, a naturally sweet green tea from the Hunan mountains. "Hunan food isn't about numbing spice or sweetness — it's about deep heat, smoke, and soul," says Wei. "[This restaurant] represents my childhood and what I believe to be one of the most delicious Chinese cuisines." The sense of storytelling extends to the fitout — the work of Lily Zhang of Haymarket-based Latistudio. A palette of deep red and calming blue evokes both the fiery energy of Hunan and the soothing tones of Australia's coast. Walnut wood finishes throughout the space add warmth and texture, while also nodding to the Chinese tradition of wood representing stability and connection to nature. It's a fitting look for a restaurant that's just as much about cultural connection as it is about flavour. "This restaurant is about more than food," says Wei. "It's a space for anyone curious about a cuisine that's still underrepresented in Australia." 25 Spices in now open seven days a week, from 11.30am–3pm and 5–10pm. Find it on the ground floor of Market City, on the corner of Hay Street and Quay Street, Shop 1.01B, 9–13 Hay Street, Haymarket. For more information, head to the venue's website.
Throw us Sydneysiders a bit of sunshine and we'll take just about any inside activity to the great outdoors. Open-air moviegoing, however, is a clear favourite. Each year we inevitably see our favourite outdoor cinemas return for the summer and a couple of newbies pop up too. From films overlooking Sydney Harbour to movies nestled in the Hills, these cinemas showcase the best new releases and cult favourites under the stars. So pack a snack basket of wine and cheese mandatory, some Aeroguard and get your butt on a picnic rug for the evening. It's a perfect date idea or a great way to spend an evening with mates. MOONLIGHT CINEMA, CENTENNIAL PARK Cinephiles, picnic-lovers and everyone in between, rejoice — Moonlight Cinema is back for another round. Kicking off on the first day of summer (how fitting) in Sydney's Centennial Park, this year's setup boasts all the regular features that make this one of the country's most popular summer events. Big screen shimmering beneath the stars? Check. Food trucks serving the ultimate movie munchies? Check. Letting super-organised patrons BYO their own snacks? Check. A huge lineup of new releases and cult classics? You betcha. Expect all the big summer releases, like sci-fi thriller Passengers, the much-anticipated La La Land with Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, and Lion, based on the true story of Saroo Brierley who found his birth mother in India via Google Earth after 25 years of separation. Naturally, they'll also be playing Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (which was released today) as well as the yet-to-be-released Star Wars: Rogue One and game-turned-film Assassins Creed. As always, they'll also throw in a few cult favourites — this year it's Grease and Back to the Future — and some Doggie Nights, which will kick off with The Secret Life of Pets. When? December 1, 2016 – April 2, 2017. SYDNEY HILLS OUTDOOR CINEMA, CASTLE HILL Running for a month from January 12 to February 12 at the Castle Hill Showground, this al fresco event promises summertime cinema at its best. The 20-strong film program — which will show on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights — will cover both new releases and classics, across all kinds of genres. The season will kick off with the Michael Keaton-starring The Founder followed by a screening of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them the next night, and finish up with WWII film Allied, which stars Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard. But, really, the big screen stuff is just a tiny part of what this pop-up event has in store. Most importantly, Bilpin Cider is on drinks duty, with their fully licensed Garden Bar set to serve an assortment of summer-inspired cocktails, local wine, French bubbly, and the label's own collection of ciders. Meanwhile, a pop-up by local Dural café Wolfe & Co. will be taking care of those movie snacks, stepping beyond your usual popcorn selection to offer the likes of prawn cocktail rolls and beef brisket burgers. There's even a range of cheese and antipasto boards, for anyone wanting to really ace that date night situation. When? January 12 – February 12, 2017. ST GEORGE OPENAIR CINEMA, MRS MACQUARIES POINT The St George Openair Cinema is one of Sydney's favourite (and most dramatically panoramic) outdoor movie events. This year's a 39-night season, running between January 7 and February 17, and featuring 20 premieres and preview screenings and a selection of 2017 Oscar contenders. After kicking off with Lion, the cinema will screen Jackie, Manchester by the Sea, Loving, Gold, Hidden Figures and the long-awaited sequel T2 Trainspotting. This summer's anticipated new releases are on the bill too, including La La Land, Why Him?, A United Kingdom and Passengers, as well as 2016 highlights like Nocturnal Animals, Arrival, The Founder, Allied, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Plus, on Australia Day, you can catch a preview of David Stratton's Stories of Australian Cinema. More than 1500 patrons per evening are expected to flock to Mrs Macquaries Point adjacent to Royal Botanic Gardens, so get your tickets locked down ASAP. When? January 7 – February 17, 2017. BEN & JERRY'S OPENAIR CINEMA, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY Last year, Sydney's inner west got in on the openair cinema action, with Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema opening their very first inner west cinema, adding another location to their free ice cream-loving lineup of Bondi, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth. And they're back for 2016. Setting up on the lawns of Cadigal Green at the University of Sydney, Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema shows new releases and cult classics including Hollywood blockbusters Inferno, Doctor Strange, Hacksaw Ridge, The Accountant and Arrival, comedies Bad Santa 2 and War on Everyone, Oscar contenders The Light Between Oceans and Nocturnal Animals, and controversial Cannes feature The Neon Demon. The team are keeping their tried and true formula intact — live music and free ice cream nights. Local artists will hit the stage before the film for cruisy sets, including Nic Cassey, The Runaway Horses and Naomi Sequeira. There'll also be a fully-licensed bar and gourmet food stands. You can also hire deckchairs, beanbags and blankets, or go all in for a VIP Star Lounge ticket with lounger, a blanket, seat side service and a glass of wine. When? November 25 – December 12, 2016. SUNSET CINEMA, NORTH SYDNEY Returning to North Sydney Oval, Sunset Cinema kicks off on Thursday, January 19, before running Wednesdays through Saturdays until March 18. The program skews towards more recent films including Captain Fantastic, The Magnificent Seven, Bridget Jones's Baby and The Girl on the Train, although they have squeezed one retro title in there: Dirty Dancing. They've also put together a top-notch food and beverage offering, in order to keep your stomach from grumbling during the film. They'll set up a snack bar and the site will have a fully licensed bar, serving 4 Pines craft beers and MadFish wines. When? January 19 – March 18, 2017. [caption id="attachment_603915" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Huw Lambert/Luchetti Krelle.[/caption] SKYLINE DRIVE-IN CINEMA, BLACKTOWN Dress in your best '60s get-up and step back in time at one of the only drive-ins left in Sydney. With a recently refurbished Happy Days-esque diner (designed by Luchetti Krelle) offering classic snacks like hot chips, ice creams and frozen cokes, and a pub down the road, you better not do anything more than hold hands with your sweetheart otherwise you'll ruin the schmaltz of the experience. There are two opposing screens which show double features nightly. When? All year-round.
With so many incredible stays opening every year, it takes a surprising amount of work to stay on top of the very best new hotels. Having just published its 20th edition, Travel + Leisure's 'It List' is a helpful starting point, with 100 outstanding properties from around the globe making the final cut, giving you a head start on planning your next luxe getaway. But don't think you have to jet-set overseas to experience the world's best accommodation. In 2026, four Australian stays placed on the list, spanning creative inner-city hotels to far-flung island escapes. If the latter sounds more appealing, The Sundays demands your attention, offering a truly luxe retreat on Hamilton Island amid the Great Barrier Reef. Think sunrise yoga and award-winning dining — guided by Josh and Julie Niland, no less — overlooking the Coral Sea. [caption id="attachment_1095744" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Sundays, Hamilton Island. Credit: Supplied.[/caption] Yet this headline-grabbing destination wasn't the only new stay to land itself a sought-after recommendation. Back amongst the inner-city action, 1 Hotel Melbourne is housed inside (and on top of) the heritage-listed Goods Shed No.5, the last of the unrenovated 1800s goods sheds that once made up Melbourne's busiest port. Nature-led in design, this waterfront property is also home to From Here by Mike — chef Mike McEnearney's produce-driven, low-waste fine diner. In Sydney, staying in town has likely never been so good, with 25 Hours The Olympia making Travel + Leisure's list. Years in the making, the wait was worth it when the doors finally opened, with the Paddington hotel's eclectic design paying tribute to the halcyon days of cinema, inspired by the grand theatres that once stood on the same site. Meanwhile, four standout food and drink venues, organised by culinary director Mitch Orr, help shape an unforgettable visit. [caption id="attachment_1013302" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 1 Hotels Melbourne, Docklands. Credit: Mikkel Vang.[/caption] Edging back towards the tropics, Mondrian Gold Coast marked the global chain's first Australian property, finding a sun-drenched home in Burleigh Heads. Featuring 208 rooms, suites, beach houses and residences, this sprawling hotel invites guests to relish the idyllic scenery, then head to its assortment of food and beverage venues, spanning the Italian summer vibes of LiTO, the elevated coastal cuisine of Haven and the cocktail-forward Haven Pool Club. Across the ditch, two of New Zealand's recent hotel launches also received special nods. While Taupo's Huka Lodge opened in 1924, an expansive $22-million renovation has taken the property to a whole new level of luxury. Then, in Queenstown, Roki Collection offers an opulent stay perched on the edge of Lake Wakatipu, featuring 15 suites that provide sweeping glacier and alpine views — with the price to match. [caption id="attachment_1069491" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 25hours Hotel The Olympia. Credit: Justin Nicholas.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1063390" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mondrian Gold Coast. Credit: Mietta Eve.[/caption] For more information, head to the website. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox. Top image: The Sundays, Hamilton Island.
As plant-based eating has become increasingly normalised (just ask these top chefs), it can be difficult to begin when it comes to incorporating more plant-based meals into the home. This probably shouldn't be all that surprising — with so much to work with, rather than just the standard protein and three veg many of us grew up with, there really is a whole world of delicious, nutritious and, yes, even indulgent ingredients that can easily be transformed into meals that are as good for you as they are for the planet. To make things a little easier for you, we've teamed up with Vegkit to showcase seven easy-to-make plant-based dishes that'll please even the pickiest of eaters, from entrée right through to dessert. HERBED MUSHROOM AND LENTIL SAUSAGE ROLLS Whether it's a playful entrée or a game-night staple, sausage rolls are always a no-brainer when you've got guests over. This plant-based version is an umami-laden treat, packed with mushrooms, lentils and a host of fragrant herbs and spices. They're a cinch to make, too — especially when you let a food processor do the heavy lifting — but also make it look like you've gone to more effort than you probably have. That's what we call a win-win, folks. ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS, CRANBERRY AND ALMOND SALAD Take the humble brussels sprout from supporting player to headline act with this delicious salad. This hearty dish is just as good as part of a lazy weekend spread as it is to elevate a quick weeknight dinner, thanks to its minimal prep time and abbreviated list of ingredients (most of which you probably already have on hand). Less definitely means more in this case, though, with well-balanced flavours that seriously pack a punch. One more reason to add this dish to the rotation: with the cooler months approaching, brussels sprouts are back in season. TOMATO FILO TART WITH PESTO This golden, flaky tart looks more difficult to make than it is — and when it looks this good, that's really saying something. We reckon this all-rounder would go down well at any time of the day, whether it's for a plant-based brunch or an easy weeknight dinner. You can use any tomatoes you like, and the recipe also calls for a homemade pesto, so it's a great fridge-clearer that you can graze on all day. EASY CHEESY CAULIFLOWER BAKE The clue is in the name with this one, folks (maybe not the 'cheesy' bit though, to be fair) — it's an easy-as, warming AF bake that we think could become a new weeknight favourite. Think of this like mac and cheese's sophisticated sibling, with florets of cauliflower topped with a creamy (in consistency only, we assure you) garlicky cashew mix and crunchy golden breadcrumbs. Your favourite comfort dish just got a wholesome upgrade. MUSHROOM AND LEEK PIE Pie time to upgrade your baking game? Start here. This very doable — and very smashable — plant-based pie is comfort food at its finest, with a golden filo ceiling giving way to a luxuriously gooey mushroom and leek filling that's lifted with onions, garlic and a hum of cracked pepper. You can also add a whack of protein by adding cubed tofu (smoked tofu works particularly well here) to the white sauce when you stir the veggies through it. APPLE BLUEBERRY CRUMBLE What looks like a pie, smells like a pie, even tastes like a pie, but is a whole lot easier to make than a pie? This fragrant, colourful beauty. Just ten minutes' prep and 15 minutes of oven time is all you need to serve up this rustic, indulgent apple blueberry crumble. While the cinnamon-laced fruit is an umami-packed delight, the real highlight here is the homemade crumble, a buttery, toasty mix of oats, wholewheat flour, maple syrup and coconut oil. Top with a generous scoop of vegan ice cream or thick vanilla-flavoured coconut yoghurt to take this dessert to the next level. MANGO, LIME AND COCONUT SWIRL POPSICLES The only difficult thing about making these summer-ready mango, lime and coconut swirl popsicles will be waiting for them to set. These sticks feature all your favourite summer flavours, and are the perfect treat at any time of the day — and surely one of these would count as one of your five-a-day, right? The recipe for these bad boys calls for just four ingredients, but we'd suggest a cheeky fifth if you're making them for grown-ups: a splash of rum. Piña colada popsicles, anyone? To discover even more plant-based dining and recipe inspiration, head to the VegKit website, or check out MasterChef Australia's Simon Toohey's three favourite plant-based breakfasts to get your day started. Don't feel like cooking tonight? Try our picks of the best date spots with plant-based menus in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Sydney has just joined the likes of Bangkok, Hainan, Hanoi, Shanghai and Singapore as a home to the luxury hotel group Capella. The award-winning accommodation provider officially opened Capella Sydney today, Wednesday, March 15, bringing 192 luxury rooms to a historic inner-city building. Housed within the sandstone Department of Education Building on the corner of Bridge Street and Loftus Street just across from Macquarie Place Park, the expansive hotel adds another dose of lavish luxury to Sydney's hotel scene. The restoration and reimagination of the century-old building took seven years in the hands of the Pontiac Land Group. The nine-storey building has been transformed with a glamourous interior brought together by muted tones of white and brown giving the hotel both a vintage and timeless quality. "Pontiac Land has always been passionate about creating meaningful developments that contribute and help shape their communities. Capella Sydney was an ideal opportunity for us to sensitively repurpose this culturally significant landmark in the heart of downtown Sydney and transform it into a more public offering as a leading luxury hotel for everyone to be able to experience," says Pontiac Land Group Chief Executive Officer David Tsang. Guests are greeted with a flurry of acquired and commissioned art within the lobby including works from the likes of Judy Watson and Otis Hope Carey, as well as a robotic light installation titled Meadow from Dutch art duo DRIFT. Once you've navigated the lobby, you'll find elegant guestrooms fitted with Italian Frette linen, a standalone bathtub and sustainable vegan amenities created in partnership with Haeckels. And, there's plenty to love outside your room as well. There are two shared spaces for guests to unwind in, a spa offering relaxing rejuvenation treatments, a fitness centre, a heated 20-metre indoor pool and two dining areas. The first is the more laidback McRae Bar. While this hotel bar is still overflowing with luxury, boasting gold trimmings and a hefty cocktail menu, it's hard to compete with the sheer exuberance of Brasserie 1930. This European-influenced dining room comes from the acclaimed hospitality crew behind Bentley Restaurant and Bar, Monopole, Yellow and Cirrus, offering the likes of oysters, brown-butter scallops, beef tartare, Eastern rock lobster, whole roasted duck and three different steak options ramping up to the $110 Coppertree Farm rib eye. To mark the opening, Capella is kicking things off with a special Capella History Journey package. The $1500 experience for two includes a night's stay in a deluxe guestroom, breakfast at Brasserie 1920, a bespoke welcome amenity, a Capella Culturist experience that will take you on a curated journey through the history of the building and Sydney's Sandstone Precinct, 24-hour access to the fitness centre and valet parking. The package is bookable until Friday, June 30. Capella Sydney is now open at 35–29 Bridge Street, Sydney. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world.
They call it Tina — The Tina Turner Musical, oh Tina — The Tina Turner Musical — and it's finally coming to Australia. After premiering in London back in 2018, this stage ode to the music icon that's had Aussies dancing to 'Nutbush City Limits' for decades is making its way Down Under, locking in its first local stint in Sydney from May 2023. No, it isn't taking to the stage in a church house, gin house, school house or outhouse — or on highway number 19, either. But Tina — The Tina Turner Musical will obviously have Theatre Royal Sydney enjoying Turner's greatest hits in one massive show. The list of musical numbers includes 'Nutbush City Limits', naturally, as well as everything from 'River Deep, Mountain High' and 'Proud Mary' through to 'Private Dancer' and 'What's Love Got to Do with It?'. Tina — The Tina Turner Musical will open on Thursday, May 4, 2023, heading our way after also playing Hamburg, on Broadway, and in Utrecht and Madrid — and touring North America in 2022. Penned by Tony Award-nominee and Pulitzer Prize-winner Katori Hall, plus Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, and directed by fellow Tony-nominee Phyllida Lloyd, Tina — The Tina Turner Musical clearly has quite the story to tell. The show steps through Turner's life and fame, including growing up in Nutbush, Tennessee, the hard work that led to her career, all of those aforementioned hits, her 12 Grammy Awards, her volatile time with Ike Turner and her huge solo success. If you're a fan, Turner herself summed it up — yes, it's simply the best. Images: Daniel Boud.
If the idea of health-conscious eating conjures up images of boiled vegetables, soggy tofu or a cut-everything-that-actually-tastes-good-out diet, you're doing it all wrong. In a city like Sydney, where a slew of restaurants are dishing up wholesome food in innovative, delicious ways, healthy eating is honestly as easy as (gluten-free) pie. That's good news for those among us who want to treat our bodies right without having to go through the hell of detoxes or cleanses. Yes, our bodies are our temples, but that doesn't have to mean days of exclusively ingesting kale smoothies. To help get you started, we've teamed up with American Express to pick out the best spots to go when you want a healthy feed with zero compromises on flavour. Whether you're looking for a new vegan spot or a place more suited to the healthy carnivore, we've got the place for you. From premier farm-to-table eating to some of Sydney's best sushi, these eateries make grabbing a healthy meal a total breeze. Grab your Amex and kiss that cleanse goodbye. Got yourself in another dining situation and need some guidance? Whatever it is, we know a place. Visit The Shortlist and we'll sort you out.
Palace Cinemas is known for delivering a boutique film-going experience, as well as screening independent films that you won't find in the big-name movie theatres. The offering spans new releases and arthouse cinema (both local and international), along with exclusive events and film festivals. The Central Park location is one of the newest Palace Cinema venues and features a light-filled foyer that overlooks the cityscape. Pre-or-post film, patrons can pull up a seat at the prosecco bar or beer hall and enjoy floor-to-ceiling views of Chippendale Green with a drink in hand — all while lounging on cushy chairs and plush couches.
Dear Sainte Eloise wants you to end your year with good omens for 2023 by filling the last night of the year with great food and wine. The Potts Point restaurant is hosting a huge New Year's party — with two different ways to experience the night's festivities. The first is a seafood-heavy ten-dish set menu that will set you back $165 per person. Included in what will be your final feast for 2022 will be Sydney rock oysters, sea urchin crostinis, caviar tarts with tuna crudo, burrata with brunch peach and raw lamb with anchovy cream. This selection of inventive starters will all build up to a Jack's Creek sirloin which will act as the main centrepiece of the menu, served with horseradish butter and crispy potatoes. For dessert, diners will be treated to a dark chocolate and raspberry tart. [caption id="attachment_882872" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dexter Kim[/caption] While drinks aren't included, you can pre-order a glass of champagne on arrival and there will be ten different varieties of wine available by the magnum on the night. Bookings for the dinner service are available from 3–8.30pm, before this portion of the evening will wrap up at 11pm. From there, the restaurant's doors will open to walk-ins. Anyone looking to toast to the new year with top-notch wine can arrive between 11pm and midnight. The bar staff will be marking the occasion with more magnums and some special rare wines including a skinsy Gruner Veltliner from local producer Gut Oggau, and golden Nosiola and 'L'Anodine' Grenache wines from Italy's Elisabetta Foradori. The party will kick on for both diners and walk-ins until 2am. [caption id="attachment_882873" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dexter Kim[/caption] Top images: Nikki To
Every March 17, Australia becomes a little greener. Pubs fill early, and even the most sunburnt beer gardens lean into a bit of Irish charm. St Patrick's Day might be Ireland's national day, but Australia likes to get in on the action, too. To celebrate this year's St Patrick's Day, in partnership with Irish whiskey brand Tullamore D.E.W., we asked a handful of Irish expats a simple question: what actually culturally connects these two nations year-round? Here's what they told us. Sport As A Cultural Pastime If there was one similarity among the expats, it was sport. Alex has only been living in Australia for three months, but can already see the cultural similarities between Ireland and Australia's beloved pastimes. "Sport is a huge identity in both places, with Ireland having Gaelic football and hurling, and Australia having AFL. Both take pride in our national sports and even combine for an International Rules game once in a blue moon, where the rules of Gaelic and Australian football are combined for a test match," says Alex. Ellie and Alannah, who've both been in Australia for three years, agree that sports, as well as drinking, and outdoor events like festivals, are equally popular in both countries on either side of the globe. Whether you're watching from the nosebleed seats at the MCG or catching a match in the pub, there's a good chance you'll rub shoulders with an Irish expat while enjoying your favourite game. Heading To The Pub [caption id="attachment_817241" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Mercantile Hotel[/caption] This insight probably won't come as a surprise. Another common similarity between the Irish and the Aussies is our love for the local pub. "Australian and Irish pub culture are very similar in a lot of ways, mainly because of Irish immigrants' influence on early Australian pubs," says Alex. But he adds the biggest difference is that Ireland's are smaller and cosier. "[They're] often referred to as 'old man pubs' and have more intimate atmospheres that focus on conversation." While both nationalities enjoy pub culture and a tipple with mates, the Irish expats made it known in our survey that the feel of pubs in Australia is definitely not the same as back home. "Irish pubs are local and traditional," says Alannah. "They stay open later and are probably more inviting because of the wet weather. It's a place to gather and meet people." Ellie agrees, saying, "Australian pubs are way bigger compared to a homely, cosy Irish pub." Despite the lack of "cosiness", Tara, who's been in Australia for seven years, says that Australia's beer gardens make up for it. "Aussie pubs close earlier, but there are lots of beer gardens here, which I love, and Ireland doesn't have." As Alex (succinctly) puts it, "In both countries, the pub is far more than a bar. It's a social hub where people come together to meet friends after work, watch sports, and listen to live music. This is especially strong in 'local pubs' where your local is more of a community, rather than a place to just drink." Slàinte to that. We Both Love Our Comfort Food [caption id="attachment_1010367" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cut Bar and Grill[/caption] When it comes to food, nostalgia turns up in the form of pastry. "I'd say Australia's wide range of meat pies gives a similar vibe to Irish comfort food," says Alex. "Grabbing an Aussie staple such as steak or cottage pie can weirdly feel like a cold winter's day back in Cork." Ellie and Alannah also agree that pie of any type reminds them of home, especially chicken and leek pies. Yum. Sunday roasts also loom large. When Tara was asked which Irish traditions she still holds onto, she didn't hesitate: "A Sunday roast weekly! And going to the Irish bars." The throughline is comfort food that's hearty, familiar, and best shared around a table. What's The Craic? According to the Irish expats, humour is a strong bonding mechanism between the two nations. "The Irish and Aussie sense of humour is our biggest similarity," says Alex. "The same sarcasm, self-deprecation, teasing as a sign of affection, and not taking oneself too seriously that you see in your local Aussie pubs is widespread across Ireland." Ellie agrees that our humour is quite similar, with a lot of sarcasm forming its foundation, though she adds, "Irish people, I would say, are more jokey and take themselves less seriously." Alannah sees both humours as "similar, with underlying sarcasm". "The Irish are more sarcastic and take things less seriously," says Alannah. Of course, nationalities are not monolithic, and Leah, who's spent over three years in Australia, believes Irish people are funnier. "Australians have dry humour," says Leah. Where opinions diverge, the importance of banter doesn't. As Alex says, "The banter and storytelling from both is why we historically get along so well." [caption id="attachment_1081442" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Whether you're newly arrived from Cork or born and bred in Carlton, Tullamore D.E.W. is inviting everyone to lean into that shared spirit. So, whether it's March 17 or not, gather your mates, pull on something green, and settle in at your local. If the expats are right, the formula is simple: good company, a bit of banter (or craic), and a glass raised to wherever you call home.[/caption] 18+. Drink responsibly.
Sydney's northwest just got an injection of Italian glamour with the opening of Sarino's inside Mullane's Hotel in Baulkham Hills — right opposite the new billion-dollar metro Metro Northwest railway. Run by Momento Hospitality (Bella Vista Hotel, The Governor), the second-floor restaurant is sleek and minimalist, with expansive skylights catering to the theatricality of an open kitchen, where guests can watch the chefs at work around a central charcoal oven or, if they prefer, retreat to one of three hidden private dining rooms. The lofty space also has an attached craft distillery, which will begin pumping out almond liqueur for the restaurant's affogatos and limoncello using fresh lemon's from the Colosimo family (founders of Momento) orchards in early 2020. The food leaving the kitchen is sophisticated and refined, and honours the family's Calabrian heritage. It's all made using produce from regional NSW, too, where possible. Executive Chef Joe Cavallo is plating up dishes such as the buffalo ricotta, buffalo mozzarella and parmigiano regiano ravioli — we count three cheeses — with burnt sage butter and pistachio, the porchetta with roasted apple and leek ash, and a 1.2-kilogram bistecca alla Fiorentina. We're also pretty keen to try the antipasto and cheese menus, which covers cheeses from Italy and Victoria, house-roasted capsicum, marinated olives, artichokes, and salumi from Italy and Byron Bay, including a 24-month San Daniele prosciutto. Pair your meal with one of more than 200 wines and finish it off with a tipple in the adjoining cocktail bar and intimate lounge space. Try the Sunday Roast negroni, which adds notes of rosemary and butter-washed gin to the classic Italian aperitif. Guests can expect to sip rare single malt whiskies (with a hefty price tag) and store the spirit in their own private liquor cabinet for safekeeping. Two dozen top-shelf whiskies from around the world are available, and your drop will be served in crystal glassware with specialty ice and complimentary mixers and snacks. Then just lock it away for when you next come back (you know, if you have the cash).
We all joke about pulling a 'don't you know who I am' card on a joint, but when Big Time rockers pull it on a tiny, tiny Seattle cafe there's some dramatic head-shaking to attend to. After finishing a gig this weekend in Seattle, Rage Against the Machine's guitarist Tom Morello attempted to skip the queue at Seattle's 5 Point Cafe — to no avail. According to Grub Street, 5 Point was at capacity when the Rage legend waltzed up to the front of the line and demanded entrance, after the cafe team "who's told bigger rock stars than him no," gave him the ol' hell no. Like any self-respecting, hospitality-burned celeb, Morello decided to get on his 4am Twitter soapbox. Having long supported worker's rights and wage raises, Morello thought now was the perfect, out-of-context time to drop this rant: Five Point restaurant in Seattle is the WORST. Super rude & anti-worker. Shittiest doorman in the Northwest. Prick. Spread the word. — Tom Morello (@tmorello) September 27, 2014 After his early-morning "so, ner" went rampaging online for a spell, restaurant owner David Meinert didn't let the guitarist have the last say, taking to Facebook with a response to the "tweet from our pal": "For the record Tom Morello — The 5 Point is totally pro-worker. We try to pay more than any other small restaurant, and on top of the higher pay, we offer health insurance, paid sick days, paid time off, retirement and profit share. Sorry if you had an issue with our staff, but typically our staff is awesome, and when they are not, it's usually a reflection of the customer. Act like a prick = get treated like a prick. "I have to say, your attacking a small business without knowing anything about it, or addressing your problem with them directly before you go on a public rant, pretty much sucks. Just lost a ton of respect for you, and I've been a fan for years, both of your work in Rage and your work for workers rights since. "PS — rock stars don't get special treatment at The 5 Point. We couldn't give less of a shit. Sorry. "And PSS — I'm the owner of the 5 Point and have worked to raise the minimum wage in Seattle and support the same nationally, worked to get paid sick days law in Seattle, and am supporting a City sponsored retirement plan for employees of small businesses. I hope you do the same for your employees on the road..." "PSSS — turns out he and his crew didn't get let in as the place was at capacity and there was a line. No one was being let in. According to our doorman who I totally trust, Tom and his crew were all totally rude. Quote from the door guys "I knew who he was, we had no room, his whole party was being rude. He wanted a special room in the back. Clearly had no ideas what it is like inside. I've told bigger rock stars than him no." Since his kneejerk reaction, Morello had time to come up with some kind of 'forgiveness' — with conditions. Willing to forgive the Seattle Evil (Egg) Empire 5 Points Cafe doorman powertrip if good guy owner D Meinert fully embraces #15Now min wage — Tom Morello (@tmorello) September 29, 2014 Meinert has somewhat relented and offered this on Facebook an hour ago: "Hey all, about this Tom Morello thing... I think Tom was in the wrong, and his tweet was offensive and pissed us off, BUT, Tom stands up for workers and uses his fame for some very good causes, almost always for those most in need. Yes he's very rich, yes he was on a big corporate record label. But every other interaction I've had with him has been cool. I would far rather people be enraged about the issues Tom is trying to bring up than wish Tom ill. So if you want to get pissed, be pissed that companies like iHop or Darden are spending millions to fight raising the minimum wage, and are supporting politicians who want to oppress women, minorities and workers, in order to get higher corporate profits. If everyone spent as much time posting about these issues as they have about Tom, we'd all be better off." Pancake Gate update: Luv&respect the workers.Glad to sit down w/owner next time in Sea, happy about his commitment to pay raise for workers — Tom Morello (@tmorello) September 30, 2014 So Morello's put his manners back in and Meinert's smoothed things over. And we can absolutely get behind Morello's famously Damn The Man activism, any day of the week. Perhaps next time ranting about workers' rights and equality is best done when you're not rock-starring your way past a queue? Via Grub Street and Stereogum.
From the Grounds of Alexandria's resident pig, the postcard-happy sands of Surfers Paradise and the hallowed turf of Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia's a genuinely Instagrammable place. Inevitably, there's a few prime snap-happy spots that get a little more filtered love than others; for obvious tourism reasons but also for kickass food on the table reasons. Sydney dominated the list, with seven in the top ten — a number it clearly can thank Vivid Sydney for. Using geotag data, the Daily Telegraph has revealed the ten most Instagrammed places in Australia for 2014. The results were taken from the geotags added by 'grammers (if you glazed over before, that's the latitude and longitude of your current location with your photo) and compiled into a top ten list. Here's the places you whacked a sweet filter on this year. Australia's Ten Most Instagrammed Places For 2014 10. Coogee Beach, Sydney The Pool in Coogee. #coogee #coogeebeach #aussie #australia #aussieadventure #australiansummer #summer #december #beachtime #sydney #sydneycity A photo posted by Daniela Valencia (@danyvalencia88) on Dec 12, 2014 at 4:55am PST 9. Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) Hallowed ground. A photo posted by @tonikchurch on Dec 12, 2014 at 9:31pm PST 8. Circular Quay, Sydney Lights on and crowds out at #vividsydney. A video posted by Concrete Playground Sydney (@concreteplayground) on May 5, 2014 at 4:12am PDT 7. St Kilda Beach, Melbourne A photo posted by Claudia (@claw_dear) on Dec 12, 2014 at 2:27pm PST 6. The Grounds of Alexandria, Sydney Thanks to all our 'grammers who tag #thegrounds as their location when they visit! @instagram has just named us the 6th most geo-tagged destination in the country alongside some big tourist icons. Thanks for the love. Keep tagging, you guys rock! (One of our fave images from @chriscourt) A photo posted by The Grounds of Alexandria (@thegroundsofalexandria) on Dec 12, 2014 at 9:45pm PST 5. Surfers Paradise Beach Waking up to this isn't too bad #visitsurfersparadise #surferssnaps photo: @absolomphotography A photo posted by SurfersParadise (@visitsurfersparadise) on Oct 10, 2014 at 7:11pm PDT 4. Bondi Beach "Double trouble" - last night. Sydney is in for another run of storm and rolling clouds. If you decide to go out and shoot, be safe ! I might be out there again... #frothers #frothersgallery #franckgazzola #mynikonlife #d4s #amazing #weather #extreme #bolt #lightning #flash #clouds #cloudporn #sydney #australia #seeaustralia #crazy #ocean #sea #eclair #orage A photo posted by Franck Gazzola (@franckgazzola) on Dec 12, 2014 at 10:15pm PST 3. Sydney Harbour Bridge spinal tap // #sydney #sydneyharbourbridge #architecture #architectureporn #bridge #bridgeporn #blue #colour #street #streetphotography #citylife #igerssydney #icu_aussies #tv_pointofview #rsa_streetview A photo posted by John Appleseed (@thateightieskid) on Dec 12, 2014 at 11:04pm PST 2. Darling Harbour, Sydney #australia #sydney #darlingharbour#instaaustralia #instasydney #nightview #instatravel #instatrip #??????? #????#?????????#??#?? #?? A photo posted by @kumasuca on Dec 12, 2014 at 7:35am PST 1. Sydney Opera House VIVID Sydney 2014 #vivid #vividsydney A photo posted by Photos of VIVID (@photosofvivid) on Nov 11, 2014 at 11:03pm PST Via Daily Telegraph.
Since the craft beer boom of the 2010s, there's been no shortage of brews to test out in watering holes across the country. Whether you like your tinnie with a pineapple tasting note or prefer a smooth lager brewed just down the road, local craft beer remains a hugely popular subset of the hospitality industry. As a result, suburbs outside the inner-city enclaves of Fitzroy and Brunswick are building their own breweries and craft-beer-loving communities. Smiley Brewing Co. is the first microbrewery and taproom in the Melbourne suburb of Pakenham. It was founded in 2023 by partners Trent and Kylie Butcher and is located in a modern warehouse on one of Pakenham's industrial estates. The ingredients in their brews are sourced locally whenever possible, and they serve a core range of up to seven award-winning beers alongside cocktails, wine, and a rotation of delicious food trucks. Given that Trent and Kylie are in the thick of Melbourne's brewery operations, we spoke with Trent to learn more about the flavours and habits that are shaping the craft beer landscape in 2026. Crisp Lagers Are Back Over the past decade, we've seen a myriad of wild and wacky craft beers flood the market. According to Trent, however, people are now gravitating towards the classics: the humble lager. "We have an Australian lager, which is always extremely popular and usually our biggest mover." This popularity was reflected in Smiley Breweries' seasonal sip over the summer: the Mexican Cerveza, AKA Mexican lager. "Australia tends to follow the patterns of what happens in the US," says Trent. "Crisper lager-style beers are tending to be more popular." These beers prioritise refreshment over intensity, proving that perhaps people are trying to get back to the simple things in life. Hazy Still Isn't Going Anywhere Known for its juicy, tropical flavour profile and velvety mouthfeel, Hazy beers (like Indian Pale Ales) are still high up on breweries' lists. "Hazy beers tend to do well, and they have for a couple of years. We have a hazy pale ale, which is a big seller. It alternates between that and the draught beer as to what's the biggest mover for the month," Trent divulges. Sober Curiosity Is On The Rise One of the biggest shifts in the craft beer space isn't about flavours but how people are drinking. "Mid-strength, lower ABV [alcohol by volume] options are popular," shares Trent. "Not everybody's out to drink to get drunk as such." Instead, drinkers are opting for moderation, without sacrificing taste. And a good craft beer, Trent says, is something that you want to go back for more of. "It's something that you can sit and drink and comfortably have a few beers and not feel like you've had too much or that the beer itself is too heavy or too complex." What's Next? As the weather cools down (and we move away from Mexican Lagers), what's on the menu for Smiley Brewing Co and other local breweries? "Moving into autumn, we're just about to brew an amber ale, which is a popular autumn beer," says Trent. "And then as we move into the cooler months, we'll go for more of the darker beers like stouts." Smiley Brewing Co. has become a pub and community gathering spot, giving locals access to great Australian craft beers. Across the board, there's clearly a desire to focus on beer that people know and love, not just the novelty chocolate and lime craft brews of yesteryear. If the last decade of craft beer was about pushing the limits, in 2026, brewers are pulling back just a fraction to meet drinkers where they are.
Getting married just after meeting, grappling for power, bloody coups, assassination plots: welcome to supposed wedded bliss The Great-style. For two seasons now, the nuptials between Catherine the Great (Elle Fanning, The Girl From Plainville) as Catherine and Peter III (Nicholas Hoult, The Menu) have been anything but ordinary in this historical satire, and rarely worth exclaiming "huzzah!" about (although viewers know how much the series loves saying that very word). So, it should come as no surprise that the royal couple have enlisted professional help in the just-dropped trailer for the show's upcoming third season. The Great was renewed for season three after its second batch of episodes streamed late in 2021, and will arrive Down Under on Saturday, May 13. This time around, after season two threw everything from attempted murders to mass imprisonments at the pair — and kept disrupting their dynamic as Catherine continued to work towards the name that's a part of history, and also inspires the show's title — its main duo is trying to make things work. Hence the couples therapy, but obviously resolving all of their issues won't be quite that simple. So, expect more of Peter figuring out what it means to play First Husband, and Catherine expanding her influence and reputation beyond just Russia. That, and visions of Peter's late father (Jason Isaacs, Mrs Harris Goes to Paris), life lessons, attempts to build a new country and the usual scheming. The show's all killer, no filler concept since season one: following Catherine's rise and reign, with a heavy focus on what that means for her marriage to Peter. It does so with only the slightest regard for the actual facts and with a big reliance upon hilarious wit, which is one of the reasons that it's such a delicious watch. While The Great has always been supremely confident in its blend of handsome period staging, the loosest of historical realities and that savage sense of humour (it does spring from Oscar-nominated The Favourite screenwriter Tony McNamara, after all), it felt even more comfortable in its skin during its second season. And smoother, too, yet just as biting. So, hopefully that will remain the case in season three as well, all while it keeps seesawing tonally and proving as sharp as a shot of vodka — or several. Fanning and Hoult will be joined by returning co-stars Phoebe Fox (The Aeronauts), Adam Godley (Lodge 49), Gwilym Lee (Top End Wedding), Charity Wakefield (Bounty Hunters), Douglas Hodge (I Hate Suzie Too), Sacha Dhawan (The Prince), Bayo Gbadamosi (War of the Worlds) and Belinda Bromilow (Doctor Doctor), too, because this is a show with a phenomenally great cast. Check out the trailer for The Great season three below: The Great season three will be available to stream in Australia via Stan and in New Zealand via Neon from Saturday, May 13.
We're the country that gave the world Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, to name just a few renowned Australian actresses owning the silver screen in recent years. Accordingly, we're no stranger to celebrating formidable women in cinema. It tracks, then, that Melbourne's Australian Centre for the Moving Image has curated a world-premiere exhibition dedicated to femininity across screen history — which is running from Wednesday, April 5–Sunday, October 1. Six-month-long showcase Goddess: Power, Glamour, Rebellion declares its affection for ladies of the screen right there in its name. Examining how women are represented in cinema and television, it pays tribute to standout ladies, how depictions and expectations of femininity have changed, and what female talents have symbolised — and been forced to deal with — about and from the society around them. It's both a massive and a landmark exhibition. More than 150 original costumes, objects, artworks, props and sketches are now gracing the Federation Square venue's walls and halls, all championing oh-so-many women and their impact. Launched in-person by the one and only Geena Davis, who is also the exhibition's lead ambassador, Goddess fittingly includes outfits worn by her and Susan Sarandon in 1991's Thelma & Louise — and that's just the beginning of its treasures. Among a lineup that spans threads that've never been displayed before, various cinematic trinkets, large-scale projections and other interactive experiences, attendees can check out odes to Marlene Dietrich in 1930's Morocco, Pam Grier's spectacular Blaxploitation career, Tilda Swinton in 1992's Orlando and the aforementioned Robbie via 2020's Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). Plus, there's Mae West's sky-high heels from 1934's Belle of the Nineties, as well as Michelle Yeoh's fight-ready silks from 2000's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The list goes on, clearly, covering Anna May Wong, Marilyn Monroe, Laverne Cox and Zendaya as well. And, everything from Glenn Close's Cruella de Vil in 102 Dalmatians to the Carey Mulligan-starring Promising Young Woman also gets time to shine. As it does with its big exhibitions, ACMI is pairing Goddess' wide-ranging display with soundscapes by Melbourne-based composer Chiara Kickdrum, and also hosting a sprawling events program complete with late-night parties, performances and talks — and film screenings, of course. Fancy taking an in-depth curator tour of the exhibition after hours? That's on the bill monthly. There's also a music program called Goddess Nights from late May, which'll focus on three femme-centric live music lineups with performances by DJ JNETT, CD, POOKIE and Ayebatonye — and a curated range of food and booze put together just for each evening. For film buffs, movie series Divine Trailblazers will focus on contemporary actors at the height of their powers, while the Goddess Sundays is all about on-screen personas. So, the first includes Angela Bassett's Oscar-nominated performance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Academy Award-winners Michelle Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis in Everything Everywhere All At Once, Cate Blanchett conducting a masterpiece in Tár, Viola Davis in warrior mode in The Woman King, Filipino actor Dolly De Leon stealing every scene she's in in Triangle of Sadness, and Leah Purcell writing, directing, producing and starring in The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson. Images: Eugene Hyland Photography.
Conveniently sitting on the corner of Wentworth and East Esplanade, just steps from Manly's Ferry Wharf, is the Artisan Cheese Room. Occupying a small corner shop, this delightful room is created for cheesemongers, by cheesemongers. Owners Joanna and Paul Thompson opened up the carefully curated cheese haven after successful careers elsewhere — although a career in cheese with your significant other feels like a whole different level of success. Inside you can browse over 50 cheeses sourced from across the world, as well as from just a few hours' drive away. Also available are accessories like blue-and-white crockery and handmade knives, all with a sharp focus around cheese. The shop also offers cheese celebration cakes, boards, hampers and gift boxes all prepared upon request. If you're now hankering for a cheese plate, then you might be interested in the store's Cheese Club which provides four cheeses each month along with biscuits and tasting notes (for all you cheese newcomers out there). March's featured cheeses included the Holy Goat La Luna, sourced from the rural plains just a few hours north of Melbourne, as well as L'Amuse gouda, a cheese made in northern Holland's UNESCO World Heritage Site of Beemster, which then aged for two years in Amsterdam. Cheese lovers can choose between four options — or one ($90), three ($260), six ($530) or 12 months ($1000) of cheese. Sign up online, or pop into the cheese shop — and taste a few seasonal favourites while you're there.
It's safe to say, restaurants like Meu Jardim don't come around every day. After all, this dramatic new Skittle Lane venture from restaurateur Ussi Moniz Da Silva not only boasts a heady $4.1 million dollar fitout, but also a huge firepit and a three-metre-high indoor waterfall. A futuristic nod to the natural elements of fire and water, the two-level, 330-seat space delivers a striking vision of glossy white angles and turquoise neon finishes. White pearl walls supposedly pull inspiration from the Dordogne Valley in France, while an impressive curved block staircase connects the two floors. [caption id="attachment_764760" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] Upstairs is dedicated to a high-end contemporary French restaurant, its entrance marked by that flowing sheet of water and an oyster shucking station, and its open kitchen set artfully behind glass. Here, Executive Chef Jason McCauley (Banc Restaurant, Carpaccio Leichhardt, Eatalia) is plating up modern reworkings of classic fine French flavours. It's a lineup that's both considered and totally decadent, kicking off with bites like escargot in garlic, butter and champagne, Western Australian lobster tail and a wagyu tartare starring quail yolk and Tasmanian summer truffle. Mains might include a duck a l'orange featuring turnip, green olive and an orange gelee, or the blue eye trevalla and mussels done with plenty of white wine and cream. There's even a 1.2-kilogram grass-fed tomahawk steak, which you can pimp out even further with the addition of some gold leaf for an extra $60. If decisions aren't your strong point, a five-course degustation is also on offer for $100 a head, which will take you from scallops with caviar through to fillet and an apple tarte tartin served with smoked honey yoghurt ice cream. [caption id="attachment_764757" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] A more casual (and affordable) affair awaits you downstairs, where snacks, shared plates and bistro fare take centre stage. Expect to tuck into creations like the chicken liver parfait served with a port gel and sesame lavash, salt cod beignets and the restaurant's signature 'crodogs' — a croissant-hot dog hybrid — filled with the likes of pulled pork, lamb and mint or strawberries and cream. You can also pull up a seat by that 40-person firepit to settle in with a cosy tipple. There's a wine selection heroing drops from across Australia and France — go for a glass of the 2018 Domaine Paul Blanck pinot blanc from Alsace, perhaps — and a cocktail lineup starring forgotten classics alongside signature creations. Stay on theme with something lush, like the Vuju De — a fusion of Monkey 47, sherry, Dom Benedictine, Lillet Blanc, creme de violet and orange bitters. Opening just weeks before COVID-19 forced the closure of all Sydney restaurants, Meu Jardim isn't quite running like it first intended. Instead of 330, the restaurant can currently fit 50. You'll also need to record your details when you dine, and follow its social distancing and hygiene procedures — but, if you've gone out since restaurants were allowed to reopen in mid-May, this will be nothing new. Find Meu Jardim down Skittle Lane, Sydney. It's currently open 12pm–12am Monday–Thursday and from 4pm–12pm Friday–Saturday. Bookings are recommended. Images: Kitti Gould
Some desserts always tempt the tastebuds, because there's going wrong with a classic. As well as tasting great every time you bite into them, some of those same sweet treats have inspired a heap of creative takes, too. If you've ever sipped a lamington-flavoured milkshake or plunged a scoop into some Iced VoVo gelato, then you know exactly what we're talking about. The next dessert mashups on offer hail from chocolatier Koko Black — and, if you're particularly fond of nostalgic Aussie favourites, your stomach might just start growling. As part of its new Australian Classics Collection, the Melbourne-founded company is making chocolate versions of plenty of your childhood staples. Think honey joys, chocolate crackles and Golden Gaytimes, plus the perennial go-tos that are Iced VoVos and lamingtons. The artisanal range turns some of the above sweets into separate bars sold in three-packs, and some into slabs of chocolate. So, you can tuck into Gaytime Goldies, which combine vanilla and malted caramel ganache, then dip the bar in dark chocolate, before covering it with hazelnuts — or opt for a block of Koko Crackles, which features rice bubbles, caramelised coconut and white chocolate, as then dipped in dark chocolate. Also available: a Lamington Slice slab, combining chocolate marshmallow and raspberry jelly, as covered in dark chocolate and dusted with coconut; bars of Koko Vovo, aka milk chocolate-coated biscuits topped with strawberry rosewater marshmallow, raspberry jelly and coconut; and Jam Wagons, which top biscuits topped with marshmallow and raspberry jam, then coat them in milk chocolate. Or, there's also Honey Joys, if you like your cornflakes drizzled with honey, then mixed with either milk chocolate or dark chocolate. The Australian Classics Collection is available separately or as one big hamper, with prices ranging from $15.90–$169. If you're keen, they've already hit Koko Black's online store — with delivery available nationally — and will show up in its physical shops from September 24. For more information about Koko Black's Australian Classics Collection, visit the store's website. Images: Studio Round.
Milan in the 1980s was booming. Coinciding with a period of rapid economic growth, fashion houses like Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Versace propelled the industrial city onto the world stage, transforming it into a glittering epicentre of design, culture and nightlife. It was a decade defined by confidence — the Milanese mastered the art of living fast and looking good. It's this glamorous spirit — neon accents, terrazzo floors, mirrored brass and all — that pulses through Bar Allora, the all-day Italian bar and restaurant by award-winning operators The Maybe Group (Maybe Sammy, Dean & Nancy on 22) and Accor's new in-house hospitality arm, Table For. The big-time collaboration has a fittingly big-ticket location, set on the corner of Bond and George Streets at Mantra 2 Bond Street. Taking its name from the Italian word 'allora', meaning 'back then', the venue nods to that golden era while reimagining it for today. Much like the city that inspired it, Bar Allora is fast-paced by day, and social and sultry by night. Pull up in the morning for espresso and cornetti from the bustling bar or street-facing window, or settle in for breakfast plates like the house frittata with stracciatella and salsa verde. From midday, the tight all-day menu by Chef Rosy Scatigna (Table For's Culinary Director) and Head Chef Josh Donachie (Jane, Jacksons on George) takes over. Their dishes draw inspiration from Milan's post-war dining boom, when southern Italian migrants brought warmth and soul to the sleek northern city. Expect plates like spaghettone with anchovy butter and lemon pangrattato, swordfish cotoletta with blood orange and radicchio and gorgeously retro desserts like a chocolate and Campari tartufo. As one might expect of a Maybe Group venue, cocktails are just as much of a focus as the food. The menu celebrates the art of aperitivo, with inventive takes on Italian classics: the Americanello mixes Campari and Oscar Rosso vermouth with lemon myrtle liqueur and mango soda, while the Allora Negroni's gin and Campari base is brightened with oloroso, pandan and pineapple. Later in the night, the after-dinner selection features playful pours like grasshoppers with salted pistachio cream and brandy- and whisky-spiked shakeratos. There's also a smart lineup of predominantly Italian wines, with many available by the glass.
When it comes to lavish harbourfront experiences, climbing aboard The Jackson — a 60-metre superyacht — is a fledgling summertime tradition. But despite the weather getting a little chillier, the onboard experience is only getting more impressive, with The Jackson set to present an exclusive dinner alongside the Sydney Symphony Orchestra during the height of Vivid festivities. Spanning two showstopping nights — Saturday, May 23, and Saturday, May 30 — a crowd of 200 guests dressed to the nines will settle in for a three-hour cruise featuring a five-course degustation set menu. Paired with Penfolds wines, vintage drops and high-end spirits, this luxe feast alone offers plenty of reasons to spend an evening on the harbour. However, the night only gets better, as an ensemble from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra presents a rare and intimate performance for guests aboard The Jackson. Complemented by one of the world's most famous skylines illuminated by Vivid light installations, this exclusive encounter takes luxury in Sydney to even greater heights. "Vivid Sydney is one of the most exciting cultural moments in the world, and this year we wanted to create something truly historic on Sydney Harbour," says Holly Vaughan, Director of Sales & Marketing at The Jackson Sydney. "It brings together everything we love about this city — world-class artistry, exceptional dining and the magic of the Harbour at night." Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox. Images: Supplied.
A day out from December 25, the experts are forecasting some hot weather. And it looks like you'd better be prepared to embrace the sweats, with Australia's weather set to gift us with some very balmy Christmas Day temperatures across the board. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne will be turning on some pretty primo beach weather, with mostly sunny skies and a top of 26 degrees, shooting it past the monthly average of 24.2. With today set to hit 34 degrees, the temp will only get to a low of 17 — so you're probably going to want to make sure those Christmas beers are cold and a swimmable body of water isn't too far away. Sydney is slated to enjoy a similar situation, facing a maximum of 29 degrees, a whole stack of sunshine and lows of just 18 degrees. However, if you're going to be out west, you'll have to withstand a heatwave — Penrith will reach a top of 35 degrees Happily enough, it seems the city will have got the current sogginess out of its system, with a solid week of showers and storms drying up in time for Christmas Eve. As in Melbourne, Sydney's looking at a mere five percent chance of rain for December 25 — if that's not perfect barbecue weather, we don't know what is. Further north, Brisbane's Christmas Day forecast is surprisingly similar, despite the slew of sweaty mid-30s the city's copped in the lead-up. If you're up there for the big day, you can expect to unwrap those presents to a balmy top of 29 degrees — pretty much bang on the Queensland capital's December maximum average. Across the country, Perth punters are in for steamier festivities, with Christmas Day maxing out at 35 degrees and dipping to just 20. It's a little warmer than the city's December averages, but shouldn't come as too much of a shock to locals — December 25 runs off the back of five relentless days of mid-to-high 30s, scorching sunshine and pretty much zero rain. Best find yourself some air-con for the big day. Adelaide-bound folk are in for the same max of 35 degrees, following a string of mid-20s in the lead-up. Canberra's maxing out at a sunny, slightly breezy 33 degrees, while Darwin folk can prepare themselves for a dramatic combination of 34-degree maximums, a medium chance of showers and possible thunderstorms. If you're after a cool Christmas, it seems you'll have to venture down to good ol' Tassie to find it — Hobart's dishing up a partly cloudy day, with a manageable maximum of just 22 degrees. Updated: December 24, 2018.
Sneaky Possum may be the new kid on Abercrombie Street, but the multi-purpose venue has already become a local haunt for many. The space does all things at once, seamlessly acting as a cafe, bar and restaurant throughout the day and night. The back dining room hosts groups hanging over a few bevs just as often as it does diners, with the casual space boasting custom-built timber booths, hanging greenery and large murals. Along the way, pass by modern pinball machines and retro arcade games. The front cafe doubles as a bar throughout the day, with patrons drinking their flat whites alongside punters enjoying a cheeky arvo craft brew, wine on tap or cocktail from their antique glassware. The current cocktail list includes a particularly solid lemon myrtle margarita ($20) and a spiced rum espresso martini ($22) that is a go-to for late night revellers but serves equally well as a midday pick-me-up. The bar looks over the open kitchen where head chef Briony Bradford shows off her culinary muscles, which really shine for dinner service. For starters, the snapper ceviche ($22) uses seasonal finger lime in a punchy yet delicate dish, with the avocado creme, bright fish roe and edible flowers giving it a bit of decadence. The crispy pork belly ($27) is our favourite on the menu and could easily be eaten as a main — the meaty scallop it's served with is a proper pairing for the tender pork belly. The dish is topped with shaved and dehydrated cauliflower, spinach purée and burnt butter jus, with each component complementing the other. If you do still dig into mains, share the duck breast ($40), which is roasted in paperbark and is accompanied by a duck sausage that is unlike any we've had previously — the average idea of sausage sizzles does not do this one justice. It's all creatively topped with thinly-shaved fresh pumpkin that lightens the dish. It's a real pleasure to eat. Bradford clearly knows what she's doing when it comes to meat, with the roasted lamb rump ($36) served true to medium rare and accompanied by on-the-vine roasted tomatoes. Even the bar snacks are far from average, like the goats' cheese crackers topped with dehydrated olives ($4). You can easily spend the entire night at the bar, snacking on charcuterie and cheese plates or just some warm Sonoma bread, served with butter and rock salt. It's easy to tell Bradford puts love into her dishes and you'll have to resist the temptation to lick the plate more than once. Images: Katje Ford.
"Texting is tacky," proclaims filmmaker/artist/writer Miranda July. "Calling is awkward. Email is old." So she's come up with a brand new way to communicate in the 21st century: an app called Somebody. Here's how it works. You send your friend a message, but rather than going directly to their phone, it goes to the Somebody user in closest proximity. This individual delivers the message, in person. Hence, the app facilitates all the instantaneity of modern digital communication, as well as a dose of good, old-fashioned face-to-face contact. As the Somebody site quips, it's 'half-app/half-human'. It's also a public art project. July first came up with the concept in March 2014 and developed it with the help of designer Thea Lorentzen and a team from StinkDigital, along with support from Miu Miu. The app and an accompanying film — the eighth commission in Miu Miu's Women's Tales series — premiered on August 28. https://youtube.com/watch?v=iz13HMsvb6o "Somebody is a far-reaching public art project that incites performance and twists our love of avatars and outsourcing — every relationship becomes a three-way," states the official site. "The antithesis of the utilitarian efficiency that tech promises, here, finally, is an app that makes us nervous, giddy and alert to the people around us." Your messages don't have to be restricted to words — your messenger can also follow actions and directions (i.e. dance, hug, cry and so on) — as long as they're game. If the timing isn't right, the recipient can decline involvement. Plus, the sender can select from a variety of potential messengers by previewing photos and performance ratings. When there's a lack of users in the vicinity, the message can be floated until someone turns up. July will speak publicly about Somebody at New York City's New Museum on October 9, and the app will be progressively launched throughout the Northern Hemisphere over Spring. Right now, hotspots are in action at the Los Angeles Country Museum of Art; Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco; the Portland Institute of Contemporary Art; the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; and Museo Jumex, Mexico City. It's in these places that you're likely to find a high concentration of Somebody users. If you want get the trend happening here in Australia, get the ball rolling and download the app for free from the Apple store. Image: Miranda July and Miu Miu.
Toronto welcomed a new and unique edition to its dining scene last month: Canada's first-ever restaurant tailored for the deaf. Signs, already popular with locals and tourists alike, is the brainchild of Anjan Manikumar, a hearing man who was inspired to learn American Sign Language (ASL) after realising first-hand how deaf customers struggled in restaurant situations that are simply taken for granted by others. The bar-restaurant, serving modern Canadian and international fare, employs a team of waiters who are almost entirely deaf. Choosing from over 200 deaf applicants, Manikumar found none had any waiting experience and some had never had a full-time job at all. He hopes the new venture will encourage the creation of other career opportunities for the deaf, while also promoting sign language among the community. For customers unfamiliar to ASL, the menu handily lists the sign equivalent next to each item, and a 'cheat sheet' (pictured below) translates some longer phrases, encouraging customers to engage with staff and fellow diners in this universal language. Via Buzzfeed. Photo credit: Signs.
Wes Anderson is partial to a few things. Bill Murray. Primary colours. Owen Wilson. Folk music. Natalie Portman's bottom. And overhead shots, to name but a few. Here, all of the auteur's beautifully crafted bird's eye views have been compiled into one stylish montage, featuring scenes from films including The Royal Tenenbaums, The Darjeeling Limited and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. [Via Best Week Ever]
Come July 14 to 24, Sydney's west is the place to be. That's when the brand new LOCALE Festival takes over the Cumberland area, both showering the district in art, performance, food, workshops and more, and showcasing the best in culture that the community has to offer. Across a largely free program, that includes a Bollywood-inspired party, a 1930s Shanghai-style community banquet, tours dedicated to significant Indigenous sites, Turkish cuisine and culture, and Middle Eastern cooking, and a picnic in the park with Auburn's refugee community. Revelling in the diversity of the region is the aim — and with a day of Filipino food and fun, Jerusalem street eats from The Bearded Bakers and a Jollof Rice cooking comp on the agenda too, it's one LOCALE looks set to achieve. Or, learn about picking and preserving vegetables, salting fish, making reusable beeswax wraps and whipping up basic kitchen medicines, because this fest wants you to pick up a few new skills — for free — as well. Plus there'll also be two days of pop-up doggy cafes, photobooths and just general pooch get-togethers, and Liam Benson's all-ages Sweet Shoes workshops, where you'll decorate your footwear and eat lollies.
UPDATE, October 22, 2023: Oops!... We didn't receive the right information about the Australian launch for Britney Spears' memoir The Woman in Me, which sadly means that the pop superstar isn't coming Down Under to hand out copies from a Britney-themed bus. We're as devastated as you are. We were specifically (and incorrectly) told that Sydneysiders would be able to "capture a glimpse of the star from 12pm, with plenty of photo opportunities to be had as she shares the news of her eagerly anticipated memoir launching that day". There was absolutely no mention of a Britney impersonator. The bus will still be doing the rounds in Sydney on Wednesday, October 25 — and this article has been updated to reflect the correct details. If your response to all things Britney Spears is "gimme more", then you'd best be feeling lucky in Sydney on Wednesday, October 25. In a big Britney week thanks to the release of her new memoir The Woman in Me, a Britney-themed bus will be driving around the Harbour City, then handing out copies of her book. Fancy being given The Woman in Me by a Spears impersonator? That's what the first 50 fans at Sydney Opera House at around 12pm will experience. There'll also be photo opportunities, too, if that's how you'd like celebrate the '...Baby One More Time', 'Oops!... I Did It Again' and 'Toxic' talent — and Crossroads star — before going home to read her tome. [caption id="attachment_923002" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rhys Adams via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] The book tells Britney's tale in her own words — a story that's been covered in documentaries such as Framing Britney Spears and Britney vs Spears, both of which focused on the decade-plus that the star spent under a conservatorship, and has also received copious amounts of media and public attention everywhere. The official blurb for The Woman in Me promises that it's about "freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith and hope" as "written with remarkable candour and humour", and "illuminates the enduring power of music and love — and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last". "Britney's compelling testimony in open court shook the world, changed laws, and showed her inspiring strength and bravery. I have no doubt her memoir will have a similar impact — and will be the publishing event of the year. We couldn't be more proud to help her share her story at last," said Jennifer Bergstrom, Senior Vice President and Publisher of Gallery Books, when the book's publication date was announced. [caption id="attachment_923003" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Drew de F Fawkes via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] The Woman in Me will also be available as an audiobook, with actor Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans) narrating. 2023 marks a quarter century since '...Baby One More Time' rocketed up Australia's charts, and made sure that everyone in the country knew who Britney was. Before then, she'd been in the spotlight since her time on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club in the early 90s; however, it was that blockbuster pop song that truly catapulted her to megastar-level fame. In the decades since, the singer has enjoyed a slew of other hits, thanks to everything from 'Sometimes' and 'Everytime' to 'Work Bitch' and 'If U Seek Amy'. Yes, you now have at least one of these songs stuck in your head (or, let's be honest, a medley of all them). The Britney bus will drive around Sydney on Wednesday, October 25, and is expected at the Sydney Opera House at around 12–1pm. For more information about The Woman in Me, which releases in Australia on the same day, head to the book's website. Top image: Rhys Adams via Wikimedia Commons.
As the name suggests, this new bar from master mixologist Grant Collins is dedicated to celebrating the evolution of the dry martini, as well as its caffeinated crowd-pleasing cousin, the espresso martini. Through a carefully curated collection of experimental and classic cocktails, Grant Collins and Gin Lane invite patrons into an atmosphere of easy-going sophistication, bringing elements from London's modern martini bars and Spain's laidback cocktail and tapas scene to the heart of Chippendale. Think of Dry Martini's menu as an ode to the evolution of the cocktail classic, where guests can experience different flavour profiles and mixes ranging from original and well-loved Gatsby-coded recipes from the 20s and 30s, to contemporary creative takes such as the salted caramel espresso martini with a nitro frozen foam and Scottish espresso martini with a shortbread infused whiskey and shortbread foam. If you're overwhelmed by choice, simply surrender to the espresso martini tree — a bespoke tower of six curated drinks. Guests can expect cocktails mixed with the highest quality house-distilled gin, unique vodkas, and house-made bitters. A tapas-style food menu has been designed to complement the flavours of the martini selection. The oyster shell gin martini, for example, is ideally served alongside freshly shucked oysters — dished-up with dry ice smoke billowing beneath the platter for a little side serving of theatricality. The menu draws inspiration from San Sebastian's bite-size pintxos, offering both sweet and savoury options, from a martini wagyu slider with rich and silky caramelised onions, cheek-wrinkling sour house-made pickles and a generous amount of martini mayo to sweeter options like their piña colada dome with coconut crumble and caramelised pineapple. Alternatively, if the cocktail sidekick you seek is something simpler, the high-low delight of the truffle and jamon toastie topped with caviar perfectly pairs with the house negroni. Dry Martini's wallet-saving happy hours are banishing cost-of-living worries with $10 martinis and $15 daily cocktail specials available every day from 5.30pm–7.00pm Tuesday - Thursday and 5.30pm–6.30pm Friday and Saturday.
Pyrmont Festival turns seven this year, and they're marking the occasion with one of their best programs yet. Extending the program, this year the festival will run for a whopping two weeks, from May 13–27. The annually beloved event promises a pretty well jam-packed program of live music, wine dinners, exhibitions and sculpture installations featured all around Pyrmont. Every day of the festival program is different, but each event is a particular ode to the tasty food and wine being produced both in Mudgee region and around Pyrmont. As always, the festival will kick off with a free two-day headliner event in Pirrama Park on Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21, with live music, art and over 100 food and wine stalls. You can chat to local producers and sample delicious local goodies, and you can do a wine tasting for $20. The monthly Pyrmont Growers Market will also run on Saturday, May 27. Various events will be held throughout the festival's two-week duration — the lineup can be accessed here.
Hopping on a boat is no longer the only thing to do at White Bay Cruise Terminal, all thanks to Sydney's newest electronic music venue. At Terminal 4, you'll be able to dance the night away to local and international acts while peering out over the water. And if you do want to combine a visit with a cruise, heading by either pre- or post-voyage, you'll be kicking off or ending your trip in quite the style. Forget the dark and sweaty rooms that often come to mind when anyone mentions dance parties and raves. Forget the term 'underground', too. While this site sports a strong industrial aesthetic, it's all about soaring ceilings and views out over Glebe Island and Port Jackson. While you're making shapes, you'll also score a vantage across Darling Harbour's waterways, over to the Harbour Bridge. While exactly when the venue will launch and what it'll open with hasn't yet been revealed, Terminal 4 will start welcoming in dance music fans sometime this summer — but it'll host events year-round. When the beats start dropping, the focus will be on top-notch acts, and on providing Sydney with an inclusive, progressive and multi-sensory space that's all about electronic music first and foremost. Terminal 4 is the latest venture from Untitled Group, who are also behind the Beyond the Valley, Pitch Music & Arts, Grapevine Gathering and Wildlands music festivals, plus Melbourne electronic music hub XE54. Here, Untitled has teamed up with Niche Productions, who've previously toured Jon Hopkins, Bonobo and Odesza to our shores. Find Terminal 4 at the White Bay Cruise Terminal, 2041 James Craig Road, Rozelle. To keep an eye out for events at the venue, head to its Facebook and Instagram pages. Images: Jordan Mumms.
UPDATE: Artemis II has launched and is on trajectory as planned. Visit the NASA website for further updates. Few cultural moments are as ingrained in our collective memory as the handful of missions that have sent astronaut crews into space or celebrities into orbit. Thankfully, this time it's the former — more specifically, Artemis II, the first crewed mission being sent to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. In a world and newscycle that are constantly circulating bad news, this seems like an occasion worth celebrating, but nobody seems to be talking about it. So, here's everything you need to know about Artemis II. Important disclaimer: this isn't going to be a moon landing. But, it's still an exciting mission and the first time that human beings are entering the moon's celestial neighbourhood since the Apollo missions. Artemis II is scheduled for a promising two-hour launch window that starts at 9.30am AEST tomorrow, Thursday, April 2, from where its crew of four (Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen) will set out on the most exciting surveying job in decades. [caption id="attachment_1088418" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Chip Somodevilla[/caption] Artemis II is performing a 10-day flyby mission, circumnavigating the celestial body to survey it for potential landing sites for subsequent Artemis missions, where NASA aims to have humans return to the lunar surface by 2028. The crew will collect data from orbit of the lunar surface and the effects of deep space travel on the human body — all to inform missions to come and a culminating long-term goal of sending humans to Mars in the 2030s. It's a mission of multiple firsts, too. The crew includes the first woman (Koch), the first person of colour (Glover), the oldest person (Wiseman) and the first non US National (Hansen) to either leave low Earth orbit or travel around the moon. It's also expected to break speed records for crewed missions on its lunar transit and reentry over the Pacific Ocean. [caption id="attachment_1088419" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, left, Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, right, stop for a group photograph as they visit NASA's Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)[/caption] The American-organised mission will be supported from Australia, too. NASA's Deep Space Communication Complex at Tidbinbilla and the Australian National University's (ANU) Quantum Optical Ground Station at Mt Stromlo Observatory will provide tracking and communications support for the mission. Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg told the ABC,"In the Apollo era, Australia hosted the most amount of tracking stations outside of the US that supported Apollo. We were absolutely critical then; we are also absolutely critical now." [caption id="attachment_1088420" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Joe Raedle[/caption] But why is nobody talking about it? A lot of hype was built for the mission's original launch in February, only for it to be postponed by hydrogen leaks, so perhaps the rescheduled date has already been swallowed by the ruthless news cycle and the stories surrounding the fuel crisis, Iran War and any other myriad of upsetting current affairs. Plenty of people are talking about space via Project Hail Mary, but this is the real deal. But now you know. Tomorrow morning, you can tune in to the live broadcast of the launch window on NASA's YouTube channel. It currently has an 80% chance of being a successful launch, pending the weather holds. Should it be a success — humanity will be taking its biggest step towards a future in the stars since Apollo 11 landed all those decades ago. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
In Sydney, you needn't travel too far to find some truly breathtaking natural wonders. Our national parks are filled with not only pristine beaches and adventurous walking tracks, but also magical sites. We're talking spots of awe-inspiring beauty that, at one glance, will carry you out of the ordinary. On this list alone — which is only the tip of the iceberg — there's a towering waterfall, a panoramic lookout affording epic views, and giant-sized moving sand dunes. All you have to do is jump in your car (or on a train) and make tracks. [caption id="attachment_845273" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] WEST HEAD LOOKOUT, KU-RING-GAI CHASE NATIONAL PARK There's no shortage of extraordinary vistas in Sydney, but West Head Lookout is one of the best. This mind-blowing spot gives you panoramas to the south over Pittwater, east over Barrenjoey Head and north to Broken Bay. Smack bang in the middle of it all is Lion Island, backdropped by the Central Coast's uncrowded beaches. You could easily spend a day here, so it's a good idea to pack a picnic. To add some art, take a wander on the Aboriginal Heritage Walk, along which is Red Hands Cave, where you'll see historic works from First Nations artists. Idyllic Resolute Picnic Area is nearby, too, as is the stunning and secluded Resolute Beach. West Head Lookout is a one-hour drive from the Sydney CBD, just off West Head Road. BOUDDI COASTAL WALK, BOUDDI NATIONAL PARK To see several of the Central Coast's wildest and most beautiful beaches, take the Bouddi Coastal Walk. This eight-kilometre adventure hugs the coastal edge of Bouddi National Park, beginning at Putty Beach in the south and ending at MacMasters in the north. Stop by lookouts affording sweeping ocean views and rest at rainforest-encircled picnic spots. If it's low tide, see if you can spot the shipwreck of the PS Maitland at Maitland Bay. If you're keen to extend your visit, camp overnight at Putty Beach or Little Beach. It's also possible to split the trail into short sections, namely Putty Beach to Maitland Bay (three kilometres), Maitland Bay to Little Beach (3.5-kilometres) and Little Beach to MacMasters Beach (1.7-kilometres). Note that a section of Bouddi coastal walk between Mount Bouddi walking track and Old Quarry trail is currently closed for upgrades until mid-May 2022. Check the website for more details. STOCKTON SAND DUNES, WORIMI NATIONAL PARK The 4200 hectares that make up Stockton Sand Dunes form the biggest system of sand dunes in Australia. Some are as high as 40 metres. You'll find them in the Worimi Conservation Lands, about 190 kilometres north of the Sydney CBD, just beyond Newcastle. Adding to their beauty is their stunning location, foregrounded by Stockton Beach — which, at 32 kilometres, is the longest beach in New South Wales — and backdropped by 1800 hectares of forest. While you're there, consider a beachfront horse ride, a sandboarding session and/or a visit to Tin City, an 11-shack off-grid village that appeared in Mad Max (1979). Note that Worimi Conservation Lands will remain closed until 10 March, 2022, due to extreme weather. [caption id="attachment_845272" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] JENOLAN CAVES, BLUE MOUNTAINS A classic for a reason, the Jenolan Caves are a long winding collection of stunning passageways. Located 175km west of Sydney, here you'll discover some of the most ridiculously beautiful rocks on the planet. There are nine caves altogether, filled with limestone formations, pristine underground rivers and secret chambers. The only way to visit is by tour — choose the cave that most appeals to you, take it easy with a one hour Imperial Cave Tour or get an adrenaline hit on an abseiling escapade. [caption id="attachment_845277" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] BELMORE FALLS, MORTON NATIONAL PARK The area surrounding Kangaroo Valley is a haven for incredible waterfalls with both Fitzroy Falls and this towering beauty. Belmore Falls offers a wall of tall sandstone cliffs, plus a rewarding two-kilometre walking track with endless views of the surrounding bushland. On your walk around the waterfall, take in the beauty of Australia's local flora and keep a lookout for sandstone flowers like the honey flower, banksia and wattle. The falls are located two hours south of Sydney with the option to venture back up through Wollongong and grab lunch or dinner at one of the city's beloved venues. Top image: Destination NSW
Sydney hospitality legends Kenny Graham and Jake Smyth (of Mary's, The Lansdowne, The Unicorn, P&V Wine and Liquor, Mary's Pizzeria) have taken over the historic jazz venue The Basement and begun transforming it into a live gig space, a wine bar and a new harbourside Mary's. And the first of those three has just opened. Yep, you can now stroll on down to Circular Quay and dig into a juicy Mary's burger and fried cauliflower. Wait, what? Yep, this new Mary's has, for the first time ever, a vegan menu. Plant-based peeps, rejoice — you can now get your fill of the famed burgers and fried 'chicken'. The 'chicken' is fried cauliflower and the burgers are made with vegan patty, cheese, bun and a vegan take on Mary's sauce. As an added bonus, there's also no chance of contamination with the kitchen having its own vegan-only cool room, grills and fryers. If you were lucky enough to head along to Mary's Newtown's one-off all-vegan collab with Shannon Martinez (of Melbourne's Smith & Daughters and Smith & Deli), you'll know that the boys do vegan well. Very well. As co-owner Smyth said in a statement, "it's fucking delicious plant based food, designed to make your carnivorous mates jealous." Those carnivorous mates who do prefer their burgers and fried chicken the traditional Mary's way — made with juicy beef and poultry — fear not, you'll find all the meat-filled classic here, too. As well as Mary's classic loud tunes, natural wines, local beers and raucous service. In a change of direction for the duo, though, you can also eat your burgers outdoors (in the sun) at the 30-seat Mary's Alfresco.
The past lingers. At the heart of Scrublands, both in its debut season in 2023 and now in its second — aka Scrublands: Silver — history doesn't just fade as time goes by. Portrayed by Luke Arnold (Last King of the Cross), investigative journalist Martin Scarsden witnessed this truth in action in the town of Riversend the first time that this page-to-streaming series based on Chris Hammer's novels hit the small screen. There, the character was chasing a story about a shocking tragedy impacting the entire community. As he met and became closer to bookstore-slash-cafe proprietor and single mother Mandy Bond, as played by Bella Heathcote (The Moogai), he wasn't just watching on from the outside, either. Streaming on Stan from Thursday, April 17, 2025, season two of Scrublands swaps Mandy's hometown for Martin's. In their new coastal surroundings of Port Silver, she isn't free from the past's persistent grasp despite being a newcomer to the close-knit seaside spot; however, her other half is equally haunted. Martin left town as a teenager to pursue his journalism dreams, but not before sparking a scandal. Until the first episode begins, he hasn't been back since. What's meant to be a fresh beginning for a couple already burdened by recent woes soon gets swept in other directions. The murder of Martin's childhood best friend Jasper (Hamish Michael, Apple Cider Vinegar), Mandy being named as the key suspect and Martin using his reporter instincts to try to get to the bottom of another mystery affecting the woman he loves will do that. So will Scarsden's own history bubbling back up. Looking back to the start of their Scrublands journey with Arnold and Heathcote, the pair are both clear that one season was all that they were focusing on when they initially stepped into Martin and Mandy's shoes — even though Hammer's novels about their characters had already notched up three entries thanks to 2018's Scrublands, 2019's Silver and 2020's Trust. That approach was partly pragmatic. "I think having been in this game for a while, you very much try to practice not getting ahead of yourself. And I think we were all in that mode, going 'okay, this would be great. We know the books are there. And so if we do a good job, we might be asked to come back and do some more'," Arnold tells Concrete Playground. "But at first you're just going 'hey, let's try to get through this thing and not screw it up, and then let's see what people think'." "It is always tough when there is this existing property there that people really love — sometimes that can go well, sometimes it can go the opposite way, and you find 'ohh no, you didn't', and it wasn't what the fans wanted or something went awry. So I think first season, we were just trying to do the best we could with that. And then I think the response to the show was so great and kind of beyond what we could have hoped for, so once that happened, things quickly started moving towards coming back for season two." Heathcote was instantly drawn to Mandy when the project crossed her path via Wolf Creek, Rogue and Jungle director Greg McLean, who she worked with on fellow Aussie series Bloom, but the pitch was for a one-and-done project. "Bizarrely, not at the time," she advises when asked about whether season two was ever on her mind to begin with. "I've now drunk the Kool-Aid and now I've read all the books, but in the first season I didn't — because it was pegged as a miniseries, and I thought 'okay, great'. But now I think we're all hooked, on the books and each other. I just want to work with everyone again." "There was something so comforting about coming back to this role, and being back with Luke, and Sarah Roberts [Runt], Toby Truslove [La Brea], taking the band on tour to WA. It feels sort of like coming home." Both Arnold and Heathcote have enjoyed a coming-home journey themselves, as Australian actors who enjoy overseas success tend to. (See also: Jacob Elordi and Odessa Young with The Narrow Road to the Deep North, Ashley Zukerman with In Vitro, and Radha Mitchell and Jesse Spencer with Last Days of the Space Age, to name just a few recent examples). Scrublands' two leads each have the almost-requisite Aussie soaps on their resumes, Home and Away for Arnold and Neighbours for Heathcote — and, for Arnold, four seasons on seafaring American series Black Sails, around gigs in everything from Rush Hour and MacGyver to Lethal Weapon; for Heathcote, a main part in Dark Shadows led to the eclectic likes of Not Fade Away, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, The Neon Demon, Fifty Shades Darker, Professor Marston and the Wonder Women and The Man in the High Castle. Neither have been absent from Australian fare lately, though, via the likes of Glitch, The End, Preppers, True Colours and Arnold's Home and Away stint, plus Relic, C*A*U*G*H*T and others for Heathcote. With Scrublands, they're both hooked, including as viewers. Indeed, both binged Silver's four parts, texting each other, when they were able to see the finished product. And yet, Arnold wouldn't be bringing Scarsden to the screen at all if he had followed the advice given to him back on his first taste in the business, as assistant sword fight choreographer on 2003's Australian-made Peter Pan more than a decade before playing Michael Hutchence in Never Tear Us Apart changed the course of his career. The person offering those ignored words of wisdom: The White Lotus season three's Jason Isaacs. Heathcote's early experiences also resonate with her now, specifically when it comes to being part of a great cast on Scrublands (The Artful Dodger's Luke Carroll, Good Cop/Bad Cop's Debra Lawrance, Spit's David Roberts, The Twelve's Tasma Walton and Transfusion's Damian De Montemas are among Silver's ensemble). "Oh man, it's everything. I remember early on in my career, just being really terrified of working with some big-name actor — but you're also as good as the actors around you. It's pretty hard to act in a vacuum if the people around you aren't good," she notes. From the process of stepping back into Martin and Mandy's shoes for the second time, navigating complicated emotional journeys and pondering how the past keeps haunting, through to why this Aussie noir hit resonates and whether either of its leads initially dreamed of where acting would take them, we also chatted to Arnold and Heathcote about plenty more. On What Excited Arnold and Heathcote When Scrublands First Came Their Ways Luke: "I hadn't read the books yet. It came through a lovely casting director, Lou Mitchell here in Melbourne — who, back in the day, I used to read for her at auditions for other people. And so when it came through her and I had a look, and because I have in the last few years also been writing — and writing mystery novels, fantasy, mystery stories — being able to play a writer in a mystery show just felt like the perfect fit. There's sometimes a little battle in my head between the writer and the actor, and I was like 'oh, I get to bring both sides of my creative self to this job'. And so from when I put the first tape down, I put it down with my now-fiancée, and out of all the jobs I've ever done, it was the one, she was reading opposite me, she thought it was a done deal from the beginning — and ended up being right. So I think Martin and I were a good fit from the beginning, and it is a very comfortable place for me to be when I get to step into it." Bella: "It did get me excited. It's so funny, because it came about in a really surprising way. Greg McLean and I had a project that we were doing together that fell apart, and I emailed him just checking in about something and he said 'you know what, I'm doing this show, and I feel like you might be right for this role in it'. And it was Mandy. And he's like 'read the scripts and tell me what you think' — the thing that we all say to each other, where it's like 'oh, don't worry if you don't like it'. And I read it and I just ripped through them. And then I was just like 'where do I sign?'. Because I thought she was great, and I loved how spunky she was. And I loved how much — there's something that I do that tat I really share with Mandy, where if she likes someone, she hangs shit on them. If she doesn't like someone, she also hangs shit on them. But if she really likes someone, then she just hangs even more shit on them. And I just loved that interaction that she had with both Martin and Byron [Territory's Jay Ryan in season one], and how quickly it cut through and established these relationships. Particularly the Byron storyline, I was just so impressed at how you could really feel the intimacy between them in such a short period of time. You know that expression 'show don't tell'? I just thought it did that so well, but with the thrill of the crime drama. And yeah, I just thought it was so well done and I loved it." On How the Job and Your Performance Evolves When You're Stepping Back Into a Character's Shoes for a Second Season Bella: "I guess it does evolve, because you're just layering up, aren't you? I get terrified before every job. I maybe erroneously thought that — no, I just know that I get terrified before every job. But this one felt like I put more pressure on myself or I was scared because I loved Mandy in season one, and I didn't want to do her a disservice in season two. So god, I hope I didn't. I guess the circumstances evolve, and you just put that suit back on and hope that you show up and do it justice." Luke: "It's interesting, because it's both much more comfortable and it's nice knowing 'okay, I know to a degree where this guy sits'. I also think sometimes the trap is to get too comfortable in that, and to make sure you're really looking at what the arc of this season is, what the story is. In a lot of ways, there's a lot of things that are completely different between these two seasons. The first season, Martin is the outsider. He is not emotionally or personally connected to this mystery in any way. He's got his own personal journey going on, but he is the somewhat-dispassionate journalist coming in just to tell this story, and everyone else in town has been traumatised and connected to it. This is the opposite. When we when we jump into Silver, it's Martin's old best friend who's been murdered — in a town where a lot of terrible things happened to Martin, but also he did some things that we'll find out he has some regrets, some shame over, potentially. The person who is accused of the murder is his now-partner. So he could not be more personally connected to every aspect of it. So in that way, he's going to approach it completely differently to how he did the mystery in season one. So it's somewhat comfortable, but also a completely new character in some ways." On Whether One of the Challenges of Returning to a Role Is Conveying How a Character Has Grown and Changed Between Seasons Luke: "I think so, mainly in context to Martin and Mandy. The potential relationship is only just blooming by the end of season one. So the whole year has happened for those two. So I think that's the hardest bit of catch-up to do, is to work out 'all right, how close are these two? How established is the relationship? How much trust has been built?'. Because very quickly, going back to Port Silver and the events that happened there, both of them realise that maybe they have to question how much this other person is opening up to them, how much they trust them, how truthful they're being. [caption id="attachment_929182" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sarah Enticknap[/caption] So I think that is the first thing that we had to consider — what this relationship between Martin and Mandy is, how that year has been between, how established are things, how much do they trust each other? And because it is an ongoing series — but each of these is its own standalone mystery. So in some ways, you want to get that established really quickly so you can get into the real meat of what this season's about." On How Heathcote Approached Mandy's Complicated Emotional Journey in Scrublands: Silver Bella: "I really just went off what was on the page and in the book. Although, you know what comes to mind — and this is a book that has really spoken to me, a book that I've told everyone I know to read and rabbited on about for so long. I don't know if you've ever read it? Any Ordinary Day by Leigh Sales. Oh my god, so just this idea that Mandy — everything that's happening to her is so in the present, but given everything that's happened in season one, it's just like she just has to keep going on, even given everything happened with Byron and with her dad. But she has this son and she has to raise him. And there's all this stuff happening and it's just a trauma that she doesn't have time to process right now because she just has to do the next indicated thing, and she's just so focused on Liam. It's almost like Martin has to try to think of things around the crime and what's going on, because all she can think about is like 'where's my son? I have to go get him. Is he okay? Who is he with right now?. And in some ways, I guess that sort of protects her, insulates her. I feel like if you looked at Mandy five weeks later, she'd be grappling with something different than just what she's dealing with in the shock of the moment." On Navigating the Conflicts Within Both Martin and Mandy — One So Astute in His Work and Yet Awkward in His Personal Life, the Other Fiercely Protective of Who She Loves But Struggling with Trust in Their Relationship Luke: "I think it's the great thing about having the whole story from the beginning — this feeling that 'all right, we've got all these four episodes', and so even before starting, you get to chart some evolution about what can change for him over the course of the story and why. And I think it is knowing that this guy has mostly been on his own, single, bouncing around the world, caring about one thing — which is the story — and believing that is important above all things. That would even mean that in a lot of these situations, while he would be making friends, building relationships, if some of those people are implicit in the story, if they're part of it, that he'd know professionally it's his job to put that aside in the service of the truth. So I think once you know that that is a core part of who Martin is, then it becomes a little easier to play those moments where he could maybe act in ways that are disappointing or upsetting to the people around him. And I do think that's the fun of the season. Every time you do any part, it's always fun to look at 'all right, what are you hoping they learn through the course of this story? So how do we take them a few steps back from that at the beginning?'. And I think it's sometimes the most fun stuff to see when characters are oblivious, when they put a foot wrong — when you hopefully still enjoy watching them, but you can also be frustrated by them as well." Bella: "I think she just loses patience pretty quickly with Martin and his jealousy, Martin and his inability to deal with his past and his family. I think she calls him out on it quite a few times because she just hasn't, doesn't, they don't have time to luxuriate in whatever six months of couples' therapy they need in order to deal with this. It's just like 'get over yourself. Go deal with your family. I'm going to do this thing that's right in front of me. I'm going to deal with the next crisis. I don't have time for whatever nonsense you're bringing to this'." On the Series' Exploration of the Fact That the Past Can Haunt You — Whether You've Tried to Leave It Behind in a New Setting or You're Returning Home Bella: "I don't think you need to dig deep into it because it's true. I mean, it's true for me. I think we're all shaped by our past and whatever traumas we've experienced or whatever loss we've experienced, so I think it's just something that we all carry. We carry the scars of it, hopefully to a lesser extent — or hopefully we are able to do the work so that it doesn't impact our daily life in a way that becomes unmanageable. But I guess I just agree with what Mandy says, because that's been my experience." Luke: "I think what was really great is there were extensive flashbacks in the book, and I think Felicity [Packard, Pine Gap], our writer/producer, and Ben Young [Hounds of Love], our director this season, and everyone else did a really good job of going 'okay, how do we crystallise the ideas, the themes, the character moments in those very broad flashbacks down to something that fits our format?'. And I think they did a fantastic job of that. I think it's really about tying the tragedies of Martin's history here to his own actions, and to the man he is now. And knowing that, yes, some of those blocks he might have emotionally and relationship-wise all have to do with those walls he put up at a very young age, and those decisions he made to go 'no, this is important, what I'm doing is important, so I'm going to go down that road'. So I think it's a theme that pops up with a lot of characters there, but what's fun is I think all those themes, those character moments and the mystery all end up overlapping each other really nicely." On Why the World of Scrublands Resonates with Audiences, Both on the Page and as a TV Series Luke: "This Aussie-noir thing is obviously captivating people here and around the world. It taps into that feeling of Australia I think we all have — I feel like each of these stories so far take place in an Australian small town where some dark things happened, where you've got this tight-knit community. And there is something interesting here, I think, compared to Riversend. Riversend was a place where an awful thing happened that I think really affected the whole community in terrible ways. There's a bit of a different thing going on here with Port Silver, where the change is different — there's some stuff here that happened in the past that compromised everyone and there is still some pain of that, but there's also this gentrification and other shift happening in the town. But I think overall it's that mix of a really good mystery, first and foremost. I think sometimes we can put those darker themes front and centre, and the mystery is somewhat there to support a story that's more interested in theme, in pain, in trauma — and sometimes those stories can be fantastic. But I think this story, for us, especially when we lift it to the screen, we're really trying to tell the mystery first and making sure that we fill it in with all that beautiful texture, but that from scene to scene, we're keeping you on the hook, trying to find out what happened, why and who committed the crime." Bella: "I talk to my dad about this a lot because he loves crime fiction, and it's sort of the only genre he reads. And it tracks because he was a lawyer. I can see why that would be fun for him. But I also I ripped through these books so quickly, and I don't typically read crime fiction. I read them all in two days each — less, maybe. Just couldn't put them down. And I don't know, why is that? They're just delicious and moreish. And you can't, you just want to know what happens. I want to know what happens. I wanted to know what happened watching the show. I was trying to prep this job I'm doing now, and I just thought 'I'll just watch one episode' — and then cut to it's midnight and I'm supposed to be working the next day, and I'm like 'shit, okay, stop watching them'. And I was texting with Luke, and he was still up in Australia because he and his partner had stayed up to watch them. Yeah, they're just moreish." On Scrublands: Silver Taking Aussie Noir to a New Setting in Coastal WA and Helping Expand the Vision of Australia On-Screen Luke: "I think it is the kind of secret weapon of the season, that we could not get over when we were there. This is not a side of Australia people have seen a lot of. Augusta, the town that we shot in, is like the most-southwesterly point of Australia. It's got its own little microclimate. There are humpback whales that you're seeing every day. And funnily enough, there was just this amazing silver sheen over the whole place. Very different to season one, and very different to most things that we've seen in Australia. And I think it is really great. And that just because we're making so much more stuff — and I think we're making so much interesting stuff these days, and enough of it, that we don't feel like what it would have been in the old days, where if you were trying to make a show in Australia that you wanted to export to the world, there's almost an Australian brand. And so you go 'no, don't try and' — like a show like this, you might go 'no, no, no, you buy a show that looks like this from somewhere in Europe. Let's do another McLeod's Daughters or something like that'. Where, because we're exporting so much great stuff these days, we do get to step outside that. We do get to shoot in all corners of the country, and I think it's really exciting for so many reasons. We get to really start showing the world that this isn't just a bunch of beer-drinking — even though, look, we drink a bit of beer in this as well — but it's it's not quite that one image of Australia that we were showing for a very long time." Bella: "My god, I love it — and I love the fact that they let us do it, because I think for most people, Australia, its selling point is the sun-bleached country or the beaches and sunshine and barbecues or something. So to be given — permission is the wrong word, but to be given carte blanche to shoot in winter in WA. And it's so beautiful, it's so breathtakingly beautiful that coast in winter, and the whales and that lighthouse. I just thought it was so idyllic and just really set a certain tone and mood, and I think it's incredible. I'd never been to WA before shooting there, so I'm grateful that we shot there. Because Australia, everywhere you go just feels like it could be its own little universe. They're so different, season one to season two, those settings are so vastly different — and both are so, so special and so beautiful." On What You Learn From Playing Parts Like Martin and Mandy for Two Seasons Bella: "The thing that comes to mind is that you can be tough and sensitive. That you can be tough and vulnerable, and that those things aren't mutually exclusive. I think through so much of my twenties, I thought you were either one or the other, and I feel like Mandy is all of those things all at once." Luke: "I think there's a great window, in both seasons, there's a real window into journalism that I didn't quite know before that's really interesting, and that I had to get my head around then to start playing Martin. Being in the arts, I do think we're often going to the human element first, and are empathy-forward in our ways of how we think about any story. And so just ticking over into not only the mindset of a journalist, I guess, where it's like 'it's about the truth, it's about the facts, that's what's important' — the human element is part of it, but your job as a journalist is to go in and get the truth first, and that's what matters. And I think that's so fun to play. I don't think is a spoiler to say that Toby Truslove as Doug Monkton is back, and so is Sarah Roberts as Beth, so when you get these scenes between the journos, I think that's really, really fun. And that's something that also feels different. We've seen a lot of shows of cops talking and lawyers talking and that kind of thing. I think that the camaraderie and competition between journalists is really fun to play, a whole new window. So I think extending my understanding of that world and getting to play with that is one of my most favourite elements." On Whether Arnold and Heathcote Ever Dreamed of Where Their Careers Have Taken Them Both at Home and Overseas When They Were First Starting Out — Behind the Scenes on Peter Pan and in Australian Film Acolytes, Respectively Luke: "No, of course not. It's funny on that job, being assistant to the swordmaster from Peter Pan. I'm just like everyone watching The White Lotus season three at the moment. And so I was still at high school, really, doing that job — and Jason Isaacs from White Lotus was playing Hook. And on my last day, I went in and had a chat with him, and he was like 'so what are you going to do now?' And I was like 'ohh, I'm going to go to film school, or do a writing course or go to acting school'. And there in his full Hook regalia, he was like 'well, just so you know, writers and directors often have much happier lives than actors'. And I was like 'all right' — and I ended up not taking his advice and went to drama school. And during that time, you're just hoping — like you really get it in your head that 'hey, if I can be a jobbing actor, if I can get to a point where I make most of my money from being an actor, that'll be great'. And that is a kind of dream, and it is tough. It's really hard to do. So then you spend, for a while there, doing a bunch of jobs that are really rewarding but without any — you'd go and do an acting job and then you go back to one of the countless terrible casual jobs that I've done in between. And that felt like 'well, this might be my life'. And then going through those couple of years where I got to do Never Tear Us Apart and Black Sails, obviously that really changed things. Since then, I've just been able to solely work in the creative industries, and I am eternally grateful for it. And there's always a sense that it could change at any moment. But on that, I think as well, that also led me — not to go on a whole big thing, but from that as well, that led to a bit of time where I was spending a lot of time overseas. And I then also had that moment where I was like 'oh, I don't — this isn't the life I want'. It's very easy to get drawn into this feeling of trying to go bigger and further away. And while I'm always open to working overseas, there was a shift even before 2020, when I really, I think, felt really appreciative of the industry we have here in Australia, the great things we do and being able to have this quality of life — working with these people on projects like this was really appealing. So what I'm really most grateful for is that I was able to come back to Australia and really cement myself here, and the work I've been doing the last few years has been some of the most fun and rewarding I've done." Bella: "I suppose that's what you want when you start as an actor, but also I had no concept of really where it could go — because I didn't have anyone in my family who was in this industry. It seemed sort of improbable. But I just didn't want to do anything else, so it's just like 'well, this is what I have to do'. I mean, it's a dream. I still think about that now, like the fact that I've just been able to earn a living doing this thing for the last, jeez, 18 years or whatever it's been now, feels like a small miracle." On What Heathcote Looks for in a New Homegrown Project When Adding to Her Recent Run of Scrublands, Bloom, The Moogai and More Bella: "I guess it's the same thing I'd look for overseas — just a role that speaks to me and creatives that I'm excited by. I mean, The Moogai, for example, I just thought that was a really important story and I'm always fascinated by horror films that are sort of an allegory for something bigger than just horror, genre. And Bloom, I remember just being excited to work with Phoebe [Tonkin, Boy Swallows Universe], and I was in Australia — and I met with Greg and Glen [Dolman, I Met a Girl], the writer, and just thought this would just be a laugh. I also love the comedic element of it, or the situation just felt so ludicrous, to play this old woman, this very uptight old woman, but in a young woman's body. It's giving Freaky Friday. And then Scrublands, I just love Mandy. I just thought she had such spunk. A friend of mine said something once: 'you need two out of three'. And it was pay, creative, location. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you get all three. And I suppose that's how I make most of my decisions." On What Gets Arnold Excited About a New Role in General Luke: "It can go both ways. I think what excites me sometimes is if there's some crazy challenge — where the script is so good and there's some amazing challenge in there that I haven't done yet. And you go 'all right'. And it's going to push me in ways where I can't rely on the things I think I know and the things I've done before, and just launch into something with faith in the people I'm working with and in the process, and get to just stretch myself in new and exciting ways. That's both really exciting — and also what's really exciting sometimes is when I feel like 'oh, I think I'm the right guy for this job'. It's a really rewarding, exciting thing, because there's so much self-doubt here. And every job you do, you always go 'well, everyone's going to think I suck in that'. And every audition you do, you go 'of course, I'm not going to get this'. But occasionally these things come forward where you're like 'I think this is my skill set. I think I know how to do this. And I think I can maybe bring something to this that not every actor could'. And I think, from a kind of craft sense — and just, as we said, how long I've been in this industry — it's a really nice thing when I feel 'oh, I think I could be helpful to this thing'. And that's why there was maybe a sense with Martin that I felt like 'oh, I think my writer's mind will be really useful in this role'. Because when you are in the position where your character is, you are with the audience as you're putting the pieces together, you are part of shaping the story and putting the pieces of that mystery together, I did feel like 'oh, I think I might be the right actor to make this character work'. So I think that is sometimes a great thing, when I can enter into something with a little less self-doubt and a little more excitement to bring all of me to a role." Scrublands: Silver streams via Stan from Thursday, April 17, 2025. Read our review of season one. Images: David Dare Parker / Sarah Enticknap.
The weather is getting warmer, and we all know what that means: the outdoor cinema season is here. Movie lovers in Sydney are spoiled for choice when it comes to open-air screens — and from the looks of things that doesn't appear to be changing any time soon. Located at the North Sydney Oval, this year's Sunset Cinema kicks off on Thursday, January 18, and will run until Saturday, March 24. The program skews towards more recent films including The Disaster Artist, Wonder, Downsizing and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. They've also put together a top-notch food and beverage offering, in order to keep your stomach from grumbling during the film. Dinner will be taken care of and the site will have a fully licensed bar, serving 4 Pines craft beers and MadFish wines.
Following the world-altering whirlwind that was 2020, award-winning Eau-de-Vie closed down, promising to return in the near future. While it's taken longer than expected, the sleek cocktail bar that was once 13th on the World's 50 Best Bars list has announced it will be reopening in a new home next year. The Speakeasy Group (Mjølner, Nick & Nora's) and its directors Sven Almenning and Greg Sanderson will be bringing the new iteration of Eau-de-Vie, as well as a new accompanying restaurant called The Sanderson to the Brookfield Place development, reinvigorating the historic Beneficial House site at 285 George Street. [caption id="attachment_868199" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brookfield Place[/caption] "Eau-de-Vie is like our first child, we just have so much love for it! We looked long and hard to secure the new location, but the wait will be worth it," says Sanderson. "We really do see Beneficial House becoming a destination that our guests can spend an entire evening within. Aperitif cocktails at Eau-de-Vie, upstairs to The Sanderson for an amazing dinner, and then back downstairs for a whisky nightcap." All of the class of the original Eau-de-Vie will be on show at the new opening with moody lighting, a smooth jazz soundtrack, the signature Whisky Room and private whisky lockers. The Sanderson will both aesthetically and conceptually compliment this luxurious take on a cocktail bar, centring its menu around steak and oysters. [caption id="attachment_868200" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Sanderson render[/caption] The Speakeasy Group has taken out a ten-year tenancy on the 618-square metre space in Brookfield Place, joining the likes of Shell House, Romeo's, Edition Coffee, Gojima, NeNe Chicken and PappaRich in the huge inner-city development. "The Speakeasy Group's unique bar and restaurant offering will bring an excellent addition to our food and beverage mix at Brookfield Place Sydney and will contribute significantly to activating the precinct's nightlife," said Brookfield Properties Australia's Executive Vice President and Co-Head Danny Polijak. While we don't yet have an exact opening date for the two new restaurants, they're set to open in early 2023. [caption id="attachment_788884" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The old Eau-de-Vie[/caption] Eau-de-Vie and The Sanderson will open at 285 George Street, Sydney in 2023.
Taylor Swift, Tyler, The Creator and Creed walk into a bar. No, it's not the start of a terrible dad joke, but it could be your soundtrack to an evening at Enmore listening bar Deadwax. Taking over the former Enmore Country Club space, Deadwax is the brainchild of Dan Teh (OTiS, Glebe's The Little Guy) and Conor O'Brien (OTiS, Tio's), who've tapped Daff Blacksmith (Riley St Garage, NOLA Smokehouse and Bar) and Kate Howlett (Bar Planet) to oversee the kitchen and bar, respectively. The late-night spot joins the growing ranks of Sydney venues that put music front and centre, and the soundtrack at Deadwax is as eclectic as they come. The team has partnered with Leichhardt record store and listening room Crosstalk Records to curate a sprawling collection of vinyls that spans decades and genres — the playlist will feature everything from soul, funk and disco to bangers from the nineties and naughties and more recent releases and, yes, even a nostalgic hit of Creed from time to time, all piped through speakers from Marrickville's Translate Sound. There'll be DJs on weekends, request nights during the week and, opening soon out the back, Enmore's only karaoke room. The bar menu is just as diverse as the playlist — expect signatures like a ponzu old fashioned, a silky smooth sesame oil martini and a throwback Midori-backed melon colada, alongside a fridge lined with tins of -196. Food is by no means an afterthought, with the kitchen dishing up the likes of wagyu pastrami sandos, roe-topped snacks and jazzed-up instant noodles until last call (1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays). The red-tinged space reflects the same mix of playfulness and attention to detail. The bar top is made from 70 layers of individually resin-dipped denim, while the wavy ceiling was designed with sound treatment in mind, allowing you to chat comfortably even with the music pumping.
Twelve years after RuPaul's Drag Race first sashayed its way onto US television, viewers Down Under have finally been gifted a local version. Currently streaming via Stan, RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under is exactly what it sounds like — the hit series, still hosted by RuPaul, but featuring Australian and New Zealand drag queens. And, if you'd like to see more of this year's competitors, you'll be able to head along to the program's new live stage show. All ten of this year's drag queens will be hitting up Sydney's Hordern Pavilion, Melbourne's Palais Theatre, Perth's Crown Theatre, Brisbane's QPAC and Canberra's Canberra Theatre as part of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under Live on Stage. It too is rather self-explanatory, and it'll obviously have quite the cast when it hits the road this September. If you've been watching the TV series, you'll already know which contenders have been strutting their stuff for drag supremacy. The lineup spans seven Australians and three New Zealanders, including Art Simone from Geelong, Melbourne's Karen from Finance, and Sydney's Coco Jumbo, Etecetera Etcetera and Maxi Shield. Newcastle's Jojo Zaho and Perth's Scarlet Adams round out the Aussie queens, while Auckland's Kita Mean, Anita Wigl'it and Elektra Shock comprise the NZ contingent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdcgf5I6Qb8&feature=youtu.be RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE DOWN UNDER LIVE ON STAGE TOUR DATES: Saturday, September 18 — Hordern Pavilion, Sydney Tuesday, September 21 — QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane Thursday, September 23 — Crown Theatre, Perth Saturday, September 25 — The Palais, Melbourne Tuesday, September 28 — Canberra Theatre, Canberra RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under Live on Stage will tour Australia from September 18–28. For further details — and to buy pre-sale tickets from 12pm on Friday, May 21 and general tickets from 12pm on Monday, May 24 — head to the Live Nation website.
Things are heating up in Manly with the arrival of a new specialty store. With more independent and small-batch hot sauces being produced, plus the popularity of tongue-tingling condiments reaching an all-time high with help from Hot Ones, a group of Sydneysiders has jumped, opening a shopfront dedicated entirely to spicy sauces. THAT Hot Sauce Shop will open on Sydney Road in the Northern Beaches on Saturday, July 15. Boasting a colourful mural out the front, the store won't be easy to miss. Inside, visitors will find a sleek, simple showroom housing a far-reaching catalogue of hot sauces from Australia and across the globe — plus a hot sauce tasting table, where you can try before you buy and expand the spicy side of your palette. Local sauces like Sydney's Old Bones, Wodonga's Uncle Mungo's and Byron Bay's CrackFox will be given particular spotlight when the store officially opens, before a larger lineup of stock is introduced in August with sauces from across the globe, including the Hot Ones range. "Supporting local is very important to us," says owner Guy Lancaster. "We've been lucky enough to meet local suppliers and sauce makers who are just as passionate as we are, and who are making some truly delicious products. They care about flavour and the education of how hot sauces can elevate any simple dish, and not just about mind-numbing heat." THAT Hot Sauce Shop is the passion project of Manly locals Lancaster and his partner Elle Bowles. The pair is hoping to educate Sydneysiders not only on the specific hot sauces they love, but the variety of ways that you can incorporate them in the kitchen. "We know people will be keen to try the heat, but we also aim to cater for the new spice lovers that want to add flavour to their meals, cheeseboards or even cocktails, just like we do at home," says Bowles. If you're located on the other side of the Spit Bridge and can't make it across to Manly, you can also browse THAT Hot Sauce Shop's stock list and make an order via its online store. THAT Hot Sauce Shop will open at 1/27 Sydney Road, Manly on Saturday, July 15.
Considering it's part of the inner city, Erksineville's high street isn't as big or bustling as you may expect. But it does have everything one needs: cafes, takeaway joints, bottle shops, pubs and a grocer stocked with all of your kitchen essentials. The Fruit Village has been around since 2013. It's the sort of reliable local you can count on to have an ingredient you're missing from the fridge or pantry when cooking up a storm. But it doesn't jack up the prices just because it can — it sells everything at bargain rates, particularly in-season fruit (we've seen trays of lemons and mandarins for just two bucks each). Alongside its fresh fruit and veg, it also stocks rice, pasta, Sonoma bread and snacks.
In the 16 years since NSW's liquor licenses were relaxed to support the creation of more grassroots hospitality businesses, small bars have become the bedrock of Sydney's drinking scene. A recent addition to this collection of compact watering holes comes from one of the OG trailblazers of the city's small bar movement — House of Pocket, whose debut venture Pocket Bar (opened in 2009) was a Darlinghurst favourite for more than a decade. Kasippu is House of Pocket's first new venture in four years: a Sri Lankan-inspired "wadiya", blending South Asian cuisine with the pseudo-speakeasy vibes punters will recognise from the group's past venues. Breaking new ground, however, this is House of Pocket's first venue to so conspicuously spotlight its food offering — less a typical bar than a curry house with a hidden cocktail lounge waiting to be discovered just beyond the dining space. The idea to bring a hybrid wadiya-meets-cocktail bar experience to Sydneysiders was hatched when chef Amila Hemchandra and House of Pocket founder Karl Schlothauer travelled together through Sri Lanka. "When we were discussing the new venue concept, I invited Karl to join me [in my homeland] to experience everything — from high-end restaurants to our village cuisine," Hemchandra shares. "It was while we were sitting by a lake, eating curry, sipping kasippu and singing a bit of karaoke that the idea for the venue was born." True to Sri Lanka's culinary heritage, Hemchandra's menu for Kasippu leans heavily on plant-based curries, with just three meat and fish options amongst the nine main dishes on offer. A range of casual curry kebabs and yummy bar snacks like chicken pan rolls and fried stuffed bananas make for ideal cocktail sidekicks for peckish punters in the bar, while the full menu of curries, sides, papadums and rotis are always available during opening hours, right through until close. The venue's namesake is a home-distilled moonshine popular throughout Sri Lanka. Taking inspiration from kasippu's DIY origins, almost all the syrups, cordials and tinctures used to flavour the bar's cocktails are made in-house. A sprawling selection of 16 signature cocktails riff on tropical flavours, such as the Falooda Milk Punch, featuring Bacardi coconut rum, strawberry shrub, rose syrup, fresh lemon juice, coconut milk and strawberry jelly or the South-East Side, a mingle of turmeric-infused Bombay Sapphire gin, fresh lime juice, pandan syrup and mint. Cocktail purists are equally well served by the 37 classics also on the drinks list and a seasoned bar team that can help customers land on the drink that best suits their tastes. Live entertainment will be another cornerstone of Kasippu's appeal. Live music, stand up comedy and even karaoke will have punter's tapping their toes while they enjoy a fiery feed or a refreshing sip. Located on Kent Street, Kasippu joins the collective of bars, hotels and restaurants within the YCK Laneways precinct — an area that became Sydney's first Purple Flag accredited destination in 2023 in recognition of the neighbourhoods superb hospitality offering, its excellent transport links and its general safety after dark. Images: Declan Blackall
Nestled against Princes Highway, just north of Sydney Harbour Bridge, Crows Nest is a little goldmine of shopping and small bars. This boutique-loving north shore suburb is consistently voted one of the most liveable locations in Sydney. And it's not hard to see why — everything you could want or need is within walking distance. The close-knit community feel comes from the locally owned bars, shops and restaurants. To showcase some of the very best businesses that 'The Nest', as locals call it, has to offer, we've teamed up with American Express to create this guide to shopping small in the area. These businesses demonstrate exactly why Crows Nest is such a great place to call home, and you can shop small here with your Amex Card.
The Oaks Hotel is a North Shore institution and one of the most famous pubs in Sydney. The mega-barn of a pub also got a huge renovation back in 2019, during which the pokies got the boot, and in came the sleek new cocktail bar, restaurant with in-house butcher, sports bar and boutique bottleshop. The glorious beer garden also got some love, now boasting a large pavilion and terrace where you can get all cosy during the colder months. The regular events programme at The Oaks Hotel is also stacked. Monday nights are all about schnitty deals. Tuesdays are for trivia. Wednesdays are Playstation Nights. Thursdays are when you can get around local craft beer tastings. Fridays and Saturdays see live music take over the sports bar and beer garden. And Sundays are just Sundays. Any day of the week, you'll also be able to order from the long food menu. Expect pub classics like the regularly changing pot pie served with chips and peas or the sausages and mash potatoes that are drenched in thick meaty gravy. Alternatively, you can go for cleaner, elevated dishes. Try the salmon poke bowl, salt and pepper Szechuan squid or some of the five different cuts of steak served with your choice of homemade sauce. There are even separate pizza, mussels and grill sections of the menu. This makes it ideal for big groups. Everyone will find something in their foodie wheelhouse at Sydney's Oaks Hotel. Appears in: The Best Pubs in Sydney
