Touring outside of France for just the third time since it was designed in Paris circa 1500, medieval masterpiece The Lady and the Unicorn tapestry cycle comes to the Art Gallery of New South Wales this month and everyone's pretty excited. On special loan from impressively named Musèe de Cluny – Musèe National du Moyen Âge, the six exquisitely beautiful, mind-blowingly intricate wool and silk woven tapestries span over 20 metres in length and are considered to be some of the greatest surviving textiles from the European Middle Ages — the French national treasure has been dubbed the 'Mona Lisa of the Middle Ages', after all. (Can you imagine being in charge of packing these things up and getting them to — literally — the other side of the world? No pressure.) Embodying meditations on earthly pleasure and courtly love, they depict a bejewelled lady in richly adorned costume alongside a majestic unicorn set against a luscious millefleur ('thousand flowers') background. Five tapestries explore the senses of touch, taste, smell, hearing and sight, with the sixth said to represent an internal sense — usually interpreted as the heart, desire or understanding. There's a whole host of talks, activities and workshops designed to complement the exhibition (textile fans may want to take Natalie Miller's tapestry masterclass) so you can make an entire morning or an afternoon of it. Take note: this is going to be busy. It's not every day that you get to see a 15th-century national treasure up close, not to mention one that has directly inspired everyone from George Sand to Rilke to Jean Cocteau. You'll want to book ahead. Image: Sight c1500 (detail), from 'The lady and the unicorn' series, Musée de Cluny – Musée national du Moyen Âge, Paris Photo © RMN-GP / M Urtado.
One of Australia's most redeeming qualities is its ability to give good afternoon sun. There's something about its familiar glow that almost demands casual drinks – whether it's cracking open a cold beer after a day out, heading to the pub after a long day of work, or deciding on a whim that your backyard is perfect for having friends over. We love summer afternoons, so we've spoken to a few of our favourite chefs, musicians and artists, to get their insights on creating the perfect balmy afternoon. And what's better than a barbecue? For advice, we asked the boys from Three Blue Ducks. Mark LaBrooy specifically — he's one of the co-founders of the restaurant-cafe hybrid that was born in Bronte but ended up being so popular it expanded to Byron Bay and, most recently, Rosebery. He and the team at Three Blue Ducks have made working with barbecue flames and smoke a priority at their venues. At their Rosebery location, there's a barbecue, a wood-fired oven and an outdoor charcoal pit. They're experts in barbecue. And more than that, they're experts in taking the standard barbecue fare you usually whip up to the next level, and LaBrooy has shared some tips so you can do the same. He's also given us some recipes, for a burrata salad, a seafood prawns main, and a charred pineapple dessert. "They're all about spring and summer flavours," he says. "Inspired by warm weather and catching up with friends." The burrata salad is a green (but hearty) vegetarian option for your barbecue friends who don't eat meat, while the prawn dish is "light, and great for entertaining because it's not rocket science to prepare". The pineapple recipe is LaBrooy wanting you to try something a little different by charring your fruit. "People should experiment more with fruit on the barbecue, vegetables too," he says. He says the first thing to think about when you're cooking is that produce is key to a good barbecue. He suggests going elsewhere than the supermarket to grab your ingredients. "Go to a real butcher, not a supermarket. Go to the fish markets to get your prawns, and a local organic growers market for your fruits and vegetables." Let the ingredients lead you — if the produce is good, just put it on the barbie and see what happens. "Like a whole bunch of Dutch carrots or something, just give them a wash, put on some good quality olive oil, salt and pepper and char it up. Don't be shy — the hotter the better." "Barbecuing is the cooking technique that fits in best with us," he says. "It's connected to the environment and there's something really intimate about using the fire — it's inconsistent, there's a real element of maintenance and care in the cooking process." When finished, all three dishes will look incredible, but don't get too caught up with perfection when you're hosting a barbecue. Part of the fun is that barbecue-ing isn't always pretty. "It's a bit ugly and charred," he says. "You can get those really aggressive, black tones in the appearance and colouration of your cooking." Follow these three recipes and transform your afternoon barbecue into one that's worthy of being on the menu at Three Blue Ducks. BURRATA WITH CHARRED ZUCCHINI AND SPRING ONIONS Ingredients: 4 pieces of burrata (about 100 grams each) ¼ bunch parsley ¼ bunch basil 1 clove garlic 100ml virgin olive oil 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 lemon zest and juice salt and pepper 1 bunch spring onion 3 zucchini cut in ¼ 100g toasted hazelnuts roughly chopped Method: Make a nice coal fire on the grill side of your barbecue. Char off the zucchini and the spring onions after giving them a good season and a splash of olive oil. When the zucchini and spring onions get some good colour, take them off the heat and start plating up. Take a food processor and place the herbs, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, zest and Dijon inside. Give it a good whizz until a bright green paste forms. Season well and set aside. Take a plate or bowl and arrange the zucchini and spring onions around the outside, making a well for your burrata to sit in. Flick in a few teaspoons of the herb puree, place the burrata in the centre and sprinkle over some hazelnuts. Season the burrata and drizzle a bit of olive oil if you feel you need it. Squeeze a bit of extra lemon juice over everything to finish off. CONFIT GARLIC AND CHILLI BBQ PRAWNS WITH BUTTERMILK AVOCADO AND RADICCHIO Ingredients: 1 bulb garlic peeled 3 long red chillies deseeded 1 cup olive oil 16 large king prawns cleaned and butterflied 3 avocados 1 lemon juice and zest 2 tablespoons olive oil 100ml buttermilk 1 large radicchio with the outer leaves pulled off and cut in ¼ Salt and pepper Method: Take the chillies and garlic and place in a small saucepan. Add the cup of olive oil and cover with foil. Bake at 160-degrees for 1-30 mins, then place in a food processor and give it a whizz. Using a pastry brush baste the prawns just before grilling on the barbecue. Take your food processor and add the avocado, olive oil, lemon juice and zest and the buttermilk, give it a whizz and set aside for when your plating up. Grill your prawns and radicchio on super high heat, season well and brush with olive oil. This should only take a few minutes. Give a good whack of buttermilk avo purée. CHARRED PINEAPPLE WITH CASHEWS, THAI BASIL AND LEMONGRASS GRANITA Ingredients: 1 pineapple skinned and cut into quarters 1 tablespoon brown sugar For the granita: 350ml water 180g sugar 3 stalks lemongrass, roughly chopped 2 chillies roughly chopped 80g ginger roughly chopped 100ml lemon juice 100g yogurt 1 vanilla bean scraped and deseeded ¼ bunch Thai basil 80g toasted and salted cashews Method: The granita needs to be made the day before and set in the freezer over night. To serve all you have to do is scrape it with a fork or give it a quick whizz in a food processor. Make sure you put the bowl in the freezer first so you don't melt the granita too much. Take a medium sized pot and add the sugar, lemongrass, chilli, and water. Bring to the boil and then set aside and let it cool down on the bench, then strain and add the lemon juice, and put in the freezer to set overnight. Sprinkle the pineapple with brown sugar and place on the grill on high heat. You're looking to get some good colour and charring on the pineapple, cooking it at the same time. Cut into chunks and set aside. Take a small bowl and add the yogurt and the vanilla give it a good mix. To plate up, arrange the pineapple on the base of the plate and a few dollops of the vanilla yogurt. Take a large spoon of granita and place in the centre, then sprinkle with cashews and Thai basil. Images: Kimberley Low.
Just four kilometres long and three kilometres wide, Hayman Island might be small, but it be fierce. In one day, you can snorkel with swirling schools of tropical fish, play Robinson Crusoe on very own private beach and trek through lush rainforest to Baraka-worthy sunsets. When you're ready to leave shore, there are uninhabited islands to explore, outer reef coral kingdoms to dive among and luxury yachts to climb aboard. Want to enjoy all this without spending a cent? Mastercard is giving away an all-expenses-paid Hayman Island adventure worth $6000 to one lucky, lucky Nemo. Jump over here to go in the running. This highly opulent prize includes flights, accommodation in a luxe suite in Hayman Island's only resort and a VIP dining experience with Neil Perry. In the meantime, start planning your itinerary with these ten tips. SNORKEL THE GREAT BARRIER REEF Hayman Island's busiest aquatic community is on its north-western side, at Blue Pearl Bay. Prepare to meet local resident Priscilla, an enormous Māori wrasse, among rainbow-coloured parrot fish and striped angel fish. For an off-shore escapade, catch a private boat to pocket-sized Langford Island, where you'll come across magical underwater gardens. Afterwards, you can kick back on the long, sandy spit, picnicking, swimming and lazing about. Another option is the outer reef — at the legendary giant Stepping Stones, which drop away to 40 metres. You'll be gliding among magnificent rays and scary-looking-yet-utterly-harmless reef sharks. TAKE A HIKE To get your bearings, start with a short climb to Cook Lookout, Hayman Island's highest point. At 250 metres above sea level, it gives you a bird's perspective on surrounding reef formations and the rugged shores of neighbouring Hook Island. Come late afternoon, set off for Whitsunday Lookout, from where you can see the sun setting over the Whitsunday Passage, or to Dolphin Point, Hayman Island's northernmost tip. Alternatively, for a d0-nothing day on perfect white sand, take a stroll to Blue Pearl Bay. Don't forget your swimmers and snorkelling gear. STAY IN AN ULTRA-LUXE SUITE Hayman Island is privately owned and there's but one accommodation option, appropriately named One&Only Hayman Island Resort. Fortunately for you, it's a bloody masterpiece. An array of room types are available and they're all ultra-luxe. We're talking Royal Family-level linen draped across four-poster beds, massive ensuites with separate showers and baths, dressing rooms fit for Marilyn Monroe and private balconies overlooking the resort's tropical gardens or the ocean — depending on where you are. Facilities include two pools, seven bars and restaurants, a spa and a fitness centre, for those who, inexplicably, can be bothered moving. GET PADDLING To see Hayman Island from the water, at human-powered speed, jump in a kayak or man a paddleboard. If you're a newbie — or not very brave — there's no need to travel far for beautiful views and, thanks to the island's crystalline waters, flashes of aquatic life. Meanwhile, Bear Grylls types can venture further afield, perhaps even attempting a circumnavigation. Along the way, be sure to stop by Coconut Beach, where you can regain your energy by sinking into a sun lounge, and Blue Pearl Bay. SWIM IN A 'LAGOON' SEVEN TIMES THE SIZE OF AN OLYMPIC POOL The likelihood of bumping into another guest in the One&Only Hayman Island Resort's behemoth of a pool is next to nix. It's seven times the size of your average Olympic Pool. So, whether you're lapping, synchronised swimming or simply bobbing about in between cocktails, no one's going to get in your way. There are day beds aplenty and four private cabanas. Super-keen swimmers can book a suite in the Hayman Pool wing, where the rooms open directly onto the water. Should you find yourself working up an appetite, swing by the nearby On The Rocks Restaurant and Bar. EAT DINNER WITH NEIL PERRY Even a multi-hat winning chef's gotta go troppo every now and again. So, why not join him for the ride? In July, Neil Perry AM (of Rockpool and $10 burger fame) will be cooking up a feast on Hayman Island and then hosting you while you munch your way through it. He hasn't given away any of the culinary details yet, but we imagine there'll be no shortage of seafood inspiration, as well a handpicked selection of fancy wines to match. The only catch is, the only way you can experience this hedonistic evening is by entering the comp mentioned above or by laying your card down — it's one of Mastercard's Priceless Dinners and spots are strictly limited. GET A MASSAGE FLOATING IN THE SEA No tropical holiday is complete without a massage. And, on Hayman Island, you can take yours next level by ordering it outdoors. For water babies, there's the 90-minute 'Ocean Dreaming' experience, which involves pretty much what you see in the pic above: lying on a bed, floating on still water and surrounded by clear sky. If you're more Jungle Book, book into a 'Rainforest Massage'. You'll be ushered into a private, canopy-sheltered cabana and given a massage according to your specific bodily needs. Yogis might also be interested in the 'Sun Salutation', inspired by Oriental techniques and involving acupuncture, stretching and rocking motions. LEARN TO SCUBA Yet to scuba? There's no more classic place to learn than the Great Barrier Reef. Except, of course, that it might make dives closer to home seem somewhat anti-climactic. On Hayman Island, you'll kick off with a basic coaching session, before starting your underwater explorations in the safe, shallow waters of Blue Pearl Bay. Next up is a guided tour of nearby The Maze, so named because wandering through it feels a bit like twisting and turning through a coral labyrinth. You'll then be taken to The Fish Bowl, which is absolutely teeming with diverse fish species. RIDE A SEAPLANE Many a traveller has seen the Great Barrier Reef through a snorkelling mask or from the deck of a boat, but, there's no more startling way to get your head around its extraordinary proportions than from the window of sea plane. So, if you can scrape some dosh together, make it happen. You'll soar high above the Great Barrier's 350,000 square kilometres (which is divided into 2800 separate reefs altogether) swoop down for a closer look, and even take a break for a spot of snorkelling in Hardy Lagoon. CLIMB ABOARD A LUXURY YACHT Go James Bond-style and travel to and from Hayman Island via luxury yacht. Or, while you're there, charter one and design your own Great Barrier Reef cruise. You can loll about on the deck doing not much, cruise on the bow pretending to be Kate Winslet or watch the crew in action. Needless to say, fine dining and premium beverages will be at your disposal. You're the boss, after all. Want to enjoy all this without spending a cent? Mastercard is giving away an all-expenses-paid Hayman Island adventure worth $6000 to one lucky, lucky Nemo. Jump over here to go in the running. Images: One&Only Hayman Island/Mastercard.
Deck the halls and unpack the plastic tree — the festive season is well and truly upon us. And while that whole Christmas tradition stuff is nice, we're not going to deny what we're most excited about: a whole stocking-load of new films. Along with the cricket and stampeding through shopping centres, going to the movies is one of our favourite Boxing Day traditions. After all, what better place to recover from your post-Christmas food coma than in a nice, dark, air-conditioned cinema? Of course, not all of the end-of-year titles measure up. That's why we're reporting in with our annual Boxing Day Battle Royale, to ensure that you get maximum bang for your Kris Kringle gift voucher buck. From critically claimed indie flicks to an epic blockbuster about a man who can talk to fish, you're guaranteed to find something to enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvPkDdFeTk8 COLD WAR We give it: 5 stars With Cold War, writer-director Pawel Pawlikowski achieves a plethora of astonishing feats. Constrained within 4:3 frames, his sumptuous black-and-white imagery immerses audiences in an intimate and complicated tale, with the filmmaker painting every possible emotion across the screen. The talent behind Oscar-winner Ida also turns his parents' own story into a heart-wrenching romance, and crafts a snapshot of Polish life as the Second World War gave way to the Cold War. Last by no means least, he gifts audiences with astoundingly intricate performances from actors Tomasz Kot and Joanna Kulig. The duo plays a couple who are desperate to be together, but live in a world that cares little about their desires — or about them at all. – Sarah Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYb-wkehT1g THE FAVOURITE We give it: 4.5 stars One queen, two women vying for her attention, and nearly two hours of acerbic and perceptive black comedy. That's The Favourite, a historical drama that looks like a lavish period picture, but boasts a savage wit — and savage insights into human behaviour — that's far from standard for the genre. The key is The Lobster filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos. Not only does he again showcase his winning ways with stilted conversations and his fondness for skewering social expectations; he also exhibits a knack for political comedy and even slapstick. Lanthimos is aided by his fantastic cast, including top awards contender Olivia Colman as Queen Anne, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone as her bickering offsiders, and Nicholas Hoult as the wannabe leader with his own conniving plans. – SW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaiR3zdv5cU THE WILD PEAR TREE We give it: 4 stars After Once Upon a Time in Anatolia and Winter Sleep, Nuri Bilge Ceylan crafts another slow-burning affair that combines probing insights into human behaviour with sublime imagery. A tale of dreams and disappointments both mundane and life changing, The Wild Pear Tree sprawls and spreads in its everyday drama and perceptive dialogue. The movie's protagonist is Sunan (Dogu Demirkol), a new graduate returning home with qualifications but no job, and with a manuscript but no means to publish it. Across the movie's 188 minutes, the aspiring writer walks the town's dusty farmland and quiet streets seeking financial help, while his father's (Murat Cemcir) gambling debts continue to mount. The result is a picture that fits firmly into the acclaimed Turkish filmmaker's exceptional oeuvre. – SW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDkg3h8PCVU AQUAMAN We give it: 3 stars The latest film in the DC Cinematic Universe is far from perfect. Its plot is a mess and its leading man, a roguish surfer-dude turned superhero (Jason Mamoa), is criminally underused. Despite these issues, it's also, for the most part, wildly entertaining. With dazzling visuals that, at their best, feel like Blade Runner (and, at their worst, The Phantom Menace), Aussie director James Wan never lets things slow down for too long, aided by a thumping electro soundtrack reminiscent of Daft Punk's work on Tron: Legacy. Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson and Nicole Kidman help round out a stellar cast, albeit one that commands far too much time away from the true star, Mamoa. Nevertheless, it's safe to say that DC is slowly, painfully but ever so positively clawing its way back to credibility with each new film not directed by Zack Snyder. In the wake of the enormously successful Wonder Woman, Aquaman represents another small foot forward for the franchise. – Tom Glasson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSGFt6w0wok VICE We give it: 3 stars Sporting a hunch and a paunch, speaking in gravelly grunts and side-eyeing everyone around him, Christian Bale turns in another committed, transformative performance in Vice. His vision of former US Vice President Dick Cheney is a sight to behold, and with Amy Adams suitably steely as Lynne Cheney, Sam Rockwell in laidback mode as President George W. Bush and Steve Carell obnoxiously slippery as Donald Rumsfeld, he's in good company. But, as written and directed by Adam McKay in the same slick, jam-packed fashion as his previous film The Big Short, Vice never completely lives up to its performances. It's impassioned, amusing, designed to get audiences angry and stuffed with stylistic tricks to an almost overwhelming extent. However it also merely states the obvious rather than offers any new or deep insights. – SW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8mdIB1WxHI KUSAMA: INFINITY We give it: 3 stars How do you capture the enigma that is Yayoi Kusama in a single 85-minute film? The short answer: it's impossible, but Kusama: Infinity gives the task an affectionate try. Unsurprisingly filled with dots and pumpkins, this documentary celebrates the Japanese artist and showcases her work, however it doesn't break the mould the way that Kusama always has across her seven-decade career. What the movie does do well is explore the battles that the nearly 90-year-old artist has faced again and again, both as a woman in Japan and as a foreigner abroad. For those new to Kusama's story — people who've marvelled at her infinity rooms but haven't delved any further — writer-director Heather Lenz also provides a Kusama 101 lesson. – SW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BcYBFC6zfY WRECK-IT RALPH 2: RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET We give it: 2 stars A shadow looms over this Disney sequel — and, despite his hefty size, it doesn't stem from Wreck-It Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) himself. Rather, in taking the loveable video game character and his racer best friend Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) out of the arcade and into the online world, the film brings one of 2017's worst movies to mind. Wreck-It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet fares better than The Emoji Movie, but its efforts to both literalise and satirise cyberspace just keep falling flat. Worse: its straightforward vision of the internet instantly feels dated. With product placement and a pixel-thin emotional journey the flick's other main components, this pop culture-heavy affair proves visually lively but lacklustre overall. – SW
Take a break from your shopping spree with a bowl of steaming-hot laksa at Temasek. This extremely popular Malaysian-Singaporean eatery looks no-frills from the outside, but, once you're tucking into your spicy feast, you'll understand why it's been packed since opening in 1992. The laksa list offers chicken, prawn, chicken and prawn, seafood and vegetarian versions. But, if none of that whets your appetite, there's a bunch of other dishes to choose from, including Singapore chilli crab, Hainanese chicken rice and a spectacular oyster omelette. We started with a serving of vegetarian spring rolls and beef curry puffs which were deliciously light and crunchy. After that we sampled to Singaporean laksa with fishcakes and the vegetarian version. Both were perfectly spiced and fragrant and while a decent size, we were left craving more. A serve of Hainanese fried rice filled the gap and we washed it all down with some home made iced lemon tea. Can't get much better than that.
George Miller has done the near-impossible and made car chases interesting again. Not just interesting, mind you. Sensational. Mad Max: Fury Road is electrifying, breathtaking, white-knuckle cinema at its masterful best, and — given the entire film is a car chase — that’s no mean feat. Consider the problem. Chase sequences become interminably dull as soon as you recognise they are restricted by just two possible outcomes: ‘pursuer catches’ or ‘pursued evades’. Subject to a few notable exceptions (French Connection and Ronin being the standouts), these scenes merely interrupt the narrative and contribute little or nothing to the character arcs or overall plot. The difference is the road movie. Miller, who practically invented the genre 35 years ago, understands that everything changes when the chase is the story. It's cinematic inverted spectrum, where action is transformed from interruption to character defining narrative — an extension of the their very lives and personalities. Traditional distinctions like age and gender become irrelevant, and how a person drives, fights, shoots and stares becomes more important than what they say. Demonstrating an astonishing paucity of dialogue, the action of Mad Max: Fury Road doesn’t just speak more loudly than words — it positively deafens. In a post-apocalyptic nuclear wasteland, earth’s survivors now exist in a collection of militarised tribes fighting over the remaining reserves of gasoline and subject to the tyrannical rule of self-appointed demigods like ‘Immortan Joe’ (Hugh Keays-Byrne). The chase begins almost immediately when a one-armed big-rig driver named Furiosa (Charlize Theron), attempts to liberate Joe's young wives from their servitude as ‘breeders’ and Joe goes all out to recover them. Caught up in the action is Max (Tom Hardy), a wasteland loner captured by Joe’s minions and being used as a living blood bank for one of Furiosa’s pursuers, Nux (an almost unrecognisable Nicholas Hoult). Plot wise, it’s far from innovative; effectively Waterworld on sand with the design aesthetic of Fallout. Cinematically, however, Mad Max: Fury Road is unparalleled. The action is choreographed to mesmerising perfection, offering a balletic pageant of destruction with a refreshing absence of CGI. The sound, too, is staggering, with the menacing roar of V8 engines mirroring the Inception-like ‘BRAMMM’ that seems an almost constant fixture throughout. The combined effect is ferocious and irresistible, encapsulating all that makes cinema a uniquely immersive and transportive experience. Miller has crafted something extraordinary here, a modern masterpiece that could very well redefine the action standard. Don't wait for DVD on this one. See it where it's meant to be seen, and see it now.
With the end of the year come lists in which we can wrap up 12 months into a neat little package, and 2014 thankfully has been an uncommonly good year for publishing. Some of the most interesting and articulate books published in recent memory emerged in the last 12 months. What follows is our selection of some of the some of the best. Read them deeply, and furiously, with all the extra sunlight the summer affords. A GIRL IS A HALF-FORMED THING BY EIMEAR MCBRIDE A Girl Is A Half-Formed Thing follows an insistently insurrectionary young girl from childhood in rural Ireland through to her mid-twenties. The book has acquired the beginnings of its own literary mythology: it took Eimear McBride six months to write and nine years to find a publisher. In short, it’s a book that does what it does with complete indifference to the needs of the book market. And that makes it utterly unique, and a heretically, dangerously beautiful book. The story loosely follows the young woman’s relationship with her brother, and the long shadow cast by his childhood brain tumour. But the plot is not as important as the mode of expression. The language, while difficult to compare to anything else, is forceful, jagged, bearing close resemblances to the writing of Samuel Beckett and James Joyce. The result is a book that tears you apart, which feels completely and overwhelmingly necessary. Get A Girl Is a Half Formed Thing from Booktopia. THE EMPATHY EXAMS BY LESLIE JAMISON The Empathy Exams is arguably the best and most culturally pivotal collection of essays published in recent memory. Beginning with the author’s experience as a medical actor, paid to perform symptoms for medical students and then grade their responses, Jamison’s essays focus on how we understand the pain of others: how, and if we should, care about one another, the ways that empathy can be tested, how we confront pain both real and imagined. In writing which is both precise and vulnerable, Jamison’s essays in The Empathy Exams cover poverty tourism, bewildering marathons, reality television and incarceration, the fundamental thesis of which is that we are experiencing a very specific cultural moment: an urgency compelling us to feel. Get The Empathy Exams from Booktopia DEPT. OF SPECULATION BY JENNY OFFILL Jenny Offill’s second novel, Dept. of Speculation charts the course of a steady and then gradually precarious marriage through curious fragments of prose. The narrator, like the writer, lives in Brooklyn, falls in love, marries, has a child (it being Brooklyn there is both yoga and bedbugs). Over the course of the marriage there are jobs and dinners and sleepless nights; the plot is not really the point here. What makes Dept. of Speculation important is the language — gorgeous, enthralling, moving quickly while it commands your attention. I read Dept. Of Speculation in one sitting, over three hypnotised hours. When I got to the end of it I crept into the bedroom, nuzzled against my boyfriend who had been quietly checking his email, and wept — to his immense confusion – for a solid 20 minutes. Get Dept. of Speculation from Booktopia AN ELEGANT YOUNG MAN BY LUKE CARMAN An Elegant Young Man was published at the end of 2013 by Giramondo — arguably the most interesting Australian publishing house at the moment — with a particular interest in supporting literary culture in western Sydney. An Elegant Young Man does precisely that, imbuing the streets of Liverpool and Penrith with the poetry of Dylan Thomas and the dark ennui of Dostoevsky, but going further than that, making something uniquely his own, a distinctive literature to reflect contemporary Sydney. The book comprises eight interlinked stories, all narrated by 'Luke', who hails, like Carman himself, from the suburb of Mt Pritchard. Luke is adrift, unsure whom he represents, shifting between bluster and hesitation in a place where the lights from police helicopters wake children from their sleep, where kids in gang wars crush the roses on the front lawn. An Elegant Young Man deserves to get Carman much more attention than he has so far been afforded. Get An Elegant Young Man from Booktopia THIS HOUSE OF GRIEF BY HELEN GARNER On Father’s Day 2005, near the town of Winchelsea in rural Victoria, a car ran off the road and plunged into a dam. Robert Farquharson, the man driving the car, escaped unharmed. His three sons — who he was in the process of returning to their mother, from whom he had recently separated — they all drowned. The ensuing court trial spanned the best part of the decade, resulting in three life sentences for murder. This House of Grief presents the theatre of the courtroom: how we grapple with truth, what justice looks like, what a person means by their words and by their actions. Helen Garner is without question one of Australia’s greatest living writers, and arguably our best writer of nonfiction. And this book is some kind of masterpiece. Get This House of Grief from Booktopia THE BLAZING WORLD BY SIRI HUSTVEDT The Blazing World is Siri Hustvedt’s sixth and newest novel, returning her to the territory of New York’s art world. The story is set in the years before and after 9/11, and follows an ageing, brilliant, occasionally unruly artist named Harriet Burden, who orchestrates an elaborate hoax on the art world she entitles ‘Maskings’. Over a period of five years she holds exhibitions of work using the 'masks' of different practising male artists to expose the art market’s gender bias. The hoax is eventually revealed. Mayhem ensues. The Blazing World is pieced together from multiple sources; there are critical essays by art scholars, interviews with art dealers, reviews of exhibitions, diary entries and written testimonials. It is without doubt one of the most innovative and unsettling books published in the last year. If you are interested in art, in women, in New York, then, please, read this book. Get The Blazing World at Booktopia THOSE WHO LEAVE AND THOSE WHO STAY BY ELENA FERRANTE In September the third book in Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan series was published: Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay. For those who are new to Ferrante, it’s best to begin at the beginning, with My Brilliant Friend. The Neapolitan books (of which there are an uncertain number, although so far three have been published) follow the story of a life-long friendship between two women, Lilia and Elena, growing up in an impoverished neighbourhood in 1950s Naples. Their lives converge and diverge, and in doing so they encompass personal truths about family, friendship between women, desire, and the political and economic realities of Italy and the rest of the world as it stumbled through the mid-20th century. Ferrante’s writing is sinewy, scaldingly direct. Her books ransack you. If you aren’t reading Elena Ferrante you are missing out. Get Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay at Booktopia WHAT WE SEE WHEN WE READ BY PETER MENDELSUND Peter Mendelsund’s What We See When We Read is a friendly and shyly philosophical, fully illustrated exploration into the phenomenology of reading — precisely how we visualise stories from reading words on a page — from one of America’s very best book designers. It explores a simple but confounding question, one the author wrests from literary theorists and transforms through beautiful imagery redolent of X-Acto knives, drawing tables and the very best design books you can find. It’s fascinating, beautiful and filled with news you can almost use. Get What We See When We Read at Booktopia READ HARDER: FIVE YEARS OF GREAT WRITING FROM THE BELIEVER EDITED BY ED PARK AND HEIDI JULAVITS Read Harder collects some of the finest essays from the last five years of The Believer magazine, which, it’s reasonable to argue, is one of the best magazines anywhere. Read Harder features articles by Nick Hornby on his first job explaining England to Korean businessmen, Kent Russell on self-immunisers in Wisconsin, Molly Young on the Hollister experience, Rebecca Taylor on her time acting in no-budget horror movies and Francisco Goldman on the failings of memoir to deal with personal tragedy. “If you sincerely investigate it, every detail hides reason, and any environment is far more sophisticated than our senses can appreciate,” former Washington Post reporter Monte Reel writes in a survey of Victorian explorer manuals. This is the sentiment that unites the pieces in Read Harder, in what amounts to a primer for the best contemporary non-fiction writing being written. Get Read Harder at Booktopia 10.04 BY BEN LERNER 10.04 was arguably the most ‘hyped’ book of the last year. Lerner, ordinarily a poet, published his first novel, Leaving The Atocha Station, in 2011, and 10.04 takes off where that book leaves off. 10.04 inhabits a weird liminal zone between maybe-true and maybe-not-quite-as-true. The narrator bears every resemblance to a writer who has published the same short stories and poetry in the same magazines as Lerner. 10.04 isn’t strictly a work of fiction; it’s much more interested in the changes in cell metabolism or air pressure or whatever it is that turns life into art. Sometimes it can feel a little like a big practical joke at the reader’s expense. But if you want to know where the English language was at in 2014, 10.04 is the book to read. Get 10:04 from Booktopia
Tired of gazing sadly at your grey, grey cubicle walls? Can't tell the floor from the walls and ceiling as you shuffle to the kitchen? This total boss had the same problem, he just decided to spruce things up a bit with A GIANT SUPERHERO MURAL OF POST-ITS. Whattaguy. Wielding 8024 post-it notes as paintbrushes, this Reddit user mocked up pixelated versions of Wonder Woman, Captain America, Iron Man, Superman, Spiderman — the whole gang. Just look at this adorable Batman. Mapping each pixel out before hitting the walls, this go-getting coworker invited his fellow workmates to come in on a weekend and create his mosaic masterpiece. And they did. All weekend. With no A/C. Team building exercise, out of the ballpark. So this: Became this: BAM. It cost the coworker $300 to buy the 9000 post-its needed to change his entire workplace. That's one hell of an immortalised investment. OFFICE KING. Via Reddit. Images: bruck7.
Sydney's Room Ten has achieved the zeitgeist of the Melbourne-style laneway espresso bar: excellent coffee served with unpretentious chic in an impossibly trendy Potts Point back alley. Weekday or weekend, two- and four-legged traffic flows through the alley and congregates around the coffee machine. Artistic tattoos and ironic haircuts make regular appearances among the crowd, along with a selection of the area's most Instagrammable canines. Locals are welcomed by name; their orders have been committed to memory and are already grinding by the time they take a seat. The resourceful Room Ten team have made good use of the limited space behind and in front of their tiny hole-in-the-wall shopfront. The shoebox kitchen pumps out clever breakfast options like Farmer Joe's organic muesli with stewed rhubarb, yoghurt, fresh fruit and honey, as well as "Room 10 Breakfast Rice" with red rice, black quinoa, toasted nuts and seeds, fresh fruit, yoghurt and stewed rhubarb. On the wall is a mural that changes with the seasons and features the work of talented local designers. There is a strong sense of local community at Room Ten. You get the sense that if you smile nicely enough at the barista, you'll get a text when your favourite roast is in and an extra scoop of ice cream in your affogato just when you need it the most. This friendly and personable service never goes out of style. And we're always glad to experience it when we visit. Images: Destination NSW Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney
So you've been plotting a move to the lower north shore. You probably don't need any more reasons to decamp to this idyllic part of town, but we're going to give you some anyway. We've rounded up ten of the best outdoor adventures to be had in and around the lower north shore. While many of these are obviously best enjoyed in the warmer months, there's still plenty of outdoorsy fun to be had as the temperatures start to come up again. Kirribilli and Lavender Bay sit in the heart of the region, and they're surrounded on all sides by the stunning Sydney Harbour — which as you know, is beautiful all year round. [caption id="attachment_617819" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Martin7d2 via Flickr.[/caption] WENDY'S SECRET GARDEN, LAVENDER BAY This not-so-secret garden is, without a doubt, one of Sydney's most beautiful green spaces. Created by Wendy Whiteley, the widow of acclaimed Australian artist Brett Whiteley, the garden is a gorgeous testament to heartbreak and renewal. Channeling her grief into an artistic project, Wendy slowly transformed the abandoned railway dump in front of her home into what is now a public garden. With winding paths, benches, sculptures, and sweeping views over the harbour, this little slice of paradise offers a welcome respite from the chaos of the city. The garden's many quiet corners also make it the perfect place for a quiet picnic, or a little alone time. [caption id="attachment_617831" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Annemarie51 via Flickr.[/caption] BALMORAL PARK, MOSMAN This leafy little park has a lot going for it — the sweeping views over Middle Harbour and North Head, the proximity to one of Sydney's most idyllic beaches and the solid set of facilities are just a few of them. Active types will love the skatepark, sports oval, and water sport facilities like kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Loungers, meanwhile, will be more than happy to relax on the grass with a book or some music. Balmoral Park is an excellent place for a picnic, but if you forget to pack a hamper, the Balmoral Beach Club, The Boathouse, and The Bathers' Pavilion are all just a stone's throw away. ROAR AND SNORE GLAMPING, MOSMAN This unique Sydney adventure lets you spend an evening up close and personal with the animals at Taronga Zoo. The Roar & Snore experience includes an evening 'safari' (if you've always wanted to touch a snake, now's your chance), two behind-the-scene tours of Taronga, and a fancy all-you-can-eat buffet dinner. When all the exploring is done, you'll get to rest your bones in gorgeous luxe tents with wooden floors, hotel beds, and power outlets. Spots are snapped up quickly so make sure to book as far in advance as possible. [caption id="attachment_618251" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Z Geek via Flickr.[/caption] SAWMILLER RESERVE, MCMAHONS POINT This quiet park is one of Sydney's true hidden gems — if you want gorgeous harbour views without the crowds, this is the place for you. Located on the site of a former sawmill, the space exudes a weighty sense of history: from the ruins at the centre of the park to the rusty remains of a hopper barge sitting in the water, there's heaps to explore. Spend some time meandering along the paths before settling down on the grassy expanse for a picnic. The reserve has no facilities to speak of, so make sure to bring along everything you need. [caption id="attachment_617699" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: oliviashead via Instagram.[/caption] WOOLWICH BATHS, WOOLWICH It's not hard to see why this small harbour beach is a firm favourite among the Woolwich locals. With a shark net, pontoons, and toilet facilities, it's a great option if you've got young ones in tow. The baths are surrounded by parklands, so you can also wander off for a little walk between dips in the water. This is a great choice for those lazy days when all you want to do is float in the water, read a book, or just watch the clouds float by. [caption id="attachment_617823" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Martin7d2 via Flickr.[/caption] MACCALLUM POOL, CREMORNE Few Sydney pools can compete with MacCallum's heritage charm and stunning views over the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Tucked away on a quiet lane in Cremorne Point, this idyllic spot has been a local favourite since the 1920s. Although the narrow pool beckons you to do at least a few laps, you could just as easily lounge on the timber deck and soak up some rays. Note, though, that there are no toilet or shower facilities here. Still, it's free entry so you'll have more money to put towards that post-swim ice cream. LANE COVE NATIONAL PARK, LANE COVE This gorgeous expanse of bushland is a mere skip and a jump from the city centre but you'll feel far, far away from the chaos of metropolitan living. Escaping the hustle and bustle doesn't mean you have to forgo the creature comforts however: the park has a pool, wireless internet, fully-equipped kitchens and four amenities blocks. Spend the day bushwalking — we recommend the two-and-a-half hour Fairylands loop track — or on the Lane Cove River, with a kayak or rowboat rented from the Boat Shed. Keen to spend the night? Pack a tent or, if you're more of a glamper, book into Tandara Luxury Safari. [caption id="attachment_617757" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: adventurebe4dementia via Instagram.[/caption] BURNS BAY RESERVE, RIVERVIEW Sitting on the shores of the Lane Cover River, this quaint waterfront park is the perfect place for a tranquil afternoon picnic. If you're keen for a barbecue, remember to bring your own wood as the facilities here are of the old-school variety. After stuffing your face, burn off your meal with a game of soccer on the Burns Bay Oval or some basketball on the nearby court. There's also a cute little playground for the young ones. While there are a few picnic tables scattered around, there's also plenty of space to stretch out on a picnic blanket. [caption id="attachment_617775" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Martin7d2 via Flickr.[/caption] BLUES POINT RESERVE, MCMAHONS POINT This park is a firm favourite among both tourists and locals and it's not hard to see why. While Sydney has many parks with stunning views, Blues Point Reserve is undoubtedly one of the best vantage points for taking in the city skyline and the harbour. While the park is packed with crowds during the NYE fireworks, it tends to be rather quiet for the rest of the year. Kids (and kidults) will love the newly-revamped nautical-themed playground, and there's also a lovely path that meanders around the headland if you're in the mood for a stroll. We recommend packing a sunset picnic for a picture-perfect date night. [caption id="attachment_617772" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Ernest McGray via Flickr.[/caption] OBELISK BEACH, MOSMAN Obelisk Beach has great views and not just because it's one of the only legal nude beaches in Sydney. While the walk down to this Mosman beach is not for the faint of heart — you'll have to scramble down a rocky track and down a long set of stairs — it's more than worth it for the stunning views over Sydney Harbour. Despite its cult status, Obelisk is usually rather tranquil, so it's a great spot to head for a quiet little skinny dip.
Spend a day immersed in Aboriginal culture and wander around the usually tour-only Bare Island at the latest edition of Blak Markets. Thanks to First Hands Solution Corporation and Randwick City Council, the single-day festival returns to Bidjigal Country for its next instalment on Sunday, August 6, which will feature the works of Indigenous artists, designers and small businesses. Here, you'll find a variety of handcrafted items, alongside homemade baked goods showcasing Indigenous flavours and ingredients, and top-notch skincare products and native plants from IndigiGrow. The lively markets will take over the island from 10am until 3pm — officially kicking off at 11am with a traditional welcome by Aunty Barb Simms and a smoking ceremony from First Hands Solutions CEO Peter Cooley. [caption id="attachment_910232" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] After that, you'll be treated to a cornucopia of bush tucker accompanied by performances from the likes of Cowra's Dinawan's Connection and Dubbo's Isaac Compton. Among the stalls, there'll be a plethora of Aboriginal art and design, as well as jewellery, woodwork and woven goods — plus, Indigenous treats and spices to trial or take home. And, you can opt to get hands-on by signing up to the weaving workshop that'll run throughout the day. Access to Bare Island is usually restricted to tour groups, so this is also a special opportunity to wander around freely while supporting a great cause, shopping ethically and learning from Indigenous creators and sellers. Admission for adults sits at the low price of $2.50, and children under five can head along for free. If you don't mind the cooler weather, take your snorkel — we reckon it's one of the prettiest underwater spots in Sydney.
Working from home has its undeniable perks. Your day begins in your own space, minus long crowded commutes, cramped office cubicles and strained water-cooler conversation. And if you feel like wearing pyjamas the whole damn day, there's no-one to judge. But this no-rules workplace can quickly become all too comfortable. Pot plants and pets can only go so far to providing stimulating companionship. Plus freedom and procrastination virtually go hand-in-hand. That's where the 'coffice' comes in. Work-friendly coffee shops give artists, writers and freelancers a change of pace from their solitary spaces. These ten are our favourite places to head when that mid-morning creativity slump kicks in. All are mostly quiet, relaxed enough to accommodate long sittings and have free Wi-Fi thrown in. 107 PROJECTS CAFE, REDFERN Nestled in the artist-run 107 Projects, the 107 Cafe feels more like a good mate's laidback living room that just happens to have a coffee machine tucked in the corner. Frequented by resident artists and locals looking for an excuse to get out of the house, the space features roomy, sun-drenched tables; indoor and outdoor seating; and the kind of shambolic interior design to get those creative juices flowing. BERKELOUW BOOKS' 1812 CAFE, PADDINGTON Surround yourself with stacks of intellectual inspiration at this cosy cafe bookstore space. With plenty of bar and table seating around, you'll be ticking boxes and meeting deadlines in no time. This place is a coffice classic; you'll notice your fellow patrons either tapping away at laptops or talking through low-key meetings. And if energy levels drop and hunger strikes, fear not. Their menu of homemade baked goods and healthy lunch dishes will keep you fuelled and firing all day long. COPO CAFE AND DINER, DRUMMOYNE Serving up South American-inspired eats just minutes from The Bay Run of Iron Cove, Copo Cafe and Diner is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon working away in the sun. Head to the terrace for a view of the surrounds, or tuck yourself away inside the cafe's laidback lower level. With lush greenery at every turn and spacious seating (so you'll never feel in the way), this is just the place for those needing a change of scenery to get their to-do list done. THE HILL EATERY, BONDI The Hill Eatery gives Bondi-goers the perfect blend of relaxed cafe dining and stunning beachside views. Their wholesome menu of locally sourced ingredients, with everything from egg and bacon rolls and hearty beef burgers to gourmet salads (plus an assortment of freshly baked treats), will keep you truly well fed. Nab a spot on their uber-comfy cushioned benches, or grab a table under their iconic curved window. If you can avoid daydreaming about the water, it's a killer spot to spend a chilled working afternoon. FLEETWOOD MACCHIATO, ERSKINEVILLE Tucked away in the leafy streets of the inner-west, Fleetwood Macchiato answers all your coffice needs. Brimming with tasty snacks and a team ready to deliver every coffee call, it's the perfect weekday space for creative folk and freelancers to set up camp. Their small tables make solo visits perfectly acceptable, but be warned, this isn’t a place to head during the busy weekend rush. Get the timing right, and you'll be greeted with a cosy little gem serving some pretty incredible seasonal dishes. Image by Sacha Fernandez. CLEVELAND'S, REDFERN Decked out with some of the cutest interiors around, Cleveland's is a barber meets coffee shop with a difference. Pumping out brews courtesy of beans sourced from The Little Marionette and whipping up feeds featuring locally sourced produce courtesy of Brickfields, Farmer Jo and Sticky Chai, it's no wonder this place is a well-loved Redfern favourite. A little exposed brick and quaint wooden seating produce the perfect aesthetic to get you working (or at least, make for some great 'gram backdrops). PARLOUR LANE ROASTERS, CBD For those stuck for a spot to work among the crowded inner-city streets, Parlour Lane is the perfect solution. Sure, it may be situated on one of the busiest Sydney CBD streets around, but somehow this nook-style cafe is always an oasis of calm. The dim lighting mightn't suit those with drowsiness-inducing work to do and the mobile reception is apparently patchy (a pro or a con, depending on your procrastination tendencies), but otherwise this art deco spot is a good one. And since Parlour Lane is also a bar, you'll be perfectly places to kick off post-work drinks come 5pm. AMPERSAND CAFE AND BOOKSTORE, PADDINGTON Laneway seating and books sprawled out in abundance. No folks, you don't have to travel to Melbourne for this. Paddington's beloved Ampersand Cafe is a tranquil oasis surrounded by some of the sweetest boutiques, galleries and bookstores around. Sequester yourself away in one of the nooks or tables dotted across four rickety levels, and when all that thinking leaves you peckish, tuck into a freshly made sandwich or gluten-free brownie. THREE WILLIAMS, REDFERN An easy stroll along to the quieter end of Elizabeth Street gets you to this warehouse-style coffice. Though the sound can bounce around a lot in the cavernous space, the ample table space, clean lines and a menu of hearty cafe eats will put you back in the work/study zone. There's also an all-day breakfast menu, for those late risers hanging for a bacon-and-egg fix to ensure an afternoon of productivity. MCA CAFE, THE ROCKS Hello, Sydney! Working or studying up on MCA's Sculpture Terrace is one surefire way to get into an inspiring headspace. Head to the roof for uninterrupted views of all the iconic Harbour sights. Plus, a bit of sun never hurt anyone's energy levels. They don't disappoint with the menu, either, whether a light lunch of salad or a hefty po'boy is your style. And when you begin to run out of steam, you're only a mere flight of stairs up from some of Australia's best contemporary art. Let your mind wander over it and who knows what it'll come up with?
Having conquered hearts in both Sydney and Melbourne, Longrain's gutsy Thai flavours will now take on Japan, with the restaurant group's owner Sam Christie set to open the doors to a sister venue in Tokyo this August. As the first international outpost, it sounds like a ripper — a classically-styled, 160-seat stunner on the 39th floor of the Yebisu Garden Place Tower, as imagined by Sydney-based designers Luchetti-Krelle. The space is a warm and welcoming one, nodding to aspects of Sydney and Melbourne's iconic Longrain eateries, and featuring artwork by Sydney's own Christopher Hodges. Making his much-anticipated return to Longrain Sydney and set to also head up the kitchen at the Tokyo digs, executive chef Griff Pamment will be tweaking Longrain's signature offering to win over a new audience of foodies. He's promising a punchy celebration of Thai and South East Asian flavours, built around local produce — the menu featuring plenty of old favourites alongside a host of new rice and noodle dishes. Backing up the eats, expect a selection of crafty cocktails and aromatic wines, with varietals from across Australia and beyond. Longrain Ebisu will open daily from August 26, 2017. Find it at Floor 39, Yebisu Garden Place Tower, 4-20, Ebisu, hibuya-ku, Tokyo, next time you're in town. Images: Nikki To.
We're pretty lucky on the east coast of Australia because the big vacay destinations are only a few hours away by plane. But Australia is a lot bigger than just the eastern seaboard. While the west side of Australia is so far-flung it's practically an international flight to get there, Perth has a vibrant bar and foodie scene that could rival any eastern capital. Still need some convincing to book that four-hour-plus Jetstar flight? In partnership with the Hahn Brewers, we've put together a list of ten very persuasive reasons why you should visit Perth. Spoiler alert: they're all bars. You're welcome. HULA BULA BAR If anyone claims they wouldn't love to sip on a drink while surrounded by kitschy jungle paraphernalia, they are lying. In Perth, you can have that experience at Hula Bula Bar while working your way through their entire menu. But remember, the jungle vibes are for show only – don't think you can get away with rocking shorts and thongs. 12 Victoria Avenue, Perth. GREENHOUSE For a genuinely unique west coast experience, head straight to Greenhouse. The restaurant-bar hybrid is encased in a façade of greenery courtesy of Melburnian Joost Bakker and his sustainable approach to hospitality. The green rectangle (nestled in amongst sterile corporate blocks) offers a quiet place for a beer, and has an extensive menu made with ingredients from their rooftop garden. 100 St Georges Terrace, Perth. EZRA POUND If you're after a lush courtyard and chill atmosphere where you can grab a drink, Ezra Pound is your new stomping ground. The sweet little bar on Williams Street in Northbridge serves up classic bar snacks (courtesy of No Mafia, an Italian eatery next door — expect a lot of quality olives and cheese) and has a Saturday night happy hour. What more does anyone need in life? Williams Lane, 189 Williams Street, Northbridge. CHOO CHOO'S Choo Choo's on St Georges Terrace is the kind of place where letting your hair down is mandatory. Seriously, it's pretty chill so leave your suit and tie at home and be yourself. The menu is extensive and changed on the reg, so head to Choo Choo's with no preconceived notions beyond max chillaxing. Industrial fittings, hip murals and a small, clicky (in a good way) bar crew will make you wish this was your regular. 125 St Georges Terrace, Perth. [caption id="attachment_589771" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @breaking_bias via Instagram[/caption] BOBÈCHE If your tastes run to the dramatic, check out Bobèche on St Georges Terrace. The dark, moody basement is named after a performing street clown from the '20s who would distract the crowd and sneak kisses from the gathered ladies. Modern day Bobèche has his own charms – beer, teapot cocktails, complimentary popcorn and an indulgent bar menu. We recommend the pulled venison croquettes with wild citrus. Basement 131 St Georges Terrace, Perth. WOLF LANE Wolf Lane is considered one of Perth's most popular small bars. The interior decorations alone are worth a trip. The industrial space has been decked out with mismatched velvet lounge chairs, leather ottomans and Persian rugs with trippy vintage suitcases on the ceiling and fairytale murals throughout. It's a real Alice in Wonderland atmosphere. Once you've settled in, grab a beer and build your own gourmet cheese board from the cheese, cured meats and dips available. Rear 321 Murray Street, Perth. MECHANICS' INSTITUTE Mechanics' Institute in Northbridge is a great all-rounder bar, perfect for a big night out on the weekend, after work drinks or a burger the next day for lunch. They've got the look nailed, with a slick industrial shine throughout the whole bar and (the pièce de résistance) a sweet, sprawling rooftop bar. Rear 222 William Street, Northbridge. LOT TWENTY Lot Twenty appreciate the good things in life — and they serve them in bulk. By good things, we mean oysters, doughnuts, booze, cheese, coffee and a large outdoor terrace. The menu at Lot 20 is amazing; after chowing down on roasted mushrooms served with pistachio puree, slow-cooked egg, truffle oil or house-cured coffee and maple bacon with cornbread, you'll never be able to go back to a standard cheeseburger (and nor should you). 198-206 William Street, Perth. ENRIQUE'S SCHOOL FOR TO BULLFIGHTING If you're in Highgate, Enrique's is perfect spot to drop by for a beverage and a bite. The warm and inviting restaurant bar serves up authentic Spanish cuisine, served up in the share style (tapas for a little, raciones for a lot) and always attracts a great weekend crowd. They have a damn fine happy hour every day from 5-6pm. 484 Beaufort Street, Highgate. PETITION BEER CORNER Petition is a beer corner, wine bar and kitchen all in one. So no matter what drink you're into, there's something here for you. We recommend you head to the beer corner and get the bartenders to pick you some for a tasting. The taps are constantly rotating (there's 18 of them), and they serve international beer as well as local suppliers alongside tasty bar snacks. Sign up to Hahn Brewers and use your weekend to take a trip to Perth.
Fancy yourself a bit of an action hero? Maybe you watch the parkour scene in Casino Royale and think "yeah, I could manage that." If that's the case, this brand new running app might be just the thing for you. Developed by a South Korean tech company, Tracks throws exercise junkies into the middle of an audio blockbuster, giving them the spark to run like their lives depend on it. Admittedly, the idea isn't a new one – according to an interview with The Next Web, the app's creators took the premise in part from the insanely popular Zombies, Run!, which motivates runners with the sounds of an undead menace hot on their trail. But if Zombies, Run! takes its cue from horror stories, Tracks hopes to draw on a whole variety of different genres. Their first narrative mixes action and sci-fi, and sees runners traverse collapsing buildings and machine gun fire as they fight for survival over 15 chapters, against a malevolent force known as The Growlers. Assuming the app proves successful, the plan is to create additional stories, with the designers floating the possibility of branching out into thrillers or even romance stories. Not sure how that would work, exactly, but it sure sounds intriguing. The app is currently in beta testing while the team looks to raise additional funds via Indiegogo. They expect it to be available via the App Store and Google Play Market by the end of June. https://youtu.be/ETEpwWx_0rU For more information visit www.tracks.today. Via TNW.
Ah, the tinnie. The refuge of the second-rate beer, right? Wrong. With improved technology obliterating the old argument that cans damage the taste of beer, more and more craft brewers are moving to the once humble can. Sometimes favoured for their retro feel, cans actually boast both a lower carbon footprint and longer shelf life than their bottled counterparts, making it likely their booming popularity will only continue rising. For many craft beer makers, the tinnie is actually an essential part of their craft; the makers of acclaimed Heady Topper urge their customers not to pour their beer into a glass, lest it lose the carefully cultivated hop aromas the can preserves. Here are ten of the best canned wonders. JAMES SQUIRE ONE FIFTY LASHES PALE ALE Named after a convict rapscallion who is believed to have created Australia’s first commercial brewery, Sydney-based James Squire produces a distinctly Australian range which has become synonymous with local craft beers. Newly available in cans, this is an approachable variety which makes an inspired addition to your next beach hang or spring picnic. With a light citrus burst and faint notes of passionfruit hitting the palate first, and the malted wheat giving it a silky smooth finish, it’s an ideal session beer. MOUNTAIN GOAT SUMMER ALE One of the first Australian craft beer makers to stock their product in cans, Victorian microbrewers Mountain Goat initially thought of doing a limited one-off run of these tinnies, but were soon overwhelmed with the response and turned it into a permanent fixture. A gold-hued ale perfect for sneaking into your picnic baskets, this offers inviting citrus and tropical aromas. With no hint of acidity, it’s an easy drinking delight and an ideal choice for the newer craft beer drinker or seasoned hop head alike. BREWDOG PUNK IPA Back in 2007, James Watt and Martin Dickie were two 24-year-olds with “scary bank loans” and a passion project selling their craft beer out of the back of a battered van. Today, they are the kingpins of a Scottish craft beer success story, overseeing more than 350 employees pumping out their abrasively flavoured brews to great acclaim. The Punk Indian Pale Ale is a must, a great introduction to their in-your-face style. Also look out for the mightily bitter Jackhammer, which is about as subtle as its name. HEADY TOPPER Ranked number 2 among all the world’s beers on the encyclopaedic Beer Advocate, Heady Topper is less a beer than a phenomenon. Initially considered unlikely to have widespread appeal, Heady Topper actually became so popular that the Vermont brewery which made it regularly had people cuing for hours and had to limit hordes of customers to one case each. It’s a complex beer with notes ranging from grapefruit to pine and spice and just about the quintessential craft beer tinnie. Image: Carter Brown. SIERRA NEVADA PALE ALE With its instantly recognisable pastoral artwork, Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale has long been warmly regarded as one of the classic craft beers. The pioneering brewery now produces over 50 varieties, but the pale ale accounts for more than half their sales. Famously using only whole cone hops, they have a commitment to quality ingredients that has produced a consistently good and almost universally liked beer. Heavy on the hops, it’s a beer that pairs well with some spicy Mexican. YO-HO TOKYO BLACK PORTER Japan is a relatively new player in the world of craft beers, having effectively legislated against microbreweries until the mid '90s. Now some 200 microbreweries have moved into a once stagnant market. One of the first breweries to spring up when the laws changed were Yoho, who have since been named Japan’s best craft beer brewery. Based in the snowy mountains of Nagano, they produce a nice variety of beers, including this rich black number which draws you in with its treacly aroma, roasty character and a head like foamy coffee. YOUNG HENRYS REAL ALE While the range of craft beers available in cans was quite limited just a few years ago, today there’s an abundance of options and this is a great example of a local take on the traditional British bitter. Made with both Australian and British malts, it’s light but flavoursome and took Young Henrys all the way from their inner west base to the International Real Ale Festival, where this bad boy picked up a gold medal. EVIL TWIN HIPSTER ALE An American Pale ale hailing from (where else?) Brooklyn, Evil Twin market this colourfully packaged beer as a homage to anyone who “feel(s) excluded because you’re hip but your city is not”. Even for those in a cutting-edge hip city, this is a very drinkable ale with some complexity to keep you interested. The colour is like a light honey, and you’ll get notes of everything from biscuits, toffee and caramel to more zesty citrus. FERAL BREWING HOP HOG IPA Credit Feral Brewing company with putting beer on the map in the fabled Swan Valley wine district. This is their most famous product, an American-style Indian pale ale with hops added both during the boil and late in the fermenting. It’s proven a hit both with the craft beer-loving public and the critics who raved about its balance and drinkability and made it the number 1 pick in their Australia’s Best Beers annual roundup. SIX STRING DARK RED IPA Like many craft brewers, Six String began as a couple of friends with a love of beer and a desire to make something better than the mass-marketed product. After lengthy battles with bureaucratic red tape, Chris Benson and Adam Klasterka were able to enlist the support of their community and set up a boutique brewery in the Central Coast. Their beers proved worth the wait. Among their staples is a dark red IPA. It’s full-bodied, really dark and really good. Top illustration by Barry Patenaude.
Timing is everything and Sydney's newest terrace bar/restaurant has arrived ready for summer. Hamish Watts and Ben Carroll, the duo behind Applejack Hospitality Group, have now added a fourth venue to their collection that includes the ever-popular Bondi Hardware, Kirribilli's The Botanist and SoCal in Neutral Bay. Opened last night and named The Butler, the moniker of this new addition to Potts Point pays homage to Butlers, an earlier restaurant on the same site, as well as nearby Butler stairs leading down to Woolloomooloo. Taking full advantage of its elevated position, The Butler offers Sydneysiders the rare but wonderful option of a panoramic terrace, a lush oasis that showcases a stellar view of the city skyline. Inside, intricate illustrations of exotic flora cover the walls, while cane chairs and camel-coloured leather banquets add to the eclectic French colonial vibe. But The Butler isn't only all just views and chic décor — the menu, designed by the group's executive chef James Privett, promises to be equally impressive. Inspired by both French and Caribbean flavours, you'll find boudin noir next to charred sweetcorn, Lyonnaise sausage rolls with rum and pineapple relish and black bean boulettes with couscous. Summery seafood options abound, including the Tabasco prawns with mango salsa and coconut quinoa, and there's plenty for the gluten-free and vegetarian — we're talking jerk tofu with chilli salsa and broccolini. A creative menu demands an equally creative drinks list and The Butler has you covered with an extensive range of French wine and champagne as well as more familiar Australian favourites. Alternatively, ask one of the barmen sporting jaunty neck ties to mix you an 'Air France' or 'La Mule' cocktail — or opt for the large carafes to share. Find The Butler at 123 Victoria Street Potts Point, open Monday – Tuesday 4pm-11pm, Wednesday – Saturday 12pm-12am and Sunday 12pm-10pm.
The Victorian government have officially begun their push to become the first state in the country to legalise medicinal marijuana. Delivering on a pledge made during the last election, the Andrews government yesterday tabled a report in parliament by the Victorian Law Reform Commission. Among its recommendations: a licensing scheme allowing for the production of medicinal cannabis, for the purposes of treating serious illnesses including cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and HIV/AIDs. "During the election we committed to legalising medicinal cannabis for use in exceptional circumstances, and we’re delivering on our promise," said premier Daniel Andrews in a statement that accompanied the announcement. "I’ve seen first-hand how medicinal cannabis can change people’s lives. This landmark reform means Victorian families will no longer have to decide between breaking the law and watching their child suffer." Now before you start celebrating too hard, we should make clear that this isn't the same as legalising pot for everyone. Under the report's recommendations, licensed cultivators will be able to produce legal cannabis products, including oils, sprays and capsules, which will be available at pharmacies to patients who have received authorisation from a specialist doctors. Smokable marijuana will also remain illegal — so keep your homemade bongs in your sock drawers for the time being. Still, progress is progress — and this is especially great news for people suffering from the kinds of chronic pain and illness that marijuana use can help alleviate. Assuming he can get a tick of approval from the federal government, Andrews expects to make medical cannabis available by early 2017, with children suffering from severe epilepsy expected to be the first to benefit. Via The Age. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Kickstart your day, or enjoy a post-workout energy boost, with Bare Naked Bowls. Fresh and nourishing, the eponymous bowls are packed with açai, yoghurt, smoothies or rice (depending on the bowl you choose) and topped with colourful fruit and veg to fuel you for the day ahead. The superfood cafe empire was started in Manly by Josh and Ashley Porteous. The couple is passionate about nutrition and sustainability — all produce is sourced locally and the almond milk is made in-house. And they're equally passionate about charity work. So, you'll not only be eating well, but also doing good: one percent of each purchase goes to The International Brothers and Sisters House, a charity that supports orphaned children in developing nations. Favourite bowls amongst the locals include; the Manly Bowl with organic açai berries, bananas, strawberries and organic apple juice, topped with granola, goji berries and bush honey; the Mango Bomb with organic natural yoghurt, mango puree, coconut chia pudding and granola; and the California Bowl with leafy spinach, kale greens, sensed brown rice, feta, black beans, cherry tomatoes and a heap more. Appears in: Where to Find the Best breakfast in Sydney
Only a few years ago, virtual reality seemed like a foggy, far distant dream that would probably, like most new technology, take a few decades to become readily accessible and genuinely user-friendly. We've come a long way since the halcyon days of computers the size of a room and, in no time at all, we have the first generation of virtual reality headsets at our fingertips, all vying for our attention. Today, Oculus has officially announced that Rift, arguably the VR headset with the most recognisable name, is available for purchase to anyone with a spare suitcase of cash schmackos lying around — it's retailing for AUD$792.88 plus shipping. It's not cheap as chips, but it's not tens of thousands either. The eager beavers who pre-purchased their headset from the Oculus kickstarter will receive their headsets soon, and the rest are back ordered until July. It's slightly more expensive than the Playstation VR which retails at AUD$549.95 (available in October) but much cheaper than the HTC Vive which will set you back AUD$1226.98 (available in April). As a few savvy bloggers have pointed out, the cost of the Rift itself is a little deceptive as the real VR magic happens in the power PC you'll have to have hooked up to the device to render the graphics. If you already have a high-powered gaming computer with a hefty, dedicated graphics card and a fair whack of RAM, great! You're good to go. If not, a basic make PC is going to set you back another $1000. But we wouldn't be too quick to jump in straight away. Buying first generation technology can be a gamble, as we learned from the great iPhone 6 Plus Bendgate of 2014 and they're definitely still working out the kinks of VR technology (nausea caused by motion sickness is still a biggie). We're still a while away from full immersion but at least it's progressing quickly. Images: Oculus.
Your days of eating last night's leftovers alone at your desk may soon be at an end. A new app on the market called Never Eat Alone is linking employees in large companies with co-workers keen to grab lunch. Better yet, some businesses are already encouraging their staff to log on. The app is the creation of Marie Schneegans, who told TechCrunch she came up with the idea while completing a summer internship with finance company UBS. Eager to meet people in different departments, she started emailing people to set up lunch dates, and eventually wound up dining with the company CEO. Unlike most social networking apps, Never Eat Alone is being pitched directly to the heads of large businesses, who can then choose to distribute it to their employees as a means of improving company culture and morale. Once an employee has the app on their phone, they're able to create a profile that lists their interests – and before they know it, they're breaking down the latest Game of Thrones episode over sushi with Linda in accounting. Never Eat Alone is currently only available in France, but there are apparently plans to expand into the United States in the next few months. Via TechCrunch.
Picture this: a cosy, wooden structure somewhere remote, away from the hustle and bustle — and far, far away from mobile phone coverage — of your everyday life, perhaps with a fireplace and/or some kind of heated outdoor bathing fixture. You know the kind of place we're talking about. In fact, you're fantasising about it right now, aren't you? Take a coffee break and take a scroll through some of the world's most dreamy winter cabins that you can actually stay in. We've teamed up with NESCAFÉ to help you take the desk break you, as a hardworking human being, deserve. So start planning your worldwide cold weather escape — we promise none of them were featured in a Joss Whedon-written, Chris Hemsworth-starring horror movie. [caption id="attachment_580297" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Justin Muir[/caption] FOSSICKERS HUT, MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND Want to go off the grid? Well you've found your place. Fossickers Cottage is located just an hour from Nelson in NZ's Marlborough region, but it feels at least nine hours away from any kind of civilisation. The stunning early settler-style hut is the perfect perch in the middle of the bush right next to the amazingly clear water of the Wakamarina River. Along with a cosy kitchen room and bedroom (with a loft up top for a few extra mates), there's also a fire-heated outdoor bath. It doesn't get much better than that. LAKE O'HARA LODGE, CANADIAN ROCKIES, CANADA If you're looking for an old-school cabin that really does feel like it's in a movie (but sans scares), then Lake O'Hara Lodge is the place to be. This is the type of cabin that Parks and Recreation's Ron Swanson would be proud of — well, aside from the fact that it's in the Canadian Rockies. Constructed in 1926, it's the perfect spot for skiing in winter, hiking in summer, and enjoying the serenity of British Columbia's Yoho National Park all year round. Their one-bedroom lakeshore cabins are of the 'no muss, no fuss' variety, boasting little more than a queen bed for sleeping, a day bed for relaxing, and a deck for looking out at the world. It's just what you need after a long day revelling in the splendour of the site's surroundings. UFOGEL, NUSSDORF, AUSTRIA Whichever way you look at it, there's nowhere quite like Austria's unique Ufogel cabin. You can take that literally, given the mountain hideaway's inimitable design, or you can see it as a statement on the once-in-a-lifetime experience you're bound to have in the one-of-a-kind structure in the village of Nussdorf. Inside, expect wood as far as the eye can see; the entire compact building is completely made of it. Bring a few mates — the place can sleep up to five — and don't waste your time wondering about the name. It's a blend of UFO and vogel, the German term for bird, as inspired by the structure's distinctive appearance. CHALET JEJALP, MORZINE, FRANCE Who hasn't fantasised about a snowy sojourn holed up in a chalet? If you like wintry sports, it's the ideal break: you'd hit the slopes when the sun is shining, and then enjoy the facilities inside looking out over the frosty valley of an evening. Chalet Jejalp is the exact place you want to get snowed in; the house includes a double-height glass wine cellar, bar, pool table, gym, sunken jacuzzi, sauna, cinema room, and on-site chef and chauffeur. Yep, this is the kind of place you need to win the lotto to stay in — but you know it'd be totally worth it. MOONBAH HUT, NEAR JINDABYNE, AUSTRALIA If you stay local, prepare to do some driving to get your Aussie cabin fix. But if you're willing to commit, the rewards really are stunning. Moonbah Hut is located on private frontage on the Moonbah River, the Snowy Mountains' cleanest, most unspoilt home for trout. Give your fishing muscle a flex from your front doorstep, while keeping an eye out for wildlife, from wombats to deer to brumbies. Or bunker down inside, with a huge, stone open fireplace for company. Previous guests have taken the experience next level and invited personal chefs along for an evening. Spanish chef Miguel Maestre is among those to have done the honours. LION SANDS GAME RESERVE, SABI SANDS, SOUTH AFRICA Cabins come in all shapes, sizes and heights — and suited to all climates, too. Your idea of a winter cabin might involve snuggling up by the fire; however if you head to Lion Sands Game Reserve in South Africa, it could involve hanging out in a treehouse, spotting wild animals and gazing at the stars as you nod off to sleep. Constructed out of wood and glass, their Kingston treehouse is designed to welcome visitors all-year-round, so there's no need to worry about any inclement weather. And if that's not enough to tempt you, how about this: it comes complete with a wooden drawbridge. Yes, really. EAGLE BRAE LOG CABINS, SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS, SCOTLAND That ideal image of a wood log cabin you've been dreaming about? Well, that's what you'll find at Eagle Brae. Their seven two-storey open-plan dwellings have been hand-built using massive western redcedar logs sourced from the forests of Canada. And although it's cold, the cabins feature log-burning stoves to keep you warm. Indeed, if there's ever been a place tailor-made for staying indoors and snuggling up, this is it — though there's plenty to see outside, of course. That's where you'll find out just how the Scottish Highlands got their name, spot plenty of wildlife, and maybe even go salmon fishing as well. AZUR LUXURY LODGE, QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND Talk about a room with a view — and a bed and a bath too. If it's a private villa with stunning lake and mountain sights available from every available floor-to-ceiling window that you're after, then Azur Luxury Lodge has you covered. So it's not exactly a 'cabin', but when you're hanging out by the fire with a glass of wine, you're not going to concerned with specifics. Plus, for those who just can't unplug from the outside world completely, the Queenstown resort offers the best of both worlds, with all the mod cons like Wi-Fi in the middle of a gorgeous natural setting. BODRIFTY ROUNDHOUSE, CORNWALL, ENGLAND Centuries ago, in Celtic villages in the Iron Age, chiefs slept in thatched roundhouses. Seeing one is quite a sight, particularly since there's only a handful of replicas littered throughout the world — but spending a night in one? Well, that's something else. At Bodrifty in Cornwall, you can do just that. As well as marvelling at the experimental architecture, you can set up camp inside and stoke the open firebowl as well. And while it might appear as though you're stepping back in time, expect a touch of luxury when it comes to sleeping, as visitors will relish the modern comfort of a four-poster bed. POST RANCH INN, BIG SUR, USA Perched atop the cliffs of Big Sur in California, Post Ranch Inn provides several riffs on the cabin experience. Everyone wants a bit of rustic charm — and you'll get that here in a variety of accommodation types, including circular houses inspired by redwood trees and stand-alone treehouses. Choose from mountain or ocean views, and enjoy a dip in two infinity pools, a spot of fine dining and everything from yoga to nature walks while you're there. Okay, so this one's a modern interpretation of a cabin — but hey, who doesn't want to try that at least once? Words by Sarah Ward with Jasmine Crittenden. Top image: Justin Muir.
As a treat to us for being such good eggs (or so we like to think), the National Gallery of Victoria are hosting a huge exhibition next year featuring the works of French Impressionist artist Edgar Degas as part of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces. The exhibition will run from June 24 to September 18 at the NGV International and is comprised of over 200 works by Degas, from collections the world over. For those of you who don’t know, Degas is a pretty big deal in the art world and practiced during the late 1800s-early 1900s. At a time when many artists where still painting posed works, Degas and a sect of bohemian Parisian artists (including Honoré Daumier and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec), were cultivating the first big art movement that focused on candid impressions of subjects en plein air (meaning in ‘open air’ style, as opposed to in the studio or from memory). A lot of his pieces feature ballerinas and inevitably, this did lead to a lot of lurking around backstage at the ballet and, in Lautrec’s case, in a tonne of brothels (for the artistic potential, surely). Degas’ work also focused on an infrequently explored subject: the everyman. Blue collar workers in their natural habit where a recurring and novel theme in his work; French Impressionism tapped into that vein of human curiosity that makes reality TV so popular (“They’re just like us!”). Degas actually rejected the Impressionist mantle and referred to his style as realism, so intent was he on representing the world around him. In fact, according to art historian Carol Armstrong, Degas said “No art was ever less spontaneous than mine. What I do is the result of reflection and of the study of the great masters; of inspiration, spontaneity, temperament, I know nothing". Well damn. We can’t wait to check it out. Degas: A New Vision will be displayed at the National Gallery of Victoria International from June 24 to September 18, 2016. Image: Edgar Degas, In a café (The Absinthe drinker) 1875–76, oil on canvas, Musée d'Orsay, Paris, Lemoisne 393, © RMN-Grand Palais (musée d'Orsay) / Martine Beck-Coppola.
Did you know you can dive with whale sharks, trek through ancient temples and hike an active volcano, all while being pampered in some of the most luxurious boutique hotels in the world? Asia is home to some breathtaking wonders, from the turquoise waters of the Maldives to the wildlife in Sri Lanka and the natural hot springs of Japan, but it's also home to some incredible hotels. A true holiday is the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. To get the best of both worlds on your next holiday, we've partnered with Mr & Mrs Smith to suggest five adventure and accommodation pairings. PICNIC ON A PRIVATE ISLAND IN THE MALDIVES, STAY AT COMO MAALIFUSHI The Maldives are best known for their pristine white-sand beaches and turquoise waters. Enough reason to visit the island is Como Maalifushi. This hotel is the only man-made structure on the island it resides in, and it's made up of luxurious, stilted villas that are set on a boardwalk surrounded by crystal clear waters and a visible coral reef beneath. The Maldives islands make up the world's lowest-lying country, reaching just a few metres above sea level, which makes it an ideal spot for snorkelling and scuba diving. You can take a dip right into the sea from your villa, but for a truly special dive experience, ask the hotel to organise a private scuba trip where you'll have the chance to see whale sharks and other exotic sub-aquatic life. Once you're ready to dry off, there's no better way to finish off the afternoon than a sailboat ride to a nearby private island, where a gourmet picnic will be prepared for you. VISIT THE ANGKOR WAT TEMPLES IN CAMBODIA, STAY AT PHUM BAITANG Angkor Wat is hands down the number one reason to visit Siem Reap, and Phum Baitang is ideally located close to the UNESCO heritage site, but is far excluded from the bustling town itself. Hidden away in the countryside among rice paddy fields, the private homes of Phum Baitang are constructed as traditional Khmer wooden houses. The stilted log cabin-like structures each come with private plunge pool and the hotel offers spa and yoga pavilion for further relaxation. Head to Angkor Wat in style with the hotel's exclusive sunrise temple tours, where you can beat the tourist rush to the popular Bakheng Hill. Once you've finished a morning of hiking, move back out to the countryside where you can have a relaxing swim in a pool overlooking the rolling hills and rice paddies. GO ON SAFARI IN SRI LANKA, STAY AT THE CHENA HUTS The 14 domed pavilions of the Chena Huts are set on seven acres of lush jungle, which affords each villa the utmost privacy and is a true nature getaway. The floor-to-ceiling glass walls open onto a private plunge pool and offer views of the blue lagoon on one side and a private beach on the other. The property is within the protected Yala National Park, so it's an ideal location for nature lovers. The park is a haven for biodiversity and the perfect spot for immersing yourself in the surroundings. Guests can watch giant turtles nesting on the beach and baby turtles hatching there, as well as storks and ibises wading through the lagoon. If you're keen to see more, take a guided safari tour where you can see some of nature's most majestic creatures, including leopards and elephants. VISIT ISE-SHIMA NATIONAL PARK IN JAPAN, STAY AT AMANEMU Wade in healing hot springs and the natural onsen inside Japan's Ise-Shima National Park, then return to your room at Amanemu. The stunning, minimalist hotel has rooms that were built with traditional techniques using natural materials, each with a private soaking tub and hot-spring taps. The hotel overlooks the scenic Ago Bay, where the majority of Mikimoto's pearls are planted and harvested by the Ama—female pearl divers whose ancient tradition dates back 2000 years. The 'Sea Women' impressively dive without tanks and Ise-Shima is one of the very few places in the world where the Ama can be observed. Visitors can enter the popular Ama hut, Satoumian, meet and talk with the Ama and prepare their own freshly caught seafood over a fireplace. HIKE UP MOUNT RINJANI IN INDONESIA, STAY AT THE LOMBOK LODGE The very exclusive Lombok Lodge only has nine suites available at a time. It's breezy and modern, with poolside suites offering ocean views. The boutique resort is set in a secluded coast of Lombok island, acting as a seaside oasis from every day life. The biggest attraction on the island is Mount Rinjani—an active volcano that is the second highest in all of Indonesia. Most visitors trek the mountain to swim in the natural hot spring and crater lake, which is impossibly blue and said to have ancient healing properties. The lake is located approximately 2000 metres above sea level and estimated to be about 200 metres deep. For those only making the trek to the lake, one overnight is required, but if you're a serious hiker and keen to make it all the way to the summit, at least three nights on the mountain should be expected. Make sure to plan your dates around the local weather, though, as the climb is generally closed at certain points of the year. If you decide to take a trip this Easter long weekend, visit Mr and Mrs Smith to book your accommodation. Images: Mr and Mrs Smith.
Sometimes it's nice to learn that one of Sydney's finest bakeries is located in Parramatta and not Paddington. Located in the heart of Sydney's fastest-growing suburb, Threefold Pastry offers a range of sweet and savoury pastries, including a range of ever-changing croissants. Flavours include plain, almond, apple crumble and pain au chocolat options, while the specialty croissant (which changes monthly) could be anything from a peanut butter brownie version to a lemon verbena. Other treats include a mixed berry crumble danish, cinnamon scrolls, Oreo brownies and homemade banana bread. For something more savoury, you could opt for a beef or Thai chicken curry pie, a Vegemite and cheese croissant or a falafel, hummus, tahini, tomato and rocket wrap. It builds a mean sandwich, too, with options including chicken schnitzel with roasted tomato jam, mayo, cheese and rocket; salami with the same; and poached chicken with smashed avo, honey mustard dressing and cheese.
It's not just a case of the show needing to go on for the folks at the Moulin Rouge. It must, and it is. 17 years after the big-screen release of Baz Luhrmann's smash-hit movie musical, the story of doomed lovers Christian and Satine has made its way to the stage in an expectedly spectacular fashion. The lavish adaptation premiered at Boston's Emerson Colonial Theatre on July 10, with its first season running through until August 19 before an expected Broadway bow afterwards. Moulin Rouge! the Musical follows the tale film fans fell in love with, as well as the music — plus new pop tracks that hit the airwaves in the nearly two decades since the movie's original release. It's directed by two-time Tony nominee Alex Timbers — who also has a Golden Globe to his name for co-created TV series Mozart in the Jungle — with music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by his frequent collaborator Justin Levine. Aaron Tveit (TV's Gossip Girl; stage productions of Wicked, Rent and Catch Me If You Can) takes on the role of Christian, as played by Ewan McGregor in the movie, while Tony-winner Karen Olivo (the revival of West Side Story, In the Heights, Hamilton) steps into Nicole Kidman's shoes as Satine. "I first encountered Alex Timbers through the remarkable and inventive production of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and the brilliance of Here Lies Love," said Luhrmann in a statement when the state adaptation was first announced in 2016. "I immediately recognised the young director's creative spirit and felt we shared similar sensibilities and instincts." Continuing the show's list of talent, writing duties fell upon acclaimed playwright and screenwriter John Logan, whose resume includes Skyfall, Spectre and Alien: Covenant as well as the Tony Award-winning play Red. "It's immensely gratifying to know that a new wave of artists will be leading Moulin Rouge! into its rightful theatrical realm," said Luhrmann. Image: Moulin Rouge the Musical/Matthew Murphy.
An old garage down a service laneway doesn't sound like a spot for a bar, but that's exactly where this 20-person mezcal bar takes up its residence. Cantina OK! is located down the non-street that is Council Place, rocking forest green garage doors, an extensive collection of tequila and mezca, and no seating whatsoever. You may not be surprised to hear that this mini mezcal mecca is run by Sydney's favourite tequila joint, Tio's Cerveceria — the men behind it are venue owners Alex Dowd and Jeremy Blackmore. The duo took one helluva road trip around Mexico, hitting three states and picking up heaps of mezcal along the way before opening this hole-in-the-wall back in 2019. "We wanted to take what we saw in Mexico and really showcase it in this space," says Gilmour. "It's our way of documenting what these amazing mezcal producers can do." The team took their research very seriously, returning to Sydney with a whopping 140 bottles that now sit behind the minuscule bar. There are mezcals from regions all across Oaxaca, Michoacán and Jalisco, as well as drops of tequila, raicilla (an agave distilled spirit from Jalisco) and sotol (non-agave distilled spirit from northern Mexico). [caption id="attachment_714475" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimberley Lo[/caption] "You won't find another mezcaleria in the southern hemisphere that has the particular collection that we have," said Manager Alex Gilmour back when the bar first opened. Some of his favourite labels include the experimental Michoacán producer Jorge Perez — who distils his mezcal with likes of rattlesnake and a whole coyote — a single distillation arroqueño mezcal from Oaxaca and even a few bottles that have been aged for 29 years — those, of course, are on the expensive side. If all that sounds a bit intimating, turn to the well-trained staff, who are eager to get into the "nitty gritty" of mezcal drinking with you. But you don't have to go high-brow — the place still has the casual, laid-back Tio's vibe where you can just pop in for a damn good margarita, too. That'd be the house margarita, which combines both mezcal and tequila with lime and cane sugar syrup, all served over shaved ice. Otherwise, choose from the rotating range of seasonal cocktails and whatever the special is at the time. There's one produce-driven cocktail on the menu each week, which there'll write down for you on one of the hand-stamped coasters. Images: Kimberley Low. Updated Tuesday, March 21, 2023. Appears in: The Best Bars in Sydney
Fancy a good glass of wine after a day at the beach? Coogee locals Tom Hardwick and Michelle Morales certainly do, and their new venue — Coogee Wine Room — lets you do just that. Taking cues from the bustling wine bars of Europe, Coogee Wine Room is a post-beach go-to for the eastern suburbs. It's opened along Coogee Bay Road, just one block up from the ocean. As to be expected, the team is taking its wine game very seriously. The 500-strong list has been expertly curated with years of experience. A list of that stature may seem overwhelming but the friendly staff will be sure to help you out to pick the perfect drop. In the kitchen, Head Chef Greg Humphry is plating up a succinct, Mediterranean-style menu. The food is seasonal with a focus on local produce, but some fan favourites remain constant like smoked hummus, pork sliders, and the iconic CWR steak rated one of the best steaks in Sydney. Local design studio Tom Mark Henry is behind the Coogee Wine Room fit-out, which spans two storeys and — as goes the trend — maintains an industrial vibe. Expect exposed brick walls, concrete floors and a black steel staircase, along with warm timber tones, wraparound banquettes and marble finishes. Downstairs, you'll find the causal front bar — perfect for post-beach wines — while the slightly larger upstairs dining room is primed for long lunches. Images: Steven Woodburn.
In the proper vein of Diagon Alley, Mjølner is the kind of place you would never stumble upon. The discrete entrance, set on a quiet stretch of Cleveland Street, is easy to miss, but later you'll wonder how you could possibly have missed it. Like a mirage, the oversized old-world wooden door suddenly appears and opens down into a deep labyrinth of underground, cave-like rooms. The Speakeasy Group — which operates Eau De Vie and The Roosevelt as well as Boilermaker House in Melbourne — is no stranger to fancy digs. Named for Thor's hammer, the self-described 'Viking luxe' space is part-drinking den, part-fine dining restaurant. It may sound gimmicky, but it works — rather than going too hard on the schtick, Mjølner uses the Viking theme as tasteful inspiration. This is consistent throughout the whole venue; the animal-clad waitstaff and impressive fit-out contrast well with the R&B soundtrack and a modern Nordic menu. While the cocktail offering is a main draw and worth a visit in itself, we recommend grabbing a table in the dining area as the bar (which doesn't offer table service) can get quite overwhelmed. The leather-bound cocktail menu is extensive and a little overwhelming, but, to help, the concoctions are ordered from lightest to booziest. The Smooth Valley Sour ($20) is a good starter and comes garnished with honeycomb, but is more sweet than sour. If you're into boozier cocktails, the Highlander Hammer ($22) is their version of an old-fashioned with the addition of turmeric and honey-laced oloroso, and the Kon Tiki ($19) is a super smoky mezcal concoction — both of which are some of the best cocktails we've had. But drinking is by no means the only reason to visit, with the open kitchen turning out a seriously impressive food menu. As expected, the menu is focused around meat, with bone marrow ($20) and spiced pig's head terrine ($18) making appearances. Both of these are expertly executed, with the bone marrow melting in your mouth and the terrine surprisingly light. The short rib ($35) is also served on a massive bone, but you don't need the custom-made knife you chose from a leather-bound selection presented to you at the start of the meal for this one as the meat falls right off the bone. The sides are classic and hearty, including the particularly tasty garlic and maple-topped roasted celeriac ($15) and seared eggplant ($12). Skip dessert for their espresso martini — the Flight of the Valkyrie ($20) — which combines cold-drip coffee and a fig apertif in a perfect bittersweet balance that is all topped with burnt mead foam. It's fine dining in a pretty chill setting, which is hard to achieve and particularly well done at Mjølner. Be prepared to drop some cash — but for a special occasion (or even just on pay day) this place is fully worth it. Images: Steven Woodburn.
The latest installation of Saké Restaurant & Bar opened back in 2018 as part of the revamped Manly Wharf precinct. The rooftop digs boast the sixth iteration of the award-winning Sake brand, and the third in Sydney, to continue its signature offering of sleek and contemporary Japanese fare — but this time with a distinctly Manly vibe. The 300-seat space is designed by the highly lauded studio Luchetti Krelle (Manly Greenhouse, Terminus Hotel and Acme, to name a few) and really reflects its beachside location. Think floor-to-ceiling windows and bi-fold doors that open onto an al fresco dining terrace, and to the panoramic ocean views of Manly Cove beyond. The bright dining room includes a variety of seating with a 40-seat sushi counter, a 60-seat bar and several private dining spaces. An open kitchen centres around the robata grill, which turns out an izakaya-style menu that's available at the bar all day. Venue specific dishes include lobster tempura with jalapeños and wagyu strip loin with chat potatoes and yakiniku sauce. On the regular menu at Sake Restaurant and Bar Manly, signature Sake dishes like the hiramasa kingfish and popcorn shrimp sit alongside Manly-exclusive items like tempura miso-glazed eggplant. The expansive drinks list has a focus on Japanese sakes, with the 30-label menu served by the glass, carafe, bottle or flight. There's also a 150-strong wine list and over 30 gin distilleries represented, too. If you're coming to Sake Restaurant and Bar Manly with a group then look to book one of the elegant private dining rooms, with seatings of six to twenty available across three rooms. Images: Tom Ferguson (venue) and Anna Kucera (food and drinks).
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and its Parade are synonymous: it's impossible to imagine one without the other. The historic centrepiece, the jewel in the sparkly tiara, the very raison d'être of the festival, is an important, entertaining, and uplifting celebration of all things LGBTIQA+. Hundreds of beautiful floats, themselves testaments to the immense creative talents of the queer community and drawn from all walks of life, glide down Oxford Street to the thunderous adulation of tens of thousands of revellers. The theme guiding the parade's 48th edition is ECSTATICA, which celebrates joy as power, protest and connection. Unfortunately, entries for this cavalcade of queerness have now closed, however you can still get down and share in the love. A word to the wise, though — unless you've bought tickets to one of the many Parade events held by pubs and clubs with a view of the route (or you have a friend with a balcony overlooking Oxford Street), get there early as spots will go fast. There'll be accessible viewing areas on Flinders Street, while Glitter Club at Taylor Square will put you as close to the action as possible without stepping onto the route itself — unfiltered, unforgettable and right in the heart of the Parade. Image: Ash Penin.
Longstanding Bondi favourite Da Orazio has reopened in its original home, complete with a new accompanying bar, Orazietto, joining it next door. That's the news since March 2022, and comes with hallmarks of the original venue — including its red door and a heap of fan-favourite dishes — alongside inventive new additions to the venue's array of Italian eats. In 2023, Da Orazio was even awarded a chef's hat by the Good Food Guide. "In Italian we say, 'il primo amore non si scorda mai', which means the first love you never forget," says the restaurant's renowned owner and head chef Orazio D'Elia. "Da Orazio was my firstborn, my first love, so to be able to bring the venue back to life means so much to me and my team. I can't wait for all our Da Orazio friends to return, and welcome new friends." Inside, the 90-seat restaurant has undergone a makeover, sporting a fresh new look, but classic dishes like rotisserie porchetta with focaccia and antipasti share plates haven't changed. Alongside these mainstays a fancy new pizza menu is among the new additions. The restaurant uses a new contemporary pizza dough recipe for the bases that they promise make the bases "lighter and more digestible". Next door, Orazietto seats up to 40 people and doesn't take reservations. The atmosphere is more casual and you can swing by for a quick drink, but all the food from Da Orazio is still on offer. Da Orazio Appears in: The Best Italian Restaurants in Sydney for 2023
The Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel has been an east Sydney stalwart for over 190 years — receiving somewhat regular refurbs to keep up with the times. The historic facade is now Miami mint green and is overall marked with an old-world seaside charm. Stripy umbrellas, schoolyard benches and tres cute Breton-striped waitstaff add to the retro styling. The Beach Club is a place that serves up the kind of beachy-cool-baby thing that Sydney should do so well but doesn't always get so right. With sprawling outdoor seating, a fresh and simple menu and a view so palm-tree perfect it could be a postcard, the hotel just exudes easy elegance. And the food always delivers. From breakfast through to dinner, you'll much on European classics made from local and seasonal produce. With its location by the water, you should also expect a smattering of seafood to adorn each of the menus. You can even rock up to Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel for takeaway dining options — with the pizzas being an ever-popular choice for those hitting up the local beaches. [caption id="attachment_789912" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] A long selection of local and European wines and the usual beer suspects line the bar – with the ever-summery Aperol spritzes taking over the decks each and every summer. At its heart, the place is a pub, and that's what works so well. There are lots of mismatched tables, the order-and-pick-up-at-the-bar thing clicks and the crowd is cruisey. It's fun but not too flash with enough pearly whites around to know you're kicking it with the cool kids. Appears in: The Best Pubs in Sydney The Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney
They say there are no more original ideas, and never has that felt more true than today. Announced today, Instagram has launched a new feature that lets users share photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. If it sounds uncannily like Snapchat, that's probably because it is. Rolling out globally over the next few weeks on iOS and Android devices, Instagram Stories is being sold as a way to relieve fears that you're posting on the app too much. According to a post on the company blog, the new feature "lets you share all the moments of your day, not just the ones you want to keep on your profile. As you share multiple photos and videos, they appear together in a slideshow format: your story." Users will be able to view the stories of people they follow via a bar at the top of their feed, although they won't be able to like and comment on them (you can still send a private message letting someone know how #dope they look). And if you feel particularly attached to a photo in your story, you can change it to a regular post with the touch of a button. You'll also be able to hide stories from particular followers if you so choose. As for the elephant in the room, Instagram hasn't shied away from the fact that they're copying one of their competitors. Asked by TechCrunch about the obvious similarities between Instagram Stories and Snapchat, Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom admitted that Snapchat deserved "all the credit," before going on to point out that tech companies borrow ideas all the time. "When you are an innovator, that's awesome. Just like Instagram deserves all the credit for bringing filters to the forefront. This isn't about who invented something. This is about a format, and how you take it to a network and put your own spin on it," said Systrom. "Facebook invented feed, LinkedIn took on feed, Twitter took on feed, Instagram took on feed, and they all feel very different now and they serve very different purposes. But no one looks down at someone for adopting something that is so obviously great for presenting a certain type of information." That may technically be true, but even by Silicon Valley standards, this is pretty bloody blatant. https://vimeo.com/177180549
Team Zissou, pack your vintage suitcase and meet us in Italy. Wes Anderson has designed a bar/cafe in Milan. Snuggled inside Prada's new art and culture complex, Fondazione Prada, set to open this weekend, Bar Luce has been designed by the baron of twee himself — and it predictably looks straight out of one of his films. As if planning a theme park with Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh wasn't enough work. Resembling some kind of Grand Budapest Hotel lobby cafe, Anderson's cafe is filled with pastel Formica furniture, faux-cornice patterned wallpaper, veneered wood wall panels and terrazzo flooring — an attempt to recreate the vibe of a typical Milanese cafe. The aesthetic, according to Fondazione Prada, is reminiscent of '50s and '60s Italian popular culture; something Anderson actually employed for his Prada short film Castello Cavalcanti, starring (as always) the excellent Jason Schwartzman. Anderson's also given aesthetic nods to Italian neorealist cinema classics like 1951's Miracolo a Milano (Miracle in Milan) and 1960's Rocco e i suoi fratelli (Rocco and His Brothers), both set in Milan. But for modern Anderson fans, there's even a Zissou pinball machine. One to usually keep things symmetrical, Anderson told Fondazione Prada, "There is no ideal angle for this space. It is for real life, and ought to have numerous good spots for eating, drinking, talking, reading, etc. While I do think it would make a pretty good movie set, I think it would be an even better place to write a movie. I tried to make it a bar I would want to spend my own non-fictional afternoons in." The Bar Luce menu is yet to be revealed, but we're going to hope there's a few Anderson references in there; perhaps sweet lime drinks, Mendl's Courtesan au Chocolats, or Red Remarkable winter apples. If you're stopping Milan, Bar Luce is open to the public and can be accessed from Via Orobia, Prada. It's open from May 9, from 9am to 10pm. Via Wired. Images: Candy, Prada and Fondazione Prada.
Spotify had best watch its back, because there's a brand new music streaming service in town. Launching this week, BitTorrent Now is an Android and soon to be iOS and Apple TV app that lets users stream ad-supported music and video, with a special focus on curated content that might otherwise fly under the radar. While BitTorrent is probably best known as a way of sneakily pirating TV shows, the company has actually been helping artists distribute their work for years. Since launching their BitTorrent Bundle service in 2013, they've worked with Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, comedian David Cross and countless other lesser-known filmmakers, musicians and miscellaneous creatives. Artists who make their work available via BitTorrent Now can choose whether or not they wish to participate in the ad program. If they opt not to, they can instead make their work available for purchase, or upload it for free without any ads whatsoever. According to the company, artists will receive 70 percent of revenue generated by ads on their videos, and 90 percent of revenue if they chose to place their content behind a paywall. BitTorrent will also make a concerted effort to curate content on the app, in order to help artists find an audience and vice versa. The app includes trending and new release sections, and allows users to build a list of favourites. Nothing too revolutionary — perhaps the most interesting thing about it is the focus on smaller artists, who'll hopefully be able to use the platform to make a name for themselves. No word yet on if/when BitTorrent Now will be available in Australia. Via Engadget.
What is it? Can I sit on it? Do I put my coffee on it? Mindbending origami furniture that confuses us all is by no means a new idea, but this designer has put a stunning modern spin on a tried and true design tactic. UAE-based designer Aljoud Lootah has created a brand new furniture collection called the 'Oru Series', which both fascinates and terrifies us with its perplexing angularity. But yes, you can put your books, coffee and butt on all of them. Designed for Dubai's Design Days 2015 event, Lootah's series debuted this just week. Taking cues from the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, the bite-sized 'Oru' series is made up of a chair, table lamp, mirror and cabinet; all created from copper, felt and the glorious, glorious badassery that is teak wood. "The name 'Oru' originates from the Japanese words 'to fold', and the idea behind the designs is to show that folding a flat, two-dimensional sheet can create aesthetically appealing functional three-dimensional forms," says Lootah on her website. "The products, with their faceted design looking like complex folds but with sophisticated simplicity, are a modern interpretation of an ancient form of art." Oru collection Oru cabinet Oru lamp Oru chair Oru mirror Via Design Boom. Images: Aljoud Lootah.
You've got two days off and the weather is set to be stunning — clearly, the travel gods are calling you away for an epic day trip from Sydney. And when your starting location is Sydney, you've got a wealth of places to visit within a few hours' drive. Whether you fancy lounging the afternoon away at a pool, working up an appetite on a countryside cycle trail or seeking out the freshest seafood on the coast, there are plenty of spots calling out. It's time to load up the car, book a GoGet or hop on the train and escape the big city. Read on to find ten of the best outposts that deliver everything you want from a day trip out of Sydney. Recommended reads: The Best Out-of-Town Ocean Pools Near Sydney The Best Glamping Spots in NSW The Best Places to Stay on the Central Coast A Weekender's Guide to Jervis Bay [caption id="attachment_695928" align="alignnone" width="1920"] ANZAC Memorial Walk, Destination NSW[/caption] FOR ART AND SURFING: NEWCASTLE Downtown Newcastle is brimming with culture and it's only a stone's throw from the sea. The CBD has independent retailers, small bars and restaurants that rival the likes of most Australian capital cities. If you arrive early, settle among the bright tiles, artworks and plants of Ground Up Espresso in Carrington, a waterfront suburb on Newcastle Harbour's north shore — or save yourself for a five-course meal at hatted restaurant Subo. Booze your afternoon away at Newie's local brewery, The Foghorn, or soak up some sun at one of the beachside pubs, like Mereweather Surfhouse. Or if you want to experience spectacular locally sourced produce with an unbeatable view over Newcastle, try the Roundhouse. Wherever you end up during your day trip, the waterfront is never more than a nip away, with the tranquil stillness of Newcastle Harbour on one side and surf beaches on the other. Go for a dip at the famed Newcastle Ocean Baths and, if you're able to hang around until sunset, finish your day with a stroll along the spectacular ANZAC Memorial Walk. Newcastle is two hours drive or three hours by train north of Sydney. [caption id="attachment_677929" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] FOR SEAFOOD AND SWIMS: WOY WOY When you want to get out of Sydney for a coastal day trip — but don't want to drive too far — the Central Coast is your best bet. And, just 75 minutes in a car or the train will get you to the quaint seaside town of Woy Woy. Here, you can have a seaside feast at Woy Woy Fisherman's Wharf then head over to Frankie's Rooftop for a spritz. Or, if you're more into pasta than seafood, you can head to Young Barons for lunch — it's an absolute win. If you've got a car, make a detour to the nearby Bouddi Coastal Trail — the eight-kilometre hike winds past plenty of lookouts and beaches. Pack your snorkelling gear, too — we recommend heading to the sheltered Lobster Beach, keeping an eye out for dolphins. Woy Woy is a 75-minute drive or 80-minute train ride from Sydney. [caption id="attachment_692016" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bannisters Port Stephens[/caption] FOR POOLSIDE RELAXING: PORT STEPHENS Port Stephens lucked out when Bannisters arrived back in 2018, bringing a luxurious hotel and, most importantly, a Rick Stein restaurant. And what better way to shake off the big smoke than by sitting in a breezy space, overlooking still water, and working your way through Coffs Harbour prawns, or Singapore chilli blue swimmer crab? Beyond that, Port Stephens offers plenty of outdoor escapades, from its 26 beaches to camel riding and sandboarding down the Southern Hemisphere's biggest sand dunes. We also highly recommend a stay at the Hampton-style boutique hotel, Anchorage Port Stephens, where waterfront decadence is the name of the game. Port Stephens is a three-hour drive north of Sydney. [caption id="attachment_774139" align="alignnone" width="1920"] John Yurasek/DPIE[/caption] FOR BOATING AND BUSHWALKING: BEROWRA The stunning hamlet of Berowra is literally encircled by natural beauty — it's within Berowra Valley National Park, with Cowan Creek and Berowra Creek running either side of the suburb. If you're driving, get your bearings with a stop at Barnetts Lookout. After a wander around Berowra Village, head to Berowra Waters for ferry rides, a spot of kayaking, nature walks and some lazy riverside reading. If you're looking to add a dose of luxury to your stay, make a booking for a hatted feast at Berowra Waters Inn. Berowra is a 45-minute drive or an hour-long train journey from Sydney CBD. [caption id="attachment_697582" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Boathouse Hotel Patonga[/caption] FOR HIKES AND BRUNCH: PEARL BEACH AND PATONGA Unlike so many coastal areas, Pearl Beach is fiercely protected from development. Just 500 or so residents live here and, because the village is National Trust-listed, further construction is banned. It truly is a world of its own, perched on a picturesque beach and surrounded by bushland. You can spend your days dissolving into sand and sea, or, if you want a work out, take on the Pearl Beach to Patonga walk. At the other end, you'll find the Boathouse Hotel, where you can tuck into seafood plates, crumbed dory burgers and buckets of prawns (and even stay the night if you don't feel like driving home after all that). Meanwhile, back in Pearl Beach, there's hatted restaurant Pearls on the Beach and, for more casual fare, the Pearl Beach Cafe and General Store. Pearl Beach is a 90-minute drive north of Sydney. [caption id="attachment_743309" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Liam Forster[/caption] FOR CASCADES AND BLOSSOMS: LEURA AND KATOOMBA If Katoomba is the busiest village in the Blue Mountains, Leura is the prettiest — making the neighbouring towns the perfect places to visit on a day trip out of Sydney. For great coffee, head to Frankly My Dear on Katoomba's main drag. A little later on, you can treat yourself at 8 Things — a small restaurant with a capacity of just 10 people and just eight dishes on the menu, each one representing a different country. You've got to see the sights, too — the fairy-like Leura Cascades are lovely for cooling off on a warm day, and be sure to take a final peek of the Three Sisters at sunset. Leura is a 90-minute drive or two-hour train ride from Sydney. [caption id="attachment_770408" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] FOR A COOL COUNTRY CHANGE: BOWRAL When you fancy a cooler climate, jump on the highway to Bowral. Found in the Southern Highlands — 600 metres above sea level — this pretty country town is usually a few degrees cooler than Sydney. Over the past few years, several new eateries have opened up, including The Mill Cafe, set inside an 1885 building shared with start-ups and small businesses; and Harry's on Green Lane, a welcoming bar, where you can sit in a citrus grove, while sipping on local cool-climate wines and sharing fancy plates. Another culinary highlight of the town is idyllic cafe The Press Shop, which is located right next to the mega antique store Dirty Janes. This expansive warehouse is an emporium of vintage fashion, homewares and collectables. You'll discover something new-to-you on every visit. Bowral is a 90-minute drive southwest of Sydney. FOR LOOKOUTS AND CYCLING: WOLLONGONG If diverse, sandy adventures are crucial to your day-tripping joy, Wollongong's your destination. No fewer than 17 beaches line the coast. To get some invigorating perspective, visit one or all of the six local lookouts. If you're keen to work up a sweat, the waterfront Thirroul to Port Kembla cycle path will keep you busy (and you can have a swim at the end), or take on the Mount Kembla hike. When you're ready to eat and drink, head to the North Wollongong Hotel's leafy beer garden or Five Barrel Brewing for a cold one, Babyface Kitchen for a fancy feed and finish your night at one of the city's many live music venues like La La La's. Novotel Wollongong Northbeach is a great place to stay, too. Wollongong is a 90-minute drive or a two-hour train ride directly south of Sydney. [caption id="attachment_749647" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] FOR BLOWHOLES AND ROCK POOLS: KIAMA When the southeast wind is blowing strong, Kiama's blowhole is at its most powerful. The wind sends waves into the rock aperture, compressing air and sending a spectacular spout into the air. Few people know there's a second, albeit smaller, blowhole found a few minutes drive south, in Tingira Crescent, aptly named Little Blowhole. Swimmers and surfers, you have your decision-making cut out for you, from one of Kiama's ocean pools or pick a spot along the long, wild stretch of Bombo Beach. Kiama's main street is laden with cafes, ice creameries and restaurants and, if you have enough time, side trips to the satellite villages of Gerringong (to the south) and Jamberoo (inland) are worthwhile. Kiama is clearly one of our favourite day trip destinations out of Sydney, but we recommend you stay longer — if you can get the time off. Kiama is a two-hour drive or a nearly three hour train ride from Sydney. [caption id="attachment_772899" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tinkler Wines by Destination NSW[/caption] FOR WINE AND RIVERSIDE PICNICS: POKOLBIN For a day trip that involves wine tasting, rolling paddocks and maybe some cycling, make tracks to Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley. The locality is dotted with cellar doors, vineyards and restaurants. If you're keen to get on two wheels as soon as possible, hire an e-bike from Sutton Estate and conquer the Hunter Valley Cycleway, which tours a dozen wineries and a microbrewery. Alternatively, just settle in for a long lunch at the wine lover's playground, Brokenwood Wines, or linger over a salumi and cheese platter in a converted church at Usher Tinkler Wines. Pokolbin is a two-hour drive northwest of Sydney. Next time you're looking to head out of Sydney, 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. Top image: Patonga Boathouse.
Birds chirp, rainbows form and the sun shines a little brighter over Moore Park — the award-winning Sydney Dog Lovers Show is returning to the Royal Hall of Industries and Hordern Pavilion for a second year of pats, licks and parades. And yes, the dedicated puppy cuddle zone is returning. Bounding into Moore Park's two biggest venues on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August, the Sydney Dog Lovers Show will see thousands of dedicated pooch fans celebrating the noble four-legged monarch of human companionship. There'll be dozens of furry friends available for adoption from rescue groups across NSW in the CANIDAE Rescue Dog Zone, where you can learn up on what's actually involved with adoption. Champion canines, including Dr Katrina Warren’s admittedly kickass Wonderdogs, will throw down their mad skills in live doggy demonstrations including agility, flygility (whatever that means) and frisbee shows. Plus, there's going to be an Explosive Detective Dog (EDD) demo presented by the Australian Defence Force simulating a mock checkpoint in a war scenario, alongside a special tribute to Australian military working dogs over the decades. Dogs, amiright? But hold up, you came here to cuddle pooches. We're getting there. Punters can make their way to the Pat-A-Pooch zone, where you can cuddle up to over 30 of Australia’s most lovable and popular breeds from puppy to adult dogs — we're talking uppity Dachshunds to fluffball Samoyeds, all up in your grill. This was undeniably the main attraction of last year's event, and gives kitten cafes a run for their money. There's plenty more happening over the two days of furry friended fun. Not sure which type of schnoochie is perfect for you? Sign up for a Perfect Match session where you'll be paired with your ultimate dog breed. Already found your tail-waggin' soulmate? Get some expert tips on training, behaviour, first-aid and nutrition in seminars by some of Australia's big name vets: James and Anthony from Village Vets Australia on Foxtel’s The LifeStyle Channel, Bondi Vet Dr Lisa Chimes, LauraVissaritis and Dr Katrina Warren. Plus, there's going to be a doggie kissing booth. Yep, pucker up. Sydney Dog Lovers Show returns for the second time at the Royal Hall of Industries and Hordern Pavilion in Moore Park on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August. Open both days from 10am - 5pm. Tickets are $20 online or $25 on-site (Adult, ages 16 and over), $9 online or $12 onsite (ages 5 to 16, kids under 5 FREE). Everything is free (including cuddles) once you have purchased your ticket, obviously excepting food and drink. To book tickets or for more info and adorable dog pictures, head to the website.
Perched on absolute prime cliff frontage at Bondi's southern end, the Icebergs Dining Room and Bar delivers five-star luxe for both your eyes and mouth. As you soak up those sweeping, multimillion-dollar views, feast on a two-hatted menu, driven by fresh produce inspired by regional Italian cuisine. The menu is a portal to the Italian coastline, with starters of bluefin tuna crudo, grilled octopus salad and cacio e pepe, followed by mains like tuna steak, kangaroo ragu gnocchi, king prawn pasta gamberi and market fish. Save room for desserts like tiramisu, Whittaker's chocolate mousse and plum sorbet. Come hungry and order a tasting menu for a curated lineup that ticks every box. [caption id="attachment_806750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] Lacking the cash for a sit-down? Settle for a cocktail and snacks in the Icebergs Bar. If you're in luck, a seat will be free. Signature and seasonal cocktails are aplenty, with a star of the show being the Icebergs Martini N.5 with Roku Gin, IDRB Vermouth Blend, Tempus Fugit Bitters, verjus and fennel. The wine list takes a quality over quantity approach, and drinks are rounded out with a strong lineup of beers, ciders and RTD. If you're planning a special event then be sure to book the Pacific Dining Room. Awash with blue and overlooking the sea, this is the perfect place for a special catch-up with the besties. With a private bar and separate staff they're able to cater for any kind of event, allowing you to kick back and relax while you're eyes are firmly fixed to the horizon.
Billionaire entrepreneur and possible mad scientist Elon Musk is one step closer to making his Futurama-style transportation system a reality. After first proposing the high-speed, compressed air-powered Hyperloop back in 2012, the Tesla, PayPal and Zip2 cofounder has just put down a lease on a warehouse in downtown Los Angeles, establishing the headquarters for Hyperloop Technologies Incorporated. Described by Musk as a "cross between a Concorde and a railgun and an air hockey table," the proposed Hyperloop system would consist of a long route of elevated vacuum-sealed steel tubes, through which pressurised capsules ride cushions of air at speeds of up to 1220km/h. Designed to transport both freight and brave human passengers, Musk’s first proposed route would run from LA to San Francisco, cutting the roughly six and a half-hour drive time to just 35 minutes. If you think that this idea sounds awesome, then you’re right — it's straight-up awesome. There are however still a few small details to work out. Despite Musk’s initial assertions that the project would cost a 'mere' US$6 billion to complete, several economists have put the price tag closer to ten times that, if not more. There’s also the possibility that people might be a little reluctant to seal themselves inside a windowless metal pod travelling at breakneck speeds through the desert — although if the proposed US$20 ticket price holds true, it may be a preferable alternative to flying. For those of you who geek out over science, Gizmag published a pretty comprehensive breakdown of Musk’s 2013 proposal over here. The next step in the system’s development will involve an 8km test track, with Musk identifying Texas as a possible location. Hyperloop Technologies CEO Dirk Ahlborn last year estimated that a commercially operable Hyperloop “can be built within the decade.” Via LA Times.
Uncle Ming's is almost undetectable from the street — only a hastily scrawled chalk sign gives this basement bar away. Once you descend down a narrow flight of steps and enter, don't be surprised if your senses are momentarily stunned. The soft red glow of caged light blubs, vintage glamour shots on the walls and delicate wisps of incense perfuming the air invite revellers into the enticing debauchery of a 1920's Chinese speakeasy. Unsurprisingly, Asian flavours abound on the extensive cocktail menu, with cute takes on classics like Uncle Ming's version of a negroni — dubbed Wax On, Wax Off, made with gin, whisky umeshu and cynar. Leaning into the kitsch, you can also order cocktails to share, which are served in traditional teapots. Or keep things simple and go for one of The Favourites — Uncle's is whisky and fresh apple juice, while Auntie's is house-spiced rum and fresh apple juice. Both are delightful. There are beers from Japan to Singapore, sake, soju, umeshu and a heap of Japanese whisky to savour, although you can also go local with one of the many Aussie wines on offer. And if you're on the wagon, there are plenty of mocktails to choose from that are equally packed with Asian flare. Uncle Ming's may be a bar first but it's also a dumpling house. Choose from classic combos, from pork and chive to chicken and mushrooms. Also worth a try are the barbecue buns, spring rolls, takoyaki octopus balls and Ming's Wings — chicken wings stuffed with pork mince, cabbage and leek. Appears in: Sydney's Best Underground Bars for 2023
For eight years, Pilu Kiosk — the cafe-shack at Freshwater attached to the eponymous double-hatted restaurant — was a Northern Beaches go-to for coffee and paninis. After closing down and being revamped, it reopened in March 2017 as Pilu Baretto. For avid food connoisseurs, this means Italian wines, cocktails and fresh Sardinian dishes within view of beautiful Freshwater Beach. Design-wise, the team kept the space's beach shack look and feel, with the addition of a copper-topped bar, timber surfaces, greenery and seating along the existent hedge overlooking the water. During the day, beach-goers can expect traditional cafe fare including muffins, toasties and paninis. As the sun goes down, Pilu Baretto's menu shifts to a sophisticated selection of Italian dishes — think cured meats, slow roasted pig with pumpkin, quince and buffalo fru, scallops with chickpea cream, chestnut mushrooms and Pilu bottarga, or squid ink spaghetti with mussels, cuttlefish, tomato and friarielli. Match your choices with Italian wines by the glass, craft beers and creative takes on classic cocktails. Appears in: The Best Italian Restaurants in Sydney for 2023
Back in 2022, a new venue from Sydney hospitality giant Merivale arrived in its Ivy precinct. MuMu was the latest venture from beloved local chef Dan Hong (Ms G's, Mr Wong), serving up south-east Asian street food-inspired dishes. The restaurant pulls ideas from trips Hong, Merrivale CEO Justin Hemmes and Head Chef Oliver Hua took through Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Vietnam. Open for lunch at midday and staying open until late in the evening, MuMu offers an all-day selection of south-east Asian eats alongside wine, cocktails and two hefty banquet menus. On the food menu, Hong recommends the selection of house-made sambals, the king prawns cooked in white pepper with leek and coriander and the pork spare ribs with a tamarind glaze and Vietnamese mint. The set menus are available for groups of four and will get you the king prawns, lamb cutlets, nasi goreng and a collection of sides and starters. If you're coming with a group, be sure to book your banquet for one of the two private dining rooms, that have been elegantly designed to complement the South-East Asian menu, with ambient lighting, bright and fun furniture and eccentric artworks. Glancing over the drinks menu, Hong's popular yuzu slushies immediately jump out, but once you've started with a fun icy beverage you can turn your attention to something more serious. Opt for one of the inventive cocktails on offer like the Riot Rose spritz with blood orange, rhubarb and passionfruit, or the Suntory Highball with Suntory Toki, yuzu, ginger and fizz. The music and the lights are bright at MuMu, with Hong looking to create a vibrant venue for any time of the day. The restaurant combines the inner-city dining experience of neighbour Bar Totti's, while complementing the precinct's late-night spots like Ivy and Jimmy's Falafel. Top image: Jiwon Kim
Charging your smartphone will soon be as foolproof as placing it on your coffee table. Taking already existing technology and fusing it into your own home, Swedish retail giants and regular media-baiting happening creators Ikea have jumped on wireless power capabilities to release built-in wireless charging furniture. According to the Wall Street Journal, this will be the first time built-in wireless chargers are available to consumers from a mass-market furniture retailer. Ikea made the big announcement on Sunday at Barcelona's Mobile World Congress. They've recruited the likes of Qi for the collection, a wireless power standard from the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). Alongside two other standards, this is one of the companies responsible for the wireless charging technology you would have already seen in airports, cafes and hotels and generally lost your shit over a few years ago. But until now, major furniture stores haven't taken advantage of the downright convenience of the technology, or the logic in embedding the charging capability in surfaces you already rest your smartphone on during charge times. So how does it work? Qi does away with all those dastardly cables and the annoyance of choosing between model connections, as the furniture itself is the one plugged in. When switched on, the lamp base, coffee table or side table's energy or bookshelf transfers to your smartphone or tablet (yep, maaaaagic), depending whether or not it supports Qi charging — there's 81 Qi-compatible types of smartphone, but iPhones aren't one of them, sorry Apple fans. Apparently the wireless charging-capable furniture will cost a mere $22 more than regular furniture from Ikea, proving the Swedish homeware giants truly have money to burn and credibility to gain. If all goes well with the embedded furniture line, you could be able to buy a wireless charging kit to fit to your existing, beloved dining table soon for about $34, which is a lot cheaper than replacing all those lost, broken chargers of yours. The wireless-charging furniture collection will hit Ikea shelves in Europe and the US on April, 15, followed by a global roll-out, so keep 'em crossed. Via Wall Street Journal.
If you're looking for ways to spoil the leading lady in your life (either Mum or another mother figure), we're here to help. Let's face it, your local pizza joint doesn't quite cut it (unless it's Bella Brutta) and the decibels at your favourite hole-in-the-wall ramen shop might be a little too high to allow for a meaningful chat. This is your chance to deliver something memorable, and earn some serious brownie points on the side. This Mother's Day, take your mum out for a long boozy brunch, high tea, or an exceptional dinner at some of our city's best and parent-friendly establishments. You've got enough selection anxiety on your hands with choosing a present, so we've picked out our favourite mum-worthy spots. These are the best Mother's Day restaurants, bars and cafes in Sydney. The Grounds of Alexandria, Alexandria After all those late nights you thrust upon your parents, the least you can do is rise a little early to avoid the lines at The Grounds of Alexandria. The cafe's buttermilk pancakes will rival mum's finest offerings and a Grounds coffee will probably beat anything you were thinking of brewing at home. Nothing says "thank you for tolerating me all these years" quite like an enchanted high tea at The Grounds leafy oasis, where you can enjoy poached lobster choux with créme fraîche and caviar, a decadent passionfruit and mango cremeux, or a truffled mushroom and onion tarlet. Nour, Surry Hills Want to take Mum to a buzzing Surry Hills space serving contemporary Middle Eastern cuisine? Nour's menu mixes tried-and-true classics with bold experimentations — pairing glazed lamb shoulder with smoked mussels on a falafel crumpet, for example. On Mother's Day, the pastel-hued, airy restaurant is serving a special set menu for $129 per person. For the special occasion, there will be chicken bits shawarma, charcoal octopus skewers, woodfired haloumi, twice-cooked baharat duck and a woodfired coconut basbousa with custard and ice cream for dessert. You both deserve that kind of feast on a Sunday. Misc, Parramatta Out west, spoil mum with an unforgettable Mediterranean spread within the heart of Parramatta Park at the expansive and sleek Misc. The impressive 300-seat venue is the work of Executive Chef Sebastian Geray, collaborator Joel Bennetts and restaurateur Jad Nehmetallah (whom you may recognise from Gogglebox). Swing by on the big day for Misc's special-edition set menu that's designed to be shared, with plenty of sliced charcuterie, dips and buttery woodfired bread, followed by crumbed chicken cutlets or a gnocchi alfredo, with tiramisu for dessert. Not a bad way to spoil Mum on her big day. The Fullerton Hotel, Sydney Want to treat your mum to a stylish high tea with great service? Look no further than The Fullerton Hotel. The lavish dining room is slick, leafy and spacious. The sophisticated setting is the perfect spot to spoil Mum with a luxe dining experience in one of Sydney's most stunning venues. This year, the afternoon offering, available throughout the Mother's Day weekend, is in partnership with Martin Place jewellery brand Calleija. The decadent bites are based on lavender colours and gems, including sweet treats like London fog verrine and vanilla cassis roulade, alongside savoury snacks like chicken and pumpkin ballotine, smoked salmon sandwiches, and potted shrimps and egg. Bookings start at $90 per person, and can be upgraded to include flutes of Veuve Clicquot. The Bob Hawke Leisure Centre and Lucky Prawn, Marrickville This is the place to book if you're after more casual dining. And don't worry, Mum will definitely approve — paired with a cold pint, she'll be treated to a range of Asian-fusion and retro Australiana delights that subvert her expectations. For the occasion, the team has put together a 'Mum Cha' menu that will please anyone and their mums. Expect steamed scallops with ginger, dim sum, prawn toast and decadent, deep-fried Viennetta. To boost the inevitable income of brownie points, you can pre-order bubbles, flowers and special Hawke's merchandise that will already be on your table when you arrive, showing Mum that you take her special day very, very seriously. Sinclair's, Penrith For riverside dining, book a spot at Sinclair's in Sydney's West. Penrith's sophisticated restaurant pairs serene scenes of the Nepean River with quality modern Australian eats. For Mother's Day, the Sinclair's team has continued to do what they best: showcase produce from the Nepean Valley and Blue Mountains for some truly divine flavours. For just under $100 per person, you can treat Mum to luxury dining with the expansive venue's Mother's Day menu. The celebratory spread includes Sonoma sourdough with beef fat butter and Katoomba honey; confit Windsor duck croustade with local quince; and iron bark-smoked Arcadia chicken with green romesco and wild grains; along with a glass of complimentary sparkling on arrival. Four Hundred Bar & Kitchen, North Sydney Take Mum to a bottomless brunch for a fiesta worthy of her special day. Four Hundred Bar & Kitchen — North Sydney's sunlight-filled venue — is offering a bottomless bonus on its usual Mexican fare to celebrate the lucky lady. This two-hour booking will have you working through a delicious arrangement of Mexican share plates and bottomless margs and spritzes. And to give Mum a pleasant surprise, add a fresh custom flower bouquet to your booking to personalise your table and put a smile on her face. The Old Fitzroy Hotel, Woolloomooloo Expect The Old Fitz to be busy on Mother's Day. That doesn't mean you should avoid it — there's plenty of room, just make sure to book early. Run by the hospitality experts at Odd Culture Group, this lively pub boasts a sophisticated food offering focused on French cuisine. Soak up the sunshine from The Old Fitz's breezy outdoor seating or leafy, sunlit bistro as you sip your way through cold bevs — plus, the outpost is very dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your beloved pooch along, too. For eats, the Mother's Day menu stars its usual French-Australian staples, from the baguette and lamb scrumpet to the roast carrot salad, alongside a hefty Sunday roast featuring crackling pork belly and slow-roasted squash. Casa Esquina, Balmain Balmain residents, here's a venue that's a guaranteed a home run. Casa Esquina's gorgeous outdoor dining paired with its laidback Argentinian menu makes it arguably one of the top spots for spending some quality time with mum this year. The restaurant's set four-course menu will alleviate the stress of choosing, with dishes such as snapper ceviche, smoked cauliflower pasta, and braised lamb shoulder with tomatillo and coriander salsa. Botanic House, CBD If your mum has a love for greenery and doesn't fancy straying from the inner city, her ideal dining destination has to be Botanic House, tucked away inside Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden. With a tasting menu crafted by celebrated chef Luke Nguyen, diners are set for a real treat. Dishes include beef skewers with cucumber, snow fungus and Asian chimichurri, alongside lemon myrtle chicken with jelly fish, cabbage and Asian herbs salad. With a glass of Mumm Marlborough Brut on arrival and a decadent coconut cake with pandan, sorbet and sticky rice for dessert, the $140 per person price tag seems worth the expenditure. Manly Pavilion, Manly Raise a glass to the most important woman — or women — in your life with Manly Pavilion's gorgeous waterfront view as a backdrop. If Mum is located in Sydney's north and getting her across The Spit is a tough sell, this waterside spot is a crowd-pleaser. Indulge in a fragrant Garden Spritz or bottle of Chandon Blac de Blancs as you soak up the stunning surrounds. This specially-curated luncheon will span three tasty courses and will also include a complimentary family portrait photographed by Iris & Me photography. [caption id="attachment_786069" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Walsh[/caption] Infinity at Sydney Tower, CBD Make this Mother's Day unforgettable by treating Mum to a dinner that she wouldn't ordinarily treat herself to. Take quality time to the next level — about 81 floors up, specifically — at Infinity inside Sydney Tower, with an ultra-luxe dinner that'll shower Mum with gifts throughout. From a welcome glass of Mumm Grand Cordon to a live jazz band playing ambient tunes and an exclusive box of tempting truffles, Mum is guaranteed to feel absolutely spoilt with Infinity's limited-time offering. [caption id="attachment_996107" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Serhat Karakas[/caption] Kolkata Social, Newtown Kolkata Social is all about Bengali cuisine, so if Mum wants a bit of a kick in her feast, this is your spot. Kolkata's menu is all about home cooking, and the Mother's Day set menu looks to follow suit with a range of traditional, unapologetically Indian dishes for $75 per person. You'll find no butter chicken or cheese and garlic naan here, but it's a fantastic choice for those who dabble in adventurous dining. St Siandra, Mosman Add a little extra sunshine to Mother's Day with a celebratory meal at the vibrant St Siandra. Sitting right on the water, Mosman's inviting venue takes cues from costal European summers, donning a sunny fit-out and spectacular waterfront views. Pair the restaurant's bright decor with a Mediterranean-inspired sharing menu led by Head Chef Sam McCallum, and you've secured one of the best Mother's Day itineraries. St Siandra's four-course menu will feature staple items like the soft potato flatbread with tahini; roast chicken with pearl onion, radicchio and jus gras; and beef cheek with almond, leeks and medjool dates. Plus, the menu can be amended to include vegetarian and kid-friendly options. Top image: Manly Pavilion
Headphones aren't your crappy, service station-bought, tinny pieces of shit anymore. They can help you get high, they can edit the sound around you, they can even respond to your own damn ear. An Australian-based startup called Nura has raised over a million bucks on Kickstarter to develop a new pair of headphones that respond to the listener's various ability to perceive sound — and they casually tailor your music to fit your inner ear perfectly. The project has just hit an unbelievable AUD$1.2 million on Kickstarter (people reeeaaally want a good set of headphones) and is headed up by a Melbourne-based team. Kyle Slater, Luke Campbell and Dragan Petrovic dreamt up the scheme before teaming up with engineer Wilson Shao. Together, they're the A-Team of futuristic cochlear science. Slater has a PhD in psychoacoustics, human machine interfaces and helped design the first bionic eye. Campbell is an MD who's spent his life studying the mechanics of hearing, performing surgeries (on, you guessed it, ears!) and has a PhD in hearing science. Dragan is an electrical engineer from Berkeley with experience in product management. What a dream squad. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXU3cZSJ2wg[/embed] So how does it work? "Some headphones sound tinny and lack beat, others have too much bass which drowns out the detail," says the Nura team on Kickstarter. "The acoustic separation of Nura's design allows for the deepest bass and clearest tones. "The over-ear cup delivers bass you can feel through your skin. The earbud prevents the bass from drowning out the detail and delivers crystal clear notes directly into your ear. Your brain combines the sensations into a fully immersive experience — you hear and you feel the music." The laundry list of achievements is probably one of the reasons their Kickstarter went off — these boys aren't playing around. But they're not the only ones getting serious (and weird) about audio quality. The future is now, so go right ahead and throw away your $2 pair of temporary headphones and prepare to hear a whole new woooooorldddd. Uh. Sorry. EAR-FREE HEADPHONES Earlier in the year, Sony unveiled their latest gadgetry: ear-free headphones. Concept N (very sci-fi name, you guys) sits around your neck and, using a series of multi-directional speakers, directs sound up towards the ears. It's a device for people who don't want to zone out completely, but still want to listen to their tunes. HEADPHONES THAT GET YOU HIGH Then, of course, there's the offering from Nervana, a startup from San Diego — a pair of headphones that gets you high. A low-power electric stimulation is synced up with whatever music you're listening to, triggering the release of dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin in the brain, which sounds like the perfect way to listen to music. The product has also been crowdfunded and isn't quite on the market yet, but testing is going well. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzpqWMM_HrY[/embed] SOUND-PERFECTING HEADPHONES Finally, there's Doppler Lab's crowdfunded Here earbuds. They're not exactly headphones, but 'sound perfectors'. The technology aims to equalise the noise of the world and perfect your experience of sound without the noise. They allow you to turn up the volume, bass and treble, mute sounds you don't want to hear (like crying babies on planes). Best bit? There's an 'Instagram your ears' function with premade filters to overlay your hearing with selective enhancements. Only in 2016.
Scenario: you’re having a few drinks with friends, eating corn chips, playing Cards Against Humanity and really trying to connect with your dark side… like, really trying to let all those politically incorrect thoughts out so they may guide your horrifying choices towards a CAH victory. There’s nothing too gross or inappropriate and everyone is cackling like ghouls and bonding over mutual evilness. And then there’s one friend who’s really uncomfortable. That one saintly friend with so much moral fibre they can barely stand the game and tut disapprovingly at all your funniest card drops. A real wet blanket. Imagine for a second that this party pooper was in charge of the entertainment for the evening and, in an attempt to foster neighbourliness and goodwill to all men, brought a new game... Cards for Humanity. “It’s fun, you guys! It’s a real winner!” they say, pouring virgin margaritas and placing a fruit tray down on the table. “I got it from Kickstarter, it’s meant to spark meaningful and insightful conversations!” “I have to go,” you scream, swiftly running off into the night “I left my hairdryer… in the oven.” And fin scenario. We don’t mean to alarm you but this could be a reality soon. Cards For Humanity, a card game that trades on your innate goodness, is in the works via the maker of dreams, Kickstarter. It was created by two good kids called Betsy and Hannah. Just look how goodhearted and sunbeamy they are: Although it lacks the nasty appeal of Cards Against Humanity, we concede that it would be good to play in any scenario where you can’t be your most evil self, such as work, church or with your grandparents. The pack includes such horrifically warm and fuzzy questions such as “What’s the craziest thing you have ever done for love?” and “If happiness was the national currency, what would make you wealthy?” and (oh god) "What would you wish on a shooting star?" that will really highlight your moral corruption and make you question your entire life. However, Cards For Humanity doesn’t include an answer deck allowing you craft warm, meaningful answers… or use a Cards Against Humanity answer deck to really spice things up. Check out Cards for Humanity's Kickstarter page over here.
