One may be forgiven for having thought that Double Bay was well past its heyday. What was once a fashionable enclave of the rich and famous had more recently been in repose. However, some well-renowned restaurateurs such as Simon Goh have spiced things up and are leading the way for Double Bay’s rebirth as one of Sydney’s trendy food hubs. Goh, the successful owner behind the Chinta Ria string of restaurants in Melbourne and Sydney, believes Double Bay has a promising future. So much so that he recently opened his latest enterprise, Chinta Kechil. It’s a refreshingly quirky Malay street eatery along the suburb’s main drag. “I think Double Bay has been a lost soul for a little while so we are trying to give it a bit of a rebirth”, he says, looking proudly around his vintage Asian cafe. Goh has successfully created an enticing Malaysian market street experience. He uses memories from his childhood growing up in a small village in Malaysia in the 1960s to construct a setting of quaint Asia that is both warm and stylish. “This is a street cafe, it’s about going back to nostalgia. If I want to go back to nostalgia, I’ve got to go back to what I’ve been brought up with. So, I’ve got to make it very pure and simple”, says Goh. Warm timber finishes, a variety of Malaysian sauce bottles, stacks of bamboo steamers piled high and a sea of red lanterns hanging overhead all give an authentic simplicity to the tiny space. As well as nostalgia, comfort is intrinsic to his culinary vision. “This is very much a comfort food menu where everything is laid out and easy to order” explains Goh. Hanging pictures of the menu food are labelled with their Malaysian names, reminiscent of the traditional signage at street hawker stalls in Kuala Lumpur or Penang. The dish he feels most connected to is the savoury sticky rice ($6.80), as it reminds him of his childhood. New to the Chinta repertoire, this black sticky rice dish is a keeper with its unique and earthy taste, aromatic Chinese seasoning and a satisfyingly chewy texture. Also exclusive to Double Bay is the sweet and sour tamarind fish laksa ($13.80), a fragrant and traditional dish that Goh’s team have tweaked to suit the western palate. Chinta aficionados will feel at home with finger food staples such as the vegetarian curry puffs ($5.80) and the irresistibly flaky roti bread ($4.80). The signature dish of steamy seafood laksa ($15.80) is the perfect winter warmer with its robust coconut broth, silky noodles and abundance of succulent prawns, calamari, tender chicken strips, fried tofu and flavoursome fishcakes. One of the real highlights is the Nasi Lemak Deluxe ($13.80), a coconut rice dish served with a tender chicken curry and an array of mixed condiments, including a sweet and sour sambal, refreshing pickled vegetables, crunchy peanuts and salty fried anchovies. The complex combination of flavours and well-balanced chilli yields a pleasant tingling sensation that extends well beyond your last bite. Completing the meal was a delectable dessert adapted from the popular Malaysian street food called kuih dadar. It is warm pandan pancake encasing an exquisitely moreish caramelised coconut and brown sugar filling. Despite the old adage ‘Double Bay, double pay’, Chinta Kechil is excellent value. The Chinta Kechil experience succeeds in transporting your senses to a Malay street eatery both atmospherically and through the fragrant Malaysian cuisine that combines flavours from Malay, Indian and Chinese influences. If Double Bay is going to make a comeback as a worthy restaurant precinct, Chinta Kechil is one of those leading the way. Widely recognised for his inventive dining concepts, Goh has plans to extend beyond the street style eatery into a downstairs restaurant. It will be a more elaborate dining experience resembling a vintage Asian jazz room, complete with live music. This phase of the expansion will be finished within the next four months. Watch this space; Chinta Kechil has only given us a taste of what’s to come.
Australia's latest environmental protests will span an entire week, featuring rallies, marches, flash mobs, sing-alongs and more. Organised by Extinction Rebellion Australia — which has been ramping up its actions around the country over the course of the year — the co-ordinated series of national events is once again designed to demand government action on climate change. Running until Sunday, October 13 in Australia's major cities, the protests form part of the group's international Spring Rebellion campaign. The rallies kicked off on Monday, with different activities planned each day in each location. Reports from the Spring Rebellion's first two days include inner-city road closures, groups of 'dead bees' blocking major thoroughfares and meditation sessions outside Victoria's parliament. They also include plenty of arrests — Victoria Police reports that, along with yesterday's arrests, 59 people were taken into custody in Melbourne today, as was a protestor who suspended himself from Brisbane's Story Bridge in a hammock. Like September's Global Climate Strike, which was overseen locally by School Strike 4 Climate, the current events aim to draw attention to the changing state of the global environment — drastic changes that've caused soaring temperatures, prolonged drought conditions, and the horrific bushfires that plagued Queensland and NSW last month. Extinction Rebellion's Aussie protestors are also focusing on three demands: that the government declares a climate emergency, and urgently communicate the need for change; that state and federal governments commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2025; and that a Citizens' Assembly on climate and ecological justice is convened. As always, disruptions and delays are expected as a result of the protest actions, including possible road closures and traffic diversions. If you're planning to join the crowds or need to consider your transport options for the week, here's how the events will go down in your city. [caption id="attachment_735589" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Extinction Rebellion SEQ[/caption] SYDNEY Extinction Rebellion's Sydney activities will change daily, with flash mobs meeting at Belmore Park at 9am tomorrow, Wednesday, October 9, before hopping on trains from Central Station and spreading their message through the rail network. From 12.30pm on Friday, October 11, protestors will literally place their heads in the sand (in holes that still allow enough room for them to breathe) on Manly Beach. At 9.30am on Saturday, October 12, they'll amass on the Coogee Beach Esplanade wearing blue and green, all to highlight the impact of climate change on the seas — and then, from 10.30am on Sunday, October 13, they'll descend on Bondi Beach to form a huge hourglass near the Icebergs end. For public transport and traffic updates each day, check Transport NSW and Live Traffic Sydney. MELBOURNE Melburnians can stop by the week-long family camp at Carlton Gardens, which forms Extinction Rebellion's local hub — it'll be holding arts and crafts, philosophy workshops, family-friendly Q&A sessions, music and performances throughout the week. From 3pm on Wednesday, October 9, they'll head to RMIT to rally, with traffic disruptions along Swanston Street likely. Then, from 7.30am on Friday, October 11, they'll perform a dress rehearsal for one of the group's next big actions — a blockade of the International Mining and Resources Conference between October 28–31 — by protesting outside of BHP's offices. The week culminates on Saturday, October 12 with the Nudie Parade, with folks stripping down to their underwear, painting their bodies with messages and marching from Carlton Gardens from 10am. For public transport and traffic updates each day, check Yarra Trams and Vic Traffic. BRISBANE Setting up shop in Queens Gardens on George Street, Brisbane boasts a jam-packed protest schedule — with flash mobs starting from outside the casino each morning until Friday, October 11. They'll gather from 7.30am, with sing-alongs taking place from noon each day, speakers hitting the microphone from 1pm daily, market stalls selling arts and crafts from 9am–5pm and a photobooth onsite as well. Live performances will also take place from 5pm, featuring bands on Tuesday and Wednesday, and a freestyle rap battle on Thursday. Tuesday will also see a public rally demanding action from the gas industry, which'll take place from midday at 32 Turbot Street, plus slam poetry in Queens Gardens from 7pm. On Wednesday, there'll be a weaving session at 10am in Queens Gardens, then a zero-waste gathering at the same site from 3pm. Come Thursday, protestors will stage a funeral procession down William Street to Parliament House from midday. And, on Friday, the group will occupy the William Jolly Bridge from 10am. For public transport and traffic updates each day, check Translink and Qld Traffic Metro. Extinction Rebellion's Spring Rebellion protests will take place at various times until Sunday, October 13. For further details, visit the organisation's website. Image: Extinction Rebellion Victoria
Chances, you'll smell Maverick before you see it. Tucked away behind a car dealer and Ulladulla Macca's, this isn't just a cafe, but a microroastery, too. Owner and obsessive barista Andrew Gibson worked his way around Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Europe before setting up shop on the South Coast. He knows his beans inside-out, including where to source those that are both ethical and tasty. Sink into a couch in the light-filled industrial space and order your brew of choice — be it a house blend or one of the ever-changing single origins, like the Blue Bianca from Indonesia, which has notes of grapefruit and tobacco. And, in case you're travelling with your best mate, puppaccinos also on the menu. Feeling a bit peckish after your drive? Take your pick of sweet treats – from vegan donuts and hand-crafted chocolates to fresh pastries. Also, back in the centre of town, Maverick has a sibling cafe called The Sunday Life, which is open seven days a week from 6am.
Since TAFE NSW announced three weeks ago it was offering 21 free online short courses to help Sydneysiders upskill during COVID-19, a whopping 85,000 people have enrolled. As a result, some of the courses are full — the medical administration course alone has 10,000 participants — but if you were keen to enrol, and just hadn't gotten around to it yet, you haven't missed out: new courses have just been unveiled. Announced by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian this morning, Thursday, April 30, the 13 new fee-free short courses replace the oversubscribed courses and are now available to complete online via TAFE NSW. The 21 total fee-free accredited courses are open to people over 17 who live or work in NSW and are an Australia or NZ citizen, permanent resident or humanitarian visa holder. You can also only enrol in a maximum of two courses. If you tick those boxes, you can now grow your digital skills with an introductory course to coding or cyber security, increase your medical knowledge with an introduction to infection prevention (with a focus on hand washing, PPE equipment and temperature control) or up your management nous with a Statement of Attainment in Leading Teams. Courses range in commitment from 3–11 hours a week for up to 26 weeks. These new courses add to TAFE NSW's existing fee-free short courses, which are available to those impacted by this season's devastating bushfires and women looking to launch a small business. Early last year, NSW Government also announced it was subsidising up to 100,000 TAFE courses and apprenticeships under its Smart and Skilled program. TAFE NSW has paused face-to-face courses. You can find out more about its COVID-19 response over here. To find out more about and enrol in one of TAFE NSW's fee-free online short courses, head to the TAFE NSW website.
While craft beer is often thought of as a relatively informal beverage, best paired with a burger or pizza, Frenchies Bistro and Brewery is mixing things up this November. This Sydney Beer Week, you'll be able to enjoy a multi-course dinner matched with tasty brews at the Rosebery brewery. With a lineup of four Frenchies brews, each paired with a dish created by the bistro team at its space in The Cannery, you won't just a great meal, but will learn the history of the beer, the origins of its style and a bit of info about how it's made. This experience aims to prove that beer and food matching can be every bit as complex as a wine degustation, and, arguably, more fun. While the menu has not been released just yet, it will be largely influenced by season and market availability. A ticket will set you back $85 for four courses with matching beers.
Suitcases at the ready: your latest excuse to not just dream of a getaway, but actively start looking forward to your next one, is here. Virgin is putting on another flight sale, and this one expands its usual Happy Hour promotions. For one day only, and for the first time ever, the airline is extending its weekly window for specials to a full day. That means that today, Thursday, February 23, you have until midnight AEDT to score a bargain fare to destinations around Australia. Included on the sale list is everywhere from the nation's capital cities to Sunshine State hotspots such as Hamilton Island, Cairns and the Gold Coast. So, whether you're keen to explore a different concrete playground than your own or to soak in some beach time on an endless summer, you've got options. A huge 250,000 discounted one-way flights are on offer, starting at at $55. As always, that price will get you from Sydney to Byron Bay, which is consistently the cheapest route during sales like this. Other cheap fares include Sydney to the Gold Coast from $89, Adelaide to Melbourne from $99, Brisbane to Hamilton Island from $119, Sydney to Hobart from $95 and Melbourne to Launceston from $69. And, the discounts apply both ways, and for economy seats. If you're wondering when you'll need to travel, the dates cover between Thursday, March 9–Friday, September 15, all varying per route. Get ready for autumn and winter getaways, or to start off spring with a break. As usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick — quicker than usual, in fact, given the midnight deadline. Virgin's day-long Happy Hour sale runs until midnight AEDT on Thursday, February 23 — unless sold out earlier. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
UPDATE: 4PM, JANUARY 20, 2017 After posting on Facebook earlier today that the NSW Police Commissioner was attempting to prohibit this weekend's rally in the Supreme Court, Keep Sydney Open have announced that the rally scheduled for tomorrow night — Saturday, January 21 — has been cancelled. Speaking in a live video on the group's Facebook page, KSO director Tyson Koh said that the Supreme Court has ruled the rally illegal, and as such, they will not be proceeding with the event. Koh said that he wanted to maintain KSO's peaceful and cooperative reputation with the police, and urged individuals — however frustrated and upset — to do the same. Sydney's nightlife lovers might have earned a 30-minute extension, following the Liquor Law Review, but it's certainly far from a repeal of the lockout laws. Consequently, Keep Sydney Open is teaming up with Sydney's ARIA-winning duo Flight Facilities for another rally, to be held in Kings Cross on the evening of Saturday, January 21 from 9pm. As fans would know, Flight Facilities has been continually outspoken in their opposition to the lockouts. After all, the duo played some of its first gigs after 3am at now-closed Kings Cross venues, including Hugo's, Soho, Tank Room and the Piano Room. "Having met in Kings Cross nearly nine years ago, the place holds a special place in our hearts," said Flight Facilities' Jimmy Lyell and Hugo Gruzman. "We, personally, realise the importance of nightlife as a breeding ground for ideas and talent. To stand by and watch the continual erosion of a vital stone in the path to our success would be a disservice to Sydney, its music lovers and other potential musicians." Flight Facilities were included in a group of artists commemorated recently in a KSO project, which paid tribute to closed Sydney venues and the artists who cut their teeth there. Flight Facilities have long been associated with Kings Cross's now-closed Piano Room, where Jimmy and Hugo met. Keep Sydney Open does not see the 30-minute extension as a solution. Instead, the organisation wants to work with the NSW Government to implement a seven-point plan, as follows: Developing best-practice policing strategies; Investing in 24/7 public transport; Implementing integrated urban planning reform; Encouraging diversification of after-dark activities; Establishing anti-violence education and intervention campaigns; Incentivising well-run venues; and Appointing a Night Mayor or office charged with managing Sydneyʼs night-time economy. "A 30-minute extension will not be enough to reverse the damage being done to the cultural areas and small businesses that make Sydney an exciting place to be," said Tyson Koh, director of Keep Sydney Open. "Itʼs barely enough time to line up for the bathroom or get a kebab. "For too long the debate about our city and how we live our lives has been dominated by misinformation and fear-mongering. We call on the lobby groups who support the lockout laws to enter the conversation about smart solutions, instead of clearing people off the streets." The rally will be Keep Sydney Open's third. To keep up to date with developments, follow the event page over here.
Here are some things that have happened in the stories of American writer David Sedaris: A man goes in search of a stuffed owl to give to his boyfriend for Valentine's Day. Befriending a taxidermist who confirms his interest in formerly alive creatures is strictly non-professional, the man finds himself in a London basement gazing at the 400-year-old preserved head of a 14-year-old girl and the skeleton of a 19th-century Pygmy. They raise questions, uncomfortable ones. Like, 'how much are they?' A man takes a job at Macy's department store as a Christmas elf named Crumpet. He encounters fistfights, vomiting and magnificent tantrums, children with modelling contracts and children with adjectives instead of first names. He tells a child that Santa has changed his policy, and no longer brings coal if you misbehave. Instead he will break into your house, steal all your appliances, and leave you alone, in the dark, with nothing. A father imagines his children forming a jazz quartet. Hoping to make the fantasy reality, the father gifts the son 'that guitar you always wanted'. The son, while regularly petitioning for a brand-name vacuum cleaner, had never mentioned a guitar. He takes lessons from an artistically thwarted midget, until one evening the son admits to his teacher that what we really wants to do is perform a medley of television jingles in the voice of Billie Holiday. David Sedaris has developed a cult-like following for penning insightful, satirical, real-life stories like those above. His latest book is entitled Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls. You could read it, if that is a thing you would like to do. You could also read Naked, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, Me Talk Pretty One Day or any of his other fine collections available at your local bookshop. A regular contributor to This American Life, Sedaris will be touring our fine country in January 2014. As part of the summer program for Ideas at the House, he will spend one special night at the Sydney Opera House talking to you. David Sedaris is wonderful. Ideas at the House is also wonderful. Together, they are guaranteed to make your evening approximately 89 percent smarter, funnier and more profound. https://youtube.com/watch?v=1msZQjwlebU
In I Am Mother's vision of the future, humanity has almost become extinct, the earth is a wasteland and the only known person alive is a teenager (Clara Rugaard) born, raised and living in an underground facility. Known only as Daughter, the adolescent has been brought up by a robot that she calls Mother (voiced by Rose Byrne) — but when a woman (Hilary Swank) comes knocking on their door, the girl begins to doubt everything she knows, including her android protector's motives. So far, so familiar, especially if you're a fan of sci-fi thrillers and dystopian tales. Australia has made a few, including the hugely successful Mad Max franchise; however this homegrown sci-fi thriller definitely finds its own niche. Shot in Adelaide, screening as a work in progress at the 2018 Adelaide Film Festival, premiering internationally at this year's Sundance and also slated for this year's Sydney Film Festival, it's now heading to Netflix from June 7 as well. Get ready for a bleak, tense and twisty effort that makes the most of its premise, nods to both the Alien and Terminator sagas, features immersive production design, and should bring its stellar young Danish lead Rugaard to further attention. It's also the debut feature from Australian filmmaker Grant Sputore, who directs and co-penned the underlying story with fellow big-screen first-timer Michael Lloyd Green. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5BKctcZxrM I Am Mother drops on Netflix on June 7.
Flick through the pages of any issue of National Geographic and the planet comes to life in all of its natural glory, particularly the colour, movement and all-round splendour of the animal world. Indeed, the magazine has been taking eye-catching wildlife photographs since 1888, and first featured one such image — a snap of a reindeer — on its cover back in 1903. From that huge 130-year history, the publication has picked out the absolute best photos in its archive for a brand new exhibition, which will make its world premiere at the Melbourne Zoo from September 8 to November 30. 50 Greatest Wildlife Photographs will showcase exactly what it sounds like — 50 breathtaking snaps of the earth's animal inhabitants, as curated by famous nature picture editor Kathy Moran, and featuring the work of iconic National Geographic photographers such as Michael 'Nick' Nichols, Steve Winter, Paul Nicklen, Beverly Joubert and David Doubilet. If last year's Photo Ark exhibition has you staring in wonder, then this promises that and more as patrons not only view the stunning sights captured, but the way that photography has evolved over the course of more than a century. Displaying as an outdoor gallery in Melbourne Zoo's Carousel Park, 50 Greatest Wildlife Photographs will be accompanied by augmented reality experience Air, Land & Sea. The interactive installation transports viewers to a watering hole where animals — hailing from Africa, the Arctic and more — graze, drink and interact with the environment around them. As well as giving patrons a glimpse at wildlife photography at its finest, Melbourne Zoo hopes the exhibition will bring attention to the plight of animals around the world. "Our hope is that, after viewing these stunning images and connecting with the wildlife at Melbourne Zoo, visitors will be compelled to remember that all animals deserve our greatest respect, awe and preservation," says Melbourne Zoo director Kevin Tanner. National Geographic's 50 Greatest Wildlife Photographs will be on display at Melbourne Zoo from September 8 to November 30. Entry to the exhibition is included in the zoo admission price. For more information, visit the website. Image: Gray Whale Hands by Thomas P. Peschak, San Ignacio Lagoon, Mexico, April 2015.
Long before its new sequel declared so in its title, The Craft already had a legacy. A horror-thriller about teen witches using and abusing magic to cope with high school's troubles, the 1996 Neve Campbell-starring cult favourite is the quintessential movie of that exact description. It's supremely 90s. It has the cast, look, soundtrack and mood to match. In using the occult to explore adolescent angst, it splashes everything from stormy skies and candle-lit rooms to hordes of rats and snakes across the screen, filling its frames with trusty genre imagery. And, it leans into the torment and toil of being a young woman finding one's way in the world, and of dealing with sleazy schoolboys, racist prom queens, society's obsession with appearance and the tyranny of class differences, too. The overall film has its struggles, but it has always stood out — and retained its place in pop culture. Written and directed by actor-turned-filmmaker Zoe Lister-Jones (Band Aid), The Craft: Legacy is clearly the product of someone who already knows all of the above. It's also the work of someone keen to pay tribute to the original, embrace what she sees as its strengths, redress its wrongs, and update it for a new time and a new generation. But it's possible for a 24-years-later follow-up to show affection, make some smart changes, move with the times and still feel like the remnants left in a cauldron. Or, for it to recall one of its predecessor's famed moments — one it recreates, briefly — in an unintended fashion. When this feature's coven play with levitation, the words "light as a feather, stiff as a board" aren't heard; however, by the end of the movie, they best describe everything that's just happened. Starting as its inspiration did, The Craft: Legacy begins with the arrival of a teen in a new town. Lily (Cailee Spaeny, Devs) and her mother Helen (Michelle Monaghan, Saint Judy) move in with the latter's boyfriend and his three sons — and if the in-car sing-along to Alanis Morrisette's 'Hand in My Pocket' doesn't nod firmly enough in the 90s' direction, the casting of The X-Files' David Duchovny as Adam, the author of a self-help book called 'The Hallowed Masculine' and the object of the head-over-heels Helen's affection, does. Navigating a new school, Lily soon finds herself taunted by resident jock and bully Timmy (Nicholas Galitzine, Share) in an unpleasant classroom incident. But she's also found by Lourdes (Zoey Luna, Pose), Frankie (Gideon Adlon, Blockers) and Tabby (Lovie Simone, Selah and the Spades), who are looking for the west to their north, south and east. They become fast friends, trifling with spells and testing their abilities. They also sneak into Timmy's room and enchant him into becoming the best version of himself. While Timmy provides an early source of nastiness, it's hardly a spoiler to note that he isn't The Craft: Legacy's antagonist. Instead, he's transformed from a jerk that makes fun of menstruation to a sensitive soul who waxes lyrical about Princess Nokia's politics. Any movie that does that was never going to let its darkness spring from its central quartet, either. Lily and her new friends must learn to use magic responsibly, but their mistakes are lessons rather than cautionary tales. The Craft: Legacy also gets its witches to turn a homophobic classmate's coat into a rainbow-hued statement piece, and burn slut-shaming slurs off of lockers. It has Lourdes stand up for trans women like herself, correcting Frankie when she says that giving birth is one of the fairer sex's strengths. It verbally and visibly champions inclusivity at every turn, so it finds its enemy in a glaring source — that'd be toxic masculinity — and the creepy character who personifies it. Often, when a sequel, remake or reboot gestures forcefully at the movie it's based on, it can prove convenient, blatant and overt all at once. Alas, that's how the bulk of The Craft: Legacy plays. In fact, in mimicking setups, scenes or specific lines, Lister-Jones is generally canny and even economical about references to her film's predecessor — so they're frequently the only parts that don't feel bland and routine. If only the same amount of effort had gone into fleshing out the main characters, who are nearly interchangeable, even with their racial and gender diversity. If only the same care had be expended in giving them personalities (loudness is one of the gang's defining traits), backstories and any weirdness, actually. If only the same thoughtfulness had been afforded its villain and all that he stands for, too. Rather than seeing young women become consumed by their blossoming power, and also punishing those who refuse to conform, it's a welcome shift that The Craft: Legacy calls out the patriarchal norms and attitudes that put teenage girls in that situation. And yet the film just seems happy enough to have made that switch, instead of giving it any true weight or substantial depth. The Craft: Legacy is light thematically, and also in plethora of other ways. Visually and tonally, it views witchcraft as fun and colourful. Emotionally, there are few stakes and horrors, so almost everything feels unimportant and anticlimactic. As a result, there's also a stiffness to the film — as though it's trying so hard to be loose, open, breezy and upbeat that it actually proves strained and wooden instead. A likeable cast of women can't change that. Neither can a late plot inclusion that's predictable, but possesses more intrigue than the rest of the movie. It's fitting that The Craft: Legacy's witches treat their abilities like superpowers, because the film recalls oh-so-many caped crusader flicks in one inescapable regard: by focusing its energies on laying the groundwork for a sequel that isn't guaranteed, and failing to conjure up much more than the bare minimum in the process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxZ774gziwU
If you hadn't noticed, fermentation is a bit of a thing. One of the driving forces behind the movement is the fact that fermented food and drinks can help promote good bacteria in your gut. So it's not surprising that one of the more popular workshops at Cornersmith — who dish out hearty breakfasts and hold workshops in cheesemaking, pickling and fermenting among others — is the wild soda class, where you learn to make a fermented, fizzy fruit beverage that's both delicious and good for your digestion. On Thursday December 1 we collaborated with the fermentation geniuses at Cornersmith and hosted two wild soda workshops at the Stoneleigh Hotel in Chippendale. The workshops were inspired by our partnership with Stoneleigh, and their philosophy of using wild fermentation to make the wine in their Wild Valley range (it uses a similar fermentation process as wild soda does — read about it here). Head fermenter Jaimee Edwards taught two classes on how to make your own fermented, fizzy fruit drink using wild ingredients. We made a lemon verbena, dianella berry and mint soda which turned out a beautiful bright purple colour and tasted pretty delicious. Alongside Edwards was the Stoneleigh wine ambassador India Munari, offering her insight in the relationship between the process of making wild soda and Stoneleigh's range of wild fermentation wines. Take a look through our photos and see what went down on the night. For those who couldn't attend, you can go DIY and follow Jaimee's instructions in our wild soda feature here. Or, you can head to the Stoneleigh Hotel and sample some tastings of Wild Valley wine — it's open until December 11. Try some Wild Valley wild fermentation wine at the Stoneleigh Hotel, a sandstone house in Chippendale overrun by nature. It's at 48 Kensington Street, Chippendale from November 11 until December 11. Images: Kimberley Low.
You've heard the tales. Those mystical, weird-as-blazes stories of entire restaurants manned by robots in Japan, surrounded by glow sticks, frantic lasers, bejewelled dancers and robot battles. The rumours are straight-up true. But don't even think about breaking that piggy bank open for an airfare, the world-renowed Japanese Robot Restaurant from Shinjuku, Tokyo is coming to Sydney for two nights only. This is not a drill. As part of the launch of Contiki’s new 'Japan Unrivalled' itinerary kicking off in March 2015, the travel-lovin' team are bringing one of Japan's major kitschy attractions to you — battling robots included. Set to pop up at 41 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, 'Robots Unrivalled' is the sum of your wildest, weirdest and wackiest Japanese-inspired dreams — big ol' J-pop beats, choreographed dancers, fluorescent fitout and tasty Japanese food and bevs — and LASERS. So very many lasers. The kicker? The pop-up will see giant futuristic robots doing battle while you nosh. That's right, bigass robots battling. Classic weird, wonderful Japan. This is going to be nuts. Robots Unrivalled will perform three sessions daily on February 23 and 24 at 41 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. Tickets are currently sold out. Thanks to Contiki, we have ten double passes to give away to lucky CP readers. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au. Image: Lindsay Clark, THINK Global School.
Want to keep your building cool in summer but are self-conscious of the impact it may have on the environment? Well, those worries could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to the environmentally friendly wooden skin erected by French architect Stephane Malka on student housing in Paris. The wooden skin is constructed on the exterior of buildings and consists of a host of pallets of varying dimensions that can be mechanically expanded or contracted, via horizontal hinges, to let in more or less ventilation and daylight as required. Stephane constructed The AME-LOT project, named after the rue Amelot the housing resides on, in response to ecological strategies that "often generate an over-production of materials". By building on top of pre-existing structures, Malka hopes to showcase a sustainable and ecological alternative that does not require new construction by 'energyvores'. As well as its environmental benefits, it would certainly look incredible on the body of a skyscraper. [Via PSFK]
Plunge into 2015 with a big injection of soul love at the first Soul of Sydney Block Party for the year. We're talking an entire afternoon and evening of funk, New York disco, old school hip hop jams, early house beats and more. The main programming criteria: that the music gets you feeling mighty fine. The location is top secret, though we do know it's an indoor/outdoor 'funk oasis' located within five minutes of the CBD. Most of the lineup has been announced however, with Simon Caldwell, Stephen Ferris, Graham Mandroules, All Souled Out DJs, Superbreak, James Locksmith, Mike Who, Phil Toke, DJ Cman, DJ Naiki, Edseven, DJ Saywhut and others confirmed on the bill. To complement the soundtrack, there'll be live art from Billy Kid and Friends, live hair braiding from Eden Stylez and a Bboy/dance showcase. Early bird $5 tickets have sold out, but there's still a scattering of $10 stubs left, which you can nab right here.
Sydney community radio station FBi Radio has been uplifting and celebrating Sydney music and the arts for nearly 20 years. A leading voice in the local music scene, the independent radio station puts on the SMAC (Sydney Music, Arts and Culture) Awards each year, and this year, the FBi team is taking things IRL to put on the SMACS Fest as part of Vivid Sydney. On Friday, June 10 FBi is running a full venue takeover of the Oxford Art Factory for the festival with a huge lineup filled with more than 15 of the city's best bands, solo artists and DJs across two stages. Heading up the lineup is rapper Tasman Keith in the lead up to his new album A Colour Undone, acclaimed singer-songwriter and producer Rainbow Chan, energetic punk and hip-hop trio Shady Nasty and multi-talented rapper and creative Jamaica Moana. Elsewhere on the lineup you'll find live performances from the likes of Moody Beach, 700 Feel and Wytchings alongside DJ sets from Spin the Bottle, Outer Shores, Radar Sounds, Club Boyfriend and Credcendoll just to name a few. The last FBi SMACS Fest was all the way back in 2015, and featured performances from Cosmo's Midnight, Tuka and Palms, as well as Sampa the Great, Hockey Dad and B Wise who were all cutting their teeth at the time. There was even a DJ set from now-Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The mini festival will be kicking off at 8pm and running all the way until 3am on Saturday morning. Tickets are $35 plus booking fees, however all FBi Radio Supporters can nab $10 off their ticket. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuiyJlCmPrA Top image: Destination NSW
While horror has traditionally been the realm of the silver screen, The Walking Dead and newcomer Hannibal have brought all the magnificent gore, thrills and frights of the genre into our homes and onto our televisions. Part cop drama, part serial killer thriller, NBC's Hannibal is a somewhat-prequel to Silence of the Lambs starring Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy (you can guess which one's the conniving, cannibalistic title character). Recently renewed for a second season, it investigates the lives of Will Graham, an FBI agent, and Hannibal Lecter, forensic psychiatrist. The story is based loosely on the material of Thomas Harris's horrific novel Red Dragon but adds a few grotesque twists along the way. The A.V. Club's Todd VanDerWerff described the series as "an intricately twisted serial-killer thriller, but it's also a surprisingly deep series about psychiatry and the state of the human mind", adding that it "had every reason to be a cheap cash-in and has, instead, turned into one of TV's best shows." The Walking Dead, meanwhile, is more out-and-out horror — and, at this point, one of the most well-known and loved TV shows on the planet. Zombies, backstabbing, amputations: totally gross, and totally excellent. About to start its fourth season, it's packed with scream-out-loud scares, and brings a "film-quality drama series about zombies" to life on television. Season three picked up the story three months after season two ended, with both factions of the main characters attempting to keep their lives together whilst, of course, fighting off the infected zombies. Hannibal: Season One and The Walking Dead: Season Three are released on DVD in Australia on September 25. Thanks to Hopscotch Films, we've got 10 prize packs including copies of both series to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
The 428 is an omnibus of mystery. It goes where it wants, it arrives when it wants. Deciphering its movements is about as easy as predicting a hurricane from the flap of a butterfly's wing. The route is curvy, crowded and distracting, following the bends of the old Canterbury tram line through Newtown and Marrickville from Circular Quay. The sheer diversity of people and places touched on by the 428 makes for a surprising and bumpy ride. A team of writers, directors and actors will observe and distil the action on this bus into play form for the restaging of Stories from the 428. The play is being performed again at the Sidetrack Theatre for the Sydney Fringe Festival after a successful April season. Its set fetishises all the everyday things about modern Sydney buses: skinny yellow poles and handrails, unmysterious safety signs and the near intimacy with wordless strangers. Ordinary chachkas of everyday public transport — so familiar; so loathed on a bad day, so overlooked on a good day — are what the play tries to bring up closer into the light. It's not back for long, so catch it while you can.
Looks like Sydney’s going to get a taste of the old days; the lockout laws will be lifted again for one night only on New Year’s Eve. Confirmed by the state government and reported by Same Same, the laws are apparently being lifted to avoid crazy rushes to venues before 1:30am after the fireworks finish. In other words, you’ll be treated like some kind of responsible adult for one glorious evening. Now, don’t fuck it up. If you’re venturing into the CBD on New Year’s Eve (you dedicated shindig-seeker you), you’ll be able to enter CBD/Kings Cross bars, pubs and clubs until 3am — so popping out for a cheeky 2am ciggie won’t separate you from your bag and buddies this NYE. Last drinks at 3am, as per usual, and bars won’t be changing their closing time. Seems there’s been a bucketload of meetings on this one; last year, the state government was apparently advised to lift the lockouts by the City of Sydney, the police and the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing — all three said it would improve safety for the night. The lockout lift is a means to avoid accidents at Sydney’s wharves in particular, with fireworks watchers heading into the city and trying to beat the clock to the kick-on party. So Sydney, keep your punches in your damn pockets and celebrate the New Year with a window into the old way of things. Or just watch the fireworks from your local outside-lockout pub and leave your eyelids unbatted on this one. Via Same Same.
Ok, so you've finally managed to get the courage to talk to that food obsessed guy in your office, or that indie girl in your art class and have even scored their digits. So what now for the date? Well, luckily for you, we've had a think about it and have set ourselves the task of giving you daters out there some direction. With our top dinner and drinks date combos, you can rest assured that there will be no mysterious phone calls to friends or thoughts about impending runners. Here's what Concrete Playground recommends for some good old fashioned fun. The Business Date Food: China LaneDrink: The Baxter Inn Conveniently located in Angel Place, China Lane is a stone's throw away from any CBD office and offers hazy dark corners to gaze into each other's eyes. The old school Sahnghai glamour will add a slither of Mad Men chic to your date and after dinner why not gaze up at those birdcages that hang above and envisage them as mistletoe. It's time to make a move. And if your smooth moves haven't worked yet? Try the Baxter Inn. Here you have low lighting, exposed brick and booths. Not to mention the whisky, oh the whisky. And if things aren't going great guns with your date by now, there's always the eye candy behind the bar. China Lane: 2-12 Angel Place, Sydney; 02 9231 3939; chinalane.com.auThe Baxter Inn: 152-156 Clarence Street, Sydney; thebaxterinn.com The Foodie Date Food: SepiaDrink: Rockpool Bar and Grill You'll begin your meal with freshly shucked to order oysters served with a rice wine and lime vinaigrette, followed by yellowfin tuna sashimi with jamon iberico and a stable of edible artworks to follow. The food alone will be your conversation centre piece if nothing else is flowing. Sepia with its modern, seafood heavy, Japanese-inspired menu, is the ultimate place to take a foodie. Dessert, such as the famed Japanese Stones, will hopefully have each of you spooning the contents into each other's mouths to make for an almost cringe-worthy night of romance. And nightcap wise? You'll need an equally dramatic and impressive bar to have a few beverages at. Rockpool Bar and Grill, with its exceptionally polite and discreet service, art deco styling and extensive wine list is just the ticket. The menu's 'house rules', such as "best manners and temperance are expected at all times" should help things run smoothly on your date, and have men acting like Don Draper while the women swoon. Sepia: 201 Sussex Street, Sydney; 02 9283 1990; sepiarestaurant.com.auRockpool Bar and Grill: 66 Hunter Street, Sydney; 02 02 8078 1900; rockpool.com The Inner City Date Food: 121BCDrink: Button Bar If you like the element of danger in attempting to have a first date at a place that can't guarantee you a table, and is quite tricky to find, then 121BC's gold. Part of the Vini and Berta family, this tiny bar has a casual menu of Italian style share plates, perfect for bumping hands over, dressed in your best flannel shirt and skinny-legged jeans. This dark, wood-paneled hideaway bar will set you and your date immediately at ease. It also has an inconspicuous façade, and cosy leather booths to settle into, with up-cycled glass light shades hanging overhead. There's plenty of candle light to set the mood as you drink pirate themed cocktails. 121BC: 4/50 Holt Street, Surry Hills; 02 9699 1582; 121bc.com.auButton Bar: 65 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills; 02 9211 1544; button-bar.com.au The Inner West Date Food: Guerilla Restaurant and BarDrink: Madame Fling Flong Picture a big two-storey Glebe terrace with mismatched lounges that feels just like home. Now picture some locally sourced organic casual nosh. There will be great music. You'll also be quaffing from a list of Aussie and Kiwi wines. Can't get much more indie than Guerilla. You can even chat to the owners about their musical backgrounds while bunked down on the outside seats listening to a live Sunday sesh. Next, head over to Newtown and up some stairs to Madame Fling Flong. With oodles of armchairs, intimate lighting, and a relaxed vibe, this is the perfect finish to your date, where you can chat away about gigs till your heart's content. Guerilla Restaurant and Bar: 207 Glebe Point Road, Glebe; 02 8957 0652Madame Fling Flong: 1/169 King Street, Newtown; 02 9565 2471; madameflingflong.com.au The Students Date Food: Eathouse DinerDrink: The Fern So you're a student. You live somewhere near Sydney Uni campus, and you've met someone interesting from your Contemporary American Film class. Where to take them when strapped for cash? Eathouse Diner. Why? Because there's hip '50s kitsch decor, a painting of a budgie holding a fork, nudie pics in the toilets and it's super cheap, with loads of atmosphere. To polish of the night, head over to the Fern. With op-shop style furniture in an old terrace just minutes from where you had dinner, this place is the perfect option for a drink. Go with My Fern Mule, which comes tiki-style with a flaming lime on top. The perfect fire to fuel your date. Eathouse Diner: 306 Chalmers Street, Redfern; 02 8084 9479; eathousediner.com.au The Fern: 4 Pitt Street, Redfern; 02 8399 0070; thefern.com.au The East Date Food: The ApolloDrink: The Roosevelt For an eastside date, try out Jonathan Barthelmess and Sam Christie's Greek goods at The Appollo. Think big plates of food that are just begging to be shared in an urban '30s style building, with exposed concrete and unclothed tables. A tad loud, yes, but there's no better excuse to lean in towards your date and whisper sweet nothings. If a luxury drinking joint is your date's kinda thing, then the Roosevelt will tick all of their boxes. Created by the gang behind Eau de Vie, this bar also has a touch of old world class. It's one of those bars where you can impress your date with cocktails made at your table. And did we mention they serve a cocktail in a glass gun called the Mr Sin? A little bit of inspiration perhaps? The Apollo: 44 Macleay Street, Potts Point; 02 8354 0888; theapollo.com.auRoosevelt: 32 Orwell Street, Potts Point; 0423 203 119; theroosevelt.com.au The Theatre Date Food: Cafe Sopra Walsh BayDrink: The Bar at the End of the Wharf Located across the street from the Walsh Bay theatre precinct, you can't look past Cafe Sopra at Walsh Bay. It's the fresh, seasonal Italian fare that we all know and love Fratelli for, and is perfect to fill up on before a long show. You and your date can stroll through the fresh produce while you wait for your meal and maybe pick something up to cook on your next date, well here's hoping. Perfect for when you come out of your evening's performance and want to settle in for a drink or two. The views over the Harbour will take your date's breath away, as you oh so casually slip your arm over their shoulders. Go on, you know you want to. Shop 8/16 Hickson Road, Walsh Point; 02 8243 2700; www.fratellifresh.com.auThe Bar at the End of the Wharf: Pier 4/5, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay; 02 9250 1761; sydneytheatre.com.au/visit/thebar
Australians have hotly anticipated the opening of the very first Il Mercato Centrale in Melbourne ever since it was first announced in 2022. At that time, it was expected to launch late the same year. But it's now 2024, and we still have no hard date for its opening. The highly ambitious venture came across a heap of setbacks, as the team behind it is determined to create a hospitality venue unlike anything that Melbourne has ever seen. All the red tape has now been sorted, however, and construction is charging ahead at 546 Collins Street at lightning speed. [caption id="attachment_856983" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Il Mercato Centrale in Turin[/caption] First off, the 3500-square-metre space, spread across three stories, truly is enormous. The first floor will have a market feel to it but with more flash, fun and tech. Each of the vendors will be slinging their own specialty goods, with none competing with the other. There'll be a bakery, patisserie, pasta shop, pizza joint, cheese maker, butcher and seafood stall, to name a few. Here, you can get fresh produce to take away or order it to be cooked up right in front of you. That means that you can buy a steak to eat at home or ask them to pop it on the grill while you start on some wine that you ordered from the bar right in the centre of the ground floor. Want to make it a surf and turf? Order some grilled calamari from the seafood stall next door and create your own feast. Conveniently, you'll be able to order from any and all vendors all in one transaction by using a QR code — or even pre-order from your office to pick up when it's ready. It going to be one of the easiest Melbourne food halls to order from. Then, on the second floor of Melbourne's Il Mercato Centrale, you'll find a fine-dining restaurant, cocktail bar, pasta restaurant (all made by hand), pizzeria, gelateria, wine bar, a gin and vodka distillery, and live music stage. We told you, it's huge. Up here, you'll even be able to order some of the food from downstairs to be delivered to you. Say you're sipping on a negroni at the bar upstairs and get a bit hungry. All you've got to do is order a cheeseboard and perhaps some slices of pizza on your phone, and the team will bring it up to you. If it all works out how the crew wants it to, it will be a huge feat of tech and service ingenuity. The top floor of Il Mercato Centrale will then be dedicated to private events and masterclasses, where each of the vendors will run workshops on their particular trades each month. [caption id="attachment_856981" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Il Mercato Centrale Rome[/caption] There will even be a big outdoor seating area right on Collins Street, something that was not easy for the Il Mercato Centrale team to secure. Taking Concrete Playground on a tour of the site, General Manager Gary Patikkis couldn't share the details about the outside area, but he noted that it is set to be unlike any other street-level drinking and dining space in the CBD. The venue will have a 3am liquor license (another rarity for new venues in Melbourne) and be open until from 7am–12am every day of the week. Patikkis was reluctant to share any opening dates, but rest assured that Il Mercato Centrale is coming. And Melburnians and visitors alike hopefully won't have to wait much longer before being able to dine on a massive range of Italian eats in the Victorian capital's CBD. [caption id="attachment_856978" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Il Mercato Centrale Firenze[/caption] Mercato Centrale Melbourne is set to open at 546 Collins Street, Melbourne. We'll share more information as it is announced, and you can head to the venue's website in the interim. Top image: Il Mercato Centrale Milan.
"They're hard and they're brutal and they're specific, but I know how to do it." So says Carmy (Jeremy Allen White, The Iron Claw) to his brother Michael (Jon Bernthal, Origin) in the flashback that opens the full trailer for The Bear season three. How true that claim will prove is the focus of this new batch of episodes — and, based on this latest sneak peek, it's going to be anything but an easy journey. What happens when a sandwich diner levels up in a big way, becoming a fine-diner that's angling for a spot among Chicago's very best restaurants, chasing perfection and a Michelin star? Fans of The Bear will soon find out. As not only the just-dropped new glimpse shows, but also two earlier teaser trailers, culinary chaos remains on the menu alongside the rotating array of dishes that Carmy keeps conjuring up in the name of kitchen creativity. Whether Sydney (Ayo Edebiri, Bottoms) is advising that "this is a dysfunctional kitchen" or Carmy and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach, No Hard Feelings) are asking her to "show me a functional one" in response, the three trailers are teeming with the hustle and bustle of the trio, and their colleagues, friends and family, working through the reality of having made their hospitality dreams come true. In season three, The Bear's namesake restaurant is now open, after Carmy, Sydney, Richie and the team transformed their beef-slinging eatery (where season one's action took place) into an upscale restaurant (with that process fuelling season two). But staying operational is still a struggle, especially with such higher stakes after the revamp and rebrand. [caption id="attachment_954671" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chuck Hodes/FX[/caption] How that pans out will be revealed on Thursday, June 27 both in the US and Down Under. In the past, there's always been a wait for Aussie and NZ viewers — season one hit in June in America, then in August in Australia; with season two, US viewers still had a June date, while Aussies and New Zealanders had to wait till July — but thankfully that isn't the case this time. Comfort food and winter do go hand in hand, after all — and since 2022, so has this dramedy and the frostiest time of the year Down Under. It was two years back that The Bear debuted to become one of the best new shows on television. In 2023, it then became one of the best returning shows on TV that year. The Bear was renewed for season three in November 2023 to the surprise of no one, but to the joyous shouts of "yes chef!" from everyone. Also, even though that third season hasn't yet dropped, it looks as if the show has been renewed for its fourth season already as well. If you've missed The Bear so far, its first season jumped into the mayhem when Carmy took over the diner after his brother's death. Before returning home, the chef's resume featured Noma and The French Laundry, as well as awards and acclaim. Then, in season two, Carmy worked towards turning the space into an upscale addition to his hometown's dining scene, with help from the restaurant's trusty team — including a roster of talent also spans Abby Elliott (Indebted) as Carmy's sister Natalie, aka Sugar, plus Lionel Boyce (Hap and Leonard), Liza Colón-Zayas (In Treatment), Edwin Lee Gibson (Fargo) and IRL chef Matty Matheson among the other staff. Check out the full trailer for The Bear season three below: The Bear streams via Disney+ in Australia and New Zealand, with season three arriving on Thursday, June 27. Read our review of season one and review of season two.
As part of the flurry of new streaming services competing for our eyeballs, FanForce TV joined the online viewing fold during the COVID-19 pandemic — with the pay-per-view platform not only screening movies, but pairing them with virtual Q&A sessions as well. Now, between Thursday, May 27–Monday, May 31 it's also hosting an online film fest: its third Virtual Indigenous Film Festival. The returning event coincides with National Reconciliation Week, and will showcase five films: High Ground, After the Apology, The Skin of Others, The Xrossing and Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra. That means you can watch your way through an array of Aussie movies focused on Indigenous stories, spanning both dramas and documentaries — and exploring race relations in the process. Sessions will also feature guest speakers, with just who'll be chatting yet to be revealed. And, viewers can tune in on a film-by-film basis, or buy an all-access pass to tune into everything. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3REMs9I9Tg Top image: High Ground.
The Vanguard, Newtown's much-loved live music venue, is back. It has reopened in its old home, at 42 King Street, replacing Leadbelly, which had occupied the space since 2016. Before that, The Vanguard was in situ for 13 years. The return to roots is the initiative of Arash Nabavi, a Sydney orthopaedic surgeon and first-time venue owner, who bought Leadbelly back in May 2018. Since then, he's been gradually restoring its original identity. "I think, all along, we wanted to reconnect with the heritage of the place — get it back to that classic, grungy, rock dog Sydney feel has faded over the past few years," says Jodi Lewis, content marketing and programs manager at Nathan Farrell Entertainment, which books The Vanguard's live music. Central to the change is a shakeup of the gig program. "It's more contemporary and more streamlined," says Lewis. "There are Triple J acts, but, at the same, we're not straying too far from blues, jazz, country and rock." Coming up in the next month are Melbourne singer Jess Ribiero, Newtown trio Scabz and UK blues singer and guitarist Bex Marshall. A bunch of regular happenings are also on the live music lineup, including blues jams and tributes to classic bands and musicians, such as The Doors and Neil Finn. Over the Christmas break, a revamp brought in whizzbang sound equipment, an enormous green room, a renovated kitchen and new furniture. But the first things you'll thing notice are the dazzling red neon signs at the door and the massive mural by inner qest design studio April77 Creative in the laneway. "The feel is halfway between Leadbelly and the old Vanguard," says Lewis. "It's opulent, with velvet curtains and neon, but fresh and contemporary. I'd describe it as a grungy elegance." [caption id="attachment_598080" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Leadbelly by Steven Woodburn.[/caption] The food and drink offerings have gone up a notch, too. New beer taps pour a variety of local craft drops, with Young Henrys tinnies also available, and the cocktail list features a lineup of modern and inventive drops, including the Power and the Passion (dark rum, peach, blood orange and passionfruit) and the Go with the Sloe (sloe gin, cognac, fresh apple, lemon butter and nutmeg). A new food menu is expected to drop later this month, too. The Vanguard will officially launch on Thursday, January 31. A tiny number of tickets to the opening party will be available to the public via giveaway — keep an eye peeled for details on the venue's Facebook page. Otherwise, you can buy tickets to one of the many gigs, already booked at the venue, which kick off this week. The Vanguard is now open at 42 King Street, Newtown.
After an epic May bake sale, Melbourne's Flour Market is returning to Sydney, declaring Saturday, July 30 as a celebration for all things doughy with a market dedicated to doughnuts. Day of the Donut, which will honour Sydney's best baked, holey treats, will surely draw crowds from Sydney's furthest reaches to their temporary Surry Hills doughnut shrine. Vendors will include Brewtown Newtown, Sydney newcomers Short Stop, Aussie mega-chain Doughnut Time and — our personal favourite — Sydney locals Grumpy Donuts, whose wacky doughnut flavours include pink lemonade, sour patch jam and buttered toast. The brown butter frosting and sweet crumbed brioche really does taste like the most decadent slice of toast. Entry is two bucks on the door, with kids under twelve will be admitted for free. For the very serious doughnut lovers out there, a limited number of Early Riser tickets are on sale for ten bucks, allowing ticket holders entry 30 minutes before general admission.
Ah, Romeo and Juliet, the archetypal young lovers. We've all grown up with some version of their story. If you're lucky early Gen Y, it's the Baz Luhrmann film, though the late Gen Ys might not fare so well with the beige-looking soon-to-be-released update starring Hailee Steinfeld and Douglas Booth. In the meantime/Instead of, see what the Sydney Theatre Company and director Kip Williams have done with the classic, packing a few surprises into their grand, visually striking production that looks closely at the Capulets. It begins with a great music-video-like first scene that introduces the monumental, revolving set, which contains a ballroom with a vertiginous black exterior that's somehow equally striking. Inside, young men drink, dance, swing from chandeliers and tussle, but when that room twists away, we're left with just Romeo (Dylan Young), removed from the fray and all up in his head as he paces the streets. Romeo, of course, is in love with love, and although at the moment the object is one Rosaline, she will soon be overtaken by Juliet, whom Romeo meets at a party. That party, and that girl, belongs to his family's "great enemy", the Capulets, and the couple's innocent infatuation leads to famously grave ends. This Romeo and Juliet has some hits and some misses, but the misses are on the whole forgivable in such an ambitious and rich production. Importantly, this is a Romeo and Juliet that goes beyond archetypes to create a story that feels if not new, then fresh. In particular, director Kip Williams and actor Eryn Jean Norvill have created a wonderful Juliet, who is not some blank slate but an anxious, awkward and slightly geeky specific teenage girl. Her love of wordplay shines strongly, and it makes sense that she would fall for Romeo, a guy who, at last, engages with her on her level. That said, Dylan Young as Romeo does little extra to draw her attraction, lacking charisma and compelling delivery. In the supporting roles, Colin Moody and Anna Lise Phillips are the standouts as Juliet's parents, the monstrous Capulets. The energy spikes whenever they walk on the stage. Romeo's crass buddies on Team Montague, Mercutio (Eamon Farren) and Benvolio (Akos Armont), are a nice contrast, although Farren needs to be dialed down a little. We know Shakespeare's pretty words contain some ribald imagery; we don't need near-constant crotch-grabbing to remind us of it. That set, by David Fleischer, is a real show-stopper (it, yes, literally stopped the show for five nights while they fixed the revolving mechanism). It's at its most stunning when creating something like the theatrical version of a tracking shot, although it's also a little overused — a five-degree turn creates a lot of interruption without much payoff. There are also some gorgeous tableaux happening, including a creepy-glam party scene that's real Gossip Girl meets Eyes Wide Shut. Costumes are covetable, and the stripped-back post-intermission stage, based on the evolving image of Juliet's marital bed, is minimalism at its most purposeful and striking. This is one good-looking play. Unfortunately, the second half does drag a little, weighed down by soliloquies that ultimately lead to an underwhelming, unedited version of the ending. But on the sum of its parts, this is a potent and enjoyable version of a classic that can always stand a re-watch.
Possibly Sydney's most loved winter cocktail, the negroni is set for its centennial this June. To celebrate, CBD institution The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room has teamed up with Campari to throw a month-long party dedicated to the bitter and boozy classic. Known for its $1.50 oyster hour between 6-7pm every Wednesday, The Morrison is often bustling with Sydney's well-heeled business crowd. Over Negroni Month, the bar will have a five-strong negroni list. Apart from the classic ($20), there'll be a blood orange version ($20), a sour negroni ($17) with lemon and pineapple, a peach fizz variety ($18) and even one served with a raw oyster on top ($30). You'll be sipping for a good cause too — $1 of every negroni sold will be donated to Australian food rescue charity, OzHarvest. If you want to get even more into the spirit (pun intended), grab tickets for a two-hour Negroni masterclass at The Morrison on Tuesday, July 23 at 6.30pm. Led by Campari expert Tristram Fini, the class will cover the art of the negroni, where you will learn how to master three different recipes (including the Americano). Of course, you'll get to enjoy the fruits of your labour, with each negroni cocktail paired with some Italian antipasti. The evening will cost you $44 all up. Running from Monday, June 24–Wednesday, July 24, The Morrison's Negroni Month will keep you warm with some good ol' firewater this winter. For more information and to nab tickets, head here.
Among the many challenges that Australians have faced over the past year, our love of travel has been hit hard. Domestic border restrictions keep changing with frequency in response to new cases and clusters in different states, meaning that planning a holiday beyond your own city has been more than a little tricky. This was particularly true over Christmas and NYE, when an outbreak on Sydney's northern beaches saw many states quickly shut their borders to NSW — including Victoria. On January 1, 2021, Victoria closed its borders to all of NSW. A week ago, it reopened to regional NSW. From 6pm tonight, Monday, January 18, it's reopening to parts of Greater Sydney, too. From that time, 25 of Greater Sydney's 35 LGAs, as well as the Blue Mountains and Wollongong, will be changing from a 'red zone' to an 'orange zone', as part of Victoria's new traffic light-style system, which means travellers from those areas can enter Victoria — but they'll need to isolate on arrival and get tested within 72 hours, then when they receive a negative result they're free to leave isolation. They'll also have to apply for a permit before entry, too — like all Australians. Last week, Victoria introduced compulsory permits for anyone who wants to enter the state. If you try and enter Victoria without a valid permit, you risk being fined $4957. You can apply for one over here. Travellers who have been in the remaining ten Greater Sydney LGAs in the past 14 days, which are still 'red zones', cannot enter Victoria. Those LGAs are: Blacktown City, Burwood, Canada Bay City, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield City, Inner West, Liverpool City, Parramatta City and Strathfield Municipality. Folks who've been in a red zone can apply to receive an exemption or a specified worker permit. The former covers instances such as emergency relocations, funerals, essential medical care, and people needing to return home for health, wellbeing, care or compassionate reasons. https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1350957562263384069 From 6pm tonight, NSW towns along the Victorian border will also move to 'green zones'. Travellers entering Victoria from a 'green zone' still need to apply for a permit, but do not need to get tested or isolate on arrival, unless they develop symptoms. These new 'green zones' include: Albury City, Balranald Shire, Bega Valley Shire, Berrigan Shire, City of Broken Hill, Edward River Council, Federation Council, Greater Hume Shire, Hay Shire, Lockhart Shire, Murray River Council, Murrumbidgee Council, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Snowy Valleys Council, City of Wagga Wagga and Wentworth Shire. The loosened border restrictions come as Victoria records its 12th consecutive day of zero new cases of community transmission. Overnight, the state did record four new cases in hotel quarantine, all of which are linked to the Australian Open. https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1350938786365120517 Of course, the current designated zones and regulations are subject to change, with Premier Daniel Andrews advising that designated red zones would be reviewed daily. Victoria also reclassified the LGAs of Greater Brisbane as 'orange zones' from 6pm on Saturday, January 16. For more information on Victoria's new permit system — or to apply for one — head to the Department of Health and Human Services website.
Sculpture by the Sea didn't grace the Bondi-Tamarama coastal walk last year, and isn't set to until October this year. But if you're eager to go for a wander, check out large-scale pieces of art and enjoy the great outdoors, you can head to The Rocks this May and June for a new free exhibition called Sculpture Rocks. Set to display from Thursday, May 20–Wednesday, June 3, Sculpture Rocks will feature 18 works from 14 sculptors, with Japanese artists in the spotlight. You'll be peering at pieces by Keizo Ushio, Takeshi Tanabe, Mitsuo Takeuchi, Ayako Saito and Akira Kamada, among others — and from artists who currently hail from both Japan and Australia. Presented by the Sculpture by the Sea team alongside Place Management NSW and the Port Authority of NSW, the exhibition will ape one of the most stunning — and most popular — things about its sibling event, too: the waterside view. You'll be moseying along the Sydney Harbour foreshore area, including between the Overseas Passenger Terminal, along Campbells Cove and up to Hickson Reserve next to the Park Hyatt Hotel. Basically, think of it as a smaller version, in a similarly striking spot, and with a specific focus. An indoor exhibition, called Sculpture Inside Rocks, will also take place at the same time at Campbell's Stores. Images: Gareth Carr.
Both Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement will be present when Flight of the Conchords make a long-awaited, eagerly anticipated return to television — as part of a one-off live special filmed during the duo's recent sold-out tour. Announced earlier in 2018, Flight of the Conchords: Live at the London Apollo has now been given a US airdate, with the special screening on HBO in America on Saturday, October 6. As the name really does makes plain, it was recorded in the UK, where Flight of Conchords took their show on the road in March and then returned in late June and early July, following a forced break after McKenzie broke his hand. Yes, it'll be business time, Bowie will be in space and no one will have hurt feelings. Fans can expect to hear the classic tracks that everyone has had stuck in their heads since the folk parody pair's TV series aired between 2007 and 2009, of course, as well as a few new songs. It's also a case of Conchords almost coming full circle, with nabbing a spot on HBO's One Night Stand in the mid-00s one of their big breaks. Just when and where the new special will appear on TVs outside of the US has yet to be revealed, but in the interim, check out the date announcement video featuring McKenzie and Clement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLZQfnFyelTBOQ15kmHSgEbdjzLMWzZpL7&v=xz_-9PlcouE
New Year's Day can be a tough one. Resolutions to vaguely commit to, missed midnight pashes to mourn, dusty bear heads to nurse. There's only one real cure for the escapades of New Year's Eve: salt water, free-flowing Veuve Cliquot and one of Sydney's most ostentatious parties. The top spot for 'who dat, who dat' people-watching and jealousy-inducing Instagramming, Bondi Icebergs has announced the 2015 lineup for their infamously exclusive Icebergs New Year's Day Party. Set atop one of Bondi's most postcardy venues, Icebergs' NYD pool party is the Field Day for punters who want things a little more high-heeled and beachside. For a cheeky four hundy (yep, that's a casual $400 per ticket), you can compare New Year's resolutions with Bondi's chia-lovin' party people and throw back as much Veuve, Ciroc Vodka and head chef Monty Kulodrovic-crafted canapes as your NYE regrets require. Hosted by Icebergs' Maurice Terzini and musically curated by Angus McDonald (one half of Sneaky Sound System), the lineup is a beats-heavy fusion of Sydney-born, California-based shindig starters Bag Raiders, LA disco kings Poolside, Spice Cellar's Murat Kilic, (of course) Sneaky Sound System, ARIA-nominated Nicky Night Time, resident Icebergs go-to Miss Annie and newcomers Slowblow, Marc Jarvin and Pink Lloyd, Valerie Yum and Sam Francisco. Recent instalments have welcomed the first glorious day of the new year with the likes of Flight Facilities, Frankie Knuckles, Aeroplane and The Cuban Brothers, and so continues yearly furious discussions surrounding the moment the bass is likely to drop. “The 2015 event promises to be our best yet, with our recently refreshed interior design, a belter of a line-up and a pumping sound system, the place is going to be rocking," says Terzini. "It’s my favourite day of the year — we strip out all of the tables and chairs and turn what is on a normal day, one of Sydney’s top restaurants, into one of the world’s most energetic beach clubs." Exclusive beach parties with four-hundy price tags obviously aren't the easiest things in the world to chuck your name on the door for. Ticket registration is rather mysterious, through this link here. VIP packages are also be available if you've got cash to drop, hit up the team at VIP2015@idrb.com.
If lockdown's seen you devouring books faster than ever, you might be looking for some fresh literary inspiration right about now. And one place you're guaranteed to find it is among Melbourne Writers Festival's 2021 program, which is now set to be reimagined as an all-virtual lineup. The festival's IRL events have been scrapped due to Melbourne's latest lockdown, but in good news — the extended digital program will run from Friday, September 3–Wednesday, September 15. It'll shine a spotlight on some of today's most engaging international literary voices, through a series of conversations, readings, author chats and panel discussions, all streamed online. Among them, Rumaan Alam unpacks his eerily-pertinent dystopian tale Leave the World Behind; Pulitzer Prize-winner Jhumpa Lahiri speaks about the literary construction of Whereabouts; Natasha Brown explores the issues of race and class stirred up in her lauded new novel Assembly; renowned philosopher AC Grayling ponders the great paradox of human inquiry while chatting about his release Frontiers of Knowledge; and the tales of a cast of young creatives come alive as Brandon Taylor shares insight into his short story collection Filthy Animals. Plus, on September 3, a specially commissioned short documentary series Writers on Film invites audiences on a guided tour into the lives and worlds of local authors Jennifer Down, Sophie Cunningham and Tony Birch. [caption id="attachment_823151" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Natasha Brown, author of 'Assembly'[/caption] Top images: Jhumpa Lahiri, author of 'Whereabouts' and Rumaan Alam, author of 'Leave the World Behind.
If you like your cinema experiences shaken, not stirred, then the 2022 British Film Festival has just the thing for you. Taking its array of Brit flicks around the country between Tuesday, October 18–Wednesday, November 16, this year's fest is turning itself into a big 60th birthday party — not for the Australia-wide cinema showcase itself, which only dates back around a decade, but for all things Bond, James Bond. 2022 marks six decades since Dr No, the first movie in the 007 franchise, first graced cinemas — and yes, it'll be the British Film Festival's screens to commemorate the occasion. Also hitting picture palaces in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and Byron Bay: You Only Live Twice, because two Sean Connery-starring Bond films are better than one; On Your Majesty's Secret Service with Australia's Bond George Lazenby; and Daniel Craig doing his brooding Bond in Skyfall. They're just some of the titles among the fest's first lineup announcement, with the full British Film Festival program set to drop on Thursday, September 29. Can't wait till then? A handful of other flicks have already been announced — and, as always at this cinema showcase, they're filled with familiar faces. Arriving Down Under after wowing the global festival circuit, The Banshees of Inisherin marks the reunion of In Bruges writer/director Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) and his stars Colin Farrell (After Yang) and Brendan Gleeson (The Tragedy of Macbeth). This time around, the latter pair star in a story about two lifelong friends who go for a pint everyday until a dispute gets in the way, with their feud also impacting the entire village. Also on the bill: an Emily Brontë biopic, aptly named Emily, directed by Australia actor-turned-filmmaker Frances O'Connor (The End); more sea shanties in song-filled sequel Fisherman's Friends 2: One and All; the Bill Nighy (The Man Who Fell to Earth)-starring Living, about a terminally ill man in the 1950s; and The Lost King, which takes inspiration from the IRL discovery of King Richard III's remains beneath a Leicester car park. And, opening the fest is Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, set in the world of French fashion, with Oscar-nominated Phantom Thread actor Lesley Manville in the titular role. BRITISH FILM FESTIVAL 2022 DATES: Tuesday, October 18–Wednesday, November 16 — Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas and Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas, Adelaide Wednesday, October 19–Wednesday, November 16 — Palace Norton, Palace Verona, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinema, Sydney Wednesday, October 19–Wednesday, November 16 — Palace Electric, Canberra Wednesday, October 19–Wednesday, November 16 — Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema and The Astor, Melbourne Wednesday, October 19–Wednesday, November 16 — Palace James Street and Palace Centro, Brisbane Wednesday, October 19–Wednesday, November 16— Palace Raine Square, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX and Windsor Cinema, Perth Wednesday, October 19–Wednesday, November 16 — Palace Byron Bay, Byron Bay The 2022 British Film Festival tours Australia between Tuesday, October 18–Wednesday, November 16. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the festival website. We'll update you with the full program on Thursday, September 29.
If you're a firm believer that the best cabaret shows also happen to be the most immersive, then prepare to check in to L'Hôtel. A French-themed production that's filled with burlesque, circus and aerial performances, it's taking over the Sydney Opera House this spring — and turning the venue's studio into a French hotel. Obviously, you won't be able to slumber at the iconic spot for the night. That said, you will find yourself surrounded by a dinner theatre experience that takes its theming extremely seriously. So, you'll watch, eat, drink and feel like you've been spirited away to a hotel called L'Hôtel, complete with a lobby setup and a cast of characters that call the spot home. Accordingly, as L'Hôtel works its magic, you'll dine away, with the performance taking place around you. That'll include peering behind closed doors, into the lives of the production's characters, all while sipping GH Mumm champagne and tucking into fine French food that'll be delivered by the show's wait staff ensemble. [caption id="attachment_857580" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] L'Hôtel first premiered at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2021, selling out its season, and now heads to Sydney from October 12–November 13. And, it comes with quite the pedigree, with Craig Ilott directing — after doing the same on Smoke & Mirrors, which nabbed three Helpmann Awards. Among the cast, you'll recognise singer, songwriter and actor Brendan Maclean (The Great Gatsby); Parisian-based jazz singer Caroline Nin; aerialist Masha Terentieva, who has performed with Cirque du Soleil; and Belgium's Florian Brooks, a specialist in juggling and manipulation. And, there's Australians Beau Sargent, Bri Emrich and CJ Shuttleworth, too, plus American dancer, choreographer and pole artist Bentley Rebel. [caption id="attachment_857579" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Claudio Raschella[/caption] L'Hôtel will play Sydney Opera House's Studio from October 12–November 13, 2022. For more information, or to buy tickets — with pre-sales from 8am on Wednesday, June 15 and general sales from 9am on Friday, June 17 — head to the Sydney Opera House website. Top images: Claudio Raschella.
Workhorse Theatre Company’s The Motherfucker with the Hat shows human love at its dirtiest, and human savagery at its purest. Set in a lower class New York neighbourhood, where addiction is the only respite from the rough reality of the everyday, Jackie (Troy Harrison) completes his prison sentence and tries desperately to return to the straight-and-narrow. He’s hindered by the coke-using, expletive-slinging love of his life, Veronica (Zoe Trilsbach). Just when he finds employment and life is looking up, Jackie finds another man’s hat in Veronica’s apartment. The play follows the life-churning combo of love, jealousy and betrayal after the discovery of the offending headwear. Writer Stephen Adly Guirgis provides a phenomenally fun script, which the five actors in the Darlinghurst Theatre Company production clearly relish. Trilsbach handles the text best, with a raw, resonant voice that fires words like gunshots. A few Aussie accents peeked through the slack-jawed, working-class Bronx accents, which made me wonder if the foreign accents were entirely necessary. Surely director Adam Cook decided the text was so Yonkers it needed the accents, but with the amount of imported drama on our stages, an exaggerated or faulty accent can create caricature. It’s initially harder to relate this play’s themes to our Australian context. Yet, the themes are there for the applying — starting with the focus on addiction and recovery. I found myself contemplating the Aussie drinking culture, where functional alcoholism is allowed to breed freely. Adly Guirgis turns the AA catchcry “one day at a time” on its head, causing us to ask if adulthood means simply using each other for self-interested gains. Was the time for love and friendship during childhood, and long gone? The biggest flaw in this production is the scenic transitions. There is a blackout and full set change between every scene, which gets tedious and requires five actors and two stagehands to manoeuvre multiple pieces of furniture. The play would be much shorter, more engaging and more efficient with a pared-back set. One begins to wonder if they are simply showing off their resources or assume their audience is a bit silly. Do go to The Motherfucker for an intelligent and morally challenging script. Just have patience (and dinner beforehand) to stay mentally alert during the scene changes.
Set on a serene peninsula surrounded by Lake Wakatipu, the Queenstown Gardens boasts stunning lake and alpine views as well as a beautiful collection of blooms. Frequented by locals and visitors alike, the gardens' tranquil setting is the perfect refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city. As the gardens are conveniently located a short walk from downtown Queenstown, many community activities are held within the grounds. We suggest taking a rug, a picnic and some friends, kicking back and enjoy the views of the lake through the Douglas Firs. Once you're sufficiently relaxed, stretch your legs and take a stroll around the beautiful lawns. Be sure to check out the water feature and rose garden for an added bit of pretty.
A whole month of gastronomic delights awaits Sydneysiders this October with the return of the Crave Sydney International Food Festival. The jam-packed festival programme will be showcasing the best of local and international cuisine, with a dizzying array of culinary events and experiences. With a South American theme this year, some of the continent’s most renowned chef’s will be visiting the city to share their food knowledge and skills with us. You can see them at work at the World Chef Showcases October 1st and 2nd, at the Hilton Sydney, where renowned international chefs will be pairing with some of Sydney’s finest to swap ideas and knowledge. Not only will see these masters working first hand, you'll get to learn and sample the dishes. There’s something for everyone, from showcases, discussions and masterclasses with some of the world’s best chefs, to food tours, markets, kids events, and community festivals. For the braver amongst you, dine alongside the lions at Taronga Zoo! And of course the much-loved Night Noodle Markets will be returning to Hyde Park, with traditional Asian hawker style fare. There’s a green edge this year too, with the inaugural 100 mile challenge where five regional teams will be competing to win, with food and wine sourced from within 100 miles of Sydney, which will culminate in banquet lunch for 500 at Eveleigh markets.
If you're a fan of author, comedian and NPR humorist David Sedaris, then you'll know that he's a frequent visitor Down Under. Missed him on his last trip in 2023? 2025 is your latest chance to experience his snappy wit, as well as his discerning and astute ability to observe life's moments — both trivial and extraordinary — in both an observational and unique way. This is Sedaris' seventh trip Down Under, spanning stops in both Australia and New Zealand — including at Sydney Opera House on Monday, February 10–Tuesday, February 11. If you haven't seen Sedaris live before, his shows are part of the reason that he's built up such a following. Onstage, he regularly weaves in new and unpublished material, too — and the satirist will throw it over to the crowd for a Q&A as well, and also sign copies of his books. [caption id="attachment_862849" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anne Fishbein[/caption] Sedaris has more than a few tomes to his name, so you have options for him to scribble on, including Happy-Go-Lucky, Calypso, Theft by Finding, Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Holidays on Ice, Naked and Barrel Fever. Sedaris is equally celebrated for his constant This American Life appearances and must-read pieces in The New Yorker, and boasts everything from the Terry Southern Prize for Humor and Jonathan Swift International Literature Prize for Satire and Humor to the Time Humorist of the Year Award among his accolades. If you've been searching for a supportive environment to use the phrase "how very droll", this is it. [caption id="attachment_862850" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anne Fishbein[/caption] Top images: Jenny Lewis, Prudence Upton.
Perhaps it’s the simplicity of this practical, environmentally-friendly and rather smart looking pallet garden that’s so inspiring. It looks like something every urban dweller should be doing - it’s neat, space-saving, and an ideal solution for maintaining a herb, flower or veg garden in the city. Better looking than the average window box too. The new trend is popping up on balconies, aside garages and on roof tops. It’s such an achievable way to recycle unwanted crates or pallets that can be found at local supermarkets and factories, yet it looks so good - we only wish we’d thought of it ourselves. [Via Lost At E Minor]
Two years ago, Pappa Rich gave tastebuds across Australia the culinary hybrid they didn't know they were craving: a nasi lemak burger. They were originally sneakily trialled in Sydney stores in 2018, then rolled out for a limited time in 2019. Now, they're back. The burger takes the typical accompaniments in this Malaysian rice dish and sandwiches them all between two toasted burger buns. There are layers of crispy Malay fried chicken, spicy sambal, peanuts and anchovies, all topped with cucumber, lettuce and a fried egg. As a side? Expect Pappa Rich's deep-fried chicken skin, of course. You can also opt for chips if you prefer. The Malaysian hawker chain is returning the nasi lemak burger to its menu — at all of its 31 stores countrywide, but only for two months. If you're instantly hungry, you'll want to pop into one of Pappa Rich's outlets between Monday, March 29–Sunday, May 30. Or, if you just can't wait to sink your teeth into a burg, you can score one between Friday, March 26–Sunday, March 28, but only via Door Dash. The delivery service is selling 1000 nasi lemak burgers for just $1 across the three days, so you'll want to get in quickly. You'll also need to enter the code 'MALAYSIANBURGER' while you're ordering. Otherwise, if you're happy to grab a burger from next week onwards, you'll still have a couple of months to enjoy as many as your stomach demands. If you're in Sydney, you can nab one in Bankstown, North Ryde, Chatswood or on your lunch break at the express outlet in Ultimo; in Melbourne, pop by Chadstone, Southern Cross or QV; and Pappa Rich in Wintergarden, Garden City, Indooroopilly and Coorparoo Square will be selling them in Brisbane. Perth residents can head to Cockburn and Joondalup, while folks in Adelaide will want to make a trip to Gouger Street in the CBD. There are a heap more locations though, so check the website if you're looking for one closer to you. The nasi lemak burger will be available Monday, March 29–Sunday, May 30 at Pappa Rich locations across the country. There are also 1000 up for grabs for $1 via Door Dash between Friday, March 26–Sunday, March 28 by entering the code 'MALAYSIANBURGER' while you're ordering.
Any mention of Joanna Murray-Smith tends to elicit the same kind of wince as would David Williamson. Like Williamson, she's an expert at portraying the Australian bourgeoisie engaged in the national pastime of cringing. But this is a trap she steers well clear of in her latest offering, Switzerland; a fictional account of American author Patricia Highsmith's late in life retreat to the Swiss Alps. Sarah Peirse playing the straight-shooting curmudgeon makes old age look like a hoot. Peirse appeared last year in Murray-Smith's Fury playing a mild mannered, upper middle class intellectual mother. Here she shows off her acting chops by transforming into the nasty, charismatic Highsmith. We're introduced to Highsmith hiding away from her fame and literary adversaries in the US in a cosy, naturalistic interior designed by Michael Scott-Mitchell with a spiral staircase, fireplace and writing desk. Apart from an offensively kitsch Highsmith portrait hanging to the right of the fireplace, the space works well. The action begins when a timid junior assistant from her publishing house visits, ostensibly to persuade her to sign a contract for a final installment of The Talented Mr Ripley. The opening exchange between Eamon Farren playing Edward and Peirse shows off Murray-Smith's comic competence and received plenty of laughter on opening night. The witty repartee only loses its shine when we reach the tenth false exit in as many minutes. As entertaining as the play is, it's hard to see its relevance. Whereas Fury spoke to a specific tension between radicalism and racial vilification, Switzerland only gets as far as generalised chats about the universality of human evil and cliched psychoanalysis suggesting that Highsmith is protecting herself behind her racism. It's all fine, and Peirse and Farren's performances are even mighty fine, but I couldn't help feeling that if director Sarah Goodes had focused more on Highsmith's obsession with snails or her collection of guns, we might have been in for a more interesting night of theatre. For a character study of a woman obsessed with murder, Switzerland displays a conspicuous lack of danger.
Usually, when winter rolls around, Bondi becomes a hub of Ferris wheel rides, art shows, live music, history walks and fringe events for the annual Winter Magic and Bondi Feast events. In 2020, because of COVID-19, those events were combined to create a mega-festival of art, food and soaring through the sky dubbed Bondi Festival. This year, Bondi Festival is back with a full suite of exciting pop-ups and activations throughout the beachside suburb. Setting up once more will be Bondi Vista, a Ferris wheel that'll send you soaring 22 metres above the sand. From Friday, July 1 through until Sunday July 17, you can go for a spin and feast your eyes on 360-degree views. On one side, you'll be gazing at wild waves, endless horizon and open sky. On the other, look out for glimpses of the city skyline. If you prefer to spin in circles on the ground, you can do just that at an ice-skating rink. And, walking tours and events for families will also be on the bill. Between rides on both circular attractions, you can check out an extravaganza of comedy and theatre, with shows popping up throughout the suburb. There will be a comedy and theatre mash-up from Randa Sayed and a comedic theatre seance from magician Harry Milas in a hidden Bondi location. Artist Joel Bray will also be transforming the Bondi Bowlo for a pub trivia night blended with contemporary dance, and award-winning performer Bron Batten will be presenting a theatre piece based on modern romance called Onstage Dating. "Playful, immersive and tailor-made, this year's program takes over Bondi for three weeks of art and playful audience experiences," Bondi Festival Director Rachel Chant said. "Go ice-skating by the beach or commune with the dead in a mysterious location, date an artist live on stage or take in a panoramic view of the coastline on the Bondi Vista Ferris Wheel." Bondi Festival will run from Friday, July 1–Sunday July 17. Head to the festival's website to view all the details and the full program.
When a huge global pride festival is heading Down Under for the first time — making its debut in the southern hemisphere, in fact — how do you celebrate? For Sydney WorldPride, there's a dazzling list of options. The LGBTQIA+ fest will hit town from February 17–March 5 with 300-plus events, and it's dropping its full lineup on Wednesday, November 9. It's also setting up a giant rainbow sand sculpture to help kick off the fun. On that very day, to add something else stunning to the program launch — other than the program itself, that is — a giant Sydney WorldPride rainbow sand sculpture will grace the Bondi Pavilion forecourt. The festival team are making a big deal of the occasion because it deserves it, and because it'll also be 100 days until the event itself kicks off, with this sandy rainbow taking up residence just from sunrise to sunset on the Wednesday. Head on down and you won't miss it. Expect it to feature in your social feeds heavily, too. The sculpture will measure 2.4 metres in height and 4.5 metres in width, and is apparently the largest rainbow sculpture of its kind. Spectacular sights and Bondi Beach naturally go hand in hand, of course. The famed Sydney stretch of sand is also known to host extra eye-catching attractions — a statue of Borat and a Stranger Things rift have all graced the spot in the past. Also, Sydneysiders have had plenty of rainbows to enjoy recently, all celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community. Darlinghurst is famously home to a rainbow crossing — and in Surry Hills, the City of Sydney implemented a lengthy path in Prince Alfred Park decked out in the same multicoloured stripes. Also, Coogee also has its own cheerfully hued monument, turning part of the suburb's beachfront into a rainbow walkway. Sydney WorldPride's one-day-only rainbow sand sculpture is the first in a whole heap of rainbow art and installations coming to the Harbour City, and Greater Sydney as well, courtesy of around 45 free public artworks spanning everywhere from the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney to the Scenic Skyway in Katoomba. Before the full lineup is announced, the fest has already unveiled big-name events like the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade to Oxford Street, Kylie Minogue headlining the opening concert, plus MUNA and G Flip doing the same at the closing gig. Find the Sydney WorldPride at the Bondi Pavilion forecourt from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday, November 9. Sydney WorldPride will run from February 17–March 5, 2023. For more information, head to the event's website. Images: Destination NSW. Thinking about Sydney WorldPride's big opening gig, Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert, too? General admission tickets have sold out, with only Sydney WorldPride's affordability option left — but you can still head along thanks to Concrete Playground Trips. The Sydney WorldPride package includes tickets to the Domain Dance Party and Live and Proud: Opening Concert, plus three nights at the PARKROYAL Darling Harbour Sydney.
No matter where you are in Australia, you've probably spent the majority of the year in your own state (if not the majority of the year in your own bedroom), with many states and territories keeping their borders firmly closed. But, the last of the interstate restrictions are starting to ease. With the exception of WA (which is currently open to only the ACT, Queensland and the NT and Tasmania, but is set to open to NSW and Victoria from December 8) and SA residents (who are still unable to visit Queensland), Australians can pretty much visit anywhere in the country without quarantining. To celebrate, Virgin Australia is selling over 60,000 fares to destinations around the country, starting from just $75 a pop. Hang on, Virgin? Yes. The same airline that, just months ago, entered voluntary administration. It has since been sold to US private investment firm Bain Capital, launched a comeback sale in early July and its voluntary administration officially ended on Tuesday, November 17. The 12-hour Happy Hour flight sale kicks off at 11am AEDT today, Thursday, December 3, and runs until 11pm tonight — or until sold out. In the sale, you'll find cheap flights on 25 routes to destinations across the country, with travel dates between December 5 and January 19, 2021. If you've been waiting to book Christmas flights home — or a summer getaway — now might be the time. Discounted flights are economy and include seat selection and checked baggage. Some of the routes on offer include Melbourne to Newcastle from $75, Sydney to Brisbane from $95, Adelaide to Sydney from $109 and Hobart to the Gold Coast from $169. [caption id="attachment_743607" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Whitsunday Beach by Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] The discounted flights are part of Virgin's relaunched weekly Happy Hour sale series, which will take place every Thursday for the foreseeable future. As we are still in the middle of a pandemic, flying is little different to normal. Virgin has introduced a range of safety measures, including hand sanitisation stations, contactless check-in and face masks provided to all passengers (but wearing them is not mandatory). Virgin is also waiving change fees and allowed unlimited booking changes between now and January 31, 2020. You can read more about its new flexible options over here. Virgin's Happy Hour sale runs from 11am–11pm AEDT on Thursday, December 3. Find out more about current interstate border restrictions over here.
Dixon Street is the beating heart of Chinatown. Take an obligatory photo at the peifang gates (located at either end of the street), grab a bag of famous Emperor's Puffs, and prise yourself from the attentions of enthusiastic restaurant hawkers. You can head there after dark to spot Heaven a vivid large-scale light installation and the Dixon Street Light Screens that hang above the street and gradually change from orange to red. At the stroke of midnight all the lights glow bright red. Image: North Sullivan, Destination NSW.
UPDATE: MARCH 17, 2020 — Splendour in the Grass has been postponed until Friday, October 23–Sunday, October 25, 2020. This one-off spring edition is 'an effort to ensure a safe Splendour in the Grass experience' in such 'unpredictable times' as well as in response to the Australian Government's ban on public gatherings in excess of 500 people. Many artists have confirmed they'll be playing over these new dates, including Flume, The Strokes and Tyler, The Creator. The below article has been updated to reflect this. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Throw those GoPros, bubble bottles and novelty gumboots in your rucksack, Splendour in the Grass is returning to North Byron Parklands for another year of festival merriment. Its 20th year, in fact. As usual, speculation has run wild in anticipation of the lineup announce — will Frank Ocean finally come to Australia? Will the recently reunited Rage Against the Machine be on the lineup? Will Flume be playing? — but the details for Splendour 2020 are finally here. And we're happy to report that some of the rumours were true. Flume — AKA Harley Edward Streten — himself will be Splendouring. He'll be heading back Down Under for his only Aussie show. Speaking of Splendour exclusives, Tyler, The Creator will also only be playing at the festival, performing hits off IGOR including the always-banging 'EARFQUAKE'. The Strokes will be heading to the festival to perform their first new album in seven years, The New Abnormal, and, while the Rage Against the Machine rumour isn't true, another recently reunited big-name band will be playing: Midnight Oil. The Aussie rockers have recently started recording music together for the first time in two decades. They're collaborating with First Nations artists for a new mini-album called The Makarrata Project, which they'll be performing at Splendour. There's also a big female contingent — that is kick-ass but still nowhere near as big as the pool of male performers — which includes Stella Donnelly, Thelma Plum, Jack River, Alice Ivy, Sampa The Great and George Alice (and more). The lineup seems to go on forever, including the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Denzel Curry, Violent Soho, the list goes on. Anyway, we know what you're here for. We'll cut to the chase. [caption id="attachment_735766" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tyler, The Creator by Sam Rock[/caption] SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2020 LINEUP Flume (only Aus show) The Strokes Tyler, The Creator (only Aus show) Yeah Yeah Yeahs Midnight Oil (The Makarrata Project) Glass Animals Denzel Curry Duke Dumont Live Violent Soho Mura Masa 100 Adrian Eagle Alex The Astronaut Alice Ivy Andy Golledge The Babe Rainbow perform The Velvet Underground's Loaded Bad//Dreems Baker Boy Banoffee Benee The Big Moon Brame & Hamo Bruno Major Charlie Collins Cry Club Cub Sport Dillon Francis DMA'S Dom Dolla Dro Carey & DJ Scorpion Fazerdaze G Flip George Alice Georgia Gerry Cinnamon Greentea Peng Grinspoon Grouplove Gryffin Hooligan Hefs Idles Illy Inhaler Jack Garratt Jack River Jarreau Vandal Joy Crookes JPEGMAFIA Julia Jacklin Julia Stone The Jungle Giants King Krule King Princess Kllo The Lazy Eyes Lex Deluxe Lillie Mae Lime Cordiale Mako Road Mall Grab Memphis LK Methyl Ethel Mickey Kojak Miiesha Mildlife Miss June Mo'Ju (fka Mojo Juju) Muna Northeast Party House Oliver Tree Petit Biscuit Pink Matter PUP Rolling Blackouts CF Ruel Sampa The Great Shaed Shannon & The Clams Sly Withers Sofi Tukker The Soul Movers Starcrawler Stella Donnelly Stevan Still Woozy Surfaces Thelma Plum Tierra Whack Tim Minchin Triple One Wallows Splendour will return to North Byron Parklands on Friday, October 23, Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25, 2020. Tickets go on sale Thursday, February 27 at 9am AEDT sharp. For more info, head to the official Splendour In The Grass site. Image: Bianca Holderness and Charlie Hardy
Broadbeach has never really had to work too hard to convince people to visit. The laidback vibes, excellent dining scene and ample swimming spots that give the suburb its name do most of the heavy lifting. But if you are a little harder to impress, the good people at Tourism and Events Queensland are rising to the challenge and cordially inviting you to plan a long weekend away to the Gold Coast for the annual Blues on Broadbeach festival that runs from Thursday, May 18 to Sunday, May 21. With 22 years of experience under its belt, the 2023 incarnation of Blues on Broadbeach will be the pay-off of a well oiled machine. And, while the organisers have had some time to fine-tune their ability to put on a stellar music festival that showcases authentic rhythm and blues music, this year's program could very well be their best yet. As well as a lineup of national and international artists performing across the precinct's multiple stages, streets and parks, the four-day-long fest will fold in a massive selection of restaurants, cafes and bars, and a host of accommodation options. Meaning you can stay right in the heart of the festival and enjoy live music at your actual doorstep. Kind of worried about blowing the budget? Fear not, because Blues on Broadbeach is one of Australia's largest free music festivals and it's generally non-ticketed, so you can just rock up and play it by ear (pardon both bad music-related puns). So, if you're heading in from interstate, set your Google alert to track flight prices and round up some mates. Otherwise, if Broadbeach is closer to home for you, take your time and pop in and out as you please. Either way, whether its your first pilgrimage to Blues on Broadbeach, or your 22nd, we're going to call it now and say it probably won't be your last. Blues on Broadbeach is on from Thursday, May 18 to Sunday, May 21, 2023. For further details, head to the website.
Acclaimed London and Miami bar Sexy Fish is sparing no expense in launching its new cocktail menu. The renowned international venue is taking to six continents (sorry Antarctica) to unveil its latest creations, enlisting the help of four host bars across the globe to join in. Luckily for us, one of those bars is right here in Sydney, with South Eveleigh's Re- the representative from Australia. The menu launch will take place on Monday, March 6, with Sexy Fish's two venues premiering the boundary-pushing displays of mixology alongside Cape Town's Cause Effect, EL BARON in Cartagena, Zest in Seoul, and Re-. Arriving from Matt Whiley and Maurice Terzini in 2021 with a focus on sustainability and an exciting drinks list, Re- will showcase 20 cocktail creations, including 16 alcoholic combos and four non-alcoholic variations. "Re- is thrilled to have been chosen as the Australian counterpart for the launch of Sexy Fish's new cocktail menu, Trinity," says Whiley. "We've loved working with Sexy Fish to create their Trinity menu Down Under, ensuring our sharp focus on local ingredients and sustainability continue to lead the way with drinks, preferencing innovation and taste while minimising waste." Highlights from the menu include a coconut and lemongrass cocktail featuring Absolut Elyx vodka and sake; a playful creation made with marshmallow-infused gin and fortified wines; and the Coffee and Toast, which combines brown butter-infused mezcal, coffee, caramel, Campari and manzanilla. "This is such an exciting project and the first time we have launched a brand-new menu across six continents on the same day with our full Sexy Fish menu and original glassware," Director of Bars at Caprice Holdings Xavier Landais said. "Incredibly, guests visiting our host bars will be able to enjoy the full Sexy Fish experience for one night only, whether they are in Australia, Colombia, South Africa or South Korea." Re- will open especially for this world-spanning cocktail showcase on the Monday, with no bookings available — walk-ins only. If you want to taste what Sexy Fish has been whipping up, just venture down to South Eveleigh early and nab a spot at the bar. You can try the new cocktail menu from Maimi and London's Sexy Fish at Re- for one night only on Monday, March 6.
Visit Alice Springs at any time of year and you'll find plenty to see and do in Australia's Red Centre, including making the trip to Uluru, marvelling at Bruce Munro's Field of Light, and checking out the Tjoritja gorges and Kings Canyon. Here's a spectacular reason to head by every April, including from now until Sunday, April 16 in 2023: Parrtjima — A Festival In Light. The region's luminous Indigenous arts festival is back for another year and, set against the 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges, it looks stunning as always. This event celebrates First Nations arts, culture and storytelling, and just might be Australia's most luminous event — with installations in breathtaking surroundings leading the show alongside music, talks, films, workshops and more. [caption id="attachment_896332" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sisters at Watarru by Noreen Dixon, Grounded.[/caption] 2023's focus: 'Listening with Heart'. That's what this year's light-heavy installations, which were announced late in 2022, are focusing on. Parrtjima's theme is inspired by the artwork surrounding the Statement from the Heart, with that piece depicting Uluru-Ku Tjukurrpa, the Uluru story of connection, as created by a group of artists from Multijulu as led by Maruku artist Rene Kulitja. So, Kulitja has worked with other of artists for Parrtjima to turn the Statement from the Heart artwork into a large-scale immersive light and sound installation. Accordingly, Parrtjima attendees are currently getting plunged in the world of the Aṉangu people of the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands surrounding Uluru. This year's festival installations feature ancient songlines, plus Indigenous viewpoints on Country, as well as connecting to First Peoples' strong links with the land, water and sky. Two things that are also on the bill: two of the festival's regular annual attractions, aka a huge artwork that transforms a 2.5-kilometre stretch of the majestic ranges, showering it with light each night of the festival; and Grounded, the installation projected over the red dirt at tourism and conservation facility Alice Springs Desert Park. As for the music program, it is overflowing with First Nations talent, including Docker River Band, Eastern Reggae Band, Emily Wurramara, JK-47, KAIIT, Karnage and Paul Ah Chee. They're joined by Radical Son, Richard J Frankland, Discovering Leerpeen Mara, Rowdy Birds, The Andrew Gurruwiwi Band and The Merindas across the ten days — and with a range of dazzling backdrops. The talks lineup features actor Steven Oliver, marathon hero Charlie Maher, media identity Naomi Moran, scientist Corey Tutt, Olympian Nova Peris and more, such as musicians Richard Frankland, KAIIT and Paul Ah Chee — doing double duty on stage and having a chat. Movie-wise, attendees can look forward to Westwind: Djalu's Legacy, Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky, Araatika: Rise Up and The Australian Wars. And, the workshops schedule includes dance, art and pottery. Parrtjima – A Festival in Light runs until Sunday, April 16, 2023 around Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. For more information, visit the festival website. Images: Parrtjima – A Festival in Light. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
In a Carriageworks exhibition that cuts right to the core of how the art world relates to the lives of most everyday people, Branch Nebula’s ARTWORK addresses issues of unemployment, observation and exclusion. Branch Nebula is an award-winning art collective known for interactive pieces that challenge what it is that constitutes a performance. ARTWORK follows this theme, by employing people who are looking for work — found through the classifieds and untrained in performance — in an effort to question who audiences accept as a performer. The workers will be paid to engage in physical tasks, interviews and other typical workplace routines with no preparation, in front of an audience. Branch Nebula admits the piece is intended to be risky, with performers free to raise issues of racism, sexism and class, and also expects their audience to experience a level of discomfort as they reflect on what it is to employ someone to be observed. At $35 a ticket, there's also the question of which people are able to engage with the art world and how. A must-see for those questioning the relevance and elitism of the art world — if you can afford it.
