So, that 'New Year, New You' resolve has started to fade and the end of summer's left you a little lacking in the motivation department. Well, online fashion retailer The Iconic reckons it has exactly what it takes to inspire us all to jump back into the fitness game — a sweet $135,000 worth of vouchers. The vouchers are up for grabs as part of The Iconic's 2019 Sport Challenge, which kicks off today, Tuesday, February 26. Now in its third year, the eight-week digital fitness competition sees Aussie and New Zealand participants of all skill levels winning vouchers for workout threads, shoes and accessories, by simply exercising and completing fitness challenges. It's free to enter, though you'll need to connect your go-to fitness tracking app or device (there are 13 different compatible apps, including Nike Run Club and Polar Flow) to access the 17 different challenges, divided into easy, medium and hard. Expect things like the beginner-friendly Champion Challenge — where you'll need to tick off three 20-minute workouts for the chance to score a $50 Champion voucher — through to the slightly sweatier Skins Challenge, offering a shot at claiming $50 worth of Skins gear, whenever you clock a non-stop 15km run. Rack up 2km of activity in one go and there could be a $100 Fitbit voucher with your name on it. The vouchers are redeemable online at The Iconic for a bunch of big-name sportswear brands, including Mizuno, Reebok, Nike, Adidas and Running Bare. Participants have eight weeks to smash as many challenges as they can, before the competition wraps up at midnight on Tuesday, April 23. The more times you conquer one, the more chances you'll have to score a prize. Sign up over at The Iconic Sport Challenge website and start moving.
There'd better be room for another social network in your life, because today Twitter has launched new iPhone app Vine. Looking for more than filters and still images? Long to be the star of your own gifs? It's with you in mind that Vine is made, as it allows for the filming and sharing of videos up to six seconds long, complete with sound. The Twitter ethos of 'short is better' could be just the quality that makes this something we want to play with. First impressions show it to be a nice-looking app, with easy-to-use editing and options that allow you to explore the videos of others as well as integrate yours with existing social networks. Of course, that integration varies depending on which network you're talking. In Twitter, the videos embed seamlessly in your feed, even playing automatically as you scroll past them. Thoughtfully, sound is included if you're browsing on your mobile but not on your computer, so there won't be any of that frantic flicking through tabs trying to find where unsolicited noise is coming from. In Facebook, however, you won't have any sound, because you won't have video — just a still and a link you have to click to be taken through to the video. (You can embed the videos in other sites, too, but there are a few steps to the process.) It seems childish, but at least Twitter can say Facebook started it, when it first pulled the option for you to find Twitter contacts on Facebook-owned Instagram and then stopped Instagram shares embedding in Twitter feeds, so that somewhere along the line, we users have to click more links and do more waiting for stuff to load. And while Twitter may have tried to extend the hand of friendship (or appear as if doing so) by allowing you to search for and add your Facebook contacts, as of writing, that function isn't working. We got an enigmatic error message, but investigation by the Verge suggests that it's Facebook doing the blocking. So while Vine looks like a promising new diversion, it's also another irritating chapter in the Facebook versus Twitter wars, with users as collateral damage. Vine is currently available for free in the iTunes store. Right now it's iOS only, but we've got to assume an Android version at least is on the way.
Time to update your MySpace status and rock out to that mix CD your friend made, The Kooks and Julian Casablancas have just announced they're both coming to Australia. While we're currently quietly chuffed by the news — they're both still indie greats — our 2006 self is absolutely losing their shit. We're going to elbow our way to the front row and finally make that eye contact we've been pining for since first hearing 'Someday' on our Discman. Though there are no current plans for solo shows, Casablancas has been added to the lineup for Falls Festival and Southbound with his side project The Voidz. Trading in the polished guitar riffs of The Strokes for a more raw punk sound, Casablancas and The Voidz have released their new album Tyranny just this week which will no doubt make up the majority of his festival sets. It's not all that often that Casablancas makes the trip down under, so we've secretly got our fingers crossed for some of his older work to hit the stage. In an ideal world we'd get treated to the stripped back demo version of 'I'll Try Anything Once', but we'd also settle for some solo stuff from Phrazes For the Young. The new collaboration is fine and all, but post-punk is admittedly hard to swoon over. Alternatively, The Kooks are just as boppy and Brit-poppy as you remember them on your car radio on the way to high school roll call. Their most recent album Listen has seen a little electro added to the mix, but the tunes are as upbeat as ever. Plus it's still super fun to sing along while emulating Luke Pritchard's accent. Though they visited just last year for Groovin' The Moo, The Kooks will be embarking on a full national tour in January 2015. Supported by The Griswolds and Catfish & the Bottlemen, they'll be hitting up Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne with enormous (mostly) all ages shows. Sure, it's been close to a decade since you added 'Naive' or 'Seaside' to your MySpace playlist. Yes, Julian Casablancas has lost a little of that babyface rockstar charm. That shouldn't stop you doing a favour for your 2006 self and buying a ticket. You won't even need to pull a double shift at Maccas to raise the cash this time! Julian Casablancas December 28 - January 1 — Falls Festival Lorne (SOLD OUT) December 29 - January 1 — Falls Festival Marion Bay December 30 - January 3 — Falls Festival Byron Bay (SOLD OUT) January 3 - 4, 2015 — Southbound Festival The Kooks January 17, 2015 — Belvoir Amphitheatre, Perth. January 20, 2015 — Hordern Pavilion, Sydney. January 23, 2015 — Riverstage, Brisbane. January 24, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne. All tickets on sale 9am Friday, October 3 via Ticketmaster.
If you've ever wanted to party with a great white or a jellyfish, now is the time. Darling Harbour's Sea Life Aquarium is throwing a series of late-night dance parties this June, running from Thursday, June 10 until Saturday, June 19. Sea Life Glow will see the aquarium transformed from 6pm each night with DJs, a bar and a whole heap of glow-in-the-dark decorations to compliment the aquarium's luminescent sea creatures who shine the best after dark. Attendees will be given a drink on arrival and experience all the wonders of the aquarium without the crowds, before heading to the pop-up barbecue station for a gourmet sausage sizzle. Once you've explored the aquarium's attractions, make your way in front of the DJ for a boogie with the sea creatures. The dance floor will be surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass allowing partygoers to experience a full view of all the underwater critters. The aquarium takeover is all part of Sydney Solstice, the new winter arts festival taking over Sydney this June. Arrival times will run at 6pm, 6.30pm and 7pm each night to allow for social distancing. [caption id="attachment_805839" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sea Life Silent Sounds[/caption]
Launched during VAMFF last week in Melbourne, Bared Footwear's collaboration with artist Carla McRae is one to slip your tootsies into immediately. The limited edition sneaker collaboration is a first for Victorian footwear label, kicking off the first of many, or so we're told. Suffice to say, these are some sneaks to freak over. Capturing the carefree spirit of McRae's playful illustrations and street murals, the Pintail shoe brings to life McRae's iconic female character, who appears in many of her works. We're keen to take a walk in these chunky soled shoes with swirling embroidery and metallic details — also apparently imbued with extreme comfort factor. After all, Bared was founded by Victorian podiatrist Anna Baird with the design ethos of creating modern, wearable shoes, so you know these shoes will treat your feet well. For the collaboration launch, Carla McRae painted one of her cheery, colour-blocked murals out the back of the Bared store in Armadale — the perfect backdrop for these sweet, minimal kicks that come in white with rose gold, and black with silver. The Carla McCrae x Bared Footwear Pintail shoe is available now for $229 from the Bared website.
You don't need to like taking walks in the rain to be a fan of piña coladas, although given Sydney's persistent La Niña downpours, a penchant for precipitation might not be such a bad thing right now. Regardless of the weather, Australia is set to celebrate a national day dedicated to the world's favourite rum-spiked tropical cocktail on Wednesday, July 10, and the team at The Lansdowne Hotel is marking the occasion with one of the biggest drink giveaways Sydney's ever seen. In partnership with Master of Mixes, The Lansdowne's in-house taco shack, The Happy Mexican, will be giving away a whopping 10,000 free piña coladas. For three days, between Wednesday, July 10–Friday, July 12, free cocktail vouchers will be handed out at Broadway Shopping Centre — which you can redeem just across the street at The Lansdowne — from midday–6pm. There will also be free one-litre bottles of Master of Mixes' piña colada mixer up for grabs. This can be transformed into the ultra-creamy coconut and pineapple tipple by simply adding it to a blender, along with some rum and ice. Clearly, the Happy Mexican crew feel three days is simply not long enough to honour such a legendary beverage. So until the end of July, they'll be slinging $10 piña coladas and $5 pastor tacos, filled with juicy marinated pork, a sweet-and-sour salsa and grilled pineapple — the ultimate side snack for your cocktail, come rain or shine.
When The Kid LAROI was named as SXSW Sydney 2024's music keynote speaker, simply chatting about his career was never going to be his only contribution to the festival. Upon dropping that news, it was also revealed that the globally famous star would develop professional development workshops and performance opportunities for Waterloo and Redfern's First Nations communities as part of this year's event. Here's something related on the list: presenting and introducing a showcase of First Nations talent in Tumbalong Park's free program. With SXSW Sydney's 2024 dates fast approaching — this year's fest runs from Monday, October 14–Sunday, October 20 — the event's team is still expanding the music lineup. The First Nations show will take place on Saturday, October 19 after The Kid LAROI's conference chat. Triple J Unearthed and Blak Out are behind the gig as well. Music lovers can also now look forward to catching the UK's ENNY, O. and The Lottery Winners; South Africa's Moonchild Sanelly; Buffalo Hunt and Walker Lukens from the US; homegrown talents Ngaiire, Anieszka, Devaura, Dyan Tai, Ella Ion, Jude York, Keelan Mak, Sex Mask and Wet Kiss. They've all been added to a roster of acts that'll take over 25 stages over seven days, and that's been announcing names for months now. Similarly new to the bill: that KRSNA, KAVYA, Yung Raja and Mali from India, plus Manara from the UK, will get behind the mic at +91 Calling, also in Tumbalong Park. The gig focuses on tunes from talents out of India and from the Indian diaspora. [caption id="attachment_974070" align="alignnone" width="1920"] ChantelleKP[/caption] If you're keen to attend the opening party for the SXSW Sydney Music Festival, it's locked in for Tuesday, October 15 with Voice of Baceprot and 2Touch at The Underground. And if you're eager for parties and showcases presented by Laneway Presents, Astral People, fbi.radio and more, they're now on the lineup, too. SXSW Sydney 2024 started revealing its program details back in May, and has kept growing it since. A further announcement arrived in June, then not one, not two, but three more in July — and also another, focusing on the free hub at Tumbalong Park, at the beginning of August. Since then, more music acts, more speakers, The Kid LAROI's involvement, and two rounds of Screen Festival titles have also been added. Accordingly, no one can say that they don't have anything to see when SXSW Sydney makes its eagerly awaited comeback. SXSW Sydney 2024 will run from Monday, October 14–Sunday, October 20 at various Sydney venues. Head to the SXSW Sydney website for further details. SXSW Sydney images: Peter McMillan, Jordan Kirk, Jess Gleeson and Ian Laidlaw.
Melbourne comes alive in summer. Outdoor bars and restaurants fill up with people taking advantage of longer days, parks and gardens are gloriously green and the city's arts and culture venues host a huge range of events. Yes, you can certainly run away to beaches for spectacular nature-filled getaways. But summer is as good a time as any for a city break — and we've curated the ultimate way to do it in Melbourne, whether you're a first-time visitor or you know the Hoddle Grid like the back of your hand. [caption id="attachment_658995" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Stano Murrin[/caption] FRIDAY Begin your Melbourne city break with a sundowner at Bar Triana. Located within the AC Hotel Melbourne Southbank, this sophisticated bar offers up views over the city alongside a truly impressive selection of gin. Melbourne is known for its world-class arts and culture institutions, but we recommend you dive a little deeper into the city's lesser-known haunts like The Butterfly Club. This cosy theatre, bar and welcoming space is hidden down a CBD laneway. Once you find the entrance, head inside for a smorgasbord of weird and wonderful theatre. Get tickets to whatever is on and go along for the ride — you won't regret it. For something a bit more orthodox (but just as intimate), head to Bird's Basement for an evening of live jazz. Like The Butterfly Club, you shouldn't worry yourself with what specific artist is performing — just book a table and let the music sweep over you with a cocktail in hand. SATURDAY If you're one of those mysterious morning people we've heard so much about, we suggest taking a stroll to The Shrine of Remembrance for spectacular sunrise views. Take your time wandering around this incredible space and look out over the city, watching it wake up and come alive. From here, head to the shops and grab your picnic essentials before nabbing what is arguably one of the best barbecue spots in all of Melbourne. On the edge of the Royal Botanic Gardens and right on the Yarra River, you'll find a host of free-to-use barbecues overlooking Melbourne's skyline, and is an ideal spot to soak up some sun. If you're looking escape the sun, you won't need to go far. This spot is conveniently located right by Melbourne's celebrated arts precinct where you'll find all kinds of brilliant things to do. See an exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria or catch a matinee at the Arts Centre, Melbourne Theatre Company or Melbourne Recital Centre. For a pre-dinner drink, make a beeline to The Westin Melbourne's Lobby Lounge. Settle in to a plush club chair in this grand Collins Street space as you indulge in an aperitivo — and maybe a dozen oysters — before dinner. On the menu? Clever and creative Modern Australian at Lollo, a welcoming culinary space with a menu overseen by celebrated chef Adam D'Sylva. Lollo draws inspiration from Melbourne's multicultural heritage to serve up globally inspired dishes that showcase local and seasonal produce. [caption id="attachment_711646" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Josie Withers for Visit Victoria[/caption] SUNDAY Start your Sunday off by catching the tram to the South Melbourne Market. Grab a coffee from Pieno di Grazia and a freshly baked croissant from Agathé Pâtisserie before browsing the aisles featuring wares from local makers and producers who have made this bustling market a unique destination that highlights the city's diversity. Once you've eaten and shopped your way around the market, hire a bike from the AC Hotel to have one last Melbourne jaunt. Take to The Capital City Trail for a cycling journey that winds past Melbourne's most iconic landmarks. You can attempt the full 30 kilometres or just do a portion of the trail — whether that's Southbank to Burnley Gardens, Moonee Ponds Creek to the Melbourne Exhibition Centre or Abbotsford to Parkville. Whichever you choose, it's the perfect way to end your Melbourne city break. Looking to make the most of your next city break? Find your home away from home with Marriott Bonvoy. Book your stay not at the website. Top image: Dmitry Osipenko (Unsplash)
It's been 14 years since Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio decided to fill a Melbourne alleyway with tunes in 2005. Thankfully, Laneway Festival has just confirmed it will be heading back to its collection of unconventional venues for another year, revealing its jam-packed 2019 lineup. Returning to Sydney next February, Laneway will raise a plastic cup to the middle of summer with one heck of a lineup. This year's eclectic program is headlined by two huge Aussie names: indie rock group Gang of Youths and acclaimed singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett. A few big artists are heading Down Under for the first time, too, including English R&B superstar Jorja Smith, neo-soul singer Rex Orange County and American rapper Denzel Curry. You'll also be able to get down to Camp Cope, Middle Kids and Mitski and sway along to Mansionair, What So Not and Skeggs. If you want to catch Jorja Smith and NYC rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, you'll have to head along to Laneway — they'll both be playing exclusively at the festival, with no sideshows. But, enough chit-chat — here's the full 2019 lineup. LANEWAY 2019 LINEUP Gang of Youths Courtney Barnett A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie (exclusive) Baker Boy Camp Cope Charlie Collins* Clairo Cosmo's Midnight Crooked Colours* Denzel Curry* DJDS G Flip Jon Hopkins Jorja Smith (exclusive) KIAN Mansionair Masego Methyl Ethel Middle Kids Mitski* Parquet Courts Ravyn Lenae Rex Orange County Ruby Fields Skeggs Smino What So Not Yellow Days *East Coast only Laneway Image: Anthony Smith.
A true Sydney stalwart, Marrickville Pork Roll has long been considered one of the best bánh mì shops in the city. And now you can enjoy the same quality Vietnamese sandwiches in the CBD, with the opening of the Darling Square outpost along Steam Mill Lane. The Darling Square location is decidedly snazzier than its Marrickville namesake, with neon lighting aplenty and timber courtyard seating. But you can expect to find the same delicious rolls at an equally appealing price point. Open weekdays from 7.30am (and weekends from 9am), the shop bakes its baguettes fresh every morning. That fluffy-yet-crunchy baguette is schmeared with pâté and mayo, then loaded with your choice of meat, fresh herbs, pickled veg, salad and chilli. While the traditional pork is the go-to, we rate the barbecue pork and crackling pork belly. Meatball, chicken, salad and veg varieties are also up for grabs — and all for just a few dollarydoos ($6–8). It's hard to say exactly what makes these Vietnamese sandwiches better than all the rest, but that classic combination of pork roll goodness is difficult to beat.
There are a lot of gadgets, bits and bobs you can purchase to pretty-up your bicycle. From detachable bike speakers to personalised frames and toilet seats, there are a plethora of things you can attach to your bike to give it character. But the Feats Per Minute prototype bike, created by a team of Dutch designers, is in a league of its own. Unveiled at the Dezeen Space Platform exhibition in London, this bike's designers have reconstructed an old German Alpina Bike they bought for $80 to create a cycling/music machine that plays vinyl records as you ride at a consistent speed. According to its creators, the biggest challenge in creating the vinyl-playing bike was to "make sure that the needles would stick to the record and follow the grooves, without skipping too much." No kidding. It's still a work in progress and only at prototype stage, but as their video report of the Dezeen Space Platform exhibition suggests, once perfected, it is sure to make many people's filmic fantasies come true. https://youtube.com/watch?v=TCxyIKYJ-xo
Because nobody should have to deny themselves their favourite foods, Nourished have created healthy versions of comfort staples like nachos, burgers and breakfast burritos. Proving that they're looking out for our best interests, they've even helped out with the justification by giving an explanation of why their meals are good for you. Their spicy bean and corn nachos are packed with fibre, protein and iron, which helps cut cholesterol and provides sustainable energy. Take that, diet. The menu is sizeable, and given that it's within walking distance to the beach, it's great that such a big chunk is also offered as takeaway. They've got an ever-changing selection of juices and smoothies and the Campos coffee they serve is one of their biggest drawcards.
It isn't every year that the Cannes Film Festival awards its coveted top prize to a movie about having sex with — yes, with — a car. That year was 2021, and that winner was French thriller Titane. Topping such a pick might seem difficult but, when it came time to hand out the 2022 Palme d'Or, the prestigious fest gave the gong to a brutal social satire with a queasy, hilarious, cringe-inducing and utterly impossible-to-look-away-from 15-minute-long projectile vomiting scene. Bodies don't just expel substances from their mouths in Triangle of Sadness' unforgettable and easily most talked-about sequence. Seasickness strikes, what's inside has to come out however it must (and ASAP) and, because that's a situation that strips away all class and power dynamics, there's no longer any hierarchy on the film's ultra-luxurious yacht setting. The scene just might be Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund's most awkward and stunning of his career — and that's saying something for a writer/director who actually topped himself by nabbing the Palme d'Or for Triangle of Sadness, given that he also won the same accolade for his art world-skewering previous film The Square. Getting the one-percent heaving up their dinner for a quarter-hour is only one part of Östlund's smart, scathing and supremely entertaining latest feature. Following two models and influencers, couple Carl (Harris Dickinson, See How They Run) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean, Black Lightning), Triangle of Sadness explores the world of fashion, the lavishness of extreme wealth and being stranded on a deserted island. In the process, it ponders beauty as a form of currency and actively tears down the rich — but it's equally savage towards everyone, bank balance be damned. Östlund is fascinated by human behaviour, after all, and the social contracts by which we all live. Indeed, his current sail through such loaded, complicated and comically ripe terrain not only follows 2018's The Square but 2014's exceptional marriage-in-crisis black comedy Force Majeure. [caption id="attachment_884231" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Olivier Vigerie[/caption] Östlund loves scratching away at how people react in heightened situations, and examining what that says about everyday life. He adores unpacking societal expectations, too. Indeed, for his next movie, he's heading to a long-haul 17-hour-plus flight, then taking away the passengers' main source of entertainment. The in-the-works flick is called The Entertainment System Is Down, in fact, and Östlund describes it as "once again a behaviouristic study, comical and tragic, about being a human being — and about contemporary times when we have become so addicted to these screens, and taking that away from us". Talking with Concrete Playground via Zoom, he's visibly excited about putting a new batch of characters through the wringer. That glee is palpable in Triangle of Sadness as well — including when everyone is vomiting. With the film now in Australian cinemas, Östlund also chatted through his fascination with alluring worlds, pop culture's present obsession with eating the rich, all that blowing chunks and shooting for a history-making third Palme d'Or. ON TEARING INTO SOCIETAL CONVENTIONS WITHIN ALLURING WORLDS "I think if I go back to my upbringing, my mother was a primary school teacher and she was talking a lot about sociology with me when I was a kid. And sociology is, if you are looking at what it actually is, it's very often with human beings trying to deal with social contracts that are broken in some way — or there's an expectation on you as an individual to fit into the herd or things like that, but there's always a broken social contract. For Triangle of Sadness, the reason that I got interested in the topic was I met my wife eight years ago and she worked as a fashion photographer. And I got very interested in the fashion industry and her profession, and I got interested in beauty as a currency and beauty as a possibility to climb higher in society. So, that was the starting point of the idea. Then I came up with looking at these hierarchies first in the fashion world, then in the luxury world, but then also on a deserted island — when you take away the old hierarchies, looking at our behaviour in that context. One thing that I decided when I made Force Majeure was that I wanted to let my films play out in an environment that we like to look upon. So I thought when I made Force Majeure: 'yeah I can spend one-and-a-half hours at a ski resort'. With The Square, I thought: 'yeah, I can watch and make a movie that takes place in the art world'. With Triangle of Sadness, then, it was one plus one plus one: 'yeah, I definitely wanted to watch a movie that takes in the fashion world, on a luxury yacht and on a deserted island." ON GIVING AUDIENCES A DILEMMA — AND DRAWING FROM EXPERIENCE "I always look for a dilemma, so I have a situation that the character is dealing with that has two or more options, but none of them are easy and all of them have consequences — that is basically what a dilemma is. And if you have a dilemma, it's very often easy for the audience to identify with the situation rather than with the character, so they put themselves in the situation. To go back to sociology, we have classical dilemmas that have been used in sociology, for example the Milgram experiment where they had a test person giving electrical shocks to another test person. We can identify with the dilemma, so we also get an understanding of what failure there means morally and ethically. I always look for that. I very often also look for things that I have been dealing with in my own life, because I think that these everyday life dilemmas — where you're maybe not risking anything physically, but were it comes down to the social contract — they tell us so much about ourselves. When it came to Triangle of Sadness, I was trying to find something that I have experienced that I felt was dealing with beauty as a currency, men, women, gender expectations and so on. Then I was reminded of this horrible fight that I had in the beginning of my relationship with my wife, where I could feel it was a minefield — you can step on a landmine any second — and I thought 'I have to include this, this is very, very painful, it has to be in the film'." ON EATING THE RICH — AND POP CULTURE'S FASCINATION WITH THE TOPIC "I have always been a socialist, so I think all of a sudden I'm trendy again — and that's fantastic! But I didn't have a plan of attacking that more now. When I was doing my first feature films, I was more of an arthouse director, I was a little subtle with my concepts, and I was not going straight for what I wanted to tell. But the more free I have become as a director, I have also dared to be more direct. And the setup in Triangle of Sadness lets me do that. But I think that one thing it is important for me to point out is that I have nothing against rich people. Rich people are nice — they just don't like to pay taxes! When I hear 'eat the rich', I see it as meaning attacking the rich. I don't consider myself attacking the rich. I wanted to make a very sympathetic image of rich people — or at least as sympathetic of the rich as everyone else. I want to be equally harsh on all of the different class groups." ON ALL THAT VOMIT — AND GIVING HIS CREW MOTION SICKNESS "I wanted to do a scene where we had a drunk Marxist captain reading from The Communist Manifesto to passengers on a luxury yacht that was dealing with seasickness. I was just fond of the idea — that they are playing around with the microphone system and through the speakers in the cabins, the guests are trying to deal with the vomiting but at the same time they have to listen to this political message. The scene actually started with that idea. When I was shooting it, I also decided that I wanted it to go ten steps further than the audience could expect. I wanted it to get to a point where they felt 'please save them, they have had enough!'. But you know, because I'm so interested in broken social contracts, I thought it was interesting if the captain's dinner on a luxury yacht where everyone knows how to behave, and the etiquette of how they should behave, was in conflict with the seasickness that becomes stronger and stronger. I just love setups like that. It took a long time to edit it. I was editing it for half a year almost before we found the right structure. When we shot it, we shot it in fragments — it was not 100-percent decided when I shot it which place the fragments should have in the whole scene, so that was something that I had to find out when I was editing, and that took a long time. The shooting took place on a gimbal that we could rock, so we could rock the set 20 degrees, which made it very chaotic to shoot. I'm used to being in full control and being able to shoot without having the slightest little sound or anything — being very concentrated — so for me that was a challenge. And actually also, parts of the crew got seasick from the shooting. They had seasickness pills because we were spending 13 days, eight hours every day, on this rocking set. As you can imagine, it was chaos." [caption id="attachment_884238" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cannes, France. 28th May, 2022. CANNES, FRANCE. May 17, 2022: Ruben Ostlund at the photocall for Palme d'Or Awards at the 75th Festival de Cannes. Picture Credit: Paul Smith/Alamy Live News[/caption] ON WINNING TWO PALME D'ORS — AND DREAMING OF A THIRD "I was definitely not thinking about [winning a second Palme d'Or] when we made the film. I felt pressure because I knew that everybody that put in money into the film expected the film to be in competition in Cannes. When we were accepted in competition in Cannes, I said 'okay, mission accomplished, I have given them what I have promised', so to speak. Then we had a fantastic screening in Cannes. And what happens then is you slowly start to hope for a prize. And when you're invited to the awards ceremony, and the prizes go to other films, and you realise 'wow there's only one prize left'. And then you realise we're going to win the Golden Palm again. The great thing with the second Golden Palm is that it takes away pressure from your shoulders, because then you have shown that the first Golden Palm was actually the right decision from that jury. And what happens after you win two Golden Palms is that slowly a dream is starting — maybe we can win a third one! — because then you would be the only one in the world. I'm sorry, this is what happens. I'm trying to be humble but this is what happens! So the first one, I never dreamt about the second one. When I received the second one, I started to dream about the third." Triangle of Sadness is now screening in Australian cinemas. Read our full review. Triangle of Sadness images: Fredrik Wenzel. © Plattform Produktion.
Darlinghurst neighbourhood bar Bitter Phew is teaming up with Italian amaro distiller Fernet Branca to bring you a week-long festival of aromatic cocktails. Think signature drinks, plus creative burgers and at least a couple of big parties. Not all that familiar with Fernet Branca? It's an aromatic spirit whose story begins way back in 1845 — with a family recipe and a team of expert distillers at Fratelli Branca Distillery in Milan. More than 40 herbs, spices and blossom go into the digestivo, including saffron, myrrh, rhubarb, aloe and camomile. Even better, rumour has it that it can prevent hangovers. Kicking off on Monday, December 2, Bitter Phew's celebrations will involve a five-strong cocktail list, from the straight-forward Fernet Branca with Coke or Campari to the Hanky Panky, featuring ginger beer and lime, and the Toronto, containing gin and sweet vermouth. Alternatively, you can have it in a boilermaker or straight from the tap, either neat or on ice. Plus, BL Burgers will be chipping in with food, serving up a Fernet-inspired burger. If you're looking to celebrate with more than just a drink, swing by on Friday, December 6, for the Fernet Branca x Bitter Phew House Party, and on Sunday, December 8, for the Hospo Party.
Four decades back, concert film history was made. In December 1983, David Byrne walked out onto a Hollywood stage with a tape deck, pressed play and, while standing there solo, began to sing 'Psycho Killer'. Then-future The Silence of the Lambs Oscar-winner Jonathan Demme directed cameras towards the legendary Talking Heads' frontman, recording the results for Stop Making Sense. The best way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the event behind the greatest concert film ever made arrived in 2024, and in cinemas. That'd be watching it on the big screen, of course, with cult-favourite independent film and TV company A24 — and Madman Down Under — releasing a complete restoration of Stop Making Sense. What's the second-best way to celebrate the occasion and the movie? Catching that new 4K version at home now that it's on Madman's documentary streaming service DocPlay from Thursday, June 13. Wearing big suits is optional. Now able to burn down your house — not literally, naturally — the 4K restoration premiered at last year's Toronto International Film Festival, and also had a date with SXSW Sydney's Screen Festival in 2023. So, no it isn't the same as it ever was: Stop Making Sense is now even better. The film isn't just iconic for how it starts, which definitely isn't how concerts usually kick off. From there, as captured at Hollywood's Pantages Theatre in December 1983, David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz and Jerry Harrison put on one helluva show in support of their previous year's album Speaking in Tongues. Expect a lineup of hits, a playful approach, Byrne's famous oversized attire and even heftier stage presence, and the feeling that you're virtually in the room. Indeed, everything about this energetic and precisely executed documentary, which records the set from start to finish, couldn't be further from the standard concert flick. As 'Once in a Lifetime', 'Heaven', 'Burning Down the House', Life During Wartime', 'This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)', 'Genius of Love' and more get a whirl, each element of the movie is that fine-tuned, and every aspect of the band's performance, too. And if it feels like Byrne was on-screen not that long ago, that's because his Spike Lee (Da 5 Bloods)-directed solo concert flick American Utopia did the rounds of Aussie cinemas back in 2020 — and proved one of that year's absolute best films. Check out the trailer for Stop Making Sense's 4K restoration below: Stop Making Sense is available to stream via DocPlay from Thursday, June 13, 2024. Images: Jordan Cronenweth, Courtesy of A24.
Easter is creeping closer and the creative treats are flowing in hard and fast. This year, we've already seen the release of a hot cross bun-inspired rum, decadent gelato-filled eggs and Lune's beloved hot cross cruffins. And next up is one for your booze cabinet — limited-edition drop, The Dispensary Cacao Husk Liqueur. A grown-up Easter offering with a sustainable edge, it's a joint effort from a couple of Melbourne-based favourites — Brunswick distillery The Gospel and artisan chocolate label Mork, the same crew behind that cult campfire hot chocolate. The innovative liqueur is crafted using Mork's leftover single-origin cacao husks, which would normally be thrown out. Here, instead, they're macerated in a blend of the distillery's Straight Rye and Solera Rye Whiskeys to create a complex sip filled with an array of rich fruit notes. This forward-thinking duo has effectively turned trash into treasure. Despite the cacao element, the drink isn't overly sweet; rather, the husks carry a savoury profile that complements the whisky's aromatics, leaving a blend of flavours that includes roast hazelnut, dried orange and cranberry. Mork roasts its cacao in small batches before the nib is separated and used to make products from its legendary chocolate range. Now, those discarded husks are getting their chance to shine, too. The Cacao Husk Liqueur marks the latest addition to The Gospel's Dispensary series. The crew recommends sipping it on the rocks, or stirred down with dry vermouth, Luxardo Maraschino and The Gospel's Solera Rye in a cocktail. There'll only be a limited number of bottles of the liqueur on offer — you can grab yours from The Gospel's website from 8.30am AEST on Wednesday, March 29. The Dispensary Cacao Husk Liqueur will be available to buy online from March 29.
Whenever a beloved sitcom comes to an end — as Brooklyn Nine-Nine will when it finishes up this year — it leaves a hole in your viewing schedule, and in your TV-loving heart. You can keep binging your favourites all over again, of course, and as many times as you like. But, although one-off specials, starry reunions and movie spinoffs keep happening more and more, you'll always be sad that you can't just look forward to a big batch of new episodes. The one silver lining: when the likes of Parks and Recreation and 30 Rock finished up their runs, the creatives behind them stayed in the sitcom game. Indeed, that's why B99 exists, and how The Good Place and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt came to our screens, too. And, over the past month or so, new shows from the key folks behind all of these series have just reached Stan. When it comes to Girls5eva, a word of warning: the hit song that brought titular fictional late 90s/early 00s girl group to fame is such an earworm, you'll be singing it to yourself for weeks after you binge through the sitcom that bears their name. That's to be expected given that Jeff Richmond, the composer behind 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt's equally catchy and comedic tunes, is one of the talents behind it. Tina Fey and Robert Carlock produce the series, too, so you what type of humour you're in for. Starring Sara Bareilles (Broadway's Waitress), Busy Philipps (I Feel Pretty), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton) and the great Paula Pell (AP Bio), Girls5eva follows four of the band's members two decades after their heyday. Their initial success didn't last, and life has left the now-fortysomething women at different junctures. Then a rapper samples their hit, they're asked to reunite for a one-night backing spot on The Tonight Show — and they then contemplate getting back together to give music another shot. As well as being exceptionally well-cast and immensely funny, the series is also bitingly perceptive about stardom, the entertainment industry and the way that women beyond their twenties are treated. Also, when Fey inevitably pops up, she does so as a dream version of Dolly Parton — and it's as glorious as it sounds. Check out the Girls5eva trailer below: Also now streaming its first season in full on Stan: Rutherford Falls. Michael Schur co-wrote and produced The Office, then did the same on Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, both of which he co-created as well. And, he gave the world The Good Place — which makes him one of the best in the business when it comes to kind-hearted, smart and savvy small-screen laughs. His new show continues the streak. Co-created with star Ed Helms and showrunner Sierra Teller Ornelas (Superstore), it boasts his usual charm and intelligence, too. And, as with every program he's had a hand in, it also boasts a top-notch lineup of on-screen talent. Plus, Rutherford Falls is immensely easy to binge in just one sitting, because each one of its ten first-season episodes leave you wanting more. The setup: in the place that gives the sitcom its name, Nathan Rutherford (Helms, Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun) runs the local history museum. One of his descendants founded the town, and he couldn't be more proud of that fact. He's also very protective of the towering statue of said ancestor, even though it sits in the middle of a road and causes accidents. So, when the mayor (Dana L.Wilson, Perry Mason) decides to move the traffic hazard, Nathan and his overzealous intern Bobbie (Jesse Leigh, Heathers) spring into action. Nathan's best friend Reagan Wells (Jana Schmieding, Blast) helps; however, the Minishonka Nation woman begins to realise just how her pal's family have shaped the fate of her Native American community. Also featuring a scene-stealing Michael Greyeyes (I Know This Much Is True) as the enterprising head of the Minishonka Nation casino, Rutherford Falls pairs witty laughs with warmth and sincerity, especially when it comes to exploring the treatment of First Nations peoples in America today. Check out the Rutherford Falls trailer below: The first seasons of Girls5eva and Rutherford Falls are available to stream via Stan.
Bringing Shakespeare to the big screen is no longer just about doing the material justice, or even about letting a new batch of the medium's standout talents give their best to the Bard's immortal words. For anyone and everyone attempting the feat (a list that just keeps growing), it's also about gifting the playwright's material with the finest touches that cinema allows. It's never enough to simply film Macbeth like a theatre production, for instance, even if all that dialogue first penned four centuries ago still ripples with power — while riffing about power — without any extra adornments. No Shakespeare adaptation really needs to explain or legitimise its existence more than any other feature, but the great ones bubble not only with toil and trouble, but with all the reasons why this tale needed to be captured on camera and projected large anew. Joel Coen knows all of the above. Indeed, his take on the Scottish play — which he's called The Tragedy of Macbeth, taking Shakespeare's full original title — justifies its existence as a movie in every single frame. His is a film of exacting intimacy, with every shot peering far closer at its main figures than anyone could ever see on a stage, and conveying more insight into their emotions, machinations and motivations in the process. The Bard might've posited that all the world's a stage in As You Like It, but The Tragedy of Macbeth's lone Coen brother doesn't quite agree. Men and women are still merely players in this revived quest for supremacy through bloodshed, but their entrances, exits and many parts would mean nothing if we couldn't see as far into their hearts and minds as cinema — and as cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel's (The Woman in the Window) stripped-down, black-and-white, square-framed imagery — can possibly allow. In a year for filmmakers going it alone beyond the creative sibling relationships that've defined their careers — see also: The Matrix Resurrections — Joel Coen makes a phenomenal solo debut with this up-close approach. His choice of cast, with Denzel Washington (The Little Things) as powerful as he's ever been on-screen and Frances McDormand (The French Dispatch) showing why she has three Best Actress Oscars, also helps considerably. The former plays the eponymous Scottish general, the latter his wife, and both find new reserves and depths in the pair's fateful lust for glory. That's another key element to any new silver-screen iteration of Shakespeare's most famous works: making its characters feel anew. Washington and McDormand — and Coen as well — all tread in the footsteps of of Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard and Australian filmmaker Justin Kurzel (Nitram) thanks to 2015's exquisite Macbeth, but they stand in absolutely no one's shadows. As also previously splashed across cinemas by Orson Welles, Akira Kurosawa and Roman Polanski, the narrative details remain the same, obviously — from the witches (all played by Kathryn Hunter, Flowers) prophesying that Macbeth will soon be monarch, through to his murderous actions at Lady Macbeth's urging to make that prediction become a reality. All that scheming has consequences, both before and after King Duncan (Brendan Gleeson, Mr Mercedes) is stripped of his throne. One of the smartest parts of the movie's central casting is the change it brings to the Macbeths' seething desperation. Due to Washington and McDormand's ages, their versions of the characters are grasping onto what might be their last chance, rather than being ruthless with far more youthful abandon. They're susceptible to the Weird Sisters' suggestions in a different way, too, embracing what they think should already be theirs rather than seizing a shot they may not have expected for some time otherwise. McDormand's involvement is hardly surprising — she's married to Joel, is one of the Coen brothers' mainstays when her husband and his sibling Ethan share directorial credits, and won her first Academy Award for playing a pregnant police chief in their crime classic Fargo. But The Tragedy of Macbeth moulds what could've just been a given, a case of spouses reteaming again, into an inspired opportunity to give its source material a few shrewd tweaks. Writing as well as helming, that's the intensely fastidious level that Joel operates on. His work has always been assembled with precision, but that devotion to detail feels as stark here as the movie's overwhelmingly evocative monochrome visuals. For a filmmaker known for surveying life's chaotic and careening turns, dating back to 1984's Blood Simple, spanning comedies such as Raising Arizona and The Big Lebowski, and evident in the more recent Inside Llewyn Davis and Hail, Caesar!, too, he makes mess and mayhem look meticulous in The Tragedy of Macbeth. This towering adaptation may carve its own space among the many other Macbeths, but it also shows Coen's penchant for Welles' rendering — and his films in general — plus Kurosawa's Throne of Blood. Those nods come through aesthetically, flickering through a feature that masterfully looks as if it could've been made decades ago. The Tragedy of Macbeth's German expressionism-influenced use of light and darkness isn't just sharp, it's piercing, aptly so when Washington stands in a lengthy corridor to ask "is this a dagger which I see before me?". They're intense words from one of the Bard's greatest soliloquies, and they're paired with such stunning cinematography — that hallway appears to keep extending forever, a sight that says oh-so-much about the moral precipice Macbeth stands at — that the effect is scorching. Something wicked this way comes within the narrative, of course, but something magnificent unfurls in this new retelling. Stepping back into the acclaimed play proves a lean and ravishing experience again and again here, and also eerie and potent — a mesmerising brew when it comes to this story. Strutting and fretting as Delbonnel's staggering cinematography gazes his way, and as Carter Burwell's (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs) score ramps up the tension, Washington is equally transfixing. He needs to be to play this part. He needs to be remarkable to express Macbeth's transformation from loyal royal offsider to killer, and to navigate the corresponding existential torment. Something astonishing this way comes as a result, a feat that isn't The Tragedy of Macbeth's alone with this tale (Kurzel's version was the best film of its year), but provides another masterwork full of sound and fury signifying everything. The Tragedy of Macbeth opens in Australian cinemas on December 26, 2021, and will be available to stream via Apple TV+ on January 14, 2022.
Tropical North Queensland is so rich in natural beauty that it's easy to forget that the region also boasts an impressive art scene. Local and international artists flock to the tropics, finding inspiration in the stunning scenery throughout the area. From local theatres and art galleries, to beachside markets and concert venues, there are plenty of ways to get your culture fix while in the tropics.
Picnic season is upon us, so it's time to amp up your gear-game for the inevitable days spent feasting on foil-wrapped sandwiches and plastic cups of chilled wine. When shopping for picnic gear, you need to consider all the practical stuff like transportability, usefulness (don't forget a bin bag!) and practicality (can it get wet?). But it's also nice if it looks great. We've combined all those things into the following list for our picks of picnic must-haves. And every inclusion on this list is Australian-designed or made because we love to keep it local. SPEAKERS THAT DOUBLE AS ESKYS One of the only downsides to spending a day in the sun picnicking is the mandatory lugging of cooler boxes, picnic baskets, speakers and food from the car to the designated picnic spot. So, whenever possible, try find picnic gear that can do two things at once. Like this pretty and pink two-in-one cooler and speaker from Sunnylife for $199. It has a 15 litre capacity so it fits 16 cans with ice. It also has bluetooth, radio, connects to AUX and USB. If you're after something a little larger and don't require the most aesthetically pleasing cooler-box-speaker-hybrid at the beach, here's another one from Super Cheap Auto that holds 55 litres and will only set you back $60. [caption id="attachment_827827" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Annika Kafacaloudis for Hattie Molloy X Curio Practice [/caption] WARM BLANKETS FOR SUNSET PICNICS Need something to wrap yourself in when the sun goes down and the spritzes aren't warming you up enough? Curio Practice is a female-owned small business making checkered and patterned blankets from the finest Australian Merino wool and made locally in Victoria. Curio Practice's blankets are of impeccable quality and beautifully made, plus, when winter rolls around the picnic baskets go into storage, they look pretty draped over lounge chairs or folded on the end of your bed. Win-win. MINI CUT-OUT TABLES FOR NO-SPILLS If you're on the clumsy side or have a penchant for sinking one too many rosés on the grass with your pals, Etsy store Noosh and Noo sells picnic tables with clever cut-out glass holders so your drink won't get knocked over and your cheese stays free of ants. The tables are handmade out of bamboo so they're light and durable, and you can have your name, initials or a symbol engraved. They're $100 and are made to order in Australia. Or, if you picnic in larger groups, Indi Tribe Collective has portable picnic tables with up to eight wine glass holes and two wine bottle holders for $259.95. PATTERNED RUGS FOR A VINTAGE VIBE Arguably the most important piece of picnic equipment is a durable but fun waterproof rug you can plonk yourself and your food on. Etsy store BreezeBoutique has loads of different colours and checks to chose from, with two size options ranging from around $89-$99. These blankets are made from acrylic and have little PU leather handles for easy travelling. If you want traditional tartan made with natural materials, Waverley Mills is Australia's oldest working textile mill and makes some of the finest Australian Merino wool picnic blankets around. They're crafted in Tassie, made to last and range from $229-$299. BEACH CHAIRS FOR THE PICNIC ELITE If you really want to take your picnic to the next level, purchasing portable fold-out chairs might be on your agenda. If you're after a stylish but comfy chair, Sunday Supply Co have designed luxe beach seats with fast-drying padded foam and fade resistant fabric. They have some very funky covers, including a sunny yellow and white striped number and a beachy black and white polka dot. If you're more low-key but still love a retro look, these striped plastic camp chairs are a throwback we can get around — especially for only $24.99. [caption id="attachment_827899" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Greta Mitchell for Porter Green[/caption] ECO-FRIENDLY REUSABLE CUPS Glassware and expensive ceramic tableware have no place at a picnic, but the over-manufacturing of single use plastics are wreaking havoc on the environment. Instead of plastic supermarket cups, go for reusable options like these stainless steal party cups with splash-less lids or this double wall insulated wine traveller set. The ones featured in the image above are unbreakable, foldable silicone tumblers from sustainable interiors brand Porter Green and are $27.25 for a pack of two. If you're partial to something sparkling, these reusable pink champagne flutes are only $24.99 for two. COCKTAIL SHAKERS FOR ON-THE-GO MARGS The number one way to impress dinner guests is casually shaking and pouring cocktails like you were born to do it while effortlessly maintaining vibrant conversation. Same goes for picnics. Picnic Folk are an Australian brand selling brightly patterned stainless steal picnic equipment like lunchboxes, tumblers and cocktail shakers that are hand painted by an older generation of artisans in Kashmir. If you're more of a minimalist, this cocktail set from Grand Cru Wine Fridges comes in black matte finish and has everything you need to make a basic cocktail for $59.95. PICNIC BASKETS THAT DOUBLE AS CHEESE BOARDS Picnic basket, cheeseboard, card table — we love a picnic basket that can do it all. The Beach People have designed specialised, handmade picnic baskets that have a wooden food grade removable cheeseboard lid and an insulated interior with a zip close for $199. They also have a 'seconds' section, where they sell the cheeseboard picnic baskets that have minor imperfections for $179. If you want something a little larger, Paragon Emporium has a fold out picnic basket that doubles as a table with optional legs that are tucked away when the basket is in its basket form, plus swing out wine glass holders. GAMES TO PLAY WHEN THE CONVO ISN'T CUTTING IT Sometimes a picnic needs an element of organised fun, and, if our national sports are any indication, there's nothing Australian's love more than a bit of competition on the grass. Check out this enormous wooden Jenga from Yellow Octopus or this two-in-one lawn games bundle from Living by Design. If you're vibing the things-that-double-as-other-things picnic tip, perhaps this games-board-slash-towel from Sunnylife is a win for your next beach picnic. [caption id="attachment_828069" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: KoolShooters via Pexels[/caption] VINTAGE FINDS FOR ONE-OF-A-KIND GEAR With so many new gadgets constantly being manufactured, it may also be on your mind to start a collection of vintage picnic gear for a more sustainable approach. South Australian based Etsy shop, Beach Kiosk Vintage, has vintage collectables that are perfect for outdoor use and your next picnic. It might take a bit of hunting, but from 80s ice coolers to enamel fondue pots, there's something for everyone. The Vintage Retro Guy is another Etsy shop, this time based out of Geelong Victoria. It usually has a great selection of original, colourful plastic cups, saucers, plates and containers for all your portable picnic needs. Happy hunting. Image: Annika Kafacaloudis for Hattie Molloy X Curio Practice
Sydney Festival is back with a massive 2022 lineup, so clear your diaries because summer is going to be very, very busy. The annual arts, music and culture festival is bringing 133 events to spaces all around the city for 25 days. That includes performances, shows, gigs, installations and more across Sydney's stages, screens, parks, ferry rides, the Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool and at a new 1000-seat pop-up site in Cathedral Square — because a major citywide arts festival should sprawl absolutely everywhere it can around town. If you're looking to get your dose of art, theatre and live music without breaking the bank, you can score a great deal on Sydney Festival tickets by using your $25 Discover vouchers that the NSW government offered up as part of its Dine & Discover initiative (we know they're still sitting in your Service NSW app). We've rounded up ten of the festival's best events that you can nab tickets for less than $50 using your vouchers, from free outdoor art exhibitions and extravagant stage shows to futuristic raves and prehistoric picnics.
Previously hidden in a backyard sprinkled with fairy lights, Parramatta pizzeria Fratelli Pulcinella has expanded into a new location on Church Street. While you may not be sneaking around the side of a house to get your hands on the saucy rounds, you'll still find the same quality Italian food at Fratelli Pulcinella 2.0. Head into 399 Church Street, and you'll find two firing pizza ovens (one for classic bases and one for gluten-free slices) amid a spacious multi-storey dining room accented with brightly coloured chairs and Italian quotes emblazoned across the wall. If part of the charm at the original Parramatta location was the al fresco dining, never fear — the new space has plenty of tables out back in the courtyard. Food-wise the team has kept things consistent, with the addition of pizza fritta and panuozzo to the menu. Classic Italian combos form the basis of the pizza options: margherita (regular or the extra-cheesy buffalo variety), prosciutto and parmesan, capricciosa and napoletana. But, the rotating menu is known to dish up some unexpected flavours as well. Indulge in a combo of speck, provolone, buffalo cheese, rocket, truffle oil and balsamic glaze. Or opt for the double-layered Amore Tossico, which features fior di latte mozzarella, parmesan, provolone, house-made Italian sausage, tomato, ham, caramelised onions, buffalo cheese, fried speck and basil. Bellissimo. If you're looking for a comforting Italian feast in the west (or on your way to a game at CommBank Stadium), Fratelli Pulcinella is here to hit the spot — now with room for everyone. Updated Monday, December 18, 2023.
Moosejaw, an online shop that sells outdoor recreational apparel, has created the X-Ray Catalog App, available at their website. Once the app is downloaded, the user holds their smartphone over photos of models sporting ski parkas and other fairly unsexy items, only to see the app 'strip' them through the use of augmented reality technology, revealing what they are wearing underneath their clothes. It's true that a lot more people (probably men) are suddenly going to be a lot more interested in this catalogue. If you wanted to look at soft porn in a public place or avoid embarrassment when your mum finds your stash under the bed - she'll just think you really love camping - this technology might just hold the answer. Or maybe it's about giving people the chance to feel as if they have superhero skills. Either way, if you see people reading the catalogue on the train with a little too much interest, you can either tsk them or give them a knowing wink, depending on whether you think this is creepy or brilliant.
After promising a return to Australian shores earlier this year, Coldplay have announced the details of their November tour. The band will be playing four stadium shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane plus Auckland in New Zealand from November 10-21. Australian talent The Temper Trap and US-based sister act, The Pierces, will be supporting. Coldplay are currently touring the world to celebrate the release of their fifth studio album Mylo Xyloto. In March, the band cancelled two corporate shows in Sydney due to personal reasons. Their last visit down under was in 2011 to headline Splendour in the Grass. “We can’t wait to get back to Australia and New Zealand this November. They’re such special places for us. These venues are pretty huge, the Aussie and New Zealand crowds are always incredible and we’ll be bringing everything we’ve got. It’s going to be big,” lead singer Chris Martin said on the band’s official website. Pre-sale tickets for Visa Credit, Debit and Prepaid cardholders will be released this Thursday, May 17. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, May 25.
It swept cities across the nation into a sugar-dusted frenzy when its pop-up 'dessert museum' travelled the country, now, the team behind the nostalgic Sugar Republic and festive Christmasland is taking its sweet-toothed fantasies to a whole new level, opening Australia's first-ever sweets-inspired accommodation. Opening its doors in Daylesford, Victoria — 90 minutes northwest of Melbourne — Sweet Retreat is a true candy-coated affair, complete with sugar-themed suites you can stay in, play in and take some rather dashing snaps in. Located in an old miner's cottage, the retreat has Milk Bar-inspired art by Callum Preston, a giant Paddle Pop in the living room, oversized Tim Tams in the bedroom, a pink ball pit, a disco ensuite and neon artworks throughout the house. Oh, and it has scratch 'n' sniff cherry wallpaper, too, plus an appliance-filled kitchen for whipping up any sweet treats of your own and some actual lollies to eat. In short, it's exactly what you'd expect from any of Sugar Republic's previous pop-ups, but you can sleep, cook and play games in it. And you can bring along your mates, too, with the retreat housing up to eight people across four themed bedrooms. You can cosy up in the Sweet Love suite filled with Mills & Boon books, the Tea & Biscuits room with teapot lights and biscuit walls, or the rainbow or peaches bedrooms. All rooms have access to the balcony, deck and pergola. There are retro boardgames and Sonos speakers to keep you entertained when you're not sniffing the wallpaper or swimming in the ball pit and, outside of the house, there's a sprawling garden with roses and fruit trees. Of course, there's plenty you can do in the surrounding area, too. You can check out some of Daylesford's more unexpected activities — including llama rides and visits to a treehouse spa — take a look over here. Sweet Retreat by Sugar Republic is now open for bookings, starting from $450 a night. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Mixed-media legend Nikolaus Dolman is renowned for deconstructing pop culture. He's taken on the selfie, clickbait and the 'Western lifestyle economy' all by way of collage and image manipulation. He's copied, cut and pasted his way onto the Australian art scene, garnering attention by subverting our popular obsessions and the repetitiveness of mass media through the infinitesimal forms images can take. And this week, you can see Nikolaus' views on the modern world and how he recontextualises it in his own way at Wild Turkey Way at The Annandale Hotel. There, classic bourbon, iconic Sydney burgers and some of Australia's best artists come together at the inner west pub, for a night of doing things the Wild Turkey way, which is to say, your own way. So to honour this bourbon fete and the spirit of forging your own path, we sat down with Nikolaus to learn about his craft and how he's doing things his very own way. How did you get started as an artist? Everyone in my family is creative in their own way, and has definitely influenced me towards a career in the visual arts. Did your style evolve into collage from something else? I studied printmaking in my undergrad at Southern Cross University in Lismore, NSW, and from there, my practice evolved into different mediums — all closely related to paper, surface and texture. [I've been influenced by] the tactile qualities of paper and infinite possibilities of image reproduction. Where do you source your material from? I source material from commercial and domestic advertising as a start, then it gets lost and transformed through process into a subversion of its original context and form. I'm attracted to pattern and how certain images tessellate, or at least attempt to. What's the message behind your work with its focus on topics like selfies, advertising and popular culture? My work reflects the western lifestyle economy and culture through mainstream media and advertising. Through my work, I explore the repetitious and obsessive qualities of living in an image-saturated world, and the effects such immediacy and disposability have in our everyday. I'm interested in how we are represented in advertising, and how it evokes certain desires. I guess social identity plays a big part in my thought process when I am conjuring up new ideas for works. What's the piece of work that you're most proud of? I've just completed [my] largest piece to date, which I'm excited to show in an upcoming solo show at Firstdraft in Woolloomooloo, opening June 7. Have you ever received any backlash or criticism about your artwork? Yes, mostly because I am personally entrenched in the subject and in challenging certain aspects of it. I try to take an observational stance and eliminate a negative tone by using irony and humour. Also, the act of 'borrowing' content to make work from is sometimes frowned upon. But isn't it just another way of viewing already familiar evocations? Nikolaus Dolman's work, along with other Aussie artists 'doing things their way', will be on display at The Annandale Hotel as part of the Wild Turkey Way pop-up this Friday, May 26. Find more info about the event here.
Uber drivers may want to start thinking about a change of career. The ridesharing giant, whose relationship with its drivers has been turbulent in recent times, may soon reach the point where it no longer has any need for them at all. After all, why spend millions settling lawsuits when you can get the cars to operate themselves? That seems to be the thinking as the company rolled out its first fleet of self-driving cars in the U.S. today. After beginning testing back in May, the fleet of modified Ford Fusion Hybrids, complete with roof-mounted cameras, radar and Uber branding, took its first official outing streets of Pittsburgh on Wednesday — beating other tech companies to the punch. At the moment Uber is still sending a safety driver along in the driver's seat, so they can intervene if anything goes awry. The idea is that eventually those safety drivers won't be needed anymore — but, safety, y'know? "This pilot is a big step forward," said the company via a statement on their website. "Real-world testing is critical to the success of this technology. And creating a viable alternative to individual car ownership is important to the future of cities." They hope that driverless technology will, eventually, help to lower the number of traffic accidents, cut congestion and free up parking space in our cities. At the moment the self-driving cars are only available to "loyal" Pittsburgh Uber riders — if one of the cars is available when they request an uberX, that's what they'll get. That's all well and good, but will these self driving cars be offering their passengers complimentary mints? Where are we on that technology, exactly? By Tom Clift and Lauren Vadnjal.
Wayside Chapel's community service centres have been offering vital support for Sydneysiders in need since 1964. Its mission is to provide unconditional help to locals experiencing homelessness, addiction, mental health issues and social isolation. This work has become more important than ever during the COVID pandemic, with even more people looking to the charity for assistance. But, with both Wayside Chapel Op Shops (in Kings Cross and Bondi) currently closed to the public, getting funding for the community organisation has been especially difficult. So, Wayside launched its Online Op Shop this month. Expect to find pre-loved designer and vintage fashion items at bargain prices here. At the moment, the shop includes finds (for both women and men) from designers like I Am Gia, Assembly, Manning Cartel, Michael Kors, Marimekko, Antipodium London and Religion, all for just $30–4o. https://www.instagram.com/p/CE5htRXDiqL/ Plus entire vintage and accessory sections too. And every single dollar spent goes straight to Wayside's programs and services. Shopping here has a big, big impact. Thanks to community funding, Wayside has provided over 15,000 hot meals and groceries, over 3000 pieces of clothing and blankets and over 1000 warm showers and care packs — and that's just from March to June this year. If you are looking to downsize your wardrobe, Wayside Chapel also accepts quality donations to their Op Shop, and offers other ways to donate too. To shop or donate to Wayside Chapel Online Op Shop, head to thewaysidechapelopshop.com.
Sydney's jazz scene is ever-evolving. To help spotlight the city's talented local artists, The Lansdowne Hotel is hosting a JAZZ+ night for free every Sunday at 6pm featuring a lineup of diverse and emerging acts. Last weekend, resident sextet Haztet kicked off the event along with support from Starlings, a groove-based band comprised of Marley Rooney, Sarah Purdon, Tom Andrews, Yonah Rex-McGirr, Ryu Kodama and Riley Hilder. Other groups who have produced their own take on future jazz, neo-soul, DnB, acid fusion, and alternative hip-hop are set to take the stage in the coming weeks. To find out which talents are playing every week, head over to The Lansdowne Hotel's website to stay updated with their lineup. [caption id="attachment_877018" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Lansdowne Hotel - Supplied[/caption] Top images: The Lansdowne Hotel — supplied
Adapted from a collection of semi-autobiographical short stories by Instagram-age Renaissance man James Franco, Palo Alto marks the directorial debut of 26-year-old Gia Coppola, the granddaughter and niece of filmmakers Francis Ford and Sofia, respectively. A portrait of teenage disaffection, it's a film that attempts to capture the aimlessness, the angst and the self-aggrandised melancholy of youth. Emma Robert and newcomer Jack Kilmer play April and Teddy, a pair of brooding high schoolers absorbed by personal drama. He's a delinquent skater who's actually an unappreciated artist; she's the neglected daughter of self-absorbed parents who begins an affair with her creepy soccer coach (Franco). Meanwhile, Teddy's best bud Fred (Nate Wolff) finds himself drawn to increasingly anti-social behaviour to hide his insecurities, while another classmate Emily (Zoe Levine) turns to sex in order to hide her own. Palo Alto is in cinemas on August 14, and thanks to Vendetta Films, we have ten double in-season passes 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. Read our full review here. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=sTqMUu1iTIo
If you're still struggling to work out how to "throw a shrimp on the barbie" without burning it into a chewy mess, then the Sydney Seafood School is here to help. And, while your teenage self may have been counting down the days in December till you were officially on end-of-year holidays, this time it's cool to head back to school. Some of Australia's most celebrated chefs will be heading to the Sydney Fish Market between Monday, November 21, 2022 and Sunday, February 26, 2023 to host a series of interactive classes that'll deliver a crash course in cooking with crustaceans and all their fishy counterparts. On the menu: lots of fun and a little mess (if you've ever handled squid ink you'll understand), with a range of live, hands-on lessons that are suitable for both starters and seafood specialists. Classes will be run by guest chefs Karen Martini, Martin Boetz and Sean Connolly, as well as writer, gourmet farmer and television personality Matthew Evans and fisherman, Sydney Fish Market tour guide and TikTok star Alex Stollznow. With dishes inspired by cuisines from around the world, you'll be sure to find a cooking experience that suits your palate, from a Mexican fiesta to a culinary journey through Morocco. Sure, summer in Sydney may traditionally be about beers by the beach and all of the fresh fruit, but we're adding cooking lessons with some of the country's best foodies to the list. Browse the full schedule for Sydney Seafood School's summer series and book your spot via the website.
We've all known those couples who have so much in common they're perfectly suited in theory, and in practice an apocalyptic mess. That tenuous relationship has never been better recorded than by actor, playwright, wit, dandy, and logical Oscar Wilde successor Noel Coward in his 1930 play, Private Lives. Five years after his divorce, the terminally ironic, never dull Elyot (Toby Schmitz; Coward originally wrote the role for himself, which gives you a clue as to just how good the lines given to him are) is on honeymoon with his new wife, Sybil (Eloise Mignon), in a Normandy seaside resort. His similarly acid-tongued ex-wife, Amanda (Zahra Newman), is also on her honeymoon, to Victor (Toby Truslove), in — you guessed it, comedy fans — the exact same lodgings. As is not atypical of those stung by a challenging, equal romantic partnership, this time around, they've each chosen comfort. Sybil and Victor are idiots, and Amanda and Elyot will feel their mistake keenly when they're forced to meet again. Private Lives is fun and cannot be anything but, which makes it a good choice for set designer extraordinaire and Belvoir artistic head but first-time director Ralph Myers. It's forgivable that there's a whiff of unsureness about the opening scene, then, although oddly enough, it's not at all helped by the awkward, grandly minimal set, unclear on when it's a hallway or a terrace. After Amanda and Elyot retreat to her Parisian apartment, things get smoother — positively silky once an unexpected Phil Collins breakdown bonds both the actors and the audience. It's a shortcut to intimacy, but you really believe this and other moments that conjure a couple's private in-joke. Moreover, it's the first shot of modern, riotous energy in the production, and from here on in, the characters have a runaway chemistry that builds to a wickedly climactic reunion breakfast. Coward's barbs are still so sharp and rousing, and it's exciting to watch the two Tobys at the top of their — very different — comedic games. At the same time, it is getting a bit repetitive seeing Schmitz play the smartarse, Truslove the schmo, and Mignion the ingénue. Belvoir should be careful to keep challenging its fine recurring actors. In this case, Mignion is perhaps even miscast, seeming more lost and infantilised under a giant blonde wig than a daffy scene queen in her twenties could possibly be. There's one further oddity in Private Lives: It has a rather casual, even glamorising, approach to domestic violence, one that jars with the attempt to transplant it to an unspecific present. Other anachronisms may pass quietly by, but this comes as a jolt. Image by Heidrun Lohr.
The SOUL Group have struck gold, again. After launching two hugely successful local haunts, the dynamic duo have branched out once more to open Sydney's first-ever Korean tapas and wine bar in familiar Surry Hills digs. Taking over SOUL Deli's former place of residence — which has now moved a few doors down— the Campbell Street locale is serving up a fresh take on Korean snacks. Aiming to showcase the depth of the country's cuisine, husband and wife team Daero Lee and Illa Kim have birthed the concept of pairing tasteful wine with Korean food. The tapas-style menu champions creativity, blending staples from contemporary Australian dining with Korean staples to form a menu like no other. The cosy all-day diner and wine bar is filled with inviting warm-toned interiors, accompanied by lively traditional folk Minhwa prints throughout the space. Plus, if you pay a visit during the day, you and your pooch can put the al fresco dining space to good use and soak up some rays with your meal. Seating 30, the third SOUL Group outpost is led by Head Chef Sunny Ryu. Expect to find top-notch dishes that aren't afraid to stray from the traditional Korean norm — scallop crudo with Korean ajo and blanco, corn cheese croquettes and hand-rolled Korean pasta accompanied by dry-aged Murray cod, all of which can be paired with a wine from the carefully curated list or a serve of soju. If you're looking to satisfy your sweet tooth, pick from the Choco Pie with housemade marshmallow and a hazelnut praline, the peach sorbet with lemon cream or the chestnut tiramisu. And, while the Surry Hills spot is to be a gorgeous nighttime dining experience, the outpost also offers a breakfast and lunch menu daily for a great start to the morning or an exciting boozy lunch. The daytime menu at Bar SOUL is filled with a blend of Korean favourites and Australian cafe staples. Bread sits at the centre of the offerings, with standout dishes like toast topped with burrata, roasted beetroot, quinoa and blood orange; Murray Cod fish burgers with pickled cucumber tartar and fennel on potato buns; and MB9+ wagyu open sandwiches. No matter which time you head in, it's best to lean into the theme. Where else can you pair a loaded fish burger with Bokbunjajoo Black Raspberry Wine, or gang-doenjang with a glass of Mudgee rosé?
If you're going to sit yourself down in someone's restaurant, eat their specially cooked food from their own personal dishes, drink their juices and leave them to clean up your mess, you'd feel like paying right? You'd think most Australians would, but Melbourne-founded 'pay-what-you-feel' restaurant Lentil as Anything is watching customer by customer happily walk out without paying much (or anything) at all. Reported by Good Food, the popular chain is losing money — a lot of money. Apparently people aren't as generous as they thought when the not-for-profit organisation first set up the bill honour system — mainly as a means to get much needed, good vegetarian food to people of a lower socioeconomic status. But it looks like people are genuinely stingy bastards and treating the joint as a free feed. LAA is operating at a major loss — GF reports the Abbotsford restaurant lost $4000 in one night, despite serving 1500 people (who'd just returned from Rainbow Serpent festival). This averaged out to about $2.75 a head. Well done, y'jerks. Lentil as Anything has no prices on their menu. The Melbourne and Sydney restaurants are entirely funded by donations with the kind and probably naive motto "everyone deserves a place at the table". GF reports roughly one million meals are served by LAA across the four restaurants each year, with running costs getting up to $24,000 per venue per week. To help this even out, you're advised to leave around $12 to cover the meal and the general running of the joint. But if you don't pay them properly, they pay for your dinner themselves. They pay for you to eat their deliciously healthy food in their dining room from their plates. If you can't pay, you're encouraged volunteer in the kitchen or come back later and pay the difference. Amazingly, Lentil as Anything intend to keep running their business with their philosophy intact. So, if you're the giant stingebucket robbing this goodhearted chain of their livelihood, or you've seen 'friends' leave a couple of bucks for a giant LAA meal, check yourself. Don't be a tightass and leave Lentil as Anything what they're due. Via Good Food.
A good musical should have a lasting impact on the industry and its audiences for years to come. So the fact that Miss Saigon has been hitting stages and receiving awards since its debut in 1989 is a clear indication of quality. The show takes inspiration from the even older (but just as popular) Madama Butterfly — they're both tales of women in Asia falling in love with men from America only to have their hearts broken. The key difference between the two is the setting. Madama Butterfly is set in Japan, while Miss Saigon (as you might be able to guess from the title) is set in Vietnam, specifically during the end and lasting aftermath of the devastating Vietnam War. This production of the musical is from Cameron Mackintosh, who was also behind on other world-famous musicals like Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables and Mary Poppins. Coming to the Sydney Opera House on Thursday, August 17 and running until Friday, October 13 — the Australian cast includes the debut of Abigail Adriano as Kim alongside Nigel Huckle (Les Misérables, West Side Story) as Chris, Sean Miley Moore (The Voice) as The Engineer, Kerrie Anne Greenland (Les Misérables) as Ellen, Nick Afoa (The Lion King) as John and the Australian debut of Laurence Mossman as Thuy. Miss Saigon runs from Thursday, August 17 to Friday, October 13 at the Sydney Opera House, for more information and to book tickets, visit the website. Images: Johan Persson
Between Saturday, November 24, 2018 and Sunday, April 28, 2019, the Gallery of Modern Art and Queensland Art Gallery are bringing the Asia Pacific to Brisbane for the ninth time. Every three years since 1993, the city's major art institutions celebrate the vast creativity brightening up the region as part of the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art. At the 2018 event — the fifth since GOMA opened, and one that's free as usual — more than 80 individuals, collectives and group projects will grace the walls of the two galleries, representing over 30 countries. Understandably, the highlights are many. View a major site-specific work by leading Chinese artist Qiu Zhijie, see Singapore-based artists Donna Ong andRobert Zhao Renhui turn QAG's Watermall into a new landscape filled with artificial plants, or dive into the water with separate video works by Martha Atienza and Monira Al Qadiri — with the latter not only making the gallery feel like an aquarium, but also being projected onto the William Jolly Bridge for five days. When you enter the exhibition, you'll walk beneath towering sculptures created from nassa shells from Papua New Guinea, while APT9 also features the largest contingent of First Nation artists in its history, including Australian Indigenous art. The massive showcase kicks off with a weekend filled with events across Friday, November 23 and Sunday, November 25, complete with an opening party, talks and performances, with plenty more events scheduled for the exhibition's entire run. Accompanying cinema programs will look at film from the region, and there's also a secret jacaranda garden-like piece called Purple Reign. Sure, the burst of brightness is designed for children, but bigger kids are welcome. Image: Martha Atienza. The Philippines b.1981. Our Islands 11°16'58.4"N 123°45'07.0"E (still). 2017. Single channel HD video (01:12:00 min. loop), no audio. Image courtesy: The artist and Silverlens Galleries, The Philippines.
This Easter, the Berry Donut Van is hosting a special golden egg ticket hunt in collaboration with fellow sweets lover, The Berry Chocolatier. With the lucky winner taking home an exclusive handcrafted Easter chocolate bundle, this jam-packed reward will cover all your dessert needs for the long weekend — let's hope you have the Midas touch. Held throughout the four-day holiday, a smattering of tickets will be hidden inside Nutella doughnut orders every day, with a handful of winners claiming a special prize. If that's you, just head over to The Berry Chocolatier to redeem your ticket for a decadent reward. Filled to the brim with seasonal treats, expect a basket loaded with chocolate bunnies, eggs and other Easter delights. "We wanted to bring a little extra joy and excitement to our Easter celebrations," said Teresa Nazareth, owner of the Berry Donut Van. "Our donuts are already a must-have holiday treat, and now there's an added layer of fun with the chance to win some of the finest chocolates in town. Easter is all about indulgence – delicious sweets, rich chocolate, and moments of joy shared with loved ones. This giveaway is our way of making that experience even more special." Trust that the Berry Donut Van knows a thing or two about Easter celebrations. After all, they've been whipping up mouthwatering desserts and savoury treats since 1974. Prior to finding a permanent spot, the famous donut van cruised across Australia for a year, serving crowd-pleasing creations to customers nationwide. However, it soon found its home in the charming South Coast village of Berry – about two hours' drive south of Sydney. While The Berry Chocolatier doesn't have quite as many years under its belt, since purchasing the business in 2019, owners Cam Ayrton and Troy Weigall have made it a go-to regional highlight for handcrafted chocolate, Genovese-style coffee and Italian gelato. "This collaboration with Berry Donut Van is the perfect way to spread sweetness throughout Berry this Easter," said Ayrton. "We're excited to join forces and share our handcrafted Easter chocolates with the lucky winners, making this festive season even sweeter for the community." The Berry Donut Van is open Tuesday–Thursday from 8.30am–4.45pm and Friday–Monday from 8.30am–6.45pm at 73 Queen Street, Berry. Meanwhile, The Berry Chocolatier is open Monday–Friday from 8.45am–4pm and Saturday–Sunday from 8.45am–5pm at 4/113 Queen Street, Berry.
When winter begins to thaw, with leaves growing back on trees and flowers coming into full bloom, we want to celebrate the warmer weather and the world's annual rebirth. And, come September — which is just around the corner — Australia's biggest festival of spring will once again roll around. Floriade has been drawing crowds for decades — and its 32nd year will be marked with the theme 'World in Bloom'. A celebration of all things floral, the festival will fill Canberra's Commonwealth Park with more than one million blooms. But this month-long flower festival is more than just smelling the tulips. From Saturday, September 14 until Sunday, October 13, Canberra will be filled with music, food, vino, locally crafted brews and spirits, entertainment, markets and cultural happenings galore. Those with green thumbs can also take part in workshops, while live music and markets will be open for art lovers and bargain hunters alike. To top it all off, festival entry is free. For one day only (Sunday, October 13), you'll also be able to take your four legged friend along for Dogs' Day Out. Expect to pat lots of pooches and some pup-themed food, too. Floriade runs from 9.30am until 5.30pm each day. Plus, after the sun goes down between October 3–6 (hello, long weekend in Canberra), you can wander through the gardens at Floriade's after-dark counterpart, NightFest. While you're in town, you may as well take the time to check out Canberra's best microbreweries, cafes and cultural hotspots, too. Start looking at accomodation ASAP. We're also giving you the chance to visit Floriade's NightFest for free. To be in the running, enter your details below. [competition]742011[/competition]
"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear," Buddy (Will Ferrell, The Boys) tells Jovie (Zooey Deschanel, Physical) in end-of-year staple Elf. The musical version of the hit festive flick takes that idea to heart. Debuting on Broadway in 2010, it brings the beloved movie to the stage with a swag of merry songs. Fourteen years later — and 21 years since cinemas first discovered Elf's seasonal fun — Elf: The Musical has finally locked in its Australian premiere. Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall will stand in for both the North Pole and New York City across Thursday, December 19–Sunday, December 29, 2024, as Buddy goes on a journey of self-discovery. If you've seen the film, as almost everyone has, you'll know the storyline already; however, unless you've caught Elf: The Musical overseas, including a West End season in 2015–16, you haven't seen it like this before. Buddy isn't an elf, but he was raised by them — and he doesn't realise that he isn't like Santa's other helpers until he grows up. Cue his trip to the Big Apple to discover who he is, and also who he wants to be, as first told in a movie directed by actor-turned-filmmaker Jon Favreau before he helmed Iron Man, The Jungle Book and the photorealistic version of The Lion King. The stage adaptation's Aussie debut comes courtesy of Sydney's most-famous venue and John Frost for Crossroads Live, with the pair serving up the ideal way to get jolly in the Harbour City this festive season (as well as a gift of an excuse to take a festive-season trip to the New South Wales capital if you reside elsewhere across Australia). Elf: The Musical boasts a book by Tony Award-winners Thomas Meehan (who also helped bring The Producers, Hairspray, Cry-Baby and Young Frankenstein from picture palaces to theatres) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone), plus songs by Tony Award-nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (more film-to-stage veterans courtesy of The Wedding Singer). The Australian run is being staged as a concert production, in a presentation designed for Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall. If it's been a while since you watched Elf, the film, check out the trailer for it below: Elf: The Musical plays Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall from Thursday, December 19–Sunday, December 29, 2024, with presale tickets from 9am on Tuesday, August 20 and general ticket sales from 9am on Friday, August 23. Head to the Sydney Opera House website for more details.
For the past 11 years, wife and husband duo Sam and Michael Kern have been dishing up decadent breakfasts and sumptuous lunches from Parc cafe in Randwick. Now, it's time for the local mainstay to turn over a new leaf. On Friday, Parc reopened its doors as Tucker, with a renewed focus on wholesome eats and more options for foodies on the go. "Over the last three or four years, takeaway has grown incredibly," says Sam. "So we've changed the style of service to suit that." Rather than going for a complete renovation, the Kerns have instead rejuvenated, extending on what they've already found so successful. "We do heaps and heaps of takeaway salads and meals," Sam says. "We've got a big fridge in the front of the cafe, but we've found that we can't keep up with production." Cue the installation of a new production kitchen that'll keep their signature salads stocked constantly in the shop, ready to service everyone from long-staying brunchers to tradies swinging through between jobs. The menu has tightened, too, with a whole slew of new burger and sandwich options making an appearance at lunch time. "We do really great sandwiches," Sam says of the cafe's staple. "We've still got all our salads that we change seasonally." After more than a decade as a leader in the cafe scene in the Eastern Suburbs, and with the possibility of expansion on the horizon, Sam says that the longevity they've enjoyed is due to sticking to what they do and doing it well. "We're not a cafe that tries to follow trends," she says. Instead, Tucker will follow the same rules that have made Parc so successful, those being dishing out good, clean, wholesome food with an emphasis on quality over quantity — and that sounds like good tucker to us. Images: Steven Woodburn.
First, Emilia Pérez picked up three awards at Cannes. Now, the musical crime comedy from director Jacques Audiard (A Prophet, Rust and Bone) — which stars Karla Sofia Gascón (Harina), Zoe Saldaña (Special Ops: Lioness) and Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building) — has made history at the Golden Globes. Earning ten nominations for 2025's ceremony, it has now beaten Barbie's 2024 record for the most nods by a musical or comedy in a single year. Emilia Pérez is also the most-nominated film among 2025's just-announced batch of contenders. Down Under, add the movie to your must-see list for January — plus The Brutalist and Conclave, too, with the former scoring seven nominations and the latter six. So, that's monumental historical dramas and papal thrillers covered. 2024 Palme d'Or-winner Anora and body-horror gem The Substance picked up five nods apiece, while Wicked joins the contenders with four. The Golden Globes not only recognise big-screen highlights but also small-screen excellence, with The Bear topping the TV pool with five nominations. Next comes Only Murders in the Building and Shogun, both picking up four. Nobody Wants This, Baby Reindeer, Disclaimer and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story also earned some love, each collecting three nominations. As always, you can consider the roster of nominees a handy to-watch list ahead of the winners being announced on Monday, January 6 Australian and New Zealand time — which means also getting excited about the upcoming Timothée Chalamet (Dune: Part Two)-starring Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown; appreciating not one but two Sebastian Stan performances, given that he's nominated for both The Apprentice and A Different Man; and catching up with Mr & Mrs Smith, Slow Horses, Abbott Elementary, Hacks, The Penguin, Ripley and True Detective: Night Country if you haven't seen them already. Ahead of dropping on Boxing Day, the second season of Squid Game also scored some attention — if you weren't already keen enough for the Netflix smash. On the homegrown front, Australians are among the nominees thanks to Memoir of a Snail's recognition in the Best Motion Picture — Animated category, plus acting nods for Nicole Kidman for Babygirl, Guy Pearce for The Brutalist, Cate Blanchett for Disclaimer and Naomi Watts for Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans. Although every round of nominations for every awards has its highlights and omissions, the Golden Globes' standout choices include remembering to give Challengers some affection (including Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for its propulsive score), nominating two female filmmakers in The Substance's Coralie Fargeat and All We Imagine as Light's Payal Kapadia for Best Director, making room for the gorgeous dialogue-free Flow in the animation camp, putting Pamela Anderson among the Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama competitors for The Last Showgirl and Demi Moore in the equivalent musical or comedy field for The Substance, and the supporting actor Succession battle between Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain and Jeremy Strong for The Apprentice. If you're wondering what else is in the running, here's the full list of nominations: 2025 Golden Globe Nominees Best Motion Picture — Drama The Brutalist A Complete Unknown Conclave Dune: Part Two Nickel Boys September 5 Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy Anora Challengers Emilia Pérez A Real Pain The Substance Wicked Best Motion Picture — Animated Flow Inside Out 2 Memoir of a Snail Moana 2 Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl The Wild Robot Cinematic and Box Office Achievement Alien: Romulus Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Deadpool & Wolverine Gladiator II Inside Out 2 Twisters Wicked The Wild Robot Best Motion Picture — Non-English Language All We Imagine as Light Emilia Pérez The Girl with the Needle I'm Still Here The Seed of the Sacred Fig Vermiglio Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama Pamela Anderson, The Last Showgirl Angelina Jolie, Maria Nicole Kidman, Babygirl Tilda Swinton, The Room Next Door Fernanda Torres, I'm Still Here Kate Winslet, Lee Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama Adrien Brody, The Brutalist Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown Daniel Craig, Queer Colman Domingo, Sing Sing Ralph Fiennes, Conclave Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy Amy Adams, Nightbitch Cynthia Erivo, Wicked Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez Mikey Madison, Anora Demi Moore, The Substance Zendaya, Challengers Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain Hugh Grant, Heretic Gabriel Labelle, Saturday Night Jesse Plemons, Kinds of Kindness Glen Powell, Hit Man Sebastian Stan, A Different Man Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture Selena Gomez, Emilia Pérez Ariana Grande, Wicked Felicity Jones, The Brutalist Margaret Qualley, The Substance Isabella Rossellini, Conclave Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture Yura Borisov, Anora Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown Guy Pearce, The Brutalist Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice Denzel Washington, Gladiator II Best Director — Motion Picture Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez Sean Baker, Anora Edward Berger, Conclave Brady Corbet, The Brutalist Coralie Fargeat, The Substance Payal Kapadia, All We Imagine as Light Best Screenplay — Motion Picture Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez Sean Baker, Anora Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold, The Brutalist Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain Coralie Fargeat, The Substance Peter Straughan, Conclave Best Original Score — Motion Picture Volker Bertelmann, Conclave Daniel Blumberg, The Brutalist Kris Bowers, The Wild Robot Clément Ducol, Camille, Emilia Pérez Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Challengers Hans Zimmer, Dune: Part Two Best Original Song — Motion Picture 'Beautiful That Way', Andrew Wyatt, Miley Cyrus, Lykke Zachrisson, The Last Showgirl 'Compress / Repress', Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Luca Guadagnino, Challengers 'El Mal', Clément Ducol, Camille, Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez 'Forbidden Road', Robbie Williams, Freddy Wexler, Sacha Skarbek, Better Man 'Kiss The Sky', Delacey, Jordan K. Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Maren Morris, Michael Pollack, Ali Tamposi, The Wild Robot 'Mi Camino', Clément Ducol, Camille, Emilia Pérez Best Television Series — Drama The Day of the Jackal The Diplomat Mr & Mrs Smith Shogun Slow Horses Squid Game Best Television Series — Musical or Comedy Abbott Elementary The Bear The Gentlemen Hacks Nobody Wants This Only Murders in the Building Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Baby Reindeer Disclaimer Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story The Penguin Ripley True Detective: Night Country Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series — Drama Kathy Bates, Matlock Emma D'arcy, House of the Dragon Maya Erskine, Mr & Mrs Smith Keira Knightley, Black Doves Keri Russell, The Diplomat Anna Sawai, Shogun Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series — Drama Donald Glover, Mr & Mrs Smith Jake Gyllenhaal, Presumed Innocent Gary Oldman, Slow Horses Eddie Redmayne, The Day of the Jackal Hiroyuki Sanada, Shogun Billy Bob Thornton, Landman Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy Kristen Bell, Nobody Wants This Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary Ayo Edebiri, The Bear Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building Kathryn Hahn, Agatha All Along Jean Smart, Hacks Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy Adam Brody, Nobody Wants This Ted Danson, A Man on the Inside Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building Jason Segel, Shrinking Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building Jeremy Allen White, The Bear Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television Cate Blanchett, Disclaimer Jodie Foster, True Detective: Night Country Cristin Milioti, The Penguin Sofía Vergara, Griselda Naomi Watts, Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans Kate Winslet, The Regime Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television Colin Farrell, The Penguin Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer Kevin Kline, Disclaimer Cooper Koch, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Ewan McGregor, A Gentleman in Moscow Andrew Scott, Ripley Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role on Television Liza Colón-Zayas, The Bear Hannah Einbinder, Hacks Dakota Fanning, Ripley Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer Allison Janney, The Diplomat Kali Reis, True Detective: Night Country Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role on Television Tadanobu Asano, Shogun Javier Bardem, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Harrison Ford, Shrinking Jack Lowden, Slow Horses Diego Luna, La Máquina Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television Jamie Foxx, Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was Nikki Glaser, Nikki Glaser: Someday You'll Die Seth Meyers, Seth Meyers: Dad Man Walking Adam Sandler, Adam Sandler: Love You Ali Wong, Ali Wong: Single Lady Ramy Youssef, Ramy Youssef: More Feelings The 2025 Golden Globes will be announced on Monday, January 6, Australian and New Zealand time. For further details, head to the awards' website.
2023 isn't even here yet, or any of the hundreds of films that it'll unleash upon big screens around Australia and New Zealand. That hasn't stopped 2024's most-anticipated movie from unveiling its first sneak peak before 2022 is out, though. That flick: Mickey 17, which oozes sci-fi intrigue from its name alone, and in its very brief initial trailer. But it's the fact that this is the first film from Korean director Bong Joon-ho since Parasite that's the most exciting part. At the time of writing, it has been three years since twisty thriller Parasite became the film of 2019, winning almost everything it could — such as the Palme d'Or at Cannes; the Sydney Film Festival Prize; and four Oscars, including becoming the first film in a language other than English to win Best Picture. When 2024 hits, half a decade will have passed since that cinematic triumph. But any new Bong Joon-ho movie is worth the wait, as his impressive cinematic resume attests. He is also the filmmaker behind stunning crime procedural Memories of Murder, creature feature The Host, dystopian thriller Snowpiercer and the offbeat Okja, after all. Directed, scripted and produced by Bong, Mickey 17 looks set to mark his third movie mostly in English after Snowpiercer and Okja, with Robert Pattinson (The Batman) leading a cast that also includes Steven Yeun (Nope), Naomi Ackie (Small Axe), Toni Collette (Nightmare Alley) and Mark Ruffalo (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law). Story-wise, it adapts Edward Ashton's book Mickey 7 — and no, why the title has added ten to its number isn't revealed in the debut trailer. The novel follows an 'expendable' being sent to colonise an ice world, who doesn't want to let his replacement take his place. On the page, the lead character is the seventh clone trying to fend off the eighth, but Bong has clearly upped that to the 17th version of his lead character. [caption id="attachment_706462" align="alignnone" width="1920"] High Life[/caption] Science-fiction fans will spot that the premise alone gives off big Moon, Sunshine and Voyagers vibes — and brings High Life, RPatz's last exceptional sci-fi flick, to mind. That said, Bong isn't a filmmaker to follow in anyone else's footsteps. How he makes this concept his own will be a treat to see. In the US, Mickey 17 arrives at the end of March 2024. No exact date Down Under has been locked in as yet, but you can reasonably expect the film to drop locally around the same time. Check out the first trailer for Mickey 17 below: Mickey 17 releases on March 29, 2024 in the US, and doesn't yet have a release date Down Under — we'll update you with local details when they're announced.
Opinions may be divided on what is truly the best medium of entertainment, but there's no denying the simple pleasure of going to a musical. The feeling of being swept off your feet by a particularly memorable tune, doubled over laughing or drenched in your own tears, its a stagecraft that's captured the love of millions around the world. This year is is no exception for killer musicals, so we partnered with Destination NSW to curate a guide to the biggest musicals coming to stages in Sydney in 2023. Whether you want to laugh, sing or cry, there's a stage show below for you.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations, giving you inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we set the compass to regional Victoria and take a trip to Sorrento for a special stay at the newly renovated Hotel Sorrento. [caption id="attachment_899023" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Rising High Media[/caption] WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? Here, in a buzzy pocket of the Mornington Peninsula, Hotel Sorrento has sat for nearly 150 years boasting enviable bay vistas. Now, the historic sandstone building is welcoming a massive expansion including a soon-to-come 30-metre pool and rooftop yoga studio. At the moment, Hotel Sorrento boasts five separate bars, two restaurants, newly refurbished accommodation rooms as well as private dining areas. It's an all-in-one destination escape just over an hour from Melbourne's CBD. THE ROOMS There are plenty of rooms to choose from at Hotel Sorrento, starting from $325 a night. Contemporary and light-filled, rooms are accented with a variety of deep European oak, natural limestone and marble. Heritage Balcony Rooms are the crowning jewel of this hotel, boasting private balconies with exclusive vistas overlooking the bay. [caption id="attachment_899027" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Threefold Social[/caption] FOOD AND DRINK Hotel Sorrento has recently overhauled its food and drink offering, helmed by George Calombaris. "The goal is to create dishes that not only satisfy the palate but tell a story of the region and the community's rich history," George Calombaris says. Shihuishi is the newest addition to the Hotel Sorrento family, nestled in the original, grand Hotel Sorrento ballroom. Head chef Junlin (Jerry) Yi (ex-Red Spice Road) is unafraid to stray from tradition, from prawn crackers paired with crème fraîche; to spanakopita dumplings that marry whipped feta and dill. Deeper into the menu, patrons will discover Australian-Canto cuisine that nods to the Chinese restaurant that stood onsite back in the 1980s. A prawn, lap cheong and onion stir-fry is a crowd-pleaser, along with duck pancakes and black pepper beef, served on a sizzling plate. Other classics run to the likes of steamed barra with soy, ginger and spring onion, or the ever-popular pork and prawn shumai. Otherwise, if you fancy a short but sweet wander, head across the road to the Conti for a slew of venues including a public bar, beer garden, speakeasy and fine diner. Luxe speakeasy Barlow is our pick for a pre-evening tipple. Sorrento institution Stringers has also recently been revamped by The Darling Group (Higher Ground, Kettle Black, Top Paddock), turning the corner store and cafe into an all-day restaurant, pizzeria, bar and providore. THE LOCAL AREA Sorrento is a much-loved spot for both Mornington Peninsula locals and regular holiday blow-ins, due to its accessibility from Melbourne. In warmer months, swimming, snorkeling and water activities at Sorrento Beach is a must-do. If you're looking to sidestep the crowds, Diamond Bay is a popular spot for both families and couples. A range of short, all-weather walking tracks are stunning year-around, including Coppins Track which finishes at the clifftop of Diamond Bay. The cliffside Millionaires Walk is named as a nod to the lavish private residences that line this path, or try the 7km Sorrento Circuit Walk, which hits all of this town's main attractions. THE EXTRAS Hotel Sorrento is looking to install a new 30-metre pool alongside a pool-friendly bar, rooftop yoga studio and gym by the end of 2023. If you're looking for a staycation special, Hotel Sorrento's winter escape package includes overnight accommodation for two, dinner for two at Shuihuishi and a bottle of local Pinot Noir for your room. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world. Images: supplied.
With all its spectacular showmanship, Pippin the Musical has helped bring a bit of magic back to Sydney's musical theatre scene. The Tony Award-winning musical mixes death-defying acrobatics and emotional intimacy in a story that follows a young prince trying to find his way in the world. It's showing now at Sydney Lyric Theatre in Pyrmont, until January 24. If you've already booked your ticket for an afternoon or night at the theatre, it's important to plan how you'll fill your belly before, or after, the show. With the help of Destination NSW, we've put together a list of top pre- and post-theatre dining spots in the area, covering all budgets. If you haven't already booked tickets to Pippin, make sure you do so soon before it closes.
Dust off your mittens and channel your après-ski chic — Christmas in July is returning to The Rocks this winter for the first time since 2019, and it's set to be a cosy and deliciously cheesy winter wonderland. Running from Friday, July 11–Sunday, July 20, the ten-day festival will once again transform the historic harbourside precinct into a twinkling festive village. You'll find fairy-lit laneways, towering nutcrackers, a pine forest and the scent of fondue wafting through cobblestone streets awash with snowfall — plus, it's free to enter. Inspired by traditional European Christmas markets, Christmas in July is pulling out all the stops for its comeback edition. The star attraction is Snow Lane — a dreamy trail lined with real pine trees and fluttering snow machines, glowing wooden chalets and more fairy lights than your camera roll can handle. Add in roaming musical performers, over 15 live concerts and The Rocks Jazz Sessions turning festive on Thursday nights, and you've got the recipe for peak winter escapism. Food, naturally, is a major drawcard, and over 20 pop-up eateries will be slinging cold-weather classics: bubbling raclette, gooey fondue, Austrian schnitzels, gnocchi, giant German-style hot dogs and even lobster rolls. For dessert, you can warm up with cinnamon scrolls, crêpes, French pastries and sugar-dusted waffles. It's not a Euro Christmas market without hot drinks, and there are plenty on offer to keep you fuelled as you roam the streets. Expect spicy, citrusy mulled wine, next-level hot chocolate stations with mountains of toasted marshmallows and whipped cream, as well as plenty of other winter warmers. And if you need a breather between bites, make a beeline for the artisan market. Here, you'll find snow globes, handmade ceramics, woolly winter wear and pantry items worthy of a Euro chalet kitchen — the ultimate browse-with-a-cup-of-cocoa setup. "In the northern hemisphere, Christmas is all about celebrating the beauty of winter, gathering with loved ones, sharing comforting food, sipping warm drinks, and enjoying music under sparkling lights," says Festival Director Vincent Hernandez. "It's wonderful to see Australians embracing that same spirit through Christmas in July, right here, in the heart of our winter." Christmas in July takes place at The Rocks from Friday, July 11–Sunday, July 20. For more information, head to the event's website.
Five years in the making, the Art Gallery of NSW's latest addition is finally set to open. The Sydney Modern Project will turn the Harbour City institution into a two-building art museum, almost double AGNSW's space in the process, and has cost $344 million to bring to fruition. It's launching in December, and the gallery is unsurprisingly celebrating in a massive way. How do you mark a huge development like this? With a nine-day party, naturally. Originally announced in 2017, officially given a green light in 2018 and revealing its first commissioned artworks in March 2022, the Sydney Modern will start welcoming art lovers in with a hefty free program of events in and around the venue. It's a significant lineup, running from Saturday, December 3–Sunday, December 11 and spanning everything from art and music to talks and performances — Ellie Goulding, Meg Mac, Electric Fields, a Reko Rennie drone show and all. UK pop star Goulding will headline a free concert at The Domain on Saturday, December 10, as supported by Meg Mac and Electric Fields. Called Art for All, the show will see the Grammy-winner play opposite AGNSW and is a one-night-only affair, with free tickets available now. Spanning the whole length of the celebrations is Art Up, which will see Kamilaroi artist Reko Rennie unleash a stunning sight. He's creating a massive drone show that'll hover over Woolloomooloo Bay every evening, with 400 drones used to animate artworks in the sky over AGNSW and Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. There'll also be a soundtrack to go with it. Conversation series Art Exchange will similarly span the nine days, bringing together artists, creatives and thought leaders from across the globe. Their overall topic: art and culture today, and its current ideas, innovations and struggles. Attendees will be able to hear from Reko Rennie and fellow artists Lisa Reihana, Howie Tsui and Adrián Villar Rojas — and Beatrice Galilee, co-founder and executive director of The World Around at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. Also on the bill: Suhanya Raffel, director of M+ in Hong Kong; chefs Adam Liaw, Christine Manfield, Matt Moran and Clayton Wells; human rights barrister Geoffrey Robertson; and comedian Steven Oliver. [caption id="attachment_876751" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sia Duff[/caption] The workshop lineup will see artists from Milingimbi Art and Culture centre in northeast Arnhem Land lead the charge, conducting a weaving session that responds to some of Sydney Modern Project's artworks. In the new building's first gallery, the Yiribana Gallery, a series of naturally dyed woven artworks will be on display as part of a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art — which the workshop will tie into. And, the performance roster includes, GABAN by Wiradjuri Nation interdisciplinary artist Brook Andrew; RITUAL from actor, filmmaker and martial artist Maria Tran; and disability-led choreographic work Animate Loading by Riana Head-Toussaint. [caption id="attachment_876752" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Laura Fiorio[/caption] Funded by $244 million from the NSW Government and $100 million raised by private donations, the Sydney Modern Project sprawls across 7830 square metres, as designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architects SANAA (with Australia's Architectus as the executive architect). Set to be light, airy and open to its surroundings, it'll feature that aforementioned dedicated gallery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art at entrance level. Venture downstairs, however, and Sydney Modern Project will also be home to a huge underground art space that'll be used for special commissions and performances, and happens to be repurposed from a decommissioned World War II naval oil tank. And, the project also includes a new public art garden. [caption id="attachment_847597" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sydney Modern Project render as produced by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa / SANAA. © Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2021.[/caption] The Sydney Modern Project will open its doors on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney. For more information about the project, including the open celebrations from Saturday, December 3–Sunday, December 11, head to the gallery's website.
There are 11,761 beaches in Australia. So it goes without saying that choosing the nation's most epic stretches of sand is no easy feat. Still, we've taken on the challenge. And, having considered the entire coastline, we've teamed up with Jim Beam to come up with ten of the best beaches in Australia so you can book a group holiday — from South Australia's sweeping Coorong Beach, which is one of the longest beaches in the world, to Queensland's Whitehaven Beach, which is famous for its incredible beauty, rather than its length. Remote and not close to major cities, these are not your local favourites — these are the top beaches in Australia. Get your bucket list ready, hit up the group chat (because every beach adventure is best enjoyed together) and start planning your next waterside getaway to at least one of them. Recommended reads: The Best Coastal Spots for Whale Watching Across Australia The Best Islands to Visit in Australia The Best Beaches in Sydney The Best Glamping Sites in Australia [caption id="attachment_694321" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] NINETY MILE BEACH, VICTORIA Sometimes, size does matter. That's true in the case of Ninety Mile Beach, which is actually 94 miles — or 151 kilometres — long, making it one of the longest beaches in the world. It runs along the state's northeastern coastline, parallel to the (also epic) Gippsland Lakes. And there are all kinds of adventures on offer. Spend days (and days) wandering along the sand, uninterrupted by rocks or headlands while soaking up the surf and looking out for whales. Visit Ninety Mile's cute seaside towns, like Woodside, Seaspray and Golden Beach. And, if you're a camper who's happy to swap creature comforts for serenity, pitch your tent at Emu Bight, on the shores of Lake Victoria within The Lakes National Park, and use this guide to explore the water. Editors note: Emu Bight is currently closed due to bushfires in the nearby area. Check the government's Emu Bight site for more updated info. [caption id="attachment_743661" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] RED ROCK BEACH, NEW SOUTH WALES Some beaches are epic, not only for themselves, but for what surrounds them. Take Red Rock, 30 minutes' drive north of Coffs Harbour. The Australian beach takes its name from its stunning headland, a 20-metre-high formation of 300-million-year-old jasper, also known as red quartz. Much of the sand is backdropped by national park and keen hikers should conquer the 65-kilometre multi-day Yuraygir Coastal Walk — or at least a section of it. If you find yourself needing human civilisation, visit the tiny coastal community of Corindi, where you can camp or stay in a cabin at Reflections Holiday Park. Take your time exploring the area and Red Rock Beach, one of the best beaches in Australia. [caption id="attachment_743607" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] WHITEHAVEN BEACH, QUEENSLAND Whitehaven Beach was famous for its looks even before Instagram existed. Located on Whitsunday Island, this seven-kilometre-long wonder is known for its sand, which, made of silica, is among the whitest, brightest and purest on the planet. To visit, you'll need to climb aboard a tour from Airlie Beach — be it by yacht, powerboat, ferry or seaplane. You'll be sorely tempted to take a dip in the crystal clear waters when visiting Whitehaven Beach, easily one of the best beaches in Australia. And, for extraordinary views of the beach, island and surrounds, get yourself to Tongue Point Lookout. If you'd like to stay overnight, there are several campsites nearby. [caption id="attachment_743612" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] CAPE TRIBULATION BEACH, QUEENSLAND Cape Tribulation in Queensland's Far North is where two Heritage-listed wildernesses — the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest — come together. Cape Tribulation Beach is the first one north of the cape, around two hours' drive north of Port Douglas. Begin your adventures at Kulki with a ten-minute stroll to Cape Tribulation Lookout, which looks north over Cape Tribulation Beach, backdropped by mountains. And to add a second sandy spot to your itinerary, take the one-hour Cape Tribulation to Mason's Store walk, for views of Myall Beach. [caption id="attachment_743652" align="alignnone" width="1920"] South Australian Tourism Commission[/caption] COORONG BEACH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA This breathtaking stretch of sand forms the southwestern border of Coorong National Park, on South Australia's southeast coast. It runs for around 220 kilometres, between Port Elliot in the north and Cape Jaffa in the south — and it's considered the longest beach in Australia. It's also where the Murray River meets the sea, after a 2500-kilometre journey from the Australian Alps. Just behind Coorong Beach are the Coorong Wetlands, where the original Storm Boy (1977) film was shot. Consider a paddling tour along one of the best beaches in Australia, be it a three-hour sunset fling or a multi-day expedition. Keep your eyes peeled for threatened species, including the orange-bellied parrot, freckled duck and southern bell frog. [caption id="attachment_743610" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] 75 MILE BEACH, QUEENSLAND Another beach that's legendary for its awesome size is 75 Mile Beach on K'gari. This sandy behemoth forms most of the east coast of the island — which is the world's biggest sand island — and lies just off the coast, around six hours' drive north of Brisbane. The attractions here aren't just endless sea and sky, but also multicoloured and adventurous. Yes, there are sharks in the water and dingos on land, but the main attraction here is the length of the beach. Consequently, one of the most popular ways to travel 75 Mile Beach is by 4WD tour. That said, you can also go exploring on foot and camp or glamp at the dedicated Beach Camp Fraser Island. And be sure to stop off at Nudey Beach, which was named the best beach in Australia for 2018. [caption id="attachment_743683" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jason Charles Hill, Tourism Tasmania[/caption] WINEGLASS BAY, TASMANIA Like Queensland's Whitehaven Beach, Tasmania's Wineglass Bay is known all over the world for its good looks. As you've no doubt guessed, the bay gets its name from its smooth curves, which resemble a wine glass. You'll find one of the beast beaches in Australia on on Tassie's east coast, within Freycinet National Park. To get some perspective, follow the three-kilometre walk to Wineglass Bay Lookout from Wineglass Bay car park. An even more epic adventure is the full-day Hazards Beach to Wineglass Bay Circuit, an 11-kilometre hike that takes in two beaches, wilderness and pretty views. [caption id="attachment_743719" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] CABLE BEACH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA Cable Beach, on the edge of Broome, is best known for its camel rides. Every evening, the humped beasts traipse along the shoreline, delivering tourists to some of the most beautiful sunsets in Australia, if not the world. It's hard to think of a better way to experience Cable Beach. But, if that's not your thing, you can hire a bike and cycle along the sand. Alternatively, settle for relaxing on the sand, swimming or sipping cocktails when visiting one of the best beaches in Australia. As well as its white sand, Cable Beach is famous for its rich red ochre cliffs, which create a striking contrast with the blue, blue sky. [caption id="attachment_743663" align="alignnone" width="1920"] David Stanley via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] COSSIES BEACH, COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS Add a bit of island hopping to your beachy bucket list chasing with a quick getaway to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. These magical wonderlands of coral are in the middle of the Indian Ocean, a 4.5-hour flight west of Perth — which is pretty far-flung, but they're still considered an Australian territory. There's no shortage of gorgeous beaches, but one of the most magnificent is Cossies, on Direction Island, which beach expert Brad Farmer named Australia's best beach in his book 101 Best Beaches 2017. Keen snorkellers should definitely spend some time at the Rip, a haven of colourful corals, parrotfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, reef sharks and other intriguing underwater creatures. And if you're looking for a place to stay when visiting one of the best beaches in Australia, try nabbing a room at Cocos Seaview. [caption id="attachment_743664" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Linear77 via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] EIGHTY MILE BEACH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA One of the best things about Western Australia's many beaches is that they come with sunsets. And, on Eighty Mile Beach — which sprawls between Port Hedland and Broome — you get 220 kilometres of them. It's also a marine park, so you can count on plenty of sea life, including dugongs, dolphins, sawfish and flatback turtles, that come here to nest. Spend your time looking out for these and other wondrous creatures, or get into some strolling, swimming or fishing. There are spots to camp, too, including Cape Keraudren Coastal Reserve. Like Jim Beam, surfing and other outdoor adventures are all about bringing people together, so get out there this summer and find your tribe in the great outdoors. Top images: Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays, courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.
If you didn't already know, Erskineville's much-loved Imperial Hotel is home to Priscillas, a "drag and dine" restaurant where you'll find everything from plant-based food to late-night drag shows. And for October, Priscillas is bringing back its raunchy X-rated Rood Food festival for a second year. Every Wednesday and Thursday night in October, a combo of dirty dishes, cocktails and kinky drag will take over the pub's dining room. At its centre is three-act drag extravaganza performed by Sydney queens Etcetera Etcetera, Ruby Slippers and Riot. The show will be hosted by Sunday Best and, of course, comes with a side of phallic fare and crude cocktails. You can opt for either a two- or three-course set menu ($55 or $65) — this'll get you a glass of bubbly on arrival, but if you want the stuff to be free-flowing, you can tack on two hours of bubbles for $29. Expect to see The Big Banger (a plant-based sausage) on the menu alongside last year's fave, the 'perky' Panna Knockers. The coconut ceviche comes with headphones and an aural experiences that's supposed to trigger ASMR. If you can't make it on a school night, the experience will also be happening over lunch on Sunday, October 20 and Sunday, October 27.
