Spring in Sydney is one of the most inspiring times of the year, and in our opinion nothing is more inspiring than disappearing from work early to drink something strong and alcoholic. That's why we've compiled a list of seven of the best spring cocktails. Some are classic and some are fresh but they're all superb accompaniments to a warm afternoon, celebrating the close of winter and the re-emergence of the sun for another year. So let's raise our glasses, put that mini umbrella behind our ears and toast to the arrival of spring. 1. Paloma, The Hazy Rose A unity of Espolon Reposado and fresh ruby red grapefruit, according to the Hazy Rose, the Paloma is apparently the most popular tequila cocktail in the whole of Mexico. And who can deny it? It's titillatingly simple and packs the punch this Stanley Street hidden gem has managed to effortlessly perfect. Tue 5-11pm, Wed-Thu 5pm-12am, Fri-Sat 3pm-12am, Sun 3-10pm; 83 Stanley Street, Darlinghurst; 02 9357 5036 www.thehazyrose.com.au 2. Dirty Carpet Disco, Opera Bar Don't be thrown by the name, this bright red concoction of Chambord, Absolut vanilla vodka, wild strawberry liqueur, apple juice, soda and berries is a veritable orchard in your mouth. Combined with the jaw-dropping vistas of Sydney's Harbour in its spring finest, after a couple of sips it'll be sweet nothings and honeyed words all day long. Mon-Sun 11.30am-late; Lower Concourse, Sydney Opera House, Sydney; 02 9247 1666 www.operabar.com.au 3. Mojito, The Bucket List Although the water might not be warm enough just yet, there's nowhere quite like the Bucket List to relax after a hard day's work spread on the sand. Their Mojito with Havana white rum, fresh lime and mint, muddled with ice, soda water and sugar, creates the ideal drinking partner for a truly delicious and classic Bondi bevvie. Mon-Sun 12pm-12am; The Bondi Pavillion, Bondi Beach; 02 9365 4122; thebucketlistbondi.com.au 4. Hendricks Tea Party, Eau de Vie Winner of the World's Best New Cocktail Bar award (2011), not to mention a host of other impressive accolades, Eau de Vie is a fine venue regardless of season. However, it's hard not to chillax in the ever-so-cool surrounds when liquid nitrogen is expertly used to frost your dainty tea cup serving of Hendricks Gin and St Germain elderflower liqueur with blueberry and lemongrass syrup. Get a gang of four together and enjoy from the pot. Mon-Sat 6pm-1am, Sun 6pm-12am; 229 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst; 0422 263 226; www.eaudevie.com.au 5. Aperolling with the Bulls, The Carrington Pink, frothy, sweet and served with a skewered glace cherry, Aperolling with the Bulls is one of this Surry Hills' bar-cum-tapas restaurant's newbies. It's made from Aperol, pomegranate and cranberry syrup, shaken with lemon and delivered in a wine glass. Totally camp, enjoy it outside so you can watch the girls and boys in short shorts walk by. Mon-Sat 12pm-12am, Sun 12-10pm; 563 Bourke Street, Surry Hills; 02 9360 4714; the-carrington.com.au 6. Yes Please, The Gazebo Wine Garden This fruity number from the Keystone folk is a choice option for basking in the funky outdoor garden at Gazebo on the Potts Point/Elizabeth Bay border. Ketel One vodka, vanilla Licor 43, passionfruit and lime served straight up is lip smackingly tangy and it won't be long until you're repeating its name at the bar. Mon-Thu 3pm-12am, Fri-Sat 12pm-12am; 2 Elizabeth Bay Road, Potts Point; 02 9357 5333; www.thegazebos.com.au 7. Rhubarb, The Morrison A classic favourite on this CBD hangout's cocktail menu, the Rhubarb is a pretty in pink combination of; you guessed it, rhubarb. Complemented with agave spirit and homemade pomegranate grenadine, this gleaning medley is not too sweet and best enjoyed in the outside conservatory after a busy day in the office. Mon-Wed 11.30-12am, Thu 11.30-1am, Fri-Sat 11.30-2am; 225 George Street, Sydney; 02 9247 6744; themorrison.com.au
Fond of zipping around Sydney on a brightly coloured, two-wheeled mode of transport? If you're making your way across the inner city, you now have another choice. While Beam's purple e-bikes have been available since 2020, Sydneysiders can now also go orange by jumping on one of Neuron Mobility's electric bicycles. The Singapore-based outfit has unleashed 250 of its vibrant vehicles on the Harbour City's streets, starting in the Sydney CBD, Waverley and Randwick. That means that if you're keen to hop on one of Neuron's e-bikes, you'll need to be in the company's ride zone boundary — which, at the moment, spans out to Pyrmont and Circular Quay in the inner city, also includes Newtown and Green Square in the inner west, and encompasses Bondi and Coogee for beachside rides, too. As well as helmets, Neuron's bikes come with in-built geo-fencing technology, which means that the orange modes of transport can't venture beyond a specific zone. The geo-fencing also controls how fast the bikes can travel, as well as where they can be parked — but Neuron have set up incentivised parking stations across its operating area. Also, the e-bikes are linked to Google Maps, which means that you can use the latter to find one of Neuron's e-bikes, and to get information on your ride. That spans directions, details on how long it will you to get to your destination, price estimates, battery range and expected ETA. You'll unlock the bike and pay for it via the Neuron app, however. Price-wise, Neuron's e-bikes cost $1 to unlock, then 45 cents per minute to ride. Or, you can buy Neuron Passes, which let you ride as many times as you like for up to 90 minutes per day — starting at $3.30 a day, depending on whether you get a one-day ($15) three-day ($25), weekly ($33) or monthly ($99) version. And if Neuron sounds familiar — or its orange-hued vehicles look familiar, more likely — that's because you might've come across them in other Australian cities. Its move into Sydney marks the company's first location in New South Wales, but also now sees it operating e-scooters, e-bikes or both in every Aussie capital. Neuron Mobility's e-bikes are now available around Sydney. For further details, visit the company's website.
Romance Was Born has grown into a force that mere textiles can no longer contain. Weeks after closing the doors on their first art exhibition, designers Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales have gone and tried their hand at interiors, decking out Darlinghurst's Lo-Fi bar in their signature technicolour splendiferousness. Lo-Fi owners the Riversdale Group (already doing clever things with venues such as The Standard Bowl, Tokyo Sing Song and The Vic on the Park) apparently gave the duo full creative control of the space, and together with 'Tribal POP' artist Camille Walala, they've created one damn memorable space. Consider it an antidote to the minimalism we're drowning in everywhere else. Custom-made wallpaper, upholstery and even drink cups fight to delight your eyes, with coloured fluorescent rods demonstrative of the designers' continuing interest in light and refraction. Lo-Fi by Romance Was Born is open to the public from 6pm on Wednesday, June 18. The design is permanent (or as permanent as a bar can be in Sydney). Romance Was Born are also on board to launch a series of monthly events beginning in July, of which we only know that "entertainment will be unpredictable and meticulously visually curated". But enough talk; here are the pretty pictures. Images by Ari Pashalis.
In 2017, Australia scored a brand-new arts festival: Asia TOPA, aka the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts, which fills Melbourne venues with a banquet of Asian arts and culture. Then came the early days of the pandemic, putting the event on hiatus since 2020. Thankfully, that gap is ending in 2025 — and bringing a lineup featuring 33 performances, 18 of which will make their world premiere, to locations across the Victorian capital. Asia TOPA is announcing its roster for Thursday, February 20–Monday, March 10, 2025 in stages, with its performance strand its headline program, as well as the first to unveil its details. One big highlight, which was revealed in October: KAGAMI, a mixed-reality concert experience that lets audiences watch a virtual avatar of the late, great Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto at the piano. Making its southern-hemisphere premiere at the festival, the production sees attendees don headsets, enjoy ten original Sakamoto compositions and pay tribute to the music icon. KAGAMI heads Down Under after seasons in New York and UK, and also Singapore prior to Asia TOPA. [caption id="attachment_979460" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tin Drum[/caption] Another of the fest's standouts was also unveiled before the full performance lineup drop — and it's another event with an interactive element. Home Bound by Daniel Kok and Luke George is asking a variety of Melbourne communities to come together to make a woven installation that'll transform Arts Centre Melbourne's forecourt. Whether you take part or not, the results will be a sight to see. Just announced in Asia TOPA's opening-night slot: Milestone from William Yang. As he'll also do at 2025's Sydney Festival, the now 80-year-old artist will reflect upon his life at the one-night-only event, with his photos and stories paired with a new score by Elena Kats-Chernin performed live on stage. In Melbourne, Milestone is headed to Hamer Hall — and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will also be part of the show. [caption id="attachment_979461" align="alignnone" width="1920"] George Gittoes[/caption] Dance company Chunky Move joins the lineup with U>N>I>T>E>D, which will take to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl stage, feature techno beats inspired by Javanese trance and gamelan, and feature six dancers wearing exoskeleton costumes. At Arts Centre Melbourne's Playhouse, Yolŋu, Paiwan and Amis artists hailing from North East Arnhem Land and Taiwan will join forces for cross-cultural collaboration Gapu Ŋgupan (Chasing the Rainbow). And Chinese mourning rituals provide the spark for Mindy Meng Wang and Monica Lim's Opera for the Dead (祭歌) at Space 28 at the University of Melbourne. Patrons can also look forward to Ane Ta Abia, a choral concert featuring singers and musicians from Papua New Guinea and Australia; the tunes, lasers and projections of Oblation by Tamil Australian electronic composer Vijay Thillaimuthu; queer Indigenous arts collective FAFSWAG's dance piece SAUNIGA; and an ode to cute animals via theatremaker Ran Chen's Tiny, Fluffy, Sweet. Or, there's also the return of A Nightime Travesty after its YIRRAMBOI Festival 2023 sellout run, Yumi Umiumare's ButohBAR 番狂わせ OUT of ORDER II turning Abbotsford Convent into a nightclub and family-friendly puppet show Goldfish. [caption id="attachment_979462" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cam Matheson[/caption] With the NGV about to go dotty for Yayoi Kusama — starting to already, in fact — for it summer blockbuster exhibition, Melanie Lane's Pulau (Island) is another of Asia TOPA's must-sees. Specifically commissioned for the festival, it's a site-specific response that'll be performed beneath Kusama's Dots Obsession installation, and it's only on the program for two days. "I hope this edition of Asia TOPA resounds with the resilience, joy and creativity of the artists from our region. We want the triennial to be a way for people to build new connections and imagine new futures," said Asia TOPA Creative Director Jeff Khan, announcing the performance strand program. "I hope you join us for this celebration of the inspiring artistry, ideas and possibilities that are so unique to Asia-Pacific art and culture." [caption id="attachment_979463" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gianna Rizzo[/caption] [caption id="attachment_979464" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chen Chou Chang[/caption] [caption id="attachment_979465" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Pham[/caption] [caption id="attachment_979466" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dewie Bukit[/caption] Asia TOPA 2025 runs from Thursday, February 20–Monday, March 10, 2025 at venues across Melbourne. Head to the festival's website for more details and tickets. Top image: Samuel James.
For all the benefits of inner city living, there comes a sense that strong community vibes fall by the wayside. Potts Point is proving this cliché wrong. The neighbourhood is known for its eclectic boutiques and cafes by day, and its buzzing nightlife come nightfall. Spend a few hours in this 'burb and you'll likely pick up on a common thread: small businesses supporting one another. To that end, we've teamed up with American Express to highlight nine local businesses in and around Potts Point. These shops, bars and restaurants are on-hand to help you out, no matter the situation.
Having a bad day? Had a forgettable week, month or start to 2022 so far? Here's something that cures all woes: Nicolas Cage. It's impossible to be annoyed or frustrated when you're watching one of the greatest actors alive make on-screen magic as only he can, whether he's in an excellent or awful movie. And when he's going all in on being himself, as he is in the new trailer for The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, it's balm for even the crankiest and weariest of souls. As announced back in 2021, and dropping its first sneak peek last year, too, Cage's new movie stars Cage as Cage — and he's visibly having a ball doing so. Whether the film itself turns out to be any good is clearly yet to be seen, but the Cage glimpsed in the two trailers so far knows everything that's ever been said or written about him, leans in and goes for broke. Serious Cage, comedic Cage, out-there Cage, OTT Cage, short-haired Cage, floppy-haired Cage, slick Cage, gun-toting Cage, every-facial-expression-imaginable Cage: they're all accounted for. There is a story behind the film's excellent idea, obviously. The fictionalised Cage is in a career lull, and is even thinking about giving up acting, when he accepts an offer to attend a super fan-slash-billionaire's birthday. Getting paid $1 million is just too much to pass up, and he needs the money. But when it turns out that he's now working for and palling around with one of the most ruthless men on the planet (played by Pedro Pascal, Wonder Woman 1984), as a couple of intelligence agents (The Afterparty co-stars Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz) eventually tell him, things get mighty chaotic. Also joining Cage playing Cage — not to be confused with his work in Adaptation, where he played two characters — are Sharon Horgan (This Way Up) and Neil Patrick Harris (The Matrix Resurrections). And, Are We Officially Dating? filmmaker Tom Gormican sits in the director's chair, because if there's anything else that this movie also needs, it's the director of a Zac Efron and Michael B Jordan-starring rom-com pivoting to total Cage worship. Again, whether this'll be one of Cage's undeniable delights or pure cinematic mayhem won't be discovered until the film hits cinemas — but seeing him play and parody himself really does demand everyone's eyeballs. And, although we're never too far away from a new Cage project, nothing yet has indulged the world's collective case of Cage fever like this appears to. That's the thing about Cage: when an actor adds new movies to their resume quickly — popping up in new flicks every couple of months or so, and never proving far from their next film — there's a chance they might run out of worthy on-screen opportunities, but that never applies to him. He's prolific, he stars in far too many terrible flicks, when he's at his best he's downright brilliant, and he always has something interesting around the corner. In 2021 alone, he shouted expletives from Netflix, battled demonic animatronics and teamed up with one of Japan's most out-there filmmakers. He also played a truffle hunter on a quest for revenge after his pet pig is stolen, in the aptly named Pig, which was one of the year's definite movie highlights. The latter saw him turn in one of the best performances of his career, in fact, but Cage has obviously been preparing for The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent his entire life. Yes, we've seen Cage break out of Alcatraz, sing Elvis songs, run around the streets convinced that he's a vampire, let his long hair flap in the wind and swap faces. He's voiced a version of Spider-Man, driven fast cars, fought space ninjas and stolen babies as well. Staying in his own shoes definitely stands out, though, with The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent hitting cinemas in April. Check out the trailer for The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent below: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent will release in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on April 21, 2022.
The Powerhouse Museum's new exhibition UNPOPULAR is diving back into a deep musical archive to unveil never-before-seen photographs and footage of legendary and beloved musicians taking to Australian stages. The exhibition is based on more than 200 pieces from music entrepreneur Stephen 'Pav' Pavlovic's extensive archive including photographs, videos, posters, setlists and tour itineraries. Pavlovic was involved in the touring of many decade-defining artists in the 1990s including Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth, Beck, Bikini Kill, Foo Fighters and Pavement. With the help of the Powerhouse Museum and renowned designer Alice Babidge, Pavlovic has curated an exhibition that captures this time in Australia's musical history through a wide array of archival footage and memorabilia. [caption id="attachment_875372" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Unpopular exhibition view featuring Video, No Alternative Girls, directed by Tamra Davis, 1994. Courtesy of Tamra Davis, credit Zan Wimberley[/caption] Highlights of the exhibition include live footage from Nirvana's first and only tour of Australia, Kurt Cobain's Martin Guitar that was used during Nirvana's MTV Unplugged set (the world's most expensive guitar), unheard musical demos and a gallery of photographs from Pavlovic's influential and groundbreaking Summersault festival that toured around Australia in the 90s. Accompanying these pieces will be a rich tapestry of storytelling and interviews Pavolvic has conducted with the likes of Dave Grohl, Fugazi's Ian MacKaye, Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna and Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon that discuss the bands' experiences touring Australia. "We came down here because the opportunity was beyond imaginable in a way… it was, oh my god, now we're gonna go to the other side of the hemisphere to play music. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that would be possible," Dave Grohl discusses. Accompanying the exhibition will be a series of Powerhouse Late sessions ranging from a film program featuring documentaries on Kurt Cobain and Dinosaur Jr a music photography masterclass with Sophie Howarth who was behind the camera for many of the exhibition's snaps and analog art workshops with poster designers Ben Brown and Paul Curtis. [caption id="attachment_875370" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Unpopular exhibition view featuring Sonic Youth, 'A Thousand Leaves Tour', The Metro (Sydney), artwork by Cathie Glassby, 1997 Image: Zan Wimberley[/caption] Images: Zan Wimberley
Hanami and Japan go hand in hand, but what if you could indulge in the art of flower viewing (yes, that's what the term translates to in English) a bit closer to home? Well, that's where the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival comes in. It's a celebration of everyone's favourite pink flora in Sydney's west. Between Saturday, August 17 and Sunday, August 25, the Auburn Botanic Gardens will transform its Japanese Gardens into a beautiful, blooming wonderland. You'll be able to ramp up your appreciation of the fleeting natural phenomena that is cherry blossom season by attending a massive viewing party in the lead up to spring. Tis the season, after all. And taking in the spectacular scenery isn't the only thing you'll be doing. Over the two weekends of the festival (that is August 17-18 and 24-25), you'll be able to get your fill of Japanese entertainment. There'll be guided shinrin-yoku or 'forest bathing' therapy in the gardens, live Japanese blues music and ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arrangement) workshops. For the kidults, you can also expect a cinema dedicated to one of Japan's most popular characters Gudetama (Lazy Egg), laser tag in an anime-themed arena and Hello Kitty makeovers and stage shows. This year, the festival is ramping up its food offering, too. As well as eating your way through an array of Japanese food trucks, you'll also be able to try a heap of cherry blossom-inspired eats. Former Masterchef Australia winner (and national treasure) Adam Liaw has even created a Cherry Blossom Festival Bento Box for the occasion. A pop-up izakaya will serve up sake and Japanese craft beer, too, and Sydney's Sakeshop will be selling limited cups of Hanamikura Aya sake — which is made from a yeast extracted from the cherry blossom flower. If you've got a day off and want to skip the crowds, it'll also be opening during the week (August 19–23), with Costa from ABC's show Gardening Australia hosting a jam-packed, hands-on gardening day on the Tuesday and an educational day on the Friday. Tickets cost $7.50 for early birds, $10 for general admission and is free for Cumberland residents. Early bird tickets are now on sale for the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival and can be purchased here. Images: Destination NSW.
This buzzing social spot on King Street Wharf is perfect for when you want to flee the office and enjoy the last of the day's sunshine — or midday rays and a boozy lunch — as quickly as possible. Bungalow 8 has a bit of a beachside tiki vibe, so you can enjoy a spring cocktail and some freshly shucked oysters, without having to battle peak hour traffic to get out of the city. Keeping the coastal theme rolling, the menu is health-conscious with a nod to both Californian and Mexican flavours. As well as sharing snacks, sides and bigger main meals, there's a selection of tacos and Buddha Bowls — you get avo, slaw, radish, edamame, cucumber, spinach, chickpeas, brown rice and a soft boiled egg, with your choice of protein or charred broccolini, for $19. Hot tip, the bowls are just $15 for lunch between Mondays and Thursdays. The drinks list is made to be enjoyed through the warmer months, with plenty of local and international wines — including six different sparkling wines by the glass — cold beers on tap and a few tropical cocktails by the jug. There are the classic mojito, sangria and Pimm's options, or try the Strawberry Fields (gin, rosé, berries and juice) or the Blue Banana Colda (Malibu, blue curacao, banana, lime and pineapple). Enjoy the view as the sun goes down, before Bungalow 8 becomes a summer dance club into the night, or head upstairs to party at The Loft. Image: Daniele Massacci.
A new hotel in a historic building. A name well-known Down Under opening its first-ever location beyond Australia and New Zealand. A fresh excuse to spend your next holiday in southeast Asia. These all apply to the latest venue to join the QT Hotels & Resorts chain: the just-opened QT Singapore. Maybe you've experienced the gothic charm of QT Sydney. Perhaps you've enjoyed slumbering at the site of a former cinema at QT Melbourne. At QT Gold Coast, you could've slept in rooftop cabins. Or, at QT Newcastle, you might've bunked down in a clock tower. QT Queenstown comes with alpine views, while QT Auckland heroes the harbour. Now, add staying in Singapore's Eastern Extension Telegraph building, which dates back to 1927 and is located right next to the Lau Pa Sat hawker centre, to the list. It was back in May that QT revealed that it was launching in the city-state come spring — and the brand's Singapore hotel has opened its doors on Monday, September 16, 2024. Guests can check into one of 134 rooms behind the iconic building's striking facade, which has remained the same while the interiors have undergone a complete revamp to deck it out in QT's aesthetic. The chain's look varies from hotel to hotel, but always stands out from other places to stay. Interior designer Nic Graham has done the honours, with reflecting Singapore's climate and evolution — and the building's location and heritage — the main aim of his approach to the site's decor. Think: bold colours yet delicate lighting, woven rattan and black framing featuring heavily, print works by local artist Jill Tran in public spaces and a classic-yet-contemporary vibe. The array of rooms includes junior, corner, balcony and premier suites with double ceilings. Whichever type you choose, each one features a walk-in rain shower in the ensuite bathroom, a QT Dream Bed, an iPad to control everything around the room (including the Chromecast and wireless Bose speakers) and Dyson hair products. Holidaymakers can also take advantage of the dining and drinks options onsite, such as signature bar and grill Cygnet, plus rooftop bar Rooftop by QT. The first is a Manhattan-style steakhouse with chef and restaurateur Sean Connolly leading the charge — and a place that serves up its signature dishes tableside. The second sits alongside a sky-high pool for sips and splashes with a view, goes big on cocktails made from local ingredients and peers out over the skyline. And, if you're keen on having a shindig on your getaway, private dining is also on offer. Find QT Singapore at 35 Robinson Road, Singapore — and head to the hotel's website for bookings and further details. Images: QT Hotels & Resorts.
Carnivores, you might want to leave your vegetarian mates at home for this one — it's definitely for those who appreciate a fancy cut of meat. The Ultimate Wagyu Experience is a monthly dinner that'll let you live out your sweetest, fattiest, beefiest dreams. Sit yourself down at this dinner at Bendigo's award-winning steakhouse The Woodhouse and prepare for a saliva-inducing showcase of the finest wagyu meat from around Australia. Four courses (steel yourself) should be just enough to explore the various cuts and ageing methods that are used on the meat. Run by chef Paul Pitcher, the experience starts with welcome drinks and canapés by an open fire. You will then move into a private dining area and be treated to some top-notch dishes, including dessert. Each plate will also be complemented with a glass of locally produced wine. The Ultimate Wagyu Experience costs $250 per person. Tickets for the next date (Saturday, April 13) will be released on Thursday, March 7, so keep your eyes on the Bendigo Tourism website.
Annex is one of the oldest men's clothing stores in Bondi at 15 years old, but you wouldn't know it from looking at its designs. This menswear store on Gould Street knows exactly who it makes clothes for: beachside arty types who occasionally have to hit the big city for client meetings. The store works monochromatic tones into breathable, clean-cut clothing that looks just as good at south Bondi Beach as it does on Pitt Street. The understated dark linens are part of the Bondi uniform for any occasion. The shop's staff is helpful and passionate about the clothing and always up for a chat in the effortlessly cool store.
Perched on four kilometres of uninterrupted sand, Terrigal is one of the Central Coast's prettiest and most popular beaches. At one end lies the dramatic sandstone cliffs of Broken Head. At the other, there's tranquil Spoon Bay, backdropped by untouched sand dunes. But these natural wonders aren't the only reason to road trip here. Over the past few years, a bunch of excellent restaurants, cafes and bars have popped up, letting you feast on quality produce and perfectly-composed cocktails, in between soaking up sand, surf and sunshine. Terrigal lies just 80 minutes' drive north of Sydney, which makes it a super-convenient weekender. To help you plan your getaway, we've teamed up with the folks at The Clan. Here's how to spend 24 hours in the region — from a morning coastal walk, to afternoon cocktails and a night in the hotel overlooking the beach. [caption id="attachment_672974" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] 6AM: WALK TO THE SKILLION FOR EPIC OCEAN VIEWS Your adventure begins with a stroll to Terrigal's most famous landmark: The Skillion. This is the grassy park at the beach's southern end, which sprawls atop 20-metre high Broken Head. Climb up for beautiful, panoramic views, taking in Terrigal Haven, a sheltered bay where fishing vessels moor. Or stick to beach level, to visit rock pools, take a sunrise dip and study the intricate patterns in the cliff face's Hawkesbury sandstone, laid down more than 200 million years ago when dinosaurs first roamed the Earth. 8AM: BREAKFAST AT MACCOA After conquering The Skillion, you've earned yourself a hearty brekkie. You'll get exactly that at Maccoa, a restaurant that opened in The Clan Terrigal last year. Steeped in airy whites and splashed with colour, it's a light, bright spot that affords 180-degree views, over Terrigal Lagoon. Head chef Melissa Dixon oversees the seasonal, local produce-driven menu. Think classics with a twist, such as smashed avo on house-made corn bread with spinach, semi-dried tomato, feta and chilli pistachio or a brekkie bowl with house-made baked beans, avocado, poached eggs, quinoa, spinach and chorizo. 10AM: STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDING ON TERRIGAL LAGOON Terrigal Lagoon, which lies behind Terrigal Beach, offers 30 glorious hectares of still water made for stand-up paddle boarding. If you haven't your own board, then hire one from the folks at ESS, who stock one for everyone. With so much space, you can go voyaging to your heart's content. Close to the coast, you'll be passing waterfront homes and parks. In the upper reaches, expect idyllic rolling paddocks. For beginners or anyone keen to upskill, ESS hosts SUP clinics for paddlers of all levels – from total beginners to pros. 1PM: PICNIC AT TERRIGAL HAVEN Make the most of the fresh ocean air and enjoy lunch outdoors. Personally, we suggest buying crunchy bread rolls and piling them high with mustard, cured meats and your cheese of choice (or, if you're a meat-free human, with marinated eggplant, capsicum and olives) and eating them on the beach. But if you prefer the winning combination of beach and barbecue, wander down to Terrigal Haven, at the southern end of the beach. Here, you'll find barbecues — which can be used free of charge — ready for charring sausages and caramelising onions, alongside snorkelling and scuba diving facilities. [caption id="attachment_672973" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] 3PM: WALK ALONG THE BEACH TO WAMBERAL Just north of Terrigal is Wamberal, another beachside village that attracts far fewer tourists. If you're keen to get moving after your picnic fix, then walk there along the beach. If not, jump in your car. As you travel further and further away from Terrigal, the houses, shops and crowds drop away, until you reach Wamberal Lagoon Nature Reserve, a patch of national park made up of sand dunes and greenery that backdrops Wamberal Beach. In its northern corner you'll find the hidden-away cove of Spoon Bay. Keen to keep going? Continue on to Forresters Beach. 7PM: DINNER AND SLEEPOVER AT THE CLAN Come dinnertime, make tracks back to Maccoa. Tell the team you're a Concrete Playground reader and they'll give you a complimentary bottle of wine. The menu, devoted to sharing, offers a bunch of scrumptious plates, including coffee and cardamom beef cheeks with pumpkin and feta salad; twice-cooked fennel pork belly with Hillbilly Cider sauce, roasted parsnip and apple; and chai-spiced panna cotta with orange-almond cake, ginger anglaise and candied orange. Chances are, you won't feel too much like driving home after that. So, sleepover at The Clan, where you can choose from 21 waterfront rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the beach or the lagoon. It's doing CP readers a solid right now, too, offering you two nights' accommodation for two, with brekkie included, for $299. Next trip to Terrigal, head for breakfast, lunch or dinner at Maccoa — don't forget to mention this article to receive a free bottle of wine — and spend a night overlooking the water at The Clan.
Since 2023, Shadow Baking has seen three current and former Gelato Messina head chefs turn their attention from gelato to pastries. Now the trio is kicking things off a little earlier, with a brand-new breakfast menu served exclusively at Messina's Marrickville HQ. So, what can you expect from this dine-in offering? Croissant loaf french toast with maple butter, crème anglaise and a scoop of gelato will satisfy any sweet cravings, while a pork sausage and egg bun served with a potato rosti and apple cider hollandaise is another brekkie treat. There are fresh takes on classics too, like the avo on toasted focaccia with whipped feta, confit tomato and jammy egg. The drinks menu hasn't been forgotten either, with a well-rounded coffee selection featuring beans from Toby's Estate. The Marrickville HQ will also be serving Nitro Coffee — that's cold brew with added nitrogen for maximum creaminess — and a strawberry matcha topped with pandan foam. Served every Thursday–Sunday from 8am–12pm, Shadow Baking's breakfast menu might just become your new morning ritual. And don't worry, if you're just swinging by for your usual pastry and coffee combo, the full spectrum of baked goods is still up for grabs.
In the long line of the immersive experiences, perhaps the most original is the classic murder mystery. If you were a big fan of Cluedo as a kid, you know how this one goes — a group of shady characters find themselves grouped together under suspicious circumstances, and that's when the ultimate crime is committed. The Australian National Maritime Museum invites guests to solve the crime at its one-night Murder at the Museum event, held on Friday, April 27. The experience will take you through the many rooms of the museum, giving guests a rare behind-the-scenes look at surveillance, interrogation, evidence and forensic rooms. Your group will be tasked with finding the murderer before it's too late. Since it's not a competition without prizes, there will be plenty of those in store, too — and they sound to be pretty legit winnings from the likes of Sydney By Sail and Alliance Française. Tickets are $65 for adults or $60 for students and groups of ten or more — a great excuse to get a big group of your friends together. The tickets include a drink on arrival, too, and you can nab 'em here.
Kitchen by Mike's casual approach to fine dining was game changing when the restaurant first opened in Rosebery all those years ago (way back in 2012). It combined casual eating, American high school lunchrooms, locally sourced ingredients and an acclaimed chef — Mike McEnearney — to create a flexible, no frills restaurant that sold itself through the main event: food. The canteen-style restaurant then closed — to much despair from fans — in 2015. But, now, it's back. This time, it has reopening in the CBD, which means city workers' lunch and breakfast options have just improved tenfold. Moving into the digs of McEnearney's now-closed fine diner No.1 Bent Street — located, fittingly, at 1 Bent Street — Kitchen by Mike is serving fresh, nourishing food from breakfast through dinner. Those familiar with the now-closed flagship KBM in Rosebery, or the new canteen at Sydney International Airport, will be pleased to know that well-loved breakfast favourites are still on the bill, such as McEnearney's bacon butty and avo toast with buckwheat, miso and nori, which are joined by new dishes like bone broth shots and handmade crumpets with honeycomb. His famed woodfired sourdough is also available — at all times. For lunch, you can browse an array of salads, woodfired and slow-cooked meats, tartines, pizza and puddings. Many vegetarian options are on offer, too, including cauliflower, sheep's curd, green apple and radicchio on sprouted buckwheat toast, and the famed cucumber, mirin, ginger and sesame salad. Salads will be made using all-Aussie produce — sourced at the markets that morning — and rotate daily. To check what's on that day's menu, check Kitchen By Mike's Instagram Story after 10am. While breakfast and lunch are only available on weekdays, dinner will also be available on Saturday nights. It includes more produce-led dishes such as burrata with grilled lemon, ash-baked eggplant, whole-baked cauliflower with chermoula and wood-roasted groper. The restaurant's drinks list is equally extensive, with Five Senses coffee, cold-pressed juices and kombucha available during the day — and all-Australian wines, beers and spirits available at night. Keeping with McEnearney's environmentally friendly approach to running venues, the restaurant is also low waste and single-use plastic free. Customers are encouraged to bring their own reusable takeaway containers — and coffee cups, of course — when ordering food to-go (and will receive a 10-percent discounts for their efforts). And there are plans to rebuild the Physic Garden on Bent Street, which was once attached to the Rosebery KBM outpost. At its biggest, the urban garden contained 100 different plant species, 50 of which were grown for their medicinal properties.
Discover the romance and tranquillity of The Old Bakery Cottage, a beautifully restored historic Millthorpe cottage that once served as the town's bakery. Lovingly extended and restored, this charming property is an ideal location for a couples' romantic weekend away or a quiet countryside retreat. Dating back to the 1890s, The Old Bakery Cottage is a spacious two-bedroom cottage surrounded by an English country-style garden — complete with rambling roses and a bird bath — that has become a popular destination on the Millthorpe Ramble. The original bakery at the back of the cottage has been converted into a large dining space with seating for eight, perfect for hosting intimate dinners or special occasions. Inside, the cosy cottage is adorned with chandeliers, books, and candles, perfect for unwinding and enjoying a glass of wine by the fireplace. The cottage's two bedrooms are spacious and comfortable and can accommodate up to five guests. Take a short stroll to the charming historic village of Millthorpe and discover award-winning restaurants, cellar doors offering the best of the region's cold climate wines and quaint homeware stores.
This newly renovated Californian motel is run by the famous US drag queen, Trixie Mattel, and is just as bright and fun as you can imagine. You will overdose on sensory inputs, no matter what room you stay in. That's because every Trixie Motel room is bursting with bright colours and loud patterns (more is most certainly more). What else would you expect from a drag queen motel in the sunny California desert? Like Trixie Mattel, the owner and famous Drag Race queen, the entire facility is 60s and 70s flower power themed. You'll feel like Malibu Barbie, as you spend the days roaming from your unique room to the pink and white outdoor pool. This place is so extra! And why should it be anything else? The Trixie Motel has a little on-site cafe and bar which serves up a few creative snacks and small bites alongside plenty of speciality cocktails and beverages. It's mostly stuff you can enjoy while sitting around the pink and white tiled outdoor area by the pool – but they do provide private dinners too. They just need to be pre booked – and can be served in most places on the property. Alternatively, head to the local restaurants for more substantial food options. Most people come Palm Springs to experience the resort spa lifestyle. But this area has also developed into a real culture hub. Check out the Palm Springs Art Museum, McCallum Theatre and Palm Springs Design Centre in between taking hikes around the local national parks and shopping at the countless boutique stores. Or do none of this, just spending the whole day sitting by the pool, sipping on cocktails. The choice is all yours. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
We don't need to tell you that it's been a strange couple of months. On top of missing our friends, family and freedom to travel, we're all missing the innovative art, culture, music, performance, food and drink scenes that make Sydney so vibrant. With restrictions on hospitality venues and social gatherings easing, a night out on the town is so close we can almost taste it. We've teamed up with Miller Genuine Draft to bring you this year's Miller Design Lab, the home of creativity and self-expression, to highlight the best of Sydney's nightlife and celebrate Australia's leading minds in design, art, technology, music and fashion. Part-wishful daydreaming and part-celebration of the easing of restrictions, this little post-lockdown bucket list of local businesses to support will get you more than pumped for a night out on the town. [caption id="attachment_771745" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] CATCHING A LIVE GIG AT OXFORD ART FACTORY There's something about a live gig that has us holding our breath for the day we're allowed to gather in large enough numbers to experience live music again. Darlinghurst's hub of art, music and performance, Oxford Art Factory, has been doing its best to keep the vibe alive during lockdown by sharing and hosting virtual shows, meet and greets and party live-streams on social media. Without a doubt, one of the first things to be done once it reopens is to get down to OAF to catch live sets from the likes of Made in Paris, Stumps and Essie Holt. Also, keep an eye out for its regular themed nights — including its emo and pop punk music party, Taking Back Saturday, and No Scrubs: 90s and Early 00s Party, for a no-holds-barred night of dancing. [caption id="attachment_637647" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Katje Ford[/caption] HAVING A LATE-NIGHT BITE AND BOOGIE AT FRANKIE'S When you're cruising around town in the middle of the night and find yourself with a grumbling tummy, Frankie's is the place to go. The crew is all set to reopen the doors on June 1, with no plans for any kind of restrictions for bookings, minimum spends or maximum visit times. The dive bar, pizza parlour and 80s rock 'n' roll spot will be adhering to the government's 50 person capacity and social distancing rules, of course, but plan to keep the doors open from 4pm until 3.30am every night of the week. All you have to do is show up. Our mouths are already watering at the thought of a cheesy pizza slice and an iced cold gin and fresh apple juice. Get ready to cut shapes on the dance floor at an appropriate distance from your fellow revellers. [caption id="attachment_750113" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Liam Cameron[/caption] EMBRACING ART IN ALL ITS FORMS AT MCA'S ARTBAR Art is an important avenue of self-expression that can challenge mainstream ideas and help us make sense of the frankly chaotic modern world. And it's even better when you can take it all in with a drink in hand while having a boogie with your mates to tunes spun by talented local DJs. And that's exactly what happens at MCA's monthly art party (among other interactive experiences). While the Museum of Contemporary Art is taking its June edition of ARTBAR online, to celebrate the 22nd Biennale of Sydney, NIRIN, we're hoping the after-hours, adults-only art party will return to the gallery for its August 28 event. In the meantime, the MCA is reopening its doors to the public on Tuesday, June 16, following the announcement that NSW's galleries, museums and libraries can reopen from June 1. LETTING OFF SOME STEAM WITH KIDULTING FUN Keen to cut loose with some karaoke? Hopefully, you've been practising your solo in the shower, ready to belt out 'I Will Survive' or duet 'Shallow' with the Bradley Cooper to your Lady Gaga. Kitsch Japanese dive bar Goros is known for late-night DJs, arcade games and karaoke rooms, so keep an eye on its social media accounts for the word on when it plans to reopen its doors to 'Wannabe' singers craving a yuzu highball. If you want to let loose but prefer to keep your singing voice to yourself, start planning a night at Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq. The Alexandria funhouse and cocktail bar isn't open again yet but, when it is, it'll have you covered for bowling, arcade games, virtual reality, bumper cars and laser tag. [caption id="attachment_652652" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] SUPPORTING LOCAL CREATIVES AT FREDA'S Alongside those in the hospitality industry, artists and creatives have been some of the hardest hit by the social and economic shutdown of the last couple of months. Sydney's visionary musicians, artists and designers are going to need all of us to get out and support them as soon as we can. So we can't wait to head back to Chippendale bar and creative space Freda's to dance to live tunes, take in art from local emerging artists and rave well into the night in true Freda's style. Here's hoping the safe space for creativity and self-expression returns to its full glory soon with Manny's pizzas, dogs and philly steaks, and its welcome 4am licence. For more ways to celebrate your city's nightlife and recreate its energy in your own space, head this way. Top image: Katje Ford
Maybe you first saw Britain's Penguin chocolate biscuits in the supermarket during a UK holiday. Perhaps you have a British partner or pal who raves about how delicious they are. Or, like almost all Australians, you could just really love Tim Tams — and, as a result, you're eager to give any biscuit that even remotely resembles them a try. Whichever category you fall into, you can now get your hands on Penguins in all their famed glory, as they've just landed on Aussie shelves for the first time. You'll need to head to Coles to pick up a six-pack, which'll set you back $2.80. If you're currently thinking "hmmmm, but we already have Tim Tams", these chocolate-covered, chocolate cream-filled bikkies actually pre-date them. Penguins have even been dubbed "the original Tim Tam", which might sound almost sacrilegious Down Under — but, although they're longer and crunchier than the Aussie biscuit we all know and love, they first debuted in Britain in 1932, more than three decades before Australians started munching on Tim Tams in 1964. Discovering whether another bikkie really is as great as a Tim Tam is probably all the motivation you need to "p-p-pick up a Penguin!", as its slogan encourages, and give them a try. If you need more, though, Penguins also come with penguin-themed jokes printed on the wrapper (maybe keep them away from your dad). And, back in the 70s, the British treats inspired quite the advertisement — which you can watch here. Six-packs of Penguin biscuits are now available at Coles for $2.80.
Now this will make everyone turn up to boring ol' Monday meetings. British furniture designer Christopher Duffy has obviously spent too many meetings in horribly regular chairs, as he's gone and designed this genuinely high-fiveable solution — meeting swings instead of meeting chairs. Meet the King Arthur Round Table — yep, its actual name. Jensen's giving the annual growth report? Stay awake by swinging. Fire drill training? Swing it out. Duffy's straight-up clever King Arthur set is available from 12-seat down to four-seat options, and you can opt for walnut or birch tops. And predictably, the 12-seat will set your boss back a cheeky $16,000 before tax or shipping. But think of the PowerPoint presentations you could swing through. Attendance would be through the roof. "As soon as people sit in it, they instantly open up, their posture changes and they start smiling," Duffy told Fast Company. "There's a different feeling when you're hanging from something than when you're sitting and you're supported from underneath." If you're not content simply swinging your way through daily meetings, Duffy's also designed a whole two-level swing bar set-up, so you can swing through post-work drinks too. Via Fast Company.
Disney is getting into the streaming game, and it's unleashing its new platform upon Australian and New Zealand audiences this year. Called Disney+, the service was first revealed in 2018, but just when it'd hit local screens had remained a mystery. Now, anyone eager to watch new Star Wars and Marvel TV shows — plus all of Disney's animated movies — should mark November 19 in their diaries. It's great news for folks Down Under. The Mouse House announced the service's US launch date a few months back, but had left things vague otherwise, explaining that it "plans to be in nearly all major regions of the world within the next two years". While Disney+ was expected to be operational in Australia and New Zealand sometime in 2020, locals will only be left waiting a week after the service's American debut. With Disney recently merging with competitor Fox, Disney+'s range is hefty, spanning Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar and National Geographic. During its first year of operation, it's due to release more than 25 original series and ten original films, documentaries and specials — including five Marvel series (Loki, WandaVision, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Hawkeye and Marvel's What If), and two Star Wars shows (The Mandalorian from The Lion King director Jon Favreau, plus a spinoff from Rogue One about Diego Luna's Rebel spy Cassian Andor). Two new Toy Story projects, as well as science series The World According to Jeff Goldblum, are also on Disney+'s lineup. Going big when it comes to bringing the company's well-known properties to the new streaming platform, a High School Musical TV series, another show based on Monsters, Inc. and a live-action Lady and the Tramp movie will be on the bill, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrXNtj84owc Price-wise, subscriptions will cost AU$8.99 and NZ$9.99 per month (or AU$89.99 and NZ$99.99 per year). Disney has also unveiled the devices that'll feature Disney+, which will be available both HD and 4K. Viewers will be able to access the service via Apple products (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV), Google devices (Android phones, Android TV devices, Google Chromecast and Chromecast built-in devices), Roku, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and all Android-based Sony TVs. Disney+ will launch in Australia New Zealand on November 19. To sign up for further updates, visit the streaming platform's website. Top image: The Mandalorian.
In the scene that gives Never Rarely Sometimes Always its name, 17-year-old Autumn (Sidney Flanigan) sits with a counsellor at Planned Parenthood in Brooklyn. The teen hails from Pennsylvania, but has taken the bus east with her cousin Skylar (Talia Ryder) upon discovering that she's pregnant and realising she only really has one option — knowing that her family is unlikely to help, and after her local women's clinic has advised that she should just have the baby. Before she can obtain the New York facility's assistance, however, she is asked questions about her history. The queries broach tough and intimate subjects, but Autumn only needs to answer with one of the words from the movie's moniker. While they're simple and common, those four terms explain much about why a small-town high-schooler is engaging in a practice that's been dubbed 'abortion tourism'. So too does the silence that punctuates her responses and the heartbreaking expression on her face that goes with them. From its opening frames, which sketch out Autumn's everyday life — the taunting peers, the awkward dynamic at home, the attentions of her boss at her after-school supermarket job, and the efforts to be seen by performing at her class concert — Never Rarely Sometimes Always is an intricately observed and stunningly detailed film. Accordingly, when the aforementioned scene arrives, it's the latest potent, compassionate and revealing moment in a movie filled with them. But filmmaker Eliza Hittman refuses to give viewers even the tiniest reprieve here. Autumn can't escape these difficult questions or the entire experience she's dealing with, and the audience is forced into the same situation. Maintaining the feature's unobtrusive, naturalistic, almost documentary-esque style, cinematographer Hélène Louvart (Happy as Lazzaro) doesn't look away, while first-time actor Flanigan pours out an entire lifetime's worth of feeling under the film's unrelenting gaze. When Never Rarely Sometimes Always premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival back in January, it deservedly won a special jury prize. The next month, it took home Berlinale's Silver Bear, the festival's second most prestigious award. It now reaches screens Down Under as the year approaches its end, and releases less than a week after another movie delivered another immensely uncomfortable moment in a women's clinic. By almost all other metrics and measures, Never Rarely Sometimes Always and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm share little in common. And yet, both understand how reproductive rights, or the lack thereof in many cases and places, say much about America today. Both make viewers stare unflinchingly at that reality, the way that it disadvantages half of the population, and the life-changing effect it can have on teenage girls and their futures. Never Rarely Sometimes Always is a movie about the politicisation of a deeply personal subject, how that has far-reaching repercussions, and what that means on a daily and practical basis. Making clear exactly what Autumn has to go through to even get to that distressing clinic chat, it's a gut-punch of a film on the topic, in fact. Anchored by Flanigan's instinctual, unaffected performance — one of the year's best, in one of its best films — Hittman's feature surveys the vacant storefronts and empty-hearted locals in Autumn's home town, and the way her mother (Sharon Van Etten) is also trapped in her own way. It watches as Skylar steals the cash needed to finance their trip from the register at work, and shows how the more outgoing teen is unwavering in supporting her reserved cousin. It takes the bus to NYC with its characters, stares out the window at a haze of brown landscape, then rides the subway all night when the pair can't afford a place to sleep in the city. The film meets the men, both overt and in the background, who try to grab the girls' attention, and follows the many choices that need to be made to just get to Autumn's appointment. 'Immersive' is an overused descriptor, but in a movie this meticulous, it fits. As should be evident from all of the above, Never Rarely Sometimes Always is something else as well: a tale of struggling youth. And as anyone who has seen 2013's It Felt Like Love and 2017's Beach Rats will know, there are few filmmakers better at spinning such stories than Hittman. When it comes to the teen experience, the American writer/director possesses a near-uncanny ability to navigate tense rivers of emotion through highly specific yet also highly relatable scenarios. Rather than focusing on sexual awakenings like its predecessors, Never Rarely Sometimes Always explores the aftermath of a tryst that's never seen or mentioned, but it still firmly belongs in their company. Why Autumn is pregnant is far less important than how she feels, what she's forced to endure and how the world constantly tries to make her choices for her — including by placing her in a parade of fraught situations that will only ever apply to women. It takes a vast amount of skill to tell this tale in not only a resonant manner, but also a sensitive one. It requires the same talent to ensure that every ebb and flow in Never Rarely Sometimes Always' seemingly straightforward narrative echoes across the screen, illustrating how thematically and emotionally complicated Autumn's plight is — and, by extension, those of the many other teens just like her as well. Doing just that in a movie that lets actions and images speak far louder than its sparse dialogue obviously falls into the same category. Hittman boasts all that skill and talent, and no second or detail is wasted under her guidance. As intimated by its protagonist's name, as taken from the season when the leaves fall, warmth fades and the weather's frostiest period approaches, this is a film about decay, loss and change in multiple ways — and it's as grim and gripping as it is outraged, empathetic and affecting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsWV2qTX21k
Perched on the corner of Nicholson and Dowling streets in Woolloomoolo, the Juanita Nielsen Community Centre boasts plenty of excitement within its walls. One big attraction: its affordable gym and fitness classes, where you can lift free weights, take a yoga or boxing session, or hit the rowers and climbers. The centre also hosts an array creative workshops (so if you're eager to pick up a few new skills, take note), and its spaces are available for hire. It also has co-working facilities, should you need somewhere to get things done away from the office or your home.
The boffins at Australia's leading scientific institution are branching out into the art world, in an attempt to raise awareness about the need to invest in renewable energy sources. The CSIRO Infinity Swing is a giant light-up swing set powered by the momentum of its users, turning playtime into clean, sustainable power. According to its creators, the light and sound installation came about in response to one of the most challenging questions facing the world today: "how do we make sure energy stays affordable and available while protecting our planet?" The eight-person swing serves as a timely visual reminder of the importance of clean, renewable energy, as well as the things that can be achieved when people work together. It's also given us a great idea about connecting the nation's playgrounds directly to the power grid – although we suspect that child protection services mightn't be quite so keen. The pop-up swing will open to the public at Sydney's Custom House between Wednesday November 4 and Sunday November 8, before travelling down to Federation Square in Melbourne from Monday November 16 until Saturday November 21. Representatives from CSIRO will be on hand to discuss their ongoing research into clean energy – and if you're extra nice, they might even give you a little push.
You would be forgiven if you didn't know that October 4 is World Taco Day. It would be a serious fiasco, though, if you didn't make a fiesta out of this beautiful occasion. Luckily, the Royal Hotel Paddington is celebrating with all-you-can-eat — yes, all-you-can-eat — tacos. For $20 each, you and your dear amigos and amigas can expect a bottomless supply of Mexican fare. Think grilled achiote chicken and cheese creme tacos, slow cooked pork belly and jalapeño tacos, and grilled barramundi chipotle mayo tacos — as well as an array of dessert tacos to send you into a food-induced siesta. Now this might sound like mariachi to your ears already, but the guys behind the bar will also be quenching your thirst with $10 chilli margaritas, Tommy margaritas and classic margaritas. If this doesn't make you dance around your sombrero in celebration, nothing will.
When Betty's Burgers and Concrete Co started dishing up burgs, fries and shakes, it gave hungry (and grateful) Australian tastebuds a Shake Shack-style burger experience. The chain has done well with that approach, unsurprisingly, expanding from its Noosa beginnings to now boast joints in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth — and a trio of ex-staff members are aiming for the same success with new venture Slim's Quality Burger. There's plenty that's familiar about Slim's template, in fact. Swap out the Shake Shack nods, substitute in a 50s- and 60s-inspired setup that takes its cues from American diner culture, and that's the concept. Once again, the focus is on classic-style burgs rather than OTT numbers in this new spot from Michael Tripp, Nik Rollison and Betty's founder, David Hales; however, the burgers here are paired with old-school ice cream sundaes instead of Betty's frozen custard 'concretes'. Now open in the new Marrickville Metro, with other stores set to come around the country — next up is Mount Druitt — Slim's is all about a lean menu of options made with simple but quality ingredients. Burger-wise, customers can choose between original ($8.50), cheeseburger ($6.50), deluxe cheeseburger ($7.50) and 'the works' ( $9.50) burgs, all made with angus beef, plus five different chicken varieties — including with crispy fried ($8.50) or grilled chook ($8.50) — and a veggie option ($9) using a plant-based patty. Sides focus on fries either with sea salt ($3.50), loaded with cheese and grilled onion ($6), or also featuring maple-smoked bacon ($7). As for those sundaes ($5), they come in hot fudge, salted caramel and strawberry flavours. And to wash it all down, there are spiders ($5) — because plonking a scoop of ice cream in some soft drink never gets old — plus post-mix from the fountain ($3.75), and chocolate, vanilla and strawberry thickshakes ($6). And with its vibrant red bench seating — the same hue beaming up from the chequerboard-tiled floor and a curved order counter — the Marrickville decor clearly takes Slim's chosen retro aesthetic seriously. Also a feature in Sydney: outdoor dining, plus a blast from the past-meets-modern overall feel.
ACOTAR, Fourth Wing, Red, White & Royal Blue…spicy audiobooks have staying power these days. From the soundbites on your audiobook to the edits on your TikTok FYP, and now to the table at your nearest Wingboy. You read it right. The best place to go for a spicy taste of your favourite audiobooks is popping up in Sydney this weekend. This weekend only — Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21 — Audible and Wingboy are teaming up for a limited edition Spicy Romance menu available in-store at Wingboy stores in Darling Square, Randwick, Newtown, Parramatta and Penrith or via UberEats delivery. Served in a heart-shaped box, you'll find three chicken tenders paired with three sauces of your choice (depending on your preferred level of audiobook spice). There's mild, spicy, extra spicy and want it all levels of heat. Oh, and three months of Audible for free* and a special message from romance audiobook royalty Teddy Hamilton (the voice of Xaden in Fourth Wing). One last reason to visit, if you share your meal on socials and tag @audible_au @wingboy_sydney with #AudibleSpicyPrize, you'll go into the running to win a year's worth of both Wingboy and Audible*. The Audible x Wingboy Spicy Romance Box is available this weekend only. Find your nearest Wingboy here. *T&Cs apply
There's never been a better excuse to indulge in a hair of the dog. 4 Pines Beer, in collaboration with Surry Hills' Single Origin Roasters, have conjured up the equivalent of Up & Go for beer enthusiasts by adding banana bread and espresso butter to the brewing process. It follows in the footsteps of such notable food/beer crossovers as spreadable beer and avocado beer. They'll be launching the ultimate breakfast beer, along with their new Porky Fig creation (a beer that tastes like East Village Hotel's famous pig and fig pizza), on Thursday October 24, at 7pm, as part of Sydney Craft Beer Week. Two free public 'Beer Mimics Food' events will run simultaneously, catering to beer connoisseurs on either side of the bridge — one at the 4 Pines Brew Pub, Manly, and the other at the East Village Hotel, Balmain. So how did two such unlikely taste breakthroughs come about? In the first case, 4 Pines head brewer Andrew Tweddell, along with Single Origin's head barista, Sean McManus, and coffee buyer, Wendy de Jong, spent a day dressed in banana suits, figuring out how to blend their specialities into one flavoursome, alcoholic powerhouse. Adopting a wheat-style brewing method, they diverted from the usual grain-driven strategy by adding 16 kilograms of banana bread and a batch of carefully selected Brazilian coffee beans to the mix. In the second, it was a matter of recognising that one of Balmain's most popular dishes could translate into drinkable goodness. The Porky Fig is reputed to smell as good as it tastes. Both beers are limited edition, and following the launch events, will be stocked at the 4 Pines Brew Pub and the East Village — only until they run out.
Norwest locals: if you haven't already started counting down the days until the arrival of Ciel Restaurant, you should start now. Following its initial announcement back in November of last year, the new venue is just a couple of months away from opening, with a confirmed opening slated for August of 2024. This upcoming venture from renowned Aussie chef Joshua Mason is set to star upscale dining in The Hills District — and with over 500 bookings already secured, the venue's arrival has already stirred up excitement among the locals. "Ciel Restaurant is poised to be the most sought-after premium rooftop in the area, and we're meticulously crafting every detail," said chef Joshua Mason. "For instance, our lavish balcony lounge features a customised DJ booth, adding a unique jazzy-party vibe to the venue." With its name derived from the French word for 'sky', the rooftop venue promises stunning views over the Castle Hill Country Club from a spacious sky-high spot. The elegant restaurant is hoping to redefine social dining in The Hills by injecting a touch of luxury into the district's food and drink scene. The 120-seat venue is set to showcase a sophisticated approach to fine dining, with luxe design elements that recall the likes of New York's Eleven Madison Park and California's The French Laundry. Expect brass and marble tones, comfortable seating, a green-hued stone bar as the centrepiece and a sophisticated ambience. There'll be both indoor and al fresco dining available, as well as a private room for events and occasion-based group bookings. "Our venue will offer a sophisticated yet 'vibe-y' atmosphere, perfect for enjoying a delightful meal and drinks with friends," said Mason. "As my second venture in the northwest, I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue investing in this vibrant community." Mason – whose impressive CV includes stints at Michelin-starred San Francisco institutions Atelier Crenn and Coi — has taken inspiration from his Sicilian to craft the Mediterranean-leaning menu. Seafood is a particular focus, so expect the likes of an ice well filled with oysters, lobsters and locally sourced fish, alongside charcoal-grilled dishes and a woodfired selection cooked on a custom-made grill and charcoal oven that draw on French and Mediterranean techniques — perfect to pair with an ice-cold dirty martini or glass of champagne. Ciel Restaurant plans to open sometime in August at 7 Maitland Place in Norwest, seven days a week. Bookings are now open — and you can secure a spot at the venue's reservations page.
For over 30 years, Aquarius Rising has been a western Sydney go-to for one-of-a-kind gifts. Does your auntie swear by her calming blue lace agate crystal? Has your maybe-kinda-psychic friend always wanted their own pack of tarot cards? Or is your dad currently obsessed with collecting essential oils for his new Muji diffuser? The perfect gift is awaiting them at Aquarius Rising. Home to a huge range of crystals, incense, cards, books and salt lamps, the Civic Arcade spot isn't your run-of-the-mill gift shop (you won't find any 'live, laugh, love' posters here), but it has something for all the Co—Star-loving and astrology meme-sharing people in your life.
Stargazers in Tasmania and New Zealand are happy they didn't skip town for Vivid last weekend. On Sunday night, Aurora Australis made a pretty dramatic appearance, filling the horizon with a spectrum of light. Also known as the Southern Lights, Aurora Australis tends to show up when a coronal mass ejection (CME) occurs. To cut a long story short, a CME happens when the sun releases a bunch of plasma filled with electrons and protons (the bits inside atoms, Year 7). This plasma travels 150 million kilometres before hitting the Earth's magnetic field at a speed of six million kilometres per hour. The result is a wild geomagnetic storm. As the atoms slow down, they send out light of various colours, which we see most easily at the North and South Poles, where the atmosphere is thinnest. In the North Pole, the aurora is called Aurora Borealis. Like earthquakes, auroras are rated according to their power. While most rate around 1 or 2 kp (out of a possible 9), Sunday night's hit 7, making it particularly spectacular. It's difficult to predict when the next Aurora Australis will appear — your best bet is to keep an eye on the official Facebook page, where hopeful activity is reported. If you're keen to cop an eyeful, then you'll need to head as far south as possible. It's also a good idea to get away from towns and cities, so light pollution doesn't corrupt your view. In Australia, that means making tracks to Tassie. On social media, epic photos of Sunday night's show came in from Devonport and Bruny Island. However, the lights were also seen as far north as New South Wales, including in Merimbula, Bawley Point and Williamstown. Meanwhile, in New Zealand, the place to be was the South Island. Over the weekend, Aurora Australis was seriously impressive in Lake Te Anau, Dunedin, Invercargill, Waipapa Point and Queenstown, among other spots. Here's a few otherworldly Instagrams to give you an idea: How lucky have we been in #MySouthland this week with this breathtaking #auroraaustralis light show! Spectacular 📷 @the_curious_kiwi #nzmustdo #southlandnz A post shared by Southland, New Zealand (@southland.nz) on May 30, 2017 at 5:19pm PDT Sunday's breathtaking Aurora Australis as captured by staff member @purnellpictures out on the Otago Peninsula.😍#dunnerstunner #OnlyOtago #auroraaustralis A post shared by University of Otago (@universityofotago) on May 29, 2017 at 10:02pm PDT Incredible #AuroraAustralis in Tasmania's skies 😮. Tassie's the best spot in Australia to view the Southern Lights. Basically, the further south, the better. 📷: Sophie Fazackerly A post shared by ABC News (@abcnews_au) on May 28, 2017 at 7:33pm PDT NIGHT LIGHTS. The Milky Way with a hint of Aurora over Mount Iron earlier this week. Wanaka, NZ. #nightsky #milkyway #stars #aurora #auroraaustralis #southernlights #nzmustdo #purenewzealand #landscape #nofilter #astrophotography #stargazing #stars #starlight #lovewanaka #wanaka #mtiron #southisland #newzealand #longexposure #canon_photos A post shared by @the_viewfinda on May 30, 2017 at 7:57pm PDT After posting a photo of the Southern Lights yesterday people have asked me if I could really see them with the naked eye. The answer is YES. For a few very special minutes they danced like laser beams on the horizon line. The Milky Way stole the limelight afterwards. 🌌✨ A post shared by Kyle Te Kiwi | New Zealand (@barekiwi) on May 30, 2017 at 3:04am PDT After posting a photo of the Southern Lights yesterday people have asked me if I could really see them with the naked eye. The answer is YES. For a few very special minutes they danced like laser beams on the horizon line. The Milky Way stole the limelight afterwards. 🌌✨ A post shared by Kyle Te Kiwi | New Zealand (@barekiwi) on May 30, 2017 at 3:04am PDT Top image: Ben (Flickr).
The Coachella lineup has landed. Over the course of two autumnal weekends — April 11-13 and 18-20 — California's music-loving valley will welcome some of the world's most original, inventive and popular acts into the fold. There's a major headliner scheduled for each day — the long-rumoured and at last reunited Outkast on Friday; England's rebellious, alt-rockers Muse on Saturday; and Canada's indie favourites Arcade Fire on Sunday. While Muse just finished up an Aussie tour, Arcade Fire will soon be packing their suncream and surfboards —l they’ll be headlining Big Day Out on January 19. We Antipodeans are getting quite a look-in at Coachella, too. As you might've guessed, New Zealand teenager and singing, songwriting phenomenon Lorde is on the program. She'll be joined by fellow Kiwis The Naked and Famous. Australia has abundant representation in the form of electro duo Empire of the Sun; Sydney rockers The Preatures; multi-instrumentalist, producer and DJ Flume; psychedelic specialists Jagwar Ma; dance music trailblazer Anna Lunoe; and indie DJs Flight Facilities. As for the rest of the planet, the list includes The Replacements, Broken Bells, Queens of the Stone Age, The Knife, Pharrell Williams, Beck, Lana del Rey, Motorhead, Skrillex and Sleigh Bells. Tix go on sale this Friday at 10am (California time) at www.coachella.com/festival-passes
It probably shouldn't come as a surprise that there's a particularly special place to buy antiques in the harbourside community of Double Bay. You'll find Maison et Jardin buried within the stylish boutiques of Transvaal Avenue. This is where you can score one-off furniture and homewares which date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The business is led by Lauren Landsman, who travels extensively each year across France, Belgium and the Netherlands to hand-select items. Expect to uncover a wealth of French-style mirrors, crafted cabinets, copper pots and plenty of items to make your home more hygge.
No one in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales will forget the first week of March 2025, thanks to Tropical Cyclone Alfred wreaking havoc with the region. Sandbags, empty supermarket shelves, warnings to shelter, wild winds, incessant rain, widespread power outages, heartbreaking flooding, events cancelled and venues closed: autumn's initial days have delivered them all. And, if you've been at home just trying to get through it, you might've missed work, affecting your bank balance. For communities impacted by the cyclone, on Monday, March 10 the Australian Government announced financial support via the Disaster Recovery Allowance — with applications open from 2pm local time on Tuesday, March 11. Folks in 14 Local Government Areas in Queensland and 17 Local Government Areas in New South Wales can apply if they're an eligible worker or sole trader and have lost some or all of their income as a direct result of Alfred's presence. "At the worst of times we see the best of the Australian character. That's exactly what we've seen in the past week in Queensland and New South Wales. My message to these communities in this difficult time is we've got your back and will support you through the recovery," said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, announcing the support. To be eligible, your income must've fallen below the average Australian weekly income due to the floods, which is approximately $1975.80. More details are available from Services Australia. In Queensland, residents and those who work in Brisbane, Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, Southern Downs and Sunshine Coast are covered. In NSW, the same applies to Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Glen Innes Severn, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Mid-Coast, Nambucca, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Richmond, Tenterfield and Tweed, plus the locality of Lord Howe Island, including any islands situated within a three-nautical-mile radius. Hardship grants including $180 per person for immediate essentials such as food, clothing and medicine, and $150 per person for losing essential services at home for more than five days in a row, have also been instituted in the Sunshine State for those in directly impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred in the Redland, Gold Coast and Logan City council areas. More information is available via the Queensland Government. Applications for the ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred Disaster Recovery Allowance open at 2pm local time on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. For more information, head to the Services Australia website. For details of Queensland's hardship grants, head to the Queensland Government website.
Twenty years. Twelve seasons, plus a round of revival specials. Oh-so-many music and comedy guests. As at 2025, that's the Spicks and Specks story. This year marks two decades since the series first debuted on the ABC — and through cancellations, new hosts, bringing back its OG talents and more, the music quiz show has become a firm Australian favourite. To celebrate that longevity, its latest run will arrive in June. The ABC announced back in 2024 that Spicks and Specks would return this year. Now there's an exact date: Sunday, June 15. Adam Hills, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough are all back — this time joined by Megan Washington, Marcia Hines, Kram, Lucy Durack and Robert Forster among the musicians, plus comedians Julia Morris, Tom Ballard, Dave O'Neil and Sara Pascoe. Hands on buzzers, again. Get ready to bust out all that music knowledge, and also to play along with one of the nation's most-beloved television shows once more, too. Among everything that the ABC has ever broadcast, be it news, entertainment, after-school kids shows, oh-so-much Doctor Who and late-night music videos to keep you occupied after a few drinks all included, Spicks and Specks is among the all-time highlights. 2025's season will also feature performances by Spiderbait, Montaigne, Paul Kelly, Emma Donovan, Pseudo Echo, Barry Morgan and The Living End. In the mid-00s, when the ABC decided to take a few cues from Britain's music quiz and comedy panel TV series Never Mind the Buzzcocks by creating Spicks and Specks, Australia's national broadcaster likely knew that it had a hit on its hands — but it mightn't have realised just how popular that the show would become. Here's how it works, if you need a refresher: the contestants answer questions, compete for points and just generally prove funny, too, all while the series puts Aussie musos and comedians against each other. Spicks and Specks was a weekly favourite when it first aired between 2005–2011 — and it keeps being resurrected. In fact, it has enjoyed more comebacks than John Farnham, although that has meant different things over the years. When the program was initially revived back in 2014, it did so with a new host and team captains, for instance. And when it started to make a return with its original lineup of Hills, Warhurst and Brough, it first did so via a one-off reunion special. That 2018 comeback became the ABC's most-watched show of that year. So, the broadcaster then decided to drop four new Spicks and Specks specials across 2019–20 and, for 2021, to bring back Spicks and Specks in its regular format. In 2022, ten new episodes hit — and then the show returned again in 2024. To tide you over until the 2025 episodes arrive, here's a clip from 2024's Spicks and Specks run: Spicks and Specks returns to ABC TV and ABC iView from Sunday, June 15, 2025.
Looking to brighten up your Monday? Mt Lewis Pizzeria in Bankstown and Hurstville is serving $1 za'atar manoush pizzas every Monday from Monday, June 30. The much-loved Middle Eastern pizza joint has become Sydney's go-to destination for authentic manoush, serving tasty pizzas from recipes passed down through generations. Combining traditional flavours with a cosy, modern setting, the pizzeria brings the spirit of Lebanon to Sydney. Usually enjoyed for breakfast, manoush is an authentic Lebanese flatbread-style pizza made combining za'atar spice and olive oil. The za'atar topping is a delicious blend of herbs including thyme and oregano. On top, toasted sesame seeds and sumac add the perfect subtle crunch. Enjoy it on its own or topped with fresh vegetables, labneh yogurt or melted cheese. Already salivating? We don't blame you. All you have to do is find $1 lying around and head into Mt Lewis Pizzeria in Bankstown or South Hurstville. Grab a manoush for a cheeky breakfast, lunch or snack anytime between opening and closing, which is 5am–4pm at Bankstown and 6am–6pm at Hurstville. $1 manoush is limited to three per customer. For the full menu, visit the Mt Lewis Pizzeria website. Images: Supplied.
How do you like your crime stories? Podcasts? Audiobooks? Good ol' fashioned paperback novels? Or maybe do you prefer to hear about humanity's evils in person over a drink? That's the premise of Cocktails & Crime Stories, an in-person retelling of Sydney's historic crimes served with drinks and food at Paddo Inn for one night only. Hosted by Sydney Crime Historian Max Burns-McRuvie, who has hosted several crime retellings across Sydney, you'll step into 19th century Sydney with three cocktails inspired by the stories of the evening: the Bloody Berry Spritz, Eye-chee Martini and The Missing Cherry. While you sip, listen as your host tells you all about figures like the Pyrmont Bridge Stalker, the homicidal housewife of Botany Bay and the bigamist butcher of Sussex Street, from their evil deeds to their destination at the hangman's noose. No good story should be heard on an empty stomach, and you'll be able to snack on Italian canapés from Il Baretto, including homemade focaccia al rosmarino, fennel salami with seasonal fruit compote and rigatoni alla norma. It's all taking place on Monday, November 24, with arrivals from 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Tickets are $60 per person and include all food, drinks and ghoulish goosebumps you'll experience throughout the evening. For more information or to book tickets, visit the website.
Austin Butler will be in the building at Sydney Film Festival 2024. After scoring an Oscar nomination and Golden Globe win for playing the king of rock 'n' roll in Elvis, which was shot in Australia, the actor has locked in a visit to the Harbour City to launch his latest movie The Bikeriders at the State Theatre. When the full 2024 SFF program was announced, The Bikeriders was among its big-name titles. It stars not only Butler, but also Jodie Comer (Killing Eve), Tom Hardy (Venom: Let There Be Carnage) and Mike Faist (Challengers), so that's understandable. But the movie's place on the lineup is now even heftier with Butler hitting the fest and the country in person. He'll be at the session — complete with a red carpet event — on Thursday, June 6. Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, in what marks the Take Shelter, Mud and Midnight Special filmmaker's first feature since 2016's Loving, the picture casts Butler as Benny, a member of The Vandals, a midwestern motorcycle club. It's the 60s in Chicago, and Comer's Kathy is the audience's guide through the movie. She's also Benny's wife. Hardy plays The Vandals' leader, while Benny is the gang's newest member — and if you've seen a tale of a motorcycle club on-screen before (American TV series Sons of Anarchy and Ryan Corr-starring Australian drama 1% might come to mind), you'll know that loyalty tend to play significant parts in the story. Michael Shannon (The Flash), Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon), and Australians Toby Wallace (The Royal Hotel) and Damon Herriman (The Artful Dodger) also feature. If you can't make it to SFF, the film will hit Aussie cinemas in general release on Thursday, July 4. On Sydney Film Festival's guest lineup, Butler is joined by the members of Midnight Oil for opening night's world-premiering documentary The Hardest Line, New Zealand director Lee Tamahori for The Convert, Jemaine Clement for The Moon is Upside Down, Rachel House in filmmaker mode for her directorial debut The Mountain and Aussie icon Peter Weir for a retrospective session of The Cars That Ate Paris — and plenty more, of course. Check out the trailer for The Bikeriders below: Sydney Film Festival 2024 takes place from Wednesday, June 5–Sunday, June 16 at various cinemas and venues around Sydney. For more information and tickets, head to the festival's website. Images: Kyle Kaplan/Focus Features. © 2024 Focus Features. All Rights Reserved.
Waking up to a perfect sunrise on an almost empty beach. Spotting a true-blue Aussie icon. Or sticking your head out of the window when you're cruising with the fam. Each one of these TikTok videos has us dreaming of epic adventures with our besties, lazing in the sun, and rising early to catch a wave or two. In short, they make us miss the best parts of summer — and make us want to extend that carefree holiday vibe into autumn, too. To help inspire you to live your best life, we've teamed up with TikTok to bring you five videos that'll have you handing over that resignation and GTFO to bigger and brighter things. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@kendallandglenn/video/6885137289199095042[/embed] Kendall and Glenn are really channeling that sun-kissed, no-worries Australian dream right now. The couple is travelling around Australia in a VW — called Vance — and they're capturing the best (and worst) parts of living on the road together. They've been to Magnetic Island, Uluru, Flinders Ranges and the Fleurieu Peninsula. Here they're really flexing that perfect #vanlife morning. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@yeetus_mcfeetus/video/6716434036241206534[/embed] In 2010, the Big Prawn came close to death when the Ballina Shire Council voted in favour of its demolition. Luckily, the public had other ideas and today you can still find it in Ballina, NSW. KT, or @yeetus_mcfeetus, picked a true-blue legend to soundtrack their encounter with two other Aussie greats: Bunnings and the Big Prawn. Make like KT and plan your own trip to see these extremely Australian big things for yourself. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@genuine_spud/video/6858869469809249541[/embed] Emilee Flood's 'Electric Love' is one of those tracks synonymous with TikTok. (It's a real Sad Girl TikTok banger). But here, Kel-C uses that 'lightning in a bottle' lyric to show us all their feels about a perfect summer road trip — kangaroos, beaches, sunsets and snacks. Take. Us. Back. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@gemmacatherine29/video/6828566161651666181[/embed] How good's WA? Gemma Catherine, maker of this extraordinarily good case for getting out of bed before sunrise, shows us it's the state to be in for escaping iso and getting out for a surf. Now, being back at work isn't strictly the same as iso, but we're feeling the itch to travel all the same. If you're looking for inspiration, here are ten must-visit locations in Australia. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@_.lilyhaynes._/video/6894561223736691969[/embed] If there's one video in this roundup that speaks to us most it's this gem from Lily Haynes. She's filmed her pup Alfie living his best self, chilling with the fam, seeing what's up, riding shotgun. If that doesn't push you to book a long weekend on the road, we don't know what will. Alfie, we ❤️ you. Download TikTok to watch more blissful travel videos. Top image: Wikimedia Commons
Have you always wanted to reenact the Office Space printer smashing scene? Well, your chance has finally come. Melbourne got The Break Room way back in 2016, and now it's Sydney's turn. Smash Brothers is popping up in Kogarah for three months, starting Saturday, April 21. A clear nod to the 90s video game franchise of the same name, the concept is a new kind of stress and anger management workout geared towards millennials. It's taking the workplace term 'break room' to a very literal sense — water coolers will only be of the smashable variety. You actually can smash printers here, along with plates, bottles, blenders, toasters and even televisions, fridges and — the most satisfying of all — computer monitors. So how does it work? Choose your weapon of choice and you'll be escorted to a break room filled with a crate of smashable goodies (plus a few 'mystery items') to break to bits. You'll be outfitted with overalls, gloves and a face shield, so you can go at it without the machines taking their revenge. Waste is the obvious eyebrow-raiser here. But while the items up for destruction are either donated or purchased, according to the venue, all the smashed stuff will be recycled. This may sound like a team sport, but for safety reasons you can only smash solo. Plus, you're only allowed ten minutes to break your batch, so best let that rage fly in rapid fire. It's not the cheapest ten minutes, either — solo smashing costs $40, or bring a buddy for $70. The break room is open on weekends only and by appointment only (no walk-ins will be accepted). To book a session, head over here and kiss those TPS reports goodbye. Smash Brothers will open April 21 at Unit 2, 1 Phillips Road, Kogarah. It'll be open Friday from 6.3o–10pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10am–6.30pm. You can make a booking at smashbrothers.com.au.
Sydney's most famous zoo is now extending its after-dark offerings with an exclusive adults-only stay that will get you up close with the animals while you drink wine. Taronga Zoo's brand-new after-dark adventure is an 18+ edition of the zoo's existing Roar and Snore experience, which leads visitors on a tour of the zoo led by its experts and includes a harbourside dinner with an overnight stay in the zoo's luxury Wildlife Retreat. Running for just two nights — Wednesday, November 29, and Wednesday, December 13 — the Wine Safari will add a special wine tasting led by an award-winning sommelier from onsite restaurant Me-Gal to an itinerary that includes a buffet-style dinner, canapés and the chance to get up close and personal with Taronga's big ticket residents. For those willing to splash some cash, this limited-edition experience is a genuine one-off way to spend one of your summer nights. It will set you back $570 or more per person or from $870 for two guests. You can find further details about the 'Adult-Only Roar and Snore: Wine Safari Experience' at the event's page.
Everyone loves the idea of living in a swanky New York apartment with the exposed brick walls and high ceilings. And the rejuvenated Griffith Tea Building is one of the best recent examples going around, but after having sat vacant for more than 30 years it needed a spectacular revitalising redesign. Thankfully it got one with new owner Cornerstone Property Group appointing prominent architecture practice PopovBass to lead the project. A landmark of the city's fringes for the last one hundred years, the building has been redesigned to include 38 apartments and a striking restaurant space. With the structure's attractive wedge shape already a favourite, the focus was on transforming the interior into a smart and polished space — ideal for those seeking a lavish but laid-back home. Maintaining the early 20th-century feel, PopovBass put the original internal structure to great use with the high ceilings, exposed brick walls and finely detailed windows used to maximum effect. The reinvigorated building needed to find an extraordinary match for its retail restaurant, and much-loved Melbourne Thai eatery Chin Chin soon answered the call. Recruiting interior designer George Livissianis, the ground and basement floors include an opulent mix of marble and steel, while the original façade and floorboards were salvaged — the old timber beams becoming the restaurant's table tops.
When you're sitting in a dark, hushed theatre, it's magic when you get properly lost in a show. There can be razzle-dazzle costumes and a flawless set, a riveting plot line or standout acting. But, it is most impressive when it's a winning combination of all of the above — and & Juliet is a musical that does just that, delivering two-and-a-half hours of Shakespeare-meets-pop bangers fun. So, what happens behind the scenes of a musical that's so brilliantly executed? We sat down and had a chat with two of the show's stars — one who's had an extensive (and flourishing) on-stage career and another who made their musical theatre debut in the show — to ask these very questions. First, some context. Amy Lehpamer wows as Anne, Shakespeare's wife, who's excitedly suggesting edits to the ending of his play Romeo & Juliet. Yashith Fernando is debuting as Francois, who plays a pivotal role in Juliet's (Lorinda May Merrypor) quest for self-discovery. Read on to gain an inside look at the all-out stage show, then book tickets and make a date with the Sydney Lyric Theatre to experience it for yourself. ON AUDITIONING Yash, how was your audition process? YASHITH: It was really, really, really cool. I'd previously worked with the casting director, and they asked me to come in. My early audition was the first where I'd felt comfortable. In my previous experience, I was trying so hard to give what I thought [the casting directors] wanted. But there was so little of & Juliet online so I had no choice but to give myself. It just felt really comfortable and really smooth. And then I got the amazing phone call that said I was gonna be in it. Did you feel confident that you had it in the bag? YASHITH: There were definitely moments where I felt I did a really good job with the scene and gave them a really good version of Francois. I felt confident in my work and interpretation, but I never allowed myself to think I got it cos it's too sad when you don't! What about you, Amy? How did you find your way in? AMY: I was 39 or 40 weeks pregnant when the video submission was due. And I was like… probably not gonna do a video right this second, my baby's due *laughs*. So I kind of put it to bed. A few weeks later I got a call from my agent saying they're coming to Brisbane, where I was living, and asking how I felt about auditioning. I went, 'sure, but please tell them that I'll be [reading from] the paper in my hands'. Personally, I always learn the material, but I'd just had a baby — I had no brain. [The audition] was literally the first time I'd been away from my baby. He was four weeks old and my partner had him in the car, driving him around the block to keep him calm. I went to Sydney [for a second audition]. My baby peed through three outfits before we even got to Sydney! At that point, I was so proud of myself for making it happen that I was like, whatever happens I feel very grateful to my body for letting me do it, for my partner, for my baby, for this whole thing. I was also meeting my character at a really good point in my life, the words on the page weirdly felt correct in my life — no acting required. ON THE VIBES ON-STAGE AND BEHIND IT Amy, how has it felt getting on stage with the cast of & Juliet so far? AMY: It's really joyous. Every new audience seems to be really getting on board and going with us on the story, which is really exciting. Every night has this fantastic little journey — we're all very ecstatic at the end. It's a really lovely feeling. While the show's on, what are some of the key things that are happening behind the scenes? AMY: That's a good question — because there are quick changes, you take for granted where to move backstage because it can be incredibly busy. You'll have these moments in the show where there might be six ensemble members running off stage, and they'll each have a dresser on them — the costume changes and then they're back on. Then you've got your crew, paging curtains, moving bits of set. YASHITH: When the show starts, Hayden [Tee, who plays Lance] and I don't come in for 30 minutes, so we just sit and chat *laughs*. If it's the first show of the week, we might do a scene together to get our accents going. We can always hear the music happening upstairs — 'Hit Me Baby', 'Domino', 'Show Me Love' — and I just find it so hilarious that I'm down here in my costume while there are 1700 people watching upstairs. It's like seeing the ballet, where there's another kind of dance happening behind the scenes that you just can't see. Like a duck — just gliding along the water, and there are little feet underneath paddling really fast. AMY: Exactly! It's like the quill that Shakespeare [played by Robert Mills] and I exchange throughout the show. There are a couple of moments on stage when it happens, but there are moments off stage as well. Rob and I have quite specific points where we meet up backstage, touch base, have a little chat and swap the quill over. It's a lovely thing because it's necessary to the plot, but it also has meant that we've created these little moments where we check in with each other about how the show's going, what the audience is like, how we're both feeling — it's a nice little wellbeing check that's part of our routine now. ON THEIR CHARACTERS Could you both give me a snapshot of your characters? YASHITH: I am obsessed with Francois — or Frankie. When I read his lines and about him, our similarities were so apparent. He's a male who is soft-spoken, nervous, shy, scared — who isn't a leading man. In this day and age, it's so nice to see a character who has those qualities that are celebrated and are still shown to be the masculine qualities that make him who he is. He's open, honest, kind, warm. He's just a nice person, and that's seen as a strength. We don't celebrate it in men or male-presenting people enough. AMY: In a way, Anne is every woman, but she feels incredibly specific to me, too, which is lovely. She wants to be heard, but she's going about it in a really clever and heart-driven way. She's enthusiastic, and she's dorky. She's unapologetic about the place that she wants to take up. But in saying that, there's a sense that she hasn't had that opportunity until this point where we meet her in the show — she's making up for lost time. I love playing that because I think there's an element to all of us where we feel like we haven't shown our full selves. I love the fact that, as a character, she represents heart, humour and reconciliation. She gets to make so many jokes and address the audience, and it's often a male role that's driving the story, making the decisions. She's not one-sided: 'I need to fix my marriage' or 'I need Juliet to live the life that I never lived'. You know, there's so much more nuance to her — she's a little dynamo. ON PERFORMING AS AN ENDURANCE SPORT Hearing you two talk and thinking about eight shows per week, it's evident there's a huge amount of stamina involved in your work. AMY: I have a weird love of the need for stamina. I'm not a runner, but I imagine that if you were someone who knew you had a marathon in you, there'd be pride in that. Like, at any point in time, you'd be like, 'Yeah, I can run forty-two kilometres'. My thing is doing eight shows a week. As this is your debut, Yash, are you finding that too? YASHITH: I knew I was gonna learn so much on the job, but I wasn't ready for what I was going to be learning. I can actually see [the rest of the cast] doing their thing and using their tools to get through an eight-show week. They're responding to their bodies, responding to the audience, responding to each other — which is all part of what makes it possible to keep it going and keep it consistent. Casey [Donovan, who plays Angélique], told us an analogy she uses: she lights a candle on Friday night in her head — that's her five-show-weekend candle. And then she speaks with, 'How's your candle going?' Or, 'oh we need a new candle, we're gonna need to find a tea light for the fun show that's on the weekend.' And just hearing Casey talk like that about the candle makes me ask myself: 'am I burning my candle too much? No. Ok, cool. Oh, I have burnt it a lot. I guess tonight we'll have to figure out how to burn as much as possible but still be alive and respond and react.' What are some of the things that you're learning? YASHITH: I'm learning how to take care of myself. At drama school, you learn that your body is your instrument. You know, your big brain is your body, and your small brain's up here. *taps head* We do movement classes, and I really learned respect for my body. When you're working, you only have yourself to rely on in every way, and there's no way out of that. And when you're working alongside people who are able to give and be consistent and do all those things at such a great level, you don't wanna fall short in any way. And also just learning how there are so many different people out there — the way that they appreciate art or find joy or appreciate theatre, I just find it so interesting. The passion this pair has for their craft, the show and their audiences is clear, and it's something that shines through on the stage. If you're after a spectacular night out, the exuberant '& Juliet' is the show you're seeking —now playing at the Sydney Lyric Theatre. To nab your tickets, head to the website.
If you're looking for something a bit different this Halloween and want to avoid wearing the half-hearted witch costume that you've worn for many years now, look no further than Madame Tussauds. The home of hyper-realistic (and terrifying) wax figures of famous celebrities has cooked up something for the spooky holiday. Dubbed Melt, these 45-minute and, quite frankly, horrifying after-dark tours are not for the faint-hearted. Head on down to Tussauds' Darling Harbour digs from Thursday, October 31 to Saturday, November 2 and you'll rub shoulders with wax celebs as you navigate your way through the halls — think escape room meets House of Wax. You'll use instructions, clues and puzzle-solving skills on your quest to 'make it out alive'. But you must be wary of 'The Artist' — Madame Tussauds' serial killer — looking for its next victim. Run into it and you'll become a strange, half-melted creature who'll haunt the shadows in Madame Tussauds forever. So, it's safe to say your orienteering skills from scouts will come in handy here. Maybe bring along your most calm and logical mates, plus that guy from work who's the only one who knows how to do cryptic crosswords. Madame Tussauds' Melt is a series of 45-minute tours, running between 7–10.30pm from Thursday, October 31 through Saturday, November 2. The event is for persons over 18 years and the maximum number of persons per session is ten. To make a booking, head to the website.
What started as a lockdown pop-up is now getting a permanent home in the Inner West, with the team behind Ragazzi, Fabbrica and Love, Tilly Devine announcing a brand new bricks-and-mortar bakery is bound for Rozelle this August. Back in 2021, Sydneysiders were pining after any treat they could get their hands on as they stuck out a four-month lockdown. During this time the Love, Tilly Group was one of many Sydney favourites that made a pivot to something a little different and more takeaway-friendly, utilising its King Street pasta and wine shop as a bakery on weekends which they coined Fabbrica Bread Shop. Following the success of this limited-time venture, the crew is setting up a permanent shop for takeaway and dine-in feeds inside an expansive new Maloneys Grocer on the Rozelle end of Darling Street later this winter. [caption id="attachment_825864" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] The sunlit 24-seat venue will be headed up by a pair of bread, pastry and dessert experts — Love Tilly Group's Head Baker Aniruddha Bhosekar and Fabbrica Pasta Shop's Alyce Bennett (formerly Humble Bakery). Raised in Thane, Bhosekar was trained at Mumbai's oldest hospitality institute, bringing this wealth of hospitality experience to create a one-of-a-kind slate of bakery items. Carry-over champions from the pop-up including pork and fennel sausage rolls, chocolate-filled bomboloni and banoffee tarts will be joined by exciting new additions. The masala croissants will be loaded with spiced dosa potatoes, and vindaloo pies will be on offer filled with goat direct from the Gourmet Goat Lady. Further down the Fabbrica Bread Shop menu you can expect fluffy focaccia, a daily lineup of sandwiches, pillowy maritozzi, chocolate and custard tarts and sticky buns — alongside a drinks list made up of The Little Marionette coffee for your morning caffeine fix as well as beer, wine and spritzes for lunchtime catch-ups. Keeping loyal to its name, there will also be plenty of loaves of freshly baked bread on offer including a signature sourdough that uses three different flours from Wholegrain Milling in Gunnedah and requires over 24 hours of proofing. This will mark the third addition to the Fabbrica family, joining the CBD provisions store and wine bar, and the recently opened Fabbrica Pasta Bar Balmain. "Fabbrica Bread Shop takes the Fabbrica experience into the suburban sunshine," says Love Tilly Group co-owner Matthew Swieboda. "It's everything you want in a great local bakery, whether you're picking up a bag full of still-warm pastries to enjoy in the park on a relaxed weekend morning, nabbing a spot by the window for a light lunch with mates or just swinging by to pick up another loaf of excellent sourdough for home." Fabbrica Bread Shop will open at Maloneys Grocer, 733 Darling Street, Rozelle in August.
Winyanboga Yurringa explores the life stories of six very different Indigenous Australian women, exploring what's known in Aboriginal culture as 'women's business'. Written by playwright and recipient of the 2015 NSW Aboriginal Art Fellowship Andrea James, the play depicts a revelatory camping trip as the six main characters interrogate their links with their homeland, heritage and with each other, as guided by their auntie, sister and cousin Neecy. Cue contemplations of identity, appearance, belonging, finding partners and tackling prejudice. It's a complex and compelling theatre work, directed by Anthea Williams and starring Roxanne McDonald, Tuuli Narkle, Angeline Penrith, Tasma Walton, Dalara Williams and Dubs Yunupingu. Having first appeared as a full length work at Carriageworks through Moogahlin Performing Arts in 2016, this groundbreaking play began its life as a short-play commissioned as a continuation of the landmark SBS series Women of the Sun — a production that earned acclaim for not just delving into female Indigenous experiences of the past, but for becoming the first television program ever to do so. It's a production that speaks to the fullness of life in Australia as an Indigenous woman, oscillates between the very real and the sublime, and champions voices that are often left unacknowledged. Running over three weeks in May, Winyanboga Yurringa is presented by Belvoir St Theatre in association with Indigenous theatre Moogahlin Performing Arts and supported by The Balnaves Foundation. Winyanboga Yuringa will run at Belvoir St Theatre's Upstairs Theatre from Thursday, May 4 to Friday, May 26. To purchase tickets, head to Belvoir's website.
If you've ever raised an eyebrow at the idea of peanut butter and whiskey in the same sentence, you're not alone. But Skrewball — the Original Peanut Butter Whiskey — is full of cocktail-compatible surprises… and that's what makes it so damn good. Created in the US as a blend of American whiskey and natural peanut butter flavour, it's smooth, nutty and often the number one choice for bartenders who want to go a little wild. One of those bartenders is Sav Harrison, Skrewball's AU & NZ brand ambassador, who thinks too many people box it in before they've had a proper taste. "A lot of people get either caught up in the whiskey side or the peanut butter side and forget that we created a whole new category," Harrison says. "Don't just go for an old fashioned and manhattan. Skrewball is an opportunity to create something new altogether. Go nuts!" For Harrison, Skrewball cocktail creation starts with asking herself: what won't work? "Nothing is off the table with this bad boy," she says. "Recently I just discovered that Mumm Premium Sparkling Wine and Skrewball work when paired with raspberry and lemon." [caption id="attachment_1018328" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Finley Jones[/caption] And when it comes to serving up your delicious concoction, she recommends a rocks glass or coupe. "Nothing beats a Skrewball on the rocks and the versatility of a rocks glass means you can make anything from a margarita to an old fashion. With the occasional jump to a coupe glass [because] it's fun, playful and can do anything." Here are three of Harrison's standout recipes, each designed to show off what peanut butter whiskey can actually do in the right hands. The Nutty Sparkler Think PB&J, but fizzy. The raspberry plays into Skrewball's nutty sweetness, while the lemon juice cuts through with a tart edge. The Mumm gives it a lift, making the whole thing lighter and more refreshing than you'd expect. What's in it: 45ml Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey 15ml Raspberry Liqueur (like Chambord, or a homemade raspberry syrup for less sweetness) 10ml Fresh Lemon Juice (to cut through the richness) Chilled Mumm Premium Sparkling Wine Garnish: Fresh raspberries and a lemon twist Ba Ba Bramble The classic 1980's bramble combines gin, lemon juice and simple syrup. To give it a remix, swap the gin for Skrewball's natural sweetness, add in blackberries for a fruity twist and Chartreuse for a herbal note and extra kick. What's in it: 1½ parts Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey ½ parts Green Chartreuse ½ parts Lemon Juice 5 parts Blackberries Mint & Blackberries for Garnish Skrewball Old Fashioned If you're still suspicious of flavoured spirits, this is an easy entry ramp. The rye whiskey keeps things grounded, while the Skrewball adds a hit of smooth sweetness that'll keep you coming back for more. What's in it: 1½ parts Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey ¾ parts Rye Whiskey 4 dashes Angostura Bitters The bottom line? Creating a Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey cocktail can be as fun as you want it to be. "Every time I decide to play around with cocktails and Skrewball, I find out there's so much to Skrewball almost anything works," Harrison says. Find Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey at Dan Murphy's, BWS and Liquorland and start Skrewing around with cocktails at home. Explore more Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey recipes on the website. Skrewball is classified as a flavoured liqueur in Australia. Please enjoy responsibly.
Whether you know that little spot behind the El Alamein Fountain as Potts Point or Elizabeth Bay, likelihood is you know Gazebo. You may also know that this Sunday drinks staple, tucked underneath apartments of the same name, has had quite the extensive refurb. The result: a sophisticated hotel-style restaurant and bar that locals of both suburbs will find it hard not to fall for. Owned by the large lifestyle group Keystone, the new and improved Gazebo has well and truly shaken its garishly colourful and quirky character other ‘stone establishments like the Winery in Surry Hills are renowned for. It’s now a chic and elegant, two-part venue divided into a casual outside bar and dining space channelling a touch of West Coast LA, and a curving, low-lit restaurant sporting a water-droplet inspired chandelier and a grand piano, to name just a couple of art deco vibes this once hotel for the ‘60s international in-crowd would be proud of. Manager Michael Gavaghan tells us Gazebo was “long overdue” some love, especially with the likes of The Apollo and Monopole upping the ante mere moments away, and with a menu designed to share created by ex-Est. head chef Jason Dean on offer, long gone are the days of oversized sausage rolls and double dipping. We began by crunching through some carrot crisps with Chantilly goat's curd and a delicious blast of balsamic ($6) before flipping textures with kingfish in smoked oyster dressing, cured with cucumber and freshened further with apple and lime ($19). For mains, we devoured the tiger prawns in green chilli, daikon and coconut ($21) before moving onto the spiced lamb ($27) — both cooked by wood oven, by the way — and the duck ($28). The lamb accompanied by butternut, roasted lettuce, black quinoa and parmesan was very nice, especially the black quinoa with its amazing nutty, almost popcorn flavour. The duck, however, clinched the title as best dish, cooked perfectly and dripping with all the flavours — including beetroot, smoked almond and salted honeycomb. As wine goes, there isn’t a huge selection, but the staff will still happily suggest something to complement your meal, so certainly shout for their recommendations if you want/need. When our bottle of Some Young Punks' Double Love Trouble Nebbiolo arrived ($53), we were glad we did. Cocktails-wise, pre-meal we tried the house special Chilcano de Pisco of lime, honey, ginger, soda, bitters and Campo de Encanto pisco ($13 and on tap), and the tequila-based Tommy’s Gazebo of Don Julio Blanco with pomegranate, coconut nectar, bitters and lime. Both are sweet and refreshing and just what you fancy if you’re looking to soak up some outside and feel a little fabulous. And to be honest, while personally I’m a little biased as a pianist myself, if you manage to score yourself a table on a Wednesday or Friday when the grand piano is being played (beautifully, may I add), it’s kinda tricky not to feel a little fabulous in here. The transformation is a success, the food is excellent and the service is genuinely friendly and knowledgeable. Nicely done, indeed.
