Three acclaimed Sydney hospitality mainstays are set to open an intimate new hospitality and retail space in Darlinghurst this November. Italian wine importers Giorgio De Maria (Giorgio De Maria Fun Wines), Mattia Dicati (Vino Mito Wine Imports) and chef Enrico Tomelleri (Ragazzi, Alberto's Lounge, 10 William Street) are opening Paski Vineria Popolare, a wine bar, restaurant and takeaway bottle shop on Oxford Street. Paski Vineria Popolare is named after both De Maria's beloved dog and the Italian meaning of Popolare ("of the people"). The venue will open in the former building of the now-closed spritz bar This Must Be The Place and will be split into two distinct spaces, both designed in collaboration with architect Jad Silvester. Expect dark green tiling, low pendant lighting and minimalistic shelving, designed to showcase the 400-strong artisan wine list. Downstairs you'll find a 25-30 seat wine bar, with all wines available to enjoy on site or take home for a romantic evening in. Wine will be ordered by producer instead of style in order to spotlight the people behind these wines. Accompanying the extensive selection of wine will be an array of pantry items and a reserved menu created by Tomelleri featuring charcuterie, cheeses, and small plates to enjoy with the wine of your choice. [caption id="attachment_737044" align="alignnone" width="1920"] This Must Be The Place is set to be transformed into Paski Vineria Popolare[/caption] Upstairs you'll find a more hearty menu with a focus on underrepresented Italian ingredients. Named Paski Sopra (translating to Paski Above), the 35-40 seat venue will overlook Oxford Street and will pair rare wines and highlights from downstairs with meals like tortellini, fresh carpaccio and seafood-heavy mains. "We can't wait to have a physical place where everything is in one spot," says De Maria. "Where customers can learn about and buy something from the person who sourced the wines themselves, and who knows each producer well." Each Wednesday, Paski Sopra will host events and wine tasting where De Maria and Dicati will take guests through the wines, with the duo hoping to connect Sydneysiders to some of their favourite Italian producers. Paski Vineria Popolare will join a host of exciting venues that have arrived on north Oxford Street in recent years. Cafe Freda's and Dimitri's Pizza are close by, Fabbrica Pasta Shop's production space is a few doors down, and major projects including the new $60 million food and retail precinct and the mega-venue taking over the current Kinselas and Courthouse Hotel buildings are on their way. With this section of Oxford Street becoming increasingly bustling, De Maria and Dicati are already planning some exciting with collaborations Freda's, Dimitris and Fabbrica. Paski Vineria Popolare will open at 239 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst on Monday, November 22.
Pairing Lebanese-style charcoal chook with chips and garlic sauce since 1998, Sydney's El Jannah has become one of the Harbour City's firm favourites. It currently boasts nine stores to its name, including a very popular drive-thru eatery that opened in 2020. And, in great news for everyone who loves flavoursome poultry pieces, the chain has big plans for the next few years — including opening its first Melbourne store, adding at least four more across the Victorian city, and expanding to include 30-plus venues in total across both Melbourne and Sydney. For Melburnians, this'll be your first chance to get a taste of El Jannah's beloved chicken — whether you'd like it in halves or quarters, on rolls and burgers, as part of a platter, on skewers or in salads. So, get ready to make a trip to 600 High Street, Preston, with the chook chain taking over the old Hungry Jacks site. An opening date hasn't been revealed as yet, but El Jannah expects to start cooking in late 2021. The company is also currently looking at a second site north of the city, so you might have options when it comes to getting your charcoal chicken fix. Others are planned to follow, too, with El Jannah aiming to have at least five Melbourne stores operating over the next five years. For Sydneysiders already enamoured with the brand's dishes, you don't just have to be content with the knowledge that it'll soon be available whenever you make the trip down south. El Jannah has also revealed that its expansion plans include opening more Sydney stores. Indeed, in both Melbourne and Sydney, six new sites have already been approved — although just where the new Sydney eateries will be located is yet to be announced. Wherever El Jannah pops up next in Sydney, it'll add to the chain's existing spread across Burwood, Blacktown, Campbelltown, Punchbowl, Granville, Kogarah, Penrith and Smithfield, as well as its Newtown venue — which heralded the chain's much-welcomed entry into Sydney's inner-west in 2019. Whether El Jannah's expansion will involve more drive-thrus is also yet to be revealed. El Jannah's first Melbourne store will open at 600 High Street, Preston, late in 2021. To keep an eye out for further details — including about the chain's planned expansion to more than 30 stores in Sydney and Melbourne over the next five years — head to the El Jannah website.
In the universe of human relationships, one burns brighter than any other, at any point able to explode and flood the world with light or to cave into a black hole. Teenage girl best friends: they're supernovas. The fuel is in component parts who haven't yet learnt to distrust or hold back and for whom boundaries of intimacy, sexuality, friendship and love are still fluid. With your bestie in tow and the whole future still verdant and uncharted, real-world restraints seem small indeed. The world of Smashed is so small its protagonists stomp over the fragile paper-and-plywood houses, the doll-size model vehicles, the green grounds of suburbia. Hazel (Suzannah McDonald) and Ruby (Katherine Tonkin) have their heads quite literally in the stars. Their names are too good, and they know it. Everything is heightened; everything is possible. The most beautiful thing about Smashed is that it sustains the special dynamics of its characters' relationship while throwing them into a metaphysical world where the past crashes into the future, memory blurs with fact and the mechanics of their friendship are strewn across the stage. A tragedy has occurred, they say but do not specify before unravelling the years of shared moments that led to it: performing a school science skit, supporting each other through loss and terror, imagining their lives as empowered businesswomen, cuddling, kissing and re-enacting Dirty Dancing. This production first played six years ago in Melbourne, and it has now been revived through Griffin Independent with its parts — actors, director, set, sound — intact. You can see why: it's a perfect, enchanting, vivacious 45 minutes of theatre. It could even afford to be longer. Director Clare Watson and the team devised it in collaboration with playwright Lally Katz, and it's clearly a project that has stuck with them since. As great as it will be to one day see this play with a new frame and young actors who match the nervy freshness of the characters, you worry you will miss the maturity of these performances and the poetry age brings to their "time travel". Tonkin has a lovely energy and wonderment as Ruby, and McDonald, as the louder, more dominant friend, communicates so much in times of wordlessness you feel the full dread of the impending tragedy. Smashed is an extraordinarily powerful and self-aware piece of writing, at once recalling vividly the youthful sense of being the first person ever to authentically live in the world and having the wisdom of distance and reflection to know better. It's warm and funny. For half the audience at least, it'll take you back to your own old friendships. If there's something you've always wanted to say to your girlhood bestie, Katz and the crew have found the words. https://youtube.com/watch?v=h_MIGI-XFRQ
As Brisbane's annual LGBTQIA+ celebration, Melt Festival has seen Sophie Ellis-Bextor grace its stage, and Chappell Roan as well. It has also hosted Spencer Tunick's nude photography works, including shutting down the Story Bridge for one installation. They're just some of the event's highlights from recent years, but it's adding another in 2025: a Brisbane-only show by Broadway icon Bernadette Peters. In New York's famous theatre district, she originated the role of The Witch in Into the Woods, and of Dot in Sunday in the Park with George. She has two Tonys, for Song and Dance and Annie Get Your Gun. She won a Golden Globe for Pennies From Heaven on the big screen, and featured in The Jerk and Annie as well. On TV, she boasts Smash, Mozart in the Jungle, The Good Fight, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist and High Desert on her resume. Now, Peters is doing an Australian-exclusive performance in the Queensland capital — and it's her first Aussie gig in more than a decade. [caption id="attachment_998041" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Drama League via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] An Evening with Bernadette Peters has a date with the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday, October 24 — falling within Melt Festival's Wednesday, October 22–Sunday, November 9 run for 2025. The star kickstarts the lineup not just as a Broadway legend, but as an icon of the LGBTQIA+ community, including thanks to her work with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS to raise funds for AIDS patients and research. How will a talent with six decades of performing to draw upon — including the current Broadway season of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends — whittle that down into one Brisbane show? You'll need to head along to find out. In her Brisbane performance, Peters boasts support by Camerata — Queensland's Chamber Orchestra. Top image: Drama League via Wikimedia Commons.
Three huge days of live music are coming to Railway Parade in Marrickville as part of a new multi-event festival. Marrickville Block Weekender is the debut three-day party hitting the streets of the Inner West in partnership with Heaps Normal. The fest will pop up between Saturday, September 30–Monday, October 2 with live music, DJs, performers, food and drinks — plus a heap of motorbikes. Taking place across the Labour Day long weekend, the block party will kick off with Heaps Gay's tenth birthday on the Saturday. This celebration of a decade of joyous queer parties will feature two stages pumping out the tunes across eight hours, with performances and DJ sets from Stereogamous, House of Silky, Dameeeela, Big Wett, VV Pete, Tseba and Friends, Show Us Ya Tips, C.Frim and MungMung. [caption id="attachment_829712" align="alignnone" width="1920"] House of Silky, Alex Davies[/caption] Sunday will arrive with a jam-packed lineup of rock music. Off the Rails is the inaugural punk festival from the teams behind Bad Friday and King Street Carnival. The debut celebration of all things heavy and distorted will feature performances from Amyl and the Sniffers, The Mark of Cain, Private Function, RVG, Shady Nasty, Dust, Southeast Dessert Metal, and Itchy and the Knits. If you can't make it to Marrickville, the festival is also hitting Newcastle the day before. Rounding out the weekend is the return of Throttle Roll, a street party celebrating all things motorbikes, on the Monday. Expect food trucks, beverages and custom bikes — plus live sets from Xolo (formerly Frankie's World Famous House Band) and Papa Pilko and the Binrats. "[The festival] epitomises what we love most about our Inner West Sydney community — an exciting mix of different subcultures coming together and celebrating the fact that our individual differences make our worlds more interesting and fun," says Heaps Normal co-founder and CEO Andy Miller. Tickets to each event are sold separately, with Heap Gay Street Party tix starting from $50, Off the Rails passes available from $75 and entry to Throttle Roll starting at $35. The Marrickville Block Weekender will feature the Heaps Gay Street Party — 10th Birthday on Saturday, September 30; Off the Rails on Sunday, October 1; and Throttle Roll on Monday, October 2.
The oldest floral festival in Australia, the Grafton Jacaranda Festival focuses on the hundreds of lilac-blossomed trees that line the town's streets. First held in 1935, the festival brings together art exhibitions, live music, markets and parades for a week-long celebration from October 25 through November 3. While the jacaranda blooms are of course the main attraction, it's by no means the only event you'll have to look forward to during the festival — think hot air ballooning, and a carnival sideshow, along with buskers, fireworks and stallholders aplenty. Grafton takes its tree heritage seriously and currently holds the title for biggest jacaranda on the National Tree Register of Big Trees (yes, it is a real registry). While in town, visit 'The Gorge', a tree which measures at a massive 30 metres high with a six-metre circumference. It deserves a nice big hug, we reckon. For the full event program for Grafton's Jacaranda Festival visit their website.
Waverley residents — here's something to celebrate: an ambitious Italian restaurant spearheaded by former 10 William Street chef and ex-Sagra owner Nigel Ward has arrived on Bronte Road. Decked out in a bright summery yellow facade, Passeggiata takes its name from an Italian tradition — an unhurried, leisurely stroll you take with your family after a hearty meal. This is the energy that Ward is bringing to this new eastern suburbs eatery located in Charing Cross, Australia's second-oldest shopping strip. "After a big long lunch, everyone puts on their suits and their Sunday best and they all go out to the town square and walk around real slow, go have some gelato, or have a little drink somewhere," Ward told Concrete Playground. "Nobody's in too much of a hurry, the intention is to ... slow down and enjoy the little qualities of life." Passeggiata's menu is seasonal, so you can expect it to change over time, but the initial array of eats offers something for everyone, with a heavy focus on seafood. To start, there's crostini topped with salted cod and pickled eggplant, along with swordfish crudo and fried soft-shell crab. Further down the menu, you'll find mussels primavera and chilli spanner crab tagliolini. Moving out of the ocean and onto land, try the fried zucchini flowers and the braised lamb pappardelle. And, once you're finished with your mains, there's, of course, tiramisu, pannacotta and a trio of cheese that you can complete your meal with. "I hope when people come here [that] they're not coming with an out time. They just want to come and enjoy themselves and take their time, get a nice bottle of wine [and] eat lots of food," Ward continues. Upon opening, there are two spaces at Passeggiata, a 40-seat main dining room downstairs and a more intimate 30-seat upstairs space which Ward plans to use for set menu dinners. An al fresco dining area perfect for long Tuscan-style lunches could also be in the works but is yet to open. "I'm building the restaurant I want to go to," Ward says. "This is it for me. I've bought the building, I want to be here for 30 years. I want this to be the Lucio's of the 21st century." Passeggiata is open 6–11pm Tuesday–Thursday and Saturday, and midday–11pm Friday at 318 Bronte Road, Waverley. Images: Nikki To
When you're up for an out-of-town adventure, head south to Bulli. The rockpool dates back to the 1930s and sits against the cliff on the headland with sandy beaches to either side. Waves breaking against the wall of this 50-metre seawater pool make it feel like you're doing laps at the edge of the world. When you're all swum out, explore the gorgeous seaside town of Bulli. Historic buildings include the Bulli Heritage Hotel, established in 1889. It's now a vibrant live music venue that also does a top pub feed. Or, go from the pool to Bulli Beach Cafe for cocktails and fresh seafood with an ocean view. [caption id="attachment_795671" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dee Kramer via Destination NSW[/caption] Images: Destination NSW
Backyard cricket, barbecues and water sports are all Aussie summer clichés for a reason: they're good, wholesome fun. Another one? Outdoor cinemas. And we're here to tell you the very good news that North Sydney's version of this al fresco activity is returning for another season. Sponsored by IMB Bank, Sunset Cinema will take over North Sydney Oval from January 17–March 30. Whether you're planning a cosy date night or easy family outing under the stars, this year's extensive program has something for everyone. The nostalgic lineup ranges from 90s cult films like Cool Runnings and The Princess Bride to the latest Hollywood blockbusters including Bohemian Rhapsody, Holmes & Watson and Aquaman. Family-friendly options include Mary Poppins Returns and Ralph Breaks The Internet. BYO picnics are encouraged, but if you want to enjoy a sparkling or brew throughout the film, the on-site bar will be serving a range of Grant Burge wine and Young Henrys craft beer and cider. Didn't pack enough snacks? There'll be plenty of the requisite movie treats like popcorn, chips, chocolates and lollies, plus an on-site dining menu of bigger bites. Tickets start at $20 for adults, with a premium $40 lawn lounge package on offer, too — it includes entry, a prime-viewing bean bag reserved on the lawn, a beverage of your choice and a box of popcorn. To see the full program and purchase tickets, visit the Sunset Cinema website.
When a café is owned and operated by a chef, you expect the food to be exceptional. And at De'Assis Café, a joint founded by Flavio Assis who previously worked for The Boathouse Group, your expectations will be met. The menu features seasonal and local produce designed to be enjoyed with friends. If you've got a sweet tooth, try the ricotta hotcakes with mascarpone, banana and berries. Or, for something savoury yet equally as indulgent, the croque madame, with double smoked ham, gruyere cheese and dijon mustard on sourdough (topped with a fried egg and more cheese) is top-notch, too. Coffee wise, De'Assis use beans from specialty coffee roasters Seven Miles, who are locally based in Manly Vale — perfect after an early morning swim. Images: Mel Koutchavlis
It started life as a succulent delivery service and online store, offering same-day delivery of its hard-to-kill gifts to suburbs across Sydney. Now, off the back of a two-year Surry Hills pop-up, the folks behind Little Succers have found themselves a new permanent home, opening the doors to a greenery-focused studio in Neutral Bay. And, as well as being the brand's new HQ, the site will play host to a regular series of Little Succers' much-loved build-your-own terrarium workshops. Cheery and colourful, the new digs feature pops of apricot and green, with a hand-painted succulent mural splashed across one wall. Also catching the eye is the front window, thanks to a big neon sign spelling out the Little Succers motto: 'because flowers die'. In line with the newly expanded offering of workshops — which will now be held every two weeks, as well as for privately booked events — the light-filled space boasts a roomy central work table, as well as a fun self-serve station housing all the pebbles, soil, sand and other bits that go into making the DIY terrariums. Another set of shelves is stocked with an array of succulents that you might want to feature as part of your creation. You'll get to choose from a variety of different vases, too. The next run of terrarium workshops are happening daily from Saturday, April 17–Saturday, April 24, with spots now available to book via the Little Succers website. More dates are also open during May and June. A 90-minute session will cost you $20, which is then redeemable on your terrarium creation on the day. Terrarium prices range from $65–150, depending on how OTT you go with your inclusions. Find Little Succers' new Build-Your-Own Terrarium Bar at Shop 5 and 6, 81-91 Military Road, Neutral Bay. Jump over to the website for more info and to book in for a workshop.
If there's one thing that Ben & Jerry's loves above all else, it's the obvious: ice cream in a huge array of ridiculously named flavours. It's the brand behind Chunky Monkey, Cherry Garcia, Phish Food and The Tonight Dough — and has been responsible for Liz Lemon Greek Frozen Yoghurt, Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream and Schweddy Balls, too. And, once a year to the delight of your sweet treat-loving tastebuds, it loves giving away free scoops just as much. Indeed, to share its wares with the masses for nix, these frozen confection masterminds gave the world Free Cone Day, which is exactly what it sounds like — a day where your ice cream is on the house. It ran annually until the pandemic, then took a break for obvious reasons. And on Monday, April 3, it's finally back for the first time since 2019. Here's how it works: if you adore ice cream as much as Ben & Jerry's adores ice cream, then you just need to hit up your local participating store between 12–8pm AEST. You can choose whichever flavour you like, and you can also line up for a free cone as many times as you like within that eight-hour period. Free Cone Day is happening Australia-wide — worldwide, too, in more than 35 countries — at both Ben & Jerry's Scoop Stores and its Hoyts outlets. In New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, that means hitting up Manly, Bondi Beach, Newtown and Parramatta, plus cinemas in Blacktown, Wetherill Park, Penrith, Broadway, Phillip and Belconnen. Victorians have St Kilda and Burwood East stores, and Hoyts venues in Melbourne Central, Docklands, Ringwood, Chadstone, Greensborough, Maribyrnong and Ringwood to choose from. If you're in Queensland, head to South Brisbane, Broadbeach Waters, Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast, Mooloolaba, Noosa Heads and Cairns, or Hoyts Sunnybank. In Western Australia, Fremantle, Hillarys and Northbridge Scoop Shops are taking part, plus Karrinyup and Cannington cinemas. And in South Australia, Hoyts Norwood is your destination. Free Cone Day runs from 12–8pm on Monday, April 3, 2023 at Ben & Jerry's Australian stores. Head to the brand's website for further details.
"From the dark horizon of my future a sort of slow, persistent breeze had been blowing towards me, all my life long, from the years that were to come." Albert Camus wrote this figuratively in The Outsider as an image for his absurdist philosophy, whereas Daniel, the protagonist of Ian Meadows' Between Two Waves faces a literal dark breeze, or more accurately, a gale. And it's not ennui he’s suffering in the face of this wind but a heaving, chronic anxiety. His terror is not the general, 3am variety, but a legitimate fear of a specific and probable catastrophe. Meadows wrote the play in response to his generation procreating despite the possibility that their kids might grow up in a warmer, less predictable world. Just what the dark cloud of climate change is doing to the middle-class, breeding-age psyche is explored with charm, stellar performances and one hell of a pink summer jacket in this production. Dan (Ian Meadows) is a climate scientist turned policy advisor, a "nerdy nerd" who prefers numbers and truth to hyperbole, conflict, and the media — all requisites for public life. His capacities are cerebral, not emotional. He falls for Fiona (Ash Ricardo), a flamboyant fashionista and photographer with a talent for expletives. The two characters embody the conflicting spontaneity and responsibility that drives the ensuing drama. Two peripheral characters, insurance assessor Grenelle (Rachel Gordon) and climate scientist Jimmy (Chum Ehelepola) hover about the edges providing plot shifts and humour. David Fleischer's set of two white panels above and below creates a constricted domestic world, keeping the flood at bay, in striking contrast to his expansive set in Griffin’s previous watery production, The Sea Project. Steve Toulmin's projected mirror images onto floor and ceiling are unnecessary but are at least used sparingly. This is Sam Strong's last play as outgoing Griffin artistic director, and it’s a fitting show of the support Griffin has given to new Australian writing. Meadows' script has been worked over with detailed care, and the result is not an environmental call to arms but a meditation on T.S. Eliot’s poem Little Gidding, from which the play's title is drawn. Just as Eliot talks of time being circular, Meadows has created a narrative of compacted moments in which time is conflated. Not all of these moments fire, but on the whole it's a warm-hearted, entertaining look at a terrifying topic. Photo by Brett Boardman. Read our interview with actor and write Ian Meadows here.
When you imagine the film that would unite Aussie powerhouse actors Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska and Jacki Weaver, you probably think gritty outback drama. You don't think violent neo-gothic Bildungsroman directed by renowned South Korean director Chan-Wook Park (Old Boy) and set in wealthy New England. But that's what you get with Stoker, a film that's bewitchingly stylish but anchored by an intense performance from Wasikowska. Wasikowska plays India Stoker, a somewhat sheltered loner of a girl who is deeply sensitive to small sensations — but that's where her commonalities with Amelie end. India, a recreational hunter in her spare time, is not all sweetness. On her 18th birthday, she learns that her loving father (Dermot Mulroney) has died in a car accident. Besides being left with her less demonstrative mother, Evelyn (Kidman) in their big ol' house, she now has to deal with the arrival of her unknown and perturbing uncle, Charlie (Matthew Goode). He is soon followed by his aunt Gwendolyn (Weaver), who appears to have an urgent message to impart to young India. Gwendolyn disappears and we have a movie, where Charlie obsessively draws closer to India while India tries to figure out who she really is. It plays like something of a cross between Hitchcock, The Addams Family and Dexter. The script for Stoker, by Wentworth Miller (lead actor in Prison Break of all things), famously made the 2010 'Black List' of best unproduced screenplays circulating around Hollywood, and although it's trite in parts, it remains fresh and alluring overall. It's real strength, perhaps, is in its gaps and silences, which allow director Park to go to town with the mood, composition and imagery that ultimately make the film so memorable. There's one tracking shot, in particular, where a head of long hair morphs smoothly into a thicket of reeds, that will probably be shown in film schools for a decade to come. Add in a score by Clint Mansell with contributions from Philip Glass, and you have a movie of rare aesthetic brilliance. It's not a total triumph of style over substance, but it's as close as you're likely to get. https://youtube.com/watch?v=NPIi5sHmkAw
Australia's hospitality scene has endured a tough couple of years, cycling through lockdowns, restrictions and stints where almost everyone in town seemed to be in isolation. But for diners keen for restaurant dishes without heading out, Providoor arrived with some sweet relief: an innovative new meal delivery platform that hit Sydney and Melbourne in 2020, and Brisbane earlier in 2022. Even now that being mandated to stay at home is a thing of the past, the service can still give you an eating-out level meal without leaving the house — and, as of Monday, October 17, on the same day that you order. Don't like planning too far ahead? As long as you place an order by 1pm daily, you'll be tucking into restaurant dishes in your own dining room that very evening. You do need to live within 15–20 kilometres of the city centre; however, if that's you, you can now enjoy a same-day feast from spots such as Manta, Gourmet Life and Lotus in Sydney; The Everleigh, Lona Misa and Maha in Melbourne; and Phoenix, Naim and Siffredi's in Brisbane. Providoor works with some of each city's best dining institutions, stepping up the takeout game by dropping high-end dishes to customers' doorsteps. The brainchild of Maha Chef-Owner Shane Delia, it drops off its chef-prepared meals via cold-freight within its service area. Then, once the dish is in your kitchen, you'll follow the supplied instructions to add the finishing touches: heating up a red pepper sauce, perhaps, popping some brisket in the oven for its final minutes of cooking or getting crafty with the plating up process. After that, voila! — the end result is a pretty close replica of what might arrive at your restaurant table, hot off the pass. No soggy dumplings or lukewarm potato in sight. "We are delighted to be able to expand the remit of Providoor's mission by offering same-day delivery to our customers. Our aim has always been to help the hospitality industry by opening new avenues of sales, and same-day delivery does just that by increasing consumer convenience," said Delia. "With this update, diners can take meal planning out of consideration, and simply decide what they feel like on the day, straight from the menus of their favourite restaurants." The lineup of venues taking part is impressive — and broader delivery areas include Sydney Metro, regional New South Wales including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Newcastle and Wollongong, and Byron Bay and Tweed Heads in NSW; Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula, Bellarine Peninsula, Gippsland, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and greater Geelong in Victoria; and Brisbane Metro, Gold Coast, Noosa, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba in Queensland. Providoor has also updated its website so that you can only see restaurants relevant to where you are, and also filter dishes according to dietary requirements, allergens and preparation time. For more information about Providoor, or to order via the service, head to its website.
Sydney's northwest just got an injection of Italian glamour with the opening of Sarino's inside Mullane's Hotel in Baulkham Hills — right opposite the new billion-dollar metro Metro Northwest railway. Run by Momento Hospitality (Bella Vista Hotel, The Governor), the second-floor restaurant is sleek and minimalist, with expansive skylights catering to the theatricality of an open kitchen, where guests can watch the chefs at work around a central charcoal oven or, if they prefer, retreat to one of three hidden private dining rooms. The lofty space also has an attached craft distillery, which will begin pumping out almond liqueur for the restaurant's affogatos and limoncello using fresh lemon's from the Colosimo family (founders of Momento) orchards in early 2020. The food leaving the kitchen is sophisticated and refined, and honours the family's Calabrian heritage. It's all made using produce from regional NSW, too, where possible. Executive Chef Joe Cavallo is plating up dishes such as the buffalo ricotta, buffalo mozzarella and parmigiano regiano ravioli — we count three cheeses — with burnt sage butter and pistachio, the porchetta with roasted apple and leek ash, and a 1.2-kilogram bistecca alla Fiorentina. We're also pretty keen to try the antipasto and cheese menus, which covers cheeses from Italy and Victoria, house-roasted capsicum, marinated olives, artichokes, and salumi from Italy and Byron Bay, including a 24-month San Daniele prosciutto. Pair your meal with one of more than 200 wines and finish it off with a tipple in the adjoining cocktail bar and intimate lounge space. Try the Sunday Roast negroni, which adds notes of rosemary and butter-washed gin to the classic Italian aperitif. Guests can expect to sip rare single malt whiskies (with a hefty price tag) and store the spirit in their own private liquor cabinet for safekeeping. Two dozen top-shelf whiskies from around the world are available, and your drop will be served in crystal glassware with specialty ice and complimentary mixers and snacks. Then just lock it away for when you next come back (you know, if you have the cash). Find Sarino's Restaurant and Bar on level two of Mullane's Hotel at 34–36 Brookhollow Avenue, Baulkham Hills. The restaurant is open from 4pm–midnight on Thursday and Saturday and from 12pm–midnight on Friday.
"You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?" Jack Nicholson's (How Do You Know) version of the Joker asked in 1989's Batman, just because he liked the sound of it. Here's another question: have you ever seen the Tim Burton (Wednesday)-helmed, Michael Keaton (The Flash)-starring classic caped-crusader movie on the big screen with a live orchestra playing its score? Whatever your answer to the first query, you can soon respond to the second with a hearty yes. To celebrate 35 years since the superhero classic initially reached cinemas, Batman is making a silver-screen comeback Down Under to see out 2024 and start 2025 — and in each of its six stops, beginning in Melbourne then heading to Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Hobart and Sydney, it's giving the film's tunes the symphonic treatment. It's Batman in concert, with the movie playing, plus John Foreman's Australian Pops Orchestra, Southern Cross Symphony, Perth Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and The Metropolitan Orchestra picking up their instruments as the flick screens. They'll be busting out Danny Elfman's Grammy-nominated score, which is just one of the feature's music highlights. The other: songs by the one and only Prince. As well as marking three-and-a-half decades since the picture debuted, these concert screenings also commemorate 85 years of the character on the page — and have been announced just as Burton and Keaton reteam again for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. For the Batman Live in Concert sessions, audiences can follow the bat signal to Melbourne's Regent Theatre across Thursday, October 24–Saturday, October 26; AEC Arena in Adelaide across Wednesday, November 13–Thursday, November 14; Perth's PCEC Riverside Theatre on Friday, November 29–Saturday, November 30; the BCEC Great Hall in Brisbane from Tuesday December, 3–Wednesday, December 4; MyState Bank Arena in Hobart over Friday December, 13–Saturday, December 14; and ICC Sydney Theatre on Friday, January 10. Keaton's stint in Bruce Wayne's slick suits by day and Batman's cape by night kicked off a big-screen four-movie series that ran from 1989–1997, and also saw Val Kilmer (Top Gun: Maverick) and George Clooney (IF) inhabit the role — a character played elsewhere by everyone from Adam West and Christian Bale (Amsterdam) to Ben Affleck (Air) and Robert Pattinson (The Batman). As part of a global tour of events, only Batman going the concert route so far, not Batman Returns, Batman Forever or Batman and Robin. If you're keen to dress up to attend, that's encouraged — and there'll also be merchandise on sale. Batman Live in Concert Dates: Thursday, October 24–Saturday, October 26, 2024 — Regent Theatre, Melbourne with John Foreman's Australian Pops Orchestra Wednesday, November 13–Thursday, November 14, 2024 — AEC Arena, Adelaide with Southern Cross Symphony Friday, November 29–Saturday, November 30, 2024 — PCEC Riverside Theatre, Perth with Perth Symphony Orchestra Tuesday December, 3–Wednesday, December 4, 2024 — BCEC Great Hall, Brisbane with The Metropolitan Orchestra Friday December, 13–Saturday, December 14, 2024 — MyState Bank Arena, Hobart with Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Friday, January 10, 2025 — ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney with The Metropolitan Orchestra Batman Live in Concert is touring Australia from October 2024–January 2025. Head to the event website for tickets and further details.
In his live performances, Kirin J Callinan does not hold back. This guitarist and singer-songwriter is a confronting and charismatic frontman who always delivers a stellar performance and captivates his audience. Callinan will play at The Standard to celebrate the release of his latest single, 'Embracism'. The film clip was directed by Cara Stricker and has already received rave reviews from across the world. During 'Embracism', the cameras follow Callinan in his daily morning routine, but when these visuals are paired with provocative lyrics and driving guitar riffs, the final product is a little intense, to say the very least. Callinan is a true showman and his onstage presence and musical abilities have earned him positions alongside bands such as The Pixies, The Pet Shop Boys, Midnight Juggernaughts, The Strokes, Jarvis Cocker and Ariel Pink. Callinan is taking 'Embracism' on the road over June and July. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Q_gtwhDklaQ
Sydney has long had a love affair with the burger, but with so many of our dining destinations continually offering up their own take of this American classic, it's hard to know where to find the ones guaranteed to satisfy. Luckily we've done the groundwork for you and scoured the city in search of the finest patty and bun combination, from thick and juicy to light and fresh. No matter how you like it, here’s our up-to-the-minute ten best burgers in Sydney. Rockpool Bar & Grill Burger of Choice: Full Blood Wagyu Hamburger ($24) A CBD gem, Rockpool Bar & Grill has always been a prime spot for any local or visiting foodie. And the Wagyu Hamburger is by far one of the favourites on the bar menu. Its Blackmore patty is thick, juicy, and cooked as well as every other dish on the menu, served with bacon, gruyere cheese and zucchini pickle. The hand cut chips ($12) or the onion rings ($9) are a must, as is this burger. Lunch Mon-Fri, Dinner Mon-Sat; 66 Hunter St, Sydney; 02 8078 1900; www.rockpool.com Mary's Burger of Choice: Mary’s Burger with Trash Can Bacon ($14 + $4) Tucked away on Newtown’s Mary Street, this revamped warehouse is always worth a visit whether you’re a local or not. Like Maccas in style and shape, the Mary’s Burger is borderline addictive: incorporating the fancy finger work of ex-Tetsuya chef Luke Powell on the grill, with additional extras like trash-can-lid bacon adding a smoking hit. Accompany with a shot of Jack Daniels and you’ll opt for Mary’s over that shining yellow M any day. Mon - Sat 4pm - midnight, Sun noon - 10pm; 6 Mary Street, Newtown Chur Burger Burger of Choice: Grilled Beef and Cheese ($10) Rising from the ashes of the fire that destroyed this Surry Hills hot spot last year, Chur Burger is one of this city’s most serious contenders when it comes to the best place to get a burger down your neck. The grilled beef and cheese, smothered in mustard mayo and accompanied with fresh tomato and pickle, is at the top of the menu for a reason. At just $10 a pop, we suggest starting here and working your way down. Mon 11.20am - 5pm, Tue - Sat 11.30am - 10pm; 48 Albion Street, Surry Hills; (02) 9212 3603; www.churburger.com.au BUNS & BALLS Burger of Choice: Classic Chicken Burger ($12) Currently relocating away from the new lockdown laws, Buns and Balls beach-vibe cool made a splash when it opened its doors in the Cross last year. The biggest winner here is the classic chicken burger that makes the other (albeit certainly tasty) options pale in comparison. The chargrilled and marinated meat is juicy — and combined with cheese, tomato, lettuce, mayo and original Oporto recipe chilli (owner Gary Linz was a founder of that establishment) — makes for a fresh and flavoursome mouthful. Currently relocating OUT OF THE BLUE Burger of Choice: Fish Burger ($7) Seafood is undoubtedly one of Sydney’s signature attractions, and this Clovelly burger joint always pulls a crowd. Get there early, but definitely get there, and grab the fish burger with chilli mayo: the slight spiciness is an ideal accompaniment to the fresh and tender fried fish. While the wait might be long, the service is friendly, and the small chip portions (for just $4) ain’t small. 226 Clovelly Road, Clovelly; (02) 9315 8380 BILLS Burger of Choice: Wagyu Beef Burger with Gorgonzola ($24.50) Bill Granger has always done well for himself, and his Wagyu burger is no exception to this fact. We suggest the gorgonzola if you’re a fan of strong flavours, because there’s nothing better than a great big cheesy punch to the face alongside a prime juicy patty and the signature zucchini pickles. And, unlike many of the fancy non-tomato-sauce additions out there, the tomato chilli jam is actually very decent and goes superbly smeared all over. Mon - Sat 7.30am - 3pm, Sun 8.30am - 3pm; 433 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst; (02) 9360 9631; www.bills.com.au BONARCHE Burger of Choice: Beach ‘n’ Beef Burger ($15) This quirky, British-influenced Leichhardt eatery is renowned in the area for serving up burgers that are big, feisty and creative. The Beach ‘n’ Beef Burger ticks all the boxes with a delectable combination of bacon, avocado, pineapple, aioli, smoky BBQ sauce, salad and, of course, a fat slab of beef. Cut, minced and made on premises from Australian farms, the burgers at Bonarche have — no surprises here — picked up an award or two. Wed 5pm - 9pm, Thu 5pm - 9.30pm, Fri noon - 3pm and 5pm - 9.30pm, Sat 11am - 9.30pm, Sun 11am - 8pm; 14 Norton Street, Leichhardt; www.bonarche.com Moo Gourmet Burgers CP's Burger of Choice: Greek Lamb Burger ($16.50) Influenced by the pioneers of Australia's first milk bar and New Zealand's restaurant trade, Moo continues to combine classic with craze. The lamb burger here is an established standout on the menu and the 100% free range Saltbush lamb patty with oregano, garlic and rosemary, tomato, baby spinach and tzatziki makes a delicious addition to this Bondi Beach family favourite. Mon-Sun 11am - late; 70A Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach; (02) 9300 8898: www.moogourmetburgers.com.au Grill'd Burger of Choice: Garden Goodness ($11.50) It's nice to see vegetarian options getting a little love, and the Garden Goodness at Grill'd is an all-round winner with a quality veggie patty, succulent beetroot, avocado, salad, relish, tasty cheese and herbed mayo. Proud of its fresh produce and friendly staff, Grill'd's shining feature among earth-loving kin, however, is arguably the Local Matters jars; donating $500 a month to worthwhile causes, chosen by you. A few locations; www.grilld.com.au The Burger Joint Burger of Choice: Tandoori Burger ($9.90) This Darlinghurst one-stop burger shop offers an array of genuinely mouth-watering options, as well as delivery to your door. The Tandoori Burger with grilled and tandoori marinated chicken, smothered in raita (extra raita won’t hurt either), is a topnotch creamy choice if you fancy something a little different to whet your appetite. When you're offered fries ($3-$6), say yes, and grab a complimentary aioli while you're at it. Mon - Sun 11am - 10pm; 393 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst; 02 9380 2575; www.theburgerjoint.com.au View all Sydney Restaurants.
When a standard villa and self-made holiday itinerary simply won't do, you could turn your attention to Hotel Clicquot — a world first entry to all-in luxury accommodation by French champagne house, Veuve Clicquot. Here's the skinny: The hotel is popping up in the Byron Bay hinterland at Cooper's Shoot, a prime location for exceptional ocean vistas (and possible Zac Efron sightings), from 24 November to 5 December 2021. As per the description: A quintessential part of a stay at Hotel Clicquot is the daily calendar of unique, money-can't-buy experiences, all of which are entirely optional. Do or do not! Once there, you'll be looking at two nights and three days of activities (or no activities!), pre-arranged for you, so the only decision-making required is whether or not you should have another glass of champers. There's a 24hour butler service. There will be an in-house sommelier to guide you on a journey through the French champagne house's finest drops. A massage therapist will be at your disposal. Meals will be prepared for you and your cohort, one by up-and-coming chef Alanna Sapwell and the other by David Moyle of acclaimed local spot Harvest Newrybar, who will host a 'garden gastronomy' dinner. And, it should go without saying, but yes: there is of course an infinity edge pool. Helicopter transfers are optional. And if you need to fill a seat, I solemnly nominate myself for the task. Bookings are available from 1 November and you can register your interest here.
Enjoying a glass of wine might come with plenty of medical benefits, but having a tipple isn't typically an exercise-heavy pastime. You sit. You drink. You get up, top up your beverage and repeat. You usually don't walk particularly far, let alone run. At a new series of wine-tasting fun runs about to take place around Australia, however, you'll put in the hard yards before you get the boozy rewards. The Grapest 5K run consists of two sections. First, you sprint, jog or set forth at whatever pace suits you best, making your way through scenic vineyard surroundings. Then, you walk another kilometre — yes, in addition to the first five, or ten if you're feeling extra energetic — while stopping at tasting stations along the way and sampling the good stuff. Don't worry, if you're not up to the first part and you're simply keen on wandering and sipping, that's an option (although it does defeat the idea of combining fitness with throwing back drinks). The first run takes place on February 11 at Balgownie Estate in Bendigo, with a second scheduled on March 4 at Coolangatta Estate in Shoalhaven, south of Woollongong. Further events are mooted in the Hunter Valley, Brisbane, Margaret River in Western Australia, Langhorne Creek in South Australia and Canberra throughout the rest of the year. For more information, visit the Grapest 5k run website.
What started as a lockdown pop-up now has a permanent home in the Inner West, with the team behind Ragazzi, Fabbrica and Love, Tilly Devine opening Fabbrica Bread Shop, its first bricks-and-mortar bakery, inside an idyllic grocer in Rozelle. 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. The name: Fabbrica Bread Shop. Following the success of this limited-time venture, the crew has set up a permanent bakery and 12-seat cafe. Looking to take your morning coffee and treat up a notch? You'll find the latest Love Tilly opening within the new Maloneys Grocer that's opened just down the road from Egg of the Universe, My Friend the Baker and The Red Lion Hotel on Darling Street. Leading the impressive kitchen is 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. Expect a mix of classic baked goods and experimental items, including hot honey focaccia, Tathra Place porchetta croissants, metre-long pizzas, cookies the size of your hand and basque cheesecake. The pick of the bunch is the banoffee tart, which has a banana bread energy to the filling and is topped with fluffy banana cream. It's truly indulgent but not so sweet that you can't start your day with it. "We're finally in a space where we can experiment," says Bhosekar. "We're making puff pastry from scratch, more pastries, more cakes, more bread and croissants, which is a three-day process of mixing, resting and laminating." Inside the grocer, you'll find fresh produce, bouquets of flowers, artisan pantry items and more Fabbrica goodies. Sourdough baked right there at the bread shop, plus the team's beloved ready-to-cook pasta packs and jarred sauces, can be found on the shelves of the store. And the Fabbrica Bread Shop loaves aren't your everyday sourdough. The bread uses three different flours from Wholegrain Milling in Gunnedah and requires over 24 hours of proofing on-site. "In the near future, we're looking to work with more small wheat growers in regional NSW and Victoria and hope to roll out loaves that champion a different grower and grain each month," continues Bhosekar. This is the latest exciting evolution of the Love Tilly Group's offerings. The acclaimed hospitality team has previously opened its namesake Love, Tilly Devine, Potts Point institution Dear Sainte Eloise, the bakery's sibling venues Fabbrica Pasta Shop and Fabbrica Balmain, as well as Palazzo Salato and La Salut. The last of which recently took out the Special Jury Prize at the international Star Wine List of the Year awards for 2023. Fabbrica Bread Shop is now open at Maloneys Grocer, 733 Darling Street, Rozelle — operating from 7am Monday–Sunday. Images: Jana Langhorst for Buffet Digital
Before Buffy Sainte-Marie joins the top-notch lineup at Bluesfest 2020, the Indigenous Canadian American singer-songwriter is performing in Sydney for just one night at City Recital Hall on Wednesday, April 8. The award-winning music powerhouse has been making music since the 60s and is still creating meaningful music today — from her groundbreaking debut It's My Way! (1964) to her most recent album Medicine Songs, released in 2017. She has a total of 21 albums to her name, and wrote the well-known anti-war anthem 'Universal Soldier', most famously performed by Donovan. She's also had the likes of Janis Joplin, Elvis Presley, Jennifer Warnes and Joe Cocker sing and record her songs. And she's considered a pioneer in electronic music. Put simply, she's a pretty big deal. Expect music that speaks to hard-hitting social issues, including First Nations rights, protesting climate change and greed. Think Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez, Patti Smith's 'People Have the Power' and a bit of Midnight Oil thrown in — except entirely Buffy Sainte-Marie. So if you can't hack a ticket to Byron Bay, here's your chance to catch the fierce Cree artist on stage. You'll want to nab your tickets sooner rather than later. To book, head here. [caption id="attachment_764363" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Keith Saunders[/caption]
Sydneysiders, get ready. You finally have a chance to eat at Adelaide's Restaurant Orana this winter — without jumping on a plane heading south. The award-winning restaurant, which not only has three hats, but was also awarded the 2018 Restaurant of the Year by Gourmet Traveller, will be popping up in Surry Hills for one month, taking over the space most recently home to Longrain. The degustation-only restaurant run by star chef and owner Jock Zonfrillo will set up shop in the space from August 16–September 15, with a new design by SJB inspired by Australian flora and a new menu created just for Sydney. If you haven't been lucky enough to visit Orana before, the food is known for its inventive use of Indigenous Australian ingredients. Previous dishes have included the likes of marron with Geraldton wax and green tree ants, potato damper with roasted lamb butter (pictured below) and kangaroo with smoked potato and wattleseed. At the Sydney pop-up, dubbed Orana in Residence, there will also be a strong focus on native produce — Zonfrillo promises over 50 Australian "seeds, fruits, nuts, trees, shoots, shellfish, honey, ants, seafood" to make an appearance — with the team sourcing ingredients from Indigenous communities across Australia. Zonfrillo not only uses and promotes Indigenous Australian ingredients at his restaurants, either, he also runs the non-profit Orana Foundation, which helps foster and preserve Australia's Indigenous food culture. And ten percent of all profits from Orana in Residence will go to this non-profit, too. A 22-course meal at the Sydney pop-up will set you back $350 — just for the food — which must be paid at time of booking, with reservations opening on Tuesday, July 9. For drinks, standard and premium wine pairings, as well as a non-alcoholic option will be available for purchase on the night. You'll also be able to order wines by the glass and bottle. We think this is going to book out very quickly, so if you're keen to go, book it in ASAP. Images: Nikki To
Located on the Bouddi Coastal Walk within the Bouddi National Park, Gerrin Point Lookout is an ideal location for whale watching. Humpback whales are often spotted between May and July and then September through October when they make their return trip along the coast, while southern right whales migrate during late July. The 8.5-kilometre walk allows for a swim in Maitland Bay — where you can view the PS Maitland shipwreck — and includes shady rainforest foliage for wildlife viewing. The 300-hectare national park is one of Australia's earliest marine protected areas, which is part of why the whale migration is so prevalent here. While you're there, check out our guide to Bouddi and Copacabana. Image: Destination NSW
Since starting up in 2017, the Sydney Vegan Market has held countless successful events. Luckily for Sydney's vegans and other curious foodies, it's back for 2023. From Sunday, June 18, the market is returning to its original home in Moore Park with a bounty of food, drinks, homewares, arts and fashion. Conscientious consumers can wander through the stalls at the Entertainment Quarter every third Sunday of each month and sample, sip, browse and buy without worrying about any animal products being used. The monthly plant-based market will feature stores ranging from vegan Greek eats to ethically sourced artisan goods. Peckish punters can expect to encounter corn fritters, meat-free burritos, baklava, Portuguese tarts and fluffy doughnuts. Then, once you're done feasting, you can spend time perusing vegan-friendly clothing and homewares. As usual, entry is free. And, appropriately, the Sydney Vegan Market is dog-friendly so you can bring your four-legged plus-one. Images: Milad K.
Entertaining an out-of-towner can be a mighty tough gig. Sure, you can head straight for the tourist hotspots of The Rocks and Darling Harbour for a few classic holiday snaps. But if you want to show visitors a different side to this beautiful city, Culture Scouts might be the answer to your anxiety-ridden playing host prayers. Culture Scouts is all about seeing the creative side to Sydney through cultural walking tours, featuring everything from hard-to-find alleyway murals to killer eateries and coffee spots. Art nerds, foodies and coffee snobs, this is the cool, curated non-touristy itinerary you've been looking for. Founder Emilya Colliver (the creative gem behind Art Pharmacy, the online gallery bringing buyers emerging Australian artworks at bargain prices) brought Culture Scouts to life as a way to give travellers "an authentic local experience, with a focus on art and culture". And in just four short months the company has blossomed, gaining the deserved attention of Tourism Australia and the City of Sydney for its left of field tour experiences. After studying and working in some of London's best galleries (Hauser & Wirth, Eskenazi and The British Museum all sit on her CV), Emilya has turned her attention back home, and to finding ways to make the art world open and accessible to all Sydneysiders. She spent last year running The Other Art Fair along with a range of tours for Sydney Contemporary, but this latest project sees her working directly with the general public. "This is an opportunity for the artist to actually meet, engage and talk to people about their work," explains Emilya. Culture Scouts offer three guided tours, each showcasing a range of hidden gems from different corners of Sydney's suburbs. Taste your way across Redfern and Chippendale with a progressive lunch, or spend the day weaving your way through artist's studios, restaurants and gallery spaces, stopping for coffee a well-deserved drink from one of the area's thriving small bars along the way. For a bit of art and fresh air, the Street Art Basic tour sees street art aficionados and tour guides Melinda Vassallo and Nadine Emans reveal the best of Newtown’s graffiti scene. This two-hour art adventure gives visitors the chance to feel learn a thing or two about the inner-west — and even if you're a local, there's still plenty to discover. To top it off, the tour will end at another Newtown icon, with a cheeky craft beer from the crew at the Young Henrys brewery. Fancy creating your own personalised tour for you and at least five other mates? Culture Scouts can do that too. They'll create a private tours tailored to what gets you going. "The custom tours are usually the best," says Emilya. "When you have a whole bunch of friends that come on the tour, it makes it really easy because everyone knows each other." With plans forging ahead for Culture Scouts to hit the CBD, Marrickville and Bondi — plus whispers of regional tours to places like Orange, Newcastle and even Hobart — 2016 promises to bring bolder and brighter ways to explore Australia's most interesting urban playgrounds. To experience Culture Scouts for yourself, book in to one of their upcoming walking tours here.
Not only does this establishment have the best party decorations for miles, it also has the best ideas to make your soiree a memorable one. When we say it has everything you could possibly require for a themed shindig, we're very serious. Dressing up as Frankenstein's monster? Find green body paint and bolts for your neck here. Or, if fairies are more your speed, opt for a set of fairy wings and glass slippers. And if you're throwing a Halloween party, The Party People will make sure you have everything from your fake cobwebs to your real jack-o-lanterns. It also hires out more practical decorations like tables and cake stands, but in our opinion, you just can't go past the life-size, groaning grave digger. You know, for birthdays and stuff. Images: Trent van der Jagt.
Want to explore Vivid through a method that's brand new and a teeny bit unconventional? Then this sharing-focused event at House Canteen is calling your name. This Vivid-exclusive pop-up is a six-night dinner and games event dubbed 'Taste, See, Connect' during the festival's 2024 run. Spontaneity is at the heart of the dinners, with the event runners hoping to keep those in attendance on their toes and engaged in the activities and food on offer, as well as their fellow participants and the accompanying light shows. At House Canteen, you'll be able to tuck into a six-course sharing menu by Chef Fernando Sanchez while enjoying the company of fellow attendees and soaking up the stunning Sydney Harbour installations. Plus, you'll be subjected to icebreaker activities such as Jenga, conversation starter cards and communal tablecloths to doodle away on. You may even be prompted to do a seat switcheroo during your meal. The aim of the game — and the entire evening — is to step outside your comfort zone by meeting new people in a similar setting and, through the activities, learn to appreciate the shared human experience. As for the bites on offer, you'll be met with an Asian-leaning feast, with entrees like tuna tartare, sashimi and pork belly-stuffed bao buns, followed by a glazed beef short rib with rice, stir-fried greens, edamame and papaya salad to pair. To round out the meal, you'll sink your teeth into a yuzu meringue tart. Take your pick from 6pm or 8pm slots on Monday, May 27; Tuesday, May 28; Monday, June 3; Tuesday, June 4; Tuesday, June 11; or Wednesday, June 12 during the dazzling festivities. Tickets are priced at $49 per person, which is quite the steal. Drinks, however, are not included in the ticket price and will need to be purchased separately. If you're onboard with the additional spending, House Canteen has curated four limited-edition cocktails themed around Vivid, starring Grey Goose vodka. Opt for a boozy hibiscus lemonade, a passionfruit-starring sip, a fruity Chambord and Lyres Italian Orange concoction or a riff on a coffee-charged espresso martini.
A Sydney institution has closed its doors. While Redfern Continental (and its cocktail bar GDR) are no more, we're happy to announce that a new venue has already taken its place, with Golden Gully owners Daniel McBride and Dynn Smulewicz opening a sister venue to their Leichhardt small bar last week. The new venue, like it's predecessor, is split in two. Out the front, you'll find casual restaurant The Sunshine Inn and, out the back in the old GDR space, is a degustation-only dining room dubbed DD's. Gully's Executive Chef Emma Evans (Alibi) is in the kitchen serving up elevated gastropub eats up front and a three-to-five course degustation menu out back — all of which is vegetarian and focused on locally sourced produce. For The Sunshine Inn, expect jalapeño poppers with tapioca cream cheese and smoked garlic hummus, plus New South Wales cheese and olive plates. For larger dishes, there'll be a vego 'meatball' sub, vegan scallops (made with mushroom) and a seasonal pasta dish going for a very reasonable $15. [caption id="attachment_784789" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Casandra Hannagan[/caption] While the front bar is bright and airy with a minimalist fit-out — think white walls with navy accents and natural timber furnishings — the back restaurant is dark and moody. "I loved the moodiness of GDR, so we've gone even further with that," says co-owner McBride. "We've painted the ceiling a deep blue, reupholstered all of the booths and chairs in velvet and added in a chandelier." The intimate space hosts two dinner sittings per night (with bookings essential), then turns into a cocktail lounge once the kitchen is done. It's looking to be one of Sydney's best priced degustation menus, too, ranging from a very reasonable $39–59 (for three-to-five courses, respectively). Expect more refined fare here that's reminiscent of Gully's set menu. It will change regularly, but some of the dishes you're likely to find on the opening menu include turnip ravioli with strawberry gum, corn-crusted fennel served atop smoked chat potatoes and a decadent Ferrero Rocher pie. [caption id="attachment_784832" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] Also similar to the one at Gully, the cocktail menu focuses on Aussie spirits and native flavours — but The Sunshine Inn's list will include international booze, too. "I found with the Gully that, though I love doing Australian-only spirits, it's a bit restrictive if, say, someone wants a margarita," says McBride. "What we're doing instead is focusing on different approaches to classic cocktails, while getting extra creative with our house-made syrups so all of those native flavours will still shine through." The 16-strong cocktail list includes The Cure All (a tequila and mezcal take on the penicillin, made with jalapeño and ginger syrup), an amaro spritz (made using Poor Toms' Imbroglio, strawberry gum syrup and prosecco) and the Aussie Amari Sour, which McBride described as "a grown-up version of an amaretto sour". The wine list takes cues from the Gully as well, focusing almost exclusively on Aussie drops while balancing the natural with the accessible. Local winemakers Eloquesta, La Violetta and Yetti and the Kokonut all represent, and brews from Sydney's Wildflower, Akasha and Grifter are pouring as well. Find The Sunshine Inn and DD's at 180 Redfern Street, Redfern. The Sunshine Inn is open 3pm–midnight Wednesday–Sunday and DD's is open 6pm–midnight Thursday–Saturday. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
Whatever your opinion of Julia Gillard's prime ministership, national politics and gender were as inseparable as Tony Abbott and his speedos between June 2010 and June 2013. Whether it was Howard Sattler's obsession with her sex life or Grace Collier's obsession with her cleavage, none of us were allowed to forget for a moment that Gillard was, is, indeed, a woman. Of course, the nation's first female Prime Minister did not fail to air her perspective to the world with that speech that went viral. So it's fitting that in her very first public appearance since her June farewell speech, Gillard will appear in conversation with one-time head of the Hawke government's Office of the Status of Women, Anne Summers. After Gillard's exit, the author, journalist and editor wrote, "We are now, apparently unashamedly, a country where bullying, stalking, undermining and outright treachery are not just tolerated but the new way of doing business. So the next time your child comes home complaining about being bullied in the schoolyard, you will have to say, 'Suck it up kid, this is the way we are.'" Three months down the track, Gillard and Summers will spend two evenings together in the Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall and the Melbourne Town Hall, reflecting on what Gillard's experience meant, and might mean, to the story of Australian politics. According to the promo, Gillard has committed to "a candid and wide-ranging conversation", and there'll be time for an audience-driven Q & A session. It's the first event in 'Anne Summers Conversations', a series of live one-on-one interviews featuring various personalities to have appeared in Anne Summers' online magazine The Looking Glass. Julia Gillard and Anne Summers will be appearing at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall on Monday, 30 September, and at Melbourne Town Hall on Tuesday, 1 October. Tickets are available from the Sydney Opera House website and Eventbrite.
The days are finally getting longer and how better to spend those bonus daylight hours than exploring a brewery, sipping beers in their natural habitat and learning the ins and outs of how those crafty drops were made? Up in The Hills district, award-winning beer makers at the Australian Brewery are kick-starting spring with a new series of twilight brewery tours, happening Thursday through Saturday evenings each week. Participants will find themselves diving deep into the world of beer, at these interactive $25 sessions led by experts from the brewing team. Learn all about the brewing process and beer's history, discover the Australian Brewery's own back-story, and touch and whiff the fresh ingredients that make it into a brew. Punters will round out the fun by kicking back with a tasting paddle, featuring a lineup of core beers and seasonal releases. Head in now and you might get to sample recent smash hits, such as the brew fittingly dubbed 'If You Like Pina Colada'. The Australian Brewery's Twilight Brewery Tours start on Thursday, September 27 and run every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 6pm.
For most of us nine-to-fivers, the end-of-year work party is one of the most highly anticipated events on our professional social calendars. We come together in our finest threads to dole out thanks and reminisce about the highs and lows of the past 12 months. So if you're in charge of organising the aforementioned festivities, it can be a lot of pressure. You have to juggle dietary requirements and budgets while ensuring the place you book stands out against the countless Champagne-and-canapé-filled soirées of the silly season. To help you host a truly memorable bash, we've partnered with Merivale to bring you eight cracking party locations across Sydney. As you would expect, they all have that quintessential Hemmes touch (read: top-notch food and drink and incredible attention to detail) and can accommodate a range of functions — big, small, super luxe or low-key. Whether you've hit all your targets and the company credit card has no limit — please send invite — or you're looking to keep things low-cost, we've got you covered. Get ready to crack the bubbly, blow off some steam and toast the year that was. [caption id="attachment_520433" align="alignnone" width="1280"] El Loco at Slip Inn.[/caption] THE MORE THE MERRIER Who's on the list: All staff and their partners, 100+ people. Budget: Keep things cheap and cheerful. To bring in the festive season with a full-throttle Mexican fiesta, book El Loco at Slip Inn. This Sussex Street bar boasts an effusive atmosphere that'll get you and your work crew in the party spirit. The colourful courtyard has its own dedicated bar and can accommodate up to 400 guests — that's enough room for partners, industry guests, friends and even that person who left five years ago but still deserves an invite because they dance like a legend. Drinks and eats are nice and cheap; wine sits around $40 a bottle, cocktails start at $16 and tacos are a neat $7.50. Book in the evening to take advantage of the happy hour (6–8pm, six days a week) and enjoy $6 schooners, house wines and spirits or $7 pints. For an added bit of fun, make your muchachos wear sombreros — the person with the biggest hat gets a coveted Merivale gift card. If you want that kind of buzzy atmosphere but by the beach, you can't go past the Coogee Pavilion. Reserve a spot on the sprawling Coogee Rooftop, and treat your workmates to stunning oceanic views, flavourful Mediterranean fare straight off the charcoal grill and refreshing Aperol spritzes ($17). As you sit among the lush greenery and sketches of exotic birds in this greenhouse-style bar, you can tuck into a throng of reasonably priced share plates. Banquets can be organised for groups and range between $44–55. You can commandeer the whole floor (600 capacity) or take over one of four eclectic bars. And what about the vino? A bottle will set you back about $50, which ain't too bad at all. [caption id="attachment_591058" align="alignnone" width="1280"] ivy Pool Club.[/caption] A PUMPIN' PALOOZA Who's on the list: Key peeps and plus ones, 100+ people. Budget: We've had a good year, pop the bubbly. To add a little pizzazz to your get-together, book Establishment in the CBD. With a 42-metre marble bar as the centrepiece, your colleagues will feel suitably special at this end-of-year shindig. But don't let the marble fool you, the food and wine prices are quite fair. The menu is a real crowd pleaser with pretty much every cuisine — from traditional Thai to classic Aussie pub fare — with mains sitting around $20 a pop. To make the most of the sunny weather, we suggest booking the Establishment Garden (150 capacity). Treat your colleagues to a seasonal cocktail and cheers to your hard work. If you'd rather transport your work pals to the Italian Riveria instead, organise a poolside palooza at the ivy Pool Club. This expansive rooftop bar boasts a glistening 25-metre pool, private cabanas — for those late-night D&Ms — nautical-themed striped seating and, of course, bangin' DJs. To keep the Italian gusto in full swing, order a few delizioso pizzas from chef/pizza maestro Vincenzo Biondini (pies start at $22) and a couple of bottles off the vino list (wines sit around $60). For a bit of splishy-splashy fun, set your staff a pool challenge: the best synchronised swimmers get a Merivale gift card. [caption id="attachment_602993" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Charlie Parker's.[/caption] A SOPHISTICATED SOIRÉE Who's on the list: Staff only/small team, 50 people or less. Budget: There's cash to splash, go nuts. To up the ante, plan a sophisticated soirée at snazzy speakeasy Charlie Parker's. This sultry basement bar, which sits below Fred's on Oxford Street, features a sumptuous and inviting interior with dark wood, marble and leather accents. Let cocktail masters Sam Egerton and Toby Marshall shake up some innovative, produce-driven tipples for you and your crew (cocktails start at $19.50 and custom creations can be organised) while you gorge on top-notch bar snacks from the kitchen upstairs (plates range between $8–22). It's a place where you can settle in for the evening, forget about the world above and focus on your chums. Swap cocktails for wine, and secure a spot at the historic Tank Stream Bar. This charming, candle-lit hideaway is perfect for an intimate food-and-wine affair with friends (80 capacity). The bar boasts a comprehensive wine list — bottles start at $50 — and private wine tastings can be organised if you've got some cork dorks in your midst. When hunger strikes, there's a selection of small dishes which pair perfectly with wine, including cheese plates ($24) and antipasti ($32). To keep the good vibes rolling, organise a Merivale gift card for the top performers of the year. [caption id="attachment_611317" align="alignnone" width="1920"] est.[/caption] TREATING A SELECT FEW Who's on the list: Standout employees/small team, 10–15 people. Budget: Cha-ching. Money is no object. Given its moniker is inspired by the Merivale founder himself, it's no surprise Hemmesphere pulls no punches when it comes to food and wine. Expect next-level opulence — to give you an idea, the drinks menu features a 'Dom Perignon Selection', as well as a vintage Champagne list — and equally decadent Japanese fare. This is a place to book if you want to spend a stellar night with a special few comrades. Order from the famed sushi e menu — think fresh sashimi ($39 for 12 pieces) king prawn tempura ($36) or patagonian toothfish ($49) — grab a round of sake and kanpai your team's success. In a similar opulent vein and within the same building is fine diner est. Booking a table here is a surefire way to show a select few employees that you care. Set within a heritage-listed building, the grandiose dining room — complete with crystal chandeliers, soaring white columns and ornamental ceilings — is the perfect backdrop for a luxurious end-of-year feast. Head chef Jacob Davey, who took over from Peter Doyle earlier this year, has crafted an impeccable menu showcasing the very best seasonal produce. Go all out and treat your staff to the full tasting menu ($165/person for lunch, $195/person for dinner); after slogging away for a solid year, they deserve it. Make your end-of-year bash super memorable with Merivale.
Ramen comes in many varieties but, when you're slurping your way through a hearty bowl of noodles and broth, you generally know what you're going to get. You usually know that you're tucking into an affordable meal, too — whether you're hitting up your favourite ramen joint in Sydney or working your way through every eatery you can find on a trip to Japan. At Haymarket's Gumshara, it's levelling up its ramen game — all thanks to one over-the-top dish that literally comes gleaming with gold. Called 'rags to riches' ramen, the bowl is topped with a full lobster, too, including a tempura tail and a golden head as a garnish. Using more than 15 kilograms of pork and lobster, also featuring a soft-boiled seasoned egg, bamboo shoots and spring onions, and adding a sheet of golden nori as well, this decadent dish takes more than 12 hours to make. Also, it's valued at $400. That said, you can't actually purchase it. If you'd like to feast your way through the most expensive ramen you're ever likely to come across — which is being called the world's most expensive ramen, in fact — you'll have to try to win a serving. The 'rags to riches' ramen has been created by Gumshara in collaboration with Five Star Games, to help celebrate the launch of the latter's new Yakuza: Like a Dragon title — the eighth in the franchise — on Xbox and Playstation. To win, you need to be a New South Wales resident, and you'll want to head to @XboxANZon Twitter from midday on Tuesday, October 20 to find out how to enter. The competition is open until Tuesday, November 10, the day the game hits stores. To win Gumshara 'rags to riches' ramen, head to @XboxANZ on Twitter from midday on Tuesday, October 20 until Tuesday, November 10.
There are plenty of ways to explore the Snowy Mountains, no matter what time of year you visit — from overnight horse treks to taking a dip in a thermal, spring-fed pool. If you want to see the region from above, though, Snowy Mountain Helicopters has you covered. Flights range from a speedy zoom over Lake Jindabyne ($110 for ten minutes) to extended flights to some of the region's highlights, including Valentine Falls, Mt Jagungal and the ski resorts ($570 for 60 minutes). To combine a few itinerary must-dos in one trip, sign up to one of the more immersive helicopter experiences. Each starts with a scenic flight over Kosciuszko National Park before taking you to the activity of your choice — you might wish to enjoy a gourmet picnic at a remote cabin, go fishing for trout, or sample locally made tipples at Wild Brumby Distillery or Snowy Vineyard and Microbrewery.
As a nation, Australians devour approximately 190,000 tonnes of meat per year. This equates to 120kg per person per annum, which is almost three times as much as the world average. Despite the phenomenal increase in meat consumption over the last few decades, particularly in pork and poultry, the number of pig producers in the country has reduced by 94 percent and there are only two major producers of chicken. This is largely why two-thirds of the world's meat now comes from factory farming. So what can you do about the animal cruelty and health problems this gross over-consumption is causing? Take part in Meat Free Week from March 18-24 to help spread the word and raise funds for this important issue. All money raised from the initiative goes to the animal protection institute Voiceless, who help protect factory farmed animals in Australia. And they're not trying to persuade you to become an avid vegan or vegetarian; it's simply about modifying meat consumption: limiting meat intake and only choosing free-range animal products in order to reduce the amount of factory farming in Australia. You could also improve your own health in the process as eating excessive amounts of meat can lead to heart disease, kidney failure or even cancer. Simply sign up and create your profile, read up and learn about factory farming so you can explain to others why it's so important, tell all your family and friends about it and get them to sign up as well or to sponsor you with a small donation, stock up on fresh ingredients and try out some delicious meat-free recipes designed by celebrity chefs, then go without meat for seven days and tell everyone how it's going through social media, particularly with the hashtag #meatfreeweek.
Whether you're a vino novice or an expert on all things pinot, it's always a joy to expand your beverage-based horizons by trying something new. And with a boom in new Australian wine producers and the rise of all things natty, there's plenty to try right now. Newtown's latest small bar Famelia is here to help — offering its guests plenty of ways to sample interesting and inventive wines. The brainchild of Amelia Birch (Book Kitchen, Your P.S.), Famelia has officially opened in a storied Enmore Road building directly across the road from another beloved purveyor of booze, P&V Liquor + Wine Merchants. The long and skinny exposed-brick space has long been home to top-notch bottles, housing Cittavino for over a decade before Birch and the crew took over. The menu here is kept short and simple, with a rotating list of 12 different wines. Each time you head in, expect to find that week's batch of handpicked favourites on offer by the glass. If you're looking to share a bottle, you can also browse the full selection from the bottle shop and enjoy it at retail price (plus $15 corkage). Those looking to sample their way through the menu are in luck. Famelia offers a three-glass wine flight featuring a trio of 75-millilitre pours that you get to pick from the by-the-glass menu. Start your night with a taster of a Clare Valley riesling, a Mornington Peninsular pinot noir and a sparkling wine from Orange all for $27. The fun doesn't stop there. A couple of seasonal selections round out the wine offerings if you want to drop a little extra cash on your chosen glass. The cocktail list is far from thrown together, with yuzushu and pét-nat spritzes, plus mandarin margaritas. And if you're feeling snacky, there are plenty of dips, cheeses and deli meats to taste your way through — including vegan macadamia feta, truffle and squid-ink salami, weekly desserts and Birch's secret family egg dip. "I love entertaining my friends and family at home, and hope Famelia will be an extension of that — familiar, delicious, fun," says Birch. Open Wednesday–Sunday, the bar can host 25 wine lovers inside and an additional eight-to-ten out on Enmore Road. While you can only head in for a flight and a plate of salami five days a week, the bottle shop is up and running daily from midday until 9pm. When it comes to takeaway bottles, you'll find wines ranging from $25–200. You can also try before you buy at the bottle shop, with a range of wines open to taste if you're on the hunt for that perfect thing to bring to your dinner party or to pair with tonight's spag bol. Famelia is now open at 55 Enmore Road, Newtown. The bar is open 12pm–late Wednesday–Saturday and 2–9pm Sunday, while the bottle shop is open 12–9pm Monday–Sunday. Images: Philippa Enid.
Protection from slavery is a fundamental human right; yet what constitutes contemporary forms of slavery is often controversial and unclear. We can comfortably shake our heads over situations akin to chattel slavery and collectively agree that to be the owner of another person is wrong, but circumstances of debt bondage, serfdom, forced marriage and forced sexual servitude do not fit neatly into the traditional concept of slavery. Project Futures aims to increase awareness of human trafficking as the second largest organised crime in the world. Inspired by Somaly Mam, a former Cambodian victim of sexual slavery, Project Futures is a voluntary network of socially engaged individuals who organise fundraisers, parties, concerts, public presentations and media campaigns to fund programs dedicated to combating sex trafficking globally. Their objective is to give slavery a meaning that extends beyond the limits set by the text, context and purpose of the 1926 Slavery Convention. This Thursday, celebrate Project Futures' new partnership with the Somaly Mam Foundation as they expand to New York. In addition to enjoying canapes and cocktails, you will acknowledge the loss of free will and human dignity that victims of the 'modern day slave trade' suffer, and have the unique opportunity to meet Somaly Mam herself.
Australian playwright Timothy Daly is a queen-maker. His Kafka Dances in 1993 was one of Cate Blanchett's first roles and won her the Rosemount Newcomer Award, and it's still regarded as a classic. His work is frequently performed overseas, though not so much at home, possibly because it’s a bit bonkers in that way that Europeans are more open to. In his new play Richard III (or almost), directed by Markus Weber, two prisoners (played by fit veteran thesps Gerry Sont and Lucas Connelly) are locked in a room where they are punished by having to perform bouts of Shakespeare's Richard III whenever a bell chimes. Why? By whom? What for? Daly chooses not to make it entirely clear. Instead, his play is mainly an abstract, dystopic meditation on how governments deal with art and how artists view themselves. It's not something you often think about, but theatre reviews are not written (nor plays made, for that matter) in a silo; they are in conversation with other theatre productions going on within view. Certain styles and aesthetics become the norm in a city, if not a country. So when something comes along that sits completely outside of that conversation, it's a little hard to know how to treat it. Richard III (or almost), the product of both an Australian writer and Australian director who have spent their working lives in Europe, is just such a mysterious outlier. It was apparently well received at its debut at the prestigious Avignon Festival in France, but in Sydney it seems, for want of a better word, weird. The resistance to plot, character and convention isn't total, but it is strong. I was happy to accept its abstract set-up, but then the second half seems to turn on quite a straight-up crime mystery, which doesn't wholly relate to what came before. However, the shifts in power between the two characters were a constant source of intrigue. Richard III (or almost) won't be to everyone's taste, but as a mission statement from Emu Productions, the new owners and resident company of King Street Theatre, it is compelling. It's exciting to think that they might shine a light on performance possibilities mostly unseen in Sydney. Good luck to them. Student? Get your $20 student rush tickets 30 minutes before the show nightly.
If you looking to write something poignant but can't seem to get the words to form in your mind or onto the page, you may just need a bit of inspiration to kick your creativity into gear. Some words of wisdom from the mouths of some of history's best writers and poets may help you do just that. From T.S. Eliot to George Orwell, here are some creative tips to help you put pen to paper. Elmore Leonard Anton Chekhov F. Scott Fitzgerald George Orwell Ernest Hemingway Kurt Vonnegut Mark Twain Saul Bellow T.S. Eliot G.K. Chesterton Gertrude Stein Toni Morrison [Via Buzzfeed]
Massachusetts Institute of Technology looks like a rad place to study. Dotted around Killian Court in the university grounds are SOFT Rockers, solar powered lounge chairs which let you recharge yourself and your electronics between classes. The seats rotate on an axis to soak up the sun, and the rocking motion created when you sit inside generates extra electricity. All of which powers three USB ports plus a light strip on the inside of the chair. Professor Sheila Kennedy and a team of students created this concept for the Festival of Art+Science+Technology (FAST) as a sustainable alternative to "conventional 'hard' urban infrastructure." [Via Engadget]
If you were planning to commute by train this Monday morning, it may take you a bit longer than expected. A "wide-spread power outage", impacting all signalling between Ashfield and Strathfield, occurred in the early hours of the morning on Monday, April 29, which has resulted in delays across the network. Transport for NSW has reported that while repairs are complete there are still major delays across the T1 Western & North Shore Line, T2 Inner West & Leppington Line, T3 Bankstown Line, T8 Airport & South Line, T9 Northern Line, Blue Mountains Line and Central Coast & Newcastle Line. Bus services are also supplementing trains between Redfern, Strathfield and Lidcombe. https://twitter.com/T2SydneyTrains/status/1122615978808840192 The SMH is reporting that some services, including the T8 line, are experiencing delays of more than an hour. Commuters are being told to allow for extra travel time, and to check real-time apps and indicator screens at the stations for updates. To stay up-to-date with delays, check the Transport for NSW website and real-time apps. Image: Wikimedia Commons, Jason Antons.
Wearable technology has been around for a few years now, but hasn't really taken off. Google Glass tried to get everyone to stick a computer on their face, while the Apple Watch attempted to move smartphones onto everyone's wrists — but, as cool and suitably futuristic as both are, they're hardly must-have gadgets. That's where Snapchat comes in. A few months ago they announced they would make their first foray into the hardware realm with Spectacles, a pair of sunglasses that can capture ten-second bursts of video. And now they're officially available to the public. But you can't just go online and order a pair. Oh no — that'd be way too easy. Instead, Snapchat will be selling the specs from a roaming yellow vending machine (that doesn't look unlike a Minion). Punters have to check the Snapchat website to see where it will be set up each day. Earlier today it was at Venice Beach in LA. pic.twitter.com/ECQhbYZBPa — Spectacles (@Spectacles) November 10, 2016 So what do the Spectacles actually do? Well, they're basically a cheaper version of Google's eyewear with one specific function: to take Snapchats. But as well as turning the act of taking photos into a mostly hands-free task (unless you can press buttons with your mind, you're still going to have to lift a finger to the frames to start each clip, sadly), Spectacles boast two major drawcards. Firstly, they look like regular glasses, rather than Robocop-like attire, complete with black, teal and coral styles. And even better, they're going to be affordable, at $130 USD a pair. Other features include a 115-degree lens designed to mimic the human field of vision, as well as the ability to capture circular images to approximate our natural perspective. And yes, everything you record with your new toy will then upload to your Snapchat account, after connecting to your phone via wifi. No word as yet regarding a local release date. By Sarah Ward and Lauren Vadnjal.
Unlike most other Asian eats, Filipino cuisine in Sydney is fairly limited. And the folks at some of the city's favourite Filipino joints think the region deserves more love, so they've teamed up to throw a big Filipino pop-up for the masses. Heading the food lineup on Sunday, September 16, is the super popular Donut Papi. Known for its quirky doughnut flavours — that include everything from durian to mi goreng — the Redfern bakery will be slinging some limited-edition varieties on the day. While there's no word on what they'll be just yet, expect them to be weird (and tasty). Also heading to the one-day food fest is Blacktown's Sydney Cebu Lechon, who has been around since the early 90s and brings an authentic taste of Cebu-style lechon (whole-roasted suckling pig) to Sydney. The dish is a go-to for holidays and parties in the Philippines and now Sydneysiders can nab a plate-full at the pop-up. The eatery's version is free-range, charcoal-roasted and chopped pork belly with crackling skin to boot. You'll find Filipino and American-style fusion burgers from food truck Mate Burger, too, and Hanmade Desserts, who is known for its silvanas (a Filipino dessert that's a riff on an ice cream sandwich), ube cakes and leche flan. The pop-up will run until sold out and seating is limited, so get there early or you might miss out.
Byron Bay is a standout spot. An iconic holiday destination for Aussies and celebrities alike, the coastal town draws crowds year-round with its gorgeous beaches, thriving wellness scene and bottomless good vibes. Byron does, however, get a bit crowded in the summertime. Escape the summer crowds and embrace the peace and quiet of Byron Bay during winter instead. Enjoy long walks on the beach, scenic hikes in the hinterland, and indulge in a laid-back lifestyle designed to unplug you from the fast-paced nine to five, a lifestyle that makes this town a special spot. We've teamed up with Crystalbrook Byron to give one lucky CP reader and a plus one that very getaway. Embrace the beauty of northern NSW with a stay in the luxurious Crystalbrook Byron — which is offering a special treat for anyone that's in need of a break, an intimate winter getaway for you and a plus one that includes: two nights of accommodation in a luxe suite, daily breakfast in Forest Byron Bay, complimentary bubbles, $500 spa credit in Eléme Day Spa and return flights from your home city. All that comes out to quite a lovely experience in one of NSW's loveliest towns. And if you fancy a return visit, you can join the Crystalbrook Crowd to get 20% off bookings until Saturday, September 30. To enter this giveaway, all you need to do is complete the form below. [competition]904144[/competition]
When we take that first sip of our barista-brewed coffee on a workday morning, a lot of us can't actually imagine living without coffee. But what about living without a roof over your head or a guaranteed meal? Unfortunately, this is what many homeless people around Australia face each day, but on Friday, August 9, you can help your fellow Aussies out simply by buying a coffee as part of CafeSmart. CafeSmart is an annual event from StreetSmart that raises money and awareness for the homeless and is back for its eighty year running. This year over 700 cafes will aim to raise as much as they can, with totals reaching more than of $1 million over previous years. So how does it work? From every coffee purchased on August 9 at a participating cafe around Australia, $1 will be donated towards local projects. So if your go-to local isn't participating, shake things up for a day and head to one that is. Prefer a hot chocolate? You can also donate at the counter. Simply by aiming for a bighearted cafe, you'll be helping some of our country's most in-need humans, so treat yourself to a third or fourth coffee guilt-free. There are a heap of cafes participating across the city — head to the event's website to find your closest.
German artist Martin Klimas is painting with sound, endeavouring to answer the question: 'what does music look like?' Klimas put his idea into practice by splattering paint on a scrim, placed over a speaker while playing music. By turning the volume up, the paint colourfully vibrates off the scrim allowing Klimas to seize these moments as photographs. Through this series, Klimas has captured what music would look like as a physical object. Taking over 6 months and 1000 photographs to create, music from the likes of Miles Davis, Kraftwerk and Steve Reich and Musicians was featured. It makes you wonder what it would look like to have your favourite song framed. [via Gizmodo & NY Times]
It's easy enough to understand why so many people move from sunless England to Australia each year, but it's pretty rare for a whole restaurant and its staff to pack up their bags collectively. Yet that's just what's happening with one of the world's most famous chefs, Heston Blumenthal, and his molecular gastronomy stronghold The Fat Duck. They'll be shutting down the iconic Berkshire restaurant and 'relocating' it to the Crown Melbourne for six months. "This is not a popup restaurant," Heston obliquely insisted at this morning's announcement. Although The Fat Duck won't be opening until February 2015, you'll probably need to develop your booking strategy soon if you want to sample the likes of snail porridge, egg and bacon ice-cream and the aurally enhanced Sound of the Sea. The sensational food experience ought to wash away that bitter taste you get from having to pass through the casino to reach it. Funnily enough, The Fat Duck is not the only world-renowned restaurant to try an international exchange: Rene Redzepi yesterday tweeted that Noma would be moving its operation to Tokyo for two months in 2015. If these two chefs are on board, expect to see many more taking up the experiment soon. Heston's Melbourne non-popup temporary restaurant will leave a different, permanent one in its wake, dubbed Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. Meanwhile, rumours of a Sydney Blumenthal excursion abound.
Cosmos at the ready. When Sex and the City and its sequel series And Just Like That... are streaming across the screen, that's the only drink that will do. Your next excuse to sip vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice and lime juice will arrive in June, when Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon all return to the New York-based characters they've been playing on and off for a quarter century. Yes, that's when And Just Like That... will be back for season two. If you've spent any part of the past two-and-a-half decades dreaming about being a fabulously dressed Big Apple writer who seems to do very little work but can still afford a fantasy wardrobe — or if you've just filled it drinking a lot of pink-coloured cocktails — then you'll already be excited. And, you'll know that the first season of And Just Like That... was both announced and premiered in 2021, 17 years after Sex and the City wrapped up its HBO run. Two years later, the show will start dropping its second season from Thursday, June 22 on Binge in Australia, this time spanning 11 episodes — one more than season one — and bringing back another familiar Sex and the City face. As seen in the first teaser trailer for season two, and also first revealed back at the beginning of 2023, John Corbett (To All the Boys: Always and Forever) is reprising his role as Aidan Shaw. He'll return to make Carrie's post-Big love life even more complicated after the world's most infamous Peloton workout. Also on the way: more of Carrie (Parker, Hocus Pocus 2), Miranda (Nixon, The Gilded Age) and Charlotte (Davis, Deadly Illusions) going about their lives and friendships in their 50s, when things are even more complicated than they were two decades ago. Season two will also feature Sara Ramírez (Madam Secretary), Sarita Choudhury (Ramy), Nicole Ari Parker (Chicago PD), Karen Pittman (The Morning Show), Mario Cantone (Better Things), David Eigenberg (Chicago Fire), Evan Handler (Power), Christopher Jackson (Space Oddity), Niall Cunningham (Poker Face), Cathy Ang (My Best Friend's Exorcism) and Alexa Swinton (Old), all similarly returning from season one. A reminder: due to Kim Cattrall's absence, And Just Like That... has been badged as a "new chapter' in the Sex and the City story, rather than an additional season of the existing 1998–2004 program. Parker, Davis and Nixon are also executive producers on And Just Like That..., alongside Michael Patrick King, who worked as a writer, director and executive producer on the original (and on the two terrible 2008 and 2010 Sex and the City movies). Check out the first teaser for And Just Like That..., season two below: And Just Like That... season two will start streaming via Binge in Australia from Thursday, June 22. Images: HBO.
In 1996, Independence Day topped the worldwide box office. In music, Los del Rio's 'Macarena' did the same on America's Billboard chart. And, on television, 3rd Rock From the Sun and Sabrina the Teenage Witch made their debuts. Get nostalgic for that year, no matter whether you lived through it or not, and you'll likely think about all or some of the above — plus everything from fellow movie hits Twister and Scream through to tunes such as 'Ironic' and '1979'. Well, unless you're the women of returning 2021–2022 standout Yellowjackets, that is. For Shauna (Melanie Lynskey, The Last of Us), Natalie (Juliette Lewis, Welcome to Chippendales), Taissa (Tawny Cypress, Billions), Misty (Christina Ricci, Wednesday), Lottie (Simone Kessell, Muru) and Van (Lauren Ambrose, Servant), 1996 will always be the year that their plane plunged into the Canadian wilderness, stranding them for 19 tough months. As teenagers (as played by The Kid Detective's Sophie Nélisse, The Book of Boba Fett's Sophie Thatcher, Scream VI's Jasmin Savoy, Shameless' Samantha Hanratty, Mad Max: Fury Road's Courtney Eaton and Santa Clarita Diet's Liv Hewson), they were members of the show's titular high-school soccer squad, travelling from their New Jersey home town to Seattle for a national tournament, when the worst eventuated. Films, songs and shows couldn't be more trivial when an incident like that sears itself in your history. [caption id="attachment_894477" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Colin Bentley/Showtime.[/caption] Afterwards, life would never be the same — not during the time they spent fending for themselves in the forest, and not a quarter-century later as well. In both its instantly addictive Emmy-nominated debut season and just-arrived second go-around, which streams weekly via Australia's Paramount+ and Aotearoa's Neon from Friday, March 24, Yellowjackets flits between these two time frames. Hailing from creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson (Dispatches From Elsewhere), it openly courts nostalgia itself in the process. References abound to pop-culture touchstones of the era, the soundtrack is a dark and grungy 90s dream, and the show's theme tune 'No Return' echoes with killer throwback vibes (even if Shrill's Craig Wedren and Anna Waronker, the program's resident composers, created it anew for the series). All that looking back cuts deep, though, with Yellowjackets pondering what happens when someone's yearning for days long passed is forever tainted by trauma. There's far more than wistfulness lost, robbed and infected at the heart of this survivalist thriller, of course; when it premiered, it was understandably pegged as Lost-meets-Lord of the Flies with an Alive twist, a neat but accurate-enough basic summary. All isn't always what it seems as Shauna and company endeavour to endure in the elements. Also, tearing into each other occurs more than just metaphorically. Plus, literally sinking one's teeth in has been teased and flirted with since episode one, too. But Yellowjackets will always be about what it means to face something so difficult that it forever colours and changes who you are — and constantly leaves a reminder of who you might've been. That's where the series' jumping back and forth remains so crucial, exploring shattering turns of events and the choices they spark, then watching their ripples keep biting hard decades later. When Yellowjackets ended its first season, it was with as many questions as answers. Naturally, it starts season two in the same way. In the present, mere days have elapsed — and Shauna and her husband Jeff (Warren Kole, Shades of Blue), who was also her best friend Jackie's (Ella Purnell, Sweetbitter) boyfriend before the crash, are trying to avoid drawing any attention over the disappearance of Shauna's artist lover Adam (Peter Gadiot, Queen of the South). Tai has been elected as a state senator, but her nocturnal activities have seen her wife Simone (Rukiya Bernard, Van Helsing) move out with their son Sammy (Aiden Stoxx, Supergirl). Thanks to purple-wearing kidnappers, Nat has been spirited off, leaving Misty desperate to find her — even enlisting fellow citizen detective Walter (Elijah Wood, Come to Daddy) to help. These narrative threads each connect backwards, where two months have gone by since season one wrapped up. There, as winter makes searching for food and staying warm an immense feat, Shauna is heavily pregnant and also severely grief-stricken. Van thinks that she has a solution for Tai's nighttime departures, but they're stubborn. Nat spends her days scouring the woods with Travis (Kevin Alves, Locke & Key), one of their coach's sons, for his missing brother Javi (Luciano Leroux, A Million Little Things) — and her nights attempting to counter Lottie's "witch-doctor messiah" turn. And Misty has a new pal there, too, courtesy of theatre devotee (and fellow survivor and soccer-team member) Crystal (Nuha Jes Izman, FBI). [caption id="attachment_894479" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kailey Schwerman/Showtime.[/caption] Prepare to get meaty: where the rightly buzzed-about initial season was happy mostly hinting at its wilderness secrets, season two ramps up the eeriness, chills and gore. Seeing still isn't always believing in Yellowjackets, but the pivotal crash keeps unleashing vicious consequences — and savagery not only festers but grows the longer that the 90s team is on its own in the cold, lacking a secure source of sustenance, and fraying mentally and as a group. Their predicament never stops being visceral; however, Yellowjackets has always known that the troubles firing up in everyone's hearts and heads are just ferocious. Indeed, cue a bigger dose of fantasy sequences, hallucinations and the supernatural, as the series retains its commitment to examining how the bleakest and most brutal twists of fate, and the options they inspire, turn coping into a lifelong struggle. In Yellowjackets' two timelines, it couldn't have assembled a better cast to slice into trauma, coping, yearning and ripping apart nostalgia — and anchor a series that's a psychological horror show, black comedy and teen drama as well. While its mysteries and cliffhangers made the first season make-a-date weekly viewing, Yellowjackets doesn't merely survive but thoroughly thrives because it feels so acutely human. Its women, then and now, navigate messy situations that no one should face in their worst nightmares. And yet, how these ladies process that fact, and persist — even how they fracture and fight, escape into whatever assists, latch onto the tiniest slivers of hope, and make devastating decisions, right and wrong alike — remains intensely relatable thanks to both complex writing and stunning performances. Lynskey, Lewis and Ricci on the same bill is another of the show's 90s dreams, and that trio is well-paired with Cypress, Ambrose and Kessell, not to mention well-matched by their younger counterparts. This ravenous TV feast will continue, too, with Yellowjackets unsurprisingly renewed for season three in advance of season two. Check out the full trailer for Yellowjackets season two below: Season two of Yellowjackets streams weekly from Friday, March 24 via Paramount+ in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Read our review of season one. Top image: Kailey Schwerman/Showtime.
