UPDATE: Wednesday, August 11 — Greater Sydney's lockdown is set to remain until at least 12.01am on Saturday, August 28. So, while you can't sip a spritz at the bar, make one at home instead. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website. Aperol is embracing the colder months by bringing spritzes to the slopes with its first ever Aperol Après Ski Clubs. And the Aperol Après Ski Clubs are exactly where you'll find vibrant Après festivities this winter. The Thredbo Village Aperol Après Ski Club is open from now until Thursday, September 30. Head to ski-in, ski-out favourite Kareela Hutte — accessible via the blue runs — for lunch on the deck and take in the spectacular panoramic views of Thredbo Valley. Here, you and your mates can enjoy an indulgent cheese fondue or cosy up inside to stay warm and take five. After lunch, make your way down the SuperTrail to the Cascades Restaurant where you can relish in a freshly poured spritz at the Aperol share tables or head inside to warm up in the fireplace lounge. After all that skiing you'll probably want a second serve of gooey fondue and luckily for you, Cascades Restaurant have you got you covered. Enjoy a tasty treat with your mates and swap stories about your day on the mountain to finish off an epic day in the snow. If you can't make it to the Aussie Alps, keep an eye out for further details on Aperol's Après Ski Club in the city (pending lockdown restrictions). And while you're at home, pencil in some Apertivo time with your mates and learn how to make the perfect spritz together. Aperol Après Ski Club will run till Thursday, September 30 at Thredbo Village. For more information, head to the website. Remember to Drinkwise.
The Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) has unveiled the final plans for its proposed $344 million expansion — dubbed The Sydney Modern Project — in a push to better compete with its interstate counterparts. The state government already agreed to drop $244 million on the project back in June, with the gallery looking to private donations to raise the rest as it fights to win back drooping visitor numbers. The country's most visited gallery in 2007, AGNSW has since dropped to fourth position, with Sydney Modern expected to boost annual numbers to two million by 2023. The ambitious plans, designed by Pritzker prize-winning architecture and design practice, SANAA, would dramatically increase exhibition space, incorporating an entirely new building, an outdoor public art garden and an entry plaza complete with sculptures and installations. The new building is set to cover 7,830 square metres, with construction costs expected to top $236 million. AGNSW is also looking to become Australia's first five-star Green Star rated public art museum, and wants to develop the country's most significant display of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture. As reported by The Australian, the government found that the proposed expansion "would have a moderate adverse heritage impact on the Royal Botanic Garden and Domain as a whole". The Development Application is on public exhibition over at the NSW Department of Planning and Environment website until December 15. Via The Australian
As a five-year-old in India in 1986, Saroo Brierley didn't expect to be whisked nearly 1,500 kilometres away from his family, and not be able to find his way back. Then, after being adopted by an Australian couple, he definitely didn't expect that he'd have a date with Google Earth as an adult, trying to locate the place that sparked so many memories. This stranger-than-fiction tale inspired a book, and now a movie too. And while a big screen adaptation of his life story might be the latest thing the real-life Saroo didn't anticipate, it's audiences that are in for the biggest surprise. If you didn't know that Lion was based on actual events, you'd be forgiven for thinking that it was simply a feel-good fantasy. First-time film director Garth Davis (TV's Top of the Lake) and writer Luke Davies (Life) recount Saroo's story faithfully, including its well-publicised ending. Yet despite the twists and turns having played out in the media, the Australian duo still manage to deliver a thoughtful, sensitive and emotional viewing experience. Yes, you'll know that tears are coming. But they'll still feel well and truly earned. Aerial shots of the Indian landscape immediately set audiences on a journey, with a charming little boy (newcomer Sunny Pawar) their guide. Tagging along as his older brother Guddu (Abhishek Bharate) seeks work to help their mother (Priyanka Bose) with the family finances, Saroo falls asleep on a train. By the time he awakens, events have been set in motion that will see him fending for himself on the streets of Calcutta, before eventually being adopted by Tasmanians Sue (Nicole Kidman) and John Brierley (David Wenham). It's two decades later, as an adult (now played by Dev Patel), that Saroo turns on his computer and begins his search for home. Sometimes, it's the simplest things that have the strongest impact: a child's warm, cheeky smile; the pain of a lost past lingering in a man's eyes; haunting visions of familiar places embedding themselves in the mind. Saroo's quest owes a lot to a certain search engine, but that's neither the most interesting thing to watch nor the most important part of the narrative. Crafting a highly personal story that conveys universal themes, Davis and Davies ensure that Lion doesn't forget this fact. Even as it balances several competing elements — the two countries Saroo calls his own throughout his life, his feelings for his two families, and the push and pull between old-fashioned human connection and the influence of modern technology — the film never loses its footing Indeed, the key to the movie is people. Or, to be specific, one person and two shining performances. Pawar and Patel each possess the naturalistic spark that keeps viewers along for the ride — one innocent and endearing, the other oozing inner conflict and yearning. As a result, Lion does exactly what it needs to make hearts soar and tears swell. It might do so in a standard fashion, but, boy does it do it well.
At many times in Breaking Bad's history — and in even-better spinoff prequel series Better Call Saul's history, too — Mike Ehrmantrout (Jonathan Banks, The Commuter) has known exactly what to say. The former cop-turned-private investigator, fixer, cleaner and hitman doesn't speak if he doesn't need to, so when he does, it's worth listening to. And in the just-dropped trailer for Better Call Saul's long-awaited sixth and final season, he makes quite the statement. "Whatever happens next, it's not gonna go down the way you think it is," Ehrmantrout utters in his inimitable gravelly voice towards the end of this first sneak peek at the new season — and if you've been along for the Breaking Bad–El Camino–Better Call Saul ride since 2008, that's quite the intriguing choice of phrase. We all do already know what happens in Breaking Bad for Mike, and obviously for lawyer Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk, Nobody), but series creator Vince Gilligan clearly has a few more tricks up his sleeve. Nothing about either two shows has ever just hit the expected beats, of course. And part of what's made Better Call Saul so brilliant is the way it spins its story, fleshing out the two Breaking Bad figures' histories after we've already seen what comes next. For the eponymous Saul — aka Jimmy McGill, his birth name — we've also been getting very short black-and-white glimpses of his Cinnabon-managing post-Breaking Bad life, contrasting with his earnest initial quest to be a legitimate lawyer. We've said it before and it's worth saying again: Better Call Saul is television's greatest tragedy. It's also one that not only spans Jimmy-slash-Saul and Mike — and, in recent seasons, Los Pollos Hermanos owner Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito, The Boys), drug kingpin Hector Salamanca (Mark Margolis, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2) and DEA agent Hank Schrader (Dean Norris, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark) — but the characters in their orbit that didn't appear in Breaking Bad. That includes Jimmy's successful older brother Chuck (Michael McKean, Breeders), and his girlfriend and fellow lawyer Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn, Veep), plus gangland figure Nacho Varda (Michael Mando, Orphan Black). Stating the obvious, this aren't turning out well for most of them. The first trailer for Better Call Saul's sixth season — its first batch of episodes since 2020 — doesn't dive too far into the narrative, but it does make plain what we all know is coming. That'd be Jimmy-slash-Saul breaking bad and embracing his "s'all good, man" new persona as a criminal lawyer (and not just because he represents criminals). However, again, that doesn't mean that we know exactly how the season will play out. Whatever the show's future holds, its sixth season will arrive in two parts — with the first seven episodes airing from Tuesday, April 19 in Australia, and the final six arriving from Tuesday, July 12. We'll also see more of post-Breaking Bad Saul's story, where he's known as Gene. Best break out the cinnamon scrolls, obviously. Check out the Better Call Saul season six trailer below: Better Call Saul's sixth season starts streaming in Australia via Stan from Tuesday, April 19 — and will stream in New Zealand via Neon. Images: Greg Lewis/AMC/Sony Pictures Television.
2012 seems too future a year to still be talking about radio. Invented so many moons ago, how is it possible that radio has dodged the inevitable demise of all other pre-internet devices for information dissemination? And yet, radio is an almost unchanged, non-visual, intangible medium that has managed to engage an audience for over one hundred years. Perhaps it is the pared back simplicity of the sound of the human voice which has enabled the wireless to endure. Or perhaps it's the ability of radio to act as a constant companion – from beside buddy waking us from sleep to background fodder in morning traffic to emergency weather warnings in far corners of the state. Radio possesses a remarkably static history but it is also a diverse, easily accessible technology and one too which has developed through the advent of podcasts and on-demand radio apps. A friend recently introduced to me the This American Life app, and here I quickly spiralled into the world of radio apps. There is beauty in the voice of someone’s story and it makes excellent feed for light-on small talk (although beware the compulsion that can ensue). Other people’s stories are addictive and here, a second warning; radio streaming is a data killer — either get yourself an unlimited data plan or make good use of your workplace wireless. In a world so rammed with visual stimulation, it is incredible to think that the simplicity of the sound of a voice is still an engaging notion. We love stories and with the world just a touch pad away it is all primed and waiting to be streamed (data limit pending). Here are some of Concrete Playground's favourite radio apps to get you started. This American Life For those not yet savvy to the sounds of host, Ira Glass, This American Life is a long-running, weekly one-hour program on America’s public radio station NPR. Each week TAL takes a theme and presents a number of stories on that theme. For example, a 2011 program on gossip looked at the relationship between gossip and the AIDS epidemic in Malawi. The Held Hostage program of 2012 told of a Colombian late night radio program where families of victims of kidnapping call in to send messages to their loved ones, hoping that they are still alive and might just be listening in. The beauty of TAL lies in the lateral consideration of each theme and, most importantly, in the classic tools used to create the stories for radio. TAL is one of the few radio programs to provide a program-only app (Radio National, are you listening?). It is not free but $2.99 is a small price to pay for access to the entire TAL archive, including viewing of the two seasons of the TAL television series. All programs can be streamed, saved for offline listening or alternatively downloaded for a small fee. It is a simple app to use with a clear layout, search bar, full descriptions of each program and labels to mark shows as read or favourited. Price: $2.99 Planet Money Planet Money is an economics-for-dummies radio program, also on NPR. I first heard about Planet Money through my obsession with TAL as the team from Planet Money frequently guest programmes TAL. Primarily though, it is a twice-weekly show and the app is an excellent entry into the program with accompanying articles and their additional appearances on TAL, All Things Considered and Morning Edition. Don’t think you need to know about economics? Think again. Understand economics and you start to understand how most of how our world operates. Highly recommended for dazzling cocktail party swagger when it comes to impressing all. Your education starts here. Price: Free BBC Listener More interested in British radio? BBC Listener is the app for you. With a great old-school wireless interface this app can immediately transport you to the cool tombs of the BBC studios of the 1950s. BBC Listener is especially curated for an international audience with a weekly delivery of 20 of the best BBC programs for that week. Programs are divided into genres and are accompanied by visuals – still and video. Price: One month free trial and then $3.99/month. The app is free to download. TuneIn Radio With the American and British equivalents of the ABC (BBC and NPR) branching out into the world of apps, I guess it is only a matter of time before the ABC gets more serious about their digital platforms. Whilst we wait we are stuck with TuneIn. TuneIn is a radio streaming app which gives you free access to thousands of radio programs across the globe, including Australia. It is a clunky app with no program descriptions and a search function which is a tad redundant unless you actually know what you are looking for. The upside is that when you don’t know what you want to listen to you can stumble upon some goodies. And with thousands of programs to choose from you have access to a diverse mix of radio from around the world. Price: Free Stitcher Much like TuneIn, Stitcher is a radio streaming app although with the addition of a personalisation scheme. As you listen and build up a stable of favourite programs, Stitcher will recommend other shows based on your listening habits ie. the app will ‘stitch’ together your own personal radio station. Prefer not to have a computer claiming, ‘You might also like…’? Not to worry. Stitcher also lets you build this process yourself. Price: Free Podcasts Now, all that I have said above is pretty much negated by the recent addition to the Apple stable, Podcasts. Although technically we have always been able to subscribe to podcasts and have them automatically appear in our iTunes – Podcasts make this process less complicated. Podcasts is simple to use and holds all your subscriptions in one place on your phone. It connects to the iTunes store with just a swing of the window and includes full descriptions of all programs. Of course, it is reliant on your favourite radio programs providing podcasts, but most do. Radio National programs can all be subscribed to, as can BBC Radio programs and NPR. The beauty here is the ability to somewhat branch out of radio and discover some of the cross-platform spoken word interviews and stories which are only available as podcasts. Price: Free
Berndnaut Smilde has challenged preconceptions of visual art with 'Nimbus II'. In this collection of photographs, a natural entity has become synthetic, and what has always been ephemeral is now captured forever. A thematic continuation of Smilde's original 'Nimbus' (pictured below), 'Nimbus II' features a petite, fairy floss-like cloud hovering below the lofty white ceiling of Hotel MariaKapel in Hoorn, Netherlands. Smilde generates the clouds using a smoke machine, carefully monitoring the humidity of the room and using lighting to enhance the life-like essence of the storm cloud. "On the one hand I wanted to create an ominous situation. You could see the cloud as a sign of misfortune," said Smilde of 'Nimbus' in a 2010 interview with Probe online gallery. "You could also read it as an element out of the Dutch landscape paintings in a physical form in a classical museum hall. At the same time I wanted to make (for once) a very clear image, an almost cliché and cartoon-like visualisation of having bad luck." Despite the bad luck connotations of a cloud, the photos of 'Nimbus II' succeed in establishing a whimsical element as well. Smilde said that this work plays with the concept of the ephemeral and is influenced by "physical presence found within transitional space." [via Trendhunter]
Not familiar with the ever-growing craze of the 'bush doof'? Let us explain. A bush doof is a festival/dance party/rave held in a remote location — so yes, essentially 'doofing' in the bush. And Subsonic is one particular festival gaining momentum, fast. Dedicated to all things beat and bass, Subsonic is set against the picturesque surrounds of Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort, only three hours north of Sydney. Three days of music and camping, Subsonic is a lifestyle festival bringing together a stellar lineup of local and international artists in a uniquely unconventional environment. This year sees the UK's James Holden and Addison Groove headlining with French Wu-Dubs founder Alexkid, broody Swiss club master Eli Verveine and more. Oh and although the Festival grounds are licensed, BYO is permitted at campsites — a perk lacking at other major festivals.
UPDATE, December 23, 2022: Barbarian is available to stream via Disney+ from January 4, 2023. "Safe as houses" isn't a term that applies much in horror. It isn't difficult to glean why. Even if scary movies routinely followed folks worrying about their investments — one meaning of the phrase — it's always going to be tricky for the sentiment to stick when such flicks love plaguing homes, lodges and other dwellings with bumps, jumps and bone-chilling terror. Barbarian, however, could break out the expression and mean it, in a way. At its centre sits a spruced-up Detroit cottage listed on Airbnb and earning its owner a trusty income. In the film's setup, the house in question is actually doing double duty, with two guests booked for clashing stays over the same dates. It's hardly a spoiler to say that their time in the spot, the nicest-looking residence in a rundown neighbourhood, leaves them feeling anything but safe. Late on a gloomy, rainy, horror-movie-101 kind of night — an eerie and tense evening from the moment that writer/director Zach Cregger's first feature as a solo director begins — Tess Marshall (Georgina Campbell, Suspicion) arrives at Barbarian's pivotal Michigan property. She's in town for a job interview, but discovers the lockbox empty, keys nowhere to be found. Also, the home already has an occupant in Keith Toshko (Bill Skarsgård, Eternals), who made his reservation via a different website. With a medical convention filling the city's hotels, sharing the cottage seems the only option, even if Tess is understandably cautious about cohabitating with a man she's literally just met. Ambiguity is part of Barbarian from the get-go, spanning whether Keith can be trusted, what's behind their double booking and, when things start moving overnight, what's going on in the abode. That's only the start of Barbarian's hellish story. Canny casting plays a considerable part in Barbarian's early unease; if you rocked up to a place that's meant to be yours alone for the evening only for Pennywise from the recent big-screen version of IT and its sequel lurking within — sans red balloon, luckily — you'd be creeped out. Skarsgård's involvement isn't the only reason that the movie's first act drips with dread and uncertainty, but it's a devastatingly clever use of him as a horror-film talent, and the Swedish star leans into the slippery and shifty possibilities. Still, after taking a photo of his ID and being wary of drinking beverages he's made, Tess warms to Keith over wine and conversation. He's having a loud nightmare on the couch, too, when her bedroom door opens mysteriously. When she gets stuck in the locked basement the next day, he's out at meetings. Then he returns, and they'll wish that a reservation mixup really was the worst of their troubles. Clearly made with affection for old-school horror, especially films by genre great Wes Craven, Barbarian feels like a well-crafted take on a familiar premise while it's laying its groundwork. Foolish is the viewer who thinks that they know where the movie is heading from there, though — or who ignores the instant bubblings of potential to zig and zag, plus the lingering inkling that something beyond the easily expected might stalk its frames. Indeed, watching Barbarian recalls watching scary flicks from four and five decades back for the first time, a rite of passage for every horror-loving teen no matter the generation, and being gripped by their surprises. Cregger bundles in twists, but he also establishes a vibe where almost anything can shift and change. Two cases in point: when Justin Long (Giri/Haji) shows up as a smug and obnoxious Hollywood player with #MeToo problems, and when the 80s isn't just an influence in scenes lensed in a tighter aspect ratio. Keeping audiences guessing is chief among Barbarian's games, and one it plays with glee and skill on Cregger's part. That's true when the film is nodding to other horror greats, as also seen in its Psycho nudges (side note: Skarsgård would make a great Norman Bates if anyone was to try remaking Alfred Hitchcock's classic again). It's also accurate when Barbarian is going all in on unnerving frights and inducing fear — the moment you think you know where the plot sits, it careens sharply, and the moment you think you know when the next shock or source of apprehension will arrive, and how, it flips just as boldly. He's co-helmed Miss March and The Civil War on Drugs before, but it's the filmmaker's background in sketch comedy (as a cofounder of New York-based troupe The Whitest Kids U' Know, in fact) that might underline his ability and willingness to turn wildly, and to make each pivot and leap pay off. Jordan Peele took a similar jump and that's going swimmingly, as Get Out, Us and Nope attest. But Cregger opts for what might seem an unusual choice in these elevated horror times: he flirts with topical subjects and helms a movie with things to say, but layers in his many points rather than makes any one the main focus. It isn't by accident that Barbarian is set in Detroit, or in its Brightmoor area. The way suburbia can boom, change and falter under capitalism is firmly in the film's sights, as are the inequities in income in general, and at the heart of the short-term rental market — plus the fact that such services can virtually snap up entire neighbourhoods, price plenty of folks out of them, and see homes turned into cash cows at the expense of any sense of community. Cregger also muses just as savvily and bitingly on toxic masculinity and the roles it forces women into, such as victims, villains and simply constantly being on high alert, as Tess always is. Splashing around an eagerness to keep challenging itself — including visually, with cinematographer Zach Kuperstein (The Eyes of My Mother) rarely using the obvious shot, and also ensuring every frame is taut and precise — Barbarian is deeply, gloriously and entertainingly sinister. It's meticulously and impressively executed, and also innately unsettling. It knows all the tropes and horror conventions that've filled films both spectacular and terrible before, and it knows how to toy with and subvert them, when to let them run their course, and how to make a movie that feels fresh no matter which of the above it's doing. And, in the process, it deserves to boost not only Cregger's career, but also the excellent Campbell's. Playing a memorable potential final girl takes fortitude (see: Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode again and again), and playing a character that's smart, determined, resourceful but keeps making questionable horror-movie decisions for understandable reasons requires commitment. Believing in Campbell as Tess, and in the attention-grabber of a flick she's in: now that's a move that's safe as houses.
With its mix of high-end boutiques and local, independent retailers, there's no denying that Paddington is home to some of the best shopping in Sydney. See it in full swing on the evening of Thursday, March 25, when the streets of the 'hood come to life at A 2021 Night Out. Making the most of the last days of daylight savings, the one-night event sees over 100 local businesses host an evening of fashion, food and festivities. A 2021 Night Out is a partnership between Woollahra Council, City of Sydney Council and Visit Paddington. [caption id="attachment_803592" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elph Ceramics, Steven Woodburn[/caption] There'll be plenty to see, do and shop at sites in the main zones of Oxford Street, Five Ways, The Intersection and William Street. The one-night offers include 15 percent off storewide at Funkis, the Paddington-based Swedish designer store famed for its minimalist and timeless Scandi-style designs. Speaking of timeless designs, Aussie designer Scanlan Theodore is serving free signature cocktails and refreshments to enjoy as you browse the latest collection, or to sip on during a complimentary styling session by senior in-house stylists. Elsewhere, Parlour X, located in the former St John's Church, will offer 10 percent off new season items, as well as a further 20 percent off sale items, from its range of European designer wares. Closer to Five Ways, dreamy stationery and paper store Journals is teaming up with neighbouring restaurant Tequila Mockingbird for an evening of magazines and margaritas — and, we must ask, why hadn't anybody thought of this sooner? Also on the non-fashion front, Elph Ceramics is offering 10 percent off its stunning house range of handmade pieces. For more information on all participating businesses and their exclusive offers for A 2021 Night Out, head here. Top image: Funkis, Steven Woodburn
In a dream world, a new film pairing Emma Stone with Yorgos Lanthimos would hit cinemas approximately every six months. In this realm, that's happening at least once. Oscar-winner Poor Things reached picture palaces Down Under at the end of 2023, and now Kinds of Kindness, the duo's next collaboration, has a date with local big screens in mid-July. The Greek director has reteamed with Stone (The Curse) for their third feature, after The Favourite as well, with the end result first premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. While Lanthimos' current favourite lead actor won an Academy Award for Poor Things, it was Jesse Plemons (Killers of the Flower Moon) who scored a trophy at the prestigious French fest, collecting the Best Actor gong. As both the first teaser and just-dropped full trailer for Kinds of Kindness show, Lanthimos and Stone have made a triptych this time, with the film featuring three fable-like tales. One is about a man who doesn't have any choice as he attempts to seize control of his existence. Another follows a policeman whose wife goes missing at sea, then returns but doesn't seem like herself. And the last charts a woman trying to find a person with a unique ability that's meant to become a spiritual leader. The initial glimpse at the movie spanned speeding cars, dragged bodies, slaps, dancing, dogs, licking and Stone talking about the moment of truth, all soundtracked by the Eurythmics' 'Sweet Dreams'. If you're thinking "isn't it wonderful" about this combination of elements, the movie understands — they're Stone's last words in the footage. The new trailer keeps the same soundtrack, and also some of the above details, but also comes with cryptic warnings, declarations of love, fainting, intimate anecdotes and dogs driving a car. On-screen, Stone — who also worked with Lanthimos on short film Bleat — has her Poor Things co-stars Willem Dafoe (Asteroid City) and Margaret Qualley (Drive-Away Dolls) for company. Joining them and Plemons: Hong Chau (The Menu), Joe Alwyn (Stars at Noon), Mamoudou Athie (The Burial) and Hunter Schafer (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes). Lanthimos helms, co-writing the script with Efthimis Filippou (who penned the filmmaker's Dogtooth, Alps, The Lobster and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, too), on a flick that'll release Down Under on Thursday, July 11 — and play Sydney Film Festival before that. Check out the trailer for Kinds of Kindness below: Kinds of Kindness releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, July 11, 2024. Images: Atsushi Nishijima. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
First we had beer flavoured like food, and now at long last we've got beer that is food. Yep, move over Nutella, there's a spreadable beer in town by the name of Birra Spalmabile. It hails from Italy's Cittareale, where Emanuela Laurenzi of Alta Quota Brewery and Pietro Napoleone of Napoleone Chocolatiers have combined their expertise in something of a dream team. The duo unveiled their invention at Turin’s Salone de Gusto food fair, where the spreadable beer caused quite a stir, and we're not surprised. Birra Spalmabile (literally translated to 'beer spread') reportedly goes down nicely with a slice of cheese. (And you thought you were weird for combining peanut butter and vegemite on your sandwiches.) Also useable as a filling in cake, the spread comes in two flavours — Omid dark ale and Greta blonde ale, the first being a little more intense than the latter and each made of 40 percent beer. Though not stocked in any Aussie stores, you can order a jar or ten directly from the source by emailing commericiale@birraaltaquota.it. Just expect to pay its weight in gold for delivery. Via NY Post
To celebrate its 21st year, Splendour in the Grass has already announced a packed music roster, starting with Lizzo, and also featuring Flume, Mumford & Sons, Lewis Capaldi, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Noah Cyrus, Hilltop Hoods, Sam Fender, J Balvin, Little Simz, Idles, Tove Lo and more. But a month out from the fest, the Byron Bay event isn't done inviting special guests. This party will also now include Pussy Riot, complete with a live interview with Nadya Tolokonnikova — and the collective performing. Also joining the lineup from Friday, July 21–Sunday, July 23: everyone's favourite ex-AFL player-turned-sports newsreader Tony Armstrong, The Betoota Advocate, Dr Karl, Brooke Boney, and comedians such as Deadloch star Nina Oyama and Michael Hing. While Pussy Riot will indeed take to the GW McLennan stage in what'll be their only live Australian performance, Splendour's program boost is otherwise all about who'll be gracing the Forum, Science Tent and Comedy Club, plus the new Forum Live Podcasts initiative. [caption id="attachment_906507" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yulia Shur[/caption] In another Aussie exclusive, Tolokonnikova will chat with The Project host Hamish Macdonald about being a globally renowned artist and being included on Russia's most-wanted list. That's part of the Forum's lineup, which also spans Boney, Armstrong, Rachael Cavanagh, Dean Parkin and Carla McGrath chatting about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament; a special directors-cut screening of Australian hip hop documentary Burn Gently; and the first-ever Splendour Town Hall, which'll feature Federal Youth Minister Dr Anne Aly. Dr Karl will do what he does best — break down all things science — in Great Moments in Science; online sex work will be in focus at Social Media x Sex Commerce: The Oldest Profession Meets the Newest Technology; and other sessions will examine new cannabis laws, what it's really like to work in the music industry, pill testing, and why generations Y and Z are doing it tough compared to their parents. Thanks to Forum Live Podcasts, The Betoota Advocate Podcast will record live, as will What the Flux, Where's Your Head At?, Sometimes Funny Always Awkward, Kinky History and Science Vs. The Science Tent will feature everything from body farms and forensics to conservation and the science of wellness, while the Splendour Comedy Club will welcome in Oyama, Hing, Nat Damena, Blake Freeman, Alexandra Hudson, Sashi Perera, Rosie Delaney, Hot Department and more. [caption id="attachment_906505" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mitch Lowe[/caption] SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2023 MUSIC LINEUP: Lizzo Flume (Australian exclusive: ten years of Flume) Mumford & Sons (Australian exclusive) Lewis Capaldi Yeah Yeah Yeahs Hilltop Hoods J Balvin Sam Fender Idles Little Simz Tove Lo 100 Gecs (Australian exclusive) Arlo Parks Ball Park Music Iann Dior King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard 070 Shake Pnau Ruel Loyle Carner Benee Marlon Williams Hooligan Hefs Peach PRC Palace Dune Rats Tkay Maidza Noah Cyrus Skegss Sudan Archives Cub Sport Meg Mac X Club. Claire Rosinkranz Jack River The Smith Street Band Lastlings Jeremy Zucker Young Franco Sly Withers MAY-A The Vanns Telenova Vallis Alps Jamesjamesjames Kaycyy RVG Teenage Dads Balming Tiger Automatic Harvey Sutherland Gali Del Water Gap Royel Otis Shag Rock Big Wett Mia Wray Memphis LK Gold Fang Milku Sumner Forest Claudette Full Flower Moon Band William Crighton Hellcat Speedracer Triple J Unearthed Winners Mix Up DJs: Tseba Crybaby Latifa Tee Foura Caucasianopportunities Luen Mowgli DJ Macaroni Crescendoll Splendour in the Grass will take over North Byron Bay Parklands from Friday, July 21–Sunday, July 23, 2023 — head to the festival website for further details and tickets. Top image: Dave Kan.
If you're looking for an excuse to break out your cowboy hat this Halloween, look no further than the Factory Theatre's Halloween Hoedown. The inner west concert venue is collecting a heap of local modern country music acts for a night of sweet country tunes on Saturday, October 30. Costumes are (of course) encouraged at the gig, with country and western getup an obvious choice. But, any spooky costume you may have planned for the weekend is entirely acceptable. Tunes will kick off from 4pm, with Sydney country stalwarts The Morrisons and Cruisin' Deuces joined by exciting new singer-songwriters Babitha and Georgia Mulligan. Rounding out the lineup are The Sweet Jelly Rolls and Shelly's Murder Boys. The outdoor stage will be accompanied by The Factory's beloved beer garden and food trucks. After months without live music or dancing in Sydney, head down to Marrickville for an afternoon of live sets in the sun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ0My4-62IE
This four-kilometre walking track follows Talbingo's first mountain road — a remnant of the Kiandra Gold Rush of the 1860s — and takes you up a short but reasonably challenging track, so be prepared to get the heart pumping. At the top, you'll find yourself at one heck of a lookout offering stunning views of the surrounding areas such as Bogong Peaks, Jounama Pondage and Blowering Reservoir (pictured above). Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for mountain wildflowers, grey kangaroos and all manner of native birdlife.
Josh and Julie Niland are proud pioneers. The pair's low-waste, often experimental approach to seafood — most notably the innovation of dry-aging fish — once raised eyebrows, but today, not only are these techniques a hit with Sydney diners, they've also earned the Nilands international acclaim and an impressive haul of awards, including three coveted Good Food Hats. Now, the pair are trailblazing once again, launching a boutique stay attached to a restaurant. The Grand National Hotel by Saint Peter will feature 14 luxury suites located above the dining space of the Niland's flagship fine diner, which moved last August from its original digs on Paddington's Oxford Street to Underwood Street, just around the corner. The former pub, which dates back to 1890, is entering its latest era as a multi-faceted hospitality destination following six years of renovations. During that time, an invitation to the Nilands from the pub's owner, George Penklis, to launch a new fine diner evolved into a bold plan to create a hotel-restaurant hybrid where top-of-class cuisine and plush accommodations go hand in glove. With input at every level from the Nilands, Studio Aquilo has designed the interiors to blend existing heritage features like marble fireplaces with vibrant, modern textures and luxe details. The rooms, featuring custom velvet headboards and Australian-made artworks including black and white sketches by Ken Done, also underline the Niland's low-impact, eco-minded philosophy with fish-fat candles, down duvets ethically sourced by Melbourne-based company Bonny and ceramics created using fish bones. The Nilands aim to offer a complete hospitality experience, with breakfast by the Saint Peter team, handmade chocolates, and a non-alcoholic minibar included with every booking. "When approaching the hotel, we paid as much attention to detail to the design and furnishing as we did with the restaurant. This is our first venture into being hoteliers, and we knew that we wanted to apply the same level of care to the rooms so that they weren't just an addition to Saint Peter but a destination in their own right," says Julie Niland. "We want the restaurant and the rooms to complement each other as much as possible.," comments Josh Niland. "Opening the hotel allows us the opportunity to fulfil our vision of hospitality beyond dining into a thoughtful 360-degree hotel experience, from handmade chocolates on your pillow to the breakfast cooked by our team." The Grand National Hotel by Saint Peter, located at 161 Underwood Street, Paddington, is set to open on January 31. Reservations are now open — go to the Grand National Hotel by Saint Peter website for more details. Images: Christopher Pearce
Entering an Australian supermarket over the past month or so, you can be forgiven for thinking that you're walking onto the set of a post-apocalyptic film. People have been everywhere — until customer limits were put in place in-store — but the shelves are often bare, with shoppers panic-buying everything from toilet paper and hand sanitiser to pasta and milk. As the COVID-19 situation evolved, local supermarket chains were forced to implement item limits — and increase them when the hoarding kept happening, causing everyday staples to keep selling out. But, while some restrictions aren't going anywhere soon, Coles and Woolworths have started to lift caps on a range of items. At Coles, limits have been lifted on both UHT and fresh milk, all types of meat, plus tissues and nappies. The company currently only has one-pack-per-person limits on toilet paper and paper towels, and two-pack-per-person cap on eggs, sugar, frozen vegetables, frozen desserts, canned tomatoes, pasta, all dry rice regardless of size, flour, hand sanitiser, liquid soap and antibacterial wipes — although additional limits may still be placed on other items on a store-by-store basis, so it's best to pay attention to the signage while you're shopping. Over at Woolies, caps have now been removed on tinned tomatoes, canned legumes and all canned vegetables; longlife milk; oats; baby care items excluding wipes; and serviettes. A few weeks back, it was easier to list what wasn't restricted than detail what did have limits, with a two-pack-per-person limit applying in general to most products; however the chain's caps have been changing regularly. Still, before you head in to buy groceries, it's worth checking out the Woolies website for the latest details. Aldi's most recent limits are all still in place, including caps on toilet paper (one pack); dry pasta, dry rice, flour, paper towels, tissues, sanitiser and eggs (two packs); UHT milk, sugar and microwavable rice (six packs); and canned foods (ten packs). At IGA, it's still a store-by-store decision. "In the spirit of helping everyone in our local communities access essential items, stores have placed purchase limits on items that are critically low in stock. These limits are being managed on a store by store basis and are increasing day by day," the chain advised in a statement. For more details on Australian supermarket item limits, keep an eye on Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and IGA's websites. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top image: Vakrieger via Wikimedia Commons.
Summer always brings hot days to Sydney — and it brings more than a few must-see exhibitions to town, too. The MCA and Art Gallery of NSW have rolled out their blockbusters (David Goldblatt and art from the Hermitage, respectively), and, with Sydney Festival, a huge Star Wars showcase at the Powerhouse and a slew of great shows at smaller galleries, you really have a lot to see before the season is out. Hop to it.
Calling all foodies: Bankstown's annual celebration of local cuisine — from just-baked brownies slathered in peanut butter to freshly made rotis sopping up rich curries — is back. On Saturday, July 27, you can taste your way around the suburb on a curated culinary tour taking in 28 Bankstown venues. Olympic Parade and Griffith Park will also be transformed into an international food court, with more than 30 stalls serving dishes from around the world. Among the must-taste treats visitors can sample will be succulent Greek souvlakis, traditional Macanese desserts, Nepalese street eats and more. For hungry Sydneysiders who want to get hands-on, the fest's cookery masterclasses and interactive demos are a must. Celebrity pastry chef and Family Food Fight judge Anna Polyviou will team up with her mum, Eugina, to share family recipes for Greek favourites like spanakopita, keftedes and loukoumades, while demonstrations by the Barbeque Cooking School will reveal the secrets to the perfect backyard cookout. Visitors can also learn how to make Italian crowd-pleasers like tiramisu, bruschetta, and from-scratch pasta from the folks at Humanity Matters. [caption id="attachment_966688" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna and Eugina Polyviou[/caption] In between mouthfuls, be sure to check out the live performances by the emerging artists supported by the Bankstown Talent Advancement program. Phat Brass will be dropping electrifying brass beats and the Around the World Dance Group will be shimmying up a storm with a dazzling mix of Latin American, Irish, Spanish, Greek, Asian, and Bollywood choreography. This family-friendly event has plenty to keep little ones entertained, with face painting, kitchen workshops and heaps of free activities on offer at Bites Corner. And it's not just the rugrats who can get in on the fun and games. The Bites Backyard will feature a chill-out zone where visitors can enjoy a free round of barefoot bowls as well as other classic backyard activities.
Do you have a whole shrine filled with gin? A shelf? A decent section of your liquor cabinet? If so, it's likely that many of those bottles hail from Australia's own Four Pillars. And, thanks to the gin-making superstars' just-released new tipple, you're probably about to add to them. From now on, your gin cocktails will all taste like yuzu — because that's the ingredient in the spotlight in Four Pillars' latest drop. The brand has played with fruit before, including just last year; however, this newbie is going straight to its core range. Like its past experiments, the Fresh Yuzu Gin uses locally grown yuzu. In fact, the fruit is grown just up the road from Four Pillars' Healesville base. And, while that's what you'll be tasting in a big way, expect other citrus flavours as well — and even green tea. As Four Pillars co-founder and distiller Cam Mackenzie explains, "yuzu brings amazing aromatics that are a mix of lemon, mandarin, cumquat and grapefruit — all bright and fresh citrus notes — while the addition of finger lime adds some deeper citrus character." "We've also learnt a lot (from the best) in our adventures making gin with Japanese friends, so in our take on yuzu gin, we've used ginger, turmeric and sencha genmaicha, a Japanese green tea with roasted brown rice, for depth of flavour," Mackenzie continues. "[Plus] a canvas of strong pine-needle juniper and a bit of lemon myrtle add a touch of lemon curd." Four Pillars recommends that you drink the Fresh Yuzu Gin in a highball with lots of ice, soda or light tonic, as topped with any kind of citrus garnish (although yuzu would obviously be best). If you're now hankering for a beverage, the new yuzu gin is available from the distillery's website for $80 per bottle, and also from Four Pillars' gin shops at its distillery door in Healesville and its Sydney Laboratory in Surry Hills. It'll start hitting bottle-os throughout April as well. For more information about Fresh Yuzu Gin, or to buy it, head to the distillery's website.
Pier One's harbourfront igloos are back. And, once again, one of them has its very own hot tub. Yes, a hot tub. So if you've been hankering after wintry waterside drinks — but aren't quite willing to brave the cold — this should be a very viable option. In case you're wondering, the igloos aren't made of snow and ice. They're transparent dome-shaped structures that you can hire for yourself and up to ten mates (socially distanced, of course), as long as you're willing to indulge in a few cocktails, glasses of Champagne and snacks from the Bar One menu. To hire out the hot tub igloo, you have to spend $400 for 2.5 hours and pay a $200 hire fee (which will end up costing $60 a head). The hire comes with fluffy robes, towels and a change room. If you want to go all out, you can also book into the Dream Igloo Suite, with cosy decor, a day bed and some of the best harbour views around. It'll set you back around $600 all up (including hire fee). This year, all igloos will be on suite balconies, perched above the pier. For those who want to truly indulge, you can opt for a luxe food hamper, including a cheese and charcuterie hamper, a seafood market basket and one filled with decadent desserts. Each hamper serves two. You can hire out the igloos daily, from 12–2.30pm, 3.30–6pm or 7–9.30pm, between Friday, June 19 and Sunday, August 30. If you opt for the latter, you can add on a night's stay in the suite for an $350, which includes overnight accomodation for two, plus breakfast and parking. Igloos on the Pier are available to book out at midday, 3.30pm and 7pm daily.
Pyrmont's Quarrymans Hotel was on our radar when it had a facelift back in 2017. Now, it's had another upgrade — this time, though, the craft beer den has expanded upward, opening The Rooftop, a Palm Springs-inspired bar and lounge, on the hotel's top level. Designer Matt Woods (Bloodwood, Devon Cafe) is channeling poolside, resort feels with pastel pink walls, textured timber flooring and bright, airy spaces. The indoor section better resembles a posh beach house with multiple rooms filled with plush leather couches and chairs, coffee tables and bookshelves, along with modern globe lamps and large-scale artwork on the walls. Venture outside for a mix of bar, bench and table seating, checkered umbrellas and hanging greenery, plus a cacti garden and succulents on each table. While downstairs focuses on craft beer, The Rooftop is more of a cocktail affair. The list starts with creations like the house spritz, made with grapefruit vodka and lemon myrtle kombucha, and the Palma Rosa — a combo of tequila blanco, rosé, ruby grapefruit juice and ginger syrup. You'll also find a selection of wines by the glass, here, and a few taps dedicated to the likes of Young Henrys, Balter and Stone & Wood. In terms of food, the rooftop menu combines pub grub with a touch of Baja California — think chicken tacos with salsa fresca and guacamole, or a salmon poke salad with ginger and mentsuyu sauce. Fried chicken burgers with Old Bay fries and buffalo wings make the menu, too. The Rooftop is now open on the top level of the Quarrymans Hotel at 214-216 Harris St, Pyrmont. Open Wednesday through Sunday from noon until late.
There's never a bad time to dress up — and not just don your sleekest threads, but put on a costume. Perhaps you really want to spread some festive cheer mid-year. Maybe you need something spooky for Halloween. Or, you could just need something wizard-related for one of Sydney's regular Harry Potter-themed events. Snog the Frog knows all about throwing on a different outfit for a special occasion. You'll find Snog The Frog behind a roller door on a backstreet in Surry Hills. There's plenty to hire or buy, and most of it is Aussie made. Plus, the independent team offers a makeup service to take it to the next level with some special effects. Round up two of your mates and go as Kath, Kim and Sharon, convince your best mate to be the B2 to your B1 or dress up as a real-life Australian icon like Steve Irwin, Cathy Freeman or the Sydney Opera House (we didn't think it was possible, but Snog The Frog's done it). Image: Dean McCartney
When Sony phoned the Narrabri Council to ask if Daft Punk could launch their latest album at the Wee Waa Showground, Mayor Conrad Bolton assumed the proposition was a hoax. "I thought a mate was pulling my leg," he told the Narrabri Courier. But the call was very much for real. A fortnight ago, a group of Sony's hard-hitters jetted to the 2000-person town to determine its suitability for a serious party. They liked what they saw, so May 17 will see the launch of Random Access Memories alongside the region's finest livestock at the Wee Waa Annual Show. Only 4000 tickets are going on sale. Several will be reserved exclusively for members of the Show Society and the remainder will be up for grabs from this Friday at Narrabri's Crossing Theatre. The rest of the French electro band's fans, which number in the millions, will be able to attend the celebration remotely, via live stream. Daft Punk will not be appearing live at the show; the launch of Random Access Memories will take place via playback. Last night, Wee Waa Show president Brett Dickinson told triple j, "We're still pinching ourselves. We don't know why, but why not?" According to Bolton, the tiny town's quintessentially Australian ambiance appeals to Daft Punk's maverick tendencies. "We think Wee Waa is so uniquely Australian, so the folks at Sony Music along with Daft Punk thought it fitted the bill perfectly," he explained to the Courier. "Daft Punk is known for breaking down barriers and coming up with new creative, innovative ideas to launch their albums."
When your Thursday is dragging a little, perk yourself right back up with a lunchtime excursion to cutting-edge gallery Firstdraft. One of our favourite galleries in the city, this democratic and daring artist-led initiative is all about experimental, ambitious and challenging art. The constantly rotating series of exhibitions includes works in a wide-variety of media, ranging from contemporary sculpture to video installations and everything in between. Spend 45 minutes here during your lunch hour discovering the December exhibitions, and you'll leave feeling all inspired, energised and ready to breeze through the rest of the afternoon at work.
A pure slice of classic sci-fi, S-27 could easily be a reworking of George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four. Instead of Hitler, this particular version of dystopia employs a more contemporary phantom, referencing the Khmer Rouge's S-21 prison. Here the civil servant protagonist is female, chosen to work as a prison photographer for an outfit known only as 'the Organisation'. Sarah Grochala's script deserves its accolades as winner of Amnesty International's Protect The Human Playwriting Award. Less concerned with obvious evils than the fine line between good and bad, Grochala hones in on what people are forced to do in atrocious situations, to what degree they have a choice and what it means if they do decide to choose. This script would not be easy to stage, and for more reasons than its emotional depth. Set only in a single room, the play relies largely on what can be created in the imagination of the audience. Caroline Craig (in her debut directorial role) pulls the strings with a deft touch: the characters sit firmly within the action but are never allowed to dominate the tension which holds the key to the play's climax. The acting ensemble, Two Birds One Stone, is clearly doing its work as well. May channels the school girl mystery of Picnic at Hanging Rock twisted into Lord of the Flies, while her subordinate, June, is pure Chiaki Kuriyama. Image by Alex Vaughan.
There are lots of reasons to spend the day hiking along the Murray River in autumn. The weather is perfect and the air is crisp. It's not so cold you have to wear thermals and not so hot you have to dash from shade-patch to shade-patch. You have the glory of nature, of course — and not regular glory but autumnal glory, which studies show is up to 45 percent more glorious than regular nature. But the ultimate best thing about hiking in autumn? The seasonal food that crops up in country restaurants. After a big day hiking, there's nothing better than cosying up to a big, hearty meal. We've paired some of the best hikes around the Murray River with the tastiest treats to indulge in after you return to civilisation. WANDER THROUGH A BILLABONG THEN A WINERY Mildura is the perfect autumn hiking destination for those of us who also love to eat. It sits alongside a natural billabong that was further irrigated when the region was settled, making it an incredibly fertile food bowl and winery region. Head to the Kings Billabong Walk car park, just north of town, and do the 4-kilometre loop. It's an easy, scenic walk through varied bushland and wetlands. Keep an eye out for wildlife (ducks, spoonbills and kingfishers can be seen on the billabong, doing their thang) and at Psyche Bend, you'll see the original pump house that irrigated the region. Once you've worked up an appetite, head over to Trentham Estate Winery, located on the other side of the wetlands and get a taste of the fresh produce from the region. The winery has an award-winning restaurant, with a balcony overlooking the mighty Murray, open for lunch (12pm–3pm). Alternatively, enjoy their excellent cellar door and charcuterie boards before taking a stroll through the grounds. EXPERIENCE COUNTRY LIFE WITH A PUB MEAL AND HISTORICAL RIVER WALK There are lots of historical towns dotted along the Murray River, and Swan Hill is one of the quaintest examples. The River Walk starts just north of the town centre and winds for 4.5 kilometres down the river. It takes you on a journey through the town and the Indigenous history of the region. It's a flat, easy walk that'll take you about two hours. When you eventually make it back to town, you have some classic country-town food options. For a lighter snack, head to Spoons Riverside and grab a coffee on the river. Or head to one of the many country pubs (try the Commercial Hotel or the Federal Hotel) for a nostalgic pub dinner. It's the perfect way to enjoy a brisk autumn night. Parma and a pot, anyone? TEST YOUR STAMINA AND SPICE TOLERANCE IN SWAN HILL If you're in the Swan Hill region and looking for a more intense hiking experience, head south down the Murray and try the Koondrook Red Gum Forest Walk instead. The full walk is a doozy — 13 kilometres of beautiful red gum forest and wetlands in the Gunbower State Forest. It's best to do it in autumn otherwise you'll work up quite a sweat. Keep your eyes peeled for kangaroos, broad-shelled turtles, and giant banjo frogs, which come out at dusk. There's a shorter 9-kilometre walk too, but both paths are relatively flat and easy-going. Afterwards, we recommend heading back up the road to Swan Hill and checking out Java Spice. It's an incredibly cute, kitschy little Balinese restaurant, with flavoursome food and a relaxing outdoor setting. Stretch out your tired limbs and indulge in a fruity cocktail (you've earned it). TAKE TIME OUT FOR COFFEE, CAKE AND ART DECO IN MILDURA Start with morning tea at the beautiful Mildura Arts Centre. The centre started as a classic country house and now has a contemporary wing. Grab morning tea in their outdoor cafe to fuel you for a day of sightseeing. The sculpture park is the perfect setting for a digestive stroll. Mildura has run a sculpture contest since 1961, so their sculpture game is on point. Wander through the grounds to kick off your walking tour. It's a self-guided tour, so you can go at your own pace while taking in the art deco architecture of Mildura. EAT YOUR WAY THROUGH ECHUCA ON A CULINARY TOUR You have a few options for treating yourself in Echuca Moama. Start with a coffee at 7 Beans Coffee on High Street, but don't linger for long, because there are a few more stops on your culinary tour before you're done. Stop in at The Sweet Meadow down the road. It's a cute cafe with an entirely vegan menu. We recommend the creamy avocado served with pesto and spelt sourdough. When you're done, head over to Beechworth Bakery and stock up on sweet bakery treats for your afternoon adventures. From there, head out to Waaia, where you'll rendezvous with Southern Side Eco Tourism. They organise adventure forays into the Barmah Millewa Forest National Park. With their help, you can go kayaking or hiking deep in the national park with all the trimmings (but be sure to organise ahead of time). For more information on the autumn experiences on offer in the Murray region and across the state, head to the Wander Victoria website.
Like many a great alcohol brand has before it, The Bondi Brewing Co started its life in a humble garage. Originally part of the Ben Buckler Brewery in North Bondi, this beer began as a labour of love, too. That was a few years back — and, since unveiling its flagship release in 2018, this brewery has kept its focus firmly local. The Bondi Brewing Co only has three regular brews on its roster; when you're making craft beer in one of the most picturesque places there is, you don't need too many drinking options to choose from. Bondi's draught lager has quickly become a favourite, but it also does a nifty IPA and XPA as well if you'd rather an ale. As well as selling its brews via its online store, The Bondi Brewing Co also has its own line of bar mats, shirts, hoodies and caps. Or, sip your beer in a 425-millilitre Bondi schooner. Top image: Alec Mason
Those without easy access to a yia yia insisting she "make you lamb" or who didn't quite make it Milos for a European summer are invited to Sunday roast at The Apollo. Because, as well as taking pity on Sydney-siders shivering through single-digit temps, the Potts Point restaurant with a reputation as one best for hearty-yet-hip Hellenic food, will also be bringing authentic Greek Granny vibes to the table, serving up a traditional spread every Sunday in July from 12pm-3pm. The Let's Roast Menu will dish up all of The Apollo favourites including marinated olives, pickled purslane, and the split pea dip with village crusty bread. But the superstar of the show will be Chef Marcello's roast porchetta, served with classic lemon rice, crispy roast potatoes and bitter greens (pictured above). Those who like to finish off strong with something sweet, should save some room for the semolina cake with blood orange and shaved halva for dessert. With a glass of house Greek red or white wine also included in the $70pp price, we think you'll find plenty of reasons to say Opa! to this meal. Walk-ins are welcome, however, due to limited availability booking are highly recommend. Visit the Apollo website to secure your seat at the Sunday Roast today.
We take travelling seriously at Concrete Playground. Whether you're planning luxury getaways abroad, interstate camping trips, weekend jaunts to a city or bathing beachside, our team of avid travellers and destination-obsessives like to think we've got all the necessary tips for where to eat, drink, stay and hang out to get your itineraries in the best possible shape. But it has come to our attention that we've lapsed in our advice when it comes to what to put in your luggage. So, what must-have travel essentials should you be bringing with you on your next trip to make packing for your holiday a simple and stress-free task? In partnership with the folks at Kmart, we're going to share our top tips for packing, depending on what kind of adventure you are about to embark on. Carry-on Connoisseurs If you are attempting to eschew those ever-increasing checked luggage bag fees but aren't quite keen on stuffing a pillowcase with all your belongings, it might be time to assess what you are actually packing. If you've committed to confining yourself to cabin baggage alone, pack items that can do multiple jobs. A simple button-up shirt can be casual with jeans and a tee, a throw-on layer over swimwear, or be dressed up by buttoning it up and tucking it into your pants. Dresses are the ultimate outfit saviour if you favour a single-item outfit. With a simple hairstyle or accessories, a dress can take you from chill brunch to a luxe wine-tasting or fine-dining experience. Don't put yourself out, and ensure you are always looking your best, whether you are sipping on sparkling next to the Riviera or exploring food markets in Japan. Luxury Lovers There's nothing more luxurious than having options for everyday activities on your five-star getaway. But with all your outfit choices, how can you keep tabs on your belongings? Easy, get yourself organised with luggage organisers. Packing cubes are excellent for all kinds of travellers, whether you're hiking the Great Dividing Range or booking yourself into a relaxing retreat. Keep your items organised, from your electronics to your toiletries, your swimwear to your evening wear. With the right travel accessories, you'll never have to worry about where your perfect evening outfit or super luxurious sunhat is. International Explorers If you're that person who is constantly returning from an overseas trip and planning the next one, you probably need new luggage. All that travelling plays havoc on your baggage. From the usual wear and tear of being pulled through the terminals to the stress of being chucked around on baggage chutes, bus racks, taxi boots and more. Before you start planning your next vacation, make sure your bags are in good nick for overseas travel. You don't want to have to be scouring local supermarkets for duct tape. Get yourself sorted with a stylish new set, and you're basically halfway ready for your next adventure. Weekend Warriors Do you keep your eyes peeled for budget-friendly interstate flights or car hire sales for your next weekend escapade? Much like the Carry-on Connoisseurs above, you're only going for the weekend, so make sure you pack lightly (so you can fill your car/suitcase with all the local goodies you can). Whether you're heading for the hills or journeying to a dense metropolis, walking shoes are a must. No matter if you are a guy planning a luxe trip to the south Pacific or a gal heading to the mountains, the ratty trainers you've been rocking to the gym simply won't do (and neither will that stylish new pair you're yet to break in). Get comfy, versatile walking sneakers or boots that match your fave 'fit for city exploring or countryside wandering and wear them on the way to your weekend destination. Adventure Seekers If you love spending your weekends exploring the bush or hiking up mountains, it's important to be prepared and get your camping gear in order. A sturdy shoe, head torch and waterproof pack can make or break a weekend — so be prepared for every kind of weather and dress for the elements to change. Remember: it's cold at night, even during an Aussie summer. If you're a keen camper, stock up on gas fuel for your stove and a first aid pack (with sunscreen and bug spray). It's the times that you need it that you don't have it. Don't put yourself in that position and get prepped for adventure. Foodie Fanatics Do you spend your holidays sampling wines, tasting local produce and snagging the best dinner reservations in town? Dress to impress and pack a skirt that can bring you from the market to the restaurant in an instant. Whether you're more of a mini, midi, or maxi skirt kind of person, a stylish skirt can elevate your outfit for the perfect look for embarking on your epicurean adventure. Discover more of your must-have travel essentials over on Kmart's website.
Located just a short drive from Sydney, Peats Ridge Festival is located in the harmonious wilderness of the Glenworth Valley. Escape the urban rush with a four-day eco-friendly festival featuring the world's leading indie artists. Mellow out with the socially-aware Xavier Rudd and acoustic stylings of Jim Ward, former guitarist of the legendary post-hardcore outfit At The Drive-In. If ambient electronic music is your passion, there will also be an appearance from rapidly-rising Sydney producer Oliver Tank. The line-up also boasts local favourites such as Gotye, The Temper Trap and Angus & Julia Stone. Aside from the music there are organic food stalls, an Indigenous festival and a Masquerade ball on New Year's Eve. Unlike many festivals, Peats Ridge Festival is accessible to children if accompanied by a guardian over the age of 25. Feel free to bring your little siblings or underage buddies along for the event.
After a commendable six-year stint, the team behind Surry Hills fine diner Bishop Sessa has taken things down a notch. The Crown Street venue has made the transition into casual dining territory, last week relaunching as a wine bar. Sporting a new look that's just as elegant, yet more laidback and casual, it's been renamed simply The Bishop. While the set menu and the special occasion-level of formality have been given the flick, owner Erez Gordon says he's held on to all the best-loved bits: the hefty wine offering, the switched-on staff and a decent food menu. Helping to push the venue into this next phase of life is renowned chef Troy Spencer, the one-time co-owner of Newtown's Spencer Guthrie, who's fresh from scoring a Good Food chef's hat during his time as Executive Chef at the Yarra Valley's TarraWarra Estate. While he's moved the venue away from degustation-style dining, he's devised a bar menu that lets you drop in for a few after-work snacks right through to a full meal. Expect dishes like wagyu beef cheeks with whipped cashew and burnt butter, salted fish with crisp potato, and market fish teamed with sweet and sour fennel. This newfound laidback vibe extends to the drinks offering. You'll find over 30 wines by the glass — starting at a neat $10 and ideal alongside the menu's snackier options — as well as a 200-strong bottle selection, a swag of craft beers and a crop of inventive cocktails. We're glad to see that the venue is able to pivot, rather than close completely like many other restaurants in the area; at last count, the strip of Crown Street that The Bishop calls home was sporting around 15 empty shopfronts. This lack of thriving business — which includes the closure of The Book Kitchen and The Devonshire — been largely attributed to the construction of the new southeast light rail system along Devonshire Street by venue owners, including Gordon. According to Gordon, Bishop Sessa saw 50 percent drop in trading from when the construction started in October 2016 until the restaurant closed last month. The Bishop is now open at 527 Crown Street, Surry Hills. It's open from 4pm everyday except Monday.
Masters of Aussie-made juniper spirits of the rare and unusual kind, small batch distillery Four Pillars have added another offering to their tasty, boozy range. While their rare dry, spiced Negroni and bloody Shiraz varieties remain favourites for plenty of reasons, they're now serving up their first pre-mixed bottled cocktails. Meet the Improved Hanky Panky, an amber concoction that screams warm weather drinks — that is, the type that go down smooth and easy while you're sitting back in the sun. It's a collaboration between Shaun Byrne of Maidenii and Gin Palace, and Four Pillars' own Sam Ng. After Byrne gave the distillery a few Maidenii vermouth barrels, they used them to age a batch of Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin, then aged the results in old chardonnay barrels, and finally added in vermouth, Fernet-Branca and absinthe. Yes, that's quite the alcohol-filled creation, and it's now available for $32 per 200ml bottle — which holds three cocktails — or $90 for a three-pack. Four Pillars suggests serving it neat over ice with a few slices of orange as a garnish. We suggest that it's the excuse to down a few refreshing beverages, not that gin lovers need a reason.
If you're the kind of restaurant-goer who picks their places to eat based on accolades, acclaim and applause, then you'll be familiar with France's Mirazur. The three Michelin-starred eatery sits in the French Riviera near the Italian border, calls an old 1930s villa home, and is the work of Argentinian-born chef and owner Mauro Colagreco, who takes culinary inspiration from his Italian grandparents. It's also a former winner of the World's Best 50 Restaurants' top spot, and it should be high on everyone's food bucket list. For three weeks in autumn, from Friday, March 10–Friday, March 31, Mirazur is also visiting Australia. Its destination: the hatted The Gantry at Pier One Sydney Harbour, where the coveted restaurant will put on its first-ever Harbour City residency. That'll make ticking off a visit a whole lot easier — no overseas plane ticket required. [caption id="attachment_728308" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mirazur, Nicolas Lobbestael[/caption] Swapping one waterfront locale for another, Colagreco is making the trip Down Under from Menton near Nice on the Cote D'Azur, accompanied by a sizeable portion of his team. That includes Mirazur's Chief Operating Officer Maria Tancredi and Executive Chef Luca Mattioli, as well as front-of-house and kitchen staff, plus sommeliers. Silvina Dayer, its agronome — aka garden scientist — will also head our way with the crew. Heroing Australian ingredients, the Mirazur cohort will serve up a multi-course tasting menu, plus snacks, which won't come cheap — $685 per person, in fact, with wine pairings starting from an extra $210. [caption id="attachment_888022" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matteo Carassale[/caption] The specific focus: using the best Aussie wares they can source, working with producers who are respectful and passionate about the land and sea, to whip up an original menu that showcases the restaurant's commitment to sustainability, nature and biodiversity. Taking inspiration from different cultures and cooking environments, and highlighting their ingredients and suppliers, is what the Mirazur Beyond Borders project is all about — which this residency slots into. "Mirazur Beyond Borders is the opportunity for us to enrich our knowledge, philosophy and commitment. I have visited Australia a few times and what excites me is that it is a country where there is a huge diversity of nature, landscapes, and species," said Colagreco, announcing the Sydney jaunt. "It's very important for me and my team to learn from and experiment with the ingredients we find in the country we visit, and to learn from all the people and products we encounter on the way. Although we are coming to Australia for a few weeks, I already know we will leave with something that lasts forever," he continued. "I am thrilled to cook in Sydney, as it's such a diverse Australian city, where many cultures and foods coexist. What I love about Australian gastronomy, and particularly Sydney's, is that it has been influenced by many different cultures, from Asian to European, and a large range of produce to create its own gastronomy, and reinvents itself constantly." [caption id="attachment_650654" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Gantry, Alana Dimou[/caption] Mirazur will temporarily take up residence in Sydney just a few months before three Michelin-starred English restaurant L'Enclume, from British chef Simon Rogan, does the same in July and August. Mirazur Beyond Borders at The Gantry, Pier One Sydney Harbour, will run from Friday, March 10–Friday, March 31 — operating for lunch and dinner Wednesday–Sunday. Head to the residency's website for bookings from 12pm AEST on Tuesday, February 13, and to register for the priority list in advance.
In self-portrait after self-portrait, Frida Kahlo was no stranger to giving the world a window into what made the artist tick. The Mexican painter didn't just create art — she bared her soul, especially in pieces where she stares back at audiences. Frida Kahlo: In Her Own Image has a similar intimate aim in mind, as aided by some of the icon's depictions of herself, as well as a treasure trove of her personal belongings. This is Australia's latest celebration of Kahlo after the Art Gallery of South Australia's 150-work Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution showcase of Mexican modernism in 2023, and also Sydney Festival's multi-sensory Frida Kahlo: Life of an Icon the same year. That's quite the spread of places around the country that've been dedicating walls and halls to the artist, with Bendigo now joining them. Frida Kahlo: In Her Own Image displays at the Bendigo Art Gallery from Saturday, March 15–Sunday, July 13. Many of the artworks and items that feature have never been seen in Australia before. In fact, some were sealed for 50 years in her family home when Diego Rivera ensured that the site would become a museum after Kahlo passed away in 1954, and that her most-personal items were stored in the bathrooms away from public eyes. Objects such as clothes and makeup have made the journey to regional Victoria, as have mementoes and photographs. Accordingly, attendees can peer at traditional Mexican garments, including a headdress from the Oaxaca region, that were worn by Kahlo; Revlon cosmetics, such as lipstick, nail polish and an eyebrow pencil; and hand-painted medical corsets that she donned following spinal surgeries. Appearances Can Be Deceiving, a self-portrait drawing that provides a view through her clothing to her corset x-ray style, is also a highlight. Arriving direct from the Museo Frida Kahlo in Mexico, Frida Kahlo: In Her Own Image is exclusive to the Bendigo institution, so you'll need to make the trip if you're keen to explore what the artist's belongings and style says about her art. Updated: Monday, March 24, 2025. Images: Bendigo Art Gallery.
Raise a glass to the holidays with hospo stalwart Esca Group. Known for helming popular Sydney venues AALIA, Nour, Lilymu, Henrietta and newcomer Ito, Esca is celebrating all things bubbly with a series of special events across its venues until March 2024. [caption id="attachment_925183" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jiwon Kim[/caption] Kick things off on Tuesday, November 7, with a pastel-themed, three-course feast at AALIA. From 12pm, guests will be welcomed with a glass of Perrier-Jouët champagne before being treated to Executive Chef Paul Farag's Middle Eastern creations. Start with tuna nayyeh with finger lime, Moreton bay bug hawawshi (stuffed pita), buttery khorasan bread, smoked buffalo labneh with beetroot molasses and spiced eggplant and tomato. Next up is a wagyu short rib with okra and sumac, served alongside heirloom carrots with labneh, followed by a decadent chocolate dessert. Dress to impress as there will be prizes on the day. Spots cost $200 per person and can be booked via the website. [caption id="attachment_925184" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jiwon Kim[/caption] If you can't attend the first lunch — or if you loved it and want a repeat — nab a seat at the G.H. Mumm RSRV lunch at AALIA on Tuesday, December 5. Champagne ambassador Emeline Troger will guide you through each glass of wine while you enjoy a five-course menu in a private dining room. Add even more sparkle to your gathering this festive season with G.H. Mumm champagne at select Esca restaurants from Wednesday, November 1 to Sunday, December 31. Dine on the signature banquet menu for lunch or dinner with a group of seven or more at AALIA, Nour, Lilymu or Ito, and you'll get a complimentary glass of sparkling upon arrival. Bookings are required as the offer does not apply to walk-ins. And if that's not enough, keep an eye out for a special event and panel for International Women's Day next March. Book your spot and find out more at the Esca Group website. Top image: Jiwon Kim, Christopher Pearce
After first spooking out Sydneysiders back in 2017, the unsettling Séance installation is returning to the city. This time around, the set of shipping containers hosting the immersive experience will be set up on The Goods Line outside of the Powerhouse Museum Ultimo — and it'll be joined by a new Sydney-first experience called Flight. Once inside Séance or Flight, expected to be unnerved. If you're not familiar with the installations and didn't have the chance to visit last time, a word of warning: it's aiming to mess with your senses. Between Thursday, April 13–Sunday, May 28, participants at Séance will be able to take a seat inside the space and then put on a headset. You'll next be told to put both hands on the table. The lights go out, leaving the place in absolute darkness and, for 20 uneasy minutes, you'll be taken on an immersive journey led only by touch and sounds. Expect to feel confused, repulsed and struck with temporary claustrophobia. According to organisers, numerous participants have bailed halfway through sittings in the past. You're probably thinking that there's something dark or supernatural about the whole thing — and going by the name, we don't blame you. But the installation's organiser says that 'séance' is simply a French word meaning 'session' or 'sitting'. [caption id="attachment_892114" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flight, Mihaela Bodlovic[/caption] It's a sensory experience that looks at the psychology of both sensory deprivation and the dynamics of a group sitting together. It's also a scary indicator of how easy it is for confusion, disorientation and information overload to affect our judgement. Then, with Flight, the power is placed in your hands. Taking place in a recreation of an aeroplane cabin, the experience takes you through an equally unsettling experience where you're forced to make choices. At each step of the way there are two possible outcomes, some worse than others. The installation plays on the theory of the multiverse where, if you head down a more unsettling pathway, you can at least find solace in the idea that another version of yourself has made the correct decision. "We invest a lot of time in looking for the right space to house our productions, and so to be presenting these at Powerhouse Ultimo, one of the country's most innovative cultural institutions, feels really special to us," says Realscape Productions' Amy Johnson. "We're truly delighted to be bringing our original production of Séance back to Sydney for those who missed out or are eager to experience it again, and of course, we can't wait to see the reactions of audiences as they experience Flight for the first time." This new iteration of Séance at the Powerhouse Museum Ultimo will mark its first appearance in Sydney in six years after the experience originally appeared in The Rocks back in 2017. It was scheduled to make its return to Sydney in 2021 with an installation in Circular Quay, but was unfortunately cancelled. Artists David Rosenberg and Glen Neath of Darkfield (who have collaborated in other sensory deprivation projects before) are the creative masterminds behind the project, which has been described as 'disorienting' and 'deeply unsettling'. You might've also listened to Darkfield's at-home experiences in 2020, such as Double, Visitors and Eternal, and experienced a few bumps and jumps. [caption id="attachment_852678" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Séance[/caption] Séance and Flight will appear at Powerhouse Ultimo, 500 Harris St, Ultimo NSW between Thursday, April 13–Sunday, May 28. For more information and to buy tickets, head to Darkfield's website.
Any fears of heights or enclosed spaces will need to be thrust aside when you sign up for a High and Wild canyoning adventure. Depending on the season and trail you choose, you'll be trekking through the bush, venturing into subterranean gorges, abseiling through waterfalls and jumping into pristine freshwater pools — so prepare to get muddy in most scenarios. In summer, you'll be donning a wetsuit for full-day journeys with refreshing dips, while the winter excursions focus on abseiling through towering rock formations and fern-laced canyons. Group tour prices (starting from $270 per person) include lunch, as well as expert instruction on using all equipment and a guide through the stunning Blue Mountains. Images: Destination NSW
Chances are, you've got a fondness for taking the odd selfie snap, but would you consider it a mental condition? A recent study by Nottingham Trent University psychologists Mark D. Griffiths and Janarthanan Balakrishnan has explored the idea of 'selfitis' — that is, a disorder that's diagnosed as obsessive selfie taking. After the term first appeared in a series of hoax news stories back in 2014, the pair decided to put it to the test with some actual empirical research. They interviewed 400 Indian university students about their selfie behaviours, asking questions like 'what compels you to take selfies?', and discussing affecting factors like social competition and mood modification. According to the research, titled An Exploratory Study of Selfitis and the Developmentof the Selfitis Behavior Scale, there are three different levels of the disorder. Borderline sufferers are those snapping at least three selfies a day without posting them on social media, acute sufferers would be taking at least three selfies and sharing them, and those with a chronic level of the disorder have an "uncontrollable urge to take photos of one's self around the clock" and post more than six times a day. Others in the field of psychology are yet to be convinced selfitis is a real thing, though Balakrishnan told Business Insider Australia he hopes their study will pave the way for a deeper look into the disorder. "Now the existence of the condition appears to have been confirmed, it is hoped that further research will be carried out to understand more about how and why people develop this potentially obsessive behaviour, and what can be done to help people who are the most affected," he said. While there's no doubt that body image, anxiety and other issues can be exacerbated by social media, we'll wait to see some corroborating studied before we start slinging the term around. Via Business Insider Australia.
It's the source of many a childhood argument, and plenty more between adults as well. Thanks to its ever-growing range of themed versions, it has let players buy everything from Game of Thrones' King's Landing to AFC Richmond's Nelson Road Stadium from Ted Lasso. And, it's now rolling into its own IRL bricks-and-mortar space Down Under, letting everyone pass go and soak in all things Monopoly at a brand-new Melbourne theme park called Monopoly Dreams. Monopoly Dreams already exists in Hong Kong, but now it's Australia's turn. The Monopoly-loving space will unfurl its pieces at Melbourne Central, located across 1700 square metres in the CBD shopping centre's lower ground level, and opening in September to kick off spring with board-game love. If you're wondering what a Monopoly theme park entails, that's hardly surprising — and the answer isn't just a life-sized version of the game that everyone has played more than once. Rather, the venue is taking a chance on bringing Monopoly elements beyond the board, building a Monopoly city that includes water works, the electric company, the bank and Mr Monopoly's mansion. And yes, there's a jail. Presumably you don't go directly there upon entering, but you can get your mugshot taken within its walls. When you walk through the doors, you'll also find carnival games. It wouldn't be a theme park based on a board game if playing games wasn't a big part of the attraction, of course. Expect challenges as well — and, in the mansion, there'll also be a vault and gallery, alongside a 4D cinema screening a movie about Mr Monopoly and his dog Scottie touring Melbourne locations — as well as the opportunity to create your own customised Monopoly title deed. For bites to eat, patrons can hit up the Monopoly cafe. And if all this Monopoly talk has you wanting to play Monopoly or buy Monopoly merchandise, Monopoly Dreams will also feature Australia's first and only dedicated Monopoly store, too. Catering for audiences of all ages — so, you'll have kids for company, but it's open for adults without children in tow — Monopoly Dreams will take visitors around 60–90 minutes to enjoy the full experience. Monopoly Dreams will open in September at Melbourne Central, Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. Head to the venue's website for further details.
You've heard of sky-high restaurants and rooftop bars; however if the latest proposed addition to New York goes ahead, it could put every other elevated eating and drinking spot to shame. As the name suggests, The Floating Restaurant won't just take over the top floor of a building. Instead, it'll be suspended by steel cables 60 metres above a historic landmark. And, not content with literally lifting diners up to another level, the eatery will also give patrons one mighty fine view. Hovering above the century-old former Glenwood power plant in Yonkers, The Floating Restaurant will boast all-glass walls that look out over the Hudson River thirty minutes north of Manhattan, and spy the city skyline as well. Blending the old with the new is the project's aim, and blending architecture with nature too. The design includes three floors including the kitchen, which is encased in greenery that further brings the outside in. Given all that, the fact that the cube is small — measuring little more than 13 metres long, and housing 11 tables — is hardly surprising. Yep, this place is going to be mighty exclusive. If it comes to fruition, expect a lengthy waiting list for a reservation. The idea comes from NY-based outfit Big Foot Developers, and while it's just in the planning stage, The Floating Restaurant is still a breathtaking concept. Of course, you're certain to inhale sharply if you ever get to dine inside the space. In fact, it's already being called a new future icon of the city. Via AWOL / Inhabitat. Image: Big Foot Developers.
If you're a fan of chicken wings, then you might already have July 29 marked in your calendar. It's your annual excuse to tuck into your fair share of wings — because that's what National Chicken Wing Day is all about. Sydney favourite Butter is coming to the table for the celebration of all things chook with a once-off bottomless wings and beer deal. Visitors to Butter's Surry Hills, Parramatta or Chatswood outposts on the last Friday in July can indulge in 90 minutes of unlimited crispy fried chicken wings and beers for $80pp. While Butter already offers a weekly bottomless brunch featuring the greatest hits from its menu and plenty of champagne, this is the first time it's rolling out this kind of wing-centric deal. To ensure your spot at the wing-stravaganza, head to the Butter website, choose your preferred location and select the unlimited wings and beer package when booking.
Following a rebrand, Orazio D'Elia's Alexandria pasticceria Mia Dolci has now officially become Da Orazio Pasticceria. And to celebrate its new chapter, Da Orazio Pasticceria has set up a six-week pop-up right next door to Da Orazio Pizza + Porchetta in Bondi Beach. Inspired by a recent trip to Italy, D'Elia's menu includes a range of classic Italian cakes and pastries with a modern twist. And every day from 8am, Vittoria coffee will be served to pair with your chosen goods. If you're looking for something savoury, you can take your pick from the daily selection of focaccia paninis with fillings including house pastrami, cheddar, pickle, and rocket; smoked chicken, scarmorza, roasted tomatoes, and dijon mayonnaise; and mortadella, pistachio pesto, artichoke and provolone. The porchetta focaccia from Pizza + Porchetta's menu will also be on regular rotation. More details can be found via the official website.
When Josh and Julie Niland open a new eatery, it's an occasion. Thankfully, Sydney has enjoyed plenty of such moments in recent years. The world-acclaimed chef — with Josh named in the world's top 100 best chefs in 2022, and picking up the Game Changer Award from France's prestigious La Liste as well — and his partner have already launched Saint Peter, the OG Fish Butchery and Charcoal Fish. And, they set up a another Fish Butchery takeaway eatery in Waterloo, and revealed they would be taking over The Grand National Hotel and moving Saint Peter into the space. Adding to that hefty list is the upcoming arrival of Petermen, a new restaurant that was announced in late 2022 and will open in February 2023 — and it's now accepting bookings. From Tuesday, January 31, Sydney's seafood fans can reserve a date with Petermen on Chandos Street in St Leonards for sittings from Thursday, February 23. The restaurant will open for dinner from 5.30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; for lunch from 12pm and dinner from 5.30pm on Saturdays; and for brunch from 10am on Sundays — so, you have options. [caption id="attachment_878784" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rob Palmer[/caption] The busy hospitality couple, who've become world-renowned for their focus on sustainable seafood, will give Sydney's North Shore a 60-seat restaurant and bar. Wondering why it's called Petermen? The name is a nod to the Saint Peter ecosystem. The original Niland restaurant — one of Concrete Playground's 15 best Sydney restaurants — gets its moniker from patron saint and former fisherman Saint Peter. This holy seafood enthusiast was then the inspiration behind fellow fishers being called Petermen in the 1400s. As with all Niland establishments, the menu champions boundary-pushing and sustainability-focused growers and producers, continuing the trend from Saint Peter, Fish Butchery and Charcoal Fish — and skewing heavily towards seafood partnered with fresh Australian vegetables. Diners can look forward to shared dishes heroing raw fish, such as South West Rocks line-caught bonito, Corner Inlet snapper with stag seaweed, and Mooloolaba yellowfin tuna with capers. And, from the preserved lineup, highlights include Port Lincoln berrima octopus and Espelette pepper, Flinders Island scallops with Tasmanian horseradish, and Jervis Bay mussels. For bigger bites, options span Manjimup marron with curry butter, Coorong pipis in its juices with garlic and chilli, Flinders Island southern calamari, and sweet and sour Ulladulla blue mackerel — all from the charcoal grill. Among the shared mains, the yellowfin tuna chateaubriand with garlic warrigal greens and diane sauce serves four, or there's both coral trout and john dory for two. If brunch is your favourite meal of the day, Josh has added St Helens long-spine sea urchin crumpets, Ballina spanner crab croissants and Manjimup marron scrambled eggs to the menu, alongside the likes of smoked Murray cod bacon and maple pancakes, plus whiting caesar salad. Back to the regular lineup, there's also six types of oysters, and cocktails including the Petermen negroni (made with Four Pillars gin, yuzu, Campari, coconut, amaro and mountain pepper) and the Saint Peter martini (with oyster shell gin, vermouth, sake and kombu). While you're eating, expect to watch the culinary magic happen thanks to Petermen's open kitchen — and to eat off of crockery by Bendigo Pottery. The Nilands are teaming up with Aussie icon artist Ken Done again, too, to brighten up the venue's walls with art, while the overall look and feel is bright and popping with colour, as designed by Julie. This will mark Josh and Julie Niland's first venture west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, bringing the duo's collection of Sydney outposts to five. As for that revamp of the Grand National Hotel — set to be called Saint Peter Hotel — it's scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2023. Petermen will open at 66 Chandos Street, St Leonards on Thursday, February 23, with reservations open from Tuesday, January 31 — for dinner from 5.30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; for lunch from 12pm and dinner from 5.30pm on Saturdays; and for brunch from 10am on Sundays.
If you're a fan of the refreshing pink drink that is rosé, then you probably judge a bar's wine list based on the number of not-quite-red tipples it has on offer. Rosé Royale certainly won't disappoint in that department, with Potts Point's new eatery and watering hole showing the love for its favourite type of vino in its moniker, stacked wine fridge and even its food menu. Now open at 7 Kellett Street, Rosé Royale has scoured the globe for the best varieties of its beverage of choice, boasting wines from Australia, France, New Zealand, Turkey, Spain, America, Italy and Portugal. More than 30 can be found on the premises, with around 20 available by the glass. Also on offer: frosé, of course, in watermelon and grapefruit and passionfruit and pineapple flavours; rosé cocktails, including their namesake with vodka, Lillet Rosé, homemade rhubarb syrup and lime; and rosé takes on existing classics, like the rosé Manhattan, rosé bellinis and rosé sangria. An extra rosé treat comes via the bar's edible selection, where rosé-braised beef cheeks, duck breast with melons and rosé dressing, charcuterie with rosé jam and rosé sorbet all keep the rosé love going. Other highlights include baguettes with rosé butter, French fries with rosé mayo and their signature cake featuring rosé jelly. Or, patrons can opt for the creamy dessert that's perfect for summer, rosé soft serve, although it's only available on weekends. Decked out with gold, mirrors and chandeliers for a Palace of Versailles-inspired look, and open seven days a week (from 5.30pm Monday to Thursday, and from midday Friday to Sunday), the bar has dubbed itself "the world's first rosé wine bar". While we haven't checked every Parisian alley, Italian nook or Spanish hole-in-the-wall to verify that claim, it's the first permanent dedicated rosé wine bar in Sydney. No need to wear rose-tinted glasses when you drop by. Find Rosé Royale at 7 Kellett Street, Potts Point. Visit the bar website and Facebook page for further details.
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.
