Here at Concrete Playground, we've made no secret of our deep infatuation with this spectacular city. From Sydney's best picnic spots to her most beckoning harbourside bars, the city offers limitless hidden corners from which to appreciate and adore her. Today, we bring you ten vantage points that show off Sydney at her finest, and boast the added bonus of delectable feasts to engage your other senses while your eyes are fixed firmly on the horizon. Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, Watsons Bay With summer peeping just around the corner, it’s hard to imagine a more pleasant place to while away a Sunday afternoon than the new waterfront deck at the Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel. Featuring cheeky beach club decor and creative pub food with lots of sociable sharing options, the recently refurbished beer garden is an ideal setting for a long, liquid lunch with friends. Menu favourites include DIY fish tacos with just the right hidden chilli kick ($21) and a colossal serving of fried market fish with house-made tartar and chips that are crunchy and smooth in all the right places ($24). The bar hops happily from boutique beers to Marlborough sav blancs to the finest French champagnes, ensuring a tipple for every taste. The picnic-style tables tend to be jam packed with merry beach-goers, so you'll need to wait patiently for your jug of pale ale or bucket of marinated prawns. But with a killer view that unfolds from the sandy shore over the frolicking sailboats and into the city skyline, you'll be more than content to do so. Mon - Sat 10am – midnight, Sun 10am – 10pm; 1 Military Road, Watsons Bay; (02) 9337 5444; www.watsonsbayhotel.com.au Botanic Gardens Restaurant, Royal Botanic Gardens Tucked away within the picturesque Royal Botanic Gardens, the Botanic Gardens Restaurant is a hidden sanctuary you need to know to look for, as you would never guess it could exist so close to the bustling CBD. Head chef Todd Hunt recreates the garden on the plate, with efflorescent dishes that draw inspiration from their magical surroundings. Plump seared scallops rest atop a pool of smooth celeriac puree ($22), a delicate zucchini flower salad pairs velvety goat’s cheese with rich baby beetroots ($18) and a rustic house-made spaghettini is layered with earthy Swiss mushrooms, cavolo nero, duxelle and dill ($24). Zesty spring ingredients like peeled mandarin segments, seared kiwi fruit, liquorice sorbet and candied apples make for fresh, light desserts, which are accompanied by an impressive selection of teas and aperitifs. Quiet birdsong and the trickling of a nearby stream provide the perfect soundtrack to complete this whimsical garden dining experience. Breakfast Sat - Sun 9.30am - 11.30am, Lunch Mon - Sun noon - 3pm; Mrs Macquarie’s Road, Sydney; (02) 9241 2419; www.trippaswhitegroup.com.au/our-venues/Botanic-Gardens-Restaurant/3 Altitude, Sydney CBD Altitude is no ordinary restaurant. Commanding a regal view over the historic buildings of The Rocks, the gleaming sails of the Opera House and right across the bustling Bridge to the sparkling lights of Sydney’s northern suburbs, the setting is romantic and impressive and promises an extraordinary dining experience from the moment you take your seat. Momentum builds with impeccable service and your choice from an assortment of soft house-baked rolls with creamy ricotta, sea salt and honey butter. Starters include a carefully balanced cauliflower veloute ($28), poured at the table over a garden of delicate mushrooms and chopped hazelnuts and drizzled with truffle oil. The mains feature unexpected combinations that dazzle the tastebuds, like Wagyu beef with an oxtail croquette, liquorice, potato and onion ash ($47). Desserts are multi-textured and bursting with flavour, with our pick being a deconstructed cheesecake that you need to taste to believe ($19). With an encyclopaedically knowledgeable sommelier, scrumptious little palate cleansers between courses and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the city, Altitude is special occasion dining epitomised. Mon - Sat 6.30pm - 10.30pm; Level 36, Shangri-La Hotel, 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks; (02) 9250 6123; www.shangri-la.com/sydney/shangrila/dining/restaurants/altitude-restaurant/ Sydney Fish Market, Blackwattle Bay The largest market of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, the Sydney Fish Market offers an outing and a meal in one, all set against the gorgeous backdrop of Blackwattle Bay and the twin spires of the Anzac Bridge. Wander through the various shops that make up the market and gawk at the dazzling variety of fresh fish and other sea creatures on display. When the time comes for lunch, you’ll be hard pressed to choose between the immaculate sliced sashimi, crispy fish and chips, the overflowing fisherman’s baskets and what are likely to be Sydney’s most reasonably priced lobsters. Devour your piscine feast at a picnic table by the harbour or stake out a spot on the astroturf just nearby. Either way, you’ll need to be able to hold your own against the circling seagulls; with seafood this fresh, it’s no wonder they too want a piece of the action. Sun - Mon 7am - 4pm; Pyrmont Bridge Road, Pyrmont; (02) 9004 1100; www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au Ormeggio, The Spit Don’t be fooled by the clean, simple lines of Ormeggio’s rustic wharf-end decor: this is anything but a normal dining experience. With an explosively innovative menu that harnesses creative techniques and unique combinations to reinvent Italian cuisine, you’ll be surprised and delighted by Alessandro Pavoni’s challenging, interesting take on food that is as much art as gastronomy. Begin with an intriguing wallaby battuta, Pavoni’s answer to steak tartare, peppered with pickled watermelon rind and amaranth and sprinkled with fine chorizo powder. Follow this with luscious burnt eggplant tortellini with spicy pistachio and Pyengana cheddar foam, ideally matched with a 2012 Mazzolino Pinot Nero, from Pavoni’s own home region of Lombardy. The dessert that is simply labelled as “carrot” is served with fennel seed ice cream, farro cream and vinegar caramel and will leave you scraping your plate in search of just one more morsel of its complex and enchanting flavours. Nestled into the outrageously gorgeous Spit marina and offering a range of special packages that make Pavoni’s two-hatted cuisine accessible (like two courses and a glass of wine for $49, Wednesday – Saturday), Ormeggio is an exciting offering for the curious foodie. Lunch Wed - Sun noon - 3pm, Dinner Wed - Sat 6pm - 11pm, Sun 6pm - 10pm; D’Albora Marinas, The Spit, Mosman; (02) 9969 4088; www.ormeggio.com.au Harbourside Indian, North Sydney On an unassuming street corner in North Sydney you’ll find Harbourside Indian, a treat of a night out overlooking Sydney’s sweetheart, the Harbour Bridge. The friendly staff will guide you toward the mixed entree platter, a mouth-watering assortment of aromatic chicken tikka, lamb seekh kebab and samosas ($10.90). A comprehensive array of delicious curries makes decision-making difficult; we particularly enjoyed the tangy mango chicken with mustard seeds ($18.90) and a traditional Rogan Josh, slow-cooked in Kashmiri spices and fresh coriander ($19.90). Soak it all up with one of seven types of naan, our favourite of which was the Peshwari version ($4), jam-packed with dried fruit, coconut and ground nuts. Ask for a table by the windows and while away an evening admiring the harbour and ordering round after round of the addictive pappadums with mint chutney ($2.90). Mon - Sun Lunch noon - 3pm and Dinner 5pm - 10.30pm; 5 Walker Street, North Sydney; (02) 9922 2787; www.harboursideindian.com.au Ripples, Chowder Bay From any table on the breezy waterside deck at Ripples Chowder Bay, spectacular views extend as far as the eye can see. Watsons Bay and Nielsen Park decorate one horizon, the northern headlands cradle the harbour on the other, while the foreground boasts the pretty greenery of Clifton Gardens. The food is simple, traditional and entirely delectable. Begin with a wild mushroom bruschetta with sous vide egg ($18) and continue your feast with house-made pappardelle with braised duck ragu ($28) or perfectly cooked beef tenderloins with marrow butter, potatoes, truffle cream, cherry tomatoes and jus ($32). Complete your meal with a wickedly rich flourless chocolate cake drenched in salted caramel sauce ($15) or a punchy espresso with petit fours. Seamlessly executed food, friendly service and astonishingly gorgeous surroundings make Ripples an inimitable location for a long weekend lunch. Breakfast Sat - Sun 8am - 10.30am, Lunch Mon - Sun from noon, Dinner Fri - Sat 6pm - late; Building 7, Deck C, Chowder Bay Road, Mosman; (02) 9964 9998; www.rippleschowderbay.com.au The Bathers' Pavilion Gazing out over the rim of your perfect cappuccino and across Balmoral Beach to the ocean's calm, outstretched horizon is the definition of relaxation. Add to that a breakfast spread that explodes with creativity and flavour and there are few places you'd rather spend a sunny Sunday morning than at the Bathers' Pavilion Cafe. Poached rhubarb with orange and mandarin, sheep's milk yoghurt and pistachio ($18) sets the scene for Serge Dansereau's innovative approach to the most important meal of the day. From this Middle Eastern-inspired beginning, Dansereau roams to other culinary hubs around the world: a twice cooked manchego souffle is served with sauteed Swiss brown mushrooms ($22), while Filipino-style breakfast chicken is served with rice, poached egg, shallots and chilli ($23). Wash it down with a cranberry juice laced with crushed watermelon and pineapple ($7) and you'll be set for an afternoon exploring the dramatic headlands and jumping into the waves that have been tempting you endlessly while you eat. Daily noon - 5pm and 6.30 - midnight; 4 The Esplanade, Balmoral; (02) 9969 5050; www.batherspavilion.com.au Little Manly Beach Kiosk A tiny kiosk not too far from Manly's main stretch, Little Manly Beach Kiosk is one of those secret powerhouses guaranteed to induce a 'where have you been all my life' moment upon discovery by any Sydneysider. With a handful of tables scattered through a tiny deck that seems like it must literally be in the water, the kiosk offers a spectacular vista over the bay, a sparkling sheltered swimming area, and an unbeatable place to unfold a broadsheet newspaper and enjoy an espresso and a bacon and egg roll. The staff are laidback and friendly, characterised perfectly by their opening hours policy: "We are open most days from about 9am-ish, occasionally earlier, or sometimes later, we close around 3-ish in winter and are open as late as 10-ish in daylight savings ... but lately we’ve been here just about all the time.” Arrive close to 9am-ish or expect a well-worthwhile wait for your table, and bring plenty of sunscreen because, once you’re here, you’re unlikely to be leaving gorgeous Little Manly Beach in a hurry. 42 Stuart Street, Manly; (02) 9977 7104; www.littlemanlybeach.com.au Bondi Icebergs Bar food has never been more decadent, nor a view more iconic, than what's on offer at the bar at Icebergs. Whet your appetite with a frittata of black truffle, taleggio cheese and chives ($12), creamy, thick-cut polenta chips ($14) or a plate of delicate wagyu bresaola with pickled mushrooms and truffle aioli ($17). The drinks list will satisfy you irrespective of your particular poison: an elegant, international wine list hits all the right notes, the boutique beers play hopscotch across the globe from Bangkok to Piedmont, and an impressive suite of spirits has you covered from Ardbeg to Zubrowka. The vista over the saltwater pool, through the Bondi sand and out to the sprawling Pacific is a synonym for Sydney. Not just for tourists, the Icebergs Bar is the place to take a break from the grind and fall back in love with the enchantress we call home. Tue - Sat noon - midnight; Sun noon - 10pm; Level 3/1 Notts Ave, Bondi Beach; (02) 9365 9000; icebergs.com.au
Tucked away on the first floor of the recognisable Salesforce building is Bourke & Ward, an elegant all-day eatery dedicated to Southern Italian cuisine with modern flair. This triple-threat venue operates as a cafe for that early morning rush, a buzzy lunch spot come the afternoon and a moody restaurant after dark. So whether you're in for an intimate date night or swinging by for a hearty lunch, Bourke & Ward has got you covered. Peruse the menu and you'll be met with a wide array of top-quality dishes. For breakfast, take your pick from cafe classics like a hefty B&E with sauce of your choosing, an avocado stack elevated with a diced lemon confit, chilli scrambled eggs with three kinds of spice and fried Tuscan kale and an Italian take on Turkish poached eggs that features whipped ricotta, sauteéd spinach and mushrooms with a burnt butter and tomato vierge. Post-breakfast, you can opt for antipasti like the pillowy focaccia and the crispy polenta paired with calabrese sugo and stracciatella. Then, make your way to the heartier selection — it's recommended that you try a pasta and a pizza, if you've got room for both. Standouts from the pasta selection include a lasagne that would make even the fiercest of nonnas proud, squid ink linguine with garlic-coated prawns and pesto casarecce with Calabrian chilli, sundried tomato, stracciatella and smoked almond. The showstopper, though, is the traditional pinsa. What sets this pizza apart from its fellow dough-centred siblings is its crust, which consists of a six-protein dough that is proofed for 72 hours before it's turned into a lighter and crisper alternative to the familiar slices we know and love. Here, you can choose between five styles of pinsa romana, from a tomato-base Siciliana with eggplant or a four-cheese pie, to prawn-starring gamberi drizzled with nduja oil or the ham-, mushroom- and olive-topped cotto. You'll want to finish your night with a sweet treat if you've still got room, whether it be the indulgent matcha tiramisu, the Nutella pizza or the fruity apple and peach crumble with ice cream. Plus, you can pair each dish with a glass of top-notch vino from the international wine list — there's a decent selection available by the glass — or one of the restaurant's plethora of fun cocktails. From a sour mango marg and stiff blood orange negroni to a selection of seven spritzes, you'll be spoilt for choice.
Comfort food, Greek taverna style, has never been so hip. In a room stripped almost bare with vaulted ceilings, peeling cream plaster and warm lighting, The Apollo is the newest dining hotspot in Potts Point. Once you've tasted the food, you'll wish everyone else wasn't so clued in and that it was simply your local Greek. For those who have had a run in with Greek food that was heavy, oily and served with a cucumber-saturated Greek salad, now is the time to give Greek a chance. This is food that it would be tempting to eat most nights: lemony, zesty and full of fresh herbs. Jonathon Barthelmess, last seen serving his fabulous Italian-accented food at Manly Pavilion, has the lightest of touches when it comes to the food of his heritage. Cocktails form a small part of the drinks list but are among the best in town. There are, of course, nods to Greece, including rosewater, and figs and honey. Similar references are dotted through the wine list, although this features fewer Hellenic inclusions. Back to the food. You can go 'The Full Greek' and be sent out all the signatures as part of a very affordable feast for $55, or pick and choose from the small but perfectly formed menu with all dishes designed for sharing. We suggest trying a series of smaller dishes to start. Taramasalata ($12), served in a small Greek style yoghurt pot with warm, slightly charcoaled pita bread, is pale, creamy and topped with pearly mullet roe. It will well and truly ruin you for the bright pink supermarket versions. Deep-fried king prawns ($6 each) are worth the fiddling to remove the shells for fleshy, juicy meat with a hint of charcoal, and grilled octopus with chickpeas and pickled cucumber is as tender as they come. The already renowned wild weed and cheese pie ($18) is a must, like no spanakopita you've ever eaten. It's lemony and light, full of the good weeds. You have gone Greek, so for the main you really should go with the slow-cooked lamb rib. You won't regret it or the lemony potatoes which help to mop up the juices. It might just finish you off and ruin you for a good Greek dessert, but the walnut filo pastry ($12) or, if you fancy boozy fruit, the ouzo-marinated watermelon are worth making room for. You'll find The Apollo in our list of the best degustations in Sydney. Check out the full list here.
The full bloom of television should come as no surprise to pop culture junkies. TV isn't the new film. It's just TV — a mature medium capable of developing its own conventions and arcs. Just like film, the quality of the 2013 offering inevitably ranged from abysmal (Two Broke Girls) and 'meh' (Sex Box) to polarising (Girls) and breathtaking (Top of the Lake). But where the major movie studios indulged in a catalogue of cinematic idiocy in the form of sequels, threequels and movie-park adaptations, home viewers were part of the beautifully conceived conclusion of Breaking Bad and the continued excellence of Mad Men, Enlightened, Rake, Puberty Blues and Boardwalk Empire. After all, when were stories ever wholly defined by the medium of their communication — they're all just stories, and they're beamed via digital transit onto small screens as well as projected into cinemas. David Lynch and Michael Frost knew that a whole two decades ago, as did those who grieved for Laura Palmer and loved all the freaks of Twin Peaks. The existential angst of Travis Bickle lives on in Don Draper, the maudlin chaos of Woody Allen in Michael Bluth, and the bleak search for optimism of Lester Burnham in Louie. Hopefully we can start looking forward to full-blooded, cinematically conceptualised feature films that merely debut on TV, with the respect and glory of Steven Soderbergh's HBO work Behind the Candelabra, which scarcely fits the old-school notion of a 'telemovie'. It's 2014, and everything's up for grabs. Here's what looks good in 2014 from the vantage point of January. Gracepoint Although the human race is already surely inundated with gratuitous US remakes, the fact that original lead actor David Tennant is also starring in the American version is a good sign of what's to come. The British original, Broadchurch, has received cultish worship and critical adoration for its exploration of a beachside community in the aftermath of a boy's mysterious murder. How and Why Film's transportation to the medium of television may be well and truly complete with Charlie Kaufman's new FX comedy series. Starring Michael Cera (perfect!), and telling the "story of a man who can explain how and why a nuclear reactor works, but is clueless about life", the longform series could be the peak vehicle for the funny, deadpan, melancholic musings we know from Being John Malkovich and Adaptation. https://youtube.com/watch?v=dunRvRJIm18 Believe Mexican super-director Alfonso Cuaron and The Forgotten's Mark Friedman are writing and steering this sci-fi mystery, executive producing with Lost's J.J. Abrams. The ingredients for profound awesomeness are all there: behind-the-scenes talent, obligatory supernatural child character, potential alien subplots, a solid trailer. In the wake of Gravity's impact on Earth, let's hope Believe will showcase the same science-fiction combo of smart visual effects and big ideas (what are we doing here?!). Jonah Takalua This is a controversial one, given the division in opinion around this year's relentless Ja'mie: Private School Girl. But Jonah was always Chris Lilley's most rounded and interesting character — a disadvantaged, endearing ratbag with a foul mouth and a lost-boy need for affection (from his violent father and Gumnut Cottage remedial teacher, Jan Palmer). Jonah let Lilley flesh out the best and the worst aspects of high school: the boredom, the institution's carelessness, the ill-equipped teachers' frustration, the kids' inflamed sense of injustice and their diehard devotion to their friends. Lilley clearly hasn't forgotten that young people's problems (their social cliques, family, love affairs) are just as real and important to them as adults' problems (rent, career, social cliques, family, love affairs) are to adults. Jonah will be vital viewing. Sense8 More film heavyweights defect to television — in fact, internet television (Netflix)! Matrix directors Andy and Lana Wachowski's ability to create complex longform narratives, engaging characters, surprising cinematic visual worlds and innovative special effects (remember when 'bullet time' didn't even exist?) will be stretched by their ten-episode science-fiction drama, Sense8. A mass of ostensibly disparate characters are linked by a shared and violent vision (of the past, future, or another world?). After the confusing and disappointing narrative experimentation of the duo's last feature, Cloud Atlas, perhaps television will afford them the slow-unfolding freedom they need to realise their filmic aspirations. Also on our radar Better Call Saul (A Breaking Bad spinoff centring on Walter White's crooked lawyer Saul Goodman); the animated and clearly shambolic BoJack Horseman (voiced by Will Arnett with Aaron Paul aka Jesse Pinkman of Breaking Bad); The Secret River, an ABC adaptation of the landmark Australian novel and play; Utopia, a satire from the guys from Frontline that "explores that moment when bureaucracy and grand dreams collide"; and two (two!) untitled Tina Fey Projects to air on Fox and NBC and quench the hollowness in our post-30 Rock lives.
Dubai is truly the land of structural opportunity, the Hollywood of the architectural world. There seems to be no limit to what can be built in Dubai, and while they've spent the last few decades ranging upwards with more and more outlandishly tall towers — Dubai Civil Defence is even training a fleet of jet-packed fire fighters to respond to the crazy heights — they now have set their sights on the magical realm of under the sea. Dubai's first partially underwater villa, named The Floating Seahorse, has just been completed in the Heart of Europe, a cluster of luxury man-made islands just a few miles off the shore. The lower level of the three-storey structure is completely submerged so you can literally sleep with the fishes (in a non-life threatening kind of way). The house also features a man-made reef to encourage the growth and protect marine life in the area, with a special focus on their namesake, the seahorse. The villa is one of 42 being built in the area, all of which have apparently been sold for a cool $2.7 million clams. If you missed out, we suggest turning the heater up to humid and grabbing a copy of the Sims 3: Island Paradise expansion — it's basically the same thing but for a fraction of the price. While the villas are astounding, they're not altogether surprising because we, the collective consciousness of the Internet, have recently been going bananas for everything submerged. The Airbnb room literally inside an aquarium shark tank, Africa's first underwater hotel and Subsix in the Maldives — a sunken restaurant with 360 degree views of the surrounding marine life — all point towards an interest in watery accommodation. Something Sebastian the crab said must have really gotten into our brains because we all want to be under the sea (ideally with a hot crustacean band). And now we can. Via Travel + Leisure.
Experiencing the best of Byron's Bay serenity is made easy when you're tucked away in luxe accommodation at Australia's easternmost point. Designed as an uncompromising beachside escape, ESTE Wategos combines stellar design with nature-driven wellbeing, ensuring your trip to the easygoing surf community is every bit as tranquil as you imagined. Perched above Wategos Beach, virtually within the shadow of the iconic Byron Bay Lighthouse, a pair of architecturally designed three-story residences — known as North, South or Estate when combined — nest within a lush forest landscape, just a short journey from Byron's bustling centre. Stacked with top-notch amenities, private rooftop terraces, glass-bottom pools and a curated concierge service ready to cater to every guest's whim are only the beginning. Crafted by Shaun Lockyer Architects for Co-Owners Chris Bissiotis and Dr George Bilios, ESTE Wategos features more than enough space for 12 guests. Offering just a little more serenity than the backpacker dorms you'd find in town, it's hard to imagine a more suitable spot for hosting a chic family holiday, celebrating a special milestone or escaping with friends. "Both George and I have travelled extensively, and through our travels we became inspired to create a tranquil yet luxurious getaway in one of our favourite locations," says Co-Owner Chris Bissiotis. "With ESTE Wategos, we're excited to share a unique sanctuary unlike anything seen before in Byron Bay." With prices starting at $5000 per night, the interior is as meticulous as you'd expect. Fashioned by Fiona Dunin of FMD Architects, bespoke furnishings from Mark Tuckey and Jardan level up the experience. Meanwhile, hand-laid Italian travertine stone walls continue throughout the residence, blending indoor and outdoor spaces that culminate with stunning views over Wategos Beach. "The proximity to both the ocean and rainforest isn't just about aesthetics," says Bilios, explaining how the property revolves around the concept of prescribing nature. "It's about creating a space where guests can disconnect, recharge, and experience the well-being benefits of being immersed in nature." ESTE Wategos is now open for bookings at 11 Brownell Dr, Byron Bay. Head to the website for more information. Images: Courtney King.
Many will tell you that the long-established local restaurants that people call 'institutions' are never particularly good, but Sushi on Stanley heartily disproves that theory. A Japanese gem nestled in between a swarm of Italian joints, Sushi on Stanley offers fresh, delicious sushi and sashimi, as well as other Japanese classics like teriyaki, udon and much more. The best part is it's renowned for its low prices, apparently never having upped them to meet Sydney's heartbreakingly expensive standards. The only catch is that Sushi on Stanley often has a crowd out front and little in the way of seating, so you've got to be exceptionally lucky or get there remarkably early. Image: Trent Van der Jagt.
A coastal-chic wine bar located in Avalon, Bar Elvina is the place to go for a glass of vino and some freshly shucked oysters after a day at the beach. Opening in early 2021, the bar is the brainchild of two hospo legends, Andy Emerson (Acme) and chef Jesse McTavish (North Bondi Fish). It's safe to say that these two know what they're doing. Here, high heels and chinos are eschewed for Birkenstocks and shorts, but the laidback dress code doesn't translate to the food and drinks on offer. On the wine list, you'll only find drops that the owners love and are also inspired by the ocean, either by their terroir, varietal or style. The concise cocktail list is worth a look at, too, with a strong focus on native Aussie ingredients. Food-wise, think snacks like raw yellowfin tuna tostadas ($8 each); oysters served either natural or with an apple cider mignonette ($5 each); and salt and pepper Hawkesbury River school prawns served with sumac mayo ($16). For small and large plates, expect dishes such as seawater-brined broccoli with almond hummus, fermented chilli, almonds ($20); 0ctopus with green tomato and jalapeño ($24); whole snapper with miso lemon butter sauce and warrigal greens ($55); and hangar steak ($49). Still hungry? Order the roasted apple, liquorice and gingerbread bombe ($18) for dessert. If you've got a birthday or special celebration coming up, Bar Elvina can be hired to host your private event, too. Images: Steven Woodburn
The perfect late night spot for wine lovers has found a home in Chippendale. Lil Sis is The Ambercromie's latest addition to its expanding offering that includes dance floors and a new 24-hour license. Taking inspiration from the streets of Paris, this cosy new neighbourhood wine bar trades primarily in natural wines for sampling, ordering by the glass or taking it home by the bottle. Located on the adjoining terrace of The Abercrombie's substantial site, the Lil Sis space offers multiple floors to enjoy wine, a pared back menu of snacky small plates, and tunes from lounge DJ sets up until 2am. And just when you think it cannot get any better, it also doubles as a bottle shop. For Chippendale residents and UTS students looking to become wine enthusiasts (or just enjoy a great bottle) you have scored the jackpot. From pét-nat to sauvignon blanc, the extensive wine list will cover your every yen — whether you fancy a drinkable rouge for a night in or need a bottle that'll impress at a dinner party. There's also a communal tasting table inside the shop if you want to try before you buy. "The idea behind Lil Sis is to showcase and share producers and wine regions we are excited about from all over the world. Some may be familiar, and some we believe you should get to know," says Lil Sis's wine curator Zoe Brunton. "Most of the wines will be by the glass for those wanting to venture through and explore. We want the list to be fun, approachable, and diverse in its offering." If you're drinking in, head up to the bar and sip your way through the wine selection or through the (much shorter) cocktail list. There's also food. If you're feeling peckish but are looking for a light option, take your pick from the whipped cod roe with chives and crisps ($14), the raw beef with parmigiano, bottarga and rocket ($22) or the roasted peppers with chilli and fried capers ($16). For heftier snacks, opt for the gildas with olive, lemon, anchovy and guindilla ($4), the mussels escabeche ($24) or chicken liver parfait with cornichons and soft herbs ($22). Or for something more substantial there's a trio of jaffles to choose from that you don't have to — and won't want to — share with anyone else. The triple cheese ($10) and the pastrami on rye ($12) are the more sensible adult choices, but the Heinz spaghetti toastie is gleefully packed with both nostalgia and cheddar cheese ($10). Find Lil Sis at 100 Broadway, Chippendale. The bottle shop is open 12pm–12am Monday–Saturday and 12–11pm Sunday, and the wine bar is open Wednesday–Sunday 4pm–2am.
Most of Australia might've spent the bulk of 2020 at home, but that doesn't mean that we didn't notice the temperature. And if you were feeling rather toasty across the 12 months, there's a reason for that — with the Bureau of Meteorology revealing in its just-released Annual Climate Statement 2020 that we just lived through one of country's warmest years since records started being kept. Only three years on record were hotter than 2020, with the past 12 months ranking fourth. Australia's warmest year on record came the year prior, in 2019, while 2013 ranks second. If you're wondering what that means for temperatures in 2020, the overall averaged mean temperature for the entire country across the year sat 1.15 degree above average. In all states in 2020, as well as the Northern Territory, both the mean maximum and minimum temperatures were also higher than average. BOM reports that days were especially warm in Sydney, Hobart and Darwin, and nights were toasty in the same three cities, plus Canberra and Brisbane. Yes, we know that Australia is a sunny place, and has sweltering summers. But that warmth was also spread across the year, with January, February, April, June, August, September and November sitting in the ten warmest on record when it comes to a variety of markers — such as the mean, maximum and minimum temperatures for those months. November 2020 was also the warmest November on record, before summer even hit, while the entirety of spring earned that status as well. If you noticed that the three of the top four warmest years listed above all fell in the last decade, there's a reason for that as well. "The mean temperature for the ten years from 2011 to 2020 was the highest on record, at 0.94 degrees above average and 0.33 degrees warmer than the previous ten years," said Senior Climatologist Dr Lynette Bettio. Dr Bettio also notes that increasing temperatures is a worldwide trend. "Globally, every year from 2013 onwards has been among the ten warmest on record, with 2016 and 2019 being the hottest," she says. "2020 was among the top three" on a global scale, she advises, which happened "despite the onset of La Niña, which has a suppressing effect on global temperatures". In Australia, La Niña usually means more rainfall, cooler daytime temperatures south of the tropics and warmer overnight temperatures in the north. In terms of rain, 2020 was actually close to average, BOM says; however, the western parts of Western Australia, southeastern Queensland and western Tasmania all received below average rainfall. For more information about the Bureau of Meteorology's Annual Climate Statement 2020, head to BOM's website.
Throw us Sydneysiders a bit of sunshine and we'll take just about any inside activity to the great outdoors. Open-air moviegoing, however, is a clear favourite. Each year we inevitably see our favourite outdoor cinemas return for the summer and a couple of newbies pop up too. From films overlooking Sydney Harbour to movies nestled in the Hills, these cinemas showcase the best new releases and cult favourites under the stars. So pack a snack basket of wine and cheese mandatory, some Aeroguard and get your butt on a picnic rug for the evening. It's a perfect date idea or a great way to spend an evening with mates. MOONLIGHT CINEMA, CENTENNIAL PARK Cinephiles, picnic-lovers and everyone in between, rejoice — Moonlight Cinema is back for another round. Kicking off on the first day of summer (how fitting) in Sydney's Centennial Park, this year's setup boasts all the regular features that make this one of the country's most popular summer events. Big screen shimmering beneath the stars? Check. Food trucks serving the ultimate movie munchies? Check. Letting super-organised patrons BYO their own snacks? Check. A huge lineup of new releases and cult classics? You betcha. Expect all the big summer releases, like sci-fi thriller Passengers, the much-anticipated La La Land with Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, and Lion, based on the true story of Saroo Brierley who found his birth mother in India via Google Earth after 25 years of separation. Naturally, they'll also be playing Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (which was released today) as well as the yet-to-be-released Star Wars: Rogue One and game-turned-film Assassins Creed. As always, they'll also throw in a few cult favourites — this year it's Grease and Back to the Future — and some Doggie Nights, which will kick off with The Secret Life of Pets. When? December 1, 2016 – April 2, 2017. SYDNEY HILLS OUTDOOR CINEMA, CASTLE HILL Running for a month from January 12 to February 12 at the Castle Hill Showground, this al fresco event promises summertime cinema at its best. The 20-strong film program — which will show on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights — will cover both new releases and classics, across all kinds of genres. The season will kick off with the Michael Keaton-starring The Founder followed by a screening of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them the next night, and finish up with WWII film Allied, which stars Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard. But, really, the big screen stuff is just a tiny part of what this pop-up event has in store. Most importantly, Bilpin Cider is on drinks duty, with their fully licensed Garden Bar set to serve an assortment of summer-inspired cocktails, local wine, French bubbly, and the label's own collection of ciders. Meanwhile, a pop-up by local Dural café Wolfe & Co. will be taking care of those movie snacks, stepping beyond your usual popcorn selection to offer the likes of prawn cocktail rolls and beef brisket burgers. There's even a range of cheese and antipasto boards, for anyone wanting to really ace that date night situation. When? January 12 – February 12, 2017. ST GEORGE OPENAIR CINEMA, MRS MACQUARIES POINT The St George Openair Cinema is one of Sydney's favourite (and most dramatically panoramic) outdoor movie events. This year's a 39-night season, running between January 7 and February 17, and featuring 20 premieres and preview screenings and a selection of 2017 Oscar contenders. After kicking off with Lion, the cinema will screen Jackie, Manchester by the Sea, Loving, Gold, Hidden Figures and the long-awaited sequel T2 Trainspotting. This summer's anticipated new releases are on the bill too, including La La Land, Why Him?, A United Kingdom and Passengers, as well as 2016 highlights like Nocturnal Animals, Arrival, The Founder, Allied, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Plus, on Australia Day, you can catch a preview of David Stratton's Stories of Australian Cinema. More than 1500 patrons per evening are expected to flock to Mrs Macquaries Point adjacent to Royal Botanic Gardens, so get your tickets locked down ASAP. When? January 7 – February 17, 2017. BEN & JERRY'S OPENAIR CINEMA, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY Last year, Sydney's inner west got in on the openair cinema action, with Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema opening their very first inner west cinema, adding another location to their free ice cream-loving lineup of Bondi, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth. And they're back for 2016. Setting up on the lawns of Cadigal Green at the University of Sydney, Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema shows new releases and cult classics including Hollywood blockbusters Inferno, Doctor Strange, Hacksaw Ridge, The Accountant and Arrival, comedies Bad Santa 2 and War on Everyone, Oscar contenders The Light Between Oceans and Nocturnal Animals, and controversial Cannes feature The Neon Demon. The team are keeping their tried and true formula intact — live music and free ice cream nights. Local artists will hit the stage before the film for cruisy sets, including Nic Cassey, The Runaway Horses and Naomi Sequeira. There'll also be a fully-licensed bar and gourmet food stands. You can also hire deckchairs, beanbags and blankets, or go all in for a VIP Star Lounge ticket with lounger, a blanket, seat side service and a glass of wine. When? November 25 – December 12, 2016. SUNSET CINEMA, NORTH SYDNEY Returning to North Sydney Oval, Sunset Cinema kicks off on Thursday, January 19, before running Wednesdays through Saturdays until March 18. The program skews towards more recent films including Captain Fantastic, The Magnificent Seven, Bridget Jones's Baby and The Girl on the Train, although they have squeezed one retro title in there: Dirty Dancing. They've also put together a top-notch food and beverage offering, in order to keep your stomach from grumbling during the film. They'll set up a snack bar and the site will have a fully licensed bar, serving 4 Pines craft beers and MadFish wines. When? January 19 – March 18, 2017. [caption id="attachment_603915" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Huw Lambert/Luchetti Krelle.[/caption] SKYLINE DRIVE-IN CINEMA, BLACKTOWN Dress in your best '60s get-up and step back in time at one of the only drive-ins left in Sydney. With a recently refurbished Happy Days-esque diner (designed by Luchetti Krelle) offering classic snacks like hot chips, ice creams and frozen cokes, and a pub down the road, you better not do anything more than hold hands with your sweetheart otherwise you'll ruin the schmaltz of the experience. There are two opposing screens which show double features nightly. When? All year-round.
Channelling the cultural and creative breadth of Japan's 47 prefectures, this six-venue hub, contains four restaurants, a patisserie and a whiskey bar by the award-winning team behind Sydney institution Maybe Sammy. The flagship venue, Garaku, offers a traditional kaiseki experience — Japan's answer to the degustation. Ex-Tetsuya Executive Chef Derek Kim has crafted an exquisite and theatrical concept, with each dish offering an elegant interpretation of the four seasons. Meanwhile upstairs, Ibushi is a lively robata restaurant serving up smoke, skewers and sake while summoning shades of the bustling streets of Tokyo, led by Head Chef Chris Kim and Executive Chef Takashi Yamamoto. The most exclusive venue on the site is Omakase, an intimate eight-seat diner aiming to set a new gold standard for the classic Japanese chef's table experience. Master of omakase sushi, Akira Horikawa and Tomoyuki Matsuya from Hatted restaurant Kame House, will be feeding the lucky few who manage to bag a seat at their coveted bar. There are also plans in the works for a rotation of celebrated Japanese sushi masters to visit as guest chefs. Exploring the ways Japanese cuisine has influenced dining cultures around the world is FIVE, featuring a modern European menu reimagined with Japanese flourishes conceived by Head Chef Hiroshi Manaka, formerly of Charlotte Bar & Bistro. The name is inspired by the five core fundamental elements expressed in the menu: taste, colour, cooking, moderation and the senses. The latest venture from Maybe Group is Whisky Thief, a bar for both seasoned whisky enthusiasts and newcomers to the amber dram. Expect an impressive list of aged drops alongside the kind of creative cocktails the Maybe Sammy team is famed for. Finally, Dear Florence, a classic patisserie, is serving up delectable sweet treats and refined desserts created by Executive Pastry Chef Aoife Noonan. Top image: Anson Smart
Vacationing closer to home shouldn't mean settling for unimaginative getaways. Australia has its own collection of holiday paradises, stunning sights and supreme vacation vibes without the long-haul flight — including the lush hinterland region of Queensland's Sunshine Coast, sitting around 90 minutes north of Brisbane. Here, you'll find cosy couples' cabins, treehouse hideaways and stunning rural retreats, all perfectly located to the area's famed nature walks, hinterland villages and sandy beaches. We've done the hard work for you and pulled together a list of the most stunning Sunshine Coast hinterland stays you can book right now. Pick a winner, pack your bags and get ready to recharge those batteries with a blissed-out rainforest retreat. Recommended reads: The Best Dog-Friendly-Stays in Queensland The Best Places to Go Glamping in Queensland The Best Hotels in Brisbane The Best Island Stays in Queensland 629 Balmoral Ridge, Balmoral Ridge Stay on top of the world at this stunning ridgetop retreat, complete with epic views and a roomy deck from which to soak it all in. From $690 a night, sleeps four. Blue Summit Cottages Luxury Escape, Witta Boasting a fireplace, living room spa and sweeping views across the treetops, this self-contained cottage makes for an idyllic couples' escape. From $414 a night, sleeps two. Pencil Creek Cottage, Mapleton Break from reality at this charming couples' cottage, set among the leafy surrounds of Mapleton. Log fire, four-poster bed and peaceful deck, all included. From $297 a night, sleeps two. Cuddle Cottage, Montville This picture-perfect cottage for two comes kitted out with a romantic loft bedroom, plus a sunny terrace for afternoon cocktails with a view. From $195 a night, sleeps two. The Farm on Razorback Ridge, Montville A lofty retreat set on ten hectares of farmland and rainforest. Enjoy sunny days splashing in the pool and nights unwinding by the fire. From $1146 a night, sleeps ten. Bird Song Valley, Montville Experience your own slice of hinterland paradise at this breezy revamped Queenslander, complete with crisp styling, wraparound verandahs and a luxurious master tub. From $375 a night, sleeps six. Couples Spa Suite Retreat, Montville Unwind and reconnect in this luxury honeymoon suite. The balcony spa bath, bio-fuel fireplace and treetop views are getaway goals. From $350 a night, sleeps four. Treetops Seaview, Montville With its breathtaking outlook, this private treetop hideaway feels worlds away from reality. Lounge on the sun-drenched deck, or soak up epic views in the spa. From $512 a night, sleeps two. Cobhearthome, Maleny Tread lightly with a stay at this award-winning Mediterranean-style eco-cottage, decked out with colourful murals and boasting views across lush green rainforest. How much? From $230 a night, sleeps four. The Wilds Container Home, Dulong This converted shipping container home is an architectural delight, enveloped by nature. Enjoy a stylish hideaway, with luxe features and a private, leafy setting. From $330 a night, sleeps two. Treehaus, Valdora Tranquility meets style at this breezy nature retreat. Unwind with the help of luxurious linens, a blissful courtyard garden and a toasty fire pit. From $180 a night, sleeps four. The Bower Couples' Cabin, Wootha Surrounded by rainforest, this charming timber cabin makes for a romantic hideout year-round. Snuggle fireside, unwind in the claw-foot tub, or laze by the shared pool. From $165 a night, sleeps two. All images courtesy of Airbnb. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
"I think a little bit is that annoying mosquito lead. It gets in your ear and it's hard to get it out." That's why Chris Stracey, one half of Bag Raiders with Jack Glass, thinks that the duo's perennial earworm 'Shooting Stars' not only initially resonated with listeners, but keeps resonating. More than a decade and a half has now passed since the peppy tune first hit airwaves; indeed, 2025 marks exactly 15 years since the track notched up 18th spot in Triple J's Hottest 100. The tune's story didn't end there, though, and not just thanks to that initial wave of love lingering. "Case in point: with the Troye tune, it opens with that and it's just instantly like 'oh okay, yeah, I'm in'. It's just one of those," Stracey tells Concrete Playground. He's referring to fellow Aussie Troye Sivan, who sampled ''Shooting Stars' in his 2023 single 'Got Me Started'. Between Bag Raiders first releasing their song and Sivan's track, the tune also went viral — and global — thanks to a meme that it'll forever be linked to, then rocketed up the Billboard dance charts. "It's been crazy. I mean, it's been good. There's nothing to complain about. But it just feels like it's total dumb luck in a way. The way the Internet works, you can't really engineer things like that. You just let it do its thing. It's surprising to us that it's continuing to do its thing, but I wouldn't say there'd been too many negative things that have come with it," advises Glass. "It's been amazing," pipes in Stracey. "It's been a lucky and crazy and awesome ride," adds Glass again. "It also had a weird arrangement at the time. It's just basically like verse, verse, verse, verse, chorus," explains Stracey. "And breakdown," reminds Glass. "Whereas most songs would go verse, chorus, verse, chorus," continues Stracey. "I remember that being a comment, that a few people were like 'what is that arrangement? I've never heard a song do that'. And we didn't really know much about writing songs at the time. We were just like 'oh, let's just make it chill and then make it big'. So maybe that hasn't to do with it, but I don't know." Bag Raiders will always be known for 'Shooting Stars', but the song that Flume has also covered with Toro y Moi is just the beginning of the duo's journey — well, after going to the same Sydney high school, reconnecting afterwards and teaming up to make music, forming the band in 2006. It also came after 2008's 'Turbo Love' became a radio favourite, and their remix of 'B.T.T.T.T.R.Y.' by K.I.M. (aka The Presets' Kim Moyes) made the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack. Jump to 2025 and two studio albums sit on their discography, 2010's self-titled release and 2019's Horizons, as do collaborations with everyone from The Kite String Tangle to Panama, their own record label and status as a music-festival favourite. Bag Raiders' next fest gig is AO LIVE, the music lineup that's been accompanying the Australian Open since 2003. Only one Grand Slam around the world pairs tennis with a music event: Melbourne's annual stint in the sport's spotlight. For 2025's AO LIVE from Thursday, January 23–Saturday, January 25, Bag Raiders sit on a bill filled with big names: Benson Boone headlines the Thursday night, Kaytranada does the honours on the Friday, and Glass and Stracey take to the stage on the final day, as do Kesha and Armand Van Helden. Music lovers who'll be filling the crowd aren't the only ones that are excited. So are Bag Raiders. What gets them pumped about being on any festival bill? "One big thing is who else is on the lineup," says Glass. [caption id="attachment_975224" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ashlea Caygill[/caption] "I would say in this case, it's such a sick lineup. To be on the same bill as Kaytranada and Armand Van Helden, who's a bit of a hero of ours, is pretty exciting. So that's something that I would say I look to. Also just to be in a cool, kind of weird environment — and this certainly fits that bill as well," Glass also advises, calling out how unique it is to be playing a music fest at a major tennis championship. Adds Stracey: "And also we're doing this one live, whereas the last few thing festivals that we've done, I think we were doing DJ sets — which is also really fun, but we've got this new live show that we've been building and it's been really fun to pop that off whenever we can. And doing it at a festival, and the atmosphere is tip top, is definitely going to be really fun." Glass and Stracey are indeed still having fun with Bag Raiders. Chatting through their career — how they started, their early influences, the 'Shooting Stars' experience, the path that's led them to here — they sound as inspired as ever, in fact. As for what the future holds, "I think just keep doing what we've been doing the last couple of years, which is making dance music, and going out and DJing it. I think we're in a good moment. So, more of the same please," notes Glass. Fingers crossed that their current idea of a dream collaboration comes to fruition, too: "We meet so many people along the way and then we just kind of go 'oh, you know what, it'd be fun to do a track with that person'," explains Glass of their process. "Actually, we were hanging out with the guys from ONEFOUR at Ability Fest. That would be quite a good collab. Those guys are cool as hell," adds Stracey. We also spoke with the pair about what they love about playing festivals, what audiences can expect from that aforementioned new live show, what they've learned along their journey, how the Australian dance music scene has changed and plenty more. [caption id="attachment_975226" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ashlea Caygill[/caption] On Bag Raiders' Favourite Part of the Festival Experience as an Artist Jack: "Being outdoors is kind of sick. We're so used to playing in sweaty clubs at like two in the morning. There's something very fresh and nice about being outdoors. And just the energy that people bring to festivals is different to a club. I don't know, it seems to be a bit more ... " Chris: "Like a one-off concert." Jack: "People are just like — the vibes are high." Chris: "Yeah, it's more, more, more, more — more of everything. More fun, more people usually." Jack: "More bands." Chris: "And that's also what's so fun for us, too. We've met a lot of really good friends in music now through playing at the same festivals, and just kicking it side of stage and watching their shows. That's really fun." On What Audiences Can Expect From Bag Raiders' New Live Show Jack: "Our new show is pretty turbo actually. It starts pretty hard and fast, and then continues to get harder and faster for the course of an hour." Chris: "So the journey will be from high energy to higher energy." Jack: "Yeah, kind of a take-no-prisoners live show that we've built." Concrete Playground: "That suits being at a sports event." Jack: "I think so." Chris: "Yeah, high intensity. Those people are used to watching the hectic stuff at the highest level, so we've got to also bring it." Jack: "We're all athletes, you know what I mean?" On How Influential 'Shooting Stars' Has Been in Putting Bag Raiders on the Path to Where They Are Today Chris: "We were just making tracks and putting them out, I guess, and we didn't really think that it would do what it did. We had no expectations of it, really. We were just working on a bunch of music, and then we just kept going and did the album it. It's been something that the outside perception of it is kind of bigger than the importance that we hold on it. We've never tried to do another version of that song or anything like that. It's just one of those funny things where you're making one thing in your bedroom, basically." [to Jack] "It was half in your spare room in your house, and then in our studio, the first studio that we moved into. And it's just incredible that you can do something like that and then it takes off." Jack: "But I think it's only looking back where you realise how weird and crazy that journey was. I think as it's gone, it's all felt pretty natural and normal. And then the internet stuff, like I said, has been kind of wacky but cool. But I don't think there's really ever been a moment where ... " Chris: "That's informed the new music that we've made." Jack: "Yeah, exactly." On the Original Dream When Bag Raiders Formed in 2006 — or Before That, When Glass and Stracey Knew Each Other in High School Jack: "I think just to be able to do that — and do that as a job." Chris: "Yep." Jack: "I didn't really dream much bigger than that." Chris: "Me neither." Jack: "But that's also not that easy to do. We've been lucky and we've worked hard and we've been able to do that. It's still a dream. It's like a good dream that we've kind of reached, I guess. I don't think either of us ever wanted to be global superstar DJs or in the gossip magazines. It wasn't anything like that. It was just to keep being able to make music which we both love, and to do that as much as possible, basically." On the Moment When Glass and Stracey Knew That Bag Raiders Was Their Job Now Chris: "I quit my cafe job, where I had to wake up at 5am and open the cafe. I was like 'I'm not doing this shit anymore'. It's because around when we started getting booked, after we get got some radio play on Triple J and we started getting booked to DJ, we're traveling. So we go to Melbourne and we go to Brisbane and we go to Newcastle, and we're like 'oh, cool, so people are paying for us to go to these other cities and then also paying us fees'. And for the amount of work that you do — I mean, there's a lot of travelling and you're doing work on music behind the scenes — but in terms of hours, a DJ gig is like two hours. And I'd been putting in eight- hours shifts, getting up at 5am or 4.30am or whatever. And I was like 'this has gotta go'." Jack: "Yeah, totally." On Bag Raiders' Diverse Range of Initial Influences That Started Them on Their Music Journey Jack: "I think at that time we were making all kinds of different music. We both had interest in electronic music, but it wasn't necessarily club music and dance music. And then at around the time when we started in Sydney, our friends are throwing these parties and we were attending them, and we were buddies with the DJs. And then I guess slowly the music we were making went from more-ambient stuff into more club-focused things, and then we would turn up at the club and give it to the DJs and they would just play without even … " Chris: " … Listening to it. It's actually insane." Jack: "Yeah, they trusted us enough to press play on CDs, which could've been anything. And I guess it was through the influence of that, the parties were called Bang Gang and the Bang Gang DJs were really big." Chris: "They also played all over the place. You would hear Daft Punk, you would hear kind of techno stuff and then you would hear … " Jack: "Fleetwood Mac." Chris: "Yeah, Fleetwood Mac. Bon Jovi. They were playing all over the place. It was that real anything-goes sort of vibe. And I think, also because we've always been into so much different kind of music — the first thing that we did as Bag Raiders was that mix CD that we called Bag Raiders, which was sort of the same, was all over the place, had a couple of our edits, but it had The Cure, it had 50 Cent, it had dance stuff. It had Cream, like Eric Clapton." Jack: "Outkast." Chris: "Yeah." Jack: "It was wild." Chris: "And I think we've just always tried to have that — we've never really been people that are just into one thing. All of our releases have kind of been all over the place, apart from recently, where they're a bit more geared towards the club world again. But it's definitely been that we've been influenced by loads of different stuff." Jack: "I feel like that's the ethos of Bag Raiders as well, to just raid from all these different genres and just put them all together in a big washing machine and see what comes out." On What Bag Raiders Takes Inspiration From Now, Almost Two Decades On Chris: "Since COVID really, I think both of us have been re-energised in making club music. It's been really fun to, because we had a couple of years and no shows at all, and it seemed like when DJ gigs started happening again, the energy from the people was just way more." Jack: "Yeah." Chris: "It was like a really hardcore kind of thing, like people are way into letting loose, it seems. So it's been really fun to just make the kind of music that we would be putting in our DJ sets anyway." Jack: "Or that we would want to hear if we were out in a club, for sure. And I think that's one thing we've probably gotten better at is understanding how clubs work and how to DJ and stuff. For sure 15 years ago, we had no idea for our first DJ sets — they were like absolute shitshows." Chris: "Train wreck." Jack: "Train wreck after train wreck. So we've finally learned how to DJ, I would say." On Whether the Success of 'Shooting Stars' Came with Pressure — and How Bag Raiders Handled It Chris: "Pressure to make another 'Shooting Stars'? A little. We definitely had a moment where we did an album that we thought was pretty cool and we loved it, and then the label's a little bit like 'oh, we need another 'Shooting Stars'-style thing. Like: 'well we're not – that's not what we do, bro'. It's funny, because labels will sign you because you did something that you liked for yourself that worked. And then as soon as it comes around to the second time around, they suddenly are like 'oh, we know what's going to work — you should do this thing that worked before and keep doing it'. And that's never been in our interest at all. But I mean, we've been out of a label deal for four years now or something like that." Jack: "Yeah, yeah." Chris: "And so for us it's just been so freeing, and you realise you really don't need labels these days. It doesn't take a $1000-a-day studio to make a record anymore. You can do it with a laptop in the library. And then barely anyone does music videos anymore as well. It seems like they just stick it up on social media or something, and that's it. It's kind of been really freeing and really fun to enter that world, too. Because especially in dance music, you do something and you're playing it out as you're working on it. And so as soon as you've gone 'oh, this is finished, it's ready to go, let's just put it out', the fact that there's no red tape anymore, to just be able to do something and then like suddenly it's out in the world, that's ... " Jack: "A good feeling." Chris: "Yeah, very good feeling." On Glass and Stracey Starting Their Own Label Jack: "It's been awesome. So far, I think we've only just put out our own music on it, right? It would be cool in the future to put out music of friends and music that we really like. But it's exactly like what Chris is just talking about. It just feels very freeing. And it's not even that no one's telling us what to do, because even had they done that in the past, we kind of wouldn't listen anyway. But it's more like there's no big machine. There's no bureaucracy. There's no like red tape. There's no waiting around for a label to get its ducks in order before something comes out. It's just all very immediate, and we can move really quickly. That stuff feels really freeing, I think." On What Glass and Stracey Have Learned Over Their Bag Raiders Journey So Far Jack: "I certainly know a lot more about how the music industry works now, and who the evil players are — who to avoid and who to buddy up with. And then in terms of music, I don't think our approach is that different to what it was back then, to be honest." I would like to think that's one of the secrets of our longevity and success. We never try to make music for anyone except ourselves. Whatever makes us feel good or happy in the moment in the studio, that's what we're going to make. Chris: "And I suppose we've been lucky, we haven't had any overbearing labels or managers or whatever forcing us in certain directions, so we've free enough to just do whatever feels good. And I think probably people can sense that or something, like audiences. I think people have much better radars than what some people think. They can tell if something's being forced or tailored, or tried to be created in some direction — and people want to listen to stuff that just makes everyone feel good." On How Glass and Stracey Have Observed the Australian Dance Music Scene Changing Since They Were Starting Out Jack: "When we came up and especially in Sydney, the scene was so strong and there were so many clubs. Right now we're in King's Cross at my studio, on a road where there used to be like six clubs — and there's none here now. So it's a bit sad. I feel like there's maybe less enthusiasm for clubbing from young people, and less people seem less convinced about its importance. You go to Europe and cities like Berlin, and it's such a big part of the fabric there, and it's recognised by everyone as a really important form of expression or art even. And I think we've lost that a bit in Australia. So that's a bummer. Having said that, the amount of good music that still comes out of here is very inspiring and sick, considering the constraints of what I was just saying. There's so much good stuff. A lot of what we DJ is Australian music from friends or people we like here. So yeah, I feel like the scene is really strong kind of against all odds in a way, with lack of support." Bag Raiders play AO LIVE on Saturday, January 25 — with the full event running from Thursday, January 23–Saturday, January 25 at John Cain Arena, Olympic Boulevard, Melbourne. Head to the Australian Open website for more details and tickets. In New Zealand, Bag Raiders are playing Gardens Music Festival on Saturday, March 1 at Auckland Domain, Park Road, Parnell, Auckland. Head to the event website for more details and tickets.
Buddy's in Newtown is the suburb's first-ever self-service bar, taking over the site formerly occupied by Lentil As Anything. The King Street spot will have your beer-pulling skills on display, with each beverage you consume — whether that's a hoppy craft brew or a sweet and sour cocktail — coming from one of the 30+ self-serve taps around the venue. This two-storey boozery is the brainchild of co-owners Jimmy Roe and Duncan McGeoch, who've kept the fit-out relatively simple with ample seating, polished brick, and a heap of natural light, as well as playful custom artwork by Newtown artist Paul Tooth. The considerable drinks lineup comes from a carefully curated selection of local craft beer, natural wine, house-made cocktails and non-alcoholic options, all of which are stored in kegs. And the storage choice is purposeful. Roe and McGeoch are committed to reducing their environmental impact, ensuring that lowering waste and minimising the business's carbon footprint is top of mind and steers their business practices. Roe told Concrete Playground: "We want to offer an experience without the wastage that can be traditionally generated at hospitality venues." If you're wondering how exactly the self-serve system works (and how it isn't an RSA minefield), here's the general gist. You start by procuring a Buddy's venue card upon entrance and pre-load it with your desired amount to spend. From there, you head to the beverage wall where you grab a glass and select your booze of choice, tap your card to activate the tap and pour to your heart's content. The system tracks volume limits and is responsible for card reactivation, so you'll be kept in check. It's not all booze, though. If you're feeling peckish, Buddy's has partnered with the local crew from Rub-A-Dub seasoning and has a snack-heavy sharing menu on offer. You'll find a bunch of beer-friendly options like nachos, flatbread Italian pizzas and Rub-A-Dub's famous chicken ribs, alongside Aussie classics like fairy bread. And if you're catering to a larger group — or just up for an insane personal challenge — opt for the one-metre long bruschetta.
Birthdays come around so fast, don't they? It is incredibly tough to try to figure what to do every single year. Dinner? Old as the tale of time. Drinks at a bar? Done to death. So, what else does your city have to offer in the way of birthday celebrations? Turns out there are loads of ways to have a whale of a time on your special day, from the luxurious and creative to the thrill-seeking and downright spooky. Plus, with Suncorp's Platinum Credit Card*, you can earn extra points for every dollar you spend on the celebration of your existence — from the decadent birthday cake (you deserve it) to the candles on top. Read on to discover some of the absolute best group activities you can plan in Sydney (and beyond) and bookmark this for when your next trip around the sun rolls around. Planning your next birthday — sans the stock standard dinner or drinks — will be a total breeze. [caption id="attachment_715194" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paesanella Cheese.[/caption] TAKE A CHEESY ROAD TRIP If you and your best mates are ready and raring to go on a classic long weekend road trip, you might want to consider the fabulously tailored Great Aussie Cheese Trail. Created by agri-tourism gurus McIntosh & Bowman, this trip (conveniently preset in Google Maps) will lead you on heavenly car trip throughout New South Wales from cheese farm to cheese farm. You'll get to try the stunning buffalo mozzarella at Paesanella in Marrickville, the mouthwatering goats cheese varieties at Jannei in Lidsdale and all sorts of cow milk yoghurt, kefir and mountain cheese at Marrook Farm in Elands. Be warned, this trip isn't for the casual cheese fan. If you follow the full route, you'll be visiting 15 different dairy farms and clock just under 18 hours of driving — so make sure you only invite your most cultured, cheese fanatical friends. HEAD UPWARDS ON A CLIMBING ADVENTURE If you're more into adrenaline-inducing, action-filled group activities, Skypeak Adventures is a great choice for your birthday bash. Between the treetop swings, barrel runs and bungee leaps, hanging out (literally) with your mates while clipped to an aerial adventure park will definitely get your blood pumping. You get to pick the aerial crossings you want to do, so you can choose a challenging route — which features monkey bars, slacklines, and balance beams — or the 'just for fun' option, which is much more relaxed. Skypeak also has party packages so you don't have to worry about anything — the crew will provide the food and drink for a 'suspended picnic' and they'll also let you choose the playlist while you all clamber around high up in the air. [caption id="attachment_732583" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] GO GLAMPING ON COCKATOO ISLAND Spending a night or two in a luxurious tent with your nearest and dearest and waking up to gorgeous harbour views sounds just like an activity you'd want to save for a special occasion. On Cockatoo Island, you can book yourself (and your crew) into a huge lush tent right on the waterfront, so you can take in the beautiful views of Sydney from dusk 'til dawn. The deluxe package includes all amenities, including a pre-erected tent and bedding, plus deck lounges for sunset gazing. All you need to bring is the goods for an opulent island birthday picnic or a good ol' fashioned barbie — and don't forget to throw in some marshmallows to toast over the fire pit. Cockatoo Island has a bunch of interesting tours to go on while you're there, too. If you're amped for a night of being spooked, we recommend checking out the 90-minute haunted history night tour. [caption id="attachment_652785" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] LEARN A WEIRD NEW SKILL AT WORK-SHOP If you'd prefer to spend your birthday learning something new rather than deleting brain cells with booze, then Work-Shop is definitely for you. This innovative space is all about community, craft and learning some niche new skills — like how to make your own natural skincare, perfume, cheese or sourdough bread. You could also become an expert in serial killers, tantric sex or Japanese shibori dyeing, or learn the basics of hula hooping, indoor plants or taxidermy. There are endless options, so have a browse through its list of available classes and book you and your friends in. You'll have a fun and unique birthday and take some new knowledge home with you. Win, win. HAVE A STARGAZING BUSH SLEEPOVER IN A BUBBLE Less than three hours drive from Sydney is one of the most incredible getaway spots our sunburned country has to offer — camping in a see-through bubble tent, overlooking the second biggest canyon in the world. Bubbletent Australia is the way to go if you'd like to spend your birthday with your partner or best friend, stargazing and soaking in the beautiful scenery of the gorgeous Capertee Valley. This is not the camping you experienced as a kid — this is the OTT bush experience of your dreams. The bubble tents each feature a lush queen-size bed and a separate bathroom, plus they're stocked with lavish amenities including a fridge, wireless speakers, iPad and a gas burner, so you can cook up an evening feast while staring blissfully at the brilliant night sky. REVISIT YOUR CHILDHOOD AT AN ARCADE Remember the kid at school that always had the best birthday parties? Well at Archie Bros Cirque Electriq, that kid can now be you. Yep, you can have the childhood party of your dreams, complete with dodgem cars, arcade games, bowling, laser tag, cinematic gaming and virtual reality experiences. Archie Bros even has birthday packages, so you can invite a huge group of friends and enjoy everything this crazy arcade has to offer, complete with food and drink packages so you can keep your energy up to fit in even more activities. The menu here is exactly what you craved on your childhood birthdays too — sugary, colourful and way OTT (including the cocktails). CHANNEL YOUR INNER VIKING AND THROW SOME AXES For those who enjoy the added element of an adrenaline rush on their birthday, look no further than this: axe throwing. Maniax offers group sessions so you and your mates can receive one-on-one coaching and target practice to get your axe-wielding skills up to scratch. Then, the games begin. You'll all take part in a wild tournament to see who among you is the king or queen of the mighty axe. This is a bonding exercise like no other, so be prepared for you and your mates to get really competitive, but also wildly supportive when you eventually hit your first bullseye. Seize the day, make your everyday moments count and get rewarded all the while with Suncorp. *Issued by Citigroup Pty Limited ABN 88 004 325 080 AFSL No. 238098 Australian credit licence 238098. Top Image: Cole Bennets.
Remember Tiger King mania? Of course you do. When Netflix's true-crime docoseries about Joe Exotic dropped in March 2020, it seemed as if everyone on the planet tuned in, dropped their jaws and couldn't stop talking about the chaotic real-life story. The fact that it released just as worldwide lockdowns hit helped boost its success, obviously. In the aftermath, other networks and platforms in the US rushed to get in on the action. That's when dramatised versions of the former Oklahoma private zookeeper's tale started being greenlit all over the place. Two big new series were swiftly slated: one starring Saturday Night Live, Ghostbusters and Yesterday's Kate McKinnon as Carole Baskin — a glorious piece of casting if ever there was one — and a completely separate show with none other than Nicolas Cage playing Exotic. Neither series has surfaced yet, thanks to the pandemic. But, in sad news for Cage fans (aka everyone), the second show has just been scrapped. Variety and The Hollywood Reporter have reported that the Amazon has ditched its series — which means no blonde mullet for Cage. There's a chance the folks behind it might shop it around to other streamers and networks; although, whether anyone else picks it up, and if Cage will still remain onboard to play the tiger aficionado, one-time US presidential candidate and current incarcerated felon, is all clearly yet to be seen. This take on Exotic's tale was expected to chart his origin story, chronicling how he took on that moniker, became a larger-than-life version of himself and found himself on his present path. While Exotic has received plenty of media attention in his time, particularly recently, the Amazon series was due to take its cues from Leif Reigstad's 2019 Texas Monthly article 'Joe Exotic: A Dark Journey Into the World of a Man Gone Wild'. For now, anyone keen on more Tiger King mayhem will need to wait until the McKinnon-starring series comes to fruition. It's actually set to shoot in Brisbane this year. And, Cage fans will just have to console themselves by looking forward to him playing himself, and playing a truffle hunter as well. If you need a reminder as to why Joe Exotic's story keeps on keeping on, check out the Tiger King trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acTdxsoa428 The Nicolas Cage-starring Joe Exotic series has just been scrapped by Amazon. Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness is available to stream on Netflix, though. Via Variety / The Hollywood Reporter. Top image: Netflix.
Picking just one film that Quentin Tarantino will always be known for is impossible. Pulp Fiction might seem to be the obvious answer, but given that his resume spans Reservoir Dogs, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill and Inglourious Basterds as well, alongside Death Proof, Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, his career is filled with standout flicks. Only one looks set to score a Brad Pitt-starring follow-up with David Fincher directing, however — and with QT writing the script. As Variety and The Playlist are reporting, the tale of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood's Cliff Booth won't be over if this new film comes to fruition. Netflix are behind it, and the focus on Booth is why Pitt (Wolfs) is in the lead, returning to the role that won him an Oscar. There's no name for the movie yet, or much else in the way of details — including whether fellow Once Upon a Time in Hollywood stars Leonardo DiCaprio (Killers of the Flower Moon) and Margot Robbie (Barbie) will also feature or even briefly pop up. Whatever title it has and whoever else is in it, the picture will see Pitt working with two familiar filmmakers. For Tarantino, he also starred in Inglourious Basterds. For Fincher, he's led Seven, Fight Club and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. If you've been hanging out for a new movie from the latter director since 2023's The Killer, this might be it. If the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood-related film retains a look at Tinseltown and the entertainment industry, Fincher will add it alongside Mank on his resume. QT just keeps showing Once Upon a Time in Hollywood love, after releasing a novelisation based on the ten-time Academy Award-nominated as part of a two-title deal with publisher Harper Collins. The text not only retraced the tale seen on-screen, but added to it. And yes, Tarantino penned the book, which marked his first foray into printed fiction and saw him embrace his love of novels that relay the narrative of big-screen releases. It's been almost three decades since QT wrote a feature script that someone else directed, since the screenplay for 1996's From Dusk Till Dawn — which he also acted in, and Robert Rodriguez (Spy Kids: Armageddon) helmed. Tarantino is no stranger to Pitt starring in a flick that stems from his words, but with another filmmaker behind the camera, though, courtesy of 1993's Tony Scott (Unstoppable)-directed True Romance. Obviously there's no sneak peek yet for the new film, but you can check out Once Upon a Time in Hollywood's trailer below: Netflix's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood follow-up doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you with more details when they are announced. Read our review of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Via Variety / The Playlist.
Do you guys ever think about watching the biggest movie of 2023 in the comfort of your own home? Barbie is a pink-hued dream on the big screen, where everyone should see it once — and it'll beam just as brightly via streaming from Tuesday, September 12. That's when the highest-grossing box-office hit of the year will hit digital, arriving on premium video on demand to rent and buy in Australia and New Zealand. By now, thanks to the pandemic, we all know the fast-tracked drill: these days, films make their way to home entertainment far faster than they used to before 2020. In Barbie's case, like everything from Dune, The Matrix Resurrections and Everything Everywhere All At Once to Elvis, Nope and Don't Worry Darling before it, it'll be both screening in cinemas and shining Kenergy onto your TV at the same time. You'll find Barbie available to stream via all the usual platforms — think: Google Play, YouTube Movies, Apple TV, Prime Video, Fetch, Foxtel Store, Microsoft and Telstra TV Box Office — in Australia and New Zealand. And, of course, you'll find a Greta Gerwig-helmed, Margot-Robbie-starring smash that sports rosy colours, does indeed bring the popular doll to screens, but couldn't be more smart and meaningful about it. Marking actor-turned-director Gerwig's third solo stint behind the camera after Lady Bird and Little Women, Barbie gets its namesake (Robbie, Babylon) struggling with life's big questions — and, when the film's key Barbie and Ken (Ryan Gosling, The Gray Man) drive through Barbie Land's gates to discover what's on the other side, struggling with Los Angeles as well. Splashing as much humour as pastel tones throughout its frames, Barbie is scripted by Gerwig and fellow filmmaker Noah Baumbach — her helmer on Greenberg, Frances Ha, Mistress America and White Noise, and real-life partner — and boasts a cast that's a gleaming toy chest of talent. All those on-screen stars help fill the feature with Barbies, including Issa Rae (Insecure) as president Barbie, Dua Lipa (making her movie debut) as a mermaid Barbie, Emma Mackey (Emily) as a Nobel Prize-winning physicist Barbie, Alexandra Schipp (tick, tick... BOOM!) as an author Barbie and Ana Cruz Kayne (Jerry and Marge Go Large) as a supreme court justice Barbie — plus Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton) as diplomat Barbie, Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live) as a Barbie who is always doing the splits, Hari Nef (Meet Cute) as doctor Barbie, Ritu Arya (The Umbrella Academy) as a Pulitzer-winning Barbie and Sharon Rooney (Jerk) as lawyer Barbie. There's also a whole heap of Kens, including Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Kingsley Ben-Adir (One Night in Miami), Ncuti Gatwa (the incoming Doctor Who) and Scott Evans (Grace and Frankie). And, Michael Cera (Arrested Development) plays Alan, Emerald Fennell (The Crown) plays Midge, Helen Mirren (Shazam! Fury of the Gods) is the narrator, America Ferrera (Superstore) and Ariana Greenblatt (65) are humans, Jamie Demetriou (Catherine Called Birdy) is a suit, Will Ferrell (Spirited) wears a suit as Mattel's CEO and Connor Swindells (also Sex Education) is an intern. We expect that you know all of the above already given how well Barbie has been doing in cinemas, where it has also cracked the top 15 of all time — and become the first movie by a solo female director to make $1 billion at the global box office. And yes, we expect that you'll now get 'I'm Just Ken' stuck in your head again (and again and again). Check out the Barbie trailer below: Barbie will be available to stream from Tuesday, September 12 via platforms such as Google Play, YouTube Movies, Apple TV, Prime Video, Fetch, Foxtel Store, Microsoft and Telstra TV Box Office in Australia and New Zealand. It's also still showing in cinemas Down Under. Read our review.
Troye Sivan has something to give Australia and New Zealand: his Something to Give Each Other tour, which has just announced 2024 dates Down Under. The Grammy-nominated and ARIA Award-winning 'Rush', 'I'm So Tired...', 'My My My!' and 'Youth' artist has spent the last couple of months playing shows in Europe to sellout crowds. Next, he's hitting America for a co-headline arena tour with Charli XCX. After that, he'll be making an Aussie return for gigs in Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney, then hopping over to Aotearoa to start off December. The Perth-raised pop star doesn't have the Western Australian city on his roster, starting his Australian leg at The Drive in the South Australian capital instead on Tuesday, November 19. From there, he has a date with Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Thursday, November 21, then with Brisbane's Riverstage on Tuesday, November 26. Last up for Aussies, everything from 'Got Me Started' to 'One of Your Girls' will echo across the Sydney Opera House Forecourt on Thursday, November 28, before it's NZ's turn at Spark Arena on Monday, December 2. Set to get a huge workout: the 2023 album that gives the tour its name, of course, which was Sivan's first since 2018's Bloom, earned a heap of placings on best-of-2023 lists at the end of last year and hit number one on the album charts in Australia. But given that his discography dates back to 2007's Dare to Dream — and includes fellow EPs TRXYE and Wild, plus his debut album Blue Neighbourhood — he has tracks from across almost two decades to bust out. "It's happening..." said Sivan on social media. "Good morning specifically to Australia and New Zealand. I'm home and I have news." View this post on Instagram A post shared by troye sivan (@troyesivan) Sivan will have Nick Ward in support, and is also set to appear at after parties in Sydney and Melbourne, where fans will have the chance to meet him. For more information on that part of the tour, you'll need to keep an eye on vodka brand Smirnoff's Instagram. It's already been a huge few years for Sivan — as a musician, acting in Boy Erased and The Idol, being parodied by Timothée Chalamet (Dune: Part Two) on Saturday Night Live — and now 2024 is getting even bigger. Dance to this, obviously. Troye Sivan Something to Give Each Other 2024 Australian and NZ Tour Dates: Tuesday, November 19 — The Drive, Adelaide Thursday, November 21 — Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne Tuesday, November 26 — Riverstage, Brisbane Thursday, November 28 — Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney Monday, December 2 — Spark Arena, Auckland Troye Sivan is touring Australia and New Zealand in November and December 2024, with multiple rounds of ticket presales beginning from 10am local time on Thursday, July 11 — and general sales from 12pm local time on Tuesday, July 16. Head to the tour website for more details. Top image: Arden.
Last year, Scotland's BrewDog created the world's first craft beer hotel and launched the world's first craft beer airline, letting beer lovers drink more of its cold ones in more places. Basically, the boozy flight is an ideal way to get to the brand's Ohio holiday spot, however it's not a regular service. But after the first return trip took to the skies earlier in 2019, two more flights have been announced. Aptly named BrewDog Airlines by the beer fiends— and yes, it's all about downing craft brews at 30,000 feet — the repeat trip will take eager drinkers from London to the company's Columbus facility and back. Want to mosey the other way? A second flight will also soar through the heavens while serving its passengers plenty of brews, leaving the US to head to Scotland for some beer- and whisky-sipping. If you're keen to make either journey, the London-to-Ohio leg departs Britain on Thursday, October 31, making the return leg on Tuesday, November 5, while the Ohio-to-Edinburgh trip leaves Columbus on the same departure date and heads back on the same return date as well. As was the case with the airline's maiden voyage, you'll also need to be one of BrewDog's Equity Punks, which is what it calls its shareholders — and pay between £1350–1450 per person (or £2550–2750 for two people sharing a room). Starting to pack now? Happy to make your own way to either start point? Then here's what else is in store. Boarding a Boeing 767, passengers will enjoy a spot of beer tasting, tuck into a BrewDog-inspired menu that's paired with matching beers, watch the brewery's BrewDog Network — its own streaming platform — and receive a branded eye mask and blanket. More brews will be served during the flight, obviously. And, once the plane lands, you're in for a tour of either BrewDog's Columbus or Ellon facilities, as well as relevant boozy trips in Ohio and Scotland. To ensure the flight goes smoothly — or boozily, really — BrewDog has also created its own beer that tastes better at a flying altitude. If you hop on board its airline, you'll get to enjoy more than a few sips. Cathay Pacific also did something similar back in 2017, launching a bottled beer that was made to taste as great in the air as it does on the ground. With BrewDog also opening an Australian base in Brisbane in 2019 — albeit without a hotel — here's hoping it brings this idea with it. Image: BrewDog.
Now, here's a race that brings a whole new meaning to the concept of 'taking the plunge'. The Sydney Skinny returns for its seventh annual nude ocean swim, hitting Middle Harbour's Cobblers Beach, near Mosman, on Sunday, March 17, and it promises to help you to squash a few fears, all for an excellent cause. Punters are invited to shed their clothes and take part in a spectator-free, secluded swim, clocking either 300 or 900 metres, on their choice of timed wave (including a womens-only wave). With a focus on inclusivity and self-challenge, the liberating event sees participants strip down only for the swim and those few moments before diving in, with sarongs waiting for everyone as they emerge at the finish line. As well as boosting confidence and breaking down a few mental barriers, the race helps raise much-needed funds for the Charlie Teo Foundation, in support of brain cancer research. As well as a $45 entry fee, swimmers are encouraged to raise additional funds through an Everyday Hero page.
Unique accommodations are available in abundance on Airbnb. So what makes Aussie Host Quentin Dempster's Table Cape home, which was recently named Australia's Best Unique Airbnb Stay, the most innovative of all? Affectionately named The Winged House, this extraordinary Tasmania property boasts a long list of features that has seen it recognised as one of Australia's best stays. It starts with its ability to stand out — literally — with architecture that sees it cantilevered over a cliff to deliver dramatic 180-degree views of the seascape that surrounds it. Designed by Australian artist Richard Goodwin (and engineered by Harry Partridge), Dempster's abode is a liveable art installation, inspired by the appearance of the wings of an aircraft stretching over a cliff. Guests who drive into the property have also noted its resemblance to a bird poised to take off. However, not content to simply serve breathtaking vistas of waves breaking on rocks to the east and Rocky Cape National Park to the west, changing cloud formations, eagles and even an occasional seal, Dempster's commitment to offering guests an unforgettable experience extends to every room of his house. The bathroom features a traditional Japanese soaking tub, the living room shelves are stocked with best-selling books, the gourmet kitchen is fully equipped and the pantry is packed with premium condiments — including extra virgin olive oil produced by Dempster himself. In addition to complimentary bottles of local wine on arrival, Dempster also offers a unique "call-in" service, where guests can dial-a-massage or dial-a-chef, connecting with the best local suppliers and service providers. Impressed with Dempster's understanding that "it's the hospitality that truly makes all the difference when it comes to helping guests feel like they are living in a place, not just travelling to it," we caught up with him to talk about his Airbnb hosting journey, as well as what he believes makes for a truly unique Airbnb stay. What made you decide to become an Airbnb Host? My wife and I use Airbnb when we travel. We've enjoyed it from a guest perspective so I joined up as a Host and things developed from there. We've attracted people from all over the world. What do you think Hosts can do to make an Airbnb listing outstanding? We provide a stocked larder, breakfast victuals, a complimentary bottle of Josef Chromy chardonnay or Tasmanian pinot noir as well as our own extra virgin olive oil. In addition to the dramatic views, we have found this warm welcome and generosity makes all the difference to the guest experience. What do you love about sharing your unique property? The sense of a special place and guests who love to share it with us. We chat happily with guests from all over the world and give advice on local things to do. What's something you wish you knew when you started hosting? The importance of taking the edge off guest stress about cancellations. During the early stages of the COVID pandemic we quickly adopted a lenient booking policy, one which gave a full refund to people who had to cancel because of lockdowns. Or offered them a credit voucher against a future stay so they were not out of pocket. What are some of the benefits of hosting? The income derived through hosting has allowed us to pay for a cleaner, manager, suppliers and tradies, which all helps to contribute to the local economy. We also pay Tassie land tax which returns some revenue to the Tasmanian taxpayer. So it's a win-win. Want to begin your own hosting journey with Airbnb? If you're feeling inspired, head to the website to find out how to get started. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy. Images: Bec Baxter
Chocolates are often a last-minute gift option. You've forgotten a big occasion, your choices are limited and you know that the recipient of your present has a sweet tooth. Gelato Messina's Mother's Day chocolates don't fall into that category, however — and not just because you need to order them in advance. There's boxes of chocolates and then there's this annual box of chocolates, which puts the gelato chain's winning way with desserts into action without ice cream. In 2024, Mother's Day is happening on Sunday, May 12, in case it temporarily slipped your mind. And if you pick up this showstopper, you'll be vying for favourite-child status. An important note: back when Messina first started doing Mother's Day choccies, they came filled with gelato. That hasn't always been the case, though, and isn't this year. 2024's chance to win brownie points is a box of eight chocolate bars, each made in-house by the dessert brand's chocolatiers — and each sporting a brand-new flavour. Is your mum a salted caramel fan? Raspberry caramel? Passionfruit yuzu caramel? There's three bars covered. Other varieties include cannoli and hazelnut, strawberry cheesecake, chocolate brownie and cafe latte. And if your mother has always wondered what tea and biscuits would taste like in chocolate form, they can now found out. It's not just the filling that's different on each bar. So is the outer shell, ranging from 65-percent dark chocolate, light milk chocolate, raspberry chocolate and coffee white chocolate to passionfruit chocolate, strawberry chocolate, earl grey tea chocolate and milk chocolate with brownie crumbs. So, your mum will have quite the variety to feast on. And hey, if she doesn't like one of the flavours, maybe she'll share it with you. Each box costs $55 a pop, and will be available to order from 12pm AEST on Monday, April 29 for delivery, or for pick up at the brand's Marrickville store in Sydney. Gelato Messina's 2024 Mother's Day chocolate bars are available to order from 12pm AEST on Monday, April 29 for delivery, or for pick up at the brand's Marrickville store in Sydney.
It has been 64 years since Godzilla first rampaged across through Tokyo, and the super-sized creature isn't done wreaking havoc. Like comic book characters and Star Wars, the king of the monsters is a cinema mainstay — and it's asserting its place atop the kaiju food chain in the trailer for Godzilla: King of the Monsters. If you haven't kept track of the Japanese figure's many, many screen appearances, this is its 35th. It's also the sequel to the last American-made Godzilla film, which hit screens back in 2014. Featuring an all-star cast of Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Thomas Middleditch, Charles Dance and O'Shea Jackson Jr, the movie explores humanity's efforts not only against Godzilla, but against the huge critter's own beastly enemies: Mothra, Rodan and the three-headed King Ghidorah. Godzilla: King of the Monsters is due in cinemas on May 30, 2019 — and it'll be followed by another monster mashup in 2020's Godzilla vs. Kong. If the title didn't make it obvious, the latter also acts as a sequel to 2017's Kong: Skull Island. Starring Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Julian Dennison, Kyle Chandler and Demián Bichir, and filming now, it's partly being shot in Queensland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LzbZMCJiLo&feature=youtu.be Image: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
The elevated dishes at British-born chef Nelly Robinson's Surry Hills degustation restaurant NEL bear little resemblance to the burgers and parmis you'll find at the local boozer. However, pub grub, albeit of a different sort, has been on the mind of this culinary maestro for some time. Classic corner pub The Nag's Head — a Glebe institution since 1836 — is now home to Robinson's first new venue in a decade: Winstons, a refined UK-themed gastropub concept, opening September 19, where guests will experience the multi-course wizardry Robinson is famed for via a seven-dish tasting menu inspired by Great British cuisine. [caption id="attachment_973555" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Winstons[/caption] Launching a new restaurant has been on Robinson's to-do list for several years. "NEL is ten years old next year, which I don't think a lot of people realise," he explains. "I've been mulling over taking on other projects for a while and for a long time, I thought that would mean going overseas, looking to earn some Michelin stars. But when [the owners of The Nag's Head] approached me, it was just such an exciting idea. I was brought up in British pubs, so getting to launch this project is all about nostalgia for me. It's about thinking about my father, my grandfather and really channelling the spirit of the pubs I grew up around." While many Aussie hotels can claim to have excellent food offerings, Robinson is aiming to set a new gold standard. Winstons is the nation's first true gastropub — that is to say, a fine dining restaurant within a pub in the same vein as the lauded chef-led ventures that have proven so popular in the UK, such as Heston Blumenthal's Michelin-starred The Hind's Head in Bray, or The Three Fishes, helmed by Robinson's former mentor Nigel Haworth. [caption id="attachment_973556" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Beef cheek Wellington[/caption] "I was training with Nigel [Haworth] when I was 17 and that's when he decided to open the first gastropub in the UK. I was fortunate enough to be part of that opening team, so seeing that you can take restaurant-level food and do it like that, in that setting, that's been in my brain ever since," Robinson shares. "But when I got to Sydney 13 years ago, I realised there really wasn't anything like that here. So I saw that gap in the market and thought, well let's wait, let's work. Of course, NEL was the first venue I launched and that has been my passion for the past ten years, but the gastropub thing has always been in the back of my mind. "What really inspired me to pull the trigger on it now was a trip I took back to the UK two years ago. I ate at Heston's in Bray, Tom Kitchen's pub in Edinburgh, Jason Atherton's [The Blind Pig] too, and it really brought it home to me, that as a chef, once you have your signature restaurant — and you know, NEL is my home — you can branch out and do other things. So now, launching a gastropub, I really want it to be something different, somewhere where people come to be with family and friends." "I was brought up in British pubs, so getting to launch this project is all about nostalgia for me." Winstons is only one part of Robinson's reinvention of The Nag's Head's dining options. In addition to the degustation offering — which stars the beef-cheek Wellington that was ranked the second best dish in the world in 2023 by The World's 50 Best Restaurants' "Taste Hunters" — the front bar, known simply as The Pub, is serving a less formal menu celebrating the favourite feeds of the British. Traditional dishes, like fish pies, beef cheek and peppercorn pies, and fish and chips are on offer alongside nods to the UK's more worldly fare, such as a fried tandoori chicken burger as a wink to the Brits' obsession with curry, and prawn toast, just like the kind from the local Chinese takeaway. [caption id="attachment_973558" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Beef cheek and peppercorn pie[/caption] Every Sunday, punters can enjoy a traditional British roast, complete with Robinson's gourmet flare, for $35. The meats — be it a house-smoked chicken with truffle butter, a slow-cooked lamb shoulder with mint jelly or a succulent beef joint — will rotate weekly, served with all the trimmings, including the all-important roast potatoes and of course, Yorkshire puddings. In addition to the trio of dining options already available — The Pub menu, Winstons' tasting menu and the Sunday roast — Robinson has one more quintessentially British experience to share with Sydney: afternoon tea, which will include a range of sweet and savoury treats alongside speciality teas and signature cocktails — served in teapots, naturally. This menu will be available later in the summer. [caption id="attachment_973559" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Nag's Head Sunday roast[/caption] The rear of The Nag's Head has already undergone a slick renovation to accommodate Winstons, but Robinson's long-term vision for the pub includes yet more upgrades that will transform the building into a multi-venue dining destination. Part of the front bar is set to become a deli, where customers can buy a Nelly Robinson fish pie or beef cheek pie to cook at home, along with other luxury groceries. A new in-house brewery and distillery is also incoming, producing craft ales and boutique spirits. A new fitout throughout the rest of the venue will underline the traditional British theme, while on the upper floor there will be spaces for larger parties and functions. [caption id="attachment_973560" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kingfish tandoori, available in The Pub[/caption] While this multifaceted endeavour may sound ambitious, particularly in an economic status quo that has forced an unsettling number of Sydney restaurants to fold, Robinson believes that creating a venue as versatile and unique as The Nag's Head will be a hit with Sydneysiders. "The point is, this is a place that people can enjoy. There's no pressure. You want a snack and a pint? You can get that in The Pub. You feel like something a bit more special. You can get that at Winstons for $80. You want somewhere you can bring the family, the kids, friends? That's what we're doing here. We want it to be a place that's fun. I think Sydney's ready for that." [caption id="attachment_973561" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Curried mussels, available in The Pub[/caption] Find The Nag's Head at 162 St Johns Road, Glebe, open Sunday–Tuesday, midday–10pm; Wednesday–Thursday, midday–11pm; and Friday–Saturday, midday to midnight. For more details, visit The Nag's Head website. Images: Paul R Fear
Not every film that wins an Oscar, earns a nomination for Hollywood's night of nights or gets selected by its country to go in the running for the coveted accolades makes it to cinemas Down Under beyond festivals. A movie can have international fests buzzing as well, yet still bypass a big-screen release in Australia. That's the fate for plenty of features; however, gone are the days when skipping a date with picture palaces was a sign of a bad movie. The streaming era means that a new flick is always dropping on one of the many platforms that are available to Aussie audiences. While they can't all be excellent, that's no different to what does make it to the silver screen. The gems that go straight to home viewing are up there with the gems that do get the movie-theatre treatment — as the highlights from January–June 2024 make clear. There are indeed Academy Award-winners on this list, as well as nominees. Films that'll compete next year, festival favourites, movies with big-name stars or from high-profile directors: they all feature as well. If you haven't caught them on the couch already alongside fellow straight-to-streaming standouts from 2024's first six months, take this as your motivation, whether you're after shattering documentaries, truth-is-stranger-than-fiction comedies, affecting dramas, gorgeous animation or plenty of horror. 20 Days in Mariupol Incompatible with life. No one should ever want to hear those three devastating words. No one who is told one of the most distressing phrases there is ever has them uttered their way in positive circumstances, either. Accordingly, when they're spoken by a doctor in 2024 Oscar-winner 20 Days in Mariupol, they're deeply shattering. So is everything in this on-the-ground portrait of the first 20 days in the Ukrainian port city as Russia began its invasion, with the bleak reality of living in a war zone documented in harrowing detail. Located less than 60 kilometres from the border, Mariupol quickly segues from ordinary life to an apocalyptic scene — and this film refuses to look away. Much of its time is spent in and around hospitals, which see an influx of patients injured and killed by the combat, and also become targets as well. Many of in 20 Days in Mariupol's faces are the afflicted, the medics tending to them in horrendous circumstances, and the loves ones that are understandably inconsolable. Too many of the carnage's victims are children and babies, with their parents crushed and heartbroken in the aftermath; sometimes, they're pregnant women. Directed by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mstyslav Chernov, and narrated by him with the grimness and soberness that can be this movie's only tone, 20 Days in Mariupol even existing is an achievement. What it depicts — what it immerses viewers in with urgency, from shelled hospitals, basements-turned-bomb shelters and more of the city destroyed day after day to families torn apart, looting, struggling to find food and bodies of the dead taken to mass graves — needs to be viewed as widely as possible, and constantly. His footage has also featured in news reports, but it can and must never be forgotten. Doctors mid-surgery demand that Chernov's camera is pointed their way, and that he shows the world the travesties taking place. The Ukrainian reporter, who has also covered Donbas, flight MH17, Syria and the Battle of Mosul for the Associated Press, does exactly that. He's doing more than ensuring that everyone bears witness, though; he makes certain that there's no way to watch 20 Days in Mariupol, which shows the vast civilian impact and casualties, and see anything but ordinary people suffering, or to feel anything other than shock, anger and horror. 20 Days in Mariupol streams via DocPlay. Society of the Snow It was meant to be a fun trip to Chile with friends and family for a game. When the Old Christians Club rugby union team boarded Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 in Montevideo on October 13, 1972, destination Santiago, no one among them knew what would happen next. The plane didn't make it to its destination, as 1976 Mexican film Survive!, 1993 American movie Alive and now Spanish-US co-production Society of the Snow each cover. All three features boast apt titles, but only the latest sums up the grim reality and existential dilemma of crashing in the Andes, being stranded for 72 days in snowy climes with little resources against the weather — or for sustenance — and attempting to endure. Taken from the memoir by Pablo Vierci, aka La sociedad de la nieve in Spanish, only this phrase adorning JA Bayona's (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) picture encapsulates the tremendous effort that it took to find a way to persist, as well as the fact that trying to remain alive long enough to be rescued meant adapting everything about how the survivors approached each second, minute, hour, day, week and month — and also links in with how a catastrophe like this banded them together, doing whatever it took to find a way off the mountains, while reshaping how they contemplated what it meant to be human. Society of the Snow isn't just a disaster film detailing the specifics of the flight's failed trip, the immediate deaths and those that came afterwards, the lengthy wait to be found — including after authorities called the search off — and the crushing decisions made to get through. Bayona, who also helmed the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami-focused The Impossible, has made a weighty feature that reckons with the emotional, psychological and spiritual toll, and doesn't think of shying away from the most difficult aspects of this real-life situation (including cannibalism). This is both gruelling and meaningful viewing, as crafted with technical mastery (especially by Don't Breathe 2 cinematographer Pedro Luque, plus Cinco lobitos' Andrés Gil and Cites' Jaume Martí as editors), built upon brutal candour, and paying tribute to resilience and then some. Its feats extend to its hauntingly acted performances from a cast that includes Enzo Vogrincic (El Presidente), Agustín Pardella (Secrets of Summer) and Matías Recalt (Planners), all contributing to an account of camaraderie and sacrifice that deserves its Best International Feature Film Oscar nomination. Society of the Snow streams via Netflix. The Devil's Bath Suspense and tension, how to cultivate such a strong atmosphere of unease that it feels as if it drips from the screen, the darker side of human nature, sheer existential exasperation: writer/directors Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala know these things. The Austrian filmmakers are just as well-aware of how to make movies that crawl under your skin as much as distress does with their characters. For that sensation at its very best, see: Goodnight Mommy, their Oscar-submitted 2014 debut (which was then remade in America in 2022). The Devil's Bath earns the same description, too. The duo's first feature since 2019's Riley Keough (Under the Bridge)-starring English-language horror flick The Lodge, it needles deep as it follows new bride Agnes (Anja Plaschg, Axolotl Overkill), who is thrilled to be starting her married life to Wolf (David Scheig, Heribet), even if that joy doesn't seem completely reciprocated. Relationship disharmony bubbles at the heart of this 18th century-set film, but that's not the only force bearing down on a woman that no longer has any agency — and, soon, little hope left simmering as well. Franz and Fiala begin The Devil's Bath with a different scene of domestic struggle. They haunt their viewers from the outset, too. First up, a woman throws a baby over a waterfall, then turns herself in for punishment, knowing that she'll meet her end via decapitation. With that scene as a prologue, it hardly appears strange that Agnes is thrilled to receive a severed finger as a wedding gift — a digit that's meant to bring luck for starting a family. But nothing in the way of good fortunes spring when she's soon away from her other loved ones, left alone in a woodland cottage as Wolf works by day, stuck navigating his disinterest in the bedroom each evening and frowned upon constantly by her new mother-in-law (Maria Hofstätter, Andrea Gets a Divorce). There's history to Franz and Fiala's screenplay, which draws upon real events, and the mood of despair that seeps from returning Goodnight Mommy cinematographer Martin Gschlacht's grey-toned frames sports a can-only-be-true bite to it. There's little sunshine shed on the imagery, or on the way that people treat each other — and there's even more terror in realising that the lines between this arresting picture's vision of the past, even as set within a deeply superstitious and puritanical community, and today are far from faint. The Devil's Bath streams via Shudder and AMC+. Hit Man The feeling that Glen Powell should star in everything didn't start with Top Gun: Maverick and Anyone But You. Writer/director Richard Linklater (Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood) has helped the notion bubble up before as early back as 2006's Fast Food Nation, then with 2016's Everybody Wants Some!! — and now he riffs on it with Hit Man. When viewers want an actor to feature everywhere, they want to see them step into all sorts of shoes but bring their innate talents and charm each time. So, Linklater enlists Powell as Gary Johnson, a real-life University of New Orleans professor who wouldn't be earning the movie treatment if he didn't also moonlight as a undercover police operative with a specific remit: playing hitmen with folks looking to pay someone to commit murder, sting-style. Johnson doesn't just give the gig the one-size-fits-all approach, though. Once he gets confidence in the job, he's dedicated to affording every target their own personal vision of their dream assassin. So, Powell gets to be a polo shirt-wearing nice guy, a long-haired master criminal, a besuited all-business type and more, including the suave smooth-talker Ron, the persona he adopts when Madison Figueroa Masters (Adria Arjona, Andor) thinks about offing her odious husband. Hit Man is as a screwball rom-com-meets-sunlit film noir, and an excellent one, as well as a feature based on a situation so wild that it can only stem from fact. Alongside charting Gary's exploits in the position and the murkiness of falling for Madison as Ron, it's also an acceptance that the kind of darkness and desperation needed for a person to want to hire a stranger to kill to make their life better isn't a rarity — if it was, Gary's services wouldn't have been needed. Linklater has been in comparably blackly comic but also clear-eyed territory before with Bernie, the past entry on his resume that Hit Man best resembles. The also-ace 2011 Jack Black (Kung Fu Panda 4)-led picture similarly told a true tale, and also sprang from an article by journalist Skip Hollandsworth. This time, Linklater penned the script with Powell instead of Hollandsworth, but the result is another black-comedy delight brimming with insight. Hit Man is a movie about finding one's identity, too, and Powell keeps showing that he's found his: a charismatic lead who anchors one of the most-entertaining flicks of the year. Hit Man streams via Netflix. Frida For almost a century, the art-loving world has peered at Frida Kahlo. Her self-portraits have stared steadfastly back. You can glean much about a person from how they commit their own likeness to canvas; whether donning a velvet dress, reclining in a hospital bed, standing between curtains, sitting opposite herself, or accompanied by a black cat and a monkey, Kahlo was unflinching. Exhibitions have adored her work, whether she's taking centre stage in her paintings or not, for decades upon decades. Creatives in other mediums have shown the same affection, be it via books (1983's Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo), biopics (2002's Frida, with Black Mirror's Salma Hayek as the artist; before that, 1983's Frida Still Life), operas (as first hit the stage in 1991) or ballets (Broken Wings debuted in 2016). 2024's Frida brings Kahlo back to the screen with a new approach that she'd surely approve of: making her directorial debut with this portrait of the iconic Mexican painter, editor-turned-director Carla Gutierrez (who spliced fellow biodocs RBG and Julia) lets her subject speak for herself and her own complexity. Actor Fernanda Echevarría (Ella Camina Sola) actually does the talking, because the treasure trove of materials that Gutierrez has gained access to — illustrated diaries, essays and letters, photos and footage, plus interview transcripts by Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo's Hayden Herrera — doesn't include Kahlo's voice. But the impact remains: this is Kahlo as she saw herself and as she was herself, as she always fought to convey when she was living. Drawing upon Kahlo's art, Gutierrez also uses animation by Sofía Inés Cázares (Daughter From Another Mother) and Renata Galindo (A la mala) to accompany Kahlo narrating her childhood, her medical studies, her life-changing accident at the age of 18, her marriage to fellow artist Diego Rivera, her other romantic liaisons, and her thoughts about all of the above and more. It's an inspired touch, and not just in breaking up the black-and-white archival visuals with dances of colour. Seven decades since her death in 1954, Kahlo still feels alive in her work, but the latest raw, rich and deeply resonant documentary to pay tribute to her finds its own way to express and honour that sensation. Frida streams via Prime Video. American Fiction Here's Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison's (Jeffrey Wright, Rustin) predicament when American Fiction begins: on the page, his talents aren't selling books. Praise comes the Los Angeles-based professor's way for his novels, but not sales, nor attendees when he's part of writers' festival panels. And even then, publishers aren't fond of his latest manuscript. Sick of hearing that his work isn't "Black enough", and also incensed over the attention that fellow scribe Sintara Golden (Issa Rae, Barbie) is receiving for her book We's Lives in Da Ghetto, he gets a-typing, pumping out the kind of text that he vehemently hates — but 100-percent fits the stereotype of what the world keeps telling him that Black literature should be. It attracts interest, even more so when Monk takes his agent Arthur's (John Ortiz, Better Things) advice and adopts a new persona to go with it. Soon fugitive convict Stagg R Leigh and his book Fuck are a huge hit that no one can get enough of. Because of the story spun around who wrote the bestseller, too, the FBI even wants to know the author's whereabouts. Deservedly nominated for five 2024 Oscars — including for Best Picture, Best Actor for Wright and Best Supporting Actor for Sterling K Brown (Biosphere) as Monk's brother Clifford — American Fiction itself hails from the page, with filmmaker Cord Jefferson adapting Percival Everett's 2001 novel Erasure. Wright is indeed exceptional in this savvy satire of authenticity, US race relations and class chasms, and earns his awards contention for his reactions alone. Seeing how Monk adjusts himself to a world that keeps proving anything but his dream is an utter acting masterclass, in big and small moments alike. As the film dives into the character's personal chaos, that's where Brown's also-fantastic, often-tender performance comes in, plus Leslie Uggams (Extrapolations) as Monk's mother and Tracee Ellis Ross (Candy Cane Lane) as his sister, and also Erika Alexander (Run the World) as a neighbour who is a fan of his — not just Stagg R Leigh's — work. Don't discount how excellent American Fiction is beyond its literary hoax setup, in fact; as a character study, it's equally astute. American Fiction streams via Prime Video. Fancy Dance Lily Gladstone might've won the Golden Globe but not the Oscar for Killers of the Flower Moon, but her exceptional resume shows every sign of more awards coming her way. Fancy Dance, the other movie to join her filmography in 2023 — it premiered at Sundance that year, but only makes its way to streaming worldwide now — is yet another example of how the Certain Women and First Cow star is one of the very-best actors working right now. Where Gladstone's time in front of Martin Scorsese's lens showcased her mastery of restraint, playing an aunt trying to do what's best for her niece and a sister searching for her absent sibling benefits from her equal command of looseness. Jax, her character, is a pinball. When she bounces in any direction, it's with force and purpose as well as liveliness and determination, but the choice of where she's heading is rarely her own. All she wants is to find Tawi (debutant Hauli Sioux Gray) and protect 13-year-old Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson, Three Pines), but set against the reality that law enforcement mightn't look as enthusiastically for a missing Indigenous woman — or treat one with a record attempting to do right be her family with consideration — that's far from an easy task. Writer/director Erica Tremblay hails from the Seneca–Cayuga Nation, where much of Fancy Dance is set. As Gladstone is, she's also an alum of Reservation Dogs — including helming two episodes — and so is experienced at depicting everyday reservation life with authenticity. Accordingly, her first fictional feature after documentaries Heartland: A Portrait of Survival and In the Turn takes a social-realistic approach in its details, especially when it's simply surveying the space and empathy that First Nations versus white Americans aren't given. Because Jax has a criminal history, child services deems her unfit to look after Roki, or even to take the teen to the powwow where the girl is certain her mum will attend to again steal the show in the mother-daughter dance competition; instead, Jax's white father (Shea Whigham, Lawmen: Bass Reeves) and stepmother (Audrey Wasilewski, Ted) are their choice of guardians. Fancy Dance's protagonist isn't one to simply acquiesce to that decision, and Gladstone makes both her fire and her pain palpable — and her tenderness for Roki, who is weightily portrayed by her Under the Bridge co-star Deroy-Olson, as well. Fancy Dance streams via Apple TV+. Infested For those firmly of the idea that there's no new stories in horror, just fresh takes on well-established sources of fear, Infested isn't here to change minds. Rather, the French movie is the latest poster child for what looking at a tried-and-tested concept anew can do, including while pairing it with up-to-the-moment social commentary. The genre staple here: spiders. When writer/director Sébastien Vanicek begins his feature debut — which he co-scripts with Florent Bernard (Meet the Leroys) — it's with a specific breed of the venomous eight-legged scurrying nightmares unearthed, literally, in a Middle Eastern desert. Within moments of emerging from the earth, the critters make the smugglers that are attempting to capture them pay. Horror fans should clock that Infested nods to classic ways to kickstart a scary flick from the outset, then, bringing The Exorcist's opening scene to mind. Prayer won't help the Parisian banlieue residents soon fighting arachnids for their lives, however, after Kaleb (Théo Christine, Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story) innocently purchases a new addition to his bedroom menagerie of exotic pets from a local convenience store. As he disagrees with his sister Manon (feature first-timer Lisa Nyarko) about selling the apartment that they've inherited from their mother, grapples with his grief, trades in sneakers to his neighbours to stump up a buck and is faced with small-minded prejudice just by stepping outside his door, what happens when Kaleb soon has a spider (and quickly, more than one) to track down? The critter he calls Rihanna was always going to escape, so havoc unsurprisingly eventuates. That's not to say that Infested goes through the motions. With energy and style as well as needling suspense, Vanicek makes a creature-feature equivalent of British alien-invasion gem Attack the Block, with shades of Les Misérables — the 2019 crime-thriller, not Victor Hugo-penned tale — and 2022's fellow standout Athena. He also gets his audience squirming. He filters his recognisable setup through welcome eyes. He knows how to make a heightened situation feel real to the deep distress of arachnophobics, and to get terror and tension scuttling through veins. And, he ensures that desperately rallying against forces that won't let you escape, in a setting that embodies that exact notion, proves both urgent and immediate. Infested streams via Shudder and AMC+. Stopmotion One of the most-haunting performances in Australian cinema belongs to Irish Italian actor Aisling Franciosi. She's acted in The Fall and Game of Thrones, I Know This Much Is True and Dracula: Voyage of the Demeter, and Jimmy's Hall and the upcoming Speak No Evil remake before and since, but her deservedly AACTA Award-winning work in The Nightingale — the second feature from The Babadook's Jennifer Kent, which follows a former convict's quest for revenge against a British officer in 1820s Tasmania — is stunning, searing and unforgettable. Also stellar half a decade later: Franciosi's turn in Stopmotion, which hails from the UK, has her playing the daughter of an animation genius and again tasks the immensely talented actor with confronting trauma. It's the product of a filmmaker in Robert Morgan with an uncompromising vision, too, with the English writer/director making his feature debut almost a decade after helming the D Is for Deloused segment in The ABCs of Death 2 with a movie that's never afraid to commit to its eerie chills, psychological thrills and macabre sense of wonder. Franciosi's Ella Blake has spent her entire life being told that her mother Suzanne (Stella Gonet, Breeders) is an unparalleled master at making the dead appear alive — because that's one way to see Stopmotion's eponymous art form. She's also spent much of her existence assisting rather than pursuing her own dreams, including after arthritis robs her mum of being able to use her hands to craft the exacting movements that their chosen medium requires. When the film begins, overwork has Ella fraying. Emotional cruelty has her internally raging, although she won't admit it. Suzanne has a project to finish, demanding her daughter's utmost commitment. When tragedy compounds her stress, Ella escapes into own creative vision instead, conjuring up a twisted fairy tale aided by a girl (Caoilinn Springall, The Midnight Sky) from an apartment neighbouring her new makeshift studio. Saying what Morgan unleashes from there is inventive, powerful and extraordinary — in live-action and animation alike — is an understatement. Stopmotion streams via Shudder and AMC+. Lumberjack the Monster Spanning big-screen releases, TV and straight-to-video fare, Takashi Miike has notched up 115 directorial credits in the 33 years since making his helming debut. Lumberjack the Monster isn't even the latest — it premiered at film festivals in 2023, which means that miniseries Onimusha and short Midnight have popped up since — but it is Miike back in horror mode, where 1999's Audition and 2001's Ichi the Killer famously dwelled. Here, the inimitable Japanese filmmaker and screenwriter Hiroyoshi Koiwai (Way to Find the Best Life) adapt the eponymous 2019 Mayusuke Kurai novel. Its namesake character also exists on the page in the movie itself, in a picture book. This is a serial-killer picture, though, and with more than one person taking multiple lives. A mass murderer wearing a bag over their head and swinging an axe is on a rampage, and lawyer Akira (Kazuya Kamenashi, Destiny) and surgeon Sugitani (Shôta Sometani, Sanctuary) aren't averse to dispensing death themselves. A clash is inevitable, not that the slick Akira expects it, or that his costumed attacker anticipates that their current target will survive his blade, sparking a cat-and-mouse game. Lumberjack the Monster doesn't just weave in fantasy boogeyman stories, offings upon offings, and characters with dark impulses going head to head. The police are on the case, giving the film a procedural layer, as well as Akira motivation to hunt down his assailant first. Science fiction also washes through, with brain-implanted chips and modifying human behaviour both for worse and for better part of the narrative. There's also a moral-redemption element weaved in. Consequently, it's no wonder that this tale is Miike joint. As well as being prolific, Miike loves making his resume the ultimate mashup. To name just a few examples, see: the yakuza action of Dead or Alive, superhero comedy Zebraman, titular genre of Sukiyaki Western Django, samurai efforts 13 Assassins and Blade of the Immortal, period drama Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai, video-game adaptation Ace Attorney, romance For Love's Sake, thriller Lesson of the Evil, vampire movie Yakuza Apocalypse and the crime-driven First Love. Unsurprisingly, Lumberjack the Monster is specifically the engrossing — and bloodily violent — Frankenstein's monster of a flick that Miike was always going to relish making when splicing together such an array of elements came his way. Lumberjack the Monster streams via Netflix. The Kitchen He has an Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe for Judas and the Black Messiah. He was nominated for all of the above accolades for Get Out, and should've won them all then, too. His resume spans Skins, one of Black Mirror's most-memorable episodes, plus Sicario, Widows, Black Panther, Queen & Slim and Nope as well. But The Kitchen marks a first for Daniel Kaluuya: his first movie as a director. Hopefully more will follow. Co-helming with Kibwe Tavares — who also notches up his feature debut behind the lens after shorts including Jonah and Robot & Scarecrow, which both starred Kaluuya — and co-penning the screenplay with Calm with Horses' Joe Murtagh, the actor makes a stunning arrival as a filmmaker. The Kitchen's setup: in the year 2044 in London, with class clashes so pronounced that not being rich is basically treated as a crime, a man (Top Boy's Kane Robinson, aka rapper Kano) living in the titular housing development crosses paths with a 12-year-old boy (newcomer Jedaiah Bannerman) who has just lost his mother, with the pair discovering that they have no one but each other as they endeavour to find a way to survive. Robinson's Izy has bought into the social-climbing dream when The Kitchen begins. He'll do so literally if he can come up with the cash for an apartment in a swankier tower away from everything he's ever known within 21 days, a dream that he's been working towards at his job selling funerals. It's at the latter that he meets Bannerman's Benji, who has nowhere to live after his mother's death and no one else to turn to for help. The film's scenario is pure dystopia, reflecting the inequities, oppressions and realities of today as all great sci-fi should. Its intimate emotional core hones in on people attempting to persist and connect, as the genre's best always does as well. Accordingly, this is an impassioned and infuriated portrait of society's gaps as everyone watching can recognise, a nightmarish vision of what might come and a thoughtful character study. As directors, Kaluuya and Tavares excel at world-building, at bringing such rich detail and texture to the screen that viewers feel like they could step straight into its social realist-leaning frames, and at guiding affecting performances out of both Robinson and Bannerman (who adds to the feature's impressive first efforts). The Kitchen streams via Netflix. Orion and the Dark Learning to face life's chaos, or even just recognising that life is chaos, has a particular term when Charlie Kaufman is making movies and audiences do the confronting. Describing something as Kaufmanesque sprang from the screenwriter and filmmaker's stunning run at the end of the 90s and beginning of the 00s — the Spike Jonze (Her)-helmed Being John Malkovich and Adaptation, plus the Michel Gondry (Microbe & Gasoline)-directed Human Nature and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind — and it's stuck ever since. Joining the trio of Synecdoche, New York, Anomalisa and I'm Thinking of Ending Things as well, all three of which he penned plus helmed, is new family-friendly animation Orion and the Dark. A Kaufmanesque kid-appropriate flick? It exists, and it's wonderful. Feature first-timer Sean Charmatz (TV movie Trolls Holiday in Harmony) directs, and Emma Yarlett's 2014 children's book provides the source material; however, this account of a boy afraid of the dark who then meets the literal Dark (voiced by The Afterparty's Paul Walter Hauser) is a Kaufman affair through and through. Also, iconic German filmmaker — and one-time Parks and Recreation star — Werner Herzog (The Fire Within: A Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft) pops up. Loaned the vocal tones of Jacob Tremblay (The Little Mermaid) as a child and Colin Hanks (The Offer) as an adult, Orion is petrified of sleeping without the lights on. And, just like the kids in Monsters, Inc that are scared of creatures in their cupboards, Orion and the Dark's protagonist is frightened of something real. Dark exists and, alongside Orion's parents (The Fall of the House of Usher's Carla Gugino and Bull's Matt Dellapina), is exasperated by the boy's response to nighttime. He can't help taking it personally, in fact, then offers to assist. For one 24-hour period, as darkness falls around the world, he gets Orion to accompany him on his travels with friends Sleep (Natasia Demetriou, What We Do in the Shadows), Insomnia (Nat Faxon, Our Flag Means Death), Quiet (Aparna Nancherla, The Great North), Unexplained Noises (Golda Rosheuvel, Bridgerton) and Sweet Dreams (Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) to demonstrate that being distressed is unfounded. It isn't just Herzog's involvement and a joke about David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest that prove that this is a movie as much for adults as kids; amid its gorgeous animation, its understanding of existential dread is also that astute. Orion and the Dark streams via Netflix. Spaceman Should astronaut become a dictionary-certified synonym for melancholy? Cinema believes so. Its latest case in point comes via Spaceman, where life temporarily lived above and beyond the earth replaces gravity with loneliness and disconnection for Jakub Prochazka (Adam Sandler, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah). He's six months into a solo trip past Jupiter to investigate an eerie phenomenon in the heavens when this adaptation of Jaroslav Kalfař's 2017 sci-fi novel Spaceman of Bohemia kicks off. His quest is both time-sensitive and celebrated. South Korea is in close pursuit, he's frequently being told by Peter (Kunal Nayyar, Night Court), his contact at ground control — and Commissioner Tuma (Isabella Rossellini, Cat Person) happily keeps dialling him in for PR opportunities. As he soars through a strangely purple sky, however, endeavouring to fulfil his mission while pleading for maintenance approval on his crumbling ship, all that's really on his mind is his wife Lenka (Carey Mulligan, Maestro). Pregnant and left at home alone, she's no longer taking his fast-as-light-speed phone calls. Then Hanus (Paul Dano, Mr & Mrs Smith) scurries in beside Jakub, demanding attention — as a giant spider in space is always going to. For the best part of a decade now, seeing a live-action movie starring Sandler has meant heading to Netflix. In Australia, even Uncut Gems, his greatest-ever performance, arrived via the streaming platform. Alongside The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) and Hustle, add Spaceman to the list of such features that give their star worthy parts and would've made welcome cinema releases. It isn't new news that Sandler is an excellent actor in dramatic and/or weightier roles, or that his career is more than the Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore-style comedies that he first became known for. Spaceman director Johan Renck (Chernobyl) has cast him expertly, in fact, in this tale of isolation, arrested development, otherworldly arachnids and amorous entanglements. Sending Sandler on an Ad Astra-, First Man- and Solaris-esque trip proves contemplative and empathetic — and, amid spider's-eye flashbacks to his complicated childhood in the Czech Republic, time spent with Lenka on the ground and floating around the film's claustrophobic main setting, also brimming with raw and resonant emotion. Spaceman streams via Netflix. STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces To do justice to Steve Martin's life, career and impact requires more than just one movie. So, the engagingly and entertainingly in-depth, intimate, affectionate and informative STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces explores the comedian and actor's existence in a pair of parts. The first is subtitled 'Then', honing in on his childhood and early stand-up days. The second, aka 'Now', jumps in when he made the leap to movies in the late 70s, which is where The Jerk, Pennies From Heaven, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Parenthood and LA Story comes in — and, of course, includes his tours with his ¡Three Amigos! co-star Martin Short, as well as their murder-mystery-comedy TV hit Only Murders in the Building. The initial half gets Martin narrating, sharing reflections personal and professional as accompanied by archival footage aplenty (and ample tapes of his stints in front of audience). The latter section treats him as an interviewee, with his wife Anne Stringfield, Short, Jerry Seinfeld (who has had Martin as a guest on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee) and Tina Fey (who also co-starred with Martin in Baby Mama) among the talking heads. Behind it all is documentarian Morgan Neville, an Oscar-winner for 20 Feet From Stardom, as well as a filmmaker who is clearly taking his stylistic cues from his subject. That's noticeable in STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces' moniker, for starters — it throws caution to the winds of grammar and title formats just as Martin has to comedy rules, as the two-part film makes plain again and again. No matter how well-acquainted you are with Martin, insights flow freely in this fascinating way to spend three hours surveying the ways that he's made people laugh over decades upon decades, beginning with doing magic tricks and working at Disneyland on his school holidays in the 50s. Revelations bound through about Martin as a person, too; more than once, he notes that his life has felt as if it has played out backwards, and not just because he only first became a father in his 60s. Clips of his stand-up act, and the response to it in the 60s and 70s, are gold. Hanging out with the man who originally was only going to create Only Murders in the Building, not star in it, when he's bantering with Short are as well. STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces streams via Apple TV+. Am I OK? The question in Am I OK?'s title is indeed existential: is Lucy (Dakota Johnson, Madame Web) coping with being a thirtysomething in Los Angeles treading water emotionally, romantically and professionally? From there, more queries spring. Can she — or, more accurately, will she — shoot for more than not quite dating the smitten Ben (Whitmer Thomas, Big Mouth), right down to shaking his hand at the end of their evenings out together, and also for something beyond working as a day-spa receptionist while putting her passion and talent for art on the back burner? Is she capable of breaking free of a comfort zone padded out with spending all of her spare time with her best friend Jane (Sonoya Mizuno, House of the Dragon), including being so predictable that she always orders the same thing at their brunches at their favourite diner? Regarding the latter, she gets a push when Jane agrees to a lucrative transfer to London, splitting the pair for the first time since they were teenagers. Am I OK? is an arrested-development coming-of-age movie, then, and a film about being honest about who you are and want to be. Change comes for us all, even when we've built a cocoon to protect our happy status quo — and, at the heart of this romantic drama, change clearly comes for Lucy. She's forced to consider a path forward that doesn't involve solely being defined as half of a platonic duo. She also confronts the feelings for her coworker Brittany (Kiersey Clemons, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) and the truth about her sexuality that she's never previously admitted. Am I OK? is a coming-out tale, too, but it treats Lucy's stuck-in-a-rut existence and at-first-tentative attempts to embrace how she truly feels holistically, seeing how life's passage inevitably shifts how we see ourselves. If the movie feels more honest than it might've been, that's because screenwriter Lauren Pomerantz (Strange Planet) spins a semi-autobiographical story. Also, the directing team of real-life couple Tig Notaro (2 Dope Queens) and Stephanie Allynne (who helmed Notaro's 2024 special Hello Again) — who met making 2015's In a World… — demonstrate the ideal light-but-delicate touch. Plus, Johnson and Mizuno exude genuine BFF chemistry, with the former again showing why fare such as this, Cha Cha Real Smooth, How to Be Single, The Peanut Butter Falcon, A Bigger Splash, Suspiria and The Lost Daughter, a diverse group of pictures, is a better fit than the Fifty Shades trilogy or a Spider-Man spinoff. Am I OK? streams via Binge. Looking for more viewing highlights? We picked the best 15 films that've reached cinemas in 2024's first half, too, plus the 15 best new TV shows of 2024 so far and the 15 best returning TV shows. We also keep a running list of must-stream TV from across the year so far, complete with full reviews. And, you can check out our list of film and TV streaming recommendations, which is updated monthly.
When Ron's Upstairs opened on Redfern Street last year, the team left the space — which was previously occupied by longstanding Thai restaurant Pron Prohm — largely untouched. The panelled walls, the carpeted stairs and the (albeit altered) original sign out the front remain. The decision to keep these flourishes is a reminder that Redfern has changed rapidly in the last five years. Where dining options were limited to takeaway joints, there is now a rooftop bar, a corner wine bar and a ramen joint with a line snaking out the door. While some small bars like Arcadia Liquors and The Dock have been around for a while now, plenty of Redfern's restaurants and bars are brand spanking new. Here are the places worth checking out for dinner or a drink. Extra points to those that support the local arts community and erase the suburb's history altogether — even if it's just by keeping the sign out the front.
Forget grey. Come October-November, the Northern Rivers of New South Wales will be covered in 50 shades of purple when the historic town of Grafton gives off big main character energy through its annual showcase of violet-hued blooms. With roots as the oldest floral festival in the country, the Grafton Jacaranda Festival really knows what it takes to celebrate one of Australia's most-loved flowers. And, for one week between Friday, 27 October and Sunday, 5 November, visitors and locals alike will line the main street of Grafton to watch the annual float parade, settle in for a round of drag queen bingo (complete with lavender eyeshadow), enjoy a lazy long lunch underneath a floral lilac canopy or watch the beautiful trees of See Park illuminated as the sun goes down. While the fest will feature a mix of ticketed and free activities, if there's one event which we recommend committing to, it's Jacaranda Thursday. On this day Grafton's main street will close down as people meander throughout the CBD, soak up the atmosphere and simply stop and smell the jacarandas. The Grafton Jacaranda Festival will run from Friday, 27 October and Sunday, 5 November 2023. For the full event program visit their website.
Summer Hill fine diner One Penny Red is also home to an upstairs gin, wine and cocktail bar. Vernon's Bar, located on the second level of an old Post Office building, boasts an enviable semi-circle balcony that overlooks the street. Drop by to order a glass — or bottle — off the extensive wine list, featuring both local and international drops, or one of the interesting cocktails ($16–22). The latter includes the Ironbarque (Talisker whisky with pisco, almond, ginger and lime) and the Pina Caliente (tequila and mezcal with burnt pineapple and habanero), along with a barrel-aged negroni and a sazerac served with an absinthe sphere of ice. There's also a six strong list of G&Ts and Aussie craft brews from the likes of Akasha, Batch and Grifter on offer. Vernon's dedicated menu features elevated bar snacks like duck liver pâté with sweet and sour onions ($18), smoked plum beef short ribs with kale and kohlrabi ($35), pepper berry-cured kingfish with kanzi apple and shiso ($20) and salt cod fritters with smoked chilli mayo ($18). For dessert, you'll find the banana and salted caramel beignets, a regular dish on the otherwise regularly changing menu. And if you're a fan of molluscs, head in on Wednesdays, when the bar is offering up pots of Spring Bay mussels for just a tenner.
This just in: Bistro Ebony will open on Pitt Street in Sydney's CBD this October. It will offer an elegant yet accessible, classic Euro-style menu. The venue will begin with weekday-only service, allowing CBD workers and locals to make it part of their regular weekly rotation. First-time restaurant owner Joey Commerford boasts an impressive hospitality resume with many years of high-end hospo experience, from working as the General Manager of the Press Club and Gazi, to time spent at Vue de Monde and the Royal Mail Hotel. With Bistro Ebony, Joey has a strong focus on keeping prices relatively reasonable. "We've deliberately kept most of the menu under $50 to keep it accessible, while still delivering a level of food, service and setting that feels considered and elevated." Executive Chef Alessandro Mandelli's menu has French and Italian foundations, with broader European influence. Wagyu short rib agnolotti are tossed in saffron butter and served on celeriac cream. Market fish is butterlied and crumbed, and sits atop beurre blanc and finger limes. Mandelli has a soft spot for the veal Milanese cotoletta, a dish from his home region of Lombardy, which is served with pomme noisette and veal jus. Leaning into its classic roots, the desserts demonstrate a little old-school flair, such as crêpes suzette flambéed for diners or apple tart tatin flipped tableside and finished with caramel and ice cream. Venue Manager and sommelier Jordan Amaru brings international experience from his stints at the renowned NoMad in New York and EMP Summer House in the Hamptons. He has curated a selection of approximately 140 bottles from Australian, French and Italian producers. With capacity for 100 guests, WMK Architects has designed the space so that diners feel "more removed from the surroundings than you might expect, with an atmosphere that's intimate, genuinely warm, and quietly elegant in a setting that's more inviting than it first lets on." Images: Steven Woodburn. Bistro Ebony opens in early October. Follow @bistroebony on Instagram, or sign up to the newsletter today to stay in the know.
Heathcote's Sydney Wildflower Nursery offers possibly the largest array of Australian natives in greater Sydney. It's got flannel flower, woolly bush, kangaroo paw, finger lime and edible coppertop berries, too — and that's just to name a very, very few. For those looking to delve deeper into Sydney's local flora and fauna, the shop hosts workshops a few times per year and the next one is on native bee keeping. The website also offers tonnes of tips for all you budding green thumbs there. And, if you're also a budding chef, the nursery sells a heap of edible Australian natives — such as the aforementioned finger lime — and the website has a heap of recipes, too.
This Sydney Festival favourite returns to Parramatta Park for another evening of gorgeous music by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under the open night skies. Grab your friends, family, or current flame, pack a picnic and a blanket, and relax into the summery dusk for a night of music that will make you feel a bit like you're living in a film. The orchestra, conducted by Benjamin Northey, will run through some classics from the likes of Rossini, Strauss and Tchaikovsky, as well as some John Williams film scores that you're likely to recognise. The whole thing goes for three hours, so be sure to pack a good haul of snacks and drinks. Image: Victor Frankowski.
Get ready to meet Mr Grumbles, a rufus betton; Rocky, a tree kangaroo; Yolo, Zaney, Harvey and Swarf, all Tasmanian devils; bare-nosed wombats Bell and Bruce; and Clementine, Patricia, Kandy and Keisha the koalas. They're all residents at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, one of Brisbane's long-standing tourist attractions — and they're making the venue's new nocturnal precinct their home. Joining them are potoroos, pademelons, bandicoots, bettongs, southern hairy-nosed wombats and echidnas, giving visitors to the Fig Tree Pocket animal haven an array of cute critters to peer at by night. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary's latest addition was announced in October and opened to start November, so both Brissie locals and tourists alike have a new reason to drop by. Plenty of folks have explored the venue over the years, but not like this until now. Based around a one-kilometre stroll called The Wild Walk, which meanders through a eucalypt planation, the new nocturnal precinct heroes Australia's nocturnal wildlife and offer night-time experiences. It features seven exhibit spaces filled with ten species — half of which are new to the site especially for its latest expansion. "There's a whole world of activity that happens after dark that we aren't privileged to, but Nocturnal gives people that experience, with a tour guide, in a non-invasive way to celebrate Australis's animal superstars and educate people about the importance of sustaining their ecosystems," explains Frank Mikula, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary Curator. "It's an Australian native animal treasure hunt, with the prize being able to see these amazing creatures up close and personal." Nestled into a leafy pocket of the River City's western suburbs, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary already boasts the honour of being the world's first and largest koala sanctuary. It's a great place to cuddle a koala — including on Christmas Day if you're looking to for something other than the usual festive celebrations. See animals after dark is its latest attraction, with patrons able to get peering using portable thermal imaging cameras. The experience is designed around not disrupting the critters — so, no glaring beams are shone their way. Instead, you'll walk across the new elevated boardwalk, which has been custom-designed for the site. You'll also look through cameras that pick up heat signatures, and are around the size of a mobile phone. And, when an animal has been found, a non-intrusive red torch light will help you get a better glimpse. If you're keen, you can sign up for a tour that runs for 90 minutes three times a week, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Each group will welcome 20 visitors, and spans feeding opportunities and looking at burrow cams as well. Part of a $3.2-million project, the new additions further expand a venue where getting up close and personal with wildlife — not just by cuddling a koala, but also by holding an owl, touching snakes, and watching everything from kangaroos, wombats and echidnas to birds of prey, turtles and even Tasmanian devils — has been on offer for 97 years. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary's nocturnal precinct is now open at 708 Jesmond Road, Fig Tree Pocket, Brisbane. Head to the venue's website for more information and bookings.
Whether your school holidays were filled with chilling tales by campfires or reading Goosebumps by torchlight, you'll appreciate the historic spooks this after-dark tour inspires. Cockatoo Island's history of paranormal encounters stretches back more than a century, with reports of apparition sightings and sensory experiences — like unexplained bursts of air and smoky aromas — colouring its past as a convict prison and dockyard. This spine-tingling exploration will take you through rarely visited buildings and corridors, where true tales of murder and botched prison escapes will be shared while you wield spirit-detection devices to seek out lingering souls. Only brave ghost hunters over 18 are invited to this two-hour journey into the unknown that sets out on select Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm ($47 per person). Images: Robert Mulally, Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
Finally, furious pub debates have some legs. After months of pitching, analysing and suspiciously eyeing off touring schedules, we can rest easy: the 2014 Splendour in the Grass first lineup announcement is out of its cage. After Outkast leaked their own headlining spot this week, attention turned to the remaining Maybe Pile - with every last artist from Massive Attack to Action Bronson pitched with smug confidence. So who's in? Confirmed as headliners after an awkward leaked post by the duo on the Splendour website, Outkast will be taking out the top spot on the first night. After a seven-year hiatus, Big Boi and Andre 3000 made a triumphant return to the stage recently at Coachella Music and Arts Festival in California. Cailfornian festival favourites Foster The People were a 'Pumped Up Kicks'-loving Splendour crowd favourite in 2011 and will return with more material this year. British trio London Grammar will bring their ethereal trip hop to Byron after their billing last year didn't work out due to timing. Two Door Cinema Club and Lily Allen will return to Australia for their first shows here in over a year. But one of the biggest surprises is the addition of Brooklyn's beloved Interpol, who no one really saw coming. After letting tour plans slip on triple j, Sky Ferreira can now officially confirm her spot on the lineup, returning quite soon after a recent Australian tour. Others who couldn't keep away include Danny Brown, Darkside, Parquet Courts and CHVRCHES, all of whom recently played killer shows around these parts. The Australian contingent (lead by deadset legends Hoodoo Gurus) sees Angus and Julia Stone and Spiderbait return to the stage, as well as RÜFÜS, Vance Joy, The Preatures, Sticky Fingers, The Jezabels, Ball Park Music, Courtney Barnett, DZ Deathrays, Violent Soho and more homegrown favourites sure to prompt All The Singalongs. There's a few wildcards sure to stir significant hype closer to the date, including Icelandic melodic folkster Ásgeir, New York punk rockers Skaters and returning eclectic folk-pop queen tUnE-yArDs. Splendour in the Grass 2014 will take place from Friday July 25 through to Sunday July 27, returning to the festival's new home of North Byron Parklands, Yelgun. Full lineup: Outkast (Only Aus Show) Two Door Cinema Club (Only Aus Show) Lily Allen Interpol (Only Aus Show) Foster The People Angus & Julia Stone City And Colour London Grammar Vance Joy Darkside (Only Aus Show) RÜFÜS Ben Howard Kelis Metronomy Hoodoo Gurus Chvrches (Only Aus Show) Grouplove The Jezabels Tune-Yards 360 Wild Beasts Danny Brown (Only Aus Show) Illy First Aid Kit Violent Soho Ásgeir Spiderbait The 1975 Ball Park Music Art Vs Science Buraka Som Sistema (Only Aus Show) The Preatures Parquet Courts (Only Aus Show) Sticky Fingers Peking Duk Sky Ferreira Future Islands Courtney Barnett Phantogram DZ Deathrays Skaters Gossling Jungle The Strypes Hot Dub Time Machine The Kite String Tangle Ry-X Mikhael Paskalev Wave Racer The Acid Saskwatch Kingswood Circa Waves Broods Dustin Tebbutt The Head And The Heart DMA'S Darren Middleton Little May Darlia D.D Dumbo Tkay Maidza The Creases The Wild Feathers Chrome Sparks Fractures Mas Ysa Nick Mulvey Triple J Unearthed Winners Plus DJs & Producers: Nina Las Vegas Yacht Club DJs Motez Touch Sensitive Indian Summer Wordlife L D R U & Yahtzel DJs Cosmos Midnight Sable Kilter Basenji KLP Fishing DJs Paces Charles Murdoch More information and tickets over here at the Splendour website.
On- and off-screen, Bluey is inseparable from Brisbane. For its setting, the hit animated series takes inspiration from the Queensland capital. It also hails from a studio based in the River City. The Heeler home resembles Brissie's Queenslanders. And back in 2022 when a replica of the Bluey house popped up temporarily, of course it happened in Brisbane. It makes sense, then, that you can now step inside the famous Brisbane series at the new Bluey's World experience in Brissie. Announced in 2023 and open since early November 2024, the attraction will get you walking around life-sized sets that recreate the beloved family-friendly show. Yes, the Heeler house and yard are part of the setup — for real life. Yes, you can expect to hear "wackadoo!" more than once while you're there. Movie World might've badged itself as Hollywood on the Gold Coast, but it's no longer the only big tourist hotspot giving visitors to southeast Queensland — and locals as well — a chance to explore their on-screen favourites IRL. An immersive installation sprawling across 4000 square metres, Bluey's World features the Heelers' living room, playroom, kitchen, backyard (poinciana tree included) and more. Alongside bringing the global TV sensation's sets into reality, it also boasts familiar interactive games such as Keepy Uppy and Magic Xylophone, plus other activities for both kids and adults. Maybe you'll be accompanying your own little ones, or your nieces and nephews. Perhaps you know that appreciating the adorable Aussie show about a family of blue heelers isn't just for children. Either way, this new addition to Northshore Pavilion in Northshore Brisbane is big — literally thanks to its sizeable floor plan. And yes, as seen in the series, you can arrive via CityCat. Visitors should plan to spend 70 minutes bounding through the experience — and will also find an indoor playground that nods to Bluey's Brisbane neighbourhood, plus spring rolls and pizza on offer at the cafe. There's a soundscape to match, plus a gift shop. For big Bluey birthday celebrations, the site is hosting parties as well. Bluey's World is exclusive to Brisbane, making it a tourist attraction to fans not only locally and nationally but worldwide. Unsurprisingly, that's a big part of the push from both the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council, who are supporting the BBC Studios- and HVK Productions-produced experience.
In one of her most memorable performances of the past decade, Nicole Kidman turned villainous, playing a not-so-friendly taxidermist who'd like to add a certain marmalade-loving bear to her collection. That was in the delightful Paddington, and she has stepped into plenty of other parts over the last ten years, too — in Stoker, Grace of Monaco, Lion, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, The Beguiled, Destroyer, Boy Erased, Aquaman and Bombshell, just to name a few — but it seems that the Australian actor is getting a little creepy again in her next miniseries role. As the just-dropped first teaser trailer shows, Nine Perfect Strangers casts Kidman as a wellness guru. She's unlikely to leave anyone feeling relaxed, though. Her character Masha oversees a resort that promises to transform nine city dwellers — but, although the sneak peek so far is brief, you can bet that things aren't going to turn out as planned for the show's titular figures. If the name sounds familiar, there are two reasons for that. Firstly, Nine Perfect Strangers is based on a 2018 novel of the same title, which was penned by Liane Moriarty. She also wrote Big Little Lies, which was also turned into a Kidman-starring TV series. Secondly, Nine Perfect Strangers was filmed in Byron Bay in the latter half of 2020, and received plenty of attention over that period given its star-studded lineup. Also set to feature in the new eight-part series: Melissa McCarthy (Thunder Force), Michael Shannon (Knives Out), Luke Evans (Crisis), Bobby Cannavale (Superintelligence), Regina Hall (Little), Samara Weaving (Bill & Ted Face the Music), Melvin Gregg (The United States vs Billie Holiday), Asher Keddie (Rams), Grace Van Patten (Under the Silver Lake), Tiffany Boone (The Midnight Sky) and Manny Jacinto (The Good Place). As with Big Little Lies — and with The Undoing, too, another of Kidman's recent projects — David E Kelley (LA Law, Ally McBeal, Mr Mercedes) is leading the charge behind the scenes. He's the show's co-writer and co-showrunner, with Long Shot's Jonathan Levine directing every episode. Exactly when Nine Perfect Strangers will start airing is yet to be revealed, but it'll stream via Hulu in the US — with details of how folks will be able to watch it Down Under also yet to be advised. And yes, Byron Bay seems to be quite the TV hub at the moment, given that Stan's upcoming mystery-drama series Eden also shot in the area, and that Netflix is working on a docu-soap about Byron Bay influencers. Check out the teaser trailer for Nine Perfect Strangers below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4nwFSSTUZc Nine Perfect Strangers doesn't yet have an air date Down Under — we'll update you when one is announced.
Before 2022, no one knew that they needed to hear David Attenborough talk about dinosaurs while watching spectacular photo-realistic recreations of the planet's ancient creatures. Then Prehistoric Planet arrived, giving Apple TV+ viewers a five-episode documentary series all about the extinct beasts paired with the perfect narration. It was pitched to audiences as a one-off, and instantly and unsurprisingly proved one of 2022's best new shows. Indeed, it was such a success that it's now returning for season two in May — and that new five-instalment run now has its first trailer. Get ready for a brand-new run filled with dino love, plus Attenborough's trusty voice talking us through it. The streaming service announced the roaringly great news about the show's return back in March; however, the trailer provides a debut glimpse at what's in store. In the words of the one and only Attenborough himself, expect "more adventure, more danger and more dinosaurs". Prehistoric Planet's second season is a five-part nightly event again. Across Monday, May 22–Friday, May 26, one instalment will arrive each day, serving up more informative insights and more of Hans Zimmer's soundtrack as well. This time around, the team at BBC Studios Natural History will be using photorealistic visual effects by MPC — the kind that series executive producer Jon Favreau deployed in his versions of The Jungle Book and The Lion King — to focus on new dinosaurs, habitats and scientific discoveries. So, you'll spend time with the long-necked, plant-eating Isisaurus, which inhabited an extreme volcanic region; the feathered bird-like dino Pectinodon; and prehistoric flying reptiles Quetzalcoatlus and Hatzegopteryx, which were the biggest creatures ever to soar the skies. That said, the Tyrannosaurus rex will be back among other prehistoric favourites. Of course it will. What's better than one of the Attenborough siblings marvelling over our planet's ancient creatures? None other than David following in his brother Richard's footsteps, of course, just as it was in 2022. While the latter showed dinos some love back in Jurassic Park — with the now-late actor and filmmaker even uttering the iconic words "welcome to Jurassic Park" — his broadcaster, biologist and natural historian sibling largely surveyed the rest of the earth's living creatures in his iconic documentaries before Prehistoric Planet. With its first season, the show instantly earned its place among David Attenborough other doco highlights — a list that spans The Living Planet, State of the Planet, The Blue Planet, Frozen Planet, Blue Planet II, Our Planet, Seven Worlds, One Planet, A Perfect Planet and Green Planet, as well as Planet Earth and Planet Earth II, plus documentary David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet), just to name a few. Check out the first teaser trailer for Prehistoric Planet's second season below: Prehistoric Planet season two will hit Apple TV+ across Monday, May 22–Friday, May 26, with a new episode available to stream each day. Read our full review of Prehistoric Planet season one.
They're taking the humans inside Hobbiton. They're no longer saying "you shall not pass" to anyone wanting to do more than look at the external facades of hobbit holes on the movie set tour's Bagshot Row, too. After two decades of operation, the famous New Zealand attraction has finally added something that every The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit fan has wanted more than second breakfast: letting visitors step inside its cosy abodes. Standing outside Hobbiton's hobbit hole doors has been one of the venue's top experiences ever since opening on the 1250-acre Alexander family farm. Now, seeing what it's like to live like Bilbo and Frodo Baggins and their pals is on the agenda as well. The Bagshot Row hillside, which boasts three hobbit hole facades, has been excavated since March 2023 to include rooms behind the entryways. So, get ready to walk through a hall, a couple of bedrooms, and a kitchen and dining area — complete with a pantry capable of catering for seven daily meals — as well as a parlour with a fireplace, and a bathroom. Unsurprisingly, cosiness abounds. So do nods to generations of hobbits that would've inhabited the holes. Accordingly, visitors will see plenty of wooden surfaces and warm colours, as well as heirlooms and trinkets. Carvings grace the walls, hand-painted details are everywhere and the linens have been stitched by hand as well. One big piece of advice: watch your head when entering. The latest addition to Hobbiton is indeed hobbit sized at 83-percent scale, reflecting their shorter stature. The hobbit holes open for visitors on Friday, December 1, and are now part of all Hobbiton tours. "For two decades, we've welcomed millions of passionate visitors to Hobbiton Movie Set, but never before has anyone ventured beyond the door of a hobbit hole like this," said Hobbiton Movie Set's Chief Executive Officer Russell Alexander. "This extraordinary addition will fulfil a long-held dream for Hobbiton Movie Set and visitors alike, promising to immerse fans into the humble home of a hobbit for the first time." The hobbit hole doors on Bagshot Row are just three of Hobbiton's 44 in total; however, only Bagshot Row now lets tourists step inside while they're visiting The Shire. Attendees are encouraged to look for Easter eggs on their visit to Middle-earth's new must-see, with the hobbit holes brought to fruition by illustrators and concept designers John Howe and Alan Lee, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Art Director and Hobbiton Movie Set Project Manager Brian Massey, and Production Designer Ra Vincent. Before now, an Airbnb trip in March 2023 was the only chance that folks had of getting a true hobbit experience in Aotearoa's Waikato region, allowing the lucky people who scored the one-off booking to slumber like one of Middle-earth's shortest residents on the very property. Don't go packing your suitcase now, though, as overnight stays are not part of the new addition to Bagshot Row. Find Hobbiton Movie Set at 501 Buckland Road, Hinuera, Matamata, New Zealand, with venturing into the hobbit holes available from Friday, December 1, 2023 — head to the site's website for tickets and further details.
For actress and model Sarah Stephens, fashion has never been about following the rules. Instead, it's about experimentation, performance, and storytelling. Between her auditions, acting roles, modelling and events, the multi-hyphenated Australian often switches between characters and identities. Whether she's on set or scouring stores, Sarah sees style as an extension of her identity and career — a way to experiment. "Clothes are costumes to me. My everyday look is quite classic and feminine, but I'm not tied to one particular look. I like to experiment depending on my mood, event or character." Sarah's fluid approach to fashion mirrors her layered career. After winning the Girlfriend Magazine model search competition in 2006, the young girl from Sydney jetted to the glamorous world of fashion and modelling. "I sort of stumbled into modelling without a clear direction for my life, and soon found myself completely immersed in the fashion industry," Sarah tells Concrete Playground. [caption id="attachment_1028485" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image by Declan May - Galaxy Z Flip7 is featured[/caption] From walking 14 shows at her debut New York Fashion Week to being photographed by famed German photographer Ellen Von Unwerth for Italian and Russian Vogue, Sarah hit dizzying international success early on in her career. In Europe, she was the face of Lacoste's Love of Pink campaign, and just a few months after her 18th birthday, the model walked a coveted international runway show. Reaching these milestones so quickly came at a cost, though. "It was all too much too soon. I burnt out. I couldn't cope with the loneliness and pressure," she reflects. "As a shy and conscientious kid thrown into a ruthless, cutthroat industry, you often find yourself vulnerable to mistreatment and abuse," says Sarah. "I often didn't question what photographers, agents or clients asked of me because I didn't want to seem rude or ungrateful." A young Sarah had to make a decision. Continue down the modelling route or head home and regroup. "I was struggling both physically and emotionally. Being far from home left me feeling incredibly lonely, and the constant pressure to maintain a certain size took a serious toll on my mental health." [caption id="attachment_1028486" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image by Declan May[/caption] Sarah decided to head home to Australia and "reconnect with reality". It was during this time that Sarah stumbled upon another passion — acting. "I attended a summer course at the National Institute of Dramatic Art and discovered a deep passion for acting. It felt therapeutic, and the structure kept me engaged, challenged, and energised." Sarah's acting break came in the form of A24 movie The Witch, directed by Robert Eggers. Her proudest acting achievement, however, was playing Mary in The Flood, a four-person play that ran Off-Broadway in New York and at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast. Now, as the actress reaches her mid-thirties and returns to the acting industry post-COVID and U.S. writers' strike shutdowns, Sarah is leaning into her self-expression. She's just finished shooting an independent film in which she portrays an ASIO detective and is currently working on a short film with a friend. "I love how acting lets me step into entirely different lives. I have a deep passion for storytelling and the immersive nature of film." When it comes to styling herself, Sarah believes that having an everyday uniform is overrated. For the actress and model, a wardrobe full of vintage blazers, polkadots, Mary Janes, and puffy-sleeved blouses means she can transform into whichever character she's tapping into (both on and off screen). "Every outfit I put on that day dictates the role I play. It could be bold and cinematic, or it could be soft and intimate and feminine." But, it's statement pieces, she says, that make you feel the most powerful. When we met with Sarah while she was sourcing clothes from For Artists Only, UTURN Bondi and Ekoluv for an upcoming event, the actress shared how technology is instrumental for her day-to-day life, schedule and also style exploration. "For someone like me who plays with identity and storytelling, technology has become this amazing bridge between imagination and reality," Sarah says of devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7. Powered by Google Gemini*, it's a handy tool for the on-the-go person with multiple passions. As for what's going into the model and actress' schedule next, the acting world's Sarah's oyster. "Hopefully something in a period drama or maybe even a supervillain. Time will tell, and that's exactly what makes this career so exciting," Sarah shares. Explore more at Samsung. *Gemini is a trademark of Google LLC. Gemini Live feature requires internet connection and Google Account login. Available on select devices and select countries, languages, and to users 18+. Fees may apply to certain AI features at the end of 2025. Gemini is a trademark of Google LLC. Requires internet connection and Google Account login. Works on compatible apps. Features may differ depending on subscription. Set up may be required for certain functions or apps. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed. Editing with Generative Edit results in a resized photo up to 12MP. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed. Results may vary per video depending on how sounds present in the video. Accuracy is not guaranteed. If you or anyone you know is experiencing emotional distress, please contact Lifeline (131 114) or Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) for help and support.
When you want a stay that feels unique and personal, sometimes an Airbnb offers something that hotels often don't. Now you'll know which stays offer the best of the best experience, as the short-term stay giant has revealed the winners of its 2025 Host Awards — its annual accolades that celebrate "the creativity, care and community impact of local hosts." With six awards up for grabs, these honours cover everything from the best family-friendly stay to the best design experience. Spanning heritage-listed Hobart bakeries, bold coastal escapes on the Sunny Coast and serene Kangaroo Valley retreats, the winners come from far and wide, meaning an award-winning stay might be closer than you think. Host of the Year: Braithwaite (Hobart, TAS) There's no shortage of deserving hosts, but there can only be one Host of the Year. In 2025, that's Alix and John from Braithwaite — a heritage-listed former bakery in Sandy Bay. Wonderfully restored, this courtyard apartment is the perfect base to explore the cultural hub of Salamanca Place, with its restaurants and art galleries just two kilometres away. According to judge Sarah Huang: "[Alix and John] don't just provide a stay, they create a moment in time that's deeply meaningful." Best Family-Friendly Stay: Sassafras (Southern Highlands, NSW) You don't have to trek hours into the wilderness to discover a country retreat when it comes to Sassafras. Set on 98 acres in Kangaroo Valley, this five-bedroom farmhouse carefully balances rustic charm with modern features, offering all the creature comforts you desire alongside a sandstone fireplace and unbeatable valley views. And at just a two-hour drive from Sydney, this peaceful stay is primed for weekend escapes. Best New Host: The Nook (Adelaide, SA) Some Airbnbs have become synonymous with luxury stays over numerous years. Yet others have just begun to earn their reputation. The Nook is the latter, with owners Erin and Rory taking home the Best New Host award in 2025. Set on their family property, guests encounter a modern cottage featuring an airy open-plan design made for easygoing entertaining. Plus, the outdoor terrace is the ideal spot to admire the cottage's surrounding greenery. Best Nature Stay: Ligo (Wolgan Valley, NSW) While living in a tiny house forever might not appeal, Ligo in the Wolgan Valley might convince you it's more than possible. Hosted by Eddie and Ange, this award-winning retreat in the shadow of the Blue Mountains National Park is built from materials reclaimed from bushfires, offering an off-grid stay rich in warm interiors, passive sustainability and bushland views. Take a bath beneath the stars and roam the nearby walking trails when you need to reconnect. Best Room Stay: Short Stay Made Simple (Sydney, NSW) The best Airbnb experiences don't have to be exclusive. In fact, sometimes the warm hospitality of the host can make the mutual enjoyment of a space that much more special. Short Stay Made Simple's Caroline and Daniel received the award for Best Room Stay, with the peaceful upstairs retreat of their Sydney home celebrated for its spotless presentation, full kitchen access and generous touches, like late-night train station pickups and welcoming shared meals. Best Design Stay: Banksia House (Sunshine Coast, QLD) The interiors are impressive enough at Banksia House, but the winner of the Best Design Stay really comes into its own when you consider its outdoor features. Designed by hosts Toni and Kirsti, the latter brought her experience as a landscape architect to conceive the magnesium pool, bocce court, fireplaces and al fresco bathrooms immersed in lush gardens. "Guests highlight its Scandinavian simplicity, earth tones, and calming energy. This is a masterclass in 'rugged luxury,'" says Huang. Looking for more information on the winners? Head to the website to get all the details. Images: Rachel Tagg.
On-screen, Ali Wong doesn't let go of grudges easily, at least in Beef. In rom-com Always Be My Maybe, she's also been romanced by Keanu Reeves. Tuca & Bertie had her voice an anthropomorphic song thrush, while Big Mouth sent her back to middle school. The American actor and comedian's next project: her current stand-up comedy tour, which has just locked in Down Under dates. Wong is presently working her way across the US and Canada, has also hit up London and Paris, and will head to Australia and New Zealand in July 2024. She's announced four dates, kicking off in Auckland, then jumping over to Melbourne. From there, she'll work her way up the east coast, next hitting up Sydney before wrapping up in Brisbane. Bringing her Ali Wong: Live tour this way comes after a massive 12 months for Wong. It was back in early April 2023 that Beef arrived, getting audiences obsessed and sparking plenty of accolades coming Wong's way. She won Best Actress Emmy, Golden Globe, Film Independent Spirt and Screen Actors Guild awards for playing Amy Lau, who has a carpark altercation with Danny Cho (Steven Yeun, Nope) that neither can let go of — and that changes both of their lives. The series itself, on which Wong was also an executive producer, has earned just as much love — including the Emmy for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series; Golden Globe for Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television; Gotham Award for Breakthrough Series under 40 minutes; Film Independent Spirt Award for Best New Scripted Series; and PGA for Outstanding Producer of Limited or Anthology Series Television. [caption id="attachment_893741" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew Cooper/Netflix © 2023[/caption] Behind the microphone, Wong's comedy career dates back almost two decades, including three Netflix stand-up specials: 2016's Baby Cobra, 2018's Hard Knock Wife and 2022's Don Wong. And, as an author, Wong also has 2019's Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life to her name. [caption id="attachment_946689" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Always Be My Maybe[/caption] Ali Wong: Live Tour Dates — Australia and New Zealand 2024: Monday, July 8 — The Civic, Auckland Thursday, July 11 — Palais Theatre, Melbourne Friday, July 19 — ICC Theatre, Sydney Monday, July 22 — Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Ali Wong is touring Down Under in July 2024, with presale tickets available from 9am on Wednesday, March 20 and general sales from 9am local time on Friday, March 22 — head to the tour website for further details. Top image: Andrew Cooper/Netflix © 2023.
When cinemas were forced to close their doors back in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry had to adapt. Some individual films started moving to streaming and video on demand, while a number of picture palaces created their own online viewing platforms. Following in the footsteps of Sydney's Golden Age, as well as the teams behind the city's Ritz and Melbourne's Lido, Classic and Cameo cinemas, national chain Palace Cinemas is now making the leap to digital — with its new Palace Home Cinema venture launching during this year's Italian Film Festival. Palace Home Cinema will focus on world cinema, and on a curated movie lineup; however, when its first films become available to watch on Thursday, October 15, they'll all hail from the 2020 IFF program. The chain is calling its debut selection the 'IFF Piccolo', with eight movies on offer to watch on a pay-per-view basis until Wednesday, October 21. Cinephiles around the country can check out IFF's opening night film, a live-action, whimsy-heavy version of Pinocchio from Gomorrah and Dogman filmmaker Matteo Garrone — or watch its two special presentation flicks for this year, The Goddess of Fortune and Martin Eden. Also on the bill: comedies Once Upon a Time... in Bethlehem and Say It Loud, dramas Bad Tales and Ordinary Justice, and the family-friendly The Most Beautiful Day in the World. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rIcXgMx7hU&feature=emb_logo Prices vary — with Pinocchio costing $20 to view and the rest of the program costing $14 per title. Once viewers make their purchase, they can watch their chosen film or films at any time during the seven-day IFF Piccolo window. That said, after you first press play, you'll have to finish watching within 48 hours. The Italian Film Festival is currently showing physically in cinemas in Sydney, Brisbane, Byron Bay, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth — but if you're a Melburnian eager to get your fix while theatres are still closed, you live in a regional area or you can't attend in-person, you now have an at-home way to enjoy the fest. While Palace hasn't revealed what else will screen on the Palace Home Cinema platform, the service will focus on the kind of films shown in the chain's venues. "People look to Palace for a special kind of entertainment. We want to accompany them on their journey, making fine cinema easy to find and play, even as we spend more time at home than ever before," said Palace Cinemas CEO Benjamin Zeccola. Palace Home Cinema is available via the service's website. The Italian Film Festival Piccolo is available to stream from Thursday, October 15–Wednesday, October 21.
For many of us, the ideal getaway doesn't involve much more than lazing by a pool, perhaps with a cheeky bev in hand. At Sun Ranch — a sprawling 55-acre coastal estate in the Byron Bay hinterland, just two minutes from Bangalow — you can do exactly that, or go full cosmic cowboy with sound baths, horseback rides and stargazing beside a firepit. The self-described "boutique micro resort" is the vision of a collective of mates from across the creative and hospitality industries, and it shows — not just in the impressive suite of on-site experiences available, but also in the property's design. Inspired by the likes of Oxfordshire's Soho Farmhouse and Ojai Rancho Inn and Post Ranch Inn in California, Sun Ranch is simultaneously laidback and unmistakably luxe, blending the nostalgia of 70s Californian ranch houses with subtle Spanish influences and modern elegance. [caption id="attachment_1012681" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anson Smart[/caption] The ranch is anchored by The Rambler Longhouse, a north-facing guesthouse with four private ensuite bedrooms — each with direct access to the private pool just off the patio — and a detached one-bedroom suite. For extra privacy, there are six two-bedroom barns deeper into the property, which are completely off-grid. Each spacious barn boasts a fireplace with a custom daybed, an outdoor living space with a barbecue and an outdoor shower — not to mention uninterrupted views of the Byron hinterland beyond. It's luxe living with low impact: the barns are self-sufficient in electricity and water, the main guesthouse uses a hybrid of solar, battery and minimal grid power, and the estate runs entirely on rainwater. Beyond the lodgings, The Rambler Longhouse is also home to communal spaces like The Lair, an airy sunken lounge complete with a fireplace, and The Whiskey Lounge, a dramatic space centred around a low-set burgundy velvet sofa and made with a nightcap in mind. There's no restaurant on-site, but there is a complimentary daily breakfast that showcases produce from local growers, and an all-day menu that can be enjoyed in The Rambler Longhouse or poolside. [caption id="attachment_1011095" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anson Smart[/caption] Speaking of the pool, there are plenty of ways to connect with nature here, and at any speed you like. Take a dip in the 25-metre basalt stone mineral pool — perched hillside and backed by a sweeping hinterland vista — or dust off your shuttlecock at the full-sized grass badminton court. The property also features a sun-washed, plant-framed outdoor recreation area, a dedicated wellness zone with ice baths, a woodfired floating sauna, a natural cedarwood sauna, and a two-megalitre dam with a jetty. However you spend the day, you won't want to miss sunset at Stoney Ridge Healing Circle: a picturesque area at the top of the property marked by giant boulders and centred around a firepit. It's also a prime spot for stargazing (with a glass of wine in hand, should you wish). [caption id="attachment_1011094" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anson Smart[/caption] Sun Ranch is also the holiday home of Byron Bay riding club Zephyr Horses, and you can explore the verdant landscape and creekside on a one-hour guided horseback tour. It's one of several add-ons that lean into the cosmic cowboy vibe — equine-assisted therapy, cacao ceremonies, astrology readings and tea ceremonies are also available. Top images: Anson Smart.
Kūrumac, the Japanese translation of Kirribilli sister cafe Cool Mac, has arrived in Marrickville serving up Japanese comfort food for breakfast and lunch. Business partners Eugene Leung and Dika Prianata have decorated their new inner west cafe with a colourful mural from local artist collective Ar-chive, which celebrates both old and new Japan by combining a traditional food stall with a vending machine selling gyoza, bonsai and sneakers. This melding of old and new is a carried throughout the rest of Kūrumac, too. "It's a modern space, but the food is home-cooking," explains Leung. Cooking the food is Cool Mac Chef Junichi Okamatsu, who's serving up twists on some of his favourite childhood dishes, such as the udon bowl, which was inspired by a dish from his home in Yatsushiro. The noodles sit in a hot tasty broth topped with wagyu beef and sesame, and are served with a side of crispy fried shrimp. It's not what you'd normally find on an inner west cafe's breakfast menu, but that's exactly what Kūrumac is all about. As Leung says, the team wants to make food that Japanese locals "would get served for breakfast by their parents". The spicy cod roe piped onto classic thick-cut Japanese white bread, topped with cheese and grilled, is another winner from the menu. For lunch, from 11am, you can grab something a little greener, such as the seared salmon, avocado and yuzu kosho — a spicy and citrusy condiment — salad. During Sydney's long hot days, the cafe has you sorted with loads of cooling Japanese drinks, including iced mugicha (a barley tea); green tea or hojicha (a roasted Japanese tea) milkshakes made with gelato from Newtown's MaPo; and Ume Burger's house-made sodas. Images: Kimberley Low
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has taken us from New York skyscrapers to the far reaches of space, but for one weekend this year, it's landing right here in Sydney. Under the direction of Conductor Benjamin Northey, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra is bringing Marvel's Infinity Saga to life at the Sydney Opera House with a brand-new film concert experience featuring the biggest moments from 23 movies, with every heroic (and villainous) note performed live to screen. You will hear a selection of heart-pounding themes live at the Sydney Opera House, including Academy Award-winning scores by Ramin Djawadi, Alan Silvestri, Ludwig Göransson, Danny Elfman and a taste of the Guardians of the Galaxy mixtape. To celebrate hearing the soundtracks of MCU's biggest personalities in our own backyard, we've rounded up the ultimate Marvel-inspired list of places to visit in the city. From rooftop cocktails fit for a billionaire inventor to Viking-worthy feasts, here's where you can hit up to feel like you're the main character of your own movie. Iron Man If Tony Stark is your vibe, you don't just book any old dinner reservation; you expect sky-high views, sleek interiors and a drinks list as inventive as your tech. At O Bar and Dining, you could sip a martini while surveying the city from its revolving perch. For something moodier, Joji offers the kind of minimalist design and premium whisky selection Stark would absolutely approve of. And for sunset cocktails with harbour views? Zephyr ticks all the boxes: luxury rooftop elegance with a modern feel. Thor Sydney may not have Asgard's golden towers, but it can still offer a feast worthy of the God of Thunder. Mjolner is an obvious choice — not only for its Viking-inspired decor and meat-heavy menu, but for its weekly 'ThorsDay' all-you-can-eat night. In between bites, you can burn off some energy at Throw Axe Penrith, showing off your hammer-throwing skills. And since Thor's not one to shy away from mingling with other gods, dinner at Olympus Dining would be a fitting nod to his Greek counterparts. Captain America Steve Rogers is a man out of time, but luckily, Sydney has spots that speak to his 1940s nostalgia and all-American charm. Kittyhawk (named after a US fighter jet) is a perfect choice for its vintage wartime and aviation theme. For something more casual, Surly's American Tavern serves up classic barbecue and cold beer that would feel like home for Captain America. But before a feed, you can make like Rogers by doing sets at One Playground Gym, keeping your superhero conditioning in check. Hulk Bruce Banner might prefer the quiet life, but when the Other Guy takes over, it's all about big energy and bigger portions. At Smash Room City, you can release some Hulk-sized tension — no collateral damage to Sydney's buildings required. Wings and Tins might be next, where the beer-can smashers at each table would make for a very on-brand dinner ritual. And for a calmer Sunday, The Lord Dudley offers a classic roast feast in a cosy pub. Bonus points for the building's green facade that gives a subtle nod to his alter ego. Captain Marvel Carol Danvers may have been born on Earth, but her powers deserve a Sydney itinerary that's a little… otherworldly. Bar Planet is the aptly named Newtown favourite where even a soldier of the Kree might feel at home. The 81st-floor Infinity Bar gives you panoramic views of the city (and perhaps a moment to check in on other galaxies). And for a rush without leaving the atmosphere, Indoor Skydiving Sydney offers the pure adrenaline hit of flight powers. Whether you're team hero or villain, the Marvel's Infinity Saga Concert Experience is your chance to relive the best moments of the MCU in an entirely new way. Relive the most iconic moments from these beloved films in this unforgettable concert experience live at the Sydney Opera House. Book tickets now. Presentation Licensed by Disney Concerts © Disney
Boasting boutique accommodation, a poolside bar and an all-day bistro, Paddington's Oxford House added Bubsy's Wine and Record Bar to its offerings in 2023. It landed on Oxford Street with a P&V-curated wine list, Maybe Sammy leading the charge with the cocktails, Automata's Clayton Wells in charge of the food and a rotating list of special guests taking charge of the soundtrack. Soft lamp-lit ambience and velvety red carpets set the mood at the Paddington haunt, acting as a counterpoint to the venue's upbeat next-door neighbours, the bustling El Primo Sanchez, as well as the summer-ready Oxford House pool bar. With an intimate atmosphere and exciting drinks list, we're predicting Busby's will be an ongoing hit on Valentine's Day. Known for making eccentric drops more approachable, P&V's Mike Bennie has helped create an expansive wine list spanning bottles from Australia, France and Italy. [caption id="attachment_924013" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parker Blain[/caption] Maybe Sammy's Paolo Maffietti has similarly ensured the cocktail list isn't too intimidating, sticking to just five signature drinks that are designed to complement the minimal-intervention vino. Sip on an Abbey Road — a combination of citrus gin, vermouth blanco, Davidson plum and champagne — or opt for the tequila, grappa and ginger wine mix of the Megatone. Public Hospitality's Group Creative Culinary Director Clayton Wells rounds out the offerings at Busby's with a snack menu you'll find difficult to turn down. Sydney rock oysters are topped with blackberry vinegar and roasted kelp oil, while the chicken liver parfait is partnered with spiced pineapple and liquorice. Then, there's the other key component of this wine and record bar: the music. Inspired by tuned-filled haunts around the world, Busby's is known to host residencies from beloved figures of Sydney's music scene. Go there with high expectations and be delighted to have them met. [caption id="attachment_924014" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parker Blain[/caption] Images: Parker Blain and Jonny Valiant.
