The most famous building in Australia is about to hit a huge milestone, with the Sydney Opera House turning 50 when October 2023 rolls around. Over those five decades, the iconic arts venue has hosted a dream lineup of shows, productions and gigs on its stages — and it has another in store to help mark its massive anniversary. An occasion this huge was never going to pass without plenty of celebrations, so the Opera House is planning a hefty lineup that'll serve up just that. Kicking off in October this year, the 50th-anniversary season will run for an entire 12 months. And while the bulk of it won't be announced until later in 2022, the venue has just revealed its first show: Amadeus starring Michael Sheen. The Welsh actor boasts a resume spanning everything from Masters of Sex and Tron: Legacy to The Queen and Twilight — Frost/Nixon, the Underworld flicks, Alice in Wonderland and Good Omens, too — and, from 1998–99 in London and also on Broadway, this very play. Back then, he took on the role of Mozart; however, this time he'll step into Antonio Salieri's shoes, aka the Italian composer posited to be the titular figure's bitter adversary. [caption id="attachment_860816" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Amadeus by Peter Shaffer. Directed by Peter Hall, with David Suchet as Antonio Salieri and Michael Sheen as Motzart. Performed at The Old Vic in London in 1998. Credit: Geraint Lewis / ArenaPAL.[/caption] Sheen's stint at the Opera House comes as part of Amadeus' Australian-exclusive season, which'll take over the site's newly revamped Concert Hall from Tuesday, December 27, 2022–Saturday, January 21, 2023. He'll play opposite Rahel Romahn (Here Out West) as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, plus Lily Balatincz (Constellations) as Constanze Mozart, all bringing a fierce — and fictitious — classical music rivalry to life. If you're new to Amadeus, which first hit the stage in 1979 in London — six years after the Opera House opened its doors — it reimagines Mozart and Salieri's lives as the latter struggles to come to terms with the former's talent. In 1981, for its first Broadway run, it nabbed the 1981 Tony Award for Best Play. In 1984, after being turned into a movie, it also won eight Academy Awards including Best Picture. And, Baz Luhrmann also mentioned it to Concrete Playground as one of the influences that helped him on the path to making Elvis. Including Sheen, Romahn and Mozart, the Sydney cast will feature 40 performers, spanning actors, opera singers and musicians from The Metropolitan Orchestra who'll be worked into the onstage drama. Director Craig Ilott (Smoke & Mirrors, American Idiot, Betty Blokk Buster Reimagined) will be on helming duties, while Australian fashion house Romance Was Born is directing the costumes. [caption id="attachment_860821" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] And, for theatregoers keen to turn a night watching Amadeus into quite the special occasion, the Opera House is also doing impressive — albeit expensive — dinner-and-show option called Amadeus: Primo Atto. Starting at $440 per person, it includes a three-course dinner with paired wines in one of the venue's most intimate spaces, plus a private tour beforehand, and then tickets to the production. As for what else will be on the 50th-anniversary lineup, watch this space. Based on this first announcement — and the fact that the full program of events and performances is supported by the NSW Government's Blockbuster Funding initiative — the Opera House's year-long festivities looks set to be big. [caption id="attachment_681696" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hamilton Lund[/caption] Amadeus will play Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall from Tuesday, December 27, 2022–Saturday, January 21, 2023. Pre-sales start at 9am on Wednesday, July 13, with general ticket sales from 9am on Monday, July 18. For more information, head to the Sydney Opera House website. For more information about Amadeus: Primo Atto, also head to the Sydney Opera House website. Top image: Faith Healer by Brian Friel, rehearsals, Michael Sheen as Frank Hardy. Directed by Warchus, set designed by Howell, lighting designed by Lutkin and Brown. Old Vic Theatre, London, UK; 21 September 2020. Credit: Manuel Harlan / ArenaPAL.
The idea of fashion as an art form is something that gets debated quite a lot — can something so commercially driven and seasonal ever make a lasting impact? That’s the idea that the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation wants to explore with their latest initiative, Feel and Think: A New Era of Tokyo Fashion. The exhibition consists of five elaborate installations by Japanese fashion designers ANREALAGE, Theatre Products, mintdesigns, SASQUATCHfabrix and writtenafterwards, as well as artist conversations, film screenings, a runway show and pop-up store at SCAF headquarters in Paddington. The exhibition was previously held in Tokyo but has been expanded into five site-specific installations at the National Art School Gallery in Darlinghurst, which has a long history of art-based fashion, boasting Akira Isogawa and Romance was Born as alumni. While many of the installations are constructed around their latest collections, this is done with wit and elements of kitsch and often makes statements beyond 'look at the pretty clothes'. Perhaps the work that embodies these things the most is the one by Sasquatchfabrix. Located at the entrance to the gallery, it’s a large buffalo with a skin constructed entirely from stitched-together fragments of what appear to be leather jackets. It’s visually fascinating in itself, even before the 'I see what you did there' realisation dawns on you. Cattle, leather, get it? I was a bit slow on the uptake on that one. The second floor of the exhibition takes you to an intriguing work by avant-garde label Anrealage featuring two side by side shop displays with identical layouts — except for the fact that one contains short, wide mannequins with short, wide clothing and the other contains towering, elongated versions of the same display, including a skinny typewriter and spindle-legged display table. The installation by Theatre Products experiments with interactivity, with visitors invited to scan the clothes on display, and creates an interesting contrast between the carefully constructed clothes and shoes, all tagged with large barcodes that produce a loud, echoing beep when scanned. The word 'anarchic' is being used a lot in promotional material for Feel and Think, but the better way of describing its general feel? 'Self-aware'.
As the colder months approach and more days inside are on the horizon, you might be thinking it's time to give your pad a little refresh. Creating a beautiful living space will help you cherish more time spent at home — but actually creating that personal space can feel like a daunting task. Sure, your Pinterest board is a work of art and you binge celebrity house tour videos on YouTube. But, when it comes to recreating that stylish feel in a small space or a rental (without dropping $400 on a cashmere pillow), it's hard to know where to begin. Luckily, we have interior designer Steve Cordony on our side. In partnership with Samsung, Steve has given us some top tips to help you create the home of your dreams no matter how tight the budget or space you're working with is. START WITH A MOOD BOARD Good news: your endless scrolling on Pinterest, TikTok and Instagram isn't all in vain. In fact, according to Cordony, this is step one for any design project. "My approach is always the same. No matter if I am styling a tablescape or a whole house, I always mood-board reference images and visuals that create an overall concept, and subsequently blueprint, for the project," he says. Collect your favourite design images to form your own aesthetic. Whether you are drawn to a colourful, eclectic style or you're more into neutrals and minimalism, creating a mood board will help you establish the look you are going for. DEVELOP YOUR OWN 'STYLE DNA' While creating a mood board is an excellent way of getting inspired, it's important to not get too swept away with what's in vogue. "Just like your fashion choices, you should never try to be 'on-trend' rather than create your own unique style for your home," Cordony explains. Sure, trends are fun. But if you're on a budget, it won't be worth investing in something that'll soon feel outdated. Instead, find styles that resonate with you personally and fit in with your lifestyle. Once you develop your own sense of style, you'll know how to adapt to changing design trends and create a space that is both contemporary and timeless. As Cordony puts it: "Because I have a strong sense of my style DNA, I can allow these changes to develop and shift my work, but never alter it." FUSE THE PRACTICAL AND AESTHETIC The most important element of design is ensuring your space coincides with your lifestyle. This means choosing a couch that elevates your space while being comfortable, not opting for fabrics that look nice but are impossible to clean, and having a functional space that suits your Netflix ritual. Let's face it, the TV is a pretty central component of any home but can be tricky to style. "So many spaces I visit always try to hide it which often makes it look out of place," Cordony says. With the option to have the legs on or off, Samsung's The Serif TV will easily adapt to your personal style. "The reality is television is part of most people's everyday lives. And with incredible technology and design options at our fingertips, styling an interior with the TV in mind, and thinking of it as a piece of art or sculpture, allows you to fuse practicality and aesthetics, which is the hallmark of a successful interior," Cordony explains. PLAY WITH LIGHT For those working with a less-than-ideal smaller space, a few easy changes can brighten things up. Cordony's tip? "Keep it light! A white paint like Porters Popcorn or Dulux Vivid White instantly creates a crisp background to build your space and bounces light from wall to wall," he says. And, don't forget the magic of the mirror. "Mirrors are my go-to tip for making spaces feel larger than they are, as well as choosing bigger furniture rather than petite pieces to mirror the smaller scale space". SMALL DETAILS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE According to Cordony, simple changes can make a world of a difference when refreshing your space. "My biggest budget styling tip is hardware — think new door and joinery hardware. They will instantly lift any space and create a bold statement with a metallic accent," he says. Cordony is also a believer in the basic rule of thirds to create layers and contrast in a space. Understanding placement can make a big difference to your space without breaking the bank. "If you have amazing pieces but they're all spread out with no thought or consistency, then your eye has too many places to travel and often items get overlooked," he tells us. Instead, he suggests making smaller scenes with contrasting objects. "Creating vignettes in the space and thinking about balance and layering is key to a well-curated interior". If you're looking to add a touch of designer aesthetic to your living space, check out the products Steve Cordony used in our recent styling videos. To find out more about Samsung's The Serif, created in collaboration with celebrated industrial designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, visit the Samsung website. Images: Jarrad Shaw
Simple Pleasures Camping Co. is returning to the grounds of Oberon's Mayfield Garden for its next luxurious eco-friendly camping retreat. After popping up in March this year, Glamping in the Garden will return this spring, from September 21 through November 17, to one of the world's largest privately owned cool climate gardens. Located three hours' west of Sydney's CBD, the gardens are seriously impressive and include an 80-metre waterfall, a walled kitchen garden and a six-acre water garden — plus a bluestone chapel, aviary and rose garden. Bookings include passes to explore the sprawling 160-acre gardens, with exclusive nighttime access for glamping guests. There's plenty to do apart from moseying around, including romantic canoe rides, interactive garden mazes, tours and workshops, with Spring Festival also on October 13–28. The campsite is separate into two 15-tent sites: the family-friendly area if you've got kids in tow and a more intimate adults-only section situated next to the picturesque obelisk pond. The bell-shaped tents are fitted with queen mattresses, lavish rugs, bedside tables and solar lighting. The experience also comes complete with towels, an outdoor table and chairs to sit at, lanterns and torches, along with on-site bathrooms and showers, which are exclusive to the glamping area. Bookings also include a 'paddock and garden-to-plate' barbecue menu for two, with 80 percent of the produce sourced on-site and 20 percent handpicked from local suppliers. The cook-it-yourself menu includes steaks, marinated chicken, a fresh vegetable platter and vegan salad, with all cookware provided and communal barbecues and alfresco dining area available on the campground. Bookings for Glamping in the Garden are now open. Prices start at $290 per night and includes accommodation and dinner for two, with family packages also available. If you're looking for more glamping options, check out our ten favourite glamping spots near Sydney.
With Vivid lighting up the skies of Sydney once again, the city is buzzing with ways to enjoy it. And, you can bet your bottom dollar that Belvedere, creator of the luminous bottle, is getting involved. The premium vodka label has partnered with a bunch of bars across to Sydney to serve up a slew of glowing cocktails that'll brighten up your Vivid visit. With each venue offering up something unique, you've got until the end of the festival to try 'em all. At the heart of the celebrations, the Sydney Opera House's Portside bar is offering up two fresh libations that'll make for great pre-drinks, before you dance the night away at a nearby live music event. First up, there's the Winter Tropical Warmer — a warming mix of honey, pineapple and bitters — and the Blinded by the Light, which features pear, lavender and lemon. If you'd rather be on the water than staring out at it, you can jump on a private (or shared) All Occasion Vivid cruise and see the harbour sights with a luminous cocktail in hand. Once you're back on land, head to the Shangri-La Hotel's Blu Bar or Helm Bar in Darling Harbour for an illuminated twist on a vodka spritz, featuring sweet vermouth, tonic and star anise, alongside an in-house light show. Staying around the CBD, you can still get a view of the lights from the leafy oasis of Taylor's Rooftop, while enjoying a simple Belvedere vodka and mixer for just $10 or a more exotic rose and lychee martini. Finishing up there, head down to Grain and try one (or all) of its three vibrant cocktails. And, if you live north (or just fancy a ferry ride to catch some lights), make tracks to Manly Wharf Hotel for some tasty pub fare and the Wharf Lights Punch shared cocktail carafe, featuring blueberries, mint, lemonade and Chandon. Belvedere's Vivid Cocktail specials will be available for the duration of Vivid, until Saturday, June 15.
With venue restrictions easing and your bank account beginning to recover from Christmas, it's time to get out and about before winter returns. And the seaside suburb of Cronulla is the place to be when the sun goes down. New Shire establishments have opened over the past couple of years and there are some golden oldies worth returning to a second (or third or fourth) time. Here are our top picks for the best places to eat and drink in and around Cronulla after dark. Think ocean views, seasonal menus and tropical cocktails aplenty.
The chef behind two top Sydney restaurants is changing tact. He's swapping fine dining and natural wine in sleek surrounds for something cheap, cheerful and ready to cure your hangover: shawarmas. Mat Lindsay, of Chippendale's Ester and Surry Hills' Poly, is teaming up with Russell Beard, Mark Dundon and Jin Ng of Paramount Coffee Project and Paramount House Hotel (in which Poly is located) to open a tiny ten-seat shawarma shop, which is set to launch on Commonwealth Street in early September. As well as opening its doors for those necessary late-night, drunken snacks, the new takeaway spot — dubbed Shwarmama — will also be open for breakfast and lunch. In fact, it'll be open all day. On the menu, it'll have just four options: an Israeli-style breakfast kebab called sabich, with fried eggplant and boiled eggs; a spicy lamb shawarma in laffa flatbread; fried-to-order falafel stuffed in fresh pita with garlic sauce and mango pickle; and a NHSP (not halal snack pack). It'll also be fully licensed, with a red and white wine on tap, as well as beer and a craft soda. https://www.instagram.com/p/BRUwrAAjq2p/ The focus will, of course, be the lamb, which Lindsay will prepare using local NSW meat covered in a spice-heavy marinade, which will then be sliced and slow-cooked on the signature rotisserie. The team will also make all its own sauces, pickles and condiments and there'll be a focus on sustainable packaging. Those whose hangovers often render them bedridden will be happy to know the shop will also offer delivery. So, how did the fine dining chef and three hotel owners decide to open shawarma shop? "We were going through a phase at Ester of making shawarma-style things for Sunday lunches, and got really excited about it," says Lindsay in a statement. "I half-jokingly threw the idea out there to Russell, and here we are." While it does seem like a bit of a curveball move, Lindsay is not the first fine dining chef to throw his hat in the shawarma ring. Late last year, famed chef, cookbook author and owner of the global Momofuku chain David Chang opened Bang Bar, a takeaway spot in New York serving up a Korean take on shawarmas. Shwarmama is slated to open at Shop 2, 106–112 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills in early September. Top image: Ester.
Given it has a whopping 26 beaches to its name, you'd be forgiven for thinking Port Stephens is a holiday destination reserved only for the warmer months. Yes, cooler weather may make a lazy day of sunbaking and snorkelling a little less inviting, but you don't need to wait for a heatwave to take that well-deserved break up north. The coastal region has plenty to offer outside of peak season, too. Here are a bunch of activities that'll convince you to visit Port Stephens at any time of year. Please stay up to date with the latest NSW Government health advice regarding COVID-19.
Liberty Equality Fraternity, currently playing at the Ensemble Theatre, is a friendly farce about internet security and bureaucratic incompetence at ASIO. Looking to Kafka and referencing The Matrix, Geoffrey Atherden of Mother and Son fame has written a spy story meets existential crisis. Designer Michael Hankin has created a fittingly bland setting for the ASIO headquarters, with a beige office housing a pot plant, table, and chairs and a large smart screen on the wall. Sound designer Stephen Toulmin has successfully sourced the world’s most annoying waiting room music to set the scene. Left-leaning mother of two Orlagh (Caroline Brazier) has found herself in an interrogation room only to be worn down not by torture but by the bumbling ineptitude of trainee interrogator Alex (Andrew Ryan). Orlagh doesn't know why she's there and nor, it seems, does he (despite the vast amount of data he has gleaned from the internet about her). His willful stupidity drives us and Orlagh to the edge. Ryan has characterised Alex as a sort of David Brent who by some recruitment miracle has found employment as a spy. The sheer length of his dim interrogation is almost too much to bear, and while comic moments offer some respite, the first half of the play is endurance viewing. Brazier as Orlagh makes a believable eastern suburbs mother, but her journey from terrified to triumphant is slightly off kilter. We're never quite sure how high the stakes are as she shifts between panicked concern for her children and delirious but always friendly banter with Alex. Helmut Bakaitis's entrance is a welcome reprieve from Alex, and we find him playing the same type of well-healed sage he played in The Matrix Reloaded. Just as he explained the Matrix to Neo, he calmly explains the much less glamorous situation to Orlagh. This moment of parody is dramatically satisfying and Bakaitis's performance is beautifully polished. Structurally the play is slightly wonky; Atherden's writing takes itself too seriously to amount to a wicked comedy, and the fluid reality set up by Shannon Murphy's direction is not fully realised. It's an interesting topic but the bones of the play are not solid enough for it to be fulfilling. Photo by Heidrun Lohr.
Originally commissioned and devised as part of STC’s Rough Draft program in 2012, The Vehicle Failed to Stop premiered last week at Carriageworks as part of the 2013 Artistic Program there. A multimedia firestorm of live video, live music, ululation and machismo, this combination of verbatim and physical theatre (and one hell of an exploding car designed by Dillon MacEwan) is exhilarating and smart. The work uses original texts from hearings and firsthand accounts of the 2007 controversy surrounding the deaths of two Iraqi women, Marou Awanis and Geneva Jalal, who were killed by employees of Unity Resources Group, an Australian-owned private security company that still operates in Iraq. Version 1.0 have luxuriated in the vastness of the Carriageworks cavern, even opening up a backstage area, which elevates the space to an industrial scale, fitting for a story about unaccountable mercenaries. Video artist Sean Bacon has set three screens in the space: one behind the car, which shows scenes from a moving vehicle through Fallujah streets; a small thin screen on high displaying the source of the various texts and a whopper of a screen on the opposite side. As the piece begins, we peer down the length of the stage at performer Irving Gregory standing frozen in military fatigues. A toy soldier in a painting, he ever so gradually transforms into a living breathing body. With physical and vocal exactness, Gregory executes a perfect crescendo. It’s not clear when he got louder or closer but suddenly he’s down stage centre and it is mesmerising. In the sequences that follow, Gregory is joined by performers Olivia Stambouliah and Jane Phegan, who play pumped-up soldiers as well as Marou Awanis and Geneva Jalal. Stambouliah and Phegan are finely attuned to each other and their macho, air-punching sequences on top of the car to composer Paul Prestipino's aggressive music are concentrated and tight. The three performers’ physical control and sense of ensemble keeps the work at a riveting level of storytelling, which is no mean feat given the breadth of the subject matter and size of the space. Version 1.0’s combination of so many elements is impressive and there’s an attractive open-endedness that attends this kind of collaborative work. Rather than presenting one, grand master’s vision, The Vehicle Failed to Stop pays witness to some important history, and you should too. Image by Zan Wembley.
As a piece of stand-up comedy, Stories I want to Tell You in Person is faultless; rich, hilarious and warm. But considering Lally Katz is one of Australia's best playwrights, it is slightly odd that she's doing stand-up in one of Australia's best theatres, about the fact that Belvoir never staged the play they commissioned her to write, ostensibly because Simon Stone was too busy to direct it. No matter how charismatic her performance, at the end of the day I was frustrated that we weren't watching the play she wrote instead. Katz arrives on stage in front of a glittery gold curtain designed by Ralph Myers, and she is thrilled to be there. She bursts through with aggressive enthusiasm and promptly finds her place on stage on top of a mark saying 'Stand Here'. She tells us a bit about herself — she grew up in the US and then moved to Canberra, hence her interesting accent. What follows is a farrago of stories about psychics, love, her subconscious and a commission from Belvoir to write a play about the Global Financial Crisis. She strikes a handsome balance between the sincerity of her beliefs in magic and acknowledging how ridiculous they are. Her accents are accurate and she wisely opts out of doing a Pakistani accent as she admits she is incapable of it. Her karaoke rendition of 'Don't Cry for me Argentina' will make you cry if you have the remotest sense of pitch. She admits she is tone deaf and belts it out anyway. The joy of the piece is Katz's famous Apocalypse Bear, who appears in many of her plays and is a kind of theatre mascot. As a piece of entertainment, it is idiosyncratic, good, clean fun. As a piece of programming, it appears narcissistic and short-sighted. The work does not show Belvoir in the best light, making the company look unsupportive of new work. Gifted as she is at stand-up comedy, her skills and talent as a playwright have been wasted. I look forward to seeing her GFC play on the main stage soon.
What happens when xenomorphs and other terrifying extra-terrestrial creatures find their way to earth? So explores Alien: Earth, which brings the iconic horror/sci-fi saga first started by Ridley Scott's (Gladiator II) Alien to humanity's home, as well as to television. Another way to discover the answer to that question has popped up in Australia to celebrate the new series' arrival: an IRL hive quarantine zone, complete with ominous eggs and organisms, which is enjoying a two-day stint in Sydney. From 12–8pm on Thursday, August 14, 2025 and also from 8am–8pm on Friday, August 15, 2025, 348 Kent Street in the Harbour City is undergoing an otherworldly makeover. Expect ovomorph eggs, a crate containing a "class-one" hostile critter and Prodigy Corp workers donning hazmat suits trying to control the area. As for the show itself, which debuted on Disney+ on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, one of the trailers has some pertinent words: "we don't lock them down, it will be too late." This time, as other sneak peeks have also made clear, there's more than just one type of extra-terrestrial to deal with. So, while watching, you can hear humanity's screams in response, with this spinoff from the iconic Alien films featuring "five different life forms from the darkest corners of the universe" wreaking havoc. Not once, not twice, but nine times now across 46 years, cinema audiences have stepped into the world of xenomorphs, facehuggers and chestbursters — and of cats onboard spaceships, androids resembling people and shouts not heard in the universe's vast expanse. When the initial Alien dropped in 1979, it started a phenomenon. 1986's Aliens, 1992's Alien 3, 1997's Alien Resurrection, 2012's Prometheus, 2017's Alien: Covenant and 2024's Alien: Romulus have all followed, as well as the 2004 Alien vs Predator and 2007 Aliens vs Predator: Requiem crossover flicks with the Predator franchise. 2025's Alien: Earth is a first, however, given that it's the franchise's debut TV series. Executive produced by Scott, this is Noah Hawley's addition to the saga — and another of his projects, after Fargo, where he's expanding upon the realm of a beloved film on the small screen. Set in 2120, his Alien entry follows the fallout of deep-space research vessel USCSS Maginot crashing onto earth, then the discoveries made as a result by a crew of soldiers that includes human-robot hybrid Wendy (Sydney Chandler, Sugar). As it peers just under a century into the future, Alien: Earth sees its namesake planet under the control of five companies: Weyland-Yutani, of course, because this is the Alien franchise, plus Prodigy, Lynch, Dynamic and Threshold. It also witnesses a society where hybrids like Wendy — the first of her kind, with human consciousness inside a robot body — live side by side with humans, cyborgs and AI-driven synthetics. Hawley's cast not only includes Chandler, but also Fargo alums Timothy Olyphant (Havoc) and David Rysdahl (The Luckiest Man in America), plus Alex Lawther (Andor), Essie Davis (The Narrow Road to the Deep North), Adrian Edmondson (Kidnapped), Samuel Blenkin (Mickey 17), Babou Ceesay (Killer Heat), Lily Newmark (A Gentleman in Moscow) and more. Find the Alien: Earth pop-up at 348 Kent Street, Sydney, from 12–8pm on Thursday, August 14, 2025 and also from 8am–8pm on Friday, August 15, 2025. Alien: Earth streams in Australia via Disney+.
The world contains a vivid tapestry of diverse countries and cultures, each woven with its own unique traditions and celebrations. What better way to immerse yourself in the culture of a region than joining in with the festivities? From the rhythmic beats of Carnival to the kaleidoscopic lights of Diwali, take a step beyond the typical tourist trail with Intrepid Travel. Discover the heartbeat of a place through the lens of its most enchanting festivities. It's time to pack your bags, strap on some comfy shoes and create memories that transcend borders. Diwali The festival of lights is celebrated worldwide, but experiencing it in India itself is something else entirely. Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights. It symbolises the victory of light over darkness, goodness over evil and knowledge over ignorance. There are variations across the region and the different local religions of the country. Some things are always included: lots and lots of candles, lights and delicious food. The festival happens in the first weeks of November to tie in with the darkest days of the year (in India). Time your adventure to this stunning country to coincide with the festival so you can see the magic of the celebrations with the locals. Dia De Los Muertos Feel the mystical vibes of the weird and wonderful Dia de los Muertos, the annual Day of the Dead festival, in Mexico City. Participate in a traditional Day of the Dead ceremony and see elaborate altars dedicated to those who have passed. Enjoy delicious tacos and other street food at the openair Mercado Jamaica, and venture outside the city to see the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacan. If you are passing through the capital on your exploration of Central America, time your travel so you can be there for this iconic festival. [caption id="attachment_969162" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Heejin Yu via iStock[/caption] Kwita Inzina If you're all about nature conservation, attend the Kwita Izina ceremony in Rwanda to see the on-the-ground efforts of those fighting the good fight for Mother Earth. That's exactly what you can do with this on-the-ground tour in Rwanda. It puts you in the middle of the ceremony, an adaptation of a traditional Rwandan naming ceremony where locals name and celebrate newborn local gorillas. The festival includes a mix of formal speeches from conservationists and celebrity guests, plus music and dance performances. Prepare to go with the flow and be whisked into the celebrations, as participation is encouraged. The entire region comes together to celebrate the festival and conservation of these beautiful animals. Halloween Bram Stoker may not have intended it, but thanks to the setting of his novel, Dracula, in Transylvania, locals now celebrate his creation based on local legends with a next-level celebration on All Hallow's Eve. Head to central Europe to Bucharest, Romania and explore the haunting beauty of Sighisoara (the birthplace of the infamous creature of the night) and spooky Bran Castle (aka Count Dracula's castle) in Brasov. Break out your scariest costumes for a spooky Halloween party in Cluj-Napoca — the former capital of the historical principality of Transylvania. Christmas The Christmas season just hits different when it's in Europe. Snow falls on rooftops of buildings and market stalls on narrow cobbled streets as stallholders give out mulled wine, chimney cakes, hot cider, pretzels, hot chocolate and sweet treats to the tourists and locals meandering from stall to stall. If a trip to Central Europe is on the cards, be sure to time it so you can explore the famous Christmas markets from Munich to Budapest. And the best way to travel in Europe? By train, of course. Carnival Bright colours, headdresses and more feathers than you can count — Carnival is the world's greatest party on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, just waiting for you to rock up. Witness an elaborate parade of floats and dancers in the Sambadrome, which stretches into the wee hours. Samba your way through non-stop action, join the conga line with the locals and move to the rhythm of the drum-fuelled street fiestas. Whether you're journeying through Brazil on an epic adventure or specifically going to Rio de Janeiro for the fest, it's definitely not to miss. Naadam While the Greeks have the Olympics, the Mongols have Naadam. This festival might not be well known, but it is the best time of the year to see Mongolia. The annual colourful festival is a centuries-old tradition that dates back to the Khans and their dynasties. Expect archery, wrestling and horse racing — the primary skills a Mongol warrior requires. While in the area, explore the stunning natural landscapes of central Mongolia, such as Baga Gazriin Chuluu (granite rocks worshipped by locals), the Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs and the dunes of Khongoriin, called the 'singing sands' by locals for the whistling sound made by small avalanches of sand on a windy day. Get out, explore, dive into adventure and find your WOW with Intrepid Travel. Find out more on the website.
Inspired by real events, Sarah Doyle’s Anaconda poses the hypothetical question of how those implicated in a high school sex abuse case would live with their guilt as adults. The answer is, pretty poorly. One commits a homicide, others and their wives practice expert denial and one onlooker, Matty Buttiker (Damian de Montemas), tries to redress his past cowardice by offering unhelpful pro bono legal counsel. Tom Bannerman and Lauren Brincat have designed a set of three large triangles in a row, which are neither pretty nor meaningful. They belong at Arq bar at Taylor Square, where some of the play is set, or in a '90s high school production of a Greek tragedy. Max Sharam’s sound design is filmic and mostly good but he misleadingly introduces the play in the opening sequence as some kind of thriller. While Anaconda's main focus is atonement, Doyle’s writing and direction strays into some irksomely conservative territory, where homosexuality is on trial rather than the initial case of abuse. Matty’s wife, Bivva (Leeanna Walsman), is more horrified at the prospect of discovering gay porn magazines under her husband’s bed than that of living with injustice. Walsman plays Bivva extremely well, and in her plea to Matty to drop the case, she delivers a compelling emotional collapse. But because this scene is so good, the play becomes a conventional domestic drama, in which the greatest injustice is Bivva’s loss of social standing. It's an ugly portrayal of upper-class Paddington 'professionals' that may not be too far off the mark. Apart from this politically pongy scene, the rest of the play hangs together well and performances from Walsman, de Montemas and Simon Lyndon playing Phil Walker are on point. Martin Broome playing the flamboyant barman Tove is either pulling off an accurate portrayal of a very awkward man or he is a very awkward actor. At any rate his scenes are uncomfortable and his timidity contrasts well with the brashness of Bivva and Matty. De Montemas’ performance is bold and clear, but he slips (presumably unintentionally) into a gruff Hollywood-blockbuster-trailer voice at times, particularly when talking legal options with Walker. It’s amusing but misplaced. Simon Lyndon playing Walker has a head of hair that would make Donald Trump weep; a devil-may-care presence and a voice like honey. They don’t make 'em like him anymore and you should see the play for his performance alone. Image by Damon Wilder.
Winter is great for getting cosy, wearing every piece of warm clothing you own and enjoying hearty foods. It's also an ace time to plan your next getaway for when spring and summer hit. Dreaming of a sunny vacation somewhere in Australia? Just keen to explore this continent we call home? To help with that, and any other domestic trip that's on your agenda in the near future, Virgin has dropped an Aussie flights sale with 500,000 discounted fares up for grabs. Prices are starting low, at $49, which will get you from Sydney to Byron Bay — the usual cheapest fare in any Aussie flight sale — and vice versa. From there, the sale spans everywhere from the Sunshine Coast, Hobart and Broome through to Cairns, Canberra and Proserpine. The 72hr See Australia sale runs until 11.59pm on Wednesday, July 19 — unless sold out earlier, with fares to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide also covered. That means paying $69 one-way from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast, $79 from Melbourne to Hobart, $99 for a trip from Brisbane to Cairns and $109 to get from Canberra to the Gold Coast. Or, still on local deals, the specials also cover $69 from Melbourne to Launceston, $119 from Adelaide to Sydney, $149 from Brisbane to Darwin and $209 from Melbourne to Perth. If you're wondering when you'll need to travel, the fares cover between August 16, 2023–March 26, 2024, all varying per route. Inclusions also differ depending on your ticket and, as usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick if you're keen to stack the rest of 2023 and the start of 2024 with holidays. Virgin's 72hr See Australia sale runs until 11.50pm AEST on Wednesday, July 19 — unless sold out earlier. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
In the past few years, Twilight at Taronga — the after-hours live music series that boasts arguably the best view of Sydney Harbour as well as lots of adorable animals — has proven it's got some real cred when it comes to hosting outdoor gigs. The 2018 lineup featured the likes of Neil and Liam Finn, The Preatures, Cloud Control and The Jezebels and, from the looks of things, 2019 will be just as epic. Held in Taronga Zoo's natural amphitheatre, the concert series will run from Friday, February 1 to Saturday, March 9, 2019. And we've got some real humdingers to look forward to including You Am I/Magic Dirt, Aloe Blacc, Xavier Rudd, The Whitlams and the Hoodoo Gurus (now that's my scene). And, as always, the ABBA tribute act Bjorn Again will be back by popular demand. You can BYO a picnic, but there'll also be gourmet hampers available onsite alongside a handful of food trucks. Tickets go on sale at 11am on Friday, October 26 and include discounted same-day entry into the zoo (so you can sneak in a visit to your favourite mammal, bird or reptile beforehand). As always, all proceeds will go back into Taronga's ongoing conservation work. So, you can see a gig and feel good about helping the zoo. Get excited and check out the full lineup below. AMERICAN EXPRESS TWILIGHT AT TARONGA 2019 LINEUP Friday, February 1: You Am I/Magic Dirt Saturday, February 2: Bjorn Again — sold out Sunday, February 3: Bjorn Again Friday, February 8: The Whitlams — sold out Saturday, February 9: Hoodoo Gurus — sold out Sunday, February 10: Hoodoo Gurus — sold out Thursday, February 14: The Waifs Friday, February 15: Xavier Rudd — sold out Saturday, February 16: The Waifs — sold out Sunday, February 17: Xavier Rudd Thursday, February 21: Aloe Blacc Saturday, February 23: James Morrison Friday, March 1: Do Re Mi Saturday, March 2: The Paper Kites Friday, March 8: Vera Blue — sold out Saturday, March 9: Comedy Gala: The Umbilical Brothers, Dave Hughes, Cal Wilson and Nick Cody.
If you've ever been to Hobart, then you know all about Sweet Envy — the Tasmanian pastry shop is regarded as the best in town, and for good reason. Now, head pastry chef Alistair Wise is gracing Sydney with his new pop-up venture Drury Lane, which is currently operating out of caffeine haven Brewtown Newtown. The partnership seems to be a natural one, combining top-notch coffees and some damn good pastries for the ultimate cafe experience. The menu is much the same as Sweet Envy, including savoury and sweet options that, until now, have only been available in Hobart. We're most excited for Wise's pecan sticky bun, topped with almond cream and salted caramel ($7); these decadent buns are sure to be the major draw for this Newtown newcomer. Apart from cafe classics like cakes, cookies and lamingtons ($6), Wise is also turning out some interesting options like the pistachio croissant — which adds rosewater and frangipane to the typical French pastry ($ 6.50) — and the Witherspoon, a chocolate shortcrust with plum compote, peanut mousse and pretzel topping ($7). The posset jar ($7), layered with lemon cream, fruit and crumble, is a non-pastry option. As with any good bakery, there are daily specials on offer, including a range of rotating pies and rolls, from cauliflower and cheese to a 'tongue and cheek' pie, as well as a chicken and sausage gumbo ($8 each). Drury Lane is also pouring coffees from Brewtown's new Marco SP9 — an extremely fancy filtered coffee pour over machine that is sure turn out some excellent brews. A speciality pastry and a cuppa? Don't mind if we do. Drury Lane has popped up upstairs at Brewtown Newtown, 6-8 O'Connell Street, Newtown. It's open pen Thursday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm for the near future. For more info, visit their Facebook page.
National Reconciliation Week is an opportunity for all people of Australia to learn and acknowledge the nation's shared history, to celebrate the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to reflect on how we can each contribute to reconciliation. Reconciliation requires more than listening, learning and reflecting, which is powerfully summarised in this year's theme: More than a word. Reconciliation takes action. So, from Thursday, May 27 to Thursday, June 3, heaps of events will take place across the country to promote discussion and a commitment to reconciliation. We've handpicked 11 events to attend IRL and online during NRW 2021 — but keep in mind that there's a huge lineup of unique events, panel discussions and workshops to explore, no matter where you are in Australia. For the full calendar of events, check out the National Reconciliation Week website. WARRANE (SYDNEY) POLITICS AND ACTIVISM: THE FIGHT FOR ONGOING CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM Professor Larissa Behrendt AO (Eualeyai and Gamillaroi) and Australia's first Aboriginal Senior Counsel, Tony McAvoy (Wirdi) will discuss the history and legacy of activism in Australia, as well as the need for ongoing constitutional reform at the Australian Museum Theatre. The discussion will cover the 1967 Referendum, and key achievements of activist and educator, Dr Evelyn Scott AO (Warrgamay), who was pivotal to Australia's reconciliation journey through the 1960s and 70s. WEAVING WORKSHOPS For the arty people in the room, come and sit with Lee Carr (Wiradjuri) to learn about Aboriginal weaving practices. Under the guidance of Carr, participants will create their own raffia fibre basket or bracelet using traditional weaving styles, while learning about the significance of weaving techniques and practices. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved, with Carr hosting workshops every second day from Thursday, May 27 through Saturday, June 5 at The Bankstown Arts Centre. NAARM (MELBOURNE) RECONCILIATION GATHERING Hear, watch and participate in the living culture of Wurundjeri peoples on a site of ongoing significance for the community. The event begins with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony from Wurundjeri Elders, and is followed by a Djirri Djirri Dancers sharing ceremony, and talks by Elders and leaders of the Wurundjeri community in Coburg. Update: New restrictions for Victoria were announced on Thursday, May 27, but you can check out the online events below. MEANJIN (BRISBANE) MURRI TRIVIA Test your knowledge about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander facts at Murri Trivia at Saint Lucy Caffe e Cucina, hosted by author Professor Anita Heiss (Wiradjuri). Open to all, this is a fun way to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander topics, plus you can try to win some prizes along the way. BOORLOO (PERTH) NYIN, NI, KOORLINY: SIT, LISTEN AND WALK For those on Noongar Boodja (Noongar Country) — this event is a great opportunity for reflection and a chance to revisit your personal commitment to reconciliation. The event starts with a Welcome to Country by Noongar Elder Aunty Marie Taylor, followed by a discussion with Shaun Nannup (Whadjuk Noongar) about reconciliation. Visitors will also be invited to take a reflective walk on Noongar Boodja, starting from Dyoondalup (Point Walter Reserve). TARNDANYA (ADELAIDE) RECONCILIATION WEEK PLANTING Roll up your sleeves, grab your trowel and get ready to get your hands dirty. Suitable for all ages, you're invited to help Kaunra Elder, Uncle Tamaru, plant some bush tucker back while learning about Aboriginal culture. Plus, everyone gets their own bush tucker plant to take home. KAMBERRA (CANBERRA) AUSTRALIAN NATION UNIVERSITY'S NRW PANEL Hosting a panel discussion on this year's theme, More than a word. Reconciliation takes action, Australian National University is bringing together both First Nations people and non-Indigenous Australians for a vibrant chat that welcomes all, as reconciliation is the responsibility of all peoples. Guests include Hon Linda Burney MP (Gunni and Gunditjmara), Geraldine Chin Moody and Professor Rae Frances, led by ABC Radio National Breakfast host Fran Kelly at ANU. NIPALUNA (HOBART) LUNCHTIME TOWN HALL FORUM WITH PROFESSOR MARCIA LANGTON AO Professor Marcia Langton (Yiman and Bidjara) is speaking at a number of locations in lutruwita/Trouwunna (Tasmania) about the National Reconciliation Week theme More than a word. Reconciliation takes action. Come along early to this free event to enjoy a complimentary light lunch with tea or coffee at Hobart Town Hall. GARRMALANG (DARWIN) NRW AT CITY OF DARWIN LIBRARIES City of Darwin Libraries are hosting a number of events across their branches to celebrate the week. Along with film screenings including Storm Boy and Charlie's Country, there will be special storytime and toddler time sessions with guests. ONLINE YOU CAN'T ASK THAT: MORE THAN A WORD. RECONCILIATION TAKES ACTION Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit Academic Director, Professor Tracey Bunda (Ngugi Wakka Wakka); Anthropology Museum Director, Michael Aird; and artist Gordon Hookey (Waanyi) come together for a special Q&A to confront stereotypes, prejudices, bias and discrimination during this online panel. THE JOURNEY HOME: RECONCILIATION THROUGH REPATRIATION Hosted by the University of Sydney online, join host Professor Larissa Behrendt AO (Eualeyai and Kamillaroi) and panellists Laura McBride (Wailwan and Kooma), Matt Poll, and Dr Lyndon Ormond-Parker (Alyawarra) for a deep-dive discussion on the significance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage material. As part of the online chat, the panel will also explore the importance of returning Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander ancestral remains back to Australia—outlining how this forms a meaningful step towards reconciliation. National Reconciliation Week runs from Thursday, May 27–Thursday, June 3 nationwide. You can find an event near you — or register your own — via the National Reconciliation Week website. Top image: Celine Cheung.
What has happened to that once glorious Hollywood staple, the romantic comedy? Even at its most saccharine, it was a dependable genre, the type that left you in a kind of terrible movie heaven of enjoyably unlikely plot premises, clueslessly fated lovers, and fairytale endings. Trashy, sure, but reliably trashy — carefree and frothy and silly. Beautiful people, overcoming mindlessly familiar cinematic hurdles and falling in love — it's comforting stuff for hopeless romantics. But a genre that focuses more on seduction and courtship and the happily-ever-after, bridal magazine moments eventually leaves viewers craving something a little more substantial. After all, anyone who lives in the real world knows that the real work in relationships begins at the point where rom coms usually end: the kiss, the wedding, the honeymoon period, the beginning. I Give It a Year goes some way towards reclaiming the rom com genre in favour of the reality and ridiculousness and complexity of relationships and sex and romance. British director Dan Mazer has styled it as a renovated, thinking-person's rom com, one that starts at the wedding and explores the difficulty of staying in love. Rose Byrnes' highly strung Nat and Rafe Spall's man-boy Josh are not meant to be — they marry too quickly and are obviously more suited to the two supporting characters, played by Simon Baker and Anna Faris. Concrete Playground has 10 double passes to give away to see I Give It a Year. To be in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email us with your name and postal address at hello@concreteplayground.com.au. Read our full review here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=3UgPWKPDlvA
It's been quite a year of events for the MCA, what with their involvement with Vivid, their Future Classic summer Sunday sessions and yoga on the roof. But for the year's last instalment of MCA ARTBAR driven by Audi, the MCA is going all out with indigenous artist Adam Hill (a.k.a. Blak Douglas) curating the 2015 finale. In what have been some of our favourite nights this year, the MCA's monthly parties are an always-excellent after-dark extravaganza of art, music, food and booze. A perfect combination, really. November's Blak Douglas-directed event — aptly named Blakout — will include performances by Ursula Yovich, Leah Flanagan, MC Boomali and the Rising Sun Trio, interactive artworks by Aroha Groves and Adam Gezcy, and a slam poetry workshop taken by Luka Lesson. If you want to partake in some discussion, there'll be a special BlakChat roundtable, along with a few film screenings for those who want to simply wine and watch. We even hear that some pole dancing will be going down. Of course, a ticket gets you entry into the MCA so you can see their current exhibitions — it'll be your last chance to see Primavera 2015 and Matthys Gerber, both closing December 6 — in a different light, after the sun goes down. But the best place to be is the rooftop bar, where DJ Black President (a.k.a. Leo Tanoi) will be shooting vibes until 11pm.
There are few words as adored in Australian children's literature as seven penned by Alison Lester: "at our beach, at our magic beach". On the page, in one of the Aussie author and illustrator's best-known books, that phrase starts different descriptions of how a day by the waves can pan out. Here, swimming in the sparkling sea means seeing wild horses among the waves, however, just as digging in the sand conjures up dragons attacking castles. Gorgeous and transportive drawings both set the scene and take each on its fantastical journey — where rock pools are the entry to the kingdom of fish, stormy days bring treasure, fishing sparks quite a catch and more. Whether discovering it as a kid for the first time, or revisiting it as an adult sharing it with your own children or nieces and nephews, Magic Beach has always felt special, and also rung true in this nation girt by sea. It understands the joys of simply spending a day by the ocean, and the possibilities that doing just that can bring to young hearts and minds. Now, 35 years after initially hitting bookshelves, Magic Beach is also a movie. Making his third family-friendly film after Paper Planes and Blueback — and worlds away from the likes of Balibo, The Dry and Force of Nature: The Dry 2 — director Robert Connolly brings Magic Beach to a new medium as a creative mix of animation and live-action, and as a ten-segment anthology where kids, plus a dog, envision their own beach adventures after reading Lester's tome. Yes, Magic Beach as a movie is fittingly and wonderfully imaginative as ten animators take their cues from the book, then spin inventive stories. And yes, Magic Beach as a movie shot its live-action scenes at Lester's own magic beach. For Australia's first-ever Children's Laureate, that coastal spot is Walkerville South. Lester's own beach house was the base during the production, where the kids would arrive each day. Unsurprisingly, seeing her favourite patch of sand in the film is a source of joy for the author. "It's just a very warm, fuzzy feeling that a place that I've loved for so long, and then written this book about, that it's been turned into a beautiful movie," Lester tells Concrete Playground. What makes this location about two and a half hours out of Melbourne a magic beach? "I think my parents used to go to that beach before I was born, and then I was taken there as a baby. We used to stay at a friend's house for a long time, and then an old house came up for sale and mum bought it, when I think I was eight. And so since then we've always had this place that we go to," Lester continues. "I hardly ever go to other beaches because I always go there. It's just like that's where we're going for summer. I think the whole family has that feeling, that the minute you walk into the house all of worries and tensions drop away — and you're like 'aaah, here we are, we're at this beautiful place'." Even if you haven't ever specifically thought about it, we all have a magic beach or equivalent. "It's interesting, isn't it, your own childhood. I grew up in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney, so I was inland, and so for me there were little rivers that I would swim in. I was not coastal," advises Connelly. "Then we as a family, like a lot of Australian families, would go to the beach and stay in a caravan park. There was Terrigal, north of Sydney. But if I think more significantly in my life, when I was in my late teen years, the more-complicated teenage years when I was finishing school, I used to always get the train down to the Royal National Park south of Sydney, and I'd walk on my own into a little beach called Burning Palms. I'd camp on my own for a couple of days just to decompress, and swim in the ocean down there on my own. So that's probably the closest, if I think of the most-significant one in my life, because was very formative. But not when I was a little kid, because when I was a little kid, I was in the bush." "There's something about water, isn't there? And the threshold of diving into the water when you're little," Connolly also notes. His latest film, which he came to after fellow filmmaker Sarah Watt (My Year Without Sex) was initially set to direct before her death in 2011, deeply understands that feeling. It's committed to heroing what youthful minds dream up, too, and the sensation of being by the shore. We also chatted with Lester and Connolly about how the film came about, and its animated segments; ensuring that the book wasn't just a source of inspiration; their collaboration; giving the picture a wave-like rhythm; why Magic Beach has endured with generations of readers; and much more. On Magic Beach's Journey to Finally Becoming a Film Robert: "Sarah Watt, the amazing filmmaker behind Look Both Ways and My Year Without Sex, was developing it with Alison. And I worked with Sarah, who sadly is not with us anymore, but she introduced me to Alison — and we were collaborating together on it. It's so crazy, isn't it? The gestation period for projects, you can't pick it. Some films happen quickly and some take a long time. But I think my first involvement was over ten years ago. So that's quite a journey." Alison: "Well, it's been a very long journey and a very meandering journey, because when Sarah and I got together, we really loved working together and hanging out together. So a lot of times when we're supposed to be working, we'd just be hanging out and having a nice time. And then when Robert took the project over — and Sarah was in the same boat, they're both so in-demand and so successful that they always had other projects going on so. Robert and I laugh, at every Christmas he used to give me a phone call and say 'oh, hi Alison, can we have it for another year?'. And I go 'yeah, yeah, sure, it'll happen eventually'. I think we all had other things to go on, and Magic Beach was just simmering away in the background. And in a way, probably having that time was a good thing for it to finally turn out the way it did, where it wasn't rushed." Robert: "Yeah, that's true. It took a while to work out the way to tell the story of the film, to find a really unique way to tell that beautiful book as a film. So it didn't come quickly as an approach." On Whether Lester Ever Thought That a Magic Beach Movie Would Happen Back When the Book Was First Published 35 Years Ago Alison: "No, I never imagined it. It didn't cross my radar at all. I would have been happy if it had had a couple of print runs — and that's the other thing, it's still going as a book after all this time, which is really lovely." On Connolly's First Introduction to the Book — and Adding It to His Lineup of Family-Friendly Movies Robert: "I read it to my children. My daughters are 22 and 20 now, but I read Magic Beach and a whole bunch of other books of Alison's to my children when they were really little. And it was interesting, once I had kids, I started broadening my career. I did the film Paper Planes, and that was my first family film and I just fell in love with the idea of making films for younger people. And it was just a really attractive part of my career. The audience for Paper Planes was more primary school, and the audience for Blueback was more high school, but I have this fascination with that early-childhood phase, when I feel like children are the smartest they ever are. It's the most creative, imaginative stage, where they haven't learned any rules yet. And I love that audience, and so it just felt like an inevitable journey, really, for me to go on. Then it took me a while, actually. After we lost Sarah, I found it really hard to come back to the project for a while. I think we were all very sad. But the joyful spirit of Sarah's work and her own creativity is in this film. Her mischievous, cheeky, deeply humanist sensibilities are something that I think Alison and I see in the film that we've made." On Whether Lester Had Any Set Ideas About What the Film Should Be — and How Its Anthology Structure Came About Alison: "No, no, not really. I definitely didn't want it to be a kind of forced narrative where there was an evil developer who was going to build a hotel on the beach and that kind of forced thing. Other than that, I really trusted Sarah and Robert to do what they're so good at." Robert: "It was interesting initially. The animations came first, and so we invited — my producing partner Liz Kearney, who did Memoir of a Snail recently, and Chloe Brugale, who were working with me at the time — we just set on this journey to find ten animators, and invite them to respond to a different one of the kids and the dog, as it turned out in the film, and create their own work. So that was the step, and that's where the film began. So the live-action came second, which is really interesting — because once we have these beautiful animations, you can imagine what it was like when we were getting these beautiful, extraordinary, exquisite creative works delivered to us, it was like 'well, how do we stitch it together? How do we now create an overarching narrative for it? What's that going to look like?'. And that took a while, but we wanted to keep the spirit of what was so special and incredible about the book, and how the book allows young people to fill the blanks — like it really allows it, it doesn't fill everything in. So we needed it to keep that imaginative spirit of the book, which is where that idea of having this documentary footage of children, that then opens up into the magical world of the beach and then into the animation. It's these three layers of the film. So it was a real journey, but I'd love you know I loved? We had no rules — we kept trying new things, even in the edit we had no rules." Alison: "It's like that Spike Milligan thing: 'there's no plan, so nothing can go wrong'." Robert: "That's right. That's exactly right. I love that it's a film for little kids, and it's probably the most rule-breaking film that I've ever done, which is something young kids would really appreciate." On How the Narratives for Each Animated Segment Came About Robert: "I didn't want to restrict them. I wanted them to feel that freedom of childhood and their response to the book, so I gave them almost no rules, except that they had to choose a child and a section of the book, and then create their own work in their own style, which is something that Sarah had been really keen about, and Alison and I discussed. So in some ways it becomes a response — a love letter to the book and to the beach for each of those ten animators in their own style." Alison: "And they all rose to the occasion incredibly, didn't they?" Robert: "Yeah, yeah. You think of the different styles — and they're all very personal to each of the animators. Each of the animators can talk very much about their own response to the beach." On the Importance of the Book Not Just Inspiring the Film, But Being Part of the Film — Including Kids Reading and Responding to It Robert: "That was a real choice that came quite late — and I don't even know if we'd made that decision till after the animations. I think because I didn't quite know how the live-action was going to work. It could have been a story, it could have had more of a narrative structure. And then it was the idea of looking at the animations: 'well, what if we actually take real kids and let the book trigger them to imagine being at the beach as a character in the book, and then the beach itself triggers the imagination of the animation?'. I think actually that idea of them all reading or being exposed to the book in some form came after the animations, actually." Alison: "Quite late, yes. And as the author of the book, for me that is such a buzz just to see the movie built around the book and to have the illustrations up there on the big screen. It's really, really beautiful." On How Lester and Connolly Collaborated on the Movie Robert: "It was fun. We actually made the film on the magic beach. We had a small crew and this beautiful group of kids, and every day we the kids would all turn up at Alison's house, which is in the book as well and looks out over the magic beach — and Alison was staying there at the time, and the kids would turn up and say 'hi, Alison!'. And Bigsy the dog would be walking around. And they'd get in their costumes have breakfast, and then we'd all walk down to the beach and film. And then Alison would come down. I loved the collaboration of that. One of my favourite bits of that is that in one of the beautiful pictures in the book, there's a mobile hanging on the wall, when the kids are in bed, and it's got all different shells and things from the beach — and I just asked Alison if she could make one, and she made one and brought it down, and it wasn't even scripted where we'd use it. And that's the beautiful sequence when Riley, the young deaf girl, wakes up on the beach and touches it. So they're not scripted, but something that between Alison and I and the crew, and all being there on the beach, we improvised into life." On Whether Shooting on Lester's Actual Magic Beach Was Always a Given Robert: "No, actually. We weren't sure. At one point, I wondered if all of the kids' stories should be on a different beach." Alison: "Yeah, I remember that." Robert: "Or I thought maybe 'what if each of the nine kids had their own imagination on a different beach?'. But it felt that way you'd lose the spirit of collaboration. I like that one kid wakes up and they're on the beach and they're like 'where am I?', and then the second kid. And then there's two kids, and then they play together, and then the next kid turns up. So there's this idea that the children build a community. So that at the end, when they're all running down to the water and running across the water, that all of the kids are united together. Also it's so beautiful, it felt like going to the real magic beach would be a real treat for audiences as well, with love of the book, that they can see the film and go 'this is the real magic beach'." Alison: "And it all comes together, I think, too, doesn't it — when there's so many different things going, to have that constant of the beach where you can see quite clearly that it is the same place, even though they're different locations within the beach." Robert: "Yeah." On Giving the Film a Rhythm That Resembles the Waves, Washing in and Out of Each Segment Robert: "I'm so glad you picked that up." Alison: "Yeah, me too." Robert: "Because I remember talking to Maria Papoutsis, who edited it for me, and we talked a lot about that — that idea that you don't necessarily want things to be angular in how they're edited. You want it to feel like you're moving from scene to scene and moment to moment. The thing I love about watching the ocean, it's like watching a fire, a campfire — it's the same but it's infinitely different. I'm glad you picked that up. And also something I talked to Briony Marks about, with the music, she did the overarching composition with percussion. It's all percussion, marimbas and vibraphones. And this idea of not trying to be tight and angular and precise, which is what we get so used to now — highly structured cinema that's highly formed — and wanting it actually to have a rhythm that's a bit surprising. And they're different. The dynamic shape of the film was — actually, a lot of time was spent on trying to work out what order to put the animations. We tested different orders and then played it to kids, and then changed the order a bit, and then played it to kids again." On Why Readers Love Magic Beach So Much, and Have Since the 90s Alison: "I can't remember how I came up with that 'at our beach, at our magic beach', but I think it is a really lovely intro into each. So there's that rhythm of the text, which I think is very gentle and easy to read. And often people are reading those books late at night to their kids or they're tired and it's like 'oh my god, give me something easy to read' — and it does flow really nicely. But I think so many of us love the beach and we understand that experience of just going to beach in a really uncomplicated way, where you just go and see what's there. I think that the thing Robert talked about a little while ago, too, is that there's a lot of room in that book for your own imagination. You see what the kids are doing, but you don't know their names or anything like that, and it's not very specific, so you can easily be part of that book. So I think it's partly that a lot of families would recognise themselves in the book. And just the flukiness of why people like a book. I'm always so chuffed that the creative things I do often resonate with people, and I don't know that you can control that. It's just the luck of the draw really." On What Appeals to Connolly About Jumping Between Family-Friendly Films and the Likes of Balibo and The Dry Movies Robert: "Some filmmakers wonderfully stay in their own lane of genre, and they have become renowned for it — and some of my favourite filmmakers are like that. But there are great inspirations to me, like the Australian filmmaker Peter Weir, who worked in so many different genres across an impressive career. And I feel like, and what I hope, is that each film in some way follows that tradition of cinema almost being a microscope into the human condition. It's like every film looks somewhere into some aspect, like if Magic Beach looks into the deep, profound side of childhood at the beach and the way the natural world inspires creativity, a film like Balibo is very different because it looks into the power of individuals to act ethically and their leadership as a way to lead their country to freedom. So they're very different films, but I hope in some ways that my films always apply that rigour, so if you look at them collectively, I'd like to think that they're a body of humanist cinema about who we are and how we live and how we relate. But it's also fun. It's fun to swing. It was funny, though, when I was trying to finance Paper Planes, it was my first film after Balibo. And one of the investors who turned it down was like 'how in god's name are we going to market the film? Paper Planes, a film for the whole family from the director of Balibo? It's not going to work.' But I did have a kid come up to me with their youngest sibling at one of the screenings we had on the weekend, and the kid was a bit older going 'oh my god, I've seen Paper Planes so many times' — and they were bringing along their three-year old little sibling to see Magic Beach. So I have got a fanbase with young kids as well now, you see." Magic Beach opened in Australian cinemas on Thursday, January 16, 2025.
That The Boys-shaped hole in your viewing is about to be filled, and not just by college-set spinoff Gen V. Viewers had the latter to get their sinister superhero fix in 2023, but 2024 will deliver more of the show behind it — and, unsurprisingly to viewers of 201-9's first season, 2020's second effort and 2022's third go-around, utter mayhem is on the way. When The Boys returns, it'll see the world dealing with Homelander (Antony Starr, Guy Ritchie's The Covenant)-versus-Starlight (Erin Moriarty, Captain Fantastic) factionalism, and just being ready to tear itself apart in general. Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit, Where'd You Go, Bernadette) is getting closer to the Oval Office, too, with Homelander pulling the strings. It's no wonder that the just-dropped first trailer for season four is filled with utter chaos. Also on the way: no-nonsense Brit Billy Butcher (Karl Urban, Thor: Ragnarok) dealing with the fact that he's only got months left, and that he's no longer leading The Boys — aka the eponymous ragtag team intent on bringing down Vought International, Homelander, and the company's caped-crusader industry and dominance. And, there's a new face, with Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead) joining the cast, adding another Supernatural link after Jensen Ackles did the same in season three. Back in 2019 when The Boys first hit streaming, sufferers of superhero fatigue understandably rejoiced. Yes, it focuses on a group of caped crusaders just like seemingly every second blockbuster movie (and, these days, every third TV show or so as well); however, in a world where viewers have been conditioned to lap up narratives about powerful folks who are supposedly better than most, this series both satirises and questions that very idea. Here, superheroes work for Vought. They're still the main form of entertainment, but they're real, the most famous celebrities there are and inescapable in daily life, too. The absolute top talent is known as The Seven, but most are hardly role models when the public isn't looking. That has made quite the change from the usual cinematic universes as the Prime Video show has kept notching up the seasons, all coming to the small screen after being adapted from Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson's comic book series of the same name. Exactly when The Boys will bring back its gleefully darker-than-dark tone, a pervasive bleakness that refuses to be shaken, plus oh-so-much blood, gore and guts hasn't been revealed other than sometime in 2024. As well as Starr, Moriarty, Doumit and Urban, Jack Quaid (Oppenheimer), Jessie T Usher (Smile), Laz Alonso (Wrath of Man), Chace Crawford (Gossip Girl), Tomer Capone (One on One), Karen Fukuhara (Bullet Train), Colby Minifie (I'm Thinking of Ending Things) and Cameron Crovetti (Goodnight Mommy) will all return — with Susan Heyward (Hello Tomorrow!) and Valorie Curry (The Lost Symbol) also set to be season four newcomers. Check out the first trailer for The Boys season four below: The fourth season of The Boys will start streaming via Prime Video sometime in 2024 — we'll update you with an exact date when one is announced. Read our reviews of The Boys season three and Gen V.
If you're a fan of twisty TV shows about wealth, privilege, power, influence, the vast chasm between the rich and everyday folks, and the societal problems that fester due to such rampant inequality, then 2021 has been a fantastic year. The White Lotus fit the bill, and proved such a hit that it's coming back for a second season. Squid Game, the high-stakes Korean horror-thriller absolutely everyone binged over the last month, ticks the box as well. And, so does Succession, with the much-acclaimed HBO drama finally returning for a third season. No series slings insults as savagely as this Emmy, Golden Globe, BAFTA, Critics' Choice, Writers Guild and Directors Guild Award-winner. No show channels feuding and backstabbing into such an insightful and gripping satire of the one percent, either. Succession isn't just whip-smart, darkly piercing and frequently laugh-out-loud funny about its chosen milieu; it's the best drama on TV, one of the best-written shows on television, and among the best series all-round in general as well. So, here's two pieces of good news: firstly, Succession's third season is as biting, scathing and entertaining as viewers have come to expect, and might just be its finest yet; and, secondly, HBO has just renewed the show for a fourth season. Neither of these revelations is particularly surprising, but they're still excellent. Announcing the renewal, HBO noted that in the US, the series' third-season premiere was its most-watched episode to-date. It did herald Succession's return after a two-year wait — a gap that left viewers with quite the cliffhanger, as well as a huge hankering for more of its witty words. Indeed, before the series first graced TV screens back in 2018, you mightn't have realised exactly how engaging it is to watch people squabbling. Not just everyday characters, either, but the constantly arguing — and ridiculously well-off and entitled — family of a global media baron. Those power plays and the verbal argy-bargy make Succession compulsively watchable, and so do the pitch-perfect performances that deliver every verbal blow. Of course, as created by Peep Show's Jesse Armstrong — someone who knows more than a thing or two about black comedy — the idea that depiction doesn't equal endorsement is as rich in Succession and its brand of satire as its always-disagreeing characters. [caption id="attachment_830169" align="alignnone" width="1920"] David Russell/HBO[/caption] In season three, all those Roy family antics and the bitter words they inspire are in full swing yet again. Succession has always riffed on a scenario that also sits at the heart of fellow hits Arrested Development and Game of Thrones — families clashing over their empire — but this version doesn't need dragons to be ruthless. That feeling only heightened at the end of season two, when Kendall (Jeremy Strong, The Trial of the Chicago 7), the son always seen as the natural successor to patriarch Logan (Brian Cox, Super Troopers 2), decided to publicly expose the family's dark business secrets. Now, the series is wading through the fallout, with Logan's other children — Connor (Alan Ruck, Gringo), Shiv (Sarah Snook, Pieces of a Woman) and Roman (Kieran Culkin, Infinity Baby) — caught in the middle agin. This brood's tenuous and tempestuous relationship only gets thornier the more the show goes on, and its examination of their privileged lives — and what that bubble has done to them emotionally, psychologically and ideologically — only deepens in season three. All four Roy children are still trying to position themselves as next in line at Logan's company, of course, with the future of the business in jeopardy not only due to his advancing years, or the takeover bids and government interest that've been a big part of its two seasons so far, but thanks to all the in-fighting. When they pop up in the third season, Alexander Skarsgård (Godzilla vs Kong) and Adrien Brody (The Grand Budapest Hotel) complicate the Roys' precarious situation even further. That's this show's bread and butter, and it's glorious — and it just keeps finding the ideal cast members. With season three only two episodes in at the time of writing, exactly when season four will hit screens hasn't been revealed. For now, you can check out the full Succession season three trailer below: The first two episodes of Succession's third season are available to view via Foxtel, Binge and Foxtel On Demand, with new episodes dropping weekly. Exactly when the series' fourth season will drop hasn't yet been revealed. Top image: Macall B Polay/HBO.
For diehard fans of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, one type of movie magic stands out above the rest. That'd be the kind that's had viewers flocking to Wizarding World flicks for over two decades now, and also inspired plenty of "accio April 2022!" chants over the past few months — if only in your head — as Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore gets closer to reaching cinemas. The third film in the Fantastic Beasts series and 11th in the broader Wizarding World franchise — aka the full on-screen world that's sprung up around The Boy Who Lived — The Secrets of Dumbledore arrives four years after 2018's Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. That's a hefty wait, and while the movie's release is still over a month away, a new trailer has just dropped to help fill the gap. Following on from The Secrets of Dumbledore's first sneak peek back in December 2021, the latest trailer gives viewers what they want: Jude Law's (The Third Day) young Albus Dumbledore facing off against Mads Mikkelsen's (Riders of Justice) evil Gellert Grindelwald, as the franchise has been working towards since 2016's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Of course, it wasn't always Mikkelsen playing the sinister dark wizard who just keeps trying to control all things magical, and wreak havoc on everything in general, with both Colin Farrell (Voyagers) and Johnny Depp (Minamata) previously doing the honours in past instalments. Regardless of who's playing him, Grindelwald still wants to start a war. Yes, he's solemnly up to no good, and his devoted following is only growing. So, as both trailers for The Secrets of Dumbledore have shown, it's up to future Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore, magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne, The Trial of the Chicago 7), and his pals Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston, The Third Day), Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol, Between Us) and Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler, The Walking Dead) to try to save the day. Ezra Miller (Zack Snyder's Justice League) also returns as Credence/Aurelius Dumbledore, while Jessica Williams (Love Life) follows up her brief appearance in The Crimes of Grindelwald by return as Ilvermorny professor Eulalie 'Lally' Hicks. And making the magic happen behind the lens is David Yates, who has directed every Wizarding World film — Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts alike — since 2007's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Obviously, when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2 reached cinemas 11 years back, it was never going to be the end of the on-screen story, which is why the Fantastic Beasts series — which took an illustrated guide book about magical creatures, spun a story about its author Scamander and turned it into a Harry Potter prequel saga — exists. Still, conjuring up more enchantment hasn't been quite so straightforward this time around, and how you feel about the two Fantastic Beasts flicks so far might just depend on how spellbound you are with everything HP. But this franchise-within-a-franchise was always going to go on, with The Secrets of Dumbledore the third entry in the planned five-film series. Check out the trailer for The Secrets of Dumbledore below: Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore opens in cinemas Down Under on April 7, 2022.
Already one of the country's go-to spots for sand, surf and sun, the Gold Coast now boasts another reason to plan a visit this summer: Sandtunes, a massive two-day beachside music festival. Debuting this year across Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1, the new event will take over the Coolangatta Beach with a jam-packed lineup of live tunes, with Travis Scott, Logic, Chvrches and Carly Rae Jepsen leading the bill. The festival will mark Scott's only Australian performance this year, so if you're keen to see the Texas-born rapper play tracks from his 2018 album Astroworld, this is the place to be. If you're a fan of fellow US hip hop star Logic, you'll also be treated to his first-ever Aussie show. While Scottish trio Chvrches are no strangers to our shores — they're on this year's Spilt Milk lineup as well — Sandtunes will also welcome Canadian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen for her debut performance in Australia. When you're not singing along to 'Call Me Maybe' live, you can also check out the rest of the just-announced first lineup, which spans Juice WRLD, Dean Lewis, Sampa the Great, Tkay Maidza, Cub Sport, Kait, Kwame, WAAX, Kian, Alice Ivy,Genesis Owusu and Saint Lane. A word of warning: while you'll be partying on the sand right by the ocean, the festival dates do overlap with part of Schoolies — although, thankfully Coolangatta is never as hectic with revelling school leavers as Surfers Paradise. Sandtunes Music Festival takes place on Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1 on the Coolangatta Beach at the Gold Coast. Tickets go on sale at 12pm on Wednesday, July 31, with a Telstra pre-sale from 10am on Friday, July 26 — visit the festival website for further details.
From family classics like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to hard-hitting documentaries in the league of Camp 14 – Total Control Zone to black comedies such as Invasion, this year's Audi Festival of German Film promises the bravest, brashest and most bizarre in German film. There'll be panel discussions, Q&As, special cultural programs and parties. The selection for opening night, Georg Maas' Two Lives, makes it clear the festival is seeking the cutting edge, new generation of German filmmaking. It's a 2012 post-Berlin wall spy thriller about the exercise of state control over individual identities. Another highlight is This Ain't California, a Cannes winner that explores the development of skateboard culture in East Germany during the 1970s and 1980s. With over 20,000 people expected to attend, representing a 37 percent growth in popularity over the past six years, this year's festival is set to be the biggest on record. The festival is on in May around the country: Sydney: April 30 to May 14, Chauvel Cinema and Palace Verona Melbourne: May 1-15, Palace Cinema Como and Kino Cinemas Brisbane: May 3-9, Palace Centro Thanks to the Audi Festival of German Film, we have 15 double passes, valid for any screening throughout the festival, to give away in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. To be in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email us with your name and postal address at hello@concreteplayground.com.au. https://youtube.com/watch?v=8noDewE16iM
California's endless sunshine and awe-inspiring scenery helped establish it as the home of US filmmaking. Nowadays, just about every nook and cranny in the state has appeared on the silver screen, with Hollywood productions making the most of dynamic landscapes and architectural wonders. Ready to see some of pop culture's most iconic scenes in person? We've teamed up with Visit California to highlight ten of the best attractions to visit when you want to geek out on cinematic history. [caption id="attachment_960577" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Hang Tran via iStock[/caption] Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles Perched on the side of Mount Hollywood, Griffith Observatory offers incredible views across Los Angeles stretching from downtown to the Pacific Ocean. After dark, it becomes a buzz of activity as free telescopes give visitors glimpses into deep space. Inside, cosmos-related exhibitions dazzle guests. A go-to spot for directors, Griffith Observatory has been the setting for hundreds of productions. You might recall the opening shot of The Terminator, featuring a stark-naked Arnold Schwarzenegger, or a mesmerising musical number in La La Land. Don't miss the James Dean busk to celebrate the observatory's role in Rebel Without a Cause. [caption id="attachment_960579" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Travelview via iStock[/caption] Union Station, Los Angeles Few train stations have appeared on camera more than Union Station. Although it typically serves as LA's major rail terminal, its fascinating combination of art deco and Spanish colonial revival architecture gives it an undeniable gravitas that makes for a powerful scene. In the original Blade Runner, Union Station stands in for Los Angeles Police Station, while The Dark Knight Rises sees it transformed into a kangaroo court overseen by the Scarecrow. Although surprisingly rare, Union Station was simply a train station in Pearl Harbor. [caption id="attachment_961524" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Ross G Perry[/caption] Fox Plaza, Los Angeles You might still debate whether Die Hard is a Christmas flick, but there's no doubting where it all began for Detective John McClane. Better known as Fox Plaza, or 2121 Avenue of the Stars, this LA skyscraper is where villainous mastermind Hans Gruber met his match. Yet McClane isn't the only cop to roam this building. In Brooklyn 99, Jake makes the team detour to the fictional Nakatomi Plaza, quoting McClane every step of the way. You can also catch Fox Plaza's exterior in Lethal Weapon 2, connecting more made-up cops to the building's legacy. [caption id="attachment_960584" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Michael Overstreet via iStock[/caption] Bodega Bay, Sonoma County North of San Francisco, Bodega Bay is one of the top spots on the West Coast for whale-watching, peaceful hiking trails and day spas. It's also a must-visit on a cinema-inspired road trip along the coast. Though you might not get that impression from Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 classic, The Birds. After socialite Melanie Daniels follows lawyer Mitch Brenner to Bodega Bay, mysterious bird attacks terrorise the townspeople. Head along to discover how the reality is far more tranquil. [caption id="attachment_961526" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Marie Beschen[/caption] Museum of Western Film History, Lone Pine Western films had a defining role in the development of American cinema, with the desolate surroundings of Lone Pine central from the beginning. Over 400 feature films were shot across the Alabama Hills, the Sierra Nevada and the Owens Valley since 1920, starting with the silent film, The Round Up, starring Roscoe Conkling "Fatty" Arbuckle. Iconic films like Gunga Din, High Sierra and The Lone Ranger have featured the same vast landscape. For a true movie-buff experience, the Museum of Western Film History offers a diverse collection of frontier film memorabilia. [caption id="attachment_960608" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Olga U via iStock[/caption] Alabama Hills, Owens Valley On the outskirts of Lone Pine, the Alabama Hills is where numerous seminal western genre films were captured. Surrounded by towering rock formations and seemingly endless desert, traversing Movie Road with the Sierra Mountains adorning the horizon is a great way to get introduced. Films new and old were shot along this barren stretch, with the likes of The Lone Ranger, Iron Man and Gladiator just some of the best-known. Discover landmark geological wonders rising from the desert like the Mobius Arch, Nightmare Rock and Cyclops Arch. Kansas City Barbecue, San Diego Belt out 'Great Balls of Fire' just like Maverick and Goose in Top Gun at Kansas City Barbecue — the setting for the iconic diner scene. It was discovered by Paramount Studios' location scout ahead of production who liked the atmosphere so much that he returned with director Tony Scott. Situated in the harbour district of San Diego, Kansas City Barbecue serves up jam-packed meat dishes and hearty sides. If the classic diner vibe wasn't enough, the walls are adorned with assorted Top Gun memorabilia and the real piano used in the movie is still there. [caption id="attachment_960613" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Damien Verrier via iStock[/caption] Death Valley National Park, Southwest California Tatooine might seem like a galaxy away in Star Wars Episodes IV and VI, but these otherworldly scenes were shot in the dunes and canyons of Death Valley National Park. Wander into Artist's Palette — a colourful collection of volcanic deposits — just like R2-D2 does in A New Hope. The movie also used one of Death Valley's most impressive vantage points, Dante's View, to capture a panorama of Mos Eisley, a spaceport town filled with scum and villainy. [caption id="attachment_961525" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Courtesy of Flickr[/caption] Hillard House, San Francisco Featuring a masterclass in comedic performance by Robin Williams, Mrs Doubtfire remains an essential childhood film for millions. Many of the jokes might have gone over your head as a youngster, but this 90s classic still has much to say when you watch as an adult. Located in the upmarket Pacific Heights neighbourhood of San Francisco, Hillard House, featured throughout Mrs Doubtfire, still looks much the same. Although the interiors were shot on a soundstage, it's well worth climbing the hills to visit. Plus, the bay views are incredible. [caption id="attachment_960618" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Rebecca Todd[/caption] Muir Woods, San Francisco Bay Delve into Muir Woods to discover a fascinating old-growth coastal redwood forest. With some of these towering trees dating to over 1,000 years old, this ancient landscape is bound to leave you feeling in touch with nature. Throughout the Planet of the Apes series, Muir Woods becomes home to a super-intelligent colony of apes. Although these scenes in the films were captured in Vancouver with the help of a little old-fashioned movie magic, the in-universe setting is a stunning location, easily driven to from San Francisco, and it makes for an unforgettable detour. Start planning your tour of California, America's ultimate playground, today. Header images: B Alberts via iStock, Visit California
We've seen some cool ideas for putting solar cells in novel places, and everyone agrees that being able to better harness the sun's energy would go a long way to solving our energy problems. But perhaps it's time we thought a bit bigger than solar-charging furniture... a lot bigger. Like, evil-scientist scheme big. It just so happens that scientists at Japan's Shimizu construction corporation (who aren't evil — probably) have been thinking big for us. They are proposing that we use the moon as a giant solar farm, laying the surface with a ring of photo-voltaic cells to capture some of the 13,000 terawatts of solar energy that hits the moon each day, then beaming it back to earth via laser or microwave. Although LUNA RING sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel, the technology required for such a project already exists. What keeps the project from becoming a reality immediately is the, pardon the pun, astronomical cost. Such a massive venture would have an incalculable benefit for the entire world, and would probably require the co-operation and support of the entire world. Given that the world can't organise a football tournament without a few problems, this might be one world-saving project that never gets off the ground. Which would be a great shame. [via geeksaresexy]
If anything is going to get us over our cultural cringe, it must be this serious, big-budget-ish adaptation of the Tomorrow series, a collection of YA novels that's as dear to generations of young Aussie hearts as almost any imported phenomena. And it's a whole lot bloodier than Twilight. The adventures, penned by John Marsden, filled seven instalments between 1993 and 1999 and later a spin-off, The Ellie Chronicles. In case you missed it, Tomorrow, When the War Began follows Ellie Linton (Caitlin Stasey, far away from Neighbours) and her motley band of teenage friends, all residents of the fictional country town of Wirrawee, who venture out on a camping trip to a very remote location. There, they swim, flirt, billy-cook two-minute noodles and observe a fleet of small planes passing overhead in the dead of night. Returning to a deserted, damaged town, they discover that the planes were part of an invading force that has chosen coastal Wirrawee as a strategic base from which to wage war on Australia. With their families imprisoned at the town showgrounds, scant access to information and their lives in peril, the group become guerrilla resistance fighters. If the premise asks you to suspend belief, it rewards you for your effort. Although it's bookended by some stilted dialogue and inappropriately upbeat end credits, the film gets the important things right: explosions and emotional resonance. Tomorrow, When the War Began remains a universalising rather than a narrowing experience, which asks its audience to confront the violence of war and relate to young people living under occupation. Writer/director Stuart Beattie (Pirates of the Caribbean, Australia) makes not-heavy-handed moves to make sure this comes across; Ellie's silent reflection over a mural of Australia's colonial settlement is one particularly poignant moment in a narrative where the invaders' nationalities are deliberately obscured (although, in a movie, they do have to have faces, and, yes, they're Asian). It's amazing that this film balances the genres of rollicking buddy adventure and war drama while hurtling along at quickening speed and without needing to cling to nationalism or blokiness to find its course. And the explosions: well, they're great. Save your cynicism; this is one to get excited about. https://youtube.com/watch?v=f_KhErNyiq8
Go buy a 3D printer right now, and show us what you can invent. Every industry is getting cooler thanks to this democratising technology, which is in the process of bringing us 3D-printed organs, 3D-printed cities, and 3D-printed sex toys (including a vibrator modelled on Justin Bieber's head). And what can it do for broken bones? One Victoria University of Wellington graduate has cleverly used 3D printing to reinvent the clunky, sweaty arm cast we all had to wear in primary school after a violent game of handball. Called the 'Cortex', Jake Evill's invention is breathable, eco-friendly and washable. Its polyamide can also be reused. Unlike the oh-so-analogue plaster casts of yore, the Cortex's structure has the potential to be digitally tailored to the injury. Computer software can receive x-rays and measurements of the limb, and via an algorithm, the printer produces (within a slightly lengthy 3 hours) a lightweight cast which protects and supports in all the right places. And excitingly, it can be worn under a long-sleeve shirt. While some would mourn the hallowed tradition of messy cast graffiti, it's our surmise that 3D printing culture will quickly come up with an upgrade for that, too. Via Gizmodo. Image from http://jakevilldesign.dunked.com.
Just as it turns three year old, Newtown's Flour Drum will expand its hours and start serving up dinner as well as its much loved breakfast, lunch and baked goods. Since opening at the south end of King Street in 2015, the cafe has served solid indulgent fare like banoffee pancakes and lamb ragu pappardelle. And Flour Drum hopes to keep patrons on into the evening as it launches dinner service for the first time in August. Chef and co-owner John Ageletos will drawn on culinary inspiration from across the world for the new menu of comforting classics. So what can you expect? Squid stuffed with fragrant rice and herbs —a modern twist on the traditional Greek squid dish that his gran would make for him — and a crispy duck 'wonton ravioli' that will see Italian and Hong Kong cuisines collide. The pappardelle will make another appearance here with pork, along with a massive shepherd's pie with the whole lamb shank on the bone inside. Expect to pay around $14–29 per dish. If you thought the current cakes and cookies at Flour Drum were delicious, then you'll think this after-dinner dessert is on fire — literally. The flaming bombe alaska features house-made vanilla bean creme brûlée ice cream surrounded by toasted hazelnut sponge cake and meringue, which is then flambeed while being served. The new menu will also have one or two weekly vegan specials and a drinks offering to match. You'll be able to pair your meal with biodynamic wines from Brackenwood Vineyard, beers and cocktails. Flour Drum is located at 531 King Street, Newtown. It will open for dinner from Thursday to Saturday from early August.
A new Sicilian restaurant headed by internationally acclaimed chef Lino Sauro is the latest venue announced for the still-blooming Kensington Street precinct. Opening on the second floor of the newly restored Old Rum Store, it will join first-level French restaurant Bistrot Gavroche and a soon-to-open pop-up private kitchen on level three. The best part? It'll have its own rooftop terrace. Sauro has spent the past ten years in Singapore where he headed Sicilian restaurant Gattopardo. His new Sydney venture will be called Olio, which is the Italian word for olive oil — a very appropriate name given that olive oil, which will make up the base of the Sauro's dishes, will be sourced from his family farm in Sicily. As for the rest of the ingredients, you can expect seafood, wild fennel, raisins, saffron and couscous to play a big part in the menu. Sicily's natural environment — like the ocean and its abundance of olive trees — and historic relations with North Africa and Mediterranean Europe are major influences on Sicilian cuisine. Sauro's own farming heritage has also inspired a passion for cooking with fresh, local produce. For Olio, he's prioritised international award winners in his choice of architects too. LAVA, who are also responsible for designing Abu Dhabi's Masdar eco city centre and Sydney's Martian Embassy, have designed both the indoor dining room and the rooftop terrace to reflect the menu. They'll incorporate the industrial history of the space — like its exposed brick and loft-style windows — into a modern revamp, which will include hints of Mediterranean blue and olive green in the colour scheme and Sicilian tiles. Those dining on the terrace will be treated to views of Central Park's vertical garden and Kensington Street's Spice Alley while surrounded by olive trees. Olio is expected to open in the first quarter of 2017. For a hard opening date, keep checking their website. Images: Lauren Commens.
For three months from Friday, August 8 to Saturday, November 8, legendary Japanese drinks company Suntory is turning Whisky Thief inside Sydney's Prefecture 48 precinct into ground zero for highballs, international guest bartenders, chefs and exclusive experiences. Suntory Bar features bespoke snacks by award-winning chef Tetsuya Wakuda. It's an exclusive chance to experience his food, with dishes created just for the residency in collaboration with the head chef of Prefecture 48's kaiseki restaurant, Garaku. The menu leans into Japanese technique with a modern edge. You'll find fried oysters with citrus mayonnaise and ikura, tuna tartare with shiso and ponzu and a "Wagyu Hambagu Burger" with Patatas Fritas. It's all designed to pair with Suntory's signature Highballs, but if you're trying the exclusive Tetsuya Wakuda snack, the recommended choice is the Hakushu Highball — a smoky take on the classic, crisp whisky and soda that's huge in Japan. The drinks cover plenty of ground, offering a deep dive into the full Suntory portfolio. You'll find a range of beers, spirits and creative cocktails showcasing Toki Whisky, Roku Gin, Haku Vodka and more. There's also a Haku-inspired Japanese slipper, BOSS Coffee reworked into an Irish coffee, whisky flights, a delicious Minus 196 spritz, and pours of Suntory The Premium Malt's beer. And for something unexpected, try Hibiki Harmony served neat over ice cream - call it a whisky take on an affogato if you will. Over the three-month stint, the bar will also host guest bartenders from around the world. They'll drop in for takeovers, special events and limited-time additions to the menu. The main Suntory Bar is open for walk-ins and bookings, Tuesday to Saturday each week. Suntory Bar is spread over two levels of Prefecture 48, a Japanese dining hub home to restaurants like Ibushi, Garaku and Omakase. The space has been given a full seasonal refresh to channel a modern Japanese garden and will bring the best parts of Japan's dining and drinking culture — including a post-work nomikai (drinking ritual) — to the heart of Sydney. If you're into Japanese spirits, rare collabs or just want a good reason to finish work on time, this one's worth locking in. Suntory Bar runs from Friday, August 8–Saturday, November 8 at Whisky Thief in Prefecture 48, 230 Sussex Street Sydney. It's open Tuesday–Thursday from 5–11pm and Friday–Saturday from 5pm–midnight. For more details and bookings head to the website.
For the last four years or so, the Blue Mountains' Russell Fitzgibbon and Doug Wright aka Fishing have been shaking up the Sydney electronic music scene with Hookz mixtapes, applaudable live shows and a killer debut album Shy Glow, featuring members of Cloud Control (lead singer Alister Wright is Doug's brother), Collarbones and Guerre. In June, the Sydney duo held an audiovisual overload of an album launch party at The Basement as part of VIVID; now they're trekking through the country's major cities to showcase their much-anticipated debut LP. Fishing's style has been self-described as 'RAVE' and their most recent music video (featuring several shirtless males, strobe lights and lots of lasers) is testament to this. They've supported the likes of local faves like Elizabeth Rose, Safia and the now-disbanded Snakadaktal, and are set to play OutsideIn later in the year. If their massive raver set at Splendour in the Grass this year is anything to go by, you're in for a humdinger of a party. https://youtube.com/watch?v=HwgWQBLdUwk
By the time Sunday rolls around, you're lucky if you have the energy and willpower to think, let alone cook. So do neither. Instead, grab a friend or three and head for LL Wine and Dine in Potts Point, where, from 11am, you can sink into all-you-can-eat yum cha for 30 bucks a head, accompanied by live music, $25 cocktail jugs, $10 Bloody Marys and good coffee. The menu is big on dumplings of all kinds, from straight-ahead prawn, to more exotic scallop and pork, to animal-friendly vegetable. Also look out for spring rolls, rice paper rolls, barbecue pork buns and pork spare ribs. That's right, you won't be going hungry around here — no matter how worn out or ragged you might be from the night before. You'd be smart to make a booking: this is one of Sydney's more popular Sunday feasts.
A major hotel rebrand and redesign has completed its first stage, as Courtyard by Marriott Sydney-North Ryde officially relaunches as Crowne Plaza Sydney Macquarie Park. Featuring a new guest experience, expect a host of modern updates – with more planned for the near future. More of a refresh than a revolution, this initial phase has seen rooms, various public spaces and the culinary offering given a thoughtful uplift. From the restaurant and bar to conference and event spaces, a light restoration has given these amenities a little more polish than before. Whether you're staying for work or leisure, a more refined experience awaits. The rooms have also received early enhancements like 55-inch Smart TVs, while organic and vegan skincare by Antipodes will soon be added to guest bathrooms. What comes next is more significant, with a second phase seeing guest rooms and public spaces transformed to reflect Crowne Plaza's upscale reputation. In the works is a complete makeover of the lobby and welcome area, with design changes bringing chic furnishings and a contemporary ambience. All 196 rooms will also undergo an update to create more comfortable and flexible accommodations, with both corporate types and holidaymakers in mind. Bistro, the on-site restaurant, hasn't been overlooked either. In the coming months, executive chef Sahil Sabhlok will unveil a gourmet dining experience, building upon the venue's modern-Australian cuisine. As a sneak peek, one dish on the menu is Sabhlok's signature slow-cooked beef short ribs with celeriac, pickled white onions and mustard. Now with sleeker decor and an al fresco dining area, Bistro will make for a refined feast. "This is an exciting time for the Crowne Plaza Sydney Macquarie Park as we start to welcome our first guests. Our vision for the hotel is to create a place that appeals not just to hotel guests, but also to the local community and business hubs in Sydney," says Crowne Plaza Sydney Macquarie Park hotel manager, Toby Paul. Making this aspiration a reality is undoubtedly possible considering the hotel's central location. Offering easy access to Sydney CBD, Sydney Olympic Park and Lane Cove National Park, the property is also easily within reach of several key business hubs, shopping destinations and outdoor attractions. In fact, Crowne Plaza Sydney Macquarie Park is just around the corner from the new Metro line, making a trip to the city a breeze. Crowne Plaza Sydney Macquarie Park is located at 7/11 Talavera Rd, North Ryde. Head to the website to find out more.
UPDATE, October 12, 2020: The Shape of Water is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, Amazon Video and iTunes. A secret lies inside every fairytale and monster fable, whispering to those who dare to enter. It's an obvious one, though it's not always fully appreciated. As we wade through narratives about dark forces and strange, enchanting creatures, it's not just their fantastical or fright-inducing aspects that enthrall us; it's also the fact that they beat with a warm human heart. Like Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and countless other storytellers before him, filmmaker Guillermo del Toro knows this — and he's eager to prove it every chance he gets. Since taking on the undead in his quietly unnerving debut Cronos more than two decades ago, the Mexican writer-director has approached his gothic tales with empathy and curiosity. His films might be filled with bugs, ghosts, vampires, beasts and kaiju, but at their core they ponder what it means to be alive. Accordingly, when Pan's Labyrinth follows a young girl as she plunges into a mysterious garden underworld, del Toro charts the relatable need to explore, connect and fight back in trying circumstances. Likewise, when The Shape of Water brings together a mute woman and a man-like amphibian against the backdrop of Cold War-era USA, he spins a story about the power of love and the resilience of outsiders searching for a place to belong. As often seen in the director's work, the enemy here isn't the monster, but rather the idea of judging something just because it's different. A moving horror-romance that splashes its devotion across every gorgeous teal and butterscotch-hued frame, The Shape of Water swims into the realm of Elisa Esposito (Sally Hawkins). When she's not working nights cleaning at a government facility with her chattering colleague Zelda (Octavia Spencer), she finds company with her lonely artist neighbour Giles (Richard Jenkins) and comfort in her daily routine. But things change when security operative Richard Strickland (Michael Shannon) marches into her life, along with the water-dwelling being (Doug Jones) he's brought back from the Amazon. While everyone else is fearful, cruel or primarily interested for scientific reasons (such as Dr. Robert Hoffstetler, played by Michael Stuhlbarg), Elisa finds a kindred soul in the captured creature. The idea of outcasts finding solace in each other's arms is hardly new, but while del Toro's movie seems to dive into busy waters, he's really wading through a stream all of his own. In the crowded field of monster flicks, The Shape of Water cherishes and celebrates its big-hearted heroine and her aquatic companion with love and care, ensuring every emotion they express also washes over the audience. Equally vivid and violent as it jumps between matters of the heart and moments of espionage, the film entrances with its sweet, soulful, delicate approach while never shying away from weighty themes of persecution or oppression (and at the same time, it remains remarkably light on its feet). In short, it's a whirlpool of intensely felt, vibrantly realised wonder — one that's both frothy on the surface, and dark and deep underneath. A sea of perfectly assembled elements, The Shape of Water truly feels like a film that no one else could have made. Working from a script co-written with Vanessa Taylor (Divergent), del Toro is operating at the top of his game, and his fingerprints can be seen in every exquisitely detailed image. With its stylistic odes to both creature features and the Golden Age of Hollywood, succumbing to the movie's seductive visual charms is easy. Falling for the sensitive way in which it handles its underwater lovers is as well. Assisting in that department, Hawkins and Jones couldn't be better, fashioning their performances out of glances, movements and the things that words just can't say. Often they're floating, either literally or emotionally. Thanks to the story's depths of affection and acceptance, so is the audience. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQH3jqetJoY
Peanut butter and jelly, that beloved lunchbox combo, was a trendsetter. Before every other food mashup anyone can possibly think of started tempting tastebuds, it had the concept down pat. You know how the idea works, because it just keeps happening: take two edible items that don't usually go together, mix them into one dish and, voila!, a new culinary marvel has emerged from Frankenstein's kitchen. The latest such dishes: pizza burgers and burger pizzas, all courtesy of a collaboration between OTT burg joint Milky Lane and Crust pizzas. How you feel about it will probably depend on how you normally react to decadent burgers and fruit on pizza. So, you're either ravenous already or instantly know it's not for you. A Hawaiian pizza, but as a burger? Milky Lane's beef burg, but as a pizza? You can try both for a limited time. They're two of the key offerings during this team up, which hits menus at both brand's stores Australia-wide from Tuesday, August 30. Over at Milky Lane, there's that pineapple pizza-inspired burger, called the 'Notorious P.I.G.'. It comes with a double-smashed beef patty on a cheese, bacon and pineapple milk bun, and is then topped with mozzarella, streaky bacon, shaved leg ham, Mexican shredded cheese and deep-fried pineapple. Or, you can opt for the 'Peri J Blige', which mashes up Crust's peri peri chicken pizza and Milky Lane's chicken burger. That means southern fried chicken on a peri peri milk bun, alongside peri peri sauce, red capsicum strips, mozzarella, Napoli sauce and mixed Italian herbs, with a deep-fried mozzarella patty on top. If you're heading to Crust instead, their pizza-burger hybrids span 'The Big P' and the 'Chic-Kanye'. The first takes its cues from a Milky Lane favourite, and combines slow-cooked pulled pork, ground beef, caramelised onions and mozzarella on a barbecue base with an onion-ring crust. It then adds dill pickles, maple bacon bits, a Mexi cheese mix and Milky Lane's signature burger sauce. Crust's second special pays tribute to one Milky Lane's chicken burgs, featuring fried chicken tenders coated in Milky Lane's southern seasoning, as well as bacon, caramelised pineapple, roasted potato and mozzarella. That's all popped on a barbecue base, and topped with maple bacon bits, a Mexi cheese mix and Sriracha aioli. Yes, just reading the above should make you hungry. Milky Lane and Crust's mashup menu is available at both brand's stores Australia-wide from Tuesday, August 30 — for a limited time.
Whether you're embracing being at home, or itching to get out of the house and into a bar as soon as possible, we expect you've experienced many mood changes with every 'new normal' moment. Perhaps you've been unexpectedly thrilled with your baking skills? Mortified with your home hair dye efforts? Proud of your Zoom hosting skills? Each day comes with its own highs and lows, so, we've teamed up with Jimmy Brings to suggest a drink and a snack for the small wins through to the mini meltdowns. Jimmy Brings is known for its 30-minute delivery times, so even when all you're doing is cleaning out the fridge, you can order a spontaneous drink to mark the occasion. Find the iso moment you relate to most, below. UNEXPECTED JOY AT YOUR BREAD BAKING SKILLS Deserves: a mini celebration with Covielle sparkling. In times like these it's all about celebrating the little things. Is your starter bubbling and doubling as it should? Are you proving your dough without having to watch the clock? Sounds like you're nailing it. When you're ready to slice into that crusty loaf, pair it with a selection of deli cheeses, from one of these cheese shops in Sydney, these ones in Melbourne, or from Le Fromage Yard in Brisbane. And make yourself an Aperol spritz with Covielle sparkling, which has a citrus tang and a clean, crisp finish that pairs well with the gooey cheese and that proud grin on your face. UTTER PUZZLE FRUSTRATION WHEN THAT BLUE PIECE DOESN'T SEEM TO FIT Deserves: a comforting bowl of pasta and a Mists & Shadows Chardonnay. You're 300 little blue shapes from completing that masterpiece of dots and swirls, and though you don't remember caring about puzzles before 2020, this is now all you think about. Why. Won't. It. Fit? Just remember, it's the little things that cause us most angst. No, your friends probably don't understand. But, you know what will help? A warming hug in a bowl. Order in a lamb ragu from Tottis or a cacio e pepe DIY pasta kit from Ragazzi, if you're in Sydney. Melburnians, Tipo 00 has its braised duck gnocchi for pick up, and much-loved vegan spot Smith & Daughters is delivering its penne carbonara and vodka-spiked spaghetti. In Brisbane, you can get spaghetti, rigatoni and carbonara to take away from 1889 Enoteca. The white peach and nectarine notes in the Mists & Shadows chardonnay pairs particularly well with lighter pasta dishes. [caption id="attachment_770129" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tim Mossholder[/caption] BOTCHED ISOLATION HAIRCUT BLUES Deserves: a treat-yourself moment with Heritage House Shiraz. Too scared to embrace the grombre, you decided it was a good idea to touch up those roots yourself and now… well, it's a good thing all those social catch ups come with a 'no video' mode. At least you didn't cut yourself a fringe, or decide now was the time to grow a beard. Console yourself with a treat meal — after all, you've saved all that money avoiding a professional. We suggest ordering Walter's dry-aged steaks, if you're in Brisbane. Or you can get wagyu sirloin steaks and beef fillets from Vic's Meat in Sydney, and Meatsmith can deliver a porterhouse or marinated minute steaks to you by the next day if you're in Melbourne. Get Jimmy to bring you a full-bodied red to match it. The Heritage House Shiraz has rich berry flavours and hints of oak that complement a sirloin or porterhouse served with buttery veggies. [caption id="attachment_770049" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Creative Exchange[/caption] PURE HAPPINESS AT A SUCCESSFUL VIRTUAL DANCE PARTY Deserves: a cheeky Jolly Trotter Pinot Grigio to set the mood. If you've been tuning into Hot Dub at Home every weekend, you'll know a dance party is all about the details. Balloons? Check. Glitter on your cheeks? Check. A raving outfit ready for that 'Sandstorm' drop? Triple check. When you're in the mood to dance, it doesn't matter if you're in a sweaty club or jumping around the sofa — so to help you get into the spirit, crack open a bottle of pinot grigio. Jolly Trotter is a crowd-pleaser with an orchard fruitiness to it that leans on the dry side. And, because you're planning to recover like a champion, prep an order of bacon and egg rolls for the morning. Sydneysiders can order a BKE roll and coffee combo from Paramount Coffee Project. In Melbourne, Egglab has its full menu available for delivery. And Brisbanites, you can order crispy bacon and fried egg baps from the masters of the humble brekkie roll, Yolk. WHOLE BODY SATISFACTION AT FINALLY CLEANING OUT THE FRIDGE Deserves: Mists & Shadows Cabernet Merlot on the couch, with a chocolatey treat. Look at that: you've organised the dairy to the top shelf and everything. You deserve to put your feet up on the couch (once again) and give yourself a much needed pat on the back. We all made lists during lockdown, but you actually achieved something. May we suggest having your cake and eating it? Our pick would be this decadent baked cheesecake from Attica. But if you're too far from Melbourne and want something you don't have to share, Koi Dessert Bar is delivering its weekly rotation of cakes around Sydney, from mascarpone tiramisu to mango yuzu tarts. And in Brisbane, you could order Gelato Messina's bombe alaska, or just a jar of its housemade dulce de leche. Pair it with Mists & Shadow's South Australian cab merlot that has a smooth mouthfeel and plum and blackcurrant aromas. GIDDY ANTICIPATION FOR YOUR UPCOMING FIVE-GUEST DINNER PARTY Deserves: Kiwi Hawk Sauvignon Blanc, because you're the host who knows the most. There's a reason everyone's looking to you to host the first catch-up dinner: you're the social alpha. You always know the best bars to visit and the newest restaurants in town, so now we're allowed friends over once again, it's your turn to impress with all that local knowledge. Not that you need our help, but if you're in Sydney, stock up at Paddington's Fish Butchery, which also has Mr Niland at Home meals if you're feeling lazy. Pair your seafood feast with a Marlborough savvy-b with a difference — Kiwi Hawk's is crisp and medium-bodied and works well with shellfish and herbaceous salads. In Melbourne, you can buy sashimi platters and green ocean king prawns from restaurant seafood supplier Clamms. And Brisbane's oldest seafood market, The Fish Factory, has plenty of whole fish and freshly shucked oysters to choose from. [caption id="attachment_770050" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Unsplash[/caption] NERVOUS BUTTERFLIES BECAUSE YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH YOUR HOUSEMATE Deserves: a bottle of Arcadian Tryst Shiraz and a couple of bowls of ramen. So you hooked up with your housemate during iso, and you liked it more than you expected. In fact, you want to take this out of the friend zone and into an IRL relationship. That's a ballsy move, so you may want some dutch courage. Better yet, make it a romantic dinner date for your do-you-feel-the-same? chat. First, order a bottle of date-night worthy shiraz from the cool climate Langhorne Creek; its sweet berry flavours, with crushed plum and smoky spices, pairs well with rich food, like the pork broth of a tonkotsu ramen. In Sydney? Order The Darkness from Rising Sun Workshop or RaRa's tonkotsu shio. Global ramen chain Hakata Gensuke is delivering across Melbourne. And Brissy lovers can enjoy Taro Ramen's DIY home packs. Even if things don't pan out, at least you ate good food. Download the Jimmy Brings app and use the code 'CONCRETE' to get $10 off your first order. Offer expires July 30, 2020. Top image: Andrea Piacquadio.
This article is part of our series on the diverse highlights of NZ's Canterbury region, from city to snow. To book your Christchurch trip, visit the 100% Pure New Zealand website. Bars on buses, pop-up public buildings and shipping container shopping centres — it's what you expect to see in some of the most cutting-edge cities in the world, but is it what you expect to see on the South Island of New Zealand? This is the land of the long white cloud's inventive, industrious and inspiring city of Christchurch today. Excitement and opportunity are stirring everywhere in a city with a fresh slate. It's in the small bars that have appeared in deserted streets, the designers who have started working a disused tannery and the locals who just want to contribute to the new incarnation of their city. For most, it's an inspiring time to be in New Zealand's second largest city, and there's no better time to visit. Here are four areas in which the city is thinking laterally and pulling off big things. Hospitality: C1 Espresso Christchurch is catching up to Auckland and Wellington in the cool stakes and forging its own rep for great coffee, small bars and a focus on local produce.. "We're all starting again and we've got an opportunity to redefine ourselves," says Sam Crofskey, owner of High Street's C1 Espresso. Pioneering the second wave coffee movement through to the third in Christchurch since 1996, C1 is famous for its pneumatic tube system that delivers burgers and fries to you at 100 km/hr. While there is something very Fifth Element about it, but this system is actually more in tune with the past than the future, as the tubes are part of the building's former life as a bank. "There is so much opportunity in the city," Sam says. "You can open a bar in an alleyway or upstairs above a shop or whatever." And people are. Bars specialising in whiskey, craft beer and local wine have popped up in unlikely places and are almost always buzzing with crowds. Retail: Re:START A temporary structural solution is driving the retail industry: shipping container shopping. Re:START encouraged retailers to establish temporary spaces in shipping containers to grow their businesses. Located in Cashel Square, Re:START has been one of Christchurch's biggest successes. (It's also home to Dimitri's, possibly the best souvlaki in the South Island.) In addition to what's happening in the city centre, retail has found an unlikely home-away-from-home in the industrial side of town. Ten minutes drive from the CBD in Woolston, an old tannery has become the new home of Christchurch's boutique designers and retailers. After owning the site for near on 20 years, Alasdair Cassels was able to redevelop the space into an arcade-like shopping mall, aptly dubbed The Tannery. Giving designers a place to create and sell their wares, The Tannery became a meeting place as well as a shopping destination — at a time when the city had nothing else like it. Art: Gap Filler Colour flows through Christchurch in the form of street art. From almost any vantage point you're bound to be in viewing distance of at least two pieces of work, with murals painted on the sides of buildings both abandoned and inhabited and outdoor installations littered over disused blocks. What's happened in Christchurch has shown that adversity exemplifies creativity. Seeing a way to breathe new life into the city, artists have used bare walls to redefine the mood and vision of the urban area. A mural painted We got the sunshine lights up Madras Street, a super-size Rhone portrait sits on one side of Cathedral Junction and local artist Wongi 'Freak' Wilson has left his mark all over town. As well as this, 'Gap Filler' projects are placed all over the city, activating vacant spaces with interactive installations. Walking around, it's likely that you'll hear someone playing the drums (in the Sound Garden), see someone having a boogie in front of a washing machine (at the Dance-O-Mat) or sitting on a giant Astroturf couch. Once a super conservative city, Christchurch now thrives on new work that will continue to shape and develop with it. If you're an artist with a crazy idea, Christchurch is the one city that might just let you do it. Infrastructure: Cardboard Cathedral As well as Re:START, which can be moved at any time, the Cardboard Cathedral is an incredible example of how great transitional architecture can be. Erected as a place of worship by emergency architect Shigeru Ban, the structure is made largely from cardboard tubes and looks like a picture of perfect symmetry from the inside. It's temporary, but it's meant to last around 50 years. But permanency is the ultimate goal, and plans for infrastructure and urban living are well underway. New Christchurch looks like it's going to be one hell of a city. Feature image and Rhone mural image courtesty of Jocey K, Cardboard Cathedral courtesy of Forgemind ArchiMedia via photopin.
We're so used to hearing of cinemas closing their doors that, for a while there, we were worried we'd be forced to watch feature films on our laptops forever more. But something's shifted. Since opening in 2013, Surry Hills' tiny one-screen Golden Age Cinema contiually sells out screenings, and this year we've had film festivals coming out our ears (including new fests dedicated to American indie and Latin American film). And, after announcing just last month that they'll open a ten-screen cinema in Double Bay, Palace Cinemas have this morning revealed plans to open another new multi-screen complex in Chippendale's Central Park Mall. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Palace will take over the third floor of the complex, which is at the moment home to aMBUSH Gallery. There will be a whopping 14 screens, with each cinema ranging from 30 to 100 seats, and a bar — because it wouldn't be a proper Palace experience without a glass of red in hand. The cinema business is obviously proving a profitable one for Palace. As well as the Double Bay development, they're also replacing the seating at Paddington's Palace Verona and adding an extra four screens and, up in Byron Bay, they're in the middle of a revamp that will bring a nine-screen complex to the beachside town by 2018. The new cinema will be called Palace Central and is expected to open towards the end of 2017. Via The Sydney Morning Herald.
Dear Concrete Playground Readers, With the growing concerns surrounding COVID-19, we wanted to take a moment to check in. Going out might not be at the top of your to-do list right now, but you can continue to support small, local businesses without leaving your apartment. These businesses have had a tough run of late — battling through the lockout laws in Sydney, the bushfires in regional areas and, now, coronavirus fears — and they need our support now more than ever. Buy from artists who've had their shows cancelled, order gift cards and merch from venues that are struggling or just book in a dinner for that birthday a few months away. Then, when we come out the other side — which we will — we'll be raring to get out there and hit up concerts, food festivals, comedy galas and charity raves once again. And we'll be there with you every step of the way. In the meantime, keep washing your hands — to the chorus of Lizzo's 'Truth Hurts', of course — and get in touch if you have any questions, concerns or just want to chat. Love, CP To stay up-to-date with the events postponed and cancelled in your city, head over here. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Not one, but three, designers have put their two-wheeling brains together to come up with tokyobike's latest offering: the company's first ever Designer Series. It's a trio of bikes that will make you seriously want to shell out (and at this price, you'd be skipping more than a few meals). The first, a schmick golden number, is the work of Everything Elevated, who are based in New York and Oslo. It's a single speed with dropped handle bars that gets its inspiration from early minimalist track racing bikes. The second you'll want with you next time you're in Paris. Calico Wallpaper, a Brooklyn-based company run by couple Nick and Rachel Cope, based their concept on the bikes you see in 1930s French films. It's so comfy you can ride all day. The dreamy blue, white and burnt orange paint job reflects the transition from dawn to dusk. Not good at making decisions? The third in the series is your pick. It's white on one side and grey on the other. Joe Doucet, award-winning Brooklyn-based designer, is behind this third bike, with half-canvas, half-rubber handles, which are handmade in Italy. This kind of design doesn't come cheap. Each limited edition bike will set you back $2,500 a pop. Orders are available online. Images: Tokyobike.
Alpine, mountainous, snow-capped — these aren't words you would normally associate with our sun-kissed country. But Australia is a land of extreme seasons and surprises. The High Country is right on our doorstep, only a few hours' drive from Melbourne, but it's almost a different world, especially in autumn. The transitional season between the sun-drenched summers and snowy winters is one of the most fascinating times to visit the High Country. Before the mountains go into full alpine retreat mode, they come alive with apple trees, autumnal colours, and the emotive, alluring scent of deciduous environments that we only get to experience once a year. Not to mention the bountiful gastronomic opportunities that the harvest season presents to the High Country's many wineries, pubs, cafes and farm doors. Because we know that no mountainous hike is the same without something delicious to sustain and motivate you, we've paired the region's best hearty bites with its most invigorating treks. BRIGHT AND TIKI COCKTAILS Start in Bright, a historic village that acts as the gateway to some of the region's best treks. Bright itself is worth the trip in autumn for both its glorious autumn foliage and its inspired culinary scene. To fuel up (and you're going to need it), head to Tomahawks — a cool, cosy bar and restaurant in the middle of town. Try the chargrilled broccoli served with smoked butter and almonds and the dukkah lamb ribs for a hearty snack, or go one of their brioche buns if you want more energy. Make sure to try their Tiki cocktails while you're there — they pack a flavoursome punch. Afterwards, drive about an hour north of Bright to Diamantina Hut and trek up Mount Feathertop. From there, it's an 11-kilometre hike up the mountain — about seven hours return. It's a steep climb but will take you into another world in autumn: a misty, mossy, fantasy land with spectacular views. If you end up back in Bright, reward yourself with a drink at distillery Reed & Co, whose signature Remedy dry gin is made with native pine needles and eucalyptus. The venue also boasts a custom-made fuel grill so you can count on a nourishing meal to fill you up. WANDILIGONG AND MUSHROOM FORAGING If a seven-hour hike is a little intimidating, try this alternative. Start, once again, in the beautiful town of Bright with a mushroom foraging class. They run throughout May (prime mushroom foraging season) at a local cooking school. You'll hunt for local mushies before learning five Italian recipes to make the most of your haul. Then put your new skills to the test on a six-kilometre trek to Wandiligong, a tiny gold-mining town to the south of Bright. In April, the town hosts a seasonal nut festival where the growers of the region harvest and show off their produce, both nut and otherwise. Get on down there for the chestnuts-roasting-on-an-open-fire smell alone. Make the most of your time in Wandiligong by stopping at some of its other foodie haunts: Wandiful Produce, where you can gather your own freshly fallen chestnuts at this time of year and take a tour of the farm, and Nightingale Brothers orchards, the spot to imbibe fresh apple cider and stock up on edible gifts. MOUNT HOTHAM AND VIENNA SCHNITZEL Go properly Sound of Music with an Alps-inspired mountain adventure. Start the proceedings at Zirky's, the Mount Hotham resort founded by Austrian Peter Zirknitzer, who came out here in the 1950s to teach skiing. His family still runs this operation, and their European roots shine through in the dining room, where Austrian-style schnitzel is served on Wednesday nights. Then, in stark contrast to such luxury, head on down to Mount Hotham and brave the three-day alpine camping trek. It's a 37-kilometre trek from Mouth Hotham to Falls Creek, and autumn is the perfect time to go. It's cold enough to use all that shiny, high-tech camping gear you love, but not so cold that you'll need cross-country skis. The manageable track winds through snow-gum woodlands and snow grass plains, with a few summits and historical sites along the way. This trek requires a bit of pre-planning because of the camping element, but it's well worth it. Consider overnighting at Cope Hut or Dibbins Hut, where there are new camping platforms. MOUNT BULLER AND A CELLAR DOOR If you lean more towards the food and wine side of the trek and treat adventure, opt for an easier hike between the twin peaks of Mount Buller and Mount Stirling. The moderate 7-kilometre trail takes about 2.5 hours through pretty snow gum forest. Those seeking truly iconic scenery can take a detour to a nearby cabin, used in the movie The Man From Snowy River. You'll want to make a stop on your way down Mount Buller at Delatite Wines. Their cellar door serves simple antipasto platters made with local ingredients — a fine accompaniment to the European-style wine and rolling hillside views. MOUNT BUFFALO AND AN OLIVE GROVE If you want to get your hands on some local produce, stop by the local olive grove and farm gate at Mount Buffalo Olives. Extra virgin olive oil is, as we all know, the nectar of the Gods, and it doesn't get much better than this. The Mount Buffalo olive vineyard has incredible views of the region. As well as olives and olive oil, they produce lots of tasty treats to fill out a picnic basket. Once you have your picnic ingredients sorted, head to Lake Catani campground. It's a great picnic destination to gorge yourself on all that freshness, and it's the starting point for plenty of 2-3 hour hikes up Mount Buffalo itself. Mount Buffalo is one of the easier hiking destinations in the High Country, so think of it as more of a digestive stroll than a high-adrenaline slog. For the athletes, there's the Horn Trail 30 minutes away — it's a punishing uphill trek that rewards you with the best views. BEECHWORTH AND BEER If you're interested in the history of the region, head to Beechworth and check out the Gorge Scenic walking tour. This one is a moderate walk (not a hike, so leave the hydration backpack at home for this one) and give yourself a few hours to enjoy it. The trail takes you out of town, through rugged Victorian country and the richest goldfields in Australia then loops back around to finish at the Beechworth Visitor Centre. You'll travel past waterfalls, rugged landscapes, historical sites, goldfields, quarries and bridges. The town of Beechworth also has a rich architectural history that'll leave you feeling like you're in an episode of Aussie-style Westworld. Grab some educational material from the visitor centre to get the most out of the walk. And when you're all wandered out, head over to Bridge Road Brewers to recover with a chestnut pilsner and roast duck pizza. They make all their small-batch beers on site, while the kitchen specialises in some of the world's other best sources of carbs — pizza and pretzels. Plan your High Country getaway by visiting the Wander Victoria website and discover more of the autumnal delights across regional Victoria before the season is out.
Exercise in unlikely, normally booze-filled places is getting more popular by the day, now with the Glenmore hosting an Xtend Barre series. Unlike its Wayward Brewing and Urban Yoga predecessors, the Glenmore isn't serving its classes with a side of beer. Instead, they're giving their rooftop bar a healthy kick. For those of you who aren't familiar with Xtend Barre, it's an adrenaline-fuelled workout which includes elements of dance, ballet and pilates, meant to enhance flexibility, improve balance and strengthen the core. For those who aren't familiar with exercise in general, these are code words for: this workout will be intense. With classes starting at 7am sharp, this series isn't for the faint of heart. The rooftop's 180-degree lookout of the CDB and Sydney Harbour should help ease those sore muscles, as will the post-workout feast provided by Dietlicious — a healthy dose of high protein, low carb action like protein bars, bliss balls and fruit smoothies. At the very least, these classes give you the chance to get your ass in gear bright and early so you can indulge once 5pm hits. Xtend Barre @ the Glenmore series will run April 20, May 4 and May 18 from 7am to 8am and are capped at 25 people. Places can be reserved via the Glenmore website. BYO mat.
Darlinghurst is set to gain a serious new player in its cafe scene with the opening of AP Bakery this March. Located along Burton Street (just behind Oxford), the new bakery is run by Shwarmama collaborators (and Sydney hospo greats) Russell Beard (Reuben Hills, Paramount Coffee Project, Paramount House Hotel) and Mat Lindsay (Ester, Poly). The A and P stand for 'all purpose', but the gents are working with anything but ordinary flour. Head baker Dougal Muffet also farms the heirloom seeds and grains that will be used in the cafe's New American stone mill — which will be milling away daily to create bread with a premium flavour and nutrition combo. Other seeds will be supplied by the Australian Gene Bank, which focuses on old-world wheats and lesser-known corn varieties from local farmers who follow regenerative practices. Expect the baked offering to change regularly, but some staples will include sourdough baguettes, fermented potato buns and mixed grain loaves. You can also count on extra-large pizza bianca and a pastry cabinet filled with classic (and oh-so-flaky) croissants, buckwheat pain au chocolate, rosella wheat canelé and Vegemite and asagio cheese scrolls. [caption id="attachment_786703" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paramount Coffee Project[/caption] As with Reuben Hills and Paramount Coffee Project, the cuppas will be very, very good. Beans will be single origin, with seasonal espresso blends also on the docket. And it'll all be roasted at the nearby Reuben Hills Roastery, of course. Apart from the caffeinated drinks, punters can also enjoy a glass of natural wine from the all-Australian list. A succinct brekkie and lunch menu will round out the offering. With a fit-out by Architect Anthony Gill — who looked after the team's other venues of Poly, Ester and Shwarmama — the design plays to the cafe's setting in a heritage-listed sandstone cottage. Think exposed beams, a glasshouse-like entrance and all original fireplaces. The dining room will sit alongside the bakery, with the mill and deck oven on full display, so you can watch (and smell) the bread making in action. AP Bakery is slated to open this March at 32 Burton Street, Darlinghurst. Top image: Shwarmama by Kitti Gould
Genuine medical condition or convenient excuse for bad behaviour? Sex addiction has become a controversial affliction, but Thanks for Sharing comes firmly down on the former side of the argument. The directorial debut of Stuart Blumberg, who also co-wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay for The Kids Are All Right, explores the travails of a number of sufferers linked by their attendance at a sex addicts support group. The youngest member of the group is Neil (Josh Gad), who ruins his promising career as an emergency room doctor when he is caught filming up the skirt of his supervisor. After he appears in court on sexual harassment charges, he is directed to attend the support group for his addiction, where he meets the slick, charismatic Adam (Mark Ruffalo) and the group's de facto leader, the somewhat smug Mike (Tim Robbins), a middle-aged man who has battled multiple addictions and come out the other side with a beatific demeanour and a gentle cynicism. Low on self-esteem and fond of lying and defensive wise-cracking, Neil initially struggles to complete the work prescribed by the group, but is forced to confront the truth of his situation when he is adopted as something of a mentor to a new recruit to the group, the self-destructive Dede (Pink, credited as Alecia Moore). Meanwhile, Adam starts seeing the driven Phoebe (Gwyneth Paltrow), but is reluctant to reveal his past after she tells him her last relationship disintegrated because her ex was an alcoholic. Adam seeks guidance on this new development from Mike, whose estranged son Danny (Patrick Fugit), is suddenly back in town. Danny has battled a drug addiction but views the group therapy with suspicion and even hostility, leading to an uneasy truce with Mike, who suspects his son may not be as rehabilitated as he claims. Not everything in Thanks for Sharing works — a subplot involving Adam's ex-girlfriend Becky (Emily Meade) is a melodramatic misfire. It also has a curiously dated look and an often daggy sense of humour at odds with the potentially edgy material. Yet there's much to admire here, including the strong central storyline and the committed performances. Josh Gad, recently the only good thing in the disastrous Jobs, is again terrific, while pop star Moore is an absolute revelation, bringing both a convincing toughness and a poignant vulnerability to the role of Dede. While Thanks for Sharing doesn't shy away from the potentially life-wrecking consequences of its characters compulsions (a scene where Mark Ruffalo fights his urges in a hotel room is particularly effective), ultimately this is a much softer film than the similarly themed Shame. That's not a failing however; more a reflection that Blumberg's film is just as interested in the makeshift community that forms amongst the addicts as the often harrowing details of their addictions. https://youtube.com/watch?v=1jg6oroeg7s
Put down your Kit Kat, for we’ve just discovered a break that's even better than snappable chocolate-covered wafers: smashing stuff. To be more specific, we mean smashing stuff with a baseball bat — and it's a legitimate, all above-board activity at new Melbourne pop-up, The Break Room. Currently housed in the back of a Brunswick shoe warehouse-turned-espresso bar Kines, an appointment at The Break Room is a five-minute, sweaty task that puts you behind thick, plastic walls, wields you with a pink baseball bat and some protective headgear and lets you go to town on some very satisfyingly smashable items. For the moment, they’re using plates and glasses as collateral. But if anyone can produce it, our ‘ultimate smashable’ would be a ceramic Matryoshka filled with glitter. The Break Room was born in a moment of frustration (and through the efficacy of podcasts) by founder Ed Hunter, after he realised that everybody wants to blow off steam in their own way. And while some might prefer to hit the gym, Hunter is inviting you to hit some crockery off a stool instead. Speaking of the stools, notches of pink residue from the so-coloured bats have been passionately left on them; reminders that other members of the baseball bat cathartic club (do I hear badges?) have bashed their way to sanity before you. For anyone studying their swatch patterns, the pink is Baker-Miller, and has been used in correctional facilities across America to help calm violent inmates. Yet Hunter heeds that The Break Room’s goal isn’t violence, but rather to reduce stress and harness those destructive tendencies in a controlled and fun way. A video posted by The Break Room (@thebreakroom) on Feb 10, 2016 at 8:46pm PST At $50 to smash your way to calmness for five minutes, this emotional outlet may seem a bit on the spenny side, but the beauty is in the fact that you’re not breaking your own stuff — and some other guy will be picking up the pieces after you. These pieces are, in fact, added to the pile that hides further out back, where both shattered crockery and snapped pink swords from liberated brethren lay, which is a good indicator that the allocated time is probably ample. So wait until the shutters go down, don your best Joaquin Phoenix impersonation and swing away at those inner aliens of yours by taking your aggression out in some organised chaos. The Break Room is currently located in Brunswick, Melbourne and is open from 3pm every day. For more information, visit thebreakroom.com.au.
