The back-to-work blues have hit us all pretty hard this year — especially as summer took its time to shine. If you're like us, you're already yearning to escape the office or your current work-from-home situation. And this loved-up time of year (yup, Valentine's Day is coming) offers up a great excuse to book a trip away with your partner. With this in mind, Virgin Australia has launched the Bring on More in Adelaide sale, offering up to 30% off flights to the City of Churches — with prices as low as $89 one way from Melbourne. You may not know it, but Adelaide is a mighty romantic city. It's home to spectacular wine, chocolate and fresh oysters — all aphrodisiacs — alongside a huge variety of activities made for loved-up couples. So, this year, swap the usual Valentine's Day staycation for an unforgettably romantic (and discounted) trip to Adelaide. Here's some inspiration to get you love birds started. [caption id="attachment_886121" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tommaso Cantelli[/caption] JOIN AN OYSTER TOUR There are stacks of reason why oyster tours are great for dates. First off, there is the aphrodisiac element (if you believe all that), but it's also a unique way to feel swanky while enjoying the outdoors. Few places compare to the famed Coffin Bay, located on South Australia's picturesque Eyre Peninsula. Here, you and your partner can don some arguably unsexy waterproof waders to frolic in the clear blue waters and learn a little about oyster farming. You'll then head back to the beachside Salt Water Pavilion where you can dine on freshly caught oysters while sipping on local wines. EXPLORE VAST WINE REGIONS Speaking of wine, Adelaide is surrounded by several world-famous wine regions. And you really don't have to go far to visit them. You've got the Adelaide Hills located just a 30-minute drive from the CBD, McLaren Vale at 45 minutes, and the Barossa (where Two Hands Wines, pictured above, is located) and Clare valleys around 1.5 and two hours away, respectively. Pick one, book a driver (so one of you doesn't have to miss out) and explore as many cellar doors as you can — possibly opting for private tours and tastings to make it all the more romantic. STAY IN A LUSH HOTEL A romantic getaway is incomplete without a luxurious place to rest your heads — or get Ade(laid)e. One of our favourite CBD stays is the undeniably cool Hotel Indigo (pictured above), which boasts large luxurious rooms and an outdoor pool overlooking the city. If you can't make it to Paris but you're looking for a chic French-style getaway, book a stay at Sofitel Adelaide. This glamorous five-star hotel has a huge array of rooms and suites as well as its own wine bar and French fine dining restaurant. It's also hard to overlook the old-school glamour of The Playford. Unwind in the spa and sauna after a long day of exploring Adelaide before returning to your opulent art nouveau suite to order room service to your bed. [caption id="attachment_777850" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sia Duff[/caption] PARTAKE IN EXCEPTIONAL DINING Heading to Adelaide means heading to a deliciously diverse range of restaurants and bars — most championing local produce with incredibly tasty and creative dishes. As a strong start, there's the much-adored Africola (pictured above), where North African dishes are backdropped by art-covered walls and an energetic buzz. Over on Peel Street, Southeast Asian street food meets natural wine at Gondola Gondola, the upstairs Bread and Bone plates up woodfired burgers, steaks and ribs, and the appropriately named Peel St features a menu of refined yet simple fare made from quality local ingredients. Alternatively, you can amp up the romance with one of the best meals you'll likely ever have — book a table at Restaurant Botanic, the winner of Australia's Restaurant of the Year award for 2023, to experience modern Australian dining at its absolute finest. [caption id="attachment_785247" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adam Bruzzone via South Australian Tourism Commission[/caption] DISCOVER UNIQUE DATE DESTINATIONS The City of Churches is far more than its places of worship — there are countless things for loved-up couples to do here. First off, as we are talking romance, we highly recommend a trip to the Haigh's Chocolate factory — for Adelaide is the birthplace of this beloved chocolate maker. Here, you can taste all its best creations and go on a special behind-the-scenes tour to see how this all-too romantic treat is created. But if you want to get out in nature, you can try a dolphin sanctuary kayak tour, paddling about with your partner in tow. Moreover, a day spent wandering around the Art Gallery of South Australia is aways a win, while a sunset cruise along the coast is what Valentine's Day is made for. You're clearly spoilt for choice. Take advantage of Virgin Australia's latest travel deal, booking discounted flights to Adelaide here. But hurry, the sale ends on Monday, February 6. Top image: Skillogalee courtesy of South Australia Tourism.
To help you make the most of Sydney's balmy nights, the Museum of Contemporary Art has a launched new weekly after-hours program, aptly dubbed MCA Late. The event is taking over the much-loved arts space from 5–9pm every Friday till the end of April, so you can watch the sunset on the working week. And did we mention it's free? Take a stroll through the Museum and you'll catch performances by performance artists and musicians, including Nicola Morton, Phantom Chips, Loose-y Crunché, Papaphilia and Moniker Gronk. And, you can join American-born Aussie artist Kate Just in a 20-minute chat as she completes the final panels of her project Anonymous was a woman. Or, you can grab a drink at the rooftop cafe and soak up the spectacular harbour views. For April, the gallery has collaborated with Surry Hills' old-world movie house and bar Golden Age, too, so expect more than just your average glass of vino. Instead, you'll be sipping a double yuzu margarita, a spiced berry negroni or a popcorn-flavoured old fashioned. [caption id="attachment_806500" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bianca De Marchi[/caption] To top it off, MCA x FBi Radio's free, monthly live music event, Sounds on the Terrace, has moved to Fridays. The next one happening on April 9 with performances by FBi Radio Dance Class DJs and Skeleten. So, after you wander through the exhibitions, you can climb the stairs and kick back to some live tunes. Sounds on the Terrace features rising stars from Sydney's flourishing music scene. No bookings are required, but we suggest you get there early as numbers are limited. MCA Late takes place from 5–9pm every Friday till April 30. For more information, head to the MCA website. Top images (in order): Sam Whiteside, Bianca De Marchi, Jordan Munns and Liam Cameron
For the past 14 years, the seedy side of Albuquerque, New Mexico has never been far from screens, first courtesy of Breaking Bad and then via its prequel spinoff series Better Call Saul. A Breaking Bad Netflix movie, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, also popped up in 2019, because viewers just haven't been able to get enough of Walter White (Bryan Cranston, Your Honor), Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul, Westworld), Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk, Nobody), Mike Ehrmantrout (Jonathan Banks, The Commuter) and Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito, The Boys). Soon, however, this almost decade-and-a-half run of all things Breaking Bad-related will hit an end, with Better Call Saul about to air its last episodes. Perhaps more spinoffs will come. Fingers crossed that's the case. American network AMC, which airs both shows, has said it is open to it. But unlike when the OG series ended, viewers don't have a confirmed new date with the Breaking Bad universe in their future. That means that a big goodbye is coming audiences' way, and soon — and the trailer for the second half of Better Call Saul's sixth and last season knows it. The just-dropped 52-second clip is filled with familiar places from Saul Goodman's life (and from his time as Jimmy McGill, when he was using his birth name, too), all given the black-and-white treatment that the series has reserved for its flashes forwards and backwards over the years. Check out the trailer below: The locations featured have all played a big part in the story so far — and the melancholy mood certainly sets the tone for the episodes to come. After the first seven instalments in season six started airing back in April, the final six will begin showing weekly from Tuesday, July 12 in Australia and New Zealand. No one should've been expecting a happy ending anyway. We already know where Saul's story takes him next, because we've seen Breaking Bad. Indeed, Better Call Saul remains television's greatest tragedy, because it makes its viewers desperately hope that things turn out better for its eponymous figure than we know they will — so we watch his dreams crumble, his ethics slide, and his full transformation from earnest and legitimate lawyer to happily getting shady. The new trailer doesn't tease much in the way of narrative, but it does also feature Saul saying "let justice be done till the heavens fall". One time only. #BetterCallSaul pic.twitter.com/QmBFBbUENS — Better Call Saul (@BetterCallSaul) June 28, 2022 If you're keen on a few more sneak peeks at the end of season six — which'll see the return of Walt and Jesse in some capacity — Better Call Saul has also been dropping teasers via social media. There's a lot to wrap up, given that former cop-turned-private investigator, fixer, cleaner and hitman Ehrmantrout, Los Pollos Hermanos owner Fring and drug kingpin Hector Salamanca (Mark Margolis, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2) are also key parts of Better Call Saul's story — and Saul's partner and fellow lawyer Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn, Veep), too. Exactly how the latter's tale will end is the biggest source of tension, given that Kim wasn't ever in Breaking Bad. And after the way Better Call Saul's first seven season-six episodes played out, that stress definitely hasn't subsided. Take the oath. #BetterCallSaul pic.twitter.com/Cs2y0BLkFi — Better Call Saul (@BetterCallSaul) June 14, 2022 The second half of Better Call Saul season six starts streaming in Australia via Stan and New Zealand via Neon from Tuesday, July 12. Images: Greg Lewis/AMC/Sony Pictures Television.
While in lockdown, you've probably been battling with your hairstyle a little. Should you attempt to trim your bangs? Shave your head? Dye it blue a la Hilary Duff? Well, if you decide to cut yourself a mullet, you'll score some free beer courtesy of the folk over at Melbourne's Moon Dog Craft Brewery. The team behind Abbotsford's OG Moon Dog and Preston's OTT Moon Dog World is celebrating the launch of its new strawberry sour ale, Jean-Strawb Van Damme, by giving away four-packs of the brew to everyone who takes on the mullet challenge. To prove you've gotten your new 'do in iso, you'll need to post a before and after photo and tag both @moondogbrewing and @beefsbarbers. And not only will you score yourself a four-pack, you'll also go into the running to win a year's supply of beer. The 365 days of brews — plus and epic prize pack — will go to the best/worst mullet, so go all out. https://www.instagram.com/p/B_EcsWFjDXs/ If you need some inspo, we suggest heading on over to the Mulletfest website. Held every year in the regional NSW town of Kurri Kurri, the festival awards prizes to the best mullet hairstyle in a heap of categories, from 'grubby' to 'extreme' and 'everyday'. Those who don't want to look like Patrick Swayze in Point Break (or Road House), can still try the tasty sour ale. Moon Dog is delivering it across Australia ($20 a four-pack or $100 a 24-pack) and it's available at select bottle-os across the country, too. To score yourself a free four-pack of Jean-Strawb Van Damme — and go into the running to win a year's supply of beer — you'll need to post a before and after photo and tag both @moondogbrewing and @beefsbarbers. To buy the beer, head to the Moon Dog website.
It's no secret that everyone loves a Chin Chin feast. Now, you can bring the exotic fusion of Asian and Australian flavours the eatery is known for to your own kitchen. Returning to the foodie scene this winter, Cooking With Cooper at Chin Chin Sydney will present a range of cooking classes, including the popular 'Throw a Dinner Party the Chin Chin Way'. At the class, you'll level up your culinary skills and learn from Chin Chin Executive Chef Benjamin Cooper. On Sunday, July 27, the acclaimed chef will host a hands-on cooking class where punters will learn how to cook dumplings, relishes and other Chin Chin favourites. Think pulled pork pancakes with slaw and plum sauce, and yellowfin tuna with pomelo, chilli, coconut and lime. [caption id="attachment_1010989" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Supplied[/caption] After all the hard work, enjoy the fruits of your labour with a post-class feast. Sit back in the bustling eatery while enjoying all the dishes you just cooked up, plus more. The classes run monthly, each with a different theme. Tickets are $145 per person and include the interactive class as well as a full sit-down meal. Spots are limited, so early booking is essential for this culinary extravaganza.
Want to spend your summer in the cool aircon of an art gallery? The Art Gallery of NSW's blockbuster exhibition, Japan Supernatural: 1700s to now, is a pretty good place to while away the holidays (and humidity). The tenth Sydney International Art Series, it's an exploration of the spirit world in Japanese art, made up of more than 180 works from all over the planet. And, to celebrate this massive showcase of legendary Japanese art, we're giving away ten double passes. Leading the show is a monumental piece by Tokyo-born (and international rockstar) Takashi Murakami, who's renowned for bringing together fine art and popular culture — much like Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst and Andy Warhol. Look out, too, for works by historical artists Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi and Kawanabe Kyosai, as well as contemporary pop artist Chiho Aoshima and photographer Miwa Yanagi. So, expect an immersive experience involving paintings, sculpture, prints, film, animation, comics and games. The exhibition is running until March next year. So, should you get your hands on this prize, you've got plenty of time to make your way to the gallery. If you're keen to head to one of this year's most anticipated art shows — which you obviously are — enter your details below to be in the running. [competition]748534[/competition] Images: An installation view of the exhibition Japan Supernatural at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, November 2, 2019 until March 8, 2020. Photo: AGNSW/Jenni Carter
Huge news: South by South West (SXSW) is coming to Sydney in October of 2023 for its first festival outside of its longtime home in Austin, Texas. The world-renowned festival has been bringing together big names and rising stars in tech, film, music, gaming, culture and education industries since it first began in 1987. Now, it's heading Down Under for the first time, with its week-long edition in Sydney set to become the official location of SXSW's annual Asia-Pacific installment. Running from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22, 2023, the new iteration of SXSW will fill the city with more than 1000 sessions, screenings, performances, parties, networking events and activations over eight days. The Sydney iteration of the festival will bring a wide variety of events hailing from the US edition, but with a greater emphasis on creatives and thinkers from the Asia-Pacific. "Focusing on the creator industries in the Asia-Pacific region, SXSW Sydney will celebrate what's next in culture, tech and the regions thriving creative economy," SXSW Sydney Managing Director Colin Daniels said. "Put simply, SXSW is the Olympics of events for the creator industries, and we are thrilled to bring this legendary festival of gaming, music, screen, tech and innovation to Sydney in 2023," CEO of SXSW Sydney's event producer TEG said. Alongside the Sydney edition of the festival, SXSW will continue its usual programing in Austin with a 2023 festival locked in for March. The festival returned in-person earlier this year after an online iteration in 2021 due to the pandemic. It was headlined by talks from Mark Zuckerberg, Lizzo and Neal Stephenson; performances from Dolly Parton and Beck; premieres of films such as Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Lost City and upcoming A24 horror movie Bodies, Bodies, Bodies; and a Q&A with the cast and crew of Donald Glover's critically acclaimed TV show Atlanta. [caption id="attachment_854807" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Atlanta Season 3 premiered at SXSW 2022 with a cast and crew Q&A.[/caption] Over the years, SXSW has featured appearances from the likes of Barack Obama, Dave Grohl, Jordan Peele, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga and Arnold Schwarzenegger to name just a few — as well as large-scale activations. It also acted as an important space for young musicians, filmmakers and creatives to cut their teeth. The festival has had a close relationship with Australia over the past few years, with Sounds Australia running the Australia House showcase at the festival since 2018 featuring up-and-coming Australian musicians. Major Australian musical exports including Flume, Alison Wonderland, Nick Murphy, Tkay Maidza, Gang of Youths, RUFUS DU SOL and Courtney Barnett have all made appearances at SXSW over the years You can head to the SXSW Sydney website to register your interest for the 2023 event and stay up-to-date as new information emerges over at the festival's Instagram. South by South West will host its inaugural Sydney festival Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22, 2023.
Earlier this week, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) continued its court battle versus Apple; the controversy has been waging since the March release of Apple's latest iPad. Despite product advertising that markets the new iPad as equipped with "Wi-Fi + 4G", it has proven incompatible with Australia's 4G network. As such, the ACCC has asserted that Apple is currently engaging in false marketing and should change the title of the iPad (formally known as the iPad/4G) when it is sold locally. According to the SMH, Apple and the ACCC met on April 16 in Sydney at a mediation session which resulted in "no resolution". The pair were set to meet later that day in Melbourne for a directions hearing to determine the course of action going forward. As of right now, Apple has agreed to refund Australian customers who bought the new iPad under the illusion that they could utilise its 4G network. The company has also posted signage is stores where the device is sold to warn customers of its lack of 4G. The ACCC, however, is still pushing for an official device name change. This case could prove monumental to Apple, the technology company giant which has established a remarkably reputable name for itself. Not only will a court case loss force Apple to admit the shortcomings of one of its most-prized products, but it may set a precedent for how Apple markets is products in different parts of the globe. Already, in the UK, the advertising standards group ASA has begun exploring similar consumer complaints regarding the iPad's 4G capabilities. https://youtube.com/watch?v=BqbRxoF-Oc4
There is no wrong time of day for devouring Italian food — leftover pasta makes as good a breakfast as dinner, after all. If you agree (which we're sure you do), here's some red-hot intel: Darlinghurst's new bright spot Fortuna has added a bottomless feast to their offering. The diner arrived on Victoria Street from two hospo mainstays, George Nahas and Egon Marzaioli, in late 2021. When it's not treating Sydneysiders to Italian feasts and endless mimosas, it's a breezy all-day eatery pulling from Marzaioli's early years in Naples. And now, from 12pm till 8.30pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, you can enjoy a share-style table of treats and 90 minutes of endless Aperol spritzes, negronis, Peronis, mimosas and a selection of vinos for $89. On arrival, expect a slice of warm, housemade focaccia and an array of truly delish antipasti (think Sicilian olives, Princi soppressa mortadella, salami, marinated tomatoes and burrata dressed in a vivid-green herby oil). Then, porchetta with crisp and golden potatoes as a main. All that plus stand-out bevs to wash it down? A delicious bargain. If you want to bolster the meal with some heartier dishes, you can add an additional $10 per person and the table will be treated to two pastas from the menu. Uniquely, and in a move that's sure to keep the vibes merry, staff will present the Wheel of Fortuna for guests to spin. Hope you're feeling lucky, cos you can win or lose. Maybe you'll score a round of shots for the table, or you might be left gifting a round of shots to the staff. Fortuna's bottomless feast is offered from 12–8.30pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Head to the website to make a booking.
Within its first 15 seconds, the trailer for Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain states the obvious: "there's no happy ending". June 2021 marks three years since the American chef, author, host and documentarian passed away, and this doco can't explore his work and legacy without also touching upon on his unexpected death. To the surprise of no one, the film's sneak peek quickly gets emotional. The latest project from Oscar-winning 20 Feet From Stardom director Morgan Neville — who also directed affecting Mister Rodgers doco Won't You Be My Neighbour? — Roadrunner steps through Bourdain's ups and downs, successes and struggles, and passion for both food and travel. It showcases his frank, no-nonsense approach and his sense off humour, too. In one clip, just before he jumps into the ocean, he pre-empts an obvious question. "Some of you might ask: how is this food related?" he notes. Then, he replies to himself: "fucked if I know." Indeed, thanks to his long stints in front of the camera in everything from A Cook's Tour and Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations to The Layover and Anthony Bourdain: Parks Unknown, Roadrunner won't lack archival footage. The just-dropped trailer certainly doesn't. Bourdain's face and voice feature in the two-and-a-half-minute clip far more often than its talking-head interviewees, in fact, not that there's any shortage of those. Neville's aim: to peer behind the scenes at the man behind the world-famous personality, and to understand his life and impact — including via using his own words. The end result is set to hit US cinemas in July, with release details Down Under yet to be confirmed. Fingers crossed that the documentary turns up locally sooner rather than later. Check out the Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain trailer below: Roadrunner will release in US cinemas on July 16. Release details Down Under are yet to be confirmed — we'll update you when more details come to hand. Top image: Focus Features.
The four exhibitions currently running at Firstdraft each a paint a kind of portrait: most of people, two of places. A main feature of Jacquelene Drinkall's Weather Underwater are its 'balaclava fascinators': stretched wire faces, with conical scalps towering to infinity. On the opposite wall, Seth Birchall's Man Crush is a series of faces. Each pair was painted in parallel — with every stroke of the first panel repeated on the second, making a mark-for-mark set of two. Paired, they look like stereoscopic photos, though minor details sit at odds from one image to the next. Arsenic tint colours offset Birchall's faces, giving them a television glow. Stella Rosa McDonald's Second City is the highlight of the four. In a black room at the back of the gallery, six people are projected life-size on the wall opposite. They meet your eye as they stand and shuffle patiently in place. A pair of earphones dangle from the ceiling. Listening, your hear critical discussion of "What is a bogan?" by some casual voices. Glebe locals, young and old, are featured in the project. The questions that make up the piece's audio features some of their interrogation. Behind Second City is a blue curtain, where a toothed tunnel which leads through to Claire Finneran and Hossein Ghaemi's This Way Up! The exhibition feels like an abandoned sea cave filled with religious ephemera. The little statues and symbols on the wall are evocative of religions and numinous moments, but none of them belong to a religion in particular. These little holy places revere kiwi fruit, pebbles, a spare cigarette or a shiny cereal packet plunked on a golden pillar. More than one devotion is worshipped here, and each tiny altar fights idly for attention, before you push your way back out through the curtain. Image by Seth Birchill.
Australians have almost spent 12 months now navigating different levels of COVID-19 restrictions, with the rules tightening and easing state by state depending on case numbers in each area. Accordingly, the announcement of more changes has become a regular occurrence — but when that news involves being able to have bigger parties and hit the dance floor, it's always welcome. Today, Wednesday, February 24, Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced that New South Wales' current coronavirus restrictions will relax again at 12.01am on Friday, February 26. With the rules for restaurants, bars, cafes and eateries last easing a fortnight ago, this time around the NSW Government is focusing on at-home gatherings. Just in time to shape your weekend plans, you'll be able to have 50 people over to your house at once, instead of the current maximum of 30. The rules around dancing are also changing, but only in one specific setting: weddings. So, Sydneysiders can't start making shapes at their favourite bar or nightclub just yet; however, if you know someone that's getting hitched in the immediate future, you can join a group of 30 people in total on the dance floor at the reception. In other changes, 50 people can now attend gym classes at the same time, but the one person per four-square-metres rule is still in effect. And, if singing is on your agenda, choirs and congregations can get vocal with 30 people at once. Also, cinemas can go back up to 100-percent capacity. Premier Berejiklian also revealed that, come Wednesday, March 17, standing up while you drink indoors at a pub or bar will be back "if everything goes well" between now and then. She flagged that wedding capacities — currently limited at 300 people — may also increase, but didn't give that change a set date. While restrictions continue to ease, the Premier noted that NSW residents still "have to be as vigilant as ever. We have to make sure we do not become complacent, that we stick to the COVID restrictions and rules to make sure that all of us stay protected". The latest announcement comes as NSW recorded no new locally acquired COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, February 23, marking 38 consecutive days where that's been the case. As always, NSW residents are asked to continue to get tested immediately if you experience even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
These days, a free tertiary education is something of a myth — your parents might have got it, you know some other countries offer it, but you've certainly given up all hope of getting any sort of affordable qualifications. But if Labor is elected at the upcoming NSW election, you'll be able to complete a selected TAFE course without spending a cent on fees. Announced this morning by Opposition Leader Michael Daley and NSW Shadow Minister for Skills Prue Car, the program would see a Labor State Government cover 600,000 TAFE places across a ten-year period. The program would see free courses for all certificate levels in skill shortage areas, including childcare, aged care, disability care, construction, plumbing and electrical trades. Coming into effect from January 2020, it would replace Liberal's Smart and Skilled program, which sees fees covered for up to 100,0000 TAFE apprenticeships over a four-year period. The Labor-led program covers a wider scope of courses, with the lineup of free certificates and apprenticeships modified each year to cater for changing skill shortages, according to SBS. The first four years of free courses is estimated to cost the government $64.5million, with potential students eligible for one free course each. Mr Daley said the free courses would be beneficial to both school-leavers and older NSW residents considering a career change (or changing career out of necessity). "Free TAFE will help those starting out or those retraining to find jobs in industries that are crying out for more workers," Mr Daley said in a statement. The offer comes six weeks out from the state election, as both candidates ramp up their campaigns — hitting us with election promises left, right and centre. Expect many more in the lead-up to March 23. https://twitter.com/michaeldaleyMP/status/1094463160180826112
If hearing Placebo's 'Every You Every Me' and The Verve's 'Bittersweet Symphony' gets you thinking about Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon and Selma Blair, then you're clearly a Cruel Intentions fan. And you if were a 90s or 00s teen who watched and rewatched the 1999 classic over and over again — soaking in all those dangerous liaisons, the scheming that went with them, Joshua Jackson's blonde locks and Gellar in a decidedly non-Buffy role — then you'll probably be first in line to see Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical. The film-to-theatre production has been unleashing its teen tumult and throwback soundtrack in America since 2015, and now it's finally heading to our shores. And yes, those aforementioned Placebo and The Verve songs get a spin, because of course they do. Because it's a jukebox musical, the show is also filled with a heap other tunes from that late 90s, early 00s era, too; think: *NYSNC's 'Bye Bye Bye', Britney Spears' 'Sometimes', No Doubt's 'Just A Girl', Jewel's 'Foolish Games', Christina Aguilera's 'Genie In A Bottle' and Sixpence None the Richer's 'Kiss Me', for starters. If you've seen the movie — the original, not the direct-to-video 2001 and 2004 sequels, one of which starred a very young Amy Adams (The Woman in the Window) taking over Gellar's role — then you'll know the story. Based on 1782 novel Les Liaisons dangereuses, which was also been adapted in the 1988 film Dangerous Liaisons with Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer and Uma Thurman, Cruel Intentions follows step-siblings Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil. Manipulating each other's love lives is their main hobby, a pastime that levels up a few notches when Kathryn places a bet on whether Sebastian can sleep with Annette Hargrove, the headmaster's daughter at their exclusive prep school. On-screen, Phillippe played Sebastian, Gellar vamped up the film as Kathryn and Witherspoon stepped into Annette's shoes. Exactly who'll be following in their footsteps when Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical hits Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre from May 25, 2022 and then Sydney's State Theatre from June 29 — with further cities to be announced — hasn't yet been revealed. Cruel Intentions' writer/director Roger Kumble co-created the musical, so expect it comes with quite the screen-to-stage pedigree. Also, it's coming to Australia via David Venn Enterprises, who also brought The Wedding Singer: The Musical Comedy and Bring It On: The Musical our way. Check out the trailer for the US production of Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical below: Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical will play Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre from May 25, 2022, and then Sydney's State Theatre from June 29 — with further cities to be announced. For more information and to join the ticket waitlist, head to the musical's website.
Parramatta has long been considered Sydney's second city for quite some time now. Of course, the abundance of outdoor activities, cultural hotspots and restaurants and bars are pretty good excuses to spend a day in Parramatta. And in recent years more and more events and festivals have chosen to launch in western Sydney rather than position themselves in the east. It's a sign of good things to come for the 2150 postcode. Yep, this city knows how to put on a party. We're talking free music concerts under the stars, cultural festivals taking over the streets and world premiering plays — and that's all just within the first two months of 2020. To help you map out your next couple of visits to the area, we've rounded up some of the most exciting things happening over the next few months. Get planning — many cultural adventures await.
Twenty-four year-old interaction designer Joanna Montgomery, from the UK, has come up with a futuristic invention that is getting long-distance lovers very excited. 'Pillow Talk', which is being launched by Montgomery's company Little Riot, is an invention that lets you hear the real time heartbeat of your lover when you’re apart. Taken from Montgomery’s blog, the promotion video shows how each partner can wear a ring which transmits the soothing sounds of your lover’s heartbeat to your pillow, all through the wonders of wireless technology. The pillow lights up to show that your loved one is also lying down in bed. From the company’s Facebook page, it’s certainly piqued the interest of those in military jobs, and couples who regularly work overseas. For the skeptics out there, yes, we did say real time - so we assume time zones may be a problem, as well as (dare we say it) any unexpected raised pulses.
The spooky season may have ended, but a spine-tingling series of experiences still lingers on in Sydney from November through to January 2024. This is, of course, Darkfield, and you've probably heard of its spooky setpieces before — either here on Concrete Playground or on social media. Truly masters of immersion, Darkfield is bringing all four of its experiences together to Sydney, specifically Barangaroo's Harbour Park, with two returning favourites and two experiences making their Sydney debuts. Each experience takes place in a single shipping container, but don't let the unassuming exterior fool you — eerie thrills await within. The two returning stars are Séance and Flight: the former sees you take a seat alongside your participants before you're thrust into a world of sensory deprivation to make contact with the spirit world. The latter is the manifestation of a very common fear, placing you in a mock aeroplane cabin to experience the dual outcomes of a doomed passenger flight. The two experiences premiering in this visit are Coma and Eulogy. The former will lay you down in a bed and let you slowly fall into a dreamlike state, all while the multisensory effects of the show play out around you. The latter will see you explore a dark labyrinth with a chaperone; keep your wits about you for the audio and speech recognition technology, and whatever you do, do not wander off of the path. So, what do these spooky experiences have in common? They all use a blend of 360-degree sound design and play on the psychology of their participants, but only for a runtime of 20–30 minutes, and each ticket is priced between $22–30. Shipping containers have limited capacity, so booking in advance is a must, and if you book one show, you'll score discounts on return visits. Darkfield will be available at Barangaroo from Thursday, November 23 to Sunday, January 21, 2024. For more information and to book tickets, visit the website. Images: Mihaela Bodlovic
Every meal is a happy meal at Queenies. But returning next month is the happiest meal of all: Queenies' Annual Stoner Dinner. The second such dinner in as many years, it's themed 'MacQueenies' and pays homage to that ever-reliable late-night institution that we will always have a soft spot in our hearts for: McDonald's. For $50 a pop, you'll forget what munchies even are with a finger-lickin' good seven-course MacMenu, including an obligatory double dessert (!!). The kitchen is putting a highly creative spin on your Golden Arches faves, serving up courses like Ditched Pickles with mustard salt and cheese fondue, a Little Big Feast, a Rib Mac Patty made from jerk pork parts and 'Smoked Chicken Nuggets' with "all the sauces". But how can Queenies beat Macca's desserts? With French Fries Ice Cream shot through with cookie swirl, that's how. And, leaving the Granny Smiths at home, the MacQueenies Deep Fried Pie combines drool-inducing guava, custard apple and jerk custard. Promising more satisfied bellies than ever, Queenies' Stoner Dinner is a tradition you'll want to make a habit. Give in to your wildest cravings and book it. To reserve a spot email bookings@queenies.com.au or call (02) 9212 3035.
'Nduja, chestnut puree, Kakadu plum hand cream, red gum smoked salt — they're not the types of products you'd normally expect to find in a local grocer. But you can at this Surry Hills institution. The family owned store has been servicing the neighbourhood for over a decade. It prides itself on stocking gourmet varieties of some of your pantry staples, plus a few harder-to-find or rare items from local and international producers. It's only a small space on the corner of Crown and Foveaux Streets, but it certainly jams as much as possible in. You'll find everything from fresh fruit and veg, premade meals and Iggy's Bread to aisles of dry products — think pasta, sauces, tea and coffee. And in a cosy corner up the back is the deli, which stocks imported European cheeses and an impressive range of cured meats. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
Situated on Kent Street alongside the likes of Papa Gede's and PS40 is Vinabar — a cosy microbar hidden behind a door disguised as a banh mi cart. If you're simply walking by, it could easily be mistaken as a spot for a quick bite as you venture through the city. Each detail throughout the moody yet sophisticated fitout tells a story. The space is adorned with vibrant silk lanterns hanging from its ceiling — which have been imported from Hoi An — a replica of the Golden Hand Bridge from Da Nang, and photographs of pre- and post-opening memories along its walls. Take a seat on either the comfortable lounge seating or at the sleek bar, and you'll be in for a treat. The brainchild of Ashwin Arumugam and Reymark Tesalona takes cues from Vietnam's lively nightlife and hospitality scene, with the intimate cocktail bar serving up stellar, Asian-inspired sips until 2am every night. Vinabar's food offering simply consists of a baby pork banh mi accompanied by a shot of Vietnamese coffee, which serves as a small bite to sustain casual drinking, or the perfect snack to satiate those hankering for a treat. The cocktail menu, however, focuses on inventive drinks with a creative Asian twist, with a new special launched every fortnight. Vinabar's main menu has four signature cocktails and one signature shot, alongside a short selection of beers, wines and mocktails. Highlights include the lychee-forward Rumble in the Jungle; a Vietnamese spin on the espresso martini known as the Cã-Phê martini; an martini inspired by banh mi; and the ginger, calamansi and tequila-starring Gaslighter — which appears similar to water but is made up almost entirely of alcohol. Plus, all of the classics are available upon request. Whether you're out on the town bar-hopping through Kent Street, enjoying an intimate night with a mate or a date, or keen for a small celebration, Vinabar is the spot for you, with space for up to 32 people. Vinabar is located at 332 Kent St, Sydney, open from 5pm–2am daily. Find out more at the venue's website. Image credit: James Scevola
As the name suggests, this new bar from master mixologist Grant Collins is dedicated to celebrating the evolution of the dry martini, as well as its caffeinated crowd-pleasing cousin, the espresso martini. Through a carefully curated collection of experimental and classic cocktails, Grant Collins and Gin Lane invite patrons into an atmosphere of easy-going sophistication, bringing elements from London's modern martini bars and Spain's laidback cocktail and tapas scene to the heart of Chippendale. Think of Dry Martini's menu as an ode to the evolution of the cocktail classic, where guests can experience different flavour profiles and mixes ranging from original and well-loved Gatsby-coded recipes from the 20s and 30s, to contemporary creative takes such as the salted caramel espresso martini with a nitro frozen foam and Scottish espresso martini with a shortbread infused whiskey and shortbread foam. If you're overwhelmed by choice, simply surrender to the espresso martini tree — a bespoke tower of six curated drinks. Guests can expect cocktails mixed with the highest quality house-distilled gin, unique vodkas, and house-made bitters. A tapas-style food menu has been designed to complement the flavours of the martini selection. The oyster shell gin martini, for example, is ideally served alongside freshly shucked oysters — dished-up with dry ice smoke billowing beneath the platter for a little side serving of theatricality. The menu draws inspiration from San Sebastian's bite-size pintxos, offering both sweet and savoury options, from a martini wagyu slider with rich and silky caramelised onions, cheek-wrinkling sour house-made pickles and a generous amount of martini mayo to sweeter options like their piña colada dome with coconut crumble and caramelised pineapple. Alternatively, if the cocktail sidekick you seek is something simpler, the high-low delight of the truffle and jamon toastie topped with caviar perfectly pairs with the house negroni. Dry Martini's wallet-saving happy hours are banishing cost-of-living worries with $10 martinis and $15 daily cocktail specials available every day from 5.30pm–7.00pm Tuesday - Thursday and 5.30pm–6.30pm Friday and Saturday.
Nothing says summer like mosquitoes, cocktails and a really good music gig — which is why we're giving you the chance to enjoy the first one of the season alongside a couple of Kraken Black Spiced Rum cocktails. Minus the mosquitos. ICYMI, Kraken Black Spiced Rum is hosting an underground music gig at The Great Club on Marrickville's Livingston Road on Thursday, December 1. Under the spotlight is a lineup of stand-out emerging Aussie hardcore, hip-hop, rap, punk, and trance artists — think SPEED, DJ F*KH*D, Mulalo, Histamine and Ptwiggs. Although, there's good and bad news — one, tickets are sold out, but two, we have what could be the last exclusive double pass available. Read on for the juicy deets (and to find out how you and a pal can be heralding the warmer months at the subterranean gig). Along with a double pass to the Kraken Black Mojito Subterranean Summer gig, the lucky winners can expect to drink and dine like underground summer music gig royalty — sampling the new Kraken Black Mojitos on arrival, a couple of crisp cold Kraken Storm Cocktails to follow up, and some generous food vouchers to pair with that Kraken Black Spiced Rum goodness. Get your entry in stat, dear reader. [competition]877001[/competition]
In 2019, a horrible goose wandered around a quiet village, then chaos ensued — and instigating it became one of the most-entertaining ways to mash buttons. Untitled Goose Game first released in September that year. By the time 2020 hit, more than a million copies had been sold, getting folks controlling a pesky waterfowl with a penchant for trouble. That's honking phenomenal for an indie game out of Melbourne, and it's a feat that the city's Australian Centre for the Moving Image keeps celebrating. After giving Untitled Goose Game the live orchestral treatment back in 2022, the Aussie screen museum is now hosting a world-premiere exhibition dedicated to the title. Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition will feature different versions of the game from its various development stages that you can play, plus sketches, concept art and design material for attendees to check out. It'll be a lovely five months in Federation Square from Tuesday, September 17, 2024–Sunday, February 16, 2025, and you'll be an adoring Untitled Goose Game fan. Sorry Mario Kart. Move over Tetris. Forget Wii Sports, Pokémon Go, Street Fighter or whatever other title first springs to mind whenever you think about video games. They're all well and good, but they aren't about to take over ACMI like this homegrown hit from House House. If you're new to Untitled Goose Game, it's a puzzle game — and, yes, it's about a goose. You play as the bird, and your aim is to move objects and other characters, and just generally cause mayhem in a small village. No description can really do it justice, though; you just need to play it. While the game has filled oh-so-many hours over the past few years, and gotten its ARIA-nominated original soundtrack by Dan Golding stuck in everyone's heads, Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition isn't just for diehard gamers. No matter if you know every inch of the game or you're only hearing about it now, you'll be plunged into its world in an interactive showcase that's designed to get you playing. How slapstick factors in, plus the form of comedy's history, is also a big feature. We don't expect that running off with keys, socks, glasses, radios and the like will be a part of it, however. "As a museum of screen culture, video games are at the heart of what we do. Since ACMI's inception, we've been collecting and exhibiting games and bolstering their local creation," said ACMI Director and CEO Seb Chan, announcing Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition. "Untitled Goose Game is one of Melbourne's most recognisable video-game exports of the past decade. We've been involved from playtesting its early development in the ACMI + RMIT Audience Lab, to presenting a series of live scored events in partnership with Orchestra Victoria. We're honoured to give the goose the exhibition it deserves, revealing to audiences how it was made, and the wider cultural context it has come from." "It's a very strange privilege to see our work commemorated in a public exhibition. Though we design our games to be played by a wide audience, we never imagined that that design process might itself be made accessible within the walls of a gallery," added House House Co-Director Michael McMaster. "It's been such a pleasure working with ACMI to open up our sketchbooks and hard drives and present them to the public like this — we can't imagine a better place to showcase our goose." Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition will display at ACMI, Federation Square, Flinders St, Melbourne, from Tuesday, September 17, 2024–Sunday, February 16, 2025. For further information, head to ACMI's website.
Longstanding Parramatta Road stalwart The Lady Hampshire has been saved. Dating back to the 1800s, the Camperdown pub has entered a new chapter in its storied history. Originally called the Old Hampshire Hotel, the Camperdown venue sat vacant for years before being given a makeover and reopening as The Lady Hampshire in 2016 under the guidance of Sydney publican Paddy Coughlan. This new-look iteration lasted about five years before closing during the pandemic without reopening. But now, in 2023, it's back in a big way, with Public Hospitality Group (Oxford House, The Strand Hotel, El Primo Sanchez) coming to the table to revive it with a new Head Chef and a massive live music program. Aesthetically, things have been kept relatively the same. You'll still find the memorable Scott Marsh mural of Australian icons like Steve Irwin and Kath and Kim on the wall as you head out to the beer garden. And said beer garden remains a no-frills al fresco area calling out for sun-soaked beers and afternoon feeds. In the kitchen, you'll find Brendan King (ex-Baba's Place, FISH SHOP) whipping up top-notch pub feeds that highlight locally sourced produce. The chicken schnitzel ($24) is sizeable and comes with your choice of mash or chips. There are plenty of burger options (all $21), from the house-special smashed cheeseburger to the simple crumbed barramundi burger topped with American cheese, iceberg lettuce, tartare sauce and pickles. And snacks are also plenftiful on King's new menu, including salt and pepper wings ($14), salted cod croquettes ($13) and kofta served with hummus and chilli ($14). Beer does the heavy lifting on the drinks menu, with affordable tinnies, the refreshing house Lady Hampshire larger and a hefty happy hour making the Hampshire a home run for after-work drinks. But hops aside, you'll find a considered wine list and plenty of house cocktails to appease non-beer drinkers. Give the Elizabeth ($19) a try, which combines Hayman's Sloe Gin, lychee liqueur, lemon and aquafaba. Then there's the big drawcard of the venue. At the end of the narrow dining room, you'll find the live music area, locked and loaded to host a genre-spanning program of acts. On the opening lineup, you'll find pop, punk, reggae, indie rock and electronica all gracing the Hampshire stage, signposting things to come as the historic venue ramps back up under its new owners.
A Sydney stalwart has been saved, with longstanding Parramatta Road pub The Lady Hampshire being taken over by Public Hospitality Group (Oxford House, The Strand Hotel, El Primo Sanchez) and returning as a dedicated live music venue. Originally called the Old Hampshire Hotel, the Camperdown venue sat vacant for years before being given a makeover and reopening as The Lady Hampshire in 2016 under the guidance of Sydney publican Paddy Coughlan. This new-look iteration lasted about five years before closing during the pandemic without reopening. Now, The Lady Hampshire has scored another transformation, swinging its doors back open as a neighbourhood pub with a stacked live music program. "Bringing The Lady Hampshire back to life with live music as the focus is exactly what Sydney has been asking for," Public Hospitality Group's Entertainment and Event Manager Elliott Harper said, announcing the news. "When it comes to entertainment venues, we only want to foster growth and success across our city and think The Lady will be the destination for all types of musicians and patrons. The first month alone has some of the most exciting gigs Sydney has seen this year and we can't wait to bring it to locals and gig-goers." View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Lady Hampshire (@theladyhampshire) While the pub is open for a casual beer seven days a week — serving up wood-fired pizzas and tinnies of beer among its food and drink offerings — its biggest focus is live music. To celebrate its return, it's hosting a month-long party kicking off with a massive three-day in-venue music festival. A Month of Madness will kick off with the Lady Launch Weekender across Friday, April 14–Sunday, April 16. On the lineup for the musical celebration: Pacific Avenue, Fangz, Juno and Dedpan, as well as DJ sets from Mac the Knife and Nitecall. There will also be a live tattoo studio pop-up, a nail salon for both people and pooches, and $10 smashed cheesies with chips across the weekend. Across the following month of gigs you can then catch the likes of Bugs, Abby Bella May, Close Counters, Bootleg Rascal, These New South Wales and Good Lekker between Friday, April 21–Saturday, May 20. You can keep up to date with the gig guide at the revamped Lady Hampshire over at the pub's Instagram page. [caption id="attachment_893119" align="alignnone" width="1920"] These New South Wales[/caption] The Lady Hampshire has reopened at 91 Parramatta Road, Camperdown — operating from 10am Monday–Saturday and from 12pm on Sundays.
For over a century now, HOYTS has been connecting Aussie audiences with all the big screen hits they've ever needed, and for the cinema chain's 116th birthday, it's giving a little something back to weekend moviegoers. In every HOYTS cinema around Australia this weekend, all day and night, tickets will be going for just $8, or $25 for HOYTS LUX tickets — now's the time to try watching a movie in recliner seating with cocktails, wine and gourmet food delivered straight to your seat. With 49 cinemas across the country, this is a treat we can all make the most of. HOYTS General Manager of Customer Engagement Brad Eaton said "We're extremely proud of our long legacy in cinema and this weekend is all about celebrating with our loyal guests. Whether you're after a new blockbuster or a fun experience with the family, there's something for everyone so all can take advantage of this exceptional offer." [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkgMaS5gbaA[/embed] So what's worth watching? New releases include Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman at their dysfunctional best in The Roses, Austin Butler getting caught in a crime caper in Caught Stealing and Liam Neeson saving the world (absurdly) in The Naked Gun. Not one but two small-screen series are getting big-screen finales at the moment, with Downton Abbey: The Final Chapter and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba- Infinity Castle both screening this weekend. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAtUHeMQ1F8[/embed] Prefer something to get your pulse pounding? Settle in for The Conjuring: Last Rites, The Long Walk or Weapons. If you've got kiddos in tow, they might be keen for Sketch or The Bad Guys 2. And if you missed any of this year's winter blockbusters — Superman, F1 The Movie, The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Jurassic World: Rebirth are all still wrapping up their theatrical runs. Find your nearest HOYTS cinema and get tickets to a screening of your choice here.
Crows Nest is a charming community hub on Sydney's lower North Shore, and if you've never visited, you're missing out. One of the greatest offerings of the area is the annual street festival Crows Nest Fest, which returns on Sunday, October 15 from 10am to 5pm. Crows Nest Fest gathers all the best parts of this suburban hub: great food and drink, easy walking and a thriving community spirit. It's expected to draw crowds in excess of 30,000, making the 2023 festival one of the biggest on record. If that's not enough to get your interest, consider the following: The festival will see over 150 stalls spread over the Pacific Highway, Willoughby Road, Albany Street, Burlington Street, Holtermann Street and Clark Street. Burlington Street will be known as Food Alley, home to an eclectic mix of local restaurants, bars, cafes and gourmet eateries to show off the neighbourhood gastronomy scene. Willoughby Road will play home to one of two Licensed Zones, seeing the Crows Nest Hotel spread onto the street via drink marquees, the second zone being an impromptu 'Greektober Fest' on Burlington Street, hosted by local favourite Xenos. Once you've had your fill of food and drink, follow the sound of distant tunes to music stages. Ernest Place will host a range of professional musical talent while local bands and dance groups perform on a Holtermann Street stage. And if you have any junior revellers in tow, swing by the Hume Street park to the kids zone, where you'll find a petting zoo, pony rides, live entertainers, buskers and a circus playground.
While going outdoors at the moment is mostly restricted to outdoor recreational activities, work and grabbing essentials, you'll need to throw on an extra jumper and bring an umbrella to do just that for the rest of this week, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting rain, thunderstorms and frosty temperatures across most of Australia. A series of cold fronts are set to sweep the country and have, in fact, already hit Victoria. Last night, Tuesday, May 19, Melbourne copped damaging winds, heavy showers and hail, with a second cold front set to bring more showers and even snow to the Alps from later today. The rest of the week is looking, well, wet and cold. Temperatures are expected to hover around 13–14 until Saturday — which is three degrees under the average maximum of 16.7 for May — and there's a medium–high chance of showers every day for the foreseeable future. https://twitter.com/BOM_Vic/status/1262585286254567427 Moving slight north to Sydney, today's clear skies will be swapped for a high chance of rain and fog tomorrow, with the rains expected to persist for the foreseeable future, too. Temperatures are expected to sit around the average for May 19.5, with low 20s predicted until next Tuesday. So, if you're going to get wet anyway, now might be the time to go and swim a couple of laps at one of the newly-reopened ocean pools. https://twitter.com/BOM_au/status/1262568843853139968 Queensland is already getting a soaking, with 100-300 millilitres falling between Cairns and Ingham. The rains are set to continue for the rest of today and tomorrow, but will clear on Friday, ready for a cloudy but mostly dry weekend. The mercury isn't planned to rise as high as usual, though, with the BOM predicting temperatures six–ten degrees below average for parts of the state. If you go out on a hike or a day trip, pack a couple of extra layers. As is usually the case when rain and winds are predicted, keep an eye out for flood watches and severe weather warnings on the BOM website. For latest weather predictions and warnings, head to the Bureau of Meteorology website.
This global franchise created quite the buzz when it landed on Australian shores. From its humble beginnings in Japan in 1985, Ippudo now boasts over 100 locations across the world firmly securing its place as a ramen mecca. Despite its location inside the Westfield Sydney food court, this particular outpost still achieves the authentic ramen house feel. It might have something to do with the queues and bustling atmosphere. Then again, it could be the fit-out. It is a mostly black, red and timber palette with a fun wall display of traditional spoons. There is a blend of long communal tables for groups and bar-style seating overlooking the kitchen to keep individual diners entertained. For first-timers, the shiromaru — Hakata-style ramen with juicy pork loin, crunchy bean sprouts and silky black mushrooms — is the speciality that put Ippudo at the top of the ramen trade. Add the nitamago, a delicious yet slippery whole flavoured egg, at your own risk. Whatever your ramen preference, order the noodles hard, as recommended — they will keep cooking as you make your way through the bowl, slowly but surely. Ippudo Sydney combines local products with Ippudo's flavouring and noodle concept; the Aussie patrons are also considered in the unconventional shojin, a vego option with seaweed and whole grain noodles that would not be present on a Japanese menu. If you're feeling extra peckish, order kaedema — an extra serving of noodles — ensuring you have enough broth left over to slurp them down with. Or perhaps explore the rest of the menu, which features signature steamed buns, gyoza and a selection of meat and rice dishes including karaage chicken and salmon sashimi.
Oh, Christmas, how we missed you dearly. The cold is slowly fading while the distant sound of Mariah Carey is rising. Wishlists and plans are being drafted, but November is for more than just preparing; later this month, celebrations will begin. On November 26, the CBD will become a winter (summer) wonderland with the help of the Martin Place Christmas Markets. Beginning in the final weekend of November, the markets are bringing 40 stalls of food, fashion, gifts, homewares and much more to the bustling boulevard. Consider it a grand return to the Christmas of old, no longer burdened by restrictions and lockdowns. These markets will become the heart of Sydney's celebrations when performers and carollers roam the stalls and decorations deck the halls. The markets will be running from 11am to 8pm every Thursday, Friday and Saturday right up to Christmas Eve (and 9am to 3pm on that day), with a regularly rotating offer of stalls ensuring no two nights are the same. And on the opening night, revellers can bear witness to the lighting of the Martin Place Christmas tree and a festive firework show to usher in the season. The Martin Place Christmas Markets begin on the weekend of November 26/27 and run regularly every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until Christmas Eve. For more information on the event and vendors, visit the website.
Bottomless cocktails, waffles and beats... it's hard to think of a better way to banish a hangover on a spring afternoon. Introducing Since I Left You's monthly Beats 'n' Brunch. Doors will open at midday, which is when the bottomless cocktails will start to flow — lasting an hour-and-a-half and helping everyone to settle in, before giving way to drinks specials. Keeping everyone's hunger at bay will be a selection of SILY's waffles (including waffalafels) and a massive dish of something delicious — this month's its a shakshuka, which could well be a contender for the world's biggest. Meanwhile, on the SILY stage will be taken up with live music and/or DJs. Karaoke too depending on how loose things get. Even though this thing's called a brunch, like the others, it'll inevitably carry onto into the late, late afternoon.
Come December 3, 2013, we will say goodbye to analog TV forever. Will we miss the fuzzy quirks of the antiquated ‘box’? As the old signal bites the dust, a swarm of 20th-century events has started to flood back, excavated from public and personal memory. Tele Visions is an ambitious new project from Performance Space. Curated by Emma White and Alex Ramsay, it is a timely reflection on the televisual space. Over five days, a pop-up TV channel will broadcast live performances, screenings, talks and interruptions. As we’re thrust further into the digital age, Tele Vision aims to celebrate the end of an era, as well as mulling over the cultural and technological phenomenon that opened up the world in new ways and changed the way we interact with each other. Over the five days, why not join Kate Blackmore and Frances Barrett as they watch the entirety of the world's longest running sitcom, The Simpsons, for Box Set, a performance art endurance project that bears a lot of similarity with an activity many of us submit to on the best weekends? There's a sleepover at their binge base and everything. Or be there on opening night, when artist Lara Thoms "commemorates static", in a project executed with 86-year-old Joy Hruby, who broadcasts her own show, Joys World, from her Botany garage. Shortly after, Joel Stern, with Neurovision, will attempt to erase your understanding of television via some artsy neuro-programming. The one-off transmission will be available to view live online and via short-range analog TV broadcast. Or you can get amongst the action at Carriageworks and the Verge Gallery. So nestle in with some of Australia's most charismatic performers and get reminiscing. Tele Visions is part of the Performance Space You're History season, something of a birthday party for Performance Space, but don't worry about bringing a gift. They're actually giving you the presents: wrapped-up pieces of performance, visual art, dance, music and more, celebrating their big 3-0. Also showing is Brown Council's ode to feminist performance artist Barbara Cleveland, the bite-sized art of 30 Ways with Time and Space, the journey into mad methodologies in The Directors' Cuts and plenty more.
Sustainable design company SMIT has been busy developing solar power solutions as simple as putting up some sun protection in your backyard. Tensile Solar Structures are "lightweight, modular systems that produce solar power". And they're not limited to decorating your place. The product has real-world applications: providing shade in car parks by day and generating power to light up at night is just one example. The SMIT design team who created this versatile product were inspired to combine technologies of fabric architecture, composite materials and thin film photovoltaic technology. Designers Samuel Cochran, Teresita Cochran and Benjamin Wheeler Howes have also worked on the Solar Ivy project, a solar energy device attaches to the sides of buildings like ivy vines. [Via Good]
In the words of Tyrion Lannister, it's not easy being drunk all the time. Everyone would do it if it were easy. That may be true, but you can certainly give it a go, when Game of Rhones returns for another year. An epic wine tasting event inspired by the grapes of France's Rhone Valley and the works of George R. R. Martin, this year's Game of Rhones will visit Carriageworks on Sunday, June 18. The event will welcome more than 100 wines from winemakers such as Shaw + Smith, Yarra Yering, Ministry of Clouds, Henschke, Yalumba (and many more). There'll also be food from Melbourne's Burn City Smokers and cheese from Yarra Valley Dairy to ensure you don't go hungry. In between goblets, ticketholders will get the chance to chat with sommeliers at the Rhone Bar, where you can purchase full glasses of wine. If you're really keen, you can purchase a Royal Pass, which will get you access to the event an hour earlier, a food voucher and some one-on-one time with a sommelier to help you work out which wines you like best. It should also go without saying that dressing up as your favourite GoT character is highly encouraged. Zombie John Snow, anyone?
Winter weekends haven't looked this wonderfully packed for many a cold, cold week. There's plenty of cheese to be eaten, films to be snuggled into and live music to warm your hands on. With Bastille Day giving you all the reasons to load up on tasty, expensive wine, freshly baked bread and All The Camembert, doonas have never looked so unappealing. Get out there, put a dumb-looking animal beanie on and lap up that wintry goodness — there's plenty of time to worry about prepping for bikini season later. Bleu Blanc Rouge Festival In the spirit of the festivities that fill every town in France from Brittany to Bordeaux, the Bleu Blanc Rouge Festival held at Customs House square from July 11-13 is completely free. Expect all manner of live entertainment, including ten young artists performing over the three days, as well as DJs, a cabaret show and open-air cinema. Cooking demonstrations will give you the opportunity to channel your inner Manu Feildel, but if eating rather than cooking is your thing, you can take advantage of someone else's culinary skills by picking up a range of authentic French goodies at the market stalls. For more cheese, wine and Frenchness, check out our roundup of the seven best ways to celebrate Bastille Day in Sydney. When: Friday, 11 July - Sunday, 13 July Where: Customs House , 31 Alfred Street, Circular Quay How much: FREE Caitlin Park Electronic whiz kids don't come more stylin' than Sydney's multitalented Caitlin Park. With her 2011 debut album Milk Annual applauded Australia-wide and the 2012 Qantas Spirit Of The Youth Award under her belt, Park inked a deal with Create/Control in February this year (home to fellow Aussies Oliver Tank, Feelings, Go Violets and internationals Parquet Courts and Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros). Marking the team-up with the release of her second album The Sleeper, the smoky-voiced Sydneysider will bring her brand new tunes to The Vanguard on Friday, July 11. Disarmingly catchy singles like 'Lemonade' are sure to get table-sitters out of their cabaret seats. When: Friday, 11 July - 7:00pm Where: The Vanguard , 42 King St Newtown How much: 12 +BF Friday Night Fish & Chips Fish and chips used to be a frequent Friday night special in our house. Now, Surry Hills has introduced us to a new world of experiencing brain food with the Crown Street Fish Shop, which has taken the place of the dear departed Rainford Street Social. They've taken your basic fish and chips and turned them into a rather sophisticated night out, with the added bonus of keeping things fairly simple. Don't fear that all you'll be able to order in the jewel of Sydney's trendy crown that is Surry Hills will be some sort of deconstructed version of your Friday night favourite. You can still get a simple fish and chips; however, this time knowing what sort of sea creature went into the light and crisp batter when you order from the daily specials. Read our full review here. When: Seven days, noon - late Where: Crown Street Fish Shop, 500 Crown Street, Surry Hills How much: Up to $50, depending how hungry you are Scandinavian Film Festival Step into your local arthouse theatre these days and you'd be hard pressed not to find a regional film festival going on. In 2014, the line-up is getting that little bit more crowded, with the inaugural edition of a brand new festival highlighting the films from Europe's frozen north. Covering Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, the first annual Scandinavian Film Festival is set to put the kvikmynd in kvikmyndahátíð. For more information about the Scandinavian Film Festival, visit their website. When: Wednesday, 9 July - Sunday, 27 JulyWhere: Palace Cinemas , 17 Oxford Street Paddington How much: TBC Reko Rennie: No Sleep Till Dreamtime If Taylor Square is involved in your daily commute, you’re probably familiar with the work of Reko Rennie. Now part of the urban texture of Darlinghurst, Always has been, always will be is the unmissable Flinders Street mural. In association with blackartsprojects, No Sleep Till Dreamtime is Rennie’s latest solo exhibition. Spread across Chalk Horse and the Art Gallery of New South Wales, it continues to interrogate how Aboriginality is framed in an urban context. Unlike the flat colours and neon lettering of his public projects, this exhibition shares a bigger vocabulary of symbols and explores more complex processes of art-making. When: Thursday, 26 June - Saturday, 12 July Where: Chalk Horse , 94 Cooper St Surry Hills How much: FREE The Jeans for Genes Denim Exhibition Suckers for good selvage will dig this one. Denim fans and jeans enthusiasts should squeeze into their skinnes and get to The Grounds of Alexandria on Saturday, July 12 for a one-off exhibition of jeans owned by famous peeps. Check out Anthony Kiedis' painted pants, the baggy straight-legs of Adam Sandler and the unfathomably tight pants of the now presumably pantsless James Franco. Strutting into The Grounds as part of Jeans for Genes Day (Friday, August 1), the exhibition will also include the denim favourites of Eric Bana, Gene Simmons, Maroon 5 and the previously paraded pants of those wonderfully abominable Kardashians.Keeping on the yearly tradition of donating a dollar and donning your denim, the Jeans for Genes Denim Exhibition is raising some sweet moolah for Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI). When: Saturday, 12 July - 9:00am Where: The Grounds of Alexandria , Building 7A 2 Huntley Street Alexandria 2015 How much: FREE Hedda Gabler at Belvoir Enticed into the part by Green Room Award-winning director Adena Jacobs, superlative drag performer and Sisters Grimm co-founder Ash Flanders is Hedda Gabler, one of the (let's face it, few) great female characters in 'the classics'. A creation of Norwegian drawing-room dramatist Henrik Ibsen, Hedda is a mass of contradictions: bored and bursting with energy, vindictive and victim, capricious and calculating, desirable and defective, feminine and masculine. The daughter of an esteemed military general, she's admired for her beauty and status, but she bristles against the social expectations of her sex. Reuniting with her Persona designer Dayna Morrissey, director Adena Jacobs has again gone for a set full of interesting spaces that frame the characters as playfully and meaningfully as a camera lens. In fact, the whole aesthetic here calls to mind one of the most stylistically influential films of the last few years, Drive. Read our full review here. When: Monday, 28 July - Sunday, 3 August Where: Belvoir St Theatre Upstairs , 25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills How much: $35 - $68 The Winery Fashion Markets The Winery Fashion Markets are a bit like having several incredibly stylish friends who allow you to raid their wardrobes (which are enviably full of international and Australian designer labels) behind a Surry Hills wine bar. The Winery has taken to transforming the laneway behind their bar into that market place once a month. Some of Sydney's leading fashion identities — bloggers, stylists and fashion publicists — will be selling their own pre-loved clothes. Confirmed for the July 12 iteration of the markets are fashion blogger Carmen Hamilton from Chronicles of Her along with fashion publicists and stylists from top fashion publications. If you happen to get cold or hungry in between shopping, they've got you covered. You can pop inside and keep warm with coffee and veal and chorizo sausage rolls. A flower market put on by Wildes Lane completes the damn near picture perfect day. When: Saturday, 14 June - 10:00am; Saturday, 12 July - 10:00am Where: The Winery , 285A Crown Street, Surry Hills 2010 How much: FREE Olympic Ayres It may be freezing outside, but Olympic Ayres are pretty firmly committed to the sounds of warmer days. The Sydney producer/DJ duo make the kind of super synthy beats that will transport you to palm-tree'd beach parties of summers past. Rejecting the seasonal chill, they're playing a toasty live showcase of their upcoming EP Leisureplex at Goodgod next week. Leisureplex isn't actually due for release until September 18, so this gig is the first chance to hear what the band have been working on — perfect escapism for those in denial about the less-than-balmy weather conditions. When: Saturday, 12 July - 8:00pm Where: Good God Small Club , 53 - 55 Liverpool St Sydney How much: 10 +bf All This Mayhem A thrilling sports film, heartbreaking drama and eye-opening cautionary tale all rolled in to one, All This Mayhem will transcend your expectations of its subject matter. Ostensibly a documentary about the rise and fall of two former skateboarding champions, in execution the Australian-made production bears closer resemblance to (in the words of its director) a modern-day Greek tragedy, full of hubris, temptation and a reckless disregard for long-term consequences. In what is shaping up to be a banner year for Australian cinema, this wild and powerful doco has officially stolen the lead. When: Thursday, 10 July - Wednesday, 6 August Where: Dendy Newtown , 261-263 King Street, Newtown How much: $14 - $19
"Over the past few weeks I've been hunted, haunted and mimicked millions of times across the internet. It's been pure torture. Thank you." So starts the new Netflix video announcing the return of one of the streaming platform's late 2022 favourites, with Addams Family revamp Wednesday officially renewed for season two. Given how much of a hit season one of the Jenna Ortega (X)-starring show proved, this news is hardly surprising. Also, given how popular all things Addams Family have always been — the Christina Ricci-led 90s films have been beloved for decades for good reason, and the 1960s TV show and 1930s The New Yorker comics before that — it's also far from unexpected. Indeed, if you were channelling your inner Wednesday, as we all should, you wouldn't raise an eyebrow in astonishment. If you devoured Wednesday's first season like its namesake and does with all things creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky, however, you'll be so thrilled that you feel like her perky lycan roommate Enid (Emma Myers, Girl in the Basement). Announcing the renewal, Wednesday season one co-showrunners Miles Millar and Alfred Gough (Smallville) said that they "can't wait to dive headfirst into another season and explore the kooky, spooky world of Nevermore. We just need to make sure Wednesday hasn't emptied the pool first." Giving Wednesday a second spin comes after the first go-around broke the Netflix record for most hours viewed in a single week, then did so again — notching up 341.23-million hours viewed in its first week, then 411.29-million hours viewed in its second. Netflix hasn't revealed when it'll be getting a witch's shawl on and a broomstick you can crawl on yet again, or any fresh additions to the cast, but season two will pick up from season one's big ending — which left plenty of room for more Nevermore antics to follow. And yes, with Scream and Studio 666 s Ortega in the lead again, it will be spending more time at the school for outsiders that the Addams' eerie teenage daughter was enrolled in to kick off the series, as well as offering up another mystery to solve. In season one, Wednesday's titular figure had been terrorising her way through various educational facilities, hopping through eight of them in five years. That's how she ended up at Nevermore Academy, where her mother (Catherine Zeta-Jones, Prodigal Son) introduced her with an apology: "please excuse Wednesday, she's allergic to colour". Morticia actually met Gomez (Luis Guzmán, Hightown) at the school, and thought that their eldest would love it there as they did, but Wednesday's storyline was never going to be that straightforward. With Tim Burton executive producing, plus sitting in the director's chair for the first four episodes — in the job the Frankenweenie, Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands filmmaker was clearly born to have — cue high-school chaos, a monstrous murder spree to stop and a supernatural mystery linked to her parents a quarter-century ago to solve. Oh, and a killer goth wardrobe, naturally. Check out the season two announcement video for Wednesday below: Wednesday streams via Netflix, with season one available now and season two arriving at a yet-to-be-announced date. We'll update you with further details about season two when they're revealed. Read our full review of Wednesday season one. Images: Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.
Across its five seasons to date, Black Mirror has dedicated 22 episodes to imagining dystopian futures — and while it makes for compelling viewing, none of the sci-fi anthology series' predictions are particularly pretty. But, for all of its prognosticating, the Charlie Brooker-created show didn't foresee 2020's chaos. And now we've all endured this hectic year and are about to see it come to an end, the team behind Black Mirror has something to say about it. At some point soon — presumably before 2020 is out — Netflix will drop a new comedy special called Death to 2020, which is made by the Black Mirror crew. Exactly what's in store is being kept a surprise for now, but the show will obviously look back on the year. And, it'll have high-profile help in the form of Samuel L Jackson, Hugh Grant, Lisa Kudrow, Kumail Nanjiani, Tracey Ullman, Samson Kayo, Leslie Jones, Diane Morgan, Cristin Milioti and Joe Keery. Netflix has just revealed a teaser trailer for Death to 2020, although that doesn't provide any further info — other than confirming that the Black Mirror team couldn't have made up a year as bleak as this, and that they'll be satirising and savaging the year's developments. That said, Brooker has a history of looking back at events that have just passed, as Newswipe with Charlie Brooker and his end-of-year Wipe specials between 2010–16 have all demonstrated. Brooker and Netflix also love releasing new material over the holiday period with little pre-warning, with interactive Black Mirror special Bandersnatch dropping between Christmas and New Year's Eve back in 2018. So, you might be receiving an extra festive — and grimly funny — present this year. Check out the teaser trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxR9Zo36rbo&feature=emb_logo Death to 2020 looks set to hit Netflix sometime before 2020 is out — we'll update you with an exact release date when one is announced. Top image: Black Mirror.
With Spiral: From the Book of Saw, what came first: the decision to call its protagonist Ezekiel, or the casting of Samuel L Jackson as said character's father? Either way, the film's creative team must've felt mighty pleased with themselves; getting the Pulp Fiction actor to utter the name that's been synonymous with his bible-quoting, Quentin Tarantino-penned monologue for more than a quarter-century doesn't happen by accident. What now four-time franchise director Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, Saw III and Saw IV) and Jigsaw screenwriters Josh Stolberg and Pete Goldfinger mightn't have realised, though, is just how clumsily this choice comes across. The Saw series has made almost a billion dollars at the worldwide box office, but now it's resorting to winking and nodding to one of its latest stars' past movies. Perhaps Bousman and company didn't notice because almost everything about Spiral feels that forced, awkward, clunky and badly thought-out. Jackson and Chris Rock might gift the long-running franchise a couple of high-profile new faces; however, this ostensible reboot is exactly as derivative as you'd expect of the ninth instalment in a 17-year-old shock- and gore-driven saga. Focusing on a wisecracking, gung-ho, about-to-be-divorced police detective known for exposing his dirty colleagues, Spiral tries to coil the series in a different direction, at least superficially — and pretends to have meaty matters on its mind. Ezekiel 'Zeke' Banks (Rock, The Witches) has been crusading for honesty, integrity, fairness and honour in law enforcement for years. Starting back when his now-retired dad Marcus (Jackson, Death to 2020) was the precinct's chief, he's been vilified by his peers for his efforts. When a killer appears to be targeting rotten cops, too, Zeke is desperate to lead the case. Initially, he just wants to avenge the death of the first victim, one of the only co-workers he called a friend, but he's soon trying to track down a murderer that seems to be following in franchise villain Jigsaw's footsteps. A lone wolf-type not by choice but necessity, Banks also happens to be saddled with a rookie partner (Max Minghella, The Handmaid's Tale) as he attempts to stop the bodies from piling up. Even if Spiral had reached screens in May last year as was initially intended pre-pandemic, it would've arrived in a social, cultural and political climate that has been rightly taking a stand against police brutality. The film doesn't have much to say about the topic, however. Recycling the usual cop movie tropes — corruption is endemic, a select few battle against it, but the bad routinely outmuscles the good — it uses the subject as nothing more than a gimmick. Forget weight, depth, nuance or resonance. Spiral just wants a reason for its killer to keep offing cops within its grimy, dankly lit, often jittery fames, and for Zeke to have almost zero backup. Like the pig's heads used by its new agony-inflicting maniac, the end result is bloody yet empty. It smacks of trying to dress up a well-worn idea in fresh packaging, but then only making a half-hearted attempt that relies upon on another genre's conventions. Indeed, the police procedural format, the cast, the topical themes, the 70s thriller look and the focus on a different murderer are all part of a big bait-and-switch act; they might lure viewers in, but a torture porn flick that's rarely even standard is sadly the only thing that awaits. The deaths, which are largely seen in flashbacks devoid of any tension, are characteristically nasty and gruesome. Covering severed tongues, ripped-off appendages, flayed carcasses and drowning via hot wax, they're designed to get the squeamish to avert their eyes again and again. But testing the audience's threshold for blood, guts, gore and complicated torture devices isn't the same as engaging them. Nor is combining the series' brand of gratuitous one-upmanship and supposed lessons with Seven-esque box deliveries and the kind of by-the-numbers serial killer taunting that wouldn't have even made the first draft of any David Fincher project. Spiral doesn't just do the bare minimum in its purported attempt to tackle problematic cops, but demonstrates the same contentedness to merely tick boxes with the franchise's grisly staples, too. A word to the easily nauseated: the film's panic-inducing traps and macabre dismemberments aren't pleasant, which is wholly in keeping with the template set up by Australians James Wan (Aquaman) and Leigh Whannell (The Invisible Man) back in 2004's first movie, but it's hard to be put off by something that's this dully formulaic. Perhaps driven by a dream to wake up on-screen chained to a pipe — with a saw within reach, of course — Rock instigated his own involvement in Spiral. A big fan of the series, and of horror movies in general, he came up with the idea for the feature's detective storyline as well. While he's the best thing about the film, he also often feels as if he's mixing his stand-up routines with his far-superior performance in last year's fourth season of Fargo. Yes, with both Jackson and Rock alike, Spiral just can't stop reminding its viewers that its talents both have better projects to their names. Don't go expecting much of their collaboration here, either, with the picture pairing them up sparingly and leaving the audience wanting more — which is the only instance where that statement proves true throughout the entire movie. When the film abruptly comes to an end, it unsurprisingly sets up its next chapter, but it certainly hasn't earned anyone's continued investment. And, in case you'd missed how little it cares for its police brutality narrative, it chooses to end with an image so cliched that it makes the hackneyed dialogue about playing games and the clues delivered on USB drives seem positively fresh in comparison. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuINvoFAnng
Whether it's a dog in a superhero costume or a cat wearing, well, whatever you can manage to get a cat to wear, animals donning outfits ranks among the cutest sights your eyes can ever see. Puppers in cowboy hats and wild west vests, posing for portraits might just raise the adorable stakes beyond previous levels, however. Your furry companion can now be the Kevin Kline to your Will Smith in Wild Wild West thanks to this Dog Photog pop-up heading to Zetland Store Gallery on Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28. Spots for the pop-up are available between 10am–5pm across both days. Bookings are essential, and getting a gorgeous portrait of your cute canine will set you back $55 for one pooch or $85 for two. While just seeing your fur-ball in a cowboy hat may be worth $55, the photoshoot does comes with one web-res image of each dog to take home and set as background photo for every devise you own. Dog Photog Cowboys Pop-Up is open from 10am–5pm.
A soundtrack of wall-to-wall floor-filler classics will echo across Australia this autumn, featuring tunes by Daft Punk, Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers and Groove Armada — but not exactly as you know them. Joining the dance-meets-symphony trend is the just-announced Alive Garden Party, which has enlisted the UK's Club Symphony to head Down Under to give the country another event in the style of Synthony and Ministry of Sound Classical. The setup: having a symphony orchestra play tracks normally known for getting clubs pumping, not concert halls. The concept isn't new; however, it is popular. Australia's latest instance is heading to outdoor venues, including some wineries — taking queues from A Day on the Green and Grapevine Gathering as well. Songs by Faithless, Swedish House Mafia and Eric Prydz will also feature when Alive Garden Party debuts in South Australia at the end of March, then tours to Moss Vale Showgrounds in New South Wales' Southern Highlands, Swan Valley's Oakover Grounds in Western Australia, the Gold Coast in Queensland and Rochford Wines in Yarra Valley in Victoria. The lineup will expand as well, beyond the Steve Anderson-, Dave Seaman- and Cliff Masterson-led Club Symphony, including vocalists. Attendees aren't just in for a treat for the ears, but also for the eyes and tastebuds. With the latter, the focus will be on gourmet local produce that you can enjoy while picnicking the afternoon away — plus drinks, of course — before getting dancing beneath the stars when night hits. Bringing your own blanket to sprawl out on is encouraged, as is relaxing on the grass. If you'd like the VIP experience, it includes express entry, premium viewing and a bar with an expanded range. [caption id="attachment_936463" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Hildebrand[/caption] "This will be a visual and audible show that leaves audiences elated," said Jaylee Osborne on behalf of Alive Garden Party's organisers. "Alive Garden Party was born because music festivals aren't for everyone and concerts sometimes don't quite hit the spot. So we created a highly bespoke, beautiful and comfortable experience for every concertgoer." [caption id="attachment_936464" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Perry McLaughlan[/caption] [caption id="attachment_936462" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Hildebrand[/caption] ALIVE GARDEN PARTY 2024 DATES: Saturday, March 30 — TBC, Adelaide, South Australia Sunday, March 31 — Moss Vale Showgrounds, Southern Highlands, New South Wales Saturday, April 6 — Oakover Grounds, Swan Valley, Western Australia Saturday, April 13 — TBC, Gold Coast, Queensland Saturday, April 20 — Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley, Victoria Alive Garden Party will tour Australia in March and April 2024, with tickets on-sale now — head to the event website for further details.
Four shows at Gaffa focus on half-seen worlds and the sort blurry places that can overwhelm the eyes. Armando Chant's Phase Change is dominated by a series of etchings of Banksia, shifting in and out of focus. The plates seem to have been progressively eaten away by the acid process between printings. Some have a sculptor's eye for detail. On others, the picture has faded until only rough dots or distant hazy forms remain. Arranged as a grid, the eye moves down the rows and the images dissolve. The clear topmost row of images denature down through a middle splodgy row to a lower one where almost nothing is left but soft, lumpen forms. At photo collective the Photo Group's show Eight Andrea Klucis' Where Land Meets the Sky shows a strip of a city ridge specked with trees and houses. Just above, it's touched by low rough clouds, under the bulk of the photo dominated by an endless sky. Its series of photos, Sometimes Sweet Silence, are each dominate by the 'golden hour' of light after the dawn, or before sunset. Asim Aly-Khan's Homeworlds of the Holograms makes globes from shaky streaks of light, while Mirjana Tann plays with lens flares spiking off the sun in When Darkness Lifes. Caroline McLean Foldes' domestic moments in Clifton Gardens - Home dot tiny cameos with gentle light, Mim Stirling's El retablo de los animalitos (The Altar of Little Animals) offers intimate photo portraits of tiny animal toys and Philipa Margan's lens gives M&Ms the sort of loving treatment that makes you realise how much their strange granary shape and rough aftertaste had always deserved such treatment. Plan is a joint show divided among A.W. and Kim Connerton. A.W. has images of frames within frames, empty boxes and a hollow plinth alongside correspondence between early photographers Fox Talbot and Herschel. It's a kind of unearthed bones from the world of early photography. Lotuses are the theme of Connerton's tiny sculptures, where miniature people aim to draw you into a pre-birth world. Images by Andrea Klucis and Philipa Margan.
Art is a matter of life and death in the star-studded Velvet Buzzsaw, which might just earn the title of 2019's most out-there film so far. The movie marks the reunion of Nightcrawler writer/director Dan Gilroy and actors Jake Gyllenhaal and Rene Russo — and if you've seen that 2014 standout, you'll know that you're in for a wild ride. Both an unhinged horror effort and a satire of the art world, the film is set to premiere at this year's Sundance Film Festival, but general audiences won't have to wait long at all to see the flick for themselves. It'll hit Netflix worldwide on Friday, February 1, while Sundance is still running. While Nightcrawler took aim at tabloid news media and charted its deadly consequences, Velvet Buzzsaw has another realm in its sights. With Gyllenhaal playing an art critic, Russo an agent, and everyone from Toni Collette to John Malkovich to Stranger Things' Natalia Dyer among the cast, the film charts a spate of sinister happenings that are linked to a batch eye-catching paintings. The art collection in question is only found after an unknown elderly artist passes away, and comes with strict instructions to destroy the work; however, when that warning is ignored, everyone who profits from the pieces starts to suffer. Check out the trailer below, and add the movie to your streaming queue for your next fright-filled date with your couch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdAR-lK43YU Velvet Buzzsaw will be available on Netflix from Friday, February 1.
The Rocks might be one of Sydney’s most beautifully preserved historic areas, but its dining scene is in no way stuck in time. Among the sandstone buildings and cobbled laneways, you’ll discover sushi revolutions, serious cocktail experiments, ground-breaking fusion menus and some of the city’s finest bistronomy. Here are the restaurants serving up some of The Rocks’ best new flavours. SAKE If you think you know your sushi, get ready to stop at a whole new station. Forget your California rolls and tuna with avocado. At Sake, you’re in for whizz-bang, hatted creations. We’re talking grilled eel with cream cheese, cucumber, tempura crunch, jalapeno mayo and avocado, and Korean-inspired K-Town roll with seared beef, takuan pickle, wrapped in sesame leaf and yang-yang sauce. Plus, there are more than 40 sakes to match them with. Executive chef Shaun Presland learned how to make sushi in Japan for 15 years before working at Nobu’s Bahamas outpost and the Establishment’s Sushi-e and Sake. ANANAS Since opening in 2012, Ananas has been bringing a sizeable dose of Parisian glamour to The Rocks. Under the guidance of chef de cuisine Neil Martin, classic French dishes are served up in their freshest and most indulgent incarnations. Think scallop ceviche with fennel, tangerine and tarragon; dressed blue crab with avocado and horseradish; and oysters. Lots of oysters. To ensure your dishes are appropriately accompanied, there’s a handpicked selection of champagnes and a bunch of signature cocktails. PEI MODERN Mark Best, who heads up fine-dining institution Marque, is one of Australia’s best chefs. And at Pei Modern, his recently opened bistro, you can sample his creations without paying hatted price tags. It’s housed in the spacious ground floor of the Four Seasons Hotel, where a central open kitchen allows you to watch the cooking in action. Go for John Dory cooked on the bone with cauliflower puree and saltbush; Holmbrae chicken with baby Brussels sprouts and lardo; or ricotta dumplings with zucchini flowers and lazy man’s pesto. The emphasis is on simple yet innovative dishes, with super-fresh, locally sourced ingredients. SAILORS THAI Here’s where you’ll find some of the most exciting Thai in the city. With tantalising street food and ancient recipes as its base, the menu spices matters up with Australian produce and surprise ingredients. There’s no cutting corners: dishes are cooked slowly and pastes are made daily on the premises. Eat at a communal table, beside one of Sydney’s first open kitchens, or retreat to the deck for sparkling views of the harbour. No wonder people say that the best Thai in the world is in Sydney. WILLIAM BLUE DINING If you like getting to know Sydney's next generation of star chefs before they've headed their own kitchens or released a cookbook (and would like to support them along the way), this is the place to be. Now located at Rockpool's former digs, William Blue Dining is the city's oldest hospitality management school, training students in commercial cookery, front of house and events. As part of the training, they keep a restaurant running for lunch and dinner, six days a week. It's $38 for three courses (also available individually) of the likes of oven roasted Milly Hill Lamb rump with saffron fondant potatoes, asparagus, pickled turnips and jus. It's a five-star culinary treat at a fraction of the cost. View all Sydney Restaurants.
If you've ever wanted to indulge in an immersive fine-dining feast onboard a luxe yacht, here's your chance. Acclaimed chef Nelly Robinson will be plating up a six-course sensory fare for this year's Vivid Sydney. NEL's founder and chef patron will take over the kitchen of superyacht The Jackson on Saturday, May 25, for what promises to be a colourful culinary journey backed by front-row views of the iconic Sydney Harbour. Robinson is known for his avant-garde and often kooky degustation menus, so prepare for the kind unbridled creativity that's been on display in his previous degustations, which span from Disney-inspired dishes and Christmas-themed festivities to a dedicated showcase of native Aussie ingredients and even a bold take on KFC. Upon boarding the multimillion-dollar cruiser, you'll be met with free-flowing sparkling for the first hour, as well as a selection of small bites including beetroot and tuna tarts, smoked oysters and a chicken and macadamia toastie. For the sit-down portion of the evening, you'll tuck into a lemon myrtle-infused poached salmon for entree, lamb shoulder with herb risotto for main and a banana-starring dessert. To finish the cruise on a high, head on upstairs for a boogie accompanied by a rose heart canapé. Tickets cost $325 per person, but you can add an additional $65 for a Tyrrell's Wine pairing to accompany your meal. At the end of the evening, you'll disembark at King Street Wharf where you can continue partying into the night. If you love fine food, immersive creative experiences and fabulous views, you best consider adding this to your list of must-book Vivid Sydney events. Head to The Jackson's website to purchase tickets to A Night with Nelly Robinson before they sell out.
Summer is a mere few weeks away and there's no better seasonal combo than a weekend barbecue and icy cold craft beer. We’re on mission to inspire and enhance your barbecue experience this silly season by bringing to you recipes that go beyond the simple sausage sizzle. We've searched Sydney's most talked-about restaurants from the buzzing inner west to the slick CBD, the stylish eastern suburbs and all the way to the chilled-out northern beaches for recipes that will earn you a pat on the back and cheers from your soon-to-be-impressed guests. Ten top-notch chefs from across town with a talent for wielding a set of barbecue tongs have matched one of their favourite grill-friendly recipes with a brew from James Squire's solid craft beer range. Crisp pilsners with zesty Hartsyard octopus for the sun lovers. Strong Porters to wash down Neil Perry ribeyes. Golden ales with Pinbone's barbecued duck hearts for the adventurous. Thank us later; your summer barbecues will be talked about for many moons. BARBECUED DUCK HEARTS WITH CUMQUAT AND MUSTARD — PINBONE INGREDIENTS: Duck hearts Handful of cumquats (or oranges and mandarin) Creme fraiche Hot English mustard Bitter leaves METHOD: Brine duck hearts in a 5 percent salt/water solution for 30 minutes. Remove and dry with paper towel. Grill on the barbecue for 2 minutes on each side and rest. Cut cumquats in half and grill on barbecue until nicely charred (orange and mandarin also work nicely if you can’t find cumquats). Mix equal parts creme fraiche and hot English mustard together and lay the mustard base on one half of the plate. To serve: Season generously and garnish with bitter leaves. Pair with James Squire Stow Away IPA. BBQ FREMANTLE OCTOPUS — GREGORY LLEWELLYN FROM HARTSYARD Serves 4 INGREDIENTS: 1kg Fremantle Octopus separate into individual tentacles only 4L Water 300g salt 100g paprika smoked peel of one lemon 4 cloves of crushed garlic tbsp peppercorn tbsp fennel seed tbsp coriander seed METHOD: Heat half the water with the salt until dissolved. When dissolved pour warm solution into remaining cold water. Toast all spices (minus the paprika) together over a medium/high heat until fragrant. Add to liquid mixture. Add garlic, paprika and lemon peel. When mixture is cool add octopus tentacles and brine for 12 hours. Remove from brine, rinse and dry. Place into a heavy bottomed saucepot and cover with extra virgin olive oil. Cook on stove top at about 75-80°C ensuring the oil does not boil for 2-2.5 hours. Remove the octopus from pot. It should be fork tender with a tiny bit of chew. Refrigerate until cold (this should probably be done the day before). Prepare BBQ to about 200°C. BBQ octopus until suction pads are crispy and the tentacles are evenly cooked but not black. When cooked toss into a bowl with the following dressing: DRESSING: 100ml olive oil 2 tbsp sliced garlic 1 tbsp fresh oregano leaves picked 1 tbsp fresh parsley leaves picked 1 tsp crushed red chilli flakes Cook olive oil and garlic until slightly brown. Add the rest of the ingredients until crispy. Remove from heat. Let cool. Season with the juice of two lemons. Pair with James Squire Four 'Wives' Pilsener. STICKY LAMB RIBS WITH POMEGRANATE AND SOY GLAZE — DANIEL SAN INGREDIENTS: 30gm peeled eschallots 0.1gm pomegranate 60gm cos lettuce 5gm flat leaf parsley 5gm mint 2gm extra virgin olive oil 300gm Junee lamb American ribs GLAZE: 50gm peeled garlic 4gm lemons 80gm frozen wasabi tube 150gm castor sugar 15gm sea salt flakes 60gm sesame oil 400gm pomegranate molasses BRAISING STOCK: 2L water 10ml Kikkoman soy 10ml mirin 10ml sake 5gm radish daikon 20gm young ginger METHOD: Place ribs in braising stock and place in oven on 160°C for two hours. Take ribs out and leave to cool in the stock for one hour. Cook ribs on the bbq and glaze with the above. Serve on cos lettuce with pomegranate drizzled on top. Pair with James Squire's The Constable Copper Ale. SMOKED BARBECUE WINGS w/ BULLEIT BOURBON BARBECUE SAUCE — HENRIETTA SUPPER CLUB INGREDIENTS: 2.5L pork (or beef stock in a pinch) stock FOR BARBECUE SAUCE: 250ml Bulleit bourbon 2 cinnamon sticks 3 star anise 2 cloves 1 lime (juice and zest) 2 lemon (juice and zest) 100ml good sherry vinegar 1 x can of coca cola 1 x can ginger ale 25g whole black pepper corn 100ml real Canadian maple syrup 500ml of store bought barbecue sauce METHOD: Place in a large pot on a medium heat-high heat. Reduce until sticky. pass through a chinois or large sieve. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate once cooled. To prepare the wings, poach desired quality of wings in a good-quality wings chicken stock for 25min. Coat with a seasoned flour (we use 'Cajun flour' — corn flour, plain flour, Cajun spices and seasoning). Deep fry for five minutes on 180 degrees or brown on the barbecue hot plate in good quality cooking oil. Place cooked wings in a steel bowl and coat generously with the barbecue sauce. Garnish with chives and serve with chipotle mayo (real mayonnaise with a slug of chipotle hot sauce like El Yucateco or Tabasco). Pair with James Squire Nine Tales Amber Ale. SMOKED PORK RIBS — PATRICK FRIESEN AND CHRISTOPHER HOGARTH FROM PAPI CHULO INGREDIENTS: 4 USA-style cut pork ribs BBQ rub BBQ sauce Apple wood and oak chips METHOD: Try to find pork ribs with the most amount of meat you can. Clean the silver skin off the back of the ribs using a fork to pry it off and a tea towel to hold onto the silver skin when you pull it off. Season both sides lightly with BBQ rub and smoke straight away. Smoke at 120°C over oak and applewood for one hour. Wrap in foil and smoke at 120 degrees for another hour and a half. Brush with BBQ sauce and enjoy. BBQ SAUCE: 50gm Heinz ketchup 16gm Frank's RedHot sauce 20gm Yamasa soy 10gm water 30gm brown sugar 6gm black pepper 3gm smoked paprika 3gm sweet paprika 2.5gm onion powder 2.5gm garlic powder 5gm Korean chilli powder Mix all ingredients in a bowl and let sit for an hour. BBQ RUB: 100gm salt 20gm cracked black pepper 4gm onion powder 2gm garlic powder 20gm paprika 5gm smoked paprika 5gm cayenne Mix in a bowl right before you want to use. Pair with James Squire Sundown Australian Lager. RIB EYE ON THE BONE — NEIL PERRY FROM THE BURGER PROJECT INGREDIENTS: 4 x 360g rib eye on the bone Sea salt Extra virgin olive oil for grilling 4 lemon wedges METHOD: Heat the barbecue or grill — whether using wood, charcoal or gas — until extremely hot. Salt and oil each side of the steaks and allow to come to room temperature. Place steaks on the grill, cook for approximately five minutes, rotate the steak 90 degrees to get the cross pattern on the meat halfway through the cooking. Turn the steak over and cook for another four minutes. Allow the meat to rest for a few minutes off the grill. Place on a cutting board and slice each of the steaks into five or six slices, form the meat back to its original shape and serve on a plate with a sprinkle of salt, drizzle of olive oil and a wedge of lemon. Pair with James Squire Jack of Spades Porter. LAMB BURGER WITH PICKLED EGGPLANT, WATERCRESS AND HARISSA — MICHAEL RANTISSI FROM KEPOS STREET KITCHEN Serves 4 INGREDIENTS: 750gm good-quality coarse lamb mince 2 teaspoons coriander seeds, toasted and crushed 1 bunch coriander, leaves picked and finely chopped 3 - 4 tbsp olive oil 4 tbsp harissa 1 tsp chilli flakes Salt and pepper to season 4 brioche burger buns, toasted ½ cup makdous (pickled eggplant stuffed with walnuts available from Middle Eastern grocers) 1 bunch watercress Harissa aioli METHOD: Combine the lamb mince, coriander seeds, fresh coriander, olive oil, harissa and chilli in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and mix to combine. Once combined, divide the mixture into four and then gently shape the burger patties with your hand. Don't overwork the patties too much as it makes them tough. These burgers can be cooked in a frypan on the stove top or the grill on your barbeque. Cook to your taste, two to three minutes per side for medium rare or longer for your requirement. To assemble toast the brioche burger buns (inside of bun only). Take the base of the burger bun and add a dollop of the harissa aioli, a spoonful of the pickled eggplant with walnuts, watercress, then the patty, add another handful of watercress and another dollop of aioli and then top with the bun. Pair with James Squire One Fifty Lashes Pale Ale. BARBECUE CHICKEN WINGS — CHUR BURGER INGREDIENTS: 1kg mid cut chicken wings BARBECUE SAUCE: 1 onion, finely chopped 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped 100ml olive oil 150g brown sugar 150ml Worcestershire sauce 500g ketchup Juice of 2 lemons 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh thyme Place chicken wings in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring water to the boil, stir chicken wings gently and then turn heat off. Let wings sit in water for 12 minutes and then pour wings into a colander. Place on trays in a single layer and refrigerate overnight to dry out. Sweat off onion and garlic in the olive oil until soft but with no colour (about 2-3 minutes). Add everything else, bring to a simmer and cook out for about 10 minutes. Cool down and store in refrigerator. Toss in the barbecue sauce mix and then place on hot grill until smokey and charred. Remove from grill and place into a clean bowl and toss with some further barbecue sauce and a squeeze of fresh lemon. Serve. CHIPOTLE MAYO: 1L plain mayonnaise 150ml Melbourne Hot Sauce Chipotle & Cayenne 10g rosemary, chopped 10g fresh oregano, chopped 10g parsley, chopped Mix all together. Pair with James Squire Hop Thief American Pale Ale.
Nine months after Randwick's Soul Burger ditched the meat products and embraced an all-vegan menu, the purveyors of plant-based goodness are heading west, this week launching a second store in Glebe . With this new addition to the family, Soul Burger continues in opposition of big agriculture, with owner and founder Amit Tewari keen to shake up the Aussie food culture and help inspire a shift towards plant-based eating. And it looks like he's firmly on the right track, given that Soul Burger's is the kind of menu that both carnivores and vegans will be beating down the door for. Think maximum feasting, for minimal artery clogging, with plant-based beef, snags and fish, egg-free sauces, and lighter, vegan cheese stealing the spotlight. The Glebe store will be rocking all the same treats as the original, including those addictive sweet potato fries, coconut shakes and the ever-popular Sumo burger, which teams plant-based beef and spicy sausage with roasted peppers, mushroom, cheese, salad, herbed mayo and tomato relish. Tomorrow's launch will kick things off in style, with burger lovers of all persuasions invited to check out the new Glebe Point Road digs, and spread the vegan love with a celebratory, meat-free feed. Plus, if you're one of the first 50 punters through the door, you'll even score yourself a burger on the house. Get there early. Soul Burger Glebe will open at 5pm tomorrow, Wednesday, September 28, at 111 Glebe Point Road, Glebe. For more info, visit soulburger.com.au.
While Australia can sometimes feel a little disconnected from the rest of the world, much of the globe can relate to our ongoing refugee situation. It's these widespread geopolitical and migration crises that world-renowned artist and activist Ai Weiwei is shining a spotlight on with his New York public art exhibition, Good Fences Make Good Neighbors. After running a crowdfunding campaign to fund the project back in August and September, the Chinese creative's latest installation is up and running from today until February 2018. The powerful showcase features a series of large-scale works throughout the entire city, as Ai Weiwei highlights the role of the security fence in dividing people, the immigration and border control practices and policies that go along with these physical barriers, and the current global rise in nationalism. https://www.instagram.com/p/BaHLa7Rn9hh/?taken-by=publicartfund Spanning more than 300 sites across five boroughs, the artist's huge fence-inspired works can be found at places like Central Park and Greenwich Village's Washington Square Arch, as well as on top of and between private buildings. He has also created a collection of flagpole-mounted works, sculptures around bus shelters and two-dimensional lamppost banners. Meanwhile, traditional advertising spaces at bus shelters, LinkNYC kiosks and newsstands will display images taken during Ai Weiwei's time researching at refugee camps across the world. Good Fences Make Good Neighbors stems from his own experiences with displacement and detention, combined with his recent research surrounding the global refugee crisis. If you can't make it to New York to see the installation in person, Instagram has you covered. For more of Ai Weiwei's exploration of the topic, Human Flow, his latest documentary, is due in Australian cinemas in March 2018. Images: Ai Weiwei studio via Kickstarter.
Sydney, you're about to discover (and taste) what can happen when an acclaimed Finnish chef and an award-winning Italian sommelier join forces. Giorgio De Maria (formerly of 121BC and Rootstock Sydney food and wine festival), is teaming up with Finnish-born Pasi Petanen (2015's SMH Chef of the Year and the guy behind Café Paci), for That's Amore — a series of wine dinners to be held at Mecca in Alexandria next month. Across 12 nights in March, the pair will combine culinary talents, pulling together innovative foodie flair, some serious wine knowledge, and a couple of lively personalities, for what promises to be one very rare dining experience. This fusion of front and back of house is bound to ensure some well-rounded feasting, starting with the weekly-changing, five-course menu. Here, the duo's hinted at a focus on produce-driven dishes, with an Italian edge. Meanwhile, De Maria's working his own brand of magic, proving the cross-cultural combo isn't the only perfect partnership on the table here. His handpicked selection of wine is available to try matched to each course, or simply quaffed by the bottle. That's Amore dinners will take place on March 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, and 25 at Mecca, 2/26 Bourke Road, Alexandria. The five-course menu is $75 per head, with drinks charged on consumption. Jump on the That's Amore Instagram page for a peek at the menu and nab your spot by emailing thatsamoreinsydney@gmail.com.
With a snap of the fingers, the Marvel Cinematic Universe underwent a huge change back in Avengers: Infinity War, and its movies and TV shows have been dealing with the fallout ever since. But another snap might be coming — not within the ever-sprawling franchise's on-screen narratives, but thanks to a possible slowed-down pace when it comes to filling cinemas and streaming queues with Marvel's heroes. All Marvel all the time: that's seemed to be Disney's approach to building the MCU, and our eyeballs have been busy as a result. In 2021 and 2022 alone, seven films and eight television shows made their debuts, spanning everything from Black Widow, Eternals, Thor: Love and Thunder and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever through to WandaVision, Loki, Moon Knight and Ms Marvel. And, 2023 has already kicked off with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 to come in May. Disney is reportedly thinking about easing the flow of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, however, and also getting better at curating it. Multiple recent reports and interviews, including in The Hollywood Reporter and Entertainment Weekly, have spoken about releasing fewer movies and shows each year, as well as ensuring there's more space between them. "The pace at which we're putting out the Disney+ shows will change so they can each get a chance to shine," Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige told Entertainment Weekly. Just as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania hit cinemas last week, Marvel pushed back its third big-screen release for 2023, The Marvels, from July 28 to November 9. It teams up Captain Marvel (Brie Larson, Just Mercy), Ms Marvel (Iman Vellani) and WandaVision's Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris, Candyman), but viewers will now have to wait a few more months to see the end result. That's one of a few shifts that the MCU has put in place since unveiling its huge phase five and phase six plans in mid-2022, with other dates moving back as well. Now in its multiverse saga, with a big focus on Jonathan Majors (The Harder They Fall) as new big bad Kang the Conqueror, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has delayed the return of Blade — this time starring Moonlight and Green Book Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali — to September 5, 2024. It'll come after a new Captain America movie on May 2, 2024, called Captain America: New World Order, focusing on Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) with the cape and shield, plus Thunderbolts on July 25, 2023. 2024 will also see the next Deadpool flick arrive on November 7 co-starring Hugh Jackman, with The Son actor returning to the role of Wolverine, and both Deadpool and Wolverine entering the MCU. From there, expect yet another Fantastic Four film, which'll now release on February 14, 2025 (with no cast yet announced), plus Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars following on May 1, 2025 and April 30, 2026, respectively. While slight changes have already been made to the movie slate's dates, more may come in light of Feige's comments — and Disney CEO Bob Iger's own comments that the Mouse House must improve its curating skills with its content. And, the same may prove true of the MCU's small-screen lineup, none of which has set dates so far. 2023 is meant to see five shows arrive: the Samuel L Jackson-starring, Nick Fury-focused Secret Invasion, which was initially expected in autumn Down Under; Ironheart, which features the Dominique Thorne (Judas and the Black Messiah)-played character first seen in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; season two of Loki; Hawkeye spinoff Echo; and witchy WandaVision spinoff Agatha: Coven of Chaos. But, it's now reported that only Secret Invasion and Loki are certain to hit this year. After that, a new 18-episode Daredevil series starring Charlie Cox (King of Thieves) and Vincent D'Onofrio (The Unforgivable), this time called Daredevil: Born Again, is on the schedule for 2024. These films and series are all still on their way — so, while you might not be watching quite as many new Marvel movies and TV shows over the next few years after all, they're still coming, just better spread out. Maybe this far in, more breaks from the Marvel Cinematic Universe will make the heart grow fonder, especially if you've been feeling a bit of MCU fatigue. For more information about Marvel's upcoming slate of films and TV shows, head to the company's website. Via The Hollywood Reporter and Entertainment Weekly. Top image: Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2022 Marvel. All images: courtesy of Marvel.
