It has been 87 years since Perry Mason first started sleuthing his way across the page, 86 since the defence attorney character initially hit the big screen, 77 since he made the leap to radio serials and 63 since he made his TV debut. In other words, this is a fictional figure with more than a little history — but 2020's version, starring Matthew Rhys, just might be the best yet. Brooding, moody, slinky, and making the most of thematically fitting, visually stunning inky black tones and lingering shadows, the HBO series heads back to 1932, when Los Angeles and the US in general are struggling with the Great Depression. Traumatised from World War I and grappling with a tough divorce, Mason is struggling as well. Then he's hired on a missing-child case as a private detective, and this star-filled series — think: John Lithgow, Robert Patrick and Tatiana Maslany, among others — kicks into quite the compelling gear.
Every year, So Frenchy So Chic asks Sydneysiders and Melburnians a question: do you fancy prancing through a field laced with the charm of provincial France, but without needing to book a flight? If your answer is yes, which it should be, then you'll be pleased to know that that exact setup is just casual summer weekendery when the fest rolls in each January. The ever-popular French celebration will bring the can-can back to Melbourne's Werribee Park Mansion and, for the first time, to Sydney's Centennial Park — a new venue for 2024. The dates: Sunday, January 14 in Victoria and Saturday, January 20 in New South Wales. For newcomers, expect an entire afternoon of French-inspired niceties, including (but not limited to) gourmet picnic hampers, très bon crepes and steak frites sandwiches, and supremely good wine — all set to a blissed-out French soundtrack. So Frenchy So Chic hinges on an eclectic lineup of artists, both taking cues from the classic sonic stylings of France and showcasing top-notch French talent. On the 2024 bill: La Femme, Marlon Magnée and Sacha Got's psych-punk rock group; Kill The Pain, aka Australian singer and songwriter Phoebe Killdeer with French vocalist Mélanie Pain; Laure Briard, fresh from releasing album Ne pas trop rester bleue; and the Serge Gainsbourg- and Angus and Julia Stone-loving Malo'. As always, the wine and food will flow just as easily as the tunes, headlined by an abundance of bubbly courtesy of Champagne Lanson, one of France's oldest champagne houses and a So Frenchy So Chic favourite. Eateries such as Frederic's, Hotel Gitan, Loulou and Bouillon Entrecôte will be doing the culinary honours, going big on French favourites in the process. So, expect oysters, croque monsieurs, duck liver parfait, mussels, chocolate eclairs, macarons and cheese upon cheese. [caption id="attachment_917827" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Christophe Crenel[/caption] Of course, there'll be plenty of French beer, cocktails, and rosé, red and white wines, too, no matter what you choose to snack on throughout the day. For groups of ten, this year's festival also includes a $199-per-person option that gets you your own prime spot with low-seated wooden tables decorated with flowers, rugs and cushions to make things comfy, two bottles of champers, a shady umbrella, and two charcuterie hampers and two cheese hampers. If you've got kids, you'll be happy to know that the whole thing is very family-friendly, with children's tickets starting from $25 (and entry free for kids under 12). [caption id="attachment_917828" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Taylor Kezia, Smith Street Agency[/caption] SO FRENCHY SO CHIC 2024 AUSTRALIAN DATES: Sunday, January 14 — Werribee Park Mansion, Melbourne Saturday, January 20 — Centennial Park, Sydney SO FRENCHY SO CHIC 2024 AUSTRALIAN LINEUP: La Femme Kill The Pain Laure Briard Malo' So Frenchy So Chic hits Sydney and Melbourne in January 2024. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the event's website. Top images: Liz Sunshine and Tekni.
Porch & Parlour has risen from the ashes, opening its doors for the first time since a fire forced its closure in August. The beloved Bondi bar and eatery is sporting a fresh look throughout, incorporating a new retail space and a revamped menu offering. On the walls, you'll now spy artworks by the likes of Vicki Lee and Ted O'Donnell, while a striking blue San Remo coffee machine is turning out those New Year caffeine hits. Alongside tried-and-true menu staples like the green pea pancake and breaky bowl, the Porch & Parlour kitchen is dishing up a swag of new season creations, zinging with vibrant local produce. Think, cinnamon scroll french toast, topped with banana, blueberry compote, maple syrup and a whipped lemon feta cream, and a loaded veggie bowl with cashew and turmeric dressing, all primed for those post-beach brunch sessions. And for lazy afternoon visits, see the 'sundowner' offering, running from 4–8pm, Friday through Sunday. You'll find top-notch specials on sips like Regal Rogue spritzes, lemon myrtle-infused gin and tonics, and mezcal margaritas.
It's a huge deal, in more ways than one: the biggest names in Australian dining have opened one of, if not the biggest new restaurant in Sydney of the year. Neil and Samantha Perry's multi-level Chinese restaurant Song Bird is the latest — and according to Perry, the final — addition to their Double Bay empire, which already features the iconic chef's fine-dining steakhouse Margaret, the first Sydney outpost of Baker Bleu and basement martini bar Bobbie's. Taking over the heritage-listed Gaden House on Bay Street, the opening of Song Bird is the culmination of more than two-and-a-half years of planning, including a major internal refit and the installation of state-of-the-art kitchens on each service floor. It draws on Neil Perry's long-held affinity for Asian cuisine, showcasing the delicacy and breadth of Cantonese dishes, interpreted through Perry's Modern Australian lens. It's not just the venue itself that's going big. The menu, created by Perry in partnership with Head Chef Mark Lee, with feature a whopping 70 dishes showcasing the best locally sourced produce. Think juicy Spencer Gulf king prawn dumplings; Peking-style Wollemi ducks, sourced from Copper Tree Farms; and crisp whole-fried Sun Farm chickens with Sichuan salt, pepper and lemon. The wine list would not look out of place at one of Perry's former Rockpool Group venues, with an impressively worldly selection of 250 internationally-sourced bottles to choose from. Australian wines — particularly chardonnays and pinot noirs — get a strong showing, as well as lesser-known varieties such as assyrtiko, furmint and fiano. Classics from Europe make up the rest of the list, including a big selection of champagnes from both the major vineyards and smaller producers. In part, this variety is a showcase of the diversity of the wine industry in 2024, but it's also to engineer affordability into the offering, with cheaper bottles around the $70 mark sharing the menu with more prestigious (and pricier) vintages. While the wine offering is largely Antipodean and European, the signature cocktail list takes its inspiration from China. The Lucky 8 menu, much like the food offering, combines a blend of Asian flavours with a wink to the west, such as the martini No. 88, a mingle of Hendricks gin, elderflower, cucumber, lime and cucumber bitters and Perrier. There's also the Han Old Fashioned, combining Old Forester rye, Remy Martin, plum liqueur, clarified plum and plum bitters, finished with a spritz of five spice spray. The interiors, designed by ACME and Caon Design Office, have navigated the need to preserve the original character of architect Neville Gruzman's Gaden House while delivering a look and feel that connects with Song Bird's eastern essence. A series of key materials and details are repeated across the entire design and these have been developed to create a sense of warmth inspired by the spice and heat of Asian cuisine. Fluted timber panelling, stained a deep red, and various types of marble and granite used throughout the venue create a sense of tactile richness and luxury. As guests enter through the main door on Cooper Street, they are met by the original spiral staircase which forms the spine of the interior design and facilitates the main traffic between the three levels of the venue — a grand aesthetic statement that both underlines the scope and ambition of the restaurant as well as celebrating the history of the building. Images: Petrina Tinslay
For years, you've probably sat at pubs or parties, listened to your pals tell boozy stories and found yourself laughing heartily. In fact, you've likely spun a few tales in a liquored-up state yourself — because we've all been there. And, since 2008, you've might've chuckled along to the US TV show based on that very idea, too. Indeed, it's easy to understand exactly how Drunk History came about, because the entire concept is just so relatable. While, in America, the show's run has just come to an end, Australian television is now hopping on the Drunk History bandwagon. It shouldn't escape anyone's attention that, at a time when we're all spending less time hanging out in bars talking with our mates for hours and hours over several rounds of drinks, Aussie TV has decided to deliver the next best thing. Called Drunk History Australia, the local version spans a six-episode first season, with each instalment tackling a couple of chapters of Aussie history. If you've ever wanted to watch James Mathison and Osher Günsberg reenact Burke and Wills' expedition, listen to Matt Okine explore the history of 'Waltzing Matilda', or hear Becky Lucas tell the tale of the country's first female detective — all with beverages involved — well, here's your chance. Also getting the Drunk History Australia treatment are Don Bradman, Dame Nellie Melba, Dawn Fraser and Gough Whitlam, in case you want to relive your primary school history lessons in a far boozier manner. And, the show also touches upon cannibal convicts, a war with emus and the first female bushranger, among other topics. The cast is similarly lengthy, featuring everyone from Anne Edmonds, Nikki Osborne, Em Rusciano and Tex Perkins to Stephen Curry, Joel Creasey, Steph Tisdell and Brendan Fevola. Drunk History Australia will start screening on Network 10 at 9.30pm on Monday, September 14; however, if you're keen to stream the whole thing right now, it's also already available via 10Play. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4iMnOEGI7c Drunk History Australia is now available to stream via 10Play, and will start airing on Network 10 at 9.30pm on Monday, September 14.
Melbourne's Wheeler Centre is coming to Sydney, bringing with it three a new talk series to be held monthly at the Belvoir Street Theatre. Each will focus on a particular big idea. The first, happening on Monday 21 August, is all about anaesthesia. Journalist Kate Cole-Adams will be discussing her book Anaesthesia: The Gift of Oblivion and the Mystery of Consciousness with anaesthetist Tim McCulloch and Benjamin Law. Meanwhile, September's chat, planned for Monday 18, will be dedicated to booze. Jenny Valentish, music writer and author of Woman of Substances, will be thrashing out alcohol's role in Australian identity, as well as its impact on people and public health, flanked by arts broadcaster Kate Jinx and medical researcher Michael Bowen. Pop back on Monday, October 9 to hear barrister Julian Burnside discuss his commitment to asylum seekers and issues relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. He'll be joined by Benjamin Law and Kat Armstrong, former prisoner and CEO of the Women's Justice Network.
Community radio is a lovely thing. Run by passionate volunteers who hold a genuine love of local music and the arts, and embraced by supportive listeners who appreciate the alternative to commercial radio, community radio is the backbone of our local communities and the culture we seek to find. One of Sydney's leading community radio stations, FBi Radio, has just turned ten. To celebrate, they have curated and organised the biggest event in the station's history. Join FBi as they celebrate double digits in style. They’ve lined up 35 acts across four stages for the day-long festivities on Sunday, September 8, at Carriageworks. The line-up includes ARIA Award-winning dance music legends The Presets, FBi SMAC Award winners Hermitude and Seekae, alongside an array of the best Australian live acts and DJs. The second line-up announcement has seen the addition of Sarah Blasko, Kirin J Callinan, Bleeding Knees Club, Deep Sea Arcade, Oliver Tank, Big Village Allstars, Katalyst, Fishing and Naughty Rappers Collective. They join previously confirmed acts Urthboy, Decoder Ring, Spit Syndicate, The Laurels, Thundamentals, The Preatures, Sampology (AV Show), World’s End Press, Straight Arrows, Collarbones, Naysayer & Gilsun (AV Show), Zeahorse, Movement, Citizen Kay, HOOPS, Ro Sham Bo, Joyride, Simon Caldwell, Kato, Shantan Wantan Ichiban, Mike Who, Mealo & Space Junk, FBi DJs, secret guests and more to be announced. FBi first hit the airwaves on August 29, 2003, and since then have stayed true to their word, playing 50 percent Australian music, half of those from Sydney. FBi Turns 10! is an 18+ event and tickets are $49 or $39 for FBi supporters. Doubling up as a fundraiser, proceeds will go towards the station for 10 more years of unique content, music and arts.
This Bondi Road boutique is part shop and part workshop, with a fully functioning bespoke leather studio inside. Creating custom leather accessories from scratch, including backpacks, totes, coin purses, cross-body bags, satchels, totes and clutches, Charlie Middleton uses soft cowhide from Japan across most of its range. Many of the bags are customisable, so you can pick the colour of the main part (ranging from ballet pink to a soft cedar brown), the hardware (gold, silver or rose gold) and the handles (choose from six different colours). Each bag is then made to order, so you have your very own unique keepsake.
Despite having a smorgasbord of activities and events at your fingertips, it's surprisingly easy to find yourself stuck in an after-hours rut with you and your mates kicking back at the same old after-work haunts, week in and week out. Enjoyable, though it won't exactly win you huge points for a sense of adventure. Luckily, if you are looking to shake up your after-work routine, you don't have to hunt very hard at all. To get you off to a cracking start, we've teamed up with Hahn to scout out a bunch of non-boring, new ideas for your next group activities. [caption id="attachment_631811" align="alignnone" width="1620"] Katje Ford.[/caption] SELF-GUIDED STREET ART TOUR No matter how long you've called yourself a local, we bet there's a truckload of corners and laneways you're yet to discover. So, round up the squad for some intrepid exploration, and gain a fresh perspective on that concrete jungle as you set off on a self-guided street art tour. The internet's chock full of printable tour maps curated by urban experts and art-lovers alike, directing you towards all the best art-focused walks in your area. Shake off the work day as you cruise the city at your own pace, unearthing public art gems left, right and centre. And once you've had your fill of art, head to the pub for a beer and a chat about the best, worst and most unusual sights you've seen. Where? Search 'street art' on Concrete Playground and find some of the works you should be seeing in your city, and if you're in Sydney, you can book into one of Culture Scouts tours if you need a bit more guidance. PASTA-MAKING WORKSHOP This gloomy stretch of winter will feel like way more of success if you come out at the end of it with something useful — you know, some visible gym results, a decent love life or, the most impressive of all, the knowledge of how to make a killer bowl of handmade pasta. Luckily from Brisbane to Sydney to Melbourne, we've been gifted with a delicious array of classes on making the best comfort food out there. So, if you really want to set yourself up for culinary success and a whole lot of praise, book the crew in for a post-work pasta-making class where you'll learn to create pure magic with just three simple ingredients: flour, eggs and water. And once you've learned how to make pasta, you can then study up on how to pair some beers with your creations. Just think of all those future dinner parties. Where? Learn to craft some epic noodles at Pasta Emilia in Sydney, The Craft & Co. in Melbourne and at The Pasta Company in Brisbane. LAWN BOWLS For the ultimate group bonding exercise, you can't go past the joy of kicking another team's butt in some form of organised sport. But who really wants to run the risk of a bung ankle, wrist or hammy going into summer? This year, hone your teamwork skills and sharpen that competitive edge while keeping the big hits to a minimum — join the lawn bowls revolution. Outside of the summer season, a session at most bowling clubs will cost you mere pocket change, including access to all the proper gear, a guide to get you started off on the right foot and maybe a couple post-work pitchers. What's more, after a few weeks of practice, just imagine how you and your mates will dominate against all those less practiced suckers during summer's social barefoot bowls sessions. Where? Practice your bowl at one of these greens in Sydney, at the City of Melbourne Bowls Club and one of these lawns in Brisbane. YOGA WITH A TWIST A regular ol' vinyasa may not be everyone's cup of tea. So if you want to up the ante, throw in a twist to make things a bit more intriguing. Studios across the country are taking the concept of yoga to some rather wild territory, with classes that offer the ultimate mash-up of exercise and fun. Prefer your workout tunes to have some oomph? Head along to a hip hop yoga class and get bendy to a soundtrack of fresh beats. Or, if you fancy making some new feline friends, team that stretch session with a few kitty cuddles at cat yoga. There's even a variety of aerial yoga styles which'll find you nailing those poses while suspended gracefully in mid-air. Where? Stretch it out with some kitties at Catmosphere's cat yoga in Sydney, groove into your downward dog at hip hop yoga in Melbourne and defy gravity at Brissie's aerial yoga. THEMED TRIVIA Got a swag of random knowledge just waiting to be put to good use? Round up your post-work posse for some fun of the cerebral variety: showing off your pop cultural prowess with a rousing session of themed trivia. A more focused version of the classic pub quiz, these events provide the perfect opportunity to unleash your random stash of Harry Potter facts and, if we're honest, a brilliant excuse to go back and 'revise' your favourite TV shows, cult movies and long-forgotten pop music. What's more, on any given week, there's usually a plethora of themed trivia sessions to choose from. Gather your crew and bond over not-so useless facts, a few beers and a good ol' pub parma. Where? Test your music knowledge at The Toxteth's Tuesday Night Music Trivia in Glebe, dig up some old memories at Throwback Thursdays trivia at Island Somewhere in Melbourne and dive head first into Simpsons, Seinfeld or Harry Potter trivia at Man vs Bear's trivia nights held at various bars around Brisbane. Round up the troops and head out for a new after-work activity this week, topped off with a cheeky Hahn or two.
In an era of technology firsts, it's hardly surprising that a computer is now capable of mirroring human intelligence. Over the weekend, a computer programme known as 'Eugene Goostman' proved itself capable of imitating the living when it was the first ever programme to pass the Turing Test. Eponymously named for its designer, British mathematician and cryptographer Alan Turing, no previous competitor had passed the test in its 65-year existence. Needless to say, passing the Turing Test is no easy feat. To prove successful, at least 30 percent of the judges must be convinced that the competitor is human. During the Turing Test 2014 Competition over the weekend, one-third of the panel deemed Eugene Goostman just that. Entered under the guise of a 13-year-old boy from the Ukraine, Eugene Goostman competed against 25 humans and other fellow programmes. The team behind Eugene Goostman comprised of one Russian and two Ukrainian programmers. Endowed with particulars that seemed just odd enough to qualify as human (a pet guinea pig, a gynecologist father), the long-awaited winning programme is actually a chatbot developed in 2001. The ingenue in this case is found in the simplicity of approach. Rendering their entry ignorant by diminishing his supposed age, the chatbot’s programmers acknowledge their surprising strategy. One of Eugene Goostman’s creators, Vladimir Veselov revealed in a statement, "Our main idea was that he can claim that he knows anything, but his age also makes it perfectly reasonable that he doesn't know everything. We spent a lot of time developing a character with a believable personality." Someone who claims to know it all but, in truth, knows little? No wonder they thought he was human. Via The Guardian and PC World.
Late night eats could be more important to inner city Sydney bars than ever, with the passing of new State Government legislation forcing venues to keep their kitchen open while there's alcohol being served. According to the Daily Telegraph, the Liquor Legislation Amendment has been passed through the State Lower House and will hit the floor at the Upper House this week. This new move could mean venues have to keep kitchens open and chefs hanging around hoping for drinking punters feel like a little nibble, a serious financial strain on any bar. With Sydney venues already jumping through every hoop to boost dwindling figures after the introduction of the lockouts, this could be some pretty bad news for CBD/Kings Cross/Surry Hills et al. Bar owners are pretty worried, mainly because most late night punters are more interested in another round than a sit-down meal — or they'll head elsewhere for a nosh, to Hot Star Large Fried Chicken, Fatima's or Golden Century. Sure, the model works for already late night food-focused spots like Darlinghurst's Henrietta Supper Club and Surry Hills' Brooklyn Social, who both keep the kitchen open late, but will every bar be able to make the switch and keep the chefs on? It probably depends on the type of venue. "If the market was there to keep a kitchen open late at night we would, but it’s not," Kings Cross venue co-owner Danny McPherson told the Tele. "Sometimes we don’t have many customers around and we don’t get a lot of business after 10pm so it is insane to try and regulate something like this. It is going to mean we will need to pay to keep our chefs on which is going to really burden us financially." Then there's the issue of spots without kitchens, whether a venue like Oxford Art Factory could really run with this new legislation. With police looking to extend the lockout from the CBD and wanting everything shut down by midnight, and #notearsshed over the recent lockout-blamed closure of the Backroom, Sydney venues are truly being put through the financial ringer by the government — according to the Telegraph, businesses have reported a 40 percent revenue loss post-lockout. The legislation hits Upper House this week, we'll keep you posted. Via Daily Telegraph.
Soon, Sydneysiders in search of the perfect wave won't have to sit in summer traffic to get to the coast. URBNSURF, a developer of man-made surf parks, has just announced that the development of Sydney's first-ever proper wave pool has gained approval from the NSW Department of Planning and Environment today, December 20. It's to be built in Sydney Olympic Park, across a 3.2 hectare area known as Pod 5B. The idea is to give the Australian surfing team, who are preparing for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, a place to train. But that won't be the surf park's only mission. The park is just as much for amateur surfers and families — you can expect a variety of events throughout the year, including both amateur and pro surfing comps, as well as festivals dedicated to music, art, film, food, drink, culture and more. The complex will host a beach club, restaurant, bar, cafe, pop-ups and a concept retail space, in addition to the wave pool, which will take up two hectares. "URBNSURF Sydney will be capable of generating up to 1000 surfing waves, of up to two metres in height every hour, and will provide customised surfing experiences to suit all ability levels and board types," said Andrew Ross, founder and chairman of URBNSURF. The company expects to start construction in late 2018 and see surfers in action by late 2019. Two other surf parks are in development in Australia — one in Melbourne and the other in Perth. URBNSURF has plans to complete ten altogether by 2027.
There's never a bad time for gelato. There's never a special occasion that couldn't use it, too. That's all in Gelato Messina's wheelhouse, with the chain mighty fond of releasing limited-edition treats to make holidays even tastier. The latest example: its Easter 2023 offering, which brings back its gelato-filled chocolate eggs. Dessert heaven? This is it. Also, if you've always wanted to smash open a Messina Easter egg, that's on the menu as well. Either way, you'll be tucking into an egg handmade out of Messina's milk chocolate — and it'll be filled with frosty, creamy goodness or six rocher balls. First, the gelato-packed eggs, aka a dream for gelato and chocolate lovers alike. That's tasty news as it is but, in even better news, these goodies come in a trio. So, you'll get the Ménage Egg Trois, as Messina has dubbed it, all for $95. The gelato chain says the three eggs can feed between six and ten people, but it's obviously up to you how much you share them On the menu: a custard and shortbread gelato number, with the chocolate egg also featuring strawberry jam yolk, and then dipped in strawberry white chocolate; and an egg packed with vanilla and coconut gelato, mango sorbet, mango gel yolk and baked cheesecake, then encased in white chocolate and desiccated coconut. And, rounding out the pack is a pretzel and milk chocolate-coated egg featuring chocolate gelato with peanut fudge, chocolate brownies and peanut butter caramel. Your tastebuds might already remember that Messina did gelato-free chocolate Easter eggs in 2022, too. This year's version sprinkles its shell with chopped roasted hazelnuts, and boasts two waffle cone and white chocolate rocher balls (filled with waffle cone cream), two 65-percent dark chocolate and salted peanut rocher balls (filled with peanut cream), and two milk chocolate and hazelnut rocher balls (filled with Messinatella cream) inside. That'll set you back $70, and apparently will keep two-to-four people (or just you) very satisfied. As a bonus, Messina is also making golden versions of both Easter sets — and the difference isn't just in the appearance. If your milk chocolate gelato-filled eggs happen to be gold on the outside, you've won a year's worth of Messina. If your giant chocolate egg has a golden rocher inside, same deal. You will need to take a photo, then email hello@gelatomessina.com to claim your prize. Messina's Easter kits can only be ordered online on Monday, March 20 for collection over Easter — of course — between Thursday, April 6–Sunday, April 9. Messina now opens its orders at various times for various places, so you'll want to hop online at 9am for Queensland and Australian Capital Territory stores, 9.15am for Victorian shops, and at either 9.30am, 9.45am or 10am depending on where you are in New South Wales. Gelato Messina's Easter eggs are available to order from Monday, March 20 for pick up between Thursday, April 6–Sunday, April 9 — head to the Messina website for further details.
When it opens its borders in early March, Western Australia will allow travellers from interstate and international destinations to visit for the first time in nearly two years — and, if it's beaches you're after, you have plenty of reasons to make the trip. Already in 2022, WA's Misery Beach was named Australia's best beach for the year. Now, the state's Turquoise Bay has nabbed its own accolade, topping a list of best beaches in the South Pacific for 2022. In Tripadvisor's just-announced 2022 lineup of the region's best beaches, which ranks ten idyllic locations, seven Aussie spots made the cut — and two from New Zealand. In fact, the only patch of sand that wasn't from either country was Bora Bora's Matira Beach, which came in fifth. Yes, that means three Aussie beaches and one NZ spot pipped French Polynesia. Located in Exmouth, Turquoise Bay came in third in Tripadvisor's top ten list of beaches around the world, too, moving up a spot from sixth in 2021. So, if you're making beachy holiday plans, this WA locale has been given the tick twice over. [caption id="attachment_844142" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Greens Pool, Denmark, Western Australia[/caption] On the South Pacific list, Broome's Cable Beach, also in WA, came in second — followed by New Zealand's Kaiteriteri Beach at third, then Greens Pool in Denmark, WA at fourth. Norfolk Island's Emily Bay ranked sixth, Queensland's Mooloolaba Beach came seventh, Cape Le Grand National Park in Esperance, WA sits eighth and 2021 best beach in the world winner Whitehaven Beach in Queensland came ninth. Rounding out the rankings: Tahunanui Beach in Nelson, NZ. Clearly, WA beaches scored big — with most locations named this year also placing in 2021. [caption id="attachment_844140" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kaiteriteri Beach, New Zealand[/caption] On the worldwide list, Grace Bay Beach in the Turks and Caicos Islands emerged victorious — moving up from fourth place in 2021 — followed by Varadero Beach in Cuba at second. Brazil's Quarta Praia in Morro de Sao Paulo came fourth, Aruba's Eagle Beach sits fifth and Radhanagar Beach on Havelock Island in India ranked sixth. They were followed by Baía do Sancho in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil at seventh; Trunk Bay Beach in the Virgin Islands National Park, US Virgin Islands at eighth; Baía dos Golfinhos in Praia da Pipa, again in Brazil, at ninth and Italy's Spiaggia dei Conigli in Lampedusa at tenth. The global list also named spots from 11th to 25th place, with Broome's Cable Beach coming in 11th. Across both the worldwide and South Pacific rankings, winners were chosen as part of Tripadvisor's Traveller's Choice awards, which is based on reviews and ratings left on the online platform across 2021. [caption id="attachment_844145" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Grace Bay Beach in the Turks and Caicos Islands[/caption] TOP TEN BEACHES IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC FOR 2022: Turquoise Bay, Exmouth, Western Australia Cable Beach, Broome, Western Australia Kaiteriteri Beach, Kaiteriteri, New Zealand Greens Pool, Denmark, Western Australia Matira Beach, Bora Bora, French Polynesia Emily Bay, Norfolk Island, Australia Mooloolaba Beach, Mooloolaba, Queensland Cape Le Grand National Park, Esperance, Western Australia Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island, Queensland Tahunanui Beach, Nelson, New Zealand TOP TEN BEACHES IN THE WORLD FOR 2022: Grace Bay Beach, Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos Varadero Beach, Varadero, Cuba Turquoise Bay, Exmouth, Western Australia Quarta Praia, Morro de Sao Paulo, Brazil Eagle Beach, Palm, Eagle Beach, Aruba Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island, India Baía do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil Trunk Bay Beach, Virgin Islands National Park, U.S. Virgin Islands Baía dos Golfinhos, Praia da Pipa, Brazil Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa, Italy To check out the full list of top beaches for 2022, head to Tripadvisor. Top image: Tourism Western Australia.
The Danish Christmas Market is returning for another year of authentic eats, tunes and gifts. Each year as the festive season kicks off, the Danish Church in Australia brings a big dose of Scandinavian cheer and culture to north-west Sydney. The market hosts a range of stores selling wares and knick-knacks destined to be wrapped and placed under the tree, as well as Danish Christmas tunes bringing a heap of festive spirit. The highlight of the market, however, has to be the food. Alongside an array of take-home eats like Danish lollies, chocolates, bread and condiments, there will be stalls on-site serving up northern European favourites for you to devour on the day. Take your pick from the smørebrød (open sandwiches topped with the likes of smoked salmon, eggs and deli meats), æbleskiver (round Danish pancakes paired with jam and icing sugar), and a staple of the Danish culinary world — hotdogs with crispy onions, pickles and remoulade. This is the first time since 2019 that the market has been able to take place IRL due to the pandemic, so expect extra cheer from the organisers and volunteers. The market will kick off at 9am, running until 3pm, and entry is free.
Take your weekly parkrun (or stroll around the block) to the next level, as New Balance and Sydney-based run crew Unofficial have teamed up to host 'The Biggest Shakeout'. Designed as an easygoing warm-up with a twist ahead of the following day's Sydney Marathon, everyone from high-performance athletes to budding walkers are invited to get a sweat on and connect on Saturday, August 30. Departing from Bradfield Park at 7am, the day's route goes far beyond your usual suburban speedwork session. Instead, you'll cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge on a five-kilometre run bound for Watersedge at Campbell's Store. Then it's time to get stuck into the post-workout celebration that'll make your early start to the weekend more than worth it. Runners can refuel from a floor-to-ceiling bagel wall adorned with tasty bites. Of course, sipping a well-caffeinated treat at the end of a run is the motivation many of us need to rise from bed at the crack of dawn, so it's a good thing Beforeyouspeak Coffee is getting down to brew their high-performance beans. What's more, upbeat DJ and runner Tigerlily will also be spinning tunes. While the thought of that hot coffee might be enough to convince you to get your trainers on, finding that get-up-and-go inspiration will come a little easier with a race-day goodie bag curated by New Balance and Unofficial. Handed out to the first 1500 runners to sign up, you'll find marathon supplies like caffeine and post-race fuel bars, alongside temporary tattoos and more that ensure you look the part while pounding pavement. Yet we haven't even covered this special event's major prize. New Balance and Unofficial are also giving one lucky runner a race bib for the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon, complete with a $3000 travel voucher. To see how hustling through the Big Apple stacks up against the Harbour City, just head to Unofficial's website and submit a one-minute video answering the question: How do you run your way? Entries close at 5pm AEST on Wednesday, August 27. "It's an honour to partner with New Balance to create The Biggest Shakeout," says Chad Cohen, Co-Founder of Unofficial. "This event is all about bringing runners together, celebrating the joy of movement and supporting one another ahead of race day — it truly captures the essence of running: community, connection and fun. We're excited to see everyone come together for what promises to be an unforgettable morning." New Balance and Unofficial's Biggest Shakeout is happening from 7am on Saturday, August 30. Head to the website for more information.
This time last year, the Brisbane Street Art Festival was in full swing, with creative folks brightening up the Queensland capital with their artistic work. While the fest ranks among the many, many events changing their plans in 2020, you can still watch street art come to life before your eyes this weekend — via a two-day live stream. Teaming up with Brisbane art space Superordinary, BSAF is unleashing 19 artists on the building. Naturally, they'll be painting up a storm. Every inch of the space will be transformed, and everyone can see it happen. That doesn't just cover street art-loving Brisbanites, either, because online streams are handy that way. The weekend-long event runs across Saturday, May 16–Sunday, May 17, with the action streamed via Twitch. As well as oh-so-much painting, there's also interviews, Q&As and roving performances — all while social distancing. https://www.facebook.com/BrisbaneStreetArt/photos/a.10150176402908346/10158102825878346/?type=3&theater Top image: Gus Eagleton.
It's been a big few months for new hotels around Australia, including just-opened spots and places that'll launch in the coming months and years. Sydney now boasts the first Down Under outpost for Ace Hotels, and will soon score Porter House Hotel, too — plus the local debut of The Waldorf Astoria in 2025. Melbourne has welcomed the design-driven AC Hotels, Newcastle is nabbing its own QT with a rooftop bar and a suite in a clock tower, and the Gold Coast is nabbing The Langham. There's also a new hotel in the works for the Barossa in the middle of a vineyard, and the Yarra Valley is getting one as part of a big gig venue. Don't go thinking that Brisbane is missing out, though — because that's where the new voco Brisbane City Centre comes in. The chain has just taken up residence on North Quay right next to Brisbane Quarter, which means that it's in a prime riverside position. And, to take advantage of that location, it features a views aplenty, as well as a rooftop pool. Brisbane's first voco hotel — and the second for Queensland, after voco Gold Coast — it also comes with 194 rooms, as well as hangout space Kraft & Co. There, you can drink coffee by day and kick back in a lounge bar by night. You'll find the latter on the ground floor, slinging everything from eggs for breakfast and brunch through to cocktails till late. Wherever you're spending your time at this new staycation spot, you'll be surrounded by a sleek fitout by Sydney-based interior design studio JPDC, which takes its cues from the hotel's riverside locale. Dark blue tones are a big feature, alongside neutral colours — and maximising natural light. Among the site's features, voco Brisbane City Centre also boasts an all-hours gym, plus 11 meeting and function spaces. And, as part of a sustainability push that also includes aerated shower heads and refillable Antipodes products, guests can zip around the city for free on handcrafted bamboo bikes from Wyld Bikes. Find voco Brisbane City Centre at 85–87 North Quay, Brisbane. For more information or to make a booking, head to the voco website.
So many movies, so little time. That's film festival life, including right now in Sydney. The 2023 Sydney Film Festival is happening at the moment, showcasing hundreds of movies in cinemas across the city — and, if you haven't been able to fit all your viewing into its 12-day run, you'll now have four extra days to help. As it usually does, SFF is hosting a Back By Popular Demand program in the days after the fest's official close. In 2023, those bonus screenings will hit Dendy Newtown and Palace Norton Street between Monday, June 19–Thursday, June 22. No, you're not done spending your nights in darkened rooms just yet. There's 13 films to pick from and, as the name makes plain, they're all flicks that've been proving a hit with crowds so far. That includes straight-from-Cannes titles May December, starring Natalie Portman (Thor: Love and Thunder) and Julianne Moore (Sharper); Perfect Days, with German filmmaker Wim Wenders (Submergence) heading to Japan; and Anatomy of a Fall, a drama about an author (Sandra Hüller, Toni Erdmann) accused of her husband's murder, which just won French director Justine Triet (Sibyl) the Palme d'Or. Also on the list: whistleblower docudrama Reality, starring Euphoria and The White Lotus' Sydney Sweeney; the obviously film-loving I Like Movies; environmentalist tale How to Blow Up a Pipeline; and kaijus via Shin Ultraman, which springs from the creators of Shin Godzilla and Neon Genesis Evangelion. Or, there's Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, a documentary about an Estonian log-cabin sauna; fellow doco A Storm Foretold, focusing on Donald Trump's former adviser Roger Stone; and Beyond Utopia, about a family of five trying to escape from North Korea. Plus, Scrapper won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize (World Cinema Dramatic), Riceboy Sleeps follows a Korean single mother and her son as they start a new life in Canada in the 90s, and Sunflower spins a coming-of-age tale in the Melbourne suburbs. Some films have multiple sessions, while others are returning for just one — but, either way, your time at SFF for this year definitely isn't over yet. Sydney Film Festival's 2023 Back By Popular Demand bonus screenings hit Dendy Newtown and Palace Norton Street between Monday, June 19–Thursday, June 22. Sydney Film Festival 2023 runs from Wednesday, June 7–Sunday, June 18 at various Sydney cinemas — head to the festival website for further information and tickets.
Walsh Bay hotel Pier One is dipping its toes into the Harbour City's ocean of oysters-on-a-budget dining options. The Sydney Rock oyster has been thriving in the waters of NSW for thousands of years. Today, they're a fine dining delicacy, and most have forgotten the history of the oyster as a historic food staple. Now, in partnership with oyster experts East 33, Pier One has set out to educate Sydneysiders about the rich past and versatile world of the Sydney Rock Oyster. This summer, Pier One will be serving Sydney Rock Oysters from its own dedicated oyster harvest area at Cape Hawk. East 33's network of 41 estuaries, stretching from Byron Bay to Wonboyn Lake, will provide Pier with a seasonally rotating selection that will be shucked freshly in the kitchen or even tableside for a touch of theatre. To demonstrate the oyster's versatility, Pier One will be serving its Sydney Rock Oysters in three variations: freshly shucked; charred with smoked wagyu fat and coconut vinegar; and torched at tableside served with yuzu custard. For those looking for a slightly more casual experience, Pier One's PIER Bar will be celebrating oysters during sunset hour with $2 oysters from 5–6pm, Mondays to Fridays. Keeping with the fresh, summer atmosphere, you'll be able to chase your oysters with new PIER Bar signature Mini Margarita Oyster Shooter Flights. For the cherry on top, the hotel will open the Oyster Hotline in homage to its namesake's aphrodisiac qualities. Overnight hotel guests will be able to order a half-dozen ($39) or a dozen ($79) oysters to be delivered to their room within thirty minutes, complete with a bottle of champagne. Orders from the oyster hotline are "for emergencies of a more romantic nature", says Pier One. [caption id="attachment_976645" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Kucera[/caption]
There's nothing better than receiving a "guys, you've gotta see this!" message in your crew's group chat. Have they found elusive cheap return tickets to Tokyo? Did they finally pop the big question? Is there a new puppy about to join their family? Big life milestones aside, heading off on a trip with your mates is the next most special thing. It's a chance to switch off, escape the big smoke and explore our beautiful backyard. And the cooler months are the time when we all need a break from the daily grind with a long weekend or a well-earned week away. If you've done the cosy cabin retreat to death, why not shake things up with a bit of adventure this winter? Hit the slopes, strap on your helmet and gear up for a chance to try something new, from thrilling aerial adventures over World Heritage sites to snowy escapes filled with snowshoeing and fondue-ing. Partnering with Hugo Boss, we've whittled down the endless list of Aussie adventures to just five that will leave you feeling amped up and ready to take on the world — much like its newest fragrance, BOSS BOTTLED Infinite. Go on, give these pulse-racing sports a go and you'll get a new perspective on the stunning land of Oz. [caption id="attachment_720491" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland.[/caption] CAPE TRIBULATION HELICOPTER AND LAND ADVENTURE TOUR It's not every day you get to knock not one but two UNESCO World Heritage-listed areas off your bucket list. But then again, this ain't your average adventure tour. You'll spend a jam-packed day exploring the best of tropical north Queensland, including the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation. The tour kicks off with a two-hour scenic helicopter flight over world-class reefs and cascading waterfalls before touching down in the oldest living rainforest in the world. Then, the choice is yours: spend your afternoon on horseback as you weave through the Daintree to the ocean's edge, or head straight for the treetops with a zipline experience. Head to Red Balloon to book. [caption id="attachment_720598" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Luke Tscharke.[/caption] CRADLE MOUNTAIN HUT WALK: WINTER OVERLAND TRACK It takes guts (and possibly a swig of gin) to sign up for a multi-day trek through the icy terrain of Tasmania's Cradle Mountain in the dead of winter. There's no wifi out here, friends. Just ancient landscapes, frozen lakes and long nights enhanced by a glass or two of Tasmanian wine. The eight-day Cradle Mountain Huts Walk winter overland track is one of the most challenging routes that the Tasmanian Walking Company offer, but it comes with plenty of rewards. Climb the peaks of Cradle Mountain, explore Lake Will and finish at Lake St Clair, Australia's deepest natural lake. [caption id="attachment_720745" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Skydive Noosa.[/caption] SKYDIVE NOOSA Jumping out of a plane at 15,000 feet is one way to get the blood pumping in the morning. But when you're freefalling over the sparkling Sunshine Coast, the terrifying drop can't be that bad, right? Strap in for an adrenaline junkie's dream with Skydive Noosa. The experience sees you spend 60 seconds in freefall — a minute the company describes as "life-changing" — before your instructor opens the parachute and you gently cruise your way to solid ground while soaking in the views. [caption id="attachment_720600" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kane Naaraat and Pinkbike.com.[/caption] BLUE DERBY MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDING TRAILS The historic town of Derby in Tasmania's north-east hasn't always been known for its 125 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails. It was tin mining that first put Derby on the map before the tragic bursting of Briseis Dam ended that. The town has been revitalised since the opening of the first section of the Blue Derby Trail Network in 2015. Today it boasts trails to suit every experience level, meaning it has something for you and all of your crew. HOTHAM SHOWSHOE TO FONDUE If exploring Australia's mountains and sleeping under the stars are on your to-do list, this is the tour to make it happen. Say hello to Alpine Nature Experience's Snowshoe to Fondue trip, an unforgettable overnight adventure set on the outskirts of Victoria's Alpine National Park. You'll snowshoe your way to your tipi-style eco-village accommodation before spending a night sipping hot glühwein, dipping your way through gooey French cheese fondue and soaking in the warmth of the outdoor campfire. When the sun comes up, the crew will make sure you leave fed and watered with a hearty warm breakfast. Hitting that work-life balance is hard. But shutting your laptop, splashing on some new BOSS BOTTLED Infinite and getting out in nature will help you seize the day and live your best life. Top image: Snowshoe to Fondue Experience.
For a moment, inside Cadence, I feel I’ve landed in Call of Duty, one of those teenage, first-person shooter games. Then I’m inside a type of war-themed dancehall, then a Yun-Fat Chow movie of black ops and modern warfare. Camouflaged soldiers from Australia, the US and Afghanistan are ripping and bending across desert and tarmac. Every move leaves an imprint, which tracks itself symmetrically across the screen to form thick and fast tribal medallions. This new four-panel video work is Cadence by Baden Pailthorpe, the inaugural artist-in-residence at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. He’s a different kind of war artist, concerned less with conflict and experience of war than its aesthetics and technology. Pailthorpe stamps out the gritty brashness of battle, replacing it with a subtle meditative quality and a super coolness: war in saturated HD, video art at its most stylish. Wherever I am, this is a weirdly sexy and bloodless war game. I’m not sure what that says politically, but it’s a seductive piece of media. This is the art of now — glossy and sleek with an undercurrent of zooming ADHD action. You can get a sense from this vimeo preview that Pailthorpe’s work is design meets simulated gaming meets contemporary video art. "Cadence" is the perfect name. Dance rhythms replace gunfire and a steady-pulsing kinetic energy make it all softly hypnotic, and slowly addictive. Cadence shows new media art is, at its best, as conceptually developed and skillfully executed as traditional disciplines. What you can’t get from the online preview is a sense of the lush, Twin Peaks-ish soundtrack. Beautifully crafted and elegantly choreographed, Cadence’s video-art cousin could be Daniel Crooks' Static No.12 (remember it from the 17th Biennale of Sydney?), just as appropriately subtitled “seek stillness in movement”. The military body in action has never seemed so lovely.
Melissa McCarthy is now three-for-three in collaborations with Paul Feig. The actor-director team chase down Bridesmaids and The Heat with a goofy espionage comedy that serves as a showreel for their respective talents. In Feig’s case, that means cementing his reputation as one of Hollywood’s most rock-solid comic-directors, extracting hilarious turns from a more-than-willing cast while demonstrating a surprising amount of confidence with action scenes, which bodes well for his Ghostbusters sequel next year. For McCarthy, it means delivering one of the best performances of her career, nailing both the verbal and physical comedy while steering almost entirely clear of lazy jokes about her gender or her size. McCarthy stars as analyst Susan Cooper, a desk jockey working in the CIA basement funnelling instructions via an earpiece to operatives around the world. Her primary charge, and the subject of her unrequited affections, is the revoltingly narcissistic Bond-wannabe Agent Bradley Fine (Jude Law). But things suddenly change after Fine is gunned down by a devious arms heiress (Rose Byrne), who has somehow gained access to the identity of every active spy. With their best assets compromised, the agency has no choice but to throw the untested Cooper into the field. It’s a pretty standard comedic premise, in a similar vein to other recent spy spoofs such as Johnny English and Get Smart — the one major difference being that Cooper is actually fairly good at her new job. Feig, who wrote the film as well as directing, pokes fun at all the typical spy movie cliches, from the megalomaniacal villain all the way down to the gadgets, here disguised as everyday items such as fungal cream and laxatives. For the most part the humour is fairly broad and sweary — this is, after all, the same director who had McCarthy shit in a sink. Still, as with Feig’s previous films, the material is elevated considerably by the performances. After proving the MVP in both Bridesmaids and Bad Neighbours, Rose Byrne could well consider giving up dramatic roles altogether. Her villainous turn here is a delightful caricature of upper-crust snobbery, and many of the film’s best scenes are the ones that she and McCarthy share. Law is likewise wonderfully hammy as Fine, while Jason Statham sends up his typical screen persona as a 'rogue' CIA agent a little too convinced of his own brilliance. But it’s McCarthy who’s the real hero here, throwing herself into every scene with absolute commitment. Together, she and Feig not only deliver big laughs but also manage to skewer our expectations of what someone who looks like her is capable of. Yes, there are plenty of jokes at Cooper’s expense, but more often than not they’re the result of people underestimating her. As it turns out, that’s a pretty big mistake.
Across the last two months of 2023, most folks will celebrate festive season. Here's something else to mark this year: Godzilla season. New streaming series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters arrives in mid-November, combining kaiju with both Kurt (Fast and Furious 9) and Wyatt Russell (Under the Banner of Heaven). Then, the unrelated Godzilla Minus One will stomp onto the big screen Down Under to kick off December. This film marks a big return, and not just because Godzilla as a creature is huge in size (even though exactly how large the critter is varies between on-screen appearances). To the delight of fans of Zilly's rampages through its homeland's cinema, Godzilla Minus One is the first live-action Japanese Godzilla release about its namesake since 2016's excellent Shin Godzilla. When Godzilla first crawled out of the ocean and into cinemas, the famous movie monster made its debut appearance in the shadow of the Second World War. The link between the film's fears of nuclear holocaust and what Japan had just experienced wasn't an accident, in a picture that isn't just an excellent creature feature — the franchise-starting flick is stellar all round, including its glorious score. It was back in 1954 that Godzilla initially greeted the world. Now, almost seven decades later, 37 other movies have followed. The latest: Godzilla Minus One, which gives Zilly aficionados a long-awaited new Japanese Godzilla movie and takes its titular figure back to the country's postwar era. As seen in the both the first trailer for Godzilla Minus One and its just-dropped latest sneak peek, Japan is still coping with the aftermath of WWII's atomic bombings when the kaiju appears. The question: in a place that's already rebuilding, how will everyone both endure and battle against this towering critter? In a feature written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki (Lupin III: The First, Ghost Book), cue plenty of rampaging through the streets by Godzilla, plus fleeing by the film's humans. Cue buildings levelled, the ground both rumbling and crumbling, and explosions wreaking more havoc, too. Referencing going backwards from zero in its moniker, cue a film that follows people trying to survive and fight — all back in the time that gave birth to all things Godzilla. Already in cinemas in Japan since early November, Godzilla Minus One will hit the big screen Down Under from Friday, December 1. It follows three animated streaming efforts since Shin Godzilla: 2017's Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters, and 2018's Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle and Godzilla: The Planet Eater. Of course, the broader franchise also includes America's take on Godzilla, starting with a low in 1998, then including another try in 2014, 2019's Godzilla: King of the Monsters and 2021's Godzilla vs Kong. After TV's Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, a sequel to Godzilla vs Kong, is due in 2024. Check out the latest trailer for Godzilla Minus One below: Godzilla Minus One will hit cinemas Down Under on Friday, December 1.
Penfolds is taking over Carriageworks for three nights, introducing its new 2022 collection with an immersive event series headlined by one of Australia's favourite pop acts. Between Thursday, August 4 and Saturday, August 6, Venture Beyond by Penfolds will see Carriageworks turn into a hub of food, wine, music and art. Visually, the space will be transformed with local art collective and gallery Babekühl creating a multi-disciplinary short film depicting Penfolds' winemaking process. And accompanying the film? A space-themed set menu crafted by Sydney's renowned degustation king Nelly Robinson, from Surry Hills fine-diner nel. Robinson and the nel team created the viral KFC degustation earlier this year, and have conjured up a range of boundary-pushing set menus centred around the likes of Moulin Rouge!, Disney flicks and Christmas. This time around, he's created a series of intergalactic dishes designed to pair with Penfolds wines. Topping off the lineup is electro-pop duo Client Liaison, who will be performing across all three nights. The band will be bringing their catalogue of hits to the events with the help of producer and DJ Dan Lywood, who will be keeping the tunes rolling before and after their sets. Tickets include entry to the event as well as a stand-out meal from nel, a glass of three of the new wines from The Penfolds Collection 2022 and vinos from the Penfolds Max Collection throughout the night. Plus, for an additional $30, you can add a guided tasting of seven wines from the latest collection. Venture Beyond by Penfolds is on from Thursday, August 4 till Saturday, August 6. Head to the website to grab your ticket.
Swim season is nearly upon us (finally) and the Andrew (Boy) Charlton pool is starting it off with free entry, free brekkie and free yoga. The pool will officially reopen for the 2019/20 season on Sunday, September 1 and it's giving free entry to every single person who walks through the door between 6am and 7pm that day. If you see yourself doing a lot of swimming this spring, you can also sign up for a free two-week 360 Membership, which gets you access to all City of Sydney pools and fitness centres. Now, back to the yoga. The Sydney Yoga Collective is hosting free classes at 10am and 3pm. They're limited to 30 people each, so if you're keen you should sign up here ASAP. In between laps, you'll also be able to eat free brekkie, listen to live tunes and maybe score a door prize. And, of course, the ABC pool's proximity to the Botanical Gardens and views across the harbour make it an appealing spot as it is.
Just like a picture is worth a thousand words, a good gift can speak volumes. And when it comes to your nearest and dearest, it's worth forking out the big bucks to make them feel suitably special. Socks and undies simply will not do, you need to up the ante and pick out a present that is nuanced, thoughtful and unequivocally them. We know it can be tough; you may feel as though you've exhausted all your options. There's only so many times you can buy their favourite necklace, after all. To give you some fresh gift ideas, we've partnered with Australia Post and pulled together some real humdingers for the super important people in your life. From retro turntables to limited edition RMs, these pressies keep your key peeps smiling. Moreover, they can all be ordered online and conveniently delivered to your nearby Parcel Locker so you don't even have to go to the shops. Let your fingers do the walking, forgo the crazy Christmas crowds and rest easy knowing your parcel is stored securely till you're ready to collect. Happy shopping, Santas. PORD WINE BARREL If you've got a legit wine lover on your list, go beyond a bottle of primo vino or even a stylish decanter, and blow their socks off with one of these mini wine barrel masterpieces. The three-litre barrels are covered in art by three eclectic artists — Filippa Edghill, Hannah Nowlan and Evi O. — and filled with top-notch Mitchelton drops from the 2017 and 2018 vintages. Choose the design and the wine — pinot grigio, shiraz or rose — and get ready to be praised for your awesome gift. Each barrel holds a neat four bottles' worth of wine and will keep it fresh for up to six weeks. They can also be repurposed once empty. Cheers to that. How much? $160 CUSTOM HABBOT SHOES There's nothing better than a pair of comfy shoes. Wait, we take that back, there's nothing better than a pair of comfy and stylish shoes. Treat your special someone to a pair of custom Habbot shoes — they're super chic but have Hush Puppies-level comfort. The Aussie-designed and Italian-made footwear company has a great online customisation tool that lets you pick and choose everything, from the shoe type — classic derby, micro-sole derby, point pump or mid-heel sandal — to the material, colour and laces. So, you can design one-of-a-kind kicks for your numero uno that'll stand out from the crowd. How much? From $405 EVERY EDITION OF TRUTH, LOVE & CLEAN CUTLERY If your nearest and dearest is both an eco-warrior and a food lover — congrats, they sound awesome — surprise them with every edition of Truth, Love & Clean Cutlery. Basically the A to Z of sustainable eating, these guidebooks feature more than 1300 organic, ethical and sustainable restaurants from around the world. To take the gift up a notch, let your loved one pick out a few of their favourite restaurants and treat them to a night of ethical fare. Hey, it's a present for you, too. How much? $145 for all four books RM WILLIAMS EXCLUSIVE BOOTS These boots were made for walking and showing off, the limited edition metallic RMs are the shoe of the season and the perfect gift for any Carrie Bradshaw-status shoe fiends. At $545 a pop, they're not cheap — but the RM brand is renowned for its rock-solid craftsmanship and the kicks will last a lifetime. Luckily, silver is seldom out of style and goes perfectly with tinsel. But if silver is a bit too flash for your giftee, there's also the more subdued limited edition high-shine black boot. No matter your choice, each pair is crafted out of a single piece of leather and is made to order, so expect a two-week delivery timeframe. They're worth the wait, trust us. How much? $545 GOOGLE HOME HUB Hey, Google. Tell us how many hugs we're going to get for this kick-ass gift? Forget it, we already know it's going to be a heap. Yep, anyone who receives a Google Home Hub for Christmas is going to be over the moon. They're basically getting their very own assistant to set alarms, turn off lights, read out cooking instructions, organise daily routines, play music, take photos... the list goes on. They might even get a new lover if they're anything like Joaquin Phoenix's character in Her. Now that's a gift. How much? $219 FUJIFILM INSTAX SQUARE SQ6 INSTANT CAMERA Remember when Polaroid cameras were so big and bulky they basically required their own carry bag? While the promise of pretty photos (in an instant) was enticing, nobody wanted to lug around a brick. Thankfully, those days are long gone and you can now gift a nice, compact FujiFilm Instant Camera to your number one. The clever square format means your pal won't waste time choosing between portrait or landscape, they can just pick up the camera and take the snap. It's kind of like Instagram in real life. Plus, its small size means it can be carried around with ease. How much? $199 RETRO-LOOKING TURNTABLE If you've got a bigtime muso in your inner circle, there's a good chance you've heard them rabbiting on about the beauty of vinyl before — how records sound so much better than CDs or MP3. Something about audio data and lossy formats? Anyway, treat them to this Thomson 3 Speed Retro Look Turntable with built-in speakers and get them spinning their favourite tracks. The turntable's sleek, vintage design makes it a nice addition to any home — even a muso's dark and dingy lair. If you want to add a personalised touch, pick out a vinyl to gift with the turntable — it's a combo that's guaranteed to make their head spin like, well, a record. How much? $99 NOKIA STEEL HR WATCH This one's for the fitness fanatics in your life who also appreciate a bit of style. The Nokia Steel HR Watch is a watch-activity tracker hybrid that's both aesthetically pleasing and hella practical. The watch monitors your heart rate during workouts and can assess your overall performance, then deliver a personalised in-app report directly to your smartphone. The intuitive gadget makes your fitness goals that little bit easier to achieve, which means it's also a thoughtful gift for somebody you know is keen to get fit in the new year. How much? From $299 MODERNIST BREAD BOOK SET Bread, glorious bread. You'd be hard pressed to find a person who doesn't love it. But if you've got a special person who's particularly fond of baked goods, this is the book set for them. Modernist Bread: The Art and Science is a deep-dive into one of the most important staples of the human diet; it's the most in-depth look at bread to date. The five-volume set, housed in a sleek stainless steel case, contains more than 1500 recipes and breadmaking techniques. The best part? You can sample all their tasty dough-based creations. Forget cake, let them eat bread. How much? $700 HP SPROCKET PHOTO PRINTER A gift for the selfie enthusiasts, the HP Sprocket Photo Printer allows you to instantly print photos straight from your smartphone quicker than you can say 'duck face'. The printer has an ultracompact design — it's small enough to carry on the go — so it's also a great gift for budding photographers or designers as they can quickly print their snaps. The printer uses Bluetooth technology, which means there are no annoying cords and each photograph can be edited (hello, filters) before printing via the HP Sprocket app. Also, the special adhesive photo paper means you can easily stick your photos into albums or journals. How much? $159 Christmas shopping has never been so simple — order online, ship to a Parcel Locker and avoid the hectic shops with Australia Post.
Approaching at 128 BPM, Stereosonic will take over the Sydney Olympic Park for two heated, fist-pumping days of electro, techno and house music. Maybe 'getting shredded' isn't an idea you subscribe to, but good techno and house music is. Luckily, aside from the buzz headline acts like Calvin Harris, Tiesto, Steve Aoki and Skrillex, promoters have placed an emphasis on local acts — and there's no shortage of genuine talent. After presiding over the official Grammys afterparty in LA (as you do), Alison Wonderland is coming back to Australia for Stereosonic alongside Sydney project What So Not (Flume and Emoh Instead), triple j presenter and DJ Nina Las Vegas, electronic dance regulars The Aston Shuffle, and UK power duo Disclosure (for a DJ set only). Porter "boy genius" Robinson is adding the Australian sweatfest to his list and punters will get to see NYC's RL Grime, who has worked epic wonders with artists as diverse as Big Sean and How To Dress Well. Let the summer festival season begin. Tickets are still available via ticketmaster.com.au. $149.95 for Saturday/Sunday tickets only or $234.95 for a two-day ticket.
New Zealand is known for high quality produce, but because the Southern Island of Aotearoa is home to barely over one million people, we think they might need some assistance in consuming all that can be foraged from its land, air and sea. Here are some of Concrete Playground's best gastronomic reasons to head across the Cook Strait. Land Even in drier months the landscape in New Zealand is a lush green. The abundance of grass for four legged animals means that the human animal at the end of the chain ends up with a healthier and tastier meal. It starts with lamb. It has to. Although current statistics show that the person to sheep ratio in New Zealand has dropped to 7:3, that still works out as more than 32 million sheep. When driving around the South Island it is easy to spot numerous woolly winter bottoms peaking out from the green terrain. New Zealand is, of course, one of the largest exporters of lamb in the world. Carnivores will also enjoy the strong flavoured venison provided by the fields of delicate looking deer. At Wanaka’s Botswana Butchery you can start with a Southland Venison Carpaccio followed by a slab of Fiordland Venison Top Side. Other wintery game meats include rabbit and hare. Air Then there are the birds. There are foreigners such as ostrich and pheasant. One of the New Zealand natives however is the Titi, also known as the mutton bird. The Rajuira Maori have rights to gather these birds from the southernmost region of New Zealand - their bounty being served in only a spattering of restaurants. Queenstown’s Fishbone Bar and Grill serves them pan roasted with kumara chips when they’re in season. The dark meat of the seabird retains the flavour of its fish filled diet. Even after soaking and boiling the flesh in fresh water a strong salty anchovy taste lingers. Sea With nearly 6,000 km of coastline the choice of salt water fish is immense. The ocean sourced Hapuka and Blue Cod are also joined by fresh water counterparts. The Akaroa Cod is cooked to perfection at the Pegasus Arms bar in Christchurch. It is served with a homemade aioli and a super intense tomato sauce for chip dipping. As the cool winters defrost into the spring months of September and October the whitebait season begins. It demands regular roadside stops to fill up on whitebait fritters. You’d hope for one with minimal egg to just bind together a generously fish-packed patty. Housed in a little stall near the end of Fyffe Quay in Kaikoura, the Kaikoura Seafood BBQ offers a delicious version along with a great variety of whatever other fresh seafood could be found in the ocean that morning. It seems even those guarded by shells are not safe from hungry seafood lovers. The coastal town of Kaikoura is named after its famed crayfish. Kai (‘eat’) Koura (‘crayfish’) is an order that only seems fair to obey when visiting the seaside settlement. One can also choose from the monstrous Green Lipped Mussels and the Paua, the abalone whose pearly opal shell is valued as much as its mushroom-like flesh. The Green Dolphin Restaurant & Bar in Kaikoura has a hearty seafood stew giving you a chance to try a whole variety of seafood in one, huge, meal. The plump New Zealand Bluff oysters are widely regarded as the world’s best. Developing in the pristine cold waters of the Foveaux Strait they are large creamy mouthfuls of the ocean. Each year the seaside town of Bluff, from which the oysters take their name, has a festival to celebrate and enjoy the delicacy. With South Island dining establishments including the Cuisine Restaurant of the Year 2011, Riverstone Kitchen in Oamaru, as well as one of Rick Stein’s favourites, Fleur’s Place in Moeraki, its world class produce is sure to be used to its full potential. The waistline may shudder but at least the conscience is clear – you’re simply there to help out after all.
Greater Sydney's lockdown has now entered its seventh week, and isn't set to end until at least Saturday, August 28. But some of the region's stay-at-home requirements are still changing, with restrictions tightening in areas where case numbers are proving particularly high. Already, eight specific Local Government Areas have been put under stricter requirements — and since 5pm on Sunday, August 8, 12 suburbs in the Penrith LGA have joined them. So far, residents of the Parramatta, Georges River, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool, Blacktown and Cumberland have been under tighter rules that only allows them to travel five kilometres from home in general, and only leave their homes for work outside their areas if they're considered authorised workers. Also required: wearing masks whenever they leave the house. At New South Wales' daily COVID-19 press conference on Sunday, August 8, Premier Gladys Berejiklian also added the suburbs of Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Colyton, Erskine Park, Kemps Creek, Kingswood, Mount Vernon, North St Marys, Orchard Hills, Oxley Park, St Clair and St Mary's to the list. "Regrettably, there are 12 suburbs in the Penrith Local Government Area that will now be listed as an area of concern and will be subjected to those harsher restrictions that we've imposed on those eight Local Government Areas," said the Premier. "They are clearly suburbs which are boundaries to those eight Local Government Areas, and we want to make sure that we stem the tide of the virus seeping into those additional communities." The 12 suburbs now under tighter conditions are still bound by the overarching stay-at-home rules that applies to the rest of Greater Sydney, too. So, as has been the case since late June, everyone can still only leave the house for four specific essential reasons: to work and study if you can't do it from home; for essential shopping; for exercise outdoors; and for compassionate reasons, which includes medical treatment, getting a COVID-19 test and getting vaccinated. Also, only businesses deemed "critical retail" are permitted to remain open. Stores that can continue to welcome in customers include supermarkets, grocery stores, butchers, bakeries, fruit and vegetable stores, liquor stores and fishmongers; pharmacies and chemists; and shops that primarily sell health, medical, maternity and infant supplies. Also allowed to stay open: pet supply shops, post offices, newsagencies, office supply stores, petrol stations, car hire places, banks, hardware shops, nurseries, and places that sell building, agricultural and rural goods. Any retail premises that don't fall into the above categories are closed to physical customers, but they can do takeaways, home deliveries, and click and collect orders. If you need supplies, only one person from each household can go out shopping each day to buy essential items — and browsing is prohibited, too. Carpooling is still off the cards, unless you're in a vehicle with members of your own household. And, you can still only exercise in groups of two outdoors — or as a household. The stricter restrictions came into effect as NSW reported 262 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases identified to 8pm on Saturday, August 7, with only 86 cases in isolation for their entire contagious period. As always, Sydneysiders are also asked to continue to frequently check NSW Health's long list of locations and venues that positive coronavirus cases have visited. If you've been to anywhere listed on the specific dates and times, you'll need to get tested immediately and follow NSW Health's self-isolation instructions. In terms of symptoms, you should be looking out for coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste — and getting tested at a clinic if you have any. Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour will remain in lockdown until at least 12.01am on Saturday, August 28. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
Unless you somehow haven't looked at a screen, billboard or newspaper in the past few weeks — or listened to the radio, heard any streaming ads or had a TV on in the background, either — you'll know that Black Friday is upon us for another year. Absolutely everything is on sale, or so it seems, including bargain holidays. Whether you're keen to explore Australian destinations or fancy a getaway further afield, Virgin's addition to the 2023 shopping frenzy has you covered. A whopping 500,000 fares are currently up for grabs as part of the airline's Black Friday, Bright Holidays sale, covering a heap of Aussie and international spots. Sticking with home turf, you can head to Byron Bay, the Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Hamilton Island, Alice Springs, Hobart and more. And, if you're eager to journey overseas, you can hit up Bali, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tokyo and Queenstown. One-way domestic fares start at $49, which'll get you from Sydney to Byron Bay. As always, that's cheapest route. Other discounted flights include Melbourne to Launceston from $59, Brisbane to either Cairns for $105 or Hamilton Island for $115, Adelaide to the Gold Coast from $125 and Perth to Hobart from $239. Internationally, the return deals start with Sydney to Queenstown from $435, Brisbane to Fiji from $509, Melbourne to Bali from $629 and Cairns to Tokyo from $679. If you're wondering when you'll need to travel, there's a range of dates from Wednesday, January 10–Thursday, June 20, 2024, all varying depending on the flights and prices. As usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick. Virgin's discounted fares are now on offer until midnight on Tuesday, November 28 or sold out, whichever arrives first. Virgin's 2023 Black Friday, Bright Holidays sale runs until midnight AEST on Tuesday, November 28 — or until sold out. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
We're almost halfway through the 2017 season of Twilight at Taronga, but there's still a chance to grab some tickets and head along. The after-hours live music series that boasts perhaps the best view of Sydney Harbour (as well as lots of adorable animals) has proven it's got some real cred when it comes to hosting outdoor gigs in the past few years. There are still tickets available for the Kurt Vile show on Friday March 3, but we've got two double pass to give away. Picnic-bringing is encouraged at Twilight at Taronga. If you don't win, pre-order an incredibly delicious hamper when you buy your ticket online. They're filled with Australian produce, cheese, crackers and other delights. We tasted them, they're extremely generous and genuinely great. There's also a bar on-site and some general nosh available from the canteen. All proceeds from Twilight at Taronga go back into the zoo's ongoing conservation work, including support of the first global community action tool, Wildlife Witness, which helps fight against illegal wildlife trade. PLUS, your ticket includes free entry to the zoo on the same day and return public transport. That's a big deal. View the full Twilight at Taronga line up here and get your tickets to Kurt Vile and other shows here. [competition]610707[/competition]
For local residents, the Paddington Reservoir Gardens is a serene pocket of green sunken beneath busy Oxford Street, but there was a time when the reservoir served as just that, a water reservoir for a growing Sydney. Once Paddington's main water supply, it's now an idyllic park inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
The music industry often takes itself too seriously. Funny photos of serious musicians are scarce, but hilarious. Take a took at these photos of (usually) serious musicians. We've got everything from Dallas Green (City and Colour, above) in underwear with an umbrella, Elvis Costello in a fedora hanging with Elmo, and the always intimidating post punk band Swans squatting awkwardly in a swimming pool. Even the deepest and darkest of musicians have a soft side (or at least a somewhat funny side). Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson Elvis Costello Ian Anderson John Cage Radiohead Elliott Smith Iron Maiden Jeremiah Greene and Jim Fairchild of Modest Mouse Swans Hans-Joachim Roedelius
If you've never tried the cream puffs at Emperor's Garden Bakery in Chinatown, today's the day to fix that sad situation. As soon as you escape the office, make a beeline for the outpost on the corner of Hay and Dixon streets, and join the queue waiting for a taste of the venue's famous Emperor Puffs. These hot little custard balls are sold straight from the oven and are well worth the wait. Plus, a single dollar buys you three of these babies so you can order as many as you want without putting a dent in your wallet. Craving even more sweet treats? Wander inside the bakery, where you'll find moon cakes, chocolate eclairs, egg tarts and a whole bunch of other delectable nibbles. Image: Alpha via Flickr.
Set in the backstreets of suburban Brisbane, Trent Dalton's award-winning 2018 novel Boy Swallows Universe is destined to become an Aussie classic. It follows a young boy, his prophetic brother and his jailbreaking best friend as they navigate the heroin-filled underworld of 80s Queensland. And it's about to come to life on the stage. Between Monday, August 30–Saturday, October 9 this year, the stage version of the novel will world premiere in Brisbane. Originally slated to debut in 2020 before the pandemic postponed much of the year's events, it'll now arrive this year instead. It's a co-production between Queensland Theatre and Brisbane Festival, with the former's ex-Artistic Director Sam Strong directing the adaptation, which is written by playwright Tim McGarry. When it was first announced, Brisbane-born author Dalton said in a statement it was only fitting that the stage show should premiere in his hometown. "It was the people of Brisbane who took that wild, strange book and ran with it first and that book belongs to them now and this production will belong to them, too." Boy Swallows Universe has snagged a slew of local awards, including Book of the Year, Literary Book of the Year and Audio Book of the Year at the 2019 Australian Book Industry Awards. The novel, which has sold 160,000 copies in Australia alone, was also been longlisted for Australia's most prestigious literature prize, the Miles Franklin Award in 2019. Fans of the novel will be excited to hear that it won't stop at the stage, either — Boy Swallows Universe is also destined for the small screen. Harper Collins had sold the television rights to the novel, with Australian actor and director Joel Edgerton (who recently wrote, directed and produced Boy Erased) set to produce the show alongside Dalton as executive producer. Tickets for Queensland Theatre's production of Boy Swallows Universe are currently on sale — and they've been proving popular. In fact, the show's end date has just been extended to October 3 — the second time it has been extended — to meet demand. Top image: David Kelly. Updated September 29.
It wasn't just a Twitter thread — it was the Twitter thread. Whether you read Aziah 'Zola' King's viral 148-post stripper saga live as it happened back in October 2015, stumbled across the details afterwards as the internet lost its mind or only heard about it via Zola's buzzy trailer, calling this stranger-than-fiction tale a wild ride will always be an understatement. Its instantly gripping opening words, as also used in Janicza Bravo's (Lemon) savvy, sharp, candy-hued tweet-to-screen adaptation, happen to capture the whole OMG, WTF and OTT vibe perfectly: "you wanna hear a story about how me and this bitch fell out? It's kind of long, but it's full of suspense." In the film, that phrase is uttered aloud by Zola's eponymous Detroit waitress (Taylour Paige, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom). Still, the movie firmly embraces its origins. For those wondering how a filmmaker turns a series of tweets into a feature, Bravo handles the task with flair, energy, enthusiasm and a clear understanding of social media's role in our lives. Much of the phrasing that the real-life Zola used has made its way into the conversational script, which was co-written by playwright Jeremy O Harris. Each time that occurs, the film echoes with tell-tale swooshes, whistles and dings. But those words and alerts are just the starting point; as Zola's chaotic narrative unfurls, it comes to life with a mix of the hyperreal, the loose and the dreamy. It doesn't merely tell a tale taken from the tweetstorm to end all tweetstorms, but also uses every aesthetic choice it can to mirror the always-on, always-posing, always-sharing online realm. The other person that Zola refers to in her initial statement is the cornrow-wearing, blaccent-sporting Stefani (Riley Keough, The Lodge), who she serves at work, then joins on a jaunt to Florida. They immediately hit it off, which is what inspires the invite to head south — a "hoe trip" is how Zola describes it — however, what's meant to be a girls' getaway for a stint of lucrative exotic dancing in Tampa soon gets messy. The drive is long, and Stefani's boyfriend Derreck (Nicholas Braun, Succession) quickly dampens the mood with his awkward, try-hard schtick. Then there's X (Colman Domingo, Candyman), who, while introduced as Stefani's roommate, is actually her pimp. Trafficking Zola into sex work is the real plan of this working holiday, she discovers, but she's ferociously adamant that she won't be "poppin' pussy for pennies". As the woman both relaying and riding Zola's rollercoaster of a story, Paige is fierce and finessed. It's a tricky part; making the dialogue sound authentic, and also like it could've just been rattled off on social media with a mix of emojis and all caps, requires a precise tonal balance, for starters. So does ensuring that Zola always feels like a real person, especially given the tale's ups and downs. That said, Paige is guided by Bravo at every turn, with recognising how things play online and how they pan out in reality — and the frequent disconnection between the two — one of the filmmaker's biggest masterstrokes. That's exactly what a flick that's based on a Twitter thread should offer, rather than just mining posts for punchy content that's already proven popular. Using the platform as source material definitely doesn't equal an endorsement here. Instead, it sparks a brash and bouncy feature that interrogates its inspiration and the mechanism that turned it into a whirlwind, rather than serves up a cinematic retweet. Zola also draws upon David Kushner's Rolling Stone article 'Zola Tells All: The Real Story Behind the Greatest Stripper Saga Ever Tweeted', because 148 tweets can't cover everything. Nonetheless, plenty of the film's success emanates from its almost-surreal 16mm imagery and its airy, eerie-scored atmosphere, too. Its namesake's early words aren't misleading: this is a narrative filled with suspense. The waves it surfs in its mood and stylistic decisions cause just as must jitteriness, though — in a fantastic way. Zola hangs together immaculately, and it constantly feels as if Bravo, cinematographer Ari Wegner (The Power of the Dog), editor Joi McMillon (If Beale Street Could Talk) and composer Mica Levi (Monos) could go anywhere. That's a powerhouse lineup of talent, after all, with the latter trio's resumes spanning some of the killer films of the past decade: Lady Macbeth, In Fabric, True History of the Kelly Gang, Moonlight, Under the Skin and Jackie all included. Alongside Paige, Zola's cast is equally impressive, even if it initially appears as if a few might simply stick to type. Keough could've stepped off of American Honey's set and onto this one, and not just because they're both road-trip movies, yet adds another tricky yet memorable performance to her filmography. Written into her character, and conveyed in her portrayal as well, is a dissection of cultural appropriation. Stefani acts like she's Black in lieu of forming her own identity, is wilfully ignorant of that fact while being openly racist, and provides a pinpoint-precise portrait of oblivious, exploitative, all-devouring whiteness. Similar ideas bubble through Braun's work as the gangly and bungling Derrek — a twist on his acclaimed Cousin Greg persona, but with far less cash — and the concept of adopting a part and facade also lingers in Colman's scarily compelling and icily charming efforts. These are layered performances, befitting the rich and multi-faceted film they're in. Nothing in any movie is ever just one thing, but Zola demonstrates that notion with commitment and command. It's there in the feature's bold approach, including its eagerness to unpack its genesis on several levels. It's there in the film's gleaming yet never glamorous appearance as well, which almost pitches itself into the world of fantasy while steadfastly recognising that nothing about its story is seductive or alluring. And, it echoes in the tiniest of choices. Take an early moment, in a bathroom, where both Zola and her new pal take a leak. Shot from above, this is the smartest peeing scene you're ever likely to see, and expresses so much about its central duo purely by peering at their urine. Turning tweets and piss into a must-see movie? That's cinematic alchemy.
For a while there, it seemed like every hip hop tour to Australia was doomed to fail. Poor ticket sales, high-profile artists that don't show up, lazy and greedy managers and a general lack of any business savvy whatsoever have conspired to kill off a handful of festivals and some major tours in just the last year or two. But in the midst of all that, Rap City has not only gone ahead, it has thrived. Since its inception in 2010 the single-stage mini-festival has brought out some of the all-time greats of the game, from Ghostface Killah and DOOM to The Beatnuts and Masta Ace. This time around, Rap City will be headlined by none other than Talib Kweli, one of the most thoughtful, socially aware and lyrically gifted MCs around. His 1998 collaboration album with Mos Def — Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star — remains a masterpiece of politically and socially conscious hip hop, but over 15 years and half-a-dozen albums Kweli has proved time and again that he is one of the most gifted lyricists of his generation. With a new album, Prisoner of Conscious, recently released featuring Miguel, Curren$y, Kendrick Lamar, Marsha Ambrosius and Busta Rhymes, Kweli is sure to be at his energetic, eloquent best. Joining Kweli will be Homeboy Sandman, the rapidly rising star signed to Stones Throw Records (home to the likes of DOOM, Peanut Butter Wolf, Madlib, Australia's own Jonti and the late, great J Dilla). His praises as a lyricist and intellect have been sung by XXL, The Source, NPR, Rolling Stone and everyone in between, but his beats have a groove so good you almost don't notice that Homeboy's lyrics challenge almost every thought you have ever had. And if that weren't enough, these twin lyrical titans are being joined by Trademark 'Da Skydiver', the next big thing from the Jet Life Crew label — home to the likes of Curren$y, Smoke DZA and Sir Michael Rocks (formerly of The Cool Kids). With a handful of rapturously received mixtapes under his belt, Trademark is currently putting his finishing touches on his highly anticipated album Flamingo Barnes 2, which is due on the eve of his Australian Rap City tour. If anyone ever told you hip hop was dead, make sure you drag them along to Rap City and shut them up. MELBOURNE – Thursday October 3 @ The Hi-Fi PERTH – Friday October 4 @ Villa BRISBANE – Saturday October 5th @ The Hi-Fi SYDNEY – Sunday (Long Weekend) October 6 @ The Hi-Fi Tickets go on sale on Monday, 12 August, via Moshtix and OZTIX.
Din Tai Fung is known for their general dumpling prowess, creating cute, Chinese New Year themed animal dumplings and bringing those utterly ridiculous super-sized xiao long bao to Australia. If you didn't get a chance to sit down with a straw and slurp the XL XLB last year, you'll be happy to know they're coming back to Din Tai Fung's World Square venue — as part of an 18-course degustation, no less. The dinner on Monday, August 14 is the second to be announced after the first one booked out quicker than a plate of pork buns could be demolished. The 18-course menu will put twists on Din Tai Fung dishes past and present, and feature a few new wacky creations for good measure. Along with the giant soupy xiao long bao, you can expect Peking duck spring rolls, black truffle pork dumplings (which will use squid ink for a black and white yin-yang look) and three new dessert dumps: green tea, sesame mochi and chocolate banana. Also on the menu will be Hawaiian pizza dumplings, which sound like an abomination — but, hey, we'll give it a go. The full 18 courses is surely akin to a dumpling marathon — but be sure to save room for the pièce de résistance: the giant xiao long bao. For the uninitiated, the xiao long bao is a steamed, soupy dumpling filled with a flavoursome broth and a pork and prawn filling. They usually come in mouth-sized portions but Din Tai Fung will be serving them up at seven times their usual size (hence the need for a straw). Tickets to the degustation are a very reasonable $48, with $10 from each one going to children's mental health charity Be Centre. The first one sold out in less than two hours, so, if you're at all interested, you should nab some as soon as possible.
The noble crab, with its rock-hard shell, crusty legs and creepy, boggling eyes has a secret: it's delicious AF. Somehow people figured this out (what a surprise that would have been for the first person to crack open that shell and discover that perfect, perfect crabbery), including the seafood-crazy folk at The Morrison. And so, the annual Crab Carnival was born. From March 20 to April 16, The Morrison will be putting crab in everything — we mean everything. Expect conventional crab dishes like fried crab, crab toast and soft shell crab po' boys alongside less conventional offerings like mini crab doughnut burgers washed down with a Crabby Mary (crab doesn't sounds like a word anymore, right?). No crab is left unturned during this four-week festival. Especially if you head down on Thursday nights for the Louisiana crab broil — you'll be able to don a bib, grab a mallet and hoe into a sea of blue swimmer crab, corn on the cob, new potato and sausage.
2021 marks 40 years since author Thomas Harris first introduced the world to Hannibal Lecter in his 1981 novel Red Dragon. It's the 35th anniversary of the character initially making the leap to the screen in 1986 movie Manhunter, too. But it was the Oscar-winning 1991 film adaptation of 1988 book The Silence of the Lambs that made the character a pop culture mainstay — and helped ensure that big and small screen versions of Harris' work were never far from view for long. In cinemas, 2001's Hannibal and 2007's Hannibal Rising each adapted Harris' books of the same name. 2002's Red Dragon gave audiences another movie based on that novel, too. And, on television, 2013–5 series Hannibal also focused on the psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer. Across all of the above, Lecter has remained the constant — as played by Succession's Brian Cox originally, then earning Anthony Hopkins an Academy Award, then portrayed by French actor Gaspard Ulliel (It's Only the End of the World) and Danish star Mads Mikkelsen (Arctic). Next in the franchise: TV series Clarice, which starts airing in Australia from Friday, February 12 via streaming platform Stan, and just dropped its first full trailer. The new show continues the saga's fondness for titles that share their name with a character and, obviously, pushes someone other than Lecter to the fore. Clarice Starling was a student at the FBI Academy when she was sent to interview Lecter, and it changed her career — with Clarice picking up her story in 1993, a year after the events of The Silence of the Lambs, as she returns to the field. While Jodie Foster nabbed an Oscar for the role, and Julianne Moore stepped into Starling's shoes in Hannibal, this time the character is played by Australian actor Rebecca Breeds (Blue Water High, Home and Away, Pretty Little Liars, The Originals). She'll portray Starling as the FBI agent faces new cases and confronts her own past — and she'll be joined on-screen by co-stars Michael Cudlitz (The Walking Dead), Lucca de Oliveira (SEAL Team), Kal Penn (House), Nick Sandow (Orange Is the New Black), Devyn Tyler (The Purge), Jayne Atkinson (Criminal Minds) and newcomer Marnee Carpenter. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agjDfPTfMTY&feature=youtu.be Clarice starts streaming via Stan on Friday, February 12, dropping new episodes weekly. Top image: Brooke Palmer ©2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc.
Kūrumac, the Japanese translation of Kirribilli sister cafe Cool Mac, has arrived in Marrickville serving up Japanese comfort food for breakfast and lunch. Business partners Eugene Leung and Dika Prianata have decorated their new inner west cafe with a colourful mural from local artist collective Ar-chive, which celebrates both old and new Japan by combining a traditional food stall with a vending machine selling gyoza, bonsai and sneakers. This melding of old and new is a carried throughout the rest of Kūrumac, too. "It's a modern space, but the food is home-cooking," explains Leung. Cooking the food is Cool Mac Chef Junichi Okamatsu, who's serving up twists on some of his favourite childhood dishes, such as the udon bowl, which was inspired by a dish from his home in Yatsushiro. The noodles sit in a hot tasty broth topped with wagyu beef and sesame, and are served with a side of crispy fried shrimp. It's not what you'd normally find on an inner west cafe's breakfast menu, but that's exactly what Kūrumac is all about. As Leung says, the team wants to make food that Japanese locals "would get served for breakfast by their parents". The spicy cod roe piped onto classic thick-cut Japanese white bread, topped with cheese and grilled, is another winner from the menu. For lunch, from 11am, you can grab something a little greener, such as the seared salmon, avocado and yuzu kosho — a spicy and citrusy condiment — salad. During Sydney's long hot days, the cafe has you sorted with loads of cooling Japanese drinks, including iced mugicha (a barley tea); green tea or hojicha (a roasted Japanese tea) milkshakes made with gelato from Newtown's MaPo; and Ume Burger's house-made sodas. Images: Kimberley Low
Like lots of Melburnians this year, Fonda will be celebrating its birthday month in lockdown. But fiestas will still be in strong supply regardless of restrictions, thanks to the restaurant group's newly dropped takeaway offering. In honour of its tenth birthday, Fonda has launched a menu of DIY taco kits and bottled margaritas that are primed for nights in and sunny picnic sessions alike. At $60, the taco kit comes packed with everything you need to make eight tacos — corn tortillas, fresh fillings, guacamole, pico de gallo and chipotle aioli, plus your choice of the signature chicken, slow-cooked beef brisket or roasted sweet potato. To wash it all down, you'll find a range of pre-batched margaritas in house flavours like Coconut, Makrut & Chilli, Watermelon & Lime and Chilli Mango. Grab a mixed four-pack of 100ml serves for $60, or try any flavour by the share-friendly half-litre bottle for $65. What's more, the Fonda folk have put together the ultimate playlist to soundtrack your festivities, sure to transport you to a night out at the OG Richmond restaurant — find it here. The taco kits and margaritas are available for pick up from Fonda Hawthorn, Windsor, Richmond, Collingwood and its Bondi outpost in Sydney. Pre-order online.
You've heard about the awesomeness of nap desks. But what about a whole nap bar? In a move that has us turning green with envy, French furniture company Smarin recently held a pop-up in a Dubai warehouse where visitors could stop in for a much needed snooze. Part of the Art Dubai and Design Days Dubai events, the temporary installation featured various foam lounge chairs of different shapes and sizes, along with pillows, herbal teas, essential oils and woolen ponchos. The space was lit by circular lamps that would switch on and off at five-second intervals in a manner designed to resemble slow, relaxed breathing. "I had the idea for the Nap Bar because when I'm walking in big cities, sometimes I take a break with a coffee but actually I need more of a real break," Smarin founder Stephanie Marin told Dezeen. Now before you quit your job and book a flight to the UAE, you should know that the nap bar pop-up actually finished up last week. Hopefully some clever entrepreneur was paying attention, because there is definitely a market for this kind of thing here in Australia. But until that becomes a reality (Virgin Active's sleep pods are a little too clinical for us), check out our list of creative ways to nap on the job. And now if you'll excuse us, all this typing has worn us out. Via Dezeen.
While plenty about taking a holiday has changed over the past year or so, flight sales keep coming — and Australians keep snapping up tickets. Unsurprisingly, we're all keen to travel when and where we can in these pandemic-afflicted times. And if you're constantly thinking about your next getaway, Jetstar is dropping yet another batch of cheap fares. The Limited Time Only sale will kick off at 9am on Friday, April 23. As the name suggests, it's only on offer for a brief period. You'll need to nab your discounted tickets before 11.59pm AEST on Monday, April 26, although fares might sell out earlier. In the sale, you'll find cheap flights across a heap routes from destinations right across the country. That's a regular part of these specials, so there are no surprises there. But this time, because the trans-Tasman bubble is open and zooming across to New Zealand is now possible — and allowed — you can also pick up discounted tickets to NZ. Domestically, fares start at $33 for flights from Sydney to Avalon, with Sydneysiders also able to head to Hobart from $69, either Uluru or Hamilton Island from $99, and Perth from $159. Melburnians can book trips to Launceston from $45, Adelaide from $49, and Ballina and Byron Bay from $59, while Brisbanites can zip to Newcastle from $49, and Cairns or Melbourne from $69. Yes, the list goes on. For flights to NZ, tickets kick off at $175, which'll get you from the Gold Coast to either Auckland or Wellington. From Sydney and Melbourne, it'll cost you $195 to Auckland and $225 to Queenstown. [caption id="attachment_808728" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Artist: David Hilliam[/caption] Tickets in the sale are for trips from May 2021–January 2022, with exact dates varying in each region. And there are a few caveats, as is always the case. The discounted flights are one way, and they don't include checked baggage — so you'll need to travel super light, or pay extra to take a suitcase. And, as always, keeping an eye on both interstate and New Zealand border requirements is recommended. To promote the sale, Jetstar has also commissioned three large-scale artworks, all emblazoned with the words "available for a limited time only". One 90-metre-long piece by artist Edward popped up in the sand along the Great Ocean Road, another took over a Sydney rooftop and a third also got sandy at Piha Beach in Auckland. Jetstar's Limited Time Only sale runs from 9am AEST on Friday, April 23 till 11.59pm AEST on Monday, April 26, or until sold out.
Pastry fans of Sydney, it's time to get excited — because Lune Croissanterie looks set to launch its first-ever Sydney shopfront sometime in 2023. It's been a big decade for the brand, after starting a tiny store in the Melbourne suburb of Elwood in 2012. Since then, Lune has grown into a converted warehouse space in Fitzroy (with perpetual lines out the front), opened a second store in the CBD, then launched in Brisbane in 2021. And, amid all that, it was even dubbed "the finest you will find anywhere in the world" by The New York Times. If this sounds familiar, that's because Founder Kate Reid — who co-owns Lune with her brother Cameron and restaurateur Nathan Toleman (Dessous, Hazel, Common Ground Project) — confirmed that the Lune crew was looking for a space to expand their empire to in Sydney back in early 2020. And yes, that venue is set to be home to a permanent store. The Reid siblings also posted a cryptic photo on Instagram, showing what could quite possibly be the future home of Lune Sydney. Obviously, a lot has happened in the world since February 2020; however, Lune is now advertising for a Front of House Manager for its upcoming Sydney spot. The job ad notes that the shop will open in 2023, and that the candidate will hone their skills at either a Melbourne store or the Brisbane outpost until then. (Side note: if this sounds like your dream job and you fit the prerequisites, go forth, apply and get ready to live a croissant-filled life.) Why is this such a huge deal? If you're asking that, you clearly haven't tried a Lune pastry. An ex-Formula 1 aerodynamicist, Reid brings scientific precision to her craft, including the climate-controlled glass cube that Lune croissants are made and baked in, and the time-consuming process used to perfect each flaky pastry. Lune's first-ever New South Wales store will become the chain's Sydney flagship — obviously with a menu of Lune Croissanterie favourites. If it's like the brand's other locations, coffee will be on offer as well, and Sydneysiders can look forward to a range of specials that'll rotate monthly. Our mouths and stomachs are ready for twice-baked croissant aux amandes (stuffed with almond frangipane and generously topped with flaked almonds) and the Ferrero cruffin: a muffin-croissant hybrid filled with hazelnut and chocolate custard, dipped in chocolate ganache and sprinkled with roasted hazelnuts. Oh, and Lune's perfectly flaky traditional croissant, of course. Lune Croissanterie's flagship Sydney store looks set to open its doors sometime in 2023. We'll let you know when an exact date and location is announced. Images: Marcie Raw.
In Westworld's vision of the future, technologically advanced amusement parks let people pay to experience Wild West times, and to interact with androids that are indistinguishable from humans. That's how the hit HBO series started in 2016, before stepping outside of the titular attractions, into both sibling venues and the show's mid-21st-century version of the real world. But in our very existence and its actual future going forward, Westworld and its thrills will now no longer exist. HBO has announced that it has cancelled the series after four seasons, the last of which debuted in mid-2022 and wrapped up in August. Westworld will cease all motor functions, putting an end to a show that kept questing the nature of reality and humanity right up until the end, and proved unnerving from the get-go. That eeriness is all there in the basic premise, which actually first unfurled on-screen back in 1973 thanks to the Michael Crichton-directed movie of the same name. Here, in the eponymous android amusement park, humans pay to live out their fantasies while surrounded by supremely realistic-looking androids. What could go wrong? Everything, obviously — and yes, high-concept theme parks gone wrong was one of Crichton's fascinations, clearly. Across its second season in 2018, third batch of episodes in 2020 and fourth run in 2022, the TV version of Westworld has built upon this idea, twisting in wild, strange, violent and surreal directions. Once some of the robot theme park's electronic hosts started to break their programming, make their own decisions and question their creators, the show's chaos just kept expanding. Westworld has also boasted one of the best casts on TV during its four-season existence, including Evan Rachel Wood (Kajillionaire), Thandiwe Newton (All the Old Knives), Ed Harris (Top Gun: Maverick), Jeffrey Wright (The Batman), Tessa Thompson (Thor: Love and Thunder), Luke Hemsworth (Bosch & Rockit), James Marsden (Sonic the Hedgehog 2), Aaron Paul (Better Call Saul), Anthony Hopkins (Armageddon Time), Angela Sarafyan (Reminiscence) and 2022 West Side Story Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose. The show's creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy are still pondering the future in new Prime Video series The Peripheral, if you need something to watch to fill that just-opened Westworld-shaped gap in your viewing. Check out the original trailer for Westworld's first season below: Westworld's four-season run is available to stream via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Via Variety. Images: HBO.
In Nosedive, the first episode of the third season of Black Mirror, life's ups and downs are dictated by social media. Everything Lacie (Bryce Dallas Howard) does is rated by those around her, and she rates them in turn. Those rankings contribute to an overall score, out of five, which influences where she can live, hang out, travel, shop and more. Being Black Mirror, it's both a bleak and creepy vision of the future, and an idea that's not all that far removed from reality. If you watched the episode and thought "wouldn't that make a great game?", then you're not the only one. Five stars to you and to American game publisher Asmodee Group, we guess. The latter has turned Nosedive into a game that requires players to "create a 'perfect' life by collecting Lifestyle cards, while avoiding any dings to your Social Score that could cause everything you've worked for to come crashing down," according to its sale listing on the US version of Target's website. The strategy game is designed to be played by three to six people, and also has an app component. Each person's Social Score is based on how much other players like the experiences you give them via the app, with more than 1000 available. Nosedive will cost US$19.99, and whether it'll make the jump to Australia is yet to be seen. It's not the first off-screen chance that Black Mirror fans have had to feel like they're in one of the anthology series' episodes, thanks to an immersive London exhibition dedicated to the show last year. Via The Wrap.
When a music festival takes place in a winery, it already has two of the three fest essentials taken care of before it even announces its lineup: an ace location and booze. But, that doesn't mean that Grapevine Gathering slouches on talent. The acts hitting its stages around the country are always chosen to impress, and the just-dropped 2023 roster of folks is no different. Leading the charge: Spacey Jane, King Stingray and Vanessa Amorosi, with the latter meaning that 'Absolutely Everybody' will be stuck in your head for weeks afterwards. The Wombats and Hayden James are also on the bill, both doing Australian-exclusive shows at the wine-fuelled festival. [caption id="attachment_905845" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sam Hendel[/caption] Rounding out the list: Cannons, The Rions, Teenage Joans and Bella Amor, plus podcast duo Lucy and Nikki on hosting duties. Grapevine Gathering's lineup announcement comes after the fest locked in its 2023 dates and venues earlier in June, with a five-state tour with stops in Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales on the way this October. Its destinations: Sirromet Wines at Mount Cotton, Serafino Wines in McLaren Vale, Sandalford Wines in Swan Valley, Rochford Estate in the Yarra Valley and Hope Estate in the Hunter Valley, respectively. Victoria will play host to the first gig of the tour on Saturday, October 7, with Grapevine Gathering then pinballing up to Queensland on Sunday, October 8. The next weekend, it heads west on Saturday, October 14, then does NSW on Saturday, October 21 and SA on Sunday, October 22. Naturally, sipping wine is a huge part of the attraction. As always, attendees will have access to a heap of vino given the fest's locations, as well as an array of food options. GRAPEVINE GATHERING 2023 DATES: Saturday, October 7 — Rochford Estate, Victoria Sunday, October 8 — Sirromet Wines, Queensland Saturday, October 14 — Sandalford Wines, Western Australia Saturday, October 21 — Hope Estate, New South Wales Sunday, October 22 — Serafino Wines, South Australia GRAPEVINE GATHERING 2023 LINEUP: Spacey Jane The Wombats Hayden James King Stingray Vanessa Amorosi Cannons The Rions Teenage Joans Bella Amor Hosted by Lucy and Nikki Grapevine Gathering will tour Australia in October 2023. Pre-sale registrations are open now via the festival's website, for tickets from 6pm AEST on Wednesday, June 21 — and all remaining tickets will go on sale at 6pm on Thursday, June 22. Top images: Jordan Munns / Jess Gleeson.
