The Australian bottleshop deserves a do-over. For too long we've purchased our grog at generic liquor stores that only really highlight the big, familiar names. Enter Native Drops. Bondi Beach's newest drinks retailer is putting a refreshing spin on the way we buy alcohol, turning the quick dash up to the bottle-o into an experience that features not only wine tasting, but also meet the maker sessions and workshops for customers. "Supermarkets can't showcase a lot of good wine in these places because they're being supported by big labels which have demand requirements to fill," co-founder Daniel Ferster explains about his venture, which aims to offer a sophisticated alternative to the model Aussies currently know. Ferster and his business partner Daniel Berman are the wine-obsessed brains behind the month-old space, which sells solely Australian wine, beer and spirits. It's a boutique business that emphasises the importance of buying local and provides a glimpse into just how vast, delicious and amazing the nation's industry is. Regions from Tasmania to the Margaret River are represented, with the selection hand-chosen and centred around small batch and often biodynamic producers. Featured wine producers include The Other Right, Arfion, Swinging Bridge, CRFT and Charlotte Dalton. Native Drops also plans to stock native cheeses, and will open a deli section in February. The interior design is earthy and rustic. Designer and architect Andy McDonnell has repurposed the site into a truly intimate space. It's low-lit and clean, with splashes of timber, copper and stone. Australian flora and fauna are celebrated with wildflower arrangements by local floral designer Selena Murray. "We've got a big tasting room attached and we're hosting a weekly wine-tasting series," says Ferster. "It's fashion-forward space and a cellar door-like experience." Native Drops is located at 7/19-23 O'Brien Street, Bondi Beach. Opening hours are 10am to 5pm every day, except Thursday (10am to 7pm) and Saturday (10am to 10pm). Visit their website for further details.
So, you're an actor and you want to win an Emmy? Based on the just-announced 2022 nominees, here are a few ways to go about it. First, star or guest star in Succession, the HBO behemoth that just nabbed 25 nods, including 14 for acting. Or, appear in the US cable network's fellow recent hit The White Lotus, which scored 20 noms, eight of which were for its cast. Being on Apple TV+'s Ted Lasso works, too, given that it just picked up 20 nods for the second year in a row — and ten of them went to its on-screen talent. Yes, they're the big three shows that scooped the pool at this year's Emmy nominations. All three are competing in different categories — Succession in the drama field, The White Lotus in the limited series section and Ted Lasso in comedy — so they don't have to battle it out among themselves. That said, plenty of each series' individual actors are nominated against their co-stars, although that's a bit of a trend in 2022. Announced in the early hours of Wednesday, July 13 Australian and New Zealand time, the list of shows notching up the nods also includes Hacks and Only Murders in the Building with 17 each, Euphoria with 16, and Severance, Squid Game, Barry and Dopesick with 14. Squid Game also became the first-ever drama series nominee that isn't in the English language. Ozark collected 13 nominations, as did the fourth season of Stranger Things — but, bucking the trend, none of the latter's nods came for its performances. The Marvelous Mrs Maisel nabbed 12, while Pam & Tommy collected ten. That means it's been a great 12 months for eat-the-rich dramas, wild based-on-true-story miniseries (with The Dropout and Inventing Anna), returning favourites that've been off the air for a few years (including Better Call Saul and Barry) and former Saturday Night Live stars (Bill Hader and Jason Sudeikis, specifically). Seeing excellent new thrillers Severance and Yellowjackets earn some attention is also fantastic — and What We Do in the Shadows should just have a standing nomination in the Best Comedy category. Who'll emerge victorious will be announced on Tuesday, September 13 Down Under — and plenty of exceptional shows and actors are in the running. But, you can't have a hefty rundown of nominees without a few glaring gaps. Pandemic series Station Eleven deserved more than just one acting nomination. The wonderful Reservation Dogs was somehow thoroughly overlooked, as was the stellar We Own This City and the second season of Girls5Eva. Plenty of folks were recognised for Only Murders in the Building, but not Selena Gomez. And the astonishing Pachinko only nabbed an Outstanding Main Title Design nomination. The 73rd Emmy Awards will take place on Tuesday, September 13, Australian time. Here's a rundown of the major nominations — and you can check out the full list of nominees on the Emmys' website: EMMY NOMINEES 2022 OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES Better Call Saul Euphoria Ozark Severance Squid Game Stranger Things Succession Yellowjackets OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES Abbott Elementary Barry Curb Your Enthusiasm Hacks The Marvelous Mrs Maisel Only Murders in the Building Ted Lasso What We Do in the Shadows OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES Dopesick The Dropout Inventing Anna Pam & Tommy The White Lotus OUTSTANDING TELEVISION MOVIE Chip 'n' Dale: Rescue Rangers Ray Donovan: The Movie Reno 911!: The Hunt for QAnon The Survivor Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES Jason Bateman, Ozark Brian Cox, Succession Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul Adam Scott, Severance Jeremy Strong, Succession OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES Jodie Comer, Killing Eve Laura Linney, Ozark Melanie Lynskey, Yellowjackets Sandra Oh, Killing Eve Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show Zendaya, Euphoria OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES Donald Glover, Atlanta Bill Hader, Barry Nicholas Hoult, The Great Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant Elle Fanning, The Great Issa Rae, Insecure Jean Smart, Hacks OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Colin Firth, The Staircase Andrew Garfield, Under the Banner of Heaven Oscar Isaac, Scenes From a Marriage Michael Keaton, Dopesick Himesh Patel, Station Eleven Sebastian Stan, Pam & Tommy OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Toni Collette, The Staircase Julia Garner, Inventing Anna Lily James, Pam & Tommy Sarah Paulson, Impeachment: American Crime Story Margaret Qualley, Maid Amanda Seyfried, The Dropout OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES Nicholas Braun, Succession Billy Crudup, The Morning Show Kieran Culkin, Succession Park Hae-soo, Squid Game Matthew Macfadyen, Succession John Turturro, Severance Christopher Walken, Severance Oh Yeong-soo, Squid Game OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES Patricia Arquette, Severance Julia Garner, Ozark Jung Ho-yeon, Squid Game Christina Ricci, Yellowjackets Rhea Seehorn, Better Call Saul J. Smith-Cameron, Succession Sarah Snook, Succession Sydney Sweeney, Euphoria OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES Anthony Carrigan, Barry Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso Toheeb Jimoh, Ted Lasso Nick Mohammed, Ted Lasso Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary Henry Winkler, Barry Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) Hannah Einbinder, Hacks Janelle James, Abbott Elementary Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live Sarah Niles, Ted Lasso Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary Juno Temple, Ted Lasso Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Murray Bartlett, The White Lotus Jake Lacy, The White Lotus Will Poulter, Dopesick Seth Rogen, Pam & Tommy Peter Sarsgaard, Dopesick Michael Stuhlbarg, Dopesick Steve Zahn, The White Lotus OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Connie Britton, The White Lotus Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus Alexandra Daddario, The White Lotus Kaitlyn Dever, Dopesick Natasha Rothwell, The White Lotus Sydney Sweeney, The White Lotus Mare Winningham, Dopesick OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES Hope Davis, Succession Marcia Gay Harden, The Morning Show Martha Kelly, Euphoria Sanaa Lathan, Succession Harriet Walter, Succession Lee You-mi, Squid Game OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES Adrien Brody, Succession James Cromwell, Succession Colman Domingo, Euphoria Arian Moayed, Succession Tom Pelphrey, Ozark Alexander Skarsgard, Succession OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Jane Adams, Hacks Harriet Sansom Harris, Hacks Jane Lynch, Only Murders in the Building Laurie Metcalf, Hacks Kaitlin Olson, Hacks Harriet Walter, Ted Lasso OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES Jerrod Carmichael, Saturday Night Live Bill Hader, Curb Your Enthusiasm James Lance, Ted Lasso Nathan Lane, Only Murders in the Building Christopher McDonald, Hacks Sam Richardson, Ted Lasso
Bluesfest has lifted the lid on its first artist announcement for 2020 and heading the stampede are famed American singer Patti Smith, rockers Dave Matthews Band and the legendary Crowded House. All three are repeat Bluesfest offenders, with Patti Smith and her band returning after a standout performance in 2017, the "magical and unmissable" Dave Matthews Band heading back for their third festival and Crowded House once again trekking up the coast — this time for an exclusive Australian performance. Expect to hear plenty of huge tunes from the likes of Smith's 'Because the Night' to Matthews' 'Crash Into Me' and the anthem that is 'Don't Dream It's Over'. Other acts to hit the stage over the weekend include the multi Grammy Award-winning George Benson, American singer Brandi Carlile, Aussie favourites The Cat Empire, British trip-hop band Morcheeba and John Butler. The festival will return to Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm — just outside Byron Bay — for 2020 despite Festival Director Peter Noble threatening to leave NSW earlier this year because of the State Government's strict new music festival licensing regime. An inquiry into the licence is currently underway. Better start making Easter plans because tickets are already on sale. Anyway, here's the full lineup (so far). [caption id="attachment_737186" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dave Matthews Band[/caption] BLUESFEST 2020 LINEUP Dave Matthews Band Patti Smith and Her Band Crowded House George Benson Brandi Carlile John Butler Xavier Rudd The Cat Empire Morcheeba John Prine Jenny Lewis Frank Turner John Mayall Buffy Sainte-Marie The Marcus Kind Band Walter Trout Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram Greensky Bluegrass Larkin Poe The War & Treaty Bluesfest 2020 will run April 9–13 at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay. Tickets are on sale now via Moshtix.
The Melbourne International Film Festival has been showcasing the best that cinema has to offer for seven decades now, but it has never hosted a fest like its upcoming 2021 event. Given that every year's festival heralds a fresh lineup filled with new big-screen gems, that's always true in a fashion; however, this is the first time that MIFF is going both physical and digital in a significant way. MIFF's just-announced full 2021 program boasts plenty of must-see movies, including opening night's previously revealed Australian standout The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson; Adam Driver-starring musical Annette, which screens straight from opening this year's Cannes Film Festival; and a festival-record 40 world premieres in total. It also offers multiple ways for audiences to watch its selection, including folks who aren't or can't make the trip to Melbourne. Accordingly, between Thursday, August 5–Sunday, August 22, Melburnians can head to a range of local cinemas — and from Saturday, August 14–Sunday, August 22, cinephiles all around the country can watch from home, too. Neither group will be short on options, although the in-person lineup is considerably bigger than the program of flicks that'll be available to watch on the festival's new online viewing platform, MIFF Play. In total, this year's fest spans 283 titles, including 199 features, 84 shorts and 10 virtual reality experiences, with 62 of those also available to watch digitally. MIFF's 2021 closing night pick is one of the films that movie buffs can choose to view in either setting. Directed by and starring Natalie Morales (The Little Things), and completely filmed via Zoom in 2020, Language Lessons is a platonic rom-com about a Spanish teacher (Morales) and her new student (Mark Duplass, Bombshell). It's also one of the big-name titles on the full lineup this year, alongside Memoria, which features Tilda Swinton in Cemetery of Splendour filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul's English-language debut; Bergman Island, the Tim Roth and Mia Wasikowska-starring latest title from Mia Hansen-Løve (Things to Come); No Sudden Move, Steven Soderbergh's crime flick with Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro and Jon Hamm; and Pig, which sees Nicolas Cage play a truffle hunter (yes, really). Also on the newly revealed complete bill: centrepiece gala selection Summer of Soul (...or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), which is directed Questlove and looks back on the Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969; Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain, a documentary charting the late presenter and chef's life; and River, the latest musing on the planet we all call home by Sherpa director Jennifer Peedom. There's also Cow, which sees American Honey director Andrea Arnold explore the existence of a dairy cow; Street Gang: How We Hot to Sesame Street, about the beloved children's television staple; and Year of the Everlasting Storm, in which the aforementioned Weerasethakul is joined by six other filmmakers on an anthology about life under lockdown and the power of cinema. Festival attendees can similarly check out There Is No Evil, the searing 2020 Berlinale Golden Bear-winner which screens as part of a showcase of new Iranian cinemas; collaborative doco Those Left Waiting, which has been filmed by refugees around the world; music mockumentary The Nowhere Inn, starring Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney) and Annie Clark (St Vincent); In the Earth, the new film from Free Fire and High-Rise's Ben Wheatley, which steps into a world ravaged by a virus; and blistering thriller New Order, which delves into power and oppression in Mexico City. From the Australian contingent, Fist of Fury Noongar Daa dubs the Bruce Lee-starring Fist of Fury in an Aboriginal Australian language, and becomes the first feature to ever do so — while The Kids looks back on the seminal 90s film Kids, competitive swimming drama Streamline is based on Ian Thorpe's experiences, and Friends & Strangers is an Aussie slacker satire. On the must-see list, these newly revealed titles join the likes of Australian drama Nitram, about the lead up to the events in Port Arthur a quarter-century ago; Petit Mamam, the new film from Portrait of a Lady on Fire's Céline Sciamma; and tweet-to-screen comedy Zola — all of which were announced last month in the fest's first batch of titles. MIFF's physical venues for 2021 include Comedy Theatre, the Forum, RMIT Capitol Theatre, ACMI, Kino Cinemas, Hoyts Melbourne Central, Coburg Drive-In, The Astor, Palace Cinemas Pentridge, The Sun Theatre and Lido Cinemas — and, if you're wondering about the big move into digital as well, that follows 2020's online-only fest, which became MIFF's largest festival ever, audience-wise. The 2021 Melbourne International Film Festival runs from Thursday, August 5–Sunday, August 22 at a variety of venues around Melbourne. For further details, visit the MIFF website.
While almost everyone loves hot chips, agreeing on which takeaway option does them best is far more contentious. Plus, everyone has their preferences when it comes to tomato sauce. However, Mutti has teamed up with acclaimed chef Nelly Robinson of Sydney's NEL Restaurant to create a single, show-stopping fry that might just settle the debate. Bringing together the humble chip and the world of fine dining, this over-the-top tribute set out to achieve the World's Fanciest Fry. Once you start delving into the ingredients and process that make it happen, it's hard to deny that this unique creation has truly taken the classic side dish to extraordinary heights. "To create a fry truly worthy of Mutti tomato ketchup, we had to go all in. We started with the fanciest Chipperbec potatoes we could get our hands on, blanched them in Wagyu beef fat, and finished them with fresh truffle and served with scampi caviar. This isn't just a chip — it's the McLaren of fries," says chef Nelly Robinson. With a creation this lavish, settling for an ordinary condiment is simply not an option. Fortunately, Mutti's range of premium table sauces made for the ideal pairing at the launch of this special dish. If you're the kind of person to slather your chips in sauce, perhaps they'll also take your humble feast up a notch. As for the World's Fanciest Fry, it's now available on NEL Restaurant's menu until the end of June. But don't expect this supremely decadent treat to come cheap. Priced at $35, this curious delicacy has seen the everyday, moreish side dish transformed into a luxurious morsel that takes centre stage. Says Robinson: "It's crispy, rich, outrageously indulgent and possibly the most culinary brainpower ever invested in a single hot chip. But with a ketchup as good as Mutti's, the fry's gotta bring its A-game!" The World's Fanciest Fry is available until the end of June at NEL Restaurant, 75 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney. Head to the website for more information.
When The Fast and the Furious took Point Break's premise and swapped surfing for street racing, it seemed like one of those easy Hollywood knockoffs that would speed into cinemas and then race right out of viewers' memories. Eighteen years, seven sequels, plenty of Coronas and a whole lot of talk about family later, we all now know that wasn't the case. It's the high-octane franchise that just keeps tearing up tyres and tearing across silver screen, and it has yet another new addition. The first Fast and Furious spinoff, Hobbs & Shaw reunites two of the series' newer players: Dwayne Johnson's Luke Hobbs, the government agent who has been a F&F staple since 2011's Fast Five, and Jason Statham's Deckard Shaw, the villain from Furious 7 who starts buddying around the gang in 2017's The Fate of the Furious. Directed by John Wick and Atomic Blonde's David Leitch, it's basically an excuse to put the two action heroes in the same movie again, watch as they bicker and banter like a muscular odd couple, and throw in the usual world-saving, car-racing antics. It also sounds like box office catnip. Because two of today's biggest stars isn't enough for this initial foray outside of the main F&F stable, Hobbs & Shaw also features Idris Elba as the flick's villain — plus Helen Mirren reprising her role as Shaw's mother, and The Crown's Vanessa Kirby joining the fold as his sister. Johnson reportedly wanted Hobbs to have some family, too; however bringing Aquaman's Jason Momoa on board didn't work out due to scheduling conflicts. Fans of Vin Diesel and the original gang, don't worry. Ninth and tenth F&F films are due in 2020 and 2021 respectively, so Dominic Toretto and company will be back to live their lives a quarter mile at a time once more. Also on the agenda is a female-focused spinoff focused on the ladies of the franchise, because this series remains furious about stretching out its run for as long as possible. Watch the trailer for Hobbs & Shaw below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lxu75r3-kI Hobbs & Shaw opens in Australian cinemas on August 1.
Sydney boasts one of the most unique coffee cultures in the world, and two homegrown brewsters are taking this culture to a new, nocturnal level. An open challenge to espresso martinis the world over, say hello to Mr Black, the world’s greatest coffee liqueur. Having taken out the gold medal at London International Wine and Spirits Competition, Phillip Moore and Tom Baker are combining with Nixon Cafe in Surry Hills to host The Grind House, a caffeinated pop-up nightspot showing off the very best that Mr Black can offer over three nights. The Grind House opens up this Friday, and plays host to Dale Bigeni, the artist behind the unique design on each Mr Black bottle, who will create live art all night. Led by Mischa Bonova of Rockpool fame, a team of the city’s finest mixologists will pump out Mr Black cocktails, all set to the beats of DJ Belvedere. The $45 ticket price on opening night gets you a night of beats, booze and art plus three Mr Black cocktails of your choosing. So maybe only have three double espressos beforehand. The Grind House runs over three nights from June 12 to 14. Tickets for opening night are available here.
In an industry that can sometimes come across as vapid and insipid, Patti Smith has remained the fortified voice of punk rock and guardian of good music since the '70s. With a career that has included prose, poetry, genre-defining rock and roll and a whole lot a heartbreak, Smith is coming to the Sydney Opera House in April to give a one-off talk that traverses the breadth and depth of her oeuvre. The appearance will come at the end of her Australian tour, which will see her headline Bluesfest, perform her 1975 debut album Horses in full at the State Theatre, and do a gig with Courtney Barnett at Melbourne's Festival Hall. It will be her only solo appearance of the tour, and will comprise of a magical mix of discussion, reading, and even a few songs from one of musical history's all-time greats. Tickets for In her Own Words go on general public sale at 9am on Friday, February 24. Image: Ferial.
More than once in Heartstopper, a question drifts from the lips of the Netflix series' British teens, asking something that every adolescent has contemplated. That query: "why are we like this?", pondering why hitting puberty always brings an utter lack of elegance with emotions, identity, relationships and expressing yourself. It can't be answered in any satisfactory way, but in this delightful streaming newcomer — with an eight-part first season that's become a must-see within a week of hitting the platform — what that question isn't referencing is also crucial. The LGBTQIA+-championing show doesn't ever have its gay, trans and bisexual characters pointlessly wonder why they love who they love or feel how they feel, welcomely, refreshingly and heartwarmingly so. That's enough to earn the series its title; for viewers, plenty about this webcomic-to-page-to-screen charmer will cause entranced tickers to miss a beat. Within the story, though, it takes mere minutes for Heartstopper to warrant its name — showing rather than telling, as all great art should. A year ten student at Truham Grammar School for Boys, Charlie Spring (first-timer Joe Locke) finds himself seated in his form class next to year 11 rugby player Nick Nelson (Kit Connor, Little Joe) at the start of a new term. Sparks fly on the former's part, swiftly and overwhelmingly, as a crush and then a life-changing love story is born. It's not the only moment that'll make Charlie pause, his heart all a-flutter and his cheeks a-glow — or any of the show's figures for that matter — but it leaves an imprint that sets Heartstopper's astutely endearing tone. Nodding to the series' graphic-novel origins, Charlie and Nick's first meetings inspire a flurry of hand-drawn animated hearts on-screen, illustrating how we all know that such an experience feels. The cute twinkling imagery is such a small but pivotal touch, used to illuminate small yet essential moments, and couldn't be more perfect. Others that follow, all also flawless: lightning bolts, flowers, stars and rainbows, all whizzing around when the sweetest of emotions run high. Everything isn't all rainbows for Charlie and Nick, narrative-wise, though — although the colour scheme favoured by director Euros Lyn (Dream Horse) goes heavy on pink lighting, blue and yellow school walls, the green grass of sports fields, and violet-hued clothing. In Heartstopper's opening episode, Charlie has a secret boyfriend, Ben Hope (Sebastian Croft, Doom Patrol). Their clandestine rendezvous in empty classrooms aren't his choice, but Ben won't even acknowledge Charlie in public. He's also cruel, rude and demanding without ever caring about Charlie's feelings, and filled with loathing about his sexuality — and fear that he might be found out. Thankfully, Charlie realises that he deserves much, much better, including with Nick's help. Also an issue: Charlie hardly thinks of himself as sporty, even after Nick asks him to join the school rugby team because he's super-fast at running. That train of thought speaks to a lifetime of self-doubt, with Nick telling Charlie to stop apologising for, well, everything — and Charlie's high-drama best friend Tao (fellow debutant William Gao) describing him as having "a tendency to believe him just existing is annoying for other people". Accordingly, while a friendship quickly solidifies between Heartstopper's central duo, Charlie is initially unsure whether anything more can happen. And, after spending a year being bullied by homophobic classmates after coming out — often hiding in the art room at lunch with a kindly teacher (Fisayo Akinade, Atlanta) to escape — he's anxiety-riddled in general. The nervy Charlie and calm-and-collected Nick — a self-described "gay nerd" among "borderline outcasts" and Truham's rugby king — don't simply cycle through an opposites-attract scenario, thankfully. This is an upbeat, soaring and joyful tale, too; yet another take on Romeo and Juliet, it definitely isn't. Heartstopper's focus: all those things that Charlie, Nick, Tao, recently out trans pal Elle (Yasmin Finney), her lesbian school friends Tara (Corinna Brown, Daphne) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell), and the quietly happy-go-lucky Isaac (Tobie Donovan) navigate as they grapple with their feelings, working out what they want, self-acceptance, and relationships both romantic and platonic. The series isn't afraid of teen tropes or rom-com cliches, such as grand gestures in the pouring rain, blissful montages and the stress of text messages, but it also isn't willing to deliver anything other than a thoughtful and tender account of high schoolers being and finding themselves, even amid unavoidable teen angst and taunting. As well as writing Heartstopper's source material, Alice Oseman pens every episode of this perceptive gem, which bubbles with warmth, care and honey-coated emotions from the outset. Its coming-of-age story and central love story alike prove wholly relatable, aptly awkward but also wonderfully sweet and sensitive; Skins, Euphoria or either version of Gossip Girl it isn't, either. In short, it's a series that plunges so convincingly and inclusively into its characters' experiences that it feels like its heart is constantly bursting with affection for everything they do, want, hope for, dream of, pine over and go through. First crushes, young love, the swirling swell of feelings that comes with both and also figuring out who you are: all of this dances through Heartstopper's frames, and marvellously. Also, when Oscar-winner Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter) pops up, she's glorious as always — although her teen colleagues are truly the stars of the show. The first season of Heartstopper is available to stream via Netflix. Images: Rob Youngson/Netflix.
Since 2006, Kino Sydney has been providing a platform for amateur auteurs to strut their stuff in front of a real audience of real people. Creators of short films are invited monthly to premiere their new masterpiece, and the general public are invited to get themselves along, witness this genius, have a beer and eat some pizza. Win-win. The 79th event is Monday, February 3 at the Justice and Police Museum in Circular Quay, and tickets are on sale now. The whole deal comes with the opportunity to meet the cool cats involved in the making of the film, and a Q&A session will ensue — you never know which director will end up with the prowess of Quentin Tarantino or the creative genius of Lena Dunham. Kino are devoted to showing off the new generation of filmmakers, and hooking them up with their future fans. Cutting-edge film? Pizza? Beer? See you there.
This October, the Southern Highlands will host a multi-sensory food, wine, music and art festival, set across the picturesque Centennial Vineyards. This is Horizontal Festival — a celebration of all that New South Wales has to offer. From Saturday, October 4 to Sunday, October 5, Horizontal Festival will take you on a journey where every space offers a new atmosphere, flavour and soundscape. Guests can wander through the Sparkling Bar, an elegant space of oysters, truffles and classical music. Then, at The Vineyard, you can experience a homegrown taste of the Italian countryside with lobster skewers, antipasto and upbeat music. For an expert-led beverage masterclass, head to The Rosé Room with blending workshops, sessions on cellaring and spirits, and of course, rosé. The Orchard offers cider tastings and vegan treats, while the cheese den spotlights the state's finest cheeses in sweet and savoury pairings. The Hops Garden & Concert Stage pairs craft beer with DJs, and the Barrel Room creates a provincial atmosphere with red wine and jazz. Finally, the Sweet Pairings space serves indulgent desserts matched with sweet wines. Horizontal Festival is a feast for the senses in ever sense, with Festival Creator and Founder Amanda Fry describing it as "a festival that puts the customer experience first". Alongside wine tastings and artisanal food, expect live music in every zone, captivating art installations and the chance to meet makers from across NSW. Tickets are $59 each, with the option of choosing between a vibrant daytime experience or an enchanting evening atmosphere. Day sessions run from 12-4pm, while evening sessions take place from 5.30-9pm. For more information and to purchase tickets, head to the Horizonal Festival website.
There's no shortage of ways to send your love to your nearest and dearest, though sometimes an emoji, a surprise bunch of flowers or even a hardy succulent just doesn't cut it. Similarly, showering those close to you in sweet treats is far from difficult — but Australia's new chocolate company wants to provide another option. Combining taste, style and heartfelt messages, Good Measure Co is offering up the country's newest personalised artisan chocolate delivery service, not only ferrying their cocoa-based delicacies around the nation in attractive packaging, but letting you write your own tender missive to go along with them. You pick what goes inside and on the outside, choosing from gourmet dark and milk chocs in blueberry, milk and honey, dark raspberry, chocolate noir and signature salted caramel flavours — or Champagne truffles — plus four styles of box and whatever nice words you can dream up. Those eager to tailor their choccie selection for their special someone can expect to pay $50 for a box of 12, and $75 for 24. Boxes with a range of pre-written statements are also available for the same price, ranging from "chocolate for my favourite" to "it's time to celebrate". And, the cost includes free delivery, arriving the same day in Sydney for orders placed before 11am, and the next day if ordered afterwards. The company was created by Pete and Hannah Craggs, who "wanted to reimagine the humble chocolate box, and create a new way to share the joy of chocolate with friends and family in a simple and easy way," Pete explains. Continues Hannah, "we've tapped into the same sense of occasion and excitement you'd get from giving and receiving flowers, but with high quality, gourmet chocolate instead." For more information, visit Good Measure Co's website.
UPDATE: FRIDAY, JUNE 1 — To celebrate the release of the new batch of Bloody Shiraz Gin, Four Pillars will be giving keen drinkers a free taste of the stuff this Saturday, June 2 at bottle shops around the country. This includes the Oak Barrel, P&V Merchants and Paddington Cellars in Sydney; Mr West, Carwyn Cellars and Blackhearts & Sparrows in Melbourne; and The Cru and The Wine Emporium in Brisbane. See the full list (and tasting times) here. For the past three years, gin lovers across the country have tripped over themselves to get their spirit-loving fingers on a bottle of Four Pillars' Bloody Shiraz Gin — and that's before they've even had a sip of alcohol. The limited edition shiraz-infused concoction really is that good, so we thought you'd like to know that the next batch goes on sale this Friday, June 1. If you haven't come across the gin before, it's basically what it says on the label: gin infused with shiraz grapes. This gives the spirit a brilliant deep cerise colour and some sweet undertones (without a higher sugar content). That, along with its higher alcoholic content — 37.8 percent, compared to an average 25 percent in regular sloe gin — makes the Bloody Shiraz Gin a near-perfect specimen. Four Pillars created the game-changing gin back in 2015 when it came into a 250-kilogram load of shiraz grapes from the Yarra Valley. Experimenting, the Victorian distillers then steeped the grapes in their high-proof dry gin for eight weeks before pressing the fruit and blending it with the gin, and hoping like hell it would turn out well. It did. The last few batches have sold out really quick, so this year the distillery has acquired more shiraz to make more of the gin than ever before. Still, you'll need to move fast. The gin will go on sale for $85 this Friday, June 1 at selected bottle shops and online at fourpillarsgin.com.au. Godspeed.
There aren't many people who have had a greater influence on Sydney's (and Australia's) music scene in the past decade than Tim Levinson, perhaps better known as Urthboy. As one of the founding members of The Herd, as well as co-founder of local label Elefant Trax (home to the likes of Astronomy Class, Hermitude, Sky High, Jimblah and The Tongue), Levinson has set the benchmark for hip hop in this country and demonstrated that it is possible to combine enthralling beats, lyrical wordplay and a social conscience all at once. One of the characteristics of much of Elefant Trax's output has been their keen sense of place; theirs is unquestionably and unashamedly an Australian sound, with MCs maintaining their accents and not being shy to name-check Oxford Arts or Redfern Station when many other local hip hop acts try to imitate the sound of New York, Los Angeles and Detroit. And of course this local legend is playing FBi Turns 10 this weekend, and as with so many acts on that lineup, Levinson has fond memories of a decade of independent radio (a fun fact for all you trivia nerds: FBi's very first feature album was Hermitude's Alleys to Valleys; Levinson says he remembers the high-fives when they found out.) When asked what he thought FBi brought to Sydney, he went straight for the big picture: "[FBi brings] a local voice combining expertise on subcultures that gives us art and helps us understand our identity," he says. "Plus Shantan and Joyride. They're almost subcultures themselves." As one of our foremost modern poets, we asked Levinson about his favourite spots in Sydney, and the best-kept secrets of this amazing city of ours. Unsurprisingly, he didn't disappoint. 1. Jasmin, Lakemba I'm no food critic — I'm a touring musician for god sakes, I'll eat a servo pie for breakfast when pushed — but this place is fantastic. This region of south-west Sydney has some incredible food spots on offer in an area that comfortably shows the complicated beauty of Sydney's diversity. Haldon Street is a vibrant community of bakeries, halal butchers, Asian restaurants and of course, Jasmin. The fare is Lebanese and the hospitality is quick and non-fussed. It's cheap and substantial and my wife and I love eating there. 2. Gordon's Bay The magnetism of the beach has always had a hold on me; the showdown with Sydney traffic is always made sweet by the saltwater waiting on the other side. Gordon's Bay is quiet and usually okay for parking so it's the spot. There is part of me that can't quite reconcile why something so beautiful has avoided some asshole making us pay for entry. I don’t care for the lifestyle of living by the beach, but let me take a few back streets and dive in that frothy Tasman Sea from time to time. Perfect. 3. From Dulwich Hill to Marrickville I’ve never enjoyed living in an area more than I do here in Inner West Sydney. There’s an honesty about Marrickville and Dulwich Hill, where Vietnamese butchers and fishmongers ply their trade alongside Greek delicatessens and 7-11s; and young artists co-opt industrial warehouses, creating important art spaces and ‘illegal’ venues. I ride my bike to work and though we’re located in a grimy street where the road looks like an old soldier’s face, I love the location and wouldn’t trade places with anyone, anywhere in this city. 4. Marrickville Oval Nothing says ‘you’re getting old’ like the increasing pleasure of walking around the local cricket park. At one end all ages and a variety of nationalities roll their arms over in the cricket nets; at the other are tennis courts and a boxing gym. Parents bring their babies and dogs and a class of African kids laugh hysterically as they run around doing athletics. Laying down in the middle of the oval and staring at the sky is a underrated way of defragging. A cricket park is so much more than a place to bat and bowl. 5. The Annandale Hotel, The Vic on the Park, Newtown Social Club, etc I think it was Paul Kelly who said that live venues are a musician’s university. The sticky carpets and haggard PAs feel like home to me, and pay a bit of respect forward to the bar staff who probably play in a band that will be big one day. During times of great technological change there’s an irreplaceable atmosphere and energy about live music. Watch YouTube until your eyes weary if you must, but I feel bad for you if you think it’s a substitute. There will never be anything like being there. Live music is a way of bringing community together despite the disconnectedness that we absent-mindedly find ourselves feeling.
Head Chef Ali Snoubar brings his decades of culinary experience and expertise from award-winning restaurants the world over to this Syrian eatery in Merrylands. Those familiar with Middle Eastern cuisine will know it's all about sharing, so the more, the merrier. Here, choose from a selection of hot and cold mezze, such as the fried pumpkin kibbeh, then move on to the likes of a chicken shawarma plate with rice or hot chips. The $115 'family deal' features a combination of dishes and drinks, while three banquet options each offer a selection of skewers, dips, salads and meat, to suit groups of all sizes and appetites. Images: Al Shami
Defying the notion that, post-lockouts, most Sydneysiders are tucked up in bed by 10pm will be Sydney Fringe's 2018 Fringe Club. From 10.30pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights throughout the month-long festival, level three of the Kings Cross Hotel will be buzzing with live performance, comedy and DJs — all free. Arrive on time and on Thursdays you'll catch Andy Dexterity's physical theatre, while on Fridays you'll get a showcase of show from the Fringe program. On Saturdays, grab a cheap pint of Young Henrys during happy hour (10.30–11.30pm) before DJ Glamour Toads start spinning non-stop hits from the nineties and noughties from midnight, taking inspiration from Video Hits, So Fresh and Hit Machine. Plus, from 11.30pm each night, potential comedians will take the stage when the mic opens to amateurs.
Surry Hills cafe Gratia and its nighttime counterpart Folonomo are no strangers to the concept of dining for a cause. The Bourke Street venue donates 100 percent of its profits to charity. Usually, customers choose which of the three rotating charities will get their money when settling the bill. But for the next three months, the focus will be on helping one organisation in particular, as Gratia is transformed into a pop-up OzHarvest Café. From July to September, it'll be sporting a few fresh pops of yellow and a brand new food offering, and all of the cafe's profits will go towards supporting OzHarvest's work fighting food waste around the country. If you're not familiar with the charity, OzHarvest rescues quality excess food from commercial outlets and delivers it to more than 1000 charities across the country, providing much-needed meals to those who otherwise may not have access to any. The same philosophies have inspired the OzHarvest Café. While not all the food will be salvaged food waste, OzHarvest executive chef Travis Harvey has designed a special waste-conscious menu that features lots of ingredients that would otherwise be binned, including food donated by Brasserie Bread, Black Star Pastry and Select Fresh. Here, he's flexed plenty of creative muscle, transforming rescued food into some very clever brunch fare. Expect elements like pickled broccoli stalks, roasted cauliflower leaves, and ramen noodles crafted from bread crumbs. The avocado toast features a pesto made from rescued salad leaves and pumpkin seeds, banana curd will be made from donated egg yolks (and poured onto pancakes) and the house jam is a crafty reworking of excess fruit peels and Black Star's watermelon rind off-cuts. With every $1 spent at the OzHarvest Café by Gratia able to deliver two meals to someone in need, this is brunching for a cause other than your morning hunger. Gratia will operate as the OzHarvest Café by Gratia until September. It's open Wednesday to Sunday from 8am–3pm at 372 Bourke Street, Surry Hills. Image: Bodhi Liggett.
We’re not talking lion hunting while munching caviar and canapés, nor are we dreaming of zebra reductions or tiger tartare: this gourmet safari, courtesy of travel experts Mr & Mrs Smith, features hotels whose restaurants alone are worth a bumpy ride in a 4X4, whose chefs are the big game of the food industry, and whose dining rooms draw food critics like thirsty wildebeest to a watering hole. 1. SANGOMA RETREAT Where: 70 Grandview Lane, Bowen Mountain, NSW What: Game reserve-inspired glam City grind got you ground down? Sydneysiders in need of respite should write their own prescription for a stay at African-inspired Sangoma Retreat in the Blue Mountains, just a 70-minute drive away, where five light, airy and very spacious suites loll across 10-hectare grounds. Rooms are blessed with huge freestanding Philippe Starck tubs and wraparound balconies for soaking up bush scenes, but chances are you’ll be hard-pressed to tear yourself away from the restaurant. Owner/chef Zenga Butler cooks up globe-trotting cuisine with Ottolenghi influences (healthy, seasonal, locally sourced and largely organic). It’s a relaxed affair: heaped platters of fish and salad, which you can help yourself to. 2. METROPOLITAN BY COMO Where: 27 South Sathorn Road, Tungmahamek, Sathorn, Bangkok, Thailand What: Manicured minimalism Australian chef David Thompson’s rice-white and mango-yellow Nahm restaurant in the Metropolitan by Como, Bangkok hotel may survey the pool, but you’ll only have eyes for your food, however many starlets or stallions strut past. Expect elegant Thai cuisine featuring tingling flavours and succulent seafood: kingfish salad with chilli, lime and mint, deep-fried crab with pomelo, and coconut-cream-slathered desserts. Lesser known, but equally wonderful, is the hotel’s guilt-free Glow restaurant, where Amanda Gale’s zingy salads keep you feeling great. The low prices (around AU$21 for a fresh juice and two-course lunch) are equally revitalising. 3. ROYAL MAIL HOTEL Where: 98 Parker Street (Glenelg Highway), The Grampians, VIC What: Gourgeous gourmet pub Need a dose of vitamin C? Head to Royal Mail Hotel in the Grampians, where fat pumpkins, albino eggplants and juicy tomatoes flourish ripely in the green, green garden. Dan Hunter (formerly head chef at Spain’s two-Michelin-starred Mugaritz) flirts with vegetarians and omnivores alike via two 10-course tasting menus: one leafy; one meaty. This chef melts rules like butter: lamb comes with liquorice; pigeon is paired with white chocolate. Such creativity has garnered a fistful of awards, so book your table when you book your bedroom. There’s also a casual bistro with a sunny courtyard and a tapas menu, and – for less calorific moments – mountain views, hills for hiking and a peaceful outdoor pool. 4. QT SYDNEY Where: 49 Market Street, Sydney, NSW What: Theatrical temptress Scantily clad door-sirens with flame-red wigs, rooms with DIY martini kits, a buzzing bar and a spa with hammam, ice-room and hipster barber: at sexy QT Sydney hotel, you could easily forget to eat. That would be tragic, though, given the excellent restaurant housed in the hotel’s historic State Theatre and Gowings department store buildings. Helmed by executive chef Paul Easson, under the creative direction of Sydney restaurateur Robert Marchetti, Gowings Bar & Grill is a funked-up Euro-flash brasserie which relies of the most artisan producers for the freshest Australian ingredients, and cooks them to perfection in wood-fired rotisseries. Repair to the Gilt Lounge afterwards for vintage cocktails. 5. EICHARDT’S PRIVATE HOTEL Where: Marine Parade, Queenstown, New Zealand What: Historic haven with watery vistas If you fancy drinking in both Lake Wakatipu views and silky seafood chowder, book a bedroom at Eichardt’s Private Hotel in Queenstown. This glam grand dame has mountain- and lake-spying rooms, a famous bar and a very good restaurant. Choose between dining at the award-winning bar or at Eichardt's Parlour, a private lounge and dining area on the first floor, styled with Georgian grace. Chef Will Eaglesfield is the talent in charge, plating up delicious dishes such as wild-game terrine with house pickles and mustard, and salted-cod-and-potato croquettes with herb aioli. Comfy sofas, friendly service and a toasty fireplace keep things cosy. 6. LAKE HOUSE Where: 4 King Street, Daylesford, VIC What: Restrained rural retreat Delicious little Lake House hotel in Daylesford began life in 1984 as a 40-seat, weekend-only restaurant, owned by acclaimed chef Alla Wolf-Tasker. Fast forward more than a few years, and lake-scoping rooms and a Scandinavia-inspired spa with treetop hot tubs and a blissful 75-minute signature treatment have been added to the equation. The emphasis is still firmly foodie, though: what’s dished up varies according to the season, but you can expect house-made charcuterie, heritage vegetables and fruits, local trout, eel and cheeses, free-range pork and wagyu beef. Be sure to book your table when you bag your stay, and call by Alla’s more casual café, Wombat Hill House, in the nearby Botanic Gardens. 7. ESTABLISHMENT HOTEL Where: 5 Bridge Lane, Sydney, NSW What: Everything-under-one-roof design destination Devotees of dim sum will think they’ve died and gone to har gow heaven when they clap eyes upon Establishment Hotel’s impressive Cantonese restaurant, Mr. Wong, a sprawling 240-cover space. When pork buns pale, there are plenty of other in-house options: Est., for Australian fine dining with French and Asian flair; Sushi-e, for succulent sashimi; Palings, which has a 'kitchen' menu designed for sharing, and the stunning Gin Garden bar, with lush plants, sexy pendant lamps, raw brick walls and a choice of Thai and Australian dishes. This multi-tasking pleasure palace can organise access to the Fitness First gym next door, if you start to feel fatty. 8. HUKA LODGE Where: 271 Huka Falls Road, Taupo, New Zealand What: Trad Twenties hunting lodge Fan of fishing, food and fast-paced adventures? Huka Lodge has all three covered. Set in Taupo, home to New Zealand’s largest lake in the heart of the volcanic North Island, this heritage 1920s hotel was founded as a frill-free fishing lodge, but don’t expect simple dinners of fisherman’s pie. Instead, the Michelin-starred executive chef brings European influences to contemporary New Zealand cuisine, harnessing the finest fresh, flavoursome local ingredients, including fruit from the orchard. Menus change daily according to the produce available, but previous crowd-pleasers include: freshwater lobster butter-poached with lemon-infused gnocchi and watercress, and chocolate fondant with espresso ice-cream. Cosy up in the main dining room or dine alfresco in the riverside grounds. 9. SPICERS VINEYARDS ESTATE Where: 555 Hermitage Road, Pokolbin, Hunter Valley, NSW What: Modern manor house Lovers of vine things have long flocked to the green-gold hills of the Hunter Valley, where some of the country’s sweetest, punchiest grapes flourish. Spicers Vineyards Estate makes the most of its regional charms: the 350-strong wine list (manager Belinda Stapleton's pride and joy) includes local gems from Margan, Tyrrell's and the like, or old-world classics from Burgundy and Bordeaux, and the restaurant has a veggie patch, chickens and pigs, and clever chef Mark Stapleton. Botanica's contemporary menu is loaded with lip-smacking dishes, such as house-made charcuterie, slow-cooked duck with caramelised fennel, and hand-cut pappardelle with lobster cream. Rattan chairs, earthy tones and floor-to-ceiling windows offering serene vineyard views make for a relaxed setting. 10. THE PRINCE Where: 2 Acland Street, St Kilda, Melbourne, VIC What: High-drama design, art deco grace Melbourne knows that the way to a visitor’s heart is through their stomach: this is the city where pop-up eateries sprout like mushrooms in the little laneways, after all. The Prince boutique hotel, a colourful art deco distraction in bayside St Kilda, lives up to its location, with not one but two ravishing restaurants. At Circa, rising star Paul Wilson and seasoned chef Jake Nicolson rustle up sharing plates with Asian zing: kingfish sashimi with yuzu and basil jelly, or bonito with green tea, for example. There’s a Mexican in the basement, too, but don’t be scared: Acland St Cantina spans a casual canteen and a cute, characterful restaurant. Save room for the salted-caramel ice-cream churros taco (we kid you not).
Hunter St. Hospitality, the team behind Rockpool Bar & Grill, Saké and Spice Temple, is opening a luxurious new cocktail bar in a newly renovated space in The Rocks. Alice has moved in and transformed the basement level of 16 Argyle Street, the building formerly occupied by The Cut Bar & Grill. Situated next to The Rocks nightclub The Argyle, Alice boasts a 65-seat main bar and a semi-private space with the capacity for an additional 10 guests. The bar is fitted out with jewel-toned booths and velvet drapes, with Hunter St. enlisting the help of People of Design to create a sleek, luxurious atmosphere. Head downstairs into this classically romantic cocktail lounge and you'll be greeted by an inventive selection of drinks. Signature creations include the Alice Spritz, combining Cocchi Americano, prosecco and raspberry shrub; the Nitro Spumoni, a Campari sour made with saffron tincture, tonic reduction and nitro grapefruit; and the Spicy Calavera mezcal margarita, flavoured with fresh lime, agave, pineapple, chilli and coriander. While the cocktails are the obvious centrepiece of the offerings at Alice, the bar snacks are just as big of a drawcard, drawing from the menus of its sibling venues in Rockpool and Spice Temple. The dishes are equal parts lavish and playful, like the caviar service which comes accompanied by tater tots and créme fraiche. Small plates include chicken liver parfait profiteroles, Sichuan fried chicken, empanadas and an array of raw and sliced items like scallop crudo, beef carpaccio and pickled cauliflower. Those in search of something to satisfy a more stable hunger can order from the bar's sandwich menu. Think pork katsu and cabbage sambos, pork and fennel hot dogs and a moreish cheese toastie made with four types of cheese and accompanied by a cheese dip. Alice will open at 16 Argyle Street, The Rocks from Thursday, September 8. It will be open 5pm–midnight Wednesday–Thursday and 4.30pm–1am Friday–Saturday.
Brad Pitt almost unrecognisable as Henry Spencer from Eraserhead. Ryan Gosling as The Invisible Man. Viola Davis as Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. If this has you intrigued, you're going to love the video exhibition that the New York Times Magazine has put together, directed by Alex Prager. In part an homage to the greatest villains from film and a showcase of some of the most talented actors we see on our screens today, each vignette is a carefully crafted moment exploring the darker side of these wicked characters. No actor speaks in the vignettes, but repetitive, spine-tingling music plays, reflected in the sinister, depraved look in each character's eyes. The camera creeps up Kirsten Dunst's body as she holds a green apple close to her lips; Glenn Close is a mysterious, almost ghostly version of Theda Bara, the silent film star. If you're a budding movie director, this could well serve as inspiration for your next horror short... See the exhibition, A Touch of Evil, here and the mood board that inspired it.
If your office crew is a creative lot who would appreciate a more mellow bonding experience, roll up your sleeves and get your collective palms working a great hunk of clay. Auart's new Petersham digs offers group classes for up to eight people, from one-time sessions for total novices to package classes for enthusiasts. There are few experiences that are more meditative than throwing clay on the pottery wheel and few things more hilarious than the collapsed gobs resulting from a first-time attempt on the wheel. Do yourself and your colleagues a favour and mark this in the calendar. Images: Age of Innocence Studio
The atmosphere of a writer's den, insanely long opening hours, fun and flavoursome food, a drinks menu that will keep even the most inspired drinker guessing, and not even the slightest degree of pretension. In short, Hemingway's must be one of the best spots in town right now. And it's perhaps not where you would expect it to be. A far cry from the back lanes of Darlinghurst or even the fame of King Street, this bar is firmly situated on Manly's main strip, right across from the beach. Despite this, it's about as dissimilar from a tourist trap as you can imagine. For a start, the prices. The house cocktails are $15 and the suggested mixers, almost good enough to be cocktails themselves, are a mere $10. Hemingway's Cup is the ten to one favourite cocktail, spotted in the hands of almost every lady in the place. It's gentle mix of Hendrick's gin, rose and apple tea, sugar, and spice, served in a tea cup and saucer with slices of cucumber alongside. While it's very good, my pick would be the Miffy: house-infused vanilla rum, Falernum, orange, lemon and egg white whisked into a cloud-like dream. On a summer's day, the Creaming Soda might be more your style, with vodka, crème de cassis, home-made lemonade, wild berry foam and a paper cocktail umbrella. As far as mixer ideas go, Aperol and Fanta isn't a bad choice, and neither is Rum, Spicy Bitters and Ginger Beer. Both pack a flavoursome punch. Click here for full review and details
Vivid Sydney is gearing up for its tenth anniversary and it has one epic lineup. At Carriageworks alone, an artistic program of music, screen, creative thinking and visual art will take over from May 24. And it's being headlined by Grammy Award-winning artist St. Vincent, who will take the house down with a live performance on June 17. St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark) has been rocking the music game for over a decade now, with breakout hits from 2007's 'The Apocalypse Song' to 2017's 'Los Ageless'. The indie-pop luminary is oft referred to as the "female Bowie". For those who aren't already huge fans, we suggest putting her fifth album, Masseduction, on repeat now. The meta-pop album, which is both strange and moving, was released to critical acclaim in 2017, cracking the top 10 on the Billboard 200. This year marks Carriageworks' fifth Vivid program, which also includes design forum Semi Permanent, Clipped Music Video Festival and electronic and dance event Curve Ball. In 2017 London's electronic duo Goldfrapp headlined, preceded by Bjork in 2016, who took over the precinct with a huge virtual reality project. Needless to say, the multi-arts centre is known for putting on ambitious programs, and this year is slated to be another big one. Images: Nedda Afsari
What's charm got to do with it? In What's Love Got to Do with It?, plenty. A rom-com with absolutely nothing to do with Tina Turner, the song that instantly springs to mind or the 1993 biopic about the singer's life, this British affair from the producers of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, the Bridget Jones films and Love Actually — and the more-recent Yesterday and Cyrano, too — thrives on the charisma of its leads. It has to. Lily James (Pam & Tommy) and Shazad Latif (Profile) are nicely cast, but they're also all-so-crucially required to help patch over the movie's flagrant formula. Indeed, as penned by journalist-turned-producer-turned-screenwriting first-timer Jemima Khan, and helmed by Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, What's Love Got to Do with It? interrogates its own premise in its template-like nature. Is it better to stick to a tried-and-tested route or let surprises reign? In the way it's made and the tale it tells, at least, this flick repeatedly advocates for the former. For documentarian Zoe (James) and oncologist Kazim (Latif), childhood pals, neighbours and each other's first kiss, What's Love Got to Do with It?'s big battle isn't about romantic comedies, of course. And, it certainly isn't about whether the latest entry in the genre should paint by numbers or dare to diverge from the trusty path. But the same conflict underscores Zoe and Kaz's differing approaches to love and marriage, as Zoe is shocked to discover at Kaz's brother Farooq's (Mim Shaikh, Doctors) wedding. That's where the man she's known her whole life announces he's getting hitched, even though he hasn't met someone. Happy to skip the chaos of dating, not fussed with casual hookups, and buoyed by his parents Aisha (Shabana Azmi, Halo) and Zahid's (Jeff Mirza, Eternals) success with arranged nuptials, he's putting his trust in assisted marriage to find someone to share his life with. What's Zoe got to do with Kaz's decision, other than being a friend by his side? There's the glaring answer and then there's how Khan's script keeps her central pair in each other's orbit other than just as mates. As Zoe gets knocked back for funding for her next project, she doesn't blink before suggesting examining assisted marriages in Britain instead. (My Big Fat Arranged Marriage is her producers' dream title.) Kaz is understandably reluctant, but soon Zoe's camera is capturing everything, including the parade of events that her mother Cath (Emma Thompson, Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical) chats, drinks and dances her way through. Making a doco out of Kaz's quest to tie the knot can't help Zoe avoid her mum's stereotypical pestering about her own romantic prospects, however, complete with setting her up with family vet James (Oliver Chris, Emma). Due to rom-com logic, convention and expectation, there's a dose of My Best Friend's Wedding to What's Love Got to Do with It?, although Zoe doesn't ever try to sabotage Kaz's big day. There's also more than a dash of When Harry Met Sally… to Kapur's first feature in over a decade and a half (other than a segment of New York, I Love You) as Zoe and Kaz constantly discuss their varying ideas about relationships. And, to zero astonishment as well, there's pure and simple obviousness at work. Almost any rom-com focused on these two characters, enlisting these two actors, and benefiting from James and Latif's easy chemistry — and their innate likeability in both parts, especially Toast of London and Toast of Tinseltown's Latif — is going to do exactly what the audience not only wants, but what What's Love Got to Do with It?'s genre has primed them for. Accordingly, the real questions at the heart of What's Love Got to Do with It? aren't whether Kaz's assisted-marriage plan will succeed, or if this is a sensible way to meet one's other half in these always-swiping times. A culture clash comes with the setup, with Kaz's choice hailing from his Pakistani heritage, but diving into what that tradition means for better and for worse is a mere subplot. Rather, the film asks the most straightforward query it or any romantic comedy can or ever does. The specifics vary from flick to flick, but it's the same predicament. Here, it plays out like this: how will employing Muslim matchmaker Mo (Asim Chaudhry, The Sandman), video chatting with law student Maymouna (Sajal Aly, Ishq e laa) and following what happens from there — right through to three days of colourful ceremonies in Lahore, which Zoe records and the excited Cath wouldn't miss for the world — obstruct and complicate Zoe and Kaz's unspoken but plain-as-day feelings for each other? Inevitability drips through every moment of this sunnily shot and cosily staged movie as a result, but thankfully doesn't breed contempt. Again, that's thanks to James, Latif, their engaging performances and their comfortable rapport as What's Love Got to Do with It? embraces being exactly the type of fluffily predictable romantic comedy it is. That said, Khan and Kapur do take risks, but their film ends up worse for it. Although it's an eagerly knowing touch to have a former on-screen Cinderella play a woman who frames her love life as revised fairy tales, those narrated montages — popping up intermittently and told as bedtime stories to children, but echoing over Zoe's bad dates and morning-after regrets — flounder and feel like filler. What's Love Got to Do with It? doesn't judge Zoe's romantic exploits, nor should it, just as it avoids the same with Kaz — but, while it's accepting of amorous mess and assisted marriage alike, it isn't always certain in its tone or thoughtful with its supporting characters. Thompson's role proves an inescapable example, as much of a treasure as the great English actor is (see: her phenomenal work in 2022's Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, plus too many other past parts to count). Instead of exuberant, free-spirited, or even a gleefully silly example of an older generation broadening their world, Cath comes off as one-note and cartoonish. A white woman whose personality is defined by her fixation on another culture was likely to, sadly, in a movie that's fine with skewing broad and affable over shooting for sparks.
I had virtually given up on Hollywood-template rom-coms, as in the past few years they seem, at best, generic with occasional glimpses of humour and originality and, at worse, a vomit-inducing nightmare of indie love songs and corny romance. Like Crazy is a refreshing take on the genre. The story is simple: Anna (Felicity Jones) comes to LA for a semester and falls for Jacob (Anton Yelchin), but when her student visa runs out, she is romantic/stupid and decides to stay for the summer. This means Anna isn't allowed back into America once she does leave for London, and they are sentenced to make their love last long-distance. The film follows their relationship over a number of years, which is apparent through job changes and new partners but is a little clumsily done with montage and flashbacks, so be advised to take their sudden changes in sentiment with a grain of salt. It does get a little whiny and slow in patches, and it is a shame that the sideline relationships they both have don't get explored, as it seems director Drake Doremus does not want to distract from what he sees as the purity of Anna and Jacob's love, which is almost a character in itself. The thing I liked about Like Crazy was its authenticity. All the frustration, pain and awkward long-distance phone calls were subtle and very much relatable. Jacob wasn't a dashing heartthrob (although Anna was undeniably adorable) and it was a pleasant change not to get caught up with hating them for being too good-looking. As they're both creative (Anna is a writer and Jacob designs and makes furniture), their romantic gestures are sweet and fairly unique, as is the Paul Simon soundtrack running through it instead of the usual top-10 indie hits at the time of the film being made. The story is a very simple one of whether you can overcome the adversity of falling in love with someone whose situation makes it impossible. Having been in a similar situation myself, I appreciated the honesty of the movie but imagined that a lot of other people would find it a little dull and lacking in humour. I'm grateful, however, that the tween market has something to watch that is of quality whilst still being light-hearted. https://youtube.com/watch?v=hTUvX_pYNBM
We all have a family story to tell, but we can't all tell it like Sarah Polley. The actor known for such films as Dawn of the Dead and Splice and director of quietly acclaimed features Take This Waltz and Away From Her has turned her hand to documentary with Stories We Tell, and it's been demanding attention from festival audiences around the world. Unfortunately, it's one of those films that it's best to know as little of as possible when you go in, so this is going to be a short article. Suffice to say, Polley's primary interest is her mother, Diane Polley, an actress and extrovert who relished the escape from home life that came with roles on the stage. She died in 1990, when Sarah was 11, leaving behind a web of secrets that lay hidden for many years — until her daughter grew up and started to pull at the threads. Polley has a great cast of characters in her life to work with (every member of her family is interviewed), but the magic of this movie is ultimately in her storytelling. It's wittily edited, warm and makes some rather uncanny use of Super 8. The result is probably the most enthralling and entertaining family memoir around. Stories We Tell is in cinemas on September 26. Thanks to Palace Films, we have ten double advance screening passes to give away, valid from September 13-22. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
In Circular Quay for Vivid? Switch your brain on while you're at it. Sydney Opera House's forum for new ideas and open discussion, Homegrown Talks, focuses on First Nations this weekend — timely considering the event falls on the anniversary of the 1967 national referendum. Held at the Opera House Playhouse on May 27, the talks will follow two distinct sessions. The first, titled 'Unfinished Paperwork: Recognition and Sovereignty', is a political discussion on the 1967 national referendum, which gave constitutional status to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Panelists include Maori activist Tame Iti, 2015 NAIDOC Person of the Year Rosalie Kunoth-Monks OAM and Secretary of the Aboriginal Provisional Government Michael Mansell. The second session is held immediately following, titled 'Open for Business: Diverse Economies in First Nations Communities' and looking at the public focus on the mining economy, despite the diverse businesses that exist within First Nations. The panel will include seven-time ARIA awarded songwriter David Bridie and Manus Island musician John Faunt, along with scholarly activists Marcia Langton AM and Amelia Telford. The talks are sure to be hard hitters and mind-openers, worth every penny.
Maybe you've changed your computer backdrop to a picture of Hamilton Island. Perhaps you keep perusing snaps from a past Byron Bay getaway on your phone. Can't stop thinking about your previous holidays? The midwinter blues will do that. We've said it before and we'll say it again: another cure is planning your next vacation, especially when there's a flight sale to capitalise upon. Qantas has dropped another massive round of discounted fares. In June, it put more than one million cheap seats up for grabs. A month later, it's doing the same. The focus is still on its domestic network, spanning 60-plus routes — and this time, prices start at under $160 one-way on more than 40 of them. You'll be able to travel between August 2024–March 2025, although the specifics vary per destination. If you're keen, you'll need to get in quick as this is a 72-hour-only sale, running until 11.59pm AEST on Thursday, July 25, 2024. And yes, the usual caveat applies: if fares sell out earlier, you'll miss out. Options include Sydney to the Gold Coast for $109, and to Byron Bay for the same price; Melbourne to Launceston from $119, and to Maroochydore for $179; and Brisbane to the Whitsunday Coast from $119, or to Hamilton Island for $169. Other routes and fares span both Brisbane to Sydney and Adelaide to Melbourne from $129, Brisbane to Cairns from $159, Sydney to Albury for $149 and Melbourne to Coffs Harbour for $169. Trips to and from Perth, Hobart, Alice Springs, Darwin, Canberra, Newcastle, Mildura, the Fraser Coast, Wagga Wagga, Devonport, Broken Hill, Tamworth, Port Macquarie, Rockhampton and Townsville are also on the sale list — and there's more after that as well. Inclusions-wise, the sale covers fares with checked baggage, complimentary food and beverages, wifi and seat selection. Qantas' 72-hour surprise sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Thursday, July 25, 2024, 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.
During the Point Break remake, a gang of adrenaline junkies contemplate their next fix. Staring up at a mountain they're about to base jump from, they discuss their limits — or "the point where you break". Dialogue isn't exactly this movie's strong point. Yes, the film expands its remit and titular reference beyond the realm of surfing that was so integral to its 1991 predecessor. No, it's not a smart move. The latest Point Break is as lacklustre as everything that comes out of its characters' mouths, despite its best efforts to distract audiences with scenes of spectacle. In broad terms, the story remains roughly the same: a freshly minted FBI agent tracks a gang of thieves whose crimes are tied to their thrill-seeking antics. Cue an undercover operation that tests the cops-versus-robbers divide, as Johnny Utah (Luke Bracey) is seduced by the swagger of ringleader Bodhi (Édgar Ramírez). This time, Bodhi and his cronies don't just surf and skydive, but snowboard, glide and free-climb too. Seeking spiritual fulfillment, they're attempting to complete the holy grail of death-defying endeavours, known as the Ozaki Eight. Their accompanying heists are designed to give back what they're taking in the process, redistributing the wealth to the poverty-stricken, Robin Hood-style. As a standalone feature, it all makes for the kind of slick film that leans heavily on what's being seen rather than what's being said. When the expositional or faux-philosophical chatter gets grating, up pops a daredevil act; when the script can't quite find a way to move forward, or anything for its characters to do, the same trick is deployed. It's the "look over there!" approach to filmmaking, and while it provides some striking sights, their purpose as filler is never in doubt. With the central bromance weak and the law-and-order side of things formulaic, Point Break becomes little more than a fast-paced, choppily edited mash-up of extreme sports videos and any template police procedural you can think of. Moreover, as a remake of a beloved, breezy '90s action classic, the film fares even worse. In reimagining the Keanu Reeves/Patrick Swayze, about stoner surfers trying to finance their endless summer, director-cinematographer Ericson Core (Invincible) and writer Kurt Wimmer (Total Recall) clearly think that bigger is better — and that's where their thinking stops. Core has actually toyed with this kind of material before, lensing the car-oriented riff that is The Fast and The Furious. But where that flick spawned a successful franchise, this rehash just peddles in tedium. Sure, he ramps up the stakes, stunts, locations and backstory, adds the requisite updates and throws in a few overt winks and nods (including one that Hot Fuzz did better). But he also strips the feature of its fun, thrills, humour and personality in the process. Indeed, never has there been a movie in greater need of Reeves saying "whoa", Swayze's oozing charm, or Gary Busey being Gary Busey than this choppy dip into been-there, done-that territory. Among the next gen performers, only Ramírez stands out. Aussie actor Bracey plays his role not just blankly but blandly, Ray Winstone phones in his turn as a London-based officer, and Teresa Palmer's love interest appears to exist purely to give someone female a speaking part. To say that this version of Point Break is a wipeout might be a cliché, but it's also the dull reality — and the film doesn't try to inspire anything more than that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsSGbIujmPo
Earlier this year, we were flocking to Neil Perry’s new less-than-$10 Burger Project, to find out how the many-hatted chef fares when it comes to feeding the people. And now, the exotic-yet-bargain-priced burger is taking on yet another incarnation with the opening of Burger Liquor Lobster. The chief drawcard is its seafood menu: lobster rolls, prawn rolls, crab burgers and popcorn lobster, all for $15 a piece. Popping up for the summer in both Paddington’s The London Hotel and Manly Wharf Hotel, the eatery and bar takes the space previously occupied by Chur. The affordable prices don't mean there's any skimping on the ingredients front. The lobster is of the salt and pepper variety, accompanied with lemon aioli, chives, red onion and lettuce, while the crab is crispy soft shell, spiced up with chilli Singapore sauce and cooled down by Asian slaw. As far as burgers go, they're all $10 and come in five editions: beef, chicken, pulled pork, lamb and vege. These traditional-sounding flavours are each delivered with a twist. The chicken, for example, is dressed up with mint, shallot, slaw, chilli and lime mayo, while the vege is comprised of chickpea and lentil fritter, beetroot yoghurt, kale and corn relish. Plus, if you're carb-conscious or GF, you can opt to have your mini-feast wrapped in lettuce rather than a bun, or order it as a salad. That'll leave you a few extra calories to spend on the cocktail list. It's all about fresh, summery concoctions, such as Lychee Passionpit (vodka, lychee, passionfruit sorbet, sparkling wine), My Tini Wini (gin, lemon juice, lavender syrup, watermelon, raspberries, crème de peche), and Rock Lobster (Bulldog Gin, St Germain elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, pineapple juice, yellow Chartreuse, orange blossom marmalade). They're all priced at $16. Both venues have taken on a playful, nautical fit-out. You’ll notice it most at The London, where glass buoys, ropes and crab pots are all part of the décor. Burger Liquor Lobster opens on Tuesday, November 11, at Manly Wharf Hotel, ((02) 9977 1266; East Esplanade, Manly) and upstairs at The London Hotel ((02) 9331 3200; 85 Underwood Street, Paddington). Opening hours are midday till late, seven days a week.
In case you haven't noticed, a small food fad has hit cafes and pubs around town. The Reuben sandwich has arrived and you should be excited. For those of you that enjoy a meat-free, gluten-free, bread-free, fun-free sandwich, this probably isn't the thing for you. The humble Reuben first came into being from one of two stories. It was either invented by a one Reuben Kulakofsky, a Lithuanian-born grocer from Omaha, Nebraska, or Arnold Reuben, the German owner of the once famous, now defunct Reuben's Delicatessen in New York City. Either or, I'm not fussed. I'm just happy it exists. The sandwich itself is a delicious hot pile of corned beef, Swiss cheese with Russian or Thousand Island Dressing and sauerkraut served between grilled or plain slices of rye bread. My first and best Reuben was from one of the best places to get it: Katz's Deli, New York, made famous for this scene in When Harry Met Sally. (Note Billy Crystal is actually eating a Reuben) Delicious, huh? Here's what it should look like and, to me, is a 10/10: We've decided to road test some of the places in Sydney who are peddling their version of this rad sanga. MONTY'S It's funny; looks can be deceiving. I think I sort of experienced the sandwich shop equivalent of She's All That. Monty's is a nondescript cafe situated across the road from Eastgate Shopping Centre in Bondi Junction. They do a nice array of mixed sandwiches. One even has prawns in it. Prawns! What am I, The Queen? Ha! (Wipes a laughter tear from eye.) They're made with thick-cut bread, crusty baguette or toasted panini baked in-house daily. The happily enthusiastic waiter advised I go for white bread. They do no rye (lose points). The bread is buoyant, baby. Biting into it, I close my eyes and see myself using it as a flotation device in a world where the ocean is made of hot, hot gravy. There's a lot of finely sliced corn beef, which would be great if I wanted cold slices to pack my little lunch with. Lose points. Nice slaw and correct cheese. What? Mayo instead of Russian dressing! That's....Lose points. The pickles are nice but they're little baby things that little babies would eat with their little baby gums. Lose points. Look, it's a very nice-looking and great tasting sambo, but it's kinda like buying a Kia instead of a Porsche. It's safe, reliable, has plenty of soft cushions, airbags, meat and slaw; however, it just hasn't got the vroom that a Porsche can give. I want a Porsche and I want it NOW! The coffee's great and the place has that fresh-made bread smell which, speaking of cars, would be an awesome scented car tree smell. Price: $9.50. Rating: 7.5/10. 52 Spring St, Bondi Junction RUBY & RACHEL Set in the Bondi Markets, Ruby & Rachel make two great takes on the Reuben. Firstly, the Reuben with freshly cooked corned wagyu beef, and secondly, the Rachel, using Pastrami instead of the beef. There's also a vego option, but I slapped the owner in the face and ordered my Reuben rather than write down the deets. My first Reuben in NY, which is my benchmark, had both pastrami and corned beef on it, and I will ask for that next time. Their corned beef was great, though maybe a tad too salty — or was that the sauerkraut? Mine needed more dressing. The rye was toasted and a tad too crunchy. First-world problems aside, this is a great sandwich. Price: $10 plus you can go market browsing afterwards and buy macarons. Rating: 8/10. Bondi Markets REUBEN HILLS So this is the 'Reuben' from Reuben Hills in Surry Hills. It's their 'almost a Reuben' Reuben — good disclaimer. Now, as a sandwich this is damn tasty — hell, I'd give it an 8/10 for taste — but it ain't a Reuben yo! (No idea why I've gone all Jesse from Breaking Bad...) It's the Milli Vanilli of Reubens. This showed up, and the real Reuben is somewhere else, sunning itself on a yacht in the Caribbean living off its album royalties. The meat is succulent, warm awesomeness but it's wagyu beef, not corned beef. The pickled vegetable and mayo combo works, but these aren't the droids I am looking for. The bread is topnotch, but the thing is the size of two sliders, and for $16 I left bereft and hungry. Sorry folks, but to rate it as a Reuben, I give it 6/10. By the way, their coffee is great and staff are super cool. 61 Albion St, Surry Hills SLOANE'S Sloane's Cafe apparently used to be an institution on Oxford Street, serving shoppers and locals alike for over 20 years. In hindsight, I shouldn't have ordered. For one good reason: They couldn't spell Reuben correctly on the blackboard. I now have a new rule: If you can't spell it, I won't eat it. They also had us sitting next to the kitchen bin, which was being poorly camouflaged by a framed picture of a giraffe licking its baby giraffe on top of its head. Thick crusty rye cut the roof of my mouth up so much I could've entered it as an extra in a slasher flick. The meat was apparently corned beef, but didn't taste it. The slaw was homemade and sweet, not sour and savoury. Sweet I tells ya. And there was too much cheese and dressing, a molten flow of melted mess dripping down my hands. It was almost a dressing sandwich. I feel confused and dirty like I did at the end of The Crying Game. Service is slow. The coffee is weak. Meh. Price: $12. Rating: 4/10. 312 Oxford St, Paddington REUBEN & MOORE Reuben & Moore is set on the fifth floor of the CBD Westfield. You may look like you're on a shopping montage as you hike up the escalators, but it's worth it. These guys don't mess around. The meat is there hanging on hooks, cooking. The salad and pickles splayed out before you in a long, glass case. You're there for this sandwich. Awesome. The guy cutting the rye is reprimanded on how thick the bread should be cut. Very cool. But wait, no Russian dressing? Only mustard? There's Russian salad on the Rachel? But..... I don't care. I'm drunk on meat with my horns in the air! This beast is long, like a delicious, meaty boat. The rye is superb, so soft and untoasted, like an angel's bosom. (NB: angel's bosom ain't good toasted.) The crunchy pickle is also long and sliced lengthways in the sambo. Although the meat stack pales in comparison to NY, it's still warm, although for some reason (and I don't like to throw this word around very often) not moist enough. That's where the dressing would be much appreciated, my little rock pig. Good use of slaw and cheese. I'm taking half off for no dressing, half off for not enough flesh and half off for price. Best yet! Price: $14.50. Rating: 8.5/10. Rock! Westfield CBD T's Book Cafe Apparently once owned by a contestant on Masterchef, T's is a library cafe combining two of my fave things: eating and walking away from library cafes. It was pre-made and wrapped — alarm bells. Cold meat, no pickle, grated cheese (apparently Swiss), spindly slaw and the Russian dressing was solid like buttery custard. Plus the bread was soy and quinoa. Run for the hills! They must have some pretty good books. Price:$9.5. Rating: 0/10 136-138 Avoca St, Randwick The Forresters I remember, back in the day, when Forresters did $5 steaks at lunch. Way back when things like the wheel were being invented. How things have changed. This Reuben was stingy on the beef (one cold slice that looked like it had been pulled straight out of a packet) but had a nice slaw, sauce and pickle combo going. Boring, grilled bread gone cold and also cold chips. This meal reminded me of an overpriced room service dish you'd order hungover when staying in an interstate hotel. Yes, you stuff those solid, cold fries into your face in an attempt to soak up all the regret from the night before, but invariably you always feel empty and alone afterwards. I ate this at 1pm sans hangover and sans satisfaction. Apparently they do a great burger though. Price: $10. Rating: 5/10 336 Riley St, Surry Hills FELIX Felix is nestled in Ash Street laneway, across from the elevators that lead you up in to Ivy. It has that elegant French bistro style down pat. Somebody told me, so this must be fact, that they modelled it on Balthazar in New York. It certainly does have the same vibe. I had heard some good things about this Reuben and mon dieu it truly is tres bien. Served in between some slightly toasted, thickly cut dark rye are nice hunks of warm corned beef. Mmm boeuf. The sauerkraut and swiss cheese are spot on and the pickle is large, sliced in half and served on the side. Everything is as it should be except for one small, tiny, faible thing. It has slightly seeded mustard which after a few bites cleared my sinuses better than any hard-hitting nasal spray ever could. Personally, I feel you need the Thousand Island dressing to counter the saltiness of the beef and the sourness of the sauerkraut. They all work perfectly together. Yes, the rye was dark, but I was willing to let it slide as it wasn't too overpowering in flavour as some can be. is it wasn't for the mustard, this would've been, 'ow you say, the creme de la creme of Reubens. Bit pricey, too. Price: $18. Rating: 8/10 2 Ash St, Sydney
Anything can be festive with the right theming, and that includes doughnuts. Accordingly, it should come as zero surprise that Krispy Kreme will soon release a line of Christmas goods, aka doughnuts iced in red, green and white. What you might not be expecting, however, is the new range of doughnut-inspired Christmas biscuits for dogs that it has just dropped first. You know the thinking behind this new canine snack: anything humans can eat, dogs think they can munch on as well. Of course, as every responsible pet parent knows, that isn't the case. But this festive season, that's where Krispy Kreme's latest limited-edition range of 'doggie doughnuts' comes in. The company has dipped their paws in this territory before, back in 2021. This time, the round dog bikkies are all about the jolliest part of the year. Even better: they're decked out exactly as the Christmas range of doughnuts for humans will be when they arrive, so you and your pupper can go all matchy matchy with your snacks. Krispy Kreme's new dog treats sure do look like the real thing anyway, and once again hail from a collaboration with Coolum-based pet treats business Huds and Toke. They come in four packs for $10.95, with each biscuit featuring different decorating — so there's a Christmas tree-inspired bikkie, one that's meant to look like a Christmas pudding, another that's inspired by Santa's belly (including a blet) and a white, sprinkle-topped number simply dubbed 'festive ring'. The biscuits aren't made from doughnuts or chocolate, of course; instead, they use a hard-baked cookie base that uses peanut butter, carob and other canine-friendly ingredients. The bikkies are also meant to be good for chewing and for teeth cleaning — so they'll get your four-legged friend's tail wagging and help take care of their dental health. And yes, a big caveat: they are just for pets. So, just like how Fido or Rover can't have your doughnut, you can't have their version either. Find them now at Krispy Kreme stores around the country, including via drive-thru and click-and-collect. Krispy Kreme's Christmas doggie doughnuts are now available from the chain's stores — including via drive-thru and click-and-collect for a limited time.
Work on Central Station's massive facelift is set to kick off immediately, with the NSW Government this week announcing Laing O'Rourke's been given the $955 million contract for the job. And what a job it is. Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance says it's the biggest revamp Sydney's busiest train station has seen in decades, claiming that it will "transform the daily commute for Sydneysiders forever". While the station's currently used by around 270,000 commuters daily, that number's expected to hit 450,00 over the next 20 years. The huge operation will see new Sydney Metro platforms constructed beneath the current platforms 13 and 14, as well as the installation of a new 19-metre underground thoroughfare they're calling Central Walk. This will run from Chalmers Street, but unlike the existing one, it will more efficiently connect existing rail platforms to light rail and bus services, and the new Metro platforms. For the first time, commuters will also be able to move between platforms 12 and 23 via escalators. The Central Station construction is expected to wrap up by 2022, before more work continues on the Sydney Metro City and Southwest project. Last November, The Sydney Morning Herald leaked documents from Transport for NSW that estimated the project would cost a whopping $3 billion. All up, the NSW Government plans to build new stations at Central, Victoria Cross, Waterloo, Martin Place, Crows Nest, Pitt Street and Barangaroo as part of the $20 billion project.
Gone are the days when gin was simply a clear spirit that tasted good with tonic. It still is, but it now comes in so many varieties that you could dedicate an entire liquor cabinet just to juniper-based beverages. Shiraz gin, chardonnay barrel-aged gin, spiced Christmas gin, pink gin made from cherries and raspberries, green ant gin and even non-alcoholic gin — they're just some of the recent types tempting your tastebuds. And if most of the above sound great for an Australian summer, then consider Bass and Flinders' truffle-infused gin your new winter go-to. Returning for 2018, the limited-edition truffle gin blends fresh Australian Black Perigord truffles — sourced from Red Hill farms, where possible — with a vapour-infused mix of juniper, angelica root and calamus root. Like all of the distillery's tipples, it also uses Bass and Flinders' grape-based eau de vie spirit, which creates a particularly smooth texture. "It is a standalone gin that's wonderful neat, or alongside creamy sauces and strong cheeses," says head distiller Holly Klintworth — or, you could opt to make your own truffle martini. Whichever way you'd like to drink it, the truffle gin is available from Friday, July 13 from Bass and Flinders' cellar door in Victoria's Red Hill, as well as via the distiller's website. If you happen to be in the vicinity of the former on Saturday, July 14, you can also take part in a truffle hunt, which includes truffle gin tastings plus cocktails with cheese platters.
It's time for another menu change at CBD cocktail haunt PS40 — and this one will transport you to ten of the world's best festivals. The PS40 Festivus cocktail menu, as it's been named, will launch for a limited time this Saturday, June 29, and we reckon that's your weekend drink plans sorted. There are ten new cocktails all up, each named for one of the team's favourite festivals. And, as usual for PS40, they sound next-level. We're particularly eager to try the Day of the Dead, a creamy mezcal concoction with mole, Chartreuse, maraschino and a whole egg. As well as the drink named for Tasmania's winter solstice fest Dark Mofo — this one is a carbonated mulled wine with cardamom, mountain pepperberry and sandalwood. Others on the list include Nevada Desert's Burning Man (gin and Seedlip Garden with smoked pea), Germany's Oktoberfest (white rum and raspberry bier mixed with cured strawberry, lime and egg white) and Japan's Cherry Blossom Festival (rum, vermouth, beetroot and orange bitters). [caption id="attachment_728682" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wes Nel[/caption] Alternatively, you can grab your American friends and take a seat at the Thanksgiving dinner table by sipping on this rye whiskey cocktail that's been combined with sweet potato, sage and egg white. If you're a food-lover, the Into the Wild might be your go-to — it's inspired by a food festival run by Argentinian chef Francis Mallmann and Krug Champagne and combines macadamia-washed vodka and verjus with salt-baked pineapple and basil. In true festive fashion, the venue has also been dolled up with pops of colour and heaps of new lightly themed posters — including the cocktail menu, which will now be printed on A0 sized paper and become a feature of the bar design going forward. While there are no exact dates for how long these newbies will be available, the cocktail menu at PS40 changes every two-to-four months and these won't make a comeback, so grab 'em while you can. Find PS40 at Skittle Lane, Sydney. The PS40 Festivus cocktail menu launches on Saturday, June 29. Images: Wes Nel
Another year, another new version of Cinderella. Some stories just can't stay away from the screen, and this is one of them. Filmmakers have been drawn to the fairy tale since the silent era, resulting in beloved animated flicks, playful takes on the tale such as Ever After and Ella Enchanted, and Disney's 2015 live-action adaptation. Arriving next, and soon: a new musical that combines glass slippers and pining for a better life with singing, dancing and a fairy godparent named Fab G — with the latter played by Pose's Billy Porter. This version of Cinderella stars singer Camila Cabello as the titular character, while The Craft: Legacy's Nicholas Galitzine plays Prince Robert. Also popping up: Idina Menzel (Frozen II) as Cinders' stepmother, Minnie Driver (Starstruck) and Pierce Brosnan (Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga) as the king and queen, and Romesh Ranganathan (Staged) and James Corden (The Prom) as both footmen and mice. The latter is a producer, too, and came up with the idea for the film, while Pitch Perfect writer and Blockers helmer Kay Cannon sits in the director's chair. Clearly, if a new version of Cinderella doesn't hit the screen every few years, Hollywood must turn into a pumpkin. While musical takes on the tale aren't new — see also: the stage version that's slated to hit Australia — this one is set to feature pop songs. So, you'll be seeing Cabello, Menzel and company singing tracks you know, as well as crooning their own new original tunes. Just how that'll turn out will be revealed on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, September 3, with the film originally slated for a cinema release, but then snapped up by the streaming platform instead. In both the initial first-look trailer and a just-dropped first new sneak peek, there's plenty of songs, colour and empowerment. Cinders won't stand for her stepmum's terrible treatment, or for simply being a dutiful princess when she hits it off with Prince Robert. There's also humour in this version, crucially, including around Fab G and the abilities that come with being a fairy godparent. "Do you want to go to that ball?" asks Fab G, to which Cinders replies: "yes, I was just crying and singing about it like two minutes ago". Check out the latest Cinderella trailer below: Cinderella will be available to stream via Amazon Prime Video from Friday, September 3. Top image: Kerry Brown.
Updated Tuesday, May 23: Longshore will open on Thursday, June 15 and will offer four different dining options: a la carte, a lunch tasting menu ($100), a standard tasting menu ($150) and a ten-course snacks flight ($80). Bookings are now available exclusively through OpenTable. When Jarrod Walsh and Dorothy Lee announced they'd be stepping away from beloved Enmore Road venue Hartsyard last year, they teased big things in the pipeline, thanks to plans to oversee the food and drink offerings at The Old Clare Hotel. The announcement coincided with the closing of longstanding hatted Sydney restaurant Automata, which operated out of the space next to the hotel bar for seven years — a spot that Walsh and Lee are now making their own. The dynamic hospitality duo have taken over the Chippendale digs from Clayton Wells and the crew, announcing a new 100-seat seafood-heavy restaurant and bar called Longshore. The multi-space venue will accommodate a variety of patrons, with outdoor seats on offer for light snacks over drinks, an upstairs bar for events and snack flights, and a welcoming ground-floor dining room where you can really lose a few hours. "We're honoured to be taking over a much-loved Sydney dining room and opening the suburb's first wine bar and restaurant," says Walsh. "Our menu utilises the whole of Australia's coastline, and is inspired by both our childhoods and our travels around the world. I grew up on the coast in Port Macquarie fishing, camping and exploring, and all these things I learnt as a child, such as how to catch a fish and prepare it, play a huge part in the menu." There are a couple of different ways to approach the menu at Longshore. Alongside the a la carte selection, the experimental ten-snack tasting flight will take you on a journey between hot and cold mouthfuls — and there's a five-course set menu for diners who want to sample the team's favourite dishes from the menu. [caption id="attachment_860564" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Automata, Nikki To[/caption] On the opening lineup, you can expect unique creations like a glazed abalone crumpet with guanciale and sansho pepper, steamed sand whiting with XO pipi butter, and grilled Australian wagyu accompanied by a bone marrow sauce and smoked fat. Longshore will be open four days a week, with lunch on Fridays and Saturdays. It'll launch in June, but the restaurant's exact opening date hasn't been announced just yet, so make sure to keep an eye on its Instagram for the latest updates. Plus, if you're still on the hunt for top-notch food on Enmore Road, Walsh and Lee have passed the baton of their old Hartsyard space onto Neville Dsouza, who has opened the sleek produce-driven eatery Irene's. The Hartsyard pair are still involved with the new restaurant, which serves up hearty dishes inspired by home cooking such as tamarind-glazed chicken and garlic cream grilled prawns. Jarrod Walsh and Dorothy Lee's Longshore is coming to 5 Kensington Street, Chippendale in June. It will be open for lunch Friday and Saturday, and dinner Monday and Thursday–Saturday — we'll update you with an exact launch date when one is announced. Images: Jason Loucas.
New York's Museum of Modern Art isn't the only major international gallery to bring its wares to our shores this year, with an exhibition from London's Tate Britain gallery heading to Australia from December. Entitled Love & Desire: Pre-Raphaelite Masterpieces from the Tate and displaying from December 14, 2018 until April 28, 2019, it'll bring more than 40 of the Tate's beloved works to the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, in an exhibition that'll focus on the artistic movement that started in 1848. Iconic pieces such as John Everett Millais' Ophelia and John William Waterhouse's The Lady of Shalott will be making the journey as part of the showcase. Part ode to early Renaissance efforts, part protest against the prevailing creative traditions of the mid-19th century, pre-Raphaelite art was sparked by a group of rebellious artists eager to create something different to the art of the time — and their preferred style, featuring detailed, colourful compositions painted in thin layers with small brushes, certainly managed that. In addition to the pieces from the Tate, the exhibition will also feature an additional 40 works loaned from other British and Australian collections. Each will help highlight the themes of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, examine the different styles adopted by the various artists adhering to its principles, stress the importance of draughtsmanship and emphasise the movement's fondness for collaboration. "This exhibition includes some of the most loved and visited paintings at Tate — some of which have never before been seen in Australia," said NGA director Nick Mitzevich. Love & Desire: Pre-Raphaelite Masterpieces from the Tate will be the NGA's major summer exhibition, although it's not the gallery's only new addition come the end of the year, with Yayoi Kusama's pumpkin-filled infinity room The Spirits of the Pumpkins Descended into the Heavens set to join its permanent collection in December. Images: John Everett Millais, Ophelia 1851-2. Oil paint on canvas. Tate collection presented by Sir Henry Tate 1894. © Tate. / John William Waterhouse, The Lady of Shalott 1888. Oil on canvas. Tate. © Tate.
This month, Woolloomooloo's 100 percent vegan Alibi Bar and Kitchen is adding a boozy vegan shake offering to its Dirty Greens bar menu. That means you'll be able to tuck into plant-based versions of American diner favourites, complete with an OTT milkshake made with Gelatissimo vegan gelato. Available from Saturday, March 7, to Saturday, April 4, the For Goodness Shake range features three different boozy shakes, starting with the Pot of Gold — caramel mud cake gelato is mixed up with Irish whiskey, almond milk and vanilla, and topped with vegan whipped cream, cranberry shortbread, toasted hazelnuts, honeycomb and a peanut protein ball. Chocolate lovers might go for the Triple Threat, starring triple choc gelato, macadamia milk, hazelnut liqueur, Amaretto and vodka, with hazelnut spread, waffle cone, toasted marshmallow and a vegan 'Snickers' stacked up on top. For something a little fruity, the Tropicolada is coconut cherry choc gelato, ten-year-old Caribbean rum, falernum syrup, tropical purée and lime zest and is complete with Persian fairy floss, rainbow sprinkles and a ginger and macadamia cookie. These specialty cocktails come in at $20 a pop, or make it a combo with a burger for $29 — the deal comes with either the Alibi Burger (an Alt. Meat Co patty in a potato bun with lettuce, tomato, pickles and aioli) or the Chick'n Waffle Burger with slaw, pickles and a house-made smoky hot sauce. Elsewhere on the Dirty Greens menu, you'll find mac 'n' cheese bites, cheeseburger spring rolls, hot dogs made with Alt. Meat Co sausages, 'pepperoni' pizza and more. The Dirty Greens bar menu and the 'For Goodness Shake' range is available from 4–11pm every Tuesday to Sunday.
Minimalist Aussie clothing designer Assembly Label is currently hosting a massive online charity sale so you can upgrade your wardrobe with linen pants and a comfy woollen knit tee— and help Aussies doing it tough. With both men's and women's wear on offer, you'll find both cosy outfits for those chilly La Niña days such as denim, jumpers and jackets, plus swimwear, dresses and shorts ready for when the next summer heat wave hits. Best of all, you can nab it all at up to 50 percent off. There's a whole range of summer essentials available for cheap on the site. You could be sporting this cord drawn black dress, for example, at your next beachside brunch or sunny summer picnic for $60 down from $100. As part of the sale, Assembly Label has a choose-what-you-pay initiative raising money for the Curing Homesickness, an organisation that helps kids get home from hospital sooner. When you buy a sale item, you can choose to pay an extra $5, $10 or $15, with that amount then matched by Assembly Label and donated to Curing Homesickness. So, you can grab some new threads and feel good about it too.
Sydney, you just can't get enough chicken. On Monday, we reported on the transformation of lower north shore eatery Johnny Lobster into Johnny Bird. Now, we bring you further poultry-related tidings. At the end of March, Enmore neighbourhood bar The Gretz will be shutting up shop, then reopening in late April as Wish Bone, a casual eatery devoted to fried chicken, under the same owners, U.S.-born chef Gregory Llewellyn and Naomi Hart. It's not any old cooked chook you'll be feasting on, but an old favourite — Llewellyn's mighty version, which attracted hungry hordes to Hartsyard, before it revamped and swapped to a veggie-driven menu in January this year. "Change is in the air," says Llewellyn. "I've wanted to focus on something singular for a while." Expect a tight, short menu, with fried chicken as centrepiece. Llewellyn is still finalising the details, but also mentions po' boys, poutine and, for sides, fermented pickles and stewed beans have been floated as possibilities. Although the feel will be casual, service will be attentive and focused. "There's no bar," says Hart. "So, the guest experience will be overseen entirely by one server, who'll greet you, seat you, water you, take your order." You can count on speed, too. Llewellyn adds, "People are there to eat and they're thirsty, so why make them wait?" The design, which is a work-in-progress, will reflect this ethos. "We used the words elegant and efficient," Naomi says. "We want to maintain the style and service we're known for." When Wish Bone opens in late April, the duo will hit the ground running, offering dinner seven nights a week, before adding lunches down the track. The Gretz is located at 125 Enmore Road, Enmore and will remain open until the end of March. It will then reopen at Wish Bone shortly after. We'll keep you updated on an opening date. In the meantime, you can get more info at thegretz.com.au.
Guys, we did it. We helped art happen in the face of corporate suckiness. You may remember how last month Lego refused to fulfil Chinese artist and political commentator Ai Weiwei's order for bulk bricks on the grounds that they “cannot approve the use of Legos for political works”. This bizarre and freedom of speech denying move — one that should shock nobody who’s ever stood barefoot on a tiny plastic brick — came just two months before Weiwei's huge blockbuster summer exhibition at Melbourne's National Gallery of Victoria, Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei, which will kick off on December 11. When news broke of Lego's tyrannical response, it wasn’t long before the good people of the internet were offering up their own Legos for Weiwei’s use instead. So what did Weiwei do? He announced that he would be collecting donated Lego in different cities to create the exhibition anyway. A collection point was set up in in the NGV sculpture garden in Melbourne as a repository for the Lego blocks. Donors were encouraged to bring in their Lego blocks and drop them through the sunroof of a car parked in the garden. And it worked. In the wee hours of this morning, Weiwei started posting images of his new artworks to Instagram. The portraits are of activists who fight for human rights and free speech, and so far include privacy activist Edward Snowden and the Republic of The Gambia's opposition treasurer, Amadou Sanneh. A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Nov 19, 2015 at 8:11am PST A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Nov 19, 2015 at 8:26am PST A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Nov 19, 2015 at 8:11am PST We love you Weiwei. Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei comes to the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne from December 11 to April 24, in collaboration with The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh. For info and tickets, head to the NGV website. Words: Imogen Baker and Lauren Vadnjal
It isn't every day that wandering through Federation Square involves walking past — or through — a whopping 3000 kilograms of clothing waste. Thanks to an eye-catching, awareness-raising, three-day-only pop-up, however, Melburnians can currently do just that. Until Thursday, April 28, a hefty pile of discarded fashion is sitting in the middle of the Victorian capital, all to draw attention to how many threads are thrown away by Australians. The sustainability focused installation is a collaboration between Kathmandu and zero-waste advocate Joost Bakker, and it'll instantly teach you something — because the 3000 kilograms of discarded clothing that's pivotal to the piece only represents the amount of textiles disposed of by Aussies in a mere five-minute window. That's how much that gets thrown away every five minutes, in fact, with Kathmandu and Bakker's team-up designed to make that stark truth hit home. "The thing that shocked me the most — I just thought I'd use 500 kilos of clothing, but then I got 200 kilos of clothing in just one day," Bakker tells Concrete Playground. "I just went 'oh my god'. There's just this huge volume. I just couldn't quite comprehend the volume, and the weight. And then when you see these piles of clothing, or you see factories full, or you see it in landfill — the energy, the water, the labour, everything that's gone into creating that, and it's just thrown into landfill, it's crazy." The 3000 kilograms of clothes that Bakker has amassed for this project — with the help of clothing recycling centre Upparel — is used in a tunnel structure that visitors to Fed Square can mosey through. Still, it's hard not to feel the the scale of it. Again, that's completely by design. "My core belief is that people are aware, they'll do something about it," says Bakker. "Even if it's just one person who walks through that structure and gets inspired and comes up with a solution — that's what's so exciting. Globally, so many people are putting their energy into finding solutions that, over the next ten years, it'll be a thing of the past. I have no doubt that clothing waste will not exist very quickly because we're all putting our energy into it and trying to find solutions. Humans are amazing at finding solutions when we put our energy and efforts into it, and that's what's happening now. That's really what this installation is all about," he continues. The reason for the collab with Kathmandu: the company asked, and gave Bakker free rein to come up with his own way to highlight the fashion-waste problem. "I thought it was quite inspiring that a brand wanted to actually highlight this, and so I got quite excited," he notes. "I wanted to really come up with a way that you could actually immerse yourself in a volume [of textiles]. If you have a pile of clothing, it's very difficult to get a sense of how much that is," Bakker tells CP. "So I wanted to create a structure where you were really in it and immersed in it. And I'm based in Monbulk, I'm surrounded by flower farmers, and I was able to access plastics that are used for greenhouses — these are all offcuts, and we've put lots of layers of offcut plastic to create that structure that allows you to see the enormous waste that's generated." Kathmandu is also launching a new 100-percent biodegradable BioDown puffer jacket, which Melburnians will see hanging through the installation. It's made from materials — outer, inner, down, zips, threads, tags and all — that are treated with a special additive that helps accelerate biodegradation, but only in a landfill environment. The jackets will hit stores from Thursday, April 28. Bakker notes that it's moves like these that'll help see textile waste eliminated — an issue that's only been around for half a century or so anyway — and unwanted fashion items reused and recycled instead. "My belief is that waste is just a human thing. Waste is something that pretty much is only a fifty-year thing, it's a very short space of time that we've generated a waste industry. Even if you go back 60, 70 years, everything was a resource, so we didn't have things like landfills and waste dumps," he explains. "I view waste as something beautiful. It's amazing how many people have commented 'the structure is actually really beautiful, but it's filled with waste, it's filled with something that we discard, something that we don't put any value on'. All my work has been about turning that around," Bakker continues. "In nature, there's no waste. You don't walk around a forest and go 'oh my god, I'm surrounded by all this rubbish'. It's only a human thing, because everything becomes something else again. I think the sooner that as a society we embrace that idea, we can completely design waste out of everything. It can happen really quickly, and I think it will happen really quickly, because we are all aware now." Kathmandu's fashion-waste installation is on display at Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne, from Tuesday, April 26–Thursday, April 28.
Bondi Junction locals, your lunch game is about to level up. Pappa Flock (home of everyone's favourite juicy, crispy, crunchy chicken tenders and the cult-status Flock Box) will open its doors on Friday, May 16. Born in Parramatta and known across Sydney for its American-style fried chicken, signature sauces and lemonade freshly squeezed in-house daily, this proudly Australian chicken shop is now bringing the flavour to the eastern suburbs. To celebrate the new opening, Concrete Playground readers can score an exclusive offer: a full Pappa Flock Box for just $7.90 (normally $17.90) for two weeks only (Monday, May 19– Sunday, June 1). That's three juicy, crispy, crunchy chicken tenders (classic or spicy), seasoned chips, buttery toast, a regular drink and a side of Pappa Flock's signature sauce. Whether you're already a die-hard Flocker or just curious about the buzz, we've got expert tips to help you hack your next box like an absolute pro. From DIY sandwiches to secret sauce mixes, here's how to get the most out of your Pappa Flock Boxes. Build Your Own Chicken Sandwich If you want to crank up your Pappa Flock Box experience, get the O.G Box with slaw and an extra tendie. Take the buttery toast, add a couple of delicious chicken tenders, some hot chips, pile on the slaw and drizzle it with Pappa Flock's signature sauce. Boom. You've just built your own fried chicken sandwich. It's crunchy, creamy, tangy and rich all at once. Expert tip: Ask for a second slice of toast to make it a complete sandwich. Add Spicy Mango Habanero to Your Lemonade This one's a bit rogue, but very refreshing. Grab a cup of freshly squeezed, in-house lemonade and stir in a little mango habanero sauce. It's spicy-sweet, citrusy and addictive. Expert tip: Just add salt to the cup rim for a spicy mocktail margarita. Mix Your Own Signature Sauce Pappa Flock's signature sauce is a standalone treat, but mixing it with other sauces is where the real flavour customisation begins. For a super saucy experience, try a half-and-half blend with the Spicy Mango Habanero for something slightly sweet and hot, or throw it into your coleslaw for a creamy twist. Expert tip: go to the counter and ask for their secret Jumbo Sauce (aka the Cup of Sauce). Make It Into a Chip Butty If you know, you know. The humble chip butty is a carb-on-carb classic. Originating in England, it's essentially a sandwich filled with chips. For Pappa Flock's version, grab your toast and load it up with seasoned chips and a lashing of signature sauce. It's the kind of snack you didn't realise you needed until you take your first bite. Expert tip: for more of a flavour boost, add creamy Ranch — or for heat lovers, add Spicy Mango Habanero. You'll find the new Pappa Flock Bondi Junction store inside Westfield (opposite McDonald's, near the Bronte Rd entrance) from Friday, May 16 – just follow the scent of chicken tenders. To claim your $7.90 Pappa Flock Box, head to the Pappa Flock Bondi Junction store between Monday, May 19, and Sunday, June 1 and mention Concrete Playground when ordering. That's three juicy, crispy crunchy chicken tenders (classic or spicy), seasoned chips, buttery toast, a regular drink and Pappa Flock's signature sauce all for under a tenner. Pappa Flock is open at Westfield Bondi Junction from Friday, May 16, with other stores in Parramatta, Westfield Miranda, French's Forest, Casula, Westfield Eastgardens, Macquarie Centre Food Court and Rouse Hill. Follow along on Instagram or TikTok for more Sydney locations, menu tips, offers and updates. Pappa Flock Bondi Junction opens Friday, May 16 at 12pm. The Bondi exclusive $7.90 Flock Box offer (normally $17.90) is available in-store for a limited time from Monday, May 19 to Sunday, June 1, 2025. Delivery excluded. +$1.50 for Lemonade upgrade. Mention 'Concrete Playground' to redeem. Maximum of two boxes per customer. While stock lasts. By Jacque Kennedy
As far as blockbuster citywide exhibitions go in Australia, there's none quite as ambitious as the Biennale of Sydney. Celebrating its 21st edition with brand new artistic director Mami Kataoka (chief curator of Tokyo's Mori Art Museum), the Biennale is bringing out the big guns next year. With controversial Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei at the top, the lineup for the 2018 Biennale has dropped. Running from Friday, March 16 until Monday, June 11, the Biennale will see around 70 artists exhibiting around Sydney over 12 weeks — with 21 announced in the first release today. Weiwei will make his triumphant return to Australia following his wildly successful Melbourne double-bill exhibition with Andy Warhol last year. If you remember, he had quite the public falling-out with Lego so expect anything and everything from his Biennale involvement. Weiwei joins the likes of French multimedia artist Laurent Grasso, sculptural artist Haegue Yang, Australian contemporary artist Brook Andrew and Finnish video artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila, among significantly impressive others. While the Biennale's exhibition title won't be announced until July, artistic director Kataoka says this year they've done away with a specific theme or concept. Instead, they're focusing on perspectives from a broad range of artists from around the world. "Next year's Biennale will explore multiple viewpoints in search of a state of equilibrium," she said. "Rather than focusing on a specific concept or theme, the exhibition will suggest multi-layered perspectives of the world and its histories simultaneously." Kataoka says the Biennale experience will be "a journey; a walk through microcosms of the world today based on the stratum of history, human knowledge, emotions, desires and beliefs". A little vague, but we're still psyched. FIRST BIENNALE OF SYDNEY 2018 LINEUP: Eija-Liisa Ahtila Ai Weiwei Brook Andrew Oliver Beer Anya Gallaccio Laurent Grasso N.S. Harsha Mit Jai Inn Kate Newby Noguchi Rika Nguyen Trinh Thi Ciara Phillips Koji Ryui Semiconductor Yasmin Smith George Tjungurrayi Nicole Wong Wong Hoy Cheong Yukinori Yanagi Haegue Yang Jun Yang The 21st Biennale of Sydney will run from Friday March 16, until Monday June 11, 2018. We'll keep you posted on the whole artist lineup and exhibition program. Images: Ai Weiwei and Mit Jai Inn.
Is Sydney Film Festival in its body-horror era? In 2024, the Harbour City's annual citywide celebration of cinema closed with The Substance, after it had wowed Cannes but before it was an Oscar-winner. The very next movie that the event is screening, aka 2025's just-announced opening-night picture, also falls into the genre. Together stars Alison Brie (Apples Never Fall) and Dave Franco (Love Lies Bleeding), had this year's Sundance buzzing and marks the feature directorial debut of Australian filmmaker Michael Shanks (The Wizards of Aus). The Aussie film will kick off one of the country's major yearly odes to movies on Wednesday, June 4 — and will do so with a flick about a couple moving to the country, then finding more than just the relaxing quiet life they're seeking awaiting. Brie and Franco play Millie and Tim. After their big shift, she feels more at home than he does, ramping up their codependent relationship on his side. Then, as the teaser trailer featuring staring animals, unexpected strands of hair, a cave and declarations of love starts to show, things get strange. Also co-starring Australian actor Damon Herriman (How to Make Gravy), Together has a date with SFF almost two months in advance of its Aussie and US cinema release date at the end of July. In Sydney, it leads a lineup that's drop its full program on Wednesday, May 7, but already includes a Jafar Panahi retrospective, Justin Kurzel (The Narrow Road to the Deep North)-directed documentary Ellis Park, and everything from homegrown animation Lesbian Space Princess to Barry Keoghan's (Bird) new Irish thriller Bring Them Down. "We are thrilled to open the 2025 Festival with Together, a fiercely original work that showcases the creative ambition of a new voice in Australian cinema," said Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley, announcing 2025's opening flick. "Michael Shanks has crafted a bold and inventive debut that shifts seamlessly between tones, anchored by fully committed performances from Alison Brie and Dave Franco." Added Shanks: "having Together open Sydney Film Festival is a huge honour. Despite our US leads, this is an Australian film through and through, and I'm so proud to showcase what amazing crew and cast we have in our local industry." "I got altitude sickness in Utah when the film premiered in Sundance, and thankfully that's far less likely to happen when it premieres in Sydney." Check out the teaser trailer for Together below: Sydney Film Festival 2025 runs from Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, June 15 at cinemas across Sydney. Head to the festival website for further information and tickets — and check back here for the full lineup on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
There are few pleasures more simple or satisfying in this life than a great meal with great company. It's with that fact in mind that we again find comedians Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan bouncing from one tantalising meal to the next in the third installment of Michael Winterbottom's gastro-comedy series The Trip. Beginning in 2010, the original Trip was a 'best of' that drew from Winterbottom's six-part series for the BBC in which Brydon and Coogan travelled the UK's Lake District 'reviewing' restaurants for their respective publishers. It featured a threadbare fictional storyline that served only to place these two astoundingly witty and sardonic impressionists opposite one another – verbal sparring partners forever determined to fell the other with a devastating barb. The result was a delightful laugh-out-loud comedy that never once threatened to veer towards the gross-out or foul-mouthed gags so common in contemporary Hollywood comedies. The first film's success spawned a sequel, The Trip to Italy, four years later. Now we're greeted with the third course in The Trip to Spain. It's all very much business as usual, with close-ups of mouth-watering food porn breaking up the otherwise largely static shots of Coogan and Brydon facing off against one another, backed by breathtaking scenery and captivating architecture. There's a little history thrown in throughout the film, as well as the occasional food review, but at its heart The Trip to Spain knows where the gold lies and it rarely strays far from the path. Some of you may already be familiar with the common personality quiz question that asks what two people you'd most like to have over for a dinner party. If nothing else, you'd be hard pressed to find a better return on investment than Brydon and Coogan, given how effortlessly the two become 20. Many of the same impersonations from the first two movies return here, including Al Pacino, Michael Caine and Roger Moore. But it's the new entries – David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Sir Anthony Hopkins – that earn the biggest laughs. That these impressions are so often inspired by real life encounters or precious personal moments with their subjects gives what might otherwise feel like a tired parlour trick a critical grounding in tenderness – especially in the case of the Bowie exchange. If there's a complaint to be made this time round, it's that the fictional storyline brings the film to a close on a note that's both abrupt and rather bizarre. The likelihood of another follow-up seems assured given the left-field cliffhanger, but it's so at odds with the class and character of the series that one almost wishes the fictional narrative could be dispensed with entirely. Either that, or shift away from the episodic format of television and become an out-and-out film series. We'll just have to wait and see. For now, at least, we've got some more sumptuous comedy to enjoy, along with course after course of delicious food to match. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTvy8ab1NSo
New year, new murder in the building — in the fictional Arconia in New York, that is. That's what's in store for fans of Only Murders in the Building, the true-crime comedy that proved one of 2021's surprises and delights. Knowing they're onto a good thing, Hulu in the US quickly renewed the hit series, and now it's coming back in June with another killing to solve. If you missed the first season in 2021, it takes a great idea and turns it into an amusing murder-mystery gem. If you've ever listened to a true-crime podcast, decided that you'd make a great Serial host yourself and started wondering how you'd ever follow in Sarah Koenig's footsteps, then Only Murders in the Building is definitely the series for you. The show focuses three New Yorkers who basically follow that same process. Here, actor Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin, It's Complicated), theatre producer Oliver Putnam (Martin Short, Schmigadoon!) and the much-younger Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez, The Dead Don't Die) are all obsessed with a podcast hosted by the fictional Cinda Canning (Tina Fey, Girls5eva). They find themselves unexpectedly bonding over it, in fact. And, when someone turns up dead in their building, they decide that they can sleuth their way through the case by getting talking themselves. [caption id="attachment_824354" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu[/caption] That's how the first season panned out. Think Knives Out, but a sitcom and also a little goofier. Now, as the just-dropped first trailer for the show's second season shows, Charles-Haden, Oliver and Mabel are weathering the fallout from the last batch of episodes — namely, season one's big finale — and they have another murder to investigate (and another podcast season to chat about it on, obviously). Complicating their efforts this time around are a trio of factors: their public implication in the death in question; the fact that there's now a competing podcast about them and this new murder; the suspicions of their neighbours, who think they're guilty. Exactly how that'll play out won't be known until Tuesday, June 28, when Only Murders in the Building returns — but, whatever happens, both Cara Delevingne and Amy Schumer will be involved, with the pair joining the cast as guest stars. Check out the trailer for Only Murders in the Building season two below: Only Murders in the Building's second season will start streaming Down Under via Star on Disney+ on Tuesday, June 28. Read our full review of the show's first season. Images: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu.
When you're a stellar sleuth renowned for solving complex cases, what's your holy grail? That question will soon be answered in the Knives Out world. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is the third film in the detective franchise and will arrive before 2025 is out — and in its just-dropped initial sneak peek, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig, Queer) is excited about "the impossible crime". Netflix has unveiled its first look at Wake Up Dead Man in a date-announcement teaser, which reveals Friday, December 12, 2025 as the day that you'll be watching. Accordingly, this trailer is short on plot details — but there are snippets of what's in store, including a church and its graveyard featuring prominently. Also included: a glimpse at much of the characteristically stacked cast. Just like in 2019's OG Knives Out and 2022's Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Blanc keeps pointing the finger at well-known faces. Onboard this time around: Josh O'Connor (Challengers), Glenn Close (Back in Action), Josh Brolin (Brothers), Mila Kunis (Goodrich), Jeremy Renner (Mayor of Kingstown), Kerry Washington (Shadow Force), Andrew Scott (Ripley), Cailee Spaeny (Civil War), Daryl McCormack (Bad Sisters) and Thomas Haden Church (Twisted Metal). The new teaser also includes character names, including advising that O'Connor plays a reverend and Renner a doctor. The whodunnit saga's writer and director Rian Johnson (Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi) is back behind the lens on what is being teased as Blanc's "most dangerous case yet" — and he's giving audiences two big sleuthing returns in the same year, given that Poker Face, which he also created, has already made a comeback in 2025. So far, the Knives Out franchise has stuck to a three-yearly pattern. Also, although Johnson has plunged his detective into a familiar setup, he's always ensured that the end result was anything but routine. His trusty scenario to date: bringing a group of people together in a specific setting, then watching on when one thing that always occurs in a whodunnit happens. That'd be a murder, in a formula that Agatha Christie also loved, as book-to-film adaptations Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile and A Haunting in Venice have shown. The author's play The Mousetrap and 2022 flick See How They Run, which riffs on it, make the same point. And, so does this clearly Christie-inspired franchise. The cast across Knives Out and Glass Onion has always been impressive. Chris Evans (Red One), Ana de Armas (Ghosted), Jamie Lee Curtis (The Last Showgirl), Michael Shannon (A Different Man), Toni Collette (Mickey 17), Don Johnson (Doctor Odyssey), Lakeith Stanfield (The Changeling), Christopher Plummer (Departure), Katherine Langford (Savage River) and Jaeden Martell (Arcadian) all featured the first time around. In the second flick, Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown), Janelle Monáe (Antebellum), Kathryn Hahn (The Studio), Leslie Odom Jr (The Exorcist: Believer), Jessica Henwick (The Royal Hotel), Madelyn Cline (Outer Banks), Kate Hudson (Running Point) and Dave Bautista (Dune: Part Two) co-starred. Check out the date announcement video for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery below: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will release on Friday, December 12, 2025. Read our reviews of Knives Out and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
They call it Tina — The Tina Turner Musical, oh Tina — The Tina Turner Musical — and, while it finally arrived in Australia in May, it now has more dates around the nation. After premiering in London back in 2018, this stage ode to the music icon that's had Aussies dancing to 'Nutbush City Limits' for decades will tour Down Under, following up its current first local stint in Sydney with seasons in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne. No, it isn't taking to the stage in a church house, gin house, school house or outhouse — or on highway number 19, either. But Tina — The Tina Turner Musical will obviously have Crown Theatre, Festival Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Princess Theatre enjoying Turner's greatest hits in one massive show. The list of musical numbers includes 'Nutbush City Limits', naturally, as well as everything from 'River Deep, Mountain High' and 'Proud Mary' through to 'Private Dancer' and 'What's Love Got to Do with It?'. Tina — The Tina Turner Musical has made its trip Down Under courtesy of TEG DAINTY, Stage Entertainment and Tali Pelman, in association with Tina Turner herself before her passing in May this year. Announcing the show's stint on our shores back in 2022, the singer said that "Australia has always shared abundant love with me, going back to my early concerts in the late 70s through the uplifting partnership with the National Rugby League. It is very special for me that we will be reunited." "The joy, passion and message of resilience in my musical is so important now as ever. Thank you from the bottom my heart for welcoming me with open arms once again," Turner continued. The singer didn't mention her appearance in Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, but she is indeed part of the beloved Mad Max franchise, too. In Australia, The Lion King, We Will Rock You, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Ragtime and Moulin Rouge! The Musical star Ruva Ngwenya plays Tina, with In the Heights, Fame: The Musical and fellow Moulin Rouge! The Musical alumni Tim Omaji as Ike Turner. Penned by Tony Award-nominee and Pulitzer Prize-winner Katori Hall, plus Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, and directed by fellow Tony-nominee Phyllida Lloyd, Tina — The Tina Turner Musical clearly has quite the story to tell. The show steps through Turner's life and fame, including growing up in Nutbush, Tennessee, the hard work that led to her career, all of those aforementioned hits, her 12 Grammy Awards, her volatile time with Ike and her huge solo success. If you're a fan, Turner herself summed it up — yes, it's simply the best. "I first heard about the possibility of a stage musical portraying Tina's life eight years ago and I immediately reached out to Tali Pelman at Stage Entertainment. At that point there was no script and no book; however, I was hooked on the idea of it," said TEG DAINTY CEO Paul Dainty about Tina — The Tina Turner Musical. "We have been on that journey ever since, and here we are today announcing the Australian tour! Australians love this theatrical masterpiece which tells the story of Tina's life, of empowerment and success, and is ultimately the best music industry comeback story of all time." TINA — THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL AUSTRALIAN DATES: Now until Sunday, December 31, 2023 — Theatre Royal, Sydney From Tuesday, February 27, 2024 — Crown Theatre, Perth From Wednesday, April 24, 2024 — Festival Theatre, Adelaide From Sunday, July 2, 2024 — Lyric Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane From Tuesday, September 24, 2024 — Princess Theatre, Melbourne Tina — The Tina Turner Musical is currently playing in Sydney, and will tour the rest of Australia in 2024. For more information and tickets, head to the musical's website. Images: Daniel Boud.
