There are so many incredible vistas to enjoy throughout the Northern Rivers region, but you don't have to bust a gut to experience some of the best. The easygoing North Head walking track, located on the edge of town in the Brunswick Heads Nature Reserve, is a 30-minute trail guiding you through the coastal rainforest. As you break through the canopy and look down upon the Brunswick River, you'll find several spots perfect for unfurling a picnic rug and basket. Once you're back on your feet, the trail leads you through fascinating wildlife habitats and eventually out to the ocean beach. Head to the website for visitor info. Image: Elliot Kramer
Mamak in Haymarket is one of the best places in Sydney to get exceptional Malaysian hawker food offered at an authentic hawker price. It's no surprise that this place still has lines of eager customers stretching down the street. And the wait is consistently worth it. Walk in past the chefs, on full display, and bathe in the aroma of curries and fried roti. It's a long room, crammed full with wooden tables, and service is courteous but necessarily efficient. The menu is divided into Roti, variations on the warm bread served with curry dips and spicy sambal sauce. Satay, available in chicken or beef, is among the most complex and moreish you'll try. For those who want to dig a little deeper and really test their appetite, the selection of mains — including luscious curries and fried chicken, and noodle and rice dishes — is well worth some serious exploration. You'll order up, get through your meal in 40 minutes, then leave dazed and satisfied. This is some of the best Malaysian food that Sydney has to offer. It won't be long before we're lining up all over again. And one of the best things about Mamak? For a very small fee it's completely BYO.
The Eddy Avenue Plaza at the northern exit of Central Station is set to be transformed into Sydney's latest food and entertainment precinct featuring a slew of new art, restaurants, bars and shops. Named EDDY, the initiative to revitalise this section of the train station was announced by Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes as an additional element to Central Station's huge renovation and refurbishment which will include a massive tech hub and the southern hemisphere's longest escalators. The Eddy Avenue Plaza currently plays home to a few cafes and takeaway restaurants but has remained largely under-utilised. The EDDY precinct will bring an array of new openings to the busy inner-city thoroughfare, which will add to the trend of new dining precincts emerging across Sydney. Stokes compared the Central Station innovation to the nearby Spice Alley in Chippendale and the new western Sydney precinct Parramatta Square. "Central Station will no longer be just a thoroughfare," said Stokes. "The rebranded EDDY marks a new era for the Tech Central Precinct as it becomes a world-class interchange with innovative and diverse businesses that attracts thousands of new jobs to the CBD." [caption id="attachment_652632" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Spice Alley via Destination NSW.[/caption] Over the past two years, the city has welcomed new food, drink, art and entertainment precincts in South Eveleigh, the York, Clarence and Kent Street laneways, Circular Quay, Parramatta and Mascot. Neither the vendors nor an opening date has been announced yet, however NSW Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade Stuart Ayres promises that more information is on the horizon. "We expect to be able to announce an opening date within the coming weeks as we forge ahead with this project which will bring new life to the area surrounding Central Station," said Ayres. Head to the NSW Government website to stay up-to-date with the Central Station renovations. Top image: Simon_sees
Proof that good food doesn't need to be complicated, Waterloo's newest culinary hot-spot, Danks Street Produce Merchants, is a throwback to the way fresh food markets used to be. Launching this Thursday, October 27, the precinct is the brainchild of Fourth Village Providore owners, the Quattroville family, who've curated a cracking lineup of artisan producers to set up shop in the Danks Street space previously occupied by Fratelli Fresh. It's a wink to those rustic European markets, with a friendly, community buzz (and not unlike Rosebery's Saporium), and a vibrant food offering spanning six indoor stalls, which will be providing everything from bread and imported cheeses, to charcuterie and fresh pasta. Quality goods from the likes of Brookvale's Berkelo bakery, Hurstville's Oregano Bakery (you know the scrolls), The Free Range Butcher, and Bondi Road's The One That Got Away fishmonger are set to inspire kitchen adventures seven days a week. Plus, a weekend trestle market will play host to producers like Blue Mountains Honey and The Little Wine Company on Saturdays and Sundays. Meanwhile, a 100-seat bar and restaurant called Mezzanino will take over the sprawling, light-filled first floor — which will be perfect for a mid-shop snack, or those evenings when you'd rather bypass the shopping and cooking part. Here, produce-driven small plates, or piattini, will roam the restaurant atop trolleys, showcasing the day's best haul from the market below. The Danks Street Produce Market will open on Thursday, October 28 at 3 Danks Street, Waterloo. For more information, visit producemerchants.com.au.
Cast your mind back to the Winter Olympics earlier this year. Aside from all of the mind-boggling feats that you'd never dare to try, you may also remember watching in envy as the pros celebrated victory with loads of Champagne. And soon you too can get a taste of this feeling after a day on the slopes — no placing necessary. The master of après festivities is back for its fifth poolside party to make you feel as golden as the experts do. On August 10 and 11, Mumm Champagne will transform the Thredbo Poolside Terrace into a confetti-clad party place for Red Sash Sets. You'll be grooving the afternoon away with the finest entertainment, as multi-faceted Sweet Mix Kids kicks off festivities at 4.30pm on Friday and 2pm on Saturday. After the DJ duo's Saturday set, Adelaidean producer Motez will take the stage at 5pm, followed by electro-dance act Hayden James at 6pm. If you do want to watch the masters of the trails do their thing, start your day at Thredbo's Top 2 Bottom downhill ski competition (with Champagne, of course) before heading to the Saturday session. Bus rides to and from Jindabyne will be provided for party-goers for $5 — we recommend pre-booking.
It was an ill-designed defence mechanism at the time of the first white settlers, then a pretty awful place for convicts. Now, one of Sydney's most historic harbour spots and recently a pretty fancy schmancy dining destination, Fort Denison has announced the return of its summer drinks and dining series, Sunday Sunsets. That's right, Sundays from now on? Fortress parties y'all. You'll be able to sail on out to Fort Denison Restaurant for Sunday afternoons of cocktails, food, nature walks and live music every Sunday from November 6 until the end of January 2017. Sides and mains for a two-course sit-down sunset dinner are included in the ticket, so prepare to load up on kingfish carpaccio, lamb short ribs with pomegranate and mint, crispy skin Humpty Doo Barramundi, roast Hunter Valley pork belly, Wagyu beef cheeks and Muscovy duck breasts. Chuck in a National Parks tour of the heritage site, as well as a little acid jazz and R&B from resident DJ and saxophonist Zak (a multitalented, multitasking dude is Zak), and you've got yourself a supremo Sydney date. There'll be water taxis from Circular Quay included in the ticket price, with the last service departing from CQ at 6.30pm — so you can make it a pretty long lazy Sunday. You'll have book though, to ensure your spot on the fortress, so check out the session times and prices on the website and lock in your spot. Fort Denison's Sunday Sunsets run every Sunday from November 6 to January 2017. For more information, check out their website.
While many Sydneysiders are still working from home, some of us have recommenced our daily commute over the Harbour Bridge to the city. If you're one of them, your journey today may take a little longer than usual today. As of 7.40am on Thursday, August 27, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is closed in both directions and a helicopter is on site, in response to a serious two-car crash. Transport for NSW says there is no forecast for when all northbound and southbound lanes will reopen and is telling Sydneysiders to avoid the area, reconsider non-essential travel and consider working from home (if they're not already). https://twitter.com/LiveTrafficSyd/status/1298745028295249922 The Sydney Harbour Tunnel is still open, but, because of the crash, traffic is currently backed up to Artarmon in the north and across to Kings Cross in the east. Buses are terminating at North Sydney Station, Milsons Point and McMahons Point and while trains are still running, Transport for NSW has warned that there may be increased patronage on trains and to continue to social distance as much as possible. For more information about the status of the Harbour Bridge and current traffic, head over to the Live Traffic website. To stay up-to-date with trains and buses, check the Transport for NSW website and real-time apps. Image: Jorge Lascar
Press pause on Red Dead Redemption 2, relinquish the Playstation or Xbox controller and head to a Tokyo-style gaming mecca instead. Situated in the heart of Haymarket, the Capitol Square gaming arcade is one of Australia's largest entertainment centres based on the Purikura games machines of Japan. The arcade, all bright lights and flashing screens, looks as though it belongs on the neon-lit streets of Akihabara (a technopolis in Tokyo famous for its many electronics shops). Try your hand at the claw machines and score a plush Pikachu or coveted Gundam figurine. If skill testers aren't your thing, head to the photobooths of Photoland and spend the arvo taking selfies with friends. Print your pics on stickers and walk away with a super kawaii souvenir. Once you've had your gaming fill and worked up an appetite, make a b-line for the eateries which sit below. Keep the Japanese theme in full swing and hit up Yumei Japanese Restaurant for some top-notch okonomiyaki ($16.50) and beef tataki salad ($15).
On Sunday, March 25, Public House Petersham will team up with day party crew One Day to transform its car park into a booming afternoon party with live music and pop-up bars. A new mural will be painted in real-time, too — lookers-on will have a chance to watch some of the best artists in action as they spray artworks onto the car park walls. DJ sets will be played by Spit Syndicate's Nick Lupi, party hero Levins, FBi's FlexMami and other local legends. And if hip hop isn't your thing, get involved in the 20-strong female Bad Bitch Choir which will be performing twice throughout the afternoon. This event will differ slightly from other One Day parties, in that it's explicitly family friendly. Because parents need to party too. Public House Petersham is known for being a good spot for families in the inner west, and, as well as the above, it'll have bubble machines, face painting and other activities to keep little ones entertained. And pups are welcome too.
Two hours' journey west from Bathurst lands you in the 12,000-strong town of Parkes, another gold rush settlement. Before you ask, yes, the place is named after Federation's daddy, Henry Parkes. Apart from hosting the annual Elvis Festival, it's home to the CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope, as seen in Rob Sitch's 2000 flick, The Dish. Drive 20 kilometres north through farmlands to see the 64-metre telescope that helped broadcast man's first moonwalk and has since found more than half of the known 2000 pulsars (spinning neutron stars). Entry is free for the telescope viewing area and the astronomy and space science exhibition. But, you'll have to pay $7.50 to access the 3D Theatre, where you'll catch a variety of three-dimensional short animated flicks. The CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope is open seven days a week, from 8.30am–4.15pm and has an onsite cafe with glass walls, so you can keep looking for signs of alien life while you're eating. Image: Destination NSW
Christmas markets are always excellent for those of us who tend to leave gift purchasing until the last minute — and, thankfully, Etsy is setting up their markets all over Australia in the final weekend of November. Etsy Made Local is a grassroots initiative that celebrates crafters, collectors and artisans in local communities, and provides them with the opportunity to sell their creations both online and in a physical space. So whether you're on the hunt for handmade wares or vintage goods, these guys have got you covered. The markets will be held in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. Because each market focuses on the best local talent, each market will be filled with different stallholders and unique creations. Supporting creative small businesses and scoring a killer Christmas gift is a win for everyone involved, so head to the Seymour Centre on Saturday, November 28 and get your festive shopping done early, for once.
Is it possible to inspire awe without fear? Beastman's solo show Cosmic Nature says yes. Painting inconceivably large and dangerous creatures, he renders them comprehensible by the action of his brush, taking you briefly to a world where awe and terror part company. The creatures are frozen at the moment of dark revelation — Beastman has taken his inspiration from the work of H.P. Lovecraft, whose Cthulu mythos intimated a world of unspeakable inhuman creatures. Beastman brings this leviathan scale to his canvases in a verdant style, and mosaic of organic colours which combine to tug you to the edge of an awful, spiritual space. The show is divided in two along the gallery's two facing walls. The left-hand wall presents the nameless creatures in a kind of triptych: striding, observing and absorbed at ritual. A central somber face takes up the middle image. Either side, its companions face outward in Babylonian profile, their figures at play with radiating collections of limb and heavenly symbols. To one side, a creature takes a casual moment to fill his bowl with the drops of water ever present across all three canvases. It is a mix of the sacred and a trip to the shops. On the other side, a figure with one eye and too many teeth solemnly approaches a bare tree, a ritual moment at once awful and comforting. Between them are symbols of their observance: the tree, water drops and mountains of madness. Along the right-hand wall are the creature's faces in close up. These idly malevolent, jack-of-the-green countenances look like harsh adornments to the doors of some ancient temple. The portraits are massive, requiring you to stride across the room to see them properly. They sit contently, their thoughts drifting away from you. Headed nowhere benign. Kind of Gallery is open afternoons, Thursday to Sunday. Image 'The Descendent of Cosmic Nature' by Beastman
When a French store slashed the price of Nutella a couple of years ago, customers went wild. Brawling and rioting was reported. So, yes, it's safe to say the chocolate hazelnut spread has more than a few fans. Here in Australia, we've had a Nutella food truck, a Nutella festival and a Nutella dessert bar. And, from Friday, April 10 to Sunday, April 12, a dedicated Nutella menu at Salt Meats Cheese as well. Available for delivery from the chain's Drummoyne and Cronulla stores in NSW, and Surfers Paradise and Newstead stores in Queensland, the seven Nutella-filled items are here just in time for the Easter long weekend (which most of us will be spending predominantly indoors eating Nutella, it seems). Fancy a Nutella calzone, in both peanut butter ($14) and Oreo ($18) varieties? Nutella and banana-topped pizza? Nutella panna cotta ($14)? Nutella Toblerone cocktails? A half-litre ($30) of Nutella espresso martini? Of course you do. To order, you'll need to download Salt Meats Cheese's new app and pray you're in the delivery zone. The Nutella menu is available for delivery from Salt Meats Cheese stores in Cronulla and Drummoyne in NSW, and Surfers Paradise and Newstead in Queensland.
The music industry has spent a long time moving toward favouring the live performance over the recording to make their money. But Sydney Artists have also started going the way of the live performance, with while-you-wait graffiti wars and the seemingly inexorable rise of the Brown Council. Fresh from a series of water-based performances, Artspace is bringing you artists who put themselves back into their work for Nothing Like Performance. Artist Paul Donald will be spanning the space with ramshackle bridge, as frequent auto-portraiter Lauren Brincat gets on and off camera to satisfy her urge for art. Matthew Bradley renews his drive to make a windmill-like set of giant wheels, building it live as the next element in his Monster Bike, a project last exhibited as a Borgesian 1:1 model in his Victorian show Storm Machine. Will French likes big public statements with his art, having once driven a car through the wall of Firstdraft for art's sake, and here will elaborate on elements from his travels. Body-shaping performance artist Yiorgos Zafiriou will bring beginnings from Damien Minton's annex to conclusion at Artspace, painting classical German sculptures out in marble, while the Brown Council dot three shows over the course of the exhibition, honing in on a particular Aussie performance artist. The Brown Council perform opening night and December 4 and 18. Image: This Time Tomorrow: Tempelhof by Lauren Brincat.
When Parrtjima — A Festival in Light announced its 2025 program, the numbers were impressive, with the event's tenth edition featuring works by 20-plus First Nations artists, plus more than 100 performers and special guests. But nothing sells this Australian celebration of Indigenous arts more than the spectacular end results each year, when the fest lights up the Northern Territory. For 2025, that time is now, and it's once again a dazzling sight to behold. Parrtjima — A Festival in Light has so firmly established itself as a highlight of Alice Springs, the Red Centre and Australia's cultural scene that it's hard to imagine a time before it. Getting a 2.5-kilometre stretch of 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges glowing every evening is the reliable star of the show; however, that's just the beginning. Heading along this year also means being welcomed by The Gateway at Parrtjima's entrance, for instance, where towering poles by artists from Antulye, Irlpme, and Mparntwe groups are greeting guests. Also, Balanggarra and Yolŋu artist Molly Hunt's Three Generations of Station Women is an animated comic strip that honours Aboriginal stockwomen, with actor Mark Coles Smith (Apple Cider Vinegar) on soundtrack duties. Then there's Bobby West Tjupurrula's Hypnotic Reverberations, creating a moving dreamscape out of beams of light, mist and reflections on a shallow pool. From Lyall Giles, Transforming Light & Country isn't just about sand dune patterns — it gets festivalgoers playing with them, using drums to create rings of light. 2025's Parrtjima kicked off on Friday, April 4, and runs until Sunday, April 13. The MacDonnell Ranges Light Show is among past favourites on the bill, again pairing its eye-catching display with classical music and Arrernte language. Another: Grounded, asking attendees to look down instead of up. A festival of lights in the NT was always going to incorporate the red earth, too, which is where large-scale projections turn the soil into a canvas. This year's version features six artworks. Budgerigar Dreaming Ngatijirri Jukurrpa is also back, using shapes from Wirliyajarrayi artist Myra Nungarrayi Herbert Patrick's paintings in neon-hued abstract bird sculptures — and so is Johnny Young and David Wallace's four-metre-tall The Language of Stockmen. While the fest's first weekend has been and gone, the program still has the Darwin Symphony Orchestra to come, in what'll be Parrtjima's first-ever orchestral performance. Gigs by Dem Mob, Dobby, Desert Divas and Warren H Williams & Western Wind are also part of the upcoming lineup, as is the festival's debut comedy night, with Andy Saunders and Sean Choolburra sparking laughs. Parrtjima – A Festival in Light runs until Sunday, April 13, 2025, at venues around Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. For more information, visit the festival website. Images: Parrtjima – A Festival in Light / Che-Chorley. 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.
There's no such thing as an ordinary art fair. No matter which galleries descend on any particular space, where that is or when it takes place, the creative pieces on display are never the same — and, so, neither is the event as a result. That's true at Sydney Contemporary, of course, but this Harbour City excuse to appreciate art also comes stacked with live performances and music. And, thanks to the just-announced lineup, 2023's iteration promises quite the memorable time. Returning to Carriageworks from Thursday, September 7–Sunday, September 10 for its seventh event, this year's Sydney Contemporary will feature more than 95 galleries filling the multi-arts centre. If it's an emerging or established venue for art in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Indonesia and Singapore, odds are that it'll make a showing. The focus right now, however, is on the performances that'll go along with all of those galleries showcasing all that art, which is where the Performance Contemporary and Art Night bills comes in. Performance Contemporary will focus on four artists: Amala Groom, Riana Head-Toussaint, Morgan Hogg and Fetu Taku. Groom, Head-Toussaint and Taku's contributions will take place on Art Night, Sydney Contemporary's big Thursday evening party, with DJ pair Stereogamous — aka Paul Mac and Jonny Seymour — also on hand to soundtrack the evening. From Wiradyuri creative Groom, audiences will experience RED TAPE, which features the artist singing in language while she wraps herself in 44 metres of red tape — to represent 44 years of negotiating bureaucracy — and literally jumping through hoops. As for Head-Toussaint, her video work Animate Loading will be projected, as paired with a live performance that includes surveillance-style cinematography, drone work and bodycams, as part of her ongoing interrogation of her experience as a wheelchair user, her legal training and her Afro-Caribbean heritage. Then, Taku will draw upon hip hop and vogue training, and deploy sound design just for the space and piece, in a newly commissioned work about community and spaces that provide equality for diverse bodies. "This year's Performance Contemporary explores the relationship between the body and place. Through play, projection, song and dance, these artists use the incredible architecture of Carriageworks as a starting point to guide both the audience and the performer through time and space," said Performance Contemporary co-curators Samantha Watson-Wood and Katie Winten, announcing the lineup. On the Friday night, with the Sydney-based DJ Sveta on the decks with a special music showcase, emerging Cook Island and Australian artist Morgan Hogg will unveil an installation and performance work. Through costumed dance, and with help from oral exchanges between her mother and family, she'll ponder cultural displacement and identity, as specifically influenced by her Kūki Airani heritage. Whichever parts of the Performance Contemporary and Art Night lineups you're now keen see, expect to have company. More than 112,000 visitors have attended Sydney Contemporary in past years, and more than AU$85 million in art sales have been notched up. Sydney Contemporary 2023 runs from Thursday, September 7–Sunday, September 10 at Carriageworks. For further information and to buy tickets, head to the art fair's website. Top image: Zan Wimberley.
Gymnasts and circus-people are freaky. So are beatboxers. And drummers. It's all that weird coordination that they have going on. The Tom Tom Crew out-freaky the freaky by combining all of the aforementioned into a single show. It's Aussie hip-hop meets Aussie circus minus the mopey-looking elephants and bearded ladies. The crew - world renowned percussionist Ben Walsh, mix-master Sampology, beat-boxing whiz-kid Tom Thum, graduates of Australia's famous Flying Fruit Fly Circus - Ben Lewis, Daniel Catlow, Shane Witt - and elite gymnast Karl Stock - are fresh from an international tour, including an off Broadway debut and 21 sold-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. If you didn't catch Tom Tom Crew during their run at the Opera House, they will be performing alongside some of Australia's best hip-hop, street art and skate talent at the Dulwich Hill hybrid retail/art space, Westsyde Connection, at a subcultural extravaganza this Friday.
When Virgil Oldman (Geoffrey Rush) celebrates his birthday, he does so dining alone in a high-end restaurant, staring disconsolately at a special cake baked in his honour as other patrons titter at the pitiful spectacle. Lonely as he is, Virgil has carved out a fine career as an art auctioneer and is widely respected as the best at what he does and valued for his fine eye and penchant for detail. In his fastidiously maintained home, he keeps a whole wardrobe full of top-end designer gloves, the perfect accessory for a man who likes to keep life at arm's length. The wardrobe leads into a sanctuary of his most treasured possessions, a secret stash of portraits of women. He has secured these valuable gems in league with his only real friend, Billy (Donald Sutherland), an art collector who conspires with Virgil to win valuable works at auction, sold under value to 'the best offer'. When he is engaged to value the collection of antique furniture owned by Claire (Sylvia Hoeks), a young woman whose parents have died, he goes to the spectacular but run-down old property but finds to his frustration that Claire is not there. He continues to visit the property to attend to his work, but Claire is a ghost, always finding excuses not to meet him. Eventually, he finds that a young woman has in fact been in the house all along, but is in hiding. Concealed behind a wall, she tells him she has not left the house since she a traumatic experience she had as a teenager. Sensing a kindred spirit, Virgil gets drawn into her life, against his better judgement. As Virgil becomes more familiar with the house, he finds scattered wheels and cogs of a mysterious machine, which he takes to Robert (Jim Sturgess), a twinkle-eyed, raffish young man with a busy love life and a flair for repairing old things. Increasingly Virgil comes to confide in Robert and seeks the younger man's advice on the twin mysteries of the contraption and the elusive Claire. Becoming entranced by Claire's ethereal beauty and isolation, Virgil's usually perfect work performance begins slipping, the sign of a man losing control of his ordered life as he grapples with the foreign emotional landscape of human connection. Writer/director Giuseppe Tornatore has made an exquisitely told story with a cruel sting in its tale. Rush delivers a beautifully judged and involving performance as a man whose austere and detached approach to life is thrown into disarray, while Sylia Hoeks is ideal as the mysterious Claire. While some elements of the story's final act probably don't stand up to closer scrutiny, the overriding impression as the credits roll is one of complete heartbreak, making The Best Offer one of the best feel-bad films in recent memory. https://youtube.com/watch?v=WCfXq3nFDUM
We've all been there at one time or another — in front of that iconic view, the one we've seen a thousand times or more in encyclopaedias, atlases, on the back of postcards, on the television and in our wildest dreams. When it happens, you feel a flutter in your heart and you remember what it felt like to make mud pies as a child; you're elated, carefree and enraptured, all for the most fleeting moment. That's when it happens. You reach into your pocket/handbag/knapsack and pull out your camera. You must remember this moment (that feeling!) forever and ever. The flash goes off once, twice, three times. No, no, that one's blurry. Delete. Take it again! You stand over there. Jump on the count of three! Yes, all of you! At once! OK, here we go one, two... Corinne Vionnet, in an astute observation into the perception of the 'tourist' experience, has made some amazing art out of that moment - that second of pure happiness that is superseded by crazed, paparazzi style photography, leading the sanest of us into a blinding, bulb flashing fury. Sourcing images of some of the world's most iconic sights from the internet, Vionnet's project Photo Opportunities layers hundreds of such images upon each other to create haunting landscapes of profoundly significant earthly wonders. Drawing on the abject, the images appear almost painted, begging questions about reality of experience and perception and our collective cultural consciousness.
Stepping inside any Greek eatery should conjure up the sights, tastes and sensations of dining in the Mediterranean; however there's the usual Greece-inspired food and flourishes, and then there's 1821's epic, eye-poppingly opulent addition to the fold. That's what happens when you design and build the entire restaurant in the country in question, then ship it to Australia. No wonder it took longer than expected to come to fruition. 1821 opens more than a year after its initial planned launch in 2015, and reportedly cost more than $3 million, but it looks like it was worth the wait. Inside the Pitt Street spot you'll find three levels of architect-crafted eating and drinking luxury, as designed by hospitality specialist Dimitris Economou. That includes the main dining room, a private dining area upstairs, and a high-end vodka bar that's set to start serving beverages later this year. When it comes to meals and drinks, the indulgence keeps on coming thanks to chef David Tsirekas. Think lobster pasta, Greek san choy bow, white chocolate feta cheesecake, and caramel baklava ice-cream, plus a Aphrodite Bellini with solitaire sparkling Greek wine, and the Ouzotini with ouzo 'mini', mint infused vodka, peach schnapps and lime. And if you're wondering about the name, it commemorates the the first year of the Greek War of Independence, with 1821 specifically inspired by the Odessa bunker where a group of ambitious Greeks started the Greek Liberation Movement. Plus, in a restaurant that proudly champions the fact that it really is made in Greece, it also represents the venue's hopes to unite people fond of Greek culture. Find 1821 at 122 Pitt Street, Sydney. Visit their website and Facebook page for more information.
It's been a big couple of days in Sydney. Regional travel was given the green light, beauty salons and cultural institutions were allowed to reopen and the city's hospitality venues could welcome up to 50 patrons through their doors from yesterday. Because of the latter, a lot more venues have been opening said doors — as 50 customers is a bit more financially viable than ten — and one of those is Bondi Beach Public Bar. The Campbell Parade pub isn't simply reopening, either. It's reopening and offering a whopping 50 percent off all food and a range of beer, wine and cocktails — all day, every day until the end of June. This means, when you head in from 5pm on Wednesday, June 3, you'll be able to dig into $5 tacos, $10 burgers and $15 steaks, as well as $5 select wines and beers and $10 margaritas and espresso martinis. BBPB is also bringing back the tunes. While you can't get up and dance — no mingling allowed at hospo venues just yet — you can sit and shimmy along to DJ Levins on Fridays and Public Affection on Saturdays. The inaugural party on Saturday, June 6, will see DJs Charlie Chuxx, Parihaka and Pink Lloyd will be spinning the decks from 6pm You can either book a table or walk in, with 50 seats available in each of the Public Bar, dining area and heated outdoor area (150 in total), which is in line with current regulations. Bondi Beach Public Bar is reopening from 5pm on Wednesday, June 3 and is offering 50 percent off all food and some booze until the end of June.
Cleveland Street's Norfolk Hotel might not be Sydney's oldest pub, but it's got a case to make as the city's most consistently evolving. In just the past decade, the Redfern watering hole — which poured its first beer in 1921 — has passed through the hands of no less than three different hospo groups. And now, its latest iteration has been unveiled. After being taken over earlier this year by local hospo juggernaut Solotel (the group behind the likes of The Abercrombie, Chiswick and Oxford House), the new Norfolk is leaning into its long-held reputation as an easygoing, no-nonsense local, complete with trivia, spin the wheel and a badge draw. The opening follows a months-long restoration, which sees the century-old institution return with a new look and mission as it embarks on its next chapter. Helming this next chapter are GM Marcella Guilfoyle and Executive Chef Toby Wilson (pictured below), whose buzzy taqueria Ricos Tacos is still holding down the fort in the pub's courtyard, while the upstairs Club Ricos also remains intact. Wilson has also turned his attention to the Norfolk's new pub menu, which champions local suppliers — Good Ways Deli is both providing the focaccia and teaming up with Ciccone & Sons for a lamington ice cream sandwich — while showcasing pub classics with a thoroughly contemporary remix. On the menu, you'll find the likes of house-made pork and fennel sausage roll sold by the inch, beef and VB party pies, a roast chicken and sage roll with a side of dipping gravy, and those lamington ice cream sandwiches. "The new menu keeps it classic, but everything's made with heart," says Wilson. "It's a team effort to bring the best of the 'burb to the table." At the bar, you'll also find a bit of the surrounding 'burbs (and slightly further beyond) with boutique local wines available by the glass and a dark lager collab with Alexandria brewers Yulli's. There's also a selection of aperitivo-style cocktails, with some available on tap. "The Norfolk has always stood for good times, great food and that sense of belonging you only get from your local," says Guilfoyle. "We're proud to be back, collaborating with some of the neighbourhood's greatest success stories and creating a space where everyone's welcome." The Norfolk is now open at 305 Cleveland Street, Redfern. For more information, head to the venue's website. Images: Steven Woodburn.
First, it was a popular 80s comedy starring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Then, it became a five-season television sitcom led by Parton's real-life younger sister. In 2009, 9 to 5 made the leap to the stage too, because you just can't stop a good story about female empowerment in the workplace. Revived in the West End back in 2019, it's still a huge hit — and now, after being delayed by the pandemic, the stage production will make its Australian premiere in Sydney in February next year. Just by reading the show's title, we know that you already have Parton's catchy song of the same name stuck in your head. Pour yourself a cup of ambition, because that tune isn't going away anytime soon. Indeed, you'd best get ready to exclaim "what a way to make a living" more than once when 9 to 5 The Musical plays its Aussie debut season, hitting the Capitol Theatre in Haymarket from February 16, 2022. Ahead of its time when it first reached cinemas, this tale of three women who take on their sexist, egotistical and all-round despicable male boss is obviously still highly relevant today. Before #TimesUp and #MeToo, workmates Doralee, Violet and Judy decided to turn the tables by kidnapping their supervisor and reforming their office. Expect the same story in 9 to 5 The Musical, as penned by the original film's screenwriter Patricia Resnick — just with more songs. The Australian version will star Caroline O'Connor (a veteran of the movie version of Moulin Rouge!), as well as Eddie Perfect as the workplace's controlling boss. With Parton herself writing the score — and earning Tony and Grammy nominations for her efforts — expect plenty of feel-good music as well. Although she doesn't appear on stage, the famous country star is still involved with the show, and with bringing it to Australia. Images: Pamela Raith Photography. Updated February 14, 2022.
A multi-level dining and party space has arrived on Little Hunter Street, adding to Sydney's current late-night revival. Joining the likes of The Abercrombie, Club 77 and the soon-to-open Pleasure Club on the list of new and revamped venues pushing Sydney's nightlife into the early hours of the morning, Zaffi is a versatile space boasting a 42-seat ground-floor restaurant and a 122-capacity basement bar that's committed to keeping the party rolling until 4am on weekends. "The name 'Zaffi' means 'celebration' in Arabic, so we wanted to create a space where people not only come to celebrate but also where people know you're going to have a good time. For me, those spontaneous nights are the best kind of nights!" says Zaffi owner Chady Khouzame. Khouzame has enlisted the help of ex-Chin Chin and Rockpool chef Graeme Hunt to create a refined Australian-Lebanese menu for the street-level dining room. It's a sharing affair at Zaffi, with plenty of mezze options including dips and veggies paired with mains like Aleppo pepper roast prawns and char-grilled spatchcock. "We want our menu to be big on flavours and sharing, so the food isn't very complicated," Hunt says. "Some light raw dishes to begin with, moving onto your mezze options, then some larger mains that have been designed to share." The two banquets menus are highly affordable, with the $60 option bringing a table-covering feast of saj, hummus, baba ganoush, eggplant fatteh, labneh, haloumi, kofta, cauliflower, spatchcock, pickles and chips — or, for an extra $29 per person, you can basically sample the entire array of eats on offer, with the addition of pan-fried snapper, slow-roasted lamb shoulder, panna cotta and cheesecake. Downstairs in Zaffi's party bunker, you'll find pink velvet-cushioned booths, neon lighting, communal tables and upbeat tunes encouraging late-night revellers to stay well past midnight. "We literally raised the roof to allow people to dance on tabletops," continues Khouzame. The snacks also keep coming, with highlights from upstairs including kofta, dips, chips and grilled honey and za'atar haloumi all available on the after-hours menu. Zaffi is open at 10–14 Little Hunter Street, Sydney, from 5pm–late Tuesday, 12pm–late Wednesday–Thursday, 12pm–4am Friday and 5pm–4am Saturday.
The power of Back to the Future isn't really a curious thing. As viewers have known since 1985, the Michael J Fox-starring sci-fi/comedy is timeless delight. But as well as making film lovers weep with joy for almost four decades, the iconic movie is now making other folks sing — the cast of the newly minted Olivier Award-winning Back to the Future: The Musical, that is. Exclaiming "great Scott!" is obviously the only fitting response to this development — and there's clearly plenty to get excited about. Yes, Back to the Future: The Musical is a real thing that exists, and has been racing towards clocktowers on-stage in the UK since early 2020 (around a pandemic hiatus or two, of course). Yes, it just picked up the Olivier Award for Best New Musical. Yes, the show does indeed follow the Marty McFly and Doc Brown-led story we all know and adore, but with songs, including renditions of Chuck Berry's 'Johnny B Goode' and Huey Lewis and the News' 'The Power of Love' and 'Back in Time', naturally. Now, the news that might have you speeding 88 miles per hour towards Britain: for now, Back to the Future: The Musical is solely treading the boards in Britain. But if a trip to London is on your agenda between before Sunday, October 23, the show is playing at the English capital's Adelphi Theatre until then. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Back To The Future: Musical (@bttfmusical) If you won't be making a visit overseas by plane or DeLorean, start crossing your fingers that the production eventually makes its way Down Under — or pop on your own white lab coat, start tinkering around with electronics and whip up your own time machine to try to make it happen. Also featuring music and lyrics by OG Back to the Future composer Alan Silvestri and acclaimed songwriter Glen Ballard (Ghost the Musical), plus a book by Bob Gale — who co-penned all three Back to the Future film scripts with filmmaker Robert Zemeckis — Back to the Future: The Musical was nominated for seven Olivier Awards. It only won the big one, but emerged victorious over heavy-hitters and fellow screen-to-stage shows Moulin Rouge! The Musical and Frozen. Check out the trailer for Back to the Future: The Musical below: For more information about Back to the Future: The Musical, or to buy tickets for its London season, head to the show's website. If an Australian and/or New Zealand season is announced, we'll let you know faster than you can speed towards a clocktower. Top image: Sean Ebsworth Barnes.
The twin film phenomenon means that movies often come in pairs, with two flicks with the same premise arriving at the same time. Now, meet Australia's two current twin flight sales. After Virgin launched a Valentine's Day sale for flights to and from Queensland, Qantas has unveiled a 72-hour sale on fares across the country. Whether you're a Sydneysider thinking about a Byron Bay getaway, a Melburnian keen on jaunt to Tasmania or a Brisbanite eager to hit The Whitsundays, you have options. There's more than 500,000 fares covered, featuring everywhere from Queensland's tropics to the Apple Isle's cities, and from Perth to Sydney, too, as well as all the other state capitals, the Gold Coast, Coffs Harbour, Broken Hill and more. And, on 25-plus routes, flights will cost you under $150. The cheapest, as tends to be the case on all flight sales, is the Sydney–Ballina route, which'll get you from the Harbour City to Byron Bay from $109. Then, the Melbourne–Launceston fare comes in at $119, Gold Coast–Sydney at $125, Gold Coast–Melbourne at $129 and Brisbane–Hervey Bay at $139. The sale runs until 11.59pm on Saturday, February 17, so you'll want to get in quickly to get a bargain. And, as always, if fares sell out earlier, you'll miss out. Inclusions-wise, the sale covers fares with checked baggage, complimentary food and beverages, wifi and seat selection. If you're keen on heading further afield, but just across the ditch, Qantas also has a sale on flights to New Zealand on right now. This one runs until 11.59pm AEDT on Monday, February 19, or until sold out again. The sale covers Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington, for dates between March–December 2024, with starting prices from $499 return. Go on, pack your bags. Qantas' 72-hour surprise sale runs for 72 hours until 11.59pm on Saturday, February 17, or until sold out. It's also doing a New Zealand sale until 11.59pm AEDT on Monday, February 19, or until sold out again. 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.
Not content with creating four of Sydney's favourite venues in Bar Planet, Cantina OK!, Tio's and The Cliff Dive — plus the beloved OK! sparkling margarita seltzer — Mucho hospitality group has just served up another absolute home run with its new hidden underground cocktail lair Centro 86. Described as an "old, fancy Mexican cantina on shrooms", the fresh Sydney CBD opening takes the magic of Bar Planet, as well as Cantina OK!'s love of margaritas, and applies it to an expansive 110-seat space. But before you settle in for a few fanciful cocktails, you've got to find the bar first. Wander down Pitt Street until you find the Centro 86 sign. At this point, you'll have to take a right-hand turn and venture around to the unassuming Hoskings Place, where you'll find a fire escape and luminous Centro 86 sign, which will lead you down two flights of stairs to the moody subterranean watering hole. Mucho has kept things local, working with a collection of Sydney and Australian artists to transform the space. David Humphries, the mind behind Bar Planet's psychedelic countertops, is back to inject big splashes of colour into the bar — while the team has enlisted local stained-glass artists, ceramicists, furniture makers and visual artists to bring the venue to life. Margaritas are the name of the game at Centro 86, with five varieties on the menu, including the sensational and ultra-unique parsley-topped Verde — a must-try. Adding to that something special is a set of three old-school ice shavers, bringing a dose of theatrics and a melt-in-your-mouth touch to the drinks. The inventive cocktails don't stop with the margs, with sherry-forward mixes and a fresh take on Bar Planet's Scorpino gracing the menu, alongside a refined wine and beer list featuring a few minimal-intervention drops and Wildflower Brewing's beloved table beer. There's also an expansive tequila collection featuring spirits available from $13–180. You'll find varieties that the Mucho team has aged themselves, ultra-rare options, plus Australia's first agave spirit that's distilled up in Bowen, Queensland. And it wouldn't be a Mucho venue without a bag of popcorn on your table — this time with a new secret spice mix that's promised to rival the fan-favourites of the group's other venues. Located just metres from The Caterpillar Club and Ragazzi, this opening marks another impressive addition to the ever-improving Sydney CBD as it bounces back from the lockout laws. A few city-best margs and a bag of popcorn before heading off to enjoy a bowl of artichoke ravioli at one of our favourite restaurants in Sydney — sounds like a match made in heaven. Centro 86 is located at Basement 86/88 Pitt St, Sydney — find the entrance on Hoskings Place. It's open 4pm–12am on Tuesday and Sunday, and 4pm–2am on Wednesday–Saturday. Stay up to date with the bar at the venue's Instagram. Images: Dexter Kim.
Over the past decade, perhaps the greatest collective strength of the 18 (yes, 18) movies in the so-called Marvel Cinematic Universe has been their relative independence. From the very first Iron Man through to the most recent Black Panther, each film has (mostly) achieved an impressive balance of telling its own, distinct story while also servicing the ultimate end-game. Each new entry had enough in-jokes and easter eggs to satisfy the super-fans, but never so many that a newcomer couldn't enjoy the experience from an entirely cold start. The same cannot be said for Avengers: Infinity War, but then again, for directors Anthony and Joe Russo, that was never the intention. This isn't just the 19th film in the MCU, it's the culmination of the entire franchise; a sprawling, non-stop action movie purpose built, this time, for the fans. It's relentless, entertaining and more than a touch surprising. Unfortunately it's also starved of substance and likely to leave many feeling shortchanged. Ultimately, it all comes down to scale. Perhaps for the first time, this cinematic universe is truly universal in its scope. It moves from one galaxy to the next with bewildering speed, including planets so ancient and remote many of the characters have either never heard of them or dismissed their existence as the stuff of legend. And of those characters, where to even begin? In January of this year Chris Hemsworth, who plays Thor, casually dropped mention of an extraordinary 76 separate Marvel characters set to appear in Infinity War. Even if he was being slightly hyperbolic (one quickly loses count, so the number might actually be bang on), his comments nonetheless captures the magnitude of this gargantuan blockbuster. But like the pop culture references in the recent Ready Player One, many of these inclusions offer little substance beyond an excitable Pavlovian response triggered by recognition ("Heeey, it's Black Widow! Ooo it's…whatshisface!"). Even with the film's indulgent 156-minute run time, the decision to pack so many characters into a single film inherently means Infinity War must choose between cameo and character, with the former largely winning out. That means that many of the incredible cast members are saddled with just a handful of lines each, with perhaps the fewest coming from Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther (despite the fact that a significant section of the film taking place in his kingdom of Wakanda). Again though, the Russos have knowingly committed to the 'as read' nature of this film, opting instead to devote the lion's share of screen time and dialogue to the only real newcomer: the villain, Thanos (Josh Brolin). Thanos first appeared during the end credits of the original Avengers movie back in 2012. Since then he's been a constant (if fleeting) reference point for the coming storm that is Infinity War. He is nothing if not formidable – a softly-spoken juggernaut whose vision for a harmonious universe involves the mass genocide of precisely half its inhabitants. To achieve that he requires the fabled 'infinity stones', several of which are unfortunately located on earth in the hands (or foreheads) of various Avengers. He is a worthy antagonist for such an enormous project, and what really separates him from all the other Marvel villains is his capability; an indomitable strength that renders void the efforts of every other hero he encounters. Teamwork has always been the name of the game in the MCU, but even the combined efforts of the entire super-powered lineup seems destined to fall short. Of course Infinity War is actually just part one of two films, with the second instalment scheduled to drop in May 2019. Its ending, hence, leaves a lot to be resolved, and it's difficult not to assume much of that will centre upon some extensive Dr. Strange time reversal. There's a serious chance the series could be veering toward shark-jumping territory, so fingers crossed the Marvel boffins have something far grander and more unexpected planned. Until then, brush up on your backstories and strap in for one helluva ride. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwievZ1Tx-8
This article is sponsored by our partners, the Aroma Festival. If you had to choose one Sydney coffee to drink for the rest of your life, at the exclusion of all others, which would it be? That one from the cafe on the corner that you stumble into on the way to work? Or that post-lunch pick-me-up that revs you up for the second half of the day? Throughout July as part of the Aroma Festival, you’ll be able to judge Sydney’s baristas just like the pros do by making your vote count in the Aroma Cup, and, in the process, get yourself in line to win over $3,000 in prizes, including a Breville Oracle espresso machine. All you have to do is decide which of the participating cafes in The Rocks is serving up the best brew. You’ll need to then scan their QR code or jump online and vote before July 31. If you’re not familiar with the field, you might just have to indulge in a wee visit to the following: Appetito Restaurant (135 George Street), Cafe Rico (155 George Street), the Guylian Belgian Chocolate Cafe (127 George Street), Le Pain Quotidien (127 George Street), the Harbour Rocks Hotel (34 Harrington Street), Daniele Cafe (Shop 10, The Clock Tower Centre, 35–55 Harrington Street), La Renaissance Patisserie (47 Argyle Street), the MCA Cafe and Sculpture Terrace (Level 4, MCA, 140 George Street), Playfair Cafe (26-32 Playfair Street), Swagmans Post Courtyard Cafe (35 George Street), The Bakers Oven (121 George Street), The Fine Food Store (Corner Mill and Kendall Lanes) and The Rocks Cafe (99 George Street). In addition to the People’s Choice Prize, the Aroma Cup will also see an Industry Choice Award go to the best barista, as judged by the Australasian Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA).
If the old wardrobe needs a bit of a pick me up, get yourself over to SWOP quick fast. This delightful second-hand clothing store in Newtown is all about unique, beautiful and sustainable fashion. Inspired by the culture of vintage exchange in the United States, SWOP promotes anti-waste, affordability and sustainability — so it's the perfect place to go for conscious fashion. With both contemporary and vintage threads hanging in colour-coded order, this store is a goldmine for finding that one-off piece your wardrobe needs.
When Netflix decided to give The Addams Family a new take, it was a lightbulb moment. More than two decades after the last live-action version of the beloved creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky characters hit screens, the Jenna Ortega (Scream VI)-led revamp Wednesday proved a smash. No one likely stuck a lightbulb in their mouth when they came up with the idea to revive the franchise, and we're hoping that no one did to celebrate the show's success, either; however, the streaming platform's next series linked to the horror-loving crew could feature exactly that. After dropping its first season in late 2022, then notching up more viewers, memes and mimicked dance moves than the Addams crew have pieces of black clothing, Wednesday was officially renewed for a second season at the beginning of 2023. That's still on the way, with no ETA as yet after Hollywood's strike-filled year, but Netflix is already thinking about giving the show an Uncle Fester-focused spinoff. Bloomberg reports that while production on Wednesday season two hasn't begun, the streaming service is eager to keep all things Addams Family on-screen via multiple shows. The Uncle Fester series has been put forward as the first. Presumably, that'd mean Fred Armisen (I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson) reprising his role — unless it's an Uncle Fester origin story. There's nothing locked in, so no casting details, no storyline and no timeline for the show to hit your streaming queue so far, but we all know how much pop culture's powers that be — aka studios and streamers — love franchises. The Addams Family realm has always been beloved by audiences — the Christina Ricci-led 90s films have been favourites for decades for good reason, plus the 1960s TV show and 1930s The New Yorker comics before that — so Netflix wanting more is far from unexpected. Indeed, if you were channelling your inner Wednesday, as we all should, you wouldn't raise an eyebrow in astonishment. Wednesday's first season broke the Netflix record for most hours viewed in a single week, then did so again — earning 341.23-million hours viewed in its first week, then 411.29-million hours viewed in its second. There's no trailer for the Uncle Fester spinoff yet, of course, but you can check out Wednesday season one's sneak peek below: Wednesday streams via Netflix, with season one available now and season two arriving at a yet-to-be-announced date. We'll update you with further details about season two and the Uncle Fester spinoff when they're revealed. Read our full review of Wednesday season one. Via Bloomberg. Images: Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.
Gauchito Gil is Argentina's Robin Hood. As such, it seems fitting that Australia's own Malbec World Day has been borrowed from the South American country, where the majority of the world's Malbec comes from. If this day is a donation from the grape god, it's one we're happy to accept. After a successful debut in 2016, Gauchito Gil is bringing Malbec Day to Sydney for a third time with a five-hour wine bonanza at Carriageworks on Sunday, April 15. The event comes from the organisers of the Pinot Palooza and Game of Rhones, and mirrors the free-reign tasting set-up. Your $60 ticket will include a wine glass, and from there you'll be able to move around, sampling over 90 Australian, Argentinian and French malbec varietals. Other events have been known to get a little boozy, so to soak up all that wine there will be top-notch empanadas from Porteño, charcuterie from La Bastide and alfajores (soft shortbread-like cookies filled with dulce de leche) from Alfamores. It really doesn't matter if you know everything there is about Malbec or if you don't know much at all, because Malbec Day is about education and celebration of the Argentine grape. And what better way to celebrate than with an bottomless glass of wine?
Whether you spend January 26 pumping the Hottest 100 and wading in an ankle-deep paddling pool in your mate's backyard, knocking back tinnies and listening to live music, lazing on the beach or taking the opportunity to wear your favourite bucket hat un-ironically, Australia Day means different things to different people — and that's just fine. It's a day for doing stuff that's uniquely Australian, and no matter what your preference (and yo' price range) we have something for everyone this Aussie Day. 'Strayaaa! Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel There are some pretty epic events on offer over the upcoming Australia Day long weekend. But no schedule is quite as epic as that of Watsons Bay Hotel. With a line-up set to stretch over three days, gear up for beach volleyball, crab racing, beach cricket, stand-up paddle board races, live DJ sets and an Aussie BBQ featuring the special 'Watsons Bay Sausage'. And okay, we're not really sure what an 'epic water trampoline' is, but we know it is running all weekend and sounds really, really rad. Those keen on the stand up paddle races will need to register online here. January 25, 26 & 27 from 7am; Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, 1 Military Road, Watsons Bay. The Rocks There's nothing Aussies like more than a freebie. And Australia Day at The Rocks will be no exception. A fusion of music, arts and activities, the event will stretch across George Street, The Rocks Square and First Fleet Park — uniting Sydneysiders in the very place our nation began. With an unapologetically good musical bill including the uber-popular indie unit Cloud Control, visual art-freestyle rap fusionist Sketch the Rhyme and killer up-and-comers Jones Jnr, this totally free celebration will kick off from 12 noon. Check out George Street for pop-up bars, installations, karaoke stages and paddling pools. January 26; free; 12 noon-6pm. Yabun Festival January 26 is also vital in that it marks the annual Yabun Festival, a showcase of the very best in Indigenous artwork and music, Australia-wide. The biggest of its kind in the country, Yabun will this year celebrate its 12th at Camperdown's Victoria Park and completely free of charge. Emphasising the 2014 theme, 'Survive', come performances from Bart Willoughby Band, Leah Flanagan, King Brown and many more. Then boogie on into the evening with the Yabun After Party at Marrickville's The Factory Theatre. Featured are some of the biggest names in Aussie hip hop, including MC Sky'High and Native Rhyme. January 26; 10am-6pm; Victoria Park, City Road, Camperdown. Old School Bakery Pop-Up at Adriano Zumbo Thought the days you could buy finger buns — with their iconic pink icing and coconut shavings — with the silver scraped from the bottom of your bag were gone? Not quite (you might need more than just silver). Adriano Zumbo is transforming his Rozelle and Waverley patisseries into 'Fluffy's Aussie Bakery' as a creative homage to Australia Day. For ten days Zumbo's will be the classic Aussie bakery with kitsch decor, vintage chalkboard art and baked goods. Among the treats on offer from tomorrow until January 26 are finger buns, neenish tarts, cream buns and lamingtons. All that's missing is a milkshake and sausage roll. January 17-26; 114 Terry Street, Rozelle and 24 Arden Street, Waverley. Great Sydney Swim, Sydney Harbour For many people, Australia Day means donning your saggiest Speedo and getting amongst some sun and saltwater. Beginning at the doorstep of the Opera House, The Great Sydney Swim incorporates all of this Aussie goodness. And the 2.2km swim across Sydney Harbour doesn't even have to be as strenuous as it sounds; there's a variety of swims for every skill (or effort) level. Distances include 300 to 700 metres, as well as the whole 2.2km shebang. Australia Day marks the final swim in January 2014, with prizes up for grabs and every participant receiving a race pack. January 26; 6.30am-noon; Farm Cove, Sydney Harbour. Son of a Beach at The Bank Hotel If you live in the Inner West you probably claim that the only thing the I-dub is lacking in is beaches. But fear not this Australia Day, with The Bank Hotel Newtown bringing the beach west side. We’re talking sand, beach volleyball, DJs, thong-throwing comps — even lifeguards. Sausage sambos and slow-roasted lamb rolls will be available all day, along with Australia’s own Vale Ale and a tequila cart (for those a little confused of their location). And when the sun goes down, head Upstairs at the Bank for live music and cocktails. Son of a Beach will run from 11am till reaaaal late. January 26; The Bank Hotel, 324 King St, Newtown. Ben and Jerry's Openair Cinemas Sundae Session Need another excuse to spend this Australia Day by the beach? The Ben and Jerry's Openair Cinema returns in January, bringing with it a regular stream of summer tunes by day, and killer flicks by night — held beachside at Sydney's iconic Bondi. In celebration of January 26 comes the Australian comedy classic Crocodile Dundee, as well as a fully licensed bar, lawn games and free ice cream all day long. Not feeling like a Paul Hogan fix but still in the mood for an al fresco movie experience on Aus Day? The Castle will be screening at Moonlight Cinema on January 26, and Muriel's Wedding on January 27 (and for free!) at The Beresford. January 26; $17-40; Dolphin Lawn, Bondi Beach. Symphony in the Domain For an Australia Day that's a little less reminiscent of stubbies and cheap Straya paraphernalia (made everywhere but Australia), Sydney Festival's annual Symphony in the Domain offers something a li'l more refined. The free event welcomes you, your hamper, a blanket and friends to settle in under the stars. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra will perform Gustav Holst's The Planets — an astrological journey through the solar system — along with readings from Bell Shakespeare's John Bell and fireworks to finish off the night. Performances kick off at 8pm, but many set up camp at The Domain throughout the day. January 26 at 8pm; free; The Domain, Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Camping Australia Day is the perfect time to appreciate all that our great southland has to offer — beautiful beaches, endless bushland and summer weather not to be rivalled. So why not spend an Aus Day taking it all in and camping under the stars. The abundance of coastal beaches and inland lakes in New South Wales means you can close your eyes, point to a map and end up in a place that possesses its own unique beauty. Alternatively, check out our own list of ten killer camping getaways, all within easy driving distance of Sydney. Whenever/wherever ya bloody want! Australia Day Colour Dash, Darling Harbour The Good Samaritans of Australia (which, um, is probably what the day is 'sposed to be all about: remember that good ol' Aussie spirit thing?) will be spending the 26th raising money for the 23,000 who live with multiple sclerosis. The MS Colour Dash is a non-competitive 5km run (or skip/walk/dance) along Darling Harbour as volunteers shower you with natural rainbow dust. Participants reach the finish line covered in colour and then dabble in the range of live music, food and drinks on offer. An even better idea might be volunteering — which means throwing stuff at strangers and not getting arrested for it. January 26; Darling Harbour. By Mairead Armstrong and Rachel Eddie.
Heiner Goebbels is the celebrity of the 2013 Sydney Festival, as far as the experimental performance nerds are concerned. But the director and composer's esoteric-sounding works can be relied on to hit a nerve no matter whether you've done the background reading. Eraritjaritjaka, which means "regret for lost things' in the Indigenous Australian Arunta language, features the unflinching texts of Nobel Laureate Elias Canetti, live music by Amsterdam's Mondriaan String Quartet, an actor who takes the whole audience with him when he leaves the stage, and a lesson on how to chop an onion in perfect time with the music of Ravel. The expansive multimedia performance has toured the world since 2004 and now makes its exclusive Australian appearance at the Theatre Royal. Read our list of the 12 best things to see at the Sydney Festival in 2013.
If you're in Croydon Park, you can head to By George this weekend to get a taste of Tokyo Lamington. The cafe tucked away on Georges River Road will have some of the Newtown bakery's most popular flavours on offer for Croydon Park locals who haven't been able to get to Tokyo Lamington's own store during lockdown. The three flavours you can nab are the fan-favourite fairy bread lamington, the apple pie lamington and the OG, of course. Over the last few years, Tokyo Lamington's Min Chai and Eddie Stewart have been on a mission to make the humble Australian dessert world-famous. After selling lamingtons in Singapore and Tokyo, they brought the brand to its home country, launching a store in Newtown last year. While this meant that inner west locals were suddenly flocking to try Tokyo Lamington's inventive takes on the Aussie dessert, these next-level treats have still been hard-to-reach for many Sydneysiders, especially while we can only travel five kilometres from our house during lockdown. So, to help spread the joy, the inner west bakery has been running pop-ups in Parramatta, Penrith, Cecil Hills and now Croydon Park. The collaboration will begin 8am on Saturday and run throughout the weekend, or until stock runs out. So, head down early if you want to be 100-percent sure you'll be snacking on a chocolate and coconut covered treat this weekend.
The past two years have delivered plenty of trends that no one loves, including supermarket shortages and traipsing around town trying to get tested for COVID-19. But here's one that's made our lives easier during the pandemic: the fast-tracking of big-name movies to streaming. Seeing a film on the silver screen hasn't been a straightforward experience over this chaotic time, and more and more flicks are quickly making the jump from cinemas to digital — including reaching the latter when they're still showing at the former. The latest is Dune, which looks downright glorious projected on the largest screen you can find, and definitely benefits from the kind of surround-sound setup you'll only get to listen to in a theatre, but is now also available to watch at home if that'll brighten up your January. One of our best films of 2021, the instant sci-fi classic is available to buy and rent via video on demand from Thursday, January 13, including from digital movie services such as Google Play, YouTube Movies and Amazon Video. Accordingly, if you've already sat down on your couch to watch Timothée Chalamet in Don't Look Up this summer, you can now back it up with another of his recent flicks. Or, there's your next double feature sorted. [caption id="attachment_774009" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo credit: Chiabella James. Copyright: © 2020 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] A spice-war space opera about feuding houses on far-flung planets, Dune has long been a pop-culture building block. Before Frank Herbert's 1965 novel was adapted into a wrongly reviled David Lynch-directed film — a gloriously 80s epic led by Kyle MacLachlan and laced with surreal touches — it unmistakably inspired Star Wars, and also cast a shadow over Hayao Miyazaki's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Game of Thrones has since taken cues from it. The Riddick franchise owes it a debt, too. The list goes on and, thanks to the new version bringing its sandy deserts to life, will only keep growing. As he did with Blade Runner 2049, writer/director Denis Villeneuve has once again grasped something already enormously influential, peered at it with astute eyes and built it anew — and created an instant sci-fi classic. This time, Villeneuve isn't asking viewers to ponder whether androids dream of electric sheep, but if humanity can ever overcome one of our worst urges and all that it brings. And, in his version of Dune, he's doing so with an exceptional cast that spans Chalamet (The French Dispatch), Oscar Isaac (The Card Counter), Rebecca Ferguson (Reminiscence), Jason Momoa (Aquaman), Josh Brolin (Avengers: Endgame), Javier Bardem (Everybody Knows), Zendaya (Spider-Man: No Way Home) and more. Dune tells of birthrights, prophesied messiahs, secret sisterhood sects that underpin the galaxy and phallic-looking giant sandworms, and of the primal lust for power that's as old as time — and, in Herbert's story, echoes well into the future's future. Its unpacking of dominance and command piles on colonial oppression, authoritarianism, greed, ecological calamity and religious fervour, like it is building a sandcastle out of power's nastiest ramifications. And, amid that weightiness — plus those spectacularly shot visuals and Hans Zimmer's throbbing score — it's also a tale of a moody teen with mind-control abilities struggling with what's expected versus what's right. Check out the trailer for Dune below: Dune is currently screening in Australian cinemas, and is also available to stream online via video on demand from Thursday, January 13 — including from Google Play, YouTube Movies and Amazon Video. Read our full review.
Sydney's iconic harbourside funfair, Luna Park, is usually a place of light, bright family thrills. But between October 25–31, a darker side shall be revealed. Luna Park's annual Halloscream festival returns to send a shiver down your spine with a program of spooky spectacles and white-knuckle entertainment. Fans of the Netflix megahit Squid Game can step through the screen and brave the life-or-death trails of the show for themselves by taking part in a round of the infamous Green Light Red Light game. This exclusive sneak peek of Squid Game: The Experience, which is bringing a whole host of mortal challenges to Luna Park's Big Top from mid-December, is exclusive to Halloscream guests. Neon Nightmare brings a new immersive light and sound attraction to Luna Park's popular rave cave, Sonic Neon. Instead of pumping beats, it'll be your heart thumping in your chest as this horrifying show sends your adrenaline through the roof. One of Halloscream's most popular attractions, the Forgotten Funhouse, invites visitors to navigate its twists and turns while braving encounters with those most terrifying of creatures, killer clowns. All ticket holders to Halloscream nights also get unlimited access to all rides across Luna Park but for those who really want to up the ante, VIP tickets are also available offering access to an exclusive lounge featuring spooky drinks, roaming performers and grid-worthy photo opportunities.
Randwick has just scored a new food precinct as the curtains lift on the first phase of its much-hyped lifestyle hub, Newmarket Dining. Inside, four new hospitality venues have already opened their doors, including a second outpost for Redfern's ever-popular ramen joint RaRa, with a stack more to come. Decked out with lush gardens, al fresco dining areas and plenty of public space for barbecuing and picnicking, the fairy light-lit precinct has made its home in the heart of the suburb on Barker Street. And visitors are already met with a pretty diverse spread of food options, right from the get go. RaRa's second eatery takes its ramen every bit as seriously as its sibling, boasting real-deal noodle-making machines imported from Japan. They're churning out fresh, springy noodles to star in the bowls of signature ramen and you can even watch all the magic unfold behind glass in the 'noodle room'. Larger than the original, the space nods to the izakayas of Tokyo, complete with bar seating and a healthy dose of glowing neon. Baccomatto Osteria is the Italian of the bunch, moving into Randwick from its original Surry Hills digs, with its own strong following. Here, it's dishing up its legendary handmade pasta, with fan favourites starring alongside new Roman-style specials. Think, rigatoni with lamb ragu and artichokes, and a chargrilled pork cutlet matched with cannellini beans. It's also serving up Roman-style pizza by the slice, topped with the likes of bresaola, buffalo mozzarella and mushrooms. Family-owned Cafe Mckenzie is brewing coffee alongside a Middle Eastern-inspired food offering, while a new outpost from cold-pressed juice crew Cali Press is your go-to for nutritious eats like smoothies and salad bowls. An unconventional barbershop for guys and girls called Barber Signature is the precinct's first non-food offering. The full lineup of Newmarket Dining's residents will be unveiled in March. Find Newmarket Dining at 154 Barker Street, Randwick. Check individual restaurant websites for opening hours.
Based on a novel by Hunter S. Thompson, The Rum Diary follows the wild adventures of journalist Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp) as he takes on a freelance job in Puerto Rico for a local newspaper during the 1950s. Struggling to find a balance between island culture and the expatriates who live there, Kemp forms a passionate yet dangerous attraction to Chenault (Amber Heard), the fiancée of Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart), a wealthy entrepreneur. When Kemp is recruited by Sanderson to write favorably about his latest unsavoury scheme, the journalist faces a dilemma: to use his words for the corrupt businessman's financial benefit, or use them to take the bastards down. The Rum Diary is a fast-paced filmic cocktail of comedy, adventure, romance and action. The incredible cinematography and choice of soundtrack in Bruce Robinson's film paints the exotic landscape of Puerto Rico with colours and sounds that exemplify Kemp's experience in the foreign land. With a cast of well-known Hollywood talents, lead by the charismatic Johnny Depp, this movie is sure to take you on one hell of a rum-fuelled ride. Read the full review here. To win one of ten double passes to see The Rum Diary, just make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=0YUx36yLLug
Some innovative internetters have thrown their support behind tougher laws on firearms in America by photoshopping classic movie moments so that our favourite gun-toting characters serve their enemies a friendly thumbs up instead of a barrage of bullets. The light-hearted approach by photoblog Thumbs & Ammo comes at a time when America is heatedly debating gun control, and its amusing advocacy of stringent gun control provides a refreshing and entertaining new angle as to why Americans do not need guns. "Real tough guys don't need guns, they just need a positive, can-do attitude," the crowdsourced blog's tagline declares. Let us hope that art can imitate life. In the meantime, take a look at some of our favourites below.
One of Sydney's best ramen spots is making sure you get your dose of hot noodle soup at home despite Sydney's current lockdown. Rising Sun Workshop has launched 'Ramen at Home' which allows ramen-lovers the opportunity to have everything they need for the Rising Sun Workshop experience in their living room. The at-home goodie boxes are available for pickup or delivery with each pack serving two. Inside you'll find broth, protein, garnishes and noodles and then all you have to do is put it all together with some boiling water in your kitchen. You can choose between its three signature ramens: The Darkness, a pork belly and black fungus creation, The Light, a chicken, pork belly and katsuobushi dashi bowl, and The Monk, a vegetarian shiitake mushroom and miso corn option. To order, head to the eatery's website, and while you're there you can also pick up beers and natural wines from the bottleshop, as well as kimchi and raw honey from the general store. [caption id="attachment_736378" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption]
The 80s got a lot of things right: music, movies, big hair and knowing how to have a good time. Cyndi Lauper said it herself... "girls just wanna have fun". So, if that anthem resonates with you, get ready for a series of 80s–inspired, fun-filled nights this month in Sydney. Step back in time and embrace the spirit of the 80s at Now & Then, the underground cocktail bar hidden in the heart of Sydney's CBD. Every Tuesday throughout April, Now & Then will be teaming up with Grey Goose for a series of 80s-theme nights to transport you back to the era of big hair, neon and those irresistible synth grooves. The event series will feature a curated menu of Grey Goose cocktails for just $16 each. Sip on updated nostalgic classics including French Martinis, Cosmopolitans, and a seasonal Caprioska. To satisfy your food cravings, the kitchen will be dishing out a selection of $12 jaffles — the perfect snack to accompany you on the dance floor (which will feature 80s anthems courtesy of DJ Joey Santos). Plus, don't forget to dress up in your best 80s attire for the chance to win some exclusive merchandise and maybe even a couple of Grey Goose bottles to take home. So grab some friends and get out the old hair-crimper and leg warmers for a retro celebration at Now & Then this month.
What features Jay and Silent Bob dancing, the Quick Stop opening and hockey being played on the roof? There's more than one answer to that question. The response right now: the trailer for Clerks III, which is a real thing that's headed to US cinemas in September. Feeling like you've just jumped back 28 years comes with the territory with this threequel — and the film well and truly knows it. Trust Jason Mewes (Loafy), playing Jay yet again, to state the obvious in the just-dropped sneak peek at Kevin Smith's third Clerks flick. "That's how we did it in the 90s, son!" he exclaims. Naturally, that's just the beginning of Clerks III's meta leanings. In fact, winking and nodding is one of the main reasons that this movie seems to exist — because the titular twosome, aka Randal Graves (Jeff Anderson, Zack and Miri Make a Porno) and Dante Hicks (Brian O'Halloran, On Your Own), are making their own movie. As the trailer shows, Randal has a heart attack on the job, realises he's living on borrowed time and decides that he'll finally make a film rather than just watch them. "Everything in the script is something either me or someone I know said," he explains — followed by Our Flag Means Death's Fred Armisen, Buffy the Vampire Slayer icon Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Smith's Mallrats and Chasing Amy star Ben Affleck uttering "I'm not even supposed to be here today". No, snoochie boochies, nothing in pop culture ever really dies or ends. Yes, there's always a new movie or TV show popping up to prove how that's the case. All things Star Wars keeps on keeping on, after all — and, given that Smith both writes and directs Clerks III, as he did 1994's Clerks and 2006's Clerks II, you bet that sci-fi space opera gets a mention in his latest flick. If you're new to Clerks, aka the franchise that kickstarted Smith's career both behind and in front of the camera — playing Silent Bob, of course — the OG black-and-white movie followed Quick Stop Groceries employee Dante and his video rental store worker pal Randal going about an ordinary day. Famously, Dante wasn't even supposed to be working. The first sequel then picked up ten years later, checking in on the pair's lives. In that film, they've made the move to fast food, with Rosario Dawson (DMZ) playing their manager. Dawson features in Clerks III, too, as do other familiar franchise faces that are best spotted by watching the trailer yourself — or seeing the film, although it doesn't yet have a release date Down Under. Given how many times that Smith has busted out Jay and Silent Bob now — this makes the ninth View Askewniverse film so far, and they've appeared in other flicks like Scream 3 as well — you can probably expect that he'll be palling around with Mewes on-screen until he's at least 90. The Tusk and Yoga Hosers filmmaker also has a sequel to Mallrats in the works, so add that to the list. Check out the trailer for Clerks III below: Clerks III will release in the US from September 4, with Down Under release dates yet to be confirmed — we'll update you when local details are announced.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Flickerfest. As the director of Flickerfest for the past 16 years, Bronwyn Kidd has programmed thousands of short films — and seen many, many more. She's got such a strong eye, in fact, that three categories in the festival are Academy® Accredited, giving their filmmakers a track to the Oscars. She shared with us her top seven films to keep a particularly close eye on at Flickerfest. So no getting distracted by the Bondi stars or ducking out for a drink at the bar when you see these titles flash on the screen. "It's always hard with so many great short films to choose from, but here are some of my personal faves out of the 106 short films in competition handpicked from 2200 entries received from this years fest," says Bronwyn. "I'm a big fan of truly unique, creative short films, so these are just some of the ones that have stood out for me. "One of the reasons I'm still so passionate about short film is that I believe that the short film format creates the opportunity to experiment and surprise without the pressures to conform of the commercial features world, and these shorts certainly fit that category." SEQUENCE Spain / 20min / 2013 A quirky short about everyones worse nightmare — what if you wake up one day and realise the entire world has dreamed about you? 216 MONTHS France / 26min / 2012 Weird and wonderful. Nothing is comparable to the success of Maureen, the ventriloquist singer, except her belly: it is simply outrageous. But a shadow is hanging over her career and that of her manager husband’s. The entrancing voice that comes out of Maureen’s insides has a name: Charles. He will soon be 18, the rebellious age, and he has one sole objective in life: to be born. THE MISSING SCARF Ireland / 7min / 2013 Quirky and surprising. Albert the Squirrel makes a startling discovery: an empty space where once his favourite scarf lay. He heads off into the forest only to find everyone else is preoccupied with worries of their own. He helps who he can before moving on but never seems to get any closer to his goal. Ultimately, Albert’s problem is put in perspective by the friends he helped and the problems they faced and overcame together. BUTTER LAMP France/China / 16min / 2013 Sweet and exotic. A young photographer and his assistant suggest to Tibetan nomads to take their picture. Through these shots, the photographer will weave unique links with each of the various villagers. THE KINGDOM OF DOUG Australia / 15min / 2013 Josie and her fellow cult members have gathered in an ice skating rink to commit mass suicide. When Josie loses faith in Doug, her charismatic cult leader, she starts questioning their choice to die. TANGO UNDERPANTS Australia / 13:40 / 2013 Carolyn, a young Australian backpacker, travels to Buenos Aries, where she discovers not only the wonders of the tango but also the vital importance of the right underwear. Starring Emma Booth. JAMBO AMANI Spain / 32min / 2013 A group of Congolese FDLR militiamen have decided to renounce violence surrender their weapons and enter the reintegration programme of the the United Nations. Happy to leave behind the troubled mountains of North Kivu, they take a helicopter to the city of Goma, where a new life is about to begin. They're all part of the packed Flickerfest 2014 program. Details and screening times are on their website.
If you’ve got the blues because you’ve missed out on Byron-bound, field-frolicking party times at Splendour this year, we hear you. Thankfully, many of the headliners are kind enough to put on a sideshow or two while they’re visiting — after all, many of them have come a long way for the occasion. While you've had other things like work, life and International Mojito Day on your mind, tickets have gone a-walkin' for these coveted sideshows, only adding insult to injury. Fear not, we've trawled through the best Splendour sideshows to see who’s still got tickets available if you want to join the festival buzz. Without further ado, here's some Splendour sideshows you could be slinging your dollars towards. NOTE: This is all very ‘at the time of writing’ so if something sells out in the meantime, we’re sorry for getting any hopes up.
When Hugo's closed last year, many Sydneysiders were left wondering about the future of Sneaky Sundays. Run by Sneaky Sound System's Miss Connie and Black Angus, the Sunday staple has been providing weekend party people with the best house music since 2000 and has gained a dedicated following. It might even be where you were introduced to deadmau5 or Daft Punk. After a successful summer run in Mykonos, the long-loved event is returning with a new home at Bondi beachfront bar The Bucket List. Sneaky Sundays is on from 7pm to midnight, every Sunday throughout the summer and features an array of weekly guests. It's the best excuse to while away the balmy nights dancing to everything from deep house to electro.
You're in a pub, having a beverage with your best mate, and you both keep picking up your pesky smartphones. It's a problem we all know too well — and something we're all guilty of, admit it. At London's new pop-up pub, it's simply not an option. Firstly, at the Make Time For It craft bar in Greenwich, you and your BFF will be the only people there. Yep, the short-term venue in Greenwich only seats two people. That's what happens when you open up the tiniest, cosiest of bespoke pubs in a garden shed that's smaller than a pool table. Plus, to make sure you really do have a good natter, you have to hand in your phone when you enter. That's right — good things don't just come in the smallest of packages here, though, but in the quietest and most distraction-free. Make Time For It's limited operation from October 21 to 30 is designed to highlight the importance of time, and of unplugging from digital distractions. You'll get free beer for your troubles, with the entire place the brainchild of craft brewer Meantime. After fashioning a range of special tipples that stress the concept of disconnecting from the screens in your pocket, they've taken the idea to the next level. Sure, it's a gimmick, but it's also Britain's smallest bar, and probably the world's, as well as the kind of place you instantly want to visit. You can pre-book a slot, or simply turn up and enjoy your time in the teensy-weensy watering hole. And if you're heading elsewhere in the UK at a later date, you might just be in luck — Meantime is pondering taking the bar on the road. Via Meantime.
Acclaim, awards, and Josh and Julie Niland all go hand in hand. The Sydney duo have been winning fans locally since 2016, when they opened Saint Peter, and the praise has kept flowing and growing from there. Josh's applauded The Whole Fish Cookbook earned him the prestigious James Beard Book of the Year Award back in 2020, becoming the first Australian to ever take out the prize. Earlier in 2022, he was the only Australian chef to feature in The Best Chefs Awards for 2022 — aka the list of the top 100 best globally — too. Now, with Julie, another gong has come the Nilands' way: the Game Changer Award from France's La Liste. La Liste is known for picking the best 1000 restaurants in the world annually, and it has also just done exactly that for 2023. But it gives out awards as well, with its latest round handed out on the evening of Monday, November 28 in Paris. That's where Josh and Julie earned some love for their approach to seafood, and the businesses that've sprang from their efforts. [caption id="attachment_771911" align="alignnone" width="1920"] by Rob Palmer, from Josh Niland's The Whole Fish Cookbook[/caption] "Australian chef Josh Niland, whose wife Julie runs his ever evolving Sydney business, has changed the way chefs use fish all over the world with his zero-waste 'fish butchery' approach," La Liste notes in its explanation for its 2023 Game Changer pick. "His methods seemed radical when he started talking about them, but make sense — use the whole fish, from fin-to-gill, as we do nose-to-tail with animals. Age and cure fish. Don't forget the offal. As many chefs lack the knowledge to do this, he shares his ideas in two cookbooks, The Whole Fish and Take One Fish," the statement continues. [caption id="attachment_878784" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rob Palmer[/caption] Clearly, Sydneysiders will be familiar with the Nilands courtesy of Saint Peter, and also thanks to Fish Butchery since 2018 — with the latter now in both Paddington and Waterloo — plus sustainable fish and chip shop Charcoal Fish in Rose Bay. They have more venues in the works, with Saint Peter moving into The Grand National Hotel, the Nilands taking over the whole place, and new 60-seat restaurant and bar Petermen coming to St Leonards, all in 2023. The Nilands' La Liste prize saw them earn international recognition alongside fellow Aussie chefs James Henry and Shaun Kelly, who scored one of the Hidden Gems awards for Le Doyenné in Saint-Vrain in France. Also picking up a win among the global recipients: Michel Guérard, who nabbed a special Award of Honour; Chika Tillman from New York's ChikaLicious Dessert Bar, who received the Top Pastry Chef Award; and Yotam Ottolenghi for championing the Mediterranean region, which scored him the New Destination Champion Award. Plus, Italy's Niko Romito was given the Innovation Award, France's Yannick Alléno the Community Spirit prize, and Brazil's Manoella Buffara took home the Ethical and Sustainability Award. Among La Liste 2023's 1000 restaurants, Saint Peter obviously featured, as did a nice lineup of other Australian spots. In Sydney, Oncore by Clare Smyth, Quay, Tetsuya's, Bentley Restaurant and Bar, Bennelong, Ormeggio at The Spit, and Rockpool Bar and Grill made the list, while Melbourne's inclusions span Vue de Monde, Attica, Cutler and Co, Minamishina, Lume, Grossi Florentino Upstairs and Flower Drum. In regional Victoria, Brae, Lake House and Provenance got the nod, as did Penfolds Magill Estate in Adelaide. [caption id="attachment_690417" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brae[/caption] For La Liste's full list of awards, and best restaurants, head to the guide's website. Top image: Rob Palmer.
There ain't nothing quite like country music, is there, partner? First popping up in the American South more or less a century ago, it's a simple yet satisfying genre that has found fans worldwide. Some of the most recognisable artists in history have been country singers — with a podium including Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers and more. If you know or love any of the above artists, you'd best secure some tickets to the upcoming Country by Candlelight tour. Having sold out theatres across the UK, it's headed down south (or down under, in this case) to tour across Australia and Aotearoa throughout February and March. After a series of February shows in NZ, the Australian tour will arrive in Queensland for a Gold Coast show at The Star Theatre on Sunday, March 1. The following week, it's Sydney's turn at Darling Harbour Theatre on Sunday, March 8, before moving to Melbourne Town Hall on Thursday, March 12. Then, the tour will hop across the country to PCEC Perth on Sunday, March 15, before an additional Queensland show at QPAC Brisbane on Thursday, March 19. Finally, the tour will conclude in South Australia at Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, on Sunday, March 22. Each show starts at 7.30pm and should wrap up (encores notwithstanding) by 10pm. Country by Candlelight will tour across cities in Australia and New Zealand from Sunday, February 15 to Sunday, March 22. For more information or to book tickets, visit the website.
