How do you start the first-ever WorldPride held in the Southern Hemisphere? With an already-announced opening concert starring none other than Kylie Minogue, of course. How do you farewell the fun when the massive LGBTQIA+ festival is finished taking over Sydney in February and March 2023? The event has just started locking in those plans, too, with MUNA and G Flip headlining closing gig Rainbow Republic. Like the kick-off festivities, this one will take place in The Domain — and indie popsters MUNA will be making their Australian debut when they take to the stage. As for G Flip, the pivotal slot comes after they just played the AFL Grand Final, following one iconic event with another. When it takes place on Sunday, March 5, attendees can expect a seven-hour show filled with live music, DJs and dancing — a queer megamix, if you like. On hosting duties: Keiynan Lonsdale (Love, Simon, The Flash, Eden), who'll also perform. Peach PRC, Alter Boy, BVT and Vetta Borne have also been named on the bill. This is just the first lineup announcement, however, so expect more to follow. Sydney WorldPride has been announcing parts of its lineup since June, including the return of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade to Oxford Street after the 2021 and 2022 events were held at the Sydney Cricket Ground due to the pandemic — and it will drop its full 300-event program in November. As well as the parade, Kylie and Rainbow Republic, Sydney WorldPride will feature pride villages set up in sections of Crown Street and Riley Street, a giant weekend-long street party on Oxford Street, a Bondi beach party that'll turn the iconic sandy stretch into a club for 12,000 people, and a Blak & Deadly First Nations gala concert. Plus, there'll be another huge gig in The Domain — a dance party for 10,000, which is being dubbed as the biggest LGBQTIA+ outdoor dance party in Australia. RAINBOW REPUBLIC SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE CLOSING CONCERT LINEUP: MUNA G Flip Keiynan Lonsdale Peach PRC Alter Boy BVT Vetta Borne Sydney WorldPride will run from Friday, February 17–Sunday, March 5, 2023, with closing concert Rainbow Republic taking place at The Domain on Sunday, March 5. Tickets for Rainbow Republic are on sale now. For more information about Sydney WorldPride, or for general ticket sales, head to the event's website. Thinking about Sydney WorldPride's big opening gig, Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert, too? General admission tickets have sold out, with only Sydney WorldPride's affordability option left — but you can still head along thanks to Concrete Playground Trips. The Sydney WorldPride package includes tickets to the Domain Dance Party and Live and Proud: Opening Concert, plus three nights at the PARKROYAL Darling Harbour Sydney.
April is here, which means that it's almost that time of year: the time when you're either at Coachella or curing your FOMO by watching it at home. 2024's lineup dropped in January, featuring Lana Del Rey, Tyler, The Creator, Doja Cat and the reunited No Doubt as headliners. Now comes news just as big: if you're dancing along in your living room over two weekends this month and you've got a set clash, you'll be able to livestream multiple stages at once. How many? Four in total, all thanks to YouTube's annual coverage of the event. Each year, Coachella and the online video platform join forces to beam the massive music fest around the world. Of course, that's no longer such a novelty in these pandemic-era times — but being able to fill your screen with a quartet of Coachella sets at the same time definitely is. YouTube's multiview concert experience will enjoy its debut in the music space, and globally, at Coachella. This year, the service will be capturing six different stages, as it did in 2023 for the first time ever — with Sonora on the list for the first weekend and Yuma on the second. That said, while you can feast your eyes on four stages simultaneously, you'll only be able to hear one, so you will still need to pick a favourite in any given timeslot. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coachella (@coachella) Coachella 2024 runs from Friday, April 12–Sunday, April 14 and Friday, April 19–Sunday, April 21, which is Saturday, April 13–Monday, April 15 and Saturday, April 20–Monday, April 22 Down Under. For those lucky enough to be getting the IRL experience, the fest takes place at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. The full bill is a jaw-dropper, as usual, featuring a stacked array of acts that also spans everyone from Blur, Ice Spice, J Balvin and Peso Pluma to Sabrina Carpenter, Grimes, Lil Yachty and Flight Facilities. [caption id="attachment_936351" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Casey via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Coachella 2024 runs from Friday, April 12–Sunday, April 14 and Friday, April 19–Sunday, April 21 — which is Saturday, April 13–Monday, April 15 and Saturday, April 20–Monday, April 22 Down Under — at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, and livestreams via YouTube across the same dates. Top image: Roger Ho.
Inner-city hospitality hub 25 Martin Place has quickly cemented a reputation as one of the most reliable dining go-tos in the CBD, but for the past few months, one-half of this multi-venue complex has been conspicuously dormant. New Zealand steakhouse chain Botswana Butchery, which occupied the expansive three-storey east wing of the site, announced in April that it was entering voluntary administration and given the economic uncertainties that have forced a rash of similar closures across Sydney in recent months, it was unclear if or when a new tenant would be able to take up residence. Now, one of the city's most successful hospitality companies, Point Group, who also operate the ever-popular Shell House, has announced ambitious plans to launch not one but three venues in the former Botswana Butchery digs, creating a new hospitality hub within a hospitality hub. The International will feature a wine bar, a fine diner and a rooftop watering hole showcasing a worldly array of culinary experiences that celebrate the cultural diversity that is so essential to Sydney's identity. [caption id="attachment_974166" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jonny Valiant[/caption] "We're excited for The International to become the cultural cornerstone of this lively and engaged part of the city," Point Group CEO Brett Robinson said. "Our approach will be simple: if it's fun, delicious and exciting, it's on the menu. Our team has had the opportunity to pull together this new project with total creative freedom and without limitations to define a new standard of big-city dining. The International is not just a restaurant; it will be a social and culinary destination where the only rule is that the food, the wine and the hand-crafted beverages must be delicious and of exceptional quality and the service dedicated, inspired and authentic." Sydney already has an excellent pedigree when it comes to pyro-powered cuisine, championed by the likes of Neil Perry at Rockpool, Lennox Hastie at Firedoor and Corey Costelloe at 20 Chapel. The Grill will join this impressive list of woodfired fine diners with culinary director Joel Bickford delivering a menu driven by provenance, high-quality produce, seasonality and simplicity. [caption id="attachment_974167" align="alignnone" width="2560"] The Grill[/caption] Custom mid-century furniture and bespoke joinery will create an atmosphere that is both luxurious and comfortable. Guests will enter through a glossy walnut bar where they can enjoy artisanal martinis or a flute of chilled champagne. The dining room will feature striking geometric marble flooring and a cold bar showcasing local seafood, complemented by an open kitchen where licks of open flame will catch the attention of diners. Bickford envisions The Grill as a destination for celebrating special moments while also being somewhere guests can enjoy everyday pleasures through exceptional food and wine. "Ultimately, it's about the food; provenance, best-in-class produce, seasonality and simplicity with absolutely no cutting corners, delivered by the very best chefs in the city working to deliver a unique perspective on classic traditions, internationally renowned preparations and worldly perspectives," he said. [caption id="attachment_974168" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Wine Bar[/caption] The Wine Bar will deliver a more casual (yet no less refined) offering, with a menu by Executive Chef Danny Corbett leaning on small plates inspired by worldwide cuisines. The venue will comprise three distinct spaces: a 60-seat piazza-style courtyard restaurant with an outdoor bar, perfect for all-day dining and socialising; an intimate 40-seat wine bar with a terrace overlooking Martin Place and an open kitchen featuring a Marana Forni pizza oven; and a 60-seat circular dining room with plush decor, ideal for special occasions and wine tastings. In addition to the food offering, there will, of course, be an extensive wine list, including generous by-the-glass options, curated by sommelier Alex Kirkwood. Finally, The Panorama Bar on the top floor of The International will be a vibrant social hub, made for sun-soaked lunches, golden hour drinks, and after-dark get-togethers. The bar will offer all-day dining and late-night drinking. Culinary Director Joel Bickford and Executive Chef Danny Corbett have created a menu of sharing plates and bar snacks, including cold bar options and Japanese bites prepared over Hibachi grills. Guests can enjoy a seasonal drinks list curated by award-winning bartender Josh Reynolds, including signature cocktails and an extensive champagne and chablis selection, perfect for a summer thirst-quencher. With views of the art deco architectural masterpieces of Martin Place and the bustling courtyard at the foot of Harry Siedler's iconic skyscraper, the outdoor terrace of the aptly named The Panorama Bar will channel a glamorous yet playful vibe. Fire pits, comfortable loungers and leafy planting will set an enticing tone while live DJ sets in the evening will pump up the party atmosphere. [caption id="attachment_974169" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Panorama Bar[/caption] The International will open at 25 Martin Place in the CBD in November.
There's a whole stack of reasons to treat yourself to a stay at The Langham. The indoor pool looks like it's straight out of a Roman cinematic epic and The Day Spa is no less impressive. Embracing the motto of 'detox, renew, relax and rejuvenate', this one offers the full range of luxurious treatments, which, as expected, come at a very luxurious price. Choose from a variety of standalone facials and massages, or really settle in with a multi-treatment package — like the Velvet Experience, an all-inclusive three-hour session that includes a body exfoliation, full-body massage and tailored facial treatment. If you're keen to go all out, it's priced at $480 from Monday–Thursday (or $495 from Friday–Sunday).
If you've committed yourself to extending the holiday indulgence and enjoying a January stuffed with good food, the legends at Nomad are here to help you reach your goals. This weekend, Executive Chef Jacqui Challinor is bringing back a much-loved lockdown project — her next-level bomboloni, aka Italian doughnuts. After achieving cult status as a lockdown special served up by the Surry Hills restaurant last year, the bomboloni are back for a one-weekend-only appearance. On offer from 10am this Saturday, January 15, and Sunday, January 16, you'll find two dreamy varieties of the treat: a savoury version comes loaded with sujuk, haloumi and a fried egg, and a fairy bread-inspired creation, starring burnt butter cream, strawberry glaze and a coating of 100's & 1000's, that sweet-toothed bombolone fans will be all about. Both are available for takeaway only, with the sweet bombolone going for $10 a pop and the savoury one priced at $16. If last year's are anything to go by, however, they won't be hanging around for long — you'd better get in as early as you can.
No one likes a boring lunch, or spending hours meal prepping — though we all know how quickly the cost of midday food splurges can add up. Those lunch dramas will soon be a thing of the past, with nifty food app MealPal arriving in Sydney. The brainchild of ClassPass co-founder, Mary Biggins, and Katie Ghelli (formerly of ZocDoc), the meal subscription service has proved a hit across the USA and UK since first launching in Miami, in January 2016. Now, having dished up over 2 million meals to time-starved office workers, the MealPal concept is heading down under, to give us Aussies our first taste of the action. Through the website or app, subscribing members are able to order a daily lunch meal from the huge selection of great local restaurants, schedule a convenient time to skip the queues and pick it up, and enjoy a tasty feed for blissfully minimal effort. Use it Monday to Friday, and the service clocks in at less than $8 per day. More than 100 of Sydney's lunchtime go-tos are already on board, including Fratelli Famous, Sumo Salad, Down N' Out, and Zeus Street Greek. Sign up here. Image: Sake Jr.
Three men sit in a Japanese sushi restaurant. Three men wonder about the vacant lot across the way. Three men, given their fine barista skills, salvage the space with specialty coffee. Welcome to Salvage Specialty Coffee in Artarmon. This newbie sits tucked into the quiet side of Artarmon's train station and is the brainchild of Toby Cutler, Matt Goto, and Dan Yee, all formerly of the distinguished Air Coffee in Castle Hill. Consequently, with such experience to back them, there's no doubting these boys' ability to poor a good espresso. In an effort to get things up and running pronto, they managed to salvage all available resources with impressive results thus far. The cafe is small, yet there has been an incredibly practical use of the space. What was once a bright yellow shop is now a simple but cosy espresso bar with a cool neon sign out the front that really spruces things up. Salvage's espresso counter is this place's focal point, then there's the window counter for those after a prime position for people-watching, and outside's all about 1960s Dutch school chairs set undercover to shelter the willing on a raining day. Coffee is smooth and reasonably priced ($3 take away, $3.50 eat-in). The dark horse blend is roasted by Mecca, and a variety of specialty brewing methods is also on offer. A slow drip apparatus sits proudly on the back wall for those interested in a Kenya Gachatha AA (changes invariably), and for those keen to take some beans home and give it a nudge yourself, relevant items are available for purchase. The menu is short and sweet, with bread and pastries from artisan bakery St Malo in Crows Nest. A sweet lemon tart ($5) or an almond croissant ($4) does go down well with a coffee, but for the absolute sweet tooth hit, sit down and sample the ricotta on sourdough ($9), with honeycomb on top that appears to be fresh from the hive. A lengthier menu is on offer Saturdays, and you'd be hard pressed to say no to avocado, toasted pinenuts, lime, coriander, feta, and tomatoes on sourdough ($14) or the croque madame ($14) with a poached egg and bechamel sauce. The boys here have certainly managed to salvage something out of nothing, and lucky for them, we're already digging it.
More than a few hearts were broken when legendary Oxford Street gay bar The Midnight Shift announced its closure last September. But the long-standing icon could soon be getting a new lease on life, having sold to a Sydney hotel group last week. Universal Hotels released a statement saying it had acquired the sprawling venue for an 'undisclosed amount', with Commercial Real Estate reporting it had been snapped up for a cool $12 million. This latest acquisition marks the group's fourth purchase in the area in the past 12 months. The Universal Hotels' stable also includes the recently acquired fellow Darlinghurst haunts The Brighton Hotel, Kinselas and The Oxford Hotel, suggesting that the whole precinct — one of the hardest hit by NSW's lockout laws — could soon enjoy a resurgence. While the future of The Midnight Shift is still uncertain, Universal Hotels managing director Jim Kospetas released a statement saying the group plans to inject new lift into the area. "Darlinghurst, while hit hard by the introduction of lock-out laws in 2014, is showing signs of recovery," Kospetas said. "We plan to work closely with the community and with our fellow hoteliers to revitalise the area as a whole." Clocking in at 1000 square metres and with capacity for 528 people, The Midnight Shift last sold for $8.25 million back in 2008. The Midnight Shift is located at 85-91 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. We'll keep you posted when we know more about its future.
As fans of a certain fictional cat-like Japanese character should already know, Hello Kitty Land is a real place that exists in Tokyo, and it's probably a bucket-list destination for your next Japan trip. But Sydneysiders don't need to hop on a plane to celebrate the bow-wearing, feline-resembling animated favourite for the next three months, with Darling Square hosting a huge Hello Kitty-themed street festival. Running now until Friday, April 29, this Hello Kitty fest is actually a Hello Kitty Town — so expect the precinct to be positively purring with all things Hello Kitty. Created in partnership with Sanrio, the Japanese company behind the super-popular character, the set up includes exhibitions, inflatable installations and Hello Kitty-themed food and drinks. Who doesn't want to eat a sandwich shaped like the perpetual third-grade student, or drink Hello Kitty rose mocktails? On the art side of the setup, Hello Kitty Town is home to Australia's largest Sanrio art exhibitions, spanning pieces from top graphic designers, illustrators and street artists such as UK cartoonist, writer and illustrator Gemma Correll, Berlin-based artist and illustrator DXTR, Melbourne large-scale mural painter Justine McAllister, and Aussie artist Travis Price, who is the featured artist for the festival — with their wares all displayed in an outdoor gallery. And, there's also a five-metre Hello Kitty inflatable that, yes, is as adorable as it sounds. Food- and drink-wise, the menu currently includes Ume Burger's Bad Badtz-Maru cheeseburger and white peach soda, plus Toastie Smith five limited-edition toasties that all come with Hello Kitty ham bows. Or, you can nab themed teas from Bubble Nini Tea, or dishes such as the Lazy Egg Burger at Auvers Cafe. There'll be more additions to the program — and to the menu — announced over the event's three-month run, tempting you to indulge your Hello Kitty love multiple times. That starts with Lunar New Year lion dances on Saturday, February 5–Sunday, February 6 February at 1pm and 7pm. Obviously, Hello Kitty merchandise is on sale, because a festival like this wouldn't be complete without it. And, also to the surprise of no-one, this is firmly a family-friendly affair. No one ever really outgrows Hello Kitty, though, do they? Hello Kitty Town is taking over Darling Square, 35 Tumbalong Boulevard, Haymarket, until Friday, April 29. For more information, head to the festival's website.
Erskineville's Imperial Hotel is a favourite among many, with props sure to go to its thrilling dining events (which bring dazzling queens to the stage for super-charged performances alongside a fantastic feed). So, you'll be excited to learn American Express delicious. Month Out is bringing a special one-night only Drag 'N' Dine extravaganza to the inner west local. The dress code? Fabulous. On Thursday, May 5, you and your friends can enjoy a stand-out plant-powered dinner — hosted by Khanh Ong — while you're serenaded and titillated by stellar drag performers. And, if you're an American Express Card Member, you can nab 15 percent off your ticket right up until the day before (just use your Australian-issued American Express Card when securing your tickets through Resy). Tickets are $89 and include a cocktail on arrival, a delicious set menu and a drag production with all the razzle dazzle. With two seatings on offer — 6pm and 8.30pm — it's the perfect opportunity to get raunchy at the dinner table. Ready for a night of spectacular performances and irresistible food? Book yourself a table at The Imperial Hotel's Drag 'N' Dine presented by American Express delicious. Month Out. For more information and to book, visit the website.
From Wednesday, May 29 to Monday, June 3, various venues across the Central Coast will become the scene for a celebration of stories and ideas, Words on the Waves Writers Festival. Like any good literature festival, you can attend events and talks by big-name authors, book launches, and writing workshops. However, there are a few things that set this event apart. Firstly, there's the location. The Central Coast is known for its stunning scenery, and here, you can attend events at Umina, Ocean Beach, and Ettalong Beach. Secondly, there's the literary cruise. Leaving from Woy Woy Wharf on the morning of June 3, it's a two-hour journey through literature and water, affording you an experience you won't find at any other festival. Thirdly, and for the first time ever, there's The Dip. A program stream featuring affordable and free events, The Dip is about discovery and accessibility. You can listen to best-selling authors like Judy Nunn, Anna Downes and Nat's What I Reckon — the enemy of both censors and jar sauces — all for a low price.
Put on your toques and gather your loonies — the Stuffed Beaver is serving up classic Canadian fare on bustling Bondi Road. Vancouver-born Brody Petersen has been dishing up his 'Dam Menu' since 2011. There's wooden booths reminiscent of a wintery ski lodge, vintage Canadian memorabilia on the walls, a game of football on the TV plus a perfectly cheesy poutine — any expat will feel right at home and us locals will feel just like we've visited. When you think of North American food, you think of burgers, fries, hot-dogs and deep-fried everything. The Stuffed Beaver delivers all of the above, with a Canadian spin of course. The classic poutine (fries with gravy and melted cheese curds) is as authentic as those French-Canadians make it and just as indulgently satisfying ($14.99). The beef burgers are made fresh every day with Black Angus beef served on a soft brioche bun. Try the Dam Beaver burger ($10.99), beef stuffed with melted blue cheese, or the John Candy combo ($15.99), crispy fried jack cheese, bacon and pickles. The Burgenhausen ($12.99), sweet pulled pork, candied apple and sour cream, is a definite hole-filler. No matter what main you get, you've gotta try the deep-fried pickles ($6.99). Beer battered pickle spears that are deep fried for that crunchy, greasy taste that only North American food can deliver. Canadians like to drink, so it's fair to say the bar is well stocked. If you're a Bloody Mary fan, the Bloody Caesar is the Canadian version ($16.99), the addition of Clamato juice (Clam and tomato juice) and a briny pickle spear gives it its North American authenticity. And whatever you do, don't leave until you've had a shot of Fireball whisky. Super sweet cinnamon whisky that'll warm the cockles of any sceptic's heart. The Stuffed Beaver's name isn't just a nod to its northern icons but a prophetic glimpse as to how you'll feel after a fun night eating and drink here. The North American food is heavy but oh-so-satisfying and with its affordability, cool Bondi location and friendly, relaxed staff, it's the perfect place to get stuffed, eh?
If you're the kind of beer lover who feels like they've tried every brew ever — or you've made it your mission to achieve that yeasty goal — then you're probably a big fan of the Great Australasian Beer Spectapular. For more than a decade now, since it started off as a Melbourne-only celebration of ales, lagers, ciders and more, the event has been serving up weird, wild, wonderful and inventive varieties, many of which are made exclusively for the booze-sipping shindig. In 2022, that's set to be the case once more, with the beer fest returning for a tour of Australia's east coast capitals in May. GABS is considered to be one of the best craft beer and cider festivals in the Asia Pacific region for good reason, and this year it has at least 120 of them, because that's how many brews will be on offer. Prepare to knock back beers inspired by breakfast foods, savoury snacks, desserts, cocktails and more when the event kicks off its 2022 run at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, May 7, then heads to Sydney's ICC Darling Harbour from Friday, May 20–Saturday, May 21, then finishes up its Aussie dates at the Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne, over the weekend of Friday, May 27–Sunday, May 29. Some of the foods and drinks that this year's GABS brews are taking their cues from: peanut butter, coffee, earl grey tea, chicken salt, pizza, fairy floss, bubblegum and sour gummi bears. Confirmed highlights include Brouhaha's Baked and Wasted, a sour which uses wasted baked goods; Capital Brewing Co's experimental Smooches, which pairs cocao nibs with a strawberry kick; Mismatch Brewing Co's We Love NY Cheesecake stout, in case you've ever wondered what cheesecake in a glass tastes like; and The Catchment Brewing Co's Ra Ra Raspoutine, another stout that, yes, is brewed from chips, cheese and gravy. The event surveys both Australian and New Zealand breweries, with more than 60 set to be pouring their wares in Brisbane, and 70-plus in Sydney and Melbourne. As well as the aforementioned outfits, this year they'll also include Balter, Range, Otherside, Black Hops, Ballistic, Your Mates, Mountain Culture, One Drop and Little Creatures, as well as Colonial, Mountain Goat and Bentspoke — and NZ's Garage Project and Panhead Custom Ale. Also on the bill: other types of tipples, including non-alcoholic beers, seltzers, whiskey, gin, cocktails and wines (including by 19 Crimes Snoop Dog Cali Red). GABS is known for dishing up a hefty lineup of activities to accompanying all that sipping, too, which'll span a silent disco, roaming bands, circus and sideshow performers, games and panels with industry leaders in 2022, as well as local food trucks and vendors to line your stomach. GREAT AUSTRALASIAN BEER SPECTAPULAR 2022 DATES: Saturday, May 7 — Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Friday, May 20–Saturday, May 21 — ICC Darling Harbour, Sydney Friday, May 27–Sunday, May 29 — Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne GABS takes place across Australia's east coast throughout May — head to the event's website for tickets and further details.
Everyone should make the trip to Victoria's Grampians at least once, and here's as ace an excuse to do so as any: the return of much-loved camping festival Pitch Music & Arts. In 2024, it'll host its seventh edition, taking over Moyston again — and the fest's just-dropped lineup is worth getting excited about. The long-running celebration unleashes its fun across the Grampian Plains, with next years' festivities happening from Friday, March 8–Tuesday, March 12. Not only will its three stages play host to a sparkling lineup of local and international musical talent, but the tunes will be backed by a hefty program of interactive art and installations. Basically, you're in for a very big, very busy four days. On the lineup: Janson, Patrick Mason, I Hate Models, 999999999, Job Jobse, Marcel Dettmann and VTSS, for starters. X CLUB., CC:DISCO!, DJ BORING, Kia and Jennifer Loveless are also on the bill, plus everyone from Chaos in the CBD, Sally C, Gabrielle Kwarteng and SALOME to jamesjamesjames playing back to back with Willaris. K, Glass Beams, Sophie McAlister and Tangela. The tunes will be paired with a yet-to-be-announced arts program, but past years have seen street artist Adnate, installation king Clayton Blake (winner of Best Art at Burning Man 2018) and Gumbaynggirr woman Aretha Brown from KISS MY ART do the honours. In between all the dance-floor sessions and arty things, festivalgoers can again make themselves at home in the Pitch Pavilion, which is where yoga classes, meditation and sound baths usually help patrons unwind. If that all sounds like your true calling, you'll have to enter the Pitch Music & Arts 2024 ballot where, just like in 2023, entrants will be required to make a 'Pitch Pledge' — a written commitment to positively contributing to the Pitch community, leaving no trace and behaving respectfully while onsite. PITCH MUSIC & ARTS 2024 LINEUP: 999999999 Ahadadream Akua Anz Aroha Aurora Halal Bailey Ibbs Bambounou Bertie Bitter Babe Cakes Da Killa CC:DISCO! Chaos in the CBD Chippy Nonstop Chlär Clara Cuvé Cromby dameeeela b2b DJ PGZ Dan Shake Daniel Avery DJ BORING DJ Gigola Gabrielle Kwarteng Gerd Janson Glass Beams Hasvat Informant Horse Meat Disco I Hate Models jamesjamesjames b2b Willaris. K Jennifer Loveless JNETT Job Jobse Kessler Kia KiNK KSMBA LB aka LABAT Mac Declos Mama Snake Marcel Dettmann Mark Blair Matisa MC Yallah & Debmaster MCR-T Memphis LK Moopie Narciss Nene H Nite Fleit ØTTA Patrick Mason priya RONA. Sally C SALOME Sedef AdasÏ Shampain SHERELLE Sophie McAlister Special Request Spray Surusinghe Tangela THC TYGAPAW VTSS X-Coast X CLUB. Yikes Pitch Music & Arts will return to Moyston from Friday, March 8–Tuesday, March 12, 2024. Head to the festival's website for further details, or to enter the ballot before 12pm AEDT on Wednesday, November 8. General tickets will go on sale from 6pm AEDT on Monday, November 13. Top Images: Duncographic, William Hamilton Coates and Ash Caygill.
It begins with an ad in the classifieds: "Wanted: Somebody to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. You'll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. I have only done this once before. Safety not guaranteed." Anyone who's ever seen Craigslist knows that's pretty much par for the course, but for sleazy magazine writer Jeff (Jake M. Johnson), it throws up two irresistible opportunities: an amusing puff piece during an otherwise slow news week, and a chance to hook up with an old flame living in the same town from where it was placed. He selects two interns, the dour Darius (Aubrey Plaza) and studious Arnau (Karan Soni), and together they head off to the beachside community of Ocean View to track down the advert's mysterious author. That man turns out to be Kenneth Calloway (Mark Duplass): an awkward loner and paranoid grocery story clerk who's convinced he's cracked the secret of quantum-mechanical travel. When Jeff's cynicism sees him immediately rejected as a possible partner, it falls to Darius to befriend the man based on her boss's logic that since they're both weird, perhaps they'll get along. And as it turns out, eccentric outsiders do attract just as powerfully as opposites. Darius quickly warms to Kenneth's tender idiosyncrasies, even as questions over his mental stability linger, and by the time the film builds to its inevitable climax in which Kenneth's time machine has its moment of truth, you come to realise you no longer even care if it works. Like 2012's other sci-fi hit Looper, this is a time-travel movie where the time travel is entirely incidental to the storyline and characters. Just as Looper explored the 'what' of the concept (what consequences might time travel bring, intended or otherwise?), Safety Not Guaranteed asks 'why?'. Why would you go back, assuming you could, and why yearn for second chances when new and possibly better opportunities keep showing up right in front of you? Regret, of course, is the answer, and it's what drives each of the film's four principals, from Kenneth's literal time travel to Jeff's symbolic one — seeking out his high school sweetheart in the hope of recapturing faded former glories. It's a film of excellent performances all round, but Plaza offers the standout. Her disillusioned 20-something shtick initially plays like a cut-and-paste job from Parks and Recreation; however, she imbues Darius with an unexpected depth and warmth that utterly enchants. Duplass is also fantastic, making Kenneth feel somehow terribly familiar for a person we've almost certainly never met. Soni and Johnson provide fine supporting performances, and all four characters develop wonderfully over the 85 minutes in a testament to the actors and screenwriter alike. Safety Not Guaranteed is an inspired and heartwarming tale that's almost certainly the surprise indie hit of the year. https://youtube.com/watch?v=73jSnAs7mq8
Andrew Upton’s The Present, an adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s 1878 play, Platonov, sets the drama of Anna Petrovna’s 40th birthday party in post-Gorbachev, '90s Russia. The celebrations bring together a redundant military class at odds with a younger, principled middle class. Widowed Anna (Cate Blanchett) now faces an unsatisfying choice between two powerful ex-military men, Alexei (Martin Jacobs) and Yegor (David Downer), who have the necessary political links for her to sell the oil on her inherited property. Her decision is made none the easier by the fact that she still loves Mikhail (Richard Roxburgh). Alice Babidge’s design sets the play squarely in the '90s, but it’s not specifically Russian; this could easily be a British or Australian contest between generations for cultural dominance. The setting works, but when sound designer Stefan Gregory chooses 'London Calling' during a scene change, accompanied by a projection of metallic looking dark water, it’s apparent that director John Crowley was aiming for something more potent than a depiction of a disaffected middle class. Punk politics is the wrong choice for Chekhov — he does middle class ennui, not dissent. While Platonov was not one of Chekhov’s successful plays, his mastery of listlessness and thwarted dreams is alive and well in Upton’s adaptation. Mikhail’s lamentations at his own failure to change the world don’t come from a sense of protest approaching that of The Clash, but from a self-aggrandising expectation that he would one day be a great writer. Even the wet-around-the-ears Kirril (Eamon Farren) isn’t moving to Europe to dance and take drugs out of a political impulse; he simply wants to get high and have a lot of sex. This is a cast of theatre big guns (Cate Blanchett, Richard Roxburgh, Jacqueline McKenzie, Toby Schmitz), so it’s surprising in the opening scenes that the ensemble comes to less than the sum of its parts. Upton’s adaptation includes frequent moments of hubbub and interjection, which causes confusion in scenes that should function as the narrative setup. The second half is much sharper and consequently more interesting and at times riveting. This is a handsome-looking piece of theatre with good performances. Roxburgh in particular lights up the huge Roslyn Packer Theatre (formerly Sydney Theatre) with ease. The setting of '90s Russia works, but Crowley’s layering on of a punk musical aesthetic is superfluous. The Present is sold out, but a limited number of Suncorp Twenties tickets are released each Tuesday morning for the following week's performances. More info on how to book.
Sydney residents are currently in lockdown due to the city's growing wave of COVID-19 cases; however, they now can't head to Victoria even if stay-at-home conditions ended. In response to New South Wales' expanding coronavirus outbreak, its southern neighbour has closed its borders — to the entirety of NSW, and also to the Australian Capital Territory. Coming into effect 1t 11.59pm yesterday, Sunday, July 11, Victoria has declared NSW and the ACT red zones under its traffic light-style system for grading other regions of Australia according to their COVID-19 status. That colour coding means that Victoria will only allow the state's own residents who've been in NSW or the ACT to obtain permits to return home; however, they'll then need to get tested and quarantine for 14 days. If you're not a Victorian resident and you've been in either state or territory, you are no longer be able to enter Victoria without an exception, exemption or other valid permit (and, if you try, you'll be fined up to $4957). For folks who live in the NSW–Victoria border region, you can cross the border without a permit, but you will need to have proof of address with you. That said, you can't enter if you have been to a red zone outside of the cross-border area — or if you have COVID-19, any symptoms, or you're classed as a close contact of a positive case. https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1414102690523607043 The closure comes just over a year since the border between New South Wales and Victoria closed for the first time in more than 100 years back in July 2020. Before then, it last shut in 1919 during the Spanish Flu. Victoria had already classed parts of the state, including all of Greater Sydney, as red zones in response to the current outbreak — a move that date backs to last month. The latest change has been put in place as NSW's coronavirus cases continue to spike, with 77 new locally acquired cases reported on Sunday, July 11 — and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian noting that she expected the number for today, Monday, July 12, to be more than 100. In a statement, the Victorian Government said that "with case numbers continuing to increase in New South Wales, Victorian public health authorities are concerned about the risks of transmission beyond current red zones in Greater Sydney and surrounds, and the potential risks this poses to the Victorian community from people entering our state." Residents of the Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour regions have been under lockdown for more than two weeks, with those conditions tightened on Friday, July 9. A July 16 end date for lockdown has been announced previously, although, with case numbers continuing to climb, it now looks extremely unlikely that the stay-at-home period will end then. You can find out more about the status of COVID-19 at the NSW Health and Victorian Department of Health websites. Top image: Mulwala Bridge by Yun Huang Yong via Flickr.
These days, we're all aware of the impact plastic shopping bags have on the environment, but what about another popular disposable item that everyone uses and no one thinks about? If you've enjoyed a cold beverage somewhere other than your home recently, odds are that you've probably sipped it through a straw (or you were given one). From now on, that won't be the case at Brisbane's Crowbar. Because little things can make a big difference, the Brunswick Street haunt has adopted a "say no to straws" policy and will no longer be serving them with their drinks unless specifically requested. "We are conscious of the environmental impact of plastic and are taking steps to reduce our footprint," the venue advised in a Facebook post announcing the new move. Further expanding upon Crowbar's plans in an interview with The Music, manager Tyla Dombroski explained that they're currently assessing biodegradable options for punters that can't kick their straw fix, and that their efforts won't stop there. If they can work with an organisation that focuses on marine or wildlife conservation, Crowbar would like to implement a donation-for-a-straw scheme. "Even though we're already cutting back our usage, we can also be giving back," said Dombroski. "And hopefully it makes more people think about their use of plastic in everyday life." Here's hoping that Crowbar's efforts also inspire other bars to follow suit — and other industries. Just two months ago, France passed legislation to ban all plastic plates, cups and cutlery from 2020; however Australian laws still haven't caught up with the single-use plastic bag backlash, with only Tasmania, South Australia, ACT and the NT banning them at present. Via The Music.
Sydneysiders love a bottomless brunch. But, let's face it, there are only so many smashed avos and poached eggs one can eat before fatigue sets in. But bottomless pizza? Well, that's a whole different story. And, if you head down to King Street Wharf around lunchtime on a weekend, that's exactly what you'll find. Every Saturday and Sunday from midday, Beer DeLuxe is offering its own version of the popular bottomless food and booze package. For $60 per person, you and your mates can enjoy all the pizza you can manage in two hours, with bottomless craft beer to wash it down. You'll have your pick of five different pizzas, from the classic pepperoni to the controversial (but still delicious) ham and pineapple. And, there are vegetarian options available, too. Meanwhile, for drinks, the venue boasts a mammoth 150 different craft beers. We won't list 'em all here, but some of the brews that have been on tap recently include Stone & Wood Pacific Ale, Bent Shovel Red Ale and Feral Brewing Biggie Juice IPA. Whether you're winding up for a big night out or recovering from one (hair of the dog-style), round up the crew, throw on some stretchy pants and go your hardest. Beer DeLuxe's You Wanna Pizza Me? offer is available across two sessions — 12–2pm and 2–4pm — every Saturday and Sunday. To make a booking, visit the website.
It's that time of year again — Vivid Sydney 2019 is returning from May 24—June 15. All of the Sydney CBD will be awash with colourful lights and the streets will again bustle with the light-seeking masses. If you want to catch this year's best sights without fighting through the crowds, there's no better place than at the American Express Lounge (you don't even need an American Express card to get in, just register for free access here). Located on the rooftop of Cruise Bar within the Overseas Passenger Terminal, the lounge allows for expansive views across the Sydney Opera House, the MCA, across Circular Quay and the harbour beyond. Here's a list of all the Vivid sights you'll catch a glimpse at from the comfort of the rooftop lounge. [caption id="attachment_671534" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW.[/caption] CITY SPARKLE, CIRCULAR QUAY For panoramic views of the City Sparkle light show, the American Express Lounge is the place to be. Created by 32 Hundred Lighting, it's a 'symphony of beams that play across the city skyline'. The show takes place atop some of Sydney's landmarks and, this year, uses 62 interactive light pillars. There will be 15 giant aquabeams along the Harbour Bridge's crest plus additional beams fixed atop the Bennelong Apartments, Overseas Passenger Terminal, Cahill Expressway and 18 CBD rooftops, as well as 13 colourfully lit building facades. If you want to get into more of the action after soaking it all in at the Lounge, head to the control room at East Circular Quay where you can interact with a 3D model of all the structures featured in City Sparkle. [caption id="attachment_720431" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Austral Floral Ballet by Andrew Thoma Huang and Bemo, render.[/caption] AUSTRAL FLORA BALLET, SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE Possibly Vivid's most iconic venue, the Sydney Opera House, is also in full view atop the American Express Lounge. This year, the white sails will be adorned by the Austral Flora Ballet light show, created by LA-based Chinese American artist and filmmaker Andrew Thomas Huang — the man behind sci-fi-style music videos for Björk, Sigur Rós and Thom Yorke. For Vivid, Huang has joined forces with choreographer Toogie Barcelo and LA design firm Bemo to create a light show that fuses contemporary dance with motion-capture technology. As the name suggests, the projection focuses on Australia's lush native flora — think waratahs, kangaroo paws and red beard orchids, among others. AMERICAN EXPRESS LOUNGE, OVERSEAS PASSENGER TERMINAL The Vivid installations aren't the only place to catch the lights, either. On your way up to the American Express Lounge, Cruise Bar will host its own light show. This impressive display will follow you as you head up to the rooftop venue. At the bar's marquee, you'll walk under an additional celestial canopy of lights, too. All this before you even take a seat. [caption id="attachment_720596" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Let Me Down, render.[/caption] LET ME DOWN, MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART The MCA's light installation Let Me Down is also in full view from the American Express Lounge. This year, the show has been created by Sydney-based artist Claudia Nicholson, who is making her Vivid debut. Nicholson was born in Colombia, and the installation acts as a homage to heritage through a mix of cultural traditions and pop culture references. Let Me Down adapts four of the artist's existing works — three alfombras de aserrín (sawdust carpets) and a floral arrangement called silleta. Award-winning LA creative studio Spinifex Group and Adelaide-based producer Lonelyspeck have helped turn the artwork into an animated display of creation, destruction and regeneration, with the works reconstructed through a sort of dance. [caption id="attachment_720426" align="alignnone" width="2280"] Under the Harbour, render.[/caption] UNDER THE HARBOUR, CUSTOMS HOUSE From the Lounge, you'll also be able to catch a partial view of Customs House. This year's light display on the facade of Customs House, Under the Harbour, explores the pulsing undersea world of the Sydney Harbour. Designed by Spinifex Group, expect a larger-than-life spectacle of neon-lit sea life, one of which is a giant octopus that wraps its tentacles around the sun. The spectacle will transport viewers into an underwater extravaganza of light and colour and is not to be missed. [caption id="attachment_624496" align="alignnone" width="1920"] James Horan.[/caption] HARBOUR LIGHTS, HARBOUR BRIDGE You can nab a glimpse of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge light show while you're up top, too. Both the bridge and the water will be spectacularly lit up by 32 Hundred Lighting, who will incorporate satellite navigation and passing commercial vessels to coordinate the show. Expect a broad colour spectrum to dance along the bridge and throughout the harbour, as local boats by Captain Cook Cruises add to the incredible display. [caption id="attachment_721563" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Celestial Pancake, render.[/caption] CELESTIAL PANCAKE, CIRCULAR QUAY When entering the ground floor of Cruise Bar, stop for a moment before heading up to the lounge. Here, you'll catch the Celestial Pancake light installation. This fibre-optic suspended light installation is meant to simulate the night sky and boasts colours inspired by space. Visitors can walk beneath the canopy, where hidden microphones allow participants to change the sweeping, spiralling light show by speaking into them. The installation's glittering lights can be seen from near or far and is just as impressive from the warmth of the lounge. When you need a break from the crowds but not the lights this Vivid season, American Express has your back. Gain access to the American Express Vivid Lounge for free — even if you don't yet have an American Express card. All you have to do is sign-up here. Top image: Austal Flora Ballet, Sydney Opera House
In summer, a refreshing gin and tonic on a rooftop bar is often a weekend go-to. But bringing the heat to the classic drink this chilly season is The Rook Rooftop Bar and Restaurant, with its bottomless G&Tea parties. Located in the CBD, The Rook is helping you warm up this July and August by inviting you to perhaps the most fun tea party you'll ever attend. The shindig involves endless rounds of warm cocktails served in teapots and all fired by London's Sipsmith gin. Sip your way from the Berry Fruitea, a concoction of Sipsmith London dry gin, hibiscus berry tea, mint, grapefruit and ginger, to the Tea Time, a steamy mix of Sipsmith London dry gin, Sipsmith London cup punch, french earl grey, star anise, cinnamon and orange. A few chilled tea-inspired gin cocktails are also available. Matching your piping hot brews will be a selection of tasty plates — think chicken katsu finger sandwiches with wasabi mayonnaise and wagyu beef sliders. There'll also be wild berry cheesecake, flourless chocolate brownies and mini sweet potato pies topped with coffee cream for dessert. After a recent revamp, The Rook is looking mighty slick now too. You can expect plush new furnishings and blankets to rug up under to complement your G&Tea drinking. Kicking off on Saturday, July 13, The Rook's bottomless G&Tea parties are taking place at midday and 3pm every Saturday this winter. For just $69 a pop, you'll enjoy two hours of snacks and bottomless booziness. Bookings for The Rook's bottomless G&Tea parties are recommended and can be made here.
Established in 2002 by twin brothers Brian and Vincent Wu, this now-stalwart multi-brand boutique has stuck to its original guns — curating and showcasing luxe men's and women's clothing from around the world, in window displays drool worthy in their sleek simplicity. Stocking a mix of high-end and high street brands like Karen Walker, Nike, A.P.C. and Vanishing Elephant, Incu's become a sort of empire, expanding to new territory across Sydney and the country. The flagship Galeries store is well worth a heart-eyed browse — for its open spaces, clean lines and oozing-of-cool atmosphere, as much as the clothes on its racks.
Sparked by the pandemic, lockdown films aren't just an exercise in adapting to stay-at-home conditions — or a way to keep actors, directors and other industry professionals busy and working at a challenging time. The genre also provides a window into how the creatives behind its flicks view everyday life and ordinary people. Arising from a global event that's placed many of the planet's inhabitants in similar circumstances, these features tell us which stories filmmakers deem worth telling, which visions of normality they choose to focus on and who they think is living an average life. With Malcolm & Marie, a hotshot young director and an ex-addict were the only options offered. In Language Lessons, which premiered at this year's virtual Berlin Film Festival, a wealthy widower and a Spanish teacher were the movie's two choices. Now Locked Down directs its attention towards a CEO and a courier, the latter of which stresses that he's only in the gig because his criminal record has robbed him of other opportunities. Yes, these movies and their characters speak volumes about how Hollywood perceives its paying customers. That's not the only thing that Locked Down says. Verbose to a farcical degree — awkwardly rather than purposefully — this romantic comedy-meets-heist flick is primarily comprised of monologues, Zoom calls and bickering between its central couple. Well-off Londoners Linda (Anne Hathaway, The Witches) and Paxton (Chiwetel Ejiofor, The Old Guard) are weeks into 2020's first lockdown, and their ten-year relationship has become a casualty. Whether chatting to each other or virtually with others, both commit a torrent of words to the subject. Linda has decided they're done, which Paxton has trouble accepting. She's also unhappy with her high-flying job, especially after she's forced to fire an entire team online, but gets scolded by her boss (Ben Stiller, Brad's Status) for not telling her now-sacked colleagues they're still like family. Tired of driving a van, Paxton is willing to do whatever his employer (Ben Kingsley, Life) needs to climb his way up the ladder. That said, he's still tied to the road, with the ex-rebel's decision to sell his beloved motorbike — a symbol of his wilder youth, and its fun, freedom and risks — hitting hard. As Linda and Paxton argue about their past together and future potentially apart, vent frustrations about their locked-down present, and chat with co-workers (including Late Night's Mindy Kaling, The Father's Mark Gatiss, Jojo Rabbit's Stephen Merchant and The Last Vermeer's Claes Bang) and family members (Ballers co-stars and real-life couple Dulé Hill and Jazmyn Simon), at no point do they resemble real people. Rarely does anything that comes out of their mouths sound like something that someone might actually say, either. And, while the stresses of working remotely, being unable to leave the house and having normality put on hold should be relatable — we've all been through it — every aspect of Locked Down's script feels forced. That includes its relationship insights, which are hardly romantic, comedic or wise, even when showing that the most devoted of couples can find their patience tested when the days never seem to end. When Linda and Paxton's professional worlds collide, tasking her with removing a £3 million diamond from Harrods, him with ferrying it to safety and the pair with possibly stealing it for themselves, the plot development smacks of screenwriting laziness and convenience. Steven Knight does the scripting — and although Locked Down arose in a hurry, this isn't the first time that the screenwriter has penned something dull, grating, contrived and often ridiculous. When he's at his best, TV series Peaky Blinders, the Ejiofor-starring Dirty Pretty Things, David Cronenberg's Eastern Promises and Tom Hardy one-man-show Locke are the end results. At his worst, he pumps out the abysmal Hathaway-starring Serenity — a movie so awful that it almost defies belief — and now this. Locked Down's missteps are many, and plenty stem from the script. It repeatedly mistakes more dialogue for more drama, for instance. When it isn't insulting everyone who isn't a CEO, it's whining about pandemic restrictions, with its complaints outdated a year ago and ancient now. But director Doug Liman can't escape responsibility for Locked Down's many struggles. Fresh off of the long-delayed, also-terrible Chaos Walking, the filmmaker who shot banter so engagingly in Swingers, Go and even Mr and Mrs Smith just seems happy to let the camera keep rolling here. The man who made Edge of Tomorrow also treats his big Harrods heist as if he was Richard Linklater filming a walk-and-talk for a Before Midnight sequel called During Lockdown. Perhaps Liman expected his two leads to shine so brightly that they'd carry the two-hour film. They're asked to, but no one could sparkle with this material. Hathaway yells into pillows, swans around in colourful pyjama pants and dances to Adam and the Ants' 'Stand and Deliver' like she's on a stage trying to emote to people in the street outside the theatre. While Ejiofor fares slightly better — when he's not waxing lyrical about a hedgehog he's named Sonic (of course), licking opium from the couple's townhouse garden or airing stale stay-at-home grievances — the existential angst that's baked into his performance gets swallowed by the movie's overall listlessness. You could generously read Locked Down's tedium and monotony as intentionally reflecting the malaise of the last 15 months, but every choice that Liman and Knight makes refutes that idea. There's smugness and pompousness to this never-funny film instead, and it screams of its key creatives thinking they know what COVID-19-era life is like, and that they can turn the situation into something witty and thrilling. They don't and they can't, at least in this feature. Visually, the movie brightens at Harrods, but its third-act wander through the famed department store really just shows what could've been. A far shorter picture with less repetitive griping and more of absolutely anything else mightn't have made viewers feel as if they too are stuck home with someone they hate, for example. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TG-Mxzl88Q&feature=youtu.be
It's been a rocky few years for Jamie's Italian in Australia, having relaunched with full ownership in 2017 only to lose ownership again just one year later. Luckily, the Brisbane-based Hallmark Group took over the management of the Australian restaurants, but not without some casualties — the Canberra and Parramatta outposts (the latter of which is set to become a steakhouse) quickly closed. But now, perhaps in an attempt to help us put our faith back in the brand, Jamie's Italian venues across Australia will launch a series of bottomless prosecco lunches for a very reasonable $50 per person. The one-month deal will run every Saturday from September 8 through to October 7 — and it includes a lot more than just an endless supply of sparkling wine. Each table will be served small bites to share (including those crispy polenta chips), and everyone will get a big bowl of pasta. You'll be be able to choose which one you want, too — think classics like prawn linguine and carbonara, and signatures including the truffle tagliatelle and fresh crab spaghetti. Plus, it'll all be topped off with panna cotta for dessert. If we know anything, it's that people really love Jamie's Italian. As such, these lunches are sure book out fast, so front a pineapple and book it already. The bottomless prosecco lunches will be available at Jamie's Italian Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth. They'll run each Saturday from from 12–4pm from September 8 until October 7. You can book here.
As the force behind Cake Wines, Glen Cassidy has been shaping Sydney's epicurean side for six years now — and enjoying partaking in it as well. The brand is known for getting involved with the city's cultural events, while the man himself is full of tips and praise for Sydney's dining and drinking scene — particularly Redfern, the evolving inner-city suburb where Cake Wines opened its own cellar door in 2016. In partnership with Pullman Hotels and Resorts, we're helping you explore more on your next holiday and make sure you get those experiences that the area's most switched-on residents wouldn't want their visitors to miss. In Sydney, we've called in Glen, whose favourite spots range from the restaurant that's home to Gourmet Traveller's 2018 Chef of the Year to the joint slinging his favourite burgers in town. A stay in one of Pullman's two locations in central Sydney — Hyde Park and Quay Grand Sydney Harbour (there's also two more at Sydney Airport and Sydney Olympic Park) — will not only put you in the thick of all this action, it will let you rest and digest in five-star luxury at the end of the day. Read on for Glen's top Sydney food hot spots in his own words, and check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. ESTER The team at Ester in Chippendale are big supporters of interesting wines — mostly natural, I think. The food is simple, but with what seems like a few very personal twists by the 2018 Gourmet Traveller Chef of the Year, Mat Lindsay. These guys have got the "local undiscovered but always full" vibe totally dialled. I love going there and sitting at the bar, with a couple of share plates and a few vinos. I've had some memorable afternoons there with Cake staff over the years. HUBERT Best in the game? Probably. The wine list, the menu, the atmos — CBD restaurant Hubert is a reimagining of classic dining, but without the stiffness that often accompanies food and wine this good. Hats off to the team (the Swillhouse Group, also behind Sydney establishments Shady Pines Saloon and the Baxter Inn) who have created this special place, and to the crew who work there. They deliver killer service and vibe, week in, week out. CAKE WINES CELLAR DOOR Yep, ok, I'm biased, but our Cellar Door in Redfern captures everything we love about food, wine and culture in this city. We have all our wines, different cultural programming each week, a solid selection of simple pizzas and charcuterie — all in a beautiful space down on Eveleigh Street. Vibes are always high at the Cellar Door as Redfern continues to evolve, and we're super proud to be part of it. ACME What's not to like? Acme in Rushcutters Bay boasts simple but creative cooking, a banging wine list, great staff and just an all-round vibe. Their creative approach to Italian food means you'll see dishes like cold spaghetti with okra, sesame and ponzu, and pig's head macaroni with egg yolk. We recently had a staff night out there for the launch of Ochota Barrels' new wines and the food was beautifully matched. No wonder they've just been awarded one hat by the Good Food Guide. REDFERN CONTINENTAL AND GDR Legends of the game. Redfern Continental presents a near-perfect example of casual dining, with a hidden gem of a night spot out the back. A complement to the pan-European offering in front, Gunther's Dining Room (aka GDR) is loosely East Germany themed, with curywurst and traditional German hotdogs on the bar menu. Factor in a killer wine list with selections from all around the world, and you've got it made here. $1 Oysters on Sundays in the bar are a must. This place is a regular haunt for Cellar Door staff. Redfern on the come up! SUPERIOR BURGER I grew up near this joint, so I am fond of the crew that is making such a positive contribution to the rapidly changing region that is Western Sydney. In a city overrun with burgers, I can hand on heart say these guys are the best I've tasted by far. The love, skill, energy and drive Jovi [chef Jovan Curic, formerly of Pub Life Kitchen] and the crew have for creating the best-tasting burgers comes out in spades. Get in your car and head to Wakeley — you will not regret it. HANOI QUAN Hanoi Quan offers a truly authentic northern Vietnamese experience. It's been at this spot in Marrickville since forever and gives nothing away from the outside. Had it not been introduced to me by the one and only DJ Arno, I wouldn't know about it, and I can honestly say my life would not be the same had I not tried their signature combination pho and grilled pork vermicelli. BART JR A new kid on the block in Redfern, Bart Jr is a cosy little joint that is quickly becoming my go-to. They have a great wine list (I drank a bottle of Piss Christ there only last week!), plus a fresh and simple menu that changes weekly. Do yourself a favour and stop by today. George, Anne [George Woodyard and Anne Cooper from Scout's Honour and Morris] and the crew have brought something special to the area for sure. DA ORAZIO PIZZA + PORCHETTA Food + wine + music = vibe. It's a hard combo to nail but full respect to Maurice [Terzini, the restaurateur who is also behind Icebergs] and the crew who balance this beautifully (shouts to Picnic on the bookings!). The Napoli-style pizza is made from dough that's left to rise for 48 hours before heading to the woodfire stove, while a whole Berkshire pig hits the spit roast every day (explaining the titular pizza and porchetta). Bondi needs more joints like this. FATIMA'S LEBANESE RESTAURANT Ok, this is the straight-up best "late night on the way home and don't want to get something gross" spot around. We are talking next-level Lebanese food. When it comes to takeaway, kebabs are as legit as they come, served by a proper maestro who has been there since as long as I can remember. Get the lot with chilli sauce, hummus, tabbouleh and salad. Fatima's will make sure you arrive home in one piece. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
Not to alarm you, but you might have noticed that it has been hot recently. If you're suddenly finding yourself aware of a lack of summer-friendly clothes in your wardrobe, ready-to-wear label Tigerlily is offering something very relevant to your interests: a big six-day clothing sale to get you some much-welcome bargains. There's never a bad time to treat yourself to some new clothes, especially when you're saving money in the process. The Aussie brand is known and loved for its timeless prints and unique patterns, so getting your mitts on some of the goods for less is a major win. From Wednesday, November 27 until midnight on Monday, December 2, you'll be able to get brand new threads — including dresses, shorts and kaftans — with a cheeky 30 percent discount to help you survive the summer months both in store and online. Plus, if you're shopping online, you'll find sale items at up to 80 percent off. Tigerlily's Black Friday Sale runs from Wednesday, November 27–Monday, December 2 both in store and online. If you want to hit up the sale IRL, you can find your closest store here. To check out what's up for grabs online, head here.
2022's best new TV shows spanned everything from mind-benders like Severance to culinary must-sees such as The Bear, plus the best Star Wars series yet in Andor and Irish black-comedy murder-mystery Bad Sisters. Also among them: feminism, penises and 70s porn for women in Minx. The Los Angeles-set HBO comedy jumped back five decades to follow an aspiring magazine editor as she finally scored her dream job — but for a pornography publisher. What's a Vassar graduate and country club regular to do? If she's Minx's Joyce Prigger, she eventually embraces the opportunity, sees a chance to give women something they've been missing and start a conversation about female desire, and turns the whole enterprise into something special. That's the tale that the series' first season charted, as starring Ophelia Lovibond (Trying) and Jake Johnson (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse), created by Ellen Rapoport (Clifford the Big Red Dog) and executive produced by Paul Feig (Last Christmas). What's a pioneering, uproar-causing fictional magazine to do after it's already caused a stir? That's where season two comes in. From Friday, July 21, Minx will return to Stan for a second run, with the earnest Joyce and enterprising Bottom Dollar Publications proprietor Doug Renetti (Johnson) dealing with the mag's success, and how that affects their lives. Also impacted, because this is a workplace comedy as well: Bottom Dollar's former model Bambi (Jessica Lowe, Miracle Workers), Doug's ex-secretary Tina (Idara Victor, Shameless), photographer Richie (Oscar Montoya, Final Space) and Joyce's sister Shelly (Lennon Parham, Veep). As the trailer for season two shows, Joyce, Doug and the crew are back in business; the rest of the media is interested in Minx's rise; and Joyce gets the chance to ask a crowded room if any man knows where the clitoris is. Expansion plans, male strippers, padding junk in the name of stagecraft, Minx billboards: they all pop up as well. Getting Minx back on-screen has been quite the tale itself, after the show was renewed for season two back in May 2022 following season one, then cancelled by HBO Max in December during production. Thankfully, US network Starz then stepped in to save the day, picking up the second season. Check out the trailer Minx season two below: Minx season two will start streaming via Stan from Friday, July 21.
Are you a coffee enthusiast? Do you believe that a yawn is a silent scream for coffee? Is your blood 73 percent coffee? If you even slightly indicated yes to any of those, the Aroma Festival is perfect for you. Coffee connoisseurs will descend on The Rocks like beans into a grinder when the festival returns for its 18th year. Cafes will be showcasing their best blends in a bid to win your votes and the title of Aroma Cup People's Choice. The Australian Specialty Coffee Association will be hosting workshops throughout July on latte art, home brewing and more. There will even be coffee cup readings on the day if you're the type of person who plays with the dregs at the bottom of your espresso. Don't let the daily grind bring you down. Head to The Rocks, try some of Sydney's best local brews and steep yourself in the intoxicating scent of coffee.
Those planning a trip across the Tasman can rejoice today as the quarantine-free travel bubble between New South Wales and New Zealand has reopened. Flights between NSW and NZ were given permission to resume from 11.59pm (AEST) on Sunday, May 9 following a two-day pause. The temporary travel ban was in response to two new cases of COVID-19 identified in Sydney last week. While the travel bubble has reopened, anyone who visited a COVID-19 exposure site during specified times must not travel to New Zealand within 14 days from attending the location of concern. As more exposure sites are continually revealed, anyone who does enter New Zealand who has been to a location of concern in the previous 14 days, will have to immediately self-isolate and call the New Zealand Healthline on 0800 611 116 for advice on self-isolating and getting tested. "I am pleased with the way the response process has been managed this week," COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hopkins said. "It has been determined that the risk to public health in New Zealand remains low." When New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the two-way trans-Tasman bubble back in April, she noted that it could and would be paused if and when outbreaks occur. This latest pause in quarantine-free travel is the second of its kind since the bubble opened, after NZ suspended flights from Western Australia at the beginning of May in response to Perth's recent cases. Flights between NZ and WA were given the all-clear to resume just a day later. https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/1391204649672183813 While no new cases of locally acquired COVID-19 have been reported in NSW in the past 48 hours, the state's restrictions on dancing, masks and gatherings have been extended until Monday, May 17 as health officials continue to search for the 'missing link' between an overseas traveller and the locally acquired cases. Under the current restrictions, a 20-person cap is in place for gatherings in homes in Greater Sydney; drinking while standing up, singing and dancing are no longer allowed at pubs, clubs and restaurants; and masks must be warn in some indoor public locations. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
As well as creating some of popular culture's most beloved characters of the past three decades, JK Rowling's Harry Potter franchise has also conjured up a whole heap of astonishing critters. The Boy Who Lived himself studied them at Hogwarts, all thanks to textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them — and, to the joy of Potter-loving muggles everywhere, Rowling turned that tome into an actual text in 2001. Plus, as every Wizarding World fan knows, that book followed the original Harry Potter novels in making the leap from the page to the screen. So far, two movies have hit cinemas, charting the exploits of the text's author Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) just as dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) rises to prominence. While neither the first 2016 film nor its 2018 sequel Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald quite live up to the HP movies, three more are still planned from 2021 onwards. Can't wait that long until your next Fantastic Beasts fix? Particularly fond of the creatures that fly, scamper and scurry through the Wizarding World? Then you'll be waving your wands in excitement about the huge new Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature, which'll display items from Rowling's fictional universe alongside real-life creatures, specimens and artefacts. Premiering at London's Natural History Museum sometime this autumn — spring in the northern hemisphere — for a seven-month season before embarking on an international tour, the showcase will combine critters from the natural world, the mythical world and the Wizarding World. Visitors will see legendary beasts placed alongside specimens and historic objects, while also venturing through digital installations and other elements from the Fantastic Beasts flicks. Unsurprisingly, there'll also be a huge focus on Scamander, the Wizarding World's famed magizoologist. [caption id="attachment_757302" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Jeff Spicer[/caption] While the full range of exhibits hasn't been revealed, you can expect to peer at a tiger, a Galápagos marine iguana and a giant oarfish (the planet's longest bony fish) alongside an Erumpent horn and the dragon skull from Professor Lupin's classroom. You'll also be able to compare the camouflage tactics of a jaguar to those of the Demiguise. Here's hoping a super-cute Niffler features in some shape or form, too. Just where Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature will head after its London run hasn't been announced yet either, but start yelling "accio exhibition" while you cross your fingers for a stop Down Under. A collaboration between the Natural History Museum, the BBC and Warner Bros, a Fantastic Beasts documentary is also headed to screens to tie in with the exhibition. Called Fantastic Beasts: A Natural History and presented by Stephen Fry, it'll delve into the origins and stories of mythical creatures and fantastical beasts, examining their history and making connections to animals roaming the planet today. In the UK, it's set to air at a yet-to-be-revealed date later this year — with international airings also yet to be announced. Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature will display at London's Natural History Museum from sometime this autumn — spring in the northern hemisphere — with tickets on sale from Thursday, January 16. Details of the exhibition's international tour are yet to be revealed.
When the Bondi Short Film Festival started in 2001, creator Francis Coady thought it was pretty insane that his young filmmaker friends had missed out on entering other film festivals in Sydney because the films had already screened in other Australian states. He was right! Indie film watchers don’t care if what they’re seeing has already screened in Perth or Melbourne, they just want to experience something thought provoking, poignant, hilarious and beautiful, or that has Ryan Gosling in it. Eleven years on the Bondi Short Film Festival continues to screen cinematic Australian gems that fulfill almost all of these criteria and, while the power of the collective continues to endorse babeliciously quirky actors as the marker of a feature-length film’s watchability, the quality of a BSFF one is determined only by captivating storylines and cinematography, brilliant music and set design and some of the best young acting talent in this country. The only restrictions the festival places on filmmakers is that entries must be less than 15 minutes long, making it a 2-hour melting pot of powerful drama, quirky comedy, thought-provoking documentaries and stunning animation. All of these things will take place under the waterfront Bondi Pavilion, making the festival one of the finest ways to see in the summer.
LAND — the creative Texan duo behind some of Patagonia, Levis and Deus's most dynamic campaigns — are set to exhibit in Australia for the first time. To be held in Camperdown's MC06 and titled One Hand on the Bull, the show promises a selection of LAND's latest works, exploring their timeless approach to the art of communication. Those familiar with the artists (aka Caleb Owen Everitt and Ryan Rhodes) will know of their unwillingness to limit themselves when it comes to materials or techniques. Expect to see the old, the new, the unique, the found, the recycled and the upcycled, across drawings, paintings, typography, iconography, graphic design, digital design, metal work and sculpture. One Hand on the Bull will open on Thursday, December 10 from 6pm and show for just two days — Friday, December 11 between 10am and 4pm, and Saturday, December 12 between 10am and 5pm. The show is presented by Monster Children, the magazine that, since 2003, has been redefining surf and skate publications by delving into art, photography, design and music.
Popular Sydney hospitality figure Reynold Poernomo has unveiled his flagship venue in Chippendale, with the opening of a new KOI Dessert Bar featuring three distinct areas. KOI has moved to Central Park Avenue after half a decade in Kensington Street, expanding to a larger more extravagant space two streets over which Poernomo has described as his "dream venue". Reynold initially opened the dessert bar with the help of his brothers Arnold and Ronald after winning fans over on MasterChef. "This is big for me, the team and the family, because as you all know, this is the first restaurant that my family and I had started over five years ago," Poernomo said. Tucked behind Central Park Mall next to the Chippendale Green, KOI Dessert Bar now invites sweet tooths to their choice of three dining experiences. The first section is your standard dessert bar reminiscent of the original Chippendale location. Here you'll find a stone and japanese tile benchtop presenting KOI's signature range of desserts for takeaway or eat-in. The daily cake selection changes, but you can expect creations like black truffle basque cheesecake or matcha, yuzu and pistachio slice, paired with St Dreux coffee and Tavalon tea. In the evening you'll enter through the second space — the revamped Monkey's Corner cocktail bar which has also moved across from Kensington Street. At the bar, the cakes are traded for noodles and coffee swapped for sake. Highlights from the food menu include chili crab egg noodles, trout tartare, torched wagyu strips and king prawns. There's also an affinity for truffle, with a black truffle and mushroom noodle dish a mainstay of the bar, and a seasonal truffle menu on offer during winter. The final — and possibly most exciting — element of the revamped venue is an intimate 12-seat restaurant. A chef's table of sorts, diners at KOI Experiential will have a front-row show as Poernomo creates a ten-course degustation spanning the sweet and the savory. The experience resembles that of Sydney's new wave of omakase restaurants, with the head chef taking patrons through that night's intricate and expertly crafted dishes. Seatings at the degustation are available at either 5.30pm or 8pm and will set you back $130pp. KOI Dessert Bar and Monkey's Corner are located at 6 Central Park Avenue, Chippendale. The dessert bar is open 11am–10pm Tuesday–Sunday, KOI Experiential is open from 5.30pm and 8pm Wednesday–Sunday and Moneky's Corner is open 5–10pm Tuesday–Sunday and midday–3pm Saturday and Sunday.
Beloved Mexican chef Rosa Cienfuegos is taking Sydneysiders on a journey through some of her favourite tacos across six weeks at her Redfern restaurant Itacate. Cienfuegos has pulled together a roster of six traditional taco flavours that she holds close to her heart, with one flavour set to be showcased every Tuesday over August and September. Rosa's Taco Journeys will kick off with a special opening night on Tuesday, August 16. The taco flavour on offer this week will be al pastor, a juicy pork filling that will be served on double tortillas with chopped onion, coriander, pineapple, lime juice and spicy salsa. The first 50 people through the door that day will be given a free al pastor taco and a mariachi band will be on-site from 6pm to add to the festivities. Across the other five Tuesdays, Mexican food enthusiasts will be treated to suadero, birria tacos, cochinita, tacos de barbacoa and tacos carnitas. Each flavour will also be paired with a different variety of Mexican sodas from event partner Jarritos. Tacos will be available for $7 each or in taco boxes which include three tacos, a Jarritos soda and Mexican sweets for $20. Follow Itacate on Instagram for regular updates throughout the series. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Itacate & Mexican Deli (@itacate.redfern)
UPDATE, Tuesday, June 18, 2024: Priscilla is available to stream via Stan, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Yearning to be one of the women in Sofia Coppola's films is futile, but for a single reason only: whether she's telling of teenage sisters, a wife left to her own devices in Tokyo, France's most-famous queen, the daughter of a Hollywood actor, Los Angeles high schoolers who want to rob, the staff and students at a girls school in the American Civil War, a Manhattanite worried that her husband is being unfaithful or Priscilla Presley, as the writer/director has across eight movies to-date, no one better plunges viewers into her female characters' hearts and heads. To watch the filmmaker's span of features from The Virgin Suicides to Priscilla is to feel as its figures do, and deeply. The second-generation helmer is an impressionistic great, colouring her flicks as much with emotions and mood as actual hues — not that there's any shortage of lush and dreamy shades, as intricately tied to her on-screen women's inner states, swirling through her meticulous frames. Call it the "can't help falling" effect, then: as a quarter-century of Coppola's films have graced screens, audiences can't help falling into them like they're in the middle of each themselves. That's still accurate with Priscilla, which arrives so soon after Elvis that no one could've forgotten that the lives of the king of rock 'n' roll and his bride have flickered through cinemas recently. Baz Luhrmann made his Presley movie in Australia with an American (Austin Butler, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) as Elvis and an Aussie (Olivia DeJonge, The Staircase) as Priscilla. Coppola crafted hers in North America with a Brisbanite (Jacob Elordi, Saltburn) in blue-suede shoes and a Tennessee-born talent (Cailee Spaeny, Mare of Easttown) adopting the Presley surname. The two features are mirror images in a hunk of burning ways, including their his-and-hers titles; whose viewpoint they align with; and conveying what it was like to adore Elvis among the masses, plus why he sparked that fervour, compared to expressing the experience of being the girl that he fell for, married, sincerely loved but kept in a gilded cage into she strove to fly free. For the leads playing their titular parts, the two Presley portraits of the 2020s far are also star-making pictures. If Spaeny becomes her director's new muse, it's much-deserved based on her turn as an excited and longing teen, then the isolated high-school senior and stuck-at-home girlfriend who's so controlled that she's instructed to dye her hair the same black that Elvis sports (by him), then the wife and mother virtually living a separate life. In fact, she was recommended by Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog), Coppola's muse since her debut feature, aka Spaeny's co-star in 2024's upcoming Civil War. Although finding someone who could take the role across a decade and a half, and be as genuine as a smitten teen, a fed-up woman deciding to claim her own life and everything in-between wouldn't have been easy, Priscilla's Venice International Film Festival Volpi Cup for Best Actress-winning choice is sublime. Priscilla Beaulieu is just 14 when she's invited to a party at Elvis' home in West Germany, where she's an army brat with a strict dad (Ari Cohen, Fargo) in the service and he's a 24-year-old donning the uniform solely because he's been drafted. Asked if she likes Elvis by one of his pals, her response is: "of course, who doesn't?". She subsequently can't help falling, as is to be expected of a girl being paid attention by one of the biggest stars on the planet. In the giddy aftermath of their first meetings, during their early courtship and when Elvis heads back home, Coppola gets her The Beguiled and On the Rocks cinematographer Philippe Le Sourd roving over fabrics and handwriting, two staple details in her work, to assist in showing the heady passion that pulsates through Priscilla. As her films keep demonstrating, you can glean much about someone by the textures that they surround themselves with, the way they communicate via the written word, and the care they take with each. Here, you can tell how Priscilla's namesake initially feels like she's living in a fantasy come true. As witnessed through Priscilla Presley's eyes — as adapted by Coppola from Priscilla's 1985 memoir Elvis and Me, and boasting an also-brilliant Elordi as the brooding and volatile Elvis — this romance is never a fairy tale, however. She swoons. She pines. She begs her parents (with Succession's Dagmara Dominczyk as her mother) to let her visit Graceland, and then to move there. She does what Elvis says, and shapes herself by his wishes and whims. She acts in the 50s-trained mould, with its firmly defined gender roles, as he also does. Priscilla spies the period, its expectations and demands, but it also spots the imbalance in power that goes beyond social norms. Leaving Elvis' music off the Phoenix-supervised soundtrack wasn't the original plan, after Coppola sought permission from his estate and was denied, yet it has a potent effect: as tunes other than his echo, and not only from the time — a Ramones cover of 'Baby, I Love You' and Dan Deacon's 2007 track 'The Crystal Cat', for instance — the film divorces itself from his perspective, and from what was accepted in the era. From the moment that it starts with red toenails upon shag carpeting, then, until it closes with swinging gates and one of the greatest songs that Dolly Parton has ever written (and a sentiment that never rings false), Priscilla is what many Coppola flicks are: an account of a woman trying to discover herself in restrictive circumstances where her existence is defined by a man. The picture's protagonist is The Virgin Suicides' siblings cooped up in their home, and Lost in Translation's left-behind spouse. She's Marie Antoinette's partner to royalty, complete with an unhappy bedroom life — the Presleys' romance is chaste when Priscilla is younger, then Elvis remains largely uninterested when she's older — and Somewhere's adoring youth in a star's shadow as well. Coppola sees the limits placed upon the women before her camera, the abodes they're trapped in and how they pass the time. In a revelatory fashion, she's well-aware that so much of Priscilla's life with Elvis was filled with just that as he went on tour, made movies in Los Angeles, and had gossip all aflutter about affairs with Speedway's Nancy Sinatra and Viva Las Vegas' Ann-Margret: Priscilla on her lonesome passing the time. While Coppola has never made a feature that's less than excellent, Priscilla is among her most-accomplished. Every inch always means something in the director's oeuvre, and proves immaculate and intimate. Such truths from her filmography resound again here to perfection, with exquisitely ravishing aesthetics — also thanks to costume designer Stacey Battat, who has worked on every one of the helmer's pictures since Somewhere, as well as Nightmare Alley production designer Tamara Deverell — helping to amplify the picture's emotional intensity. Coppola's little-less-conversation approach finds its action in glances and stares, and in being all shook up by what's not uttered. It's absorbing and mesmerising, heartbreaks, hardships and all. Priscilla herself wouldn't want anyone aching for her experience, but she'd surely hope for the crucial feat that Priscilla overwhelmingly achieves: ensuring that viewers feel as if they've lived it.
Based inside Oxford Village shopping centre, Ziggy's describes itself as a "modern old-school barbershop" and welcomes both guys and gals to visit for a cut, colour or shave. Whether you're after a classic look or are ready for something a little wilder, the team of experienced stylists and barbers will sort you out. A cut and style starts at $58 for guys and $95 for ladies, with keratin and conditioning treatments, extensions and cut-throat face shaves all on offer, too. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
UPDATE, February 13, 2021: Issued late on Friday, February 12, the NSW Government's public health order only requires travellers from Victoria to NSW since 11.59pm on Friday, February 12 to stay at home for the duration of Victoria's lockdown. The government body advised that "the date previously advised has been updated following advice from the NSW Chief Health Officer". As all of Victoria enters a snap five-day lockdown in a bid to contain its latest COVID-19 outbreak, many states are introducing border closures and restrictions of their own. In NSW, the Government is requiring anyone in NSW who has been in Victoria at any time on or after Friday, January 29 to follow the same stay-at-home restrictions as those coming into force in Victoria. That means, any returned travellers will need to follow Victoria's stage four rules between 11.59pm on Friday, February 12 and the same time on Wednesday, February 17. Returned travellers will only be able to leave their homes for those familiar four reasons: shopping for essentials; medical and other care and caregiving; exercise; and essential work. https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1360083780795465730 Travellers arriving from Greater Melbourne by road or from Victoria by air or rail must also complete a traveller self-declaration form before entry into NSW. The NSW Government is also strongly advising against all non-essential travel to Victoria at this time, saying "people who do choose to travel will be required to follow the stay-at-home requirement on their return". For more information about COVID-19 restrictions in NSW, head to the NSW Health website. To learn more about the Victorian stay-at-home orders, head to the Victoria Department of Health website.
Most folks haven't spent time in a prison for the criminally insane. If you live in Australia, odds are that you haven't navigated the American welfare system, either. And, you likely didn't go to a New York City high school — and you probably haven't walked into a Florida domestic violence shelter as well. But watch the documentaries of Frederick Wiseman and you'll feel otherwise. His observational films peer deeply at the institutions they're surveying, and offer viewers the next best thing to being there. It was true of In Jackson Heights, which is set in the culturally diverse NYC neighbourhood. It's the same of Ex Libris: The New York Public Library, which is clearly about the obvious. And it's accurate of Central Park, gloriously so. For the past 55 years, Wiseman has amassed quite the filmography — and a selection of his movies will be flickering across Sydney cinemas thanks to this year's Sydney Film Festival retrospective program. At It Takes Time: Ten Films by Frederick Wiseman at SFF, the documentarian's first-ever directorial effort, Titicut Follies, will get a showing. So too will 2020's City Hall. Pretend to spend a whole lot of time staring at the screen, being transported to the US and savouring every second of it. Also on the lineup: 2009's La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet, spreading the Wiseman love beyond American institutions. This ode to the now 92-year-old filmmaker will kick off during SFF and then keep running afterwards — showing at the Art Gallery of NSW from Wednesday, June 8–Sunday, June 19, then at Dendy Cinemas Newtown from Sunday, July 3–Sunday, July 31.
Things are heating up in Manly with the arrival of a new specialty store. With more independent and small-batch hot sauces being produced, plus the popularity of tongue-tingling condiments reaching an all-time high with help from Hot Ones, a group of Sydneysiders has jumped, opening a shopfront dedicated entirely to spicy sauces. THAT Hot Sauce Shop will open on Sydney Road in the Northern Beaches on Saturday, July 15. Boasting a colourful mural out the front, the store won't be easy to miss. Inside, visitors will find a sleek, simple showroom housing a far-reaching catalogue of hot sauces from Australia and across the globe — plus a hot sauce tasting table, where you can try before you buy and expand the spicy side of your palette. Local sauces like Sydney's Old Bones, Wodonga's Uncle Mungo's and Byron Bay's CrackFox will be given particular spotlight when the store officially opens, before a larger lineup of stock is introduced in August with sauces from across the globe, including the Hot Ones range. "Supporting local is very important to us," says owner Guy Lancaster. "We've been lucky enough to meet local suppliers and sauce makers who are just as passionate as we are, and who are making some truly delicious products. They care about flavour and the education of how hot sauces can elevate any simple dish, and not just about mind-numbing heat." THAT Hot Sauce Shop is the passion project of Manly locals Lancaster and his partner Elle Bowles. The pair is hoping to educate Sydneysiders not only on the specific hot sauces they love, but the variety of ways that you can incorporate them in the kitchen. "We know people will be keen to try the heat, but we also aim to cater for the new spice lovers that want to add flavour to their meals, cheeseboards or even cocktails, just like we do at home," says Bowles. If you're located on the other side of the Spit Bridge and can't make it across to Manly, you can also browse THAT Hot Sauce Shop's stock list and make an order via its online store. THAT Hot Sauce Shop will open at 1/27 Sydney Road, Manly on Saturday, July 15.
A new three-week celebration and showcase of cutting-edge, genre-bending theatre and performance is coming to Sydney's Stables Theatre this April. Griffin Theatre Company's inaugural Batch Festival fuses spoken word, comedy, visual arts and music with immersive theatre and cabaret to create a veritable feast of powerful, provocative performance. The festival celebrates an incredible crew of talents, from poets and lyrical storytellers like Omar Musa to comedians and cabaret artists like Mama Alto and Betty Grumble. Expect to see out-of-the-box performances with the world premiere of Cassie Workman, Giantess, which combines music, comedy, storytelling and illustration, as well as at Brown Skin Girl, which brings together visual art, music, spoken word and movement. Festival curator Phil Spencer explains this decision to feature a multitude of arts and performance genres, "this next wave of artists doesn't necessarily write plays, they make hip hop, perform stand-up, write songs, improvise stories, invite audiences to help them make the work and experiment with the theatrical form in vital and important ways." During the festival, guests can also book into special late-night performances, showcasing the funny, the awkward and the fabulous. For those who seek something a bit more interactive, head outside with the Exclusion Zone: Walking Tour on an hour-long 'tour' of Kings Cross. You'll set out to investigate 'recent unaccountable crypto-cartographic activity', but under the guise of a walking tour. Pre- or post-show, visit Glimpse, an ethereal hidden garden where theatregoers can kick off their shoes and explore this otherworldly land in the heart of the city. And there to support your nights of innovative and immersive theatre, Batch Brewing Co. will be slinging craft beers in the foyer of the Stables. The inaugural Batch Festival runs from April 11–28. Discover the full program and purchase tickets here.
Unless you've by some miracle stumbled upon the ultimate sharehouse situation, there inevitably comes a point when the whole thing starts to get pretty old — and yet owning your own piece of real estate feels like it just ain't ever going to happen. If that's the case, how would you feel about testing out co-living? The concept is Sydney's newest real estate offering and — at present — features blocks of studio-style units rented out individually by the one landlord or property group. Typically, they've got communal areas and include services like cleaning and laundry in the rent. So you're living under the same roof as others, with all the social benefits, but with your own private space and no chance of anyone else stealing the last of your choccy milk from the fridge. While it has proved popular overseas, Australia is just now making its first foray into the co-living space, with Alex Thorpe and Rhys Williams — the same guys behind hotel group Veriu and co-working space +U — among the first to embrace the concept locally. They're gearing up to launch their own co-living brand UKO in Stanmore this September. UKOs in Paddington and Newtown are expected to follow, too. The pair's aim is to shake up the rental market by offering more bang for your rental buck. Here, the networking and social aspects are the biggest drawcards, so you'll find a big communal courtyard, complete with veggie patch and a relaxation zone, which doubles as an outdoor cinema by night. Each UKO facility will also have its own dedicated 'community host', charged with planning and running events, setting up any communal meals and facilitating networking. The Stanmore set-up features three different room styles, starting at a not-so-cheap $525 per week for the adaptable, studio-style UKO Flex, and reaching $595 per week for the UKO Loft. They're not exactly roomy, so to maximise space, the units are kitted out with a suite of flexible features, that can fold or roll away when you're not using them. And it seems UKO won't be your only co-living option, with Commercial Real Estate reporting that local investment group Caper Property also has plans to jump into the market. The website has revealed that the company will be launching three co-living properties in Sydney over the next 12 months — including one in Leichhardt's Bald Faced Stag. Caper Property acquired the 1800s inner west pub back in April, and has plans to develop it into a restaurant, bar, cinema and live music venue, as well as a "120-bed" co-living space. These new co-living spaces are promising a lot for something that sounds an awful lot like renting a tiny studio — or living in a fancy uni dorm — for pretty much the same price, so we'll be keeping an eye on how successfully they run post-launch. But as Sydney's rental market — and its property market in general— is currently a big expensive mess, more options certainly aren't a bad thing. UKO Stanmore is slated to open this September.
Sonder might look teeny-tiny from the street, but you'll be shocked at its large interior. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, this former terrace house has at least six indoor-outdoor dining spaces, which have been transformed into something reminiscent of a friendly, artsy sharehouse. There's stimulating floor-to-ceiling art murals, mismatched furniture and a surprise courtyard. Styled with succulents, flowers and hanging wall planters, it's a massive contrast to inside — you'll think you've accidentally stumbled into the neighbour's yard. A small menu kicks off the dinner service from an even smaller kitchen. A few grazing dishes are perfect for sharing, like the pickled zucchini bruschetta with goats' curd ($11) and the grilled rosemary king prawns with barbecued corn, green chilli and coriander ($20). The dish's charred smoky flavour combined with the fresh tomatoes, lime and a punchy dressing makes for a tasty meal. Add a coconut margarita ($19) to the mix and you'll want to whip out the maracas. But that's as adventurous as the entrees get. The remaining options are simple, like the burrata with fresh figs and olives ($17). If you're after something more substantial then you can't go wrong with a few old favourites. A 300-gram wagyu scotch fillet with rocket salad, shoestring fries and horseradish butter will set you back $32 and is best washed down with a chilled bottle of beer — after all, there's nine on offer. A big fan of fungi? Then the mushroom and asparagus risotto with crisp enoki and truffle oil ($26) is a vegetarian delight. Sweet tooths, beware: the dessert offerings are not for the faint-hearted. You'll either love or loathe the Sonder Sundae with salted pretzels, berries, Oreos and chocolate fairy floss. It's a total blowout, but not one that's particularly worth it — nothing in it is house-made. And if you're a nighttime coffee drinker, we suggest sticking with a latte or flat white, as less common orders — like a long macchiato — don't come out quite right. Sonder feels like it's still finding its dinner feet, but it's nothing a little fine-tuning can't fix. Located in prime Paddington real estate at Five Ways, it's a much needed casual dining spot, and perfect for a relaxed mid-week catch up with family and friends.
A breezy new Sri Lankan restaurant has arrived in Surry Hills, taking over a two-storey space to bring a fun and fresh dining experience to the area. Kurumba comes from the crew behind The Fold in Dulwich Hill, which closed down earlier in 2023. The end of that chapter led to the being of this one, with the team moving to Surry Hills to open an ambitious new multi-space venue. "As much as we loved the community of Dulwich Hill, our dream was always to open up a restaurant and wine bar, and we felt that Surry Hills would help us achieve our dream," says Kurumba General Manager Travin De Hoedt. Upstairs, you'll find the dining room that spotlights traditional Sri Lankan eats while mixing things up with the addition of Sydney menu staples like Sydney rock oysters, Western Australian lobster and smoked brisket. Downstairs, there's a casual bar where you can snack on hoppers over a glass of top-notch wine. "We really loved the concept of blending a wine bar with our cuisine. It felt like something no other Sri Lankan restaurant was doing," continues De Hoedt. "We're very fortunate to have some amazing suppliers that give us the ability to have fun with the drinks list, going for wines that people wouldn't expect to go with Sri Lankan food, and craft cocktails using Sri Lankan spirits like Ceylon Arrack and Colombo 7 Gin that surprise and delight." Highlights from the main dining room include smoked brisket pan rolls, kajugama tiger prawns in a chilli cashew butter and crispy pork belly curry. If you're okay with splurging a little, Kurumba's signature dish is the lobster kottu — a chopped roti, vegetable and lobster-head curry. The set menu is a great way to attack the meal, especially if you're in a group. The $85 per person option runs through the pan rolls, hot butter soft-shell crab, three different curries and tempered cauliflower, all paired with hoppers and rice. Or you can go big with the $125 premium menu, adding the signature lobster kottu and oysters topped with calamansi, coconut water and coriander root to the fold. If you've got the space, there's only one way to round out your meal at Kurumba. While there are a few desserts on offer, the falluda soft serve is a must-try, adding rose syrup, crystallised pistachio and crispy vermicelli to the nostalgic sweet treat. You'll find Kurumba at 555 Crown Street, Surry Hills — open 5.30–11pm Tuesday–Thursday, 12–11pm Friday–Saturday and 12–4pm Sunday. Head to the restaurant's website to browse the full menu and make a reservation.
Locals will soon score their first taste of Sydney Tower's multimillion-dollar food and drink makeover, with the first of three impressive new venues set to open its doors in a matter of weeks. First announced back in February, the Trippas White Group's $12-million redevelopment will see the creation of a new three-level bar and restaurant precinct for the famous CBD building. And we now know what's in store, with the company today revealing more about its plans for the three new offerings. Launching first, on Friday, September 25, is Infinity at Sydney Tower: an upscale restaurant replacing the former 360 Bar and Dining on Level 1. Under new Head Chef Mike Dierlinger (The Bridge Room), it's set to plate up a modern Australian menu fusing local produce with international flavours and technique. Dierlinger will draw on his experience working at Michelin-starred restaurants across the globe, to deliver a menu of elegant fare "crafted with an international twist". And you can expect a pretty flash setting to match, as the venue serves up those stunning revolving views across the city and its surrounds. [caption id="attachment_782344" align="alignnone" width="1920"] An artist's impression of Infinity[/caption] Dierlinger is also helping to guide the culinary offering of fellow Sydney Tower newcomer, Bar 83, which is also opening on September 25. Housed up on Level 3, a soaring 83 floors above street level, this one is set to be the city's highest drinking destination. It'll take the form of a luxury cocktail lounge and bar, also rocking some pretty spectacular views — till 2am on Friday and Saturday. The lounge will have a retro vibe with white and red circular seats, gold banquettes, metallic lights and art deco mirrors. Plus, it'll have some big-name talent on the floor (and behind the bar) with award-winning bartender Jenna Hemsworth (Restaurant Hubert, The Baxter Inn) stepping in as venue manager. [caption id="attachment_782937" align="alignnone" width="1920"] An artist's impression of Bar 83[/caption] Rounding out the trio will be Level 2's casual dining offering, known as SkyFeast at Sydney Tower. This one's gearing up to be a modern update on the touristy buffet of old, featuring unlimited dining options celebrating cuisines from around the world. Infinity at Sydney Tower and Bar 83 are set to open on Friday, September 25. SkyFeast will launch later this year. All three can be found at Sydney Tower, between Pitt and Castlereagh streets, Sydney CBD. Top image: Sander Dalhuisen Updated September 10, 2020.
The best documentaries have a way of transcending their subject matter, of using particular stories to explore significant human themes. Such is the case with All This Mayhem, the first theatrical effort from director Eddie Martin. Although ostensibly set in the world of professional skateboarding, the film is in fact a deeply personal portrait of brothers Tas and Ben Pappas — the Melbourne-born siblings who helped reinvigorate the sport, only to fall victims to the perils of their spectacular rise to fame. "This is the challenge, getting people [to] realise that it's not just a skate film," Martin told us. "For us, it's a story about brothers that just happens to be set in the world of skating. They're Greek boys, and it is like a Greek tragedy in a sense." The film begins with the siblings as teenagers, and chronicles their journey from a skate ramp in Prahran, Melbourne to becoming the two highest ranked skateboarders in the world. But with the success came money, and drugs, and soon the two brothers began throwing their good fortune away. Martin intercuts archival footage with a series of interviews with Tas, who speaks with devastating candour about the duo's fall from grace — one that culminated in his younger brother's tragic suicide in 2007 and his own incarceration for drug smuggling the following year. Now, after successful screenings at local film festivals, along with a recent UK premiere at the prestigious Sheffield Doc/Fest, All This Mayhem has hit Australian cinema screens. https://youtube.com/watch?v=8wDiszmA2o8 Just getting on camera was a huge act of trust "As a teenager I used to skate at Prahran Skate Park, and that's where I first met the boys," remembers Martin. "Then I stopped skating and we parted ways, but I still saw Ben around socially … then when he passed, that was obviously a huge shock for everyone. No one saw that coming." After Ben's death, the Pappas family was approached by a group of documentary filmmakers, but Tas wasn't happy with the direction they wanted to take the film. "They had approached Tas, who had said no, but they were still moving forward, and it just felt really exploitative," says Martin. "So we got ourselves motivated to go and talk to Tas, to try and do it properly." "Tas and Ben are incredible characters," Martin continues. "They've got a lot of heart and a lot of humour, and I knew Tas had the presence to carry the film. Obviously he had trust issues because of what had happened with that project … so it was just a process of making sure that everyone felt comfortable and that we were all on the same page and doing it for the right reasons." They don't shy away from rock bottom Since his release from prison, Pappas has slowly returned to skating, while steering clear of the temptations of his former life. As he tells it, part of his reason for wanting to do the documentary was as a way of reaching out to his estranged children in the United States. "I had to bear my soul, so my kids could see who I truly am … hopefully they'll see it one day and want to come find me," Pappas says. "Eddie's been a godsend. He's very understanding. He knows how sensitive the material is." Despite their friendship, Martin doesn't pull any punches when depicting the depths the brothers fell to. "We lived like pirates," says Pappas, looking back. "I didn't think about tomorrow. I didn't think about it [as a] career, or that my days were numbered … once I became number one, it was the best time in the world, but I remember thinking 'now what?' So then I really got right stuck into the drugs. I tried for years to get off them, but then I'd end up back on them even harder every time I relapsed." "It's like ripping open old wounds," he continues. "Sometimes I can watch the doco and it means nothing. And then other times I'll watch it and I'll find I'm depressed for days afterwards. Watching my little brother go all gaunt and then die … it wasn't really my brother, in the end." Mercy is the message "We've been blown away by people's response to the film," says Martin. "The response from the exhibitors has been so strong in the UK that they're going to bring it out on 30 screens, which is huge for an Australian film, let alone a doco." When asked about the positive response, Pappas says it feels "undeserved." At the same time, he's pleased by the prospect that his story might help others. "I've got a lot of regret, and I don't really esteem myself too highly with a lot of the stuff that I've done," he says. "But people seem to be forgiving. God is merciful, I've started learning that. If I've been shown this much mercy, I sort of have to try and help some kids who are going the wrong way." All This Mayhem opens on July 10 exclusive to Cinema Nova in Melbourne and Dendy Newtown in Sydney. Read our review here.
If you, like us, long to spend every evening in the cinema but also need to preserve your doubloons to pay rent, this is the competition for you. To celebrate the release of Suburbicon, we're giving away 104 double passes to an early screening of the film. Suburbicon, just to pique your interest, is a film about dirty deeds happening in idyllic 1950s suburban America. In true Clooney style, it's not heavy, but more a dark comedy (that would be the influence of the Coen brothers, with whom he co-wrote the film). Matt Damon and Julianne Moore play a family who get in over their heads with with mob and are forced to navigate their way through some comically dark situations. They're supported by Josh Brolin and Oscar Isaac, all set against a vintage backdrop. Even though it's a little heretic to put George Clooney (silver fox and everyone's favourite Nespresso advocate – sorry Penelope Cruz) behind a camera, instead of dancing in front of it, the man has directing chops. And a double pass (for you and a lucky date) will let you watch his latest offering before the rest of Australia at the EVENT cinema on George Street at 6.30pm on October 25. Truly, a very swanky way to spend a Wednesday night. To enter, see details below. Suburbicon is out in Australian cinemas from Thursday, October 26. [competition]640995[/competition]
Fining guests for posting bad reviews of your Vanderbilt-built hotel? Might want to think twice on that poorly-formed brainwave and avoid giving internet reviewers a reason to unite. Union Street Guest House in Hudson, New York is doing exactly that. The Rockefeller/Vanderbilt estate hastily took down a controversial rule from its own website yesterday, according to Huffington Post. The super dumb, money-grabbing rule charged wedding guests (primarily the newlyweds themselves) for any bad reviews posted on review websites like Yelp and Trip Advisor. Yep. Apparently, as pointed out by the initial New York Post story on Monday, couples holding their wedding at the USGH would see a sneaky $500 deducted from their security deposit for each thumbs down posted online by their guests. After a few WTF inquiries, the hotel took to Facebook and pulled the ol' 'it was all a joke' card to quash the backlash, but then mysteriously that post went missing too. "The policy regarding wedding fines was put on our site as a tongue-in-cheek response to a wedding many years ago," read the Facebook post. "It was meant to be taken down and certainly was never enforced." Although it's no longer (obviously) up on the hotel's website, Business Insider snapped it up before it was lost to the ages. Here's what the rule read, seriously: If you have booked the Inn for a wedding or other type of event anywhere in the region and given us a deposit of any kind for guests to stay at USGH there will be a $500 fine that will be deducted from your deposit for every negative review of USGH placed on any internet site by anyone in your party and/or attending your wedding or event. Although the team attempted to put out the fire, the sparks had already flown. Over 500 angry reviewers threw the hotel major shade with the lowest possible rating, again and again and again. Although sites like Yelp delete reviews who haven't actually stayed in the venue up for review, the slams are still coming for USGH: Now Union Street Guest House's rating looks like this: Yikes. Think before you joke-fine. Via Business Insider, Huffington Post and New York Post.
If you've been dying to put that part of your mind which is great at cryptic crosswords and problem-solving games to work, then we've got some good news. Australia's largest escape room complex has just launched its twisty self into Sydney. Rediscover the highs and lows of teamwork (remember group assignments?) by picking a group of clever mates — you can be brutal — and rolling down to Glebe's MYST to give one of its challenges a go. You'll have your pick of three themed rooms — an ancient tomb, pirates or vampires — all with multiple rooms within them. You and your mates will be immersed in a world that isn't your own and will be quickly reminded of the beauty of teamwork — either you all escape or none of you will. MYST also features a fully immersive three-hour theatre experience, set in an ancient palace during the Qiang Dynasty. MYST is already open if you're ready to start cracking some codes, but it's also hosting a launch party on Friday, May 31. Tickets cost $15 per person and include beer, wine and canapés. There'll also be a DJ, plus a tour and souvenir key chain thrown in, too. You certainly won't be wanting to escape that quite yet — brainwork is for later. The MYST Launch Night Party kicks off at 5pm on Friday, May 31. To purchase tickets, head this way.
