Everyone loves heading overseas for a holiday, but no one likes spending more time actually getting from point A to point B than they absolutely have to. So, before the pandemic grounded international getaways from Australia for the better part of two years, Qantas had been working to make stopovers a thing of the past — introducing direct flights from Perth to London, and exploring the possibility of doing the same from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. While those non-stop east coast legs are currently on hold, the Aussie airline has just announced a new direct trip — and the only flight that'll connect Australia to continental Europe. Between June and October 2022, the carrier will fly return from Perth to Rome three times a week. And yes, that timing is 100-percent aimed at letting Australians take full advantage of European summer holidays. The new flights will technically end and begin in Sydney, with a stopover in Perth — and they'll be more than three hours faster than the current quickest travel time from Australia to Rome. That means fewer hours spent in transit, and more to actually soak in Italy. It also means spending a big unbroken block of time in the air, which still sounds a bit like science fiction after so long without international travel. If that's your 2022 plans sorted — why just have an Australian summer when you can enjoy Europe's warmest season as well? — tickets for the new route have gone on sale, starting from $1785 return. The Sydney–Perth–Rome flights will debut on Wednesday, June 22, and are currently scheduled to run until Thursday, October 6. And, if you're keen to head elsewhere on the continent, you'll be able to use Rome as a connection point to fly to 16 other European destinations, including Athens, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Nice, Madrid and Paris — and 15 spots in Italy, Milan and Venice among them. Also, if you fancy flying into Rome but coming home from London, or vice versa, Qantas will let you combine the two direct routes on the one return ticket. Qantas' new Australia–Rome direct flights will fly from Wednesday, June 22–Thursday, October 6. For more information, or to book tickets, head to the airline's website.
Australian label Nique has a pretty simple ethos: statement through simplicity. The brand has been delivering luxury basics in the Australian fashion space for more than 20 years. Combining clean lines with premium fabrics and minimal shapes and silhouettes, Nique bucks the traditional notions of gender and age and hopes to inspire people to play with fashion to find their signature style. The goal is simply to help people find the right clothing that helps them feel confident and comfortable, so you can expect monochromatic designs and well-fitting wardrobe staples that simply make you feel good.
If you're sick of buying tops that don't quite fit, you may want to consider investing in custom-made t-shirts. The sustainable basics label makes one thing and one thing only — really comfy, tailor-made men's and women's tees in every colour. And, best of all, you end up with ones that actually fit correctly and last longer. With a bricks-and-mortar shop in Haymarket's Steam Mill Lane, Citizen Wolf has a local and ethical approach to clothes-making. It exclusively uses local materials and manufacturing services, buying all of its fabric — cotton, organic cotton and Merino wool — from a series of ethically accredited mills in Melbourne and with every single garment made in a micro-factory in Darlinghurst. Plus, it makes every piece to order, meaning there's no unsold inventory going to landfill. So, you can pick up quality threads and feel good about it, too. In an era of fast fashion and temporary trends, Citizen Wolf is undeniably going against the grain — and its proving less certainly is more.
By now, we all know that plenty of streaming platforms are constantly vying for our eyeballs. We know that those services boast always-expanding catalogues of movies and TV shows, too. And, we're well aware that picking what to watch when you're settling down on the couch is rarely a simple exercise. So, while the fact that Australia's latest streaming service features 20,000 episodes and films is definitely great news, it won't simplify your viewing choices anytime soon. Australians now have another streamer to choose from, with new streaming service Paramount+ launching on Wednesday, August 11. The platform actually rebrands the existing 10 All Access streaming service, with parent company Viacom CBS Australia and New Zealand bringing it into line with the global Paramount+ subscription offering that launched in America in March this year. Paramount+'s big drawcard? Its library of titles from Paramount Pictures — obviously — as well as from Showtime, CBS, BET Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, the Smithsonian Channel and Sony Pictures Television. So, if you're the kind of viewer that loves rewatching your favourite flicks, you'll be able to head to the service to stream movies from the Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Godfather, Mission: Impossible, Indiana Jones, Transformers, Jackass, Batman and Dark Knight Trilogy franchises. Plus, the likes of Austin Powers in Goldmember, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Grease and Good Will Hunting will also be available on the service, all as part of the $8.99 per month subscription fee. On the TV front, existing series like The Good Fight, The Twilight Zone, Why Women Kill, Charmed and SpongeBob SquarePants will find a new home. Paramount+ is also betting big on new television shows being a big drawcard, so you can expect to add a heap of titles to your must-watch list — including revenge-fuelled miniseries Two Weeks To Live, starring Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams; Leonardo, a historical drama about Leonardo da Vinci; and Anne Boleyn, with Jodie Turner-Smith (Queen & Slim) as the titular figure. If you're feeling nostalgic, there's also the revival of Nickelodeon's iCarly, following the characters now they're adults; the return of Rugrats, this time with computer-generated animation; and Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years, which gives everyone's favourite absorbent, yellow and porous character an origin story. New Mark Wahlberg-starring movie Infinite, which sees him play a man haunted by memories of a life he didn't live, also launches in Australia with the service — and as does new seasons of Five Bedrooms, Why Women Kill and Evil. And, before August is out, you'll be able to stream the Nancy Drew TV series, the latest season of In the Dark, all of Ziwe and Coyote, six-part satire The Bite and horror anthology Monsterland as well. Down the track, Paramount+ will also be home to the new Dexter revival; the Chiwetel Ejiofor (The Old Guard)-starring TV adaptation of The Man Who Fell to Earth; The First Lady, which sees Viola Davis (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) play Michelle Obama; and page-to-screen adaptation The Luminaries. New Australian drama Last King of The Cross is also destined for the platform, as are Melbourne-shot comedy Spreadsheet and coming-of-age feature film 6 Festivals. The list goes on, including spy drama Lioness, a TV adaptation of video game Halo and The Offer, a scripted drama about on the making of The Godfather. Paramount+ is available in Australia from Wednesday, August 11, rebranding the existing 10 All Access streaming platform, with subscriptions costing $8.99. For further information, head to the Paramount+ website.
If you've got a mate in your circle with a weakness for vintage fashion, don't spend any more time trawling through eBay. You'll get the right old-school pressie at Route 66. Among the plethora of well-loved objects here are cowperson belts etched with names like 'Cherry' and 'Dub', leather fringe jackets, bandanas, floral skirts and loads of denim. Route 66 started life in 1988, on Crown Street, Surry Hills, before moving to King Street, Newtown, earlier this year. It's now open seven days a week — making it perfect for last-minute gift buying panic attacks.
FBi Radio has been championing Sydney music arts and culture for two decades at this point — celebrating its 20th year on air full-time this year. One of the many ways that the beloved community radio station does this is through its annual Sydney Music Arts and Culture Awards, or SMAC Awards. These awards are back for 2023, celebrating the best this city has offered up over the last 12 months. The categories for the accolades range from Record and Song of the Year to Best Arts Program and Best Eats, with nominees including beloved and boundary-pushing musicians such as Julia Jacklin, Glo, Skeleten and Collarbones through to artists like Billy Bain and Feras Shaheen; events like Swarm, Carriageworks Nights and Soft Centre; and restaurants young and old such as Midden, Yeodongsik, Self Raised Bread Shoppe and Parami. [caption id="attachment_859754" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ziggy Ramo, Emma Pegrum[/caption] The awards are voted on by the public, but voting is now closed. Whether you had your say or not, if you still want to get involved in the awards, the ceremony is open to everyone for the second year running. Head along to the Powerhouse Museum on Thursday, November 9 as part of the museum's Powerhouse Late series and you can watch all of the awards being handed out, as well as performances from some of the nominees and DJ sets from FBi family — all for free. The lineup of performers features Record of the Year nominee Ziggy Ramo; Vv Pete, who's nominated for Song of the Year and Best Live Act; and DIY rock band Carnations, who are gunning for the title of Next Big Thing. You'll also be able to watch all of the nominations for Best Music Video in a separate exhibition area of the museum — plus there will be drinks from Young Henrys, Yulli's, Fellr and Heaps Normal, with Yulli's also in charge of the night's food. [caption id="attachment_909197" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Powerhouse Late, Destination NSW[/caption] Top image: Powerhouse Late, Tim Da Rin.
One of modern art's most argued-about works has been sold. Tracey Emin's famously debated 1999 work My Bed went under the hammer for the very first time, complete with dirty sheets, cigarette butts and condoms — and taking away a cheeky £2.2 million. Emin, who showed up to the auction yesterday, gained notoriety when her work Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963–1995 debuted at a 1997 Charles Saatchi's Sensation exhibition at London's Royal Academy. After getting drunk, going on national TV and getting all sweary, she'd release My Bed two years later to colossal debate. One of modern art's classic "Is this art? What is art? Is this bag of wrenches art?" generators, My Bed was expected to sell between £800,000 and £1.2 million (roughly $1.4 million to $2.2 million) at auction — instead raising the bar to £2.2 million. With the buyer's premium, My Bed really went for £2,546,500; a world record for Emin at auction. Francis Bacon's Study For Head Of Lucian Freud was also put under the hammer, fetching a quiet little price of £10.2 million. The highly-scrutinised installation is a recreation of Emin's actual bed during a rough time — the artist spent days in the bed during relationship difficulties and dealt with suicidal thoughts. Scattered with paraphenalia from the artist's own bedroom (condoms, menstrual-stained underwear, slippers), My Bed caused controversy not for the collective sum of confrontingly personal items but for the stains on the sheets. Gallery-goers saw the traces of bodily secretion as a little too human. "It's a self-portrait, but not one that people would like to see," Emin said. "I took everything out of my bedroom and made it into an installation," Emin said. "And when I put it into a white space, for some people it became quite shocking. But I just thought it looked like a damsel in distress, like a woman fainting or something, needing to be helped." The new owners (who haven't been revealed yet) might be able to recreate the work of two performance artists, Yuan Chai and Jian Jun Xi, who jumped on Emin's bed in a performance creatively titled Two Naked Men Jump into Tracey's Bed. Most interestingly will be the conditions under which the new owner must actually display My Bed. Previously (when not displayed in a gallery setting) the work has been on display at the home of its owner Charles Saatchi. As The Guardian reports, the work — a flurry of seemingly random miscellany — has very meticulous installation instructions. "It's a very complicated piece to put together," Director of Cadogan Tate Fine Art Stephen Glynn says. "It comes with a dossier of photographs of every object, and a list of where exactly everything needs to go." A bit like an Ikea instruction manual, then? "A bit. You're certainly trying to make sure that everything goes in the right place." Displayed at the Tate Modern in 1999, My Bed was shortlisted for the Turner Prize that year. Saatchi can now count its sweet, sweet Emin pennies, with proceeds going straight back to the Saatchi Gallery — the team are moving to make the gallery have free admission. Via BBC, Reuters and The Guardian.
As much as lingering over a long, multi-course dinner is one of life's great pleasures, sometimes a fast feast is a good feast. That's especially true when you have a jam-packed Vivid program to check out – from roller skating on glowing wheels while snacking on plant-based delights to catching Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally in conversation. To that end, Mexican restaurant Esteban has put together a Pre-Vivid Fire Fast Feast. Every evening during Vivid, you'll have one hour to work your way through three delicious courses before scurrying off. Settle in with salmon tartare with salsa macha, asao nori and crispy potato, before moving onto a taco filled with pork belly, lathered in pineapple-habanero salsa and sprinkled with crispy onion. Your third and final course is a butcher's choice steak with chipotle butter and potatoes with jalapeño crema. The set menu is $65 per head, and available at 5pm and 5.15pm only. Bookings are available online. Images: Leigh Griffiths / Steve Woodburn.
Taking inspiration from Hong Kong and its melting pot of cuisines, Honkas' describes itself, not inaccurately, as "pan Asian dining". You can start with Chinese bao — filled with Korean gochujang, cauliflower and crispy shallots ($11 for two), perhaps — move on to Japanese-style fried chicken ($18) served with wasabi, kimchi fried rive ($15), Sichuan-style squid ($18) and even prawn toast ($13) with Vietnamese slaw. Bigger dishes follow trend, too, and include the likes of pork belly ($27) with lotus root and steamed barramundi ($26). Located in the heart of Kings Cross, in a space previously home to bar and nightclub Favela, there's no live music at Honkas, but there are plenty of drinks. Lychee martinis ($18), new york sours ($19) and a sake-infused PoPo Trio ($17) sit alongside a compact lineup of local and international wines. The bar also offers bottomless brunches on weekends, dumpling making classes and free food for pooches. Yep, when you go in to eat, your pooch receives a free gluten-free healthy treat, potentially a sweet potato tart with peanut butter.
If a great getaway to a beach, island or faraway city can be life-changing, what does a journey to space do? So ponders Constellation, among other questions. This new Apple TV+ series, which started its eight-part first season on Wednesday, February 21, is another of the platform's beloved mysteries — see also: Criminal Record, The Changeling, The Crowded Room, Hijack and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters since mid-2023 alone, and that list isn't exhaustive — with no shortage of queries floating through its tense frames. Inquiries are sparked instantly, from the moment that a mother in a cabin in northern Sweden, where there's snow as far as the eye can see but a frost infecting more than just the temperature, leaves her pre-teen daughter to follow a voice. The screams that she seeks out are yelling "mama!" — and what they mean, and why she's abandoning one girl to find another, is just one of the matters that Constellation interrogates. The woman is Jo Ericsson, as played by Noomi Rapace with the maternal devotion that also marked her turn in Lamb, plus the protective instincts that were key in Prometheus and Alien: Covenant as well — alongside the scrutiny and adaptability that was evident in her work in You Won't Be Alone, and the fierceness that helped bring her to fame as Lisbeth Salander in the original Swedish The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo films. Jo is an astronaut, and Europe's representative on the International Space Station when Constellation jumps backwards from its opening icy horror to a different kind of terror. Not long out from returning back to earth, she FaceTimes with her nine-year-old daughter Alice (Rosie and Davina Coleman, The Larkins) and husband Magnus (James D'Arcy, Oppenheimer). Then, something goes bump in the sky. Trauma leaves people changed, too; what if this incident, during which setting foot on our pale blue dot again is anything but assured, isn't the only distressing facet of travelling to the heavens? On the at-risk ISS, on a spacewalk to locate the source of the collision, Jo finds the mummified body of what looks like a 60s-era Russian cosmonaut. There'll soon be another astronaut dead inside the station, destroyed infrastructure, the first escape pod shuttling her three remaining colleagues back to terra firma and Jo left alone trying to repair the second so that she herself can alight home. Where both Gravity and Moon spring to mind in Constellation's initial space-set scenes, plus Proxima in the show's focus on mother-daughter connections (Interstellar, Ad Astra and First Man have dads covered), it's the earthbound Dark that feels like a touchstone once Jo is back among her loved ones. There's a similar moodiness to this series, a feeling that characters can't always trust what they think is plainly apparent and a certainty that nothing is simply linear about what's occurring. Her stint above the planet has made its imprint on Jo, but it's her everyday life that seems altered. Whether or not Alice can speak Swedish, the colour of the family car, if Jo can play the piano, why Magnus is chilly towards her: with each, what confronts Jo post-ISS conflicts with what she can recall prior to ascending to the station. Roscosmos' Irena Lysenko (Barbara Sukowa, Air) is also wary of her claims about spying a decades-old USSR cadaver. And the NASA equivalent, Nobel Prize-winning former Apollo astronaut Henry Caldera (Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul), is concerned only with a quantum-physics experiment that was taking place on the orbiting base, gathering data about a possible new state of matter, which Jo has no recollection of. It might appear convenient that the psychological effects of long-term space travel fuel Jo's research mission on the station, but Constellation creator and writer Peter Harness — who boasts Doctor Who, Wallander, McMafia and The War of the Worlds on his resume — could never be accused of valuing neatness over depth. Unravelling the show's debut season with patience and deliberation, and with Joseph Cedar (Our Boys), Oliver Hirschbiegel (Unwanted) and Michelle MacLaren (an Emmy-winner for Breaking Bad) directing, he's dedicated to ensuring that the series intensely ruminates on the liminal. Constellation is about disorientation and transition, about the space where being too much of something and not enough of another smash and clash, and about coping with realising that life is always what happens in-between — as well as the fact that sometimes that truth applies more literally than others. As a thriller and a mystery, Constellation names Jo's daughter cannily; tumbling down the rabbit hole is a solid parallel. Viewers won't spy cakes and bottles labelled "eat me" and "drink me", but there are pills and supplements. No one goes chasing a walking, talking white bunny; however, a rabbit toy does feature, and clinging onto what Jo knows is real is just as elusive. While there's no Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Bud Caldera (also Banks) mirrors much about Henry, except that he's now working the sci-fi convention circuit. And although cries of "off with her head" are absent, the dismissals from those around Jo about what's happening with her perception is its own equivalent. Alice in Wonderland comparisons were always going to fit a story about curiouser and curiouser minds pursuing wild adventures, then endeavouring to reclaim their footing. At times, especially in remote lodgings in freezing woodland, the dark fairy-tale vibe beats stronger. But again, even when Constellation dances with fantasy like it's clutching onto a waltz partner — and does the same with eeriness as well — the series never stops being grounded in human bonds, emotions, yearnings and existential concerns. As the reality of both being alive and facing mortality, the urge to understand our place in the cosmos and the sheer enormity of the universe thrum throughout the show regardless of whether it's in space or on land, each is always brought back to people, rather than remaining mere concepts. Rapace, Banks, both Coleman sisters and Sukowa are especially instrumental in anchoring Constellation's twists, turns and big-thinking ideas in the show's characters — and making it so compelling. It isn't just as slickly made as Apple TV+'s fellow excellent recent sci-fi series Severance and Silo, then, and as gripping in its mysteries, but as rivetingly acted. Banks, doing double duty after over a decade as Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul's Mike Ehrmantraut, is particularly emblematic: that there's a chasm between what we want to comprehend and what's around us gleams in his eyes as both Henry and Bud, while his twin parts equally demonstrate how differently it glints from person to person. Check out the trailer for Constellation below: Constellation streams via Apple TV+ from Wednesday, February 21. Read our interview with Jonathan Banks.
Ah, Sriracha. Possibly the only condiment with a true cult following. From ramen to lollies, it can be used on and in anything, literally. Devotes can’t live without that so hot but so good burn that leaves mouths on fire, noses runny and eyes watery. Well, people, there’s some bad news. The major Sriracha factory in California is partially shutting down. All because the citizens of Irwindale couldn’t take a little heat. Residents complained of heartburn, inflamed asthma and even nosebleeds that were caused by a "spicy odour" coming from the factory. They took Huy Fong Foods to court, where a local judge ordered the manufacturer to stop doing, er, whatever they were doing to cause the stench. The ruling does not order the company to stop operating entirely, nor specify the types of actions that are required. Basically, they can go back to making their spicy sauce once they get that damn smell under wraps. The best part: the judge conceded to the "lack of credible evidence" linking the apparent health problems to the odour, but said that it seems to be "extremely annoying, irritating and offensive to the senses warranting consideration as a public nuisance." Weeeak. So what does this mean for Sriracha lovers? Well, because Huy Fong uses only the freshest chillies in its secret recipe, the fiery little guys must be ground within days of harvest. This process, which happens only two or three months out of the year, has fortunately been completed. The bottling process goes on year round, but a partial shutdown of this factory, the largest of two, could leave the sauce to spoil. Since the company already struggles to keep up with its growing global demand, this is no bueno. Huy Fong’s founder, David Tran, claims he’s never raised the wholesale price for the sauce in over 30 years, but that might have to change. So you might want to think about making a supermarket trip or two, like soon. Image via ilovememphis. Story via Quartz.
Usually, February is the month that gets hearts all aflutter. But if you're in the mood for romance this March and April, Sydney is about to welcome a new pop-up museum on that very topic. Called The Museum of Love, it's the latest venture from the folks behind the sweet-themed Sugar Republic. Expect the same kind of photogenic setup, but this time swapping out lollies galore for pink hues and oh-so-many hearts. Remember the cartoon way of representing romance, where animated figures see hearts in front of their eyes as they go weak at the knees? That's what you'll be seeing, too, if you head along to the three-level installation. Open from Thursday–Sunday each week during its seven-week season, The Museum of Love will fill a warehouse with words about love, tokens of love, neon signs to fit the theme, rosy-coloured streamers, teddy bears and more. Yes, there'll be a heart-shaped ball pit that you can hop into, because of course there will be. Among the pieces of art and lovestruck backdrops, plenty of different facets of types of love will be covered — including first crushes, weddings, platonic relationships with your mates, family bonds, self-love and heartbreak. From the 'rose-tinted glasses room' to the life-sized wedding cake, it has all been developed by Creative Nation, the aforementioned team behind Sugar Republic, in conjunction with emerging Sydney artists Jade Goodwin and Madeleine Golden. Other highlights span a wall filled with scents of romance, a mirrored room so you can adore your own reflection, a confetti shower, and a swing surrounded by flowers that's designed for attendees and their best mates. There's also a Las Vegas-style Chapel O' Love, and you can play the 'Perfect Pair' TV game show as well. Or, walk through the Teddy Bear Tunnel, take an awkward family portrait, then settle in at the Heartbreak Cafe. If you're keen to fall head over heels for the pop-up, each ticket gets you an hour inside the museum, and costs $35. Also, The Museum of Love is the first attraction as part a year-long Sydney program — so it seems that you can look forward to other yet-to-be-revealed pop-ups to follow.
Carriageworks will house one of the most vibrant exhibitions you'll see anywhere this summer when Until by American artist Nick Cave opens on Friday, November 23. A play on the phrase 'innocent until proven guilty' — or, rather, 'guilty until proven innocent' — Until addresses topical issues of gun violence, gender politics and race relations in America. It represents the largest solo presentation for both Nick Cave professionally and for Carriageworks to date. Carriageworks joined creative forces with the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art to ensure this exciting — and completely free — exhibition became a reality for Australian audiences after four years in the making. The unmissable centrepiece is the dazzling suspended installation 'Crystal Cloudscape', a five-tonne feature that combines an eclectic mix of crystals, beads and found objects. For audiences to get a better look at the American culture references peppered throughout this massive work, including black-faced lawn jockeys and vintage whisky decanters, four nearby ladders lead to the gallery's ceiling. Moving further through the exhibition, there's a diverse array of immersive spaces to explore with all manner of kinetic installations. These include a dreamlike 14-channel video work, a towering wall of iridescent metallic party streamers thrust into life by fan blowers and the 'Beaded Cliff Wall' — a soaring work assembled with millions of plastic hair pony beads. To demonstrate Nick Cave's renowned support for art that empowers communities, Carriageworks is hosting a three-month program to accompany the exhibition. This lineup of events will respond directly to Until through visual arts, dance and live music alongside panel discussions and community forums. Nick Cave: Until will run from Friday, November 23, 2018 to Sunday, March 3, 2019. Image: Zan Wimberley, 2018.
Sofia Coppola is not the first director that comes to mind when you think Disney. In fact, with her consistent focus on complicated and dreamy sadness — see Lost in Translation, The Virgin Suicides and Somewhere — she seems like the perfect buzzkill to all the joy and greatness that Sebastian the crab worked for all those years ago. Nonetheless, this divisive filmmaker is currently in negotiations to direct a live-action adaptation of the classic Hans Christian Anderson tale. Deadline reports that the script has already gone through multiple drafts from Kelly Marcel (Fifty Shades of Grey) and Abi Morgan (Shame) and is currently in the hands of Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands). With that in mind, it's safe to assume the film will in fact be a darkly sexual story that may or may not feature either Johnny Depp in BDSM gear or Michael Fassbender in no clothes. Although this will Coppola's first feature where she didn't write the screenplay, it's easy to see how her brand of 'beautiful and bothered young things' will work seamlessly with the original story. Ariel is, after all, a girl with problems. She's besotted with a boy she can't have, she's split between two worlds, and the story finishes with her taking the less than lovely form of sea foam (I'd warn for spoilers but, hey, you've had over 100 years to read it). As ridiculous as it first sounds, we're actually excited by the news. Now all that's left is to decide whether Kirsten Dunst or Scarlett Johansson would make the better hipster Ariel.
Co-owners Ciara Doran and Eoin Daniels are no strangers to The Rocks, having opened whisky bar The Doss House on the same street back in March 2018. Now, they've shifted their focus to another beloved spirit — gin. Enter from George Street and make your way through the two-story heritage building (plus a hidden courtyard), before pulling up a seat at the five-metre-long bar. The stools provide the perfect vantage point to take in a show of cocktail mixology or have a gander at the shelves brimming with bottles. Sample more than 100 juniper blends sourced from all corners of the globe as you sip your way through a carefully curated cocktail menu that features an impressive variety of house-made ingredients. [caption id="attachment_834050" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Steven Woodburn.[/caption] "The silver lining from the last three months of lockdown is that we've been able to use the time to really refine our cocktails," said Frank Mac's Beverage Manager Daniel Strahand (The Doss House, Mary's, Spice Temple). "I've spent days perfecting syrups, cordials and bitters." Highlights of the extensive drink menu includes the Shillings, perfect for fans of an apple and lychee martini. The concoction is a mixture of JJ Whitley gin, salted caramel, and surprise surprise, apple and lychee. The Mac Martini is another stand-out — the vesper-style martini is made with dry gin and an infusion of lemon myrtle, kaffir lime and bay leaves. It's their signature cocktail for a reason. Since it's never a good idea to drink on an empty stomach, the venue also offers a food menu that's short but sweet. It features various plates that are ideal for sharing, like oozy burrata with crusty sourdough and cheese boards paired with chunks of organic dark chocolate and seasonal market fruit. For something more substantial, guests can order a panini packed to the brim with truffle-infused sopressa (Italian aged salami) or a roasted vegetable pie made by Infinity Bakery especially for the venue. The dish is paired with a traditional Irish curry sauce, a nod to Ciara's great uncle Frank Mac who was always to be found at the centre of his local village bar. [caption id="attachment_834051" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Steven Woodburn.[/caption] The historic sandstone walls, dating back to the 1840s, tie in seamlessly with the cosy and intimate ambiance of the downstairs space. Vintage leather banquettes and velvet armchairs furnish the area, with paperback novels and candles dotting the tops of the low wooden tables. With its endless gin list, crafted cocktails and heritage charm, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better place for a cheeky tipple than Frank Mac's. Frank Mac's is open at 83 George Street, The Rocks. It is open from 3pm–12am on Wednesday & Thursdays, 3pm–1am Friday & Saturdays and 3pm–12am Sundays.
Transforming the Cellblock Theatre into a lonely-hearts club, Theatre Kantanka's CLUBSINGULARITY is a contemporary cabaret with a scientific twist. Attempting to answer — through song and dance, of course — the complex question of "why (and if) we're alone in the universe," the long-standing Sydney troupe will be exploring speed of light dating, along with the the strange, wondrous workings of the cosmos. Their ideal audience? In their words, "anyone who has fallen back to Earth from a broken heart." Theatre Kantanka (Bargain Garden, Missing the Bus to David Jones) have been around since 1995, with a rotating roster of some pretty awesome experimental performers like Katia Molino (Belvoir Street's I'm Your Man) and Arky Michael, who you may have caught in Kate Gaul's Penelope last year. If you're already a devoted fan, you'll recall their fondness for using non-traditional spaces to their advantage. And if you haven't yet been introduced, this could be the start of a beautiful, if unusual, relationship. CLUBSINGULARITY takes place as part of Performance Space's PSpace Social along with Micro Parks and NightTime: Talent Quest. See the Performance Space website for more details. https://youtube.com/watch?v=8yIXjsK_s_o
UPDATE: DECEMBER 16, 2019 — Since publication of this article, the doughnut supplier has changed. Complimentary doughnuts will now come courtesy of Woofy's, not Donut Papi. Want to get your hot little hands on a doughnut...for free? Then read on and clear your schedule for this Thursday, December 19. Japanese retailer Uniqlo is opening its eighth NSW store in Castle Towers, and Woofy's is joining in the fun by giving away a heap of its holey baked goods. When the doors open at 10am on Thursday, complimentary doughnuts will be handed out to the first people through the door. If you're at the centre to battle through the last of your Christmas shopping, the baked treat will hopefully give you the energy to do so. The grand opening festivities also involve freebies of the sartorial variety. On launch day, Uniqlo Castle Towers will have special offers on a swag of men's, women's and kids' clothes, while the first 500 customers who spend over $100 in store will each score a free Uniqlo cooler bag (perfect for all those summer picnics). The new outpost will also play host to the complete range of Uniqlo's LifeWear apparel.
It's one of the disappointments of opera in Sydney that once there, you can no longer see the Sydney Opera House. That all changes for one month of the year, when Handa Opera on the Harbour sets up at Mrs Macquarie's Point for a floating outdoor opera with an eye-popping view of Sydney's natural and artificial bounties, including the Opera House and Harbour Bridge beyond. The program of three operas — first La Traviata, then Carmen and now Madama Butterfly — has proved monumentally successful. At a time when opera is struggling to attract audiences, Opera on the Harbour not only sells tickets but lures in thousands of opera newbies. You don't need to understand opera to understand what makes the occasion great. Each of the three shows have been excellent, but Madama Butterfly is the best yet. Modern Spanish opera interpreters La Fura del Baus have put their own spin on things, not necessarily striving to be bigger and better than what's gone before but simply striving to be different. The set is in many ways more subtle. The 'spectacle' here is in metres of billowing red silk, in city lights shining through a mini forest of real bamboo and in glowing inflatable orbs — the sun and moon — orbiting the water stage. It's beautiful, inventive and stylish, and it complements the surroundings more than ever before. The spectacle is also in the act of construction; in the extended interval, you can either leave your seat for a glass of sparkling and Japanese snacks on the waterside promenade, or you can stay where you are and watch as an entire house is built on the green by cranes for act two. So: ambitious. Madama Butterfly is, as seems to be the way in opera, a story of tragic love where the woman has to die at the end. It's a relatively simple and short three acts. The relationship between Japanese teenager Madama Butterfly, or Ciocio-san (Hiromi Omura), and her American sweetheart, BF Pinkerton (Georgy Vasiliev), is one defined by colonialism and exploitation (here, it's modernised quite gracefully and recalls a mail-order bride-esque scenario). For Pinkerton, Butterfly is an exotic diversion but not a 'forever' wife. For Butterfly, Pinkerton is her idol, and she waits three faithful years for his return to Nagasaki, even when it's obvious to everyone else that he's abandoned her. He doesn't know that he has a son; she doesn't know that he has a new wife. She is so patriotic for her new country she wears Daisy Dukes and an American flag singlet. Tragic indeed. Although the orchestra is locked away beneath the stage, there is still ample room to appreciate the music of Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Though it doesn't contain the familiar 'hits' of something like Carmen, it's an interesting and character-filled score inflected by Japanese folk melodies, and it is sung with great feeling and resonance by the leads. Opera on the Harbour is not a cheap night out, but at least you can be assured that even the 'cheap seats' (C reserve is $99, D reserve $79) afford a good, unobstructed view. The event has so far only guaranteed funding for these first three years. Odds are, it'll find more, but if it doesn't, you'll be extra-kicking yourself that you missed out this time. Image by James Morgan. https://youtube.com/watch?v=xqVhf90t_5g
Having a hard week? Need to get your chi sorted but also just really want a drink? Well, every Sunday you can do both — at a brewery. That's right, a brewery. Every Sunday morning, you can stretch and sip in Marrickville's Stockade Brew Co. Dubbed Beer 'n' Yoga, the guided class — held at 11am — is hosted by instructor Arabella Stevens and is aimed at a beginner to intermediate level. Fifteen bucks gets you a 60-minute yoga class followed by a free craft beer from the brewery's core range: Chop Shop Pale Ale, 8Bit IPA, Sesh Mid-Strength, Hop Slicer Grapefruit, Mr Fruju NEIPA or Duel Hoppy Lager. Brewery yoga is already a popular trend across the US craft beer scene, and Sydney has already hosted a couple of iterations of its own. The idea stems from the notion that yoga isn't about incense and austerity, but instead about finding a healthy balance in life. By 'balance', we don't mean practicing upward facing dog with a beer in one hand (although, kudos to you if you can manage that), but appreciating yoga and beer in quick succession. Bring your yoga mat, an open mind and be sure to pack your drinking hat, too.
Lighten your run with Mizuno, then lighten your spirits at the post-race Event Village. Whether you're there to beat Robert de Castella's 23-year-old record for the 10 kilometre race, blow your Personal Best out of Lake Burley Griffin or show off your onesie, the Canberra Times Fun Run team will welcome you at the starting line. Now in its 37th year, the run started as a celebration of the Times' 50th anniversary. Initially a 9.6 kilometre route starting at the Trademan's Club in Phillip, it was altered to its current 10 kilometre course in 1986 by renowned athlete Dave Cundy. There’s a 5 kilometre option for those who like to take things easy. This year, for the first time, a 14 kilometre event will form part of the program. Titled the Capital Run, it's being introduced as the City2Surf's sister run and is part of Canberra's year-long Centenary party. Parliament House, Federation Mall and Old Parliament House are all part of the landscape. Over 195 charities benefit from funds raised by participants in the Canberra Times Fun Run. Partner organisation the Heart Foundation ACT is hoping to see $75,000 worth of donations, which will go towards the continuation of the Warning Signs of a Heart Attack campaign. Runners are invited to create a fundraising webpage through Everyday Hero. Male and female winners of the the 10 kilometre and 14 kilometre races win cash prizes, with $500 going to the first place getter, $250 to the second and $125 to the third. Adidas and Rupert van Dongen are running training programmes for runners of all levels — beginners, intermediate and advanced. Early bird entry prices are available until August 23.
Sydneysiders have a new al fresco food event to add to their calendars this sunny season as some of the city's best-loved chefs come together for the inaugural EatSummer twilight market. Helmed by the team at Cambridge Markets (who also run Watsons Bay Spring Market, Rose Bay Farmers Market) and curated by food journalist Elizabeth Meryment, the event will grace the Entertainment Quarter's Heritage Park on Saturday, November 18. And it's bringing with it a drool-worthy lineup of food, drink and entertainment, headlined by a strong lineup of chefs from restaurants like Lucio's, Ume Burger, Mr Bao, Barzaari, Indu, Lotus and Anason. A dedicated 'dessert alley' will showcase six of Sydney's finest sweet-focused vendors, to be announced next month. Meanwhile, four themed bars will include a cocktail-slinging pop-up run by local craft gin distillery Archie Rose, to be enjoyed alongside EatSummer's program of live tunes, DJ sets and performances. More EatSummer dates are planned for the coming months — we'll keep you posted as they're announced. EatSummer will take place from 3–10pm on November 18, at Heritage Park, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park. Tickets are $10 and available here. Image: Ume Burger.
Movies can sometimes stick to a formula. Picture palaces showing them can do the same thing. At Moonlight Cinema, one of Australia's summer staples, that means playing Christmas films in December and romantic classics in February, for instance. Celebrating Oscar contenders in March is also on the itinerary, as the just-dropped last lineup for the event's 2023–24 season locks in. We can't know right now who'll emerge victorious at Hollywood's night of nights on Monday, March 11 Australian time, but plenty of nominees are showing throughout the month. Whether you're team Oppenheimer or Barbie, they're both on the program. So are Poor Things, The Holdovers and Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon. Perth gets Maestro, too, while Sydney and Melbourne can get drawn into the compelling drama of Palme d'Or-winner Anatomy of a Fall. While Moonlight Cinema hits up five locations each year, it winds up in Brisbane and Adelaide in February, hence the March bill is only playing in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. The details vary per city, but each will also enjoy a range of recent big-screen favourites, too, such as the Mean Girls musical, Sydney-shot rom-com Anyone But You and the sweet Timothée Chalamet (Bones and All)-led treat that is Wonka. Matthew Vaughn following up the Kingsman movies with new spy caper Argylle, Kingsley Ben-Adir (Secret Invasion) playing a reggae icon in Bob Marley: One Love and wrestling drama The Iron Claw will also get a whirl. For some retro fun, The Goonies, The Princess Bride and the OG Mean Girls are on the lineup as well. And, of course, the movies are just one part of the Moonlight Cinema experience. The setting — at Centennial Parklands in Sydney, Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, and Kings Park and Botanic Garden in Perth — is just as important. Also on offer: an official Aperol spritz bar, which is new for 2023–24. Nosh-wise, the event lets you BYO movie snacks and drinks, but the unorganised can enjoy a plethora of bites to eat onsite while reclining on bean beds. There's also a VIP section for an extra-luxe openair movie experience, plus a platinum section that levels up a night at the movies even further in Sydney and Melbourne. A beauty cart is handing out samples, too. And, dogs are welcome at all sites except Perth — there's even special doggo bean beds, and a snack menu for pooches. Moonlight Cinema 2023–24 Dates: Sydney: until Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Centennial Parklands Perth: until Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Kings Park and Botanic Garden Melbourne: until Saturday, March 30, 2024 in Royal Botanic Gardens Moonlight Cinema runs through until March 2024 in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, with dates varying per city. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the cinema's website.
As part of Carriageworks' grand reopening, a major new exhibition by Australian artist Giselle Stanborough will finally be unveiled to the public on Friday, August 7. In Cinopticon, the artist explores the performative effects of social media platforms by using searchlights, sculptures, large-scale wall diagrams and mirrored surfaces. The exhibition examines French philosopher Michel Foucault's thoughts on the theory of 'panopticon', in which the few watch and control the many. Similarly, Cinopticon considers how social media has created a society in which we're constantly observing and being observed. Within the immersive installation, Stanborough has created a "prism of self-reflection", whereby audiences will see their reflection in unpredictable ways. Internet narcissism, corporate surveillance and the manipulation of social media algorithms are just a few of the themes that the artist explores. Cinopticon was commissioned as part of Suspended Moment: The Katthy Cavaliere Fellowship, which awarded three female artists $100,000 each to present new work concurrently at Carriageworks, Mona and ACCA Melbourne. The other two warded artists are Frances Barrett (ACCA) and Sally Rees (Mona). This exhibition was physically installed back in March, but was postponed due to COVID–19 restrictions. As is typical these days, Carriageworks will be adhering to strict social distancing and contact tracing guidelines and is encourage visitors to only travel outside of peak hours. [caption id="attachment_777967" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Carriageworks - Giselle Stanborough[/caption] Cinopticon is open from 10am–5pm, Wednesday–Sunday. Images: Giselle Stanborough, Cinopticon, 2020, Carriageworks. Photo by Mark Pokorny.
One of the standout establishments of Darlinghurst's colourful cafe scene, Japanese spot Sandoitchi put itself on the city Sydney sandwich map when it opened in 2018 with a standout pork katsu sando on its menu. Succulent pork deep fried in panko served with cheese, nori, pickled carrot and tonkatsu mayo in between two crustless slices of white bread, the katsu sando was an immediate hit — and one of our favourite in the city. You'll now find that same pork katsu atop koshihikari rice on the Oxford Street shop's new dinner menu. Combining fresh seafood and traditional Japanese flavours — such as umami-packed miso, tangy yuzu and spicy szechuan — the dinner offering is available from 5.30–9.30pm, Wednesday–Friday. Seafood-lovers should look to the 'small' dishes, which include jumbo oysters, yellow fin tuna and a unique take on katsu made with Balmain bug. The mains focus on the traditional tonkatsu sets, all coming with house katsu sauce, koshihikari rice, miso soup, cabbage and white ginger dressing. Choose from the aforementioned signature pork sirloin katsu, or ones made with chicken, tofu, fish or prawns. You can complement your meal with fruit sodas and four different Teacraft teas — and follow it up with a green tea panna cotta or yuzu sorbet served with honeycomb, strawberry and fried banana. Plus, everything — apart from the king prawn katsu ($21) — is under $20, too. The cafe is only open for dinner four nights a week for now, but if you do end up swinging by during the day, you'll find another exciting new addition on the menu: truffle. Available for a limited time ('tis the season), the menu features extravagant truffled versions of the egg, prawn katsu and buttermilk fried chicken sandwiches. If you'd like to get a little creative, you can also add truffle to any dish for $15. Sandoitchi is now open for dinner from Wednesday–Saturday from 5.30–9.30pm. It's also open for breakfast and lunch from 7am–3pm Monday–Friday and 8am–3pm Saturday–Sunday.
If you're here, it's safe to say you're a bona fide movie buff. You've seen the latest blockbusters, you're in attendance at the festivals (in person or via live stream) and you're always on the lookout for the indie gems to set your gaze upon. So, this year's 70th anniversary of Melbourne International Film Festival is sure to be on your radar (and its sponsor Dropbox is gifting you something special to celebrate). The far-reaching 2022 program offers a bevy of applauded flicks from home turf and afar, and has a knock-out lineup of deep-dives with esteemed guests, premiere events and discussion panels. So, if you can't squeeze a sneaky trip to Melbourne into your August agenda, we've got just the ticket to get you a front-row seat to the action from afar — 25 of them, to be precise, because we've teamed up with Dropbox to give 25 lucky film lovers at-home double passes to attend an online MIFF Play screening of their choosing. That's right, skip the queues — and skip the shoes if you want — and microwave those kernels, because there are thrillers, dramas, rom-coms and biographies aplenty just waiting for you to watch from the comfort of your own home. Will you tune in to Lucky Peach, a deeply personal exploration of suburban tensions and the sacrifices made by first-generation immigrant families; charmingly quirky comedy The Lonely Spirits Variety Hour; or Citizen Ashe, the story of tennis champ Arthur Ashe, the first Black athlete to win a singles Grand Slam singles title? The choice is entirely yours. Celebrating these filmmakers isn't only done by audiences — they're also supported by advances in technology. Smooth-moving collaborations between producers, screenwriters, animators and actors? Real-time sharing of heavy files? Avoidance of glitchy email chains and lost-to-the-void sparks of genius? Dropbox looks after it — and that's why it's an official supporting partner of the Festival. It's that crossroads of creativity and technology that empowers these artists to continue doing what they love — and what delivers the 25 double tickets that we're giving away right here. Keen to shake up your watch list? Enter the competition below. Melbourne International Film Festival runs from Thursday, August 4 till Sunday, August 21. Select films will be available to stream online from Thursday, August 11 till Sunday, August 28. [competition]863917[/competition]
Vivid is coming up, and you may be eyeing off some spots around Sydney to book in a meal illuminated by the iconic festival lights. If this applies you, one more option has just sprung forward with Taronga Zoo announcing it will open its elegant Wildlife Retreat dining room Me-Gal to the public for the first time on Thursday, March 30. Me-Gal is set among the zoo's one-of-a-kind eco-retreat that pairs the touches of luxury you'd expect from a five-star hotel together with koala habitats right out your bedroom window — it's one of our picks for the best hotels in Sydney. The restaurant offers a seasonal menu of modern Australian dishes showcasing local produce and native ingredients but its biggest drawcard is the harbour views it serves up. Thanks to Taronga Zoo's location on the head of the lower North Shore and Me-Gal's floor-to-ceiling windows, diners are treated to sweeping panoramic views of the Sydney skyline, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. While you can easily lose track of time staring across the water at the CBD, you'll eventually have to turn your attention to the menu. Executive Chef Stefan Schröder has worked with local farmers and producers to create a sustainably sourced and flavour-packed selection of eats. "When crafting the offering for Me-Gal we drew inspiration from its unique location and the Australian native fauna that surrounds it," says General Manager Hoanh Giang. "An unexpected dining destination on the lower North Shore, the focus at Me-Gal is on sustainable dining, a passion we share with our local community of producers." Take your pick from a la carte standouts like stuffed zucchini flowers with wattle seed ricotta and macadamia crumble, beetroot and whipped lemon myrtle ricotta risotto, and sautéed Hawkesbury calamari served with kipfler potatoes, nduja and wild rocket. If you're dining with a group of four or more, you can leave it in the hands of the chefs and order the shared feast which comes with eight different highlights from the menu and dessert for $120 per person. The wine list is designed around well-rounded Australian classics like Henschke, Penfolds, Yabby Lake, Leeuwin Estate and Oakridge, alongside a selection of vegan, organic, biodynamic and sustainable wines — most of which are available by the glass. If you want to make a real night out of it, you can still book a stay at the Wildlife Retreat, with rooms starting from just over $500 a night. Taronga Zoo is also bringing back its Wild Lights activation as part of Vivid this year. The luminous event will run for 18 nights giving visitors the opportunity to explore the zoo after dark with a light walk guiding you through the park past large-scale animal lanterns and large-scale actual animals. Plus, it's also introducing an intimate new immersive tour called Nura Diya Australia that will take you up close and personal with kangaroos, dingos pups and koalas. [caption id="attachment_853669" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wild Lights at Taronga, Destination NSW[/caption] Taronga Zoo's Me-Gal is located at 2A Bradleys Head Road, Mosman. It will open to the public on Thursday, March 30, opening for lunch Thursday–Sunday and dinner Monday–Sunday.
The office lunch break is a magical time. You've put in a solid half day's work, and it's finally time to eat again. With the morning sorted, you can treat yourself to a well-deserved break. These days, city workers have a host of options to choose from, but not all lunches are created equal. If you work right in the heart of the city, this list of quick and healthy — or fried and filling — spots to hit up is right nearby. From poké bowls to nasi goreng, standout pizza to schnitzel and gravy (sometimes it's all that'll do), the towering 50-storey Australia Square has it all. So leave your sad ham and cheese sandwich in the office fridge and treat your tastebuds instead. [caption id="attachment_673446" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chelsey Rader[/caption] BELLUCCI Australia Square has a new jewel in its crown, the recently opened Bellucci. This Italian beauty sits on the podium level above Ryan's Bar and makes the most of architect Harry Seidler's original design. It comes with a strong pedigree, too, Head Chef Teofilo Nobrega made the leap from Potts Point's much-lauded Fratelli Paradiso to join the team. Nobrega combines contemporary Italian with a New York sensibility to create a tidy menu — covering breakfast through to dinner. Things aren't done by halves here, either — the pasta is handmade and hearty and there's a woodfired pizza deck. Enjoy lunch in, or if the office is calling you back grab a pastry or a sourdough sandwich on the run. CHINA SPICE SYDNEY We've all been there — the day's only halfway over and we're hitting refresh on Instagram and staring at the computer screen pretending to be productive. In these cases, what's needed is a lunchtime hit of BBQ to get your head back in the game. Enter China Spice Sydney, which bills itself as a Chinese-Malaysian eatery. BBQ duck and pork are displayed in all their lacquered glory at the front of the shop. All you need to do is choose your beast and what noodles and sides you'd prefer. In terms of Chinese fare, it also does a decent Hainanese chicken rice, while over the Strait of Malacca you can grab a good nasi goreng. ZEUS Haloumi-spiked mac and cheese balls? Yes, please. Zeus brings Greek street food with a twist to your lunchbox. Choose from pitas stuffed with meat, salad and a zingy sauce — or vego options, if you're that way inclined. If you're feeling Herculean, grab some meat from the spit — chicken, pork or lamb — and jazz it up with a side of slaw or pilaf. For those needing a fix after the night before, Yia Yia's loaded chips will set you right — chips covered in slow-cooked beef brisket, harissa aioli and smoky yoghurt, feta and sliced fresh chilli. ROLL'D Roll'd delivers a delicious slice of Vietnam to your working day. Keep things fresh with its signature rice papers rolls — with more traditional fillings such as beef and lemongrass through to inventive options like barramundi and avocado. Bahn mi has become a lunchtime favourite for Sydneysiders in recent years, and it's easy to see why. At Roll'd the crunchy baguette comes filled with pork, pickled vegetables, a hit of chilli a dash of coriander. For something more comforting — perfect for those chilly days — it also serves a mean pho. The recipe's been handed down through the family for generations so the broth is deep and complex. FIRE & FOOD If lunchtime comes around and you've got a hankering for something heartier (and covered in gravy) make your way over to Fire & Food. As the name suggests, lots of the food here is cooked over fire — roast meats, rotisserie chickens, souvlaki and a long lineup of burgers. It's the kind of place to head when you've had one (or three) too many drinks the night before and you're feeling a li'l dusty. If we're not far off the mark here, we suggest going all out and getting the King Burger with all the Aussie fillings — beetroot, bacon, egg and cheese — or a schnitzel and chips covered in salty gravy. You deserve it. You've been working hard. POKED It's hard to imagine a time when poké was not with us, such is the exploding popularity of this Hawaiian import. And it's not a mystery why — with its clean flavours and seasonal ingredients, the vitamin-filled poké bowl makes a great alternative to stodgier lunchtime options. At Poked there are quite a few variations to choose from. In homage to its motherland, the Hawaiian comes with both tuna and salmon, pineapple salsa, pickled cabbage and edamame, with wonton crisps for crunch. Outside of the sea, there are chicken and beef bowls available and, unlike at many foodcourt outlets, vegans get a look in, too, with the veggie and bean packed bowls. RYAN'S BAR Ryan's Bar has long been the meeting place for city suits to enjoy an after work drink — and it's no slouch at lunchtime either. The outdoor space is one of the few north-facing public spaces in the city, so if there's sunshine to be had you can catch it here on your break while enjoying being free from prison. We mean, work. The menu is heavy on carbs with pizzas, burgers, schnittys and parmas keep you fueled throughout the afternoon. And if you're too overwhelmed (and under-motivated) to go back to the office, maybe a sneaky beverage will give you the encouragement you need. Just don't tell the boss. Australia Square is also giving you the chance to win free lunch for a whole month. Make a purchase at any of the complex's casual dining spots between Monday, June 18 and Friday, July 6, receive your promo card and enter online and you'll go in the running to win $350 to spend on lunch.
South Eveleigh's wellness festival, Live Well 2025, is officially in full swing (just like a pickleball racquet), and there are only two more weeks to enjoy the lineup of mindful activities. The month-long festival has been designed to be budget-friendly, with many of the events being free. Kicking off lunchtimes is Happy Hoops at the Village Green on Saturday, September 20. Led by Fembot JuJu, this high-energy hula hoop fitness class is equal parts core workout and nostalgia trip, so it's the perfect exercise regimen for those who love a bit of entertainment with a side of abs. Then, for the latter half of the day, you can head to BrewDog for Bonsai and Brews from 5.30-7pm. For $50 per person, sip craft beer while learning the ancient art of bonsai shaping and take home your very own miniature tree. If you love Pilates, but not the price tag, then you'll be pleased to find out about free Pilates sessions at Body Fit Redfern. Every Friday until the end of the month, the mat-based class is beginner-friendly and runs from 12.30-1.15pm for a perfect midday reset. Running alongside it all is the Pickleball Pop-Up at Innovation Plaza (8am–6pm daily until Saturday, September 20). The fast-growing paddle sport has taken the world by storm, and this week you can drop in, grab a racquet and try it for yourself. Plus, it's completely free. South Eveleigh's Live Well festival runs until September 30. To find out more about these wellness-focused events and what else is on offer, head to the website. Images: Supplied
The Lamb Council of Australia (otherwise known as Meat & Livestock Australia/We Love our Lamb) is back on our screens — and this time, it's political. Their 2017 campaign has just launched and, whether you're a lamb fan or not, it's already spreading warm fuzzies across the country. The ad opens on a trio of First Nation peoples picking a spot for a primo beach barbie, but it's not long before the First Fleet and other nations arrive, all by boat (accurate historical fact). While everything's underway, the most recent 'boat people' are seen coming towards the shore, at which point ex-MasterChef contestant Poh Ling Yeow asks, "Aren't we all boat people?" Damn right. It's an inclusive, anti-racism message that's sure to win the lamb lovers and creative agency The Monkeys a spate of awards despite trotting out a few well-worn stereotypes. And although it is an obvious comment on Australia Day — the way we celebrate it and the day we celebrate it on — the ad doesn't actually make any overt references to it. Nonetheless, it's a huge shift away from their regular Australia Day campaign and a move towards something much more inclusive. Plus, it's got a diverse group of Aussie celebrities to help out, including olympian Cathy Freeman, rugby legend Wendell Sailor, cricketer Adam Gilchrist, comedian Rhys Nicholson and, of course, a small cameo from Sam "Sam Sam the lamb man" Kekovich. The result is one ultimate Australian beachside barbie.
A good night's sleep is one of life's pure joys and what better way is there to enhance your new year with a new set of bed sheets or a new mattress. Melbourne-designed Eva Mattress is here to help up your comfort level with its end-of-year Boxing Day sale. Think half-price sheets and hundreds of dollars off mattresses — and that's just the start. For its 13 day sale, running from 10am, Wednesday, December 23 until 10am, Tuesday, January 5, the local Aussie retailer is offering big end-of-year discounts. Expect $150 off its Eva mattress, $40 off the Eva pillow, $50 off Eva hemp linen and $50 off timber bed-frames. The award-winning mattress-in-a-box has been engineered as a hybrid, which means it combines the comfort of memory foam with the support of pocket springs. The memory foam pillow uses activated charcoal to keep you cool and dry throughout the night. The timber bed frame, winner of a 2020 Good Design Award, has been certified by the Forrest Stewardship Council meaning it's made from sustainably sourced timber. If you do spring for the mattress, sheets, pillow or bed frame, they come with a 120-night free trial, so you can be sure they'll help you get a good night sleep before you commit. All mattress orders come with free next-day delivery to metro areas and a 12-year warranty, ensuring you'll be sleeping pretty for years to come. Browse the store and pick up a discount. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Sydney is flush with world-class steakhouses. In fact, the Harbour City has a whopping five entries in the top 50 of the World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants list for 2023. Liquid & Larder, the team behind two of those five standout meat emporiums, has now brought another beefy brasserie to Sydney's CBD in the form of Alfie's. Alfie's has arrived on Bligh Street from the crew behind Bistecca (number 32 on the best steak restaurants list), The Gidley (number 43) and The Rover. This one-of-a-kind opening boasts a more fast-paced dining experience than its sibling venues — aiming to provide a more approachable and affordable take on the steakhouse with a simplified menu, plus a more casual fitout inspired by graffiti and hip hop culture. "After years of perfecting the slow-dining and elevated experiences at Bistecca, The Gidley and The Rover, we're going off script at Alfie's by offering the same high-quality food and booze but fast-paced and full of action," says Liquor & Larder co-founder and Director James Bradey. There's just one cut of meat on the menu, the 220-gram Riverine sirloin which is available for $38 and is promised to hit your table within 15 minutes of ordering. This means that city workers can treat themselves to a world-class steak on their lunch break. Alfie's is the first Liquor & Larder restaurant to boast its own central butchery and steak-aging facility. This helps ensure the sirloin here — as well as the beef delivered to Bistecca and The Gidley — is all of the highest quality. It also gives diners a chance to peek behind the scenes through the butcher's window before they sit down to eat. Accompanying the steak is a range of sides which can be ordered in half or full portions. Take your pick from fire-roasted baby carrots, roast mushrooms, cucumber salad and Alfie's bubble and squeak slaw. Those looking to just enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail with a dose of people-watching can nab a spot in the walk-in bar looking out onto Bligh Street. Former Bartender of the Year and Group Bars Manager Alex Gondzioulis has designed the cocktail menu with classic and seasonal combinations on offer alongside a martini that the team claims is Sydney's coldest — served at a chilly negative-ten degrees. At the bar, there are a few British-inspired snacks to pair with your cocktail of choice, including a hot chip roast beef butty, thyme scones, cornish pasties and chips topped with chip shop-style curry sauce. There's also a daily happy hour adding to the approachability of the venue, featuring $16 martinis, $14 Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin spritzes, $3 Grifter beers, $10 wines and $17 chip and roast beef sandwiches between 4–6pm, Monday–Saturday. You'll find Alfie's at 4–6 Bligh Street, Sydney. The casual steakhouse is open for lunch (11.30am–2.30pm) and dinner (5–9pm) Monday–Saturday. Images: Dexter Kim.
Andy Warhol, Marilyn Monroe, The Mighty Boosh, Frida Kahlo: they're just some of the faces that've graced exhibitions around Australia in 2023. The next to join them is Amy Winehouse, in a showcase that's doing what documentary Amy also dedicated some of its frames to: stepping back a couple of decades to the beginning of the 'Back to Black' and 'Rehab' singer's career. When Winehouse was 19, photographer Charles Moriarty was requested by a friend to take some snaps of the then-unknown talent. They're the images that Amy, Before Frank will display. More than 30 will feature — and if you're wondering where the exhibition's name comes from, it references Winehouse's debut album Frank, with the photos covered hailing from before that record dropped. When Winehouse was in front of his lens, Irish photographer Moriarty didn't know what'd follow for the performer — the fame and success, nor her passing in 2011. The session clearly worked out well because Moriarty also shot the cover art for Frank, and became friends with the singer. To check out Amy, Before Frank, fans will need to head to Sydney's M2 Gallery from Wednesday, October 18–Sunday, October 22. That timing couldn't be more perfect, given that Frank — which includes the singles 'Stronger Than Me', 'Take the Box' and 'In My Bed' — released two decades ago in October. Moriarty is also coming to Australia with the exhibition, chatting in Sydney on Saturday, October 21. [caption id="attachment_917853" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The original photograph used for Amy Winehouse's debut album 'Frank', shot on Princelet St, London, 2003[/caption] Images: Charles Moriarty.
Neighbourhood florist Penny Clarke prides herself on transforming space with floral designs. Operating out of a store in Leichhardt Flowers on Norton St can craft flower arrangements to suit any occasion, be it a garden party, wedding or a grand romantic gesture. The experienced team builds bespoke bouquets for customers, in store or online, from as little as $40 a bunch. There are posies of sweet peas, hardy Australian eucalypts, or bunches that pop with colour. Scale up to a medium-sized ($60) or large ($90), or, if you're planning something special, order locally grown roses, white and pink lilies or blushing orchids starting from $100. [caption id="attachment_776128" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] You'll also find a selection of plants like peace lilies and monstera, hand creams and soaps, blocks of handmade chocolates and candles. Images: Cassandra Hannagan.
When the weather starts to cool down, the urge to devour big bowls of pasta, warm soups and pot pies usually comes with it. Despite all the blankets and fuzzy slippers in the world, sometimes you just need some carbs — and a few boozy concoctions to wash them down with. And, really, there's nothing like curling up with just the thing you're hankering for. When the heart is calling for a cheesy carbonara or a bespoke negroni, you'd best answer it. To help you out when the cravings strike, we've teamed up with Australia Cocktail Month. The inaugural month-long celebration of Aussie-made cocktails takes place throughout May, so it's just the ticket as winter approaches. Alongside everything from yum cha to countryside fire feasts, it's also one of our six recommended ways to indulge when only cocktails and comfort food will do. [caption id="attachment_644421" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parker Blain[/caption] HIT UP YOUR LOCAL FOR A SUNDAY ROAST Warm up from the inside out with a hearty Sunday pub roast. Based on the traditional British end-of-weekend meal, the Australian take on the pub roast usually features all the fan favourites (yes, including brussels sprouts) to help chase away the cold weather blues. Think succulent roast meats, crunchy potatoes, juicy vegetables, copious pours of gravy, and a nice glass of red or two on the side. Right across the nation — including in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane — there are plenty of pubs to hit up. Pick your favourite, then spoil your tastebuds with a filling roast lunch or dinner. Is there anything more comforting? [caption id="attachment_755166" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Death and Taxes[/caption] CURL UP WITH A COCKTAIL AT A TOP BAR If you're in the mood for a cocktail, you're going to love Australian Cocktail Month, a month-long celebration of Australian bars and bartenders that starts on Saturday, May 1. Across the event, 72 bars in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide are partnering with local and international alcohol brands to shake and stir up some bespoke cocktails, and to also offer discounts and unique bar experiences. To attend, all you need to do is grab a general admission ticket from the event's website, then head to a participating bar. Show said ticket and you'll be able to sip a $14 cocktail (or a $10 non-alcoholic version) while you're getting comfy. [caption id="attachment_780994" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] TUCK INTO A YUM CHA FEAST It's pretty universally known that one does not leave yum cha hungry. After all, the meal involves a steady rotation of small portions of dim sum dishes, including steamed, pan-fried and deep-fried options. Think juicy dumplings, prawn har gow, xiaolongbao (steamed soup dumplings), barbecue pork buns and pork ribs — all washed down with piping hot tea. There are plenty of places in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to get your feast on, too. So, forget the cooking and feed your hankering for Cantonese food by heading to your local yum cha house — and indulging until your heart (and tummy) is content. Just make sure not to eat beforehand. [caption id="attachment_779829" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] HIBERNATE IN A CINEMA WITH POPCORN AND CHOC TOPS Grabbing a snack at a movie theatre isn't always easy to justify. But when you're nestled in your seat, it's hard to be sorry about the big box of popcorn in your hands. A choc top never goes astray, either, and neither does a bag of Maltesers. Accordingly, to feed that comfort food craving in your belly, grab a mate or date and head to your local cinema. There, you can hibernate in a supremely cosy setting and enjoy a flick with some quality movie theatre bites. Some venues even serve cocktails too, such as Golden Age Cinema and Bar in Sydney, Classic Cinemas in Melbourne and Blue Room Cinebar in Brisbane. THROW A POTLUCK DINNER WITH YOUR MATES Why indulge in comfort food and cocktails all on your own when you can do it as a group activity with your nearest and dearest? The easiest way: get on that group chat and arrange a potluck dinner at yours with your friends. Either get everyone to bring a surprise dish, or arrange for someone to take care of entrees, others to look after mains and the best cooks in the gang to whip up desserts. You could even try out a new recipe or two, and wow your pals with a skill they mightn't have realised you have. And the best part? There are usually leftovers for tomorrow's lunch. COOK A FEAST OVER FIRE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE Fill up your car, pack an overnight bag and hit the road. It's time to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for some fresh country air and camping-style food. Get a fire roaring, then try your hand at some damper, classic s'mores, snags or corn on the cob. You could even give campfire nachos or some camping quesadilla a whirl. There are plenty of country towns to stay at just a hop, skip and jump from main cities, too, including near Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. It's a two-for-one deal, really, because you'll indulge in the charm of the countryside and fill your belly at the same time. Australian Cocktail Month is taking over top bars across the Australia from May 1–31. To buy your ticket, and for the full list of participating bars, head to the event's website. Top image: The Duke of Clarence, Kitti Gould
The country's next big natural wine event is coming to the Sapphire Coast this August — and it'll be anything but ordinary. Nattie by Nature will transform a sprawling heritage estate into a blowout bash with lots of wine, live music, craft spirits, local produce and party vibes aplenty. It's run by Shady Pines' long-time manager Alen Nikolovski, who recently moved down to Merimbula, and his Sapphire Coast mates Ryde Pennefather and Di McDonald. "We all love drinking booze but hate boring tastings, so we decided to put on a tasting event with a party atmosphere," says Nikolovski. "It started out as just a small thing, but has grown to fit 300 people." This army of wine fans will be hosted in South Pambula's Historic Grange, a stunning 1850s heritage estate that extends across 13 acres. The space is owned — and was fitted out — by Jason Scott (formerly of the Swillhouse Group), so expect design elements reminiscent of both Baxter Inn and Shady Pines to accompany the country barn stylings. The Nattie by Nature team has gathered its favourite winemakers from around the country for this one. Drops on offer will include Greek-style wines from Southern Highlands' Ari's Natural Wine Co, small batch vinos from Clunes' Jilly Wines and certified biodynamic bottles from Adelaide Hills' Ngeringa. Plus, the Otway Ranges' Chevre Wines, Geelong's Livewire Wines, Whitlands' Konpira Maru and Canberra's Mallaluka will all host stalls, too. Enmore's P&V Merchants will make its way down south, too, as will boutique distributor Whole Bunch Wines. Apart from all the wines, the event will feature a tinnie bar by Yulli's Brews, a bloody marys stand by Patio Beverages and a gin bar by Sapphire Coast local North Eden Gin — who will also put on a live gin distillation. For eats, both Merimbula and Sydney producers will join the party. You'll be able to snag Pambula oysters from Broadwater, smoked seafood platters from Eden Smokehouse and baked goods from Wild Ryes Bakery, which is creating three pie and wine pairings just for the event. Local cheese gurus Tilba will also team up with LP's Quality Meats for some next-level charcuterie boards. And since it isn't a party without live music, soul and R&B band Immy & The Hookup will take the stage and a vinyl DJ will finish off the night with funky tunes. Located six hours' drive south of Sydney (or a one hour flight) and seven hours north of Melbourne, you'll likely want to make a weekend of it. We recommend Woodbine Park Eco Cabins and Coast Resort Merimbula, or these stunning homes on Airbnb. The inaugural Nattie by Nature will take place on August 3 at the Historic Grange, 15A Northview Drive, South Pambula. It'll run from noon–8pm and there will be a free shuttle bus between Merimbula and Pambula all day long. Tickets are $35.50 a pop and on sale now.
Most art shows don’t screen you for metal and weapons before letting you in. The Parliament of NSW Aboriginal Art Prize 2012 does. To enter you have to pass the (intimidating, but painless) Parliamentary security before you can explore the art along the walls of the buildings's ample, light-filled foyer. As you pace around the artworks, political apparatchiks stride across the atrium discussing US politics and the upcoming November result given how “Ohio is trending”. Paper maker Leonie Binge’s etching Tracks scratches wire-like lines across a tall, narrow page, suggesting an urban cage of wire fence. Nicole Foreshew’s Belong to you all yet to none 2 throws a wrapped figure into the sky. Two words flap behind in silhouette. The figure is falling or floating. It’s not clear which. Mgangah Pirate’s the Gods Had No Mouths has animal parts over a pair of dummy torsos, one female, one male. Half of each is furred by echidna spikes, the man’s above, the woman’s below. Their sternums and private parts are outlined in small bones. Not threatening, the echidna spikes are appealing like fur or feathers. You don’t want to run from their little spikes — you want to run your hands along them. Juxtaposition is one of the key sidelines of this show. On the back wall, Dabby Eastwood’s Intervention shows a group of Aborigines receiving blue and white government blankets from two chubby European men. The men are churlish and impatient. Next to them, part of the Parliament’s permanent exhibition, Captain Cook fights in Hawaii. This culminates at Jason Wing’s Australia was Stolen by Armed Robbery, which sticks a balaclava on a formal, fibreglass bust of Captain Cook. Cook’s threatening eyebrows rise out of the mask. Beside it, a resin cast of a wheelie bin looks like part of the scenery. It’s Really Bin #1 by Douglas Black (Adam Hill). A carved label on the front says “Sorry”. The exhibition is open 9.30-4 weekdays. Image: Ngiyampaa Sands by Mark Willer.
No one makes neon-lit, red-hued, emotion-dripping tales of yearning and loneliness like Wong Kar-Wai, as everyone who has seen 2000's In the Mood for Love knows. It isn't the Chungking Express, Happy Together, 2046, Ashes of Time: Redux and The Grandmaster filmmaker's only masterpiece, but the 1960s Hong Kong-set romantic drama is utterly unforgettable as it unfolds its love story against a backdrop of festering societal tension. Viewers have fallen for the film for almost a quarter of a century now. Sydney Opera House clearly feels the same way. Back in 2020, it hosted and livestreamed dreamy song cycle In the Mood — A Love Letter to Wong Kar-Wai & Hong Kong, which delivered exactly what its title promised. At 2pm and 7pm on Saturday, March 22, 2025, the venue will also welcome in the Australian premiere of In the Mood for Love in Concert. As everything from Batman, Back to the Future, Home Alone and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse to The Lion King, The Princess Bride, Black Panther and Star Wars films has in the past — and plenty more — the iconic movie will return to the big screen while an orchestra brings its score to life. In this case, the film will flicker across Sydney Opera House's HD silver screen as conductor Guy Rundle leads a 39-piece group of musicians playing live. The BAFTA-nominated and César-winning film — which also picked up two awards at Cannes, including Best Actor — stars the great Tony Leung (Hidden Blade) and Maggie Chen (Better Life) as Chow Mo-wan and Su Li-zhen. In a complicated time and place, the two neighbours are drawn together when they begin to suspect that their partners are not only being unfaithful, but that they're having an affair with each other. While In the Mood for Love is rightly acclaimed for its affecting performances and evocative direction, as well as its gorgeously lush cinematography, its score is just as exceptional. Indeed, the filmmaker has called it "a poem itself". This is a stellar opportunity to find out why — and to discover why this movie, and Wong Kar-Wai, keep proving so influential.
Do you live in a dog-friendly house? Do you have some spare time on your hands? Do you fantasise about taking a pup to the pub with you? The good folk at Guide Dogs NSW/ACT need you. They're always home to pups that'll grow into companions as part of the Guide Dog program, and they're in need of carers to raise them. In other words, they're giving away puppies. If you put up your hand, you'll get a puppy for about a year — from its eight-week birthday until it turns 14 months. During that time, you'll be responsible for introducing the sights, sounds and smells it'll meet when it starts working as a guide dog (and giving it heaps of cuddles). Of course, it's not all just fun, games — it's a lot of commitment and hard work. You'll have to be responsible enough to take care of regular grooming, house training and exercise, and be available to attend local training days, along with vet checks and Puppy Pre-School. A car and a fenced-in property are mandatory, too. And, you can't be away from home for more than four hours at a time. In return, the organisation provides a strong support network, food, vet care and prevention of fleas and ticks. "We are looking for people that are home most of the time and who are interested in putting effort into training and socialising the dog. What you get in return is a life-changing experience and knowing that you've positively contributed to your community," said Karen Hayter, Puppy Development Manager at Guide Dogs NSW/ACT. Guide dogs are provided free to those in need, but each costs around $50,000 to raise over two years. If you can't afford to sponsor a pup or donate to the charity, but you've got a bit of flexibility and time on your hands, this could be your calling. Keen? Apply online. And send pics, please. Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is looking for puppy carers now. For more information and to volunteer, head to the organisation's website.
The Sydney Film Festival wrapped up on Sunday, June 15, after a perfectly eye-opening 12-day movie marathon. Here's what our critics loved, loathed, admired and squirmed over. The Best Films https://youtube.com/watch?v=baJK7EhCTEI BLACK COAL, THIN ICE Black Coal, Thin Ice is an exceptionally rare film in which not a single frame feels wasted. A run-down industrial city in China's frozen north provides a perfect backdrop for writer-director Diao Yinan's archetypal film noir, about an alcoholic former cop obsessed by a dead-end case. Slow pacing and minimal narrative exposition rewards an attentive viewer, but the true appeal of this ice-cold thriller is Jinsong Dong's immaculate cinematography. Although rarely flashy, every shot is invested with both an eerie beauty and a fascinating purpose, while simple images often take on new meaning as the camera patiently lingers. You'll be lucky to find a better made film this year. https://youtube.com/watch?v=06BNjqSsGqo TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT Riveting dissections of realistic situations: that's where siblings Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne have made their careers. Continuing in the same finessed vein, Two Days, One Night compels by rendering relatable, repetitive circumstances without sentiment but with surprises, following Sandra's (Marion Cotillard) attempts to convince her co-workers to forgo a cash bonus to save her job. The precision with which the filmmakers present a feature almost solely comprised of conversations cannot be underestimated, nor can Cotillard's expert efforts in illustrating the fragility of her striving but uncertain protagonist. Small in stature yet striking in its statement, this is a rare and rewarding example of the best film of the festival emerging victorious as the competition winner. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ISaSHUSrEUw BOYHOOD We usually give a film props for being either wildly experimental or successful in what it does. So to watch Boyhood, a film that's both of those things (as well as hugely entertaining), is almost overwhelming. The applause once the credits started to roll was instant and resounding, and it's surely poised to take out the Audience Award. The film's point of difference is that it was filmed over 12 years, using the same cast of actors, including Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette. Its focus is Mason (Ellar Coltrane) as he grows from 5 to 18, capturing his coming of age in a way that's ultra authentic and driven by the cast and creatives' real experience of the world. The effect is to transport you back to childhood and adolescence without your attendant judgement or cynicism, and it's a wonderful little gift. If you thought director Richard Linklater had already made his biggest impact on the film world through Before Sunrise or rotoscoping, think again. https://youtube.com/watch?v=rIEf5T3U2YA YOU'RE SLEEPING NICOLE Many films spring to mind during French Canadian comedy You're Sleeping Nicole, including Frances Ha's quirky quarter-life crisis, Ghost World's vagaries of female friendship, and After Hours' freewheeling overnight anarchy; however, Stéphane Lafleur's direct-from-Cannes offering never suffers for the comparisons. Charting its 22-year-old titular character (Julianne Côté) as she navigates the summer sans parents and struggling to sleep, it crafts a love letter to its influences and an endearing effort in its own right. There's slightness in its concept and skit-like construction, but also a sweet mood and amusing tone in its vignettes of mostly ordinary, sometimes eccentric escapades. The exquisite black-and-white cinematography draws the eye just as the eclectic gags charm the soul, in the epitome of an offbeat delight. https://youtube.com/watch?v=KinAEqb3Kts TOM AT THE FARM Xavier Dolan's Cannes Jury Prize-winning Mommy rightly overwhelmed audiences with its onslaught of aesthetics and emotions; however, it is Tom at the Farm, his previous feature, which stuns with its several layers of sheer audacity. Ostensibly the odd film out in the wunderkind writer/director's oeuvre, his fourth effort in as many years is a tense and twisty thriller of grief, desire, acceptance and identity. Playing Tom, Dolan nourishes on screen (as with off), conveying the claustrophobia and complexity of the character's rural trip to pay respects to the family of his deceased boyfriend. When awkwardness begets a strange accord within visually and thematically constrained confines, so blossoms an elegantly disarming offering that earns its Hitchcockian parallels. https://youtube.com/watch?v=TyvfQIdx_Ao WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS The perfect antidote to a program full of worthy social dramas and three-hour-long Palme d'Or winners, Sydney's closing night film was an unmistakable highlight. Flight of the Conchords star Jemaine Clement and Eagle vs Shark director Taika Waititi write, direct and star in what's billed as the latest project from the New Zealand Documentary Board: an in-depth look at the lives of four vampires who share a run-down apartment in Wellington. Think This Is Spinal Tap but with more severed arteries. Clement and Waititi have enormous fun playing with undead mythology (for example, their characters can't get into clubs unless they're specifically invited in.) Keep your eyes peeled for a release before the year is out. https://youtube.com/watch?v=K1nEmIZtrFU PARTICLE FEVER This is the film that makes physics funny and personable. Particle Fever went behind the biggest, most expensive and most controversial scientific experiment ever conducted — the Large Hadron Collider, which recreates the conditions of the 'big bang' in an effort to view the basic particles needed for a stable universe and create a blueprint for modern physics. But what it really showed us was the Mensa-style odd-bods working on the LHC — funny, yearning, obsessive individuals who make coffee, play ping-pong, decipher unintelligible contemporary art and carry regrets just like all of us. Particle Fever meets the universe's biggest questions with simple, elegant, beautiful answers, or the prospect of total, inexplicable chaos. Who would've known that documentaries can provide such childlike escapism. Miracles and wonder. The Boldest Experiments https://youtube.com/watch?v=gZscgKNT2MI FISH AND CAT A two-hour film, made in one take? A film with no editing? Once again, Iranian cinema showed us that it's at the forefront of global filmmaking. Fish and Cat went beyond what could be a gimmick to deliver one of the most compelling experiences of the festival and divide audiences (including our little reviewing team). The film portrayed a collection of professional kite-flyers embarking on a camping trip by a wintery lake and spindly forest, a series of ghostly presences, and a cyclical narrative that plays with time by showing us the same moments from different characters' perspectives. Often high concept films elevate tricky narrative ploys, but Fish and Cat went beyond cleverness to show us something honest and true. Rehearsed for two months and shot in only one take — and inspired as much by mathematics, MC Escher and physics than by cinema — Fish and Cat suggests more films need less editing and more spirit and intelligence. https://youtube.com/watch?v=TgsfyMMYAZI MANAKAMANA A cable car traverses the lush greenery of the Nepalese mountains, ferrying its contents to and from the Manakamana Temple. Each load of passengers contains pilgrims seeking the wish-fulfilling gifts of the temple's Hindu goddess — and while diverse in their constitution, they remain united in their journey. Filmed in 16mm and comprised of 11 rides towards and away from the famous destination, the documentary that shares its name continues the immersive observational ambit of Harvard University's Sensory Ethnography Lab, as previously evidenced in 2009's Sweetgrass and 2012's Leviathan. Each segment, shown uncut and spanning approximately ten minutes in duration, stands alone as couples sit in silence, friends chatter about music and play with a kitten, and even goats enjoy the aerial view, yet together they make a hypnotic and rhythmic whole. MOMMY The latest film from 25-year-old enfant terrible Xavier Dolan pours unconstrained emotion into a claustrophobic space. Shot in boxy 1:1 aspect ratio, the film tells the story of fiery widow Dianne and her troubled teenager Simon, a pair of bombastic outsiders in a white-bread, buttoned-down world. Anne Dorval and Antoine Olivier Pilon are both stunningly good, their performances positively glowing with uninhibited feeling. The tightness of the frame, meanwhile, reflects Di and Simon's limited options, even as their energy threatens to force the edges apart. This is a funny, earnest, devastating film, one that's vitalised, rather than limited, by its intriguing technical conceit. https://youtube.com/watch?v=a8vy-DO-I5E 20,000 DAYS ON EARTH 20,000 Days on Earth is a documentary that's fiction. So, there's that. It imagines the 20,000th day on earth of singer and raconteur Nick Cave, and it's a day that includes him talking to his shrink, recording an album, helping archivists make sense of his historical record, lunching with his pals, driving Kylie Minogue around Brighton, and playing at the Sydney Opera House. A pretty great day, by any standards. Instead of clarity and chronology, what you get is a fragmented sense of biography that is sometimes deeply insightful, sometimes electrifying and sometimes frustrating. Artists-turned-directors Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard have basically conjured a new format here, and there's a sense that it could be applied to tell nearly anybody's personal tale (though having the flair and flamboyance of Cave certainly helps). It's not like anyone would want every documentary to be made this way, but it sure is an interesting divergence. Most WTF Moments https://youtube.com/watch?v=9gahZEIg73I Miss Violence Greek cinema has been pretty weird lately, but no one in the cinema for Alexandros Avranas Miss Violence was quite expecting it to take the turn it did. And that's even after it started with an 11-year-old girl committing suicide at her birthday party to the soundtrack of Leonard Cohen's 'Dance Me to the End of Love'. Things got repulsive around the time of the graphic, several-minute-long teen rape scene, and they did not improve. No matter your stance on the use of trigger warnings, you'd probably feel this could have been signposted a little better in the synopsis. On Tuesday this played directly after Ruin, so the truly unlucky copped a double feature of confronting sexual violence akin to watching Irreversible twice. https://youtube.com/watch?v=lHLLMaJ27SQ LAKE AUGUST We were hoping Lake August would provide us with the kind of telescopic view of China that Westerners rarely glean. It didn't. A series of extremely long takes of characters whose names and backgrounds, desires and regrets were never revealed, left us cold and, well, a little bored. Fans of slow-burn, long-unrolling cinema will go for this, and festival curators will love the offbeat perspective this offers us — there are so many kaleidoscopic ways to understand and access the non-monolith that is China. We appreciate a tiny chip in the blockbuster schedule of sequels and comic-book franchises, but Lake August was too oblique, too distant and like China, too inexplicable. Most disappointing films https://youtube.com/watch?v=vFnmRNMBL4I COLD IN JULY Although it certainly has its defenders, few films on the festival program were as cringingly uneven as Jim Mickle's Cold in July. Set in Texas in the late 1980s, the film stars Dexter himself, Michael C. Hall, as a mild-mannered family man who shoots a home intruder. But what starts as an exploration of guilt soon takes a bizarre-left turn into John Carpenter-style slasher territory, before shifting again into pulpy film noir and then again into vengeful vigilante thriller. Good on Mickle for attempt to skew genres, but the tone is all over the map. Moreover, the character dynamics are flimsy, while certain dramatic scenes are pitched to such histrionic heights that they end up being unintentionally entertaining. https://youtube.com/watch?v=t3ofy3B90gI RUIN Amiel Courtin-Wilson's previous film Hail was an unforgettable story of down-and-out Australians whose voices are rarely heard in cinema. So Ruin, co-directed with Michael Cody, arrived with more than a little cinephile hype. It was an interesting film. But was it a successful one? Not so much. Set in Cambodia, and portraying a romance of two abused and terrified runaways, Ruin did a beautiful job of mixing a sense of observational documentary with lovely abstract, textural sequences, and it pivoted on two extraordinary, hyper-naturalistic performances.The dream fantasies were beautiful, emotionally complex and visually stunning. But it was right on the line between an open-ended film and an underbaked one. It's good to see challenging cinema that doesn't spoon-feed audiences exposition. But more answers and more context to match the gorgeous cinematography and dreaminess would have gone a long way. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ChM2icbWo9w The Rover A dark Shakespearean crime drama, 2010's Animal Kingdom was one of the most resounding Australian films in years. Not only did it launch the international careers of Ben Mendelsohn and Jacki Weaver, it also heralded the arrival of writer-director David Michôd, a filmmaker whose tightly controlled aesthetic suggested even greater things to come. His sophomore effort is The Rover, a barebones narrative that mirrors his debut in both its technical precision and its nihilistic tone. What's missing, however, is a similarly compelling set of characters. Without them, a pervasive sense of bleakness soon swallows the movie whole. Full review here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=4_8nOSuRFE4 Palo Alto Um, yuck. It may have sold out three screenings over, but Palo Alto was one long, empty cliche about coming of age. It goes to show we can't assume James Franco can write with depth just because he can act, and we can't assume that Gia Coppola can direct with expertise just because her family can. It makes an ass of u and me. By Rima Sabina Aouf, Lauren Carroll Harris, Sarah Ward and Tom Clift.
Audrey Wilkinson — or the patch of land in the Hunter Valley that its vineyard calls home, to be specific — has been around for some time. It's been more than 150 years since the Wilkinson family first acquired the spot, and almost 120 years since it started winning awards for its tipples. The winery has been owned by the Agnew family since 2004, who've continued on with a small and dedicated staff that's devoted to the task at hand. Simply put, these guys know their stuff when it comes to vino. Located on 270 acres, the winery is sure to impress any wine aficionado. You can go on a tour of the on-site wine museum, enjoy a tasting in the cellar door, have a picnic among the vines, sample fortified wine and fromage, and even stay a night in one of the stone cottages.
Any plans for Bali escapes, treks across Mexico or food-filled Japanese getaways have been put on ice for 2020, but that doesn't mean you can't indulge in a bit of escapism. And, no, we're not just talking about daydreaming and spending hours scrolling through Pinterest. Australian Venue Co is helping to ease the wanderlust a touch by transforming more than 20 of its pubs and restaurants into some of the world's most popular holiday destinations for summer. So, you'll be able to sip frozen margaritas surrounded by cacti, eat dumplings under cherry blossom trees and wear flower crowns (if that's your thing) on Coachella-inspired rooftops. Called Summer Staycations, the transformations will be taking place from November to February at the likes of the The Provincial Hotel and The Smith in Melbourne, Manly Wine and Bungalow 8 in Sydney, and Kingsleys and Riverland in Brisbane. Of course, the visual makeovers — which will include giant teepees, citrus trees and flowers aplenty — will be paired with appropriate food and drink menus. On the Amalfi Coast, you'll find bottomless pizza and sorbet spritzes; in Mexico, there are unlimited tacos and many margaritas; and in Bali, you'll find brunch and many frozen cocktails. For a taster of what to expect, look to The Rook. The Sydney rooftop has been filled with cherry blossoms and bottomless dumplings since March — but, come November, it'll become an Italian summer haven. More information about the staycations is set to drop on Monday, October 19, with pop-ups set to go live on Friday, November 2 in all states but Victoria. Melbourne's will kick off — restrictions allowing — in December. [caption id="attachment_785121" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jasper Avenue[/caption] SUMMER STAYCATION LINEUP Amalfi Coast Prince Alfred, Vic Provincial, Vic The Rook, NSW Kingsleys, Qld Payneham Tavern, SA Spring in Tokyo The Smith, Vic The Duke, Vic Manly Wine, NSW Fridays, Qld Sweetwater Rooftop, WA Mexico Fiesta College Lawn, Vic Perseverance, Vic Riverland, Qld Cleveland Sands, Qld Waterloo Station, SA Coachella, Palm Springs Fargo and Co, Vic Cargo Bar, NSW The Aviary, WA Hope Inn, SA Beach Club, Bali Bungalow 8, NSW The Globe, WA For more information about Australian Venue Co Summer Staycations, head to the website. Top image: The Rook by Jasper Avenue
After months of WFH, there's been an understandable shift to letting our locks grow longer, seeing how bushy our beards can get, and generally opting for less personal grooming than we did before. But it's not always a good long-term strategy for keeping your hair looking its best. And, when you are ready to shed some split ends or dye that regrowth, there's nothing more transformative than a trip to the salon. We've teamed up with American Express to bring you a list of the city's top hairdressers and barbershops, so you can treat yourself to a hot towel shave, a deluxe head massage and a professional haircut. From award-winning celebrity stylists to 40-year-old barbershops, you can shop small at these salons and barbers with your Amex Card.
You shouldn't need an introduction to what a marathon is but you might need a reminder as to why Sydney Marathon is considered one of the world's premier marathon events. If you're brave enough to sign up for the event on Sunday, September 15, you can take on the full 42.2 kilometres. The good news: Sydney Marathon route planners wisely capitalise on the city's unparalleled beauty so you get to start with a run across the Sydney Harbour Bridge before passing through Pyrmont, Walsh Bay, Oxford Street, Centennial Park and Mrs Macquarie's Chair before your triumphant finish in front of the Sydney Opera House. There are also 4.2-kilometre family-friendly mini marathon and 10km options available if they're more your speed. Don't let the nerves get to you — volunteers, well-wishers and friends will be roaring encouragement along the way, plus you'll get emotional boosts from your fellow competitors. We can't promise it will make the time fly by, but it'll certainly give you that extra push you need. Images: Destination NSW
The industrial grid-like backstreets of Brookvale are best known for their breweries, but among the tanks and taps, one spot is trading pale ales and parmies for garam masala negronis and slow-cooked goat curry. Bazaar & Bar reimagines the wine bar through an Indian lens, plating up bold, spice-driven dishes alongside natural wines and cleverly layered cocktails — and proving there's more to this patch of the Northern Beaches than just beer. The venue has been brought to life by experienced operator Kabir Arora (the brains behind Manly mainstay Sketch) and Head Chef Adwait Jagtap (Raja, Kolkata Social), whose produce-forward menu draws on personal memories and regional recipes. True to the wine bar template, there's a menu of small plates and share-style dishes — but instead of focaccia, you'll find pillowy naan, and kingfish crudo is swapped for a semolina-crusted kingfish collar with fiery recheado spice rub. The usual hanger steak gets a hearty upgrade in the form of champaran mutton, which replaces lamb for goat that's slow-cooked on the bone and dressed with a fragrant mix of smoky garlic and spice. It's confident stuff, but remains familiar and approachable. "We're not trying to reinvent Indian food — we're showcasing it in a setting people might not expect," says Arora. The cocktail list picks up where the food menu leaves off, showcasing classics with a distinctly Indian twist — think curry leaf gimlet, smoked jaggery old fashioned and a garam masala-infused negroni. A tight, accessible wine list champions Australian producers, with a handful of internationals also in the mix. It takes place in an inviting space that mirrors this blend of tradition and modernity, with design elements drawn from the vivid colours and textures of Indian bazaars. To that end, the venue's name isn't just a case of clever alliteration — a small spice bazaar shelf near the bar is lined with house-made pickles, chutneys and sauces available for purchase.
Enjoy a bespoke cocktail at Sydney’s latest pop-up bar, where it's Happy Hour all night long. The new outdoor appendage of The Governor’s Table in the CBD will serve premium bevs at markdown prices, making it the perfect place to unwind after a busy week at work. Open Thursdays and Fridays from 5pm to 8pm, The Governor’s Shout! is located on the corners of Bridge Street and Phillip Street, right outside The Governor’s Table, opposite the commemorative metal bust of Governor Arthur Phillip. And really, what better way to celebrate Sydney's colonial founding father than with cheap beverages right beside the Museum of Sydney? Each week, the pop-up will showcase a new bespoke cocktail, for the terribly reasonable price of $10 each. This week, it's The Forgotten Bridge, a blend of passionfruit, fresh lime, vanilla and a healthy dose of Pampero rum. The pop-up's drinks menu also features a wide selection of wines, including The Lane 'Lois' Blanc de Blanc, La Prova Pinot Grigio, Mt Macleod Pinot Noir, Voyager Cabernet Malbec and Laughing Jack Shiraz, all at just $6 a glass. Yep, that's $6 after-work wines. It gets better. Asahi and Sydney Cider will be available for just $5, and they’ll be serving an array of bar food and snacks to keep you tied over until your inevitable dinner at The Governor's Table. This is a very, very smart move from the Governor's team, timing-wise. Once the pop-up shuts its doors for the evening at 8pm, patrons have the option of heading indoors, where they can peruse the Governor’s Table dinner menu at their leisure. The bar has just announced the launch of their monthly Winemaker Dinner series, which pairs a selection of local wines with a five-course degustation. The first takes place on Thursday, March 4, with wines from Ross Hill in Orange and a dinner by Chef Marco Adler. Find The Governor's Shout! outside The Governor's Table on the corners of Bridge and Phillip Street, next to the Museum of Sydney in the CBD. Open Thursdays and Fridays 5 - 8pm.
As if Hamlet didn’t have enough to deal with under his dead father’s duress, he’s back for a second round. Actually, that should be match. American playwright David Davalos transports Denmark’s troubled prince to Germany, October 1517. Having spent the summer in Poland, studying under an unknown yet radical astronomer by the name of Copernicus (yes, the Copernicus), he returns to Wittenberg University, stricken by a crisis of faith: to believe or not to believe? His usually ace tennis skills are as unreliable as his Shakespearean mother’s fidelity and he’s utterly undecided as to which major he should take. To complicate matters, two legendary academics are vying for his commitment. One is theology professor Martin Luther, frustrated, constipated and on the verge of inadvertently inspiring the Protestant Reformation. The other is philosopher Dr Faustus, heretic, hedonist, psychoanalyst, part-time pub musician and desperate, deluded lover of the non-committal Helen. Yes, it’s a crazy world. Dubbed as the ‘story-behind-the-stories’ of Hamlet, Marlowe’s Dr Faustus and the Protestant Reformation, Wittenberg is the kind of literary mash-up that Tom Stoppard fans would adore. Davalos dives into the most tormenting of spiritual and philosophical questions, yet his sense of the absurd is such that we’re never more than a moment away from a ridiculous plot twist, witty textual reference or underhanded wordplay. (During Hamlet’s encounter with Laertes in a Wittenberg-versus-Paris tennis match, the judge calls, “An out! A very palpable out!”). Benjamin Brockman’s set and lighting design embraces the play’s wordy world. Strings of pages ripped from referenced texts hang from the ceiling, like a papery forest. Dr Faustus keeps his father’s skull visible on a shelf — a reference to Hamlet’s famous graveyard scene. Four empty window frames fill the back wall. Simple effects — revolving lights that spin the pages into silver-tipped chaos and silhouetting during soliloquies — highlight moments of heightened psychological agony. Under Richard Hilliar’s direction, the Brevity Theatre cast tackles Wittenberg with brio. It’s a tough script, demanding complex diction and on-the-mark timing. David Woodland delivers a charismatic and rebellious take on Faustus, while Nick Curnow is a commanding yet deeply perturbed Luther. Hilliar makes the most of the contrast. Their exchanges — whether comical or filled with ire — are edgy and real. As the distressed Hamlet, Alexander Butt is suitably bewildered and angst-ridden. Lana Kershaw turns her multifaceted hand to three different roles — a sassy, flirtatious barmaid; an aptly tranquil Virgin Mary; and a much-desired yet immovable Helen. As the newly formed Brevity Theatre's second production (their first, Fully Committed, played at last year's Fringe Festival), Wittenberg is further evidence that Sydney would do well to roll out the red carpet in celebration of the company’s arrival. Having set out with the mission of “producing theatre told in a sharp and simple way”, they’re doing a fine job of achieving their intention.
For those that need a glass of wine to feel confident enough to get creative and paint, especially in public, Cork and Canvas is waiting. Offering public painting sessions and private events, this paint 'n' sip studio does not offer your typical art class. Aspiring artists are invited to BYO drinks and nibbles to enjoy while they paint — fridges, plates, glassware and all painting supplies are provided. Each session takes on a different theme, with the Cork and Canvas team taking you step-by-step through creating a Picasso-esque portrait of your mate, a pop-art-style painting of your pet, or the next Banksy exhibition piece. Sessions will set you back between $50–80, and groups of four or more score a cheeky discount. If you're looking for somewhere to host your next work party, private sessions can be booked for up to 53 painters. Walk in with a little liquid inspiration and walk out with a new masterpiece. Image: Trent Van der jagt.
Here's an excuse to roll out of bed early, then start your day with a cinema date: on Sunday mornings, Hoyts is slashing its standard ticket prices to $10 before midday at its cinemas across Australia, including in Sydney. Head to one of chain's picture palaces and pick whichever film that's playing, as long as it's an early session that begins prior 12.01pm, to score a bargain movie date to kick off winter. Sure, Sunday mornings are prime sleep-in time, but this is a hard deal to pass off if you're a cinephile, on a budget, like spending the colder months indoors, are looking for a cheap date idea or all of the above. Initially, the special was only running for June, but now it has been extended for the foreseeable future, with no end date locked in. Movie-wise, there are plenty of titles to choose from, whether you're keen on the Austin Butler-starring motorcycle drama The Bikeriders, the horror thrills of A Quiet Place: Day One, or getting animated with Inside Out 2 and Despicable Me 4. You can also catch Twisters and Deadpool & Wolverine, which release in July. You don't need to be a Hoyts member to score the discount; however, there are some caveats. The $10 tickets are only available on Sundays; can be booked online, via the Hoyts app or in-person at the cinema; and will attract a booking fee for everything but physical purchases. And again, the deal applies just to standard sessions, not HOYTS LUX and special events — but you can pay extra to sit in a D-BOX motion recliner or get the Xtremescreen experience. Updated Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
Fine dining institution Nel restaurant is bringing a whole new world of nostalgia to Sydney, with the return of its Once Upon a Time degustation. The Disney-themed feast was first created by Executive Chef Nelly Robinson — and the third iteration, which was meant to take place in mid-2021 until lockdown hit, is it's most fanciful yet. Available from Tuesday, January 18–Saturday, April 9, the 11-course menu features the 'Hundred Acre Wood', a honey-glazed confit pork belly with a Winnie the Pooh-themed twist — and 'Boo's Best Friend', a white chocolate and mint parfait that's designed to resemble Monster Inc protagonists Mike and Sully. Drifting away from the animated classics, the 'Dead Man's Chest; serves up red squid marinated in spiced beetroot juice and topped with a black garlic emulsion. And if all that isn't enough, you can also opt for a drinks package, which includes paired cocktails and wines for $105. While the menu is inspired by your childhood, you'll need that adult salary to enjoy it, with food setting you back $145 per person. The Once Upon a Time menu is available for dinner Tuesday–Saturday and for lunch on Saturday. [caption id="attachment_816116" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dead Man's Chest[/caption]
