Minimalist Aussie clothing designer Assembly Label has expanded again, this time by opening up a permanent surplus store where you can nab discounted threads on the reg. Instead of waiting for one of its warehouse sales, you can drop into Beaconsfield store all year-round. It sells its signature linen basics that make up the wardrobe of many a Sydneysider and seasonal pieces at a discounted price — that includes denim, tops, shorts, pants, swimwear and accessories in both men's and women's designs. Stock will be replenished weekly, too. The warehouse store is open every day of the week, and stock is replenished weekly.
This late-night haunt is among the best takeaway joints around and has garnered food-loving reverence from Sydneysiders everywhere. While Indian Home Diner serves up heaps of the cuisine's best-known dishes — including curries, tandoori bread and samosas — the go-to here is the Indian kebab. These are wrapped in plain or garlic naan, instead of the Lebanese bread you get in most local kebab shops. Choose from the classic, double chicken tikka, meat curry, veggie or jumbo garlic cheese varieties. Each comes topped with your choice of aloo chop (potato croquette) or onion bhaji. Yep, it's big, bold and you'll eat up every last bite. Image: Kimberley Low
The name does a lot of the heavy lifting for this French bistro situated above P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants' Paddington outpost on Oxford Street. Porcine is a restaurant tailor-made for the carnivorous-inclined to pig out on excellent food and wine till they're tickled pink courtesy of owners Nicholas Hill (former Head Chef at The Old Fitz) and ex-Don Peppino's co-owner Harry Levy. The menu quite literally goes the whole hog with a focus on nose-to-tail cooking. Highlights of this approach appear on the menu in the form of pork shoulder with pomme purée and choucroute garnie; pork creton with lentils; and truffled pork and prune pâté with duck fat toast. Don't fret if you're meat-averse. Veg friends are looked after with a wild mushroom vol-au-vent, hearty autumn vegetables with vinaigrette, and a crisp raw endive with plum, capers and mint. There are plenty of drinks on offer including classic cocktails and an impressive wine list featuring varietals across the grape spectrum. Or, better yet, you can pick up your favourite bottle from the conveniently located shop downstairs and BYO for a $25 corkage fee.
Sydney's degustation doyen, British-born chef Nelly Robinson, has often championed the flavours of his motherland, the UK, at both his Surry Hills fine diner NEL and his Glebe gastropub Winstons at The Nags Head. However, the annual return of his Native Australia menu embraces the culinary riches of the Land Down Under, which the visionary restaurateur has called home for more than a decade. "This menu is a true celebration of the incredible native ingredients of this fine nation," Robinson says of the latest iteration of his multi-course antipodean-inspired feast. "As always, each menu curation at NEL is a passage of discovery and marrying of flavours. Our wonderful and attentive floor staff will play an integral part in taking our diners on this culinary journey." Not only is the produce sourced for this menu Australian, but some of the cooking techniques employed are also Aussie-coded, such as a wildfire Murray cod, marinated and charred to perfection on the barbie before being served with a mushroom ana. Other highlights of the menu include a rich crab curry dressed with native thyme and oregano, and folded into a soft spinach taco. Rounding out the meal, diners can tuck into a sweet treat shaped like Australia inspired by that most Aussie of biscuits, the Tim Tam. Flavoured with wattleseed and salted caramel, it's a prime example of the whimsy and wonder that have become the hallmark of NEL's degustation experiences. For the first time, NEL is expanding its degustation format from 11 courses to 12 for $185 per person. Matching beverages, perfectly paired by NEL's sommelier, cost an additional $155 per person.
David Spanton might just be Kings Cross' biggest fan. Not once but twice now, the Potts Point local has sprung into action when a beloved venue in The Cross has gone up for sale, turning longstanding spaces into vibrant new bars dedicated to their former custodians. The first was Piccolo Bar, a tiny Roslyn Street institution that Spanton saved and rejuvenated in late 2021, keeping all of the charm of the original while equipping it with a fresh coat of paint, a liquor license and an exciting drinks menu. Now, he's back to save another much-loved spot, this time taking the reins at the former digs of Cafe Hernandez on Kings Cross Road. The 24-hour cafe had been operating on this leafy street for 40 years — with Spanton recounting visits from the likes of Frank Sinatra and Guns N' Roses over the years. It closed in September of last year when the Hernandez family decided to step away from the venue. Worried it would be turned into a fashion boutique or hairdresser, Spanton came to the rescue, purchasing the property and transforming it into a bar devoted to fortified wine, fittingly called Vermuteria. [caption id="attachment_885994" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Delany, David Spanton and General Manager Michael Drescher[/caption] Once again collaborating with Michael Delany (Cafe Freda's, Club 77, The Abercrombie and SHADES) on the design, Spanton is currently in the process of breathing new life into the space. But fans of the original cafe can rest easy — the new fitout will maintain key elements of the former, including an original painting from earlier owner Paquita Sabrafen depicting the Count-Duke of Olivares, on which she has superimposed her husband's face. The walls will also feature photographs of Cafe Hernandez and the Polish deli that occupied the space between the 50s and 70s, linking the bar with its storied past. "People will be able to come in and feel a connection to what was Hernandez Cafe," Spanton tells Concrete Playground. "It's one of those iconic venues in Sydney that most people know about if they're from the Potts Point/Kings Cross area, where you could always go to Hernandez to get a coffee." Much like Piccolo, Vermuteria will showcase a small specialised drinks menu and a range of tasty snacks, with vermouth and sherry at the heart of the booze offering. Barrels of vermouth will be scattered throughout the bar, and guests will be able to order vermouth on tap, sample the house-made sweet vermouth, and explore a lineup of sherry ranging from fino to manzanilla. A cocktail selection is set to include negronis, spritzes and sherry cobblers. [caption id="attachment_885993" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paquita Sabrafen's painting of the Count-Duke of Olivares[/caption] The snacks menu will pay homage to the former deli, with charcuterie from LP's Quality Meats starring alongside gildas, tinned seafood, cheese plates and sausages. "There's definitely a much more positive vibe going on in Kings Cross," Spanton continues. "I think that a lot of great venues are starting to open in the area and a lot of places are starting to get a lot busier. I think the customers are loving that there's a lot more going on. And, I think that Kings Cross and Potts Point have some of the best customers." Fans of Cafe Hernandez's coffee can also still get their fix. While the cafe has closed down, the Hernandez brand is still producing coffee beans which you can order online. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vermuteria (@vermuteriasydney) Vermuteria is set to open in February 2023 at 60 Kings Cross Road, Kings Cross.
For the past two years, heading off on holiday has been a matter of 'if' rather than 'where'. If and when border restrictions and lockdowns have allowed it, we've all been travelling to wherever we've been allowed, whenever we've been allowed — across Australia and, when the trans-Tasman bubble was open, to New Zealand as well. With Sydney and Melbourne now free of their stay-at-home stints, Queensland and Tasmania announcing their domestic border reopening plans, and the Australian Government allowing vaccinated Aussies to leave the country purely for a getaway from Monday, November 1, simply heading to whichever few spots will have you will soon be a thing of the past. You'll have options, in other words. And, ahead of all of those border changes, Virgin has just dropped a sale that's serving up a heap of cheap domestic and international flights. Called 'Yay for Holidays', this sale has 1.7-million discounted fares up for grabs — but you'll need to get in quick. They went on sale today, Monday, October 25; however, they're only available until midnight AEST on Monday, November 1 or sold out, whichever comes first. All one-way fares, the discounted economy flights cover 28 different destinations, starting at $49. Some of the domestic specials on offer include Sydney to Byron Bay for $55, Sydney to the Sunshine Coast for $75, Melbourne to Launceston from $59, Melbourne to the Gold Coast from $89, Brisbane to Hamilton Island from $85, Brisbane to Cairns from $89, Adelaide to Melbourne from $79 and Perth to the Gold Coast from $259 (and vice versa in all cases, naturally). Internationally, options span routes to Fiji, Bali and New Zealand. So, you can head from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane to Nadi for $229–239, to Bali from all three cities for $279 and to Queenstown from the trio from $287–302. If you're wondering when you can travel — depending on border restrictions, of course — you can book flights for trips between November 2, 2021–June 23, 2022. Only some fares cover seat selection and checked baggage, however, with the airline announcing back in August that it is now splitting its economy flights into three types. Economy Lite doesn't include checking any baggage or picking your seat, but Economy Choice does — and Economy Flex gives you extra flexibility (hence the name) if you have to change your plans later. As we are still in the middle of a pandemic, flying is little different to normal. Virgin has introduced a range of safety measures, including hand sanitisation stations, contactless check-in and face masks provided to all passengers. Wearing masks on flights also became mandatory in Australia in January. Virgin's 'Yay for Holidays' sale runs from today, Monday, October 25–Monday, November 1 — or until sold out. Find out more about current Australian border restrictions via the Australian Government's Health Direct website and its Smart Traveller website.
Bali is a no-brainer for Aussie travellers. It's close, beautiful, and it's packed with the kind of beaches, spas and resorts that make you want to quit your job and move there permanently (kidding…sort of). If you're going to do Bali, you have to do it right – which means finding the best accommodation. Luckily, you've got some incredible options. And now, thanks to Visa, you can book your dream stay with 10% off through our dedicated platform, Concrete Playground Trips. Whether you're chasing waves and smoothie bowls in Canggu, planning a honeymoon getaway in Uluwatu or heading to Ubud for something a little more off-radar, these eight hotels will have you booking that flight ASAP. Simply book using your Visa card to score the discount, then start packing.
December is here, and we're sure the sound of jingling bells is well and truly lodged in your head — but if your TV isn't screening an endless festive movie marathon, is it really Christmas? This portion of year isn't just the prime period for gift-giving, lots of eating, and spending quality time with your nearest and dearest, but also for watching and rewatching all those flicks that make you feel merry. Or, if you're hardly the jolly type, to get a dose of Christmas with some offbeat, action-packed and/or darkly comic picks. Just what makes a Christmas film has been hotly debated. Some folks, like Last Christmas director Paul Feig, rightly believe that Die Hard counts. Others stick firmly to movies that weave in the season in a more overt way. Whichever category you fall into, and however you feel about the season, we have a list of suggestions for your Yuletide viewing pleasure. Pour yourself some eggnog, get cosy on your couch and start streaming. Home Alone (and Its Sequels) In 2021, a brand new Home Alone movie arrived to demand your attention. Yes, the 90s classic was remade — by Disney+, and with Jojo Rabbit's Archie Yates, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt's Ellie Kemper and Deadpool & Wolverine's Rob Delaney among the cast. Nostalgia might draw you to it, but the Mouse House's streaming platform is already serving up classic Home Alone delights, with the 1990 original, 1992's Home Alone 2: Lost In New York and 1997's Home Alone 3 all available (and also 2002's Home Alone 4, if you're a completist). Naturally, the original is the one that calls everyone's names whenever they're feeling festive. It was the highest-grossing live-action comedy at the US box office for more than two decades for a very good reason. Watch as Macaulay Culkin (Entergalactic) puts in a star-making performance, Joe Pesci (Bupkis) and Daniel Stern (For All Mankind) play bumbling burglars, and plenty of inventive booby traps get in the way. Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost In New York, Home Alone 3, Home Alone 4 and Home Sweet Home Alone stream via Disney+. Happiest Season Forget Twilight. Yes, it's the film franchise that Kristen Stewart (Love Lies Bleeding) is best known for, but her resume spans much further than sparkly vampires. And, courtesy of Happiest Season, it includes a festive rom-com that gives its well-worn genre a much-needed queer focus. Stewart plays Abby, the girlfriend of Harper (Mackenzie Davis, Speak No Evil). The former usually hates Christmas, but she's willing to give the usual trimmings a go for the latter. Alas, it turns out that Harper hasn't come out to her family, which cause more a few complications over the holidays. From the get-go, it's easy to see where the film is headed, but Happiest Season willingly sticks to a formula in order to update it. And, it's likely this LGBTQIA+-friendly dose of merriment wouldn't have found the right mix of festive familiarity and emotional substance with other leads. Happiest Season streams via Binge. Read our full review. The Nightmare Before Christmas More than a quarter-century ago, filmmakers Tim Burton (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) and Henry Selick (Wendell & Wild) served up one of the most-enchanting holiday films to hit the big screen — and one that doubles as both Halloween and Christmas viewing. It's Burton's name that everyone remembers; however, a pre-Coraline Selick is actually in the director's chair on The Nightmare Before Christmas, which charms with both its offbeat story and its gorgeous stop-motion animation. Burton came up with the narrative though, because Jack Skellington only could've originated from the Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands filmmaker's brain. Imaginative, original and engaging (even as it nods to Dr Seuss a few times), it still remains a festive treat for all ages. The Nightmare Before Christmas streams via Disney+. The Holdovers Melancholy, cantankerousness, angst, hurt and snow all blanket Barton Academy in Alexander Payne's (Nebraska) The Holdovers. It's Christmas 1970 in New England in this thoughtful story that's given room to breathe and build, but festive cheer is in short supply among the students and staff that give the movie its moniker. Soon, there's just three folks left behind: Angus Tully (debutant Dominic Sessa), whose mother wants more time alone with his new stepdad; curmudgeonly professor Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti, Billions), who's being punished for failing the son of a wealthy donor, but would be hanging around campus anyway; and grieving cook Mary Lamb (Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Only Murders in the Building, and an Oscar-winner for her work here), who is weathering her first Christmas after losing her son — a Barton alum — in the Vietnam War. The Holdovers streams via Netflix and Binge. Read our full review. Last Christmas Some Christmas movies — many festive movies, let's be honest — get the usual carols stuck in your head. Fancy a little George Michael whirling around your brain instead? That's what's on offer with Last Christmas, for obvious reasons. Just read the title and you'll already be humming the appropriate tune. This recent festive rom-com is both extremely likeable and very predictable. In other words, it's perfectly suitable feel-good Christmas in July viewing. The cast, which includes Emilia Clarke (Secret Invasion), Henry Golding (The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare) and Emma Thompson (Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical) are all an absolute delight, Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, A Simple Favour) directs with a light touch, and the George Michael hits just keep coming. Last Christmas streams via Netflix, Stan, Prime Video and Paramount+. Read our full review, and our interview with Paul Feig. It's a Wonderful Life It's been 78 years since Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life first warmed hearts, and started to become a festive tradition. The ultimate 'what if?' tale, the five-time Oscar nominee is also a shining example of a movie that didn't do well at the box office originally but has more than made up for it since. Featuring a pitch-perfect performance from the great James Stewart as the downtrodden George Bailey, the film's charms are many. It's sweet, optimistic but still willing to look at grim realities. That's what happens when Bailey has bleak thoughts one Christmas Eve, and contemplates ending it all, before a guardian angel shows him what life would've been like in his home town of Bedford Falls without him. It's a Wonderful Life streams via Stan. Eyes Wide Shut It isn't by accident that Eyes Wide Shut, Stanley Kubrick's last complete film and one of the masterful director's absolute best, takes place during the holidays. The late, great filmmaker plunges into a fraying marriage at a time of year that's either blissful or fraught in relationships, or seesaws between the two, with then real-life couple Nicole Kidman (The Perfect Couple) and Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One) as his leads. And, in the process, he has plenty to say about the institutions, traditions and expectations that society tells us will bring contentment — the wealth and romantic ideals that fall into the same categories, too — and the gaping chasm between those glossy notions and reality. When it hit cinemas, Eyes Wide Shut was marketed as an erotic thriller — 'twas the 90s — but despite the sex, masquerades and relationship games, that's only one layer of the feature. Following Bill (Cruise) and Alice (Kidman) Hartford as they navigate the festive period, complete with indulgent parties and strung-up lights aplenty, this probing film has zero cheer for Christmas' shiny facade, or the annual promise that forced jolliness will make anyone's lives better. Eyes Wide Shut streams via iTunes. How to Make Gravy Normally when it comes to watching Christmas movies, you can pick whichever day in December takes your fancy and press play. But How to Make Gravy is best watched on December 21, because that's the date that's been known as Gravy Day since 1996 thanks to Paul Kelly's classic tune 'How to Make Gravy'. Yes, this is a movie adaptation of the song, with musician Meg Washington and writer/director Nick Waterman behind it. And yes, it spins a story around the many characters that Kelly names in his track. The Royal Hotel co-stars Daniel Henshall (RFDS) and Hugo Weaving (Slow Horses) feature as Joe and Noel. The first hails from the tune — he's the prisoner who writes to his brother Dan (Brenton Thwaites, Titans) to kick things off — while Noel, a new addition to the tale, is a veteran inmate that he crosses paths with inside. With a cast that also spans Kate Mulvany (The Clearing), Damon Herriman (Better Man), Kieran Darcy-Smith (Mr Inbetween) and Kym Gyngell (The Artful Dodger), plus Titane's Agathe Rousselle in her first English-language film, How to Make Gravy charts the events that lead to Joe being away from his family come festive season, how they're coping without him and the underlying factors that he needs to face to spend next Christmas at home. How to Make Gravy streams via Binge. Read our interview with Daniel Henshall and Hugo Weaving. The Muppet Christmas Carol It's time to play the music, light the lights and see Charles Dickens' classic play out in felt — and with Michael Caine (The Great Escaper) as Ebenezer Scrooge. Any Muppets movie is ace seasonal viewing because they're all so warmhearted, but The Muppet Christmas Carol was obviously made for the merriest time of year. The movie follows Dickens's tale, with the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge given a change of perspective by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come. Here, however, Jim Henson's beloved creations join in, with Kermit the Frog playing clerk Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit, Gonzo narrating the story as Dickens (with help from Rizzo the Rat), Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig and Robin the Frog as Tiny Tim. Other Muppets show up, because of course they do. The Muppet Christmas Carol streams via Disney+. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale Calling all festive horror fans — and fans of deadpan comedy. You'll get a bit of both with Finnish thriller Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, because sometimes, that's just what the season needs. Taking inspiration from the Joulupukki, a pagan and folkloric figure that's helped shape Santa Claus-centric stories, this creative film starts as all sinister tales do: with the unearthing of something eerie and perhaps best left forgotten. Here, after a British research team disturbs an ancient burial mound, the local reindeer become the first casualties. Twisted and off-kilter, eager to play with mythology and unafraid of gruesome imagery, this is the kind of Christmas flick that doesn't come around very often — all from Jalmari Helander, the filmmaker behind 2023's underseen Sisu. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale streams via iTunes and Prime Video. Tangerine Before writer/director Sean Baker gave the world 2024 Palme d'Or-winner Anora, plus The Florida Project and Red Rocket before that — each among the best movies of their year — he spent Christmas Eve with two transgender sex workers as one learns that her boyfriend and pimp has been unfaithful. Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) is fresh from a 28-day stint in jail when she teams up with her best pal Alexandra (Mya Taylor, High Tide) to chase down her other half Chester (James Ransone, The Black Phone). While getting revenge on cheating spouses isn't a new topic on film, Tangerine is its own raw and delightful effort. Baker also shot the Los Angeles-set feature solely on iPhones, which proves quite the technical feat, and doesn't stop it from being visually inventive again and again. Tangerine streams via iTunes. Christmess "Happy holidays" might be two of the most-used words each and every December, but this time of year isn't jolly for everyone. With the gripping and affecting Christmess, writer/director Heath Davis (Broke, Book Week and Locusts) stares clear-eyed at the haunting regrets, aching loneliness and complicated family dynamics that are part of the festive season for many — and has his characters chat about the best Christmas movies, too. Fresh-out-of-rehab actor Chris Flint (Steve Le Marquand, The Twelve) is at this Australian dramedy's centre, as he tries to get his life back on track — a job playing a shopping-centre Santa included — while living in a halfway house with his sponsor Nick (Darren Gilshenan, Colin From Accounts) and fellow recovering alcoholic Joy (musician Hannah Joy). Christmess streams via Binge. Nutcrackers After a few years spent making horror movies — and building upon genre classics at that, thanks to Halloween, Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends and The Exorcist: Believer — filmmaker David Gordon Green has swapped scares for heartwarming seasonal hijinks. Consider that one of his latest feature's big returns. Opening the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival before making its way to streaming, Nutcrackers also gets Ben Stiller back in front of the camera (although he can be forgiven for his time behind the scenes given that he's been busy directing Severance). Long-term Stiller fans should spot echoes of Reality Bites, which he helmed as well as co-starred in, in his Nutcrackers character Mike Maxwell. Looking the corporate part and devoted to his job, he's not fond of the idea of shaking up his routine — or jeopardising his career advancement prospects. Then tragedy strikes, leaving him to find new guardians for his four rambunctious nephews who definitely don't want to go into foster care, and also have a creative take on classic ballet The Nutcracker that they're eager to stage. Nutcrackers streams via Disney+. White Reindeer If your attitude towards Christmas is 'bah humbug' or something similarly grinchy, then White Reindeer might just be the festive film for you. It starts with the festive season approaching, and with real estate agent Suzanne Barrington (Anna Margaret Hollyman, Sister Aimee) happy with her weatherman husband Jeff (Nathan Williams, Younger) — and super excited about the most wonderful time of the year. Then, tragedy strikes, and Zach Clark's (The Becomers) black comedy leans firmly into its genre. Tackling dark subjects, as well as the fact that Christmas isn't all presents, big hugs and glittering lights for everyone, this is a very funny, savvy and astute movie. It's also purposefully awkward, and remains a great example of low-budget indie filmmaking no matter the time of year. White Reindeer streams via YouTube Movies. Carol Carol falls into the category of films that, purely because they're set at the right time of year, automatically qualify as Christmas movies (see also: a few other flicks on this list). If that's the excuse you need to revisit Todd Haynes' (May December) aching romantic drama, then that's completely fine. Any excuse will do, really. The more eyeballs soaking in this sumptuous tale of forbidden love either for the first time or the hundredth, the better. Starring Rooney Mara (Women Talking) as a shopgirl who falls for Cate Blanchett's (Disclaimer) titular character, and based on Patricia Highsmith's novel The Price of Salt, the 50s-set drama fills the screen with emotion as the two women confront their feelings. Haynes' resume isn't short on highlights (Velvet Goldmine and Far From Heaven, for example), but might be his crowning achievement. Carol streams via ABC iView. Read our full review. Batman Returns Why so seasonal? No, the Joker doesn't say that in Batman Returns. In fact, that villain isn't even the Dark Knight's nemesis in this 1992 film. The sentiment still fits, though. Given the amount of times that Batman has graced cinemas, one of those movies was always going to be appropriate Christmas viewing — and Tim Burton's (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) second stint unpacking Bruce Wayne's alter ego, plus Michael Keaton's (also Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) second round of playing the titular character, is 100-percent that movie. Christmas provides the backdrop for Oswald Cobblepot (Danny DeVito, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and Selina Kyle's (Michelle Pfeiffer, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) antics — aka The Penguin and Catwoman — in this sequel to 1989's Batman, and lights up Gotham City as its namesake endeavours to save the day. Again, there's never any shortage of Dark Knight flicks to choose from, including two more follow-ups in the 80s and 90s franchise, Christopher Nolan's trilogy, Ben Affleck in the cape and cowl and 2022's Robert Pattinson-starring The Batman, but 'tis the season for this one. Batman Returns streams via Binge. Elf Will Ferrell (The Boys) plays an elf. It sounds like the idea for a Saturday Night Live sketch, really. To the joy of Christmas-themed film fans everywhere, that's not the case with Elf — and even though it was written with Jim Carrey (Sonic the Hedgehog 3) in mind, and even though he went seasonal again with Spirited in 2022, this festive comedy ranks alongside Anchorman as one of the movies that Ferrell will always be remembered for. He's both amusing and endearing as Buddy, a human raised by Santa's elves who only realises that he's not like everyone else he knows when he grows up. It's a basic fish-out-of-water setup, but showered with humour, heart and festive goodwill. Also, long before he directed Iron Man, The Jungle Book and the photorealistic version of The Lion King, this is what actor-turned-filmmaker Jon Favreau served up. Elf streams via Binge and Stan. Gremlins Fun fact for Breaking Bad fans: Jonathan Banks, aka Mike Ehrmantraut, plays a deputy in Gremlins. He's not the star of the show, though, and nor are any of the movie's humans. No, that honour goes to its furry creatures that definitely shouldn't be exposed to water or sunlight, or fed after midnight. That's the warning that Randall Peltzer (Hoyt Axton, King Cobra) receives when he buys an unusual gift for his teenage son Billy (Zach Galligan, Midnight Peepshow) from a Chinatown store and, as Joe Dante's (Nightmare Cinema) upbeat, anarchic comedy demonstrates, it's advice that should be heeded. Another trusty tidbit that's worth remembering: no matter how old you are, watching Gremlins will make you want a mogwai for yourself. Gremlins streams via Binge. Black Christmas A fun, feisty remake with a female perspective and a refreshing sense of sisterhood, Black Christmas is a college-set slasher flick for the #MeToo era. The latter gets thrown around a helluva lot, but with this updated version of a 1974 cult movie, writer/director Sophia Takal (Always Shine) firmly leans into the term. Indeed, Black Christmas circa 2019 lives and breathes its #MeToo mindset, particularly in its story and characters. In this Imogen Poots (Outer Range)-led, Cary Elwes (Knuckles)-costarring effort, a masked predator stalks women as the festive season swings into gear, specifically targeting sorority sisters at a stately university. There's a mounting body count, but these gals aren't merely a parade of powerless, disposable victims. Black Christmas streams via Netflix. Read our full review. Die Hard Yippee ki-yay, fans of both action and seasonal hijinks (and of Bruce Willis crawling around in vents trying to fight off terrorists, too). It's time to follow in the footsteps of Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Jake Peralta and love Die Hard unconditionally, because — by virtue of being set on Christmas Eve — this is a Christmas-appropriate film. The story, if you somehow don't know it, involves NYPD cop John McClane (Willis, Assassin), a Los Angeles building attacked by the nefarious Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman, Eye in the Sky) and plenty of explosive antics. We know, we know, Rickman also features in that other, more overtly festive-themed favourite, aka Love Actually, but there's nothing quite like a couple of hours spent at Nakatomi Plaza. Die Hard streams via Disney+. In Bruges Before The Banshees of Inisherin, filmmaker Martin McDonagh teamed up with actors Colin Farrell (The Penguin) and Brendan Gleeson (Joker: Folie à Deux) on another darkly comic gem. In Bruges is writer/director McDonagh's first feature, in fact, and what a stunning debut it is, diving into hitmen chaos in Belgium over the Christmas period. McDonagh's whip-smart script only mentions the time of year a few times, but its titular setting is lit up for the occasion. Farrell's Ray is hardly thrilled, though; "For two weeks? In fucking Bruges? In a room like this? With you? No way," is his response to being holed up and hiding out with his mentor Ken (Gleeson) at the behest of their handler Harry (Ralph Fiennes, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar). Blackly comedic amusement springs from their predicament, and so does mayhem, melancholy and even hope. In Bruges streams via Netflix and Stan. That Christmas Richard Curtis is getting festive again. The screenwriter behind Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and the first two Bridget Jones movies — and a big driver of Hugh Grant's (Heretic) early career, clearly — will forever be associated with the jolliest part of the calendar thanks to Love Actually. Now he's added That Christmas to his resume, and a clip of his past end-of-year flick that everyone knows and has thoughts about even features in this animated all-ages-friendly affair. That Christmas springs from the page, from Curtis' books That Christmas, The Empty Stocking and Snow Day with illustrator Rebecca Cobb. On-screen, he's intertwined those tales, with Simon Hunter (A Tale Dark & Grimm) directing, Peter Souter (Married Single Other) co-scripting, and the film's account of home-alone kids both lonely and mischievous featuring voicework by Bill Nighy (The Wild Robot), Brian Cox (The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim) and more. That Christmas streams via Netflix. Bad Santa The sequel didn't stuff anyone's stocking full of laughs, sadly, but the original Bad Santa is a masterclass in seasonal misanthropy and utterly inappropriate humour. Now two decades since Billy Bob Thornton (Landman) first popped on the red suit to play the world's most begrudging Father Christmas — actually a professional thief that uses his gig as a department-store Santa as a cover to case the place — he's still one of the most memorable festive figures there is. Everything that can go wrong does for Thornton's character Willie, and every boundary that director Terry Zwigoff (Art School Confidential) and writers Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (Jungle Cruise) can test gets pushed as well. Grinches, this comedy understands your Yuletide disdain and milks it — and finds hilarious uses for a sack full of the festive film genre's cliches, child sidekicks and all. Bad Santa streams via Prime Video. Scrooged Every Christmas, real or otherwise could use a dose of Bill Murray (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire) — even when he's hardly brimming with festive cheer. So, back in 1988, Scrooged delivered just that in a modern retelling of A Christmas Carol. Murray plays arrogant, selfish TV executive Frank Cross. He doesn't share the same name as Charles Dickens' famous grouch, but he's just as lacking in feel-good spirit. Everyone knows how the broad story goes, with ghosts of Christmas past, present and future popping up to teach this cynical crank the error of his ways. When Murray is involved, though — and when he's also leading a sing-along — even what seems like the umpteenth adaptation of a well-known story doesn't feel routine. Scrooged streams via Binge. Carry-On What if Die Hard met TV series Hijack, but starring Taron Egerton (Tetris) and Jason Bateman (Air), and with Non-Stop director Jaume Collet-Serra on helming duties? That's Carry-On, 2024's addition to the festive thriller subgenre. Egerton plays a Los Angeles TSA officer with a newly pregnant girlfriend (Sofia Carson, Purple Hearts) and therefore fresh motivation to ask his boss (Dean Norris, Law & Order: Organised Crime) for a promotion, who's given a chance to show he's worthy of climbing the airport's corporate ladder on Christmas Eve. Baggage scanning duties await, then, as a test — but a trial of a different kind swiftly arrives. Via a voice speaking to him through an earpiece, Carry-On's protagonist is soon being told to let a particular piece of luggage through or face deadly consequences. Bateman is a treat playing firmly against type, in what proves a well-cast picture all round. And while it's easy to see where the story is going, the writing remains smart and the setpieces are lively. Carry-On streams via Netflix.
Helping kick off 2019's host-free Emmy awards, Bryan Cranston might've uttered the most obvious line of the night: "television has never been this damn good". You'd expect an event dedicated to celebrating and rewarding the year's best TV shows to make that claim, of course — that's really the whole message behind the glittering annual gala. Still, it doesn't render the Breaking Bad star's statement any less accurate. This year's newly minted crop of Emmy winners definitely make that point, and what a crop they are. Sure, the ceremony itself always serves up plenty of its own highlights — Phoebe Waller-Bridge's complete and utter shock at winning not once, not twice, but three times; Jharrel Jerome's earnest excitement at winning over his big-name fellow nominees; and Michelle Williams' impassioned and inspiring speech about women being respected in their profession, for example — but it's their TV programs that we'll all be talking about for years to come. Indeed, from hitman comedies, to multiple depictions of historical tragedies, to everyone's favourite dragon-filled epic fantasy series, this year's winners are reason enough to spend a week or several on your couch. Or, to be more realistic, to add all of the below shows to your various streaming queues and eventually work your way through them. (We haven't told you to watch 2019 Drama Series recipient Game of Thrones, though, because we're sure you've already done that.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX2ViKQFL_k FLEABAG What it's about: When Fleabag's eponymous London resident turns to the camera, talks about her messy life and just generally looks exasperated, she's one of the most relatable characters ever committed to the screen. Unhappy, uncertain and surrounded by chaos in all of her relationships — romantic, platonic and with her family members — she's the complicated, charismatic protagonist for today's frenzied times. Not only creating and writing the series based on her one-woman Edinburgh Festival show, but starring as Fleabag as well, Phoebe Waller-Bridge is simply revelatory. And while the British comedy only spans two six-episode seasons, it packs more into its short run than most shows manage with twice, thrice or even ten times as many instalments. Won: Comedy Series, Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), Writing for a Comedy Series (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), Directing for a Comedy Series (Harry Bradbeer). Where to watch it: Amazon Prime. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9APLXM9Ei8 CHERNOBYL What it's about: Venturing back 33 years to the worst nuclear disaster the world has ever seen, Chernobyl is a horror story of the most gripping and galvanising kind. The central explosion, caused when the titular power plant's reactor became unstable, is terrifying. The fallout — both in terms of radioactive debris falling from the sky, and the intangible ramifications — is just as fear-inducing. What truly cuts to the bone in this exceptional miniseries, however, is the bureaucratic arrogance and wilful ignorance that follows. There's nothing more chilling than seeing people hold others' lives in their hands and choose to do absolutely nothing. To convey that message, the five-part series also benefits from superb writing, direction and performances, including from Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård and Emily Watson. Won: Limited Series; Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special (Johan Renck); Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special (Craig Mazin). Where to watch it: Foxtel Now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3F9n_smGWY WHEN THEY SEE US What it's about: Another huge true tale. Another huge cast, including Emmy-winner Jharrel Jerome, Michael K. Williams, Joshua Jackson, Blair Underwood, Vera Farmiga and John Leguizamo. Another powerful mini-series. When They See Us steps through the story of Central Park Five — a case that's endlessly infuriating and shocking. In April 1989, Trisha Meili was raped while jogging, while eight other people were attacked across New York. In the aftermath, five African American and Hispanic American teenagers were prosecuted, convicted and jailed, only for their charges to be vacated when the real culprit confessed more than a decade later. From Selma to 13th, director Ava DuVernay has become one of the most crucial voices in interrogating America's oppressive and unjust past, and this stellar drama proves a worthy addition to her resume. Won: Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie (Jharrel Jerome). Where to watch it: Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir1_hjemxNA BARRY What it's about: Airing its second season this year — and thankfully already renewed for a third — Barry boasts one of the best comedy premises on television. An ex-soldier and sharpshooter still haunted by his overseas military experience, Bill Hader's titular character has been putting his skills to use as a hitman since he returned from active duty. It's a natural fit, but then he heads to Los Angeles and discovers acting. Watching Barry try to leave his death-dealing past behind, and watching the chaos that springs for both his new thespian pals (including Henry Winkler) and his old gangster contacts (such as scene-stealer Anthony Carrigan) continually makes for both hilarious and dramatic viewing. Won: Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Bill Hader). Where to watch it: Foxtel Now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVTZhOLpXjI KILLING EVE What it's about: At the Golden Globes back in January, Sandra Oh picked up a shiny prize for British spy thriller Killing Eve. At the Emmys, it was her co-lead Jodie Comer's turn to nab a gong. One plays an MI5 investigator charged with tracking down a psychopathic killer, while the other portrays the seductive assassin that she's chasing — and where their interactions go from there is best discovered by watching. Twisty, innovative and unafraid to do what it damn well likes with a well-worn genre, the highly acclaimed adaptation of Luke Jennings' Codename Villanelle novellas is also the second of this year's winning shows to bear Phoebe Waller-Bridge's fingerprints (she's an executive producer, and wrote four of the first season's episodes). Won: Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Jodie Comer). Where to watch it: Stan (season one) and ABC iView (season two). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_5fqDZCjQo THE ACT What it's about: Perhaps you've heard about Dee Dee Blanchard and her daughter Gypsy Rose. Perhaps you even read Buzzfeed's piece about them, 'Dee Dee Wanted Her Daughter To Be Sick, Gypsy Wanted Her Mom To Be Murdered'. You'd remember if you have — while true-crime tales are far from uncommon at the moment, especially on-screen, this one definitely stands out. Drawing upon on the aforementioned article for its first season, The Act steps into a story of abuse, death and Munchausen syndrome by proxy that really has to be seen to be believed. Patricia Arquette picked up an Emmy for playing the abusive Dee Dee; however, she's in exceptional company, with the series also starring Joey King, AnnaSophia Robb, Chloë Sevigny and Calum Worthy. Won: Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (Patricia Arquette). Where to watch it: Google Play. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hAXVqrljbs OZARK What it's about: Just a couple of months ago, when the final batch of episodes from Arrested Development's fifth season dropped, no one really cared. That might sound harsh; however, it's a case of sad but true. Don't worry — star Jason Bateman certainly has enough to keep him busy elsewhere. Since 2017, he's been leading, executive producing and sometimes even directing Netflix crime drama Ozark. In fact, he just won an Emmy for the latter. Following a financial advisor who moves his family from Chicago to a quiet Missouri town after a money-laundering scheme goes wrong, this is one of Netflix's quiet achievers. That it also features the always-exceptional Laura Linney, as well as this year's Supporting Actress in a Drama Series winner Julia Garner, also helps. Won: Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Julia Garner), Directing for a Drama Series (Jason Bateman). Where to watch it: Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXd_1FXw6TI POSE What it's about: New York's drag ballroom scene comes to the small screen in Pose, and the result is one of the liveliest shows on television. As energetic and inclusive as you'd expect given its setting, it's the latest series created by Nip/Tuck, Glee and American Horror Story's Ryan Murphy — although it clearly owes its biggest debt to seminal 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning. Story-wise, Pose follows a motley crew of queer and nonconforming African American and Latin American characters as they they vogue, dance and pose their way through performances, with each competitor vying for glory for their house. After diving into the community during the 80s in its debut run, the show's second season jumped forward to the 90s. No matter what decade he's in, as the resident emcee, Tony winner and now Emmy recipient Billy Porter continually steals the show. Won: Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Billy Porter). Where to watch it: Foxtel Now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9TKHvvaMfE SUCCESSION What it's about: Meet the Roy family. Patriarch Logan (Brian Cox) started a media and entertainment conglomerate, turned it into a huge success and now wields considerable wealth and power; however, his health is failing. Because this is a family business, his children Siobhan (Aussie actor Sarah Snook), Roman (Kieran Culkin), Kendall (Jeremy Strong) and Connor (Alan Ruck) are all waiting in the wings — although Logan still needs to work out who'll do what when he's no longer working. If this sounds more than a little like the real-life Murdochs, well, you won't be the first to make that connection. Satirical as well as dramatic (and a compelling example of both genres, too), it's the latest series from Peep Show, The Thick of It and Black Mirror writer Jesse Armstrong. Won: Writing for a Drama Series (Jesse Armstrong). Where to watch it: Foxtel Now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_w3UNHPIXQ FOSSE/VERDON What it's about: It might be based on the biography Fosse by Sam Wasson, but this eight-part series focuses on two pivotal real-life figures, as the show's different moniker makes plain. It's impossible to explore the career of director and choreographer Bob Fosse without telling the tale of actor and dancer Gwen Verdon, after all, with their lives linked both professionally and personally. The ups, the downs, the enormous commitment to their work, and the huge productions such as Cabaret, Chicago and All That Jazz — they all form part of Fosse/Verdon. So do exceptional performances by Sam Rockwell as Fosse and Michelle Williams as Verdon, as well as Once Upon a Time in Hollywood standout Margaret Qualley as another dancer pivotal to their stories. Won: Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (Michelle Williams). Where to watch it: Foxtel Now.
In a bustling city like Sydney, it's easy to lose your "village". With its sprawling suburbs and fleeting inner-city hot spots, the community feeling in towns and regional suburbs can often be missed. In the Eastern suburbs of Randwick, however, one community is ensuring the spirit of the "village" isn't one from a bygone era. "The Spot is one of those rare Sydney areas that still feels like a true village, full of character, culture, and community charm," says Marianne Poirey, General Manager of the local Four Frogs Crêperie. Marianne is referencing Randwick's dining and entertainment event, Spot On. Presented by Randwick City Council in association with the NSW Government's Open Street Program, the event encourages locals to enjoy a vibrant night-time culture, local performers, eateries and bars, and a fun and inclusive space for all ages every second Thursday between August 7 and November 27, 2025, from 5.30pm to 9pm, making it an easy date night or family-friendly destination post-work. "You've got everything within a few steps," says Marianne. "Incredible restaurants with international cuisines (French, Italian, Japanese, you name it), a historic cinema showing everything from new releases to film festivals, and street events that bring everyone together." Local businesses can take advantage of the council-approved road closure and extend dining out onto the street, into the spring sunshine. "There's an energy in the air when the restaurants are full, people are gathering outside, and the lights of the Ritz Cinema glow across the square. That mix of local charm and energy makes every evening special," says Marianne. Marousa Polias, the general manager of Randwick's accommodation destination, Sydney Lodges, agrees. "There is a village-type feel to The Spot, which is very special and unusual in such a busy and thriving suburb." If you head down to Spot On, Marousa recommends the newly opened Taste Baguette, a French-Vietnamese bakery, for a snack or lunch. For dinner, the authentic Italian restaurant, Dolce Fiori. Afterwards, she encourages visitors to head to Gaia Gelato to refresh the palate with their innovative flavours. "The Spot is unique because it has many long-standing businesses that service and contribute to the local community," says Marousa. "Witnessing people of all ages and backgrounds enjoying themselves out and about on a weeknight is heart-warming." Bombay Bloomers opened in 1987 and is now a Randwick culinary institution. Varinder Singh, the owner and chef of Bombay Bloomers, shared why Spot On is so important to the suburb. "The Spot is a one-of-a-kind pocket of Randwick, where history, culture, dining, and entertainment all come together. It's vibrant yet relaxed, making it the perfect place to eat, drink, and enjoy the cinema in one setting." Varinder recommends trying out Bombay Bloomers' "crowd favourite" dish. "Our signature dish is the Butter Chicken, a true crowd favourite. Paired with freshly baked garlic and cheese naan and a chilled mango lassi, it's the perfect pre- or post-movie meal." The chef notes that Spot On is a chance to connect with new guests, celebrate with the community and showcase the Indian flavours that Bombay Bloomers is passionate about. "Spot On puts Randwick on the map as more than just a dining or cinema destination," says Varinder. "It highlights the area as a cultural hub." While Spot On is a chance for locals to commune, the event also aims to bring together people from all over the city, and Randwick's Mayor, Dylan Parker, says that Spot On aims to unite Sydneysiders through food and music under the stars. "Whether you're a long-time resident or visiting Randwick City for the first time, Spot On is a chance to experience the warmth and vibrancy of Randwick." By transforming the main streets into pedestrian-friendly spaces filled with music, performance, and outdoor dining, Randwick is helping creatives and local businesses to thrive while giving people a fun and family-friendly mid-week outing. Intrigued to try it for yourself? Spot On takes place on St Pauls Street, Randwick, every second Thursday between August 7 and November 27, 2025, from 5.30pm to 9pm. Bring your family and friends for a great night of food, fun and entertainment at Spot On.
Three huge days of live music are coming to Railway Parade in Marrickville as part of a new multi-event festival. Marrickville Block Weekender is the debut three-day party hitting the streets of the Inner West in partnership with Heaps Normal. The fest will pop up between Saturday, September 30–Monday, October 2 with live music, DJs, performers, food and drinks — plus a heap of motorbikes. Taking place across the Labour Day long weekend, the block party will kick off with Heaps Gay's tenth birthday on the Saturday. This celebration of a decade of joyous queer parties will feature two stages pumping out the tunes across eight hours, with performances and DJ sets from Stereogamous, House of Silky, Dameeeela, Big Wett, VV Pete, Tseba and Friends, Show Us Ya Tips, C.Frim and MungMung. [caption id="attachment_829712" align="alignnone" width="1920"] House of Silky, Alex Davies[/caption] Sunday will arrive with a jam-packed lineup of rock music. Off the Rails is the inaugural punk festival from the teams behind Bad Friday and King Street Carnival. The debut celebration of all things heavy and distorted will feature performances from Amyl and the Sniffers, The Mark of Cain, Private Function, RVG, Shady Nasty, Dust, Southeast Dessert Metal, and Itchy and the Knits. If you can't make it to Marrickville, the festival is also hitting Newcastle the day before. Rounding out the weekend is the return of Throttle Roll, a street party celebrating all things motorbikes, on the Monday. Expect food trucks, beverages and custom bikes — plus live sets from Xolo (formerly Frankie's World Famous House Band) and Papa Pilko and the Binrats. "[The festival] epitomises what we love most about our Inner West Sydney community — an exciting mix of different subcultures coming together and celebrating the fact that our individual differences make our worlds more interesting and fun," says Heaps Normal co-founder and CEO Andy Miller. Tickets to each event are sold separately, with Heap Gay Street Party tix starting from $50, Off the Rails passes available from $75 and entry to Throttle Roll starting at $35. The Marrickville Block Weekender will feature the Heaps Gay Street Party — 10th Birthday on Saturday, September 30; Off the Rails on Sunday, October 1; and Throttle Roll on Monday, October 2.
The location: a picturesque Hawaiian resort. The clientele: rich and mostly loving it. The vibe: largely demanding, entitled and oblivious that their attitude isn't everyone's idea of normal, at least when it comes to the bulk of the guests staying on the premises and expecting the hotel's staff to cater to their every whim. That's where The White Lotus finds its setting, and the type of folks the HBO series places in its suitably sun-dappled frames as well. But there's an anxious, dark and complex undercurrent pulsating beneath every gorgeous beach, luxurious suite and cashed-up patron — and a strong awareness of the chasm between the well-to-do customers and the struggling and striving hotel staff, too. The latest series from writer/director Mike White (Brad's Status), The White Lotus splits its time between some of the resort's current crop of guests and a selection of its employees. Business hotshot Nicole (Connie Britton, Bombshell) is on holiday with her husband Mark (Steve Zahn, Where'd You Go, Bernadette), teenage son Quinn (Fred Hechinger, Fear Street), college-student daughter Olivia (Sydney Sweeney, Euphoria) and the latter's pal Paula (Brittany O'Grady, Little Voice), but tension keeps festering — Nicole can't help working, Mark receives some unexpected news, Olivia keeps kicking Quinn out of their room and Paula hits it off with Kai (Kekoa Kekumano, Aquaman), one of the staff. Newlyweds Rachel (Alexandra Daddario, Songbird) and Shane (Jake Lacy, Mrs America) are on their honeymoon, but he's too fixated with the fact that they didn't get an even fancier suite, to the point of constantly harassing the hotel's Aussie manager Armond (Murray Bartlett, Tales of the City). Meanwhile, Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge, Promising Young Woman) just lost her mother, is working through her grief and leans heavily on spa manager Belinda (Natasha Rothwell, Insecure). Back in 2011–13, long before The White Lotus became one of 2021's best new shows — and best shows overall as well — White spent two seasons crafting Enlightened, the excellent two-season Laura Dern-starring comedy-drama that was cancelled much too soon. It followed an executive who broke down at work and, when she stepped back into her life, wanted something completely different not just for herself, but for and from the world. It isn't linked, narrative-wise, to White's latest TV miniseries. The same mood flows through, however. And, in terms of sinking its claws into the affluent, eat the rich-style, The White Lotus also pairs nicely with the White-penned Beatriz at Dinner, especially as it examines the differences between the haves and the have nots. The result: a perceptive, alluring and excellently cast satire that hooks viewers from the outset, and then keeps them both guessing and obsessed. In its opening scene, the series shows Shane accompanying a body on the way home, so the audience know this'll end with a death — and wondering who, how and why is one reason that The White Lotus is so compelling. But as each episode unfurls, it's clear that these characters are reassessing what they want out of life as well. The privileged aren't doing it willingly, unsurprisingly, but those at their beck and call definitely are. Here, a glam and glossy getaway becomes a hellish trap, magnifying glass and mirror, with everyone's issues and problems only augmented by their time at the eponymous location. This twisty, astute, savage and hilarious storyline will wrap up after six episodes, in what was meant to be one of HBO's many miniseries. That's the only bad part about the show — but, ahead of its final instalment, HBO has just announced that it's going to bring The White Lotus back for a second run. The next batch of episodes will tell a different chapter in a new place, focusing on a fresh group of holiday-goers at another White Lotus property. Just when they'll arrive hasn't been revealed as yet. Fingers crossed that it's as engrossing and biting as this initial season, though — and that it sports a score of tunes that are just as enticing and also eerie, too. Check out the trailer below: The first five episodes of The White Lotus season one are available to stream via Binge, with the sixth episode dropping on Monday, August 16.
If you liked choosing your way through Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, Netflix has more where that came from. At present, you can also tell Bear Grylls what to do in interactive series You vs. Wild, and soon you'll be able to decide what happens to everyone's favourite kidnapping victim turned wide-eyed New Yorker in a one-off Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt special. While the Tina Fey co-created, 18-time Emmy-nominated comedy finished up its regular run with this year's batch of episodes, which closed out the show's fourth season, it's coming back in 2020 to put viewers in control. While Netflix has actually been in the interactive game for a couple of years thanks to its children's shows like Puss in Boots, Buddy Thunderstruck and Stretch Armstrong, this'll mark the streamer's first interactive comedy. Always wanted to curb Kimmy's (Ellie Kemper) enthusiasm? Keen to steer ex-socialite Jacqueline White (Jane Krakowski) towards a few sensible decisions? Think that landlord Lillian (Carol Kane) could be more eccentric and misanthropic? Just love everything that aspiring actor and singer Titus Andromedon (Tituss Burgess) does? Then this is for you, obviously. Details of the storyline haven't been announced, but "fans will be able to make choices on behalf of our characters, taking different story paths with, of course, different jokes," revealed Tina Fey in a Netflix statement. "I think it's a great fit for our show and will be a great way to officially complete the series," she continued. Check out the trailer for the fourth season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0Ec8uWZrgA As reported by Variety in March, with Bandernatch proving such a hit, Netflix is understandably eager to capitalise upon the branching narrative format's success. "We realised, wow, interactive storytelling is something we want to bet more on," said the platform's Vice President of product, Todd Yellin, at a conference in Mumbai. "We're doubling down on that. So expect over the next year or two to see more interactive storytelling. And it won't necessarily be science fiction, or it won't necessarily be dark. It could be a wacky comedy. It could be a romance, where the audience gets to choose — should she go out with him or him." Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt's interactive special will hit Netflix at a yet-to-be-revealed date in 2020. Image: Eric Liebowitz/Netflix.
Despite our country being stereotyped as 'always sunny', us Aussies know it can get pretty cold mid-year. So, if you're currently trying to warm up your toes next to your office heater, dreaming about the return of summer, you're in luck. We've teamed up with travel company Klook to give away a four-night getaway to a tropical oasis: Bali. If you're the lucky winner, you and your partner in crime will be heading off on a short flight headed for Bali's stunning beaches, hot weather and next-level food. As well as flights and four nights of four-star accommodation in Seminyak, Klook — being an activities and tours booking platform — will also organise day trips for you and your bestie, plus airport transfers to and from your hotel and SIM cards. So, all you'll need are your cossies, sunscreen and a good read. It won't be your typical Bintang-fuelled Bali trip, either. The folks at Klook work with local vendors to uncover hidden gems and offer trips to many of the surrounding islands (there are more than 17,000 in total). So, expect plenty of off the beaten track adventures and get ready to unearth some undiscovered parts around the island. One day, the two of you will be heading off to West Nusa Penida and its crystal clear waters, so you can expect plenty of swimming and snorkelling. The next, you'll be trekking up an active volcano — Mount Batur — to watch the sunrise over the island. An early morning start will reward you with sweeping mountain views and a visit to a coffee plantation afterwards. Plus, don't forget all the poolside cocktails and Balinese feasts you'll be having. You'll be on holiday, after all. You've got anytime before the end of the year to go, so you can escape Australia's cooler weather ASAP. If you're keen to head off on a trip to Bali — which obviously you are — enter your details below to be in the running. [competition]731537[/competition]
First came Bar Nina, the laidback Italian joint on the corner of Stanley Street and Crown with a relaxed vibe and a winning formula. Seamlessly morphing from a bright and breezy brunch spot by day into a buzzy neighbourhood diner and bar in the evening, Bar Nina remains proof positive that some venues can be all things to all people. Duplicating this strategy, the sister duo behind that Darlinghurst success are hoping a similar duel identity will be just as popular up the road in Potts Point. Rosie O'Shea and her sister Rebecca, who was formerly the Director of the Rockpool Dining Group, have taken over the grand mansion Dean's Lounge once called home to launch Arms Length, another day-to-night venue offering breakfast classics from 8am before transitioning into a chic yet relaxed cocktail lounge and late-night eatery after dark. At the helm in the kitchen is Head Chef Keno Perlas, who boasts stints at Bentley Group's Monopole and Neil Perry's Margaret on his resumé, alongside Executive Chef Jeffrey Sue, formerly of Rockpool, Ormeggio and China Doll. This seasoned pair has created an Italian-leaning, crowd-pleasing menu that is not unlike Arms Length's sister venue in Darlinghurst. Both the breakfast and evening offerings have been cleverly conceived, marrying broad appeal with affordability. In the morning, easy-to-like options include brekkie buns and french toast loaded with mascarpone and drizzled with a tart berry compote. Upping the ante is one of the most affordable bottomless brunch offers in town: 90 minutes of free-flowing cocktails, including espresso martinis, bloody marys, mimosas or the house speciality, garibaldis made with Australian-made aperitif Rhubi, for just an additional $29 on top of your food order. In the evening, the menu offers a mixture of cocktail sidekicks — think dressed oysters, anchovy brioche, chicken liver parfait — and a considered selection of mains, including steak frites, beef ragu rigatoni, casarecce with Skull Island prawns and an ever-faithful tiramisu for dessert. Evening diners can also enjoy a steal of a deal: the Supper Soirée. This candlelit dinner package includes a cocktail on arrival and a set menu of chef's favourites paired with wines for just $95. One of the most distinctive items on the evening menu pays homage to the heritage of Arms Length's Kellet Street address. Jaffles were a fixture of both Dean's Lounge and its forbear, Dean's Cafe, so it's fitting that late night revellers will still be able to enjoy the ooey-gooey delights of these cheese toastie triangles at the venue's latest incarnation. Available from 8am until late (through to 2am on Fridays and Saturday), you can get them filled with ham and mozzarella, four cheeses, or beef brisket and caramelised onions. To wash them down, Nick Tesar — 2022 Australian Bartender of the Year, Diageo World Class competition — has curated a seasonal signature cocktail list. For those drinking on a shoestring, the Arms Length bar has a cozzie-livs-friendly happy hour, during which house red and white wines will set you back just $8 a glass while select cocktails are a bargain at just $12. Open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night bites, Arms Length is a good bet — for you, and your wallet — no matter what time of day you visit.
Dust of your black-hued and gothic-looking outfits: what else do you wear to Wednesday Island, a fan festival dedicated to the creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky Netflix series, with Jenna Ortega (Death of a Unicorn), Emma Myers (A Minecraft Movie) and Tim Burton (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) in attendance? On Saturday, August 16, 2025, Cockatoo Island / Wareamah in Sydney Harbour is embracing the macabre with the Wednesday crew themselves. To celebrate the show's second season — which arrives in two batches, with part one hitting on Wednesday, August 6, then part two on Wednesday, September 3 — Wednesday Island will make you feel like you're at Nevermore Academy. Not only will Ortega, Myers and Burton be there, but also Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, who created the show in the spotlight (and wrote the screenplay to 2024's Burton-helmed, Ortega-starring Beetlejuice Beetlejuice). All five key Wednesday folks are making appearances at Wednesday Island as part of their global Doom tour to promote the series. Peach PRC and ŪLA are also on the lineup at Cockatoo Island's temporary makeover, providing the tunes. Netflix is calling the pop-up takeover a "Nevermore playground" and promising a "most grave surprise", too — and there'll be a walk-in doll's house and a cocktail spot as well. If you've always had a fondness for anything Addams Family-related, this probably sounds like a dream. Whether you first discovered pop culture's eeriest family via the 90s films, through old episodes of the 60s TV show, in various animated guises over the years — including on the big screen — or thanks to Wednesday, that fantasy can now become an IRL reality if you score admission to Wednesday Island. You can enter for regular passes between Wednesday, July 23–Sunday, August 3 via the pop-up's website. To do so, you'll need to provide your details, and give an original and creative answer to this question: "in 25 words or less, confess your most delightfully deviant Outcast trait — the kind that would make Wednesday smirk with approval". You'll find out if you've scored a ticket on Monday, August 4. Only those aged over 16 can go in the running, and you'll then need to dress in attire to suit the Wednesday celebration. Boat transport to the island, plus one food and one beverage token, will be included if you're selected. Images: Bernard Walsh, Helen Sloan and Jonathan Hession/Netflix © 2025.
If you've eaten one of Ben Greeno's stupidly juicy rotisserie chooks at The Paddington, you'll be very happy about this next bit of news. After a long, long time in limbo, Merivale's first takeaway offshoot The Chicken Shop turned on its rotisseries and opened its doors on Thursday, January 26. We initially wrote about the venue back in 2015 — before the opening of The Paddington, and when The Chicken Shop had an expected open date of December 2015. Now, more than a year later, the grab-and-go eatery is finally up and running in a small shopfront right next to the busy gastropub on Oxford Street. The Chicken Shop makes use of the same imported, custom-made French rotisseries that have defined The Paddington's offering over this last year. Instead of sitting down for a two-hour meal with wine, starters and cocktails to get their hands on one of Greeno's chickens, punters can sidle on next door to get it takeaway. As well as whole chickens, the rotisserie also roast non-poultry offerings, like pork belly, lamb rump, glazed ham, beef and even ocean trout. Salads and sides are available too — expect green beans with hazelnuts, cos lettuce with avo, roasted carrots, potato gratin and fries. If you've had one of The Paddington's late-night roast chicken rolls as a midnight snack, you'll also be rapt to know The Chicken Shop does sangas too. Combos like hot chicken and jalapeño, glazed leg ham with Dijon mustard and pickles, and fish fingers with edamame are expertly pressed between two pieces of Brickfields bread for lunch and dinner. Merivale is quickly turning this strip of Oxford Street into their own — along with Fred's and The Paddington, The Chicken Shop makes three venues on the same block. So at least you know if you can't get into one of the former, you'll at least have a chicken sandwich as plan B.
The Crows Nest outpost of this family owned business is the place to stock up on healthy and organic ingredients. Whether you are after nuts, seeds, or even basics like flour and oats, this place has it all. You can also find pleasant surprises like bush tucker myrtle, wattleseed and spice mixes for your next curry. Pioneers of the zero-waste lifestyle, The Source passes on its ethos to shoppers. Take a few jars down and fill up on what you need. You'll be buying from a local business you trust, and helping the environment at the same time. Images: Trent Van der jagt.
Does your dream hotel include luxe rooms and suites, spectacular vistas, a pool with a killer view, a bustling onsite restaurant and bar, and a spot to get sipping outdoors? If so, you'll want to add the first-ever Kimpton Hotel in Brisbane — and Queensland — to your must-stay list. The hotel chain is launching a second Australian site to sit alongside the existing Kimpton Margot Sydney, with Teneriffe in the River City its destination. Set to open in 2028, the Skyring Terrace spot will feature 155 places to slumber, an infinity pool overlooking the Brisbane River, a signature eatery and watering hole that can seat at least 200, and an openair garden terrace bar. Brisbane's Kimpton Hotel will be a partnership between IHG Hotels & Resorts and property developer Kokoda Property, the latter of which is behind the $1.5-billion overall development in the Queensland capital's inner north. Locals will find the spot to stay amid residential apartments, warehouse-style lofts, shops, dining, co-working spaces and a community centre. Brisbanites will also score a lavish staycation go-to, and tourists a new accommodation option. The Kimpton's rooms will push design to the fore, although what that'll entail in its decor hasn't yet been revealed. Think: fancy, though; there'll even be a marquee suite for celebrities and VIPs. Think: views as well, with both the water and the Brisbane city skyline providing a backdrop. Eating at the restaurant and drinking at the bar will mean sky-high vantages, too, with both located on the 14th level. And as for the pool, swimming in it will mean looking out over the water while you're in the water. In addition, patrons can expect waterfront access from the hotel, an onsite spa and a fitness centre, plus meeting and event spaces spanning 618 square metres. Just don't go planning that stay yet — construction is set to start in 2025. [caption id="attachment_936166" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimpton Margot Sydney[/caption] "The Kimpton brand was the ideal choice for, and will be the centrepiece of, our striking Teneriffe development. The brand's lifestyle centric positioning, design and playful guest experiences will fit perfectly into this exciting and unique pocket of Brisbane," said Kokoda Property Founder and Managing Director Mark Stevens. "We're excited to play a part in the transformation of the historic suburb of Teneriffe from its industrial origins into one of the trendiest suburbs of Brisbane. It's a popular year-round hub for fitness, and is set to get even better with Skyring Terrace to connect Brisbane's famed riverwalk between Teneriffe and New Farm and become the cultural heartbeat of the lively area." [caption id="attachment_920155" align="alignnone" width="1947"] Kimpton Margot Sydney[/caption] [caption id="attachment_920154" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimpton Margot Sydney[/caption] [caption id="attachment_920156" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimpton Margot Sydney[/caption] Brisbane's Kimpton Hotel is set to open in 2028 at Kokoda Property's Skyring Terrace development in Teneriffe. Head to the Kokoda Property website for more details.
In these massive and mostly nude portraits of returned soldiers in After Afghanistan, official Australian war artist Ben Quilty has tuned into the rare moment when all holds are unbarred. Without their armour, uniforms, and weaponry, these majors, lieutenants, and officers bare not just their bodies but their traumas, vulnerabilities, and wounded courage. Quilty's previous bodies of work have trickled the themes of mortality, modern masculinity, and Australiana through the autobiographical lens of his youthful experiences of boozing, hooning, and self-destructing in Sydney’s western suburbs. The lens he uses is now the experiences of Australian soldiers. For years, the artist has built his own, distinctly Quilty visual language, one that is hyper-real, hyper-masculine, hyper-coloured, and extreme in its oil-slick paint slathers still in gravitational collapse. The signature candy colours have now been replaced by sombre khakis and murky violets. The testosterone-fuelled Toranas are now Bushmaster armoured vehicles. One officer's face is partly consumed by a black hole, another’s forehead bleeds into a threatening landscape via ribbons of orange. Sections of stark white, unpainted canvas push through many of the works. Through a gentle procession of abstractions, Quilty has presented soldiers in various states of disappearance, he has shown them being voided. The words of cinematographer Bruce McCleery come to mind here: "It's not pretty, but it is beautiful." These are frank works. Quilty has no space for art-world irony or self-knowing cleverness, and there's a sense of violence being not so much an action but a feeling that won't go away. The politics of Australia's continued involvement in Afghanistan is at the retracted edge of the show. It's a curious fact that since 9-11, Western artists and filmmakers seem to have focused less on the wars' impact on the people of the Middle East, and more on the experience of our soldiers out there. In this way, Ben Quilty: After Afghanistan is the Australian art world's answer to the American film The Hurt Locker — a study of men at war, any war, and the psychological toll taken. Ben Quilty will be speaking at the National Art School Gallery's Art Forum series on February 27, 1-2pm, and at The Art of War: Panel Discussion with Wendy Sharpe and Dr Kit Messham-Muir on March 20 at the Cell Block Theatre (bookings through Art Month).
Contrary to the habits of mother nature, fashion comes into bloom in autumn and winter. The colder weather has us indulging in the comforts of cosy knits, multiple layers and luxurious fabrics. Along with the change in season there's a change in attitude too - instead of throwing on the nearest denim shorts and thongs as we head to the beach, now is the time to indulge in a few well-made treasures to bring our wardrobes into check. Discard the polyester and head to one (or a few) of Concrete Playground’s picks of the best women's fashion stores in Sydney. Alfie's Store Kate Sylvester, Karen Walker and Rittenhouse are just a couple of the big label names that feature at Alfie's Store, in the quirky terrace boutique in Balmain. 348 Darling St, Balmain; (02) 9555 5222 Belinda This is where you will find those key staple items that will last from season to season. Think grown-up chic with white cotton shirts, suit dresses and pieces from designers Dries Van Noten, The Row and Lavin. 8 Transvaal Ave, Double Bay and 29 William St, Paddington and MLC Centre, 19-29 Martin Place, Sydney; (02) 9328 6288, (02) 9380 8873 and (02) 9233 0781 Blood Orange This Elizabeth Bay boutique is a favourite with local fashion bloggers. Perhaps that’s because this little store has an impressive collection of international designers like Scandinavian Filippa K as well as ones that started life at Bondi markets, like Lover. 35 Elizabeth Bay Rd, Elizabeth Bay; (02) 9357 2424 Capital L Romance Was Born, House of Holland and Bec & Bridge are just a few of the irresistibly cool labels you'll find at Capital L. With an online store to match, it's always opening time. 333 South Dowling St, Darlinghurst; (02) 9361 0111 Cara & Co Not wanting to be confined to a label such as 'department store', Cara & Co in Sydney’s Westfield brings fashion, art, food and music (among other things) into one sensual shopping paradise. Shop 4001, Lvl 4, Westfield, 188 Pitt St, Sydney; (02) 9226 9999 Desordre Desordre has the perfect mix of local and international labels that create that one of a kind look. Curators Lucinda Connery and Shannon Thomas love colour with a difference, which is apparent as soon as you enter the boutique. You'll find labels such as Kimberly Ovitz, Dean Quinn, Josh Goot and Dion Lee. 323 South Dowling St, Darlinghurst; (02) 8065 2751 Edition On the corner of Crown and Liverpool Streets, Edition is the boutique store by online retailer The Grand Social. It's home to a mix of labels from Seventh Wonderland, Fernando Frisoni and Elke and perfect for tailored pieces, frocks and accessories alike. 214 Crown St, Darlinghurst; (02) 9331 0995 For Artists Only With a drum set suspended from the ceiling and DJ decks in the window it’s not surprising to hear that the guys behind the eclectic music and fashion collection have experience in the music industry. Handpicked by Kristie MacDonald and Marty Salmon, you’ll find pieces from Mania Mania, Lover, Ksubi and Sass & Bide. 2/656 New South Head Rd, Rose Bay; (02) 9371 7997 Harlequin Market Edgy and eclectic, Sydney’s Harlequin Market is home to a collection of the best of Australian fashion labels, vintage threads and nuggets of chunky, art deco statement jewellery. The collection includes international designs and French vintage-inspired necklaces. 94A Oxford St, Paddington; (02) 9357 4433 Incu Like a fantasy wardrobe of mixed high-end and affordable high street brands like Converse, Cheap Monday and more recently the British stalwart Topshop, Incu has become Sydney’s go-to store for local and well-loved labels. Shop 23-24, The Galeries, 500 George St, Sydney and 256 Oxford St, Paddington; (02) 9266 0244 and (02) 9331 6070 Land's End Even the website of this Paddington boutique makes you feel more glamourous. Head here for bold prints, tailored dresses and leather from a selection of labels including Balmain, Christopher Kane, Lulu & Co, Preen and Suno. 205 Glenmore Rd, Paddington; (02) 9331 2656 My Catwalk As well as being a leading online retailer in Australia, My Catwalk’s fashion boutiques in Double Bay and Clovelly have a vast collection of brands including J Brand, Zimmerman, Acne, Camilla and Marc, and Ellery. 13 Knox St, Double Bay and 353-355 Clovelly Rd, Clovelly; (02) 93628818 and (02) 9664 8868 Parlour X Owner Eva Galambos carefully hand picks her collection of clothes and accessories from designers such as Carven, Comme des Garcons, Paco Rabanne and Viktor & Rolf. 213 Glenmore Rd, Paddington; (02) 9331 0999 Perks and Mini Affectionately known as P.A.M, this Darlinghurst store from Melburnians Misha Hollenbach and Shauna Toohey stocks an array of indie clothing brands, such as their own label, Bless and Cosmic Wonder, as well as bits and bobs like dusty old books, records and mix tapes that once you pick up are too hard to put down. 20 Burton St, Darlinghurst; (02) 9360 5488 Poepke Owners Annie Buchanan and Nicola Lie pride themselves on selecting the best contemporary and luxurious but wearable designs at Poepke. Come to this laneway store to find prints, knits and off-kilter cuts that you wouldn’t expect to find anywhere else. 47 William St, Paddington; (02) 9380 7611 Porch & Parlour What better way to start your day than with smashed eggs on sourdough followed by a spot of retail therapy? This small store in North Bondi is a clever combination of eatery and boutique, filled with Libertine Libertine, Frillseeker, Skinny Nelson and Wolf Love - among others - plus books, gifts, accessories and bespoke jewellery. 100 Brighton Blvd, North Bondi; (02) 9300 0111 Pretty Dog Newtown’s prettiest townhouse boutique of beautiful threads, from brands such as Antipodium, Gary Bigeni, Karen Walker and Romance Was Born, plus a selection of shoes and accessories. 5 Brown St, Newtown; (02) 9519 7839 Robby Ingham If you’re looking for the creme de la creme of sophisticated design, the most luxurious fabrics (think silk, crushed linen and cashmere), Robby Ingham has the right selection of international labels. We’re salivating over Alexander McQueen scarves, Jil Sander riding boots and Stella McCartney blouses. 424-428 Oxford St, Paddington and 401 New South Head Rd, Double Bay; (02) 9328 1991 and (02) 9332 2124 Somedays Somedays is both a store and a gallery space bringing together an array of talented designers and artists. With a nod to the Nordic, Somedays stocks a wide mix of labels such as Handsom, Cheap Monday, Jac + Jack and Carly Hunter. 72B Fitzroy St, Surry Hills; (02) 9331 6637 The Corner Shop Stock up on over-sized knits, scarves and beanies from Nathan Smith, Jerome Dreyfuss bags, Kym Ellery and Graz eyewear and Dieppa Restrepo shoes. 43 William St, Paddington and 80-81, The Strand Arcade, George St, Sydney; (02) 9380 9828 The Standard Store Found in a stunning old heritage building on Crown Street, The Standard Store certainly isn't standard. It houses many European and local labels, many of which had not previously been stocked in Australia, including 2 By Lyn & Tony, April 77 and Kate Sheridan. 503 Crown St, Surry Hills; (02) 9310 1550 Tuchuzy Located in the heart of Bondi, Tuchuzy has a huge range of labels with something for everyone from Bassike to Rag & Bone, Alexander Wang to Arnsdorf. 90 Gould St, Bondi; (02) 9365 5371 World Fashion, beauty and trinkets with a certain eccentricity from New Zealand’s internationally renowned fashion house. 1 Glenmore Rd, Paddington; (02) 9368 0442 Words by Emma Joyce and Jane Fayle.
No more a safe haven of vintage knick knacks and retro wares, this week marks the last for the iconic Sydney Antique Centre. Though the much-loved red building in Surry Hills is in fact the oldest antiques store in the country — and one of our personal favourites — the owner of the building has decided to sell. From next Monday, June 30, the store will officially close. This sad news will leave more than 50 in-house art and antique dealers out of business, with many not able to survive the move. Though some traders will move their business to online, others will struggle to find new storefronts. And by all accounts their old home, the red stalwart of South Dowling Street, is destined to become a set of inner-city apartments. Though many see vintage stores as a bit old and fusty, the Sydney Antique Store has an incredibly rich history for Sydney-siders. Its homewares were employed as perfect props on the set of Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby, and it has reportedly furnished the homes of nearly every Australian prime minister. Not to mention its importance to the average customer — it's been there for you every time you went hunting for the perfect gift, party costume or retro accessory for the season. However the store's trade was undeniably suffering, and in speaking to the site's vendors the Sydney Morning Herald discovered that many blame the trends of younger customers." A lot of young people don't have an appreciation for fine things," said vendor Lyn Doolan. "Younger kids want to go to Ikea, buy everything, then change it all three years later. It is all very disposable." "Your generation doesn't like any clutter," said fellow stallowner Bill Gregg. "They like dinnerware that goes in the dishwasher." Though we're not sure it's entirely our fault, it's definitely a tough time for vintage retailers. Independent fashion boutiques are closing down all over the country as large international buzz brands take over the market, and discount homewares are now easier to buy than ever. The loss of this vintage paradise will undoubtedly be huge for those seeking something different on the market. From now until June 30, Sydney Antique Centre will be hosting a huge closing down sale, so now's the time to get down and pay your respects. Spend the afternoon, rummage around the treasures, and pick up a bargain. Before you know it, these retro legends will have packed up their vintage leather bags and disappeared. Sydney Antique Centre is located at 531 Dowling Street, Surry Hills. It's open from 10am-6pm daily until Monday, June 30. Via Sydney Morning Herald. All images via Sydney Antique Centre.
If you're an Uber One member who's headed to the Australian Open, you're in luck. Complimentary rides to the Rod Laver Arena in snazzy EVs are on the cards — and they'll even drop you home. For the duration of the tournament until Sunday, January 28, Kia is serving up a fleet of 30 brand-new EV9s and EV6s, which are available in the 'Kia Electric' option on your Uber app — assuming that they haven't all been snapped up at the time you're looking, of course. Given that Kia is the major partner of the Australian Open, these same types of EVs will be transporting the players to and from the tournament. So you'll have the chance to experience travelling to the matches like a star of the game, even if you get winded going up the stairs. [caption id="attachment_935839" align="alignnone" width="1920"] annieb via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] How do you snag one of these rides? Simple. When heading to the tennis, just pop 'Rod Laver Arena' as your destination. If you're going home, just pop in your address or anywhere else you feel like heading within a five-kilometre radius. If an EV is available between 9am–7pm, from until Sunday, January 28, you can select it and enjoy the ride on Kia's dime. Here's the fine print: it's capped at $100, and only available if you're an Uber One member and booking within a five-kilometre radius of the arena. Free trip to one of the greatest sporting events on the planet, all in the quiet comfort of a slick EV? That's not a bad start to any day at the tennis. The Australian Open is held at Melbourne Park. It runs from Sunday, January 14 to Sunday, January 28. Top image: Tourism Victoria via Flickr.
Underground restaurant Spice Temple has been creating exciting new takes on traditional Chinese dishes for more than 15 years. And now, it's bringing its innovative approach to yum cha. Happening every weekend, this is brunch reimagined. While inspired by Hong Kong, where yum cha began, Spice Temple does away with bustling trolleys and focuses on big, bold, vibrant flavours. The menu travels through China's many diverse regions, from Sichuan to Hunan to Xinjiang. Start with raw yellowfin tuna with blackened chilli dressing, before moving onto steamed dumplings filled with Moreton Bay bug and scallop shumai. Among the boiled delights are prawn wontons and pork and white pepper dumplings with chilli vinegar sauce. Meanwhile, the fried selection offers prawn toast with sweet and sour sauce, and pork and garlic chive buns. Come dessert, try egg custard rolls and you tiao with condensed milk and cinnamon. Yum cha at Spice Temple is launching on Saturday, May 17. Bookings are available every Saturday and Sunday between 11am–3pm.
It was a smash in Australia with Eryn Jean Norvill (Love Me) in the lead. When it made the leap to the UK starring Succession's Sarah Snook, it became the talk of London's West End, and also earned its one and only performer a 2024 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress for her efforts. It's been picked up by Cate Blanchett's (Borderlands) production company Dirty Films to get the film treatment. And, now it's heading to Broadway. Sydney Theatre Company's version of The Picture of Dorian Gray keeps doing huge things — and its latest jump to the most-famous stage district there is will also keep Snook at its centre. She's making her Broadway debut playing all 26 of the play's parts, with the production hitting New York from March 2025. When STC's take on The Picture of Dorian Gray premiered in 2020 — and then also played theatres in Melbourne and Adelaide — it didn't just give Oscar Wilde's gothic-literature masterpiece a fresh spin; it turned it into a brand-new stage sensation. Not only does the show feature just one performer playing every single character but, to make that happen, it uses video to help. It's the work of writer/director Kip Williams, it's groundbreaking, and it's been understandably earning audiences raves and winning accolades. On the page, The Picture of Dorian Gray is exceptional, as well as astute and unnerving, as it follows the selling of its namesake's soul in order to keep indulging every corporeal whim, urge and desire. There's a reason that it just keeps getting adapted for the screen and in theatres, after all. But there's never been a version like Sydney Theatre Company's, which Broadway patrons now get to experience. "It was a singular privilege to bring The Picture of Dorian Gray to life in London and I am thrilled we will be able to share this astonishing production with audiences in New York," said Sarah Snook about the news. "From Oscar Wilde's timeless words to the masterful reinterpretation Kip Williams has created, this tale of virtue, corruption, vanity and repercussion is an electrifying journey for me as much as for the audiences, and I am filled with anticipation as we continue on this ambitious creative endeavour." "I was so humbled by the response from audiences in London to The Picture of Dorian Gray, and I could not be more thrilled to be bringing this work to Broadway. It has been extraordinary to witness the way Oscar Wilde's story continues to resonate with people today," added Williams. "I am so excited for audiences in New York to experience our show and to see the tour-de-force performance Sarah Snook gives in bringing to life the many characters in this new adaptation of Wilde's remarkable story." Check out the trailer for the Broadway season of The Picture of Dorian Gray below: The Picture of Dorian Gray will play Broadway in New York from March 2025 — for more information and to join the waitlist for tickets, head to the play's website. Images: Marc Brenner.
The new Palace Central is just the ticket for an entertaining drinking experience. The cocktail-style bar area offers views over Chippendale, where you can have a tasty tipple from their well-curated drinks list. If you think this is just a little bar in a cinema, think again – there's even a beer hall with over 40 brews! This 13 screen complex is licensed too, so you can take said drink into the flick with you once the sun goes down. If you're feeling peckish before or after the film, you can either duck into the Central Park food headquarters, take a trip down nearby Spice Alley, or nibble on a charcuterie or cheese board right where you sit.
A staple of New Zealand's hospitality scene for more than a decade, Botswana Butchery brought its expansive menus and luxe style to Sydney with the opening of its first Australian restaurant in Martin Place's new dining precinct back in 2022. The huge multi-storey venue houses 940 guests including 350 on its openair city rooftop. Botswana Butchery's menu is all about presenting Australian and New Zealand meat, seafood and wine in the best possible way. Depending on when you head to the restaurant, you'll be presented with a menu spanning several pages of entrees and mains before you even get to the main attraction — the Butcher's Block — a selection of exclusive cuts of meat from some of the country's best producers. Here, you'll find the likes of black opal wagyu rump, whole slow-roasted lamb shoulder and 1.6-kilogram servings of mb5+ Jacks Creek wagyu tomahawk. If the Butcher's Block is a bit intimidating, there's plenty of more approachable options on offer. Start your meal with beef tartare, char grilled Yamba prawns with XO sauce or some duck liver pate. Highlights from the mains include the Berkshire pork cutlet with compressed apple or the dry-aged duck breast with preserved baby figs. If you're looking to recline with a view rather than experience a meal to end all meals, the rooftop offers an array of snacks, nibble and charcuterie perfect for a catch up with friends. The interior of the restaurant tries to balance a sense of playfulness with the premium price-point of its food. Plush and colourful furniture is paired with muted tones and floor-to-ceiling windows revealing the surrounding cityscape. Images: Sander Dalhuisen
A dessert menu staple in many a Chinese restaurant, deep-fried ice cream is the kind of sweet treat that delivers the best of two worlds. On the one hand, there's frosty, creamy ice cream. On the other, there's that crisp warm coating. With Sydney's restaurants forced to shut up shop due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it's likely that you haven't tucked into a serving of deep-fried ice cream recently. It's not really a dish that lends itself to takeaway, after all. But, thanks to Duo Duo's delivery range, you can now get DIY kits brought to your door so you can quickly (and easily) whip up the dessert gem at home. You can opt for cookies and cream, simple vanilla bean or a bright-green pandan and coconut flavour — or all three. Each kit costs $9, and comes with a serving of handmade ice cream coated in sponge cake and Japanese panko. From there, you simply deep fry it for 45 seconds at 200°C, then get eating. Deliveries are shipped on weekdays and, if you spend more than $40, there's no fee. Otherwise, you'll pay $10. Tubs of ice cream are also available for delivery. To top things off, there's also an ice cream-peddling Duo Duo food truck, serving up the deep fried desserts (of course), plus tubs of its inventive flavours, so you can stock your freezer with durian, Thai milk tea, Earl grey milk tea, Vietnamese ice coffee, and chocolate and peanut butter fudge ice cream. It's currently parked up in Strathfield and open Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. For further information about Duo Duo's ice cream deliveries — or to order a DIY deep-fried ice cream kit — visit its website.
Things sure are looking up for Sydney's northern beaches these days, especially when it comes to wining and dining. Merivale has opened its hugely popular venue, The Newport, and this year it renovated and relaunched The Collaroy. Now, Mona Vale has got a slice of the gastropub pie, with the Mona Vale Hotel being reworked as a food and entertainment hot-spot Park House Food & Liquor. The main attraction is Park House Food Merchants, a multi-faceted venue, complete with restaurant, cocktail lounge and all-weather courtyard. In the kitchen, Head Chef David Clark (ex-Jamie's Italian) is drawing inspiration from Southern California's food scene, for a vibrant, share-focused menu peppered with Mexican, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours. On it, you'll find dishes like baked snapper fillet with tahini dressing, slow-cooked lamb forequarter with herb pilav, and a whole suckling pig that's carved right there at the table. Meanwhile, the bar's slinging an eclectic, well-traveled wine list, alongside a solid range of craft beers and barrel-aged cocktails Outside, a front yard bar is slinging craft beer and burgers from 10am each day, and had live music every Friday night and DJs on Saturdays. It also boasts a food truck park in pub's car park every Friday to Sunday in summer.
Next-level Cantonese cuisine is headed straight for the CBD, with Sydney's famed hospitality team Lotus Dining Group announcing the launch of its latest venue. The hospo team's newest venture, Pearl, will offer a contemporary Cantonese dining experience with top-notch views — serving up traditional dishes from China's Guangdong region with a modern flare. The group's eighth restaurant location is set to open on Bridge Street in Quay Quarter next month, expanding the ever-growing hospitality empire even further. "This is an exciting and new venture for our group, we have been looking to open a venue with a premium offering and are hoping to reimagine the perception of Cantonese dining," Lotus Dining Group founder and chairman Michael Jiang said. The lavish 84-seat restaurant and bar, brought to life by Darren Kong Architects, will boast stylish banquette seating and accents of blue adorning the venue — alongside Pearl's eye-catching centrepiece, a sleek rectangle bar situated in the heart of the space. If you're scoping out the scene for a special occasion or an especially intimate meal, there are private dining options available to book. Plus, you'll also be able to opt for al fresco dining on the 30-seat balcony, which, when paired with picturesque views of the Harbour Bridge, creates the ultimate Pearl experience. Following the ethos of reimagining traditional dishes, Pearl's menu combines Hong Kong Chef and Director of Culinary Cheung Shui Yip's nostalgic ties and knowledge of Cantonese flavours with Executive Chef Steve Wu's modern dining expertise within Australia — all while drawing inspiration from Hong Kong's gorgeous culinary craftsmanship. "We noticed a gap in the market and have been working to create what we feel is a perfect harmony between Canton traditions and the modern Sydney dining scene," Jiang continued. When dining in, expect to see a celebration of traditional flavours and beautiful local Australian produce. From steamed and stir-fried dishes, barbecue and rice- and noodle-focused dishes to roasted duck, hearty soups and live seafood, there will be a plethora of flavoursome Chinese dishes to choose from. Keep an eye out for the likes of a pork belly roast with crispy crackling, the scallop tart with dried ginger and crispy rice crackers and crab Xiao long bao — all of which are set to be standout features on the menu. Head Sommelier Karen Dollimore leads the charge on the drinks offering, with an extensive beverage program that includes a range of signature cocktails. Get excited for the Kino Negroni, which will be made with Lotus mandarin gin, campari, vermouth and chocolate bitters, alongside over 200 wines ranging from familiar drops to newer, experimental sips. [caption id="attachment_852979" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Quay Quarter Lanes[/caption] You'll find Pearl at Shop R1013, Retail Level 1, 50 Bridge Street in the Quay Quarter Building. The venue will open next month for dinner Tuesday–Saturday and lunch Tuesday–Friday. Secure your spot prior to its opening at the restaurant's official website — bookings are now open.
The rich and vibrant paintings of Del Kathryn Barton are immediately recognisable. The two-time Archibald winning artist is well-loved by Australian art enthusiasts and well-known for her heavily textured portraits of celestial femme fatales. Creating vast networks of intricate patterns, there's an obsessive level of detail in Barton's work that is simply absorbing. Her latest body of work, electro orchid, ventures into new territory. While there are a couple of her typically elaborate and large-scale portraits, there's also a lot of experimentation in this Roslyn Oxley9 show. Barton seems to be exhibiting the various processes of her practice, stripping back the glittering layers of folkloric femininity. Drawing is the crux of Barton's practice. Looking closely at her smaller works, there is something sad and slightly sinister to many of them. She draws ordinary objects (mainly metal utensils) in strange formations, giving them a mystical quality. She also uses thin black lines create the contours of angular bodies, many of which look skeletal, broken, and mummified. There are bald, oversized heads and long, spindly fingers that turn into tree roots. Unlike the bright colours of her bigger works, depicting subjects with power and gravitas, these lonely figures float in space. With so much emphasis placed on visuals, the power of words is a part of Barton's practice that isn't often addressed. Nonetheless, the titles of her paintings are like micropoems and are frequently embedded in webs of detail. Some of them read as prayers or incantations, for instance, may I bloom primitive and what flows through you also flows through me. There is a devotional and self-sacrificing quality to these phrases. On the other hand, Barton has produced a series of word paintings using bright pink gouache. Smeared and dripping, it's a messy finish when compared to the controlled execution of her portraits. But the evocative pairing of words speaks to the core themes of Barton's practice, which bring about a kind of shameless sexuality in a Garden of Eden environment. Of course, the eye is an important and recurring symbol throughout Barton's practice. You'll find eyes lodged into bodies where they don't belong and reproduced like wallpaper. One of her works borrows imagery from The Wizard of Oz, featuring the famous red slippers dangling over a vortex of eyes. It may be a slice of sentimentality, but Barton doesn't need to borrow from well-tilled fairytales and Hollywood classics. Her unique brand of mythology is powerful enough. While some of Barton's portraits evoke Marie Antoinette-like aristocracy, there are other more androgynous, unidentifiable characters. It's as if the fluid spectrum of sexuality has been mapped through A Midsummer Night’s Dream and infused with David Bowie. This exhibition packs a lot into a small space (and it's possibly a little cramped). In any case, Barton's created magical world and distinctive painterly style is constantly alluring.
Big relaunches. Amusing takes on huge pop-culture hits. An interactive — and cocktail-fuelled — theatre experience that spreads across multiple rooms. A nod to Kate Bush, too, because it wouldn't be a fringe festival without it. Across Monday, September 1–Tuesday, September 30, all of the above are on the agenda at Sydney Fringe Festival. So is a free street party to get things started, and more than 460 events filling spaces around the Harbour City. When Darlinghurst's Eternity Playhouse hosts shows again for the first time in more than a year, it'll do so as part of the fest's 2025 Off Broadway Hub. That's where you'll find the well-timed Stranger Sings! The Musical Parody spoofing the Netflix hit through song, and getting Sydney laughing along with its 80s nods just a few months before the series starts unveiling its final season. Fittingly, Eternity Playhouse will also welcome Kate Bush Unmoored, which hails from the folks behind Radiohead Uncovered. In total, 2900 artists are involved in the 2025 lineup, which is taking over four precincts and ten festival hubs — the return of the Yagali First Nations Hub at the PACT Centre for Emerging Artists and the Queer Hub at Qtopia Sydney among them, plus the Dance Hub settling into Sydney Dance Company's Neilson Studio again and the Cabaret Hub moving to Marrickville Town Hall. Expect everything from Adam Nobilia reading from Australia's Least Wanted, his memoir about spending ten years working as a Special Education Teacher at Long Bay Jail, then, through to LA-based drag queens Lorelei and Annie Biotixx with their variety show Queen Out (Verb), a mix of drinks and live performance with Dorothy in Oz, and local and international talents unleashing new dance pieces. A fringe festival classic, the circus, will find a home at Fool's Paradise, a two-tent pop-up at the Entertainment Quarter. This destination has a program of its own, with acrobatic standouts like Elixir Revived from Head First Acrobats, burlesque entries like Something Wicked, R18+ comedy and even an adults-only bubble show. If you've been to a multisensory Broad Encounters experience before — so A Midnight Visit, Love Lust Lost or Maho Magic Bar, for example — you'll be excited about When Night Comes. This time, the Union Bond Store at 6–8 Atherden Street is your destination, and you'll be sipping tipples and watching theatre all at once. That aforementioned free shindig in the streets has a date with The Rocks at the beginning of the fest, complete with live tunes, while Bondi Pavilion is the place to champion contributions from artists living with disability, neurodivergent talents and creatives who are deaf. Plus, select shows from international fringe festivals, such as Shit Theatre: Or What's Left of Us and Twenty Million Thousand Leagues Under the Sea will get the star treatment at Touring Hub. Doomscrolling deep dive I Watched Someone Die on TikTok, spoken-word performance Takatāpui, Wright & Grainger's Orpheus and Helios, circus at The Entertainment Quarter, open access literature festival Parramatta's Lit!, gothic revenge drama Way Back When: they're on the program, too. Images: Sean Breadsell, Jeff Busby, Dream Syndicate, Jason Matz and Daniel Boud. For more information on Sydney Fringe Festival or to get tickets, visit the website.
Ramblin' Rascal Tavern was always going to be a small bar with an advantage. Originally the brainchild of Charlie Lehmann, Dardan Shervashidze and Sebastian 'Cosmo' Soto (alumni of The Baxter Inn and the now-closed Frankie's Pizza), Rascal certainly boasts a feel reminiscent of other beloved drinking holes. This time things have moved uptown with this basement bar establishing itself in the old Laugh Garage on Park Street. The result? A bar of a very familiar vibe: a dimly lit, fresh-juice-squeezing watering hole, with recognisably boisterous bartenders. Loyalty shows in the all-Australian beer list, accompanied by a no-fuss but modern assortment of wines featuring a couple of whites, a couple of reds, a prosecco and a natural orange wine. There's a $6 Tinnie for the battlers (the brand changing to suit the mood of each week). And the cocktail list is just as unpretentious — its six house cocktails ($23 each) champion some great quality spirits without messing with them too much. [caption id="attachment_785468" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ramblin' Rascal Tavern[/caption] The decor is a throwback to childhood nostalgia — chalkboard walls in the bathrooms beckon all those drunken Picasso moments. The evening's soundtrack echoes a country twang typical of Shady Pines or Baxter's. But stay late enough and the beat will drop. The mood of the bar transforms until tables have been shifted out. of the way and suddenly you are cutting shapes with the bartenders to the likes of Nelly and Shaggy. If you're after a spot to eat, you're in luck. The bar has teamed up with Surry Hills favourites Butter to ensure you can have a box of fried chicken or a cheesy chicken burger delivered right to the bar. On a busy night, it might take a little longer to get to you than an in-house kitchen, but that just gives you more time to sample the drinks menu. True, in recent years Sydney has grown somewhat spoilt with trendy small bars. And perhaps it is becoming more difficult to stand out from the crowd. But the Ramblin' Rascal Tavern provides a lovable underground dive bar in the heart of the city, without resorting to too many theatrics and gimmicks. And for that, we thank it. Updated Tuesday, March 21, 2022. Appears in: The Best Bars in Sydney Sydney's Best Underground Bars for 2023
A sustainable, organic and paddock-to-plate restaurant offering lavish set menus has arrived in the Blue Mountains. Megalong Restaurant sources between 90–100 percent of its ingredients from Lot 101, the picturesque 600-hectare farm it sits on, transforming this local produce into a seasonal multi-course feast. In charge of the kitchen is Executive Chef Colin Barker, the former Head Chef of Blackwattle Bay's hatted restaurant The Boathouse. Barker was brought in two years ago to start working on Megalong, collaborating with Lot 101 to ensure that the menu is as closely partnered with the farm as possible. "When we use the term paddock-to-plate, we're not just talking about a couple of herb pots and a lemon tree at the back door," says Barker. "We're talking about some 600 hectares of farmland and native bush on which we raise our own beef and sheep, an orchard with 90 fruit trees, an olive grove of 130 trees, a berry patch, apiary, ducks, chickens, and a huge vegetable and herb garden on our doorstep. This is supplemented by free-range pork and goats milk from similarly passionate producers in our neighbourhood." The ever-changing menu will set you back $185 per person, with wine pairing available for an addition $115. You can expect the eats to be different each time you visit, but you'll generally be treated to a trio of snacks, meat and fish-based mains with hearty vegetable sides and a fruity dessert. The current menu features the likes of smoked Murray cod, brisket empanadas, kabu turnips, marron vol au vent and a fig dessert. Adding to the experience at the 50-seat restaurant is the showstopping panoramic views of the Megalong Valley. Located a 20-minute drive out of Blackheath, Megalong offers you the chance to escape the grind and enjoy a memorable meal surrounded by just the farm and the mountains. If you're looking to visit, the restaurant is open for dinner three nights a week and long lunches on weekends. If you aren't in the market for a pricey degustation, you can also sample Lot 101's produce over at the Megalong Valley Tearooms down the road. Megalong Restaurant is now open at 3–7 Peach Tree Road, Megalong Valley — operating for dinner Thursday–Sunday and lunch Saturday–Sunday.
Is there a better way to mark ANZAC Day than with a game of two-up and a round of crisp beers? The crew behind The Fiddler Hotel doesn't think so. To commemorate the day, Rouse Hill's much-loved pub is getting into the ANZAC Day spirit by hosting one of the city's lively two-up tournaments for 2024. The outpost's beer garden will be open to keen two-up players and viewers alike from midday. The Fiddler's outdoor space has recently been renovated to accommodate even more guests for this year's instalment — and it's set to be a huge turnout. Plus, the gastropub will also be slinging its usual menu favourites for those hankering for a bite. Pair classics like The Fiddler's Guinness beef pie, grilled rosemary lamb cutlets or slow-cooked barbecue ribs with a lager or pale ale. DJs will also be spinning Aussie tunes on the decks late into the night. Whether you're in for a lively two-up game or to party till late, The Fiddler has got you covered.
Get a video game-to-television adaptation right and viewers will come flocking. It worked for The Last of Us in 2023. It's now proving the case for Fallout, too. In fact, Prime Video's initial take on the button-mashing favourite has become the streaming platform's most-watched season of TV since its The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power's first season, as well as one of its top three most-watched titles of all time so far. Accordingly, it's no surprise that Fallout has just been renewed for a second trip to the wasteland. Debuting its initial eight episodes on Thursday, April 11 Down Under, Fallout takes its cues from the games that first hit computers back in 1997, with three released sequels, a fourth on the way and seven spinoffs all following. The live-action television iteration stars Ella Purnell (Yellowjackets) as Lucy, a lifelong vault-dweller who leaves her cosy underground digs to navigate the irradiated wasteland that earth has remained for two centuries after the nuclear apocalypse. Crossing her path: bounty hunter The Ghoul (Walton Goggins, I'm a Virgo), who has ties to life before the devastation; and Maximus (Aaron Moten, Emancipation), an aspiring soldier with the Brotherhood of Steel, who don giant robotic suits. [caption id="attachment_950363" align="alignnone" width="1920"] JoJo Whilden/Prime Video ©Amazon Content Services LLC[/caption] In this nightmarish future, a hellscape filled with mutants, wild west vibes and plenty of violence awaits beyond the bunker that the optimistic Lucy, daughter of Hank (Kyle MacLachlan, Lucky Hank), who oversees Vault 33, has always called home. Bringing the chaos to life is a behind-the-scenes team featuring Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, as well as Geneva Robertson-Dworet (Captain Marvel) and Graham Wagner (Silicon Valley) as writers and co-showrunners. And yes, Bethesda Game Studios has a hand in it as well. There's no word as to when the retrofuturistic dystopian smash will return for season two, but its first season ended with plenty of questions and routes forward — aka, much for fans who've been hooked on the show, whether or nor you played the games first, to get excited about. "Jonah, Lisa, Geneva and Graham have captivated the world with this groundbreaking wild ride of a show. The bar was high for lovers of this iconic video game and so far we seem to have exceeded their expectations, while bringing in millions of new fans to the franchise. The cast led by Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Walton Goggins and Kyle MacLachlan have knocked it out of the park," said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios, announcing that Fallout will return. "We'd like to thank Jonah and Lisa, and our friends at Bethesda, for bringing the show to us, as well as Geneva and Graham for coming aboard as showrunners. We are thrilled to announce season two after only one week out and take viewers even farther into the surreal world of Fallout." [caption id="attachment_950393" align="alignnone" width="1920"] JoJo Whilden/Prime Video ©Amazon Content Services LLC[/caption] "Praise be to our insanely brilliant showrunners Geneva and Graham, to our kick-ass cast, to Todd and James and all the legends at Bethesda, and to Jen, Vernon and the amazing team at Amazon for their incredible support of this show. We can't wait to blow up the world all over again," said Nolan and Joy. "Holy shit. Thank you to Jonah, Kilter, Bethesda and Amazon for having the courage to make a show that gravely tackles all of society's most serious problems these days — cannibalism, incest, jello cake. More to come!" added Robertson-Dworet and Wagner. Check out the full trailer for Fallout below: Fallout streams via Prime Video. Season two doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when one is announced. Read our review of season one, and our interview with Walton Goggins, Ella Purnell and Aaron Moten. Images: courtesy of Prime Video.
Dixon Street is the beating heart of Chinatown. Take an obligatory photo at the peifang gates (located at either end of the street), grab a bag of famous Emperor's Puffs, and prise yourself from the attentions of enthusiastic restaurant hawkers. You can head there after dark to spot Heaven a vivid large-scale light installation and the Dixon Street Light Screens that hang above the street and gradually change from orange to red. At the stroke of midnight all the lights glow bright red. Image: North Sullivan, Destination NSW.
Following the successful opening of their new all-day eatery Manly Underground (which sits underneath their brewpub on East Esplanade), beloved northern beaches brewery 4 Pines has launched yet another new venue. It's called Public House and you'll find it further north, in the hilly, beachside suburb of Newport. Where Manly Underground's focus is on brunch, Public House's big drawcard is barrel-aged beers. Anytime you wander through, you'll notice at least 20 barrels hanging around, each of which is devoted to storing the good stuff — thereby making it tastier by the time it gets to your tastebuds. So far, two drops have hit the taps. The first is Vlad, a Russian (you guessed it!) Imperial Stout, which has spent six months in whisky barrels provided by Lark and Black Gate distilleries. The second is King Dong, a tart and dry, yet spicy and aromatic, wheat beer that hid away in Muscat barrels for an entire year. On top of those two, there's also one available in a bottle. Known as Jean Claude Van Lambic, it's a golden ale that was aged in Muscat barrels and comes with hints of cherry and orange leaves, topped with buttery overtones. You can't get it anywhere else in the world. For traditionalists who prefer to stick to 4 Pines's more familiar beers, there are 12 on tap. And non-beer drinkers are catered to, too, thanks to a bunch of 4 Pines- and Brookvale Union-infused cocktails, Aussie craft spirits and local wines. Whatever your beverage of choice, you'll find a match among the food menu, which offers a mix of classic dishes from the brewery's Manly Brewpub and new standouts from Underground Manly, taken care of by chefs Rob de Paulo and Adam Rust. Go for the black and white fettuccini (fresh fish, scallops, prawns, asparagus and tossed in a mint and lemon sauce) or the Tree Hugger salad, which comes with hefeweizen-soaked quinoa, chickpeas, avocado and feta. As usual, 4 Pines's design expert Sheree Mitchell has sorted out the interior, so you can expect the familiar, handcrafted-meets-industrial aesthetic. Think lighting made of re-purposed shackles, pulleys and barrel staves, complementing exposed brickwork, recycled timbers, leather and black steel. The walls are covered in a brand new artwork by Murray Fraser, commissioned by 4 Pines and featuring extraordinary photos of the northern beaches' numerous rock pools, framed in timber. As good as the beer is — you won't be forgetting that the water isn't far away. Public House is the fourth venue in the 4 Pines family, joining the Manly Brewpub, Manly Underground and their Brookvale Truck Bar. They're also gearing up to open a brand new beer and bread concept in Belrose's Glen Street Theatre. It will offer beer and freshly baked bread, including the stout bread which has been baked in the Manly BrewPub since 2010, when it opens next year. 4 Pines Public House Newport is located at 313 Barrenjoey Road, Newport. It's open 11.30am till late, seven days a week. For more information, visit their website.
When New Year's Eve rolled around in 1999 with its blend of Y2K excitement and anxiety — including fears about how the world, or at least the technology relied upon to run it, might crash — Emily Browning wasn't yet a teenager. Thanks to the film The Echo of Thunder and TV series High Flyers, she was also already an actor, however. Over a quarter of a century later, the Australian Ghost Ship, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Uninvited, Sucker Punch, Magic Magic, God Help the Girl, Legend, Golden Exits, The Affair and American Gods talent is back at the last evening of the 90s. In One More Shot, she can't escape it. The Aussie comedy, which premiered at SXSW in Austin before its local debut at the 2025 Melbourne International Film Festival, and will hit streaming later in the year via Stan, is a time-loop movie. Rather than Bill Murray waking up each morning to Sonny and Cher's 'I Got You Babe', Browning resets to the front door of a NYE shindig where the sounds of James' 'Laid' echo from the just-starting party inside. After a career so far that's taken her to Hollywood and back Down Under on multiple occasions, Browning is making her own return: to Australian film. The last time that she starred in a homegrown picture was in 2011's Sleeping Beauty. The only other local fare that she's had reach screens between then and now is 2023 Prime Video series Class of '07, which is set at a high-school reunion as an apocalyptic wave hits. The Fox with Jai Courtney (Dangerous Animals), Damon Herriman (Together) and Miranda Otto (The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim) is next, as written and directed by Danger 5's Dario Russo. Genre-wise, Browning is charting new territory in each of her three latest Aussie projects, too, embracing her comedy era. When you're leading a movie about reliving the same night over and over again — One More Shot's New Year's Eve cycle is sparked by a magical bottle of tequila — then you're leading a film about choices. Whenever the genre pops up, be it with Groundhog Day, Edge of Tomorrow, Happy Death Day and its sequel, Palm Springs, video-game adaptation Until Dawn or TV series Russian Doll, decisions and selecting the right options are always at their heart. That's a theme that aligns with Browning's approach to her career, especially in the two decades after playing A Series of Unfortunate Events' Violet Baudelaire opposite Jim Carrey (Sonic the Hedgehog 3) as Count Olaf. The film hit cinemas when she was just 16. That kind of fame wasn't her dream, even though she grew up with an avid love of movies. As Minnie Vernon, her One More Shot character, also does as she keeps retracing her steps as the new millennium dawns, Browning learned from it. Her Lemony Snicket experience has influenced how she has chosen projects since. "It's very much feelings-based, and also a desire to not repeat myself — not for the sake of optics or anything, but just because I get bored really easily. So really, I just go towards what interests me," she tells Concrete Playground. "Of course, there's about ten people in Hollywood who get their pick of any movie they want, and I'm certainly not one of them. And so a lot of it is also what's available to me at the time," Browning continues. "It's a combination of that and things that I love. But I've only done one or two things that I really didn't like and that I did because I needed to work. And I think I'm too — I just don't think I have the constitution for that. And so I really mostly just wait for something to come along that speaks to me in some way, and sometimes I wait for a really long time — sometimes I have huge breaks in work. I mean, I'm so incredibly lucky. There are so many talented actors out there who don't ever get the opportunities that I've been given, and so I feel like incredibly lucky for that, but I just follow my gut. I'm just going with what feels right to me." In One More Shot, Browning's Minnie is an anaesthetist who's having a chaotic day that she thinks rekindling her on-again-off-again romance with Joe (Sean Keenan, Exposure) will fix. More than that, she believes that plunging into a relationship with him now that he's back from New York will solve her general sensation that something's missing from her existence. Their loaded pal Rodney (Ashley Zukerman, In Vitro) and his wife Pia (Pallavi Sharda, Spit), who are parents to an infant and feeling the stress of the change to their lifestyle, are their hosts — but the night instantly alters for Minnie when she meets Joe's new girlfriend Jenny (Aisha Dee, Apple Cider Vinegar), then swerves again (and again and again and again) when taking a swig of tequila sees her kick off the party from the beginning once more. [caption id="attachment_1017510" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nick Robertson | @nickmickpics[/caption] When Class of '07 gave Browning her first taste of comedy as an actor, she was apprehensive. As the series proved, she needn't have been. Browning was also uncertain when One More Shot came her way — especially about playing drunk, one of acting's most-challenging tasks. Again, the same applies. A particular highlight of the Nicholas Clifford (Monologue)-directed, Alice Foulcher- and Gregory Erdstein (That's Not Me)-co-written film, which also features Hamish Michael (Scrublands: Silver), Anna McGahan (Darby and Joan) and Contessa Treffone (Totally Completely Fine) among its cast: Browning's ability, even though every protagonist in every flick hopefully changes and evolves, to convey that shift when those changes and evolutions are firmly in the spotlight — each step along the way, each tweak. How do you respond when a time-loop rom-com that sparks its temporal trickery with slinging shots hits your inbox? What's exciting about diving into comedy more than two decades into your career? Does a transformation arc change how you approach playing a character in a movie like this? In our chat, Browning also filled us in on all of the above, plus finding Minnie's mix of vulnerability and selfishness, acting tipsy, her journey since her first on-screen credit at the age of 11 and the thrill of making Australian projects. On How You React When a Time-Loop Comedy About a Magical Bottle of Tequila Comes Your Way "So every script you get sent, there's sort of a little blurb, like the kind of elevator pitch of the story that's trying to like sum it up in a paragraph or two. I guess that's for the actors who get sent so many scripts that they don't have time to read them all, but I'm just always happy to read a script. The blurbs are also never written by the creatives — they're written by someone at an agency somewhere. And so I read the blurb and I was like 'romantic comedy about a time travelling bottle of tequila?'. I was like 'aaah, I don't know about this. I'm not so sure'. But then I read the script, because I just like to read scripts, and I got not even probably 10–15 pages in and I was like 'oh, wait a sec'. I could just tell immediately that the quality of writing was really good. And I found it really funny. And then by the time I was through it, I was really nervous. I wasn't immediately sold, mostly because I didn't know if I could pull it off. When I first read it, I read it as though Minnie was getting progressively drunker through the whole film. And playing drunk is really, really, really hard to do, and so I was like 'oh, I don't know, this might be too much of a challenge'. But I really related to the themes of the choices that you make in life meaning that you have to say goodbye to other possible choices, and how do you decide what you want your life to look like — and the feeling of regret, and the kind of grass-is-always-greener feeling. And I really loved it. And then I when I spoke to Nick Clifford, the director, he just really further sold me on it. And yeah, I'm really excited about it. I feel really, really proud of it now." On Embracing Comedy After Initially Being Apprehensive Before Class of '07 Gave Browning Her First Comic Role "I love it. I love it so much. And I love it because it still feels really hard to me. I'm a person who gets bored really easily and I like to be challenged. I mean, I know that's a really trite thing to say. I know everyone says that. But without the fear of failing spectacularly, I feel like I don't have the — how do I explain this? I only really am able to be my best, most-creative self when I'm under a lot of stress and when I'm feeling really anxious. I guess it's maybe kind of an ADD thing where I just don't have enough dopamine in my brain unless I'm kind of borderline panicking. And so I think, yeah, comedy still feels really scary, and that's why I love to do it. And I really also, I really credit Class of '07 and Kacie Anning [Madam], the creator of that show, for opening that up in me — because she really put me through the wringer. We were playing improv games and doing a bunch of crazy stuff to prepare for that show. And she was pushing me. She was like 'you're still too afraid of being embarrassed. You still have to be more of a dickhead'. Like, 'you have to embarrass yourself more'. And it really broke something open in me, because I think before that I was really terrified of embarrassing myself, and I kind of wanted — I did a lot of straight drama, and I think I got to the limits of what I could do in my career without being willing to embarrass myself. And so now that's a fun and exciting risk for me — when I read a script where I'm like 'ohh, I'm going to look like a real idiot doing this', that's a pro now instead of a con." On Playing a Character Whose Change and Evolution Scene by Scene Isn't Just in the Spotlight — It's One of the Key Points of the Film "It was a challenge — there's so much repetition of setpieces and of moments, but ideally you don't want it to be repetition of the emotion or the acting, because then it becomes a really boring film. So that was a huge challenge, was like 'okay, how do I make sure every loop, the similarities between every loop' — like the literal similarities — 'feel different enough every time we're doing it?'. And I try not to think too much about how the audience is going to respond to a film. I don't really think that's my job when I'm filming it, when I'm acting. But I definitely wanted to make sure that Minnie, that there was some or a lot of variation between each time loop. But I think having such a clear transformation arc was really fun, actually. I love playing kind of an unlikeable character, and I just think it's more interesting and more fun. And I think Minnie, the fact that we get to watch Minnie over the course of the film go from unlikeable to a-little-bit-more likeable is really great. There's nothing more fun, honestly, than playing a character who has no self-awareness. There's something really freeing about it. As someone who's a total people-pleaser, there's something so enjoyable about playing a character who just doesn't give a shit about other people's feelings." On Finding Minnie's Balance of Yearning and Vulnerability, But Also Selfishness and Recklessness — and Plenty More "It's interesting. I think so much of that is a credit to the writing. I'm trying to get better in my work. I'm trying to get better at being proud of myself and owning the things that I'm good at — which I think growing up in Australia can sometimes be a tricky thing, when it's always like 'oh, don't get too full of yourself'. But I have always thought of myself or I've thought of actors as a medium in the way that paint is a medium. Like, I'm a paint colour and a director chooses to paint with me. And I know I've said this to a few actors and they're completely horrified by it, but an actor has very little control in the outcome of a film. And I think that this is why actors can become such nightmares sometimes, because they have this delusion of control and this need for control, where there really isn't any. It's really a job where you don't get much creative control. And so I think that I just am trying to tap into exactly what I imagine Minnie feels in the moment, and I get that from the script. I know that sounds like kind of a cheap answer. It makes it sound like I have no agency. But I'm a real overthinker in every other area of my life — but when it comes to work, if a character feels right and if a story feels right, something clicks for me where I'm really not thinking very much. I'm not a studious actor. I'm not poring over the script every day. My favourite thing is to get in there and talk about the scene with the director and with the other actors, and then just do it. And when I'm doing, I'm not thinking about it at all." On the Difficulties of Acting Drunk — But Only Really Needing to Act Tipsy Here "One of the ways that Nick Clifford reassured me about taking on the role was by telling me that she doesn't get progressively drunker. She actually resets for every loop. So really, Minnie is only ever tipsy, which is a lot easier — because I think that there's a broader area to play with with tipsiness. Some people, you can tell if they're tipsy — some people, you can't. Minnie is an anaesthetist. She's in a very serious profession. She probably went to a great school and her job means that she's taken very seriously. So I feel like Emily's normal personality-level silliness is probably Minnie's tipsiness. So I wasn't really thinking about playing tipsy. I was just thinking about playing Minnie being maybe slightly less reserved than she normally would be — or than she would be at work. The only moment in the film that I really felt that I was playing inebriated in some way was the scene with Sean in the bathroom, where Minnie does a line of C-Word's [Michael] cocaine. I've had conversations with a lot of people who were on cocaine, and I found that much easier than playing drunk — because essentially, a person on cocaine is just talking a bit faster and a bit more excitedly and animatedly, but really they just don't give a fuck what you have to say. They just want to hear the sound of themselves talking. And I was like 'yeah, I can do that.' That's a lot easier to act than drunk. Whereas drunk is like — when I see a great drunk performance, I'm really, really, really impressed by it. People think it's impressive when actors cry easily. I'm like 'no anyone can do that'. When someone can play drunk, that's when I'm really — I think that's really incredible. I don't know if I can really do it, to be honest with you." On Browning's Path From Making Her Screen Debut Almost Three Decades Ago in The Echo of Thunder Through to Now "That was my first acting role, and it kind of happened by accident. It was very random. A friend's parents saw me in a school play and knew a casting director, and the casting director was looking for an eight-year-old girl — and it kind of just happened. Before then, I loved movies so much. I loved movies. All I did was watch movies. But I just didn't think — I never made the connection in my mind that that was a job you could do. And then it just happened, and I was like 'cool, I guess this is my job now'. And it meant that I got to be out of school for a few months of the year, and it felt more interesting to me than school did. But I think from the beginning, I was like 'well, this is what I do now, I guess'. And then I remember doing Lemony Snicket when I was 14, and I loved that experience, but it was my first time in LA and it really freaked me out in a way that was like 'I actually don't think this is the life that I want'. I was there, I was in West Hollywood, and I was meeting all these young actors who seemed so — they just seemed to not have any other life outside of making films and it just all felt a bit yuck to me. And so I actually kind of quit for a few years, and didn't start again until after high school. But even that, it's only really in the last few years, since COVID, that I've really felt like I fully committed to wanting to be an actor — which is crazy because I'm in my mid-30s now. But it took me a long time. I was very afraid for a long time. The idea of being famous has always been terrifying to me. I'm only now at the point where I'm like 'okay, I think I know myself well enough and I can let myself accept the fact that I would like to be successful'. I still don't want to be famous. I still have no interest in being — like, I don't want to be in superhero movies, really. But I would like to do this for the rest of my life, and I would like to be able to do really interesting roles. And that means learning how to play the game to some degree, I guess, which feels gross, but I think it's just part of it. I've spent a lot of time leaning in and then pulling back, and hiding from the scarier elements of the industry — or the elements that were scary to me. And now I finally feel like I'm at a place where I'm like 'okay, I want to do this for real', even though I have been doing it for real for a long time. But I finally feel ready for it." On Coming Home for a Project — and One More Shot Being Browning's Australian Film Since 2011's Sleeping Beauty "Honestly, other than my gut, it's the fact that I get to come home. It's a huge drawcard to be able to work at home. And honestly, more and more recently, so much of the most interesting stuff that I've been reading has been Australian stuff. So it's been a really lucky thing — especially during the strike and everything, when a lot of my friends just had to wait it out. And the fact that I was still able to be reading stuff in Australia, I feel really, really lucky for that, that I have this other — it's not a second career, it's all part of the same career, but the fact that I can come home and work is really, really incredible, especially now considering that everything's a bit more global now. With streaming, people see things from all over the world and you can be anywhere. I'm not going to take a job in Australia just because it's in Australia, but if something is in Australia that I already love, it's going to make me even more excited about it. I think One More Shot — and The Fox as well — are both things that I'm incredibly excited about. And they both happen to have been made here, which is really cool. It makes them even more special." One More Shot screens at the 2025 Melbourne International Film Festival — and will stream via Stan later in 2025. MIFF 2025 runs from Thursday, August 7–Sunday, August 24 at a variety of venues around Melbourne; from Friday, August 15–Sunday, August 17 and Friday, August 22–Sunday, August 24 in regional Victoria; and online nationwide from Friday, August 15–Sunday, August 31. For further details, visit the MIFF website. One More Shot images: Ben King/Stan.
Fashion isn't the first industry that most rugby stars choose post-retirement. For Lewi Brown, however, it was a chance to channel his creative streak into a self-run project. Earls Collection is an elevated menswear label that creates nostalgic and sport-inspired looks. Now in its sixth year, the brand is going from strength to strength with new collections and its Paddington brick-and-mortar store. We caught up with founder Lewi Brown in Sydney to learn more about Earls Collection and why it's helping him find the community he lost after leaving the NRL. Founded just days after retiring from the NRL in 2018, Earls Collection represents a strong family connection for the Māori creative director. Lewi grew up as the child of a single mother and used his creativity to get by. While it would be decades until he explored the fashion world seriously, Lewi always had a creative streak, crediting skaters as his ultimate sport and style inspiration. "I had to get creative with what we had," he says. "We didn't have much money so I wasn't wearing designer stuff. Half the time I was wearing my aunty's skate shoes, my sister's skate shoes, just to try and piece things together. As I grew up, I started to embrace the creativity of dressing." The name also ties to Lewi's family legacy. Earls is the middle name of Lewi, as well as his father and grandfather, both of whom passed by suicide. "This brand is built off mental health [awareness]." Now, Lewi is channelling a whole new community using the creativity he didn't know he had as a child. Through working with creative collaborators on shoots or via the face-to-face relationships built in the Paddington store, Earls Collection is helping foster a sense of community that can often be lost when leaving an institution such as the sporting world. [caption id="attachment_1028531" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Declan May - Galaxy Z Flip7 is featured[/caption] "When I played rugby league, community was huge. You had your community within the boys at training each day, then the wider community, then the fans." As a business owner, the founder and creative director has to wear many hats, but Lewi loves the juggle and credits tools such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 to his creative drive and success. From booking meetings on the fly to campaign photoshoots and helping make styling and business decisions, the phone is supercharged by Google Gemini*, making it even easier to run his self-made brand. "I always knew it would be a challenge. Some days I'm logistics, some days I'm designing, some days I'm in the warehouse packing orders. When you love something, and you're so passionate you'd do anything for it," he says. In addition to his familial and community inspiration, Lewi often looks to vintage stores and clothes to help inspire Earls Collection's aesthetic. During our catch-up, Lewi takes us to the consignment store SWOP Darlinghurst. "The most beautiful thing about vintage wear is that you can't emulate that. The textures of the fabrics [get] better with age and time and patience. That's the beauty about thrift shopping." While many celebrity ambassadors take on similar projects to chase fame and money, it's clear that the sporting community spirit is at the heart of Earls Collection. "I'm not just here for money or fame or to have a profile. I'm really passionate about clothing." Explore more at Samsung. Images by Declan May If you or anyone you know is experiencing emotional distress, please contact Lifeline (131 114) or Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) for help and support. *Gemini is a trademark of Google LLC. Gemini Live feature requires internet connection and Google Account login. Available on select devices and select countries, languages, and to users 18+. Fees may apply to certain AI features at the end of 2025. Editing with Generative Edit results in a resized photo up to 12MP. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed. Flex Mode supported at angles between 75°and 115°. Some apps may not be supported in Flex Mode. Gemini is a trademark of Google LLC. Requires internet connection and Google Account login. Works on compatible apps. Features may differ depending on subscription. Set up may be required for certain functions or apps. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.
Some say print is going out of fashion, but clicking 'add to cart' on your computer just isn't the same as inhaling the scent of fresh ink from the pages of a paperback book. Berkelouw Books is a mahogany sanctuary in salt-sprayed Cronulla, smelling comfortingly of paper and furniture polish. In store you'll find a vast collection of new releases, classics bound in leather, enormous coffee table books and vibrant children's stories. Take your coffee-filled keep cup and give yourself plenty of time to meander. Images: Caitlin Morahan.
In Australia's crowded outdoor cinema space, no one can accuse the folks at Mov'In of relying on the same old setup year in, year out. Since launching in 2016, the nation's outdoor bed cinema has been regularly coming up with new spins on its concept, because getting folks seeing flicks on a mattress — pillows, blankets and all — under the stars isn't enough. So, Mov'In Boat floated on Darling Harbour. Mov'In Car popped up on Entertainment Quarter's rooftop, and ran Australia's first EV drive-in cinema as well. The next event: watching movies in bed on the beach at Barangaroo. Getting its sheets out and projectors whirring for summer, Mov'In Bed Outdoor Cinema's sandy stint will take place from Friday, January 12–Sunday, April 14, 2024 at Harbour Park in Barangaroo. And all those white grains that'll be beneath your feet? There'll be a huge 280 tonnes of the stuff, which the pop-up's 150 queen-sized beds will sit atop. Snuggled-up filmgoers will feast their eyes on a 15-metre 4K screen, catching three months of big-name pictures such as The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, The Marvels, Barbie, Killers of the Flower Moon, John Wick: Chapter 4 and Everything Everywhere All At Once. Other films set to get a-flickering include Studio Ghibli's The Boy and the Heron, No Hard Feelings, Napoleon, the Sydney-shot Anyone But You and Ferrari. The full program will span new and classic titles, which patrons can pair with skyline views, plus food and drinks delivered to your bed. Dress-up nights will also be on the bill, while the cinema will be adding an intermission to particularly long movies. Expect DJ-spun tunes, focusing on songs from film soundtracks, upon arrival. No one wandering by will hear a thing once the movie starts playing, however, because Mov'In uses noise-cancelling headphones for every attendee. Gates will open at 6pm, with movies playing from 8.30pm. And price-wise, tickets will range from $12–75 per person. Mov'In Bed Outdoor Cinema's beach stint will take place from Friday, January 12–Sunday, April 14, 2024 at Harbour Park, Barangaroo. For further details or to book, head to the Mov'In Bed Outdoor Cinema website.
Forget paint and sip — Australia's first painting workshop with pups is coming to Sydney. Paws n Paintz is all about combining the therapeutic benefits of art, socialising and of course, spending some time with tiny fur babies. Puppies will be roaming around the workshop, whether you're after creative inspiration or just some cute cuddles. "Our mission at Paws n Paintz is to create a space where people can explore their creativity while spending time with puppies," said Co-founder Natalie Thomas. "There are so many great things about this experience, it's a fun activity, a great opportunity to socialise and create memories." There are three sessions available each day from Friday, April 26–Sunday, April 28, and each class runs for one hour and fifteen minutes at a photography studio in Rosebery (the address will be provided upon booking).
The laws of the universe stipulate that every workplace employs at least one person who is vehemently opposed to organised fun. But we'd argue that's because it's all too easy to fall back on underwhelming group activities that involve shuffling around jugs of beer or chocolate swiss rolls (both of which are delicious, mind you). If you're tasked with overseeing team bonding activities for your office, it's time to prove the naysayers wrong with some more inspiring options that'll keep the whole crew entertained. In partnership with American Express, we've pulled together a list of local experiences that'll get you and your colleagues out of the office and embracing forced fun.
Since Dark Mofo first introduced House of Mirrors back in 2016, the installation has sat at the top of everyone's must-do list. Created by Australian installation artists Christian Wagstaff and Keith Courtney, it's exactly what it sounds like: a walkthrough space filled with reflective surfaces that will not only strands you in a maze of your own image, but turns your likeness into a kaleidoscope. After touring the country, the world's largest travelling mirror maze has returned to Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art. The installation was unveiled in late 2020 as part of the museum's post-pandemic revamp and reopening. Is it fun, creepy or both? Wander through the disorienting, perception-altering, panic-inducing, optical illusion-based labyrinth and decide for yourself. The modern, minimalist twist on the fairground classic features 40 tonnes of steel and 15 tonnes of mirrors — with no added gimmicks, no special effects, no soundtrack or soundscape. If your trip down to Tasmania coincides with this year's Dark Mofo celebrations, check out our round up of the best things to eat, see and do on the island during the winter months. House of Mirrors is open from 10am–5pm Friday–Monday. Images: House of Mirrors (2016), Christian Wagstaff and Keith Courtney. Photo by MONA/Jesse Hunniford, courtesy of MONA, Hobart, Tasmania.
There are plenty of ways to explore the Snowy Mountains, no matter what time of year you visit — from overnight horse treks to taking a dip in a thermal, spring-fed pool. If you want to see the region from above, though, Snowy Mountain Helicopters has you covered. Flights range from a speedy zoom over Lake Jindabyne ($110 for ten minutes) to extended flights to some of the region's highlights, including Valentine Falls, Mt Jagungal and the ski resorts ($570 for 60 minutes). To combine a few itinerary must-dos in one trip, sign up to one of the more immersive helicopter experiences. Each starts with a scenic flight over Kosciuszko National Park before taking you to the activity of your choice — you might wish to enjoy a gourmet picnic at a remote cabin, go fishing for trout, or sample locally made tipples at Wild Brumby Distillery or Snowy Vineyard and Microbrewery.
The world has gone green. With carbon trading, hybrid cars and alternative fuels dominating elections and dining table chit-chat across the globe, the choice to be green is not simply an environmental consideration but a way of life for many people. Some environmentally-minded folks, however, have brought new meaning to the phrase "one man's trash is another man's treasure", transforming scrap metal and old beer cans into functional and often stunning houses. Here are ten bizarre and beautiful houses made entirely of recycled materials. Junk Castle Where: Washington State It took one high school teacher, one artist, $500 and a pile of discarded filth to make the Junk Castle, with everything from car doors to rusting kitchen appliances replacing the usual bricks and mortar. Le Casa de Botellas Where: Puerto Iguazu, Argentina The 'House of Bottles' is made from thousands of disposable plastic bottles for the purpose of "promoting ecological and social responsibility", and includes a matching bottle playhouse. Earthship Where: Haiti After the devastating 2010 Haiti Earthquake destroyed thousands of families' homes, eco-architect Michael Reynolds constructed this 120-square-foot house from discarded car tires. Not only did it cost next to nothing to build, but it is also resistant to earthquakes and hurricanes and harvests solar and wind energy. Jardin du Coquillage Where: Northern France 'The Garden of Shells' was a labour of love for French war veteran Bodan Litnianski, who upon returning from WWII began decorating the exterior of his house with shells. Upon finishing the walls, Litnianski then roamed the streets in search of abandoned toys, puppets and anything else that caught his fancy, transforming his tiny cottage into a veritable maze of colourful and exotic junk. House Built from Glass Bottles Where: Prince Edward Island, Canada 25,000 bottles were used by Édouard T. Arsenault to build this eco-friendly home. One wasn't enough though, with Arsenault making three similarly cost-effective houses across the island. Costa Verde Resort Where: Costa Rica This multi-million dollar extravaganza is one of the more innovative hotel designs you are likely to see, constructed from a decommissioned Boeing 727 previously used by South Africa Air. The striking exterior is more than adequately matched by its ritzy interior, in which the inside of the plane has been refashioned into wood panelled hotel rooms that fetch up to $500 a night. The Phoenix Commotion Where: Huntsville, Texas Architect, environmentalist and innovator Dan Phillips (above) is the brains behind eco-friendly construction company, The Phoenix Commotion. Having constructed 14 houses from materials salvaged from junkyards, flea markets and street corners across Texas, Phillips believes the possibilities for The Phoenix Commotion are just about endless. "You can't defy the laws of physics or building codes," Phillips told the New York Times, “but beyond that, the possibilities are endless.” The Beer Can House Where: Houston, Texas That's right, a house made entirely from flattened beer cans, beer bottles and other beer paraphernalia. Houston resident John Milkovisch became a local icon when in 1968 he began converting his family home into a shrine to the amber nectar. His only explanation for the hordes of perplexed neighbours was "I got sick of mowing the lawn". While it is now a favoured tourist attraction, it is only worth a visit if you are particularly strong of stomach, as 50 years of fermenting beer has apparently given the house a rather rancid stench. Houses Made From Shipping Pallets Where: Chile and Austria Designers in Chile and Austria have used discarded shipping pallets to create houses that are both functional and beautiful. The strong hardwood material and large holes in the pallets lend themselves perfectly for house exteriors providing homes with natural lighting, cooling and ventilation. Grain Silo House Where: Woodland, Utah Penny-saving, environmentally-conscious architects have been known to convert just about anything into houses, from churches to shipping containers to bomb shelters. One such trend that has developed in the US is repurposing grain silos into some surprisingly stylish homes. While this double-silo mansion took several years of redesigning and recreating, silos can be renovated into houses for as little as $7,000.
Sydney's harbourside bars are inviting nearly year round. But summer is the perfect time to enjoy a few beverages outdoors overlooking our city's prized natural gift. Here are our top picks of harbourside bars to get you in the mood for the warmer months ahead. The Island Bar Deck chairs, random shipping paraphernalia, umbrellas, cocktails and astroturf. Yes, you guessed it, the Island Bar. Here you have a chilled patch of green, tropical tunes and nautically named cocktails, wine by the glass and beers (from $8) on Sydney Harbour's Cockatoo Island. Want some food to accompany that glowing sunset? Try the wood fired pizza. Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour The Theatre Bar at the End of the Wharf Alcohol, share plates, ping pong, billiards, and dramatic views of the Harbour Bridge and Luna Park … what's not to like about the Bar at the End of the Wharf? Although a theatre bar, this place takes its beers, cider and wine very seriously. And then there's the cocktails, which change depending on the current Sydney Theatre Company season. The Lotte Kotten ($17), a combination of house made blood orange sorbet, burnt orange infused gin, Aperol, bubbles with a dash of bitters, is a must try. Pier 4/5 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay Opera Bar You can't get much more iconic than this. With a large outdoor area in such a prime spot, it's hard to deny Opera Bar the harbourside kudos it deserves. In addition to a well-versed wine list, there's some decent, reasonably priced food options too. While it's lacked some character in the past, there's a revamp coming from Matt Moran's MorSul and current operators Solotel that could shake things up in very good way. 2 Macquarie Street, Sydney Papi Chulo Located right next to the ferry dock in Manly, this stylish, self-proclaimed smokehouse and grill packs a fabulously relaxed punch to the senses the moment you step inside. Up the entrance ramp, you're drawn to the chunky, polished curving central bar stocked to the brim and hugged by cane stools. You might be inclined to think they've just taken a whole bunch of much-loved design elements and thrown them together, but like the combination of flavours behind the Deep South/South American menu, it works. Drinks-wise, you've got a full wine list catering to pretty much any palate likely to pop in, and as you'd expect, there are plenty of cocktails. 22-23 Manly Wharf, Manly Little Fish Take a stroll down the sunny length of Jones Bay Wharf and you'll come to a gorgeous little bar by the name of Little Fish. The window-walled outdoor section of the historic structure that houses Flying Fish features pretty, resort-style couches, heaters in winter and a sparkling harbour vista. The cocktails do some sparkling of their own — the Butter Me Up ($19) features 666 vodka made using butter (that's right) from a dairy farm next door to the distillery and gets even more heavenly with lime juice, vanilla syrup and a dark chocolate rim. Jones Bay Wharf, 19-21 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont Double Bay 18 Foot Skiff Club A solid all-rounder. Usual suspects on the bar menu include burgers and oysters ($18.80 half dozen natural). Wine from the Australian/New Zealand dominated list start at $6.50 per glass for non-members. And don't forget to head out to the pier to enjoy views of the surrounding bay and harbour beyond. 77 Bay Street, Double Bay Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel The Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel's Beach Club is a place that serves up the kind of beachy-cool-baby thing that Sydney should do so well but doesn't always get so right. With sprawling outdoor seating, a fresh-not-fancy menu and a view so palm-tree perfect it could be a postcard, the revamped hotel just exudes easy elegance. 1 Military Road, Watsons Bay MCA Cafe Let's face it, if you're running a cafe on the fourth floor of the Museum of Contemporary Art with harbour views, you could pretty much serve up a bowl of cornflakes and business would still be booming. The view over Circular Quay really is something, even on a rainy day. Thankfully, the chaps from Fresh Catering running the joint are not using the view as an excuse to serve up nonsense. MCA, Level 4, 140 George Street, Sydney Seawall The concrete is still pouring at Barangaroo, but that "next CBD entertainment hub" feeling is flooding Hickson Road as the Lotus Dumpling Bar team open their second Walsh Bay restaurant and bar, Seawall. Waterfront, trattoria style, it serves up Mediterranean dishes with a seafood bent and plenty of sunshine. The place screams Aperol in the sun — potentially as a self-reward for finally coming through on that harbourfront walk with your parents — and their house twist on this classic spritz, the Walsh Cinnamon Spritz ($19), is great year round. Shop 6/17 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay The Island The Island is a floating open-air space and can aptly be describe in one word: exclusive. At the Island you're welcome to feel like a bad-ass rapper or bikini-clad model. In fact, it's encouraged. You'll need tickets to get in on privileged 'Beach Club' Island action, which range from $850 for a six person package, up to $1750 for an eight person premium daybed package. Sydney Harbour, Sydney By the Concrete Playground team.
Looking for something to dazzle? Head to Courtesy of the Artist in the Strand Arcade, where you will find an expansive collection of contemporary jewellery and objects. Split across three galleries, the store's modern and ever-evolving offering is designed to command attention and combat mass production. Since launching in 2005, Courtesy of the Artist has grown to represent 80 artists who champion unexpected creations. Celebrating a big anniversary or birthday? Browse the array of ready-to-wear pieces or speak with one of six handpicked fine jewellers to create your own custom design. More of an artist collective than a simple shop, Courtesy of the Artist holds community workshop events in its airy upstairs space, The Loft, so local jewellers and artists can come and learn new skills. Images: Kimberley Low.
Melbourne's hotel scene just keeps booming, with an impressive new Marriott Hotel outpost set to launch in the heart of Docklands. And this one comes complete with a whole swag of onsite hospitality venues, including a swanky rooftop bar and heated infinity pool. Slated to open late June, the Melbourne Marriott Hotel Docklands will be the suburb's only five-star hotel, boasting 189 luxury rooms kitted out with features like 'retail-inspired wardrobes' and 55-inch LCD TVs. Then, there's the hefty collection of food and drink offerings, including one next to the hotel's crowning glory — the stunning infinity pool, complemented by sweeping views to the west overlooking Port Phillip Bay and the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel. Escape up here for a taste of the high life and you'll be swimming in a 28-metre wet-edge pool — or lounging on a day bed enjoying cocktails and high-end panoramas. You don't even need to be a hotel guest to take advantage, with day passes available for $68 (or $168 for a family of two adults and two children), which gets you four-hour entry to the rooftop pool and whirlpool, plus use of both the sauna and the hotel's high-tech gym. Adjacent rooftop bar Sunset House is set to be a buzzy sky-high destination where punters can kick back on lounges nibbling finger sandwiches — and quaff signature cocktails and a range of Everleigh's bottled spritzes. After dark, the menu will expamd to include chic shared plates like katsu sandos, duck jaffles, Moreton Bay bug rolls, and tuna sashimi teamed with a green chilli sambal and sesame tofu. Expect a program of nighttime DJ sets to match. Meanwhile, elegant all-day restaurant Archer's is being headed up by Executive Chef David Albert, and will champion local ingredients and producers through an offering of bold, technique-driven plates. You'll sit down to the likes of lamb tartare; Mount Martha mussels smoked over paper bark; and a dish of Great Ocean Road duck jamon with rhubarb compote, davidson plum and walnut mole. The fare's complemented by a considered drinks program from sommelier Hamish Small, including champagne aplenty. Explore further and you'll find casual all-day haunt Corsia, which trips from St Ali coffee and breakfast fare to Euro-leaning lunch dishes, and then onto after-work wines and Italian-style desserts. Cocktail lounge Ada's is the final piece of the puzzle, taking both its name and inspiration from the pioneering female mixologist that created the Savoy Hotel's famed Hanky Panky cocktail in the 1930s. The sophisticated space will be slinging chic bar snacks, revamped classic cocktails and an impressive range of non-alcoholic creations. The Melbourne Marriott Hotel Docklands will open at 15 Waterfront Way, Docklands, from late June. For more details, or to book a stay or pool access, check out the website. Images: Dianna Snape
