Heading to the beach is all about sun, sand and taking a dip in the sea — and for Queenslanders this summer, it's now about two types of surfing. Selected spots across the state will be trialling a new system called Life-Fi, which enables sunbathers to connect to the internet for free while they're lazing about between the flags. The real aim of Life-Fi is actually to save lives. It gives beachgoers an incentive to keep close to lifeguards, with nearly 80 percent of the more than 5000 rescues that have taken place since January 2017 occurring outside of the red and yellow flags. The system also allows surf lifesaving clubs to communicate directly with folks sunning themselves by the shore — sending alerts from lifeguards on duty about ocean conditions, currents and marine creatures; conveying weather updates and live UV ratings; and offering general surf safety tips. Spearheaded by Surf Life Saving Queensland, Life-Fi has already been trialled at the Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club, and will now roll out to ten other clubs along the coastline. Four mobile units will also be dispatched throughout the state as they're needed. Exact locations have yet to be announced, although you can expect popular beaches on the Gold and Sunshine coasts to feature. The portable self-contained wireless network is available in six languages (English, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, Japanese and Thai), ensuring that overseas tourists making the most of Queensland beaches can still receive safety warnings. Announcing the expanded trial, Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones noted that tourism was a key motivator. "If we can make people feel safe, we know we'll lure more people to the beach." For more information, visit the Life-Fi website. You can also use NetShare Pro.
When Surry Hills mainstay Bodega closed its doors in July 2019, we were promised a new Japanese restaurant from the Tokyo Bird team would take its place. And now it's made good on that promise, opening Nikkei on Commonwealth Street last week. But it's not a carbon copy of the team's much-loved yakitori and cocktail bar. Instead, this new diner has more of a focus on food, specialising in a particular style of Japanese-Peruvian cuisines called Nikkei. While this combination may be unheard of to some, the style of food actually developed over 100 years ago, when Peru's sizeable Japanese immigrant population began cooking local Peruvian dishes using their native cooking techniques and flavours. The 55-seat venue features a bar, counter seating and a 12-seat communal table. Through the open kitchen, diners can catch Brazilian head chef Lucas Cerullo David (who comes from sister venue Osaka Trading Co.) and sushi chef Justin Kim at work on a seafood-heavy menu. It includes Peru's 'national' dish tiradito, a sliced sashimi-style ceviche. At Nikkei, you can choose between an octopus version — made with nori, pickled daikon and Peruvian chillies — or a mushroom medley with Jersualem artichokes and nori crackers. [caption id="attachment_752482" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bruno Stefani[/caption] Many of the dishes are served as either tapas or izakaya-style, so it's easy to share. Other specialties include hokkaido scallops with capsicum salsa and beef short ribs with miso garlic and Peruvian corn puree. Behind the bar, expect a 40-strong wine list that focuses on coastal vineyards and a cocktail list which boasts distinct Peruvian flavours — including pisco, aniseed wine, chicha morada (Andean purple corn drink), oregano tea and quinoa milk. Lots of the hard-to-find ingredients on both the food and drinks menu have been directly sourced from Peru and Japan, too. This is the fifth restaurant venture for owners Jason Ang, Tina Wing Kee and Christopher Ang — as well as Tokyo Bird, the trio's portfolio also includes other popular venues Osaka Trading Co., Bancho and the nearby Sando Bar. Also involved in the venture is the dining group's venue manager Marco Oshiro Giron, whose Japanese-Peruvian heritage helped inspire and develop the Nikkei concept. He is joined by an impressive array of hospitality vets, including group sommelier Phil McElroy (The Source Restaurant at MONA, Firedoor, Sokyo), manager Reuvin Lim (Tayim, Tequila Mockingbird, Sake Double Bay, Cho Cho San) and head bartender Xander Ramirez (Bentley, Tayim). Images: Bruno Stefani.
From six nominations, Sydney Theatre Company's Sarah Snook (Memoir of a Snail)-starring international production of The Picture of Dorian Gray is now the winner of two Tony awards. At American theatre's night of nights for 2025, the Broadway take of the show earned its leading lady another accolade, after she also won a 2024 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress for its London version. Also adding a Tony to her mantle alongside her past Olivier Award: Marg Horwell, who emerged victorious for Best Costume Design of a Play, just as she did for The Picture of Dorian Gray's London season. "This means so much for a little Australian girl to be here on Broadway," said Snook in her acceptance speech, as the Australian Succession star nabbed another huge accolade. On the small screen, her turn as Shiv Roy sparked an Emmy, two Golden Globes and a pair of Screen Actors Guild Awards. "It is billed as a one-person show, but I don't feel alone on any night that I do this show. There are so may people onstage making it work, and so many people behind the stage making it work — in particular, a huge thank you to Kip Williams, who is incredible to create this." When the Tony nominations were announced, The Picture of Dorian Gray already made history before the winners were revealed. Becoming the most-nominated solo production in the awards' history will do that. While Snook was the only actor from the production to earn recognition because she's the show's sole cast member, Horwell was also up for Best Scenic Design of a Play with David Bergman, while helmer Kip Williams was nominated for Best Direction of a Play, Nick Schlieper for Best Lighting Design of a Play and Clemence Williams for Best Sound Design of a Play. Before The Picture of Dorian Gray saw Snook score a Tony and make her Broadway debut playing all 26 of the play's parts, it was a smash in Australia with Eryn Jean Norvill (Love Me) in the lead. When it made the leap to the UK starring Snook, it became the talk of West End. It's also been picked up by Cate Blanchett's (Disclaimer) production company Dirty Films to get the film treatment. Not only does the show feature just one performer playing every single character but, to make that happen, it uses video to help. The work of writer/director Williams, it's groundbreaking, and it's been understandably earning audiences raves and winning accolades. On the page, The Picture of Dorian Gray is also 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 the Tonys clearly appreciate. "Sarah Snook's Tony Award win is a deeply deserved honour. Her performance has captivated audiences night after night, and this recognition is a celebration of her extraordinary artistry," said Michael Cassel, producer of both the West End and Broadway productions. "It is also a proud moment for our entire creative team, whose vision and talent have also been recognised tonight. From its beginnings in Sydney to standing ovations on the West End and Broadway, the journey of this show has been nothing short of phenomenal. This accolade is not only a testament to the brilliance of everyone involved, but also to the courage of Sydney Theatre Company and Kip Williams, whose creative genius, ambition and innovation made this groundbreaking piece of theatre possible. I am so proud to be a part of Australian theatre being shared on the global stage." Williams' Dracula is the next Sydney Theatre Company hit that's heading abroad, with 2025 Tony Awards host and Wicked Oscar-nominee Cynthia Erivo set to star when the also one-performer-show heads to London from early 2026. Check out the trailer for the Broadway season of The Picture of Dorian Gray below: The 78th Tony Awards took place on Monday, June 9, 2025 Australian time — head to the accolades' website for more details and winners. The Picture of Dorian Gray has been playing Broadway in New York since March 2025 — for more information and to join the waitlist for tickets, head to the play's website. Images: Marc Brenner.
When Paul Mescal (All of Us Strangers) and Pedro Pascal (Drive-Away Dolls) were cast in Gladiator II, audiences instantly knew what they wanted to see. The film doesn't release until mid-November 2024, but the trailers for it so far — a first sneak peek back in July and the just-dropped latest preview — have been delivering. The pair face off, Mescal gets shirtless, and there's sandals and swords aplenty, too. There's also odious Emperors, of course, and even a rhinoceros and seafaring clashes in the Colosseum. Mescal's Lucius watched the climactic events of 2000's Russell Crowe (The Exorcism) and Joaquin Phoenix (Napoleon)-starring film, as the initial trailer explained, which is just one of the on-screen ties that Gladiator II boasts with its predecessor. Another: Connie Nielsen (Origin) returning from Gladiator as Lucilla, Lucius' mother. And, behind the lens, there's also the not-at-all-minor fact that director Ridley Scott is back to make this 24-years-later sequel. If Gladiator II's protagonist didn't have his own date with Rome's iconic amphitheatre, and his own rage to unshackle, there wouldn't be much of a film. His stint comes after Emperors Caracalla (Joseph Quinn, A Quiet Place: Day One) and Geta (Fred Hechinger, The White Lotus) take over his home. Queue a quest for revenge, plus glory for Rome, with Pascal's general Marcus Acacius becoming Lucius' target. As for Denzel Washington (The Equalizer 3), he plays power broker Macrinus. Alien, Blade Runner and Thelma & Louise director Scott has been in blast-from-the-past mode for over a decade now, first revisiting the Alien realm with Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, then reteaming with Phoenix on Napoleon, and now helming his second Gladiator flick. Of late, he's also been fond of making movies set in the past — long ago and more recent — as not only seen with Napoleon, but also with House of Gucci, The Last Duel and All the Money in the World. With Gladiator II, the British filmmaker teams up two of the internet's boyfriends in Mescal and Pascal, and promises a battle-filled time following up the feature that picked up Best Picture, Best Actor (for Crowe), Best Costume Design, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects at the Academy Awards. Scott also earned his second Best Director nomination, after Thelma & Louise and before Black Hawk Down gave him a third. Gladiator II hits cinemas Down Under on Thursday, November 14, 2024, which means that local audiences will see it a week before American audiences — and a week before Wicked Part One arrives in picture palaces, too, so there'll be no Barbenheimer-style release day here. Check out the latest trailer for Gladiator II below: Gladiator II opens in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, November 14, 2024.
The traditional Sydney weekend — a practice honed after many years of dedication — includes heading to the market for flowers, fruit and veg (with coffee in hand, of course), and then finding a way to squeeze a touch of culture into your morning. And Carriageworks has you covered for both, with their famous Saturday farmers market and eclectic exhibition space only a few steps away. In the coming months the space will house Liveworks, experimental performance and art from across Australia and Asia, Project Banaba, a work of historical artefacts, and New Breed by the Sydney Dance Company.
UPDATE: June 24, 2020: Mid90s is available to stream via Netflix, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. The skate movie is having a moment and it's doing so in perfect style, gliding into cinemas one leisurely film at a time. After the all-girl antics of Skate Kitchen and the insightful small-town musings of Oscar-nominated documentary Minding the Gap, Mid90s is the latest picture to profess its love for the board — and to roll along casually while making a big impact. All three kickflip-filled flicks are hangout movies, spending their time with friends who are both shooting and riding the breeze. They're also coming-of-age films, following kids navigating the reality of watching their childhoods slip by. Crucially, they're all slice-of-life pictures too, because nothing conveys the sensation of ollying in and out of adolescence like feeling as though you're right there with them. Thirteen-year-old Stevie (Sunny Suljic) wants nothing more than to join the local skateboarding crew. It's not just the thrill of idling down Los Angeles roads that appeals to the quiet teen, but having somewhere to belong. Ray (Na-Kel Smith), Fuckshit (Olan Prenatt), Fourth Grade (Ryder McLaughlin) and Ruben (Gio Galicia) are all older, however they instantly become family — the family Stevie can escape to when his elder brother Ian (Lucas Hedges) is giving him grief and his single mum Dabney (Katherine Waterston) is sharing her stress. When the quintet aren't tearing up the streets, they're partying as if there's no tomorrow, although you can't skate through life without more than a few stumbles. As summer ticks by, Stevie and his pals bide their time at the resident Motor Avenue skate shop, cruise around empty schools and test their luck with neighbourhood girls. They mouth off to security guards, stay out past Stevie's curfew, generally avoid going home and get in scraps amongst themselves. While they're getting into trouble, they attempt to forget their troubles — and it's this to-and-fro that makes Mid90s bubble along. Watching rebellious kids trying to fix their worries by falling into other woes isn't new or novel, but it keeps popping up on screen because that's how childhood works. Making his directorial debut as well as picking up his first scriptwriting credit, Jonah Hill understands this. In his hands, Mid90s is both an affectionate teenage dream and a devastatingly real reflection of youth struggles, tussles and hardships. As a filmmaker, Hill has two tricks up his sleeve: nostalgia and naturalism. They mightn't seem to be the most obvious combination, but the pair fit together like wheels sliding onto a set of skateboard trucks. Hill mightn't have strictly lived the same existence as Stevie and the gang, but he directs this blast from the past like someone who's been there, seen it all and knows exactly how every second of his film really feels. With his square-shaped frames, he serves up images so vivid that they could be memories. With his clear-eyed view, he doesn't shy away from the grit and grease that lingers behind even the happiest moments. Hill isn't just looking back fondly at his younger days. Rather, he's trying to capture the feeling of being a shy kid entering a new world and learning what getting older actually means. To do so, he needs the painstaking detail — the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sheets, Super Nintendo consoles, and the sounds of 'Kiss From a Rose', 'Pony' and 'Wave of Mutilation' — as well as the picture's stripped-bare performances. Hedges and Waterston might be Mid90s' biggest names, other than its director, but this movie is all about Suljic (The House with a Clock in Its Walls) and his first-timer co-stars. When Hill lets the camera sit and watch Stevie try trick after trick (and endure fall after fall) on his driveway, determination and desperation written across Suljic's face, that's Mid90s' heart. When the film roves around with the group, peering on as they do little more than skate away the hours with unbridled authenticity, that's Mid90s' oh-so-relatable soul. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoPYppF_e5c
Reading about Patty Boyd's life in a one paragraph summary causes two basic emotions: polite pangs of envy and sheer out-and-out, green-eyed jealousy. Having made her mark in London modeling for the likes of David Bailey and Mary Quant, Boyd was cast as a Beatles fan in the 1964 film A Hard Day's Night, on which set George Harrison became besotted and asked her to marry him immediately (it happened two years later). From there she would take LSD with the band for the first time and experience all manner of fan-frenzy, and introduce The Beatles to the now revered Indian guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Later she would rebuff Mick Jagger, and marry Eric Clapton, inspiring the song "Layla". To put it simply, Patty Boyd was there. She experienced the swinging sixties, the Carnaby set, the mystical Indian hippy vibes, and yes, the affairs, the addictions and the divorces. Not just a muse, however, Boyd kept her camera close by, taking some of the most intimate portraits of that era known today, free of any press-shot censorship.A large selection of these images — over fifty in fact — are currently on display in Through the Eyes of a Muse - The Photography of Pattie Boyd at Paddington's Blender Gallery. A smattering of those seen in the photos are both Harrison and Clapton in poses so comfortable they may just make you blush, alongside her friends from The Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Cream and more. Not mere snapshots, Boyd is an accomplished photographer who managed to use her status and emotional proximity to her subjects to capture them in rarely seen moments of honesty as well as turning the lens back to herself every now and then.
The good ol' Marly has bid farewell to its upstairs neighbour Miss Peaches and has welcomed something much quirkier in her place. The Newtown boozer's first floor space is now home to the weird and wonderful Cuckoo — a kooky bar inspired by Germany's alpine resorts. Venture on up and you'll feel a bit like Alice tumbling into the rabbit hole. Brought to life by hospitality group Solotel with help from International Worldwide (the creatives behind the recently renovated George Hotel, The Duke, The Old Fitz) and Monster Children, Cuckoo is filled with knick-knacks, a lounge room bar pulled straight from your opa's house and constant sounds from the collection of cuckoo clocks adorning the walls. It even has a bouldering wall, so you can really pretend you're climbing up Zugspitze. The quirkiness is also embraced wholeheartedly by the drinks list, which boasts eight different house-infused schnapps, alongside crafty cococktails such as the cardamom, sour apple and ginger-laced Apfelschorle cocktail ($18) and the Deer's Blood ($18) with gin, Jägermeister, Campari and honey vermouth. Meanwhile, taps are pouring Germanic-style beers from local breweries like Batch and Wayward — try yours in a stein or in the glass shoey the team's calling Das Boot. If you head in during Schnappy Hour — from 5–7pm, Wednesday–Friday — you'll score yourself a glass of house schnapps for just $5 and a selection of cocktails for $15, too. Sticking with the theme, Cuckoo's food offering is filled with German classics like schnitzels (in chicken, veal and pork varieties), smoked kransky sausage ($8) and spätzle ($8). But, thanks to a fully-stocked condiments station, the house-made pretzels ($12) might just steal the show. Images: Kitti Gould
Umbrellas at the ready, Sydneysiders. Spoons full of sugar, too. In the most supercalifragilisticexpialidocious news you'll hear all day — and all year as well — the Mary Poppins musical is making its way Down Under. Between May–October 2022, you'll be able to revisit the tale of the singing nanny onstage at the Lyric Theatre Sydney. Disney and theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh's current version of the show tells the same tale that everyone knows from the 1964 film — which, as well as inspiring this stage adaptation, also gave rise to big-screen sequel Mary Poppins Returns in 2018. Everything to do with the English governess harks back to PL Travers' books about the character, of course, and pop culture has been thankful for and downright delighted with her stories for almost six decades now. Exact dates for the musical's Sydney season haven't yet been revealed, but theatre fans can look forward to a new version of the show that last graced the city's stages — and won eight Helpmann Awards — back in 2011. Since Mackintosh first teamed up with writer Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey) to bring Mary Poppins to the theatre in 2004, the production has won four Olivier Awards and a Tony as well. Mackintosh is bringing The Phantom of the Opera to Sydney this year, too, and a Cinderella musical is also headed the city's way — so it's a great time to love stage musicals based on classic tales, clearly. Whether Mary Poppins will float on elsewhere in Australia hasn't yet been announced; however, Sydney's season has been marked as the Australian premiere. So, residents of Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide – and everywhere else in the country — you can start crossing your fingers that Poppins, the Banks family and their Cherry Tree Lane abode might also come your way in the future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiT6Og3lDbw Mary Poppins will play the Lyric Theatre Sydney from May–October 2022, with exact dates yet to be revealed. To sign up for the ticket waitlist, head to the musical's website — with tickets due to go on sale in August 2021. Top image: Johan Persson.
On a weeknight at the beginning of July, Bush very quietly opened its doors. Still learning the ropes of the business, Head Chef Grant Lawn and his team didn't want to overwhelm themselves. Despite their best efforts (or because of them), the George Street hole-in-the-wall quickly became a hit, and now regularly sells out of its burgers, pies and pud on the weekend. The brains behind the concept, Lawn saw the restaurant as an opportunity to bring the Australian bush back to the forefront of Sydney's dining landscape — by opening Bush right in the middle of Redfern. "I wanted to make a positive difference in the community," says Lawn. "Start a place that could bring people together and start conversations, while eating food inspired by the Australian outback." [caption id="attachment_735541" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] The menu is small (really small), but there isn't an item that doesn't look appealing. Curry 'roo party pies, cheeseburgers, fairy bread and butter pudding — it's as if the menu from your sixth birthday party got a revamp. While it seems like a fairly simple food lineup, Lawn says each dish aims to achieve something. The kangaroo pies, for example, help to emphasise the importance of kangaroo consumption. "There's an over-population of 'roos and it's good for the environment if we eat more," explains Lawn. "And there's nothing more familiar to the Australian audience than a pie — so what better way to consume it?'' You'll also find a (very good) American-style cheeseburger at Bush. It's certainly not Australian, but Lawn said they had to put it on the menu because "that's what Aussies want". For the meat-free folk, there's also a mean mushroom burger. There is one item on the menu that confuses us, however: the notoriously un-Australian bloomin' onion. "Yes", laughs Lawn, "but we're taking it back and reinventing it!". [caption id="attachment_735544" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] Born and raised in Sydney, Lawn briefly studied landscape architecture before turning his focus to cooking. While he was playing around with the idea of opening his own restaurant, he realised he could combine the two by landscaping a restaurant to resemble the Australian bush he grew up in. Which is exactly what he did. The space is filled with roughly cut stools and long wooden tables, native Australian plants adorn the tables and you'll spot stuffed toy versions of native Australian fauna hidden around, too. Bush started as a pop-up in popular Sydney establishments like Young Henrys, before Lawn found the perfect spot in Redfern to set up shop permanently. In the future, Lawn plans to host live acoustic shows, 'locals nights' and workshops. To get to the front of the line, you can join the Bush Club for first dibs on future live shows and degustation nights. Find Bush at 55 George Street, Redfern. It's open from Tuesday–Saturday midday–10pm. Images: Kitti Gould
When a vegan bar opened in the Ovolo Hotel, Sydneysiders moved fast to eat plant-based 'bad food' by chef Matthew Kenney. Alt-Ctrl-Eat is Alibi's fast-food delivery option, with a philosophy of sustainability, quality produce and nutrition. Vegans and non-vegans alike can rejoice in a menu powered by plants that offers open chick'n n waffle, cheeseburgers, Fill It of Fish and barbecue loaded fries with 'bacon bits'. Its cheeseburger patties are made by the Alternative Meat Co, which makes meat-free patties that are high in protein. And if you're after something a little lighter, it also has a range of salads and noodles to keep you fuelled.
When you're as fond of chocolate as you are of gelato, there's no Easter egg like a Messina Easter egg. And if you're a fan of the brand's ice cream, as well as cheesecake and pretzels, then you probably know that the chain's Mr Messina flavour is one of the best. Combine Messina's annual Easter special with one of its most-beloved gelato varieties, then, and the result is a mighty delicious 2025 treat. Gelato Messina's chocolate eggs come filled with gelato — and while in some years, the purveyors of frosty sweet treats have made multipacks, this year's version remains a one-kilogram giant. Yes, it's giving us the Easter delight that we all coveted when we were kids: a hefty-sized egg. Of course, this one is even better than the foil-wrapped supermarket versions, thanks to the Messina gelato inside. Once you crack into the handpainted chocolate shell, layers of cheesecake mousse await, plus pretzel crumb and clusters coated in milk chocolate. You'll also find pretzel chocolate dip and Basque cheesecake gelato with baked cheesecake chunks, as well as a soft pretzel caramel centre. The chain's 2025 egg is designed to serve six, but if you're keen to keep it to yourself, we understand. You'll be paying $80 either way, and getting in quick when they go on sale is recommended as they usually sell out. Messina's 2025 Easter eggs can only be ordered online on Thursday, March 27 for collection over Easter — naturally — between Thursday, April 17–Sunday, April 20. To get details about specific on-sale times, you'll need to register in advance via the Messina website. Gelato Messina's 2025 gelato Easter eggs are available to order from Thursday, March 27 for pick up between Thursday, April 17–Sunday, April 20 — head to the Messina website for further details.
Arikaya Homewares in Collaroy Plateau sells new and old furniture, accessories and gifts sourced from South East Asia. Find everything from one-off pieces that you'll treasure for a lifetime plus unique homewares, lighting, jewellery and clothing. Arikaya is not just for homewares — they have a coffee shop, too. Here you'll find a selection of plant based options to enjoy after a hard day of shopping. There's also a warehouse in Cromer where some of the larger pieces are kept. Check out Arikaya on socials to keep up to date with new stock and for specials. Images: Mel Koutchavlis
Gluttonous adventure is coming to Newtown and Enmore, with venues across the two suburbs teaming up to present food and beverage lovers with a tapas trail. Featuring 15 potential stops — including Beach Burrito Company, Newtown Social Club, Midnight Special and the Carlisle Castle — the trail will see each venue spruiking their own signature tapas dish, some with accompanying beverages. Just as on the best adventures, to start you'll need a passport. These can be downloaded via the Newtown Tapas Trail website, or picked up at any of the venues. This passport contains a map of the tapas route, and room for your adventure to be documented with stamps from each venue you've visited. Once you've collected five stamps, you'll be in the running for prizes such as art prints, dining vouchers, a Young Henrys brewery tour. The Tapas Trail is on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 from 6pm. So grab your friends, raise your glass and definitely don't forget your passport.
Combining a thought-provoking mixture of life, loss, love, tea and Twitter, Rock Surfers Theatre Company in collaboration with the Bondi community and various artists present Future Senior/Former Youth. This new verbatim theatre work offers a delightful insight into the power of good old-fashioned storytelling through the use of interviews, multimedia and stitch-inducing comedy. One for all ages, the show encourages the audience to exercise their empathy, just like the artists' own empathies were exercised in the making of this work. Young artists interviewed senior community members, while senior artists interviewed the young, and both came together to make this production.
Open the cinema doors, HAL, because Randwick's Ritz is serving up a very special 13-week film feast. You won't need someone to strap you to a chair and force your eyes open with a specula to get you to watch this fantastic movie lineup — and you won't have to wander around a maze-like haunted hotel to get there, either. The Sydney picture palace is turning its attention to celebrating a movie master, with the one and only Stanley Kubrick in the spotlight. On Thursday nights between Thursday, April 18–Thursday, July 11, the cinema will unleash all 13 of the British filmmaker's full-length features upon eager cinephiles during Kubrick: A Complete Retrospective. That means showing everything from anti-war film Fear and Desire, early noir The Killing and the controversial Lolita through to Kubrick's final completed effort, aka the Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise-starring erotic thriller Eyes Wide Shut. Discover why "I am Spartacus!" became such a famous cinema phrase, find out how Dr Strangelove learned to stop worrying and love the bomb, and plunge into the horrors of the Vietnam War with Full Metal Jacket. Sure, 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange pop up in retro programs around the country quite often, but there's never a bad time to see these classics the way that they were meant to be seen. The same goes for The Shining, which is also never far from a big screen somewhere, but is playing here in its extended edition. Each week's film kicks off at 7pm — and many of the movies will be playing in 35mm or 70mm, with some in 4K instead.
Surry Hills' The Winery is introducing a pop-up winter glamping area to its idyllic al fresco dining area. Visitors to the venue can hire out their own private glamping tent fitted out with tables, rugs, blankets and cushions for an intimate dining experience for them and their friends. Available for groups of four to ten, the tents are available for $69pp which includes a four-course tasting menu for the group. The degustation starts with grilled olive bread, burrata, salt and pepper calamari, mushroom croquettes and crispy tofu. The main course consists of butternut and goat's cheese ravioli, gnocchi, truffle fries and a rocket and pear salad, before the feast is finished off with tiramisu. You can add seasonal drinks to the menu for an additional $39 a head, featuring mulled cider, a selection of local wines and an espresso martini to pair with dessert. Bookings are available each day at midday 2.30pm, 5pm, 7pm and 9pm. If you want to escape the world for a few hours, head to The Winery's website to book your spot.
J-horror devotees, rejoice: Australia's Japanese Film Festival is back for 2023, and it boasts a couple of highlights for lovers of scary cinema. If you're a fan of Japan's contribution to frightening flicks, then The Forbidden Play is your first must-see. Behind the lens is Hideo Nakata, the director of 1998's iconic Ringu, aka the movie that helped spark a global obsession (and the American spinoffs, too). This time, the filmmaker tells of a son wanting to bring his mother back to life, so much so that he keeps chanting a resurrection spell that awakens something evil. This year's JFF isn't just about unsettling titles, but it does also feature Immersion, which hails from Ju-On: The Grudge director Takashi Shimizu (who also helmed the first US remake starring Sarah Michelle Gellar). In his latest effort, he's playing with grudges again, as well as traditional Japanese superstitions, virtual reality and a secluded island — which is never a good setting for a horror film. That's the unnerving contingent for JFF 2023, which is focusing on films that explore connections between the past and the present when it tours the country across spring. Of course, it will also serve another function: letting audiences head to Japan from their cinema seats. Everyone has a favourite place in the world to visit. If you love travelling vicariously through movies when you can't do the real thing — in-between trips, or when your budget or just life in general doesn't have room for big holidays — then you likely have a favourite country-focused cinema event as well. JFF is one such event, surveying the latest and greatest in the nation's filmography. 2023 marks its 27th year, in fact, complete with a packed program. Among the delightful aspects of this film festival is its two-pronged approach in most cities, giving both recent and retrospective titles their own time to shine. One part of the event heroes latest releases, the other goes big on classics, and each has their own run of dates. You'll find that setup in Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney from September–November, with Perth the only location solely focusing on new movies. Officially opening the fest for 2023: We're Broke, My Lord!, a character-driven story about an unexpected inheritance from director Tetsu Maeda (And So the Baton Is Passed). From there, audiences can also look forward to the aforementioned to J-horror pictures; the animated Gold Kingdom and Water Kingdom; Citizen Kitano's tribute to actor, comedian and filmmaker Takeshi Kitano (Outrage Coda); and Yokaipedia, which is about three boys on a monster-filled quest. Fellow standouts include Yudo: The Way of the Bath, a comedy about bathhouse rituals; romance We Made a Beautiful Bouquet; Natchan's Little Secret, where three drag queens head to a funeral; and Single8, with director Kazuya Konaka's paying tribute to filmmaking before the digital era. And, in the special series — aka the fest's retrospective thread — post-war Japanese cinema figure Kо̄ Nakahira is in the spotlight. JFF will screen 1956's Juvenile Jungle and Milkman Frankie, 1957's Temptation, 1962's Danger's Where The Money Is!, and 1963's Mud Spattered Purity, as well as Flora on the Sand, Only on Mondays and The Hunter's Diary from 1964, plus 1965's The Black Gambler. JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL 2023 DATES: Canberra: Special series: Saturday, September 30–Monday, October 2 at NFSA Latest releases: Wednesday, October 11–Sunday, October 15 at Palace Electric Perth: Latest releases: Monday, October 16–Sunday, October 22 at Palace Raine Square Brisbane: Special series: Friday, October 6–Sunday, October 8 and Wednesday, October 11 at QAGOMA Latest releases: Wednesday, October 18–Sunday, October 22 at Palace Barracks Melbourne: Latest releases: Monday, October 23–Sunday, October 29 at The Kino and Palace Balwyn Special series: Thursday, November 2–Sunday, November 5 at ACMI Sydney: Special series: Monday, October 23–Wednesday, October 25 at The Chauvel Latest releases: Thursday, October 26–Tuesday, October 31 at Palace Central, Palace Norton Street and Palace Verona The 2023 Japanese Film Festival tours Australia from September–November. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the festival website. Top images: ©2023 The Forbidden Play Film Partners, © 2023 IMMERSION Production Committee.
A crucial chapter of Australia's music history is coming to the Powerhouse Museum, with the Ultimo site hosting a three-month-long exhibition dedicated to Maton Guitars. Even if you don't immediately know the name, you've likely seen someone play one of the Aussie company's instruments — with everyone from Archie Roach, Missy Higgins, Keith Urban, Daniel Johns and The Easybeats to Elvis Presley, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, George Harrison and Billie Joe Armstrong strumming their strings over the years. That's what Maton: Australia's Guitar will celebrate, showcasing the guitar manufacturer's hefty and important history. Since being founded back in 1946 by Melbourne-born jazz musician, woodwork teacher and luthier Bill May — who set up the company in a small workshop in his garage — it has created over 200 guitar models. And, it was also the first manufacturer to use Aussie wood species in guitars on a sizeable scale, making its instruments out of Queensland maple, bunya and Victorian blackwood. [caption id="attachment_777672" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zan Wimberley[/caption] More than 130 guitars will be on display at Powerhouse, including custom-made models made for famous Aussie music figures such as Tommy Emmanuel and Johnny Diesel — plus ukuleles, lap steels and amplifiers, too. Maton: Australia's Guitar will run from Saturday, July 25–Sunday, October 11, and will be free to attend, with bookings required. It'll also mark Powerhouse Museum's first major new exhibition since it reopened on June 1. Top image: Zan Wimberley
In recent years, Frankston has levelled up its offering for residents and visitors alike with a bigger focus on art and events, becoming a hub of activity for street artists, beach lovers and everyday folk looking for a break from the city. Coming up in 2025 are events for all interests, giving you all the more reason to come down and check out the offerings of culture, cocktails, and coastal vibes. Read on to find out what's happening in Frankston in the coming months. South Side Festival — Thursday, May 8 to Sunday, May 18 The fun seemingly never stops in Frankston, since the community favourite South Side Festival will return in 2025, marking its fourth year of showcasing and celebrating the colourful, cultural core of the Frankston area. The ten-day celebration is set to include playful circus shows from Circus Trick Tease, neon-lit art installations in Beauty Park, a dance performance by the Sydney Dance Company at Frankston Art Centre, a chilly ocean swim, artist residences, film screenings, community workshops and more. Australian Sand Sculpting Championships — Saturday, April 5 to Sunday, April 27 If you're of the opinion that sand is course, rough, irritating and that it gets everywhere, then you need to check out this autumn event. For the month of April, artists from across Australia will make a return to the championships home on the Frankston waterfront and transform it into a landscape of sculptures, recreating iconic villains from throughout literature. Attend the opening weekend to see the designs come to life and see the winner announced, or visit before the 27th to see the designs in full. You'll also get the chance to vote on a winner for the People's Choice Awards or partake in some sand-centric activities — including sand sculpting workshops, sand easter egg hunts, a sand museum and more. Frankston Street Art Festival and Block Party — Monday, March 17 to Sunday, March 23 - CONCLUDED Another popular entry on the Frankston events calendar, these annual festivals showcase the vibrant street art of the area in over a week of celebration. Celebrating the local artistic scene, the Frankston Street Art Festival attracts local, national and international artists to do their thing on the walls and laneways throughout Frankston City. In 2025, the artist lineup includes Aussie creatives like Damien Arena, Jasmine Crisp and Trent Downie, alongside international talents Simon Beuve, Manuel Guiro and Candela Colors. Celebrations kick off with the Festival Launch Party on Tuesday, March 18, with drinks, music and meet-and-greets with the artists at the Cube gallery, plus the chance to get your say in next year's lineup with the People's Choice Award. For the rest of the festival, you can take things as you please from the program. Get hands-on with workshops and speaking sessions, or take advantage of Frankston's street art tours becoming free for the week to see the new murals and maybe meet the artists before it all culminates with Block Party. This free street celebration finale will feature music from DJs Pixleton and CuznMatt, roaming entertainment from the Snuff Puppets and street art workshops popping up in White Street Mall on Saturday, March 22. The Carlsberg Beach Club — Friday, January 31 to Sunday, March 30 - CONCLUDED If you can't justify the cost of a Euro summer adventure in 2025, get a sip of the experience at Frankston Pier instead. The Carlsberg Beach Club will bring a European beach club-inspired experience to the waterfront, inviting guests to sit and take in the coastal scenery with cocktails and summer snacks between 12pm and sunset every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from January 31 to March 30. Access is free but space is limited so you'd best pre-register. Once you've secured a spot, enjoy live music from the likes of Darley, So Frency So Chic, Oil Busta, Alice Ivy, Madame Reve and more, grab a Carlsberg beer or cocktail and wash down a steak sandwich or any of the other tasty treats on the menu. Enjoy the sunset and go for a dip while you're there, too. For more information on any of the above events and to see what else is coming to Frankston in 2025, visit the website.
Before trio Daniel Blakemore, Connor Keighran and Jake de Varine-Bohan opened Tooth and Nail in Marrickville in early 2017, it'd been on the cards for a while. Blakemore and Keighran worked at Surry Hills hairdressing parlour Sterling for a collective ten years before they struck out on their own. Don't expect a cookie-cutter, hipster barbershop. In fact, don't even mention the word rockabilly. "There's no theme to [Tooth and Nail]," Connor says. "We hate the word rockabilly. We don't even like the word barbershop. We're trained hairdressers so we do women's hair, men's hair, kids hair, long, short — everything." Haircuts are priced based on time required so a 40-minute barber's cut is $65, while a long-style cut is $105 for 60 minutes — both include a wash and style. It also does colour work, including tints, highlights and balayage, and a full wet shave service with a cut throat razor. The latter takes 40 minutes and will involve three hot towels and is finished with moisturiser and luxurious oils. The team are passionate about other local small businesses so, depending on your appointment time, you'll be able to enjoy a batch coffee from nearby Matinee Coffee or a craft beer from the likes of The Grifter or Philter. Oh, and many, many pats of resident pup Brando.
Getting out of bed on a chilly morning is no mean feat (and getting to work is a whole other challenge), so Mary's VX wants to give you a helping hand. For one week only — from Monday, June 16–Sunday, June 22 — they're hosting an all-day breakfast pop-up. You'll be feasting on a bunch of OTT, winter-friendly eats, made in collaboration with Coffee Supreme and Grumpy's Donuts. Start with a loaded brekkie sanga or burger. Or, if you need a sweet hit to get you going, go for a hotcake stack packed with bacon, fried chicken and honeycomb butter. Then, grab a coffee and doughnut (both for just $5) to take with you. If you're one of the first 50 visitors each day, yours will be free. The coffee is Supreme's signature blend, and they're also doing a Coffee Supreme Crunch with coffee icing and mocha crumbs. On Saturday and Sunday, when commuters can take their time, there'll be weekend-only specials. These include cinnamon doughnut french toast with soft serve ice cream, alongside cereal-inspired milkshakes (think Coco Pops, Fruit Loops and Milo) or bottomless mimosas and bloody marys. Images: Tom Wilkinson
Discover a dazzling rotating showcase of works from Australia's top video and sound artists at this free exhibition by Enigma in its immersive black box space on The Thirsty Mile — Sydney Festival's pop-up precinct. Expect an unforgettable melding of music, noise, colour and creativity via installations conceived by John Gillies, Philip Samartzis, Martin Walch, Sean Williams, and Max Lyandvert. In January 2025, Oren Ambarchi's Black will open, followed by Angelica Mesiti's Prepared Piano for Movers (Haussman). Mesiti's installation features two removalists lifting a grand piano up six flights of stairs, drawing inspiration from a 19th-century painting of three young men scraping floors. The exhibition offers a compelling blend of media, including sound, video, and visual art, transformed within an innovative space.
Put Shannon Martinez in charge of a menu and plant-based delights will await. Neon Dreams, a just-announced addition to Vivid Sydney 2025, is the latest example of that statement proving true. Popping up at Darling Harbour — transforming the Pier Street underpass, in fact — this event is an ode to American diners of the 1950s. Expect Happy Days flashbacks, and also Martinez's takes on burgers, mac 'n' cheese, milkshakes and jelly doughnuts. Expect a roller rink for a pre- or post-meal skate, too. "We all know and love the classic American diner menu, and what we have planned for Neon Dreams will be even more delicious. You won't even notice it's completely plant-based," advises the acclaimed chef. "All this with a retro aviation fitout and some roller-skating — let's just say Vivid Sydney hasn't seen anything like this before." [caption id="attachment_999006" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kristoffer Paulsen[/caption] As Martinez notes, the decor will fit the seven-decades-back theme, but also have another skew. If you've ever wanted to see a mail plane turned into a DJ booth — where the tunes spun will set the mood for hitting the rink — that's also on offer. For those having a skate, the venue will be fully accessible, including for wheelchairs and mobility aids. Back to the menu, you'll also be able to sip low-waste cocktails made with foraged and native ingredients — think: lemon myrtle margaritas and Illawarra plum sours — when Neon Dreams runs across Vivid's dates of Friday, May 23–Saturday, June 14. The overall festival isn't done expanding its food lineup yet, just days after it also added Martha Stewart chatting about her career and her lifestyle empire to the program — and with Nigella Lawson's touch on its culinary side part of 2025's event since the program first dropped. So, alongside Neon Dreams, the festival will also boast Hollywood Dreaming, a 23-night roster of events in the Hollywood Quarter in Surry Hills. There'll be bites to eat, and also films, music and performances — and, thanks to shindigs called Hollywood Dreaming: A Taste of HQ and Hollywood Dreaming: Foy Lane Lights Up, there'll be two huge free street parties. Accordingly, you can head by during Vivid's full run to hit up The Food Trail, where exclusive menus will be on offer at the precinct's restaurants and bars; The Neon Trail, which is where iconic movies come in; and The Gig Trail, aka live tunes and shows at Hollywood Hotel, Paramount House Hotel Rooftop and Butter. Or, make a date with A Taste of HQ on Saturday, May 31 and Foy Lane Lights Up on Saturday, June 14. The first will shut Foster Street to traffic and focus on al fresco dining, aided by Firedoor, Nomad, Gildas, Nel, Kiln, Poly, Brooklyn Boy Bagels, Alberto's Lounge, Tio's Cerveceria and Butter. The second, produced by Ace Hotel, will feature a curated digital art show, plus live tunes and pop-up snack options. "In 2025, Vivid Food offers a range of experiences for all tastes and price points. Neon Dreams and the Hollywood Dreaming program are perfect examples of Vivid Sydney constantly innovating and providing visitors with new and financially accessible experiences," explains Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini. "Darling Harbour will be the place for family friendly fun, with Neon Dreams surrounded by captivating light installations and free live music. Shannon Martinez is an absolute rock star in the culinary world, and we're excited for visitors to experience it for themselves. "After dark, Surry Hills will come alive throughout the entire festival for Hollywood Dreaming, where you can dine, drink and dance your way through the Hollywood Quarter." Vivid Sydney 2025 runs from Friday, May 23–Saturday, June 14 across Sydney. Head to the festival website for further information.
The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney sure is something special. Boasting phenomenal views of Sydney Harbour, this stretch of parkland can be just about anything you want it to be. It can be a picnic spot for you and your pals, a quiet respite from the city hustle and bustle or a place to don your horticulture hat. For something more active, attend one of the free daily guided tours highlighting some of the gardens' best and most unique features. The gardens' bicentenary in 2016 welcomed the newly-built Calyx, an impressive UFO-shaped public space that hosts a busy roster of innovative exhibitions and workshops. As well as many plant-themed events such as the current colourful floral display Pollination, the Calyx also runs yoga in the garden on weekday mornings and lunches. Throughout the warmer months, visitors can partake in high tea from Friday to Sunday among the beautiful botanics. The RBGS has also recently reopened the Victoria Lodge, a historic building which sits in the Lower Garden Precinct. The building has been restored with a view to incorporate it into the gardens mix of venues for use starting with a summer pop-up bar. Visitors also have the opportunity to take a piece of the park home with them — the Growing Friends Nursery has a range of native and exotic plants available for purchase. If you're after something more on the edible side, pick up a jar of raw honey collected from the garden hives. Images: Destination NSW
If a certain bespectacled boy wizard and two best friends have taught us anything, it's that life really is magical sometimes. Take the latest Harry Potter-themed event, which we're certain is going to become the next big pop culture/fitness craze craze. Who doesn't want to bend and stretch in a HP yoga class? Yep, on October 30, the folks at Circle Brewing Co in Austin, Texas did something even more wonderful than make delicious alcoholic beverages; they made many a Harry Potter fan's dreams come true. It's part of their Pints & Poses series (which seriously sounds like our kind of exercise), and was held as both a fun Halloween and Dia de los Muertos-esque shindig, and a celebration of the life of Lily and James Potter on the eve of the anniversary of their passing. Attendees worked Slytherin cobra and Whomping Willow poses, wielded wands to summon a Patronus and cast off Dementors, and were told to "imagine you're sitting on the Hogwarts Express," according to Cosmopolitan in the US. They also ate sorting hat-shaped cookies, visited a potion station, and, afterwards, everyone had a pint of Circle (non-butter)beer. Of course they did. The class was so popular that two more are now slated for November, should you happen to be in the vicinity this month. Given that we already have silent yoga, silent disco yoga, cat yoga, blindfolded yoga, hip hop yoga, brewhouse yoga, rooftop yoga, Beyonce yoga, Drake yoga and stand-up paddleboard yoga on our fair shores, it really is the kind of thing that someone in Australia ought to conjure up, and fast. Accio fitness, and all that. Images: Circle Brewing Co.
When Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi invited the world to experience the vampire sharehouse mockumentary genre, one of the best comedies of the decade wasn't the only result. Every film seems to spawn sequels, remakes, spinoffs and the like these days, but no one's complaining about spending more time in the What We Do in the Shadows universe. A follow-up, We're Wolves, is in the works, focusing on the undead bloodsuckers' Rhys Darby-led lycanthrope enemies. So is six-episode television spinoff Wellington Paranormal, following the movie's cops (Mike Minogue and Karen O'Leary) as they keep investigating the supernatural, and expected to air in New Zealand mid this year. Add a US TV remake of the original flick to the pile as well, but withhold any "do we really need a remake?" judgement. First revealed by Waititi last year and now moving ahead, the pilot has been written by Clement, and is expected to shoot this year. He won't appear on camera, however; speaking to Indiewire as part of the Television Critics Association press tour for Legion, which he stars in, Clement said the series will be about a documentary crew in America. With What We Do in the Shadows actually starting its life as a short back in 2005, the concept of flatting members of the undead arguing about bloody dishes has taken quite the journey since those early beginnings. If any idea was going to come back in multiple guises, it's this one. Of course, so have Clement and Waititi. Clement also revealed that he'll be filming a Flight of the Conchords TV special for HBO later this year to coincide with their new US tour, while Waititi just directed a little superhero-filled box office blockbuster called Thor: Ragnarok. Via Indiewire. Image: Kane Skennar.
We've become experts at staying home without forgoing local eats over the last year. But if you're looking to expand your culinary technique while supporting local businesses, plan a dinner party for a few pals with the help of Green Valley Spices. This family-run joint is your go-to for teas, herbs, spices and complex blends that'll elevate your cooking to new flavour heights. And the best part is the family generously provides online recipes for marinades and meals that'll help guide your herb and spice selection. Mix up your classic chicken satay with a fresh coriander twist, or apply the lemon and ginger marinade to almost any dish.
Redfern is exactly where you'd expect to find hipster barbershop The Happy Sailors. Set along Bourke Street, the neighbourhood haunt boasts talented and friendly stylists. Despite its charming fit-out — which features those old school barber chairs, vintage copies of Playboy and walls adorned with antique posters and other bric-a-brac — the shop does not overcharge for its services. You can get a haircut here for a rather reasonable $45, or a buzzcut for $25. The owner has over 18 years' of experience working in Sydney and London, so can expect to come out looking like your best self.
Rather than opening with a bang, the latest outlet of culture-mashing bakehouse Tokyo Lamington opened with a whisper — the fanfare for their latest venture was kept to a minimum for a full fortnight during its soft launch in mid-June. And yet, far from being a big surprise, it now seems all too obvious that Black Star Pastry alum Eddie Stewart and N2 Gelato founder Min Chai would eventually set up shop in Marrickville. Firstly, there's the area's rich multicultural spirit, which so effortlessly chimes with Tokyo Lamington's trademark melding of international flavours. A new riff on their signature dessert, a Vietnamese coffee lamington, is a tribute to Marrickville's migrant communities, featuring a gluten-free sponge soaked in Vietnamese coffee and filled with a coffee cream made from distinctively rich Vietnamese coffee beans and condensed milk, finished with a coating of white chocolate. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tokyo Lamington (@tokyolamington) Next, there's the ascendant reputation of the suburb as one of Sydney's most dynamic culinary destinations — home to street food heroes like Marrickville Pork Roll, boutique distilleries like Poor Toms, and top artisanal producers like Paesanella Cheese, who supply ricotta to Tokyo Lamington for another new addition to the menu, a cheesecake lamington. If you're already a fan of TL, you'll be pleased to hear that all the cubic highlights from the OG Newtown venue are present and accounted for, including the classic raspberry jam and vanilla cream, the yuzu curd and blow-torched meringue, and the colourful fairy bread and popcorn. What is different, however, is revealed in the Marrickville venue's double-barrelled name. Tokyo Lamington & the Bakery will expand the offering beyond delicious sponge cubes to include a wide spectrum of baked delights, including pastries, cakes, breads, savoury pies, quiches and even sausage rolls. The aesthetic of the store is also a point of difference. Whereas the Newtown and Carlton locations showcase Japanese minimalism, Marrickville's vibe is more homegrown with a mid-century Aussie look. The Tokyo Lamington team say the fitout "blends nostalgic design elements with contemporary flair, reflecting the fusion ethos that we're known for". View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tokyo Lamington (@tokyolamington) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tokyo Lamington (@tokyolamington) Find Tokyo Lamington & the Bakery at 140 Marrickville Road, Marrickville, open daily, 7am–3pm. Head to the venue's website for more details.
Many Sydneysiders are now self-isolating and social-distancing, cosying up at home and trying to make the best out of a pretty bad situation. While working from home, it can get hard to cook all three meals a day, everyday. And who are we kidding, its always good to get a break from your own cooking. Luckily, ramen is the perfect takeaway dish. It microwaves well, and you will probably have some leftovers you can repurpose for another delicious meal. There are heaps of eateries around Sydney serving up this Japanese classic, from staple tonkotsu to the more experimental, and many of them are providing takeaway and delivery options during this time. You'll find tsukemen at Ramen Zundo, karaage ramen at Ichi-ban Boshi, along with other spots offering spicy ramen, vegan ramen and breakfast ramen. Happy slurping. If you are going out to pick up takeaway, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health.
We know that we can't grow outwards forever. So coming up with new and better ways of growing upwards is high on the global architectural agenda. That's why, for nine years now, eVolo magazine has been running an international skyscraper competition. Designers from all over the world are invited to come up with groundbreaking visions for vertical living. This year, 525 entries were submitted from 43 nations. Here's what came out on top. First Prize: Vernacular Versatility Designed by Yong Ju Lee, this skyscraper can be built without a single nail. It's based on the Hakon, a traditional Korean housing style known for its curved wooden roofing, which is adjustable according to sunlight intensity. So far, it has only been applied to single-storey buildings, but contemporary software modelling is enabling the exploration of multi-storey possibilities. Second Prize: Car and Shell Skyscraper: Or Marinetti's Monster Envisioned by US-based creatives Mark Talbot and Daniel Markiewicz, the Car and Shell is a city in the sky, planned with Detroit in mind. All the elements of a regular suburb (footpaths, streets and constructions) are contained in a single cube. Third Prize: Propagate Skyscraper: Carbon Dioxide Structure Goodbye, construction team. The Propagate grows all by itself. It's made of hypothetical materials that are able to absorb carbon dioxide and transform it into, well, architectural extensions. Definitely the ultimate in sustainability. Honourable Mention: The Seawer This underwater UFO doesn't house people, but it does capture trash floating in the ocean and recycle it. Honourable Mention: Sand Babel These part underground, part aboveground solar-powered towers present a new way of living in eco-friendly comfort (and style) in the desert. Honourable Mention: Climatology Tower Not only is it the best terrarium ever, the Climatology Tower functions as a research centre where the focus is on healing our sickly environment through the analysis of microclimates and urban meteorology. Honourable Mention: Launchspire It might look like the set for the next Star Wars remake, but the Launchspire is actually an "electromagnetic vertical accelerator to eliminate the hydrocarbon dependency of aircraft during takeoff".
The long weekend is here. And, as Monday is a public holiday, some of your regular spots will be shut. So, if you're on the hunt for a caffeine hit, long lunch or a few more beers, we've put together an extensive list of all the bars, cafes and restaurants that'll be open on Monday, June 10. There is something for everybody on this list, too — from Chin Chin's refined Thai fare to A1 Canteen's famed muffuletta and Wayward's craft brews. And if you're looking for further inspiration on how to spend your days off, head this way for our pick of the best long weekend happenings. [caption id="attachment_645827" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chin Chin[/caption] RESTAURANTS Aria, Circular Quay: noon–2.15pm; 5.30–10.30pm Banksii, Barangaroo: noon–7.30pm Bar Patron, Circular Quay: noon–midnight Barangaroo House, Barangaroo: noon–10pm The Bavarian, CBD: 11am–10pm Belles Hot Chicken, Tramsheds: 11.30–9pm Bennelong, CBD: 5.30–9pm The Bucket List, Bondi: 11am–5pm Caffè Bartolo, Surry Hills: 8am–11pm Chin Chin, Surry Hills: 11.30am–11pm Cirrus, Barangaroo: noon–3pm; 6–11pm The Clare Bar, Chippendale: noon–late The Cut Bar & Grill, The Rocks: 5pm–late Da Orazio, Bondi: 5pm–10pm The Dolphin, Surry Hills: 11am–midnight El Camino Cantina, The Rocks: noon–midnight Fratelli Fresh, Darling Harbour: 7am–midnight Fratelli Fresh (all other locations): noon–11pm Harpoon Harry, Surry Hills: 11.30am–late Icebergs Dining Room, Bondi: noon–6pm Mary's Underground, Circular Quay: 5pm–1am Milky Lane, Bondi, Coogee, Cronulla, Parramatta: noon–10pm North Bondi Fish, North Bondi: noon–midnight The Pacific Club, Bondi: 7am–9pm The Paddo Inn, Paddington: noon–10pm Rockpool Bar & Grill, CBD: 6pm–late Rosetta, The Rocks: 5pm–late Sake Restaurant & Bar, The Rocks, Manly and Double Bay: noon–3pm, 5–11pm Spice Temple, CBD: 6pm–late Vecino, Canterbury: 6am–10pm Yellow, Potts Point: 5pm–11pm [caption id="attachment_684208" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mary's[/caption] BARS The Australian Heritage Hotel, The Rocks: 11am–midnight The Glenmore, The Rocks: 11am–midnight Handpicked Cellar Door, Chippendale: 11am–10pm The Imperial, Erskineville: 4pm–midnight The Lansdowne, Chippendale: 11pm–3am Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly: 11.30–late Mary's, Newtown and Circular Quay: noon–midnight Misfits, Redfern: 3pm–late The Royal Hotel, Paddington: 11am–10pm Sauce Brewing Co., Marrickville: noon–8pm The Toxteth, Glebe: 10am–1pm (kitchen closes at 9pm) Tudor Hotel, Redfern: 10am–midnight The Unicorn, Paddington: noon–1am Wayward Brewing Company, Camperdown: 4–8pm [caption id="attachment_625345" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Grounds of the City by Bodhi Liggett[/caption] CAFES A1 Canteen, Chippendale: 8am–3pm Bills, Bondi, Darlinghurst and Surry Hills: 8am–10pm Bourke Street Bakery, all stores except North Sydney: 8am–4pm Devon Cafe, Barangaroo, Surry Hills and North Sydney: 8am–3pm Edition Coffee Roasters, Haymarket: 9am–4pm (kitchen closes 3pm) The Grounds of Alexandria, Alexandria: cafe 7am–4pm The Grounds of the City, CBD: 7am–5pm Matinee Coffee, Marrickville: 7am–4pm (kitchen closes 3pm) Paramount Coffee Project, Surry Hills: 7am–4pm Reuben Hills, Surry Hills: 8am–3pm Three Blue Ducks, Bronte: 7am–2.30pm Top image: Matinee Coffee by Letícia Almeida.
In 2020, businesses around Australia have needed to think on their feet and adapt. Restaurants have introduced new takeaway menus, cocktail delivery systems and set up sandwich shops in the front of their business, all to adjust to the new realities of the hospitality industry. Now a much-loved Sydney food truck is turning back to more traditional dining options and opening a diner. Known for serving American and Mexican dishes from its eatery on wheels, Nighthawk has launched a brick-and-mortar restaurant to complement its impressive fleet of food trucks. The new diner has set up shop on Botany Road in Alexandria, and is serving lunch and dinner for both dine-in and takeaway customers from Wednesday through till Saturday. Nighthawk is hoping to adopt the American diner culture, but with a uniquely Sydney spin. The diner has unveiled a new daytime menu designed around locally sourced and seasonal ingredients — combining the food truck classics that Sydney has come to love with lunch items. You'll find Philly cheesesteak and eggplant parmigiana sandwiches side-by-side with green salads, jackfruit reubens and smoked salmon bagels. Accompanying the food is an all-star selection of local Australian beverages. Freshly brewed Mecca coffee, kombucha sourced from Melbourne's Monceau Kombucha and tinnies sent directly from The Grifter Brewing Co in Marrickville are all available. Nighthawk food trucks will still be out and about, including by offering catering throughout Sydney. The food trucks will remain available for events and office functions; however, not everyone has space for fully functioning mobile restaurant. So, now you can have the Nighthawk Ribwich and a kombucha delivered directly to your office or engagement party. Nighthawk Diner is located at 4/662 Botany Road, Alexandria. It is open Wednesday–Saturday from 12pm–2.30am and 5pm–9pm.
Let's make some choices: this month, after a three-year wait, you can choose to dive back into Netflix's Groundhog Day-meets-The Good Place hit Russian Doll. Or, you can decide not to be a sweet birthday baby and do something else. We recommend the former, because spending time getting up, getting down and getting home before the mornin' comes with the smart and twisty Natasha Lyonne-starring show is always a good move, even when it's actively trying to melt your brain — which, as everyone who watched season one knows, is always. In Russian Doll's first batch of episodes, Orange Is the New Black, Irresistible and The United States vs Billie Holiday star Lyonne played Nadia, who had a 36th birthday she'd never forget — although she desperately wished that she could. The New Yorker kept attending a party in her honour, then dying, then repeating the experience while trying to work out what the hell was going on. Also trapped in a loop: the determined but neurotic Alan (Charlie Barnett, You), who lives around the corner from Nadia, and was a stranger until this day kept cycling over and over. When the show returns on Wednesday, April 20, Nadia is once again experiencing something wild. Now, however, she's a time traveller time prisoner, as she advises in the just-dropped full trailer for Russian Doll season two. "Inexplicable things happening is my entire modus operandi," she also notes — and based on this sneak peek, there's plenty of that coming her way. Alan is also caught up in the chaos again, with both characters jumping into their pasts quite literally, and into an intergenerational tale as a result. Accordingly, if you've ever wondered what happens when someone manages to conquer death, getting blasted into the past to trying to solve your family's unfinished business is it — in this series at least. Also returning: Nadia's closest pals Maxine and Lizzy (Sisters' Greta Lee and Werewolves Within's Rebecca Henderson), her godmother Ruthie (Elizabeth Ashley, Ocean's 8), her late mother Nora (Chloë Sevigny, The Girl From Plainview) and her cute roaming cat Oatmeal. Schitt's Creek and Kevin Can F**k Himself star Annie Murphy and District 9's Sharlto Copley join the cast — and co-creator Lyonne (alongside the one and only Amy Poehler, plus Bachelorette and Sleeping with Other People filmmaker Leslye Headland) co-writes as she did last season, and directs as well. Given its focus on fate, logic, life's loops and wading through limbo — and, this time, the ties that bind and the troubles that echo as well — Russian Doll isn't short on twists. From both the new trailer and the initial sneak peek from back in March, NYC's subway system, a stash of gold lost on a train twice, graveyards and out-there parties all factor in. And yes, the chain-smoking Nadia is still as acerbic and misanthropic as ever, of course — because dying repeatedly and riding the rails into history can't change that. Check out the full trailer for Russian Doll's second season below: The second season of Russian Doll will be available to stream via Netflix on Wednesday, April 20. Read our review of the first season. Images: Netflix.
When the Melbourne International Film Festival kicked off its 2020 event on August 6, and did so with Kelly Reichardt's sublime First Cow, it really didn't matter that it wasn't all happening in person. We'd all rather be getting our three-week-long winter film fix in person, of course — crowding into cinemas, standing in snaking lines on Russell Street, making the mad dash along Swanston Street and braving Melbourne's frosty weather, as has been the case every other year — but a great movie remains a great movie whether it's opening a festival physically as we're all used to, or virtually as these COVID-19 times dictate. In MIFF's case, it doesn't just have one stellar film on its 2020 bill. MIFF 68 1/2, as this year's fest has been badged, really did start as it intends to continue. Until Sunday, August 23, at-home movie buffs can watch their way through more than 100 titles, including full-length fare and shorts, from the comfort of their couches — and from the fest's jam-packed features lineup, we've reviewed (and heartily recommend) these ten absolute highlights. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_D5D7HayMc&feature=emb_logo EMA A new film by Pablo Larraín is always cause for excitement, and Ema is no different. In fact, it's a stunning piece of cinema that stands out even among the Chilean director's already impressive resume. He's the filmmaker behind stirring political drama No, exacting religious interrogation The Club, poetic biopic Neruda and the astonishing, Natalie Portman-starring Jackie — to name just a few of his movies — so that's no minor feat. This time, he hones in on the dancer (Mariana Di Girolamo) who gives the feature its name. After adopting a child with her choreographer partner Gastón (Gael García Bernal), something other than domestic bliss followed, and now she's not only trying but struggling to cope in the aftermath. Di Girolamo is magnetic, whether she's dancing against a vivid backdrop, staring pensively at the camera or being soaked in neon light, and Larraín's skill as both a visual- and emotion-driven filmmaker is never in doubt. Indeed, this film's imagery — and its exploration of trauma, shock and their impact — aren't easily forgotten. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiFEgrIRp7s&feature=emb_logo ROSE PLAYS JULIE In Rose Plays Julie, a young Irish veterinary student born with the name Julie, adopted out to a new family as a baby and then given the moniker Rose (Vikings' Ann Skelly) begins a search for her birth mother (Orla Brady) — and then her biological father (Game of Thrones' Aidan Gillen), too. Don't go dismissing this potent, purposefully thorny and provocative film as a standard family drama, though, no matter how straightforward that description sounds. In a movie that plunges into disturbing thriller territory and seethes with tension from the outset, writer/directors Christine Molloy and Joe Lawler have something very different and far more complex in mind. As brought to the screen with taut, precise visuals, a slow-burn pace and a layered performance by Skelly, Rose's foray into her past unearths a shatteringly tragic incident that could forever change the young woman's sense of self. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGscwJZ5rFA NO HARD FEELINGS Winning the Teddy Award at this year's Berlinale — the prize for the festival's standout film with LGBTQIA+ themes, as previously given to the likes of A Fantastic Woman and The Kids Are All Right— No Hard Feelings is the work of a certain rising star. It's writer/director Faraz Shariat's first film, it's partly based on its own experiences, and it deeply, thoughtfully, engagingly and vividly interrogates and explores the life of a queer man of Iranian descent who has spent his entire life in Germany. Parvis (Benny Radjaipour) was born and raised in Europe, and he's out and proud. Dancing and drinking the night away ranks among his favourite pastimes, alongside passionate Grindr hookups. But when he's sentenced to community service at a refugee centre after a stint of shoplifting, then befriends fellow Iranian Banafshe Arezu (Banafshe Hourmazdi) and sparks up a romance with her brother Amon (Eidin Jalali), the way he's seen by his adopted homeland — and the treatment afforded asylum seekers and anyone considered different — is firmly thrust into focus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN-mYRcJaf0&feature=emb_logo LAST AND FIRST MEN At present, every movie filled with everyday folks amassing in public, or even just hugging or shaking hands, feels more than a little like science fiction. We've said it before, and we're sure we'll say it again. And yet, while Last and First Men is an eerie and intelligent dystopian sci-fi film through and through, it doesn't feature a single person on-screen. Instead, the one and only movie directed by Oscar-nominated composer Jóhann Jóhannsson (Sicario, The Theory of Everything) before his 2018 death trains the camera at towering sculptures that prove instantly mesmerising to look at — and look, this movie does — and even a tad unsettling. The concept, as inspired by the 1930 novel of the same name, explained in lyrical waves of poetic prose spoken by Tilda Swinton, presented as a message from one of the earth's very last residents, and accompanied by a haunting score: several billion years into the future, after several leaps in evolution and drastic changes to life as we currently know it, humanity faces its extinction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVf8in0dj9s LA LLORONA In 2019, in one of the many spinoffs from The Conjuring franchise, The Curse of La Llorona dallied with Mexican folklore. The aim: to rustle up some formulaic scares, a task that proved largely unsuccessful but won't stop the blockbuster series from continuing to do what it does. Also first surfacing last year at international festivals, Guatemalan movie La Llorona isn't that film, thankfully. It's a feature about being haunted, too; however the ghosts caused by not just trauma but genocide, the ideology that enables such atrocities and the ongoing impact generations later all linger over this commanding, compelling and rightly award-winning psychological horror effort. The latest film by The Volcano's Jayro Bustamante, it follows the reckoning due to former army general Enrique Monteverde (Julio Diaz) over his state-sanctioned role in oppressing and attacking Guatemala's Mayan people three decades earlier. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn5fZ5XwtZ4 JUST 6.5 Iranian actor Payman Maadi has many top-notch performances to his name, including in Asghar Farhadi's About Elly and A Separation, as well as in TV series The Night Of. Add Just 6.5 to the growing list, with the involving, hard-hitting crime drama casting him as a cop on the trail of drug traffickers — a job that, given the country's notoriously punishing treatment of those caught dealing illicit substances, is not only a tough and demanding gig day in and day out, but comes with grave consequences for the criminals he apprehends. Ramping up the tension to almost relentless levels, filmmaker Saeed Roustayi explores all sides of the law-and-order war against narcotics, from those slinging drugs for profit to the police officers battling to stem the flow. Aided by excellent portrayals not just by Maadi, but also co-star Navid Mohammadzadeh as the main man in his character's sights, this is a riveting thriller from start to finish — and a movie with much to say about the situation it grimly depicts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLWSW77iWTI KILL IT AND LEAVE THIS TOWN With Kill It and Leave This Town, veteran animator Mariusz Wilczyński unravels a surrealist nightmare that's unlike any other animated movie you've ever seen. The product of a decade's work, and also marking his feature filmmaking debut, it's set in communist-era Poland in the 60s and 70s — as everyday events, particularly interactions between parents and their children, beget waves of anxiety and absurdism drawn from the filmmaker's own experiences and memories. Both tender and tragic moments dance across the screen, as brought to life with a handmade aesthetic that's distinctive, disarmingly effective, and also channels the industrial-leaning paintings (no, not films) of none other than David Lynch. This is truly a movie that's best discovered by watching, and also a feature that can only be really appreciated by letting its visuals and vibe wash over you. Equally affecting and out-there, unsurprisingly, it's quite the trip. 9TO5: THE STORY OF A MOVEMENT We know, we know: you know have Dolly Parton's immensely catchy '9 to 5' stuck in your head. Yes, it pops up in the documentary that shares its name. Yes, you'll be singing it to yourself for days after you watch this film. Yes, you'll hear Jane Fonda tell a great behind-the-scenes tale about the first time she heard the song. But this isn't just an ode to a very popular tune, or the movie of the same moniker either. Rather, as directed by Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar — who just this year won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature for American Factory — 9to5: The Story of a Movement chronicles the real-life campaign for equality in the workplace that gave rise to the hit track and comedy flick. A pivotal history lesson, as well as an important reminder about what has and hasn't changed since women in the workplace were expected to remain happy as underpaid, overworked, wife-like secretaries, this is an archival footage-filled, talking heads-heavy, always-engaging doco with insights not only into the past, but into employment today as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdzSVxLJwrU&feature=emb_logo MOGUL MOWGLI Riz Ahmed not only stars in but also cowrites Mogul Mowgli — and given that he's playing a British Pakistani rapper, and the Four Lions and Rogue One actor also happens to be British Pakistani rapper himself, this incisive drama understandably feels personal. It's also electrifying from the moment when, early in the film, Ahmed's character Zed takes the stage and unleashes his politically charged lyrics about his experiences to a responsive audience. Zed is on the cusp of stardom but, just as he secures his next big opportunity in a supporting slot on a lucrative European tour, his health unexpectedly begins to fail him. Exploring the fallout, including the professional disappointment, Zed's struggles with his cultural heritage upon his return home to London and the tough reality of facing a shattering diagnosis, writer/director Bassam Tariq makes an exceptional debut, crafting a film that's as bold, dynamic and probing as its central performance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKvliqAoN00 WOMEN MAKE FILM: A NEW ROAD MOVIE THROUGH CINEMA MIFF isn't just virtually screening a whole heap of movies in 2020 — it's also screening a mammoth 14-hour documentary about the very medium it loves and cherishes. Exactly what Women Make Film: A New Road Movie Through Cinema covers is obvious from its title; however don't expect this female-focused exploration of cinema history to only tell you what you already know. As the iconic The Story of Film: An Odyssey already established, Mark Cousins' lengthy docos never take a standard approach. They rove and roam through their subject, overlaying expert analysis and personal insights across a treasure trove of clips, and positively bursting with cinephilia of both the astute and intimate kind. Here, with Tilda Swinton narrating (yes, again) alongside Jane Fonda (another MIFF 2020 favourite), Adjoa Andoh, Sharmila Tagore, Kerry Fox, Thandie Newton and Debra Winger, Cousins dives as deep as anyone can into the oft-overlooked canon of works by women directors — 183 of them, in fact — as well as their visual and narrative techniques over the years. MIFF 68 1/2 runs from Thursday, August 6–Sunday, August 23. For further details and to buy online tickets, visit the festival's website.
Everyone knows novelty-sized things are infinitely better than their regular-sized counterparts. Fishbowl margaritas! The teeny tiny toys you get in Kinder Surprise eggs! The only drawback I can think of is 'fun-sized' chocolate bars. There's nothing 'fun' about teasing me with a Mars bar half as big as it should rightfully be. Now the ever-popular novelty trade is turing its sights to the post — can our love of adorably small things save a dying industry? The World's Smallest Post Service is a project run out of California by Leafcutter Designs and its founder Lea Redmond, though Redmond herself can't really tell you why it exists. Since launching a tiny letter transcription service in 2008, Redmond has been channeling her passion for miniature things and finessing the ultimate form of correspondence. Six years and one fully-funded Kickstarter project later, the tiny stationery service has hit the big time (pun unfortunately intended). The entire package — which includes enough materials to create 24 tiny letters, six tiny packages and one 3D mailbox — is only as wide as a regular pen and features a much-needed magnifying glass. Once the kit is purchased you can scribe the cutesiest of cutesy messages to your friends, pass notes in class without ever being caught, and your life will invariably be one step closer to that of a character in a Wes Anderson film. Of course, these novelties aren't wholly impractical. The deluxe kit features translucent regular-sized envelopes so you can send your tiny mail through the real-world post. It may be a little more hassle than the regular route, but at least the person receiving the letter will know that you battled the fiddly ordeal that is tiny envelope origami and microscopic stamp hell. How romantic. The Kickstarter campaign is still in full swing despite having already reached its goal (it seems people really, really want this). Get on board now if you're keen to nab some of the pledgers' perks. Remember: Twitter may be an easier means to sending tiny messages but it's nowhere near as darn cute.
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.
A mere 40-minute train ride from Sydney CBD is a sliver of sunshine: the beachside town of Cronulla. Often overlooked in favour of higher-profile beaches like Bondi and Coogee, Cronulla offers a guaranteed spot on the sand, grins from the locals and seaside village vibes. It's a tight-knit community, and the weekends often see people wandering around the local shops or gathering in the parks to share Sunday lunch. We've teamed up with American Express to help you shop small at the local favourites in and around Cronulla with your Amex Card.
Already in 2021, hospitality behemoth Merivale has been on quite the shopping spree, with the Sydney-based company adding not one, not two, but five new venues to its ever-expanding portfolio so far. Those purchases have all been announced over the past few months; however, CEO Justin Hemmes isn't done yet — with The Whale Inn, a boutique hotel and restaurant in Narooma on New South Wales' south coast, the company's latest acquisition. By the time this week is out, Merivale will pick up the keys to the Wagonga Street spot, purchasing it from 15-year owners Matthew Deveson and Jen Houghton-Deveson. The venue includes 17 rooms and suites, as well as a restaurant and bar. The former will keep trading as normal after the handover, while the latter will close briefly for a revamp. Patrons will be able to drop by The Whale Inn for a drink and a bite to eat again sometime in July, although an exact relaunch date hasn't yet been revealed. Neither have Merivale's refurbishment plans — either for the restaurant and bar now, or for the property long-term. If all of sounds a little familiar, that's because it's where Hemmes snapped up The Quarterdeck in Narooma earlier in 2021. So, Merivale will now own two venues in the Eurobodalla community. "Narooma has become my second home and the backdrop to so many of my happiest memories with my family. I think it is one of the most beautiful spots in the world," said Hemmes. [caption id="attachment_804933" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Wagonga Inlet, Destination NSW[/caption] Just like its acquisition of The Whale Inn, the bulk of Merivale's new purchases have been focused on broadening the company's reach beyond Sydney, where it already operates 70-plus venues — and has been a hospitality mainstay for six decades. In Melbourne, it has bought Tomasetti House, its first site in the city. Also in Victoria, it's taking over the Lorne Hotel on the Great Ocean Road. Back in New South Wales, the hospo giant has nabbed Byron Bay's Cheeky Monkey's Bar, too. And, in Sydney, Norton's Irish Pub in Leichardt has also joined the fold. Find The Whale Inn at 102 Wagonga Street, Narooma. The hotel will remain open as normal, but the restaurant will close for refurbishment until sometime in July. Top image: Google Maps.
Cheese and wine nights are great, but when you combine them with learning some fun hands-on skills and hanging out with a great Sydney ceramicist, then it becomes something special. Join local creative Hannah Barclay at her studio in Marrickville for her popular wine and cheese ceramic workshops. Here, Barclay and her team will teach you the basics of ceramic and pattern design and have you shaping your own creations in no time. Clay:Sydney's got the cheese and crackers (and all the tools) covered, so all you have to do is bring a fine bottle of wine and a playful attitude. Running a variety of classes, from cheese and wine workshops to hand building classes and wheel throwing, Barclay ensures you'll get up-close assistance to make sure you're heading home with a perfectly imperfect product, handmade by you. Upcoming workshops are scheduled throughout the year. They're strictly limited to 30 people per class, so we recommend booking sooner rather than later — they sell out fast. And don't forget to BYO wine. If you do miss out, Clay:Sydney also runs wheel-throwing classes and ceramic mug and planter workshops. Or, if you're planning for a special occasion, you can also arrange a private class — think hens parties, birthdays and corporate events, where you'll leave with something you can proudly to call your own. Check the Clay:Sydney website for future classes. Updated: October 3, 2019.
Now that it's basically the end of the year (sorry, but it is), it's once again time to hit up Sydney's best outdoor venues. And, to help you get straight into it, Sydney's Wayward Brewing Company and Bondi Bowling Club have joined forces to bring you one helluva Sunday session on Sunday, November 24 from 2–10pm. The lawn bowls party is chockas with freebies, starting with a complimentary tinnie of Wayward's raspberry sour for every single punter through the door. Plus, you'll be able to play lawn bowls free of charge (if you can nab a green quick smart) and there'll be a free sausage sizzle for the first 200 people. And tinnies will be just five bucks throughout the whole afternoon and night. There'll also be DJs spinning tropical house tunes and beach pack giveaways from day until night. Entry is (of course) free, but you should RSVP here.
Bunnings Warehouse is supercharging its usual sausage sizzle to support a few Aussie communities that are doing it pretty tough right now. On Friday, March 11, all of the hardware giant's stores will host a special pre-weekend edition of the chain's legendary snag sessions, raising coin for those across Queensland and New South Wales that've been impacted by the recent floods. All of the day's sausage profits will go to the Givit Storms and Flooding Appeal. So, on Friday, grab a snag in bread and show those in need some love — the sausage sizzles will run from 9am–4pm across all Bunnings Warehouses in NSW (and the country). There'll also be donation tins at Bunnings registers, if you don't have time for a snag while you shop for hardware. And, if you can't make it along at all, you can also chuck a few dollars into the Givit collection tin online.
The experiences of Afghan and Persian migrants are central to Blacktown Arts Centre's new program Daneha. Launched in early July, this epic project includes art, talks, live music, theatre and interactive adventures. At the program's heart is a major exhibition featuring new works by Avan Anwar (Melbourne), Elyas Alavi (Adelaide), Zainab Haidariy (Germany), Gerrie Mifsud (Sydney) and Blacktown's own Khadim Ali, winner of the NSW Government's 2016 Western Sydney Arts Fellowship. In addition, local group Afghan Women on the Move will present a series created in community workshops led by Maryam Zahid. "Afghan Women on the Move creates a radically safe platform for women as survivors of war and trauma, to gather and participate in arts and cultural programs, outside of religious and political influences," says Zahid. To deepen your knowledge of the artworks, get along to the artist talks, happening on Saturday, August 18 and Saturday, September 1 from 4–6.30pm. Entry is free, but online registration is essential. Finally, rounding out the program is the Australian premiere of Sitaraha – The Stars, a one-woman play covering the stories of three generations of Afghan women, taking place Thursday, September 6 and Saturday, September 8 at 7.30pm; and Sunday, September 9 at 3pm. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased here. Images: Sharon Hickey.
Sometimes, we're all looking onwards, upwards and forwards because we're thinking about the future. Given how normality as everyone knows it has changed and evolved rapidly over the past couple of years, that's hardly surprising. But don't forget to look up literally, too — especially when must-see sights keep gracing the night sky. When it comes to vibrant astronomical visions, this is the latest in the space of a few short weeks, after the Lyrids meteor shower lit up the night back in April. Every autumn, the Eta Aquarids meteor shower sets the sky ablaze, too — and it's that time now. This year, the shower will be at its most spectacular early on Saturday, May 7 — very early, in fact. If you're eager to catch a glimpse, even from just your backyard or balcony, here's how. WHAT IS IT The Eta Aquarids might not be as famous as Halley's Comet, but the shower is actually a distant relation — because the bits and pieces you see flying around were on Halley's path a really, really long time ago. And, rather than only being visible every 76 years (the next Halley's Comet sighting is in 2061), the Eta Aquarids come around every year, usually between April 19–May 28 every year. The shower's name comes from the star from which they appear to come Eta Aquarii, which is part of the Aquarius constellation. So, that's what you'll be looking for in the sky. Luckily, being in the southern hemisphere, we get some of the best views in the world. On average, you can see up to 20–40 meteors per hour. [caption id="attachment_769233" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] WHEN TO SEE IT The shower will reach a peak in the early morning of Saturday, May 7, but will still be able to be seen for a few days on either side. The best time to catch an eyeful is just before dawn after the moon has set, so around 4am — but between 2am–6am is also recommended. At that time, you'll be in the running to see as many as 50 meteors every 60 minutes. Each will be moving at about 225,000 kilometres per hour, shining extraordinarily brightly and leaving a long wake. The shower's cause is, essentially, the Earth getting in the comet's way, causing stardust to fry up in the atmosphere. HOW TO SEE IT Usually, when a meteor shower lights up the sky, we'd tell city-dwellers to get as far away from light pollution as possible to get the best view. If you can't venture out of town at the moment, you can still take a gander from your backyard or balcony. To help locate the shower, we recommend downloading the Sky Map app — it's the easiest way to navigate the night sky (and is a lot of fun to use even on a non-meteor shower night). If you're more into specifics, Time and Date also has a table that shows the direction and altitude of the Eta Aquarids. It has been updating this daily. The weather might get in the way of your viewing, though, depending on where you live. Melbourne is set for showers until next Monday, and Adelaide is as well until Saturday — fingers crossed that the wet weather takes a break during the early hours. It's also forecast to be wet in Brisbane until Friday, so here's hoping that any rain doesn't hang around till Saturday. In Sydney and Perth, however, sunny conditions await.
Approaching the mental health of your loved ones, and your own, isn't always the easiest, but two Sydneysiders have produced a novel way to get the public opening up to each other. Intangible Goods is an installation by artists Mark Starmach and Elizabeth Commandeur, who've combined year's worth of involvement in the marketing industry with a shared experience of growing up with family members who struggled with mental health. Presented by Art & About Sydney at three CBD locations from now until April 8, Intangible Goods makes engaging with contemporary psychology accessible and easy to interact with. The former advertising colleagues share the unusual bond of having family members diagnosed with schizophrenia and have found an outlet for these experiences to go alongside their exposure to the negative aspects of consumerism that's a mainstay of their professional careers. "In both our lives, we found that our families were very hidden about it," says Elizabeth. "They felt like they couldn't be open with their friends or family and that it wasn't something they could talk about publically." With Intangible Goods, Mark and Elizabeth hope to give people a way to express their inner feelings with an element of fun and whimsy. [caption id="attachment_661905" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Katherine Griffiths. Courtesy of City of Sydney.[/caption] VENDING GOODNESS More than familiar with the typically heavy-handed campaigns marketing agencies produce concerning mental health, Mark and Elizabeth approached the subject with a touch of light-heartedness. Noticing similarities between advertising principals and psychological theories such as Maslow's Hierarchy, the duo wanted to make use of their marketing experience, help people consider their own mental wellbeing and embrace these conversations in a more comfortable way. Their solution? Intangible Goods — a vending machine stocked with ten different 'snacks' that'll feed your wellbeing. Neatly designed, each product line is the result of considerable consultation with mental health professionals and a survey of 550 of their fellow Sydneysiders who were asked what they needed most in their lives right now. Mark explains, "Throughout our survey, several answers bubbled to the top. Something like 41% of people responded that they wanted closer connections with the people in their lives, which was a clear outlier. But, in thinking about what connection to others actually is, it can't clearly be defined to just one single type of connection." That's why each individual 'Connection' package has its own concept inside. Where one reminds you to stay in touch with friends and family, others suggest making new relationships or improving your sense of belonging in the community. The same has been done for other responses, which vary from 'Purpose' to 'Structure', 'Spontaneity' to 'Calm'. Each product can be bought from the vending machine for $2 with all profits going towards beyondblue, the Mental Health Association NSW (WayAhead) and the Schizophrenia Research Institute at NeuRA. CONSUMING LESS, LIVING MORE Mark and Elizabeth are first to admit the world of marketing and advertising can promote unhealthy habits around consumerism. As Elizabeth explains, "For me, I think consumerism is habitual and almost an everyday thing. But I think much of it is mindlessly purchasing goods that help fulfil some sort of empty void in our lives." Intangible Goods aims to turn this concept upside-down by redirecting the energy put into promoting products into something positive. By providing visitors with a conversation starter and something that'll elicit an emotional response, the installation is aimed at encouraging visitors to think critically, as well as providing a way to navigate their own mindset. MAKING BIG, FIRST STATEMENTS While the concept had long been floating around Mark and Elizabeth's heads, the nitty-gritty of Intangible Goods took almost a year to complete. Being the first major art project both Mark and Elizabeth have produced, adjusting from their largely structured professional lives to something more abstract and holistic took some getting used to. This adjustment was only made more difficult with Elizabeth working remotely from Copenhagen for the duration of 2017. But after many midnight phone calls, shared online spreadsheets, discussions with vending machine suppliers, budget lists and safety reports, the pair's hard work has finally been realised. Working alongside Art & About Sydney and the City Of Sydney, Mark says the creative process was made easy with the freedom the duo were granted. "Everyone involved gave us license to run with our vision and helped us stick to it faithfully, which is not something we're super used to from working in the world of agencies." Intangible Goods will be vending across Sydney CBD 24 hours a day from March 26 until April 8, 2018. Find it at Martin Place, between Pitt and George streets from March 26–29, Customs House Square from March 30 to April 3 and Pitt Street Mall from April 4–8. See full details here.
Whether you love it or hate it, have flung cutlery at it or only first heard about it thanks to The Disaster Artist, The Room will always retain a unique spot in popular culture. Writer, director, producer, star and all-round enigma Tommy Wiseau might have other projects on his resume — including this year's Best F(r)iends: Volume One with The Room's Greg Sestero — but there's truly nothing like his debut movie. Telling the tale of a banker called Johnny (Wiseau), his fiancée Lisa (Juliette Danielle) and his best friend Mark (Sestero), the film refuses to adhere to any filmmaking rules, conventions or just general common sense, with random images of spoons, men playing football in tuxedos and unnecessary sex scenes all part of the package. And, for reasons only known to Wiseau, it's now available in 1080p high-definition — and for free — on YouTube thanks to the man himself. Wiseau has uploaded the movie to his own YouTube channel, and it's all there — the "oh hi, doggy" moment, the cancer subplot that's brought up out out the blue and dropped just as suddenly, and Wiseau screaming "you're tearing me apart, Lisa!" all included. That's your viewing sorted, well, forever — but don't go throwing spoons at your own screen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-htzzL-JOUg&feature=youtu.be
Since late in 2019, when Disney launched its own streaming platform, fans of its animated classics, beloved hits and many, many super-popular franchises have been able to binge their way through the Mouse House's back catalogue from the comfort of their couch. For a few weeks in October and November, however, movie buffs are being asked to leave their houses to check out a selection of the company's famed titles — all thanks to the new pop-up Disney+ Drive-In that's coming to Sydney. Yes, a streaming service is running a drive-in. Or, to put it another way, a product designed to get everyone watching on small screens at home is now endeavouring to lure viewers out to watch its flicks on a big screen from their cars. That's a very 2020 situation, with Disney+ teaming up with Openair Cinemas to make it happen. The drive-in will arrive in Sydney — at the Northern Private Carpark of Bankwest Stadium, to be specific — on Thursday, October 22, screening films every night (except Tuesdays) until Sunday, November 15. As for what'll be screening, the Disney+ Drive-In is working through the Mouse House's hits, screening single features each night. On the bill: Star Wars flicks The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, plus throwback titles like 10 Things I Hate About You, Mrs Doubtfire, Mighty Ducks and Edward Scissorhands. If you really love your Disney movies, you can also expect live-action and animated versions of Aladdin and The Lion King, as well as sing-along Moana, The Little Mermaid and the first Frozen film. You can croon tunes to The Greatest Showman, too, and watch Pixar's gorgeous Coco. Plus, Marvel fans can look forward to Thor: Ragnarok and Guardians of the Galaxy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue80QwXMRHg Popcorn, snacks and drinks will be available onsite — or you can bring your own. It's strictly a no-alcohol affair, though. And, ticket-wise, you'll be paying per car; however, prices vary depending the number of people in your car. Disney+ Drive-In presented by Openair Cinemas hits Sydney, at the Northern Private Carpark of Bankwest Stadium, on Thursday, October 22 — with its season running until Sunday, November 15.
