Bringing some of the world's greatest past and present artists to Australia, the Sydney International Art Series 2017-18 features two outstanding exhibitions — and a gleaming pop-up bar to match. First up, the MCA hosts Pipilotti Rist: Sip My Ocean, a kaleidoscopic exhibition exploring the much-acclaimed work of the Swiss video art pioneer. The most comprehensive showing of Rist's work in Australia to date, the exhibition considers the coming together of the natural world, technology and the human body through Rist's immersive installations and vast audiovisual compositions. Meanwhile, just across the Royal Botanical Garden at the Art Gallery of NSW, Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age: Masterpieces from the Rijksmuseum showcases 76 masterpieces of Dutch painting, created during an era of unmatched prosperity and artistic inspiration. Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age reveals the wealth, power and influence of an emerging Dutch society in the 17th century. As part of the exhibition, there will be an entire room dedicated to Rembrandt's vast range of work. Also, there will be a work by painter Johannes Vermeer — one of only 35 surviving paintings in the world. To celebrate this year's event, a Pipilotti Rist inspired pop-up bar has sprung up on the banks of Circular Quay. A vibrant and unconventional space, Colour Fields has lots going on, including Sunday sessions by Future Classic, snacks and cocktails by Culinary Edge, workshops and more. Art Gallery of NSW will also hold special events dedicated to the Rembrandt exhibition. Each Wednesday evening during the exhibition's run, the gallery's Art After Hours will feature special talks, tours, performances and a pop-up bar serving drinks and eats. Pipilotti Rist: Sip My Ocean runs until February 18, 2018; Colour Fields is open throughout the summer at the MCA and Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age runs until February 18, 2018.
Earlier this year, Parramatta-based Jamie Oliver fans mourned the loss of their very own Jamie's Italian. The restaurant closed abruptly amid a national ownership change after the Jamie Oliver Group went into administration. But now the site at Centenary Square has become a restaurant once more, with Matt Moran's Solotel Group throwing open the doors to the second outpost of its CBD steakhouse Chophouse today, Friday, October 26. The experience of the CBD venue — which Solotel bought from the now-defunct Keystone Group in 2016 — has been replicated in Parramatta, with the site scoring a new fit-out and a similar menu, featuring nine high-end cuts of steak, oysters, potato scallops and lots of sides. Alongside beef sourced by head chef Scott Kim from farmers across NSW — including Jack's Creek, Rangers Valley and Riverine Premium – and dry-aged in-house, diners will find a few new additions to the Parramatta menu. And one of them is raclette. The hot oozy cheese is served tableside atop a dry-aged beef burger ($23) with shoestring fries (for dipping into the cheese, obviously). Another cheesy option is the burrata with tomato chutney and and sourdough. Vegetarians are, surprisingly, not forgotten either, with with inclusion of interesting sounding cauliflower schnitzel ($26) — even meat-eaters may be tempted to order it (or, maybe, just try someone else's). If you are a fan of sharing, you'll also find a 1.7kg Tomahawk ($195), full racks of pork ribs ($59) and the Butcher's Block ($50 per person), which comes with two steaks, twice-cooked chips, sauces and two sides. As well as an opulent dining room, the restaurant also boasts a separate bar area where you can snack on oysters ($4 each) and crab doughnuts ($17) matched with international wines and classic cocktails off the extensive drinks list. The new Chophouse is Solotel's second venue in Parramatta — it also runs the Albion Hotel on George Street — but it sounds like there's more where that came from. "We've had our eye on expanding west for a while now," said director Bruce Solomon. "And when the offer to open a restaurant in the hub of Parramatta presented itself we couldn't say no." That, coupled with the fact that Surry Hills' Butter has opened in the suburb and Rockpool and Sake are slated to launch in 2020, makes it seem very likely that more and more inner-city restaurants will produce Parramatta clones. Fingers crossed one of them starts a $10 pasta deal to fill the void. Chophouse Parramatta is now open at 83 Macquarie Street, Centenary Square, Parramatta. It's open Monday through Sunday 11am–10pm.
Update Wednesday, July 12: Bookings are now open for the W Hotel's huge Darling Harbour development. You can lock in a stay for dates from Wednesday, November 1. Five years in the making, W Hotel's luxury Darling Harbour development will finally bring the global hotel chain back to Sydney in October this year. Originally scheduled to open in 2020, the unmistakable harbourfront hotel has faced several delays and setbacks, but has now revealed key details in the lead-up to its official opening in seven months' time. Located within The Ribbon, the sleek multimillion-dollar development is designed by HASSEL architects and sits on the former IMAX theatre site — which is scheduled to also reopen this year. W Sydney is promising not just a hotel, but a luxury hideaway with this inner-city accommodation. As with every W Hotel, you can expect impeccably-designed futuristic spaces, eateries overseen by expert chefs, cocktails created by top-notch bartenders and collaborations with local artists, musicians and designers. Partnering with HASSEL is Bowler James Brindley who is handling the interior design of the luxury building. "The freedom to create an entirely new cultural space for Sydney was incredibly exciting, and we were inspired by the idea of 'the larrikin' the non-conformist spirit of the city that makes it irresistible," a Bowler James Brindley spokesperson said. "We love to design spaces that embrace the individuality and even eccentricity of their locations, and to create interiors that engage their buildings and neighbourhoods in conversations, rather than treating spaces as blank canvases." One of W Sydney's drawcards — apart from its 585 next-level rooms and suites — is the exuberant shared spaces throughout the hotel including a heated rooftop infinity pool overlooking the water, a two-storey rooftop bar, an all-day dining restaurant, a luxury spa and a gym. The meticulously designed restaurant on level three can be seen from the adjacent highway, acting as a living, breathing billboard for the hotel. Inside, the diner boasts urban design hallmarks that celebrate its place in the heart of the city, as well as concrete columns and unique ceiling lighting that combine to create a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Other notable touches include jellyfish mosaic artwork that you can discover at the bottom of the impressive 30-metre pool, silicone petals resembling those of the waratah decorating the entrance sign, a future noir-themed lobby inspired by Fritz Lang's Metropolis and graphic designs from renowned multidisciplinary artist Bradley Eastman (aka Beastman) throughout the hotel's spa. W Sydney will open its doors in October 2023 at 31 Wheat Road, Darling Harbour. You can find out more about it on the Darling Harbour website.
Vivid isn't the only way to immerse yourself in lights this winter. Sydney Zoo in Western Sydney has also transformed into a giant, glowing playground. Head there any evening between now and Sunday, June 15, to find out what the animals do after dark — while surrounded by more than 200 illuminated installations. You'll meet a massive yellow octopus, wander beneath a butterfly canopy and come face-to-face with a smiling crocodile. There's also a bunch of interactive rides, from a piano you can play with your feet to a ferris wheel affording spectacular views. And, when you need a break from all the excitement, you can pop into the GLOW bar for a drink and scour the food trucks for tasty, heart-warming bites. Tickets, which are $24.99 for kids and $34.99 for kidults, are available online. Book on a Tuesday night, and you'll get yours for half-price.
You could spend a weekend in Broken Hill doing nothing but gazing at the sky. In autumn, huge cloud formations battle against the sun all day long, and, come evening, you've never seen so many stars. Perhaps it's this, along with the striking red earth of the surrounding desert, that attracts so many artists to this 18,000-person outback town, about 1200 kilometres west of Sydney and 850 kilometres north of Melbourne. Between gallery visits you can wander among grand 19th century architecture, have a yarn in proper country pubs (you'll be getting burgers, not sliders, 'round 'ere) and head underground to experience some legendary history, from mining to illicit two-up. Plus, there's a museum dedicated to Mad Max 2. Hit the road. [caption id="attachment_580402" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Simon Yeo via Flickr[/caption] SEE AND DO Let's start with the art. 90 minutes before sundown, drive to the 180-hectare Living Desert Reserve. On a hilltop affording 360-degree views, there's a dozen sculptures created by artists from all over the world, and strategically positioned to catch the sun's dying rays. The nearby 1.5-kilometre cultural trail features epic Sturt's Desert Pea displays and Indigenous story poles. Back in town, immerse yourself in the world's biggest acrylic painting on canvas by a single artist (Ando's 100-metre x 12-metre landscape), swing by Pro Hart Gallery and ramble around the many spaces of the high-ceilinged Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery. To get the lowdown on the area's history, join a Silver City Sights and Heritage Tour. In a comfy, air-conditioned bus, you'll cover 50 kilometres and over 100 years — from BHP's first mining of silver and lead in 1885 (BHP, by the way, stands for Broken Hill Proprietary) to the 2001 building of the Line of Lode Miners Memorial, which commemorates more than 800 miners killed on the job. [caption id="attachment_575825" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Jasmine Crittenden[/caption] Mining is still a dangerous business, but it was way more terrifying in the 1880s. Get acquainted with its historical extremes at the Day Dream Mine, 33 kilometres northwest of Broken Hill. Back then, workers did it so tough for so little, their bosses handed out opium to ease the pain — presumably cheaper than paying sick leave — and when the drugs wore off, horehound beer was the next refuge, often sending drinkers blind for a day or two (hence the phrase 'blind drunk'). You'll hear these and other tales while squeezing through tunnels 30 metres underground. Recover with scones and tea in the homestead. [caption id="attachment_582402" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Amanda Slater via Flickr[/caption] Another 15 or so kilometres west, the outback proper begins at Silverton. Home to just over 600 people, this tiny town peaked in the 1890s when silver was found nearby, and is now an arty enclave, where donkeys roam wild and days end best with a beer at the famous Silverton Hotel. Among its crowded walls — which are hung with guitars, trumpets, Akubras and empty stubbies — you'll find souvenirs from the many film crews to have passed through, from Wake In Fright (1970) to Mad Max 2 (1981) to Razorback (1984). Delve deeper into movie history at the Mad Max 2 Museum. Opened by obsessive collector Adrian Bennett in 2010, this shed is crammed with behind-the-scenes photos, costumes and vehicles, including the original gyrocopter and interceptor. When you're max-ed out, meander around Silverton, visiting The Horizon Gallery, the John Dynan Art Gallery and the Silverton Gaol Museum, before driving four kilometres north to Mundi Mundi Plains to watch the sun set over what looks like the edge of the world. EAT AND DRINK In most of Broken Hill's pubs and restaurants, you can count on hearty, meat-heavy cooking — mammoth-sized feeds that reward a long day of hard yakka. At The Palace Hotel — where Mitzi, Felicia and Bernadette stopped over during The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of The Desert — dig into crispy-skinned, grilled Atlantic salmon with dill, creamy garlic sauce, mash, veg and a splash of Chardonnay. If you're dining on a Friday, hang around afterwards for a game of two-up — The Palace is the only place in Australia where it's legal all year-long. Before 1984, you would've dropped into Broken Hill's illicit two-up school, held behind a green door on Crystal Lane. Two blocks away is the majestic, heritage-listed Astra. This swish hotel, built in the 1890s, has eight suites and a big, shady verandah. Downstairs, relax over a cocktail in the Red Lush Lounge or slide into a cosy, high-backed chair in Trinders restaurant for a modern Australian feast, like their signature surf 'n' turf: fillet steak topped with king prawns, grilled banana, hollandaise and seasonal veggies. There are a few cafes bringing more contemporary fare to the outback. Get your single origin coffee fix at health-minded, family-owned The Silly Goat on the main drag. Among the sunflowers, burnt orange feature walls and timber tables, you'll also find their "turmeric elixir", cold-pressed juices, house-baked treats and inner-city-style mains, like the haloumi burger with mushies, beetroot relish and aioli. A few blocks to the northwest, outside the GP Super Clinic, is The Caff, opened by local couple Summa and Nathan Rayner in February 2014. The fun fit-out was a 100 percent DIY job, from the blue tartan seats ripped straight out of a school bus to the recycled wooden tables. Every dish on the menu is made from scratch. Try just-baked waffles packed with zucchini and corn and stacked with chilli con carne and guacamole, a gourmet pie or some bread and butter pudding-style French toast. And just south of the town centre, there's Bells Milk Bar. This isn't one of those trendy, ironic, retro-themed places — it's the real thing. It's been open since the 1930s and the decor dates to the 1950s. The syrups, cordials and ice cream are all made in-house in small batches, according to secret recipes. Choose from over 40 milkshake flavours or 16 spiders, slip into a booth in the back room and crank some Bill Haley and The Comets on the juke box. STAY For oodles of space and light, a king-size bed, a spa and a separate lounge area — including your own mini-kitchen — check into the Red Earth Motel. The spick-and-span interiors are inspired by the desert. Think luxe white linen dotted with earthy-patterned pillows and lounge chairs in reds and ochres. If you're travelling in a group, book into a two- or three-bedroom apartment. The shaded swimming pool lets you cool off after a busy day of sun and adventures. Meanwhile, you can sleep under an original artwork at Ibis Styles. Owned by locals Michael and Dana Farcich for 27 years, these lodgings were known as the Mine Host Motel before being acquired by Accor in the mid-2000s. 42 two-toned rooms stretch across two storeys, encircling a central pool. There's also an on-site restaurant, the glass-walled, green-and-purple-lit S-Que, where country dishes are given fancy touches. The steak, for example, is a 450-gram, chargrilled Tomahawk behemoth, with kipfler potato chips, rosemary salt, house coleslaw and portobello mushroom sauce. You probably won't need to eat again until you're at the other end of the drive home. Jasmine Crittenden travelled as a guest of Destination NSW. Top image: Simon Yeo via Flickr.
Travellers are already obsessed with Japan's wild natural landscapes and hyper-organised cities bursting with a delightfully diverse culture. You've also got ancient temples, onsen baths and picturesque towns scattered about the islands. But cover all of this in snow, and see it become something far more magical. And, yes, cold. But magical, nonetheless. In the colder months, Japan comes alive with a range of activities like skiing, snowboarding and a vibrant selection of seasonal festivals. There is a rich winter culture in Japan that is seemingly underrated — read on to see why we are obsessed with Japan when it's doused in snow. [caption id="attachment_878150" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sam Lee (Unsplash)[/caption] WINTER WONDERLAND VILLAGES Head to remote mountain villages to find Japan's own version of hygge. The steep pitched roofs of alpine homes are covered in snow and surrounded by frosted trees. Deep blankets of white consume the streets and cover frozen lakes, too. Yep, it's a lot of snow. The two most famous villages to visit — Shirakawa-go and Gokayama — are both UNESCO World Heritage sites. You'll want longer than a day trip to experience them, so stay in one of the farmhouses that have been converted into small family-run bed and breakfasts to experience rural Japanese culture authentically. Take your time exploring these winter oases, getting to know the people who call them home. [caption id="attachment_878141" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Japan National Tourism Organisation[/caption] SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING With all the snow and countless mountain ranges, it's no surprise that Japan is one of the world's biggest skiing and snowboarding destinations. There are over 500 ski resorts here, and they've even hosted two Winter Olympics. If you're into winter sports, then heading to Japan in winter is a no-brainer. On the main island, visit Hakuba Valley to find a series of connected resorts. The northern island is also incredibly popular for its very reliable snowfall. Rusutsu, Niseko and Furano are some of the most popular in this region. But, if we're being honest, just about any ski spot in Japan will be spectacular. Editor's tip: book the ultimate Japan ski tour (including lift passes, transfers and all your accommodation for seven nights) around the Hakuba Valley here. [caption id="attachment_878154" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Diaz (Unsplash)[/caption] ONSEN HOPPING There's no need to run all the way to Iceland to soak in hot natural springs. Japan, a collection of volcanic islands, is full of this naturally heated water that bubbles up to the surface. It's great for your skin and your soul. And, yeah, you can visit these all year round — but nothing beats a winter onsen. Just think: vistas of Japan's snow-covered countryside while you soak your troubles away. It's an experience like no other. And, when you're searching for onsens, be sure to check out the other nature parks nearby. See snow monkeys bathing in hot springs at the Jigokudani Monkey Park, feed foxes at Zao Fox Village and watch cranes dance in the fields within the Kushiro Marsh. [caption id="attachment_878166" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alva Pratt (Unsplash)[/caption] SEASONAL FOOD AND DRINK While you're soaking in onsens, hanging out at ski resorts and wandering rugged-up around the country's towns and cities, few things will heat you up like a shot of sake. It's like a delicious instant heat pack for your insides. And hot sake is popular for that very reason. Head to an izakaya or two during your stay and drink a few tipples. We all know the cuisine in Japan is next level, and there are dishes that are traditionally made for winter. First off, there's oden. It's a one-pot dish of various savoury goodies simmered in a soy sauce and dashi kelp broth. You can get this anywhere, even convenience stores. Nabe is also a must-try. It's a classic hot-pot dish that's similar to Korean and Chinese hot pots — just with quintessential Japanese flavours. Get cosy around these brothy bowls on a cold winter evening with your mates. [caption id="attachment_878147" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Japan National Tourism Organisation[/caption] WINTER FESTIVALS We all know that Japan uniquely blends its traditional customs with its modern culture and technology. And we believe the best way to experience this phenomenon is by hitting up some local festivals. The spring cherry blossom festival is the best known, but Japan has its own winter celebrations that rival those throughout other times of the year. Christmas and New Year's Eve are big in Japan, but are very family oriented. If you're visiting with mates, or don't know any locals, we recommend you hit up Japan during the Sapporo Snow Festival from February 4–11. The city of Sapporo is taken over by snow and ice sculptures, with live music, street food and carnivals rides too. Be sure to check out the nearby Otaru Snow Light Path Festival and Tokyo's Winter Illuminations as well. [caption id="attachment_878169" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alessio Roversi (Unsplash)[/caption] SUMO WRESTLING When you have mates visiting from overseas, it's not abnormal to take them to an AFL or NRL match. The same can be said for sumo wrestling in Japan. Not only is the sport so much fun to watch, it's also one of the best places to do some people watching. A wide cross-section of Japanese people will attend these games, having a big day of drinking, eating and cheering on the athletes. Winter is one of the best times to do some athletic spectating here, too. There are a few big tournaments in January and February, with Tokyo being the best place to see them. Just make sure you plan ahead and book tickets early. Make a proper day of it: tickets usually give you access to the arena for the entire day, so take your time learning all the intricacies of the sport with a few drinks in hand. [caption id="attachment_878170" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jezeal Melgoza (Unsplash)[/caption] SUPER SALES A lot of people come to Japan for the shopping. It's a thing. The city is full of unique fashion stores and all the best tech companies selling the latest devices. But you'd be a fool to come to Japan for shopping any other time than the start of the year — as bargains abound in the major cities. It's also when you'll find fukubukuro (literally 'lucky bag'). These Japanese New Year treats are put together by store owners, and hold a bunch of mystery items that are usually worth a lot more than the price you pay for the bag. It's a lucky dip and hugely popular — people go nuts for them. While visiting Japan in winter, be sure to nab a couple and see what you find. Feeling inspired to book a Japanese getaway? Through Concrete Playground Trips, our new travel booking platform, can you purchase holidays specially curated by our writers and editors. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips at destinations all over the world — check it out. Top images: Japan National Tourism Organisation
As if Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel could get any more adorably twee, Argentine designers Sabrina Giselle Acevedo and Jazmin Granada (both graphic design students at the University of Buenos Aires) have recreated Anderson's latest film's opening credits using paper. Making a pop-up book-like representation of Gustave's reception keys and Agatha's perfect Mendl's cake, Acevedo and Granada have created a squealworthy sequence of stop animation to make your day that little bit more grand. Via Fubiz. Want more Grand Budapest Hotel-ery? Check out our attempts to recreate Mendl's Courtesan au Chocolat with Gelato Messina over here.
It has been the training ground for Olympians and a cool escape from the summer heat for many little (and big) Sydneysiders for 39 years, but as of next January, the Macquarie Ice Rink will be no more. It will be demolished to make way for multimillion-dollar upgrades to the Macquarie Centre. The announcement was made earlier this week in a press release sent out by the owners of the ice rink, who revealed that AMP Capital, the owners of the shopping centre, would be ending the ice rink's lease on January 31, 2020. "It is a devastating blow to the many thousands of people who use the ice rink," it said in the statement. The ice rink's owner Dr Frank Gregg said the timing was particularly bad, with the ice rink given a $3.5 million upgrade just last year. "We recently spent millions of dollars refurbishing the ice rink and laying new ice for the athletes and the public," Dr Gregg said in a statement. In response to the announcement, a Change.org petition was launched, and has since garnered 17,165 signatures. Dr Gregg is hoping this will help convince AMP to reverse its decision, saying, "We are still in negotiations with AMP and hopeful that they will their mind". According to News Corp, the shopping centre's $195 million redevelopment would include improved links from the shopping centre to the train station and bus interchange as well as a public plaza, which would impact the space where the ice rink is currently located. https://www.facebook.com/macquarieicerink/posts/2513306518686394 In the meantime, you still have 12 months to visit the Macquarie Ice Rink, which is open to the public at various times throughout the week and all-day on Sunday, as well as for disco sessions on Friday nights. Macquarie Ice Rink is slated for closure on January 31, 2020. We'll let you know if anything changes.
Steam Mill Lane nabbed another good'un when Edition Coffee Roasters opened its second location in the foodie precinct this June. And it's a good thing, considering the recent announcement that the original will close in Darlinghurst location this October. Edition Haymarket has a similar minimalist vibe to the Darlinghurst digs, but is otherwise a stark departure from the original. Haymarket takes note from its surroundings and focuses on Japanese design to match its cuisine — it's meant to emulate a traditional Japanese-style farm house. While Darlinghurst was more bright and airy, Haymarket has a much darker colour palette with charred and exposed beams, a gray-blue concrete bar with stone tiles and textured walls. The seasonal menu carries across the cafe's signature Japanese-meets-Scandinavian flare, though this time it has a deeper focus on the former, thanks to Japanese-born head chef Shinichi Hasegawa (Bentley, Icebergs). There's a lot of Japanese representation in the team, actually. "I have a Japanese army over here," says owner Daniel Jackson. "[There's also] store manager Cana Terasawa, who has been in the coffee industry for years, [and] our head roaster Taku Kimura, who will be running the coffee section. We have scored some new up and coming chefs for the kitchen, too." Many of the Darlinghurst cafe's cult favourites have already made their way to Haymarket, including the famous soufflé pancake topped with berry compote. New dishes have a bit of a fine-dining lean — something not common in cafes — with the likes of grilled king prawns with shellfish butter and charred lemon. In case you haven't noticed, this team really likes to char veggies. More casual lunch dishes include the udon noodle bowl with pipis, egg yolk and XO sauce, pork katsu breakfast rolls and a Japanese twist on skagen (Swedish prawns on toast) with pepper prawns, apple, radish and yuzu on rye crisps. And you can, of course, expect the brand's top-notch cuppas all day, too. As for the the Darlinghurst closure, it's a bitter-sweet goodbye for patrons and owners alike. "With the lease coming up for renewal soon, it was the right time," says Jackson. "Of course we are sad to see it go. It's where Edition started. But its time to move on to bigger and better things." Images: Trent van der Jagt
Parramatta, or Burramatta, is a Darug word meaning 'place of eels' and anyone who's taken a stroll along Parramatta River will have seen images etched into the pathway of this western Sydney suburb's history from its first people through to the communities who live here today. It's western Sydney's main hub, and the high-rise developments and new apartments show how much investment there's been into bringing international brands to this area — so it's not easy to know where to spend your time (and money) when you're shopping on Church and George Streets. The trick is knowing where to go. Take a walk down one of Parramatta's laneways and you'll find western Sydney's last remaining indie record shop, a craft brewery with water views, and a florist that's been bringing cheer to locals for more than three decades. With the help of American Express, we've picked out the independent shops, eateries and producers that are well worth a visit. Here's where to shop small in Parramatta with your Amex Card.
With so much to see, do and eat around Singapore, you might be feeling a little lost on how to best navigate the city. While Singapore's streets are renowned for being spotless, the humidity sometimes makes it difficult to wander long distances on foot. Get around by hopping on the efficient — and air-conditioned — Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system instead, which runs from Changi Airport in the east to Tuas Link in the west and through major stops such as Marina Bay, HarbourFront, Chinatown and Little India. The trains operate every 2–8 minutes from 5.30am–12.30am each day and are often conveniently connected to large shopping malls, hawker centres or other attractions through covered passageways. Simply use your existing contactless card or Apple Pay to tap on, or purchase a Singapore Tourist Pass (if you're staying for less than 3-5 days) or EZ-Link Card (if you're staying for longer). With the help of Singapore Tourism, we're spotlighting five MRT stops worth hopping off for along your commute, and what to do near each station. [caption id="attachment_981017" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Afur Wong[/caption] Maxwell Located in the heart of Chinatown, Maxwell is a stop along the Thomson–East Coast line. Jump off here to explore Chinatown and some of the city's top hawker centres as you're travelling from Gardens by the Bay towards Orchard Road. You'll find the famed Maxwell Food Centre right next to the station, which boasts over 100 stalls, including the renowned Tian Tian Chicken Rice. If you're still feeling peckish, the Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre, which is the largest hawker centre in Singapore with 260-plus stalls, and the renovated Lau Pa Sat are both a short walk away. After lunch, take a stroll through historic Chinatown with a self-guided walking tour to see sights such as the Sri Mariamman Temple, Masjid Jamae mosque and Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum, with breaks for sweet treats and coffee in between. Marine Parade Further along the Thomson–East Coast line is Marine Parade, where you can walk or cycle through East Coast Park, refuel at Marine Parade Central Market and Food Centre, shop at Parkway Parade, and discover Peranakan culture at Katong-Joo Chiat. East Coast Park offers a range of activities for the whole family, from walking and cycling trails to windsurfing, paddleboarding and skateboarding, as well as a plethora of dining options. Katong-Joo Chiat dates back to the early 19th century and was a hub for Eurasian and Peranakan communities. Step back in time and learn about the neighbourhood's rich history at The Intan (a home-turned-museum), Eurasian Heritage Gallery and Katong Antique House, before snapping some photos at the iconic pastel-hued shophouses along Koon Seng Road. Finish up your day of discovery with Peranakan cuisine at Kim Choo Kueh Chang, 328 Katong Laksa or Old Bibik's Peranakan Kitchen. Bayfront You can't go to Singapore without visiting the iconic Marina Bay area. Stop at Bayfront on the Circle or Downtown lines to explore the whole precinct. At Marina Bay Sands, you can sip a sky-high drink at CÉ LA VI, enjoy a free light and water show at the Event Plaza and dance the night away at MARQUEE nightclub. For a more laidback night, take an evening stroll around Marina Bay to snap a photo at the Here is SG sculpture and explore Merlion Park, which is adjacent to the buzzing Fullerton precinct. While you're in the area, make sure to check out other unmissable attractions, such as the sprawling Gardens by the Bay and innovative ArtScience Museum. [caption id="attachment_980376" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Danny Santos[/caption] Little India From ornate temples to vibrant street art and plentiful shopping and food options, Little India is an energetic cultural hub that's worth a stop on the North East or Downtown lines. Follow the self-guided map and visit landmarks such as the Indian Heritage Centre, Tan Teng Niah House and Sri Veerakaliamman Temple. Along the way, you'll be able to browse for Indian homewares, ornaments, jewellery and textiles. If you're really ready to shop, head to Mustafa Centre, which is open 24/7 and sells everything from home appliances and electronics to camping goods, perfume, vintage collectibles and snacks across six levels. Once you've worked up an appetite, sample some local fare at Tekka Centre, which is Singapore's largest indoor wet market and a hawker centre. Other notable eateries in the area are Podi and Poriyal for cocktails and contemporary takes; The Banana Leaf Apolo, which has been serving North and South Indian cuisine since 1974; and Bismillah Biryani, which has been awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand for eight years straight. [caption id="attachment_980381" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paris Chia[/caption] HarbourFront If you continue on the North East or Circle lines until the final stop, you'll end up at HarbourFront. Alight here for outdoor expeditions to Sentosa or Mount Faber Park, with a break for bites at Seah Im Food Centre. Mount Faber Park is one of the oldest parks in the city and looks out across the southern coast of Singapore. With well-paved pathways, you can easily hike or cycle up to the highest peak at Faber Point. Other sites in the park include a rainbow-coloured stairway, two restaurants, cable car rides to Sentosa, a mini Merlion and even a famous public bathroom with views across the harbour. If heights aren't your thing and you'd rather not take a cable car to reach Sentosa, not to worry — you can also reach the island via car, bus, bike, monorail, or even on foot. You're in for an action-packed day once you're there, with attractions ranging from beaches and an aquarium to a waterpark, go-kart track, adventure park, Universal Studios Singapore, WWII fort and role-playing city for kids. Book your Singapore holiday now with Flight Centre. Top image: Paris Chia Photography. All images courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board.
From classic Western films to luxury fashion houses and cult Aussie shows like The Saddle Club, there's something about a horse that the world adores. The quiet power, the steady weight, the way they seem to sense you before you even move. For some people, a horse's presence is literally life-changing. At Riding for the Disabled Australia (RDA) centres across Australia, these animals are a key in providing therapeutic benefits — involving riding, carriage driving and unmounted activities — designed to help people with disability strengthen muscles, build coordination, develop confidence, and have fun. Some riders are children born with developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy or autism, while others are affected by physical disability including MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and progressive blindness. Some are even adults rebuilding after an accident, injury or diagnosis, including people who have become paraplegic, an amputee or suffered brain trauma. The horses meet them where they are, instinctively attuned to every movement and mood, and riders respond in incredible ways. "Horses have this beautiful ability to relax people," says Mary Longden. "They're sentient beings. The smell of a horse, the sound of the horse. Nothing beats actually being on a horse. I've seen almost miracles happen." The changes go beyond riding ability, though practice makes perfect. Through assistance horses, riders who once struggled to follow instructions begin to respond, non-verbal participants start whispering to their horse, and those living with anxiety or attention disorders learn to self-regulate. In these sandy arenas where horses trod along and coaches gently call out instructions like "heels down" or "soft reins", incredible progress is made. Routine, patience and progress are learned through care, from brushing and saddling to leading and riding. Each small action adds up to something bigger and creates more freedom than they ever had before. The RDA program runs on volunteers who give up their time to help lead horses, support riders and keep sessions running. The whole thing is a win-win for both riders and volunteers. "The benefits are not just for the participants. It's uplifting to see the impact for their carers and the volunteers and the coaches," says Steve Gatt. "It's an amazing experience." That sense of shared purpose is what's driven the Petstock Foundation to support RDA for more than a decade. Since 2007, the Foundation has contributed to coaching workshops, centre programs and national initiatives that help RDA continue its work. This year, that partnership is further bolstered through Petstock Foundation's Christmas Project 'Support You Can Snuggle'. While you're picking up treats or toys for your pet this Christmas, donate $2 to the Petstock Foundation, either in store or online, and your contribution will help expand access to programs like RDA. These donations go directly towards supporting and expanding assistance animal services in communities across Australia and New Zealand — ensuring more people can access the life-changing support they need. Donate $2 to assistance animals this Christmas. Your support gifts theirs. Donate instore or online at petstock.com.au.
Five nights, one familiar and comforting voice, and a time-travelling trip back 66 million years: that's the setup behind new five-part series Prehistoric Planet. Dropping one episode per evening on Apple TV+ between Monday, May 23–Friday, May 27, it's a feels-like-you're-there dive into natural history that's thoroughly remarkable. Having none other than David Attenborough narrate the daily activities of dinosaurs really seems like it should've happened already, of course; however, now that it finally is occurring — and landing in your streaming queue, too — it's always both wonderful and stunning. The reason that a show like Prehistoric Planet hasn't existed before? Given the astonishing footage that usually accompanies Attenborough's nature docos, replicating those visuals while jumping backwards to a time when dinosaurs roamed the earth was always going to be a tricky feat. But if photorealistic versions of The Jungle Book and The Lion King can bring talking animals to life — one more convincingly than the other — then the same technology can make ancient creatures look as if they're roving across the globe now. Indeed, after helming that pair of features, filmmaker Jon Favreau is one of the Prehistoric Planet's executive producers. Also, the effects company behind the two Disney movies does the CGI honours here. That task isn't a simple one. If the Cretaceous-era dinosaurs rampaging across the screen didn't appear like they genuinely could be walking and stalking — and fighting, foraging for food, hunting, flying, swimming and running as well — the magic that typically comes with watching an Attenborough-narrated doco would instantly and disappointingly vanish. Thankfully, Prehistoric Planet never looks anything less than spectacular. You won't quite forget that the creatures it surveys no longer exist, but you won't feel as if you're simply watching pixels crash into pixels (or like you're sitting down to a new entry in the Jurassic Park franchise, either). Prehistoric Planet starts each episode with the same introduction, including the only glimpse of humanity that ever graces its frames. In its opening two-minute clip, David Attenborough stands in front of a Tyrannosaurus rex fossil. Unsurprisingly, the now 96-year-old couldn't seem more excited. He doesn't ever utter the words "welcome to...", as his brother Richard Attenborough did almost three decades back in the first Jurassic Park film. The world has heard that phrase far too many times since for it to pop up here and play like anything but a gimmick. But he's as overjoyed as his sibling was at the beginning of that now-classic feature. Luckily, things turn out better in this streaming series — there's no human casualties, obviously — than they have in cinemas. Welcome to... your new insight into Tyrannosaurus rex foreplay, your latest reminder that velociraptors really don't look like they do in the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World flicks, an entertaining time spent with al kinds of animals, and your next favourite dinosaur project with an Attenborough attached. Each of Prehistoric Planet's five instalments focuses on a different type of terrain — coasts, deserts, freshwater, ice and forests — and chats through the creatures that call it home. Set to a spirited original score by Hans Zimmer, fresh from winning his latest Oscar for Dune, there's a formula at work. That said, it's no more blatant than in any David Attenborough-hosted show. Viewers watch as some dinos look after their young, others try to find a mate, plenty search for something to eat and others attempt not to be eaten. The same kinds of activities are covered in each episode, but the locations and dinosaurs involved all change. The result: as engaging a series as Attenborough has ever fronted, and one that's frequently astonishing. And yes, given the broadcaster, biologist and natural historian's impressive on-screen resume — including past shows The Living Planet, State of the Planet, The Blue Planet, Frozen Planet, Blue Planet II, Our Planet, Seven Worlds, One Planet, A Perfect Planet and Green Planet, plus Planet Earth and Planet Earth II, and documentary David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet — that's saying something. Attenborough is as careful and educational in his observations as ever here. This far into his career, with credits spanning eight decades, he could've just nattered away on autopilot — but that's never his approach. He's as respectful of the critters he's talking about as he's ever been, too. And, he's clearly as keen to provide viewers with the type of details that wouldn't resonate with anywhere near as much power and importance if they were to simply read them themselves. Sometimes, Prehistoric Planet is amusing, with Attenborough's wry sense of humour shining through. At other times, it's ridiculously cute, as watching any kind of animal can be. It's thrilling and eye-opening as well — and, a plethora of times per episode, it makes it easy to see how behaviours we see today, both in people and in the animals we presently share the earth with, have their foundation in these ancient beasts. Of course, in that repeated introduction, Attenborough stresses that Prehistoric Planet hails from scientific learnings about dinosaurs. Accordingly, the series doesn't merely look naturalistic, but actively works to serve up a meticulous nature documentary about its creatures of choice in every single way it can. That's an aim it easily achieves; no dive into the lives of dinos has felt as gloriously immersive as this. Check out Prehistoric Planet's full trailer below: Prehistoric Planet streams via Apple TV+ across Monday, May 23–Friday, May 27, with a new episode available to watch each day.
It's no surprise the humble banana is a lunchbox staple. After all, they pack in essential vitamins while being ripe to eat on their own or paired with myriad ingredients. What's more, this much-loved fruit can even score you a free workout this Wednesday, October 8, in celebration of National Banana Day. Made possible by Australian Bananas — the national peak body advocating for the potassium-packed powerhouses — the Banana Gym Pass returns for a second year following its 2024 debut. Just show a banana to the team at over 900 participating gyms nationwide to receive a free guest pass for the day. Featuring more than double the gyms included in the first year, the campaign has been embraced with open arms by boutique studios and massive chains like Virgin Active, Fitness First and Anytime Fitness. That means it's likely a nearby gym is ready to peel open its doors so you can get in a session — just check for a participating location. "Bananas have always been one of my go-to snacks," says Australian Bananas ambassador Tim Robards. "They're natural, easy to grab and full of the energy you need for a great workout, to chase after the kids, or just keep on top of a busy day. National Banana Day is a great reminder that looking after your body and keeping it fuelled doesn't have to be complicated."
A familiar sight to backpackers galivanting across Europe, catching a bright-green FlixBus is one of the cheapest, most convenient and comfortable ways to get across the continent. Now, the long-distance coach company is preparing to launch in Australia, revealing its first two routes hitting the road on Thursday, November 20. Kicking operations off down under, passengers can soon commute from Melbourne–Sydney and Canberra–Sydney. And to encourage people to climb abroad, prices across the network start at just $9.99 until the end of November. While cheap, the FlixBus experience isn't as no-frills as you might imagine. Featuring free Wi-Fi, power outlets to keep charged, plenty of legroom and toilets, passing the time on the journey between capital cities can be surprisingly comfortable. "We're confident that Flix will resonate with Australians by setting a new benchmark for convenient, affordable and sustainable travel powered by technology," says Flix Founder and CEO, André Schwämmlein. For the Melbourne–Sydney route, stops take place in Albury, Canberra, Sydney International Airport, Sydney Domestic Airport and Sydney Central Station. Then, for those making the shorter journey from Canberra–Sydney, expect 12 daily departures hitting the same strategic stops on the way to the Harbour City. "As in every market we enter, we are committed to a long-term presence as a trusted and reliable partner in the travel sector, and we are taking the first steps by opening sales on Australia's busiest travel corridor," says Schwämmlein. Besides the cost benefits, FlixBus says hitching a ride on a coach from Melbourne to Sydney also reduces an individual's carbon footprint by approximately 90 percent. "These new routes embody our commitment to making sustainable travel affordable to everyone travelling in Australia," describes Senior Managing Director of FlixBus Australia, Yvan Lefranc-Morin. FlixBus routes from Melbourne–Sydney and Canberra–Sydney commence on Thursday, November 20. Head to the website for more information.
One of Sydney's most visually and sonically impressive venues, the City Recital Hall is always looking to complement its stunning acoustics with an equally exciting program. While its bread and butter are orchestral performances, the venue will often go on a streak of booking more contemporary performers, pushing the boundaries of the type of music you might expect to see in such a classy environment. That's exactly the case with the hall's new contemporary music series 02 | 23, which is not only pulling together a diverse group of musicians ranging from hip-hop legends to upcoming singer-songwriters but will also include the venue's first-ever standing gigs. Following the installation of removable seating in the hall, the inner-city music hub can now accommodate general-admission standing gigs for those that need to move their feet when they're catching live music. Director of Programming at City Recital Hall Stuart Rogers said: "Great music sounds better in a great venue, and as musicians create new ways of presenting new sounds, venues must improve and grow with the culture and technology they're built on. By increasing City Recital Hall's capabilities as a performing arts centre to allow for standing shows, we look to open the venue up to an infinite variety of expanding genres along with a whole new segment of Sydney's live music scene and cultural fabric. More music for the people. Come dance with us." The three shows that will claim the title of the prestigious venue's first standing shows come from three very different musical worlds. On Thursday, June 8 you can catch French disco pioneer Cerrone bringing the inaugural dance floor to the hall. The next night, Friday, June 9, one of the most influential hip-hop duos in the history of the genre, The Pharcyde will be taking to the stage with Masta Ace and Marco Polo in support. And, on Saturday, June 10, local legends Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever will be arriving with their signature indie rock tunes. [caption id="attachment_899537" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Pharcyde[/caption] They'll all be joining an eclectic cast of characters on the 02 | 23 program that will run throughout June. The lineup includes breathtaking Icelandic folk singer Ásgeir, breakout Nigerian pop musician Obongjayar, plus Cash Savage and the Last Drinks, Ichiko Aoba, Laura Jean, Yazmin Lacey and Amanda Brown. Alongside the removable seating, the City Recital Hall also recently installed a 360-degree spatial audio system, so you can expect these gigs to sound crisp and all-encompassing. It's the same sound system that Bjork used for her Cornucopia shows which she called "the most gorgeous sound I have ever heard in a room". If you're looking to grab a bite to eat after the show, you're also in luck, with the hall sitting directly next to one of the best restaurants in Sydney, Ragazzi. [caption id="attachment_782835" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] Head to the City Recital Hall website to check out the full program of June gigs — including the venue's first-ever general admission standing shows — and to purchase tickets to the shows. Top image: Keith Saunders
Sydney may be home to a stack of great burger joints already (see: Mary's, Burger Project, 8Bit, Bar Luca...) but there's always room to smoosh in one more. Especially if that place is Huxtaburger, the obscenely popular Melbourne-born burger chain created by hatted chef Daniel Wilson of Huxtable fame. The first Sydney outpost, and eighth overall, has popped up on Regent Street, just a 30-second mad-hungry-dash from Redfern station. The long, narrow shopfront has been given a gritty subway-inspired makeover, with a graffiti-covered wall, canary yellow signage and a tactile line to impatiently wait behind as they rustle up your lunch. But enough on the design, more about the burgers. Much like Sydney stalwart Mary's, Huxtaburger is all about recreating the classic American-style fast-food cheeseburger. There's no sky-high stacking, nor cheffy accoutrements, it's all about simple done well, coupled with a deep religious-like commitment to high-quality ingredients. The menu's signature item, the Huxtaburger ($10.90), is built around the beef, or more specifically, the Moondarra grass-fed wagyu patty, which is grilled to charred-edge perfection. It's topped with a melty quilt of cheddar cheese — not too plasticky mind you — while refreshment comes in the form of crisp iceberg lettuce, vine-ripened tomatoes and vinegar-washed dill pickles as crunchy as a Granny Smith apple. The bread is soft but not quite as squishy or sweet as brioche, with enough sturdiness to hold the whole operation together. Let's not mince words shall we, it's a darn good burger, great even, and we welcome it to Sydney with open arms, hearts and mouths. Alongside the Huxta, there are another 19 burgers to choose from; however, most are just variations of the theme. With some of the burgers named after characters from The Cosby Show (with the chain's name originally inspired by the show's Huxtable family — although there's no longer a Bill burger) Denise ($12.90) has jalapeños, Ficko ($12.90) gets a rash of bacon and Jane ($8.90) comes plain. The menu also includes three vegetarian burgers, made from kale, bean and quinoa patties, and two chicken burgers with intensely juicy fillets As for sides, there are proper chips ($4.50), crunchy onion rings ($6.50), and textured hash bites ($4.50), with the addition of sauces (say yes to cheesy mayo) and flavoured salts (but no to the dill salt). While the artistically printed packaging is pretty enough to hang on the wall, we suggest dining in to take full advantage of the joint's craft beer selection, which each trade for a mere fiver during happy hour (4pm–7pm). Alongside the amber bottles of Furphy ($8.50), Panhead ($9) and White Rabbit ($9), there are also refillable soft drinks and three-scoop milkshakes ($7.50) made using homemade chocolate, vanilla and caramel toppings. With Huxtaburger planning to launch another 20 new stores across Australian and Asia over the next four years, we certainly wouldn't complain if they flipped a few more our way. Images: Hugh Davies
Taking the first bite of a burger from Clovelly Eatery, Out Of The Blue is akin to that first dive into the water on a scorching hot summer's day. It is the ever satisfying scratch to a persistent itch. It's not so much a burger as a work of art. An unassuming fish and chip shop nestled on Clovelly Road in Sydney's eastern suburbs, Out of the Blue is a family-run business. What distinguishes this shopfront from any other fish and chip joint is the sheer number of people lining up to get in on that sweet, sweet burger lovin' on a hot day. Or cold day. Or any day ever. The burger variety is all about the classics — the standard hamburger ($6), chicken shnitty ($6.5), merguez ($7), scotch fillet ($7), fish ($6), bacon and egg ($6.50). Vegetarians, you are not limited to that one token veggie option. Here you have two — each damn good in its own special, meatless way. With the tofu option ($6.50), there is not a squishy lump of tofu in sight, but rather a firm and crispy square of deliciousness, coated with a sweet, soy-like tang. The veggie burger ($6) is a messy mash of pure joy for the weary vegetarian. But let's get to the real star of the show here — the chilli mayo. Made in-store, this creamy concoction is thick in texture, with just the right amount of chilli kick. To their credit (and the joy of the consumer), the stuff is never applied too sparsely. Burgers are filled with a sliver of beetroot, shavings of carrot and lettuce, a sprinkling of cheese and a slice of tomato, all held together by a toasted sesame seed bun. Fifteen minutes later, as sauce drips off of your fingers, you realise that this is a burger that has sent you on a roller-coaster of emotions: excitement (as you try to contain yourself from eating it too quickly), regret (for not bringing enough serviettes. Every time!), euphoria (as the perfect mix of flavours dance on your tastebuds), despair (when you've finished the burger) and curiosity (is it inappropriate to buy a second?). Be prepared to wait, and then to leave. This is no fast food chain — each burger is freshly made in front of you — and though there's seating in the shop, it's just the one table, which is often filled up quickly. Fortunately, the eye-pleasing scenery of Clovelly and Coogee beaches is just a short stroll away. If you can't wait that long, make like a local and wolf lunch down on the sidewalk. Being a fish and chip shop and all, they do sell fish and chips, but it's the burgers that will keep you coming back. Reasonably priced, every burger ranges between $5–8, and with a half serving of chips, it will come to under $10 for a very satisfying meal.
Gracie's Wine Room is one of Melbourne's latest hospitality success stories. In an industry full of shuttered venues, price hikes, and quiet nights, at Gracie's Wine Room in South Yarra you can find bottles being popped, a bustling golden hour courtyard, and bread always being broken with friends. For owner Kelsie Gaffey, whose TikTok videos showing her process of opening a venue from scratch amassed hundreds of thousands of views, the current climate of people spending less and staying in more was one her concerned family warned her of. [caption id="attachment_1036436" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Gracie's Wine Room[/caption] "Before opening Gracie's, our more conservative relatives warned us that people are spending less. [Gracie's] hasn't experienced this." According to Kelsie, Gracie's Wine Room's main demographic of 23–33 year old women are actually spending more on nights out with their girlfriends than anyone else. New data from Visa backs Kelsie's observation up. Melbourne is Australia's Number One Night-Time Hot Spot The Visa Australia Night-time Economy Index 2025 is a new in-depth analysis that measures data such as spending, vibrancy, and venues open in cities across the country. According to the index, Melbourne has been crowned the number one night-time hot spot. This doesn't come as a surprise to Kelsie. "Melburnians really know how to have a good time," Kelsie tells Concrete Playground. "The city has such a vibrant culture around wine, food, and spending quality time with mates, and we're genuinely spoilt for choice. There's always something happening, and that energy makes working in hospitality here incredibly dynamic and inspiring." [caption id="attachment_1028074" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Gracie's Wine Room[/caption] The Visa Vibe Economy report, also commissioned by Visa and conducted by McCrindle, found that venues like Gracie's Wine Room have hit the sweet spot when it comes to the reasons Australians love to go out. The main motivation for getting off our couches post-work is to enjoy a meal, catch up with friends and unwind from our busy schedules. Gen Z in particular are factoring night-time activities into their budgets with over half of them considering this type of social spending "essential". In fact, Kelsie has already seen an increase in patrons on weeknights as the weather has begun to warm up as well as a jump in their average spend per head. Kelsie recognised this cultural sweet spot within her demographic and created a curated menu of share plates for friends to split over a bottle of wine. Customers can enjoy freshly shucked oysters, focaccia, and a snack plate of cured meats, cheese, and lavosh. [caption id="attachment_1036434" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Gracie's Wine Room[/caption] "I wanted Gracie's to be known as a place where you connect with mates, drink some good wine and eat some good bread. I didn't want the frills and price tags that come with fine dining, and I really do believe that staying true to this is what has kept people coming back," says Kelsie. With 73 percent of Gen Z's going out once or more a week, tapping into her own peers has helped to increase revenue and patrons through the door — even on weeknights. How to Spend A Night Out in Melbourne What does a dream night out in Melbourne look like for the 25-year-old founder? Kelsie shares that it always starts with a sunny afternoon. "I'm definitely starting at Gracie's and then making my way down to Republic Economica before ending the night at HER Rooftop in the CBD." Data from the Visa Vibe Economy Report found that of all the generations, Gen Z is the most adventurous, choosing to stray away from their local haunts and try new things, and just under half plan two activities in the one night to make the most of their city after dark. Half of Gen Z also believe that nights offer more new experiences than the daytime. Kelsie agrees. "I love being able to experience something new every single time I leave the house for a night out. It's so exciting, and has unlocked some of my greatest memories with friends." Gracie's Wine Room hasn't yet operated for a full calendar year, but Kelsie is feeling optimistic about the state of hospitality and business projection. At the heart of her success lies the Gen Z community that she built through TikTok. "I never imagined it would grow into what it is today, but the community that's formed around Gracie's has been the most rewarding and unexpected part of it all." Discover the vibe near you. Lead image: Gracie's Wine Room
We've all seen skincare products targeted towards men that position themselves as hyper-masculine. Instead of sticking to the stereotypically simple idea of masculinity, a new Melbourne company is trying to do things a little differently. Stuff is a personal care brand that's promising to make you smell and look good, all while promoting healthy masculinity. The company offers a lineup of products covering everything you need to stock up your bathroom from deodorant (appropriately labelled Spicy Pits) to face wash. Each product is available separately or you can stock up in one easy sweep by buying the $30 Face and Body Bundle, the $36 Face and Pit Kit, the $45 Starter Kit or the $65 Squad Kit. While Stuff is proud of its products, it's equally focused on pushing away from toxic masculinity and championing healthier modern blokes. "The only ads for men we could recall featured guys spraying themselves with excessive amounts of chemical-ridden deodorant, causing flocks of gorgeous women to chase after them," Stuff Founder and CEO Hunter Johnson said. "Consumer brands shape culture, and there is a huge opportunity for Stuff to help tackle the escalating crisis around masculinity." "It's a confusing time to be a man and we want STUFF to support men as they navigate a new era of masculinity," Johnson said. Whether you're currently in your third week or first day of lockdown, or you're out exploring the world, it's a good time to treat yourself to some self-care items. Stuff also offers free shipping on orders over $35 and ships Australia-wide. You can browse the range at the Stuff website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Feel like an island is calling your name? There's a good chance it's Cockatoo Island, now that Mode Festival has dropped its latest euphoric lineup. While you'll be leaving behind the mainland to get involved, don't think you'll be jet-setting to distant lands. Instead, it's a short ferry ride to this industrial haven amid Sydney Harbour, where a springtime playground will host some of the world's top producers and DJs on Saturday, October 11. Tucked away from prying eyes, it's the ideal spot to get caught up in primal grooves. It's a stacked lineup in 2025, with celebrated names like Four Tet and X Club filling earholes with future-facing tunes. Gripping the dance floor like few others can, expect these local and international legends to deliver sonic bliss crafted from the deepest of cuts and crowd-pleasing bangers. Also on the agenda, Floating Points pairs his meticulously composed house and IDM tunes with a special audiovisual show, while IN2STELLAR, KiNK, Skee Mask and Rødhåd serve up ground-shaking electronic performances that exist on the cutting edge of creativity and innovation. General release tickets are on sale from Thursday, June 26 at 6pm. Images: Jordan Munns.
On a future visit to Hoyts cinema in Australia, you might be catching your movie of choice not just on the big screen, but in IMAX. The two companies — Hoyts and IMAX — announced a partnership in July with the goal of launching up to five state-of-the-art IMAX with Laser systems around the country. First stop was Hoyts Melbourne Central, now we know the next four locations to follow. Before 2025 comes to an end, timed before Avatar: Fire and Ash arrives, Hoyts Chadstone will add IMAX to its offering in mid-November, before Hoyts Carousel in Perth, Hoyts Melbourne Central and Hoyts Blacktown in western Sydney open in mid-December — hopefully before the third Avatar film releases on Thursday, December 18, 2025. This isn't the first time that Hoyts and IMAX have joined forces, but they haven't worked together on an IMAX site since 2019. There could still be more additions to come, since the chain operates in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, too. So, if you live in those states, start crossing your fingers. Wherever else Hoyts rolls out its new IMAX with Laser systems, viewers will enjoy 4K images displayed via an optical engine with custom-designed lenses — and showing the widest range of colours in IMAX yet — plus precision audio. "Hoyts is delighted to partner with IMAX to introduce four new screens across Australia, giving movie lovers even more ways to enjoy blockbusters on the big screen," said Hoyts Group CEO and President Damien Keogh. "The release of Avatar: Fire and Ash in December — and a tremendous 2026 slate behind it — represent a golden opportunity for IMAX and its exhibition partners around the world," added IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma1x7ikpid8[/embed] Fittingly, Australia is currently embracing IMAX in a big way. From just four locations earlier in 2025 — in Carlton in Melbourne, in Sydney, and also on the Gold Coast and in Canberra since late 2024 — the country is the tenth market box-office wise for the format around the globe. Expanding the country's super-sized cinema options, this is the third round of new IMAX locations announced in the last year. Another new Melbourne venue has been confirmed as well, launching at Village Cinemas Fountain Gate the end of 2025. Plus, EVT, the hospitality company behind Event Cinemas, has a quartet of IMAX screens on the way at venues yet to be revealed. Three will welcome in movie lovers in 2026, with the fourth arriving before 2027 is out. Hoyts' new IMAX locations are set to start rolling out in November and December of 2025. Keep an eye on the Hoyts website for more details in the interim.
Any Penrith local you come across can tell you everything you could conceivably want to know about The Log Cabin. The historic pub has stood on the shores of the Nepean River since 1826, hosting passing travellers looking for a cup of tea or a stiff drink (travellers like Charles Darwin, if the stories are to be believed) until an electrical fire saw it come down in 2012. In 2022, the beloved pub was rebuilt and reborn, and it brought a brand new offering to travellers and diners alike: the upper-level dining room, Sinclair's. Named after Ross Sinclair, the custodian of The Log Cabin from 1983 to 2021, over a year later the space remains one of the best-kept secrets in Penrith. But we're not about to gatekeep. The atmosphere is one of relaxed luxury, with a vaulted interior dining room shaped by wood-cladding walls, a central fireplace in walnut hues, brushed brass fixtures and fittings, and soft, neutral plush furnishings. The walls are adorned with artwork by Bermudan artist Meg Walters depicting the landscapes of the Nepean River and surrounding mountains — landscapes that can be taken in by diners on the adjacent panoramic river deck. That love for the Nepean and surrounding region extends off the walls and into the kitchen. Head Chef Scott Mills and Laundy Hotels Group Executive Chef Jamie Gannon have built the menu on a simple ethos: source local. A vast majority of the produce used in the kitchen is sourced from suppliers within a 50-kilometre radius of the restaurant. Examples of that ethos include zucchini flowers sourced from fourth-generation farmers in the Hawkesbury and paired with buffalo mozzarella, garlic chives and local honey; or the cow's milk stracciatella (sourced from Marrickville's Vannella Cheese) with heirloom tomatoes from Golden Fields Growers in Wallacia and 'zero-waste pesto' made in-house out of surplus herbs and greens. The summer menu also includes signature Hawkesbury steak tartare with hen yolk, pecorino and crisps; line-caught snapper with Schofield Orchard citrus, capers and almond; hefty cuts of wagyu, scotch fillet and tomahawk cooked over hot coals and ironbark; signature beef fat-cooked potatoes and more. On the drinks front, an impressive wine list is backed by a series of signature cocktails, each (you guessed it) doing a part to champion local suppliers. Said signatures include a riverside strawberry sour (gin, strawberry, local citrus, and sugar) and Sinclair's margarita (Blanco tequila, agave, local citrus, activated charcoal). If you aren't already a convert of this terrific restaurant, go experience it and you'll more than likely become one yourself. Sinclair's is open for lunch every Friday to Sunday from 12–3pm and open for dinner every Wednesday to Saturday from 5–10.30pm. Visit the website for booking details.
When a film or TV show is crafted with a deep-seated love for its chosen genre, it shows. When it wants to do more than just nod and wink at greats gone by like a big on-screen super fan — when its creators passionately hope that it might become a classic in its own right, rather than a mere imitation of better titles — that comes through, too. That's the case with Starstruck. Across the new sitcom's six-episode first season, it takes Notting Hill's premise, gives it a 22-years-later update and delivers a smart, sidesplittingly funny and all-round charming rom-com. It also features series creator and star Rose Matafeo enjoying a morning-after stride of pride to the sounds of 90s hit 'Return of the Mack', which is instantly as delightful as it sounds. When she last graced our screens, Matafeo took on pregnancy-centric rom-coms in 2020's similarly winsome Baby Done. There, she helped slice through the typical on-screen rhetoric that usually surrounds motherhood, playing a professional arborist who is so far from thrilled when she finds out she's expecting that she keeps living her tree-climbing life in complete denial. The New Zealand comedian wasn't just plucky and relatable in the film; she ensured that her character was always the sum of both clear strengths and overt struggles. The jump from that engaging and thoughtful performance to Starstruck's Jessie is an easy one, but that doesn't mean that the vibrant Matafeo is merely doing the same thing twice. A 28-year-old New Zealander in London who splits her time between working in a cinema and nannying, Jessie isn't expecting much when her best friend and roommate Kate (Emma Sidi, Pls Like) drags her out to a bar on New Year's Eve. And, for most of the evening, her lack of enthusiasm proves astute. Then she meets Tom (Nikesh Patel, Four Weddings and a Funeral). He overhears her rambling drunkenly to herself in the men's bathroom, they chat at the bar and, when sparks fly, she ends up back at his sprawling flat. It isn't until the next morning, however — when she sees a poster adorned with his face leaning against his living room wall — that she realises that he's actually one of the biggest movie stars in the world. Jessie is never just a girl standing in front of a boy asking him to love her. While she likes Tom, she's also initially content that they've had their night together and now their lives will follow separate paths — "he can't take it back!" she tells Kate. But Jessie unexpectedly keeps bumping into Tom, and their attraction keeps bubbling. He's still ridiculously famous, she still isn't, and that places more than a few obstacles in their way. When she leaves after their first night together, the paparazzi mistake her for a cleaner. When he meets her friends, they all take the show's title as literally as anyone can. As the duo navigate all the baggage that comes with his job and her unwillingness to swoon over said job, Starstruck pairs the fairytale of hooking up with a celebrity with the all-too-relatable awkwardness that can come after spending a night with anyone — and it finds the perfect balance. With impeccable timing a given thanks to her stand-up background, Matafeo is a force of nature as Jessie; as in Baby Done, the comedian plays a strong, confident twentysomething who doesn't always know what she wants, and doesn't always make the best decisions, but owns her choices, emotions and mistakes because they're hers. Patel, jumping into Hugh Grant's back catalogue again after his aforementioned role in the recent Four Weddings and a Funeral TV remake, is just as engaging as Tom — who he plays with charm but never arrogance, and also with a healthy scepticism about the trappings of being a well-known actor. Also stellar: the constantly hilarious script by Matafeo and fellow comedian Alice Snedden, the light and buoyant direction by Obvious Child screenwriter and Yes, God, Yes writer/director Karen Maine, and the love of both cinema in general and rom-coms specifically that's baked into every frame. Indeed, it's no wonder that HBO Max, which funded and aired the series in the US, renewed the series for a second season on the day that it debuted in America. Whenever that new batch of episodes lands, they'll also feature Minnie Driver (with the About a Boy star first popping up in season one as Tom's agent) and Russell Tovey (Years and Years). For now, though, ABC iView in Australia also knows that viewers will want more Starstruck instantly, with the entire first season available to stream in one go. Check out the trailer for Starstruck below: Starstruck's first six-episode season is now available to stream via ABC iView. Images: Mark Johnson/HBO Max.
To be a part of Amadou & Mariam's Eclipse, you have to leave the sense upon which you probably feel most dependent — your sight — at the door of the Town Hall. For the entire show, the room will be immersed in pitch-black darkness. Performers Amadou and Mariam are a husband and wife duo from Mali who met in the 1970s at the Bamako Institute for the Young Blind. Through the course of their live show, they tell their life stories, beginning with when they first started making music together, combining African rhythms with blues and pop. Scents are also funnelled in to help evoke the environment of their homeland. After gaining star status in both West Africa and France, they became better known in the US and the UK following their 2005 release, Dimanche a Bamako. Since then, they've played some of the world's most famous festivals, including Coachella and Glastonbury; toured with the likes of Blur frontman Damon Albarn, Coldplay and the Scissor Sisters; and been nominated for a Grammy Award. Catch Amadou and Mariam at one of three immersive experiences at the Town Hall at part of the Sydney Festival — on January 9, 10 and 11. https://youtube.com/watch?v=-OBZY46-hb8
A huge 1908 entries were submitted for the the 2022 Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes. From that hefty number, 52 works were shortlisted for the Archibald, 34 for the Wynne and 29 for the Sulman. But only one artwork in each category can be named the winner of these three prestigious Australian art awards each year — and the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the prizes' hosts, has just unveiled the 2022 recipients today, Friday, May 13. All three decisions were unanimous, and they provide an impressive snapshot of the Aussie art scene right now. Taking the big gong, the Archibald Prize — which is Australia's most prestigious portrait award, has now reached its 101st year and hands out $100,000 to its annual winner — is Blak Douglas' Moby Dickens. The painting depicts Wiradjuri artist Karla Dickens, who lives on Bundjalung Country in Lismore, and is designed as a metaphor for northern NSW town's floods earlier in 2022. And yes, the title references Moby Dick. Douglas — a Sydney-based artist with Dhungatti heritage, who was born Adam Hill — made history, too, as the first New South Wales First Nations artist to win with a painting of a New South Wales First Nations artist. "I'm elated," he said, accepting the award. "It's a major historic win." Douglas has been an Archibald Prize finalist in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, all with portraits of Aboriginal sitters. "I'm making up for lost ground in the failure to memorialise First Nations people," he said, accepting the 2022 award. 'In the past I've considered each entry to the Archibald Prize a memorial to that individual and that's why I only paint First Nations people." Measuring three metres by two metres, Moby Dickens stands out in another way, too: it's the largest Archibald painting in this year's exhibition. [caption id="attachment_853908" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Winner Archibald Prize 2022, Blak Douglas. Moby Dickens, synthetic polymer paint on linen, 300 x 200 cm © the artist, image © AGNSW, Mim Stirling. Sitter: Karla Dickens.[/caption] Also picking up some love from the Archibald's judges: Jude Rae, who was highly commended for The big switch, a portrait of scientist, engineer and inventor Dr Saul Griffith. For the Sir John Sulman Prize, 491 works were submitted, with Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro winning for Raiko and Shuten-dōji. The first collaborative duo to do so to win the award — which is presented to the best mural, subject or genre painting — they nabbed the prize for their rendering of the battle between the warrior and the demon that gives the colourful piece its title. [caption id="attachment_853910" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Winner Sulman Prize 2022, Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro. Raiko and Shuten-dōji, acrylic gouache, jute and tape on helicopter shell, 159.5 x 120 cm © the artist, image © AGNSW, Mim Stirling.[/caption] With the Wynne Prize — which recognises the best landscape painting of Australian scenery, or figure sculpture — Nicholas Harding emerged victorious from 601 entries with painting Eora. The artist has a long history with the awards, being shortlisted for the Wynne nine times, and also for the Archibald 19 times, including winning the latter in 2001. Two artists were highly commended among the Wynne Prize finalists, too: Lucy Culliton for painting Mooresprings, a good season, and Juz Kitson for sculpture An unwavering truth. She walks in beauty, of the night and all that's best of dark and bright. In memory of the wildfires. And, the Roberts Family Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Prize — an annual prize of $10,000 awarded to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artist who is a finalist in the Wynne Prize — went to Sally Scales for Wati Tjakura. [caption id="attachment_853909" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Winner Wynne Prize 2022, Nicholas Harding. Eora, oil on linen, 196.5 x 374.8 cm © the artist, image © AGNSW, Mim Stirling.[/caption] Also a winner, but announced last week, on Thursday, May 5: Sydney-based artist Claus Stangl, who picked up this year's Packing Room Prize. He won for a portrait of the one and only Taika Waititi, because there really is nothing that the Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Thor: Ragnarok filmmaker can't do. The winning portraits and finalists will now be on display at Sydney's Art Gallery of NSW from Saturday, May 14, up until Sunday, August 28. If you don't agree with the judges, you can cast your own vote for People's Choice, which will be announced on Wednesday, July 27. ARCHIBALD PRIZE 2022 DATES Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, NSW — May 14–August 28, 2022 Bunjil Place, Melbourne, Victoria — September 2–October 16, 2022 Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, NSW — October 22—December 4, 2022 Grafton Regional Gallery, NSW — 17 December, 2022–29 January, 2023 Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, NSW — 10 February–26 March, 2023 Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie, NSW — 8 April–21 May, 2023 Western Plains Cultural Centre, NSW — 3 June–30 July, 2023 If you can't make it to any of the above dates, you can check out the award winners and finalists of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes on the Art Gallery of NSW website. Top image: Excerpt of winner Archibald Prize 2022, Blak Douglas. Moby Dickens, synthetic polymer paint on linen, 300 x 200 cm © the artist, image © AGNSW, Mim Stirling. Sitter: Karla Dickens.
Given how difficult it is for independent shops to survive, Dot's Flower Shoppe has been an impressive exception. Locals have been coming here for 30 years — whether looking for the perfect bouquet to cheer up a mate or with plans to organise a Pinterest-worthy party. The bouquets, all created by Dot's devoted team range from brilliant bunches of classic red roses to designer arrangements of Australian natives. And, if you have something in mind that you can't find in the store, all you have to do is ask. You'll find Dot's on busy Church Street, along Parramatta's busiest strip.
When it opened 88 years ago at Milsons Point, Luna Park Sydney wasn't the world's first Luna Park, or even Australia's. But Harbour City residents and tourists alike have enjoyed its presence around multiple closures, reopenings and revamps ever since. Come December, the amusement park will unveil its latest reason to stop by and enjoy its attractions: Dream Circus, an immersive experience that's revamping the site's big top. If you've ever wanted to feel like you've walked into a movie, this is the Luna Park Sydney feature for you. Dream Circus will be filled with 360-degree projections, holograms, motion-activated LED screens, surround sound and lighting to immerse you in a Hollywood-style experience. It'll become Sydney's first permanent immersive-experience attraction, the venue advises — and a world-first type of attraction as well. Attendees can expect to enter a narrative journey, where characters and a spectacle that engages the senses will combine. The experience will take over the 3000-square-metre big top, with its sights filling a surface area of over 3500 square metres — and with Artists in Motion, TDC and Auditoria, who have ABBA Voyage, King Kong on Broadway, works at Vivid and Walking with Dinosaurs to their names, behind it. Luna Park Sydney expects people to flock to see the results when Dream Circus opens on Friday, December 22, just in time for the Christmas holidays, anticipating that 50,000 people will check it out over summer. The new attraction will help the site embrace the future, while still loving its status as an art-deco amusement park that dates back almost a century. "We are proud to build for Sydney one of the most technically advanced environments in the country. The result will be a venue without equal — capable of featuring the best immersive experiences, never-before-seen immersive live music and special events" said Luna Park Sydney CEO John Hughes. "As a world-class amusement park, we need to be more than rides, and expanding our depth of offering through world-class immersive experiences will mean that Sydneysiders won't have to travel the globe to experience these incredible environments. We want to be a reliable, magical, and affordable destination for all generations of Sydneysiders and visitors to our city". Dream Circus launches at Luna Park Sydney, 1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point, on Friday, December 22 — visit the park's website for more information and tickets.
Many of us who grew up in Sydney were lucky enough to spend our summers down on the south coast. We'd head down for a camping holiday or weekend escape and no trip was complete without a stop in at Pilgrims for its super-tasty burgers and nourishing dishes. Now, Sydneysiders don't have to travel quite as far to get their fix, because the beloved coastal cafe has just opened in Bronte. First set up in Milton in 1980, Pilgrims is now a five-branch mini-chain. There's of course the OG cafe and the most recent Bronte one, plus a Pilgrims in Huskisson, Corrimal and Cronulla. The opening of the second Sydney location marks Pilgrims' 40th birthday. The reason Pilgrims does so well is that it takes simple vegetarian staples and makes them tastier than you thought possible, then hands them to you in generous serves. For breakfast, you can choose from from acai bowls, avo on Iggy's sourdough toast, haloumi stacks and smoothies. Then, for lunch, its famed veggie burgers — think chilli jam and haloumi, curried lentil patties and mixed grain patties — are a must. On Fridays and Saturdays from 5–9pm, you'll find the menu changes a little, with a Mexican feast on offer. Burritos, tacos, nachos and bowls all come stuffed and topped with the likes of beans, spiced potato, cheese and generous dollops of guac. Cocktails, wine and beers are on offer, too. Whether you pick up your food or dine in, you'll be able to catch a glimpse of the bright, airy interior, designed by local architect firm Lane & Grove. Featuring white-washed walls, wicker chairs, light timber benches and lots of greenery, the space echoes the coastal Sydney location, as well as pays homage to the south coast.
Doing your bit for the environment has never looked quite so good as it does with Frank Green's colourful range of reusable cups. The durable containers are not only helping to quash Australia's single-use coffee cup waste problem, they're also super stylish and beautifully designed. And you've got the perfect excuse to add a couple to your collection (or someone else's) with Frank Green's storewide 20 percent off sale this weekend. From Friday, November 27 until Monday, November 30 you'll be able to treat yourself, a friend or your family to a stylish and sustainable cup on the cheap. Frank Green's entire catalogue — apart from sale items and gift cards — is on sale and there's something for everyone. You'll find the core reusable cup and bottle range featuring the brand's recognisable pastel colour palette and in-built tap-to-pay feature, as well as the Sustainable Sips range of tea, coffee and the new ceramic french press. If you're looking for holiday presents for the kids or your nieces and nephews, Frank Green also has a range of Disney and Minions cups and bottles. The pastel yellow Winnie the Pooh cup is so adorable you might end up getting it for yourself. Plus, $1 from every order will be donated to Reforest Now, an organisation that grows and plants trees in subtropical Australia. You'll be saving the planet in more ways than one. [caption id="attachment_792088" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
With your next dessert, you could help send a message to the Australian government about climate change. That's the aim behind Ben & Jerry's new limited-edition 'Unfudge our Future' flavour. Made with almond milk, the chocolate and peanut butter non-dairy ice cream features chunks of fudge brownies and peanut butter cookie dough and, as well as tempting your tastebuds, it's designed to raise awareness about the country's use of fossil fuels. The latest addition to the brand's range is specifically part of a campaign targeted at Aussie leaders, complete with personalised tubs created for Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor. Ben & Jerry's has joined forces with 350.org Australia and the Climate Council, with all three are calling for the Australian Government to invest in sustainable and renewable energy in this year's budget, and to adopt a science-based approach to climate change in general. Accordingly, the flavour links in with a new section on Ben & Jerry's website that allows you to send a message to the Prime Minister, Treasurer and Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction. And, for every punnet sold, Ben & Jerry's will also be donating part of the proceeds to 350.org Australia. It is hosting a virtual ice cream and climate change event on Thursday, August 20, too; however, because it includes free ice cream, registrations have already reached capacity at the time of writing — unsurprisingly. Fans of both non-dairy ice cream and fighting against climate change can pick up the new 'Unfudge our Future' flavour at Ben & Jerry's stores, as well as grocery and convenience stores around the country — and, via delivery services. For more information about Ben & Jerry's new limited-edition 'Unfudge our Future' flavour, and its campaign against fossil fuels, visit the brand's website.
There are heaps of Thai restaurants across Sydney, but Macquarie Park's Khao Pla is in a league of its own. The restaurant serves up modern dishes that span culinary regions from all over Thailand. Chef Pla Rojratanavichai uses only the freshest produce, much of which is sourced locally. The kitchen regularly turns out a menu of inventive specials, including king fish sashimi with tom kha dressing and deep fried whole fish with green mango salad. Some of the fan-favourites include twice-cooked pork ribs tossed in tamarind sauce and topped with a generous amount of spring onion as well as the raw beef larb with roasted chillies and ground rice. We also can't overlook the spicy and rich tom yum goong with prawn and lemongrass and the wok-fried crispy pork belly with curry paste and kaffir lime leaf. These are must-orders. The classic stir fries also make the cut, as do pad thai, pad see ew and staples like duck red curry, braised beef massaman and chicken green curry. Basically, come with a bunch of mates and order one of everything. Like any good restaurant, the desserts are especially exciting, with the black sticky rice with Jasmine tapioca, jack fruits, Thai milk tea ice cream and sugarcane sauce a highlight. The Roselle is also damn good — a lime curd and coconut meringue with lychee and roselle syrup. You've also got the roti banana served with Nutella and smoked coconut sorbet for those wanting something special. Enjoy your family-style dinner in bustling surrounds with exposed brick walls, hanging greenery and old black-and-white photos as wallpaper. It's a popular spot, so be sure to book ahead — or check out Khao Pla's second location in Chatswood.
For a long time, Marrickville has been yearning for a good bar. In fact, even just a bar. In all other food and drink respects, the suburb excels, with hip cafes, cheap Vietnamese pork rolls and swanky restaurants. Now, come to join the mix, is LazyBones Lounge and, luckily, it's not just any old bar, it's a great one. The locals think so as well. LazyBones only opened three months ago and business has been booming ever since. The bar is open seven nights a week, with live jazz music starting around the 7pm mark most evenings. Don't worry about forking too much out for the night; most of the gigs will only set you back $10, and many are even free. Owner Craig Pietersen has brought his expertise from Melbourne, where he owned a number of hip bars in Fitzroy. LazyBones is "all about music", he says, so it's no surprise that the bar's name was inspired by a Fats Waller song. There are no TVs or gambling in the bar; the Lounge is a place for people to relax a good drink while some funky tunes pump through the sound system. You'll be rapt to find - or discover - the Young Henry's Real Ale ($7) on tap, alongside a delicious Indian Pale Ale from Parramatta ($7) and a cider which is on permanent rotation. The Funny Label sauvignon blanc ($8) is the standout of the wine list, which brings together a solid selection of Australian and international wines. There's not a hugely substantial food menu on hand, but it does include some good staples to munch on. It's a somewhat surreal experience to sit in a lavish, gilded armchair while chomping on a hot dog ($10). One can choose from such aptly-named variations as the 'James Morrison' (beef sausage), 'Louis Armstrong' (pork sausage) or the 'B.B. King' (vegetarian sausage). The highlight of the menu is the Bunny Chow ($10), a traditional street food dish from Craig's homeland, South Africa. Served in a paper bowl, aside thin and crispy fries, is a small, hollowed-out roll filled with your choice of tasty spicy lamb or potato curry. Don't fret about finding a babysitter, as LazyBones opens its arms to young'uns, from newly born to those just under the drinking limit (although they won't get away with being served any alcohol, of course!). "We love kids," says Craig, who has three of his own. So, as we see it, there's no excuse not to pop into LazyBones for a drink sometime soon.
If there's one thing the crew at this play-on-words beachside cafe is famous for, it's grilling some serious burgers (and being snapped on Instagram the city over). There are at least 16 different versions to choose from at Bare Grill, covering everything from the classics to chicken, vegetarian and fish — so whatever your preference, you've always got at least a few options. And if you think delicious cheesy towers like these don't come cheap, then you'd be mistaken, because The Original — with a beef patty, American cheddar, gherkins, caramelised onions, American mustard and ketchup served on their famous Bare Grill-branded bun — will only set you back $10. If you're feeling particularly famished you might want to tackle The Grizzly Bare: four beef patties, American cheddar, bacon, Bare sauce and a side of fries for $25. But the fun doesn't stop there. If your goal in life is to claim victory in a man versus food comp, then the 'Death by Burger' challenge ($45) has your name on it. All you have to do is swallow ten beef patties, ten slices of American cheddar, ten pieces of bacon, Bare sauce, two buns and a large chips in half an hour. If you do it, you'll become the third person in Bare Grill's history to complete it, and you'll score yourself a T-shirt and a free meal. Glory is a bonus. However, we can't give all the glory to the burgers alone, because their fries ($4 small) are damn good too. Perfectly golden chunks of potato smothered in a seasoning so good you can't stop eating — that is, until you see a basket of their 'epic' fries ($15) come out of the kitchen. That's when food envy sets in. Waffle fries are smothered in pulled pork, cheese, spiced aioli, Carolina sticky BBQ sauce, bacon and shallots. It's basically a meal in itself, so we'd recommend ordering smaller items to go with it, or nothing at all. And then there are the signature and extremely indulgent Gaytime and Malteser Bare shakes, which have to be seen (on Instagram) to be believed. Jam-packed with confectionery, syrups and ice cream; these guys certainly know how to shake things up. But don't be fooled into thinking this is just another fast food joint. There's also ribs ($30 for half a rack), seafood and salads on the menu for those not necessarily feeling burgers. And with the picturesque Bare Island fort as the backdrop, it's no coincidence this local gem is bright and relaxed with openair bar seating and shades of yellow and turquoise. Even little touches like newspaper-printed burger wrappers make for an old-school Aussie seaside experience. And even if you haven't been to Bare Grill yet, but don't want to bus it to La Perouse, then you're in luck, because their second cafe in Surry Hills is proving to be just as popular. Images: Katje Ford.
Salt Meats Cheese has expanded again. This time, it's headed down south — to the Sutherland Shire. The restaurant chain's fifth New South Wales establishment is a 87-seater located within the art deco and heritage-listed Commonwealth Bank building on Ocean Grove. It boasts big open windows, exposed brick walls and its signature woodfired pizza oven. The pizzas are, of course, the hero here, and include house favourites like the Amatriciana — topped with smoked scamorza, amatriciana sauce, pancetta and pecorino — and the Tartufo, made with fior di latte, mushrooms, gorgonzola and truffle oil. There are gluten-free bases and dairy-free gorgonzola up for grabs, too. With pizza must come pasta, and a standout is the tagliolini with blue swimmer crab, zucchini and chilli. Other Italian staples on offer include antipasti and cocktails. The latter includes a menu of signature spritzes, like the Yarra Valley (Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz gin, prosecco and soda) and the Riviera Spritz (ruby red grapefruit aperitif, prosecco and soda). Cocktails better suited to later in the meal are the amaretto sour and tiramisu martini — which is made with Frangelico and Sydney's own Mr Black coffee liqueur. Salt Meats Cheese's NSW expansion doesn't stop in the Shire, either — a sixth instalment is coming to a rooftop bar in Circular Quay soon, along with a seventh location in Dee Why. Keep an eye on this space for updates. Images: Jiwon Kim.
Auburn scores a new tasty hang-out with the opening of FRO-BOWL. Proving that the froyo craze continues, this new, sleek spot offers premium frozen yoghurt made in-store daily, with signature toppings and sauces aplenty. Owner Haydar Rady, who grew up in Auburn, says he knows "what it's like to want something fun and fresh in your own neighbourhood, a place that gets you, I'm there every day, handing out samples, chatting to locals". Rotating froyo flavours include mango, toasted coconut, and pistachio, with a dairy-free option always available. Load up with crumbles, cookies, fruit, fudges and syrups. In an unexpected collab, FRO-BOWL offers Australia its first taste of Brooklyn Beckham's popular Cloud 23 Hot Habanero Sauce. Rady says the fiery citrus tang of the hot sauce pairs surprisingly well with the creamy froyo. "It's the kind of flavour that surprises you, and then becomes a craving. It's the winter kick you didn't know you needed." Images: Supplied.
Not even Australia's balmy December temperatures can keep us from embracing the ironic ugly Christmas sweater trend. Christmas in July is here again, my friends, and so too is the Colonel's line of OTT Yuletide-themed pullovers for another year. Yep, KFC has just dropped its 2023 Christmas jumper range — and, like in 2022, there's a matching outfit for the furry mate in your life, too. Available to snap up now, the limited-edition designs are primed for cheesy family photos, rocking a cheery red-and-white pattern and emblazoned with a cheeky nod to fried chicken: "Tis The Seasonings". Both the human sweaters ($60) and the pet versions ($40) come in a range of sizes, so you're sure to find a good fit no matter how hard you — or Murphy— have gone on the winter comfort food this year. What's more, there's zero shame to be felt in this daggy knitwear purchase, since all profits from the jumpers are going to support KFC's charity partners such as The Black Dog Institute, ReachOut Australia and Whitelion. 2023's range also includes socks ($25) — if you're all about business on top and a party on your feet — and a black long-sleeved jumper ($60) that's a bit more subtle in its seasonal cheer (although KFC buckets and drumsticks still feature). And if the matchy-matchy outfits have left you and your pooch really wanting to cash in on that Christmas in July spirit, KFC is also doing festive food specials until Tuesday, July 11. KFC's 2023 Christmas in July sweaters are available to buy online, costing $60 for the human jumpers and $40 for pets.
Everyone is picky about their coffee, and once you've find the perfect spot, nothing else tastes quite right. This St Peters coffee spot, however, is doing things a bit differently. Describing itself as 'The Most Inconsistent Cafe in Australia', the pop-up prides itself on its constantly changing coffee offering. Run by Collective Roasting Solutions (CRS), a shared roasting facility in Alexandria used by a slew of industry experts, the pop-up features an all-star lineup of Sydney roasters, including Edition, Skittle Lane, Harry's Bondi and Grace & Taylor. Each week there'll be a new rotation of blends and roasters available, meaning every time you head in, you'll be welcomed with a different coffee experience. While most cafes try to get their coffee as consistent as possible, the idea behind the CRS pop-up is to show off the variety of flavours and depth in coffee beans. CRS, which ran a similar pop-up in Enmore back in 2016, has also partnered Marrickville's Labld Cafe for the occasion, so you can pair your coffee with a breakfast or lunch bento box. Locally sourced pastries will also be available to snack on and, until September 16, Smoking Gun Bagels will be peddling its wares, too. You'll find the likes of Chick Don't Kale My Vibe, with kale cream cheese, candied walnut and poached chicken, and the Netflix and Dill, with house-cured salmon and pickled zucchini. In a move that should improve your morning commute (if only ever so slightly) the pop-up is right next door to St Peters train station. So you can grab a bagel and a much-needed coffee — and maybe even watch some dogs frolicking in the park — before you head off to your 9-to-5. The pop-up is open from 7am–2pm Tuesday to Sunday.
The brief for this review was a piece of cake (or pie, if I may). Eat the food, bathe in nostalgia and plant the tongue firmly in the cheek. But the stars did not align that way. For me, there are only fond memories of the old school Pizza Hut. The all-you-can-eat buffet packed with every kid's dream snacks: soft serve, bacon bits, chunks of green jelly and, I suppose, there were probably pizzas, too. Pizza Huts were everywhere, until they weren't anymore. But, after a few years in the lab, the Hut has started to scratch it's name into the honour board of fast food joints again. Their latest move is the fast-casual dine-in 'concept store', the first of which has just opened in Waterloo. The shop itself looks halfway between grandma's kitchen and an American highway diner in which the only guests are on the lam, truckers, or the inexplicably lost. Sparse tables, an open kitchen, a red-and-white-chequered design theme and an eclectic playlist of popular music invoke an odd feeling of waiting for something to happen — the just out-of-reach feeling you'd experience if you were trapped in a Samuel Beckett play. The menu is pretty much what you'd expect from a Pizza Hut, but the inclusion of unique sides like the chipotle waffle fries and jalapeño poppers are a fun touch. Order at the counter, get your numbered buzzer, sit yourself down with a Coors and wait for the magic. I really wanted the pizza to be average, at best. I wanted to be able to write a review that made people laugh, and still said, "how good is takeaway pizza, though". But when my spicy chorizo pizza landed on the table, I was sucker-punched by the gorgeous beast in front of me. Crisp crust. Liberal and evenly spaced meats. Cheese that's crisp on the top, but runs gooey down each slice. I didn't want it to be. I really didn't want it to be. But the pizza was good. Actually good. The concept store isn't the Pizza Hut five-year-old me is so fond of remembering, but it does exactly what it says on the packet — it's fast, it's casual, and it's definitely a restaurant. Pizza Hut, Waterloo, offers unlimited pizza by the slice Mon–Thurs from 5.30pm. For $19.95, you get unlimited slices of pizza, garlic bread and access to the dessert bar.
If you like to fill your time staring at a screen, small or big, there's never a bad year to do it. Great shows and films, terrible ones, everything in-between — they all arrive every single year. That said, if you're a fan of savvy TV series with something to say — and plenty about the world to savage, skewer or expose — then 2021 has been a particularly excellent year. Some of the absolute best series of the past 12 months took a look at the chasm between the wealthy and everyone else, the way women in entertainment are treated, or sitcom and rom-com tropes, and turned it into exceptional television. Other 2021 standouts transformed true crime and podcasting obsessions into an amusing murder-mystery, examined race relations in America in a searing fashion, stepped back to the AIDS crisis of the 80s and early 90s, and spun a slice-of-life comedy around Indigenous American teenagers. And yes, the list goes on. Thankfully, all of the year's highlights are also now available to stream — so here's your catch-up viewing for the summer. THE WHITE LOTUS With Enlightened, his excellent two-season Laura Dern-starring comedy-drama from 2011–13, writer/director Mike White (Brad's Status) followed an executive who broke down at work. When she stepped back into her life, she found herself wanting something completely different not just for herself, but for and from the world. It isn't linked, narrative-wise, to White's latest TV miniseries The White Lotus. The same mood flows through, however. Here, wealthy Americans holiday at a luxe Hawaiian resort, which is managed by Australian Armond (Murray Bartlett, Tales of the City) — folks like business star Nicole (Connie Britton, Bombshell), her husband Mark (Steve Zahn, Where'd You Go, Bernadette), and the teenage trio of Olivia (Sydney Sweeney, Euphoria), Paula (Brittany O'Grady, Little Voice) and Quinn (Fred Hechinger, Fear Street); newlyweds Rachel (Alexandra Daddario, Songbird) and Shane (Jake Lacy, Mrs America); and the recently bereaved Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge, Promising Young Woman). From the outset, when the opening scene shows Shane accompanying a body on the way home, viewers know this'll end with a death. But as each episode unfurls, it's clear that these characters are reassessing what they want out of life as well. In The White Lotus, a glam and glossy getaway becomes a hellish trap, magnifying glass and mirror, with everyone's issues and problems only augmented by their time at the eponymous location. In terms of sinking its claws into the affluent, eat the rich-style, this perceptive, alluring and excellently cast drama also pairs nicely with the White-penned Beatriz at Dinner, especially as it examines the differences between the resort's guests and staff. The White Lotus is available to stream via Binge. Read our full review. THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD Two words: Barry Jenkins. Where the Oscar-nominated Moonlight director goes, viewers should always follow. That proved the case with 2018's If Beale Street Could Talk, and it's definitely accurate regarding The Underground Railroad, the phenomenal ten-part series that features Jenkins behind the camera of each and every episode. As the name makes plain, the historical drama uses the real-life Underground Railroad — the routes and houses that helped enslaved Black Americans escape to freedom — as its basis. Here, though, drawing on the past isn't as straightforward as it initially sounds. Adapting Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same moniker, the series dives deeply into the experiences of people endeavouring to flee slavery, while also adopting magic-realism when it comes to taking a literal approach to its railroad concept. That combination couldn't work better in Jenkins' hands as he follows Cora (Thuso Mbedu, Shuga), a woman forced into servitude on a plantation overseen by Terrance Randall (Benjamin Walker, Jessica Jones). As always proves the case in the filmmaker's work, every frame is a thing of beauty, every second heaves with emotion, and every glance, stare, word and exchange is loaded with a thorough examination of race relations in America. Nothing else this affecting reached streaming queues in 2021 — but even one series like this made it a phenomenal year for audiences. The Underground Railroad is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. KEVIN CAN F**K HIMSELF There's never been a show on TV quite like Kevin Can F**k Himself, but there have been too many series that resemble half of this clever and cutting dark comedy. Whenever Allison Devine-McRoberts (Annie Murphy, Schitt's Creek) is around her manchild of a husband Kevin (Eric Petersen, Sydney to the Max), she's clearly in a sitcom. The lights glow brightly, her home looks like every other cosy abode in every other apparently amusing show about an obnoxious man and his put-upon wife — including all the ones starring Kevin James — and multiple cameras capture their lives. Also, canned laughter chuckles whenever something supposedly funny (but usually just cringeworthy) occurs between Kevin, his ever dimwitted best pal and neighbour Neil (Alex Bonifer, Superstore), Neil's one-of-the-guys sister Patty (Mary Hollis Inboden, The Righteous Gemstones) and Kevin's ever-present dad (Brian Howe, Chicago Fire). We've all seen this setup before, and Kevin Can F**k Himself's creator Valerie Armstrong (Lodge 49) definitely knows it. But, whenever Allison is blissfully free from her horrible hubby, murkier tones and a much more realistic vibe kick in. Just one camera films her struggles, and she's clearly in a premium cable drama. This is when Allison starts trying to do something about her terrible marriage, including a plot not just to leave Kevin, but to ensure that she'll be free of him forever. On paper, the creative decisions behind Kevin Can F**k Himself's two halves are a high-concept gimmick, and purposefully so. They're deployed devastatingly on-screen, however. Thankfully, Kevin Can F**k Himself has been renewed for a second season, too, so more of its savvy charms and astute social commentary — and Murphy and Inboden's memorable performances — await. Kevin Can F**k Himself is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. Read our full review. HACKS It sounds like an obvious premise, and one that countless films and TV shows have already mined in the name of laughs. In Hacks, two vastly dissimilar people are pushed together, with the resulting conflict guiding the series. Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder, North Hollywood) and her new boss Deborah Vance (Jean Smart, Mare of Easttown) couldn't be more different in age, experience, tastes and opinions. The former is a 25-year-old who made the move to Hollywood, has been living out her dream as a comedy writer, but found her career plummeting after a tweet crashed and burned. The latter is a legendary stand-up who hasn't stopped hitting the stage for decades, is approaching the 2500th show of her long-running Las Vegas residency and is very set in her ways. They appear to share exactly one thing in common: a love for comedy. They're an odd couple thrust together by their mutual manager Jimmy (Paul W Downs, Broad City), neither wants to be working with the other, and — to the surprise of no one, including each other — they clash again and again. There's no laugh track adding obvious chuckles to this HBO sitcom, though. Created by three of the talents behind Broad City — writer Jen Statsky; writer/director Lucia Aniello; and Downs, who does double duty in front of and behind the lens — Hacks isn't solely interested in setting two seemingly mismatched characters against each other. This is a smart and insightful series about what genuinely happens when this duo spends more and more time together, what's sparked their generational conflict and what, despite their evident differences, they actually share beyond that love of making people laugh. And, it's a frank, funny and biting assessment of being a woman in entertainment — and it's also always as canny as it is hilarious. Hacks is available to stream via Stan. Read our full review. RESERVATION DOGS Not content with just having two of the best current sitcoms on his resume — that'd be Wellington Paranormal and What We Do in the Shadows — Taika Waititi has gone and added a third. If you didn't know that he was one of Reservation Dogs' creators, executive producers and writers, you'd likely guess from the laidback tone; however, this is firmly a case of Waititi helping to get an exceptional show off the ground, and also lending his star power to assist emerging voices and under-represented communities. The 'reservation' part of this comedy's title is literal. In rural Oklahoma, that's where Indigenous American teenagers Bear (D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Beans), Elora (Devery Jacobs, Rutherford Falls), Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis, also seen in Beans) and Cheese (debutant Lane Factor) live, spend their days and meander about while dreaming of being somewhere else. Their ideal destination: California. Their number-one pastime: rustling up cash by whatever means they can to fund their big getaway, including by hijacking a delivery van filled with potato chips in the show's first episode. It's that heist and the aftermath that gives this quartet their Quentin Tarantino-style nickname, but Reservation Dogs isn't about bold and flashy moments. It's about the daily reality as Bear and his pals navigate their present existence and hope that they can soon escape it. In other words, this is a series that's deeply steeped in conveying the small details in its characters' lives, and giving audiences the chance to spend time with them. It's a show that's as much about hanging out as propelling a plot forward and, in the hands of Waititi and fellow co-creator/executive producer/writer Sterlin Harjo (Mekko), it's a coming-of-age gem. Reservation Dogs is available to stream via Binge. IT'S A SIN More than two decades after creating Queer as Folk, Russell T Davies has given the television landscape another excellent queer drama. The screenwriter and television producer has been busy over the intervening period thanks to everything from Doctor Who to Years and Years — and he also has 2015's Cucumber to his name, too — but It's a Sin is one of the very best things on his lengthy resume. Stepping back to the AIDS crisis of the 80s and early 90s, the five-part miniseries follows a group of friends chasing their dreams in London. Ritchie (Olly Alexander, Penny Dreadful) heads to the city to become an actor, and to avoid telling his stern parents that he's gay. Roscoe (Omari Douglas) flees his parents' home when they keep threatening to take him back to Nigeria. Colin (Callum Scott Howells) arrives for an apprenticeship at a high-end tailor shop, but soon finds himself seeking an escape from his lecherous boss. Given the era, there's no doubting where the story will head. It's a Sin is as joyous and vibrant as it is soulful and heartbreaking, though. Ritchie, Roscoe and Colin not only cross paths, but form a makeshift family in their modest flat, with the former's college friends Jill (Lydia West, Dracula) and Ash (Nathaniel Curtis) rounding out the quintet. Neil Patrick Harris and Stephen Fry also feature, but they're never It's a Sin's stars — because, in series that looks and sounds the period part at every moment, the show's five main players are simply phenomenal. It's a Sin is available to stream via Stan. MARE OF EASTTOWN Kate Winslet doesn't make the leap to the small screen often, but when she does, it's a must-see event. 2011's Mildred Pierce was simply astonishing, a description that both Winslet and her co-star Guy Pearce also earned — alongside an Emmy each, plus three more for the HBO limited series itself. The two actors and the acclaimed US cable network all reteamed for Mare of Easttown, and it too is excellent. Set on the outskirts of Philadelphia, it follows detective Mare Sheehan. As the 25th anniversary of her high-school basketball championship arrives, and after a year of trying to solve a missing person's case linked to one of her former teammates, a new murder upends her existence. Mare's life overflows with complications anyway, with her ex-husband (David Denman, Brightburn) getting remarried, and her mother (Jean Smart, Hacks), teenage daughter (Angourie Rice, Spider-Man: Far From Home) and four-year-old grandson all under her roof. With town newcomer Richard Ryan (Pearce, The Last Vermeer), she snatches what boozy and physical solace she can. As compelling and textured as she always is, including in this year's Ammonite, Winslet turns Mare of Easttown into a commanding character study. That said, it's firmly an engrossing crime drama as well. Although yet again pondering the adult life of an ex-school sports star, The Way Back's Brad Ingelsby isn't just repeating himself by creating and writing this seven-part series, while The Leftovers and The Hunt's Craig Zobel takes to his directing gig with a probing eye. Mare of Easttown is available to stream via Binge. GIRLS5EVA First, a word of warning: the hit song that brought fictional late 90s/early 00s girl group Girls5eva to fame is such an earworm, you'll be singing it to yourself for weeks after you binge through the sitcom that bears their name. That's to be expected given that Jeff Richmond, the composer behind 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt's equally catchy and comedic tunes, is one of the talents behind it. Tina Fey and Robert Carlock produce the series, too, so you also what type of humour you're in for. Starring Sara Bareilles (Broadway's Waitress), Busy Philipps (I Feel Pretty), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton) and the great Paula Pell (AP Bio), Girls5eva follows four members of the eponymous band two decades after their heyday. Their initial success didn't last, and life has left the now-fortysomething women at different junctures. Then a rapper samples their hit, they're asked to reunite for a one-night backing spot on The Tonight Show, and they contemplate getting back together to give music another shot. As well as being tremendously well-cast and immensely funny, the series is also bitingly perceptive about stardom, the entertainment industry and the way that women beyond their twenties are treated. Also, when Fey inevitably pops up, she does so as a dream version of Dolly Parton — and it's as glorious as it sounds. Girls5eva is available to stream via Stan. Read our full review. SQUID GAME Exploring societal divides within South Korea wasn't invented by Parasite, Bong Joon-ho's excellent Oscar-winning 2019 thriller, but its success was always going to give other films and TV shows on the topic a healthy boost. Accordingly, it's easy to see thematic and narrative parallels between the acclaimed movie and Netflix's highly addictive Squid Game — the show that's become the platform's biggest show ever (yes, bigger than everything from Stranger Things to Bridgerton). Anyone who has seen even an episode knows why this nine-part series is so compulsively watchable. Its puzzle-like storyline and its unflinching savagery making quite the combination. Here, in a Battle Royale and Hunger Games-style setup, 456 competitors are selected to work their way through six seemingly easy children's games. They're all given numbers and green tracksuits, they're competing for 45.6 billion won, and it turns out that they've also all made their way to the contest after being singled out for having enormous debts. That includes series protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae, Deliver Us From Evil), a chauffeur with a gambling problem, and also a divorcé desperate to do whatever he needs to to keep his daughter in his life. But, as it probes the chasms caused by capitalism and cash — and the things the latter makes people do under the former — this program isn't just about one player. It's about survival, the status quo the world has accepted when it comes to money, and the real inequality present both in South Korea and elsewhere. Filled with electric performances, as clever as it is compelling, unsurprisingly littered with smart cliffhangers, and never afraid to get bloody and brutal, the result is a savvy, tense and taut horror-thriller that entertains instantly and also has much to say. Squid Game is available to stream via Netflix. YELLOWJACKETS When Yellowjackets begins, it's with an intriguing mystery, a killer cast — led by the compulsively watchable Melanie Lynskey (Mrs America), Juliette Lewis (Breaking News in Yuba County) and Christina Ricci (Percy vs Goliath) — and a deep valley full of trauma. In their high-school years, Shauna Sheridan (Lynskey, and also The Kid Detective's Sophie Nélisse as a teenager) and Natalie (Lewis, plus The Tomorrow Man's Sophie Thatcher) were key players on the titular high-achieving New Jersey soccer team, while Misty (Ricci, as well as Shameless' Samantha Hanratty) was the squad's frequently bullied student manager. Then, en route to a big match in Seattle on a private plane in 1996, they entered Lost territory. That crash saw the survivors stranded in the wilderness for 19 months, and living their worst Lord of the Flies lives, too. As established in a stellar first episode directed with the utmost precision by Destroyer's Karyn Kusama, Yellowjackets isn't simply interested in an inherently disturbing experience that'd change anyone's life. It's just as obsessed with that transformation itself — with how, after falling from the sky, learning to endure in such remote surroundings and plummeting into a horror movie, someone copes when normality supposedly comes calling afterwards. Flitting between the two 25-years-apart time periods, it's about tragedies endured, paths taken, necessities accepted and the echoes that linger from all three. Its first season isn't over yet, but this instant must-see is already chilling, perceptive, resonant and potent. Yellowjackets is available to stream via Paramount+. ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING If you've ever listened to a true-crime podcast, decided that you'd make a great Serial host yourself and started wondering how you'd ever follow in Sarah Koenig's footsteps, then you should be watching Only Murders in the Building. The Disney+ series follows three New Yorkers who follow that exact same process. Actor Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin, It's Complicated), theatre producer Oliver Putnam (Martin Short, Schmigadoon!) and the much-younger Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez, The Dead Don't Die) are all obsessed with a series hosted by the fictional Cinda Canning (Tina Fey, Girls5eva), to the point of bonding over it as strangers. Then, when someone turns up dead in their building, they decide that they can sleuth their way through the case — by getting talking themselves, naturally. But being a true-crime podcast diehard and making a true-crime podcast clearly aren't quite the same thing, and turning amateur detective isn't clearcut either. Entertaining and exceptionally well-cast, Only Murders in the Building makes makes the most of its main trio's mismatched vibe. It's filled with hearty affection for everything it jokes about, resulting in an upbeat satire of true-crime obsessions, podcasting's pervasiveness and the intersection of the two. It adores its single-setting Agatha Christie-lite setup, it's always empathetic, and it also loves peppering in highly recognisable co-stars and guest stars such as Fey, Nathan Lane (Penny Dreadful: City of Angels), Amy Ryan (Late Night) and even Sting. The series is also written and acted with enough depth to pair relatable character insights with its bubbly, clownish fun. If Knives Out was a sitcom, and also a little goofier, it'd turn out like this — and that's a delight, obviously. Only Murders in the Building is available to stream via Star on Disney+. Read our full review. STARSTRUCK When Rose Matafeo last graced our screens, she took on pregnancy-centric rom-coms in 2020's Baby Done. Now, in Starstruck, she's still pairing the romantic and the comedic. In another thoughtful, plucky and relatable performance, she plays Jessie, a 28-year-old New Zealander in London who splits her time between working in a cinema and nannying, and isn't expecting much when her best friend and roommate Kate (Emma Sidi, Pls Like) drags her out to a bar on New Year's Eve. For most of the evening, her lack of enthusiasm proves astute. Then she meets Tom (Nikesh Patel, Four Weddings and a Funeral). He overhears her rambling drunkenly to herself in the men's bathroom, they chat at the bar and, when sparks fly, she ends up back at his sprawling flat. It isn't until the next morning, however — when she sees a poster adorned with his face leaning against his living room wall — that she realises that he's actually one of the biggest movie stars in the world. Yes, Starstruck takes Notting Hill's premise and gives it a 22-years-later update, and delivers a smart, sidesplittingly funny and all-round charming rom-com sitcom in the process. When a film or TV show is crafted with a deep-seated love for its chosen genre, it shows. When it wants to do more than just nod and wink at greats gone by like a big on-screen super fan — when its creators passionately hope that it might become a classic in its own right, rather than a mere imitation of better titles — that comes through, too. And that's definitely the case with this ridiculously easy-to-binge charmer. Starstruck is available to stream via ABC iView. Read our full review. Looking for more viewing highlights? We also rounded up 12 of 2021's best TV highlights that you might've missed. And you can also check out our list of film and TV streaming recommendations, which is updated monthly. Plus, we picked 12 standout new 2021 series in the middle of the year, too.
Underground CBD favourite Burrow Bar moved from its original home in De Mestre Place to 96 Clarence Street with big plans to expand into two levels and open a restaurant above the bar. Those plans became a reality with the opening of Cash Only Diner, a Vietnamese eatery serving up dishes with roots in owner Chau Tran's family heritage and the dishes of Hue, Vietnam. Tran has taken dishes she learned from her mother — a classically trained chef who studied at a French finishing school in Hue — and, with the help of co-owner Bryce McDonough and the Burrow Bar team, has put together a menu that bursts with flavour and showcases the cuisine of the coastal Vietnamese city. The venue embraces seasonality and so the menu changes day to day. Some dishes you could enjoy include the cá kho tộ, caramelised and braised salmon served in a clay pot and dripping in marinade; the giò thủ, a pork and mushroom terrine; and C.O spring rolls filled with prawn and minced pork. Every Tuesday, aka Tuesday Noodz-day, where the venue runs a new noodle special with limited bowls that showcase regional noodles and unique dishes, not many people have heard of or get to try outside of Vietnam. Cash Only Diner sits above Burrow Bar, meaning you can bet the drinks are as exciting as the food. Pair your Vietnamese feast with a selection from the cocktail menu, like the green mango negroni, a pineapple and gin creation called Napoleon's 2nd Vice, and a boozy Vietnamese iced coffee, a creative twist on the espresso martini.
In 2023, IKEA celebrated 80 years of operation. To mark the occasion, it unveiled the Nytillverkad collection, which scours the company's design archives to bring back pieces that've proven a hit in the past, and also riff on its prior highlights in general. Like anyone commemorating a big birthday, the Swedish giant isn't done with the festivities yet. Just because it's now 2024, that doesn't mean that it can't keep dropping retro products. With the brand's lengthy history, there's a reason that almost everyone can't remember a time the chain was a homewares go-to. Started by Ingvar Kamprad, aka the IK in IKEA's moniker, it began in 1943 and moved into furniture in 1948. The company then opened its first store in Sweden a decade later — and came to Australia in the 70s. It's the decade of IKEA's Aussie arrival — and the 60s as well — that gets a massive nod in the Nytillverkad collection's latest drop, which hit stores and online on Wednesday, January 10. Think: shaggy rugs, bold patterns and swivel armchairs. Think bright pops of colour as well. Among the side tables, cushion covers and more, 12 of the newly available pieces are re-introductions, with IKEA's Karin Mobring and Gillis Lundgren reviving them from the brand's history. "Vintage furniture has made a big comeback lately, and there's been a growing demand for certain IKEA products that have become collector's favourites," said IKEA Sweden Global Design Manager Johan Eidemo. "That is why we decided to bring back a selection of our design icons, and we are excited to see interest coming from customers of all ages, especially young people who are discovering our design legacy and using these vibrant solutions to express themselves at home. To us, these products are the essence of democratic design, they are timeless, as they combine a beautiful form, a great function, sustainability, an affordable price, and quality that lasts long." Does your lounge room need a white and chrome two-tier side table that first graced IKEA's catalogue in 1971? A yellow-hued armchair from 1969? A black armchair that's designed to reduce stress from 1967? A pendant lampshade that debuted in 1979? They're part of the Nytillverkad range's current vintage focus. Prices vary from $5.50 for a cushion cover to $299 for an armchair — and like with all IKEA limited-edition drops, including its recent first-ever workout collection, you'll want to get in quick before everything sells out. IKEA's Nytillverkad collection is on sale now in Australia, in store and online, until stocks last. Head to the IKEA website for further details.
The upcoming federal budget has many waiting with bated breath, especially those hoping for urgent action to tackle Australia's severe housing crisis. But ahead of the wider announcements on Tuesday, the ABC has reported that this year's federal budget will include funding for an AI tool that can approve housing developments. The housing crisis is a major part of affordability concerns that are driving voting decisions nationwide, and the federal government seems to want to address the problem rapidly. But not immediately. The AI program, which will reportedly take four years to develop, comes with $105.9 million in funds and is intended to speed up project approvals and tackle the supply problems in the housing market by sharing environmental data. In a statement celebrating the news, Home Industry Association Managing Director Jocelyn Martin said, "Australia's environmental approvals system has not kept pace with the scale or urgency of our housing challenge. This Budget begins the shift toward a modern system that uses better data, digital tools and AI to deliver faster, clearer and more consistent decisions." [caption id="attachment_1100893" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] VM Studios via iStock[/caption] The news of this technology push comes off the back of the government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation strike team, which was deployed in August of 2025 to address a backlog of project approvals, and is reportedly on track to achieve a target of 26,000 approvals by July of this year. Other changes to come on Tuesday include $2 billion to support infrastructure for new housing lots, changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing, as well as $250 million in funding to establish Australia's first National Environmental Protection Agency, which, among other things, will cut back on delays from environmental approvals, presumably with some assistance from the aforementioned AI tool, should it be finalised. The pressure is on for major parties to tackle the housing crisis, as frustrations from a lack of any concrete measures from Labor and Liberal has seen a notable uptick in popularity for independent candidates, Greens and even One Nation, which won its first lower house election in 30 years at the Farrel by-election on Saturday. [caption id="attachment_1100895" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Juan Gomez via iStock[/caption] After that result, Shadow Housing Minister Andrew Bragg said of the major parties, "We are where we deserve to be, over the last 10 years we haven't done enough policy work, and I think the generation of millennials, my generation, are pretty dirty on the major parties and with good reason.… it's been about a decade since we've had a decent policy." The 2026 federal budget will be delivered in full by Treasurer Jim Chalmers at 7.30pm AEST on Tuesday, May 12. Lead image: Phillip Witke via iStock
When Michael Shanks began writing Together over half a decade ago, he didn't start casting in his mind at the time. He didn't pen it thinking that a real-life married couple would play Tim and Millie, his debut feature's protagonists, either. To fuel the Australian filmmaker's leap from YouTube, shorts and TV — including Time Trap, The Wizards of Aus, The Slot, Parked and Rebooted, as well as visual effects on 2019 miniseries Lambs of God— to becoming the talk of Sundance 2025, scoring the first major sale of this year's fest, then playing SXSW in Austin and opening the Sydney Film Festival, however, Shanks was thinking about long-term relationships. They couldn't be more at the heart of his delightfully wild and smart body-horror must-see. So, enlisting two leads who've been together since 2012 and wed since 2017 is indeed perfect. Those stars, and also producers of Together: Alison Brie (Apples Never Fall) and Dave Franco (The Studio), adding another joint project to a shared list that already featured the latter's directorial efforts The Rental and Somebody I Used to Know, as well as the likes of The Little Hours, The Disaster Artist, BoJack Horseman and Krapopolis. Initially, though, Shanks drew upon his own romantic situation — one that owes a debt to the Aussie end-of-school rite-of-passage that is Schoolies. When an Australian thinks of that week of typically Gold Coast-set revelry playing a part in a horror film, a picture about falling for someone, sharing a life with them, commitment and co-dependency isn't a concept that naturally springs to mind. But that's Together, which is also a movie about love sticking. It takes that concept literally. Franco's Tim and Brie's Millie kick off Together as enmeshed in each other's existence as a couple generally, usually, normally can be. A big move, also literal, is their next step by each other's side: relocating for Millie's job as an elementary school teacher. But their going-away party turns awkward when a marriage proposal doesn't quite go as it should — and as aspiring musician Tim begins gleaning how shifting out of the city for Millie will practically impact his ability to play gigs and keep chasing his dreams. Tension accompanies the pair to their leafy new regional surroundings, then, where greenery-lined hiking tracks beckon, Shanks' key duo fall into a cave and the two find themselves even more linked, and unable to be apart, than ever. What if bonding with your other half had a physical dimension beyond cohabiting, sex, other displays of affection and the standard couple details? What if deciding to always be one of a pair was a corporeal connection right down to your flesh? Of the two big 80s music classics with "tear us apart" in their title, think INXS' Triple J Hottest 100 of Australian Songs-topping 'Never Tear Us Apart' over Joy Division's 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' — and not just because Together was shot Down Under, in Melbourne where Shanks is based. How love can change you, the anxieties that it can cause and the resentments that it can spark, and what it truly means to join your existence with someone else's: these are the ideas that Together ponders as it explores transformations inspired by fluttering hearts in its own distinctive and compelling way. Confronting painful real-life situations, while never being afraid to carve its own path into horror tropes such as unsettling new locales, creepy trips into bushland, eerie isolated houses and more: Together does this, too, as it spins a tale that favours life over the horror staple that is death, grief and loss. And in a picture that's firmly a body-horror flick with searing-into-your-brain setpieces to prove it, but is as much a romantic drama as well — and that always anchors its spectacle in the story, never getting gory purely for the sake of it — Franco and Brie are firmly "a dream cast", as Shanks describes them to Concrete Playground. The word "dream" earns a few mentions in our chat. "It's really, really insane," he tells us of Together's journey so far this year, even before reaching cinemas in general release on Thursday, July 31, 2025 Down Under and the day prior in the US. "Getting the film made just alone was a dream coming true, and then it getting into Sundance was a dream come true. And then it playing Sundance and selling to Neon was a dream. So it's kind of hokey to say, but it's sort of this dream that just keeps coming true. It's what every filmmaker dreams of." "When we played at Sundance for the first time, we'd spent months in post-production, just basically myself and an editor [Sean Lahiff, Territory] and an editing assistant, working on the film. We didn't do test screenings. It was just us in a little room. And then we thought it was maybe pretty good — like, we were pretty happy with the movie. And then at Sundance, we were in this theatre of 1000–2000 people, and it's like 'this is literally the first audience that's going to see it. We've got no idea. It's a midnight screening. It's a packed house. Here we go'," Shanks continues. "Five minutes in, there's a little scare, and we could feel the audience gasp — and we went 'oh'. And a few minutes after that, there's this little joke and the audience laughed, and we just felt like 'oh wow, this is going well, I think'. And fortunately it did. And now it's played SXSW and it played a couple of festivals in Italy, and it played in Mexico. And I'm traveling the world in a way I never thought I'd be able to just off the back of a film. It's an incredible privilege. It's been an amazing year," he advises. With the filmmaker that's given Australia another example of YouTube-to-worldwide horror feature success after Talk to Me and Bring Her Back's Danny and Michael Philippou — and whose script for HOTEL HOTEL HOTEL HOTEL featured on the Blacklist — we also contemplated that Schoolies link, dug into Brie and Franco's pivotal involvement, examined why making Together without an IRL couple as its stars might've been a nightmare and discussed the movie's vivid body-horror imagery, among other subjects. On How Schoolies Played a Part in Inspiring a Horror Film About Falling in Love, Commitment and Codependency — and When the Idea for Together Came to Shanks During His Long-Term Relationship "Oh, it was many years in. Because yeah, we met at Schoolies. I would have been 17, I think. And then we didn't start dating until a few months — we became friends, and we started dating a few months after. And then we've been together now — that was 16–17 years ago, so we've been together that long. I'm 34 now, I was writing the script in my late 20s. And that was about when we were moving into our second home together, and we were really beginning to amalgamate our lives, I guess. It really became true that we've been together for so long, we only had the same friends. The Venn diagram of our friendships was just a circle. And we went to all the same events, we listen to the same music, ate the same food, breathed the same air. And now we were living in a second house together. We had a cat. And I was like 'there is no part of my life that's separate from this person'. And likewise. And I started to, I think, confront something that a lot of people go through, of realising 'oh, do I still have independence while I'm committing to this forever-monogamous relationship' — and 'our lives are so intertwined, do I really know where I end and she begins?'. The Radiohead song 'Where I End and You Begin' probably helped dislodge that idea as well. And that was where this jumping off point was — where you already are committing to sharing a life with somebody in such totality, what if you took that even further into a physical, flesh-bound sharing, to take a real relationship and intertwine it in a physical way. That just felt like such an over the top and interesting, operatic exploration of those themes, that also would satisfy the kind of genre-filmmaker obsessive that I am." On Making a Horror Film About Love Instead of Genre Staples Like Grief, Loss and Death "It just felt really natural to me. I mean, the jumping off point to me was honestly just the idea of 'oh, what if people sharing a life started to get so close that they started to share flesh?'. That was sort of that simple. And then it was when I started to fill in the details of that story, and realising that I was putting so many specifics from my own life and the observations I've made of the couples around me in my friendship circles, that I realised that 'oh, this really is a love story' — and a dark, twisted love story. When the actors, Dave and Alison, came onboard, they paid me a great compliment — which was that they said 'reading the script, if you would pull out all the horror, it would still work as a relationship drama'. Which I was really pleased to hear that, despite all the crazy scenes of nastiness and body horror and stickiness and puppets and practical effects and insanity, it's all bound to a character journey and these two people that start in these very different emotional places. And where, like in most romantic movies, rom-coms or rom-dramas, we're basically there to see 'can they can they put this aside and realise that they love each other?'. Or, 'do they realise that they don't love each other and they need to extricate themselves from what has become perhaps a toxic relationship?'." On Casting Real-Life Partners — But Not Actually Penning the Film with That in Mind "No, I kind of wrote it just generically, just set in Australia, because why not? I think it was originally sent Trentham, because I have a friend who makes wine out there — and I was like 'aah, that's my kind of rural in Victoria'. But then I had a chance meeting with Dave, because I had another script of mine that was being passed around Hollywood people in LA. And off the basis of that, I got a meeting with Dave, and we just connected. So I already had the script, and I was like 'hey, maybe have a look at this — maybe you'll like it'. And he read it and loved it and gave it to Alison. And then within a couple of days, we were on a Zoom, the three of us, and kind of figured it out. So that was amazing. Them separately, just as actors and performers, were a dream cast. But them together as an actual married couple, it adds so much to the performances, to the metatextual elements of the film, as well as just an ease of working with them. We needed them to be so physically and emotionally intimate across this film, and the fact that they have such comfort being vulnerable with each other, it created an ease of work as well as an emotional truth that I don't think we could have done with any other actors." On How Pivotal Casting an IRL Couple Proved to Be to the Film "It would have been, especially if they didn't get on, it would have been a nightmare. There was a day on set where they basically had to be fully nude the whole day in front of each other. It's like 'okay, well that's easier to do when they're a husband and wife'. There were days on set where they had to be physically joined via a prosthetic appendage that we didn't have the budget to make a second of — so we couldn't remove it. So if they needed to go to the bathroom, they weren't allowed to separate. We needed them to go to the bathroom together. And of course, you could never impose that on actors, but because they were producers on the film and they're married, they would just be like 'oh, yeah, no worries. Definitely, definitely. We'll just do that'. It was so great. Dave said something in some interviews that I think is really sweet — is that he also said that working with Alison, he feels like it makes him give the best performance, because she knows him so well that he can't be fake in front of her. So he really has to go for it or she'll call him out. Which is — not that I witnessed any calling out, but they worked so well together and it was a huge honour to work with them." On What Brie and Franco Brought to Their Performances — and Shanks Being Able to Benefit From Not Just Their Relationship But Also Their Experience "Thankfully, because they were onboard as producers, I had a lot of time with them even before they arrived in Australia to do the shoot. We had lots of sessions over Zoom, really going through, going over the script and going over the character journeys, and tweaking little things here and there — even intellectually rather than performing it, just kind of speaking it out. And then in pre-production, we had a few days of rehearsal, which were just more read-throughs. And when you're on set, time is money like crazy, particularly for an independent, low-budget film like this. So thankfully when we were on set, it's kind of like — our cinematographer, Germain McMicking [Ellis Park], was amazing, and you tell him what you want and he'll do it. And then he doesn't require much direction because he's a pro. He's so good at it. And same with Dave and Alison, as they're just such pros and they understood the material so well that my job as a director, in terms of their performances, was just ever-so-slightly giving them notes just to tweak. They were always, always in the right area because of the amount of prep that we'd done and the professionalism. And that was great to lean on as well, because I've been working in this industry since I was 17, but this is by far the biggest, longest and most-dramatic thing that I've ever worked on. So having these people that have been doing it for just as long on a much grander scale really, really helped." On Always Anchoring the Film's Body-Horror Setpieces in the Story "I think it was that I just know from being a genre filmmaker. I was really confident in all the horror and all the setpieces. That's what I'm most practised as. And so when I was breaking out the script, I was breaking it out not in terms of the horror, but just in terms of an emotional journey. And just dotting out in character arcs and knowing, because of the nature of the story, that it would be so easy for me to have this journey be interrupted by or enhanced by the horror setpieces. And also, I think something that some people are being surprised by when they walk out of the movie is how much fun it is and that it's quite funny — because again, when I sat down to write it, I was thinking I was writing romantic drama/horror. Scary, you know, serious. I've got this comedy background, but as the situation gets more and more out of hand, it was just impossible to resist — 'well, this is what would actually happen in that scenario' — and lean into something that's fun. So hopefully you'll laugh, you'll cry, it will change your life." On Crafting Horror Imagery That Leaves an Imprint "Well, I get frustrated sometimes with horror films — or with any films in general — when there's not unique images that come out of it, when there's no setpieces that stick with you, when things are just a bit generic. And I also thought the specificity of this concept meant you can only do this once. And I don't know if as a filmmaker, if I'll ever make a horror film again — if I'll ever make body-horror film again. I'd like to. But I certainly could never make this premise again. So if this is the premise, I really was thinking to myself 'you've got to squeeze as much juice out of this as possible'. And so, 'if this is the premise, great, what are ten setpieces that you can only do with this premise' — and just making sure that that's the case. And just really wanting to — really wanting to — leave the audience with something memorable. I hope people, when they leave the cinema, will say that they had a good time and that they've never seen a film quite like this." Together opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, July 31, 2025. Images: Germain McMicking / Ben King.
If you've been waiting for the cold months to kick into high gear, you might have seen news about how the possible impending El Niño could lead to disappointingly warm weather. Forecasts released this week by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology confirm that, but not an El Niño yet. Here's what your winter could look like across the country. A quick refresher if you're not already familiar: El Niño is one half of a regular weather cycle that defines rainfall and ensuing weather changes on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. We've just started to climb out of its opposite, La Niña, which brings more rain and cloud cover to Australia, but El Niño sees the clouds and the ensuing moisture become scarce. It's generally triggered by rising ocean temperatures, which block that moisture from crossing the ocean. You can read more about the causes of El Niño here. Earlier this year, it was reported that we are headed for a so-called "Super El Niño". The symptoms of a Super El Niño in the Pacific Ocean haven't started yet, but forecasts for the coming months point to some very El Niño-esque rainfall (or lack thereof) across the country. The biggest impacts will be felt by farmers, and also alpine towns hoping to welcome snowsport tourists. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bureau of Meteorology (@bureauofmeteorology) For the southern states, forecasts are predicting below-average rainfall, especially from June. In the NT and the northern parts of WA and QLD, it's a different story: above-average rainfall is predicted, but the baseline is very low and easily exceeded thanks to the annual dry season. In central and northwest Australia, rain forecasts are consistent with average winter weather, which is dry year-round. The temperature is looking similarly toasty, with the chance of higher-than-average minimum and maximum temperatures averaging between 60 and 80 percent across the country. While the differences aren't dramatic, mostly a one-degree increase against the average, some regions will suffer more than others from, namely Australia's alpine townships. [caption id="attachment_750966" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Tourism Snowy Mountains[/caption] Drier and warmer conditions almost universally lead to less snowfall, which can put tourists off from making the annual pilgrimage to resort towns like Perisher, Falls Creek, Mount Buller and Thredbo. But as BOM senior climatologist Caitlin Minney told the ABC, spontaneous rainfall systems like Southern Ocean cold fronts and East Coast lows can drive sudden and plentiful snowfall — so don't put the snow gear in storage yet and keep a ready eye on the forecast. It's looking quite likely that an El Niño will be officially declared in winter, which means we can expect drier conditions for as much as a year to come, including a higher-risk fire season and a greater chance of drought. Follow the Australian Bureau of Meteorology for the most up-to-date information and weather forecasts.
Although it sits outside the CBD, Newtown has everything you could want from a city centre. The inner west suburb — and its bustling bloodline, King Street — is packed with thrift shops, live music venues, pubs, vegan spots, nurseries, rooftop bars and even a cinema. No matter what you enjoy doing in your spare time, Newtown can deliver it — wander through one of the many vintage clothing stores and catch a limited release film at the Dendy, then, when night falls, grab a bottle of pét-nat to take home or join locals and uni students at the pub for a happy hour pint. If there's one thing Newtown has too much of, it's choice. So we've joined forces with American Express to create a guide to the must-visits — the stores that locals love. These eight shops sell everything from vintage Levis to indoor plants, and you can shop small up and down King Street with your Amex Card.
