Beloved pub The Alexandria Hotel will reopen to the public after half a decade, with new owners Merivale to unveil a new dog and family-friendly outdoor dining space called Backyard at The Alex. The official opening date has yet to be announced, but the new outdoor area is set to feature food trucks, pop-up bars and live entertainment. "What we're trying to do with the indoor space is kind of flip the traditional concept of you get your drink inside and you head outside to the beer garden," The Alexandria Hotel General Manager Sam George told Concrete Playground. "We want to make this the backyard of this community. A place where you go, have fun, relax, listen to some good music, have some good drinks, eat some good food." Backyard at The Alex will be open for lunch and dinner Wednesday–Sunday and will share similarities to Merivale's fan-favourite beer garden at the Vic on the Park with long communal tables, grandstand seating, a basketball court and a large outdoor screen for sports. Local musicians and DJs will also be on hand to provide your spring and summer dose of live music. Food trucks will provide a rotating roster of culinary eats, beginning with chicken schnitzel specialist Wholly Schnit and Firepop, a Yakitori-style bamboo skewer vendor. A pop-up kitchen and container bar will also serve favourites from Merivale's other pub menus and a classic array of tap beers, wine and cocktails. [caption id="attachment_828453" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Merivale Group Beverage Manager Keven Peters and Merivale General Manager Sam Egerton[/caption] When plans were unveiled in 2015 to bulldoze 150-year-old pub in order to turn it into an apartment complex, the community banded together to save the pub. The result of a public push to maintain the venue resulted in the purchase of The Alexandria by Merivale in 2016. "Institutions like this must be preserved, they reflect our history and help shape our culture — especially when they mean as much to their local community as The Alex does," Merivale owner Justin Hemmes said back in 2016. Following the acquisition, The Alex sat vacant for nearly half a decade. At the time, Merivale asked for input from the local community on how they'd like to see the pub take shape which George says they've taken inspiration from. "We definitely listened to what the community wanted and we are trying to respond to it as much as we can," he says. George hinted that Merivale has bigger plans for The Alex in the future, but has confirmed that the new outdoor dining area will remain the focus as Sydney begins to open up. The Alexandria is located at 35 Henderson Road, Alexandria. It will be reopening soon from 12pm–12am Wednesday–Saturday and 12am–10pm Sunday. We'll bring you more details as they become available. Top image: Newtown Graffiti
Whether you watched along from 2009–15 when it was in production or you discovered its joys via an obsessive binge-watching marathon afterwards, Parks and Recreation is one of the 21st century's TV gifts — and the beloved sitcom cemented its stars, from its lead roles through to its supporting parts, as audience favourites. Plenty of those talents also share something else in common: a fondness for touring Down Under. Nick Offerman has done it, taking to Australia's stages. Amy Poehler has made multiple promotional Aussie trips for Inside Out and Inside Out 2. Henry Winkler even headed this way to chat through his lengthy career. Now, add the latter's on-screen son to the list. Ben Schwartz, aka Parks and Recreation's Jean-Ralphio Saperstein, has a date with Sydney in 2025. Don't be suspicious: Schwartz will be performing his Ben Schwartz & Friends live improv show, which begins with just a couple of chairs onstage. Where it goes from there, you'll only discover at the Sydney Opera House on Saturday, May 3, because that's the joy of improv. Schwartz isn't just known for Parks and Recreation, although that's the first thing on his resume that'll always come to mind for Parks fans. Since his time in Pawnee wrapped up — since he stopped being one of the woooooooorst people in the fictional Indiana town, that is — he's also starred in murder-mystery comedy The Afterparty, voiced a certain spiny blue mammal in Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, loaned his vocal tones to Star Wars: The Bad Batch and Invincible, and featured in Space Force and Renfield. Top image: Disney/Image Group LA.
You've experienced the intoxicating highs of Negroni Week and Margarita Week, and now the time has come to turn your enthusiasm for drinking the finer things in life to whisky. World Whisky Day is officially happening on Saturday, May 20, and its existence provides whisky fans with an excuse (not that we need one) to partake in some of the world's finest. If you want to take your World Whisky Day commitment to the next level, Woodcut Restaurant at Barangaroo has teamed up with legendary Scotch distiller Benriach for a special whisky-inspired menu. The star of the show is a first-of-its-kind dish touted as 'Benriach's Ultimate Scotch Fillet' — a creation masterminded by Woodcut's chef-owner, Ross Lusted, comprised of a wood-grilled Rangers Valley Scotch fillet, brushed with Benriach's Smoke Season Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky and grilled to perfection. A full Smoke Season Benriach whisky-inspired menu and cocktail pairings will be available for a limited time in the lead up to World Whisky Day, from May 1-22. In addition to the scotch fillet is the Smoke Season BBQ duck with pickled plums, grilled shiitake and hazelnut crumb, or the pan-seared kingfish with smoked cauliflower puree, Brussels sprouts and dukkah. And don't forget about the cocktail pairings. The Penicillin cocktail, made with Benriach Smoke Season and served with a ginger and honey syrup beautifully complements the smoky notes of the whisky and the fire and smoke techniques that are a hero of the Woodcut dining experience. Book your spot now.
On Saturday, February 15 and Sunday, February 16, 2020, the Royal Botanic Garden will be hosting its annual Tomato Festival for the seventh consecutive year. As well as eating tomatoes — obviously — it'll feature an abundance of cooking demonstrations, talks, tips and tricks that are guaranteed to inspire your creations in the kitchen. If cooking doesn't suit your weekend relaxing plans, take part in the Longest Tomato Lunch, a dining table that stretches 70 metres long on the Garden's foreshore lawn. No surprising for guessing the main ingredient on the menu — yes, you'll indulge in an Italian and tomato-inspired meal, with award-winning chef Luca Ciano putting together the menu. The 2020 fest promises more stalls, more food and beverage offerings and more places to sit — and, as usual, highlights include pop-up bar and cafes, a mandala made out of tomatoes, a produce market filled with some of Sydney's highest quality produce, and taste testing a-plenty. Tomatoes will be judged on their colour and smell, and you'll be able to witness some of the best in show, from the best local and homegrown farmers. Just don't wear white. Tomato Festival runs from 10am–7pm Saturday and 10am–4pm on Sunday. Images: Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
It's time to make the most of the late sunset and the warm nights by packing your week with midweek activities. One big way to have some late-night fun is with after-hours art. This is something our pals at Sydney Living Museums know all too well, thanks to its monthly art and music series. Running through February and beyond, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hyde Park Barracks is presenting its late-night program After Dark. Once a month, from 5–9pm, you can enjoy drinks at the pop-up bar while checking out the live tunes, performances and more. At this month's event on Thursday, February 24, you can get cosy in a hammock and listen to stories read by queer writers Tanya Vavilova, Will Kostakis and Erin Gough; take a sonic tour of the Barracks with DJ Sveta, participate in body-positive life-drawing from the Gladdy Drawing Club; or see live music curated by FBi Radio including Kavi, DJ Isa, and local electronic legends Jonny Seymour and Paul Mac. There will also be food and drink on offer with stalls from OzHarvest, Nighthawk Diner and Archie Rose all running through the evening.
Prepare to step inside the mind of a cinematic genius. It's a big call, sure, but when it comes to David Lynch, it's true. No one makes movies or TV shows quite like the man who brought us Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive and a little series called Twin Peaks, and we mean no one. Don't just take our word for it — experience his movie marvels for yourself as part of the Ritz Cinema's two-month-long season of all of his films. It's diving deep into his distinctive audiovisual catalogue, screening every feature he has ever made on Thursday nights between October 8–December 10. That means you can watch the sci-fi flick he took his name off of, Dune, before this year's remake hits; his Nicolas Cage-starring Palme d'Or winner, Wild at Heart; and his old-man-on-a-lawnmower tale, The Straight Story. And that's only the beginning of a very eclectic bunch of movies. Also on the agenda is Lynch's moving and thoughtful The Elephant Man to celebrate its 40th anniversary, the twisty thrills (and ace 90s soundtrack) of Lost Highway, and Inland Empire, aka the flick the director famously wanted Laura Dern to win an Oscar for so badly that he campaigned on Hollywood Boulevard with a live cow. And then there's the thing we've all been waiting for: no, not Twin Peaks the series, but the show's exceptional horror sequel/prequel Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me on the big screen. BYO damn fine cup of coffee. Sessions kick off at 7pm each week, and tickets cost $12 for members and $20 otherwise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyG0LqcdvU0 The Ritz Cinema's David Lynch retrospective runs every Thursday at 7pm from October 8–December 10.
Whether you're wearied by the past 14 months or so, or you're just an avid movie buff all-year-round, everyone could use a dose of big-screen escapism every now and then. That's on offer every day of the week at the Ritz Cinema, of course, but between Thursday, May 20–Wednesday, May 26 it'll only cost you $5. Yes, that's a mighty cheap price for a trip to the movies, and it means that you can even treat your bestie, date or mum to a flick and pay just ten dollars for both of you. Some of the films you'll be able to catch during the week include Best Picture Oscar-winner Nomadland, Chris Rock-starring horror sequel Spiral: From the Book of Saw, and Angelina Jolie's return to the silver screen in Those Who Wish Me Dead. Or, you can check out Carey Mulligan's fierce performance in Promising Young Woman, enjoy the intimate family tale that Minari so engagingly plants, and see Anthony Hopkins deal with dementia in The Father — then watch Stanley Tucci do the same in Supernova. And, although A Quiet Place Part II doesn't officially release until Thursday, May 27, the cinema is hosting sneak peeks over the coming weekend — and they are actually included in the $5 deal. Otherwise, the $5 tickets are available at all regular sessions across the seven days — other than previews, special events and retro films. To book your $5 tickets, just head to the Ritz Cinema website. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id00Eq1j8M4
While most of us need no help getting into the Christmas swing of things, a bit of extra local — Yuletide — love never goes astray in the lead-up to the big day. Cue the locally-focused A Very Surry Hills Christmas. Run by the City of Sydney, the one-day festival will take over Crown Street's Shannon Reserve for a festive pop-up on Saturday, December 16. The goodies and activities on offer will reflect the area's status as one of Sydney's premier design precincts. Local artist Jeff McCann, who makes most of his colourful artwork from items considered trash, will construct giant 'Christmas' trees and design bespoke wrapping paper for the event. There'll also be workshops, run by a local artist, where visitors can have a crack at decorating gingerbread, learning to screen print and making their own personalised Christmas decorations There'll also be free Santa photos and live entertainment for the youngsters, face painting for kids and kidults alike, and DJ tunes setting a festive soundtrack to all that Christmas shopping. You'll even score complimentary gift-wrapping for any purchases made in the Surry Hills village on the day.
There's a good chance you'll be hiding from the weather the next few days, as heavy rainfall and even flooding are expected to impact residents in both New South Wales and Queensland. With some predictions warning of rainfall reaching triple figures, SES NSW crews are on standby, warning about dangerous downpours in northern and north-western NSW. So far, flood warnings have been issued for parts of the Mid North Coast, Hunter and North West Slopes, with minor to moderate flooding likely from late Wednesday and isolated major flooding considered possible. Elsewhere, the SES also warns of possible moderate flooding in the Hunter and Colo River catchments from Thursday morning. "We're sending aviation assets, high clearance vehicles and crews into the areas likely to be impacted by this rainfall," said NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Colin Malone. "While we're prepared for an increased volume of calls for assistance, we ask the community to prepare too." View this post on Instagram A post shared by YIAGA (@yiaga.au) With the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting significant rainfall across much of the east coast from Wednesday, the 24-hour rainfall prediction stands at 40–90 millimetres set to drench the region. Sydney has already experienced its wettest start to August since 1998; waterlogged land cannot soak up new rainfall, leading to more severe run-off that can cause river levels to rise quickly. Fortunately, the cold front bringing these wild conditions is expected to abate from Friday. "We'd like to remind people that flash flooding can occur suddenly and without warning," said Assistant Commissioner Malone. "Please never, under any circumstance, drive through floodwaters. If you come across a flooded road, turn around and find another way." Stay up to date with the latest weather warnings at the Bureau of Meteorology website.
Rosé lovers, listen up. Martin Place's luxurious 940-capacity restaurant Botswana Butchery is celebrating International Rosé Day with a week-long deal pertaining to the popular pale pink wine. Between Monday, June 19–Sunday, June 25, the multi-storey venue will be giving patrons the chance to try three different rosés that are usually reserved for the by-the-bottle menu. Whether you're heading in for lunch or for dinner, the massive inner-city eatery will be offering a three-drink rosé flight across the seven days. Taste your way through Mazi GCM, Rockburn Stolen Kiss and Chateau Peyrol for $29 per person. While Botswana Butchery is known for its impressive cuts of meat, it also has plenty of top-notch seafood selections to pair with your rosé, including oysters with your choice of dressing or mignonette, Port Lincoln bluefin tuna and New Zealand Ora King salmon. Or you can throw caution to the wind and partner your flight with a signature selection from the Butcher's Block section of the menu. Venue images: Sander Dalhuisen.
I have been to Ching-a-Lings many a time, yet never can I remember precisely where it is. Despite its entrance being located on Oxford Street, Ching-a-Lings has an almost Harry Potter-esque ability to disguise its entrance from the eyes of the public. All I can ever remember is that it's kinda near an Indian restaurant. To avoid looking lost, I recommend counting the building numbers in a nonchalant manner from the opposite side of the street. Ching-a-Lings was one of the first small bars to pop up a couple of years ago and it has stuck, because it's good and it's friendly. There's nothing that makes you feel like you're wearing the wrong shoes or sipping the wrong drink when you walk in. Most importantly, it's not ostentatious and there's no gimmick. That's why people love the place and keep coming back. The whole thing is a little bit industrial, with a dark staircase you ascend only by following the shadows of the feet in front of you. You emerge upstairs to exposed brick walls, a recycled bar, people reposing on couches and a DJ pumping out some rather fine beats in the corner. You'll find more people hanging out on the deck, which is a little on the slender side. While there's nothing amazing out there, it's simple, well-designed and, as one of my friends has often pointed out, a very good spot to watch the bats fly over the city in summer. One of the nicest things about Ching-a-Lings is that its drinks are unpretentious. Wine and beer are pretty standard, nothing special, but Ching-a-Lings is a chilled place and it all fits with the vibe. Because while it's great to have bars in Sydney that have three hundred types of wine and cocktails mixed from strawberry and pixie tears, it's also nice just to go somewhere and not have to stress about what you're ordering. You come with good company, pull up a couch or a bench outside, and while away a couple of hours while Oxford Street seethes and pulses below you.
For more than 20 years, Il Baretto served up its pappardelle with duck ragu and just the right amount of hipster charm on Bourke Street. Earlier this year, in the midst of the global pandemic, it suddenly shut up shop — but, thankfully, it's just about to make a triumphant return. The Italian diner is reopening on Oxford Street in Paddington on Friday, October 9. Many of its signature dishes are excitingly making a comeback, including, yes, that ragu, as well as the spaghetti alle vongole, the meatballs and the saltimbocca alla romana. But, apart from a very similar black-and-white Il Baretto sign, the setup and fit-out is going to be a little different. Instead of its own space, Il Baretto 2.0 is going to be located out the back of Solotel's Paddo Inn, in the former dining room space. It'll have the "same unpretentious, relaxed charm" — so we're told — but we doubt it'll be a cash-only and handwritten-menu-on-paper affair. The restaurant will also have a bigger drinks offering with a list of around 11 Italian and Australian wines. The hospitality giant's front bar will remain open and continue to serve up spritzes and blood orange negronis, but it'll also start serving up bar snacks alla Il Baretto. Expect the likes of the bruschetta al pomodore, salame norcia and beef carpaccio. [caption id="attachment_661400" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leticia Almeida[/caption] Despite the move, owner Gabriella Fedeli says Il Baretto will still be laidback and affordable. "We have always had a 'no fuss', 'simple' and 'traditional' approach to the way we do things, " Fedeli said in a statement. "The attitude and style of the place is not something that I want to change. I have always liked the fact that we are a broad-church for all types of customers – families, corporates, musicians – whoever. Our price and manner of service is intended to be for everyone." It's still a couple of weeks until you can figuratively dive into a bowl of ragu, but you can already plan ahead and make a reservation. With capacity limits and Il Baretto's popularity, we're expecting nights will fill up super fast. Find Il Baretto at 338 Oxford Street, Paddington (entry via William St) from Friday, October 9. It'll be open from 12pm–3pm Wednesday–Sunday and 5.30–10pm Tuesday–Sunday. Top image: Gabriella Fedeli by Steven Woodburn
Following its win at the 2021 Wineslinger Awards, P&V Paddington is throwing a an all-day party on Sunday, December 12 to launch the latest edition of Richie Harkham and Harkham Wine's Shibuya Meltdown semillon. Shibuya Meltdown was created to commemorate a 2018 trip to Japan that Harkham went on with a group of friends, and the vino has since become a fan-favourite of the small-batch winemaker. It's now in its third year, so P&V is throwing celebrating the wine at its Oxford Street outpost. Alongside pours of the 2021 tipple from Mike Bennie and co, there'll also be rare wines from the P&V cellar and a special food menu for the day. The eats will be handled by Morgan McGlone, who'll be cooking up a selection of tasty treats that pay homage to Japanese convenience store snacks such as egg sandos, corn dogs and chicken karaage. The event will kick off at midday and will run until close. If you want to ensure you nab yourself a spot, book a seat at the P&V Paddington website. Images: Maclay Heriot.
Portside at the Sydney Opera House welcomes a new addition this summer, with The Blanc Bar popping up until Monday, February 4. Take in those iconic harbour views while sipping on the bar's champagne or gin cocktail offerings — or both. For eats, a French-inspired menu features limited nibbles that pair with the bar's beverages. Think ocean trout with cucumber jelly, native lime and elderflower dressing, or Sydney rock oysters with verjus vinaigrette. Plus, there'll be DJs on the decks all night long, adding to the opulent party atmosphere. It's all part of the world premiere of Blanc de Blanc Encore, which is taking over the Opera House's Studio until March 9. The extravagant circus-cabaret comes from the original Blanc team and promises to immerse the audience in a night of old-world Parisian glamour and risqué performance. Images: Daniel Boud.
When 2021 began, it did so with hopes for a bright, fun-filled, restriction-free year after months of lockdowns — and now it's ending the exact same way. Despite the rollercoaster of a year we've had, one shining light has been a bunch of new restaurant openings of epic proportions. From fried quail at a Catalan-inspired vermouth bar and eatery to addictive Mexican brunch in a stunning openair courtyard, this year's new restaurant offerings have been truly impressive and exceptionally tasty. Here are out personal favourites for you to add to your culinary bucket list and make a beeline to this summer.
The fact that Westpac Openair Cinema plays films is right there in its name, but movies aren't the only reason to stop by. Almost anything can grace the towering screen at Mrs Macquaries Point each summer, backdropped by spectacular panoramic views, and it'd be worth a visit. But this outdoor spot to see a flick doesn't ever slouch when it comes to its movie picks. Fresh from announcing its 2024 dates — aka Wednesday, January 10—Tuesday, February 20 — Westpac Openair Cinema has now revealed the first three films that are on the program for its upcoming season. The full lineup will be unveiled on Monday, November 27, but for now an impressive trio of titles has been locked in: Ferrari, Next Goal Wins and Poor Things. Michael Mann hasn't had a movie flicker across the big screen since 2015's Blackhat, so the fact that that's changing with a picture that also gives the world Adam Driver (65) as a race car driver-turned-sports car entrepreneur — that'd be Ferrari — is big news. At Westpac Openair Cinema, you'll be able to see it on a particularly hefty screen. With Next Goal Wins, audiences can check out Taika Waititi's new movie, which is a comedy based on the 2014 documentary of the same name. The details might ring a bell if you're a fan of soccer and you remember the American Samoan team's big 2001 defeat. Competing against Australia in a qualifying match two decades back, the squad lost 31–0. Cue the hiring of Dutch American coach Thomas Rongen, who Michael Fassbender (The Killer) plays in Waititi's movie. As for Poor Things, it gets Emma Stone (Cruella) reuniting with Greek Weird Wave director Yorgos Lanthimos after 2018's excellent The Favourite, all for a spin on Frankenstein. The film adapts Alasdair Grey's 1992 award-winning novel, but the parallels with Mary Shelley's mother-of-all horror greats are as obvious as a bolt of lightning. The focus: Bella Baxter, a woman resurrected by an unorthodox scientist, distinctive in her mannerisms afterwards and eager to learn about a world that isn't quite sure how to react. As for what else might pop up at the beloved openair picture palace with a vista over the city, the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, the team behind the event has posted on social media about Barbie, Oppenheimer and Past Lives, so fingers crossed that they make the cut when the complete lineup drops. Cross your toes as well if you'd love a Barbenheimer double. The Westpac Openair Cinema crew has also mentioned a few titles that it's still thinking about from its 2023 run, which you could take as a hint. On the list: Tár, Elvis, Jackie Brown and the OG Top Gun. [caption id="attachment_700088" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Westpac OpenAir Sydney[/caption] The event's array of dining experiences hasn't been announced as yet, including whether if Kitchen by Mike will be behind the cinema's meals again. As happens every year, tickets are likely to go quickly when they go on sale on Monday, December 11. Across the summer of 2018–19, more than 40,000 tickets sold within the first two days of pre-sale, for instance — so put it in your diary ASAP. [caption id="attachment_648330" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fiora Sacco[/caption] Westpac Openair 2024 runs from Wednesday, January 10—Tuesday, February 20. The program will be announced on Monday, November 27, with tickets on sale on Monday, December 11 — check back here then for further details. Top image: Andrew Maccoll.
Poland is approximately 15,500 kilometres away from Sydney. That's a 24-hour flight and a ten-hour time difference. Despite that, it's an incredibly widespread nation – almost a third of all Polish people live outside of Poland. To showcase the country's proud history, in 1975 the PolArt festival began in Sydney, celebrating all elements of Polish culture, including art, dance, theatre, literature and music. It happens every three years and is hosted in a different city every time, and now, after 19 years, it returns to its roots in Sydney. Starting on Tuesday, December 27 and running until Friday, January 6, PolArt will be spread across 60 events with over 700 cast members and artists celebrating all things Poland. The pinnacle of the city-wide festival is The Grand Tour of Poland, a headline event held in the Darling Harbour's ICC on Tuesday, January 3, from 7.30 to 10.15pm. This massive dance performance is inspired by village life of yesteryear. There will be more dance performances at the Concourse Chatswood and Riverside Paramatta. For the musically inclined, three concerts across the CBD explore Polish baroque, international classical and Polish pop at Town Hall and the Tom Mann Theatre. And for a taste of Polish nightlife, a series of parties will also be running throughout the festival – they'll be headlined by the Sparkling Sylwester New Year's Eve Party which bills itself as the biggest Polish party in Aussie history. PolArt Sydney runs from Tuesday, December 27 2022 to Friday, January 6 2023, with over 60 events taking place across Sydney. For more information on the program and to get tickets, head to the website.
Five years after closing, and following two unsuccessful attempts to revive it (as Cali Club and Kings Cross Pavilion), World Bar is returning to Sydney — but just for one night. The legendary Kings Cross nightclub was a key part of Sydney's nightlife and live music scene for 18 years before it closed in 2018 following the disastrous consequences of the lockout laws. Now, the team is getting back together for a takeover of Kings Cross Hotel. It's all going down on Saturday, November 18, nearly five years to the day that the original club closed. The takeover will be bringing throwback tunes to all four levels of the William Street pub — and, most importantly, there will be teapots. Whether they will be at 2018 prices is yet to be seen. Each level of Kings Cross Hotel will be celebrating a different iteration of World Bar, with club nights like The Wall, Banquet, Mum and Cake all being given their own floors. The lineup of DJs, producers and live musicians features plenty of World Bar regulars, including sets from Stoney Roads DJs and Under CTRL DJs on the Cakes level; a b2b set from The Wall mainstays Badrapper, Enschway and Made by Tsuki; a secret special guest on the Banquet level and the World Bar All-Stars at the Main Bar. The takeover will kick off at 8pm and rage on until the early hours of the morning. Whether you were a regular at The Wall or you never had a chance to experience the storied multi-level club, this is a reunion you don't want to miss. Tickets have sold out online, but there will be limited door spots from 8pm — so get down early and you'll be able to sneak in.
This year the CBD isn’t the only place where you can indulge in seasonal shenanigans. On December 13 and 14, twelve of the city’s villages will get their Christmas spirit on, with free drinks, free food, roving performers, in-store events, seriously discounted gifts and visits from Santa. More than 200 retail outlets are getting on the sleigh. If you’re in the market for a unique, arty gift and can make it to Darlo this weekend, drop into the creatives’ market, which is popping up at Spunky Bruiser and Soto Smith. Elsewhere in the village, Alfie’s Friend Rolfe will hold all-day parties, with drinks, nibbles and giveaways; CIRCA75 invite you to visit their holiday selfie booth; Maaike will host ‘create your own Christmas crate top’ workshops; Lotus Pod will be handing out double passes to Govinda’s for every $150 spent; and substantial discounts will be happening at Route 66, Rouse Phillips, Core, Haus of Heidi and Wheels and Doll Baby. Just around the corner, the Paddington Inn will be keeping tired shoppers refreshed with $18 cocktail jugs and $22 slow meals, served with red wine. Numerous stores in Paddo will be getting festive with discounts and giveaways, including Bounce, where every visitor will receive $40 in Bounce Bucks; Ariel Books, where every purchase will score free lollies and every 20th one a present; and Pelle, where each pair of upscaled designer shoes or vintage accessory will come with a complimentary gift. And up in Potts Point, there’ll be free coconut water with every $50 spent at Adora, complimentary coffee with every meal at Marcelle, gift wrapping at no extra charge at Architext and 25% off DOV’s vibrant, colourful teapots for two. There’s also a villages-wide Instagram comp going on, which might see you jetting off to some long dreamt-of destination. Simply take a shot of your favourite shop window and tag it #sydxmas #bestwindow, for a chance to win a $2,000 QANTAS travel voucher. The business responsible for the most-tagged window will score $5,000 worth of adventures with Red Balloon. Both prizes are courtesy of American Express. To find out more about what’s happening in Darlinghurst, Paddington and Potts Point this weekend, visit the City of Sydney’s Christmas in the Villages website.
A relic of Sydney's old public transport network is being transformed this month as part of a new art exhibition from creative collective Osmosis. Chinatown's former monorail station is set to become the city's latest gallery space as Osmosis takes over for an 11-day exhibition of sound and light. Opening in the 1980s, Sydney's monorail delivered people to the Powerhouse Museum and Sydney Aquarium up until its deinstallation in 2013. While it's since been replaced by the much-maligned Light Rail, the monorail is a source of nostalgia for many Sydneysiders, especially those that link it to their first memories of the Sydney CBD. Osmosis is looking to play on this nostalgia — transforming the unused space through an immersive light and sound display. Within the space, attendees will be met with an ambient soundtrack of field recordings, sound samples and melodies taken from recognisable songs from the past two decades. The soundscape, created by composer Mara Schwerdtfeger, is designed to conjure nostalgia and provide comfort following the tumultuous past 12 months. Accompanying the sound will be a dynamic lighting display created by multimedia artist George Webeck. Webeck's light show will move across the building's angled windows and architecture throughout the looping 30-minute experience. Located at Level 5, Number One Dixon Shopping Centre, entry will be free with no bookings required. Drinks will be on hand courtesy of event sponsors Never Never, Konpira, Maru, Yulli's and Fever Tree. If you're looking to take a peak behind the exhibition's curtain, Schwerdtfeger, Webeck and Creative Director Marco Rinaldi will be giving an artist talk, discussing the activation on Wednesday, May 26.
It might be winter, but that doesn't mean date nights should stop. Especially when Luna Park is now a winter wonderland. For yet another season, Winterfest has transformed the fun fair into a haven of ice skating, live performers, piping hot treats — and occasional snow. But don't just take our word for it. To give you a chance to experience this miracle for yourself — and your squeeze — we're giving away two wintry date nights. Come up lucky and you'll score a double unlimited rides pass, plus $50 to spend on food and drinks. In between gliding around the rink, riding the ferris wheel, tearing your way down the Hair Raiser at 80 kilometres per hour and meeting Santa, you'll be feasting on roasted chestnuts, spiced popcorn and gingerbread cookies. Meanwhile, for drinks, you can expect mulled wine and hot chocolates galore – including one spiked with Baileys and another with peppermint, giant marshmallows and whipped cream. If you're keen to treat your date to a wintry night out, enter your details below to be in the running. [competition]730136[/competition]
Only a week after Sydney hospitality giant Merivale announced its foray into the Melbourne food scene, those expansion plans have been put firmly on hold. With 70 NSW venues in its stable, the group was scheduled to bring its newly launched delivery service Merivale at Home to Melbourne this August. But, after some less-than-enthusiastic responses from some of the city's already struggling hospitality businesses, it's decided to hit pause on a local launch for the time being, with a Merivale spokesperson telling Concrete Playground the move was "an oversight". The platform delivers dishes from some of Merivale's most popular restaurants for diners to enjoy at home. Sydneysiders can order rotating menus from the likes of Italian diner Totti's, renowned Cantonese haunt Mr Wong and farm-to-table favourite Fred's, dropped to their door "nearly ready to eat". And Melburnians were soon to be offered the same choices via a local rollout of the service. But given that COVID-19 restrictions and a second round of Stage 3 lockdowns have left much of Victoria's hospitality scene struggling, the interstate company's decision was called out by many as being tone-deaf. A since deleted launch announcement posted to Merivale's Instagram page drew plenty of ire from local operators. While a few fans showed excitement at the prospect, most gave it a resounding thumbs down, labelling the move "selfish and immoral" and "insensitive". https://www.instagram.com/p/CDF4n_7AXUm/ "It was a wak [sic] move and I'm glad they've pulled the pin on it," 1800-Lasagne's Joey Kellock told Concrete Playground. "Just so tone-deaf and out of touch with what is happening in Melbourne. A very poor reading of the room." Other local hospitality names echoed the sentiment, including chef-owner of Annam and Bia Hoi, Jerry Mai. "When I first heard, I was both angry and surprised," Mai told CP. "I know we are all trying to survive right now, but there is a delicate ecosystem in this industry that was overlooked." Mai also pointed out the potential impacts such a decision might have for local growers, farmers and producers, with Merivale CEO Justin Hemmes suggesting the Melbourne launch would support the group's existing suppliers. "I was saddened by not only Merivale's timing on this but the fact that produce from another state would be getting shipped into Victoria at this time, with our local producers doing it tough," Mai said. What is clear is that Melbourne's hospo industry sure could do without the extra interstate competition right now. Recent data from a City of Melbourne survey showed a worrying 15 percent of inner-city hospitality businesses either won't reopen or aren't sure they'll be able to, highlighting the industry's need for as much local support as possible. Merivale has heeded the response from down south and announced its Melbourne plans have been postponed, with the Merivale spokesperson telling Concrete Playground, "We didn't anticipate the unintended consequences of expanding into Melbourne at this time." "It was an oversight on our behalf and as soon as we heard from some of the local operators, we hit pause and decided to hold off launching Merivale at Home until Melbourne is back on its feet and hospitality venues are open again," the spokesperson said. A new launch date is yet to be determined. In the meantime, you can continue supporting local hospitality businesses by dining with them at home. Here's our latest round-up of takeaway and delivery options here in Melbourne. To find out more about Merivale at Home, head to the website. Top image: Mr Wong
If you're looking to break up your work week with a luxe lunch trip to one of Sydney's best restaurants, inner-city French diner Restaurant Hubert is offering up the perfect excuse with the return of its Three Martini Lunch. Head to the Blight Street spot from midday Wednesday–Friday to enjoy martinis for just $11. You can order your martini with vodka or gin, shaken or stirred. The Hubert team will make it however you prefer. Elevating the lunchtime special is live jazz and the option of adding steaks and half lobsters to your midweek meal. Hubert's a la catre menu and specials will be on offer for lunch, plus there'll be daily performances from local jazz musicians. The Three Martini Lunch is a tradition that sprung up in New York with mid-century Wall Street types indulging in these lavish lunches. Former US President Gerald Ford even called them "the epitome of American efficiency". To ensure you nab yourself a spot, book a table at the Swillhouse website. [caption id="attachment_673758" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cole Bennetts[/caption] Top image: Daniel Boud
Red Bull's world-touring celebration of DJ culture, Back2Beyond, is touching down in Australia for the very first time — and CC:DISCO! is curating and headlining the event when it takes over Sydney's Roundhouse on Saturday, November 15. Known for her infectious energy behind the decks, the Melbourne-born selector has handpicked a lineup of local and international talent for a one-night-only celebration of electronic music and creative collaboration. Joining her on the bill are Moktar, RONA. and Ayebatonye — each bringing their own distinctive sound to the stage. View this post on Instagram A post shared by CC:DISCO! (@ccdisco) Moktar will fuse club and techno with traditional Arabic instrumentation, RONA. will channel the vast desert landscapes of her home, and Ayebatonye will deliver an eclectic mix of global electronic influences. Together, they'll perform across three stages in rotating back-to-back sets, creating an unbroken musical journey from start to finish. "I'm really excited to come home and curate the first-ever Red Bull Back2Beyond in Australia," says CC:DISCO!. "I've chosen some real icons and I love that it's far from predictable — anything could happen. DJs should never stop learning from others, once you do that, it's all over." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Untitled Group (@untitledgroupau) The format of Back2Beyond breaks from the traditional DJ setup, placing the audience at the centre of the action. Artists rotate around a circular stage configuration, amplifying the communal energy and spontaneity that defines DJ culture. Having previously hosted editions in Paris and Detroit — featuring The Blessed Madonna, HAAi and CRYSTALLMESS — Red Bull's Back2Beyond arrives in Sydney with CC:DISCO! at the helm, marking a milestone moment for Australia's dance community. Red Bull Back2Beyond will take over Sydney's Roundhouse on Saturday, November 15, 2025. Tickets are on sale now — head to the website for more information. Images: Supplied.
When the foodie gods close a door, they often open a window. Such is the case with Devon on Danks. After two years of serving up 63° eggs and 8am soft serve sundaes, the beloved Waterloo café, a spinoff of Devon Cafe in Surry Hills, ceased service in mid-September. That's the bad news. The good news is that they've now added a new member to the Devon family, with a new permanent cafe at Barangaroo. Devon's new digs opened this week on the corner of Mercantile Walk and Scotch Row at Sydney's newest foodie Mecca. Of course, it's far from the first big gastronomic get for The Streets of Barangaroo: Anason, Belles Hot Chicken, Banksii, Lotus, Ume Burger, Rabbit Hole and RivaReno are just a few vendors that have started trading there this year. "It's where the big players are going with some great restaurants, and we felt like we are ready to take that next step," said owner Derek Puah. He also said that diners should expect something "a little different" from Devon 3.0. Now before you start fretting, that doesn't mean they'll be ditching their signature menu items. Rather, they're adding a bunch of new strings to their bow, including Asian style tapas and Japanese katsu sandwiches. Plus, to celebrate their opening, they'll be giving away free soft serve today — Tuesday, November 15, until noon. Hop to it. Devon Café is now open on the corner of Mercantile Walk and Scotch Row, Barangaroo. For more info, visit their Facebook page.
The inner west is a colourful place. The area has a vibrant community and is a hub for many Sydney creatives. So, it's no surprise, really, that the Inner West Council is throwing a neighbourhood arts festival this winter. After the success of EDGE GreenWay earlier this year, the council's 2019 EDGE program is celebrating local creatives once again ‚ this time in Sydenham. The suburb's creative hub is set to embrace the dark of winter with two weekends of art and performance. So, get ready to explore the area in a new and daring light. EDGE Sydenham will host a bunch of events over the weekend of August 2–4. That includes a huge opening night on Friday, August 2 with a bunch of multi-sensory exhibitions, giant light projections and street art that explore everything from a sustainable future to Sydenham's industrial history. That weekend will also feature festival highlight EDGE Creative Trails: a winding art trail across 41 galleries, studios and artist-run initiatives. Once you've had your fill of art, you can get into silent short films and live music from an improvising orchestra. There'll be a bunch of emerging artists fusing sustainable art and electronica, too. The festival's jam-packed program culminates the following Saturday, August 10 with a huge evening event at Sydenham Green. From 4–10.30pm, the skate park will be transformed into an electronic wonderland, with roller derby, food trucks and The Fire Garden that will be lit up with fire-based installations, live music and camp fires. Rounding out the festivities will be a fire-fuelled finale that will warm up the night's sky, kicking off as the sun goes down. EDGE Sydenham will take place over two weekends between Friday, August 2 and Saturday, August 10. Catch the festival's full lineup here. Image: Grant Robinson
Everybody grab your tequila, grab your limes, its go-time. Margaritas are one of many great things to come out of Mexico and The Norfolk will be honouring this glorious drink with a day of laidback fun. Bring a few mates, settle in with some margarita popcorn and drinks to celebrate both Fri-yay and the sacred mix of tequila, triple sec and lime. $4 Rio Bravo tinnies, $20 lagerita jugs and $10 margaritas should be enough to keep you happy. Did we mention there’s going to be ten flavours of margarita? Sign. Us. Up. It’s not a margarita party without a mariachi band, so don’t forget your rhythm at home. We reckon that after a few margs, you’ll reach a whole new level of dancing prowess. The night will also see the return of the hot nachos eating competition. It’s going to be a good ol' time at The Norfolk. ¡Órale! To enter the hot nachos eating comp, email Mark at mark@thenorfolk.com. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
If the gang is due for a catch-up, or you're just looking for an excuse to get out of the office, put a big red circle around Tuesday, November 6. In case you've forgotten, it's Melbourne Cup Day — otherwise known as the only weekday you can (maybe) get away with not doing much work. And, if you're going to skive off work, consider Criniti's Italian Restaurant as your retreat for the day. The restaurant is offering a selection of three-hour packages featuring free-flowing drinks and a selection of Italian bites. Your first step is to pick which option is more your style: if you're imagining a sit-down meal, the three-course banquet on offer at Darling Harbour and Parramatta will fill the brief. Start with arancini, mozzarella sticks or juicy garlic prawns, before tucking into three-meat rigatoni, vegetable pizza or mixed skewers. For dessert, you have a choice of tiramisu, pannacotta and ricotta cheesecake. Or, for a more social waterside affair, opt for the Woolloomooloo venue, which will be serving up a free-flowing canapé menu — think tomato bruschetta, popcorn prawns, mini sliders and assorted slices of woodfired pizza. And for dessert, you can take a pick from chocolate tiramisu cups, lemon curd tarts and coconut pannacotta. Both packages cost $129 per person and include three hours of Chandon, wine and beer. Don't think it's all just food and drink, though. There'll be prizes for the most dapper and best dressed including Champagne magnums, food hampers and restaurant vouchers. Plus there'll be live screenings of the action happening in Melbourne on the day, too. Gather your gang and book your spot now through Criniti's website.
Thanks a bunch, Spunk. I was looking forward to the usual asscheeks plus photocopier, ennui and horniness Christmas party shenanigans this year. It's one of the three times annually that Jonathon Franzen's "it's not depression, it's clarity" line about acute negativity is true. As for the other two — January 25 (the anniversary of the final episode of Miami Vice ever) and, well, what do you really need to know my birthday for, anyway? Tangents aside, record company folk you aren't my bosses and so you don't strictly count, but you've put a dent in my low, low December party expectations with this great venue / boss lineup Christmas party claptrap. Returning for his first Sydney performance in a really long time is Jack Ladder, as well as Leader Cheatah, Holly Throsby playing a DJ set, plus "very special guests", all at a lovely small bar with a charmingly lenient cucumber and gin and tonic policy. Now I only have myself to blame if I have a crap time. UPDATE: After weeks of speculation and amazing sets at Meredith, Nashville's two finest bands, JEFF The Brotherhood and Those Darlins, have been announced as very special guests. Jesus' attendance is still unconfirmed.
If you like piña coladas, then sipping your favourite drink doesn't usually involve drinking margaritas as well. The key word: usually. From Monday, January 8–Sunday, February 11 at El Camino Cantina, the two cocktails are joining forces in a range of margarita-piña colada hybrids. Meet the Tex-Mex chain's ritacoladas, which are exactly what they sound like — and keep levelling up the brand's approach to margs. As Gelato Messina does with frozen desserts, El Camino Cantina takes inspiration far and wide from other beloved foodstuffs. In the past, candy-flavoured 'ritas, Long Island iced tea-flavoured margs, soft drink-influenced tipples and Vodka Cruiser versions have all been on the menu. Curious? On offer at the chain's Sydney venues in The Rocks, Manly Wharf, Entertainment Quarter and Westfield Miranda: nine flavours of ritacoladas in 15-ounce ($24) and 24-ounce ($28) servings. Because pairing two cocktails in one beverage isn't enough, each drink also combines two flavours, keeping coconut a staple in every option. So, you can go for blueberry and coconut, peach and coconut, watermelon and coconut, and grape and coconut — or green apple, lychee, passionfruit, mango and strawberry with coconut as well. The different varieties will be on rotation, but you'll always have at least six to choose from across the five weeks.
With ever-smarter phones and all-consuming social media at our fingertips at all times, our lives have never been so saturated with images. Cold Intimacy, a new group exhibition at Anna Schwartz Gallery encourages us to reconsider the meaning of this very contemporary phenomenon. Together, four artists will quite rightly call into question the cultural dominance of the digital image. Curated by the newly appointed Melissa Loughnan — who has previously founded the Melbourne art spaces Utopian Slumps and Slopes — the show brings together the innovative works of four Berlin-based artists. Expect sculpture and video from Alicia Frankovich and an installation by Simon Denny, (both New Zealanders), as well as the multi-form works of Netherlands-born Marlie Mul and Denmark's Nina Beier. Despite their differences in artistic media, the pieces all highlight a shared interest in the value of the digital image and its place in today's internet culture. Image: Alicia Frankovich.
If you thought Sydney's Tramsheds had squeezed in all the foodie goodness it could possibly fit, then you'd better think again. The folks behind the huge new Harold Park development have big plans for Artisan Lane, a new flexi-space at the heart of the recently-opened foodie precinct, that's playing host to a mix of markets, workshops, master classes, and innovative food pop-ups — including a new European-inspired market. Boasting two fully functional kitchens, and room for 76 people, Artisan Lane will be serving up knowledge feasts, as well as the edible kind, with a lineup of classes set to cover everything from butchery and fish filleting, to brewing beer. But if you're more of the market-minded foodie type, Artisan Lane is also the setting for a new European-inspired Sunday market, showcasing seven local traders each weekend from 8.30am till 4pm. Discerning foodies will be able to get their hot little hands on a grand array of nosh, like Pepe Saya's handmade butter, Sri Lankan dishes from Hopper Sadé, and stunning floral works by Thorny Roses Florists. While you're there, make use of our handy guide to Tramsheds' culinary offerings. Image: Steven Woodburn.
From humble food truck beginnings, Melbourne Greek doughnut-slinger Lukumades opened its first bricks-and-mortar spot in West Melbourne in 2017. Now, it's about to bring its deliciously chewy on the inside, golden and crispy on the outside dessert to Sydney. Slated to open on Thursday, May 2, the Lukumades Sydney outpost will be located in DUO Central Park — the plant-covered skyscraper opposite the eyesore that is UTS Tower —dishing up a modern spin on traditional Greek loukoumades. Cult favourites such as the Oreo Balls smothered in white chocolate and served with a scoop of cookies and cream gelato — and the White Nutella Balls topped with salted caramel sauce and crushed biscuits — will be on the menu, as well as more traditional doughnuts dusted with icing sugar or dipped in honey and cinnamon. To drink, Lukumades specially roasted blend of coffee by Sydney-based William De Nass roasters will be available, as well as milkshakes, traditional Greek soft drinks and tsikoudia — a Greek grape-based spirit. Lukumades is not just expanding to Sydney, either. As well as Perth and a second store in Melbourne, the brand has its sights set globally — thanks to its recent franchising — with stores in the United States and Cyprus anticipated to open by the end of the year. Lukumades is slated to open on Thursday, May 2 at Shop 2, DUO Central Park, 38 Broadway Chippendale. It will be open from 10am–11pm daily.
Looking to do something a little different this weekend? Sick of the usual coffee, brunch and bev plans? Make tracks to Glebe. This inner west gem has a lot more on offer than just your standard bars, coffee spots, restaurants and shops (though there are quite a lot of good ones). To spice up your weekends, we've joined forces with Sydney's newest escape room, Myst, to hunt down all of the more sensory experiences you can have around this part of town. A Dracula-themed escape room, a brisk bayside jog, live music gigs and artisan finds galore — these ten places, dotted throughout Glebe and its surrounds, are sure to awaken your senses. So go on, skip the usual long black and eggs benny breakfast routine and get to Glebe. GATHER YOUR CREW TO SLAY VAMPIRES AND HUNT FOR GOLD Glebe is now home to Myst — a brand new and kinda spooky escape room complex. Yes, complex. Here you'll find not only the three themed escape rooms but several board game rooms and an immersive multi-room theatre experience, too. Slay a vampire in Dracula's Dark Awakening, search for hidden treasure in Pirates' Gold or escape from an ancient crypt in the Cursed Tomb room. If that's not enough, your crew can also join a three-hour, case-cracking murder mystery theatre, centred on the Qiang Dynasty. Myst doesn't skimp out on the details, either. Each room has custom-designed props and quality interactive technology to make for a fully immersive (and fully spooky) experience. EAT YOUR WAY AROUND THE WORLD Glebe's main drag is dotted with cuisines from all over the world, many of which are under-represented in other parts of inner Sydney. Here, you can eat with your hands at Ethiopian restaurant Jambo Jambo, with its mix of meat and vegetable curries atop plate-sized injera (fermented, spongy buckwheat flatbread). Plus, you can get pots of Ethiopian coffee roasted tableside for a tenner. Or, east from Ethiopia and dig into street food straight from Colombo at Dish Sri Lankan Street Food — the a la carte version of the Toongabbie namesake. You'll get curry and egg-topped hoppers, lamb and sambal murtabak (stuffed pancake), fish dosa and short rib and goat biriyani, just to name a few. And if you're after a quick bite, make your way even further east to Tea Square Cafe, a hole-in-the-wall spot dishing up traditional street eats from Hong Kong, like curried fish balls, red bean mochi French toast and bubble teas. SCORE ARTISANAL FINDS AT THE GLEBE MARKETS One of the best markets around town, The Glebe Markets take over Glebe Public School every Saturday, from 10am–4pm. Each week, the markets host more than 50 stalls selling everything from handmade jewellery and vintage and second-hand threads to house plants and antique homewares. For food, think vegan cupcakes, cane juice, arepas, dumplings and, of course, gozleme galore to fuel you as you sift through all the artisanal goodies. Plus, local musicians take over the lawn from noon–3pm with live tunes. And if you really want a refresh, you can even Marie Kondo your wardrobe and set up your own stall with your mates. FIND YOUR INNER BALANCE AT A YOGA CLASS To awaken your senses from the inside out, head down the road to Balance Yoga. This studio on Glebe Point Road offers classes every day of the week and even has a donation class on Wednesdays from 12.30–1.30pm for those trying to get your dose of hatha on a budget. Housed within a beautiful heritage building, Balance Yoga seeks to make yoga accessible to all. Mats are provided for each practice and classes range in difficulty, suitable for all levels. The studio also hosts regular workshops and yoga retreats throughout the year. CATCH A FREE GIG Being close to both Sydney Uni and UTS, Glebe is a lively hotspot, with a few places where you can catch a live gig — plenty of which are free. Start off at Sappho Books, Cafe and Wine Bar for one of its regular evening gigs and poetry readings in the backyard garden. Occurring a few days a week, Sappho gigs are perfect for kicking back with a glass (or two) of wine, a couple plates of tapas and engaging with an eclectic mix of acts. And if you're in the area on Sundays, don't skip The Little Guy, which hosts live music under the stairs every week, from 6–9pm, with drink specials all day and night. GET CREATIVE AT THIS CO-WORKING SPACE If you're looking to get creative, there is plenty going on at The Works Glebe — a three-storey warehouse that is both a co-working hub and showroom for artists of all kinds. With The Works Showroom, the space is as much a retail spot for designers to exhibit their works, as much as it is a creative space, with exhibitions showing regularly. There's also a pop-up store run by local brands and makers on premise. Open seven days a week, it's a go-to for one-of-a-kind and locally made gifts. Basically, any day you head to this multi-purpose creative hub, there'll be something going on. [caption id="attachment_653289" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould.[/caption] SEEK OUT GREENER PASTURES AND WATER VIEWS FOR DAYS The Glebe Foreshore Parks offer a very choice way of shaking up your routine. From Blackwattle Bay Park to Jubilee Park, you'll be surrounded by pleasant water views, grassy areas for a picnic and many a pooch to pet. The scenic trail is a popular spot among locals for strolling, jogging or biking. Come for the views; stay for the vibes. The tranquillity you'll find here truly feels like you've left Sydney and found your way to some coastal town by the bay. FEAST AT THE SYDNEY FISH MARKETS The largest seafood market in the southern hemisphere, the Sydney Fish Markets is a local go-to for freshly shucked oysters, grilled mornay lobster, fresh-as fish and chips and even sushi doughnuts — not to mention all the ultra-fresh seafood to cook at home. Open from 7am, the market sees nearly 55 tonnes of fresh seafood auctioned each day. If you're here to dine in, hit up one of the many stalls selling ready-to-eat dishes and opt for one of the outdoor tables for views across Blackwattle Bay or head upstairs for yum cha with a seafood focus and water views. GO FOR A (HEATED) DIP IN THE MIDDLE OF A PARK Victoria Park Pool is a favourite for inner-city locals who don't want to make the trek all the way to the beach. And hey, the 50-metre outdoor pool is also heated, so it's even better for winter swims. The pool is open from 6am on weekdays and from 7am on weekends, with entry starting at $6.60 for adults and $5 for students. Plus, there's a poolside gym that offers yoga sessions and group classes aplenty for an extra jolt of pre- or post-dip exercise. TRACK DOWN NICHE HOMEWARES Besides The Glebe Markets, the suburb has plenty to offer in the way of unique homewares, including its disproportionate (and very welcomed) number of bookstores with books both new and used. Of course there's Sappho and the neighbouring Gleebooks but there's also a bookshop dedicated to all things plants Florilegium. After you've stocked up on books to help you grow a green thumb (or just pretty coffee table literature), head to Mosir Life where you can nab handcrafted Japanese designs and trinkets to wear and display. Open only on Saturdays, this boutique stocks a range of wares — from delicate jewellery to homewares in ceramic, wood, glass and metal — all crafted by Japanese artisans. Shake up your routine starting at Glebe newcomer Myst escape room, then hit one of the above to continue your full refresh. Top image: Glebe Point Road by James Horan via Destination NSW
In the last year-and-a-bit, two of Asia's biggest cheese-based dessert chains have made their way to Sydney. Last year, we saw the opening of Japan's Uncle Tetsu, which was welcomed into the city with queues around the block and crowd control barriers. Since then, Malaysia's Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart has similarly cashed in on Sydney's love for cheese snacks by opening three locations around the city. Well, good thing you've increased your lactose tolerance, because Japan's Pablo is opening its first Australian store on George Street. The cheese tart consists of a crisp, buttery pastry that holds a wobbly, cream-cheese interior that you can have cooked in two ways: 'medium' or 'rare'. There are mini sizes and a matcha flavour too. Founded less than a decade ago in Osaka, Pablo is the brainchild of young entrepreneur Masamitsu Sakimoto. It began as an off-the-shelf, Western-inspired product but a business rejig ensured that there's now an oven in each store. And no, Pablo is not a copycat — they've already got 44 stores around Japan and 13 internationally. Their tarts aren't in the Hokkaido style, but, for all intents and purposes, are pretty similar. You can watch an excellently soundtracked video comparing the two here. Pablo opens on Tuesday, November 14 at midday, located at 605 George Street, Sydney (entrance on Goulburn Street), and will be open 11am–10pm, daily. FOr more information, visit their Facebook page.
World-famous vegan chef Matthew Kenney is about to open his very first eatery in Australia. In late March, he'll be popping across the Pacific from California to launch Alibi, which will be taking over the ground floor of Ovolo Woolloomooloo. Given that plant-based offerings are thin on the ground on the Finger Wharf, vegans should be high-fiving. Moreover, Kenney isn't just any old animal-free chef — he's an international legend. His TEDx talks have attracted masses of views and Food and Wine Magazine has listed him as one of America's Best New Chefs. Although the exact menu hasn't been revealed quite yet, we can tell you that it'll be big on creative combinations of fresh, local, seasonal ingredients. Kenney has a reputation for experimentation and innovation. He'll be working with Kasper Christensen, who'll also be rejigging the Ovolo's brekkie and room service menus. "I've had a long relationship with Australia and the timing was simply right," Kenney said. "The food scene is so vibrant here – great produce, chefs, sunshine... Ovolo came to me with the opportunity at the right time." To match Alibi's plant-based delights, there'll be a new drinks list, focused on Australian drops – both classic and boutique – as well as signature cocktails. Alibi will open in late March, on the ground floor of Ovolo Woolloomooloo, 6 Cowper Wharf Roadway.
There's a gazillion reasons to swing by Manly during the Australian Open of Surfing, be it world-class surfers and skaters, free outdoor concerts headlined by Hermitude or, if you're more concerned with eating and drinking, the Beach Club Pop-Up. For nine days during the beachside event, Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel will be jumping across the harbour to bring you free yoga lessons, $1 oyster hours, live art, acoustic sessions, film nights, DJs and piles of fresh summery surf-friendly food. On the lunch and dinner menu are poké (of both the salmon and veggie varieties), fish and chips battered with Manly's own 4 Pines beer, coconut-battered fish tacos and chicken skewers with a crunchy coconut shallot salad and pineapple chilli salsa. Breakfast — available on Saturdays and Sundays only — will be bringing you brekkie bowls, granola and smashed avo with pea sprouts and feta on sourdough. To make sure you dig into your food in comfort, the Hotel will be setting up a selection of its signature furniture. Think blue and white-striped umbrellas and cosy lounges. Entry is free. The Beach Club pop-up will be open from 11am till 10pm on weekdays and 9am till 10pm on weekends.
Autumn can often be the forgotten season. It's the time for apple picking and orange-hued leaves, but it just doesn't hold the same excitement as summer or winter. Matt Moran's Woollahra outpost, Chiswick, is finally giving these under-appreciated few months their time in the sun, though — with an autumn-inspired set menu dining experience taking over the venue's lush garden. Throughout April, Chiswick is collaborating with Four Pillars to turn its kitchen garden into a private dining experience, complete with a four-course vegetarian menu created by Head Chef Francois Poulard. The menu is designed as a fresh take on the farm-to-table concept, and each course is paired with a different Four Pillars cocktail or spitz. On arrival, guests will be taken on a tour of the kitchen garden before being seated for the dining experience. One the menu, you'll find a highlights from the Chiswick menu including heirloom tomato tart paired with a negroni spagliato; gnocchi with pumpkin and a tartufo; potatoes with anchovy, caramelised onion and a freezer martini; and blood plum crostata with Messina's jersey milk and a bloody shiraz gin old fashioned as a nightcap. As a memento for your time in the kitchen garden, diners will also take home a bottle of Chiswick's garden soda. The experience is open to groups of four, with bookings available at lunch and dinner Tuesday–Friday every week in April. The experience will set you back $150 per person, or $125 if you opt for non-alcoholic cocktails. The full menu and bookings are available at the Chiswick website. Images: Steve Woodburn.
We think the latest dessert craze may have just landed in Sydney. Demochi Donut has opened on the streets of Banksia, and owner Dennis Chan (Dirty Bird food truck) has somehow managed to fuse the airy, crispy elements of a doughnut with that chewy mochi texture — and we can't wait to get our hands on a whole box of 'em. Chan started working on these mochi masterpieces after finding a similar fusion doughnut served at a shop in Tokyo. He spent over five years perfecting his own recipe, and has finally released the hybrid sweet to the masses. To get your hands on one (or many), head out to Banksia every Friday and Saturday evening, when the Demochi Donut stand sets up outside the Banksia Hotel. The brand's signature honey-glazed doughnut will be available each weekend, alongside one specialty flavour that will change regularly. Some of the flavours you might come across include familiar mochi varieties like yuzu-mint, roasted black sesame and matcha, as well as more traditional doughnut flavours such as strawberry or chocolate glaze. Whackier varieties may include doughnuts frosted with cereal and milk and a fairy bread number. You can also grab savoury bites from the Dirty Bird food truck, which sits adjacent to Demochi and is serving up its much-loved hot wings and southern fried chicken burgers every weekend, too. We suggest getting there early, though, because these are bound to sell out. Down the line, you'll be able to snag Demochi across cafes all over Sydney, and a brick-and-mortar shop is also in the works, so keep an eye on this space. Find Demochi Donut at 286 Princes Highway, Banksia (next to the Banksia Hotel) every Friday and Saturday from 6–9pm. Keep an eye on the Instagram or Facebook for the latest flavours.
Goodgod Small Club fans listen up: a staple of Sydney dance floors in the 2010s is reuniting at Pleasures Playhouse on Friday, February 3 for a big nostalgic dance party. Halfway Crooks, the dynamic DJ duo consisting of Levins and Franco, will be breaking out the USBs and hitting the decks for one night only — bringing a signature set filled with big hip hop tunes and sing-alongs to the Haymarket venue. Running from 9pm–3am, the event will feature support sets from dance music tastemaker Yemi Sul and multi-hyphenate Sollyy. who has had a massive 12 months between his time behind the producer's booth, guest-hosting on Triple J and running his consistently sold-out Hotter Out West parties. While you couldn't have picked two better supports for this reunion, the focus of the night is sure to be Levins and Franco going back to back bringing partygoers what's sure to be a joyous set full of old-school hip hop, classics from the 2010s and hits of today. Be sure to nab tickets beforehand for $20, as they're sure to be hot property. In honour of the reunion, please enjoy this pixilated photo of a Halfway Crooks party uploaded to Concrete Playground in 2014: Top image: Pleasures Playhouse by Anna Hay.
In the trailer for Midsommar, a group of people trek through a forest, all saddled up with backpacks and sleeping bags. They're outside a Swedish town, with the locals putting on a mid-summer event. "It's like a crazy nine-day festival; it only happens every 90 years," visitor Dani (Florence Pugh) is told. As anyone who has ever seen a movie should know, this situation usually goes one of two ways: raucous festivities ensue, with friendships tested and lessons learned, or unnerving antics do instead. With Hereditary writer/director Ari Aster behind Midsommar, anyone who saw the 2018 horror hit will know that this flick is destined to fall into the latter category. The details are being kept scarce, even in the movie's just-released first trailer, with the film set to hit cinemas worldwide from early August this year. But if you're expecting another visibly dark and sinister flick from Aster, think again. Instead, Midsommar looks light, bright and filled with bohemian-looking folks — even as it seems to step firmly into creepy cult territory Story-wise, Dani is accompanied by her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor), a whole heap of people wearing white await their arrival and things aren't quite what they seem when the duo gets to their destination. The Good Place's William Jackson Harper and Black Mirror: Bandersnatch's Will Poulter also feature among the cast, and what this first sneak peek offers in the way of idyllic natural surroundings and flower crowns, it counters with glimpses of chilling rituals. Check out the nightmarish first trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0UWIya-O0s Midsommar opens in Australian cinemas on August 8.
In the film that bears her name, Wadjda (Waad Mohammed) resides within a system of oppression, yet refuses to accept her restrictions. On the cusp of adolescence, the ten-year-old rallies against her surroundings in Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, be it the strictness of her schooling or the expectations of her gender — appropriate interests, friends and public behaviour included. In class, Wadjda is admonished for laughing, leaving her head uncovered and trading forbidden items. At home, she watches her mother (Reem Abdullah) worry about her husband taking a second wife, and struggle with the rude driver who escorts her to work. In response, Wadjda's manifestation of rebellion comes in the humblest — and most age-appropriate — manner. She desires a green bicycle, but is told no. She wants to cycle in the street, but is strongly discouraged. She yearns to enjoy the same freedoms as her male counterparts, such as her neighbour, Abdullah (Abdullrahman Al Gohani). The feature's missive of female empowerment is evident in its protagonist, though its message is never bluntly handled. Wadjda, the film, carefully and thoughtfully presents the reality of the role of women in Saudi society, without hiding or heightening the difficulties. Wadjda, the character, remains a shining emblem of possibility and potential, her choices complex and considered, not easy or simple. Of course, Wadjda's on-screen statement and subversion bears the weight of its revolutionary off-screen status, as the first feature shot entirely in Saudi Arabia, and the first full-length film made by a female Saudi director. Again, writer/director Haifaa Al-Mansour (Who studied at the University of Sydney) remains subtle in her debut fictional effort, with documentary Women Without Shadows her sole other helming credit. Her story says it all, the parallels obvious but the narrative independently affecting. Lightness, rather than solemnity, provides the pervasive tone. Her images are plain and stark against a dusty background, yet her atmosphere is one of optimism — for the little things. The broader truth is not forgotten; indeed, as Wadjda moves towards triumph, the tale remains one of tragedy. Being able to ride a bike in the street is no small feat, though life in Saudi Arabia is repeatedly filled with similar — and often insurmountable — challenges. The non-professional cast incisively articulates the dichotomy between the feature's dream and the production's actuality, none more so than Waad Mohammed in her only film role to date. Her wide eyes and expressive face convey Wadjda's determination, but also her growing acceptance. Her performance is feisty and finessed in turn, straddling the line between youthful exuberance and dawning realisations. Mohammed's portrayal truly gets to the centre of the hopeful and heartbreaking feature: cognisant of limitations, but forever striving for change. https://youtube.com/watch?v=v-4kosdSXR8
You'll find big things in small packages at the St Kilda Film Festival this year. You'll also find some changes, too. Australia's oldest short film festival, this massive event won't physically descend on St Kilda for the 34th year in 2020 — with the lineup jumping online and screening to movie buffs nationally. Even better: it's screening for free. Showcasing some of the best up-and-coming filmmakers in the country, the festival runs from Friday, June 12–Saturday, June 20, with audiences at home getting the chance to see a selection of exciting films. It all kicks off with a virtual opening night, then features curated sessions, live online Q&As and webinars. As always, the backbone of the festival is Australia's Top 100, featuring filmmakers from every corner of the country competing for prizes. Other selections include the Australian Animation Explosion, highlighting Aussie animation; Shifting the Gaze: Focus on Women Filmmakers, presenting new films from female filmmakers; Dark Matter, showcasing on horror, thriller and dystopian tales; and Out of Range, Gods of Tiny Things and Home, which focus on being and becoming an Indigenous Australian. For the full St Kilda Film Festival program, or to watch online between Friday, June 12–Saturday, June 20, visit the festival website. Image: Jim Lee
Popular CBD pasta favourite Ragazzi has just launched 'Ragazzi At Home' to ensure local carb lovers can enjoy its next-level eats from home during Sydney's lockdown. Sydneysiders within seven kilometres of Ragazzi can have some of the restaurant's most beloved dishes including ravioli of burrata, house-made mortadella or cavatelli with cime di rappa and anchovy ragu delivered Monday–Saturday. The menu changes from time to time so keep up to date via the Ragazzi Instagram. The pasta and sauces come ready-made, with a little prep required in the frying pan so that it's served hot. Customers can also add an order from the team's natural wine and pantry goods shop Fabbrica Pantry to their delivery if they're in need of a bottle of wine or some artisan ingredients that can help elevate their home cooking. Orders can be made by emailing the Ragazzi team at aldente@ciaofabbrica.com. Top image: Nikki To View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ragazzi (@ragazziwinepasta)
When David Bowie passed away on January 10 this year, it felt like the entire world fell into collective mourning. Two months on, and we're still feeling the loss. And the best way to deal with that, of course, is to listen to his music. To that end, the Sydney Opera House has organised a mega David Bowie tribute concert. Happening over two nights, on May 19 and 21, the show will feature a slew of big Australian names, including iOTA, Tim Rogers, Steve Kilbey, Deborah Conway, Adalita and Jack Ladder. They'll perform all the bona-fide Bowie classics alongside the Sydney Symphony Orchestra; expect to see 'Changes', 'China Girl', 'Life on Mars', 'Under Pressure', 'Let’s Dance' and 'Starman' on the setlist, alongside numerous other tunes. You'd best be quick, as we're pretty sure tickets will be snapped up in no time. They range from $69-129, depending on where you're sitting in the Concert Hall, and groups of ten or more score tidy discounts. Sales start at 9am this Saturday, March 5 — set an alarm. David Bowie: Nothing has Changed will take place at the Sydney Opera House on Thursday, May 19 and Saturday, May 21 from 8pm. For more info and to book tickets, go here.
Beyond the patrolled boundaries of Thredbo lie thousands and thousands of hectares of wild mountains, covered in sparkling, powdery snow — untainted by tracks, crowds or lifts. And this winter, Thredbo is taking skiers at every level on a bunch of backcountry adventure tours. Whether you're a newbie who's only ever skied downhill or a hardcore mountaineer, ready to conquer more steep chutes and tight lines, there's a trip for you. Here are five that'll have you strapping on your skis. SIGNATURE HILL If you're not an expert skier, then travelling beyond the well-trodden boundaries of Thredbo might sound terrifying. The good news is that this adventure is designed with you in mind. Under the guidance of an alpine veteran, you'll get a solid intro to backcountry exploring. This includes familiarising yourself with specialist gear, learning how to 'skin' — a technique that allows you to walk in skis (even uphill) — and discovering how to stay safe by reading the terrain around you. Signature Hill is in the Karels Area, and you'll get to spend 3.5 hours exploring it, covering three kilometres and climbing 250 metres. This trip is a prerequisite for the others on this list. BOGONG CREEK Once you've conquered Signature Hill, you'll be ready for Bogong Creek. This escapade transports you into a magical section of Thredbo's backcountry for an entire day. Prepare to spend seven extraordinary hours journeying through a mindblowing variety of terrains of perfect, untouched snow. While you're at it, your guide will hone and develop your mountaineering skills, helping you build confidence. By the afternoon, your newfound moves are bound to come in handy, when you'll be meeting some increasingly challenging (but still very fun) terrain. All in all, the Bogong Creek trip carries you along seven kilometres, encompassing a vertical climb of 800 metres. MOUNT KOSCIUSZKO You might've climbed Mount Kosciuszko in summer, but summiting its peak during winter — surrounded by endless, endless white — is another thing altogether. What's more, getting there isn't as difficult as you might imagine — despite Kossie's peak being the highest point in Australia. The route involves blissfully gentle slopes, so the journey's more about gliding along, taking in the epic scenery, than it is about tricky manoeuvres. In fact, skiers of all levels, from beginners to pros, are welcome. Expect to be out and about for seven hours, covering a total of 14 kilometres and climbing 600 metres. Should time be on your side, you'll stop at Seamans Hut on the way home, a shelter built in 1929 by the family of W. Laurie Seaman who, along with his friend Evan Hayes, tragically died nearby in 1928. ETHERIDGE RANGE This is where matters get serious. Etheridge Ridge is right next to Mount Kosciuszko, but the terrain is way more challenging. We're talking sharp drops, difficult spots and obstacles. Luckily, you'll be in the care of an expert guide, so this is definitely an opportunity to take your backcountry prowess to a whole new level. Many of the runs are on the short side, which means you and your crew will most likely establish a skin track before sessioning along the entire ridge. This is an all-day, seven-hour, 15-kilometre long trip, which includes 1000 metres of climbing and a lunch break at Seamans Hut. Ready to take it on? Be sure to have some advanced skiing skills under your belt. LEATHERBARREL CREEK Leatherbarrel Creek gives you the ultimate in backcountry touring. Hidden away in a valley at the southern end of the Main Range, this area is real wilderness and feels like another world — certainly a long way from Thredbo's busy slopes. Every sort of terrain imaginable is on offer, from dreamy long runs lined with snow-capped trees to vast open bowls to steep chutes. Whichever way you look, you'll be casting your eye over unbelievable scenery. The only catch is, you'll need expert-level skiing ability to handle it. Leatherbarrel Creek is an all-day, seven-hour, 15-kilometre excursion that climbs 1500 metres. Check out more backcountry adventures in Thredbo here.
Rejoice with beaded tambourine, clap with cooing castanets, follow the pie-in-the-skied piper to the Metro Theatre this January, for he, leader of the weirdie beardies doth return. It's been a while between kombuchas that Devendra Banhart came to town, and that's a shame because his show at the Petersham RSL way back when was pretty damn dreamy. Still, absence does make the heart grow fonder, and the hair grow longer, both things working in Banhart's favour. Banhart is a native Californian, and this and his half Venezualan ethnicity are telltale marks in his folk music, often sheltered under the (uncomfortable) umbrella terms "New Weird America" and "Freak Folk". After his nine solo albums, however, it's clear there's more to his poetic musings than potshot kombucha jokes (but they're just so easy!). His most recent, What Will We Be forays more into the soft-rock and glitterglam sounds that his last couple of records have been hinting at, but there are still touches of ashram ethereality harking back to Cripple Crow and, very faintly, the simple beauty of Rejoicing in the Hands. Before, we get into the show details, two things from the DB FAQ: 1. Yes, his voice is a dead-ringer for a young Marc Bolan in Tyrannosaurus Rex' Our People Were Fair and Wore Flowers In Their Hair days. 2. Yes, he dated Natalie Portman. Past tense. Beard-lovers and Portman-lovers alike can now breathe out a sigh of relief. If you're a fan of Banhart, and suspect you might like his own taste in music, Rio en Medio who is signed to Gnomonsong (the record label he runs) plays in Sydney with Brightblack Morning Light on January 14, details here. Tickets for Devendra Banhart's show are available now.
While the Mardi Gras Film Festival is returning with 166 LGBTQIA+-focused flicks for its blockbuster 30th edition, there's another film fest coming to Sydney as part of WorldPride. SWARM is a one-day fest showcasing queer filmmakers inspired by radical Black cinema. Pulling together a lineup of independent films to be shown under the stars, SWARM is taking over the Skyline Drive-In in Blacktown on Thursday, February 23. Head to Cricketers Arms Road from 7pm to catch what the festival describes as "a once-in-a-lifetime-immaculate-corpse-of-throat-grabbing-films". Among the filmmakers featured at the festival are trailblazing American director Cheryl Dunye (The Watermelon Woman), the Karrabing Film Collective, Tracey Moffatt (BeDevil) and local electronic musician e fishpool. The night at the drive-in will be accompanied by a screening and panel discussion at the Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW). The free follow-up event will be popping up at the gallery on Sunday, February 26 and will feature three screenings as well as a discussion moderated by Jen and André of FBi Radio's Movies, Movies, Movies. You can book free tickets to the AGNSW event via the gallery's website. As for SWARM, tickets are $35 per car, $20 per car for anyone part of the queer community, free admission for First Nations attendees and $15 per person if you want to head along without a car and pull up a seat outside.
Is there anything more intimate than wandering around someone's home when they're not there, gently rifling through their things, and — literally or not, your choice — spending a few minutes standing in their shoes? Yes, but there's still an intoxicating sense of closeness that comes with the territory; moseying curiously in another's house without their company, after they've entrusted their most personal space to you alone, will understandably do that. In Mothering Sunday, Jane Fairchild (Odessa Young, The Staircase) finds herself in this very situation. She's naked, and as comfortable as she's ever been anywhere. After her lover Paul Sheringham (Josh O'Connor, Emma) leaves her in a state of postcoital bliss, she makes the most of his family's large abode in the English countryside, the paintings and books that fill its walls and shelves, and the pie and beer tempting her tastebuds in the kitchen. The result: some of this 1920s-set British drama's most evocative and remarkable moments. Jane is used to such lofty spaces, but rarely as a carefree resident. She's an aspiring writer, an orphan and the help; he's firmly from money. She works as a maid for the Sheringhams' neighbours, the also-wealthy Godfrey (Colin Firth, Operation Mincemeat) and Clarrie Niven (Olivia Colman, Heartstopper), and she's ventured next door while everyone except Paul is out. This rare day off is the occasion that gives the stately but still highly moving film its name as well — Mother's Day, but initially designed to honour mother churches, aka where one was baptised — and the well-to-do crowd are all lunching to celebrate Paul's impending nuptials to fiancée Emma Hobday (Emma D'Arcy, Misbehaviour). He made excuses to arrive late, though, in order to steal some time with Jane, as they've both been doing for years. Of course, he can't completely shirk his own party. Mothering Sunday does more than luxuriate in Jane's languid stroll around a sprawling manor, or the happiness that precedes it — much, much more — but these scenes stand out for a reason. They're a showcase for Australian actor Young, who has graduated from playing troubled daughters (see: 2015's The Daughter and the unrelated Looking for Grace) to searching young women cementing their place in the world (see also: 2020's Shirley). With her quietly potent and radiant help, they say oh-so-much about Jane that wouldn't have sported the same power if conveyed via dialogue. They're also exactly the kind of sequences that screenwriter Alice Birch (Lady Macbeth) knows well, although she isn't merely repeating herself. Helping pen the page-to-screen adaptations of Sally Rooney's Normal People and Conversations with Friends, she's inherently at home revealing everything she can about her characters just by observing what they do when no one's watching. The broader story in Mothering Sunday also springs from a book, this time from Graham Swift's 2016 novel, with French filmmaker Eva Husson (Girls of the Sun) making her English-language debut in the director's chair. Swift didn't choose an annual occasion at random, with the day cloaked in sadness in the Sheringham and Niven households — and across Britain — in the shadow of the First World War and all the young men lost to the conflict. Indeed, marking Paul's engagement is the best way to spend the date because his brothers, and the Nivens' boys too, will never have the same chance. The need to don a stiff upper lip, to keep calm and carry on, and to embody every other grin-and-bear-it cliche about English stoicism is deeply rooted in grief here, and more will come in this touching feature before the sunny March day that sits at its centre is over. In lesser hands than Swift's, Husson's and Birch's, Jane might've been a peripheral player — or one part in a straightforward upstairs-downstairs setup that could've stepped directly out of Downton Abbey. Thankfully, that isn't Mothering Sunday either as a book or a movie. While class clashes are inescapable within the film's frames, it's how the eponymous date shapes Jane, and how moments both big and small change anyone, that dwells at its core. The picture also flits forward to its protagonist as a writer, where she's drawn back to that past idyll and heartbreak while navigating a relationship with Oxford philosopher Donald (Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù, Gangs of London). And, it jumps further into the future still, where the even-older Jane (Glenda Jackson, making her first movie since 1990's King of the Wind) has spent decades reflecting on that one Mothering Sunday, plus the other joys and losses life has brought her way, in her head, heart and through her work. It's easy to think you know what to expect with Mothering Sunday. Within its 104-minute running time, its pace is as leisurely as British dramas come. Whether roving around the Sheringhams' mansion, the garden party or less lavish places, Jamie Ramsay's (Moffie) cinematography is the epitome of handsome. Also, reteaming The Crown's O'Connor and Colman signals its emphasis on performances (Young and Firth pair up again, too, but the film actually pre-dates their work on HBO miniseries The Staircase). And yet, Mothering Sunday is also never that formulaic, and it isn't merely the movie that could've been constructed simply by connecting the obvious dots. Husson's and Birch's touches give it a gloriously sensual feel, and not only in the lingering sex scenes, their thrusting bodies and even the stains that a tumble in the sheets can cause. Clearly, the two women who've turned Mothering Sunday into a yearning, sultry and textured splash of celluloid have taken the narrative's message to heart: that leaping in, lapping up whatever delights come your way, and also facing the pain if and when it comes, is always better than holding back to avoid the scantest trace of woe. There's nothing overtly forceful about Young and O'Connor's performances, but the same can be said of the wonderful duo, who could fuel several movies with their chemistry alone. That Firth and Colman don't have quite the same presence fits with their characters, though, who nonetheless prove an affecting portrait of post-war mourning. And while there's little that's left unsaid in Morgan Kibby's emotive score, her third for Husson — or in three-time Oscar-winner Sandy Powell's (The Young Victoria, The Aviator, Shakespeare in Love) eye-catching, period-appropriate costuming, either — that too couldn't be more apt, with the film revelling in what it can when it can.
Concrete Jungle opened quietly on April 3 as Chippendale's new 'green' cafe — from fitout to menu, owner Moe Mrad hopes to bring something a little different to the suburb's cafe scene. As well as sounding mighty similar to Concrete Playground (hey, we were all thinking it), the name is a nod to the now iconic Central Park building around the corner, which successfully combines industrial and natural elements. Mrad has approached his fitout in a similar manner in order to embody the cafe's name — designed by Guru Projects, the concrete floors and exposed columns are broken up by bits of greenery, and suspended plants adorn the ceiling. Local artists will be encouraged to use the wall space as well. On the food side, the team is staying green by serving a decidedly healthy and eco-conscious menu. "Sustainability regarding food is a big thing for us and a lot of our menu is plant-based, but with ethically sourced meat and fish elements on there as well," says sous chef Iain Haywood. Along with head chef Bryan O'Callaghan, the team even consulted with a nutritionist to ensure that their dishes provide as complete a package as possible — think in-house smoked salmon served with a decadently rich 64-degree egg, and pumpkin served with pan fried scallops and savoury granola. The most "health nut" item on the menu is probably the 'Nourish Bowl', which is a vegan dish of in-house fermented cabbage, beetroot humus, avocado and a special quinoa mix, all topped off with sesame dressing. In the interest of remaining halal, Concrete Jungle will not be serving pork — but, halal or otherwise, meat isn't the focus here. "We do appreciate the ethical way the animals are butchered with halal, but meat isn't our main focus and our dishes aren't designed for just for vegans or healthy eaters, either," says Haywood. "We hope the menu is designed to be accessible to everyone, but also help people to care more about the food they're eating." "We want this place to be a headquarters for your everyday Sydneysiders and act as a refuelling station," adds Mrad. For now, the space will be open for breakfast and lunch, with dinner on the far horizon. Find Concrete Jungle at 58 Kensington St, Chippendale. For more information, head to their Facebook page.
