Prepare to indulge as Surry Hills brasserie Armorica celebrates its first birthday with a weeklong feast featuring unlimited fries. This once-in-a-blue-moon deal can be claimed with a steak purchase from Monday, May 20, to Sunday, May 26. On top of that, Armorica will permanently expand its trade to seven nights a week, with the first Monday service coinciding with the start of the frites fest. There'll also be VIP birthday dinner on Wednesday, May 22, which will feature a lavish four-course dinner and unlimited champagne until 8pm, with live jazz and DJs providing the soundtrack. More details can be found on the Armorica website, and you can secure a spot via the reservation website.
Burnham Beeches, an Art Deco mansion and 22-hectare estate in the Dandenong Ranges is getting a major makeover by Six Senses. The international luxury resort group has famous properties in Oman and Bali, but this will be its very first Australian venture. It'll also come with all the lavish trimmings you can expect from Six Senses. This mansion, designed by Harry Norris in 1933, will first open with just 43 guest accommodations alongside a restaurant, library bar, large terrace and rooftop retreat covered in foliage — perfect for its forest location. Six Senses is also planning to have a separate two-bedroom cottage and some glamping sites scattered throughout the property. But this is all subject to planning applications that are still in the works. If the project plan makes it through, it will be one of the best ways to experience the Dandenong Ranges. These campsites will be set with the native forest and conveniently located next to a truffle farm. Design wise, new and old Art Deco features will reign supreme. And the flamboyant nature of this period will be ramped right up. Think of it as an Australian hotel of the Great Gatsby era, made for lavish champagne-filled parties. But there will be a strong sustainable ethos throughout as well. The restaurant will source much of its produce from the on-site farm which will also be used for education purposes around sustainable farming and practices The herb garden is even set to produce healing and aromatic plants for use in the Alchemy Bar workshops and Six Senses Spa treatments. [caption id="attachment_692634" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Keppel Lookout, Mount Dandenong, Visit Victoria[/caption] Guests should also be able to explore the historical, ecological, cultural and indigenous stories from Burnham Beeches and the surrounding region. These lands originally belonged to the Wurundjeri and Kulin nations — and the Six Senses team plan to acknowledge this through the art, architecture, signage, and landscaping throughout the extensive grounds. The Six Senses is putting a uniquely Australian stamp on this property, which is slated to open sometime in 2025. We will be patiently waiting. Check out the Six Senses Instagram page for more updates. Now you can book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips, and discover inspiring deals on flights, stays and experiences.
In Sydney it seems like a pub changes hands every second day. Justin Hemmes just added The Tennyson Hotel to his Merivale portfolio, Goodtime Hospitality Group recently reopened the East Village Hotel and The Flinders is set to reopen real soon. And now, just to round out the year in pub sales, the Clovelly Hotel has been bought by Matt Moran's hospitality group Solotel. Solotel will take over the Cloey (presently owned by the Iris Group, for those of you playing at home) from February 2017 and have said that the pub will continue to operate as normal, with no big changes being made — at least initially. It's the 28th acquisition for the mammoth hospo group, who earlier this month took over Sydney's Chophouse from the Keystone Group, who went into receivership back in June. Solotel's portfolio includes Aria, Chiswick, The Paddington Inn and Opera Bar. And while it can sometimes feel like Sydney's pubs are continually shunted between a line-up of big names like a game of hospitality group monopoly, as long as they keep actually improving our favourite watering holes, we're okay with it.
The sights and sounds of Italy are heading our way once again, for the latest edition of the Lavazza Italian Film Festival. Hosted in select Palace Cinema locations around the country, this year's festival of more than 30 films will be bookended by two special gala events. Smash-hit comedy God Willing screens on opening night, while a special restoration of Bernardo Bertolucci's 1970 masterwork The Conformist will bring the festival to a close. In between you'll find comedies, dramas and eye-opening documentaries, as well as a number of high-profile titles making their Australian debuts. Heading up our list of must-sees are a pair of films that caused a stir at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Matteo Garrone directs Selma Hayek and John C. Reilly in the surreal fantasy Tale of Tales, while John Turturro stars opposite Italian actress Margherita Buy in the madcap comedy Mia Madre. We're also intrigued by Venice-set comedy Pizza and Dates, about the city's Muslim population searching for a place to build a new mosque, as well as compilation documentary Italy in a Day, made up of hundreds of short videos submitted by people from all around the country. For the full Lavazza Italian Film Festival program, visit their website.
Perspective can be a tricky thing to find when you're deep into a second stretch of lockdown, dreaming about the small freedoms being enjoyed by the rest of the country. After all, Melbourne's currently up against some of the world's toughest COVID-19 restrictions, with the return to normality looking anything but speedy. But one local video production company has found a way to embrace all those uniquely Melbourne lockdown feels, and created a documentary based on the phases of our stage four plight. Titled Iso-Cray: A Story of Melbourne Locked Down, Monster & Bear's latest work hopes to kick-start some important discussions about how we're all coping — really — and what we can do to help others through this funky time. While the nightly news is focused on the bigger picture, this ten-minute video creation is celebrating the day-to-day reality, normalising the lockdown moods in the hopes of doing good things for Melbourne's mental health. Plus, it should give interstate mates a solid glimpse at what's really happening down south. The short flick documents everyday life through this latest bout of restrictions, sharing stories of creative resilience from real people in iso all across the city. The cross-section of folks on camera is diverse, but those iso-cray feelings are the same across the board. Basically, whatever you're going through, you sure ain't alone. "I think we all recognise this is a once in a 100-year event, and it's refreshing to see a city (and the broader state) giving each other permission to feel every kind of emotion on the spectrum," said Monster & Bear Creative Director Sarah Hickey in a statement. "We should all be able to share our feelings right now, and we shouldn't be ashamed of it." Tune in to see the kaleidoscope of emotions that is a bunch of real locals living their lockdown lives — from living room dance sessions to late-night musings and some good old-fashioned screaming. Iso-Cray: A Story of Melbourne Locked Down is available to watch in full now.
"Most people say don't meet your heroes, but she exceeded all my expectations," Cailee Spaeny tells Concrete Playground. The Priscilla star's idol? Sofia Coppola. In the Devs, Mare of Easttown and The Craft: Legacy actor's biggest role yet, and the Lost in Translation, Somewhere and On the Rocks' filmmaker's latest moving, mesmerising and meticulously made picture, Spaeny plays the movie's namesake for the director that she's loved since she was a teenager. Winning her Venice International Film Festival's Volpi Cup for Best Actress, she's teamed up with her dream helmer to explore the teen experience and beyond of one of the most-famous women in the world, who was also in one of the best-known romances, marrying and divorcing a music superstar whose celebrity is virtually peerless: Priscilla Presley. Coppola knows how to bring tales about teenage girls to the screen, and to do so with the emotion, care and lived-in specificity that makes audiences feel like they're being seen — as Spaeny once did. Priscilla joins a directing resume that initially moved into features with 1998's The Virgin Suicides, and has spanned The Bling Ring and The Beguiled as well. In Marie Antoinette, the filmmaker's only other biopic to-date, she also took a name that everyone knows, jumped into her story when she was just 14 years old, then charted her complicated time by the side of a man with influence and power. Spaeny co-stars with Marie Antoinette's lead Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog) in the upcoming Civil War, in fact, and suspects that she put in a good word to help her get her Presley part. A performer who made her film debut in 2018's Australian-shot Pacific Rim Uprising, which was one of four movies that she had in cinemas that year (the others: Bad Times at the El Royale, On the Basis of Sex and Vice), Spaeny also believes that the right work finds you at the right period. That's especially the case with leading Priscilla, where Jacob Elordi (Saltburn) co-stars as Elvis, and which sees the two portray the blue suede shoes-wearing singer and the woman who fell for him when they were in West Germany — she was a schoolgirl residing there because her dad was in the army, while Elvis had been drafted — so swiftly after Baz Luhrmann's Elvis had Austin Butler (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) and Olivia DeJonge (The Staircase) do the same. "I always think roles come to you in your life at certain times to sort of help you in your own personal life, in your own journey," Spaeny shares. "I was just getting out of a really intense relationship that went on for about five years. I was in it very young. And I was trying to process those emotions and where I gave a piece of myself up, and how I grew from that. I processed all that and put it into the movie and her story, and the decisions that she made, and the mistakes she made, and where she got it right, where she got it wrong. It's always cathartic playing roles, but this one especially hit me in a real way that I'll always take with me." What was it like to physically transform into Priscilla? "It was something. I didn't look like myself. I think I just looked at myself in the mirror and I went 'okay girl, get it together, you've got to pull this off," Spaeny advises. "Everyone had put so much hard work into it. You see the hours and the sleepless nights. All the blood, sweat and tears that goes into every department: costumes, hair, makeup, production design. All the work Sofia put in, that Jacob put in. So when I saw myself in those costumes, I think it's just like 'okay, it's game time'." "It was fun. It was stressful. It was life-changing. There were lots of tears. There were lots of laughs. It was an experience that I will take with me for the rest of my life, and it's given me so much — much more than I ever thought it would. And I feel really lucky and I hope that everyone enjoys it when they go and see it, and they see all the heart that we put into our film," continues Spaeny. The movie opened in Australia on Thursday, January 18, then does the same in New Zealand on Thursday, February 1. Also covered in our round-table chat with Spaeny: preparing to play Priscilla, including meeting the woman herself; getting the part, and her past experiences auditioning for the filmmaker; why Coppola is her dream director; being born to love Elvis by being born in Tennessee; and seeing Priscilla for the first time while sitting next to Presley. ON HOW SPAENY PREPARED TO PLAY PRISCILLA PRESLEY "I tried to do as much as I could do preparing for this role. Taking on playing a real person, especially one who's still around, there is enormous responsibility. And also working with my dream director Sofia Coppola — she's been my dream director since I was 14 years old — I felt a lot of pressure. I mean, I always I hope that I always work hard on every project that I do, but this was another level. So you just do everything you can. You have as many conversations as you can with the director. The script is based off of her [Priscilla Presley's] book that she wrote in 1985, and I had that on me the entire time. Then I got the honour to sit down with Priscilla Presley herself, so I got to take in the woman herself and look into her eyes, and hear her tell these stories about this chapter in her life. That gave me more than I could have ever imagined. Taking that with me, and also having her support and having several conversations down the line during prep, and asking her all different kinds of questions and just getting to be around her in general, gave me so much. And then, taking time to have conversations with Jacob Elordi, who plays Elvis, and making sure we were on the same page and just making sure we felt comfortable around each other — that was a big part of the process, too. You just try to get everything you could possibly get into your brain in the amount of time you have, and you've got to cross your fingers and jump out of the plane and hope for the best, hope that you'll land on your feet. But also to have the level of collaborators and artists that we had on this set in terms of cast and crew was extraordinary. I think anyone who works with Sofia, because of the environment she creates, everyone brings their A-game and wants to work really hard for her and do their best. I think you really see that in this film." ON WHAT MAKES COPPOLA SPAENY'S DREAM DIRECTOR — AND THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH HER ON PRISCILLA "I think the thing that really struck me, especially living in the Bible Belt in America being a young girl, a church girl, trying to navigate myself and my emotions — you've got so much going on inside you when you're a 14-year-old girl, and I think I'd never seen teen girls depicted in the way that Sofia represents them. The way that she doesn't underestimate young women, and how she gives them a voice to have wants and needs, and dark sides and be sexual — I just felt like everything that was in my brain just got unlocked, and that I had permission to be complicated. I think that was something that really stuck with me and cracked me open. I think that working with her was just a lot of pressure to get it right. I'm thinking in my head 'am I going to be the reason this is going to be the first bad Sofia Coppola film?'. I mean, it's just very overwhelming, but she's kind and had my back every step of the way." ON GETTING THE PRISCILLA ROLE AFTER AUDITIONING FOR PAST SOFIA COPPOLA FILMS "I know that Sofia wanted to find one actress who was going to be able to play from 14 to 27 — and I was 24 when I filmed the movie, but I look really young. I think that it was really important. You see it sometimes where you see films push the age, like they don't really look that young, but it's fine. Or they really don't look that old, but it's fine. But I think it was really important, especially in the beginning, for her to feel 14. I think she had to genuinely feel that age. So I think from a casting standpoint for Sofia, that was something that she was looking for. It's not really something I think about too much, but I'm glad it worked in my favour. I've been auditioning for her — she gave me my one of my first callbacks ever when I was 16 years old. So I think her casting director knew of me for a long time, and Sofia knew of me for a bit. I don't know if she even remembers that. I don't know. But I knew her casting directors remembered me and one of her producing partners remembered me. And then I auditioned for two other things for Sofia. Then this project came up and I got a call [saying] 'hey, can you meet Sofia in New York for coffee?'. Didn't know what it was, met her there, was really nervous. We started talking and I had no idea — I was just like 'what is this about?'. Then she pulled out her iPad and started showing me photos of Priscilla Presley, and asked me if I knew the story. I didn't, which was surprising because I was such a huge Elvis fan growing up. But then I went away and I was filming a movie with Kirsten Dunst, and Kirsten is such a longtime friend and collaborator and muse for Sofia. And I think Kirsten put in a good word for me. So there were talks about maybe doing a chemistry read with whoever was going to be playing Elvis, but that didn't end up happening. She just locked this in. She locked me and Jacob in, and said 'we're going for it'. We didn't have any read. We didn't do any sort of chemistry test. We just hit the ground running. I think that's the one thing about Sofia: she's really soft-spoken and kind, but when she knows what she wants, she knows what she wants. And when she sees it, she has it in her head. Everything is in her head. That's what makes her so brilliant and also exciting to work with." ON THE CHALLENGES OF STEPPING INTO PRISCILLA'S SHOES — AND WHAT MAKES HER STORY SO RELATABLE "The biggest challenge for me, obviously, is having to play a real person who at the end of this is going to watch the film. I had that time with Priscilla, and something funny happens — it's like at first, the movie's first, [and] how you're going to play this, [and] making this movie for Sofia. Then you sit down in front of the woman herself, you're right across from Priscilla, and almost all of that goes to the back burner. You just are like 'I want to protect this person. I want them to feel safe. I want them to feel like they identify with this story. I just want to protect them'. She's been through so much in her life, and you just want this to be done right by her. So that was the biggest challenge. In terms of the things that I related to, I think that what's so interesting about this story, and what I found so surprising, is that you think 'well, I'm not going to relate to Priscilla Presley, she's lived this one-of-a-kind life that no one could ever really compare with' — but she goes through such an emotional journey. Falling in love and doing everything she can, giving everything up to try to make that work, and [being] desperate to find a path and a way out to be with the love of her life, and then realising that that's not going to happen, and all the pain that he's going through and the confusion he's dealing with, and how that then transfers to her, and then she realises she wants something more for her life — I think those moments are universal. And there's some milestones that she goes through that I think a lot of young women can relate to. I think that's why it's gotten the response that it has, is because of that — because I think young women or women in general, or anybody, can see this story and find themselves somewhere." ON FIRST DISCOVERING ELVIS "I think the second I was born, Elvis was just playing. My mum had a shrine of Elvis in her home. She named one of her kids' middle names after Elvis. We went to Graceland growing up. We had his number-one hits on the CD in the car. It was just always around. In America, Elvis really is such a symbol — especially, especially in the South. And I was born in Tennessee. You just know Elvis. You're born, you know Elvis. I think especially where I came from, you just didn't have a choice: it was Jesus and Elvis." ON SITTING NEXT TO PRISCILLA AT THE FILM'S WORLD PREMIERE AT THE VENICE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL "I had a couple opportunities to watch the movie before Venice, but I was just too nervous to watch myself in this movie. There's too much pressure and I just knew that if I would see the film, I knew I was going to spiral, so I didn't want to. I kept putting it off. Then I got to Venice and I asked them 'hey, can you pull me out when the movie starts? I don't want to see it'. And then I just had a voice in my head and I'm going 'Cailee, what are you doing? You're at the Venice Film Festival. You're with your dream director. Priscilla's here. You're celebrating this movie with these people that you care about. This is such a dream come true'. I brought my sister with me. I'd never been to Venice before. I'd just rode a gondola earlier in the day. It was such a dream moment. And I was like 'what am I doing? I'm going to not watch the film cause I'm scared? That's so lame'. So I told them 'okay, yes, I'll watch it'. But then they sat me right next to Priscilla Presley. Then I'm watching the movie going 'oh my god, what have I done? How am I going to watch this film while I'm sitting right next to the person who I'm playing?'. It was so bizarre and so surreal, and I was white-knuckling it the entire time I was watching the film. Sometimes I'd close my eyes during some scenes. But then the movie ended. We got the reception that we did. Then it was the first time that Priscilla turned to me and said 'you did it, that was my life and that was a great performance'. So to get that feedback from her was everything." Priscilla opened in Australian cinemas on Thursday, January 18, then does the same in New Zealand on Thursday, February 1. Read our review.
A book whose plot Amazon describes as "how the sexiest sales girl in business earned her huge bonus by being the best at removing her high heels" might not be anything to write home about. You know what would be? If the author of said book was someone's dad, and that someone decided it would be hilarious to read a chapter every week to the entire world, with some incredibly funny friends providing commentary. Jamie Morton did just that with his father's (pen name: Rocky Flinstone) erotic 'novels', the Belinda Blinked series. And so the audacious and pants-wettingly hilarious podcast My Dad Wrote a Porno was born. And now Morton and his pals James Cooper and Alice Levine are bringing their hilarious smut to Australia, announcing dates for live shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth this August. While listening to the podcast is a truly confusing and outrageous experience, imagine watching a guy read chapters from a porno novel that his dad wrote that includes the characters 'discussing the merits' of each others' nipples and popping their supposed 'vaginal lids'. In front of people. In real life. At least this time when you laugh out loud in public at the show, everyone will know what you're cackling at. Tickets for the live Australian shows go on sale at 10am on Monday, February 27. If you're a fan of the show, the live incarnation should make you very happy. For as Belinda says: when you get what you want, you feel great.
As part of Merivale's quest to rule the city, they've opened a plush new whisky bar in the Angel Hotel. The bar draws on its glamorous past as the former site of the iconic House of Merivale and it shows in the interiors. Think rich green velvets, sleek brown leathers and copper accents. It also wouldn't be a whisky bar without the prerequisite chesterfield lounges. Merivale has gone all out with this one; J&M boasts a specially imported drinks trolley, named 'The Sidecar' (a collaboration between Moore & Giles and acclaimed barman Jim Meehan) and a long glass bar. J&M is a tribute to the late John Hemmes and his wife Merivale, so it only seems fitting that it would be located where their empire began. J&M wants you to have a "unique, sensory whisky experience". In a clever nod to the empire's roots as a fashion label, the bar's bespoke haberdashery cabinets are be filled with ingredients. Settle into one of the comfy lounges and enjoy personal trolley service, or sit at the bar to get a side of whisky knowledge with your drink. J&M has an upper hand compared to other bars in that it will stock exclusive whiskies that you can't buy anywhere else in the country. If straight whisky isn't your thing, you can try one of their specially-crafted cocktails with fun names like the Blood and Marie (Chivas Regal 18-year-old, Cynar, Cherry Heering, Antica Formula, pink grapefruit and cherry dust) and the POPSCOF (buttered popcorn washed Chivas Regal 18-year-old, salted caramel syrup, bitters and Himalayan salt). A short menu is also available if you need some nibbles with your drink. J&M is a welcome addition to the city's bar scene and your chance to savour a slice of Sydney history and some world-class whiskies.
If there are two surefire things that are going to get us through the rest of this year it's wine and ice cream. Whether you're celebrating being on the other side of 2020 or commiserating the year that's been, a bottle of prosecco and a tub of cookie dough ice cream are the perfect accompaniment to whatever mood you're in. Luckily, all the hassle of heading down to the shops to pick up your after-dinner treats has been taken care of thanks to Jimmy Brings, which has teamed up with Ben & Jerry's to offer up a delicious delivery combo. From Friday, November 20 to Sunday, November 29 you can order pints of Ben & Jerry's through the Jimmy Brings app and, if you live near the CBD, have it delivered in under 30 minutes. On offer is Ben & Jerry's dairy or non-dairy cookie dough ice cream, available in single tubs for $10 a pop or in a range of special combo deals perfect for any grand plans you may have this week or for an indulgent night in. You can go with the Fancy Hippie pack, which contains a tub of Ben & Jerry's, Fontavera organic pinot grigio and a block of Lindt chocolate for $29.99 or go all out with the Munchies pack which includes ice cream, Red Rock Deli chips, pork crackling and bottles of chardonnay and shiraz for $49.99. The combos are also perfect for summer adventures as all orders come with a 'tubby holder' which is a special stubby holder designed to keep your ice cream cold on your sunset picnic. There's even a Sunset-ready pack containing two bottles of wine and a tub of ice cream for $29.99. The offer is only available this week so take this as a sign to live out your summer dreams a week early with vino, snacks and dessert supplied. Head to the Jimmy Brings website to check out all they have on offer and get your orders in. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
We all have our weaknesses. And if there's one thing that could have me lying to friends and mortgaging a house, it would be chocolate. For this reason, I absolutely must avoid visiting Baroque Bistro during October. Willie Harcourt-Cooze, AKA The Chocolate Man, will be collaborating with Baroque's Peter Robertson and Jean-Michel Raynaud on a whole month's worth of events. First up, there's the 'Golden Ticket' Dinners, with a name which will have any reader of Roald Dahl instantly hooked. The full degustation menu will make the journey from savory to sweet, accompanied by a delicious selection of matching wines. A Chocolate Masterclass poses the danger of taking Willie's tempting knowledge home with you. And the limited edition bespoke Chocolate Macaron, created by pastry chef Jean-Michel, will be available from Baroque for all of October. Check with Baroque for full details but consider yourself warned: if you click that link, you have no chance of resisting. We're giving away a copy of Willie Harcourt-Cooze's latest book, Willie's Chocolate Bible. To win, simply make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name through to us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au
UPDATE: MAY 6, 2020 — You can now watch celebrities narrate Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone thanks to Harry Potter at Home's new weekly recordings. First up is Potter himself — Daniel Radcliffe — reading the first chapter, 'The Boy Who Lived'. Then, it'll be the likes of Stephen Fry, Claudia Kim, Eddie Redmayne, David Beckham, Dakota Fanning and Noma Dumezweni. You can watch via the website or listen on Spotify. If Hogwarts was a real place, no one would be able to visit it at present. But if you're still dreaming about all things magical despite the current state of the world, you can accio up a slice of the fictional school while cooped up in your own house. You've probably already watched and rewatched all the Harry Potter films, and the Fantastic Beasts flicks. Maybe you've started reading your way through the books again as well. Now, if you're looking for an added dose of wizarding fun, you can also head to new online hub Harry Potter at Home. A fresh addition to Warner Brothers and Pottermore's Wizarding World website, Harry Potter at Home aims to become a one-stop shop for Boy Who Lived-related activities during these self-isolating times. And while it's primarily aimed at kids (and their parents, teachers and carers), so were JK Rowling's books — and that hasn't stopped fans of all ages obsessing over Harry, Ron, Hermione and the gang by heading to HP-themed boozy potions classes, kitting themselves out in Hogwarts-inspired attire, sleuthing their way through escape room challenges, participating in scavenger hunts, shopping at dedicated stores, playing Pokémon Go-style games on their phones, and getting excited about a potential new Harry Potter theme park. Visitors to Harry Potter at Home will find articles, quizzes and puzzles, including Harry Potter-themed crosswords. You can also find out your Hogwarts house via virtual sorting hat, too. And, you can spend some time watching crafting videos that'll teach you how to knit a Weasley family-inspired scarf and bust out Marauder's Map-worthy calligraphy skills — which are also available via Wizarding World's YouTube channel. You can also watch celebrities narrate Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone thanks to Harry Potter at Home's weekly recordings. First up is Potter himself — Daniel Radcliffe — reading the first chapter, 'The Boy Who Lived'. Then, it'll be the likes of Stephen Fry, Claudia Kim, Eddie Redmayne, David Beckham, Dakota Fanning and Noma Dumezweni. You can watch via the website or listen on Spotify. New activities, videos, puzzles and articles will be added regularly, with Potter diehards able to access Harry Potter at Home for free — and sign up for a weekly newsletter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp21Xijewlg If you're a muggle who's somehow new to all things Harry Potter — or you're eager to go back to the beginning again but haven't yet done so — Pottermore Publishing is also making Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone available for free via eBook or audiobook until the end of April. For further details, visit the Harry Potter at Home website. Top image: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Warner Bros. Pictures.
NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all people of Australia to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In the past, the "National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee" were responsible for organising the events of NAIDOC Week, and since then the acronym has become the name of the event itself. NAIDOC Week will be held from Sunday, July 4 to Sunday, July 11 this year. Typically, NAIDOC Week kicks off on the first Sunday of July every year and runs for one week. The dates are a nod to National Aboriginal Day, which was previously celebrated on the second Friday of July. The theme of NAIDOC Week this year is 'Heal Country!'. Grounded in Country, this theme calls for the recognition, protection and maintenance of all aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. But in order to achieve this, it's essential that historical, political and administrative settings adapt in order to empower and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Check out the NAIDOC Week website for more information about the origins of the week and this year's theme. [caption id="attachment_817386" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Supplied by Clothing The Gaps.[/caption] WHY IS NAIDOC WEEK SO SIGNIFICANT? To further understand what NAIDOC Week means for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, @blakbusiness hosted an anonymous survey across Instagram. From Trawlwoolway to Kuku Yalanji, respondents came from over 30 Aboriginal and Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait Islands) nations. When asked what NAIDOC Week means for them, the majority of respondents expressed ideas of community, pride and strength. "NAIDOC is a week of celebrating and coming together with mob from all over the country. It's a week that makes me very proud to be an Aboriginal person," one submission said. Another respondent succinctly explained that NAIDOC Week for them was a "time of reflection, remembering important people in our community, a time to celebrate but also knowing what this week comes from. Knowing that it came from resistance, strength, fighting for justice, fighting against colonialism, white supremacy, ongoing acts of genocide, and celebration of invasion. NAIDOC is for us, and for many, it's a time to celebrate who we are unapologetically, loud and proud." When asked about the importance of the theme Heal Country, one respondent explained the theme meant: "Protecting the earth, because we need her and she needs us. We came from the soil and mob who aren't with us have returned to the soil so we're looking after them too." Another submission said of this year's NAIDOC Week theme, "[It means to ensure] we look after and preserve our Country, our roots, so that the next generations have a place to call home and connect to." Respondents also shared thoughts about how they would like non-Indigenous peoples to be involved in NAIDOC Week. "I [would] love to see non-Indigenous Australia celebrating NAIDOC, getting involved in events, lending a hand, paying respect, and most importantly getting educated about our culture and our history and how they can help with healing and positive changes going forward," one anonymous respondent said. [caption id="attachment_767113" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: In My Blood It Runs.[/caption] WHERE YOU CAN LEARN MORE As some of the responses above noted, NAIDOC Week presents a great opportunity to commit to learning more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, history and culture. But, it can be tricky to figure out where to start. To help you out, here are some resources to check out: Watch Strait to the Plate: A six-part series exploring the food, culture, language and lifestyle of Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait Islands) communities. In My Blood It Runs: An intimate 2019 documentary following ten-year-old, Dujuan, as he is challenged to balance his Arrernte and Garrwa culture with state education. You Can't Ask That — Indigenous: Part of the ABC series 'You Can't Ask That', this episode answers a range of questions about the experience of being Aboriginal. Follow Seed Mob: A branch of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, Seed is a network of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth working to build a movement for climate justice. Our Islands Our Home: Our Islands Our Home is a campaign led by the people of Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait Islands) to protect their island homes from the ongoing climate crisis. Blak Business: Brings together information, knowledge and resources to facilitate broader learning and discussion about a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander topics. Read Fire Country by Victor Steffensen: Written by Tagalaka man and fire practitioner, Victor Steffensen, this book explores how the revival of Indigenous fire practices could help to restore our nation for all peoples. Tell Me Why by Archie Roach: Written by Bundjalung and Gunditjmara man, Uncle Archie Roach, this is an intimate and powerful memoir into the experience of being forcibly removed as a child, being raised in foster families, struggling with alcoholism and homelessness, and overcoming it all with music. Our Home, Our Heartbeat by Adam Briggs: Written by Yorta Yorta man Adam Briggs, this is a good book for young readers to learn and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture. [caption id="attachment_816553" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Kee'ahn.[/caption] NAIDOC WEEK EVENTS Hundreds of events will be hosted across the nation by schools, community centres, local councils, workplaces and sporting clubs to celebrate NAIDOC Week. Here are five events happening IRL and online. For more events, research your local Aboriginal Land Council to see what is happening in your area. Naarm (Melbourne) Country and Culture: An evening of storytelling, poetry and music with Tony Birch (Aboriginal, Barbadian, Irish and Afghani), Larissa Behrendt (Eualaya and Kamillaroi) and Kee'ahn (Kuku Yalanji, Jirrbal and Badu Island). Meanjin (Brisbane) Cultural Cooking: Learn about Aboriginal culture through tasting native foods with Quandamooka, Kullilli and Wakka Wakka man Keiron Anderson, of Yalabin Dining. This event is suitable for kids aged 10+. Boorloo (Perth) Cultural Talk with Joe Collard: Listen to Biboolmirn Nyoongar man, Joe Collard, talk about culture and this year's NAIDOC theme. You can also check out the other events being hosted in South Perth Library. Online Free the Flag lunchtime yarn: Did you know the Aboriginal flag is currently under copyright? Clothing The Gaps are leading the campaign to have the Aboriginal flag freed. Join them for this lunchtime yarn to learn about the Aboriginal Copyright issue and the progress of the Free the Flag campaign. NAIDOC Virtual Run Walk Event: Get moving during NAIDOC Week with this virtual run or walk event. Nominate your distance of either 5km, 10km, 21.1km or 42.2km and be rewarded with a medal designed by Gunditjmara artist, Laura Thompson. Top image: Supplied by Clothing The Gaps.
This piece of tour news will get you smiling like you mean it: The Killers are returning Down Under before 2024 is out, announcing their latest stint on Australia's stages. The Las Vegas-born rockers were last here in November and December 2022 — including playing intimate midnight shows — and will head back across the same months this year to get local crowds singing 'Mr Brightside' and 'Somebody Told Me' again. Hot Fuss, the album that gave the world those two beloved tracks — and 'Smile Like You Mean It', 'Jenny Was a Friend of Mine', 'All These Things That I've Done' and more — is the reason for the tour. 2024 marks 20 years since it first released, so Brandon Flowers and company are celebrating. More than that, they're playing two types of gigs on their Aussie trip. Most will be Rebel Diamonds shows, pumping through the group's hits across their entire career. In Sydney and Melbourne, however, The Killers are doing an extra night to work through Hot Fuss in its entirety. [caption id="attachment_972411" align="alignnone" width="1920"] © 2022 Chris Phelps[/caption] Open up your eager eyes, Australia: destiny is calling you to those two concerts apiece in the New South Wales and Victorian capitals, at Qudos Bank Arena and Rod Laver Arena, as well as to single shows at Brisbane Entertainment Centre in the Sunshine State capital and Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville. Sadly, the November/December timing means that The Killers won't be repeating their AFL Grand Final berth after stealing the show back in 2017. They will be in the country for the AFLW Grand Final, however, if you want to start crossing your fingers. Given the band's lengthy back catalogue, The Killers won't just be focusing on Hot Fuss tunes at both kinds of shows on their tour, but have plenty more songs to bust out. Also likely to get a whirl as well: 'When You Were Young', 'Bones', 'Human', 'The Man' and latest single 'Bright Lights', just to name a few. The Hot Fuss gigs have been receiving a workout in the group's hometown of late, where they played a soldout residency at Caesar's Palace from mid-August till early September. The Killers 2024 Australian Tour Dates: Saturday, November 30 — Rebel Diamonds — Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville Friday, December 6 — Rebel Diamonds — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Saturday, December 7 — Hot Fuss — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Monday, December 9 — Rebel Diamonds — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Thursday, December 12 — Rebel Diamonds — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Friday, December 13 – Hot Fuss — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne [caption id="attachment_831494" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Raph_PH via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] The Killers are touring Australia in November and December 2024. Pre-sale tickets go on sale at 3pm local time on Tuesday, September 10, with general tickets on sale from 4pm local time on Monday, September 12. For further details, head to the tour website. Top image: Raph_PH via Flickr.
"Look, I don't want to take up a ton of your time, but I'm gonna kill myself," Nadine Franklin (Hailee Steinfeld) announces to her history teacher, Mr Bruner (Woody Harrelson), at the beginning of The Edge of Seventeen. Whether she's making over-dramatic statements in class or bickering with her mother (Kyra Sedgwick), a definite mood is established: Nadine is not only awkward, opinionated and sarcastic, but she's also bitterly unhappy. Actually, as flashbacks from her childhood show, she has always been less than content. Now that she's watching her best friend Krista (Haley Lu Richardson) hook up with her brother Darian (Blake Jenner), she's even more miserable than usual. First-time writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig charts the fallout as Nadine tries to cope with this change to her status quo, a development made all the more devastating given her outsider status and lack of other friends. The Edge of Seventeen is packaged as a peppy coming-of-age comedy with humorous yet realistic banter and a soundtrack full of new and retro tracks to match. But it's not just about relaying a story. As Nadine wallows, rebels, chases the hot older guy (Alexander Calvert) and is courted by the shy aspiring filmmaker (Hayden Szeto), the film also interrogates the narrative that Nadine keeps telling herself. Everyone watching should be able to relate, with even the most perky and positive among us telling themselves a tale about their existence as it is unfolding. Moreover, if you've ever felt like an outsider, the story you've spun probably hasn't always been all that positive. Thoughtful and wise, The Edge of Seventeen understands this. By the time it works through the usual checklist of adolescent antics — think boys in cars, drinking too much, fights between BFFs and run-ins with authority — the film won't just have imparted life lessons to the characters, but to everyone in the audience as well. That's one of the things that separates a great teen flick like this one from the pack. Even as it follows the same basic formula, Craig's film boasts an abundance of insight and genuine emotion. It also helps that Nadine defies easy categorisation, thanks to a savvy script and a raw yet robust performance from one-time Oscar nominee Steinfeld. She thinks she's a put-upon loser, but her loud-mouthed tantrums often paint Nadine as a petulant brat. If this was Mean Girls, she'd be both Lindsay Lohan's Cady Heron and Rachel McAdams' Regina George. Not everything about The Edge of Seventeen hits the mark. Some of its jokes try a little too hard, some of its performances fade into the background, and on the whole you shouldn't have much trouble guessing where the story is going. Even so, as you're laughing at Steinfeld and Harrelson's rapport, cheering for Szeto's wannabe love interest, and coming to the same realisations as Nadine, odds are these small issues won't bother you.
First, New South Wales celebrated picnic day. Now, pool day is coming. With the weather heating up and NSW's vaccination rates increasing as well, Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced that outdoor pools across the state will be able to open again from 12.01am on Monday, September 27. So, if your usual spring routine involves taking a dip, doing a few laps or just otherwise enjoying your closest pool, that'll finally be back on the cards in just over a week. Natural pools are already allowed to open, but this change applies to all of NSW's other outdoor pools, which'll be permitted to get splashing again — and yes, in all parts of the state. The councils behind each outdoor pool will need to have a stringent COVID-19 safety plan in place, however, and those plans will need to have been approved by NSW Health. But, as long as that is the case, outdoor pools across the state can start welcoming in swimmers again before the end of the month. If you're wondering how that'll apply to your local outdoor pool, you'll want to keep an eye on their website over the next week or so regarding reopening dates, hours and rules. Revealing the news at NSW's COVID-19 press conference today, Sunday, September 19 — alongside the announcement that Sydney's LGAs of concern will revert to the same rules in place across the rest of the city from Monday, September 20 — the Premier said the change comes after positive developments, including the state's vaccination rates hitting 81.9 percent first doses and 51.9 percent second doses based on NSW residents over the age of 16. "As a result of these positive signs, the New South Wales Government is pleased to announce that from next Monday, all public pools will be open in a COVID-safe way," said Berejiklian. "And those COVID-safe plans will be formalised and made public, making sure that we keep community safe as much as possible and prevent seeding, and that all of us appreciate the importance of enjoying the warmer weather and the positive mental health and recreation and exercise." Yes, if you're thinking ahead to NSW's next public holiday, Labour Day, on Monday, October 4, this does now mean that going for a swim in a public outdoor pool can be on your agenda — alongside picnicking with up to four other pals if you're all fully vaxxed, of course. New South Wales' public outdoor pools are allowed to reopen from 12.01am on Monday, September 27. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
UPDATE: April 28, 2020: Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube and iTunes — and via Disney+ from Monday, May 4. Pity the fool who directs a Star Wars movie these days, even if that fool is JJ Abrams. It feels like a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away from the internet, when fans only interacted with films at the cinema and movies survived or died largely on merit alone. Back then, criticism and praise happened in private — between friends, colleagues and, occasionally, strangers at conventions. Now, films can fail before they're released. Emboldened by online anonymity and pocket-sized megaphones, devotees decry everything from casting choices to millisecond-long trailer grabs. To borrow from A New Hope, it's as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror that a woman was cast in the lead, or a stormtrooper was both black and friendly. "Thanks for ruining my childhood" became the catchcry for anyone who felt they didn't see the movie they wanted to and, unfortunately, studios started listening. It's in this context that the third and final film in Star Wars' sequels trilogy arrives. Reactions to Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi were as polarised as the entire franchise had seen — with some praising his efforts to reimagine swathes of lore and actually deliver something new for the first time in nearly 30 years, and others (most, even) tearing the film down. Cries of disrespect rang long and loudly as OG fans believed that their beloved characters had rejected everything they'd once stood for. Sure, Johnson dropped the ball on a number of fronts, but at least he tried something different. Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker does not try anything different. It retreats to the safest possible territory, borrowing heavily from Return of the Jedi to round out a trilogy crippled by an absence of cohesion. Like 2018's Ready Player One, nostalgia is the film's oft-used trump card, relying almost entirely on familiar visual or musical moments to trick you into thinking you're watching something clever or special. The end result is a chaotic, inconsistently paced, 142-minute package of fan service that gets a few things deliciously right and a lot disappointingly wrong. The Rise of Skywalker's best parts, as has been the case across this trilogy, stem from the relationship between Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Ren (Adam Driver). As the only enduring, meaningful source of mystery, Ridley and Driver again deliver committed performances filled with emotion and raw physicality — and both deserved a far greater story. Here, they're after the same thing: the somehow-resurgent Emperor Palpatine. We say 'somehow', because at no point does the film substantially address this crucial point. At least soaps like Dynasty offered explanations when they pulled this narrative trick (it's his evil twin; he fell off a boat and had amnesia; he was in protective custody). For Abrams, Palpatine is just back. In fact, he never left. Still, it's a joy to see Ian McDiarmid reprise one of cinema's greatest villains, with his scenes among the movie's highlights. Another strength, of course, is The Rise of Skywalker's special effects. As always, they're dizzying and dazzling. The large-scale planets and battles are amazing because Industrial Light & Magic — the company that helped kick-start incredible SFX back in 1977 — continues to push new boundaries, but the imagery particularly impresses in smaller ways. The ongoing commitment to practical effects (those that actually happen live on-set), for example, and managing to not only keep Carrie Fisher on-screen two films after she died, but to ensure that Leia remains the franchise's best character. The wizardry behind these posthumous performances must give pause to all working actors; however credit also goes to the writers for holding true to everything that made Leia an iconic hero in the first place. Her lines are limited but her actions speak volumes, and the film's most emotional moments belong to her. Others don't fare nearly as well. Kelly Marie Tran's Rose, a major player in The Last Jedi, is sidelined, as are Domhnall Gleeson and Lupita Nyong'o's characters — while franchise newcomer Keri Russell scarcely appears before she's gone. Even C-3PO is on the outer, notwithstanding one touching moment. Richard E. Grant is an inspired addition, and his turn as a ruthless First Order general makes you wish he'd been there from the beginning. As for Billy Dee Williams' return as Lando Calrissian (as already spoiled in the trailers), it's among the better nostalgic flourishes. Returning to Star Wars after first directing The Force Awakens, that Abrams plays it safe is no surprise. Yes, it can be argued that a franchise this big needs to take fewer risks to ensure it resonates with the widest possible base. Just as true, though, is the fact that playing it safe is a gross disservice to a property worthy and capable of greatness. If this really is the end of this universe as we know it, then surely it would've been better for The Rise of Skywalker to try and fail than fail to try at all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qn_spdM5Zg
In yet another difficult-to-believe tech development, a new app allows doctors to conduct comprehensive eye examinations with their smartphones. It's a particularly important breakthrough for medical professionals working in developing nations, where access to equipment is often costly and troublesome. Known as Peek Vision, the app is the invention of an expert team of ophthalmologists, scientists and engineers, several of whom are based at the International Centre for Eye Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Having worked at ground level in developing nations, they have had firsthand experience of the stories behind the statistics. 285 million people around the world are visually impaired. 39 million are blind. 90 percent of the latter live in low-income countries. 80% of blindness could have been avoided. Peek Vision currently has the capacity to perform a variety of tests and record-keeping tasks, including visual acuity, colour vision testing, contrast sensitivity testing, visual field testing, lens imaging for cataracts, retinal imaging, image grading and creating patient records with geotagging. Other possibilities, including front-of-the-eye-imaging, paediatric examination tools and autorefraction, are being explored. The Peek Vision team counts a number of medical bodies and research centres as its partners. Anyone interested in supporting the project, using the app or finding out more is invited to make contact. Via Springwise.
Swizzle sticks at the ready, drinks aficionados. After the success of last year's inaugural Maybe Cocktail Festival, the event is returning in April 2024 with more than 30 international bartenders and 20 events serving world class beverages over a week-long celebration of booze, hospitality and craft. Coming from the PUBLIC Hospitality group and the Maybe Sammy team — no stranger to legendary bar feats, having topped the list of the 500 best bars in the world in 2023 — the festival will hit venues across Sydney and showcase acclaimed bartenders and cocktail-slinging spots from Italy, England, Mexico, Scotland, China and, of course, some of the best of the Australian bar scene. [caption id="attachment_925486" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steve Woodburn[/caption] The impressive lineup (with highlights listed below) has been curated by Maybe Cocktail Festival Director and Director of Hospitality at PUBLIC, Stefano Catino, with an even bigger showing of international guests turning up for year two. "Last year we held 16 events and they were all packed so this year we've curated extra events and flown out even more international bars and bartenders," says Catino. He also emphasises the importance of making the festival events affordable: "Nineteen of the 21 events are free to attend which is very important to us. The cost of living is high and it's very expensive for Australians to travel overseas so this festival will give people the opportunity to drink cocktails from an amazing bar in Rome or try a Tommy's Margarita from the gentleman who created it, without the cost of a plane ticket." Yes, tequila fans will delight in the opportunity to have an audience with San Francisco native Julio Bermejo, creator of the Tommy's Margarita — the signature marg at legendary tequila bar and restaurant Tommy's Mexican. Other noteworthy bars involved in the program include Mexico City's Handshake Speakeasy (which ranked #3 on The World's 50 Best Bars list for 2023) and the history-rich New York staple Dante. The events will be held at a haul of venues including Maybe Sammy, Dean & Nancy on 22, Sammy Junior, El Primo Sanchez, Kasbah at The Strand, Ricos Tacos, Busby's, The Lady Hampshire, and both Alpha and Beta at 28 Castlereagh Street. Maybe Cocktail Festival 2024 bars (so far) Handshake Speakeasy (Mexico City) Caretaker's Cottage (Melbourne) Freni & Frizioni (Rome) Argo (Hong Kong) Panda & Sons (Edinburgh) Julio Bermejo (of Tommy's Mexican, San Francisco) Dante (New York City & Los Angeles) The Donovan Bar (London) Kwãnt Mayfair (London) Millie Tang (Brisbane) La Punta Expendio de Agave (Rome) Re– (Sydney) Byrdi (Melbourne) - #61 The World's 50 Best Bars 2023 Tayēr + Elementary (London) Bar Leone (Hong Kong) Gucci Giardino 25 (Florence) Bar Nouveau (Paris) Origin Bar (Singapore) The Maybe Cocktail Festival will take place across Sydney between Wednesday, April 9–Sunday, April 14. The full program of events will drop in March, so watch this space. Main image: Steven Woodburn.
The cafe scene in popular Blue Mountains towns like Leura and Katoomba is already well established. But the team behind Glenbrook's Kickaboom has managed to bring something new to the table. Owners Alisha and Dylan Johnson (Paramount Coffee Project) are focusing on specialty coffee in a way that few other nearby venues are. And so far it has proven a success — just two years after opening their first cafe, the duo has now launched Frankly My Dear in Katoomba. The spotlight here is shone on quality, ethically sourced coffee from the likes of Reuben Hills. Even the milk used in your cuppa is special — it's sourced from a family-run farm in Dubbo called Little Big Dairy. As well as black, white and filter coffee, there are turmeric, butterscotch and Speculoos (a spiced Dutch biscuit) lattes, PS40 sodas, milkshakes and cold pressed juices, too. The food also focuses on seasonality and quality, with a made-in-house mentality where possible — from the almond and macadamia milk to the liquorice bread. Tuck into plates of beetroot and gin-cured salmon tartine ($19) or slow-cooked pulled brisket on top of a soba noodle salad ($18). If you're looking for something heartier, there are also chocolate pancakes with maple cardamom cream ($17), egg and bacon burgers ($13) and miso pumpkin and bechamel Sonoma toasties ($16). Like its Glenbrook sister, Frankly My Dear is worth the drive out of central Sydney to visit. Images: Liam Foster
Spice I Am almost sounds like a challenge, or at least a state of mind. If there's anything to help get you there, it's red-hot Thai food. This is all you'll find at Spice I Am near Central, the more casual and busy cousin of Darlinghurst's Spice I Am. Drawing from north-eastern Thai cuisine, head chef Sujet Saenkham has concocted dishes away from the stir-fry stereotype. Expect expect soups and spicy salads as well as a few Thai classics with a twist. The light meals include the classics such as curry puffs, pork satay sticks and fried fish balls, while the soups are more adventurous including the signature dish — the tom kha gai. This mild chicken soup is made with galangai, lemon juice, mushrooms, herbs and coconut milk. On the hunt for spice? Look no further than the tom klong, a crispy roasted fish fillet in a traditional Thai spicy sour soup. The menu here is long and also includes classic noodle dishes such as pad thai, pad see ew and the spicy pad kee mao. Order these with chicken, pork, seafood or vegetables. The rice dishes are the same with traditional Thai fried rice or a spicy option available. If you're after a stir fry then the signature dish is the crispy pork belly with Chinese broccoli, chilli and oyster sauce while the pla pad cha, which is a stir fry of fried fish with the house chilli paste, is also delicious. For the more adventurous, look towards the chef's specials menu, with green curry with slow cooked beef, long purple eggplant and Thai basil the pick. It also does cooking classes, so discover your favourite from the menu and learn to prepare it at home.
In a perfect world, all films would get a run on the big screen everywhere that shows them. Alas, that isn't the world that we live in. But just because a feature misses a season at the cinemas in Australia — playing at film festivals before hitting digital, perhaps, or made for and only ever set to stream — that doesn't mean that it can't be a gem, as our picks for the 15 best straight-to-streaming movies of 2023 makes plain. Indeed, the finest films of the year didn't only play on the silver screen. See: Michelle Williams' latest stellar performance, an Oscar-nominated documentary and a playful vampire effort from the director of Spencer, plus new treats from Wes Anderson, inventive horror movies, standout biopics and revived franchises, too. In fact, even cinephiles who basically live at their local picture palace know that theatres aren't the only place to catch the year's standout flicks. After we surveyed the best straight-to-streaming movies of 2023's first half in June, we've now done the same from across the entire year. Make your own popcorn, grab a drink, get comfortable on your couch, and there's your next at-home movie night — or 15 — taken care of. (And yes, we're bunching Anderson's recent shorts together and counting them as one project, because that's how they are best watched.) SHOWING UP Kelly Reichardt and Michelle Williams are one of cinema's all-time great pairings. After 2008's Wendy and Lucy, 2010's Meek's Cutoff and 2016's Certain Women, all divine, add Showing Up to the reasons that their collaborations are an event. Again, writer/director Reichardt hones in on characters who wouldn't grace the screen otherwise, and on lives that rarely do the same. With her trademark empathy, patience and space, she spends time with people and problems that couldn't be more relatable as well. Her first picture since 2019's stunning First Cow, which didn't feature Williams, also feels drawn from the filmmaker's reality. She isn't a sculptor in Portland working an administration job at an arts and crafts college while struggling to find the time to create intricate ceramic figurines, but she is one of America's finest auteurs in an industry that so scarcely values the intricacy and artistry of her work. No one needs to have stood exactly in Showing Up's protagonist's shoes, or in Reichardt's, to understand that tussle — or the fight for the always-elusive right balance between passion and a paycheque, all while everyday chaos, family drama and the minutiae of just existing also throws up roadblocks. Showing Up couldn't have a better title. For Lizzy (Wiliams, The Fabelmans), who spends the nine-to-five grind at her alma mater with her mother (Maryann Plunkett, Manifest) as her boss, everything she does — or needs or wants to — is about doing exactly what the movie's moniker says. That doesn't mean that she's thrilled about it. She definitely isn't happy about her frenemy, neighobour and landlord Jo (Hong Chau, Asteroid City), who won't fix her hot water, couldn't be more oblivious to anyone else's problems and soon has her helping play nurse to an injured pidgeon. Reichardt spins the film's narrative around Lizzy's preparations for a one-night-only exhibition, including trying to carve out the hours needed to finish her clay pieces amid her job, the bird, advocating for a liveable home, professional envy and concerns for her alienated brother (John Magaro, Past Lives). The care and detail that goes into Lizzy's figurines is mirrored in Reichardt's own efforts, in another thoughtful and resonant masterpiece that does what all of the filmmaker's masterpieces do: says everything even when nothing is being uttered, proves a wonder of observation, boasts a pitch-perfect cast and isn't easily forgotten. Showing Up streams via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. ALL THAT BREATHES Pictures can't tell all of All That Breathes' story, with Delhi-based brothers Nadeem Shehzad and Mohammad Saud's chats saying plenty that's essential. In the documentary's observational style, their conversation flits in and out of the film — sometimes, there's narration, too — giving it many meaningful words. Still, the images that Shaunak Sen (Cities of Sleep) lets flow across the screen in this Sundance- and Cannes-winner, and also 2023 Oscar-nominee, are astonishing. And, befitting this poetic meditative and ruminative doco's pace and mood, they do flow. All That Breathes' main pair adore the black kites that take to India's skies and suffer from its toxic air quality, tending to the creatures' injuries. As Sen watches, he adores them as well. Viewers will, too. Indeed, if there wasn't a single syllable uttered, with the movie just leaning on cinematographers Ben Bernhard (Talking About the Weather), Riju Das (14 Phere) and Saumyananda Sahi's (Trial by Fire) sights, plus Niladri Shekhar Roy ('83) and Moinak Bose's (Against the Tide) sound recording, the end result still would've been revelatory. This film trills about urban development, its costs and consequences, and caring for others both animal and human — and it chirps oh-so-much. It notes how everything that the earth's predominant inhabitants do has environmental impacts for the creatures that we share the planet with, including quests for economic dominance and political control. All That Breathes peers on as its subjects' tasks get harder even as they earn global attention, receive more funding and build their dream hospital. It sees how they put the majestic kites' wellbeing above their own, even as the numbers of birds needing their help just keeps growing. This is a documentary about animals falling from the skies due to pollution, two siblings trying to help them soar again, why that's so vital and what the whole situation says about life on earth — and it's vital and spectacular viewing. All That Breathes streams via Binge. THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR, THE SWAN, THE RAT CATCHER AND POISON Fresh from stepping into a play as a live production in a TV show in Asteroid City, and also flicking through a magazine's various articles in The French Dispatch before that, Wes Anderson now gets an author sharing his writing in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar. The 39-minute short film features Ralph Fiennes (The Menu) as Roald Dahl, who did indeed pen the tale that gives this suitably symmetrically shot affair its name — the book it's in, too — with the account that he's spilling one of several in a film that enthusiastically makes Anderson's love of layers known in its playful structure as much as its faux set. So, Dahl chats. The eponymous Henry Sugar (Benedict Cumberbatch, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) does as well. And, Dr Chatterjee (Dev Patel, The Green Knight) and his patient Imdad Khan (Ben Kingsley, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) also have a natter. The stories within stories within stories (within stories) share the fact that Khan has learned to see without his eyes, Chatterjee couldn't be more fascinated and Sugar wants to learn the trick for himself — to help with his gambling pastime. In his three decades as a filmmaker, Anderson has only ever made both features and shorts with one of two people responsible for their ideas: himself, sometimes with Owen Wilson (Haunted Mansion), Noah Baumbach (White Noise), Jason Schwartzman (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) and/or Roman Coppola (Mozart in the Jungle) contributing; and Dahl. With the latter, first came Anderson's magnificent stop-motion Fantastic Mr Fox adaptation — and now The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar sits among a series of four new shorts based on the author's work. This is still a dream match, with the director's beloved jewel and pastel colours, dollhouse-esque visuals, moving sets, love of centred framing and dialogue rhythm all proving a treat in this account of personal and spiritual growth. The cast is as divine on-screen as it sounds on paper, too, especially Cumberbatch and Patel. The next in the set, the 17-minute The Swan, pushes Rupert Friend (High Desert) to the fore in a darker tale about a bully. Throw in The Rat Catcher (about a small village with a vermin issue) and Poison (charting a life-and-death situation in British-occupied India) — each similarly 17 minutes in length — and there's only one thing to do: package them together as an anthology film. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, The Swan, The Rat Catcher and Poison stream via Netflix. Read our full review. EMILY THE CRIMINAL Enterprising, astute, intelligent and accepting zero garbage from anyone: these are traits that Aubrey Plaza can convey in her sleep. But she definitely isn't slumbering in Emily the Criminal, which sees her turn in a performance as weighty and layered as her deservedly Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominated portrayal in the second season of The White Lotus — something that she's been doing since her Parks and Recreation days anyway. Indeed, there's more than a touch of April Ludgate-Dwyer's resourcefulness to this crime-thriller's eponymous figure. Los Angeles resident Emily Benetto isn't sporting much apathy, however; she can't afford to. With $70,000 in student loans to her name for a college art degree she isn't using working as a food delivery driver, and a felony conviction that's getting in the way of securing any gig she's better qualified for for, Jersey girl Emily breaks bad to make bank when she's given a tip about a credit card fraud ring run by Youcef (Theo Rossi, Sons of Anarchy). Her simple task: purchasing everything from electronics to cars with the stolen numbers. Writer/director John Patton Ford makes his feature debut with this lean, sharp, keenly observed and tightly paced film, which works swimmingly and grippingly as a heist thriller with plenty to say about the state of America today — particularly about a society that saddles folks starting their working lives with enormous debts, turning careers in the arts into the domain of the wealthy, and makes even the slightest wrongdoing a life sentence. Emily the Criminal is angry about that state of affairs, and that ire colours every frame. But it's as a character study that this impressive film soars highest, stepping through the struggles, troubles and desperate moves of a woman trapped not by her choices but her lack of options, all while seeing her better-off classmates breeze through life. As she usually is, Plaza is mesmerising, and adds another complicated movie role to a resume that also boasts the phenomenal Ingrid Goes West and Black Bear as well. Emily the Criminal streams via Binge and Netflix. EL CONDE What if Augusto Pinochet didn't die in 2006? What if the Chilean general and dictator wasn't aged 91 at the time, either? What if his story started long before his official 1915 birthdate, in France prior to the French Revolution? What if he's been living for 250 years because he's a literal monster of the undead, draining and terrifying kind? Trust Chilean filmmaking great Pablo Larraín (Ema, Neruda, The Club, No, Post Mortem and Tony Manero) to ask these questions in El Conde, which translates as The Count and marks the latest exceptional effort in a career that just keeps serving up excellent movies. His satirical, sharp and gleefully unsubtle version of his homeland's most infamous leader was born Claude Pinoche (Clemente Rodríguez, Manchild), saw Marie Antoinette get beheaded and kept popping up to quell insurgencies before becoming Augusto Pinochet. Now holed up in a farm after faking his own death to avoid legal scrutiny — aka the consequences of being a brutal tyrant — the extremely elderly figure (Jaime Vadell, a Neruda, The Club, No and Post Mortem veteran) is also tired of eternal life. The idea at the heart of El Conde is a gem, with Larraín and his regular co-writer Guillermo Calderón plunging a stake into a despot while showing that the impact of authoritarianism rule stretches on forever (and winning the Venice International Film Festival's Best Screenplay Award this year for their efforts). The execution: just as sublime in a film that's both wryly and dynamically funny, and also a monochrome-shot visual marvel. A moment showing Pinoche licking the blood off the guillotine that's just decapitated Antoinette is instantly unforgettable. As Pinochet flies above Santiago in his cape and military attire in the thick of night, every Edward Lachman (The Velvet Underground)-lensed shot of The Count — as he likes to be called by his wife Lucia (Gloria Münchmeyer, 42 Days of Darkness), butler Fyodor (Alfredo Castro, The Settlers) and adult children — has just as much bite. El Conde's narrative sets its protagonist against an accountant and nun (Paula Luchsinger, Los Espookys) who digs through his crime and sins, and it's a delight that punctures. As seen in the also magnificent Jackie and Spencer, too, Larraín surveys the past like no one else. El Conde streams via Netflix. FLORA AND SON No filmmaker believes in the power of music quite like John Carney. In Flora and Son, the Once, Begin Again and Sing Street writer/director again lets his favourite refrain echo, this time with an Irish single mother, her rebellious teenage boy and the American guitarist who she pays to give her lessons via zoom. The eponymous Flora (Eve Hewson, Bad Sisters) feels like she's never had an adulthood of her own after falling (swiftly, not slowly) pregnant at the age of 17 to musician Ian (Jack Reynor, The Peripheral) — whose big claim to fame is that his band once opened for Snow Patrol — then being a mum through their relationship highs and lows. When she salvages a thrown-out instrument for now-14-year-old Max (Orén Kinlan, Taken Down) but he doesn't want it, she decides to give it a try herself. It's an escape from simply getting by, arguing with Ian, coping with Max's run-ins with the law and young mother-style existential malaise. It could be a path to a new future, too. And, with her teen also into music — but hip hop, rap and EDM, or whatever will impress his crush (feature first-timer Alex Deegan) — it's a way to bring Flora and son closer together. Music is in Hewson's blood given that she's the daughter of Paul Hewson, aka U2's Bono, with the Behind Her Eyes and The Knick star well-cast — and magnetic, and also endlessly charismatic — as the forthright, sweary, just-trying-to-get-by Flora. There's both yearning and energy in her electrifyingly lived-in performance, and in the melodic and soulful tunes that her character pens with teacher Jeff (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Poker Face) via video chats as they reflect upon their lives, loves, hopes and dreams via songwriting. Flora and Son boasts lovely performances all round, in fact. Kinlan is a dynamic find who deserves many more credits on his resume, Gordon-Levitt charms quietly and softly, and sparks fly when Carney gets the latter in the same space as Hewson through an easy but nice visual touch. The movie's moniker makes plain where its heart belongs, though, as Flora and Max learn not just about themselves but about their complicated bond with each other by making music. As always with this filmmaker's work, the original soundtrack is sublime. Also, the mood feels like a warm but clear-eyed hug. Flora and Son streams via Apple TV+. RUSTIN After Selma, One Night in Miami and Judas and the Black Messiah arrives Rustin, the latest must-see movie about the minutiae of America's 60s-era civil rights movement. All four hail from Black filmmakers. All four tell vital stories. The entire quartet boasts phenomenal performances, too — complete with a Best Supporting Actor statuette for Judas and the Black Messiah's Daniel Kaluuya, plus nominations for his co-star Lakeith Stanfield and One Night in Miami's Leslie Odom Jr (Selma's David Oyelowo was robbed). Colman Domingo, an Emmy-winner for Euphoria and Tony-nominee for The Scottsboro Boys, deserves to join that Academy Awards list for his turn as Rustin's eponymous figure. His performance isn't merely powerful; it's a go-for-broke portrayal from a versatile talent at the top of his game while digging into the every inch of his part. Domingo doesn't only turn in a showcase effort in a career that's long been absent on-screen leading role, either; he's everything that Rustin hangs off of, soars around, and lives and breathes with. Focusing on Bayard Rustin, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom director George C Wolfe's latest feature already had a riveting and important tale to tell, but Domingo proves its stunning beating heart. Rustin's namesake holds a place in history for a wealth of reasons, but here's one: it was at the event that he conceived, organised and gave almost everything he had to ensure took place that Martin Luther King Jr have his "I Have a Dream" speech. That moment at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in August 1963 will never be forgotten. Nor should Rustin's efforts in ensuring there was a protest — a historic demonstration with more than 200,000 attendees, in fact— to begin with against overwhelming pushback. Dr King (Aml Ameen, I May Destroy You) is a supporting player in this film, which explores the behind-the-scenes hustle and bustle from idea until the day, as well as Rustin's fight not just against racism but also homophobia as an openly gay Black man (including the battles he's forced to wage among his fellow crusaders for civil rights). Even while only covering a sliver of his subject's life, Wolfe largely takes the traditional biopic route, working with a script by Julian Breece (When They See Us) and Dustin Lance Black (an Oscar-winner for Milk); however, the potency of the Rustin's deeds and struggles, the importance of everything that he was rallying for and Domingo's electrifying lead performance all make his movie anything but standard. Rustin streams via Netflix. EARTH MAMA Add Savanah Leaf's debut feature to 2023's phenomenal first films from female directors, slotting in alongside Aftersun and Past Lives. Earth Mama mightn't riff on her own story as those two movies do for their filmmakers, but the former Olympic volleyballer and Grammy-nominee for Best Music Video (for Gary Clark Jr's 'This Land') does still draw upon reality to potent and empathetic effect. In 2020, Leaf and actor Taylor Russell (Bones and All) co-directed documentary short The Heart Still Hums, which dedicated its frames to single mothers forced to interact with the child welfare, fostering and adoption systems. In fiction, focusing on one young mum with two kids that she's desperate to reunite with and a third on the way, that's Earth Mama's story as well. Leaf won Best Debut Director at the 2023 British Independent Film for the confident and revelatory end result, which feels as initiate and raw as cinema gets — and, while firmly telling a social-realist tale about the plight of women in its protagonist's situation, balances its bleakness with hope, a sense of community, and astute and insightful doses of magical realism. Tia Nomore also makes a staggering debut herself as Gia, the 24-year-old whose pain at being away from her son Trey (Ca'Ron Jaden Coleman, This Is Us) and daughter Shaynah (Alexis Rivas, another first-timer) seeps from her pores. Getting their family back together isn't simple, though, as the authorities splash their disapproval at everything Gia does: her history wth drugs, which she's in recovery for; her new pregnancy, especially given that she isn't in a stable relationship; and being late to her supervised once-a-week sessions with kids, despite the fact that she's doing her best to meet all of child services' demands while also keeping her job. In some of the movie's visually brightest moments that come tinged with the surreal, Gia works in a mall photo store helping to take happy snaps of beaming couples and their offspring; immortalising their perfect dream is how she makes a living, while constantly chasing her own. There's poetry to Leaf's imagery, anger in her survey of how Black women are treated and defiance in Gia's determination — plus both complexity and compassion everywhere. Earth Mama streams via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. HUESERA: THE BONE WOMAN The sound of cracking knuckles is one of humanity's most anxiety-inducing. The noise of clicking bones elsewhere? That's even worse. Both help provide Huesera: The Bone Woman's soundtrack — and set the mood for a deeply tense slow-burner that plunges into maternal paranoia like a Mexican riff on Rosemary's Baby, the horror subgenre's perennial all-timer, while also interrogating the reality that bringing children into the world isn't a dream for every woman no matter how much society expects otherwise. Valeria (Natalia Solián, Red Shoes) is thrilled to be pregnant, a state that hasn't come easily. After resorting to praying at a shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in desperation, neither she nor partner Raúl (Alfonso Dosal, Narcos: Mexico) could be happier, even if her sister Vero (Sonia Couoh, 40 Years Young) caustically comments that she's never seemed that interested in motherhood before. Then, two things shake up her hard-fought situation: a surprise run-in with Octavia (Mayra Batalla, Everything Will Be Fine), the ex-girlfriend she once planned to live a completely different life with; and constant glimpses of a slithering woman whose unnatural body movements echo and unsettle. Filmmaker Michelle Garza Cervera (TV series Marea alta) makes her fictional narrative debut with Huesera: The Bone Woman, directing and also writing with first-timer Abia Castillo — and she makes a powerfully chilling and haunting body-horror effort about hopes, dreams, regrets and the torment of being forced into a future that you don't truly foresee as your own. Every aspect of the film, especially Nur Rubio Sherwell's (Don't Blame Karma!) exacting cinematography, reinforces how trapped that Valeria feels even if she can't admit it to herself, and how much that attempting to be the woman Raúl and her family want is eating away at her soul. Solián is fantastic at navigating this journey, including whether the movie is leaning into drama or terror at any given moment. You don't need expressive eyes to be a horror heroine, but she boasts them; she possesses a scream queen's lungs, too. Unsurprisingly, Cervera won the Nora Ephron Award for best female filmmaker at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival for this instantly memorable nightmare. Huesera: The Bone Woman streams via Shudder. ROBE OF GEMS In the very first moments of her very first feature as a director — after working as an editor on films such as 2012's Post Tenebras Lux and 2014's Jauja — Natalia López demands her audience's attention. She earns it and ensures it as well, and looking away while Robe of Gems unfurls its story is impossible afterwards. To kick things off, a patient and painterly glimpse at the rural Mexican landscape comes into sight, fading up and bringing more and more dusty grey details with it with each second. Then, without the frame moving, a frenetic man is seen bashing and slashing through the plants. Next, it becomes apparent that there's a reflection as part of the image. And, it's also quickly evident that viewers are seeing someone else's vantage as they look on at the landscape. In fact, a couple peers out, in the middle of getting intimate (and immediately before flinging wooden furniture around, strewn pieces flying everywhere). With the 'start as you mean to go on' maxim in mind, it's a helluva opening. López does indeed begin as she goes on, in a film that scored her 2022's Berlinale's Silver Bear Jury Prize. The pivotal villa belongs to Isabel's (Nailea Norvind, Julia vs Julia) family, and offers somewhat of a respite from a marriage that's splintering like that thrown-about furniture, with the clearly well-to-do woman settling in with her children Benja (first-timer Balam Toledo) and Vale (fellow debutant Sherlyn Zavala Diaz). But tension inescapably lingers, given that the onsite caretaker María (newcomer Antonia Olivares) is unsettled by the disappearance of her sister, a plot point that makes a purposeful statement. The police are investigating, the cartel has a local presence, corruption is an ever-present force, and the gap between the wealthy and not-so is glaring. Progressing carefully from that powerhouse opening, Robe of Gems quickly seeps under your skin — and as its first visuals make abundantly clearly, every second is a marvel to look at. Robe of Gems streams via Prime Video and Madman on Demand. CASSANDRO The story of luchador Saúl Armendáriz hits the screen in Cassandro, which takes its title from the American-born Mexican performer's ring name. As writer/director Roger Ross Williams (Life, Animated) works through with help from his charismatic star Gael García Bernal (Werewolf By Night), Armendáriz first came to wrestling in a mask — as an amateur living in El Paso but heading over the border to Juarez to get scrapping — then made a big switch to take on an exótico identity. That's where the openly gay competitor not only found himself, but also earned fame. He takes convincing, however, as this affectionate and thoughtful feature unpacks. Of course he wants to be able to express himself, bounce between the ropes with glamour and joy, carve out an accepting space and have crowds showering him with love. But exóticos have been traditionally positioned to lose. Dressed in drag, they've been used to show up the masculine strengths of their opponents. That homophobic situation isn't one that Armendáriz wants to embrace, but trainer Sabrina (Roberta Colindrez, A League of Their Own) thinks that he could make a difference, subvert the trend, stand out and become a better wrestler. Frequent documentarian Williams, who won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short for Music by Prudence, knows a great story — and stellar talent. Cassandro has both, including Armendáriz's rise to become the 'Liberace of Lucha Libre', the many ups and downs on that path, his relationship with his mother Yocasta (Perla De La Rosa, Villa, itinerario de una pasión), and Bernal's layered performance in his shoes and spandex. There's both passion and heartbreak in the actor's portrayal — shyness as Saúl and blossoming confidence as Cassandro as well — in another of Bernal's big career highlights. Indeed, he puts in a tour-de-force effort as the film explores Armendáriz's devotion to his mum; his complicated feelings about his absent, disapproving dad (Robert Salas, Family Portrait); his secret liaisons and not-so-clandestine love for married fellow luchador Gerardo (Raúl Castillo, The Inspection); his flirtations with the assistant (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio aka Bad Bunny, Bullet Train) to his key promoter (Joaquín Cosio, Narcos: Mexico); and what it means to get a shot in the ring with icon silver-masked El Hijo del Santo (as himself). Cassandro streams via Prime Video. THEY CLONED TYRONE Jordan Peele's Get Out and Us would already make a killer triple feature with Boots Riley's Sorry to Bother You. For a smart and savvy marathon of science fiction-leaning films about race in America by Black filmmakers, now add Juel Taylor's They Cloned Tyrone. The Creed II screenwriter turns first-time feature director with this dystopian movie that slides in alongside Groundhog Day, Moon, The Cabin in the Woods, A Clockwork Orange, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and They Live, too — but is never derivative, not for a second, including in its 70s-style Blaxploitation-esque aesthetic that nods to Shaft and Superfly as well. Exactly what drug dealer Fontaine (John Boyega, The Woman King), pimp Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx, Strays) and sex worker Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris, The Marvels) find in their neighbourhood is right there in the film's name. The how, the why, the specifics around both, the sense of humour that goes with all of the above, the savage satire: Taylor and co-writer Tony Rettenmaier perfect the details. Ignore the fact that they both collaborated on the script for the awful Space Jam: A New Legacy, other than considering the excellent They Cloned Tyrone as a far smarter, darker and deeper exploration of exploitation when the powers that be see other people as merely a means to an end. On an ordinary day — and amid vintage-looking threads and hairstyles, and also thoroughly modern shoutouts to SpongeBob SquarePants, Kevin Bacon, Barack Obama, Nancy Drew and bitcoin — Fontaine wakes up, has little cash and doesn't win on an instant scratch-it. He chats to his mother through her bedroom door, tries to collect a debt from Slick Charles and, as Yo-Yo witnesses, is shot. Then he's back in his bed, none the wiser about what just happened, zero wounds to be seen, and going through the same cycle again. When the trio realise that coming back from the dead isn't just a case of déjà vu, they team up to investigate, discovering one helluva conspiracy that helps Taylor's film make a powerful statement. They Cloned Tyrone's lead trio amply assists, too, especially the ever-ace Boyega. Like Sorry to Bother You especially, this is a comedy set within a nightmarish scenario, and the Attack the Block, Star Wars and Small Axe alum perfects both the humour and the horror. One plucky and persistent, the other oozing charm and rocking fur-heavy coats, Parris and Foxx lean into the hijinks as the central threesome go all Scooby-Doo. There isn't just a man in a mask here, however, in this astute and inventive standout. They Cloned Tyrone streams via Netflix. NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU Thanks to Justified, Short Term 12, Booksmart, Unbelievable and Dopesick, Kaitlyn Dever has already notched up plenty of acting highlights; however, No One Will Save You proves one of her best projects yet while only getting the actor to speak just a single line. Instead of using dialogue, this alien invasion flick tells its story without words — and also finds its emotion in Dever's expressive face and physicality. Her character: Mill River resident Brynn Adams, who has no one to talk to long before extra-terrestrials arrive. The local outcast due to a tragic incident from her past, and now living alone in her childhood home following her mother's death, Brynn fills her time by sewing clothes, making models of her unwelcoming small town like she's in Moon and penning letters to her best friend Maude. Then she's woken in the night by an intruder who isn't human, flits between fighting back and fleeing, and is forced into a battle for survival — striving to save her alienated existence in her cosy but lonely abode from grey-hued, long-limbed, telekinetic otherworldly interlopers with a penchant for mind control. With Spontaneous writer/director Brian Duffield's script matched by exacting A Quite Place-level sound design and The Witcher composer Joseph Trapanese's score, this close encounter of the unspoken kind is a visual feat, bouncing, bounding and dancing around Brynn's house and the Mill River community as aliens linger. Every single frame conveys a wealth of detail, as it needs to without chatter to fill in the gaps. Every look on Dever's face does the same, and every glance as well; this is a performance so fine-tuned that this would be a completely different film without her. Bringing the iconic 'Hush' episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer to mind, No One Will Save you is smartly plotted, including in explaining why it sashays in silence. Just as crucially — and this time recalling everyone's favourite home-invasion film, aka Home Alone — it's fluidly and evocatively choreographed. There's also a touch of Nope in its depiction of eerie threats from space, plus a veer into Invasion of the Body Snatchers, all without ever feeling like No One Will Save is bluntly cribbing from elsewhere. The result: a new sci-fi/horror standout. No One Will Save You streams via Disney+. RYE LANE When Dom (David Jonsson, Industry) and Yas (Vivian Oparah, Then You Run) are asked how they met, they tell a tale about a karaoke performance getting an entire bar cheering. Gia (Karene Peter, Emmerdale Farm), Dom's ex, is both shocked and envious, even though she cheated on him with his primary-school best friend Eric (Benjamin Sarpong-Broni, The Secret). It's the kind of story a movie couple would love to spin — the type that tends to only happen in the movies, too. But even for Rye Lane's fictional characters, it's a piece of pure imagination. Instead, the pair meet in South London, in the toilet at an art show. He's crying in a stall, they chat awkwardly through the gender-neutral space's wall, then get introduced properly outside. It's clumsy, but they keep the conversation going even when they leave the exhibition, then find themselves doing the good ol' fashioned rom-com walk and talk, then slide in for that dinner rendezvous with the flabbergasted Gia. It's easy to think of on-screen romances gone by during British filmmaker Raine Allen-Miller's feature debut — working with a script from Bloods duo Nathan Bryon and Tom Melia — which this charming Sundance-premiering flick overtly wants viewers to. There's a helluva sight gag about Love Actually, as well as a cameo to match, and the whole meandering-and-nattering setup helped make Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight an iconic trilogy. That said, as Rye Lane spends time with shy accountant Dom, who has barely left his parents' house since the breakup, and the outgoing costume designer Yas, who has her own recent relationship troubles casting a shadow, it isn't propelled by nods and winks. Rather, it's smart and savvy in a Starstruck way about paying tribute to what's come before while wandering down its own path. The lead casting is dynamic, with Jonsson and Oparah making a duo that audiences could spend hours with, and Allen-Miller's eye as a director is playful, lively, loving and probing. Rom-coms are always about watching people fall for each other, but this one plunges viewers into its swooning couple's mindset with every visual and sensory touch it can. Rye Lane streams via Disney+. CONFESS, FLETCH Since Mad Men had Don Draper want to buy the world a Coke to end its seven-season run back in 2015, comedy has been Jon Hamm's friend. He's the ultimate TV guest star, building upon stints in 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation while Mad Men was still airing with Toast of London, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Curb Your Enthusiasm, on a resume that also includes The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, Childrens Hospital, Medical Police, Angie Tribeca, The Last Man on Earth and Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp as well. So, casting him as the new Irwin Maurice 'Fletch' Fletcher couldn't be an easier move. Having fellow Mad Men standout John Slattery (The Good Fight) also appear in the latest flick about the investigative reporter, and the first since the Chevy Chase-led movies in the 80s, is another winning touch. Even if that reunion wasn't part of the film, Hamm is so entertaining that he makes a killer case for a whole new Fletch franchise — on whatever screen the powers-that-be like — with him at its centre. Hamm clearly understands how well he suits this type of character, and the genre; he's a comic delight, and he's also one of Confess, Fletch's producers. Superbad and Adventureland's Greg Mottola directs and co-writes, scripting with Outer Range's Zev Borow — and ensuring that Hamm and Slattery aren't the only acting highlights. Working through a plot that sees Fletch chasing a stolen artwork, discovering a dead body, and both looking into the crime and considered a suspect himself, the film also features engaging turns by always-welcome Twin Peaks great Kyle MacLachlan and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar gem Annie Mumolo. There have been several attempts to revive Fletch over the past three decades, including separate projects with Ted Lasso duo Bill Lawrence and Jason Sudeikis — on the page, the character spans nine novels — but viewers should be thankful that this is the action-comedy that came to fruition, even if it skipped cinemas everywhere but the US. Confess, Fletch streams via Paramount+ and Binge. Looking for more viewing highlights? We also rounded up the 15 top films of 2023, and another 15 exceptional flicks that hardly anyone saw in cinemas this year — plus the 15 best new TV series of 2023, another 15 excellent new TV shows of 2023 that you might've missed and the 15 best returning shows as well. And, we've kept a running list of must-stream TV from across the year, complete with full reviews. Also, you can check out our regular rundown of film and TV streaming recommendations, which is updated monthly.
Start the car, we know a whoopee spot, where the gin is cold but the piano is certainly hot, and that place is the Roaring 20s and All That Jazz Festival. The festivities will take place throughout venues across the Katoomba area in the Blue Mountains, and will include 1920s-style balls in historic grand ballrooms, high teas and, of course, plenty of jazz and blues performances. Head to the famed Hydro Majestic Hotel to participate in the Charleston Challenge, where ladies and gents of all ages slip into their best flapper dresses and fedoras in a huge group performance of the Charleston. There will also be historical walks, a long lunch, dinner shows and more. Don your best Greta Garbo threads and grab yourself a Gatsby — this is certainly a weekend of feathers and frivolity.
When late October rolls around in Australia, Monopoly will no longer just be a game: it'll be a theme park as well. Already open in Hong Kong, Monopoly Dreams is heading Down Under, setting up its second Monopoly attraction in Melbourne Central. On the agenda: feeling like you've just stepped into the board game IRL in a 1700-square-metre space filled with all things Monopoly. Expect to hear the word Monopoly a whole lot — right now while reading about this news, and in general at this Monopoly haven. Monopoly Dreams launching in the Victorian capital isn't a new development, but the official opening date is. If you're keen, mark Saturday, October 21 in your diary. Also, you can start buying tickets now, too. It's the game that's caused many a childhood dispute, and plenty more between adults as well. Thanks to its ever-growing range of themed versions, it has let players buy everything from Game of Thrones' King's Landing to AFC Richmond's Nelson Road Stadium from Ted Lasso. And, it's now going the IRL bricks-and-mortar route on Melbourne Central's lower ground level. If you're wondering what a Monopoly theme park entails, that's hardly surprising — and the answer isn't just a life-sized version of the game that everyone has played more than once. Rather, the venue is taking a chance on bringing Monopoly elements beyond the board, building a Monopoly city that includes water works, the electric company, the bank and Mr Monopoly's mansion. And yes, there's a jail. Presumably you don't go directly there upon entering, but you can get your mugshot taken within its walls. When you walk through the doors, you'll also find carnival games. It wouldn't be a theme park based on a board game if playing games wasn't a big part of the attraction, of course. Expect challenges as well — and, in the mansion, there'll also be a vault and gallery, alongside a 4D cinema screening a movie about Mr Monopoly and his dog Scottie touring Melbourne locations — plus the opportunity to create your own customised Monopoly title deed. [caption id="attachment_918250" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tony Gough[/caption] For bites to eat, patrons can hit up the Monopoly cafe. And if all this Monopoly talk has you wanting to play Monopoly or buy Monopoly merchandise, Monopoly Dreams will also feature Australia's first and only dedicated Monopoly store. Catering for audiences of all ages — so, you'll have kids for company, but it's open for adults without children in tow — Monopoly Dreams will take visitors around 60–90 minutes to enjoy the full experience. "Our team has worked tirelessly to create an immersive experience that captures the essence of Monopoly and transports guests into a magical world of excitement and imagination," said Monopoly Dreams General Manager Mark Connolly. "We are thrilled to announce that tickets are now available, giving fans the opportunity to be a part of this extraordinary adventure." Monopoly Dreams will open on Saturday, October 21 at Melbourne Central, Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. Head to the venue's website for tickets and further details. Top image: Tony Gough.
Sydney's lower north shore recently scored itself an impressive new addition, with The Alcott opening its doors in Lane Cove in late July. Complete with restaurant, roomy outdoor terrace and its own spritz bar, the 200-seater brings plenty to the table. It's a modern, multifaceted space for all occasions, and it has been designed by Pony Design Co, who recently kitted out The Fernery nearby in Mosman and Camperdown's Acre. The venue also boasts an upbeat fit-out built on bold feature tones and a menu anchored in the Mediterranean. In the kitchen, Head Chef Richard Slarp is plating up fresh seasonal fare with a wholesome edge. Best enjoyed in that al fresco dining space are dishes like the saltbush lamb ribs with almond sumac and coriander, crispy brussels sprouts paired with romesco, and a show-stopping whole calamari, chargrilled and matched with tomato breadcrumbs and pickled fennel. On the weekends, The Alcott opens its doors earlier — at 11am — for brunch. It serves up shakshuka, smashed avocado and a hearty Warm Green Bowl, with sweet potato hummus, kale, pumpkin seeds and poached eggs. Those wanting to turn their back on winter altogether will find their oasis in the spritz bar, serving cocktails infused with flavours like rosemary, grapefruit, elderflower and lychee. The cocktails are backed up by an extensive wine selection, with plenty of love for Euro-leaning Aussie drops.
Twist the bones and bend the back, the Hocus Pocus franchise is returning for another horror-comedy attack — again. In 2022, the Sanderson sisters made their long-awaited comeback in a 29-years-later sequel to 1993's beloved witch flick Hocus Pocus, and Disney isn't done casting that spell. No, no one needed any magic to pick that Hocus Pocus 2 would be a Disney+ hit. And no, no crystal balls were necessary to foresee that the Mouse House would keep the series going afterwards. The Hocus Pocus 3 news comes courtesy of an interview by Sean Bailey, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, with The New York Times. There are no other details as yet, however, including when it might arrive, if it'll head straight to streaming again or whether it'll enchant the big screen, what story it'll tell and who'll be in — but Disney is definitely saying "abracadabra" to another Hocus Pocus movie all the same. [caption id="attachment_859412" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson, Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, and Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson in Disney's live-action HOCUS POCUS 2, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Matt Kennedy. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] Lock up your children, obviously. Fingers crossed that the third feature in the franchise will include more Bette Midler (The Addams Family 2), Sarah Jessica Parker (And Just Like That...) and Kathy Najimy (Music) getting spooky as Winnie, Sarah and Mary Sanderson — and getting unleashed in modern-day Salem again. In the last movie, the magical siblings made a reappearance thanks to 16-year-old Becca (Whitney Peak, Gossip Girl), her best friend Izzy (Belissa Escobedo, Sex Appeal) and magic shop owner Gilbert (Sam Richardson, The Afterparty), and the expected hijinks ensued. Obviously, a black flame candle was lit, resurrecting the 17th-century sisters in the movie's world. And just as unsurprisingly, the Sandersons attempted to recommence their child-eating ways. Hocus Pocus 2 also featured Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham, plus Doug Jones (The Shape of Water), Lilia Buckingham (Dirt), Froyan Gutierrez (Teen Wolf) and Tony Hale (Veep). While the original film was directed by Kenny Ortega — before the filmmaker gave the world the High School Musical movies — the sequel had Dumplin', Hot Pursuit and The Proposal's Anne Fletcher behind the lens. There's obviously no sneak peek at Hocus Pocus 3 yet, but you can check out the trailers for Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2 below: Hocus Pocus 3 doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when one is announced. Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2 are to stream via Disney+. Images: Matt Kennedy. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Sydney Opera House has furiously backpedalled after yesterday's Festival of Dangerous Ideas program release. Amongst the announcements of squeal-inducing names like Salman Rushdie and Pussy Riot, the announcement of a presentation playing devil's advocate to 'honour killings' was instead met with a collective WTF. Led by Sydney-based activist, writer and member of Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir, Uthman Badar, the speech titled 'Honour Killings Are Morally Justified' was scrapped by the Opera House last night. In a screenshot of Badar's abstract (nabbed by Pedestrian before the Opera House could sweep it under the rug) the speech was explained as an unpacking of Western bias, that 'honour killings' (when usually men kill their usually female family members for bringing shame on the family, most often for adultery, refusing an arranged marriage or finding themselves rape victims) could be seen as the West having a big ol' fist shake at cultures they don't understand. Yep. What. After angry social media posts, talkback radio rants and FODI boycotts were called, the cancellation was quietly announced on Facebook by the SOH last night. The team explained the speech was meant as a balance-finder — one that clearly missed the mark. "The Festival of Dangerous Ideas is intended to be a provocation to thought and discussion, rather than simply a provocation," said SOH's Facebook post. "It is always a matter of balance and judgement, and in this case a line has been crossed. Accordingly, we have decided not to proceed with the scheduled session with Uthman Badar. "It is clear from the public reaction that the title has given the wrong impression of what Mr Badar intended to discuss. Neither Mr Badar, the St James Ethics Centre, nor Sydney Opera House in any way advocates 'honour killings' or condones any form of violence against women." Find more information about the remaining FODI lineup over here. Via ABC, Pedestrian and SMH.
They brighten up our days, and our gardens and houses. They make any home, table or shelf feel cheerier. They're a treat to pick, and the fact that they don't last forever offers a colourful reminder that life is both gorgeous and fleeting. But, floral fans, you can be forgiven for adoring flowers and wanting to fill surround yourself with blooms that'll stand the test of time. One solution: fake blossoms. Another: Lego's eye-catching floral kits. At the beginning of 2021, Lego unleashed its new Botanical Collection — part of its growing range for adults, because we're all well past pretending that Lego is just for kids. Back then, it boasted a flower bouquet and a bonsai, letting you add both to your home without worry about care, water, wilting or the expiry date that always comes with cut florals. Or, they made great presents to your nearest and dearest for all of the same reasons. Since then, the toy brand has kept adding to its floral range. In 2022, it came out with succulents and orchids as well, and has also released roses, tulips, sunflowers and a bird of paradise. To start 2023, the company is expanding the collection again, and going big — with another bouquet, this time of wildflowers, and also a centrepiece. If you've got a shiny vase that needs filling — and some spare time to pack with Lego-building — the 939-piece wildflower kit includes eight species, all with adjustable stems. These blooms are inspired by cornflowers, lavender, Welsh poppies, cow parsley, leatherleaf ferns, gerbera daisies, larkspurs and lupins. You make them, then arrange however you like. And, you can combine them with the previous bouquet as well for one large bunch of petals. The 812-piece centrepiece set is designed for tables, obviously, and opts for a dried flower look. So, the colours here are calmer, and you'll see — and construct — a gebera and a rose as its focal point. Lego also suggests that it can be hung on a wall, or paired with two other identical kits on your surface of choice. Terrible at keeping greenery alive? Don't know the first thing about maintaining dried flowers? These are ideal for you, then. As well as looking adorable and adding some splashes of green to your decor, Lego's newest products are designed to help you destress and get mindful — something that the brand has been promoting for adults for a few years now. Both kits cost $99.99 each in Australia, and $99.99 for the bouquet and $109.99 for the centrepiece each in New Zealand — and go on sale on Wednesday, February 1. And yes, they'd make a cute Valentine's Day present, or a gift (including to yourself) just because. For more information about Lego's Botanical Collection, including the wildflower bouquet and flower centrepiece, head to the company's website.
He's the master of fried chicken behind the Belles Hot Chicken stable, and its signature pairing of southern-inspired bird and natural wine. Now Morgan McGlone is shifting focus from the deep fryer to the rotisserie with his latest creation, Sunday — a new bar and restaurant paying homage to the classic roast chicken. Nostalgic flavours and traditional Sunday dinners are given a playful update at this Potts Point newcomer, resulting in a menu of inventive comfort food that's spiked with plenty of local, seasonal ingredients. A state-of-the-art French Rotisol rotisserie takes pride of place in the kitchen and free-range, hormone-free Bannockburn chickens from Gippsland headline the food offering. Turquoise tiles and brass accents provide a bright, cheery backdrop to dishes like Creole-style chicken wings with burnt chilli aioli, the panko-crumbed fish roll, and a schnitzel burger piled high with coleslaw, cajun aioli and pickled jalapeños. A chip butty teams fries and a madras mayo on a soft milk bun, while local burrata is matched with heirloom tomatoes and aged sherry vinegar. Options from the rotisserie might include a roasted cauliflower with sunflower seed pesto, or a classic roast chook with chips — to be backed by sides like the garlic and lemon thyme-roasted spuds, plus a signature Sunday coleslaw finished with fennel and mint. Dessert features an exclusive collaboration with Rivareno Gelato, courtesy of an indulgent two-scoop ice cream sandwich laced with chocolate bourbon sauce. Unlike the roast dinners of your childhood, Sunday's food offering comes backed by a creatively charged drinks lineup, starring four pre-batched cocktails from Australian Bartender Magazine's 2018 Bartender of the Year, Jenna Hemsworth (Restaurant Hubert). You can enjoy the negroni, Aperol spritz, margarita and cold drip martini either alongside a feed, or to take home. Meanwhile, Western Australia's Running with Thieves headlines the tap list, and you'll find a strong selection of Aussie-made natural wines rounding out the bar lineup. Find Sunday at 95 Macleay Street, Potts Point. It's open daily from 11.30am until late.
If you’ve been feeling like a helpless bystander in the global food crisis, you can now take action — simply by, well, doing a wee. Problem is, it’ll only count if you do it in Amsterdam — and in public. A Netherlands’ utilities company by the name of Waternet has set up a bunch of pee-collecting urinals in the Dutch capital. Their plan is to send the fluid to a recovery plant, where the all-important phosphorus will be filtered out and transformed into struvite fertiliser. From there, it’ll be transported to farms and flower gardens. Fertiliser without phosphorous is kind of like coffee without caffeine — lacking the crucial kick. Even though phosphorus is, in and of itself, a renewable resource, modern agricultural access to it depends largely on phosphate rock reserves. Given that they’ve taken millions of years to form, they’re very much finite. But the good news is that, according to several studies, one individual’s urine delivers sufficient nutrients to grow food for themselves, as well as meet 50-100 percent of the dietary needs of another person. In that sense, Waternet is merely tapping into the biological processes that have kept us alive for thousands of years. And we thought our pop-up pissoirs were the hottest tourist attraction since the Opera House. Via Springwise.
What's better than seeing an almost 150-year-old heritage-listed building given a new lease on life, and giving Sydneysiders new spots to eat and drink in the process? Seeing all of the above happen right beside the city's newest boutique hotel. Meet Porter House, the luxurious new precinct that's now open on Castlereagh Street. Featuring a hotel and five levels of dining, events and function options, the precinct is based around the Porter House building, which dates back to 1876. Originally commissioned by tobacco manufacturer Hugh Dixon, it was used as the Dixson & Sons tobacco factory and warehouse, then became a shopfront for WW Campbell & Co and leather merchant George Johnson & Sons. Now on offer in that space: a Euro-style delicatessen and wine bar, plus a modern brasserie. An additional bar is in the works, and the food-and-beverage part of the precinct also includes two levels of private dining spaces and function rooms. Then, next door, there's the expansive new luxury hotel. [caption id="attachment_870750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] At Henry's Bread and Wine, which operates seven days a week on the ground floor, an all-day lineup is on the menu. That includes tucking into wagyu pastrami reubens with sour onions and prawn milk buns — and also being able to pick between eating in and taking away for breakfast and lunch. Drinks-wise, expect to get sipping at a central bar surrounded by a four-metre wall of wine, mainly from Australia. Then, Dixson & Sons — which takes its name from the Dixson family, who originally built the site all those years back — sprawls across nearly 200 square metres on the first floor. Seating 90, it skews relaxed but elegant, with banquettes, tables for two and a bar spanning six metres perched in the middle. On Executive Chef Emrys Jones' (ex-Fish Butchery, No 5, Qualia) menu: a big focus on New South Wales produce, and on using every part of each ingredient, à la Josh Niland and Fish Butchery. As well as seafood, you can look forward to tasting your way through native flavours such as bush tomato, native thyme, lemon myrtle, dessert lime and macadamia dukkha. A sampling of dishes includes beef tartare with a house-made blend of soy, bonito and nori; vegan butternut pumpkin tart; a massive beef wellington for two; and, for dessert, the jelly 'n' ice cream sandwich with croissant, blackberries and cinnamon. [caption id="attachment_870747" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] Finally, there's the 225-square-metre Spice Trader bar, which will take over the top level before summer, complete with glass panels across more than half the roof to make the most of the natural light. Drinks will come served from a 16-metre sage marble bar — and expect to knock back cocktails aplenty. Over at the $94-million Porter House Hotel — which is now open — you'll find 122 rooms and suites, a heated pool and a fitness centre. It sits across the first ten floors of a new 36-storey tower next door, with 131 residential apartments filling the other 26 levels. Linking the two buildings: a pair of new walkways featuring glass balustrades and rails, with showcasing the contrast between Porter House's heritage features and MGallery's modern design a key aim. Actually, that's the overall aesthetic in general, as seen in the hotel's interior decor. Think: leather and pressed tin touches, gold and brass fixtures, wooden flooring, soft pink and grey tones, warm lighting, curves and arches used heavily, and mismatching modern and vintage furniture. Yes, you might've just found your next staycation spot. That said, with Sydney also just gaining Australia's first Ace Hotel, and the Waldorf Astoria also opening its first-ever Australian hotel in Sydney in 2025, your list of places for a night away from home just keeps growing. The Porter House Precinct and Porter House Hotel are located at 203 Castlereagh Street, Sydney.
Sydney Writers' Festival last night launched its 2018 program at its new hub of Carriageworks, unveiling a powerful lineup of speakers and guests to match a very powerful theme. Artistic Director Michaela McGuire announced the festival's 21st edition, which runs from April 30 until May 6, will dive deep into an exploration of "power and its adjacent qualities, and its relationship to sex, money, politics, identity, and the state of the world". Headlining this year's impressive group of big-name guests are three international literary legends, including André Aciman — author of novel Call Me By Your Name, which inspired the coming-of-age big screen drama of the same title. He'll take the stage for a talk centred around ideas of power, along with Korean-American author Min Jin Lee, and Alexis Okeowo, who penned the award-winning A Moonless, Starless Sky. Other international heavyweights on the bill include Amy Bloom — discussing her bestselling story about the affair between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and a journalist — as well as The New Yorker's Ben Taub on his time in Syria, and Robert E. Kelly, the 'BBC Dad' from that fateful TV interview. Meanwhile, Robert Drewe, Jane Harper, Helen Garner and The Slap's Christos Tsiolkas are just some of the talent flying the flag for Australia's literary scene. Festival goers will also have the chance to hear from a swag of politicians-turned-writers, including Jacqui Lambie, Sam Dastyari and former Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The hefty event program includes what promises to be a huge SWF Gala at Sydney Town Hall, an all-day YA literary festival and a host of great family-friendly events. Tickets to the 2018 Sydney Writers' Festival are on sale now and you can grab yours at swf.org.au. Images: Prudence Upton.
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra is stacked with world-class talent, but they don't just perform Rossini overtures and Beethoven concertos. Instead, they regularly light up venues with symphonic screenings featuring cinematic classics, such as Toy Story and Home Alone, alongside scores by Hollywood's composing legends. In 2026, the Sydney Symphony Presents series is adding a little more adventure to the mix, performing film scores, gaming soundtracks and throwback hits like you've never heard them before. First up on Thursday, January 22, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra is taking the Hordern Pavilion back, way back, with Disco Never Dies. Putting out a call to all dancing queens and raining men, this sprawling venue will be transformed into a rhythmic paradise, complete with sequins, mirror balls and vintage fashion. Joined by powerhouse performers Timomatic and Paulini, carve up the d-floor as intricate spring arrangements and booming brass melodies offer new interpretations of ABBA and Earth, Wind and Fire classics. [caption id="attachment_832879" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Victor Frankowski[/caption] On Saturday, February 7, the tone shifts towards Tinseltown, as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra reunites with Art of the Score podcast hosts Andrew Pogson and Dan Golding for The Music of John Williams: Episode II. Taking a deep dive into the iconic composer's seven-decade career, the ICC Sydney Theatre combines surround sound and cutting-edge visuals to bring new meaning to Williams' musical work on films ranging from Superman and Star Wars to Happy Potter, Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park. Finally, gamers will be attending ELDEN Ring: Symphonic Adventure in their droves when it makes its official Australian debut on Thursday, March 12–Saturday, March 14. Conceived as a fully immersive performance, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra will join forces with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs to bring the dramatic soundscape of the landmark video games to life. Surrounded by in-game visuals, atmospheric lighting and familiar sound effects, expect a performance befitting Malenia — one that has never missed a beat.
A few months ago, Jardin St. James opened a pop-up, micro boulangerie in Potts Point producing French baguettes with imaginative fillings. Now, they've announced that the pop-up has become permanent and will undergo a name change: Maurice Baguette. The namesake of Darlinghurst's new cafe was a butcher from Brittany, France. He was the grandfather of JSJ's founder Julien Besnard, who has vivid memories of him preparing baguettes after a day's hunt. An early riser, Maurice would head into town each morning and pick up fresh ingredients from the farmers' markets, often returning with surprising fillings. "When I moved to Australia, the one thing I thought was missing was a good French baguette," says Besnard. "So I decided to open a baguette bar myself." Besnard has incorporated his grandfather's creations into Maurice's menu. Baguettes include La Parisien with smoked ham, swiss cheese, salted butter and cornichons; La Pro with prosciutto, blue cheese, pesto and sundried tomatoes; and Le Cordon Bleu with chicken breast, ham, camembert, caramelised onion and dijon. Of course, there's an assortment of cakes, eclairs and tarts, and like JSJ, coffee is supplied by The Little Marionette. The cafe operates from a tiny pocket directly underneath the Coca-Cola billboard. Outfitting was completed by hospitality designers Guru Project, and features a royal blue and white colour-scheme and a larger-than-life caricature of the Frenchman himself. "Rather than going with a look that is associated with the typical French boulangerie (red, rustic and old world) we wanted to take a more modern approach," says Besnard. Maurice is open every day between 7am and 8pm at 82 Darlinghurst Road, Potts Point. For more information, visit their Facebook page.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Wotif.com. At the risk of sounding like your mum, going to the Whitsundays at some point during the next few bitter, blustery months would be for your own good. After all, you need your Vitamin D. The cocktails with sunset views, impossibly white sand, high-speed catamarans, winter spa specials, underwater adventures and breaching whales are simply added bonuses. Here's five reasons to make like a migratory creature and head for the heat. SOAK UP SOME VITAMIN D As difficult as it might be to believe, one-third of we Aussies are Vitamin D deficient. What's more, to inject minimum requirements of the stuff into your diet, you need to drink at least ten tall glasses of fortified milk every day. That's a fair bit of pressure on both you and your pet cow, right? Fortunately, there's a much more palatable alternative: jump on a plane and spend some time baring all under the Whitsundays sun, where, right now, the average temperature is 22°C. In fact, 34.8 percent of holidaymakers say that hitting the beach is their hottest winter activity, 29.2 percent seek out new cultures, 24.7 percent just want to laze by the pool and 9.3 percent are after cool cocktails. Speed up your Vit D intake with a GoDo Whitehaven Beach sailing adventure, which involves some super-fast sailing on the luxury catamaran Camira. SWAP HOT CHOCOLATES FOR TROPICAL COCKTAILS Many of us try to make the frosty, shivery months more digestible by wrapping our mittens around a hot chocolate, snuggling up in a corner somewhere and telling ourselves it'll be over soon. But, thanks to the fact that the Whitsundays are just a hop, skip and a jump away (in plane terms), you could be swapping your cocoa for a cocktail, within hours from now. For poolside beverages, there's The Hamilton Island Reef View Hotel, and for a strawberry and orange Summer Love cocktail, complete with sunset views, you can head to One Tree Hill, Hamilton's stunning hilltop lookout. INDULGE AND GET PAMPERED Is winter doing for your skin what Budget 2014 is doing for the arts? Leaving it drier and more forlorn than a lone penguin in Antarctica? You could stay where you are, pinning cucumbers to your eyes and moisturising like there's no tomorrow, or you could head to Airlie Beach. Endota at Pinnacles Resort and Spa currently has a weekday spa special going on and one of the best things about it is that once you've renewed and rejuvenated, you can get dreamy on their private verandah staring out at the Coral Sea and the Whitsunday Islands for as long as you like. SEE THE UNDERWATER WORLD The teenage temperatures that Australia's southern waters reach in July and August are only fit for hardcore surfers, Bondi Icebergers and masochists. The rest of us have to give up, accept the limitations of a terrestrial existence and wait. But on the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, the water temperature hardly ever drops below 23 degrees. Yes, 23! So you can go underwater with Nemo and his friends in comfort all year round, whether you want to snorkel or scuba dive. SPOT A WHALE Whales have been around long enough to have figured out a thing or two. That's why they don't waste time hanging around in freezing cold water getting grumpy; they head for where the central heating's on full. Between July and October every year, you'll see them breaching around the Whitsundays, making occasional visits to the Great Barrier Reef and generally having a fine old time mucking about with their babies. Book your Whitsundays getaway now with Wotif.com.
Housing shortages in Australia are pushing residents and buyers to extreme lengths. That's old news, but realestate.com.au reports that buyers are moving closer to the shoreline and away from capitals. Fair enough, considering that Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Canberra are among the 100 cities with the highest cost of living worldwide. According to a 2025 study by the Australian Marine Conservation Society, over 85 percent of Australia's population lives within 50 kilometres of the coast. That's not stopping aspiring homeowners from pushing closer and closer to the water, with value booms well underway in coastal towns nationwide, while other suburbs still fly under the frenzied market radar. But which towns are seeing the most excitement? [caption id="attachment_990482" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Courtesy of Lake Macquarie City[/caption] NSW's Port Kembla, with a comparatively generous average median price (AVM) of $1.01 million, saw a 13 percent growth in enquiries in the last year, making it the most in-demand regional suburb in the entire state. It's followed by other New South Wales coastal towns such as Tweed Heads, Swansea, Wollongong, Byron Bay, and multiple suburbs in the Newcastle/Lake Macquarie area. In Victoria, Geelong is a red-hot area, with Newcomb leading (AVM $609,000), and East Geelong, Clifton Springs, Curlewis, and Ocean Grove all seeing growth in enquiries over the last year. Gippsland follows, with Grantville, Ventnor and Coronet Bay all taking other spots in the top ten. [caption id="attachment_890754" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] iStock[/caption] Queenslanders are flocking to the Gold Coast in droves, specifically to Currumbin, Tugun, Southport, Runaway Bay and Labrador — which has the lowest AVM of its neighbours at $1.12 million. The Mackay/Isaac/Whitsunday area is also seeing interest in Bucasia, South Mackay and Slade Point, while the Sunshine Coast is seeing action in Currimundi and Mooloolaba. In WA, the Bunbury region is dominating the market in all ten places, with Quindalup leading by 54 enquiries, a 21 percent growth and with an AVM of $1.883 million. In South Australia, Port Augusta is the most sought-after location, with 41 enquiries per listing, while Devonport in Tasmania leads with 48 enquiries per listing. This article references data from PropTrack, as reported on by realestate.com.au. Lead image: FiledIMAGE via iStock
Long before its new sequel declared so in its title, The Craft already had a legacy. A horror-thriller about teen witches using and abusing magic to cope with high school's troubles, the 1996 Neve Campbell-starring cult favourite is the quintessential movie of that exact description. It's supremely 90s. It has the cast, look, soundtrack and mood to match. In using the occult to explore adolescent angst, it splashes everything from stormy skies and candle-lit rooms to hordes of rats and snakes across the screen, filling its frames with trusty genre imagery. And, it leans into the torment and toil of being a young woman finding one's way in the world, and of dealing with sleazy schoolboys, racist prom queens, society's obsession with appearance and the tyranny of class differences, too. The overall film has its struggles, but it has always stood out — and retained its place in pop culture. Written and directed by actor-turned-filmmaker Zoe Lister-Jones (Band Aid), The Craft: Legacy is clearly the product of someone who already knows all of the above. It's also the work of someone keen to pay tribute to the original, embrace what she sees as its strengths, redress its wrongs, and update it for a new time and a new generation. But it's possible for a 24-years-later follow-up to show affection, make some smart changes, move with the times and still feel like the remnants left in a cauldron. Or, for it to recall one of its predecessor's famed moments — one it recreates, briefly — in an unintended fashion. When this feature's coven play with levitation, the words "light as a feather, stiff as a board" aren't heard; however, by the end of the movie, they best describe everything that's just happened. Starting as its inspiration did, The Craft: Legacy begins with the arrival of a teen in a new town. Lily (Cailee Spaeny, Devs) and her mother Helen (Michelle Monaghan, Saint Judy) move in with the latter's boyfriend and his three sons — and if the in-car sing-along to Alanis Morrisette's 'Hand in My Pocket' doesn't nod firmly enough in the 90s' direction, the casting of The X-Files' David Duchovny as Adam, the author of a self-help book called 'The Hallowed Masculine' and the object of the head-over-heels Helen's affection, does. Navigating a new school, Lily soon finds herself taunted by resident jock and bully Timmy (Nicholas Galitzine, Share) in an unpleasant classroom incident. But she's also found by Lourdes (Zoey Luna, Pose), Frankie (Gideon Adlon, Blockers) and Tabby (Lovie Simone, Selah and the Spades), who are looking for the west to their north, south and east. They become fast friends, trifling with spells and testing their abilities. They also sneak into Timmy's room and enchant him into becoming the best version of himself. While Timmy provides an early source of nastiness, it's hardly a spoiler to note that he isn't The Craft: Legacy's antagonist. Instead, he's transformed from a jerk that makes fun of menstruation to a sensitive soul who waxes lyrical about Princess Nokia's politics. Any movie that does that was never going to let its darkness spring from its central quartet, either. Lily and her new friends must learn to use magic responsibly, but their mistakes are lessons rather than cautionary tales. The Craft: Legacy also gets its witches to turn a homophobic classmate's coat into a rainbow-hued statement piece, and burn slut-shaming slurs off of lockers. It has Lourdes stand up for trans women like herself, correcting Frankie when she says that giving birth is one of the fairer sex's strengths. It verbally and visibly champions inclusivity at every turn, so it finds its enemy in a glaring source — that'd be toxic masculinity — and the creepy character who personifies it. Often, when a sequel, remake or reboot gestures forcefully at the movie it's based on, it can prove convenient, blatant and overt all at once. Alas, that's how the bulk of The Craft: Legacy plays. In fact, in mimicking setups, scenes or specific lines, Lister-Jones is generally canny and even economical about references to her film's predecessor — so they're frequently the only parts that don't feel bland and routine. If only the same amount of effort had gone into fleshing out the main characters, who are nearly interchangeable, even with their racial and gender diversity. If only the same care had be expended in giving them personalities (loudness is one of the gang's defining traits), backstories and any weirdness, actually. If only the same thoughtfulness had been afforded its villain and all that he stands for, too. Rather than seeing young women become consumed by their blossoming power, and also punishing those who refuse to conform, it's a welcome shift that The Craft: Legacy calls out the patriarchal norms and attitudes that put teenage girls in that situation. And yet the film just seems happy enough to have made that switch, instead of giving it any true weight or substantial depth. The Craft: Legacy is light thematically, and also in plethora of other ways. Visually and tonally, it views witchcraft as fun and colourful. Emotionally, there are few stakes and horrors, so almost everything feels unimportant and anticlimactic. As a result, there's also a stiffness to the film — as though it's trying so hard to be loose, open, breezy and upbeat that it actually proves strained and wooden instead. A likeable cast of women can't change that. Neither can a late plot inclusion that's predictable, but possesses more intrigue than the rest of the movie. It's fitting that The Craft: Legacy's witches treat their abilities like superpowers, because the film recalls oh-so-many caped crusader flicks in one inescapable regard: by focusing its energies on laying the groundwork for a sequel that isn't guaranteed, and failing to conjure up much more than the bare minimum in the process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxZ774gziwU
Anyone who has travelled to Mexico will know how tricky it can be to find authentic Mexican food in Sydney. Do yourself a favour and make like Speedy Gonzales to one of them: the Potts Point restaurant, Chula. Located on Bayswater Road, Chula was established by Peter Lew and Nicole Galloway, the couple behind Fei Jai and Barrio Cellar. The elegant venue was designed by Joshua Clapp from Steel + Stitch and features warm desert tones of terracotta and agave, and woven cocoon-style lighting that casts a soft glow over cane basket chairs and sunken lounge seating. Chula's food offering was created by chef Alvaro Valenzuela, who moved to Sydney from Mexico City to showcase the fresher, more vibrant side of his native cuisine. Rather than carby nachos, burritos and quesadillas, the menu focuses on fresher feeds like lime-cured snapper ceviche or the huitlacoche quesadilla made with 'Mexican truffle' fungus, mushroom, queso, jalapeño salsa and avocado mousse. If you're here to try real Mexican fare, you can't go past the juicy beef birria, a prized find in any Sydney restaurant. Chula has multiple menus on offer, including set menus, a bottomless brunch menu and a taco Tuesday offering of $5 tacos. Said tacos include chicken, pork, fish and vegetarian — the latter of which emphasises either corn and avocado or mushrooms and cactus. The bottomless offering (for $99pp) includes four sides, two tacos, churros and bottomless margaritas, rose, sparkling wine or house beer. If the mention of churros caught your eye and alerted your stomach, the a la carte dessert menu includes a decadent churros sandwich (with salted caramel ice cream, peanuts and dulce de leche) or tres leches cake with coconut chantilly cream. The venue also has a sizeable bar, which has been elaborately decorated like a shrine to the spirits — quite literally. If you're struggling to choose between the spicy jalapeño margarita or the refreshing peachy frozen margarita, por que no los dos? Otherwise, divulge in the nine specialty cocktails, beers, or wines on offer. Whether you're after a cultural exploration of Latin America or just a strong drink and a tasty meal, Chula delivers on both.
Burberry sponsored a runway show at the Beijing Television Center this week to promote the opening of a new flagship store in Beijing and the introduction of digital technology to all of the company's stores throughout China. Burberry pulled off a classy and luxurious showcase as always, but this was no ordinary catwalk. The designer clothing line ditched the human models this time and traded them in for a more tech-savvy lineup: life-size holograms of models adorned in beautiful Burberry garb. Technology aided the fashion frenzy as the show went through the four seasons; at one point the models even burst into snowflakes. The holograms paraded down the British-inspired runway in front of an audience of celebs and top models to live music from Keane, who were making their debut appearance in China. Burberry's holographic beauties may not be tangible, but at least they are sure to avoid tripping over their heels and tumbling off stage. https://youtube.com/watch?v=P74xmTK6W4Y
Situated on the 'Little Vietnam' end of Illawarra Road, Eat Fuh has been in the game for many years. But you don't have to go to Marrickville to try some of the best Vietnamese in Sydney. The team dishes up noodle soups, vermicelli and rice dishes in shopfronts and pop-up market stalls all over the city. The service here is what you might expect considering the line on the street — it's fast and without frills since the team knows you're here for the food and not any kind of fine dining. The signature Fuh Noodle Soup (pho) is the obvious order. The meat options include rare beef, flank and chicken.Vegan? No worries, opt for the meat-free pho that uses a totally vegetable-based broth. And if you're not looking for pho, there's a killer chicken laksa with king prawns, chicken, tofu, fried onions, coriander and a divine laksa broth. Other options include a lean beef stir-fry with rice, eggplant and tomato relish or rice with garlic and pepper chicken and seasonal vegetables. For an entree try the shrimp and pork dumplings. If you order your pho in-store, it comes in a giant, seemingly bottomless bowl. And when you get it delivered, everything is packaged separately. You just need to combine the steaming and surprisingly complex bone broth — layered with star anise, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, ginger and onions — with the noodles, garnishes and your chosen meat (we recommend the rare beef and flank). Hot tip: if you like to plan ahead, Eat Fuh has an option to order the broth early. Chuck it in the fridge and reheat it when you're ready to eat. There's no need to test your luck with delivery riders who might get lost or be in short supply when you're hungry. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
David Spanton might just be Kings Cross' biggest fan. Not once but twice now, the Potts Point local has sprung into action when a beloved venue in The Cross has gone up for sale, turning longstanding spaces into vibrant new bars dedicated to their former custodians. The first was Piccolo Bar, a tiny Roslyn Street institution that Spanton saved and rejuvenated in late 2021, keeping all of the charm of the original while equipping it with a fresh coat of paint, a liquor license and an exciting drinks menu. Now, he's back to save another much-loved spot, this time taking the reins at the former digs of Cafe Hernandez on Kings Cross Road. The 24-hour cafe had been operating on this leafy street for 40 years — with Spanton recounting visits from the likes of Frank Sinatra and Guns N' Roses over the years. It closed in September of last year when the Hernandez family decided to step away from the venue. Worried it would be turned into a fashion boutique or hairdresser, Spanton came to the rescue, purchasing the property and transforming it into a bar devoted to fortified wine, fittingly called Vermuteria. [caption id="attachment_885994" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Delany, David Spanton and General Manager Michael Drescher[/caption] Once again collaborating with Michael Delany (Cafe Freda's, Club 77, The Abercrombie and SHADES) on the design, Spanton is currently in the process of breathing new life into the space. But fans of the original cafe can rest easy — the new fitout will maintain key elements of the former, including an original painting from earlier owner Paquita Sabrafen depicting the Count-Duke of Olivares, on which she has superimposed her husband's face. The walls will also feature photographs of Cafe Hernandez and the Polish deli that occupied the space between the 50s and 70s, linking the bar with its storied past. "People will be able to come in and feel a connection to what was Hernandez Cafe," Spanton tells Concrete Playground. "It's one of those iconic venues in Sydney that most people know about if they're from the Potts Point/Kings Cross area, where you could always go to Hernandez to get a coffee." Much like Piccolo, Vermuteria will showcase a small specialised drinks menu and a range of tasty snacks, with vermouth and sherry at the heart of the booze offering. Barrels of vermouth will be scattered throughout the bar, and guests will be able to order vermouth on tap, sample the house-made sweet vermouth, and explore a lineup of sherry ranging from fino to manzanilla. A cocktail selection is set to include negronis, spritzes and sherry cobblers. [caption id="attachment_885993" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paquita Sabrafen's painting of the Count-Duke of Olivares[/caption] The snacks menu will pay homage to the former deli, with charcuterie from LP's Quality Meats starring alongside gildas, tinned seafood, cheese plates and sausages. "There's definitely a much more positive vibe going on in Kings Cross," Spanton continues. "I think that a lot of great venues are starting to open in the area and a lot of places are starting to get a lot busier. I think the customers are loving that there's a lot more going on. And, I think that Kings Cross and Potts Point have some of the best customers." Fans of Cafe Hernandez's coffee can also still get their fix. While the cafe has closed down, the Hernandez brand is still producing coffee beans which you can order online. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vermuteria (@vermuteriasydney) Vermuteria is set to open in February 2023 at 60 Kings Cross Road, Kings Cross.
The United Colors of Benetton is at the centre of controversy after the company's new 'Unhate' campaign showed some of the world's leading political figures locking lips. Benetton's advertising campaign addressed some of the most vital conflicts in global politics and turned them on their head in six striking, amusing images. These include North Korea's Kim-Jong Il kissing South Korean president Lee Myung-bak in a passionate embrace, while President Obama gets cosy with Venezualan president, Hugo Chavez. A statement from the brand said that they 'seek to contribute to the creation of a new culture of tolerance, to combat hatred, building on Benetton’s underpinning values. It is another important step in the group’s social responsibility strategy: not a cosmetic exercise, but a contribution that will have a real impact on the international community.' Not surprisingly, the campaign has been widely condemned and been labelled as disrespectful. The Vatican formally requested that images of the Pope be removed, and even threatened legal action against the brand. Benetton has since complied with their requests and taken down the image of the Pope sharing the love with Sheik Ahmed el-Tayeb, an Egyptian Imam. Have Benetton overstepped the line here? Conservative homophobes across the globe seem to think so. However, if a handful of photoshopped images of world-famous leaders are enough to cause such a reaction, we really should applaud this well-executed advertising campaign and its clear message of acceptance and tolerance. [Via PSFK]
A pop of colour or soft flowing fabric can make all the difference to your home decor, and 123 Home has all the trimmings to help you do a mini home renovation without ripping out any walls. This chic store will sort you out from the kitchen to the living room and any other nook or cranny that requires a refresh. Find candles, cushions and throws in every shade of the pastel spectrum, plus cutting boards and crockery to impress at any dinner party. And if you want to look as suave as your new lamps and wall hangings, there's also a range of jewellery, sunglasses and tote bags to deck yourself out with.
Fuel up for a tough day's work without spending a cent, as Chargrill Charlie's celebrates National Tradie Day with a hard yakka giveaway. Up for grabs from 9am on Friday, September 19, the first 50 tradies at each store location dressed in hi-vis or work gear will score a free roll of their choice, alongside regular chips and a 600ml drink. There's just one catch — you have to say "Tools Down. Rolls Up." So, whether you're a dunny diver, a chippy or a brickie, skip the servo pie and iced coffee for something a little more filling. With Chargrill Charlie's locations in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane involved, this one-time freebie is your chance to be rewarded for your dedication to the tools.
Like the presence of a cute dog or a warm sunny day, a new rooftop bar in Sydney is always welcome. This city loves to sip a cocktail while high above the ground — and a dreamy new spot has just opened in Barangaroo. Situated above The Sussex Hotel, The Sussex Rooftop is a Mediterranean-inspired bar boasting a lush leafy al fresco courtyard and a cosy indoor space, all just 400-metres from Wynyard Station. The Sussex Hotel is a heritage-listed site originally built in 1915. Sonenco Hotels, the owners of St Leonards Tavern and Suriya Thai, took over operations at the historic venue in 2008, just as Barangaroo was beginning to transform. Interior Designer Emilie Delalande from Studio Etic, who previously worked on Barangaroo House's equally lavish rooftop, has turned the 120-capacity, 200-square-metre rooftop bar into a flora-filled oasis accompanied by silver travertine tiles and natural tones. Patrons looking to soak in the sun with a cocktail in hand can take their pick from the bar's signature mixes. The La Vida is summer-ready, combining Rosa Gin, grapefruit, rose water and aquafaba, and the Sundown Fizz takes a fresh take on the Moscow mule, pairing Absolut Vodka with creme de cassis, ginger ale and lime. The Sussex Hotel's Executive Chef Anthony Ornelas has moved away from the pub classics of the lower-level kitchen, opting for a Mediterranean menu of bar snacks headlined by meze plates and kebabs. Dig into a chicken shawarma kebab or grilled swordfish skewers, or order a crowd-pleasing spread of share plates like spiced chicken wings, falafel with tahini, salted cod fritters with saffron aioli and crispy squid. "Despite the fact we're in the middle of a highly populated area the rooftop is surprisingly quiet and serene so we wanted to create a sanctum from the buzz of below," Sonenco Hotels Director Garry McGrath says. "We've been holding off opening for over a year but with the return of corporates to Barangaroo and the CBD and with more travellers and Sydneysiders enjoying our city, it feels like the right time to launch." The Sussex Rooftop is located at The Sussex Hotel, 20 Sussex Street, Sydney. It's open midday–10pm Tuesday–Wednesday, midday-midnight Thursday–Friday and 4pm–midnight Saturday. Images: Steven Woodburn
With everyone spending our days, weeks and months inside due to COVID-19, we're all putting that extra time at home to good use in different ways. Perhaps you're streaming your way through anything and everything you can find. Maybe you're playing board games, doing jigsaws and building Lego. Or, you could be cooking up a storm, getting a workout or being practical by learning a new skill (or several). For many folks, home renovation is on the agenda — whether you're finally painting that wall, putting up that shelf, making over your garden or doing all the odd jobs around the place that you've been putting off for far too long. That means that Bunnings Warehouse has been mighty popular, and busy. And if you're eager to pick up hardware supplies while still maintaining social distancing requirements, you're now in luck. The chain has just implemented a new drive and collect service, which is available at 250 of Bunnings' larger stores around Australia — excluding Tasmania. The contactless option is an extension of its existing click and collect option, just adapted so that you don't have to get out of your car. DIY enthusiasts just need to complete their purchase online, wait for notification that their order is ready, and select their preferred pickup date and time. Then, when you drive to the store, you'll park in a designated drive and collect bay, and text or call the store to let them know you've arrived. All you need to do next is wait for a staff member to bring out your goods and put them in your car boot. [caption id="attachment_767993" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Bidgee via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Sadly, drive and collect doesn't apply to Bunnings' sausage sizzles, which have been suspended since mid-March in response to the coronavirus. Drive and collect isn't available at smaller Bunnings stores, so check online to see if your local warehouse is participating. For further information about Bunnings' click and collect service — or to place an order — visit the chain's website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Take a journey into the past at the InterContinental Sydney, with the launch of the unique Oldest Lift Bar Experience. Making the most of one of the hotel's most fascinating features – the Southern Hemisphere's oldest working lift – this particular spot is found hidden in The Treasury bar, which itself has a few remarkable stories to tell since being built in 1851. With the lift carefully protected ever since, it's now hosting a special cocktail hour to celebrate the building's enduring heritage. Flooded with natural light from the hotel's original cortile – an impressive atrium and gathering space – this precise spot was once home to the first colonial vineyard. Now, guests can step inside the lift to indulge in micrococktails made by resident mixologists as they ascend and descend through the hotel. Serving as an elegant nod to the InterContinental Sydney's immense past, this experience evokes an intimate ambience and centuries-old charm. As for the tipples, there are four creations to explore. The Georgian Gimlet celebrates The Treasury's impressive architecture and features Four Pillars Yuzu Gin, citrus, sugar and sencha tea. The Treasury's subterranean coffer inspires the Vault Martini, with Beluga Noble Vodka mixed with dry curacao, hibiscus and citrus, while the Atrium Negroni reflects the light-filled dome through Four Pillars Dry Gin, Campari, vermouth and lemon myrtle. Finally, the 1851 Old Fashioned nods to the building's origins with Dalmore Double Oak, sugar, bitters, and macadamia. "The Treasury Bar is a vault of Sydney's best-kept secrets and we're thrilled to unveil the southern hemisphere's oldest lift bar," says Mattia Arnaboldi, director of bars at InterContinental Sydney. "It will allow guests to immerse themselves in a part of Sydney's rich history, journeying through time and taste, as they sip on cocktails that reflect the heritage and charm of The Treasury." Once you've enjoyed your inventive drink in the lift, the experience continues at The Treasury bar. Here, a second cocktail selected from a curated menu is served alongside two delicious small plates, including betel leaves with caramelised pork and crisp vegetable herbs, and beef skewers with tonnato sauce and fried baby capers. Running until March 29, the Old Lift Bar Experience operates on Fridays and Saturdays from 4–6pm, and costs $69 per person. The Oldest Lift Bar Experience is happening at InterContinental Sydney, 117 Macquarie Street, Sydney. Head to the website for more information. Images: Steven Woodburn.
If koalas are considered among Australia’s national treasures, then a certain cute, cuddly critter must be their king. He’s the one everyone knows by name, even though he’s fictional. He’s graced books since 1933, thanks to author Dorothy Wall. Yes, he’s Blinky Bill. In his second big-screen outing following the 1992 movie that shares his name, Blinky (voiced by Ryan Kwanten) is up to his usual brand of cheeky trouble, though his intentions — like his heart — remain in the right place. When his father, adventurer Bill (Richard Roxburgh), leaves their sanctuary of Green Patch to chase white dragons and hasn’t returned a year later, Blinky decides to search for him. He knows that his mother (Deborah Mailman) will disapprove, but with treacherous goanna Cranklepot (Barry Otto) trying to take over their home, the young koala is certain that wandering the outback is the right thing to do. An animated — in both the colourful cartoon style and the lively antics they depict — escapade awaits in Blinky Bill the Movie, first journeying into a roadside store, and then venturing through several dangerous situations. Along the way, Blinky meets Nutsy (Robin McLeavy), a zoo koala unhappy about the idea of not being in captivity. He also attracts the attention of feral cat (Rufus Sewell) with sinister plans, seeks the assistance of a wandering wombat (Barry Humphries) and a stranded frill-necked lizard (David Wenham), and befriends two emus (Toni Collette) who help him hitch a ride. The celebrity voices, particularly a charming Kwanten boasting his native accent for a change, help enliven a film that’s sweet but standard from start to finish. The feature's primary director, Deane Taylor, is content to stick with cliches when it comes to the story, hence the upbeat goings-on, array of comic sidekicks and fearsome feline. These days, it wouldn’t be an animal-oriented effort without a cranky kitty as a nemesis. Buried underneath a family-friendly caper filled with slapstick sight gags is a slight, brief statement about Australia's treatment of asylum seekers, as seen in Cranklepot's desire to lock off Green Patch from outsiders; however, comic chaos always trounces commentary. The smooth edges you'll see in the computer-generated imagery also extend to the content, it seems, with even the usual environmental message typically included in Blinky Bill efforts absent. What stands out instead, and not always in a good way, is an overdose of Australiana and slang, as often seen in our nation's amusement-oriented, all-ages films. Accordingly, for those who won't just find an anarchic koala fun just for the sake of it, Blinky Bill the Movie works well enough as a piece of nostalgia about an Australian icon. Delving beyond that is less fulfilling, though the film doesn't demand it, given that it really is aimed more at young audiences than the young at heart.
First he brought the entirety of his Berkshire restaurant The Fat Duck to Melbourne for a residency, in which seats went for $525 each (plus wine). Then it was Dinner by Heston, which, while not as exorbitant, still costs a pretty penny (a starter of savoury porridge goes for $36). But now, in UK celeb chef Heston Blumenthal's latest Melbourne project, he'll be opening a series of one-night-only pop-up restaurants for a considerably affordable price — that is, $0. Yes, free. As in, no money will be changing hands, and no credit card details are required. The Hidden Heston pop-ups are part of MasterChef machine's Heston Week — and while they will no doubt involve nervous contestants fumbling over intricate and ridiculous dishes, they'll nonetheless be extremely exclusive events. So be prepared to earn yourself a place at the table. There will be four pop-ups in total, each running for one service only in a "top-secret" location in Melbourne that will only be announced before the doors open. Punters will have to keep an eye on MasterChef's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts for clues, and enter online to receive an invitation. According to MasterChef, each restaurant will offer a "completely different dining experience", and the lucky winners will get "an experience they will remember forever". So, fingers at the ready — this is your chance to get a slice of the meat fruit pie without forking out a whole month's rent. The Hidden Heston pop-ups will be coming to Melbourne in March. For more info, keep checking the MasterChef Facebook page.
Tinker on your motorbike and slurp your way through bowls of ramen on the same premises at Rising Sun Workshop's permanent Newtown digs. For the uninitiated, Rising Sun is a social enterprise that serves two purposes. On one hand, it provides its motor-revving members with a communal space for repairing and polishing up their bikes. On the other, it's a café, serving coffee, cookies and seriously killer ramen. The independent organisation was started by three friends who love riding bikes, working on bikes and chatting about bikes while also drinking coffee. They decided that Sydney needed an open, friendly, affordable space where this could happen more often. So, in 2013 they turned to Pozible and ran crowdfunding campaign, and soon discovering that 160 other people felt the same way. The 90-day campaign raised a cool $40,000. This gave them enough cash to launch a pop-up. In 2014, they hung out in a "barely legal" space in Camperdown, building an elite Hill Fighter, cooking up ramen and gathering friends. Needless to say, the finding of a solid, full-time home has come as a major relief. You'll find Rising Sun's new workshop at 1C Whateley Street. It used to house a century-old hardware store, so there's oodles of space. Also, the menu has scored a serious upgrade. You can now get nosh at breakfast, lunch and dinner, and you'll find some Southern influences mixing with Japanese tradition. One of the new star dishes is a Japanese-style breakfast, served on a tray. It's worth getting up early for.
