Since its arrival in 2021, Re has blazed a trail as one of Sydney's best bars and a standout spot within the South Eveleigh precinct. It's earned a spot on lists of the world's best bars multiple times, it's hosted pop-ups from other game-changing watering holes, and it's completely altered the benchmark for sustainability in Sydney, with cocktails made from discarded bread or chicken feet. Now, it's finally slinging its innovative inventions again — this time, from new Redfern digs. The brainchild of Scout founder Matt Whiley, Re closed its original Locomotive Street outpost back in February, dropping hints of a reopening date in April. Now, it's been confirmed that the boundary-pushing bar will be reopening in La Salut's previous digs alongside Ricos Tacos at Cleveland Street's The Norfolk Hotel on Tuesday, May 14. "We've given Re a new home, but our signature style of experimentation and sustainable practice is still paramount for us," said Whiley. "We've already been able to redirect perfectly fresh waste and create cocktails and new dishes as part of our re-opening." Staying true to its zero-waste and sustainable ways, Re 2.0 will redirect waste from the kitchens of PUBLIC's venues, giving new life to otherwise-discarded produce from Maybe Sammy, Sammy Junior, El Primo Sanchez, Busby's, Derrel's, The Lady Hampshire and Dean & Nancy on 22. Plus, its new menu will also star sips that revitalise ingredients from other eateries. Expect to see a tortilla-inspired cocktail from Ricos Tacos, the 'Dirty Bore' featuring salted focaccia butter vodka from Busby's, and a boozy new take on the mango lassi from Derrel's. Whiley will work with former Automata owner and PUBLIC's Creative Culinary Director Clayton Wells on both the food and drink menu, creating dishes and drinks that work harmoniously together. As with the original South Eveleigh space, sustainability has been built into the core of the sleek new Re, with recycled and repurposed materials playing a major role in reimagining The Norfolk's corner bar. This also factors into the outpost's menu, with each dish highlighting ingredients that can be consumed whole, like the calamari and ink or the yellowfin tuna paired with marigold. "We look forward to welcoming our new neighbours in Redfern in," continued Whiley. [caption id="attachment_832341" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The space when it was La Salut, Nikki To[/caption] Re will open at The Norfolk, 305 Cleveland Street, Redfern, on Tuesday, May 14. Image credit: Sam McAdam-Cooper
Sometimes the only way to break the chaotic cycle of inner city living is to ditch it all for a weekend away in nature. Whether you're after a coastal getaway or a hinterland escape, camping is your answer to a rejuvenating, back-to-basics holiday. Though you'll be swapping solid bed for solid ground, camping doesn't mean you have to rough it. In fact, you can take a little bit of home comfort with you without disturbing the wildlife or ruining the fun. To help inspire you, we've partnered with Jim Beam to bring you three camping must-haves to make your nights under the stars all the more special. UPGRADE YOUR BREKKIE WITH A WAFFLE MAKER Gone are the days of charring a piece of bread on a stick and calling it breakfast. When you're next setting off on a canvas adventure, pack a Davis & Waddell Square Waffle Maker (available from Bunnings for $29.95) and you'll really impress your camping buddies come sunrise. The waffle maker is best used on gas or electric cooking tops, and you don't have to stick to the recipes included in the pack. If waffles aren't your thing, use it to heat up banana bread or get creative come dinner time with this recipe for pizza. The waffle maker's compact size makes it a handy cooking device without taking up too much space in your snack compartment. BRING THE TUNES, WITHOUT BRINGING DOWN THE VIBE Yes, looking out over serene landscapes and settling into a good book by a campfire are all part of the appeal of camping. But sometimes you want to soundtrack that natural setting with a few sweet tunes of your own. No camping trip would be complete without a bluetooth speaker and a banging summer camp playlist. We think this mini bluetooth speaker by Lexon ($59.94 from Top3 by Design) is just the right size to fit into your tent for listening to spooky mystery podcasts or placed on a small camping table for when you're cooking over flames. It's rechargeable with a USB and you can control it via bluetooth up to ten metres away. Pro tip: download your playlists and podcasts before heading to your campsite, in case you're caught with patchy wifi reception. [caption id="attachment_796860" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrea Piacquadio; Pexels[/caption] PACK A QUICK AND EASY DRINK FOR SUNSET SESSIONS Refreshments are essential to a good camping trip, and after drinking agua all day you'll want to enjoy something a little stronger come sundown. Bring a bottle of Bickford's Peach Iced Tea cordial, a bottle of Jim Beam and soda water and you'll have the necessary ingredients to whip up a quick beverage for the whole crew when you're relaxing by the campfire. It's super simple, perfectly balances the flavours of the bourbon and you don't need to haul any fancy equipment with you. Each Jim Beam and Peach Iced Tea is made with 15ml of cordial, 30ml of bourbon and topped up with soda. If you're fancy enough to be camping with a bag of ice, add it to your cup before topping up with soda and give it a quick swirl. Otherwise, it's ready to enjoy, fireside. Top image: Unsplash
Alexandria's all-vegan brewery Yulli's Brews is dishing up an unlikely, but very welcome, combo when it hosts its second boozy greyhound adoption drive on Sunday, September 15. The usual lineup of brews and vegan pub food will have to step out of the spotlight for the afternoon as the the team at Greyhound Rescue will be there with a pop-up adoption station. If you're ready to add a new four-legged addition to your family, you'll be able to meet some orphaned doggos and start the process to meet your perfect fluffy match. Adoption fees will be reduced on the day. Even if you can't take on the responsibility of adopting a dog, you can still head along and donate some cash to the charity while drinking from the bar's karma keg. Or bring your own pup for a good old-fashioned doggy meetup. Pooches are allowed all throughout the venue. Adoption and Ales will run from midday–5pm.
After you leave school or uni, learning anything that's not directly related to your chosen career becomes a hell of a lot harder. We're all time-poor and after a long day at work, there are other things, like socialising, drinking and Netflixing, that usually take precedence over extracurricular learning. Luckily, on Wednesday, October 17, you can get all of that in one spot. Raising the Bar, a global initiative that turns unexpected city locations into classrooms, is returning to Sydney. In partnership with the University of Sydney, a bunch of smarty-pants will be sharing their research and curious passions across ten Sydney haunts. Each venue will host two free talks on the night — one at 6.30pm and another at 8pm — and, because we all remember how torturous choosing subjects was in school, we've narrowed it down to our top picks for you. Don't forget that the bars will be open for business, too — so pick a venue, grab a beer and settle in for a night of learning. DELLA HYDE THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT? AT 6.30PM This talk is for the doomsday preppers out there. Geographer and disaster expert Dale Dominey-Howes will explore how we process natural disasters as a society and pose the question: 'Is it still a disaster if humans aren't affected?' Dominey-Howes will explain the difference between hazards and disasters, as well as examine where our planet is headed and consider the direct link between climate change and natural disasters. Dominey-Howes is a consultant for the United Nations and The World Bank, as well as the chairman for the post-disaster policy and protocols working group of the United Nations UNESCO-IOC. THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS AT 8PM No, this isn't that Will Smith movie. But it does have the same focus. Happiness: what is it, why is it important and how can we attain it? Though brooding about happiness is an ancient philosophical tradition, it remains elusive and misunderstood in modern society. Philosopher Dr Caroline West has forged a career investigating the concept of happiness and will explore these question in depth during her talk. A radio personality and lecturer on the philosophy of happiness, West is also an essayist who has been published in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The National Times, and the Australian Review of Public Affairs. SURLY'S TO INFINITY AND BEYOND AT 6.30PM Channel your Buzz Lightyear-loving inner child and hit up space engineer Warwick Holmes' talk at Surry Hills' American barbecue joint. Holmes has been in the business for 30 years and contributed to the mammoth Rosetta mission. Now, he is the executive director of USyd's Space Engineering School. Didn't know there even was such a division? It's not surprising — though the exploration of space is a $400-billion industry, Australia only contributes one percent to that market share. Holmes will explore how Australians can leverage its existing space experts, as well as encouraging a new generation of space engineers through the new Australian Space Agency. He'll also discuss how rival space programs, namely Elon Musk's SpaceX, could affect this Aussie vision. SINCE I LEFT YOU GENERATION WHY AT 8PM If you're a millennial who is tired of being labelled 'lazy', this one will validate your frustration. Steven Hitchcock is a generational researcher who doesn't believe in categorising people by their birth year. He considers the concepts of the 'lazy millennials' and 'technologically inept baby boomers' to be more akin to horoscopes than scientific fact. During his talk, Hitchcock will explore how society came up with these categories and how to avoid generational typecasting. Hitchcock's background is in organisational and management communications and he aims to teach how to work together without making generational assumptions about one another. HARPOON HARRY'S THE HEAT IS ON AT 8PM By winter's end, we were pretty desperate for warmer weather — but the rising temperatures aren't necessarily good news. Scientist Ollie Jay, a specialist in thermoregulatory physiology (the study of body temperature) will explore the factor of climate change and teach guests how to stay cool without the need for air-con. He'll talk to his understanding of how heat effects body temp and human health, why heat effects people in different ways and how extreme heat can impact us going forward. This one will help spice up those regular chats about the weather with your colleagues. Jay is currently helping to develop an 'extreme heat policy' for Australia — one that is very necessary for a country with regular 40-degree summer days. THE TAPHOUSE BUILD A BRAIN AT 6.30PM If all of those dystopian, robots-taking-over films have you scared, join physicist Zdenka Kuncic for a more realistic exploration of applying human intelligence to artificial brains. She argues that AI will require the same level of cognition as humans to be successful — including self-awareness, self-reliance and the ability to learn and adapt. She'll discuss how to build a synthetic brain and what obstacles scientists will need to overcome in order to make it work in society. Zdenka is an elected fellow of the Australian Institute of Physics and was awarded an Australia-Harvard fellowship in 2017. Her research focuses on the intersection of physics, medicine and biology. LANGUAGES OF THE LAND AT 8PM Learning a second (or third) language is pretty common these days. But for the countless classrooms, apps and foreign exchange courses teaching Spanish, Mandarin and Arabic, very few are teaching the indigenous languages of Australia. Sydneysiders live on the ground of Cadigal people of the Eora nation but the native languages of this land, and the stories, histories and identities that go hand in hand with them, are at risk of being forgotten. Ngarigu woman Jakelin Troy is a linguistic anthropologist and will discuss why it is so important to preserve indigenous languages. Troy works to reconstruct Australian languages through education and expresses what is at stake when these languages are lost. She is the author of Sydney Language and the director of the University of Sydney's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research program. MOJO RECORD BAR WHO OWNS YOU? AT 6.30PM Who doesn't love pondering a good ethical quandary every now and again? In this age of self-empowerment and celebrities insuring body parts, having 'ownership' over one's body has many different meanings — but we rarely consider that, actually, none of us own our bodies in a legal sense. Sascha Callaghan will explore the ethical conundrums of treating the human body as property, including buying and selling body tissue for personal or commercial gain. It's a doozy, but luckily you can mull it over with a beer in hand. Callaghan is a lawyer and academic with a PhD in mental health law. Her research is focused on the mental and reproductive health law and policy. All of these talks (plus many more) will take place on Wednesday, October 17. Registration for each individual event, while free, is a must, so head over here to check out the full program and nab your free tickets.
A true Sydney stalwart, Marrickville Pork Roll has long been considered one of the best bánh mì shops in the city. And now you can enjoy the same quality Vietnamese sandwiches in the CBD, with the opening of the Darling Square outpost along Steam Mill Lane. The Darling Square location is decidedly snazzier than its Marrickville namesake, with neon lighting aplenty and timber courtyard seating. But you can expect to find the same delicious rolls at an equally appealing price point. Open weekdays from 7.30am (and weekends from 9am), the shop bakes its baguettes fresh every morning. That fluffy-yet-crunchy baguette is schmeared with pâté and mayo, then loaded with your choice of meat, fresh herbs, pickled veg, salad and chilli. While the traditional pork is the go-to, we rate the barbecue pork and crackling pork belly. Meatball, chicken, salad and veg varieties are also up for grabs — and all for just a few dollarydoos ($6–8). It's hard to say exactly what makes these Vietnamese sandwiches better than all the rest, but that classic combination of pork roll goodness is difficult to beat.
Saltburn. Priscilla. Dune: Part Two. Anyone But You. Madame Web. Immaculate. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. The Color Purple. Drive-Away Dolls. As that list illustrates, a trip to the movies Down Under over the past few months has generally meant seeing a cast member of Euphoria, such as Jacob Elordi, Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Hunter Schafer and Colman Domingo, on the big screen. Enjoy them there, because they won't be back in the HBO TV show that helped make them huge stars for a bit longer. Production on Euphoria's third season has been delayed, Deadline and Variety report. Scripts are still being worked on, but shooting has been pushed back — so much so that Euphoria's cast are free to keep adding to their resumes beyond the award-winning series for the time being. "HBO and Sam Levinson remain committed to making an exceptional third season," a HBO spokesperson told both American publications in a statement. "In the interim, we are allowing our in-demand cast to pursue other opportunities." There's no word yet regarding when the cameras might start rolling on season three, but it's hoped that it will still arrive on HBO sometime in 2025. That's when the US cable network was aiming for anyway, as it noted when it outlined everything that's on its lineup in 2024 and 2025. Obviously, though, there's a big difference between Euphoria's third season hitting in January, mirroring the timing of season two — or arriving in June, which is when its first season premiered. If it takes its cues from the two specials between season one and two, that'd mean dropping in December 2025. Euphoria's on-screen talents have been busy since season two aired. Schafer's new horror movie Cuckoo premiered at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival, Elordi has been back in Australia making miniseries The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Zendaya swings a racquet around in Challengers in April. Also, Domingo was nominated for an Oscar for Rustin, while Storm Reid won an Emmy for The Last of Us. Maude Apatow has been doing voice work on Pantheon, and Dominic Fike was in Earth Mama — and played Laneway. Apparently the idea of doing a movie instead was floated, but giving Euphoria a third season remains the plan. Given the passage of time — come 2025, it will have been three years since season two, and almost four if season three doesn't arrive till the end of the year or later — it's also being reported that the show's main characters will no longer be in high school. There's obviously no trailer for Euphoria season three yet, but you can watch HBO's 2024–25 roundup trailer below: Euphoria season three doesn't have an exact release date yet — we'll update you when further details are announced. Via Deadline / Variety / The Hollywood Reporter. Images: Eddy Chen/HBO.
Over the past decade, Sydney Film Festival's opening-night movies have included Goldstone, The New Boy and We Don't Need a Map, all Australian titles from Indigenous directors. It's too early to say what 2024's fest will launch with to mark the cinema celebration's 71st year; however, First Nations filmmaking will firmly be in the spotlight via a brand-new cash prize that joins the event's slate of awards. SFF will now be home to the world's largest cash accolade for Indigenous cinema: the $35,000 First Nations Award. Set to debut at the 2024 festival, which runs from Wednesday, June 5–Sunday, June 16, the prize will be handed out in Sydney but is open to films from around the world — shorts as well — as long as it is featured in Sydney Film Festival's annual First Nations program strand. "The First Nations Award is more than a celebration of unique storytelling; it's a crucial investment in the future of Indigenous cinema. By offering this level of support, we hope to encourage more First Nations filmmakers to share their stories, enriching the film industry with diverse perspectives and voices," said SFF's long-running Festival Director Nashen Moodley. "This award aligns seamlessly with Sydney Film Festival's long-standing commitment to fostering cultural diversity and amplifying Indigenous narratives." "It is entirely fitting that the Sydney Film Festival, which for so long has been a champion of First Nations stories and storytellers from around the world, now offers the largest single cash prize for First Nations film globally," added SFF Chair Darren Dale. "This prize will inspire, motivate and reward established and emerging First Nations filmmakers with the promise that their art is important, is valued and will be seen." The First Nations Award is supported by Australian production company Truant Pictures, and joins SFF's annual gongs alongside the annual $60,000 Sydney Film Prize, the $40,000 Sustainable Future Award, the $20,000 Documentary Australia Award and the range of Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films. If you're a First Nations filmmaker with a movie that you'd love to be considered to screen at this year's SFF, and to go in the running for the new award, you have until Friday, March 1 to submit. Sydney Film Festival 2024 takes place from Wednesday, June 5–Sunday, June 16 at various cinemas and venues around Sydney. For more information, head to the festival's website. Images: Tim Levy / Luke Latty.
"No touching" isn't a warning you'll be given at Sydney's newest interactive experience. UNSW Galleries staff won't tell you to keep your mitts to yourself and wall signs won't recommend polite behaviour. Here, getting hands-on isn't just encouraged — it's imperative. So is taking off your shoes and letting your feet get in on the action as well. Welcome to Snoösphere, a two-month-long sensory environment that forms part of The Big Anxiety Festival. There's nothing like running your fingers and toes over all manner of surfaces to help de-stress, after all. Here, you'll roam, touch, see, smell, snooze and sit, with everything within the dark, silent space responding in some way. Want to stroll over things? Sit inside them? Stand in a silver curtain that smells like chocolate? As well as different lighting and textile sensations, they're all on offer. Designed by Lull Studios, created with collaborators that include autistic artists, and arising from research and workshops with autistic young people and adults in Sydney and Singapore, Snoösphere endeavours to engage all of the senses in a playful, smart, inventive and meditative ways. Dubbed a sensory wonderland, it's a simultaneously calming and engaging experience — and one that'll make you think differently about life's perceptual interactions.
Sometimes holidays are all about kicking back and relaxing — think leisurely swims, afternoon naps and finally finishing that book you've been trying to read since Christmas. But when you spend most days stuck at the same desk, counter or job site, you may be seeking something a little more exhilarating. You already know Port Stephens can deliver on your R&R quota, thanks to its luxury resorts and stunning patches of sand that you can lay on all day. But the region offers plenty in the adventure department, too. Whether it's riding your very own camel down the beach or sailing over the largest sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere on a quad bike, Port Stephens is the place to go for left-of-centre, blood-pumping experiences. Here are our picks of the bunch. Please stay up to date with the latest NSW Government health advice regarding COVID-19.
Since late March, Australians haven't been permitted to leave the country. For much of the past few months, we haven't been allowed to travel much further than our own homes, either. But, while one of those situations won't be changing anytime soon — other than the possible implementation of a travel bubble with New Zealand — the other is starting to ease in many Aussie states and territories. Despite the political rhetoric of recent months, opening Australia back up to Australian residents isn't as easy as it sounds. Indeed, with Victoria's COVID-19 case numbers increasing drastically in late June and early July, resulting in the reimplementation of stay-at-home requirements for all of metropolitan Melbourne for at least six weeks, relaxing interstate borders is proving particularly complex. Just where you can travel to depends on where you normally live and where you'd like to head — and if you're wondering what it means for your next road trip or local holiday, we've broken down the current restrictions for you state by state. Details in this article are correct as at Friday, July 17, and will be updated as new information is announced. [caption id="attachment_775040" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Port Stephens by Destination NSW[/caption] NEW SOUTH WALES Throughout Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic to-date, New South Wales was one of only two states that didn't impose any border restrictions upon domestic travellers — until now. Due to the rising case numbers in Victoria, NSW has closed the border between the two states for the first time in more than 100 years (the last time was in 1919 during the Spanish Flu). Effective since midnight on Tuesday, July 7, NSW has only closed its border with Victoria. Its borders remain open with all other Australian states and territories. Victorians wishing to enter NSW must apply for a border permit to travel from Victoria to NSW. To obtain a permit — which is valid for 14 days — you need to fall into a number of set categories, such as cross-border residents, students or those employed to provide critical services. Also, permits are not available to Victorian residents who are prevented from travelling due to public health restrictions, which means everyone living in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire. Even with a permit, anyone who has been in Victoria in the 14 days before entering NSW will need to self-isolate for 14 days. You can do so at home — and the quarantine requirements apply not only to Victorians, but to NSW residents returning home. [caption id="attachment_751687" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lean Timms for Visit Canberra[/caption] AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY In the Australian Capital Territory, the border has also been closed to anyone travelling to the ACT from Victoria — unless you have an exemption. The closure came into effect at the same time as NSW's similar border restrictions. ACT residents can return home from Victoria, and must quarantine for 14 days; however, for everyone else, exemptions only apply in select circumstances: visiting a immediate family member who is critically ill or in palliative care, undertaking essential services work, attending a funeral of an immediate family member, providing urgent care to an immediate family member, receiving urgent medical care, and if you've left Victoria by air after transiting from another jurisdiction, but you did not leave the airport. The ACT does not have any restrictions in place for travellers from other Australian states and territories. VICTORIA Like NSW, Victorian has not closed its borders throughout Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic to-date. And, while other states and territories are closing off from Victoria, the state's borders are actually still open. That said, leaders of Australia's other states and territories have strongly advised that no one should be travelling to Victoria at present — and if you do, you may be required to quarantine on return to your home state. For Victorians looking to venture interstate, you aren't just restricted by the rules of whichever state or territory you'd like to travel to, but — if you live in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire — by Victoria's public health restrictions. As part of the reintroduced stay-at-home limits in place from 11.59pm on Wednesday, July 8, Victorians in these areas are only allowed to leave home for one of four reasons: for work or school (if you can't do this from home), for care or care giving, for daily exercise or for food and other essentials. Going on a holiday anywhere — locally, regionally in Victoria or interstate — is definitely not permitted. [caption id="attachment_743607" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Whitehaven Beach by Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] QUEENSLAND From Friday, July 10, after much debate and discussion over the past few months, Queensland officially reopened its borders to interstate visitors from all states and territories — except Victoria, which is considered a COVID-19 hotspot. On Tuesday, July 14, the state added the Campbelltown City and Liverpool City local government areas in New South Wales to its hotspot list, too, which means anyone who has been in Victoria or those two NSW areas in the past 14 days cannot enter Queensland. People visiting from South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory and other parts of NSW need to complete a border declaration form to obtain a Queensland border declaration pass. On it, you need to certify that you haven't travelled to Victoria or the aforementioned NSW spots in past 14 days — and the government has advised it'll be checking these statements, and that making a false statement will be an offence. And, you will need to agree to get tested for COVID-19 if you develop any symptoms within 14 days of arriving in Queensland. With the Queensland border closing back in March, the state has had a permit in place for some time for those wishing to cross the border; however previous permits issued before noon on Friday, July 3 are now invalid. Instead, everyone wanting to enter the state must apply for the aforementioned Queensland border declaration pass. If you have been in Victoria or the Campbelltown City and Liverpool City local government areas in New South Wales in the past 14 days, the state government advises that you should not come to Queensland. In general, you are not allowed to access or quarantine in the state, and you will be turned away at the border. Whether you live in the above areas or have visited them in the last fortnight, you'll only be allowed into Queensland if you receive an exemption "for essential specialist workers, as well as for health, legal or compassionate grounds", but Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk advises that "very few exemptions will be granted". If you do receive an exemption, you will be required to go into forced quarantine for 14 days, in a hotel, at your own expense. Queenslanders returning from Victoria, or the Campbelltown City and Liverpool City local government areas, will still be able to come home, but will also be required to go into forced quarantine for 14 days, in a hotel, at your own expense. [caption id="attachment_743719" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism WA[/caption] WESTERN AUSTRALIA At the height of Western Australia's COVID-19 restrictions, WA not only implemented a statewide border lockdown with the rest of the country, but internal travel restrictions within the state, barring travel from region to region. The latter have now largely been lifted for WA residents, who can mostly travel freely within the state — other than entering remote Aboriginal regions. Western Australia's statewide border lockdown is still in effect, however, with residents of all other states and territories banned from entering WA unless they fall into an exemption category, apply for a G2G Pass and, if approved, then self-isolate for 14 days. WA's roadmap to ease COVID-19 restrictions is currently in phase four — and, while removing the state's hard border was originally under consideration for phase six, which doesn't yet have a date, that plan was scrapped due to the situation in Victoria. At present, WA advises that "when an indicative date [for ending the border lockdown] is set in the future, it will be contingent on locally acquired infection rates in the eastern states. The WA hard border will only be removed when the WA Chief Health Officer is confident the spread of infection is controlled in the eastern states". [caption id="attachment_679107" align="alignnone" width="1920"] SATC[/caption] SOUTH AUSTRALIA After initially announcing in mid-June that it'd allow travellers from all interstate locations back in from Monday, July 20, South Australia has amended its plans in response to the situation in Victoria. As of midnight on Wednesday, July 8, it implemented a hard border with Victoria — only allowing Victorian residents to enter SA if they fall into the "essential traveller" category and agree to quarantine for 14 days. SA residents returning home from Victoria are still be permitted to enter the state, but also need to self-isolate for 14 days. Travel to SA from four Australian states and territories — Queensland, the Northern Territory, Tasmania and Western Australia — is already unrestricted and doesn't require a period of quarantine, although all visitors must receive pre-approval by completing the online Cross Border Travel Registration form. Travel to SA from New South Wales and the ACT is currently permitted, but only if travellers quarantine for a mandatory 14 days of self-isolation. All visitors must receive pre-approval by completing the online Cross Border Travel Registration form, too. [caption id="attachment_722075" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thalia Haven for Tourism Tasmania.[/caption] TASMANIA All non-essential visitors to Tasmania are already required to quarantine for 14 days at a Tasmanian government accommodation facility — and, before travel, to complete a Tasmanian Arrivals Form. Exemptions are available on compassionate or medical grounds. Tasmania has not advised when these restrictions will come to an end. New rules also came into effect from 12am, Thursday, July 9, for people travelling from Victoria. A hard border has been implemented, and "any visitors who have spent time in Victoria in the 14 days prior to travel are not permitted to travel to Tasmania. If visitors come from Victoria to Tasmania, they will be turned back". Exemptions apply for essential travellers and for compassionate reasons. Tasmanian residents who have spent time in Victoria in the 14 days prior returning to the state will also be required to quarantine in government-provided accommodation for 14 days, too. [caption id="attachment_769946" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Australia[/caption] NORTHERN TERRITORY In mid-June, the Northern Territory announced that it would end all mandatory quarantine arrangements for travellers from interstate from Friday, July 17; however, as has proven the case in other states, the NT has adapted its plans in response to the situation in Victoria and some areas of NSW. Anyone travelling to the territory from an identified COVID-19 hotspot — if you live in one, or have been to or travelled through one in the past 14 days — must still undertake 14 days mandatory supervised quarantine at your own cost. All Australians from other states, and other areas in NSW, can visit without going into mandatory quarantine for 14 days. All travellers must complete a pre-arrival border crossing application form up to 72 hours before you arrive, regardless of where you're visiting from. 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. Top image: Great Barrier Reef by Tourism and Events Queensland
If you're a fan of dazzling Australian cinema, and one particular director with a style like no other, then this year's Vivid Sydney comes bearing spectacular spectacular news. It's an announcement worth breaking out a ballroom dance for, or popping on your blue suede shoes, too — because filmmaker Baz Luhrmann has just joined the already-packed lineup. The reason: a little film called Elvis, Luhrmann's biopic about the king of rock 'n' roll, which hits cinemas in late June. He's taking to the Vivid stage before then, on Sunday, June 5, in line with the movie's Sydney premiere — in a separate conversation session called The Business of Baz, where he'll chat through the flick, his entire career and his distinctive directorial approach with Marc Fennell. Luhrmann will be in the building at the State Theatre, for an hour-long chat starting at 3pm. On the agenda: everything from Strictly Ballroom through to The Get Down — yes, including Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, Australia and The Great Gatsby in-between — as well as the power of storytelling, how he finds creativity in chaos, and his partnerships with costume designer Catherine Martin and screenwriter Craig Pearce. [caption id="attachment_853870" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Warner Bros Pictures[/caption] Attendees will be saying "thank you, thank you very much" to behind-the-scenes anecdotes about Elvis, as well, plus details about Luhrmann's path from from Narrabeen High School on Sydney's Northern Beaches to Hollywood, his passion and singular vision, and just what makes him tick in general. Happening the day after the film's Australian premiere on the Gold Coast — and shortly after its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival — the Vivid chat doesn't include a screening of Elvis. But the premiere is happening afterwards, from 6pm, also at the State Theatre, with Luhrmann, Martin, and actors Austin Butler (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and The Dead Don't Die) and Olivia De Jonge (Better Watch Out) in attendance. If you're keen to go along to that as well, you can purchase premiere package tickets that include both the in-conversation talk and the screening. Vivid Sydney 2022 runs from Friday, May 27–Sunday, June 18, with The Business of Baz taking place from 3pm on Sunday, June 5. For further information and tickets, head to the event's website. Top image: Destination NSW.
The underworld beckons: in 2025, hit musical Hadestown is set to take to the stage for the first time in Australia. Initially premiering as an indie theatre piece in 2006 in Vermont, then reaching off-Broadway in 2016 and Broadway in 2019, the show from musician and playwright Anaïs Mitchell plunges into the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. Audiences at Theatre Royal Sydney can see the production give the ancient Greek myth a new spin from February. The Harbour City is hosting the Aussie debut season of the musical that spent 2019 and 2020 collecting accolades after accolades. From 14 Tony nominations, it won eight awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. At the Grammys, it took home Best Musical Theatre Album. If you're new to the show – which has been seen by more than three-million people and streamed over 350-million times — two love stories get Hadestown's narrative burning. Orpheus and Eurydice share the spotlight with King Hades and Persephone, as Mitchell accompanies their intertwined affairs with a soundtrack of New Orleans-inspired jazz and American folk. The production's Sydney season kicks off on Monday, February 10, 2025. Images: Hadestown Original London Cast.
Coveted New York label Rag & Bone continues its foray into the Aussie fashion scene, opening the doors to its first Sydney store at Westfield Bondi Junction. The much-hyped launch marks the brand's third local outpost, following the Melbourne store openings in the last two years — one in the CBD and the other within Chadstone Shopping Centre. Sydneysiders now have an easy task getting their hands on Rag & Bone's celebrated threads, from ready-to-wear collections and those legendary denim pieces to its sought-after range of footwear, accessories and fragrances. The new store boasts over 130 square metres of space complete with floor-to-ceiling windows, the label's signature minimalist aesthetic is played against Versailles-style parquetry floorboards and a healthy dose of neon signage. The latest of Rag & Bone's film and photography works are displayed on screens throughout the store, art graces the walls and bespoke fixtures nod to the label's strong denim game. See also the customised phone charging stations, for shoppers on the go. First launched in New York in 2002, Rag & Bone now has 42 stores across the world, and is best known for its edgy, yet understated aesthetic and supremely wearable designs. Find Rag & Bone's new store at Shop 4077, Westfield Bondi Junction, 500 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction, Sydney.
Writer-director Sarah Polley's follow-up to the much-loved drama Away From Her, Take This Waltz follows the story of a freelance writer Margot (Michelle Williams) as she meets a rickshaw driver from Toronto, Daniel (Luke Kirby). Margot shares with him an uncontrollable sexual chemistry, and when they realise they live just across the street from each other, the bombshell is dropped: Margot is happily married to sweetheart husband Lou (Seth Rogen), a gentle and caring cookbook writer. Margot finds herself in a complex and conflicting situation, not knowing whether her comfortable routine with her husband, whom she still loves, is enough in the face of the fiery desire of her alluring neighbour. She finds herself frequently trying to bump into the young man and testing the limits of her resolve by having late night pool dips and sipping margaritas with him, yet not actually acting on the attraction. Far from being a shallow display of trivial conflicting desires, the movie poignantly illustrates the internal dilemma of whether familiarity and comfort will suffice when they come up against the temptation of exotic sex, romance and art. Williams gives a heartwarming and evocative performance, making audiences sympathise and identify with her plight. Similarly moving displays from Rogen and Kirby work to make this film a heartwarming and complex production, which is a must-see for romantics and cynics alike. Concrete Playground has five double passes to giveaway. To go in the running to win tickets to Take This Waltz, make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address to us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au
It seems those wind turbines you've spied from atop the ridge at Meredith Music Festival could soon have a few new buddies. Victoria's latest wind farm project is one step closer to reality, with the mammoth Golden Plains Wind Farm being granted planning approval by the Victorian Government over the weekend. The decision follows a hefty environmental impacts assessment carried out last year and advice from an expert planning panel, with the project now headed to the federal government for final approval. If given the go-ahead, the $1.5 billion wind farm would cover a huge 17,000 hectares of land, about 60 kilometres northwest of Geelong. It's expected to produce almost 3000 gigawatt hours of electricity annually, or enough to power more than 400,000 homes. To put that in perspective, the project is expected to provide between 8–10 percent of Victoria's energy, according to The Guardian, with greenhouse savings of almost 3.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. One of the farmlands expected to gain wind turbines is the one that hosts the Meredith and Golden Plains Music Festival. But festivalgoers need fret not, with a government spokesperson telling the SMH that is was unlikely the project will have any impact on the festivals. [caption id="attachment_704549" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wind turbines on the horizon at Golden Plains by Steve Benn.[/caption] The Golden Plains Wind Farm, which, if approved, is slated for completion by 2023, would join a stack of other Victorian clean energy projects already under way in places like Moorabool, Lal Lal, Bulgana, Murra Warra and Stockyard Hill. It all comes as the government increases Victoria's Renewable Energy Target to 50 percent by 2030. In 2017, wind farms supplied 5.7 percent of Australia's overall electricity, according to the Clean Energy Council. While Victoria is currently home to the nation's largest wind farm, in Macarthur, SA has the most, but Queensland and NSW are also investing in renewable technology — as of December last year, Queensland had 27 wind and solar farm projects under construction and NSW had 23. If the Golden Plains Wind Farm is approved by the federal government, it is slated for completion by 2023. For more information about the project, head to w-wind.com.au/golden-plains-wind-farm.
Much-loved Sydney bookshop Kinokuniya has a wealth of summer page-turners, new cookbooks, art and design hardbacks and a huge range of manga and anime titles. It's where you might go to pick up a gift that has the power to transport you to other worlds, or to inspire you into action. Kinokuniya Manager and Buyer Helene Byfield has worked at the CBD bookstore for nearly 20 years. It's safe to say Helene reads a lot — which is why we've asked her for her help. In partnership with Kinokuniya, we asked Helene for her top recommendations for the types of people we all seem to have on our gift lists this year. "Books are great presents," she says. "They're a way for you to share something that becomes quite personal with someone you love." So, take inspiration from her tips below, head to the store in The Galeries and pick up a pressie for your mate, date or dad that's far more personal than the last-minute pair of socks you bought last year. EVERYTHING I LOVE TO COOK, NEIL PERRY ($59.99) Everything I Love to Cook is celebrated chef Neil Perry's seventh cookbook and has already been well received despite only hitting the shelves in September. "Neil Perry is one of the pillars of the Australian food community. His favourite recipes are in this book, so it's a collection of stuff he's had at his different restaurants as well as from his Good Weekend column. It's essentially a holistic look at what he likes to cook the most," says Helene. If you know a keen home cook — or a big fan of Australia's dining landscape — then this is the book for them. It's huge, featuring more than 230 recipes. "It's like an encyclopaedia of cooking," says Helene. "It's something you could cook out of every night of the week. I keep flicking through it going 'Yeah I could cook this… or I could just go to his new restaurant'," she jokes. THE ART AND SOUL OF DUNE, TANYA LAPOINTE ($89.99) You're probably aware of all the hype surrounding the film Dune. It's finally graced Aussie big screens more than a year after its original release date. So, if you've got a movie buff, sci-fi fan or Timothée Chalamet lover in your life, you'll want to consider this coffee table book. It's topical, yes, but also a stunning work in its own right. "It's a beautiful book to go with a beautiful film," Helene says of this behind-the-scenes look at one of the biggest films of the year. When The Art and Soul of Dune by Tanya Lapointe arrived at Kinokuniya, the staff put it on the store's Instagram and, according to Helene, "it was one of our most commented on posts for the month". So, there's obviously a lot of interest. Why? "The novel is a cult classic in and of itself. But there are also probably about 20 books involved in the whole Dune universe. It's this huge world in science fiction," Helene says. TOMORROW IS A BRAND-NEW DAY, DAVINA BELL AND ALLISON COLPOYS ($24.99) "This is a bright and cheery and happy book. It's a book that's come out of kids having to live through the dreariness of lockdowns. And it's good for adults as well," says Helene. So, if you've got a mate with little'uns or want to add a bit of colour to someone's Christmas, this charming picture book could be the perfect pressie. Written by Davina Bell and illustrated by the talented Allison Colpoys, Tomorrow Is a Brand-New Day is all about shaking off any mishaps, mistakes or misery and knowing that tomorrow will bring new opportunities and a chance for things to change. Nothing too groundbreaking, sure, but certainly something many of us need reminding of from time to time. As Helene quoted a Kinokuniya colleague: "When you fuck up, there's a way to come back from it." FOUR THOUSAND WEEKS: TIME AND HOW TO USE IT, OLIVER BURKEMAN ($35) If you've never read an Oliver Burkeman book before, prepare yourself — his works aren't exactly lighthearted reads. The New York-based British journalist is known for writing about social psychology, productivity and the science of happiness. But, if you know someone who loves to learn or is always browsing in the self-help aisle in the bookshop, Four Thousand Weeks: Time and How to Use It is the pick. "Basically, it's looking at the fact that if you live to be 80, you roughly have 4000 weeks in your life. So, it's making people think about what time is and how they're spending [their] time," Helene says. "How can you adjust your decision-making processes to give yourself more time to focus on what you actually want to do with your life?" We've all read the headlines: the great resignation is upon us. COVID's made a lot of us look for more fulfilment in our day-to-day lives. So if your housemate keeps talking about how much their work sucks or how they want more outta life, this book will help put them on the path to figuring out what they they actually want. THE BONDI TO MANLY WALK, TARA WELLS ($34.99) Seen Places We Swim on your friend's bookshelf? Then grab them this photograph-filled number that details Sydney's idyllic 80-kilometre Bondi to Manly walking track. "So many of us haven't been able to travel lately. The idea behind this one is to get people to explore their own backyard a bit more," says Helene. The book covers every bay, beach and headland along the track, plus 12 shorter walks for those who'd rather not tackle the lengthy track at once. In essence, it's a guidebook to one of Sydney's biggest drawcards: its spectacular coastline. COUNTRY: FUTURE FIRE, FUTURE FARMING, BILL GAMMAGE AND BRUCE PASCOE ($21.98) Part of Thames & Hudson's First Knowledges series, Country: Future Fire, Future Farming is an important book. It's all about looking at old practices of Indigenous Australians in farming and land cultivation, and how we might be able to harness these ideas so we're not experiencing catastrophic bushfires every summer. Co-written by Bruce Pascoe of Dark Emu fame and Bill Gammage who wrote The Biggest Estate on Earth, this joint work examines how Aboriginal people cultivated the land as well as their complex fire programs that protected Country. "It talks about old practices of Indigenous Australians and how it's important to look at what those practices were [in order] to try and adapt modern Australian life so we're adopting farming practices that are more in keeping with what the land needs, as opposed to the colonial European understanding of what the land should be," says Helene. THE BOOK OF FORM AND EMPTINESS, RUTH OZEKI ($32.98) "Ruth Ozeki is a super interesting novelist," says Helene. "She writes beautiful, interesting books that make you think." The Book of Form and Emptiness chronicles the life of a boy who's lost his father. His mother, now the boy's sole carer, is struggling with her own grief and begins to hoard objects as a coping mechanism. However, with each new object comes a new challenge for the boy who, in his own grief, starts to hear objects speak to him. So, he goes in search of a 'quieter' place so he can come to terms with his loss, which ultimately leads him to the library. The books still speak to him, but in whispers rather than the riotous chatter of the items at home. "It's wonderful. [But] it's less of a beach read," Helene says. "There's a lot of feeling in it and it's quite a hefty, long book." So if you know someone who's planning on taking some time off and is a bit of a book nerd, this is the novel to pick up. HAYAO MIYAZAKI AND THE GHIBLI MUSEUM, STUDIO GHIBLI ($356.90) The wonderful, bizarre worlds of Studio Ghibli films have been delighting viewers around the globe since the 1980s. The Japanese animation studio has produced hits such as Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke and has garnered a cult-like following. So, odds are you know a Ghibli super-fan, in which case this set of books, about director Hayao Miyazaki and the Ghibli Museum, is a solid bet. There are more than 900 illustrations in the two-volume set that looks into the Museum's inception, design and exhibitions, as well as anecdotes about Miyazaki, numerous interviews and some English language translations of explanatory texts, manga and illustrations. "It's very much in keeping with Miyazaki's vibe and design passion," Helene says. "We have a lot of books and Ghibli merchandise that we sell, so whenever there's anything new that people haven't seen before they jump right on it. So, for a super-fan or a collector, it'll be something they'll want." Find more excellent gift ideas at Kinokuniya this summer.
These days you can’t tell if it’s going to rain or shine. You could be heading to the beach and get caught in the rain, so rather than hedge your bets and end up wet, head to the AGNSW and see a perfect landscape in The Royal Paintings of Jodhpur. Garden & Cosmos shows the artist’s command over the land. Flora and fauna are simultaneously reduced and elaborated, laid out in an ordered yet sumptuous manner, as the artists (commissioned by the Maharajas over the 17–19th centuries) depict the physical and the metaphysical. Some paintings show courtly life full of splendorous robes and stately pleasures, while others ponder the universe and our existence. All share an elaborate style, exquisite detail and humour. This momentous exhibition, which has travelled from London’s British Museum, marks the first display of these rare paintings outside India. It forms part of the Gallery’s Indian Summer at the Gallery, celebrated with events from performances to lectures, garden walks to workshops.Garden & Cosmos may not represent Indian life as others knew it at the time, but it sure makes for sweet daydreaming.Bulaki, The Practice of Yoga, 1824, opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Rohan Anderson is a man of his word. Though the terms “sustainability”, “ethics” and “green living” are slung about a lot these days, they are values that few people fully live by. But just a month ago, Anderson threw himself out of the cannon and into the unthinkable: he quit his job and started living off the land. “I was working part-time as a graphic designer,” he says. “I would go to an office under the fluorescent light and stare at the computer screen and do the work and put up with all the internal politics of the workplace. And none of it....none of it felt real. None of it made any sense at all. It was so unnatural and so unhuman.” He also, this month, launched a cook book called Whole Larder Love, based on his blog which chronicles his quest for semi-self-sufficiency in rural Victoria. Four years ago Anderson was feeding his kids frozen chicken nuggets. He now purchases “only really basic stuff: flour, sugar, salt, yeast, milk, deodorant, toothpaste. What we’ve eliminated from our shopping trolley is the cardboard packaged food, frozen food, fresh food that’s out of season and meat from supermarkets.” Anderson’s grimy-nailed, bloody-shirted, sweaty-palmed account of hunting, gathering and harvesting is miles away from the sanitised green consumerism spruiked by celebrity chefs from the safety of their stainless steel kitchens. Though the book contains epicurean delights like Rabbit with Mustard Sauce, he flatly rejects the term “foodie”. “My grandfather is from Barcelona. Imagine if you went up to him and said, ‘because you eat beautiful Spanish tapas, you’re a gourmet, you’re artisan because you love good food’. No, that’s just food. That’s just normal food. I definitely want to distance myself from being the wanker foodie that loves a bit of foam on the plate. I don’t eat out at restaurants. It’s not the reality of what food should be. Food shouldn’t be overcomplicated. Otherwise, you distance the notion of accessibility and being clever with basic ingredients.” Food for Anderson is not just a source of fuel or even gastronomical enjoyment, but a political and an environmental concern. “I hate calling Whole Larder Love a cookbook,” he says. “It obviously is a cookbook, but there’s more of a subversive intention there. I really do want to promote the idea of people going back to the old ways of growing their own food. It will dramatically reduce our reliance on supermarkets. Most people know that there are big lorries that drive all this food around and food is actually air- and ship-freighted from other countries. That takes a lot of finite resources. I don’t think that system can last much longer. We’re now in a system of food production where we’re relying on a pretty massive machine that one day could fall over. I have gone back to embracing my animalness, which means taking care of all my food with my hands as all other animals do in the natural world. I’m going back to the good life, and I grow my food and I hunt.” “The real philosophy behind it is that I want to show people that it is possible in 2012 and to marry old techniques and state of the art communication technology. Today I’ve just shovelled a trailer load of manure from Ballarat to go on the pumpkin patch. And the pumpkins will grow all summer, they'll be cured, and we'll have about forty pumpkins for winter for the six of us. Then this afternoon I’m going to go out and chuck two trailer loads of timber for firewood for preparation for next winter. Then I will sit there on my MacBook Air and write up a blogpost.” It’s a mindset loaded with idealism and a book that motivates people to pick up alternative ways of thinking, and more importantly, doing. “My lifestyle is not for everybody. But I will continue to communicate it. The best thing is when people send me photos of what they’ve harvested on the weekend, how they’ve been inspired, how they’ve bought some chooks and built a chook-house. I love that the blog has had an effect on some people.” As a result of his interactions with readers, Anderson reckons more people are bulking at the artificial delineations between the built and natural worlds. “I was in Chippendale a couple of weeks ago - they have worm farms and vegie gardens on the nature strips.” Along with growing your own produce, he says engaging with these kinds of community gardens and farmers’ markets are pragmatic ways to break down what he sees as “the boxed-in areas of nature” that typify unhealthy, unsustainable city life. And he insists that his hunting and gathering lifestyle doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing: city-dwellers can do it too. “People who even just have a balcony, a rooftop, a backyard - where-ever you are in the Western world - can grow food. In the big cities in Italy - Rome, Florence and Milan - the nonnas that live there have so many vegies growing on their verandahs. It’s like an oasis on your verandah, as opposed to your typical Aussie gas barbeque, a couple of dead ornamental plants and maybe somebody’s bike. These gardens in Italy were just full. It was so inspirational to see what could be done in very tight spaces. Someone had pumpkins on a verandah - they were massive and this person had trained these pumpkins to go vertical, diagonal, anyway in any space possible. That was a beautiful thing to see, that even in the cities, they want to grow and smell and feel fresh food. That’s such a beautiful thing.” Photos courtesy of Rohan Anderson.
You probably already know about New York's reputation for top-quality digs, so you'll be pleased to learn these high standards extend well beyond the city limits. If you're considering venturing upstate — which you absolutely should be — idyllic retreats abound. Not only will the New York holiday of your dreams have the fabulous accommodation to match, but you'll also have direct access to some of the state's underrated gems: its charming small-town communities and boundless outdoor and cultural adventures. We've teamed up with New York State to present some of the most stellar accommodation throughout the state. From scenic summer camps to beachfront escapes, here are our picks to make your next New York adventure even more special. [caption id="attachment_851092" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brooke O'Neil - Courtesy of Franklin County[/caption] WHITE PINE CAMP, PAUL SMITHS If it's good enough for a president then it's good enough for you. Set in Paul Smiths, in the heart of the Adirondacks region, White Pine Camp is the former holiday home of President Calvin Coolidge. Nowadays, it's a year-round getaway that places you right in nature's beauty. You'll have 13 stately cabins and cottages to choose from, each featuring handcrafted furnishings, stone fireplaces and stunning views. This provincial wonderland is one of the region's 'Great Camps' — a label reserved for the remarkable lakeside homes built by wealthy 19th-century families. There are endless activities to experience during your stay. You can enjoy boating, hiking, fishing and bowling. Then, when you're ready to unwind, head to the camp's Japanese tea house for a cocktail. [caption id="attachment_851090" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Buffalo Niagara, Kim Smith,[/caption] THE MANSION ON DELAWARE AVENUE, BUFFALO Buffalo is one of the most captivating cities in the United States. From the recently restored 19th- and early 20th-century architectural gems and picturesque gardens to the thriving entertainment and nightlife scenes, there are many things that make the city well worth a visit. Located in the heart of the city, The Mansion on Delaware offers an up-close glimpse of the aforementioned 19th-century grandeur. The elegance of the property is undeniable from the moment you step inside, with 15-foot ceilings and handcrafted details that ooze class. You can live out all your upper-class fantasies here, too. To complement the venue's grand allure, a team of "new-fashioned butlers" are waiting at your beck and call, whether you need the ideal restaurant reservation, day-trip suggestions or even a personal driver to whisk you to a nearby landmark. [caption id="attachment_844998" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Phillip Ennis, Courtesy of Oheka Castle[/caption] OHEKA CASTLE, HUNTINGTON Oheka Castle is believed to have inspired The Great Gatsby, so booking a stay in this sprawling mansion ensures you get the chance to live out your Roaring Twenties fantasies. Here, at the highest point of Long Island, luxury is the name of the game, with a selection of sophisticated suites offering opulent decor alongside views stretching across the pristine grounds. Downstairs, the OHK Bar and Restaurant is open for brunch, lunch and dinner, and has a distinctly European atmosphere. You're also welcome to explore the gardens, order an in-room massage, hit the gym or even attend a daily tour of this storied mansion. [caption id="attachment_851095" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Dutchess Tourism[/caption] THE ROUNDHOUSE, BEACON The charming town of Beacon makes for the ideal artsy escape, as this former industrial hub has evolved into a cultural destination over the last 20 years. The Roundhouse embodies this rejuvenation perfectly. The historic mill was transformed into a boutique hotel and restaurant in 2010, but many of the property's refined architectural details were preserved. The Roundhouse is perched on the edge of the fast-flowing Fishkill Creek, offering views of the adjacent Beacon Falls. This easy-on-the-eye spot has 51 guestrooms decked out with mid-century decor. Meanwhile, the acclaimed restaurant showcases goods from local farms, wineries and distilleries. [caption id="attachment_844992" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NYSDED, Darren McGee[/caption] MOHONK MOUNTAIN HOUSE, NEW PALTZ Mohonk Mountain House is another majestic stay that'll see you surrounded by the Hudson Valley's incredible scenery. This early 20th-century estate is based on the edge of Lake Mohonk and is surrounded by 40,000 acres of forest. You won't be left looking for ways to fill your time either. First of all, there are some 85 miles of hiking trails to explore. You can also go kayaking and fly fishing on the lake that sits next to the estate, or make the most of the estate's award-winning spa and top-notch recreational facilities, including tennis courts, an indoor pool, a golf course and more. Mohonk Mountain House is also known for its farm-to-table cuisine, which is served throughout its many venues. [caption id="attachment_851104" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Greene County Tourism & Film Office[/caption] EASTWIND HOTEL AND BAR, WINDHAM When your main priority is reconnecting with nature, eco-conscious glamping in the rugged countryside is bound to fit the bill. Eastwind Hotel and Bar, overlooking the Catskill Mountains, is a fantastic choice. The property's A-frame glamping tents and cabins will level up your outdoor encounters with their Scandinavian-style architecture and amenities. Here, you don't need to forgo the creature comforts during your stay — even the basic offering comes with wifi, lush robes and private bathrooms. Opting for an upgraded hut, meanwhile, will score you a cosy lounge area, writing nook, outdoor fire pit and shower, and a private deck to appreciate the views. Throw in a visit to the hotel's trendy cocktail bar and a sweat sesh in the wood-barrelled sauna, and this out-of-town haunt won't disappoint. THE LAKE HOUSE ON CANANDAIGUA, CANANDAIGUA The Finger Lakes is one of upstate New York's top destinations, known for its picturesque lakes, wineries and top-class recreational facilities. Sound like your sort of place? The Lake House on Canandaigua is where you should stay. Modern yet flourished with old-world charm, this peaceful location is the perfect place to base yourself when exploring the surrounding landscapes. Alongside the 125 picture-perfect rooms, dining is a clear focus at the hotel. The Sand Bar offers a laidback atmosphere and colourful cocktails overlooking the water, while Rose Tavern levels up the class with rustic decor and hearth-cooked cuisine. For activities, there's a fully kitted day spa, ice skating in winter, morning meditation sessions and much more. STARLITE MOTEL, KERHONKSON The Starlite Motel is a 1960s motor lodge that has been lovingly restored to its former glory through modern updates and fashionable touches, ranging from a kitschy pink exterior and retro tiling to vintage appliances that instantly transport you to a bygone age. When you're not exploring the many nearby hiking, biking and climbing locations, you're invited to make the most of an outdoor pool and communal firepits. There's also a lo-fi canteen serving local drinks and snacks, while a selection of barbecue grills means you can whip up your own feast beneath the stars. [caption id="attachment_851100" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Ulster County Tourism/Film[/caption] WOODSTOCK WAY HOTEL, WOODSTOCK Inspired by the music and counterculture that made its namesake community so famous, Woodstock Way Hotel invites guests to experience this history through rustic-chic architecture and enchanting gardens. The rooms, suites and cottages are adorned with vintage decor and artwork, so expect to feel immersed in the lush outdoors through balconies and private gardens. Although there's no on-site restaurant, the communal area offers snacks and drinks. You're also just a quick walk from the centre of town, meaning you can experience Woodstock's wealth of stylish restaurants, bars and fashion boutiques with ease. To start planning your trip to New York State, head to iloveny.com. Also, be sure to check out our recommendations for the best food and drink stops, cultural experiences, outdoor adventures and day trips from NYC. Top image: Courtesy of Oheka Castle
Victoria's Hot Chocolate Festival is back again this August. And, like last year, it's also bringing the decadence to you. Whether you're a Melburnian who can't make it to one of the three venues outside of town, or you're located elsewhere and you really love hot chocolate, the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie, the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie in Bellbrae and the Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie are churning out at-home kits filled with creative hot choccie flavours. Like this year's physical fest, there's a wild range of flavours — and whichever you choose, you'll receive couverture flavour-infused melts, a giant marshmallow and interactive elements to add to your choice of hot milk at home. Wondering which inventive flavours will tempt your tastebuds? The 2022 lineup is as OTT and indulgent as ever — and as tasty. Kicking things off: the Top Gun, which comes with red, white and blue marshmallow, as well as a jam-filled donut and dark choc moustache. Keeping things movie-themed, there's also a Hocus Pocus hot choc as well. Or, you can pick from salted caramel pretzel, honeycomb macadamia kronut, Iced Vovo and Milky Way hot chocolates — and vegan caramel surprise as well. The kits are available to order throughout August, and there's a flat-rate shipping fee of $15 to anywhere in Australia.
Choosing a birthday gift for your food-loving friends is easy. You just wine and dine them, meaning you both get to enjoy the spoils of dining out. But when it comes to the holiday season (AKA silly season), our calendars are already filled with parties, lunches, drinks and every other type of social occasion — and this year is tipped to be busier than most. So, what do you get them? After a year of being relatively housebound (or, at least, state-bound), it's time to up the ante by treating them to a full blown food-fuelled travel adventure. There's more to fancy big-city fine diners, after all. Dig a little deeper and you'll discover Australia's exceptional culinary offerings from country to coast. In partnership with Tourism Australia, we've rounded up ten gift-worthy dining (and wining) experiences to rock a food-lover's world, including everything from guided bush tucker tastings to sky-high feasts. You can bet they won't be forgetting these next-level presents in a hurry.
The One Day crew just keep hitting their stride. A far cry from their humble 2013 pub beginnings as One Day Sundays, Sydney's favourite hip hop crew are getting bigger and bigger crowds with every event, throwing over 50 events across Australia in the last two years and blowing the roof of their monthly Factory mini-festivals. Now, they're ready to throw their biggest Sydney day party yet — One Day Only. Locked in for Saturday, November 21, One Day Only will take over three levels of Manning House — which has already proved its festival ability with years of Sydney Uni gigs and the recently moved-in OutsideIn festival. Building on the tried and true formula of the One Day Sundays parties, the event will see 3000 punters enjoying hip hop, future beats, neo-soul, R&B and electronica across three stages (full lineup announcement coming September 14). “The parties have exploded since we started back in 2013 and we felt now is the time to step things up”, said Nick Lupi of One Day. “One Day Only will build on the same party vibe that Sydneysiders have come to know and love, but we’re turning it up a few notches. The bigger lineup and extra stages will incorporate live acts and a wider mix of genres, plus we’ll be decking out Manning House like you’ve never seen it before.” Of course, music's not the only creative element running the One Day parties, so expect live graffiti art curated by international spraypaint brand Ironlak, and a cornucopia of Sydney's finest food trucks. Apparently the crew are taking cues from the most unlikely of hip hop places for the party's 'theming': the social revolutions of 18th century Europe. “The party will combine classical opulence and beauty with a slightly anarchic undertone” said One Day’s Raph Lauren. “We’re taking over the mansion to turn up and share the spoils with the people. This is a renaissance. A party for the ages.” One Day Only is hitting Manning House on Saturday, November 21 from 1-11pm. Tickets are $45/55 +BF, available from here. Full lineup released Monday, September 14.
In a week that already gave our nostalgic hearts hope for a reunion of The Nanny, here comes an even better piece of news: Daria, your favourite late 90s realist gal, will be finding her way back to our screens thanks to MTV. Big mood. The news comes as part of MTV's announcement that it's launching a new production unit, MTV Studios, which'll be working on a number of reboots. As well as Daria, other past TV hits getting the revival treatment include Aeon Flux and The Real World. The new outfit will also work on several new reality shows, but it's probably safe to say cult fave Daria is the one to get fans most excited. Feminist icon Daria Morgendorffer blessed our screens with smarts, satire, sardonicism and being a general slacker from 1997 to 2002, with the show revolving around her acerbic cynicism and its disconnect with the teenage girl world she lived in. And, even though it's been nearly two decades since the show went off the air — running for 65 episodes, plus the pilot, two specials, and made-for-television films Is It Fall Yet? and Is It College Yet? — she is very far from forgotten if yearly Halloween costumes are anything to go by. Melburnians certainly haven't been letting the character slip from their memories, with not one but two parties dedicated to the series taking place in 2017. The new reboot will be called Daria & Jodie, and it'll follow your gal and her friend Jodie — another character from the original series, and one of Daria's classmates at Lawndale High School — as they "take on the world with their signature satirical voice while deconstructing popular culture, social classes, gender and race", according to MTV. Written by Grace Edwards (Inside Amy Schumer, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), you can probably rest assured that this is one reboot that won't ruin the original (we're looking at you, Charmed — although, to be fair, that new witchy series won't air until later this year). Stay tuned for premiere date information, and start kicking about in those old black Doc Martens again to celebrate. Via Variety.
Whether you spend all day each day at Sydney Film Festival when it rolls around every year, or just fit which flicks you can into your schedule, no movie lover ever wants the Harbour City's annual celebration of cinema to end. That goes double for the fest crew itself, with the team understanding that managing to catch everything that you want to during SFF is impossible. The solution: adding extra days after the event's official closing night for more sessions. For a few years now, SFF puts on a Back By Popular Demand program post-fest — and this year's lineup has just been announced. Yes, closing night will still be on Saturday, June 16. But across Monday, June 17–Thursday, June 20, you'll be able to watch a handful of the festival's films at Dendy Newtown, Palace Cinemas Norton Street and Ritz Cinemas Randwick. From 2024's most-popular titles, 16 pictures are getting encore showings. Each movie is only popping up once more in the Back By Popular Demand season, so this is still a case of needing to snap up tickets quickly. Three such highlights: I Saw the TV Glow, the Sundance hit from We're All Going to the World's Fair's Jane Schoenbrun that's about two teens grappling with their favourite television show getting cancelled; Sasquatch Sunset, which is directed by the Zellner brothers (Damsel), and stars Riley Keough (Daisy Jones & the Six) and Jesse Eisenberg (Fleishman Is in Trouble) as a sasquatch family; and Problemista, as directed by and starring Los Espookys' Julio Torres opposite Tilda Swinton (The Killer). Other returning films include Saoirse Ronan (Foe) as a recovering addict in page-to-screen adaptation The Outrun; In Vitro, an Aussie sci-fi thriller about a couple doing biotech experiments, which features Succession alum Ashley Zukerman; and La Cocina, a restaurant-set dramedy starring Rooney Mara (Women Talking) and directed by Alonso Ruizpalacios (A Cop Movie). There's also Grand Tour, which hails from 2015 Sydney Film Prize-winner Miguel Gomes (Arabian Nights) — and All We Imagine As Light, the first Indian film to play in Cannes' competition in three decades. Viewers can also catch thriller Brief History of a Family from China, documentary Agent of Happiness from Bhutan, Berlinale Teddy Award-winner All Shall Be Well and Silver Bear-winner Dying, plus the Cannes-debuting Motel Destino, Italian box-office hit There's Still Tomorrow, biodoc Charmian Clift — Life Burns High and the Taika Waititi (Next Goal Wins)-produced We Were Dangerous. In total, the encore sessions feature 19 films, with the extra three covering sessions in the fest's Nancy Savoca: True Love Stories retrospective: 1989 Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winner True Love, Dogfight with the late, great River Phoenix and Household Saints. Sydney Film Festival's 2024 Back By Popular Demand bonus screenings hit Dendy Newtown, Palace Cinemas Norton Street and Ritz Cinemas Randwick between Monday, June 17–Thursday, June 20. Sydney Film Festival 2024 takes place from Wednesday, June 5–Sunday, June 16 at various cinemas and venues around Sydney. For more information — and for tickets — head to the festival's website.
When you think of jazz music, you might picture dimly lit rooms, intimate underground bars or laidback hole-in-the-wall venues. If that's you, prepare to have your expectations exceeded at this one-day jazz event happening at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. The Sydney Con Jazz Festival is taking over six venues at The Sydney Conservatorium of Music, located right by the Royal Botanic Garden, with more than 30 concerts and masterclasses. From 12–9pm on Sunday, May 30, you can bounce between six gig spaces to catch musicians performing a variety of jazz styles. And, if you want to learn from industry experts, you can attend a workshop to expand your skills and musical repertoire. Malaysian-born, Aussie bassist Linda May Han Oh (who is now based in New York) will headline the event, which is stacked with over 120 musicians. Captivating vocalist Jo Lawry will debut a collaboration with string ensemble, saxophonist Will Vinson (UK) and pianist Fabian Almazan (CUBA). You can also catch the premiere of trumpeter Nick Garbett's new work, a rare solo piano performance by Thirsty Merc frontman Rai Thistlewayte and This World — an Australian super-group quartet consisting of jazz legend Mike Nock, ARIA Award winner Jonathan Zwartz, Freedman Fellow Julian Wilson and drumming legend Hamish Stuart. Also on the bill is folk fusion artist Zela Margossian, Paul Cultan's scintillating string ensemble and Nadje Noordhuis and Luke Howard will team up in a gentle yet sweeping union of trumpet and piano. To catch both Linda May Han Oh and This World, consider the double bill Gala concert at 7:30pm. Ticket prices vary depending on the number of shows you'd like to attend. For more information on the program and to book, head to the website.
In January 2023, the Elton John farewell tour to apparently end all Elton John farewell tours will return to Australia and New Zealand, playing its last round of shows Down Under before the singer says farewell to live concerts. Haven't nabbed a ticket? Can't go? Went last time he came our way, in what was then meant to be John's goodbye gigs? Whichever fits — or if you are heading along to see the music star next year — you can always stream his final-ever North American performance live on Monday, November 21. Make plans to knock off early: Disney+ is livestreaming the concert at 2pm AEST / 3pm AEST / 5pm New Zealand time. The show has been badged Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium, and will run for a hefty three hours, complete with Dua Lipa, Kiki Dee and Brandi Carlile as guests. Yes, that means that John and Lipa's hit single 'Cold Heart' is guaranteed to get a spin, as is 'Simple Things' by John and Carlile — both of which featured on John's 2021 album The Lockdown Sessions. And, yes, you can expect to hear John and Dee's 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' from 1976, with the concert's lineup of guests showcasing John's enormous longevity and range. Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium forms part of the musician's global Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which has been taking him around the world since September 2018, and spans more than 300 concerts across five continents. In Australasia, his first stops here during the tour saw over 705,000 tickets sold to gigs across a three-month period that spanned 34 Australian and six New Zealand dates from November 2019. During the livestreamed performance, fans can expect to feel the love through all of his hits, including 'Rocket Man', 'Tiny Dancer' 'Bennie and the Jets', 'Crocodile Rock', 'I'm Still Standing' and 'Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting' — even though it's happening on a Monday Down Under. John's tour also features never-before-seen images and videos show from his 50-year career — well, never seen before the tour — which are displayed throughout each gig. And, on Disney+, the Dodger Stadium concert will be paired with Countdown to Elton Live, a special featuring John's famous friends wishing him well, and also including interviews with John and David Furnish. When the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour does indeed come to an end, John will retire from touring after five decades on the road. If that all sounds rather massive, that's the star's career in a nutshell. He's played more than 4000 shows across in his time, sold more than 300 million records worldwide and holds the record for the biggest-selling single of all time thanks to the 1997 version of 'Candle in the Wind'. The singer has clearly enjoyed a huge past few years, too, with his life story hitting the big screen in biopic Rocketman. Check out the trailer for Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium below: Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium will stream via Disney+ at 2pm AEST / 3pm AEST / 5pm New Zealand time on Monday, November 21. Images: Ben Gibson.
After a six-month residency inside The Exchange Hotel, Secolo Balmain is officially bidding us farewell. The Italian diner had taken over Fabbrica Pasta Bar's previous digs, hoping to lock down a permanent space after closing its original Castlereagh Street outpost, but the crew have now decided that the joint will be shutting its doors for good instead. But it's not all bad news — the team behind the venue will return to Sydney's food and drink scene later this year with two new eateries. The Arienzale family will be opening Tessuto, a retro-style Italian trattoria, and La Panineria, a dedicated sambo joint, in the CBD later this year. [caption id="attachment_953994" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Owners Anthony, Tanja and Robert Arienzale pictured at Secolo Balmain. [/caption] "Things have changed a lot since we made the difficult decision to close our original city venue in the wake of Covid-19 lockdowns and looming construction plans," said Tanja Arienzale, one of Secolo's co-owners. "We have such fond memories of our time in town and we can't wait to welcome back our old customers and meet some new faces." Tessuto — the Italian word for 'fabric' — draws its name from the building's history, as its occupants from the 1800s were the main importer of Australia's soft goods. Now, the joint is set to serve pastries, focaccia and pizzas from the heritage-listed spot on York Street, with Secolo's Head Chef Mattia Senesi helming its kitchen. The CBD newcomer will be open for early risers seeking out a morning coffee, as well as those seeking leisurely late afternoon spritzes — and it'll even offer make-your-own pasta options. As for the second newbie, La Panineria will be a hole-in-the-wall takeaway joint slinging fresh Italian schiacciata (panini). Not only will the outpost feature sambos like the Gladiator, with sliced porchetta, pork crackling, provolone, aioli, friarielli and salsa verde, but it will also do hot coffee and pizza by the slice. The two soon-to-come venues have yet to release official opening dates, but are estimated to open to the public in the latter half of 2024. Secolo Balmain, however, has announced that it will host its final service on Saturday, May 18, so head to the restaurant's website to book your farewell meal. You've got until Saturday, May 18, to hit up Secolo Balmain before its final service. Located inside The Exchange Hotel at 94 Beattle Street in Balmain, the restaurant is open from 5.30–10pm Tuesday–Saturday, and 12–3pm for lunch on Saturday. Head to the Tessuto and La Panineria websites for updates on the two upcoming venues.
After spending the last two years celebrating cheese in the Hunter Valley, the Kurrajong Kitchen Cheese Lovers Festival has an extra gift for Sydney dairy fiends in 2018: it's bringing the love to the city. For its third year, the fest will take over Centennial Park for a day of gooey, creamy goodness — and sharp and bitey too, if that's your preference. This cheesy, cheesy festival will showcase over 50 cheese, wine and craft beer stalls with tasting opportunities, all included in the $25 entry fee. Yes, tasting opportunities. There's an amateur 'fancy cheesecake' competition, cheesemaking classes and workshops with White Rabbit Brewery to help you pair beer and cheese like a pro. And, like last year, there will also be the opportunity to attend a special lunch with a three-course cheesy menu — with Justine Schofield doing the 2018 honours. Basically, if you can't find a reason to add it to your calendar, you're not looking hard enough. And that's just the official side of things. There'll also be a cheese sundae on offer — that is, molten knafeh cheese in a waffle basket with syrup, crushed pistachios and rose petals on top. And if you're vegan and think this isn't for you, this year the fest will host its first vegan cheese stall, so there really is something for everyone.
Film lovers in Marrickville have a new place to indulge their love of the big screen, with Addison Road Community Centre adding a community cinema to the mix. Transforming Gumbramorra Hall into an independent screening space, it'll be open to sessions for local groups and indie film festivals. The Addison Road Picture House will launch on June 24 as part of the Pachamama Festival, one of the regular events put together by the Sydney Latin American Film Festival team. Aiming to bring together Latin American and Indigenous artists and storytellers in a program of art, film, dance, talks, workshops and music, the fest's movie lineup includes Mara'akame's Dream, which will become the first flick to screen in the new cinema space. A Mexican effort exploring the role ancient tradition in modern life, it'll be followed by Aussie documentary Zach's Ceremony, as well as Bolivian feature The Land Without Evil. While it mightn't be operating as a regular picture palace, more places to see films is always a good thing. For fans of cinema history, the Addison Road Picture House is being pitched as "the spiritual successor of the Inner West's old Art Deco cinemas that closed down in the '50s & '60s," according to the Addison Road Community Centre. For more information, or to keep an eye on what's coming up in the venue, head to their website or Facebook page.
Ikea have posted an interactive app on YouTube which takes all your personal information from Facebook, should you allow it to, to create a personalised 3D mock-up of your new bedroom kitted out entirely in durable and inexpensive Swedish design. Starting off like an everyday advertisement for Ikea, the video gets taken over by the app which accesses information about your life and tailors it to the smallest details, including photos from your Facebook albums hanging in the picture frames. As a nice touch they build the walls out of your wall posts, before they paint them over in solid colour and a solemn British voice accounces that the products are the definitive ones which will help you go 'happy to bed.' The app is part of Ikea's UK campaign, but it's open to anybody with a Facebook account, and is designed specifically to reflect the person's personality, lifestyle and interests. Now, having recently invested in a new bed, bedside table and bookshelf from Ikea, I was particularly intrigued to find out whether it would all match up with the predictive magic of the internet. But, sadly no. They chucked in the bed I decided against, rather than the one I bought, a narrow desk which doesn't account for the amount of junk I frequently have lying around, and they framed pictures which are nearly all of me pulling my 'I am unhappy about being photographed face.' And they forgot a bookshelf, which comprises a full wall of my room at the moment. But my complaining aside, if you always wanted confirmation that your chest of drawers were perfectly aligned to your personality, you now have an easy way to find out. https://youtube.com/watch?v=hQYe7OMoJNA [Via PSFK]
If anything is going to lure us towards the beach in the middle of winter, it's a cracking feast of locally-sourced, sustainable seafood. That's exactly how Arthur's Oysters and Seafood will tempt punters across town when it opens its doors in Manly on Tuesday, August 1. Helmed by Scottish Rising Star Chef of the Year, Jason Wright (Kittyhawk), the Pittwater Road newbie is promising an on trend eatery, with the space pitched somewhere between a fish and chips shop and an upscale diner. The decor is a nod to the era of its namesake, Governor Arthur Phillip, who founded the British penal colony that later became Sydney. A dedicated oyster bar will be shucking molluscs to order, to sit alongside a share-friendly menu of thought-provoking, innovative dishes. The motto here is 'life's too short for sad seafood', so expect a celebration of top Aussie produce using clever techniques, like fried oyster with steak tartare and horseradish chips; macadamia prawns teamed with freeze dried lychee and artichoke puree; and an amped-up riff on PB&J for dessert. On hand to wash it down is a short-but-sweet drinks selection, including six Hunter Valley wines on rotation and an oft-changing range of small-batch beers from breweries like Tiny Rebel and Nomad. Arthur's Oysters and Seafood opens on August 1 at 46 Pittwater Rd, Manly.
In news that'll come as little surprise to any Melburnian, given Melbourne's status as Australia's coffee heartland (and the predilection for complete coffee snobbery, too) — a barista from the Victorian capital has taken out top honours at the Australian Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA) National Coffee Championships. For the second year in a row, Axil Coffee Roasters has nabbed the title of Australia's National Barista Champion for 2023. Melbourne barista Jack Simpson beat out scores of other Aussie hopefuls in the annual competition. His winning caffinated offering consisted of an espresso, a milk-based coffee and his own coffee-based signature drink — a concoction featuring fermented raspberries, cold vacuum bergamot tea and clarified milk. [caption id="attachment_888451" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Axil coffee, James Butler[/caption] "I wanted my routine to reflect the constantly evolving nature of the coffee world and the need for baristas to always be thinking creatively in order to keep up with trends in tastes and technology," Simpson says. The newly crowned coffee king will now go on to represent Australia at the World Barista Championship, held in Athens this year between June 22–24. Last year, Melbourne's Anthony Douglas of Axil Coffee Roasters did Melbourne's notoriously coffee-obsessed city proud, taking out the title of Australia's National Barista Champion for 2022 at the Australian Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA) National Coffee Championships. Douglas went on to nab first place at the World Barista Championship in 2022. [caption id="attachment_888453" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Axil, Melbourne Central[/caption] Axil has a swag of cafe locations across Melbourne — find your local by jumping onto the website.
The team behind one of Sydney's most exciting new venues, Hinchcliff House, is opening a new cafe in front of the Museum of Sydney. House Made Hospitality will be hoping to recreate the success of its all-day Circular Quay cafe Bar Mammoni with this new venture, This Way Canteen, which will be serving up coffee, snacks and drinks until 4pm throughout the week. Billed as a canteen, the new venue will feature breakfast items, sandwiches, juices, smoothies, coffee and a handful of pastries shuttled over from the nearby Mammoni. There will also be a selection of wines and beers for those looking to stop in for an afternoon beverage with colleagues or friends. Located on the corner of Bridge Street and Phillip Street, This Way Canteen will be located in the Museum of Sydney's courtyard, providing museum-goers with an easy lunch choice while maintaining a separate entrance to the museum in order to facilitate casual patrons passing through on their lunch break or morning commute. The 100-seat cafe will include outdoor tables ideal for city workers looking to catch some rays. "The menu items will be in line with what you'd expect from a New York deli without going too heavy on the American influence," House Made Hospitality Director Scott Brown said. "Just a collection of good sandwiches and salads that are worth leaving the office for, some brekky items to kick-start the day plus a handful of wines and beers." An opening date is yet to be announced, but the canteen is expected to arrive in the next two months. [caption id="attachment_848191" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bar Mammoni[/caption] This Way Canteen is set to open on the corner of Bridge and Phillip Street this winter. It will be open 7am–4pm Monday–Friday and 8am–4pm Saturday–Sunday. Top image: Joy of Museums
Life is one long list of shindigs. We pop a cork on New Year’s Eve, don a tinsel wig for Mardi Gras, throw confetti all over our houses to warm them properly; each a shining story to embellish and revel in down the track. Immortalising these chapters of celebration in the visual equivalent of being blasted in the face with a confetti cannon, Sydney designers Romance Was Born have launched their very first exhibition, Reflected Glory, teaming up with kinetic sculptor and installation artist Rebecca Baumann. Launching in time for Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week Australia, Reflected Glory sees designers Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales veer off the runway and make a temporary, kaleidoscopic home within the industrial walls of Carriageworks. Rather than staring out the window and sobbing all over the past, RWB and Baumann seize the party blowers and celebrate the milestones that make our lives that extra bit spesh. Life, Death, It’s One Big RSVP Each piece in the collection represents a unique celebration, rite of passage or circled calendar date, from Mardi Gras to white weddings to that unavoidable final soiree, the wake. A sherbet-paletted, butterfly-beaded sweet sixteenth descends Baumann’s candy-coloured staircase, a Picnic at Hanging Rock-meets-Christina Ricci in Casper wedding dress hovers in a fairy floss pink haze, while a slowly revolving, truly magnificent mirrorball of a silver jacket triggers hazy New Year’s Eve memories. There's a metaphoric reflectiveness to the garments, as well as literal. “[I] really like the idea of reflecting back on the past,” says Sales. “The way we celebrate different milestones and the memory that can bring back.” Sales likened the process to a big night out, forgotten the morning after but slowly and (for the most part) fondly pieced back together over time. Sales points to one of the most striking pieces in the collection, an ode to Mardi Gras, a reflective hootenanny of a party dress. Shingled with the same multicoloured plastic making up Baumann’s kaleidoscopic disco floor nearby, the piece is fringed by a shaggy, shiny rainbow skirt that looks suspiciously like… wigs? “Yeah, tinsel wigs,” he triumphantly confirms. “And that’s New Year’s Eve, so it’s meant to be like a mirror ball. This is a house party, with the curtains and that t-shirt I was wearing the first time I met Anna at a house party.” The pair met at said house party in 2005 while students at East Sydney Technical College. Plunkett and Sales have since gained an international reputation for their unmistakable RWB swag. The T-shirt in question sports a nautical Madonna, a sentimental relic found in the back of Sales’ wardrobe now emblazoned with the pair’s thematic, tightly packed sequins. Plunkett sees the garment as a perfect representation of the pair’s fused ideology, “We embellished the garment in clear sequins and now this piece embodies the creative spirit between the both of us,” she says. Fashion, Meet Art. Art, Fashion. Regularly blurring distinctions between fashion and art, Sales and Plunkett are no strangers to the spoils of influence and collaboration. Before paying tribute to legendary Marvel Comics artist Jack Kirby in their hugely popular Summer 2012 collection, Berserkergang, Plunkett and Sales celebrated the treasured memories of a small-town Australian childhood with Archibald Prize winner Del Kathryn Barton, employing her exclusive digital ‘eye’ and ‘magic’ prints for their Spring/Summer ‘06/07 collection Regional Australia. It was in their Summer 2014 collection, Mushroom Magic, that the pair used a print from Rebecca Baumann’s work ‘Improvised Smoke Devise’. Scales and Plunkett met up with Baumann after the show and checked out some snaps of her installation works. Carriageworks had already commissioned RWB to create a work for their 2014 artistic program, timing the launch for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia, thus the perfect opportunity to let their palettes blend. Reflected Glory is a fusion of Baumann’s celebratory installation style and RWB’s whimsical experimentation with detail. Where an RWB embellished T-shirt starts, Baumann’s signature gold tinsel ends, her 2010 work ‘Untitled Cascade’, playfully making a cameo in an epic train to the ‘House Party’ piece. Baumann’s popping candy-like projections set a prom-night stage for RWB’s sparkling moments of nostalgia, a fusion RWB embraced within their designs. “It’s very collaborative, like, super organic. Elements just kind of fell into place and we went with it,” says Plunkett. “[It’s fun] to use an artist’s influence, like, directly influencing our prints. We’ve reinterpreted her artwork too, so it’s a lot more interactive.” Every print in the exhibition comes from the Reflected Glory ready to wear collection, to be unleashed down the track. If there weren’t enough actual sequins sewed meticulously into each sleeve and bodice, the prints are magnified, saturated fields of photographic sequins. Each print was shot in direct sunlight for “maximum reflection” as Sales puts it. Leave The Models Out Of This Models have been left at the Carriageworks door for this exhibition. Working with mannequins instead of models, you’re working with a few advantages — the pieces aren’t bound by human restrictions like walking ability, plus mannequins don’t have homes to go to. In Reflected Glory viewers aren’t bound by their runwayside seats; instead, they are able to wander through the space and let the mirrorball motors unveil every last garment inch. Plunkett says working in an exhibition space as opposed to sending pieces down a runway can be a welcome change. “It’s kind of refreshing. It’s fun to be able to explore clothing but spatially, with light and through texture and kinetics.” But Sales and Plunkett insist the design process would be the same, models or not. “In the beginning I thought we wouldn’t design dresses so much — it would be more like objects with bigger shapes, more sculptural. But I feel like that’s not really who we are,” says Sales. “We’re designers not artists, we’re not trying to make sculpture.” A kinetic sculptor by trade, Baumann was a perfect partner in the duo’s quest to keep things moving. Baumann’s kaleidoscopic projections, bold geometric installations and carefully aimed lighting give each handsewn sequin, elaborate ruffled collar and tinsel-woven bodice its own glinting moment. “We didn’t just want to put mannequins in amongst some art and call that the exhibition,” says Sales, backed up by Plunkett. “We’re really interested in it not being a static thing,” she says. “The whole idea of suspending the garments with mannequins … We really wanted to be able to interact with the space, light and the eye.” Don't Design For The Industry With mirrorball outfits, oversized white sequins and embellished Madonna T-shirts supported by '80s love songs and candy store lighting, RWB definitely don’t create to please the fashion crowd. Both Sales and Plunkett see the shortcomings of an industry that can often suck the fun out of an essentially playful medium. “I guess we kind of have a bit of a sense of humour with what we do,” says Sales. “We don’t try and get too serious with fashion and I think, for me, fashion’s not about that. Fashion’s about expressing yourself and being fun and having fun with who you are and trying to communicate who you are to people.” “In a way, it feels like we’ve kind of gone back to our roots a bit more, working together, hand-sewing the garments together, draping it on the dummy and stitching it together,” he says. “It’s a bit more organic.” “I hope that people do take away that it is as uplifting as our usual runway show,” says Plunkett, pausing for a moment to consider the crowd attending. “Hopefully, but the fashion crowd can be very critical… Actually, bring it on.” Reflected Glory runs April 9 to May 11 at Carriageworks. Images by Zan Wembley and Lindsay Smith.
Dark Mofo, as the Tasmanian winter solstice festival's name might suggest, has a penchant for that which is usually relegated to the shadows. This is now more true than ever with the announcement that Ulver, one of Norway's premier black metal bands, making the crossing to indulge our dark habits come June. Kritstoffer Rygg, lead vocalist of the self proclaimed "pack of Vikings", has called their addition on the line up "a trip extraordinaire and no doubt a once in a lifetime opportunity for Ulver". They'll take the stage at the Odeon Theatre in Hobart on June 15. Ulver are known in their native Norway, and around the world, for their experimental take on an often misunderstood genre. Since their formation in 1993, the group has pushed the boundaries in their music, blending elements of electronica, industrial, and symphonic sonics to create a unique sound. Their 2016 album, ATGCLVLSSCAP, experiments with driving rhythms and binding guitar riffs echoing on the tracks, creating an album that builds a mood rather than simply telling a story. This kind of experimentation makes them the perfect fit for a festival about the darker side of things. Last year's Dark Mofo festival featured the Hymns to the Dead event, which boasted a lineup of international death and black metal bands. The event, which took place a week before the winter solstice, a day that celebrates rebirth cycles, mythologies and mysticism in many ancient cultures, and Ulver's announcement on the 2017 program looks to similarly pull the audience into a hypnotic that promotes a deeper exploration of the more sinister side of our existence. Dark Mofo, taking place between June 8 and June 21 in Hobart, is not only a celebration of art, music, and all things aesthetically pleasing. The festival explores themes of mythology and nature, darkness and light, death and renewal, and takes its audience on a trip that delves into the deeper mysteries of our world. Including Ulver on the bill adds a certain dark, ethereal element to the program. Image: Ingrid Aas.
Does the idea of living it up in a modern apartment with access to a gym, yoga studio, community herb garden and cinema sound like the wholesome life you want to live? How about a fully equipped co-working space so you no longer have to work from your kitchen table? To make sure it's exactly the living situation you imagine in your head, we've teamed up with LIV Indigo — Sydney Olympic Park's new renters only apartment block — to let you try it out for a weekend. You and a mate (or date) could be spending the night at LIV Indigo with a package that boasts all the trimmings. Kicking off with a welcome pack, your weekend will include full access to LIV's first-class services and amenities, a chef's dinner for six on the penthouse deck, a private yoga class in the LIV Indigo yoga studio and breakfast at a local café in the morning. The only tricky part will be deciding who gets to stay overnight with you. LIV Indigo is the first building of its kind in Australia providing residents with the freedom to live how they want. Pets? Painting and decorating to make it yours? Resident events? An on-site team to help you seven days a week? Yep, it's all there — and you don't have to fork out for a bond or deal with real estate agents either. Want to make it yours? Enter your details below to go in the running. [competition]818085[/competition]
Arriving in a flurry of new openings for Circular Quay, Pearl is Lotus Dining Group's most lavish venue to date — shining brightly by taking what's worked at spots like The Gardens by Lotus and turning the sense of luxury up a notch. The flashy Cantonese eatery is located in Quay Quarter Tower alongside Belles Hot Chicken's expansive eat-in-only diner, plus the expansive rooftop bar and Mediterranean-inspired restaurant Martinez. It has also been joined by a sibling venue downstairs — a Circular Quay outpost for Lotus Dumpling Bar, which offers the group's signature eats in a more casual setting. The menu, crafted by the Director of Culinary Cheung Shui Yip and Executive Chef Steve Wu, places big flavours and Cantonese favourites at the centre of the offerings, serving classic dishes created with excellent produce and attention to detail. Must-try eats include the dry-aged and twice-cooked Peking duck pancakes served with a side of crispy duck skin, wok-fried lobster in XO sauce, the Pearl prawn dumplings, and a side of the spiced and wok-fried green beans for good measure — all of which are available on the deluxe $128 per person set menu. There's also a more affordable $88 per person banquet, which still features plenty of culinary delights, including Sydney rock oysters, wok-fried beef flank, steamed coral trout, kingfish sashimi, and prawn dumplings with an egg-white cloud and flying fish roe. A la carte is, of course, an option as well, as is popping in just for a drink — with the sweeping balcony calling out for after-work catch-ups complete with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. If you've got a birthday or Christmas party on the horizon, Pearl also has you covered — there's both a semi-private and a private dining room, which you can book for an intimate experience a stone's throw from Wynyard and Martin Place.
Fans of 'hard-to-kill' indoor plants should make tracks to Marrickville's newest nursery, Plant Girl. What started out as a same-day delivery service has now expanded to open a bricks-and-mortar store along Sydenham Road — and it's offering black thumb-proof gifts in brightly coloured ceramic pots. Plant Girl is run by inner west local Felicity Keep, who wanted to add a bit of quirk to your indoor plant game. Customers can mix-and-match any combo of plant and pot, with the goal of creating a highly styled, personalised gift or cute new green baby for yourself — with predominately easy-to-keep-alive plants on offer. The shop is open Wednesday through Sunday and offers a much wider range of plants, ceramics and giftware than had previously been available online. At the moment, the plants on offer include snake plants, zanzibar gems, dragon tails and boston ferns, all of which land in the 'low maintenance' and 'hard to kill' categories. That means you don't need to worry about you or your recipient's green thumb (or lack thereof). For more experienced gardeners, the bird of paradise is also up for grabs. As far as the packaging goes, the vibrant pots range from metallic to turquoise and bright pink. You can also nab neem oil leaf shine or a bottle of indoor plant food (in store and online), both of which will help keep your new babies happy and healthy. For those still after delivery, Plant Girl continues to offer door-to-door service within a ten-kilometre radius of their Marrickville shop, which includes all of the inner west and the CBD, plus a chunk of the eastern suburbs and a bit of North Sydney and the lower north shore, too. You can check out the map over here. And, if you order before 11am, you can opt for same-day delivery Monday through Friday. But, when the weekend rolls around, the only place you'll be able to get your hands on these goods is in store.
In this fun, creative one-woman play happening as part of Sydney Fringe, the audience gets to decide what happens. You can think of Paul Gilchrist's All The Difference as the theatrical version of Choose Your Own Adventure. It's also a exploration of the contemporary problem of having way too many choices. Kathryn Schuback plays Flik, who has a story to share. It's very funny and rather sad, and its outcome is beyond her control. That's because what happens at every twist and turn is determined by your vote. You have a say in where she goes, who she loves, what she buys and how she lives. While keeping things fast-moving and entertaining, Gilchrist's script simultaneously explores profound philosophical questions concerning free choice, denial and morality. All The Difference is presented by independent theatre company subtlenuance, where the focus is on writing and producing original, creative, thought-provoking Australian plays.
First, they realised that folks liked to strut their stuff on the dance floor in their own way — free from judging eyes, glaring sources of illumination, restrictive outfits and the need to learn specific steps. It was a stroke of genius that's all there in the name, so it should come as no surprise that No Lights No Lycra have hit the jackpot with their next idea. Now, knowing that there's more to the season of roses and chocolates than the usual romantic gestures, they're throwing an anti-Valentine's Day dance party. Taking over the Paddington Uniting Church Hall from 7.30pm to 8.30pm on February 14, Feelin' Myself — The Anti V-Day Party is a space for everyone to come together and show their love through movement. Just what kind of affection you're expressing and celebrating as you listen to a mix of breakup and better-off-alone tunes, well, that's up to you. If you're attached, you can both hit the floor and avoid all of the usual Valentine's Day cliches — sure, you'll have to nab a ticket in advance, but there's no fancy outfits, worrying about a restaurant booking, trying to snag the best picnic spot or the like. If you're solo, you can groove with your gang of friends or bust a move alone, free from the usual romance overload. No Lights No Lycra's Feelin' Myself — The Anti V-Day Party takes place at the Paddington Uniting Church Hall from 7.30pm to 8.30pm on February 14. For more information, visit the event Facebook page. Tickets cost $12, and are available online now.
The dining room at Icebergs undeniably has one of the best views in Sydney. But the blissful Bondi views usually come at a pretty steep cost, considering that, for the best seats in the house, you have to fork out for a lavish feed in the two-hatted fine dining restaurant. But this summer, you can soak up that scenery without burning through too much of the budget (and with better views than at the bar) at a returning pop-up on the Icebergs Terrace. The bar — which is a collaboration with Ketel One Botanical — first took over the space last summer. Now that the season is officially upon us for another year, it's back. Once again, the Bondi venue's outdoor area has been transformed into a lush, flower-filled oasis that serves cocktails and snacks from the Icebergs bar. Like last year, the terrace is also sporting a verdant fitout designed by local landscape architects and horticulturalists Secret Gardens. They've decked out the place with stacks of native Australian flora — in case you need something to look at other than those primo views of Bondi Beach. As the name suggests, the cocktail list is based around Ketel One Botanical, a low-alcohol vodka that's been distilled with botanicals and infused with fruit essences. It's available in three flavours — grapefruit and rose, peach and orange blossom, and a crisp cucumber and mint — and is being served with Santa Vittoria soda ($14 each). Or, you can opt for a mixed vodka cocktail, including an espresso variety ($18). Otherwise, there are a few wines, a couple of beers and two ready-to-drink cocktails on the menu, too. To match the botanically-driven boozing, a selection of bites from the Icebergs menu will make their way outside. You can stay light with oysters ($6.50); opt for prosciutto, wasabi melon and cucumber ($28); or go all in with a toastie ($22) or the Icebergs burger ($22). Drinks are pouring from 12–8pm Friday–Sunday all summer. Find the Icebergs Terrace x Ketel One Botanical pop-up bar at Icebergs, 1 Notts Avenue, Bondi Beach. It's open from 12–8pm Friday–Sunday all summer.
An inclusive, LGBTQI-spirited space with three layers of flamboyant fun for all is taking over Erskineville. With a $6 million renovation after a shady past, the Imperial Hotel is back and brighter than ever. Opening its new spaces in four stages, this triple threat is offering night drag shows, a veggie-focused menu, signature cocktails in honour of iconic queens and chances to sashay the night away. If you're looking for more of the club vibe, the bottom floor of the Imperial is a space of creativity and acceptance. With DJ sets on the weekend and a bevy of colourful performances, there's never a dull moment down in the Basement. Priscilla's offers a mainly vegetarian cuisine (inclusive of vegans, gluten- and lactose-intolerant, of course) with a lively atmosphere. Superstars from the menu include the coconut ceviche, crab less jackfruit fritters and a trio of paellas that will also satisfy meat lovers. With drag shows on offer nightly and the Espresso Martini Club open from 10pm, Priscilla's will be your new place for dinner and disco. After closing for nearly three decades, the Imperial's rooftop bar is back with a plethora of art pop deco and a variety of spaces fit for any occasion. Imperial UP functions as an Italian restaurant with Andy Warhol-esque charm to match. Sample one of their pizzas with slow-cooked sauce and gluten/meat-free options on offer or indulge in porcini risotto. At UP and Priscilla's, a drag queen-inspired menu awaits you with cocktails as fun and freaky as Barbra Bubble: Aperol, creme de peche, lemon juice and Prosecco top. You can also tantalize your palate with a global list of wines and spirits with plenty of regional options. Keep your eye out for the addition of a same-sex wedding chapel sometime in 2019.
If you're looking for a way to cheer up your working week in the CBD, pop into June's Shoppe. The newest addition to Applejack Hospitality's portfolio, this bright yellow cafe is all about putting a little sunshine into your day — and it's located in the same Carrington Street precinct as the company's other recent newcomer, Bopp and Tone. Where so many of Sydney's cafes take themselves pretty seriously, June's Shoppe is focused on fun. You can count on friendly staff and a simple yet tasty menu. Think pastries, toast and toppers, aka open sandwiches with all kinds of toppings. These take inspiration from the cafe's namesake, June Adams — the late wife of Anthony 'Tone' Adams, the grandfather of an Applejack co-founder. At brekkie, fuel up with the Top of the B&E — a mountain of fried egg, maple bacon, barbecue sauce and red Leicester cheese. Then, come lunch, tuck into a feast of wagyu bresaola, Branston pickle, rocket, hot mustard sour cream and ricotta salata. If you're looking for a sugar hit, there's the Nutella banana bread, loaded with the obvious spread, plus banana, spiced strawberry sauce and caramel popcorn. As for the coffee, it's a quality blend from Gabriel Roasters. Tea, chai, kombucha, cold-pressed juices and coconut waters are also on the menu.
In 2009 Warwick Thornton won the Camera D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival with his film Samson & Delilah. In 2010 he was the subject of Craig Ruddy's People's Choice Award-winning entry into the Archibald Prize, the fascinatingly backlit The Prince of Darkness - Warwick Thornton. With all these successes, all the gold and the irradiation, he is getting a certain glow. So how does he step up for 2011? Thornton's six-year-old self has the answer. "When I grow up I want to be just like Jesus," young Warwick is recalled by his older self to have said, and Stranded is the grown up take on that. His first venture at creating art for a gallery space, it sees the artist cast as a Christ figure affixed to a glowing lightbox cross. A Kaytej man whose lands lie to the north of Alice Springs, the Australian desert has a strong presence in Thornton's work and it is here that he situates this version of Golgotha. Crucifixes with skulls and bones near a watering hole, Stranded shows images of the figure from different angles and at different times of day. There are still-prints and a 3D film that adds sound and depth to the immensity of the plight depicted and the space in which it takes place. It's heavy symbolism, sure, but it manages to be ambiguous and troubling and beautiful.
A dystopian favourite reaching its end, one of the best TV shows of the past few years, the greatest small-screen effort in this very galaxy, more chestbursting horror, Glen Powell: they're all coming to your streaming queue in 2025. As the new year approaches, the networks and platforms responsible for your television viewing are dropping sneak peeks at what's in store. Following HBO's teaser trailer, now arrives Disney+'s version. Add season six of The Handmaid's Tale, season four of The Bear, season two of Andor, new Alien TV series Alien: Earth and the Powell-starring Chad Powers to your must-see list, as they're all on the way. So are Daredevil: Born Again and Ironheart, both from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Andor isn't the only Star Wars series highlighted, thanks to the Jude Law (Peter Pan & Wendy)-led Skeleton Crew. Elsewhere, season two of Percy Jackson and the Olympians gets a look in as well — and there's more where it and all of the above shows came from. As is always the case with trailers that are about a channel or streaming service's entire upcoming slate rather than one specific show, nothing receives the indepth treatment in the just-dropped trailer — but The Handmaid's Tale still gets plenty of attention. Season six is the last season of the Elisabeth Moss (The Veil)-led series based on Margaret Atwood's book, but the author's The Testaments is next set to make the leap from the page to the screen. The Bear also features prominently. Disney+ and Hulu said "yes chef!" to the fourth season before season three even aired, and gives Jamie Lee Curtis (Borderlands) one of the key lines of the clip: "sometimes your work family is closer to you than your family family," she tells Ayo Edebiri's (Inside Out 2) Sydney. With Chad Powers, audiences get a glimpse at a series that enlists Powell as a quarterback who takes on a new persona — the titular character — to play for a struggling team. And in Alien: Earth, the sci-fi/horror saga started in 1979 by Ridley Scott's (Gladiator II) iconic film heads to our own pale blue dot, with Noah Hawley leading the charge behind the scenes after also doing the same on the Fargo TV series. Andor has debut new footage ahead of its return in April 2025, while release dates for everything else — release windows, even — are yet to be revealed. Also featured in the trailer: clips from season two of Goosebumps: The Vanishing, as well as the new Paradise and Good American Family. The first stars Sterling K Brown (American Fiction) and James Marsden (Unfrosted), while the second is led by Ellen Pompeo (Grey's Anatomy). Check out Disney+'s 2025 trailer below: The shows highlighted in Disney+ and Hulu's new trailer will arrive in 2025. We'll update you with more details when they're announced.
Build it and they will come. With apologies to Kevin Costner, it seems that this mentality doesn't just apply to baseball fields in rural USA — it could just as easily apply closer to home. And perhaps there is no more prominent example in Sydney than the slow, steady and dramatic transformation of Barangaroo. Just two decades ago, the northwestern corner of the Sydney CBD was used mainly for shipping and stevedoring — now, it's home to commercial and residential spaces, bustling restaurants and bars, a public swimming hole and a truly world-class metro station. And from Thursday, May 1, one more piece of the proverbial Barangaroo puzzle will be unveiled in the form of Pier Pavilion. Designed by Besley & Spresser (the Surry Hills-based studio won a national competition for Pier Pavilion in 2020), the striking new space has been envisioned a permanent public events and leisure space perched right on Sydney Harbour. It's set to be a prime location for special events, as well as a spot to soak up uninterrupted harbour views. The pavilion's design draws from its surrounding landscape, with land, sea and sky all referenced in its form and materials. Its standout feature is one that's probably best appreciated from up close — the structure's envelope is made of a bespoke oyster terrazzo, made by mixing whole Sydney Rock Oyster shells with recycled aggregates. After over a year of experimentation, more than half a million oyster shells once destined for landfill now shimmer across the pavilion's walls, columns and ceilings. Inside, the structure is just as thoughtful. A landscaped roof planted with endemic species attracts birds and insects, while a circular, seven-metre-wide oculus overhead lets daylight spread across the pavilion floor. Supporting the free span roof are 85 slender columns, which double as conduits for services like drainage and power, keeping things aesthetically streamlined. "We gave the pavilion a distinctly civic feel — all are welcome here," says architect Peter Besley. "The Pavilion is intended to remain for a long time, and to figure in people's memories of Sydney." Adds Jessica Spresser: "We wanted to pay respect to the long history of oyster feasting in the area, and to celebrate the use of a recycled material in the public realm." With its striking form, sweeping sight lines and thoughtful environmental touches, Pier Pavilion has added a crucial open public space to the northwest corner of the Sydney CBD, giving Sydneysiders and visitors alike a new way to engage with the world's largest natural harbour. For more information on Pier Pavilion, head to the Barangaroo website. Images: Maxime Delvaux.
If umami is the fifth taste, smoke should be the sixth. And Ardbeg, being one of the smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts, is a peat lover's dream. Not only does it deliver palate-smacking smoky goodness but also sumptuous sweet notes — a winning combination which fans describe as 'the peaty paradox'. Well, peaty pals, listen up. In honour of this top spirit, Ardbeg is holding a special event and Argentinian grill masters Porteño are along for the smoke-filled ride. On Friday, November 23, Porteño will host a three-course culinary journey through the different stages of fire — smoke for starters, fire for main and coal for dessert — all accompanied by whisky drinks. The dinner will be held at Porteño Events, its former restaurant space on Cleveland Street. It is the last event in The Ardbeg Smokehouse, a series of venue takeovers featuring tastings, cocktails, smoke-infused eats and live entertainment which will test your capacity to handle this complex flavour. If you've been to Porteño before, you'll be familiar with the intoxicating meaty aromas that waft from the open grill. This South American-style grill delivers succulent charcoal-roasted meats, while a custom-built, woodfire oven roasts veggies to perfection. This dinner and its accompanying tipples are not about flavour restraint. In term's of cocktails, you'll start off strong with an Ardbeg served neat alongside your first course, followed by two custom cocktails to match your main and dessert. With a delicious smokiness running through each course, we can't imagine a more fitting venue to deliver this tribute to fire and smoke. The Ardbeg Smokehouse Porteño takeover will take place on Friday, November 23 from 7pm. Tickets cost $120 per person and can be purchased here.
