It's always the way that on the one day you've got one bar of battery left, you forget your phone charger. A Universal Phone Charger is a clunky solution to such a problem, but here's something more elegant: a mobile which can recharge from ambient heat, even when it's sitting in your pocket! It's a clever concept from London-based designer Patrick Hyland. The Nokia E-Cu (E for environment, Cu for copper) creates a current from the smallest of energy sources like the heat from your pocket. The outer copper casing receives thermal energy and transforms it into battery power. It's still in concept-stage, with no plans from Nokia to develop it yet, but Hyland is keen to collaborate with anybody to get it off the ground. Hyland aims to create a charger-free cell phone future, noting that "annually, unwanted phone chargers produce 51,000 tons of waste in addition to the greenhouse gases created by the production of the electricity needed to charge them." [Via Good]
Circular Quay is changing rapidly as more and more new restaurants flock to Sydney CBD's waterfront area. Since the end of lockdowns, the Harbour City has seen the expansive Hinchcliff House kick off the slew of new openings in Quay Quarter Lanes, a heap of cheerful hole-in-the-wall restaurants arrive at Sydney Place and the revival of Jacksons on George as a huge multi-concept venue. All of that is just the tip of the iceberg — and Lotus Dining Group has now gotten in on the action with the arrival of Pearl. Pearl is a flashy new Cantonese eatery that has opened in Quay Quarter Tower alongside other new rivals like Belles Hot Chicken's expansive eat-in-only diner and the recently unveiled 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. Pearl shines by taking what's worked at spots like The Gardens by Lotus and turning the sense of luxury up a notch. The menu from Director of Culinary Cheung Shui Yip and Executive Chef Steve Wu lets big flavours and Cantonese favourites shine. "Cheung and I are excited to launch the Pearl menu, made up of three main elements: dim sum, barbecue and seafood. We want to showcase high-end Cantonese dishes with great Australian produce," says Wu. Must-try dishes 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. "Making dumplings is a labour of love for the whole team," continues Wu. "I hope guests enjoy the steamed mud crab xiao long bao. We peel it all by hand and mix it with house-made pork skin jelly before rolling them into perfect parcels." "We treat our produce with care and respect. The pork goes through ten different cooking steps, and our Peking duck takes three days to prepare and cook to ensure a perfectly crackling skin." 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. Pearl is now open at 50 Bridge Street, Quay Quarter Building, Sydney — access is via Young Street. It's open for lunch from 12–2.30pm Tuesday–Friday and dinner Tuesday–Saturday from 5.30pm.
Infamous Sydney burger chain Down N' Out is no more. What started out as an In-N-Out-inspired pop-up back in 2016 eventually grew to five permanent locations across Sydney. But, following an ongoing lawsuit with the Californian original and a Federal Court ruling, the chain has been forced to change its name. Now, only the CBD flagship location remains, and it rebranded to Nameless Bar last week. But the brand's parent company Hashtag Burger isn't giving up on its Sydney empire. After launching a short-term food truck in Marrickville from May through July, Owner Ben Kagan is now moving on to his next project: High N' Dry. A collaboration with Canvas Events, the new joint will take over a defunct Italian restaurant in Leichhardt and boasts nostalgic dive bar vibes, swinging open its doors this Thursday, August 13. While the menu specifics haven't been released yet, you can expect to find an extended version of Hashtag Burger's usual suspects — like double wagyu cheeseburgers, southern-fried chicken burgs and a panko-crumbed mushroom variety. Its signature tiger fries (topped with caramelised onions, secret sauce and cheese sauce) and overloaded weekly specials will also make the cut. Brand new menu items will include wagyu cheeseburger spring rolls, a Portuguese chicken burger and Nashville-style hot chicken tenders. The team spent months developing this last recipe and claims it'll be the best Nashville hot chicken in all of Australia — a weighty boast, considering the popularity of the Belles Hot Chicken chain. Along with those over-the-top American-style burgers, the Leichhardt outpost will offer more than 30 craft beers, plus wine, spirits and shooters like picklebacks and Snickers shots. The pop-up will remain open for six-months only, so we suggest you swing by while you can. Find High N' Dry at 71 Renwick Street, Leichhardt from 5–9pm Tuesday; 11am–3pm and 5–9pm Wednesday–Thursday and Sunday; and 12–10pm Friday–Saturday.
UPDATE: JULY 18, 2019 — Summer may be over, but that doesn't mean spritz season is, too. And to prove it, Fratelli Fresh is serving up limited-edition super-sized Aperol spritzes. Available at all seven NSW outposts — Alexandria, Bridge Street, Crows Nest, Darling Harbour, the Entertainment Quarter, Walsh Bay and Westfield Sydney — the 1.5-litre Super Spritz will set you back $39. Head in on Wednesdays and it's a very affordable $20. You can share it (or not), but you'll need to get in quick to try it — it's only available for a limited time. Fratelli Fresh has launched its emporium at Darling Harbour. The epic space offers, well, everything — from Mecca coffee and Sonoma baked treats, to Neapolitan pizza and tiramisu, to masterclasses and $2.50 gelato happy hours. If you've time to hang around, claim a table in the waterfront beer garden that's dotted with citrus and olive trees. If not, grab some pasta and run. There's room for more than 550 diners and drinkers in the light-filled 1100-square-metre venue, which you'll find opposite the Chinese Gardens. It's split into a bunch of spaces, each of which is dedicated to various dining styles, cooking stations and bars. There's also an adult-friendly games corner, where you can play ping pong, jenga, shuffleboard and foosball. As usual, Fratelli's classic red and white Italian aesthetics apply. The menu features both Aussie producers, including Vannella Cheese and Salumi Australia, and world-famous Italian brands, like Baci chocolate and Campari. Feast your way through pizzas, pastas, salads and rotisserie meats before hitting the dessert bar, loaded with tiramisu, tortas, panna cotta, biscotti, sfogliatella (a filled pastry from Campania), hand-made truffles, chocolate bars, cannoli and gelato. On Wednesdays, it's time for all-you-can-eat pasta and, on Thursdays, for $20 endless antipasti boards. In the on-site vinoteca there's more than 80 Australian and Italian drops. Otherwise, choose from the by-the-glass wine list or from a bunch of Goose Island (US) craft beers. There's also an entire bar devoted to Campari, which will offer a whopping seven spritzes and six negronis on-tap.
It's official: the warm weather has finally returned to Sydney shores. And when you're not lounging on the beach, you should be hitting up our city's best outdoor venues — both old favourites and new additions. Luckily, the Museum of Contemporary Art knows there's nothing better than sitting in the sun and sipping cocktails by the water. So, the museum has teamed up with top-notch tequila brand Patrón to launch a summer pop-up bar. The bar opened on Thursday, October 31 and is running from 4–10pm every Wednesday through Sunday until February 16. It'll be running alongside the gallery's retrospective exhibition of British artist Cornelia Parker, also sponsored by Patrón, as part of the MCA's 2019/2020 Sydney International Art Series. It's an all-out celebration of art, culture and fine tequila — and everyone is invited. The ground floor terrace has been transformed into an airy, hacienda-inspired bar that looks straight out over the harbour. Expect an openair space with a polished concrete bar, colourful wall murals and heaps of leafy plants. The bar opens out onto a 'lawn' with wicker sling-back chairs surrounding tequila barrel tables. The space offers unrestricted views across to the Sydney Opera House and will surely give a few other harbourside bars a run for their money this season. Instead of using your usual gin or whisky cocktails, the bartenders will, of course, be shaking and stirring drinks with Patrón — namely Silver, Reposado and Añejo. The 100-percent agave tequila is hand-harvested and produced in small batches in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, which gives it its premium edge, so expect after-work drinks to get a lot fancier. You (and your mates) will be able to spend a balmy evening sipping negronis, highballs and old-fashioneds, all with a seasonal tequila twist. You can also opt for a Patrón, lime and soda, or the signature cocktail inspired by British artist Cornelia Parker — the Cold Dark Matter, made with Patrón Reposado, blackberry liqueur, lime and ginger ale. For the purists, there are classic margaritas and palomas on the docket, too. Apart from the cocktails, there are plenty of Mexican eats from Simon Fox (Graze Restaurant) to keep you going. Think bar snacks like margarita-spiced popcorn ($5) and chilli lime peanuts ($5), or, the star of the show, the Nixtamal tortilla tostadas. These tortillas have been made using a special ancient Aztec method of cooking and grinding corn, and you can nab three for $20. Varieties include slow-cooked pulled pork with pickled cabbage, salt and fennel crusted salmon with sesame yoghurt and an Asian-inspired version with crispy pulled duck, shallots and crushed peanuts. Two vegetarian options are also up for grabs — the mole verde with pickled cactus and chipotle aioli and the pickled eggplant with avocado, marinated olives and feta. And, since its the MCA, you can expect plenty of art, culture and entertainment happenings, too. There'll be interactive performances, DJ sets, art installations and VR experiences to check out throughout the pop-up. Plus, every Sunday, you can try out your own artistic hand — by painting and decorating a 200ml bottle of Patron, that is. If all that isn't enough, you can turn your visit here into the start of a very festive bar crawl around Sydney Harbour. In addition to the MCA pop-up bar, Patrón has also teamed up with a number of other bars around Circular Quay — Bar Patrón, Quay Bar and The Argyle — to create The Art of Patrón precinct. Just keep your Patrón cocktail coaster and scan it at each venue (all in one night or across the entire summer period) to score a complimentary ceramic mug. The Patrón Pop-up will run from Thursday, October 31 through February 16 (excluding public holidays and New Year's Eve). It is open every Wednesday through Sunday from 4–10pm. Visit Patron's website for more details.
It may be famous for its snappy inhabitants, but there's more to do in Darwin than simply spot crocs. This warm tropical city is home to a swag of attractions, from its striking sunsets to its authentic Asian eats and relaxed beachside bars. And for those who love the great outdoors, well, there's more nature here than you can poke a stick at. What's more, when exploring a tropical destination like Darwin, it's important to lock down some comfortable accommodation, a place where you can wash off the red dirt and escape the heat and mozzies for a night of solid sleep — and a place that'll give you a nice, warm 'welcome cookie' to make you feel at home. That's why we teamed up with DoubleTree by Hilton to curate this guide. Book a room to set up a home base — with harbour views and an outdoor pool set in lush tropical gardens to boot — then get exploring. Need some recommendations on where to start? Here's our list of the top ten things to do in Australia's Top End. GO SWIMMING AT BERRY SPRINGS If Kakadu or Litchfield are too much of a mission, try Berry Springs for a pocket of wilderness just 40 minutes from the city. This lush nature reserve is home to clear swimming holes, mini waterfalls and dense jungle greenery, set to the soundtrack of native bird calls. After a dip in the water, take the looped walking track which will lead you through woodlands and a monsoon forest. You can either bring a picnic with you or try a homemade mango ice cream from the Crazy Acres Kiosk. Come during March and April to enjoy the wildflowers. TRY THE BARRA AT THE DARWIN SKI CLUB While technically a watersports clubhouse, this waterside spot attracts the locals for beer drinking and sunset watching more so than the jetski hire. Sure, the furniture is of the plastic garden variety and the bistro looks a bit like a shed, but the views of Darwin harbour are worth a million bucks — and to be able to enjoy it in thongs, well that's priceless. What's more, the food is great too, with plenty of freshly caught options, including the juicy Arafura prawns, beer-battered Threadfin salmon and, of course, the grilled local barra. Come on the right night and you may even be treated to some local live music. CUDDLE A CROC AT CROCOSAURUS COVE This popular Darwin attraction is choccas with croccas, and trust us, this is as close as you're going to want to get. Inside, you'll find plenty of impressive specimens, including the perpetually bad-tempered Dirty Harry, the battle-scarred Chopper and confirmed bachelor Burt — who ate his last three girlfriends. But they're not all frightening. Head to the World of Crocs exhibit where you can hold a baby saltie, we promise those big unblinking eyes will steal your heart forever. Or for something a bit more exhilarating, why not give the Cage of Death a go. It makes for a great experience (if you live to tell the tale). EAT DOUGHNUTS AT RUBY G'S CANTEEN AND BAKERY Every town has a great bakery and in Darwin this is it. Ruby G's selection includes flaky pastries, such as cherry danishes and lemon meringue cruffins, as well as homemade organic breads. Their specialty is doughnuts, with mouthwatering options such as the pomegranate and rose petal ring and the vanilla glazed doughie with volcanic black salt flakes. And if you don't like wastage, well you better get a container of doughnut holes slathered in dark chocolate, too. Ruby G's is hard to miss, with a bakery in Coconut Grove as well as canteens at the Mindil and Parap markets. SEE THE SUNSET AT THE MINDIL BEACH SUNSET MARKETS Darwin is famous for their electric sunsets and the best place to drink them in is at the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets, a palm-tree lined strip just two kilometres from town centre. Held during 'the dry', the Mindil Markets showcase the best of local arts and crafts, including indigenous artworks and didgeridoos, fashion, jewellery and handwoven rugs. Want a model plane made out of a Jim Beam can? Well, you can find those here, too. There's also plenty of delicious street eats, from Indonesian satays to Greek souvlaki — and croc burgers for the curious (may as well get in first). Once you've made your selection, take your parcel of food to the sand for a relaxed evening spent sky-gazing. FEAST AT LOCAL FAVOURITE HANUMAN Ask any Territorian for a restaurant recommendation, and they'll be sure to tell you Hanuman. Named after the Hindu monkey god, Hanuman is a shrine to Indian, Thai and Nonya cuisines. The bright, tropical curries are their specialty with options such as the Mean Moolie made from freshly caught barra simmered with coconut milk, curry leaf and turmeric and their red duck curry with sweet local pineapple. If you can, nab a table on the front deck, which is kept pleasantly cool by an army of fans. CATCH A FILM AT THE DECKCHAIR CINEMA Darwin's balmy evenings are perfect for an outdoor movie, especially one with cosy deckchairs. Organised by the Darwin Film Society, the Deckchair Cinema screens a diverse program of films, with a number of local, indie and foreign options not usually shown elsewhere. Come early, not just to save a seat, but also for dinner — local restaurants (including Hanuman) cater from 6pm, before the film starts at 7.30pm. Plus, it's fully licensed with beers and wines available from the kiosk. EXPLORE THE GEORGE BROWN BOTANIC GARDENS You don't have to wade into croc-infested waters to take in the unique flora and fauna of the region. Hop on a bike and make the short cycle to the stunning George Brown Botanic Gardens, just two kilometres from the city centre. Located on an impressive 42-hectare site, the 130-year-old gardens feature various ecosystems, including mangroves, woodlands and a monsoon forest. Keep your eyes peeled for the resident rufous owls. BRUSH UP ON HISTORY AT THE DARWIN MILITARY MUSEUM You may not be a guns and tanks-type person, but history buffs will be fascinated by this comprehensive military museum documenting Darwin's involvement in WWII. Built around original concrete bunkers and an intelligence command centre, the museum contains wartime artefacts, military vehicles and artillery, as well as firsthand accounts and original footage of the infamous Darwin bombings. Don't miss their permanent exhibition, the Defence of Darwin, that uses state-of-the-art immersive displays to recreate that fateful day. ADMIRE INDIGENOUS ART AT THE MAGNT The Top End is responsible for some amazing indigenous artworks, many of which can be admired at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT). Both contemporary and traditional indigenous artists are represented in this ever-changing gallery, with celebrated works by Jukuja Dolly Snell and Emily Kame Kngwarreye often making an appearance. Other permanent collections include the Cyclone Tracey exhibit, which lets you listen to the screeching winds in a sound booth, plus there's a stuffed five-metre croc called Sweetheart who was the local troublemaker in the 70s. Explore some of the very best things around Darwin, and when you need a place to refresh, find your home away from home at DoubleTree by Hilton.
There's nothing quite like a 15,000-foot freefall to get your blood pumping. The first 60 seconds of this skydive experience is the cheek-flapping, terrifying fun you'd expect after being tossed from a perfectly functioning aircraft. The following six-or-so minutes of parachute gliding lets your mind return to your physical form while you gaze at the curve of the earth, spying south coast sites like the Nan Tien temple before landing at Wollongong's North Beach. Unless you're a seasoned (and accredited) skydiver, you'll be gearing up and riding tandem with a pro who can also film and take photos of the entire experience. Media packages start at $129 on top of the $389 standard jump price. Top image: Destination NSW
When it opened in 2012, Marrickville's Cornersmith cafe was game changing. Its commitment to ethical and sustainable food production, community engagement and food waste — as well as great-tasting brunch fare — was an instant hit with Sydneysiders, inspiring the launch of a picklery and workshop space up the road, a second cafe in Annandale and two cookbooks. Early last year, the Marrickville cafe underwent a quick renovation, reopening with a liquor licence and dinner service. But, now, it's shutting up shop for good. Owners of the family-run cafe Alex Elliott-Howery and James Grant made the announcement on Instagram this morning, saying "we packed up our pickles and moved out of our Marrickville cafe". In the post, the duo reflects on how the Cornersmith brand has grown since the launch of the inner west corner store eight years ago, saying "we had no idea Cornersmith would grow into the beautiful beast it has become and we are especially proud that it all started in a tiny corner shop in the middle of Marrickville". https://www.instagram.com/p/B4aqhQ_nzg-/ While Elliott-Howery and Grant have said they're looking forward to a "little less stress next year" with one less cafe, they've also revealed that they're "plotting and planning quietly at home and are looking forward to sharing our next plans for Cornersmith with you". And, they've hinted to opening another cafe sometime in the near future, saying they're keeping their "eyes peeled" for a "perfect empty corner shop". In the meantime, you can still visit the Annandale cafe, pick up a jar of pickles from the Picklery or book into one of Cornersmith's popular workshops, which include cheese making, bread baking and learning to ferment your own kombucha. Or, you can pick up one of the Cornersmith cookbooks — they make great Christmas presents. Cornersmith's Marrickville cafe is now closed. You can visit the Annandale cafe at 88 View Street, Annandale and the Picklery at 441 Illawarra Road, Marrickville.
This year, Moonlight Cinema isn't just returning to Centennial Park. The always-popular outdoor cinema is also heading to western Sydney for the first time. Taking over the Lizard Log Amphitheatre from January 1–February 2, it'll be screening new flicks, retro favourites and some of the best films from 2019. So, roll out your picnic blanket, sit under the stars and stare up at the big screen to watch newly released movies like Rocketman, Hustlers, Joker, Ford v Ferrari, Knives Out, Cats, Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker and Charlie's Angels. Going retro, the outdoor cinema will revisit last year's A Star Is Born and 90s perennial favourite 10 Things I Hate About You. Dirty Dancing is also on the bill, like it is at all its pop-ups every year — it wouldn't be a Moonlight without it. [caption id="attachment_697750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moonlight Cinema Sydney[/caption] You can bring your pooch to the openair cinema (but they need to remain on a leash at all times) and BYO food and drink (yes, including booze) is OK, too. If you forget, there's also a licenced bar and candy shop on site stocked with all the classic cinema treats. Gates open at 7pm with movies starting at sundown (around 8.30pm).
For the past decade, spy films have been Matthew Vaughn's caper, thanks to Kingsman: The Secret Service, Kingsman: The Golden Circle and The King's Man until now. With Argylle, he's still being playful with a genre that he clearly loves but isn't precious about, and he's also approaching espionage antics from another angle. 80s action-adventure comedy Romancing the Stone, which isn't about secret intelligence operatives, is one of this page-to-screen effort's blatant inspirations. Something that both do have at their centres: writers caught up in scenarios that would usually only happen on paper. 2022's The Lost City took the same route — but Argylle throws in a touch of North by Northwest, and also gets meta about its own origins. And no, Taylor Swift didn't write the source material. For his eighth feature, which hits 20 years after he made his directorial debut with the Daniel Craig (Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery)-starring Layer Cake, Vaughn adapts the novel that gives Argylle its name; however, the specifics aren't quite that simple. The IRL title is only being published as the flick hits cinemas, starting a franchise on the shelf. That said, the film — which is similarly aiming to begin a series — jumps to a later as-yet-unreleased book. Those tomes are credited to Elly Conway, which is the name of the movie version of Argylle's protagonist. In the feature, Elly is also an author who has written a saga about spies. Back in reality, who she really is has sparked a frenzy, hence the theories that she could be one of the world's biggest pop stars amid a massive world tour and a huge concert film. Again, despite Swifties' dreams, that speculation needs to be shaken off. To recap, this is the spiel: Vaughn directs a picture from a book saga that's just reaching shelves, doesn't kick off with the initial tome and works in an iteration of its mystery author. Within the movie, Elly (Bryce Dallas Howard, Jurassic World Dominion) isn't an unknown but she is happiest out of the limelight, as turning down a date for an evening at home writing with her Scottish Fold cat Alfie illustrates early. Her in-film novels are already smashes, with just one problem. As she discovers after penning the draft of her fifth book just after readers get their hands on the fourth, and much to her surprise, her plots bear more than a little resemblance to reality. So informs actual agent Aidan Wilde (Sam Rockwell, See How They Run), who also advises that a villainous espionage outfit called The Division is after her because her texts are so prophetic. To add another layer to the Argylle trifle, Elly sees her fictional agent — the eponymous Argylle (Henry Cavill, The Witcher) — beyond her imagination. He's a Bond-type right down to the bar altercation with a femme fatale (Dua Lipa, Barbie). He's also a Mission: Impossible-style sort thanks to the team around him, including a trusty offsider (John Cena, Freelance) and tech guru (Ariana DeBose, Wish). With towering flat-topped hair, Argylle is a knowing spoof in a self-aware comedy, too. He's the stereotypical dashing vision of the undercover world, as juxtaposed with Aidan, who is introduced all scruffy and beardy on a train, blending in and earning Elly's incredulity when he says that spying is his gambit. The more that she gets pulled into the covert world, Argylle is also a blatant contrast to the writer herself; that there's more than one type of hero thrums within screenwriter Jason Fuchs' (Wonder Woman) script. More twists, more reveals, more zigzagging here and there (and, of course, everywhere) slip into a narrative that's unique in a way that's rare of late, especially when it comes to spies, action and big-budget big-screen fare. Argylle might be reaching screens with that did-Swift sheen and seemingly everyone that Vaughn knows in the cast — Cavill was in Stardust, Howard in the Vaughn-produced Rocketman, and Sofia Boutella (Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire) and Samuel L Jackson (The Marvels) both have a place in the Kingsman realm — but it isn't an already-known property. That said, there's a game of connect the dots at work for anyone who has seen any action flicks this century, spotting familiar parts. Still, with the visual flair that he's been known for since making the switch from solely producing (including Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch), Vaughn leans into the fun and spectacle of it all. This strives to be a just-go-with-it affair, putting its audience in the same situation as Elly as she tries to stay alive, outwit The Division, and work out what's going on and why. Howard, Rockwell, Catherine O'Hara (Pain Hustlers) as Elly's mother and Bryan Cranston (Asteroid City) as the head honcho overseeing the quest to capture the author: they all help make Argylle easy to spend time with. Rockwell, though, is the feature's mood ring. He's having a ball with the looseness that made him such a captivating performer long before he had a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and he nails Argylle's aimed-for vibe. His Confessions of a Dangerous Mind casting two decades back also comes to mind. Yes, he dances as he adores to, multiple times. He's always giddily entertaining. That Argylle doesn't earn the same label consistently is partly down to its running time: it might've more often if there wasn't 139 minutes of it. If the whole film all seems gleefully OTT, with its winks, nods, parodies, nesting-doll setup, more-is-more embrace of extravagant fights and frays — and kinetic chases and confrontations as well — and unconvincing CGI around the cat, Vaughn and his wife Claudia Schiffer's own, that's also been Vaughn's caper for even longer than he's been playing with spooks. In bringing Kick-Ass to the screen from Mark Millar's comic, then the latter's Kingsman afterwards, plus helming X-Men: First Class in the middle, the filmmaker hasn't been one for the grounded approach. It doesn't always pay off for him. The first Kingsman was undone by its ending, the second a subpar carbon copy and the two pictures' prequel thoroughly superfluous. But the energy of the cast, the Romancing the Stone throwback, plus standout setpieces involving skating through oil on knives and pirouetting through a gunfight amid rainbow-hued smoke grenades, prove both a lot and mostly enough to start off Vaughn's latest espionage franchise.
[nggallery id=260] Marlowe's Way is a little foodie haven tucked away from the dreary, 7-Eleven-dominated CBD precinct between George Street and Pitt Street. Nestled into the side of a wall on Tank Stream Way, it's a place you're unlikely to find unless someone's recommended it to you, which is what I'm doing right now. It's a small joint, inviting and warm, with a hand-painted mural along one wall and a rotation of local artworks hanging opposite. A chilled selection of cafe soul music crackles from a vinyl player and the terracotta-tiled bar and glass display cabinet plays host to a selection of gourmet sandwiches, salads, and tasty treats (including fresh stuffed doughnuts, cookies, and croissants) from William Leonard in Paddington. The owners take their coffee seriously here and have developed a signature blend, roasted by Little Marionette, cheekily dubbed Bankistan in reference to the number of banks surrounding the cafe. They also serve up a rotating single origin, and today's is from Sidamo in Ethiopia, known for its deep chocolaty aroma and spicy flavour. A hand-scrawled menu, which also changes daily, features a considered selection of home-style Italian fare. Today it's Rigatoni con Tonno with tuna, basil, and sugo ($12) or Beef Fillet Pot Roasted in Herbs and Red Wine with mayo, provolone, rocket, and tomato ($12.50). They also do soups and salads ($10-12.50). The Roast Veggie Salad with baby beets, heirloom carrots, parsnips, mini zucchini, rocket, fetta, and roasted almonds is heartwarming: smoldering and crunchy in all the right places. Paninis start at $6.50, and whether it's the Smoked Chicken and Italian Chilli Jam with Mozzarella and English Spinach, the Double Smoked Ham with Artichoke Pate or the Pork and Fennel Sausage Panini with Oregano, Cabbage and Tomato Relish, the ingredients are fresh and carefully prepared, so it's hard to put a foot (or mouthful) wrong. This is the perfect place for a solo lunch expedition or a midweek morning coffee date. The staff are super-friendly, keen to learn your name and explain their menu, which makes for a winning combination of classic cuisine with a community vibe and contemporary culinary craftsmanship on constant rotation to keep you coming back. Images by Lindsay Smith.
Buy the iPhone/iPad edition here for $5.40, or buy the softcover edition here for $14.95. Well folks, it’s that time of year again, when the rising mercury sends us outdoors en masse, pumping our concrete playground with an energy of revelry and renewal. The spirit of summer is a celebration of what it means to be alive. We rediscover our joie de vivre with sandy toes, burnished skin, BBQs by the beach, and one too many margaritas. But with so much going on at this time of year it’s hard to know where to begin, and what is supposed to be some well-deserved chill time can become a full-blown panic attack. So, what do you do when overwhelmed with options? Welcome to the inaugural Concrete Playground Summer Guide, a comprehensive shortlist of the best this city has to offer over the next three months, from rooftop bars to beaches to picnic spots to outdoor dining and much more. With two different formats — iPad/iPhone and softcover book — of the Summer Guide on offer, you’ll never be without access to the best of everything, because the year’s too long and summer’s too short to waste time on the mediocre. Now slap on your invisible zinc and get out there, blue skies wait for no one (and don’t we know it). Summer, we salute you. Preview The Summer Guide
Watching Bangarra Dance Theatre light up the stage isn't something that's easily forgotten. Seeing David Gulpilil grace the silver screen falls into that category, too. Australia's pioneering Indigenous dance company and the country's biggest acting legend have something else in common as well: they've both been the subject of excellent documentaries that've hit cinemas in 2021. The first, Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra, steps through the titular dance company's formation, history and impact. Of course, it can't recount Bangarra's origins, evolution, aims and achievements without also telling the tale of Stephen, David and Russell Page, who've become its most famous names over the past three decades. The film that results is a potent portrait of an Aussie arts powerhouse, as well as an important history lesson about the factors that gave rise to the company — and that it continues to address through its performances. The second movie, My Name Is Gulpilil, is a rare treasure — because it gives audiences the chance not only to look back at its namesake's now five-decade career (complete with roles in everything from Walkabout and Storm Boy to Goldstone and Cargo), but also to spend time with him as he reflects upon his life and achievements. He tells his story in his own words and, although he celebrates his successes, he doesn't overlook the struggles. Making the film all the more meaningful: the fact that director Molly Reynolds shot it while Gulpilil battled stage-four lung cancer. Thankfully, he's outlasted his initial prognosis, which allowed Reynolds to spend even longer recording his thoughts. Both of these docos have enjoyed their slots on the big screen. Both are exceptional films, too. Now, to celebrate NAIDOC Week, the ABC is both screening and streaming them — so, whether you missed them in cinemas or you'd like to see them again, you'll be able to do so at home, and for free. Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra screens first, airing at 8.30pm on Tuesday, July 6 and hitting ABC iView at the same time. Come Sunday, July 11, My Name Is Gulpilil will do the same. There's your viewing sorted for the week — with the ABC also showing Bangarra's Dubboo: Life of a Songman, and adding a NAIDOC Week collection of films and TV shows to iView as well. Check out the trailers for Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra and My Name Is Gulpilil below: Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra screens on ABC and hits ABC iView on Tuesday, July 6 — and My Name Is Gulpilil does the same on Sunday, July 11. Top image: Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra, Daniel Boud.
The most talked-about band Sydney's seen in recent times since The Jezabels, The Preatures have unveiled their latest single 'Two-Tone Melody' and have announced their highly-anticipated upcoming debut album with accompanying national tour. Sounding more like Jefferson Airplane than their usual Fleetwood Mac association, the new single is a chilled out ballad of sorts — a departure from the band's explosive debut single, 'Is This How You Feel?'. With just two EPs and four singles under their belt, The Preatures have seen huge applause (and national airplay) from a fairly limited catalogue until now. The Preatures have been hanging out in the US of late, playing SxSW and Coachella and recording with the dudes from Spoon in Austin — in particular Britt Daniel and Jim Eno. The fivesome told triple j's Doctor they recorded in Eno's garage-conversion studio, finishing the album taping in three weeks. Signing to Mercury Records in 2012 with a whopping five album deal, the Sydney fivesome's success snowballed in 2013 after the release of their second EP and ultra-catchy single 'Is This How You Feel?', prompting international touring and national high-fivery. The easily replayable single nabbed an ARIA nomination for Best Pop Release, number nine in the triple j Hottest 100 and just today nabbed a top five nomination for APRA|AMCOS Song of The Year. But it's not just fans interested in The Preatures — when the quintet played at New York's 2013 CMJ showcase, almost the entire audience was made up of industry representatives. Often compared to Fleetwood Mac and the Bee Gees, The Preatures' Isabella Manfredi, Gideon Bensen, Jack Moffitt, Thomas Champion and Luke Davison have garnered a significantly loyal fanbase in just a few short years. The Preatures will tour the US and Canada during June, make their way over to festivals in Europe and the UK before venturing back home for an Australian tour, stopping by Splendour In The Grass this July alongside fellow Sydneysiders RÜFÜS, The Jezabels and Sticky Fingers. The Preatures will be supported on their Australian tour by Adelaide's Bad//Dreems and Perth's Gunns. https://youtube.com/watch?v=M8XmoroZ3zo
Working in Australia's hospitality industry has never been a tougher gig than it is right now. So, why — and how — are bar staff, chefs, publicans and restaurateurs stepping up their game? We're going to find out. Join us on Monday, September 6 at 1pm for Hot Takes & Takeaways, a special virtual event. In partnership with Uber Eats, we're taking a deep dive into the Aussie food scene to find out what it takes to get plates of food on tables (or doorsteps) in 2021. We've enlisted comedian, former Triple J presenter and all-round legend Gen Fricker to host this special lunchtime chat streamed live from Butter in Surry Hills. And she'll be joined by chefs Julian Cincotta (Butter) and Cuong Nguyen (Hello Auntie) for an engaging chat on the highs and the messy lows of working in hospo today. No topic is off-limits — from wild menu hacks to vaccine passports. [caption id="attachment_567132" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Butter Sydney[/caption] Throughout the show, you'll also get to test your foodie knowledge for the chance to score a $25 Uber Eats voucher. Better yet, this virtual lunchtime event is completely free. Simply head to our Facebook event and hit attending to get a reminder just before it kicks off. In the meantime, check out Uber Eats' Enterprise Hub if you'd like to learn more about what restaurants are doing to survive — and thrive — during this tough time. Top image: Kitti Gould
With all this time indoors, we're sure you've had your fair share of at-home raves by now. You've got to let your hair down after a week of WFH, after all. And, now that you can have five friends around with sensible social distancing in place, you can make it a real party, too. Luckily, if you're looking for your next excuse to cut some serious shapes, look no further because there's a new one-off party with pumping tunes and bad fashion is hitting screens across the country on Saturday, May 23. Canadian Club's annual Bad Sweater Party is going virtual. So, cancel whatever non-event plans you had, push your furniture aside and start a makeshift dance floor with five of your nearest and dearest. Bringing the dance-inducing tunes in spades will be Hot Dub Time Machine. For about a decade, he's been ripping up stages the world over with his rolling crossfades of pop music from the last six decades. And during lockdown he's been bringing the good times to your living room. Expect everything from 50s rock 'n' roll tunes to disco hits like ABBA's 'Gimme Gimme Gimme' and Earth, Wind & Fire's 'September'. Once you hit the more recent decades, there's often glam rock, a bit of 90s grunge, Darude's epic 'Sandstorm' and 'Toxic' by Britney. You get the idea — it's nonstop bangers all night long. Hang on, a Bad Sweater Party? The major point of difference for this party is that you've got a dress code. Don an ugly jumper — it's OK, you're partying at home. And, yes, you'll get pretty sweaty with all those killer moves you'll be busting. Kicking off at 7pm, the event will be live streamed via Hot Dub's Twitch account, with a live chat going so you can socialise with other partygoers. You may want to dust off that disco ball and find that old lava lamp, too. As you'll working up a sweat as you dance your way through the decades (in a sweater, remember), you'll want some cold ones on hand. To really get in the spirit of things, mix up some CC 'n' drys. Or save yourself the trouble and grab a case of the stuff. Canadian Club's Bad Sweater Party is going down on Saturday, May 23, from 7–9pm. You can tune in here — just don't forget your ugly jumper.
Gaffa has built a solid name for itself on the Sydney gallery trail over the last few years. Perched atop the one and only Ding Dong Dang Karaoke Bar, this artist-run space held consistently innovative exhibitions showcasing the work of emerging artists and designers. Now it has seriously outdone itself with an uptown relocation and huge expansion. Spread over three levels, the new Gaffa is more a CBD art precinct than conventional gallery. On the ground floor is a coffee shop and a space for rotating temporary art and design stalls. Three galleries occupy the first level and several studios and jewellery/object design workshops make up the second. It's all launching on 11 February from 6pm with the new exhibition Fidelity, featuring work the likes of Ella Barclay, Sumugan Sivanesan, Mark Gerada, Sean O’Connell, Marcelle Robbins, Ben Backhouse, Geoffrey Farquhar-Still, Andrew Lavery, Melinda Young, Zoe Brand and Kath Fries. Keep an eye on Gaffa's website for details of future jewellery workshops and other events.
For a town as superstitious as Hollywood, having The Amazing Spider-Man directed by a guy named 'Webb' could only have been a good sign. Given his last film was also the critically acclaimed 500 Days of Summer, you can see why Columbia Pictures was eager to rush his reboot into production despite it being only five years since Tobey Maguire donned the lycra for Sam Raimi's trilogy. All the same, it begs the question: did we really need this movie? And the short answer is 'no', particularly when the plot bears so much similarity to the first Raimi film of 2002. However, it's also the best Spider-Man movie to date. Best by a long shot, in fact, so let's just be glad they pushed ahead with it anyway. Leading the way this time round is Andrew Garfield of The Social Network. Garfield gives an excellent performance as Peter Parker and definitely offers a more convincing high school kid than Maguire could ever have hoped to. His Parker is still a nerdy science student being pushed around by the bullies, however in this version he's also not afraid to stand up to them - both before and after the acquisition of his superpowers. It's a subtle change that not only provides a nice "look what I can do now" sequence, but also adds greater depth to his character's underlying courage and morality. Playing opposite Garfield is Emma Stone (Zombieland, Easy A) with another effortlessly engaging performance. Stone's quickly established herself as one of Hollywood's most natural actors and her turn as Parker's love interest 'Gwen' brings a wonderful blend of confidence and charisma to what's traditionally a more 'damsel in distress' type role. Together the two leads ground this take on the Spider-Man legend very much in honest, human terms: it's a love story first, a murder mystery second and a superhero film last – which may explain why Webb was chosen to direct. The ensemble support cast is also excellent, with Martin Sheen and Sally Field playing Parker's aunt and uncle, Dennis Leary as the police chief and Rhys Ifans in the role of the mentor-come-villain. On the production side, the 3D is both clever and unobtrusive while the special effects impress without ever dominating proceedings. The 'point of view' sequences, in particular, are so exhilarating you actually gain a fleeting (and utterly enviable) glimpse of what life might be like swinging from high-rise to high-rise just like Spidey. Since wish-fulfilment lies at the heart of every great superhero story, that fact alone makes The Amazing Spider-Man definitely worth the admission price. https://youtube.com/watch?v=FpKPiHYJc54
Melbourne's bubble tea franchise Gotcha Fresh Tea is rapidly expanding. Having opened its fifth Melbourne store just last month, the chain now has its sights set on Sydney, with plans to open two new stores here this year. Its first NSW store is slated to open on China Town's Dixon Street in late April, with the second store near Broadway's UTS campus aiming for a late-May opening. While no more NSW spots are confirmed just yet, take a peek at the website and you'll see that stores for Burwood, Chatswood, Parramatta and Strathfield could also be on the cards. Gotcha stands out from the pack thanks to its teas, which are all exclusively grown and hand-picked on the Gotcha plantation in Taiwan — the country where bubble tea originated, mind you. The extensive menu goes deeper than your average bubble tea shop, too. Milk teas come in red bean, bamboo charcoal, taro and durian flavours. Fruit teas come with sliced fresh fruit, including lychee, passionfruit, cumquat and mango. They all range from $5.20–18. There are also teas available with cheese, salted egg or tiramisu foams; a range of 'healthy' collagen teas in bamboo, aloe vera and mulberry flavours; and a menu of macchiatos, lattes, health teas and smoothies to choose from. Of course, you can add pearls and jelly to any and all flavour combinations. Gotcha's expansion is no where near slowing, either, with over 15 stores slated to open in 2019. Five additional stores across Victoria are currently in the works, as well as many more around the country. Images: Gotcha Tea, Elizabeth Street, Melbourne.
Soy candle that smells nice? Done. Hipster socks? Done. Silk painted scarf? Done. It isn't easy to find a gift that hasn't been done, done, done. But, steer yourself off the beaten retail path and you'll find some surprises. How about a tote bag designed by a Sydney artist? Or a basket hand-woven in South Africa? Or a vintage tee from a 1980s band tour? Beyond the big, multinational brands, Sydney is dotted with local shops. Owned by mavericks who spend their spare hours chasing down fun, quirky and beautiful objects, they're not just retail spaces, but paeans to independent thinking, creativity and getting outside the square. We've teamed up with American Express to find some top spots to visit when you're looking to impress someone special. These eight excellent shops will inspire your next gifting adventure — and they'll all let you pay using your American Express Card.
Washable paper bags. We'll say it again. Washable. Paper. Bags. You might have seen them in your design nerd friends' houses, probably holding some kind of citrus fruit or succulents. You'll find these hardcore little bags in Bondi's flagship UASHMAMA store, inspired by Tuscan bread bags and lapped up by enthusiastic Sydneysiders. "While travelling through Tuscany in 2011 with my family in tow I came across the paper bag which changed my world, quite literally," says Australian founder Casey Laguillon. "To briefly set the scene it was on a small Tuscan terrace eating under the umbrella of grape vines when I first saw the Le Sorelle bread bag which today we know as UASHMAMA." Stocked in multiple Australian stores as well as the Bondi flagship, UASHMAMA's washable bags were inspired by bread bags made by Le Sorelle (The Sisters), a small family-run company based in Montecatini just outside Lucca in Tuscany. According to the UASHMAMA Australia team, Montecatini used to be a thriving tourist hub, it's been struggling for the last few years — until UASHMAMA employed a huge group of locals. All of those must-have paper bags are sewn in a cottage in Tuscany — according to Languillon and her partners-in-design, the Marconi family, "We are proud to call ourselves a cottage industry." UASHMAMA also do tote bags, handbags, metallic bags, backpacks, woven baskets, home accessories, tablewares, aprons and more. Plus, Steen Jones left a sweet, sweet tropical mural on the exterior walls of the Bondi store.
Fancy a Tassie wine-tasting extravaganza, but can't find the time or cash to make the trip? How about a quick hop over to Eveleigh instead? If you can get there with 35 bucks to spare this Saturday, 5 September, you'll be living the Apple Isle dream, thanks to a brand new event by the name of Vin Diemen. Your ticket will buy you access to the creations of 25 Tasmanian winemakers, who are coming to Sydney to show us what their island is made of, as well as a take-home glass of your own. Expect to sample some of the best pinot noir in the nation, alongside top-shelf chardonnay, riesling and sparkling wine: cold climate varieties get a better go in Tassie than nearly anywhere else in Oz. And giving the wines the respect they deserve will be a bunch of tasty morsels whipped up by David Martin, who heads one of the state's best restaurants, Franklin, in collaboration with Sydney's Porteno. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Add some magic to your Christmas shopping with the the Enchanted Christmas Markets. Organised by the market maestros at Cambridge Markets, who are putting on a slew of festive events throughout Sydney, the market will take over Level 6 of Westfield Bondi with various stalls and special experiences. Situated next to Santa's Grotto, you can expect a range of artisanal vendors at the four-week event. Stand out with your gift-giving this year with luxe solid perfumes from TARAF Perfumes, local paintings and prints at Emilio Frank Design, and personalised jewellery from AHHA Jewellery. Embrace the festive spirit with decorations from Merry & Bright and sustainable wrapping materials from Wrappsody, as you sip on Christmas cocktails from Bondi Liquor or wines and cider from Petersons Wines and Savannah Estate. From Thursday, November 28, to Sunday, December 1, the Enchanted Christmas Markets will open between 11am–7pm on Thursday–Friday and 11am–6pm on Saturday–Sunday. Find out more about the event and other Christmas markets at the Cambridge Markets website.
Walking along Oxford Street, it's hard to miss the stunning sanctuary that is Venustus Beauty and Body Lab. The renowned Paddington spa boasts a serene, nurturing space, and a treatment menu that pulls inspiration and wellbeing techniques from across the globe. Venustus offers a hefty range of therapies, running from the likes of the 45-minute tailored High Performance facial ($249) to a lymphatic-boosting aroma salt body massage ($331). And if you want to truly indulge, you can opt for the ultimate personalised treatment, dubbed the Six Hand Massage ($993) — an hour-long session involving energy work with sage smudging, a sound bowl and Tibetan cymbals, followed by a full-body massage performed by three masseurs simultaneously.
If you don't spend the festive season floating around Darling Harbour in a Christmas-themed pedal boat while surrounded by buoyant Christmas baubles, then is it really the merriest time of the year? In Sydney, clearly not — because Cockle Bay's old-school pedal boats are making a comeback this summer, complete with a seasonal makeover. In the words of the festive song from Love Actually that you'll now have stuck in your head, Christmas will indeed be all around you when you take to the water in one of these floating vessels from Thursday, November 26. Sure, many of us have enjoyed a first date on a pedal boat, holding hands and having conversations about the weather (actually, if movies are to be believed, most of us fall into that category), but you can now you can relive the experience while getting festive. Until Sunday, January 30, the leg-powered vehicles can be hired from the Cockle Bay Marina for $35 a pop, which'll get you a whole 30 minutes on the water. If you think half-an-hour in the blistering Sydney sun sounds like a recipe for sunburn, you'd be right but, thankfully, the boats come equipped with a shade to keep you cool. The boats will be hitting the bay from 12–8pm on weekdays and 10am–8pm on weekends until Sunday, December 19, before extending their hours until 10am–8pm for the rest of the season. And, they seat two adults, so you can plan a date or bring a mate. If you have little ones in tow, you can also bring two kids along — but the four-person capacity still only covers a maximum of two adults. You do have to wear a life jacket while cruising on Darling Harbour, and you can book online in advance. Getting pedalling on the water isn't the only Christmassy thing you can do in Darling Harbour this festive season, either, thanks to a Christmas festival filled with free live tunes and DJs across the weekends of December 11–12 and 18–19, the return of the Christmas bauble at the Convention Centre Forecourt, and 12 days of free Christmas yoga. Or, while it isn't specifically festive, you can also wander through rainbow arches at Tumbalong Park thanks to ENESS' Sky Castle. Cockle Bay Wharf Pedal Boats return to Darling Harbour from Thursday, November 26–Sunday, January 30. For more information or to book, head to the Darling Harbour website.
Ici et la have been sourcing antique French objets de charme since they started out as a stall at the Sydney Antique Centre in 2001. Stepping into their current Surry Hills showroom is like entering a Gallic wonderland from bygone days — it's full of items sure to add un peu de je ne sais quoi to your home decoration. Imagine sunning yourself in one of their classic primary-hued deckchairs on the white sands of the Cote d'Azur circa 1950, or swanning around a Parisian apartment decked out in their gilded mirrors and elegant writing desks, champagne flute in hand and sense of existential ennui impending. Allons-y!
It probably shouldn't come as a surprise that there's a particularly special place to buy antiques in the harbourside community of Double Bay. You'll find Maison et Jardin buried within the stylish boutiques of Transvaal Avenue. This is where you can score one-off furniture and homewares which date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The business is led by Lauren Landsman, who travels extensively each year across France, Belgium and the Netherlands to hand-select items. Expect to uncover a wealth of French-style mirrors, crafted cabinets, copper pots and plenty of items to make your home more hygge.
Austrian-British philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein once famously stated that "the limits of my language means the limits of my world". Wittgenstein was part of a philosophical movement whose intense and sustained navel-gazing gave rise to an idea known as the "linguistic turn". This was an idea, with which everyone from novelists to zoologists jumped on board, suggesting that our creativity and conceptual imagination is limited by the fact that our languages are made up of a limited number of words. So we are stuck with a limited number of meanings. As such Wittgenstein, and his quite morbid buddies, argued that language is inadequate to the task of expressing human experience. The website "Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows" are doing their little bit to make the inexpressible more expressible, by creating an ever-growing list of new words to describe the sad little idiosyncrasies that make up modern life. This consistently hilarious and subtly insightful website believes that if words like "gif" and "trolling" deserve a place in the Macquarie Dictionary then why shouldn't words like "astrophe" or "heartworm." (Which describe, respectively, the hypothetical conversations we have with other people in our head, and those past relationships that are buried deep in our psyche.) With Dictionary.com recently releasing their "word of the year" here are our five favourite contender entries for next year from of "The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows". Contact High-Five An innocuous touch by someone just doing their job—a barber, yoga instructor or friendly waitress—that you enjoy more than you'd like to admit, a feeling of connection so stupefyingly simple that it cheapens the power of the written word, so that by the year 2025, aspiring novelists would be better off just giving people a hug. Reverse Shibboleth The practice of answering a cellphone with a generic "Hello?" as if you didn't already know exactly who was calling—which is a little like the egg requirement that marketers added to early cake mixes in the 1950s, an antiquated extra step that's only there to reassure you that it's an authentic homecooked meal, just like grandma used to make. Sonder The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you'll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk. Astrophe A hypothetical conversation that you compulsively play out in your head—a crisp analysis, a cathartic dialogue, a devastating comeback—which serves as a kind of psychological batting cage where you can connect more deeply with people than in the small ball of everyday life, which is a frustratingly cautious game of change-up pitches, sacrifice bunts, and intentional walks. Semaphorism A conversational hint that you have something personal to say on the subject but don't go any further—an emphatic nod, a half-told anecdote, an enigmatic 'I know the feeling'—which you place into conversations like those little flags that warn diggers of something buried underground: maybe a cable that secretly powers your house, maybe a fiberoptic link to some foreign country. Entries and text from the wonderful Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows.
In the next chapter of Australia's plastic bag saga, Coles has paused its ban. Six days after the supermarket giant implemented its nationwide single-use plastic bag ban, it has announced it will be giving out free reusable plastic bags until the close of business on Sunday, July 8. This brings the supermarket chain into line with Woolworths who, after implementing a nationwide ban on June 20, also reneged on the ban and announced it would be giving them out for free until July 8. The reusable bags that are currently being given out for free would usually cost shoppers 15c in both Coles and Woolworths. They're thicker, more durable and are made from 80 percent recycled plastic — and were meant to encourage shoppers to bring them back, again and again, rather than buying a new one each time. The temporary, complimentary bag offer for both supermarket giants is only valid in NSW, Vic, WA and Qld, as the other states and territories have already had single-use plastic bag bans in place for several years (SA leading the pack, introducing it back in 2009). Both moves came after backlash to the bans on social media and in store, with reports of some shoppers becoming aggressive, others stealing plastic baskets instead of paying for reusable bags, and many accusing the chains of using the ban as a profit making scheme. Both supermarkets are also offering cloth bag alternatives, with Woolworths' 99c Bag for Good, which the supermarket chain will replace for free if it gets damaged, and Coles' $1 Community Bags, which are designed by Australian school children and ten percent of sales are donated to charities. Both bags are designed to be used repeatedly. On a national level, NSW and Victoria are now the only states that haven't implemented state-wide bans, with Queensland introducing its ban earlier this month on July 1. Victoria is set to do so next year, but NSW is yet to announce whether it will join suit.
A Wild Things Anatomy Retreat may not be the most relaxing experience — but it will leave you rejuvenated with skills and memories to keep for a lifetime. The multi-day events will introduce you to breathwork and cold exposure therapy as you explore the beautiful Snowy Mountains. There is a range of retreats to suit all needs and budgets, including an extensive five-day retreat that culminates in a challenging climb to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko dressed only in shorts. The Wild Things Team is trained in the Wim Hof Method, which combines breath work with cold therapy to help connect more deeply with the human body. The techniques are said to improve sleep, focus and cardiovascular health while reducing stress and anxiety.
Okay, it seems like Airbnb spend a buttload of cash to list some wacky accommodation option every other week. And while shark tanks, van Gogh's bedroom and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' secret lair are pretty bloody cool, they're nothing compared to their latest listing in Far North Queensland on the Great Barrier Reef. Let us rephrase that: their latest listing is floating on the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef floating home is what your tropical sea dreams are made of (or nightmares, if you don't like the idea of being stranded in the middle of the ocean). But let's go with dreams because this place is insane. Like, we can hardly believe it's real. Look: The floating dreamboat comfortably fits four people, and comes fitted with luxe white sails above your bed, as well as a lounge area where you can gaze out at probably the best view in the country. Your neighbours? Oh, they'll just be 600 types of soft and hard corals, 100 species of jellyfish, 3000 varieties of molluscs, 500 species of worms, 1625 types of fish, 133 varieties of sharks and rays, and more than 30 species of whales and dolphins. Hope you're cool with that. As you might have guessed, this is no ordinary listing — it's part of a competition run by Airbnb and Disney to coincide with the release of Finding Dory. One lucky fam (the T&Cs state you have to take family members) will not only get to spend one night on the floating home on July 13, but they'll also have Neil Perry cook them an epic lunch, be taken on a dive and learn a thing or two about the impact humans are having on the reef. Doing their bit to help the Reef, Airbnb have also committed to planting new wetland plants for every guest who books a place in the region for the rest of 2016. So if you haven't entered yourself and all your family members already, you can go here to do so. Godspeed.
UPDATE, December 21, 2021: Black Christmas is available to stream via Netflix, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. A fun, feisty remake with a female perspective and a refreshing sense of sisterhood, Black Christmas is a college-set slasher flick for the #MeToo era. The latter gets thrown around a helluva lot of late — with Unsane, Ocean's 8, Booksmart and last year's latest Halloween instalment among those recently earning the label — but with this updated version of a 1974 cult movie, writer/director Sophia Takal (Always Shine) firmly leans into the term. Indeed, Black Christmas circa 2019 lives and breathes its #MeToo mindset, particularly in its story and characters. Here, a masked predator stalks women as the festive season swings into gear, specifically targeting sorority sisters at a stately university. There's a mounting body count, but these gals aren't merely a parade of powerless, disposable victims. It all starts with a setup that's familiar by design: a silent night, an empty street and a woman walking home alone. Hawthorne College student Linday's (Lucy Currey) pace quickens when her phone starts jingling with creepy messages from someone using the 200-year-old school's founder as an avatar — and, when a man pops up right behind her shortly afterwards, she even threads her keys through her fingers. This all happens in Black Christmas' opening reel, so it's no spoiler to say that she's soon making snow angels in a rather gruesome way. But the winter break carnage is just beginning, ramping up after MKE sorority members Kris (Aleyse Shannon), Marty (Lily Donoghue), Jesse (Brittany O'Grady) and the very reluctant Riley (Imogen Poots) attend a Christmas party held by fraternity DKO — and sing a traditional ditty that's been rephrased to call out campus sexual assault. In too many by-the-numbers horror films gone by, the way in which women are killed and the perpetrators behind their deaths are given more attention than most of the ladies themselves, but not in this new take on Black Christmas. From the moment that Takal introduces MKE's sisters, they're lively, interesting and sport distinctive, sometimes clashing personalities — especially when debating the best way to address the college's historic male leanings, such as petitioning for the inclusion of women authors on literature Professor Gelsen's (Cary Elwes) reading list. Kris is fearless about fighting for equality and empowerment, and about making as much noise as possible while doing so; however Riley has seen firsthand what speaking up can bring. Earlier in her studies, she was attacked by a DKO frat boy, but her assertion that she was raped fell on deaf ears. Accordingly, before these MKE ladies even twig to the psychopathic ho-ho-horror in their midst, Takal and co-writer April Wolfe fill Black Christmas with different renderings and facets of modern womanhood that are all highly relevant to the broader conversation today. The constant battle against societally entrenched misogyny, the quest to be seen as more than an object for male gratification, the fact that victims are routinely disbelieved — these notions all find a place among the film's multi-faceted key characters. Also pondered strongly and thoughtfully is the pain and terror of falling prey to shattering violence, then attempting to pick up the pieces afterwards, a struggle that Poots conveys with weight and substance in a textured and engaging performance. This is a movie that's keenly empathetic towards those usually treated like fodder by the savage and entitled, and Poots' Riley is far more than just a final girl. In a film that throws a hatchet through the idea that women constantly compete and squabble amongst themselves, too, she has plenty of company. Still, this is unashamedly a slasher movie. And while it's based on an ahead-of-its-time example of the genre — just forget the dire first 2006 remake with Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Katie Cassidy and Lacey Chabert — Black Christmas has tropes to play with and conventions to toy with. The mood is knowing and winking, with the film not quite venturing into Scream territory, yet clearly deploying well-worn elements on purpose and with a smile. So, when cliched lines of dialogue are shouted by various women in states of duress (including old favourites like "there's someone inside the house!"), this slick flick knows what it's doing. It knows that audiences might roll their eyes briefly as well, but reshaping the slasher formula to make a statement requires a hearty bout of nodding to all the genre's usual components. Admittedly, taking a few cues from forgettable 2000 horror film The Skulls doesn't prove the best move, but it's one of the picture's few mis-steps. Well-executed bumps and jumps, including inventive slasher scenes and creative use of Christmas decorations; a smart reworking of a classic with an incredibly timely message; fleshed-out female characters with flaws, complexities and agency played by a great cast — thanks to all of these, Black Christmas overflows with entertaining festive horrors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF4yRYbo1WE
While the literal translation of yum cha is 'drink tea', most tend to associate it with copious amounts of steaming dishes being pushed around a restaurant on trolleys. The dining experience is delightfully theatrical and often results in you enthusiastically selecting too many dishes and falling into a food coma soon after. But when the dishes are as tasty as what Sky Phoenix offers, you won't mind. Situated on level six of Westfield Sydney, the restaurant's lunchtime yum cha service is a slick operation featuring fried prawn dumplings, steamed greens, mango pancakes and, of course, jasmine tea. By night, the menu switches to a la carte featuring classic Chinese fare such as peking duck and emperor's chicken. Banquets and private dining rooms are also available for larger groups.
The unofficial drink of last summer, frosé seems to be sticking around for another season — not that we're complaining, we love a glass of the frozen pink stuff as much as the next person. This year, though, it's getting a serious upgrade at Untied. The Barangaroo bar has launched a pour-your-own frosé bar, called Froze Your Way, with six different slushie flavours: peach riesling, kiwi melon blanc, watermelon, passion pineapple blanc, frozen Aperol and the good ol' standard frosé. As well as being able to pick your flavour, you also get to pick your own next-level garnishes. [caption id="attachment_753549" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jasper Avenue[/caption] Think pick 'n' mix candy, but on top of your alcoholic slushie — a win for and your inner child alike. The toppings you can choose from include jelly beans, lolly bananas, gummy bears, rainbow straps and sour worms, as well as dried and fresh fruit A big glass of frosé (with add-your-own toppings) will set you back $12 — or $7 if you head by during happy hour, 4–6pm daily. Or, if you really want to go all out, you can enjoy two hours of bottomless glasses for $39 from Thursday to Sunday. Talk about a sugar high. Updated: January 28, 2020. Images: Jasper Avenue.
Sydney has lit up once again with its annual festival of lights, music and ideas. Even with the sudden cold, Vivid Sydney has got us getting out from under the doona and exploring our city. The CBD's three-kilometre Vivid Light Walk, spanning precincts at Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, Luna Park and Circular Quay (including an interactive playground for kidults), has a total of 50 large-scale projections. Plus, there are additional happenings taking place at Taronga Zoo and Chatswood and 15 light installations within the Royal Botanic Garden, including an immersive field of 500 fireflies. Yep, it's the biggest Vivid yet. And while it's a must-do every year for locals and tourists alike, battling through the crowds, unfortunately, comes as part of the package. If the hubbub is a bit too much, but you still want to enjoy the sights, American Express has got the spot. You can find the American Express rooftop lounge atop the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay. Once there, you can lounge about, drink in hand, and take in all the surrounding lights, without elbowing your way through the masses. Located on Cruise Bar's rooftop, the exclusive lounge is aglow with blue lights and starry night projections, immersing you in a neon cosmos. Along with feeling as if you're part of a light installation, with the bright blue wash over the entire space, the lounge has some of the best Vivid views, including spectator-favourite the Sydney Opera House's sails and the glittering harbour beyond. The interior has ceiling-to-floor glass for uninterrupted views, with a selection of barstools, higher tables and lower, cosier seating. Meanwhile, outside, you'll find chairs aligned with Vivid vistas. The bar has drinks galore — bubbly, wine, beer, a couple of cocktails and a range of spirits. So, grab a drink and nab a spot next to a heater on the balcony or get cosy on one of the many comfy chairs inside the luminous lounge — Vivid views don't get much better than this. From here, you'll see LA-based Chinese American artist and filmmaker Andrew Thomas Huang's Austral Flora Ballet dancing across the Opera House sails; the 'symphony of beams that play across the city skyline' that is City Sparkle; the MCA's facade lit up by Claudia Nicholson's Let Me Down; an underwater wonderland at Customs House; and, of course, a neon Sydney Harbour Bridge. Plus, as you ride the escalator up to the lounge, you'll get an up-close look at Celestial Pancake — a fibre-optic suspended light installation simulating the night sky. These exclusive, high-up views are free for American Express cardholders. Plus, you can also get $5 back when you spend $30 or more at the bar — just save the offer to your Amex card in the lounge's 'tap and save kiosk'. But perhaps best of all, you don't even need an American Express card to get in. Non-cardholders can register here to gain complimentary access to the lounge from 8pm onwards — simply show your confirmation email at the door. Whether you're kicking off your night here or dropping in midway through your Vivid tour for some relief from the cold (and crowds), the American Express lounge is your haven in the centre of all things Vivid. Gaze upon uninterrupted, panoramic views while sipping on a glass of vino and snacking on oysters, cheeses and charcuterie, Lebanese chicken wings and flatbreads with dip. Plus, DJs will also be playing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The Amex Vivid Lounge will be open every night of Vivid — from Friday, May 24 to Saturday, June 15 — between 5.30–10.30pm. To get your name on the list, head over here. When you need a break from the crowds but not the lights this Vivid season, American Express has your back. Gain access to the American Express Vivid Lounge for free — even if you don't yet have an American Express card. All you have to do is sign-up here. Images: Kimberley Low.
The Bear's third season won't arrive till winter 2024 Down Under, but you can get your Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri fix in Sydney before then. Dishing up the goods: the returning Inner West Film Fest. This cinema showcase that's also a love letter to its setting debuted in 2023 as a three-day event. Now it's back for 2024 for 11 days, from Thursday, April 11–Sunday, April 21 — and with plenty of highlights on its lineup. White (The Iron Claw) pops up in Fremont, which is about an Afghan woman (debutant Anaita Wali Zada) who moves to the titular spot, and marks the latest feature by Iranian British filmmaker Babak Jalali (Land). For not only Edebiri (Bottoms) but Australia's own Jacob Elordi (Priscilla), you'll want to make a date with The Sweet East. Hailing from cinematographer Sean Price Williams (Good Time) in his directorial debut, it focuses on a high schooler (Talia Ryder, Dumb Money) on a class trip from South Carolina to Washington, DC. The fest's official opening night is on Friday, April 12, taking place at Steel Park Marrickville — one of three screening venues, alongside Palace Norton Street and Dendy Cinemas Newtown. Twenty years since it initially premiered, complete with awkward teen antics, ligers, making shapes to Qwon's Dance Grooves and voting for Pedro, Napoleon Dynamite is doing the honours to launch Inner West Film Fest. Not only can you catch it under the stars, but you can head along for free. Also bringing film fun to one specific part of the city, and to autumn — because winter is Sydney Film Festival's time to shine — is a 24-title bill that includes Luc Besson's (Anna) DogMan, as starring Caleb Landry Jones (Nitram); The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, the final effort by iconic director William Friedkin (The French Connection, The Exorcist, Sorcerer); I Used to Be Funny, with Rachel Sennott (another Bottoms alum) playing a wannabe stand-up comedian; and I Like Movies, a feature that, yes, is about being obsessed with cinema. Among the flicks with homegrown links, Housekeeping for Beginners is the third film from Australian director Goran Stolevski's (You Won't Be Alone, Of an Age); the Parramatta-set Sahela is executive produced by Dev Patel (Monkey Man); and 2000's Angst, about a video store worker in Kings Cross, gets some retro love. Boxing drama Heart of the Man is the first movie from Indigenous writer, director, actor and producer David Cook, while documentary Fight to Live is about Australian mixed martial artist Bec Rawlings. Around the fest's screenings — which also spans short films as well — movie trivia, a gin-mixing workshop, premieres of new music videos and a photo exhibition are on the program. So is a secret screening, complete with a feature that'll be seen by an audience for the first time ever, if you like your film fests with a dash of mystery. Inner West Film Fest 2024 runs from Thursday, April 11–Sunday, April 21 around Sydney's Inner West — head to the festival's website for further details.
Avocado on toast is back, not that it ever went anywhere. But there's a bit of urgency around tucking into the brunch staple right now, all thanks to Australia's massive avo glut. Yes, it's as straightforward as it sounds: we have too many avocados, we're not eating enough and only smashing avo onto some heated bread en masse will get us through. Obviously, tackling the country's current avo oversupply problem isn't just about eating avocado on toast for every meal. Still, Australia does have a huge amount of avos to consume. According to a report by specialist agribusiness bank Rabobank called The 'Avolanche' of Australian Avocados, this year's avocado supply is up 26 percent on the past year per capita — which is 22 avocados for every Australian. Remember the days when we were told that tucking into smashed avo breakfasts was to blame for young Aussies not being able to buy houses, because we were apparently spending too much money on avocado and not enough saving for a home? No one should've ever been floating that ridiculous argument, but you won't hear it now. Instead, the Avolanche report advises that Australians need to devour more avos — and not just this year, but for the next five years. The reason for the glut? A significant maturing of avocado trees in the past season, particularly in Western Australia and Queensland, which has sparked a bumper crop. So, avos are now everywhere at the shops, and prices have been falling to entice us all to eat them. In WA alone, Rabobank says that avocado production is up 265 percent on last year. That's a lot of guacamole needed for a lot of nachos, a lot of avo smoothies, and a lot of salads with green slivers in them — or just a lot of avo for however you like to eat it. If you need a few more figures to explain just why there really are so many avos, Australia's avocado production for 2021–22 is estimated at 124,000 tonnes, too — and we brought in another 12,500 tonnes in imports. Those numbers are forecast to go up as well, with domestic avocado production expected to expand by 40 percent — or 50,000 tonnes — before 2026, reaching 173,000 tonnes of Aussie avos. RaboResearch associate analyst Pia Piggott advised that Australia will need to significantly up its avo exports to manage the oversupply issue, so it's not just up to us to eat our way out of this avo onslaught. That said, if you were thinking about having smashed avo this weekend, for brekkie tomorrow or just right now after reading the word 'avocado' a heap of times in this article, you now have a very good reason to. For more information about Rabobank's The 'Avolanche' of Australian Avocados report, head to its website.
Imagine a performance where dancers don't always dance to the music playing and where the music itself isn't necessarily made for dance. This is One Thing Follows Another…, a collaborative performance showcased this month through Performance Space. Sydney sound artist Gail Priest has teamed up with Jane McKernan, one-third of dance trio The Fondue Set to co-create the playful performance that draws heavily on the 1960s avant-garde. Joined by dancers Angela Goh and Lizzie Thomson, the show tests the collaborative relationship between music and dance in live performance. Don't be surprised if the performers stop for a casual game of cards or to bake a cake mid-show — this experimental work invites audiences to experience the creation of movement and sound as a process, segmented by differing actions yet connected by the inevitable passing of time. One Things Follows Another... plays as part of Performance Space's Score season of works driven by dance, movement, music and noise. Highlights include the bodybuilding/dance mash-up that is Natalie Abbott's acclaimed MAXIMUM, Force Majeure's boundary-pushing dance lab Culminate and Psychic Synth, a digital work by Pia Van Gelder that will read your mind.
Mr Tipply is an infamous globetrotting dandy as at home at the Black Jack tables of Monte Carlo and the libraries of Oxford — or that's how the masterminds behind Mr Tipply's bar and eatery would have it. The new venue opening in the Sydney CBD today is a mishmash of influences and celebrations best explained by a quasi-mythological figure. There's primitivism on the walls and Pan Asian inflections on the menu. There's pottery from Africa, natural textures from Australia, pop art from the US of A and Kimchi Mary cocktails from Korea. If the ambitious eclecticism comes together, it all adds up to another pretty cool bar in the CBD, within a stroll's distance of the Lobo Plantation and Barber Shop. The site, on the corner of Kent and King Streets, was formerly occupied by the City Hotel. The menu, designed by executive chef Elaine Lee (Westin Hotel group) and styled (styled!) by Gemma Lush, is focused on sharing and includes a trio of duck sliders guilt-inducingly titled Three Little Ducks (green curry duck, roast duck and tea smoke duck, $25). The Singapore-style chilli crab with squid ink linguine ($26) and twice-cooked quail with edamame, grilled pineapple, cherry tomato, spinach and a ginger dressing ($18) also catch the eye. From the cocktail list, you're obviously going to have the aforementioned Kimchi Mary (aged cabbage and chilli, vodka, tomato juice and spicy mix, $18). Other signatures include the Ninja in a Glass (Vodka 42 Below feijoa, secret ninja mix and lime, $19). The bar opens to the public on June 6, with a more "refined and intimate" level one bar to follow in late July. Mr Tipply's is at 347 Kent Street, Sydney.
Sip, savour, and step into spring with Roku Gin. The Japanese craft gin brand is celebrating the beauty of the season and the launch of Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition with a series of special offers at select Sydney venues. Each venue will craft a bespoke cocktail showcasing the refined flavours of the newly launched gin—the first in the Japanese gin's Seasonal Festive Collection—which highlights the delicate cherry blossom notes. So, which venues are getting involved? Check them out below: [caption id="attachment_970468" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition at Botanic House[/caption] Botanic House — October 1–31 First up on the roster is Botanic House hidden away in the heart of the Royal Botanic Gardens. Fresh off the launch event for Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition with Luke Nguyen, the talented bartenders at this watering hole are adding a special cocktail to its menu called 'A Night in Tokyo' — a delicate fruity number with Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition, strawberry-infused Campari and jasmine tea. Terrace on the Domain — October 1–31 Next on the list is this convenient locale at the cusp of the Royal Botanic Gardens opposite the Art Gallery of NSW. Finish a day of perusing the incredible art exhibitions at the Gallery or its new modern art sister gallery next door with a special cocktail and some tasty bites here. Bar 83 — October 1–31 Not one for the faint-hearted — or those afraid of heights — this literal next-level venue is perched atop the iconic Sydney Tower. Bar 83 doesn't just deliver great views; its food and cocktails stack up as well. Its bartenders are serving up the My Amai cocktail. Translated, it means "my sweetness," and it is a subtly sweet drop with Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition, rose syrup for even more floral notes with lemon juices and whites for balance. Make the journey up Sydney's arguably most recognisable tower and toast to good company and epic vistas. [caption id="attachment_972384" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Roku Gin at Reign at The QVB[/caption] Reign at The QVB — October 1–31 The 120-year-old Queen Victoria Building has added a regal-themed bar to its decadent offerings. After spending an arvo working your way through the building's sprawling retail venues, make your way here to perch by the opulent windows and people-watch as you enjoy a delectable Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition cocktail with your friends (and some delicious eats). Dubbed the Sakuragi Spritz it's a suitably bubbly and fruity number made with Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition, St Germain, Pommery Brut Royal Rosé Champagne and chrysanthemum syrup. Me-Gal Mosman — October 1–31 Taronga Zoo's one-of-a-kind eco-retreat is home to an elegant dining room that opened to the public last year. Me-Gal Mosman boasts panoramic views of the Sydney skyline from across the harbour — and a soundtrack of wildlife that you won't enjoy anywhere else in the city. We can't think of a more unique spot to wile away an evening this spring with a delicious floral cocktail. Kid Kyoto — October 1– November 31 Transport yourself to the bustling Japanese city — without the airfare — with an evening at this neon-lit izakaya, Kid Kyoto. Expect nineties tunes (think grunge and rock: lots of Nirvana and Nine Inch Nails) paired with a menu that pays homage to classic Japanese flavours while toying with surprising ingredients and textures. Contrast your surroundings with a bright and floral concoction dubbed the Hanami-tini with Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition, Cinzano Bianco and a dash of cherry blossom syrup — it'll put you in the mood for spring. [caption id="attachment_972494" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Roku at Bistro George at Jackson's on George[/caption] Jackson's on George — October 15–November 15 This CBD stalwart is back with inventive pub feeds, a European bistro and an expansive rooftop bar. Jackson's on George is a flash multi-storey and multi-concept pub with a classic pub on the ground floor, a lush bistro above that and an expansive rooftop bar up on top. Here, you can enjoy a Pink Sakura cocktail, a nice celebration of the floral gin with Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition, apricot, honey-fermented blueberries and lemon as the sun sets on these warmer evenings in the city. Green Moustache — October 1–November 15 North Sydney's foliage-filled Green Moustache is also taking part in Roku Gin's spring series with a cutesy Princess Peach cocktail. It's a delightfully fruity blend of Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition, crème de peche, lemon, rose syrup and whites for lift. Located mere steps from the new Victoria Cross Metro station, it's the perfect place to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the city north of the bridge with a bespoke cocktail. [caption id="attachment_972819" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition and Grandiflora fragrance[/caption] Each participating venue will offer a unique cocktail, and as a special gift, anyone who orders one of the special cocktails will receive a complimentary sample-sized Grandiflora sakura perfume crafted by florist-turned-perfumier Saskia Havekes, founder of Grandiflora. Havekes used the seasonal gin as the template and inspiration for the delicately floral perfume. This fragrance will only be available at exclusive Roku Gin and Grandiflora events happening throughout spring in Sydney. Sip, savour, and step into spring with Roku Gin. The gin is available at Dan Murphy's stores nationwide. Find out more info and purchase on the website. Enter Roku Gin's competition to win a full-sized perfume here. Images: Mark Sherborne
"Authenticity is paramount for us," says The Maybe Group's co-owner Stefano Catino. "We didn't want the concept to be a nod towards Mexican culture, spirits or food — it had to be a respectful homage." This is the approach the team behind multi-award-winning cocktail bar Maybe Sammy has taken to its latest opening, El Primo Sanchez. First announced back in 2022 and swinging open its doors on Wednesday, February 22 inside Paddington's The Rose, the Oxford Street haunt will be led by Bar Manager Eduardo Conde — who will bring his Mexico City heritage to the bar — in collaboration with Catino and The Maybe Group's Creative Director Martin Hudak. While Maybe Sammy and some of its sibling venues like Dean & Nancy on 22 are built on luxury, El Primo Sanchez brings the group's passion for quality cocktails to a more casual affair. [caption id="attachment_889910" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] The venue can accommodate up to 100 guests with intimate tables for two, ten-person lounges and standing tables all filling the space. The energy is fun and playful, with spotlights drawing attention to patrons with shots of tequila on the way to their table, and a two-person karaoke room hidden behind the DJ booth loaded up with hit songs — plus a functional 'Press for Tequila' button. An exciting selection of food and drinks brings unexpected twists and turns to the venue's offerings. Highballs feature prominently, ranging from mandarin palomas to the Charro Negro, a smoky twist on the batanga made with corn liqueur, mezcal and cola. Elsewhere on the beverage list, you'll find a gimlet that uses cordial made from toasted leftover tortillas; a fruity watermelon, rose, strawberry gum and lime slushy; and the venue's take on a margarita. [caption id="attachment_889913" align="alignnone" width="1920"] DS Oficina[/caption] Most of the cocktails can be ordered by the glass — the margarita even comes in specially designed glassware — or in a jarrito, El Primo Sanchez's version of a carafe. And, while there's plenty of unique creations to discover, there's also a healthy selection of classics done in the El Primo Sanchez way. "For us, it is not about having the biggest collection of tequila and mezcal in Australia; it's about celebrating and appreciating this highly nuanced selection of spirits," says Hudak. "Tequila replaces vodka in our espresso martini, we swap bourbon or rye whiskey for aged tequila in an old fashioned and for our negroni, Blanco tequila is the substitute for gin." Mexican-born and -raised chef Alejandro Huerta heads up the kitchen, bringing his experiences from across Sydney (No. 92, Chica Bonita) and the world (Alinea, Noma) to The Rose. [caption id="attachment_889914" align="alignnone" width="1920"] DS Oficina[/caption] Pork belly is marinated for 12 hours before being cooked over coals, and brussels sprouts are roasted and tossed in chilli vinegar — both ready to be placed on tacos. Outside of the tacos, the share plates are best ordered for the table around a jarrito of the cocktail of your choice. Highlights include snapper ceviche, chorizo con papas, guacamole, dry-aged steak and charred broccolini served with a creamy chipotle sauce. The bar is the first collaboration between The Maybe Group and Public Hospitality (Oxford House, The Strand Hotel). Together, they've transformed this 1940s pub into a vibrant cocktail bar. The colour palette is bright, boasting orange and blue floor tiles. And, the LED lights change colour throughout the day so that it's always just bright enough. "In order for us to restore an asset and give it a new lease of life, we need to understand what the community is missing and what they want from a new hospitality venue," says Public Hospitality's Principal Architect Tom de Plater. "There's no point developing what we think is a brilliant concept when it really has no place in that community or neighbourhood. We feel this is a great evolution for The Rose." [caption id="attachment_889916" align="alignnone" width="1920"] DS Oficina[/caption] El Primo Sanchez opens on Wednesday, February 22 at 27–33 Oxford Street Paddington. It will operate from 4.30pm–midnight Wednesday–Thursday and 4.30pm–1am Friday–Saturday, with Sundays coming in the future. Images: Steven Woodburn and DS Oficina
The frogs need your help. At least 30 Australian and New Zealand species of frogs are currently considered endangered, a statistic that wasn't helped by the disastrous 2019/20 Australian bushfire season. In response to this dire frog situation, Cadbury has partnered with Taronga Zoo, Zoos Victoria and Conservation Volunteers Australia to raise awareness about at-risk frog species by replacing the iconic Freddo mascot with real amphibians on the front of each packet of Freddo Frogs. Cadbury isn't just raising awareness though, the chocolate brand has also pledged $600,000 across three years to support zoo and conservation experts in Australia and New Zealand and their efforts to save our smiley little friends. These funds are going towards research and breeding programs including a new breeding bunker at Healesville Sanctuary. Taronga is also introducing a new frog exhibit to its beloved Sydney site that centres around educating people on endangered frogs and conservation efforts. The Freddo packets, which are currently available in Australian supermarkets, feature two endangered species: the spotted tree frog and the northern corroboree frog. Both are among Australia's most endangered species. Zoos Victoria has been fighting save the former from extinction through its role in the Spotted Tree Frog Recovery Program, while Taronga Zoo has already released hundreds of corroboree frogs and thousands of eggs into Kosciuszko and Brindabella National Parks through its breeding programs. The Freddo packets are available in 12 packs or as individual Freddos at major Australian supermarkets and independent retailers. You can find out more about the campaign and donate to the conservation projects via Cadbury's website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Let's face it, you can't buy a whole lot for one buck in 2019. But today, consider that little dollar coin your best friend. Fast food giant McDonald's is celebrating National Cheeseburger Day — yes, that's today, September 18 — by treating the whole country to $1 burgs. Across all Aussie stores, from 5am until stock runs out, McDonald's is dropping the price of its classic cheeseburgers to just $1 a pop — for beef, bun, onion, pickles, ketchup, cheese and all. To claim your cheap burger, you'll first need to download the MyMacca's app via the Apple Store or Google Play. Then, log on, check the My Rewards section and boom — Ronald's your uncle. https://www.instagram.com/p/B2h6vl0DgSN/ Unfortunately, there's a limit of one $1 cheeseburger per customer, which probably isn't enough to make a meal of. But we're sure there are a few other Macca's menu items that might tempt your tastebuds while you're there. And, if you fancy a cheap cheeseburger tour of your city, today's the day to do it. Neil Perry's Burger Project is slinging $5 Cape Grim cheeseburgers at select Sydney and Melbourne stores, Merrywell Burger Bar at Crown Melbourne is offering 100 lucky punters free customised 'Chooseburgers', and at Bentleigh's Good Times Milk Bar, there are $5 burgs up for grabs between 11am and 4pm. McDonald's $1 cheeseburger are available from 5am on Wednesday, September 18 until sold out via the MyMacca's app.
South Dowling Sandwiches make some of the best value-for-money sandwiches in Sydney — just ask the regulars overflowing from this pocket-sized Darlinghurst alcove. For you see, once you've sampled 'Dowlo', you'll keep coming back, and while there are many reasons to return, the most compelling is their generosity. Dowlo don't just fill your sandwich; they overload it to the point where you won't need to eat again for the remainder of the day, no matter which sandwich you order. Simply choose between brown or white bread, then pick your filling and watch it crafted before your eyes in record time. While you can design your own sandwich, don't. The artists here have provided eight delicious options — tuna, vegi, leg ham, chicken schnitzel, chilli chicken, poached chicken and smoked salmon — that will satisfy any palate. And the best thing is they cost just $8. While the chicken schnitzel sandwich attracts something of a cult following, having tasted each and every one on offer, I can confidently say there are two standouts: chilli chicken and vegi. The former uses minimal ingredients to pack a delicious punch, with just lettuce, rocket, chilli chicken and red pesto cooperating to make your lunch break the highlight of your day. The vegi is built on the opposite, containing more vegetables than a farmers market. Forget everything you ever knew about vegetarian sandwiches, because this is all you need to know. The bold and hungry can add 'The Special' to their sandwich. For $5 extra, you can super-size your filling with potato salad, avocado, caramelised carrots (words cannot describe how delightful these are), boiled egg, tomato and cheese. If just one or two extras pique your interest, then you can add those instead, and they vary between 50 cents and $2 each. While the sandwiches are the heroes, Dowlo also do a number of generous salads, priced between $11 and $14 (with vegi, chilli chicken, poached chicken, chicken schnitzel, tuna and smoked salmon the available options). Plus, if you've still got room for it, grab yourself one of their muesli cookies. You might not taste a better cookie in your life. So whether you're a sandwich, salad or snack person, South Dowling Sandwiches has you covered. See you there for (every) lunch. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
The Good Food & Wine Show is set to return to Sydney in June this year, promising a stacked schedule of shows with notable chefs and the chance to discover artisanal goods from over 300 producers and brands. The celeb chefs that will take the stage include Ready Steady Cook's Miguel Maestre and pastry queen Kirsten Tibballs, along with MasterChef Australia alumni Emelia Jackson, Khanh Ong and Steph de Sousa, TV personality Alastair McLeod, and Nagi Maehashi of RecipeTin Eats. Between demos and talks on the Cooking Main Stage, attendees can expand their gastronomic horizons at various other events. Explore the world of tea with tea-infused bites and cocktails at The Art of Luxury Tea with Dilmah 85 Reserve, sample elegant wines at the RIEDEL Drinks Lab and Wine Selectors Tasting Room, or visit the Singapore Airlines VIP Lounge for your choice of three meals and five wines or beers. The Good Food & Wine Show will take place from Friday, June 21–Sunday, June 23 at the ICC Sydney. General admission tickets start from $39 and are available to purchase at the website.
In a terrifying trailer for The Shadow King, Tom E. Lewis is hunted like an animal by a four-wheel-drive; its spotlights piercing the night. Just as the trailer draws upon the imagery of classic Australian cinema, this massive undertaking from Lewis and director Michael Kantor translates the story of Shakespeare’s King Lear into a theatrical retelling of Indigenous experience. A brief documentary on the background and process for the project sees Kantor outline how the framework of Shakespeare’s tragedy has shifted in their adaptation. “For millennia people have lived and existed with the land and on the land without claiming to own the land,” he says. “This story is about a man who believes he can own land, and therefore divides it, and give it to his three daughters.” The work will be performed in a combination of English, Kriol and the performers’ own languages. “We’re taking Shakespeare’s story; not his words,” Kantor says. The ambition of the play and the scale of the production itself — with a large cast of Indigenous performers, as well as musician Bart Willoughby (Yothu Yindi) — makes this a difficult piece to overlook in the Sydney Festival. Want more Sydney Festival events? Check out our picks of the top ten events. Image by Jeff Busby.
Ever turned away quietly when you should have spoken up? Ever ignored something you really shouldn't have? Milk Crate Theatre feels you, and their latest production You Are Here deals with that very challenge. The Milk Crate Theatre collective is made solely of artists who've experienced homelessness or social marginalisation. Made by a collaborative process between the artists, You Are Here is a collection of stories that reflect on uncomfortable situations they've witnessed. This authenticity forces audiences to engage with contemporary social issues, challenge perceptions and recognise potential to change the world around us. Starring Stephanie Brown, Michael Godlee, Carla-Monique Cameron, Graeme Rhodes and Beck Ronkson, this interactive production will begin performances on Wednesday, March 26, until April 2 at Wayside Chapel, Potts Point, Newtown Neighbourhood Centre and Riverside Theatre, Parramatta. You are Here performances: When: Wednesday 26 March, 1.30pm and 5.30pm Where: Wayside Chapel, 10 Hughes Street, Potts Point When: Friday 28 March, 2:00pm – 4:00pm Where: Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, 1 Bedford Street, Newtown When: Wednesday 2 April, 1:30pm and 5:30pm Where: Riverside Theatre, Corner Church and Market Streets, Parramatta
Stay tuned. More info on its way. Image: Flickr.
Sawtell's main shopping strip may not be very big, but it overdelivers in the food stakes. Exhibit A: Cafe Treeo. The beloved local cafe has been part of this northern NSW community since 2011. Early risers are well catered for here — the cafe fires up the coffee machine from 6am every day. If you can't wait to get that Sawtell sand between your toes, grab a brew and freshly baked muffin to take away and make the three-minute stroll to the beach to watch the waves. Or, if you're after a big brekkie, nab a table under the giant fig tree outside the cafe and watch the village come to life as you tuck into corn fritters, french toast or grilled chicken burger. Images: Leah Moore
