May Barrie is 93 and takes delight in bare existence — the boulders that surround her Calderwood property, Callemondah, represent the way her internal and external worlds interconnect. She has passed her passion for shape and form onto her daughter, Tori de Mestre, who lives with her in simplicity and seclusion. May studied sculpture during the Australian Modernist period of the 1950s and has been shaping hulky rocks into abstract, sensual forms for more than fifty years now. Her hefty, three-metre-tall Moruya granite carving was awarded the Balnaves Foundation Sculpture prize at the Sculpture by the Sea judging at Bondi in 2009. It received widespread praise and David Handley, the founder of the annual exhibition, bemoaned the fact that May has been hidden literally under a rock. This grandmother of stone sculpture is what you might call a compulsive artist; she believes her art practice informs her self-actualising process. Tori, who has recently made her foray into the medium of sculpture with the Farmgate series, shares her mother talent for allegory and metaphor; land and mythology. Image: Tori de Mestre, Farmgate 7
Break out your best green lycra outfit and get a rum-flavoured ham a-brewing. Throw in some firm thoughts about rats (no, not rapid antigen tests), a killer rendition of 'Dayman' and a hankering for cat food, and then you just might be ready. What are you getting prepared for? Your next binge-watching session — because all 15 seasons of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia have just hit Disney+. Since 2005, this television sitcom about the world's worst bar owners has immersed audiences into the devious, darkly amusing and downright odd antics of the Paddy's Pub gang — and if you have a certain sense of humour, you've likely lapped it all up, probably while sipping brews as you watch. The gloriously long-lived TV comedy is one of the least sensible yet also savagely smart shows currently airing, and now it's all in one digital spot for prime binge-viewing. Yes, even the most recent season, the show's 15th, is now available for streaming via the Mouse House, so you can watch the eight-episode run that only aired in America in December 2021, too. And if you're thinking that Disney+ is a strange place for It's Always Sunny's shenanigans, the service started branching out beyond childhood favourites, the Marvel Cinematic Universe and all things Star Wars when it added its Star expansion in Australia back in early 2021. Come February, it'll also be the Aussie home of Pam & Tommy and its sex-tape dramas, for instance. With this It's Always Sunny treasure trove, you'd best prepare for ample shenanigans — and to say "god damn it" a lot, especially if you'll be watching with someone called Dee. Obviously, you'll be basking in the comic stylings of a series with a very straightforward concept, because seeing what happens with a group of friends try to run a bar has always been the show's starting point. Those pals — as played by Charlie Day (Pacific Rim: Uprising), Glenn Howerton (AP Bio), Rob McElhenney (Mythic Quest), Kaitlin Olson (Hacks) and Danny DeVito (Jumanji: The Next Level) — usually fail at everything they attempt, of course, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's nihilistic and irreverent sense of humour is all its own. This is a series that's dedicated most of its episodes to a whole range of taboo topics, while also watching its characters stage a twisted rock opera and make their own sequels to 80s action flicks. Indeed, when it comes to satirising despicable behaviour and attitudes, It's Always Sunny is on another level. The show has also made history, becoming the longest-running live-action sitcom ever with its 15th season. And it has already been renewed through till season 18, too, so there's plenty more to come. Check out the trailer for It's Always Sunny's 15th season below: All 15 seasons to-date of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia are now available to stream via Disney+.
"What do we want?" "Time travel!" "When do we want it?" "It's irrelevant!” And so it is that the Terminator franchise rediscovers its sense of humour. As for everything else, well, the ground’s a little less resolute. Somewhat appropriately, Terminator: Genisys is either the fifth film in the franchise, or the third, depending on your perspective. James Cameron, who wrote and directed the first (and best) two, openly declared both Rise of the Machines and Salvation to be blips on the radar that are best ignored, meaning — at least in his view — Genisys now rounds out the unofficial trilogy (cue joke about a director from the future going back in time to terminate inferior sequels). Certainly, Genisys goes out of its way to fit solidly within the original movie's timeline, at least to begin with. In fact, it’s worth re-watching Terminator beforehand, if only to appreciate the lengths to which director Alan Taylor and his production team have gone in painstakingly recreating some of the film's signature moments (right down to casting a Bill Paxton lookalike for the then-unknown actor’s punk cameo). The reason for the cinematic fidelity quickly becomes apparent, too, when those well-known moments from the original are hugely turned on their head. It’s difficult to explain without revealing giant spoilers, but suffice it to say Sarah Connor (played with remarkable likeness to Linda Hamilton by Game of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke) no longer needs rescuing back in 1984 by Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney), and Arnie isn’t the first Terminator to be sent back there. Everything’s changed, and therein lies both the film’s strength and weakness. As a positive, switching everything up was a sensible and necessary move to breathe new life into a franchise already guilty of retelling the same story with merely cosmetic differences. John Connor (Jason Clarke) undergoes a dramatic amendment in Genisys, and Schwarzenegger’s T-800 (easily the film’s shining light) has noticeably aged, explaining “I’m old, not obsolete”. Going back to 1984, too, is a clever device because — at least for fans of the original — as soon as the first difference becomes apparent, it raises a lot of questions that help drive the story forward. The downside, however, is that making those changes requires some serious amendments to one of the more established and analysed lores in film history, and unless you’ve got rock solid explanations to back them up, gaping potholes quickly reveal themselves. In Genisys, some are answered via hastily mumbled lines about 'nexus points’ and parallel timelines, but the more critical ones — like how terminators ended up in the timeline long before 1984, who sent them there and why — remain unanswered. It’s a clear setup for a sequel, but mostly just lazy film-making, failing to tell the story it promises. When the credits roll on Genisys, you soon realise you’ve no idea what it was actually about. 2015 is proving itself the king of the reboot, with Jurassic World already destroying box office records, and new entries for Mission Impossible, James Bond and Star Wars all to follow. Terminator: Genisys will likely find itself somewhere towards the bottom of that list, mostly because — while it’s a lot of fun — it fails to ‘wow’ us like its predecessors. The terminators’ technology is largely the same, the action sequences are again mostly variations on a theme, and somehow the phenomenal special effects of 1991’s Judgment Day still remain more jaw-dropping than most things that have come since.
Being a Barbie girl in a Barbie world wasn't just a 2023 trend, back when Greta Gerwig's (Little Women) Margot Robbie (Asteroid City)-starring — and Oscar-nominated — film became one of the biggest and pinkest movies to ever hit cinemas. The 2025 way to get your Barbiecore fix Down Under from Friday, June 27, 2025 through till summer 2026: by enjoying ice cream floats served in a pink Barbie convertible car at the Malibu Barbie Cafe, plus sipping fairy floss-topped cocktails at the Ken Kabana bar, all at The Social Quarter at Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne. The Malibu Barbie Cafe has been popping up across the US, with New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, Miami, Austin and Houston all welcoming the venue — and the Victorian capital is hosting its debut stop beyond America. Pink hues? Beachy decor? Kicking it back to the 1970s, when Malibu Barbie initially debuted, at the onsite watering hole? A rollerskating rink lined by artwork of palm trees? A life-sized Barbie box? An installation that celebrates how Barbie as a brand has changed over the years? That's all on offer at the Malibu Barbie Cafe. So is merchandise that you won't find anywhere else, if you need a memento from your visit — although, with that in mind, we're sure that you'll fill your phone with plenty of photos. Ken's job isn't just beach here, given that his name adorns the cocktail-slinging upstairs bar in the two-storey site. On the drinks menu: that gin and lemonade concoction with spun sugar on top; themed takes on mojitos, margaritas, cosmopolitans, espresso martinis and old fashioneds; and more. If you're keen on a booze-free version, some of the tipples are available as mocktails. There's also a snack range, including fries with pink mayo, prawn cocktails, sushi and baked brie. Does putting your skates on appeal? You'll find that on the second level, too. Downstairs, Malibu Barbie Cafe's menu is an all-ages-friendly affair, with that ice cream float just one option. Sticking with sweets means choosing from doughnuts, pink cookies, cupcakes, ice cream sundaes, fruit and marshmallows. If you can't decide, the dessert sampler dishes up a mix of picks on a Barbie boat for between four and eight people. Savoury dishes span the same small bites as at the Ken Kabana, plus burgers, poke, garlic prawn linguine, beer-battered fish tacos, club sandwiches, grilled cheese, mac 'n' cheese and salads. Or, tuck into avocado toast, açai bowls, bacon and eggs, parfait or pancakes from the all-day brunch selection. Then, to drink, milkshakes, pink lemonade and pink lattes are among the options. If you're thinking "come on Barbie, let's go party", party packages are indeed a feature — including three-hour adults-only private-dining experiences from 6.30pm Thursday–Sunday.
Attention parents: while it might feel like the last school holidays just finished, we're here to inform you that they're fast approaching once again, meaning it's time to start thinking up ways to entertain the little ones. Although a break in the school-run routine is always welcomed, all those hours usually headlined by a teacher now have to be filled. Maybe you can't take work off, maybe you need a child-free day or maybe you just want to find an activity your mini will be sure to have a ball at — or in this case, throw a ball at. Don't worry, we're here to help. This spring, a stacked lineup of activities will be running at Sydney's Olympic Park ready to turn your little athletes into Olympic hopefuls — or perhaps just help them blow off some steam. From Saturday, September 24–Sunday, October 9, your school-aged children can attend sporty sessions at the Quaycentre, Aquatic Centre and Archery Centre. If they're always shooting, kicking and bouncing a ball around the house, save your ceramics by giving them an outlet. Do they think they're the next Ben Simmons or Patty Mills? Let them work toward their NBA dreams at My Hoops, where they'll run through skill development, drills and games run by none other NBL champion and former professional basketballer Bruce Bolden. Paige Hadley, Australian Diamond and Sydney Swifts netballer, will have young sights set on becoming quick-footed WAs or deftly defensive GKs over the afternoon Captain's Class session. Meanwhile, Hot Shots keeps it up top with a full-day table tennis program. Want to get the whole family swim-safe ahead of summer? Get their confidence in the water skyrocketing with the Swimming Intensive Program. If you're looking for options out of the pool, then the All-Day Holiday Recreational Program delivers exactly what it says on the tin: recreation all day in the Splasher's Playground, with activities including AFL, tee-ball, cricket and arts and crafts. And if you've always dreamed of being the next Katniss Everdeen, grab the whole family and book in for a Sharp Shooters session, which is available for all ages — parents and grandparents are more welcome for a fun family day out. If the kids are more set on running wild than engaging in lessons these school holidays, we don't blame them. Let them battle it out during a Laser Tag session, where they'll plot with their teammates, hide behind blockade bunkers and walls, and aim to defeat the opposing team in thrilling battles. While you're more than welcome to watch, we're guessing you might need a few hours to yourself — so make the most of the many cafes, bars and restaurants nearby. After all, you're safe in the knowledge your little ones will be fully supervised the whole time, so you can enjoy a latte and magazine in peace. Bookings are now open for the spring school holidays program at Sydney Olympic Park. Head to the website to check out the full lineup of activities and book your child a spot.
When the first season of Deadloch came to an end, it set the scene for all that anyone who'd been watching wanted: more of the ace — and very amusing — series from Australian comedy queens Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan. It's taken a year, but now that dream has finally been locked in. Prime Video has announced that season two of the AACTA-winning show is on the way, taking the action to the Northern Territory. This time, when the mystery-comedy shifts from Tasmania to the Top End, there'll be six episodes rather than eight. Still, any new Deadloch is better than none, especially after it proved one of the best new TV arrivals of 2023. Subverting the usual crime-drama setup with more than just laughs, the series' first season began with a sleepy small town, a body on a beach, a local detective trying to solve the case and an outsider dropping in to lend their expertise — and then transformed that very familiar scenario into both a satire and a statement. "We are so excited to head to the Top End for a sticky, sweaty and filthy season two," said McCartney and McLennan, who created, write and executive produce the series. "Both of us are thrilled to be teaming up again with comedy angels Kate Box, Madeleine Sami, Nina Oyama and Alicia Gardiner, and we can't wait to work with a new bunch of cast members and some massive fucking crocodiles." As The Kates mentioned, Box (Boy Swallows Universe) will return as local senior sergeant Dulcie Collins, as well as Sami (Our Flag Means Death) as Darwin-based senior investigator Eddie Redcliffe — plus Oyama (Utopia) as junior constable Abby Matsuda and Gardiner (The Clearing) as Dulcie's wife Cath York. The story this time will follow Dulcie and Eddie looking into the death of Bushy, the latter's former policing partner. While they're in the NT digging around, a couple of bodies are found, sparking a new investigation. McCartney and McLennan are writing the new season again, and also back executive producing, while Beck Cole (High Country) and Gracie Otto (Seriously Red) will return as directors. There's no word yet when Deadloch season two will hit streaming queues, but filming will start in the Northern Territory later in 2024. There's no trailer yet for season two, obviously, but check out the trailer for Deadloch season one below: Deadloch streams via Prime Video, with no release date announced as yet for season two. Read our review of season one, and our interview with Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan. Deadloch images: Bradley Patrick / Prime-Video.
In news that makes my gawky ten-year-old self squeal with prepubescent joy, '90s R&B legends TLC have just announced their first tour to Australia. In a time when 'Genie in a Bottle' and 'Hit Me Baby One More Time' dominated the charts, Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins, Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas and Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes taught a whole generation about girl power, cargo pants and combat boots. These were the ladiez who told me not to waste my time with scrubs (FYI: a scrub is a guy who can't get no love from me). Although nearly two decades have passed since their standout hits 'No Scrubs' and 'Waterfalls', TLC will be touring Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth in June of this year. Of course, since the passing of Left Eye in a 2002 car crash, the band will be performing with just two of the original three members. Although TLC's reps have stated there will be some inclusion of Lopes through audiovisual means (though definitely not a hologram a la Tupac). Beaten only by the Spice Girls, TLC still stand as the second highest selling girl group of all time with a mammoth 65 million album sales recorded worldwide. The trio are also universally acknowledged as the number one iPod selection at both karaoke and horrifically late portions of house parties when everyone feels the need to rap terribly and grind on the d-floor like it's 1994. Although TLC have confirmed they are working on a new album set for release sometime this year, this is inevitably going to be a gig for pure nostalgia. Bonus points for anyone who rocks up in white diamantes or primary-coloured overalls, Converse trainers and condom badges. Also, if you don't know all the words and relevant sassy head bobs to 'No Scrubs', you're straight-up not allowed inside the venue. Tour dates: Friday, June 6: Enmore Theatre, Sydney. Tickets from Ticketek. Saturday, June 7: Eatons Hall, Brisbane. Tickets from Oztix. Wednesday, June 11: Palais Theatre, Melbourne. Tickets from Ticketmaster. Friday, June 13: Metro City, Perth. Tickets from Oztix. Tickets on sale 9am on Tuesday, April 24.
Longrain and Spice I Am, you'd better look out. Chef and Thai food expert David Thompson is officially making a return to Sydney, where he'll be opening another branch of Long Chim, his fun-loving eatery that has already won over hungry hordes in Perth and Singapore. Whether you've spent many years living in Bangkok or have simply had a one-night stopover on your way elsewhere, you'll know that eating in Thailand isn't just about what's on your plate. It's also about revelling in — or at least surrendering to — the city's freneticism. There are so many people, so many lights, so many noises and so many smells coming from so many directions. It's hard to take it all in. And that's a big part of Long Chim's appeal. Its atmosphere is a bit of recreation of Bangkok's streets; an open kitchen sends out all manner of delicious smells, sounds of crashing woks and clattering utensils, and service at lightning speed. In Sydney, the eatery will be taking over a multi-level, 190-seater space in an old basement underneath Martin Place, which Thompson has developed in collaboration with FJM Property and designer Kelly Ross from The Gentry. You'll have a choice of seating, from communal tables to counter stools to out-of-the-way alcoves, and there'll be original artworks from both Thai and Australian artists. "At Long Chim we want to capture all the excitement and tastes of the streets of Bangkok," said Thompson, who returns to the Sydney hospo scene after 15 years. "Long Chim is intended to be fun — 'sanuk', as the Thais say — with food and drinks that everyone loves. Our menu will have the dishes that many Thais miss the most when away from home." Long Chim Sydney plans to open in August this year. It will be located in a basement beneath 10-14 Martin Place, accessible through Angel Place. To keep updated on the restaurant's progress, follow them on Instagram.
When I first heard Kitty, Daisy and Lewis’s Goin’ Up The Country I actually presumed it was the original version, and that Canned Heat had covered it in 1969. I was wrong. The track was in fact recorded at the teenage siblings’ home studio in 2008, using 8-track tape machines and retro BBC microphones. Their sound is so vintage, so reminiscent of ‘50s rock'n'roll, blues and country music, that it’s almost as if this three-piece band from London were plucked straight out of mid-century America. On stage they perform tracks like Honolulu Rock n Roll and Mean Son of a Gun with a rainbow of instruments including guitar, piano, banjo, lapsteel guitar, harmonica, double bass, ukulele, drums, trombone, xylophone and accordion. In person they’re just a bunch of cool kids who love to write music and perform good old-fashioned rock n roll.Comb up your quiff and head to the Manning Bar on 10th December for their one and only Sydney gig.https://youtube.com/watch?v=GxW3Ed7GrhQ
You've read the books, you've watched the flicks, you've sat through the theatre production — or you're planning to — and you've devoured your fair share of pop-up bars and themed experiences. But if you're eager to get your fill of wizard-related goodness any way that you can, here's another option: a series of immersive (and unofficial) wizard-inspired high tea events is coming your way, popping up in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. A Wizardry High Tea will grace all three cities with a run of multiple sessions each, held at top-secret locations. The dates vary from place to place, but Sydney's sessions will run between July and November, Melbourne's from May till November, and Brisbane's across the weekend of Friday, September 23–Sunday, September 25. So what sort of magical shenanigans are guests in for, you ask? Well, each city will host both daytime sessions that are open to all ages and night events reserved for adults only. There'll be appropriately themed cocktails and appearances from folks in costume, as well as immersive activities including potion-making classes. Of course, the high tea spread will stick to the theming as well, though exactly what's on the menu is being kept under wraps for now. As for where it's all happening, that'll be revealed to ticketholders before their sessions. Tickets to the 'daybreak' sessions are $70, with 'twilight' passes coming in at $95. A WIZARDRY HIGH TEA 2022 DATES: Sydney: Saturday, July 23–Sunday, July 24 and Saturday, November 19–Sunday, November 20. Melbourne: Friday, May 6–Sunday, May 8, Friday, July 8–Sunday, July 10 and Saturday, November 26–Sunday, November 27. Brisbane: Friday, September 23–Sunday, September 25. A Wizardry High Tea will hit Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane between May–November. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the event's website.
It's no secret that Melbourne is home to some seriously good pizza. But, it's always nice to score some validation on an international stage. Michele Circhirillo and Fabio Biscaldi of 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar have come through with the crusty goods, taking out the title of Best Pizzeria In Oceania in the 2021 edition of the 50 Top Pizza awards last week. The esteemed online guide awards the world's best pizzerias each year, with a team of expert 'inspectors' judging venues based on their pizza quality, service, ambiance, interiors, waiting time and drinks list. Pizzerias across Italy and the rest of the world were anonymously visited and ranked, with our own 48h reigning victorious against all others in the Oceania region. It's not the first time this particular crown has been claimed by a Melbourne pizzeria, with 400 Gradi taking out the regional title three years in a row, in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Of course, 48h is no stranger to scooping awards itself, with its Di Parma pizza famously named Australia's Best Pizza at the Campionato Mondiale Della Pizza (World Pizza Championships) in 2019. [caption id="attachment_827048" align="alignnone" width="1920"] By Hi Sylvia[/caption] The top 10 list for the Oceania region also included fellow Melbourne venues SPQR Pizzeria in the CBD and Seddon's Mozzarella Bar. Sydney had two contenders in the lineup — Verace Pizzeria and Queen Margherita of Savoy — while Brisbane's Tartufo represented Queensland's sole top 10 ranking. With five 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar outposts located around Melbourne, local pizza fiends won't face too much of a challenge seeking out some award-winning slices. The South Yarra and Elsternwick pizzerias are currently open for takeaway, with other pop-up locations at Grazeland, Rocco's Deli in Yarraville, and Werribee's Wheelers Food Trucks and Bar. To find your nearest 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar location or to learn more about the award, see the website. Images: 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar and Hi Sylvia.
After one (very long) year without a permanent place to call home, Surry Hills favourite Nomad is finally set to reopen its Foster Street doors on Tuesday, October 20. A devastating fire back in September 2019 forced Owners Rebecca and Al Yazbek to shut up shop and temporarily open Nomad Up The Road, before a global pandemic threw another spanner in the works. Now, the restaurant will relaunch in its OG digs with a larger kitchen, more seating and a brand new deli to boot. Thanks to extensive renovations, the open kitchen is back in action, with the addition of wraparound counter seating — allowing 30 diners to sit up-close and watch the chefs in action. The venue's signature woodfired oven is back, too, as is a double-sized charcoal grill. That oven will once again be the focus of Executive Chef Jacqui Challinor's menu, which will include plenty of new additions for patrons to try. But the fan-favourite dishes will return as well, like the smoked ocean trout basturma, date-glazed wagyu tongue and the olive oil ice cream sandwiches (topped with sesame, pistachio and honeycomb). Zucchini flowers with truffle honey and a kingfish ceviche are also on the docket. [caption id="attachment_783321" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Petrina Tinslay[/caption] Alongside the reopening is the launch of the brand new Nomad Deli, which will stocked with takeaway items and smallgoods. Expect an extensive selection of house-cured meats, plus Nomad dips and preserves — including duck mortadella, freshly made haloumi and the brand's famed cannellini bean hummus. For bakers, there will be chocolate fudge brownie batter and cookie dough on offer, too. Nomad's cellar has also expanded, with more back vintages available than ever before. The list will continue to focus on small Australian producers and will be available for both takeaway and home delivery (in addition to dine-in). Otherwise, expect the same Nomad vibes you know and love. The team has even restored the restaurant's original chairs and tables, while adding some new touches like plush green banquettes. The venue now has room for 200 all up, but is limited to 110 under the current COVID-19 restrictions. And it's sure to be as popular as ever, so we highly recommend booking ahead. Also on the horizon for the Nomad crew is the opening of its first Melbourne outpost, which has been pushed back to early 2021. Keep an eye on this space for the latest updates. Find Nomad at 16 Foster Street, Surry Hills from Tuesday, October 20. Images: Petrina Tinslay
It's called Ghostbusters, not franchisebusters — so, four decades after the initial supernatural comedy flick in the series proved a huge hit, of course the saga is still tackling ghouls on the big screen. There was a 27-year pause between 1989's Ghostbusters II and 2016's women-led, excellent and wrongly maligned Paul Feig-helmed Ghostbusters, but then came 2021's Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Next up: its sequel Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. As both the initial teaser back in 2023 and the just-dropped full trailer show, familiar faces are everywhere in the fifth Ghostbusters movie — and from past features both recent and classic. Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson: they're all back, teaming up to take on an ancient force that's trying to unleash a second Ice Age. Rudd (Only Murders in the Building) returns as Gary Grooberson, while Coon (The Gilded Age), McKenna Grace (Crater) and Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things) are back as Callie, Phoebe and Trevor Spengler. Yes, they're the daughter and grandchildren of the late Harold Ramis' Egon Spengler, who became initiated in the family business when they inherited his old farmhouse in Afterlife. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire reverses the last flick's swap, which centred around that eerie abode. So, rather than unfurling in Oklahoma, it returns the series to New York. There, summer is proceeding as normal until an unseasonable chill kicks in. The reason for the plummeting temperatures isn't any old blast of cooler weather, either, which is where the Ghostbusters come in. Also in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire's cast: Kumail Nanjiani (Welcome to Chippendales), Patton Oswalt (What We Do in the Shadows), Celeste O'Connor (A Good Person) and Logan Kim (The Walking Dead: Dead City), alongside OGs Murray (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), Aykroyd (Zombie Town) and Hudson (Quantum Leap), plus Annie Potts (Young Sheldon). A certain firehouse pops up as well, as does Slimer, an army of ghosts, possessed possessions, rising supernatural attacks and a new paranormal research centre. The latest film sees Gil Kenan (A Boy Called Christmas) directing. After helming Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Jason Reitman (Tully, The Front Runner) — who is the son of Ivan Reitman, who directed the first two movies — co-writes the script this time around. Check out the full trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire below: Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire opens in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, March 21, 2024.
In recent years, Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art has played host to an array of weird and wonderful exhibits. The Hulk's giant bed, a real-life snowman and Patricia Piccinini's otherworldly field of not-quite-flowers have all graced the South Brisbane site's halls and walls, as have David Lynch's inimitable art and a recreation of a real-life riverbed. But between Saturday, November 28, 2020–Monday, April 26, 2021, the cultural institution is heading in a completely different direction. A gallery-wide celebration of motorcycles mightn't be the kind of thing you'd generally expect to find at GOMA; however, that's exactly what'll be on display. Called The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire, the Queensland-exclusive showcase explores the two-wheeled vehicle's enduring appeal — from the way it looks and how it has evolved over the years, to the way it's portrayed in popular culture and how it makes people feel. Obviously, the exhibition does so by displaying plenty of motorbikes. Sourced from public and private collections from around the world, more than 100 are riding into GOMA — with some dating back more than 150 years. That'd be the Perreaux steam-powered velocipede from 1871, which is the oldest-known motorbike on the planet. It's joined by a selection of the first Aussie built and designed motorcycles, including one made in Brisbane in 1906; record-breaking bikes, such as the land speed record-breaking 1951 Vincent Black Lightning; and a lineup of super-modern motorcycles that represent the vehicle's future. [caption id="attachment_798484" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Motorcycle - Design, Art, Desire; VIP Preview; GOMA Level 1[/caption] Honing in on the motorcycle's importance not just as a mode of transport, but as an ever-evolving machine, The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire also features interactive experiences — so prepare to virtually hop on a 50s Vespa and go riding in real-time through a themed landscape, or build and customise your own bike. And, because there are quite a few motorbike-related movies to choose from, GOMA's Australian Cinematheque is getting into the same gear so you can revved up while watching a film. In March, there's an Up Late program of after-hours parties, too. Installation view The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire 28 November 20 – 26 April 21 Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane Photograph: Chloë Callistemon, QAGOMA
January 2025 brought the return of Severance. February has been all about The White Lotus and Yellowjackets making a comeback, both for their third seasons. March will see Daredevil: Born Again hit streaming queues, then April has new episodes of The Handmaid's Tale and The Last of Us — and HBO has just confirmed exactly when the latter will hit the small screen. Mark Monday, April 14 in your diary — and yes, the wait for the Pedro Pascal (The Wild Robot)- and Bella Ramsey (Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget)-starring game-to-TV hit's seven-episode second season is almost over. How does humanity endure in the aftermath of the Cordyceps virus, and the global devastation caused by it? What does it mean to persist? Also, who do we become in the process? Audiences will find out again in mid-autumn. Viewers have known roughly when The Last of Us would return for a while now, but not the exact date. At the end of 2024, the US network confirmed that the series would kick off its second season sometime in autumn Down Under. Then, it locked in the month. Also revealed along the way before now: sneak peeks at the hit TV show that's based on the hugely popular gaming series, including as images, in promos for the network's full upcoming slate and via teaser trailers. Prepare for a time jump. Prepare for a guitar. Prepare for hordes of infected. Prepare for a haunting feeling, too. Also, prepare for sirens, flares and a stern warning: "there are just some things everyone agrees are just wrong", one of the teasers advises. In season two, it's been five years since the events of season one. And while there has been peace, it clearly isn't here to stay. Yes, Joel and Ellie are back — and, in their shoes, so are Pascal and Ramsey. This time, however, part of the conflict comes from each other. The show's main duo also have company from both familiar faces and a heap of newcomers in its second season. Rutina Wesley (Monster High) and Gabriel Luna (Fubar) return as Maria and Tommy, while Kaitlyn Dever (Apple Cider Vinegar), Isabela Merced (Alien: Romulus), Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction), Young Mazino (Beef), Ariela Barer (How to Blow Up a Pipeline), Tati Gabrielle (Kaleidoscope), Spencer Lord (Family Law), Danny Ramirez (Black Mirror) and Catherine O'Hara (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) are the season's additions. The Last of Us made the leap from video games to TV in 2023, and was swiftly renewed after proving a massive smash instantly. The series gave HBO its most-watched debut season of a show ever — and its first episode was also the network's second-largest debut of all time. Locking in a second season was also hardly surprising because the 2013 game inspired a 2014 expansion pack and 2020 sequel. For first-timers to the franchise on consoles and as a TV series, The Last of Us kicked off 20 years after modern civilisation as we know it has been toppled by a parasitic fungal infection that turns the afflicted into shuffling hordes. Pascal plays Joel, who gets saddled with smuggling 14-year-old Ellie (his Game of Thrones co-star Ramsey) out of a strict quarantine zone to help possibly save humanity's last remnants. There wouldn't be a game, let alone a television version, if that was an easy task, of course — and if the pair didn't need to weather quite the brutal journey. As a television series, The Last of Us hails from co-creator, executive producer, writer and director Craig Mazin, who already brought a hellscape to HBO (and to everyone's must-watch list) thanks to the haunting and horrifying Chernobyl. He teams up here with Neil Druckmann from Naughty Dog, who also penned and directed The Last of Us games. One question remaining for Australian audiences is where The Last of Us season two will be available. Season one arrived via Binge, but HBO is set to launch its Max streaming platform locally in the first half of 2025 — and doing so with one of its huge recent successes would be a logical move. Check out the latest teaser trailer for The Last of Us season two below: The Last of Us season two will arrive on Monday, April 14, 2025 Down Under. Season one is available to stream via Binge in Australia and on Neon in New Zealand. Read our review of the first season. Images: Liane Hentscher/HBO.
When searching for cultural after-dark adventures in Sydney, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia's (MCA) Artbar series never disappoints. Taken over by the singular vision of an artist, curating an evening of art, installations, live music and performance, it's a playful space dedicated to artistic talent and good times. This April, revered Bundjalung painter, photographer, musician and tattoo artist Shaun Daniel Allen (Shal) is serving up a unique and exclusive 18+ program dubbed Artbar: Liner Notes—visual, sonic and social melting pot of uncommon encounters "connect, contrast and complement one another". [caption id="attachment_997524" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Anna Kucera[/caption] As you move between the levels of the Museum encounter instrumental improvisation performed by award-winning musician Jono Ma, Lake Kelly and more. Rooftop sounds reverberate on the harbour with music by Beth and Blue, Mark Callaghan and a DJ set by Oxford Art Factory co-founder, Edward Woodley. Plus, you can even take home a more permanent keepsake with tattoo artists Sophia Baughan (Hand in Hand) and Garth Neale (Eazy Tiger) inking designs on-site. This is a one-off event you don't want to miss. For more information or to grab your tickets to Artbar: Liner Notes, visit the website here and see current exhibitions for the night here. Images: Alex Cooke and Anna Kucera By Elise Cullen
Live life long enough and anything can happen. Enjoy an undead existence for hundreds of years and that feeling only multiplies, or so the wealth of movies and TV shows that've let vampires stalk through their frames frequently remind viewers. A sharehouse-set mockumentary focused on bloodsucking roommates who've seen more than a few centuries between them, What We Do in the Shadows embraces that idea like little else, though — as a Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi-starring movie, aka one of the funniest New Zealand comedies of this century, and then as a hilarious American TV spinoff. The premise has always been ridiculously straightforward, and always reliably entertaining. That dates back to Clement and Waititi's short film days, which is where this franchise began as 2005's What We Do in the Shadows: Interviews with Some Vampires — and continues right through to the TV iteration's now-airing fourth season, which screens in Australia via Binge and in New Zealand via Neon. A camera crew captures the lives of the fanged and not-at-all furious, squabbles about chores, a rising body count and avoiding sunlight all included. Their domesticity may involve sinking their teeth into necks, blood splatters aplenty, sleeping in coffins and shapeshifting into bats, but it also covers arguing about paying bills, keeping the house clean and dealing with the neighbours. For fans of the film, the stakes were high with this leap to television. What We Do in the Shadows, the movie, had already given rise to a homegrown offshoot courtesy of Wellington Paranormal — the NZ TV show that trailed the movie's cops (Mike Minogue and Karen O'Leary) as they kept investigating the otherworldly — which first arrived in 2018. But the small-screen version of What We Do in the Shadows has a few crucial and important things going for it: another killer cast, this time inhabiting a ramshackle, gothic-style abode in Staten Island; the same glorious sense of silliness, including everything from blood sprinklers and undead labour disputes to getting a genie to magic up a giant penis in the latest season alone; an eagerness to gleefully skewer the entire vampire genre; and well and truly letting anything happen within its frames. Season four picks up after a climactic end to the show's prior batch of episodes, which only finished airing back in October 2021. Its bloodsucking roommates were all set for their own adventures, after Nandor (Kayvan Novak, Cruella) decided to explore his roots in his ancestral homeland in what's now Iran, and Nadja (Natasia Demetriou, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga) took up a prestigious job in London with the Supreme Vampiric Council, who oversee the vampire world order. Her beloved Laszlo (Matt Berry, Toast of London and Toast of Tinseltown) stayed behind at the last minute to take care of the baby that burst its way out of energy vampire Colin Robinson's (Mark Proksch, The Office) body. To accompany Nadja, in his place he sent Nandor's familiar Guillermo (Harvey Guillen, Werewolves Within), who has also discovered throughout the first three seasons that he's a Van Helsing — yes, a vampire hunter. What We Do in the Shadows wouldn't be What We Do in the Shadows if its central quintet were scattered around the world, rather than bantering together, so homecomings are swiftly in order. A year has passed in the show, old grounds have been stomped, new jobs trialled and that infant is now a young boy — who, eerily, still looks like Colin. Nandor returns more determined than ever to find a wife, and thinks that one of his many from the Middle Ages could be the one again; bringing back a Djinn (Anoop Desai, Russian Doll) to grant his wishes helps. Nadja has big ambitions, too, but of the professional rather than personal kind. Taking over the local Vampiric Council again, she sets her sights on turning it into a vampire nightclub. Its custodian The Guide (Kristen Schaal, The Bob's Burgers Movie) is unsurprisingly far from thrilled. If vampire nightclubs and blood sprinklers sound familiar, that's because back in 1998, Blade got there first. That's the type of winking and parodying that What We Do in the Shadows loves — and keeps finding ways to turn into comedy gold. It'll always be difficult to beat the show's exceptional first-season episode that featured Wesley Snipes as a half-vampire version of himself, alongside everyone from Tilda Swinton to Paul Reubens referencing their own past undead film roles (Only Lovers Left Alive and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, respectively), but this series never stops trying. It's just as devoted to fleshing out the demonic world that exists beyond human eyes, with a new episode set at an anything-goes night market where the supernaturally inclined trade for everything they can a particular treasure. That nodding and nudging will never grow old, thanks to the stellar writing behind it, as well as the fantastic cast bringing it to the screen. Matt Berry should star in all comedies always (see also: the aforementioned Toast franchise, Year of the Rabbit, The IT Crowd, Snuff Box, The Mighty Boosh and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace), and his pronunciation, the way that Laszlo yells "bat!" when he turns into a bat and the character's general buffoonery will always be among What We Do in the Shadows' biggest weapons. Hearing him read In Cold Blood to the young Colin, as a bedtime story, is a scene for the ages alone. He's ably matched by always riotous Demetriou and the equally amusing Novak, who lean into their vamps' eccentricity-laced personalities with as much gusto. Nadja's unapologetic passion, pursuing whatever she wants whenever she wants, always feels fleshed out, as does Nandor's awkwardness despite a past as a bloodthirsty warrior. It was always going to take something special to match the big-screen What We Do in the Shadows. That's a task that its TV spinoff has always managed, however, and as enchantingly as the immediately catchy strains of theme song 'You're Dead' by Norma Tanega — a tune the two versions share. Nothing about this delight sucks, not for a second, and season four is as ace as ever. Check out the trailer for What We Do in the Shadows season four below: What We Do in the Shadows' fourth season streams in Australia via Binge and in New Zealand via Neon. Images: Russ Martin/FX.
"It's more like a doughnut-ice-cream-sundae tortilla hack," says chef Julian Cincotta. The cofounder of Butter in Sydney is usually found racing between restaurants, serving Butter's famed fried chicken and its sought-after cinnamon doughnuts. But, following a chat with Concrete Playground, Cincotta thought it was high time he joined TikTok to give that #TortillaHack a crack. "I've got quite a sweet tooth," he says. "I hadn't seen any sweet takes on the tortilla hack challenge, so this is my version. I think it's deliciously ugly — and pretty fucking tasty." Cincotta's remix isn't fine dining by any stretch of the imagination. It's exceptionally messy to eat, as you'll see from his pics, and supremely easy to make at home — "simplistic elegance at its best," he says. Cincotta's top tip is not to melt the ice cream too much: "make sure it's straight out of the freezer. It's all about that hot-cold sensation with a sweet-savoury bite." And, if you can't get your hands on a couple of Butter's cinnamon doughnuts, you can use any other doughnut, "but they won't be as good," he jokes. "Book an Airbnb and come to Sydney especially." Watch Cincotta's TikTok video to see just how OTT it is. Then, give it a go using the recipe below. [embed]https://vimeo.com/528663156[/embed] RECIPE 2 cinnamon doughnuts 2 scoops of Ben & Jerry's Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream 2 Cadbury Creme Eggs 1 flour tortilla METHOD Lay a tortilla on a chopping board. Use a knife to slice the wrap from the centre to the outer edge. Place two doughnuts on the left-hand side of your tortilla wrap. Add two scoops of ice cream to the top right-hand side of the tortilla. Add two Creme Eggs to the final section. Smash the creme eggs with the palm of your hand. "You could use a spoon or knife, but it's best to get your hands messy," says Cincotta. Fold the tortilla quarters starting from the bottom right-hand corner working anticlockwise. Toast the tortilla in a sandwich press without melting the ice cream too much. Finish with whipped cream, sprinkles and/or chocolate sauce. MORE FOOD PORN Cincotta didn't stop at dessert tortillas. He also remixed the TikTok trend to create a charcoal chicken tortilla with shredded chicken, garlic sauce, lettuce, shoestring fries, gravy, cheese slices and mayo. See the video here. Or, watch how he takes a BLTC and adds fried chicken and thousand island dressing, here. As Cincotta says, "There are no rules. If you want to put a cheeseburger in a tortilla, put a cheeseburger in a tortilla. It's all about personal taste and creativity." Follow Butter on TikTok. Top image: Videohead/Raghav Rampal
Ain't nothing better than a well-placed cameo. They keep the Muppet movies relevant, made The OC better than it actually was (you know it) and give A$AP Rocky the chance to include even more of his friends on tour. When one of music's biggest calendar events, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, kicked off its opening weekend in Indio, California, the cameos ran freely and generously, with almost more pop-in names appearing than the actual lineup. Here's a little recap of the stuff you might have missed on Twitter, though we're not sure how you could have; the large majority of Coachella-goers were brutally happy to tweet their highlights right in your face. While there were plenty more Coachella cameos where these came from (Future, Killer Mike and Janelle Monae casually dropping in on Outkast, Drake and Donald Glover popping into Jhene Aiko's Gobi-tent, whatevs), it remains to be seen how jealous and grumbling second weekend ticket holders will be. Rumours will undoubtedly fly for the next few days; the usual finger crossing for David Bowie will commence. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZpFeb-pnATE Debbie Harry Danced With Streamers and Arcade Fire Closing the final day of Coachella's 'gang's all here' first weekend, the legendary Debbie Harry joined Arcade Fire for a rendition of Blondie's 1979 single 'Heart of Glass'. Régine Chassagne matched soprano heights with Harry, with Win Butler playing them all the way to 'Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)'. Streamers were thrown, days were made, VIP tents were dissed on. https://youtube.com/watch?v=DcZ_XN-4hK4 Mary J Blige Brought the '90s Back to House with Disclosure Following AlunaGeorge's routine 'White Noise' appearance, Mary J Blige fronted her powerhouse vocal for 'F For You', recently re-released with Blige and sounding even more '90s British house than usual. Sam Smith also popped in to lend some vox to the duo's hit single 'Latch'. https://youtube.com/watch?v=zjsoBPD4rnM Beyonce and Solange Threw Down Slumber Party Choreography One for the Knowles fridge. For those of us who've choreographed unbeatable dance routines with our sisters (haven't you?), this cameo couldn't have been any better. Making a surprise appearance during Solange's super single 'Losing You', the formidable Ms. Carter took off her crown to share the stage with her sister, where they box-stopped, hair-flipped and step-touched like nobody was watching. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MwhtcruhT-8 Pharrell Held an A-List Karaoke Party In a set Spin called "the most well-attended karaoke party of all time", everyone's favourite mountie/producer Pharrell Williams jigged in his Vivienne Westwood hat beside Snoop Dogg; Tyler, the Creator; Diplo; Puff Daddy; and Busta Rhymes. Rasping his way through the set due to Californian dust throat irritation, Pharrell finally brought out his favourite 'Hollaback Girl', Gwen Stefani, for a big ol' throwback. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qqFbgBN5zKY Nas and Jay-Z Celebrated Their Make-Up Anniversary Once bitter rivals in the early 2000s, master MCs Nas and Jay-Z put their differences aside in 2005, publicly shaking on it and performing "Dead Presidents II" at Jay's I Declare War concert. Almost a decade later, Coachella 2014 marked the return of the legendary Queensbridge MC to the stage, delivering his seminal album Illmatic from start to finish. After midnight Nasty Nas was joined by Jay-Z to reignite 'Dead Presidents II' and 'Where I'm From', when rap fans collectively lost it. Chance The Rapper Allowed a Competition Winner On Stage... Sporting a white bucket hat and neckerchief, a fresh-faced young competition winner made his way on sta... Wait. Bucket-hatted pop drag racer Justin Bieber joined Chicago MC Chance The Rapper on stage to perform latest collaboration 'Confident'. Internet chaos ensued.
Who can get everyone in a crowd to take one piece of their clothing off and 'smash it in the air'? Hilltop Hoods can. It's a measure of the respect and adoration they've come to command in the local hip-hop scene (and, let's face it, the Australian music industry more generally). It's not for nothing — they have a persistent, infectious, unbridled energy that comes across in their epic live shows, and they're constantly giving to their fans. Nothing shows that more than the massive 21-date national tour they're setting off on right now. The Cosby Sweater Australian Tour comes off the back of their seventh studio album Walking Under Stars, the second instalment of an ambitious three-piece project that started with previous album Drinking from the Sun and will culminate next year with something big and as yet top secret. Will the reign of these undisputed kings of homegrown hip-hop never end? Expect heaps of new tracks alongside those old crowd favourites. Advice is, wear multiple pieces of clothing. https://youtube.com/watch?v=X6G2fzPTwOA
Neon Trees is the thinking person's pop rock outfit. Bassist Branden Campbell can quote Henry David Thoreau, lead vocalist Tyler Glenn considers himself a ‘loser loner’, and none of them is willing to sacrifice the band's songs for any old corporate scheme. "We're not just a pop act that's floozy with their music," Glenn explained to diffuser.fm last year. When the Neon Trees last visited the Antipodes two years ago, their song 'Animal' had the crowds on their feet and the critics at their keyboards. It became 2011's most played song on Australian radio. Now they’re on their way back with a single, 'Everybody Talks', which has gone platinum here and multiplatinum in the US, and a sophomore studio album, Picture Show, which Billboard has described as starting with a "half-dozen hook bombs right in a row". They've maintained their infectious, catchy sound but have taken things into slightly darker territory. According to Glenn, this is just the beginning: "We know that we have a sound that's going to continue to expand ... We have more tricks up our sleeves."
It's always a good idea to wear sneakers when you're walking around a gallery, but they're the only kicks that'll do when Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street arrives Down Under. First staged by The Design Museum in London, this exhibition pays tribute to the footwear's origins and evolution — through sports to fashion, surveying iconic brands and names, and obviously touching upon basketballers Chuck Taylor and Michael Jordan's relationships with the shoes. In total, more than 200 sneakers will be on display during Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street's Australian-premiere and Australian-exclusive season at the Gold Coast's HOTA Gallery. The six-level spot will give over its walls and halls to shoes, shoes and more shoes over the summer of 2023–24, starting on on Saturday, November 25, and marking the site's first major design exhibition since opening in 2021. While a hefty amount of trainers will feature, the entire showcase will span 400-plus items. The other objects at Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street include photos, videos, posters, artworks and process material, all helping to explore the journey that the footwear style has taken in its design and culturally. Expect to learn more about sneakers that were initially made specifically for getting sweaty, which is where the Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars and Nike Airs come in (and, with the latter, to add to a year that's already seen the movie Air step through the story behind them). Also set to feature: the shoes that've become cultural symbols (such as the Vans Half Cab and Reebok InstaPump Fury), future advancements in making kicks (as seen with Biorealize for Puma) and big-name collaborations (Jordan, of course, plus Run-DMC and more). Attendees will also check out sneakers that've made a splash on the runway (Comme des Carçons and A-Cold-Wall*, for instance), find out more about plant-based sneakers (such as Veja and Native Shoes) and customisable kicks (as Helen Kirkum and Alexander Taylor are doing), and dive into celebrity endorsements (Travis Scott with Nike, Pharell for Adidas and the like). Laid out in chapters called 'STYLE' and 'PERFORMANCE', the exhibition's first part goes big on aesthetics and its second on the act of making the best trainers — covering Chuck Taylor's basketball clinics, sneaker culture in New York City and everything that's happened since. Images: Ed Reeve, Design Museum London.
It's with vibrant detail that Coco bursts onto cinema screens. A tale of following your heart while honouring your family, Pixar's latest effort is both a colourful sight to behold and an exuberant journey; a film exploding with dazzling visual and emotional fireworks. Within frames heaving with intricacy, there's never a dull moment as the movie sashays from modern-day Mexico to the Land of the Dead during the country's Dîa de los Muertos celebrations. Often it's the little things that stand out, from the grain of the many flowers never far from view, to the weathered skeleton bones that literally dance through the streets, to the melancholy look on an old woman's face. That's the animation studio's forte, of course. It's the reason their talking toys filled us with joy, that their rodent chefs charmed us, and their feelings with feelings left us in tears. As Toy Story, Ratatouille and Inside Out all demonstrated, their films might paint with pixels rather than living people, but they vibrate with the texture of reality. Coco fits the mould perfectly, at once a lovingly realised venture into several new worlds and a familiar mosey through Pixar's usual terrain. What if the dead had feelings is just one of the questions it asks. What if we confronted our own feelings about death is another. Helmed by studio veteran Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3) with writer and first-time co-director Adrian Molina at his side, Coco takes its name from the grandmother of 12-year-old Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez). While she sits quietly through the last phase of her life, still yearning for the father she lost when she was a girl, he dreams of being a musician, but is forbidden by his music-hating family. Their reasons for this stem from personal tragedy, but it's not enough to stop Miguel from strumming his guitar. His desperation to retrace the footsteps of his entertainer hero (Benjamin Bratt) eventually leads him beyond the mortal coil, on a quest to find his great-great-grandfather and win his musical blessing. If Alice in Wonderland had followed a Mexican boy chasing his dreams, or if Marty McFly had taken the DeLorean through the barrier between life and death, Coco might very well have been the end result. The spirit of these youthful adventures seeps through this film, in a manner that proves delightful rather than derivative. Indeed, this is a story about remembering your past even as you step into the future. As well as following Pixar's own tried and true template, the script weaves its influences into a moving escapade bearing the expected touches, but never failing to surprise. That remains true even if you've seen The Book of Life, the outwardly similar 2014 animated effort that also sees its characters frolicking through the Mexican afterlife. It mightn't be the first family-friendly feature to play in this territory, or the first to explore the conflict between ambition and responsibility. Nevertheless, Coco enchants with warmth and authenticity from start to finish. In fact, as bright as its images shine, as high as its heartfelt emotions soar, and as perfectly as its voice cast fill their roles — including Gael García Bernal stealing scenes as a dead prankster — it's the film's embrace of its setting and culture that truly makes it sing. This isn't Pixar playing tourist south of the border, but paying tribute: to people, songs, lives and beliefs. The gorgeous detail that infuses every frame is a testament to seeing what others often don't, and it couldn't encapsulate Coco's beauty better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DIm1PyBSwc
By the beard of Zeus, everyone's favourite TV newsman is back — in podcast form. Not content with his regular job at KVWN Channel 4, or with being the star of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Ron Burgundy is giving another medium a whirl. Announced late in 2018, The Ron Burgundy Podcast is now staying classy on the iHeartRadio platform. His new show released its first episode on February 7, and will drop new instalments each Thursday. In total, two 12-episode seasons on their way, with the second batch due to hit mid-year. Yes, it's kind of a big deal, as is the fact that Will Ferrell reprises his role as the fictional San Diego newscaster. The entire show is co-produced by Funny or Die, which Ferrell co-founded, so it was always likely that he was going to be involved. While The Ron Burgundy Podcast could've just featured the anchorman chatting while sipping scotchy scotch scotch and talking over his beloved dog Baxter, that's not the finished product. Rather, the character tackles a different topic each week, starting with a subject that no one can get enough of: true crime. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u_jcTy3JHM Serial, this isn't — but If you've ever wanted to unlock Burgundy's glass case of emotion about the Zodiac Killer, all of your favourite true crime binges and whether obsessing over the genre is a little bit creepy, now you can. In true Ron Burgundy style, he had some words about his new venture. "Listen, I don't know what a podcast is, but I currently have a lot of time on my hands and a lot to talk about. I am also broke. Therefore, I am very excited to do this podcast. It is literally saving my life." The first episode of The Ron Burgundy Podcast is now available on iHeartRadio, with new episodes dropping every Thursday.
UPDATE, Friday, December 1: Talk to Me is available to stream via Netflix, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. An embalmed hand can't click its fingers, not even when it's the spirit-conducing appendage at the heart of Talk to Me. This is an absolute finger snap of a horror film, however, and a fist pump of a debut by Australian twins Danny and Michael Philippou. As RackaRacka, the Adelaide-born pair have racked up six-million-plus subscribers on YouTube via viral comedy, horror and action combos. As feature filmmakers, they're just as energetic, eager and assured, not to mention intense about giving their all. Talk to Me opens with a party that's soon blighted by both a stabbing and a suicide. It segues swiftly into a Sia sing-along, then the violent loss of one half of the Aussie coat of arms. A breakout hit at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, where it sparked a distribution bidding war won by indie favourite A24, it's constantly clicking, snapping and ensuring that viewers are paying attention — with terror-inducing imagery, a savvy sense of humour, both nerve and the keenness to unnerve, and a helluva scary-movie premise that's exceptionally well-executed. The picture's outstretched mitt is the Philippous' Ouija board. That withered and scribbled-on paw is also a wildly unconventional way to get high. In a screenplay penned by Danny with fellow first-timer Bill Hinzman, but based on Bluey and Content executive producer Daley Pearson's short-film concept — yes, that Bluey — shaking hands with the distinctive meat hook is a party trick and dare as well. When the living are palm to palm with this dead duke, in flows a conjuring. A candle is lit, "talk to me" must be uttered, then "I let you in". Once heads are kicking back and the voices start, no one should grasp on for more than 90 seconds. Those are the rules as told by Hayley (Zoe Terakes, Nine Perfect Strangers) and Joss (Chris Alosio, Millie Lies Low), who've been getting the ultimate buzz by letting supernatural interlopers take over their bodies, and are also passing that sensation around to their mates at gatherings. When Mia (Sophie Wilde, The Portable Door) learns about Talk to Me's urban legend-esque possession parties, it's via internet videos. On the anniversary of the worst day of her life — her mother's death, seemingly self-inflicted — she's already fled the silence that lingers with her father Max (Marcus Johnson, Irreverent) for her best friend Jade's (Alexandra Jensen, Joe vs Carole) family, and she's equally up for escaping further. Jade's no-nonsense mum Sue (Miranda Otto, The Clearing) knows that Jade and Mia are sneaking out. What she doesn't glean is that they're taking Jade's younger brother Riley (Joe Bird, First Day) with them, or that they're headed to a haunted hoedown. Here, being consumed by sinister spirits, not consuming booze, is the main thrill. That, and filming whatever twisted chaos happens when they connect with the otherworldly. It isn't all fun and frights and games, though; when 14-year-old Riley takes part, traumatic consequences spring. There's a touch of Flatliners to Talk to Me, but the Philippous summon up something far more eerie, powerful and engaging than that average 90s effort and its terrible 2017 sequel/remake. Both perturbing and entertaining to watch, their séances understand why that exact blend — unsettling yet absorbing — appeals to Mia and her friends, and why they're so speedily addicted. These altercations with the beyond aren't just a way to push the limits. They're a rush for both the possessed and their pals, who laugh hysterically while bearing witness, record every moment, share it all instantly and, when it's their go, try to one-up every prior spooky visit. As RackaRacka, the Philippous have captured plenty of eyeballs with raucous vids; now they ponder what the next step is for today's teens who've already seen everything online, are used to living their lives and setting their reputations digitally, and are as desperate for a jolt out of their daily routine as everyone in adolescence. Even better: sharing directing credits, and benefiting from lively cinematography by Aaron McLisky (Mr Inbetween) and sharp editing by Geoff Lamb (another The Clearing alum), Danny and Michael know how to convey that try-anything-once response to teen malaise. Talk to Me starts with a bang — with banging on a locked door, then a freakout, then a gutwrenching turn — but its feverish montage of possessions is one of its best and most immersive moments. Mia and company, even including Jade's pious boyfriend Daniel (Otis Dhanji, June Again), are spirited off on a trip, and the Philippous stage and shoot it as such. No one watching will've gotten deliriously blitzed by giving some skin to the creepiest limb you'll ever see (with the biggest of kudos to the production design team), then becoming a vessel for ghosts, but Talk to Me perfects the feeling of being young, partying, reckless, thinking you're invincible and being up for giving something absurd a shot. Playing those devil-may-care/devil-may-flow-through teens, but also always playing recognisably messy and relatable Aussie high schoolers, is quite the committed cast. Everyone gives their physical all to the hauntings — getting taken over by ghouls isn't just a unique experience, but a corporeally demanding one — as aided by pitch-perfect practical effects, including the canny use of dark contacts to turn each actors' eyes black. But thanks to Mia's backstory and the grappling with grief that comes with it, Wilde wades through the most emotionally complex territory. The more that her character keeps taking the hand's portal to limbo, the more that the paranormal bleeds into Mia's daily life, and the weightier that Wilde's performance gets. Talk to Me battles survivors' guilt, carting around baggage and internal demons alongside its shadowy forces, with Wilde consistently thoughtful at the heart of it all. When Riley joins the party antics despite Jade's protests, Bird is just as crucial. Ghouls gnaw, and so does Talk to Me. The Philippous swirl unease, angst and ominousness together with every tool at their disposal — including Cornel Wilczek's (Clickbait) menacing score — then let the end result chomp on their viewers. As deranged sights scamper and shock, and Mia's complicated feelings with them, Talk to Me gets its alarm, panic and distress burrowing deep, yet never stops having warped fun. The film's finale couldn't better embody that tricky mix: it's smart and satisfying to the point of inspiring clapping, and it's as disquieting as everything that precedes it. This won't be the end for the movie's directors, of course, or likely for Talk to Me's world. Indeed, this instant cult-classic flick might too leap into reality: once you've taken this horror ride, people clutching a hand and freaking themselves out with the next Ouija-style board game feels destined to cross over.
Beverly Hills, 90210 did it. Saved by the Bell and Gossip Girl, too. If a teen-focused series is a hit, odds are that'll end up back on our screens years and even decades after it first popped up, telling new high school-set tales with a new cast for a new generation — and that's exactly what's happening with Australia's beloved Heartbreak High. Back in 2020, Netflix announced that it was bringing the series back — and now that revival is almost here. The series itself will join your streaming queue on Wednesday, September 14, and the platform keeps dropping trailers in the interim. Indeed, after the first teaser arrived at the beginning of August, the streamer has just unveiled the full sneak peek. Yes, it definitely looks like a 2020s take on the Aussie classic. Yes, this new batch of students still attend Hartley High, the fictional school that everyone watching was obsessed with when the OG version of the show first aired way back when. And yes, teenage chaos is still the main focus, including everything from friendship fights, yelling about vaginas from the top of a building and throwing dildos at walls through to a public sex map that charts who at Hartley has hooked up with who. 90s kids, prepare to feel emotional — the initial series screened for seven seasons and 210 episodes between 1994–99, and wasn't just a high school-set Aussie show; it was the high school-set Aussie show of the era. The original Heartbreak High was filled with now-familiar faces, too, including Alex Dimitriades, a pre-Home and Away Ada Nicodemou, and Avengers: Endgame and Mystery Road's Callan Mulvey as Drazic. It painted a multicultural picture of Australia that was unlike anything else on TV at the time. And, for its six-year run across two Aussie networks, the Sydney-shot show was must-see television — not bad for a series that started as a spinoff to the Claudia Karvan and Alex Dimitriades-starring 1993 movie The Heartbreak Kid. This time around, a revelation turns Hartley High student Amerie (Ayesha Madon, The Moth Effect) into a pariah, and also sparks a rift with her best pal Harper (Asher Yasbincek, How to Please a Woman). Attempting to repair her reputation, she calls on help from her new friends Quinni (Chloe Hayden, Jeremy the Dud) and Darren (first-timer James Majoos). Back when Netflix announced the cast, it described Amerie as a smart, big-hearted but loud working-class girl, and Harper as the person at Hartley that everyone is a little afraid of, including teachers. Quinni, who has autism, is "a brain trying to connect to a body and a heart", while Darren is "the warmest snarky shit-stirrer you're ever likely to meet". Other characters include Malakai (Thomas Weatherall, All My Friends Are Racist), a Bundjalung boy and basketballer who is new at Hartley High; Dusty (Josh Heuston, Thor: Love and Thunder), an insecure bass player in an indie rock band; Sasha (Gemma Chua-Tran, Mustangs FC), who has been badged "the coolest, sexiest, and chiccest lesbian at the school"; and Ca$h (Will McDonald, Home and Away), a mullet-wearing drug dealer, food delivery driver and pet duck owner. Rachel House (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Baby Done) plays Hartley High's principal, too — and yes, Netflix is still streaming the original series, should you feel like a double dose of nostalgia. Check out the latest trailer for the new Heartbreak High below: Heartbreak High will be available to stream via Netflix on Wednesday, September 14.
Catering to our fierce love of seafood over the holiday period, Sydney Fish Market is once again pulling its annual all-nighter so you can get your hands on the freshest ocean treats for Christmas lunch. Each year, the Fish Market — which will be relocated to a $250 million new site come 2023 — capably serves over 100,000 buyers looking to snag a deal. Between 5am on Wednesday, December 23–5pm on Thursday, December 24, the market is yours to scout out the most sumptuous fish, king prawns, oysters and calamari. Even better: it's all Australian-sourced. It's not only fish here, though. You can also peruse cold meats and cheeses at the deli for a grand charcuterie platter or stop by the onsite bakery and greengrocer. Or, if you're more of a Northern Hemisphere traditionalist, you can even pick up a turkey from the butcher. They sell basically everything here. If you're stuck for gifts, there are plenty of opportunities for that last-minute find. Head to the gift shop, florist, bottle shop or even grab a voucher for a cooking class at the popular Sydney Seafood School. Like most things, the seafood marathon will be a little different this year, however. To keep things COVID-19-safe, there'll be a single point of entry (on the corner of Bank Street and Pyrmont Bridge Road) — and you'll need to register upon arrival via QR code and get your temperature tested. Social distancing will be enforced, too, including queuing 1.5 metres apart. And wearing a mask is strongly encouraged.
With the arrival of autumn, you might have been planning on spending less time outdoors. The produce of regional Victoria, however, has the exact opposite idea. This is its time to sprout, thrive, ripen and drop. This is its time in the sun — the gentle autumn sun, to be precise. So if you're a person who enjoys eating fresh food, you're missing out if you don't pull on your Blundstones and get out there. One of the best spots for produce in the autumn months is the Murray River region. Not only do the colours of autumn look twice as good reflected in the water, the area is home to a trail of farm gates where you can shop for produce that's seen zero food miles, roadside honesty boxes offering fresh fruit, and restaurants that turn their neighbours' harvests into high-quality dishes. A stream of events — like the Sun Country Food and Wine Festival and the Flavours of Echuca Moama — celebrate the bounty at this time of year, while workshops in pickling and preserving help get you prepped for the colder, leaner months ahead. To experience it for yourself, head two-to-three hours' north of Melbourne to the Sun Country on the Murray or Backroads trails, or make a beeline for the farm gates we've picked out below. And for more autumn highlights, check out the Wander Victoria website. PICK AND PRESERVE FRUIT AT THE STRAWBERRY PICK 359 Lady Augusta Road, Echuca Village Live your most bucolic life by heading to The Strawberry Pick, a farm where you can pick your own strawbs (and sometimes flowers too). If you've only ever had strawberries from the supermarket, this is a must — commercial fruit is picked early in its cycle so it transports well, but actually it develops more depth of flavour when left on the vine for longer. Most of The Strawberry Pick's crop are the sweet Albion variety, and although they produce fruit for almost three-quarters of the year, grower Wayne Mattschoss says they're particularly good in autumn. "The size of our strawberries will increase in autumn as well as the complexity of flavour because of the cooler nights, which extend the time required for the ripening process," he says. In particular, there is a "flush" in early to mid-autumn where the fruit is at its most abundant and easy to find in the field. If you don't want to spend hours foraging, that's your sweet spot. An added attraction: this season, the farm is for the first time teaming up with Tim Harley of Quincey Jones Jelly to run weekly strawberry jam-making workshops on site. STOCK UP AT MANTO PRODUCE 293 Campbells Road, Cobram Manto Produce is your number-one Murray destination for fresh fruit. The 200-acre farm has been run by the Mantovani family for more than 25 years, and when they started, it was entirely without machinery. They grow stone and pome fruit here, which in the autumn means lush new-season Pink Lady and Granny Smith apples, as well as sweet, blushing apricots. You can pick them up in the farm gate shop, which also sells produce from the neighbours, so you can count on the likes of fresh leeks, parsnips, broccoli, mandarins, lemons, oranges, persimmons, pomegranates, chestnuts and walnuts at this time of year. For more on the fruit and veg front, stop at Eden Farm in Numurkah as well. EAT AND LEARN TO GROW GARLIC AT KATAMATITE GARLIC 1307 Chapel Road, Katamatite Garlic might not be the first vegetable to come to mind when you think of tantalising fresh produce. But odds are its one of your favourite flavour enhancers, and it will be extra good if you get it at Katamatite Garlic, where the summer garlic crop is usually available until around May. Autumn is the time to stock up on the fresh stuff before it sells out, while also exploring other forms of the bulb. "We grow 30 varieties of garlic with ones that can store up to 10-12 months," says Lisa Eddy of Katamatite Garlic. "We also make lots of other garlic products such as garlic jellies — they're great on meat or cheese or as something different on a cheese platter — a range of pickled garlic, garlic salts, dried garlic flakes and three different flavoured garlic pastes." The farm also runs workshops — check out autumn's lessons in garlic planting and how to prepare your garden for winter — and will hold an open day on Sunday, May 6, 2018, which is International Permaculture Day. GET LOST IN CACTUS COUNTRY 4986 Murray Valley Highway, Strathmerton Based on the varied cacti collection that farm founder Jim Halls bought from his father in 1979, Cactus Country is home to eight acres of the desert plants in every conceivable colour and shape. And while cacti are in season year-round, there's a distinct advantage to coming to this spot in autumn: that more mild weather means you'll have more stamina to survive hours in the exotic gardens, which are frequently used for film and photo shoots and are a guaranteed heavy-lifter in your Instagram feed. Re-energise with the farm's trademark cactus cake (made with opuntia leaves), cactus jam (in Peruvian apple, orange or purple cactus pear varieties) or a tequila cocktail splashed with cactus syrup. Easter weekend is one of the busiest times here, as the gardens host an Easter egg hunt for kids. Enjoy or avoid accordingly. DINE AT CAFE3641 54 Main Street, Strathmerton You've eaten well on the Farm Gate Trail. But several separate tastings don't add up to a proper sit-down meal, and for that there's no better spot than Cafe3641 in Strathmerton. Newly harvested produce from the local farms is funnelled into the kitchen here and turned into seasonal dishes. What's on the menu in autumn? It's impossible to say until the day, but the lemon meringue cheesecake and the high tea that happens on the last Sunday of each month are two guaranteed winners. PAUSE FOR CIDER AT BYRAMINE HOMESTEAD BREWERY AND CIDER HOUSE 1436 Murray Valley Highway, Burramine Autumn is the season for apples. Apples go in cider. Your visit to the cider-producing Byramine Homestead & Brewery is written in the stars. One of Victoria's oldest homesteads, Byramine was originally built by explorer Hamilton Hume for his sister-in-law Elizabeth and her nine children after her husband was murdered by bushrangers. These days, it's a working vegetable farm, brewery and cider house. Try the sparkling Remi's Remedy apple cider, or for something a little left of centre, Quinn's Poison, which holds a twist of lemon and lime. MAKE A SIP STOP AT PFEIFFER WINES Distillery Road, Wahgunyah The Murray region is one of Australia's biggest wine-growing regions, so take advantage of it. Pfeiffer Wines is a great stop as not only do they grow some premium wines that you can taste at their cellar door, they host an autumn farmers' market on Saturday, April 7, that is a favourite of the local producers. Consider getting a chardonnay from here — the Murray region is renowned for them and a more full-bodied white will pair well with autumnal dishes. Lighter reds like pinot noir or merlot are also perfect for the season. For more ideas on how to spend your autumn getaway to the Murray region, check out the Wander Victoria website.
If there's one job that Carriageworks is supremely good at, it's providing the dream setting for humongous artworks. So, it comes as no surprise that legendary Torres Strait Islander artist Ken Thaiday Snr has deemed the Darlington space suitable for housing his biggest installation in Sydney. Ever. And he'll be unveiling it, as well as launching a new series of accompanying dance works, on October 3. The hotly-anticipated creation is inspired by the landscape Thaiday calls home, as well as by the significance of family, faith and culture. Combining installation, kinetic sculpture and dance, the work provides a meeting place for the traditional and the contemporary. At its heart is an intricate sculpture, which is a monumental tribute to the Dhari — a type of headdress only worn in the Torres Strait. You'll be able to visit Thaiday's installation between October 3 and November 23. If you'd like to know more about it, head along to his artist talk, to be held on October 4.
You can spot a Wes Anderson film from a mile off. That's no criticism, mind you. The same can be said of any accomplished artist with a distinctive vision, and for Anderson that observable familiarity springs from his meticulous staging, enchanting sense of nostalgia, comically dysfunctional families and, generally, the casting of Bill Murray. The challenge for a director like that is to maintain those familiar traits without being so samey as to feel derivative. Every film becomes their 'difficult sophomore album', and thankfully in Anderson's case, Moonrise Kingdom is his The Bends, Astral Weeks and Nevermind combined. Set off New England's coast on the small fictional island of New Penzance, Moonrise Kingdom is a tale of adolescent love in the '60s. Sam (Jared Gilman) is a bespectacled 12-year-old orphan and talented boy scout whose social dyslexia renders him as unpopular with his scout troupe as it does his foster parents. His great love Suzy (Kara Hayward) is an attractive, voracious reader whose violent outbursts are a source of constant concern and dismay for her two attorney parents (Frances McDormand and Bill Murray). Fed up with a world that doesn't understand them, the pair elopes through the forest, sparking a hilarious search that at once enrages and galvanises the whole community. Both Hayward and Gilman are terrific, with the latter difficult not to imagine as a very young Charlie Sheen throughout. Music is always a massive component of Anderson's movies and it's the work of composer Benjamin Britten that underscores much of Moonrise Kingdom. Britten's 'Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra' bookends the entire film, and whilst it would be too clunky to simply replace 'orchestra' with 'life' in order to discover the film's message, Anderson's choice remains a very deliberate one. As with the sections of the orchestra in Britten's composition, Suzy's family is first broken up into its individual components and examined in isolation before finally being brought back together so that we might better understand them as a whole. The other 'instruments' in this piece include Bruce Willis as the island's sheriff, Tilda Swinton as an agent of Social Services, and Edward Norton, Jason Schwartzman and Harvey Keitel as 'Khaki Scout leaders' with varying levels of power and responsibility. Of Anderson's seven films this is definitely his darkest, yet it still retains his whimsical sense of humour and Fantastic Mr Fox-styled absurdity. As a story it plays out exactly like the fantasy novels of which Suzy is so fond: fantastic, heroic, and quietly romantic. Anderson isn't to everyone's taste, but longtime fans will love this film and newcomers couldn't want for a better introduction. https://youtube.com/watch?v=GKwPs4xvhJs
Contemporary artist Julie Mehretu is renowned throughout the world for her large-scale, abstract paintings which erupt with colour, energy and movement and have been said to redefine contemporary art. [caption id="attachment_978358" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Julie Mehretu, image courtesy and © Julie Mehretu, photograph: Josefina Santos[/caption] Exclusive to Sydney, Julie Mehretu: A Transcore of the Radical Imaginatory runs from Friday, November 29, 2024, to Sunday, April 27 2025, as part of the Sydney International Art Series. The exhibition will feature over 80 of Mehretu's works, including large scale paintings, prints and drawings. The New York-based artist is widely regarded as one of the most exciting, original and thought-provoking painters of her generation, reflected in the recent 83-foot-high glass mural commission for the Obama Presidential Centre in Chicago. Mehretu is renowned for her monumental works, which are informed by histories of art, architecture and our contemporary world, from revolution and migration to climate change. [caption id="attachment_980179" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Julie Mehretu, Hineni II (E.3:4), 2019-2020, ink and acrylic on canvas, Kravis Collection, image courtesy and © Julie Mehretu, photograph: Tom Powell Imaging[/caption] Head over to MCA Australia to experience big, bold and dynamic multilayered paintings. While you're there, you could even check out programs responding to the exhibition, including talks, tours, a Family Space and special events. A highlight is Julie Mehretu; Up Late part of Sydney Festival's Art Up Late (Wednesdays 8, 15 and 22 January until 9pm.) Or, On Friday, February 14, MCA Australia and Heaps Gay are teaming up for a date night at the Museum. This will mark the first day of Sydney Mardi Gras and of course Valentine's Day. The event is free, with entry to the Julie Mehretu exhibition ticketed. Julie Mehretu: A Transcore of the Radical Imaginatory is taking place from Friday, November 29, 2024 to Sunday, April 27, 2025, from 10am–5pm (closed Tuesdays and 25 December) as part of the Sydney International Art Series. Tickets are available online and at MCA, and the exhibition is free for MCA Members and children ages 17 and under. Art Passes are also available, covering single entry to all three exhibitions in the Sydney International Art Series including Magritte and Cao Fei at the Art Gallery of NSW. Find more information and book tickets at mca.com.au. Header image: Julie Mehretu, 'Sumo', 2024, ink and acrylic on canvas, image courtesy and © Julie Mehretu, photograph: Tom Powel Imaging.
Don Pedros by Vue Bar is bringing margaritas, moreish Mexican snacking and casual fiesta vibes to Bondi in a pop-up iteration of the tucked away Paddington eatery. This is the perfect spot for unpretentious group hangs. Brightly coloured decor and lively bar staff create an infectious sense of buzz — so too the selection of margaritas. After all, at a place called Don Pedros you have to expect tequila to be a major part of the experience. The essential Classic and Tommy's appear on the drinks list alongside more inventive takes like the Coconut version which adds coconut syrup into the classic recipe or the zesty Blood Orange & Grapefruit margarita with tequila resposado, blood orange liquor, agave and grapefruit juice. Can't touch tequila? The menu also boasts a generous selection of Mexican beer, from Tecate to Bohemia Clara. When it comes to the food, there's the requisite lineup of Tex Mex-style starters like nachos, jalapeño poppers and chipotle chicken wings, but the main area to focus your hunger and attention is on tacos. There are nine options, from crispy prawn to beef brisket and soft shell crab. You can order one at a time or roll up your sleeves, get a taco platter and build your own. With specials like $5 taco Tuesdays and a margarita happy hour on Fridays from 4pm-6pm with Classic margs going for just $10 each, there's a lot of loud and laidback fun to be had at Don Pedros by Vue Bar.
It's hard to get a true snapshot of a place you're holidaying in when you don't know a resident who can show you around. Sydney can be a particularly hard nut to crack — how do you balance seeing its famously show-offy coastal and harbour landmarks, with getting a peek at its less well-lit and polished contemporary underbelly? To help you explore more of the city, we've gathered up a few of the very best, and some lesser known, experiences around town. And to do it, we've enlisted the help of Pullman Hotels and Resorts bar manager Jason Song and executive chef Daniel Simpson, because nobody knows a good secret like someone who works in hospitality. Over at the Hacienda, the bar at the Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour, Song slings drinks with the best of them, having developed an interest in mixology after years of working in a bank. Simpson, meanwhile, has traversed the world, making a living from cooking, and climbing the ladder all the way to the Pullman Sydney Airport. With our combined mental capacity, we've pulled together some of Sydney's best experiences to be had in the realms of food and drink, leisure and wellbeing, and contemporary art and design. So get your Dora on and start exploring. Check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. FOOD & DRINK ARCHIE ROSE While Sydney has a booming beer brewing history, Archie Rose was the first dedicated spirit distillery to operate in Sydney for a very long time. Far too long, some might say. In addition to the creation of unique Australian spirits, a fine cocktail bar is attached to the distillery, and they offer a number of masterclasses on distilling and blending beverages. And while it's a favourite for after-work drinks, the cozy nooks in the bar are also perfect for a date, a solo mission or a get-together with old buddies. Very worth the trip to the industrial area of Rosebery. Don't miss: The Archie Rose signature dry gin and fresh pear and ginger juice ($9) 678 SYDNEY With Sydney's cultural identity being as multifaceted as it is, it's no surprise that some of the best food to be had made its way to our plates from far-off shores. Located in Haymarket in the centre of Sydney, 678 Sydney prepares some of the most delectable Korean barbecue that you'll ever have the pleasure of supping on, and they'll overload you with all the traditional sides that you can handle. If you're a believer in the maxim that if you want something done right then you have to do it yourself, you're in luck, because the responsibility of manning the barbecue rests entirely on the customer. Don't miss: For the more adventurous, have the sliced beef tongue. For everyone else, the soy marinated pork ribs are pretty incredible. COFFEE ALCHEMY From time immemorial, a deep battle has waged between Australia's two largest cities, all about who can combine water, milk and ground coffee beans the best. Cafe and roastery Coffee Alchemy is one of Sydney's coffee heroes, with the product coming out of their Marrickville digs slaking the lust of many a coffee connoisseur with exceptional regularity. While there are more cafes in Sydney than one could poke a stick at, Coffee Alchemy is one of the few that illuminates just how seriously residents of the Emerald City take their coffee. Can't make it to Marrickville? Coffee Alchemy have a number of side projects, including Gumption in the CBD's Strand Arcade. Don't miss: On a hot day, order a Sparkler — carbonated brewed coffee poured from the tap and served in a beer glass. BODEGA As incredible as they are, there's more to the cuisine of South and Central America than tacos and nachos, and Bodega gives you the opportunity to have a crack at a whole lot of it. The menu is a contemporary take on Latin cuisine based around tapas and share plates, with the addition of a booze list that's got something awesome for everyone. The venue itself is an experience, with its '50s-inspired fittings and a playlist of music you'll actually want to listen to. Great for groups, dates and everything in between, Bodega's the perfect place to explore more of Latin America, in Sydney. Don't miss: The Porky Occy Gnocchi is a guiso (stew) of pork shoulder, chorizo and octopus, and is destined to blow your mind. WELLBEING & LEISURE WENDY'S SECRET GARDEN Despite the heaving metropolis that's at the heart of Sydney, it's not hard to find oneself pleasantly lost among a splash of greenery without venturing to the hinterlands. One of the finest examples of this is the stunning and, as the name suggests, secluded Wendy's Secret Garden. The garden was built under the design and direction of Wendy Whiteley, who has said that she knew nothing about horticulture when she started work on the grounds — located in front of the home she shared with her husband, artist Brett Whiteley — and instead built the garden with an emphasis on aesthetic appeal. The never-ending artwork creates a retreat from the urban jungle. Wendy Whiteley was awarded Australia's highest honour, the Order of Australia Medal, for her construction of the garden, and they don't just give those to anybody. Don't miss: Paths wind, diverge and converge within the garden, creating many quiet corners for picnics. SPIT BRIDGE TO MANLY COASTAL WALK Australia has a simply shocking abundance of stunning coastline — a perk of living on what is essentially a gigantic tropical island. One of the best ways to see this coastline is to hike alongside it — there are dozens of such walks in Sydney, each with their own unique character. The Spit Bridge to Manly walk is a great choice, as it not only lets you appreciate some of the most picturesque harbour scenery in the north, it also means you can take the Manly Ferry back to Circular Quay. Start out at the Spit Bridge, about 10 kilometres north of the CBD and trace the headlands all the way to Manly, wandering through bushland, along cliffs, and onto beaches. Don't miss: Take your swimming gear, because the you'll traipse through a number of hidden beaches that are perfect for cooling off from the walk. LA PEROUSE Although perhaps not as well known as some of Sydney famous beach suburbs, La Perouse offers a perfect snapshot of the city's coastal splendours. Snorkelling, scuba diving and stand-up paddleboarding all have their place along this stretch of coastline, which features sheltered, calm beaches like Frenchmans Bay, Congwong and Little Congwong (the latter sometimes trends nudist). La Perouse is located on the northern headland of Botany Bay, so there are also some landmarks of Australia's European colonial history, which you can see on the walk from the beaches to Bare Island. Don't miss: The tower at Bare Island, still functional and intact today, started life as a customs tower to guard against smugglers, then became a home for veterans of the First World War, and has even been a set in Mission: Impossible 2. ART & DESIGN WHITE RABBIT GALLERY Opened in 2009, Judith Neilson's White Rabbit Gallery is home to one of the world's biggest collections of contemporary Chinese art. Focusing solely on artworks created after 2000, the gallery constantly rotates the works on display, and its collection is constantly growing. Works come from some of the most important figures in the Chinese art world (including Ai Weiwei), and entry is free of charge. It'd be nice to leave a donation, though — White Rabbit is a registered charity. Don't miss: If all that culture has made you a touch peckish, the Teahouse in the gallery serves excellent dumplings and snacks, as well as a huge range of Chinese and Taiwanese teas. WE ARE HERE MURAL, FOLEY STREET Far from a raggedy bunch of graffiti, the We Are Here mural that runs for 75 metres parallel to Oxford Street on Foley Street is a coherent story of the vibrant history of the area. From its beginnings as humble track through the dense scrub to the thriving arts and entertainment precinct it is today, the work (a collaboration between artists Sarah Howell, Dylan Demarchi, byrd, The Dirt and Gui Andrade) describes the many and varied parades that have traipsed up Oxford Street over the millennia. Since the land's traditional owners trekked along the route from Botany Bay to Sydney Harbour, Oxford Street has remained an important symbol of Sydney's identity, no more so than every March when thousands march for Mardi Gras, and We Are Here paints this picture perfectly. Don't miss: A recurring motif runs through the mural, portraying the hands that built the area as we know it today, from the artist to the final V for Victory at the conclusion of the piece. CARRIAGEWORKS Converted from a decommissioned train workshop, this arts centre gathers together a little bit of everything that Australia and the world has to offer to the aesthetic appetite. As well as art exhibitions, Carriageworks also hosts regular performances, including some pretty big names in music and theatre. Be sure to grab a coffee or a cocktail and a bite to eat at the in-house bar and cafe, Cornerstone. Don't miss: Carriageworks is open every day, but every Saturday it holds a top-notch farmers' market with fresh produce and some killer breakfasts in the covered outdoor area. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
Have you got a lot of pent up energy you can't wait to let loose? Luckily, you don't have to travel far to blow off steam. A full spectrum of thrills is on offer within Sydney and its surrounds, and you don't need to plan these adventures months in advance either. We've teamed up with Adrenaline to highlight some of the high-energy activities it offers for whenever you're ready to get going. Give the rest of the year the boost it sorely needs by canyonying your way through the Blue Mountains or leaping out of a plane over Wollongong. These eight top-notch experiences are a stellar way to set the tone for things to come. FLY OVER SYDNEY IN A BLACK OPS MILITARY-STYLE HELICOPTER If there's one thing guaranteed to put your heart in your mouth, it's a death-defying helicopter flight ramping up to almost 240 kilometres per hour. Lifting off from Sydney Airport, the helicopter will fly high above the city skyline and along the coastline. You'll be safely inside the same type of helicopter used by military forces around the world, and your flight helmet comes complete with a GoPro to capture the entire experience. Once you've safely landed, you'll receive your footage edited together with the in-flight communications and an action-packed soundtrack, providing you with endless memories of this Mission Impossible-esque experience. RACE THROUGH A RAINFOREST ON A ZIPLINE The warm temperate rainforests of the Southern Highlands make quite the impression from the ground. But they're even more awe-inspiring when you're strapped into Australia's highest zipline adventure. Soaring across a series of cables and suspension bridges at 35 metres above the ground, you'll get to experience remarkable vistas stretching all the way to the Pacific Ocean. If you decide to embark on this journey, you'll also receive an educational rundown on the region's vibrant flora and fauna, and gain access to the Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk where you can stroll among the seemingly endless green canopies. TEST YOUR UPPER BODY STRENGTH WITH AN INDOOR ROCK CLIMBING SESSION You don't have to be free soloing up a sheer cliffside like Alex Honnold to get your palms sweaty from rock climbing. You can achieve a similar rush from the safety of the Villawood's Indoor Climbing Gym, as you spend the entire day taking on a variety of challenging obstacles. The gym has 250 unique routes to test your technique on, so you'll encounter overhangs, vertical drops and sharp slabs on your way to the top of the 16-metre-tall walls. This centre serves as the perfect indoor adventure to conquer within Sydney's limits before deciding whether you have what it takes to scale an openair peak. [caption id="attachment_702979" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sydney Aquarium[/caption] MAKE SOME NEW TOOTHY MATES AT SYDNEY AQUARIUM There aren't too many places where you want to come face to face with a shark, but this 30-minute diving encounter at Sydney Aquarium is a rare exception to the rule. Although you're probably eager to leap straight in with these notorious creatures, first you'll undergo a detailed introduction to scuba diving and apply your new skills in the training pool. Then it's time to take a deep breath, as your expert instructors lead you inside the aquarium tanks teeming with over 30 sharks, including 4.5-metre long wobbegongs and other marine life, like stingrays and turtles. Friends and family can watch on from the spectators' tunnel, so get them to snap some photos of you with your new sharp-toothed pals. ZOOM OVER SYDNEY IN A FIGHTER JET Do you like to live life in the fast lane? Well, there's almost no faster lane than the one used by fighter jets. This high-octane adventure places you in the rear seat of a blisteringly quick L-39 fighter jet, with your veteran pilot more than happy to put the aircraft through its paces. Before take-off, you'll get dressed in a military-style flight suit (BYO aviator sunglasses) and partake in a safety briefing explaining the extreme g-forces your body is about to experience. Soon you'll be zooming down the runway and bursting through a 15-minute sequence of high-velocity manoeuvres that'll expand your definition of speed. Let's hope you can hold onto your lunch. JUMP OUT OF A PLANE OVER WOLLONGONG Few things are bound to satisfy an adrenaline junkie more than skydiving from a plane at 15,000 feet. And there aren't many better places to experience the thrill of plummeting towards the ground at 200 kilometres per hour than over the picturesque landscape of Wollongong Beach. Don't worry, you won't have to fling yourself into thin air on your own — you'll be jumping in tandem with a highly trained instructor who'll ensure you reach the beachfront safely. Following an electrifying free-fall lasting up to 60 seconds, you'll get to soak up the coastal views as you glide down and eventually get your feet back on solid ground. GO HORSE RIDING AND QUAD BIKING THROUGH BUSHLAND If you've been cooped up inside for the last couple of months, getting some fresh country air sounds like a smart idea. You won't have to head far beyond Sydney's outer suburbs to reach Glenworth Valley's sprawling 3000 acres of countryside for a horse riding and quad bike combo tour. You'll be given the option of trail or free-range riding depending on your previous horse riding experience, then you can spend two hours exploring the surrounding valleys and rainforests. Next, it's time for part two of your adventure as you have another 90 minutes to motor through the property's myriad bushland tracks and river crossings on a high-speed quad bike. Treat yourself to a trip that's guaranteed to jump-start the rest of your year. Head to the Adrenaline website and find an adventure that won't disappoint. Top image: Adrenaline
There have always been similarities between art and wine. You could even call wine 'drinkable art'. To understand the merit of a piece of art — and have a deeper appreciation for it — you have to consider when it was created and what societal or contextual factors influence how you view it. Where are you are viewing the work, are you standing on the street or in a museum? Who was it created for? What is it made out of? These are similar to the questions wine critics ask when assessing wine and the questions sommeliers ask when creating a wine list. What food will guests be eating with the wine? What techniques were used to create this wine? What is the wine's terroir? Looking at wine through this lens creates a new appreciation for what's in your glass. But what about the art on the outside of the bottle? There are often hidden meanings and stories behind the images. Next time you're in a bottle shop, restaurant or even browsing online — take time to discover the stories within the labels, it adds to the sensory adventure you're about to embark upon. The five wines below are a selection of wines that are not only delicious but whose wine labels also tell a story. SHOPPING LIST (from left to right) 1. 2017 Unico Zelo 'Halcyon Days' Nero d'Avola, Riverland, SA, $35 Illustrator Ruben Ireland's images were used for all of Unico Zelo's latest releases of nero d'avola ad fiano. The above 'Halcyon Days' label is from Ireland's artwork 'Here Before'. It depicts an ethereal woman with feathers in her hair, sitting with a butterfly lightly perched on her fingertips — a visual representation of winemaking and the delicacy of the grape's style. 2. 2016 Somos 'Tintito' Grenache Blend, McLaren Vale, SA, $24 from Different Drop Behind this label is a young Australian artist from Melbourne called Eddy Sara — an absolute legend, bone cancer survivor and now, creator of amazing art. The label was originally created for a small batch syrah experiment by Somos winemakers Ben Caldwell and Maurico Ruiz. It was a big inky tannic variety, which is reflected in the label — a kraken battles with a bird of prey, representing the battle between the depth of the variety and the light, freshness of the winemaking. The label tells the story of the wine's new blend, too, with grenache being the base, like the ocean giving stability and drinkability, and then the octopus and eagle fighting it out to make the wine intriguing and interesting. 3. 2017 Yetti and the Kokonut 'Brose' Rose, Barossa Valley, SA, $25 from Different Drop Brose celebrates the bromance between the wine's founders Dave Geyer (the Yetti) and Koen Janssens (the Kokonut), who spend more time together during vintage than they do with their own partners. Drawn by the incredibly talented Emma Shearer (who is also Janssens's fiancée), the range of labels all feature the yetti and his trusty sidekick, the coconut, in various hijinks. This label has them holding long-stemmed roses in their teeth. 4. 2017 Vinteloper Pinot Gris, Adelaide Hills, SA, $29 It's no secret who creates the labels for David Bowley's entire Vinteloper range of wines, as it is stated boldly on the label — his wife Sharon (Shaz) Hong. The pair discuss the label's design (over many bottles of wine) at dinner, talking about the flavours, the senses and the seasons. Hong translates that feeling onto paper through her unique artistic style, using symbols to describe the wines characters. The label itself becomes a visual representation of not only what's inside but also what it means to share wine with your loved ones. 5. 2015 Athletes of Wine 'Vinero' Chardonnay, Macedon Ranges VIC, $44 For the Athletes of Wine label, founders Matt Brooke and Liam O'Brien wanted a caricature that would represent their alter-egos. The boys came across Melbourne street artist David Booth who had his very own alter-ego called Ghostpatrol. When Brooke and O'Brien first saw it, they knew they'd found the perfect person to create their labels. Booth created for them the Vineyard Superhero, a character holding a tool that's equal parts ancient pruning tool and equal parts a corkscrew — the superhero is a vigneron by day and sommelier by night. The Oeno Files is our new bi-weekly wine column keeping you up-to-date with the latest wine trends happening around the country. Samantha Payne is a Sydney based wine consultant, writer and sommelier who has worked in the industry for over a decade. She travels, both locally and internationally, to chat with winemakers (and occasionally lend a hand in winemaking), write wine lists and hosts wine events. Images: Lucia Braham
"We're not done with golf": in the just-dropped official teaser trailer for Happy Gilmore 2, they're Virginia Venit's (Julie Bowen, Hysteria!) words to the movie's main character; however, they clearly apply to Adam Sandler, too. Almost three decades after first getting tap, tap, tapping as a hockey player with an anger problem who makes the jump to golf — and after Happy Gilmore became one of the best-known comedies of the 90s, as well as one of Sandler's best-known films — he's back on the green on-screen. In the first film, Happy won the Tour Championship in 1996. As the just-dropped new sneak peek at Happy Gilmore 2 shows, he's repeated the feat several times over, and now has a bust of his head to honour five-time winners to show for. It's been years since he has picked up a club, though, and he's a little intimidated by today's golfers — but soon he's back in the swing again. Alongside Sandler (Spaceman) and Bowen, Ben Stiller (Nutcrackers) and Christopher McDonald (Hacks) return from the original Happy Gilmore. Joining them among the cast: Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (Cassandro) aka Bad Bunny; Sander's daughters Sadie (You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah) and Sunny (Kinda Pregnant); Travis Kelce; and Blake Clark (a regular Sandler collaborator, as seen in The Waterboy, Little Nicky, Mr Deeds, 50 First Dates, Click, Grown Ups and more). Then there's the lineup of IRL professional golfers, such as John Daly, Rory McIlroy, Paige Spiranac, Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Will Zalatoris and Bryson DeChambeau. A new happy place, unexpected reunions, broken clubs, more than a few rounds of advice encouraging Gilmore to get back to the sport: they're all part of the new trailer, too, which follows a past teaser to start 2025. Just like with the original, Sandler co-wrote Happy Gilmore 2 with Tim Herlihy (who has also penned or co-penned Billy Madison, The Wedding Singer, The Waterboy and eight other Sandler flicks through to Hubie Halloween), but Kyle Newacheck (Murder Mystery) steps into the director's chair instead of the initial film's Dennis Dugan (Grown Ups 2). Check out the official teaser for Happy Gilmore 2 below: Happy Gilmore 2 will stream via Netflix from Friday, July 25, 2025. Top image: Cr. Scott Yamano/Netflix © 2024.
Deep-fried ice cream is the kind of confection that delivers the best of two worlds. On the one hand, there's frosty, creamy ice cream. On the other, there's the hot, crunchy crust. While you'd often have to venture to a suburban Chinese restaurant to get your hands on this singular treat, deep fried ice cream on-the-go is now an option thanks to a new Strathfield store from longtime Sydney food truck Duo Duo. You may have caught the truck at a food festival or event around town, or you might remember the name for the home delivery kits that were rolled out during lockdown. Now, the dessert-loving enterprise has levelled things up and opened a flagship store on Strathfield's The Boulevard. Sporting a slick modern fitout, the store could be dismissed as another Rivareno or Gelattissimo competitor. But, step up to the stylish marble countertop and you'll be greeted by a far more inventive addition to Sydney's dessert scene. Of course, the deep fried ice cream is a major drawcard. The pandan coconut is the original speciality with sweetened coconut sauce and roasted coconut flakes making it a must-try for coconut-lovers. The vanilla bean serve comes topped with house-made salted caramel and butterscotch popcorn, while the cookies and cream flavour is paired with Nutella ganache and cookie crumble. There's plenty more to love here if you're on the hunt for a sweet treat that's a little less hedonistic. There's a classic gelato bar out the front that sets itself apart with high-quality scoops and unique flavours. You'll find classics like vanilla bean and pistachio side-by-side with less traditional flavours like durian, macha, taro, blueberry cheesecake, Vietnamese iced coffee and Thai milk tea varieties. Plus, there's doughnuts. The team recommend tucking into a creme brulee or strawberry, cream and berry jam-filled variant, while crowd-pleasers like Biscoff cheesecake or classic original glazed are also on offer. If you're feeling parched after you've devoured your dessert, Duo Duo is ready with a selection of in-house sodas and teas as well. Order a green grape, yuzu or lychee soft drink, or opt for tea available in strawberry hojicha, apple black or grape sencha. Duo Duo is now open at 11 The Boulevarde, Strathfield. It's open midday–10pm Sunday–Thursday and midday–11pm Friday–Saturday. Photos: Regan Ching
If you've worked up a hunger wandering around the small boutiques, vintage stores and other shops in Nelson Bay's town centre, make tracks to Seabreeze Hotel. Located at the marina end of Stockton Street, the pub makes for a good spot to refuel. The venue has a contemporary look and feel across its various spaces — it boasts a dining area, public bar and a patio. It also has 18 rooms that sleep between 2–4 people, and a bottle shop if you want to grab something to go. Order a cocktail jug to share — we have our eye on pineapple rosé sangria — or a bottle of wine from the two-page menu (with nothing over $100), before diving into the food menu. If you're just a little peckish, pick some starters to share, like karaage chicken bao, loaded fries and garlic pizzetta. Or, if you're really hungry, order the beef brisket ragu linguine or a wagyu rump with creamy mash. Just be sure to leave room for the Golden Gaytime-inspired dessert with honeycomb parfait, Kingston biscuit crumb, chocolate ganache and roasted peanuts.
Crank up Hozier — you're heading to church for dinner on your next trip to Bathurst. Well, it's not church, exactly, but a former church schoolhouse. Known as Church Bar, this candlelit hideaway serves up cocktails and woodfired pizzas. It's got over 20 types of pie, including two dessert ones: the Rose ($20) with white chocolate, mixed berries and homemade crumble and the Charlotte ($20) with melted milk chocolate, vanilla ice cream, strawberries, bananas and choc fudge sauce. But, before you get your sugar hit, try the Russel ($23), with sautéed mushrooms, grilled asparagus, a poached egg and parmesan cheese, drizzled with white truffle oil. Or, there's the spicy Piper ($21) with spicy chorizo, capsicum, jalapeño and chilli, one wih slow-cooked lamb shanks, sweet potato, rosemary and feta ($25) or the simple (but delicious) Vale ($17) with Napolitana sauce, buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil. For drinks, expect classic such as a caipiroska ($16), french martini ($17), bloody mary ($17) and espresso martini ($18) alongside the bar's signature cocktails.
Being houseproud is the new social. Whether you're an avid viewer of Grand Designs and invest hours lusting over interior design accounts on Instagram, or you're just feeling ambivalent towards your living space after having spent so much time in it recently, there's one thing worth remembering: even the subtlest of changes can make a big difference to how a room looks and feels. In partnership with Samsung, we have curated eight effortlessly stylish objects from makers in Australia and further afield. These homewares and furniture pieces will seamlessly complement the room of your choice while elevating it to new design heights. PERCY FLOOR LAMP, MCMULLIN AND CO ($449) McMullin and Co has a focus on simplicity in its creations, as well as a love for elegant scalloped edges and serpentine lines. The Percy Floor Lamp's powder-coated black stem is an example of the meandering curve that's been admired throughout art history for what it signifies: liveliness, activity and something of interest for the eye. Complete with a linen shade, this floor lamp casts a beautiful light and is just one of the many striking pieces of furniture and design wares offered by the Sydney-based design studio. We love imagining it next to one of McMullin and Co's bed heads as a floor or table lamp, or placed in the corner of the living room to bring an unimposing glow — perfect for mood lighting during a late-night movie marathon. THE SERIF, SAMSUNG (FROM $1249) Gone are the days where you need to hide your eyesore TV set or find some way to make a large black screen (and its many cables) work with your living room aesthetic. Stylish from any angle, Samsung's The Serif is an innovative format for home televisions that harkens back to the days of freestanding TVs, but with a modern update. Celebrated industrial designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec are behind The Serif's unique design, and it is fast building a cult following. What we love most about The Serif is its versatility — its 360-degree design, with a unique 'I'-shaped profile and removable legs means it looks great no matter where in the room you place it. But it's not only for the interior aesthetes. The visual harmony of the Bouroullec brothers' design is complemented by Samsung's QLED picture quality. It includes features like smart connectivity and Ambient Mode, where you can display your own photos and images (or one of the exclusive patterns from the Bouroullec brothers) on the screen, which also auto-adjusts to surrounding light settings. Plus, through NFC technology, you can place your compatible phone on the top shelf and play tunes through the TV speakers*. ECLIPSE #2098 RUG, PAMPA ($3260) This year's long winter stuck indoors really brought rugs and floor coverings into focus. Now, as we head into summer, a flatweave wool rug is an appealing addition to the floor of nearly any room in your house — and it's perfect to layer with heavier rugs as the cooler months return. This hand-woven piece from Pampa is made using the traditional practice by Argentinian weavers, where the looms used are the arm span of the weaver. The textile panels are then joined together to create the finished rugs, giving a lovely handmade touch to this investment purchase. Pampa's interest in colour theory is evident in this rug: the creamy beige becomes almost pink next to its complementary moss green. ANNA VARENDORFF, SMALL 'EDGING OVER' THICK TUBE VASE, ACV STUDIO ($290) We've seen vases in cylindrical form popping up in designer feeds recently. But this one by award-winning Melbourne-based artist Anna Varendorff is a little different. Each vase is individually handmade and has a buffed matte finish, bringing interest and imperfection to the smooth stainless steel. No two are exactly the same. The tube is wide enough to hold medium- and thick-stemmed fresh foliage and dried flowers. As you can tell from the image above, it will be a unique focal point in any room for you (and guests) to marvel at. OLIO ARMCHAIR, DESIGN BY THEM (FROM $3658) This chair is the work of three designers: Sarah Gibson and Nicholas Karlovasitis (who work together under Gibson Karlo and are co-founders of Design by Them), and Melbourne School of Design lecturer, Christina Bricknell. The Olio Armchair brings together the talents and interests of the Australian design trio in sculptural form, material and tactility to create this modern addition to your furniture collection. The piece features curved and cylindrical elements to create an inviting seat in which to rest, read and watch. It's available in a variety of coverings including a beautiful ivory bouclé, lush navy velvet and several leather options. CUSHION, VEIKKANEN ($225) If you're looking for a beautiful, graphic-print cushion to bring some colour to your interior ensemble, look no further than Veikkanen. The Melbourne-based brand offers a series of one-of-a-kind cushions with patterns, graphics and colours informed by its founder's training in both textiles and graphic design. Veikannen chooses natural and recycled materials wherever possible, and custom-makes each cushion using the process of hand-tufting. Watch out for each drop of limited-edition products on Instagram — they sell out fast. And if you're interested in taking these funky vibrant visuals to your wall, art and hangings are also available in limited releases or by commission. DREAMWEAVER LIGHT, POP & SCOTT ($890) With a steel frame hand-woven with organic cotton yarn and dipped in colour at its base, this lamp shade beautifully demonstrates strong elements coming together in harmony with a focus on function and form. Choose from a colour palette of rust, oatmeal, chartreuse, blush and navy to design your ideal lighting to suit your space. Pop & Scott has a passion for contemporary Australian design, and places a focus on sourcing quality materials and using ethical means of production to create timeless pieces. These shades are made to order by the family business, and a tree is planted for each purchase via Carbon Neutral. J4 TABLES, JAMES HOWE (ENQUIRE) Furniture and lighting designer James Howe has created a table that invites us to pay attention to light and shadow, and how they interact. Crafted with timber and acrylic, the varied surfaces speak to Howe's interest in materials and minimalism. The J4 table's name is perhaps a nod to Danish designer Børge Mogensen's J39 chair that Howe cites as his inspiration to become a furniture designer. To find out more about The Serif, visit the Samsung website. * Only supported by Android OS-based smartphones that support Near Field Communication (NFC) wireless information sharing.
Having them take care of our more mundane tasks is one thing, but teaching them to make art? That's quite another. e-David, developed by computer scientists at the University of Konstanz (Baden-Wurttemburg), can create scarily detailed drawings and paintings from both photographs and real life. As extraordinary as his powers might seem, e-David is actually an every day kind of robot, of the 'welding' variety. They're the type that are used in automobile manufacturing. A combination of sensors, a camera and a control computer (which gives the drawing commands) enables him to roll it out like Rembrandt. In fact, e-David's 'style' is very much like that of the Dutch legend. He creates detail through the gradual build up of translucent layers, with each painting taking about ten hours to complete. Unsurprisingly, though, the end effect still tends towards the digitally-manipulated-photo-look, rather than that of the work of a genius. Art students, breathe a sigh of relief. Oh, and in case you're wondering (or concerned), e-David, as far as we know, isn't named after Michelangelo's masterpiece. It's an acronym for 'Drawing Apparatus for Vivid Image Display). e-David Robot Painting from eDavid on Vimeo. [via the creators project]
Ahh, globalisation — the force that means Sydney now enjoys the same cheap thrills as all the rest of the world. While you can get Prada knockoffs, dodgy thermals and T-shirts from Zara, Topshop, Uniqlo and Gap; good ramen at Ippudo; and decent teishoku at Yayoi, it's Taiwanese import Hot Star Large Fried Chicken that delivers the most fun for the least buck. A small takeaway-only shopfront on the dingy, cold end of Liverpool Street, Hot Star does very little to live up to its name. The colour scheme is contact-lens-brand blue and the staff wear surgical masks that make you think they are fighting bird flu, not frying chicken. The simple menu is laid out confusingly. There are two flavours (original and spicy, $7.90), two kinds of fries (curly and sweet potato, $3.90), as well as mushrooms (??, $4.90) and chicken 'bites' ($5.90) that completely defeat the purpose of 'large fried chicken'. Having ordered, we are given plastic bags to hold. The purpose of this is revealed as bagging a piece of fried chicken the size of Western Australia is like getting a sleeping bag into a condom — between you and the store attendant it's a two man job. But it is worth it. The spicy chicken is a brilliant, powdery Mars red, while the pale expanse of the original chicken resembles a vast, pocked lunar landscape (but with a much higher water content). The breast meat is remarkably juicy, and while the seasoning on the original chicken puts the Colonel's secret recipe to shame, the moderate heat of the spicy chicken does become a challenge after the first 200 square centimetres. In the end, we realise that the only advantage the Colonel has are the wet wipes that accompany his meals. Unfortunately, the 'curly fries' come as a bag of greasy, smashed-up spirals. On the other hand, the excellent sweet potato fries have a sugary seasoning (insidious? ingenious? I'm not sure), and serve as the dessert that, perversely, such a large, salty meal always calls for to balance the palate and delay the inevitable food coma. Better value for money than those Zara skinnies in your cupboard with the broken fly zipper, Hot Star is the best of Sydney's international chain store imports. Or did that fly zipper only break after your face-sized fried chicken? You'll find Hot Star Large Fried Chicken in our list of the best fried chicken in Sydney. Check out the full list here. Appears in: The Best Fried Chicken in Sydney for 2023
House and unit ownership has become more unaffordable than ever in Australia, but upon investigating Domain's latest house price report, you may be surprised to find that a handful of suburbs actually have seen prices drop in the last five years. Released in January, the report details price changes on a suburb-by-suburb basis, but units are outperforming houses across the board. As the report reads, "Australia's housing upswing is firmly entrenched, but no longer uniform." Growth is still the norm, but it's becoming more and more uneven, and buyers can now get a better idea of what suburbs have actually seen median prices drop. In Sydney, where price growth is continuing for the third quarter in a row, and the median unit price is $844,390, some stereotypically pricey suburbs have actually grown cheaper. Units in the luxury harbourside suburb of Kirribilli recorded a 23.1% decline in price over the last year, while out west, Concord prices dropped by 31.3%. In the north, prices dropped 13.2% in Lindfield, and Olympic Park down by 10.1%. In Victoria, Melbourne is officially the third most affordable capital city in the country for unit buyers, but prices have continued to climb a further 3.8% to a median of $601,184. Notable suburbs that saw prices drop included artistic haven Murrumbeena, which saw prices drop by 20.7%, Melbourne itself by 13.8% (adding to a large drop of 18.6% in the last five years), Carlton, which saw a drop of 22.5% in the last year and Malvern East by 13.9%. Brisbane's unit prices continue to grow, and have been for a record 19 consecutive quarters on record, currently sitting at a median of $770,471. Prices haven't dropped in the same way as other cities, though, with drops recorded in just a handful of suburbs such as Highgate Hill, which saw a drop of 14%. Other Queensland areas like Port Douglas, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast recorded minor declines, but most medians continue to climb. Elsewhere in Australia, Canberra was the only capital city to actually record a decline in median unit price overall, dropping by 1.3% to $611,466, while the needle didn't move at all in Hobart, where houses are 46% more expensive than the median unit price of $526,980. All other capital cities recorded growth, and house prices even more so, with Domain's 2026 First Home Buyers Report noting that entry-level house prices have risen by an average of $150,000 across the nation. For the full report, visit the Domain website here. Lead image: Destination NSW
Tuesday, February 17, marks the 2026 Lunar New Year: a time for family feasts, good fortune, well-wishing, and a fresh start. For Lotus Dining Group executive chef Steve Wu, it's his favourite time of year. "To me, it is a celebration dedicated entirely to family and connection. A holiday where relatives who haven't seen each other in a long while gather to share meals filled with blessings." Steve grew up in Tainan, the oldest city in Taiwan, a place renowned worldwide for its incredible food culture and warm hospitality. While Steve has been based in Sydney since 2012 and is now the chef behind local restaurants Pearl Dining, Lotus and the Dumpling Bar in Circular Quay and Summer Hill, his culinary roots reach back to his childhood. "My mother was a traditional housewife who mastered the craft passed down from my grandmother. Every festival, she would hand-make everything — from Nian Gao (rice cakes) to Zongzi — using the most traditional methods," Steve tells Concrete Playground. "Watching my mother cook and helping her transform raw ingredients into a festive feast was the most captivating thing to me. That process is truly what inspired me to become a professional chef." Lunar New Year in Australia may look different from the festivities of his childhood, but Steve is still using food to reconnect with his culture. "Nowadays, you see major events and activities all over Sydney, and even Western restaurants have started incorporating Lunar New Year elements into their menus. It's become a shared experience for all Australians," says Steve. "For Chinese restaurants, this is the busiest period of the year, so we celebrate in the thick of the action. However, on my rare days off, I love heading to Yummy Seafood in Beverly Hills for a proper Chinese feast." To celebrate the 2026 Lunar New Year, Steve has created a recipe for Pan-Fried John Dory Fillet made with S&B Golden Curry. The pre-mix sauce lets you easily recreate restaurant-quality flavour at home this Lunar New Year, and the sauce's golden hue fits the festive theme. "In Chinese culture, we have a saying: "Nian Nian You Yu" (年年有餘), which means "May there be a surplus every year." Because the word for fish (Yu) sounds exactly like the word for surplus, a fish dish is an absolute must-have on the table to bring good fortune." If you want to try the dish yourself this Lunar New Year, follow Steve's recipe below. PAN-FRIED JOHN DORY FILLET Ingredients: 200g of John Dory fillet (if you can't find John Dory fillet, any type of fish works well) Plain Flour (as needed) Pinch of S&B Seasoned Salt and Pepper 2 cubes of S&B Golden Curry Mild 92g 200 ml of chicken stock 1/4 piece of onion, diced 50g of diced carrot Olive or vegetable oil (as needed) Steamed rice (as needed, for serving) Pickled red ginger Method: To Prepare the Fish Use paper towels to pat the fillet dry. Season both sides of the fillets with a pinch of S&B Seasoned Salt and Pepper. Place plain flour on a plate. Dredge the fish fillets to coat them evenly with a thin layer, then shake off any excess. Make the Golden Curry Heat a small amount of oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Sauté the diced onion and carrot for 2–3 minutes until soft and translucent. Pour in the 200 ml of stock and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, then cook for 10 minutes with the lid. Add the 2 S&B Golden Curry cubes. Stir until the cubes are completely dissolved and the sauce is smooth. Turn the heat back to low, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reaches your desired thickness. Keep warm. Pan-Fry the Fish Fillets Heat a clean frying pan, then add the oil over medium heat. Carefully place the coated fish fillet into the hot oil. Pan-fry each side for about 3–4 minutes, or until the exterior is golden brown. Remove the fillets and place them on paper towels to drain any excess oil. Plating and Serving Ladle the hot Golden Curry Sauce in the middle of the plate. Place the pan-fried John Dory fillet on top of the curry sauce, served with pickled ginger. Serve with rice. Steve's top tip? "Chop up the Golden Curry cubes before you put them in the pan to prevent them from burning. And if there's any curry left on the plate, get some bread and scoop it up — you won't regret it" Feeling inspired by Steve's recipe? For the tenth year in a row, Asian Inspirations is hosting the Lunar New Year Cook Snap Win competition. There are $20,000 in prizes to be won, including the grand prize: the ultimate foodie travel adventure for two. Head to the Asian Inspiration website to learn how you could win big. Discover more recipes. Image credit: Josh Mullins
With 64 days until the lights are on, Vivid has announced its 2013 lineup. And as the festival turns five it's vastly extending its brightly coloured reach to cover more physical ground and generate more creative ideas. In 2013 Fort Dennison, Walsh Bay and the Inner West will also get a heavy splattering of neon light and artistic innovation as the festival adds more precincts to the Vivid family. Sydney's own Spinifex Group will be the artists behind the Lighting of the Sails, the jewel in Vivid's dazzling crown, with the rest of the foreshore welcoming a global assemblage of lighting designers to the walkable stretch spanning Campbells Cove to Walsh Bay. Interactivity is key this year, with Customs House featuring a dance floor so visitors can make the building move. The festival's LIVE section will celebrate the Opera House's increasingly enthusiastic approach to popular music, populating the Kraftwerk-headlined lineup with homegrown and international acts. Empire of the Sun are premiering their second album Ice on the Dune, which was announced in true theatrical style with a bizarre video last week. Other acts include legendary soul crooner Bobby Womack, Underworld's Karl Hyde, the Sunnyboys, Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon, folk-rock tribute Sounds of the South and the 45-piece Heritage Orchestra — performing the Bladerunner score. More will be announced in the upcoming weeks. And hosting a mammoth 136 events this year is the Jess Scully-curated Vivid Ideas. Level six of the MCA will be taken over by 100 of them, with further talks and workshops spread through the Overseas Passenger Terminal, Seymour Centre, Sydney Museum and more. Semi-Permanent, Sydney Writers’ Festival and the Australian International Design Festival are getting involved in 2013, along with a slew of events supporting this year's film and photography motif. Reportage and Sydney Film Festival are two exciting additions, and a talk by Chris Ying of Momofuku-McSweeney's foodie mag Lucky Peach should give discerning ramen enthusiasts plenty to get psyched about. Check out the Vivid website for the full lineup.
Neutral Bay has its fair share of Japanese restaurants, but none are quite like Ichibandori. Although the restaurant has been open on Sydney's lower north shore for a while, Hideto Suzuki of Manpuku and Tomoyuki Matsuya of HaNa Ju-Rin have recently taken it over and given it a new twist. They've turned it into a late-night ramen haven. But, you won't find any ramen here when the doors of the small 20-seater restaurant swing open at 5pm — you'll have to wait till 9pm. For the first half of the night, from 5–8pm, the restaurant is Ichibandori Robata, and this when the robata grill takes precedent. A traditional charcoal grill used throughout Japan, particularly in Hokkaido (where both Matsuya and Suzuki grew up), it's traditionally used to cook 'off-cuts': liver, thighs, heart. Ichibandori adds in some extra cuts for those less-adventurous eaters, including scallops, chicken breast marinated in sweet soy, young corn grilled within its husk and potato with creamed butter and fermented squid. These are paired with izakaya-style snacks, too, such as fresh sashimi, gyoza and fried chicken. By 9pm, the line is out the door, stretching down Military Road. You'll want to lineup early, and, we promise, it's worth it. Suzuki and Matsuya's idea for Ichibandori Ramen is based on the concept of late-night eating in Japan — often individuals go out for a few of drinks and slurp down a big bowl of ramen before heading home. That tradition hadn't quite made it to Australia yet. Noticing the lack of people out in the evenings on Neutral Bay, they jumped at the chance to open right across from The Oaks Hotel — to draw people in for some late-night noodles. It does comes at a price, however, with one single bowl will set you back $25. Suzuki — who looks after the ramen side of things — uses the best produce for each bowl, even importing many of the ingredients from Hokkaido. There are only two bowls available: the signature ramen — creamy tonkatsu ramen with chashu, pureed apple, enoki mushrooms, broccolini and a soft-boiled egg — a ramen of the day. When we visited, their special was a shio (salt) ramen with chicken (cooked on the robata), a soft-boiled egg, chargrilled shiitake and enoki and a variety of herbs. But, Suzuki is also known for his seafood ramen and, rumour has it, a lobster ramen will hit the menu in the near future, too. An extensive drinks menu is also available, including beers, sake and wine that are all sourced from Japan or from Japanese winemakers. One of our favourites is the Small Forest chardonnay, which is produced by a Japanese winemaker in the Hunter Valley, NSW, and on the sweeter side, which cuts through the umami of the ramen. Ichibandori is a restaurant like no other in Sydney. It makes the most of a tiny space, packing it full of delicious robata dishes and ramen well worth a drive across the bridge. Find Ichibandori at Shop 4, 81–91 Military Road, Neural bay. Ichibandori Robata is open from 5–8pm, and Ichibandori Ramen is open from 9pm–midnight, Monday–Saturday.
2020 is already shaping up to be a great year for Studio Ghibli fans, with the Japanese animation house confirming it's working on two new films this year. But, if you need something to tide you over until those undoubtedly gorgeous new movies are released — your Netflix queue will have the answer from February 1. In a huge deal that marks the first time Studio Ghibli's films will be available to stream in most of the world, Netflix has acquired the streaming rights for the bulk of the company's back catalogue — for almost the entire planet, including Australia and New Zealand. The arrangement covers 21 films, which means that every solely Studio Ghibli-produced animated feature except Grave of the Fireflies will hit the platform. Made-for-TV movie Ocean Waves will also be available to stream as well. So, getting spirited away, spending time with Totoro and chasing a moving castle will be as easy as clicking a few buttons whenever you feel like it. Netflix is making Ghibli's films available in three batches, with seven different movies joining the platform on February 1, then seven more on March 1 and the last seven on April 1 — so you can spread out your viewing. In February, prepare to feast your eyes on everything from Castle in the Sky to Kiki's Delivery Service, plus My Neighbour Totoro, Only Yesterday, Porco Rosso, Ocean Waves and Tales from Earthsea, too. Come March, heavy hitters Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away will join the lineup, as well as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, My Neighbors the Yamadas, The Cat Returns, Arrietty and The Tale of The Princess Kaguya. Then, in April, Howl's Moving Castle and Ponyo lead the charge, alongside Pom Poko, Whisper of the Heart, From Up on Poppy Hill, The Wind Rises and When Marnie Was There. Working your way through all of the above, you'll obviously delight in the talents of the great Hayao Miyazaki — however, films by fellow Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata, Miyazaki's son Gorō Miyazaki, and other directors Yoshifumi Kondō, Hiroyuki Morita and Hiromasa Yonebayashi are also on the bill. Until Ghibli's titles start hitting the streaming platform, feast your eyes on the delightful trailer for Howl's Moving Castle below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwROgK94zcM Netflix will start streaming Studio Ghibli films in Australia and New Zealand from February 1, with further titles available on March 1 and April 1. Top image: My Neighbor Totoro
Eucalyptusdom examines Australia's changing attitudes to our native gum trees — from early 19th century foresting to how we're thinking about environmental issues today. The immersive exhibition includes objects from artists, scientists, architects, designers, filmmakers, writers and performers, all exploring our relationship with eucalypts. Its title comes from a 1930s text by one of our early conservationists, Edward F Swain. And conservation underpins the exhibition's supporting events program, too, which features stories from collaborating artists such as Dean Cross and Luna Mrozik Gawler, writer Julie Gough and film director Vera Hong. Image: NSW timber court, Technological Museum, Sydney, c1910, Powerhouse Collection
Vampires might live forever, but one of the best TV shows that's ever been made about them won't be enjoying the same fate. A spinoff from Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement's big-screen sharehouse mockumentary of the same name, What We Do in the Shadows has been a small-screen treat since first sinking its fangs into streaming queues in 2019. After it airs its sixth season, however, it'll be doomed to eternal rest. As first reported by Vulture, the television take on What We Do in the Shadows will finish after its next slate of episodes. For now, that'll bring an end to the What We Do in the Shadows universe, which doesn't just include the movie and TV show, but NZ television's Wellington Paranormal — although the latter does have a newly released companion podcast. When Waititi and Clement decided to don fangs, embrace the undead and make a film spoof about vampire housemates, the end result was sidesplittingly funny, as has proven the case for the TV version for five seasons so far. That US television offshoot also boasts a killer cast, all playing an ace roundup of vamps. For the uninitiated, this iteration of What We Do in the Shadows is set in Staten Island — but no, Pete Davidson doesn't show up. Instead, the series focuses on a household where Nandor (Kayvan Novak, Cruella), Laszlo (Matt Berry, Toast of London and Toast of Tinseltown) and Nadja (Natasia Demetriou, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem) all live. Energy vampire Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch, The Office) and Nandor's familiar Guillermo (Harvey Guillen, Blue Beetle), the latter of which comes from a family of slayers, have also staked a claim in the story. Consistently one of the best returning shows of every year, including in 2022 and 2023, plenty of supernatural mayhem has followed Nandor and company over their run — and Matt Berry yelling "bat!" has never stopped gushing with gloriousness. Exactly when What We Do in the Shadows' last season will arrive hasn't yet been advised, but new seasons have dropped annually since the show debuted, so saying farewell in 2024 seems likely. There's no trailer for the sixth season as yet, but check out the sneak peek for What We Do in the Shadows season five below: What We Do in the Shadows streams via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand, with the show's sixth and final season yet to announce its return date. Read our reviews of season four and season five. Via Vulture.
Sydney's hospitality sector is in the throes of one of its most challenging periods in decades, with downturns in discretionary spending, soaring produce costs, staffing pressures, increased rents and hiked insurance premiums prompting the closures of venues across the city. A recent casualty of this ongoing crisis is the treasured Paddington pub The Unicorn Hotel on Oxford Street — home of arguably the city's best chicken schnitty — which will call last orders for the final time in September. The loss of such an iconic stalwart is a reminder that a storied past offers little protection against harsh economic headwinds in the present — unless, of course, that history earns a venue heritage status. The NSW government is currently considering awarding heritage protections to 22 Sydney pubs and while this accolade can't prevent fiscal failures from threatening a venue's future, it can protect the bricks and mortar from being bought by developers and lost to the sands of time. Once a building receives a heritage listing, it is added to a register of protected sites that prohibit demolition or major alterations without proper state approvals. Heritage-listed buildings are also eligible for government funding to maintain them, easing the burden of such costs on already struggling businesses. Sydney already boasts a number of heritage-protected pubs with the majority located in the oldest quarters of the city — the CBD and the Rocks. However, all 22 hotels being considered for heritage status under the proposed plans are located in the Inner West and have a history of hosting live music performances. "Our Inner West pub culture has been the breeding ground for some of Australia's best and most famous musicians and performers," Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne explains. "We want to make sure this continues into the future." The 22 venues awaiting approval of heritage status are: The Cricketers, Balmain The Carlisle Castle Hotel, Newtown Annandale Hotel, Annandale The Balmain Hotel, Balmain The Vic on the Park, Marrickville Cat and Fiddle Hotel, Balmain Websters Bar, Newtown Duke of Enmore Hotel, Enmore Town Hall Hotel, Balmain Royal Exchange Hotel, Marrickville Garry Owen Hotel, Rozelle Native Rose Hotel, Rozelle Livingstone Hotel, Petersham Queens Hotel, Enmore The Welcome Hotel, Rozelle 3 Weeds Hotel, Rozelle East Village Hotel, Balmain The Warren View Hotel, Enmore Dick's Hotel, Balmain Unity Hall Hotel, Balmain The Sackville Hotel, Rozelle Sandringham Hotel, Newtown Learn more about the Inner West Council's Heritage Pubs Planning Proposal on the Inner West Council website.
