Some days, don't you just want to grab a drink, make a few shiny spheres zigzag around a table, and enjoy the soothing blend of booze and pinball? If so, Melbourne's Pinball Paradise is your new hangout — as well as Australia's first dedicated pinball and whiskey bar. Lighting up the first floor at 213 Franklin Street, and accessed via a secret entrance in ground-floor bar Island Somewhere, Pinball Paradise is basically a beverage-serving pinball arcade for adults. And if that sounds like the kind of space that every pinball lover dreams of, wait until you clock the themed machines you'll be flipping balls in. Prepare for a pop culture bonanza, including Game of Thrones, Dracula, The Wizard of Oz, Dirty Harry, Terminator 2, Jurassic Park, Popeye, The Creature from the Black Lagoon and Maverick pinball. Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, The Addams Family, Star Trek — they're all likely to give your button-smashing, flipper-controlling fingers a workout as well, alongside a range of rare, classic machines. Drinks-wise, expect whiskey aplenty, with Japanese varieties a favourite. A selection of food is also on offer to help you keep up your pinball-playing energy levels. As well as becoming the new home of all of your spare change, Pinball Paradise might just be the future of your fun nights out. Indeed, with mini golf and arcade watering holes popping up around the country, simply going to a bar, grabbing a drink and chatting with your friends is quickly becoming a pre-2016 concept. Find Pinball Paradise on the first floor at 213 Franklin Street, Melbourne. Check out their Facebook page for more information.
Guys, it's okay. The fruitless days of trying to teach yourself all the moves to 'Single Ladies' in your bathroom mirror are over. Goodgod have announced not one but two follow-ups to their unbelievably sold out, first ever beginners' dance class, dedicated to angel-among-mortals and Queen of the World Beyonce. Get ready for some serious hair flicks and endorphin-release over one of two hour-long Queen Bey-inspired classes lead by instructor extraordinaire Amrita Tennant (maybe take both if you're a true Survivor). Personally, I'm tempted break out my gold power suit and top hat in the hope that this routine will make the cut. (I just hope they have a wind machine this time.) If the promise of learning to dance like an actual queen isn't enough, there'll be drinks, projections (hopefully of Beyonce's face/body/general aura) and cocktail jugs to win. Invite your friends, or don't, and prepare yourself for the colossal levels of jealousy and respect from them next time you're out and bust out these bootylicious moves. Take your pick of the post-work 6:30pm session or the partystarting 8:30pm session, just put a ring on one of them. These spots are going to sell out fast.
If you've got a hard-earned thirst for some spiffy beer merch, the folks at Victoria Bitter have you covered, and that's been the case for a couple of years. Hankering not just for branded VB gear for your wardrobe, but also for a VB fragrance? Then you'll be pleased to discover that the famed Carlton & United Breweries beer has just added a new scent to its range. Called Thirst, the brand's newest addition has also been dubbed "eau de hard work". That's by VB itself, of course. And, to answer the first question that will have instantly popped into your head — yes, it comes in a bottle that looks like a stubby. As for second query that we're sure you're currently pondering, the fragrance is made from perfume oil combined with "the essence of Australian Super Pride hops" — aka an extract from the same hops that are used to brew VB. So, while you hopefully won't reek like the stale aroma that sticks to your clothes after you've accidentally spilled your beer, you will definitely smell like hops, it seems. Apparently the scent has whiffs of "bitter citrus" and "icy aromas", too. If you're eager to not only drink VB, but bathe yourself in a cloud of its distinctive bouquet, you can purchase Thirst from Chemist Warehouse, either online or in-store. Sadly but unsurprisingly given how popular the brand's merch always proves (case in point: its retro Christmas sweater from earlier this year), the small amount of the stock that was up for sale via VB's 'Big Cold gear' website has already sold out, though. If you're keen on other VB-themed items as well, you can still head to the brand's site to check out its retro-styled collection, which nods firmly to the brew's lengthy history quenching the thirst of hardworking Aussies. There are crewneck jumpers, t-shirts, hoodies, beanies and caps, all emblazoned with that instantly recognisable logo. Alongside all the clothes, you'll also find VB jigsaw puzzles — plus glasses, water bottles, coolers, speakers, bar mats and even fridges. Victoria Bitter's Thirst scent is available to purchase from Chemist Warehouse — either online or in-store. For more information, visit VB's 'Big Cold gear' website.
It's impossible to think about Christmas without also thinking about ornament-adorned trees, but the traditional towering variety isn't always practical. Perhaps you don't have space in your apartment. Maybe you're keen on the real thing, but just can't make it to market, farm or nursery to get one. And, even if you've found a place for the same old plastic tree that you trot out every year, you're probably still wishing that you could gaze up at the real thing. Floraly, the Australian plant delivery service that focuses on sustainable blooms and even offers monthly subscriptions, now has a Christmas offering — and if you're eager for a living tree, and you're happy with a pint-sized version, then it's about to make your festive dreams come true. 'Tis the season to order a 60-centimetre-tall tiny tree that comes with decorations and a pop-up pot, wait for it to be delivered, then feel mighty jolly. Sourced from farms in Victoria and New South Wales, and able to be sent Australia-wide, Floraly's trees also arrive with soil, fairy lights, baubles and a tree-topper — so they really do look like miniature versions of your ideal Christmas centrepiece. You'll also receive batteries to power the lights and, if you need some extra sweetness, can order some Koko Black chocolate with your mini plant. In line with Floraly's eco-conscious mindset, its trees still have their root system intact. That means that once Christmas is over, you can replant them, keep them for some year-round merriment and then enjoy their splendour next year. The trees also come in fully recyclable packaging, further reducing their environmental impact. If you're keen, you can pre-order a small bundle of greenery from the Floraly website for $79, with trees due to be shipped in the first week of December. Even better — delivery is free to Sydney, Wollongong, the Central Coast, Brisbane and Melbourne. Fancy sending a tiny tree as a gift? You can do that too. Floraly's tiny Christmas trees are available to pre-order now by visiting the service's website.
Of all the things available to watch on YouTube, IKEA's new contribution to the online platform might just be the most leisurely. Jumping on the slow TV bandwagon (or ship, to be more accurate), the huge furniture retailer is currently streaming a watery boat journey between Sweden and Australia — the voyage that brings its Billy bookcases, Kallax shelves, Ektorp sofas and more to our shores. That trip takes a whopping 14 days — or 336 hours — and it's playing on IKEA's new Slow TV YouTube channel in full. The stream started on Thursday, September 12 and will run through until Thursday, September 26. And while it's designed to look like it's all happening live, IKEA has specifically called it a "real-time representation". Those keen to tune in will see plenty of the high seas for much of the stream's duration. Later, when the vessel reaches Australia, you'll be able to watch as the ship pulls into port, then keep viewing as its shipping containers are unloaded, and then witness their journey to stores. You'll also be able to see IKEA boxes arrive at the back of one specific shop, then make their way to the warehouse, with its products unpacked and ready to be sold. Whether it sounds like riveting viewing or not will depend on your threshold for the slow TV trend. Based on how many folks watched SBS' forays into the genre over the past couple of years — first by airing a 17-hour documentary about The Ghan and it's train trip across the country, and then by doing the same with the Indian-Pacific — it seems there's a sizeable audience for simply watching the world go by. IKEA's venture into the slow TV fold has a purpose. Yes, it's trying to get you into the company's stores. The chain is holding a Festival of Sleep on the stream's final day, because this 14-day video is also designed to help viewers relax, feel calm and get some shut-eye. It follows IKEA's Sleep Podcast earlier this year, which attempted to entice listeners to nod off by reading a list of Swedish furniture names. The podcast's narrators, Kent and Sara Eriksson, are also doing the same job here — this time rattling off products from IKEA's 2020 catalogue. Check out IKEA's Slow TV YouTube channel below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSZBjFzq3Ng IKEA's Slow TV YouTube Channel is screening until Thursday, September 26.
If you ever needed a reminder of why people run, the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival is a fine justification — beautiful morning views of our favourite city, actually running on Australia's most iconic bridge and, of course, the seemingly endless health benefits from the heart-pumping act itself. And with four events (Marathon, approx. 42.2km; Half Marathon, approx. 21km; Bridge Run, 9km; and the Family Fun Run, 3.5km), it doesn't matter whether you are a seasoned athlete or have just pushed past that beginner, clutching-at-the-heart feeling. Entry fees cover your event kit and the various administrative costs that make it possible for everyone to run safely without beeping city cars. Alternatively, you can fundraise for a good cause, meet your target and run for free. In previous years, the Sydney Running Festival saw over 4000 participants and raised $2 million for charitable organisations. Planners are hoping to top both of these figures this year.
As part of NAIDOC Week, a week-long celebration of Indigenous Australians' and Torres Strait Islanders' culture, the Museum of Contemporary Art is hosting two free lunchtime movie screenings. They kick off on Tuesday, July 9, with No Way to Forget a film based on Richard Frankland's time as a field officer during the 1988 Royal Commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody. The 1996 film takes you on a dark isolated drive while flashbacks tell his haunted recollections. After this, stay to watch Transblack: a 2018 miniseries taking you through the lives of four Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander transgender men and women. The ten-minute episodes show the journey of the individuals who all change the perceptions of themselves and the people closest to them. On Thursday, July 11 you can see the 2016 film Servant or Slave, following the lives of five women who, after being stolen from their families, were forced into lives as domestic slaves. This heartbreaking film represents the stories of thousands of Aboriginal Australian girls who were taken at a young age. The film explores the courageous nature of these women as they grow up searching for justice. Viewings for both films start at 12.30pm in the MCA Lecture Theatre on Level 2 and no bookings are required. The free lunchtime screens are part of the gallery's week-long NAIDOC celebration.
Following the success of its pop-up wine bar in July, ALDI is hosting another one-off hospitality event — this time slinging incredibly cheap dumplings. Last month, Sydneysiders got excited when ALDI announced it was launching a bar in the CBD for two nights, offering gin, wine and cheese for the low price of $4.41. Now, the supermarket chain is back with a dumpling truck that will arrive at the Bankstown Central ALDI store's car park for just two hours today, Friday, August 12. To promote the brand's affordable dumpling range, the ALDI dumpling truck will offer serves of six gyoza (three prawn and three chicken) for just $1.44. The price represents how much dumplings can cost from the ALDI Urban Eats range — $8.99 per 750-gram packet, which comes to 25 cents per prawn dumpling and 23 cents per chicken dumpling. Unlike ALDI's two-nights-only bar, which allocated spots via a ballot system, the food truck is popping up on Chapel Road from 5–7pm, or while stocks last, and will run on a first-come-first-served basis. There are two caveats, however: a limit of four servings per person, and card-only transactions. "At a time when consumers are feeling the pinch, it's rewarding to provide an option for people to still enjoy their Friday night rituals when they shop with us," ALDI's Frozen Food Buying Director Andrew King said. "The ALDI dumpling truck demonstrates how good food doesn't have to hurt your pocket. You can dish up quick, delicious and affordable Friday dinners at home for less than $1.50 a serve!" If you can't make it to Bankstown, you can, of course, recreate the experience at home by heading to your local ALDI and picking up a couple of bags of dumplings. All proceeds from the dumpling truck will also be going to a good cause, with ALDI promising to donate the money it earns from the promotion to its national charity partner, Camp Quality. The ALDI dumpling truck will pop-up at ALDI Bankstown Central, 440–450 Chapel Road, Bankstown from 5–7pm on Friday, August 12 — or until sold out.
After 24 years in the culinary industry, renowned chef and restaurateur Kylie Kwong is moving away from the fast-paced culinary world of restaurants — which does indeed mean that South Eveleigh's Australian-Cantonese gem Lucky Kwong will be shutting its doors at the end of June. Instead, Kylie Kwong will be embarking on a journey to amplify the voices of Indigenous cultures through food and beverage. Kylie Kwong broke the news this morning via her personal Instagram. "At the end of June, I am hanging up my restaurateur hat in order to make space for that which has become closest to my heart," said the chef in her Instagram post. "Through the lens of food and interconnectedness, I wish to place all my energy, focus and time into helping share and amplify other peoples' stories, particularly the important voices of First Nations people and our multicultural communities, who make Australia the rich and diverse country that it is today." [caption id="attachment_814884" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] Over the course of her time in the food and drink space, Kylie Kwong collaborated with local organisations like Two Good Co., 107 Projects, Weave Youth Community, Redfern Jarjum College, the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence, and the Womens' and Girls' Emergency Centre across two beloved Cantonese-centred venues. This new chapter aims to further foster these relationships and work alongside these organisations to give back to the community. Kwong's legacy spans from Potts Point locale Billy Kwong, which closed in 2019, to Lucky Kwong in South Eveleigh. The revered chef has showered her fellow staff and the local community with gratitude for having venues such as these under her belt. "For me, food and cooking is an exploratory and conscious act, not only a pleasure for the senses but also a platform for cultural exchange, storytelling and building community," continued the Australian chef via Instagram. "I want to go deeper and look forward to uncovering other peoples' rich narratives." As for Lucky Kwong, you've got less than two months to secure your last meal. You'll want to book in sooner rather than later, though — reservations are sure to be snapped up quickly. Find Lucky Kwong at 2 Locomotive Street, Eveleigh until the end of June. Head to the venue's website for more details — and you'll find the full announcement post at Kylie Kwong's personal Instagram.
American Samoa's 31–0 loss to Australia in 2001 wasn't the biggest-ever defeat in football history, but it set the world record for the largest trouncing in an international match. It's also the scoreline behind an impassioned quest to achieve something that the US territory in the South Pacific Ocean had never done before in soccer: kick a goal. And, it's the starting point for a documentary and a comedy both called Next Goal Wins, with the first arriving in 2014 and the second now Taika Waititi's eighth feature. Each charts the squad's attempt to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and each tells an underdog tale. One strikes charmingly and winningly, the other keeps deserving red cards — and it's Waititi's long-delayed flick, which was initially filmed before the pandemic, underwent reshoots in 2021, then finally premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, that shouldn't be on the pitch. Since leaping from New Zealand indies Eagle vs Shark, Boy, What We Do in the Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Waititi might've won an Oscar for Jojo Rabbit; however, his best post-Thor: Ragnarok work has been on the small screen. Neither Jojo Rabbit nor Thor: Love and Thunder reached the filmmaker's past heights, but the hilarious US TV spinoff of What We Do in the Shadows, sublime Indigenous American dramedy Reservation Dogs and heartwarming pirate rom-com Our Flag Means Death have all proven gems. The current underwhelming cinema streak continues with Next Goal Wins, which is as forceful as his last non-MCU picture in wanting to be a quirky, silly and sweet crowd-pleaser, and as clumsy, awkward and thinly sketched. While new takes on already-covered stories never mean that the originals are binned, sending viewers sprinting towards Mike Brett and Steve Jamison's (On the Morning You Wake (to the End of the World)) iteration of Next Goal Wins can't have been Waititi's intention. The dramatised Next Goal Wins covers the same overall details as its doco predecessor, with American Samoa enlisting Dutch American coach Thomas Rongen to endeavour to help turn their footballing fate around. The Bad News Bears, Slap Shot, The Mighty Ducks and Cool Runnings have just as much influence upon latest spin on the story as reality, though, in an uncomplicated join-the-dots, tick-the-boxes, revel-in-the-tropes and keep-serving-up-montages fashion. Accordingly, whether or not you actually know the specifics — and regardless of your awareness of American Samoa's sporting talents or just soccer in general — you know the path that Waititi's movie follows. So, in comes a down-on-his-luck outsider being given a final shot at success through training and guiding others, and reluctant about it, to whip a ragtag group with potential into shape. Michael Fassbender plays Rongen, finally making his acting return with two roles in the same year — in The Killer and this — after being absent from screens since 2019's X-Men: Dark Phoenix. For audiences Down Under, it has worked out for the best that his hitman turn for David Fincher made it to the big screen first; Fassbender does what he can in Next Goal Wins, but only one person could've made the most of Waititi's material. That figure: the helmer himself, who is the first person seen on-screen, in fact, as a priest welcoming the audience to a story of "whoa" not woe. Fassbender was never going to bend it like Waititi, and he's given a thankless task in being asked to try — including while Next Goal Wins' writer/director (who co-scripts with The Inbetweeners' Iain Morris) gets him quoting Taken. Sent to American Samoa by a soccer board led by his estranged wife Gail (Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid's Tale) and her new boyfriend Alex (Will Arnett, The Morning Show), rather than given much choice, Rongen sees the gig as a demotion. His response: doing the bare minimum, drinking, being combative and showing such little interest in the team that he may as well not be there. At least his one-note behaviour is grounded in the narrative, albeit with tugging at heartstrings the main aim as more of Rongen's history is slowly revealed. The same can't be said for the film's lack of care about anyone but the imported coach, plus centre back and faʻafafine Jaiyah Saelua (debutant Kaimana). As the first trans woman to play in a World Cup qualifier, the latter, a member of Polynesian society's third gender, should be at the forefront of the movie. That said, she shouldn't simply be the force motivating Rongen to grow up, take his job seriously, and deal with his issues and traumas — and his journey shouldn't involve deadnaming her, then asking about her genitals. Luminous, thoughtful and engaging, Kaimana gives Next Goal Wins' best performance. A better picture would've made Jaiyah its focus, avoided using her as a mechanism to push along Rongen's redemption arc and not left her achievements to postscript, but that isn't Waititi's approach. As such, in a film that heroes not dwelling on what might've been as long as you're giving your all, wondering how this flick could've turned out if more than a cursory effort was evident is another outcome. The cast is there — Oscar Kightley (The Breaker Upperers) gives the second most-memorable performance as Tavita, who leads American Samoa's Football Federation, hosts a popular TV show about who's getting off the plane at the airport and has a son (Beulah Koale, Bad Behaviour) on the squad; Our Flag Means Death's Rhys Darby, David Fane and Rachel House also feature; and even a Hemsworth (Bosch & Rockit's Luke) pops up — but not the willingness to deviate from the easiest game plan. When Next Goal Wins pilfers Taken's "special set of skills" speech early, it's a believe-it moment: believe that embracing cliches while purporting to wink and nod at them is the film's strategy, that is. The Karate Kid and Any Given Sunday also get referenced — and sometimes have lines of dialogue lifted — and Ted Lasso, just with a cantankerous drunk rather than a perennial optimist, provides blatant inspiration. IRL sports figures do indeed glean cues from screens. In Australia in 2001, AFL coach Leigh Matthews famously quoted Predator's "if it bleeds, we can kill it" to stir the Brisbane Lions to an upset win against reigning premiers Essendon, which started a 20-game streak that saw them beat the same team again to claim that year's premiership. All that's sparked in Next Goal Wins is a filmmaker's certainty that an inherently rousing true tale will remain exactly that no matter how cartoonishly and formulaically — including in its sunny visuals — it's presented. Alas, cheering for the American Samoa men's national football team isn't the same as cheering with the latest movie about them.
2024 was a year of heartbreaking cancellations in the Australian music scene. Not every festival that took some time out has returned a year later, but 2025 has thankfully seen more than a few comebacks. Here's the latest: Harvest Rock, the Adelaide event that cemented itself as a fest worth travelling to in its 2022 debut and 2023's second spin, has locked in a two-day 2025 instalment in October. It was in August 2024 that Harvest Rock revealed that just two years after initially popping up, the decision had been made to postpone that year's event. The news came after Splendour in the Grass announced its 2024 dates and lineup, then ditched its plans — and following Groovin the Moo going through the same cycle of reveals and cancellations. Spilt Milk, Summergrounds Music Festival and Dark Mofo also sat the year out or said goodbye permanently. Dark Mofo returned for 2025, as is Spilt Milk — and now Harvest Rock is joining them. Only Teenage Joans have been named on the lineup for this year's stint at Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka and King Rodney Park / Ityamai-itpina so far, but you can pop Tuesday, August 12 in your diary, as that's when the full roster of acts that'll be taking to the stage will be unveiled. Also crucial, dates-wise: Saturday, October 25–Sunday, October 26, when the festival is taking place. When Harvest Rock was first born, hailing from the Secret Sounds crew — who were also behind Splendour in the Grass — it aimed to get everyone dancing in a park in Adelaide each spring, including interstaters heading to South Australia to enjoy the fest's visitworthy lineups. The first year welcomed Jack White, Groove Armada, The Avalanches, Crowded House and Courtney Barnett, for starters. 2023 backed that up with Jamiroquai and Beck doing Australian-exclusive shows, plus everyone from Sparks and Nile Rogers & Chic to Bright Eyes and Paul Kelly. A two-day blend of music, food and wine — well, it is in SA — Harvest Rock also spans Adelaide's top restaurants and eateries serving up dishes, a culinary-focused stage and wine tastings. 2025's iteration will include Wildwoods & Cellar Door by Duncan Welgemoed and Nick Stock, for starters. "We're thrilled to see Harvest Rock return to its Adelaide home to deliver a festival that brings global stadium-sized artists to South Australia, while also championing the region's world-class food, wine and culture for interstate guests. Harvest Rock not only drives tourism and benefits local businesses, but offers a unique festival experience for all ages across the local community and beyond," advised Festival Director of Harvest Rock Ryan Sabet. "Music to the ears of festival lovers and our hospitality and tourism operators, Harvest Rock will return to Adelaide this October. The beauty of this festival is that it combines what we do best in South Australia — offering premium food and beverages and delivering memorable events," said SA Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison about Harvest Rock's comeback. "Held in 2022 and 2023, Harvest Rock has contributed a combined $34.5 million to the state's economy. We continue to see the impact major events like this deliver to our economy, while reinforcing our state's reputation as the ultimate destination for bucket-list events — whether you are a sports fan, art lover, foodie or just enjoy a good festival." Harvest Rock 2025 is set to take place across Saturday, October 25–Sunday, October 26 at Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka and King Rodney Park / Ityamai-itpina, Adelaide. Head to the festival's website for further details — with presale tickets available from Tuesday, August 19 and general sales from Wednesday, August 20. And check back here on Tuesday, August 12 for the lineup. Image: Ian Laidlaw / Mitch Lowe / Zennieshia Butts.
Whatever your plans are on Tuesday, November 8, change them — or find a way to include peering at the sky into your diary, too. For 85 minutes, folks Down Under will be treated to a blood moon and a total lunar eclipse, giving you a stellar reason to spend your night staring upwards. While blood moons aren't particularly rare, there is one big reason to look up this time around. This total lunar eclipse is the last one that'll be able to be seen in Australia and New Zealand until 2025. If you're wondering what else you need to know, we've run through the details below. WHAT IS IT? If you're more familiar with The Mighty Boosh's take on the moon than actual lunar terms, here's what you need to know. When a full moon happens to coincide with a total lunar eclipse, it's also called a blood moon. Why? Yes, it has to do with the colour. When the astronomical body passes directly into the earth's actual shadow, it turns a blood-red shade thanks to sunlight that's filtered and refracted by the earth's atmosphere. WHEN CAN I SEE IT? If you're keen to catch a glimpse, you'll want to peek outside on Tuesday, November 8. According to Timeanddate.com, the total lunar eclipse is due to begin at 9.16pm AEDT in Sydney and Melbourne — and, because of daylight saving in the southern states, at 8.16pm AEST in Brisbane. Those times adjust accordingly in Adelaide (8.46pm) and Perth (6.16pm) — with the full total lunar eclipse running for 85 minutes. In NZ, you'll be looking up from 11.16pm. Moonrise will happen before that, and the partial eclipse will begin 67 minutes prior to the totality times, too — so at 8.09pm in Sydney and Melbourne and 7.09pm in Brisbane, for instance. WHERE CAN I SEE IT? You can take a gander from your backyard or balcony, but the standard advice regarding looking into the night sky always applies. So, city-dwellers will want to get as far away from light pollution as possible to get the absolute best view. Naturally, you'll be hoping for cloud-free skies that evening. If you can't get a clear vantage, The Virtual Telescope Project will be live-streaming from the skyline above Rome from 8.30pm AEDT / 7.30pm AEST / 10.30pm NZ time. The blood moon and total lunar eclipse will take place on Tuesday, November 8, with the full total lunar eclipse starting at 9.16pm AEDT / 8.16pm AEST / 11.16pm NZ time. For further information, including about timing, head to Timeanddate.com.
Overindulgence took shape in the form of a seriously Lindt/James Squire routine over Easter and Anzac Day's super-short week. So we're feeling the slight itch to tone up, stretch out and get fit before the wintry chocfests ahead of us in the coming months. Luckily, local legends Flow Athletic want to kickstart your health adventure to celebrate their very first birthday. Combining yoga, strength and cardio in one innovative exercise space, Sydney's Flow Athletic has created a unique fitness venue for gym-goers who want to shake things up a little. The centre of significant buzz on opening, the last year has seen Flow frequented by a wave of pro athletes, gym junkies and beginners alike. Highly generous fitness fans they are, Flow are giving away presents on their own birthday. You can check out the space at their Open Day on Saturday May 3 and take a free 30 minute rapid class on the hour at 10am, 11am and 12pm. You'll be able to choose your own gym adventure - spin, yoga or strength - or hit up all three if you're feeling particularly post-Easter guilt-ridden. And because the fitness crowd turn up to each other's parties to celebrate, Flow's Open Day will be supported by pop-up stands from Stylerunner, Botanica handcrafted cold-pressed juices, The Nail Lab and more. If you can't make it on Saturday because you're making All The Excuses, Concrete Playground has teamed up with Flow Athletic to get you off the couch and equipped to explore your city more energetically. We've got 20 complimentary session passes to Flow to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address at win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au. Visit Flow Athletic, Level 1, 134 Oxford Street Paddington or www.flowathletic.com.au for more information. https://youtube.com/watch?v=l0xvrz0nMFE
Longstanding Bondi cafe Harry's is opening its doors and its kitchen for dinner for the first time, all thanks to a weekly Sunday session. It won't be serving up its usual brunch fare, however — instead, it's inviting some of Sydney's best young chefs to whip up something special. Harry's New Wave Chef Sessions will see a different face in the kitchen each week, introducing diners to Sydney's fresh batch of culinary talent. The up-and-coming chefs hail from respected restaurants across the city, including Chica Bonita, Cafe Paci and Ume Burger. Each week's menu will centre on a different concept, with snacks and small sharing plates under $20, plus wines and cocktails by Connor Sainsbury Canham from Whole Bunch Wines. Cocktails will feature ingredients gathered from the area, including local lemon myrtle and seaweed sourced by free-diving in North Bondi. Diners can look forward to Dear Sainte Éloise's head chef Hugh Piper serving up Peruvian ocean trout ceviche, signature flavours from Ume Burger courtesy of Kerby Craig, and Chica Bonita's classic tacos from Alejandro Huerta. On May 3, Jack New (of the soon-to-open Teramoto) will be joined by bartenders from Prince of York for an extravagant gold-themed Japanese/Australian menu. Eight chefs have been locked in for the series so far, with more likely to be announced on social media in the coming weeks. Here's hoping fora little more diversity in the lineup, especially considering the event launches on International Women's Day. NEW WAVE CHEF SESSIONS LINEUP March 8: Alejandro Huerta, Chica Bonita March 15: Simon Drolz-Cox, Cafe Paci March 22: Hugh Piper, Dear Sainte Éloise March 29: Lewin White, Icebergs Bar and Dining Room April 5: Kerby Craig, Ume Burger April 19: Michael Lo Presti, Momofuku Seiobo May 3: Jack New, Teramoto (opening in March) with Prince of York May 10: Kenta Takeuchi, Cirrus New Wave Chef Sessions will take place every Sunday night from March 8. You can book at table on Harry's Bondi's website. Images: J Belnick.
Somewhere in the world, the afterparty for the World’s 50 Best Restaurants award ceremony is wrapping up. It’s been a very big event. The restaurant world’s creme of the crop came together to feast, celebrate and form alliances in order to claw their way up next year’s list. No doubt dishes were served that we couldn’t even imagine, dishes that would break our brains if we mere mortals were we to taste them. But best of all, Ben Shewry’s restaurant Attica was named amongst some of the best in the world, once again coming in at a very respectable #32. Ahhh the World’s 50 Best Restaurant list, you're so much more than a list of places we'll blow half our savings to eat at. The list, whose organisers revealed the top 51-100 last week, is compiled by industry heavyweights and international critics (those blessed people who get to eat Michelin-starred nosh for a living), and is considered a definitive ranking of international food-goodness and tasty nom-noms. So it’s no mean feat for Australia to have a spot on the list, with the likes of Sydney's Sepia and Quay and Victoria’s Brae also nabbing spots in the top 100. Being a restaurateur these days is almost as bloody as being the head of a great Westeros house — although in the foodie game, your position is determined by this annual list and not how many shocking betrayals and gruesome deaths you encounter per season. But there's just as much intrigue happening on this humble list as there is on the influence track of any drunken GoT board game session (go with it). The three big names that consistently dominate the game are this year’s victor El Celler de Can Roca (Girona, Spain), second place Osteria Francescana (Modena, Italy) and third place Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark). This is where it gets interesting, because Noma won last year, Osteria Franescana came second and while El Celler de Ca Roca moved up from third place to first and knocked Noma off the Iron Throne before being poisoned on their wedding day allegedly by their uncle while Sansa Stark escaped to the North under Littlefinger’s protection. Or something like that. When you play the game of lists, you win or you try again next year. See the whole list of the World's 50 Best Restaurants here. Image: Attica.
Situated in the beautiful Baja Peninsula, Los Cabos is often most recognised for its high-end luxury accommodation (check out Corazon Resort and Spa), the place the Laguna Beach kids visited for Spring Break, and endless sunshine (and food and drinks if you stay at an all-inclusive hotel like Breathless Resort). But there's so much more to experience to make your visit to Los Cabos a truly exciting adventure. Beyond the joys of sunny days, exceptional food and an excuse to drink margaritas at any time of day, Los Cabos has experiences for all types. From swimming with whale sharks to off-road expeditions through the desert to the finest in farm to table dining… let's take a spin through three must-do adventures when you visit Los Cabos. [caption id="attachment_950073" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Emma Li[/caption] Swimming with Whale Sharks These glorious creatures are the gentle giants of the sea. As plankton-eaters, their focus is on food and not on the (comparably) tiny humans who are snorkelling nearby desperate to get a close look. And a close look you can get! The team at Cabo Adventures picks you up from your accommodation, taking you to Bahia de La Paz where the whale sharks like to hang out and feed – about two hours drive from Cabo San Lucas. Ask your nerdy nature questions to your heart's content on the way, and by the time you get there, you'll be primed and ready to roll. After a quick stop to fit your wetsuit, fins and snorkel enjoy a glorious boat ride on the sparkling water off to the protected harbour and home to the whale sharks. Once your friendly guides find you your fish, it's go time. Slip into the water then snorkel alongside these magnificent, gentle, chilled creatures and observe them doing what we all love best: having a great feed. When to go: November to April is the peak, but they can be seen all year round. [caption id="attachment_950080" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Whale shark street art on a wall in Los Cabos. Image credit: Elizabeth Tucker[/caption] [caption id="attachment_950082" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flora Farms[/caption] Fantastic Farm-to-Table Fare Known for beautiful fresh produce, Los Cabos has a thriving agricultural industry and growing farm-to-table offerings. In the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, you'll find three beautiful destinations for eating, exploring and playing. Well-known Flora Farms is a 25-acre farm with largely hand grown ingredients, and is a wonderful place to visit for a cooking class. Their neighbour down the road, Acre, also offers boutique accommodation and a globally inspired menu using their freshly farmed produce. Finally, Los Tamarindos is a glorious outdoor setting, representing a traditional Mexican hacienda. Looking out over the farm with picturesque mountain views, sip on a smoky mezcalita and enjoy the incredible tasting and shared plates toasting a gorgeous Mexican sunset. [caption id="attachment_950083" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Beautiful rustic dining at Tamarindos. Image credit: Elizabeth Tucker[/caption] Off-Road Desert and Dust Derby Get the full desert and oasis experience on an off-road adventure like you've never experienced before. Wear your darkest clothes (because they're bound to get dirty) as you hop aboard a an ATV designed to hoon through muddy terrain and dusty dirt trails in the Sierra de la Laguna UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Encounter the region's unique endemic flora and fauna, gaining insight into its ecological significance. And once you've worked up an appetite, sit back and much on an amazing local ranch lunch, savouring authentic flavours and tranquil surroundings. This is another of Cabo Adventures' amazing offerings and one not to miss. For places to stay, there are endless resort and boutique offerings to suit your tastes. To find exactly what you're looking for, Los Cabos Tourism has a perfectly curated selection of accommodation for all travel tastes and styles. Concrete Playground travelled as a guest of Visit Los Cabos. Top Image: Jules Clark via Pexels.
Love quirky facts? Spent your life amassing the kind of details that will probably never come in handy? Consider yourself a whiz at every trivia night around town? If so, you're probably a QI fan — and an avid listener of No Such Thing As a Fish. The former is, of course, the long-running British comedy panel quiz. The latter is the popular, award-winning podcast hosted by four of the show's researchers, aka the folks putting in the hard yards to come up with amusing pieces of information you didn't know you needed to know. Series staffers Dan Schreiber, James Harkin, Anna Ptaszynski and Andrew Hunter Murray aren't just finding tidbits for a raft of English comedians, or spending their spare time sharing the most bizarre facts they've come across over the last seven days, however. Come May 2018, they're also heading to Australia to shower our shores with trivia morsels. The live version of the podcast will include a live recording, so your laughter might be immortalised forever, plus a round up of the most astonishing things the team have discovered from the year's news. It has been a busy couple of years for the group, with their last UK and European tour proving a sell-out, and their 187 episodes to date scoring more than 55 million downloads. As Schreiber explains, "we started as four dorks sitting around a single microphone trying to make each other laugh. Things have changed a bit since we started — we now have four microphones — but it's a thrill to know there are hundreds of thousands of other people who love the same wild and hilarious facts that we do." No Such Thing As a Fish heads to The Comedy Theatre, Melbourne on May 12, the Sydney Opera House on May 15 and Brisbane's Queensland Performing Arts Centre on May 17. Tickets go on sale at 10am on November 1, with a pre-sale from midday on October 30. Check out the podcast's website for further details.
If you've been sitting on your hands this New Year's Eve, undecided on that party or that one or whether you should just sit in a dark cinema and ignore the fireworks, here's a bloody good option for you. Beach. Cocktails. Free entry. Bondi's buzzing beach bar The Bucket List is doing a free New Year's Eve party, with tunes, booze and jigging on the postcard perfect beach's promenade. 'Summer to '16' is a beachbound alternative to hitting the jam-packed CBD streets, and you can even pair it with a pre-party swim in the ocean. There'll be cocktails aplenty and a big ol' DJ lineup featuring the likes of Melbourne's Kaz James, NYC producer Carl Kennedy and Sydney MC DD. With no cover charge and Bondi Beach right down the steps, this is a solid, cruisy, budget-friendly option for NYE.
Back To The Future hinted that hoverboards would be the preferred mode of transport in 2015. And, while the fantasy didn't quite eventuate, this month's Micromobility Expo will play its part to transform fuel-guzzling vehicles, pricey petrol pumps and traffic jams into a thing of the past. With "tiny transportation" a growing trend, the first-ever Australian expo dedicated to all things electric will set the wheels in motion (pun intended) to make the movement more accessible than ever. You just need to head to the Kensington Room at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse on Friday, November 25, between 10am to 5pm or Saturday, November 26, from 10am to 4pm to get on board. Whether you've already embraced the e-bike life or are an electronic scooter sceptic, Micromobility Expo will give you a power intro into lightweight modes of transport and their undeniable perks. As well as the chance to sit in on free seminars and chat with experts about the benefits of electric micro-vehicles (like the fact that they're adaptable, affordable enough to deal with rising costs of fuel and offer environmentally-friendly solutions to address climate concerns), you'll have the opportunity to test drive one for yourself. In fact, you'll find over 30 companies hosting rides on their e-bikes, electric skateboards, e-scooters and cargo bikes on three test tracks within the Royal Randwick grounds. Marty McFly's hoverboards may not have made the move from fiction to fact just yet, but with some pretty impressive innovations on offer at Micromobility Expo, you may not have to completely write off floating on wheels just yet… Pre-register now for free admission at the Micromobility Expo website. Otherwise score tickets for $20 at the door, on the day.
Coworking spaces offer the chance to break free from the daily office grind and work in an environment that fosters flexibility and community. Whether you're just starting out or looking to expand, Christie Spaces has you covered with top-notch facilities designed to elevate your business and help you succeed. And, because life shouldn't be all about work, there are plenty of opportunities to create and collaborate, too — from professional networking events to yoga classes and art workshops. We sat down with Christie Spaces CEO Robert Christie to get the lowdown on everything on offer at the dynamic coworking spaces located across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. So, if you've been thinking about making the transition from a passé office cubical to an invigorating shared space, read on — we've got all your curly questions covered. WHAT KIND OF FACILITIES DO COWORKING SPACES HAVE? One of the best things about coworking spaces is that they reflect the dynamism of modern working life. Whether you're running your own business, slogging away at a start-up or simply freelancing, Christie Spaces allows you to focus on your business in a slick environment with all the mod cons. Depending on the size of your team, you can choose between open workspaces and private offices, which can comfortably accommodate 100 people. As there's no life without wifi, all spaces are equipped with top-notch connections. CEO Robert Christie says that much thought has gone into creating a space that meets the needs of all types of businesses. "For creatives, we have photo studios, podcast booths and high-quality printing," says Christie. "We also have project pitching rooms and Skype in our meeting rooms, and we're even looking at installing relaxation rooms in our new spaces as we really understand the need to switch off from everything," Because life isn't paper-free just yet, there are printing facilities located on each floor, too. And, maybe best of all, there's also a dedicated coordinator on site to answer any questions and provide support. HOW IS IT DIFFERENT TO WORKING IN A TRADITIONAL OFFICE? Coworking spaces are the perfect antidote to the drudgery of 9-to-5 office life. The team at Christie Spaces understands that good results don't come from sitting behind a screen all day, so there are plenty of opportunities for creativity that extend beyond the desk. When it's time for a reset, head to the chill-out room to take a load off and recharge. Or, give your brain a break and stretch the rest of your body downward dog-style in the yoga space. If you'd rather flex your creative muscles instead, partake in a daytime art workshop and get the synapses firing — who knows, you might even create something worth pinning on the fridge. In addition to these activities, there are regular networking and community events, which provide an opportunity to meet like-minded people and might even lead to a new professional relationship. "Coworking spaces are hubs of collaboration and creativity," says Christie. "I've heard of so many people meeting their business partners in coworking spaces," And, despite it not being a traditional office space, Friday night drinks are still celebrated at the Christie Spaces. Cheers to that. WHAT'S IT LIKE WORKING SOLO IN A COWORKING SPACE? As anyone who's ever tried to "work from home" knows, the term is just a euphemism for sitting on the couch in your pyjamas and watching Netflix all day. Never fear, though, if you're a party of one needing to get work done, Christie Spaces is the ideal place to set yourself up for solo success. Hot desking offers the freedom of a flexible work environment while still being connected to all the equipment and facilities you might need. Although you may not be working directly with others, surrounding yourself with people on the same level will help to motivate you (and shame you out of that mid-afternoon nap). Christie believes the versatile nature of Christie Spaces is perfect for those working solo. "What's great about a coworking space is that if you want to collaborate you can, and you're celebrated for that. But if you also want to work solo in an inspiring place, that's fine, too. There's no pressure," Christie explains. MOST IMPORTANTLY, ARE COWORKING SPACES DOG FRIENDLY? Even though a dog can't hold a stapler, a furry office companion is far superior to a human one. That's why pooches are welcome at the Sydney and Melbourne Christie Spaces and the business is currently looking into options for pet-friendly spaces within the Brisbane offices, too. Just imagine, instead of closing the door on your best mate in the morning or making excuses to head home early just to pet them, they can be at work with you. Dogs don't just make good looking coworkers, they're also known stress relievers. When you've got a deadline bearing down on you or a mountain of emails piling up, they're more sympathetic to your needs than any colleague could ever be. And, if you're not lucky enough to have a pup of your own, you can always creep out on someone else's doggo. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO JOIN A COWORKING SPACE? When it comes to running a business, cost is always important. Fortunately, Christie Spaces' impressive facilities and networking opportunities don't cost a fortune — for a base membership, you're looking at around $450 a month, which includes internet, maintenance and all the other perks. At the moment, you can set yourself up in Christie Spaces in three major cities. Sydney has three offices — two in North Sydney and one in the CBD — Brisbane has two offices in the city centre, and Melbourne has one office in the heart of the CBD. Plans are afoot to expand to Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Perth and regional locations such as Newcastle and the Central Coast, too. Christie Spaces is located in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. To find your office space and start hustlin' head to christiespaces.com.au.
In Sydney, the words 'waterfront' and 'secret' are seldom found in the same sentence. But Little Fish Bar has done a fine job of pulling off the contradiction. Huddled up next to its much bolder mothership, Flying Fish Restaurant, on Pyrmont's historic Jones Bay Wharf, the bar breaks the propensity for Harbourside ostentation with its cosy, casual, hideaway feel, yet still delivers all the views. And this summer, it is set to take on an even more enchanting dimension when the Little Fish Summer Gin Garden pops up. Filled with lush vines, bursts of colour and a stair garden packed with flowers and herbs, the space will take on a kind of tropical oasis feel. To mark the occasion, Bar Manager and gin guru Adrien Charpentier has put together a brand new gin menu. Heading it up is, of course, Little Fish's famous Audemus Spirit's Pink Pepper Gin, all the way from France. You can't try this drop anywhere else in the country. In fact, only 500 bottles have been released worldwide. It's best served with just a dash of tonic, to bring out the nine botanicals found inside, which include pink peppercorns, juniper, cardamom and a honey distillate. Other premium gins on the 'Botanical Plot' menu are local drop 'The Cutglass' (from The West Winds, Dalkieth), G'Vine (from Cognac, France) and Monkey 47 (from Loburg, Germany). If that's all sounding too adventurous, you can always stick to a tried and tested classic, like Hendrick's, Bombay Sapphire or Tanqueray No.10. Alternatively, give matters a shake-up with a choice of three delicately balanced 'Medicinal Cocktails': Lady Lavender (G’Vine gin, Rossi D'Asiago Limoncello, Lillet Blanc, tonic, lavender); Gin Bramble (The Botanist gin, lime, crème de cassis, sugar syrup, raspberry); and Rosemary Winds ('The Cutlass' gin, Noilly Prat, lemon, orgeat syrup, sugar syrup, rosemary, chilli, bitters). For snacks, Flying Fish Executive Chef Stephen Seckold has come up with a bunch of gin-loving dishes. These include freshly shucked Sydney rock oysters with gin and cucumber granita; handpicked cheeses and condiments; and a 'Chef’s Garden Menu' that will change every week. Some of the front-runners are spanner crab croquettes with fennel aioli; cider-braised chorizo, tarragon and crisp potato sandwich; and half-shell scallops with grilled herbs and rose dressing. Little Fish Summer Gin Garden (Jones Bay Wharf, 19-21 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont) will pop up from Saturday 15 November through to Friday 19 December. Opening hours are Monday, 5pm-10.30pm; Tuesday-Saturday, noon - 9.30pm; and Sunday, noon-4pm. To brush up on your gin skills (and perfect your Casablanca quotes) before heading along, check out our ‘Bluffer’s Guide to Gin’.
Want to see what glitter and blood look like combined? Inventive Aussie horror The Loved Ones has recently scooped a handful of film festival prizes, so it's being released to some hype. The points of difference to the average slasher are its investment in character (so you care when someone has a cordless drill pointed at their head), its reverence to Australian film history and its female baddie. Never fear, the character development doesn't stop the lead, deep and dero high-schooler Brent (Xavier Samuel), being kidnapped a mere 10 minutes in. He's made the mistake of politely declining an invitation to the school formal from the quiet, childish Lola Stone (Robin McLeavy). Now Lola and her too-devoted father (John Brumpton) are determined that she and her quarry have the perfect night — a perverted prom where her dress is too shocking a pink, Kasey Chambers features too heavily on the soundtrack and an array of household tools are used contrary to their instructions. Tuxedoed, trussed up and tormented, Brent will have to decide whether he cares more for life or death, and, robbed of his voice early in the game, Samuel does a great job communicating this journey through scrabbles and cries alone. That said, there's a reason we call this genre 'torture porn', and although its great to see the gender roles reversed, it may also be the reason you really feel every squick of this grotesquery. https://youtube.com/watch?v=LqtDoEne-Is
For TV fans, 2022 was the year of finally. After a couple of years of hefty pandemic delays, so many stellar television shows finally returned. In 2023 so far, it's been the year of farewells. Again, plenty of ace programs have added extra episodes — but some of them, such as Succession, Barry, The Other Two, Servant and The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, dropped back in for their final runs, then said goodbye. Revelling in the last glimpses of feuding families, actors-turned-hitmen, stardom-chasing siblings, eerie nannies and comedians — and maybe AFC Richmond, too — has only been part of the viewing landscape among returning TV shows this year, though. Thankfully, when our screens delivered more time with high schoolers lost in the woods, for instance, it did so with the promise of more to follow. Elsewhere, the lineup of already-great series offering more instalments spanned everything from decade-plus comebacks to ridiculously brilliant sketches — plus shows about comebacks, dinosaurs, twisted technology, being trapped in a musical and more. Now that 2023 has passed its halfway point, we've rounded up the 15 best TV series that released another season between January and June. Binge them now if you haven't already. SUCCESSION Endings have always been a part of Succession. Since it premiered in 2018, the bulk of the HBO drama's feuding figures have been waiting for a big farewell. The reason is right there in the title, because for any of the Roy clan's adult children to scale the family company's greatest heights and remain there — be it initial heir apparent Kendall (Jeremy Strong, Armageddon Time), his inappropriate photo-sending brother Roman (Kieran Culkin, No Sudden Move), their political-fixer sister Siobhan (Sarah Snook, Pieces of a Woman), or eldest sibling and now-presidential candidate Connor (Alan Ruck, The Dropout) — their father Logan's (Brian Cox, Remember Me) tenure needed to wrap up. The latter was always stubborn. Proud, too, of what he'd achieved and the power it's brought. And whenever Logan seemed nearly ready to leave the business behind, he held on. If he's challenged or threatened, as happened again and again in the Emmy-winning series, he fixed his grasp even tighter. Succession was always been waiting for Logan's last stint at global media outfit Waystar RoyCo, but it had never been about finales quite the way it was in its stunning fourth season. This time, there was ticking clock not just for the show's characters, but for the stellar series itself, given that this is its last go-around — and didn't it make the most of it. Nothing can last forever, not even widely acclaimed hit shows that are a rarity in today's TV climate: genuine appointment-viewing. So, this went out at the height of its greatness, complete with unhappy birthday parties, big business deals, plenty of scheming and backstabbing, and both Shiv's husband Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen, Operation Mincemeat) and family cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun, Zola) in vintage form — plus an early shock, at least two of the best episodes of any show that've ever aired on television, one of the worst drinks, a phenomenal acting masterclass, a The Sopranos-level final shot and the reality that money really can't buy happiness. Succession streams via Binge. Read our full review. BARRY Since HBO first introduced the world to Barry Berkman, the contract killer played and co-created by Saturday Night Live great Bill Hader wanted to be something other than a gun for hire. An ex-military sniper, he was always skilled at his highly illicit post-service line of work; however, moving on from that past was a bubbling dream even before he found his way to a Los Angeles acting class while on a job. Barry laid bare its namesake's biggest wish in its 2018 premiere episode. Then, it kept unpacking his pursuit of a life less lethal across the show's Emmy-winning first and second seasons, plus its even-more-astounding third season in 2022. Season four, the series' final outing, was no anomaly, but it also realised that wanting to be someone different and genuinely overcoming your worst impulses aren't the same. Barry grappled with this fact since the beginning, of course, with the grim truth beating at the show's heart whether it's at its most darkly comedic, action-packed or dramatic — and, given that its namesake was surrounded by people who similarly yearn for an alternative to their current lot in life, yet also can't shake their most damaging behaviour, it did so beyond its antihero protagonist. Are Barry, his girlfriend Sally Reid (Sarah Goldberg, The Night House), acting teacher Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler, Black Adam), handler Monroe Fuches (Stephen Root, Succession) and Chechen gangster NoHo Hank (Anthony Carrigan, Bill & Ted Face the Music) all that different from who they were when Barry started? Have they processed their troubles? Have they stopped taking out their struggles not just on themselves, but on those around them? Hader and his fellow Barry co-creator Alec Berg (Silicon Valley, Curb Your Enthusiasm) kept asking those questions in season four to marvellous results, including after making a massive jump, and right up to the jaw-dropping yet pitch-perfect finale. Barry being Barry, posing such queries and seeing its central figures for who they are was an ambitious, thrilling and risk-taking ride. When season three ended, it was with Barry behind bars, which is where he was when the show's new go-around kicked off. He wasn't coping, unsurprisingly, hallucinating Sally running lines in the prison yard and rejecting a guard's attempt to tell him that he's not a bad person. With the latter, there's a moment of clarity about what he's done and who he is, but Barry's key players have rarely been that honest with themselves for long. Barry streams via Binge. Read our full review. THE OTHER TWO Swapping Saturday Night Live for an entertainment-parodying sitcom worked swimmingly for Tina Fey. Since 2019, it also went hilariously for Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider. Not just former SNL writers but the veteran sketch comedy's ex-head writers, Kelly and Schneider gave the world their own 30 Rock with the sharp, smart and sidesplitting The Other Two. Their angle: focusing on the adult siblings of a Justin Bieber-style teen popstar who've always had their own showbiz aspirations — he's an actor, she was a ballerina — who then find themselves the overlooked children of a momager-turned-daytime television host as well. Cary (Drew Tarver, History of the World: Part II) and Brooke (Heléne York, Katy Keene) Dubek were happy for Chase (Case Walker, Monster High: The Movie). And when their mother Pat (Molly Shannon, I Love That for You) gets her own time in the spotlight, becoming Oprah-level famous, they were equally thrilled for her. But ChaseDreams, their little brother's stage name, was always a constant reminder that their own ambitions keep being outshone. In a first season that proved one of the best new shows of 2019, a second season in 2021 that was just as much of a delight and now a stellar third go-around, Cary and Brooke were never above getting petty and messy about being the titular pair. In season three, however, they didn't just hang around with stars in their eyes and resentment in their hearts. How did they cope? They spent the past few years constantly comparing themselves to Chase, then to Pat, but then they were successful on their own — and still chaotic, and completely unable to change their engrained thinking. Forget the whole "the grass is always greener" adage. No matter if they were faking it or making it, nothing was ever perfectly verdant for this pair or anyone in their orbit. Still, as Brooke wondered whether her dream manager gig is trivial after living through a pandemic, she started contemplating if she should be doing more meaningful work like her fashion designer-turned-nurse boyfriend Lance (Josh Segarra, The Big Door Prize). And with Cary's big breaks never quite panning out as planned, he got envious of his fellow-actor BFF Curtis (Brandon Scott Jones, Ghosts). The Other Two streams via Binge. Read our full review. PARTY DOWN Sometimes, dreams do come true. More often than not, they don't. The bulk of life is what dwells in-between, as we all cope with the inescapable truth that we won't get everything that we've ever fantasised about, and we mightn't even score more than just a few things we want. This is the space that Party Down has always made its own, asking "are we having fun yet?" about life's disappointments while focusing on Los Angeles-based hopefuls played by Adam Scott (Severance), Ken Marino (The Other Two), Ryan Hansen (A Million Little Things), Martin Starr (Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities) and more. They'd all rather be doing something other than being cater waiters at an array of California functions, and most have stars in their eyes. In the cult comedy's first two seasons back in 2009–10, the majority of its characters had their sights set on show business, slinging hors d'oeuvres while trying to make acting, screenwriting or comedy happen. Bringing most of the original gang back together — including Jane Lynch (Only Murders in the Building) and Megan Mullally (Reservation Dogs) — Party Down keeps its shindig-by-shindig setup in its 13-years-later third season. Across its first 20 instalments as well as its new six, each episode sends the titular crew to a different soirée. This time, setting the scene for what's still one of the all-time comedy greats in its latest go-around, the opening get-together is thrown by one of their own. Kyle Bradway (Hansen) has just scored the lead part in a massive superhero franchise, and he's celebrating. Ex-actor Henry Pollard (Scott) is among the attendees, as are now-heiress Constance Carmell (Lynch) and perennial stage mum Lydia Dunfree (Mullally). Hard sci-fi obsessive Roman DeBeers (Starr) and the eager-to-please Ron Donald (Marino) are present as well, in a catering capacity. By the time episode two hits, then the rest of the season, more of the above will be donning pastel pink bow ties, the series keeps unpacking what it means to dream but never succeed, and the cast — especially Scott and the ever-committed Marino — are in their element. Party Down streams via Stan. Read our full review of season three. YELLOWJACKETS For Shauna (Melanie Lynskey, The Last of Us), Natalie (Juliette Lewis, Welcome to Chippendales), Taissa (Tawny Cypress, Billions), Misty (Christina Ricci, Wednesday), Lottie (Simone Kessell, Muru) and Van (Lauren Ambrose, Servant), 1996 will always be the year that their plane plunged into the Canadian wilderness, stranding them for 19 tough months — as season one of 2021–2022 standout Yellowjackets grippingly established. As teenagers (as played by The Kid Detective's Sophie Nélisse, The Boogeyman's Sophie Thatcher, Scream VI's Jasmin Savoy, Shameless' Samantha Hanratty, Mad Max: Fury Road's Courtney Eaton and Santa Clarita Diet's Liv Hewson), they were members of the show's titular high-school soccer squad, travelling from their New Jersey home town to Seattle for a national tournament, when the worst eventuated. Cue Lost-meets-Lord of the Flies with an Alive twist, as that first season was understandably pegged. All isn't always what it seems as Shauna and company endeavour to endure in the elements. Also, tearing into each other occurs more than just metaphorically. Plus, literally sinking one's teeth in was teased and flirted with since episode one, too. But Yellowjackets will always be about what it means to face something so difficult that it forever colours and changes who you are — and constantly leaves a reminder of who you might've been. So, when Yellowjackets ended its first season, it was with as many questions as answers. Naturally, it tore into season two in the same way. In the present, mere days have elapsed — and Shauna and her husband Jeff (Warren Kole, Shades of Blue) are trying to avoid drawing any attention over the disappearance of Shauna's artist lover Adam (Peter Gadiot, Queen of the South). Tai has been elected as a state senator, but her nocturnal activities have seen her wife Simone (Rukiya Bernard, Van Helsing) move out with their son Sammy (Aiden Stoxx, Supergirl). Thanks to purple-wearing kidnappers, Nat has been spirited off, leaving Misty desperate to find her — even enlisting fellow citizen detective Walter (Elijah Wood, Come to Daddy) to help. And, in the past, winter is setting in, making searching for food and staying warm an immense feat. Yellowjackets streams via Paramount+. Read our full review. I THINK YOU SHOULD LEAVE WITH TIM ROBINSON Eat-the-rich stories are delicious, and also everywhere; however, Succession, Triangle of Sadness and the like aren't the only on-screen sources of terrible but terribly entertaining people. I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson has been filling streaming queues with assholes since 2019, as usually played by the eponymous Detroiters star, and long may it continue. In season three, the show takes its premise literally in the most ridiculous and unexpected way, so much so that no one could ever dream of predicting what happens. That's still the sketch comedy's not-so-secret power. Each of its skits is about someone being the worst in some way, doubling down on being the worst and refusing to admit that they're the worst (or that they're wrong) — and while everyone around them might wish they'd leave, they're never going to, and nothing ever ends smoothly. In a show that's previously worked in hot dog costumes and reality TV series about bodies dropping out of coffins to hilarious effect, anything can genuinely happen to its gallery of the insufferable. In fact, the more absurd and chaotic I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson gets, the better. No description can do I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson's sketches justice, and almost every one is a comedic marvel, as again delivered in six 15-minute episodes in the series' third run. The usual complaint applies: for a show about people overstaying their welcome, the program itself flies by too quickly, always leaving viewers wanting more. Everything from dog doors and designated drivers to HR training and street parking is in Robinson's sights this time, and people who won't stop talking about their kids, wedding photos and group-think party behaviour as well. Game shows get parodied again and again, an I Think You Should Leave staple, and gloriously. More often than in past seasons, Robinson lets his guest stars play the asshole, too, including the returning Will Forte (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story), regular Sam Richardson (The Afterparty), and perennial pop-ups Fred Armisen (Barry) and Tim Meadows (Poker Face). And when Jason Schwartzman (I Love That for You) and Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) drop in, they're also on the pitch-perfect wavelength. I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson streams via Netflix. Read our full review. I HATE SUZIE TOO Watching I Hate Suzie Too isn't easy. Watching I Hate Suzie, the show's first season, wasn't either back in 2020. A warts-and-all dance through the chaotic life, emotions and mind of a celebrity, both instalments of this compelling British series have spun as far away from the glitz and glamour of being famous as possible. Capturing carefully constructed social-media content to sell the fiction of stardom's perfection is part of the story, as it has to be three decades into the 21st century; however, consider this show from Succession writer Lucy Prebble and actor/singer/co-creator Billie Piper, and its blood pressure-raising tension and stress, the anti-Instagram. The unfiltered focus: teen pop sensation-turned-actor Suzie Pickles, as played with a canny sense of knowing by Piper given that the 'Honey to the Bee' and Penny Dreadful talent has charted the same course. That said, the show's IRL star hasn't been the subject of a traumatic phone hack that exposed sensitive photos from an extramarital affair to the public, turning her existence and career upside down, as Suzie was in season one. Forget The Idol — this is the best show about being a famous singer that you can watch right now. In I Hate Suzie Too, plenty has changed for the series' namesake over a six-month period. She's no longer with her professor husband Cob (Daniel Ings, Sex Education), and is battling for custody of their young son Frank (debutant Matthew Jordan-Caws), who is deaf — and her manager and lifelong friend Naomi (Leila Farzad, Avenue 5) is off the books, replaced by the no-nonsense Sian (Anastasia Hille, A Spy Among Friends). Also, in a new chance to win back fans, Suzie has returned to reality TV after it helped thrust her into the spotlight as a child star to begin with. Dance Crazee Xmas is exactly what it sounds like, and sees her compete against soccer heroes (Blake Harrison, The Inbetweeners), musicians (Douglas Hodge, The Great) and more. But when I Hate Suzie Too kicks off with a ferocious, clearly cathartic solo dance in sad-clown getup, the viewers aren't charmed. Well, Dance Crazee Xmas' audience, that is — because anyone watching I Hate Suzie Too is in for another stunner that's fearless, audacious, honest, dripping with anxiety, staggering in its intensity, absolutely heart-wrenching and always unflinching. I Hate Suzie Too streams via Stan. Read our full review. THE GREAT Television perfection is watching Elle Fanning (The Girl From Plainville) and Nicholas Hoult (Renfield) trying to run 18th-century Russia while scheming, fighting and heatedly reuniting in a historical period comedy The Great. Since 2020, they've each been in career-best form — her as the series' ambitious namesake, him as the emperor who loses his throne to his wife — while turning in two of the best performances on streaming in one of the medium's most hilarious shows. Both former child actors now enjoying excellent careers as adults, they make such a marvellous pair that it's easy to imagine this series being built around them. It wasn't and, now three seasons, The Great has never thrived on their casting alone. Still, shouting "huzzah!" at the duo's bickering, burning passion and bloodshed-sparking feuding flows as freely as all the vodka downed in the Emmy-winner's frames under Australian creator Tony McNamara's watch (and after he initially unleashed its winning havoc upon Sydney Theatre Company in 2008, then adapted it for television following a BAFTA and an Oscar nomination for co-penning The Favourite). In this latest batch of instalments, all either written or co-written by McNamara, Catherine (Fanning) and Peter (Hoult) begin the third season sure about their love for each other, but just as flummoxed as ever about making their nuptials work. She's attempting to reform the nation, he's the primary caregiver to their infant son Paul, her efforts are meeting resistance, he's doting but also bored playing stay-out-of-politics dad, and couples counselling is called for. There's also the matter of the royal court's most prominent members, many of whom were rounded up and arrested under Catherine's orders at the end of season two. From Sweden, exiled King Hugo (Freddie Fox, House of the Dragon) and Queen Agnes (Grace Molony, Mary, Queen of Scots) are hanging around after being run out of their own country due to democracy's arrival. And, Peter's lookalike Pugachev (also Hoult) is agitating for a serf-powered revolution. The Great streams via Stan. Read our full review. PREHISTORIC PLANET When it initially arrived in 2022, becoming one of the year's best new shows and giving nature doco fans the five-episode series they didn't know they'd always wanted — and simultaneously couldn't believe hadn't been made until now — Prehistoric Planet followed the David Attenborough nature documentary formula perfectly. And it is a formula. In a genre that's frequently spying the wealth of patterns at the heart of the animal realm, docos such as The Living Planet, State of the Planet, Frozen Planet, Our Planet, Seven Worlds, One Planet, A Perfect Planet, Green Planet and the like all build from the same basic elements. Jumping back 66 million years, capitalising upon advancements in special effects but committing to making a program just like anything that peers at the earth today was never going to feel like the easy product of a template, though. Indeed, Prehistoric Planet's first season was stunning, and its second is just as staggering. The catch, in both season one and this return trip backwards: while breathtaking landscape footage brings the planet's terrain to the Prehistoric Planet series, the critters stalking, swimming, flying and tumbling across it are purely pixels. Filmmaker Jon Favreau remains among the show's executive producers, and the technology that brought his photorealistic versions of The Jungle Book and The Lion King to cinemas couldn't be more pivotal. Seeing needs to be believing while watching, because the big-screen gloss of the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World sagas, the puppets of 90s sitcom Dinosaurs, and the animatronics of Walking with Dinosaurs — or anything in-between — were never going to suit a program with Attenborough as a guide. Accordingly, to sit down to Prehistoric Planet is to experience cognitive dissonance: viewers are well-aware that what they're spying isn't real because the animals seen no longer exist, but it truly looks that authentic. Prehistoric Planet season streams via Apple TV+. Read our full review. SERVANT When M Night Shyamalan (Knock at the Cabin) earned global attention and two Oscar nominations back in 1999 for The Sixth Sense, it was with a film about a boy who sees dead people. After ten more features that include highs (the trilogy that is Unbreakable, Split and Glass) and lows (Lady in the Water and The Happening), in 2019 he turned his attention to a TV tale of a nanny who revives a dead baby. Or did he? That's how Servant commenced its first instantly eerie, anxious and dread-filled season, a storyline it has followed in its second season in 2021, third in 2022, and then fourth and final batch of episodes in 2023. But as with all Shyamalan works, this meticulously made series bubbles with the clear feeling that all isn't as it seems. What happens if a caregiver sweeps in exactly when needed and changes a family's life, Mary Poppins-style, but she's a teenager rather than a woman, disquieting instead of comforting, and accompanied by strange events, forceful cults and unsettlingly conspiracies rather than sweet songs, breezy winds and spoonfuls of sugar? That's Servant's basic premise. Set in Shyamalan's beloved Philadelphia, and created by Tony Basgallop (The Consultant), the puzzle-box series spends most of its time in a lavish brownstone inhabited by TV news reporter Dorothy Turner (Lauren Ambrose, Yellowjackets), her celebrity-chef husband Sean (Toby Kebbell, Bloodshot), their baby Jericho and 18-year-old nanny Leanne Grayson (Nell Tiger Free, Too Old to Die Young) — and where Dorothy's recovering-alcoholic brother Julian (Grint, Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities) is a frequent visitor. That's still the dynamic in season four, which slowly and powerfully moves towards its big farewell. Dorothy is more determined than ever to be rid of Leanne, Leanne is more sure of herself and her abilities than she's ever been — in childminding, and all the other spooky occurrences that've been haunting the family — and Sean and Julian are again caught in the middle. Wrapping up with one helluva ending, Servant has gifted viewers four seasons of spectacular duelling caregivers and gripping domestic tension, and one of streaming's horror greats. Servant streams via Apple TV+. Read our full review of season four. THE MARVELOUS MRS MAISEL Here's how The Marvelous Mrs Maisel started: in New York City in 1958, Miriam 'Midge' Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan, I'm Your Woman) had become accustomed to waiting in the wings while her husband Joel (Michael Zegen, The Stand In) tried his hand at stand-up comedy. Then she took to the stage herself, and this blend of comedy and drama followed the revolutionary aftermath. Sometimes, that's brought highlights, including having her talent recognised by Gaslight Cafe manager Susie Myerson (Alex Borstein, Family Guy), taking her sets on the road and working her way up the comedy ladder. Sometimes, there have been costs, especially in her relationships. And always, right up to the show's fifth and final season that featured jumps forward to the 21st century, there was a battle that still sadly remains oh-so-relevant IRL: for women in comedy to be treated and seen equally. Hailing from Gilmore Girls and Bunheads mastermind Amy Sherman-Palladino, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel's cast has always proven a dream — Tony Shalhoub (Flamin' Hot), Marin Hinkle (Jumanji: The Next Level), Kevin Pollak (Willow) and Caroline Aaron (Ghosts) also feature, and Jane Lynch (Party Down), Luke Kirby (Boston Strangler) and Stephanie Hsu (Joy Ride) as well — and, unsurprisingly, its writing, too. Indeed, there's nothing quite like Sherman-Palladino-penned dialogue, which Brosnahan especially is a natural at nailing its rhythms. The period detail has consistently been impeccable, but this wouldn't be the hit it is (or have Golden Globes and Emmys to its name) if it didn't also mean something. It should come as no astonishment that Joan Rivers was one of the inspirations for the series, and that it is equally hilarious, heartfelt and finely observed, with its guiding writer, director and producer's charms in abundance. The Marvelous Mrs Maisel streams via Prime Video. TED LASSO It wasn't simply debuting during the pandemic's first year, in a life-changing period when everyone was doing it tough, that made Ted Lasso's first season a hit in 2020. It wasn't just the Apple TV+ sitcom's unshakeable warmth, giving its characters and viewers alike a big warm hug episode after episode, either. Both play a key part, however, because this Jason Sudeikis (Saturday Night Live)-starring soccer series is about everyone pitching in and playing a part. It's a team endeavour that champions team endeavours — hailing from a quartet of creators (Sudeikis, co-star Brendan Hunt, Detroiters' Joe Kelly and Scrubs' Bill Lawrence), boasting a killer cast in both major and supporting roles, and understanding how important it is to support one another on- and off-screen (plus in the fictional world that the show has created, and while making that realm so beloved with audiences). Ted Lasso has always believed in the individual players as well as the team they're in, though. It is named after its eponymous American football coach-turned-inexperienced soccer manager, after all. But in building an entire sitcom around a character that started as a sketch in two popular US television ads for NBC's Premier League coverage — around two characters, because Hunt's (Bless This Mess) laconic Coach Beard began in those commercials as well — Ted Lasso has always understood that everyone is only a fraction of who they can be when they're alone. That's an idea that kept gathering momentum in the show's long-awaited third season, which gave much to engagingly dive into. It starts with Ted left solo when he desperately doesn't want to be, with AFC Richmond owner Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham, Hocus Pocus 2) desperate to beat her ex Rupert Mannion (Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Anthony Stewart Head) new team, and with the Greyhounds' former assistant Nathan 'Nate' Shelley (Nick Mohammed, Intelligence) now coaching said opposition — and with changes galore around the club. It ends with more big moves after another astute look at the game of life, whether or not it returns for season four. Ted Lasso streams via Apple TV+. Read our full review. SCHMIGADOON! For fans of Key & Peele, the fact that Keegan-Michael Key can do anything won't come as a surprise. In 2023, proving that statement true has seen the comedian and actor voice Toad in The Super Mario Bros Movie, and also return to the realm of singing and dancing in Schmigadoon!. What would it be like to live in a musical? That's been this Apple TV+'s central question since it first premiered in 2021. Key stars opposite the also ever-versatile Cecily Strong (Saturday Night Live) as a couple, Josh Skinner and Melissa Gimble, who are simply backpacking when they suddenly find themselves in the wondrous titular town. The duo were hoping to fix their struggling relationship with a stint in nature, but instead step into a 24/7 Golden Age-style show — a parody of Brigadoon, clearly — that helps them work through their feelings, discover what they truly want and see a different side of life. That was season one. In season two, Josh and Melissa start back in the real world, married, in their medical jobs and going through the motions. In their malaise, a return trip to Schmigadoon! beckons; however, when they stumble upon it again, the place isn't quite the same. Instead, they're now in Schmicago. And, instead of 40s and 50s musicals, 60s and 70s shows are in the spotlight — including the razzle dazzle of Chicago, obviously. What a ball this series has, including with a jam-packed cast that includes Dove Cameron (Vengeance), Kristin Chenoweth (Bros), Alan Cumming (The Good Fight), Ariana DeBose (West Side Story), Jane Krakowski (Dickinson), Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building) and Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) — and with ample thanks to creators Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio (the Despicable Me films). Schmigadoon! streams via Apple TV+. BLACK MIRROR When Ron Swanson discovered digital music, the tech-phobic Parks and Recreation favourite was uncharacteristically full of praise. Played by Nick Offerman (The Last of Us) at his most giddily exuberant, he badged the iPod filled with his favourite records an "excellent rectangle". In Black Mirror, the same shape is everywhere. The Netflix series' moniker even stems from the screens and gadgets that we all now filter life through daily and unthinkingly. In Charlie Brooker's (Cunk on Earth) eyes since 2011, however, those ever-present boxes and the technology behind them are far from ace. Instead, befitting a dystopian anthology show that has dripped with existential dread from episode one, and continues to do so in its long-awaited sixth season, those rectangles keep reflecting humanity at its bleakest. Black Mirror as a title has always been devastatingly astute: when we stare at a TV, smartphone, computer or tablet, we access the world yet also reveal ourselves. It might've taken four years to return after 2019's season five, but Brooker's hit still smartly and sharply focuses on the same concern. Indeed, this new must-binge batch of nightmares begins with exactly the satirical hellscape that today's times were bound to inspire. Opening chapter Joan Is Awful, with its AI- and deepfake-fuelled mining of everyday existence for content, almost feels too prescient — a charge a show that's dived into digital resurrections, social scoring systems, killer VR and constant surveillance knows well. Brooker isn't afraid to think bigger and probe deeper in season six, though; to eschew obvious targets like ChatGPT and the pandemic; and to see clearly and unflinchingly that our worst impulses aren't tied to the latest widgets. Black Mirror streams via Netflix. Read our full review. HUNTERS Call it a conspiracy thriller. Call it an alternative history. Call it a revenge fantasy. Call it another savage exploration of race relations with Jordan Peele's fingerprints all over it. When it comes to Hunters, they all fit. This 70s-set Nazi-slaying series first arrived in 2020, following a ragtag group determined to do two things: avenge the Holocaust, with many among their number Jewish survivors or relatives of survivors; and stop escaped Third Reich figures who've secretly slipped into the US from their plan of starting a Fourth Reich. The cast was stellar — Al Pacino (House of Gucci), Logan Lerman (Bullet Train), Tiffany Boone (Nine Perfect Strangers), Jeannie Berlin (Succession), Carol Kane (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Lena Olin (Mindhunter) and Australia's own Kate Mulvany (The Clearing) among them — and Get Out and Us filmmaker Peele executive produced a gem as he also did that same year with Lovecraft Country. And, when it wrapped up its first season, it did so with one mighty massive cliffhanger: the fact that Adolf Hitler (Udo Kier, Swan Song) was still alive in 1977. Returning for its second and final batch of episodes three years later, but largely moving its action to 1979, season two of Hunters sees its central gang initially doing their own things — but unsurprisingly reteaming to go after the obvious target. Jonah Heidelbaum (Lerman) is living a double life, with his new fiancee Clara (Emily Rudd, Fear Street) in the dark about his Nazi-hunting ways, but crossing paths with the ruthless and determined Chava Apfelbaum (Jennifer Jason Leigh, Possessor) ramps up his and the crew's efforts. Knowing this is the final go-around, the stylishly shot series wasn't afraid of embracing its OTT leanings, tonal jumps and frenetic camerawork, and always proved entertaining as it hurtles towards its last hurrah. The best episode of the season, however, is one that jumps back to World War II, doesn't focus on any of its main stars and is as clever, moving and well-executed as Hunters has ever been. If the show ever gets revived in the future, which it easily could, more of that would make a great series even better. Hunters streams via Prime Video. Looking for more viewing highlights? We picked the 15 best new TV shows of 2023, too. We also keep a running list of must-stream TV from across the year so far, complete with full reviews. And, you can check out our list of film and TV streaming recommendations, which is updated monthly.
When you're a single player in the arduous dating game, swiping can get old fast. You spend all your time sifting through the timewasters and sleazeballs, while your true love potentially slips through your too-busy-swiping fingers. Thankfully, lovers, there's a new app on the block pulling out all the stops to ensure you have a quality dating experience. The Inner Circle is a unique dating platform that brings together like-minded singles — online and offline. Turns out looking for love can be fun, after all. We've broken down the key features of the app below and paired them with a date idea for you to enjoy with your new flame. Bring on the lovefest. [caption id="attachment_637902" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Katje Ford.[/caption] NIGHTS OUT The Inner Circle brings members face-to-face through unique events. You can rub shoulders with other singles while enjoying a night out with friends. For a similar vibe, take your date to pub trivia and get to know them within a social setting — and maybe nab a sweet cash prize. It's a win-win, literally. Sydneysiders, head to the Botany View Hotel in Newtown for Thursday trivia with a cash prize. Melburnians, make tracks to The Penny Black for trivia in the beer garden, and Brisbanites, you can catch beer-garden trivia at The Wickham. NO CATFISHING With its involved screening process, The Inner Circle cuts out any risk of catfishing. Basically, all the rotten fish are thrown back to sea. See a literal representation of this and plan a date to go fish picking with your partner. Then, spend the evening cooking your catch with your other 'good catch' while enjoying a glass of crisp riesling. For an upscale fishmonger experience, head to the Fish Butchery (Sydney), run by the Saint Peter crew. Or, for a no-frills affair, head to Ocean Made (Melbourne) or The Fish Factory (Brisbane). PERFECT PAIRINGS The Inner Circle's dedicated team carefully considers each and every application to ensure members are well suited, much like pairing a good wine and cheese. To channel the same meticulous attention to detail and to sample some tasty treats, take your date to a cheese and wine tasting. There are loads of fromageries around, but we suggest, Formaggi Ocello in Sydney, Milk the Cow in Melbourne and Fromage the Cow in Brisbane. If all goes well, grab some gooey delights and vino to go and enjoy them together back at home. ON THE GO The Inner Circle has a ton of travel features that make it is easy to use at any time. So you have access to the best, even when travelling. Take your date on a scenic hike; it's a great way to get to know someone while you both enjoy a nice rush of endorphins from the exercise and get a dose of vitamin D. No matter where you are in Australia, you can always find a good trail. Check out our guides for Brissie, Melbourne and Sydney, then get planning. NO SWIPING Forget about the awkward left and right swipes that have started to hurt your fingers. Say goodbye to RSI. The Inner Circle has no swiping, which means your hands are free to do other fun things, like dabble in pottery or craft a terrarium. Plan a phone-free date with your new main squeeze and not only will you enjoy the use of both hands, but you'll pick up a new skill, too. To relive that pottery moment from Ghost and try your hand at ceramics, head to Bea Bellingham (Sydney) or Céramiques Elsternwick (Melbourne). Or, if you'd prefer something more organic, make a succulent-filled mini-garden at Work-Shop in Brisbane. Get off the tired, old dating apps and jump into The Inner Circle. Sign up here and get exploring.
Back in 2021, news arrived that Round the Twist was joining The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Muriel's Wedding, Strictly Ballroom, Starstruck and Moulin Rouge! in making the leap from Australia's screens to its theatres as a stage musical. If you've ever, ever felt like you needed to see the classic 90s and early 00s Aussie children's TV series with singing and dancing, the end result is debuting in Brisbane, with Round the Twist The Musical making its world premiere as part of Queensland Theatre's 2024 season. The homegrown gem has gone the screen-to-stage route with a show that already has the entire country well-acquainted with its characters. Taking over QPAC's Playhouse from Tuesday, November 12–Sunday, December 8, it closes out Queensland Theatre's 2024 run. We bet you're now more excited right now than a Twist family member in a lighthouse. Airing for two seasons between 1990–93, then another two from 2000–01, Round the Twist adapted Paul Jennings' popular books into an offbeat fantasy series. If you were the right age, it was must-see TV — and now it's your next must-see musical. Here's hoping that the new stage production not only does justice to the show that absolutely every Aussie kid watched in the 90s and 00s, and more than once, but that it taps into its balance of humour, strangeness and scares. There's definitely a big lighthouse involved, because of course there is. Obviously, we all know which song absolutely has to be included — and multiple times, ideally. Yes, it's the theme tune by Andrew Duffield that you've now got stuck in your head and will keep singing to yourself for the rest of the week. (And no, we're not sorry for putting it there.) Writer/composer Paul Hodge and director Simon Phillips (Muriel's Wedding: The Musical, Ladies in Black) are guiding the show, which will focus on single father Tony Twist; his children Pete, Linda and Bronson; and their efforts to save their home from the Gribble family while also attempting to solve a 200-year-old mystery. Expect haunted spaces, ghosts, smelly feet and a crystal ball as well, and songs. Images: Lyndon Mechielsen. Updated: Friday, November 22, 2024.
The Sydney Opera House Forecourt has played host to some of Sydney's most memorable music and cultural moments over the last decade — from Dance Rites' annual transformation of the forecourt, to performances from local icons like Paul Kelly and international superstars Florence and the Machine and The National. In more recent times, it has been transformed into a COVID-safe dance floor and an outdoor gym. Now, in what's set to be the forecourt's return as the city's most idyllic concert space, the Sydney Opera House is throwing a series of four free concerts across one weekend. Kicking things off on Friday, April 9 is ARIA-nominated indie-pop singer-songwriter Jack River. River will be performing a one-off show titled Visions of Us. The show will combine selections from her debut album Sugar Mountain with poetry and the voices of climate activists, First Nations leaders and emerging artists. On the Saturday, April 10, two shows will be performed under the name Barrabuwari, which means 'tomorrow' in the Gadigal language. Barrabuwari is an Indigenous-led showcase of a collection of the country's most impactful and trailblazing voices in music. In the afternoon, from 2.30–7pm, the Barrabuwari Sunset Gathering will see the likes of Becca Hatch, DJ Plead, JK-47, Kobie Dee, Milan Ring and Spvrrow take to the forecourt. They will be joined by a showcase of artist from the record label Trackwork, a Calling Country Ceremony, and hosts Travis De Vries of Broriginals and Sara Khan and Darren Lesaguis of FBi Radio. Following the showcase, from 7.45–10.45pm, will be a performance from one of Australian hip-hop's most important voices, Ziggy Ramo. He'll perform his monumental 2020 album Black Thoughts. Boundary-pushing producer DJ Plead will also return post-sunset to supply the beats for the night. Rounding out the weekend on Sunday, April 11 will be Sydney Symphony Orchestra performing Heartstrings, a program of classical masterpieces from the likes of Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Grieg. The free concerts are funded by the NSW Government as part of the Summer in the City campaign, which also includes Sunset Piazza, the Dine & Discover vouchers and a heap of late night cultural events. Tickets are free but registration is essential. Registration opens at 12pm AEDT on Wednesday, March 17 at the Sydney Opera House website. [caption id="attachment_797497" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Hamilton Lund[/caption] Top image: Ken Leanfore
Dumpster-divers unite! The Garage Sale Trail has all of your treasure-hunting covered with an organised one-day, city-wide event. Whether you are looking to sell or to buy, are on your own or a company, the Garage Sale Trail has something to offer you. Zooming in on a hyper-local area, the Trail aims to function as "a platform for anyone who wants to make some money or raise money for a cause and for anyone who wants to connect with their community". The Cantina Mobil Mexican food truck will kick off the event at 10am on May 5, in the cul-de-sac of Richards Avenue in Surry Hills. The trail will proceed from there, including everything from plants at the Royal Botanic Gardens Garage Sale to fabric and clothes from the Cloth, Fabric and Art Sale to books from city libraries. It's a great opportunity to add some 'old is new' decor to your house, or to get all that clutter out of your garage, all while contributing to and connecting with your immediate community. And, of course, you don't need a garage to participate. Get involved by registering your sale online, shopping on sale day (May 5) or donating to the Garage Sale Trail Foundation.
We're living on borrowed time. If it's not the climate that wipes humans out, it'll be our over-inflated desire for financial growth. Given that almost every nation in the world runs on a bloated economy of debt and speculative trading — the prayers of a banker religion — imagine the horror when it all falls apart. How is life, both the barest form of it, not to mention the healthy quality of it, able to flourish in the dusty aftermath? This is the question asked by Perth's tactical media art renegades pvi collective in their new work, blackmarket, presented by Performance Space, which premieres in May at Alaska Projects. Audiences are invited to a future version of Kings Cross, a postcode scorched by riots and the eating of the rich, where a grassroots, underground economy has sprung up based on ancient traditions of barter and gifts. It seems a bleak setting, but there is scope for great humanity in this raw marketplace. Playing the role of post-apocalyptic survivors, known as “hustlers”, audiences arrive at the blackmarket with objects to trade in order to flourish. It may not require dollars, but some sense will help hustlers go far, so we spoke with pvi collective's Kelli McCluskey for her advice on how to thrive in a world after the banks come crashing down. BE OPEN TO LEARNING NEW SKILLS pvi collective is working with local Sydney artists who will take on the role of “traders” in blackmarket. Each trader has trained in specific services that they will teach you if you trade an object with them. These services range from useful urban scouting skills to holding your own in a riot and spiritual acts of compassion. “We let our traders loose in the city for a day and they had to survive without money,” recalls McCluskey. “We set them challenges — you need to be able to make a coffee, or find a shower, and all they had were these services that they'd been workshopping with us. And they came back after six hours on the street and you'd be surprised how it shifts everyone's thinking — 'I've gone out without my wallet and I've been fed, had a shower, I've experienced generosity from strangers, I've had companionship, I've had hugs from people'. It becomes this addictive thing.” BE PREPARED TO GIVE EVERYTHING AWAY As a hustler, you'll bring five objects that might be of value in the blackmarket economy. McCluskey encourages hustlers to “let go of the things they've placed a certain value on, and replace them with an experience or some knowledge that may help in this doomsday scenario.” While hustlers can trade any object, a philosophical reward comes if you push yourself to give away objects that you consider highly valuable. “Are we physically able to let go of the things that we consider important in our lives?” McCluskey asks. Doing so may lead to a powerful reassessment of your values, with revelations such as: “I have companionship in my life, and if that were to be lost, it would be more significant than if I lost my jewellery, or a pair of shoes.” “At the end an audience member may come back absolutely empty-handed, but what they do have is this knowledge, these experiences, that will stay with them,” says McCluskey. BE READY TO TEACH OTHERS Winning and losing are common when playing games or trading, but such capitalist ideas fade away in blackmarket. “I think that people are naturally competitive,” says McCluskey, “but here there is this level playing field where you are in control. It's completely up to you what you choose to do, what services you do, what trades you choose, so it really is your own adventure.” While not necessarily competing with other hustlers, you might “level up” during the course of the game. “There is this weird twist in the work where you've been trading and giving away your stuff, and then there is this internal calibration inside the app, which looks at all the choices you've made and assigns you a service [to teach] — okay, now you are a trader, who's going to want your services?” So, there may not be one winner, but resourceful hustlers could start teaching other hustlers and take over from the traders. BE ACCEPTING OF FAILURE AS A RESULT OF EXPERIMENTATION This is blackmarket's first public performance. “It's on the cusp of being part social experiment, part performance work, so we don't know how audience members are going to behave,” admits McCluskey. With the open-ended, experimental and audience-driven nature of blackmarket, the traders face the possibility of the game experience going off-road. This will not stop the show, however. Even if hustlers ignored the services offered by traders and directly exchanged goods with one another — swapping clothes for shoes, electronics for artwork, for example — it's an equally fascinating prospect for McCluskey and her team, as it “says something about who we are”. WELCOME A POSSIBLY UNCERTAIN FUTURE While blackmarket occurs in a fantasy world of hustlers and traders, you'd do well to hold onto some of those survival skills picked up during the game. “I really do feel like there is something brewing,” warns McCluskey, “we've seen the effect austerity measures have had in Europe, we've seen financial crisis in America, in Greece, we've seen violent uprisings. As for Australia, it's not a question of if, it totally is when – maybe not in our lifetime, but it's there hovering over our heads.” Though sobering to know that a violent social collapse is on its way in the future, hustlers can still take hope from this. “Humans have a desire to want to see things fall apart,” says McCluskey, “even though it's terrifying, it's also kind of liberating. blackmarket is about learning to let go of this current system and see the potential of something else emerge.” Blackmarket is on from May 27 to June 6 at Alaska Projects, Kings Cross. Presented by Performance Space.
If you’re a lover of Wensleydale cheese, spontaneous elbow and hands wobbling and bits of plasticine, you might want to check out Wallace and Gromit's World of Invention this summer (along with any children you find handy). It might also be the perfect place to let loose a group of little people you’ve been assigned the task of entertaining over their holiday break. And this is one of those exhibits where they — and you — are allowed to touch almost everything and learn a thing or two about inventing, Wallace & Gromit style, without being thrown out of the museum (not guaranteed). There will be interactive exhibits, film sets and props on display, and a creative station set up, where you can lean about all things copyright (for when you, or they, come up with the next best thing since sliced bread). The Karaoke Disco Shower, The Thinking Cap, Telly-scope II, the Blend-o-matic, Chocolate Teapot, and the Ice Hot Water Bottle will all make an appearance, alongside real inventions by Aussies — like ear implants and a mousetrap making machine.
Whenever Vivid takes over Sydney to kick off winter, the city instantly gets brighter. Unleashing a huge festival of lights and vibrant installations (and music and talks as well) will do that, of course. And, come Friday, May 27–Sunday, June 18 this year, the popular event might just beam a little stronger than usual — returning for the first time since 2019, after cancelling its 2020 and 2021 events due to the pandemic. Vivid's just-dropped full 2022 lineup certainly boasts plenty of highlights — and more than 200 events in total. Sticking with all that eye-catching light to begin with, there'll be more than 50 luminous installations dazzling the city, including two particularly spectacular attractions by the water. The first, Sydney Infinity by Oracle Liquid, is a water sculpture in Darling Harbour that'll feature 12 80-metre-high water shoots, plus a Sydney-inspired soundtrack by DJ Pee Wee Ferris. And the second, at Walsh Bay, will see a 100-metre floating Light Walk pop up for folks to mosey along, including more than 200 giant, bubble-esque spheres that'll hover eight metres in the air. [caption id="attachment_846473" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mandylights, Our Connected City[/caption] There's also Endless Love from Michaela Gleave, which'll arch that phrase over Circular Quay; Leila Jeffreys' piece in the same spot, Temple, which is all about Sydney's bird life; and Yarrkalpa — Hunting Ground, which'll light up the Sydney Opera House's sails with First Nations art by the Martu Artists, as aided by creative technologists Curiious (and with a soundtrack by Electric Fields and Martu Artists). Also, Vivid will host First Light, a Welcome to Country celebrating the Gadigal people and Country on Friday, May 27. And, Our Connected City by Mandylights will literally shine new light on the city's landmarks, setting up 200-plus searchlights beaming over Sydney Harbour, CBD buildings and the Cahill Expressway. Plenty of Vivid's other light works were revealed back in February — such as the overall Light Walk, a certain-favourite that'll host works from 62 light collaborators and 114 light artists from five countries, and mark Vivid's longest-ever continuous Light Walk; and Ken Done's For Sydney With Love which'll be projected onto the facade of Customs House. There's also Convergence in the disused Goods Line railway tunnel at Central Station, aka Vivid's largest-scale laser exhibition ever, as well as Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran's Earth Deities. [caption id="attachment_846469" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mike Eggert and Dan Hong, Destination NSW[/caption] In something completely new for 2022, Vivid will throw its first-ever Vivid Sydney Dinner, which'll celebrate the city in a whole heap of ways. Taking place at Merivale's Ivy Ballroom and hosted by Justine Clarke, it'll combine music, talks, food and wine — and lights, because it's Vivid — with a lineup that spans Ken Done, Julia Baird, the Vivid Sydney Brass Band, James Morrison, Ngaiire, Virginia Gay and Kate Monroe, plus food by chefs Dan Hong and Mike Eggert. On the talks part of the program, American filmmaker Aaron Sorkin is headed to Sydney to discuss the intersection of politics and drama, as seen so often in his work — so expect everything from The West Wing and The Newsroom to The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Being the Ricardos to get a mention. Also among the big names getting chatty: musician, artist and actor Troye Sivan, who'll talk with Patrick Abboud; and US journalist Gretchen Carlson, whose story was told in the film Bombshell. Get ready to enjoy this section of the lineup up late, too — thanks to the aptly named Vivid Ideas Up Late. It'll pop up at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Australian Museum, the Powerhouse Museum and the National Maritime Museum, hosting free nights filled with talks, performances, fashion, music and food. And, the overall Vivid Ideas bill will also feature James Valentine and HG Nelson's the Even Greater Sydney Committee at Parliament House, as well as tales about Sydney from folks such as Jonathan Biggins, Kate McClymont, Leah Purcell and Stephen Page. Over at The Great Hall at The University of Technology Sydney, more than 60 events will also join the program, including seminars and film screenings. [caption id="attachment_811633" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sampa the Great, Lucian Coman[/caption] Music-wise, Vivid is no slouch, either. It never is. Vivid Live at Sydney Opera House will feature Paul Kelly, Thelma Plum and Ash Naylor during a gig dubbed Time And Tide: Four Decades of Song; Sampa The Great's new show An Afro Future; and Berlin-based piano star Nils Frahm performing Music for Sydney, for starters. Also on the lineup: Tkay Maidza in the Joan Sutherland Theatre, Spiritualized at Luna Park's Big Top, three nights of live music and short films in Darling Harbour, free DJs every night at The Goods Line, and 150-plus music events in total. Included in the latter figure is Carriageworks' program of tunes, featuring Perfume Genius, CHAI, TOMM¥ €A$H, Cate Le Bon, Divide & Dissolve and more. In some cases, the venues will be as big of a drawcard as the performers, with gigs set for Central Station's Grand Central Concourse, Tumbalong Park, Phoenix Central Park, The Calyx – Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, The Bearded Tit, Cell Block Theatre and National Art School as well. Yes, you'd best clear your calendar for the end of May and first few weeks of June — Vivid is about to keep you mighty busy. Vivid Sydney 2022 will run from Friday, May 27–Sunday, June 18. For further information and tickets, head to the event's website. Top images: Convergence, Mandylands / Earth Deities, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, Jessica Maurer, Kane-Sullivan.
December's arrival means the silly season is here. Christmas time is the best excuse for party time so why not start off early with the brand new Rosebery Block Party — a free collaboration between some home and hosed locals who've been around the block and know how to have a good time. First things first, nosh. Koskela Kitchen will be serving up sticky turkey legs, brioche prawn buns and cones of kurobuta ham to fuel your summery evening. Their dining room will also be transformed into a giant ping pong parlour. Black Star Pastry is taking care of all your sugary needs, offering up the usual favourites. They're also hosting kitchen tours to show you how to make that beautiful watermelon cake and to teach you how to tie a Christmas pudding. The guys at Archie Rose will be making a daytime appearance and serving cocktails in the Cannery's courtyard. It may be a family friendly party, but there's always time for gin. You can take a tour of their distillery and learn how they make those glorious spirits. In what could be the best thing we've heard today, they'll also be making gelato cocktails with Messina. That's not all; Messina will have a DIY soft serve sundae bar and fairy floss paddle pops amongst other delightful things. Koskela will also be hosting a drawing workshop for the little ones and letting them turn the carpark into a huge streetscape. For the adults, the shop is offering a ten percent discount so you can do your Christmas shopping. The School will be showing The Night Before Christmas and will have a festive photobooth. All hail Rosebery, new realm of block parties and general deliciousness. Rosebery Block Party will be happening on Thursday, December 10 from 4-9pm at 85-113 Dunning Ave, Rosebery. Image: Archie Rose.
There's nothing quite like a great comeback story. Jordan in '95. Jobs in '96. Jesus in 33. We love watching long-lost enigmas return in dramatic fashion, punching critics in the groin while dazzling us with newfound glory. Such is the tale of ex-Blue-Mountainsiders Cloud Control, who were catapulted to domestic divinity by the success of their 2010 debut, Bliss Release. The psych-pop quartet garnered rave reviews, won shiny awards and then... disappeared. Vanished. Vamoosed. Now, three years after absconding to the UK, Cloud Control has rearrived on Australian soil. And, like a resurrected Goku, they are triumphantly punching everyone in the groin. They've sold out VIVID, dropped a much-hyped single, featured at a sold-out Splendour, dropped a much-hyped second album and are now musically pillaging our fine nation on the Australian leg of their international Dream Cave Tour. Dream Cave, their sophomore release, was masterminded by UK producer Barny Barnicott (The Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian) and exhibits the maturity that Cloud Control have developed through years spent living, writing and playing on the other side of Earth. Their current tour will celebrate this evolution, while harkening back to the blissful release that won them acclaim at the turn of the decade. Supported by Sydney bands Palms and Gang of Youths, this is the perfect opportunity for Cloud Controllers to revel in the band's brilliance before they bugger off back to the UK later this month. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketek. https://youtube.com/watch?v=SGSij0-cljI
A good wine bar is like a comfy pair of pyjamas or a hug from a friend: equal parts comforting and reliable. From the host that remembers your name to the joy of finding your favourite Riesling on the pour, these small but by no means minor elements can make a casual drink after a gruelling day at work so much more enjoyable. That's where we come in, with the help of American Express. We've done a lot of eating and drinking in this great city of ours, so we've sifted through our directory to pick out the best casual drinking spots to suit any plans. Whatever the reason — a rough day at the office, celebrating a co-worker's birthday, a day ending in 'y' or a last minute work 'meeting' — these establishments have got your back with their great selection of food and drink options. So grab your Amex and head out for a glass of wine. Got yourself in another dining situation and need some guidance? Whatever it is, we know a place. Visit The Shortlist and we'll sort you out.
Saying goodbye to 2025 at Lost Paradise means farewelling the year with a jam-packed lineup of tunes. Ben Böhmer, Chris Stussy, Confidence Man, Duke Dumont, I Hate Models, KETTAMA, Marc Rebillet, Maribou State, Underworld, X CLUB: they're all headlining the annual end-of-year music festival in Glenworth Valley on the New South Wales Central Coast this year. You should already have the dates in your diary, given they were announced at the end of July — but if you don't, mark Sunday, December 28, 2025–Thursday, January 1, 2026 on your calendar and prepare for a huge few days. Other acts on the bill include Anna Lunoe, BIG WETT, Channel Tres, Fcukers, DJ Heartstring, Hot Dub Time Machine, Omar+, VTSS and plenty more. [caption id="attachment_1017760" align="alignnone" width="1920"] John Gorrigan[/caption] Some people love last-minute New Year's Eve plans, going wherever the mood takes them. Others can't start planning early enough. If you fall into the latter category, this December is for you. For Lost Paradise newcomers, the multi-day event turns a slice of its setting — which is located an hour out of Sydney — into one helluva shindig, complete with live music and DJ sets spanning both international and Australian talents. This year, organisers are promising newly reimagined versions of the festival's Arcadia, Lost Disco and Paradise Club stages. Tunes are just one part of the Lost Paradise experience, though. Here, art, culture, wellness, and food and drink also get a look in. And, at Shambhala Fields, you can hear talks and take part in workshops — so that's where you'll find the likes of Dr Karl, Eric Avery, Deano Gladstone, Lara Zilibowitz, Kath Ebbs, Sez, Tom Carroll, Simon Borg-Olivier, Gwyn Williams and others. Since first unleashing its specific flavour of festival fun back in 2014, Lost Paradise has become a go-to way to wrap up one year and welcome in the next — including if you're keen to camp for its duration. Lost Paradise 2025 Lineup Ben Böhmer Chris Stussy Confidence Man Duke Dumont I Hate Models KETTAMA Marc Rebillet Maribou State Underworld X CLUB Anna Lunoe Baby J Bad Boombox & Mischluft Balu Brigada Bella Claxton BIG WETT Blusher Bullet Tooth Cassian Channel Tres Dameeeela DJ Heartstring Dombresky presents Disco Dom Dr Banana Fcukers Folamour Heidi Hot Dub Time Machine INJI Jazzy Josh Baker Juicy Romance Kilimanjaro Luke Alessi Merci, Mercy Narciss Notion Odd Mob Omar+ Pegassi Prospa Riria Ross From Friends presents Bubble Love Sex Mask Silva Bumpa Sim0ne Sumner Swim (live) Two Another VTSS Wolters Alex Dowsing Badassmutha Bella Backe Caleb Jackson Couch Mechanic Cricket Dayzzi B2B Daug Disco Dora Elijah Something GMOZ Grooveworks Kai Kawai Large Mirage LAYTX Lily FM Lost Soundsystem Madame Reve Maina Doe Mash Middle James Mina Tonic Oscill8 Pamela Penelope People's Party Roxy Lotz Salarymen Selve Siila Silly Lily Sim Select Tia Lacoste Tokyo Sexwale Tseba Waxlily Yasmina Sadiki Shambhala Fields: Benny Holloway Catriona Wallace Chanel Contos Deano Gladstone Dr Karl Eric Avery Gwyn Williams Kath Ebbs Lara Zilibowitz Plastic Free Mermaid Sez Simon Borg-Olivier Tom Carroll [caption id="attachment_965688" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Byravyna[/caption] Lost Paradise returns to Glenworth Valley, New South Wales from Sunday, December 28, 2025–Thursday, January 1, 2026. Sign up for presale tickets online, with general tickets available from 10am AEST on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Head to the festival website for more details. Underworld image: Roberto Ricciuti/Redferns. Lost Paradise images: Jess Bowen, Jordan K Munns, Byravyna and Amar Gera.
The Greater Sydney region has already spent more than a fortnight under lockdown to help combat the region's latest COVID-19 outbreak and, despite an end date of July 16 being announced, that doesn't look like stopping any time soon. In fact, restrictions have been tightening as case numbers keep tightening. The latest rule to get a tweak: wearing face masks. Effective today, Tuesday, July 13, folks in the Greater Sydney area — which includes the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour — will need to wear masks in all common areas in residential buildings. That covers apartment complex lobbies, foyers, lifts, stairwells, corridors and shared laundries, and applies whether you live there or you're a visitor. Basically, the only place you don't need to mask up is actually inside your own home, once you've passed through your own front door. Residents of these regions are already required to cover up in all indoor non-residential settings, as well as indoors in public settings, and on public transport. Again, unless you're at home — and actually inside your own home, not in common areas outside — you need to mask up indoors. https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1413981428480675850 Folks in Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour are currently only permitted to leave the house for four specific essential reasons: to work and study if you can't do it from home; for essential shopping; for exercise outdoors; and for compassionate reasons, which includes medical treatment, getting a COVID-19 test and getting vaccinated. As it always does, NSW Health has been updating the COVID-19 venues of concern list, and will continue to do so as more places keep being identified. Anyone who has visited these venues during the times specified are required to get tested and self-isolate as per NSW Health's instructions. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website. For more information about the current mask rules, head to the NSW Government website.
Brisbane's hyped-up and Island-signed foursome The Cairos are about to embark on a national tour that you cannot afford to miss but certainly can afford to attend. Immediately following a national support slot for Sydney big timers The Holidays, the triple j Unearthed-winning newbies to Island Records are taking their celebrated sound across the country with their own headliner tour. The Brissy lads are keeping the motor running off the back of releasing their brand new debut album Dream of Reason. Tracks 'Desire' and 'We All Buy Stars' just scream "hear me live" and if the feedback coming out of their recent Asia tour is anything to go by, this is going to be one of the most justified sub $30 spends this year (now you can't even use budget-related gripes as an excuse to not go). Plus they just got a new keyboard. Now you're really obliged to head along. Make sure to get there early as Chinese psych band Nova Heart kicks things off. Seems Beijing psychedelia proves a perfect support pairing ahead of the Brisbane up-and-comers, so pop in early for a crispy Good God cocktail and a fully-fledged bliss out. https://youtube.com/watch?v=LAsjO3UIUsY
The unassuming streets of Newcastle have seen major rejuvenation in recent years. The former industrial centre has been transformed into a happening spot packed with hip bars and eateries plonked right beside a stunning stretch of coastline. Make the most of the salty air with a stay at The Beach House at Merewether. This luxurious private home provides the perfect digs for up to seven guests to chill out and lean in to the beachside lifestyle: quick morning dips after catching the sunrise from your deck's front-row seats, before bubbling away the afternoon in the backyard spa. Right on your doorstep is Bathers Way, a six-kilometre coastal path linking the nearby Merewether Ocean Baths (the largest in the southern hemisphere) to Nobby's Lighthouse in the north. Once the sun goes down, check out hidden spots in the CBD, like whisky speakeasy Coal & Cedar (to enter, you'll have to text a number scribbled on a brick wall) or the sprawling Foghorn Brewery, which houses a bar and restaurant in an art deco warehouse.
If your spring routine usually involves bar-hopping around Brisbane — and around Fortitude Valley in particular — while listening to up-and-coming musicians, then you must already a devotee of BIGSOUND. The music-fuelled celebration takes over the Queensland capital every September or October, albeit virtually in 2020. And this year, it's back as a physical festival. Between Tuesday, September 7–Thursday, September 9, Brissie will once again become Australia's live music hotspot — even if a Melbourne survey generally claims otherwise. When BIGSOUND hits the city in its in-person format, it typically seems like every venue in Fortitude Valley is filled with bands, industry folks and music-loving punters, all enjoying the latest and greatest tunes and talent the country has to offer. Expect 2021's iteration to be no different. The three-day program will include conferences, live festival showcases, secret shows and official parties, with around 150 musicians taking to the stage and showing the industry why they should be pointing their ears their way. While specific lineup details won't be revealed until closer to the event, attendees can look forward to an Indigenous showcase and a women in music event on BIGSOUND 2021's opening night. Also on the bill: tunes galore, as well as talks about everything from changing industry and audience dynamics and the post-COVID world to inclusivity and gender equality. Announcing the event's return for 2021, QMusic CEO and BIGSOUND Executive Producer Angela Samut said that this year's program will "provide the chance for us to collectively grieve the losses the industry has faced over the past year, and celebrate the treasure trove of Australasian talent that has been incubating throughout this time." She continued: "our commitment to rebuilding a stronger, safer, more inclusive industry as we emerge from COVID has never been greater, and BIGSOUND is once again stepping up to the plate as the place where people come to discover the future of music and to be part of the future of music." [caption id="attachment_809942" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Kymie at BIGSOUND 2019, by Lachlan Douglas[/caption] Past BIGSOUNDs have showcased everyone from Gang of Youths, Flume, Tash Sultana and Courtney Barnett to San Cisco, Violent Soho, Methyl Ethel and The Jungle Giants, so its program is usually a very reliable bellwether of current and up-and-coming talent. If you're keen to attend the BIGSOUND conference within the broader program — and hear its talks and speeches — it'll run on Wednesday, September 8 and Thursday, September 9. And if you're an artist looking to take part in the event in general, applications are now open until May 28. BIGSOUND 2021 will take place between Tuesday, September 7–Thursday, September 9 in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. For more information — or to apply to take part if you're an artist — visit bigsound.org.au. Top image: David Byrne.
Going to the outdoor cinema has become a true Sydney staple. Each of these adored spots makes for a very romantic date location, or if you'd prefer to bring your buddies, get there early for the best pozzie and enjoy some wine and cheese under the never-ending starry sky.
National Reconciliation Week happens every year, with the purpose of educating all Australians about our shared history and celebrate the culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The (very fitting) theme this year? In This Together. Running from May 27 to June 3, the festival's dates signify two important milestones in our reconciliation: the 1967 referendum and the Mabo decision, which saw the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples land rights. This year, the program will centre on ideas of moving forward as a nation and working toward a shared future. Of course, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the week-long program will look a little different. It'll launch with an Acknowledgement of Country from 12pm on Wednesday, May 27, with Australians paying their respects via social media. Then, a panel discussion hosted by Larissa Behrendt (Speaking Out) will take place on Thursday, May 28 from 12–1pm. She'll be joined by parliament members Ken Wyatt and Linda Burney, plus Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine and University of Wollongong Lecturer Summer May Finlay to discuss the historic bridge walks of 2000 and the role of reconciliation since then. For more information and to stream, check out the Facebook event here. Also on the bill is a Virtual Indigenous Film Festival and an hour-long concert, featuring Busby Marou, Alice Skye and Jimblah and hosted by Christine Anu, no less. It'll go down at 9.05pm on Friday, May 29 and you can tune in via ABC Radio or head to Reconciliation Australia, ABC Sydney or ABC Australia Facebook pages. The National Gallery of Victoria will be hosting its own events to celebrate Reconciliation Week, including an introduction to Indigenous art, a look at the artworks of Destiny Deacon, and 'Curating Indigenous Art', which is a collaboration between the NGV, ACMI, Koori Heritage Trust and Deakin University. Sydney's AGNSW currently has an interview with artist Gail Mabo you can watch as part of its Together in Art series. The Sydney Opera House has a five-day program lined up, too, including recorded concerts, talks, dance performances, Badu Gili and the First Nations Arts Awards 2020. Red Room Poetry is hosting its annual Poetry in First Languages. https://youtu.be/T5hs5MLVqUM Images: Badu Gili, Sydney Opera House; Regalla (2013) by Reko Rennie, NGV courtesy of blackartprojects.
Here's one for the money: a huge Elvis Presley showcase, filled with around 300 artifacts owned by the King of Rock 'n' Roll himself, all on display in Australia. Come autumn 2022, you'll want to step into your blue suede shoes and take a trip to the Bendigo Art Gallery, which'll fill its walls and halls with Elvis' clothes, vehicles and other personal items. All those jumpsuits he was so famous for wearing? A selection will be on display. The only car from his movies that was actually his? That red convertible 1960 MG, from the film Blue Hawaii, is visiting Australia for the first time. The Bendigo Art Gallery will also showing some tender love to Elvis' military uniforms, first job application and wedding tuxedo — plus Priscilla Presley's wedding dress. Plenty of the items heading to regional Victoria rarely travel beyond Graceland — so yes, calling the exhibition is Elvis: Direct from Graceland is apt. It'll serve up this hunk of burning Elvis love between Saturday, March 19–Sunday, July 17 in an Australian exclusive, as curated in collaboration with the Graceland archives. "It is a great honour to work alongside the creative team at the Bendigo Art Gallery to bring this unprecedented, detailed and comprehensive look into Elvis' life and career to Australia," said Angie Marchese, Vice President Archives and Exhibits at Elvis Presley Enterprises. "While Elvis was never able to visit Australia himself, it brings us great pride at Graceland to know that his legacy and music lives on there. We look forward to sharing a glimpse into Elvis' life with the fans in Australia," Marchese continued. [caption id="attachment_829957" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elvis Presley strolls the grounds of his Graceland estate, 1957. Photo by Michael Ochs. © EPE. Graceland and its marks are trademarks of EPE. All Rights Reserved. Elvis Presley™ © 2021 ABG EPE IP LLC.[/caption] Other featured objects include Elvis' 1976 Red Bicentennial Custom Harley Davidson, his first grade crayon box from school and other garments from his personal wardrobe — if you're wondering what else will get the exhibition shaking, rattling and rolling. Costumes from his film career, movie scripts, jewellery worn by him and even vintage Elvis-branded merchandise will all be on display as well. Elvis: Direct from Graceland will step through all the key periods in the rock 'n' roll icon's life, from his early Mississippi days through to his Vegas years — and also peer beyond the pompadour and sequins, exploring his interest in books, karate and horses, and all things Graceland. It's Bendigo Art Gallery's latest huge exhibition to focus on style icons, after previously showcasing Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Balenciaga and Mary Quant. When it comes to celebrating high-profile figures, it seems the venue can't help falling in love. Elvis: Direct From Graceland displays at the Bendigo Art Gallery from Saturday, March 19–Sunday, July 17, 2022. For further information or to buy tickets, head to the gallery's website. Top image: Elvis Presley in the 1968 NBC television special, Singer Presents... Elvis, later known as the 'Comeback Special'. Photograph: Fathom Events/CinEvents. © EPE. Graceland and its marks are trademarks of EPE. All Rights Reserved. Elvis Presley™ © 2021 ABG EPE IP LLC.
From championing ethical suppliers and sustainable produce, to adopting the do-it-yourself farm-to-table approach of restaurants like Three Blue Ducks and Acre, bars and restaurants are increasingly taking sustainability into their own hands. The latest hospitality venture pushing towards a more environmentally friendly future is new Sydney bar Re, which was announced late last year and has just launched in South Eveleigh with hospitality stars Matt Whiley (Scout) and Maurice Terzini (Icebergs Dining Room & Bar, Ciccia Bella) at the helm. In creating Re, Whiley set himself the ambitious task of creating a blueprint for other venues to follow in terms of creating less waste and having less of an impact on the environment. Now open in the new South Eveleigh precinct, the bar is housed in a heritage site that spent 100 years as a locomotive workshop, and has been built from recycled materials. The central bars and tables are created from recycled bottles and tupperware, structural features are made from plastic bags and milk bottles, and the wooden finishing are sustainably sourced. "Yes Re is built on waste, but it's this really incredible, refined space with heritage character," says Whiley. "We want to change people's expectations of what low-waste means, and encourage others to build and operate this way." While the venue has a subdued, no-frills aesthetic, with exposed brick walls and muted colours, the menu is full of the fun and vibrant drinks Whiley is known for — but with a continuing emphasis on reducing waste. Patrons will find some of Sydney's best bartenders in Evan Stroeve (Bulletin Place), Jake Downe (This Must Be The Place, Scout London) and Ho Song (Cantina OK, PS40) behind the bar, and the drinks menu consists of distinct twists on classic cocktails and botanical-heavy spritzes, all served in reclaimed Maison Balzac glasses. Among the classics, you'll find a rhubarb sbagliato and a white truffle martini served with olive leaf. Many of the drinks pair unique flavours with a focus on sustainable ingredients. The Wimbledon gimlet is made from vodka and milk-wine cordial with pickled strawberries salvaged from excess market produce, while banana skins are used to make a syrup for the BP + B old fashioned, which comes flavoured with peanut butter, burnt butter and caramel. Stroeve, Downe and Song are also being encouraged to craft their own cocktail creations around continually changing themes. The opening intergalactic themed 'Re-search' menu includes the Mars, which heroes Bulleit bourbon, and also lists silicon, magnesium and iron among its ingredients — and the Milky Way, which pairs rum and cocoa butter with ethyl formate and aldehyde to create a multi-sensory experience. The food is overseen by Alex Pritchard, head chef at Icebergs, and is full of luxe snacks designed to accompany your drinks while creating as little waste as possible. You'll find puffed soy beef tendons, eggplant ceviche and house pickles — plus rarebit flatbread, a cheese, Worcestershire sauce and Guinness open sandwich inspired by the sandwich served by renowned London restaurant St John. Find Re at 2 Locomotive Street, Eveleigh — open 4pm–midnight Tuesday–Saturday.
If you'd said five years ago that Matthew McConaughey was one of the finest actors of his generation, you'd have been a laughing stock. As it turns out, you'd also have been right. After spending most of last decade taking his shirt off in rom-coms and exhibiting poor equilibrium in film posters, the Texan has undergone a total reinvention in recent times, and his role in Dallas Buyers Club is his most transformative yet. With Christian Bale-like commitment, the actor is down to skin and bones as Ron Woodroof, a real-life AIDS patient who, at a time when the legally permitted treatments were proving totally ineffectual, ruffled the feathers of the Federal Drug Administration by smuggling unapproved medicines in through Mexico. Even more emaciated than McConaughey is Jared Leto, nigh unrecognisable as an AIDS-suffering transgender woman named Rayon. Together, she and Woodroof thumb their noses at the medical bureaucracy by forming the 'Dallas Buyers Club', providing patients with imported drugs in return for a $400 monthly fee. Even discounting their weight loss, both actors are in phenomenal form. Leto disappears completely into his part, creating a kind, funny, heartbreaking character whose unlikely friendship with Woodroof gives the movie its beating heart. Dallas Buyers Club is in cinemas on February 13, and thanks to Pinnacle Films, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au. Read our full review of Dallas Buyers Club here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=F5YQh7qsGNQ
Ah, the rock star lifestyle. Who hasn't daydreamed of snorting blow off the nude torso of a nubile groupie, smashing an electric guitar over a close friend's head, and crowdsurfing away into the sunset? If you dig these fantasies but perhaps aren't emotionally insecure enough to live them out literally, why not taste some of the music world's glamour at the Rolling Stone Pop Up Bar? Coming to Darlinghurst for a generous three-week period, the Rolling Stone Live Lodge will create an experience of the legendary magazine in bar form. The good times will flow as the space buzzes with a carefully curated lineup of genuine talent, from the established to the up-and-coming. Open seven nights a week and offering you the chance to hear hot acts before anyone else gets to, it could just be the hottest ticket in town. The VIP Readers' Opening Night features Boy & Bear and the Preatures, while Artists to Watch highlights rising outfits like Pluto Jonze, Glass Towers, Thelma Plum and Melody Pool (how's that for a set of names?). Rolling Stone Live Lodge is open 21 August to 10 September at 197 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. Entry is free, with some events requiring online registration. Update, 9 August: Here's the full lineup. Wed Aug 21: Official opening night for VIP readers Thurs Aug 22: Franz Ferdinand Pre-Release Listening Party Fri Aug 23: Guest DJs Sat Aug 24: Guest DJs Sun Aug 25: Music Trivia Presented By Sonos Mon Aug 26: Art Battles Grand Final Tues Aug 27: Artists To Watch – Glass Towers, Melody Pool Wed Aug 28: Live Band, The Delta Riggs Thurs Aug 29: Paul Dempsey’s Shotgun Karaoke Fri Aug 30: Guest DJs Sat Aug 31: Guest DJs Sun Sept 1: Music Trivia Presented By Sonos Mon Sept 2: Artists To Watch – Pluto Jonze, Thelma Plum Tues Sept 3: ‘Spring Breakers’ Screening and Live Q&A with director Harmony Korinne Wed Sept 4: Tonight Alive, acoustic album launch – 2 shows (6pm and 8pm) Thurs Sept 5: Hip-Hop Superstars, Pez, Seth Sentry and Dialectrix Fri Sept 6: Grouplove Pre-Release Listening Party, Guest DJs Sat Sept 7: Guest DJS Sun Sept 8: Music Trivia Presented By Sonos Mon Sept 9: ‘The Place Beyond the Pines’ Screening Tues Sept 10: Closing Night Artist TBA
Sydney's current COVID-19 outbreak isn't going away quickly, so much so that the region's lockdown — in Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and Wollongong — has already been extended into a third week. In fact, the city keeps notching up significant new case numbers each day, with New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian now urging folks to stay home, to take the current lockdown seriously, and to avoid contact with other households. "Those numbers are too high. We need to get those numbers down. And I want to say in the most, strongest possible terms, please, please avoid contact with other households — please avoid visiting family and friends, because you are not allowed to," said the Premier at her daily press conference today, Thursday, July 8. "When we talk about providing care or compassion, we are talking about one person visiting someone who might be isolated, dropping off essential services or goods," she continued. "We are not talking about visiting extended family members, we're not talking visiting friends. Data over the last few days shows this is how the virus is spreading. The saddest message out of all of that is that people with the virus are passing it on to those they love the most." Folks currently under stay-at-home conditions in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and Wollongong are only permitted to leave the house under certain circumstances: primarily to work and study if you can't do it from home; for essential shopping; for exercise outdoors in groups of ten or fewer; and for compassionate reasons, which includes medical treatment, getting a COVID-19 test and getting vaccinated. But New South Wales' list of reasons to leave home allows more leeway than residents of other states have received in their lockdowns — there's no exercise limit, curfew or travel limit, as Victoria has previously put in place, for instance — and, as the Premier noted, some of the permitted excuses to head out are being taken quite liberally. https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1412587351260336130 Also speaking at the same press conference, NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said that "it is incredibly important to again emphasise, yes, the orders permit certain activities, but what we are asking the community to do is please apply common sense." She advised that Sydneysiders and residents of the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and Wollongong should think carefully about why they're leaving the house every time they go to venture out. "If you are leaving your home, ask yourself you really need to leave your home. If you are going shopping, think about what you absolutely need, do the list, get in and out. This is not the time for browsing," Dr Chant said. "This is not the time for 'what I might need'. We are asking the community to only shop for those essential goods." Wondering what the government means by 'essential'? Dr Chant offered further thoughts there, too. "The reason we haven't defied essential is because clearly, people may need blankets, rugs, school shoes, these are the sort of things that are defined as essential," she advised. "I have confidence in the New South Wales committee actually understands what we mean by essential. No browsing. No, 'I might need this in a few weeks time'. And whenever you can, shop online." https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1412939556286963713 In the 24 hours to 8pm yesterday, Wednesday, July 7, NSW reported 39 new COVID-19 cases, with 38 of them acquired locally. The Premier noted that "18 of those were people who had been in isolation for the entire time, nine had been in isolation for part of the time, and unfortunately 11 we understand have been infectious for a number of days in the community." As always, Sydneysiders are also asked to continue to frequently check NSW Health's long list of locations and venues that positive coronavirus cases have visited. If you've been to anywhere listed on the specific dates and times, you'll need to get tested immediately and follow NSW Health's self-isolation instructions. In terms of symptoms, you should be looking out for coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste — and getting tested at a clinic if you have any. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website. For further details about the status of COVID-19 in Victoria, check out the Victorian Department of Health website.
Usher in hump day with the inner west's newest mid-week excuse for a party: Snapback. Every Wednesday, Sydney's toughest female DJs and MCs will converge on the Newtown Hotel to deliver up a weekly dose of beats, hip-hop and dance. Twin sister DJ act Twincest will kick off the launch party with their GD & T.O.P.-influenced jungle beats. You may have stumbled across them at any number of Sydney venues in recent weeks, from The Standard to the MCA's ARTBAR. Ozhiphop.com's Best Female MC (2012), Sky'high, is billed for the second set, with her no-nonsense, high-energy stories of overcoming a violent childhood on Sydney streets. Finally, World Bar/Girlthing regular DJ Astrix Little will keep the late-night revellers on their feet. Entry is free and Dcider ciders will be available for just $5.
Art & About may be all about art in public spaces, but when the festival returns in September, it will include one usually off-limits venue that's very private: your house. In an event dubbed Armchair Apocalypse, the Rock Surfers Theatre Company is letting you 'order in' a performance work, which you can then watch in your living room in a leisurely manner, not unlike your old friend television. “This year, Art & About Sydney explores the endangered — the ‘at risk’, the threatened, the exposed and the risky from all perspectives,” said Art & About creative director Gill Minervini. Three Sydney writers will work the theme into their domestically destined Armchair Apocalypses, which you can secure for your place by jumping a few hoops here (you need to be happy to have 20 or 30 people over, and you need to own the place even though there's a housing crisis so you most likely don't). It'll be a great chance to see theatre that is intimate, unconventional and quite literally close to home. Other highlights from the first festival program announcement include adorable kid-guided tours of Redfern and Kings Cross (The Walking Neighbourhood), a group of people squishing themselves into the CBD's nooks and crannies (Willi Dorner's Bodies in Urban Spaces), a dance/ballet with shopping trolleys (from Spillers Shaun Parker and Company), James Dive and The Glue Society's nostalgic photo studio (Us) and popular Hyde Park photography exhibition Australian Life (expanded this year from 'Sydney Life'). Kicking off Art & About on September 19, their Friday Night Live event will see Martin Place transformed from business corridor to Quarter Acre Block Party, marrying your precious remnants of the Australian Dream with the fleeting hope you still have of getting along with your neighbours. Expect an Aussie backyard vibe channelled through barbecues, Hills Hoists, back fences, lawn cricket, garage bands, garden furniture, vinyl records, beer and sausage sangas. Art & About runs from September 19 to October 12, and the full program will be announced closer to the date. Keep an eye on the festival website for more info. Image: Art & About 2013.
The Festival of Dangerous Ideas is really more like the Festival of Ideas Slightly More Radical Than One Would Normally Bring Up in Polite Society, Addressed By the Minds and Working Belief Systems of People Known to be Really Quite Smart. But, admittedly, the 'Festival of Dangerous Ideas' is a catchier title. Presented by the St James Ethics Centre in conjunction with the Sydney Opera House, the festival is looking to build on its successful debut last year. At the head of the table is Tariq Ali, British-Pakistani commentator and author of both histories of the Middle East (Clash of Fundamentalisms, Bush In Babylon) and fictions (the Islam quintet), who will ascertain 'What we can learn from terrorists', while two of the world's most highly regarded legal minds, Alan Dershowitz and Geoffrey Robertson, steer their small talk into a moral, ethical and political quagmire to determine whether the pope should be held to account for sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. Christian Lander will be making a return visit to our shores to discuss Stuff White People Like (this time without just white people in on the conversation), journalist David Marr and Sydney Festival director Lindy Hume may cut quite close to the bone when they consider the proposition that 'Art doesn't make us better people', and Ross Gittins will probably face stunned silence when he suggests that economic growth should be stopped. Not getting invited back to their next P&C luncheons are Anne Manne (who asks 'Are children worth it?'), Andrew Leigh ('Canberra is the best city in Australia') and Marcus Westbury ('What's so special about opera?'). An open soapbox competition and an IQ2 debate round out the cantankerousness.
Since opening in 2018, teamLab Borderless has been one of Tokyo's top tourist destinations, and with good reason. Dazzling, stunning, breathtaking, kaleidoscopic, worth a trip to Japan all by itself: all of those descriptions apply to the digital-only art gallery, which became the most-visited single-artist museum in the world during its first year of operation. But if it has been sitting at the top of your must-experience list for when Japanese vacations start getting easier, you'll still need to wait — because Borderless' Tokyo base is on the move. Japan's border restrictions ease again on Wednesday, September 7, allowing tourists to enter the country for holidays even if they're not on guided tours — as long as they still book their travel package through a travel agent. A stop at teamLab Borderless won't be on the itinerary until 2023, however, with the original Tokyo site in Odaiba shutting its doors at the end of August. That's the bad news. The excellent news: at some point in 2023, teamLab Borderless will relaunch at a brand-new site. Instead of crossing over Tokyo's gorgeous Rainbow Bridge to get to it, you'll be heading to central Tokyo, where it'll form part of the new Toranomon-Azabudai project. Those digs are only slated to be completed next year, so there's no exact opening date set for teamLab's new Tokyo Borderless museum — but the art collective has advised that the Toranomon-Azabudai location will let visitors "wander, explore, discover in one borderless world". If you were lucky enough to mosey around the OG spot before the pandemic, you'll know that that's an apt description of the Borderless experience, where vibrant, constantly moving, always-changing interactive digital art keeps glowing and flowing before your eyes. [caption id="attachment_701269" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Sarah Ward[/caption] There's no word yet whether the same artworks will make the move over to the teamLab Borderless' new home, if old favourites will evolve in different surroundings, or whether fresh pieces will grace the walls, floors and every other surface imaginable — in Odaiba, that even included cups of tea. A second teamLab Borderless has already been open in Shanghai since 2019, and others are slated for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Hamburg in Germany — both with a 2024 opening date. teamLab also has operates a different museum in Macao, and has its first teamLab Phenomena in the works for the Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi, again targeting a 2024 launch. [caption id="attachment_868129" align="alignnone" width="1920"] ⒸDBox for Mori Building Co.[/caption] As for the new Tokyo site, it'll still be a must on any Japanese holiday itinerary. Add it alongside the Super Nintendo theme park, Shibuya's famous scramble crossing, singing karaoke in a ferris wheel and wandering around the Studio Ghibli museum — and making a date with the animation house's theme park, which opens in November 2022. teamLab Borderless Tokyo: MORI Building Digital Art Museum is relocating to the Toranomon-Azabudai Project, Tokyo, from sometime in 2023 — for more information, visit the museum's website. Top image: teamLab, Exhibition view of teamLab Borderless: MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM, 2023, Tokyo © teamLab, courtesy Pace Gallery.
