Picture this: a cosy, wooden structure somewhere remote, away from the hustle and bustle — and far, far away from mobile phone coverage — of your everyday life, perhaps with a fireplace and/or some kind of heated outdoor bathing fixture. You know the kind of place we're talking about. In fact, you're fantasising about it right now, aren't you? Take a coffee break and take a scroll through some of the world's most dreamy winter cabins that you can actually stay in. We've teamed up with NESCAFÉ to help you take the desk break you, as a hardworking human being, deserve. So start planning your worldwide cold weather escape — we promise none of them were featured in a Joss Whedon-written, Chris Hemsworth-starring horror movie. [caption id="attachment_580297" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Justin Muir[/caption] FOSSICKERS HUT, MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND Want to go off the grid? Well you've found your place. Fossickers Cottage is located just an hour from Nelson in NZ's Marlborough region, but it feels at least nine hours away from any kind of civilisation. The stunning early settler-style hut is the perfect perch in the middle of the bush right next to the amazingly clear water of the Wakamarina River. Along with a cosy kitchen room and bedroom (with a loft up top for a few extra mates), there's also a fire-heated outdoor bath. It doesn't get much better than that. LAKE O'HARA LODGE, CANADIAN ROCKIES, CANADA If you're looking for an old-school cabin that really does feel like it's in a movie (but sans scares), then Lake O'Hara Lodge is the place to be. This is the type of cabin that Parks and Recreation's Ron Swanson would be proud of — well, aside from the fact that it's in the Canadian Rockies. Constructed in 1926, it's the perfect spot for skiing in winter, hiking in summer, and enjoying the serenity of British Columbia's Yoho National Park all year round. Their one-bedroom lakeshore cabins are of the 'no muss, no fuss' variety, boasting little more than a queen bed for sleeping, a day bed for relaxing, and a deck for looking out at the world. It's just what you need after a long day revelling in the splendour of the site's surroundings. UFOGEL, NUSSDORF, AUSTRIA Whichever way you look at it, there's nowhere quite like Austria's unique Ufogel cabin. You can take that literally, given the mountain hideaway's inimitable design, or you can see it as a statement on the once-in-a-lifetime experience you're bound to have in the one-of-a-kind structure in the village of Nussdorf. Inside, expect wood as far as the eye can see; the entire compact building is completely made of it. Bring a few mates — the place can sleep up to five — and don't waste your time wondering about the name. It's a blend of UFO and vogel, the German term for bird, as inspired by the structure's distinctive appearance. CHALET JEJALP, MORZINE, FRANCE Who hasn't fantasised about a snowy sojourn holed up in a chalet? If you like wintry sports, it's the ideal break: you'd hit the slopes when the sun is shining, and then enjoy the facilities inside looking out over the frosty valley of an evening. Chalet Jejalp is the exact place you want to get snowed in; the house includes a double-height glass wine cellar, bar, pool table, gym, sunken jacuzzi, sauna, cinema room, and on-site chef and chauffeur. Yep, this is the kind of place you need to win the lotto to stay in — but you know it'd be totally worth it. MOONBAH HUT, NEAR JINDABYNE, AUSTRALIA If you stay local, prepare to do some driving to get your Aussie cabin fix. But if you're willing to commit, the rewards really are stunning. Moonbah Hut is located on private frontage on the Moonbah River, the Snowy Mountains' cleanest, most unspoilt home for trout. Give your fishing muscle a flex from your front doorstep, while keeping an eye out for wildlife, from wombats to deer to brumbies. Or bunker down inside, with a huge, stone open fireplace for company. Previous guests have taken the experience next level and invited personal chefs along for an evening. Spanish chef Miguel Maestre is among those to have done the honours. LION SANDS GAME RESERVE, SABI SANDS, SOUTH AFRICA Cabins come in all shapes, sizes and heights — and suited to all climates, too. Your idea of a winter cabin might involve snuggling up by the fire; however if you head to Lion Sands Game Reserve in South Africa, it could involve hanging out in a treehouse, spotting wild animals and gazing at the stars as you nod off to sleep. Constructed out of wood and glass, their Kingston treehouse is designed to welcome visitors all-year-round, so there's no need to worry about any inclement weather. And if that's not enough to tempt you, how about this: it comes complete with a wooden drawbridge. Yes, really. EAGLE BRAE LOG CABINS, SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS, SCOTLAND That ideal image of a wood log cabin you've been dreaming about? Well, that's what you'll find at Eagle Brae. Their seven two-storey open-plan dwellings have been hand-built using massive western redcedar logs sourced from the forests of Canada. And although it's cold, the cabins feature log-burning stoves to keep you warm. Indeed, if there's ever been a place tailor-made for staying indoors and snuggling up, this is it — though there's plenty to see outside, of course. That's where you'll find out just how the Scottish Highlands got their name, spot plenty of wildlife, and maybe even go salmon fishing as well. AZUR LUXURY LODGE, QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND Talk about a room with a view — and a bed and a bath too. If it's a private villa with stunning lake and mountain sights available from every available floor-to-ceiling window that you're after, then Azur Luxury Lodge has you covered. So it's not exactly a 'cabin', but when you're hanging out by the fire with a glass of wine, you're not going to concerned with specifics. Plus, for those who just can't unplug from the outside world completely, the Queenstown resort offers the best of both worlds, with all the mod cons like Wi-Fi in the middle of a gorgeous natural setting. BODRIFTY ROUNDHOUSE, CORNWALL, ENGLAND Centuries ago, in Celtic villages in the Iron Age, chiefs slept in thatched roundhouses. Seeing one is quite a sight, particularly since there's only a handful of replicas littered throughout the world — but spending a night in one? Well, that's something else. At Bodrifty in Cornwall, you can do just that. As well as marvelling at the experimental architecture, you can set up camp inside and stoke the open firebowl as well. And while it might appear as though you're stepping back in time, expect a touch of luxury when it comes to sleeping, as visitors will relish the modern comfort of a four-poster bed. POST RANCH INN, BIG SUR, USA Perched atop the cliffs of Big Sur in California, Post Ranch Inn provides several riffs on the cabin experience. Everyone wants a bit of rustic charm — and you'll get that here in a variety of accommodation types, including circular houses inspired by redwood trees and stand-alone treehouses. Choose from mountain or ocean views, and enjoy a dip in two infinity pools, a spot of fine dining and everything from yoga to nature walks while you're there. Okay, so this one's a modern interpretation of a cabin — but hey, who doesn't want to try that at least once? Words by Sarah Ward with Jasmine Crittenden. Top image: Justin Muir.
Public transport could be about to get a whole lot more delightful thanks to pioneering auto company Local Motors. After last year unveiling the world's first fully functioning 3D-printed car, the US-based startup has continued to innovate, and this week introduced the world to a self-driving bus named Olli. Rolling out across Washington D.C., the electric shuttle can transport up to 12 passengers at one time, and is capable of travelling at speeds of around 20km/h. Also, it's ridiculously cute. The autonomous, 3D-printed vehicles can be summoned by D.C. commuters using a mobile app. Moreover, thanks to IBM's AI Watson technology, they're also capable of understanding voice commands. So basically it's like Uber, except your driver is a computer. If your first thought after reading that sentence was to freak out over an inevitable Terminator-style robot uprising, don't worry. Although Olli drives itself – and is capable of making decisions much faster than human drivers – all vehicles are monitored by real people at all times. Y'know, just in case. Assuming things go well in Washington, Local Motors are hoping to bring fleets to Las Vegas and Miami by the end of the year. They've also outlined a number of other potential uses for Olli...which you can hear about, below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymz4SYVr_EE Via Quartz.
As a treat to us for being such good eggs (or so we like to think), the National Gallery of Victoria are hosting a huge exhibition next year featuring the works of French Impressionist artist Edgar Degas as part of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces. The exhibition will run from June 24 to September 18 at the NGV International and is comprised of over 200 works by Degas, from collections the world over. For those of you who don’t know, Degas is a pretty big deal in the art world and practiced during the late 1800s-early 1900s. At a time when many artists where still painting posed works, Degas and a sect of bohemian Parisian artists (including Honoré Daumier and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec), were cultivating the first big art movement that focused on candid impressions of subjects en plein air (meaning in ‘open air’ style, as opposed to in the studio or from memory). A lot of his pieces feature ballerinas and inevitably, this did lead to a lot of lurking around backstage at the ballet and, in Lautrec’s case, in a tonne of brothels (for the artistic potential, surely). Degas’ work also focused on an infrequently explored subject: the everyman. Blue collar workers in their natural habit where a recurring and novel theme in his work; French Impressionism tapped into that vein of human curiosity that makes reality TV so popular (“They’re just like us!”). Degas actually rejected the Impressionist mantle and referred to his style as realism, so intent was he on representing the world around him. In fact, according to art historian Carol Armstrong, Degas said “No art was ever less spontaneous than mine. What I do is the result of reflection and of the study of the great masters; of inspiration, spontaneity, temperament, I know nothing". Well damn. We can’t wait to check it out. Degas: A New Vision will be displayed at the National Gallery of Victoria International from June 24 to September 18, 2016. Image: Edgar Degas, In a café (The Absinthe drinker) 1875–76, oil on canvas, Musée d'Orsay, Paris, Lemoisne 393, © RMN-Grand Palais (musée d'Orsay) / Martine Beck-Coppola.
As if Melbourne's laneways weren't ace enough already, they're going green — well, four of them are anyway. Meyers Place, Katherine Place, Guildford Lane and Coromandel Place will be transformed into little sustainable metropolitan Gardens of Eden with new designs released by the City of Melbourne as part of their Green Your Laneway initiative last week. The City of Melbourne announced their plans to transform four laneway spots in the CBD back in October of last year, and opened up the nominations to Melburnians to help them choose which ones they would give the green treatment. With more than 200 laneways in the city centre, picking the spots was no easy feat. But after collating over 800 public nominations as well as advice from engineers, landscape architects and sustainability professionals, and taking environmental factors — such as the amount of sunlight the laneways receive and their exposure to wind — into account, the council has settled on the four laneways as the ones that would most benefit from the added greenery. The draft designs show the laneways filled with planter boxes, vertical gardens, climbing plants and trees. Among the proposed additions, there are plans to give Katherine Place a mini tree-lined boulevard and an ivy-covered archway, and Guilford Lane (which is largely residential) could score a community garden. All up, the City of Melbourne is investing $1.3 million in the project. "Melbourne's laneways are internationally renowned for their quirky and eclectic culture and feel," Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said. "We can add another layer to their attraction by enhancing the sustainability of our laneways and making them 'green' and therefore more efficient at cooling the city, intercepting and cleaning stormwater and improving air quality and ambience." If you'd like to check out the designs in more detail, they'll be on display in Meyers Place from November 3-14. There's also some pretty detailed info on their website. Plus, to further warm you to the idea, Meyers Place will also host gardening workshops and live music on Saturday, November 12 from 2pm. Green Your Laneway is on trial as one arm of the City's Love Your Laneway program. Meanwhile, the Urban Forest Strategy is striving to address climate change and reduce Melbourne's summer temperatures by four degrees Celsius. Green days ahead. By Lauren Vadnjal and Jasmine Crittenden.
Wocka wocka! After almost two full decades away, The Muppets are heading back to television. A new Muppets series was confirmed by the US ABC network last week, and has been described as a behind-the-scenes-style program for a grown-up audience. To give you an idea of what that might entail, they’ve just dropped their first trailer via Twitter. Give it a watch. While we’ll reserve final judgement until the show is actually on their air, there’s definitely a lot to like about this initial tease. All of Jim Henson’s iconic characters are back, as is their signature fourth wall-shattering humour. We’re also digging the Cersei/Margaery vibe between Miss Piggy and her young, brunette replacement. And is it just us, or did Kermit make a weed joke? According to ABC’s official announcement, "The Muppets return to primetime with a contemporary, documentary-style show. For the first time ever, a series will explore the Muppets' personal lives and relationships, both at home and at work, as well as romances, break-ups, achievements, disappointments, wants and desires. This is a more adult Muppet show, for 'kids' of all ages." The mockumentary format marks a bit of a departure from the variety-style setup of the '70s era Muppet Show, but seems like a smart choice given the popularity of The Office and Parks and Recreation. Sure Gonzo, maybe it is just a "totally overused device to make easy jokes." But if it ain't broke, why try and fix it? The Muppets is currently set to air in the United States at 8pm on Tuesdays starting in autumn. No word on an Australian airdate/Netflix addition as of yet. Via Empire.
Winner of Concrete Playground's Best New Product of 2015. Gym classes in Sydney — what a gamble. You'll fork over your hard-earned cash for a big chain membership, only to be sorely disappointed with their 'yoga' offering. Or even worse, you'll learn the subtle art that is making every excuse to miss class week after week, because burpies and Bondi Junction's aggressive Body Attack ladies. But imagine if you could handpick your own gym program from Sydney's best, most novelty and most fun classes, without committing to one gym? Bodypass is a new Australian all-encompassing gym pass launched in Sydney that lets you attend unlimited gym classes at Sydney's best studios — from Shannon Dooley's Retrosweat to Mermaid Swim Academy at Bondi Icebergs to classes at Madonna's Hard Candy — with one $99-per-month membership. Similar to the City of Sydney's 360 gym pass and US program Classpass, you can book yourself into thousands of indoor and outdoor activities like hip hop dance, spin, yoga, pilates, strength training, martial arts, Barre, HIIT, stand-up paddle boarding and more at some of Australia's best fitness studios — all with one card, and no long-term commitment (you can cancel anytime without charge). Exercise scientist Georgia van Tiel and yoga teacher and health food cook Carla McMillan created the program with a need to break the whole 'gym culture' stigma associated with fitness and take exercise back to being an accessible, dare we say it, fun part of life. "When some people think of fitness and exercise, they immediately conjure a vision of the ‘dread-mill’ or hitting the gym which can be perceived as boring, repetitive and simply, not very fun,” says Van Tiel. Focusing on Sydney's fitness studios to start with, Van Tiel and McMillan took it upon themselves to personally try and test every studio currently included in the handpicked program — Sydney's Bodypass partners include Hard Candy, Retrosweat '80s Aerobics, Mermaid Swim Academy at Bondi Icebergs, F45 training, XtendBarre, Peak Altitude Training, P.E. Dept. Potts Point, Jazzercise, Physicore, Sky-Lab, RollerFit, Bonza Bike Tours, Centred Meditation, Dance Central, House of Yoga Redfern, One Wave, Power Living and plenty of Sydney's park-based fitness classes (to name a few). You can only visit the same studio up to three times per monthly cycle, but otherwise, go nuts. Bodypass is available in Sydney currently and will shortly broaden its network to Melbourne, with a national program planned. For more info, visit www.bodypass.com.
UPDATE: Due to an electrical fire in September, Nomad had to move up the road into the old Longrain space on Commonwealth Street. But, we have some good news: the OG restaurant will be back up and running on October 20. It's difficult to know what to love first about Nomad. Walking in off drab Foster Street in Surry Hills' fringe, you're hit first by the simple beauty of the interior design. High ceilings, clean lines and polished concrete create a chic warehouse aesthetic warmed by bursts of colour from scattered jars of preserved turnips, gherkins, cauliflower, carrots and other pickled surprises. Attractive wooden tables are arranged cleverly throughout the large space, but the most coveted seats are those that wrap around the oversized open kitchen: from here, you can whet your appetite with a view of Heston-trained chef Nathan Sasi working his culinary magic. With 50 hand-picked wines available by the glass, you'll need some time to make decisions; a plate of Nomad pickles ($8) is the perfect accompaniment for the process. The wine list has been cultivated by Rob Geddes, one of only 18 Masters of Wine in the country, and is a proud celebration of Australian viniculture. The menu is intended to shift and transform between every visit, with each iteration showcasing a rising Australian luminary. The inaugural honouree is Michael Hall, whose pleasurable 2012 Adelaide Hills Chardonnay ($15/$72) evokes stone fruit and truffles and whose spicy Flaxman Valley Shiraz is an ideal bedfellow for the rustic Mediterranean feast to follow. The 'snack' menu of small but explosive dishes offers one hit after another. The Devils on Horseback are succulent prune spheres wrapped in paper-thin pancetta and drizzled with liquid orange blossom marmalade ($8). For another burst of flavour, try the cured bonito, layered with goat horn peppers and thin, toasted pastry for a devastatingly perfect textural balance ($12). The Nomad charcuterie ($24) is a must; the house-cured meats are displayed grandly in the cool room by the kitchen and feature interesting combinations like wallaby with juniper berries and beef heart salami. The menu expands into more substantial servings like a flavoursome BBQ quail with smoked pork hock and crispy Brussels sprouts ($28) and Chermoula-braised lamb neck with trimmings for two ($36). It's worth ordering one of the barbecued options just to watch the drama of the woodfired grills being raised and lowered over the hot coals in the open kitchen. Whichever delicacy you choose, keep an eye out for the care with which it is arranged on the plate before being gently drizzled, dusted or decorated with pretty, edible flowers. The attention devoted to each dish is palpable, and it pays generously in terms of both aesthetic and taste. In addition to making its mark on the culinary scene, Nomad is set to become a fully functioning cellar door, offering you the opportunity to taste at the table and then take home a case of whatever you loved the most. All in all, 'Nomad' appears to be a misnomer: this is one place we'd be very content to set down some roots. Images: Petrina Tinslay.
When a year ends, it's easy to pick what to watch. Just work through the best films of the past 12 months, the best movies that went straight to streaming over the same period, and the top new and returning TV shows. Or, catch up with flicks and series you might've missed — and others that are worth revisiting. When a new year begins, it's also easy to choose where to point your eyeballs. Awards season kicks into gear, bringing with it more recommendations — all newly minted recipients of shiny trophies. So, now that the Golden Globes have taken place for 2024, as held on Monday, January 8 Australian time, there's a new batch of winners to spend time with on both the big and small screens. To see some of this year's Golden Globe-recognised movies, you'll need to head to a cinema. For others — and for TV's best, too — you can get comfy on the couch to watch. Either way, here are eight of the Globes' top winners that you can check out right now. (And if you're wondering what else won, you can read through the full list, too.) MOVIE MUST-SEES OPPENHEIMER Cast Cillian Murphy and a filmmaker falls in love. Danny Boyle did with 28 Days Later and Sunshine, then Christopher Nolan followed with Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Inception and Dunkirk. There's an arresting, haunting, seeps-under-your-skin soulfulness about the Irish actor, never more so than when he was wandering solo through the empty zombie-ravaged streets in his big-screen big break, then hurtling towards the sun in an underrated sci-fi gem, both for Boyle, and now playing "the father of atomic bomb" in Nolan's epic biopic Oppenheimer. Flirting with the end of the world, or just one person's end, clearly suits Murphy. Here he is in a mind-blower as the destroyer of worlds — almost, perhaps actually — and so much of this can't-look-away three-hour stunner dwells in his expressive eyes. As J Robert Oppenheimer, those peepers see purpose and possibility. They spot quantum mechanics' promise, and the whole universe lurking within that branch of physics. They ultimately spy the consequences, too, of bringing the Manhattan Project successfully to fruition during World War II. Dr Strangelove's full title could never apply to Oppenheimer, nor to its eponymous figure; neither learn to stop worrying and love the bomb. The theoretical physicist responsible for the creation of nuclear weapons did enjoy building it in Nolan's account, Murphy's telltale eyes gleaming as Oppy watches research become reality — but then darkening as he gleans what that reality means. Directing, writing and adapting the 2005 biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin, Nolan charts the before and after. He probes the fission and fusion of the situation in intercut parts, the first in colour, the second in black and white. In the former, all paths lead to the history-changing Trinity test on July 16, 1945 in the New Mexico desert. In the latter, a mushroom cloud balloons through Oppenheimer's life as he perceives what the gadget, as it's called in its development stages, has unleashed. GLOBES Won: Best Motion Picture — Drama, Best Director — Motion Picture (Christopher Nolan), Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama (Cillian Murphy), Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture (Robert Downey Jr), Best Original Score — Motion Picture. Where to watch it: Oppenheimer streams via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. POOR THINGS Richly striking feats of cinema by Yorgos Lanthimos aren't scarce. Sublime performances by Emma Stone are hardly infrequent. Screen takes on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein couldn't be more constant. For Lanthimos, see: Dogtooth and Alps in the Greek Weird Wave filmmaker's native language, plus The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer and The Favourite since he started helming movies in English. With Stone, examples abound in her Best Actress Oscar for La La Land, supporting nominations before and after for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) and Lanthimos' aforementioned regal satire, and twin 2024 Golden Globe nods for their latest collaboration as well as TV's The Curse. And as for the best gothic-horror story there is, not to mention one of the most influential sci-fi stories ever, the evidence is everywhere from traditional adaptations to debts owed as widely as The Rocky Horror Show and M3GAN. Combining the three results in a rarity, however: a jewel of a pastel-, jewel- and bodily fluid-toned feminist Frankenstein-esque fairy tale that's a stunning creation, as zapped to life with Lanthimos' inimitable flair, a mischievous air, Stone at her most extraordinary and empowerment blazing like a lightning bolt. With cascading black hair, an inquisitive stare, incessant frankness and jolting physical mannerisms, Poor Things' star is Bella Baxter in this adaptation of Alasdair Grey's award-winning 1992 novel by Australian screenwriter Tony McNamara (The Great). Among the reasons that the movie and its lead portrayal are so singular: as a character with a woman's body revived with a baby's brain, Stone plays someone from infancy to adulthood, all with the astonishingly exact mindset and mannerisms to match, and while making every move, choice and feeling as organic as birth, living and death. In this fantastical steampunk vision of Victorian-era Europe, London-based Scottish doctor Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe, Asteroid City) is Bella's maker. Even if she didn't call him God, he's been playing it. But curiosity, the quest for agency and independence, horniness and a lust for adventure all beckon his creation on a radical, rebellious, gorgeously rendered, gloriously funny and generously insightful odyssey. So, Godwin tries to marry Bella off to medical student Max McCandles (Ramy Youssef, Ramy), only for her to discover masturbation and sex, and run off to the continent with caddish lawyer Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law). GLOBES Won: Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy (Emma Stone). Where to watch it: Poor Things is currently screening in Australian cinemas. Read our full review. KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Death comes to Killers of the Flower Moon quickly. Death comes to Killers of the Flower Moon often. While Martin Scorsese will later briefly fill the film's frames with a fiery orange vision — with what almost appears to be a lake of flames deep in oil country, as dotted with silhouettes of men — death blazes through his 26th feature from the moment that the picture starts rolling. Adapted from journalist David Grann's 2017 non-fiction novel Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, with the filmmaker himself and Dune's Eric Roth penning the screenplay, this is a masterpiece of a movie about a heartbreakingly horrible spate of deaths sparked by pure and unapologetic greed and persecution a century back. Scorsese's two favourite actors in Leonardo DiCaprio (Don't Look Up) and Robert De Niro (Amsterdam) are its stars, alongside hopefully his next go-to in Lily Gladstone (Reservation Dogs), but murder and genocide are as much at this bold and brilliant, epic yet intimate, ambitious and absorbing film's centre — all in a tale that's devastatingly true. As Mollie Kyle, a member of the Osage Nation in Grey Horse, Oklahoma, incomparable Certain Women standout Gladstone talks through some of the movie's homicides early. Before her character meets DiCaprio's World War I veteran Ernest Burkhart — nephew to De Niro's cattle rancher and self-proclaimed 'king of the Osage' William King Hale — she notes that several Indigenous Americans that have been killed, with Mollie mentioning a mere few to meet untimely ends. There's nothing easy about this list, nor is there meant to be. Some are found dead, others seen laid out for their eternal rest, and each one delivers a difficult image. But a gun fired at a young mother pushing a pram inspires a shock befitting a horror film. The genre fits here, in its way, as do many others as Killers of the Flower Moon follows Burkhart's arrival in town, his deeds under his uncle's guidance, his romance with Mollie and the tragedies that keep springing: American crime saga, aka the realm that Scorsese has virtually made his own, as well as romance, relationship drama, western, true crime and crime procedural. GLOBES Won: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama (Lily Gladstone). Where to watch it: Killers of the Flower Moon is currently screening in Australian cinemas, and streams via Google Play, YouTube Movies and Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Martin Scorsese. THE BOY AND THE HERON For much of the six years that a new Hayao Miyazaki movie was on the way, little was known except that the legendary Japanese animator was breaking his retirement after 2013's The Wind Rises. But there was a tentative title: How Do You Live?. While that isn't the name that the film's English-language release sports, both the moniker — which remains in Japan — and the nebulousness otherwise help sum up the gorgeous and staggering The Boy and the Heron. They also apply to the Studio Ghibli's co-founder's filmography overall. When a director and screenwriter escapes into imaginative realms as much as Miyazaki does, thrusting young characters still defining who they are away from everything they know into strange and surreal worlds, they ask how people exist, weather the chaos and trauma that's whisked their way, and bounce between whatever normality they're lucky to cling to and life's relentless uncertainties and heartbreaks. Miyazaki has long pondered how to navigate the fact that so little while we breathe proves a constant, and gets The Boy and the Heron spirited away by the same train of thought while climbing a tower of deeply resonant feelings. How Do You Live? is also a 1937 book by Genzaburo Yoshino, which Miyazaki was given by his mother as a child, and also earns a mention in his 12th feature. The Boy and the Heron isn't an adaptation; rather, it's a musing on that query that's the product of a great artist looking back at his life and achievements, plus his losses. The official blurb uses the term "semi-autobiographical fantasy", an elegant way to describe a movie that feels so authentic, and so tied to its creator, even though he can't have charted his current protagonist's exact path. Parts of the story are drawn from his youth, but it wouldn't likely surprise any Studio Ghibli fan if Miyazaki had magically had his Chihiro, Mei and Satsuki, or Howl moment, somehow living an adventure from Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro or Howl's Moving Castle. What definitely won't astonish anyone is that grappling with conjuring up these rich worlds and processing reality is far from simple, even for someone of Miyazaki's indisputable creative genius. GLOBES Won: Best Motion Picture — Animated. Where to watch it: The Boy and the Heron is currently screening in Australian cinemas. Read our full review. BARBIE No one plays with a Barbie too hard when the Mattel product is fresh out of the box. As that new doll smell lingers, and the toy's synthetic limbs gleam and locks glisten, so does a child's sense of wonder. The more that the world-famous mass-produced figurine is trotted through DreamHouses, slipped into convertibles and decked out in different outfits, though — then given non-standard makeovers — the more that playing with the plastic fashion model becomes fantastical. Like globally beloved item, like live-action movie bearing its name. Barbie, the film, starts with glowing aesthetic perfection. It's almost instantly a pink-hued paradise for the eyes, and it's also a cleverly funny flick from its 2001: A Space Odyssey-riffing outset. The longer that it continues, however, the harder and wilder that Lady Bird and Little Women director Greta Gerwig goes, as does her Babylon and Amsterdam star lead-slash-producer Margot Robbie as Barbie. In Barbie's Barbie Land, life is utopian. Robbie's Stereotypical Barbie and her fellow dolls (including The Gray Man's Ryan Gosling as Stereotypical Ken) genuinely believe that their rosy beachside suburban excellence is infectious, too. And, they're certain that this female-championing realm — and the Barbies being female champions of all skills, talents and appearances — has changed the real world inhabited by humans. But there's a Weird Barbie living in a misshapen abode. While she isn't Barbie's villain, not for a second, her nonconformist look and attitude says everything about Barbie at its most delightful. Sporting cropped hair, a scribbled-on face and legs akimbo, she's brought to life by Saturday Night Live great Kate McKinnon having a blast, and explained as the outcome of a kid somewhere playing too eagerly. Meet Gerwig's spirit animal; when she lets Weird Barbie's vibe rain down like a shower of glitter, covering everything and everyone in sight both in Barbie Land and in reality, the always-intelligent, amusing and dazzling Barbie is at its brightest and most brilliant. GLOBES Won: Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, Best Original Song — Motion Picture (Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell, 'What Was I Made For?'). Where to watch it: Barbie streams via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review, and Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, Issa Rae and America Ferrara chatting about the film. SMALL-SCREEN STANDOUTS BEEF As plenty does, Beef starts with two strangers meeting, but there's absolutely nothing cute about it. Sparks don't fly and hearts don't flutter; instead, this pair grinds each other's gears. In a case of deep and passionate hate at first sight, Danny Cho (Steven Yeun, Nope) and Amy Lau (Ali Wong, Paper Girls) give their respective vehicles' gearboxes a workout, in fact, after he begins to pull out of a hardware store carpark, she honks behind him, and lewd hand signals and terse words are exchanged. Food is thrown, streets are angrily raced down, gardens are ruined, accidents are barely avoided, and the name of Vin Diesel's famous car franchise springs to mind, aptly describing how bitterly these two strangers feel about each other — and how quickly. Created by Lee Sung Jin, who has It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Dave and Silicon Valley on his resume before this ten-part Netflix and A24 collaboration, Beef also commences with a simple, indisputable and deeply relatable fact. Whether you're a struggling contractor hardly making ends meet, as he is, or a store-owning entrepreneur trying to secure a big deal, as she is — or, if you're both, neither or anywhere in-between — pettiness reigning supreme is basic human nature. Danny could've just let Amy beep as much as she liked, then waved, apologised and driven away. Amy could've been more courteous about sounding her horn, and afterwards. But each feels immediately slighted by the other, isn't willing to stand for such an indignity and becomes consumed by their trivial spat. Neither takes the high road, not once — and if you've ever gotten irrationally irate about a minor incident, this new standout understands. Episode by episode, it sees that annoyance fester and exasperation grow, too. Beef spends its run with two people who can't let go of their instant rage, keep trying to get the other back, get even more incensed in response, and just add more fuel to the fire again and again until their whole existence is a blaze of revenge. If you've ever taken a small thing and blown it wildly out of proportion, Beef is also on the same wavelength. And if any of the above has ever made you question your entire life — or just the daily grind of endeavouring to get by, having everything go wrong, feeling unappreciated and constantly working — Beef might just feel like it was made for you. GLOBES Won: Best Television Limited Series of Motion Picture Made for Television, Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television (Ali Wong), Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television (Steven Yeun). Where to watch it: Beef streams via Netflix. Read our full review. 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, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off), their political-fixer sister Siobhan (Sarah Snook, Pieces of a Woman), or eldest sibling and 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, Cat Person) 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. GLOBES Won: Best Television Series — Drama, Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series — Drama (Kieran Culkin), Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series — Drama (Sarah Snook), Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role on Television (Matthew Macfadyen). Where to watch it: Succession streams via Binge. Read our full review. THE BEAR The more time that anyone spends in the kitchen, the easier that whipping up their chosen dish gets. The Bear season two is that concept in TV form, even if the team at The Original Beef of Chicagoland don't always live it as they leap from running a beloved neighbourhood sandwich joint to opening a fine-diner, and fast. The hospitality crew that was first introduced in the best new show of 2022 isn't lacking in culinary skills or passion. But when bedlam surrounds you constantly, as bubbled and boiled through The Bear's Golden Globe-winning, Emmy-nominated season-one frames, not everything always goes to plan. That was only accurate on-screen for Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White, Fingernails) and his colleagues — aka sous chef Sydney (Ayo Edebiri, Bottoms), baker-turned-pastry chef Marcus (Lionel Boyce, Hap and Leonard), veteran line cooks Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas, In Treatment) and Ebraheim (Edwin Lee Gibson, Fargo), resident Mr Fixit Neil Fak (IRL chef Matty Matheson), and family pal Richie aka Cousin (Ebon Moss-Bachrach, No Hard Feelings). For viewers, the series' debut run was as perfect a piece of television as anyone can hope for. Excellent news: season two is better. The Bear serves up another sublime course of comedy, drama and "yes chef!"-exclaiming antics across its sizzling second season. Actually make that ten more courses, one per episode, with each new instalment its own more-ish meal. A menu, a loan, desperately needed additional help, oh-so-much restaurant mayhem: that's how this second visit begins, as Carmy and Sydney endeavour to make their dreams for their own patch of Chicago's food scene come true. So far, so familiar, but The Bear isn't just plating up the same dishes this time around. At every moment, this new feast feels richer, deeper and more seasoned, including when it's as intense as ever, when it's filling the screen with tastebud-tempting food shots that relish culinary artistry, and also when it gets meditative. Episodes that send Marcus to a Noma-esque venue in Copenhagen under the tutelage of Luca (Will Poulter, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), get Richie spending a week learning the upscale ropes at one of Chicago's best restaurants and jump back to the past, demonstrating how chaos would've been in Carmy's blood regardless of if he became a chef, are particularly stunning. GLOBES Won: Best Television Series — Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy (Jeremy Allen White), Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy (Ayo Edebiri). Where to watch it: The Bear streams via Disney+. Read our full review.
Sydney's CBD is getting a major dose of the Tokyo-esque practical and compact, with plans to renovate Bar Century, rebrand it as The Century, and fit it out as a three-storey, luxury capsule hotel being announced last week. The George Street institution, which closed earlier this year, has been taken over by developer Walter Guo, who is investing a massive $5 million on a full interior refurb, which will be carried out by interior design consultants Giant Design. The heritage building will retain its vintage fit-out and have a "Soho House vibe", with the bar and hotel running as separate entities. The first two levels will act as The Century's cocktail bar and nightclub, while the top three floors of the building will be dedicated to the Century Capsules. These capsules are certainly more luxe than most you'll find in Asia. Each of the 72 capsules will contain a large LED screen and entertainment system, Wi-Fi, and even 'mood lighting' (whatever that means). Guests can choose from single or deluxe beds with entry from either the side or the end of the capsule. The communal facilities include a kitchen space, breakfast bar, lounge area, rooftop terrace and individual bathrooms. If you're worried about security, don't be — each capsule is fitted with a secure lock and the security desk runs 24-hours. But let's set the record straight — The Century is not going to be a hostel, and it's not aimed at overindulgent locals that can't seem to make it back home. And while the CBD haunt may have closed because of the lockout laws — and been a central part of a huge lockout protest as a result — these new digs are not meant as a lockout solution either. "The accommodation, which is not quite hotel nor hostel, is aimed at solo travellers looking for something more private than a typical backpackers and those who want the designer hotel experience on a budget," says Christopher Wilks, an associate at Giant Design. It's set to sit well within your budget, with prices ranging from 40-60 bucks a night. Which, depending on how far from the CBD you live, could be a lot cheaper than a cab home at 1am. Sounds futuristic (for Sydney, at least), but these aren't some plans for the distant future — The Century is coming soon. Giant Design is looking at a mid to late November opening.
Uber is making itself comfortable in the nation's capital, and soon it's going to be legal and everything. In the very same week that the NSW Government announced tough new fines and suspensions for Uber drivers caught using their vehicles as unauthorised taxis, their compadres across the border are giving UberX (the ridesharing service which lets everyday drivers give you lifts in their own Uber-approved cars) the official green light. First fireworks, then pornography, and now this? If it weren't for all the politicians, we'd seriously be considering a move. Under new reforms set to come into place at the end of next month ahead of Uber's entry into the market, UberX drivers who have passed criminal and driver history checks will be legally permitted to offer people lifts using the popular ridesharing app. Reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, the changes will make the ACT the first jurisdiction in the country where Uber drivers can operate without fear of being fined — not that that's been much of a disincentive for people thus far. Further reforms, to be enacted at a later date, will reportedly address issues surrounding UberX driver registration and insurance. Interestingly, the legislation also offers an olive branch to taxi drivers, whose annual licensing fees will be reduced from $20,000 to $10,000, and then $5000, in an attempt to help them compete. UberX drivers will also be prohibited from picking up passengers who hail them on the street. "These reforms champion innovation and help taxi and hire car services remain sustainable and important modes of travel in the Territory," said Labor Chief Minister Andrew Barr in a press release that accompanied the announcement. The taxi industry hasn't exactly welcomed Uber with open arms, but at some point they're going to have to accept that the ridesharing service is here to stay. The NSW review of taxi and ride-sharing operators will unveil their findings to the government next month. Maybe now that the government itself is trying to level the playing field, it'll encourage them to up their game? Hey, it could happen. Until then, NSW UberX drivers, head for the ACT border. Via The Sydney Morning Herald. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Eleven years ago, Taika Waititi was a writer for hire, working on an adaptation of a beloved New Zealand book. Today, he's about to leap into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the director of the forthcoming Thor: Ragnarok. Progressing from the former to the latter hasn't been easy; however as Waititi's career has continually proven, he likes to stray off the beaten path. Indeed, before he embraces the superhero realm, he's bringing a dose of adventurous anarchy to cinema screens courtesy of his fourth feature, Hunt for the Wilderpeople. After exploring unconventional family dynamics with Eagle vs Shark, Boy and What We Do in the Shadows, Waititi ponders similar territory again. But this time, he's telling the tale of city kid Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison), his cranky foster uncle Hec (Sam Neill), and their attempts to escape an over-enthusiastic child services officer (Rachel House) by trampling through the New Zealand wilderness. And, he's actually returning to that project he started scripting more than a decade ago. Expect plenty of humour and heart, Terminator references, a dog named Tupac and Rhys Darby as an eccentric conspiracy theorist — all in a movie that has "synthesizers and a score from the '80s, and car chases and flipped police cars and all that stupid stuff," as Waititi puts it. There's a reason Hunt for the Wilderpeople has become New Zealand's biggest homegrown box office success of all time (knocking the filmmaker's own Boy off the top spot, actually). With the film's Australian release under way, we spoke with Waititi about great buddy comedies, getting annoyed at New Zealand's landscape and not being able to connect with bank robbers, and about the movie of the moment, of course. ON WHAT ATTRACTED HIM TO THE WILDERPEOPLE "I think it was just that I loved the idea of this character being on the run, sort of like Thelma and Louise or The Fugitive or Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. All those kind of buddy flicks that, even films like Up, have two mismatched characters who are thrown together and stuck together. It's always been a winning combination in cinema. Paper Moon, 48 Hours, the list goes on. So I love that style and I thought it'd be a cool thing to see." ON WORKING WITH NEW ZEALAND'S UNPREDICTABLE WILDERNESS "We were shooting on locations, and we didn't really have much of an idea where we were going to shoot things, and what the weather was going to be like. We ended up in a whole lot of really remote places in New Zealand. At one of them ... we had a huge dump of snow. We had to kind of regroup that morning as the snow was falling on us, and we were like an hour from the main road, we had just driven deep inland. It was too expensive and it would lose the whole day moving everyone out of there. So we just basically decided to shoot and to set a part of the film in the snow. And that's when we got that cool 780-degree shot that turns around and around — we shot that, and spent a few hours shooting that ... While we were doing that, I was trying to figure out what we were going to do for the rest of the day. Now the film has this whole breadth of seasonal change through it. And it makes it even more epic, the fact that it has snow and it spans months and months." ON CELEBRATING THE FILM'S NEW ZEALAND HERITAGE "I'm very proud of where I come from, and I think [New Zealand's] a very beautiful place. Sometimes we take it for granted, how beautiful the land is. I think we get pissed off with it. It's like 'god you can't look anywhere without seeing some beautiful landscape'. And you forget that no one in the world has seen stuff like that. I think that's it's not often nowadays that we make films that celebrate what New Zealand looks like or like, the culture, the people, and how crazy we are. I wanted to do that. I wanted to use so much of that in there. So many parts of the film are inspired by '80s New Zealand films and Australian films. We used to make so many car chase films with people trying to drive from one end of the country to the other, and we stopped doing all that stuff. I think we started taking ourselves too seriously, and I don't do that." ON MAKING FILMS ABOUT UNCONVENTIONAL FAMILIES "Well, my family is crazy. I'm from a very crazy family — but I actually think every family is crazy. I think every single person has some insane part to their family. Every family, there's a criminal somewhere in there, there's a crazy person, there's someone who has just found religion, there's someone who's just left religion, there's someone who's been divorced, there's someone who has just fallen in love. Families are just really messed up, and they're a macro representation of earth, really. All parts of humanity all crammed into a couple of households. And it is the one thing I've found that everyone relates to the most: family dynamics. I don't relate to bank robbers. I've seen a lot of those films, and I get really bored. I don't care about the stakes, and I don't care about what they're trying to do, and I don't care about bank robbery, so I lose interest. But if you set it around a bank robber who's trying to get together with his ex-wife, at least there's something to hold on to there." ON JUMPING FROM INDIE FILMS TO DIRECTING MARVEL'S FORTHCOMING THOR MOVIE "There's not a huge difference really, to be honest. There's just a little bit more time, and you get a few more opportunities to do things that, in the normal indie world, you'd have to find cheaper ways of doing or you'd just have to have a character talk about rather than actually showing something blow up. So parts of your imagination, you actually get to shoot — and that's quite cool. It also could be dangerous to give people that much freedom, creatively. But it is very similar to the indie world in terms of it is still a bunch of people wanting to make a really good story and to make a good film." Hunt for the Wilderpeople opens in Australian cinemas on May 26.
As if the fruits of the crowdsourcing revolution weren't clear already (hello Uber, hello Tinder) the new 'land-sharing' service, Hipcamp, is going even further and actually adding value to our environment — while finding you the perfect camping spot. Currently operating in the US (with eventual worldwide aspirations), Hipcamp is a service that connects campers with private land owners, meaning previously inaccessible, beautiful plots of land probably once flanked with "Trespassers will be shot, survivors will be shot again" signs are now available to camp on. You can camp on ranches, farms, vineyards and land preserves. Think of it as Airbnb for people who don't mind pissing in the woods. While campers are an important cog in the Hipcamp machine, it's actually the landowners who are the crux of the thing. Over 60 percent of America is privately owned and Hipcamp aims to make undeveloped land useful, even profitable, by facilitating back-to-nature style camping on private land. The site operates just like Airbnb, providing you with plenty of information on amenities and activities, photos, prices, reviews, availability and (most importantly) lots of S'mores recipes. As well as giving campers access to remote, previously private camp sites, Hipcamp lets you experience these locations with someone who's both got your back in an emergency and will make sure you leave the land as you found it — the environmentally-conscious land stewards. In order to sign up, Hipcampers have to read and engage with a Leave No Trace agreement, the main point of which is obviously to leave no trace of your trip at the camping spot (duh). So if you're planning a road trip around America and you don't want to spend your nights in a murder motel, this is the app for you. Images: Matt Lief Anderson. Via Lost at E Minor.
Perched on the slopes of Mount Canobolas in Orange's cool-climate wine region, Printhie Wines offers a uniquely elevated experience — literally and figuratively. As one of the few wineries in Australia sitting at such a high altitude (over 10o0 metres), this family-owned gem is known for crafting exceptional wines while pairing sweeping vistas, award-winning sparkling wines, and seasonal dining on Wiradjuri land. Founded by the Swift family in 1996, Printhie Wines has become a must-visit for any oenophile, with its renowned Swift Sparkling range taking centre stage. After being crowned "Best Australian Sparkling" at the 2022 Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships in London and earning the title of Best NSW Sparkling for six years running, Swift Sparkling has become synonymous with world-class quality. Until 2022, wine lovers looking for a tasting at the winery sampled vino at the pop-up cellar door, The Packing Shed, at the base of the mountain. The new cellar door, located on the picturesque Millwood vineyard, offers incredible views of the valley below, with floor-to-ceiling windows making the most of the stunning landscape. Its architectural design brings elements of the outside landscape inside with a natural flow from the cosy dining space to the wide open wine bar with a roaring fireplace (in winter) and al fresco tables with sweeping views of the valley and vines. It's an inviting space for sampling wines and learning about the Swift family's history and connection to the land and the estate's commitment to sustainability and respect for the environment, from sustainable viticulture practices and careful water management. The Printhie wine-tasting experience offers visitors the chance to explore their celebrated portfolio, from the refreshing pinot gris to their bold shiraz. However, the real star of the show is the celebrated Swift Sparkling range. Wine enthusiasts can dive deeper with a Sparkling Masterclass, which includes a private tasting of vintage sparkling wines in the cellar door's wine cave, followed by a decadent four-course lunch at Printhie Dining. Speaking of lunch, Printhie Dining is one of the region's standout culinary destinations, led by head chef Chris Lees. Lees brings a world of culinary expertise to the table. His international resume includes stints at two of Canada's most prestigious restaurants — Relais & Chateaux Langdon Hall and Restaurant Pearl Morissette — as well as Michelin-starred Frantzén and Matias Dahlgren in Stockholm. At Printhie Dining, Chris embraces seasonality and provenance, drawing on the Swift family's agricultural heritage to create a refined, agrarian-inspired menu that reflects the bounty of the Orange region. The restaurant offers a four-course degustation menu that highlights the best of local produce, including produce foraged from the vineyards for unique vinegars, preserves and ferments. For something more immersive, you can opt for 'The Chef's Table', a special culinary journey that invites you behind the scenes to sit in the kitchen and interact with the chef and his team as they craft a truly personalised dining experience. The house specialty is fresh oysters. How does one ensure super fresh oysters in the rolling hills of the Orange region? The team decided to bring the ocean to Orange with its own custom oyster tank, the only restaurant with one. The Sydney Rock Oysters, carefully sourced with the help of a marine biologist and oyster farmer, are cosy in their home away from home as water is shipped up from the Clyde River to ensure the best conditions for them. Enjoy freshly shucked oysters with a glass of Swift Sparkling and dressed with Printhie's signature banksia nectar vinaigrette set against the backdrop of sweeping vineyard views. Whether you're a wine lover, a foodie, or simply looking for a scenic escape, Printhie Wines is a destination that brings together the best of Orange's cool-climate region. With its stunning location, award-winning wines, and commitment to sustainability, it's a must-visit on any journey through NSW's wine country.
Art has prevailed in the battle to fill a Melbourne rooftop with naked people. Spencer Tunick has staged his latest mass nude photography work on the top of a car park in Melbourne's inner southeast. Seventeen years after assembling 4500 naked volunteers for a snap near Federation Square as part of the 2001 Fringe Festival and eight years after he photographed around 5000 nude people in front of the Sydney Opera House during the 2010 Mardi Gras, the polarising artist amassed another contingent of naked (and pretty brave — it was less than ten degrees in Melbourne this morning) folk for a new work titled Return of the Nude. The shoot saw a few hundred Melburnians grace the rooftop covered in nothing by sheer red sheets — from a distance, the participants looked like a little like hooded handmaids. Footage from the shoots shows the subject standing underneath the sheet and lying naked on top of it. This is what it looked like: A post shared by Will Pristel (@wpristel) on Jul 8, 2018 at 3:43pm PDT A post shared by C A R L (@car.carrr) on Jul 8, 2018 at 7:05pm PDT A post shared by Chapel Street (@chapelprecinct) on Jul 8, 2018 at 8:10pm PDT A separate shoot over the weekend saw people painted blue, yellow, orange, red, green, pink and purple. Tunick's newest work has had quite the tumultuous journey — first the New York artist was given permission to hold a mass nude photoshoot on top of the Prahran Woolworths car park as part of Chapel Street Precinct's Provocaré Festival of the Arts. But then the store said that it wouldn't like to participate. The supermarket then reversed its decision a week later after a petition spearheaded by the Chapel Street Precinct Association (CSPA), the festival's host organisation, gained some momentum in the community. The official photographs of the shoot is yet to surface, but are expected to be be released by Tunick soon. Images: Munich by Spencer Tunick; Melbourne by Provocaré Festival.
You have to hand it to the Sydney Film Festival. Putting together a program of 244 films from 60 countries isn't easy, but that's exactly what festival director Nashen Moodley and his team has done — and, they've caused many a film fan to agonise over just what to watch, too. That's understandable, given that the fest's 2016 lineup boasts big names, potential future cult classics, international award winners, Aussie premieres and everything in between. It also features films we've been hanging out to see since their Sundance and SXSW premieres, including the likes of Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World, Certain Women, The Lure, Under the Shadow and Everybody Wants Some!!. They're all on our must-see list, of course; however that's not all SFF has in store. We recommending leaving room for these ten flicks on your flexipass, and maybe contemplating a few other suggestions as well. AQUARIUS Back in 2012, a particular film got everyone talking, and it wasn't one that most expected. Roaming around a Brazilian community, Neighbouring Sounds pondered race, class and fear in a feature that was as epic as it was ambitious. Now, filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho returns with his sophomore effort, this time following a music critic resident of the seaside Aquarius building who won't sell her apartment to looming developers. It sounds like the director's second intriguing offering in a row — and it's his second entry into SFF's official competition, as well. Alternatively: If you like cinema that's audacious, cutting-edge and courageous, look no further than the rest of the competition program — they're all part of the criteria, after all. Viva stands out from the crowd, offering up an Irish-made, Cuba-set family drama about a troubled drag queen. It's already impressed film festival audiences around the globe, so a surefire bet. CHEVALIER The usual male posturing, ego-driven arguing and appendage measuring — both literal and metaphorical — takes to the sea in the latest feature to spring from Greece's new, weird wave of filmmaking, Chevalier. Athina Rachel Tsangari's follow-up to Attenberg promises yet another deadpan, offbeat delight, with its yacht-bound setting certain to heighten the absurdity on show. And even with that in mind, we still think it's safe to say that the movie is bound to veer into unexpected territory. Alternatively: Speaking of surprises, Neon Bull offers up plenty. It might appear to present a visually striking but narratively standard look at the ups and downs of rodeo life, but just like the lead character's dream of working in fashion industry, there's much more going on. CONTEMPORARY COLOR Two words: David Byrne. The legendary Talking Heads frontman takes to the stage to celebrate the colour guard: synchronised dance routines that burst with brightness, energy and movement, plus flags, sequins and glitter cannons too. He's joined by ten of America's best teams in the field, as well as Nelly Furtado, How to Dress Well, Devonté Hynes, Money Mark + Ad-Rock, and St. Vincent, too. Of course, if you've ever seen classic '80s concert film Stop Making Sense, you don't need any more reasons to watch, because Byrne's involvement in this kind of flick isn't to be missed. Alternatively: Another creative legend, and another essential documentary, this time in the form of Laurie Anderson's Heart of a Dog. The artist and musician's feature isn't your usual factual effort, though. Reflecting upon her late mother, her beloved pet pooch and her partner Lou Reed, it's as intimate and expressive as on-screen essays come. EVOLUTION The term 'dream-like' gets thrown around a lot when it comes to films that try to evoke a certain mood; however with Evolution, it's a description that definitely fits. Cult French filmmaker Lucile Hadžihalilovic creates a mysterious on-screen world solely populated by women and young boys, then charts the bristling dynamic that springs when a mother doesn't believe her son's latest tale. Favouring visual storytelling over dialogue, and emphasising a distinctive soundtrack, really is just the beginning. Alternatively: The Eyes of My Mother also ponders maternal bonds, but with a monochrome, nightmarish bent. Violence and sensuality intertwine in a film that seems the very definition of arthouse horror. FIRE AT SEA Heartbreaking tales of refugees seeking new lives aren't confined to Australia. Italian documentarian Gianfranco Rosi examines the situation on the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa, which Syrian migrants approach filled with hope, only to find more horror in store. As tense as it is tragic, Fire at Sea is the end result — and the winner of the Golden Bear for Best Film at this year's Berlin International Film Festival, too. Forget big-budget disaster films; this is real life. Alternatively: In Jackson Heights employs Frederick Wiseman's usual fly-on-the-wall approach to documenting one of New York's busiest and most bustling neighbourhoods, and tallies up one of SFF's longest running times for 2016 — a whopping 190 minutes — in the process. GOLDSTONE Even if Goldstone hadn't scored prime position as SFF's opening night feature, it'd be one to watch. Not only does local filmmaker Ivan Sen write, direct, edit and shoot the film, but he offers up the second instalment in the story of indigenous outback detective Jay Swan (Aaron Pedersen). Mystery Road fans won't want to miss this thrilling follow up to one of the nation's most smart and stylish takes on the western genre, with Jacki Weaver, David Wenham and David Gulpilil also along for the ride this time around. Alternatively: SFF has plenty of local options; however catching cinema gems from the nation's past is just as important as checking out brand new features. If you haven't seen the true-crime drama that is The Boys on a big screen, then you haven't really seen it. And if you've actually never watched the David Wenham and Toni Collette–starring effort before, this is your chance to fix that — and check out an important Aussie film in all its restored glory. HIGH-RISE If there was ever an actor audiences would willingly follow into a crumbling building, it's Tom Hiddleston. In High-Rise, though, the titular setting's collapse is as much moral, intellectual and ideological as it is physical. That's to be expected given that the satirical film adapts J.G. Ballard's luxury building-set dystopian novel of the same name. And with Sightseers' director Ben Wheatley at the helm, and Jeremy Irons and Sienna Miller among the cast, expect a movie that's dark, decadent, devilish and delicious all at the same time. Alternatively: Speaking of talent no one can get enough of, Elvis & Nixon delivers the dream most of us didn't even realise we had: Michael Shannon playing none other than the King, in a dramatised version of the music superstar's real life offer to become a federal agent to protect America. Yes, really. IT'S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD At the age of 27, many aspiring filmmakers are still dreaming about shooting their first movie. Xavier Dolan has now made six, and the prolific and prodigious talent shows no sign of slowing down. Corralling a star-studded French cast that includes Léa Seydoux, Vincent Cassel and Marion Cotillard, he once again does what he does best — i.e. delves into family drama — however no two Dolan films are ever the same. And, after winning SFF's official competition with his 2010 effort Heartbeats, it should come as little surprise that the writer/director is vying for the fest's top prize once again. Alternatively: After the comic misstep that was the lacklustre I'm So Excited, Julieta marks Pedro Almodóvar's return to the moving melodramas he does best, as well as the Spanish filmmaker's 20th feature. NO HOME MOVIE In No Home Movie, Chantal Akerman prepares to say goodbye to her ailing mother. As she explores the memories of the woman who brought her into the world — a Polish Jew who survived Auschwitz — the iconic Belgian director achieves just that, but she also prompts another kind of farewell. Sadly, this intimate documentary is the filmmaker's last, with Akerman passing away in October 2015. Factual cinema rarely gets this personal, probing or loaded with both insight and sadness. Alternatively: Because one slice of Akerman's considerable cinema catalogue isn't enough, SFF is also serving up a screening of the auteur's acclaimed 1975 feature, Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, which was made when the filmmaker was only 25 years old. RED CHRISTMAS Christmas and horror have always gone hand-in-hand — and while plenty of frightening festive flicks spring to mind, Australia hasn't had much to add to the fold. Enter Double the Fist director Craig Anderson with his big screen debut Red Christmas. Fighting families and flying axes feature prominently, as does the kind of take on Yuletide terror that only an Aussie could make, all focused around iconic The Howling and E.T. actress Dee Wallace. Alternatively: A Chinese murder mystery that has been compared to Twin Peaks? That's What's In the Darkness. It's also a stripped back procedural that contemplates crime, adolescence and the contemporary state of its country of origin. The 2016 Sydney Film Festival runs from June 8 to 19. To check out the complete program and book tickets, visit the festival website.
For those of you who don’t know/have more important things to worry about, the Pirelli calendar is a yearly project by the Pirelli Tyre company that collates sexualised photos of the world’s 'hottest' models (shot by the world’s 'hottest' — read: mostly male — photographers) into a calendar, so that you can feel strange arousal every time you glance at your schedule for the month. This year however, they’ve taken a different tact and we don’t think it’s too much to burl yasssss queen! from every balcony we can find. The 2016 calendar features figures from the other 99.99% of the population that aren’t supermodels but are damned fine, including Amy Schumer (patron saint of the everywoman), Serena Williams, Patti Smith, Tavi Gevinson and Fran Leibovitz among others — and yes, they could choose to be clothed (what a world we live in). The portraits have been making headlines not just for the obvious departure from Pirelli calendar tradition but because the images themselves, shot by none other than Annie Leibovitz, are powerful and refreshing in a mediascape of so often saturated in airbrushed Kardashians. Beautiful, gross, strong, thin, fat, pretty, ugly, sexy, disgusting, flawless, woman. Thank you @annieleibovitz pic.twitter.com/kc0rIDvHVi — Amy Schumer (@amyschumer) November 30, 2015 Amy Schumer is grabbing headlines for her choice to get raw and nekkid. Schumer posted her images to Twitter with the caption “Beautiful, gross, strong, thin, fat, pretty, ugly, sexy, disgusting, flawless, woman.” The general Internet consensus has been one of frenzied, supportive agreement. Serena Williams also opted to go nude, probably to show off the fact she could break your neck (and heart) with her general power. Other women featured include Yoko Ono, film mogul Kathleen Kennedy, Melody Hobson, Yao Chen, Agnes Gund and Sadie Rain Hope-Gund, artist Shirin Neshat, director Ava DuVernay and Natalia Vodianova. Pirelli has been applauded for celebrating ‘real’ women this year, but corporeal semantics aside, the overwhelming response to the calendar has been positive: a joyful celebration of women of all ages, races, religions and professions and we simply cannot wait to get out hands on one. Via SMH.
Lost Paradise is back for the fourth year in a row, after selling out its past three incarnations. Returning to Glenworth Valley from December 28 to January 1, the event will host 76 local and international artists, including local electronic goalkickers RÜFÜS, Sweden's Little Dragon, Aussie folk favourites Matt Corby and Meg Mac, Sydney lads DMAs, dynamic Melburnian duo Client Liaison and more. There'll be two new stages this year, My Mum's Disco, where, in between retro beats and '80s kitsch, you'll be playing bingo and banging out karaoke, and K-Sub Beach Club, to be run by Kraken, a collective dedicated to all things Victorian. Main stage Arcadia will host what's been designated as 'indie', while techno and dance will settle into the Lost Disco stage. Meanwhile, the Paradise Club will take care of late night shape-throwers with DJs and surprise guests. If you've blissed your way through previous New Year's Eves at Lost Paradise's Shambala Fields, you'll be glad to know they're making a return, with their cornucopia of yoga classes, dance workshops and meditations. Teachers on the schedule include Ana Forrest, Jose Calarco, Mark Whitwell, Simon Borg Olivier, Nicole Walsh and Mark Breadner. In between dancing and getting mindful, you can fuel up in Lost Village, where a herd of food trucks will be dishing out all sorts of tasty morsels. Look out for Eat Art Truck's hot smoked pulled pork buns, Agape's organic goodies, The Dosa Deli's handmade samosas, Maverick Wings' crispy chicken and kimchi coleslaw, Harvest Life as Tsuru's poke bowls and Cuba Cantina's street food from Havana. Here's what you're in for this year: LOST PARADISE 2017 LINEUP: RÜFÜS Little Dragon Matt Corby Meg Mac DMA's Client Liason Cut Copy San Cisco Tourist Stephen Bodzin Cigarettes After Sex Patrick Topping Jon Hopkins (DJ Set) Jackmaster FKJ Middle Kids Âme (Live) Skeggs Palms Trax Apparat Nadia Rose Sampa The Great Koi Child Mall Grab Dean Lewis B.Traits Roland Tings My Nu Leng Cut Snake Human Movement Billy Davis & The Good Lords CC:Disco GL Tiny Little Houses Alex The Astronaut Nyxen Sloan Peterson Mammals The Ruminators Motorik Vibe Council Robongia Krankbrother Thunderfox Gypsys of Pangea Uncle Ru Ariane Ben Nott Brohn Dibby Dibby Soundsystem DJ Gonz Elijah Something Foreigndub Inner West Reggae Disco Machine Kali and more... Lost Paradise returns to Glenworth Valley from December 28 to January 1. Tickets are on sale now from the festival website. Image: Dave Anderson and Boaz Nothham.
Forget about the upcoming movie. Fans of Goosebumps need to get their butts to London, where a live, immersive theatre show based on R.L. Stine's popular children's stories will have its world premiere in April next year. Written and directed by acclaimed participatory theatremaker Tom Salamon, the show is a collaboration between London-based arts and theatre venue, The Vaults, and the book series' publisher, Scholastic. Audience members will be taken deep into the abandoned tunnels beneath Waterloo railway station, where performers will recreate bloodcurdling scenes from some of the series' best-known titles — including Night of the Living Dummy, Say Cheese and Die! and One Day at Horrorland. Just as long as there's nothing from Monster Blood. We don't need those childhood nightmares coming back, thank you very much. The series' original illustrator Tim Jacobus will create artwork for the production, while cult London music trio The Tiger Lillies will provide the score — the show they did at the Biennale of Sydney a few years back was creepy enough. Goosebumps will run for an initial six-month season and is aimed primarily at older audiences, although there will also be a child-friendly version that runs on weekends and during the school holidays. "Immersive events have become the lifeblood of London culture... and Goosebumps is perfectly suited to the genre," The Vaults' director Kieron Vanstone told The Guardian. "These stories were made to be experienced up close, with every shiver, sound and unsettling sight." Via The Guardian. Image: jozerC (Flickr CC).
With Groovin the Moo announcing its dates then cancelling, and Splendour in the Grass sadly doing the same, your plans for 2024 might be missing a few music festivals. News for the industry hasn't been great Down Under in recent years, especially in Australia this year. But Listen Out is aiming to buck the trend, locking in its return for spring, as well as its dates and venues — and all of the above for Listen In as well. "It's been a very tough time for the Australian music festival industry and we are thrilled to be back in 2024, welcoming returning and first-time attendees through the gates," said Listen Out's promoters, confirming that the event will get everyone dancing for the third time in the pandemic era after 2022 and 2023 runs. [caption id="attachment_957218" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jordan Munns[/caption] Last years' fest was Listen Out's most successful in terms of ticket sales ever, and the crew behind it are hoping to continue that trajectory. Something that might help: turning the fest into a 16-plus event, age-wise, which is a first for 2024. The festival's focus is staying true to its niche, filling its stages on electronic and hip hop artists — both international and local talents, too. The lineup hasn't been revealed as yet, but watch this space to see who follows in Skrillex, Four Tet, Lil Uzi Vert, Ice Spice and company's footsteps from 2023's bill. [caption id="attachment_957232" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Warr[/caption] This is Listen Out's 11th year, with four stops on the agenda: Caribbean Gardens in Melbourne, HBF Arena in Perth, RNA Showgrounds in Brisbane and Centennial Park in Sydney. Listen In, the condensed version of the fest with a smaller lineup, is headed to Go Media Stadium Mt Smart in Auckland, and also Ellis Park in Adelaide. [caption id="attachment_957226" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jordan Munns[/caption] Listen Out and Listen In 2024 Dates: Friday, September 27 — Listen Out Melbourne, Caribbean Gardens, Wurundjeri Land / Melbourne Saturday, September 28 — Listen Out Perth, HBF Arena, Mooro Country / Joondalup Sunday, September 29 — Listen In Adelaide, Ellis Park / Tampawardli (Park 24), Kaurna Country / Adelaide Friday, October 4 — Listen In Auckland, Go Media Stadium Mt Smart, Auckland / Te Ipu Kura A Maki Saturday, October 5 — Listen Out Brisbane, Brisbane Showgrounds, Meanjin / Brisbane Sunday, October 6 — Listen Out Sydney, Centennial Park, Gadigal Country [caption id="attachment_957230" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Samm Venn[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957221" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sam Venn[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957224" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mitch Lowe[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957228" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Warr[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957220" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sam Venn[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957225" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zennieshia Butts[/caption] Listen Out and Listen In's 2024 season tours Australia and New Zealand in spring 2024. For more information, head to the festival website — and we'll update you when lineup details are announced. Top image: Mitch Lowe.
An old garage down a service laneway doesn't sound like a spot for a bar, but that's exactly where this 20-person mezcal bar takes up its residence. Cantina OK! is located down the non-street that is Council Place, rocking forest green garage doors, an extensive collection of tequila and mezca, and no seating whatsoever. You may not be surprised to hear that this mini mezcal mecca is run by Sydney's favourite tequila joint, Tio's Cerveceria — the men behind it are venue owners Alex Dowd and Jeremy Blackmore. The duo took one helluva road trip around Mexico, hitting three states and picking up heaps of mezcal along the way before opening this hole-in-the-wall back in 2019. "We wanted to take what we saw in Mexico and really showcase it in this space," says Gilmour. "It's our way of documenting what these amazing mezcal producers can do." The team took their research very seriously, returning to Sydney with a whopping 140 bottles that now sit behind the minuscule bar. There are mezcals from regions all across Oaxaca, Michoacán and Jalisco, as well as drops of tequila, raicilla (an agave distilled spirit from Jalisco) and sotol (non-agave distilled spirit from northern Mexico). [caption id="attachment_714475" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimberley Lo[/caption] "You won't find another mezcaleria in the southern hemisphere that has the particular collection that we have," said Manager Alex Gilmour back when the bar first opened. Some of his favourite labels include the experimental Michoacán producer Jorge Perez — who distils his mezcal with likes of rattlesnake and a whole coyote — a single distillation arroqueño mezcal from Oaxaca and even a few bottles that have been aged for 29 years — those, of course, are on the expensive side. If all that sounds a bit intimating, turn to the well-trained staff, who are eager to get into the "nitty gritty" of mezcal drinking with you. But you don't have to go high-brow — the place still has the casual, laid-back Tio's vibe where you can just pop in for a damn good margarita, too. That'd be the house margarita, which combines both mezcal and tequila with lime and cane sugar syrup, all served over shaved ice. Otherwise, choose from the rotating range of seasonal cocktails and whatever the special is at the time. There's one produce-driven cocktail on the menu each week, which there'll write down for you on one of the hand-stamped coasters. Images: Kimberley Low. Updated Tuesday, March 21, 2023. Appears in: The Best Bars in Sydney
We've all been there: you're interested in a movie, check Rotten Tomatoes to see what the critics thought, and disagree with the consensus. That's exactly what Suicide Squad fans are going through at the moment. Unhappy at the far-from-positive word the comic book adaptation has been receiving (especially on the popular online review aggregator), these fans don't just want to get on a soapbox — they want to shut down the whole site. In fact, Suicide Squad defender Abdullah Coldwater was so angry that took to Change.org to mobilise his fellow aficionados. Yes, really. At the time of writing, that petition had 17,614 signatures protesting against the site, motivated by the film's paltry 31 percent Tomatometer rating and the large number of negative reviews. Anyone who has caught a glimpse of similar backlash in recent times — take, for example, the huge response when reviewers dared to like the female-focused take on Ghostbusters — won't be surprised, because this type of behaviour is becoming all-too-familiar. A highly anticipated movie comes out, critics reveal their thoughts, and the online masses react. The next big title comes out, and the cycle repeats. But there's excitement about an upcoming movie, and then there's this. We see it all the time. Just read the Facebook comments on Concrete Playground's own take on Suicide Squad — many readers voiced their displeasure at our negative review, which is how it should be. Our critic didn't love, or even like, or find much of merit in the film. Scrolling through the responses provides just a glimpse of the general social media outrage swirling around the David Ayer-directed, Margot Robbie, Will Smith and Jared Leto-starring entry in the DC Comics movie. Sure, this might just be a storm in a teacup. But the worrying part of this move isn't just the instantly-attacking mindset of fans upset that someone — or more than a few someones — doesn't think the flick they've been counting down the days to watch isn't the best film ever made. Agreeing to disagree doesn't always happen on the internet, we know, but there's also the matter of timing. Given that Suicide Squad didn't start releasing around the world until today, most of those in the distressed camp — like Coldwater — haven't seen the film yet. Coldwater has since changed his tune, with the last post on the petition page noting that it was supposed to be "just for fun". After grabbing plenty of headlines with his action — something that he calls a victory in an earlier post — he has now deemed it pointless. "The only thing that it does is spreading a speech of hate and online fighting among the supporters and objectors," he writes. He's right.
If you've always dreamed of owning a brewery, you're about to get your big shot. Initially Sydney-based, Hopsters Co-op Brewery is the first Australian brewhouse made by the people, for the people. Craft beer entrepreneur Marco Vargas is the man behind the plan and he's collaborating with mates Ross Hynard and Louie Jahjah to get this big dream off the ground — a cooperative brewery that's funded by membership. "This is our passion project," says Vargas. "We've met a lot of home brewers who are really passionate but don't have the capacity to do it themselves, so we realised that the best way is together." Co-op breweries have seen considerable success in US, with five currently in operation, but Hopsters is the first of its kind in Australia. "I believe it will be a strong business because everyone in the community has a stake in it," says Vargas. The Hopsters motto "drink like you own the place" sums up the concept well. Member benefits will include access to brewing equipment, community collaboration brews, exclusive events and discounts at the brewery's taproom. Anyone from the community can join — from craft beer industry leaders to home brewers and beer geeks. "We plan to hold a monthly social where members can meet and talk beer," says Vargas. The team's goal is to open five breweries with 5000 members Australia-wide, the first of which is set to open in Leichhardt by the end of 2016. They dream big — as in expecting 2000 members by the end of the year big. The building they're currently locked onto is owned by the same landlord as the Wayward Brewing Co., a good sign for the brewing liberties to come. A lifetime membership costs $250 per person, which, all things considered, is quite the bargain. While they aren't taking payments until the brewery is set to go, you can register your interest to get in at ground level. Check out Hopsters' website for more details on how to become a member.
We're accustomed to the idea that every slice of pizza worth its weight in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles requires decent lashings of mozzarella. Which is why the fact that famed Newtown pizzeria Gigi is vegan might come as a shock to Sydney pizza fans. According to owner Marco Matino, the tradition of the Neapolitan woodfired pizza "is an art form which will always be relevant no matter how times change". That said, they decided to kick their double smoked ham and stringy mozzarella to the curb years ago in favour of a new plant-based menu that is both sustainable and ethical, with fresh, locally grown produce and key ingredients imported from Italy. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] "Marinara pizzas [with just tomato, garlic and oil] were the first served in Naples for over forty years before the Margherita was introduced," says Marco. Though that may be the case, we can safely say that, ever since some genius put some cheese on one of those saucy bases, we've never looked back. The pizza pros at Gigi Pizzeria have maintained the integrity of their quality woodfired dough with its slightly crispy, slightly chewy bite. It's the perfect pizza base. Toppings are mostly simple — like the aforementioned Marinara pizza — but there are a few more creative options too. The Melanzane sports tomatoes with tree nut ricotta, frilled eggplant, basil salsa and olive oil while classic numbers like the Patate — with thinly sliced potato seasoned with garlic and rosemary — work really well, especially with the additional black truffle pate. Since becoming a vegan-only joint, Gigi's popularity has soared, and it's not uncommon to see a massive line snaking along King Street on a Friday or Saturday night. Top image: Destination NSW Appears in: Where to Find the Best Pizza in Sydney for 2023
Since 2008, 4 Pines Brewing Company have carefully cemented themselves as one of Australia's premier brewing companies. The team behind the craft beer brand has never hidden their support and loyalty to Sydney's north, and in particular, the Manly and northern beaches areas — the home of their original microbrewery. So, it should come as no surprise then that 4 Pines have just announced the roll out of not one, but three completely different and varied new venues within the next 12 months, all north of the Harbour Bridge. "The time has come for 4 Pines to launch some hospitality spaces," says 4 Pines publican Ged Dore. "We looked at some places over on the west coast of America, and these brands had venues along three different beaches. When we got back to Australia we looked at potential spaces in Sydney, the inner west, then in Melbourne but we just kept coming back to the northern beaches." The first of these three new venues, 4 Pines Manly Underground, will take over the old Out of Africa space, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a menu put together by 4 Pines executive chef Rob de Paulo. He'll be stepping away from the classic pub meals offered upstairs in the BrewPub, instead focusing on seasonal ingredients and fresh produce. The vibe is expected to be more food and family friendly, with booth seating and a cabin-like feel. Next up, Newport is set to become the home of barrel-aged beer, with the opening of the 4 Pines Newport Barrelhouse. The idea of barrel-aged beer is something 4 Pines has been fine tuning for the past few years, and are ready to showcase with the opening of this specialty venue in the early summer. The venue, located in the heart of Newport on Barrenjoey Road, is being touted as the first of its kind in the state, if not Australia. Finally, for those who enjoy a beer with breakfast, a 4 Pines beer and bread concept will open in the Glen Street Theatre in Belrose in 2017. Perfect for a for a drink and dinner pre- or post-theatre, 4 Pines Belrose will offer beer and freshly baked bread, including the stout bread which has been baked in the Manly BrewPub since 2010. Even though 4 Pines also have a brewery in Brookvale which uses an old truck as a bar, Dore isn't convinced they've covered all bases in the Northern Beaches area just yet though. "The [Manly] cinema has been closed for over two years, so we'd love to own the cinema so we could do 4 Pines movies. We'd love to be able to do a 4 Pines showcase arthouse cinema — you're allowed to dream aren't you?" says Dore.
Sitting down for our interview with director Eva Orner, it's hard not to think about the grimly fortuitous timing. Less than 24 hours earlier, a young Somali refugee set herself ablaze on Nauru. It's the second case of self-immolation at the centre in less than a week, following the suicide of Omid Masoumali just a few days before. "I think we all need to stand up and say enough is enough," says Orner. "I just read this thing where Malcolm Turnbull said, 'Let's not get misty-eyed about offshore detention.' People are lighting themselves on fire. Children are being sexually abused. People have died." Orner is no stranger to these kinds of human rights abuses. A first generation Australian whose parents fled the Holocaust, she won an Oscar in 2008 for producing Taxi to the Dark Side, Alex Gibney's harrowing documentary about CIA torture. To say that her latest directorial effort, about Australia's hardline immigration policy, is even more confronting, speaks to just how indefensible that policy has become. Combining whistleblower interviews with shocking secret camera footage captured inside Manus Island and Nauru, Chasing Asylum reveals in no uncertain terms the consequences of offshore detention. We spoke with Orner about what motivated her to pick up the camera, and whether she believes films like this can truly make a difference. A CAMPAIGN OF PANIC AND FEAR Perhaps the hardest thing to stomach, when it comes to mandatory detention, is the fact that so many Australians seem willing to accept it — something that Orner attributes to "a campaign of panic and fear and misinformation that's been going for 15 years." "I don't think that people really know what's happening, because of this policy of secrecy that's been in operation since 2001," she says. "That's why I made the film, because I wanted to show people. Vision is so much more powerful than print. There's been some excellent journalism on this, but until you really see women and children in those conditions, it's not quite the same." "I find it particularly extraordinary today when people are self-immolating, and the government doesn't really respond with any sympathy," Orner continues. "The key to me is that we have to keep coming back to the Refugee Convention. Because it came out of the Holocaust, and it was the world's apology to the Jewish people to what happened to them... We really have to look at this policy in terms of what it says about us as a democratic country." WHAT THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T WANT YOU TO SEE The most remarkable thing about Chasing Asylum is Orner's hidden camera footage, which lays bare just how bad the conditions on Nauru and Manus Island really are. Naturally, she's unable to reveal exactly how she acquired the footage, other than to say it was "not easy to get." "If I'd known then what I know now I probably wouldn't have done it," she admits. "I think I was a bit wide-eyed going in. I always said that I was waiting for someone else to make this film, and no one did so I thought I'd better do it. But no wonder no one was making it. It's about places you can't go, people you can't speak to, and if whistleblowers do speak to you then you have to hide their identity. Then the whistleblowing legislation came out in July last year, which says that if you speak out it's a criminal act and you can go to jail." "What's important is that no cameras are allowed in, and why," says Orner. "I think the film answers that question, because it's really grim... I don't think it's a particularly emotional film, in terms of my voice. It's really just the facts and the vision of what's been happening. But what I'm seeing now as we're starting to screen it is that people cry when they see this film. It's very upsetting... I find it very hard to watch the film." CAN A MOVIE ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE? "You have to believe that good will triumph," says Orner when asked if she thinks things will ever change. "You have to believe that good will triumph, you have to believe you can change things. You have to do something, because the alternative to that is doing nothing. You just have to stand up and scream and scream and scream." "One of the things we're doing is working with an organisation to get [the film] into the school curriculum, because that's where the power is. Getting the next generation to see the film. If we get this into schools, if we get tonnes of people to see it, if it gets seen on televisions around the world, then that can make a difference." "It's really about trying to educate people. That's what I'm saying. Come see the film, see what we're doing, and then make a decision. And I'm saying the same thing to politicians, because only a handful of politicians have been to Manus or Nauru. They're spending all of our taxpayer dollars on this, they should know what it looks like. Then maybe at night when they're sitting with their families, they can reassess how they really feel." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocgNZRIEyyY Chasing Asylum is in cinemas nationally from May 26. Eva Orner's book, Chasing Asylum: A Filmmaker's Story, is available in bookstores and online. For more information visit www.chasingasylum.com.au.
If you're looking for ways to spoil the leading man in your life (whether dad or father figure), we're here to help. Let's face it, your local pizza joint doesn't quite cut it and the decibels at your favourite hole-in-the-wall ramen shop might be a little too high to allow for a meaningful chat. This is your chance to deliver something memorable and earn brownie points on the side. Take your dad out this year on Father's Day for an exceptional dinner, a long boozy brunch or a morning coffee — all at some of our city's best parent-friendly eateries and drinking establishments. You've got enough selection anxiety on your hands with presents, so we've picked out our favourite dad-worthy spots. These are the best Father's Day restaurants, bars and cafes in Sydney. Recommended reads: The Best Pubs in Sydney The Best Restaurants in Sydney The Best Wine Bars in Sydney The Best Italian Restaurants in Sydney Three Blue Ducks, Rosebery Three Blue Ducks has everything you need to impress dad on Father's Day. Hearty, approachable eats; top-notch coffee from Single O; the endorsement of beloved MasterChef judge and co-owner Andy Allen — they're all covered. While the full suite of tasty goodies will be on offer on dad's day, Three Blue Ducks' expansive Rosebery eatery is offering a special two-course lunch for $69 per head, Sunday's at Three Blue Ducks are all about the roasts too, so dad can tuck in to beef sirloin or roast pork with beef fat roasties, veggies and gravy (plus a caramelised apple with the pork) to celebrate the big day. Cho Cho San, Potts Point If dad's got a taste for the contemporary, Cho Cho San is the place to be, serving up high class izakaya in a setting that's very TikTok/Instagram compatible. Both Cho Cho San and its sibling the Apollo have special offers for the big day. A la carte dining is an option, but for $80 per person, Cho Cho San will have a beer ready for the man of the hour on arrival and a pre-selected range of house favourites. Think wagyu kushiyaki alongside eggplant miso sticks and wasabi oysters. He'll choose from two claypots for the main event: beef short rib 'Kabayaki,' tan tan sauce or misozuke Murray cod — plus a very on-trend strawberry and matcha trifle to finish. Misc, Parramatta Out west, spoil dad with an unforgettable Mediterranean spread within the heart of Parramatta Park at the expansive and sleek venue Misc. The impressive 300-seat cafe and diner is the workings of Executive Chef Sebastian Geray, Menu Collaborator Joel Bennetts and Restaurateur Jad Nehmetallah (the last of whom you may recognise from Gogglebox). Swing by in the morning for Stitch coffee, plus Misc's takes on cafe favourites like french toast, eggs with the lot, crumpets or a mushroom pita fold with black truffle and garlic butter. Later in the day, the menu is designed to be shared, with plenty of freshly sliced charcuterie, dips and buttery woodfired bread available alongside beef tartare, lamb shoulder and roasted half chicken. North Bondi Fish, Bondi Part of the star-studded Matt Moran wheelhouse, North Bondi Fish is the ideal spot for any dad who loves nothing more than ocean views and a stacked plate of seafood — no matter the special occasion. As a special Father's Day offer, dad can take full advantage of the menu, with additional specials being the seafood tower ($250 — pictured above) or the lobster smash burger for $45. Marking the occasion is a complimentary tequila tasting table, and dad can order any house beer, wine or cocktail to get his first drink on the house. [caption id="attachment_1018496" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Dominic Loneragan[/caption] The Gidley, CBD If dad is a steak fiend, he's probably familiar with this legendary CBD steakhouse. From the team behind the similarly excellent Bistecca, it's a subterranean hot spot that takes your phone away for maximum immersion, but makes up for it with a superb ribeye and top-shelf bites big and small. For dad's day, The Gidley is offering a $160pp Sunday roast, pricey yes, but well worth it for a father with a taste for the finer things. He'll get confit duck cigars, aged swordfish steak and butter beans, a rib roast, English sliced beef and grilled flank steak served with red wine jus and a dessert of apple crumble, marnier custard and the famous Gidley pecan pie. Needless to say, maybe it's worth skipping breakfast for this one. The Bank, Newtown King Street icon The Bank is joining a wider offering as a Solotel venue, but still stands as a top choice for any inner west local dads. For starters, dad can make the most of that famous beer garden with a complimentary tap brew at his convenience. Food-wise, the usual pub menu is a solid pick for any Father's Day feast, but as a part of the festivities, The Bank (and 18 of its Solotel siblings across Sydney) is offering a plate of barbecued meats for a generous $35. That comes with beef brisket, kransky sausage, onion rings, hot dinner rolls, pickles, slaw and Fancy Hanks BBQ Sauce. That's enough to make any dad take off a belt notch or two. Armorica, Surry Hills Perhaps your dad is a fan of French fare? If so, this Surry Hills outpost from the Franca team is the perfect spot to treat the father figure in your life. While the full Armorica menu is on offer on Father's Day — including the restaurant's famous chocolate bar for dessert — the kitchen is offering a special steak frites menu to celebrate all the meat-loving dads. There are four different steak options available, ranging from a special little treat to an all-out dose of extravagance. Take your pick from the 250-gram sirloin ($39), the 250-gram flat iron ($49), the wagyu sirloin ($139) or the one-kilo t bone ($169). All four options are served with a side of fries and your choice of béarnaise, mushroom, mustard or bone marrow butter. Happyfield, Haberfield Tucked into a corner of Ramsay Street in Haberfield is one of Sydney's best cafes, Happyfield. This sunny yellow spot knows how to nail breakfast, with stacks of pancakes paired with Pepe Saya butter; next-level brekkie burgers like the McLovin Muffin loaded with a chicken sausage patty, folded eggs, cheddar, chipotle mayo and 'happy' salt; and a 300g steak frite for the family members who like to eat lunch for breakfast. There's something for every dad here. Plenty of veggie options also grace the menu and the coffee list is extensive. Plus, if a boozy brunch is on the table, there's an adults-only section of the menu featuring espresso martinis, mimosas, boutique Australian wines and craft beers. Sinclair's, Penrith Way out west, the views don't get any better than when you're looking out over the Nepean, and that's the scenic backdrop for one of Penrith's top eateries; Sinclair's. The upstairs eatery to the beloved Log Cabin, it's ideal for fine dining that won't leave you wanting more, with a menu built on ingredients secured from local producers in an exclusive 50-km radius of the restaurant. For Father's Day, Head Chef Scott Mills has crafted a set menu for $95pp. Starters include Montecatini chorizo and king prawn, followed by entrees of Beef carpaccio with potato crumb and smoked lamb ribs with bourbon caramel. On the main front, there's Little joes' prime rib with coal-roasted jus with sides of triple-cooked Wilberforce potato with beef fat, confit garlic and thyme. For dessert? An oh-so-fancy Zokoko chocolate cigar, vanilla bean cheesecake mousse, and cocoa nibs. [caption id="attachment_707972" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leticia Almeida[/caption] The Baxter Inn, CBD If you want to truly treat the special man in your life, The Baxter Inn in Sydney's CBD is hosting a special Father's Day celebration. This one is for the whisky-loving fathers, with a guided tasting through rare whiskies available at the charming inner-city bar for $260 per person. Attendees will be treated to tastings of and a guided trip through some of the hardest-to-find and off-the-beaten-path spirits from around the world at the hands of some of the whisky industry's most in-the-know folks. OUT OF TOWN: Distillery Botanica, Erina If dad lives outside of Sydney, there are still plenty of top-notch options for Father's Day. On the Central Coast is a whimsical garden distillery that produces some of the finest gin and liquers this side of the Hawkesbury, and it's hosting a special event for the occasion. Starting at 1.30pm, you and dad will be treated to a gin and tonic on arrival, before a guided oyster shucking and tasting experience from the Broken Bay Pearl Farm team, then a mix-your-own-martini class using Distilley Botanica's range of award-winning gin and botanicals grown on site. For more out-of-town ideas, check out our list of the best regional NSW restaurants.
White Bay Beer Co is relatively new to the Sydney beer scene — especially if you don't count the two years that were squandered in lockdowns. Renovation work on the venue, located in an old steelworks in Rozelle, first began back in 2019 and the brewery officially opened at its waterfront location the following year. White Bay Beer Co is proudly independent and serves up excellent brews to the peninsula neighbourhood from Thursday to Sunday. The dog-friendly brewery also holds community events including talks with the likes of Gardening Australia's Costa Georgiadis, slow fashion markets and more. Not sure which drink to down? Start with the very smashable Sunny Hazy Australian Pale. There's a rotating list of food trucks at White Bay Beer Co too, with the likes of Dirty Bird making regular appearances. And if you're into live music, more often than not, there'll be someone jamming away on Sundays from 3pm–6pm. Appears in: The Best Sydney Brewery Bars for 2023
Looking for a way to keep warm and dramatically relaxed this winter? We think we've stumbled upon just the novelty thing you're looking for. A savvy American inventor has taken the concept of relaxation to unprecedented heights, with the creation of a hammock that is also a hot tub. Commence applauding. Conceived and designed by Oregonian Benjamin Frederick, The Hydro Hammock is made from a durable synthetic material, and is capable of holding the weight of more than 185 litres of water plus two adult bathers. The water, from sea, lake or garden hose, is then heated via propane gas heater and circulated via pump (battery and solar-powered hammocks are also currently in the works). The hammock can be suspended between two points like a regular hammock, but also functions as a portable hot tub liner in the sand or snow. Yep, you can build a hot tub right into the snow. Frederick is currently looking to secure additional funding via Kickstarter, and has so far raised US$35,000 of his US$50,000 goal. A pledge of US$260 will get you the basic, single-layer hammock including installation straps and carabiners, while US$390 gets you the double layer hammock with extra insulation. However, we should point out that neither of those options actually includes the heater and pump — for that you'll have to fork out US$1180 for the single layer version, or US$1310 for the double. But while that may sound like a lot of money for a hammock, it's still likely a hell of a lot cheaper than getting a regular hot tub installed. And the good news is that Frederick ships his invention worldwide. Just make sure you tie both ends to something secure and unbending, otherwise you're likely to end up bruised, wet and cold. For more information about the Hydro Hammock, visit their Kickstarter page.
Movie fans, prepare for your first wave of film envy for 2016. On January 21, the Sundance Film Festival kicks off its annual celebration of cinema in the snow — and that means a host of celebrities are headed to Utah to party with Robert Redford, and a new batch of indie titles are about to premiere. Last year, we were so consumed with excitement about the program that we outlined the ten flicks we desperately wanted to see on Australian screens — and with Mistress America, The End of the Tour, Dope, Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck and Sleeping With Other People on our list, we had a pretty good hit rate (if we do say so ourselves). So, what's got us buzzing this time around? Well, theres a few documentaries, a mermaid thriller and an all-star cast in a film named Wiener-Dog, to name a few standouts. Here's our picks of the films we hope Aussie audiences will get the chance to watch, either courtesy of a local release or a festival — plus a few more we've got our eye on. HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE There's plenty about this flick that appeals: its manhunt for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle storyline, and Sam Neil and Rhys Darby featuring among the cast, to name a few. However, most of our enthusiasm for Hunt for the Wilderpeople stems from the involvement of Taika Waititi. To date, the New Zealand filmmaker has brought us the charming Boy, directed episodes of Flight of the Conchords, and co-starred and co-directed one of the funniest flicks of the past few years, the vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows. With Marvel sequel Thor: Ragnarok coming up next, he's clearly bound for bigger things, but this eccentric comedy sounds like vintage Waititi. Also watch out for: Sing Street, another music-focused flick from Begin Again director John Carney — this time about an Irish teen in a glam-ish band. LO AND BEHOLD, REVERIES OF THE CONNECTED WORLD More and more documentaries keep touching upon the topic of the technology we're all now unable to live without. The latest comes from none other than the great Werner Herzog, which marks his first factual effort since Into the Abyss five years ago. History and horror stories combine as he interviews a wealth of experts and tries to look at both the good and the bad of the online environment. And yes, the filmmaker provides the narration — because hearing his distinctive tones wax philosophical is all part of the Herzog doco experience. Also watch out for: Under the Gun, a dissection of the firearms debate that continues to divide America. WIENER-DOG When is a sequel not quite a sequel? When it takes one figure from a film and inserts them into a compilation of tales. That's the case with Todd Solondz's Wiener-Dog, with its title referring to the as dachshund at the centre of its stories, as well as the Welcome to the Dollhouse character of Dawn Wiener (then played by Heather Matarazzo, now by Greta Gerwig) it crosses paths with. If you're a fan of the director or the 1995 feature, this is all good news. Plus, there's the cast, with the ever-luminous Gerwig joined by everyone from Kieran Culkin and Girls' Zosia Mamet to Julie Delpy and Danny DeVito. Also watch out for: Maggie's Plan, also starring continued Sundance fave Gerwig, but this time contemplating marriage and children alongside Ethan Hawke and Julianne Moore. CERTAIN WOMEN Another film, another set of intersecting stories — however, don't let the format deter you from Certain Women. In one tale, Laura Dern is immersed in a hostage situation. In another, Michelle Williams copes with marital problems in her new home. In the next, Kristen Stewart plays a lawyer-turned-teacher. All three segments are tied to a vision of America's midwest that sees the women forge paths forward. If you're not already sold, knowing that the movie is directed by Kelly Reichardt — who previously worked with Williams on Wendy and Lucy and Meek’s Cutoff, and most recently helmed Night Moves — should take care of that. Also watch out for: Love and Friendship, which sees Whit Stillman reuniting with his The Last Days of Disco stars Kate Beckinsale and Chloe Sevigny for an adaptation of an unpublished Jane Austen novella. THE LURE If you think there's just not enough mermaid-related horror flicks, then The Lure should catch your attention. Aquatic sirens feature quite prominently in the feature debut of Polish director Agnieszka Smoczyńska, as does a tale of romance, some bloodlust and a neon-lit dance club. Yep, this is a musical affair as well as a scary one, coming together with what Sundance describes as "a knack for both burlesque and the grotesque". If it can live up to that description, consider us pumped. And even if it can't, it has to be better than one of the last films to chart this territory: the exactly-as-bad-as-it-sounds Killer Mermaid. Also watch out for: Convenience store clerks, Johnny Depp playing his character from Tusk, and plenty of silliness in the next Kevin Smith effort, Yoga Hosers. MANCHESTER BY THE SEA In 2012, Kenneth Lonergan's Margaret finally found its way to Australian cinemas. Problems and delays had plagued the film for years — the Anna Paquin-starring effort was actually made in 2007 — however if ever a film was worth the wait, it was this one. Thankfully, Lonergan's latest doesn't seem to be suffering the same fate — we're just hopeful that it will deliver. Here, a loner handyman has to take care of his teenage nephew and face a past tragedy. The underrated Affleck brother, Casey, leads a cast that also includes Kyle Chandler and Michelle Williams. Also watch out for: Belgica, the new bar-set, Soulwax-scored film from Belgian writer and director Felix van Groeningen, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his polarising The Broken Circle Breakdown. THE BIRTH OF A NATION If you know your film history, you should've already heard of a film with this title. Back in 1915, filmmaker D. W. Griffith made a silent, black and white chronicle of the American Civil War. The film is still considered ahead of its time in a technical sense, but was courted for its stance on race and depiction of the Klu Klux Klan. Now, actor-turned-director Nate Parker (Beyond the Lights) uses the same name for an effort charting a real-life slave rebellion in 1831 — and there's a statement in his choice of moniker, of course. He also stars on screen, alongside Armie Hammer as a slave owner. Also watch out for: The Office's John Krasinski steps behind the camera as director for The Hollars, a family comedy featuring Anna Kendrick, Margo Martindale, Charlie Day and Sharlto Copley. ALI & NINO He might be known for delving into the life and death of both Amy Winehouse and Ayrton Senna in two of the last decade's most powerful docos — that'd be Amy and Senna — however, Asif Kapadia also has a few narrative features on his resume. Ali & Nino marks his return to non-factual storytelling, adapting the novel of the same name. This time, he examines a clash of cultures in Baku between 1918 and 1920. Given that the film explores a romance that springs up between a Muslim Azerbaijani boy and Christian Georgian girl, expect plenty of tension between traditional and modern ways in this politically-charged love story. Also watch out for: Southside With You, a romance about a guy called Barack and a girl called Michelle. We know who you're thinking of — and yes, we mean those ones. HOLY HELL When Holy Hell was first announced in the Sundance lineup, it didn't list the director. Filmmaker Will Allen initially kept his identity a secret — which, considering the subject of his documentary, is more than a little understandable. For 20 years he lived inside a secretive spiritualist community led by a charismatic guru, filming everything that went on. That footage forms the basis of the doco, however Allen also shares his own recollections, and interviews fellow former members of the community. He ponders not only the organisation he devoted two decades of his life to, but the lengths people are willing to go to in search of happiness. Also watch out for: NUTS!, a doco that tells the so-crazy-it-must-be-true tale of the small-town doctor who tried to cure impotence by transplanting goat testicles into men. We're serious. THE INTERVENTION You've seen Clea DuVall in the likes of The Faculty, Girl Interrupted, Argo and TV's Carnivale — and now you can watch her directorial debut. In The Intervention, she stars as well as guides Cobie Smulders, Alia Shawkat, Natasha Lyonne, Melanie Lynskey, Jason Ritter and Ben Schwartz through a weekend trip that doesn't quite turn out the way everyone thinks it will. Four couples head away for what seems like the usual booze-soaked holiday, however, the apparently jolly jaunt also doubles as an intervention. Yep, this one is a dramedy, making the most of the dramatic and comic talents of its ensemble of performers. Also watch out for: Other People, which corrals Jesse Plemons, Molly Shannon, Bradley Whitford, June Squibb and Parks and Recreation's Retta into the big screen, feature-length debut of Saturday Night Live writing supervisor Chris Kelly.
Balmain's historic Town Hall Hotel has reopened to the public, after being snapped up by the Balmain Pub Group and given a refurb across both levels — with a new outdoor 'Treehouse' space. "We wanted to completely change it from what it was," said Warren Livingstone, who co-owns the pub with Nick Wills. "We wanted to make it a bright, sunny open venue, which would be attractive during the day as well as night, and we wanted to have a completely different vibe to every pub in Balmain." On ground level, you'll notice the much-loved island bar hasn't gone anywhere. If you're looking to catch a match, settle in front of one of the big screens. And, there's a pool table, too. Head upstairs for a cosy fireplace and quiet chats in the balcony Treehouse area. It's been revamped, with input from designer Will Dangar, so you can expect bright colours, cane furniture and dashes of greenery. Plans are in the works for a rooftop bar, overlooking the city. Meanwhile, Balmain Pub Group's executive chef and former AHA Chef of the Year Brad Sloane has come up with a brand new menu. Sliding in somewhere between classic pub fare and the high-end, dishes include seared tuna salad with green beans and chick peas, naked burgers, lamb cutlets and fish tacos. "[Brad] has been an institution in the Balmain area for years, from when the Riverview Hotel was part of the group," Warren said. "The menu is light and clean, with an emphasis on fresh fish, salads and shared plates." Find Balmain's Town Hall Hotel at 366 Darling Street, Balmain.
There's a newish café on the Redfern end of Bourke Street and it's the answer to our prayers. St Jude, taking its tag from the patron saint of lost causes, is already a firm favourite among locals and far from its namesake. According to owners and long-time friends, Kate Thomson and Grant Piper, this trendy, welcoming breakfast and lunch joint is quite the opposite. In fact, it's somewhat of a saviour. Not only because the Surry-Redfern border residents now have a genuinely great place to go for a bite and a barista brew come weekend mornings, but, if these two hospitality heroes (who first worked together at the old DOV, yes, on the corner of Forbes and Burton) hadn't nabbed this place, a real lost cause would have taken up shop offering nothing but greasy pizza slices and pissheads. Thank you, St Jude, thank you. Designed by Surry Hills architect, Arthur Koutoulas, it's no surprise every inch of space has been carefully considered. From the monstrously heavy iron-framed railway sleeper share-table to the collection of creepy dolls playfully positioned alongside religious iconography and old photography across the back wall, this place is unique. Even the chairs embrace 'the different' with swivelling backrests inside and cork wood stools out while the salt and pepper is served in mini green faux-marble ramekins. Too cute. The menu is equally appealing. You have your brekkie classics as well as plate pleasers like the avocado smash with salsa, fresh spinach and feta ($14.30) or the daily breakfast Sanga ($13). Lunch offers the likes of potato gnocchi with lemon and herb pesto and slow roasted cherry tomatoes ($17.50) or crispy chorizo, roasted Mediterranean vegetables and giant couscous salad ($17.50). But the absolute deal breaker, the fritters, are a perfectly crafted concoction of sweet corn and pumpkin, shallow fried and served with soft poached eggs, hollandaise, avocado cream and baby spinach ($14.50). A success since get go, maybe St Jude's been sent from foodie heaven. It's unpretentious, it's comfortable, it's tasty and it's one of the best café's to open its doors for a long time. Praise be.
Bring a little colour to your summer G&Ts, thanks to a new Australian made small batch gin. Produced by the family-owned Husk Distillers in Northern NSW, Ink Gin is made with organic botanicals and infused with the petals of the butterfly pea flower. The result is a spirit with touches of lemon myrtle, pepper and orange that stands out a mile away thanks to its royal blue hue. That's right, blue gin. The coloured spirit came about after three years of experimenting by Husk owner Paul Messenger. Botanicals used in its creation include citrus peel, juniper berries, elderflower and cinnamon, while its unique appearance comes from the butterfly pea, which is traditionally used in South East Asian cooking. The flower's pH sensitivity also means that the gin changes colour when mixed with tonic water, going from deep blue to pale pink. Not a bad trick to have up your sleeve the next time you invite somebody over for drinks. Speaking to The Gold Coast Bulletin, Paul's daughter Harriet said that the demand for the gin has been enormous. "We sold out of our first batch in three days," she said. "We have been keeping up the distilling to make sure we could meet demand but we really did not expect people to embrace it so quickly." So how can you get your hands on one? 700mL bottles of Ink Gin can be purchased online for $80 plus a $10 shipping fee Australia-wide. It is also available in select bars around Queensland, NSW, Victoria and WA. Just make sure you store it somewhere dark, so that it retains its natural colour. Lastly and importantly, it won't stain your teeth. Via Australian Bartender and The Gold Coast Bulletin.
Sydney foodies, we're spoilt for choice at every turn. New top-notch eateries are cropping up faster than ever before. If you're struggling to keep up — and who isn't? — never fear Taste of Sydney 2016 is the four-day foodie festival to get to up to speed on the cream of the culinary crop. Setting up residence in Centennial Park from March 10 to 13, Taste of Sydney in partnership with Electrolux is all about bringing diners and chefs together. Ticketholders will be treated with nosh from some of Sydney's top restaurants, including treats from beloved man-on-the-move Mike McEnearney (Kitchen by Mike), Biota Dining's sustainable modern Australian dishes, fire-cooked noms fromFiredoor, nel.'s fine dining dishes, plus Middle Eastern street food from the crew at Glebe's Thievery. Also joining the deliciousness will be Porteno, MoVida, Sake, and the newly opened Kensington Street Social, among others. But we can't wait until then. We annoyed Mike McEnearney to give us a recipe, NOW. NOOOOOOW. So Mike relented and told us how make his fresh, crunchy cucumber, mirin and sesame salad. You can make it too! Mike McEnearney's Cucumber, Mirin and Sesame Salad Ingredients: 800g cucumber 1 whole long red chill, thinly sliced 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil 1 pinch good quality salt ½ bunch fresh coriander 2 tsp toasted black sesame seeds 2 tsp toasted Japanese sesame seeds 120 ml Mirin and ginger dipping sauce Method: Slice the cucumber lengthways discarding the seeds. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, toss and serve. Mirin and ginger dipping sauce Ingredients: 350 ml mirin 250 ml rice wine vinegar 100 ml raw soy sauce 50 g ginger 50 g eshallots, peeled Combine all ingredients in a bowl, and let sit for at least one hour before serving.
In a year that saw Sydney's cultural ecosystem and the legislative shackling of certain elements of it become a more polarising subject than ever before, the city's most innovative, forward-thinking residents have made outstanding lemonade. More inventive, forward-thinking and experimental than ever, Sydney restaurants have defied traditional fine dining, adding in-house cinemas, recreating provincial French manors, and redefining nose-to-tail. At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most talented whippersnappers pushing Sydney to be a better, braver city. And so, these six new restaurants, opened in 2016, have been nominated for Best New Restaurant in Concrete Playground's Best of 2016 Awards. Vote for your favourite.
Spring is nearly here and that means it's time dig out your picnic basket, book a date at your favourite indoor-outdoor bar and go hunting for wildflowers. Even if you don't have time for a weekender in the Australian Alps, where, after the snows have melted, magical carpets of everlasting daisies, billy buttons and mountain eyebrights take over the slopes, you can get your blooming fill without straying too far from Sydney. In and around the city, there's a bunch of pretty gardens, national parks, reserves and nurseries specialising in wildflowers that burst into happy colours when the warm weather arrives. [caption id="attachment_634355" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kay Watson.[/caption] KU-RING-GAI WILDFLOWER GARDEN, ST IVES This 123-hectare refuge from the city is in St Ives, on the edge of Ku-Ring-Gai National Park, about 20 kilometres north of the CBD. If you need a break from absolutely everything, park yourself on the grass somewhere, kick back and relax. Alternatively, jam as many species as you can into your visit by conquering a bushwalk or two. There's a stroll for every type of walker, from the easy, 900-metre Senses Track to the two-kilometre Solander Trail, which takes in some of the garden's most striking flowers, as well as some stunning rock formations. A more strenuous adventure is the 4.5-kilometre Mueller Wilderness Path, along which you'll meet wallabies, crayfish, red gums, waterfalls and creeks. Entry is free and opening hours are 8am–5pm daily. This weekend is a good time to go — the Wildflower Art and Garden Festival is happening on August 27 from 9am. [caption id="attachment_634146" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Australian Botanic Gardens.[/caption] AUSTRALIAN BOTANIC GARDENS, MOUNT ANNAN Pretty much every plant in the Australian Botanic Gardens' 416 hectares is a native that was grown from a wild seed or cutting. So that you can learn more about them — and to maximise their prettiness — they're sorted into themed gardens. In the Wattle Garden, you'll find more than 950 species of Acacia, dotted with shady Sydney blue gums. Meanwhile, the lush gully of the Banksia and Grevillea Gardens is home to grevilleas, waratahs, banksias, hakeas and rainforest plants, all frequently visited by nectar-feeding birds. The Australian Botanic Gardens are in Mount Annan, about 60 kilometres southwest of the CBD. They're open every day 8am–5pm in autumn, winter and spring, and 8am–7pm in summer. Entry is free. Can't get to Mount Annan? Head to the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney's CBD, and aim for the Australian Native Rockery in the Lower Garden (Bennelong Precinct). [caption id="attachment_634340" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dave Rose.[/caption] SYDNEY WILDFLOWER NURSERY, HEATHCOTE Keen to create your own wildflower garden, so you can have the little beauties on tap? Get yourself to the Sydney Wildflower Nursery. This Sydney institution has been a 100 percent native plant specialist for over 40 years — these guys actually supply Mount Annan and the Joseph Banks Native Plant Reserve from time to time. A whopping 1200+ species are available and there's a specialised bush food section, including rosella, which makes excellent jam, hibiscus, which you can substitute for spinach, and tree ferns, which have edible stems. So, you can add to your kitchen garden while you're shopping for aesthetic purposes. Sydney Wildflower Nursery is at 9 Veno Street, Heathcote, about 40 kilometres south of Sydney CBD. Opening hours are 9am–5pm, seven days a week. [caption id="attachment_634341" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bjørn Christian Tørrissen.[/caption] JOSEPH BANKS NATIVE PLANT RESERVE, KAREELA Sutherland Shire Council created this reserve in 1969, to honour Joseph Banks, the botanist who travelled with Captain James Cook on his first voyage to Australia, taking in Brazil, Tahiti and New Zealand along the way. Among the landscaped garden's 2.2 hectares of sandstone, there are banksias (of course), grevilleas, lilly pillies and acacias, as well as areas dedicated to bush tucker and medicinal plants. Four kilometres of paved walking paths let you explore them all on foot. Joseph Banks Native Plant Reserve is 23 kilometres south of the Sydney CBD. Opening hours are 9am–5pm daily, except Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Consider yourself quite the origami expert? Can you assemble an IKEA wardrobe with your eyes closed? Do cardboard boxes flood you with happy memories of making forts as a kid? Get excited, this guy has literally just manufactured a super sturdy bike — made entirely out of cardboard. The kicker? It costs roughly the same as your lunch to make — a minuscule $10 per vehicle. This cycling enthusiast/marketing genius is one Izbar Gafni of Cardboard Technologies, who's really putting the cycling into recycling. He cites his interest in cardboard utility developing as stemming from the invention of a working canoe made from the humble cardboard. After speaking to not one, but three engineers, Gafni was told it was impossible to apply this logic to a useable cardboard bicycle. Ignoring this advice, he pedalled on (sorry) and created the first eco-friendly, operative cardboard bike. How does one essentially craft a functional bike out of cardboard? Quite easily, according to Gafni. Using cardboard of varying degrees of thickness, he folds the cardboard on itself to increase thickness and durability — making it strong enough that it can actually support the average human weight (and then some). After he's fashioned the cardboard to the ideal shape and dimensions, Gafni applies resin to resist rain and other weather conditions and applies a coat of paint. For those who aren't content with mere feet pedaling, there's also the option of purchasing an attachable electric motor. Here's the building process if you don't believe us: It's an idea that avoids the pesky rusting of steel bikes. Riding on this cardboard contraption has taken recycling to the next level — all those discarded shoe boxes, all of those boxes used to move house, transformed into a mode of transport that does not harm the environment. For people who live in areas with high bike thievery rates, despair no more; the bike is so cheap it's probably not worth the energy deployed trying to steal it. The bike is not without its resistors — critics have asked why Gafni doesn't account for the manpower that has contributed to manufacturing process, only advocating the $10 worth of material used to make it. Questions of efficiency have been brought up, as the amount of time and manpower dedicated to the manufacturing of the bike being deemed as unnecessary. Qualified bike experts have also questioned if the single speed setting of the bike would be useful at all in difficult terrain. The bike has featured on the streets of New York as part of the bike sharing implementation. It's not quite on the market yet, but Gafni has indicated that it will retail for around $60 – 90. Via Inhabitat.
Somewhere in Los Angeles right now, there’s a pretty good chance that Johnny Depp is getting fitted for an elephant costume. Proving once again that nothing in Hollywood is sacred, Walt Disney Pictures has recently revealed that they’re working on a live action Dumbo remake, with director Tim Burton at the helm. For those of you who didn’t have a childhood, the original Dumbo tells the story of a young circus elephant whose oversized ears made him the subject of ridicule, until it was revealed that they allowed him to fly. Released in 1941 (really), the film was a major hit for the then-fledgling animation studio, and is regularly listed amongst the greatest animated movies of all time. The Burton version will be the latest in a string of Disney reboots, a trend that, fittingly enough, began when Burton’s own Alice in Wonderland grossed more than US$1 billion at the worldwide box office. Since then, the House of the Mouse has scoured its own back catalogue for properties to exploit, with recent releases like Maleficent and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice paving the way for further films including upcoming remakes of Cinderella, The Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast. While we’re pretty sceptical about the idea of a new Dumbo film, we have to admit that if the movie has to happen, the man who made Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice isn’t necessarily the worst choice. Although his recent track record has been somewhat hit-and-miss, Burton certainly knows how to put an interesting spin on otherwise child-friendly material. And let’s not forget that the original cartoon contains some pretty out there stuff, including this amazing scene when Dumbo gets hammered and hallucinates dancing pink elephants. We're also interested to see what Elfman does with Dumbo's long-recognised and controversial racial stereotyping. No news yet on a release date or casting, although we’re willing to bet money that Danny Elfman will work on the score. Burton's most recent film, Big Eyes, hits theatres on March 19. Via WSJ.
If you've long felt you missed out on a decent childhood because you weren't bunking in with the Swiss Family Robinson, you can now make up for lost time. Treehouses for grown-ups are one of the latest fads sweeping global architecture, and a new apartment block in Turin, Italy is among the wildest. Named 25 Verde (25 Green) and designed by architect Luciano Pia, the five-storey apartment block doubles up as an urban forest. There are 190 trees snuggled within the structure, with 40 of them creating a tranquil courtyard garden, and the rest providing greenery for 63 uniquely luscious apartments. While the lower floor offers leafy garden-facing arrangements, apartments on the upper floor come with spacious, sunny terraces. Both, however, come with ample opportunities for making your own secret password security precautions and 'no boys/girls allowed' signs. Apart from their obviously eco-friendly presence, the trees also help to moderate temperature in the apartments — filtering sunlight on hot days and providing insulation when the weather cools. Total bosses. To pay 'em back, the trees are kept alive by an irrigation system that uses harvested rainwater. Meanwhile, heating is provided by ground water pumps and ventilated walls enable additional 'breathing'. Vertical gardening might have met its match. Via Huffington Post.
Cocktail trends come and go, but one thing is certain: the martini is always in style. A good martini is a matter of technique — it generally only contains two to three ingredients, so the way in which it is mixed is key to their flavour, texture and taste. The martini is simple, but oh so complex. Ratios must be perfect, stirring time must be exact and extra touches are key. At Grey Goose's Boulangerie Bleue waterside mansion party this summer, a classic combination of vodka and vermouth was served — but with a twist of lemon instead of an olive. We asked Grey Goose's lively global ambassador Joe McCanta to show us how to make this variation on the classic — check out his technique below. MARTINI 50ml Grey Goose Vodka 10ml dry vermouth 1 twist of lemon Fill a mixing glass to the brim with ice. Add 50ml of Grey Goose Vodka. Add 10ml of dry vermouth. Stir slowly for 45 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe. Lightly twist your lemon into your drink, and gently rub the peel up and down the stem of your coupe, and along the brim. Fancy trying another? Grey Goose Vodka's 'discover' function will tell you what cocktail you're perfectly suited for. Dive into the luxury that your city has to offer — check out our Luxe Guide to Sydney and Melbourne. Food, spas, glamorous hotels and extraordinary experiences are waiting. Image: Steven Woodburn.
Hot on the heels of the NGV's exciting announcement of a new gallery dedicated to contemporary art, the Melbourne gallery has launched its latest blockbuster: a collaborative exhibition with New York's revered Museum of Modern Art. MoMA at NGV: 130 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art takes a chronological look at art and design over the past century, from the late 1900s through to modern masterpieces. MoMA at NGV features more than 200 works from all six of MoMA's curatorial departments: Photography, Film, Architecture and Design, Painting and Sculpture, Drawings and Prints, and Media and Performance Art. The exhibition might be one of your only chances to see some of these works outside of New York with 127 of the showcased artworks having never left MoMA's walls before. You'll find masterful paintings that signalled a modern age with works from Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin; art based on emerging technology with Cubism pioneers Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque; collections of post-war American culture that are "bursting with energy"; as well as participatory artworks, pop-art icons, Space Invaders, and many more. The works are spread across eight expansive themed sections at NGV International, which, MoMA director Glenn Lowry calls 'mini villages'. "The spaces between them are alleyways and streets, so movement in this exhibition is always experiential," he said at the exhibition launch. "You go from one town to the next town and along the way you'll discover something." While all the works on display are must-sees, below we've selected five works that you absolutely shouldn't miss. SALVADOR DALI: THE PERSISTENCE OF MEMORY (1931) One of the most admired Salvador Dali paintings is The Persistence of Memory, which is based on the seaside landscape close to Dali's home in Catalonia, Spain. A master of warping time and space with his dream-like style, the painting can be found at the entrance to the Inner and Outer Worlds section of the exhibition. The painting is one of MoMA's most prized possessions, and even Lowry seemed surprised that it had been loaned out to the NGV's ("What? We lent that one?"). Like the Mona Lisa, The Persistence of Memory proves that sometimes artworks big in stature come in small packages — the work is only 24 by 33 centimetres big. So get in early (or make use of your elbows) to get up close and take in all the magnificent details found throughout Dali's work. EL ANATSUI: BLEEDING TAKARI II (2007) Using thousands of bottle caps that have been crushed and reshaped in many ways, Bleeding Takari II is made from materials collected by the Ghanaian artist El Anatsui. Linked together with carefully formed copper wiring, this large-scale work flexes and wrinkles in a different way each time it's installed. The work considers the trade of goods, and peoples, from West Africa to Europe. NGV director Tony Ellwood is particularly excited about this work, which demonstrates the type of diverse global works that the NGV and MoMA hope to continue to champion. "This a beautiful example of El Anatsui's work, and I think, in many ways, it heralds the future of contemporary art collecting for major institutions," says Ellwood. ANDY WARHOL: MARILYN MONROE (1967) One of the quintessential works of pop art and a distillation of American culture, the NGV showcases Andy Warhol's famed Marilyn Monroe series. Throughout his career, Warhol would create more than 800 printed images, although almost none more famous than this one. Produced five years after the famous actress's death in 1962, this collection of ten vibrant prints, while colourful in nature, peel back the complexities of fame suggesting a darker perspective on celebrity culture. JOHN BALDESSARI: WHAT IS PAINTING (1968) Displayed next to Warhol's prints, you'll find a vastly different kind of work in John Baldessari's What is painting. It's a self-referential question of genre — for this work, Baldessari hired a sign-painter to produce the lettering in careful detail. Exploring the definitions of art and painting, this 1968 work draws on a strong sense of irony as although this work fits the definition of paint on canvas, it defies our typical understanding of the format. "This fantastic Baldessari is one of my favourite works of art," says MoMA's Lowry. "The painting is about painting — and it challenges us to think about the very act of art making." ROMAN ONDÁK: MEASURING THE UNIVERSE (2007) Slovakian conceptual artist Roman Ondák is known for his large-scale works that often blur the boundaries between art and everyday life. Taking up an entire room of the NGV, Measuring the Universe is an artwork that relies on public participation to fill out what begins as an entirely blank space. Recalling parents measuring their children's height as they grow taller, participants have their height, names and the birthdate scrawled around the room. Over the three months of MoMA at NGV, these engravings will become layered, eventually forming a whirling galaxy-like mass of names. "It isn't art until you participate," explains Lowry. "In the end this work of art is about inscribing ourselves into the history of this institution." MoMA at NGV: 130 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art is on display at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne until October 7. You can grab tickets here. Images: NGV/Tom Ross.
When work, traffic and life get to be too much, there's only one answer: a good, old-fashioned beverage. But, if you want a genuine piece of peace with your drink, then you need to know where to go. Some bars are too rowdy. Some are too close to the road. Some play really bad music. To make your life easier, we've tracked down ten of Sydney's most oasis-like spots in partnership with the Hahn Brewers. In these hidden-away havens, you can retreat from the noise and the chaos, surrounded by lots and lots of greenery and maybe some beautiful harbour views. Ah, the serenity. THE FORRESTERS Step into The Forresters in Surry Hills and you'll feel like you've been transported to a western movie. Once you've unsaddled your horse, slip into the open beer garden, slide onto a stripey banquette and relax among lush ferns and hanging terracotta pots. A pitched glass roof, supported by exposed wooden beams, lets in bucket loads of light. At lunch on weekdays, you'll be tucking into $12 specials, including steaks and pizzas. LIGHT BRIGADE Atop Woollahra's dearly-loved 1920s Art Deco hotel, there's a rooftop bar that's 83 metres above sea level. Think cool Pacific breezes and pretty views of more rooftops, backdropped by Sydney Harbour. Oversized plant pots, yellow-and-white umbrellas and wooden decking add to the casual feel of the Light Brigade. Should you work up a hunger hole, order a wood-fired pizza. LONDON TAVERN Anytime you want a piece of London, but can't afford the flight, swing by the London Hotel Paddington. The tables are plastered with Union Jacks and you can chow down on great English pub classics, including fish 'n' chips and chicken in a basket. For something posher, pop upstairs to the East London restaurant (opened in June 2016) for Shanghai- and Sichuan-inspired dishes. The London's beer garden is a sweet escape on hot days, thanks to its retractable canopy, comfy banquettes and rambling vines. Dogs are welcome. SINCE I LEFT YOU Need a close-by spot to recover from your working day? Drape yourself over a bar stool in Since I Left You's courtyard. This magical space is a slice of Sydney's history: its borders are the walls of three heritage-listed storehouses dating back to the 19th century. This industrial past life is respected in the design, yet softened by splashes of green and The Torch Carrier, an 18-metre tall mural by Fintan Magee. Come evening, the fairy lights switch on and musicians move in. DARLO BAR The most densely populated location in Australia, Darlinghurst offers lots of fun and surprises. But, every now and again, a dose of quiet is of the essence. That's why drinkers have been taking five on the Darlo Bar's rooftop for years. If you're with mates, claim the central communal table; if you're travelling as a solo or duo, flop onto a lounge chair. The beautiful vertical garden brings the outside world in. HENRY DEANE If 360-degree views are important to your patch of peace, then make tracks to Henry Deane. This two-part cocktail lounge covers level fours and five of the Hotel Palisade. And, in case you're wondering, it's named after the architect and engineer who designed the building. Sink into a dusky pink couch or wicker chair — wherever you are, you'll be copping an eyeful of harbour and sunshine. THE BUTLER From the outside, you'd never guess what was waiting for you inside The Butler. The door opens to a welcoming foyer, which leads onto a wide, airy room, offering an epic perspective on the city skyline. On cold days, enjoy it while protected by glass doors; on nice days, they're pushed aside, creating an indoor-outdoor effect. Tall bamboo plants in green pots and fairy lights complete the picture. EL LOCO Ola, chicas and chicos, we're off to Mexico for one hot minute. This delightful, brightly coloured bar is tucked away in the Slip Inn. It's a Merivale adventure, so you can expect lashings of the unexpected. Canary yellow and fire truck red stools crowd around benches wrapped in patterned wallpaper. Trees tower over you, potted in 44-gallon drums. There are DJs occasionally. There is tequila and beer always. EAST VILLAGE HOTEL The adored, 100-year-old East Village Hotel opened its new rooftop bar in November 2016. Named The Terrace and designed by Alexander & Co., it gives you 100 square metres of purple stools (with, bless, backs, so you can hang around all night long pain-free), lounges, plants and hand-cut terrazzo slabs. There's also a dedicated rooftop kitchen and bar, serving casual, summery dishes, such as gazpacho soup with marinated blue swimmer crab and basil. SWEETHEARTS ROOFTOP Dotted with park benches, palm trees and cable reels-turned-tables, Sweethearts Rooftop is the most laid back oasis on this list. You'll find it atop Sugarmill, one of Kings Cross's best-known nightclubs. Do be warned: there's a five-flight stairwell standing between you and outdoor bliss. That said, sunsets, multi-coloured fairy lights and all-around good times make the climb worthwhile.
Your complexion is looking a little pale, you haven't had a home-cooked meal in 12 days, and sitting in a cinema seat or rushing between theatres have become your preferred states of being. Yep, you've just made it through the 2016 Sydney Film Festival, feasting on a selection of the 250-plus movies that festival director Nashen Moodley and his hardworking team delivered straight to your eyeballs. You've seen some great stuff — and, because going to a film fest is about expanding your cinematic horizons, you've no doubt seen some strange and unexpected efforts too. So have our critics Sarah Ward and Tom Clift, who've whittled down their massive viewing lists to these ten standouts — the best, weirdest and most surprising films of this year's SFF. BEST: AQUARIUS When developers want to tear down the beachside apartment block Clara (Sonia Braga) has called home for several decades, the determined 65-year-old retired music critic won't budge. Yes, Kleber Mendonça Filho's second feature sounds a little like a Brazilian version of The Castle, however as it observes the social reality of his country today, delves into the preconceptions of ageing and understands the importance of places in shaping lives, it becomes much more than that. Braga is enthralling at the centre of a fight even her character's kids think she should give up, and a pumping soundtrack boasting everything from local flavour to several Queen songs helps set a vibrant mood. And don't just take our word for it, Aquarius was crowned the winner of this year's $63,000 Sydney Film Festival prize. - SW THE HANDMAIDEN Dripping with sex, Park Chan-wook's adaptation of Sarah Water's novel Fingersmith is a pulpy, stylish delight. Transplanting the story from Victorian Era England to 1930s Korea, the film follows a maid out to steal her mistress's fortune, only for the pair to end up falling in love. Of course there's a lot more to it than that, with the director of Stoker and Oldboy taking viewers on a ride that is both ludicrous and utterly compelling. Aesthetically speaking, every single frame feels perfectly considered, while the twisting narrative will keep you guessing until the end. - TC THE DEVIL'S CANDY Heavy metal and horror films might go hand in hand, but don't go dismissing Sean Byrne's addition to the fold as yet another brooding effort with growl-heavy music. In fact, the character-driven second feature from the Aussie filmmaker doesn't just litter its soundtrack with the likes of Metallica and Slayer (and even local heroes Spiderbait) — it seethes with the same tension, darkness and all-round unsettling tone. Set in Texas, and following a family's move to a dream house with a nightmarish past, The Devil's Candy echoes The Shining and even offers a flipside to Byrne's own previous film The Loved Ones. Refreshingly avoiding spelling everything out, it also features a strong emotional arc, striking visuals, and a standout performance from Ethan Embry, who proves worlds away from his appearances in '90s fare such as Empire Records and Can't Hardly Wait. - SW PERSONAL SHOPPER The new quasi horror from director Olivier Assayas was booed at this year's Cannes Film Festival, and in some respects it's easy to see why. Personal Shopper tells the story of a young American medium (Kristen Stewart) working in Paris as a personal shopper when she begins receiving strange text messages from someone who may or may not be a ghost. On the one hand, the film's plot is obviously fairly silly. On the other, Stewart gives a fantastic performance, and as a crafter of tension Assayas can't be beat. If you enjoyed the director's previous effort with Clouds of Sils Maria then be sure to give Personal Shopper a try. - TC THE COMMUNE After so convincingly adapting Thomas Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd last year, Danish director Thomas Vinterberg returns to his Dogme '95 roots with the '70s-set The Commune. In fact, as the writer/director charts a life-changing decision to embrace communal living, he also draws upon his own childhood experiences in a similar situation. It all starts when newsreader Anna (Berlin Film Festival best actress winner Trine Dyrholm) and her partner Erik (Ulrich Thomsen) decide to open the home they've just moved into with their teenage daughter to others, recruiting friends and strangers for everything from nude swims to arguments over who drank all the beer. Drama ensues, of course, but so does an astute contemplation of trying to find one's place in the world. - SW MAGGIE'S PLAN The latest indie diversion starring the irrepressible Greta Gerwig, Maggie's Plan doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel. But what it sets out to do, it does to near perfection, with writer-director Rebecca Miller taking full advantage of her star, along with a fantastic supporting cast that includes Ethan Hawke, Julianne Moore, Mia Rudolph and Bill Hader. The story of an extra-marital affair gone wrong and the attempts of the unflappable Maggie (Gerwig) to put things back together, Maggie's Plan is funny from start to finish, and does a great job of bringing dimension to its catalogue of flawed characters. - TC WEIRDEST: RED CHRISTMAS Dubbed Australia's only Yuletide-set horror-comedy, Red Christmas also earns another 'Aussie first' honour. As well as combining laughs, screams and a festive theme, the amusing slasher-thriller throws an unexpected topic into the mix: the abortion debate. After setting the scene with an attack on a clinic, the film jumps forward twenty years to what is certain to be a Christmas to remember, complete with a feuding family, a sinister stranger and unearthed secrets from the past. Double the Fist actor/director turned debut feature helmer Craig Anderson doesn't always hit the marks he's aiming for, but with E.T. star Dee Wallace along for the ride, he certainly gives his distinctive brand of seasonal, blood-splashed mayhem a spirited try. - SW LO AND BEHOLD: REVERIES OF THE CONNECTED WORLD The latest documentary from German director Werner Herzog — whose work includes such strange, fascinating films of Grizzly Man, Fitzcarraldo and Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans – Lo and Behold chronicles the past, present and future history of the internet, from its birth at the University of California to its applications in creating colonies on Mars. Jumping from one topic to the other with little connective tissue, in the hands of any other filmmaker the doc would probably be a failure. But frankly I'd be happy with a film about Herzog reading the phonebook. Listening to him asking baffled computer technicians such existentially loaded questions as "does the internet dream of itself?" proves both hysterically funny and weirdly profound. - TC MOST SURPRISING: SWISS ARMY MAN If you've glanced at a film-related website or social media feed since this year's Sundance Film Festival, you would've heard of Swiss Army Man. Labelled 'the farting corpse movie', it does indeed star Daniel Radcliffe as a flatulent cadaver with multiple purposes, who helps the stranded and suicidal Hank (Paul Dano) cope with his isolation and find his way back to civilisation. There's a hint of Weekend at Bernie's in this absurd comedy, but there's also a touching — and utterly disarming — amount of sweetness. The feature film debut of the directing duo known as DANIELS (Daniel Scheinert and Dan Kwan), the end result is as odd as it sounds, and yet also proves an endearing collection of existential musings. - SW DOWN UNDER Abe Forsythe's Down Under could have easily been a disaster. Instead, it's kind of brilliant. A black comedy set during the immediate aftermath of the Cronulla riots, the film tracks two carloads of men — one group of Arabic descent, the other Anglo — as they patrol the beachside suburb looking for trouble. The film is laugh out loud funny, with Forsythe never missing an opportunity to call out both sides for their extreme ignorance and stupidity. It's a brilliant satire that's sure to ruffle a few feathers when it hits cinemas in August. - TC By Sarah Ward and Tom Clift.
For all of those aspiring blacksmiths out there, the Australia Technology Park hears you. That's why, as of April, the site is going back to its 130-year-old roots and workshop and opening a blacksmithing and traditional craft school. Before it was Carriageworks and the Australian Technology Park, the heritage-listed site was once the Eveleigh Locomotive Workshops, a 19th century hub for building and maintaining the steam trains that serviced Sydney between 1887 until 1987. Now revamped and reinvigorated into Eveleigh Works, the school will run weekly short courses in metal sculpture, hand forging, knife-making and traditional tool-making. Their first course, starting this weekend, is a two-day introduction to blacksmithing. To celebrate, the young creatives behind the launch are throwing a party on Sunday, April 2 from 1–5pm. It's a free entry, all-ages event which will include glass blowing, foraging and tool-making demonstrations, as well as live music from local acts The Sweet Jelly Rolls and Indigo Rising. They're also keeping it local with booze and food by Newtowners Young Henrys and Rising Sun Workshop, respectively. While you may not have considered blacksmithing as a career choice, Eveleigh Works may change your mind — or at least allow you to add some metal skills to your repertoire. We'll definitely be getting in on that glass blowing demonstration. Eveleigh Works kicks off its classes this weekend, with the opening party to be held on Sunday, April 2 from 1pm. For more info, visit the Facebook event and eveleigh.works. Interested in learning new life skills? See our pick of Sydney's best short courses.
Sydney's original speakeasy basement bar, The Baxter Inn, is a magnet for international accolades — most importantly, making the World's 50 Best Bars list several times since its opening in 2012. Much of this comes down to its almighty whisky menu that boasts almost 800 different kinds of the tipple, from Talisker 10-year-old to Glenfiddich 12-year-old. Any true whisky lover will fawn over the large cascading wall of backlit bottles which the barmen scale throughout the evening. The gargantuan list of options could easily cause decision paralysis, but the team's encyclopaedic knowledge simplifies everything. Tell them what you're usually into or admit you're a total novice when it comes to whisky and let them do the rest – climbing up and down the sliding ladders to find the perfect dram. But you don't have to have the whisky straight. The team have curated a list of cocktails for those who want something a little different, making some of Sydney's best old fashioneds and whisky sours alongside some of their own creations. And while you're enjoying a few drinks, be sure to enjoy the free pretzels available to all guests. But you won't just happen upon this hidden drinking den. The Baxter Inn lies at the end of an unmarked alley off Clarence Street in the CBD. Only those in the know will be here. Descend the stairs to find the dimly lit brick-clad bar with the smooth sounds of old-school blues music flowing throughout the entire space. If you fall in love with The Baxter Inn (just like we did), be sure to check out the Swillhouse team's other destinations. Shady Pines, Restaurant Hubert and Alberto's Lounge have all been favourites of ours for many years — it's almost impossible to pick the best. Images: Leticia Almeida Updated Tuesday, March 21, 2023. Appears in: The Best Bars in Sydney Sydney's Best Underground Bars for 2023
If you love surrounding yourself completely in Zara, you'll now be able to extend the Zara-love to your bedroom. Zara Home has opened its first Australian store at Melbourne's Highpoint Shopping Centre, with a flagship store set to open in Sydney in just a few months. The home decor arm of the Zara-owning Inditex Group, the Australian stores is home to Zara's gorgeous printed bedding lines, table and bath linens, decorative furniture (we're talking seriously cute lamps and rugs), tablewear worth investing in, cutlery and ornamental items, all based on seasonal fashion trends — so you might be able to match your handbag to your bedspread for an undeniably strong look. The brand new 310-sqm Melbourne store embodies the Zara brand in interior design — think elegant chestnut wood and marble floors, neutral paints and mother-of-pearl details, not to forget that epic gold logo. Coinciding with international Zara Home stores (now operating in 60 countries with 437 stores), the Australian stores will unveil two collections per year, with new items delivered every week. Along with the slick furnishings and oaky utensils you'll be visualising in your rich mahogany-smelling apartments, you can pick up the Zara loungewear/pyjama line and bath and body collection instore. With 13 Zara stores currently operating across Australia, it's safe to say we're pretty dedicated Zarans. The stores mark some of the first international brand openings this year, following hugely hyped openings H&M and Uniqlo last year. Zara Home opens in Melbourne's Highpoint Shopping Centre on February 12, head for 120 - 200 Rosamond Road, Maribyrnong. Sydney flagship date still to be confirmed.
Looking for a new hobby? We've got just the thing. A Slovenian company has created the world's first self-inflating stand-up paddleboard, after their runaway crowdfunding campaign rose more than $175,000 USD. The SipaBoard Air is the latest innovation in one of the world's fastest growing sports (and one of our favourite ways to get on the water in Sydney, mind you), and comes with an inbuilt pump capable of fully inflating the board in under five minutes. The initial Kickstarter campaign has closed, but units can still be ordered via Indiegogo, with the most basic model, the SipaBoard NEO, selling for $640 USD plus shipping. Each board comes with a rechargeable battery, a streamlined fin box, a board bag and a carry leash. You can also order a collapsible paddle, although that'll cost you extra. According to the Indiegogo page, production on the boards has already begun, with orders expected to ship sometime in August — perfect timing for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere. But why take our word for anything when you can watch the SipaBoard Air promotional video? Seriously, it might be the most endearingly cheesy thing we've ever seen.
Fancy spending some time in Latin America? Don't we all. It's not quite the same as a holiday but, thanks to the brand new Cine Latino Film Festival, getting immersed in the sights, sounds and stories of everywhere from Mexico to Puerto Rico is as easy as heading to the movies. Throughout August, the latest addition to Palace Cinemas' ever-growing festival calendar brings the best films from the region to Australian screens, celebrating not just excellence but variety. Come for cinematic poetry from master filmmakers and stay for Peruvian horror efforts — they're just a few of our five must-see pics of the festival. Plus, if you scroll down to the bottom, you can go in the draw to win a double pass to see one of them. NERUDA Curbing one's excitement for Pablo Larraín's latest feature is close to impossible. The Chilean filmmaker hasn't even reached the age of 40 yet, and he already has a number of features under his belt that any writer/director would be envious of. After wowing the Aussie festival circuit with his first collaboration with Gael Garcia Bernal in 2012's political drama No, Larraín tasks the charismatic actor with once again exploring the difficulties of restrictive societies — this time through an examination of the life the poet that gives the movie its name. That Neruda has been called gripping won't surprise anyone, in yet another stellar work from a director on the rise. ENDLESS POETRY When it comes to Endless Poetry, knowing that it is directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky should be more than enough motivation to send you rushing towards your nearest Palace Cinema. After breaking a 23-year directing drought with 2013's The Dance of Reality, the 87-year-old filmmaker behind such brazen, mind-bending cult classics as El Topo and The Holy Mountain offers up another cinematic memoir. In the second of a planned five-feature series, he moves from his youth to the formative experiences of his 20s, chronicling his efforts to become a poet against the wishes of his family. THE WOMB If sitting in a darkened room, staring at a big screen and getting scared is your idea of a good time at the movies, then The Womb should be your type of film. If the fact that it is being billed as Peru's first bona fide horror flick doesn't get your pulse racing, then perhaps its unsettling tale of several layers of motherhood struggles will. Sure, you've probably seen plenty of frightening fare about being a parent lately, but there's a reason filmmakers keep returning to this tried and tested topic. HOW TO WIN ENEMIES You can never have too many offbeat comedies, right? Finding amusement in the quirks of everyday life is always going to strike a chord, with How to Win Enemies the latest Argentinian effort to give it a shot. Focusing on a young lawyer with a fondness for detective stories, it's a love story, a family drama and a mystery all in one. Yes, the sleuthing angle has seen Gabriel Lichtmann's film compared to TV's Bored to Death — so if you're a fan of that show, it can only be a good thing. I PROMISE YOU EVERYTHING Combine a skater film, a crime drama and a queer love story all into one, and the result is I Promise You Everything. Weaving through the streets of modern-day Mexico City, the feature tells the tale of Miguel and Johnny, their stumbling upon a get-rich-quick scheme supplying blood to drug traffickers, and the tumultuous results. If it sounds a little like the early work of Oscar-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu, that's not a bad thing. One review has even mentioned the film in the same breath as The Godfather — and while they're awfully big shoes to fill, discovering how it tries to achieve that feat should be intriguing at the very least. The Cine Latino Film Festival screens at Sydney's Palace Norton Street and Verona from August 9 to 24, Brisbane's Palace Centro and Barracks from August 11 to 24, and Melbourne's Palace Como and Westgarth from August 17 to 31. For more information, visit the festival website. [competition]583085[/competition]
Bondi's Jewish deli Lox in the Box is serving up babka, cured fish, all the schmears and some of the best bagels our city has to offer. Owner Candy Berger even got her Polish and German grandmothers' ticks of approval for all her recipes — and an ever-growing fan base of Sydneysiders approve, to. Especially now that Lox in a Box is delivering its bagels directly to your doorstep. While the Bondi delicatessen is only open on weekends, you can order a box of bagels for delivery any day of the week. Choose from the signature bagel with pastrami-spiced lox (salt-cured salmon), capers, tomato and schmear; the hot salt beef with mustard and pickles; or the loaded 'salad bagel' with vintage cheddar, pickles, grated carrot, sliced beetroot, rocket and jalapeño schmear. [caption id="attachment_763499" align="alignnone" width="2000"] Kimberley Low[/caption] Each box comes with pickles, chips and drinks. You can also build-your-own box, with bagels, babka scrolls, schmear and even kombucha. And, on Fridays, the Shabboxes are up for grabs — they come with braided challah bread, lox, pickles, Pepe Saya butter and a range of dips, and serve between 4–14 people ($80–168). You'll want to grab extra of that tasty house schmear — it's cream cheese whipped with lemon, dill and shallots. The only catch is that there's a minimum of six bagels per order, and you need to get your order in by 2pm for next-day delivery. In store, you'll also find the herb egg salad bagel with caramelised onions and sliced tomato, plus filtered coffees using Reuben Hills coffee, Minor Figures nitro cold brew and iced chai. But, the deli is only open Friday through Sunday from 8am until sold out — and you can bet they do sell out, so best get in early. Images: Kimberley Low Appears in: Where to Find the Best Bagels in Sydney for 2023
