In the latest line of wholly unnecessary (yet ever popular) all-you-can-eat meals in Sydney, Barangaroo's NOLA Smokehouse and Bar is adding one to the list. Head in for lunch every Sunday from October 6 and you can feast on endless plates of the venue's signature barbecued meats for $65 per person. It's all part of NOLA's ongoing Southern Sunday offering. These unlimited boards of smoked meat include slow-roasted pork shoulder, Rangers Valley Black Onyx brisket, Creole-spiced blackened chicken, cold-smoked lamb and the house Andouille sausage. The meat is sourced from organic and free-range farms where possible, too, so you know you're getting some quality cuts. The meal will start with a shared 'pit-master's' plate, and additional serves can be ordered afterwards per 50 grams. If all that isn't enough, you can also order one side per person, with options including sweet and spicy barbecue fries, southern slaw, and fried brussels sprouts slathered in blue cheese mayo and hot sauce. The venue is looking after the all-you-can waste problem as well — so no ordering up before you clean your plate, and no takeaway allowed, either. If you're eating alone or sitting at a table of up to eight, you'll be able to keep eating for two hours. For groups of nine or more, you can stay for two-and-a-half hours. Images: Steven Woodburn.
Hoping that 2022 proves brighter than the last couple of years? Aren't we all — and, in Sydney, it's set to do exactly that in one particularly eye-catching way. After cancelling its 2020 and 2021 events due to the pandemic, Vivid will be back with its citywide celebration of creativity, innovation and technology (and luminous lights) from Friday, May 27–Sunday, June 18, and the festival has just revealed the first must-sees on its lineup. Words like dazzling, glowing, radiant and vibrant get thrown around a lot when describing Vivid, but there's a great reason for that: its installations and events — and especially its art displays and light projections — really are spectacular. 2022's bill looks to live up to the hype, too, based on the four inclusions revealed from first-time Festival Director Gill Minervini's program so far. Get ready to see plenty of Sydney in a whole new light, naturally. At The Goods Line at Central Station, Convergence will surround Sydneysiders in an immersive light-and-sound experience — all in the disused Goods Line railway tunnel, which'll be used for the first time ever. It'll actually be Vivid's largest-scale laser exhibition ever, too, if you need any more convincing. Next, over at Customs House at Circular Quay, none other than famed Aussie artist Ken Done will be joining forces with Sydney-based projection specialists Spinifex Group to deliver a work called For Sydney With Love. Yes, it's a love letter to the city, and it spans everything from Sydney's landmarks to its natural environment, which Done will bring to life. Also a highlight: Earth Deities, which'll set up at Hickson Road Reserve in The Rocks. It's the work of Western Sydney-raised artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, who is known for making large-scale sculptural forms out of compacted earth, steel and paint. Here, Nithiyendran will craft what's been dubbed as a "multi-limbed avatar", which'll come complete with animated fire and electricity. And, spanning an eight-kilometre continuous stretch from Sydney Opera House to Central Station, Future Natives will guide folks along Vivid's Light Walk. You'll find your way along thanks to sculptures along the route, including a flock of 200 Sydney bird species created by Sydney artist Chris Daniel. [caption id="attachment_843269" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Future Natives, Chris Daniel[/caption] The full Vivid 2022 lineup will be announced mid-March, but you can also look forward to spending time elsewhere in the Sydney CBD, Circular Quay, The Rocks, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour, and at the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, MCA and Customs House. Can't wait? You have to, sorry, but because Wednesday, February 16 marked 100 days till Vivid 2022 kicks off, the event has also stationed countdown clocks designed by artist Elliott Routledge — who'll also feature in the full festival program — outside the Queen Victoria Building at Town Hall and at Gateway Plaza at Circular Quay. So, you'll always know how many days are left until Sydney gets brighter for a few wintry weeks. [caption id="attachment_843267" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dallas Kilponen / DestinationNSW[/caption] Vivid Sydney 2022 will run from Friday, May 27–Sunday, June 18. We'll update you with the full lineup when it's announced in mid-March — and for further information in the interim, visit the event's website. Top images: Convergence, Mandylands / Earth Deities, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, Jessica Maurer, Kane-Sullivan.
A true Sydney stalwart, Marrickville Pork Roll has long been considered one of the best bánh mì shops in the city. And now you can enjoy the same quality Vietnamese sandwiches in the CBD, with the opening of the Darling Square outpost along Steam Mill Lane. The Darling Square location is decidedly snazzier than its Marrickville namesake, with neon lighting aplenty and timber courtyard seating. But you can expect to find the same delicious rolls at an equally appealing price point. Open weekdays from 7.30am (and weekends from 9am), the shop bakes its baguettes fresh every morning. That fluffy-yet-crunchy baguette is schmeared with pâté and mayo, then loaded with your choice of meat, fresh herbs, pickled veg, salad and chilli. While the traditional pork is the go-to, we rate the barbecue pork and crackling pork belly. Meatball, chicken, salad and veg varieties are also up for grabs — and all for just a few dollarydoos ($6–8). It's hard to say exactly what makes these Vietnamese sandwiches better than all the rest, but that classic combination of pork roll goodness is difficult to beat.
Things have come a long way since your ma or pa tied a threadbare rope to a used tyre, slung it over a branch and hoped for the best. These days, swings are manifesting as art, cutting-edge design concepts and even political statements. Not that any of this takes away from their primary purpose: fun. Jumping on a swing, kicking back in the air and letting the world go by can be a tiny reminder that we don't have to be all serious all of the time. In the words of George Bernard Shaw, "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." Whether you're a stuntman who doesn't even acknowledge a swing unless it's at least 20 metres above the ground, a socialite who wouldn't mind hosting a swinging dinner party, or a more peaceful type who's keen on some quiet time and a good view, you're bound to find a swing here that'll bring out the little kid in you. The World's Largest Rope Swing Just watching this in action will get your stomach churning. Thrill seeker (and maniac?) Devin Graham made the world's largest rope swing famous last year when his YouTube clip went viral, receiving over 20 million hits. Harnessed to a 45-metre long rope, he freefalls for over 35 metres before swinging back and forth in an enormous arc, coming dangerously close to the rock face. The swing is located at Corona Arch in the desert country of Moab, Utah. Double Happiness French-Portugese architect Didier Fiuza Faustino transformed this billboard into a swing set for two. He describes his "nomad piece of urban furniture" as a response to "the society of materialism where individual desires seem to be prevailing over all". It was erected in 2009 for the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Bi-City Biennial of Urbanism and Architecture. Waterfall Swing Dash 7 Design presented this marvel at the 2011 World Maker Faire, New York City, and it also features in a Honda Civic ad. Swingers get their thrills by narrowly escaping a cascading wall of water each time they pass under the steel beam. Two hundred and seventy-three independently functioning solenoid valves control the liquid movement. What's more, the swing has the capacity to print water letters of up to 270 pixels in width. Memorial Swing Polish artist Kamila Szejnoch came up with this concept for a 2008 public space project in Warsaw titled Carousel Slide Swing. The swing is slung over the hand of a statue that represents a memorial to the soldiers of Berling's Army, who fought under the auspices of the Soviet Union's Red Army in the Second World War. According to Szejnoch, the swing is all about opening up a dialogue between the present and the past. Swinging Dining Table For $11,000, you can have the whole dinner party swinging. This one is the brainchild of Christopher Duffy of Duffy London design studio. Each of the eight chairs moves independently, and a lampshade is suspended above the centre of the table. It is definitely a good way to guarantee conversation, plus it makes life much easier for whoever's doing the vacuuming. Musical Swings Designers Mouna Andraos and Melissa Mongiat of Daily Tous Les Jours design studio came up with this for Montreal's Quartier Des Spectacles. The piece consists of 21 different swings, each of which 'plays' a different note once it starts to move. Only by working together can the swingers create a coherent song. The project seeks to highlight the importance of cooperation and the joy of collective experience. 'Mua' Swing This one is so cute that it was kind of difficult to leave it off the list. Designer Victor Aleman describes the 'mua' swing as "furniture where love happens". It's made of steel wrapped in wicker, and the interior features cosy red cushions. An Enclosure for a Swing Winner of the 4th CDL Sculpture Award (2009), this is located in Bishan Park, Singapore. It aims to make visible the usually private space that surrounds an individual when he/she is swinging in isolation. The wavy shapes of the steel appear to contract and expand as the swing moves back and forth. Swinging Sculptures Swinging inside your own sculpture is definitely taking the experience to a new level. Myburgh creates swings in organic shapes — leaves, lilies, bubbles and pumpkins, to name a few — that blend in easily with gardens. The World's Biggest Swing Operated by A J Hackett Bungy, New Zealand's Nevis Swing is, indeed, the most momentous swing you'll find anywhere on Earth. Participants are propelled 160 kilometres above a yawning canyon mouth at a speed of 120 kilometres per hour. You can opt for the standard forward-facing ride or choose to take this one on upside-down or backwards.
Coogee's 47-metre-long rainbow walkway will become a permanent fixture of the eastern suburbs beach, with Randwick City Council voting unanimously to keep the design as an enduring public art installation. The vibrant rainbow was first installed in February this year, in support of the 2021 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and Sydney's LGBTQIA+ community. The council voted to maintain the rainbow at Coogee Beach indefinitely at a council meeting on Tuesday, September 28. The pathway stretches along a 200-square-metre patch of the promenade right by the sand, curving around the bottom of the already-existing steps to create the image of a bright rainbow. It has since become a much-loved and much-photographed section of the beach for people and dogs alike. When the walkway's lively makeover was approved by the Randwick City Council back in December 2020, former Randwick Mayor Danny Said noted that the rainbow installation, "makes a strong public statement of support for our wonderfully diverse local community". The proposal to make the walkway permanent was brought to the council meeting by Said, who has since been replaced as mayor by Labour Councillor Dylan Parker. Parker was elected as Mayor of Randwick City Council on Thursday, September 30 with Lindsay Shurey of the Greens elected as Deputy Mayor. Other decisions made at the September 28 council meeting include a $22,000 grant to local not-for-profit Weave Kool Kids Club, planned upgrades to the La Perouse Museum and new restrictions to the Coogee outdoor gym. You can find all the information on the meeting on the council's website. The Coogee Rainbow Walkway is located at Arden St opposite Coogee Bay Rd, Coogee.
Under current COVID-19 restrictions, you can't go on a holiday (locally or overseas). But, the government has hinted travel between Australia and New Zealand may be allowed in the near future, so it's time to start dreaming. Bookmark this for when you can explore once again. New Zealand's South Island has more nature than you can throw a stick at. Just over 17 percent of the island is dedicated national park, within which there are countless hikes for both multi-day trekkers and half-hour stroll-takers. While the South Island is consistently amazing and pretty much any walk you go on will exceed expectations, we've handpicked these five as our particular favourites. When you need to quiet your mind, they'll be there for you. [caption id="attachment_687371" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Miles Holden.[/caption] ROUTEBURN TRACK With waterfalls, snowy mountains and views in spades, Routeburn is an absolute show-off in the nature department. Open to the public since the 1880s, the 32-kilometre track winds along the glacial Route Burn river and up past both the Routeburn and Earland Falls. It's an easy South Island favourite and has truly earned its place as one of New Zealand's Great Walks. The Fiordland National Parks-based track takes about two to four days to finish depending on your fitness level and how long you want to spend taking in the various majestic views. The track is only open from October through to April, and it pays to reserve a spot at one of the Department of Conservation huts or campsites early, as the department has a monopoly on park accommodation and spots are guaranteed to fill up fast. HEAPHY TRACK Based in the Kahurangi National Park, the Heaphy Track spans across the Nelson-Tasman and West Coast regions, taking hikers through dense Nikau palms and forest and out towards the beautiful, choppy Tasman Sea. The track also has quite a few cute little side trips, including a small expedition through an "enchanted forest" filled with beech trees and the remains of old caves. Take a torch and go exploring inside the caves a little, especially the one that has a small waterfall pouring out of it. The Heaphy Track totals 78.4 kilometres, so should take you between four and six days. The track's open all year but use your common sense and check the Department of Conservation site for up-to-date alerts before embarking on your trip. [caption id="attachment_687373" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Will Patino.[/caption] MILFORD TRACK The Milford Track was historically used as a practical route for Maori to traverse the Fiordland area, but British immigrants quickly cottoned onto the four-day track's potential as a recreational walk when they stumbled upon it. By the early 1900s the news had even spread to London about this beauty-saturated route, the poet Blanche Baughan describing it as "the finest walk in the world" in the London Spectator in 1908. The 53.5-kilometre track is still the most famous of all New Zealand hikes due to its iconic and varied Kiwiana landscape and views. But with fame comes the necessary bureaucracy; to walk the track, hikers need to book months in advance. [caption id="attachment_687375" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Corey Parsons.[/caption] MUELLER HUT TRACK According to Reddit rumours, Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant wrote 'Stairway to Heaven' after going up to the Mueller Hut. The ten-kilometre return hike starts with a gentle incline to the Sealy Tarns, where on a sufficiently bluebird day you'll be blessed with a view of Aoraki/Mount Cook. This is about your halfway point. After that, the two-hour alpine track through the tussock to get to the hut begins. The view from the Mueller Hut itself is a combination of glaciers and New Zealand's highest peaks in all directions. A stairway to heaven indeed. [caption id="attachment_687374" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Julian Apse.[/caption] ALEX KNOB TRACK Alex Knob is a track that will give your quads a baptism of fire, with about a four-hour steady climb. The Rata Lookout over what is just an absolutely glorious view of the Franz Josef Glacier will make it worth though. The track is for experienced and well-equipped trampers only, so stay below the snow line if you don't have alpine hiking experience or crampons. Don't be that guy in the news for getting seriously injured or lost in one of our national parks. Start planning your trip to New Zealand's south with our guide to the South Island journeys to take here.
Aussie brick enthusiasts, get excited. Sydney will join the likes of New York, London, Hong Kong and Copenhagen on the list of cities boasting a flagship LEGO store very, very soon. The Harbour City is set to welcome the world's largest official LEGO store to Sydney Arcade, overlooking Pitt Street Mall, on Saturday, November 11. Announced earlier this year, the massive two-storey, 900-square-metre Sydney LEGO store will officially swing open its doors at 9.30am next Saturday morning and promises to be your one-stop shop for all things colourful plastic bricks. "Every new store contributes to the LEGO Group's global mission of inspiring and developing the builders of tomorrow," Vice President and General Manager of LEGO Australia and New Zealand Troy Taylor says. LEGO fans can expect an interactive storytelling table that will give them behind-the-scenes looks at their favourite sets and designs; Australia's first Minifigure Factory, where visitors can create LEGO versions of themselves or their loved ones; and a pick-and-build wall boasting an enormous catalogue of different pieces. Official Brick Specialists will be on hand to help guide you through everything the superstore has to offer — and if you're after a challenge to get your creativity flowing, there will be in-store builds and monthly events. Basically, you'll have everything you could need to bring your wildest imagination to life. There will also be Australia-specific elements of the store with large-format sculptures of Australian and Sydney cultural touchstones decorating the new Sydney LEGO store's space. "The world's largest LEGO Store will stand as a must-see destination for LEGO fans across the globe whilst bringing a world-class retail experience to Australia," says Executive Chairman of the store's retail partner Alquemie Group Richard Facioni. The flagship Sydney LEGO store will open at Sydney Arcade, Pitt Street, Sydney on Saturday, November 11.
In January 2023, the Elton John farewell tour to apparently end all Elton John farewell tours will return to Australia and New Zealand, playing its last round of shows Down Under before the singer says farewell to live concerts. Haven't nabbed a ticket? Can't go? Went last time he came our way, in what was then meant to be John's goodbye gigs? Whichever fits — or if you are heading along to see the music star next year — you can always stream his final-ever North American performance live on Monday, November 21. Make plans to knock off early: Disney+ is livestreaming the concert at 2pm AEST / 3pm AEST / 5pm New Zealand time. The show has been badged Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium, and will run for a hefty three hours, complete with Dua Lipa, Kiki Dee and Brandi Carlile as guests. Yes, that means that John and Lipa's hit single 'Cold Heart' is guaranteed to get a spin, as is 'Simple Things' by John and Carlile — both of which featured on John's 2021 album The Lockdown Sessions. And, yes, you can expect to hear John and Dee's 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' from 1976, with the concert's lineup of guests showcasing John's enormous longevity and range. Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium forms part of the musician's global Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which has been taking him around the world since September 2018, and spans more than 300 concerts across five continents. In Australasia, his first stops here during the tour saw over 705,000 tickets sold to gigs across a three-month period that spanned 34 Australian and six New Zealand dates from November 2019. During the livestreamed performance, fans can expect to feel the love through all of his hits, including 'Rocket Man', 'Tiny Dancer' 'Bennie and the Jets', 'Crocodile Rock', 'I'm Still Standing' and 'Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting' — even though it's happening on a Monday Down Under. John's tour also features never-before-seen images and videos show from his 50-year career — well, never seen before the tour — which are displayed throughout each gig. And, on Disney+, the Dodger Stadium concert will be paired with Countdown to Elton Live, a special featuring John's famous friends wishing him well, and also including interviews with John and David Furnish. When the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour does indeed come to an end, John will retire from touring after five decades on the road. If that all sounds rather massive, that's the star's career in a nutshell. He's played more than 4000 shows across in his time, sold more than 300 million records worldwide and holds the record for the biggest-selling single of all time thanks to the 1997 version of 'Candle in the Wind'. The singer has clearly enjoyed a huge past few years, too, with his life story hitting the big screen in biopic Rocketman. Check out the trailer for Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium below: Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium will stream via Disney+ at 2pm AEST / 3pm AEST / 5pm New Zealand time on Monday, November 21. Images: Ben Gibson.
What happens when a touring showcase of music throughout Queensland joins forces with an annual citywide celebration of arts and culture in Brisbane? Sweet Relief!, the latest event from both Qld Music Trails and Brisbane Festival. A collaboration between both fests, but taking place in Brissie in September, this one-day-only excuse to get dancing will make its debut in 2023 with a helluva electronic-focused lineup, starting with Groove Armada, The Avalanches and Ladyhawke. Sweet Relief! also involves the folks at Untitled Group, the team behind festivals such as Beyond The Valley, Grapevine Gathering and Wildlands — and they've helped bring in quite the names. Groove Armada and The Avalanches will both play Australian-exclusive gigs, in fact, with the former doing a DJ set and the latter performing live. [caption id="attachment_907867" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Grant Spanier[/caption] We see you, festival-loving babies. The day to block out in your diary: Saturday, September 16. The place to head: the Maritime Green at Northshore Brisbane. As well as New Zealander Ladyhawke, the bill also spans Cut Copy doing a DJ set, plus Nina Las Vegas, Latifa Tee and YO! Mafia. Poof Doof Pride Patrol featuring Jimi the Kween is on the lineup as well, and additional Brisbane acts are still to be announced. [caption id="attachment_907869" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kath Gould[/caption] "We're so excited to be heading up to Brisbane to play at Maritime Green at Northshore Brisbane. It's such a cool looking spot — we've got a feeling it's gonna be a very special one," said The Avalanches. "Brisbane's history is littered with iconic festival moments such as Livid, Boundary Street Festival and Valley Fiesta that gave the Brisbane community an opportunity to bring their weirdest and wildest selves out to create an electric atmosphere of togetherness, diversity and inclusion," added Joel Edmondson, CEO of Qld Music Trails, announcing Sweet Relief!. "We hope that Sweet Relief! can establish itself as a place where people travel from around the country to experience Brisbane's local flavour and global appeal." SWEET RELIEF! 2023 LINEUP: Groove Armada (DJ set) The Avalanches (live) Ladyhawke Cut Copy (DJ set) Nina Las Vegas Latifa Tee YO! Mafia Poof Doof Pride Patrol featuring Jimi the Kween + more Brisbane acts to be announced Sweet Relief! will take over the Maritime Green, Northshore Brisbane, on Saturday, September 16. For more information and images — and to register for ticket presales from 6pm on Wednesday, July 5, with general sales from 12pm on Thursday, July 6 — head to the event website.
In news that'll come as little surprise to any Melburnian, given Melbourne's status as Australia's coffee heartland (and the predilection for complete coffee snobbery, too) — a barista from the Victorian capital has taken out top honours at the Australian Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA) National Coffee Championships. For the second year in a row, Axil Coffee Roasters has nabbed the title of Australia's National Barista Champion for 2023. Melbourne barista Jack Simpson beat out scores of other Aussie hopefuls in the annual competition. His winning caffinated offering consisted of an espresso, a milk-based coffee and his own coffee-based signature drink — a concoction featuring fermented raspberries, cold vacuum bergamot tea and clarified milk. [caption id="attachment_888451" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Axil coffee, James Butler[/caption] "I wanted my routine to reflect the constantly evolving nature of the coffee world and the need for baristas to always be thinking creatively in order to keep up with trends in tastes and technology," Simpson says. The newly crowned coffee king will now go on to represent Australia at the World Barista Championship, held in Athens this year between June 22–24. Last year, Melbourne's Anthony Douglas of Axil Coffee Roasters did Melbourne's notoriously coffee-obsessed city proud, taking out the title of Australia's National Barista Champion for 2022 at the Australian Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA) National Coffee Championships. Douglas went on to nab first place at the World Barista Championship in 2022. [caption id="attachment_888453" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Axil, Melbourne Central[/caption] Axil has a swag of cafe locations across Melbourne — find your local by jumping onto the website.
Since 2023, Shadow Baking has seen three current and former Gelato Messina head chefs turn their attention from gelato to pastries. Now the trio is kicking things off a little earlier, with a brand-new breakfast menu served exclusively at Messina's Marrickville HQ. So, what can you expect from this dine-in offering? Croissant loaf french toast with maple butter, crème anglaise and a scoop of gelato will satisfy any sweet cravings, while a pork sausage and egg bun served with a potato rosti and apple cider hollandaise is another brekkie treat. There are fresh takes on classics too, like the avo on toasted focaccia with whipped feta, confit tomato and jammy egg. The drinks menu hasn't been forgotten either, with a well-rounded coffee selection featuring beans from Toby's Estate. The Marrickville HQ will also be serving Nitro Coffee — that's cold brew with added nitrogen for maximum creaminess — and a strawberry matcha topped with pandan foam. Served every Thursday–Sunday from 8am–12pm, Shadow Baking's breakfast menu might just become your new morning ritual. And don't worry, if you're just swinging by for your usual pastry and coffee combo, the full spectrum of baked goods is still up for grabs.
Have you launched a hospitality business that deserves some love? Think you could be Australia's next great business success story? Been in business for five years or less? Keep reading because you could be in with a chance to win a business-changing worthy prize. Here at Concrete Playground, we love championing the hospitality businesses that keep the country fed and entertained. We also understand that times are tough right now. That's why, in partnership with Square, Concrete Playground is giving away a marketing package worth $20,000. If you've been in business for five years or less, the Boost Your Business competition aims to shine a light on your brand. By entering the competition, you could be in with a chance to win a native editorial feature on Concrete Playground and get your business in front of our dedicated readers, as well as inclusion in Concrete Playground's hospitality directory. You'll also receive a social media push as we promote your business across various channels and help you reach engaged audiences with an eDM inclusion. Intrigued? Simply tell us in 25 words or less why your hospitality business is Australia's next great success story. For the full details, see the comp form below. T&Cs apply. [competition]1022571[/competition]
Balmain locals are spoiled for choice for harbourside parks in this suburb, with waterfront views of the world-famous Sydney Harbour. Whether you're with your family wanting to advantage of a playground — check out Gladstone Park or Punch Park — or with a group of friends searching for a fantastic picnic location — which you could find in Elkington Park overlooking Iron Cove (and a post-picnic swim in Dawn Fraser Pool) — or even on the hunt for open spaces and sports facilities centrally located in Balmain, like Thorton Park, you'll definitely find what you are looking for in Balmain. Enjoy stunning waterfront views and lush greenery, and take a break from city life in the serene harbourside parks. [caption id="attachment_948522" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dawn Fraser Pool[/caption] Top Image: Getty Images via Canva
The Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf is an icon of Sydney. Standing on the harbour for over 100 years, seeing goods and people flow in and out of Sydney through some of history's most pivotal moments. Inside that heritage-listed space also happens to be one of Sydney's funkiest hotels. The Ovolo Woolloomooloo takes what the space of a former industrial wharf can offer and runs with it, to spectacular effect, thanks to architecture firm Hassell Studio and designer Matt Sheargold. The majority of the space remains open, with the on-site eatery Bar Woolloomooloo running along the first floor, providing ample lighting and ambience to the three floors of rooms above. There's a total of 100 rooms, the majority of which have Sydney Harbour or city skyline views, with eight options available.From the baseline of Superoo, and even that has a king bed, to double rooms, loft suites and the most luxurious AC/DC and INXS suites: loft rooms with in-room bars, a reading nook, hammocks and mirrored ceilings. The aforementioned eatery is open for breakfast and dinner, often with special menus such as Italian-inspired high teas and bottomless steak frites. On the evergreen menu are regular weekly specials, cocktails and a solid selection of wines both Aussie and international. Come summertime, since you can't swim in the harbour, you can park up on a cabana by the indoor pool — and there's a mix of event spaces for meetings and special occasions alike. Mere minutes away from the Royal Botanic Gardens and Potts Point, it's a great launchpad for visitors, and if you're a Sydney local looking for a staycay — it's enough to make you think you're way out of town.
As 2025's Sydney Film Festival announced at its closing-night gala, if you caught Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident at this year's fest, then you saw the latest winner of the Sydney Film Prize. If you sat down to Songs Inside, Floodland and Wilfred Buck, you also watched 2025's recipients of the event's Documentary Australia Award, Sustainable Future Award and First Nations Award. There's more accolades where they came from, too — this time decided not by juries, but by festivalgoers. If you voted in SFF's 2025 Audience Awards at the fest's highest-selling year in its history, then you had a hand in selecting the picks for Australian feature, Australian documentary, international feature and international documentary — plus their runners up. Over 23,000 votes were received across the four fields, with the winners showcasing the breadth of flicks on offer at this year's festival. Aussie animation Lesbian Space Princess — which features The Pitt's Shabana Azeez among its voice cast — added the Best Australian Narrative Feature Audience Award to its growing haul, after collecting the Teddy Award at this year's Berlin International Film Festival. Its counterpart in the international field: All That's Left of You, about a Palestinian family in the occupied West Bank. In the documentary categories The Raftsmen and Prime Minister took out the top prizes, the first for chronicling an effort to cross the Pacific Ocean in 1973 and the second for a portrait of Jacinda Ardern. "These four films are powerful examples of the fantastically diverse kinds of storytelling that move, inspire and connect with audiences," said Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley. "Leela Varghese and Emma Hough Hobbs' Lesbian Space Princess is a singular achievement in animated cinema. This wildly imaginative feature is hilarious, heartfelt and unapologetically out there — and our audiences adored it." "The Raftsmen is a gripping and meditative exploration of adventure and human endurance. Chadden Hunter's evocative storytelling, blending archival 16mm footage with survivor testimony, brings to life one of the great oceanic journeys in modern history." "Cherien Dabis' All That's Left of You is sweeping in scope and deeply personal in its portrayal of love, loss and legacy. Tracing seven decades of Palestinian history through one family's experience, it is an emotionally resonant and beautifully crafted film that left Sydney audiences spellbound," Moodley continued. "Finally, Prime Minister offers a rare and deeply human look behind the scenes of political leadership. With unprecedented access, this nuanced portrait of Jacinda Ardern captures a leader navigating major global and national crises with empathy and resolve — clearly something that resonated with audiences in these times." Dark comedy Birthright, Sundance Audience Award-winner DJ Ahmet, the World Porridge Making Championship-focused The Golden Spurtle and Sundance Documentary Grand Jury Prize recipient Cutting Through Rocks all claimed the runner-up spots. Sydney Film Festival Audience Award Winners Australian Feature Winner: Lesbian Space Princess Runner up: Birthright Australian Documentary Winner: The Raftsmen Runner up: The Golden Spurtle International Feature Winner: All That's Left of You Runner up: DJ Ahmet International Documentary Winner: Prime Minister Runner up: Cutting Through Rocks Sydney Film Festival 2025 ran from Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, June 15 at various cinemas and venues around Sydney. The fest is screening via Sydney Film Festival's 2025 Back By Popular Demand bonus screenings at Dendy Newtown, Palace Cinemas Norton Street and Ritz Cinemas Randwick until Friday, June 20. For more information and tickets, head to the festival's website.
Of all the pubs in all the world, Guillaume Brahimi had to walk into this one. Of course, it isn't just any old inner city dive — the Four in Hand is somewhat fancy, being the former home of 4Fourteen's Colin Fassnidge (and two hats) for over ten years. And so it makes sense that the French chef — known for his fine dining at nearby Guillaume — should find his way into the kitchen at the backstreet Paddo pub. And so the Four in Hand has become the Four in Hand by Guillaume. Visually, not much has changed. But the menu — across both the bar and the dining room — sure has. To experience it in all its glory, wrangle your way into the dining room. It's separated from the rowdy public bar quite effectively — you can still hear the muffled thrum of punters banging on outside, but you can also comfortably hear what your dining mate is saying. In this part of the pub it feels quiet, but not awkwardly so; it feels ordered and considered, but still casual enough to swing by without a reservation on a Tuesday night. Plus, you can also exit through a handy side door if you don't feel like dealing with the pub goers post-dessert — and when dessert is brûléed banana with a super light banana parfait, peanut ice cream and caramel ($16), you'll just want to roll right into the passenger seat and be taken home to dream sweet dreams. But before you get to the parfait there's bread (Iggy's) and butter (exquisitely smoked), Brussels sprouts (with maple and cubes of bacon) and a whole hearty feast in-between. You can go light with entrees like the super creamy labne with bright wheels of beetroot ($18) or the prawns (which, by the way, Guillaume pairs with chimmichurri and olives and surprisingly manages to pull off), but most of the menu is warm, European-style comfort food. The whole honey-roasted duck ($80) is pure indulgence (and should only be undertaken by the very hungry), while the roasted mulloway ($34) is much more manageable. The fish, along with some well-roasted artichoke, mussels and wilted cos, comes sitting in a clear broth that's best mopped up with a piece of the aforementioned Iggy's sourdough. If you've already eaten it, don't be afraid to ask for another slice. Vegetarian options are thin and seem like a bit of an afterthought, but the staff are thorough and accommodating and will be able to make it work. Although you could probably make a good meal out of the sides — the celeriac gratin, for one, is not overly creamy or heavy, and proves a nice change from potato ($10). If you're looking for pub grub rather than gratin, that's okay too. The bar menu is far more familiar with everything from toasties to schnitties and even fried chicken (a standard Sydney inclusion). You could do worse than to stumble into this gastropub.
This Miranda-based butcher puts an emphasis on provenance and transparency, to help support Australian livestock farmers. Along with showcasing meats, it also showcases specialty farms, including the Gourmet Goat Lady, Bergalia Beef, Camden Valley Veal, Canowindra Farm Chicken, Maremma Free Range Ducks and Leadoux Turkey. To this end, you can find beautiful hunks of veal osso bucco, free-range butterflied chickens and marbled wagyu rump cap. It also has a great selection of bottled goods, including Truff Hot Sauce, McLure's Pickles, Malfroy Gold Honey, and Old Bones smoked garlic chilli sauce. Image: Leigh Griffiths
Melbourne street artist Rone has completed his latest and most industrious work to date, a nine-storey portrait in Melbourne’s CBD. Sitting at 35 metres high and 23.5 metres wide, the gargantuan face of Byron Bay model Teresa Oman looms from the external wall of 80 Collins Street. Based on a photograph Rone had taken of "one of the most re-blogged models in the world" according to Nylon, the work sports the title, L’inconnue de la rue (unknown girl in the street). The colossal mural, commissioned by wall owner QIC Global Real Estate, took seven days to create, with Rone working for ten hours a day from a cherry picker until the wall was complete. "It took a lot longer than expected and was no doubt the most challenging project I had ever taken on," said the Melburnian muralist on his website. "This is one of those walls you dream of. When it was offered I took it with a grain of salt as not to get my hopes up, as there has been a few things like this talked about in the past that just never happened." Long celebrated Melbourne-wide for his signature style of tightly cropped, magnified portraits of glamorous female faces on crumbling walls, Rone’s work has expanded from local lanes to interstate spots in Adelaide and Sydney to the streets of Berlin, Port Vila, Queenstown and Miami. Rone will now return to London, where his first UK solo exhibition Wallflower at Stolen Space Gallery opens April 10. Images by Ben Wesley and Tony Owczarek. via Lost At E Minor.
Ah, the poignancy of Grand Theft Auto V. We're not even kidding. There's no denying that the naturalistic light effects of GTA 5 are astoundingly realistic, and really quite beautiful to behold. Hazy daylight, golden sunsets and atmospheric nightscapes are equally convincing in the world of the game, which has been the talk of the town since its recent launch. GTA 5's aesthetic appeal has not escaped the notice of 20-year-old Brazilian SVA art student Fernando Pereira Gomes, an avid street photographer and gamer who recognised certain parallels between his two passions. He's been taking artistic stills using a character's in-game camera phone in GTA 5, composing shots just as though he were turning a camera lens on the real world, and the results are both sensitive and pretty dope. In-game photography is not new, as seen here. Gomes, who's one of those hardcore fans that stood in line to grab a copy of the game at midnight when it first launched, got the idea for his ongoing series Street Photography V when he began simply driving around GTA 5's various pixelated Los Santos landscapes and realised how the movement of the characters through digital vistas resembled scenes he'd try to capture IRL every day — not least because of the unpredictability of the scenes unfolding, and their fleeting nature. As he told The Independent, "It was very similar to photographing on actual streets — with me having to run across the road, pulling out my camera in time, framing the shot, and taking it at the right moment.” On his site he says: "The game is so realistic that it felt like being in the streets outside ... anticipating passersby’s movements and reactions. In a way, it was also incredibly frightening that these algorithms could look so real, or is it that we ourselves are becoming ever more algorithmic?" The pictures reveal what attracts Gomes's eye: frequently the images are wide angle shots with an isolated figure turned away from us, a shadow cutting the frame in half or a perfectly flat and symmetrical view of a figure or two against a wall. Be sure to check them out.
If this is the food that transforms you into 'fat boy' (Fei Jai), then I'm willing to take the risk. Fei Jai, run by a relative of Flower Drum's Lau family, is all cosy Cantonese comfort food in chic Potts Point surrounds. Dark, moody and tiny, with not a plastic table in sight, Fei Jai is a little more sophisticated than the average Cantonese in Chinatown, and a little less spicy than the likes of Spice Temple. Cantonese is a welcome addition to Potts Point, and Fei Jai is attracting the hungry locals who frequent neighboring Fratelli Paradiso and Zinc, but fancy something a little more spicy and a lot more comforting. The friendly staff are a hip and professional bunch, handing out steaming dumplings and Cantonese treats, and passing out fresh plates faster than you can drop your chopsticks. When you want everything on the starters page, sharing is a good option: Seafood San Choi Bau, Prawn and Scallop Dim Sim and Char Sui Pancakes with Finely Sliced Pork are all a great success. If the staff offer you a special of Eggplant with Crab and Egg White, do yourself a favour and listen up. It's the dish of the night: silky, clean and moreish. Eggplant will never be the same. Singapore Chilli Prawns come a close second, and our plates finish up wiped clean. There's inevitably a little bit of Fei Jai in everyone by the end of a meal here. [nggallery id=76]
Anita Gelato is continuing its stealthy takeover of Sydney's ice cream scene with the opening of its seventh store in the city. For its newest store, the Mediterranean-born dessert chain has brought its creamy, jam-based gelati to a sleek, airy site in Barangaroo, marking the brand's first CBD outpost. As with its other stores, Anita's Barangaroo site will feature a regularly rotating menu of over 150 flavours, with classic flavours sharing the display with less traditional scoops like white chocolate and pistachio cream, strawberry mascarpone and ricotta and a rum-flavoured black forest with caramelised hazelnuts. You can top your scoop with your choice of unlimited toppings, including fresh fruit, syrups and chocolate. Those with dietary limitations will be taken care of, too — beyond the creamy, richly flavoured scoops, Anita also serves dessert cups, frozen yoghurt, vegan sorbets, and gluten-, nut- and sugar-free options. Anita began life in 1998, when its namesake and her youngest son, Nir, started making frozen desserts for their community. Nir began selling their ice creams, which were flavoured with Anita's homemade jams, at local markets. A first bricks-and-mortar store opened in 2002, and now the brand boasts over 160 sites around the world. Nearly 30 years on, those jams remain a feature of the brand. For its newest site, Anita has taken up a prime spot in The Streets of Barangaroo. Overlooking Hickson Park, the breezy, high-ceilinged spot features plenty of natural light, as well as indoor and outdoor seating. Plus, it's open seven days a week until 11pm. "We're so excited to welcome everyone to our Barangaroo store," says Gisele Dussault, the brand's marketing manager. "This location brings together everything Anita is about — exceptional gelato, a welcoming atmosphere, and a space where people can connect and enjoy. Whether you're stopping by for a quick treat or settling in for a relaxed afternoon by the park, we can't wait to serve you." You can find Anita Gelato at Shop R2.01, 2 Watermans Quay, Barangaroo. For more information, visit the website. Images: Onecut Studios.
It's no secret that Sydney is home to some of the best beaches in the world — in fact, it's often a point of pride (and bragging). While just lounging, reading and swimming at these stretches of coastline is usually more than enough fun, a whole summer of it can start to feel — dare we say — tedious. If you're looking ahead at three full months on Sydney sand, it's time to take full advantage of all that our coastline has to offer. For starters, that means investing in some equipment and getting your game on. But not all Sydney beaches are created equal when it comes to sports. To help you narrow it down, we've put together a list of the best beaches for group games this summer. So, grab your mates and your beach cricket set and hit the sand. [caption id="attachment_756229" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] MAROUBRA BEACH This kilometre-long stretch of sand is an ideal spot for group hangs. You won't get the crowds that take over some the other nearby beaches, like Bondi and Coogee. Here, you can really spread out and take on larger-form games like soccer, or even dodgeball, without worrying about disturbing a nearby sunbather. After you've got your heart pumping, take a short stroll to Mahon Pool, which is tucked away on the beach's northern headland, for a secluded dip. Friends who love a surf should bring their boards, too. Not only is this one of Sydney's great surf spots, it's also one of only 21 National Surfing Reserves in the country. [caption id="attachment_663539" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paros Huckstepp[/caption] MANLY BEACH Another stunning stretch of Sydney sand, Manly Beach is hard to beat in charm — from the ferry ride over from the city to the busy promenade, the tree-lined beach and the clear blue waves. While it may not be as convenient as, say, Bondi if you're a south-of-the-bridge dweller, it certainly is still one of Sydney's most famous beaches — so, give your mates a new excuse to venture over the bridge and take things up a notch with a spot of beach sport in between quick dips and ice cream breaks. The beach's proximity to the shops also means you don't have to travel with a bunch of equipment, either, as you can just grab it on the way. We recommend a few games of Flick 'n' Sticks — all you'll need is a set of poles (or foraged sticks for the frugal), cups and a few frisbees. Or, head to the permanent beach volleyball nets. If your legs start to tire of the sand, take your gaming up to the grass at the Manly Bowling Club, which is just a short walk off the beach. [caption id="attachment_756230" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] COOGEE BEACH The golden curve that is Coogee Beach has long been a go-to for groups. It's got a local feel to it, but still draws its fair share of travellers, making it an ideal spot to make some new mates over a friendly game. Set up several Survivor-style obstacle courses and see who is crowned champion. Or, if the beach isn't bustling with sun-kissed bodies, dive into a game of beach volleyball (as long as an organised competition isn't going on). Afterward, grab a round or two at Coogee Pavilion. BALMORAL BEACH, MOSMAN If you're looking for a more low-key option for your group games, head to Balmoral. This relatively isolated lower north shore beach usually has calm waters and rarely sees people packed on the sand like sardines. You'll find swimmers doing laps, people tanning and families sitting in the shade of umbrellas — it's a laidback spot, so come here for more relaxed games rather than rowdy ones. Try your hand at a few rounds of cornhole or Bulzibucket (you don't even need all the gear, you can simply dig holes in the sand). A lightweight spikeball set is another good option here. Plus, Balmoral has the added benefit of being close to Taronga Zoo, in case hanging out with some adorable animals is also on your group's bucket list. [caption id="attachment_756228" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] DEE WHY BEACH Dee Why is a sporting beach through and through. It's the site of the annual Ocean Thunder Surfboat competition and was once home to major surfing comp Beachley Classic. Essentially, it's a beach set up for those who want to get active. Just next to it is Long Reef Beach, with the two stretches of sand separated by a shallow lagoon, so there's heaps of space. And you'll even find an outdoor table tennis spot, so you don't even need to bring any equipment to get competitive with your crew. There's also a playground for obstacle course-style games as well as barbecues for post-game feasts. [caption id="attachment_756328" align="alignnone" width="1920"] via Virtual Wolf/Flickr[/caption] COLLAROY BEACH Just north and around the headland of Long Reef Beach, you'll come to another top-notch location for some friendly competition: Collaroy. Collaroy has the benefit of being slightly sheltered, so playing games that involve lightweight or excess equipment is often pretty good here, such as spikeball and frisbee. Plus, it stretches into Narrabeen Beach, giving you just over 3.5 kilometres of continuous beach to play on. After you've worked up a sweat, you can head to one of the beach's many barbecuing and picnic areas or head into The Collaroy for a cold beer. And be sure to stick around for sunset, as this beach offers some of the best. [caption id="attachment_750942" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] SHARK BEACH, VAUCLUSE This tiny 220-metre sandy harbour spot is just right for those looking for a bit of variety on their next trip to the beach is just right for ocean games. First up, its waters are surrounded by shark nets, so, unlike the name suggests, you don't have to worry about any unwanted sea creatures interrupting your game. Secondly, it's located at Nielsen Park in Vaucluse and is part of Sydney Harbour National Park, making it a picturesque playing spot. Of course, the small size means it's ideal for smaller-scale games, so we recommend bringing along a couple of friends instead of a big ol' group. But you can always move into the adjoining park if you're looking for more space — or some shade. If you are looking for more places to feel a sense of belonging in New South Wales, head to visitnsw.com. Top image: Raider or Gin/Flickr.
The holy trinity of a successful hospitality venue is food, drink and fit-out — though nailing this trifecta is no easy feat. Australasia's 2018 Eat Drink Design Awards covers the interior element in a celebration of hospo design across Australia and New Zealand in eight categories: best restaurant, bar, cafe, hotel, retail space and temporary installation (pop-up). Victoria (and more specifically Melbourne) is the clear winner this year — snagging five of the eight awards, plus additional commendations in seven categories. Birregurra's luxury farmstay Brae Restaurant Accommodation won Best Hotel Design (Six Degrees Architects); Melbourne CBD's tiny Japanese den Ishizuka won Best Restaurant Design (Russell & George); Fitzroy's heritage cafe Bentwood won Best Cafe Design (Ritz & Ghougassian); Yarra Valley's Chandon Australia — a tasting room and boutique – won Best Retail Design (Foolscap Studio); and Swanston Street stalwart Cookie was inducted into the Hall of Fame. The 2018 Best Bar Design went to Adelaide cocktail bar Malt & Juniper (Sans-Arc Studio), and Canberra nabbed a win in the Best Installation Design category for Pop Inn — a mobile wine bar (Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn Architects). While Sydney did not come home victorious, the city did receive a good number of commendations, including two for Barangaroo House, which earned commendations in both the best bar and best restaurant design categories. The Imperial Erskineville and Edition Haymarket also received best bar design commendations and Fonda Bondi received a best restaurant design commendation, too. In the best retail design category, Little Bonny's received a nod, which was designed by famed studio Luchetti Krelle (Manly Greenhouse, Terminus Hotel, Banksii, Acme). Luxuriate in the sleekness of the top designs below. [gallery ids="697870,697865,697866,671311,691780,651134,662281,697859"] For the full list of winners and commendations, head to the Eat Drink Design website. Images: Ishizuka by Felix Forest, Brae by Trevor Mein, Chandon Australia by Tom Blachford, Bentwood by Kate Shanasy, Edition by Trent van der Jagt, Barangaroo House by Kitti Smallbone, The Imperial by Trent van der Jagt, Cookie.
Holy Basil is the perfect pre-theatre stop for a quick bite that'll get you out the door in time for your show. With three venues across Sydney, the popular restaurant's Parramatta outpost is conveniently located just a two-minute stroll across the river from Riverside Theatres. On the menu, classic Thai and Lao noodles and curries live next to signature offerings such as the crispy snapper and mango salad ($59.90), roast duck in Holy Basil's homemade plum sauce ($29.90) and the surf and turf platter ($47.90). Don't walk out the door until you've had the fried ice cream with salted caramel and coconut ($20.90), which has been a menu staple for over a decade. Top Images: Nikki To
For some reason, food just tastes better served from a truck. These delicious, roving bites generally cost about a tenner and add a little bit of the thrill of the chase to your taco/burger/jaffle consumption. Sydney is continually amping up its street food scene — we've even got a dedicated food truck app, just so you know where to find you favourite at every turn. Whether it's a quick CBD lunch, a break from beer tasting at the local craft breweries, or roaming the markets and festivals, there's bound to be a food truck somewhere nearby dishing up something delicious from their window. So here are Sydney's best food trucks and where to find them. MAMA LINH'S The Vietnamese know their street food, and Mama Linh's is a wonderful homage to the tradition. The food truck is hailed for its 'pho-style' beef roll ($10), which slow cooks brisket in Mama's 18-hour pho master stock before being hand-pulled and soaked in the master stock gravy. Served on a signature crispy baguette with an array of pickled veggies and special 'pho' mayo, this combination is just genius. The banh mi menu is really a winner across the board though, from the crispy chicken thigh marinated in a secret, quarter century-old blend of spices to the 12-hour slow-cooked pulled pork. In additional to their usual Tuesday to Friday spots at Wynyard and Metcalfe Parks, on weekends you'll find the truck across the inner-west brewery circuit, including Wayward, Batch, Willie the Boatman and Young Henrys. Best for: Vietnamese street food. What to order: Beef 'pho' banh mi. Where to find it: Mama Linh's have usual Tuesday to Friday spots at Wynyard Park in the CBD and Metcalfe Park in Pyrmont, and on weekends you'll find the truck across the inner-west brewery circuit, including Wayward, Batch, Willie the Boatman and Young Henrys. To find out where they'll be next, check their Facebook page. mamalinhs.com.au CAMINITO If you haven't had Caminito's choripan ($7) yet, you better start running after their truck. The name means 'chorizo in fresh baked bread', and their version is topped with a traditional chimichurri sauce and is a quintessential South American street food. The choripan rojo gourmet ($10) is a paprika-infused sausage served with Spanish onion, sliced tomatoes and fresh rocket — and we suggest you go gourmet or go home. Best for: South American street food. What to order: Choripan rojo gourmet. Where to find it: Caminito is always rolling around to festivals, and can also be caught regularly at Peakhurst's Foodies Organic Market. Watch their whereabouts on their Facebook page. caminito.com.au BUSBOY Okay, it might not exactly be a truck, but Busboy deserves honourable mention on any roving snacks best of. The 'mobile cargo-bike' is turning out self-proclaimed 'fat boy food'. The menu is down-home country cooking, like the Redneck fried chicken sandwich, served on a southern-style biscuit. Owner Ben Ogden takes chicken and biscuits to the next level with The Trucker: buttermilk fried chicken, streaky bacon, cheese and fresh onion rings all topped with white sausage gravy. Best for: 'Fat boy' food. What to order: The Trucker fried chicken sandwich. Where to find it: Busboy is regularly hanging around the local craft beer favourites of Batch and Wayward, and has a regular spot at Young Henrys every third Saturday of the month. For other appearances, keep an eye on their Facebook page. busboy.com.au AGAPE Sydney's food truck scene wouldn't be complete without an organic option in the mix. Chef Simon Lawson uses all organic, seasonal produce, and their rotating menu is full of street food goodness. The must-have on the menu right now is their spelt rollers — and for good reason. With options like the 14-hour slow-braised, grass-fed wagyu and pasture-raised pork ($13 each) to the sustainably-sourced, golden crispy fish ($15), you really can't go wrong. Each of the spelt buns incudes coleslaw and chimichurri, with the special house-made barbecue sauce slathered on the red meat options. You can find this fire engine red truck parked all around town, from Sydney Olympic Park and Zetland to Surry Hills and a few CBD locations. Best for: Organic. What to order: One of their spelt rollers. Where to find it: The truck can commonly be found at Joynton Park in Zetland, and Customs House and Wynyard Park in the CBD. Find their full schedule on Sydney Food Trucks. facebook.com/AgapeOrganicFoodTruck EAT ART TRUCK Since winning Good Food's best new food truck award back in 2012, Eat Art Truck has continued to rev its engines all around Sydney. The truck combines a love for American street food and local street art, even being repainted by a different street artist each month. On their menu sits all the usual suspects — like nachos and crispy fries (both $5) — but the must-try is the eight-hour hot-smoked pulled pork bun ($12). This best-seller and crowd favourite comes with tangy mustard cabbage and bourbon barbecue sauce — a gorgeous excuse for a chow down. If you want to rent the truck out for a more intimate gathering, they've got you covered with a new cart, which is perfect for summertime rooftop parties. Best for: American street food and local street art. What to order: Pulled pork bun. Where to find it: The Eat Art Truck roams the city, and is a fixture at many big events around town. Follow their Facebook page to find out where to catch them next. eatarttruck.com VEGGIE PATCH VAN The Veggie Patch is devoted to providing high quality vegetarian food using seasonal produce sourced from local growers. The truck itself was a combined effort from TMOD Design and Yulli's, and is as environmentally friendly as the food — running on recycled vegetable oil, solar powered equipment, and composted rubbish. With herb boxes hanging from the facade, you know you're getting a fresh meal here. The mushroom and kale salad ($8) is worth a mention, however the star here is easily the haloumi burger ($10). The cheese is perfectly grilled and topped with passionfruit ketchup and an herby dill mayo, and the crunchy lettuce and sweet Spanish onions come together to make this dish a masterpiece. With all meals $10 or under, the Veggie Patch Van is a good choice for your tummy and your wallet. Best for: Vegetarian and vegan enthusiasts. What to order: Haloumi burger. Where to find it: The van can be found at various events around the city. Watch their Facebook page for their whereabouts. veggiepatchvan.com.au NEW YORK PASTRAMI DELI NYPDeli — or, the New York Pastrami Deli — has become a staple in Sydney, which had previously been sorely lacking in the food truck delicatessen department. The award-winning meat is made at the family factory Pastoral Small Goods, and the menu, from hot dogs ($8) to rare roast beef on a bagel ($10), is as New York as it gets. First timers cannot miss the Reuben ($10): the hot corned beef is topped with impossibly melty Swiss cheese, crispy sauerkraut and heaps of Russian dressing on fresh rye. Best for: Deli lovers. What to order: The Reuben. Where to find it: You can catch the NYPDeli for lunch every Wednesday in Millers Point (12-3pm) and every Friday in Metcalfe Park (12-3pm), as well as other various spots during the week. Find their upcoming locations on their Facebook page. facebook.com/nypdeli URBAN PASTA Pasta may not seem like typical food truck takeaway, but this cart is bringing Nonna's cooking to the streets — and we are ever so grateful. Serving up fresh pasta with homemade sauces, the process here is simple: choose your pasta, then your sauce, and add extra parmesan or chilli flakes at your discretion. Our favourite is the gnocchi arrabbiata ($11.50) — the pillowy gnocchi is well coated in a light, spicy tomato sauce, giving a slight kick whilst also fulfilling that carb craving. And the best part? It's one of the few food trucks that stays open late in the CBD. Best for: Carb-full dinner on the go. What to order: Gnocchi arrabbiata. Where to find it: You'll find Urban Pasta in a few locations a day, from Joynton Park in Zetland to Circular Quay's Customs House. For a full list of locations, visit Sydney Food Trucks. facebook.com/UrbanPasta JAFE JAFFLES This food truck is as much loved for its pimped Kombi van and hilarious sandwich names as it is for its righteous jaffles. The jaffle — a pressed version of its cousin grilled cheese — is an Aussie staple and breeds nostalgia among patrons. The fan favourite is by far the Jean Claude Van-Ham, a succulent combination of leg ham, oozy cheese and tomato. Other celeb jaffles that sit on the menu include David Jafflehoff — spaghetti Bolognese in a pocket — and the Goldie Corn ($6 each). Best for: The Australian nostalgic classic: jaffles. What to order: The Jean Claude Van-Ham jaffle. Where to find it: While they may not be taking regular spots around town, Jafe Jaffles is chilling at all of the local festivals, as well as corporate and private functions. Keep up with their location on their Facebook page. facebook.com/JafeJaffles CHERRY HWY Cherry Hwy brings patrons back to the days when the ice cream man circled the block. Housed in two retired Bedfords, owner Rode Vella transformed the 'twins' into a traditional ice cream and sorbet shop on wheels. The flavours span from classic vanilla to salted caramel and blood orange sorbet. Our go-to though is the peanut butter fudge (one scoop $4.50, two scoops $7). Creamy, chocolatey and nutty, this is the perfect icing on the cake to any trip down memory lane. Best for: Dessert. What to order: Peanut butter fudge ice cream. Where to find it: You can catch the truck regularly at Barangaroo's Headland Park. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for other locations. cherryhwy.com.au
In an ironic makeover, a former Chicago meatpacking plant and slaughterhouse has found a new purpose as the city's first self-sustaining, vertical farm. Located in Chi-Town's Union Stock Yards, the 93,500 square foot brick building once specialised in mass-producing red meat - one of the least environmentally-friendly industries out there. Now, it is a sci-fi-like space dedicated to non-waste-producing urban farming. Projects inside 'The Plant' include a tilapia fish farm, beer and Kombucha tea breweries, aquaponic farms which harvest vegetables, and a mushroom garden. The Plant will also host to a group of bakers and caterers that will work together in a communal kitchen area. Upcoming projects include 'living' walls, and rooftop gardens. All of these endeavors have taken up a zero net waste policy, made possible by an interconnecting indoor ecosystem of sorts. The used grains from the beer brewery will be used as fish-food for the tilapia; the waste produced by the fish will nourish the mushroom garden and hydroponic plants; those plants will clean the water, which may be cycled back up to the fish tanks. Initially aided by a combined heat and power system, as well as an anaerobic digester, the Plant will be entirely self-sustaining. The project hopes to be taken off the power grid in just a few years. By the end of this year, the Plant hopes to have five rentable tenant spaces, and its renewable energy system up and running by next June. By 2016, the building is set to be fully functional, creating 125 neighbourhood jobs, and keeping over 10,000 tons of food waste out of landfills each year. Human waste is an obvious problem, says Melanie Hoeskstra, the Plant's director of operations. The renovations made to the Plant are workable in any old building: “It’s not a perfect system, but it’s really close," she says of the Plant. Sounds like city planners should take a note or two.
It seems unsurprising that African Americans vote en masse for Obama and it has been well-established that women vote en masse for Obama. Much more surprising however is that 30 Rock and Game of Thrones fans also vote en masse for Obama. If this infographic is anything to go by it seems that our TV habits can be a useful barometer for understanding our voting patterns. Compiled by Engage, this fascinating graphic was created through an analysis of what TV shows and political pages voters 'like' on Facebook. Apparently, this data not only demonstrates the correlation between political preference and TV habits but also which TV fans are the most politically active and aware. While the overt (and dare I say tiresome) idealism of Aaron Sorkin's The Newsroom and The West Wing (often dubbed "The Left Wing") seemed likely to produce hordes of Democrat devotees, interestingly it is Star Trek fans who are next in line as the most likely to turn up to vote come the Presidential election later this month. For the Republican camp, unfortunately Romney's frequent declarations of love for Modern Family aren't likely to swing many voters as the show's pro-gay marriage stance and ethnically diverse families appear to resonate much more strongly with more left-leaning voters. If this infographic whetted your appetite for bizarre political statistics then check out the graph below to see what your internet usage says about your politics.
It just might be Australia's brightest festival, and it's returning to light up Alice Springs once again. That'd be Parrtjima - A Festival In Light, which will deliver its latest annual program in 2022 — between Friday, April 8–Sunday, April 17. It's been a chaotic few years for the radiant fest, after its 2020 event was postponed to September due to COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions — and after moving to an autumn time slot back in 2019, too. But, following a few years of change and adaptability, Parrtjima will finally mark two consecutive stints in its April dates, after 2021's festival lit up the Red Centre over six months ago. While it's too early to announce the event's lineup just yet, visitors can once again expect a big — and free — ten-day public celebration of Indigenous arts, culture, music and storytelling, including an eye-catching array of light installations. That'll all take over Alice Springs CBD's Alice Springs Todd Mall, as well as tourism and conservation facility Alice Springs Desert Park Precinct just out of town — and yes, the event will dazzle, like it usually does. [caption id="attachment_801811" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Greg McAdam[/caption] If you haven't yet made the trip and you're wondering what could be in store, this year's Parrtjima included various luminous pieces, such as a 20-metre-long entranceway made out of light tubes of different lengths, an animated sequence of curated artworks projected onto the sands of Alice Springs Desert Park and a train of five illuminated camels. One thing that'll definitely be on the bill in 2022: the festival's main annual attraction, aka a huge artwork that transforms a 2.5-kilometre stretch of the majestic, 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges, showering it with light each night of the festival. Registrations for the 2022 fest have just opened, if you'd like to nab an early spot in line for tickets when they go on sale. Of course, Parrtjima is just one of Northern Territory's two glowing attractions in 2022, with Australia's Red Centre lighting up in multiple ways. The festival is a nice supplement to Bruce Munro's Field of Light installation, which — after multiple extensions — is now on display indefinitely. If you're keen to start making Parrtjima plans, remember to check out the Northern Territory's COVID-19 border restrictions first. Parrtjima – A Festival in Light runs from April 8–17, 2022 around Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. For more information, visit the festival website. Top image: Greg McAdam.
Visiting New York City sits on plenty of bucket lists, and there are more than a few reasons why that's the case. But if you've always wanted to head to the Big Apple, wear designer outfits, get paid to write about your love life and, between cocktails and dates, hang out outside your apartment — sitting on the stoop with your significant other, whether you're making up or breaking up — then you obviously have Sex and the City to thank. Running from 1998–2004 (forget the terrible 2008 and 2010 movies), the hit HBO series made Manolo Blahniks a must-wear, turned cosmopolitans into the drink of choice for sips with the gang, and gave tutus their moment outside of ballet. It also showered Carrie Bradshaw's apartment stoop with ample attention, including in big, life-changing moments. Unsurprisingly, the filming location has become a tourist attraction over the last quarter-century. Always wanted to make the trip to follow in Sarah Jessica Parker's footsteps, but haven't yet had the chance? With Sex and the City spinoff And Just Like That... arriving for its second season this month — after first debuting in 2021 — Binge is bringing a replica of that famous apartment stoop to Melbourne. And if this sounds familiar, that's because it did the same a couple of years back in Sydney. This time, the 2.2-metre-wide, 4.8-metre-high stoop is popping up at the David Jones Dome at Melbourne's Chadstone Shopping Centre for three days, between Thursday, June 8–Saturday, June 10, ready to fill your Instagram feed. Just like when the Friends couch toured Australia, the Squid Game Red Light, Green Light doll towered over Sydney Harbour and a statue of Borat made an appearance at Bondi Beach — and when the Iron Throne did the rounds, and all of the other film- and TV-themed pop-ups over the years — this is all about three things: indulging one of your pop-culture obsessions, taking snaps and promotion ahead of And Just Like That...'s season two return on Thursday, June 22. It also marks 25 years since Sex and the City began. And no, as you're taking photos of yourself living out your Carrie Bradshaw stoop dreams — Manolo Blahniks optional — you won't find any Peloton fitness equipment in sight. Find the replica Sex and the City and And Just Like That... apartment stoop at the David Jones Dome at Melbourne's Chadstone Shopping Centre from 11am–3pm and 5–9pm on Thursday, June 8–Friday, June 9 — and 11am–3pm on Saturday, June 10. Images: Chris Pavlich Photography.
A conglomerate of sights, sounds and savouries, the Auckland cityscape of things to do is vast. From Waitemata Harbour in the north, to Manukau Harbour in the south, there's a bounty of things to eat, drink and discover, not to mention see, with stellar views in pretty much any direction you look. But for the time-poor among us (see everyone), taking time to explore the City of Sails may have been bumped down the to do list, whether you're Auckland dwellers in need of a staycation, Wellingtonians looking for a weekend escape, or even you Aussies hoping to up the ante on a short getaway*. That's where we come in. In partnership with Adina Apartment Hotels, we're giving away two days of accommodation, plus some spending money so you can hit up a few of our favourites spots in town. We've planned a pretty indulgent experience. Think two nights accommodation at Adina Apartment Hotel in Britomart, a massage for two, dinner at Amano where you can fill up on some of New Zealand's freshest pasta around, and $250 to spend at Ponsonby's Mea Culpa to top off the night with a few of their carefully crafted cocktails. Plus, we've slipped in some extra cash so you can splash out at all the shops around Britomart. With some of Auckland's creme de la creme right at the doorstep of your Adina Apartment Hotel abode, you'll be perfectly positioned to continue your exploration of the city. But if you're not sure where to head after massages and before dinner, you can use our local's guide to get some hot tips and start planning the rest of your stay. Enter your details below, say yes to the terms and conditions and you're in the running. Entries close on Wednesday, July 5 at 11.59pm. [competition]626226[/competition] *Prize doesn't include travel costs.
A small grey moon passes silently through the dark, desolate vacuum of space. No wait, not a moon, a space station. Suddenly from within that manmade menace, a thunderous blast of brilliant green light tears forth, obliterating the planet of Alderaan. Elsewhere, a frail Obi Wan Kenobi shudders and fretfully remarks: “I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened”. Fast forward a long, long time to Tuesday April 7, 2015, and once again, one senses a great disturbance has come to pass, only this time, Harrison Ford and the gang are playing for the other team. In a landmark decision by Australia’s Federal Court, iiNet and several other internet service providers (or ISPs) have been ordered to disclose the names and contact details of almost 5000 of their Australian customers accused of illegally sharing the 2013 film Dallas Buyers Club. If you’re currently sitting there with BitTorrent open in the background, chances are you’re one of the millions suddenly crying out in terror. But just how afraid should you be? ISPs, WHERE SIZE DOES MATTER The first question to ask is: which ISP do you use? Telstra, TPG and Optus were all ignored by the rights holders (at least for now), meaning yesterday's ruling only applies to customers of iiNet, Dodo, Internode, Amnet and Adam Internet. If you’re not with them, you’re not in the firing line. TORRENTING: A SEEDY PRACTICE Note the absence of the word ‘downloaded’ above. This case drew a critical distinction between those who downloaded the film and those who seeded the torrent (i.e., those who made it available for others to download). Since it’s impossible to identify downloaders, the names to be provided by iiNet and the other ISPs will only be of those who “made the film available online to other persons; electronically transmitted the film to other persons; and made copies of the whole or a substantial part of the film”. Put another way, if you downloaded Dallas Buyers Club but never shared it, you’re probably in the clear. But if you did seed it (and that does happen automatically through some torrenting software), what happens next? ROUND 1 TO HOLLYWOOD Nothing for the next 28 days at least, which is how long those ISPs have to appeal the decision. The chance of them doing that, however, seems unlikely given the comments by iiNet’s CEO David Buckingham that: "We're very happy with Justice Perram's judgment and his balanced approach to both the studio's and consumers' rights.” In all likelihood, then, four weeks or so from now there are going to be around 5000 letters sent out across Australia courtesy of the film’s rights holder — Dallas Buyers Club LLC. ON A SCALE OF ZERO TO ALDERAAN, HOW SCREWED ARE YOU? Three years ago, a Minnesota woman was famously ordered to pay $1.5 million in damages for illegally downloading just 24 songs from the internet. The plaintiff in that case, the Recording Industry Association of America, never had any real expectation of recovering the money from her because, of course, money wasn’t the point. Sending a message was why they’d pushed so hard, and the same may be said of Dallas Buyers Club here. With this ruling, both they and the court have sought to declare an end to the age of anonymous copyright infringement in Australia. BUT IT WASN'T ME, IT WAS THE ONE-ARMED MAN! Just because you receive a letter from Dallas Buyers Club doesn't mean you're actually guilty of copyright infringement. All it means is your name and contact details are attached to the IP address that was identified in the sharing of the file. Who was doing that sharing is an entirely different matter: your flatmate, a sibling, a child or even an unscrupulous neighbour who cracked your Wi-Fi password (seriously, was it 'password'?). Proving actual guilt will be an additional hurdle that Dallas Buyers Club will still have to jump for each and every case it pursues. OKAY, I AM THE ONE-ARMED MAN So let’s say, for argument’s sake, you’re one of the names about to be provided to Dallas Buyers Club. The ‘balance’ in the decision that David Buckingham was referring above to centres on two key points: 1. Your names won’t be made public; and 2. Every single letter that Dallas Buyers Club intends to send out must first be shown to, and approved by, Justice Nye Perram. That second point is more significant than it may sound, because it seriously limits the ability of Dallas Buyers Club to use those letters as a means of intimidation, otherwise known as ‘speculative invoicing’. Recently in America, Dallas Buyers Club sent similar letters to US-based infringers claiming they were liable for damages of up to US$150,000, but noted they’d be prepared to settle out of court for US$7000. It’s unlikely they’ll be permitted to do the same thing here, though they will almost certainly seek some level of remuneration for the infringement. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FUTURE Does this ruling mean Australians will immediately stop torrenting? Of course not. Australia is Olympic-level bad when it comes to copyright infringement, with BitTorrent accounting for more than 25% of all internet use in the region, and Australians responsible for a full 11.6% of the worldwide illegal downloads of Game of Thrones season four. Crucially, nobody ever disputes that it’s wrong, but everyone finds their own little way of justifying it. For most, that justification sits squarely in what’s termed 'The Australia Tax' — a consistently unreasonable price disparity of up to 400% between here and the rest of the world on everything from automobiles and electronics to music, software, games and films (here’s lookin' at you, Adobe). Coupled with inexplicable delayed releases (something that proved a financial disaster for The LEGO Movie), Australians justifiably feel they shouldn’t have to pay extra for something they want, only to then unjustifiably download the whole thing without paying a single cent. ARISE A KNIGHT The game changer in all of this will be Netflix, which finally launched here last week. In the United States, it's almost singlehandedly credited with reducing torrenting from 31% of all internet traffic to just 5.65% in a mere six years, and there’s no reason to doubt a similar trend in Australia. Cinemas have also wised up, with Village Roadshow CEO Graham Burke declaring last year that in Australia, “movies will [now] be released day and date with the US. Movies will come out at the same time.” Of course, yesterday’s decision may yet be overturned, but it’s a sure sign of the changing times and it would indeed seem the days of torrenting with anonymous impunity are numbered. That's not to say technology hasn't proven remarkably adept at circumventing any measures to control it, just as this author isn't blind to the fact that the Rebels ultimately prevailed over the Empire. Still, this a war neither side is prepared to back away from, so next time you’re thinking about downloading something, perhaps just ask yourself: what if I'm Alderaan? Formerly an intellectual property lawyer with the global firm Allens Linklaters, Tom Glasson is a writer, film critic and TV presenter best known for his work as host of Australia's daily satirical news show The Roast on the ABC.
The Sydney Opera House Forecourt will host another massive summer of music and comedy this December, with the full lineup for On The Steps 2025 now confirmed. Running from December 2–15, the series will bring 13 nights of performances to one of Australia's most iconic outdoor stages. More than 50,000 fans are expected to attend, with a program that spans homegrown stars, international acts and comedy. [caption id="attachment_1030346" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Franz Ferdinand[/caption] The series kicks off on Monday, December 2 with Chet Faker and Mallrat, and closes on Sunday, December 15 with gospel icon Kirk Franklin. In between, highlights include Franz Ferdinand, Parcels, The Living End, Ruel, Six60, Boy & Bear, and Jimmy Barnes with Kate Ceberano. For Parcels, the Opera House holds special significance. "There's something pretty surreal about playing on the steps of the Opera House," said keyboardist Louie Swain. "In year 12 we actually played in the concert hall for HSC Encore, around the moment we were starting Parcels, so it's always held a deep and symbolic place for us. We're honoured to be a part of this series." [caption id="attachment_1030347" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jimmy Barnes[/caption] Delivered in partnership with Support Act, the concert series also raises funds for the charity's crisis relief services for music industry workers. "Returning to the Sydney Opera House Forecourt each year with this concert series is such a privilege," said Live Nation promoter Mike Ross. "We're extremely proud to present another diverse lineup that we feel has something for everyone." View this post on Instagram A post shared by On The Steps (@onthestepssydney) On The Steps 2025 runs from December 2–15 at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt. You can explore the full lineup and secure tickets now. Images: Live Nation
Thrifting vintage clothes in Sydney is about to get way easier with the arrival of not one, but two new Savers superstores. Lined with rack after rack of preloved discoveries and secondhand rarities, you won't have a problem getting lost in these sprawling locations. Opening on Thursday, July 31, Savers Camperdown will land on Parramatta Road, offering the company's first-ever three-level site. Teeming with vintage clothing, accessories, homewares and more, this 2000-square-metre store will become a go-to thrift shop in the Inner West. Then, just three weeks later, Savers Marsden Park will swing open its doors and join the party on Thursday, August 21. Serving as the headline destination in a brand-new Richmond Road development, expect another weird and wonderful collection of fashion, furniture and electronics. "Each store has been purposefully located to meet the needs of its surrounding community — whether that's busy students and Inner West locals in Camperdown, or young families and growing neighbourhoods of Marsden Park, Sydney's diverse communities are embracing what it means to be Thrift Proud." It's been a big year for Savers, having only expanded to the New South Wales market 12 months ago. Now, these new stores represent the for-profit retailer's fourth and fifth Sydney locations, proving that shopping secondhand has become second nature for many. Of course, the sustainability benefits can't be overlooked either, with Savers' brand network diverting 9.1 million kilograms of reusable items from landfills each year. Now with two new locations to explore, reclaiming eye-catching vintage fashion and homewares is even more convenient. Savers Camperdown opens on Thursday, July 31, at 93-99 Parramatta Road, Camperdown, while Savers Marsden Park launches on Thursday, August 21, at 2 Ultimo Place, Marsden Park. Head to the website for more information.
This article is part of our series on the diverse highlights of NZ's Canterbury region, from city to snow. To book your snow trip, visit the 100% Pure New Zealand website. As someone with little-to-no coordination and balance, the prospect of skiing for the first time in my life was pretty terrifying. I honestly couldn't think of a sport that’s scarier for beginners — and I tried, multiple times — or a situation where I wouldn't be hurtling down a vertical run into a tree and/or small child. That's why I’ve always thought it lucky that, for me and every other Adult Who Can't Ski, snow sports are generally pretty easy to avoid. But with the ski season ramping up — and snow weekends already being floated by my seasoned snow bunny friends — I thought it was time to see if I would sink or swim on snow. With myself as sacrifice, and some words of wisdom from Mt Hutt's media coordinator and resident snowboarder Georgie Boyd, we headed across to one of New Zealand's most renowned ski areas (and, as it turns out, biggest mountains) to find out how to slide down a slope without losing a limb — or your dignity. Don't forget your gloves Preparation is key when it comes to skiing, mostly because it involves a lot of stuff. This is no spontaneous sport. If you don't own any snow clothes and can't borrow any from a similarly sized friend (your boyfriend's oversized pants probably won’t make things any easier, just saying), you should look at hiring proper, waterproof clothing. Mt Hutt hire out snow pants and jackets as well as boots and helmets — all of which you'll probably need as a beginner. What they don't have, though, are gloves and goggles, so make sure you you've got that covered before you get up on the mountain. Freezing fingertips don’t make for fun times. Image thanks to arquera via photopin The things you think are the easiest are actually the hardest Here's the thing: no one tells you that walking in ski boots will feel like your shin is snapping in half (which it isn't, but I still have the bruises to say that it came pretty close). Those things are painful, but they say it gets better. Apparently getting on and off the lift gets less terrifying too, but maybe that comes later. And think you can sling your skis over your shoulder like they do in the movies? Think again, noob. There's a particular trick to carrying your skis out to the snow that involves sliding them together and holding onto one of the brakes, but I'll let the ski staff show you that one. Image thanks to Paxson Woelber via photopin Don't think you don't need a lesson Sure, head up to the top of the slope with your friends and be left side-stepping up the mountain while they pass you as they go up and down the run. It's enough to ruin friendships, so heed this: experienced skiers and beginners don't match. Don't underestimate the power of getting a lesson. "The action of skiing and snowboarding isn't always common sense," says Georgie. "Taking a lesson gets you on the right track straight away and will speed up the zero-to-hero process." Contrary to popular misconception, there are plenty of functioning adults who also don't know how to ski — you'll be in a class with them, not four-year-olds (who can probably ski better than you, anyway). Image thanks to Nick J Webb via photopin It's actually not that scary Only after you've strapped on your skis and are successfully standing on a flat lay of snow will you start to feel like maybe this skiing thing isn't so terrifying. Like Georgie says, the most intimidating part for learners is the fear of going too fast and the chairlifts. Once you've mastered slowing down in a lesson (it doesn't matter how long your lesson is, even an hour or two makes a difference), then you can tackle the chairlift. "There are always lifties at the top of the lift to ensure that everyone is getting off the lift safely,” Georgie says. And to make things even easier, Mt Hutt's beginner’s area even has a conveyor belt 'magic carpet', which is the pre-chairlift training to the real deal. Image thanks to Mt Hutt, NZSki Ltd. and Patrick Fallon. It's all about pizza Not the pizza pie kind (well, maybe it can be afterwards — hell, you will have deserved two pizzas by then), but the pizza slice made by the shape of your skis. That's how you stop. For snowboarders, Georgie recommends digging in your heel-side edge will slow you down and safely control an exit off a ski lift. Best you get that one down before you take off down the slopes. Image thanks to FredrikF via photopin What not to do Whatever you do, don't look down. Even though you'll want to look down and make sure your skis are doing what you want them to, it's important that you look at what’s in front of you. There are a lot of obstacles — they're called people. On the subject of people, don't use them as props. Seriously, you grab someone on the way down and no one will look at you the same again. Image thanks to radloff via photopin Any time's a good time The best thing about being a beginner is that you don’t need a lot of snow to have a good time. While all the pros are complaining about lack of snowfall, you'll have all the snow you need. So basically, any time's a good time to start skiing, so just do it already. Image thanks to laszlo-photo via photopin Remember, there is hot chocolate and/or a good story waiting at the end of it Like this one. Image thanks to PunkJr via photopin. Feature image courtesy of Mt Hutt, NZSki Ltd. and Miles Holden.
Sydney cinephiles, the moment you've been waiting for is here. From June 6 to 17, the Sydney Film Festival will fill the city's cinemas with more than 334 movies. Race-relations comedies straight from Cannes, true crime documentaries about famous cases, behind-the-scenes looks at iconic fashion designers — they're just some of the flicks on offer in what's shaping up to be SFF's mighty busy 65th year. In fact, if you wanted to see BlacKkKlansman, Cold Blooded: The Clutter Family Murders or McQueen, we have bad news — they've already sold out. We told you that the fest will be busy. Thankfully, there's plenty more where those popular titles came from, which is where we come in. Fancy watching one of the absolute best films of the year? A compilation of clips excised from other films by the Australian censors? Gorgeous Japanese animation? A documentary about loving boy bands? Of course you do, and they're all on our must-see list. We've selected ten movies to keep you busy over SFF's 12-day run, so prepare to spend a lot of time inside a cinema. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHbUrdCXa4g YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE After screening at Cannes in 2017 — and deservedly winning Joaquin Phoenix the festival's best actor award for his gut-wrenching performance — it has taken some time for You Were Never Really Here to make it to our shores. Don't worry, this exceptional film is completely worth the wait. It's also one of the best movies of this or any other year. The highly anticipated latest feature from We Need to Talk About Kevin's Lynne Ramsay, the dark effort follows Phoenix's Joe, an ex-soldier and FBI agent turned hitman who rescues children from sex trafficking rings. Unsurprisingly, it's a tense, bleak dive through the mindset of a man coping with several layers of trauma; however neither Ramsay or Phoenix put a foot wrong in a feature that dials up its intense revenge thrills to astounding levels. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6o5WPcCgT0 FOXTROT Back in 2010, Israeli writer-director Samuel Maoz made a movie that was almost entirely set in a tank. Lebanon became one of the year's and the decade's most talked-about films — and while his next feature, Foxtrot, isn't confined to one setting, it is just as inventive, immersive and absorbing. The military drama kicks into gear with a knock at the door, as a couple are told by officials that their son has been killed in the line of duty. What happens from that point onwards is best discovered by watching, in a feature that astutely explores bureaucracy, grief and the many difficulties of living in a state of perpetual conflict. From playing with the narrative's timeline to inserting both dance sequences and animation into the mix, Maoz never fails to find the most fitting, astonishing and surprising ways to get to the heart of his story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtojt31IlQs [CENSORED] Ever wondered just what ends up on the cutting room floor — not during the normal editing process, but when the censors are deciding if a film is fit for public consumption? Or perhaps you fall into the other category, and you've never really thought about whether the version of a movie you're seeing is the same as the one submitted by the filmmakers for classification. Either way, Sari Braithwaite's [CENSORED] is bound to open your eyes, with the documentary made from clips excised from flicks by Australian censors between 1951 and 1978. Expect to be challenged and entertained, and to explore the role of censorship, as you step through a movie compiled from parts of other movies that you really weren't meant to see. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp6IcekfEpo MIRAI Outside of Studio Ghibli, Mamoru Hosoda is one of the most important names in Japanese animation — and if you've seen Summer Wars, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time or Wolf Children, you'll know why. The writer-director possesses quite the knack for matching eye-catching visuals with emotionally resonant stories, which could be why his latest, Mirai, became the first Japanese animated film to hold its world premiere at Cannes. Story-wise, it tells of a toddler unhappy about getting a baby sister called Mirai, which all sounds rather routine. If there's one thing that Hosoda's movies have taught audiences, however, it's that there's no such thing as a routine tale. Here, the unhappy four-year-old protagonist not only comes face-to-face with a teenager with the same name as his new sibling, but they're soon stumbling through a magical portal in search of adventure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgKLCqJc_oI NUMBER 37 One of the greatest films ever made gets a completely different twist in Number 37. This mightn't be the first time someone has been inspired to toy with Alfred Hitchcock's iconic Rear Window — the Shia LaBeouf-starring Disturbia did it (and ended up in court as a result), and so did one of the standout shorts at this year's Berlinale — but this South African feature uses the classic flick as a starting point, then finds its own riff. Written and directed by first-timer Nosipho Dumisa, the feature spends its time with a small-time crook who comes up with a new scam just by looking out of his window. He's stuck peering through his binoculars because he was paralysed in a drug deal gone wrong, and that's just one of the factors complicating this suspenseful narrative. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrB0Xbx1YCg THE RIDER In rodeo drama The Rider, real-life cowboy Brady Jandreau plays a version of himself. If you're wondering why writer-director Chloe Zhao opted to stick so close to reality, it's because her subject-turned-actor boasts quite the story. A member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Jandreau was a rising star when the two first met, inspiring Zhao to make a movie about him. Then a tragic riding accident changed his future forever, placing him at a crossroads. Part specific character study, part universal tale of chasing and losing a dream, then trying to come out of the other side, The Rider wouldn't be the same without its star — who acts alongside his real-life family members. Since premiering at Cannes last year, the movie has also been earning Zhao considerable praise for her empathetic modern-day take on the western genre. JULIET, NAKED The latest film adapted from a Nick Hornby book, Juliet, Naked sounds more than a little familiar — even if you haven't read the novel. To the surprise of no one acquainted with the author's work, it features a music-obsessed man who isn't too successful with romance, as well as a musician who earns the same description. High Fidelity 2, this isn't, however. Stuck between the two hapless male figures (played by Chris O'Dowd and Ethan Hawke) is the woman who's actually the protagonist of this story, Annie (Rose Byrne). A rom-com about people learning what's really important in life, the end result takes Hornby's usual insights (and his usual love of music, naturally) in a slightly different direction, and pairs them with an excellent cast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtVPjv9xLKw JIRGA The only Australian film competing for this year's Sydney Film Festival prize, Jirga was actually shot in Afghanistan. In fact, author, paramedic and filmmaker Benjamin Gilmour not only wrote and directed the feature, but shot the entire thing himself. That was the only way he could get his tale made after his initial funding fell through, with Gilmour forging ahead in incredibly difficult circumstances. Relaying the story of an Australian soldier who returns to Afghanistan to find the family of a man killed during a raid three years earlier, it's a movie that only explores the impact of war in its narrative, but bears its scars in every frame. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yodiBkuL00Y RAFIKI A lesbian romance set in Nairobi, Rafiki blazes several trails. In fact, the response to this Kenyan rarity has been varied to say the least. The film became the nation's first feature to screen at Cannes, which is an incredible feat. Back home, however, the movie's subject matter saw it banned by the Kenyan classification board. Focusing on two young women trying to cast aside society's conservative ideas about their futures, Rafiki follows Kena and Ziki as they fall in love, break free from their families' expectations, fight widespread prejudice and forge their own identities. Along the way, as she tells their fictional tale writer-director Wanuri Kahiu also embraces the vibrancy of Nairobi at street level. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp_YEf1olR0 I USED TO BE NORMAL: A BOYBAND FANGIRL STORY Calling all boy band fans — and pop culture fans in general. Since The Beatles caused hordes of teenage girls to scream in city streets all over the world all those decades ago, boy bands and pop culture really have gone hand in hand. If you're wondering why, or what inspires avid obsessives to devote their time and attention to their favourite group, then Melbourne-based filmmakers Jessica Leski and Rita Walsh might just have the answers courtesy of their documentary I Used to be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story. Exploring the stories of four women across three generations, the film also promises an insight into fandom and its joys, thrills and excesses in general. Want more recommendations? Given the hefty size of SFF's 2018 program, we have a few other picks. From our list of Australian titles to look out for, catch biker thriller 1% — and from our Sundance rundown, Kusama: Infinity, Leave No Trace, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, The Guilty and Searching all made the bill. There's more from our Berlinale selections, such as Aga, Daughter of Mine, Transit and An Elephant Sitting Still, while our Cannes standouts include Burning, Climax and Shoplifters.
Trailblazing graffiti artist Nychos has landed in Australia. Gracing our shores over late February and early March, the Austrian artist who recently took New York City by storm will be splitting his time between Sydney and Melbourne for this tour, presenting exhibitions, hosting workshops and leaving his unique mark on walls around town — including a brand new work just outside Work-Shop in Redfern. The new piece, titled Translucent June, is a homage to Sir Frederic Leighton's Victorian painting Flaming June. The classical work, which was painted back in 1895, is thought to allude to Greek sculptures of sleeping nymphs. In Nychos' depiction, June is wearing a similar orange dress — however, it (and her skin) is translucent, revealing her blood and bone. Here's the finished product. A post shared by nychos (@nychos) on Feb 28, 2017 at 12:01am PST In Sydney, Nychos just headed a graffiti art workshop at Work-Shop and presented a screening of his street art documentary The Deepest Depths of the Burrow. In Melbourne, the workshop and screening will take place on March 11. He'll also launch a pair of exhibitions, showcasing his new sculpture project, Vienna Therapy, featuring the three-foot-tall Dissection of Sigmund Freud in Federation Square from March 8-12, and his solo exhibition, MONOCHROME ORGANISM, at Juddy Roller Gallery in Fitzroy from March 10-24. Images: Kimberley Low.
When Indigenous Australian artist Archie Moore made history at the 2024 La Biennale de Venezia, aka the Venice Biennale, in April 2024 by winning the event's coveted Golden Lion for Best National Participation, he also did Brisbane's major art galleries proud. When the First Nations talent earned Australia the top gong at the Olympics of the art world for the first time ever, he did so with an exhibition curated by Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art's Ellie Buttrose, and with a date with Brisbane GOMA on its 2025–26 program. kith and kin is displaying in South Brisbane between Saturday, September 27, 2025–Sunday, October 18, 2026 — and it has also been gifted to QAGOMA permanently. The piece didn't just make history with its Venice Biennale accolade. A hand-drawn genealogical chart that spans back 65,000 years, this creation also chronicles it. Both a personal and a political work, kith and kin steps through Moore's Kamilaroi, Bigambul, British and Scottish heritage across the installation's five-metre-high, 60-metre-long black walls. More than 2400 generations are covered. The exhibition uses chalk on blackboard, with a reflective pool sitting in the middle of the room and 500-plus document stacks suspended above it. Every aspect of kith and kin makes a statement. With its size and scale, it speaks to Australia's Indigenous peoples being among the world's longest-continuous living cultures. The use of black is also designed to look like a celestial map, and therefore nod to the resting place of First Nations ancestors. Highlighting the decrease in Indigenous Australian languages and dialects since colonisation, the fragility that stems from not being able to pass down knowledge and injustices such as deaths in custody are all also part of the work — with the aforementioned piles of paper primarily from coronial inquests. Images: Archie Moore / kith and kin 2024 / Australia Pavilion at Venice Biennale 2024 / Photographer Andrea Rossetti / © the artist / Images courtesy of the artist and The Commercial.
Many an Aussie kid has spent a Saturday night hyped up on lime cordial spinning around their lounge room to Kylie Minogue. So, prep the cordial, and get ready to party like it's 2000 'cause the Aussie pop icon is heading back to home turf. While your inner child might be more familiar with her hits 'Spinning Around', 'Can't Get You Out of My Head' and that duo with Robbie Williams 'Kids', next year, Minogue is returning to Australia to perform songs off her just-released album Golden. Minogue was last here four years ago, in 2014, for her Kiss Me Once Tour, and now she's back, taking her Golden Tour for a spin around the country in March, 2019. As well as performing headline shows in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne, she'll also be performing at A Day on the Green in Perth, the Hunter Valley and Mount Cotton, Queensland. She'll be singing hits off her latest — and fourteenth — album Golden, which debuted at number one on the ARIA charts just this year. Featuring hits like 'Dancing' and 'Stop Me from Falling', the album has more of a country music-feel than her others, which is fitting, seeing it was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. On stage, Minogue will be joined by former Scissor Sisters frontman (now solo artist) Jake Sears at all shows and Brisbane artist Hatchie at A Day on the Green. Another special guest is expected to be announced soon, too. KYLIE MINOGUE 2019 'GOLDEN' TOUR DATES Sydney — ICC, March 5 Perth — A Day on the Green, Sir James Mitchell Park, March 9 Melbourne — Sidney Myer Music Bowl, March 13 Hunter Valley — A Day on the Green, Bimbadgen, March 16 Mount Cotton — A Day on the Green, Sirromet Wines, March 17 Tickets for capital city shows are available through Frontier Touring and A Day on the Green tickets are available through its website. Both go on sale at midday on Monday, November 19.
If you're starting to pencil in some strategic long weekends and well-deserved trips this year, here's one to add to the mix: Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort in Port Douglas has just launched a Bali-inspired floating breakfast. Designed for a loved-up pair or two partners-in-crime, this luxurious floating breakfast is available exclusively for guests staying as part of the Sheraton's Float Into Paradise accommodation package, which includes a three-night stay in a Mirage Studio Garden View Room. The menu runs to the likes of smashed avocado with perfectly poached eggs, charred sourdough and kale with whipped feta and seeds. A vegan-friendly scrambled tofu is paired with avo and tomato bruschetta, or a climate-appropriate coconut acai bowl is made with an almond-milk base and loaded with yoghurt, banana, macadamia and goji berries. If you take a more flexible approach when it comes to holiday nutrition, look towards the indulgent part of the menu. You can expect a three-cheese and tomato sourdough toastie, fresh banana bread or a brekkie burger with hash brown, smoked bacon, cheese and a fried egg. [caption id="attachment_888044" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Ellen Seah[/caption] The crowning jewel of the floating breakfast menu is a succulent half-lobster, served stuffed with creamy scrambled eggs, chives and garlic Turkish bread. Fresh fruit, yoghurt, pastries, a pair of coffees and juice are also included. The Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort itself boasts over two hectares of sparkling saltwater pools in Tropical North Queensland, meaning you can spend more time lounging by the water and less time travelling. Lagoons on-site include spots with sandy beaches, as well as serene private cabanas nestled on the waterfront. The five-star resort is also home to 147 hectares of lush tropical gardens, an 18-hole golf course and seven restaurants and bars on-site. In particular, the hatted Harrisons headed up by Spencer Patrick is a must-visit as one of Port Douglas' best restaurants. [caption id="attachment_888046" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Sunset Sessions[/caption] While the pool (and poolside) food and cocktails will keep you plenty busy, the hotel also runs Sunday sunset sessions complete with tapas and live tunes, or you can head along to a monthly rum masterclass. If you are keen to venture further during your stay, there are a variety of eco-friendly and sustainable tour options you can book. Locally-run Back Country Bliss runs swimmable tours through the Daintree Rainforest, which includes a snorkel and float tour of Mossman Gorge. Sailaway is a family business running half-day and full-day charters to Great Barrier Reef, including the Low Isles and Mackay Coral Cay on the Outer Reef. Finally, Four Mile Beach adventures with a twist can be booked with locally-operated Port Douglas Segway Tours. You can book the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort floating breakfast via the hotel website. It is available until December 18, 2023. If you want to extend your Queensland getaway, check out our curated Whitsundays packages on CP Trips which includes a four-day stay, snorkel and sail adventure with a day cruise.
Gone are the days of sidling into bottle shops and covertly trying to identify the second cheapest wine on the shelf. The brainchild of The Iconic founder and former managing director Cameron Votan, Spokewine is the brand new online wine store that may well revolutionise the way you think about your drinking — with a unique customer rating system. The online equivalent of a well-stocked cellar door, Spokewine features wine options from more than 70 different Australian wineries, many of which have never before been available to buy on the web. With a focus on boutique producers, customers can browse by wine type, region or individual winery, or simply take a look at what's trending with their fellow oenophiles — which, let's face it, is basically just a fancy word for knowledgeable alcoholic. Once you've found the wine that suits your palate, you can order by the case and have it delivered to you absolutely free. Shipping should take between 4-10 days, and you'll need someone over 18 to sign for it on arrival. Sorry kids, there's no gaming the system. What makes Spokewine unique is their democratic review process, which takes the power away from snooty wine critics and puts it back into the hands of the people. Basically, it's like IMDb, but for your liver. After logging in through Facebook, you can choose between 'love', 'like' and 'not for me', or get more in depth feedback through tasting notes and written reviews. After you've rated the vino, your score and everyone else's get aggregated into two separate rankings — the 'approval' rating counts the percentage of positive votes, while the 'passion' rating calculates the number of 'love' votes as a percentage of people who ranked it positively. The Spokewine venture may prove a new mode of doing business for the former Iconic head and his partners Nicholas Turner, Michael Larsen and Victor Garcia. Votan told BRW the move was a "real partnership" with winemakers, as opposed to the set-up with labels: arguing over rebates, charging fees for lost custom. Looks like Votan is going to do things a little differently this time. "Not just The Iconic but any retailer I’ve ever been involved with, whether through consulting or an operational role, is that merchants are by nature in an adversarial relationship [with suppliers],” Votan told BRW. "It would be impossible to do that with the set of vendors that we’re working with now. They just don’t work like that. They’re up for partnerships for life. They want you to come and look them in the eye, walk through their vineyard with them, understand their story and at the end shake hands and say let’s do business." Now if you'll excuse us, we've got some user-reviewed wine to order.
Pier One's harbourfront igloos are back. And, this time, one of them has its very own hot tub. Yes, a hot tub. So if you've been hankering after wintry waterside drinks — but aren't quite willing to brave the cold — this should be a very viable option. In case you're wondering, the igloos aren't made of snow and ice. They're transparent dome-shaped structures that you can hire for yourself and up to 15 mates, as long as you're willing to indulge in a few cocktails, glasses of Champagne and snacks from the Igloos on the Pier menu (you have to spend $150 for one hour in the tub or $300 for three hours. The hire comes with fluffy robes, slippers and a change room, and regular non-hot tub igloos are available too. During Vivid, the igloos are lighting up in blues, red and pinks. Plus, there's an installation inspired by the native Australian honey bee, which hopes to raise awareness of the creature's precarity.
Mandatory across all of Victoria (from tonight) and encouraged elsewhere when you cannot maintain social distancing (on public transport and at supermarkets, for example), face masks have become a part of everyday life for many Australians. There are plenty of shops across the country selling them now, but if you want to make yours a touch more unique, Petflair is here to help. The company is selling custom face masks with your pet's adorable fluffy (or not-so-fluffy) face on them. Whether you have an iguana, schnoodle or misanthropic cat, you can get their face emblazoned on a mask for all your fellow grocery shoppers to see. The masks are made to Department of Health and Human Services guidelines with three layers — a 100 percent polyester outside layer and 100 percent cotton face and filter-pocket layers — and come in ten different colours, including pastel pink, yellow, red, blue and black. They'll set you back $39.95 each — or two for $70 — with free shipping across Australia. Because of high demand, Petflair is only taking orders until 4pm on Wednesday, August 5 and shipping may take three-to-four weeks. So, you may need to get another couple of masks in the meantime (we've got some suggestions here). As an added bonus, the company is giving a portion of profits to charity Pound Paws, which helps pounds and rescue centres rehome animals across Australia. If you're set for masks, Petflair also makes towels and bathers with your pet's face on it. You'll be more than ready for a summer of social distancing on the beach if you get a set of these with Fido on them. Petflair is selling its custom print pet masks for $39.95. Orders must be submitted by 4pm on Wednesday, August 5. Top image: @dobiejax
Right now, it seems there's no end to the list of things you can have delivered to your door. Craving a midweek bottle of wine while social distancing? Naked Wines has your back. Fancy a fresh addition to your plant collection, dropped at your doorstep monthly? You're in capable hands with Botanic Box. Want sweeping views of some stunning Sydney coastline? Well, now you can thanks to Australia Unseen's new jigsaw puzzles. Sure, you can't physically take in the sights right now, but can get hours of at-home entertainment. Because let's face it, there are only so many times you can watch Tiger King. Australia Unseen's Vincent Rommelaere takes photos of Australian beaches and rock pools and usually sells them as prints on his website, but now he's turning these pics into puzzles and bringing the beach to your living room. Seeing as you can't just go down for a quick dip at Bondi at the moment, it may be the closest you get to feeling sand between your toes for a little while. At the moment, there are five different puzzles available as either 500-piece ($49) or 1000-piece ($59) jigsaws. If you're into ocean pools, you can choose a puzzle of Bondi's famed Icebergs, the Bronte Rock Pool or Coogee's Ross Jones Memorial Pool. Otherwise, there's a shot of Clovelly or one of people sunbathing at Bondi. More puzzles are expected to hit the online store this week, too, of Sydney's northern beaches and Byron Bay. All are aerial photographs and are sure to bring Aussie summer vibes in spades. Delivery within Australia is $10 and estimated to take two or three weeks. International shipping is also available, with cost and delivery time dependent on region. Australia Unseen jigsaw puzzles are now available to buy over here.
With Soohun Jung’s new invention, cyclists can communicate with drivers in ways that were never possible before. The Korean designer has come up with an ‘i Backpack’, which functions as a rear view mirror, as well as providing break signals, turn signals and a message board. A tablet is placed in the backpack, and connected with a smartphone, which rests on the handlebars. The two are integrated through a Bluetooth-enabling app. The smartphone works as a rearview mirror, and at the same time, sends messages to the tablet, which displays them for the benefit of drivers and pedestrians. So, a bright yellow arrow on a blue screen communicates the intention to turn, while block letters reading ‘SLOW DOWN’ indicate the cyclist is hitting the brakes. The app responds to the bicycle’s movements through sensors. Riders can also opt to send friendly messages, such as ‘Have a nice day’, ‘Ride with me’, ‘Thank you’ and ‘Sorry’. It’ll be interesting to explore the i Backpack’s potential to improve motorist-cyclist relations, particularly in cities that aren't especially well-designed for the incorporation of two-wheelers. Soohun Jung is currently studying product design at the Samsung Art and Design Institute. He has received a number of awards, including two Red Dot Design Winners in 2012 and a Bronze at the D2B Design Fair 2012. The i Backpack was shortlisted in IF 2013. [via PSFK]
The initial event announced for RISING 2025, Swingers — The Art of Mini Golf was always going to be one of the Melbourne winter festival's big highlights for this year. Combining mini golf and art, exploring the feminist history of the short game, getting folks tap, tap, tapping across the entire upper level of Flinders Street Station, and boasting talents such as Kajillionaire filmmaker and All Fours writer Miranda July designing courses: what a combination. Accordingly, months after the fest wrapped up its later iteration, it should come as no surprise that its putt-putt experience has not only proven a hit, but is also sticking around even longer than planned. While RISING ran for 12 days from Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, June 15 for 2025, Swingers — The Art of Mini Golf was locked in until Sunday, August 31 from the beginning. Now, that season has been extended. With a new closing date of Sunday, September 21, you've now got three more weeks to take to the greens. Expect company, as more than 25,000 people have headed by so far, resulting in soldout sessions. What do you get when you create an art exhibition that's also a mini-golf course? Swingers — The Art of Mini Golf answers that question with its playable setup. The piece's greens are designed by female-identifying and gender-diverse artists, resulting in surreal and mindbending creations in a work that also aims to get attendees thinking about the sport's beginnings. July's contribution, for instance, riffs on her latest book's name with an 'all fores' setup. Also helping to shape Swingers — The Art of Mini Golf: Soda Jerk switching from bringing TERROR NULLIUS and Hello Dankness to the big screen, plus Australian artists Kaylene Whiskey and Nabilah Nordin, Japan's Saeborg, the United Kingdom's Delaine Le Bas, Indonesia's Natasha Tontey, Atlanta rapper BKTHERULA and Hobart-based photographer Pat Brassington. "It's been fantastic seeing the diverse groups of people coming through the space, having fun, playing and learning about all of the beautiful, unusual artworks," said RISING's Grace Herbert, who curated the work. "So far, Swingers has hosted many families, friend groups and dates, and we've even had a proposal in the ballroom. I'm so glad that RISING is extending the season so that more people can enjoy this experience." As for the festival itself, it came, it celebrated, and it filled Melbourne with art, music and performances in June — with help from 100-plus events from 610 participating artists, including 16 brand-new commissions. Not only was Swingers — The Art of Mini Golf the first 2025 announcement, but it's the longest part of this year's program. And, while a few other events extended past RISING's official dates, this will also be the last to wrap up. Swingers — The Art of Mini Golf runs until Sunday, September 21, 2025 at Flinders Street Station, Flinders Street, Melbourne — head to the event's website for further information. Images: Remi Chauvin.
What does Brisbane have in common with music superstars Beyoncé, Björk, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, and also Oscar-winners Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton? An appreciation for fashion designer Iris van Herpen. The avant-garde Dutch talent has dressed them all, including creating the breathtaking Heliosphere dress that proved a showstopper on Beyoncé's Renaissance tour. The latter gigs haven't made it Down Under, but the Australian-exclusive Sculpting the Senses exhibition at the Queensland capital's Gallery of Modern Art will take you into the world of the haute couture figure who played a part in it. Fashion lovers have until Monday, October 7, 2024 to explore one of GOMA's big showcases for 2024, which continues to plunge the South Brisbane site into an enchanting and ethereal realm after Fairy Tales, its huge summer exhibition, did the same. Pieces by van Herpen can't be mistaken for designs by anyone else, sitting at the intersection of couture, art and design, while also exploring technological advancements such as 3D printing. In that field, she's widely considered the first to make a garment this way. [caption id="attachment_966401" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including Fractal Flows dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Perry Hall; and Cosmica gown, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Kim Keever / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] From gowns to accessories, a massive 130 of van Herpen's pieces are now on display in the River City. Across nine chapters — some nodding to the dreamlike sheen that accompanies the designer's pieces, others focusing on skeletal structures, inspirations, and how the sea and the cosmos are an influence — Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses steps through the work of a creative who boasts stints alongside Alexander McQueen and Claudy Jongstra on her resume. It was almost two decades back, in 2007, that the Maison Iris van Herpen came to life in Amsterdam. Evoking her studio, complete with a cabinet of curiosities, is also part of GOMA's celebration. In this section of the exhibition, attendees will also see a space dedicated to fashion shows and unpack the various development stages of a dress. Hitting Brisbane after a run in Paris, co-organised by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and boasting the organisation's Dr Cloé Pitiot and Louise Curtis on curatorial duties alongside QAGOMA's Nina Miall and Jacinta Giles, Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses takes its name seriously. This is a feast for the eyes, clearly, but also comes paired with a soundscape by Dutch sound artist Salvador Breed — not just a collaborator of van Herpen's, but her partner — to enhance the experience. [caption id="attachment_966406" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' at the Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA[/caption] Among the specific fashion gems featured, the exhibition draws from 2010's water-themed 'Crystallization' collection, which took its cues from water being splashed at models; 2020's 'Sensory Seas', with hydrozoa such as the bluebottle an influence; and 2012's 'Micro' and 'Hybrid Holism', each teeming with microscopic detail that mimics the natural world — just for starters. Elsewhere, van Herpen's designs use X-rays, MRIs, neuroscience, mythology, alchemy, biotech, NASA's James Webb space telescope and more as guides. In one clear highlight, 2019's cape-slash-dress Hypnosis, she deploys a kaleidoscopic pattern in inky black to touch upon the mind's movement between the conscious and unconscious — and, in the process, also fashions up an optical illusion. [caption id="attachment_966399" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Philip Beesely (Collaborator) / Canada b.1956. Hypnosis cape-dress, from the 'Hypnosis' collection 2019 / Laser-cut duchesse satin, mylar, tulle. Radiography dress, from the 'Magnetic Motion' collection 2014 / Laser-cut and thermally expanded PETG, silicone, microfibre. Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Shift Souls dress, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 / Laser-cut Komon Koubou, silk organza, mylar. Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA[/caption] Visitors will equally spy a range of complementary pieces surrounding van Herpen's designs, weaving in Yayoi Kusama, Cai Guo-Qiang, Japanese art collective Mé and Kohei Nawa, for instance. Megan Cope, Philip Beesley, Anne Noble, Damien Jalet, Casey Curran, Rogan Brown, Ren Ri and Courtney Mattison also have works in Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses, as does the Living Architecture Systems Group. Natural history objects add yet another layer. The dramatic staging, especially when van Herpen's work is set against a black background, achieves the same. Similarly featuring: installations, videos and photographs. Designs by van Herpen are unsurprisingly no stranger to galleries and museums, with New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, Paris' Palais Galliera and Melbourne's National Gallery of Victoria among the institutions to include her work in their collections. [caption id="attachment_966414" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses'. (l) Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Shelee Carruthers (Collaborator) / Australia b.1977 / Hydrozoa dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 / PETG, glass organza. (r) Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Hydromedusa dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 / Printed organza, laser-cut Komon Koubou, mylar, tulle. Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966412" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of the Cabinet of Curiosities in 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses', Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: J Ruckli © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966409" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including: Tim Walker (Photographer) / United Kingdom b.1970 / Iris van Herpen (Designer) / Netherlands b.1984 / David Altmejd (Sculptor) / Canada b.1974 / Duckie Thot (Model) / Australia b.1995 / Kiki Willems (Model) / Netherlands b.1996 / Fashion: Iris van Herpen 2018 / Exhibition print / Courtesy: Tim Walker Studio. Kohei Nawa / Japan b.197 / PixCell-Double Deer #4 2010 / Mixed media / Purchased 2010 with funds from the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Diversity Foundation through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation. Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Airborne dress, from the 'Aeriform' collection 2017 / Laser-cut crepe, mylar, tulle / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier. © The artists / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966411" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Iris van Herpen: Runway films 2017-23 (installation view, 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses') / Video, colour, sound, 57:51 minutes (total, looped) / Editor: Simona Gol / Music selection: Salvador Breed / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen Atelier / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966407" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses'. (l) Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Water dress, special project 2010 / Heat-moulded PETG / Collection: Groninger Museum, Netherlands / © Iris van Herpen. (r) David Spriggs / Canada b.1978 / Origins 2018 / PET film, acrylic Plexiglas, LED, acrylic paint, metal / Collection: Dr Pierre Miron / © David Spriggs. Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966405" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Haruka Kojin / Japan b.1983 / Contact Lens (installation view, 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses') 2023 / Acrylic lenses, wire / Courtesy: The artist and SCAI THE BATHHOUSE, Tokyo / © Haruka Kojin / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966400" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including: Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Kim Keever (Collaborator) / United States b. 1955 / Cosmica gown, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 / Organza, tulle / Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Azari dress, from the 'Carte Blanche' collection 2023 / Laser-cut crepe de Chine, silk organza, tulle. Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966396" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including (l-r) Foliage dress, from the 'Ludi Naturae' collection 2018 by Iris van Herpen with collaborators Delft University of Technology and Stratasys Ltd.; Gaia gown, from the 'Roots of Rebirth' collection 2021 and Ammonite dress, from the 'Seijaku' collection 2016 both by Iris van Herpen; and Explosion Process Drawing for Dragon or Rainbow Serpent: A Myth Glorified of Feared: Project for Extraterrestrials No.28 1996 by Cai Guo-Qiang / © The artists / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966410" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including (front) Cosmica gown, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Kim Keever / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966397" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses'. (l) Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Entangled Life gown, from the 'Roots of Rebirth' collection 2021 / Hand-pleated silk organza, embroider thread, tulle, wire / Worn by singer-songwriter Lorde performing at Radio City Music Hall, New York, 2022 / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen Atelier / © Iris van Herpen. (r) Yann Arthus-Bertrand (Director and photographer) / France b.1946 / Michael Pitiot (Director) / France b.1970 / Wim van Egmond (Photographer) / Netherlands b.1966 / Terra 2015 / Video, colour, Dolby Digital, 98 minutes, France, French, English subtitles / Music: Armand Amar / Voice: Vanessa Paradis / Production: Hope Production / Courtesy: Hope Production. Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_966408" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including (l-r) Contact 2023 by 目[mé]; Hydrozoa dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Shelee Carruthers; Mirror of the Mind dress, from the 'Micro' collection 2012 and Hydromedusa dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 both by Iris van Herpen / © The artists / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption]Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses displays at the Gallery of Modern Art, Stanley Place, South Brisbane, from Saturday, June 29–Monday, October 7, 2024 — for more information, head to the venue's website. Top images: Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Daniel Widrig (Collaborator) / United Kingdom b.1977 / Materialise (Collaborator) / Belguim est.1990 / Crystallization top and skirt, from the 'Capriole' collection 2011 / 3D-printed polyamide using selective laser sintering, eco-leather, cotton, nylon thread / Purchased thanks to the patronage of Doctor and Madam Léon Crivain, 2018 / Collection: Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris. // Courtney Mattison / United States b.1985 / Malum Geminos 2019 / Glazed stoneware and porcelain / Courtesy: The artist. // Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Nicholas Koscinski (Collaborator)/ United States b.1992 / Futurama gown, from the 'Meta Morphism' collection 2022 / 3D-printed Bluesint (upcycled polyamide) using selective laser sintering, silver, silk, organza, tulle / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier. // © The artists / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including (front l-r) Symbiotic asymmetric dress, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 by Iris van Herpen; Fractal Flows dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Perry Hall; and Cosmica gown, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Kim Keever / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA. Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses'. (l) Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Holozoic dress, from the 'Hybrid Holism' collection 2012 / Eco-leather, Swarovski crystals / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier / © Iris van Herpen. (r) Tim Walker (Photographer) / United Kingdom b.1970 / Iris van Herpen (Designer) / Netherlands b.1984 / David Altmejd (Sculptor) / Canada b.1974 / Duckie Thot (Model) / Australia b.1995 / Kiki Willems (Model) / Netherlands b.1996 / Fashion: Iris van Herpen 2018 / Exhibition print / Courtesy: Tim Walker Studio / © Tim Walker. Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA. Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses'. (l)目[mé] / Japan est.2012 / Contact 2023 / Mixed media / Courtesy: The artists. (r) Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Shelee Carruthers (Collaborator) / Australia b.1977 / Hydrozoa dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 / PETG, glass organza / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier. Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA. Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including (front) Cosmica gown, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Kim Keever / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.
Across its five seasons to date, Black Mirror has dedicated 22 episodes to imagining dystopian futures — and while it makes for compelling viewing, none of the sci-fi anthology series' predictions are particularly pretty. But, for all of its prognosticating, the Charlie Brooker-created show didn't foresee 2020's chaos. And now we've all endured this hectic year and are about to see it come to an end, the team behind Black Mirror has something to say about it. At 6pm AEST on Sunday, December 27, just before 2020 fades away forever, Netflix will drop a new comedy special called Death to 2020 — which is made by the Black Mirror crew. The show will look back on the year via a documentary-style special that uses real-life archival footage from the past 12 months, as well as narration from fictitious characters played by the high-profile likes of Samuel L Jackson, Hugh Grant, Lisa Kudrow, Kumail Nanjiani, Tracey Ullman, Samson Kayo, Leslie Jones, Diane Morgan, Cristin Milioti and Joe Keery. Immediately keen to see more? After revealing a teaser trailer for Death to 2020 earlier in December — when it first announced that the project even existed — Netflix has now dropped a full sneak peek. Jackson's character gets snappy, Grant's wants to make sure that a drink is close at hand, and Jones' advises she'd say 2020 "was a trainwreck and a shit show, but that'd be unfair to trains and shit". Brooker has a history of looking back at events that have just passed, as Newswipe with Charlie Brooker and his end-of-year Wipe specials between 2010–16 have all demonstrated — so satirising and savaging the year's developments definitely falls into his wheelhouse. Brooker and Netflix also love releasing new material over the holiday period, with interactive Black Mirror special Bandersnatch dropping between Christmas and New Year's Eve back in 2018. So, true to form, they're giving everyone an extra festive — and grimly funny — present this year. Check out the full Death to 2020 trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veUqfcyZ_Bo Death to 2020 will hit Netflix at 6pm AEST on Sunday, December 27 . Images: Saeed Adyani/Keith Bernstein.
Squid Game is finally returning for season two, and Heartbreak High as well. A new take on Tom Ripley is also on the way. They aren't the only things that you'll be watching on Netflix in 2024. As it does to begin every year, the streaming platform has unveiled a teaser video for the TV shows — returning and new — and movies that'll be added to its catalogue over the coming 11 months, while also dropping a heap of details. Get ready for plenty of time spent glued to the small screen. The sheer number of series and films that the service releases each year is always massive (see: 2022's and 2023's lists of features). 2024 is set to be no different. Starting with episodic fare, more Bridgerton will arrive in May, season three of hilarious girl group comedy Girls5eva is due in March and That '90s Show will be back by midyear. Also among the returning shows: Mo, Heartstopper, The Diplomat, Emily in Paris, Monsters, The Night Agent, Outer Banks, Sweet Tooth, Cobra Kai, Drive to Survive, Unstable and The Umbrella Academy. [caption id="attachment_938940" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emily V Aragones/Netflix © 2023[/caption] More than a few of Netflix's new series additions in 2024 have been announced previously, but that doesn't make them any less exciting. Sci-fi thriller 3 Body Problem brings the book of the same name to the screen; Avatar: The Last Airbender turns the beloved animated effort into live-action; and The Gentlemen takes its cues from the Guy Ritchie movie of the same name — with Theo James (The White Lotus), Kaya Scodelario (The King's Daughter), Vinnie Jones (Bullet Proof) and Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul) among the cast, and Ritchie producing. That said, you mightn't have already heard about Black Doves, starring Keira Knightley (Boston Strangler) as the spy wife of a UK politician; Eric, with Benedict Cumberbatch (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar) as a father searching for his missing nine-year-old son; or No Good Deed, about two families trying to buy the same house, and with Lisa Kudrow (Space Force), Ray Romano (Bupkis), Linda Cardellini (Dead to Me), Luke Wilson (Fingernails), Teyonah Parris (The Marvels) and Abbi Jacobson (A League of Their Own) starring. The Perfect Couple is Nicole Kidman's (Expats) next small-screen stint and Terminator: The Anime Series battles Skynet in animation. The Good Place's Ted Danson and Mike Schur are also reteaming on a new comedy series that's based on the Oscar-nominated documentary The Mole Agent, Gabriel García Márquez's iconic novel One Hundred Years of Solitude is scoring an adaptation, and Senna dramatises Ayrton Senna's life. Movie fans, there's no shortage of highlights for you, too — including Spaceman, Damsel, Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story and Hit Man. The first sees filmmaker Johan Renck (Chernobyl) take Adam Sandler (Leo) to space, while the second riffs on fairy tale and fantasy stories with Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) in the lead. As for the third, it marks Jerry Seinfeld's film directorial debut, and tells exactly the tale that its title makes plain. And the fourth is Richard Linklater's (Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood) latest, with Glen Powell (Anyone But You) co-writing and starring. From there, on a roster that goes on — as its television counterpart also does — His Three Daughters boasts spectacular casting thanks to Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age), Elizabeth Olsen (Love & Death) and Natasha Lyonne (Poker Face); Japanese animation The Imaginary hails from Studio Ponoc (Mary and the Witch's Flower); Irish Wish and Our Little Secret both feature Lindsay Lohan (Mean Girls); and the Thomasin McKenzie (Totally Completely Fine)-, James Norton (Happy Valley)- and Bill Nighy (Role Play)-starring Joy is about the world's first test-tube baby. [caption id="attachment_938943" align="alignnone" width="1920"] John P. Johnson / Netflix © 2024.[/caption] The Beverley Hills Cop franchise returns in the new Eddie Murphy (Candy Cane Lane)-starring instalment that's aptly subtitled Axel F; Atlas pits Jennifer Lopez (The Mother) against AI, and Back in Action sees Jamie Foxx (The Burial) and Cameron Diaz (in her first film since 2014's Annie) as married spies brought back into the espionage fold. A Family Affair has Joey King (Bullet Train) playing a woman who works for a movie star (Zac Efron, The Iron Claw), Laura Dern (The Son) is a novelist who has an affair with a younger man (Liam Hemsworth, Land of Bad) in Lonely Planet, and Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie joins the SpongeBob SquarePants world. Or, there's Scoop, which goes behind the scenes on Prince Andrew's Newsnight interview, and features Gillian Anderson (Sex Education), Keeley Hawes (Orphan Black: Echo), Billie Piper (I Hate Suzie) and Rufus Sewell (The Diplomat); Shirley, the Regina King (The Harder They Fall)-led flick about the first Black congresswoman; That Christmas, a family-friendly festive effort based on the books by Love Actually filmmaker Richard Curtis; and Thelma the Unicorn, by directors Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite) and Lynn Wang (Unikitty!). Anna Kendrick (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off) helms and leads Woman of the Hour, about an aspiring actor and a serial killer; French fare Family Hour werewolves battles werewolves; Spanish horror hit The Platform gets a sequel; and South Korea's Uprising is produced and co-written by Decision to Leave's Park Chan-wook. We hope your couch is comfy — because you're going to be spending quite a bit of time on it. Check out Netflix's trailer for its 2024 slate below: New movies and TV shows will hit Netflix throughout 2024 — head to the streaming platform for its current catalogue. Top image:
Sydney winemaking duo Sebastian Keys and Zachary Godbolt are bringing their beloved natural, organic and vegan wine brand DOOM JUICE to a new cellar door in St Peters next month. The inaugural venue for the brand will open to Sydney wine lovers on Friday, September 2 from inside the garage of the former White Horse Hotel digs which The Music & Booze Co has transformed into The House of Music & Booze. The cellar door will boast a takeaway bottle shop and a bar opening up to a sunny courtyard complete with red neon lights and a DOOM Juice mural created by local favourite Struthless. Tastings, artist residencies and DJ sets will pop up in the courtyard — plus, most excitingly, the bar will host a weekly pop-up bistro pulling together the cream of Sydney's culinary crop. "We've been wanting to do a cellar door for quite a while in the inner west," said Keys to Concrete Playground. "The whole point of DOOM JUICE really, we wanted to be a really great way to get into natural wine, to be one of the first points of call into the wine world." Led by Bastardo's Jack Fitzhenry, St. Lawrence Bistro will pull together a new menu each Sunday curated by a different chef. The DOOM JUICE team has already locked in the likes of Toby Stansfield (The Old Fitz), Marcelo Munoz (Continental Deli CBD), Wesley-Cooper Jones (P&V), Sammy Rozsnyoi (Cafe Paci), Luka Coyne (Fish Shop), Ed Saxton (Sagra) and Anna Ugarte-Carral (10 Hats) to take over the kitchen across the first couple of months. Each chef will take the reins for the week and pull together their own array of seasonal snacks to pair with the top-notch vino. "Every week will be different. [The chefs] are all working on their own speciality things," confirmed Keys. DOOM JUICE has built a cult following in Sydney with two sold-out vintages. The team's 2021 vintage has become a mainstay in pubs, bars and independent bottle shops across the Inner West and inner-city, offering a Gewurz, rosé and skin-contact sauvignon blanc viognier blend. The cellar door will be open Friday–Sunday until 10pm, offering the Inner West yet another ideal weekend drinking hole, with the courtyard sure to be a hit during summer. It will join Syndey party collective Fruit Bowl at the venue, who's been hosting its weekly Fruit Bowl Sundays events at The House of Music & Booze since late May. DOOM JUICE's cellar door will open Friday, September 2 at 9 Victoria Street, St Peters. It will be open 3–10pm Fridays and midday–10pm Saturday–Sunday.
The last time that Lady Gaga appeared on the big screen, she nabbed an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her troubles (and a shiny trophy for Best Original Song, too). Three years after A Star Is Born, she's heading back into cinemas in House of Gucci — and while no one should be speculating about accolades sight unseen, this true-crime fashion drama sure does scream potential awards contender. Haute couture. Murder. Disco tunes and Studio 54. Throw in one of the biggest names in fashion — and a tale that's filled with both glam and grim strands, too — and that's this Ridley Scott (The Last Duel)-directed film. Ranking highly among the most anticipated movies set to hit the big screen across the rest of 2021, it steps inside the Gucci family fashion dynasty, charting its successes and shocking moments over the course of three tumultuous decades. If you've read the book The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed, which this new movie is based on, then you'll know the details. If you've seen news coverage about or can remember the events that rocked the Italian family back in 1995, you will as well. The focus: Maurizio Gucci, grandson of company founder Guccio Gucci, and the head of the fashion house throughout the 80s and early 90s — until he was assassinated by a hitman in 1995. Adam Driver slips on Maurizio's unsurprisingly stylish shoes, in what's proving a big year for him in cinemas (he also starred in The Last Duel, as well as in Annette a few months ago). As for Lady Gaga, she plays Maurizio's wife Patrizia. And, as the just-dropped new trailer shows — following on from a first sneak peek mid-year — her character isn't holding back. Obviously, there's quite the story to unpack here, and Scott seems to be going big on striking threads, 70s and 80s tunes and vibes, indulgence and luxury dripping through in every frame, and also an unavoidable air of melodrama. To help, the film's star-studded cast also includes Jared Leto (The Little Things) sporting plenty of prosthetics and makeup, as well as Al Pacino (The Irishman), Jeremy Irons (Love, Weddings and Other Disasters) and Salma Hayek (The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard). As both trailers reminds us, that's a whole lot of Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated talent in one flick. Check out the latest House of Gucci trailer below: House of Gucci will release in Australian cinemas on December 26. Image: 2021 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.
