Right now, Sydney's in hibernation mode. The sun's down by 5.30pm and your feed is probably full of people sipping Aperols in Italy while you're reheating soup and wearing your beanie inside. But who says you need a boarding pass to channel Euro summer? St Siandra — Mosman's stunning waterfront restaurant — has long been Sydney's go-to for Mediterranean-style dining. But this winter, it's bringing those effortless holiday vibes to your place with Siandra at Home, a new collection of chef-made delivery Feast and Aperitivo packages for entertaining or just eating really well on a chilly weeknight. Available via UberEats, each pack feeds four to six people and everything comes beautifully wrapped, pre-prepared and ready to serve. Here's how to get the full St Siandra experience at home. The Whole Chicken Feast This is a classic made special. This pack is centred around a golden-skinned roast chicken served with pearl onion, radicchio and a rich jus gras. To round it out, you also get smoked garlic flatbread, kipfler potatoes in guindilla and harissa dressing, and a cauliflower salad with whipped cashew, rocket and cranberries. It's an impressive spread that feels occasion-worthy, like that dinner you always mean to cook for friends, but never get around to. The Lamb Shoulder Feast This one's heartier and perfect for cold nights or long lunches that stretch into the evening. It comes with a slow-cooked lamb shoulder layered over chickpea tagine and finished with apricot and labneh. Like the Whole Chicken Feast, it's also paired with flatbread, kipflers and that same standout cauliflower salad. Throw a tablecloth on the dining table, light a candle and suddenly it's not Sydney winter, it's a villa in Santorini. Aperitivo and Drinks Pairings On the drinks front, St Siandra's also made it easy to turn your night in into something a little more celebratory. Alongside your feast, you can add a curated drinks pairing — including your choice of a negroni for two, a Tommy's Margarita or a classic old fashioned. There's also the option to include a bottle of Laurent Perrier Champagne, or something special from the venue's exclusive wine list, handpicked to complement the food. Everything arrives chilled and ready to pour, so you can skip the mixing and head straight for the good part: sipping something excellent while dinner basically serves itself. With these new feast packs, there's no prep, no stress and definitely no chopping involved. Because if we have to get through winter, it might as well be in St Siandra style — with champagne, good food and a side of dreamy holiday energy. Order your Siandra at Home delivery packs via UberEats.
There's a new gin in town and it's pink. And when we say pink, we mean really pink — like, Grease girl gang pink. This delightful concoction will be in glasses for spring and its creators are the master distillers at Bass and Flinders, which you'll find on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. Dubbed Cerise, the gin gets its pinkness from a blend of cherries and raspberries, which is layered with hibiscus and orange blossom aromas. These ingredients are sourced from farms at nearby Red Hill. All bottles are made in small batches, to keep the gin's high quality and delicate flavour profile. Apparently it will have a slight sweetness, similar to Turkish delight. As with all Bass and Flinders gins, the spirit is based on grapes. "Using grape spirit for gin provides another dimension to the gin's botanicals and adds to the viscosity, texture and flavour — this, combined with seasonal produce, produces extraordinary spirits," says head distiller Wayne Klintworth. The gin will go on sale on September 12. It'll be available for a limited time, only at the cellar door and via the distillery's website. Bass and Flinders have been making unusual gins and other spirits, including vodka, limoncello, grappa and a five-year-aged brandy called Ochre, since 2009.
Everyone has had a Surry Hills Shopping Village experience. Maybe it is (or was) your closest spot for groceries, where you've bartered for salmon at the fishmonger, rummaged for discounted fresh produce at the fruit shop, or picked up an emergency serve of Singapore noodles from Noodle Star. Well, love it or loathe it, soon, it will all be different. The Cleveland Street shopping centre is set to be totally redeveloped — and the designs have just been released by property group Toga. And, boy, does it look different. In the hands of architects SJB and Studio Prineas, Murder Mall — as it's 'affectionately' known — will keep its original 1867 Federation-style brickwork frontage, but also gain commercial space and a casual 157 residential apartments across an additional three storeys. Also new will be a small public park at the rear of the site (towards Baptist Street) and a "market-style" laneway that will no doubt feature a few street food vendors requisite of all new developments. The interiors will be given an upgrade, too, thanks to BKH Interiors. The Coles supermarket will be retained, but it sounds like all other retailers will be booted in favour of more boutique offerings. A statement from Toga didn't mention specifics, but that it would be looking to fill the retail spaces with "a diverse mix of Surry Hills' finest providores and restaurateurs". The master plan has already been approved, so Toga has now submitted the development application for the Surry Hills site. If it all goes ahead, construction will start late 2019 with a view to finish in early 2022. The shopping village will be closed in that time — to try and make up for the inconvenience, a shuttle will run between the site and the Coles in Waterloo. There's no doubt that the shopping centre could do with a new coat of paint, but the development — which, according to The Australian Financial Review, will cost around $150 million — does pose to change the vibe of the site and the area around it, as has happened with similar developments in Waterloo and Chippendale. The Surry Hills Shopping Village is located on the corner of Cleveland and Baptist streets, Redfern. It will remain open until late 2019. Find more info on the development here.
'Squito', as the 'throwable panoramic camera ball' is officially known, is the brainchild of Boston-based inventor Steve Hollinger. Packed with three cameras, an IMU (inertial measurement unit), a microcontroller, an image processor and sensors, the tennis ball-sized piece of first generation genius promises to take video to yet another new level. And yes, it might unleash a torrent of Facebook selfies from unimaginable angles, but what's more interesting about Squito is its potential to assist in search-and-rescue missions, reconnaissance, architectural development and mapping. Built to function in all kinds of conditions, including darkness, fog and smoke, it can be used in disaster zones to detect injured and trapped victims. Squito's sensors determine the relationship between its rapidly moving apertures and the subject concerned, so that images can be joined to form a panorama. Moreover, video stabilisation is possible, and photos and footage are sent to a nearby computer, tablet or smartphone via wireless communication. 'Throwable camera innovations are accelerating with advancements in sensor and imaging microelectronics,' Hollinger explains. 'And with the advent of low-cost, high-speed cameras for outdoor recreation, an affordable throwable camera is finally within reach.' Want one? Unfortunately, the Squito is not yet up for sale. Hollinger has a second patent, but he's looking for 'camera companies, investors and individuals operating on the cutting edge' to get involved. [via Hypebeast]
"Honey, we're home." Those words are uttered in the first sneak peek at Netflix's Heartbreak High revival and, especially if you were a 90s kid, they're filled with emotion. Screening for seven seasons and 210 episodes between 1994–99, the OG Heartbreak High wasn't just a high school-set Aussie show — it was the high school-set Aussie show of the era. The original series was filled with now-familiar faces, too, including Alex Dimitriades, a pre-Home and Away Ada Nicodemou, and Avengers: Endgame and Mystery Road's Callan Mulvey as Drazic. It painted a multicultural picture of Australia that was unlike anything else on TV at the time. And, for its six-year run across two Aussie networks, the Sydney-shot show was must-see television — not bad for a series that started as a spinoff to the Claudia Karvan and Alex Dimitriades-starring 1993 movie The Heartbreak Kid. Back in 2020, Netflix announced that it was bringing Heartbreak High back — and now that revival is almost here. The series itself will join your streaming queue on Wednesday, September 14, and the platform has dropped the first trailer in the interim. Yes, it definitely looks like a 2020s take on the Aussie classic. While the initial teaser sets the vibe rather than spells out the story, the show obviously returns to Hartley High — the fictional school that everyone watching was obsessed with way back when. This time around, a revelation turns Amerie (Ayesha Madon, The Moth Effect) into a pariah, and also sparks a rift with her best pal Harper (Asher Yasbincek, How to Please a Woman). Attempting to repair her reputation, and just navigate the usual teen chaos, she calls on help from her new friends Quinni (Chloe Hayden, Jeremy the Dud) and Darren (first-timer James Majoos). If you're keen for a bit more background on the new show's characters, back when it announced the cast, Netflix described Amerie as a smart, big-hearted but loud working-class girl, and Harper as the person at Hartley that everyone is a little afraid of, including teachers. Quinni, who has autism, is "a brain trying to connect to a body and a heart", while Darren is "the warmest snarky shit-stirrer you're ever likely to meet". Other characters include Malakai (Thomas Weatherall, All My Friends Are Racist), a Bundjalung boy and basketballer who is new at Hartley High; Dusty (Josh Heuston, Thor: Love and Thunder), an insecure bass player in an indie rock band; Sasha (Gemma Chua-Tran, Mustangs FC), who has been badged "the coolest, sexiest, and chiccest lesbian at the school"; and Ca$h (Will McDonald, Home and Away), a mullet-wearing drug dealer, food delivery driver and pet duck owner. Rachel House (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Baby Done) plays Hartley High's principal, too — and yes, Netflix is still streaming the original series, should you feel like a double dose of nostalgia. Check out the first trailer for the new Heartbreak High below: Heartbreak High will be available to stream via Netflix on Wednesday, September 14.
It's official: Banksy is the poster boy of the contemporary art world. Usually hidden in laneway corners and industrial wastelands, his works are no longer just a treasure to be found by metropolitan hipsters. Now they are cut, drilled and pulled from their original context and thrust straight into the hands of Sotheby's famous auction house. Hell, one of his works was even on Antiques Roadshow last week. Unfortunately, as the British artist is still wilfully anonymous, he sees no profit from such sales. And really, it goes against everything he believes in. Accordingly, he's having a bit of fun with the latest auction held in his name. I Can’t Believe You Morons Actually Buy This Shit is a real-life Banksy artwork being sold at Sotheby's this coming week. No joke. Valued at around £10,000, the piece is part of an unauthorised retrospective of the artist's work that will feature 70 items including prints, sculptures and paintings. Some person is likely going to spend real money on it, hang it unironically above their mantel, and boast about it to their similarly rich and foolish friends. Priceless. Other works on show in the exhibition at Sotheby's S2 Gallery include Banksy's iconic Warhol-esque works featuring (and signed by) Kate Moss, and the famed Pulp Fiction-style stencil of John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson carrying bananas instead of guns. The exhibition, which has been knowingly titled The Unauthorised Retrospective, is not the first that has been carried out against the artist's will. Just this year we've seen Stealing Banksy? at the ME Hotel in London and the sale of the artist's Kissing Coppers to an anonymous buyer after being excavated from the wall of a Brighton pub (it went for a cool £345,000). It's understandably troubling that these sales are going on without the artist's consent and Banksy has spoken out about it in the past. "Art’s rightful place is on the cave walls of our committees where it can act as a public service, provoke debate, voice concerns [and] forge identities," said the artist. "The world we live in today is run, visually at least, by traffic signs, billboards and planning committees. Is that it? Don’t we want to live in a world run by art, not just decorated by it?" It's a noble crusade that street artists carry on around the world; its presence in Australia thankfully still going strong. And, while it's undoubtedly a bummer to have hoity toity types taking advantage of such a beautiful thing, you can take a little consolation in the following. The guy who drops £10,000 on this latest print is going to be confronted with the fact he's a moron every single day. Via West Morning News and Reuters. Kissing Coppers photo credit: robthomasdesigns via photopin cc.
Film festival opening nights aren't just about red carpets, a jam-packed guest list, plenty of photo opportunities and oh-so-much buzz. They're also about launching a cinema celebration as the event means to go on. So, with SXSW heading Down Under for the first time in 2023, hosting SXSW Sydney from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22, exactly which flick gets pride of place at the fest's Screen Festival is a particularly massive deal. The pick: The Royal Hotel, the latest film from Australian director Kitty Green. Green will bring her second fictional feature and fourth full-length effort to the Harbour City's first-ever SXSW, with the movie enjoying its Australian debut fresh from world-premiering at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. The Royal Hotel also marks the second collaboration in a row between Green and star Julia Garner, who was as stunning in the filmmaker's The Assistant as she was in Ozark and Inventing Anna. This time, the Casting JonBenet helmer and her current go-to star are teaming up on a tale about US backpackers who get jobs at an outback Australian pub — and also stay there. Amid the heat, the lack of wifi and drinking wine out of a cask, Hanna (Garner) and Liv (Jessica Henwick, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery) also cross paths with the town's male residents, including Hugo Weaving (Love Me) as the watering hole's owner, plus Toby Wallace (Babyteeth) playing charming and Daniel Henshall (Mystery Road: Origin) getting chilling. "Kitty Green's The Royal Hotel is a deft reworking of the Aussie outback thriller, reoriented with a female gaze, and we could not be more thrilled to open the inaugural SXSW Sydney Screen Festival with Kitty in attendance," said SXSW Sydney's Head of Screen Ghita Loebenstein, announcing the opening-night selection. "The film takes deliberate stabs at the more toxic shadows of the genre, and our culture, in sophisticated but ever entertaining ways. Kitty is a local luminary gaining international acclaim as a writer-director with a fearless vision for nuanced storytelling and this film is the perfect opener to the Screen Festival, which seeks to amplify and celebrate bold voices in film." The Royal Hotel joins ten previously announced titles on the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival lineup from Sunday, October 15–Saturday, October 21, with more to come. Also a big local title on the bill: documentary Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles, which will enjoy its world premiere at the fest. And, among nine flicks revealed in July, everything from flicks starring Indonesian rappers and documentaries about Tokyo Uber Eats rider to movies featuring viral Chinese dance crazes will pop up. Can't wait to watch your way through the fest? SXSW Sydney Screen Festival wristbands go on sale on Friday, August 25, starting at an early-bird price of $240 and getting people wearing one into unlimited screenings. [caption id="attachment_910715" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Netflix[/caption] The SXSW 2023 Sydney Screen Festival also features an array of speakers, with Queer Eye star Tan France set to hit Australia to get chatting. Indigenous filmmakers Leah Purcell (The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson), Kodie Bedford (Mystery Road: Origin) and Jub Clerc (Sweet As) will also take to the stage; Osher Günsberg is on the SXSW Sydney bill recording an episode of his podcast Better Than Yesterday with a yet-to-be-announced special guest; and Gone Girl, The Nightingale, The Dry, Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers producer Bruna Papandrea and Binge's Executive Director Alison Hurbert-Burns will also appear. As well as showering viewers with movies and TV shows, with more titles to come — including First Nations Screen Festival programming by Winda Film Festival founder Pauline Clague — SXSW Sydney's film- and TV-focused strand will feature red-carpet premieres; digital and social content; an XR showcase; Q&As and panel discussions; parties and mentoring; and a screen market for industry deals. Free outdoor screenings are also slated, alongside indoor sessions at The ICC's Darling Theatre, Palace Cinemas Central and other yet-to-be-advised venues. SXSW Sydney will run from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22 at various Sydney venues, with the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival running from Sunday, October 15–Saturday, October 21 at The ICC's Darling Theatre, Palace Cinemas Central and more venues to be announced. Head to the SXSW Sydney website for further details. If you're keen to make the most of Australia's first SXSW, take advantage of our special reader offer. Purchase your SXSW Sydney 2023 Official Badge via Concrete Playground Trips and you'll score a $150 credit to use on your choice of Sydney accommodation. Book now via the website.
When the ABC decided to take a few cues from Britain's music quiz and comedy panel TV series Never Mind the Buzzcocks by creating Spicks and Specks, Australia's national broadcaster likely knew that it had a hit on its hands — but it mightn't have realised just how beloved the show would become. 2025 will mark two decades since the series debuted. It hasn't always been on the air every year since, but it will be back for next year's milestone. Get ready to bust out all that music knowledge, and also to play along with one of the nation's favourite television shows — again. Among everything that the ABC has ever broadcast, be it news, entertainment, after-school kids shows, oh-so-much Doctor Who and late-night music videos to keep you occupied after a few drinks all included, the Adam Hills-, Myf Warhurst- and Alan Brough-led Spicks and Specks is among the all-time highlights. Exactly when the next season will hit in 2025 hasn't been revealed, but 2024's run arrived from June. There's no word yet on new guests, either, but a heap of top Australian talent will sit around and talk about tunes as always. 2024's guests included Anthony Callea, Marlon Williams, Elly-May Barnes, Nooky, Montaigne and Dan Sultan, as well as Mark Seymour, Oli from Lime Cordiale — and also Hamish Blake, Tommy Little, Steph Tisdell, Abbie Chatfield, Shane Jacobson and Jenny Tian. Here's how it works, if you need a refresher: Spicks and Specks' contestants answer questions, compete for points and just generally prove funny, too. That's the concept behind the series, which pits Aussie musos and comedians against each other. It was a weekly favourite when it first aired between 2005–2011 — and it keeps being resurrected. As fans are well-aware, Spicks and Specks has enjoyed more comebacks than John Farnham, although that has meant different things over the years. When the program was first revived back in 2014, it did so with a new host and team captains, for instance. And when it started to make a return with its original lineup of Hills, Warhurst and Brough, it first did so via a one-off reunion special. That 2018 comeback proved more than a little popular. It became the ABC's most-watched show of that year, in fact. So, the broadcaster then decided to drop four new Spicks and Specks specials across 2019–20 and, for 2021, to bring back Spicks and Specks in its regular format. In 2022, ten new episodes hit — and then the show returned again in 2024. To tide you over until new episodes, here's a clip from 2024's Spicks and Specks run: Spicks and Specks will return to ABC TV and ABC iView in 2025 — we'll update you with more details when they're announced.
No adult should actually want to head back in time to their schoolyard days, but sending your chocolate-loving tastebuds there is a different matter. Some flavours and snacks just transport you into your memories, offering up a blast from the past with every bite, and KitKat is making them its business — alongside releasing oh-so-many wild and delightful flavours in Japan, of course. (Cough drop KitKats, anyone?) In 2022, KitKat teamed up with Aussie favourite Milo on the chocolate bars of your childhood dreams. Now, it's giving that concept a second go — this time with Milkybars. Sure, you mightn't have had a Milkybar since you carried around a lunchbox in a backpack, but come April and May, you'll be able to get your fix via three options. The Milkybars are on this new range of KitKats, and literally — in a way that 90s TV ads never imagined. Leading the pack is a regular four-finger KitKat covered with Milkybar white chocolate, which'll hit 7-Elevens first from April. But, it has company. If you're keen to share — or save some for yourself for later — there's a big KitKat block also covered in white chocolate which arrives at other supermarkets and convenience stores from Wednesday, May 3. Or, there's a sharepack filled with small pieces which you'll only find at Coles from the same May date. No, you don't have to eat this collab with milk. Also, you don't have to enjoy them in a milk bar, if you can find one around the place. And no, you don't have to call yourself the Milkybar Kid, either — even if the character was a staple of Nestlé's Milkybar advertisements from the 60s onwards. To really ramp up the nostalgia, check out one of those old ads below: KitKat's Milkybar chocolates will hit store shelves from April and May, retailing at $2 per bar, $5 per share pack and $5.50 per block.
Fair-weather cyclists, rejoice! It’s time to bring out that rusting bike from its hiding place (your stairwell/balcony/side-alley) and take it to one of Sydney’s most scenic cycle paths. From easy to not-that-tough cycle routes, we’ve got five choice routes to take your bike, or if you’re without your own set of wheels, places to pick up a hire bike for an afternoon. Triathletes and regular bike-commuters, you’d better look away, this post is for the leisurely cyclist - the ones who like to stop part way for a coffee and a chat. If you’re more hardcore, check out the cycle routes offered by City of Sydney. The Sightseer When you’re sick of showing out-of-town guest the obligatory route around Circular Quay and The Rocks, make it a bike tour and add a bit of speed to the sightseeing. Bonza Bike Tours has cycles available to hire for $15 per hour, or $30 for half a day, per adult. Try cycling past Walsh Bay to Barangaroo (or Hickson Road, depending on construction works), then on to Darling Harbour, Pyrmont Bridge, and around the wharves to Pirrama Park. The route takes in views of Sydney’s Harbour and ANZAC bridges, with plenty of places to stop for food and drink along the way. Distance: approx 8km Level: Easy Website: www.bonzabiketours.com The Family-Friendly The Bay Run in Drummoyne is a favourite with runners, joggers, dog-walkers, cyclists and everyone else in-between. The kid- and pet-friendly cycle loop is 7km of split and combined cycle and walking paths that hug the bay. There are parks and cafes along the route so it’s easy to make a day of it, stopping for brunch or a play break along the way. Distance: 7km Level: Easy Website: www.canadabay.nsw.gov.au The Picnic Date Centennial Parklands is one of the most cycle-friendly public spaces in Sydney; it has shared cycle ways, a 3.8 km dedicated cycle lane on the Grand Drive, a kid’s learners’ path and cycle hire that operates every day of the week. Make the most of the 189 hectares of inner city parklands and pack a picnic for a romantic date or lazy day in the sun. Distance: Whatever you fancy Level: Easy to tough-as-you-like Website: www.centennialparklands.com.au The Big Day Out With over 35 km of cycleways in 430 hectares of parklands, Sydney Olympic Park has bike safari circuits for all levels, bike hire facilities, racing lanes, BMX and Mountain X Monster tracks - so something for everyone. Take a trip down sporting memory lane with the Olympic Circuit suggestion and ride past Sydney Olympic venues including the ANZ stadium and the Olympic Cauldron. Distance: 7.6km Level: Easy to intermediate Website: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au The Mini Adventure If ‘off the beaten track’ is a little too scary, but cycling around a park isn’t adventurous enough, try taking a self-guided tour in Manly. If you need to hire a bike, Manly Bike Tours offers bike hire from $15 per hour for beach cruisers to mountain, road, tandem and full guided tours of Manly Beach and Harbour National Park. For the best value, and to avoid the increasing crowds at the beach, opt for a hybrid and go the Dobroyd Head and Spit Bridge route. Distance: 13km Level: Intermediate Website: www.manlybiketours.com.au Main image via Poppiin
Danny Boyle directs. Alex Garland penned the screenplay. Oppenheimer Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy isn't listed among the cast, but is credited as an executive producer. In the latter's place on-screen, Jodie Comer (The Bikeriders), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Nosferatu), Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), Jack O'Connell (Sinners) and Alfie Williams (His Dark Materials) are all tasked with navigating the remnants of a virus-ravaged world. That's the recipe behind 28 Years Later, and it looks set to unsettle — at least if the initial trailer from late 2024 and the just-dropped new sneak peek are anything to go on. Here, the zombie apocalypse has evolved. When just 28 days had passed, survivors faced a nightmare. Little had improved when 28 weeks had gone by. Now, following 28 years of chaos, life has been forced to find a new normality after dealing with the aftermath of a society decimated by a horrific infection for a hefty period. The setup this time around: almost three decades after the rage virus initially seeped through humanity after escaping from a biological weapons laboratory, some survivors have etched out an existence on a small island. Elsewhere, quarantine remains a key way of tackling the infection. With that starting point — and with unease dripping through both trailers so far, complete with stunning imagery — expect Boyle (Yesterday) and Garland (Warfare) to dig into the terrors that linger when two of the island's residents venture over to the mainland. Although 2030 will mark 28 years since viewers were treated to one of the best zombie movies ever, aka the Boyle-helmed, Garland-written 28 Days Later, the third flick in the same franchise — and second with Boyle behind the lens and Garland on scripting duties — arrives after 23 years. 28 Years Later was first confirmed at the beginning of 2024, and will hit cinemas Down Under on Thursday, June 19, 2025. The series' initial film has already spawned one follow-up thanks to 2007's 28 Weeks Later, but Boyle didn't direct it. Garland, who also penned Sunshine for Boyle, then hopped behind the camera himself with Ex Machina, Annihilation, Men, Civil War, Warfare and TV series Devs, wasn't involved with 28 Weeks Later, either. Their return restarts the saga, kicking off a new trilogy. The franchise's fourth feature 28 Years Later Part II: The Bone Temple has already been shot, in fact, with Candyman and The Marvels' Nia DaCosta directing. Boyle and Garland's first proper collaboration after Boyle adapted Garland's best-selling novel The Beach for the big screen two years prior, 28 Days Later still ranks among the best work on either's resume. It's the same on Murphy's as well, even if it didn't win him any of Hollywood's top shiny trophies for playing a bicycle courier who wakes up from a coma in a deserted hospital 28 days after an outbreak changed the world forever. And yes, the series is missing a 28 Months Later instalment. It was talked about for years, but the time has now passed unless the new trilogy includes a flick set between 28 Weeks Later and 28 Years Later. Check out the latest trailer for 28 Years Later below: 28 Years Later releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
Sydney's cultural growth into a globally recognised theatrical and dramatic hotspot can in many ways be attributed to the work of the legendary (and now defunct) Old Tote Theatre Company - this year celebrating 50 years since its establishment. In honour of this milestone, NIDA have put together an awesome new exhibition: The Legacy: A Celebration of the Old Tote. The retrospective gallery takes visitors on a tour through the formative years of the theatre company, from its birth at the Tin Shed theatre up until it became the official theatre company of New South Wales, and led into the Sydney Theatre Company. Check out posters and playbills from the theatre's early years or get up-close and personal with some of the company's most in/famous productions with original photographs, letters and footage as well as costumes worn by such Old Tote alumni as Robyn Nevin and Ron Haddrick in Macbeth and Trelawney of the Wells. It opens on 9 March with a day filled with dramatic readings, panel discussions on the enduring legacy of the Old Tote and even the odd celebratory drink. The opening is free, but you need to book.
A few years ago, it would've been hard to imagine millions of people getting excited about watching someone sleeping in a box. But two weeks ago, we all did just that, as that most sculptural of humans, Tilda Swinton, set up in New York's Museum of Modern Art for some shut-eye under glass. The performative art work, titled The Maybe, had been exhibited previously in 1995, but this time it generated a huge level of interest — and Swinton's heightened celebrity wasn't the only driver. Performance art — these days often called live art, time-based art or just plain performance — is having a bit of a moment. Right now, thousands of Sydneysiders are queuing to experience 13 Rooms, an installation of, yes, 13 rooms, each containing a flight of performative fancy from one of 13 internationally renowned artists. Once in, they're swapping their personal belongings for those of others, negotiating a revolving door made of people and comprehending a live person floating on air. The art form is easy to make fun of (sometimes brilliantly, as in this Portlandia clip), but that's partly because it's fun and easy to engage with. So why have we entered the time of performance art? Here are a few of the factors behind the rise. 1. Art parties The last time performance art was at its heights was in the 1960s, when Andy Warhol's 'happenings' were a major way of doing cultural business. These were events at his famous Factory studio and one of history's main moments in which artists from all different disciplines were invited to mingle — along with people who just liked to party. There might be paintings on one wall, video projections on another, the Velvet Underground everywhere. "What's happening now is happenings — where music, dancing, movies, everything happens at once and assaults all the senses," wrote Newsweek in its Pop issue in 1966. Sound familiar? Minus some orgies and taboo breaking, it's not unlike the current mode for art parties like Jurassic Lounge, ARTBAR or Next Wave events. Performance art — based, as it usually is, on a strong central concept that can be communicated within minutes, if not seconds — is the sort of thing that can thrive in a hullabaloo. Even if it's a durational performance whose real meaning will only become known over days, you can still just engage for 30 seconds and move on to the next thing. It also helps that much like then, we're into interdisciplinarity at the moment — the Australia Council even has a separate funding body for it, the Inter-Arts office. More on that in point two. 2. A response to digital The internet is big, you guys. Photorealistic blending of oil paint is great, but how much can it tell us about our technologically precipitous times? Let's throw everything we have at that moral puzzle, is the thinking: film, video games, live art, big ideas. A blend of sculpture and theatre, performance is one of the quintessential interdisciplinary arts. There are two particular aspects of it that suit our ubiquitously digital times: interactivity and the idea of 'absolute presence'. Interacting with stuff is our modus operandi now, and we don't want to stop when we put down our devices. Although it doesn't usually put you on the spot in the dreaded 'public participation' way, performance art is essentially interactive. A performer and an observer (performer #2?) in one space cannot help but have an effect on each other. And then there's almost the converse quality: sometimes we just want to cut the digital tether and just be in one place, without distraction (like mindfulness. But arty). Seeing performance art is a way of having an experience that you know is personal, private, fleeting, immediate and real. It's kind of nice. 3. Marina Abramovic Marina Abramovic has been a presence in popular culture for a while now — she was on Sex and the City back in 2003, when Carrie dated an artist. But her 2010 MoMA show, The Artist Is Present, captured public attention as few art world things have. With the still-entertaining Tumblr Marina Abramovic Made Me Cry, she basically reached meme status through the act of sitting. Since then a documentary about the exhibition and her weird mutual obsession with that other interdisciplinary something, James Franco (she's apparently making a movie about him) have continued to endear and fascinate. (In the above clip, she has a surprise reunion with her ex-partner Ulay at The Artist Is Present — gah!) 4. Art gallery infiltration Sydney's MCA is about to launch a second season dedicated to performance art, this year dubbed Workout. Previously, the Dachshund UN held there was something of a live art coup. And the MCA is not alone; traditional galleries are increasingly finding space for the oft-puzzling art form that can't be hung on the wall or put behind glass (unless it's Tilda). Melbourne's ACCA will soon host Mikala Dwyer's performance project, and last year London's Tate Modern opened the Tanks, a cavern underground that plays host to a roster of performance as well as film, sound and, of course, happenings. As Laura Cumming wrote in her Guardian review, "For the moment, the Tanks are the coolest part of the whole Tate enterprise. They have an air of freedom about them, as if anything might happen, and that comes from the ever-changing relationship between the raw building, the art and its audience." With institutional support, this era of performance art could be a long one. Settle in.
One of the best parts about heading off on a well-deserved holiday is getting excited about all the incredible food you're about to eat, right? But look — travel is expensive and our annual leave never quite extends as far as we want it to. Luckily, Sydney is a fantastically global city, which means your tastebuds can travel the world without you ever having to shell out for a pricey plane ticket. And the best news is if you're a Citi customer you can nab a free bottle of wine thanks to the Citibank Dining Program. Just visit any one of these venues (and many more) and pay for dinner using your Citi card. We've even listed some tasty wine pairings to save you from poring over these eateries' extensive wine lists — just have a gander at the Citibank Dining Program website to see what free bottles of vino you can get with your next international feast.
Quentin Tarantino loves movies. He adores directing them, and has nine impressive flicks to his name spanning three decades to prove it. He's oh-so-fond of dropping references, nods and winks to other films in his films, as anyone who has ever seen even just one already knows. Sometimes, such as in Inglourious Basterds and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, he builds the business of making movies or screening them — or both — into his plots as well. He'll chat about them at length, too, and he turned his last flick into a book that spends plenty of time delving into film and TV history. So naturally he's about to do what every film lover seems to do at some point. Yes, he's making a podcast about movies. While sitting the Reservoir Dogs, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill and The Hateful Eight filmmaker behind a microphone and just letting him wax lyrical about cinema would've attracted listeners anyway, Tarantino's new podcast does have a specific angle. Famously, he was once a video store clerk — so he's diving back into those days. That's why you'll be listening to The Video Archives Podcast, which is named after the Californian shop that Tarantino worked at in the 80s. And, staying true to that concept, he'll be discussing films that he watches on the old store's actual VHS tapes. Because Tarantino is Tarantino, he acquired the joint's tapes back in 1995, and also rebuilt the Video Archives store in his home. Now, alongside his co-host Roger Avary — who also used to work at The Video Archives, where the pair met; also then became a director, making Killing Zoe and The Rules of Attraction among other movies; and collaborated on the Oscar-winning Pulp Fiction screenplay — he'll be pulling tapes off his own shelves, watching them and getting nattering. As outlined in the podcast's just-dropped trailer, the pair will chat about movies such as John Carpenter's Dark Star, Bond film Moonraker, Mexican supernatural flick Demonoid: Messenger of Death and horror-comedy Piranha — aka titles they recommended and rented out all those years back. They'll be joined by announcer Gala Avary, Roger's daughter, and also "expose listeners to movies they didn't know they'd love, give awards to their favourites and rate the quality of the video transfer", according to the podcast's announcement. The Video Archives Podcast is set to start dropping episodes on Tuesday, July 19, and will arrive via SiriusXM's Stitcher. And yes, of course Tarantino has something to say about it already. "We never imagined that 30 years after we worked together behind the counter at Video Archives, we would be together again doing the exact same thing we did back then: talking passionately about movies on VHS," Tarantino and Avary advised in a joint statement. "Watching movies was what originally brought us together and made us friends, and it's our love of movies that still brings us together today. So we surrounded ourselves with the original Video Archives collection, where we both worked before we became celebrated filmmakers, and time-traveled ourselves back to the golden age of VHS. We LOVE to discuss movies, and we want to welcome you into The Video Archives Podcast to hang with us and Archives' new employee Gala, and discover the hidden VHS gems on our shelves." For more information about The Video Archives Podcast, which'll start dropping episodes from Tuesday, July 19, head to Stitcher. Top image: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
It's a fairly common peeve: you're keen to get bendy on the regular, but the yoga studio has a pricey membership way beyond your budget. Luckily, the Sydney Yoga Collective (SYC) is here to make this form of fitness a whole lot more accessible to everyday folk, now hosting wallet-friendly drop-in classes all over the city. Sessions clock in at a flat rate of just $12 — or you can bulk buy five classes for $58, 10 for $110 or 20 for $200 — and are served up without the side of seriousness that might have deterred you elsewhere. Helmed by local mum and entrepreneur Casey Castro, who's swapped the hectic corporate world for a life more zen, SYC's out to strike a balance between mindfulness and fun. Classes offer a fresh take on the traditional vinyasa style of yoga, so that yogis of pretty much any skill level can get onboard. A group of five instructors host these sessions across a range of local parks, gyms and beachside spots, as well as at the Woolloomooloo PCYC and SYC's permanent home at Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool, overlooking Sydney Harbour. There are usually around 30 classes run each week, even including a couple of prenatal and kids sessions. Sydney Yoga Collective hosts classes at various locations across the city. Jump over to the website for the full timetable and to book a session.
Not even Australia's balmy December temperatures can keep us from embracing the ironic ugly Christmas sweater trend. Christmas in July is here again, my friends, and so too is the Colonel's line of OTT Yuletide-themed pullovers for another year. Yep, KFC has just dropped its 2023 Christmas jumper range — and, like in 2022, there's a matching outfit for the furry mate in your life, too. Available to snap up now, the limited-edition designs are primed for cheesy family photos, rocking a cheery red-and-white pattern and emblazoned with a cheeky nod to fried chicken: "Tis The Seasonings". Both the human sweaters ($60) and the pet versions ($40) come in a range of sizes, so you're sure to find a good fit no matter how hard you — or Murphy— have gone on the winter comfort food this year. What's more, there's zero shame to be felt in this daggy knitwear purchase, since all profits from the jumpers are going to support KFC's charity partners such as The Black Dog Institute, ReachOut Australia and Whitelion. 2023's range also includes socks ($25) — if you're all about business on top and a party on your feet — and a black long-sleeved jumper ($60) that's a bit more subtle in its seasonal cheer (although KFC buckets and drumsticks still feature). And if the matchy-matchy outfits have left you and your pooch really wanting to cash in on that Christmas in July spirit, KFC is also doing festive food specials until Tuesday, July 11. KFC's 2023 Christmas in July sweaters are available to buy online, costing $60 for the human jumpers and $40 for pets.
Dance and classical aren't music genres you'd usually find swirling around in the same basket — unless you have a particular bent for the orchestral 'Sandstorm' covers found in the depths of YouTube. Synthony — A Generation of Dance Music is here to prove that the disciplines go hand in hand. Touring Australia since 2019, the event is returning to Sydney on Saturday, October 28 — and not just to any venue. It'll see a 60-plus piece orchestra join forces with a selection of DJs and live performers on Cockatoo Island, all to play the biggest dance tracks of the last 30 years. Expect the venue to take a few cues from the nightclub scene, with lights, lasers and mapped video all part of the experience — and a selection of dance floor bangers note-for-note. The lineup includes live performances from Ilan Kidron from The Potbelleez, Savage, Emily Williams, Cassie McIvor, Mobin Master and more — and The Metropolitan Orchestra, of course — with Madison Avenue's Andy Van on hosting duties.
Cult Melbourne-born homewares brand FAZEEK is bringing its gorgeous sculptural glassware and home fragrance collection to Sydney for an exclusive pop-up this week. The pop-up is being hosted at Darlinghurst's Rainbow Studios and is here for a good time not a long time from Thursday, November 3–Sunday, November 6. Drop in to discover the full collection and stock up on special pieces for yourself or to get an impressively early jump on gift shopping for the festive season. You'll also be able to experience the techno-romantic floral creations of ACID.FLWRS — a project by multidisciplinary Sydney creative Claire Mueller — which will be on display in and around FAZEEK's stemware and vases. FAZEEK's pop-up launches from 3pm on Thursday, 3 November, with welcome beverages provided by the team at Four Pillars Gin. You can head by util 9pm on opening day, or from 10am–5pm on Friday, November 4; 10am–5pm on Saturday, November 5; and 10am–2pm on Sunday, November 6.
They've recently reopened after a major refurb, and if you were a local here before, you won't recognise it. Come here to escape the usual Surry Hills crowd and eat an awesome vegetarian pizza and a cider on the large wooden deck. Old songs playing on the TV screens will have you reminiscing if conversation dries out. The Strawberry Hills Hotel is one of our top ten rooftop bars in Sydney. See our other picks here. Images: Trent van der Jagt.
Australia has a penchant for good food, an adventurous spirit and a willingness to try the new and exciting. It's a combination that makes for a pretty stand-out culinary scene, as local chefs continue to push boundaries, flex creative muscle and hit reset on the latest and greatest food finds. Shifting philosophies and changing attitudes have spawned a whole wealth of food trends across the past decade, from the fun, to the health-focused, to the wildly inventive. Some of them were even started by TV shows — specifically MasterChef Australia, which is celebrating ten successful, and influential, years on the screen. Together, we've pulled together a list of the top ten trends that have shaped Australia's dining scene in the past decade, covering everything from diet trends and insects to one very special (Snow Egg-shaped) dessert. [caption id="attachment_658869" align="alignnone" width="1930"] Pezzo, Giulia Morlando[/caption] RIFFS ON OLD-SCHOOL FAVOURITES A healthy dose of nostalgia, mixed with a splash of creativity and a dash of daring attitude. It became the recipe for success as chefs began to revamp the classics and rejig those childhood favourites into modern masterpieces. Sydney cafe Dutch Smuggler had people scrambling for its new-school jaffle creations, rocking an unlikely, but addictive filling of Mi Goreng noodles. Bad Frankie led Melbourne's jaffle renaissance with its now iconic lamington version. Guy Grossi's Pezzo brought the pizza pocket back into our lives, and Matt Wilkinson took on an Aussie staple with his Brunswick East spot, The Pie Shop. And no one could forget Bar Liberty's opening attraction — a white bread, chicken-skin crackling, tomato and lettuce homage to the classic BLT. [caption id="attachment_598217" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Jethro Canteen, Jo Rittey[/caption] INSECTS In the name of sustainability, insects, bugs and creepy crawlies have marched their way into the culinary world, appearing on menus and embraced by top chefs the country over. Kylie Kwong showed her love for insect dining back in 2013, adding creations like cricket and prawn wontons, and stir-fried crickets to the lineup at her acclaimed Sydney restaurant Billy Kwong. Melbourne's now closed zero-waste cafe Silo also flew the flag for edible crickets, with chef Matt Stone enlisting the help of a horticulturist to grow and harvest the venue's own supply. And the trend's stuck around — famed Melbourne restaurant Attica turned heads with a black ant lamington, and today, you'll even spy roast crickets sprinkled onto a noodle salad at Richmond's Jethro Canteen. [caption id="attachment_601490" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Saint Peter, Nikki To[/caption] SEA URCHIN It might be considered a pest of the ocean, but the humble sea urchin has become a hero of the fine dining scene, dressed to impress, in elegant dishes at some of the country's hottest restaurants. The sea urchin's (this little creature) popularity in Japanese cooking lent plenty of influence here on Aussie shores — we saw it teamed with wasabi and caviar, atop rice crackers at Chris Lucas's Kisumé, and regularly crafted into stunning creations by acclaimed sushi master Koichi Minamishima at his namesake Richmond restaurant. But leave it to our own seafood king Josh Niland to plate up urchin with an Aussie twist — the chef's beloved Saint Peter serves the delicacy cradled in its spine, teamed with a warm, house-made crumpet. [caption id="attachment_662760" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mjolner, Kate Shanasy[/caption] DIET TRENDS As diners embraced a whole plethora of modern-day diets, the wellness craze trickled beyond gyms and home kitchens, onto menus, and even spawning a new breed of healthed-up, diet-centric eateries. One second veggies were king, and the next the paleo movement had us all getting back in touch with our prehistoric selves, heroing meat and celebrating fats. Mjølner — in both Melbourne and Sydney — puts meat front and centre. Patch Cafe landed in Melbourne's Richmond with an entire offering dedicated to the primal-style diet, from 'bulletproof' coffee jazzed up with coconut oil and butter, to pasta crafted from zucchini. And Sydney haunts like Proteini also painted healthy eating fun, with colourful, flavour-packed dishes centred around nature's best. Cornersmith, Steve Woodburn FERMENTS As pickles, cultures and funky ferments made their way into the collective consciousness, they inspired chefs across the country to have a crack themselves, incorporating those gut-healing powers and that microbial magic into all kinds of dishes. Fine dining degustations and cafe menus alike began to incorporate house-fermented goodies, from sourdoughs and sauerkraut, to Korean-style kimchi. As with lots of other foodie trends, this craze also sparked plenty of DIY action, as everyday home cooks clambered aboard the fermentation train. Experts have been more than happy to share their secrets, with a host of classes offered by the likes of Marrickville's Cornersmith, The Craft & Co in Collingwood, and the Melbourne-based Wild Ferments. [caption id="attachment_671361" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Double Good[/caption] CHARCOAL Black became the new black as the culinary world embraced all things charcoal, as much for the purported health benefits as for that dramatic, head-turning colour. Kitchens everywhere got creative with the chemical-absorbing ingredient. Port Melbourne cafe Long Story Short made waves when it added activated charcoal fish and chips to the menu, though the presentation of black logs on a plate raised its fair share of eyebrows. Ink-coloured charcoal tarts starred in the adventurous lineup at Carlton cafe's now-closed Nora, and Brisbane punters went nuts for the Black Elvis charcoal soft serve at Eat Street's Double Good. [caption id="attachment_549358" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Snow Egg, Quay[/caption] STAND-OUT DESSERTS These days, the dessert game is all about leaving a lasting impression — not just on the person holding the spoon, but on our whole food-obsessed country. Wow factor became the go-to ingredient in this battle of the sweets, with each new creation vying to become the stuff of legend. Simplicity got the boot in favour of memorable extravagance. Peter Gilmore's famed Snow Egg stole the show in the Season Two finale of MasterChef Australia, and at Gilmore's restaurant Quay. Punters were happy to queue for an age to get their hands on one of Rustica Sourdough's famed cronuts, and Dan Hunter created an unlikely smash-hit with his oyster ice cream at Brae. [caption id="attachment_647927" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hawker Chan[/caption] STREET FOOD Tucking into street food overseas can be a gamble, so we'll be forever grateful for Australia's multiculturalism and the young gun chefs bringing incredible street eats from all corners of the globe, to our own backyard. Fast, fun, and creative, street food has become a staple of our casual dining scene, even inspiring home-grown versions of international casual dining experiences. In Melbourne, the neon-drenched HWKR is delivering a modernised riff on the hawker centres of Southeast Asia, its four kitchens playing host to a globe-trotting rotation of buzz-worthy eateries, including Chanteen by Diana Chan. Chan is the winner of MasterChef Australia Season 9 and her pop-up eatery is currently serving up a slew of Singaporean and Malaysian street foods such as char kuey teow and soft shell crab sliders. You'll also find Michelin-starred Singaporean street food at Hawker Chan. Meanwhile, Sydneysiders have scored a swag of cuisine-specific street food restaurants, offering authentic flavours straight from the likes of Bangladesh (Bang) and India (Delhi Streets). [caption id="attachment_670959" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fred's[/caption] SMOKE & FIRE Another hot foodie trend saw a barrage of chefs getting back to basics, turning to fire and smoke to bring their dishes to life. The wood-fire grill became star of many a high-end kitchen. Geelong fine diner Igni, fittingly named for the Latin word for 'fire', has quickly built a shining reputation on its devotion to the humble flame, as chef Aaron Turner's sharp technique and beloved wood grill put the tiny regional restaurant on the map. Fire's also been the force behind Adelaide's famed Africola, where Duncan Welgemoed is grilling and smoking in homage to the flavours of his homeland, South Africa, and at Sydney's Fred's where Chez Panisse alumnus Danielle Alvarez cooks most ingredients on an open hearth. [caption id="attachment_660428" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mark + Vinny's[/caption] VEGETARIANISM Slowly but surely, vegetarianism has shed its dowdy, ugly duckling image and became one of the cool kids, as folks everywhere started to pay a little more attention to the planet. Menus across the globe came to the party and it opened up the door to some seriously creative plant-based dining offerings, the international charge led by the likes of Israeli-British chef Yotam Ottolenghi and his stunning cookbooks. Closer to home, Melbourne's Transformer matches a vegetarian menu to fine dining sensibilities, and vegan-friendly pasta bar Mark + Vinny's became Sydney's new millennial hotspot. Catch the latest season of MasterChef Australia from Sunday to Thursday at 7.30pm on Channel Ten.
Whether you're in full lockdown mode, are only leaving the house to buy groceries or still have to venture out regularly because you can't work from home, no one is moseying far in these COVID-19 times. Everyone wants to, though. That's just human nature. Even if you're a homebody whose idea of a perfect vacation is getting cosy on the couch with your partner and your streaming queue, we're betting you're currently craving something — anything — to look at beyond your own four walls. Being cooped up in the house and experiencing a hefty dose of wanderlust go hand-in-hand, unsurprisingly — and you can cope in two ways. If you're itching to travel the globe the second you're able to, you can spend all your new spare time planning the trips you'll take when you can finally leave isolation behind. Or, if you're happy to simply pretend that you're somewhere far, far away, you can enter the world of travel live streams. You've virtually toured museums, galleries and landmarks already. Now it's time to while away as many minutes, hours or days as you like staring at a live webcam feed that's capturing life in another country right at this moment. Maybe you want to see what's going on in some of the places you've already been to. Perhaps you're keen to view stunning sights that you've always wanted to visit. Either way, here are seven travel live streams that you can watch from your couch at this very instant. A hint: pop one on in the background while you're working from home, and your day will instantly seem brighter. Also, a word of warning: they're rather addictive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwriDd8STdI&feature=emb_logo THE NORTHERN LIGHTS, CHURCHILL, CANADA The northern lights, aka aurora borealis, are one of the world's great natural wonders — the type of phenomenon that you need to see with your own eyes to truly appreciate. Caused by solar winds, the lights beam an array of colours across the evening sky, emitting a show that luminous events like Vivid only wish they could emulate. And, for everyone who needs that kind of magic in their lives at the moment, they're being live-streamed via Explore.org's dedicated webcam. You'll obviously need to tune in at the right time; however the middle of the night in Churchill, Canada (where the camera is stationed) coincides with late afternoon Down Under. And, even when you can't glimpse the main attraction, you can still peer at a scenic sky above an expanse of snow, all on the other side of the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpZAez2oYsA CANAL OF CANNAREGIO AND PONTE DELLE GUGLIE, VENICE, ITALY Perhaps it's the centuries-old architecture. Maybe it's the glistening water. Or, it could be the entire idea of a city built on a group of 118 small islands, all separated by canals and linked by bridges. Whichever one fits, Venice boasts a particular kind of magic — and, in good news, that remains the case if you're watching on via live stream. Peering at the Ponte delle Guglie over the Canal of Cannaregio, the webcam setup at Hotel Filù is one of the best. Also, while you're viewing, you'll be doing so from a camera inside a building that dates back to the 800s. Those interested in more of Venice's distinctive sights can choose from a range of other cams, too, including a rolling live feed that switches between various scenic vantages. SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE CROSSING, TOKYO, JAPAN It has been featured in everything from Lost in Translation to Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift — and, during normal circumstances, it's one of the busiest places in one of the busiest cities in the world. That'd be Shibuya's famous scramble crossing, where hordes of people usually cross the intersection all day, everyday. Whether you've been to Tokyo plenty of times or you've always wanted to take a trip, this bustling site is on everyone's must-visit list. For now, though, you can simply watch. Shibuya Community News' web cam peers down at the four-way crossing non-stop, as the few folks who are still out and about in Tokyo go about their business. If you've ever walked across the road yourself, the sparse sight is quite surreal. If you haven't yet had the chance, get ready to start people-watching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnNrd-VjLsQ WAIMEA BAY, HAWAII, USA Who doesn't wish that, right about now, they were sunbathing on a beach with nothing but sunscreen, sand and the crash of the waves to worry about? We all know the feeling — and while Australia's beaches have been closing over the past few weeks, all in an effort to enforce the country's current social-distancing requirements, you can check out Hawaii's Waimea Bay instead. If you find looking at the surf and listening to the roar of the ocean soothing at the best of times, you'll undoubtedly feel the same in today's far-from-usual predicament. This is a live stream you'll want to turn the volume up for, too, so you can make the very most of every sound from the scenic O'ahu spot. THE EIFFEL TOWER, PARIS, FRANCE Live stream network Earthcam.com has access to cameras in a huge number of places; however there's nothing quite like staring at one of the world's most famous tourist attractions while you're sat on your couch. If you time your peek just right — aka, you have a look when it's evening in Paris but daytime Down Under — you'll see the Eiffel Tower lit up against the night sky, perhaps even with the moon in the background, too. And, if you'd like to see how the iconic structure looks at various times of the day and under different conditions, you can scroll through the site's extensive image gallery, checking out how the tower appeared over the past hours, days, weeks and months. YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA, USA There's no shortage of magnificent natural land formations to see in California's Yosemite National Park. While no one can lock their peepers on them in person at present, anyone eager to get a glimpse can still do so online. And, thanks to Yosemite Conservancy and the US National Park Service, there are multiple options — peering at multiple sights, too. If it's a live webcam feed you're after, then take a gander at Yosemite Falls, one of the world's tallest waterfalls. Watching water stream down from almost 740 metres up is quite the vision to behold. For those who'd rather peer at the Yosemite High Sierra, the Badger Ski Pass Area or Half Dome, or vicariously live out their Free Solo dreams at El Capitan, you can do so via static live images that refresh every 60 seconds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zUmDtZAd28&feature=emb_logo LOCH NESS, SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS, SCOTLAND You could spend your days in isolation learning a few new skills, catching up on a heap of movies, watching everything from theatre to opera, getting your sweat on and cooking up a storm. Or, you could keep your eyes peeled for a famous critter: the Loch Ness Monster. Thanks to the Nessie on the Net live stream, a webcam is trained at the body of water in the Scottish Highlands all day and night. If anyone is ever going to spot the creature — if it does even exist — now seems like the perfect time for it. You'll want to check out the stream when it's daytime in Scotland, otherwise you'll just see darkness. And, monster or no monster, the lake and the surrounding countryside still looks idyllic either way. Top image: Shibuya scramble crossing, Benh Lieu Song via Wikimedia Commons.
You've read the books, you've watched the flicks, you've sat through the theatre production — or you're planning to — and you've devoured your fair share of pop-up bars and themed experiences. But if you're eager to get your fill of wizard-related goodness any way that you can, here's another option: a series of immersive (and unofficial) wizard-inspired high tea events is coming your way, popping up in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. A Wizardry High Tea will grace all three cities with a run of multiple sessions each, held at top-secret locations. The dates vary from place to place, but Sydney's sessions will run between July and November, Melbourne's from May till November, and Brisbane's across the weekend of Friday, September 23–Sunday, September 25. So what sort of magical shenanigans are guests in for, you ask? Well, each city will host both daytime sessions that are open to all ages and night events reserved for adults only. There'll be appropriately themed cocktails and appearances from folks in costume, as well as immersive activities including potion-making classes. Of course, the high tea spread will stick to the theming as well, though exactly what's on the menu is being kept under wraps for now. As for where it's all happening, that'll be revealed to ticketholders before their sessions. Tickets to the 'daybreak' sessions are $70, with 'twilight' passes coming in at $95. A WIZARDRY HIGH TEA 2022 DATES: Sydney: Saturday, July 23–Sunday, July 24 and Saturday, November 19–Sunday, November 20. Melbourne: Friday, May 6–Sunday, May 8, Friday, July 8–Sunday, July 10 and Saturday, November 26–Sunday, November 27. Brisbane: Friday, September 23–Sunday, September 25. A Wizardry High Tea will hit Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane between May–November. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the event's website.
You've had the Chaser's visit you in your lounge room on TV, print and radio. Now, as part of FBi's Social experiment, the Chaser invite you to come hang around in their lounge room as part of a weekly discussion series laced with comedy, or comedy series laced with discussion, called the Chaser's Empty Vessel. A rotating Chaser cast will host the evening, with invited guests and FBi's DJ Jack Shit running soundtrack to the words. Last time around, Goodies scientifico Graeme Garden condescended to ascend the stage. This month they're joined by Fiona McGregor, novelist and artist, who once had herself thrown out of the Art Gallery of NSW for joining in with the art, and then had the cojones to invoice them for it afterwards. Also talking is UTS' Craig Allchin, who put the mojo into Melbourne's small bar scene and is looking to do the same for Sydney if given the chance. Come and run your ear over what they have to say, in a small bar of your own choosing. Image by Mushroom and Rooster.
The service industry has really been through some things lately. 'Shake up' doesn't even come close. Crowd-sourcing, app-ification, and hyper-localisation mean that the service industry we enjoy looks nothing like what our parents knew. And the latest offering from the team behind Paramount Coffee Project, Reuben Hills and Melbourne's Seven Seeds is a testament to this brave new world. When it was announced back in August, Paramount House Hotel promised it wouldn't be a hotel in the traditional sense of the word — a promise which it most certainly kept. It's not a glitzy chain where everything looks and feels the same no matter which country you're visiting. It's more of an immersive local experience which gives visitors a genuine slice of life in Surry Hills. The hotel is part of Paramount House, which currently houses Paramount Coffee, a co-working space and Golden Age Cinema. The downstairs cafe acts as the entrance to the new hotel lobby, and a two-storey extension houses the 29 suites. The hotel also contains a rooftop gym and outdoor cafe — dubbed Paramount Recreation Club — and a brand new restaurant from Ester named Poly. (Yes, it does room service.) "We hope to encapsulate the spirit of Surry Hills and offer the guest an immersive local community experience," said Ping Jin Ng, who co-owns the hotel along with Russell Beard and Mark Dundon. "We are considered but not staged, generous but not lavish and we will offer a memorable and inspiring stay — not just comfortable and slick." The vision for the hotel has been realised by Melbourne architecture firm, Breathe. You may know them for their work on Seven Seeds, Brother Baba Budan, Host, the Collingwood Arts Precinct, The Commons and Transformer. It's connected two buildings on Commonwealth Street, added a copper-clad extension to the roof and decked it out with little luxuries like private terraces and generous spots of greenery. All of this helps make Paramount House Hotel one of the very best hotels in Sydney. Rooms start at $225 a night, and have a mini bar stocked with snacks from LP's Quality Meats and Tom Shobbrook wines, and Aesop products in all the bathrooms — of course. Images: Tom Ross and Sharon Cairns.
He's been hailed as the king of documentaries, known for his fearless deep dives into the boldest of subjects, from sex trafficking to religious extremists and just about everything in between. And now, Louis Theroux is stepping out from in front of the camera and onto the stage, venturing Down Under for his second Aussie speaking tour this summer. In January, the intrepid BBC filmmaker will hit Sydney for his new show Louis Theroux Without Limits. In three shows over two days, the fearless journalist will be joined by local media personality Julia Zemiro for a two-hour on-stage adventure, dropping insights into his extraordinary life and behind-the-scenes secrets from his impressive catalogue of work. With more than two decades of filmmaking experience and multiple awards under his belt, Theroux has a knack for digging deep and getting people to spill the beans, telling it exactly how it is. From the opioid epidemic and the San Fernando Valley porn industry to the Church of Scientology, his work has given him countless fascinating stories to dish up on this latest speaking tour. "Australians are obviously connoisseurs of the weird side of life," Theroux said in a statement. "I look forward to coming back to share even more memorable moments and extraordinary stories from the people I have encountered in my films." He was last here in 2016, when he took his (sell-out) speaking tour to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. While you wait for Louis to head Down Under, you can catch his new series of documentaries on BBC Knowledge from Thursday, June 27. You can check out a teaser for the new show Louis Theroux Without Limits here.
Activewear fans, we've got some big news: P.E. Nation is bringing back its warehouse sample sale for one weekend this March. The athleisure experts hosted their first ever sample sale in 2016 — and everything sold out in the first day. Luckily, that won't be the case this year as they'll be stocking the warehouse with fresh threads each morning. Whether you're packing your own gym-going wardrobe or doing a solid for sporty loved ones, you'll find an extensive array of swim, activewear, accessories, sweaters and jackets at 55 Doody Street, Alexandria, between March 28 and 30. One-off samples plus past-season styles in all sizes — for both men and women — will be available. Remember the age-old advice of when it comes to sample sales, you need to get in quick. Given the following the label has amassed since General Pants Co. design director Pip Edwards and former senior Sass & Bide designer Claire Tregoning joined forces, their functional, fashionable bits and pieces are bound to be popular. Throw on your favourite pieces for an energy boost, and hop along. P.E. Nation Warehouse Sale will be open 10am–7pm Thursday, 9am–6pm Friday and 9am–4pm Saturday.
Artist workspace, sometime venue and art scene mainstay Bill and George is a minor institution and elder member of a generation of art spaces that predate the rush to fill Marrickville warehouses. Having just come out of its five year lease to face, the space faces rising rents that have left it saying farewell to its Redfern digs and shutting down. While other new local spaces in the area will hopefully keep Redfern friendly to the art types, Bill and George will still be a hard act to follow. To say goodbye Redfern, its friends and itself it's holding one final Farewell Party in the former workspace before closing up for the last time. The musical acts announced so far include the Brutal Poodles, LukeSnarl and Sven Simulacrum.
Take me with you, indeed: whether you're a Prince fan, a Purple Rain obsessive or both, you can now follow in the musician and the film's footsteps by sleeping in the house from the iconic movie. This is the actual abode from the inimitable flick, newly restored and decked out in purple aplenty. You'll slumber in The Kid's bedroom, hear rare Prince tracks, and go crazy with love for the picture and the late, great artist behind it, of course. Back in May, Airbnb announced that it was doing things a little differently in 2024 when it comes to its pop culture-themed stays. The accommodation platform is no stranger to giving travellers once-in-a-lifetime vacation options — see: Shrek's swamp, Barbie's Malibu DreamHouse, the Ted Lasso pub, the Moulin Rouge! windmill and Hobbiton, to name just a few — which it previously announced at random, with no advance warning. Now, however, it has created the Airbnb Icons category, grouping them all together. The company also revealed at the time that Prince's Purple Rain mansion was one of the many spots on the way. As a result, you might've heard about this Minneapolis listing before — but it's only about to become available now. Will you find out what it sounds like when doves cry if you nab a one-night stay here? You'll need to try to score a reservation between 11pm AEST on Wednesday, October 2–4.59pm AEST on Monday, October 7, 2024 for a stay between Saturday, October 26–Saturday, December 14, 2024. There's 25 stays on offer, each for up to four guest at a time. The booking isn't free, but only costs $7 per person because that was Prince's favourite number. That price only covers the stay itself. To get there and back, you'll be paying separately and organising your travel yourself. And your hosts, because Airbnb always gets someone pivotal involved? For this listing, it's Wendy and Lisa — aka of Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman — who were part of Prince's band The Revolution. "We were lucky enough to be a part of the music scene in Minneapolis during such a pivotal era for rock music, playing with Prince in one of the most successful bands of our generation and starring alongside him in the Purple Rain film," said Wendy and Lisa. "The Purple Rain house stands as a tribute to our dear friend Prince, the timeless character he brought to life and the lasting impact he continues to have. We hope the space gives fans a glimpse into the eclectic world Prince created, and visitors walk away feeling a little bit closer to him as an artist and person." This is what it looks like: guests can get excited about staying in a spot with purple velvet wallpaper; a spa with a claw-foot bath and stained-glass windows (and purple robes, naturally) that's decorated to resemble the 'When Doves Cry' music video; and a music lounge with a piano, drums and guitar, plus instructions on how to play the chorus to 'Purple Rain' with pre-recorded vocals from The Kid. There's also a closet filled with Prince outfits, all behind glass — and more 80s-inspired threads, not worn by the man himself, that you can pop on. When it's time for bed, you will indeed feel like you've stepped into Purple Rain (although the personal tape collection with one of Prince's demo recordings mixes the movie with reality). Still on tunes, there's a vintage 80s stereo downstairs featuring songs that inspired The Kid — and you can listen to a personal commentary by scanning QR codes. You can also consider this a Prince scavenger hunt, in a way, thanks to a secret space that you need to find. It's filled with treasures — and you'll want to be paying attention to the fake vinyl album. In the past, Airbnb has also featured the Bluey house, the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine, The Godfather mansion, the South Korean estate where BTS filmed In the Soop, the Sanderson sisters' Hocus Pocus cottage, the Paris theatre that inspired The Phantom of the Opera and a Christina Aguilera-hosted two-night Las Vegas stay. Its Airbnb Icons has also made sleeping at the Up house, Inside Out 2's headquarters, the X-Mansion from X-Men '97 and the Ferrari Museum a reality, as well as stays hosted by Doja Cat, Bollywood star Janhvi Kapoor and Kevin Hart. For more information about the Purple Rain house on Airbnb, or to book from 11pm AEST on Wednesday, October 2–4.59pm AEST on Monday, October 7, 2024 for a stay between Saturday, October 26–Saturday, December 14, 2024, head to the Airbnb website. Images: Eric Ogden. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Pakistani activist and history's youngest Nobel Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai is heading Down Under, for two exclusive talks in Sydney and Melbourne this December. She'll appear as part of The Growth Faculty's thought-provoking Women World Changers speaker series — the same event that brought Hillary Clinton to Australia and New Zealand in May this year. Yousafzai was just 11 when she first launched her campaign to promote education for girls, penning a blog from her home city in Pakistan's Swat Valley. At 15, she survived an attack by the Taliban, and in 2014, went on to become the youngest person ever awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. Her remarkable story continues, as she sticks with the fight for education rights for every girl in the world. The activist co-founded the Malala Fund and currently studies at the University of Oxford. Now, for the first time, the inspirational 21-year-old will share her experiences with Australian audiences, speaking at the ICC on Monday, December 10.
Finally a Barangaroo development we can actually get behind; the debate-surrounded, Packer-dominated site is set to become one of the country's most concentrated food hubs. Scheduled to welcome 80 retailers to the area's redevelopments, Barangaroo will see 50 of these set up as bars, restaurants and canteens; serving every last morsel from fine dining to humble sangers (both with waterfront prices no doubt). The Daily Telegraph reports over 38,000 office workers will need noms in Barangaroo every day, so the area needs a few tuck shops (not to mention the 18 million tourists expected each year). "We are looking at a mix that will put this place on the global foodie map," says head of retail for Lend Lease, Gary Horwitz. "What we are attempting to do is bring to Sydney a new form of casual dining. So it’s not your typical waterfront that you see in Sydney at the moment, rather a collection of boutique, smaller operators in about 70-100sq m of internal space and the same space outside on the waterfront, with a thousand al fresco seats, sitting right on the water’s edge." So what new spots can we expect from the colossal, highly-scrutinised harbourside development? To be honest, they sound pretty neat. Clustered around the same food strip, the area's ten main eateries will be bookended by two crowned players: The Cloud and R1. Set at the foot of three soaring office blocks (one of which's penthouse sold for a casual $10.5 million), The Cloud (named for the new public artwork perhaps?) looks to be one of the polished goalkickers of the bunch. R1 on the other end sits adjacent to King Street Wharf, a multi-level space decked out in bamboo and hanging gardens; with casual dining and bar on the ground, fancy bit in the middle and rooftop bar as a hat. Then there's Lime Street, with two levels of deli goodness (meats, cheeses, breads, All the Good Things) perfectly placed next to the ferries. Waterfront Place is to be an all-rounder spot, serving everything from sushi to tacos and coffee in a sprawling outdoor area. Matt Moran is set to open a colossal three-storey dining palace with MorSul business partner Peter Sullivan, along with Bruce and Anna Solomon of Solotel. Laneway dining is also a big focus for Barangaroo, including the proposed bar-filled Shelley Lane precinct (one of our favourites of the proposal). Of course, with a billion-dollar development comes horrifically gargantuan food houses. Upper Globe sounds like just that, with seven restaurants sitting across three levels of a waterview apartment block. "We can fit a 1000sq m restaurant on the top if we need to. We are talking to several international operators for that space," Mr Horwitz said. No holds barred, huh. But there's hope in the final announcement, The Canteen. Tailor-made for Barangaroo office workers, this quick lunch spot will feature free wifi and charging stations, as well as a charming ol' waterfront view for your lunch break. How much will everything cost? Horwitz predicts just above average. "It will be that price point of between 15 and 20 bucks, so it’s not high-end and not your food court, but it is that mid-market which is so popular in Australia now." Barangaroo's first retail stores are set to open late 2015, with the majority of food venues in early 2016. Via Daily Telegraph.
The Noosa Eat & Drink Festival is making its grand return in 2024 with a fantastic epicurean program worthy of a journey to the Sunshine Coast. There aren't many events that bring leading chefs, acclaimed restaurants, live music and beach parties together, but this event offers all that and more in one of the country's most picturesque coastal destinations across four days from Thursday, May 30 to Sunday, June 2, 2024. From multi-course lunches at Noosa's buzziest hotspots to celebrity chef masterclasses and sunset drinks on the beach, read on for the various mouthwatering ways to experience Noosa Eat & Drink in 2024. Festival Village The heart of the Noosa Eat & Drink Festival is the two-day Festival Village across Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2. Grab your tickets for one of the interactive chef-hosted masterclasses including a Bandita Masterclass with Jason Jones and Seabourne Distillery, and a dessert masterclass with sweets superstar Anna Polyviou. Then grab a wine, beer or cocktail from world-class purveyors as you explore the Producers Pavilion throughout the day to procure local honey, condiments, ceramics and more. This year's Main Stage program at the Festival Village will showcase cooking demos led by notable foodie personalities and celebrity cooking competitions. Once the sun goes down, a lineup of entertaining performers will keep the crowds warmed up, from guest DJs to six-piece live band Bermuda Social. You can regularly recharge with a bite from one of the pop-up restaurants and stalls, or unwind in style at the VIP Lounge. VIP ticket-holders can enjoy a complimentary welcome drink of Chandon Garden Spritz and catering by Lanai Noosa in lounge seating on a private lawn. They'll also get front-row seating by the main stage and priority entry. Book your Festival Village tickets here. Beach Events The festival will take over Noosa Main Beach with back-to-back twilight events and a Sunday brunch from Friday, May 31 to Sunday, June 2. These sprawling oceanside shindigs are so sought after that one of them sold out within a couple of days of tickets going on sale. That's right, tickets for the official opening party on the Friday evening have already been snapped up entirely. However, the Sunday Festival Sundowner — the beach party that caps off the weekend with tequila, dancing and revelry — is now on sale so get in quick. Earlier on the Sunday, The Minuty Beach Brunch will take place with a menu curated by George Calombaris and MasterChef alumni Sarah Todd, paired to complement the flavour profile of Château Minuty rosé which will be flowing on the day. Book your tickets now. On Saturday, June 1 Noosa Main Beach will be taken over as the Saturday Beach Club where groups can book tables or picnic rugs and enjoy Italian-style grazing platters by Locale and drinks for a leisurely hang to make the most of the gorgeous setting. Rally your crew and book in for a session pronto. Restaurants It wouldn't be a spotlight on Noosa's food scene without the involvement of beloved local restaurants. Refined classics Locale, Noosa Waterfront and Season will join fresh favourites Seabourne Distillery, Mariella Mexicantina, Bandita Mexican and Sum Yum Guys for special menus and exclusive events. Among the highlights: The Locale Long Italian Lunch presented by Cloudy Bay for which the terrific Hasting Street Italian eatery is collaborating with visiting chef Will Cowper of Otto Brisbane for a traditional Italian-style feast paired with Cloudy Bay wines. Tickets go on sale from March 14. Another option is going down a little further south at the Peregian Beach Hotel for the Local Love Lunch where guests will enjoy a four-course lunch starring the best local and native produce with beverages courtesy of Seabourne Distillery and wines from Alpha Box & Dice. Get tickets here on March 14. If a Mexican feast with mezcal is more your speed, get on board for the Bandita Late Lunch, where the Bandita Noosaville team will join forces with Mextrade — Australia's top distributor of tequila, mezcal and Mexican craft spirits. Tickets will be available here from March 14. And one of the waterfront institutions of Noosa Main Beach, Season Restaurant, is hosting a lavish Asian dining feast at the Season Restaurant x Shaw + Smith Lunch with wines courtesy of the renowned Mclaren Vale winery at which winemaker Adam Wadewitz will be on hand to guide you through each pairing. Bookmark this link to secure your tickets. There's also a special collaboration between Khanh Ong and Betty's Burgers, a gin tour, a local craft beer tour, and a laneway party at Noosa Junction. There will also be a floating dining experience on the luxe Catalina Noosa and even an island takeover. Tickets are strictly limited and sold separately per event, so make sure to get in quick. Purchase tickets and find out more at the Noosa Eat & Drink Festival website.
If Emily had been made two or three decades earlier, it might've starred Frances O'Connor, rather than boast the Australian actor-turned-filmmaker as its writer and director. Back in the 90s and 00s, O'Connor played with literary classics in movies such as Mansfield Park and The Importance of Being Earnest, plus a TV version of Madame Bovary. Now, making an accomplished and emotive debut behind the lens, she explores how Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights might've come to be. Is a Kate Bush-inspiring piece of gothic romantic fiction of such passion and yearning — the only one from a writer lost to tuberculosis at the age of just 30 in 1848 — the result of a life touched by both? That's a question that this fictionalised biopic ponders. Emily begins with another query, however, although it's also basically the same question. "How did you write it?" Emily's (Emma Mackey, Death on the Nile) older sister Charlotte (Alexandra Dowling, The Musketeers) demands. "How did you write Wuthering Heights?" As one Brontë grills another, "I took my pen and put it to paper" is Emily's literal answer, offered as she reclines, pale and not long for this world, alongside printed versions of her now-iconic story. The response provided by the gorgeously shot, impressively acted and deeply moving Emily is far more complicated, but O'Connor's choice to open her movie with this scene and question is both clever and telling. One perspective on great artists, including of words, is to view their work as intertwined with their lives — aka this feature's preferred vantage. A key perspective of Emily, too, is not letting the small amount of detail known about the middle of literature's three Brontë sisters dictate how this story is told. That copy of Wuthering Heights by Emily's side? It bears her name, as does every iteration printed today, but her book wasn't first published under her real moniker — her pen name was Ellis Bell — until two years after her death. With Emily, O'Connor doesn't just pluck everything from her own imagination, but conceives of context for a novel that still haunts and entrances today. Before she's close to saying farewell, the film's namesake is a shy, sensitive but strong-minded young woman seen as the family black sheep — in her minister father Patrick's (Adrian Dunbar, Line of Duty) eyes, visibly, given that she always comes second to Charlotte and the younger Anne (Amelia Gething, The Spanish Princess), and also further afield. "They call you the strange one," Charlotte advises with exasperation at Emily's demeanour, her penchant for staying home and for fondness for roaming, rolling and falling in green among the wily, windy moors. There's no absence of kindness among the sisters, but Emily's keenest affinity springs with her scampish brother Branwell (Fionn Whitehead, Voyagers), an aspiring creative whose attachment to alcohol and opium impacts his dreams. Into this Yorkshire maelstrom arrives handsome curate William Weightman (Oliver Jackson-Cohen, The Lost Daughter), instantly winning over Charlotte and Anne with his lyrical sermons and his Valentine's wishes, and the village of Haworth as well, but initially leaving the guarded Emily sceptical. So, when Patrick decrees that William will help with Emily's French lessons, she's reluctant in general — including about their burgeoning connection. In a movie filled with standout scenes so potent that many other flicks would long to possess them, a debate in the Gallic tongue about blind faith proves one of Emily's most electrifying. That said, sparks don't merely fly in verbal discussions, as the frantic but careful attention given to the era's complicated disrobing demonstrates once Emily and William submit to their smouldering attraction. Teaming up with cinematographer Nanu Segal (A Spy Among Friends) and editor Sam Sneade (The Suspect) — and with strings-fuelled assistance from composer Abel Korzeniowski (The Courier) — O'Connor finds heat and solace against the picture's bucolic backdrop. At its lustiest, Emily never threatens Lady Chatterley's Lover, but it too is earthy, full-hearted and focused on a tactile romance. The impressionistic filmmaking itself evokes the whirlwind of sensations swirling and stirring inside its central figure, whether the movie is cutting to black, deploying handheld camerawork or energetically setting the pace through quick edits. Throw in that often-urgent score, as well as elemental sound design that whirrs with the wind but also knows how to punctuate its emotions with silence, and to watch Emily is to feel as feverish as O'Connor contends that Emily did, or might've, or could've. It isn't just a compliment to O'Connor to note that she pens and helms a feature she would've once fronted. Such is the now-director's standing as an actor — in a career that's also spanned Love and Other Catastrophes, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, The Hunter, The Conjuring 2, Cleverman and The End — that they're words of praise to Mackey as well. The Sex Education star ripples with intensity even in the stillest and quietest of moments, constantly conveying Emily's ever-churning thoughts and feelings in something as simple but loaded as a pensive gaze. Emily adores peering intently at her face and Mackey is up to the scrutiny, but one of her powerhouse scenes involves Emily donning a mask. Playing a storytelling game, and bringing to mind the origins of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein in the process, she spooks Charlotte, Anne, Branwell and William by claiming to be the spirit of the Brontës' dead mother. How symbolic this exchange is, too, laying bare the influence of grief upon the family and displaying what Emily is capable of when she doesn't have to worry about the face she's showing the world. How wonderful it'd be to see Mackey cast as Catherine in a future adaptation of Wuthering Heights as well, if another soon joins the many past takes — 1939's Oscar-nominee, 1992's Juliette Binoche-led flick and 2011's Andrea Arnold (Cow)-directed one, to name a few — on-screen. For now, though, if there's a misstep in Emily, it's the nods given to the Brontës' speculated sibling rivalry. All three sisters made their mark on the page, and on history — Charlotte is responsible for Jane Eyre, of course, and Anne for Agnes Grey and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall — and having them in competition with each other feels reductive. Still, it never undoes the movie, and it does help answer the big early question slung Emily's way. How did she write Wuthering Heights? In a family of sharp, intelligent, talented women, by being utterly and unflinchingly herself.
Cybersecurity might not be anyone's Roman Empire, but with a majority of our time spent online, it's highly likely that you or someone you know will eventually be a victim of a cybercrime (if you haven't already). Combine that with an inescapably popular topic of discussion — AI — and you have a complex interplay that's worthy of a Black Mirror episode. Who better to delve into the double-edged sword of AI in the workplace than Australia's largest financial institution and biggest corporate adopter of AI, Commonwealth Bank? As part of the SXSW Sydney Conference, CommBank will host a discussion on 'The Rise of AI in Cybersecurity' with two fascinating panelists: a reformed hacker and a tenured cop. [caption id="attachment_922153" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yasmin London and Andrew Pade[/caption] CTRL Group Co-Founder Bastien Treptel has a unique, first-hand understanding of the dangers of cybercrime — as a teenager, he hacked into a major ASX 100 company just to order a pizza. Evolving from his unlawful ways, he founded an information security firm and currently hosts the CyberHacker podcast. Meanwhile, Qoria's Director of Digital Wellbeing, Yasmin London, has experience from the opposing side of the law — she was previously a tenured police officer for over a decade and, before that, a world champion swimmer. Rounding out the rest of the speakers are CommBank's General Manager of Cyber Defence Operations Andrew Pade, who has over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, and the CSIRO National AI Centre's Strategic Engagement Manager, Rita Arrigo, who is working on a collaborative network to implement the responsible use of AI in the commercial sector. 'The Rise of AI in Cybersecurity' will be presented by Commonwealth Bank as part of the SXSW Sydney Conference. The panel will take place from 12–1pm on Tuesday, October 17 at the ICC Sydney.
A lot can happen in 13 years — and for the cast of 2010's page-to-screen favourite Scott Pilgrim vs the World, much has. Michael Cera kept returning to Arrested Development's George Michael, and made a stunning appearance in the Twin Peaks revival. Mary Elizabeth Winstead added everything from Fargo and 10 Cloverfield Lane to Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) to her resume. Chris Evans became Captain America, Kieran Culkin has been killing it with insults in Succession and Anna Kendrick had the whole Pitch Perfect franchise. Brie Larson slipping into Captain Marvel's shoes, Aubrey Plaza's The White Lotus stint, Jason Schwartzman still showing up in Wes Anderson films aplenty — that's all occurred as well. One new thing about to come all of the above actors' way, too: more Scott Pilgrim. The movie that started off as a series of graphic novels, and also hit video games, is next making its way to the small screen as Scott Pilgrim: The Anime. Of course, when a film becomes a streaming series, that doesn't always mean that the OG cast return with it — but, thankfully, it does in this case. Netflix is behind the show, and announced that the anime adaptation of Bryan Lee O'Malley's graphic novels will feature the voices of Cera as Scott, Winstead as Ramona Flowers, Culkin as Wallace Wells, Kendrick as Stacey Pilgrim, Larson as Envy Adams and Plaza as Julie Powers. And, yes, Evans, Schwartzman, Satya Bhabha (Sense8), Brandon Routh (The Flash) and Mae Whitman (Good Girls) are all back as Ramona's evil exes. The list doesn't stop there. Amid shouting "we are Sex Bob-Omb!", Alison Pill (Hello Tomorrow!) as Kim Pine, Johnny Simmons (Girlboss) as young Neil, Mark Webber (SMILF) as Stephen Stills, Ellen Wong (Best Sellers) as Knives Chau are all back, too. The story will still follow the titular bass player, in what's set to be more than just a do-over. "I knew that a live action sequel was unlikely, but I would usually defer by suggesting that perhaps an anime adaptation was an interesting way to go," the original film's director Edgar Wright told Netflix. "And then, lo and behold, one day Netflix got in touch to ask about this exact idea. But even better, our brilliant creator Bryan Lee O'Malley had an idea that was way more adventurous than just a straight adaptation of the original books," Wright continued — and he's back as an executive producer. Scott Pilgrim: The Anime doesn't yet have a release date, or a trailer; however, you can check out Netflix's cast announcement clip below: Scott Pilgrim: The Anime is headed to Neflix, but doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when one is announced.
Sydneysiders have another option for getting around the eastern suburbs and inner west, with an on-demand bus service now driving around town. Bridj hit the streets in Sydney's west in June and a trial launched in the eastern suburbs in August. In the west, it currently operates in Canada Bay, Concord, Breakfast Point, Cabarita, Mortlake and Rhodes between 6am–11.30pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am–8.30pm on Saturday and Sunday. A trial fleet of buses to is servicing Rose Bay, Dover Heights, North Bondi and Bondi Beach, between 6am–9am and 3pm-9pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am–8.30pm on Saturday and Sunday. The areas and routes included are designed to cover gaps between existing transport hubs in the eastern suburbs, predominately functioning to transport passengers to and from the Rose Bay ferry during peak hours. Bridj works a little bit like Uber, combining both fixed route and on-demand transit. To book a trip, jump on the smartphone app — which you can download for free for IOS and Android — input your destination and when you want to go, and a booking confirmation will be sent through with a nearby pick-up spot and estimated drop-off time. The Bridj microbuses travel different routes depending on where passengers are headed, and like an Uber, can be tracked in real-time via the app. The technology even looks at things like congestion to work out the shortest possible routes and best pick-up spots. Fares will cost $3.10, and concession card holders pay just $1.50 at the moment. You can pay either via credit card through the app, with cash on board or with your Opal card. And don't forget to thank the bus driver. There are plans to incorporate another 27 of the buses across Sydney in the coming years, as Bridj continues to analyse customer needs and evolve its offering to suit. There's no word yet on how long the trial will run for, but we'll update as soon as we have more info. The Bridj service is now running in Sydney's west and inner east. To learn more about it, head to the Bridj or Transport NSW websites.
The Sydney Film Festival has today revealed its full 2013 program, which features a fierce competition field, an extended Sydney Film Festival Hub program and special presentations of some of the most talked-about new films we thought we'd have to wait much longer to see. This year celebrating its 60th year, the film festival will open with a screening of Mystery Road, the intense newbie directed, written, shot and scored by Ivan Sen (Toomelah) but starring Hugo Weaving, Aaron Pedersen and Ryan Kwanten. "Confident, mature, word-class and compelling – these are words that describe both this wonderful film and this extraordinary festival," said festival director Nashen Moodley. Weaving will also lead the international panel of judges picking the winner of the SFF Official Competition, which recognises the most courageous and cutting-edge films and comes with a $60,000 cash prize. Hot contenders include Nicolas Winding Refn's follow-up to Drive, Only God Forgives, which again promises to use Ryan Gosling, violence and synth to great effect; Australian Kim Mordaunt's Rocket, winner of the Best First Feature award at the Berlinale and Best Narrative Feature at Tribeca; Sarah Polley's family documentary Stories We Tell; and University of Sydney graduate Haifaa Al Mansour's Wadjada, the first feature film shot entirely in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Out of competition you'll find much-anticipated new films as well as surprising wonders from around the world that might never get widely released. A sure highlight (and sell-out) will be the new Michel Gondry confection, Mood Indigo, which stars Audrey Tautou in a romance darkened by illness. If you like your films even more difficult to interpret, you'll be pleased to hear Shane Carruth's follow-up to Primer, Upstream Color, is screening. There's also the decades-coming sequel to Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, Before Midnight, as well as Woody Allen-esque comedy Frances Ha from partners in crime/romance Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig. TV gets a nod in the Box Set program stream, which will screen HBO Europe's Burning Bush and Japanese broadcaster WOWOW's Penance. Documentaries continue to be a strong suit of the festival, with Vivid co-presentation The Human Scale by cities-are-for-people advocate Andreas Dalsgaard a particular draw. Internet culture is a subject in Downloaded, Kink and We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks, while global grrl bands rock in Miss Nikki and the Tiger Girls and Pussy Riot – A Punk Prayer. Last but not least (and given there's some 190 films in the program, not really last), one of our favourite things, the Sydney Film Festival Hub at Lower Town Hall is back, and now open until midnight daily from June 6-14. This is the place to meet, imbibe and get some feeling back into your legs after a movie marathon. It's also the place to see Jeff Desom's exciting installation Rear Window Loop, which we raved about a few weeks ago. A VHS party, trivia night, fake film press conference, Cinema Burlesque and movie future forecast are among the other interactive and instructive events on the bill. The Sydney Film Festival runs from June 5-16 in a corridor of venues throughout the city as well as the Hayden Cremorne Orpheum. Tickets are available now from the festival website, as is the full program of films and special events. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ulrIWcQOy8o
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we take you to Samabe Bali Suites & Villas in Nusa Dua. We've also teamed up with this luxe spot to offer readers a 40% discount on their stay when they book through Concrete Playground Trips. We've even included a bunch of extra travel experiences, helping you really elevate your Bali holiday game. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? Even though Bali's Nusa Dua can get busy — people flock here for the famous long white sandy beaches — this clifftop accommodation feels far away from the crowds and gives visitors access to quieter shores. The uninterrupted sea views, all-inclusive elements and ultra-luxurious villas also make this a standout place to stay. THE ROOMS As it says in the name, there are two kinds of accommodations here: suites and villas. Each of the large suites can sleep 4–5 people and most come with their own private plunge pool looking out over the beach. Expect to also find large dining and living rooms, bathrooms with free-standing tubs and queen- or king-sized beds. Then, there are the villas. These bad boys are huge and incredibly opulent. They come with much larger living and dining spaces, pools (either overlooking the courtyard or ocean) and lush gardens. All rooms are traditionally Balinese in design but have all the most modern amenities and plush furnishings. FOOD AND DRINK Samabe Bali Suites & Villas has four restaurants and bars on the premises and also offers a series of bespoke romantic dining experiences. First off, the Rempah-Rempah Restaurant is where you head for an extravagant buffet breakfast every morning (included in the price of your stay). You'll be offered classic brekkie options alongside lavish inclusions like seared wagyu beef, foie gras and all kinds of seafood. Japanese and Korean breakfast set menus are also available for those wanting to change things up. The Te.Ja.Co Lounge and Bar is where most people grab their complimentary afternoon tea and pre-dinner drinks. The Ring of Fire Pool Bar is what you'd expect from most lavish poolside drinking dens. Tuck into a bunch of light bites as you make your way down the long list of fun cocktails, beers and wines. The team isn't reinventing the wheel here — just doing the classics well. Lastly, there's the Crystal Blue Ocean Grill. This openair thatched-roof style dining spot overlooks the Indian Ocean and the main pool area. It's pretty big on the surf and turf life — tuck into all manners of freshly caught seafood or get your steak on with a bunch of different cuts available. [caption id="attachment_896022" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sven Piek (Unsplash)[/caption] THE LOCAL AREA If you're seeking sun and sandy shores, then Bali's Nusa Dua is the place to be. The main strip in town is filled with sun-soaked bars and restaurants as well as a bunch of boutique stores and market stalls. But the biggest drawcard of this area is the beaches. They are next-level gorgeous. And plentiful. Either rent out a sun lounger at the beach (located at the foot of the resort's cliff) and spend your days dipping in and out of the clear blue waters and chilling with a good book or go on an adventure with heaps of water sports available to travellers. And if you're looking to take your Bali holiday to the next level, check out these nine local trips and tours that you can book through Concrete Playground Trips. THE EXTRAS Samabe Bali Suites & Villas has extras galore. You can engage full luxury holiday mode by getting your own personal butler for your entire stay. Or, try booking one of its special romantic experiences (honeymooners are clearly the target audience for these). There are also a bunch of signature activities — think Balinese cooking classes, catamaran picnics, camel rides, outdoor theatre nights and private yoga classes. And if you book our four-night stay at Samabe Bali Suites & Villas, you'll get access to a heap of extras. This includes a unique Indonesian Rijstafel dinner, two in-room massages, complimentary fruit and face masks by the pool, daily beach yoga and a heap of all-inclusive offerings. Plus, the whole trip is 40% off. That means you save over $2500. If you're seeking to extend your summer by going on a luxury island getaway, be sure to check out this exclusive deal. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world.
If you like filling your house with Swedish furniture and homewares, then an IKEA voucher is probably high on your Christmas list. Or, you could treat yo'self in the lead up, because buying yourself a few presents is always perfectly acceptable — and also get your festive shopping done, listen to Christmas tunes and tuck into a three-course Christmas dinner. Yes, two faves are joining forces, again — and this time, instead of Halloween, IKEA is embracing Christmas. Yes, you can eat those Swedish meatballs; however, there's more on the menu, including either a Swedish seafood tasting plate or vegetable ball falafels for starters. From there, there's roast turkey with cranberry and orange stuffing, herb-crusted baked salmon, Christmas plum pudding with berry compote, DAIM cake and berry gelato cake. Happening at the brand's Tempe, Marsden Park and Rhodes stores in Sydney, the Christmas feast costs $30 for adults and $25 if you're an IKEA Family member. You'll want to book tickets ASAP — IKEA's food events are always popular — for 5.30pm on Friday, December 9 at Marsden Park and Rhodes, and the same time on Thursday, December 15 at Tempe. Some sites are also throwing in some extra fun on the same dates, such as festive tunes and mini gingerbread house decorating at Marsden Park and carols at Rhodes.
Harry and Penelope Seidler were architectural juggernauts of the 1960s. Trailing Bauhaus and plaudits wherever they deigned to tread, it was this husband and wife duo who convinced Sydneysiders to embrace modernist architecture. Next year, Sydney Festival will celebrate their most stunning structures – by filling them with sound. At the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, submersion is strongly encouraged as Los Angeles harpist Mary Lattimore plucks hypnotic melodies through underwater speakers. Meanwhile, at Seidler Penthouse, Harry and Penelope Seidler House, Julian Rose House and Rose Seidler House, a range of musicians take up temporary residence, allowing the architecture to inspire their improvisations. Before you add another pillow arrangement to your own modernist utopia, pop along to the Seidler Salon series and see how the design greats did it while some musical greats serenade you. Beats another trip to Ikea. The Seidler Salon Series is part of Sydney Festival's dramatic and diverse 2019 program. Check out the full lineup here.
Kicking off a new side hustle or small biz idea can be a challenging quest, but with the right connections and resources it doesn't have to be. In partnership with Fiverr, we're spotlighting budding entrepreneurs who are getting their businesses off the ground in style. Like most of us, Amy Silver vowed to use her time in lockdown productively. But unlike most of us, Amy actually followed through, launching The Dough Co with her dad, Mark. The pair's successful side hustle serves up ready-to-bake cookie dough to people living in and around Melbourne and, after numerous on-again off-again lockdowns, the business is one sweet win that's come out of the pandemic. Amy is in her sixth year of a double degree — Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts — at Monash University, and works as a paralegal one day a week. Mark, on the other hand, runs a corporate catering company that services businesses located in Melbourne's inner suburbs. When the pair suddenly found themselves with more time on their hands, they passed long days at home devouring books and podcasts about successful entrepreneurs and startups. The idea for The Dough Co was sparked when Amy, inspired by the home baking craze that swept the globe (and social media), found her local supermarket shelves devoid of packet bread and DIY cookie mixes. "I came home and said to my dad, 'I've got it! Let's make cookie dough," Amy told Concrete Playground. [caption id="attachment_817446" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mark and Amy Silver. Photo: Melanie Desa[/caption] While it's no Betty Crocker (yet), Amy and Mark had all the right ingredients to put this half-baked idea into action — the business concept, a captive audience in locked-down Melburnians and, as it happens, a commercial kitchen staffed with chefs. It was a rare opportunity, and one they used to funnel their time and resources into developing their chocolate chip cookie dough recipe. "The chefs started experimenting with the cookie dough and, every night, Dad and I would bring it home… We'd all stand around — me, my dad, my mum and my brother — and taste the cookies, then circle back the next day with our feedback," Amy told CP. "By the time we came out of [lockdown], we had everything ready to go for the launch." Amy's foray into baked goods is rather ironic, describing her own baking abilities as "quite hopeless". But, making a fresh batch of baked deliciousness from packet-mix brands — and having that sweet scent wafting through the house — was something she enjoyed between online classes and exams. She figured other people were probably seeking the same kind of pastime — and comfort food. She figured right. Launched just three months ago, The Dough Co already has hundreds of Melburnians placing orders for ready-to-bake dough through its e-commerce platform, or purchasing in-person at farmers markets around Melbourne. And, after "a lot of really good feedback [and] a lot of return customers", The Dough Co is, much like a perfect soufflé, on the rise. [caption id="attachment_817445" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Melanie Desa[/caption] It's fortunate, then, that The Dough Co is supported by a $5000 grant from Fiverr as part of a competition run by Monash University, which Amy won through her participation in The Validator program run via Monash University's central startup hub, The Generator. Hold up, Fiverr? For those not yet in the know, Fiverr is a freelance marketplace that connects experts from a range of disciplines with businesses requiring their services. Its user-friendly design and global database of freelancers makes it simple-as to get started and give your side hustle a leg up. Thanks to the grant, Amy scored thousands to put towards her and her dad's biz. When The Dough Co was still baking in the proverbial oven, Amy did all the marketing herself. "I have next to no business experience… and obviously my degree is very different to business — and cooking," says Amy. Now, the business plans to use Fiverr's grant — and its network of freelancers — to "completely overhaul" its website and merchandise offering, as well as improve discoverability and attract even more cookie-loving customers. "A big problem we had when we first started was that we were on the third page of Google, so we had to pay to advertise at the top. Getting an SEO specialist will definitely help." On top of that, Amy and Mark have got a freelance videographer/animator working on an animated, step-by-step video of how to make The Dough Co cookies, and, in the future, hope to get someone designing some sweet merch. [caption id="attachment_817435" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Melanie Desa[/caption] Currently, The Dough Co has four flavours: classic choc chip, chocolate orange, choc mint, and white chocolate and raspberry. The OG is the fan favourite but, if you're struggling to pick just one, you can opt for The Dough Co's bundle pack and taste 'em all. And, with the more nitty gritty side of things now covered thanks to Fiverr, Amy and Mark are busy developing new cookie dough flavours, along with vegan and gluten-free options. Sure, many Aussies share Amy's affinity for fresh-baked cookies. But there aren't many people her age with a law degree and a burgeoning small business under their belts. With her dad's support, she plans to defer her degree to focus on The Dough Co full-time for the first half of 2022, although still has ambitions to get qualified and work as a lawyer in the future. Her long-term plan? Establish The Dough Co as a self-sufficient business so she can focus on the most important part: "I'd like to stick to being the taste-tester." Have your own booming side hustle — or need a hand getting it off the ground? Check out the Fiverr website and connect with freelancers around the world, all just a click away. Images: Melanie Desa
It started back in 1956 as a singing contest between a mere seven nations. Now, more than six decades later, Eurovision is a glitter and spandex-fuelled global musical phenomenon. Forty-one countries not only in Europe but from elsewhere compete — hello Australia — and viewers tune in en masse each May to watch, sing along and add new pop tunes to their playlists. Well, they do most years. When the COVID-19 pandemic began last year, Eurovision didn't go on as planned. SBS hosted a week-long Eurovision festival instead — and Netflix released the Will Ferrell- and Rachel McAdams-starring Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga — but, thankfully, the beloved song contest is back in 2021. Come 5am AEST, Wednesday, May 19 Australian time, Eurovision will return to SBS as part of the broadcaster's usual celebration of all things Europop at this time of year. Getting up early to watch the first semi final is recommended, especially if you're keen to see this year's Aussie entrant Montaigne compete. She'll be up against performers from 15 countries — including Israel's first Ethiopian representative, Eden Alene — and will perform the song 'Technicolour' from home. That's just part one of this year's Eurovision fun. After Montaigne follows in Guy Sebastian, Dani Im, Isaiah, Jessica Mauboy and Kate Miller-Heidke's footsteps, the second semi final will air at 5am AEST on Friday, May 21. And, come the same time on Sunday, May 23, the grand final will hit the screen. For those who can't tear themselves out of bed before it's light, the first semi final will also screen in primetime at 8.30pm AEST on Friday, followed by the second semi final at 8.30pm AEST on Saturday — and the grand final at 7.30pm AEST on Sunday. You might not be able to avoid finding out the results by then, though, unless you veto the internet and social media for a few days. SBS' usual local hosts Myf Warhurst and Joel Creasey will be overseeing the show — and yes, if you're feeling a bit of deja vu, Montaigne was meant to represent Australia last year, before the contest was cancelled. And if you can't decide whether to beat the sun or wait and host a party at sensible hour, it's worth remembering that Australians can vote for Eurovision, but only during the live broadcasts. For the semi finals, you're limited to voting during the event that features Montaigne — and you can only vote in the grand final if the singer makes the cut. Also, there's another caveat: you're not actually allowed to vote for Australia's entry, which you can nonetheless check out below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX_y759_F_U SBS' Eurovision 2021 coverage runs from Wednesday, May 19–Sunday, May 23. For more information, head to the broadcaster's website. Top image: Jess Gleeson.
Spice is big business, and people want their tastebuds more than tickled. If you're a spice lover, it's the perfect time to participate in "The Hottest Day on the Central Coast". This free event celebrates all things capsaicin. Come down to Memorial Park in The Entrance on Sunday, June 15, to peruse the food trucks, taste spicy chilli products and — the biggest draw of them all — take part (or watch) in a chilli-eating competition. If you prefer your meals a little lower down the Scoville scale, there's plenty of milder food for you to enjoy, as well as a selection of wines and beers. Plus, there's live music throughout the day and a range of market stalls, meaning there's plenty for spice lovers and haters alike.
Heading to Moonlight Cinema has been one of the best ways to spend a balmy night across Australia since 1995. Kicking things off 30 years ago with a screening of Tarantino classic Pulp Fiction, the much-loved outdoor cinema is celebrating its milestone birthday with the launch of a special cinematic lineup selected by the audience — The People's Program. While the cinema never misses a beat when it comes to the silver screen schedule, showcasing new releases, timeless masterpieces and family-friendly hits, this time audiences were invited to have their say on which films would return to the big screen. Choices ranged from a curated list of classics, sing-alongs and cult favourites, from Shrek and Dirty Dancing to The Castle and Jurassic Park. "For three decades, Moonlight Cinema has been a quintessential summer ritual for millions of Australians," says John Boero, General Manager of Entertainment Operations, EVT. "The People's Program gives fans the chance to help shape the season and enjoy their most-loved films — under the stars, where Moonlight magic happens." However, there's more to this event than just picking the flicks. Everyone who voted received a 30 percent discount on general admission tickets to The People's Program sessions, screening the top-voted requests from January through March. Plus, voters went into the draw to win a double season pass alongside other stellar prizes to experience Moonlight Cinema at its very best. For the rest of the year, Moonlight Cinema is keeping the program busy with classics and newcomer hits. Looking ahead into March, there'll be premieres and preview screenings for new arrivals like The Moment, Reminders of Him, How to Make a Killing, Hoppers and GOAT, plus screenings of award season frontrunners like One Battle After Another, Sinners, Hamnet and Marty Supreme. For a more retrospective viewing, and the winners of the People's Picks program, audiences nationwide can get tickets to The Hunger Games, Dirty Dancing, Bend It Like Beckham, The Greatest Showman, The Dark Knight, Spirited Away, Shrek 2 and Zoolander. Moonlight Cinema runs in various locations with specific dates from Friday, November 21–Sunday, April 5, 2026. Head to the website for more information.
UK garage superstar Sammy Virji is turning things up in Australia, following the announcement of his largest-ever tour on our shores with the reveal of a landmark performance at the Sydney Opera House. Taking over the revered stage on Monday, March 9, it marks the premiere of his debut live show, pairing an electrifying experience with an iconic venue. Tailor-made for the SOH, this milestone sees Virji step beyond the DJ booth into a one-of-a-kind live environment for the first time. [caption id="attachment_999595" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Underworld at Sydney Opera House.[/caption] Bringing infectious energy with his boundary-pushing selections, Virji has been on quite a roll in recent times with the release of his second album, Same Day Cleaning. Crowning his monumental rise to the top of the UKG scene, Virji has also collabed with the likes of Chris Lake, Skepta, Flowdan and Giggs as his global profile continues to soar. With virtually no stage in Australia more significant than the Sydney Opera House, be among the first to experience Sammy Virji's live show, where high-energy, club-first tunes make history for one night only. Tickets are on sale from 12pm on Friday, January 30 — presale registration is now open. [caption id="attachment_871453" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Flaming Lips at Sydney Opera House.[/caption]
Cosmo's Midnight is the playful moniker for the much-adored Sydney-based production duo made up of twins Cosmo and Patrick Liney. The pair have been writing and producing feel-good jams since 2012, with their ever-evolving sound and clear natural talent seeing them only continue to rise in popularity across the globe. For the uninitiated, their songs are eclectic and yet instantly recognisable: dance tracks heavy on the instrumentals, floaty lyrics and sky-high vibes. After a 2022 chock-full of buzzing festival crowds and tours here and abroad, Cosmo's Midnight are getting ready to take to the For The Love stage on the Gold Coast (Saturday, February 25) followed by legs in Wollongong (Sunday, February 26), Melbourne (Saturday, March 4) and Perth (Sunday, March 5) — along with a stacked lineup. Joining them are legendary pop and dance icons Charli XCX and Duke Dumont, plus Budjerah, Sonny Fodera and Snakehips to name a few. Ahead of their tour with For The Love (curated by renowned party-throwers from Untitled Group), we caught up with Cosmo and Patrick to chat about their summer highs, creative influences and how they're feeling ahead of the waterside gigs. First up, how are you both? Enjoying summer? You've spent the warmer months hitting festival stages here and abroad — there must be some exhaustion in there! "Doing very well, it's nice to finally have a summer where we aren't dodging flood waters. After pretty extensive touring for the last half of 2022, it's been so good to recoup and hit the beach in between writing sessions. We're currently writing some of the best music we've ever put together and can't wait to show some of the stuff Pat and I have been working on." On and off the stage, what have been your summer highs? "Hitting Hobbiton in New Zealand was a massive highlight, we've been massive fans of LOTR and Tolkien as a whole our entire lives. It was so magical walking through the set and having the opportunity to get turpsed at The Green Dragon, the pub from The Shire. Also just touring with our band is so fun, they've been good mates of ours since before we started doing shows together and we spent one torrential day in Auckland go-karting in inch-deep water. No one else was on the track so the people running it just let us have free reign, trying to destroy each other and doing our best to recreate Tokyo Drift." Amazing! What's it like touring with your sibling? "It's really easy despite the fact we have little sibling tiffs every now and then — they're always quickly resolved and never spiral into something sinister. Luckily we both enjoy the same general things outside of music, so there's no massive vote required to figure out what the band is going to do when we're not on stage." You both exude such a positive energy when performing, how does it feel to be on stage? "We both love performing, as far as music goes it's the biggest payoff of writing and developing a live show. Seeing how people respond to your music is the truest review you can get in this age of music streaming, where it's hard to tell what people think immediately — where we more so just watch the play counts rack up." For The Love is about to kick off its run of music events to see out Australia's summer, how are you both feeling ahead of taking the stage? "Really excited, we're keen to debut some new music and renditions of old songs to up the ante even further. It's been a while since we've hit a national tour in Australia so it will be great to see some familiar spaces and faces!" How do you prep for a gig? Any non-negotiables in the lead up? "Always rehearse really close to show day. Despite all the touring we did last year, we made sure to go through everything again with the band before we hit a tour. We all got so familiar with our live set last year after touring through Europe, UK, USA that I think we got a bit cocky and thought it might be okay to skip it... luckily we decided against it. Always gotta break out the WD-40 even when nothing sounds rusty." Whose set on the For The Love lineup are you most excited to catch? "I'm so excited to see Charli perform, we've been big fans of hers throughout her career and the ebbs and flows she's had as she explores different genres and styles. Unfortunately we've never caught her live, so it's going to be a massive highlight to see her at FTL — I hope we get to meet her!" I have everything crossed for you! Do you have a favourite track to perform? "It changes as time goes on but currently we have a really fun extended version of CUDI that is just so satisfying and exciting to play. I feel like if your song doesn't give you tingles when you're performing it, you've got to work on it until it does and we've reached that sweet spot with CUDI." You've got a unique and recognisable sound — inherently upbeat with a little eighties-disco edge. What are you influenced by creatively? "You're entirely right, we do listen to a lot of disco for inspiration. Before every new musical endeavour we do a massive amount of listening to kind of figure out the palette and sound for our next project. These last two years, we've extended our listening into more recent decades like the nineties and two-thousands to see both how the natural progression of disco leaned to house and pop — and what we can take from those eras that is so timeless and exciting." I've had a good old internet dig, and gleaned that your third album is well on its way to ears — how are you feeling about it? What can we expect from Cosmo's Midnight in the near-ish future? "Solid investigative work you've done there! It's well on the way, some would even say its getting wrapped up soon! We're feeling really excited and confident for the new project, it's some of the most upbeat and fluid writing we've done to date and we're really looking forward to dripping them out so everyone can get across them all." Are you taking any time off after the For The Love run? "We're going to take some time off to plan the rest of the year music and touring-wise. We're also going to use some downtime to work on other artists' projects, maybe do some writing camps and holidaying! It's always a good time mid-year to see what is happening up in the northern hemisphere." And finally, what are your three favourite places to eat and drink in Sydney? "Shameless plugs for friends: I love visiting my mates over at Baba's Place in Marrickville for a bite to eat! Then Naija Jollof has really good West African food just up the street from me, which is really hearty and spicy. Cafe Nho in Marrickville has the coffee with the closest taste to that in Vietnam, if you've travelled there and miss the coffee I'd strongly recommend trying it out!" Cosmo's Midnight are set to take the For The Love stage on the Gold Coast (Saturday, February 25) and in Wollongong (Sunday, February 26), Melbourne (Saturday, March 4) and Perth (Sunday, March 5). For more info and to nab your tickets, head to the website.
You're probably well acquainted with the idea of farm-to-table dining. Now, it's time to get more of a taste of what the native Australian version looks like. Tweed Eco Cruises offers a hands-on food adventure through the mud crab-filled Terranora Lakes mangrove system, which is an ideal experience if you love crustacean. Led by Bundjalung Nation descendant Luther Cora, the tour teaches guests about First Nations hunting practices firsthand — yep, you will use bamboo spears to catch mud crabs, stingrays and fish, before enjoying the spoils cooked over a bonfire. The four-hour adventure continues with a boat ride through the oyster leases with plenty of freshly shucked snacks included, and concludes with a sumptuous seafood feast enjoyed with your fellow hunters. Image: Tweed Eco Cruises via Destination NSW
This funky cafe/bar is held in high regard by the locals, because despite being around for so many years, its friendly demeanour has yet to falter. Grind Espresso is a favourite for local celebrities — players from the Cronulla Sharks can often be seen milling around, enjoying an espresso and some smashed avocado (with eggs, of course, for protein). The cafe fare here is simple but delicious, with BLTs and scones frequent favourites on the menu. Drop by and sit at the dive bar-style couches, or perch around a refurbished barrel for some coffee drinking and people watching. Images: Caitlin Morahan.
If there's one thing summer has in abundance it's activities. Whether you're heading on a trip or staying local, there's always plenty to do, see and explore when the sun comes out to play. Yet, somehow, we still seem to always do the same old things: quick dips in the ocean and having mates round for a Sunday session in your backyard. Don't get us wrong, they're both great. But, after a pretty rough year, why not take things up a notch and make this one more memorable? We've partnered up with Bacardi to help you be a bit more unconventional over the warmer months. Here are seven ways you can make the most of the glorious weather, without resorting to the predictable. Think underwater art museums, camping with the crew, multi-venue festivals and cocktail parties in parks. TAKE A HIKE Sure, it might not be the most original summer activity on the list, but getting out into nature is rewarding at any time of year. You'll want to avoid heatstroke, so it's best to get going early or in the late arvo when the temperature starts to drop — which means you'll see some mighty fine sunrises and sunsets. So, put on your best outdoor shoes, slap on some sunscreen and ready yourself for an adventure. If you're in Sydney, you can cruise along one of the city's many coastal walks or hike in a national park, where you'll find some swimming holes to cool off in. In Brisbane, you can conquer epic mountains, check out rushing falls and look out over stunning vistas, without having to venture too far from the big smoke — check out five of the best walks here. Down south in Victoria, there's everything from out-of-town seaside strolls to epic multi-day hikes, boasting idyllic views of pristine beaches, sprawling countryside and serene vineyards, plus plenty of local wildlife. [caption id="attachment_784354" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Disney+ Drive-In[/caption] CATCH A FLICK AT A DRIVE-IN CINEMA Looking for an idea for a date or fun night out with mates? Forget the recliner, keep to social-distancing requirements and catch a movie under the stars, while keeping cool in your car at a drive-in cinema. Head to Skyline Drive-In in Blacktown, Sydney, where you can catch something on the big screen every night of the week, whether it's a new blockbuster or cult classic. If you grew up in Brissy, you've probably already been to old fave Yatala Dive-In and, with such a great rotating program, who could blame you? If you'd rather do something different, though, head to The Tivoli Drive-In on a Saturday. Melbourne locals, you're spoiled for choice with Dandenong Lunar Drive-In and Village Cinemas Coburg Drive-In and, come December, a pop-up Disney+ Drive-In. HOST A COCKTAIL PARTY IN A PARK Know a good patch of green near you? Then, take your next event to the park and impress your mates with an impromptu cocktail party — with a dress code encouraged, of course. Grab some picnic blankets, portable speakers and fun snacks, then get ready to whip up some next-level bevvies. For tropical tipples, you'll need a few bottles of Bacardi, then check out these four super-easy rum cocktails. We recommend batch-making some frozen strawberry daiquiris to keep things simple — just make sure your party guests know to arrive on time. And, because no good cocktail party is complete without snacks, head to a park with a barbecue so you can throw on some snags, too. [caption id="attachment_770817" align="alignnone" width="2000"] White Rabbit 'And Now' by Kimberley Low[/caption] STAY COOL AT A BLOCKBUSTER ART EXHIBITION While being outdoors when it's sunny is ace, sometimes you just want to kick back in air-conditioning. If that's the case, head to an indoor art exhibition where you can get your cultural kicks — and stay cool. Check out contemporary Chinese art at White Rabbit Gallery, the MCA's landmark summer exhibition Lindy Lee: Moon in a Dew Drop or head to Eveleigh arts and cultural institution Carriageworks. Or, step into Brisbane's Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) and Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), with Unfinished Business: The Art of Gordon Bennett currently showing, or see some Bauhaus designs at the Museum of Brisbane. But, perhaps the most exciting of all is Victoria's NGV Triennial, running from December 19 till April next year. Expect to see marine monsters, giant mirrored sculptures by Jeff Koons and a multi-sensory walkway at this massive exhibition. The capital currently has a groundbreaking exhibition showing at the NGA, too, profiling prominent Aussie women artists. GO CAMPING WITH THE CREW No matter where you are in Australia, there's always a spot waiting nearby for you to set up camp. Whether your crew wants to be close to sandy shores or in a remote pocket of wilderness under luminous stars, camping is an awesome way to escape the daily grind. Because we're big fans of reconnecting with nature here at Concrete Playground, we've already sought out some of the top camping spots around the country, too. New South Wales has a bunch of free campgrounds — you can find our pick of the bunch over here, from riverside spots to mountainous getaways. If you're more into the high life, Queensland has plenty of luxe glaming stays. Otherwise, pitch your own tent in Lamington National Park or right by the beach at one of these ten spots. If you're keen to check out regional Victoria, there's beach camping galore as well as plenty of top-notch free grounds not too far from Melbourne. As most of us won't be travelling far this summer (or at least not overseas), many campgrounds are already starting to book out, so be sure to do your research before hitting the road. [caption id="attachment_792466" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mushroom Creative House[/caption] SEE A LIVE GIG If there's one thing Australia does well across the country, it's live music — even now amid a global pandemic. After months of catching live tunes from our living rooms, it's time to chair-dance at IRL gigs once again. Sydney's Enmore Theatre, Mary's Underground, The Vanguard and Oxford Art Factory all have stellar lineups over the next few months and the annual Sydney Festival never disappoints. If you're in Queensland, or can make it up to the Sunshine State over summer, there are a bunch of COVID-Safe festivals going ahead, including To The Point Festival, This That, The Tivoli's Open Season and Mountain Goat Valley Crawl. Although Melbourne is still waiting for live gigs to come back, punters can see a live comedy show at The Catfish in Fitzroy and be sure to keep an eye out for gig announcements likely to come to a heap of Melbourne live music venues. HIT THE HIGH SEAS There's nothing like diving into the ocean when the mercury is rising. But, rather than just splash about by the shore, there are plenty of other ways you can hit the highs seas instead. Think paddleboarding, kayaking and surfing Sydney seas, or swimming with turtles and scuba diving with manta rays, which are particularly grand on the Queensland coast. While you're there, you should check out the southern hemisphere's first underwater art museum, too. Melbourne may not be known for its beaches, but you can chase plenty of nearby waterfalls instead, or take a windsurfing lesson at St Kilda Beach. Do what moves you this summer with Bacardi. Once you've ticked off all the above adventures, check out Bacardi's competition, where you and 20 mates could win the chance to attend Australia's smallest music festival. Top image: Bec Taylor
No one loves choosing between two of their favourite foods. Also, everyone likes pies. They're two of the truths behind Banjo's Bakery Cafe's range of culinary hybrids, and it has just come up with another: the spaghetti bolognese pie. After introducing Australian tastebuds to the lasagne pie and the double cheeseburger pie — plus Tasmanian scallop pies, bangers and mash pies, and chicken parmigiana pies, too — the Banjo's team has launched another Frankenstein's monster of a snack. Pastry is a feature, as usual. This time, though, it encases angel hair spaghetti and meaty bolognese sauce, and is then topped with melted cheese and parsley. Yes, they're exactly what they sound like. Yes, your tastebuds now want to devour them ASAP. Yes, being unable to think of anything else until you eat one of these creations is completely understandable. The aim: to satisfy your cravings when you just can't bring yourself to pick between a pie and some spag bog, obviously. If you're a little indecisive when it comes to choosing what to eat in general, you're probably already a big fan of food mashups that find ways to combine two popular dishes — so this is an easy must-try. The spaghetti bolognese pies have joined Banjo's signature range, alongside the aforementioned other creative varieties — but only for a limited time. They'll be available from the company's stores from today, Wednesday, June 8, as well as via online click-and-collect orders and delivery services. In NSW, you'll need to head north to Glendale to get your fix. In Victoria, stores are located in Mornington, Traralgon and Mildura. Queenslanders can pick from ten spots, including Darra, Cleveland, Park Ridge and Redcliffe, while pie-loving SA residents can hit up Glenelg — and there's 27 stores in Tasmania. Banjo's Bakery Cafe's spaghetti bolognese pie is on the menu at the chain's stores nationally from Wednesday, June 8. To find your nearest location, visit the company's website.
