Talbingo Dam is one of the largest bodies of water that make up the Snowy Mountains Scheme, and one of the enduring drawcards of this part of the world is its popularity as a recreational fishing destination. The deep waters of the dam are home to a variety of species including rainbow trout, golden perch, redfin and more. It's also one of the few places that allows catch-and-release sportfishing for the elusive trout cod. If you're planning on dropping a line here, a small recreational fishing fee must be paid. It goes towards the ample restocking of the dams with sustainable species as well as helping to fund research and maintenance about sustainable recreational fishing. [caption id="attachment_841377" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lumi1023 (Flickr)[/caption] The sheer size of Talbingo Dam means that there's plenty of space for aquatic activities in the pristine water. There's a cordoned-off area for swimming and plenty of signage so you can't miss it. Or, if you're more of a thrillseeker, there are long stretches of deep flat water perfect for jet skiing — and the calm nature of the water makes this spot a great place to learn. If jet skis aren't your jam, then perhaps hire a canoe and set your own pace to blissfully take in the breathtaking mountain scenery that surrounds the dam. Whichever you choose, there are plenty of ways to experience this impressive body of water. Top image: Brendan J Murphy (Flickr)
Bluesfest is as old as I am, and in the period of time in which we've both been in existence, Bluesfest has grown from an idealistic little Easter weekend in Byron Bay to one of the most highly-awarded, innovative and internationally acclaimed festivals Australia has to offer. In that time I mostly just grew taller and formed an inability to function without coffee. This year marks one of the most exciting Bluesfests to date. Feverish attention has been given to the headliner, Bob Dylan, the rock 'n' roll saviour of the 1960s who inspired generations of brooding young men to don dark glasses and take up the guitar. But the excitement also extends to the rest of the lineup, rounded out by the bespectacled troubadour Elvis Costello, blues legend B.B. King, and the androgynous musical powerhouse who launched a thousand haircuts, Grace Jones. The six day lineup features many more acts, including Ben Harper, Michael Franti, The Blind Boys of Alabama, as well as Australian acts including Washington and Kate Miller-Heidke. Add to that camping in beautiful surrounds, market stalls, carnival rides and generally chilled atmosphere, you have a particularly awesome Easter to look forward to. Tickets are selling fast, and while you'll find it hard to get a whole-weekend ticket now if you haven't already got one, there are still some tickets available for the Thursday and the Tuesday, when Bob Dylan will be playing. Get in while you can.
There's never a bad time to dress up — and not just don your sleekest threads, but put on a costume. Perhaps you really want to spread some festive cheer mid-year. Maybe you need something spooky for Halloween. Or, you could just need something wizard-related for one of Sydney's regular Harry Potter-themed events. Snog the Frog knows all about throwing on a different outfit for a special occasion. You'll find Snog The Frog behind a roller door on a backstreet in Surry Hills. There's plenty to hire or buy, and most of it is Aussie made. Plus, the independent team offers a makeup service to take it to the next level with some special effects. Round up two of your mates and go as Kath, Kim and Sharon, convince your best mate to be the B2 to your B1 or dress up as a real-life Australian icon like Steve Irwin, Cathy Freeman or the Sydney Opera House (we didn't think it was possible, but Snog The Frog's done it). Image: Dean McCartney
Vivid isn't the only way to immerse yourself in lights this winter. Sydney Zoo in Western Sydney has also transformed into a giant, glowing playground. Head there any evening between now and Sunday, June 15, to find out what the animals do after dark — while surrounded by more than 200 illuminated installations. You'll meet a massive yellow octopus, wander beneath a butterfly canopy and come face-to-face with a smiling crocodile. There's also a bunch of interactive rides, from a piano you can play with your feet to a ferris wheel affording spectacular views. And, when you need a break from all the excitement, you can pop into the GLOW bar for a drink and scour the food trucks for tasty, heart-warming bites. Tickets, which are $24.99 for kids and $34.99 for kidults, are available online. Book on a Tuesday night, and you'll get yours for half-price.
This late-night haunt is among the best takeaway joints around and has garnered food-loving reverence from Sydneysiders everywhere. While Indian Home Diner serves up heaps of the cuisine's best-known dishes — including curries, tandoori bread and samosas — the go-to here is the Indian kebab. These are wrapped in plain or garlic naan, instead of the Lebanese bread you get in most local kebab shops. Choose from the classic, double chicken tikka, meat curry, veggie or jumbo garlic cheese varieties. Each comes topped with your choice of aloo chop (potato croquette) or onion bhaji. Yep, it's big, bold and you'll eat up every last bite. Image: Kimberley Low
In 2016, the burg remains king in Sydney and there are few more dedicated local servants to our Royal Meaty Highness than Bar Luca. As well as consistently trotting out a delicious/grotesque/highly Instagrammable array of burgs, you might have noticed they've just started opening a chain of takeaway spinoffs named BL Burgers. The first opened in Darlinghurst in March 2016 and has been so successful they've just announced a second opening at Bondi Beach, on the first floor of the Beach Road Hotel. It's slated to open towards the end of May and ensure the cholesterol of Bondi residents stays nice and high with takeaway Bar Luca standards such as the famous Blame Canada burger: a Wagyu beef pattie, cheddar, house smoked duck bacon, sweet potato poutine and smoked maple aioli. And in news that, at this point, surprises no one (they did once put chipotle, bacon and Nutella together on a burger), Bar Luca and Paper Street Ice Cream Company jointly announced the birth of another unholy creature to join their brood – Blame Canada ice cream. It's made of vanilla bean ice cream, smokey beefy caramel swirl (beefy caramel? Has science gone too far?), maple marshmallow fluff, parmesan, maple bacon and dark chocolate covered potato chips. It's currently available at Bar Luca and BL Burgers Darlinghurst and we can only hope it'll be made available at the new BL Burgers location as well (we really can't live without it now we know it exists). BL Burgers Bondi will open on May 25 at 71 Beach Rd, Bondi Beach. Via Good Food.
The world-renowned pastry chef behind the famed Strawberry Watermelon Cake has gone back to baking basics with his new endeavour. Christopher Thé, founder of Black Star Pastry, has collaborated with Salt Meats Cheese to launch This Is Us, a range of classic savoury breakfast goods. Thé's journey at Black Star ended in 2019, and he spent time after unwinding with his family and experimenting in the kitchen. Those experiments led to a collaboration with Salt Meats Cheese and the birth of This Is Us. A line of gourmet retail products, the range currently includes hand-stretched, vacuum-sealed pizzas and, under Thé's watch, crumpets and muffins. Thé's preservative-free, naturally-leavened sourdough crumpets and english muffins are handmade using single-origin flour from northern New South Wales. While they, of course, come plain, this means you can get crafty with your toppings. You could, perhaps, fill your muffin with LP's chorizo, a fried egg and Condimental hot sauce, or lather your crumpets in honey and Pepe Saya butter. But, that is just one suggestion — the possibilities are, as they say, endless. Available exclusively from Harris Farm Markets across NSW, the new range is an extension of Thé's passion for sustainable and farm-to-kitchen cooking. Expect more products to drop in the coming months, too. This Is Us by Christopher Thé is available from Harris Farm stores across NSW.
Cheese and wine nights are great, but when you combine them with learning some fun hands-on skills and hanging out with a great Sydney ceramicist, then it becomes something special. Join local creative Hannah Barclay at her studio in Marrickville for her popular wine and cheese ceramic workshops. Here, Barclay and her team will teach you the basics of ceramic and pattern design and have you shaping your own creations in no time. Clay:Sydney's got the cheese and crackers (and all the tools) covered, so all you have to do is bring a fine bottle of wine and a playful attitude. Running a variety of classes, from cheese and wine workshops to hand building classes and wheel throwing, Barclay ensures you'll get up-close assistance to make sure you're heading home with a perfectly imperfect product, handmade by you. Upcoming workshops are scheduled throughout the year. They're strictly limited to 30 people per class, so we recommend booking sooner rather than later — they sell out fast. And don't forget to BYO wine. If you do miss out, Clay:Sydney also runs wheel-throwing classes and ceramic mug and planter workshops. Or, if you're planning for a special occasion, you can also arrange a private class — think hens parties, birthdays and corporate events, where you'll leave with something you can proudly to call your own. Check the Clay:Sydney website for future classes. Updated: October 3, 2019.
Each year, we all anticipate the arrival of December 25. Because of the day off, that includes the promise of an afternoon spent dozing in a hammock — and for dessert fiends, it also includes Gelato Messina's annual Christmas cake. We hope you like a certain quintessential Australian dish, because that's what is on the gelato chain's menu again. Yes, Messina is bringing back its version of the trifle. The Christmas Coma will return for its sixth year running — and, although it seems like we say this every festive season, this time it's especially decadent. In fact, it's a sticky date and toffee pudding turned into a trifle, combining multiple beloved desserts into one seasonal — and epic — treat. 2022's Christmas Coma will once again feature layer upon layer of everything that is good about Christmas — but instead of being soggy and slightly regrettable, this one will have you licking the glass bowl. So what's in it? Well, Messina is going with layers of caramel cremeux, that all-important sticky date and toffee pudding, crème fraîche chantilly and chocolate-coated biscuit crumble. On top? 'Tis the season to eat a handmade white chocolate and coffee chocolate wreath. Plus, it'll come with some Messina brandy custard to douse all over the mess. And, it all serves 20–30 (or less if you really commit). All of the above comes in a Christmas Coma mega pack, which costs $250 and can be pre-ordered from Tuesday, November 1 — with times varying depending on your state, as the gelato chain has been doing with its specials lately. Accordingly, folks in Queensland and the ACT are able to purchase at 9am AEDT, Victorians at 9.15am, and New South Wales customers are split across three times depending on the store (with Surry Hills, Bondi, Randwick, Circular Quay and Miranda on sale at 9.30am; Brighton Le Sands, Tramsheds, Parramatta and Darlinghurst at 9.45am; and Darling Square, Newtown, Norwest, Rosebery and Penrith at 10am). You'll then be able to pick up your Christmas Coma between Wednesday, December 21–Saturday, December 24, all within regular store opening hours — and from all Gelato Messina stores across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. It comes in a Messina cooler bag and, if you keep it in there all sealed up, can survive for up to one hour. In each of the last few years, the trifle sold out ridiculously fast, so we suggest you don't wait on this one. The 2022 Christmas Coma will be available to order from Tuesday, November 1 for $250. Head to on the Messina website for further details.
Coronavirus restrictions are beginning to ease and you're allowed to have more visitors in your home, which is very welcome news as we move into the season of festive catch-ups, backyard barbecues, pool hangs and picnics. We're sure seeing your family and friends in the flesh is exciting enough. But if you want to put a worthy spin on your next catch-up, you can also use it to raise money for Movember. While the charity is best known for encouraging blokes to grow silly mos throughout the month of November to raise money for men's health, it also has an option to host an in-person or virtual event. And this weekend will be the perfect opportunity to get involved with its Shit Shirt Saturday party. This Saturday, November 28, Movember is encouraging you to invite your mates around to your place (or to your local park). Everyone will need to pay $20 entry (for charity, obvs) and wear the best worst shirt for a bit of fun. Movember is providing the entertainment with a lineup of 45-minute DJ sets to stream throughout the afternoon and evening. The tunes will kick off at 3pm with Eric Sidey, followed by Matt Jones, Nick Kennedy and Spacey Space. At 6pm, Airwolf will perform and Torren Foot will wrap things up at 6.45pm. To get involved, sign up to be a host at Movember's website and then, on the day, head here for the live-stream. Just remember to keep your shit shirt socially distanced from others.
Have you always wanted to reenact the Office Space printer smashing scene? Well, your chance has finally come. Melbourne got The Break Room way back in 2016, and now it's Sydney's turn. Smash Brothers is popping up in Kogarah for three months, starting Saturday, April 21. A clear nod to the 90s video game franchise of the same name, the concept is a new kind of stress and anger management workout geared towards millennials. It's taking the workplace term 'break room' to a very literal sense — water coolers will only be of the smashable variety. You actually can smash printers here, along with plates, bottles, blenders, toasters and even televisions, fridges and — the most satisfying of all — computer monitors. So how does it work? Choose your weapon of choice and you'll be escorted to a break room filled with a crate of smashable goodies (plus a few 'mystery items') to break to bits. You'll be outfitted with overalls, gloves and a face shield, so you can go at it without the machines taking their revenge. Waste is the obvious eyebrow-raiser here. But while the items up for destruction are either donated or purchased, according to the venue, all the smashed stuff will be recycled. This may sound like a team sport, but for safety reasons you can only smash solo. Plus, you're only allowed ten minutes to break your batch, so best let that rage fly in rapid fire. It's not the cheapest ten minutes, either — solo smashing costs $40, or bring a buddy for $70. The break room is open on weekends only and by appointment only (no walk-ins will be accepted). To book a session, head over here and kiss those TPS reports goodbye.
Australia loves its big things. We're home to oversized pineapples, bananas and watermelons, plus lobsters and prawns as well. If you don't pass some kind of giant sculpture while you're road tripping around the country — and stopped to take your picture next to it, of course — your drive just isn't the same. Ever wondered why we're so obsessed with huge items? It seems that we have quite the massive past, too. In fact, the country's largest ever dinosaur has just been officially identified. Meet Australotitan cooperensis, whose bones where first unearthed in 2007 in Cooper Creek in outback Queensland, but were given an official scientific description and name by palaeontologists from the Eromanga Natural History Museum and Queensland Museum on Monday, June 7. When this huge dino roamed the earth around 95–98 million years ago, it was as long as a basketball court and as tall as a two-storey building. In numbers, that equates to 25–30 metres long, and between five and six-and-a-half metres tall. Nothing that size or bigger has ever been found on our shores. 'Cooper', as the dino has been nicknamed, is also one of the largest ever discovered worldwide — with dinosaurs of comparable or bigger size only found in South America so far. So, if Jurassic Park or Jurassic World ever happened to become a reality in Queensland, recreating local dinos, we'd all come face to face with quite the mammoth creatures. [caption id="attachment_814992" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Steve Young[/caption] "This new titanosaurian is the largest dinosaur from Australia represented by osteological remains," explains Eromanga Natural History Museum and field palaeontologist Robyn Mackenzie. "These are the largest dinosaurs that ever walked on earth and based on the preserved limb size comparisons, this new titnaosaur is estimated to be in the top five largest in the world." To identify Cooper — and, crucially, to ensure that it was a new species — 3D scans were taken of each bone, which were then compared to those of its closest relatives. That involved cross-referencing with both local species and others worldwide. While Cooper is closely related to three other Australian sauropods that lived during the Cretaceous Period (so, around 92–96 million years ago), this exact dino species hadn't been found before. If you'd like to see Cooper's fossilised remains, they're on display in the Eromanga Natural History Museum's fossil collection, which is around a 12-hour drive west from Brisbane. The museum has its own onsite place to stay, called Cooper's Country Lodge, should you need somewhere to bunk down for the night. Further north in Winton, Queensland is already home to a dinosaur-focused museum — because that's where other dinosaur fossils were found back in 1999. So yes, your next road trip can involve trekking across the outback to check out these fascinating remnants of the earth's past. Life finds a way, obviously. Find the Eromanga Natural History Museum at 1 Dinosaur Drive, Eromanga — open from 9am–5pm daily. Top image: Eromanga Natural History Museum.
There's a reason that veteran British filmmaker Ken Loach likes to shoot his characters from afar, and frame his socially minded features in a way that makes audiences think they're peering at reality. The director behind the likes of Kes, My Name is Joe and The Angels' Share might've spent his five-decade career largely telling fictional tales, but there's nothing more interesting to him than getting to the truth. That's why, in this year's Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or winner I, Daniel Blake, viewers spend much of the movie watching the eponymous figure (Dave Johns) navigate his surroundings. Dan spends his days chatting with his neighbour, seeking assistance from the local welfare office, and helping a single mother, Katie (Hayley Squires), as she struggles to get by. And yet, through Loach's lens, this everyman's ordinary life couldn't be more revealing. Working with American Honey cinematographer Robbie Ryan, Loach observes things from a distance. At the same time, in collaborating once again with screenwriter Paul Laverty, he rifles through intimate details. As such, the film pulls off an illuminating and empathetic balancing act, exploring the minutiae of Dan's quest to receive financial support after having a serious heart attack on a building site, while placing his plight in the context of an uncaring system seemingly designed to punish rather than aid those in need. Accordingly, I, Daniel Blake starts with a scene that evokes both horror and humour, the two emotions that underscore every part of the film. The screen remains black as the opening credits roll and Dan answers questions from a woman about the state of his health. They're standard questions, read straight from a form, that ignore his individual circumstances and are clearly designed to deem him fit for work, despite his doctors' advice to the contrary. Dan gets frustrated and angry, and eventually starts joking around when it's clear that nothing else will work. By the time Loach pairs the sounds of their conversation with the corresponding imagery, the absurdity and the injustice of the situation is already clear. Whether they're charting Dan's conversations with unhelpful government employees, or chronicling Katie's efforts to start a new life for her kids, there's no doubting where the sympathies of Loach and Laverty reside. There's also no avoiding the passion and fury that drives I, Daniel Blake, or its attempts at shining a light where it's needed most. This isn't just a feature about the specific characters at its centre and the many others they represent. It's also a movie filled with small acts of kindness and amusing human antics that rally against the pervading culture of institutionalised cruelty and austerity. As always, Loach favours stark naturalism — in both the bleakly lit Newcastle offices and homes that provide the film its backdrop, and in the organic performances offered by his cast. It's an aesthetic choice that helps heighten the sense of despair, while also ensuring that every fleeting moment of on-screen happiness feels earned. As portrayed with grim pain, wavering determination and an intermittent sense of levity by Johns and Squires, this is ultimately a film about people; whether they're beaten down by bureaucracy, making the most of what they've got, or doing whatever it takes to claw their way back up again.
Surry Hills' The Winery is introducing a pop-up winter glamping area to its idyllic al fresco dining area. Visitors to the venue can hire out their own private glamping tent fitted out with tables, rugs, blankets and cushions for an intimate dining experience for them and their friends. Available for groups of four to ten, the tents are available for $69pp which includes a four-course tasting menu for the group. The degustation starts with grilled olive bread, burrata, salt and pepper calamari, mushroom croquettes and crispy tofu. The main course consists of butternut and goat's cheese ravioli, gnocchi, truffle fries and a rocket and pear salad, before the feast is finished off with tiramisu. You can add seasonal drinks to the menu for an additional $39 a head, featuring mulled cider, a selection of local wines and an espresso martini to pair with dessert. Bookings are available each day at midday 2.30pm, 5pm, 7pm and 9pm. If you want to escape the world for a few hours, head to The Winery's website to book your spot.
A spooky murder mystery is one thing, but take it to the high seas, make it interactive and you've got a whole new level of bone-chilling fun. So, we're betting you'll want some pretty strong nerves to tackle the Australian National Maritime Museum's upcoming Murder Mystery at Sea experience. Launching Friday, January 18 for a limited six-date run, this one's an immersive 'whodunnit' adventure, unfolding creepily aboard the aptly named Navy Destroyer HMAS Vampire. At night. Audiences will find themselves transported back to the Cold War era, somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, deciphering spooky SOS messages and cracking a series of clues to solve the mysterious murder of their ship's crew and captain. Thankfully, everyone gets a welcome drink on arrival to help calm those frazzled nerves.
Prepare to be plunged into an unsettling world in Partisan, but prepare to be unable to look away, too. A charismatic man charms struggling single mothers into his thrall, and the film casts the same spell on its viewers. The magnetic figure at the centre of the movie is Gregori (Vincent Cassel), who wields his influence over Susanna (Florence Mezzara) when her son is born. Eleven years later, Alexander (Jeremy Chabriel) is the eldest child in Gregori's commune, secreted away on the outskirts of a rundown city and sheltered from the rest of the civilisation. His days, like those of the other kids living there, are filled with lessons and attempts to win gold stars for good behaviour. They're taught about gardening and trust, and play violent games with paintball guns — which Alexander then relives, outside the compound's walls, with a real weapon. Much of Partisan beguiles, early on, by remaining ambiguous and refusing to make plain its story — and by the time some of the pieces start to come together, you'll probably realise that you're already hooked. Just what Gregori is up to isn't the real point, nor why. Instead, the film pulls apart the bonds that a parent holds over his progeny, with Alexander's questioning nature kicking into gear when a new boy, Leo (Alex Balaganskiy), joins the fold but refuses to do what he's told. First-time director Ariel Kleiman, who also co-wrote the script with his partner Sarah Cyngler, was inspired by actual accounts of child assassins; however, their movie doesn't even pretend to reflect reality. It's not a typical killer kid flick either, for those familiar with The Professional and Hanna. Partisan toys with recognisable components such as cults and crime, but makes everything in its frames its own. That includes an ambient score that will echo around your head as it sets an eerie, uneasy tone, and lingering images that do what so many films try to: find glimpses of beauty in gritty, grimy brutality. While the narrative demands attention, doling out its details in fits and spurts, it's the way that Kleiman creates an unnerving atmosphere with both sound and vision that intrigues the most, and proves completely immersive. Well, that and the performances, particularly Cassel and newcomer Chabriel. Oscar Isaac was originally set to play the part of Gregori, and though there's no doubt he would've fit the bill (as his mesmerising menace in Ex Machina proves), Cassel is never anything less than hypnotic. There's something especially savvy about using the actor, who is so often seen as a more blatant threat, as someone with such power and allure. Plus, his rapport with his inexperienced but all-round excellent co-star is simultaneously natural and on-edge, as a father-son bond threatened by rebellion should. Watching Partisan, you'll swiftly become invested in their efforts, and in a moody, tug-of-war-like thriller that both creeps up on the audience and slaps them in the face.
Situated between Collaroy Point and the northern base of Long Reef Point Headland is Fishermans Beach, a quiet and picturesque spot largely sheltered from the wind. Fishermen have used the beach since the 18th century, and while line fishing is permitted at the beach, these days most fishers use the boat ramp to launch and head out to the nearby reefs. Head here to tuck into crunchy fish and chips by the ocean and go for a wander to explore the sea life — the area forms part of an aquatic reserve. And, if you've got time, venture up to the top of Long Reef Headland and take in the panoramic coastal views. Fishermans Beach is unpatrolled, so if you'd like to go for a swim but prefer to do so safely, it's best to head to nearby Collaroy. Image: Mel Koutchavlis
Sydney's favourite multi-disciplinary venue Carriageworks is bringing three big nights to Eveleigh throughout August as part of its Carriageworks Nights program. The artist-led event series will be divided into three themes; Softcore, Consent and Feast, offering an energetic program to inject some culture into our chilly winter nights. The series will kick off on Thursday, August 17 with Softcore, which will see the Carriageworks' Public Space transformed into a cinema. Curator and artist EO Gill will be putting together a range of Australian queer cinema, showcasing short experimental films that span from the 1980s until today. The full program is set to be announced closer to the date, so keep a lookout if you want to delve into some fascinating Aussie queer films. Then, on Thursday, August 24, Consent will bring together artists, BDSM practitioners and musicians to explore the differing dimensions of consent in our contemporary culture. Leading the nights will be the premier of performance piece idk from resident company Force Majeure with an accompanying panel, performances from dance-pop queens Haiku Hands and an appearance from body-positive artist Demon Derriere. Derriere is encouraging audience members to leak their own nudes and is currently accepting images via their Instagram that will be projected on the Carriageworks walls on the night. On Friday, August 25, Feast will showcase artist collective The Bushy Lemons with chef Claire Van Vuuren of beloved Newtown venue Bloodwood. To celebrate an upcoming major solo exhibition by Salote Tawale, Feast, will invite 200 people to gather for a barbecue dinner at Carriageworks. Tickets for the feast are free and will be allocated by ballot, so make sure to enter before August 13 for your chance to secure a spot. Following the food-filled portion of the night, the gathering will end with a healthy dose of dancing with DJ Del Lumanta on music. If you are looking to spice up your winter weeknights with a bit of culture and fun, be sure to check out the full Carriageworks Nights program. Tickets are free so you really don't have an excuse to sit at home.
Calling all local foodies — Fior is the new Italian gem that's serving up an Australianised menu in the Sutherland Shire. Restauranteurs Tristan Rosier and Rebecca Fanning, the duo behind Surry Hills haunts Jane and Arthur, helm the venue, which opened its doors on Thursday, May 2. Thanks to the arrival of this Gymea restaurant, Sutherland Shire locals no longer need to cross the bridge for sophisticated dining and top-tier tiramisu. Housed inside the historic digs of an old clock tower — and conveniently a short walk from Gymea station — Fior's modern outpost and Italian-Australian offerings level up the area's food and drink scene. "We want to create a dining destination that is fun, exciting, and always revolves around our guests' experience," said Rosier. The 120-seater joint features a share-focused menu, with the space's elegant design curated to accommodate larger groups and celebratory occasions. Peruse Fior's selection of dishes and you'll find modernised variations of Italian classics curated by Rosier and Head Chef Will Lawson, with local produce taking centre stage. The antipasti selection will change seasonally, but you can expect dishes such as oysters, freshly made focaccia, calamari fritto, mortadella from LP's Quality Meats, and saison pork and pepper berry salami, to name a few. Highlights from the mains include the pesto-coated mafalde corte with stracciatella, the prawn and chilli gnocchetti sardi, and the tender chicken with radicchio and balsamic. The dessert ranges from a creamy tiramisu to a light panna cotta with a rhubarb syrup, a coffee-fuelled affogato, and the star of the selection: a roaming gelato and sorbet cart. Served tableside, you can pick from four of the rotating flavours on offer, which include classics like chocolate, hazelnut, lemon, pistachio, and even rhubarb or melon. Fior's cocktail list follows suit, with a fruity spin on the beloved Aperol spritz, a coconut- and cucumber-fused margarita, and a reimagined espresso martini starring dulce de leche. As for the venue itself, Luchretti Krelle has co-designed Fior's fitout. Upon visiting, you'll spot a relaxed open kitchen with a bar, breezy terrace and streams of natural light brightening the space. Plus, the kitchen even boasts a hefty pasta extruder that pumps out massive 18 kilograms of pasta per hour. "The trust our local community has in us to deliver a quality experience makes us want to work harder to ensure Fior exceeds expectation," said Rosier. The popular spot recommends securing a booking, but walk-ins are more than welcome if you decide to drop by for a spontaneous long lunch or intimate dinner. You'll find Fior at Shop 2 of 752-756 Kingsway in Gymea, open from 4pm–10pm Tuesday–Thursday, 11.30am–11.30pm Friday–Saturday and 11.30am–10pm on Sunday.
If you've always wanted to audition for Australian Idol but never worked up the courage, you can now let your show-stopping singing voice ring out over Potts Point. Diana, a Korean-Chinese restaurant, has added its name to the growing list of new Potts Point venues, opening on Macleay Street with late-night open mic karaoke every weekend. Diana is the brainchild of owner Sammy Jeon and is based on his cult-favourite regional karaoke bar, Mr Lim. Located in Orange, Mr Lim is one of four venues Jeon owns in regional NSW. After moving from a small Korean island to Griffith to pick apples, Jeon met winemakers Phillip and Diana Shaw. His time spent with the Shaw family sparked his love of food and wine, and has inspired the name of this new restaurant. "When I moved to Orange, I worked in the vineyard at Philip Shaw wines and had dinner cooked by the family most days for two and a half years," Jeon said. "The time spent with the Shaw family, and in particular Diana, was a very memorable experience and inspired the name for Diana Potts Point. Diana even came to visit me in Korea once, and although wasn't keen on the cuisine at first (she just wanted chips!), I managed to covert her through my cooking." Jeon is now bringing the homely atmosphere of his regional outposts to the heart of Sydney, with Diana opening in the former digs of Kylie Kwong's Billy Kwong. On Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, you can head to Diana for its combination of Korean and Chinese cuisine, sans karaoke. Throughout the week, you'll find standout dishes on the menu such as a sashimi salad that combines salmon, tuna, kingfish and abalone with a crisp collection of fresh vegetables; or twice-cooked spicy Korean fried chicken, seasoned with Korean chilli paste, spring onion and almonds. As you continue down the menu, you'll come across house-made kimchi, served solo, wrapped in pork dumplings or fired and placed atop a big bowl of rice. Come 9.30pm on Friday and Saturday nights, the bar comes alive as diners take to the mic and sing to their hearts' desire. Unlike local-favourite karaoke bars like Goros or Ding Dong Dang (RIP), Diana doesn't have secluded rooms for you to book out with your friends, rather, the microphone and a karaoke system sits right in front of the dining area where visitors can take turns jumping up and busting out their favourite tunes. If you need some liquid courage in order to perform 'Purple Rain' to a restaurant full of people, Diana luckily has an extensive wine list with plenty of choice selections from Jeon's time in regional NSW. "It's jam-packed full of wines from Orange to remind me of my Australian hometown and to repay all the support that I have received during the years from the community," Jeon says. Diana is located at 1/28 Macleay Street, Potts Point and is open 5.30pm–9.30pm Wednesday and Thursday, plus 12pm–3pm and 5.30pm-9.30pm Friday–Sunday. Karaoke begins at 9.30pm every Friday and Saturday.
Melbourne is back in lockdown, so Melbourne's Sea Life Aquarium is back live-streaming playtime and feeding time with some of its cutest and scariest sea critters. At 5pm AEST on Friday, June 4, you can get up close and personal with the gentoo and king penguins as they slide around their icy home and gobble many fish. From there, the streams will return daily at the same time, running until Friday, June 11. Also on the bill: sneaking a peek at the aquarium's swarms of jellyfish, so you can learn the ins and outs of their luminous lives. As for which other critters will turn up, being surprised each day is part of the fun. To tune in, head head to Sea Life Melbourne's Facebook page. And, because this isn't the aquarium's only dive into digital content, you can also check out soothing watery sights aplenty via its mindfulness and slow TV hub.
The annual French Film Festival is touring the country next month and is set to be an entertaining delight for film lovers of all tastes and ages. The festival is a wing of the Alliance Française, an independent, not-for-profit organisation devoted to promoting the spread of French language and culture worldwide. With a presence in over 146 nations and over 30 Alliance Françaises in Australia alone, it is safe to say the organisation has done well in achieving these goals. The Alliance Françaises of Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, and Sydney have joined forces to develop the Film Festival, now in its 24th year. And the 43 films set to screen at this year's festival will certainly not disappoint. The festival has a huge array of productions on offer, sure to sate the appetites of the soppy romantics, the arty, youngsters, those simply looking for a bit of a laugh, nostalgia-sufferers, and even thrillseekers. These films are some of most acclaimed productions to have come out of France over the last 12 months and will have you adoring both the language and the artistic creativity of the French by the time the credits roll. Opening the festival is Haute Cuisine, light fare about a successful chef who is appointed to head the President's kitchen in the Elysee Palace. During the festival you can see Renoir (pictured), a sumptuous film about the feuds of great painters; the erotic tableaux of FEU by Christian Louboutin; the Cannes closer and Audrey Tautou vehicle Therese Desqueyroux; and the pre-Freudian Augustine. The French Film Festival will tour to major capital cities during March and April. Visit their website to see the full program. Concrete Playground has six double passes per city to give away to see the French Film Festival in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. The passes entitle you to receive two complimentary tickets to one festival session of choice. To go in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email your name and postal address to us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au
Beached has a big premise: It's a satire about a 400kg teenager who dreams of a more adventurous, unencumbered existence. In order to get life-changing — or life-saving, more like — gastric bypass surgery, he submits to the surveillance of a TV show, whose team will 'help' him lose enough weight to go under the knife. The new play by Melissa Bubnic, which won the 2010 Patrick White Playwrights Award and was shortlisted for the 2011 Griffin Award, puts both our society's fat-hate and reality TV obsession under the spotlight, all while spinning a tender tale of a frightened young man and his overprotective mother. Does it live up to its ambitious promise? Not quite. It's ultimately a bit simplistic, and many of its biggest laughs come cheap, rather than from the displays of insight and wry revelation you expect from satire. But to fall short of greatness is no failure; Beached is still good and a winningly entertaining night at the theatre. Its compassion is its strength. Director Shannon Murphy (Porn.Cake) and the creative team (designer James Browne, lighting designer Verity Hampson and sound designer Steve Toulmin) have come up with a complex system of camera rigging for the stage that unfolds and configures like a cross between a Polly Pocket and a panopticon. In the middle of it sits an immobile Artie (Blake Davis). Choosing how to portray Artie's size was always going to be the production's first challenge, and fortunately it's also one of their big victories. Artie's costume is less fat suit and more bulbous, flesh-coloured beanbag that the boy is unfortunately stuck to. It's the physical embodiment of sitting, nonliteral but completely convincing. For some reason, Murphy and Davis have not matched that sense of weight and sedentariness through performance, and it does disrupt the illusion. Davis is not just nimble but fidgety, and he also speaks with an animated childishness that seems out of place in Artie's reality. As his mother, JoJo, Gia Carides is wonderful, both a hawk and a deer in headlights. The ever-excellent Kate Mulvany does a huge service to the role of Louise, Artie's Centrelink counsellor and Ideal Woman, finding the funny, neurosis and fragility in each line. Even if it's involved biting off more than everyone could chew, there's a lot of heart and a lot of smarts on show in this lively production. Image by Brett Boardman.
Since Australian cinemas started reopening more than 12 months ago, following the country's first nationwide lockdown, new films have been hitting the big screen each and every week. But, depending on whether another round of stay-at-home conditions happen to be in place, or even just restrictions, heading to the flicks hasn't been as straightforward a pastime as it was before we'd all ever heard of COVID-19. Even if you're the biggest movie buff there is, that means that you probably haven't been to the cinema as much as you normally would've. If you're the kind of film-goer who is happy to just head along every now and then, you might've been more selective with your viewing choices. Or, juggling your schedule to fit in a trip to the pictures mightn't have been your biggest priority. Thankfully, a heap of the past year's cinema gems have now made their way to various streaming platforms, so you can catch up on plenty of great movies at home. Here's 12 that'll keep you busy right this moment — whether you're in lockdown, the weather is average or you just feel like some extended couch time. AMERICAN UTOPIA There may be no catchier lyric in music history than "same as it ever was", the five words repeated in Talking Heads' 1981 single 'Once in a Lifetime'. As uttered again and again by the band's inimitable frontman David Byrne, it's a looping phrase that burrows into your skull and never leaves. So when American Utopia opens with the musician sat at a table holding a brain and talking about what its various parts do, it feels as if Byrne is acknowledging what everyone already knows in the deepest recesses of their consciousness: that Byrne long ago got cosy in our craniums and has been nattering away to us ever since. As he stares at grey matter while wearing a grey suit — a perfectly fitting one, unlike the famed big number he wore in iconic 1984 Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense — he has something else on his mind, however. American Utopia starts with the part of our bodies where we all mentally reside, but slowly and smartly evolves from the cerebral to the communal. It segues from one man alone on a stage lost in his own thoughts to 12 people singing, dancing, playing instruments and connecting, and also pondering the state of the world and how to better it in the process. And it takes its titular concept seriously along the way, confronting America's political and social divisions in Byrne's witty, wise and impassioned between-song chats, but never satirising the idea that the US could be improved to the benefit of everyone. American Utopia is a concert film like its predecessor but, as that masterpiece proved, the whole notion means more to Byrne than merely standing in front of a camera and busting out well-known hits.From the sublimely soothing 'This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)' to the punchier 'Burning Down the House', plenty of Byrne's best-known songs do grace American Utopia. 'Once in a Lifetime' is among them, of course, as are 'Road to Nowhere' and 'Everybody's Coming to My House', with the film's playlist spanning his career with Talking Heads and solo. Across a range of styles and tempos, each track is a wonder, and not just in the way that fans already know. As should be obvious from the way in which Byrne has conceptualised this stage performance — which he toured in 2018, then adapted for Broadway in 2019, and has now turned into this standout movie directed by Spike Lee — this is a meticulously crafted work. Basking in the glory of Byrne and his band is inevitable and would happen regardless, but soaking in everything that American Utopia does is another marvel entirely. Before the film forces you to do so, you probably won't have realised how enlivening, wondrous and cathartic it is to see the act of connecting so firmly thrust to the fore. It takes an incredible amount of work to make something so tightly constructed seem so loose and natural, and that's just one of the reasons that American Utopia is yet another of the star's masterpieces. American Utopia is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video and Binge. Read our full review. BILL & TED FACE THE MUSIC When it comes to goofy and sweet movie concepts handled with sincerity, the Bill & Ted franchise has always proven most triumphant. In 1989's Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, the big-screen comedy series introduced the world to Californian high schoolers Bill S Preston, Esq (Alex Winter) and Ted 'Theodore' Logan (Keanu Reeves), who are apparently destined to write the rock song that unites the universe — if they can first pass their history exam by travelling back in time in a phone booth to recruit famed past figures like Beethoven and Socrates to help, that is. The idea that Bill & Ted's affable, air guitar-playing slackers would become the world's salvation was a joke that the film itself was in on, and the movie struck the right balance of silliness, earnestness and affection as a result. So, the end product was joyous. And, it inspired two follow-ups: 1991's even loopier but still entertaining Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, and now Bill & Ted Face the Music's affectionate dose of warm-hearted lunacy almost three decades later. Bill (Winter) and Ted (Reeves) are back, obviously. They're older, definitely not wiser, and yet again take a few leaps through time. The fate of life as everyone knows it is still at stake. And, as always, the loveable pair's motto — "be excellent to each other" — is pivotal. Combine all of the above with marital malaise, chip-off-the-old-block daughters Theadora (Ready or Not's Samara Weaving) and Wilhelmina (Atypical's Brigette Lundy-Paine), multiple Bills and Teds, and a 77-minute deadline to write the tune the changes the future, and Face the Music saunters casually forward with a purposeful sense of familiarity. Thankfully, though, this film isn't merely trying to relive past glories. In fact, the very notion that some dreams don't come true sits at the core of this tender and loving movie. Naturally, it's a delight to see Winter and Reeves reprise their roles. They step back into Bill and Ted's shoes with ease, expertly conveying the characters' lingering immaturity, middle-aged malaise and ever-present kindness. They're also clearly having a blast as different versions of the duo, and their enthusiasm is infectious. But when Face the Music finds a plethora of ways to illustrate the merits of their characters' optimistic and warm mindset, it's at its best. Far from bogus, the heartfelt happiness it brings is 100-percent excellent. Bill & Ted Face the Music is available to stream via Stan. Read our full review. KAJILLIONAIRE When Evan Rachel Wood played a troubled teen in 2003's Thirteen, the then 16-year-old received a Golden Globe nomination. For her work in Westworld since 2016, she has nabbed multiple Emmy nods. So when we say that the actor puts in her best performance yet in Kajillionaire — the type of portrayal that deserves several shiny trophies — that observation isn't made lightly. Playing a 26-year-old con artist called Old Dolio Dyne, Wood is anxious but yearning, closed-off yet vulnerable, and forceful as well as unsure all at once. Her character has spent her entire life being schooled in pulling off quick scams by her eccentric parents Robert (Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water) and Theresa (Debra Winger, The Lovers), who she still lives with, and she's stuck navigating her own street-wise brand of arrested development. Old Dolio knows how to blend in, with her baggy clothes, curtain of long hair and low-toned voice. She also knows how to avoid security cameras in physical feats that wouldn't look out of place in a slapstick comedy, and how to charm kindly folks out of reward money. But she has never been allowed to truly be her own person — and, from the moment that Wood is seen on-screen, that mournful truth is immediately evident. Kajillionaire introduces Old Dolio, Robert and Theresa as they're falling back on one of their most reliable swindles: stealing packages from post office boxes. But two developments drive its narrative, and make Old Dolio realise that she's far more than just the third part of a trio. Firstly, to make a quick $20 to help cover overdue rent, she agrees to attend a parenting class for someone she meets on the street, and is struck by how far removed its teachings are from her own experiences. Secondly, on a return flight back to Los Angeles from New York as part of a travel insurance grift, her parents meet and befriend outgoing optometrist's assistant Melanie (Gina Rodriguez, Annihilation). So accustomed to playing the role dictated to her by Robert and Theresa, and never deviating from it, Old Dolio isn't prepared for the emotions stirred up by both changes to her status quo. But July's poignant and perceptive movie — a film that's a quirky heist flick, a playful but shrewd exploration of family bonds, and a sweet love story — is perfectly, mesmerisingly equipped to navigate her protagonist's efforts to reach beyond the only loved ones and the only type of life she has ever known. In fact, the result is one of the most distinctive, empathetic and engaging movies of the year. Kajillionaire is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video and Binge. Read our full review. THE PAINTER AND THE THIEF Asked why he broke into Oslo's Gallery Nobel in 2015 and stole two large oil paintings in broad daylight, Karl-Bertil Nordland gives perhaps the most honest answer anyone could: "because they were beautiful". He isn't responding to the police or providing an excuse during his court appearance, but speaking to Czech artist Barbora Kysilkova, who wanted answers about the theft of her work. Captured on camera, the pilfering of Kysilkova's Swan Song and Chloe & Emma initially appeared to be a professional job. As the two pieces were removed from their frames in such an exacting manner, it was presumed that experts were behind the crime. But Nordland and his accomplice didn't plan their brazen heist, or have a background in purloining art. Thanks to the effect of illicit substances, Nordland can't even remember much about it, let alone recall what happened to the stolen works that Kysilkova desperately wants back. That said, as the thief tells the painter when she first talks with him, he does know that he walked past Gallery Nobel often. He's aware that he saw her photorealistic pieces — the first of a dead swan lying in reeds, the second of two girls sat side by side on a couch — many times, too. And, he's candid about the fact that he marvelled at and was moved by the two canvases long before he absconded with them. As a result, he doesn't seem surprised that his life led him to that juncture, and to snatching Kysilkova's creations. A victim confronts a perpetrator: that's The Painter and the Thief's five-word summary, and it's 100-percent accurate. But such a brief description can't convey how fascinating, thoughtful, moving and astonishing this documentary is as it unfurls a tale so layered and wild that it can only be true — a story that stretches far beyond what anyone could feasibly anticipate of such an altercation and its aftermath, in fact. Nordland was arrested and charged for his crime, with Kysilkova initially making contact with him at his trial. From there, the skilled carpenter and heavily tattooed addict unexpectedly gained a friend in the woman whose works he took. Kysilkova first asked to paint Nordland as part of her attempts to understand him, and he then became her muse. As all relationships do, especially ones forged under such unusual circumstances, their connection evolved, adapted and changed from there. As Norwegian filmmaker Benjamin Ree (Magnus) pointed a camera in their direction for three years, the duo weathered their own ups, downs, twists and turns, as did their friendship. If Nordland's reply to Kysilkova feels disarmingly frank and unguarded, that's because it is. The same tone remains throughout The Painter and the Thief's entire duration. Absent the usual tropes and stylistic markers that true-crime documentaries are known for, the film eschews the standard mix of talking heads, re-enactments and explanatory narration in favour of truly observing and stepping inside its subjects' unique bond. The Painter and the Thief is available to stream via Docplay. Read our full review. BABY DONE A relic of a time when women were considered wives, mothers and little else, the public need to comment on whether someone has a baby or is planning to have a baby is flat-out garbage behaviour. In your twenties or thirties, and in a couple? Yet to procreate? If so, the world at large apparently thinks that it's completely acceptable to ask questions, make its judgement known and demand answers. Baby Done offers a great take on this kind of situation. Surrounded by proud new parents and parents-to-be at a baby shower, Zoe (Rose Matafeo) refuses to smile and nod along with all the polite cooing over infants — existing and yet to make their way into the world — and smug discussions about the joys of creating life. An arborist more interested in scaling trees at both the national and world championships than starting a family, she simply refuses to temper who she is to fit society's cookie-cutter expectations. Her partner Tim (the Harry Potter franchise's Matthew Lewis, worlds away from his time as Neville Longbottom) is on the same wavelength, and they visibly have more fun than everyone else at the party. With a title such as Baby Done, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise when this New Zealand comedy soon upsets Zoe and Tim's status quo. She discovers that she's expecting and, while he starts dutifully preparing to an almost unnervingly sensible extent, she also struggles to face the change that's coming their way. Comedies about the trials and tribulations of parenthood, and of the journey to become parents, are almost as common as people asking "when are you two having kids?" without prompting at parties. But this addition to the genre from director Curtis Vowell and screenwriter Sophie Henderson (both veterans of 2013 film Fantail) approaches a well-worn topic from a savvy angle. Zoe clearly isn't a stereotypical mother-to-be, and doesn't experience the stereotypical feelings women have been told they're supposed to feel about having children — and Baby Done leans into that fact. Also pivotal in her first big-screen lead role is comedian Matafeo. Indeed, it's easy to wonder whether the movie would've worked so engagingly and thoughtfully with someone else as its star. Brightly shot and breezily toned, there's still much about Baby Done that's familiar; however, charting one woman's pregnancy experience, and her backlash to the widely accepted notion that motherhood is the be all and end all of a woman's life, proves poignant and charming more often than not here. Baby Done is available to stream via Stan. Read our full review. COLLECTIVE We can only hope that one day, likely in a far distant future, documentaries will stop doubling as horror films. That time hasn't arrived yet — and as Collective demonstrates, cinema's factual genre can chill viewers to the bone more effectively than most jump- and bump-based fare. Nominated for Best Documentary Feature and Best International Feature at the 2021 Academy Awards (only the second time that's ever happened, after last year's Honeyland), this gripping and gut-wrenching Romanian doco starts with a terrible tragedy. On October 30, 2015, a fire broke out at a metal gig in Bucharest, at a club called Colectiv. Twenty-seven people died in the blaze, and 180 people were injured as they tried to escape via the site's lone exit; however, that's just the beginning of the movie's tale. In the four months afterwards, as burn victims were treated in the country's public hospitals, 37 more passed away. When journalist Cătălin Tolontan and his team at The Sports Gazette started investigating the fire's aftermath and the mounting casualty list, they uncovered not only widespread failures throughout Romania's health system, but also engrained corruption as well. This truly is nightmare fuel; if people can't trust hospitals to act in their patients' best interest after such a sizeable disaster, one of the fundamental tenets of modern society completely collapses. Early in Collective, director, writer, cinematographer and editor Alexander Nanau (Toto and His Sisters) shows the flames, as seen from inside the club. When the blaze sparks from the show's pyrotechnics, hardcore band Goodbye to Gravity has just finished singing about corruption. "Fuck all your wicked corruption! It's been there since our inception but we couldn't see," the group's singer growls — and no, you can't make this up. It's a difficult moment to watch, but this is a film filled with unflinching sights, and with a viscerally unsettling story that demands attention. Nanau occasionally spends time with the bereaved and angry parents of victims of the fire, even bookending the documentary with one man's distress over the "communication error" that contributed to his son's death. The filmmaker charts a photo shoot with Tedy Ursuleanu, a survivor visibly scarred by her ordeal, too. And yet, taking an observational approach free from narration and interviews, and with only the scantest use of text on-screen, Collective's filmmaker lets much of what's said rustle up the majority of the movie's ghastliest inclusions. Collective available to stream via Docplay. Read our full review. NOMADLAND Frances McDormand is a gift of an actor. Point a camera her way, and a performance so rich that it feels not just believable but tangible floats across the screen. That's true whether she's playing overt or understated characters, or balancing those two extremes. In Fargo, the first film that earned her an Oscar, McDormand is distinctive but grounded, spouting midwestern phrases like "you betcha" but inhabiting her part with texture and sincerity. In Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, her next Academy Award-winning role, she's an impassioned mother crusading for justice and vengeance, and she ripples with deep-seated sorrow mixed with anger so fiery that it may as well be burning away her insides. Now, in Nomadland, McDormand feels stripped bare and still a commanding force to be reckoned with. She's tasked with a plucky but struggling part — defiant and determined, too; knocked around by life's ups and downs, noticeably; and, crucially, cognisant that valuing the small pleasures is the hardest but most rewarding feat. It'll earned her another shiny Oscar just three years after her last, in fact. Along with the attention the movie received at the Golden Globes as well, this is highly deserved outcome, because hers is an exceptional performance and this was easily 2020's best film. Here, leading a cast that also includes real people experiencing the existence that's fictionalised within the narrative, she plays the widowed, van-dwelling Fern — a woman who takes to the road, and to the nomad life, after the small middle-America spot where she spent her married years turns into a ghost town when the local mine is shuttered due to the global financial crisis. A slab of on-screen text explains her predicament, with the film then jumping into the aftermath. Following her travels over the course of more than a year, this humanist drama serves up an observational portrait of those that society happily overlooks. It's both deeply intimate and almost disarmingly empathetic in the process, as every movie made by Chloe Zhao is. This is only the writer/director's third, slotting in after 2015's Songs My Brothers Taught Me and 2017's The Rider but before 2021's Marvel flick Eternals, but it's a feature of contemplative and authentic insights into the concepts of home, identity and community. Meticulously crafted, shot and performed, it truly sees everyone in its frames, be they fictional or real. Nomandland understands their plights, and ensures its audience understands them as well. It's exquisitely layered, because its protagonist, those around her and their lives earn the same term — and Zhao never forgets that, or lets her viewers either. Nomadland is available to stream via Disney+. Read our full review. FIRESTARTER — THE STORY OF BANGARRA More than three decades since it was first formed, Bangarra Dance Theatre is still going strong. In just the last ten years alone, the Sydney-based organisation has unleashed the beauty and potency of works such as Blak, Patyegarang, Lore, OUR land people stories, Bennelong and Dark Emu across Australia's stages, and repeatedly confronted the nation's colonial history head-on in the process. As an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts outfit, it can't avoid it. It similarly can't ignore the impact that the country's past has had upon Indigenous culture, and the trauma that's rippled across generations as a result. And so, as excellent new documentary Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra tells the company's tale, these struggles are firmly part of the narrative. Co-directors Wayne Blair (The Sapphires, Top End Wedding) and Nel Minchin (Matilda & Me, Making Muriel) know their power. Indeed, the two filmmakers are well aware that they can't step through Bangarra's history without placing the acclaimed dance theatre in its rightful social, political and cultural context. What audiences have seen on stage over the years is stunning, astonishing and important, of course, but all of those exceptional performances haven't ever existed in a vacuum. For those unacquainted with the details of Bangarra's origins, evolution, aims and achievements, Firestarter recounts them, starting with its leap out of the National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association and the Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre. Actually, it jumps back further, not only stepping through Bangarra's predecessors, but also charting how Stephen, David and Russell Page became its most famous names. Just as it's impossible to examine the dance company's accomplishments and influence without also interrogating and chronicling Australia's history, it's simply unthinkable to do so without focusing as heavily on the Page brothers as Blair and Minchin choose to. Stephen would become Bangarra's artistic director, a role he still holds. David was its music director, while Russell was one of its best dancers — and their path from growing up in Brisbane in the 60s, 70s and 80s to helping shape and guide an Aussie arts powerhouse is a pivotal component of Bangarra's overall journey thus far. If it sounds as if Firestarter has been set a hefty task — doing triple duty as a celebration, a record of Australia's past and a portrait of three siblings with dreams as big as their talents — that's because it has. But this dense and yet also deft documentary is up to the immense feat, and dances through its massive array of material, topics and themes as skilfully as any of Bangarra's performers ever have. Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra is available to stream via ABC iView. Read our full review. WAVES The sight of streaming sunlight, South Florida's scenery and a blissful young couple shouldn't hit like a gut punch, but in Waves, it does. When this magnificently moving film opens, it does so with high-schooler Tyler Williams (Kelvin Harrison Jr) and his girlfriend Alexis Lopez (Alexa Demie). They sing and drive with carefree exuberance — buoyed by both youth and first love — with their happiness not only captured by fluid, enticing camerawork that circles around and around, but mirrored by the use of Animal Collective's upbeat, energetic 'FloriDada' on the soundtrack. Waves continues its sinuous cinematography and alluring tunes as it follows Tyler through a snapshot of his teenage existence, too. Viewers meet his upper middle-class family, who dote on his every word. We witness his prowess on the school wrestling team, where he's a star. We see how infatuated he is with Alexis, and vice versa. But, as intoxicatingly sensory as all of this is — and as expertly calibrated by writer/director Trey Edward Shults to convey exactly how Tyler is feeling — its glow fades quickly when the agonised glimmer in Tyler's eye becomes evident. It's only there when he's alone, looking in the mirror, but it's a picture of heartbreak. As played with a complicated mix of charm, arrogance, sadness, anger and vulnerability by the excellent Harrison, Tyler navigates his seemingly content life with an outward smile, while balancing on a knife's edge. He doesn't completely know it, though, although he can clearly feel the pressure mounting. Forceful in reminding him that African Americans are "not afforded the luxury of being average", his father Ronald (Sterling K Brown) is well-intentioned, but also stern and domineering. He pushes Tyler to be better at every turn and, when they train together for the teen's wrestling matches, even gets competitive. Stepmother Catherine (Hamilton's Renée Elise Goldsberry) is far more gentle; however the focus placed on Tyler compared to his younger sister Emily (Taylor Russell) is always obvious in her household. And so, when an injury threatens to undo his sporting future and his romance with Alexis breaks down, Tyler makes a series of self-sabotaging decisions. One leads to tragedy — and the fact that this isn't a joyful movie becomes devastatingly apparent. Waves is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video and Binge. Read our full review. ASSASSINS On February 13, 2017, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, a man was assassinated in broad daylight. While standing by the self check-in kiosks at around 9am, he was approached from behind by two women. After they each rubbed their hands across his face, he was dead within the hour. For a plethora of reasons, the attack garnered global news headlines. Such a brazen murder, carried out not only in public but also in full view of the Malaysian airport's security cameras, was always going to receive worldwide attention. The use of extremely deadly chemical weapon VX obviously demanded scrutiny — and so did the fact that the victim was Kim Jong-nam, the estranged elder half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. But, despite the onslaught of newsprint, pixels and airtime devoted to the incident when it happened, the full details behind it took time to unfurl. As Assassins explores, those facts are fascinating, gripping and distressing in equal measure. Indeed, if a Hollywood screenwriter had cooked up the story at the centre of Ryan White's (The Keepers) meticulously documentary, they would've been told that it's too far-fetched. Not that the world needs any additional reminders, but real life really is far stranger than fiction here. Across 104 minutes that relay an unmistakably and inescapably wild tale in an edge-of-the-seat yet never sensationalistic fashion, White asks the question that was on everyone's lips four years ago: why? That query has many layers. It starts with wondering why two women in their 20s — one from Indonesia, the other from Vietnam — with no clear political affiliations would kill an exiled North Korean who was once expected to lead his nation. From there, it expands to contemplate why Malaysian law enforcement officers and prosecutors were so content to believe that culprits Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong acted without any involvement from North Korea, and why a number of the latter country's citizens were interviewed, but then released and allowed to return home without facing any legal repercussions. Aisyah and Huong certainly weren't afforded the same treatment. Charged with Kim Jong-nam's murder, they were put through a long trial, and faced the death penalty if convicted. The pair, who didn't know each other beforehand, pled their innocence from the outset. Both women were adamant that they had each been hired to make prank videos for a YouTube show and, as far as they knew, their efforts in Kuala Lumpur were part of their latest production. Assassins is available to stream via Docplay. Read our full review. RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON Featuring a vibrant animated spectacle that heroes vivid green and blue hues, a rousing central figure who is never a stock-standard Disney princess and lively voice work from an all-star cast, Raya and the Last Dragon boasts plenty of highlights. Directed by Don Hall (Big Hero 6) and Carlos López Estrada (Blindspotting), co-directed by Paul Briggs and John Ripa (both Disney art and animation department veterans), and penned by Qui Nguyen (Dispatches From Elsewhere) and Adele Lim (Crazy Rich Asians), the Mouse House's new all-ages-friendly release also embraces southeast Asian culture with the same warm hug that Moana gave Polynesia and Pixar's Coco sent Mexico's way — and it's always detailed, organic, inclusive and thoughtful, and never tokenistic. But perhaps its biggest strength, other than the pitch-perfect vocal stylings of Awkwafina as the playful, mystical half of the film's title, is its timing. Disney first announced the feature back in August 2019, so the company can't have known what the world would suffer through from early 2020 onwards, of course. But a hopeful movie about a planet ravaged by a destructive plague and blighted by tribalism — and a feature that champions the importance of banding together to make things right, too — really couldn't arrive at a more opportune moment. COVID-19 has no place in Raya and the Last Dragon; however, as the picture's introductory preamble explains, a virus-like wave of critters called the Druun has wreaked havoc. Five hundred years earlier, the world of Kumandra was filled with humans and dragons living together in harmony, until the sinister force hit. Now, only the realm's two-legged inhabitants remain — after their furry friends used their magic to create the dragon gem, which saved everyone except themselves. That's the only status quo that Raya (voiced by Star Wars' Kelly Marie Tran) has ever known. Her entire existence has also been lived out in a divided Kumandra, with different groups staking a claim to various areas. With her father Benja (Daniel Dae Kim, Always Be My Maybe), she hails from the most prosperous region, Heart, and the duo hold out hope that they can reunite the warring lands. Alas, when they bring together their fellow leaders for a peaceful summit, Raya's eagerness to trust Namaari (Gemma Chan, Captain Marvel), the daughter of a rival chief, ends with the Druun on the rampage once again. A movie about believing not just in yourself, but in others, Raya and the Last Dragon doesn't shy away from the reality that putting faith in anyone comes with the chance of peril and pain — especially in fraught times where the world has taken on an every-person-for-themselves mentality and folks are dying (or being turned to stone, which is the Druun's modus operandi). If the narrative hadn't been willing to make this plain again and again, including when it picks up six years later as Raya tries to reverse the devastation caused by Namaari's actions, Raya and the Last Dragon wouldn't feel as genuinely affecting Raya and the Last Dragon is available to stream via Disney+. Read our full review. MAX RICHTER'S SLEEP Since first opening its doors back in 1973, the Sydney Opera House has played host to a wealth of performances, spanning far further in genre than just the art form that gives the venue its name. But it was only during Vivid Live 2016 that the iconic locale serenaded visitors into an evening-long slumber, all as part of Max Richter's live recital of his eight-and-a-half hour work Sleep. Across 31 tracks comprised of 204 movements, the German-born British composer's concept album unfurls music based on the neuroscience of getting some shuteye. In its intonation, the ambitious yet soothing piece favours the range that can be heard in the womb for much of its duration. When performed for an audience, it is played overnight, with beds set up — and doing as the work's title suggests is highly encouraged. Attendees recline, listen and let Richter's blend of strings, synthesisers and soprano vocals lull them into the land of nod. If they'd prefer to stay awake, that's fine as well, but soaking in Sleep's ambient sounds while you're snatching 40 winks is all very much part of the experience. In its live version, Sleep has echoed through spaces in London, Berlin and Paris, too; however, it's the first openair performance in Los Angeles' Grand Park in 2018 that takes pride of place in the documentary Max Richter's Sleep. A filmmaker was always bound to be so fascinated with the concept that they'd turn their lens Richter's way, and that director is Natalie Johns (an Emmy nominee for Annie Lennox: Nostalgia Live in Concert), who endeavours to capture the experience for those who haven't had the pleasure themselves. The resulting film doesn't run for more than eight hours, or anywhere close — but those watching and listening will quickly wish that it did. As a feature, Max Richter's Sleep isn't designed to advertise its namesake. Rather, it documents, explores and tries to understand it. Still, the movie so easily draws viewers into the music, and so deeply, that making its audience want to snooze in public while Richter and his band plays is a guaranteed side effect. Max Richter's Sleep is available to stream via Docplay. Read our full review.
Room is by no means an easy film to watch. Based on the critically acclaimed novel by Emma Donoghue, which was in turn inspired by the crimes of Josef Fritzl, it's a tale whose existence is rooted in horror and misery, and the perverse fascination such stories tend to inspire. And yet despite its grim subject matter, Room never wallows in darkness, but instead stares defiantly into the light. It is a tale not of depravity but of resilience, and the incredible, unbreakable love between a parent and their child. Room is told from the perspective of Jack (Jacob Tremblay), a five year old boy who lives with his mother Joy (Brie Larson) in a small, dishevelled shed called Room. Jack was born in Room, and its meagre contents, including a bed, a bath, a sink, a wardrobe and a skylight, are all he has ever known. Joy tells him nothing of the outside world in order to protect him from the truth: that they are captives of a man named Old Nick (Sean Bridgers), and that Jack is the product of rape. Very few films ask as much of their lead actors as Room does of Larson and Tremblay. There's barely a frame of the film in which one, if not both, are not present, particularly during the initial harrowing hour. Larson is tipped to take home an Oscar, and it would be hard to fault the Academy for that decision. Her performance communicates with unflinching clarity both the years of abuse that Joy has suffered, and the lengths she is willing to go to to keep her son from experiencing the same fate. Tremblay is, if anything, even more impressive, capturing the optimism of a child unburdened by adult comprehension, without ever dipping into the kind of forced cutesiness that scuppers so many young performers. Tremblay's flawless performance also validates the risky decision to tell the story from Jack's point of view. In the film's bleakest moments, Jack's innocence is like a life preserver, and the only thing that keeps us from drowning in despair. Likewise, when he is finally exposed to the world outside his prison, we share in his sense of wonderment. So palpable is his emotion that it feels like we, too, are discovering the world for the very first time. Director Lenny Abrahamson is largely invisible behind the camera, and perhaps that's for the best. There's a lot he could have done, through camerawork and editing, to ratchet up the unease or foster a sense of claustrophobia, but to do so would run the risk of distracting from the performances – and ultimately, it's by the performances that the movie lives or dies. Even as the film ventures into more conventional narrative territory in its latter half, Larson and Tremblay make it impossible to look away. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C6fZ-fwDws
Stop what you're doing. Run out of the office. Cancel your lunch plans. Whatever it is, it can wait, because this is happening again: In-N-Out Burger is back in Sydney for one of its late-notice pop-ups. It's happening right now, too, at Darlinghurst's East Village Hotel until 4pm today, Wednesday, June 29 — or until sold out. The venue announced the news on its social channels, because these pop-ups always happen with absolutely zero notice (as you might remember from past In-N-Out frenzies before the pandemic). View this post on Instagram A post shared by East Village Sydney Hotel (@eastvillagesydney) On the menu: the chain's double-double, animal-style and protein-style burgs, all while stocks last — with limited quantities available. If you've been to one of In-N-Out's previous Sydney pop-ups, you'll know these burgers sell like, well, cult-status burgers — so you'll have to get there ASAP. Now. Go. It's been three years since the LA fast food legends last made a Sydney appearance, five since the chain set up shop at L'il Darlin (also in Darlo), and six since it whipped together a few burgers at Surry Hills' Dead Ringer. Yes, that means you can bet burger aficionados of Sydney are particularly desperate so get their hands on those buns. Yes, we know that if you're reading this, you're one of them. The In-N-Out burger pop-up is running from 10am–4pm today, Wednesday, June 29 at East Village, 234 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst. We suggest you go line up now.
This Saturday, October 29, what will you be doing? If the answer isn't celebrating the Mexican Day of the Dead holiday, then you might have to re-evaluate your plans because Espolón Tequila is having a party on the last Saturday of October. The traditional Day of the Dead holiday actually runs over two separate days on November 1 and 2, when it's believed that the souls of those who have passed to the underworld can come back to visit. Families in Mexico and Latin America (and around the world) come together to welcome their loved ones back with their favourite food, drinks, candles, flowers and incense to celebrate the meaningful holiday. Espolón tequila is handcrafted and distilled by artisans in the Los Altos region of Mexico, which makes it the perfect drink to celebrate the Day of the Dead with. The celebration at the Manly Wharf Hotel kicks off at 8pm with a complimentary Espolón margarita on arrival; after that, they're $10 all night. It's free to attend — and they'll have Day of the Dead face painters on hand to help you out with an authentic costume.
While Good Food Month offers up some extravagant set menus and big-name collaborations that'll set you back hundreds of dollars, there are also more affordable options if you want to get into the swing of things this January. CBD restaurant Indu hosts regular vegan nights throughout the year, and this month it's rolling out the red carpet to welcome Rhys Watson-Lamb (Kid Kyoto) for an exciting menu that combines Japanese and southern Indian cuisines. Available for $69 per person, the set menu starts with curry salted edamame, daikon mochi with coconut chutney, watermelon sashimi and wild mushroom dosa. The vegan night's mains menu is built around a Japanese potato curry, which is accompanied by corn ribs, daal, paratha and sushi rice. Then, the meal is brought to an end with an avocado ice cream and vegan meringue. You can also take things up a notch by adding wine pairings to the meal for an extra $30 a head. To book head to Indu's website or email aaron.hutton@indudining.com.au. [caption id="attachment_646251" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kid Kyoto[/caption]
Fried chicken lovers: start drooling. KFC is set to unveil a brand new burger inspired by the flavours in Peking duck, but there's a catch: the only place you can get your hands on it will be at their new music festival on Cockatoo Island. The Colonel will throw the music festival in the iconic Sydney Harbour spot with an all-star local lineup on Sunday, March 13, and yes, all tickets include free KFC Peking Cluk burgers. You lucky ducks. The Peking Cluk burger has been created in collaboration with local TikTok sensation Dimsimlim and is made from Original Recipe fried chicken coated in a hoisin glaze sauce with a healthy topping of dry spring onions, cucumber and cabbage slaw. As for the headliners at the festival — it's Peking Duk, of course. The rowdy DJ duo are stepping up to help the Colonel as KFC's official burger spokespeople, and will be performing at the festival alongside beloved Yolngu rapper Baker Boy and Sydney favourite Thandi Phoenix. Attendees will be treated to Peking Duk's brand-new live show that they created over the last two years. The show has only been seen a few times at the likes of Field Day and features big party energy, remixes of previous material and plenty of synthesisers. "We've been in the bunker making the live set totally different, totally unique. It's going to be fun and it's going to be an experience that nobody's had before," Peking Duk's Reuben Styles told Concrete Playground. Adam Hyde of the duo put it more succinctly: "Get clucked, go cluck yourself, cluck off and have a clucking great time on Cockatoo Island with the boys." [caption id="attachment_753774" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cockatoo Island[/caption] Cockatoo Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has hosted iconic musicians including The Wailers, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Skrillex and Lorde. "We've never done Cockatoo Island and that's such an iconic spot for gigs. So many epic artists have come through and done shows there," said Styles. "We didn't expect our first time playing there to be a KFC collab, but god damn it's going to be so fun." The festival will mark one of very few gigs the pair have been able to play since the start of the pandemic. "Anytime a gig goes ahead now it feels like a huge relief that we actually get to put on a party and play a set for people," Styles continued. "It's so hard to pump people up about a gig when you know there's such a high chance it won't go ahead. Doing more intimate shows like the KFC one is so great for the interim because you can say, 'Hey, here's a show, it's going to go ahead, let's all get excited.'" Style and Hyde, alongside festival buddy Thandi Phoenix and a heap of Aussie musicians took a stand last month against the NSW Government's restrictions on live music and religious gatherings. The group of musicians labelled themselves Thrillsong after it was revealed that Hillsong hosted a large youth event with many similarities to a music festival during a time when festivals were unable to go ahead. "I think it was a great thing," Styles proclaims about Hillsong's gathering. "It shined a light on how stupid the government's rules were to allow religious events to go down but no any other form of musical events." If you want to catch Peking Duk's new set and get your hands on the Peking Cluk burger, tickets to KFC's Cockatoo Island music festival are available via Moshtix now for $50, but be quick as they're sure to be snatched up quickly. There's no word yet whether the Peking Cluk burger will be on offer more widely in KFC stores. [caption id="attachment_636228" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Baker Boy by Bec Taylor.[/caption] KFC's Cockatoo Island music festival will be on Sunday, March 13 featuring Peking Duk, Bakery Boy, Thandi Phoenix and plenty of burgers. Tickets are on sale now. Top image: Peking Duk at Sunset Piazza, DNSW
It's not been an easy year or so for the craft brewing industry, with several much-loved operations closing their doors, selling up or merging to keep the lights on. However, one brewer that's gone from strength to strength is Sydney Brewery, which has just announced its acquisition of Alexandria's Rocks Brewing Company. Having entered voluntary administration in October, the production facility and Alexandria-based tap house were up for grabs. Behind the purchase is Dr Jerry Schwartz of the Schwartz Family Company, owners of Sydney Brewery. Following the announcement, the tap house was renamed Sydney Brewery Alexandria, adding to the company's existing operations, such as Sydney Brewery Surry Hills and the Sydney Brewery production facility based out of Lovedale in the Hunter Valley. With the company on the rise, the extra brewing capability comes at a welcome time. According to Dr Schwartz, the Alexandria site's 20hL brewing capacity – that's 2,000 litres – will help Sydney Brewery keep pace with surging demand for its beers and ciders. At the same time, the company is set to open a new 30hL facility in Lovedale in the coming weeks, giving its production a big push in the right direction. Once operational, Sydney Brewery's beer, cider and spirit-producing capacity will have increased by over half a million litres. "Last year was a very difficult year for the craft brewing industry, but Sydney Brewery bucked the trend, and we have been urgently seeking extra capacity to produce our craft beers," says Dr Schwartz. "Our Sydney Brewery and restaurant in Surry Hills has been very popular and we believe that we can make the Alexandria venue similarly popular with locals and visitors. We will be looking to sell the remainder of the Rocks Brewing stock and then start producing the Sydney Brewery range from the Alexandria site." With the surging cost of living, rising overheads for raw materials and COVID-era debts just some of the reasons behind the craft beer scene's consolidation, those able to navigate these choppy waters have emerged on the other side with plenty of opportunity. Sydney Brewery has been in the game since 2005, operating its own outlets, maintaining a strong presence in retail trade and supplying a multi-state network of hotels. "...Our takeover of the Rocks Brewery operation will provide an outstanding opportunity to both increase the amount of Sydney Brewery craft beers that we produce and also revive the Alexandria location as a prime brewpub, dining, entertainment and functions venue," says Dr Schwartz. "We will revamp the menu, the drinks selection and the entertainment over the next few months. The brewpub is currently operating and will officially relaunch with its new branding and menus in mid-March." [caption id="attachment_652002" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rocks Brewing Co.[/caption] Sydney Brewery Alexandria is open at Sydney Corporate Park, 160 Bourke Rd, Alexandria. Head to the website for more information.
While it wasn't all that long ago that public art involved a lot of extra planning permissions or basic illegality, Art & About has lent an aura of city-loved authority to Sydney street art for some years now. This year's program has yet to be revealed in full, but a good chunk of the upcoming art-on-the-street excitement has just been laid out for our delectation. This year at Art & About? It's all about you. Opening night kicks off with Shaun Tan's The Arrival migrating to Martin Place's big screen, with live soundtrack, and followed by music from the Break (whose roster includes members of Midnight Oil and The Violent Femmes). Snailovation, by Cracking Art Group, sends 24 giant snails across Sydney landmarks, while interactive installation I Think I Can lets you be a train, with some help from Performance Space and friends. A maze of 400 mirrors takes over Hyde Park with FIELD by Fresh Concept architects, while Sydney Lives — the Sydney photo competition — will be ritually upstaged by the junior photographers of Little Sydney Lives. Most intriguing of all is the prospect of a dive into the history and family of the mysterious (and seemingly adrift in time) Elizabeth St caf Oceanic Cafe, in Little Lightning Stories. Art & About takes over Sydney from September 10 to October 10, 2013.
If Luca Guadagnino wants to keep making movies with Timothée Chalamet after the swooning, moving delight that was Call Me By Your Name, film lovers and Chalamet stans everywhere will be more than happy. And with Bones and All, that's exactly what he's doing again next. The Italian filmmaker is also giving fans of his 2017 queer romance — a flick that nabbed Chalamet a Best Actor Oscar nomination — another repeat gift, too. Who doesn't want to see that picture's Michael Stuhlbarg give Timothée life advice again? This time, though, it's in far bloodier circumstances. Arriving five years after Call Me By Your Name, and set to hit cinemas Down Under in November, Bones and All also sees Chalamet and Guadagnino collaborate on a love story — but with an extra bite. Forget peaches, as both the first sneak peek and the newly dropped full trailer make plain. Here, Chalamet plays one half of a cannibal couple. As Lee, the Dune, The French Dispatch and Don't Look Up actor gets gory — including with Taylor Russell's (Waves) Maren. The hybrid horror, romance and coming-of-age tale follows the pair of cannibal lovers as they road trip across America, chasing and satisfying their desires, and also grappling with what's brought them to this juncture. In both trailers so far, the vibe is yearning, swooning again, but also unsettling. It skews darker and more violent this time around, sinking its teeth into its biting premise. And when Mark Rylance (The Phantom of the Open) pops up in the two sneak peeks, he has his finger to his lips in a telling gesture of warning. Bones and All marks Guadagnino's first feature since 2018's Suspiria remake — after a detour to television with HBO series We Are Who We Are — and sees the director bring Camille DeAngelis' novel of the same name to the screen. Also featured in the film: We Are Who We Are alums Chloë Sevigny and Francesca Scorsese (yes, the daughter of filmmaker Martin Scorsese), plus André Holland (Passing), Jake Horowitz (The Vast of Night), filmmaker David Gordon Green (Halloween Kills), and Jessica Harper from both the original Suspiria and Guadagnino's version. Check out the full trailer for Bones and All below: Bones and All releases in cinemas Down Under on November 24.
Instead of glumly clicking through your friends’ Facebook photos of their amazing holidays as you sit at home (that they clearly put up just to make you feel bad), plan your own dream holiday, old-school style. The YOUniverse do-it-yourself kits allow you to customise your own vintage globe with different travel routes, photos, banners and travel stickers. All you need is a little old-fashioned imagination and you can plan journeys that defy logic and financial restraints. Make it your resolution to tick one off the list by 2013.
Head down to Parramatta's Centenary Square from Thursday, January 13 to Sunday, January 16 for a collision of skateboarding, BMX riding, dancing, free-running and performance. Demo is free public exhibition of controlled chaos that will be enthralling crowds as part of Sydney Festival. The exhilarating performance will take place on a half-pipe and feature a team of professional athletes and dancers pulled together by award-winning physical theatre company Branch Nebula. The unlikely group of performers are set to exhibit their unique skillsets in tandem as part of the free show which will pop up six times over four days in Parramatta. On Thursday and Friday, Demo will begin at 6pm, while crowds on Saturday and Sunday will be treated to two shows each, with performances at both 4.30pm and 6.30pm. There's no registration required and if you can't make it down to Centenary Square, you can tune in via a live stream. Images: Mark Metcalfe
When we sniff the word 'birthday' being thrown about somewhere, there's that instant ding in our minds: 'Ah yes. Official right to par-ty!' (never mind whose birthday it actually is). This time around it's our old mate Jack Daniels, and he's made it to 161 fine years. To celebrate, he's throwing one mighty big blow out. This year, a bevvy of musical acts are paying homage to one of Australia's greats, Icehouse – they who brought us 'Great Southern Land', 'Electric Blue', 'Crazy' and more (this would be your cue to hold a mini Icehouse YouTube party in your bedroom). Heading up the pack is Art Vs Science, who are no strangers to the cover, having taken on Daft Punk on Triple J's Like A Version. Along for the ride are Kate Miller-Heidke, Patience Hodgeson of The Grates, and Dappled Cities' Tim Derricourt. Plus, Purple Sneakers DJs will be at the decks to get things moving. To go in the running for one of four double passes to the JD Set, just make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email us with your preference of Sydney or Melbourne shows. Entries close Friday, September 9 at 5pm. Sponsored post https://youtube.com/watch?v=HRwis9CWcjA
Is there a better way to mark ANZAC Day than with a game of two-up and a round of crisp beers? The crew behind The Fiddler Hotel doesn't think so. To commemorate the day, Rouse Hill's much-loved pub is getting into the ANZAC Day spirit by hosting one of the city's lively two-up tournaments for 2024. The outpost's beer garden will be open to keen two-up players and viewers alike from midday. The Fiddler's outdoor space has recently been renovated to accommodate even more guests for this year's instalment — and it's set to be a huge turnout. Plus, the gastropub will also be slinging its usual menu favourites for those hankering for a bite. Pair classics like The Fiddler's Guinness beef pie, grilled rosemary lamb cutlets or slow-cooked barbecue ribs with a lager or pale ale. DJs will also be spinning Aussie tunes on the decks late into the night. Whether you're in for a lively two-up game or to party till late, The Fiddler has got you covered.
Celebrating a European Christmas is at the top of many people's bucket lists — and now you can cross it off with the German International School Sydney's annual Christmas Market. Held on Friday, August 16 and Saturday, August 17, the market brings festive cheer to Sydney's northern beaches with a host of open-air market stalls, traditional German food, fairy lights and music. Before you explore, grab a mug of warm and spicy mulled wine from the Glühwein Hut. The market will be overflowing with traditional German cuisine, including favourites such as bratwurst, sauerkraut, pancakes and pretzels. Styled like a classic European Christmas market, the array of stalls will be covered in charming fairy lights with many offering a range of high quality local produce, festive decorations, homewares, jewellery and more. There will also be a bonfire that'll keep you thawed and some marshmallows going around that could use some light toasting on the flames. We're also hoping last year's giant inflatable 'snow globe' with fake snow makes a return. The German Christmas Market will run from 5–9pm on Friday, August 17, and 4–9pm on Saturday, August 18.
In the long and lucrative tradition of bringing artists together with merriment and free flowing alcohol, Tiger Beer is hosting the seventh Tiger Translate this week. Specifically designed to encourage up-and-coming artists, Tiger Translate is a global initiative that runs in places as various as New York, Mongolia, Dubai, Berlin and Beijing, giving local artists an opportunity to have their work exhibited on a global platform. This year's central theme is 'Growth', and Brisbane-based artist Matt Stewart took out the award for showcase artists with the work featured above. He and another seven artists who made the finals will all be featured in the global Tiger Translate showcase, which kicks off with a bang on Wednesday in Sydney. The celebration will be soundtracked by live music from Dark Horse and DJ Bambalam, and live art collaborations will be going down featuring Beastman, Numskull, Creepy, Phibs and Matt Stewart, this year's showcase artist. Moreover, given that the event is sponsored by Tiger, the chances that there will be a proliferation of beer in easy access of your mouth are extremely good. The party is going down on Wednesday, November 23 from 7pm at Sun Studios in Alexandria, and happily enough, we have ten double passes on our hands to give away. So if you fancy a night of art and music, just make sure you're subscribed and then hit us up at hello@concreteplayground.com.au.
Sydney might still be a long way from a full restoration of the nighttime economy decimated by the lockout laws, but, bit by bit, publicans and nightclub owners around the traps are clawing back ground and bringing back the party. Earlier this year Club 77 launched weekly Sunday morning club 'night' Afters, and the latest initiative to get on-board is Roots A.M. It's a new, early, early morning shindig that, from December 16, will be taking over the bottom floor of The Flinders from 5am till midday every Saturday morning. The venue will close from 3am till 5am, but if you miss lockout hour or are in the mood for a quick drink after a late-night shift, you now have a place to go. You may not have visited The Flinders for a while — let alone at 5am — but it was officially relaunched this year. Launching the first ever party will be Lokomotiv, joined by Marlie and Venda, both Roots DJs. Entry will $5 and the bar will be offering $7 tequila squash and vodka sunrises all morning. Which should take you right back to your uni days. Get more information and keep up with developments via the Facebook page. Roots A.M. will run every Saturday from 5am till noon from December 16. For more info, visit the Facebook group.
The hospitality group behind popular Sydney venues The Butler, The Botanist and SoCal has completed a new CBD precinct with the opening of Hester's. The cafe and bar is the third and final Applejack venue situated along Carrington Street (across from Wynyard Park) — joining elegant eatery Bopp & Tone and hole-in-the-wall cafe June's Shoppe. Open weekdays for breakfast and lunch, it's brewing Chatswood's Gabriel Coffee all day, and pouring beer and wine from noon. In the morning, expect classic brekkie dishes like goat's omelettes ($12) and smashed avo ($12), plus pastries and muffins baked in house. It's a more refined offering for lunch, with the menu designed by Bopp & Tone Head Chef Sa Va'afusuaga. Think Mediterranean-inspired dishes like seared tuna niçoise ($25), woodfired chicken club sandwiches ($18), crumbed snapper with shoestring fries ($32), slow-braised lamb ragout ($25) and char-grilled Riverine sirloin ($35). [caption id="attachment_780727" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yasmin Mund[/caption] If you're looking to snack with a drink in hand, the seafood-focused 'nibbles' menu offers salt cod fritters ($19), flash-fried calamari ($16), Sydney rock oysters ($5 each) and Australian king prawns ($9 each). Apart from a succinct beer and wine menu — which includes the likes of Alpha Box & Dice's Zaptung prosecco ($11) and Estrella lager ($10) — you can also sip on passionfruit kombucha ($6.5) and cucumber sodas ($4). Each Carrington Street venue is inspired by the post-WW2 era and lends a touch of nostalgia to the fit-out. At Hester's, expect earthy tones, with light timber furnishing, glowing pendant lighting and pastel touches. Images: Yasmin Mund
Two decades after Hae Min Lee's murder, the Baltimore high school student's horrific plight continues to dominate the true crime landscape. After featuring on the first season of Sarah Koenig's grimly addictive podcast Serial, it's now the basis for a new documentary series, The Case Against Adnan Syed. The four-part HBO series picks up where everyone's 2014 obsession left off — the trailers promise to reveal 'a new chapter' — not only exploring 18-year-old Lee's death in 1999 and her ex-boyfriend Syed's conviction in 2000, but the latter's ongoing quest to have the extremely complex legal matter reassessed in the years since he was found guilty. Everything from Lee and Syed's relationship, to the original police investigation and trial, to the developments up until now feature, with the film gaining exclusive access to Syed, his family and his lawyers. While the show started airing on HBO in the US in March, Australians can now watch the series, too — it's after airing on SBS throughout April, the four episodes are now available on SBS On Demand. Check out the HBO trailers below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQaTa5eTxnk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA1qzo2WEew The series couldn't come at a more crucial time for Syed, who was convicted of first-degree murder, sentenced to life in prison, and has been fighting his case through the courts ever since. While he was granted a new trial in 2016, that ruling was subsequently appealed by the State of Maryland — only for the Court of Special Appeals to agree to vacate Syed's conviction and finally give him that retrial last March. Earlier this month in Maryland's Court of Appeals, that retrial request was denied, but Syed's attorney has committed to keep battling. Splashed across the small screen, it's certain to make for compelling viewing — but if you think you've spent too much time mulling it all over across the past five years, filmmaker Amy Berg has you beat. Unsurprisingly given how complicated the matter is, the director has been working on the project since 2015. And, with her excellent doco background — with Berg helming 2006's Oscar-nominated 2006 Deliver Us from Evil, about molestation in the Catholic Church; examining the West Memphis Three's quest for freedom in 2012's West of Memphis; and tackling the sexual abuse of teenagers in the film industry in 2014's An Open Secret — her new venture is certain to be thorough. As they did for West of Memphis, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis provide the score. The Case Against Adnan Syed is now streaming on SBS on Demand. Image: SBS. Updated: May 2, 2019.
Just because something sounds strange, looks weird or smells funny, doesn't mean it won't taste absolutely delicious. Who knows, that slow-cooked camel pie or blistery black corn fungus might even become your next food obsession. Inspired by all of the weird and wonderful dishes created on MasterChef Australia, we've created a hit list of ten unexpected dishes to find around Sydney. If you're looking to expand your culinary horizon, give them a try. Go on, we dare you. [caption id="attachment_640424" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kai Leishman[/caption] HUITLACOCHE TLAYUDA, CHULA Huitlacoche has to be one of the tastiest diseases out there. Quite literally. A black blistery corn smut, this Mexican delicacy is prized for its earthy flavours and funky, mouldy kick, making it a big hit with the truffle and blue-cheese crowd. If you're keen to give it a try, head to Chula in Potts Point, where this modern Mexican eatery serves up a huitlacoche tlayuda, which is kind of like a Mexican pizza. The intriguing dish sees a crisp corn tortilla base layered with refried beans, stringy cheese and inky blots of huitlacoche. HOT CROSS BUN SANDWICHES, BODEGA What started as an Easter special has risen through the ranks to become one of Bodega's best-selling dishes. The sacrilegious snack is made from a cinnamon and clove spiced bun, loaded with pink fleshy slices of corned beef, pickled vegetables and kimchi and topped with lashings of smoked oyster mayonnaise. The seemingly chaotic jumble of ingredients actually work together nicely, with sweet, salty and sour notes in perfect balance. Forget smothering your buns with butter, once you go corned beef you never go back. SPIDER STEAK, THE UNICORN HOTEL Strange sounding we know, but a spider steak is simply a cut of beef, taken from the tail end of the cow. You don't often find it on restaurant menus — unless you frequent the Unicorn Hotel in Paddington, that is. While the steak may look a little lumpy, it's actually quite tender and flavourful, thanks to its fatty web of marbling. The Unicorn has been exploring curious cuts since day one, with rump, scotch fillet and T-bone taking a back seat to hanger, skirt and striploin. All slabs can be topped with house made garlic butter or fruit chutney, with side servings of crinkle cut chips, home-style cauliflower cheese and braised red cabbage. CAMEL SAMBUSAK, NOUR A delicacy from the Middle East, camel meat finds its way into Israeli pastry pockets at Nour in Surry Hills. Head chef Roy Ner makes his sambusaks from spiced, slow-cooked camel rib seasoned with ras el hanout and cumin. The camel meat is then stuffed into Yemenite pastry, sprinkled with black sesame seeds and baked in a woodfired oven until perfectly puffed. The softly shredded camel meat is surprisingly delicious, offering up a rich gamey flavour that sit somewhere between beef and lamb. For your next hump day, why not try camel. KOGASHI RAMEN, GOGYO While burnt food is something we generally try to avoid, it's worth making an exception for Gogyo's kogashi ramen. The famous black broth is made by cooking pork lard at explosive temperatures, before adding chicken broth, springy noodles and fatty rashes of chashu pork belly. What arrives is a rich, scorchy soup, swirling with flecks of char and lidded with porky oil. The flavours reveal intense umami and a sweet lick of smokiness. Surprisingly, there's actually very little bitterness there. REPOLLITO DE BRUSELAS, PORTEÑO While there's nothing special about Brussels sprouts, it's highly unusual when they actually taste good. Porteño in Surry Hills is one of the few places (on this planet) to actually get it right. Owners Ben Milgate and Elvis Abrahanowicz have ditched the steaming method, which, as any ten-year-old will tell you, makes them mushy and sour. Instead they're deep-fried until crunchy and golden, then tossed through with torn herbs and drizzled in vincotto. The crispy sweet buds are perfect as they are — although you could consider a side order or lamp rump or rib. WAGYU BEEF BARBIE, SPICE WORLD If you're looking to spice up your life — and your dining experiences — head to sichuan hot pot hot spot Spice World in China Town. This Chinese-based restaurant chain is bubbling with personality, from the teddy bear soup stocks to the smiling robot waiters who serve up chilli oil and mints. Order a portion of the wagyu and you'll receive a limited edition beef Barbie, draped in a marbled meat gown. Guests will need to de-robe poor Barbie, dipping her dress into the chilli-slicked broth to simmer alongside hand-pulled noodles, bean curd and bamboo fungus. CHARCOAL BUCATINI, MARK + VINNY'S If you like your Italian food traditional, prepare to be initially outraged, then completely won over by the unorthodox offerings at Surry Hills spaghetti and spritz bar Mark + Vinny's. Here, the pasta comes in a rainbow of flavours, from sky blue spirulina tagliatelle to a ruby-red beetroot spaghettini. It even has a vegan carbonara (gasp) made with charcoal bucatini mixed through with mushroom pancetta and plant-based parmesan and crowned with an unctuous sweet potato "egg yolk". MORTADELLA RAVIOLI, JONAH'S Long regarded as one of the more inferior luncheon meats, it's nice to see chefs taking this pink processed log a little more seriously. Not only has mortadella been embraced in sandwich form at ACME and on pizzas at Via Napoli, but esteemed Sydney restaurant Jonah's has immortalised it in ravioli. The popular entrée is made from a paste of creamy minced baloney meat and pistachio crumb, neatly tucked into handmade pasta parcels. The dish is served with circular slivers of sweet jellied balsamic vinegar, baby turnip tops and a sprinkling of seeds. No ketchup required CHEESEBURGER SPRING ROLLS, MS G'S Dan Hong from Ms G's has taken two of the world's most popular dishes and rolled them into one. These crispy fried cigars are stuffed with minced beef, processed cheese slices, mustard, tomato sauce and gherkins to give you a greasy hit of your two favourite fast foods. They're relatively small in size, so follow it up with the Stoner's Delight 3.0, a junk-food mountain of doughnut ice-cream, crispy bacon and potato chips that will leave you in a haze of happiness. Catch the latest season of MasterChef Australia from Sunday to Thursday at 7.30pm on Channel Ten.
The Late Night Library is setting up camp in Kings Cross, screening a beloved 1954 horror classic, Creature from the Black Lagoon in 3D. It's the first time the program, one of the City of Sydney's flagship night-time cultural activities, has branched out to the Darlinghurst Road-located library. Squeezed in between an adult club and a backpackers', it'll be working double time to provide a savoury alternative. This film showing is the perfect way to enjoy Kings Cross in a cultural way after the sun has set. Gasp as a group of adventurous scientists journey into the unknown depths of the Amazonian to retrieve a mysterious 'Gill-man' beast and bring him back to civilisation; be amazed by the real-life monster popping out from the screen with your 3D specs; pop popcorn into your mouth as you wait in suspense... And the best part about the night is that it's all free. Reserve tickets now to secure yourself a spot for this thriller of a night.
Cooking and entertaining at home has hit peak popularity during the pandemic, and many Sydney venues have been forced to adapt. But the clever folks behind CBD pasta bar Ragazzi — namely Matthew Swieboda, Nathanial Hatwell (Love, Tilly Devine, Dear Sainte Éloise) and Scott McComas-Williams — are taking this shift in stride. Following the success of Ragazzi's lockdown pasta kits, the team has decided to launch Fabbrica Pasta Shop in the CBD this September. The retail space will sell fresh pasta by the gram, sauces and related smallgoods to help Sydneysiders create the perfect Italian feast at home. Through a big glass window, you'll be able to watch the staff making pasta of all shapes and sizes, including rigatoni, egg farfalle, semolina pici (thick hand-rolled spaghetti) and gluten-free varieties. Add on a sauce or two and you'll be able to whip up Ragazzi fan-favourites at home — such as spaghetti cacio e pepe and duck ragu over rye casarecce (short twisted pasta) — along with your own creations. Other Italian items will also be for sale, including a range imported cheeses, house-cured meats, sausages, olive oil and flours. Plus tinned tomatoes, Cantabrian anchovies and fresh produce like biodynamic eggs and organic garlic. Alongside the pasta, breads will be made in-house too and paired with compound butter. And, to complete your meal at home, bottles of minimal-intervention Italian drops will be on offer, too. [caption id="attachment_780345" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] There will also be a dine-in aspect to the space, with four outdoor high tables designed for snacking while you wait for your takeaway order. For this purpose, there will be a daily sandwich and baked pasta option, plus coffees and natural wines by the glass. The space will also act as a prep kitchen for Ragazzi and host regular pasta making, wine tasting and baking classes. You'll also start seeing Fabbrica products in other delis, butchers, grocers and markets around Australia, with Cameron Birt (Fino Foods) running the wholesale arm of the business. And the entire venue will be available for private bookings if you really want to treat your nearest and dearest. Designer Sarah Watt, who also designed Ragazzi, will be responsible for the fit-out — expect stainless steel finishes and a clean, brutalist space to unfold over the next month. Fabbrica Pasta Shop will open in late September at 161 King Street, Sydney. Keep an eye on this space for updates. Images: Nikki To
Attention, Wes Anderson enthusiasts: The trailer for his latest film, The Grand Budapest Hotel, has just been released. This follow-up to the wildly popular Moonrise Kingdom is giving us another project to look forward to, with all the oddities that resonate with Anderson fans. The story follows Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes), a manager at the swanky Grand Budapest Hotel and his devoted lobby boy, Zero Moustafa. The suave Gustave is a hit with the mature lady guests, and when one of them dies, he is suspected of murder and theft. So he and his precious sidekick make a run for it, and the story unfolds into a whirlwind of adventure, mystery, romance and, of course, comedy that captivate us with Anderson's films. It looks like Anderson won't be abandoning his colourful, dreamy sets; dry, poker-faced humour; and eccentric characters anytime soon. The usual suspects in the cast include Willem Dafoe, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Jeff Goldblum, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman. Tilda Swinton, Jude Law and Saoirse Ronan are also thrown in, making The Grand Budapest Hotel one Anderson's most dynamically cast films yet. It is set to release in 2014. https://youtube.com/watch?v=1Fg5iWmQjwk Via The Verge.
Rising sea levels, floods, fires, droughts, deforestation, wars, persecution — there are many, many reasons why hundreds of millions of people around the world have been forced to flee their homes during the past 15 years. And EXIT, a digital installation commissioned by the Foundation Cartier, Paris, now showing at UNSW Galleries as part of Sydney Festival, makes sure you can't ignore them. For 45 minutes, this immersive work surrounds you with 360 degrees of frankly terrifying statistics, presented as mesmerising images, text and sound. Prepare to leave wondering how on earth the Earth will possibly cope, yet compelled to do something — anything — about it. That said, the work is in no way didactic. Rather than telling what to think or laying any blame, it simply provides hard, cold facts. Since 2008, natural disasters have displaced one person every second — an average of 26 million per year. Of the 6700 languages spoken today, 50 percent are in danger of extinction by 2100 — one of EXIT's most moving moments is the playing of recordings of 16 endangered languages. For the first time in history, there are as many people living in cities as there are in rural areas, and cities create about 70 percent of the planet's greenhouse gasses. "I think it's a bit of a wake-up call, really," says Felicity Fenner, director of UNSW Galleries. "I love that the work isn't political. It isn't telling us what to do. It's just data, just numbers ... but they're incredible designers. It's presented in such an elegant way that it's really hard to stop looking at. So, it's overwhelming, yet engaging." EXIT was a group effort. Based on an idea of French philosopher Paul Virilio, the work was created by NYC-based designers Diller Scofidio + Renfro with Laura Kurgan, Mark Hansen and Ben Rubin, in collaboration with Robert Gerard Pietrusko and Stewart Smith.
Playing an Australian freshly arrived in Florida in Rough Night, Kate McKinnon bafflingly calls everyone's favourite Italian meal "pizzer". When she's hungry, she pulls a jar of Vegemite out of her bag. And for some unexplained reason, she asks for toilet tissue rather than toilet paper. These are three things likely to make Aussie audiences cringe. And yet despite this, they're actually attached to the best part of the film. Much as she was in Ghostbusters, Masterminds and Office Christmas Party, McKinnon is in Rough Night a downright comic delight, the best part of an ensemble cast that also includes Scarlett Johansson, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer and Zoe Kravitz. If only the material matched her skills. Unfortunately this unremarkable comedy proves to be little more than a blend of Very Bad Things, The Hangover and Weekend at Bernie's, with a few familiar, sentimental musings about female friendship thrown in. Indeed, writer-director Lucia Aniello and her co-scribe Paul W. Downs — both Broad City alum — are happy sticking to a formula. If their script simply read "women behave badly, then hug", we wouldn't be surprised. You already know exactly how this film is going to play out: aspiring state senator Jess (Johansson) and her pals Alice (Bell), Blair (Kravitz), Frankie (Glazer) and Pippa (McKinnon) converge on Miami for 55 hours of drinking, partying, penis-shaped paraphernalia and selfie-worthy raucousness. That's all well and good, until they hire a male stripper and then accidentally kill him. Following in the footsteps of Bridesmaids and Bad Moms, it's great that female-led comedies are finally hitting cinemas in increasing numbers, albeit slowly. It's also great that Rough Night is helmed and co-scripted by a woman and features five ace ladies in the lead roles. Still, we can't help but wish that the film delivered more than just by-the-book observations and stereotypical characters. Sensible, envious, posh, feisty, kooky Aussie: the women here have about as much dimension as members of a '90s girl band. Outside of McKinnon, the biggest chuckles stem from cutaways to Jess' fiance's bachelor party, which involves a civilised evening of wine tasting rather than knocking back shots and snorting drugs. Of course, the fact that more amusement stems from the men in the movie than the women is an enormous problem. With most of its great ladies sadly underused, Rough Night feels like a wasted opportunity. What the world wants is more smart, funny, female-led flicks. What the world didn't need is lazy gender-swapped hijinks packaged as girls-gone-wild fun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlDvkRYrIlU
This bright and breezy chain is known for its coffee, smoothies and hearty salad bowls. But it also has a menu of sandwiches and toasties that is worth getting around when you're after something a little more substantial. Our pick is the roasted pumpkin and grilled tofu toastie. The gourd-favouring sambo comes with grilled tamari-slicked tofu (so you get a filling and nourishing protein hit) along with avocado, spinach, a curry-spiked vegan mayonnaise, hummus and zippy dukkah. The triple hit of seasoning courtesy of the mayo, dukkah and gluten-free soy sauce gives this toasted sandwich extra flavour. Along with an oat milk cappuccino, it's the perfect hunger-busting lunch option.
While Bondi is synonymous with sand and sunshine, it's also home to a throng of excellent independent shops, restaurants and creative spaces. When you're ready to explore the neighbourhood beyond the beach, these spots are waiting to deck you out with handmade jewellery, feed you an excellent meal, decorate your home and so much more. With some help from American Express, we've selected a bunch of venues you should make a beeline to when you're next in Bondi. From a jewellery mecca and a culinary institution to a colourful flower shop and an excellent bottle shop, these places will help you find what you're looking for, no matter the occasion.
