With October signalling the end to many of the COVID-19 restrictions we've all been living with, it's the perfect time for Sydneysiders to explore our fair city. Whether you're a southwest native or live further afield, there's a raft of pleasures to discover in the region that are well worth your time. Below you'll find a schedule for a packed day of fun in southwest Sydney that satisfies at every turn. From first-class food to adrenaline-inducing thrill rides to gorgeous scenery, the southwest really does have it all. You're sure to have a day that flies by in the blink of an eye no matter who you're sharing it with. START THE DAY WITH BREKKIE AT FOUR LITTLE FOXES IN MILPERRA They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so start your day well with a visit to Milperra favourite, Four Little Foxes. Currently open for takeaway only, this welcoming cafe has something for everyone on its exciting and varied menu — from classics like a bacon and egg roll to sweet options like french toast with passionfruit curd and maple mascarpone. And we can't go without mentioning the mouth-watering crowd-pleaser: eggs benedict with fried chicken and jalapeño hollandaise. Add the fact that the baristas are serving up coffee roasted by Deluca, and Four Little Foxes is a real treat to kick off the day's activities. TAKE A WALK THROUGH GEORGES RIVER NATIONAL PARK After loading up on brekkie, you'll want to walk it off. Luckily, Georges River National Park is less than ten kilometres away, so you can get your body moving with a view. Despite being inland, the park's location on the river means the picturesque Burrawang Reach will have you feeling like you're on the coast. And from there you can tackle the Ridge Walk — a trail that affords scenic lookouts along the water. It may be relatively short but it'll certainly get the blood pumping. Once you finish at Cattle Duffers Flat picnic area, either turn round and retrace your steps or follow the river's edge to work your way back to the start. GRAB A QUICK LUNCH IN BANKSTOWN Lunch means a trip to Bankstown and your choice of some of the finest Asian cuisine Sydney has to offer. Banh Mi Bay Ngo, located in Bankstown City Plaza, has been delighting southwest Sydney with its range of classic Vietnamese sandwiches for over three decades. The secret to their success? Everything is made in house. If Vietnamese isn't your jam, head on down to the Little Saigon Plaza. The ever-popular Papparich has all your Malaysian favourites, including laksa, nasi lemak and chicken rice. Alternatively, Soju Social offers a taste of South Korea if you need your fried chicken fix. [caption id="attachment_829707" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Christopher Woe[/caption] VISIT BANKSTOWN ARTS CENTRE For culture vultures in the southwest, you can't go wrong with Bankstown Arts Centre. Since its opening in early 2011, it has showcased thought-provoking exhibitions, provided classes and workshops for the community and worked toward breaking down barriers for people experiencing social exclusion — both artists and audience. During lockdown, the Arts Centre moved online, sharing artworks centred on the local area. Soon, patrons will be able to visit in-person again and experience the kinds of exhibitions the company is famous for, including a series of events to mark its tenth anniversary. SNACK ON LEBANESE SWEETS FROM AL AFRAH OR RABIEH SWEETS Nothing delivers that sugary hit quite like Lebanese confectionary. And, the suburb of Punchbowl has two top-quality emporiums dedicated to those mouth-watering delights. Al Afrah is the oldest Lebanese sweet shop in Australia and has a selection of baklava, pastries, petit fours and chocolates that taste as good as they look. And that's without mentioning the homemade gelato. Rabieh Sweets may be newer, but it's no less impressive. Its menu is packed with Middle Eastern treats that are sure to please the palate — whether they're a reminder of childhood or a first-time experience. [caption id="attachment_693299" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Stephanie Cook[/caption] GO TO SYDNEY INDOOR CLIMBING GYM Following its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the sport of climbing is sure to explode in popularity — even more so than it already has. Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym in Villawood offers both bouldering (low height, no ropes) and climbing (higher walls, safety ropes), and is the largest climbing gym in western Sydney. The numbers speak for themselves: 250 routes, 50 boulder problems and climbing walls up to 16 metres tall. Prices start at $20 for adult entry, but multi-visit passes and memberships are available, too. It's a worthwhile investment — once you get the climbing bug, you won't stop 'til you reach the top. [caption id="attachment_780383" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] DINNER AT AN RESTAURANT OR AL ASEEL After such a busy day, you deserve a cracking feed. Head back to Bankstown for the final meal of the day to pay a visit to An Restaurant, whose slogan — "So Pho So Good" — tells you nearly everything you need to know. Noodles and meat are the order of the day, with a range of cuts to suit every appetite. Or, if you're craving Lebanese food, head to Al Aseel in Bankstown Sports. The extensive menu features both cold and hot sharing items alongside grilled staples such as shawarma and meat skewers — and that's before you even get to its famous fattoush. DRINKS AT LADY BANKS A cocktail or three is the perfect way to round off a day experiencing the best this corner of Sydney has to offer. And, the recently opened Lady Banks at the top of the Flinders Centre in Bankstown is the ideal location to do just that. Sydneysiders love a rooftop bar — especially when the weather is warmer — and post-lockdown we're keen to spend as much time al fresco as possible. Surely one of the only places with panoramic views of both the CBD and the Blue Mountains, Lady Banks has an impressive selection of beverages. Try its signature cocktail (the Lady Banks, naturally) mixed with gin, elderflower liqueur and a spritz of lemon. To learn more about Lady Banks rooftop bar, visit the website.
Oxford Street is set to be transformed through major building upgrades and a push from the City of Sydney to return the CBD cultural hub to its former bustling self. The city council's plan is designed around creating more floor space across Oxford Street and surrounding areas, and in turn, more space for employment and cultural activities. Multi-storey extensions to buildings, rooftop bars, transformation of basements and revitalised alleyways are all on the cards as part of the proposal to revitalise the area. "It's one of our greatest and best-known streets but it has faced significant troubles in the recent past," said Lord Mayor Clover Moore. "The construction of massive shopping centres at either end of the strip and online shopping has hurt its retailers, the lock-outs have hurt its bars and clubs and the clearway has created fast flowing through-traffic that has made it a less pleasant place to be." But Moore is confident the City of Sydney can work with developers and members of the Oxford Street community to breathe new life into the strip. Under the proposal, a potential 42,500 square metres of employment floor space and 11,000 square metres of new creative and cultural floor space could become available across Oxford Street. [caption id="attachment_812942" align="alignnone" width="1920"] City of Sydney[/caption] Moore also indicated preserving Oxford Street's role as a hub for the LGBTQIA+ community, protecting its heritage architecture and achieving visibility of First Nations cultures and stories are all top priorities, expressing that "the community has made it clear that we need to preserve and celebrate Oxford Street's history as a sacred walking track for the Gadigal and the heart of Sydney's LGBTIQ community, while safeguarding its future, particularly as we ready to welcome World Pride 2023." The announcement of this planned redevelopment of the beloved Sydney street comes at a time of change for the area. Back in March, a development plan was revealed to transform three of the street's busiest buildings into a $60 million food retail and cultural precinct. Just a few months before that, it was announced Kinselas and the Courthouse Hotel would be merged into one multimillion-dollar mega-venue and Sydney's first 24 Hours Hotel would be coming to Darlinghurst. The City of Sydney has announced a planned proposal to transform the Oxford Street Cultural and Creative Precinct. You can keep an eye on any updates via the City of Sydney's website. Top image: Jeffrey Feng
For an easy and relaxed beachside spot for a glass of wine, this Mediterranean-inspired small bar has you covered. After a day wandering around Mona Vale's shops, Paddock & Vine is a good place to reflect on this lovely suburb you get to live in — or start researching rentals. Choose from share plates such as saffron and cheese arancini, chorizo and chimichurri, duck pate and sourdough, or summer-favourite salt and pepper squid. Or go for something bigger, with main dishes like steak, pork loin, lamb shanks, or house-made gnocchi. The hero of the menu is the Australian wine list — ask your server for their favourites.
With stunning views out to Finger Wharf at Woolloomooloo, dining at China Doll is always special, no matter the occasion. Taking inspiration from a number of cuisines across Asia, the a la carte offerings include a range of dim sum options alongside mouth-watering mains such as wagyu beef shin Penang curry and Cone Bay barramundi with shiitake mushroom dashi. There are also several banquet choices, depending on whether you're dining as a couple or a larger group. The luxury option consists of 11 separate dishes, from king salmon sashimi with blackened chilli dressing and pork belly with chilli caramel to Alaskan king crab alongside black pepper, sesame and lime. Image: Destination DNSW
If you like chocolate and hazelnuts, odds are that you like Nutella. Actually, it's incredibly likely that you love it, are obsessed with it, and have eaten it slathered on bread, oozing out of doughnuts and combined with every other food you can think of. The popular spread brings out that kind of obsession in people, so it's hardly surprising that the brand is creating a whole place dedicated to the chocolate and hazelnut-flavoured concoction — albeit just for one weekend. Between January 10–12, 2020, Hotella Nutella will be a real place that'll actually exist, rather than somewhere that Nutella fans have just dreamed about since they can remember. It's coming to Calistoga in Napa Valley in California, and it'll make sure that visitors know exactly what it's about. Think "larger-than-life jars of Nutella and breakfast decor, and hazelnut and cocoa spread-inspired hotel items", according to the company's press release. Also on the agenda: two Nutella-filled meals, with one all about breakfast for dinner and the other focusing on brunch. No prizes for guessing what the star ingredient will be in all dishes whipped up, of course. There'll also be a pancake art session, which'll no doubt test just how creative people can be when it comes to drizzling Nutella over the sweet favourite. Yep, everyone's had plenty of practice at that. Alas, don't go getting too excited. These kinds of branded pop-ups always come with caveats, as Taco Bell's hotel did earlier in the year. At Hotella Nutella, only three Nutella lovers and their guests will be able to stay, they'll have to win a competition in order to do so, and entries are only open to US citizens. Given the cult-like following that the brand has inspired around the world, it's worth crossing your Nutella-loving fingers that it decides to do something similar for fans elsewhere. For more information about Hotella Nutella, visit the competition website. Images: Nutella USA.
It has been five years since Deliveroo started speeding through Australia's streets to bring takeaway meals to our doors. And, as we all like to when a birthday rolls around, it's celebrating. This is the kind of party that rewards everyone, too, with the company delivering $1 meals from more than 26 eateries across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. Each day this week, between Tuesday, November 10–Friday, November 13, Deliveroo is picking a city and gifting its residents meals at $1 a pop. A different number of eateries will be taking part in each location, and they'll each be offering up 100 meals at the gold-coin price. So yes, that means getting in quickly is recommended. First up, from 1–5pm on Tuesday, November 10, is Adelaide. On the menu: dishes from Burgertec, Goodlife Modern Organic Pizza, Cheeky Chook, Blue & White Cafe and Lukoumades. Then, from 12–6pm on Wednesday, November 11, it's Melbourne's turn — with Chicken Episode Plus, Bistro Morgan (including in Collingwood), Tadka Hut, Gelato Messina in Richmond and Royal Stacks Brunswick among the eateries involved. [caption id="attachment_783738" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Royal Stacks[/caption] When Thursday, November 12 rolls around, Sydneysiders can get their cheap food fix between 1–4.30pm — from Little L, Fishmongers, BL Burgers, Manoosh Pizzeria, Johnny Bird, The Italian Bowl and Burger Patch. Finally, to close out the week of super-affordable eats, Brisbane's Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers in Paddington, Ginga Sushi Japanese at Emporium, Brooklyn Depot in South Brisbane and The Yiros Shop will get in on the action between 2–5pm on Friday, November 13. There are a few tricks to the $1 special, however. It will really only cost $1 — there's no delivery cost on top of that — but exactly what each restaurant will be offering for that price won't be revealed until the day. And, a new restaurant will appear on Deliveroo's Instagram every hour, which is where you'll find out what's on the menu. From there, you'll just need to search for '$1 deals' when you're ordering online or via the Deliveroo app. And yes, that's an easy way to decide what to eat on the relevant day in your city this week. For further details about Deliveroo's $1 fifth birthday specials — which are on offer in Adelaide from 1–5pm on Tuesday, November 10; Melbourne from 12–6pm on Wednesday, November 11; Sydney from 1–4.30pm on Thursday, November 12; and Brisbane from 2–5pm on Friday, November 13 — keep an eye on the company's Instagram feed. Top images: Johnny Bird, Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers.
An exciting venue celebrating music and Japanese cuisine is coming to Solotel and Matt Moran's Barangaroo House in September. Rekōdo is a new restaurant and vinyl bar set to arrive on level one of the expansive multi-storey restaurant and bar from Friday, September 16, offering up top-notch eats, sake and tunes curated by some of Sydney's most beloved musicians. Starting with the food, Head Chef Paddy McDermott's menu will be based around vibrant and inventive Japanese-style dishes. Guests will be able to keep things light with the likes of DIY tuna belly, avocado and roe temaki hand rolls, or kimchi and fontina cheese taiyaki waffles. Looking for something a little more hearty? Feast your way through Rekōdo's whole fried snapper or mondanyaki noodles — or the charcoal-smoked red miso eggplant, which will arrive to your table still cooking in a donabe clay pot. "Leaning into the music vibe of Rekōdo, I'd say we're going for a 'high fidelity' approach to the menu — familiar flavours but having a little fun in the way they're presented," says McDermott. While the food may be enticing, the most exciting element of Rekōdo is the music. Boasting a huge collection of vinyl records, the venue will enlist the curation skills of a different tastemaker each month to select the tunes. Kicking things off will be Meg Mac, showcasing the eclectic music taste that has inspired her beloved catalogue of ballads. Following Mac's reign as the curator, Donny Benét and Lazywax are already locked in to take over the speakers in October and November respectively. "I'm obsessed with all the amazing voices in the world, so I've included some of the singers I love like Sam Cooke, Amy Winehouse, Dusty Springfield, Enya, Leon Bridges and my new local discovery Telenova!" says Mac. "One of the things I love about vinyl is the artwork. I like to put the covers up on my piano when I'm writing, it helps inspire me and I can swap them around depending on what mood I'm in. So, I'm excited to flick through some of these covers at Rekōdo next month!" And yes, there will be vinyl dance parties. Acclaimed local DJs Ayebatonye, Adi Toohey and Soul of Sydney DJs are among the roster of talent that Rekōdo has pulled together, all hopping on the decks and get the party started each Thursday–Sunday. Rounding out your visit to Barangaroo's new multi-faceted space is the drinks list. Bar lead Pauric Kennedy is pulling together a now 20-strong list of sakes which will be able to be ordered by the glass, as a tasting flight or in cocktails. Add brown sugar umeshu, tangerine and elderflower tonic to your sake and you have a refreshing Tokyo Tipple, for instance "The Rekōdo experience is about mixing sound, drink and good times with shared friends," co-owner and restauranteur Matt Moran says. "Paddy has done a great job creating a menu that reflects this, with a mix of small and larger dishes all designed to share so you can tailor it to whatever vibe you're after." Rekodo will open on Friday, September 16 at Level 1, Barangaroo House, 35 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo — operating from 12pm–12am Tuesday–Saturday and 12–10pm on Sundays. Images: Steven Woodburn.
Last year, Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist brought her hypnotic 30-year retrospective to the MCA. The mesmerising and immersive artworks, dubbed Sip My Ocean, only hung around for four months, but now you can catch another one of her works in Sydney — every night. Sparkling Pond, Bold-Coloured Groove & Tender is Rist's new dazzling artwork, which has just been unveiled beneath Park Lane, one of Central Park's residential towers. Colours and gently animated videos are projected onto three different areas — looking a bit like 'urban electronic bonfires' — every night from sunset till 11pm. As well as colours and images evoking Sydney plants and vegetation, the projections use algorithms of waves to create a 'watery world'. The colourful artworks are free to visit, and touching, sitting and even lying in them is encouraged. Pipilotti Rist: Sparkling Pond, Bold-Coloured Groove & Tender can be viewed from sunset to 11pm every night. Images: Pipilotti Rist: Sparkling Pond, Bold-Coloured Groove & Tender, 2018, courtesy the artist, Hauser & Wirth and Luhring Augustine. Photos by Mark Pokorny.
Booking a trip has changed significantly over the last few decades — just 40 years ago, the only way to book a flight, really, was through a travel agent. It wasn't until the early '90s that travellers could take the reins and actually book a ticket for themselves online. Thankfully, we have progressed. Gloriously. Travelling is only getting easier due to the evolution of highly useful, intuitive apps. These ten currently available apps will make your travels that much smoother. And the better news? None of them cost a cent. FOR HEALTH MATTERS: TRAVWELL Let's be real. Health is an easy thing to take for granted while travelling. Powered by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, TravWell brings a great sense of calmness to travellers going overseas. We suggest downloading this well before departing. Users can select the destination they are travelling to, and the app will list which vaccines and medications to take. TravWell also has space to store photos and organise documents such as vaccine records. Plus, for every destination that the app covers, there are corresponding emergency services phone numbers on hand. FOR CONVERTING CASH: CURRENCY CONVERTER PLUS This app is one of the most popular out there, drawing over one million downloads worldwide. Currency Converter Plus hosts 191 currencies and regularly updates conversion rates. When you don't have access to Wi-Fi in that Moroccan souk or Beijing market, the app's ability to work offline definitely comes in handy. It can also convert currency to gold, silver and platinum, perfect if you're indulging in a cheeky jewellery shop during your stopover in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. The calculator function is what separates this app from the rest. Say your Vietnamese feast in Hanoi costs 200,000VND, and you have $5US dollars you want to use — enter both into the app and it will calculate and convert simultaneously, saving you the brainwork. FOR OFFLINE MAPS: MAPS.ME As much as we'd like to assume that our orientation skills are on point, sometimes we get it wrong. Really wrong. And you end up six kilometres away from your hotel, in the dodgy depths of a city with no idea how to get back. MAPS.ME, to the rescue. The app is trusted by over 65 million travellers, probably because it's usable offline. Simply download the map of the country or city you are visiting (when you have internet connection), and it's there for good. Within the app, users can search for restaurants, attractions, ATMs and public transport. We're not done. MAPS.ME also gives people the option to book accommodation through Booking.com. Alternatively, you can't go wrong with offline Google Maps. FOR EDITING HOLIDAY SNAPS: SNAPSEED There's an inordinate number of photo editing apps out there. A lifetime could be devoted looking for the best. Let us save you a little bit of that time. Snapseed, which was created by Google, is not only ridiculously easy to use, but also fun. It has 26 tools and editing features including the ability to adjust exposure, contrast, saturation, ambiance, fix skewed lines, alter perspectives, heal areas of a photo, add in text and throw on a filter. And when you're all finished playing around, Snapseed provides the option to upload to your edited masterpiece straight to Instagram. FOR CONQUERING LANGUAGE BARRIERS: GOOGLE TRANSLATE Speaking of Google (again), it's insanely hard to beat Google Translate at its game. The app offers the most languages out of any single translation engine out there — a mere 103. Now, translating words, phrases and sentences is one thing, but pronouncing them is another. Users can listen to translations before attempting and potentially embarrassing themselves. The app has evolved dramatically since its birth, now integrating a photo feature where you can hold your camera up to a text while Google magically translates it, given the font is readable. The fairy godmother of translators, we're naming it. FOR GROUP TRIPS: SPLITWISE Travelling with friends can get tricky money-wise, no matter how much you try to prevent it. Attempting to recall who shouted what at NYC's Please Don't Tell and how much that friend owes you for dinner at Hong Kong's Ho Lee Fook is too much to keep track of sometimes. Splitwise is a simple way to share bills, and keep track of what everyone has paid. Each person creates an account, and from there groups can be formed. Users then log in to see their balance, what is owed to them and what they owe to others. FOR AIRPORT RELAXATION: LOUNGEKEY LoungeKey is the ultimate airport lounge library. After entering an airport or city name into the app, a list of lounges on offer comes up. LoungeKey details exactly where lounges are located in an airport (don't laugh, some are harder to find that you would assume), what facilities are included, and provides photos, trading hours and prices. There is also a 'nearby' function for when you are absolutely exhausted and just want to pop into the closest lounge. FOR EXPERT RECOMMENDATIONS: GUIDES BY LONELY PLANET There's a lot of noise when it comes to travel guides and recommendations, but among all the madness is Lonely Planet — one of the most trustworthy and inspiring names out there. The Guides app incorporates advice from local experts, including must-see sights and essential tips for each location. There's also an offline maps function, language phrasebooks and a currency converter. It's an all-in-one app, currently covering 100 cities, with more to come. FOR CONNECTIVITY: FREE WI-FI FINDER If you don't fancy buying a sim card in every country you visit, and therefore heavily rely on finding a Wi-Fi connection, this one's a winner. Free Wi-Fi Finder promises exactly what's in its title —free Wi-Fi connection spots, with absolutely no charges. The app lists locations in over 50 countries. You can search by state and city, or locate the closest to wherever you find yourself at that point in time. The app also gives users the option to list Wi-Fi spots themselves and assist other travellers. People-powered, we like that. FOR FINDING THINGS TO DO: AIRBNB (FOR THE 'EXPERIENCES' FUNCTION) Airbnb continues its rampage of revolutionising the travel industry. The app hosts a plethora of affordable accommodation options — apartments, cabins, igloos and beyond — opening up a world of travel to those who were unable to access it before. In late 2016, the app took things up a notch, launching Airbnb 'experiences'. These are curated events, tours, classes and workshops created by local guides, inspiring people not just to travel to a place, but immerse themselves in it. Experiences span from two-day food tours in Seoul, three-day salsa camps in Havana or cocktail-making classes in San Francisco.
If you're looking to level-up your vino game, who better to have on your side than Australia's oldest family-owned winery. Barossa Valley's Yalumba has been crafting fine wine since 1849 — a stint that's spanned six whole generations. And in addition to its stable of top-notch drops for all occasions, the independent label is helping Aussies elevate their wine-sipping experience with its own Yalumba Wine Club. With a little something for seasoned wine aficionados and novices alike, the Wine Club lets you to tap into expert wine knowledge, exclusive offers and product specials, as well as to access a range of special events and tastings. And despite the swag of goodies that comes with it, membership won't cost you a cent. Sign up and you'll nab ten percent off select purchases in the online wine store and at the beautiful Angaston Wine Room, including plenty of those premium red wines that have become synonymous with South Australia's Barossa Valley. You'll also score exclusive access to a series of seasonal wine packs, chosen by Yalumba's winemakers. Order one of these bad boys delivered to your door, whip out the selection for your next dinner party and prepare to impress your guests with your newfound vinous smarts. Yalumba Wine Club members can also look forward to free shipping on online orders over $200, exclusive dibs on a bunch of limited releases and special wines, and invites to Yalumba events, including premium tastings and masterclasses held all over the country. You can sign up to the Yalumba Wine Club for free over at the website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
It's been a long 15 years since NSW beer-lovers have been able to crack open a tinnie of Reschs pilsener, that much-loved can affectionately coined the Silver Bullet. Producer Carlton & United Breweries replaced these venerable vessels with an arguably inferior bottled version in 2005, and fans have been mourning the loss ever since. But all is right in the world once again, with CUB finally responding to the public's thirsty pleas and putting the legendary tins back into production. From next week, Reschs Silver Bullets will be gracing your local bottle shop once more, reclaiming their rightful place in beer fridges across the state. What's more, the relaunched can has scored a tick of approval from the Reschs Appreciation Society — a crew of hardcore fans that was founded a decade ago and includes some of the Silver Bullet's strongest advocates. The new tin design features the same silver tones and map of NSW worn by the original, but with a more modern finish. There's also an added shout-out to the Society on the bottom of each carton. [caption id="attachment_778022" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Reschs Appreciation Society members[/caption] "We stopped making Silver Bullets 15 years ago because sales were down," explained Reschs Marketing Manager Hugh Jellie in a statement. "But the Society's passion has helped us realise this was a mistake." The new 375-millilitre Silver Bullet cans will replace the equivalent pilsener stubbies, but you'll still be able to get your hands on the 750-millilitre glass longnecks. The beer recipe itself remains unchanged. The Society is celebrating the return of their beloved brew with a live-streamed knees-up at Paddington's Imperial Hotel on Saturday, August 15. Access is for members only, but you can sign up for free here. Reschs Pilsener's revamped Silver Bullet cans will start rolling out from the start of August. Find them at your local NSW bottle shop.
Chances are, you know and love the Sydney Opera House. You've probably been inside, sat in those red velvet seats, politely clapped, and gone home by 11pm. But once a year, that all goes out the window. When Vivid LIVE rolls in, the much-loved venue transforms. Every room, from the majestic Concert Hall to the underground Studio, becomes a stage for some of the world's most exciting artists. In 2025, the lineup is a two-week invitation to broaden your musical horizons, discover your next obsession, and see the Opera House completely lit up. So, whether you're in it for the big names, the sweaty dance floors, or the rare gems you'll still be talking about next year, here's your guide to the best of Vivid LIVE 2025 – and why you won't want to miss a minute of it. For the Emotionally Epic Starting big and in an Australian exclusive, ANOHNI will deliver her haunting, multi-octave vocals alongside band The Johnsons for two exclusive nights, marking the final Johnsons band concerts in Australia. A few days later, you can settle in for Beth Gibbons (yes, the searing voice behind legendary UK trip-hop band Portishead), performing her debut solo album Lives Outgrown to Australian audiences for the first time. Both performances will be in the Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall, so you know it'll be a goosebumps-on-the-neck kind of night. For the Party Into late-night raving? Head underground. The Sydney Opera House's Studio is the go-to spot for sweaty, dance floor euphoria. Sydney collective House of Mince returns with a very special guest, the legendary Berghain resident Boris to keep the BPM high and the party going all night long. Trackwork will celebrate its fifth birthday with a genre-jumping party featuring Brodinski, Vv Pete and Utility. To top it all off, DUNJ, Barney Kato, Mad Racket and dstreet will deliver psychedelic, percussive and hypnotic underground electronic parties featuring guest appearances from global talent. [caption id="attachment_1002273" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Jordan Munns[/caption] For Something Intimate In the Utzon Room (the most intimate space in the Opera House) you'll find a lineup of rising and trailblazing local talent that's dialled-in, stripped-back and emotionally charged. ARIA Award-winning First Nations collective 3% bring uncompromising, powerful hip-hop. Then there's SAHXL, a 21-year-old Indo-Fijian Australian singer blurring the lines between trap, hip-hop and R&B. And rounding it out are commanders of Sydney's DIY punk scene G2g, whose loud, infectiously ragged energy will jolt your system. It's a rare chance to see some of Australia's most exciting new voices up close and personal before they blow up. For Something Different Over in the Joan Sutherland Theatre, things are set to get deep, weird and wonderful – just how WavyLand likes it. For its seventh birthday, the cult Aussie tastemakers are curating a lineup that jumps between genres and generations, from transcendent Thai-Swedish rap force Thaiboy Digital to boundary-pushing American hip hop innovator BKTHERULA. There's also Pale Jay, the mysterious LA-based jazz vocalist and pianist, performing a seductive blend of slow disco, lovelorn soul and Afrobeats. Marking only his second-ever live performance, he'll take to the stage with his signature red mask and honey dripped vocals, delivering a soul-stirring set that transcends genre. And on June 1 comes the first performance in 30 years from influential 90s British group The Sabres of Paradise. The Australian exclusive show will channel the energy of their legendary Sabresonic warehouse raves and honour the groundbreaking legacy of co-founder and DJ, the late Andrew Weatherall, all accompanied by a spectacular visual display. [caption id="attachment_1002272" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Jordan Munns[/caption] For the Vibe Seekers You don't have to know the full lineup to have a great night at Vivid LIVE. This year, the Sydney Opera House transforms its iconic harbour-side setting with the launch of the Forecourt Food Village — a vibrant, open-air dining destination offering Cuban and Korean street food from celebrated chefs Danielle Alvarez and Jimmy Ryu. Plus, the return of Newtown hospitality legends The Midnight Special to the Concert Hall foyer, with an ethereal late-night pop-up bar The Aurora, providing a lively spot for everyone (open to the public) to unwind between shows or after enjoying the light displays, as well as the sensory dining journey from Danielle Alvarez, a unique First Nations dining experience in a hidden Opera House location and special festival offerings across all four Opera House restaurants. And this year's 'Lighting of the Sails' is Kiss of Light, a celebration of visionary Australian artist and activist David McDiarmid, which will see the sails light up with a bold, technicolour tribute to queer identity. Whether you're seeing a show or just passing through, it'll be completely unmissable. As the Sydney Opera House's Head of Contemporary Music, Ben Marshall, said: "There's nothing quite like Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House. As well as gathering many of the world's greatest musical talents here, we're welcoming the vibrant communities that infuse our music scene with the sounds of Sydney itself." "This is what makes Vivid LIVE stand apart – experiencing this great range of incredible international and local artists inside a living work of art." Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House runs from May 23 to June 14. For more information or to book your tickets, visit the website. By Jacque Kennedy
Sydneysiders love a market, especially one where you can revamp your wardrobe. There's nothing like finding that new 'fit for your next night out. There's the thrill of searching through the racks to stumble upon the piece. Plus, shopping secondhand and upcycled clothing is more sustainable than buying your clothes new. That's why the Second Life Markets have become such a hit, not only in Sydney, but across the country. The beloved get-together of stallholders is back in the Harbour City on Saturday, March 16, but this time it's mixing things up, partnering with Machine Hall Precinct for a day dedicated to designer vintage threads. If you're after a Dexter Wong piece from the 90s, 2001 Stella McCartney, a throwback Balenciaga chimney jacket or a terracotta Acne Studios denim set, this is the place to be. You can wander through pop-ups from vintage curators including Qurated, KOT-J, Filter Store, Mari Maria, Feeber Archive and Sybistro, stumbling upon your next statement piece to impress your friends with. There will also be DJ sets from KUTA, PEA OH MA and Matthias. And, there will be food and drink stalls so that you can stay well-fed and browse with a bev in hand. The market will run from 12–6pm. The cost of entry varies but is $21 max and, in the sustainable spirit of the market, it's asked that you bring your own reusable shopping bags with you on the day. If you want to make a day out of it, there are plenty of quality spots to grab lunch before or a drink and dinner after you shop (if you don't spend all your hard-earned on cute outfits). Our local picks are 'Oti, Palazzo Salato, Cantina OK! or Cash Only Diner, depending on what you're after.
We're a long way from New York City's Lower East Side, but it'll feel a whole lot closer (for at least one night) when celebrated speakeasy-style cocktail bar Death & Co hits Down Under. The NYC team will be visiting three much-loved venues across Australia for a series of cocktail-fuelled dinners. Out to offer locals a taste of their contemporary drinks mastery, Death & Co's David Kaplan and Alex Day are swinging past Perth's Wolf Lane on January 29 and 30, before heading east to hit The Winery in Sydney on Sunday, February 2. They'll wrap things up with two dates at Melbourne laneway bar Trinket: a sold out session on February 5 and a newly added one on Tuesday, February 4. Launched in 2006, the NYC bar is considered something of a pioneer in the world of modern cocktail bars, having scored a slew of big-time awards, played host to a roll-call of bartending legends and birthed its share of now-iconic cocktail creations. Each of the Aussie dinners will see the team showcase five crafty concoctions, matched with five courses from the host venue. The tour's a collaboration with US label Aviation Gin, which just so happens to be owned by your good mate Ryan Reynolds, so you can expect lots of gin. There will be sips like the Have At It welcome shot, blending Dry Sack Sherry, gin, lemon juice and grapefruit, and the Trust Fall: a fusion of Aviation gin, pisco and vermouth, finished with lychee liqueur, raspberry, absinthe and Peychaud's Bitters. At The Winery, the booze is carefully paired with dishes like 'drunk mussels' done with gin, absinthe and tomato, spanner crab toast with stracciatella and caviar, and a deep-fried carrot cake to finish. While, at Trinket's dinner, you'll find the booze carefully paired with dishes like a wallaby tartare with Davison plum and gin jam, fried quail with Yarra Valley caviar, and a lamington-inspired take on a Magnum ice cream for dessert. Tickets to each event clock in at $95 per person (or $145 if you also want a signed copy of Death & Co's own book, Cocktail Codex). All that should leave you feeling pretty inspired to try out some drinks wizardry in your own home bar. Death & Co hits Wolf Lane at 321 Murray Street, Perth on January 29 and 30. Tickets are on sale now here. The Winery at 285a Crown Street, Surry Hills, on February 2. You can grab those tickets here. The pop-up ventures to Trinket at 87 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, on February 4 and 5. Tickets here.
Among the many topics and ideas sung about in Hamilton, the fact that life is about seizing chances is up there with the most pivotal and resonant. In 2024 in Australia, it's time to take that notion to heart. So, you haven't seen Hamilton onstage yet? You have but you're eager to catch it again? Don't throw away your shot — the smash-hit musical is returning Down Under in July, but only to Sydney. After that, it'll finish its Aussie run. Lin-Manuel Miranda's masterpiece initially made its way to the Harbour City in 2021, then went to Melbourne in 2022 and Brisbane in 2023. The Australian production also travelled to New Zealand, Manila and Abu Dhabi, and will hit up Singapore next. Following that is its Sydney comeback, where the biggest thing in musical theatre in the 21st century — and a game-changing, award-winning, rightly raved-about sensation — will make Sydney Lyric Theatre the room where it happens from Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Hamilton's Australian return was announced in 2023, but now it has been confirmed that Sydney is its only stop. Also new news: locking in the cast that'll take to the stage, including some familiar faces and a few newcomers. Jason Arrow is reprising the role of Alexander Hamilton, Akina Edmonds returns as Angelica Schuyler, Elandrah Eramiha is back as both Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds, and Brent Hill again slips on King George III's crown. This time, however, Vidya Makan will play Eliza Hamilton, Gerard-Luke Malgas does double duty as the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, Etuate Lutui is Hercules Mulligan and James Madison, and Googoorewon Knox plays George Washington. Also, Tainga Savage steps up from the original Australian company — plus the international tour — to taking on the parts of John Laurens and Philip Hamilton. Still new to this song-and-dance take on 18th-century American politics? Not quite sure why it has been the most-talked about theatre show of the past decade? The critically acclaimed hip hop musical, for which Miranda wrote the music, lyrics and the book, is about the life of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, as well as inclusion and politics in current-day America. In addition to its swag of Tony Awards — 11 in fact, which includes Best Musical — it has nabbed a Grammy Award and even a Pulitzer Prize. Until 2021, Australians eager to see the show had to be content watching the filmed version of its Broadway production, which started streaming via Disney+ in 2020 (and yes, it's as phenomenal as you've heard). If you're not feeling financial enough to nab a seat, cross your fingers that the $10 ticket lottery, which offers Hamilton tickets for less than the cost of lunch, will return as well. In March 2023, Miranda came to Australia to see the local production, calling the cast "so fantastic". "I remember seeing Jason Arrow's audition — it had to have been April or May of 2020, and it was around the time that we were watching and editing Hamilton for [the Disney+] release. So they were really stacking up against the originals in a very tangible way, and so we were really proud of the incredible company that we were able to put together from there locally," he said at a press conference in Brisbane "Every original cast is like a four-minute mile," Miranda continued. "They said scientists proved you couldn't run the mile in under four minutes, and then someone did it, and then suddenly everybody's running it — and I feel like original casts are like that. It's impossible to find that first cast, and then it attracts the people who know they can do it." Hamilton's 2024 Sydney season will play Sydney Lyric Theatre from Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Head to the musical's website for further details and tickets — with seats currently on sale for shows until Tuesday, October 31. Production images: Daniel Boud.
Aussie icons like the Big Banana, the Big Crab and the Big Pineapple will forever loom large in your childhood memories. But they might be soon overshadowed by the country's next giant side-of-the-highway landmark: the Big Milo Tin. After a social media callout last month saw 80,000 Milo fans scramble to throw their support behind the idea, the proposition has snowballed, and Australia is actually going to get its own super-sized homage to the homegrown choccy malt powder. If you're thinking, 'we don't need that' — well, of course we don't. The whole thing is a big publicity stunt to celebrate Milo's upcoming 85th birthday. The structure is set to be erected by Nestlé itself somewhere in and around Smithtown on the mid-north NSW coast, where Nestlé's factory is located. Milo has the go-ahead from the local area, and is currently taking suggestions for the structure's location. The town is just off the Pacific Highway between Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour — it's no doubt hoping to become a prime road trip pit-stop on the way up the coast. Although both Milo and Big Things are both integral to understanding Australian culture, we're not too sure about how we feel about having a big commercial product taking up space on the side of the highway. At least the Big Banana has a water park. If you really, really care about the Big Milo Tin's future, you can jump on Milo's Facebook page to throw your own suggestions into the ring. It's slated for completion in 2019, to coincide with the brand's 85th birthday.
Thought bingo was for your nan? Think again. Hijacking the traditional format of bingo and combining it with raves, conga lines and lip sync battles, Bingo Loco is 50 percent one of those strange dreams you get after eating too much cheese and 50 percent just a walloping good time. And it's returning to Sydney in partnership with DesignMyNight for its biggest edition yet on Saturday, July 10. This time around, a lineup of well-known comedians will take on MC duties, while confetti showers and smoke cannons go off throughout the evening. Plus, UK-based EDM and hip hop hero Example will be joining in the fun with a special guest performance. On the night, an anticipated 3000 bingo ravers will compete for ultimate glory (and prizes) over the course of multiple rounds — this is Bingo Loco XXL, after all. In between the traditional bingo games, you'll be expected to groove to classic 90s rave bangers, partake in dance-offs amd battle others for lip sync queen titles. Basically, be prepared for many high-octane, energetic activities — gone are the days of simply raising your hand when you've got a full sheet of numbers. Some pre-bingo muscle stretches and vocal warm-ups are well-advised. You'll vie for prizes, which in the past have included Coachella tickets, mobility scooters (nan, listen up), trips to Vegas and convertible cars among other goldmines. Bingo Loco has been running across the globe for a few years and is now in the middle of an extended Aussie tour, with show proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation Australia. Bingo Loco XXL will hit The Dome at Sydney Showgrounds on Saturday, July 10. Tickets cost from $65 per person and can be purchased here.
Twinkling fairy lights, hot melty cheese, mulled wine — and your own private igloo to cosy up in while you enjoy it all. If that sounds like the kind of winter scenario you'd like to snuggle into, then here's a pop-up you'll definitely want to make a date with. Following its 2022 debut in Canberra and subsequent sell-out events in Melbourne and Adelaide, the Raclette Igloo Experience will descend upon Sydney for the first time ever this winter. Setting up shop as part of the upcoming Bastille Day festivities, this immersive event will take over the rooftop of Broadway Shopping Centre from Saturday, June 29, to Sunday, July 28, serving up a healthy dose of charming Euro winter vibes. "Raclette isn't just a meal – it's a French tradition of sharing, laughter, and indulgence," says event director Vincent Hernandez. "At the Igloo Raclette experience, we bring that same warmth and joy to Sydney, allowing people to create unforgettable memories together while indulging in lots of cheese." Available to book for groups of six or eight guests, each of the igloos is named after a different French ski resort. The set-up is designed to transport you straight to some wintery wonderland in the heart of Europe, complete with faux snow tumbling softly from above. As the name suggests, the cheesy hero of this experience is the raclette, which'll be served up family-style at your table, ready to be spilled over traditional accompaniments like cured meats, boiled potatoes and pickles. A huge amount of cheese is being brought over from France for the occasion, with up to two kilos of the stuff to be set aside for each group. You'll even get your own raclette guide to show you the ropes and have you dining like a proper French foodie. Guests will enjoy a glass of mulled wine alongside with their raclette feast, although each igloo is also kitted out with its own mini bar full of French wines and soft drinks available to add on for an extra cost. You'll wrap things up in very toasty style, too — huddled around a roaring fire pit with your crew and roasting marshmallows for dessert. The Raclette Igloo Experience clocks in at $99 per person, with various day and night bookings available. Catch the Raclette Igloo Experience on the Broadway Shopping Centre rooftop from June 29–July 28. Bookings can be made over on the website. Image credit: BBR Group.
Most Sydneysiders will be familiar with legendary restaurateur Maurice Terzini's Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, a Bondi icon that has been a must-visit stalwart of the city's hospitality scene for more than two decades. And yet, despite being synonymous with Sydney's most famous ocean views, Terzini, who has helmed dozens of successful venues in Australia over the past 30 years, has become an increasingly familiar sight on the streets of Kings Cross and Potts Point in recent months. Spotting the renowned tastemaker strolling up Macleay Street — with his armfuls of tattoos and achingly cool fashion-forward wardrobe — could be reasonably chalked up to his short-lived but wildly popular pop-up Snack Kitchen — a laidback Italian-leaning cucina-cum-wine bar he co-opened alongside his son Sylvester on a corner plot set to be redeveloped into luxury apartments. However, it turns out that there's another reason behind Terzini's recent visits to the Glittering Mile. [caption id="attachment_967005" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] The restaurateur is turning impresario to launch an innovative new venture on Bayswater Road, set to welcome its first punters this spring: a 21st-century cabaret club developed in partnership with Peter Shopovski of queer party collective House of Mince. The dinner-and-a-show concept is aiming to rekindle the now-dormant glitz and excess that was once so essential to The Cross' identity, but through a blend of hospitality and hedonism that is firmly rooted in the now. Much like Snack Kitchen, Mirage KX will be a temporary "residency" within a building awaiting redevelopment. However, Shopovski says that while it may be here for a good time not a long time, the venue will help reclaim the area's status as the nightlife hotspot of Sydney — a reputation that was all but erased by the now-repealed lockout laws. [caption id="attachment_969835" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dean Tirkot[/caption] "Reviving this vernacular of nightlife in Kings Cross is important to me. It's about reconnecting with a vibrant history that once defined the area's identity and bringing that energy back to life," Shopovski says. "Kings Cross has always been a hub of creativity, diversity and bold expression, and restoring that essence feels like paying homage to its legacy. It's about honouring the past but also infusing it with new energy, ensuring that the spirit of Kings Cross continues to thrive and inspire." For more than a 13 years, House of Mince's collective of artists, DJs and rabble-rousers have created vibrant, unapologetic, joyously safe spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community to gather and celebrate. From Marrickville warehouses and Mardi Gras dance parties to residencies at Dark Mofo, Vivid and Subsonic, and even takeovers of the Sydney Opera House, House of Mince has set the gold standard for queer party events in Australia — so much so, that they are the official Australian partner of the mythically cool Berlin nightclub Berghain, presenting associated artists when they visit on Antipodean tours. "It's not just a show; it's a statement, a community celebration and a night out that champions the curious, the courageous and the captivating." While it might seem like something of a departure for Terzini to take on a live performance venue, the Mirage KX concept is a passion project that's been in the works for several years, building on previous collaborations between House of Mince and Bondi Icebergs during 2023's Sydney World Pride and this year's Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. "Maurice and I have admired each other's careers for years and there's always been a mutual pull towards collaboration." Shopovski explains. "Maurice's reputation for redefining the hospitality landscape makes him the ideal partner for realising the vision for this venue. Partnering with such a revered legend means a lot to me — it brings a depth of expertise and a touch of prestige that elevates the project. It's not just about combining our creative ideas but also about learning from Maurice and ensuring that every aspect of the venue reflects both [House of Mince's] bold vision and his unparalleled standard of excellence." [caption id="attachment_969838" align="alignnone" width="1920"] (L–R) Ché Daniel and Peter Shopovski[/caption] A night at Mirage KX will be an immersive experience, where the boundaries between hospitality and performance will blur. "Imagine stepping into a space where the energy of the House of Mince parties is transformed into a more intimate, yet no less euphoric, experience," Shopovski says. "You can expect a mix of provocative, boundary-pushing acts, sexy decor and an inclusive atmosphere. It's not just a show; it's a statement, a community celebration and a night out that champions the curious, the courageous and the captivating." To achieve this seamless melding of service and performance, Terzini and Shopovski have tapped front-of-house veteran Ché Daniel, who boasts stints at top Sydney diners including Restaurant Hubert, Billy Kwong and Longrain on his resumé. Guests can expect service that is polished and sophisticated yet infused with elements of the unexpected. Mirage KX will be one of the boldest additions to the area's nightlife in years, but a Kings Cross renaissance has been in the offing for a while now, in large part thanks to the efforts of Club 77's Dane Gorrel and hospo heavyweight David Spanton who saved treasured institutions Piccolo Bar in 2021 and Cafe Hernandez, rebooted as Vermuteria in 2023. Spanton has also channeled another fabled venue from Kings Cross' past at his latest venture, The Hook, a piano and oyster bar that, in part, pays homage to the Bayswater Brasserie — once one of Sydney's ritziest restaurants. [caption id="attachment_969839" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dean Tirkot[/caption] Mirage KX is set to open this spring. Follow the Mirage KX Instagram account for future updates. Top Image: Dean Tirkot.
It has been 21 years since The Offspring topped Triple J's Hottest 100 with 'Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)', a win that still ranks as the annual countdown's most controversial result to date. It has also been nearly four decades since the band first formed in the early 80s, and almost 30 years since it came to mainstream attention with hits like 'Come Out and Play' and 'Self Esteem' — but the Californian outfit isn't done belting out its catchy brand of punk just yet. Offering music fans their latest huge blast from the past, The Offspring is heading to Australia and New Zealand for a massive tour in 2020. No, it won't be doing that brand new thing, but rather playing all of its famous tracks — including 'Gotta Get Away', 'Why Don't You Get a Job?', 'The Kids Aren't Alright' and the song that's forever cemented in Australian radio history, obviously. Still led by frontman and guitarist Bryan "Dexter" Holland — the band's only remaining member from its initial 1984 lineup, so you can definitely call him the original prankster — The Offspring will hit up Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland in April. And, because one old-school band isn't enough, it'll have company in the form of Canada's Sum 41. Basically, this big tour is your excuse to pretend its the late 90s and early 00s, bust out the appropriate attire — retro sneakers are a must — and get the words "gunter glieben glauchen globen" stuck in your head for another couple of decades. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AltMeuPkWRs THE OFFSPRING 2020 AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES Perth — Sunday, April 19, HBF Stadium Adelaide — Tuesday, April 21, Entertainment Centre Theatre Melbourne — Thursday, April 23, Margaret Court Arena Sydney — Friday, April 24, Horden Pavilion Brisbane — Saturday, April 25, Riverstage Auckland — Tuesday, April 28, Spark Arena Early bird tickets for The Offspring and Sum 41's Australian and New Zealand shows go on sale from 9am local time on Friday, January 31, with general tickets on sale at 9am local time on Monday, February 3. Visit the tour mailing list to sign up for further details. Top image: Sum 41 via Selbymay for Wiki Commons.
When it comes to exploring Broome (Rubibi) and the Kimberley, we recommend packing your sense of adventure. This vast, varied stretch of country holds some of the most breathtaking landscapes and unique experiences in the world. There's ocean wilderness and colourful coral wonderlands, Aboriginal cultural sites and places of ancient, enduring story and significance. You'll see otherworldly rock forms, lush greenery and sprawling lakes, optical lunar illusions and sideways — yes, sideways — waterfalls. There's nowhere like it, and there are so many ways you can explore. Whatever way you want to adventure, we've got a standout spread of activities here to choose from — and a few ready-to-go trips if you're already packed and ready. It's time to choose your own quest out west.
With International Margarita Day landing on Wednesday, February 22, bars and tequila brands across the country have received the memo that it's time to celebrate everyone's favourite salt-rimmed cocktail and run with it. In fact, they've been marking the whole of February as Margarita Month. From free margs to multi-venue festivals celebrating the drinks, there are plenty of ways patrons can get in on the action. One of the more tongue-in-cheek promotions is a cocktail giveaway popping up at two of Australia's most beloved bars, Tio's Cerveceria in Sydney and Los Amantes in Melbourne. The pair of tequila-loving venues have both teamed up with El Jimador to give away free margaritas, but only to a select few. Playing on the longstanding tequila maker's name, anyone named El or Jimmy can claim one free cocktail. Just show your ID and you'll be presented with a margarita on the house. The promotion does extend to anyone with Jimmy- and El-adjacent names including James, Jim, Elle, Ella and Ellie. El Jimador has also populated a helpful map on its website to make sure you can always find a margarita around the corner. The venue finder shows partnered venues that you can hit up during Margarita Month for the cocktail of the moment. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Now, you can cycle all the way from Green Square to Central Station without having to shake off a dirty look from a single road raging driver. The City of Sydney has created a 2.4 kilometre long bike path, keeping two-wheelers entirely separated from four-wheelers; linking Zetland, Waterloo, Alexandria and Redfern. "It’s a really important route," says City of Sydney Cycling Strategy Manager Fiona Campbell. "Green Square’s going to see 40,000 new residents in coming years and those people are only fifteen minutes’ ride from the city... It’s going to be such an attractive option that I think lots of people are going to use it." In addition to functioning as a commuter route, the path will also serve as an arts-leisure adventure. "There’s the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence [at 166-180 George St]," Campbell explains. "There’s also Prince Alfred Pool at one end, a skate park in Waterloo and the City’s Library and facilities at Joynton Park, which it connects to." On Saturday, June 14, between 11am and 2pm, Prince Alfred Park will host a massive launch party, dubbed Roll Through Redfern. Australian Balkan Gypsy trio Lolo Lovina will provide the live soundtrack, the Veggie Patch Van will be selling gourmet delights and there’ll be pedal-powered smoothies, as well as free coffee (yes, you read that right, FREE COFFEE). You’ll also be able to score bike help without spending a cent — whether you need safety tips, route advice or assistance of the mechanical variety. Meanwhile, Green Square’s regular markets will be happening at Joynton Park between 9am and 2pm. Everyone who gets themselves a stamp either there or at Prince Alfred Park will enter a draw to win a $1,000 bike package, a Magellan bike computer or a bunch of Prince Alfred Park Pool multi-visit passes. The Green Square-Central cycle way brings the Council one step closer to the realisation of its masterplan — to ensure that Sydney cyclists can enjoy at least 200 kilometres of bike paths by 2030. "We’ve already got about 110, 120 kilometres of network, though much of it’s not separated," Campbell says. "We’ve got twelve kilometres so far of separated cycleways. The 200 is going to be made up of mixed traffic streets and shared cycle paths as well. A lot of it just needs upgrading." The statistics indicate that pro-cycling campaigns and infrastructural changes, particularly segregated paths, are making a big impact at road level. "Each facility that we open sees a massive increase in cycling," Campbell confirms. "Accounts of the Bourke Street cycleway, for example, show that there are five times as many riders on Bourke Street, near the Phelps intersection, as there were four years ago. Whenever we put it in a new cycle way, it just booms. People really, really want to ride. Give them the option to do that in a comfortable, beautiful, pleasant way, and they’ll be in there." If you’re curious about cycling in the city but still feeling reluctant to take the plunge, check out the free bike maintenance classes and cycling in the city courses happening every single week at both Sydney Park and Joynton Park.
Stay tuned. More info coming soon. Image: Mitch Fong / Lift Performance.
The local craft scene is slowly expanding into the mainstream, as the opening of Beer DeLuxe at King Street Wharf clearly demonstrates. Although, that's not a bad thing; until now, apart from the Red Tape Brewing Co., the area has been wholly devoid of craft beer. This is the fifth Beer DeLuxe to open — there are two in Melbourne and two in regional NSW — but the Darling Harbour outpost is their first Sydney location. With over 150 brews to choose from, not every beer is a win — Carlton Draught, for example — but, impressively, 20 of the taps are dominated by Australian beers. And more than half of which are Sydney locals, including favourites like Wayward Brewing Co., Young Henrys and Akasha Brewing Company. Sure, it's a bit gimmicky. There's a famous beer quotes wall and the beer garden is covered with AstroTurf, but any place we can get Brewmanity on tap gets a big thumbs up from us. If you're keen to check out some international craft, the Beer Bible — a manual which includes the history of beer and a description of styles — has beers from every well-known region across the US, Europe, Australia and NZ. Not a beer drinker? They've got your kind covered too, with a wine list and cocktails. If you're here for more than boozing, we recommend going for the 'beer food'; it's a drink in one hand, food in the other type of affair. The pulled lamb sliders ($14) and chicken wontons ($14.50) are especially tasty, and the Korean twice-cooked chicken wings ($14) are a must-try. Head in on a Monday for $6 schooners and Tuesdays for a $15 burger and beer deal, while live music Thursdays and Sundays will have you covered for the weekend. If you're seriously into your craft, check out the Beer DeLuxe Home Brew Heroes competition — the winner of which gets to have their own beer commercially brewed and available on tap.
A new Japanese spot is touching down at Barangaroo House this May, slinging Japanese snacks, sandwiches and bowls from the ground floor's House Bar. Rekōdo Katsu Kanteen is upstairs restaurant and listening bar Rekōdo's little sister. To commemorate its grand opening on Wednesday, May 15, the casual eatery will be giving out free sandos (sweet potato, prawn or chicken katsu) to the first 100 guests from 1pm. Headed up by Barangaroo House Head Chef Michael Dabbs, the menu spotlights Japanese comfort food. Standouts include the market sashimi with pickled ginger and wasabi, crispy eggplant with pickled chilli, and soft-shell crab baos topped with pickles and hot sauce. For something more substantial, there are options like bang bang chicken salad, wagyu donburi with wagyu tataki, and a wafu salad with your choice of protein. Of course, the main sandos are available in the form of prawn and crab katsu with cabbage and tartar sauce, pork katsu with an omelette and bulldog sauce, two chicken katsu options, and a vego-friendly sweet potato miso katsu. Rekōdo Katsu Kanteen will open to the public on Wednesday, May 15. Head to the website for more details.
If you've seen the Disney Pixar film Up, chances are this picture is causing you a bit of déjà vu. As part of a new National Geographic television series, How Hard Can It Be, a team of scientists, engineers and balloon pilots recreated the scene from the hit flick in which 78 year-old Carl Frederickson escapes the ennui of his retirement home by tying balloons to his house and flying far away. Ben Howie, executive producer of the show, said the team "found it is actually close to impossible to fly a real house". After two weeks of intense planning, the team was successful in using an enormous cluster of helium balloons to lift a small, lightweight dwelling with several people inside. Each balloon required an entire tank of helium for inflation, and the house rose to a height of 3,500 metres, remaining airborne for around one hour. https://youtube.com/watch?v=C71rb-4_bOk [Via NOTCOT]
Each year for 17 years now, Australian beer lovers have voted on their top craft brews. Only twice has the same tipple won not just for two years in a row, but in three consecutive polls. The first to manage the feat was Feral Brewing Co's Hop Hog from 2012–14. Now, Mountain Culture's Status Quo Pale Ale has also notched up the same achievement, winning from 2022–24. Emerging victorious in the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers poll for 2024, this Mountain Culture sip just keeps living up to its name, clearly. The brew from the New South Wales outfit in the Blue Mountains was anointed 2022's top drop and dubbed 2023's best tipple as well. So, yes, there is indeed a status quo among Australian beer drinkers of late — and it keeps being maintained. This yeasty poll does for beer what Triple J's huge annual music countdown for bangers — and while there's only been two threepeats in the GABS list's history so far, it sure does love repeat winners. In both 2020 and 2021, Canberra's Bentspoke Brewing Co did the honours with its Crankshaft American IPA. In 2022 and 2023, that brew came in third instead, then picked up fourth place in 2024. In second spot this time: Coopers Brewery's Original Pale Ale, taking over from 2017 and 2018 winner Balter Brewing Company, with its Balter XPA notching up third place — slipping down from second in 2022 and 2023. Gage Roads Brewing Co's Single Fin Summer Ale took out fifth spot, followed by Range Brewing's Disco in sixth, Your Mates Brewing Co's Larry in seventh place, Philter Brewing's XPA in eighth, 4 Pines Brewing Company's Japanese Lager in ninth and One Drop Brewing Co's We Jammin' to round out the top ten. Mountain Culture, which is run by husband-and-wife team DJ and Harriet McCready — and has boasted Australian cricketer Pat Cummins as its first investor since November 2024 — also placed 31st with its Cult IPA, 60th with its Be Kind Rewind NEIPA and 87th with its Scenic Route brew. And yes, it had more than a little company. 2024's hottest 100 was whittled down from almost 400 vote-receiving breweries, with 70 different outfits making the list. State by state, Mountain Culture was the best New South Wales brewery, of course, while Coopers was South Australia's top spot, Balter is the highest-ranked Queensland name and Bentspoke flies the flag for the Australian Capital Territory. Bridge Road is Victoria's top representative, while Gage Road and Fox Friday earn that label for Western Australia and Tasmania, respectively. Held by GABS — or the annual festival also known as the Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular, which returns for 2025 this autumn — the countdown is a people's-choice poll decided by booze lovers around the country. If you're thinking "less background, more beer", here's what you've been waiting for: the rundown of the best beverages from the past year that just keep tempting tastebuds. Working your way through the whole 100 isn't just a great way to show your appreciation for locally made brews, either — consider it research for the 2025 countdown. GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2024 1. Mountain Culture Beer Co Status Quo 2. Coopers Brewery Original Pale Ale 3. Balter Brewing XPA 4. BentSpoke Brewing Co Crankshaft 5. Gage Roads Brewing Co Single Fin Summer Ale 6. Range Brewing Disco 7. Your Mates Brewing Co Larry 8. Philter Brewing XPA 9. 4 Pines Brewing Company Japanese Lager 10. One Drop Brewing Co We Jammin' 11. Bridge Road Brewers Beechworth Pale Ale 12. Young Henrys Newtowner 13. Stone & Wood Brewing Co Pacific Ale 14. Blackflag Brewing Rage Juicy Pale Ale 15. Pirate Life Brewing South Coast Pale Ale 16. Rocky Ridge Brewing Co Jindong Juicy 17. Capital Brewing Co Coast Ale 18. Bright Brewery Alpine Lager 19. Seeker Brewing Mystic NEIPA 20. Hawkers Beer West Coast IPA 21. Akasha Brewing Co Freshwater Pale Ale 22. Beerfarm Royal Haze 23. The Grifter Brewing Co Pale 24. Burleigh Brewing Co Burleigh Bighead 25. Black Hops Brewing G.O.A.T. 26. Hop Nation Brewing Co J-Juice 27. Blackman's Brewery Juicy Banger IPL 28. KAIJU! Beer KRUSH! Tropical Pale Ale 29. Reckless Brewing Co BX Lager 30. Fox Friday Craft Brewery Hazy IPA 31. Mountain Culture Beer Co Cult IPA 32. Little Creatures Pale Ale 33. Balter Brewing Eazy Hazy 34. Coopers Brewery Sparkling Ale 35. Mountain Goat Beer GOAT Very Enjoyable Beer 36. 10 Toes Brewery Pipeline 37. Better Beer Zero Carb 38. Hiker Brewing Co Horizon 39. Bodriggy Brewing Company Speccy Juice 40. Little Bang Brewing Co Sun Bear 41. Helios Brewing Co Dionysus Oat Cream DIPA 42. Range Brewing Lights + Music 43. CBCo Brewing CBCo Pale Ale 44. Banks Brewing Cake Eater 45. Moon Dog Craft Brewery Old Mate 46. Shout Brewing Co Mullet Pale Ale 47. Capital Brewing Co Capital XPA 48. Bad Shepherd Brewing Co Peanut Butter Porter 49. BentSpoke Brewing Co Barley Griffin 50. Matso's Mango Beer 51. James Squire One Fifty Lashes 52. Heaps Normal Quiet XPA 53. Margaret River Beer Co In The Pines 54. Moffat Beach Brewing Co Passenger Pale Ale 55. Heads of Noosa Brewing Co Japanese Style Lager 56. Green Beacon Brewing Co Wayfarer Tropical Pale Ale 57. Feral Brewing Co Biggie Juice 58. Wolf of the Willows Brewing Wolf PUP Hazy Pale Ale 59. Hawke's Brewing Hawke's Patio Pale 60. Mountain Culture Beer Co Be Kind Rewind 61. Lightning Minds Pale Ale 62. Balter Brewing Hazy IPA 63. Bridge Road Brewers Bling IPA 64. Sunday Road Brewing Cryotherapy 65. Brewmanity Mouth of Melbourne 66. Big Shed Brewing Concern Boozy Fruit 67. Coopers Brewery Australian Lager 68. Balter Brewing Cerveza 69. Capital Brewing Co Hang Loose Juice Hazy IPA 70. Coopers Brewery XPA 71. 4 Pines Brewing Company Pacific Ale 72. Black Hops Brewing East Coast Haze 73. Stomping Ground Brewing Co Gipps St Pale Ale 74. Byron Bay Brewery Premium Lager 75. Range Brewing Dreams 76. The Grifter Brewing Co Serpents Kiss 77. Wayward Brewing Co Hazy Mid 78. Curly Lewis Brewing Co Bondi Hazy Ale 79. Yulli's Brews Amanda Mandarin IPA 80. Hop Nation Brewing Co Rattenhund 81. Gage Roads Brewing Co Hazy As 82. Blackflag Brewing Affinity Tropical Pale 83. Hawke's Brewing Hawke's Lager 84. Future Magic Brewing Co Hazy Shade of Pale 85. Feral Brewing Co Hop Hog 86. Dangerous Ales Crispy Boi Lager 87. Mountain Culture Beer Co Scenic Route 88. 4 Pines Hazy Brewing Company Pale Ale 89. Gage Roads Brewing Co Side Track All Day XPA 90. Pirate Life Brewing Hazy XPA 91. Fox Friday Craft Brewery Pale Ale 92. Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel Three Sheets Pale Ale 93. BentSpoke Brewing Co Sprocket 94. Burleigh Brewing Co Twisted Palm 95. Mountain Goat Beer Tasty Pale Ale 96. Shelter Brewing Co Hazy IPA 97. White Rabbit Dark Ale 98. Jetty Road Pale Ale 99. Dainton Beer Blood Orange NEIPA 100. Bojak Brewing Calypso For more information about the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2024, head to the GABS website.
Melbourne has proved its love for fried chook will probably never die, with new chicken joints opening up all over town. But there's a new kid on the block you're going to want to take notice of and its name is Pelicana Chicken. A fresh face for Australia, but by no means a youngster, the brand is one of the original masters of Korean-style fried chicken, having launched in the country back in 1982. Currently, there are over 2000 Pelicana stores across South Korea, with another 1000 iterations taking the rest of the world by storm. And, now, the famed brand has landed Down Under, opening its flagship Aussie restaurant on Franklin Street in the CBD. Bringing some bold new flavours to the game, Pelicana's dishing up 11 different fried chicken varieties, from a wasabi and honey butter dusting to the signature sweet, savoury and spicy combination, called 'Pelicana Marinated'. All the chicken is marinated for 24 hours before it's cooked. You can grab a half or full chicken, in either boneless or bone-in pieces, slathered in your choice of coating. Adventurous diners might even be tempted to leave it all to fate, with the 'mystery sauce' option. Other menu favourites include fried chicken wraps, burgers, and a marinated chicken, chips and salad combo dubbed The Aussie Chop. A fiery kimchi soup and tteok-bokki — stir-fried Korean rice cakes — lean a little more traditional. Hold tight for Pelicana's booze list to launch (hopefully) in April and you'll be able to calm those spicier sauces with something a little stronger than kombucha and coconut grape juice. Think, buckets of imported Cass beer, Mountain Goat and Asahi on tap — and a tidy range of Korean soju, too. Find Pelicana Australia's flagship store at 163 Franklin Street, Melbourne. It's open from 11am–11pm daily.
There are plenty of ways to enjoy a blast from the past, but stepping inside a museum is one of the most reliable. Head to the Australian Museum in Sydney right now and a trip back to Peru more than 3000 years ago awaits. For its big summer exhibition for 2024–25, the venue is hosting the Aussie-exclusive season of Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, displaying 134 priceless artefacts including the most-opulent collection of Andean gold that's ever left the South American nation. Move over Egypt: after the Harbour City institution dedicated the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024 to Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs, it's now time to wrap up one year and kick off another with a different journey backwards. Featuring jewels, masks and other treasures, some of which were found in royal tombs, this historical showcase hails from Peru's Museo Larco and Museo de Sito Manuel Chavez Ballon. To make the exhibition's six-month stay even more immersive, a virtual-reality tour of Machu Picchu is also part of the experience (albeit at an extra fee). Six cultures are in the spotlight: Chavín, Moche, Chimú, Nazca, Lambayeque and Inca. The array of items is also organised into six themes, taking attendees through ancient Peruvian societies' beginnings, religious beliefs and traditions, and the power wielded by royalty. Trade, agriculture, and Spanish conquistadors forcing their decline: they're covered as well. Sometimes, visitors will peer at gleaming body ornaments. Sometimes, rare ceramics await. From textiles to ceremonial tools, plus bowls to statuettes, the collection is wide-ranging — including in pairing earthy pottery tones with shining gems and metals (as well as gold, silver and gilded copper also feature). As for the VR, this highlight of the program is the first-ever virtual-reality 'fly-through' of the famous site, which won Best Use of VR at the Lumiere Awards. The experience will get you feeling as if you've been transported both back in time and to the other side of the world — not just via VR, but also 360-degree motion chairs and drone footage. The vision featured was recorded at the World Heritage-listed site when Machu Picchu was closed to visitors during the early days of the pandemic. Sydney is just the fourth place in the world to welcome Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, after the exhibition's stops in Boca Raton in the US, Paris in France and Milan in Italy. "Full of mystery and culture dating back over 14,000 years, Peru is a stunning land of deserts etched with ancient geoglyphs shown in the Nazca Lines, soaring peaks harbouring secret cities like Machu Picchu and awe-inspiring landscapes" said Australian Museum Director and CEO Kim McKay, opening Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru. "We invite visitors to uncover the extraordinary legacy of ancient Peru, by visiting Machu Picchu and The Golden Empires of Peru exclusively here in Sydney. It is a cultural experience right at the top of everyone's travel bucket list." Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru opened at the Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Sydney on Saturday, November 23, 2024 — head to the exhibition website for further details and tickets. Images: Cain Cooper.
If you've got a thing for libraries (and physical books), prepare to be very impressed by the inner west's newest public space. Meet the new state-of-the-art Marrickville Library and adjoining Pavilion. The community hub has made its home on the site of the former Marrickville Hospital, an area now going by the name Patyegarang Place. The new library houses a huge 85,000 books — 20,000 more than its predecessor. It's also three times the size. Aside from being a bookworm's oasis, the three-storey centre boasts a suite of high-tech extras and modern community facilities. There's be a cafe by Marrickville's own Double Roasters with indoor and outdoor seating, a collection of meeting spaces and private study rooms, and more than 1200 square metres of lush gardens. Inside, you'll find 26 computers and a dedicated technology teaching area, as well as a series of specially commissioned public artworks. The new-look build is the work of acclaimed architectural firm BVN and cleverly incorporates modern elements onto the heritage remains of the existing hospital building. It's sporting a sustainable design, with features like environmentally friendly warming and cooling, rainwater tanks, natural light and ventilation systems, and plenty of recycled brick and timber throughout. All these eco-friendly touches have added up to an impressive 25 percent reduction in energy use compared to the old Marrickville Library. It joins Sydney's growing list of shiny new libraries, with the six-story, glass-walled Green Square one opening late last year and the two-storey Darling Square one set to open next month. Find the new Marrickville Library and Pavilion at 313 Marrickville Road, Marrickville. For more information, head to the Inner West Council or BVN website. Updated: August 27, 2019.
From Monday, September 13, outdoor gathering restrictions in NSW are easing to allow fully vaccinated Sydneysiders to gather in groups of five outdoors. This means if you've had both jabs, you can meet up with your equally vaccinated friends and family to enjoy a picnic in the park. To help you celebrate this little slice of freedom, we've rounded up five of the finest picnic hampers available for pick-up or delivery around Sydney. And, if you haven't been able to nab a vaccination appointment just yet, we're all about treating yourself to a hamper anyway — and spending a sun-soaked afternoon with your household in your backyard, balcony or living room digging into the goods. [caption id="attachment_626153" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Stinking Bishops[/caption] THE STINKING BISHOPS Newtown favourite The Stinking Bishops takes selections from its far-reaching cheese range and puts them together with crackers and meats into hampers ideal for sunny days. Choose between the 3 Cheese Hamper ($65), Cheese and Meat Hamper ($95) or Ultimate Hamper ($110), all featuring mixes of different handpicked cheeses ranging from the soft and melty to the blue and stinky variety. Depending on which hamper you choose, you'll also be treated to the likes of quince paste, grapes and smoked wagyu. If you like a bit of mystery and surprise in your life, or you just hate choosing, you can opt for the Stinking Mystery Hampers ($50-200) which can include anything from cheeses and cured meats to bottles of wine. The shop offers delivery throughout Greater Sydney and free delivery for orders within five kilometres. Same-day and next-day delivery are both available depending on how far away you live and how early you order. SHERATON GRAND Throughout lockdown, Sheraton is bringing its indulgent high tea feasts into your home with a series of fancy boxes filled with cakes, meats, cheese and an array of next-level treats. On offer is the High Tea Box ($69), the Cheese and Charcuterie Box ($79), the Feeling Feasty At Home Box ($189) and the Picnic Indulgence Box ($125) — perfect for a stint in the park with friends or a Saturday afternoon at home with a housemate. In the picnic indulgence box you'll find a selection of seasonal fruit pots, locally sourced cheeses, chicken coleslaw sandwiches on house-made focaccia, pastries, roast veggies and charcuterie. To take things up a notch, you can add a bottle of Moet to any of the boxes for $50. Orders can be collected between 11am–3pm Friday–Sunday from Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park. Delivery is organised through Uber's Package Delivery via the Uber app. CENTENNIAL HOMESTEAD Located inside Centennial Park, Centennial Homestead offers picnic hampers for you to enjoy in the green surroundings of the inner city parkland. The hampers are $40 per person for a minimum of two people and come with a spread of dry-aged prosciutto, salami, pickles, olives, grapes, triple cream brie, vintage cheddar and sweet potato hummus. Alongside the cheese and meat spread, you'll receive your choice of sandwich from the cafe and a rocket, witlof, red cabbage, beetroot, grapefruit and orange salad, before finishing things off with a belgian chocolate mousse and fruit salad. The picnic hampers are available for pre-order via the Homestead's website and can be picked up from within the park. SYDNEY PICNIC CO Sydney Picnic Co founders Simon and Natalie Thomas pride themselves on filling your picnics with tasty hand-prepared food. Their picnic hampers range from $160–225 and come with everything you need for a memorable meal in the great outdoors. On the more affordable side of things is The Wind and the Willows pack ($160) which comes packed with marinated olives, spiced chickpea puree, buffalo mozzarella seasoned with lemon, chilli and mint, a couple of cheeses, a stack of veggies from charred asparagus to roasted beetroot and decadent chocolate brownies. However, the star of the hampers has to be The Secret Garden ($175), which offers up a spread of burrata with charred zucchini and shallots, vintage manchego, heirloom tomatoes and La Boqueria charcuterie, alongside hot smoked trout and roast chicken with kipfler potatoes and pickled peppers, and miso caramel brownies for dessert. Sydney Picnic Co is currently closed for orders but is reopening on Wednesday, September 15, so be sure to bookmark these hampers for then. You can order delivery to your home or chosen picnic location within the majority of Sydney's CBD, eastern suburbs, inner west and north shore, or you can pick up from its Surry Hills base. [caption id="attachment_696561" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Smallbone[/caption] BUILD YOUR OWN There are plenty of Sydney spots that have everything you need to tailor-make your own picnic hamper. Pick and choose from Continental Deli's list of canned goods, cheeses and sandwiches. You can even order yourself some canned cocktails to really complete the experience. Cornersmith has an abundance of pickled goods, relishes and cocktail syrups that will elevate any picnic, and offers at-home pickling classes so you can DIY your own tasty treats for your next park session. Or, Fabbrica has just about everything you could possibly need for a luxe spread. Wagyu bresaola, Ortiz anchovies, Pepus clams, house-made quince jam, blocks of gruyere, goat's and buffalo blue cheese and mortadella sandwiches are all available for delivery via UberEats. Finally, if you're keen to go all out (after all, you deserve it), The Star's at Home menu includes takeaway sushi boxes from Sokyo featuring 16 delicate pieces of fresh seafood from salmon to kingfish; ocean trout and snapper. Go all out and choose a selection from each. The sky's the limit when you're putting the hamper together yourself. You can stay up to date with the developing COVID-19 situation in Sydney, as well as current restrictions, at NSW Health. Top image: Anna Kucera
Budding pitmasters won't want to miss Meatstock Sydney – Australia's foremost festival celebrating all things barbecue. Taking over Sydney Showground from Friday, May 9–Sunday, May 11, this three-day event is loaded with succulent flavours alongside a smokin' hot program of live music and entertainment. Many of the city's barbecue kings and queens will be in attendance, with the likes of Smoky Sue's, Hangry Wolf BBQ and BlackBear BBQ serving up an extravaganza of low- and slow-cooked goodness. Once your hunger is satisfied, at least for the moment, it's time to dive into a grill-tastic event schedule. First up, the Strongman Championship will see some of the toughest men and women compete to see who's the most powerful of them all. For something a little more lighthearted, the Better Beer Dad Bod Contest & Beard and Mo War sees competitors show off their goods in one of the festival's favourite annual events. There's also the BBQ and Butcher Wars, where local and international pitmasters and butchers come together to share tips and techniques to improve your skills on the tongs. Plus, the Jack Daniel's Live Music Stage features performances from beloved acts that'll amp up the atmosphere, including Bliss n Eso, Illy and Furnace & The Fundamentals.
Subscription-based meal delivery services are hot stuff in Australia right now, with time-stretched folk jumping at the chance to minimise their nightly kitchen slog. And while the pickings have been woefully slim for plant-based eaters wanting in on the convenience, that's all set to change with the arrival of the country's first all-vegan food delivery service, Freshara. Already on offer in over 300 suburbs across Melbourne and Sydney, the newcomer works in a similar way to its carnivorous counterparts, delivering subscribers a weekly package of portioned meals — except these ones are entirely vegan. As an added bonus, all that packaging your food arrives in is fully recyclable. In addition to steering clear of all animal products, the sustainability-focused brand has skipped out on the preservatives and kept meals low GI, with many of the dishes also gluten-free. Freshara's already got a 40-strong menu of globally-inspired dishes, which is being added to each week, thanks to a kitchen team helmed by executive chef Troy Tam, who's worked at Rockpool and Fratelli Fresh. Expect the likes of jungle curry, fregola sarda with orecchiette, and a Moroccan chickpea and cous cous tagine. Subscriptions start at $119.40 per week for 12 meals, and meals work out to be around $9-10 each.
If you're starting to think hard about next year's travel plans, we've got a stay that warrants an extra stop on the list — and it's not a beachfront villa or five-star skyrise. South Island sheep and cattle farm Lake Hāwea Station is the only New Zealand property to have made Condé Nast's prestigious Gold List of accommodation options for 2023. Now in its third decade, the international publication's hand-selected Gold List consists of the international team of writers' favourite places to stay around the world. And, recognised for its eco-practices and luxe transformation of the farm's historic cottages, Lake Hāwea Station made the cut in the publishing house's Best Sustainable Hotels category. [caption id="attachment_882820" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thomas Greenway[/caption] We can see why — just 15 minutes from Wanaka, Lake Hāwea Station is the first certified carbon-zero farm in Australasia, offering travellers an authentic farm experience while they stay on-site in one of its four luxe accommodation options. In their notes, Condé Nast editors wrote that it was "simply, one of the most impressive, can't-believe-this-place-could-possibly-exist retreats you'll ever be lucky enough to stay in." "[The] property's true point of difference is its pioneering ethos in New Zealand's approach to cultivation and sustainability." [caption id="attachment_882821" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thomas Greenway[/caption] The farm has four accommodation options available: the three-bedroom glass-walled Lake House, the studio-like Little L tiny house (which comes complete with a miniature library), the simple two-bedroom Homespur cottage and the historic Packhouse cottage, which sleeps six. All houses boast stellar lake views, outdoor firepits, hot tubs and outdoor dining. [caption id="attachment_882819" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thomas Greenway[/caption] Owners Jussie and Geoff Ross received recognition for their renovation and transformation of the 16,000-acre property which they purchased in 2018. They were also recognised for the farm's focus on animal welfare practices, enhanced farm biodiversity and their work to slow climate change — including the planting of more than 100,000 native trees. [caption id="attachment_882818" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thomas Greenway[/caption] Jussie says that it's a sign of a changing travel industry to see a working farm on a list usually reserved for luxury hotels. "It shows that high-end travellers want to be part of a climate-positive experience," she said in a statement. "In an age of increasing demand for both climate action and transparency, Lake Hāwea Station immerses its guests in every aspect of their fight for the climate." [caption id="attachment_882817" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thomas Greenway[/caption] Lake Hawea Station is the only New Zealand property to be crowned in Conde Nast's Gold List for 2023. You can find more info about the station's sustainability practices — and perhaps book your stay — on the official website. Top image: Thomas Greenway
When the most famous and iconic performance venue in Australia gives itself a makeover, everyone should sit up and take notice. Everyone should make a date to go sit in its seats, to be precise. Obviously, Sydney Opera House is the site in question — and its largest performance space, the Concert Hall, is about to welcome back in patrons after spending the last two years undergoing a huge revamp. The Opera House has been getting spruced up for the past ten years, actually, as part of its decade of renewal project. The Concert Hall transformation is the final and largest piece of the puzzle. In total, as funded by the New South Wales Government, almost $300 million has been spent in capital works to upgrade the Opera House overall, all leading up to its big 50th anniversary. Plenty of events are planned to mark that occasion. The first, an Australian-exclusive season of Amadeus starring Masters of Sex, Tron: Legacy, The Queen and Twilight actor Michael Sheen, has just been announced ahead of the full program. And, that blockbuster show will indeed make use of the new Concert Hall — which is looking absolutely stunning. Wondering what's changed in the Concert Hall since it closed in February 2020? A number of things, although it remains one of the world's largest and longest performing arts halls, hosting 2600 people. While respecting the space's heritage, it has now gained state-of-the-art theatre machinery and staging systems which'll help broaden the range of shows it can host — still spanning everything from classical music and contemporary concerts through to theatre and more, of course. The acoustics have also been improved for both artists and audiences, covering orchestral and amplified performances. Getting technical, there's now 18 new acoustic reflectors above the stage instead of the old acrylic versions, all finished in a magenta hue that matches the Concert Hall seats. And, the space has gained special acoustic diffusion panels as well, which are key to balancing sound — and making sure it sounds true — for non-amplified gigs. Onstage, automated risers now assist the musicians in hearing each other more clearly, and there's an automated draping system that makes it easier to switch between orchestral and amplified mode — dampening reverberation, crucially. Also, if the stage looks lower, that's because it is by 400 millimetres to improve sightlines, and make shows feel more intimate. And, in the ceiling, there's a new theatre flying system. It helps fly a greater range of lighting and scenery, which means that the Concert Hall can stage larger-scale and more ambitious shows. Enhanced access for people with mobility needs has been an essential part of the revamp as well, including a new lift and passageway that ensures wheelchair users and people with limited mobility can access all levels of the Concert Hall (even the Northern Foyer) independently. Accessible seating positions have doubled, too, in both the stalls and boxes. If you're keen to see the results, the Concert Hall reopens to the public on Wednesday, July 20. Expect its calendar to get mighty packed from there on in. Unveiling the revamp, Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron AM said that the venue is "thrilled to be welcoming the community back to the renewed Concert Hall. Artists and audiences are set to experience world-class acoustics in a venue that is more accessible, safer and better equipped to present the full breadth of 21st century performance." "We have been working towards this moment for a long time and are incredibly grateful to the NSW Government and to everyone else involved in making this once-in-a-lifetime project possible," Herron continued. Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall reopens to the public on Wednesday, July 20. For more information, head to the venue's website. Images: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images for Sydney Opera House / Daniel Boud.
The OXO multicharger is like an executive penthouse for your devices. Technology enthusiasts can now charge their favourite devices in a slick and convenient home. It features a stainless steel bed that can house up to three devices. This bed is lined with soft ribs to prevent the device from scratching or slipping, and can then be raised in a swinging motion meaning that devices never have to be unplugged. Underneath there are individual cord slots which prevent any cords from tangling with one another. Then all you have to do is simply plug the device charger into the outlets, which accommodate for any adapter worldwide. A four foot power cord then connects the OXO multicharger to a power source. This is a helpful tool for those who remain forgetful about which devices they have and haven't charged. Now you can keep up to three of them in one spot, and ensure that they're always on full battery. This is also a good way to take good care of the pieces of technology that have been such an integral part of your life.
When bushfires swept through the Snowy Mountains in January 2020, Selwyn Snow Resort in Cabramurra sustained extensive damage. Unsurprisingly, the facility didn't operate during winter, spending the past focusing on clean-up and redevelopment efforts instead — and it has just announced exactly what's in store as part of its rebuild. A reopening date hasn't yet been set, but work has now started on the site, after planning approval was received last month. Also pivotal: the signing of a new 40-year lease between the New South Wales Government and the Blyton Group, the venue's owner. Accordingly, the resort is sticking around for the long haul, and it has big plans. That includes a new L-shaped Selwyn Centre, which'll house all guest facilities and services in one building — spanning ski and snowboard hire, lockers, ticketing, food and drink venues, seating and the kids club. There'll also be a new resort operations centre, where mountain staff will be based, complete with a new ski patrol setup. The staff accommodation will be moved, the chairlift will be upgraded and extended, and the snowmaking infrastructure will get a makeover. [caption id="attachment_802692" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Render of new Selwyn Centre[/caption] Also on the agenda: two new snow carpets just for perfecting turns — and, as part of a bigger and relocated toboggan park, another 150-metre snow carpet. The latter facility will also score a platform atop its slope, and the snow sports learning area will move into the toboggan park's former space, giving it more room. Mainly aimed at children but also bound to welcome the young at heart, a Winter Wonderland will join the resort, too. Taking pride of place will be a skating rink that can operate in all conditions, and also double as a bumper car arena. Visitors will be able to walk through a miniature enchanted village, and take snowshoe walking tours of Kosciuszko National Park. Strictly for the littlies, there'll be a tubing carousel and kid snowmobiles. Selwyn Snow Resort will implement a new ticketing system as well, when it's ready to reopen. Announcing the rebuilding plan, Blyton Group Chairman Kevin James Blyton noted that "in the aftermath of the fires, we committed to building a bigger and better Selwyn and we meant it. I'm very pleased that the long-term future of Selwyn Snow Resort has been secured. Selwyn Snow Resort has been the place for thousands of families to learn to ski or snowboard over the years and I'm very pleased that this will continue for generations to come". Selwyn Snow Resort is rebuilding at its existing site at 213A Kings Cross Road, Cabramurra, New South Wales. A reopening date hasn't yet been announced — head to the resort website to keep an eye on the project's progress.
Villeneuve, Denis Villeneuve: that's who is next helming cinema's biggest spy franchise, with the filmmaker locked in to direct the 26th Bond movie. The film doesn't yet have a title. If you're wondering who'll be drinking shaken — not stirred — martinis as 007, that hasn't been announced yet, either. But putting Villeneuve in the director's chair is an impressive development, especially given his recent track record. Since 2017, taking on big-name sagas has been Villeneuve's remit. It has worked spectacularly well so far. Accordingly, after Blade Runner 2049, then Dune and Dune: Part Two — plus the upcoming Dune: Messiah — he'll move into Bond's espionage realm. [caption id="attachment_763765" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicola Dove © 2019 DANJAQ, LLC AND MGM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.[/caption] "Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007. I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr No with Sean Connery. I'm a die-hard Bond fan.To me, he's sacred territory. I intend to honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also incredibly exciting for me and a huge honour," said Villeneuve in a statement "Denis Villeneuve has been in love with James Bond movies since he was a little boy. It was always his dream to make this movie, and now it's ours, too. We are lucky to be in the hands of this extraordinary filmmaker," added producers Amy Pascal (Challengers) and David Heyman (Wonka). Amazon MGM Studios is behind the new take on the British agent. Villeneuve is also one of the film's executive producers, as is Tanya Lapointe — with the latter also working with the former on his Dune flicks. Everything from there, including the movie's plot and cast, is still to be revealed. If you want to start wondering whether the Sicario and Arrival filmmaker might enlist his Dune lead Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown) as 007, that's up to you. Speculation about who'll next portray the character has been swirling since Daniel Craig (Queer) left the part following No Time to Die. There's no shortage of names being floated for the role by the internet, including Aaron Taylor-Johnson (28 Years Later), Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge), Theo James (The Monkey), Henry Cavill (Argylle), James Norton (Playing Nice) and Jack Lowden (Slow Horses) — and anyone else you can think of. Whoever gets the part, they'll be in excellent past company. Sean Connery smouldering his way through everything from Dr No to Diamonds Are Forever, Roger Moore stepping into 007's shoes between Live and Let Die and A View to A Kill, Timothy Dalton's two-film run in The Living Daylights and Licence To Kill, Pierce Brosnan's stint as the secret agent between GoldenEye and Die Another Day, Daniel Craig's contributions from Casino Royale onwards, Aussie actor George Lazenby's one-movie appearance as James in On Her Majesty's Secret Service: that's the Bond lineup since 1962. There's no sneak peek yet at the 26th Bond film, obviously, but check out the trailer for No Time to Die below: There's no word yet when the 26th Bond film will release, or its title — we'll update you when more details are revealed. Denis Villeneuve images: Raph_PH via Flickr.
Open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only, this Italian trattoria in Ettalong is where you'll want to sink into a cosy seat with an espresso martini and a grazing platter of European cured meats and cheeses. Create your own grazing board from the bar's antipasti selection from $14–32, from the 24-month aged prosciutto di parma to the soft, three-months aged gorgonzola from Lombardy. Or load up on side dishes like burrata and truffle oil, Ortiz anchovies, or sea urchin roe, all served with the famed sourdough from Osteria Il Coccia (around the corner). As it's local to Osteria Il Coccia, it's an excellent place to pop into on your way to or from dinner, but if you'd rather keep things casual there's nonna's famous meatballs with fior di latte and a range of mini cocktails to keep you busy. [caption id="attachment_776806" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] Classic cocktails and house favourites linger around the $17–18 range, plus there's a daily happy hour from 4.30–5.30pm with minis priced at $5.50 a pop. Those fond of a caffeine kick should look to the coffee cocktail menu; you can choose from five flavours — caramel, coconut, hazelnut, fernet or classic — for a drink made with onyx cold brew coffee from the Hunter Valley and either tequila, vodka or rum. Not drinking? There's a substantial range of no- or low-alcohol cocktails and sodas here, too.
Fifty years, oh-so-many epic campaigns, and everything from movies to video games, too: that's the Dungeons & Dragons story. 2024 marks half a century since the tabletop roleplaying game first had its players rolling the dice and spinning fantasy tales, a milestone that's being celebrated Down Under with the Australasian premiere of Dungeons & Dragons' leap to the stage. Get excited about DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern. Normally a trip to the theatre means engaging via watching, not by playing a part; however, that fittingly isn't the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern experience. Audience members don't simply view this version of the game — they also play along, choosing the characters and helping shape the story. Here's how it works, as Australians have been able to discover at the Sydney Opera House Studio since Sunday, December 15, 2024: when you take your seat, you're a key aspect of the show. Entering the Forgotten Realms, you also pick the experiences and other elements of the performance using Gamiotics software, with more than 30 playable characters, 34 backgrounds and 28 combat effects involved. Still on numbers, the production also features 40-plus custom character illustrations, 40 item cards and over 300 individual pieces of content. Five actors take to the stage to bring all of the above to life, including via games, combat, puzzles and riddles — and, because of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern's interactive nature, they're not just performing the same roles each time. Shaking things up for the audience and the cast alike, this experience is never the same twice. Images: Daniel Boud.
Sydney's ever-expanding Vietnamese chain Eat Fuh ended 2020 on a high note, opening a new store in the fast-growing suburb of Eveleigh. In honour of the Year of the Ox, this new store is gaining two limited-time dishes from chef, restaurateur and TV presenter Kylie Kwong and Eat Fuh director Hoang Nguyen. On offer is Nguyen's bánh xèo, a crispy, savoury crepe and Kwong's Long Life hokkien noodles. Both dishes are inspired by the creators' cultural heritage and created thanks to collaborations between family and community members. The egg noodles used in Kwong's dish were created by her Uncle Jimmy, while the sauce was made by Nguyen's mother and Eat Fuh founder Hanny Tang. Both dishes also incorporate native edible plants grown on-site at South Eveleigh's native rooftop farm that tie the food to the First Nations history of the area. In the bánh xèo, you'll find the native succulent karkalla and in the hokkien noodles you'll find native bush mint. The dishes are available exclusively at Eat Fuh, South Eveleigh for six days between Tuesday, February 16 and Thursday, February 25. Images: Kitti Gould
It's a big year for TEDxSydney this year. But, then again, it's always a big year for our local offshoot from the the global ideas-fest TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design). TEDxSydney is in its third year of bringing thinkers and listeners together on and near the Carriageworks' knee-toughening floors. It comes, as usual, in three parts: a cavalcade of awesome, expert and/or entertaining speakers, an audience of interesting, rich and/or powerful people paying to sit in the the main auditorium and the public at large outside, looking in. To facilitate that last role the Carriageworks' cavernous foyer is offering a simulcast of events live from inside the auditorium, giant bean bags and a character-building environment for your knees. This years'speakers include corpus-animating linguist Kate Burridge, shipping container roboticist Hugh Durrant-Whyte and World Herbivorist Angela Moles, not to mention music from the likes of part-time Whitlam Tim Freedman, the Stiff Gins and Katie Noonan. If you can't make on the day, check out our coverage on Twitter and follow along on the live stream on YouTube. Image by Daniel Boud.
In need of a foolproof cure for those Monday blues? Make your way over to Cleveland street favourite 505 for an evening of jazz and board games. This artist-run spot has something going on pretty much every night of the week but we're especially big fans of the Monday jazz and boardgame sessions. The in-house game selection is big enough to include childhood classics and new favourites, and your game-playing will be accompanied by smooth sounds by supremely-talented musicians from Australia and abroad. Throw in a few snacks from the Italianesque menu and a couple of craft beers, and Mondays might just become one of your favourite days of the week.
A stunning new dining experience has arrived in Sydney's inner west, courtesy of restaurateur Bill Drakopoulos (Ormeggio at The Spit, LuMi Dining, Ripples Chowder Bay, Chiosco by Ormeggio and Jardin St James). The Fenwick, a heritage-listed waterfront building, reopened as a cafe and gallery last week. It boasts sweeping harbour views, seasonal fare and exhibitions by local and international artists. The tiny sandstone space was built in the 1880s and was originally used as a tugboat store. Heaps of private development proposals were rejected before the building was finally acquired by the former Leichhardt Council in 2003 (now part of the Inner West Council), thanks to a campaign by local Balmain East residents. After a restoration that cost millions, The Fenwick is finally open to the public. To us, the space better resembles a chapel — think a pitched roof, exposed timber beams and large barn doors that open out to views across Barangaroo, the Harbour Bridge and Luna Park. At the simple yet sleek cafe, co-owner and executive chef Davide Rebeccato (Aqua Dining) is serving up modern Australian eats with a focus on seasonal dishes. For breakfast, expect scrambled eggs served on French toast and topped with prawns and eggplant; pulled pork breakfast burgers with fried egg and cabbage slaw; and poached eggs on sourdough with haloumi, mushrooms, avocado and kale. Apart from all those eggs, you can tuck into homemade granola with fresh fruit and berry compote pancakes with banana, coconut and pistachio crumble. More refined fare is on offer for lunch, including pickled sardines, burrata with prosciutto and figs, and jalapeño kingfish with tiger milk. Larger plates feature snapper tail served in a lemon and garlic butter sauce; fish stew with fregola, olives and capers; and wild mushroom and black truffle gnocchi. For the morning, the cafe is slinging Little Marionette coffee and cold pressed juices. Once the arvo hits, a specialty cocktail list will accompany lunch — it includes the Chamomile Kicker (chamomile-infused gin, elderflower liqueur, lime juice and egg), the Lavender Martini (gin, Amaro Nonino, lavender syrup and lime) and the Dark Chocolate Negroni (gin, Campari, Regal Rouge vermouth and dark chocolate bitters). Jugs of Pimm's Cup and rosé spritzes are also up for grabs, as are heaps of local and international wine by the glass and bottle. Level twos houses the public gallery, which will be open daily and offers regular exhibitions featuring local and international artists. Creative events held in partnership with other local galleries and community groups are also on the docket. Keep an eye on this space for upcoming exhibitions and events. The Fenwick is now open at 2-8 Weston Street, Balmain East. Cafe opening hours are for breakfast 7–10.30am and lunch noon–5pm daily.
One of the most universally liked and fabled foods in Italian cuisine, the pizza is both a simple and sublime creation. The birthplace of the modern pizza is the Italian city of Naples and The Argyle have wisely gone straight to the source for their new pizza-heavy Canteen menu, recruiting Naples-born chef Andrea Fontana to run the woodfired oven and source ingredients from the northern Italian region. Authenticity is a key word here, and the results are stunning — a significant upgrade for this always popular Rocks venue. Having had stints in pizzerias at home and in London, Fontana is passionate about bringing the authentic tastes of his home city to a Sydney clientele which has grown increasingly refined and educated in their pizza-loving tastes. Featuring fresh ingredients, the pizzas here are made on dough which is proofed for 24 hours before entering the woodfire oven, where it is cooked in just 45 seconds to give it that authentic melt in the mouth softness with gnarled and bubbled edges. Favourites on the pizza menu include the classic San Daniele ($18), with prosciutto and fresh, peppery rocket, and the capricciosa ($15), with the salty hit of the olives cutting through the tomato and mozzarella gooeyness. Fontana's own favourite, meanwhile, is the excellent quattro formaggi ($15) with gorgonzola, crecenza and generous shavings of parmesan as well as the famously creamy Campania mozzarella. It's an impressively creamy and rich affair, and has already been described as the best pizza of its kind in Sydney by at least one satisfied punter. While the pizzas are their pride and joy, there's also a range of Italian-accented entrees, like stuffed zucchini blossoms ($17), bruschetta ($10) and porcini mushroom and four cheese arancini ($10). Even the bistro staples offer a bit of a twist, with the Caesar salad ($17) including slow-cooked eggs and subbing out bacon and croutons for speck and house-made grissini in a bid to up the stakes on an often stodgy option. Of the starters, the house-made chunky sweet potato chips are particularly recommended, making good use of the often underrated vegetable's fluffy texture and slightly nutty taste. There are also some Italian side salads, like the insalata radicchio ($12), which nicely balances the bitterness of radicchio with slivers of sweet pear and gorgonzola. The familiar, dimly lit room with its exposed beams and casual layout are still intact, as is the well-stocked bar, which includes some nice wine options from Italy and France as well as locals like the Kiwi Opawa Pinot Noir ($12.50/$55). Aperitifs include an expertly made example of the drink that bartenders drink, the Negroni. Because too much pizza is never actually enough, you'll be wanting to double down on deliciousness with a Nutella pizza ($15) for dessert. Slathered in the rich hazelnut spread and topped with pretty sliced strawberries, it's an indulgent and fitting end to a first-rate pizza feast.
When Victoria's March long weekend arrives each year, festivalgoers have two reasons to head out of town — or head to the state from interstate — for a few days of tunes. Both are beloved parts of the cultural calendar. Both are such a hit that you need to enter a ballot to get tickets. And just as Golden Plains has already done, Pitch Music & Arts is announcing it 2025 details. Everyone should make the trip to the Grampians at least once, and here's as ace an excuse to do so as any: the return of the much-loved camping festival, which will host its eighth edition, taking over Moyston again. There's no lineup just yet — it drops on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 — but the 2025 dates have been locked in. The long-running celebration unleashes its fun across the Grampian Plains, with next years' festivities happening from Friday, March 7–Tuesday, March 11. Not only will its three stages play host to a sparkling lineup of local and international musical talent, as always, but the tunes will be backed by a hefty program of interactive art and installations. Basically, no matter who makes it onto the bill, attendees are in for a very big, very busy four days. Joy Orbison's 'flight fm' and 'better' have been used in teaser videos for 2025's fest so far, so that could be a lineup hint. 2024's roster featured Gerd Janson, I Hate Models, Job Jobse, Spray, XCLUB, Bambonou, Chippy Nonstop, Narciss, Mac Declos, Sedef Adasï and Hasvat Informant, among others, if you're wondering which type of electronic acts that Pitch usually welcomes. The ticket ballot is currently open — and is a necessity after the last three festivals all sold out — ahead of the program reveal; however, you can get excited now about a bigger Pitch One stage, Pitch Black getting a revamp and the Resident Advisor stage's red orb being part of the fun again. In between all the dance-floor sessions and arty things, festivalgoers will again be able to make themselves at home in the Pitch Pavilion, which is where yoga classes, meditation and sound baths usually help patrons unwind. The local-focused Club Serra will be new in 2025, championing homegrown talent. Pitch Music & Arts will return to Moyston from Friday, March 7–Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Head to the festival's website for further details, or to enter the ballot. The lineup will drop on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, with tickets sale details announced then as well. Top Images: Duncographic, William Hamilton Coates, Max Roux and Ashlea Caygill.
Perhaps your dog's happy bark or cat's "feed me" meow regularly brightens up your day. Maybe when you're walking around Sydney, you pay extra attention to any chirping birds that you can hear. Whichever fits, you'll be able to listen to quite a few more animal sounds in Barangaroo during this year's Biennale of Sydney, with the three-month-long art event set to host the Australian premiere of The Great Animal Orchestra. Some performances have spot-on names and this is one of them, with the immersive work by soundscape ecologist Bernie Krause and London-based collective United Visual Artists featuring noises from 15,000 animal species, all recorded by Krause in 1300 wild habitats over the past 50 years. Including sounds from tropical grasslands, savannahs and Arctic tundra, the piece is designed to take listeners on a rare journey into the natural world — and to get the audience not only appreciating the beauty and the intricacy of all of these non-human sounds, but to realise what could be lost as the planet changes. Keeping your ears peeled is just one part of of The Great Animal Orchestra, however, with United Visual Artists pairing Krause's soundscape with vivid visualisations. The imagery draws upon each animal's contribution to the overall piece, including critters from vulnerable habitats in Africa, North America, the Pacific Ocean and the Amazonas. Sydneysiders will be able to experience the results for free during the Biennale of Sydney, with The Great Animal Orchestra setting up at Barangaroo's Stargazer Lawn from Saturday, March 12–Monday, June 13 — but with timed and ticketed entry. Expect to have company; in its Paris season, the installation saw more than 200,000 people head along, while it has also proven popular everywhere from Shanghai, Seoul and London to Milan and Boston. If you're wondering exactly what you're in for, Krause, who has a history of working with The Doors and on film scores such as Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now, explains that "this is the tuning of the great animal orchestra, the planet's deeply connected expression of natural sounds and rhythm. It is likely that the origins of every piece of music we enjoy and word we speak come, at some point, from this collective voice. When we lived closer to the natural world, we sang as part of that animal chorus. Now we have a disconnect, we are not quite as healthy, vibrant or aware of the world around us." José Roca, Artistic Director of this year's 23rd Biennale of Sydney, described it as "stepping into a soundproofed black-box theatre whose walls spring to life with overlapping electrocardiograms, representing different species' sounds." Originally commissioned by commissioned by Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain (Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art), the installation will also include a shallow reflecting pool — "which translates the deepest sounds of the ocean," Roca notes — as well as cushions for sitting on while you take in the sensory experience. The 2022 Biennale of Sydney will run across the same dates as The Great Animal Orchestra, popping up in venues including The Cutaway at Barangaroo Reserve, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Circular Quay, Information + Cultural Exchange, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, National Art School in partnership with Artspace, The Rocks and Walsh Bay Arts Precinct including Pier 2/3 across the city. This year's theme, Rīvus, means 'stream' in Latin — and yes, that pool and those ocean noises give this certain standout a H2O-centric skew, too. The Great Animal Orchestra will run from Saturday, March 12–Monday, June 13 at Stargazer Lawn, Barangaroo — open from 10am–5pm daily, and also from 5–9pm on Wednesday evenings. Admission is free, but bookings are required. For further information or to register, head to the Biennale of Sydney website. Images: Mark Pokorny
Sydney's seen a few ball pits roll through in the past few of years. There have been pink ones in dessert 'museums', beach-themed pop-ups and pits filled with one million balls. Now, one of the CBD's underground bars is bringing back its own ball-filled playground. For three nights this January, Side Bar is hosting the ultimate adults-only Ball Pit Party. The party will run from 8pm all the way through till 3am every night across the long weekend of January 24–26. During this seven-hour event, the basement of the eight-story Pitt Street heritage building will be filled with over 250,000 glowing balls, confetti canons, neon cocktail buckets and a lineup of Sydney DJ favourites. Tickets will be available on the door, but if you want to plan your night of balls and booze ahead of time, queue-jump tickets are on sale now for $15.
The National Gallery of Victoria has just announced its 2019-20 Spring/Summer program — and it's sure to get more than a few people excited. Last winter, the NGV saw over 200 works from New York's famed MoMA and over summer it housed the Escher x Nendo: Between Two Worlds — an exhibition showcasing the works of both Dutch artist M.C. Escher and Japanese design studio Nendo. So, it had some big shoes to fill. Its summer blockbuster, announced this morning, is Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines — and the NGV has succeeded in bringing yet another world-class exhibition to Australian shores. Similar to the Escher x Nendo and 2016's Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei exhibitions, it will showcase an intersection between the two artists' lives, ideas and practices, delving into their radicalism, socio-political standings and distinctive imagery. A world-premiere retrospective exclusive to Melbourne, Crossing Lines will feature over 300 works, including Haring's iconic dancing figures and Basquiat's crown and head motifs throughout a collection of painting, sculpture, objects, drawings, photographs, notebooks and pieces in public spaces. The exhibition will also house the artists' collaborations with some of the world's most-celebrated pop culture icons, including Andy Warhol, Grace Jones and Madonna. [caption id="attachment_717213" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Untitled 1982, Keith Haring, copyright Keith Haring Foundation.[/caption] On top of this stellar exhibition, the NGV will also host a number of smaller (yet no less impressive) exhibitions over spring and summer, including a look at New Jersey artist Brian Donnelly (aka KAWS) in Companionship In The Age Of Loneliness, and a collection of hyperreal photographs by Sydney-based artist Petrina Hicks in Bleached Gothic. A photography exhibition featuring the works of over 100 contemporary photographers from around the world, and a solo show by Australian photographer Polixeni Papapetrou round out the list. Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines will run from December 1, 2019—April 13, 2020 at the National Gallery of Victoria International, Melbourne. Top images: Portrait of Keith Haring by William Coupon; Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, copyright George Hirose; Untitled 1982, Jean-Michel Basquiat, copyright estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat.
