The cult of phone culture has now evolved to the point of art, as the first ever film festival in Australia dedicated solely to smartphone films debuts in Sydney this August. The inaugural SmartFone Flick Fest, taking place at Sydney’s beloved Chauvel Cinema, will include among its finalists only films shot on a smartphone or tablet, all coming in at under six-and-a-half minutes long. The festival is a sign of the new trend in global filmmaking that was evident at this year’s Sydney Film Festival, where the acclaimed Tangerine, shot entirely on an iPhone 5S, was among the highlights. Theoretically, anyone with enough talent can now make a high quality film and reach a global audience, not just those with big budgets. Receiving over 500 entries from all across the globe, the festival will screen ten finalists from Spain, India, Indonesia and Australia and be judged by a expert panel that includes award-winning writer/director Serhat Caradee (Cedar Boys) and Jason van Genderen from the Pocket Film Academy, masters of the art of smartphone filming. “Our finalists’ subjects include everything imaginable from love stories to a dramatic interrogation, an Indian pickpocket, an unlikely superhero and a film about the love child of Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire,” said Angela Blake, who co-founded the festival with Ali Crew. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
The majority of people in Potts Point and Elizabeth Bay live in apartments — 98 percent, in fact — which means the Sydney suburbs are among the most densely populated spots in Australia. It also means that getting access to green spaces and a sense of community can be difficult. With this in mind, the Kings Cross Community Garden Group is about to start work on a brand new community garden, which will occupy 250 square metres in Lawrence Hargrave Reserve — on the rooftop of Kings Cross Car Park, to be specific. Plans include raised beds for veggies and herbs, worm farms, a tool shed and, for anyone who needs to take five, seats. Maximising the garden's eco-friendliness will be compost bins and a green waste recycling system. "We see it becoming a community hub, reducing social isolation and bringing residents of all ages and backgrounds together to share an interest in organic gardening," said Terry Chesher, a founding member of the group. "We've learnt that many of the residents are frustrated gardeners, keen to get their hands dirty." The site hovers about eight storeys above the street because the car park is built into a hill. "The garden will integrate with the reserve by visually connecting to the street and masking the car park vent, while still providing space for other park users," said Edwina Morris, landscape architect. The initiative has been approved by City of Sydney under its community garden program, which has seen the formation of 21 green spaces since 2009. The opening is planned for late 2018.
T Totaler is a light-filled, airy space stocked with teas playfully packaged in glass pharmaceutical bottles. Owner Amber Hudson has crafted a range of black, white, green and herbal teas that wherever possible use locally grown ingredients (including a range that is 100 percent Australian-grown), and she seeks to inspire others to be creative with how they harness the beneficial powers of brewable herbs. Fancy yourself of a delicate hand? Try one of her Alchemy of Tea and Blending workshops on the last Sunday of every month. If you're more into consuming, head on over on a Sunday for a tea and cake degustation, or on a Friday night for tea-themed cocktails. Chin chin.
Mona Vale has gained its own slice of inner city artsy-ness with recently-opened venue La de Da. Stop there; the word 'venue' doesn’t quite do this project justice. It's actually an art adventure, interior design extravaganza, live music stage, occasional dance club and off-beat eatery-drinkery wrapped into one. La de Da’s expansive canvas is thanks to a huge collaboration, involving four prominent arty and musical types: tattooist and interior designer Rick Vaughan (Four Tattoos), fine artist and graphic designer Paul Brabenec, DJ Marcus King and singer-songwriter Aya Larkin, who used to front Skunkhour and also co-ran Bondi’s Canteen Bar and Diner. The team have taken a beautiful historic building, located at 1725 Pittwater Road, and turned it into a cosy and romantic, yet quirky and electric visual feast. The space's bay windows, booths and corrugated iron roof have been given a modern edge with the addition of lush live greenery, dark wood and floral fabrics. And Vaughan, who's a serious traveller, has sprinkled his crazy international collection of objects, dolls, artworks and decorations all over the place. To add to the enigmatic atmosphere, lighting is kept to a low, falling here and there in shadowy pools. Amidst this eclectic design, La de Da is passionate about showcasing original art and music. Brabenec has brought his unique touch to the front bar, giving it a bright, abstract feel, heightened by the inclusion of several of James Ettelson’s bold pieces. In one intimate corner, Caleb Reid has left his idiosyncratic signature, while Wade Burkitt’s left-of-field portraits feature in the two main dining rooms. Live music is happening on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, as well as on Sunday afternoons, in a dedicated chamber-style room. The program spans all genres, from laidback acoustic originals and indie rock to reggae and Latin. Every now and again a local DJ will pop in to convert the primary dining room into a dancefloor, disco ball included. Plus, when there's no live performance scheduled, you'll be able to handpick your own soundtrack via jukebox. As far as the food goes, one of the most intriguing dishes on the menu is baked jalapenos stuffed with ginger cream cheese. Also tempting is the La de Da WOW burger; twice-cooked pork belly in Chinese spices; pulled pork poutine, with molten cheese curds, shallots and a light beef gravy over steak-cut fries; wood-fired pizzas and seasonal tapas plates. All in all, the emphasis is on fresh, locally-sourced produce, dressed up with international flavours. Drinks-wise, standouts at the bar look to be the Garden Martini (gin, housemade lavender syrup, yellow chartreuse), frozen slushies, cocktail jugs and a range of craft beers, including Little Creatures, White Rabbit and Newcastle Brown. Why should the inner west have all the quirky fun? La de Da, located at 1725 Pittwater Road, Mona Vale, is open for dinner and drinks Tuesday to Friday, between 5.30pm and 12am; Saturday, between 4.30pm and 12am; and Sunday, between midday and 11pm.
For the eighth time, Golden Plains Festival is coming back to the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, and the ballot is open today. 2014's festival goes down from March 8-10 and has announced that the headliner will be none other than the hip hop megastars Public Enemy. The festival is all about a chilled long weekend of camping, picnicking, watching bands and generally loving life. Last year featured the likes of Cat Power, Flume and the legendary George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic. Golden Plains Festival promises to be a haven away from your more traditional festivals. No crummy stores, no corporate sponsors and especially no dickheads (they maintain a self-policing 'Dickhead' Policy). You take your own booze, you camp wherever you want and spend the weekend as if you were living in a weird and lovely commune. As per previous years, tickets are being sold in four ways, the first being the ballot. The first round is for existing subscribers, and entries close October 21. Non-subscribers have until October 28. Public sales in selected stores open on November 7, and online sales open on November 8. Each ticket costs $319, plus booking fee and postage. The ticket gets you in on Saturday, gives you free parking and camping, and gets you out again on Monday. So get yourself into the ballot, and don't forget appropriate footwear.
When Meryl Streep joined the cast of Only Murders in the Building, whether she'd prove a hit in the murder-mystery comedy was hardly a puzzle to solve. Indeed, the acclaimed actor slipped right into the show's third season like she'd always been there. And, she's coming back in season four to do it all again. Only Murders in the Building was renewed for its fourth season back in late 2023, and now casting details are being revealed. Yes, Selena Gomez (The Dead Don't Die) is back as Mabel Mora, as are Martin Short (Schmigadoon!) as Oliver Putnam and Steve Martin (It's Complicated) as Charles-Haden Savage. As just announced, so is Streep (Don't Look Up), while Saturday Night Live great Molly Shannon is also joining the series as well. As per The Hollywood Reporter, Streep and Shannon will have recurring roles in the new season, which will start with its main trio enjoying a trip to Los Angeles. But they're not leaving The Arconia, the show's main setting, behind. There's already been a fourth murder there at the end of last batch of episodes, giving the crew something to investigate after 2021's season one (aka one of the best new shows of that year), 2022's season two (aka one of the best returning shows of that year, too) and 2023's season three (again, one of that year's best returning efforts). The series started with three residents of the same New York apartment building crossing paths after a murder in their building — hence the title — then bonding over true-crime podcasts. Next, they did what everyone that's jumped on that bandwagon knows they would if they were ever in the same situation, starting their own audio series that's also called Only Murders in the Building. That's how season one kicked off — and continued, proving a warm, funny, smart and savvy series at every step along the way. In the show's second season, another death needed looking into. That time, it was someone the main trio were all known not to be that fond of, so suspicions kept pointing in their direction. Indeed, every season, another death has given aspiring artist Mabel, Broadway producer Oliver and actor Charles-Haden another case to dive into. In season three, that involved discovering who caused actor Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem) to shuffle off this mortal coil at the opening night of Oliver's latest show. Streep plays Loretta Durkin, another thespian, who scored her big theatre break in the same production in season three — and became a love interest for Oliver. Shannon (The Other Two) will play an LA businesswoman who gets drawn into season four's mystery, Variety reports. There's no sneak peek at season four as yet, but you can check out the full trailer for Only Murders in the Building season three below: Only Murders in the Building streams Down Under via Star on Disney+. Read our reviews of season one, season two and season three. Images: Hulu. Via The Hollywood Reporter / Variety.
Our Flag Means Death might be no more, after the pirate rom-com was cancelled after two seasons, but getting giggling at Rhys Darby is still on the agenda. The New Zealand comedian has hardly been away from the screen for more than 15 years, ever since Flight of the Conchords became one of HBO's best-ever sitcoms, so he's been inspiring laughs for years. For the first time in nearly a decade, however, he's returning to the stand-up stage — and he's coming to Australia. Fans can expect gags about AI, robots, dads wearing tight jeans and more — and the mix of absurdity and insights that have always marked Darby's brand of comedy — when The Legend Returns tour plays Sydney's Enmore Theatre across Thursday, April 24–Friday, April 25. [caption id="attachment_915747" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Our Flag Means Death, Nicola Dove[/caption] Between calling band meetings on Flight of the Conchords and finding love while swashbuckling on Our Flag Means Death, his career has spanned everything from The X-Files, A Series of Unfortunate Events and Wellington Paranormal to Sweet Tooth, SpongeBob SquarePants and Monsters at Work on the small screen. On the big screen, Darby has also been a frequent presence, thanks to The Boat That Rocked, What We Do in the Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Jumanji: The Next Level, Uproar, Next Goal Wins and plenty more. [caption id="attachment_980410" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gage Skidmore via Flickr[/caption]
Based on Eric Lomax's bestselling memoir, The Railway Man is the story of a former prisoner's struggle to come to terms with the horror of his time being forced to work on the Thai/Burma railway during World War II. Set to be released in Australia on Boxing Day, The Railway Man boasts a stellar cast, including Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman, Stellan Skarsgård and Jeremy Irvine and is directed by Australian Jonathan Teplitzky, who's 2011 film Burning Man made a big impression. After the war, Lomax returned home and fell in love with Patti. However, he continues to be haunted by the memories of torture at the hands of a particular Japanese officer who discovers the radio that Lomax has built. When, years later, Patti discovers that her husband's tormentor is still alive, she must decide whether or not she should tell her husband, and what the consequences of her decision might be. Thanks to Transmission Films, we've got five double passes to a special preview screening of The Railway Man at the newly renovated Palace Cinemas Norton Street on Monday, December 16, at 6.45pm to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address. https://youtube.com/watch?v=px04904hm88
Fuel up for a tough day's work without spending a cent, as Chargrill Charlie's celebrates National Tradie Day with a hard yakka giveaway. Up for grabs from 9am on Friday, September 19, the first 50 tradies at each store location dressed in hi-vis or work gear will score a free roll of their choice, alongside regular chips and a 600ml drink. There's just one catch — you have to say "Tools Down. Rolls Up." So, whether you're a dunny diver, a chippy or a brickie, skip the servo pie and iced coffee for something a little more filling. With Chargrill Charlie's locations in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane involved, this one-time freebie is your chance to be rewarded for your dedication to the tools.
When you're a major literary showcase, you're dedicated to not only celebrating words but examining the topical ideas they discuss, and you've weathered the considerable pandemic-inspired ups and downs that every event has over the past two years, what do you focus your next big fest on? If you're Sydney Writers' Festival, you embrace the chaos and uncertainty that's been inescapable of late — all thanks to a whopping 2022 program on the theme 'Change My Mind'. As Artistic Director Michael Williams explains, this year's SWF "is underpinned by a sense of urgency and a dedication to change. It is a response to a world where public debate is increasingly polarised and toxic." "Change My Mind is an invitation, a challenge and a promise of intent. Because uncertain times — a world divided and ruptured, at odds and in crisis — requires a willingness to be open-minded, and a commitment to generosity and reciprocity," Williams continues. That's what SWF will be skewed towards when it runs across Monday, May 16–Sunday, May 22, hosting almost 400 writers and thinkers across 234 events around the city. And, that theme for the year is particularly timely, too, given that the event will also likely take place either during or just after the federal election. Taking to stage to get chatting: The Promise Booker Prize-winner Damon Galgut, To Paradise's Hanya Yanagihara, and Becoming Abolitionists writer — and human rights lawyer and activist — Derecka Purnell, who lead the international contingent of guests. All three will be heading to Sydney in-person, in fact. Other global speakers will do the honours via livestream, which is how Rebecca Solnit (Orwell's Roses), Art Spiegelman (Maus) and Jennifer Egan (The Candy House) join the bill, alongside Claudia Rankine (Just Us), Julian Barnes (Elizabeth Finch), Sarah Winman (Still Life), Torrey Peters (Detransition, Baby) and Johann Hari (Stolen Focus), A trio of overseas-based Aussies will be doing the same: Warren Ellis, chatting about Nina Simone's Simone's Gum, and video-linking in ahead of his Australian tour with Nick Cave later in the year, plus Yassmin Abdel-Magied (Talking About A Revolution) and Steve Toltz (Here Goes Nothing). Other highlights include Ali Cobby Eckermann (Inside My Mother), Jackie Huggins (Sister Girl) and Nardi Simpson (Song of the Crocodile) opening the fest at Sydney Town Hall; Chloe Hooper (Bedtime Story) doing the closing night address at Carriageworks; and the return of the dual-author Aussie spotlights — pairing Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers' Liane Moriarty with Caroline Overington, Brendan Cowell with Boy Swallows Universe's Trent Dalton, and Clementine Ford with Bridie Jabour, for instance. Or, word nerds can head to a gala session about using storytelling to change minds, enjoy a song-filled literary night about the finest musical adaptations never made, but up the club stage at Carriageworks — complete with The Literary Death Match, Queerstories, and a Nakkiah Lui-hosted session on radical and rebellious storytellers — and soak in the politics-focused Party Room Live with Barrie Cassidy, Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas. Free events are a big part of the program as well, with almost a quarter of the entire lineup costing zip to attend. And if you're wondering where you're heading, the venue list also includes City Recital Hall, Riverside Theatres, and 26 suburban venues and libraries across the Sydney. Sydney Writers' Festival runs at various venues across Sydney from Monday, May 16–Sunday, May 22 Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, March 25 via www.swf.org.au. Images: Prudence Upton.
Already scheduled to headline Listen Out 2013, dance music's brothers-of-the-moment have just announced that they'll be gracing us with sideshows in both Sydney and Melbourne. Over the past 12 months, the UK-born and raised siblings have emerged from their bedrooms to dominate the dance charts and sell out international tours. That's especially impressive given that the youngest of the two, Howard (18), is only just out of school uniform and his brother, Guy, recently celebrated his 21st. Not only have party-goers been keeping the boys on high rotation, they've also won a few critics' (often hardened) hearts. The ever-revered Pitchfork awarded Disclosure's debut album, Settle, with a whopping 9.1/10, while UK radio host Zane Lowe described it as his "favourite album of the year so far". Featuring a selection of guest vocalists (including Ed McFarlane of Friendly Fires, Jamie Woon, Jessie Ware and AlunaGeorge's Aluna Francis), Settle represents a move towards balancing the duo's two major stylistic influences: dance and pop. "The main thing we tried to do with it is get a mixture of the more clubbier sides of the music we do with the more sample based stuff that's made for the dance floor and then kinda the other side of it, which is the more pop structured songs with vocals," Howard told the Listen Out team in a recent interview. "We wanted to take a balance between those things." Sydneysiders will be able to catch Disclosure on October 1 at an all-ages show at The Hi-Fi, and Melbournites will see them at the Prince Bandroom, Prince of Wales, on October 2, with an early show (5.30-8.30pm) catering for under-18s and a later one (10pm-1am) keeping the oldies on their feet. https://youtube.com/watch?v=4nsKDJlpUbA
Spring's well and truly here and, thanks to NSW Government's 'treat' for fully vaccinated people who don't live in LGAs of concern, we can kick back with four (also fully vaxxed) mates from Monday, September 13. After months of staring at our own four walls, we're sure that a leisurely afternoon with friends is just what the doctor ordered. So, to help you make the most of the sunshine and good times ahead, we've whipped up a little picnic prize for inoculated Sydneysiders. We've teamed up with Rosie Spritz to put together 20 exclusive and oh-so-chic picnic sessions for you and four friends this spring. Kicking off on Saturday, September 17 and happening every weekend until Sunday, October 17, each professionally styled picnic session will run for two hours and include everything you need for a leisurely afternoon in the park. Your lavish basket will be filled to the brim with cheese and charcuterie boards by way of Platter Up, as well as some Rosie Rosé Spritzes, which will be served on ice and topped with fresh raspberries. Your picnic set-up will be luxe, too, with everything from plush pillows and beach umbrellas to picnic blankets and low tables. You and your four picnic pals will also score four-packs of Rosie's brand-new spritz flavours, Rosie Elderflower and Rosie Prosecco Rosé, which are set to hit the shelves in early October. [caption id="attachment_826170" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brooke Zotti[/caption] If you live in Sydney's eastern suburbs, you could be sipping, snacking and soaking up the sun in Centennial Park on September 18–19 and October 9–10, or Rushcutters Bay Park on October 2–3. If you live in the inner west, your park-in-proximity will be Camperdown Memorial Rest Park on September 25–26. And for those who live in or near the inner city, you can opt to win a session at Mrs Macquarie's Chair in the Royal Botanic Garden on October 16–17. No matter which park you're heading to, there'll be two sittings — 11.30am–1.30pm and 2.30–4.30pm — on the day. Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, location and time slot will be appointed with consideration of winners' residential address and availability. If none of the aforementioned parks are in your LGA, you can check if any are within your five-kilometre bubble. Of course, all picnic sessions will run in accordance with NSW Government requirements, which means, should you win, you and your mates will need to bring along your ID and proof of double-vaccination. And because these crazy times require, there'll be hand sanitiser and face masks available on site, plus cleaning between picnic sessions. Keen to kick back with a spritz with four of your mates? Enter details below to go in the running. [competition]824768[/competition] Images: Brooke Zotti Remember to Drinkwise.
With graceful, repurposed trolleys and plays in your lounge room, Art & About is making us rethink the familiar. And what's more familiar than everyone's favourite leafy, cafe-on-every-corner suburb of Surry Hills? Mei Tsering's The Hungry Ghost Walk is an immersive theatre app that will open your eyes to a few things about the suburb that was more slum than style in the early 1900s. After downloading the free app on a smartphone and heading to start point Bourke Street Bakery, individual theatre adventurers are introduced to a sleep-deprived Eddie, who is curious to unearth a troubling family mystery. Eddie finds out more about his Chinese ancestry and tries to feed his Hungry Ghost, and with every step, rarely told stories are uncovered about the early Chinese community who called Surry Hills home. Relying on a gripping soundscape by Nick Wishart, The Hungry Ghost Walk app uses binaural technology, meaning you'll hear things from all directions, so a good set of headphones is a must. Post-play pins and needles from sitting still for two hours are likely to be avoided here, but sensible shoes would be, well, sensible. The app also features graphics by world-conquering Sydney artist Matt Huynh and the voice work of actors Charles Wu, Odile Le Clezio and Gabrielle Chan, directed by Susanna Dowling (Girl in Tan Boots). Leave behind the incessant whisperers and loud laughers who annoy you at the theatre, and prepare yourself for a sensory adventure solo. The Hungry Ghost Walk is now available for free download from the iTunes App Store or Google Play for Android. Art & About is on until October 12, though The Hungry Ghost Walk will live on after. Top image by Newtown grafitti via photopin cc.
Not familiar with the ever-growing craze of the 'bush doof'? Let us explain. A bush doof is a festival/dance party/rave held in a remote location — so yes, essentially 'doofing' in the bush. And Subsonic is one particular festival gaining momentum, fast. Dedicated to all things beat and bass, Subsonic is set against the picturesque surrounds of Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort, only three hours north of Sydney. Three days of music and camping, Subsonic is a lifestyle festival bringing together a stellar lineup of local and international artists in a uniquely unconventional environment. This year sees the UK's James Holden and Addison Groove headlining with French Wu-Dubs founder Alexkid, broody Swiss club master Eli Verveine and more. Oh and although the Festival grounds are licensed, BYO is permitted at campsites — a perk lacking at other major festivals.
If Uluru's stunning Field of Light installation doesn't already have you planning a trip to the centre of the country, then the latest news out of the Northern Territory might — Litchfield Adventure Park, the NT's most popular national park, is getting a $12.1 million makeover. As part of the facelift announced by the NT Government, new areas of the 1500 square kilometre park will be opened up to visitors, including five new swimming spots and waterfalls, 40 kilometres of new four-wheel drive tracks and three new campgrounds. Established as a national park in 1986, Litchfield is located 120 kilometres south-east from Darwin, and is a particularly popular spot for day-trippers. Indeed, it's the Top End's most popular national park, attracting almost 370,000 visitors a year. The new addition — in the park's north, as reported by the ABC — expected to increase that number by 60,000 annually. At present, there's plenty at Litchfield to entice visitors anyway, including existing swimming holes, camping spots, picnic grounds, bushwalking tracks, scenic lookouts and more. A highlight for adventurous trekkers is the 39-kilometre Tabletop Track, which takes up to five days to complete, with camp sites along the way. For more information about Litchfield Adventure Park, visit the park's website.
In A Wrinkle in Time, a giant-sized Oprah towers over the world like a goddess, arching her bejewelled eyebrows, wearing glittering outfits and dispensing advice. Mindy Kaling offers wisdom in quote form, cribbing as much from age-old sages as current popular culture. Meanwhile, Reese Witherspoon is full of goofiness and good cheer — when she's not turning into a flying lettuce leaf. With names like Mrs. Which, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Whatsit, the three actresses play magical beings intent on helping 13-year-old Meg Murry (Storm Reid) find her missing astrophysicist father (Chris Pine). They're also pivotal to this fantastical film. Make no mistake: A Wrinkle in Time is Meg's movie. Based on the 1962 novel of the same name, it's the story of a girl who's not only uncertain in her own skin, but is uncertain about her place in the world since her dad disappeared. When the three Mrs arrive in her life — claiming to know where her father is and eager to spirit her away to a parallel dimension — Meg is instantly wary, even when her super-smart younger brother (Deric McCabe) tries to quell her fears. Meg has other things on her mind as well: she's being bullied by the girl next door (Rowan Blanchard), particularly about her hair, and she's not quite sure why her cute classmate (Levi Miller) suddenly wants to be her friend. Still, she's intrigued by her new celestial pals (as odd and otherworldly as they clearly seem), largely because they're also so sincere and genuine. That's the kind of film that Meg and the Mrs are in, after all: earnest from start to finish, and unashamed to wear its heart on its sleeves and every other piece of multi-coloured clothing in sight. It's the type of movie that really isn't made all that often these days — a movie that owns its brand of sentimental optimism, doesn't try to be anything else, and doesn't really try to appeal to adults either. While A Wrinkle in Time has garnered significant attention thanks to its high-profile stars, it's ultimately an upbeat and affectionate kids' sci-fi/adventure flick through and through. Filled with child-friendly messages about believing in yourself and your intelligence, choosing hope over darkness, and trusting that good will prevail over evil, the film is basically an Oprah-style empowerment lesson for everyone under the age of 15. Pre-teen and teenage girls will be wrinkling their faces with happiness. For those familiar with the book, this shouldn't come as a shock. The source material has been considered unfilmable for decades, with the only other attempt coming courtesy of a 2003 TV movie. Given that the episodic narrative toys with time travel, hops between wondrous planets, and tasks Meg with evading a tentacled monster, it shouldn't surprise anyone who hasn't read the novel either. That said, A Wrinkle in Time proves a nice throwback to the live-action family fare that Disney used to pump out in the '60s, '70s and '80s, including on television. Indeed, even if you're not in the obvious target market, the fact that the movie is so committed to its old-school, old-fashioned vibe is admirable. Jumping from powerful civil rights drama Selma and race-relations documentary 13th to something completely different, director Ava DuVernay hits the mark in more places than just the film's all-ages vibe. She gets the best out of her diverse cast, especially the younger players, with Reid a picture of relatable, youthful awkwardness, and Aussie actor Miller (Jasper Jones, Better Watch Out) continuing his great run of late. From the bright costumes to the overall explosion of special effects, DuVernay also ensures that everything looks and feels like a larger-than-life fantasy in every frame. Her quest to make a big-thinking, big-hearted kids' flick is always apparent, but like A Wrinkle in Time's gossiping flowers — yes, there's a field of flowers that literally gossip — the movie's beauty and its limitations go hand-in-hand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwlZ1r-BiQA
The long weekend is here. And, as Monday is a public holiday, some of your regular spots will be shut. So, if you're on the hunt for a caffeine hit, long lunch or a few more beers, we've put together an extensive list of all the bars, cafes and restaurants that'll be open on Monday, June 10. There is something for everybody on this list, too — from Chin Chin's refined Thai fare to A1 Canteen's famed muffuletta and Wayward's craft brews. And if you're looking for further inspiration on how to spend your days off, head this way for our pick of the best long weekend happenings. [caption id="attachment_645827" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chin Chin[/caption] RESTAURANTS Aria, Circular Quay: noon–2.15pm; 5.30–10.30pm Banksii, Barangaroo: noon–7.30pm Bar Patron, Circular Quay: noon–midnight Barangaroo House, Barangaroo: noon–10pm The Bavarian, CBD: 11am–10pm Belles Hot Chicken, Tramsheds: 11.30–9pm Bennelong, CBD: 5.30–9pm The Bucket List, Bondi: 11am–5pm Caffè Bartolo, Surry Hills: 8am–11pm Chin Chin, Surry Hills: 11.30am–11pm Cirrus, Barangaroo: noon–3pm; 6–11pm The Clare Bar, Chippendale: noon–late The Cut Bar & Grill, The Rocks: 5pm–late Da Orazio, Bondi: 5pm–10pm The Dolphin, Surry Hills: 11am–midnight El Camino Cantina, The Rocks: noon–midnight Fratelli Fresh, Darling Harbour: 7am–midnight Fratelli Fresh (all other locations): noon–11pm Harpoon Harry, Surry Hills: 11.30am–late Icebergs Dining Room, Bondi: noon–6pm Mary's Underground, Circular Quay: 5pm–1am Milky Lane, Bondi, Coogee, Cronulla, Parramatta: noon–10pm North Bondi Fish, North Bondi: noon–midnight The Pacific Club, Bondi: 7am–9pm The Paddo Inn, Paddington: noon–10pm Rockpool Bar & Grill, CBD: 6pm–late Rosetta, The Rocks: 5pm–late Sake Restaurant & Bar, The Rocks, Manly and Double Bay: noon–3pm, 5–11pm Spice Temple, CBD: 6pm–late Vecino, Canterbury: 6am–10pm Yellow, Potts Point: 5pm–11pm [caption id="attachment_684208" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mary's[/caption] BARS The Australian Heritage Hotel, The Rocks: 11am–midnight The Glenmore, The Rocks: 11am–midnight Handpicked Cellar Door, Chippendale: 11am–10pm The Imperial, Erskineville: 4pm–midnight The Lansdowne, Chippendale: 11pm–3am Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly: 11.30–late Mary's, Newtown and Circular Quay: noon–midnight Misfits, Redfern: 3pm–late The Royal Hotel, Paddington: 11am–10pm Sauce Brewing Co., Marrickville: noon–8pm The Toxteth, Glebe: 10am–1pm (kitchen closes at 9pm) Tudor Hotel, Redfern: 10am–midnight The Unicorn, Paddington: noon–1am Wayward Brewing Company, Camperdown: 4–8pm [caption id="attachment_625345" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Grounds of the City by Bodhi Liggett[/caption] CAFES A1 Canteen, Chippendale: 8am–3pm Bills, Bondi, Darlinghurst and Surry Hills: 8am–10pm Bourke Street Bakery, all stores except North Sydney: 8am–4pm Devon Cafe, Barangaroo, Surry Hills and North Sydney: 8am–3pm Edition Coffee Roasters, Haymarket: 9am–4pm (kitchen closes 3pm) The Grounds of Alexandria, Alexandria: cafe 7am–4pm The Grounds of the City, CBD: 7am–5pm Matinee Coffee, Marrickville: 7am–4pm (kitchen closes 3pm) Paramount Coffee Project, Surry Hills: 7am–4pm Reuben Hills, Surry Hills: 8am–3pm Three Blue Ducks, Bronte: 7am–2.30pm Top image: Matinee Coffee by Letícia Almeida.
Obviously, a lot of the stuff we know about the past comes from digging up the dead. There’s a bit of competition, sure, from pottery, monumental architecture and socks. But, for every Marcus Agrippa Made This there’s an uncanny road of tombs to point us towards history’s details. And, while the big hitters like the Egyptian pyramids or the tomb of China’s first Emperor get a lot of the attention, there’s a cavalcade of smaller tombs, tombstones and sarcophagi that are pretty marvellous to look at all in their own right. The Art Gallery of NSW is taking a few months to hop into the genre, in the form of a sixth century white marble sarcophagus, with A Silk Road saga: the sarcophagus of Yu Hong . The exhibition will explode this intricately decorated super-size, coffin wrapper into its component panels, displaying more than a dozen other artefacts from the same tomb and the same era in Shanxi province (the same province where the First Emperor buried his terracotta army). And if this funeral atomisation really grabs you, there's also a sideline: a free A Silk Road Saga symposium being held on August 24. Image: Panel 5 of Yu Hong’s sarcophagus. Shanxi Museum.
Throw those GoPros, bubble bottles and novelty gumboots in your rucksack, Splendour in the Grass is returning to North Byron Parklands for another year of festival merriment. Triggering road trippin' pilgrimages country-wide since 2001, Splendour is a locked-in date on many a festival reveller calendar — and now you can make it permanent. The Splendour in the Grass 2015 dates have been confirmed. Splendour will return to North Byron Parklands on Friday 24, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July. Onsite camping will once again be available from Wednesday 22 July. The coveted lineup will be released soon. Until then, let the furious pub debates and Facebook ponderings commence.
Back in 2009, South Australia introduced a state-wide ban on single-use plastic bags. Since then, every single state and territory has introduced its own ban — with Victoria the latest in November 2019 — except for NSW. But, thankfully, we're finally about to join the party, with the NSW Government rolling out its new Plastics Plan and 20-Year Waste Strategy. While the discussion papers are open for community feedback until Friday, May 8, and legislation then needs to be drafted and introduced to parliament, if passed, the plans could see single-use plastic bags phased out by the end of the year. Environment Minister Matt Kean said in a statement that "lightweight plastic bags are proposed to be phased out six months from the passage of legislation". Other single-use items that could also be ditched as part of the Plastics Plan, include plastic straws, plates, bowls, cutlery, cups and stirrers; polystyrene food and beverage containers; and heavier/boutique plastic bags. Proposed legislation would also see the portion of plastics recycled in NSW by 2030 tripled and plastic litter reduced by a quarter. According to the report, Australians consume 3.4 million tonnes of plastic every year — part of 322 million tonnes consumed globally — and eight million tonnes of it is leaked into our oceans every year. NSW currently only recycles ten percent of its plastic waste. Despite previously being opposed to a statewide ban, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said in a statement that the new waste strategy plans would help to ensure "that NSW is a leader when it comes to reducing waste, maximising recycling and protecting our environment". The announcement also neatly follows Victoria's own $129 million plan to overhaul its waste and recycling system, unveiled by Premier Daniel Andrews late last month. Considering supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths began enforcing their own nationwide plastic bag bans over a year ago — and local shopping spot Harris Farm scrapped plastic over two years ago — you've probably already got a solid collection of reusable bags ready to go. If not, we suggest you invest, tout de suite. You can have your say on the NSW Government's Plastic Plan and 20 Year Waste Strategy over here until Friday, May 8.
As COVID-19 cases related to Sydney's northern beaches cluster continue to increase, the NSW Government has asked the city's residents to avoid leaving the house for non-essential reasons. In the daily coronavirus update on Saturday, December 19, Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the reintroduction of stay-at-home public health orders for the northern beaches local government area — which will come into effect at 5pm tonight, run through until midnight on Wednesday, and require residents of the region to remain in their houses except for the same four permitted reasons to leave that were in effect during March's lockdowns. But, for Sydneysiders who live elsewhere in the city, she also issued a request. While no official orders have been made for the rest of Sydney, Premier Berejiklian urged everyone in general to "abandon non-essential activity" over the same period. "We are asking you not to undertake any non-essential travel, or non0essential activity. If you are planning a night out tonight, we ask you to consider changing those plans on staying at home," she said. "We want people to stay at home tonight and the next few nights so that we can ensure the virus does not spread." The Premier expanded upon the reasons for the request, explaining that the state is trying to both stop the cluster growing and spreading elsewhere, and to also stop the need for additional lockdowns — in other places, or for longer periods of time. "We do not want the virus to spread outside of the northern beaches. We do not want perhaps unidentified strands of the virus outside of Sydney, outside of the northern beaches, to start getting to an extent which concerns us," the Premier said. "So can I say to everybody in other parts of Sydney outside the northern beaches, please limit your activity... And if there are any fragments of the virus outside of the northern beaches, we also want to make sure that we give all of Sydney the best chance we have two having a good Christmas." At the same time, Premier Berejiklian did note that it's impossible to rule out further restrictions — and that the government "will be considering today, after consulting obviously the relevant people, whether this time tomorrow we do revert back to some restrictions in Greater Sydney". She continued: "I just want to put everybody on notice that that is a possibility, and that will depend on the help advice sent to us during the course of the day". https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1340091759439671298 The request comes as 23 new COVID-19 cases were identified in the past 24 hours, with 21 directly linked to the current cluster. Before the northern beaches cases emerged, NSW had gone almost a month without any locally acquired cases. Yesterday, however, Premier Berejiklian confirmed that all of Greater Sydney was on "high alert". Over the coming days, all Sydneysiders are are asked to frequently check NSW Health's long list of locations and venues that positive coronavirus cases have visited over the past week — and, if you've been to anywhere listed on the specific dates and times, get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days after your visit. In terms of symptoms, Sydneysiders should be looking out for coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste — and getting tested at a clinic if you have any. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
You've heard us sing the praises of Sierra Escape before. The adults-only retreat in Mudgee is one of the best glamping spots in NSW — and it's just given you one more reason to book a country escape stat. Sierra Escape has launched a luxe new tiny house, dubbed Elouera, from the Indigenous term 'beautiful place'. The charming, eco-friendly tiny house is perched atop a hill on the 280-acre property, offering sweeping views of the landscape and native wildlife via its floor-to-ceiling windows. Elouera is crafted from a repurposed shipping container and is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities. We're talking a sleek designer kitchen, a spacious bathroom and an indoor fireplace. The luxury spills outdoors, too — you can get cosy by the fire pit, cook up a feast on the Weber barbecue and wash away your city slickin' stresses in the outdoor bath or shower. Owners Natascha and Cameron D'Arcy have been working on this addition for over five years. "We're so excited to be able to bring this beautiful tiny house to life, and we can't wait to share its magical experience with our guests," the couple says. Though the studio is in a secluded part of the property, guests can access Sierra Escape's other coveted amenities, like the swimming pool. The team can also connect you to local providers to level up your stay with experiences like massages, private yoga classes and guided kayaking. If you're keen to venture out of your luxury cocoon for a while, Mudgee's town centre is just a 20-minute drive away. There are around 40 family-owned wineries to check out, plus top-notch dining and boutique shopping. Sierra Escape's new tiny house Elouera is available to book online. For more information, head to the website.
Would you like some creepy with your coffee? David Lynch takes advertising to dark places with this disturbing film promoting his signature coffee line. I'm curious as to exactly what David Lynch Signature Cup would taste like. Obviously it would depend on whether you choose the espresso blend, house roast or decaf. My intuition tells me Lynch likes his coffee strong, dark and somewhat syrupy – much like his genius mind. All the blends are all organic and fairly traded, as we learn from a bizarre dialogue between Lynch and the decapitated Barbie doll head he cradles in his hand. [Via Lost At E-Minor]
For all those word worms, stellar spellers, and puzzle fanatics out there, the Surry Hills Late Night Library is hosting an event that you should be sure not to miss: their Inaugural Adult Spelling Bee. After a huge success last year, the 2013 competitors will be returning with their swords drawn and ready to spell their way to the top, letter by letter. As the only official Spelling Bee held in Sydney (they prefer to claim it as the most official), the Late Night Library (LNL) will host the most nail-biting and tense competition this city has seen yet. The Spelling Bee is one of the larger events of the LNL initiative and will certainly attract a sizable crowd. The competition is being held at the Surry Hills Library next Thursday and is free for both spectators and competitors, so you've got no excuse not to drop on by and put your wordsmith skills to the test. Image by Howard County Library System.
Tucking into charcuterie and antipasto while sipping a perfectly-paired vino is a pretty ideal way to while away some time for most. Throw in a bar at one of Sydney's most beautiful parks with sweeping harbour views and, really, it doesn't get much better. Luckily, with the return of Jacob's Creek Kitchen Collective, comes the pop-up bar right on Sydney Harbour. While you can pick up tips and tricks for finding the best wines and cooking like a Masterchef at this year's Kitchen Collective, if you'd rather don a napkin than an apron, then head to the Terrace Bar right next door. There, you'll not only find platters and platters of cheese, cured meats and olives, but also plenty of top-notch wines. The views are pretty good, too. As this bar in the Royal Botanic Garden is only around for a short while (Thursday, July 18 – Sunday, August 4), we're shouting one lucky winner (and some mates) a night out on the town. If you get your mitts on this prize, you'll be feasting on cheese and cured meats galore, all while sipping on two smooth, heritage wines: a chardonnay and a shiraz. All up, we'll be footing a $200 bill for you. Jacob's Creek's Terrace Bar is located at Bennelong Lawn in the Royal Botanic Garden. The bar is open Thursdays (4-9pm) and Friday through Sundays (1-9pm) until Sunday, August 4. Does this sound too good to be missed? Enter your details below to be in running. [competition]732590[/competition]
My Kitchen Rules alum Arrnott Olssen is bringing a flavour-packed Fijian feast to Deus Cafe in Camperdown for just one night in April. The Kana Club Pop-Up is hitting the breezy outpost from 6pm (with 5.30pm arrivals) on Saturday, April 13 with a four-course menu centred around local produce and dishes drawn from Olssen's childhood. At a previous Kana Club Pop-Up, guests were treated to a menu that traversed everything from Fijian fish curry to sweet potato gnocchi with a sea urchin emulsion. While the array of eats for this iteration hasn't yet been revealed, Arrnott's tavu tao — which consists of masala-spiced chicken wings paired with tamarind sauce and yoghurt, plus a serving of hummus dahl — is one of the cafe's current specials for the week. Olssen says dahl was regularly served in his house growing up because it was hearty and affordable. He's taken this staple of his upbringing and worked it into an inventive new dish that also pays homage to the Middle Eastern communities of Punchbowl, the first Sydney suburb he lived in. Tickets are available for $89, and there will be a paired drinks menu available for purchase on the night.
South Sydney neighbourhood Kogarah gets creative every year with the Uncontained Arts Festival. Taking over Belgrave Street from Friday, June 27–Sunday, June 29, the 2025 edition offers another jam-packed schedule teeming with immersive installations, interactive art, live music, delicious food and more. Primed for after-dark visits with the kids, over 25,000 people are expected to attend, seeking out the festival's inventive experiences. From silent discos and live mural-making to neon paint life-drawing workshops and even an LED tunnel, expect artistic expression, imagination and connection throughout this weekend-long event. Although the full lineup is still under wraps, artists Samuel Kim and Lawrence Liang will grab attention with their colourful ANINA installation. Inspired by Tibetan Buddhism, this towering zen cat responds to nearby sound, movement and rhythm. Meanwhile, Anastasia Parmson's I Drew a Line and Called it Home offers an intimate space adorned from top to bottom with 3D black-and-white drawings. A lively community arts event needs the bites and brews to match. Fortunately, the festival presents food trucks in abundance, with Drippin Desserts serving up their famed crispy doughnut fries, while Teta's Pitas offers fresh Mediterranean street-food flavours. With plenty of heating and seating available, Uncontained Arts Festival offers a stellar winter's night out for the entire family.
Never meet your heroes. Kill your darlings. A murderous rampage through the Hundred Acre Wood — a slasher take on a childhood favourite, too — Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey sticks its paws in both pots. Based on AA Milne's famed creation, which initially appeared in kids' poetry book When We Were Very Young in 1924, this schlockfest is exactly what a headline-courting low-budget horror flick about a homicidal Pooh and Piglet seemed sight unseen, and in its trailer. Blood and Honey is all about that high-concept idea, and splashing around as many instances of bloody bother as possible, to the point of repetition. It slathers on well-executed gore, but isn't anything approaching good or so-bad-it's-good. That said, it's also a reminder that everything changes, even a cute, cuddly stuffed animal revered by generations — and that carving away cosy notions about comforting things is a fact of life. Commenting on ditching one's safety blankets and inevitably being disappointed by one's idols is an unexpected — and perhaps unintended — bonus here. With so little plot and character development to writer/director/producer Rhys Frake-Waterfield's (The Killing Tree) script, making a statement is hardly Blood and Honey's main meal. This is a film of opportunity. Milne's loveable bear of very little brain entered the public domain at the beginning of 2022, which is what gave rise to this gruesome spin on figures seen on the page, in plenty of cartoons, and also examined in recent movies such as Goodbye Christopher Robin and Christopher Robin. As sure as the titular teddy's historical love for ditching pants and palling around with Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, Owl, Kanga and Roo, this Texas Chainsaw Massacre-style Pooh twist primarily exists because the premise was too irresistible thanks to copyright laws. Now gone all lumberjack, Pooh does don dacks in Blood and Honey. He's also fond of sadistically ripping people apart with a range of weapons, particularly inflicting head traumas. Why? To satisfy bloodlust that's sprung from feeling abandoned by Christopher Robin (Nikolai Leon, also Frake-Waterfield's The Killing Tree) when he went off to college, then having to carnivorously rely on a friend to survive. Unsurprisingly, much of the picture is filled with stalking and killing, as the bear and his porcine companion dispense with anyone who dares go down to the woods on any day. Just as much focuses on lingering shots of Pooh and Piglet in all their human-sized, fully clothed glory — their faces rubbery, twisted, grinning and grotesque, and never resembling anything but two guys (Craig David Dowsett and Chris Cordell, both alumni of Frake-Waterfield's The Area 51 Incident) in masks. Often, they lurk in the background like they're Michael Myers, waiting to strike cinema's go-to throwaway victims: out-of-towners on a rural vacation, and women at that. Blood and Honey uses illustration-style animation to set the scene before getting cold-blooded, and to establish not only Christopher leaving the Hundred Acre Wood crew, but also the latter's decision never to speak again after the hunger, resentment and tough decisions that follow. Dubbed "abominations" by the opening narration anyway, they maintain their mute promise even when their former friend returns brimming with excitement to show his boyhood haunt and its residents to his disbelieving spouse Mary (Paula Coiz, Tooth Fairy Queen of Pain) — and when that reunion turns feral, when they spark the torture-porn onslaught. Blood and Honey isn't the product of many savvy decisions past its central idea, and can't even decide whether Mary is Christopher's fiancée or wife in its early dialogue; however, removing the possibility of ill-fitting voices for Pooh and company slicing the mood to pieces is at least one smart move. What's a man-shaped bear and pig to do when Maria (Maria Taylor, Mega Lightning), Jess (Natasha Rose Mills, Return of Krampus), Alice (Amber Doig-Thorne, Summoning Bloody Mary 2), Zoe (Danielle Ronald, Shockwaves), Lara (Natasha Tosini, Quarantine Leap) and Tina (May Kelly, also Mega Lightning) mosey their way not long after Christopher's comeback? Get kill-happy, complete with slaughtering a few other folks who stumble along in Frake-Waterfield's straight-faced, by-the-numbers affair — and prolific producer Scott Jeffrey's latest cheap horror effort, including almost every film mentioned above in the Blood and Honey's cast's previous credits. How are any of the movie's humans supposed to stand out, or make an imprint beyond being grist for the grindhouse mill? They can't, although Maria is introduced as the victim of a prior attack, a background detail that's barely explored and then utterly ignored. Otherwise, two of her friends are a couple, and one likes taking bikini-clad selfies — which is all that the feature shares about them. How's a director meant to find tension in the monotonous array of deaths, and with dispatching with such one-dimensional, forgettable prey? Frake-Waterfield can't, especially given there's zero doubt from the outset that Pooh and Piglet are deranged and demonic, the body count and accompanying splatter will be high, and a sequel will be on the way based on the viral response to the feature's existence alone. Blood and Honey's creative forces are indeed planning a second jaunt for violent Pooh and his pals, as revealed before the first movie hit cinemas. More than that, they have their sights set on other children's favourites now in the public domain, such as Bambi and Peter Pan, all in their own Marvel Cinematic Universe-esque interconnected realm. Like the MCU, DC Comics Extended Universe and the like, they're also clearly fine with filler in their franchise. Perhaps future serial-killer Pooh flicks will find more to bother with. To keep audiences coming back now the 'beloved character gets unhinged' bit has been so dully done, they'll need to. More nods to Milne's pages would be a start, because Blood and Honey plays like a generic slasher with familiar names and a heap of honey thrown in (using Eeyore's detachable tail to get whipping is a rare and welcome touch). Perhaps whatever returns to the Hundred Acre Wood from here will give viewers a reason to care about someone — anyone — and their fates. Maybe there'll be dialogue that actual people would genuinely say, or a much-needed sense of OTT humour. Ideally, there'd be some weight behind the slaying of childhood innocence. If 2023's other big bear-focused release is a hit, though, maybe the best that can be hoped for is Winnie-the-Pooh meets Cocaine Bear — a notion that doesn't sound bad on paper, but neither did Blood and Honey before the movie started rolling.
If anyone was due for a Shakespearian adaptation it's Tarantino. The razor sharp wit, the conniving, the blood — he has it all. Now, as the Bards Bastards prepare to reimagine some of today's most famous stories, the moment has arrived. They're about to turn Quentin Tarantino's classic Reservoir Dogs into a Shakespearean tragedy. Written for the stage by Steven Hopley, their debut parody show is said to include excessive amounts of blood and death. Something that should come as no surprise for fans of either Shakespeare or Tarantino. To get you in the spirit, The Vanguard are offering a number of ticketing, dinner and cocktail packages. Nothing says macabre mashup like dinner and a show.
A 30-year retrospective of one of the most dazzling pioneers of multimedia installations and experimental video art has opened at Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art with Pipilotti Rist: Sip my Ocean. In what's being heralded as the most comprehensive exhibition of the Swiss artist's work ever held in an Australian gallery, you'll get to see pieces right from the start of her practice (including her early single-channel videos created during the 1980s) up to her most recent immersive environments and large-scale audio-visual installations. A truly unique artist whose practice explores the connection between the human body, nature and technology, Rist creates colourful, enchantingly sensual worlds for viewers to lose themselves in – such as 4th Floor to Mildness, where you'll get comfy on one of 18 beds and gaze upwards at a hypnotic underwater world projected onto massive abstract panels. It's not often you lie down on a gallery floor amongst strangers to soak up some art — and its this particular atmosphere of community and togetherness within the way you experience Rist's work that cements its charm. Taking place as part of the Sydney International Art Series, Sip My Ocean runs until February 18. Images: Courtesy of Pipilotti Rist / Ken Leanfore for the MCA.
We all have our weaknesses. And if there's one thing that could have me lying to friends and mortgaging a house, it would be chocolate. For this reason, I absolutely must avoid visiting Baroque Bistro during October. Willie Harcourt-Cooze, AKA The Chocolate Man, will be collaborating with Baroque's Peter Robertson and Jean-Michel Raynaud on a whole month's worth of events. First up, there's the 'Golden Ticket' Dinners, with a name which will have any reader of Roald Dahl instantly hooked. The full degustation menu will make the journey from savory to sweet, accompanied by a delicious selection of matching wines. A Chocolate Masterclass poses the danger of taking Willie's tempting knowledge home with you. And the limited edition bespoke Chocolate Macaron, created by pastry chef Jean-Michel, will be available from Baroque for all of October. Check with Baroque for full details but consider yourself warned: if you click that link, you have no chance of resisting. We're giving away a copy of Willie Harcourt-Cooze's latest book, Willie's Chocolate Bible. To win, simply make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name through to us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au
An immersive theatrical journey for the senses will take over the iconic Hotel Palisade this winter. From August 25–28, A Journey Most Unusual invites curious adventurers to travel through a world that combines fantasy and reality as it tells the peculiar tale of Hendrick's Gin. In partnership with theatrical collective Broad Encounters, this first-of-its-kind production will see commanding figures, including the mysterious Mr Foggerty, scent seller and aromachologist Madame Ruby and the dark-yet-playful underworld seductress Siren guide guests through six theatrically designed spaces that will awaken each of the five senses through song, art, dance, music and tantalising Hendrick's Gin cocktails. Guests will play an interactive role as they move through each world, which will unveil the masterful craft behind the much-loved gin. [caption id="attachment_859862" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Kucera[/caption] All of the ticket proceeds will be donated to Broad Encounters via Australian Cultural Funding, helping to facilitate the independent company's future works. A Journey Most Unusual takes place at Hotel Palisade on August 25–28. For more info and to buy tickets, head to the website. Images: Anna Kucera
One of Sydney's most beloved wine events is going all out for its tenth edition — and you're invited to sip, snack and dance your way through it. Huge Moves 10 is landing at The International on Saturday, June 7, taking over all three levels of the sleek CBD hospitality venue for an afternoon of wine, food and music. Curated by Joel Amos — the same mind behind Loose Lips and other vibe-heavy wine events — this massive cellar door-style tasting will bring together over 40 winemakers from near and far. They'll be pouring more than 150 natural and minimal-intervention wines across The Wine Bar and its sun-soaked Plaza, The Grill and the top-floor Panorama Bar from 2.30pm. Confirmed names on the pour list include Giorgio De Maria Fun Wines, Lo-Fi Wines, Mosaique, Mallaluka, Crusher Wines, Captains of Trade, Harkham Wines, Pride of Lunatics, Wines of Lebanon and plenty more. As you sip, you'll be able to groove to sets from DJs Veda and Adi Toohey. Food-wise, ATTENZIONE! — Redfern's Italian-leaning wine bar — will be taking over the kitchen at The Wine Bar, serving up snackable, wine-friendly bites perfect for wandering and munching. Feeling fancy? You can upgrade your ticket with the all-new Quick-Fire Lunch, a refined dining experience led by Executive Chef Joel Bickford and served in The Grill, where you'll be taken on a thoughtful two-course dining journey with matched wines in just 45 minutes. Don't head home when the tasting wraps up — while the wines will stop pouring at 5.30pm, the party shifts upstairs to Panorama Bar half an hour later for a nostalgic Halfway Crooks reunion with DJ Levins and Captain Franco, who'll be bringing hip hop, throwbacks and rooftop views well into the evening. "We're excited to be throwing Huge Moves' biggest-ever wine event at The International next month," says Amos. "The International is the perfect venue to bring together winemakers, food, music and community in the heart of the city." Huge Moves 10 takes place at The International, 25 Martin Place, Sydney CBD, on Saturday, June 7. For more information, head to the event website.
Sydneysiders, you may have noticed more outdoor dining popping up out the front of the city's restaurants and bars over the past two years. If you've seen new sets of tables and chairs spring up around suburbs like Surry Hills and Darlinghurst, that's a direct consequence of the City of Sydney's on-road and footpath dining program. Originally set up in 2020 as a response to the pandemic, the program — which removes red tape and encourages businesses to set up outdoor dining throughout the City of Sydney — has now been extended until the end of 2024. The council has committed $4 million towards the program on top of its previously announced commitment to waive all associated footpath fees until June 2025. In its first two years, the increase in al fresco dining areas has not only been a pleasure for patrons but also had a major positive impact on the participating businesses. More than 500 City of Sydney bars and restaurants have added new outdoor dining spaces in this time, generating an additional 4460 square metres of footpath and road dining areas. [caption id="attachment_893718" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adam Hollingworth[/caption] "In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to do everything we could to help businesses get back on their feet while bringing communities together," the City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said. The City of Sydney reports that 91 percent of participants said the program was crucial to their business, with three quarters confirming they've had to hire more staff due to increased business and one-third directly linking the program to an increased turnover of 20 percent or more. Speaking about the outdoor dining at The Dolphin Hotel, Point Group CEO Brett Robinson said "they are generally the first seats to fill up each day, and the area that drives interest and further patronage once it's occupied. People love the casual and social setting it provides." [caption id="attachment_814178" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Dolphin Hotel[/caption] "It's added so much vibrancy to the street frontage of the hotel. We are now far busier overall due to the passing traffic seeing activity out the front of the venue and being drawn to the venue as a result." The extension also affords the City of Sydney the opportunity to carry out a review of the scheme and create plans to make some of these on-street dining spots permanent. For more information on the City of Sydney's outdoor dining program, head to the council's website.
Remember that one glorious day in February of last year when your favourite pig-meat dispensary, Mr Crackles, was selling crispy southern fried chicken for $5 bucks a serve and it sold out before you could get in the car and tear down the freeway screaming “I’m coming sweet chicken! I wrote you every day for a year!”? Well, Mr Crackles giveth chicken and Mr Crackles taketh away chicken, but now you can taketh away your own chicken from their new takeaway spin-off Thirsty Bird. Thirsty Bird has been open for a few weeks, but only peeped its head out to officially say hi to the world earlier this week. It’s taken the team two years of planning, but they’re finally up and running. Like its predecessor, Mr Crackles, Thirsty Bird is a mono-meat venue. On the menu you’ll find chicken — and not much else. But rest assured it’ll be some of the best chicken of your life. Chef and co-owner of both businesses, Sam Horowitz, says it took him a long time to perfect the recipe. "It’s similar to KFC in that we offer four or eight pieces, burgers and sides, but my recipe only has about ten herbs and spices," he says. The menu is has a classic American diner vibe, with buffalo wings, chicken piece meals and four chicken burgers to choose from with waffle fries, chicken crackling and mac and cheese on the side. Sam also says they'll be introducing waffles onto the menu before long — and it doesn’t get more American than that. The blueprint for Thirsty Bird originally involved more space and more booze. They wanted to open a bar with a kitchen and a chicken-only menu (beer and chicken, is there anything else in life?). But thanks to licensing difficulties, the current iteration of Thirsty Bird is a tiny takeaway joint with seating for five people. Watch this tiny space though, as they have plans to expand the empire in coming years. In the meantime, we’ve got a whole new menu to keep us very, very happy. Thirsty Bird is located at shop 3, 2-14 Bayswater Road, Potts Point. It's currently open 5.30pm till late Tuesday through Sunday, but will be opening for lunch soon. Image: Dollar Photo Club
No one can know for certain what tomorrow will bring; however, the tales told on screens big and small, and through games and comics as well, have delivered plenty of visions of what might come. Will androids dream of electric sheep? Will a Keanu Reeves (John Wick: Chapter 4)-voiced rock star and terrorist make their presence known? Will Afrofuturist technologies transform life as we know it? These are some of the future possibilities conjured up by beloved pop-culture titles — and they're all part of the Australian Centre for the Moving Image's world-premiere exhibition The Future & Other Fictions as well. Displaying at the Melbourne screen museum across Thursday, November 28, 2024–Sunday, April 27, 2025, taking pride of place as its big summer showcase, The Future & Other Fictions is a love letter to and deep dive into futuristic storytelling. More than 180 works feature, including from Blade Runner 2049, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Cyberpunk 2077 and The Creator. Saltsea Chronicles, comic series NEOMAD and Björk's music video 'The Gate': they're all also covered. Before he was just Ken, Ryan Gosling (The Fall Guy) starred in the 35-years-later sequel to Blade Runner — and before he brought Dune and Dune: Part Two to the screen, Denis Villeneuve directed Blade Runner 2049. The Future & Other Fictions lets attendees follow in their footsteps via miniature sets, which are one of the exhibition's definite must-sees. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever gets the nod thanks to Academy Award-winning costumes by Ruth E Carter, while sketches from NEOMAD also feature — as do concept art from The Creator, Cyberpunk 2077 and Saltsea Chronicles. This showcase isn't just about well-known renderings of the future, though, thanks to work by Olalekan Jeyifous, Osheen Siva and Tāgata Moana art collective Pacific Sisters. Plus, via new commissions, DJ Hannah Brontë has her own take, and so does Liam Young and Natasha Wanganeen (Limbo). As it celebrates how screens imagine the years ahead via its array of artwork, sets, props and scripts — alongside clips, costumes and original design materials, too — The Future & Other Fictions also features a film season focusing on Björk, complete with Björk: Biophilia Live on the lineup. [caption id="attachment_974750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mahia Te Kore[/caption]
If there's one thing that Ben & Jerry's loves above all else, it's the obvious: ice cream in a huge array of ridiculously named flavours. It's the brand behind Chunky Monkey, Cherry Garcia, Phish Food and The Tonight Dough — and has been responsible for Liz Lemon Greek Frozen Yoghurt, Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream and Schweddy Balls, too. And, once a year to the delight of your sweet treat-loving tastebuds, it loves giving away free scoops just as much. Indeed, to share its wares with the masses for nix, these frozen confection masterminds gave the world Free Cone Day, which is exactly what it sounds like — a day where your ice cream is on the house. It ran annually until the pandemic, then took a break for obvious reasons. And on Monday, April 3, it's finally back for the first time since 2019. Here's how it works: if you adore ice cream as much as Ben & Jerry's adores ice cream, then you just need to hit up your local participating store between 12–8pm AEST. You can choose whichever flavour you like, and you can also line up for a free cone as many times as you like within that eight-hour period. Free Cone Day is happening Australia-wide — worldwide, too, in more than 35 countries — at both Ben & Jerry's Scoop Stores and its Hoyts outlets. In New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, that means hitting up Manly, Bondi Beach, Newtown and Parramatta, plus cinemas in Blacktown, Wetherill Park, Penrith, Broadway, Phillip and Belconnen. Victorians have St Kilda and Burwood East stores, and Hoyts venues in Melbourne Central, Docklands, Ringwood, Chadstone, Greensborough, Maribyrnong and Ringwood to choose from. If you're in Queensland, head to South Brisbane, Broadbeach Waters, Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast, Mooloolaba, Noosa Heads and Cairns, or Hoyts Sunnybank. In Western Australia, Fremantle, Hillarys and Northbridge Scoop Shops are taking part, plus Karrinyup and Cannington cinemas. And in South Australia, Hoyts Norwood is your destination. Free Cone Day runs from 12–8pm on Monday, April 3, 2023 at Ben & Jerry's Australian stores. Head to the brand's website for further details.
Storytelling is as old as time. It's how we share experiences, knowledge and memories. At its crux though, storytelling celebrates the diversity and universality of our experiences. Keeping the flame alive, non-profit organisation The Moth is dedicated to sharing personal stories and celebrating the art of telling them. The New York-based initiative hosts over 500 live open-mic events across the globe each year, with people — from notable literary and cultural personalities to your average Joe — getting up on stage to tell their stories. On Wednesday, June 26, Sydney will be hearing some of the best stories of the city — from the most gripping to the ridiculous and the side-splitting — at The Moth GrandSLAM Championship. Ten champions, who have taken home the prize at open-mic storytelling competitions (StorySLAMS) around Sydney, will tell brand new, five-minute tales. Brandishing their weapons of word and wit at community-focused StorySLAMs, the champs will compete for the top gong at The Metro Theatre. You'll hear ten stories that are both tightly crafted and masterfully told. Come hear stories that inspire, provoke, sadden and enlighten, told by some of Sydney's best. The Moth GrandSLAM Championship will take place at The Metro Theatre. Doors open at 7pm, with stories beginning at 8pm. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.
Quiet luxury is getting loud in the Harbour City as jet-set glamour cruises back into the CBD. Following its top-to-bottom $70-million renovation, the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth is set to reopen this November, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of its original opening. For over half a century, this architectural wonder, with its distinctive semi-circular design, has been a place of glamour and excess — the nation's first 5-star hotel at the time of its opening. Among its guests over the decades have been royals, movie stars and global dignitaries, and as the hotel enters a new era, it aims to maintain its timeless opulence that attracted such luminaries while embracing all the mod-cons of the 21st century. Originally designed in a post-war minimalist style, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth welcomed its first guests in 1964. At the time, it was the largest brick structure in the southern hemisphere, complete with sleek, contemporary decor. Led by architecture and interior design firm FK, the ambitious renovations have captured the essence of the building's heritage, keeping its history alive by reigniting its glamorous past. The upgrades extend to 436 guest rooms and suites, the Sofitel Club Millésime, the health and wellness centre, all public spaces, including the grand entrance lobby and state-of-the-art conference and event spaces, and four dining venues conceived and operated by House Made Hospitality. This multifaceted hospitality offering has been a major focus of the renovations. It includes two restaurants, tilda and Delta Rue, and two bars, bar tilda and Wentworth Bar, which boasts one of Sydney's largest outdoor terraces. Leaning into its history the second you walk inside, the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth's grand entrance features a striking lighting piece inspired by a time-honoured Sofitel tradition of being escorted to your room by candlelight. Throughout the open-plan ground floor, visitors can spot subtle nods to the property's 1960's pedigree, for example, the striking, curved exterior extending inwards to create a series of intimate lounge spaces where guests to relax when they first arrive. Counterpointing this legacy design are 21st-century conveniences. Personalised service goes digital with interactive stations that streamline the check in process, while every aspect of a stay can now be controlled through Sofitel's concierge app. The elevated entrance leads into the Sofitel Club Millésime, a warm, eclectic lounge layered with soft furnishings. Those who purchase a day pass to the club can pass the time relaxing and enjoy its facilities, including all-day dining and refreshments, hors d'oeuvres and evening drinks. The essence of Sofitel's luxury can truly be found in its 436 rooms and suites, complete with a historical aesthetic updated with modern sensibility. The golden era of the hotel truly shines through with soft, sculptural forms, rich, layered materials and shining jewel tones. Contemporary amenities, such as smart, adjustable lighting and a pillow menu for the perfect night's sleep, deliver the modern touches today's hotel guests expect. Soak in the 60s charm with a heritage-listed bath and customisable French Balmain amenities, or start the morning with a Nespresso from the in-room pod machine. Guests can also enjoy revamped in-room dining by House Made Hospitality, offering guests an exciting opportunity to experience exceptional cuisine in the comfort of their room. The grand Wentworth Ballroom, along with 15 other event spaces, has been given a technological face lift courtesy of Encore Event Technologies. While keeping its history intact, including a classic 1960s mirrored ceiling, Wentworth Ballroom now boasts one of Australia's largest LED screens. Other upgrades to all event and meeting spaces include state-of-the-art lights, digital screens and presentation technology. Event dining is guided by the expertise of newly appointed Michelin-trained Executive Chef Bektaş Özcan, who promises culinary excellence, with menus showcasing local, organic, and sustainable produce. Sydney has enjoyed a boom in five-star accomodation in recent years, with recent additions like Crown Towers, Capella Sydney and the W Hotel stealing the spotlight from the older luxury stays in the city. With its mix of historic poise and contemporary finesse, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth now ranks amongst the finest hotels the Harbour City has to offer. Find the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth at 61-101 Phillip Street, in the CBD.
A heap of Sydney stalwarts are set to receive permanent protection, with the Inner West Council voting unanimously to begin the process of heritage listing 27 of the area's pubs. Known for its pub culture, the Inner West is home to some of the city's most beloved drinking spots, with 31 of its venues already heritage listed. Now, that number is set to nearly double, with longstanding venues across Balmain, Leichardt, Newtown, Petersham, Marrickville, Rozelle, Annandale, Enmore and Lewisham all earmarked for the same designation. "Our pubs are community institutions, many of which have been serving local patrons for more than a century," Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said in a statement. "It's time for new heritage protections to make sure that our Inner West pub culture is still here for another 100 years to come." Now that the council has voted to commence the project, it will conduct community engagement with pub owners, patrons and other locals to work towards the heritage listings. If that's successful, the buildings will be granted a range of privileges, including protecting their facades and interiors, and preventing bars from being removed. It does not, however, prevent the premises from being converted for non-pub uses, as long as those heritage elements are maintained. Each pub was chosen based on its architectural, historical and social significance. The 27 buildings include two Annandale venues, six in Balmain, two in Marrickville, four in Newtown, six in Rozelle, three in Enmore, and one in each of Balmain East, Leichardt, Petersham and Lewisham. You can view the full list at the Inner West Council website, but popular spots include Cricketers Arms Hotel, Vic on the Park, Kelly's on King, Carlisle Castle Hotel, Bridge Hotel, 3 Weeds, Warren View Hotel, Duke of Enmore and Websters Bar. They will join the previously heritage-listed sites across the Inner West like Courthouse Hotel, The Henson, Salisbury Hotel and White Cockatoo Hotel. "It's important that we protect these pubs which contribute to the famous pub culture of the area," said Councillor Jessica D'Arienzo. [caption id="attachment_828769" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vic on the Park's beer garden[/caption] For further details about the process of adding these Inner West pubs to the heritage list, head to the Inner West Council website.
Netflix viewers, toss a coin to your new favourite watering hole — the only spot in Australia that'll bring The Witcher, Stranger Things, Squid Game and more to life while you're sinking a brew. For five days only, the Who's Watch Inn will pop up in Melbourne, offering fans of the streaming platform's hit shows a unique pub experience. Always wanted to throw down a beverage or several while sitting under a mounted demogorgon head? Yes, that's on the menu. Also on offer: coveting the piggy bank jackpot, reclining on Emily in Paris' Parisian garden bench and just generally feeling like you've stepped inside (and you're drinking inside) your Netflix faves. That covers the food and drinks menu, too, which'll showcase pub grub favourites and themed tipples — including the 'Emily in Parma' (taking on the old pub classic, obviously) and a Squid Ink Dark Ale. Even better: everyone who drops by the Who's Watch Inn will get a free drink on arrival (although there is just one per person). That's probably all the excuse you need to head to Carlton's Clyde Hotel across the Netflix takeover's five streaming-worshipping days, running from Wednesday, September 28–Sunday, October 2. The pub pop-up is only happening in Melbourne, which means you'll need to be in the Victorian capital this week to enjoy the fun. Whether you're a local or you'll be travelling down south, the Who's Watch Inn will also host a Netflix pub trivia night on Thursday, September 29, plus a comedy evening on Friday, September 30 featuring Urzila Carlson, Nazeem Hussain and Melanie Bracewell live — and all events are free. Bookings are recommended, and if you're wondering why the themed watering hole is happening at all, that's because it's been a big couple of days for Netflix — all thanks to a celebration that the streaming platform calls Tudum: A Netflix Global Fan Event, where the company drops details about and trailers from its upcoming slate. That's why you might've seen a sneak peek at The Crown season five, a trailer for Dead to Me's third and final season, and a clip from Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story over the past few days, for instance. Also, Netflix sure does love these kinds of pop culture-themed shenanigans. Over the past 12 months, it has given away free clothes at a Heartbreak High uniform shop, set up a barber giving out The Gray Man-style moustaches and goatees, opened a Stranger Things rift and had the Squid Game doll lurking about, after all. Find Netflix's Who's Watch Inn at The Clyde Hotel, 385 Cardigan Street, Carlton, Melbourne, from Wednesday, September 28–Sunday, October 2 — open from 7–11pm on Wednesday, 12–11pm on Thursday, 11am–1am on Friday, 12pm–1am on Saturday and 12–11pm on Sunday.
Patience isn't a virtue in The Bear, including in its sandwich-diner setting. It can't be — no one has that luxury. Everything needs preparing and cooking now, and ideally before that, with the eatery operating on the tightest of timelines as professional kitchens tend to. Everything in Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto's (Jeremy Allen White, Shameless) life needs solving and smoothing out ASAP, too, and he has more than his fair share of troubles and struggles on the boil. But for viewers Down Under, being patient comes with a hefty reward — because, more than two months after it dropped its first season in the US, The Bear has finally made its way to Disney+ in Australia and New Zealand since Wednesday, August 31. This brilliant small-screen feast proves worth the wait, although don't expect to relief to swell now it's finally here. Tension and chaos are The Bear's base flavours, seeping into everything that's thrown into its debut eight-episode run. It joins the lengthy list of shows set in a workplace, but it also simmers up what few TV programs about the daily grind manage. While the genre is filled with all-timers, from Parks and Recreation and 30 Rock through to Mad Men and The White Lotus just to name four recent and obvious examples, feeling like you truly know exactly what it'd genuinely be like to work in the industries depicted is rare. Watch The Bear, however, and you'll broil in a restaurant kitchen's ceaseless intensity. First, an important piece of advice: eating either before or while viewing is highly recommended, and near close to essential. If you've ever found yourself ravenous while checking out a cooking show, watching The Trip films or just seeing someone on-screen tuck into a tasty-looking dish, prepare for that sensation to get blasted like it's a crème brûlée under a blowtorch. Now, two more crucial slices of wisdom: prepare to feel stressed throughout every second of this riveting, always-taut, and exceptionally written and acted culinary series (yes, it's worth emphasising again), and also to want to enjoy one of The Original Beef of Chicagoland's famous sandwiches immediately. Although the eatery is purely fictional, its signature dish looks phenomenal. Most of what's cooked up in Carmy's kitchen earns the same description, whether he's sticking to the tried-and-tested menu or experimenting with new options. The chef's resume includes Noma and The French Laundry, as well as awards and acclaim, such as being named one of the best young chefs there is. But he has taken over the family business following his brother's suicide, arriving back home after wowing the world and excelling in fine dining — and nothing is easy. Well, coveting The Bear's edible wares is. Deciding to try to recreate them yourself is as well. But whipping them up within the series, keeping The Original Beef afloat, coping with grief and ensuring that the diner's staff work harmoniously is a pressure cooker of mayhem. That anxious mood is inescapable from the outset; the best way to start any meal is just to bite right in, and The Bear's creator Christopher Storer (who also directs five episodes, and has Ramy, Dickinson and Bo Burnham: Make Happy on his resume) takes the same approach. He also throws all of his ingredients together with precision — the balance of drama and comedy (and food porn), the relentlessness that marks every second in the eatery's kitchen, and the non-stop mouthing off by Richie, aka Cousin, aka Carmy's brother's best friend (Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Dropout), all included. The Bear isn't a two-hander by any means, but it excels in complicated one-on-one dynamics, with Carmy and Richie's bickering, bantering, sniping and flat-out fighting repeatedly floating to the top. The two men have spent their entire lives with Mikey (Jon Bernthal, We Own This City) in-between them, and his absence isn't easily filled. As well as mourning Mikey and processing his issues with Richie, Carmy has bills to pay, debts to settle, and eerie dreams and sleepwalking episodes to navigate. He hires new sous chef Sydney (Ayo Edebiri, Dickinson) on the day she walks in, too, mixing up the place with an aim to implement some of her forward-thinking ideas — none of which Richie is thrilled about. And, amid this non-stop bombardment, there's long-standing employees such as Marcus (Lionel Boyce, Hap and Leonard), Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas, In Treatment) and Ebraheim (Edwin Lee Gibson, Fargo) to keep happy. Carmy's sister Natalie, aka Sugar (Abby Elliott, Indebted), is also financially tied up in The Original Beef, and obviously emotionally affected by Mikey's death. And when their uncle Cicero (Oliver Platt, Chicago Med) comes calling, it's also because of cash. The above relationships, details, backstories, monetary issues, past glories, present concerns and uncertain futures are all peppered throughout The Bear as each episode goes on; the series doesn't have time to lay out exposition from the get-go, write down its dramatic recipe, or step its audience through the ins and outs. As an experience for viewers, it mimics Carmy being thrust into the restaurant his brother would never allow him to work in — and Sydney showing up to apply for a job, then being pushed into the kitchen immediately. In one particularly feverish episode, life in the kitchen zips by on a single take, but the show is always operating at that level of pressure with hurtling cinematography and rapid-fire editing. If it isn't, it's usually because Carmy is asleep, his stresses infiltrating his dreams and sending him wandering as he slumbers, with the cycle repeating anyway. "Yes, chef," "thank you, chef": The Original Beef's pleasantries are spat out at pace, too, and by a fantastic cast that's operating just as fast and furiously. The irrepressibly watchable White is precise, restrained but wearied amid the mania, with Carmy trying to keep his calm on the outside but wilting on the inside; this is one of the performances of the year in one of the best new shows of the year. Moss-Bachrach plays abrasive, mouthy but vulnerable just as commandingly; Edebiri brings confidence and ambition to the passionate but no-nonsense Syd; and the charismatic Boyce makes Marcus' quest to make the perfect doughnut The Bear's sensual respite among the onslaught. Every glimpse at their hustle and bustle, and the show's at every moment, is as gripping as it is appetising — and yes, binging is inevitable. Once you're done, leave room for season two — although the quickly renewed series likely won't serve out its second helping until 2023. Check out the trailer for The Bear below: The Bear streams via Disney+.
UPDATE Monday, July 26: The Fold is now offering pickup blue swimmer crab feasts for two. The feast includes crab curry, basmati rice with crispy onions, red lentil dry curry, kale malum, papadum, chutney and orange cream caramel for dessert. Pre order 5–6pm, Thursday–Saturday. Dulwich Hill's Sri Lankan cafe and restaurant The Fold is a true family affair. It's run by the De Hoedt family whose culinary experience spans decades and multiple acclaimed Sydney eateries. Head Chef Augi De Hoedt has 35 years of experience in the industry, including ten years as the Culinary Director at Sri Lanka's Cinnamon Grand hotel. Augi's sons Travin and Jason (both Franca Brasserie alumni) are in charge of the dessert menu alongside Travin's fiancée Saaya Takahashi (Sixpenny). Dilki, the duo's mother, manages the front of house. The Fold has been serving up the family's take on Sri Lankan food to Dulwich Hill locals since 2020, but has recently expanded to serve dinner as of this February. On both the day and dinner menus, you'll find a variety of hoppers, curries and desserts. Until 3.30pm daily, you'll find The Fold's unique take on avo on toast ($12) with tamarind glaze and slated pistachio, as well as pot roast beef buns ($11.50) and shakshouka ($19.50) and benedict ($18) hoppers. [caption id="attachment_802721" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kera[/caption] Come 5pm, Thursday–Sunday, dinner is on offer. Curries take centre stage at night, making up a bulk of the dinner menu. Ranging from $14–28, you'll find everything from eggplant moju to devilled beef in spicy tomato gravy and lamb polkiri baduma. Elsewhere, you'll find lamprais ($22) — Dutch Burgher rice and curry baked and served inside a banana leaf — and a string hopper feast ($24). Following dinner, avert your attention to the dessert menu where you'll find Sri Lankan love cake served with spiced ice cream, watalappam baked custard and palm sugar pancake with grated coconut. Images: Kera
Lovers of fresh flavours rejoice because the latest project from the Plate It Forward venue group (the team behind Colombo Social, Kyiv Social and Kabul Social) has arrived on King Street. Kolkata Social, helmed by chef Ahana Dutt (Firedoor, Raja), is dishing up recipes from Kolkata, India, with a focus on fresh and seasonal ingredients and good karma by the plate. Over the past six months, Dutt has spent nearly 900 hours in Plate It Forward's training and mentorship program, working with 19 refugee and asylum-seeker women. Eight of these women have since taken up leadership roles within the company. But the partnership between the chef and the hospo group has truly blossomed now, with Kolkata Social marking Plate it Forward's fourth venue and giving Dutt the opportunity to showcase a seasonal, produce-driven menu sourced mostly from the Kolkata-born chef's own family kitchen. It's a new step forward in diversifying Sydney's familiarity with wider Indian cuisine, encouraging diners to steer clear of Westernised favourites they'd find at their local Indian joint in favour of bold Bengali flavours. On that, Dutt notes: "I wanted the menu to represent me. It was a way for me to introduce people to Bengali food through recipes that I've grown up with. I wanted to show people that Bengali food is Indian food, as well as the corollary that Indian food is more than butter chicken and naan. The food at Kolkata Social is a way for me to not only hold on to but celebrate my heritage in a different country." Said menu is home to highlights like paturi — spiced ricotta wrapped in a banana leaf and lightly caramelised — radhabollobhi — fried flatbread with a spiced lentil filling — and smoked barramundi, fried in mustard oil and served with a sauce of yoghurt, cardamom and green chillies. For dessert, a family specialty: vanilla pound cake served with saffron yoghurt cream and seasonal fruit. The cocktails offer equally colourful originals and spins on classic serves. Like the Mini Mustard Martini, a Kolkata-inspired take on a gibson, or the Southside 700029, a riff on the mojito-esque classic that references the postcode of one of Kolkata's buzziest neighbourhoods. If you need a lassi to fight the heat of the dishes, go for the Spiked Lassi: a spiked yoghurt slushy with saffron. Brew lovers can try the house Kolkata Lager, made exclusively for the restaurant by multi award-winning Blue Mountains brewery Mountain Culture. It's not just the menu that Dutt has overseen at Kolkata Social — she also lent her vision to the restaurant's look and feel. Each room is colour-blocked and monochromatic, featuring hues inspired by the architecture of Kolkata. Vibrant artworks adorn the walls, some of which were painted by Dutt's uncle, Somnath Basu Thakur. And like other Plate it Forward venues, there's a mural celebrating wisdom, love and community created by and bestowed on others by the amazing women, mothers and grandmothers of the world. Kolkata's piece, painted by artist Marlon Dalton, depicts Dutt's mother, Sharmila Basu Thaur. Like its siblings in the Plate it Forward family, Kolkata Social employs women in need of their first jobs in Australia and works with overseas charities to provide meals to those who need them most. Any diner who purchases the set menu will be responsible for two meals donated to those in need, one in Sydney and one in Kolkata. So, in a certain sense, every booking brings both good food and a bit of good into the world. Find Kolkata Social at 528-528A King Street, Newtown. For more information and opening hours, visit the venue's website. Images: Serhat Karakas.
What do you get the person who has drunk everything? Or someone who is partial to a sip of gin, but also likes vodka and whiskey? Just in time for the festive season, Archie Rose has launched its solution to this common Christmas dilemma: a pocket-sized collection featuring three of its most popular spirits. Now available to pre-order (with shipments despatched from Thursday, November 29), the Archie Rose 200ml Tasting Set includes mini bottles of the distillery's signature dry gin, original vodka and white rye. If you're new to the company's tipples, they're all award-winners. The gin boasts tastes of native Australian botanicals, such as blood lime, Dorrigo pepperleaf, lemon myrtle and river mint; the vodka comes with apple and mint notes; and the rye is made from rare malted rye and barley, and has a buttery, smokey flavour. Whether you're buying someone else a present — or buying one for yourself, because everyone deserves to get themselves something nice when the end of the year hits — all three come in a gift box for $89. And, they help resolve another frequent boozy problem: when you feel like a gin and tonic, followed by a martini and then a whiskey cocktail, but you don't want to buy three big bottles. To pre-order the Archie Rose 200ml Tasting Set, visit the Archie Rose website.
If there's one thing Sydneysiders like, it's watching Studio Ghibli films. Understandably, a whole heap of cinemas around town have been more than happy to oblige, hosting their own events dedicated to the Japanese animation house over the years. Now it's Palace Central's turn, screening 15 Ghibli favourites between Thursday, September 10–Sunday, December 19. As part of the 35 Years of Studio Ghibli program, fans will get yet another chance to catch these Japanese gorgeous features on the big screen — in their original Japanese-language, English-subtitled versions. Yes, you should make like a moving castle to see Howl's Moving Castle this time. And yes, you'll feel like you've been Spirited Away once again. Both of the above films are on the lineup, as are everything from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service and Princess Mononoke to Tales from Earthsea, Ponyo, The Wind Rises and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. Each film will screen twice, on Thursdays at 6.30pm and on Sundays at 2pm. If you've missed these flicks in their limited cinema runs or fest appearances in the past, consider this your chance to catch up (with tickets costing $15 per session, or $12 for Palace members). Check out the Spirited Away trailer below to get in the mood, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByXuk9QqQkk 35 Years of Studio Ghibli screens at Palace Central between Thursday, September 10–Sunday, December 19 — on Thursdays at 6.30pm and on Sundays at 2pm.
Bingo. Rave. Two ends of the spectrum of fine holiday fun finally came together in Australia this year. Bongo's Bingo is a games night like you've never seen before. Part club, part rave, and, of course, part bingo night, this unlikely fusion event has been wildly popular in the UK since 2015. They took the show on the road, launching in Australia this June and coming back in August. And, it went so well, they're doing it all yet again. Patrons can expect all of the debauchery of the original British version of Bongo's Bingo, including rave intervals, dancing on tables and a loose kind of bingo that you definitely never played with your nan (well, maybe you have). The victorious players can win everything from big cash prizes to a Hills Hoist, with a range of some absolutely ridiculous surprises on offer. Bongo's Bingo comes to 215 Euston Road, Alexandria on October 20 and 21, before heading to the Rooty Hill RSL on October 27.
These days you can get mostly anything delivered. You can get someone to pick up a meal from your fave restaurant, get a bottle of wine delivered on a scooter, order an emergency burrito stat and, hell, Melbourne's even getting its own bacon delivery service. But you know what's been missing from this delicious, convenient equation? Ice cream. Specifically, Gelato Messina. Well, have we got news for you. In the latest breakthrough for yummy things you don't have to leave your house for, Messina is now delivering tubs of their glorified gelato straight to your door through premium restaurant delivery service Suppertime. Yep, this summer you won't even have to leave the house (or line up in a hectic queue, for that matter) to get that crazy-good icy sweet stuff in your belly. Apparently it's been a long time coming. "We've always wanted to offer delivery to our customers (especially those lazy ones who won’t get off the couch!), but haven’t been set up for it in the past or had the right partner," says Messina co-founder Declan Lee. "We’ve known the Suppertime guys for a while and are excited to put our precious product in their hands." The delivery service will be available in both Melbourne and Sydney from today. Deliveries will be sent out from the Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Bondi and The Star stores in Sydney, and its three Melbourne locations, Fitzroy, Richmond and Windsor. So if you live in those areas, your eating ice cream in bed dreams are about to come true. Just head to Suppertime, plug in your postcode and see if they'll deliver to your address. This is great news all-round because, if you've ever been stuck in the swarm that is a mid-summer Messina queue, you'll know that ordering your one-litre of salted caramel and white chocolate online is a wise decision. Gelato Messina will start delivering in selected areas in Melbourne and Sydney from today. To order your ice cream, go to suppertime.com.au
You're at work. It's an ordinary day. You've been doing your usual tasks and, in a completely unremarkable incident, you happen to notice a stapler. If your first thought is "hmmm, I bet I could set that in a bowl of jelly", then you're obviously a fan of The Office. One of the rare instances where a TV remake is better than the original — it is based on the UK series of the same name, after all — this sitcom about paper company employees is far more amusing than it really has any right to be. In fact, it's downright side-splitting, and it's immensely easy to just keep rewatching. But that's what you get when you round up Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson, Mindy Kaling, Ed Helms, Ellie Kemper and Craig Robinson in the same show, and let all of them break out their comedic best.
