If you've seen the Disney Pixar film Up, chances are this picture is causing you a bit of déjà vu. As part of a new National Geographic television series, How Hard Can It Be, a team of scientists, engineers and balloon pilots recreated the scene from the hit flick in which 78 year-old Carl Frederickson escapes the ennui of his retirement home by tying balloons to his house and flying far away. Ben Howie, executive producer of the show, said the team "found it is actually close to impossible to fly a real house". After two weeks of intense planning, the team was successful in using an enormous cluster of helium balloons to lift a small, lightweight dwelling with several people inside. Each balloon required an entire tank of helium for inflation, and the house rose to a height of 3,500 metres, remaining airborne for around one hour. https://youtube.com/watch?v=C71rb-4_bOk [Via NOTCOT]
Each year for 17 years now, Australian beer lovers have voted on their top craft brews. Only twice has the same tipple won not just for two years in a row, but in three consecutive polls. The first to manage the feat was Feral Brewing Co's Hop Hog from 2012–14. Now, Mountain Culture's Status Quo Pale Ale has also notched up the same achievement, winning from 2022–24. Emerging victorious in the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers poll for 2024, this Mountain Culture sip just keeps living up to its name, clearly. The brew from the New South Wales outfit in the Blue Mountains was anointed 2022's top drop and dubbed 2023's best tipple as well. So, yes, there is indeed a status quo among Australian beer drinkers of late — and it keeps being maintained. This yeasty poll does for beer what Triple J's huge annual music countdown for bangers — and while there's only been two threepeats in the GABS list's history so far, it sure does love repeat winners. In both 2020 and 2021, Canberra's Bentspoke Brewing Co did the honours with its Crankshaft American IPA. In 2022 and 2023, that brew came in third instead, then picked up fourth place in 2024. In second spot this time: Coopers Brewery's Original Pale Ale, taking over from 2017 and 2018 winner Balter Brewing Company, with its Balter XPA notching up third place — slipping down from second in 2022 and 2023. Gage Roads Brewing Co's Single Fin Summer Ale took out fifth spot, followed by Range Brewing's Disco in sixth, Your Mates Brewing Co's Larry in seventh place, Philter Brewing's XPA in eighth, 4 Pines Brewing Company's Japanese Lager in ninth and One Drop Brewing Co's We Jammin' to round out the top ten. Mountain Culture, which is run by husband-and-wife team DJ and Harriet McCready — and has boasted Australian cricketer Pat Cummins as its first investor since November 2024 — also placed 31st with its Cult IPA, 60th with its Be Kind Rewind NEIPA and 87th with its Scenic Route brew. And yes, it had more than a little company. 2024's hottest 100 was whittled down from almost 400 vote-receiving breweries, with 70 different outfits making the list. State by state, Mountain Culture was the best New South Wales brewery, of course, while Coopers was South Australia's top spot, Balter is the highest-ranked Queensland name and Bentspoke flies the flag for the Australian Capital Territory. Bridge Road is Victoria's top representative, while Gage Road and Fox Friday earn that label for Western Australia and Tasmania, respectively. Held by GABS — or the annual festival also known as the Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular, which returns for 2025 this autumn — the countdown is a people's-choice poll decided by booze lovers around the country. If you're thinking "less background, more beer", here's what you've been waiting for: the rundown of the best beverages from the past year that just keep tempting tastebuds. Working your way through the whole 100 isn't just a great way to show your appreciation for locally made brews, either — consider it research for the 2025 countdown. GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2024 1. Mountain Culture Beer Co Status Quo 2. Coopers Brewery Original Pale Ale 3. Balter Brewing XPA 4. BentSpoke Brewing Co Crankshaft 5. Gage Roads Brewing Co Single Fin Summer Ale 6. Range Brewing Disco 7. Your Mates Brewing Co Larry 8. Philter Brewing XPA 9. 4 Pines Brewing Company Japanese Lager 10. One Drop Brewing Co We Jammin' 11. Bridge Road Brewers Beechworth Pale Ale 12. Young Henrys Newtowner 13. Stone & Wood Brewing Co Pacific Ale 14. Blackflag Brewing Rage Juicy Pale Ale 15. Pirate Life Brewing South Coast Pale Ale 16. Rocky Ridge Brewing Co Jindong Juicy 17. Capital Brewing Co Coast Ale 18. Bright Brewery Alpine Lager 19. Seeker Brewing Mystic NEIPA 20. Hawkers Beer West Coast IPA 21. Akasha Brewing Co Freshwater Pale Ale 22. Beerfarm Royal Haze 23. The Grifter Brewing Co Pale 24. Burleigh Brewing Co Burleigh Bighead 25. Black Hops Brewing G.O.A.T. 26. Hop Nation Brewing Co J-Juice 27. Blackman's Brewery Juicy Banger IPL 28. KAIJU! Beer KRUSH! Tropical Pale Ale 29. Reckless Brewing Co BX Lager 30. Fox Friday Craft Brewery Hazy IPA 31. Mountain Culture Beer Co Cult IPA 32. Little Creatures Pale Ale 33. Balter Brewing Eazy Hazy 34. Coopers Brewery Sparkling Ale 35. Mountain Goat Beer GOAT Very Enjoyable Beer 36. 10 Toes Brewery Pipeline 37. Better Beer Zero Carb 38. Hiker Brewing Co Horizon 39. Bodriggy Brewing Company Speccy Juice 40. Little Bang Brewing Co Sun Bear 41. Helios Brewing Co Dionysus Oat Cream DIPA 42. Range Brewing Lights + Music 43. CBCo Brewing CBCo Pale Ale 44. Banks Brewing Cake Eater 45. Moon Dog Craft Brewery Old Mate 46. Shout Brewing Co Mullet Pale Ale 47. Capital Brewing Co Capital XPA 48. Bad Shepherd Brewing Co Peanut Butter Porter 49. BentSpoke Brewing Co Barley Griffin 50. Matso's Mango Beer 51. James Squire One Fifty Lashes 52. Heaps Normal Quiet XPA 53. Margaret River Beer Co In The Pines 54. Moffat Beach Brewing Co Passenger Pale Ale 55. Heads of Noosa Brewing Co Japanese Style Lager 56. Green Beacon Brewing Co Wayfarer Tropical Pale Ale 57. Feral Brewing Co Biggie Juice 58. Wolf of the Willows Brewing Wolf PUP Hazy Pale Ale 59. Hawke's Brewing Hawke's Patio Pale 60. Mountain Culture Beer Co Be Kind Rewind 61. Lightning Minds Pale Ale 62. Balter Brewing Hazy IPA 63. Bridge Road Brewers Bling IPA 64. Sunday Road Brewing Cryotherapy 65. Brewmanity Mouth of Melbourne 66. Big Shed Brewing Concern Boozy Fruit 67. Coopers Brewery Australian Lager 68. Balter Brewing Cerveza 69. Capital Brewing Co Hang Loose Juice Hazy IPA 70. Coopers Brewery XPA 71. 4 Pines Brewing Company Pacific Ale 72. Black Hops Brewing East Coast Haze 73. Stomping Ground Brewing Co Gipps St Pale Ale 74. Byron Bay Brewery Premium Lager 75. Range Brewing Dreams 76. The Grifter Brewing Co Serpents Kiss 77. Wayward Brewing Co Hazy Mid 78. Curly Lewis Brewing Co Bondi Hazy Ale 79. Yulli's Brews Amanda Mandarin IPA 80. Hop Nation Brewing Co Rattenhund 81. Gage Roads Brewing Co Hazy As 82. Blackflag Brewing Affinity Tropical Pale 83. Hawke's Brewing Hawke's Lager 84. Future Magic Brewing Co Hazy Shade of Pale 85. Feral Brewing Co Hop Hog 86. Dangerous Ales Crispy Boi Lager 87. Mountain Culture Beer Co Scenic Route 88. 4 Pines Hazy Brewing Company Pale Ale 89. Gage Roads Brewing Co Side Track All Day XPA 90. Pirate Life Brewing Hazy XPA 91. Fox Friday Craft Brewery Pale Ale 92. Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel Three Sheets Pale Ale 93. BentSpoke Brewing Co Sprocket 94. Burleigh Brewing Co Twisted Palm 95. Mountain Goat Beer Tasty Pale Ale 96. Shelter Brewing Co Hazy IPA 97. White Rabbit Dark Ale 98. Jetty Road Pale Ale 99. Dainton Beer Blood Orange NEIPA 100. Bojak Brewing Calypso For more information about the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2024, head to the GABS website.
Melbourne has proved its love for fried chook will probably never die, with new chicken joints opening up all over town. But there's a new kid on the block you're going to want to take notice of and its name is Pelicana Chicken. A fresh face for Australia, but by no means a youngster, the brand is one of the original masters of Korean-style fried chicken, having launched in the country back in 1982. Currently, there are over 2000 Pelicana stores across South Korea, with another 1000 iterations taking the rest of the world by storm. And, now, the famed brand has landed Down Under, opening its flagship Aussie restaurant on Franklin Street in the CBD. Bringing some bold new flavours to the game, Pelicana's dishing up 11 different fried chicken varieties, from a wasabi and honey butter dusting to the signature sweet, savoury and spicy combination, called 'Pelicana Marinated'. All the chicken is marinated for 24 hours before it's cooked. You can grab a half or full chicken, in either boneless or bone-in pieces, slathered in your choice of coating. Adventurous diners might even be tempted to leave it all to fate, with the 'mystery sauce' option. Other menu favourites include fried chicken wraps, burgers, and a marinated chicken, chips and salad combo dubbed The Aussie Chop. A fiery kimchi soup and tteok-bokki — stir-fried Korean rice cakes — lean a little more traditional. Hold tight for Pelicana's booze list to launch (hopefully) in April and you'll be able to calm those spicier sauces with something a little stronger than kombucha and coconut grape juice. Think, buckets of imported Cass beer, Mountain Goat and Asahi on tap — and a tidy range of Korean soju, too. Find Pelicana Australia's flagship store at 163 Franklin Street, Melbourne. It's open from 11am–11pm daily.
There are plenty of ways to enjoy a blast from the past, but stepping inside a museum is one of the most reliable. Head to the Australian Museum in Sydney right now and a trip back to Peru more than 3000 years ago awaits. For its big summer exhibition for 2024–25, the venue is hosting the Aussie-exclusive season of Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, displaying 134 priceless artefacts including the most-opulent collection of Andean gold that's ever left the South American nation. Move over Egypt: after the Harbour City institution dedicated the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024 to Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs, it's now time to wrap up one year and kick off another with a different journey backwards. Featuring jewels, masks and other treasures, some of which were found in royal tombs, this historical showcase hails from Peru's Museo Larco and Museo de Sito Manuel Chavez Ballon. To make the exhibition's six-month stay even more immersive, a virtual-reality tour of Machu Picchu is also part of the experience (albeit at an extra fee). Six cultures are in the spotlight: Chavín, Moche, Chimú, Nazca, Lambayeque and Inca. The array of items is also organised into six themes, taking attendees through ancient Peruvian societies' beginnings, religious beliefs and traditions, and the power wielded by royalty. Trade, agriculture, and Spanish conquistadors forcing their decline: they're covered as well. Sometimes, visitors will peer at gleaming body ornaments. Sometimes, rare ceramics await. From textiles to ceremonial tools, plus bowls to statuettes, the collection is wide-ranging — including in pairing earthy pottery tones with shining gems and metals (as well as gold, silver and gilded copper also feature). As for the VR, this highlight of the program is the first-ever virtual-reality 'fly-through' of the famous site, which won Best Use of VR at the Lumiere Awards. The experience will get you feeling as if you've been transported both back in time and to the other side of the world — not just via VR, but also 360-degree motion chairs and drone footage. The vision featured was recorded at the World Heritage-listed site when Machu Picchu was closed to visitors during the early days of the pandemic. Sydney is just the fourth place in the world to welcome Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, after the exhibition's stops in Boca Raton in the US, Paris in France and Milan in Italy. "Full of mystery and culture dating back over 14,000 years, Peru is a stunning land of deserts etched with ancient geoglyphs shown in the Nazca Lines, soaring peaks harbouring secret cities like Machu Picchu and awe-inspiring landscapes" said Australian Museum Director and CEO Kim McKay, opening Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru. "We invite visitors to uncover the extraordinary legacy of ancient Peru, by visiting Machu Picchu and The Golden Empires of Peru exclusively here in Sydney. It is a cultural experience right at the top of everyone's travel bucket list." Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru opened at the Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Sydney on Saturday, November 23, 2024 — head to the exhibition website for further details and tickets. Images: Cain Cooper.
If you've got a thing for libraries (and physical books), prepare to be very impressed by the inner west's newest public space. Meet the new state-of-the-art Marrickville Library and adjoining Pavilion. The community hub has made its home on the site of the former Marrickville Hospital, an area now going by the name Patyegarang Place. The new library houses a huge 85,000 books — 20,000 more than its predecessor. It's also three times the size. Aside from being a bookworm's oasis, the three-storey centre boasts a suite of high-tech extras and modern community facilities. There's be a cafe by Marrickville's own Double Roasters with indoor and outdoor seating, a collection of meeting spaces and private study rooms, and more than 1200 square metres of lush gardens. Inside, you'll find 26 computers and a dedicated technology teaching area, as well as a series of specially commissioned public artworks. The new-look build is the work of acclaimed architectural firm BVN and cleverly incorporates modern elements onto the heritage remains of the existing hospital building. It's sporting a sustainable design, with features like environmentally friendly warming and cooling, rainwater tanks, natural light and ventilation systems, and plenty of recycled brick and timber throughout. All these eco-friendly touches have added up to an impressive 25 percent reduction in energy use compared to the old Marrickville Library. It joins Sydney's growing list of shiny new libraries, with the six-story, glass-walled Green Square one opening late last year and the two-storey Darling Square one set to open next month. Find the new Marrickville Library and Pavilion at 313 Marrickville Road, Marrickville. For more information, head to the Inner West Council or BVN website. Updated: August 27, 2019.
From Monday, September 13, outdoor gathering restrictions in NSW are easing to allow fully vaccinated Sydneysiders to gather in groups of five outdoors. This means if you've had both jabs, you can meet up with your equally vaccinated friends and family to enjoy a picnic in the park. To help you celebrate this little slice of freedom, we've rounded up five of the finest picnic hampers available for pick-up or delivery around Sydney. And, if you haven't been able to nab a vaccination appointment just yet, we're all about treating yourself to a hamper anyway — and spending a sun-soaked afternoon with your household in your backyard, balcony or living room digging into the goods. [caption id="attachment_626153" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Stinking Bishops[/caption] THE STINKING BISHOPS Newtown favourite The Stinking Bishops takes selections from its far-reaching cheese range and puts them together with crackers and meats into hampers ideal for sunny days. Choose between the 3 Cheese Hamper ($65), Cheese and Meat Hamper ($95) or Ultimate Hamper ($110), all featuring mixes of different handpicked cheeses ranging from the soft and melty to the blue and stinky variety. Depending on which hamper you choose, you'll also be treated to the likes of quince paste, grapes and smoked wagyu. If you like a bit of mystery and surprise in your life, or you just hate choosing, you can opt for the Stinking Mystery Hampers ($50-200) which can include anything from cheeses and cured meats to bottles of wine. The shop offers delivery throughout Greater Sydney and free delivery for orders within five kilometres. Same-day and next-day delivery are both available depending on how far away you live and how early you order. SHERATON GRAND Throughout lockdown, Sheraton is bringing its indulgent high tea feasts into your home with a series of fancy boxes filled with cakes, meats, cheese and an array of next-level treats. On offer is the High Tea Box ($69), the Cheese and Charcuterie Box ($79), the Feeling Feasty At Home Box ($189) and the Picnic Indulgence Box ($125) — perfect for a stint in the park with friends or a Saturday afternoon at home with a housemate. In the picnic indulgence box you'll find a selection of seasonal fruit pots, locally sourced cheeses, chicken coleslaw sandwiches on house-made focaccia, pastries, roast veggies and charcuterie. To take things up a notch, you can add a bottle of Moet to any of the boxes for $50. Orders can be collected between 11am–3pm Friday–Sunday from Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park. Delivery is organised through Uber's Package Delivery via the Uber app. CENTENNIAL HOMESTEAD Located inside Centennial Park, Centennial Homestead offers picnic hampers for you to enjoy in the green surroundings of the inner city parkland. The hampers are $40 per person for a minimum of two people and come with a spread of dry-aged prosciutto, salami, pickles, olives, grapes, triple cream brie, vintage cheddar and sweet potato hummus. Alongside the cheese and meat spread, you'll receive your choice of sandwich from the cafe and a rocket, witlof, red cabbage, beetroot, grapefruit and orange salad, before finishing things off with a belgian chocolate mousse and fruit salad. The picnic hampers are available for pre-order via the Homestead's website and can be picked up from within the park. SYDNEY PICNIC CO Sydney Picnic Co founders Simon and Natalie Thomas pride themselves on filling your picnics with tasty hand-prepared food. Their picnic hampers range from $160–225 and come with everything you need for a memorable meal in the great outdoors. On the more affordable side of things is The Wind and the Willows pack ($160) which comes packed with marinated olives, spiced chickpea puree, buffalo mozzarella seasoned with lemon, chilli and mint, a couple of cheeses, a stack of veggies from charred asparagus to roasted beetroot and decadent chocolate brownies. However, the star of the hampers has to be The Secret Garden ($175), which offers up a spread of burrata with charred zucchini and shallots, vintage manchego, heirloom tomatoes and La Boqueria charcuterie, alongside hot smoked trout and roast chicken with kipfler potatoes and pickled peppers, and miso caramel brownies for dessert. Sydney Picnic Co is currently closed for orders but is reopening on Wednesday, September 15, so be sure to bookmark these hampers for then. You can order delivery to your home or chosen picnic location within the majority of Sydney's CBD, eastern suburbs, inner west and north shore, or you can pick up from its Surry Hills base. [caption id="attachment_696561" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Smallbone[/caption] BUILD YOUR OWN There are plenty of Sydney spots that have everything you need to tailor-make your own picnic hamper. Pick and choose from Continental Deli's list of canned goods, cheeses and sandwiches. You can even order yourself some canned cocktails to really complete the experience. Cornersmith has an abundance of pickled goods, relishes and cocktail syrups that will elevate any picnic, and offers at-home pickling classes so you can DIY your own tasty treats for your next park session. Or, Fabbrica has just about everything you could possibly need for a luxe spread. Wagyu bresaola, Ortiz anchovies, Pepus clams, house-made quince jam, blocks of gruyere, goat's and buffalo blue cheese and mortadella sandwiches are all available for delivery via UberEats. Finally, if you're keen to go all out (after all, you deserve it), The Star's at Home menu includes takeaway sushi boxes from Sokyo featuring 16 delicate pieces of fresh seafood from salmon to kingfish; ocean trout and snapper. Go all out and choose a selection from each. The sky's the limit when you're putting the hamper together yourself. You can stay up to date with the developing COVID-19 situation in Sydney, as well as current restrictions, at NSW Health. Top image: Anna Kucera
Budding pitmasters won't want to miss Meatstock Sydney – Australia's foremost festival celebrating all things barbecue. Taking over Sydney Showground from Friday, May 9–Sunday, May 11, this three-day event is loaded with succulent flavours alongside a smokin' hot program of live music and entertainment. Many of the city's barbecue kings and queens will be in attendance, with the likes of Smoky Sue's, Hangry Wolf BBQ and BlackBear BBQ serving up an extravaganza of low- and slow-cooked goodness. Once your hunger is satisfied, at least for the moment, it's time to dive into a grill-tastic event schedule. First up, the Strongman Championship will see some of the toughest men and women compete to see who's the most powerful of them all. For something a little more lighthearted, the Better Beer Dad Bod Contest & Beard and Mo War sees competitors show off their goods in one of the festival's favourite annual events. There's also the BBQ and Butcher Wars, where local and international pitmasters and butchers come together to share tips and techniques to improve your skills on the tongs. Plus, the Jack Daniel's Live Music Stage features performances from beloved acts that'll amp up the atmosphere, including Bliss n Eso, Illy and Furnace & The Fundamentals.
This year has seen an explosion of dining precincts open within Sydney's major developments. In 2019 alone, our city has welcomed the Barrack Place laneway and the Green Square dining precinct in the Infinity Building, as well as Darling Square's final retailers within Electric Treat Street and the Exchange Building's Maker's Dozen food hall. Not to mention two major announcements for 2020 openings within the South Eveleigh precinct. Next up is Quay Quarter Lanes, which will open as part of the massive new Quay Quarter Sydney precinct in late 2020. It'll be located on Loftus Lane — between Young and Loftus streets behind Customs House — in Circular Quay, and will span specialty cafes, all-day restaurants and late-night bars, plus boutique shops and 106 luxury apartments up top. Once completed, it will boast 20 retailers all up. The only restaurant to be announced so far is by New Zealand restaurateur Scott Brown — he's responsible for Auckland's much loved Italian restaurant Amano. Brown's new sustainable and seasonal concept will open within the heritage-listed Hinchcliff House on Young Street. The sizeable four-storey old wool store covers 1000 square metres will be restored as part of the project — as will Circular Quay's second remaining wool store, Gallipoli Club. Sydney-based Wiradjuri-Kamilaroi artist Jonathan Jones has been commissioned to create a site-specific installation for the laneway — his work aims to draw attention to issues including climate change, land management and the disappearance of unique Aboriginal languages and cultures. The food-filled space is set just across from the Quay Quarter Tower, the precinct's 50-storey glass skyscraper, which is slated for a late 2022 opening. It's all part of a $2.7 billion development by AMP Capital — which is also looking after the $140-million Marrickville Metro upgrade and its own massive dining precinct. Once finished, the Quarter Quay Sydney precinct will span 11,000-square-metres (or over two city blocks) of prime Circular Quay real estate. By its 2022 completion date, over 50 retail tenancies will be included in the precinct. Quay Quarter Lanes is set to open to the public in late 2020, and the full Quarter Quay Sydney precinct will open by late 2022.
Subscription-based meal delivery services are hot stuff in Australia right now, with time-stretched folk jumping at the chance to minimise their nightly kitchen slog. And while the pickings have been woefully slim for plant-based eaters wanting in on the convenience, that's all set to change with the arrival of the country's first all-vegan food delivery service, Freshara. Already on offer in over 300 suburbs across Melbourne and Sydney, the newcomer works in a similar way to its carnivorous counterparts, delivering subscribers a weekly package of portioned meals — except these ones are entirely vegan. As an added bonus, all that packaging your food arrives in is fully recyclable. In addition to steering clear of all animal products, the sustainability-focused brand has skipped out on the preservatives and kept meals low GI, with many of the dishes also gluten-free. Freshara's already got a 40-strong menu of globally-inspired dishes, which is being added to each week, thanks to a kitchen team helmed by executive chef Troy Tam, who's worked at Rockpool and Fratelli Fresh. Expect the likes of jungle curry, fregola sarda with orecchiette, and a Moroccan chickpea and cous cous tagine. Subscriptions start at $119.40 per week for 12 meals, and meals work out to be around $9-10 each.
If you're starting to think hard about next year's travel plans, we've got a stay that warrants an extra stop on the list — and it's not a beachfront villa or five-star skyrise. South Island sheep and cattle farm Lake Hāwea Station is the only New Zealand property to have made Condé Nast's prestigious Gold List of accommodation options for 2023. Now in its third decade, the international publication's hand-selected Gold List consists of the international team of writers' favourite places to stay around the world. And, recognised for its eco-practices and luxe transformation of the farm's historic cottages, Lake Hāwea Station made the cut in the publishing house's Best Sustainable Hotels category. [caption id="attachment_882820" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thomas Greenway[/caption] We can see why — just 15 minutes from Wanaka, Lake Hāwea Station is the first certified carbon-zero farm in Australasia, offering travellers an authentic farm experience while they stay on-site in one of its four luxe accommodation options. In their notes, Condé Nast editors wrote that it was "simply, one of the most impressive, can't-believe-this-place-could-possibly-exist retreats you'll ever be lucky enough to stay in." "[The] property's true point of difference is its pioneering ethos in New Zealand's approach to cultivation and sustainability." [caption id="attachment_882821" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thomas Greenway[/caption] The farm has four accommodation options available: the three-bedroom glass-walled Lake House, the studio-like Little L tiny house (which comes complete with a miniature library), the simple two-bedroom Homespur cottage and the historic Packhouse cottage, which sleeps six. All houses boast stellar lake views, outdoor firepits, hot tubs and outdoor dining. [caption id="attachment_882819" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thomas Greenway[/caption] Owners Jussie and Geoff Ross received recognition for their renovation and transformation of the 16,000-acre property which they purchased in 2018. They were also recognised for the farm's focus on animal welfare practices, enhanced farm biodiversity and their work to slow climate change — including the planting of more than 100,000 native trees. [caption id="attachment_882818" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thomas Greenway[/caption] Jussie says that it's a sign of a changing travel industry to see a working farm on a list usually reserved for luxury hotels. "It shows that high-end travellers want to be part of a climate-positive experience," she said in a statement. "In an age of increasing demand for both climate action and transparency, Lake Hāwea Station immerses its guests in every aspect of their fight for the climate." [caption id="attachment_882817" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thomas Greenway[/caption] Lake Hawea Station is the only New Zealand property to be crowned in Conde Nast's Gold List for 2023. You can find more info about the station's sustainability practices — and perhaps book your stay — on the official website. Top image: Thomas Greenway
When the most famous and iconic performance venue in Australia gives itself a makeover, everyone should sit up and take notice. Everyone should make a date to go sit in its seats, to be precise. Obviously, Sydney Opera House is the site in question — and its largest performance space, the Concert Hall, is about to welcome back in patrons after spending the last two years undergoing a huge revamp. The Opera House has been getting spruced up for the past ten years, actually, as part of its decade of renewal project. The Concert Hall transformation is the final and largest piece of the puzzle. In total, as funded by the New South Wales Government, almost $300 million has been spent in capital works to upgrade the Opera House overall, all leading up to its big 50th anniversary. Plenty of events are planned to mark that occasion. The first, an Australian-exclusive season of Amadeus starring Masters of Sex, Tron: Legacy, The Queen and Twilight actor Michael Sheen, has just been announced ahead of the full program. And, that blockbuster show will indeed make use of the new Concert Hall — which is looking absolutely stunning. Wondering what's changed in the Concert Hall since it closed in February 2020? A number of things, although it remains one of the world's largest and longest performing arts halls, hosting 2600 people. While respecting the space's heritage, it has now gained state-of-the-art theatre machinery and staging systems which'll help broaden the range of shows it can host — still spanning everything from classical music and contemporary concerts through to theatre and more, of course. The acoustics have also been improved for both artists and audiences, covering orchestral and amplified performances. Getting technical, there's now 18 new acoustic reflectors above the stage instead of the old acrylic versions, all finished in a magenta hue that matches the Concert Hall seats. And, the space has gained special acoustic diffusion panels as well, which are key to balancing sound — and making sure it sounds true — for non-amplified gigs. Onstage, automated risers now assist the musicians in hearing each other more clearly, and there's an automated draping system that makes it easier to switch between orchestral and amplified mode — dampening reverberation, crucially. Also, if the stage looks lower, that's because it is by 400 millimetres to improve sightlines, and make shows feel more intimate. And, in the ceiling, there's a new theatre flying system. It helps fly a greater range of lighting and scenery, which means that the Concert Hall can stage larger-scale and more ambitious shows. Enhanced access for people with mobility needs has been an essential part of the revamp as well, including a new lift and passageway that ensures wheelchair users and people with limited mobility can access all levels of the Concert Hall (even the Northern Foyer) independently. Accessible seating positions have doubled, too, in both the stalls and boxes. If you're keen to see the results, the Concert Hall reopens to the public on Wednesday, July 20. Expect its calendar to get mighty packed from there on in. Unveiling the revamp, Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron AM said that the venue is "thrilled to be welcoming the community back to the renewed Concert Hall. Artists and audiences are set to experience world-class acoustics in a venue that is more accessible, safer and better equipped to present the full breadth of 21st century performance." "We have been working towards this moment for a long time and are incredibly grateful to the NSW Government and to everyone else involved in making this once-in-a-lifetime project possible," Herron continued. Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall reopens to the public on Wednesday, July 20. For more information, head to the venue's website. Images: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images for Sydney Opera House / Daniel Boud.
The OXO multicharger is like an executive penthouse for your devices. Technology enthusiasts can now charge their favourite devices in a slick and convenient home. It features a stainless steel bed that can house up to three devices. This bed is lined with soft ribs to prevent the device from scratching or slipping, and can then be raised in a swinging motion meaning that devices never have to be unplugged. Underneath there are individual cord slots which prevent any cords from tangling with one another. Then all you have to do is simply plug the device charger into the outlets, which accommodate for any adapter worldwide. A four foot power cord then connects the OXO multicharger to a power source. This is a helpful tool for those who remain forgetful about which devices they have and haven't charged. Now you can keep up to three of them in one spot, and ensure that they're always on full battery. This is also a good way to take good care of the pieces of technology that have been such an integral part of your life.
When bushfires swept through the Snowy Mountains in January 2020, Selwyn Snow Resort in Cabramurra sustained extensive damage. Unsurprisingly, the facility didn't operate during winter, spending the past focusing on clean-up and redevelopment efforts instead — and it has just announced exactly what's in store as part of its rebuild. A reopening date hasn't yet been set, but work has now started on the site, after planning approval was received last month. Also pivotal: the signing of a new 40-year lease between the New South Wales Government and the Blyton Group, the venue's owner. Accordingly, the resort is sticking around for the long haul, and it has big plans. That includes a new L-shaped Selwyn Centre, which'll house all guest facilities and services in one building — spanning ski and snowboard hire, lockers, ticketing, food and drink venues, seating and the kids club. There'll also be a new resort operations centre, where mountain staff will be based, complete with a new ski patrol setup. The staff accommodation will be moved, the chairlift will be upgraded and extended, and the snowmaking infrastructure will get a makeover. [caption id="attachment_802692" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Render of new Selwyn Centre[/caption] Also on the agenda: two new snow carpets just for perfecting turns — and, as part of a bigger and relocated toboggan park, another 150-metre snow carpet. The latter facility will also score a platform atop its slope, and the snow sports learning area will move into the toboggan park's former space, giving it more room. Mainly aimed at children but also bound to welcome the young at heart, a Winter Wonderland will join the resort, too. Taking pride of place will be a skating rink that can operate in all conditions, and also double as a bumper car arena. Visitors will be able to walk through a miniature enchanted village, and take snowshoe walking tours of Kosciuszko National Park. Strictly for the littlies, there'll be a tubing carousel and kid snowmobiles. Selwyn Snow Resort will implement a new ticketing system as well, when it's ready to reopen. Announcing the rebuilding plan, Blyton Group Chairman Kevin James Blyton noted that "in the aftermath of the fires, we committed to building a bigger and better Selwyn and we meant it. I'm very pleased that the long-term future of Selwyn Snow Resort has been secured. Selwyn Snow Resort has been the place for thousands of families to learn to ski or snowboard over the years and I'm very pleased that this will continue for generations to come". Selwyn Snow Resort is rebuilding at its existing site at 213A Kings Cross Road, Cabramurra, New South Wales. A reopening date hasn't yet been announced — head to the resort website to keep an eye on the project's progress.
Villeneuve, Denis Villeneuve: that's who is next helming cinema's biggest spy franchise, with the filmmaker locked in to direct the 26th Bond movie. The film doesn't yet have a title. If you're wondering who'll be drinking shaken — not stirred — martinis as 007, that hasn't been announced yet, either. But putting Villeneuve in the director's chair is an impressive development, especially given his recent track record. Since 2017, taking on big-name sagas has been Villeneuve's remit. It has worked spectacularly well so far. Accordingly, after Blade Runner 2049, then Dune and Dune: Part Two — plus the upcoming Dune: Messiah — he'll move into Bond's espionage realm. [caption id="attachment_763765" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nicola Dove © 2019 DANJAQ, LLC AND MGM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.[/caption] "Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007. I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr No with Sean Connery. I'm a die-hard Bond fan.To me, he's sacred territory. I intend to honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also incredibly exciting for me and a huge honour," said Villeneuve in a statement "Denis Villeneuve has been in love with James Bond movies since he was a little boy. It was always his dream to make this movie, and now it's ours, too. We are lucky to be in the hands of this extraordinary filmmaker," added producers Amy Pascal (Challengers) and David Heyman (Wonka). Amazon MGM Studios is behind the new take on the British agent. Villeneuve is also one of the film's executive producers, as is Tanya Lapointe — with the latter also working with the former on his Dune flicks. Everything from there, including the movie's plot and cast, is still to be revealed. If you want to start wondering whether the Sicario and Arrival filmmaker might enlist his Dune lead Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown) as 007, that's up to you. Speculation about who'll next portray the character has been swirling since Daniel Craig (Queer) left the part following No Time to Die. There's no shortage of names being floated for the role by the internet, including Aaron Taylor-Johnson (28 Years Later), Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge), Theo James (The Monkey), Henry Cavill (Argylle), James Norton (Playing Nice) and Jack Lowden (Slow Horses) — and anyone else you can think of. Whoever gets the part, they'll be in excellent past company. Sean Connery smouldering his way through everything from Dr No to Diamonds Are Forever, Roger Moore stepping into 007's shoes between Live and Let Die and A View to A Kill, Timothy Dalton's two-film run in The Living Daylights and Licence To Kill, Pierce Brosnan's stint as the secret agent between GoldenEye and Die Another Day, Daniel Craig's contributions from Casino Royale onwards, Aussie actor George Lazenby's one-movie appearance as James in On Her Majesty's Secret Service: that's the Bond lineup since 1962. There's no sneak peek yet at the 26th Bond film, obviously, but check out the trailer for No Time to Die below: There's no word yet when the 26th Bond film will release, or its title — we'll update you when more details are revealed. Denis Villeneuve images: Raph_PH via Flickr.
Open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only, this Italian trattoria in Ettalong is where you'll want to sink into a cosy seat with an espresso martini and a grazing platter of European cured meats and cheeses. Create your own grazing board from the bar's antipasti selection from $14–32, from the 24-month aged prosciutto di parma to the soft, three-months aged gorgonzola from Lombardy. Or load up on side dishes like burrata and truffle oil, Ortiz anchovies, or sea urchin roe, all served with the famed sourdough from Osteria Il Coccia (around the corner). As it's local to Osteria Il Coccia, it's an excellent place to pop into on your way to or from dinner, but if you'd rather keep things casual there's nonna's famous meatballs with fior di latte and a range of mini cocktails to keep you busy. [caption id="attachment_776806" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] Classic cocktails and house favourites linger around the $17–18 range, plus there's a daily happy hour from 4.30–5.30pm with minis priced at $5.50 a pop. Those fond of a caffeine kick should look to the coffee cocktail menu; you can choose from five flavours — caramel, coconut, hazelnut, fernet or classic — for a drink made with onyx cold brew coffee from the Hunter Valley and either tequila, vodka or rum. Not drinking? There's a substantial range of no- or low-alcohol cocktails and sodas here, too.
Fifty years, oh-so-many epic campaigns, and everything from movies to video games, too: that's the Dungeons & Dragons story. 2024 marks half a century since the tabletop roleplaying game first had its players rolling the dice and spinning fantasy tales, a milestone that's being celebrated Down Under with the Australasian premiere of Dungeons & Dragons' leap to the stage. Get excited about DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern. Normally a trip to the theatre means engaging via watching, not by playing a part; however, that fittingly isn't the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern experience. Audience members don't simply view this version of the game — they also play along, choosing the characters and helping shape the story. Here's how it works, as Australians have been able to discover at the Sydney Opera House Studio since Sunday, December 15, 2024: when you take your seat, you're a key aspect of the show. Entering the Forgotten Realms, you also pick the experiences and other elements of the performance using Gamiotics software, with more than 30 playable characters, 34 backgrounds and 28 combat effects involved. Still on numbers, the production also features 40-plus custom character illustrations, 40 item cards and over 300 individual pieces of content. Five actors take to the stage to bring all of the above to life, including via games, combat, puzzles and riddles — and, because of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern's interactive nature, they're not just performing the same roles each time. Shaking things up for the audience and the cast alike, this experience is never the same twice. Images: Daniel Boud.
Sydney's ever-expanding Vietnamese chain Eat Fuh ended 2020 on a high note, opening a new store in the fast-growing suburb of Eveleigh. In honour of the Year of the Ox, this new store is gaining two limited-time dishes from chef, restaurateur and TV presenter Kylie Kwong and Eat Fuh director Hoang Nguyen. On offer is Nguyen's bánh xèo, a crispy, savoury crepe and Kwong's Long Life hokkien noodles. Both dishes are inspired by the creators' cultural heritage and created thanks to collaborations between family and community members. The egg noodles used in Kwong's dish were created by her Uncle Jimmy, while the sauce was made by Nguyen's mother and Eat Fuh founder Hanny Tang. Both dishes also incorporate native edible plants grown on-site at South Eveleigh's native rooftop farm that tie the food to the First Nations history of the area. In the bánh xèo, you'll find the native succulent karkalla and in the hokkien noodles you'll find native bush mint. The dishes are available exclusively at Eat Fuh, South Eveleigh for six days between Tuesday, February 16 and Thursday, February 25. Images: Kitti Gould
It's a big year for TEDxSydney this year. But, then again, it's always a big year for our local offshoot from the the global ideas-fest TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design). TEDxSydney is in its third year of bringing thinkers and listeners together on and near the Carriageworks' knee-toughening floors. It comes, as usual, in three parts: a cavalcade of awesome, expert and/or entertaining speakers, an audience of interesting, rich and/or powerful people paying to sit in the the main auditorium and the public at large outside, looking in. To facilitate that last role the Carriageworks' cavernous foyer is offering a simulcast of events live from inside the auditorium, giant bean bags and a character-building environment for your knees. This years'speakers include corpus-animating linguist Kate Burridge, shipping container roboticist Hugh Durrant-Whyte and World Herbivorist Angela Moles, not to mention music from the likes of part-time Whitlam Tim Freedman, the Stiff Gins and Katie Noonan. If you can't make on the day, check out our coverage on Twitter and follow along on the live stream on YouTube. Image by Daniel Boud.
In need of a foolproof cure for those Monday blues? Make your way over to Cleveland street favourite 505 for an evening of jazz and board games. This artist-run spot has something going on pretty much every night of the week but we're especially big fans of the Monday jazz and boardgame sessions. The in-house game selection is big enough to include childhood classics and new favourites, and your game-playing will be accompanied by smooth sounds by supremely-talented musicians from Australia and abroad. Throw in a few snacks from the Italianesque menu and a couple of craft beers, and Mondays might just become one of your favourite days of the week.
A stunning new dining experience has arrived in Sydney's inner west, courtesy of restaurateur Bill Drakopoulos (Ormeggio at The Spit, LuMi Dining, Ripples Chowder Bay, Chiosco by Ormeggio and Jardin St James). The Fenwick, a heritage-listed waterfront building, reopened as a cafe and gallery last week. It boasts sweeping harbour views, seasonal fare and exhibitions by local and international artists. The tiny sandstone space was built in the 1880s and was originally used as a tugboat store. Heaps of private development proposals were rejected before the building was finally acquired by the former Leichhardt Council in 2003 (now part of the Inner West Council), thanks to a campaign by local Balmain East residents. After a restoration that cost millions, The Fenwick is finally open to the public. To us, the space better resembles a chapel — think a pitched roof, exposed timber beams and large barn doors that open out to views across Barangaroo, the Harbour Bridge and Luna Park. At the simple yet sleek cafe, co-owner and executive chef Davide Rebeccato (Aqua Dining) is serving up modern Australian eats with a focus on seasonal dishes. For breakfast, expect scrambled eggs served on French toast and topped with prawns and eggplant; pulled pork breakfast burgers with fried egg and cabbage slaw; and poached eggs on sourdough with haloumi, mushrooms, avocado and kale. Apart from all those eggs, you can tuck into homemade granola with fresh fruit and berry compote pancakes with banana, coconut and pistachio crumble. More refined fare is on offer for lunch, including pickled sardines, burrata with prosciutto and figs, and jalapeño kingfish with tiger milk. Larger plates feature snapper tail served in a lemon and garlic butter sauce; fish stew with fregola, olives and capers; and wild mushroom and black truffle gnocchi. For the morning, the cafe is slinging Little Marionette coffee and cold pressed juices. Once the arvo hits, a specialty cocktail list will accompany lunch — it includes the Chamomile Kicker (chamomile-infused gin, elderflower liqueur, lime juice and egg), the Lavender Martini (gin, Amaro Nonino, lavender syrup and lime) and the Dark Chocolate Negroni (gin, Campari, Regal Rouge vermouth and dark chocolate bitters). Jugs of Pimm's Cup and rosé spritzes are also up for grabs, as are heaps of local and international wine by the glass and bottle. Level twos houses the public gallery, which will be open daily and offers regular exhibitions featuring local and international artists. Creative events held in partnership with other local galleries and community groups are also on the docket. Keep an eye on this space for upcoming exhibitions and events. The Fenwick is now open at 2-8 Weston Street, Balmain East. Cafe opening hours are for breakfast 7–10.30am and lunch noon–5pm daily.
One of the most universally liked and fabled foods in Italian cuisine, the pizza is both a simple and sublime creation. The birthplace of the modern pizza is the Italian city of Naples and The Argyle have wisely gone straight to the source for their new pizza-heavy Canteen menu, recruiting Naples-born chef Andrea Fontana to run the woodfired oven and source ingredients from the northern Italian region. Authenticity is a key word here, and the results are stunning — a significant upgrade for this always popular Rocks venue. Having had stints in pizzerias at home and in London, Fontana is passionate about bringing the authentic tastes of his home city to a Sydney clientele which has grown increasingly refined and educated in their pizza-loving tastes. Featuring fresh ingredients, the pizzas here are made on dough which is proofed for 24 hours before entering the woodfire oven, where it is cooked in just 45 seconds to give it that authentic melt in the mouth softness with gnarled and bubbled edges. Favourites on the pizza menu include the classic San Daniele ($18), with prosciutto and fresh, peppery rocket, and the capricciosa ($15), with the salty hit of the olives cutting through the tomato and mozzarella gooeyness. Fontana's own favourite, meanwhile, is the excellent quattro formaggi ($15) with gorgonzola, crecenza and generous shavings of parmesan as well as the famously creamy Campania mozzarella. It's an impressively creamy and rich affair, and has already been described as the best pizza of its kind in Sydney by at least one satisfied punter. While the pizzas are their pride and joy, there's also a range of Italian-accented entrees, like stuffed zucchini blossoms ($17), bruschetta ($10) and porcini mushroom and four cheese arancini ($10). Even the bistro staples offer a bit of a twist, with the Caesar salad ($17) including slow-cooked eggs and subbing out bacon and croutons for speck and house-made grissini in a bid to up the stakes on an often stodgy option. Of the starters, the house-made chunky sweet potato chips are particularly recommended, making good use of the often underrated vegetable's fluffy texture and slightly nutty taste. There are also some Italian side salads, like the insalata radicchio ($12), which nicely balances the bitterness of radicchio with slivers of sweet pear and gorgonzola. The familiar, dimly lit room with its exposed beams and casual layout are still intact, as is the well-stocked bar, which includes some nice wine options from Italy and France as well as locals like the Kiwi Opawa Pinot Noir ($12.50/$55). Aperitifs include an expertly made example of the drink that bartenders drink, the Negroni. Because too much pizza is never actually enough, you'll be wanting to double down on deliciousness with a Nutella pizza ($15) for dessert. Slathered in the rich hazelnut spread and topped with pretty sliced strawberries, it's an indulgent and fitting end to a first-rate pizza feast.
When Victoria's March long weekend arrives each year, festivalgoers have two reasons to head out of town — or head to the state from interstate — for a few days of tunes. Both are beloved parts of the cultural calendar. Both are such a hit that you need to enter a ballot to get tickets. And just as Golden Plains has already done, Pitch Music & Arts is announcing it 2025 details. Everyone should make the trip to the Grampians at least once, and here's as ace an excuse to do so as any: the return of the much-loved camping festival, which will host its eighth edition, taking over Moyston again. There's no lineup just yet — it drops on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 — but the 2025 dates have been locked in. The long-running celebration unleashes its fun across the Grampian Plains, with next years' festivities happening from Friday, March 7–Tuesday, March 11. Not only will its three stages play host to a sparkling lineup of local and international musical talent, as always, but the tunes will be backed by a hefty program of interactive art and installations. Basically, no matter who makes it onto the bill, attendees are in for a very big, very busy four days. Joy Orbison's 'flight fm' and 'better' have been used in teaser videos for 2025's fest so far, so that could be a lineup hint. 2024's roster featured Gerd Janson, I Hate Models, Job Jobse, Spray, XCLUB, Bambonou, Chippy Nonstop, Narciss, Mac Declos, Sedef Adasï and Hasvat Informant, among others, if you're wondering which type of electronic acts that Pitch usually welcomes. The ticket ballot is currently open — and is a necessity after the last three festivals all sold out — ahead of the program reveal; however, you can get excited now about a bigger Pitch One stage, Pitch Black getting a revamp and the Resident Advisor stage's red orb being part of the fun again. In between all the dance-floor sessions and arty things, festivalgoers will again be able to make themselves at home in the Pitch Pavilion, which is where yoga classes, meditation and sound baths usually help patrons unwind. The local-focused Club Serra will be new in 2025, championing homegrown talent. Pitch Music & Arts will return to Moyston from Friday, March 7–Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Head to the festival's website for further details, or to enter the ballot. The lineup will drop on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, with tickets sale details announced then as well. Top Images: Duncographic, William Hamilton Coates, Max Roux and Ashlea Caygill.
Perhaps your dog's happy bark or cat's "feed me" meow regularly brightens up your day. Maybe when you're walking around Sydney, you pay extra attention to any chirping birds that you can hear. Whichever fits, you'll be able to listen to quite a few more animal sounds in Barangaroo during this year's Biennale of Sydney, with the three-month-long art event set to host the Australian premiere of The Great Animal Orchestra. Some performances have spot-on names and this is one of them, with the immersive work by soundscape ecologist Bernie Krause and London-based collective United Visual Artists featuring noises from 15,000 animal species, all recorded by Krause in 1300 wild habitats over the past 50 years. Including sounds from tropical grasslands, savannahs and Arctic tundra, the piece is designed to take listeners on a rare journey into the natural world — and to get the audience not only appreciating the beauty and the intricacy of all of these non-human sounds, but to realise what could be lost as the planet changes. Keeping your ears peeled is just one part of of The Great Animal Orchestra, however, with United Visual Artists pairing Krause's soundscape with vivid visualisations. The imagery draws upon each animal's contribution to the overall piece, including critters from vulnerable habitats in Africa, North America, the Pacific Ocean and the Amazonas. Sydneysiders will be able to experience the results for free during the Biennale of Sydney, with The Great Animal Orchestra setting up at Barangaroo's Stargazer Lawn from Saturday, March 12–Monday, June 13 — but with timed and ticketed entry. Expect to have company; in its Paris season, the installation saw more than 200,000 people head along, while it has also proven popular everywhere from Shanghai, Seoul and London to Milan and Boston. If you're wondering exactly what you're in for, Krause, who has a history of working with The Doors and on film scores such as Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now, explains that "this is the tuning of the great animal orchestra, the planet's deeply connected expression of natural sounds and rhythm. It is likely that the origins of every piece of music we enjoy and word we speak come, at some point, from this collective voice. When we lived closer to the natural world, we sang as part of that animal chorus. Now we have a disconnect, we are not quite as healthy, vibrant or aware of the world around us." José Roca, Artistic Director of this year's 23rd Biennale of Sydney, described it as "stepping into a soundproofed black-box theatre whose walls spring to life with overlapping electrocardiograms, representing different species' sounds." Originally commissioned by commissioned by Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain (Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art), the installation will also include a shallow reflecting pool — "which translates the deepest sounds of the ocean," Roca notes — as well as cushions for sitting on while you take in the sensory experience. The 2022 Biennale of Sydney will run across the same dates as The Great Animal Orchestra, popping up in venues including The Cutaway at Barangaroo Reserve, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Circular Quay, Information + Cultural Exchange, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, National Art School in partnership with Artspace, The Rocks and Walsh Bay Arts Precinct including Pier 2/3 across the city. This year's theme, Rīvus, means 'stream' in Latin — and yes, that pool and those ocean noises give this certain standout a H2O-centric skew, too. The Great Animal Orchestra will run from Saturday, March 12–Monday, June 13 at Stargazer Lawn, Barangaroo — open from 10am–5pm daily, and also from 5–9pm on Wednesday evenings. Admission is free, but bookings are required. For further information or to register, head to the Biennale of Sydney website. Images: Mark Pokorny
Sydney's seen a few ball pits roll through in the past few of years. There have been pink ones in dessert 'museums', beach-themed pop-ups and pits filled with one million balls. Now, one of the CBD's underground bars is bringing back its own ball-filled playground. For three nights this January, Side Bar is hosting the ultimate adults-only Ball Pit Party. The party will run from 8pm all the way through till 3am every night across the long weekend of January 24–26. During this seven-hour event, the basement of the eight-story Pitt Street heritage building will be filled with over 250,000 glowing balls, confetti canons, neon cocktail buckets and a lineup of Sydney DJ favourites. Tickets will be available on the door, but if you want to plan your night of balls and booze ahead of time, queue-jump tickets are on sale now for $15.
The National Gallery of Victoria has just announced its 2019-20 Spring/Summer program — and it's sure to get more than a few people excited. Last winter, the NGV saw over 200 works from New York's famed MoMA and over summer it housed the Escher x Nendo: Between Two Worlds — an exhibition showcasing the works of both Dutch artist M.C. Escher and Japanese design studio Nendo. So, it had some big shoes to fill. Its summer blockbuster, announced this morning, is Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines — and the NGV has succeeded in bringing yet another world-class exhibition to Australian shores. Similar to the Escher x Nendo and 2016's Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei exhibitions, it will showcase an intersection between the two artists' lives, ideas and practices, delving into their radicalism, socio-political standings and distinctive imagery. A world-premiere retrospective exclusive to Melbourne, Crossing Lines will feature over 300 works, including Haring's iconic dancing figures and Basquiat's crown and head motifs throughout a collection of painting, sculpture, objects, drawings, photographs, notebooks and pieces in public spaces. The exhibition will also house the artists' collaborations with some of the world's most-celebrated pop culture icons, including Andy Warhol, Grace Jones and Madonna. [caption id="attachment_717213" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Untitled 1982, Keith Haring, copyright Keith Haring Foundation.[/caption] On top of this stellar exhibition, the NGV will also host a number of smaller (yet no less impressive) exhibitions over spring and summer, including a look at New Jersey artist Brian Donnelly (aka KAWS) in Companionship In The Age Of Loneliness, and a collection of hyperreal photographs by Sydney-based artist Petrina Hicks in Bleached Gothic. A photography exhibition featuring the works of over 100 contemporary photographers from around the world, and a solo show by Australian photographer Polixeni Papapetrou round out the list. Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines will run from December 1, 2019—April 13, 2020 at the National Gallery of Victoria International, Melbourne. Top images: Portrait of Keith Haring by William Coupon; Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, copyright George Hirose; Untitled 1982, Jean-Michel Basquiat, copyright estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Paddington's El Primo Sanchez is switching things up with its food offering, replacing its sit-down format with a brand-new taqueria-style menu. Guided by newly appointed Head Chef Diego Sotelo (Rico's Tacos), he's bringing his Guadalajaran roots to Primo's Taco Corner — a build-your-own fiesta where guests get to shape their perfect bite. To celebrate the occasion, El Primo Sanchez is slinging $5 tacos all week from Wednesday, May 7, to Saturday, May 10. However, don't stress if you miss out, the place is hosting a weekly Wednesday special from here on out, with $6 tacos served from 5pm. Sounds good, but how does the new direction work? Just choose your favourite style — taco, quesadilla, burrito and more — then add a protein and load it with fresh trimmings. One of your options includes the low and slow-cooked al pastor pork belly, marinated in a spicy citrus blend and flame-finished to pack in even more flavour. There's also beer-battered Baja fish with jalapeño mayo, and beef barbacoa with zesty salsa roja. Primo's Taco Corner hasn't forgotten plant-based amigos, with the vegan barbacoa offering a deep, smokey mix of tomato, spice and dried chillies. Of course, you've also got a stellar drinks lineup, with the ¡No Mames! cocktail menu drawing from Mexico and beyond for cocktails like the Viva la Vida, a mango riff on a Tommy's Margarita, and the Flama Blanca, a refreshing blend of lychee, vanilla and Calpis.
It's easy to devour an entire pizza to yourself here — and unashamedly so. The Mario crew has built a solid reputation in Surry Hills with Pizza Mario, and although the Rosebery branch offers a more extensive menu, the pizza's just so good it'll sabotage your ability to try anything else. Housed in a former cannery, Da Mario inhabits a large and open space — possibly selected to house the big red oven. Toppings are minimal yet deliciously paramount. Take, for example, the gorgonzola con radicchio ($21.50) or the full-flavoured Calabrese with salame, mozzarella and olives ($23). Traditionalists will love the Margherita, while calzone fans should opt for the Salame — oozing with soft ricotta, melted mozzarella and black pepper. It's all stupidly delicious. Images: Kitti Gould Appears in: Where to Find the Best Pizza in Sydney for 2023
Mardi Gras celebrations may have just finished up for the year, but the marriage equality movement remains in full force. Continue to show your support for the LGBTI+ community at The Horse in Surry Hills by taking part in SKYY Vodka's #CheerstoEquality campaign, in support of marriage equality. Kicking off this Saturday for four weeks, $1 from each SKYY Vodka equality cocktail sold at The Horse will be donated to just.equal, a community campaign that advocates for justice and equality for LGBTI+ Australians. On Saturday March 18 the event kicks off at 6pm, and for the first three hours you can enjoy your cocktail from the SKYY Smart Glass, a world-first smart-tech glassware that, as you clink your glass with another, will automatically take a photo of the holders saying #CheerstoEquality. A digital signature petitioning support for marriage equality will then be sent through Twitter using the hashtag #auspol. The SKYY Vodka cocktails available will be the specially-made Equal Parts (soda water, SKYY vodka, cranberry juice and a lime wedge), then there's the greyhound or espresso martini. Essentially, this is a chance to have your voice heard and get the attention of political decision-makers whilst enjoying a delicious cocktail. Toasting to the spirit of love, regardless of gender — we'll drink to that.
Can't trip all the way out to Katoomba's Mountain Culture brewpub? Well, the brewery's Emu Plains location is here to save your beer-focused explorations. The Factory, as it's called, is open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from lunch till dinner — with takeaway or dine-in options, so you're really covered on all bases. From the outside, it looks like any other industrial building. It's inside where the magic happens. See where the Mountain Culture crew brew the lush IPAs, crisp pales, wild ales and pillowy oat creams that they're famous for. Then, settle in for a fresh pour of the core range, seasonal specials, weekly new releases and whatever other experiments are on the go. Plus, they've got wines, cider and craft non-alc options. There's always a food truck on site, slinging everything from barbecued meats to woodfired pizza and even Polish fare — all bona fide fantastic pairings for your frothy. Appears in: The Best Sydney Brewery Bars for 2023
Dust off your petticoat and get your doublets out of the attic, because London's historic Globe Theatre is popping up in Sydney — well, sort of. Pop-Up Globe is the world's first full-scale replica of the historic theatre, which was built by Shakespeare's playing company and housed his greatest works. It originated in Auckland in 2015 and popped up in Melbourne last year, and version will set up shop in Sydney presumably later this year. History buffs and Shakespeare enthusiasts alike will have the opportunity to soak in plays As You Like It, Henry V, Othello, Much Ado About Nothing, and a special performance titled Around the Globe in 60 Minutes, which details the theatre's colourful history (it famously burned down in 1613 and was reconstructed a year later). Inside the round three-storey venue, no member of the 900-strong audience will ever be more than 15 metres from the stage, and all performances will be conducted without the use of mics, just as it was in 1614. In Melbourne there was also a "groundling" ticket — standing room only, directly in front of the stage for only $20 a pop — so we're hoping this will be an option in Sydney too. Organisers promise that Pop-Up Globe won't host 'dusty' versions of Shakespeare — rather, performances will be more like a party. "It is bawdy, hilarious, brutal and blood-soaked," says founder and artistic director Dr Miles Gregory. The dates and location for the Sydney season have not yet been revealed, but are set to be announced in the next few weeks. You can sign up for updates here. Images: Jay Wennington.
It isn't called the big screen for nothing — and, when you head to the pictures, that's typically what you spend a couple of hours peering at. But you won't just be staring at a giant rectangle at Wonderdome, Australia's new pop-up cinema experience. In a blend of film, music and art that takes its cues from planetariums, you'll be sat in a dome watching movies that've been specifically designed to take up the whole 360-degree space that's towering above you. Melbourne Planetarium's regular fulldome sessions, the Melbourne International Film Festival's own fulldome programming and the Brisbane International Film Festival's foray into the same space a decade back have all served up this same kind of immersive view, if the overall concept sounds familiar. But when Wonderdome hits Sydney's Entertainment Quarter between Saturday, December 4–Sunday, January 30, it'll also be following in the footsteps of Coachella and Burning Man by creating a dedicated fulldome space that's all about this type of cinema-going. It'll also offer Australia's largest-ever 360-degree projection cinema. The structure itself is a geodesic steel dome that spans 21 metres in diameter, and is filled with multiple projectors, as well as a 7.2 surround sound system. To watch, you'll recline on throne-style beanbags and stare up at the movie. Given that the projection sprawls all around you, it's been likened to virtual reality — but without the goggles. During Wonderdome's debut run in Sydney, it'll screen a lineup of 22 films — including the dazzling Coral Rekindling Venus, about fluorescent coral reefs, bioluminescent sea creatures and rare marine life, from Emmy Award-wining Australian filmmaker Lynette Wallworth. Other highlights include National Geographic's Flying Monsters, about flying dinosaurs, which is narrated by the one and only David Attenborough; the climate-focused Dynamic Earth, which benefits from Liam Neeson's vocal work; and Carriberrie, which focuses on Indigenous Australian dance and song. Fulldome cinema is also known for its psychedelic and eye-popping visual displays, which is where Samskara, from artist Android Jones, comes in — plus Labyrinth, which is filled with squares, streets, passages, corridors and rooms; and Luminokaya, which lets you explore Cambodian temple complex Angkor Wat. The rest of the program also features the architecture-focused Urban Levitation; Distant Life: Alien Worlds, about whether humanity is alone in the universe; Flight of Fancy, which recreates a space jump at 120,000 feet; and other space-centric titles such as From Earth to the Universe and Journey to the Centre of the Milky Way. There's a lineup of fulldome movies for kids, too, because this is an all-ages space. Snacks-wise, you'll be able to grab something to eat and drink either before or after each Wonderdome session, with the menu including jaffles, chips, slushies, chocolates and ice creams. Plus, there'll be a gin bar, as well as a lineup of craft beers. Wonderdome's Entertainment Quarter season will also accept New South Wales' Dine & Discover vouchers, if you have some left — or you're eager to get your hands on more when two extra vouchers become available for NSW residents over the age of 18 sometime this summer. And if you won't be in Sydney this summer, cross your fingers that Wonderdome will plan stops in other cities. The fact that it's is pop-up dome obviously makes that easier. Wonderdome will pop-up at Sydney's Entertainment Quarter from Saturday, December 4 –Sunday, January 30. For more information, or for tickets from 11am AEST on Wednesday, November 17, head to the Wonderdome website.
Melbourne's annual arts festival RISING might not return until winter (running from Saturday, June 1–Sunday, June 16), but tickets are already selling out to some of the most-popular events. If you've been thinking about heading to Victoria's capital to catch hidden laneway gigs, free exhibitions and international performances, then you best start making some serious plans. To help you get the most out of this year's festival, we've teamed up with the crew at RISING to bring you three exclusive travel packages that can be booked until Tuesday, April 30. [caption id="attachment_950619" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Damien Raggatt[/caption] First off, we've got our hands on a select number of Day Tripper tickets, which give punters access to a huge day party on Saturday, June 8. For just one arvo, the arcades and laneways surrounding Melbourne Town Hall will be taken over by post-punk, acid house, hip hop and disco tunes, as well as video works and contemporary dance performances. It will be huge. This package gets you access to the block party and afterparty, and includes a two-night stay at The Howey (with a full mini-bar worth $100), which is just a short walk from all the fun. The second RISING travel package will get you VIP access to see Dirty Three's performance at Hamer Hall, which has already sold out to the general public. We're the only ones still offering access if you want to see the trio perform live on Friday, June 14 or Saturday, June 15. This deal also includes a two-night stay at The Howey (again with a full mini-bar worth $100), a couple of drinks vouchers and priority entry to the festival club. Seats are highly limited for this one, so don't wait long to nab them. Lastly, we've secured a few tickets to Sydney drill legends ONEFOUR on Saturday, June 8. The lads' raw stories of crime, poverty and social dislocation have clocked over 500-million streams, with rap stars like A$AP Ferg and The Kid LAROI also fans. Book this RISING travel package for $549 and you'll receive two tickets to the show, plus a two-night stay at Causeway 353 (with $50 of mini-bar credit). Head to Concrete Playground Trips to book these exclusive RISING packages, which are only available up until Tuesday, April 30. Top image: Ian Laidlaw.
Whether you're after comfort cooking favourites like bone-in lamb legs and pork shoulder roasts, or weeknight dinner staples like whole chooks and lamb chops, this Botany Road butcher is a meaty winner. Owner Michael Kristallis prides himself on the shop's homemade snags, with the traditional beef sausage proving to be the most popular. Regular customers return week after week to have a chat with Kristallis, who is passionate about delivering high quality grass-fed beef and lamb to locals. Image: Pasha Gulian
Sydney's not short on places serving up hot and melty cheese, but Surry Hills' Loluk Bistro is offering unlimited servings of the stuff. Yep, all-you-can-eat raclette — cheese dreams are made of this. The Bourke Street bistro — known for its southern French fare — is piling plates high with cheese once again every Tuesday and Wednesday. The cheese is poured on top of potatoes, salad, cornichons and a plate of charcuterie (braseola, coppa, saucisson, ham and prosciutto), which is all included in the $49 price. And you can keep ordering (endlessly) until you're full (extra charcuterie will set you back $8 a plate). Well, until the clock hits 10pm. But four hours should be more than enough time for you to get your cheese fix. And you know what else is included in the $49 price? Dessert. If you still have a sliver of space left, you can fill it with unlimited profiteroles. It's the ideal midweek winter dinner.
For eight years now, being in the room where it happens has been the only thing that's mattered in musical theatre. Back in February 2015, Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton officially opened off-Broadway. By July the same year, it was previewing on Broadway itself. The rest is Tony-, Grammy-, Olivier-, Drama Desk- and Pulitzer Prize-winning history — including a stint in Australia since March 2021, starting in Sydney, then playing Melbourne and now treading the boards in Brisbane. Anyone lucky enough to be in the room where Hamilton has been happening — and everyone who has watched the smash-hit show in its filmed form, too, courtesy of a recording from 2016 that's been streaming on Disney+ since 2020 — has experienced a phenomenon. They've also enjoyed a crash course in American history, no matter where they're from or where the musical is playing. That's always been part of the excitement for Miranda, who made the trip to Australia over the weekend of Saturday, March 4–Sunday, March 5 to be in the room where the Aussie production's Brisbane leg is happening, much to the delight of Sunshine State audiences. "My kind of dirty secret answer is we don't know much about American history in America," Miranda advised at a press conference to discuss the show. "I didn't learn any of this. All I knew about Hamilton when I picked up that book was that the dude was on the $10 bill. I knew his son died in a duel because I wrote a report about him in my junior year. I knew his son died in a duel and that he died in a duel in nearly the same spot three years later." Miranda is talking about American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, of course, and about the Ron Chernow-penned 2004 non-fiction book about him that Hamilton is based on. After finally seeing the Australian show, which features Jason Arrow as Alexander Hamilton — the role Miranda originated — the acclaimed talent chatted through the musical's beginnings, its commitment to diversity, his songwriting process and more at a Brisbane press conference. STEPPING BEYOND WELL-KNOWN US HISTORY — AND CHALLENGING WHOSE STORIES GET TOLD Most folks don't take someone they've vaguely heard of at school and turn their tale into the biggest musical of the 21st century. Miranda isn't most folks, clearly. Armed with exactly that amount of knowledge, Miranda began to adapt Chernow's book, a process that took seven years. At its centre: the Caribbean-born "bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman", with Miranda's musical charting Hamilton's impact upon America from his arrival in New York in the early 1770s. As the show's opening number explains, Hamilton went on to become "the ten-dollar Founding Father without a father" — and also "got a lot farther by working a lot harder, by being a lot smarter and by being a self-starter". Bringing that tale to the stage wasn't just about picking a figure from US history and unpacking their tale, though, but also about exploring whose stories get told. "One of the secret ingredients in the recipe is my excitement in the fact that not a lot of people knew this story — at least, this is not a story I learned. We got a few highlights, but we didn't learn this story in our AP history classes. And so, I think that the story is just a compelling one, and I think one of the central themes in it is which stories get told and which don't depending on who survives us," Miranda noted at his Brisbane press conference. "And their reputations rise and they fall because people are complicated. There are no heroes or villains in this piece, there's just really flawed people making a really flawed country." "It's funny, the emails I would get when we first opened were always 3am emails. They weren't like 'thank you, I like your show, thank you for inviting me'. They were like 'what am I doing with my life?'. Because when you have a show that documents several lives over the course of many years, it makes you ask your own questions. And I think that's the secret also — it starts as being this very specific history piece, but it really invites you to think about what kind of legacy you'll leave." CREATING OPPORTUNITIES AND CHAMPIONING DIVERSITY Hamilton doesn't just question who gets immortalised in history, who becomes a mere footnote, who is forgotten and why. It also confronts and challenges how representation and diversity have typically been handled in theatre, in the tales told in general and in who's telling them. "It's my prerequisite for being in the room talking to you," said Miranda at the press conference about Hamilton's diverse casting, including in Australia. "I began writing musicals because I didn't see roles for myself in musicals." "I was in love with this art form, and at the same time I knew I don't dance well enough to play Bernardo or one of the Sharks [in West Side Story], and that's kind of all there is for Puerto Rican guys in musical theatre — it's just what there was, what existed," he continued. "So I really began writing the first show, In the Heights, out of this desire to write what was missing, and also represent my neighbourhood in a way that I didn't see it portrayed in mainstream media, to speak nothing of musical theatre." [caption id="attachment_846530" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] "An amazing side effect of that, and with Hamilton, I realised that I'm trying to create opportunities in my shows. The concept of this piece is that we are living 200 somewhat years past when this story was told and the country looks very different than it did then, and so we get to tell this story with all its messiness — we get to tell it, too." "It also just gets us new stories. That's the other exciting part of it — to invite more people into the room means to invite new stories and to invite new narratives." [caption id="attachment_774807" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hamilton filmed version courtesy Disney+.[/caption] FINDING HAMILTON'S SONGS ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE Hamilton's meaningful and essential aims will always remain crucial to its success. As anyone who has had 'My Shot', 'You'll Be Back' or 'The Room Where It Happens' stuck in their head knows, however — so, anyone who has ever seen Hamilton in any form, or even just heard its soundtrack — the show's songs are also pivotal. "I'm really egalitarian," Miranda explained about his songwriting process. "I'll take it whatever way it wants to show up. I do believe they show up, and different songwriters have different theories about it. There's the famous story of Michael Jackson's insomnia, and someone said 'Michael, why don't you get some sleep?'. And he said 'if I go to sleep, god will give the song to Prince'. I love that story." "Hamilton is a fantastic example where every kind of song got written in every kind of way," Miranda continued in Brisbane, giving examples. "'My Shot' took over a year, and it was six months before I even sat at a piano. It was very much a lyrics-first song, because I knew that my thesis was [that] Hamilton's the best writer of that circle, [so] his bars better be good. And I just worked on his bars because I wanted his bars to be good over this beat and this beat before I even put my hands on the keys." "'You'll Be Back' showed up on my honeymoon, without a piano anywhere in sight. The 'ya-da da-da da' got stuck in my head, and I think the reason it's so catchy is because I had to remember it for the two weeks I was in Bora Bora with my wife until I could get back to piano in the real world — because I was in a cabana." FINALLY MAKING THE TRIP DOWN UNDER TO SEE THE AUSTRALIAN CAST When Hamilton wraps up its Brisbane season at QPAC's Lyric Theatre on Sunday, April 23, the show will leave the country for a New Zealand run. Miranda acknowledges that he's left it late in the musical's Australian tour to make a visit — two years to the month it premiered Down Under, in fact — but, given the events of the past few years, there's a good reason for that. "Honestly, the timing was as soon as I could make it work," Miranda told the Brisbane press conference. "I think you guys know there was a moment during the global pandemic when Australia was the only company of Hamilton running in the world. That was a real beacon of hope to our actors and other companies that theatre would come back, and they'd hopefully be able to one day put on the show again." "But it was also harder to visit. You had a 14-day quarantine, and you had to really — that was the kind of time I didn't get to have, because I was writing, making and editing Tick, Tick… Boom!. So this has really been the soonest that I could see it. I made a promise to see the Australian company while it's still in Australia, and they're leaving soon, so I came as soon as I could." As every Aussie fan of Hamilton already knows, getting to see the musical is always worth the wait. "I mean, they're so fantastic," Miranda noted of the local cast, who he helped assemble virtually. "I remember seeing Jason Arrow's audition — it had to have been April or May of 2020, and it was around the time that we were watching and editing Hamilton for [the Disney+] release. So they were really stacking up against the originals in a very tangible way, and so we were really proud of the incredible company that we were able to put together from there locally." "Every original cast is like a four-minute mile," Miranda continued. "They said scientists proved you couldn't run the mile in under four minutes, and then someone did it, and then suddenly everybody's running it — and I feel like original casts are like that. It's impossible to find that first cast, and then it attracts the people who know they can do it." "So it's been wonderful to meet OG cast members last night, and also members who joined it in Melbourne or joined it in Sydney — they're really wonderful. I mean, I saw it last night, they're wonderful." Hamilton's Brisbane season runs until Sunday, April 23 at QPAC's Lyric Theatre, South Bank, with tickets available via the musical's website.
It's no obscure fact that Aussies love avocados — we've seen cafes, festivals and pop-up tiny homes dedicated to the fruit, and, on average, we each consume 3.5 kilos of avocado a year. To further celebrate the green goo we're all smashing on toast every day, a whole weekend of free "avocado wellness" is coming to Paramount Recreation Club. What does avocado wellness entail, you ask? Good question. The event — which will be hosted on the Surry Hills rooftop gym and run by Australian Avocados — will see a series of exercise classes, workshops and facials run across the weekend of October 12–13. And they're all free. The half-hour classes will be a mixture of cardio and yoga, and even include a post-workout smoothie. It's a good way to test out one of Paramount's classes for free — a regular casual class costs $35. Then you can treat yourself to an avocado facial or learn some handy hacks for storing and eating them. Activities will run from 9am–4pm each day — while everything is free, you'll need to register for the talks and fitness classes as spaces are limited. If you're keen to hang around, the Paramount kiosk will be selling special avo-laden brunches throughout the day, too.
Before donning a face covering became a regular part of life for everyone during the pandemic, one of the most famous mask-wearing figures in popular culture was doing it first. And, the fictional character will be doing so again in Australia — but, although The Phantom of the Opera was set to head to Sydney from September this year, and then to Melbourne from November, the famed musical's upcoming dates have been postponed. Accordingly, the music of the night will still be crooning its way into both cities via to a new season of the acclaimed Tony-winner; however, it'll now happen sometime in 2022 instead. New dates haven't been announced as yet, but Opera Australia, who is staging the production, advised that it had decided to push its shows to next year due to "the uncertainty created by the ongoing restrictions imposed by both the New South Wales and Victorian Governments because of the indefinite COVID-19 lockdowns." "This has been a really difficult decision for OA and our partners to make and has certainly not been made lightly when so many people will be affected," said Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini. "After making box office history at the Opera House, it was clear that Australians were very excited about this new production of the world's most successful musical, and we'd brought together a fantastic cast of Australian performers, it's heartbreaking to have to postpone." When it does eventually hit the stage, the current production of The Phantom of the Opera will arrive in Down Under after breaking records in the UK and touring the US for seven years. Australia will become just the third country to witness this take on the tale, in fact. Obviously, all of the familiar songs are part of it, such as 'All I Ask of You', 'Masquerade' and the titular number. You'll also be lapping up Maria Björnson's original costumes, too. But, if you've seen the show before, expect the chandelier to look a little different. Australian musical theatre performer Josh Piterman is set to play the Phantom, after first wearing the character's mask in London pre-pandemic. He'll be joined by a cast and orchestra of 65 people, which'll make The Phantom of the Opera one of the largest musical productions in Australia. If you need a refresher on the musical's story, it follows soprano Christine Daaé and the masked musical genius who lives beneath the Paris Opera House — and the latter's obsession with the former. Although first turned into a stage musical in the 80s, it's based on Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel. And yes, you might've seen the 2004 movie, which starred Gerard Butler as the Phantom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jpaw9dft2Y The Phantom of the Opera will tour Australia in 2022. Tickets for current shows will remain valid for the production's new dates, when they're announced. For further information, head to the musical's website. Top image: Michael Le Poer Trench.
Over the past year delivery services have become more important than ever. As the NSW Government has continually urged Sydneysiders to stay home as much as possible, many of us have turned online for our shopping needs. Many of Sydney's best are offering same-day delivery, too — and we're not just talking about food, either. Natural wine? Check. Indoor plants? Check. Doughnuts? Check. Designer threads for your pup? Yep, those too. Household items and zero-contact deliveries are also on the docket. Whatever you're stocking up on, these same-day delivery services will have you covered in just a few hours (or less). CHEESE AND WINE BOXES FROM HANDPICKED WINES Chippendale's Handpicked Wines isn't allowed to invite anyone into its cellar door right now, but it is allowed to bring the wine fun to you. If you live within 25 kilometres of Sydney's CBD, you can now get boxes of wine, charcuterie and cheese dropped right on your porch. Choose from the Home Grown Cheese Box ($69) with three different kinds of cheese from across Australia; the Quiet Night In ($75) with a bottle of cabernet merlot, Spanish cheese, French camembert and crackers; and a fancy Starter Pack ($269), with three wines, three cheeses and three meats. You can also mix and match, with cured meats, nuts, wines and even caviar. Same-day delivery is $15–25 and is available up until midday. Handpicked Wines same-day delivery is available before midday Tuesday–Sunday. Order online here. [caption id="attachment_728955" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Felicity Keep[/caption] 'HARD TO KILL' INDOOR PLANTS AND COLOURFUL POTS FROM PLANT GIRL If you're stuck indoors and need a little something to brighten your day, Plant Girl has you covered. The Marrickville nursery delivers 'hard-to-kill' indoor plants to your doorstep — and in brightly coloured ceramic pots to boot. Customers can mix-and-match any combo of plant and pot, with the goal of creating a highly styled, personalised gift or cute new green baby for yourself. The door-to-door service is available within a ten-kilometre radius of the Marrickville shop, which includes all of the inner west and the CBD, plus a chunk of the eastern suburbs and a bit of North Sydney and the lower north shore, too. You can check out the map over here. And, if you order before 11am, you can opt for same-day delivery Monday through Friday. PlantGirl same-day delivery is available across Sydney for orders placed before 11am Monday–Friday. To order, head to the website. NATURAL WINES AND BATCHED COCKTAILS FROM DRNKS A long-time purveyor of natural wines online, Drnks has a large collection of biodynamic, organic and sustainable drops. Here, you can nab everything from a wild honey ale from Marrickville's Wildflower Brewing to coveted magnums by Escoda. The online shop is also offering up magnums of sake, bottled cocktails from sustainability-focused bar RE- and even non-alcoholic treats like Sample coffee, LP's saucisson and Pub Life Kitchen burger kits. If you're looking to stock up, orders over $50 receive free shipping, and the purchase of six wines receives a ten percent discount. If your address is within 15 kilometres of the Sydney CBD, same-day delivery applies Monday through Friday. Drnks same-day delivery is available on orders placed before 2pm Monday through Friday. Order online here. [caption id="attachment_764979" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alana Dimou[/caption] SIX-PACKS OF DOUGHNUTS FROM GRUMPY DONUTS If it's comfort food you're after, Camperdown's Grumpy Donuts is happy to oblige. The shop offers up same-day delivery seven days per week, with the doughies reaching your door within a few hours of ordering. And these aren't just any doughnuts we're talking about, either — Grumpy's is closer to a religious experience than a dessert. Choose from rotating flavours like maple syrup, PB&J, cinnamon cake or blueberry crunch. You can order a random assortment of six, with weekly specials also up for grabs. And, for those plant-based peeps, the shop also offers an entire range of vegan doughnuts. Grumpy Donuts delivery hours are 8.30am–3.30pm Monday–Wednesday, 9.30am–3.30pm Thursday, 9am–3.30pm Friday–Saturday and 10am–3.30pm Sunday. Check out Grumpy's Instagram for the latest doughnut flavours and order delivery here. EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP FROM KOALA It's no surprise that many of us are looking to upgrade our home comfort level at the moment. Aussie furniture and mattress brand Koala is here to help with same-day delivery in metropolitan Sydney on its full range of beds, linen, mattresses, sofas and work-from-home desks — ideal for anyone looking to upgrade their work setup as we settle into this work-from-home life for a while longer. If you're really looking to elevate your night's sleep, Koala just rolled out a new range of its mattress-in-a-box line too. Koala offers free four-hour or same-day delivery on all orders made before 2pm Monday–Friday. CLOTHES FOR YOU AND YOUR POOCH FROM THE ICONIC Sure, designer threads may not feel like an express necessity at the moment. But a little online shopping can help improve your mood drastically, and we could all use a little pick-me-up right now. For Sydneysiders who welcome the distraction, online fashion hub The Iconic is here. Any items that are shipped directly by the brand will be delivered to the Sydney Metro area within three to five hours, Monday through Friday — and there's no minimum purchase for this same-day service, either. Choose from men's and women's apparel and accessories, with over 20,000 products on the virtual shelf. And The Iconic also has a stylish pet fashion range, so you and your pup can both look good from home. The Iconic offers same-day or same-evening delivery on orders made Monday through Friday from 7am–2pm. Place your order online here. CRAFT BEERS AND EGGPLANT SCHNITZEL FROM YULLI'S BREWS If you haven't had a chance to try Alexandria brewery Yulli's expansive range of craft beers, now's the time. There's something for everyone on offer here, from the sweet and sour Dolly Aldrin honeydew melon Berliner weisse or crisp Amanda mandarin IPA, to the rich Fat Nerd vanilla porter. Yulli's offers same day delivery to locals who order before 3pm, so you can start working your way through the range now, and its just added a takeaway food menu you can have delivered inspired by its Surry Hills diner. On the new menu you'll find a selection of plant-based eats including pizzas, eggplant schnitzel, cheesy garlic bread and tiramisu for dessert. Yulli's Brews offers same-day delivery to all Sydneysiders within 10 kilometres of Alexandria for all orders before 3pm, plus you can order food 4–8pm Thursday–Saturday. FLOWERS AND GIFTS FROM LVLY Whether you're looking to send yourself, your mate or that special someone a bouquet of flowers or a small pick-me-up, LVLY offers same-day delivery on its entire range up until 5pm. This means if you've forgotten someones birthday as all the days in lockdown blur into one, or you're feeling a post-lunch slump, there's still time to order a delivery from LVLY. You can build your own care package or turn to one of the pre-selected ones that including the 'quiet time' pack featuring flowers, candles and tea, or the 'day maker' package which includes flowers, hand cream, chocolate almonds and a cookie. LVLY offers same-day delivery to Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast before 5pm Monday–Sunday. Order via LVLY's website. Top image: Grumpy Donuts, Lvly supplied.
Whether you've spent many afternoons lazing in the sun at your local park or you're just getting into picnics thanks to the NSW Government's recent outdoor recreation rules, no doubt you've got a swag of picnics planned this spring. And, as any seasoned picnicker knows, what you pack in your basket can make or break your al fresco afternoon. It's a fine balance between savoury snacks and sweet treats, and you want to be able to graze for hours — so bringing the right amount is crucial. Plus, if you're planning to bring booze, then you have even more decisions on your proverbial plate. We've teamed up with Rosie Spritz to bring you some perfect snack and spritz pairings for all your upcoming park hangs with mates. Why a spritz? Well, the fizzy Italo-style wine-based aperitivo has become synonymous with sunny days and laidback catch-ups, making it the ideal springtime picnic tipple. And because we take our picnic game seriously, we've divvied up our dreamy picnic feast into antipasto platters, more substantial snacks like sangas and salads, and delightful desserts — all matched with Rosie sips, of course. Whip up — or pick up — some of these tasty treats, grab a four-pack of Rosies and head to a park or beach within your LGA or five-kilometre bubble, pals, because picnic season is upon us. [caption id="attachment_826143" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brooke Zotti[/caption] THE STARTER-PACK SPREAD WITH BUBBLY PROSECCO ROSÉ Any picnic worth going to will have a cheese platter. And, after so many months at home, you're going to want to do better than slices of Bega. You'll want a hard, a soft and a stinky — think smoked and aged cheddars, gooey camemberts and a fragrant roquefort. Luckily, Sydney has a heap of top-notch cheese shops where you can grab your stash, including Penny's Cheese Shop, The Stinking Bishops, Paesenella Food Emporium, Fourth Village Providore and Galluzzo's Fruiterers. Of course, you'll want to add some cured meats to that cheese board, for which we recommend LP Quality Meats' saucisson sec or a mixed charcuterie plate from Continental Deli's Newtown or CBD locations. If you want to emulate chic Italian vibes, then add some prosciutto-wrapped rockmelon to your basket. The creaminess of the cheese and salty hit from the charcuterie will complement the vibrant and crisp Rosie Prosecco Rosé you'll be sipping, too. Not only is it classy to kick things off with bubbles, but the tipple's notes of fresh pear, melon and wild strawberry are the perfect match for these rich snacks. If you're someone who goes all out on antipasto, then you'll also want to throw in some dips like taramasalata, baba ganoush, hummus...you get the idea. Of course, carbs are a must — even if just as a vessel for you cheese and array of dips — so be sure to throw in some crackers and bread. To get in your quota of veg, add some olives, marinated artichokes and stuffed baby peppers and you, my friend, have one helluva spread. And this is just the first course of your food- and bev-matched en plain air feast. [caption id="attachment_826147" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brooke Zotti[/caption] SANDWICHES AND SALADS FOR WHEN IT'S ROSÉ SPRITZ HOUR Picture this: you're an hour or so into your picnic and you've grazed on all the Mediterranean snacks and dairy delights you can handle, plus had a spritz or two. Maybe you've even played a spot of Finska. Whatever the scenario is, you'll want to up the ante with some heftier eats if you plan on kicking it for a few more hours. The humble sandwich is a tried-and-tested winner at a picnic. Finger sambos are a go-to, particularly if you keep things old-school with fillings such as chicken, curried egg and cucumber — you know, the ones your nan would approve. Another nostalgic sanga — and one that will pair perfectly with a Rosie Rosé Spritz — is the lavish lobster roll. After all, rosé and seafood is a heavenly combo — and nothing screams 'occasion' more than lobster. Although you could pick up a crustacean from a local fishmonger and make your own, save yourself the hassle and pre-order one from Bart Jr instead. Due to Sydney's current health orders, the Redfern bar is currently offering a bunch of picnic-appropriate bites, including these WA Rock Lobster- and NSW Clarence River king prawn-stuffed rolls, from its takeaway spin-off Bart Mart. If you're interested in keeping things light, salads are a good shout. You will have to remember to pack bowls and cutlery, but, if you're willing, a Sicilian-style fennel and blood orange salad is a vibrant change from your standard iceberg lettuce chucked in a bowl. Or, you could make a bean-filled salad, like this zingy number made with cannellini beans, green beans and a hit of lemon and parsley. And, If you're seeking more carbs, a good ol' fashioned pasta salad never goes astray. [caption id="attachment_826145" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brooke Zotti[/caption] NO PICNIC IS COMPLETE WITHOUT CAKE (AND AN ELDERFLOWER SPRITZ) It's spring, so a floral spritz is in order. Rosie's brand-new elderflower-flavoured spritz is the ideal drink to round out your extravagant picnic. The Rosie Elderflower Spritz is fragrant and has aromas of elderflower, vanilla, passionfruit and blackcurrant, so it's the perfect sidekick to a decadent cake. Citrus cakes are practically made for picnics — they're not too rich for a hot day, but they still satisfy those cake cravings. Flour and Stone's lemon drizzle cake is famous for a reason, so if you're willing to drop $75-plus on dessert, order one stat. Otherwise, Bourke St Bakery does a tasty flourless lemon number (from $25), topped with edible flowers. Or, you can bake one from scratch. Sticking with the spring theme, frangipane tarts also make for a delicious daytime dessert, and Baked By Keiran makes some great riffs on the French classic that you can pick up daily from its Dulwich Hill, Bondi, Peakhurst and Elizabeth Bay stores. Not a cake or tart fan? Perhaps more niche and nostalgic treats are more your vibe and you should pick up a few of Sydney's best finger buns. Naturally, you'll want a palate cleanser before you pack up your rug and head home, so it's time to tuck into the fruit platter. Complementing the elderflower spritz, fruits like watermelon, passionfruit and mangoes are crowd pleasers — and they're all in season. Rosie Spritz is an ideal springtime sip and is available at BWS, Dan Murphy's and First Choice Liquor stores across Sydney. For more picnic inspiration, check out our guides to idyllic picnic spots where you can BYO booze in Sydney's inner west, inner city, lower north shore, eastern suburbs and northern beaches. Top image: Brooke Zotti Remember to Drinkwise.
Darling Harbour and Old Pasedena now have something in common. Meat. Meat District Co., to be precise: a two-week old addition with a big fat focus on ribs, burgers and waterfront views. And while the Harbour many love to hate may not have the same glam-fest reputation of LA, the guys behind Meat District Co. have done well to land themselves this location and we're pretty certain they'll pull in the crowds even in Sydney's saturated bun-and-patty market. Said guys are brothers Coco and Gary Simonian, owners of Platinum Restaurant Group, who saw the opportunity to bring their acclaimed-in-the-States meat emporium to our shores and pounced. They also brought in designers DS17 to transform the space into a large, airy and open yet rustic-look restaurant split over two levels. The spiral staircase is pretty cute, and if you can nab a table upstairs facing the water you'll definitely be set for an hour or two. There's also a fair amount of al fresco dining too, which in this city is never a bad thing. Food-wise, even if we hadn't given it away, we're sure you'll guess from the name that if your dining habits swing more towards veg/vegan you'll probably avoid this place like the plague (the meat cleaver-shaped menu adding insult to injury). Luckily for us, we love our meat (and the menu shape), so it was fun to see a 10-strong selection of burgers ranging from the traditional cheese ($12), to brie and cranberry (and beef patty, of course, $14), the more health-conscious grilled chicken ($13, fried chicken also available at $14) and even a truffle burger ($14). With mince supplied from a boutique Double Bay butcher, each one we sampled was juicy and fulfilling but definitely more on the mainstream side than some of this city's more independent boutique options. If you're in the market for less carbs and more protein, both the pork ($31 for half, $41 for full) and beef ribs ($29 for half, $39 for full) are good, if a little exy, choices. Those who don't want to get fingers and phone screens covered in sauce, however, can opt for something from the grill section. Oh, and if you're on the daring side, the roasted bone marrow ($8.50) — super slimy, but dripping with garlic, parsley, chilli and mustard seeds — slips down nicely. All in all, while spoiled-for-choice Sydneysiders might not go as mad for Meat District Co. as our friends in the States, with a philosophy of paddock to plate, this already bustling harbourside diner understands its Australian market and is worth a visit if you're in the area.
Beloved Chippendale pub the Lord Gladstone is changing its name once again. Last year, during Sydney's extended lockdown, the venue temporarily rebranded as The Lord Jabstone in a push to get Sydneysider vaccinated and back to the pub. Now, the Gladdy is transforming again, this time into The Gladsong Hotel. The latest iteration of the inner-city pub is in response to the NSW Government's recent ban on singing and dancing in hospitality venues — restrictions that don't extend to places of worship. The tongue-in-cheek play on northwest Sydney's megachurch Hillsong looks to point out the hypocrisy in the current legislation, which targets the arts and hospitality after two incredibly tough years for both industries. The Gladsong Hotel's one-off Sunday Service is being billed as "a day of worship, schooners and good times" and will be happening on Sunday, January 23. On the day, there'll be DJs spinning tunes, plus $15 jugs of 'holy water' (The Gladstone's larger) and $10 Bloody Lord cocktails on offer. And at midday, a pay-what-you-want keg will be tapped, with all proceeds going to Support Act. [caption id="attachment_823658" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The pub's previous iteration as the Lord Jabstone[/caption] "It's been an absolutely frustrating period of time for all venue owners. Right now and over the past couple of years. Once again it feels like our leaders are leaving our poor struggling musicians and artists back in the darkness," venue owner Mitchell Crum said. "Live music venues, musicians, pubs and clubs all across the state have been the hardest hit without any support or closure. I can't say I'm terribly religious though I worship live music. Does that make us exempt?" The current restrictions were brought in after rising COVID-19 cases, with rules initially placed on indoor hospitality and entertainment venues before they were extended to outdoor venues and music festivals. The measures have come under fire on social media from musicians like What So Not and Nina Las Vegas for targeting the arts sector, and also for the lack of support offered to out-of-work artists during this time. Find The Lord Gladstone at 115 Regent Street, Chippendale, with its Sunday Service happening from 12pm on Sunday, January 23. Top image: Ben Johnson and Mitch Crum in front of The Lord Gladstone.
A road trip along Victoria's Great Ocean Road should be on every Australian's travel bucket list. Hit up the small beach towns of Torquay, Lorne, Apollo Bay, Port Campbell and Warrnambool to discover Aussie surf culture at its finest and spend some time within the region's stunning natural surrounds. But first things first: you've got to sort out your accommodation. You can live that camping life, but we have curated this list of luxe hotels, guest houses and villas for those wanting more comfort. TORQUAY RACV TORQUAY RESORT The RACV Torquay Resort is located right at the beginning of the Great Ocean Road, boasting sweeping views of the coast and the surrounding golf course. Whether you join a chill yoga class, unwind with a sweaty sauna session or treat yourself to a day at the luxurious day spa, there are plenty of ways to unwind at this Torquay property. BOOK IT NOW. THE SANDS TORQUAY The Sands Torquay has been a mainstay of the area's luxe accommodation offerings for quite some time. People come back here, over and over again. And now that it has had a massive makeover, there are even more reasons to stay here. We're talking an indoor pool, outdoor tennis courts, large dog-friendly rooms, and Bunker restaurant, which serves up elevated pub classics to locals and hotel guests alike. BOOK IT NOW. WYNDHAM RESORT TORQUAY This large resort is one of the only hotels located right on the beach in Torquay — most are set back further, with local beach houses lining the shores instead. The location is one of Wyndham's greatest features. You can get down to Torquay's Fisherman's Beach within a couple of minutes and walk right into town in under 20 minutes. It's ideal for those wanting a chill beachside getaway. BOOK IT NOW. LORNE MANTRA LORNE This old-school resort has been a popular place to stay in Lorne for decades, and it's easy to see why. Mantra Lorne's heritage buildings are set right on the beach, within 12 acres of landscaped gardens (including tennis courts and croquet lawns). No other local accommodation will beat this location nor its traditional feel that's been seamlessly blended with modern amenities. The refurbished indoor mineral pool and glam steam rooms are just a couple of examples of such contemporary offerings. BOOK IT NOW. CUMBERLAND LORNE RESORT Cumberland Lorne Resort is located up on the hills above Louttit Bay, boasting stunning views across town. But it isn't up in the middle of nowhere. It's still close to the best bits, surrounded by local cafes and boutique stores. Head here for a sleek and modern stay, with luxurious penthouses as well as one- and two-bedroom apartments available to those road-tripping along the Great Ocean Road. BOOK IT NOW. APOLLO BAY SEAFARERS GETAWAY Few Great Ocean Road accommodations compare to this one. You have uninterrupted views up and down the coast from each of the studios and lodges that sit within eight hectares of grassland. From here, you can either head up to The Otway National Park's undulating green hills and woodland or walk down to the Seafarer's pristine beach within minutes. Whales and dolphins can often be seen in the surf, koalas can be found in the gumtrees and alpacas can be hand fed in the field. What more could you ask for? BOOK IT NOW. APOLLO PANORAMA GUESTHOUSE Perched up in the hills, a little further back from the beach, this five-bedroom guesthouse looks down over Apollo Bay and a big stretch of the Great Ocean Road. It is made for groups of mates or a big family, thanks to its many rooms, the kitchen with double-vaulted ceilings and the large deck with barbecue. We wouldn't blame you for stopping your trek along the coast to spend the rest of your time up here. BOOK IT NOW. PORT CAMPBELL EASTERN REEF COTTAGES Staying here feels like spending time at your mate's old family beach house. It isn't a glam hotel nor is it a bougie bread and breakfast. It is a humble set of cottages set within lush green surroundings not too far away from town. Either go for the large four-bedroom cottage or nab one of the smaller units that look out over the courtyard. Each accommodation has its own kitchenette and all the essential amenities. Eastern Reef Cottages is a really decent budget option in the sleepy town of Port Campbell. BOOK IT NOW. SOUTHERN OCEAN VILLAS If you're coming up this way for the 12 Apostles, then this spot will more than do. The famous cliffs and rock plinths are just a five-minute drive from the accommodation, while the town centre is easily walkable. The villas also offer a variety of different accommodation options. Capable of comfortably accommodating two to six people, each villa has an open-plan kitchen, lounge and dining room with two or three bedrooms and a scenic outdoor deck (each with a barbecue). BOOK IT NOW. WARRNAMBOOL DEEP BLUE HOTEL & HOT SPRINGS The Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs, Victoria's very first hot springs hotel, is made for those who want to run away and really relax. We mean it — lean into that self-care lifestyle. Book some time in the many indoor and outdoor geothermal pools, treat yourself to a massage and scrub, then finish with champagne and oysters at the hotel's restaurant. You can then spend other days exploring the town and the nearby beaches — which can be seen from many of the rooms' private balconies. BOOK IT NOW. LADY BAY RESORT The Lady Bay Resort in Warrnambool is a self-contained accommodation located right across the street from the beach, allowing guests to do what the locals do — swim along the coast, hit the local bars and pubs and even do some work (if you must). There's also an in-house restaurant, arcade room and outdoor pool for those who just want to rest at the property. BOOK IT NOW. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips to destinations all over the world. Top image: Weyne Yew (Unsplash)
Yet another piece of the New South Wales Government's continual expansion of Sydney's public transport infrastructure has been announced this week, with two new inner city train stations set to be constructed as part of the new Metro West train line. Pyrmont and the CBD's Hunter Street will both receive new train stations under the expanded rail plans. Pyrmont's station will be located between Pyrmont Bridge Road and Union Street, near the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel and just down the road from the current Pyrmont Bay Light Rail Station. The Hunter Street station will have entrances between Hunter and George Street as well as Bligh and O'Connell Street. Designed to connect greater Parramatta to the Sydney CBD, the Metro West project will run through Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park and the inner west through to the new Pyrmont and Hunter Street Stations. The Metro project is expected to reduce travel time along the train line by up to 43 minutes. Public transport travel time between Parramatta Station and Pyrmont currently sits at around 50 minutes each way, with no direct public transport routes between the two locations. This travel time could be reduced to 18 minutes thanks to the new metro line, with travel between Sydney Olympic Park and Pyrmont being cut from 56 minutes down to just 13. "There will be massive and game-changing travel time savings across Sydney. For example, sports fans will be able to get from Bondi Junction to the new metro station at Sydney Olympic Park in just 27 minutes (interchanging at Martin Place) compared to 56 minutes now," Sydney Metro Chief Executive Peter Regan said. [caption id="attachment_811845" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Artist's render of the new Pyrmont train station.[/caption] 13 commercial buildings will be acquired by the government in the process of building the two stations. 11 CBD commercial residencies will make room for the Hunter Street station, while two Pyrmont locations will be acquired for its Metro station. The heritage-listed Skinner Family Hotel which resides atop the proposed Hunter Street Station site will be protected within the construction site. The Hunter Street station will become the fourth train station to operate in the city's CBD. When asked why one of the current CBD stations couldn't have been connected to the Metro West line instead of building a new station, NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance responded: "There is so much infrastructure underground in Sydney, because of this government, we had to find a site which worked". Mr Constance also confirmed the NSW Government is expecting a financial contribution from the Star Casino due to the proximity of the new Pyrmont Station to the casino. "One of the things we are flagging, of course, for the peninsular at Pyrmont is a contribution, given the fact that it is going to massively increase the value of properties in those areas." The Metro West project is expected to be completed by 2030.
Off the back of four fast-selling seasons, Sydney's most ambitious outdoor cinema is bringing its 150-bed (yes, bed) theatre back to Moore Park's Entertainment Quarter for the warmer weather. Grab a buddy you're comfortable to share a blankie with (or make a bold first date move) and book a bed between January 17 and March 22 next year. There will be new movies (Jojo Rabbit, Cats and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker), old movies (Dirty Dancing, Pulp Fiction) and some of the biggest releases of 2019 (Knives Out, Joker, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). The Oscar-winning Best Picture Parasite is set to close out the season on March 22. This year, El Camino Cantina and Fratelli Fresh will also be bringing food directly to your bed — including pepperoni pizza, tacos and fajitas. Plus, the bar will be serving up cold beers and wines. And thanks to a new screen (good riddance inflatable screens) it'll be a much more enjoyable viewing experience, too. Tickets are $73.80 for a couple or $93.90 for a trio. If you don't want to shell out for a bed, you can grab a grass ticket for $12 — just remember to bring a picnic blanket and book your spot before you rock up. Updated: March 2, 2020
We've all been there. The flirting has been successful and you've locked in a first date (score!), but the excitement about your upcoming encounter is quickly dampened by the stress of deciding where to go. And as anyone who's ever been on a first date knows, picking the right spot for that initial rendezvous ain't easy. You want somewhere with good drinks and buzzy vibes but where the getting-to-know-you chats aren't going to be drowned out by the music. And that's just the beginning of the requirements. Long story short, there's a lot to consider and, while our fair city is filled with great bars and restaurants, they're not all created equal when it comes to being solid first date material. Because first dates are nail-biting enough without the added challenge of picking a good place, we've partnered with American Express to round up seven spots that are perfect for that initial encounter. These places are all casually trendy, not too loud but also not awkwardly quiet, and with stand-out drinks and food offerings to fuel the evening. Plus, they all accept Amex so you can stock up on some extra points. Browse the list, pick a place and spend the rest of that pre-date time choosing a killer outfit and brushing up on those scintillating conversation skills. Can't wait to start travelling the world again? American Express has the card for you. Sign up for the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card and you'll score 55,000 bonus Qantas Points, plus $450 of Qantas Travel Credit and two passes to the American Express Lounge every year. And you'll earn 1.25 Qantas Points for every dollar spent. T&Cs, minimum spend and eligibility criteria apply.
The Royal has been kicking around in some capacity since 1907, but now it's entering into a new phase of life — the Bondi pub was acquired by Merivale late last year and has reopened with a few alterations. It's now pouring a hefty range of booze for just about every palate and budget. Swing by for a summery daiquiri post-dip, an espresso martini on tap, an interesting bottle of natural wine, or even something bubbly, celebratory and French. The Royal's attached retail offering The Bottle Shop has also reopened, and the pub's restaurant and courtyard will be back in action by summer, playing host to an exciting yet-to-be-announced food pop-up for the sunny season.
It's difficult to speak about the Hollywood without mentioning its owner, Doris Goddard. This is partly because her paraphernalia is plastered onto one of the walls, an intimate shrine to her history. (Goddard emerged from slums of Glebe to become a successful film star, performing alongside big names like Katherine Hepburn and Bob Hope.) Another reason might be that she is often in the pub herself, occasionally for one of her renowned midnight performances. The hotel itself is perfectly suited to an ex-Hollywood starlet. Nestled amongst the deco era buildings of Surry Hill's long vanished film industry (including the heritage listed Paramount Building), all the right details are in place: from a curved wooden bar to antique toilets. That said, there's nothing fussy or intimidating about the joint. Bar staff are friendly and relaxed. The menu consists of chips in wooden bowls and cheese platters, which are more nostalgic than fancy. And the best beer on tap is the Hollywood's own lager. While the cosy atmosphere is all part of the charm, it's also the only limitation. I'd suggest you turn up early and take over a table, or perhaps duck in for a cheeky afternoon's beers and snacks. When this place gets busy, it gets busy - and with good reason.
Good things happen when the minds behind Peters Ice Cream and Gelato Messina come together. In the summer of 2019 — centuries ago — the dessert experts unveiled a limited-edition line of gourmet Drumsticks. Fast forward to spring 2020 and the country is prepping for a summer of social-distancing on beaches and eating plenty of Messina X Peters gelato bars. The new creation, which has just landed in the freezer aisle of your local supermarket, comes in three chocolate-coated, gooey-centred flavours — flavours you'll familiar with if you're already a Messina fiend. You can choose from the choc hazelnut number, which comes with layers of chocolate biscuit, cocoa gelato, a hazelnut sauce and a chocolate coating; the espresso dulche de leche bar, with espresso gelato and dulce de leche enrobed in milk chocolate; or the strawberry cheesecake gelato. The latter sees biscuit, lemon-infused gelato and strawberry sauce covered in light pink chocolate. All three flavours are available at Coles, Woolworths and independent groceries across Australia. Each comes in pop art-style boxes of four, priced at $10 per box of four. If you can't — or don't want to — leave the house, the gelato bars are also available to order Australia-wide via Couchfood. Gelato Messina X Peters Drumstick collaboration gelato bars are available at supermarkets, petrol stations and convenience stores.
Being houseproud is the new social. Whether you're an avid viewer of Grand Designs and invest hours lusting over interior design accounts on Instagram, or you're just feeling ambivalent towards your living space after having spent so much time in it recently, there's one thing worth remembering: even the subtlest of changes can make a big difference to how a room looks and feels. In partnership with Samsung, we have curated eight effortlessly stylish objects from makers in Australia and further afield. These homewares and furniture pieces will seamlessly complement the room of your choice while elevating it to new design heights. PERCY FLOOR LAMP, MCMULLIN AND CO ($449) McMullin and Co has a focus on simplicity in its creations, as well as a love for elegant scalloped edges and serpentine lines. The Percy Floor Lamp's powder-coated black stem is an example of the meandering curve that's been admired throughout art history for what it signifies: liveliness, activity and something of interest for the eye. Complete with a linen shade, this floor lamp casts a beautiful light and is just one of the many striking pieces of furniture and design wares offered by the Sydney-based design studio. We love imagining it next to one of McMullin and Co's bed heads as a floor or table lamp, or placed in the corner of the living room to bring an unimposing glow — perfect for mood lighting during a late-night movie marathon. THE SERIF, SAMSUNG (FROM $1249) Gone are the days where you need to hide your eyesore TV set or find some way to make a large black screen (and its many cables) work with your living room aesthetic. Stylish from any angle, Samsung's The Serif is an innovative format for home televisions that harkens back to the days of freestanding TVs, but with a modern update. Celebrated industrial designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec are behind The Serif's unique design, and it is fast building a cult following. What we love most about The Serif is its versatility — its 360-degree design, with a unique 'I'-shaped profile and removable legs means it looks great no matter where in the room you place it. But it's not only for the interior aesthetes. The visual harmony of the Bouroullec brothers' design is complemented by Samsung's QLED picture quality. It includes features like smart connectivity and Ambient Mode, where you can display your own photos and images (or one of the exclusive patterns from the Bouroullec brothers) on the screen, which also auto-adjusts to surrounding light settings. Plus, through NFC technology, you can place your compatible phone on the top shelf and play tunes through the TV speakers*. ECLIPSE #2098 RUG, PAMPA ($3260) This year's long winter stuck indoors really brought rugs and floor coverings into focus. Now, as we head into summer, a flatweave wool rug is an appealing addition to the floor of nearly any room in your house — and it's perfect to layer with heavier rugs as the cooler months return. This hand-woven piece from Pampa is made using the traditional practice by Argentinian weavers, where the looms used are the arm span of the weaver. The textile panels are then joined together to create the finished rugs, giving a lovely handmade touch to this investment purchase. Pampa's interest in colour theory is evident in this rug: the creamy beige becomes almost pink next to its complementary moss green. ANNA VARENDORFF, SMALL 'EDGING OVER' THICK TUBE VASE, ACV STUDIO ($290) We've seen vases in cylindrical form popping up in designer feeds recently. But this one by award-winning Melbourne-based artist Anna Varendorff is a little different. Each vase is individually handmade and has a buffed matte finish, bringing interest and imperfection to the smooth stainless steel. No two are exactly the same. The tube is wide enough to hold medium- and thick-stemmed fresh foliage and dried flowers. As you can tell from the image above, it will be a unique focal point in any room for you (and guests) to marvel at. OLIO ARMCHAIR, DESIGN BY THEM (FROM $3658) This chair is the work of three designers: Sarah Gibson and Nicholas Karlovasitis (who work together under Gibson Karlo and are co-founders of Design by Them), and Melbourne School of Design lecturer, Christina Bricknell. The Olio Armchair brings together the talents and interests of the Australian design trio in sculptural form, material and tactility to create this modern addition to your furniture collection. The piece features curved and cylindrical elements to create an inviting seat in which to rest, read and watch. It's available in a variety of coverings including a beautiful ivory bouclé, lush navy velvet and several leather options. CUSHION, VEIKKANEN ($225) If you're looking for a beautiful, graphic-print cushion to bring some colour to your interior ensemble, look no further than Veikkanen. The Melbourne-based brand offers a series of one-of-a-kind cushions with patterns, graphics and colours informed by its founder's training in both textiles and graphic design. Veikannen chooses natural and recycled materials wherever possible, and custom-makes each cushion using the process of hand-tufting. Watch out for each drop of limited-edition products on Instagram — they sell out fast. And if you're interested in taking these funky vibrant visuals to your wall, art and hangings are also available in limited releases or by commission. DREAMWEAVER LIGHT, POP & SCOTT ($890) With a steel frame hand-woven with organic cotton yarn and dipped in colour at its base, this lamp shade beautifully demonstrates strong elements coming together in harmony with a focus on function and form. Choose from a colour palette of rust, oatmeal, chartreuse, blush and navy to design your ideal lighting to suit your space. Pop & Scott has a passion for contemporary Australian design, and places a focus on sourcing quality materials and using ethical means of production to create timeless pieces. These shades are made to order by the family business, and a tree is planted for each purchase via Carbon Neutral. J4 TABLES, JAMES HOWE (ENQUIRE) Furniture and lighting designer James Howe has created a table that invites us to pay attention to light and shadow, and how they interact. Crafted with timber and acrylic, the varied surfaces speak to Howe's interest in materials and minimalism. The J4 table's name is perhaps a nod to Danish designer Børge Mogensen's J39 chair that Howe cites as his inspiration to become a furniture designer. To find out more about The Serif, visit the Samsung website. * Only supported by Android OS-based smartphones that support Near Field Communication (NFC) wireless information sharing.
