From moonlit rooftops to moody underground dens, Sydney almost has it all when it comes to bars. But this hasn't stopped a horde of new and inventive ones from opening this year. A tiny CBD tapas bar with standing room only, a rum distillery in the heart of Surry Hills and a hidden bar in The Rocks doling out 150 whiskies, cheese and kangaroo salami. This year's newbies are nothing if not diverse. At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most talented whippersnappers pushing Sydney to be a better, braver city. So, these six newbies were nominated for Best New Bar in Concrete Playground's Best of 2018 Awards. You can check out all the winners here.
The year is 1987. One way or another, the residents of Hawkins, Indiana that viewers know and love will have their last experience with the eeriness that's been plaguing their town for years. That's the promise of Stranger Things' long-awaited fifth and final season, even if the hit Netflix show saying goodbye won't be the end of the franchise's universe. Audiences, start looking forward to 2025. More than two years after season four's arrival — a wait extended due to 2023's Hollywood strikes — the streaming platform has confirmed that Stranger Things will be back in 2025. More than that, it has revealed a few key details. The first: that the new season will be set in the fall of 1987, which means a jump from the fourth season's spring 1986 timing. The second: the titles of the eight upcoming episodes. [caption id="attachment_978610" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix © 2024[/caption] There's no specific release date yet, other than 2025 — and nothing more in terms of a storyline, either. But if you feel like obsessing over the episode monikers for clues, you've now got eight hints. The season will kick off with 'The Crawl', then deliver 'The Vanishing of ...', 'The Turnbow Trap' and 'Sorcerer'. Next comes 'Shock Jock', 'Escape From Camazotz' and 'The Bridge', before it all ends with the enticingly named 'The Rightside Up'. Netflix unveiled the titles with a teaser video that's just text on-screen, plus the familiar — and always-welcome — sounds of the Stranger Things theme. Wondering who or what vanishes? The details are also part of the episode name, but the spoiler part has been blurred out to keep everyone guessing. Fans already know, however, that this season features Terminator franchise icon Linda Hamilton, jumping from one sci-fi hit to another. That said, there's no news yet on who she'll play, where she'll fit in, what relationship that she'll have with the usual Hawkins crew, how many episodes that she'll feature in or if she'll be visiting the Upside Down — or how pivotal she'll be to the show's big farewell. And as for more Stranger Things-related antics after season five, when creators Matt and Ross Duffer revealed that their sci-fi show was working towards its endgame back in 2022, they also said that they had more stories to tell in this fictional realm. Instantly, we all knew what that meant. Netflix doesn't like letting go of its hits easily, after all, so the quest to find a way to keep wandering through this franchise was about as surprising as Jim Hopper's (David Harbour, Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story) usual gruff mood. Check out the title tease video for season five below: Stranger Things season five will arrive some time in 2025 — we'll update you when an exact release date is announced. You can stream the first four seasons now via Netflix — and read our review of season four. Images: Netflix.
If you're a fan of European food but can't quite muster the dimes for a plane ticket every time you need your fix, then Mordeo could be your new favourite eatery. Offering the best of Southern European cuisine, Mordeo brings a little piece of the Mediterranean to the inner city. Owner and executive chef Nicholas Aspros worked alongside head chef Marc Gehret to curate an innovative collection of fresh, produce-driven dishes, focusing on the vibrant flavours of Greece, Italy and Spain and ranging from tapas to generous share plates, woodfired meats and pizza. Mordeo means to devour in Latin, because really, is there any better way to approach food? Located in the expansive Assembly in Deutsche Bank Place on Hunter Street, Mordeo manages to claim its territory in the aircraft hanger-esque space. The combination of warm low lighting, natural materials, a pressed tin bar and copper light creates the intimate ambience characteristic of a much smaller venue. The five imposing lamps that occupy the space create a makeshift ceiling and are so large it's easy to imagine in a past life likely resided on the bedside table of a giant, next to a book on farming golden goose eggs. The wine list is extensive and reasonably priced, showcasing several local vineyards as well as a vast selection of Italian, French, Spanish and Greek boutique wines. So make the most of the knowledgeable staff and be sure to ask for wine pairing suggestions. If you're keen for something a little stronger, there's a selection of creative cocktails, ranging from the bone-warming Tiramisu Martini ($16) to the lighter Summer Peach Cobbler ($16). And if it's the end of the week or you're just feeling particularly daring, why not order one of their tequilas followed by a shooter of their house-made Verdita, a liquid mouth punch of blended coriander, lime, and chilli which will leave you feeling like the whole of Mexico relocated to your mouth for a few cactus-fuelled seconds. There's a vast selection of share plates to get you started. We suggest the creamy house-made taramasalata, made according to the owners' yia yia's recipe ($9); the seared scallops cooked to perfection in a sweet Pedro Ximenez reduction ($4 each); or the smoked pork hock terrine, with a pear and fennel salad and thick slices of chargrilled brioche ($22). The smoky flavours of the terrine are enhanced when paired with a glass of French dry rose Terres de Saint Louise Rose ($9). The standout dish for sharing is without doubt the caramelised lamb ribs ($12). If human-rib marriage was legal, they'd have the waiters working double time as wedding celebrants. Slow cooked to fall-aparty perfection and marinated in a glorious concoction of golden syrup, BBQ sauce, wine and a balsamic reduction, after these ribs, there's no doubt you'll be left licking your fingers and, let's face it, probably the chef's fingers too. Mordeo offers a huge selection of mains to suit every occasion, from casual classic pizzas topped with fresh ingredients and a thoroughly satisfying amount of cheese ($22 - $24) to generous share plates piled high with slow-cooked meats. If you have a little extra room in your dessert stomach, grab a bitter orange crema Catalana, Spain's answer to the creme brulee ($14). On Thursday nights, there's live music by local artists, which is considerate of Mordeo, because when you think about it, the more calories you tapping your feet the less guilty you'll feel about ordering a second helping of caramelised ribs.
In these massive and mostly nude portraits of returned soldiers in After Afghanistan, official Australian war artist Ben Quilty has tuned into the rare moment when all holds are unbarred. Without their armour, uniforms, and weaponry, these majors, lieutenants, and officers bare not just their bodies but their traumas, vulnerabilities, and wounded courage. Quilty's previous bodies of work have trickled the themes of mortality, modern masculinity, and Australiana through the autobiographical lens of his youthful experiences of boozing, hooning, and self-destructing in Sydney’s western suburbs. The lens he uses is now the experiences of Australian soldiers. For years, the artist has built his own, distinctly Quilty visual language, one that is hyper-real, hyper-masculine, hyper-coloured, and extreme in its oil-slick paint slathers still in gravitational collapse. The signature candy colours have now been replaced by sombre khakis and murky violets. The testosterone-fuelled Toranas are now Bushmaster armoured vehicles. One officer's face is partly consumed by a black hole, another’s forehead bleeds into a threatening landscape via ribbons of orange. Sections of stark white, unpainted canvas push through many of the works. Through a gentle procession of abstractions, Quilty has presented soldiers in various states of disappearance, he has shown them being voided. The words of cinematographer Bruce McCleery come to mind here: "It's not pretty, but it is beautiful." These are frank works. Quilty has no space for art-world irony or self-knowing cleverness, and there's a sense of violence being not so much an action but a feeling that won't go away. The politics of Australia's continued involvement in Afghanistan is at the retracted edge of the show. It's a curious fact that since 9-11, Western artists and filmmakers seem to have focused less on the wars' impact on the people of the Middle East, and more on the experience of our soldiers out there. In this way, Ben Quilty: After Afghanistan is the Australian art world's answer to the American film The Hurt Locker — a study of men at war, any war, and the psychological toll taken. Ben Quilty will be speaking at the National Art School Gallery's Art Forum series on February 27, 1-2pm, and at The Art of War: Panel Discussion with Wendy Sharpe and Dr Kit Messham-Muir on March 20 at the Cell Block Theatre (bookings through Art Month).
The French are often hailed as the best lovers in the world; they gave us the French kiss and French lingerie, after all. But you don't need to schlep all the way to the City of Love to enjoy a romantic evening, Sydney can turn on the charm just as well. With help from our friends at the Sydney Opera House, we've crafted a French-inspired date night itinerary that'll make even that loved-up skunk Pepé Le Pew jealous. From a harbourside Champagne pop-up to heart-racing cabaret, your cheri will be beaucoup impressed. So, buckle up, les amoureux, you're in for one helluva hot and steamy night. TUCK INTO AUTHENTIC FRENCH PASTRY Kick off your lovey-dovey date by treating your partner to a decadent French pastry at hidden gem La Renaissance in The Rocks. Follow the buttery scent up Argyle Street and into the patisserie's leafy courtyard — here, you'll find all manner of authentic treats, from perfect croissants and pains au chocolat to quiche and baguette sandwiches. Co-owned and headed up by French-trained, award-winning pastry chef Jean-Michel Raynaud, La Ren has been dishing out its superb pastry since 1974 and is not only the first patisserie in Australia to be invited to join the prestigious Relais Desserts — an international association recognising top pastry chefs — but also the first in the Southern Hemisphere. So you know you and your stomachs are in good hands. BROWSE SOME FAMOUS FRENCH ART Another thing the French do well? Paint. All of their passion and energy truly comes alive on canvas; so, grab your lover's hand and take a wander through the Masters of Modern Art from the Hermitage exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW. Here, you can get up close and personal with some true French masters, including Monet, Matisse, Cezanne and Gauguin. Taking a minute to marvel celebrated works with your special person will bring you closer together and give you some cultural fodder to discuss over a drink after. FIND THE GREEN FAIRY WITH AN ABSINTHE COCKTAIL By now, you may be craving a spot to cuddle up with your partner and speak in hushed tones à la français. We also know that some like it hot, so we've found just the place. Make tracks to petit-yet-punchy cocktail bar Eau de Vie for a flamin' cocktail — not like Alf Stewart flamin' but, like, literally flaming. The Elysee Montmartre — named after a historic French theatre which tragically burnt down in 2011 (but was thankfully restored in 2016) — is a raging hot cocktail complete with a flaming ball of absinthe. This little humdinger is sure to ignite your evening and set you up for a ménage à trois: you, cheri and the green fairy. ENJOY A SUMPTUOUS FRENCH FEAST AT HUBERT After that heated moment, you're probably feeling a little more than peckish. Head to famed French brasserie Hubert for a bite to eat in decadent post-war Paris surrounds. Here, the Champagne flows thick and fast, jazz rolls through the air and classic French fare takes centre stage. Really, your meal can be as low-key or extravagant as you'd like. You can keep things casual with a couple of small share plates like duck parfait and escargot; or up the ante with caviar and oysters mignonette followed by a full-blown feast of beef tartare and chicken fricassé. Whatever you decide, be sure to save room for the silky-smooth crème caramel — one each to avoid a lover's quarrel. GRAB A DRINK AT THE BLANC DE BLANC POP-UP BAR Before you settle in for the saucy sensation that is Blanc de Blanc Encore at the Opera House, take in those iconic harbour views while sipping Champagne or gin cocktails (or both) at the show's Blanc Bar, popping up till Monday, February 4. Should you still be hungry after Hubert (or if you've decided to just head straight for the water), the French-inspired menu also features nibbles that pair with the beverages on offer. Think ocean trout with cucumber jelly, native lime and elderflower dressing or Sydney rock oysters with verjus vinaigrette. Plus, there'll be DJs on the decks all night long, so après show, you can head back to the bar to keep the opulent party atmosphere going. SETTLE IN FOR SOME HEART-RACING CABARET You can't do a romantic French-inspired date night without getting a little naughty, so sidle up to your lover and get ready for a spot of risque cabaret at Blanc de Blanc Encore. Running at the Studios at the Opera House till Saturday, March 9, the fully immersive cabaret extravaganza promises the glitz and glamour of 1920s Paris and is bursting at the sequined seams with all kinds of jaw-dropping acts. Ready yourself for alluring cabaret, toe-tappin' jazz, breathtaking circus tricks and laugh-out-loud comedy. It's an experience that'll have your lover saying merci beaucoup, over and over again. FINISH OFF WITH CHEESE AND CHAMPAGNE Surely, there's no better way to cap off the night than with a cheese flight and glass of Champagne — especially if you want to keep the French thing going. Stroll over to the Cured and Cultured bar at Bennelong to savour a few wedges of the good stuff while taking in the incredible harbour views. There's also a new spritz cocktail list on offer at the Opera House-based restaurant with sparkling numbers like Spices with Bennelong mulled wine syrup, Pampelle Ruby l'Apero, Pierre Ferrand dry curacao and Stefano Lubiana sparkling or Fruits with vanilla-infused Pampero Anejo rum, Stefano Lubiana sparkling, apricot and saffron syrup and mandarin soda. And if you're keen for one last show before bed, the counter affords front row seats to theatrics in the kitchen (basically, a bunch of well-trained chefs executing dishes with precision). Ah, sweet dreams are made of cheese. Grab your tickets to Blanc de Blanc Encore and start planning your roaring night on the town.
As Brisbane's annual LGBTQIA+ celebration, Melt Festival has seen Sophie Ellis-Bextor grace its stage, and Chappell Roan as well. It has also hosted Spencer Tunick's nude photography works, including shutting down the Story Bridge for one installation. They're just some of the event's highlights from recent years, but it's adding another in 2025: a Brisbane-only show by Broadway icon Bernadette Peters. In New York's famous theatre district, she originated the role of The Witch in Into the Woods, and of Dot in Sunday in the Park with George. She has two Tonys, for Song and Dance and Annie Get Your Gun. She won a Golden Globe for Pennies From Heaven on the big screen, and featured in The Jerk and Annie as well. On TV, she boasts Smash, Mozart in the Jungle, The Good Fight, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist and High Desert on her resume. Now, Peters is doing an Australian-exclusive performance in the Queensland capital — and it's her first Aussie gig in more than a decade. [caption id="attachment_998041" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Drama League via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] An Evening with Bernadette Peters has a date with the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday, October 24 — falling within Melt Festival's Wednesday, October 22–Sunday, November 9 run for 2025. The star kickstarts the lineup not just as a Broadway legend, but as an icon of the LGBTQIA+ community, including thanks to her work with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS to raise funds for AIDS patients and research. How will a talent with six decades of performing to draw upon — including the current Broadway season of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends — whittle that down into one Brisbane show? You'll need to head along to find out. In her Brisbane performance, Peters boasts support by Camerata — Queensland's Chamber Orchestra. Top image: Drama League via Wikimedia Commons.
If variety is the spice of life, spontaneity is the cracked pepper which, when sprinkled to the perfect 'when', makes everything better. Breaking with routine and stepping away from the every day not only adds an element of excitement to your life, but it also allows you to experience new things. Plus, nobody wants to feel like they're living in their own version of Russian Doll. Thankfully, Sydney has plenty of off-the-cuff activities that you don't need to plan in advance, and we've partnered with the folks at Holey Moley to bring you five cracking ideas. From spontaneous late-night swims to last-minute mini golf, roll the dice with an impromptu date and you will surely be rewarded. UNPLANNED PUTT-PUTT AT HOLEY MOLEY Grab your pals and get ready to kick putt at Holey Moley in Darlinghurst. The expansive two-level adult's playground is the chain's tenth and biggest venue in Australia with three courses and 27 themed holes. There are neon lights, gumball machines, a giant shark, a life-size game of operation... pretty much all your wildest childhood fantasies. Plus it's got all your adult (alcohol-based) fantasies covered, too. The Caddyshack bar slings all kinds of pun-plenty tipples, like The Sugar Caddy, the Long Island Iced Tee and Espresso Partini. Given the super convenient location — it sits right under that iconic Coke sign in Kings Cross — Holey Moley is a great place to blow off steam after work or relax with a date. The best part? There's a heap of specials available for walk-in customers, so you're actually rewarded for your spontaneity. AN IMPROMPTU DRAG SHOW AT THE IMPERIAL Don't be a drag; go see drag at The Imperial instead. Since the iconic Sydney pub went through some pretty major renovations, it's returned brighter than ever and is serving fierce drag queen realness. Each night, Priscillas restaurant hosts Drag N' Dine — a flamboyant and fabulous drag extravaganza featuring pole dancing, lip-synching, visual art and side-splitting comedy from some of Australia's most celebrated queens. It's like Ru Paul's Drag Race in real life, actually better because you get to tuck into tasty plant-based fare while you watch. Yep, just like the venue at large doesn't discriminate regarding sexuality or gender, the kitchen welcomes all kinds of eaters — vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian... you'll all be looked after here. Once you've finished with drag and dinner, keep your impromptu night out kicking in the Imperial Basement with a late-night boogie. AN OFF-THE-CUFF ART EXPEDITION The best thing about going to a gallery on a whim is that you never quite know what you're going to get; you might discover a new artist, fall in love with a different medium or gain a new perspective. Or you might totally hate the exhibition, hey, that's a story, too. Grab a couple of your cultured pals and head to the MCA or AGNSW for an impromptu art expedition. On Wednesday nights, both art institutions stay open late so you can drop in as you please to come eye to eye with Australia's leading contemporary artists, encounter a breakout exhibition and settle in for a talk, some music or even a bit of comedy. SPONTANEOUS ROOFTOP COCKTAILS AT SLIMS Bad day at work? Nothing that a bev, balmy weather and a sweeping view won't fix. Get a few friends for cheeky, off-the-cuff cocktails at hidden rooftop bar Slims. On the top floor of the historic four-storey Hotel William, Slims Rooftop offers views across Hyde Park, plus a fun retro fit-out. The bright, cheery space features frilly pink and orange umbrellas, white picnic-style benches, cacti aplenty and plenty of space — often a rarity for city rooftops. The comprehensive cocktail list places classics like Aperol spritzes and margaritas alongside signatures championing Asian ingredients. Order a La Dolce Vita (rum with hibiscus tea, mint and lime) and take in the views. Ah, spontaneity never tasted so good. A SPUR-OF-THE-MOMENT NIGHT SWIM IN COOGEE Obviously, spontaneous swims don't work as well in winter, so take advantage of this last stretch of summer and round up a couple of mates for an impromptu dip. Whether it's after work or on a steamy Saturday night, thanks to daylight savings, there is plenty of time for swimming. We suggest popping by the Ross Jones Memorial Pool in Coogee. This pool is fantastic for night swimming because you have the reassurance of four walls and the security of a solid enclosure yet you're right by the ocean. While you're bobbing with your besties, you can enjoy panoramic views across Coogee Bay and out to the horizon. Once you've dried off, make tracks to The Pav and treat yourself to a post-swim pina colada. Keen for some off-the-cuff fun? Head to Holey Moley for impromptu putt-putt and Espresso Partinis.
The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre is bringing in a very special guest for its ANZAC Day commemorative event. The Marrickville brewery will be hosting an intimate concert with one of Australia's most beloved songwriters as part of its April 25 program, alongside good beers, tasty snacks and, of course, two-up. You Am I's Tim Rogers will be hitting the Lucky Prawn Stage to perform hits from his nearly three-decade-long career, including tracks from the band's 12 studio albums and his five solo albums. In support, local singer-songwriter Babitha will be bringing her country twang to the stage off the back of her acclaimed debut album Brighter Side of Blue, which she released earlier this year. [caption id="attachment_854590" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jessie-Ann[/caption] Tickets are $20 and only available for the first people to arrive on the day, with no passouts. Two-up will kick off at midday, so if you want to nab a spot, get down early and enjoy a couple of Patio Ales and snacks from the Lucky Prawn while you take part in the ANZAC Day tradition. Babitha will kick off at 4.30pm, followed by Tim Rogers at 6pm. All proceeds from entry fees will be donated to Legacy to support veterans' families. [caption id="attachment_570601" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Tim Rogers[/caption] Top image: The James Adams.
Doing it solo goes alright, but doing it with someone else is usually infinitely better. In the meeting of minds, ideas are sparked, and possibilities suddenly open up as wide as the sky. In the spirit of coming together, Siberia Records and Chocolate Jesus Industries are presenting Siamese, a series of nights of collaboration and experimentation. Each week will see artists coming forward, entangling themselves in the process, and seeing what happens. On its debut outing there will be performances by Benet, Brous, Kirin J. Callinan, Omen and Pike, plus and improvised performance by FLRL (Fashion Launches Rocket Launches) and music by El Peludo (Andre from Hand Of Tyme/2SER). New Plane Public Press will also be selling their wares from their mobile cart – zines, records and more. In the following weeks, you can catch Circle Pit, Panel Of Judges, Dead China Doll, Domeyko/Gonzalez, Qua and more. An elastic moment in time, we have a feeling the air will be rife with the distinct crackle of unpredictability and creativity. Hold on tight. Image: Donny Benet
One Friday morning, as the Washington Redskins fell to the Dallas Cowboys, The 19th Club was alive with coffee, muesli and morning meetings. A few hours later, breakfast gave way to lunch, and the bar was heaving with the CBD crowd, chowing down on crunchy chicken tenders, taking the edge off the work week with a crisp beer, and watching the Pittsburgh Steelers slowly demolish the Indianapolis Colts. A growing number of patrons aren't just once-off visitors — they're actually members here. By joining up, they can take advantage of access to discounts and freebies, as well as the ability to control what's on screen, what they eat, and pretty much every other aspect of their experience at the club. All too common throughout the United States, membership to bars hasn't really kicked off in Australia, but that's looking to change, with bars like The 19th Club leading the charge by offering an individually tailored guest experience. In order to grasp how the concept is looking to revolutionise the way we approach going out for a drink, I really put the hard yards in and met up with the club's Head of Member Services and all-round renaissance man Tom Glasson to drink beer, eat incredible food, and talk about sports. The 19th Club is built on the American idea of membership to bars and clubs, something that is definitely lacking in Australia. "Everyone's a member of everything," Glasson advises in regards to the US approach to bars. It's this idea that The 19th Club are trying to transpose to our fair shores, and part of this is the importance that sport plays in the way we think about pubs and bars. Sports bring people together with a shared experience, regardless of differences. "You don't have to have a CEO's income to share that dialogue," says Glasson. The old (and highly debatable) adage that the customer is always right runs deep at The 19th Club, even to the point where the members have an active say in how the bar runs. Opening hours can change depending on what members want to watch, for example. Members have access to a private messaging platform on Slack, where they can communicate directly with staff, even to the point of ordering food before they arrive. When I asked about some fairly obvious demographic barriers, Glasson is quick offer reassurance. "It's not in any way a boy's club." What if, then, someone wanted to watch the netball? "If the members want the netball on, we put the netball on!" Glasson offers. It was then agreed that netball is an awesome and underrated sport. It's evident that the ideal behind The 19th Club is that it's driven by its members, and run for its members, but in a way that doesn't alienate the public. It's a sports bar for the people, by the people. Despite the strong emphasis on American sports at The 19th Club, Glasson is adamant that this isn't the endgame for the bar. "It's American focused right now, but that's only because this is the right time to do it," he says. With the Australian summer of cricket well underway and the football season peeking its head around the corner, there's a whole other dimension coming to the bar. Given that it has only been open since September, it would be easy for the head honchos behind The 19th Club to rest on their laurels and simply continue with the business model they're currently offering, but this isn't the case at all. Rather than keep on keeping on, the aim is to progress to the point where membership to The 19th Club grants you access to future incarnations of the bar around the globe. The goal is, according to Glasson, to be able to "watch what you want, when you want, anywhere in the world." The 19th Club provides something new, something unique to the Sydney scene. It's a sports bar with a refined décor that offers breakfast, beers, a burger that tastes exactly like a stadium burger but really, really good, and a unique experience for each and every member. It's easy to see how this model works so well in America, and it's not too much of a stretch to see it working here, as well. What a time to be alive. Find The 19th Club on the ground floor at 19 Bridge Street, Sydney. For more information, visit their website.
So, you're one of the hordes of people who watched Squid Game. We all are. And, you watched it and thought that playing hopscotch and tug of war sounds like fun — and breaking out the sugar honeycombs and grabbing your bag of marbles, too — but obviously without the whole pesky compete-to-the-death angle. If that's you, then Netflix keeps dropping news that'll get you excited. Already, the streaming platform has confirmed that Squid Game will return for season two, and also revealed a few details with an extremely brief teaser trailer. Now, it's turning Squid Game into a reality — a reality competition TV show, that is. Squid Game: The Challenge won't include murder. It will feature 456 players, though — all ordinary people, and not actors. And, they will indeed compete to win $4.56 million. Plus, they'll play a series of games inspired by the South Korean thriller — the extremely fictional South Korean thriller, until now — as well as a few new additions. Also, competitors will be eliminated as the games go on, and forming strategies and alliances will play a huge part. So yes, Squid Game: The Challenge is designed to get as close to the OG Squid Game as possible, just without the body count. It'll all be overseen by a Front Man, too, because of course it will. As yet, there's no word if the Red Light, Green Light doll will be involved. Do you want to play a game? Enter to join Squid Game: The Challenge at https://t.co/MaXfZnqmvb pic.twitter.com/6gYLXlplDC — Netflix (@netflix) June 14, 2022 Netflix is calling Squid Game: The Challenge "the biggest reality competition series ever", and it'll certainly have the biggest cast. The results will unfurl over ten episodes, which don't yet have a release date — but the show is due to shoot sometime in early 2023, and the streaming platform does like to turn things around as quickly as possible If you're keen not only to watch but to play, casting — or recruitment, as Netflix has dubbed it — is currently open for English-language speakers from any part of the world. There are three sections: casting in the UK, casting in the US and casting elsewhere (including Down Under). You do need to be at least 21, though, and be available for four weeks at the beginning of next year. Also, you need to hold a valid passport. Making a gripping and brutal TV show that satirises capitalism, seeing it become a huge hit and one of the best new TV programs of 2021, then bringing its games into real life does sound like something that might happen in Squid Game itself if the show was getting meta. Announcing Squid Game: The Challenge, Netflix VP of Unscripted and Documentary Series Brandon Riegg said that "Squid Game took the world by storm with Director Hwang's captivating story and iconic imagery. We're grateful for his support as we turn the fictional world into reality in this massive competition and social experiment." He continued: "fans of the drama series are in for a fascinating and unpredictable journey as our 456 real world contestants navigate the biggest competition series ever, full of tension and twists, with the biggest ever cash prize at the end." Squid Game: The Challenge recruitment is open now, with the show set to film in early 2023, and expected to air sometime later that year. We'll update you with an exact release date when one is announced. Squid Game's first season is available to stream via Netflix. We'll update you with a release date for season two when one is announced. Images: Noh Juhan/Netflix.
Rarely do you see a show where actors playing sheep is a highlight. But that's the case with Eamon Flack's production of As You Like It. This is not a disparaging comment, either. Hours of characterisation and workshops must have gone into getting the unperturbed expression of a pastoral sheep perfectly right. The sheep graze in the Forest of Arden, to which woodland Duke Frederick (Bille Brown) has exiled his older brother, the proper Duke, and his entourage. Frederick is a fiery man and his court's not that much fun, so Duke Senior's daughter Rosalind (Alison Bell) and her cousin Celia (Yael Stone) soon vanish after her father, with Rosalind disguised as a man and Celia dressed as a poor lady. They even take the court jester, Touchstone (Charlie Garber), along for the ride, making Frederick's kingdom assuredly free of laughs from then on. Rosalind's star-crossed suitor, Orlando (Ashley Zukerman), turns up to avoid persecution by his older brother, Oliver (Hamish Michael), and lo! — the stage is set for an extravaganza of cross-dressing and capering. The arcadian Forest of Arden is a strange place, inhabited by fugitives, shepherds, shepherdesses, curates, lionesses and sheep. Everyone energetically hooks up with everybody else and they all excitedly get the wrong idea about everything — except for the sheep, who remain steadfastly po-faced and implacable. Director Eamon Flack does a superb job of proving Shakespeare can be silly, slapstick and fun in this production. In 2009, Flack devised a delightful production of Midsummer Night's Dream in Belvoir's Downstairs Theatre; this year, he's been elevated to the Upstairs Theatre space and he makes full use of its idiosyncratic setting. As You Like It is a classic comedy of Shakespeare's. The original text is cleverly handled with witty explanatory asides, and it's even got a sing-song with Casey Donovan. But go for the sheep; they will make you laugh till you weep.
Ending the nine-to-five grind with a beverage can make any working day better. Pair that tipple with cheap seafood, and you'll be counting down the minutes until knock-off time. Opera Bar is clearly keeping that idea in mind this November — it's serving up $1 oysters all month long. From 6–7pm every weekday, the stunning harbourside bar is shucking Wallis Lake Sydney Rock oysters by the bucket load. If you want to be extra fancy, you can pair your $1 molluscs with a $20 glass or $99 bottle of Veuve Clicquot. If, on the other hand, you want to save your coins, head there a little early to catch happy hour, which runs from 5–6pm every weekday. Do this and you'll be able down one (or a few) $9 pints and $10 spritzes before oyster festivities begin. The oyster shucking will be paired with free live tunes, too, which we think makes from a pretty ace (and affordable) date night.
Our fascination with celebrities and their private lives is a phenomenon that often beggars belief. Nothing short of President Obama ordering an invasion of Canada would have pushed Tom Cruise's latest divorce from the front pages, and the reality that there are multiple websites dedicated entirely to Angelina Jolie's tattoos does at times make us worry. But for better or worse, we remain transfixed, often more for the mundanity and banality than for the glitz and glamour (although Rich Kids of Instagram specialises in all of the above). So here are ten brilliant photographs of superstars taken by their superstar friends, proving that celebrities doing normal, even boring, things will never cease to entertain us. Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin Photographer: Sammy Davis Jr. Kurt Cobain, Frances Bean and Patty Schemel Photographer: Courtney Love Kirsten Dunst Photographer: Sofia Coppola George Harrison Photographer: Paul McCartney Ian McKellen Photographer: Andy Warhol Keith Richards and Kenny Aaronson Photographer: Mick Jagger Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier Photographer: Frank Sinatra Bill Cosby Photographer: Dennis Hopper Neil Armstrong Photographer: Buzz Aldrin Peter O'Toole Photographer: Sammy Davis Jr.
Announced today, Sydney will join New York, London and Paris as one of the first cities in the world to launch Spotify Venue Pages — a new initiative developed in partnership with the Minns Labor Government and Spotify AU/NZ. The feature gives NSW live music venues their own dedicated home on Spotify, allowing fans to seamlessly move from streaming their favourite artists to buying tickets and seeing them live. Each venue will be able to list upcoming shows, link directly to ticketing partners, and share new announcements — effectively transforming Spotify into a live music discovery hub. To help local venues make the most of the rollout, Spotify and the NSW Government will also deliver marketing campaigns, training and education sessions in the coming weeks. Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said the new feature represents a major step forward for local music. "We applaud Spotify for bringing Venue Pages to Australia and expect it to drive more local listeners to local gigs," he said. "Streaming has sometimes hurt the local music scene, but this is a turning point where Spotify is increasing its support for it." Graham added that the initiative aligns with the government's broader commitment to revitalising the state's nightlife. "Our local live music scene is the talent factory for the future of NSW music, but venues have been under cost and demand pressures," he said. "This boost from Spotify is extremely welcome and dovetails perfectly with all the other support we're delivering." According to Alicia Sbrugnera, Head of Music at Spotify AU/NZ, the feature is about strengthening the link between streaming and live performance. "Venues are the foundation of a thriving local music scene," she said. "Giving venues a home on Spotify means helping fans to go from streaming their favourite artists to seeing them live. We're excited to work closely with the NSW Government to support venues, artists and Australian music." Images: Supplied.
Inside an artfully graffitied Annandale warehouse, you'll find a dedicated team of colourists that has been bringing vibrant hues to inner west noggins for more than a decade. With whitewashed walls, a vaulted ceiling and generous overflowing pot plants, the space's minimalist aesthetic is a calming backdrop for the vibrant hair art that's created within. Whether you're after a balayage touch-up or a full head of pastel locks, the team weaves its magic with colours and toners for a striking result. You can organise a cut alongside your colour glow-up, but right now DD and Co isn't offering haircuts as a standalone service.
There's no denying that Sydney thrives during summer. The warmer weather means taking advantage of our enviable beaches, countless al fresco dining spots and watching, or playing, as many outdoor sports as possible. So, when the colder weather hits — which, for Sydneysiders, basically translates to anything below 20 degrees — we can often be at a loss as what to do. On one hand, you're rejoicing that the sweaty, sleepless nights are behind you, but on the other, you don't want to spend the next few months in social hibernation. To celebrate the launch of Coopers Session Ale, a refreshing brew with tropical notes that can be enjoyed regardless of the season, we've rounded up the city's best activities to keep the summer fun going — all year round. TAKE A DIP IN AN OUTDOOR HEATED POOL Summer may be over, but that doesn't mean you need to pack away the swimming costume and goggles. Sydney boasts a host of heated outdoor pools (including Prince Alfred Park Pool and Victoria Park Pool) so you can keep your lap count up all year round. Our pick is North Sydney Olympic Pool — it has a prime position beside Luna Park, which means looking up at the Harbour Bridge as you backstroke. Workout complete, pick up a six-pack of Session Ales on your way home, you've earned them. CAMP IN COMFORT It may be frowned upon by the more hardcore nature junkies, but glamping is truly the best of both worlds: you get to swap the city chaos for serene nature surroundings without sacrificing those homely creature comforts. One of our favourite spots is Tandara in Lane Cove National Park — it's a good option for a quick retreat sans road trip. Forget the sleeping bag, secure a luxury tent for $220 per night and you'll be cosy-ing up in a king bed with a TV after a luxurious bubble bath. Your private deck offers stunning bush views, too. Fire up the barbecue and enjoy dinner and some beers under the stars. HIKE ALONG THE COAST Trekking our glorious coastline seems like the perfect summer activity, until you realise that everyone has had the same idea and the walk becomes more of a shuffle. But as the summer sun disappears so do the crowds meaning that you can pick up the pace and cover more ground. If you're up for a challenge, tackle the 26-kilometre Royal National Park Coast Track and use the North Era campground as an overnight pit-stop. After something a little milder? Opt for the Middle Head, which packs the excitement in with forts, underground tunnels and sweeping harbour views. This time of year is also prime whale-watching season so be sure to pack the binoculars and some Session Ales to sip on while the glorious sea mammals put on a show. DINE ON SEASONALLY DRIVEN FRENCH FARE Fooling yourself into thinking the warmer weather hasn't disappeared can be a whole lot easier at Été. After all, the name quite literally means 'summer' in French. Fine dining chef Drew Bolton (Aria, Quay) is at the helm of this waterfront eatery in Barangaroo. Été specialises in contemporary French-Australian cuisine using locally sourced produce. Bolton cleverly merges his classical French training with experimental flair to produce a menu that is a bold take on standard French fare — think chicken liver parfait with salted plum jelly, duck breast with bitter orange and a pistachio madeleine with whipped ricotta. And you don't necessarily have to pay a lot for the privilege either. The restaurant offers a weekday lunch special for $29, which include its plat du jour with a wine, beer or soda. While you're sipping on a fresh, fruity ale, digging into seasonal fare and overlooking the glistening harbour, you could be convinced it's still summer. ROUND UP YOUR MATES FOR SOME BEACHSIDE BEERS Being near the beach is basically a prerequisite for most summer activities. And why should that change just because the weather does? Hotel Steyne, a mainstay on the Manly Corso, is a great spot for some winter escapism with the crew. The Steyne offers a variety of dining options to suit your mood but if it's the summery vibes you're trying to conjure, the Seaside Bistro offers the best ocean views and a seafood-heavy menu. The Steyne also offers a free barbecue on Saturdays from 5pm and nothing says 'Aussie summer' like the intoxicating scent of sea breeze mixed with grilled snags. Pair your feast with a Coopers Session Ale and you'll forget that your favourite season is long gone. Or, if there really is a chill, nab a spot in front of the fireplace and pretend that the blazing heat is the sun. Grab a Coopers Session Ale and make the most of summer, all year round. Top image: The Coast Track, Royal National Park
There's something oh-so-relaxing about staring at the sea, even if you're feasting your eyes on the water via the big screen. That's the concept behind the Ocean Film Festival Australia. You can't always spend all your time at the beach, by the river or in a pool — but you can spend an evening peering at the next best thing in a cinema. On select dates in March, screening at either 6.30pm or 7pm depending on the venue, the festival will unleash a cinematic feast of water-focused wonders onto the silver screen at various venues around Sydney. This is the event's 11th year, and it's heading to Randwick Ritz Cinemas on Wednesday, March 6, then Hayden Orpheum in Cremorne from Thursday, March 7–Friday, March 8, and also Event Cinemas George Street on Wednesday, March 13. Film-wise, viewers will spend time both above and below the ocean's surface thanks to a compilation of shorts from around the world. Expect to chase big waves, explore a range of sea life and get a hefty ocean rush, plus a heap of other sea adventures. One big highlight for 2024: Ice Maiden, about Lisa Blair's attempt to become the first woman to sail solo — and also without assistance, and non-stop — around Antarctica. The full program is united by a love of the ocean, an appreciation of the creatures who dwell in its waters and a curiosity to explore the substance that comprises more than two-thirds of the earth. It's the next best thing to diving in, all without getting wet.
Saint Cloche gallery on MacDonald Street in Paddington has consistently been a home for some of the most talented and collectible emerging artists in Australia. The latest exhibition from Sydney-based artist Leanne Xiu Williams continues the trend with a stunning collection of her still life paintings, titled 'Vessels'. The show, which runs at Saint Cloche from Wednesday 10 May until Sunday, 21 May, is — as the name of the show suggests — a focus on objects that can hold and contain something. It might sound a little dry but it represents much more. According to Williams's exhibition notes: "[vessels] are wonderful metaphors for the way in which objects in our everyday lives hold meaning. They contain layered histories and stories which are shaped by our engagement with them. Objects can also characterise a place or person - they reveal much about a person's interests and habits." Regardless of the metaphor, Leanne Xiu Williams's paintings are strikingly beautiful and she's a contemporary artist whose work won't date any time soon. [caption id="attachment_899246" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Candle and Match by Leanne Xiu Williams; the image has been edited for use online[/caption] Photography credit: Miki Mikka
The world won't end in April, but video game and television fans will be whisked off to an irradiated wasteland just by sitting on their couches. Here, living inside luxe vaults has been the way of life for two centuries; however, it's no longer a reality for Lucy (Ella Purnell, Yellowjackets). So goes the plot for the new Fallout streaming series that's following 2023's The Last of Us from mashed buttons to TV. This one comes via Prime Video, dropped its first teaser last year, and has now unveiled a full look that shows that it's sticking closely to its source material. The streaming platform has also announced that Fallout will arrive earlier than initially planned, by a day — so you'll be watching on Thursday, April 11, 2024. It's been almost three decades since Fallout first hit computers back in 1997, with three released sequels, a fourth on the way and seven spinoffs all following. The live-action television take doesn't just star Purnell, but also a swaggering Walton Goggins (I'm a Virgo) as bounty hunter The Ghoul, plus Kyle MacLachlan (Lucky Hank) as Overseer Hank. Here, it's a post-apocalyptic future, where everything went pear-shaped 200 years back. Hence living in vaults, because a hellscape filled with mutants, wild west vibes and plenty of violence awaits outside those cosy confines — as the optimistic Lucy, daughter of Hank, who oversees Vault 33, is about to find out. On the surface, Goggins' The Ghoul has a secret past — and Aaron Moten (Emancipation) also has a pivotal part as Brotherhood of Steel soldier Maximus. The retrofuturistic dystopian series features Moisés Arias (Samaritan), Sarita Choudhury (And Just Like That...), Michael Emerson (Evil), Leslie Uggams (Extrapolations), Frances Turner (The Boys), Dave Register (Heightened), Zach Cherry (Severance) and Johnny Pemberton (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story) as well — plus Rodrigo Luzzi (Dead Ringers), Annabel O'Hagan (Dear Edward) and Xelia Mendes-Jones (The Wheel of Time). For The Last of Us, HBO enlisted a creative force from one of the US premium cable network's past hits in Chernobyl's Craig Mazin. Prime Video has done the same with Fallout, but with Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy — who also executive produced Prime Video's own The Peripheral. As well as executive producing with Joy, Nolan directs the first three episodes. Geneva Robertson-Dworet (Captain Marvel) and Graham Wagner (Silicon Valley) are similarly among Fallout's executive producers, as well as the series' writers and co-showrunners. And yes, Bethesda Game Studios has a hand in finally bringing the games to the screen. Check out the full trailer for Fallout below: Fallout will start streaming via Prime Video from Thursday, April 11, 2024. Images: courtesy of Prime Video.
In the fickle hospitality industry, and in a city that's seen controversial lockout laws come and go, ten years is nothing to sniff at. For Shady Pines Saloon, it's definitely something to celebrate. The first of many successful venues by the Swillhouse group — which then went on to open The Baxter Inn, Frankie's, Restaurant Hubert and Alberto Lounge — Shady Pines has won the hearts (and caused the hangovers) of many a Sydneysider in the past ten years. The now much-loved Darlinghurst spot threw open the doors to its bar filled with taxidermy, peanut shells and honky tonk tunes back in 2010. And now it's celebrating its graduation into double digits with a big ol' party. [caption id="attachment_653449" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leticia Almeida[/caption] Get down to the basement venue from 4pm on Sunday, March 1. There'll be live honky tonk, western swing and rockabilliy music kicking off at 5pm, thanks to the likes of the Cruisin' Deuces, Extension Chord and The Sweet Jelly Rolls. As always at Shady Pines, there'll be endless peanuts to shell and snack on, whisky to swill and sip, and $10 margaritas and negronis from 4–6pm. We suggest you stock up on the work Berocca in preparation for Monday. Images: Leticia Almeida
A pop of colour or soft flowing fabric can make all the difference to your home decor, and 123 Home has all the trimmings to help you do a mini home renovation without ripping out any walls. This chic store will sort you out from the kitchen to the living room and any other nook or cranny that requires a refresh. Find candles, cushions and throws in every shade of the pastel spectrum, plus cutting boards and crockery to impress at any dinner party. And if you want to look as suave as your new lamps and wall hangings, there's also a range of jewellery, sunglasses and tote bags to deck yourself out with.
No longer just a disused container terminal hogging a prime harbourside spot, Barangaroo has morphed into many things. At Barangaroo South, it's a retail, commercial and residential precinct. Thanks to Barangaroo Reserve, it boasts six hectares filled with trails, walks, coves and picnic spots. And, when Central Barangaroo kicks into gear, it'll feature even more of the above. Two key things in the works: a two-hectare waterfront park, plus a new cultural and lifestyle precinct. Aqualand, the developer tasked with bringing Central Barangaroo to fruition by the New South Wales Government — under a signed Project Development Agreement to deliver the final piece in the Barangaroo puzzle — has just unveiled its plans for the area, with adding more public space to Sydney a big feature. Indeed, when that aforementioned park opens, it'll see more than half of Barangaroo filled with accessible public areas. The new lifestyle and cultural precinct will pop up at Nawi Cove, to enliven the Barangaroo Cutaway, and also connect with Millers Point, Walsh Bay and The Rocks. Exactly what that'll entail hasn't been revealed, but the aim is to turn Central Barangaroo into a mixed-use spot with plenty to do by day or at night, including cultural experiences. Also on the agenda: campus-style offices by the waterfront park, residential apartments with killer views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, and a retail offering overseen by Scentre Group that spans fashion, dining, entertainment, leisure and technology. Again, the plans are short on specifics, but they paint a picture of a one-stop locale for shopping, eating, working, living and hanging out, all by Sydney's western harbour foreshore. "Our goal is to create a truly exceptional precinct that is beautiful, welcoming to all, with a variety of well-designed indoor and outdoor public spaces that can be enjoyed at all times of the year," explained Aqualand Project Director Rod McCoy. That mission also spans adding a new metro station to make the area more accessible to folks from all around Greater Sydney, plus new ferry wharves and new pedestrian links — again linking to Millers Point, Walsh Bay and The Rocks, as well as through Wynyard Walk and Gas Lane. Doing the honours, design-wise: Aussie architects Durbach Block Jaggers, Smart Design Studio and John Wardle Architects, alongside David Chipperfield Architects from London. As for the ground-level and lower-ground retail space, that's all via Scentre Group. Exactly when Sydneysiders can expect the most of Central Barangaroo hasn't been revealed as yet; however, Aqualand expects the NSW Department of Planning and Environment to put the planning application public exhibition in the near future. For more information about the area, head to the Barangaroo website.
Nosferatu. The Wolf Man. Frankenstein. All three names are icons of classic horror cinema. All three are headed back to the big screen in 2025. The entire trio are also making a comeback with impressive directors leading the charge, with Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman) giving Nosferatu a new spin, Leigh Whannell moving from The Invisible Man to Wolf Man and Guillermo del Toro behind the latest iteration of Mary Shelley's masterpiece (to the surprise of no one who has seen the Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, Nightmare Alley and The Shape of Water helmer's past movies). Nosferatu will hit picture palaces first — and, in true Eggers fashion, it's keen to unnerve. So, what happens when the acclaimed filmmaker directs his attention to the second-most famous name there is in vampire tales for his fourth feature? If both the initial teaser trailer and just-dropped new sneak peek for Nosferatu are anything to go by, embracing a twist on Bram Stoker's Dracula is set to turn out chillingly. More than a century has passed since the initial Nosferatu flickered across the big screen, a German Expressionist great that adapted Stoker's story with zero authorisation, hence changes such as its count being named Orlok. The film has been remade before, with Werner Herzog (The Fire Within: A Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft) giving viewers 1979's Nosferatu the Vampyre. Now, Eggers is sinking his teeth in — and visibly loving it. The new Orlok: Bill Skarsgård, fresh from action-star mode in Boy Kills World but pivoting back to creepy villains, just swapping IT and IT: Chapter Two's Pennywise for another insidious pop-culture figure. In the two looks at Eggers' Nosferatu so far, the writer/director plays coy with his monster, but not with Orlok's impact. "My dreams grow darker," cries Lily-Rose Depp in the initial trailer, trading the nightmare of The Idol for the gothic horror kind as Ellen Hutter. Joining Skarsgård and Depp is a stacked cast of fellow big names, including Willem Dafoe enjoying another stint in gothic mode after Poor Things and returning to Nosferatu after his Oscar-nominated performance in 2000's Shadow of a Vampire, where he played Max Schreck, the IRL actor who played Orlok back in 1922. Nicholas Hoult jumps from dancing with Dracula in Renfield to more undead eeriness, and Emma Corrin (A Murder at the End of the World), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (The Fall Guy) and Ralph Ineson (The First Omen) all also feature. In the US, audiences have a silver-screen date with Nosferatu on Christmas, but viewers Down Under will see the film from Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Check out the full trailer for Nosferatu below: Nosferatu releases in cinemas Down Under on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Images: courtesy of Focus Features / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.
Set near Barrington Tops National Park, three hours north of Sydney, the Riverwood Downs campground offers riverside sites, hot showers, laundry facilities, a kiosk and — most importantly — welcomes your pup with open arms. Campers can choose between powered and unpowered tent sites, both of which sit near the mountain river that extends five kilometres through the Monkerai Valley campsite. Located 2.5 hours north of Sydney, this 750-acre, award-winning property lets your pet roam on- and off-lead, with plenty of mountains trails and watering holes in reach. There's also an onsite restaurant that offers a dedicated pooch menu to boot.
Gone are the days of crashing on your own filthy camp stretcher at Splendour, padlocking up every tenty inch at Falls or nursing a crick floor-torn neck at Meredith. Belgian music festivals have changed the festival accommodation game with this brand new pop-up hotel design, so you'll never want to take the townbound shuttle again. Structured around a Japanese-style capsule hotel design, the prototype pods have been popping up at Belgian music festivals of late, prompting winsome looks from poor ol' regular stuck-in-the-mud campers. Adorably dubbed B-and-Bee, the design is the winner of a recent competition in Belgium that sought out sustainable entrepreneurship bright ideas. Often also the case at Australian festivals, Belgian festival campers aren't the most environmentally friendly of guests; leaving their cheap tents in a heap post-festival for someone else to deal with. The B-and-Bee team, led by Diana Schneider, Raf Schoors, Tim Ruytjens and social entrepreneurs at Compaan and Labeur, wanted to combat this regular trashing of resources. "It’s an ecological nightmare," Schneider told Wired. "We wanted to provide a sustainable sleeping option." The B-and-Bee honeycomb structure kicks a few goals, both sustainably and as a space-saving device. Attempting to reduce the spatial footprint, maintain cushiness and privacy while accommodating as many festivalgoers as possible is no mean feat. Using a stacked, tesselated design was the key. "We were looking for the most effective way to stack cells so they strengthen each other," says Schneider. "If you stack a square on top of each other the structure won't strengthen itself, whereas if you stack hexagons, they fit into each other and stabilise the structure." Slipping into a tiny, capsule space might sound a tad claustrophobic for some campers, but the B-and-Bee pods actually measure 1.7 metres wide by 1.45 metres tall, with a king-sized bed that's able to transform into a seat. You've also got power in your pod to charge that receptionless phone of yours, along with a light — camping's most underrated ally. While the combs are still in prototype phase, the team are hoping to have the structures geared up for next year's northern hemisphere summer festival season. Fingers crossed for a southern export, these little hives would go down a treat with yoga mat-weary Australian festivalgoers. Via Wired.
Melbourne has the Sydney Myer Music Bowl, Brisbane has the Riverstage, and while spots like The Domain and Centennial Park are often used to host outdoor music events, one thing Sydney is missing is a permanent openair concert venue. That might be about to change, with a new proposal pitching not one, but three new full-time outdoor stages located across Sydney. The proposal, which has been put together by Australian tourism and events organisation Cedar Mill Group in collaboration with Business Sydney and Business Western Sydney, has floated the idea of a trio of new entertainment spaces in The Domain, Parramatta Park and Thompsons Creek Regional Parkland in Bradfield. According to Cedar Mill Group, these "permanent performance shells" would generate 2300 jobs and $450 million each year, filling a void for mid-to-large-sized shows too big for venues like Enmore Theatre or the newly opened Liberty Hall, but too small for the likes of Qudos Bank Arena. The tourism and events group says these stages will be utilised for not only gigs but also performing arts, music festivals, movie screenings and community events. "Permanent performance shells are the missing piece in Sydney's cultural infrastructure," says Cedar Mill Group Founder and Managing Director Paul Lambess. "They minimise expensive setup costs, disruption to public spaces and the environmental impact from installation of temporary infrastructure." Cedar Mill has already been given the green light to open a 30,000-capacity amphitheatre in Lake Macquarie, with the expansive regional venue set to open as part of the redevelopment of the Morisset Golf Course next year. While The Domain and Parramatta Park are expected locations for new outdoor live music structures, the proposal also bookmarks Bradfield for a performance shell. Located an hour southwest of Sydney's CBD, the area is being pushed as Sydney's third city by the NSW Government, with the Western Sydney airport set to be built at Badgerys Creek. "A performance shell in the early development phase of Bradfield will help anchor the city, create a cultural destination around which the city will evolve with, and offer easy access to the airport and surrounding regions," David Borger, Executive Director of Business Western Sydney said. Check out the full report on Cedar Mill Group, Business Sydney and Business Western Sydney's proposal for three new permanent outdoor stages across Sydney.
Paramount Recreation Club — a rooftop dedicated to fitness above the Paramount House Hotel — is gearing up for the festive season. On Saturday, November 23, the yoga mats and gym balls will be swept aside to make way for the club's Holiday Market. If you're on the hunt for locally designed and made gifts, then make sure you add this one to the calendar. The good folks at Paramount have handpicked a bunch of their favourite brands and designers, including textiles from Margot Designs, Japanese basics from nearby store Provider, wellness products from Bear, and bits and bobs from The Plant Society, Maison Balzac and The Locals Market. Anyone who arrives within the first hour (i.e. between 10–11am) will score free coffee, courtesy of Coffee Supreme, while the Rec Club Kiosk will serve healthy eats right up until 5pm.
If one were to be cynical, it could be thought to say a lot about the state of contemporary theatre that a play in which the female lead is mainly wearing a dress with her own vomit on it and the male lead only escapes punishment for stealing and spending a large sum in used £50 notes because his supervisor in organised crime has a heart attack can be described as heartwarming. But somehow it was, and as such we can set aside the world-weariness and simply work out what was charming about Midsummer (a play with songs), brought out from Scotland's Traverse Theatre by the Sydney Theatre Company (STC). The Edinburgh accents and vocabulary are one place to start with that: Cora Bissett as Helena and Matthew Pidgeon as Bob deliver their characters' words to one another and to the audience in broad and delightful dialect, punctuated with 'aye's and things being described as 'mad', which the story certainly is. A 'lost weekend' sort of a situation that the pair alternately recount and act out, it has the reassurance of its definition as a romantic comedy that things are going to work out for the chance-met pair, an uptight divorce lawyer and the petty crim who is repeatedly to be seen reading Dostoevsky, "to cheer myself up". A lot of the fun of the play comes from repeated motifs like this and a peculiarly existential parking meter that tells the two that "Change is possible", alongside the playing out of a sort of exceptionally drunken crime caper within the structure of the tropes of romantic comedy — opposites attracting, accidents bringing them together, a dramatic declaration of love as someone is about to disappear overseas. It's an insider's guide to the romance, with Bob and Helena telling the adventure as the story of how they fell in love, and the moments of sadness and reflection and awkwardness are cushioned by the evidently happy ending and the cushioning effects of how a story is retold, a topic on which both characters have some meta-narrative musings. Having managed to survive the hangovers and the Japanese bondage and the determination that despite really agreeing on a lot of things and not wanting to leave one another's company and both thinking that the other one is "quite fit", let alone the breakup of Helena's affair with a married man and Bob's little affair with the Tesco bag full of money that doesn't belong to him, the couple tell their story as a story they've told many times before, a story that has become a legend. There is comedy and comfort and love and there are, indeed, songs (one featuring a ukelele).
There's a gallery in Sydney's eastern suburbs whose artists and curators never pack up and go home. They are home. Welcome to Le Petit Bateau, an eastern suburbs art community with a backyard that's a grown-up culture playground. Without knowing the location of this little art haven, you could easily assume it was nestled in the streets of Kreuzberg in Berlin or Montmartre in Paris, rather than tucked away in the sunny streets of Bondi Beach. Just around the corner from the main road is a little sign welcoming you to Le Petit Bateau. Blink and you'll miss it. Le Petit Bateau celebrates local creatives, housing art, dance and cooking classes. Home to 25 people residing in six flats, it functions as both a communal living and art space. Anne-Sophie Ridelaire is the curator behind this venture. Six months after coming across the space in Sydney and settling into the life of the complex, she and her boyfriend, Gaetano Russo, decided to convert an old garage into a multipurpose art studio and gallery, open to everyone in the community who wants to view and participate in art, with an emphasis on combining the cultural and social. "When I was in Paris, I was working for an art gallery, [and] my dream was to open a space like this where people can come and feel free to see the artwork," she says. Everything you see is recycled, from the couches to the decorations — all bits and bobs collected from the street. Fitting in perfectly with the community's nautical name, an old boat donated by the Pyrmont Heritage Boating Club stands prominently at the entrance. "All this we found stuff on the street, so we don't spend much," she says. "[We wanted] to show people that you can build something with nothing." Art being accessible is at the heart of Le Petit Bateau, evidenced by the open door policy. The classes, the jam sessions, the art — it's all for free. Anne-Sophie sees it as important to overcome the dissonant idea that art is reserved for the upper classes. She sees Le Petit Bateau as an important opportunity to reach out to people through art and to encourage dialogue across cultures. In keeping with that, the current exhibition is The Big Picture, an international photography exchange as part of the Month of Photography in Denver, Colorado. The Big Picture involves photographers from all around the world displaying their prints inside galleries and on the streets. Anne-Sophie has been working on this project for a year now. Along with five talented local photographers, she has recently returned from six weeks in Europe, in which she and her team pasted their photographs all around the streets of Lyon, Strasbourg, Rome, Sicily and Milan. Sydney is among many other cities participating in the project, alongside Perth, Paris, Vienna, Portland, Denver, Berlin, London, Mexico City and Buenos Aires. "It is an exchange of culture through photography, and the idea is to go around cities and to pass these pictures along," she says. Working with a gallery in Sicily, the team pasted a photo of a shark at the local fish market, which attracted a crowd of observers. "The fishermen were like, 'What is that? Is it a shark? Is it real?'" she recalls. "This kind of conversation starts, and this is exactly what the project is about." At the moment, the photos are pasted around the gallery. Her next step is to post some of these attention-grabbing works around the streets of Sydney. The success of Sydney's Le Petit Bateau has inspired a similar projects in Anne-Sophie's hometown of Lyon in France, as well as in Sicily in Italy. Despite that, she is not sure if the current Bondi Beach site will remain the home of Le Petit Bateau; she views its current form as a trial. Mindful that Bondi is a residential neighbourhood, she hopes to expand somewhere where there are fewer limitations. Watching Le Petit Bateau inject a bit of Paris into the streets of Sydney has been very welcome. And it would appear that the admiration is mutual. "Sydney is a sharing place, and there's so many different cultures in Sydney, it's beautiful," she says. "It's a cosmopolitan city, and it's important to create connection between each culture, to not have gates." To keep up to date with all their events, check out their Facebook page. Images: Bodhi Liggett.
Part of the action-packed program taking over Darling Harbour these winter school holidays, this pop-up ice rink is the perfect excuse to mix up the usual dinner-and-drinks, and do something a little different. Running from Saturday, June 28–Sunday, July 20, from 10am–9pm, ice skating at Darling Harbour will be located at the Palm Grove Forecourt, injecting European winter vibes into Sydney's iconic waterfront. Against a backdrop of harbour views and twinkling lights, the openair rink promises a fun time for seasoned skaters and first-timers alike. And if date night isn't on the cards because you've got little ones, penguin skating aids and double-bladed skates will also be available. When hunger hits, there are countless places to grab a bite that are a short walk from the rink. Indulge in Chimney cakes at Kürtősh, a warming bowl of dry ramen at IIKO Mazesoba, noodles at Sailor Boy Thai, or a scoop of ice cream at the newly opened SMiZE and DREAM. Tickets for ice skating at Darling Harbour start at $15 for toddlers, $20 for kids or concession, and $28 for adults. Penguin hire is $10, and group rates are available at $20 per person. For more information, visit Darling Harbour's website. Images: Supplied.
Dust of your black-hued and gothic-looking outfits: what else do you wear to Wednesday Island, a fan festival dedicated to the creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky Netflix series, with Jenna Ortega (Death of a Unicorn), Emma Myers (A Minecraft Movie) and Tim Burton (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) in attendance? On Saturday, August 16, 2025, Cockatoo Island / Wareamah in Sydney Harbour is embracing the macabre with the Wednesday crew themselves. To celebrate the show's second season — which arrives in two batches, with part one hitting on Wednesday, August 6, then part two on Wednesday, September 3 — Wednesday Island will make you feel like you're at Nevermore Academy. Not only will Ortega, Myers and Burton be there, but also Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, who created the show in the spotlight (and wrote the screenplay to 2024's Burton-helmed, Ortega-starring Beetlejuice Beetlejuice). All five key Wednesday folks are making appearances at Wednesday Island as part of their global Doom tour to promote the series. Peach PRC and ŪLA are also on the lineup at Cockatoo Island's temporary makeover, providing the tunes. Netflix is calling the pop-up takeover a "Nevermore playground" and promising a "most grave surprise", too — and there'll be a walk-in doll's house and a cocktail spot as well. If you've always had a fondness for anything Addams Family-related, this probably sounds like a dream. Whether you first discovered pop culture's eeriest family via the 90s films, through old episodes of the 60s TV show, in various animated guises over the years — including on the big screen — or thanks to Wednesday, that fantasy can now become an IRL reality if you score admission to Wednesday Island. You can enter for regular passes between Wednesday, July 23–Sunday, August 3 via the pop-up's website. To do so, you'll need to provide your details, and give an original and creative answer to this question: "in 25 words or less, confess your most delightfully deviant Outcast trait — the kind that would make Wednesday smirk with approval". You'll find out if you've scored a ticket on Monday, August 4. Only those aged over 16 can go in the running, and you'll then need to dress in attire to suit the Wednesday celebration. Boat transport to the island, plus one food and one beverage token, will be included if you're selected. Images: Bernard Walsh, Helen Sloan and Jonathan Hession/Netflix © 2025.
Darling Harbour's ever-expanding dining precinct Darling Square has added another exciting new restaurant to its list of eateries with a neon-lit Japanese street food spot opening its doors on Monday, June 27. Tsukiyo presents fun and vibrant Japanese street food dishes, with the menu split between two primary dishes. The first is takoyaki, crispy golden fried balls of batter topped with bonito flakes and takoyaki sauce. The original flavour is also topped with kewpie mayo, but you can also order it spicy with mentaiko mayo and katsuobushi, or rotating special varieties like the Barcelona takoyaki featuring LP's chorizo, smoked paprika, aioli, tomato, fried parsley and lemon. The second style of dish is the cute fish-shaped taiyaki. These waffles come made in the shape of Japanese tai fish and are packed with a variety of fillings. The flavours include red bean, vanilla bean custard and chesnut, with each taiyaki coming with your prefered flavour of gelato and toppings. There's also a far less traditional croque monsieur taiyaiki on the menu that is filled with ham and gruyere. The final element of the menu is fruit sandos, made with fluffy slices of white bread, locally sourced Australian fruit and Calpis whipped cream. The restaurant has been developed by Zach Tan's Devon Hospitality Group and Hidetoshi Tsuboi (Hakatamon Ramen) with the help of former Zumbo pastry chef Markus Andrew. "Meaning 'moonlit night' in Japanese, Tsukiyo is the culmination of our innate yearning to recreate the nostalgic feeling of walking through the side street food stalls of Osaka's neon-laden Dotonbori district," Tan said. "I have always been a huge fan of Japanese food and culture, having opened both Devon Cafe and Japanese donburi restaurant, Dopa, so I'm excited to expand our offering with Tsukiyo." Tsukiyo is located at 17–19 Little Hay Street, Haymarket. It's open midday–9pm Monday–Sunday.
For anyone in need of a morning coffee hit to get out of bed, here's an even better reason to face the day: Sydney's best coffee brands are all coming together under one roof. Think of it as a peppy pick-up party that espresso aficionados and latte sippers alike can enjoy, with Editions, Harry's, Circa, Skittle Lane, Artificer and more forming part of new roasting co-op Collective Roasting Solutions. Sure, it sounds a bit like a consultancy firm, but we have no doubt that it will be much more fun. The pop-up CRS Brew Bar is now open in Enmore for the next four months, and features award-winning beans and hot coffees, with the former roasted at CRS' facility in St Peters, and the latter made to order, of course. As well as allowing caffeine fiends to choose from multiple roasters in one spot, the Brew Bar also boasts a 'try before you buy' feature. Yes, you can taste any number of roasted beans before you seal the deal, making this pop-up a coffee commitment-o-phobe's dream. Raw green beans will also be available to purchase. Not to be left out, that obligatory mug-side pastry will be available for all post-brekky sippers. Expect sweet treats from the popular Nutorious, including signature cookies with a "bespoke coffee filling" — because everything's better bespoke. Find CRS Brew Bar at 177 Enmore Rd, Enmore. Visit the CRS website and Facebook page for more information.
It isn't always easy to satisfy fans of pastels and symmetry, brand-new Australian cinema, one of Japan's greatest filmmakers, a buzzy Euphoria and The White Lotus star, Succession, the internet's boyfriend and heartfelt animation all in one go. Or devotees of acclaimed Iranian directors, kaiju flicks, NBA superstar Stephen Curry, John Wick-style revenge tales, and wild commentaries on America's recent political landscape using clips from Wayne's World and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, either. But, when you're a cinema celebration hitting 70 years old as Sydney Film Festival is in 2023, ticking all those boxes is just another annual program. Of course, there's no such thing as an ordinary or routine SFF lineup. Whether you're a diehard cinephile or a more casual moviegoer, this festival has always spoiled viewers for choice, making sure there's truly something among its selection each year for everyone. In 2023, Festival Director Nashen Moodley's carefully curated bill kicks off with one of the most exciting Aussie films of the year arriving straight from Cannes, then includes Wes Anderson's latest doing the same — and throws in new work from Hirokazu Kore-eda, Sydney Sweeney, Sarah Snook, Paul Mescal and Pixar, plus much, much more. When SFF's milestone 70th fest officially opens on Wednesday, June 7, launching a program that'll screen 239 films from 67 countries until Sunday, June 18 — with 90 narrative feature films and 54 documentaries, and also notching up 37 world premieres and 123 Australian premieres — it'll do so with Warwick Thornton's The New Boy. The Cannes-selected title is his first film since 2017's stunning Sweet Country, and sees him team up with none other than Cate Blanchett. 2023's Tár Oscar-nominee plays Sister Eileen, who runs a monastery and home to orphaned boys in the 1940s, which is where the titular nine-year-old (newcomer Aswan Reid) is sent. Also among the cast: Deborah Mailman (Total Control) and Wayne Blair (Seriously Red). The New Boy is also vying for the festival's annual prize alongside 11 others, in what marks the official competition's 15th year. Other contenders span Aussie documentary The Dark Emu, about Bruce Pascoe's book; Bad Behaviour, the feature directorial debut of actor-turned-filmmaker Alice Englert (You Won't Be Alone) starring Jennifer Connelly (Top Gun: Maverick); Kore-eda's Monster, the prolific helmer's latest after fellow recent SFF titles Shoplifters and Broker; and Celine Song's first effort Past Lives, telling a bittersweet romance about two childhood friends (Russian Doll's Greta Lee and Decision to Leave's Teo Yoo) who briefly reunite after decades apart. From the competition highlights, there's also Cobweb from South Korean A Tale of Two Sisters talent Kim Jee-woon; the animated Art College 1994 from Have a Nice Day's Liu Jian; Finnish great Aki Kaurismäki's (The Other Side of Hope) Fallen Leaves; and Afire, a Berlinale Silver Bear for Undine and Transit's Christian Petzold, which was part of the fest's first lineup announcement for 2023. Yes, Anderson's Asteroid City is on the 2023 SFF program, too, bringing the filmmaker's now-trademark sensibilities and aliens together at last — and a characteristically massive cast filled with every famous actor ever or thereabouts. Also set to flicker across Sydney's screens is the Sweeney-starring whistleblower docudrama Reality, Snook in Sundance-bowing Australian psychological thriller Run Rabbit Run, the Mescal-led (and Aussie-shot and opera-inspired) Carmen and Pixar's what-if-elements-had-feelings newbie Elemental. Jafar Panahi's (Tehran Taxi) Venice Special Jury Prize-winner No Bears was announced earlier as well, but remains a SFF must-see — and the kaijus come via Shin Ultraman, which springs from the creators of Shin Godzilla and Neon Genesis Evangelion. NBA fans will want to see Stephen Curry: Underrated, and the vengeance arrives via SXSW hit The Wrath of Becky (well, one of SFF's 2023 flicks about vengeance). And Soda Jerk return to the fest after Terror Nullius screened in 2018, this time with Hello Dankness and its chaotic yet cutting survey of US politics from 2016 onwards. Movie lovers should already be eagerly anticipating SFF's already-revealed Jane Campion retrospective, with the filmmaker herself in attendance — and Indian screen icon Amitabh Bachchan also earns his own program strand. But the new features keep coming, too, including in the fest's returning strands. Seasoned attendees should already be well-acquainted with SFF's ten-film focus on female directors from Europe, selection of movies about music, weird and wonderful horror and genre flicks, family-friendly fare, celebration of filmmaking talent with disability and titles from First Nations creatives, all back in 2023. Other specific standouts range from comedy Biosphere, about the last two men on earth; to Passages, from Love Is Strange's Ira Sachs; and also German filmmaker Wim Wenders (Submergence) heading to Japan with Perfect Days. Plus, there's assassin thriller Kennedy by Gangs of Wasseypur's Anurag Kashyap; literary thriller The Lesson, which stars Richard E Grant (Persuasion), Julie Delpy (On the Verge) and Daryl McCormack (Bad Sisters); and historical drama Chevalier, with Kevin Harrison Jr (Cyrano) playing 18th-century Black composer Joseph Bologne. Cinemagoers can similarly look forward to Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winner A Thousand and One, the obviously film-loving I Like Movies, environmentalist tale How to Blow Up a Pipeline, talk show-set horror Late Night with the Devil and the self-explanatory tribute Cannes Uncut. Also, SFF has added a new Independent in Spirit section that's all about indie films by up-and-coming Australian directors, which is where The Big Dog will get comedic about a stockbroker with a financial domination fetish, Sunflower will spin a Melbourne-set queer coming-of-age tale, Birdeater will follow a bride-to-be attending her fiancé's buck's party — and more. As for where you'll be heading to get your festival fix this year, SFF is back at The State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Newtown, Palace Central, Palace Norton Street, Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne, Ritz Cinemas Randwick, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Australian Museum and Art Gallery of NSW. Sydney Film Festival 2023 runs from Wednesday, June 7–Sunday, June 18 at various Sydney cinemas — head to the festival website for further information and tickets.
UPDATE Tuesday, 29 June: The Duke of Enmore's new food and drink menu is available for pickup or delivery, including the eggplant katsu sandwich, all the pickleback shots and a range of meal deals to enjoy at home. Also, being the legends they are, The Duke team is offering free meals and drinks to hospitality workers out-of-work due to the lockdown. Since reopening late last year, inner west stalwart The Duke of Enmore has regained its place as a bustling Enmore Road favourite. Serving up hearty pub feeds, live music aplenty and the bar's signature picklebacks, The Duke has seen a fully fledged revival over the past nine months. Now, its owners are looking to cement its place in the hearts of inner west locals by taking each of those elements to another level with a new-look menu, a dedicated pickleback bar and even more live music. The new menu comes from the minds of Odd Culture Group Executive Chef James MacDonald (ex-Restaurant Hubert, St John) and The Duke's newly appointed Head Chef Doug Alvarenga (ex-Porteño). The mealtime offerings are centred around the venue's new custom-built woodfire oven and charcoal grill, and pulls from both Middle Eastern cuisine and Alvarenga's Brazilian-Australian background. From your seat in the dimly lit diner, you can enjoy a range of woodfire flatbreads featuring combinations including lamb, onion parsley and pickles; red capsicum, hazelnut and roast garlic; and spiced mussels, dill and nigella seed. There's also an unholy-looking eggplant katsu sando wrapped in flatbread, woodfire cheese with curry butter and a beef cheek hot pocket. [caption id="attachment_816755" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eggplant Katsu Sando[/caption] Those looking to pair their hot pocket with a drink can head to the bar where they'll find a range of cocktails, natural wines and craft beers, or you can head to the beer garden where a selection of six different types of pickleback bevvies are on offer. For those not in the know, a pickleback is a mix of Jameson and pickle brine, however The Duke's picklebacks don't stop there. The Ruins Revenge, for example, combines Jameson Black Barrel, watermelon, mint and house made brine. If you head to The Duke at any point in July and August for a bite to eat or a pickle-heavy shot, chances are you'll also be able to catch some live music. Over the next two months, the Enmore Road pub will be hosting free live music close to seven days a week. Live favourites and young up-and-comers from Sydney are set to pop including Tommy Gun, 1800 Mikey, Jet City Sports Club, The Shang and Zipper. "The Duke provides a broad and boundary-free approach to live tunes. You'll find country and blues, good time rock and roll, heavy metal and dark folk several times a week," says The Duke General Manager Sabrina Medcalf. Find The Duke of Enmore at 148 Enmore Road, Enmore. It's open 12pm–midnight Sunday–Tuesday and 12pm–2am Wednesday–Saturday.
Fancy warming up your winter by watching Lizzo hit the stage? Don't we all. That's this July's hottest ticket Down Under, at both 2023's Splendour in the Grass — where the rapper, singer and flautist is the only announced headliner so far — and on her own arena tour of the country. And the latter is proving such a hit that more dates have already been added. General ticket sales for Lizzo's Aussie tour only start on Wednesday, March 29, but the pre-sale period has seen her Sydney and Melbourne gigs sell out already via pre-sales. Cue two new concerts — one in each city — although, in sad news for Brisbanites, there's still no sign of a stint in the Sunshine State. Still, if you're keen to see the 'Tempo', 'Juice', 'Truth Hurts' and 'Rumors' singer doing her own shows in New South Wales and Victoria, this news is as good as hell. Lizzo's solo gigs are tied to her 2022 album Special, including, of course, Grammy Record of the Year-winning single 'About Damn Time'. But attendees can expect to hear hits from 2019's CUZ I LOVE YOU as well — and an overall set filled with dance-ready beats. Joining Lizzo on all dates as a special guest is Tkay Maidza, which means two must-see talents for the price of one. While a Lizzo tour is always a welcome announcement, fans in Brisbane will still note the usual Splendour setup — that is, when someone plays the fest and does their own gigs around it, Brissie is considered close enough to Byron to not warrant a separate stop. The Live Nation pre-sale for the new Sydney and Melbourne gigs runs until 10am local time on Wednesday, March 29, with general sales for all shows kicking off at 11am local time also on Wednesday, March 29. LIZZO — THE SPECIAL TOUR 2023: Friday, July 14 — RAC Arena, Perth Monday, July 17–Tuesday, July 18 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Sunday, July 23–Monday, July 24 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Wednesday, July 26 — Spark Arena, Auckland Lizzo will tour Australia and New Zealand in July 2023. The Live Nation presale runs until 10am on Wednesday, March 29, with general sales from 11am Wednesday, March 29 — with all times local. For further details, head to the tour website.
The Bear's third season won't arrive till winter 2024 Down Under, but you can get your Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri fix in Sydney before then. Dishing up the goods: the returning Inner West Film Fest. This cinema showcase that's also a love letter to its setting debuted in 2023 as a three-day event. Now it's back for 2024 for 11 days, from Thursday, April 11–Sunday, April 21 — and with plenty of highlights on its lineup. White (The Iron Claw) pops up in Fremont, which is about an Afghan woman (debutant Anaita Wali Zada) who moves to the titular spot, and marks the latest feature by Iranian British filmmaker Babak Jalali (Land). For not only Edebiri (Bottoms) but Australia's own Jacob Elordi (Priscilla), you'll want to make a date with The Sweet East. Hailing from cinematographer Sean Price Williams (Good Time) in his directorial debut, it focuses on a high schooler (Talia Ryder, Dumb Money) on a class trip from South Carolina to Washington, DC. The fest's official opening night is on Friday, April 12, taking place at Steel Park Marrickville — one of three screening venues, alongside Palace Norton Street and Dendy Cinemas Newtown. Twenty years since it initially premiered, complete with awkward teen antics, ligers, making shapes to Qwon's Dance Grooves and voting for Pedro, Napoleon Dynamite is doing the honours to launch Inner West Film Fest. Not only can you catch it under the stars, but you can head along for free. Also bringing film fun to one specific part of the city, and to autumn — because winter is Sydney Film Festival's time to shine — is a 24-title bill that includes Luc Besson's (Anna) DogMan, as starring Caleb Landry Jones (Nitram); The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, the final effort by iconic director William Friedkin (The French Connection, The Exorcist, Sorcerer); I Used to Be Funny, with Rachel Sennott (another Bottoms alum) playing a wannabe stand-up comedian; and I Like Movies, a feature that, yes, is about being obsessed with cinema. Among the flicks with homegrown links, Housekeeping for Beginners is the third film from Australian director Goran Stolevski's (You Won't Be Alone, Of an Age); the Parramatta-set Sahela is executive produced by Dev Patel (Monkey Man); and 2000's Angst, about a video store worker in Kings Cross, gets some retro love. Boxing drama Heart of the Man is the first movie from Indigenous writer, director, actor and producer David Cook, while documentary Fight to Live is about Australian mixed martial artist Bec Rawlings. Around the fest's screenings — which also spans short films as well — movie trivia, a gin-mixing workshop, premieres of new music videos and a photo exhibition are on the program. So is a secret screening, complete with a feature that'll be seen by an audience for the first time ever, if you like your film fests with a dash of mystery.
Love may not cost a thing, as many a pop song has told us, but a nice date often requires a little cash. The good news, of course, is that taking your significant other out for dinner needn't empty out your bank account. On the other hand, if you have some money to splash around, there's always a top-notch place to do so. Sydney's dining scene caters for both scenarios and everything in between at that. If you're all about quality time rather than dolling out the cash; if your wallet is feeling healthy, but not too stuffed; and if you're eager to go all out for a special occasion (or just because) — we've teamed up with Suncorp to find a tiptop date spot for any budget. Suncorp's Platinum Credit Card* works with your existing spending habits, earning you extra points for every dollar you spend on everyday essentials like groceries, that cheeky mid-week wine or this date you're now planning. Read on to discover five places for your next date night — whether you're looking to spend under $25 each or ready to make it rain. UNDER $25 EACH: BAR UME, SURRY HILLS Tucked away in the leafy backstreets of Surry Hills, Bar Ume is a relaxed Japanese-inspired burger joint-meets-wine bar. With a range of burgers with a distinctly Japanese twist, the menu has options for the vegetarian, pescatarian, fried chicken fiend and straight up carnivore. Try the fish katsu burger served with Japanese tartare sauce or the hand-crumbed chicken katsu burger with yuzu kosho mayo and tonkatsu sauce — and make sure to get a side of renkon chips and house-made Japanese pickles. Wash it all down with a glass or two of natural vino, a nip of shochu or a bottle of Asahi. The best bit? You'll wine and dine for under $25 per person. [caption id="attachment_623522" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To.[/caption] UNDER $60 EACH: DEAR SAINTE ELOISE, POTTS POINT As the week comes to a close, sometimes a plate of burrata and glass of pinot noir is all you need. If you're in the mood for a long, leisurely evening picking your way through share plates, this is the spot for you. Nestled in the heart of Potts Point, Dear Sainte Eloise delivers a wine-focused offering with a small but mighty set menu ($50 per person). The menu changes often, but you can usually expect to find the roe boats (crispy potato nests with salmon roe), a creamy pasta of sorts, fresh local fish, seasonal veg, plus a selection of cheeses or dessert to finish. Plus, with a 400-strong wine list that traverses the globe, you'll find a drop to suit your preferences whether that be a glass of something orange or oxidative, a bottle of something Georgian or, for something a bit more splashy, a magnum off the 'Big Bottles Are Best!!!' list. UNDER $80 EACH: STANBULI, ENMORE If Turkish cuisine spurs blurry memories of a late-night pide or kebab consumed curb-side, it's time to change that thinking. Perched proudly on Enmore Road, Stanbuli is an upscale Turkish eatery and meyhane (tapas bar). Its offering is made for cosy bar-side dining, with a selection of meze plates and charcoal meats designed to share. Dine on fried cauliflower, tahini and almonds and okra-braised in tomato and olive oil, paired with a serve of whole snapper or lamb and red capsicum kofte. Our tip? Let the chefs run wild and order the $75 per person set menu (baklava included, of course). UNDER $100 EACH: ESTER, CHIPPENDALE Fine dining tends to be stiff, formal and finished with a hefty bill. But, Ester doesn't like to live up to stereotypes. You won't find white table cloths or confusing sets of cutlery in this dining room. The 45-seat eatery is approachable, honest and the kind of spot where you'd likely find a group of top-notch chefs dining on their night off. Wood firing is front-and-centre on the menu, adding flavours of smokey goodness to plates of charred broccoli shoots, roasted carrots, hasselback dutch cream potatoes and slow-roasted snapper. There's plenty to sample and sip too with a hefty wine list to make your way through during the 12-item set menu ($92 per person). ONE BIG BLOWOUT: LUMI, PYRMONT Harbour-front dining and an eight-course dinner — the perfect ingredients for a truly memorable date night. At LuMi, they're pros at hosting unforgettable dining experiences, making it a must-try for those looking to spoil that special someone. As for the menu? It's a fusion of modern Italian and Japanese flavours, serving up refined seasonal produce over a series of spectacular courses that look almost too good to eat. The chef's menu ($185 per person) lets you explore it all, with the Italian-focused wine pairing highly recommended ($115 per person). Seize the day, make your everyday moments count and get rewarded all the while with Suncorp. Top image: Dear Saint Eloise by Nikki To. *Issued by Citigroup Pty Limited ABN 88 004 325 080 AFSL No. 238098 Australian credit licence 238098.
There is not much that could make much-loved ButterBoy cookies better, except perhaps if they were free. This Father's Day, head to Pitt Street Mall from 10am, and see if you can get to the front of the queue before the free cookies vanish. In collaboration with Snapchat and cookbook author Jasmin Weston (better known as @jasmineats on Instagram), ButterBoy has created four new cookie flavours for the giveaway event. Designed to share with a friend (or perhaps the father figure in your life, considering it is Father's Day), each cookie is baked as a combination of two special flavours, designed to be snapped in half and shared. The cookies will be given away in blind boxes, so you won't know what flavours you've been lucky enough to land until you unbox the goods. The flavours are designed based on a Snapchat survey about how Aussie Gen Zs find joy in everyday moments and how they tend to connect over the shared experience of food. The special fairy bread flavour, which plays into the joy of nostalgia, combines vanilla dough with caramelised white chocolate chunks and 100s and 1000s. The marshmallow crunch special has chocolate chips, marshmallows and pretzels, and is reminiscent of school canteen treats. Based on identifying that both Japanese and Mexican cuisines are favourites to share amongst friends, they have also designed matcha and white chocolate, and chilli choc special flavours. Jasmin says, "These flavour pairings are super fun and give me all the feels." For your chance to try these limited edition specials head to the Snapchat x ButterBoy event on Sunday, September 7, and ensure you have the Snapchat app on your phone to collect your blind box. And remember, it's first-come, first-served, so be quick. Images: Supplied. The Snapchat x ButterBoy blind box event is popping up at Pitt Street Mall on Sunday, September 7, from 10am until sold out.
See the sky set alight this New Years Eve from Sydney's Gatsby-like terrace bar, The Butler. Pott Point's panoramic venue is putting on a lavish, four-course banquet to welcome 2016 in style. Tipped to guarantee ticketholders an impressive selection of French flavours with an unexpected Caribbean twist, this intimate soiree offers sweet city views and an equally impressive feast to match. At $200pp, entry to this sky-high tropical hideout comes at a bit of a cost. But with whispers of bubbly on arrival and best-seat-in-the-house views of the fireworks, this is one NYE party to entice partygoers after a more sit-down yet lively affair.
Whether you share your life with a tail-wagging puppy, a cat that sleeps all day, a vocal parrot or a colourful little fish, if you're a pet owner, you can show your love for your chosen companion in a variety of ways. You can attend a boozy art class and paint a picture of them. Firmly fitting in with the times, you can get their photo plastered across a mask. And, in another pitch-perfect 2020 option, you can also buy a jigsaw puzzle emblazoned with their cute little face. Smoochy Poochy is the Australian company helping you piece together a portrait of Fido, Fluffy, Polly or Nemo — and, while you can obviously opt for whatever kind of personalised puzzle you like, why wouldn't you want one of your pet? Think of it this way: you've already spent so long gazing at them because they're just so adorable, and you've well and truly committed their face to your memory in the process, so this should be the easiest jigsaw that you've ever done. A number of sizes are available, which means that you can decide just how much of a challenge you're after. If you're eager to go big, you can opt for a 1000-piece puzzle that measures 50.2 centimetres by 76 centimetres, which is the largest size. Otherwise, you can pick between 12, 30, 35, 60, 88, 100, 120, 180, 200, 300 or 500 pieces. Prices range from $28.95 for the smallest puzzle, up to $59.95 for the largest. And if you'd like to provide more than one photo for a single puzzle — as uploaded via the company's website — you can. Smoochy Poochy will even create the collage for you, for free if it uses four or fewer photos, and at an extra price for five or more pictures. Smoochy Poochy's personalised pet puzzles are available to order via the company's website.
Haymarket's Lunar New Year festival is ready for its next instalment, taking over the neighbourhood's multicultural streets for 18 days of celebration and tradition. Running from January 29 to February 16, the event rings in the Year of the Snake, with highlights ranging from dragon dancers and street food tours to contemporary art exhibitions and hilarious comedy club nights. Presented on Dixon Street, one of the headline events in 2025 is Snake Stroll on Dixon. Designed by award-winning creatives Basalt Studios, this special snake installation features three sculptures shaped from sustainably sourced marine plywood and reusable materials. Stretching up to eight metres long, the snakes' yellow bellies and red bodies symbolise prosperity and positivity. [caption id="attachment_839549" align="alignnone" width="1920"] City of Sydney[/caption] Held for one night only on February 1 from 5pm, Sydney Lunar Streets is the opening street party for the 2025 festival. Here, visitors will encounter more than 20 market stalls lining Sussex and Thomas Streets, with delicious Asian cuisine and specialty treats complemented by entertainment including lion dancers and contemporary musical performances. For even more culinary fun, take a wander with the award-winning experts at Local Sauce Tours to discover the history and secrets behind some of Chinatown's most beloved restaurants. Not only will you get a taste of numerous eclectic bites across the precinct, but you'll also learn about the immense contributions Chinese Australians have made to the local area. Alongside exhibitions celebrating diversity at 4A Centre for Contemporary Art, a deep-dive into communal dining at Blank Gallery and live performances at the Chinatown Comedy Club, this wide-ranging party offers a chance to get to know your local community while embracing the diverse tapestry of Asian cultures.
Hannah Barclay has had countless Sydneysiders willingly getting their hands dirty, ever since launching her ceramics business Clay Sydney in 2019. Now, with two inner-west studios under her belt and a growing range of popular ceramics workshops on the menu, Barclay is adding to the family — the Illawarra local is launching a brand new outpost in Wollongong next month. Set to open on Friday, June 24, once current renovations are complete, Clay Wollongong will mirror the offering of its siblings, with hands-on creative classes for budding ceramicists of all skill levels. And yes, that includes complete newbies, too. [caption id="attachment_855997" align="alignnone" width="1920"] by Georgia Matts[/caption] On the class menu here, fans of the Sydney outposts can expect to find familiar favourites like the Wine and Clay sessions — a two-hour class where you'll create your own work while enjoying a few BYO bevs — and the bite-sized 'taster' sessions that allow you to road-test the whole pottery class thing before signing up for a full course. If Clay Sydney is anything to go by, one-off sessions are reasonably priced starting from $80 a pop, which includes all the equipment and materials needed to make, fire and glaze your own piece (to keep). [caption id="attachment_855999" align="alignnone" width="1920"] by Georgia Matts[/caption] Longer ceramics courses include four- and six-week tutorials covering practices like wheel throwing (the art of shaping ceramics using a pottery wheel, a la Ghost) and hand building (shaping by hand). Further down the track, Barclay also aims to evolve the new Wollongong site to double as a creative hub showcasing local ceramics talent from across South Coast. More on that to come. Clay Wollongong will open from June 24, with the exact address to be confirmed. We'll share more details closer to the launch, but you can sign up for all the info via the website. Images: Georgia Matts
This year, as we are wont to do, we ate a lot of meals. We ate mussels and Mexican in Sydney, sushi and salted caramel in Melbourne and fried chicken and Frankenstein foods in Brisbane, as well as some excellent meals on our travels. But, when it comes down to it, at the end of 12 months of noshing, there are only a few truly memorable meals that spring to mind immediately — the ones that were so good, we gushed about them for the next three weeks and nagged our partners/colleagues/friends to return with us ASAP. Here are the dishes burned into our taste memory — if their respective eateries still list them on the menu, book a table immediately. ROUGAMO (CHINESE BURGER) AT XI'AN BIANG BIANG, SYDNEY What if I told you one of Sydney's most memorable burger experiences can be found at a Chinese restaurant in Haymarket? That's right, this year Xi'an Biang Biang introduced us to 'rougamo', aka the world's oldest 'hamburger'. Originating in the Shaanxi province of China, this ancient meat sanga is made from a flaky pastry pocket stuffed with juicy pork shreds. It's soft. It's crunchy. It's everything. Expect warm fatty juices to run down your arm and awkward stares from strangers when you go to lick it off. Let's just say, we can see why it caught on. — Erina Starkey, Sydney food and drink reviewer KANGAROO AND CROCODILE, CALYPSO DREAMS AT MOMOFUKU SEIBO, SYDNEY Puffed kangaroo tendon and crocodile soup aren't things you'll usually see at Seiobo. But neither is Jock Zonfrillo. The native-ingredient wizard, from Adelaide's Orana, helmed the kitchen alongside head chef Paul Carmichael for one night in October, dishing up creative Caribbean dishes with Australian twists. The night began with the above — the broth was rich, the puffed tendon light and tangy — and ended with a dessert of buttermilk and eucalyptus. If you see this elusive pair on a lineup together anytime in the future, I recommend you make a reservation, tout de suite. — Samantha Teague, editorial manager A post shared by Marco Fanuli (@marco_fanuli) on Sep 24, 2017 at 12:41am PDT TEA SANDWICH AT AFRICOLA, ADELAIDE I had dreams about this sandwich on the night after I first tried it. It's a simple yet exceedingly delicious creation: crispy roasted chicken skin on crustless white bread with flat-leaf parsley and a generous lick of chilli mayonnaise. Served with a dish of hot drippings from Africola's signature peri peri chicken (usually spiked with Bourbon if chef Duncan Welgemoed is lingering behind the bar), no less. It's the ultimate hangover cure, which they need to start packaging up and shipping around the country. — Samantha Payne, Sydney contributor WAFFLE-COATED SATED CARAMEL ICE CREAM AT ANNAM, MELBOURNE Salted caramel remained as popular as ever this year and new Vietnamese restaurant Annam was all over it. When I visited in November I revelled in a glorious six courses finished with an an epic waffle and coconut-battered deep-fried ice cream, drizzled in salted caramel sauce. Achieving that moreish balance between salty and sweet this was the perfect way to finish the feast — the modern twist on a Chinese restaurant favourite has easily been one of my fave dishes of 2017. — Ashleigh Whitehill, Melbourne contributor A post shared by Samantha Teague (@teaguese) on Oct 23, 2017 at 4:33am PDT SCALLOP, HAM AND PEAS AT SASAKI, SYDNEY This is what happens when Yu Sasaki recreates pea and ham soup. The head chef and owner of our best new Sydney restaurant of 2017 used prosciutto jelly, scallops and pea shoots to create an Instagram-friendly, edible yin yang symbol that transported its eaters to snotty childhood winters. The restaurant's menu changes frequently, so this is no longer on offer, but there are many other next-level dishes — like the Japanese Madeleines — to enjoy. — Samantha Teague CHICKEN PARMA SPRING ROLLS AT LITTLE BIG HOUSE, BRISBANE Of all of the culinary hybrids cooked up by foodie Dr Frankensteins, Little Big House's might be the most unexpected: chicken parma spring rolls. They're also one of the tastiest, from the oh-so-crispy pastry to the succulent sauced-filled filling. And to think we've all been eating them separately for all of these years. — Sarah Ward, weekend editor KINGFISH SAN CHOY BAU AT ESTER, SYDNEY Most Ester regulars will be familiar with its famed kingfish and mandarin dish, but if you're lucky enough to see kingfish san choy bau on the menu, order it immediately. A recurring special on the menu, the Ester team basically pick the flesh off the roasted kingfish head (which would have gone into the bin otherwise) and then roll it up in a lettuce head with mint, cress and delicious spicy sambals. — Tahlia Phillips, business director A post shared by Jamie // JamJam (@jamjam.li) on Dec 9, 2017 at 6:32pm PST SMOKED MUSSELS AT DEAR SAINTE ÉLOISE, SYDNEY As overall winner of Concrete Playground's best new Sydney bar of 2017, it's no surprise I indulged in one of my favourite meals sitting at the long copper bar of Dear Sainte Eloise. The dish that, for me, carries the succinct menu selection is the smoked mussels on toast ($14). Like bruschetta from the sea, the briny broth is slurpable and the mussels are plump and succulent. The combination of crunchy carrots and fresh parsley with the shellfish is supremely well-balanced — much like Dear Sainte Éloise itself. Pair it with a expertly recommended glass of white from the extensive 350 plus wine list and you'll know exactly why this laneway spot has quickly secured a place in sydney food-loving hearts. — Marissa Ciampi, Sydney contributor PORK BELLY SALAD AT AGRARIAN KITCHEN, HOBART They say you don't win friends with salad but when the salad in question has chargrilled pork belly and a perfectly poached egg, which, when broken, runs through the freshest mixed leaves I've ever eaten, you might want to rethink that statement. Everything the Agrarian Kitchen uses on their menu comes from their on-site garden and farm giving the food this incredible energy and life to it. A must-visit if you're in Tassie. — Samantha Payne HUITLACOCHE AT CHULA, SYDNEY Fungus fans, this one's for you. Potts Point eatery Chula is dishing up a superb "Mexican pizza" called the tlayuda de huitlacoche. This intriguing dish sees a crispy tortilla base topped with refried beans, Oaxacan cheese and blistery black clumps of corn smut (yep, smut). Both a disease and a delicacy, this unusual Mexican ingredient reveals pungent earthy flavours with a funky kick of blue cheesiness. If you like truffle, you need to give huitlacoche a try. — Erina Starkey PANI PURI AT TONKA, MELBOURNE By no means a new dish, but my first pani puri experience — and it delivered becoming something I continued to chase throughout 2017. Tonka's fragrant, slightly warm aromatic water is addictive poured into those crispy parcels filled with potato, mung bean, tamarind chutney and dates. — Quinn Connors, partnerships editor A post shared by Lauren Vadnjal (@lrnvdnl) on Mar 1, 2017 at 4:06pm PST GLUTEN-FREE LAMB RAGU PAPPARDELLE AT KINDRED, SYDNEY Back when I was diagnosed as coeliac in the early 2000s I used to eat rice cakes and tiny pieces of toasted gluten-free bread and think that this was my life now. Slowly, it got better; restaurants started to bring in sans-gluten supermarket spaghetti as an alternative and stopped serving burgers in lettuce cups (mostly), but we still hadn't hit the gluten-free golden age. So I personally don't think it was overdramatic to shed a tear when this bowl of pappardelle was placed in front of me at Kindred — not only was it GF, but the Cleveland Street restaurant makes it fresh in-house, just the same as its regular pastas and breads. It was a special pasta moment and I have returned to Kindred multiple times to relive it. — Lauren Vadnjal, deputy editor PORK BELLY CONGEE AT EITHER OR, SYDNEY Well thought out in design, drinks and food, Either Or serves a menu of Asian-inspired breakfast favourites. The pork belly adobo congee is a clear winner, featuring umami flavours and served with mushrooms, micro greens and a poached egg on top. — Quinn Connors A post shared by Vicky Hanlon (@vicsta.gram) on Dec 22, 2017 at 5:11pm PST CHOCOLATE SOUR CREAM LAYER CAKE AT BEATRIX, MELBOURNE When things get tough, eat cake. The best way to eat a takeaway slice of Nat Paull's infamous Beatrix chocolate sour cream layer cake is straight out of the box on the walk back to North Melbourne Station. It's an old favourite of mine that never, ever disappoints — the buttercream frosting is cloud-like in texture and moreish at the same time, while the dried raspberry crumble on top finishes off with a sharp, sweet aftertaste. — Nathania Gilson, Melbourne contributor VEGAN PATATE PIZZA AT GIGI'S, SYDNEY While Sydney's New York-style pizza scene is somewhat dwindling, rising from the ashes of the woodfire is a healthy crop of simpler pizza restaurants using fewer (but better) ingredients. Newtown's Gigi's has gone one step further and is making fully vegan Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana-certified pizzas in traditional Neapolitan style. Physical restraints would be required to hold me back from finishing the patate pizza with thin-sliced roasted potato, garlic, rosemary and black truffle pâté. Pair it with a natural wine and Gigi's rocket, radicchio, apple, pistachio and cinnamon salad. Plus, you can feel good about supporting the plant based ethical eating movement over pizza and wine. — Kitti Smallbone, Sydney photographer
Eat bread, don't eat bread. Exercise until you drop, stress less with yoga. One more glass of wine or down the rest of the bottle. With so many different sources telling us different things about what will kill us faster, decision making can become nightmarish. One thing is agreed upon: laughter = good. You won't be getting fatter, you'll reduce stress and you'll walk out of the room with 1.6 years added on to your life.* To get a large dose, head to the next instalment of Laugh Your Tits Off, quickly becoming a very popular comedy event. This time, our favourite adopted American, Tommy Dean, is headlining. Continuing the ha-haing is Daniel Townes (Just For Laughs Comedy Festival), Paul Warnes (owner of Sydney venue Laugh Garage Comedy Club), Dave Bloustein (writer for Good News Week and The Glass House), Gary Bradbury (Rove) and heaps of untainted up-and-comers. Get over your hump day blues on Wednesday, 7th March and laugh until body parts fall off.** * This statistic may be made up. **This may not be good for your health. To win one of two double passes to Laugh Your Tits Off, just make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au to enter. https://youtube.com/watch?v=oMqqQ6c010o
A Sydney original, Beau Tea began in Cabramatta and now boasts five locations across Sydney, including in Burwood, Chatswood and Haymarket. The tea here is brewed fresh daily and is made from a 'secret' recipe — and you'll notice the difference in the taste. The brand specialises in traditional fruit and flower teas, but has continued to expand into new territory. Think purple rice yoghurt drinks, hibiscus tea punches and the new coffee frappe range (topped with milk foam, of course). There's also cream lattes, cheese teas and hidden menu items to watch out for.
Look around you. While you sneakily read this article at work, pay close attention to your surroundings. Are they dull? Do you have a baller view or is it beige cubicles far as the eye can see? Have you the requisite poster of a cat hanging off a ledge, reminding you that life is a struggle for even the most noble of animals? Yeah. Same. But it needn't be like this. People are resigning themselves to the fact that if we have to spend so much damn time at work, we might as well work in a nice environment. Cue Muse, Surry Hill's newest contemporary coworking space. Muse is determined to balance the creative and career aspects of life, with a coworking space packed extras that will make you actually want to go to work. Their calendar is littered with yoga classes, social and networking events, art classes and exhibitions and professional workshops. And best of all it's open to all levels of membership, from permanents to hot deskers. So if you want break up a work day with a yoga workout, sign up for a casual day and try it out. They're looking for freelancers in the creative industries to go hand in hand with their art-centric functionality — and they offer great spaces for photoshoots and events too, just FYI. Stripped-back brick, minimalist office furniture and moody, sophisticated lighting makes the whole office feel like a page out of an interior decorating magazine, and not the dull pre-fab offices we were promised as children. The whole thing is quite inspirational. And Friday afternoon drinks on their private rooftop terrace? Also inspirational. Very inspirational.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a superhero? No, it's a stunning festive display hovering above the Royal Botanic Gardens as part of new Christmas festival Noël Sydney. This massive event is already filled with luminous sights, including light projections across buildings, but it's the nightly drone show running until Christmas Eve that'll get you looking up. To give you an idea of how big Noël Sydney is, it's had to extend its space throughout the Royal Botanic Gardens by 50 percent. The Noël Christmas Skyshow isn't small, either. Telling a Christmas story called Santa's Coming to Sydney in the heavens, this aerial wonder features 500 drones flying, soaring and dancing in the air over Farm Cove. The term 'making shapes' truly does apply here — including words, stars, a globe, a Christmas tee, animals, decorations and the jolly red-suited figure synonymous with this time of year. These images come together to spin a Aussie Christmas tale about a kangaroo called Sydney leading Santa and his present-filled sleigh from the North Pole to the Harbour City. Sydney's first major Christmas drone show, entry to the Noël Christmas Skyshow is free, with two viewings each evening — at 8.15pm and around 10pm — until Saturday, December 24. And the best place to scope it out? The Parade Ground.
