At this three-storey space on Glebe Point Road, local creatives design, make and exhibit their work. It functions as a cafe and coworking spot, as well as a pop-up shop where designers can showcase their wares. This is the spot to hit for some truly local wares with everything from jewellery, shoes and environmentally conscious activewear to prints, greeting cards and screen-printed totes to vegan soaps and hand-poured soy candles. With an ever-changing roster of local artisans, each visit will bring something new to the table (and probably your home).
Since Mr Liquor's Dirty Italian Disco at the Tennyson Hotel drive-through bottle-o closed in April, the people of Sydney have been waiting and watching for news of the next pop-up. As of today, we – at long last – can bring you good tidings. Merivale, the hospitality powerhouse that, among many other things, owns the Tennyson, has announced that it'll be teaming up with Rushcutters Bay restaurant ACME to give you Kingdom of Rice: a pop-up dedicated to Cambodian street food. As of early October, you'll be able to feast on share plates loaded with seafood, meat and vegetables, with traditional flavours, such as kreung (a paste of lemongrass, ginger, turmeric, galangal, garlic and chilli) and prahok (crushed, salted and fermented fish paste). Expect, too, handfuls of fresh herbs, lime and Kampot pepper. Like last time, you'll be selecting and collecting your own drinks from the Tennyson's bottle-o fridge. But, unlike last time, you can count on a selection of Cambodian and Asian beers, as well as cocktails inspired by Southeast Asia and natural wines. As anyone who's eaten on the Cambodian streets would testify, the atmosphere is crucial to the experience. With this in mind, the pop-up will take on the feel of a mini-Phnom Penh laneway, with miscellaneous furniture and massive communal tables. "It's a real sensory overload," says ACME co-owner and chef Mitch Orr in a statement. "There's laughter and noise of people everywhere, the smell of food cooked over charcoal, colours of fresh tropical fruits and an amazing sense of community." Orr will be working with head chef Lillia McCabe, who has just returned from a stint at Singapore's Blackwattle, alongside ACME co-owner and maître d' Cam Fairbairn and head of front-of-house Sophia Thach. Thach is of Cambodian descent and spent time living in working in Phnom Penh, and will be bringing her first-hand experience of the region to the pop-up. Kingdom of Rice will open in early October at the Tennyson Hotel, 952 Botany Road, Mascot. Images: Nikki To
Reward yourself for making it to the end of another working week by stuffing yourself silly at Cairo Takeaway in Enmore. This unassuming Egyptian delight is not your average kebab shop; the ingredients are fresh, food is made to order and the menu is a truly authentic one. The standout here are the falafels — theirs are made with fava beans — that are then lovingly stuffed into a sesame-crusted warm pita and topped with an array of pickled veg. Even better? Their beer hails from Inner West craft beer barons Wayward Brewing and Young Henrys. You can also BYO your favourite vino if beer's not your thing. Round out the night by laughing away the week's stresses with some comedy at Factory Theatre. Presented by Laugh-Masters Academy, the Night Shift show is guaranteed to get you chortling away courtesy of Sydney's best up-and-coming improv and comedy talent.
If you're doing your best to be an eco-conscious citizen, but find yourself stuck, bagless, at the checkout way too often, you're not alone. At least now, when you've again forgotten your reusable bag and are staring down the barrel of yet another purchase of a 15-cent plastic number, you could have a different, more planet-friendly option. Supermarket joint Woolworths has kicked off a new trial offering recyclable paper bags in 21 of its stores nationwide. Stores — including Marrickville Metro and Bondi in Sydney, Melbourne's St Kilda and the QV Centre, and Pacific Fair and Surfers Paradise in Queensland — are now offering customers the option of packing their groceries into 20-cent paper bags, which are made from 80 percent recycled paper. They're also a breeze to recycle in your regular curbside collection. The trial will be used to gauge customer demand and Woollies says it'll be monitoring feedback closely. In the meantime, all Australian Woolworths stores will continue to offer the 15-cent reusable plastic bags, as well as those signature green Bag for Good varieties priced at 99 cents. The reusable plastic ones can be recycled through the REDcycle collection bins found in-store, though plenty of us can probably attest to the fact that most of them end up collecting dust under the sink. As for the supermarket chain's sturdier green counterparts, they'll continue to raise much-needed funds for the Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants program. If one of yours gets damaged, Woolies will even replace it for free, regardless of how long ago it was purchased. The company says it has cut over three billion single-use plastic bags from circulation since it began phasing them out across its stores in June 2018. Here's which Woolworths stores are trialling the paper bags: Bondi, NSW Coogee, NSW Double Bay, NSW Marrickville Metro, NSW Neutral Bay, NSW Paddington, NSW Rose Bay, NSW Rouse Hill, NSW Rozelle, NSW Town Hall, NSW Cairns, Qld Pacific Fair, Qld Surfers Paradise, Qld Armadale, Vic Black Rock, Vic Burwood Brickworks, Vic Hawksburn, Vic Hawthorn, Vic QV, Vic South Yarra, Vic St Kilda, Vic
Gaybies is a fun and insightful night of verbatim theatre, as writer/director Dean Bryant’s interviews with the children of same-sex couples are brought to the stage. Their real-life stories of growing up with gay parents generate positive, good-natured vibes within the Eternity Playhouse, which has been turned into a daggy Aussie community hall by designer Owen Phillips. The details and nuances of each child’s story — the unique personality of each ‘gaybie’ taking the stage — is the pulling point of this theatre experience. As each interviewee, whether four years old or 40, explains their situation to us/society, it becomes clear they are Such. Strong. People. The argument for gay parenting/gay marriage is never explicitly stated in this show; however, it’s supported by these beautiful individuals. It’s uncanny to see such characters, who may be otherwise written off or stereotyped, delivering truth bombs and progressive societal wisdom. In this way, quietly, the show screams, "don’t you dare make assumptions of me!" The actors do a great job in bringing the interviewees to life and making their language seem natural — not an easy feat. This pulls the audience’s hearts into their stories and keeps the 90-minute piece entertaining. They are wonderfully tight on their cues, which prevents any one anecdote from becoming slow. The way the cast (Cooper George Amai, Sheridan Harbridge, Rhys Keir, Steve Le Marquand, Zindzi Okenyo, Olivia Rose and Georgia Scott) work together to create a dynamic, surging, evolving narrative is Gaybies' greatest strength. And the subject matter really matters to these actors. That transfers to the audience and makes what we’re watching seem like an important moment in history — it's just before the "old conservatives die off" (to quote one teenage interviewee) and Australian society sees big reforms. The musical numbers of Gaybies are unexpected and at first seem guilty of over-sentimentality. Thankfully, the considerable musical talent of the cast and their exquisite, very contrasting voices (as well as quick recommencement of dialogue that leaves no time for musical theatre post-song applause) means they pull it off. Gaybies sheds an interesting light on the comparative liberties and opportunities available to the children of these same-sex couples, especially those who identify as queer. We hear what their parents endured and fought for, and the pressure they felt as they raised their children: “If we failed, gay people failed”. The insights run deep from these progeny of same-sex couples. The takeaway from the whole project? “My choice is valid”.
There's no doubt about it, it's cold. Sydney's wild weather has settled in — we've seen snow in the Blue Mountains, rain spitting down in the city and the Manly ferry line stopped due to severe swells in Sydney Harbour, plus destructive winds and damaging surf along a large portion of the NSW coast. Luckily, Japanese casual apparel retailer UNIQLO has got some super snug clothing to keep you warm throughout the chilly season. What's more, on Friday, June 14, UNIQLO is giving away free HEATTECH wear to make sure you're cosy to the core. Essentially thermals, the HEATTECH innerwear comes in three levels of warmth — warm, extra warm and ultra warm — in the form of singlets, shirts, turtle necks, pants, long johns and even leg warmers and socks. So, whatever this winter holds in store, UNIQLO will help you stay nice and toasty. Get down to Martin Place between 7am–7pm and find the large UNIQLO HEATTECH shirt installation to nab yourself some free winter wear. The process is pretty simple: at the OTT shirt installation, you'll get a thermal Polaroid taken, which will have a unique code on it. Then, take your code to the UNIQLO MidCity store on Pitt Street to redeem your free HEATTECH swag. To check out the full HEATTECH range, head to UNIQLO's website.
Masters of Aussie-made juniper spirits of the rare and unusual kind, small batch distillery Four Pillars have added another offering to their tasty, boozy range. While their rare dry, spiced Negroni and bloody Shiraz varieties remain favourites for plenty of reasons, they're now serving up their first pre-mixed bottled cocktails. Meet the Improved Hanky Panky, an amber concoction that screams warm weather drinks — that is, the type that go down smooth and easy while you're sitting back in the sun. It's a collaboration between Shaun Byrne of Maidenii and Gin Palace, and Four Pillars' own Sam Ng. After Byrne gave the distillery a few Maidenii vermouth barrels, they used them to age a batch of Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin, then aged the results in old chardonnay barrels, and finally added in vermouth, Fernet-Branca and absinthe. Yes, that's quite the alcohol-filled creation, and it's now available for $32 per 200ml bottle — which holds three cocktails — or $90 for a three-pack. Four Pillars suggests serving it neat over ice with a few slices of orange as a garnish. We suggest that it's the excuse to down a few refreshing beverages, not that gin lovers need a reason.
As one of four Kürtősh locations dotted around Sydney (with another in Wollongong and two in Melbourne), this Crows Nest eatery represents yet another opportunity for you to satiate yearnings for traditional European sweets. The enticing treats at Kürtősh are sold by weight, which is bliss for indecisive types who can't resist a slither of everything. Start with a savoury bureka, filled with potato and mushroom, ricotta and feta or sweet potato, rosemary and thyme. Then, sample some slices of the slab cakes. Flavours include espresso, almond and chocolate roulade, strawberry and pistachio sponge, and lime and ginger meringue. Kürtőskalács, the titular treat, is a chimney-shaped cake made of brioche-like ribbons of pastry, finely coiled and caressed with a luscious coating. The traditional cinnamon and sugar is reminiscent of an old-school doughnut, but you can opt for pistachio, Nutella or caramelised hazelnut for a next-level treat. Images: Madeline Milani
For pet owners, spoiling your chosen animal companion is easy at the best of times. When it's winter — and when the country has spent months indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic — stocking up on cute, cosy pet accessories is even less difficult than usual. Who doesn't want their schnauzer to look both snappy and snuggly, and their shih tzu to look rather nifty, too? Plenty of pet-loving shops have been willing to help, including The Iconic and Big W, with both releasing dapper pet lines this year. Now, Petstock has released a new range aimed at cooler conditions, keeping your four-legged friend looking and feeling luxe as the frostier weather settles in. Sure, most dogs are happy cuddling up in a regular old blanket, and many a cat loves jumping in an average, ordinary box. That's all well and good — or you can opt for plush beds that match your indoor decor. And, you can dress up your pooch in chunky jumpers, shiny parkas, sporty jackets and wool-lined coats, with petwear starting at $19.99. Spanning coordinated leads and collars as well, Petstock's new lineup is designed for pets of the barking kind. Of course, if you want to try to get your meowing pal into one, then best of luck to you. Petstock's winter range is currently available to purchase in-store and online, with contactless click and collect purchasing available.
You could be forgiven for initially thinking that Chris Jordan's collections of digital photographs were nothing more than faded photos of iconic pieces of art. But on closer inspection, Jordan's photo of Botticelli's The Birth of Venus is actually made up of very small images. On even closer inspection, those very small images are actually plastic bags. The work is accompanied with this description: 'Depicts 240,000 plastic bags, equal to the estimated number of plastic bags consumed around the world every ten seconds'. Jordan's photos are made up of images of everyday items we consume everyday. Or, rather, we overconsume everyday. Some pretty scary statistics about consumption become the starting point for both his idea and the composition of the photo. And so it follows that Jordan's photo of Seurat's Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Tatte is actually made up of images of 400,000 plastic bottle caps. His take on Van Gogh is made up of images of plastic lighters. Jordon also also creates his own images; a bust made up of 32,000 images of Barbie dolls - equal to the number of elective breast augmentation surgeries performed monthly in the US in 2006 - and a moon made up of 29,000 credit cards - the amount of personal bankruptcy filings every week in the US in 2010 - also feature in the collection. https://youtube.com/watch?v=f09lQ8Q1iKE
It's difficult to top the intensity of two rival teams going head-to-head — especially when they're from the same city. On Saturday, May 1, you can head to Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta to catch the nail-biting derby match between the Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC. The stadium is the Wanderers' home turf, so expect the fans to be passionately cheering. Not to mention the event is the team's biggest match of the season. So, round up your crew for an evening of thrilling sports action. Tickets start at $15 for a standard seat and, if you're chasing something a little more luxe, you can grab a spot in the Legends Lounge for $90. Head here to secure your tickets and cheer on your team at this local derby.
In The Guest Edit we hand the reins over to some of Sydney's most interesting, tasteful and (or) entertaining people. For this instalment, Susan Armstrong and Michelle Grey, the culture aficionados, experience curators and conversation enablers behind Arts-Matter. Trust them, they know what they're talking about. SUSAN AND MICHELLE: After another seemingly never ending lockdown, and what felt like a cultural dearth for the second year running, we're ready to swap our sweat pants for party frocks and get out there and experience the physical world once again. While the pandemic has been tough for everyone, its legacy has left us with a tonne of artistic innovation and we're excited to reap the benefits. Lucky for us, over the next couple of months there's a bevy of art exhibitions, performances and creative happenings going on across greater Sydney and regional NSW. Here's our list of the top things to help satiate your cultural appetite… [caption id="attachment_829780" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Doug Aitken, Underwater Pavilions (installation) 2017. Image credit: Dan Boud[/caption] DOUG AITKEN, THE MCA Plunge into the world of internationally recognised American artist Doug Aitken this summer at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Aitken's works lead us into a world where time, space, and memory are fluid concepts (a perfectly fitting post-pandemic theme). The exhibition incorporates objects, installations, photographs and vast, multi-screen environments that will envelop you within a kaleidoscope of moving imagery and sound. Using light, reflection and multiplication, Aitken is sure to mesmerise even the most jaded group of museum goers. When: Until 6 February 2022 Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, 140 George St, The Rocks How: Buy tickets for $28 for adults, $22 concession, $12 for 13-18 years, free for kids 12 and under [caption id="attachment_830558" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sydney Dance Company[/caption] SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY'S NEW BREED, CARRIAGEWORKS While we've all been moving and grooving in our athleisure outfits for four months running, it's time to get out and see how the professionals get down. Sydney Dance Company, in partnership with Carriageworks and The Balnaves Foundation, returns to the stage with the eighth edition of New Breed, continuing a collective commitment to emerging choreographers. Four talented choreographers will create new works featuring a rich diversity of choreographic ideas to be performed by Sydney Dance Company's company dancers. When: 25 November until 11 December Where: Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh How: Buy tickets for $35-$45 [caption id="attachment_830585" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tamara Dean[/caption] TAMARA DEAN, NGUNUNGGULA GALLERY Now that we're allowed to travel beyond our local bodega, we highly recommend a countryside jaunt to the beautiful Southern Highlands. Newly opened Ngununggula (which means "belonging" in the traditional language of the Gundungurra First Nations people) is the Southern Highlands' first regional art gallery. The Gallery will open with two inaugural exhibitions by celebrated Australian artists Tamara Dean (with the terrifically titled show 'Hijinks in the Hydrangeas') and Megan Cope. When: Until 17 December, 2021 Where: Ngununggula, 1 Art Gallery Lane, Bowral NSW How: Free [caption id="attachment_830570" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Abdullah M.I. Syed portrait, 2018[/caption] ABDULLAH M.I. SYED, PENRITH REGIONAL GALLERY Pakistani-born Australian artist, Abdullah M.I. Syed, has undertaken a short residency to research the influence of the Bauhaus School on Australian Modernism, specifically through the artistic practice of Margo Lewers, who built the property that is now the Penrith Regional Gallery. Lewers' works will be on show alongside Syed's response that also draws on Islamic geometric design, the use of reflection and transparency, positive and negative space, as well the relationship between art and faith. When: 25 October 2021 – 9 January 2022 Where: Penrith Regional Gallery, Home of The Lewers Bequest, 86 River Road, Emu Plains, NSW How: Free [caption id="attachment_830572" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Future Is Here, Dennis Golding[/caption] THE FUTURE IS HERE BY DENNIS GOLDING, CARRIAGEWORKS After a year plus of fighting COVID 19, we're all in need of some superhero powers. Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay artist Dennis Golding, along with a group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, worked together on creating a collection of 100 brightly coloured capes. Students designed their capes with iconography informed by their lived experiences and cultural identity. The project continues Golding's exploration of using superhero symbolism to empower contemporary Aboriginal culture to free it from colonial narratives. As superheroes, Golding and his young collaborators are empowered and reminded of the strength of their culture in forming their identity and connection to Country. When: 3-28 November 2021 Where: Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh How: Free GIANT BADGES BY ADAM NORTON, SYDNEY CBD Take a stroll beyond your five kilometre radius and check out Sydney-based artist Adam Norton's Giant Badges come to life on Barrack Street, as part of the City of Sydney's temporary laneway art program. Influenced by apocalyptic sci-fi films, pop and counterculture, the badges have an immediate sense of nostalgia to them while speaking directly to today's most important social issues including the climate and public health emergencies - giving a nod to the notion that our current reality feels stranger than science fiction. When: Until Thursday 31 March 2022 Where: Barrack St (between George and York Streets), Sydney How: Free [caption id="attachment_830561" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Megan Bottari, Post-Modern Tokenism III 2007-2013 (detail) lost wax cast crystal.[/caption] YOU CAN'T SEE WHITE IF YOU DON'T SEE BLACK, WAGGA WAGGA ART GALLERY Having just emerged from one of the darkest moments in many of our lives, we're all ready to see some light. Curated from the National Art Glass Collection, You can't see White, if you won't see Black seeks to comment on the coexistence and unity of opposites as well as duality in politics, spirituality and morality. Day, light, and good are often linked together, in opposition to night, darkness, and evil. These contrasting metaphors represented as White and Black go back in human history, and across cultures. This exhibition seeks to communicate spiritual purity and intensity of feeling - bringing together the oneness of the universe. When: Until Sunday 27 November 2021 Where: Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, corner of Baylis and Morrow Streets, Wagga Wagga NSW How: Free [caption id="attachment_830584" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Grass Labyrinth © 1979 Films Du Jeudi-Toel[/caption] JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL, PALACE CINEMAS The Japanese Film Festival makes a grand return to the cinema for its 25th year with a national tour in Canberra, Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Screening at the new venue of Palace Cinemas in each city, the 2021 Festival program will feature an expertly curated selection of films, from the hottest newly-released feature titles alongside action, anime, drama, documentaries and much more. We can't wait to see Junk Head and The Deer King, and don't miss the free tribute series of films by Shuji Terayama, one of Japan's most influential avant-garde film directors. When: 25 November – 5 December 2021 Where: Palace Cinemas Nationally How: Buy tickets starting from $16 [caption id="attachment_830577" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sky Queenz[/caption] FLING FESTIVAL, DARLINGHURST THEATRE COMPANY The beloved Darlinghurst Theatre is encouraging its patrons to break up with lockdown and join them for a no-strings-attached fling — and we couldn't support this more! The Fling Festival will transform Darlo into a vibrant cultural hub featuring one-off events and performances in the theatre's cabaret lounge and auditorium. Fling Festival is your go-to for all things cabaret, comedy, music, good vibes and more. Don't miss Sydney's favourite LGBTQIA+ performers bring cult cinema classics to the stage with a queer twist, or Sky Queenz, an immersive cabaret experience infusing drag, music, burlesque and comedy. When: 28 October - 11 December 2021 Where: Darlinghurst Theatre, 39 Burton Street, Darlinghurst How: Buy tickets at the Darlinghurst Theatre website
Even without sourcing and quoting an exact number, it's obvious that an immense amount of people owe their lives to Marie and Pierre Curie's research on radioactivity. Without their work — Marie's passion project, which she reluctantly agreed to collaborate on with Pierre after they first crossed paths in Paris — cancer treatment would've likely been vastly different over the past century. The results for scores of cancer patients would've been as well. But the pair's discovery of two new elements, radium and polonium, also led to disturbing side effects and cataclysmic events that changed the course of history in other ways. Radioactive touches upon both, from life-saving oncology usage and the ability to conduct x-rays on World War I battlefields to the bombing of Hiroshima and Chernobyl's nuclear reactor meltdown. It might seem strange for a biopic about Marie to leap forward at different moments, jumping to years and decades past her death in 1934, all to show how the physicist and chemist's work made and continues to make a colossal impact upon the world. But that's the most interesting thing about Radioactive: its willingness to contemplate both the significant benefits and proven dangers of Marie (Rosamund Pike, an Oscar-nominee for Gone Girl) and Pierre's (Sam Riley, Rebecca) pioneering discoveries. The latter is tasked with vocalising this battle in his acceptance speech for their shared 1903 Nobel Prize in physics, acknowledging the struggle but opining that "mankind will derive more good than harm". The film doesn't simply take him at his word, however. It shows his radiation sickness, and Marie's. It touches upon the backlash when news of radioactivity's health effects started becoming widely known. And those aforementioned flash-forwards to both positive and negative applications of the Curies' research keep the same conversation going, because Radioactive doesn't try to offer a right or wrong answer. Instead, as directed by Marjane Satrapi (The Voices), Radioactive recognises how the efforts of an astonishing woman have led to a complex array of outcomes. The movie doesn't weigh up saving the cancer-afflicted against deaths contributed to nuclear atrocities, but shows how they're both consequences of her work — and that, even though she died before some of the events mentioned above, Marie grappled with the pros and cons of her discoveries herself. This is such a crucial part of this adaptation of Lauren Redniss' graphic novel about the Curies, in fact, that it stands out in multiple ways. Curie deserves all the praise and acclaim that have been showered upon her, and this is an affectionate film, but Radioactive isn't a glossy exercise in hero worship. That said, the movie's complications and probing stem primarily from its unconventional line of thinking; take out the clips in a 50s hospital, in Japan, in the Ukraine and at a nuclear bomb test in Nevada in 1961, and a far less thoughtful feature would result. After an opening glimpse of an elderly Marie collapsing in her Paris laboratory, Radioactive heads back to 1893, where she's one of few female scientists in the French city. Expectedly given the era, she's reviled by her male peers and the decision-making powers-that-be — but a goateed Pierre has already heard of her when they meet-cute in the streets over a microbiology book. Marie is adamant that she be judged on her own merits, and that of her work, so she's resistant to his early professional advances. But the fact that she's kicked out of her existing lab space on the day she initially makes her future husband's acquaintance sets obvious wheels in motion. Being seen as an equal is a fight she'll keep waging, even after not one but two Nobel Prizes come her way. Pierre never regards her otherwise, but altering the scientific establishment and society in general's minds is a far tougher job. By design, it's dismaying how familiar Marie's treatment feels; her work has changed the world, but engraining gender equality as a given sadly doesn't rank among her achievements. The same can be said about the race-based attacks she's forced to weather, with her Polish background used as an insult to a chilling degree in early 20th-century Europe. Satrapi has brought similar themes and experiences to the screen before, as evidenced in 2007's Persepolis. Based on her own autobiographical comics about growing up in Iran and Austria both during and after the Islamic Revolution, it unsurprisingly felt far more urgent and personal — two traits that Radioactive lacks. From fast-paced montages of Marie and Pierre's scientific experimentation to snippets of their home life as their family expands with their fame, the process of detailing the Curies' lives largely takes on a routine air, with much of Jack Thorne's (Dirt Music, Enola Holmes, The Secret Garden) script reading from the biopic playbook. Thankfully, Radioactive looks as textured as its best moments feel, and sometimes as bold as well. That it springs from an illustrated text, and that Satrapi has experience in the medium herself, comes across in stylised frames shot by cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle (The Undoing) that could've leapt from a page. The film also benefits from not only Pike as Marie, but Anya Taylor-Joy (Emma) as the adult version of her eldest daughter Irène, another Nobel Prize-winner. There's a spiky determination to both — a willingness to forge on with doing the right thing despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles — that effortlessly links their performances. Of course, Radioactive also asks Pike to spend its first half asserting that Marie will never be defined by a man, then to spend its second struggling when Pierre is killed. That plays a little too neatly, but it's actually in tune with the many contrasts that sit at the film's core; something can be two things at once, after all, as Radioactive's rumination upon the Curies' discoveries firmly shows. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtVe_8CS6vU
It feels as though Sydney is on the brink of a new era; plans have been announced to revive the city's nightlife and more cutting-edge venues are exploding onto the scene each day. Not to mention the burgeoning food and wine meccas, like Steam Mill Lane, Spice Alley, Tramsheds and Barangaroo. The city seems like it's slowly getting its mojo back and we couldn't be more pleased. But amid the flurry of new bars and eateries, it can be kind of difficult to keep up. Perhaps, you've got a long list of venues you want to try but no idea where to start. We get it — so much to eat, so little time. Well, we're here to help. We've pulled together some of the best restaurants that opened around Sydney over the last few months to try on your next night out. From unconventional Indian fare that breaks all the rules to canned cocktails and top-notch charcuterie, these eclectic eateries are pushing the boundaries in all the right ways. So, grab your crew or a table for two, it's time to get acquainted with the new kids on the block.
Get ready to party like it's 2009 — legendary DJ collective Bang Gang is returning to Club 77 this month. The Sydney-born collective, who were at the forefront of the city's early-internet-era electro scene, will be performing together for the first time in over a decade as part of the Darlinghurst nightclub's 28th birthday celebrations. Bang Gang — who made a name for themselves for their high-energy Friday night sets and bold selections — will be taking over their spiritual home for one massive night on Friday, May 16. It's part of a month-long birthday program for 77 that brings together past legends, rising selectors and the club's own residents, in a celebration of the past and future of Sydney's club culture. Since it opened in 1997, Club 77 has survived lockouts, lockdowns, licensing crackdowns and the ever-fluctuating tides of the city's live music and nightlife scene. These days, it's still home to some of the sharpest programming in the city, as illustrated by the stacked birthday lineup: alongside Bang Gang, this month you can catch returning heroes like Phil Smart, Robbie Lowe and Dreems, as well as next-gen selectors like Mowgli, Deepa, Ciara, Aquenta, DJ D.Dee and more. All birthday events are free to enter before midnight if you've signed up for the guest list, otherwise it's $25 at the door. For the full program and to get on the list, head to the Club 77 website.
Wisemans Ferry has been largely devoid of music since the extremely popular Playground Weekender collapsed. However, festival fans can rejoice as Return To Rio is bringing music back to the venue this November. The three-day festival will have a deep house, disco and funk sound, with Mad Racket headlining the brand-new event. They will be supported by an eclectic mix of live bands and DJs including renowned party people S.A.S.H., R Music, Love Bombs and Disktrict. Whilst Return to Rio is curated by an entirely different group, many fan favourites from Playground Weekender shall remain, with the always popular fancy dress night and pool parties returning, as well as early morning yoga. Of course, if the partying has taken it out of you, then you can always play a round of the Del Rio resort's famous mini golf. Return to Rio will also have an exclusive feel to it, with only 1000 golden tickets, which you need to secure entry and access to camping, going on sale to the public on September 1. So if you feel like an early summer party on the Hawkesbury, get in quickly. Image from Playground Weekender.
It's hard to believe holiday season is just around the corner with 2021 coming in close for the fastest year ever award. If you're after some festive fun to celebrate the silly season, you'll be happy to know the Sydney Christmas Fair is back with a huge lineup of Christmas-y entertainment at Moore Park's Entertainment Quarter. Running across three weekends in December, you and the fam have plenty of opportunities to enjoy this outdoor and COVID-safe event. Hop on crowd favourite rides like a giant water slide, a classic carousel and the dodgem cars, or join the interactive elf workshops where kids can write letters to Santa, make Christmas cards and stuff stockings. And, if your little one loves to dance, head to the gingerbread house party for a big ol' boogie. Visiting Santa will be contactless this year, so make sure you practice your best physically distanced poses for the all-important pic with the big guy. Be sure to whip out your ugliest Christmas sweater and take your furry friend (BYO dog-sized reindeer ears) for your annual Santa photo, too. Sydney Christmas Fair is running from December 4–6, December 11–12, and December 18–19 at the Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park. For more information and to pre-book your tickets, visit the website.
If you've been hoping to dance like Christopher Walken, pretend you're in Cruel Intentions, or just get transported back to the late 90s and early 00s when Fatboy Slim returns to Australia in 2025, and you're in Sydney, you might've been making out-of-town plans. When he dropped his latest tour dates, the British dance-music legend's only New South Wales appearance was in Bowral. Thanks to a just-announced new addition to his Australian itinerary, however, you can now hit up Roundhouse in the Harbour City for one night only as well. For the third time in the 2020s, Fatboy Slim is heading to Australia to break out 'Right Here, Right Now', 'The Rockafeller Skank', 'Praise You' and plenty more dance-floor fillers. After touring the country in 2020 and 2023, he's returning in March 2025 on what's now a six-stop trip, four of which will get him spinning tunes in wineries — with his Sydney gig his only indoor show. [caption id="attachment_975624" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Selbymay via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] For the NSW capital, he's slotted in Tuesday, March 18, a few days after he'll play Centennial Vineyards in Bowral. The tour kicks off in Perth, at the only other show that isn't at a vineyard, on Friday, March 14. After Bowral and Sydney, Fatboy Slim is then off to Peter Lehmann Wines in the Barossa Valley, Mt Duneed Estate in Geelong and Sirromet Wines in Mount Cotton. While DJ Seinfeld, CC:DISCO! and Jennifer Loveless are supporting the UK legend at his other five gigs, special guests for his exclusive headline Sydney show haven't yet been revealed. [caption id="attachment_975623" align="alignnone" width="1920"] neal whitehouse piper via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Norman Cook has been making music since the 80s, but took on the name Fatboy Slim in the mid-90s, starting with 1996 record Better Living Through Chemistry. His 1998 album You've Come a Long Way, Baby was the club soundtrack to end the 20th century — a staple of every 90s teen's CD collection, too. As for 2000's Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars, it gave the world 'Weapon of Choice' and its iconic Walken-starring (and Spike Jonze-directed) video. Fatboy Slim's discography also spans 2004 album Palookaville and 2013 single 'Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat'. [caption id="attachment_878696" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Carlos Luna / Secretaría de Cultura CDMX via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] You might not be able to dance along the walls when Cook hits the decks — but you'll want to thanks to his big beat sound. Indeed, alongside the Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, Basement Jaxx, The Propellerheads and Crystal Method, he helped bring the style to mainstream fame.If you've seen Cook live before — or the epic live video from his 2020 Melbourne gig at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl that's notched up more than 3.2-million views — then you'll know that any Fatboy Slim tour is always news to get excited about right about now. Fatboy Slim 2025 Australian Tour Friday, March 14 — Langley Park, Perth Saturday, March 15 — Centennial Vineyards, Bowral Tuesday, March 18 — Roundhouse, Sydney Friday, March 21 — Peter Lehmann Wines, Barossa Valley Saturday, March 22 — Mt Duneed Estate, Geelong Sunday, March 23 — Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton [caption id="attachment_878697" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Secretaría de Cultura de la Ciudad de México via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Fatboy Slim is touring Australia in March 2025. Ticket presales for his Roundhouse show in Sydney start from 10am AEDT on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, with general sales from 10am AEDT on Friday, February 15, 2025. Head to the tour website for more details. Top image: Selbymay via Wikimedia Commons.
There is nothing, nothing more purely joyous as hurtling down an epic plastic lane covered in soap bubbles and hose water. Slip 'N' Slides have pride of place in some of our Paddle Pop-dotted, sunburn-ridden backyard memories, but all is not lost to the slippery realms of memory. This year, a giant Slide 'N' Slide is coming to your city, with Nova's Slidestreet confirmed for Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne this summer. Created by the team behind Perth's ice skating pop-up, Winterland, the Slidestreet is inspired by the urban slide created by UK artist Luke Jerram. With its successful Perth run under its belt, the 315 metre-long Slidestreet is heading to Melbourne's Fitzroy Gardens on January 24 and Sydney’s Centennial Park on Australia Day, January 26. Melburnians, you lucky, lucky bunch, you could also be casually getting the world's longest slide in February — permit permitting. At $15 +BF a slide, it's a teeny bit exxy for something you could DIY with a little help from Bunnings, but sometimes you just have to hand over the cashola for novelty bragging rights. And if you thought an entire event could be created around the humble Slip 'N' Slide, you're bang on. The whole day will feature food trucks, icy summer treats, DJs, pop-up bars — yep, the whole bloody works. We're guessing this is to give the sad, sad, slideless spectators something to do while their ticket-holding friends have All The Fun. Importantly, according to the Slidestreet rules, Go Pro selfie poles are NOT allowed on the slide. Slidestreet is heading to Melbourne's Fitzroy Gardens on January 24 and Sydney’s Centennial Park on Australia Day, January 26. Tickets start at $15 +BF a slide, available here.
You're busy, we get it. You've got work to do, friends to see, grandparents to call and a pile of dirty clothes which won't wash itself. Sounds like you are in need of a refresh, my friend. And, no, that doesn't mean you have to find a new job, give up lactose or join the F45 cult — nothing that drastic. All it takes is a few little changes — some minor tweaks — and you can get a whole lot more out of your week. We've put our heads together with our mates at Coopers Dry to bring you seven easy wins to help get you inspired and feeling great all week long. [caption id="attachment_593141" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Emily Davies.[/caption] MONDAY: EAT YOUR LUNCH AT A PARK After spending all morning staring at a screen, eating your lunch al desko can be downright depressing, or, if you get crumbs all over your keyboard, totally infuriating. With spring now in full swing, why not bundle up your tucker and take it to the park. Trust us, even a sad sandwich tastes better in the sun. Not only will you get a good dose of vitamin D, but taking the lunchbox away from the inbox can do a world of good for your mental health, helping you stay happy and productive all afternoon. If you're super keen, pack a blanket, cutlery and a thermos of iced tea and have a legit picnic — it'll feel like you're on a mini-holiday from work and that's a massive win. TUESDAY: BAKE SOME COOKIES Are you looking to win friends and influence people? Forget reading that self-help book, bake cookies instead. An offering of soft-centred biscuits can be a great way to fast track your relationships, whether it's with new colleagues, disgruntled housemates or noise-complaining neighbours. Just a simple plate of chocolate-studded rounds can convey a range of sentiments, from "sorry for downloading that virus on your computer" to "thanks for not shutting down my 3am kick ons". As well as filling the home with delicious vanilla and choc smells, an evening of baking can be highly therapeutic after a long day at work. As can eating the raw dough, a very easy win. WEDNESDAY: MISS YOUR TRAIN ON PURPOSE While it may ensure you get your toe in the door exactly on time, catching the 8.13am train to work can make for a pretty stressful start to the day. Lengthy queues, crowded platforms and people encroaching on personal space is enough to put anyone in a snarky mood. Instead, try switching up your commute and catch a less-packed earlier or later service. Not only will you score a seat for your troubles, but you'll also have a quicker trip. And, depending on what time you hop on, it'll be cheaper, too. Opal, myki and Go cards all offer off-peak discounts. THURSDAY: ENJOY BREAKFAST IN BED Who said breakfast in bed was just for loved-up couples or mums on Mother's Day — we can all get in on the action. Instead of sitting in the kitchen like a schmuck, take that fresh fruit salad back to your kingdom of cushions for the horizontal brekkie that you know you deserve. You don't need an excuse. It doesn't have to be a special occasion (Thursday is good enough) nor an elaborate breakfast, in fact, it might be a little easier on the sheets if you go for a vegemite toast rather than full-on egg soldiers. And, as a pleasant side effect, you might even find it's easier to get up in the morning knowing that there's always the possibility to get back in. FRIDAY: HOST A MOVIE MARATHON Need to unwind after an exhausting week? Nothing says complete and utter relaxation like a movie marathon. While you could always head out to a ticketed showing, what's even easier and cheaper is to host one yourself. Not only have you got the obvious trackie pants advantage, but you also get to choose what you watch or don't watch. That means you can enjoy all of the Star Wars films sans The Phantom Menace because no one needs to sit through that — pick and choose as you please. We suggest whipping out some classics, like Home Alone, Independence Day (trust us) or The Breakfast Club because everybody loves a bit of cheese. SATURDAY: THROW A POTLUCK PARTY Dinner parties are magnificent things. There's nothing more glorious than tucking into a homemade meal with friends, exchanging stories through mouthfuls of mash and enjoying ice-cold beers straight from the fridge. What's not so great is crafting the dinner party menu, shopping and paying for the ingredients, then spending your day cooking like crazy until you're too stressed out to enjoy your own flambéed crepes. To share the love (and cooking load), host a potluck dinner party, where everyone contributes a dish. It's a great way to experience a whole bunch of different cuisines and cooking styles. Just grab a case of beers, and you're all set. SUNDAY: DO A SPRING CLEAN No more excuses, it's time for a good old fashioned spring clean. Not only will you find a multitude of long-lost chargers, but you might even find your sanity along the way — you'll be surprised how truly free you will feel after untangling those cables. If you can't decide whether or not to keep those ski pants that've been collecting dust for the past five years, consider the KonMari method: hold the item close to you and ask, "does this spark joy in my heart?". It's a surefire way to get rid of any unnecessary items (which you should then take to a charity shop). Having a cold hard look at your hoarding habits might just inspire you to start consuming a little more responsibly, which is always a good thing. Pro tip: if you need a little bit of motivation, it never hurts to get your best four-legged friend involved. It's a proven fact that pooches help calm the nerves. So when it all seems a bit overwhelming, pause for some pats and break it down area by area. Kick off your 'easy wins' by enjoying a Coopers Dry, or two, with your mates.
When Interface asked Francois Chambard what kind of art he could devise from carpet tiles, these critters were his response. He and 29 other designers and architects put their carpeted creations up for auction, raising $16,000 for Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA). Interface organised the auction to mark the official opening of its new showroom in New York City, an 8,000 square foot space that looks over the Empire State Building. Other designers invited to contribute included David Ling, Harry Allen, Russell Groves, Joey Shimoda and D.B. Kim, and over 400 prominent industry members comprised the crowd. Peter Greene, the Vice President of marketing of Interface’s American arm, expressed the company’s enthusiasm. “The galvanizing impact that DIFFA brings to our design community is overwhelming, and Interface is excited it could join with the organization as we put out the welcome mat to our new Big Apple showroom . . . We’re delighted the proceeds of this event could help swell DIFFA’s coffers a bit more and at the same time let us welcome architects and designers into our new space with a fun occasion that also gives back in a meaningful way.” Interface is not only the world’s largest supplier of carpet tiles, but also one of the most socially conscious corporations on the stock exchange. Anyone who’s seen Canadian documentary The Corporation may remember the role played by then CEO Ray Anderson in representing the potential for an ethical approach to business. When Anderson passed away in August 2011, headlines proclaimed him ‘the greenest CEO in America’. Images: gBlog [Via boing boing]
Love the fireworks display that lights up Sydney Harbour on New Year's Eve? This year, the celebrations will continue into the new year and the Sydney skyline will be illuminated for even longer thanks to the Elevate Sydney Sky Show. In an Australian first, the Elevate Sydney Sky Show will take place above Circular Quay from Saturday, January 1 till Wednesday, January 5 as part of the brand-new Elevate Sydney festival. Catch 500 choreographed drones weaving across the sky in this multi-sensory spectacle set to an original soundscape. Sounds pretty incredible, right? The sky show will kick off from 10pm each night, right after the headline performances at the stages perched atop The Cahill Expressway. If you missed out on tickets to one of the Elevate Sydney shows, make a date with the night sky and let the colour and light of the sky show mesmerise you instead. Elevate Sydney Sky Show is taking place from Saturday, January 1 till Wednesday, January 5. For more information, visit the website.
UPDATE, March 8, 2021: Hidden Figures is available to stream via Disney+, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube Movies and Amazon Video. Every parent tells their child to dream big. Unfortunately, for many people, a world of factors conspires to stop their hopes and aspirations from coming true. For the three women at the centre of Hidden Figures, the forces blocking them from fulfilling their potential aren't just obvious — they're quantifiable. Faced with both institutionalised sexism and institutionalised racism, friends Katherine (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy (Octavia Spencer) and Mary (Janelle Monáe) know exactly what's holding them back. But, as smart, savvy human computers at NASA's Virginia headquarters in the segregated 1960s, they're also driven to find a solution. Based on a real-life tale that most won't have heard before, and sending its spirited leading ladies on a fight for equality, Hidden Figures is exactly the kind of movie that you think it is. It's warm, broad and certain to please. It's designed to rouse and entertain as it sheds light on an overlooked part of history, with soft colours and an upbeat soundtrack. It brings together an engaging cast who prove endearing individually and even more so when their affectionate rapport is in the spotlight. Most of all, though, it combines all of the expected elements together just as anyone could easily predict, and still manages to be a thoroughly good watch. Katherine, Dorothy and Mary crunch numbers in the same department, share rides to work and spend time together with their families after hours, but it's ambition in the face of oppression that truly unites them. On any given day, they're expected to be grateful for their jobs, while constantly being underestimated, undermined, ignored, overlooked, and made to use separate bathrooms and even coffee pots. That's a struggle, especially in a place that wants to defy the accepted order by putting a man on the moon. Each of the three have their own goals: Katherine wants credit for her crucial efforts when she's moved into the team trying to send an American beyond the earth; Dorothy seeks the supervisor title and pay raise that goes with the tasks she's already doing; and Mary is trying to take the classes she needs — at a white's-only school — to become an engineer. There's not much surprising about the way that writer-director Theodore Melfi (St. Vincent) brings Margot Lee Shetterly's non-fiction book to the screen, but honestly that's fine. In fact, it's rather apt. It's the sparkling individual components that comprise the ideal equation here, rather than any attempt to craft a new formula. Besides, just the fact that this story is being told at all is kind of revolutionary. Space movies and films about maths geniuses are a dime a dozen, but they're usually about one type of person: white men. Not here. A few pop up — Kevin Costner is memorable as Katherine's boss, while Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons plays the colleague constantly putting her in her place — but, refreshingly, this isn't their movie. Instead, it belongs to the women of colour at its centre. Played with vibrancy that matches the feature's own mood, there's nothing hidden about the core trio of black female mathematicians. Their real-world determination, infectious spirit, and the fine performances behind them, ensures that Hidden Figures adds up to something really special.
Shopping local has become much more than a passing trend — it's a way of life for many Sydneysiders. You may not get overly excited by having a go-to fruit and veg stand, flower shop or a spa in your neighbourhood, but they're the things that you use and support week after week. And if you live in or near Castle Hill, you already have 'em all. To help make your next local shopping adventure successful, we've teamed up with American Express to put together this list of Castle Hill favourites. Whether it's for locally sourced produce, top-notch mani pedis or a bouquet of flowers for your loved one, you can shop small at these businesses with your Amex Card.
There are plenty of ways to describe something that's fun while it lasts, but finishes up prematurely. And yes, many of them could be followed by "title of your sex tape". So, with US TV network NBC announcing that beloved sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine will come to an end after its next season, we're sure you're going to be thinking about Jake Peralta's favourite retort for a while. We're sure the phrase will be uttered at least once in the show's final batch of episodes, too, with Brooklyn Nine-Nine due to wrap up with a ten-episode eighth season. Those final instalments won't air until either the second half of 2021 or the first half of 2022, so you have some time to come to terms with the news — and to prepare to say goodbye to Peralta (Andy Samberg), Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero), Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz), Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio), Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews) and Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher). And yes, even to farewell Hitchcock (Dirk Blocker) and Scully (Joel McKinnon Miller) as well. In response to the announcement, showrunner Dan Goor said that "ending the show was a difficult decision, but ultimately, we felt it was the best way to honour the characters, the story and our viewers". This definitely isn't a noice development, but if you've been following news headlines over the past year, ending B99 shouldn't come as much of a surprise. In response to 2020's Black Lives Matter protests — and their efforts to raise awareness about police brutality after the death of George Floyd — the first four scripts for the show's eighth season were scrapped. Several cast members, including Samberg, also spoke publicly about rethinking B99's approach in light of the events. https://twitter.com/nbcbrooklyn99/status/1359958366433341440 When the series ends, it'll do so after 153 episodes of Brooklyn-set antics, all based around the fictional 99th precinct — with quite a few Halloween heists thrown in. And, it'll cap off a tumultuous run for the show off-screen, because B99 was threatened with being axed for its entire first five seasons, and was even cancelled in May 2018. That move was made by Fox, its original American network; however, after an outcry followed, rival US channel NBC picked up the series just 31 hours later. It first committed to a sixth season of cop comedy, then picked it up for a seventh, and later renewed it for an eighth before that seventh season even aired. Whenever any B99 news hits — happy or sad — there are plenty of appropriate ways to mark this development. You could break out a sorrowful yoghurt, Terry Jeffords-style. If you're more like Captain Raymond Holt, perhaps you'd like to treat yourself to a trip to a barrel museum. You could also channel your inner Gina Linetti (Chelsea Peretti) and dance about your distressed feelings, you could organise your entire house as you know Santiago would, or you say cheers to Peralta by watching Die Hard over and over. Brooklyn Nine-Nine will come to an end after its next — and eighth — season. The show's final ten episodes will air sometime either in the second half of 2021 or the first half of 2022 — we'll update you when more details are announced.
When is a dance film more than just a dance film? When it brings a celebrated real-life performance to the cinema, fills its frames with dream-like visuals, and dives into the indigenous Australian experience. That's the case with Spear, which — its sublime showcase of fancy footwork and smooth moves aside — bears little other resemblance to the bulk of the dance film genre. Saturday Night Fever, Footloose and Step Up, this is not. Indeed, in an effort concerned with origins and evolution, understanding the movie's own leap from dance piece to film is pivotal. Spear blossoms out of a Bangarra Dance Theatre presentation first staged in 2000, and marks the feature filmmaking debut of Stephen Page, the company's artistic head. His close connection with the material is evident from the outset, and not just because his son, Hunter Page-Lochard, plays the lead character and his brother, David Page composed the accompanying music. Prior to this, Page's only credits are on a segment of The Turning and choreography work on Bran Nue Dae and The Sapphires. Nonetheless, his expressive offering demonstrates what all directors hope for: the strong imprint of a distinctive guiding hand. Given that the production relies upon imagery and movement much more than words and narrative, the importance of Page's task cannot be underestimated. In fact, as Spear cycles between rocky seaside cliffs, dusty outback plains and gritty urban locations, the feature's primary aim isn't to tell a story, but to convey a feeling and channel a sense of spirituality. Enter Djali (Page-Lochard), an Aboriginal youth trying to understand his heritage, and the audience's on-screen surrogate. As the film takes him through the past and present experiences of his people, sometimes accompanied by an Old Man (Demala Wunungmurra) or interacting with Suicide Man (Aaron Pedersen), its rhythmic sights and sounds wash over him — and over the watching viewer, too. Think of Spear as a series of exquisite dance routines, each fusing the traditional and the contemporary, and representing a plethora of issues: discrimination, marginalisation, violence, homelessness, abuse, and forced assimilation among them. Think of it as a process of layering, as well. Each individual section proves an intricate, intimate and distinctive creation in its own right, as well as a crucial piece of a bigger thematic and artistic puzzle. If it sounds unique, that's because it is. In fact, with its combination of exceptional physical feats, evocative presentation and somewhat abstract content, Spear is unlike any film most audiences will have seen. It's a stunning achievement, as well as a memorable one. The end result doesn't simply engage the brain but assaults the senses — so much so that it almost feels as though the movie could dance from the screen back into reality at any moment.
Wine — a four-letter word that can open up a whole world of possibilities. Yep, learning about wine (and, of course, drinking it) brings up fun facts about travel, food, agriculture, history, science and more. But, if your eyes glaze over when you peruse the shelves at your local bottle-o — or you think carbonic maceration is the name of a heavy metal band — we've got five easy (and not boring) ways for you to up your vino knowledge. To do so, we've teamed up with online wine retailer Vinomofo. If you've ever felt out-of-place when your uncle talks about terroirs and tannins, you'll soon be sneaking "did you know that the pressure in a bottle of champagne is about the same as in a semi-trailer tyre?" into everyday conversation. [caption id="attachment_787704" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Klook[/caption] GO ON A GUIDED TOUR IN AN AWARD-WINNING WINE REGION Let's start with a fun one: wine tours. In Australia, we have over 100 different grape varieties grown across 65 distinct regions. So if you prefer hands-on learning, there are plenty of incredible and award-winning vineyards right on your back doorstep. Klook's big red bus tour of the Hunter Valley in NSW and Daylesford Wine Tours, which runs day tours of Victoria's wine regions, are both great ways to experience wine with the winemakers in an up-close setting. Not to mention they're a good excuse to get out of the city for a weekend getaway. GET SCHOOLED BY THE EXPERTS Thanks to last year's unprecedented times, there are now many options available to people who want to learn about wine, either online or in person. Sydney Wine Academy (TAFE) hosts online wine courses that are accessible nationwide, including wine sensory evaluation bootcamps and courses on mastering wine from Australia and New Zealand. Or, you can opt for a 25-minute private virtual wine tasting with Handpicked, where you'll be guided through three to six of its drops in the comfort of your own home. Otherwise, join in a Wine School event with legendary Sydney sommelier and owner of Fix Wine Bar, Stuart Knox. [caption id="attachment_768003" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bibo[/caption] HEAD TO A WINE-THEMED EVENT Even when the source material seems a little dense, learning about wine should be fun. Enter Grapes of Mirth by way of comedian and radio personality Merrick Watts and event manager Jason Nikolas. The comedy and wine festival travels around the country and is designed to bring conversation, laughter and fun into wine regions. We also recommend keeping an eye on what's happening in your local area for specialised wine events, such as like Sydney restaurant Bibo's wine trivia nights, The Ugly Duckling's Wine and Cheese Sundays in Melbourne and a bubbles and oyster pop-up at Brisbane's Cloudland. READ, READ AND READ SOME MORE Even professional wine lovers need help sometimes. Thankfully, there's no shortage of fantastic resources you can turn to when you want to know what's going on in the world of wine. Wine Grapes by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding and José Vouillamoz is considered a staple for any wine nerd, while Madeline Puckette and Justin Hammack's Wine Folly is a fantastic book for beginners wanting to understand the ins and outs of where, when and how wine is made (the infographics are second to none). More recent titles like Wine All the Time by Marissa A. Ross and Which Wine When by Bert Blaze and Claire Strickett are excellent resources to have on hand when you want to know what wines work with burgers or when to use a decanter. GET YOURSELF A PERSONALISED WINE SERVICE For those who have no idea where to start, Vinomofo has your back thanks to its curated selection of wines. The in-house buying team carefully chooses the wine to guarantee quality and exciting vino across the website. The online wine slinger also has a superb selection of mixed cases to help you go on an adventure to find out what wine styles you might like. For those wanting a little extra hand-holding, you can jump online or on the phone to have a one-on-one chat with Vinomofo's wine dealers, who'll guide you to your next drop. And, not that you need anymore convincing, but right now Vinomofo is celebrating its tenth lap around the sun with its biggest giveaway ever. From Monday, April 12 through to Tuesday, April 20, you can buy any wine online and go in the running to win $1000 wine credit, with one winner drawn every day over the course of the promotion. That's a lot of dollars to put towards your wine knowledge journey. Vinomofo's Birthday Week runs from Monday April 12–Tuesday, April 20, 2021. Head to the website and buy any wine and you'll go in the running to win a $1000 wine credit. See terms and conditions here. New to Vinomofo? Enter code VINO to get $30 off your first order plus free shipping.
A big serve of movie star magic is coming to Canberra this summer; though thankfully you won't need to avoid any film crews or hordes of screaming fans. Rather, it's all happening thanks to the National Film and Sound Archive's exclusive new exhibition Australians & Hollywood, running from Friday, January 21–Saturday, July 17. This blockbuster showcase is set to celebrate Australia's many contributions to the silver screen, both in front of and behind the camera. It invites you to dig in and relive all the best, most iconic bits of Aussie cinema via an intriguing collection of costumes, props, behind-the-scenes footage and screenings. You'll see personal treasures from homegrown cinematic icons including Baz Luhrmann, Mia Wasikowska, Eric Bana and Paul Hogan, alongside scores of movie artefacts. Think art concept books for Romeo + Juliet, the customised steering wheels featured in Mad Max: Fury Road, the clapperboard from 2021 sci-fi epic Dune and more. And once you've explored the collections, you can continue your cinematic adventure by catching one of the National Film and Sound Archive's regular film nights dedicated to Aussie flicks. Book your timed visit to check out Australians & Hollywood here — it'll be open daily from 10am–4pm, as well as Friday nights throughout summer. Top images: 'Lion', by Mark Rogers; 'Extraction', Jasin Boland courtesy Netflix; 'The Prom', Melinda Sue Gordon courtesy Netflix; 'Romeo + Juliet'.
When you're looking for basics made with luxury fabrics, Jac+ Jack is where you'll find the most consistent, neutral designs. Its men's and women's ranges of cashmere jumpers can be seen on Sydneysiders up and down the coast, and its collection of breathable cotton and linen tees are made for lasting from Australia's hot summer days through to its cooler nights. The brand was launched by Jacqueline 'Jac' Hunt and Lisa 'Jack' Dempsey in 2004, and since then it's opened six stores in Australia. This Mary Street shop is different in that it's not about the latest releases, instead it has a rolling selection of past season styles marked down for clearance. And, as Jac+ Jack is all about timeless style and muted, block colours, it's an excellent place to bag a bargain, so long as you're happy to buy cashmere in summer and racerbacks in winter.
Beach season is in full swing, but frolicking in the sun comes with its risk. Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world — with two out of three Aussies getting it before age 70 — so, beach season also means skin check season. And since the team at Merivale likes to turn everything into a party, it has teamed up with Aussie not-for-profit Beard Season to offer free skin checks across three of its beachside venues. Head into the The Newport, Coogee Pavilion or The Collaroy in January to have your skin looked at by trained doctors and nurses using AI-based screening technology. The checks will take place in private huts within the venues, and each will take around 10–20 minutes. While melanoma — an aggressive type of skin cancer — remains one of Australia's biggest killers, it's also one of the most successful cancers to treat if discovered early. This is why it's important to get your skin checked regularly. And you should slip, slop, slap, seek (shade) and slide (on sunglasses) when you're outside, too. [caption id="attachment_755010" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Beard Season's Jimmy Niggles and Merivale's Justin Hemmes by Dimitri Tricolas.[/caption] Alongside the screening, Merivale will also host the Million Dollar Beard Ball in February, during which Beard Season founder Jimmy Niggles will shave off his massive beard for a whopping $1 million. He'll then funnel that money into launching a national skin check program. Each venue is only hosting the free skin checks on select dates, with The Newport running January 4–8 and the other two venue dates still to be announced. Keep an eye on the website for more info. Summer Skin Check Sessions are happening across The Newport, The Collaroy and The Coogee Pavilion at various dates throughout January. Top image: The Newport
With 13 Academy Award nominations, Emilia Pérez has achieved a feat that no other film in a language other than English has ever managed before. The musical crime drama made history by earning the most amount of nods of any non-English movie, more than the ten received by both Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Roma in 2000 and 2018, respectively. When 2025's nominations were announced by Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live) and Rachel Sennott (Saturday Night), Emilia Pérez unsurprisingly topped the list of all contenders this year. By the numbers, competing to take home a shiny statuette on Monday, March 3, Australian and New Zealand time, The Brutalist, Wicked, A Complete Unknown and Conclave all sit next on the list, with ten apiece to the first pair, and eight each for the second duo. This year, the Academy loves post-war explorations of the impact of trauma through architecture, stage-to-screen musicals inspired by classic flicks, Bob Dylan and feuding cardinals, clearly. All five of the aforementioned films are in the running for Best Picture, a field that also includes 2024 Cannes Palme d'Or-winner Anora, sandy sci-fi sequel Dune: Part Two, body-horror gem The Substance, Brazilian political drama I'm Still Here and the page-to-screen Nickel Boys. Thanks to The Substance, this is the sixth year in a row that at least one Best Picture-nominee has been helmed by a female filmmaker. The creative force behind it, Coralie Fargeat, is also 2025's only woman in the Best Director category, somehow marking just the tenth time that a nomination in the field hasn't gone to a man in the Oscars' now 97-year history. From Down Under, The Brutalist's big bag of nods includes one for Best Supporting Actor for Guy Pearce, while cinematographer Greig Fraser is among Dune: Part Two's five nominations after winning for the first Dune. Equally huge local news: stop-motion delight Memoir of a Snail making Harvey Krumpet Oscar-winner Adam Elliot a nominee again, contending in the Best Animated Feature field. Among the other highlights, deeply moving animation Flow's two nods (for Best Best Animated Feature and Best International Feature), Demi Moore backing up her Golden Globe win with a Best Actress nomination for The Substance, Sebastian Stan getting recognised for The Apprentice, the latter's Jeremy Strong battling it out with his Succession brother Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) for Best Supporting Actor, must-see Japanese documentary Black Box Diaries scoring a spot and four nominations for Nosferatu all stand out. Chief among the surprise omissions is the Golden Globe-winning Challengers score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross not making the cut — but, as always, plenty of worth films don't make the cut every year and still remain worthy films. What and who else is hoping for some time in the spotlight at the Conan O'Brien-hosted ceremony in March? Here's the full list of nominations: Oscar Nominees 2025 Best Motion Picture Anora The Brutalist A Complete Unknown Conclave Dune: Part Two Emilia Pérez I'm Still Here Nickel Boys The Substance Wicked Best Director Anora, Sean Baker The Brutalist, Brady Corbet A Complete Unknown, James Mangold Emilia Pérez, Jacques Audiard The Substance, Coralie Fargeat Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Cynthia Erivo, Wicked Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez Mikey Madison, Anora Demi Moore, The Substance Fernanda Torres, I'm Still Here Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Adrien Brody, The Brutalist Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown Colman Domingo, Sing Sing Ralph Fiennes, Conclave Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown Ariana Grande, Wicked Felicity Jones, The Brutalist Isabella Rossellini, Conclave Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Yura Borisov, Anora Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown Guy Pearce, The Brutalist Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice Best Original Screenplay Anora, Sean Baker The Brutalist, Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold A Real Pain, Jesse Eisenberg September 5, Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum and Alex David The Substance, Coralie Fargeat Best Adapted Screenplay A Complete Unknown, James Mangold and Jay Cocks Conclave, Peter Straughan Emilia Pérez, Jacques Audiard in collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, Léa Mysius and Nicolas Livecchi Nickel Boys, RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes Sing Sing, Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, John 'Divine G' Whitfield Best International Feature Film I'm Still Here The Girl with the Needle Emilia Pérez The Seed of the Sacred Fig Flow Best Animated Feature Flow Inside Out 2 Memoir of a Snail Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl The Wild Robot Best Documentary Feature Black Box Diaries No Other Land Porcelain War Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat Sugarcane Best Original Score The Brutalist, Daniel Blumberg Conclave, Volker Bertelmann Emilia Pérez, Clément Ducol and Camille Wicked, John Powell and Stephen Schwartz The Wild Robot, Kris Bowers Best Original Song 'El Mal', Emilia Pérez, Clément Ducol, Camille and Jacques Audiard 'The Journey', The Six Triple Eight, Diane Warren 'Like A Bird', Sing Sing, Abraham Alexander and Adrian Quesada 'Mi Camino', Emilia Pérez, Camille and Clément Ducol 'Never Too Late', Elton John: Never Too Late, Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt and Bernie Taupin Best Cinematography The Brutalist, Lol Crawley Dune: Part Two, Greig Fraser Emilia Pérez, Paul Guilhaume Maria, Ed Lachman Nosferatu, Jarin Blaschke Best Film Editing Anora, Sean Baker The Brutalist, David Jancso Conclave, Nick Emerson Emilia Pérez, Juliette Welfling Wicked, Myron Kerstein Best Production Design The Brutalist, Judy Becker, Patricia Cuccia Conclave, Suzie Davies, Cynthia Sleiter Dune: Part Two, Patrice Vermette, Shane Vieau Nosferatu, Craig Lathrop, Beatrice Brentnerová Wicked, Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales Best Visual Effects Alien: Romulus, Eric Barba, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Daniel Macarin and Shane Mahan Better Man, Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft and Peter Stubbs Dune: Part Two, Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe and Gerd Nefzer Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Erik Winquist, Stephen Unterfranz, Paul Story and Rodney Burke Wicked, Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, David Shirk and Paul Corbould Best Costume Design A Complete Unknown, Arianne Phillips Conclave, Lisy Christl Gladiator II, Janty Yates and Dave Crossman Nosferatu, Linda Muir Wicked, Paul Tazewell Best Makeup and Hairstyling A Different Man, Mike Marino, David Presto and Crystal Jurado Emilia Pérez, Julia Floch Carbonel, Emmanuel Janvier and Jean-Christophe Spadaccini Nosferatu, David White, Traci Loader and Suzanne StokesMunton The Substance, Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon and Marilyne Scarselli Wicked, Frances Hannon, Laura Blount and Sarah Nuth Best Sound A Complete Unknown, Tod A Maitland, Donald Sylvester, Ted Caplan, Paul Massey and David Giammarco Dune: Part Two, Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett and Doug Hemphill Emilia Pérez, Erwan Kerzanet, Aymeric Devoldère, Maxence Dussère, Cyril Holtz and Niels Barletta Wicked, Simon Hayes, Nancy Nugent Title, Jack Dolman, Andy Nelson and John Marquis The Wild Robot, Randy Thom, Brian Chumney, Gary A Rizzo and Leff Lefferts Best Documentary Short Subject Death by Numbers I Am Ready, Warden Incident Instruments of a Beating Heart The Only Girl in the Orchestra Best Animated Short Film Beautiful Men In the Shadow of the Cypress Magic Candies Wander to Wonder Yuck! Best Live-Action Short Film A Lien Anuja I'm Not a Robot The Last Ranger The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent The 2025 Oscars will be announced on Monday, March 3, Australian and New Zealand time. For further details, head to the awards' website.
One of Sydney's most esteemed, view-heavy restaurants is currently celebrating 20 years. Bondi's iconic Icebergs Dining Room and Bar has been serving up top-quality meals with sweeping ocean views for two decades, and following a recent renovation, the eastern suburbs mainstay is marking the occasion with a series of events and parties. One such is Icebergs Winter Sundays. Across four weeks between July and September, four Sydney faves will be popping up at Icebergs for a guest shift as the sun sets. The CBD's Double Deuce Lounge will kick things off on Sunday, July 9 with five hours of cocktails and tasty bar snacks. The following month, Sydney's award-winning Maybe Sammy team will be popping up for a tequila-fuelled takeover on Sunday, August 6. On Sunday, August 27, Inner West mainstay Earl's Juke Joint will be emerging from its hidden King Street speakeasy to run the bar at Icebergs. And rounding out the series on Sunday, September 3 is Swillhouse's underground American-themed tavern Shady Pines. The initial Icebergs Sunday takeover from Double Deuce Longue will feature four signature cocktails for $25 a pop, plus a snack menu starring the likes of Jatz and French onion dip, American-style cheeseburgers, Boon Luck Farm lemonade fruit jelly and sopressa salami toasties. Each Winter Sunday pop-up sports free entry, and walk-ins are welcome. All you have to do is rip yourself off the couch on each given Sunday and end the weekend with a bev by the ocean. Images: Nikki To
Catering to everyone's fierce love of seafood over the holiday period, Sydney Fish Market is once again pulling its annual all-nighter so that you can get your hands on the freshest ocean treats for Christmas lunch. Each year, the Fish Market — which will soon be relocated to a $250 million new site — capably serves over 100,000 buyers looking to snag a deal. Between 5am on Saturday, December 23–5pm on Sunday, December 24, the market will be open for a whopping 36 hours straight so that you can scout out the most sumptuous fish, king prawns, lobster, oysters and calamari. It's not only seafood here, though. You can also peruse cold meats and cheeses at the deli for a grand charcuterie platter, or stop by the onsite bakery and greengrocer. You can even pick up a Christmas ham to pair with your delights of the sea. [caption id="attachment_803431" align="alignnone" width="1920"] James Horan, Destination NSW[/caption] You'll find basically everything here. If you're stuck for gifts, there are plenty of opportunities for that last-minute buy. Head to the gift shop, florist or bottle shop. More than 250 tonnes of seafood are expected to be sold during the marathon — including 120 tonnes of prawns and hundreds of thousands of oysters. "We encourage visitors to come with an open mind and menu, and let our expert retailers guide you towards the catch of the day," says Sydney Fish Market CEO Greg Dyer.
In 2018, Imperial Up joined the Sydney rooftop scene, all thanks to the Imperial's $6 million redevelopment. After being closed for nearly three decades, Imperial's top floor has been spruced up with a 200-person courtyard, a plethora of pop art and gold mirror covered pizza ovens. "Imagine a little Italian trattoria that loves disco and has a very cool lounge room," says co-owner Fraser Short. Think serious Studio 54 feels with artisanal eats, drinks and Andy Warhol vibes. Menu-wise, expect Italian food with a touch of the Imperial's flamboyant flair. The lineup features nine different types of pizzas (including favourites such as pepperoni, prawn and four-cheese), as well as smaller bites including marinated sardines and taleggio, parmesan and mozzarella arancini. Like downstairs sibling Priscillas, Imperial UP also has a strong list of vegan, gluten free and dairy free dishes. And — importantly — there's an extensive cocktail menu, which stretches from the classics through to colourful jugs of inventive drinks. Updated November 22, 2022.
Australia's local equivalent of NPR's Tiny Desk concerts has arrived. Store Sessions, hosted and released by Melbourne streetwear brand HoMie, are a new series of recorded gigs starring artists performing inside HoMie's flagship store in Fitzroy. The first-ever store session has already been released, and stars Australia's own Tash Sultana. It marks a return to Australian performances for the multi-instrumentalist, who is the first act in a series that is planned to run indefinitely, as part of HoMie's ongoing mission to support youth in Melbourne and combat issues in housing and employment for young people. [embed]https://youtu.be/-wGQKDE7TOU?feature=shared[/embed] It's a cause that comes with a calling. Sultana said: "I've been following HoMie's journey for a while now and I really love what they stand for, so getting to be involved from a music standpoint makes perfect sense. These store sessions are a really cool concept and I'm happy to be a part of it." That sentiment also runs true for the next artists to follow in the series. Soon to be released, in three-week intervals, will be recorded gigs from Bad//Dreems and local band Big Words. Alex Cameron of Bad//Dreems shared: "We've been admirers of the work HoMie have been doing for some time and are super excited to come in and play!" It's a bold initiative for HoMie, with its store presented as part performance venue, part streetwear store and part creative launchpad — all for an excellent cause. [caption id="attachment_1016400" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Melissa Cowan[/caption] HoMie Co-Founder Marcus Crook has plans for Store Sessions to become a staple series, with the store hosting everything from one-off shows to headline artists touring in Australia. Explaining the vision for the initiative, he said, "Store Sessions is about creating a space where artists from emerging talent to global names can get creative and connect with people in a different way. It's live, it's stripped back, and it's all tied back to our mission at HoMie. Every session supports the work we do at HoMie and brings our community closer through music." You can watch Tash Sultana perform their Store Sessions gig on YouTube now. Follow the HoMie Streetwear channels to catch the next gig when it releases.
Perched atop the Harbord Hotel, Bombie's is the hottest beachside hangout this year. In collaboration with Doom Juice, the 70s-inspired rooftop bar is kicking off a weekly dinner club on Thursday nights. Have a cheeky boogie and soak in the stunning view of Freshwater Beach before a night of surprise dishes, paired with lo-fi drops from Doom Juice Wine. Expect (or don't expect, it could be something else entirely) zesty tuna tostadas, smoky lamb riblets and spiced sweet potato wedges. Dinner is served to the soundtrack of jazz grooves and soulful jams from Beat Mystique, who improvise their sets and build the vibe in real time. Be quick — there's a bottle of Doom Juice on the house for the first six bookings every week. Images: supplied.
New South Wales has plenty to boast about when it comes to marvelling at the night sky. Back in 2016, Warrumbungle National Park near Coonabarabran in central western NSW was named the southern hemisphere's first Dark Sky Park, and now, the state has earned another nocturnal first. On Tuesday, June 25, Palm Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches was officially declared Australia's one and only Urban Dark Sky Place by DarkSky International. It joins a cohort of just nine other destinations worldwide with Urban Dark Sky Place (UDSP) status, spread across the US, Mexico, Japan and Canada — each notable for their efforts to protect natural night-time environments from light pollution. Achieving this astronomical accolade is no mean feat. The Northern Beaches Council worked with Ausgrid to devise bespoke street-lighting solutions to ensure public safety while reducing light pollution. It also collaborated with the National Parks and Wildlife Services, community leaders and local businesses to put together a compelling application that underlined the area's existing significance. Perched on the tip of the Northern Beaches peninsula and sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and Pittwater on the edge of Greater Sydney, the Palm Beach UDSP spans 62 hectares, covering Governor Phillip Park and parts of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park including Barrenjoey Headland. Beyond this footprint's popularity with tourists (and fans of Home and Away), it's also an area dotted with important First Nations heritage sites, including protected examples of ancient rock art such as the Barrenjoey Fish and Red Hands Cave. [caption id="attachment_964178" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Michael Apolpowdhic[/caption] "This site is special, being a National Park and listed on the NSW State Heritage Register due to its rich natural and historical value. [UDSP status] will provide another reason for people to enjoy and respect such a beautiful location," National Parks and Wildlife Service area manager Chad Weston said. DarkSky International's Dark Sky Places Program has been scouring the planet for the best places to stargaze for 23 years. There are five different Dark Sky accreditations, recognising publicly or privately owned conservation areas and parks, remote sanctuaries, reserves that are surrounded by populated areas, communities with sensitive outdoor lighting ordinances and Urban Dark Sky Places, like Palm Beach Headland, that maintain good dark sky conditions despite being located near urban centres with significant light pollution. To find out more about Palm Beach Headland's Urban Dark Sky Place status, visit the DarkSky International website. Top image: Ed Hurst
Nestled in the back streets of shady Hurstville Grove is a purveyor of fine wines, beers and spirits. While small, this bottle shop is sure to stock everything you need for a cocktail party, a backyard barbecue or a fancy dinner party. Unlike some of the bigger liquor chains, this joint stocks some rarer labels that are notoriously difficult to get a hold of. Even if it doesn't stock some hard-to-find Argentinian wine made from special grapes plucked at the full moon, the friendly staff behind the counter will go above and beyond to try and source it for you. Images: Trent van der Jagt.
Like Netflix, but for actually going to the movies. That's the premise of CinemaClub Australia, a new subscription service offering punters access to bucketloads of movie tickets for a monthly fee. Due to launch in late 2017, CinemaClub aims to cut the cost of going to the pictures. Rather than paying $20 or more every time they head to the cinema, film buffs will instead be able to sign up for a CinemaClub membership that gets them access to a movie ticket every weekday of the month. Concrete Playground reached out to co-founder James Farrell, who said that CinemaClub would be partnering with a number of major cinema chains — as well as various independent cinemas — right around the country. Memberships are expected to cost between $40 and $60 a month — so if you're the kind of person who sees three or more movies a month, you could be about to save yourself a whole heap of money. "Millennials today are avoiding the cinema for cheaper alternatives due to high prices and inflexible offerings," said Farrell. "What we do is make cinema an easy-to-reach and regular activity again. Our members get incredible value and we hope this is something that can really propel the Australian cinema industry." CinemaClub isn't the first start-up attempting to alter the rigid cinema industry, either. It's extremely similar to US subscription service MoviePass, which has come under fire from the States' largest cinema chain AMC for their insanely low fee of just $9.95 USD per month. While this isn't profitable for MoviePass at the moment, it seems the company — of which data firm Helios and Matheson Analytics have majority ownership — will look to swap consumer data for discounts with AMC down the track. Earlier this year, Melbourne couple Sonya Stephen and Shane Thatcher launched Choovie, an on-demand movie ticket app that offers fluid ticket price based on the time of the screening and the popularity of the film. While the success of the membership will rely on participating cinemas, stakeholders and the confirmed monthly fee, we're still interested to see where this goes. You can register your interest via the CinemaClub website to receive more information about when memberships go on sale.
Dig out those once-a-year novelty gumboots, Groovin the Moo has unveiled their 2015 lineup. Taking the large-scale music festival out of the city and into regional centres for another year, GTM will kick things off on the ANZAC Day long weekend and travel through Oakbank, Bunbury, Bendigo, Canberra, Maitland, and Townsville. This year's lineup sees syper-hyped internationals like the legendary Peaches, 'Boom Clap'-per Charli XCX, A$AP Mob's A$AP Ferg US trap king RL Grime, UK indie-gazers Peace and NZ festival favourites Broods alongside one of the most Aussie-heavy lineups GTM has seen in recent years. High-fiveworthy locals like Flight Facilities, The Preatures, Sticky Fingers, Hermitude, DMAs, Tkay Maidza, Ball Park Music, Meg Mac and more will also make their way to the Moo. So enough lowing, here's that lineup you're after. GROOVIN THE MOO 2015 LINEUP: A$AP FERG (USA) BALL PARK MUSIC BROODS (NZ) CARMADA CHARLI XCX (UK) THE DELTA RIGGS DMAs FLIGHT FACILITIES HERMITUDE HILLTOP HOODS HOT DUB TIME MACHINE MEG MAC NORTHLANE ONE DAY PEACHES (CAN) PEACE (UK) THE PREATURES RL GRIME (USA) SAN CISCO SASKWATCH STICKY FINGERS TKAY MAIDZA WOLFMOTHER YOU ME AT SIX (UK) GROOVIN THE MOO 2015 DATES & VENUES: Saturday, April 25 – Oakbank Sunday, April 26 – Bunbury Saturday, May 2 – Bendigo Sunday, May 3 – Canberra Saturday, May 9 – Maitland Sunday, May 10 – Townsville For more info, head to GTM's website. Image: Joseph Mayers, GTM.
The past year hasn't been easy for New South Wales' hospitality and entertainment businesses. Temporary closures, pivoting to takeaway and delivery, stocking sought-after grocery items, enforcing social distancing, operating at limited capacity, using QR codes — these have all been on the cards to help stem the spread of COVID-19, and they've all had a sizeable impact. So, as part of the State Budget for 2020–21, the NSW government announced a new scheme to help both sectors. Originally called 'Out and About' but now named 'Dine and Discover', the program is designed to encourage folks to head out of the house, have a meal, and see a movie or show. And, to do so on multiple occasions. Initially, the state government had set a launch timeframe of January 2021 for the $500 million scheme, following a pilot period. After Sydney's recent coronavirus clusters and the northern beaches lockdown, that timeline has now been updated — with the testing phase happening in February and vouchers starting to be rolled out across the state from March. The Rocks will lead the charge in the trial period, as will Broken Hill in the state's west, with both pilots starting in early February. Customers will be invited to take part, while businesses can register to participate. Then, the testing will be rolled out to the Sydney CBD, northern beaches area and Bega Valley from late February, ahead of the vouchers going statewide the next month. Exact dates haven't yet been given but, when Dine and Discover comes into effect, every NSW resident over the age of 18 will be eligible to receive $100 in vouchers. You'll score four $25 vouchers, in fact, with two available to use at restaurants, cafes, clubs and other food venues, and the other two specifically for cultural institutions, performing arts, cinemas and amusement parks. There are a few caveats, understandably. You won't be able to use your vouchers on tobacco, alcohol or gambling, for starters. And, you can only use each voucher once, including if your transaction totals less than $25. You'll also need to use your vouchers separately, because the idea is to get NSW folks heading out several times to several different places. [caption id="attachment_791611" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] To access the vouchers, you'll also need a MyServiceNSW account — and the corresponding app, so you can use the vouchers digitally. You'll only be able to redeem them at participating and COVID-safe registered businesses, however, with the exact details about where you can use them set to be revealed before the scheme goes live. Hospitality company Sydney Collective has already announced that it'll double the value of the vouchers at eight of its NSW venues when they come into effect — so it'll give you an extra $25 on top of each $25 voucher. Obviously, the state's social distancing requirements and other COVID-19 hygiene practises will still apply to anyone venturing out of their house for something to eat, a night at the flicks or some time mashing buttons. And if it all sounds a bit familiar, that's because the UK implemented something similar earlier in 2020, offering up half-price meals to encourage folks to eat out — although it has been suggested that the British scheme might've contributed to a rise in coronavirus cases. The NSW Government's Dine and Discover scheme will start its trial phase in February, before a statewide rollout from March. For more information, visit the government's website. Top image: Cassandra Hannagan
The Rocks is serving up all your Christmastime needs in its cobblestone streets this holiday season — from bespoke gifts and decorations to joyful meals and festive drinks. The historic neighbourhood's annual Christmas Markets will run every Friday through Sunday from December 4–20. Plus, it'll have a special Christmas Eve market on Thursday, December 24, should you need to pick up any last-minute pressies. From the vast array of stallholders, expect artisanal gifts like personalised engraved jewellery from Roubos Club, handmade cheeseboards from Good in Wood, sweat treats Patisserie Confiserie and shaving kits from Stuga. Not only that, but The Rocks will be decked out to the nines, transforming the precinct into a Christmas wonderland. There'll be ambient lighting at the First Fleet Park stairway as you head into The Rocks, alongside Christmas trees, lamp post decorations and fairy lights along George Street. Nurses Walk will have seven-foot Christmas trees, Nutcracker statues and star lanterns festooning the laneway. You can also wander under a 30-metre-long canopy of baubles and mistletoe. Then, head to Playfair Street where you'll find the Insta-worthy Jingle Bell Rocks Station, complete with a custom-built gold train, station signs, more trees and cheery Christmas tunes. A variety of live music will also take over The Rocks, with a mixture of Christmas covers and mashups. Kicking things off will be local drag queen and Mariah Carey impersonator Vanity Faire, performing in First Fleet Park at 6.30pm on Friday, December 4. She'll take the stage with a crew of dancers, backdropped by the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Expect her to sing all of Mariah's festive hits — and yes, that includes 'All I Want for Christmas Is You'. The Rocks' usual shops will be done up in your standard red-and-green, silver-and-gold hues, too. There'll also be plenty of festive treats from street food vendors, so you can refuel on some tasty snacks, then keep working through your gift list. And, the local bars and pubs have you covered post-shopping, from craft brews at Endeavor Tap Rooms to cocktails on Mrs Jones' terrace. [caption id="attachment_790386" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Craven Images[/caption] The Christmas Markets will be open from 10am–8pm each Friday and Saturday and from 10am–5pm on Sundays. On Christmas Eve, the market will be open from 11am–6pm. Top images: Anna Kucera
No one alive today was living and breathing during Leonardo da Vinci's lifetime in the 15th and 16th centuries; however, Melbourne's The Lume is doing its best to help its patrons experience the Italian Renaissance-era great's existence. Opening on Saturday, March 16, Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius sees the venue — which is Australia's first permanent digital-only art gallery — devote its surfaces to stepping into the artist and inventor's tale. His paintings grace the walls. His machines are dotted around its halls. Even original sheets from his notebooks, that boast his writing and sketches, are on display. Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius was first announced in 2023, and is understandably The Lume's major 2024 exhibition, alongside a massive reason for folks living outside of Melbourne to head to the Victorian capital this year. Back in February, the venue also revealed that pages from da Vinci's Codex Atlanticus feature, displaying in Australia for the first time ever. Add them to the must-see list next to the world's most-famous enigmatic smile, The Last Supper, the artist's anatomical drawings and more. Attendees at the Grande Experiences-run Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre site can see what The Lume is calling its "most ambitious, immersive and breathtaking yet". That's quite the claim for a collection that follows a van Gogh celebration, a focus on Monet and his contemporaries and the First Nations-centric Connection. Given everything that's a part of Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius, though, that statement also isn't surprising. No one will forget the Mona Lisa after heading to the exhibition. The artwork is almost everywhere within the 3000-square-metre space, and in a larger-than-life fashion — because that's how Grande Experiences' whole setup works. The iconic piece also links in with the segment of the showcase that's all about French optical engineer Pascal Cotte, who invented a multispectral camera and has peeled back the artwork's layers using his research. So, get excited about Mona Lisa Revealed, which includes an exact 360-degree replica — the only one in the world — as created thanks to Cotte's 240,000,000-pixel multispectral camera. The Last Supper also enjoys the spotlight in a big way, with emphasis on the 'big'. Similarly among Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius' highlights: 40 of da Vinci's machine inventions, which are on loan from the Museo Leonardo da Vinci in Rome. Leonardo is just as well-known for his flying machine concepts, with his 15th-century vision of human flight scoring The Lume's attention. This part of the exhibition heroes recreations made in Italy from the artist and inventor's sketches, and also uses the materials and techniques that he would've at the time. Letting visitors check out pages from Codex Atlanticus is a huge coup. The 12-volume set is filled with da Vinci's drawings and writings, detailing his thoughts and featuring his sketches on a wide array of topics. It's priceless. It includes entries from its author from between 1478–1519, dating up to the year of his death. Since 1637, it has called Milan's Biblioteca Ambrosiana home — and it's thanks to a relationship between it and Grande Experiences, which is also behind Rome's Museo Leonardo da Vinci, that some of its sheets can display Down Under. Stepping through da Vinci's journey at Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius also spans recreations of Florence's streets, Venice's canals and Milan — as brought to life via sight, sound, scent, touch and taste. Flying over Florence using virtual reality, dining at a Renaissance-themed experience where The Last Supper provides the backdrop, being turned into a da Vinci sketch thanks to AI, seeing how you align with the artist's Vitruvian Man drawing: that's all on offer, too. That said, Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius isn't solely about its namesake's well-known works, with the 3000-square-metre multi-sensory gallery also exploring his inspirations and those creating their own masterpieces at the same time. Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling and works by Caravaggio can all be sighted, for instance. In Queensland, at HOTA, Home of the Arts, Grande Experiences's Italian Renaissance Alive will also take a broader look at the Italian Renaissance period from late March — but anyone wanting to be steeped in da Vinci's works in particular will need to head to Melbourne. Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius opens at The Lume, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 5 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, Melbourne, from Saturday, March 16, 2024 — head to the venue's website for tickets and further information. Images: Alicia Taylor.
In primary school, ripping into collages lets you take grown-up things and shape them to your infant will. High school art class gives it back to you as culture. This art tradition embraced by Pop Art, pioneered by Dadaists with photo and pen, gets most of its airtime through stencil art these days. Photoshopping and outright collage still stir controversy, but it's rare to see the form get a dedicated show. For a brief correction, aMBUSH Gallery has brought a group of five local collage artists together to highlight this under-appreciated form, for the exhibition Alterations, Disturbances and Rips. Like their art, the five artists in this exhibition are juxtaposed for maximum contrast. Mauro Palmieri's art shows off his collage figure studies, Hilary Faye's giant figures stride Godzilla-like around their everyday landscapes and Kareem Rizk's earthy palette will feature. Dada-inspired Joel Lambeth and Danilo Brando's blind subjects are also on show. It's a short season, but these visual mash-ups have been shuffled together especially for your enjoyment. Check them out in this school-free setting before they shuffle away completely. Alterations, Disturbances and Rips opens Thursday December 15, at 6pm. Images by Joel Lambeth and Mauro Palmieri.
Sydney's sunny season is in full swing — and, if you like celebrating warm weather, adorable animation and mini golf all at once, the part-tee is taking over Darling Harbour. Everyone's favourite Pixar characters are popping up in Sydney at a putt-putt course inspired by the Disney-owned studio's loveable films. Yes, Pixar Putt is returning, with the kidult-friendly course heading to the Pier St Underpass from Friday, December 15–Sunday, February 4. Designed to challenge both eight-year olds and adults, Pixar Putt features nine- and 18-hole courses that take you past childhood heroes like Buzz Lightyear, Sheriff Woody and Elastigirl. Flicks such as Monsters Inc, Onward, Finding Nemo, Up, A Bug's Life, Wall-E, Inside Out, Soul, Turning Red and Lightyear all get some putting love, too. Clearly, there's no need for a trip to Disneyland — and this year's course features a new holes inspired by Pixar's recent Elemental. So, if you don't think you'll beat your cousin at backyard cricket over the summer, challenge them to a match here. All you need is your hat and A-game (and no pressure if you remain defeated, there's always the nineteenth hole nearby). Pixar Putt is also open for after-dark sessions every Thursday–Saturday night — and they're only for adults. Operating from 7–10pm, the late-night putt-putt hours are perfect for those date nights when you want to do more than just have dinner and see a movie. Otherwise, head along from 10am–8pm Sunday–Wednesday — and from 10am on Thursdays as well — and be prepared to have littlies for company.
Considering a boozy break in the national capital? Sounds like a magnificent idea. Canberra is home to loads of top-notch bars, wineries and distilleries where you can sip on locally crafted beverages — and meet their makers, too. Among them are Australia's first bar dedicated to reisling, a speakeasy that you need geographic coordinates to find and a brewery that specialises in traditional German techniques. So, it's time to grab your mates, open your diary and start planning. To save you time and help you get started, we've scoped out six of the best venues in and around the city that serve a quality drink. Please stay up to date with the latest ACT Government health advice regarding COVID-19.
Exploring the gender imbalance in professional surfing, especially during the 80s and 90s as women in the sport were starting to attract the world's attention, Girls Can't Surf feels like a floodgates-bursting documentary. Watching female stars of the era talk about their experiences, including the vast disparity in prize money between men and women and how that affected their efforts to make a living, it's easy to see this candid and detailed film setting a template for a wealth of other movies. As fans of any type of women's sport well and truly know, differing treatment, pay, sponsorship and levels of respect aren't restricted to hitting the waves. Indeed, as the doco's high-profile parade of talking heads offer their thoughts and recollections — such as former world champions Frieda Zamba, Wendy Botha, Pam Burridge, Pauline Menczer, Lisa Andersen and Layne Beachley — many of their words could be uttered by any number of female athletes in a wide range of fields. That truth doesn't undercut the doco's power, or downplay what women surfers have been through. Rather, it underscores the importance of continually shining a light on the way the sporting arena has routinely sidelined, undermined and devalued anyone who isn't male. "If you can't see it, you can't be it" is one of Girls Can't Surf's resonant and universal sound bites, and it's easily applicable far beyond the film's specific stories and the sport in focus. Indeed, when Beachley talks about how she used to mill around surfing contests as a teen starting out in the field, and annoy the ladies she'd soon be competing against, you can see those words in action; if earlier generations of women hadn't already been hanging ten, Australia's seven-time champ wouldn't have had any footsteps to follow in. The film is filled with astute insights and telling connections such as these. It all leads to the well-publicised recent development, only back in 2018, of equal winnings for men and women being mandated by the World Surf League from 2019 onwards. That happy ending benefits today's stars, such as Stephanie Gilmore, Tyler Wright and Carissa Moore, but it came too late for Girls Can't Surf's interviewees. Once again, knowing that significant change has finally come to the sport doesn't diminish the potency of hearing about the horrors, struggles and rampant sexism that female surfers endured for decades. Smartly, two-time feature surf documentarian Christopher Nelius (Storm Surfers 3D) brings those tales to the fore, and the people sharing them. Girls Can't Surf positively overflows with frank, determined, inspiring and engaging women telling it like it is about their time in surfing's spotlight. From Jodie Cooper's memories of being the first openly gay woman on the world tour, to Jolene and Jorja Smith's recollections of discovering that the pivotal Huntington Beach OP Pro was dropping its women's competition but keeping the bikini contest, there is no shortage of anecdotes that paint a despondent picture for women who were simply trying to chase their dreams. Learning about how, even if the conditions were too flat for the men, the ladies were still forced to surf instantly demonstrates how little standing they received from the sport's powers-that-be. Seeing Menczer explain that she got by via a combination of sleeping in her van and relying on the kindness of people she met on the tour — which continued after she became world champion — is just as galling. So too is the behaviour of surf brands when they cottoned onto the obvious idea that women's board shorts would be a hit, flirted with sponsoring actual surfers to help promote them, then put their dollars towards models instead. Even clocking in at 108 minutes, Girls Can't Surf gives the impression that a plethora of other tales about surfing alone — and just from the women that it chats with — could easily have made the cut. It probably could've extended its running time with more 80s and 90s archival footage, too, spanning the fluoro outfits and big hair that particularly marked the former, as well as more shots of Zamba, Botha, Burridge and company putting the surf scenes in the likes of Point Break and Blue Crush to shame. Just like standing on a board and taking to the sea, however, this is a film with a keen sense of balance. Working with co-writer and editor Julie-Anne De Ruvo (Morgana, Bump, Why Are You Like This), Nelius helms a zippily paced doco that's dense with information, absolutely infuriating in the specifics it thrusts forward, but also fluid and savvily structured. Wanting to hear and see more is a hardly unexpected side effect when the pool of appalling incidents, and the women who weathered them, runs so deep. Every one of the feature's interviewees could fuel their own movies, in fact, so fingers crossed that eventually comes to fruition. Girls Can't Surf does sport an air of familiarity on several levels, but this is the rare film that doesn't suffer whenever it wades into overtly recognisable waters. Nelius definitely doesn't stir up a storm format-wise, but the material, themes and subjects all ride their own waves — so deviating from the fairly standard mix of talking heads and retro clips is hardly necessary. Bringing to mind similar female-focused works such as 2019's Maiden and 2020's Brazen Hussies, plus Australia's sizeable history of surf features and documentaries, never proves a distraction either. When it comes to rousing movies about women defying the odds and fighting for equality, and about taking to the ocean in general, more are always welcome. The same sentiment rings true with Girls Can't Surf's soundtrack, which makes ample use of Joan Jett's 'Bad Reputation' and Bikini Kill's 'Rebel Girl' as seemingly every second flick about spirited or pioneering ladies does. Hearing those ferocious tracks with frequency — this month's teen empowerment comedy Moxie uses the latter prominently as well — in on-screen accounts of women wiping out barriers is a nice problem to have, after all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBjcbZla2cA
A simple and sweet romance disguised a crime-fighting superhero flick, Griff the Invisible is a film to fall in love with. This elegant feature debut from writer-director Leon Ford stars True Blood's Ryan Kwanten as the eponymous masked crusader, though one who might spend a little more time practicing his lines in front of the mirror than actually protecting the streets. As a painfully awkward recluse, Griff bears all the hallmarks of a misfit: he's mercilessly harassed by office bully Tony (Toby Schmitz), while at home his sole visitor is his caring, if exasperated brother Tim (Patrick Brammall). But this all changes when Tim brings by Melody (Maeve Dermody), a delightful eccentric who spies the superhero behind Griff’s shy façade. Shot through with enchanting magical realism and chock full of heart, Griff the Invisible needs to take its place in your DVD collection alongside films like Amelie, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Lars and the Real Girl. Though Ford's fable is more modest in scope, these titles provide a handy primer for the appeal and tone of his marvellous creation. Because to truly appreciate this film, the audience needs follow Melody and let themselves be sucked into Griff’s oddball world; a leap of faith which ultimately prove utterly charming. For True Blood fans, Kwanten will be almost unrecognisable as the sociophobic superhero. His performance is so expertly restrained (in fact one briefly wonders if there isn't a more insidious pathology at work), yet he also infuses Griff with such earnest enthusiasm, that the audience is quickly rallied to become his champions. Leading the charge is of course Melody, who is brought to wondrous life by the ever-impressive Dermody. Her performance is as bright and colourfully quirky as Melody's wardrobe, and she provides a perfect compliment to Kwanten's quiet reserve. After stealing scenes from Ben Mendelsohn in Beautiful Kate as well as making a name on the Sydney theatre scene, Dermody again proves herself a talent to watch. Another stand out are Sydney band Kids at Risk, who have leapt from Triple J Unearthed discovery to pen the film's soundtrack. Though Ford also makes bold use of silence, the indie-rock trio hit it out of the park, crafting such a striking soundtrack, you’ll want to head straight from the cinema to buy the album (though, for now you'll have to make do with downloading the single Doing the Best that We Can). As a writer and director, Ford playfully eschews the wiz bang trappings of both the superhero and romantic comedy genres to craft a disarmingly honest and guileless love story. But Griff the Invisible also succeeds in acting as a heart-warming reminder to celebrate your idiosyncrasies, as well as having the courage to embrace love when you’re lucky enough to find someone who truly sees you. And much like the film, these are lessons worth taking to heart.
