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.
As one of Sydney's go-tos for speciality Asian ingredients, Thai Kee IGA already boasts a hefty reputation. Located above Paddy's Markets, it's where you'll find everything from dumplings, aloe vera juice and koala biscuits to Japanese curry, hot barbecue pork buns and chrysanthemum tea. And, thanks to the supermarket's new range, it's where you can now also pick up DIY frozen meal kits from some top local eateries. Here, you'll shop for groceries, then end up with Chaco Ramen's chilli coriander ramen and Mr Hotdog's mozzarella cheese hotdogs — all ready for you to make at home. They're both available as part of Thai Kee IGA's new restaurant line, which complements the store's existing selection of Chinese, Japanese, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Korean and Filipino food. The DIY kits can be stored in your freezer for up to three months, letting you feast on restaurant-quality cuisine whenever you feel like it. Also on the shelves, waiting for you to heat up: Ho Jiak's curry chicken, satay chicken skewers, Hainan chicken rice, nasi lemak chicken, beef rendang and chilli prawns, plus Arisun's Korean fried chicken, boneless spicy chicken and boneless soy chicken. You can nab 678 Korean BBQ's tteokbokki, opt for Chaco Ramen and Chaco Bar's fat soy ramen and dumplings, too, or slurp your way through Ippudo Ramen's eponymous dish. Plus, you can grab Seoulfoods packs with wagyu meats and soy-marinated scotch fillets. Unsurprisingly, the new line has been popular, selling out every couple of days. Accordingly, what you'll find on the shelf when you drop by is likely to be a surprise. Thai Kee IGA plans to add more eateries and dishes to its restaurant range, too — so once you've whipped up the above meals at home, you can look forward to more to come. And, even though Sydney's hospitality industry is starting to reopen, the supermarket is also planning to keep selling the kits for as long as possible. Find Thai Kee IGA at 9–13 Hay Street, Haymarket. Top image: Chaco Ramen by Alana Dimou
Grocery shopping with Grandma just got real serious. It has just been announced that infrared shopping trolleys will be introduced at IGA stores in Brisbane in February, following successful trials over the past few months. These trolleys feature LCD screens which can locate items within the store, notify you of current specials, and scan your items so you can keep within your budget. If that wasn't enough, trackers in the supermarket ceilings can locate your trolley and let you know which aisle you're in. Keep your fingers crossed for these super-intelligent trolleys to appear at a store near you. Handling one of these four-wheelers means that choosing your cereal won't be a chore, it will soon become a hobby. [via Gizmodo]
This Labour Day long weekend, Sydney's premier Asian supermarket, Gong Grocer is hosting a three-day Mid-Autumn Festival celebration from Saturday, October 4 to Monday, October 6. The free event will run daily from 12–8pm and pack out World Square's slice of George Street with live entertainment, cooking demos, and plenty of mooncakes. The Mid-Autumn or Moon Festival is a historic celebration in China, commemorating the end of the harvest season and the full moon. Expect traditional lion dance performances, live music, and family-friendly activities, alongside celebrity chef demos from Vincent Lim (DimSimLim), Catherine Desserts and Brendan Pang. If you aren't yet sick of Labubu's, then you can sign up for an exclusive Labubu mooncake-making experience hosted by G-LAB Patisserie. Or if that doesn't tickle your fancy, sip your way through premium sake tastings featuring brews from celebrated Japanese names like Umenoyado, Tatenokawa, and Chiebijin. Stalls from 12Cake and Ommis Foods will showcase handmade cakes, mochi, Taiwanese street eats, and mooncakes. While interactive games, including Spin-the-Wheel and the Big Chopstick Challenge, will award prizes like Labubu collectibles, plushies and limited-edition merch. Entry to this three-day Mid-Autumn festival is free, so make sure to bring your nearest and dearest this October. For more information, head to the event website.
Renowned Sydney designer Henry Wilson has joined forces with innovative Sydney-founded furniture website NOMI to design an exclusive, super sleek, flat-packed shelving system called the Chevron Shelves. Customisable online down to the individual panel, the Chevron Shelves are delivered flat-packed and assembled without any tools. No tools. At all. Au revoir, Allen keys. Pairing up with one of Sydney's most celebrated multidisciplinary designers is a big new project for NOMI — the Sydney company revolutionising customisable furniture online. Wilson is well-known for his minimalist, bragworthy furniture, lighting and interiors — usually featuring some kind of self-build component (meaning extra dinner party bragging points). With the no-tools approach and customisable colour being the biggest drawcards, NOMI and Wilson both see manufacturing technique and swanky aesthetic as equally important in the design process. "Our mission is to combine innovative design with efficient manufacturing and cutting edge online technology," says NOMI director and co-founder Henry Gresson (another creative Henry). "Henry's Chevron Shelf epitomize this mission and we are very excited to have him on board." Taking its name from an Ancient Grecian interlocking zig-zag pattern, each Chevron Shelf can be customised in both size and colour with NOMI's slick website. You can pick your desired shelf height, shelf width and pick different colours for every single side panel, shelf layer and back wall — kind of like Shoes of Prey for furniture. Each unit will set you back around $150 each, depending on the material you pick, the width and the amount of layers you add. With each shelf made up of four pieces of precision-milled Birch-play and available in all the shades you've envied in glossy interior design magazines (teal, olive, rose), you can tailor the shelves to suit whichever room needs serious organising. "Everything about the Chevron Shelf reflects its construction method," says Wilson. "It achieves maximum yield from the resources used in its production. It's exciting for me to see it within in the NOMI range where the full potential of its flexibility can realised." Check out NOMI and Henry Wilson's Chevron Shelf here and get customising.
If you have ever spent time scouring New York City for a decent coffee, you may well have come across the Mud Truck. Painted a conspicuous shade of orange, the mobile coffee van has been popping up in various Lower Manhattan kerbside locations for more than ten years. The Mud business, built from the street up, has expanded since 2001 to include permanent locations, packaged coffee products, apparel and a cult following of loyal drinkers who themselves identify as champions of the independent brand in a land ruled by Starbucks. Now, the mobile food industry in the U.S. is thriving, with vans like L.A.'s Kogi, which serves up Mexican-Korean fusion food, distributing their whereabouts via social media each day to almost 100,000 Twitter followers and more than 25,000 Facebook fans. This revolution has well and truly taken hold - the industry even has its own awards, the Vendys - and Sydney is set to finally get its own fleet of food trucks. The City of Sydney is inviting expressions of interest from sole traders, companies, and registered food businesses with 'the full capability to design and deliver innovative menus, and prepare, cook and vend gourmet style take-away food for public consumption' during a pilot program scheduled from January 2012 to January 2013. Vendors are 'encouraged to offer a range of food products suitable for outdoor consumption that captures the essence of Sydney as an exciting street food destination'. Sounds like food for thought. Click here for further information on how to apply. https://youtube.com/watch?v=rQl0bnSYhhM
No one can ever accuse Adam Driver of not living up to his name. He's played a bus driver in Paterson, piloted a spaceship in the Star Wars sequel trilogy as well as 65, and will next zip through the Italian streets in his latest film Ferrari. For none other than Heat and Collateral director Michael Mann, Driver slips into the eponymous racing driver and sports car entrepreneur's shoes, in one of the most-anticipated new movies of the next few months. As the just-dropped first teaser trailer for Ferrari shows, Driver is indeed seen behind the wheel, although the film focuses on its namesake when he's an ex-racer. As adapted from Brock Yates' book Enzo Ferrari: The Man, The Cars, The Races, The Machine, Mann's movie hones in on specific chapter of Enzo Ferrari's life: 1957, as potential bankruptcy looms over his factory, his marriage is struggling after a heartbreaking loss and his drivers approach the Mille Miglia race. Accordingly, Ferrari promises to peer behind the Formula 1 facade, into Enzo's relationship with his wife Laura (Penélope Cruz, Official Competition), the death of their boy Dino, and the son Piero with Lina Lardi (Shailene Woodley, Robots) that he doesn't want to acknowledge. If you know your racing history, you'll also know that 1957's Mille Miglia — which spanned 1000 miles across Italy — was its last due to multiple deaths during the event. So, that race won't be an insignificant part of the film. As well as Driver, Cruz and Woodley, Ferrari stars Patrick Dempsey (Disenchanted), Jack O'Connell (Lady Chatterley's Lover), Sarah Gadon (Black Bear) and Gabriel Leone (Dom). Set to release at Christmas in the US and on January 4, 2024 Down Under, Ferrari marks the first (and long-awaited next) film for Mann since 2015's Blackhat — although he did direct an episode of Tokyo Vice's first season in 2022, as well as executive producing the series. Check out the trailer for Ferrari below: Ferrari releases in cinemas Down Under on January 4, 2024. Images: Lorenzo Sisti / Eros Hoagland.
A bright and airy space with touches of lush foliage, Poppi Tino is well known in the Caddens Corner precinct for churning out Italian dishes to rival even your Nonna's finest home cooking. Using traditional methods and techniques, its chefs have carefully crafted a concise lineup of dishes designed for both sharing and individual dining. There are a number of set menus catering to groups of all sizes, so you can settle in with a generous spread of salads, pizzas, pastas and snacks tailored perfectly to your crew. There's also a three-hour drinks package available to wash it all down — what are you waiting for?
At both the OG North Sydney outpost and the newly minted UrbnSurf venue, RAFI is laying on an extended happy hour from 3–6pm, Monday–Saturday. Prices are slashed on several of the restaurant and bar's most popular dishes, including sourdough pizzas for just $12, golden fried calamari for $13, and juicy cheeseburgers for $16. Punters can also enjoy discounted drops by the glass from Rafi's wine club selection, The Drop, for just $7, as well as Aperol and Fragola spritzes for $10 and classic margaritas for $14. Whether you're grabbing a bite after catching some waves in Homebush or you're relaxing on the al fresco terrace in North Sydney, this is a wallet-saving deal that's hard to beat. [caption id="attachment_965986" align="alignnone" width="1920"] RAFI UrbnSurf[/caption] Images: Steven Woodburn
With everyone spending our days, weeks and months inside due to COVID-19, we're all putting that extra time at home to good use in different ways. Perhaps you're streaming your way through anything and everything you can find. Maybe you're playing board games, doing jigsaws and building Lego. Or, you could be cooking up a storm, getting a workout or being practical by learning a new skill (or several). For many folks, home renovation is on the agenda — whether you're finally painting that wall, putting up that shelf, making over your garden or doing all the odd jobs around the place that you've been putting off for far too long. That means that Bunnings Warehouse has been mighty popular, and busy. And if you're eager to pick up hardware supplies while still maintaining social distancing requirements, you're now in luck. The chain has just implemented a new drive and collect service, which is available at 250 of Bunnings' larger stores around Australia — excluding Tasmania. The contactless option is an extension of its existing click and collect option, just adapted so that you don't have to get out of your car. DIY enthusiasts just need to complete their purchase online, wait for notification that their order is ready, and select their preferred pickup date and time. Then, when you drive to the store, you'll park in a designated drive and collect bay, and text or call the store to let them know you've arrived. All you need to do next is wait for a staff member to bring out your goods and put them in your car boot. [caption id="attachment_767993" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Bidgee via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Sadly, drive and collect doesn't apply to Bunnings' sausage sizzles, which have been suspended since mid-March in response to the coronavirus. Drive and collect isn't available at smaller Bunnings stores, so check online to see if your local warehouse is participating. For further information about Bunnings' click and collect service — or to place an order — visit the chain's website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Oh, 2021. To be honest, we can't say we'll miss you — so let's end this traumatic year with a bang. Whether you're eager to see the back of 2021 with a few champagnes in hand, or looking to set a cheerier tone for 2022 by bouncing into it with DJ tunes and a good ol' d-floor session, a slew of Sydney bars, pubs and restaurants are happy to help. We've compiled a list of Sydney's best restaurants, rooftop bars and experiences to ring in the New Year with style — no matter your budget. And, if you've still got some fight in you, there are some sneaky kick-ons included come New Year's Day. [caption id="attachment_828769" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vic on the Park's beer garden[/caption] FREE Waywards at the Bank: Put on your dancing shoes and get ready for two jam-packed levels loaded with live bands and DJs. With a lineup like Breadclub, Dom Alessio and Adam Lewis, you won't be able to resist having a boogie. The best part? Entry will be free all night and the party won't stop until 4am. The Bearded Tit: Redfern's most eclectic and colourful arts bar is hosting a Tit's NYE Party full of performers and wondrous DJs. Hosted by Betty Grumble, you're guaranteed to be delighted and entirely entertained for the whole night. Vic On The Park: The perfect place for all punk fans — kicking off from 8pm is an impressive lineup including punk act, These New South Whales. With Itchy and the Nits and Astrodeath supporting, you won't be able to resist dancing your way into the new year. Marly Bar: One of Newtown's most beloved bars is hosting a Deuces Ball with some of Sydney's best hip hop and afrobeats DJs spinning the decks all night. Tickets aren't necessary, so there's nothing left to do but grab a seat, get comfy and order some juicy burgers, mac 'n' cheese and crinkle-cut fries. UNDER $50 The Lansdowne: With two levels of live music and a rooftop, The Lansdowne Hotel is hosting one of the biggest NYE parties in the CBD. With Bodega Collective and the Swanky Array team set to take over the venue, join the fun from 9pm till late. Harbord Hotel: From Las Vegas to Ibiza and Bali, DJ Generik has been creating waves with his energy and distinctive house music style. Generik is no stranger to the stage, and has regularly opened for Calvin Harris in the past. The party kicks off at 5pm and tickets include three drink tokens (your choice of house beer, wine or spirits) that are redeemable before 7pm. 101 George Street: Bid farewell to 2021 alfresco-style under the fireworks. Tickets include a drink on arrival and access to all the best fireworks vantage points harbourside. With DJ Nitecall spinning a sophisticated mix of obscure funk and Euro groove, good vibes are guaranteed for the entire night. UNDER $200 Cafe Freda's: Cafe Freda's is running two jam-packed sessions with live entertainment playing throughout the night. With an option of a 6pm seating or a 9:15pm until countdown seating, this will surely make for a special evening in the bright lights of the CBD. The dinner session includes a full dinner set menu and NYE cocktail on arrival, while the party session comes with a grazing snacks menu, cocktail and a glass of bubbles at midnight. NYE in the Park: With tickets still available, this is one of the best events to get the most bang for your buck. Headliners include ILLY, PNAU, Spacey Jane, The Presets and What So Not — just to name a few. The best part? You'll get to experience the full firework show without having to battle the crowds at Sydney Harbour. Wharf Bar: Enjoy front row seats for the local harbourside fireworks before Touch Sensitive takes the decks. The music marathon continues on New Year's Day with homegrown heroes Winston Surfshirt warming up the dance floor from 3pm till midnight. Butter Block Party: Sydney's most hyped dining concept, Butter, has gained a cult following for their stores which combine rare sneakers, fancy champagne and hot fried chicken. Now, they're throwing their very first exclusive outdoor, openair courtyard party to say goodbye to 2021. There are three different ticket packages (silver, gold or platinum) that include a range of goodies from a beverage on arrival to a feast of canapes. Monopole: Travel back to the 80s with a nostalgic lineup of classic snacks, vintage wines and greatest hits. Think devilled eggs, prawn cocktails and a show-stopping bombe alaska to finish. Dress to impress and dance the night away until 2am. Details here. Smoke Bar at Barangaroo House: The team at Barangaroo House have teamed up with Patrón to host a night to remember. With an all-star line-up including Late Nite Tuff Guy, Lazy Wax and Ariane, there's something for everyone. Tickets include canapes (think oysters, beef tartare tartlets and crispy chicken), live entertainment & a Paloma spritz on arrival. Frank Mac's: Calling all gin lovers – say farewell to 2021 with a boozy celebration right in the heart of The Rocks. Tickets include a drink on arrival, bubbles at midnight, and most importantly, unique access to George Street for the spectacular fireworks displays. Did we mention that the cocktail bar also serves more than 100 juniper blends sourced from all corners of the globe? You're welcome. Bookings are available here. [caption id="attachment_830236" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Taronga Zoo via DNSW[/caption] BLOWOUT Sydney Tower Eye: Arguably the best seat in the city for Sydney's iconic firework show – enjoy 360-degree views of the city as you countdown to the New Year with a truly unforgettable experience. With a glass of champagne in hand, choose one of two time slots (9pm or midnight) and decide how high you want to go. Botswana Butchery: Following in the footsteps of its popular sister restaurants in Queenstown and Auckland, Botswana Butchery is Sydney's newest premium CBD rooftop. Entry is inclusive of a premium four-hour food and beverage package full of free-flowing G.H. Mumm Champagne, beer, wine and spirits. Taronga Zoo: Don't feel like braving the crowds in the CBD? Secure a spot at one of Taronga Zoo's vantage points instead and enjoy a front-row seat of the Harbour fireworks. Guests are welcome to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks to the event, or alternatively, grab a bite to eat at the Food Market – there will be a variety of snacks (hot chips, homemade meat pies and sandwiches) as well as both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages on offer. Hickson House: The legends at Hickson House are no stranger to a celebration, with the part working distillery and part destination cocktail bar set in the former Saatchi & Saatchi garage – the location of many infamous warehouse parties. DJs Lavida and Aidan Bega will be in charge of the tunes, with canapes and cocktails set to be served throughout the evening. And to make things more memorable, tickets also include access to view the fireworks at Campbells Cove – less than a minute's walk from Hickson House. Opera Bar: Opera Bar is back again with another iconic harbour-side party – and it's set to be better than ever. With live music and entertainment from Bermuda Social, Soulphonics, Dark Horse and Natural Selector, you'll be able to dance the night away with non-stop entertainment. Tickets are inclusive of an unlimited amount of food from multiple stalls, so grab a bite to eat as you watch the sun set behind the Opera House and count down the hours until 2022. Aria: Aria is hosting two luxurious NYE dining experiences set against one of the best views of Sydney Harbour. For $300, you can enjoy a four-course dinner from 5pm – think wagyu striploin 9+, murray cod and smoked eel parfait. The early seating gives you plenty of time to wander off to your next destination or catch the 9pm fireworks. Alternatively, Aria's NYE Main Event kicks off from 7:30pm and will set you back $1,450 per head – don't worry, you won't be having any regrets after feasting on executive chef Thomas Gorringe's six-course tasting menu. It features plenty of champagne and wine throughout the night and, most importantly, you'll get to watch the fireworks happening mere metres away.
We all have that guy in our lives, you know the one — he's stayed more antiestablishment than you for that bit longer. He doesn't have a job that could also be called a career, he doesn't have many more possessions than would fit in a backpack, and when you just want to vent about the crazy demands your boss made this week, he insists on talking about Marx's alienation of labour. He's not self-aware, he's never ironic, and he's probably freeloading on your couch for too long. That guy. Wouldn't it surprise you if he were here with a purpose? That's just the case in The Great Lie of the Western World, an original play by independent theatre makers Cathode Ray Tube (Thirty-Three). Emerson (Michael Booth) has blown into town to crash with old friend Simon (Alistair Powning), and his earnestness/beardiness/late-night drinking/midday sleeping is disturbing the peace in Simon's relationship with Fiona (Kate Skinner). But things weren't perfect between the couple to begin with, and Emerson may be the one to bring their secrets into the light, for better or worse. The naturalism in the dialogue is remarkable, and the actors turn in performances to match. Once you get wrapped up in it, you get the feeling you could be a spirit haunting the inner-city terrace of any number of tenuously satisfied couples. The production has been developed with so much attention to the real that Fiona applies Band-Aids to her blisters and picks at her corns when she takes off her shoes. Yet for all its adamant ordinariness, the script, by Booth and Powning, contains well-measured tension, mystery, surprise and magic that make its two hours slip easily by. It's not flashy, but it sure is good. Cathode Ray Tube have clear purpose and method to their work. They think of themselves as a band rather than a theatre company. They believe that "theatre is at its most powerful when every moment seems like an accident" (what Stanislavsky calls "the illusion of the first time"), and it certainly translates in The Great Lie of the Western World. It's funny, affecting and well worth spending a night in with.
The third Heaps Gay party hits the Gladstone Hotel this Saturday, February 15, bringing together artists and DJs from across Sydney to celebrate the day of love no matter who you are or how you identify. Beginning as a fundraiser for ACON, with a philosophy of cheap beers, good music and innovative art, this now monthly party (held every third Saturday) is guaranteed to draw a crowd of heteros, homos, girls, boys and anyone else who fancies a night of sweaty dancing, sans the stereotypical gay scene drama. This particular Valentine’s-inspired shindig will feature DJs Power Suit, Cunningpants, Smithers and Chrisa K, while the Gladstone itself will be transformed by Joe Po’s video projection Be Better, body-painting artist Olusenka, designer Neil McCann, as well as visual performer Matt Format both serenading you with love songs in the laneway and marrying you in the Vegas-style wedding chapel that once was the pokie rooms. Heaps of fun? You bet.
Rocker's laidback Bondi locale is the perfect match for a Spanish-style activation featuring Estrella Damm – a much-loved brew hailing from the sunny shores of Barcelona. Taking place from 4pm on February 24, this easygoing neighbourhood restaurant and bar will be serving up a tapas menu rich in coastal flavours. Featuring a host of familiar Spanish bites, expect jamón ibérico, mussels escabeche served on charred sourdough, patatas bravas, Basque cheesecake and Rocker gilda, featuring Cantabrian anchovies with olives, onions and guindilla peppers. Of course, these Med-influenced morsels are designed to be washed down with a refreshing pint of Estrella Damm for $10. With so many tapas to choose from, indecisive guests can opt for a $65 set menu to make life easy. You'll get a taste of the entire menu along with a freshly poured pint. Perfect for sharing with friends, this one-night-only culinary treat is bound to have you reminiscing about days spent sunbathing on Playa de La Barceloneta. Images: Ethan Smart.
Water is playing a huge role in the 2024 return of Sydney Festival. Whether it's a waterfront arts precinct, an exhibition exploring pre-colonial Sydney with a focus on water, or a giant octopus popping up on Sydney harbour, the trend runs throughout the festival program. That giant octopus in question is known as Te Wheke-a-Muturangi and will spread its colourful tentacles across Watermans Cove between Friday, January 5 and Sunday, January 28. The magnificent floating cephalopoda was created by Māori artist Lisa Reihana and the work is based on Māori mythology. It tells the story of the octopus, Te Wheke, who is chased and eventually killed by legendary fisherman and navigator Kupe. You'll be able to scope out Te Wheke-a-Muturangi from Barangaroo and scan a QR code at Watermans Cove to read its story as you marvel at the work. Or, if you want to get up close and personal, you can book a kayak tour with Sydney Harbour Kayaks with one of the following packages: the Darling Harbour Explorer takes around 90 minutes and will set you back $89; or you can really make a day of it with the Beautiful Sydney Harbour Early Morning and Breakfast Tour for $175.
Jason Schwartzman as a private detective. That's it — that's the show. In Bored to Death, the Wes Anderson favourite plays Jonathan Ames, a Brooklyn-based writer who moonlights as a sleuth, pals around with a comic book artist played by Zach Galifianakis and sees a literary magazine editor played by Ted Danson as his surrogate father figure. Adding another layer of eccentricity: the fact that Bored to Death was created and written by an author also called Jonathan Ames, who later wrote the novella that excellent hitman thriller You Were Never Really Here was based on. But even without that nifty trivia tidbit, this is a delightfully offbeat three-season gumshoe series that deservedly amassed quite the cult following when it initially aired from 2009–11. Also, everyone from Jenny Slate and Kristen Wiig to Patton Oswalt and Isla Fisher co-star.
When you head to a gallery or museum, peruse its walls and halls, and stare at a famous work of art, you spend time bathing in visible beauty. If you're peering at a painting, then colours, compositions and brush strokes grab your attention. Should you be looking at a sculpture, it's the lines, shapes and forms that stand out. Even if you're the most dedicated art fan, you're really only engaging one of your senses — that's why it's called visual art. You can't touch something as iconic as the Venus de Milo, for example. You certainly can't taste it either, and it doesn't emit a sound or aroma. But if you have ever found yourself wondering just what the ancient Greek work smells like, or how some of The Louvre's other notable artworks might tickle your nostrils, you can now douse yourself in perfume inspired by eight of the Parisian museum's pieces. For the first time, The Louvre has teamed up with French beauty brand Officine Universelle Buly to create a range of scents that draw upon the gallery's masterpieces — not only for art-lovers to spray over their body, but in scented candles, scented postcards and scented soap sheets too. As well as the world's most famous statue with missing arms — which apparently smells like lilies and musk — the lineup takes its cues from Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres' La Baigneuse and Grande Odalisque, Thomas Gainsborough's Conversation in a Park, Jean-Honoré's The Lock and Georges de La Tour's Joseph the Carpenter. You can also smell like Lorenzo Bartolini's Nymph with Scorpion or, still on sculptures, you can opt for the Winged Victory of Samothrace. If the latter sounds familiar, that's because it featured in Beyonce and Jay-Z's 'Apeshit' video last year. https://vimeo.com/347284474 Buly's collection of The Louvre-themed products doesn't come cheap — ranging from just under €6 for a postcard, to around €17 for soap, to €125 for a candle or perfume. If you don't have a trip to Paris in your future, you can order the artwork-inspired scented products online.
Vietnamese chef and restaurateur Kieu Phan has big plans for Australia. She already has eight restaurants scattered about Vietnam but plans to open three new sites in Melbourne and Sydney in the coming years. The first new venture Hoiana is set to open on Melbourne's Little Bourke Street on Friday, December 8, bringing refined Vietnamese eats and live music to the Victorian capital's CBD. During the launch, Kieu Phan will step into the kitchen as Executive Chef, working alongside Head Chef Dylan McCormack (ex-Red Spice Road). The duo has created a menu that plays with classic Vietnamese dishes and French cooking techniques, culminating in something altogether contemporary and fun. Design-wise, the 80-seater restaurant will feature art deco stylings, paying homage to the surrounding buildings on Little Bourke Street and Hardware Lane. There'll also be room for regular live music performances at Hoiana, breathing even more life into the space. But Hoiana isn't all that Phan is working on. She already has plans to set up a second Melbourne restaurant in 2024. Francis Thuan, winner of this year's Chef of the Year award at the Vietnam Restaurant & Bar Awards, is already on board to run the kitchen at the new site. His restaurant Esta in Vietnam received a Michelin star in Vietnam's first-ever Michelin Guide this year, so big things are expected for this spot. On top of this, Phan is also working on a new Sydney restaurant. But we are yet to get any extra details on this one. In the meantime, Hoiana is the first piece to slot into place in Phan's Aussie restaurant puzzle. Find Hoiana at 400 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne from Friday, December 8. It will be open from 11am–1am, seven days a week. Head to the venue's website for more info.
Castle Mall's Northwest Growers is the local go-to for the freshest fruit and vegetable around town. Owners and brothers Peter and Bud source most of the fruit from their nearby family farm and orchard — including stone fruits like peaches, nectarines, plums and figs. And the veg is also sourced locally in Windsor and Galston. The offering is brought in fresh from the farm each day and is the best you'll get. Alongside the fresh stuff, there are family made jams and other smallgoods up for grabs, too.
Film festivals love milestones. Queer Screen Film Fest notches up 12 years in 2025, which is no minor feat; however, it's celebrating a number of other anniversaries with one key screening. This year marks a decade since Holding the Man first reached cinemas, and also 30 years since Timothy Conigrave's memoir was initially published. A session of the Ryan Corr (Sting)- and Craig Stott (Barrier)-starring instant Australian classic is indeed on the event's lineup, then — at Sydney Opera House, and also to commemorate the 40th anniversary of New South Wales LGBTQ+ health organisation ACON. One of two film festivals run by Queer Screen, which also organises the Mardi Gras Film Festival during the first half of each year, Queer Screen Film Fest is otherwise taking over Event Cinemas George Street across Wednesday, August 27–Sunday, August 31 for its 2025 edition. The program is solely in cinemas this year, opening with romantic thriller Plainclothes. So, it's, starting with Russell Tovey (Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes) and Tom Blyth (Billy the Kid) in a tale about a closeted undercover police officer. Plainclothes is also part of something brand-new for Queer Screen Film Fest: its own Emerging Narrative Feature Competition. Six titles on the bill are in contention for a jury-decided $2500 prize. While the competition is designed to recognise filmmakers directing either their first or second narrative feature, all of 2025's entrants are from first-timers. As well as Carmen Emmi's Plainclothes, Rohan Parashuram Kanawade's Sundance World Cinema Dramatic Jury Prize-winnering romance Cactus Pears, the Cannes Critics' Week-selected Love Letters from Alice Douard and South Korea's Lucky, Apartment by Kangyu Ga-ram are up for the inaugural gong, as are Elena Oxman's Outerlands with Billions' Asia Kate Dillon and Superman's Louisa Krause, plus Sauna, the first Danish feature with a trans actor and character in a lead role. Fellow highlights across the full Queer Screen Film Fest program — a lineup with 14 Australian premieres — include the Dylan O'Brien (Saturday Night)-led Twinless, a two-time Sundance award-winner, including for both its star and for writer/director James Sweeney (Straight Up); the Western Sydney-set From All Sides, the feature directorial debut of Bina Bhattacharya (a writer on Here Out West); and closing night's Really Happy Someday, which picked up the Best Canadian Feature Award at 2025's Inside Out Toronto 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival.
Want to elevate your next lakeside hang — literally? Jetpack Adventures kits you out with a wetsuit and helmet before strapping you into a jetpack that pumps hundreds of litres of water downwards so you emerge, dolphin-like, to hover above the water at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith. Once in the air, your instructor will tutor you (via the radio in your helmet) in the smooth veering motions that steer the craft. You can go Marty McFly-style with a board connected to your feet or opt for the pack strapped to your back. Sessions start at $135 for half an hour, inclusive of training and at least five minutes of high-flying air time. Image: Destination NSW
Left your Valentine's Day plans a little late? Not to worry, Opera Bar has got you covered with sweeping, romantic views overlooking Sydney Harbour. Taking only walk-ins, this playfully cheesy event is the perfect way to spend your February 14 without getting tied up in ticket sales and reservations. Hosted by two whimsical cupids, the lighthearted Day of Love affair features live tunes from the Hot Potato Band. This joyful 10-piece brass troupe will serve up their take on a host of classic love songs – expect more than a few saxophone solos. Meanwhile, there's a photo booth for snapping pics and caricature artists ready to capture your date in curious ways. [caption id="attachment_990358" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Credit: Ethan Smart[/caption] Throughout the evening, the cupids will roam the space, handing out flowers, love poems and postcards to unwitting couples. There'll also be a host of food and drink specials to celebrate the occasion, with the Cupid Club cocktail offering a tasty concoction of Bombay Sapphire, raspberry, lemon myrtle and egg whites. [caption id="attachment_990360" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Credit: Ethan Smart[/caption]
Anything humans can eat, dogs think that they can munch on as well. But as every responsible pet parent knows, that isn't actually the case. So, we've all weathered those adorable, yearning, pleading looks from our beloved pooches as we've tucked into something that they'd like to taste as well. And, we've all felt the heartbreak at letting our cute critters down — even though it's for their health. Does your doggo get a twinkle in their eye whenever there's a doughnut around? It wouldn't be the first — and, until Monday, September 18, it's in luck. For International Dog Day on Saturday, August 26, Krispy Kreme has announced the return of its limited-edition range of "doggie doughnuts". They're doughnut-inspired dog biscuits, actually, but they sure do look like the real thing. First introduced in 2021, the eye-catching bikkies are a collaboration with Sunshine Coast-based pet treats business Huds and Toke, and they come in six different varieties. If you love Krispy Kreme's original glazed doughnuts, perhaps your pupper will adore the dog biscuit version as well. Or, you could let then go barking mad over choc iced, choc cookie, choc cheesecake, choc sprinkles and strawberry sprinkles varieties. The biscuits aren't made from doughnuts or from chocolate, of course; instead, they use a hard-baked cookie base, as well as frosting made from ingredients like carob that's been designed specifically for dog jaws. The bikkies are also meant to be good for chewing and for dental cleaning — and they're designed to last longer than your usual dog treat. If these round delights will get your four-legged friend's tail wagging, you can buy them in six-packs (for $14.90) while stocks last at Krispy Kreme stores — including via drive-thru. And, they are just for pets. So, just like how Fido or Rover can't have your doughnut, you can't have their version either. Grab some on the weekend of Saturday, August 26–Sunday, August 27 and you'll also score a complimentary pup cup. Krispy Kreme's doggie doughnuts are now available from the chain's stores in Australia and New Zealand until Monday, September 18. Images: Michael Leckie / PinPep.
If you've seen and loved the show Girls, then you know what a character Lena Dunham is. Her work on the big screen is equally amusing. The one-woman-wonder wrote, directed and starred in Tiny Furniture, a clever and amusing coming-of-age dramedy about a bright but lost young woman coming to terms with her stagnant life. In Tiny Furniture, 22-year-old Aura (Dunham) moves back into her artist mother's Tribeca loft after graduating from university. With a useless film degree, a boyfriend who's left her for Burning Man, a dying hamster and no job, Aura is a desperate for someone to tell her what to do. Luckily, her imprudent childhood friend (Jemima Kirke from Girls) and some feckless love interests (including Alex Karpovsky, also from Girls) are thrown in the mix for plenty of roguish escapades. Through gritted teeth and a forced smile, Aura puts her self out there, lands a job at a crummy restaurant and tries to make something of her life like any other twenty-something in New York City. With a witty cast of characters — including her real-life mother, sister and best friend — Dunham's story hits close to home (and was actually filmed in her parents'). Winning Best Narrative Feature at South by Southwest and Best Screenplay at the 2012 Independent Spirit Awards, this indie darling has all the salty, satirical and sardonic humour that captivated us even before Girls. Tiny Furniture is available on DVD and digital download on October 23. Thanks to Transmission Home Entertainment, we've got five DVD copies to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=GuD6wF_GPOY
Last Wednesday, the lower north shore's Mosman Rowers club was forced to close after a fire partially destroyed the century-old building. But, in good news, the venue has opened its cafe back up for business as of today, Monday, April 8. In just a number of days, the club has made emergency repairs, and the second-level 100-seat cafe Archie Bear — where the fire started — has resumed service. It's currently serving classic bacon and egg roll and green breakfast bowls, and will switch to plates of Sydney rock oysters, baby squid and antipasto plates as the lunch menu kicks in. View this post on Instagram We're excited to let everyone know we are open again 🍾 A huge thank you to everyone who has helped us get to this point since Wednesday, we honestly can't thank you enough. For more info on our updated hours, please visit our website 🍽 #MosmanRowers A post shared by Mosman Rowers (@mosmanrowers) on Apr 7, 2019 at 3:02pm PDT The Rowers Bar, which is located one level up, won't reopen until 4pm this Friday, April 12. To make up for it, Archie Bear will remain open for dinner service all this week. Come Saturday, both levels will resume normal operating hours, with Archie Bear open from 7.30am–3.30pm Monday to Wednesday, and for dinner as well Thursday to Sunday. The Rowers Bar opens from 4pm Monday to Friday, with the addition of lunch from midday on weekends. The fire started in the fireplace in Archie Bear early on Wednesday, March 3, and, while it was quickly contained by several crews and trucks, it forced the closure of the historic venue. All this after it had reopened under the Bird & Bear Group just last month. Locals will be pleased to see the venue reopen so quickly. Mosman Rowers is located at 3 Centenary Drive, Mosman. Archie Bear will be open from 7.30am–late all this week, while The Rowers Bar will open from 4pm on Friday. Normal operating hours are scheduled to resume on Saturday, April 13.
Get your fill of the best vegan food in town at the fifth annual Vegan Day Out. Come September 2 and 3, The Cruelty Free Shop is putting together a walking tour of vegan cafes, restaurants and retailers, many of which will be offering discounts, deals and free samples to anyone who stops by. For one weekend only, socially conscious eaters can stop by The Cruelty Free Shop on Glebe Point Road, and grab a map outlining their route. From there, it's all about making your way to to plant-based delights aplenty — and making a day (or two) of it. Whether you're a dyed in the wool vegan or just giving it a go, you'll find a whole world of retailers catering to animal-free eating, offering meal deals, two-for-ones, complimentary coffee, wine tastings and savings on vegan groceries. The Cruelty Free Shop will also be running its own tastings throughout the day, as well as offering discounts on more than 300 different products.
When Nigella Lawson graced our shores earlier this year, some Sydneysiders followed her (mostly culinary) adventures with the same enthusiasm as they would a royal or religious figure, proving our love for the English chef with the syrupy accent and penchant for decadent food is as strong as ever. So, really, learning that someone has created a cabaret inspired by her shouldn't be a surprise. In this comedic musical tribute, Raelene Isbester pokes fun at the radiant public persona while prodding at the all-too-human private side, too. Isbester's show is a hilarious study of the cult of Nigella and why we can't help but continue to worship her. Love Bites may not topple the deity, but it does give her pedestal a shake. Highly recommended for those of us who view a midnight trip to the fridge as an admission of defeat by a mere mortal and not just a way to spice up the closing credits. Nigella – Love Bites is showing from Thursday, July 11 to Saturday, July 13 as part of Bondi Feast 2019. For more information and to purchase tickets, head this way.
Fans of Asian eats will be no strangers to Chippendale's Kensington Street, aka Spice Alley, the hawker-style dining precinct where Singaporean, Malaysian, Thai, Cantonese and Shanghainese dishes have been on the menu for years. Now, the Land of the Rising Sun's fare has joined this roll call of eastern cuisines, with the addition of Spice Alley's new Japanese Quarter. The two new Japanese venues are modelled after the compact hole-in-the-wall diners and izakayas dotted throughout Tokyo's busy laneways, and bring Spice Alley's complement of restaurants and bars to ten. Devised by Kevin Vu Ha, who trained under sushi master Ryuichi Yoshii at Yoshii Omakase in Barangaroo, Japanese Quarter also offers a taste of Tokyo's vibrant cocktail scene, drawing on Vu Ha's time working with legendary Japanese bartender Hidetsugu Ueno San of award-winning bar High Five. Japan's fast and satisfying street eats dominate the menu at Tabe-ru, where ramen, sushi, donburi and yakitori dishes are available for under $15 throughout winter. Think: crab rolls, wagyu beef donburi, black garlic ramen, chicken katsu curry and salmon sashimi. Just like its Tokyo counterparts, Tabe-ru is built for speed, with diners collecting their orders directly from the kitchen and eating al fresco at the tables out front. Next door, Nomu is an intimate cocktail nook serving up Japanese classics — expect plenty of highballs — as well as a selection of Japanese beers, shochus and sakés, both chilled and warm. With nods to both Japan's traditional decor and its pop culture, the fitout is a riot of manga murals, paper lanterns and bamboo trunks for an immersive experience that might help tide you over until you can next visit Tokyo in person. Find Nomu at 40 Kensington Street, Chippendale, open 4–11pm Tuesday–Thursday and 4pm–midnight Friday–Saturday — and find Tabe-ru at 38 Kensington Street, Chippendale, open daily 11am–9.30pm.
