Petersham's newly revamped stalwart The Oxford Tavern is going full sour next month — and not just with its beers. The inaugural Rise 'N Brine festival will take over the pub on Saturday, November 16 with pickle-themed food, booze and even entertainment. To start off, the bar will offer a few pickle-flavoured beers, which have been brewed for the day by local craft legends Batch and Yulli's Brews. Other booze options include a full pickleback menu, which features the classic — aka a shot of Jameson chased with pickle juice — and even a slushie version of the drink. And the pickling doesn't stop there, either. The pub's Executive Chef Richard Price has also created a special menu of pickle-inspired barbecue eats to tuck into — think pickle-brined wings, fried pickle hot dogs and pickle pops. A honky-tonk band, pickle eating competitions hosted by local favourite McClure's Pickles and roaming pickle mascots are also on the docket. If you'd like to sign up for the comp, you'll need to email hello@theoxfordtavern.com.au with "Pickle My Pie Hole" (yes, really) as the subject. Entry is free, so just rock up and get stuck into the pickles.
Quietly keeping us all tied firmly to Planet Earth, gravity is the mighty scientific force taking centre stage at Penrith Regional Gallery's latest group exhibition, Gravity (and Wonder) — where art and science make waves. Think three months of artist and scientist residencies, live performances and out-of-this-world digital projections from some of the top guns in both fields. For the first time, PRG joins forces with the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, the University of Western Sydney and Penrith Observatory, bringing together a collision of art and science like Sydney's never seen before. Blue Mountains visionaries David Haines and Joyce Hinterding will present the first attempt to record sound falling from space, with their haunting audio-visual display Descender, while Amy Joy Watson will get your head spinning with her huge floating installation. They'll be mega-scale works from American artist Richard Serra, Dreamtime paintings of The Moon and Universe from Indigenous brother-sister duo Mabel Juli and Rusty Peters, plus a one-day gravity-defying performance on November 5 at the Gallery's Lewers House (transformed into the exhibition's House of Wonder). Prepare to have your mind blown.
Sometimes the ideas just ain't flowin'. You want the paragraphs to flow freely. You'd like that band to start itself. You'd appreciate if your inner Iron Chef would just come out already. Sometimes it takes a little inspiration to get the creative juices flowing, but you've got to know where to start the quest. Teaming up with our buds at Kirin — who've just unleashed a whole ton of creative collaboration with their newest line of inspired cider — we've trawled through Sydney's alleyways, secret music venues and fresh food markets to find the best spots in the city to get inspired. After a tour through these babies you'll have enough inspiration to found All The Labels, write All The Plays and master All The Sous Vide. Get amongst it. For Street Artists: Mays Lane Street artists with a slight writer's block should scoot over to Mays Lane in Petersham. The legal graffiti thoroughfare is somewhat of a Mecca for Sydney graf crews. Take design cues, find your own spot of wall and get painting — knowing the po-po won't shut you down. For Art Enthusiasts: Alaska Projects Budding artists and curators, if you're lacking for inspiration in the art department the team at Alaska Projects will make you rethink Everything. Turning curatorial endeavours on their head and finding a regular exhibition space in the Kings Cross carpark, AP specialise in installation projects, performances, talks and straight-up gallery hangs that make you revisualise possibility. Plus, they throw killer openings — solid frosting. For Design Addicts: Koskela Feeling uninspired by your less-than-stylin' apartment? Learn how to make your abode look like one o' dem glossy magazines at Koskela. The Roseberry-based furniture and homewares company not only sells the slickest home-wants in the business, they also run baller workshops. Take Gemma Patford's rope basket workshop, or dye your hand at the Shibori indigo dyeing workshop. You'll be holding your own crafternoons in no time. For DIY Go-getters: Work-Shop Holding your little paw while you step outside your comfort zone, Work-Shop is your gateway to inspiration for all those projects you've either put off or haven't even thought of yet. With 89 artists teaching 103 programs, Work-Shop can teach you everything from how to make kickass kimchi to making your own bottle lamp. Want to do public speaking like a boss? Always yearned to make origami jewellery? Feeling like you're the next big street artist? There's a class for that. Peruse The Makery to check out the pure genius you could be. For Fashion Fiends: Somedays Feeling the need for a creative impetus on more levels than one? Fusing fashion and art in a nifty retail/exhibition loft space, the Somedays crew know what's up when it comes to the designers, photography, collections, art and cider-fuelled launches you should know about. Whether it be reams of jeans in store or entire exhibitions of live music photography, Somedays will leave you wanting to seize creativity by the haunches and make your own mark. For Culinary Wizards: Gastro Park In case you haven’t heard by now, Gastro Park is as inspiring as food gets. Food lovers around Sydney are fixated on how bad the name is and how incredible the food is.The slogan rings true: Gastro Park is indeed 'a fairground of deliciousness'. They'll take a spot of snapper and craft it into a modernist delight. They'll construct an entire dinner themed around Game of Thrones, with edible candles and handwritten letters to boot. If this place doesn't inspire you to get innovative with your own culinary masterpieces, you haven't ordered enough calamari crackling. For Unstoppable Gardeners: Wendy's Secret Garden Perfect for finding perspective and gaining some creative inspiration from one of the greats, Wendy's Secret Garden is a small testament to heartbreak hidden amongst the skyscrapers that line the city's foreshore. The garden was created by Wendy Whiteley, the wife of one of Australia's most celebrated artists, Brett Whiteley. After Brett's death of a heroin-overdose in 1992, Wendy got hold of the derelict land adjacent to their house and restored the grounds, transforming it into a beautiful, secluded space laced by winding paths, fig trees, antiques and esoterica all against the backdrop of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Hard not to get a little inspired here. For Budding Twangers: Hibernian House Are you a solo guitar-touting musician with not a songwriting idea in your little ol' dome? Head along to a gig at Hibernian House and you'll be scrawling and twanging in no time. Home to reams of lit candles, intimate 'stage' space, actual residents and all the lounge roomy vibes, the not-so-secret-anymore Hibernian House has long been a staple of the unconventional, always rewarding gig roster. For Architecture Tragics: Rose Seidler House Architectural inspiration comes from the most unlikely of places, but why not force the point and wander through the modernist hallways of the iconic Rose Seidler House in Wahroonga. Open on Sundays for a small $8 entry fee, you can check out designs by iconic mid 20th-century designers Charles Eames, Eero Saarinen and Ferrari-Hardoy, and Harry Seidler himself — then run around the garden for a spell, crack open a cider and redesign your own dream house when you get home. For Pantry Raiders: Bondi Farmers Market If you're keen to get creative with the possibilities of pickling, the potential of pastry art or just creating something different for dinner, Bondi Farmers Market is your inspiring produce hub. A super chilled Saturday venture for many a Bondi local, the markets take over Bondi Beach Public School (including the canteen) with seasonal produce, organic meats, homemade jams and honey, baked goods, cheeses, olive oils, fresh flowers, street food and live music, with some vintage fashion and countless local pups thrown in for good measure. You'll be unleashing creative fury on your pantry in no time. For Crate Diggers: Title Sick of your Spotify playlists? Want to get in to some real crate digging? Crown Street's Title store is full of inspiring and unexpected little gems that are as niche as they come. Run by Fuse Music upstairs, Title has all your restorations, reissues and limited editions to reinvigorate your love for tunes. Justin Vernon buys his records here when he's in Sydney, so if it's good enough for Bon Iver it's good enough for us. For Antique Aficionados: Doug Up on Bourke Antiquing has never been so fly. Boasting one of the largest collections of rustic antiques and hardcore collectables in Sydney today, Waterloo's Doug Up on Bourke is a bonafide treasure trove of everything you never knew you needed. Find inspiration for your latest interior design project, or just brighten up your drab old lounge room with some vintage bowling pins, wooden hot dog stands or antique merry-go-round horses. For Multi-Hat Wearers: 107 Projects Redfern's most versatile creative space is simply made for inspiring. One of Sydney's best spots for new, innovative theatre, book launches, exhibitions, food pop-ups, performances and general creative collaboration, 107 Projects ticks many a potential-realising box. Now you're sufficiently inspired, reward yourself with a crispy beverage — check out Kirin's range of Japanese-inspired ciders over here. Top image: sexyninjamonkey via photopin cc.
Master sommelier Madeline Triffon describes Pinot Noir as 'sex in a glass', while winemaker Randy Ullom calls it 'the ultimate nirvana'. One of the most challenging grapes in the world of vinification, it's also one of the most surprising and rewarding. No wonder Bottle Shop Concepts — the good folk who bring Game of Rhones our way — are coming back to town with Pinot Palooza, an epic travelling wine festival celebrating all things Pinot Noir. For just one day, Sydney wine connoisseurs will have the chance to sample more than 100 drops, direct from the Southern Hemisphere's best producers. Think Ata Rangi, Curly Flat, Marlborough's Greywacke, Yabby Lake, Shaw + Smith, Mount Difficulty — and that's just the first few leaves on the vine. Whether you're a newbie who wants to start with something light and inviting, or a Pinot pro ready for the biggest, most complex mouthful on the menu, there'll be an abundance of selections at either end — and plenty along the spectrum, too. You'll even be able to vote for your favourite. If, at any point, you need to take a pause in your tasting adventures, you'll be catered for. There'll be food from Belles Hot Chicken and Bodega, beer from Young Henrys, and the epic Burgundy Bar – a kind of Pinot Noir mecca where you'll be able to sample some seriously good (and spenny) bottles at cost price. Expert sommeliers will also be on hand to help you make selections. What's more, those keen to fuel their brains (as well as their tastebuds) can spot $95 for a VIP pass. For that you'll get pre-event access (two hours before those pesky crowds), a food voucher, a tasting at the Burg Bar and a one-on-one with one of the event's sommeliers, who will personally curate your Pinot experience for you. Pinot Palooza will hit Carriageworks on Sunday, October 9. Tickets are $60, which includes tastings and a take-home Plumm Vintage glass.
When you consider the ever-inflating costs associated with owning your own patch of urban paradise, it’s little wonder that people are turning to a more compact way of living. In response, quirky micro houses are appearing in cities around the globe, as architects and owners turn their attention to designing houses with simplicity and sustainability in mind. Many designers have been influenced by Japanese architects like Yasuhiro Yamashita, who has responded to the challenge posed by space constraints by creating small but comfortable and functional living quarters like his Lucky Drops house in Tokyo. As more and more attractive alternatives to traditional homes pop up each week, we take a look at some of our favourite not-so-grand designs. Small House in Tokyo, Japan Tunnel Vision in Manhattan, New York Small House Surry Hills, Sydney Steel Life in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Lucky Drops in Tokyo, Japan
Rosebery's award-winning distillery Archie Rose is going experimental this month as it launches ArchieMite: a new 'buttered toast spirit' that uses Pepe Saya butter, a house-mix of 'mite' spreads and Sonoma sourdough toast in the distilling process. The umami-packed liqueur will launch at the Archie Rose Bar on Wednesday, May 8 — and we're not sure if we should be excited or not. ArchieMite certainly won't be everyone's favourite, as descriptors like salty, buttery and savoury are not normally attributed to alcohol. But fans of Vegemite (and other umami-rich yeast-extract spreads) will likely appreciate this unusual spirit. Apart from the 'mites', a whopping 25-kilograms of freshly churned Pepe Saya and 15-kilograms of Sonoma's toasted sourdough went into the ArchieMite making. If you want to taste the spirit in its best form, head along to Archie Rose Bar on the weekend for its themed Mitey Brunches — which will run noon–2pm every Saturday and Sunday from May 11–June 2. On the menu will be a list ArchieMite cocktails, so expect to drink the likes of a Mitey Bloody Mary, Espresso Mite-Ini, Mitey Colada and ArchieMite Pickleback. For food, there'll be build-your-own platters on offer, with the obvious options including Sonoma bread, Pepe Saya butter and breakfast spreads aplenty. Next door at Gelato Messina's Rosebery HQ, the team has created ArchieMite-infused gelato sandwiches, too — using Sonoma bread, Pepe Saya butter and breakfast 'mite' spreads, of course. These will be available at the Archie Rose Bar from Wednesday, May 8 until sold out. And the Australia Museum will stay open after-dark to host a ArchieMite makers night in July. The limited-edition run of 3000 bottles will also be available in bars, independent bottle shops and online for $79 per bottle. Come and get it. Archie Rose's ArchieMite is available to purchase online from 10.30am on Wednesday, May 8.
Alicia Taylor is one of Melbourne's most promising young photographers — you've probably seen her work splashed across your social feeds already. She learned the tricks of her trade at RMIT, where she studied design and photography, and combined her love of both in the career we all dream of: international photographer. Still, she's a Melburnian through and through, and knows the city's art and design scene as few can ever hope to. In partnership with Pullman Hotels and Resorts, we're helping you explore more on your next holiday and make sure you get those experiences that the area's most switched-on residents wouldn't want their visitors to miss. In Melbourne, we've called in Alicia, whose favourite spots range from the city's weirdest commercial art gallery to a restaurant whose impressive interior design is finished off with a four-metre brass compass. A stay in one of Pullman's two locations in Melbourne — Albert Park or On the Park in East Melbourne — will not only put you in the thick of all this action, it will let you contemplate all you've seen in five-star luxury at the end of the day. Read on for Alicia's perspective on Melbourne's art and design hot spots, and check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. SOPHIE GANNON GALLERY The Sophie Gannon Gallery in Richmond is set away in an unassuming, single-level brick enclave, but housed within is the life's work of one of Australia's most ambitious art dealers, Sophie Gannon herself. Sophie came up from managing a handful of artists to handling some of Australia's finest — including my personal favourite, Emily Ferretti. Her gallery is also a showroom, as they so often are, and I love dropping by whenever I'm in the neighbourhood. There's no need to preplan; you can just trust that Sophie will have something beautiful adorning the walls. ACCA The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art is a great interactive contemporary art space located in Southbank. It's one of my favourite architectural spaces in Melbourne. You won't be able to miss it — in a sparse, industrial part of town, the ACCA building really draws attention to itself. It was completed in 1983 by Wood Marsh Architecture. The distinctive rusted steel facade of interpressed metal has since become a beloved architectural icon. The exhibitions presented at ACCA are often thought-provoking, innovative and bold, and the program of talks and symposiums that accompany them are some of Melbourne's finest. [caption id="attachment_644313" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Brook Andrew at Tolarno Galleries Melbourne. Photo by Andrew Curtis[/caption] TOLARNO GALLERIES The Tolarno Galleries is one of the Melbourne's weirdest commercial contemporary art galleries, nestled in a spacious and well-appointed venue on Exhibition Street in the CBD. The director, Jan Minchin (formerly a curator at the National Gallery of Victoria), is known for creating the perfect blend of controversial and popular exhibitions with lawless artists (and some of my favourites) like Ben Quilty and Bill Henson. Remember Patricia Piccinini, blowing our minds over and over? Imagine that kind of work given free rein. The clean, white exhibition space is filled with soft, filtered light. I find it acts as a perfect oasis from the hustle and bustle of the city and an introspective atmosphere to take it all in. TARLO & GRAHAM You haven't truly experienced eclectic vintage until you've visited Tarlo and Graham on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy. It's a cornucopia of eccentric pieces, and it's difficult for me to even try to predict what you might find on a visit. It could be anything. You might stumble across a rare lithograph from a beloved Australian artist, a dozen trombones or a family of ceramic clowns. It's all possible at Tarlo and Graham, which is why i love to while away an afternoon here. Goodies are piled high in every corner, but it's not always random. The warmth and humour of the proprietors shines through in their weird and wonderful displays and combinations. CHRISTOPHER BOOTS Lighting stores, with their dramatic and changeable lighting landscapes, are a world of their own, and the Christopher Boots showroom is, in my opinion, one of Melbourne's best. Located on Gore Street in Fitzroy, it's part art installation, part gallery and part lighting retailer. The intimate and artful showroom is ever-changing and also a delight to walk through. The CB team work in their open-plan office next to the displays. They might specialise in lighting, but the team's expertise in all things texture shines through in the beautiful warehouse and workspaces. JARDAN The Jardan store in Richmond (you'll find it nestled in furniture row, on Church Street) is a beautiful venue to spend a morning wandering around. The light-soaked space displays furniture and art pieces that will make you sigh and say 'One day'. Or, today could be your day! Pieces from some of Australia's best contemporary designers are housed here in a range of styled spaces. The store itself is a stroke of design genius, featuring a combination of a stark gold facade, eggshell whites, overflowing greenery and varied natural textures that showcase but don't overpower the pieces they surround. FENTON & FENTON Fenton & Fenton is a colourful cave of wonders in Prahan and a must-do for any design lover or interior decorator (amateur or otherwise). They sell an extensive collection of art and design on the premises, as well as bits and pieces you won't find anywhere else: jewellery, curios, furnishings and a diverse range of homewares and lifestyle products. Fenton & Fenton also have a team of lovely stylists on hand (or a phone call away) to guide you if you get stuck between cushions, and the shop itself is always so beautifully styled, I think it's an inspiration in its own right. HIGHER GROUND Higher Ground, conveniently found in the CBD, is an outstanding example of architectural retrofitting done right (they serve excellent food too — prepare to salivate). Nathan Toleman (the man behind Top Paddock and Kettle Black) and his partners — Sam Slattery, Ben Clark and Diamond Rozakeas — have created another dazzling cafe experience. Higher Ground started its life as an old power station and has been transformed into a spacious and lush eating space with gentle lighting. I've noticed the breakfast menu is earning a bit of a reputation, and I can't go past the colourful ricotta hotcake served with seeds, cream, seasonal fruit and flowers or the butter poached white asparagus, served with comté, tarragon, bronze fennel, poached eggs and rye toast. Their tea menu is also out of the ordinary. ATLAS DINING The design concept at Atlas Dining, located on Commercial Road in South Yarra, is truly exceptional. The contemporary, clean space — designed by Sydney-based architects Belinda Pajkovic and Tamara Frangelli — is defined by leather banquettes, soft lighting and white birch timber, topped off with a four-metre brass compass hanging from the ceiling. It blows my mind every time I visit. And the elegance continues through to the rotating menu, which is completely changed every three months (I never know what I'll get and that's fun). Chef Charlie Carrington's dishes are beautifully plated and balanced. They say Atlas will be a true adventure and they're right — it's a must-do Melbourne experience. ACNE STUDIOS Melbourne's Acne Studios store opened in 2014. It's already an iconic landmark on The Strand and has also raised the bar for retail design in the CBD. The fit-out was designed by Swedish firm Bozarthfornell Architects. They've been responsible for Acne Studios stores all over the world, but the Melbourne iteration is like no other, with stark, industrial dividers slicing up the space. It's both functional and brutal in perfect balance. If you're anything like me, a stroll through Acne Studios will have your senses pinging and your fingers itching to swipe your credit card. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
Trivia nights usually mean teaming up with your mates, enjoying a few beverages and trying to convert your respective stores of knowledge into glory. At this particular trivia night, you can do all that — just virtually, from your own (possibly orange) couch. And, you can do so while celebrating 90s TV series Friends, which is in the spotlight at this online battle of pop culture tidbits. If you think you know everything there is to know about the show that caused viewers to agonise over whether Ross and Rachel would get together, wish that Joey and Chandler lived next door, and get their hair cut like Jennifer Aniston, here's your chance to prove it. Play along from 7.30pm AEST on Friday, April 24, with a live host overseeing the live-streamed Friends Virtual Quiz — and tickets costing $10, There'll be prizes, and if you want to break out those 90s and early 00s fashions while joining the fun from home, absolutely no one will stop you. No one told you that watching endless television reruns could turn out this way — or binging on episodes on Stan, either, if you you want to boost your knowledge with a marathon in the lead up to the quiz. Images: Friends via Stan.
The New Look, Apple TV+'s ten-part series about Christian Dior and Coco Chanel, hasn't chosen its points of focus because they were frequently in each other's company; as depicted here, at least, they weren't. Instead, it's a portrait of rivals, but it isn't that concerned with why the two Parisians might be adversaries beyond their shared field. That said, they're tied by more than both being French fashion figures who were working at the same time, made pioneering haute couture choices and started labels that retain household recognition today. And, when the show opens in 1954, it does so with Chanel (Juliette Binoche, The Staircase) offering harsh words about Dior (Ben Mendelsohn, Secret Invasion) to the press as she's about to unveil her first post-war collection. Her chatter is crosscut with his at the Sorbonne, where he's being honoured — and asked by students why he kept working during the Second World War while Chanel closed her atelier. Dior's answer: that such a description of the two designers' actions during WWII is the truth, but that there's also more truth behind it. Unpicking the reality — and stitching together Dior and Chanel's plights at the same time — is the series' mission from Wednesday, February 14. The garments that its two couturiers make might be pristine in their stylishness, but neither's history can earn the same term. Creator Todd A Kessler (Damages, Bloodline) makes a drama about choices, then. Again, it isn't fuelled by the pair being in close physical proximity, which only happens twice in the show — or even acrimony between them — but by comparing and contrasting the moves that Dior and Chanel each made during Nazi-occupied Paris and immediately afterwards. Kessler takes the series' title from words uttered by Harper's Bazaar editor-in-chief Carmel Snow (Glenn Close, Heart of Stone) upon seeing Dior's debut collection in 1947. The New Look also takes its overarching perspective from the notion that haute couture's impact in assisting to revive French culture following the war was revolutionary and "helped humanity find beauty and the desire to live again" (to quote how Dior is introduced as he's being feted at his big retrospective). With Dior and Chanel's prowess treated as a given, the bulk of its frames, handsomely shot as they are — and filled intermittently with gorgeous gowns designed by Dior and his previous employer Lucien Lelong (John Malkovich, Billions) — hone in on the personal. (Atelier antics are weaved in and out, but never at the level of detail delivered by 2014 documentary Dior and I, about Raf Simons' first collection for the House of Christian Dior 65 years later.) The 1950s are pure framing for The New Look. The majority of its narrative charts Dior and Chanel from 1943–47, with the fact that he'll be so successful that he's celebrated mere years later and she'll eventually return to fashion instantly already established. Indeed, while the series charts their professional journeys over the period, work is rarely the source of its tension. Rather, Dior's difficult decision to leave Lelong to start his own fashion house, and the also tricky choices in getting established, help flesh out his character. For Chanel, so does her angling over the perfume side of her business, legal battles included. Everyone watching already knows the names Dior and Chanel, after all, and that both labels endure today, even if they've never donned clothing or scents bearing either's monikers. Dior keeps his needle in hand in Vichy France — for Lelong, as a nobody with no fame of his own, and under spirited protest if he ever gets wind of who'll be wearing his dresses. His justification, as he tells fellow designers such as Cristóbal Balenciaga (Nuno Lopes, Les derniers hommes) and Pierre Balmain (Thomas Poitevin, Encore vous?): that his paycheque helps support his younger sister Catherine (Maisie Williams, Pistol). She's fighting the occupation as part of the French Resistance. When Catherine is captured by the gestapo, tortured and sent to a work camp, Christian becomes a picture of guilt as he desperately endeavours to find her, or even just discover if she's still alive. The New Look's Dior is a man haunted, always, in a softer part for Mendelsohn and it suits him. The already-renowned Chanel has downed tools, but relies upon Nazi links to first secure the release of her captured nephew André (Joseph Olivennes, Deep Fear), a French soldier, and then help herself. The Hotel Ritz, where she lives, is a German base. Spy Hans Günther von Dincklage (Claes Bang, Bad Sisters) is soon in her bed. A dinner with Heinrich Himmler (Thure Lindhardt, Hammarskjöld), using antisemitic laws to her advantage and a stint of active collaboration — roping in her old friend Elsa Lombardi (Emily Mortimer, The Pursuit of Love) as well — all follow. Lombardi has been fictionalised, but the ins and outs of Chanel's choices haven't. The New Look doesn't even dream of sewing in a defence of Chanel. Where Mendelsohn plays vulnerable with potency and depth, Binoche's part is all calculated and self-serving opportunism. If their characters were dresses, his would sport elaborate lace and hers flashy sequins. Their performances are equally impressive, though. In what might be the least typically Mendo role of his recent career, the Australian Animal Kingdom, Starred Up, The Outsider and Cyrano actor is quietly masterful. In ensuring that Chanel's complications are on full display but also never excused, Binoche threads the needle expertly. Similarly superb: Game of Thrones' Williams, including in making the case that Catherine deserves to be more than a supporting player; Bang, again excelling at villainy; and Mortimer, who makes the show's most erratic character feel as real and lived-in as its protagonists. With Kessler himself, Station Eleven alums Jeremy Podeswa and Helen Shaver, and 2021 Palme d'Or-winner Julia Ducournau (Titane) in the director's chairs, there's no faulting The New Look's technical handiwork as it spins its fascinating, complex story. Opulence abounds visually, intricacy thematically. Learning more about the craft of haute couture isn't the show's remit, however — as glaringly apparently whether you're a fashion diehard or only know Dior and Chanel's names — but contemplating the decisions behind some of fashion's biggest labels, and the choices made when life is anything but cut to a pattern, is ready to wear. Check out the trailer for The New Look below: The New Look streams via Apple TV+ from Wednesday, February 14, 2024.
The Rover is the inconspicuous Foster Street bar spotlighting good booze, friendly service and a tight seafood-leaning bistro menu from the talented team behind The Gidley and Bistecca. And, throughout Vivid Sydney, it's serving up an exclusive set menu to ensure you're deliciously fuelled before your dazzling city explorations. From Tuesday to Saturday, from 5pm, you and your party can dine from a bespoke set menu designed by the culinary team. For $80 per person, you'll enjoy a lineup of favourites from the menu. You can expect all the oceanic influences across British-bistro style plates the spot's known for — a bountiful seafood plate, fish of the day and veg-heavy sides. There'll be the house-made eel pâté too, the salty spread primed to top glazed crumpets that's quickly become a fave among Rover regulars. The Rover is less than five minutes on foot from Central Station, meaning if you want to venture further than the Hollywood Precinct, you're fantastically placed to do so. Pick a date, plan your night and book yourself a table, Sydneysiders. PSA: dietary requests can be accommodated with enough notice. Hollywood Quarter's The Rover will be offering a pre-Vivid meal from Tuesday–Saturday until Saturday, June 17. For more information, head to the website.
If life's got you feeling a little stressed of late, your good mates at KFC are here to help you out — albeit in a pretty unexpected way. You can turf your mindfulness phone apps and ditch that meditation class, because the global fried chicken chain has created a new online offering, where you can unwind to the soothing sounds of chicken frying. Launched to coincide with Mindfulness Day on September 12, KFChill is the fried chicken empire's new website offering its own cheeky spin on mindfulness practices, with a series of 'pink noises' that take the listener on a journey through a KFC kitchen. Click through the trio of hour-long sound files to unwind to the noise of chicken frying, gravy simmering or bacon sizzling away in a pan. No word on how effective this actually is for your relaxation levels, though we can guarantee some mad cravings for fried chicken once you're done.
If you've looked at the news or social media of late, you may've noticed a lot of toilet paper talk. #ToiletPaperEmergency is trending on Twitter, a story about a truck carrying toilet paper catching fire hit the front page of media sites, NT News printed eight pages of toilet paper, supermarkets are rationing the stuff, a roll of TP is selling for $1K on Ebay and people are even hawking their work loo rolls on Instagram. Why? Australians are panic-buying toilet paper in response to coronavirus fears. Despite experts saying that hoarding food and toilet paper is not just unnecessary, it's also "unhelpful", many Aussies are loading up on loo roll in case of a doomsday-like scenario. While, personally, I'd be stockpiling cheese and other nutrient-heavy snacks, some people's priority is obviously in the bathroom. No judgement. If that is you, you'll be happy to know that speedy booze delivery service Jimmy Brings is about to add toilet paper to its collection. https://twitter.com/maximumcuddles/status/1234751420273844225 Available to order on the website from Friday, March 6, the loo paper will be delivered to your door in 30 minutes. So, if you can't leave the house (for a myriad of reasons) this is in fact very helpful. While you're stocking up on loo paper, you can also order wine, spirits, beer, Red Bull, Lindt chocolate, crispy pork crackling, Panadol and condoms. All the doomsday essentials, really. Available in Sydney only, Jimmy Brings' toilet paper will set you back $2.99 a roll, with $1 from each going to the UNICEF Coronavirus Appeal. The toilet paper is only available until sold out — so, if you're really keen to get your mitts on some, we recommend keeping a keen eye on Jimmy Brings' website this Friday morning. Jimmy Brings is selling toilet paper for $2.99 a roll from Friday, March 6 — while stock lasts.
He's quick, he's nimble and he has what you need to get through lockdown. Jimmy Brings is a booze delivery service that'll bring wine, beer and spirits to your doorstep in an unbeatable 30 minutes or less — from that bottle of champagne for an unexpected iso engagement celebration to a Couch Cuddle Pack of shiraz and Toblerone to spice up iso movie nights. Old-mate Jimmy has been delivering the goods since long before COVID-19, starting out as a late-night service in Sydney in 2011, dropping off extra drinks, snacks and even ciggies for your out-of-hand house parties. Those were the days. Now Jimmy is all grown up, with not only a long-serving history in Sydney but also a suite of drivers in Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast and further afield. He's still peddling alcohol on demand, but things have stepped up a notch and you can now add in a bottle of hand sanitiser, ice and a pack of Jonny Condoms for those wild nights at home. The booze offering is a small-but-mighty range that's taste-tested by the Jimmy Brings team, and wine descriptions will make you smile. Those after organic wines can find low-preservative, punchy wines from Speak No Evil, Il Villagio and Farm Hand. There's also whites, reds and sparkling from Jolly Trotter, Heritage House and Covielle. And if you're stocking up for the long haul, there are wine bundles starting from $49.99 for six — around $8 a bottle. On the spirits and mixers front, you can make things super easy with Cheeky G&Ts, Skinny Soda and Moscow Mule packages that scoop up all the necessary ingredients for you, including soda, ice and limes, so you can add to cart without having to think too much about the logistics. A Dirty Daiquiri starter pack is $49.99 and an Aperol Spritz pack, just $42.99. Your beer, wine and bubbles are delivered cold and, as always, you can order seven days a week until 11.59pm in Sydney, and until 11pm in Brisbane and Melbourne — orders must be placed 30 minutes before closing time. Though they can't leave alcohol unattended, Jimmy Brings drivers are operating low-contact deliveries during COVID-19 times, including leaving bags on the ground and sighting your ID without handling it directly, so everyone's kept safe and happy. Never used Jimmy Brings before? Download the Jimmy Brings app and use the code 'CONCRETE' to get $10 off your first go. That's two packets of Nobby's mixed salted nuts, right there. Lucky you. Check out what Jimmy Brings can offer in your suburb. Offer expires on July 30, 2020.
Taking the forests of Sweden as inspiration, Absolut has created a brand new beverage for your summery nights: Absolut Botanik. To celebrate, the renowned vodka brand is taking over Centennial Park's The Residence this spring with an event series dubbed Botanik House. And they're bringing with them all the ingredients needed for the ultimate backyard shindig: jacuzzis, mix sessions, themed rooms and an outdoor dance party. For free. The party swings into action on Thursday, October 22, with a set from Sydney-based hip hopping DJs Lazer Gunne Funke. On Friday, October 30, from 6pm, Marc Javin and Slow Blow will be electrifying the decks with their high-energy mixes, while Saturday night will see the combined forces of Nad, Stu Turner, Bozzo and Kato. Then, on Sunday arvo, it's an acoustic session from 2.30pm with Duan and Only. The weekend following, catch Stolen Records on Friday 6, The Housing Corp on Saturday and One Day on Sunday. Absolut Botanik is a lightly sparkling pre-mix, combining single source Absolut vodka with botanical flavours. It's available in berry lime, berry pear and berry apple flavours.
As 2024 winds down, the sound of jingling sleigh bells can be heard just over the horizon. The silly season is upon us, which brings with it fond memories of fireside stories, heart-warming food and snowy landscapes (even in the southern hemisphere). While it probably won't be a white Christmas for Sydneysiders, Surry Hills restaurant NEL is nonetheless transporting diners to a winter wonderland, summoning classic yuletide flavours in clever and surprising ways. Patron Chef Nelly Robinson and the team at NEL are once again giving Sydney an early present with their annual The Story of Christmas menu. This year, the menu hopes to capture classic Christmas imagery but with a few Aussie winks. "It's equal parts childhood memories and traditions from across the globe," says Robinson. This nostalgic 11-course degustation pays homage to Aussie ingredients — sourced sustainably from local producers. The prawn and mango course, for example, offers a refreshing prawn mosaic marinated in native spices and topped with mango "snow". For a more classic taste, the duck dinner course delivers rich, roast dinner flavours, prepared both confit and with crispy skin. Diners can also pretend they're Santa biting into a Christmas cookie, but with a savoury spin, courtesy of two Red Leicester and Pyengana cheddar custard cookie sandwiches served in a wooden cookie tin. In a nod to traditional beverages of the season, the menu also reinterprets the seasonal flavours of mulled wine, spinning it into a layered Christmas trifle. Make sure to leave room for dessert as you won't want to miss the edible snowflake course, starring a vanilla Victoria sponge coated in white chocolate mousse, strawberry compote and chocolate popping candy. And at NEL, even those in Santa's bad books can have some fun, with a dish titled Naughty Child, trippy plating featuring a pumpkin and carrot croquette with macadamia hummus and honey made to resemble a lump of coal. "I'm just a lad who loves Christmas," says Robinson. "Each dish is designed to spark joy and conversation."
Short films accomplish what Hollywood blockbusters do in a fifth of the time and one squillionth of the budget. They make us laugh, cry and think. Plus they'll leave you feeling self-congratulatory for having foregone an evening with your worn-out copy of Love Actually. Tropfest is the bee's knees of short film festivals. The largest in the world, in fact. Coming into its 20th year, Tropfest seems a far cry from its humble beginnings as an informal film screening hosted by Tropicana Café, with actor and director John Polson at the reins. Tropfest is no stranger to celebrity, having seen the likes of Naomi Watts, Toni Collette, Geoffrey Rush and Baz Luhrmann on its live panel of judges (yeah, no biggie!). It has also helped launch the career of the Edgerton brothers, Sam Worthington and Elissa Down. From among 700 annual entries, only 16 are chosen. The 2012 finalists have adapted this year’s signature theme ‘Light Bulb’ to suit their ends. Expect to witness anything from a police interrogation of a clown (The Unusual Suspects), a clairvoyant photo booth (Photo Booth) to the politics of the light refreshment business (Lemonade Stand). Best of all, this event is FREE. ZERO. ZILCH. Tropfest screens in the picturesque surrounds of the Botanic Gardens, and showcases food stalls, bars and live music. Which leaves you with very little excuse not to put down Bridget Jones and join in a night of great home-grown cinema. Images: Courtesy of Tropfest Australia
Today, one month after the unmitigated frenzy that was the iPhone 6, Apple have unveiled their latest tech offerings to the world. Without quite as much fanfare, they've gifted us with the new iMac, iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3. Unlike the latest iPhone, there isn't a huge list of new features to jump up and down about. But there is this one thing — the screens of both the iPad Air and iMac are thinner than a freakin' pencil. Gone are the days of the bulky and obnoxiously colourful iMacs that we knew and loved from the mid-2000s. The screen on the latest iMac measures in at a mere 5mm and the iPad Air isn't much larger on 6.1mm. This is a size reduction of around 18 per cent from the last models (which was 20 per cent thinner than the ones before that). We know live in a time when technology has beaten the cliche of being "pencil thin". Aside from putting everything on a serious diet, Apple has given the new iPads faster processors and better cameras. The iPad Air now has all the latest updates we've seen in the iPhone 6 including an 8 megapixel camera. It will also have less glare with a new coating reportedly reducing reflections by 56 per cent, and the same TouchID fingerprint sensor that enables you to use the nifty (and only slightly scary) Apple Pay. Speaking of things which sound somewhat daunting, Apple has given the latest iMacs "5K retina display". While it sounds a lot like something to do with 5,000 lasers shooting into your eyeballs, it actually just means a really, really good image quality. Over 14 million pixels will now be shimmering around your desktop's 27-inch screen finally giving crystal-clear definition to all your Youtube cat videos. All in all, there's nothing to be too excited about unless you've been trying to jam your iPad into inconceivably small cases all year. People just love to kick up a fuss about Apple because they makes us feel like we're living in the future. If tiny, tiny technologies are really your thing, you can pre-oder these new gadgets from tomorrow. The new iPad Air will cost you between $619-1,019 depending on how tricked out you want it to be; the iPad Mini will be $499-899; and the iMac will fluctuate wildly between $2,999-5,279. Just wait and see how expensive it is once they perfect a design the same thickness as a piece of paper. And no, in case you wanted to keep your new iPad in your pocket, Apple aren't afraid of them bending. Via Wired and SMH.
Put on your thinking cap and start sleuthing through all of the internet. Converse are hosting a series of amazing A-list gigs in Melbourne, Sydney and New Zealand, and they're hiding tickets where you'll least expect them. So far we know that The Vines — who are all about the freebies lately — and Bloods are playing a free show somewhere in Melbourne on Wednesday, October 22; Remi and Collarbones are hitting up Sydney the following night; and a fresh lineup is heading over to New Zealand soon after. Oh, and we have your first clue. Converse sneakily posted an ad on Seek this morning for a casual "fist pumper". "This temporary, one night only, position is open for a front row fist pumper at a free gig," the ad read. "The successful applicant will show a willingness to party in the front row of the mosh pit ... [They also must] appreciate the epic sounds of bands, The Vines and Bloods". In case you haven't worked it out already, this is your ticket. If you're from Melbourne and maintain any of the above characteristics, we highly recommend applying for this job. They're currently taking "applications" for the position at hey@converse.com.au, but maybe trade in a full cover letter for a few photos of you in the mosh. This is possibly the only time making a resume link to your Facebook photos is a good thing. If you're hanging out for news about Sydney and New Zealand, we can't help you quite yet. When the campaign was launched last month in Europe and the UK there was a big focus placed on spontaneity, so you'll have to be pretty alert. Make your plans soft and let your friends think you're flaky; it'll be worth dropping everything when you're front and centre of a free show rubbing it in their faces.
The future is here and all our problems are solved. Or, more accurately, one specific problem that bugs us a bit. Three engineering students from the US have created a device that harnesses energy from your everyday activities to charge your phone on the go. No more crouching next to power points or annoyingly asking bartenders to pop your phone behind the bar. With this, you can genuinely re-charge your battery by dancing. This kind of technology has been around for a while now, but never in such a convenient form. Fitting in the palm of your hand, Ampy is a little power pack that can easily be strapped to your arm or popped in your pocket. Each of your movements are then used to power the lithium ion battery inside and that in turn is used to charge your phone when hooked up via a USB cord. Though you don't need to use the energy right away, a 30-minute run supposedly keeps your phone on for three hours. Understandably, people are already crazy excited for this thing. A Kickstarter campaign was launched to get production underway, and it reached its $100,000 target within three days. By the end of the 30 day funding period, it will have basically taken over the world. Of course, there are a number of reasons why this thing is great. Yes, it offers convenient power for when you're out and about, but it also encourages you to get off your butt and move. Prompting you to take the stairs instead of the elevator or ride your bike into the city, this tricky device may be the best health initiative we've ever seen. It also has the added benefit of using 100 per cent renewable energy. Forget coal mining and big electricity bills; pop on some Beyonce and dance yourself into some power. Either that, or cheat and clip it to your dog. Ampy won't be available in stores until June 2015, but you can grab yourself a discounted product from the first shipment by backing their Kickstarter now. A US$75 pledge (plus $15 delivery fee) will get you the device itself, or you can grab a full accessory pack as well for US$95. Via Buzzfeed and Forbes.
Walking through stunning lights as far as the eye can see, moseying beneath a canopy of glowing multi-coloured trees, wandering between ribbons of flashing beams, taking the most luminous 2.1-kilometre stroll through nature that you can imagine — you'll be able to do all of this when Lightscape heads to Sydney for the first time in 2023. Already a hit in Melbourne, the after-dark light festival will be taking over the the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney from Friday, May 26–Saturday, June 17, beaming away from 5.30pm each night as part of another dazzling Sydney event: Vivid. While the leafy spot is already extremely scenic, and Sydney's annual lights, music and ideas festival is already vibrant to look at as well, saying that Lightscape will be brightening up both is quite the understatement. Prepare to see the garden illuminated by immersive and large-scale installations scattered along that 2.1-kilometre route, including sparkling trees, luminous walkways and bursts of colour that look like fireworks. A big highlight: large-scale works like giant flowers and glowing tunnels, both of which will make you feel like you're being bathed in radiance. Lightscape first hit Australia in 2022 after first taking over gardens across the United Kingdom and the United States. Developed by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in the UK, it's understandably proven a huge success — and more than two-million people wandered along its glowing trails in a season overseas. Fingers crossed for pop-up food and drink stalls scattered throughout Lightscape in Sydney — selling, we hope, mulled wine to keep hands warm during the chilly winter nights. Lightscape sits on a Vivid Sydney bill that'll also see the event host its first-ever food fest, and also feature plenty of other lit-up spaces around the Harbour City. The Vivid Sydney Light Walk is back for 2023, this time with 49-plus light installations and 3D projections along its illuminated eight-kilometre stretch; Barerarerungar from First Nations artist Maree Clarke will be projected across the Museum of Contemporary Art; and Jen Lewin's The Last Ocean will also be a highlight, hitting Sydney after premiering at Burning Man in 2022. Lightscape will light up the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Queen Elizabeth II Gates, from Friday, May 26–Saturday, June 17. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the Vivid Sydney website.
Yarra Valley wine country is set to score a bold new addition, with Levantine Hill Estate unveiling plans for a $20-million onsite hotel designed by acclaimed architecture firm — and Mona designers — Fender Katsalidis. Having just scored council approval, the award-winning winery's 33-room boutique accommodation is slated for completion in early 2024. Conceptualised to blend seamlessly into the surrounding landscape, the new hotel will be set across two levels, decked out in natural materials and raw finishes to complement the property's existing spaces. That includes the cellar door, restaurant and winemaking facilities, which are also the work of Fender Katsalidis founder Karl Fender. Guest rooms are set to feature sprawling spa baths and fully stocked wine fridges, with the 2900-square-metre hotel boasting sheltered openair hallways, a lush collection of foliage and a solar farm atop the roof. Expect lots of polished concrete, rich leather and untreated silvertop ash used throughout. Catering to the wedding crowd, there'll also be a sumptuous bridal suite complete with its own cellar, bar and dressing room. And if you fancy arriving in style, the hotel will be located just a quick stroll from the estate's helicopter landing area. The luxe accommodation isn't the only grand thing in the works for Levantine Hill, either, with plans for an additional 47-room hotel currently being finalised. That project will also be brought to life by Fender Katsalidis. Levantine Hill's accommodation plans come six months after Cedar Mill Group announced it's set to open an outdoor concert venue and 300-room hotel, also on the Maroondah Highway, at some point in 2024. Levantine Hill Estate's new hotel is set to open in early 2024, at 882 Maroondah Hwy, Coldstream, Victoria. Images: Fender Katsalidis Architects.
After the Sydney Opera House replaced its Festival of Dangerous Ideas with Antidote last year, we didn't think we'd see it again. But the festival will rear its head for its ninth iteration, this time trading in its Bennelong Point digs for a space on Cockatoo Island. Co-founded by The Ethics Centre (TEC) and the Sydney Opera House back in 2009, FODI 2018 won't just have a new venue, but a new partner as well — teaming up with the UNSW Centre for Ideas for the first time. But the concept will remain the same, again bringing together thought leaders and creative thinkers for a weekend of critical discussion around the most important global issues of today. While the program has not yet been revealed, we do know that this year's festival will specifically examine themes of trust and truth, and will again aim to incite debate, push boundaries and inspire intellectual freedom. Previous years have seen discussion topics like 'open the borders', 'let banks fail', 'a foetus is not a person' and 'the end of men', with a focus on themes of asylum, gender, justice and race — to name a few. "Knowing who to trust and what to believe has never been so complicated," says co-founder Danielle Harvey. "FODI has a legacy of exploring polarising ideas and making bold curatorial choices. These dangerous conversations are even more critical when truth and clarity are hard to find." Longstanding FODI curator Simon Longstaff will again be at the helm of the program. In the past, he has signed on high profile though leaders like activist Alicia Garcia (founder of the #BlackLivesMatter movement), feminist protest punk band Pussy Riot, international journalist Mona Eltahawy, political activist Tariq Ali and WikiLeaks' Julian Assange. Based on that, it's fair to expect another big list of names for 2018 — we'll keep you updated as the program is unveiled. The 2018 Festival of Dangerous Ideas is coming to Cockatoo Island on November 3 and 4. Tickets will go on sale in August and you can sign up here to get first dibs.
In news that everyone already knew, no one will be dancing in North Byron Parklands this winter, with Splendour in the Grass moving to November this year instead. Thanks to New South Wales' current COVID-19 outbreak, the lockdown to prevent its spread and the growing number of cases in other Australian states, no one will be making shapes in Sydney this July, either. That's when the fest was planning to host Splendour in the City, a nine-day Sydney pop-up slated for SITG's usual midwinter spot — but organisers have announced that the event has now been cancelled. In a statement on Monday, June 28, the festival's team pulled the plug on the mini fest, which was set to take place at Sydney's Overseas Passenger Terminal from Saturday, July 10–Sunday, July 18. "With Greater Sydney currently in lockdown until 9 July and COVID-19 outbreaks now evolving in other states, it has become impossible to progress with plans to move artists and staff around the country, and also to build the event in Sydney," the Splendour crew noted. "Organisers also acknowledge the health and safety of staff, volunteers and ticketholders is the foremost consideration in line with the health advice from authorities." Splendour in the City has been completely cancelled, rather than rescheduled, too — a decision made due to "uncertainty around venue and artist availability in coming months, and IRL Splendour in the Grass scheduled for November." Ticketholders will start receiving refunds automatically via Moshtix from today, Tuesday, June 29. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Splendour in the Grass (@splendourinthegrass) Splendour's virtual festival Splendour XR will still run online across the weekend of Saturday, July 24–Sunday, July 25 — and, at this stage, Splendour in the Grass itself is slated for Friday, November 19–Sunday, November 21. It's been a rough year or so for the music and events industry, for festivals in New South Wales and for Splendour. 2020's SITG was postponed from July until October, then completely scrapped. Also, plans to proceed in July 2021 as usual were pushed back, leading to the current November date. Splendour in the City was planning to host an array of beloved Australian artists such as SITG mainstays like Violent Soho, Illy, Vera Blue, Dune Rats and Tash Sultana, as well as two stacked nights of stand-up comedy and a whole heap of extras — all aiming to recreate as much of the OG Splendour experience as possible. If the full-sized Byron Bay edition of SITG goes ahead in November, it's set to do so with headliners Tyler, The Creator, The Strokes and Gorillaz; however, that's obviously all reliant upon COVID-19 restrictions allowing the event to take place. Splendour in the City will no longer run from Saturday, July 10–Sunday, July 18 at Sydney's Overseas Passenger Terminal. Ticketholders will start receiving refunds automatically via Moshtix from Tuesday, June 29.
We love wine and we know you do too, and the quality and variety of wine being produced locally in Australia has, arguably, never been at a higher level. Now there's a new way to get your hands on delicious, drinkable, interesting drops made in our myriad wine regions — and you'll be buying direct from the source. iHeartWine is a new first-of-its-kind marketplace that connects winemakers and grape growers directly with the wine-loving public, which means you can shop bottles from Australia's best independent and boutique wineries without the markup you pay from a retailer, while putting the lion share of every sale directly back into the producer. Win-win. This idea for iHeartWine, which exists as an app, was conceived by wine writer and aficionado, Marc Malouf, as a way to support winemakers amid the knock-on effects of COVID and the tourism industry essentially bottoming out. Marc explains: "Hard working wineries who would usually be thriving from tourism, are struggling. Less people are able to visit, taste and buy wines from family-run wine producers … 2021 is set to be an abundant year for grape production and smaller winemakers need a channel to get their wine out there." The curation of the producers and winemakers included in iHeartWine's shop is very much informed by quality stuff that you can't just pluck off the shelves of your local bottle-o. "Every winery on iHeartWine makes wines from a place of truth, passion and obsession," says Marc Malouf. "These are the wineries and winemakers we should be paying attention to and celebrating... but they often suffer from the same fundamental flaw — they are somewhat invisible to wine drinkers. Unless you stumble across a wine on a restaurant list, or take a wrong turn on a trip through a wine region, chances are you will never come across these hidden gems and I think it's time we changed this." And as you load up your cart, you can feel good knowing that most of what you spend is going straight back to the producers. All wine sold on iHeartWine comes directly from the wineries themselves, which means the winery earns 90% from every bottle. We'll drink to that. The iHeartWine app is available for download here.
In The Guest Edit we hand the reins over to some of Sydney's most interesting, tasteful and (or) entertaining people. For this instalment, we have Jade Le Flay — ultra charismatic fixture of Sydney nightlife and dance music scene — take the role of our after hours shepherd, guiding us to her favourite Sydney cocktail joints and what to order from the drinks list at each. And with her resume, she's a reliable source when it comes to having a good time. She's a producer and DJ (who's done supporting gigs for hip hop titans like Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Lil Uzivert), hosts Spotify's A1 podcast (among others), and was recently featured in a campaign for JD Sports x Nike alongside drill crew ONEFOUR and First Nation's rapper Kobie Dee. And still, she always makes time for a cocktail. That's our kind of guest editor. JADE LE FLAY: In my years of DJing, hosting and promoting events, I've been lucky enough to experience some of Sydney's best venues and, of course, make my way through their cocktail lists. A few in particular have stood out. On the drinks side of things, the perfect cocktail is one of two things: something you could have never imagined in your wildest dreams but somehow works (and works well), or a perfected classic. As important as the drink itself is the vibe of the venue — and how well it matches the cocktail. A few of the places below boast incredible views of Sydney's most iconic locations, places where the staff treat you like family, and places that transport you around the world while you're there. 1. BAD HOMBRES, BONDI BEACH The bar: Bad Hombres, 75-79 Hall Street, Bondi Beach The drink: The "Rosalinda" (Altos blanco, triple sec, watermelon, Bad Hombres' o-t sauce and citrus) When my vegan friends ask me where to eat in Sydney, I instantly recommend Bad Hombres for their delicious Mexican-inspired, plant-based food and the vibrant energy that uplifts you as fast as their 'Rosalinda' cocktail — a twist on the classic spicy margie! What's the twist? It's EXTRA spicy! Just how I like it. If you can appreciate that they make their own hot sauce then you'll understand and feel how much love has gone into the menu. 2. SAGA BAR, CHIPPENDALE The bar: Saga Bar, 49-51 Goold Street, Chippendale The drink: Strawberries & Cream (Wheatley vodka, shaken with strawberry syrup and cream) This hidden gem is the mecca of dreamy delights that makes you feel like you're on a movie set in south east Asia. From the magical decor, moody lighting to the golden mosaic bathroom, this spot is a must! My select from Saga Bar is a nightcap called 'Strawberries & Cream' — it's the perfect substitute for dessert. [caption id="attachment_786072" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Walsh[/caption] 3. BAR 83, SYDNEY CBD The bar: Bar 83, 100 Market Street, Sydney The drink: Seasonal Spritz (vodka, prosecco, strawberry, coconut water, elderflower tonic) Paired perfectly with oysters and a view you literally can't find anywhere else in Sydney, Bar 83 is one of my go-to spots in the Sydney CBD. The stand out interiors is giving Austin Powers and perhaps James Bond aesthetics with bold red and gold furniture — it's very Instagram friendly. I come here just for a quick Spritz stop in between shopping. 4. UNA MAS, COOGEE The bar: Una Mas at Coogee Pavilion, 130a Beach Street, Coogee The drink: Sangria Blanco (peach, vermouth, wine and seasonal fruits) A dear girlfriend suggested we eat at this Spanish tapas joint at the Coogee Pavilion. I was very keen but little did I know I'd be whisked away to a classy and intimate beachside location — the views here are pure bliss. As soon as I realised this was a Merivale restaurant, I knew we'd be in for a treat as the service is always A1! Sangria is perfect for those hot summer nights and I love picking at the ice and the fresh fruit drenched in wine at the end of the drink. I don't know why but this makes me very happy. 5. ICEBERGS DINING ROOM AND BAR, BONDI BEACH The bar: Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, 1 Notts Avenue, Bondi Beach The drink: No. 147 (Ketel One vodka, coconut, passionfruit, pineapple, lime and aromatic bitters) If a cocktail's ingredients include three or more fruits, it's game over for me! Icebergs nailed this cocktail — it's my go-to if I need some quenching on a warm day! This famous beachside venue is a true Bondi bubble favourite but rightfully so. It may be world-famous (which can actually make you think that's kinda corny) but it boasts a very local/community vibe. If anyone comes to visit me in the east, this is where I take them because not only do the views exceed expectations but above all the staff treat you like family. 6. EMPLOYEES ONLY, SYDNEY CBD The bar: Employees Only, 9A Barrack Street, Sydney The drink: Playing with Fire (Appleton Estate signature blend, Overproof rum, Chivas 12 year, and Amaretto shaken with cinnamon, pink guava, peach, finger limes and fresh lemon) My favourite memory of this venue is taking some friends there to play a DJ set and try out the menu for the first time. I was a few cocktails in at this point but I remember wanting to order one of everything on the menu. It is by far one of the more sophisticated but still cool venues in Sydney with that New York flair. I imagine cocktail experts would rate the Employees Only drinks menu very highly as they seem complex and difficult to make. Oh, and they have burlesque shows which I think can be corny but also kinda cute. Def go there for the cocktails though! Ed's note: Employees Only is on our list of Sydney's Best Underground Bars That Are Actually Underground. [caption id="attachment_764760" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] 7. MEU JARDIM, SYDNEY CBD The bar: Meu Jardim, 304 Kent Street, Sydney The drink: Espresso Martini I first enjoyed dinner and drinks here for a friend's birthday and immediately fell in love with the cool, blue signature neon lighting — it feels like you're inside a modern European spaceship vibe. Doja Cat would love it here. The venue throws pretty decent parties here too, so the espresso martini is perfect to get you on that buzzy vibe and ready to dance! 8. NOUR, SURRY HILLS The bar: Nour, 490 Crown Street, Surry Hills The drink: Lichee (Vodka, Pama liquor, cranberry, lychee and pomegranate) Again, I follow the sweet and fruity cocktail vibe all day, everyday! This refreshing little number paired with Lebanese food is my all time favourite mix of flavours. It doesn't get better than Middle Eastern food for this tropical island gyal. Nour's extensive wine list is also very impressive and the location in Surry Hills is a good alternative to the city or the beach. [caption id="attachment_723371" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] 9. BAR OMBRE, CIRCULAR QUAY The bar: Bar Ombré, Level 3 Gateway, 1 Macquarie Place, Circular Quay The drink: Long Island (gin, vodka, triple sec, tequila and Bacardi) It's a proven theory that cocktails taste even better on a rooftop overlooking the Sydney skyline — you can practically touch the harbour bridge from Bar Ombre. They also have very decent live music and food menu. I never think to order Long Island's but for some reason, the vibes here pushed me outside of my comfort zone. [caption id="attachment_793003" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] 10. SMOKE, BARANGAROO The bar: Smoke at Barangaroo House, 35 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo The drink: Mai Thai (Bacardi Carta Blanca, coconut, citrus, pineapple, lemongrass, chilli, coriander, pandan leaf) Rarely quiet enough for walk-ins, this is a very showy type of venue with a sophisticated cocktail menu. Not often do you find a drink with pandan leaf as an ingredient. We love this. The Mai Thai is spicy and short and my top pick on the menu for sure. I think I tried every cocktail at Smoke from DJing here for over a year or so. Great vibes (and not just because I was the DJ).
Perhaps nourished by the torrential rain Sydney has been experiencing, a Lego forest recently sprouted in Martin Place. Featuring big-kid versions of the tiny plastic trees and flower sets we played with as kids, the installation marks the first activity of this year's Lego Festival of Play. 15 of the large-scale tree and flower models dotted the concrete, creating bright splashes of color in our currently dreary grey city. Onlookers didn't let the weather get them down, grabbing umbrellas and rain boots to take a stroll through this whimsical forest. After all, you're never too old, and it's never too rainy, to get out there and play. The Lego forest will soon be on the move, to other to-be-disclosed locations throughout Australia.
Across the past eight years, Sydney's All About Women festival has featured sessions on everything from hip hop and toxic masculinity to the post-#MeToo era — and, for its ninth iteration in 2021, it's once again presenting an exciting and eclectic program. When the event returns on Sunday, March 7, it'll feature talks, panels, workshops and films about the evolution of the feminist movement, its limitations, the gendered nature of household responsibilities, misogynistic online communities and the judgements built into artificial intelligence. There's also a session about coping with doomscrolling, because that topic couldn't be more relevant after the past 12 months. Once again, the fest will take place around International Women's Day — happening the day before, though, so it can still be held on a weekend. And while AAW has always covered a huge array of bases each and every year, there is a particular focus on power structures that limit the female experience in 2021. That subject will come through in sessions about identity, sexuality and resilience, and others that explore technology, entrenched inequalities and feminist futures. Talks about sex work and mindfulness are also on the bill, too. Leading the lineup of speakers is writer Isabel Allende, who'll be discussing her 2021 memoir The Soul of a Woman — which explores her role in the feminist movement across continents, cultures, and centuries. She's joined on the program by How to Be A Woman and More Than a Woman author Caitlin Moran, who'll examine the realities of of middle-aged life; Koa Beck, the ex-Jezebel editor-in-chief who penned White Feminism: From the Suffragettes to Influencers and Who They Leave Behind; and Laura Bates, author of Everyday Sexism and Men Who Hate Women and founder of the Everyday Sexism Project — with the ways in which the individual is often valued over the community and the corners of the internet swaying the mindsets of boys and young men all on the agenda. [caption id="attachment_797616" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Isabel Allende. Image: Lori Barra[/caption] For folks interested in AI, researcher and professor Kate Crawford will chat about machine classification and its role in entrenching inequality. Covering completely different subjects, one panel session will examine the often-complicated relationship between sex work and feminism, too, while another talk will help participants learn to cope with uncertainty in today's COVID-afflicted world. Or, attendees can head to workshops about making zines, weaving baskets — as led by Yorta Yorta woman Tegan Murdock and her mum Margaret Murray — and using music to help let go of the past. Unsurprisingly given the state of Australia's international borders, speakers from overseas will appear via video, rather than in-person. For those who can't attend AAW in person — including those located outside of Sydney — some sessions will be live-streamed as well, and made available to watch on-demand afterwards. The jump to online also includes AAW's film component. Two documentaries, Brazen Hussies and Coded Bias, will screen at the Opera House — and they'll also be available to stream online, alongside a lineup of short documentaries from female Australian filmmakers. Top image: Prudence Upton
Melbourne is home to one of the best places in the world to have a drink in 2023, and the Victorian capital's Byrdi is back among the top 100 watering holes around the globe. Each year, The World's 50 Best Bars does exactly what its name says, picking the standout 50 bars on the planet — and 2023's top 50 will be announced on Tuesday, October 17 in Singapore. But this ranking doesn't stop at 50, which is where its annual The World's 50 Best Bars extended 51–100 longlist comes in. It's announced first, throwing some love at the next 50 venues worth checking out, and Byrdi is Australia's sole entry. [caption id="attachment_921791" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jana Langhorst[/caption] There's a touch of déjà vu about this news, because this exact thing also happened in 2021. So, once again, the La Trobe Street bar has scored some worldwide recognition and become the only Aussie joint to make this year's extended list ahead of the top 50 reveal. In 2022, Byrdi didn't feature in either the longlist or the top 50, with Melbourne's Caretaker's Cottage and Sydney's Re featured in the former, and the Harbour City's Maybe Sammy and Cantina OK! in the latter. This year, Byrdi ranked 61st, down from its 56th placing in 2021. In 2020, it came in at 80th, after only opening in 2019. In its 2023 ranking, Luke Whearty's famed local cocktail haunt was applauded for being "seriously cool, coming complete with its own lab for creating bold new ingredients" and serving up "a damn good time". Its Jungle Byrd cocktail, which is made with Carolina Reaper chilli, bitters, lacto-fermented pineapple and Davidson plum, also earned a specific shoutout. [caption id="attachment_748361" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] Byrdi was launched in 2019 by Whearty and co-founder Aki Nishikura, who were also behind Singapore's multi award-winning — and World's 50 Best Bars regular — Operation Dagger. You'll find the Melbourne favourite nestled within the CBD's Ella precinct, whipping up some truly exceptional, innovative drinks. It sits on 2023's The World's 50 Best Bars extended 51–100 longlist alongside watering holes from 33 other cities, including six from the US, plus five from both the UK and Singapore. Fourteen of this year's picks have made the list for the first time, such as the debut entries from Tulum, Guadalajara and Tirana. When the full list drops, here's hoping that Australia is well-represented. In addition to placing in the top 50 in 2022, Maybe Sammy took out 22nd place in 2021 and Cantina OK! came in at number 23. Melbourne's Above Board earned a spot at number 44 and the aforementioned Re placed, too. Watch this space — we'll run through the winners of the World's 50 Best Bars 2022 list when they're announced. [caption id="attachment_748365" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] For the full 51–100 list of the World's 50 Best Bars for 2023 (and past years' lists), see the website. The top 50 rankings will be revealed at 5.20pm AEDT on Tuesday, October 17 via Facebook and YouTube. Top image: Byrdi, Haydn Cattach.
Just months after one Melbourne proposal claimed to be constructing the country's tallest building, another towering skyscraper has popped up to snatch its lofty crown. The latest super-tall contender is the $2 billion Green Spine, with UN Studio and Cox Architecture emerging victorious in the international competition to design the new addition to Southbank, all for developer Beulah International. Winning out over five other shortlisted proposals, the 356.2-metre-high Green Spine is actually two cantilevered towers that sport a noticeable twist — that is, the structures both physically twist in their geometric design. Terracing and glass also feature prominently, as does greenery. Indeed, as well as plant-filled public spaces along the ground and stepped lower levels, the building will include a 'future botanic garden' at its peak, which will basically be a garden in the sky that's accessible to everyone. Before you start looking up, however, The Age reports that a building application hasn't yet been submitted for the mixed-use development, which plans to feature apartments, offices, a hotel, retail spaces, an entertainment centre, restaurants, bars, a BMW showroom, a school and even a cinema. If it does come to fruition, Green Spine could possibly eclipse the previously announced Magic, also in Melbourne, which will span between 330 and 362 metres. The city's current tallest building is the 297.3-metre tall Eureka Tower, however the 319-metre Australia 108 residential tower at Southbank is in progress, and the 323-metre-tall One Queensbridge tower is also slated for the Crown precinct. Around the rest of the country, the Gold Coast's Q1 presently reaches 332.5 metres, with the new 328m Orion Towers in Surfers Paradise in development.
Love, Tilly Devine is no stranger to takeovers — the venue previously featured Western Australian winemakers Yoko Luscher-Mostert and Andries Mostert of Brave New Wine back in late 2022. Now, the wine bar is set to shine a spotlight on some local Greek hospitality veterans. This time around, NSW winery Aristotelis Ke Anthoula and chef Tim Cassimatis will be heading up a Greek takeover of the venue. With top-notch eats, traditional Greek-inspired drinks, and a public holiday on the following day, you have every reason to spend your Monday night having your fill of Greek treats. The winery on show is run by South Pambula duo, Tony Zafirakos and Maddie Park-Neilson and receives its name from its founders — Zafirakos' parents — Aristotelis and Anthoula. From starting the business out of a Sydney garage in the 80s to owning and operating a winery on NSW's south coast, the pair continue his parent's legacy by honouring their heritage and producing pure, handcrafted and minimal-intervention wines. Both Zafirakos and Park-Neilson will be pouring their latest range of hand-made wines, including their Retsini, inspired by the traditional Greek wine Retsina. The drink is fermented with Aleppo pine tree resin that is flown in from a small mountaintop village in Greece and is 100-percent Riverland Zibibbo. A variety of other sips from the producer will also be on offer, including the duo's effervescent take on rosé and their skin-contact white-ish Fiano. Covering the eats portion of the takeover is Cassimatis. Known for his Greek pop-ups at both Kosta's Takeaway and Whole Beast Butchery, and having also taken up space in restaurants such as Rockpool Bar & Grill and Barzaari, the renowned chef will bring his wealth of experience to Love, Tilly Devine to provide a hefty menu of Greek classics. The menu will feature an elegant take on traditional Greek dishes to lead you on a journey across the regions of the Mediterranean nation. You'll find chicken pita souvlaki with smoked chilli and a snake bean salad, barbecued Port Lincoln octopus, kalitsounia — cheese-and saltbush-filled pastries, and Cassimatis's take on a hotdog — loukanika sausage paired with koji mustard and leek sauce. Head over to the Darlinghurst bar at 5pm on Monday, April 24, for this wine- and souvla-filled night. Book your spot here, or feel free to drop by on the day — walk-ins are also welcome. Photo credits: Bruno Sefani and Dexter Kim.
Inclusive yoga and pilates studio TRUNK is launching its newest location in Mascot this weekend — and to celebrate the grand opening, the brand-new studio is running a bunch of its classes for free. The suburb's newcomer is bringing founder Rima Alijew's compelling fitness ethos to O'Riordon Street, hosting friendship-focused and all-inclusive sweat sessions for the area's locals. Head over this Saturday, August 19, to score free yoga, barre and pilates sessions throughout the morning — just be sure to register at the Mascot studio's website prior to attending. The studio is kicking off the morning at 8am with barre and pilates classes and will close out the celebratory sessions with the option of an hour-long barre or yoga class, finishing at 11:30am. Plus, parents hoping to catch a free session are able to bring their little ones along — parents and bubs classes are available if you opt for a barre session. TRUNK Reformer Studios' third outpost will officially open for business on Monday, August 21. If you miss the open day, you can nab your first five classes at the studio for just $50.
Flipping through a newspaper, feeling the flimsy paper in your hands and finding your fingerprints smudged with ink might by a dying ritual; however The Wall Street Journal is hoping that people still want to take the time to sit, peruse and consume the news at a leisurely pace. Instead of hanging out at a cafe rifling through physical pages, readers can now enter an architect-designed virtual New York apartment to get their news fix thanks to the publication's just-launched VR news app. WSJ VR is the newspaper's new virtual reality app for Google's Daydream platform, ushering news junkies into a different kind of reading experience. Now available to download via Google Play, it allows users to view a wall filled with a live feed of breaking news, watch interactive 360-degree videos and see a visualisation of real-time market data, all in swanky digs designed by architecture firm Michaelis Boyd. Interactive storytelling is the WSJ's main focus, particularly allowing "the Journal's reporters and editors to take readers and viewers of our journalism anywhere in the world," said Andy Regal, WSJ's Global Head of Video, in a statement. Whether that's something anyone actually wants is yet to be seen, but it's certainly quite different to scrolling through newsfeeds on a smartphone screen. Users can do more than read, watch and see the news while they're using the app; they can also engage with the space — which is based on a mix of the firm's real-life residential projects — on a 360-degree axis. Accordingly, even if you're not keen on staying up-to-date on global events and financial developments in the most immersive way possible, the app also offers views of the New York City skyline — and it's cheaper than a plane ticket. Via Dezeen.
At the 2024 British Film Festival, when you're not watching movies starring Saoirse Ronan, Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh and Barry Keoghan, you'll be catching the latest performances from Ralph Fiennes, Jude Law, Pierce Brosnan and Helena Bonham Carter. There's never any lack of big-name talents gracing the screen at Australia's annual celebration of the UK's latest and greatest contributions to cinema, but this year's is particularly jam-packed — so much so that there's not just one feature boasting Ronan among its cast, but two. Blitz, which sees the Foe, Little Women and Ammonite actor team up with 12 Years a Slave, Widows and Small Axe filmmaker Steve McQueen, is the British Film Festival's 2024 opening-night film. Playing Down Under fresh from also launching the London Film Festival, the period drama heads back to World War II, and starts the fest's month-long run at Sydney's Palace Norton Street, Palace Moore Park, Chauvel Cinema and Palace Central from Thursday, November 7–Sunday, December 8 with one of the year's must-see movies. At the other end of the festival, the also highly anticipated We Live in Time will close out the event. Pugh (Dune: Part Two) and Garfield (Under the Banner of Heaven) lead the romance from Brooklyn filmmaker John Crowley, which follows a couple's relationship across a decade. The second Ronan-led flick on the full 2024 British Film Festival comes courtesy of page-to-screen adaptation The Outrun, where the four-time Oscar-nominee plays a recovering addict — and there's plenty more highlights on the program from there. Hard Truths sits in the fest's centrepiece slot, reuniting iconic director Mike Leigh (Peterloo) with his Academy Award-nominated Secrets & Lies star Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Surface). Also boasting the coveted pairing of an impressive helmer and an exceptional on-screen talent: Bird from Andrea Arnold (American Honey), which is where Keoghan (Saltburn) pops up. As for Fiennes (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar), he stars with Juliette Binoche (The New Look) in The Return, a British spin on Homer's Odyssey — and also in papal thriller Conclave with Citadel's Stanley Tucci, Killers of the Flower Moon's John Lithgow and Spaceman's Isabella Rossellini. Law (Peter Pan & Wendy) plays King Henry VIII opposite Alicia Vikander (Irma Vep) as Katherine Parr in Firebrand, while Brosnan (The Last Rifleman) and Bonham Carter (One Life) feature in romance Four Letters of Love. Other standouts include the century-hopping dark comedy Timestalker from Garth Marenghi's Darkplace alum Alice Lowe, the Gillian Anderson (Scoop)- and Jason Isaacs (Archie)-led The Salt Path, Julia Louis-Dreyfus (You Hurt My Feelings) facing death in Tuesday, and Kelly Macdonald (Operation Mincemeat) and Damian Lewis (Billions) in vampire comedy The Radleys. For music fans, there's a dedicated themed sidebar featuring both Blur: To the End and Blur: Live at Wembley Stadium — one about the band's most-recent chapter, the other a two-hour concert film — as well as the Led Zeppelin-focused The Song Remains the Same and The Rolling Stones-centric The Stones and Brian Jones. This year's British Film Festival is also peering backwards via retrospective sessions of Ratcatcher, the debut feature from You Were Never Really Here's Lynne Ramsay; the Bonham Carter- and Dame Maggie Smith (The Miracle Club)-starring A Room with a View; and classic British historical dramas such as A Man for All Seasons, Heat and Dust, The Lion in Winter and Kenneth Branagh's (A Haunting in Venice) Henry V.
Can you believe 2023 is coming to a close? Time has truly flown by and during the whirlwind 12 months Sydney welcomed a swathe of brilliant new openings. From ultra-lavish bistros to affordable neighbourhood diners, the year has has been rich with new ideas and passion projects springing forth to elevate our hospitality scene. Pulling together a list of the year's best openings is no easy feat. The shortlist for this article was over 40 venues long. But after much thought and some robust debate we've narrowed it down to a compact selection of our favourite 15 openings of 2023, newcomers that've been impressive since the day they swung open their doors. Before we get to the top 15, there are some honourable mentions we wanted to shout out. Smoking Gringos garnered lines around the block thanks to its juicy birria tacos, Alfie's flipped the idea of a CBD steakhouse on its head, Famelia nailed the wine bar brief, and Nu'u effortlessly delivered a passion for southern Mexican cuisine and small-batch spirits. Poetica blew away North Sydneysiders, as did Chez Blue with Rozelle locals. Caravin and Deux Freres both delivered the moody European holiday vibes, and Bobby's is a sure-fire summer hit in Sydney's south. Now, without further ado, in no particular order, here are our picks for the 15 best openings in Sydney this year.
Thanks to the wonders of technology, overcoming the language barrier isn't as difficult as it used to be. Forget phrasebooks — if you've got a smartphone, these days you're usually covered. Not all translation apps are created equal, however. In fact, only one promises real-time translation of both words and voice in 90 different languages. The free piece of software destined to find a home on every traveller's device of choice is DoTalk, an Australian-made invention aiming to make the process of making friends overseas even easier. And asking for directions, ordering a drink, trying to work out the local public transport system, asking for directions again (we all get lost while venturing far and wide, admit it) — plus all of the other routine holiday situations that involve human interaction. Available now for both iOS and Android, DoTalk offers users two options: translating via text, which is great if you're emailing or trying to read a sign; and translating live voice conversations, which is ace in plenty of other scenarios. For a fee, it can also handle group chats with up to 10 participants, even in multiple languages. As for just where it'll come in handy, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, French and Indonesian currently rank among the app's most popular languages; however you'll also find everything from Albanian to Zulu on offer."Our goal with DoTalk was to create a free, fun and easy-to-use app which provides an open forum for people to easily connect and communicate, regardless of language barriers or location and without delay," says founder Reno Nicastro. For more information about DoTalk, visit their website.
Make your way to the Yanada Room in Lewisham's Meriton Luna Apartments over the next six months, and a frenzy of creativity awaits — run by artistic group New Moon, it's the inner west's new collaborative and community-focused hub. Opening its doors on Tuesday, July 10 — with the official opening slated for Sunday, July 29 — the space will play host to a monthly calendar filled with exhibitions, installations, workshops, talks and more. More than that, each lineup will revolve around a particular theme, with all things food in the spotlight during July. On the first month's agenda: a community dinner that'll give you the chance to meet the New Moon team, a spoon sweets (aka preserves) sampling and demonstration session, zine-making workshops and artist chats. Or, drop by to check out an audiovisual food installation by Good Food Crap Drawing's Anna Wu and The Unbearable Lightness of Being Hungry's Lee Tram Lam, which will include interviews with Aussie folks in the food and wine industry, food samples and a visual component. Comprised of Kim Siew, Amy Mills, Rosell Flatley and Eleni Christou — and supported by the Inner West Council — New Moon came together working on community art projects, artist-run initiatives and exhibition spaces, which makes their current venture the culmination of their experience to date. Future months will see the space shine a spotlight on books, sustainability, art, craft and celebration; however the Yanada Room is also designed to offer locals an informal meeting place beyond New Moon's regular programming. Specifically, the group wants to help reduce the isolation that can come with living in a high-rise filled city — and whether you're a budding creative or someone just keen to check out new exhibitions and events, that's something we can all relate to. Find New Moon at the Yanada Room, Meriton Luna Apartments, 22 Hudson Street, Lewisham from July 10. Visit the New Moon Facebook page for further details.
In Westworld's vision of the future, technologically advanced amusement parks let people pay to experience Wild West times, and to interact with androids that are indistinguishable from humans. That's how the hit HBO series started in 2016, before stepping outside of the titular attractions, into both sibling venues and the show's mid-21st-century version of the real world. But in our very existence and its actual future going forward, Westworld and its thrills will now no longer exist. HBO has announced that it has cancelled the series after four seasons, the last of which debuted in mid-2022 and wrapped up in August. Westworld will cease all motor functions, putting an end to a show that kept questing the nature of reality and humanity right up until the end, and proved unnerving from the get-go. That eeriness is all there in the basic premise, which actually first unfurled on-screen back in 1973 thanks to the Michael Crichton-directed movie of the same name. Here, in the eponymous android amusement park, humans pay to live out their fantasies while surrounded by supremely realistic-looking androids. What could go wrong? Everything, obviously — and yes, high-concept theme parks gone wrong was one of Crichton's fascinations, clearly. Across its second season in 2018, third batch of episodes in 2020 and fourth run in 2022, the TV version of Westworld has built upon this idea, twisting in wild, strange, violent and surreal directions. Once some of the robot theme park's electronic hosts started to break their programming, make their own decisions and question their creators, the show's chaos just kept expanding. Westworld has also boasted one of the best casts on TV during its four-season existence, including Evan Rachel Wood (Kajillionaire), Thandiwe Newton (All the Old Knives), Ed Harris (Top Gun: Maverick), Jeffrey Wright (The Batman), Tessa Thompson (Thor: Love and Thunder), Luke Hemsworth (Bosch & Rockit), James Marsden (Sonic the Hedgehog 2), Aaron Paul (Better Call Saul), Anthony Hopkins (Armageddon Time), Angela Sarafyan (Reminiscence) and 2022 West Side Story Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose. The show's creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy are still pondering the future in new Prime Video series The Peripheral, if you need something to watch to fill that just-opened Westworld-shaped gap in your viewing. Check out the original trailer for Westworld's first season below: Westworld's four-season run is available to stream via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Via Variety. Images: HBO.
Sydney has Lune fever. In the lead-up to the world-renowned Melbourne bakery finally opening a pair of Sydney stores — one in Darlinghurst and another in Martin Place — excitement for the renowned croissants is at fever pitch. Now, Sydneysiders will be able to get their hands on the flaky baked goods for three days before the two official stores swing open their doors. Lune Croissanterie has teamed up with Koko Black to unveil a limited-edition new croissant collaboration named The Belgian Truffle. Why? To celebrate World Chocolate Day on Friday, July 7. This decadent creation takes Lune's signature pastry and adds a gooey Koko Black cocoa frangipane and Guanaja fondant centre. It's also topped with tempered chocolate shards, salted cookie crumb, mascarpone chantilly and Koko Black Belgian truffles. In Sydney, this delectable treat will be available at selected Koko Black stores, and at a special one-off Lune pop-up that's coming to the QVB for the weekend. If you want to get your hands on a croissant, Friday, July 7–Sunday, July 9 are the dates to mark down in your diary. You can either head to the Lune pop-up in the QVB, or Koko Black's stores at Westfield Pitt Street, The Strand Arcade and David Jones Bondi Junction. These pastries are set to be in high demand, so it's best to head down early to avoid disappointment. The Strand, Westfield Sydney and the QVB stores will all open at 8am on Friday, and 9am on Saturday and Sunday. Over at the Bondi Junction outpost, it'll open at 9.30am on Friday, 9am on Saturday and 10am on Sunday.
Of the many pies that Succession's Roy family had their fingers in, pharmaceuticals wasn't one of them. For virtually that, Mike Flanagan gives audiences The Fall of the House of Usher. The horror auteur's take on dynastic wealth gets a-fluttering through a world of decadence enabled by pushing pills legally, as six heirs to an addiction-laced kingdom vie to inherit a vast fortune. Flanagan hasn't given up his favourite genre for pure drama, however. The eponymous Usher offspring won't be enjoying the spoils of their father Roderick's (Bruce Greenwood, The Resident) business success, either, in this eight-parter that streams from Thursday, October 12. As the bulk of this tale is unfurled fireside, its patriarch tells federal prosecutor C Auguste Dupin (Carl Lumbly, SWAT) why his children came to die within days of each other — and, with all the gory details, how. As with The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor before it, plus The Midnight Club as well, Flanagan's latest Netflix series finds its basis on the page. The author this time: Edgar Allan Poe, although The Fall of the House of Usher isn't a strict adaptation of the iconic author's 1840 short story of the same name, or just an adaptation. Character monikers, episode titles and other details spring from widely across Poe's bibliography. Cue ravens, black cats, masks, tell-tale hearts, pendulums and a Rue Morgue. What if the writer had penned Succession? That's one of Flanagan's questions — and what if he'd penned Dopesick and Painkiller, too? Hailing from the talent behind the exceptional Midnight Mass as well, plus movies Oculus, Hush, Ouija: Origin of Evil, Gerald's Game and Doctor Sleep, the series that results is a gloriously creepy and involving modern gothic horror entry. The Poe minutiae is everywhere, as constantly thumping whenever someone's name is mentioned. Alongside Roderick and his twin sister Madeline (Mary McDonnell, Veronica Mars), everyone of importance harks back to one piece of prose or another. Dupin was Poe's fictional investigator, a role that still applies here to a man that's spent much of his life trying to bring Roderick to justice. Indeed, he's as close as he's ever been to that feat via a trial when the kids start dropping in gruesome ways. Each one earns an episode, from smarmy eldest Frederick (Henry Thomas, Pet Sematary: Bloodlines), Goop-style wellness entrepreneur Tamerlane (Samantha Sloyan, Minx) and ruthless medical engineer Victorine (T'Nia Miller, The Peripheral) to games designer Napoleon (Rahul Kohli, iZombie), family publicist Camille (Kate Siegel, The Wrath of Becky) and wannabe bar owner Prospero (Sauriyan Sapkota, The Midnight Club). Greed, violence, paranoia: as happened in Poe's pages, all three bubble through The Fall of the House of Usher. So does death, obviously, including loss, decay and the deceased haunting the living, as Roderick's children do in macabre jolts. Applying Poe's favourite themes to the affluent and privileged is a satisfyingly entertaining touch, even if it's never subtle. The same proves true of the show's twisted dive into a Sackler-style realm. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed's Nan Goldin hasn't achieved such comeuppance in her war on money and influence amassed through the opioid crisis, and therefore through other people's suffering and lives, but Flanagan channelling Poe imagines quite the visually ravishing and narratively riveting undoing. Roderick's empire is Fortunato Pharmaceuticals' empire, as built upon peddling a highly addictive painkiller that's been spruiked as the exact opposite. As he and Dupin sit on a midnight dreary in a crumbling home that's as dilapidated as the Ushers' souls — well, most of them — he shares that story as well. In addition to the tightly wound how's-it-going-to-happen suspense of each child's demise, The Fall of the House of Usher flits back to Roderick (Zach Gilford, Criminal Minds) and Madeline's (Willa Fitzgerald, Reacher) early days at the company. How early sins become inescapable coffins is teased out, inevitability dripping through the series stronger than blood, of which there's no shortage of. Eating the rich is on the menu, as is carving into the avarice-fuelled lust for power and prosperity at any cost under capitalism. Rich applies to much about The Fall of the House of Usher. The treasure trove of Poe nods and borrowings fit the description, of course, but that's just the beginning. With his regular cinematographer Michael Fimognari, Flanagan splashes around an alluringly opulent look whether the show is glistening or getting grisly, or — as is frequently the case — achieving both at once. He's also a master of unrelenting tension, especially leading up to each gratifyingly inventive brought-it-on-themselves death. Setpieces abound, one as lushly staged and riveting as the next — and as grim. The outcome of a masquerade dance party that also owes Eyes Wide Shut a debt is particularly retina-searing. A bounty of jewels resides in Flanagan's plotting, passion, love of lyrically penned monologues and melodrama, too, and his cast of familiar faces. He isn't just piecing together Poe elements and playing with them. As his resume attests, he's long adored doing the same with his actors. So, almost everyone boasts ties to the filmmaker's past works, and often several. The Fall of the House of Usher's stars nail the current brief as well, from Lumbly (and The Fugitive's Malcolm Goodwin as the younger Dupin) as the picture of earnestness in the pursuit of what's right to the entitlement glistening across Thomas and company in every way possible, plus the nerve-shredding mystery that Carla Gugino (Gunpowder Milkshake) slinks through the show in an enigmatic part. Star Wars legend Mark Hamill is a Flanagan newcomer as get-things-done Usher family lawyer Arthur Pym, but slides right in like he's always been telling horror stories with his co-stars. (Whatever comes next for the writer/director and his favourite talents, don't be surprised if Hamill goes with them.) Flanagan's Netflix shows repeatedly get remotes pressing "next episode" with can't-stop-watching urgency. It's hardly surprising, then, that The Fall of the House of Usher joins the auteur's The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass as the kind of compulsive viewing that audiences can easily lose a day to. Ending most episodes with an extravagantly staged offing helps; however, as wicked downfalls plague a brood that's made its own bleak fate, this dark, operatic and gleefully OTT affair never stops being a delight. Here's hoping that the house of Flanagan horror never falls. Check out the trailer for The Fall of the House of Usher below: The Fall of the House of Usher streams via Netflix from Thursday, October 12. Images: Eike Schroter / Netflix.
UPDATE, September 17, 2020: Crazy Rich Asians is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. It's a throwaway joke in a film filled with smarter, funnier dialogue. Still, when Crazy Rich Asians compares its own plot to The Bachelor, the line sticks. The movie doesn't involve women competing for a man on television, thankfully. There's no cheesy host talking the audience through proceedings either, and the flick, while fictional, doesn't feel as fake and contrived as reality TV. But the big-screen adaptation of Kevin Kwan's best-selling novel does willingly, gleefully champion a world of indulgence — a world where romance has to shine twice as bright against the glittering trappings of wealth. And, just like The Bachelor, the film remains both fluffy and breezy and over-the-top and melodramatic at the same time. Of course, there's more than a little winking and nodding evident when Crazy Rich Asians connects its opulent, soap opera-like theatrics to a popular televised dating contest. Director John M. Chu (Now You See Me 2) and his screenwriters Peter Chiarelli (The Proposal) and Adele Lim (TV's Dynasty) know exactly what they're doing, and they're not backing away from it. Combining a wealth of elements within its light and luxe confines, Crazy Rich Asians is many things, including extravagant, irreverent and entertaining. It's a rom-com about love and money, a comedy about class and culture clashes, and a modern-day fairytale about an ordinary girl falling for Singapore's equivalent of royalty — and, wholly in the service of its story, it refuses to dial down any of its excess. Indeed, there's a straightforward reason that the movie bathes in ultra-rich glitz and glamour to an almost ostentatious degree: it's giving audiences the same experience as the film's protagonist. One day, Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) is a New York economics professor from a working-class, single-parent household, and simply thinking about finally meeting her boyfriend Nick's (Henry Golding) parents. The next, she's flying first class to Asia, finding out that her beloved is well and truly loaded, and discovering the kind of life such a vast fortune can buy. Like falling down a rabbit hole, she's in unfamiliar, fantastical territory. Expecting to attend a low-key family dinner, she finds herself at a decadent blowout filled with folks wearing evening gowns. Heading to a bachelorette party for one of Nick's pals, she's helicoptered to a private resort. Even when she's just hanging out with her college buddy Peik Lin (Awkwafina), she's sitting in a gold-adorned mansion. What follows is a whirlwind introduction to the filthily, ridiculously rich, and it has consequences within the narrative. Rachel is understandably overwhelmed, Nick's mother Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh) is vocal about her disapproval, and Nick is caught in the middle. Accordingly, as Crazy Rich Asians tracks the chaos that ensues — and the battle between romance, finances and family — the film is devoted to plunging viewers into the lavish lifestyle at its centre in order to align them with its protagonist. Every filmmaking choice ramps up the indulgence, be it in the onslaught of colour, the lingering shots of sumptuous parties and homes, or the upbeat editing. Chu also uses his aesthetics to heighten the story's rampant fantasy, linking the movie not just with The Bachelor, but with fairytales like Cinderella. You can't make a film called Crazy Rich Asians without stressing every part of the title, after all. That doesn't just encompass the mania and the wealth, but also the pictures' dedication to representation. Among its many guises, the movie not only presents a rare and refreshing celebration of Asian culture in general, but puts stellar Asian talent front and centre on the cinema screen. Wu is spot-on as the relatable heroine, Yeoh is at her icy best, Ken Jeong and Awkwafina reliably steal scenes, and even Australian TV favourite Ronnie Chieng makes a brief appearance. The very existence of this cast really can't be downplayed — you have to go back to 1993's The Joy Luck Club and 2001's Memoirs of a Geisha to find other Hollywood films starring so many actors of Asian descent. Blend all of the above, and a few things happen. Much of Crazy Rich Asians glimmers with emotion, exuberance and cultural specificity, engagingly and enjoyably so. That said, some parts — its largely by-the-numbers narrative, and the fact that it presents rather than probes its excess-laden surroundings — also prove a little too neat and easy. The end result is a shiny piece of big-screen jewellery filled with gems, and while not every aspect sparkles as much as the next, the overall package still looks and works a treat. Or, to use a different analogy, the film is like the abundance of delicious-looking food that graces its frames: a huge, elaborate banquet that doesn't quite perfect every dish, but nonetheless satisfies the appetite — not to mention sating cravings for something with a bit more flavour than the usual fare. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14ZHRBfpeNg
UPDATE, April 29, 2021: Judas and the Black Messiah is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. The last time that Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield appeared in the same film, Get Out was the end result. Their shared scene in Jordan Peele's Oscar-winning horror movie isn't easily forgotten — if you've seen the feature, it will have instantly popped into your head while you're reading this — and neither is Judas and the Black Messiah, their next exceptional collaboration. With Kaluuya starring as the Black Panther Party's Illinois Chairman Fred Hampton and Stanfield playing William O'Neal, the man who infiltrated his inner circle as an informant for the FBI, the pair is still tackling race relations. Here, though, the duo does so in a ferocious historical drama set in the late 60s. The fact that O'Neal betrays Hampton isn't a spoiler; it's a matter of fact, and the lens through which writer/director Shaka King (Newlyweeds) and his co-scribes Kenneth Lucas, Keith Lucas (actors on Lady Dynamite) and Will Berson (Scrubs) view the last period of Hampton's life. It's 1966 when O'Neal falls afoul of the law for trying to impersonate an FBI agent to steal a vehicle. With J Edgar Hoover (Martin Sheen, Grace and Frankie) directing his employees to "prevent the rise of a 'messiah' who could unify and electrify the militant black nationalist movement" — his real-life words — the car thief is offered a deal by actual FBI Special Agent Roy Mitchell (Jesse Plemons, I'm Thinking of Ending Things). If O'Neal cosies up to Hampton, then reports back on his comings, goings, political moves and general plans, he'll avoid jail. Initially apprehensive, he acquiesces to keep his freedom. With Hampton's raging speeches earning him a firm following, and his charisma and canny strategies broadening the crowds hanging on his words, O'Neal's task isn't minor. And the further he ingratiates himself into Hampton's confidence, becoming his head of security, the more he's torn about keeping tabs and doing the government's increasingly nefarious bidding. The magnetic Kaluuya has already won a Golden Globe for his performance, and is bound to be nominated for and likely win an Oscar — but his Best Supporting Actor categorisation is misleading. Judas and the Black Messiah spends ample time with Hampton, as it needs to. While O'Neal works his way into his orbit, Hampton meets and falls for fellow Black Panther Deborah Johnson (Dominique Fishback, The Deuce), with their romance surviving arrests, other informants, prison, police shootouts and various underhanded law enforcement tactics. This isn't just a story about one young Black man coerced into bringing down a rising leader and revolutionary, but also of the figure mobilising the masses as Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X had, until he was shot while he slept at the age of just 21. And, it's a tale about the powers-that-be's abject fear of progress, equality, and the crusaders willing to put their lives on the line to fight for justice and a better world. As the twin film phenomenon has shown since the dawn of the medium, movies about the same topic or premise often reach screens concurrently. With Seberg, The Trial of Chicago 7 and now Judas and the Black Messiah, Hollywood has delivered three dramas within just over 12 months that examine the efforts of those supposedly upholding the law as they actively work to suppress anyone who doesn't suit their vision for America, all based on truth and all drawing upon the same period (Hampton also pops up in The Trial of Chicago 7, played by Waves' Kelvin Harrison Jr, in fact). The arrival of this trio in such short succession isn't a coincidence. Made by different filmmakers, they aren't connected or part of a purposeful approach, but US cinema is rightly reckoning with the imbalance that has been entrenched into its society. Alongside phenomenal documentary MLK/FBI, which steps through the concerted campaign by America's intelligence agencies to surveil and attack its eponymous subject, these politically charged and downright enraged pictures are deservingly carving out their own space and insisting that viewers pay attention to events that remain of immense relevance today. Managing to make everything look and feel equally slick, visceral, urgent and relentless (with vivid help from Widows' cinematographer Sean Bobbitt and his eye for colourful period detail, and from the production and costume design teams, too), King directs Judas and the Black Messiah like he's doing more than chronicling history. He is, of course. It's impossible to watch this film in the wake of America's particularly divisive past four years, and of the Black Lives Matter movement and its quest for fairness, and not see parallels. But Judas and the Black Messiah doesn't just use its narrative to reflect the present. Doing what only the best movies that look back at the past and its many problems achieve, it roves its eyes over times gone by, shines a spotlight on rampant oppression and the struggle against it, and condenses a wealth of information into a gripping feature — but it also revels in the minutiae of both O'Neal and Hampton's stories. Both are state-sanctioned ones tragedies, and they're as scalding and searing as they still should be. Alluding to the bible in its title might seem bold, but the reality here should be known as far and wide as any religious text. Also demanding notice: those two fierce performances by returning co-stars, each of which stand out in their own ways. Black Panther and Queen & Slim's Kaluuya commands the screen during every single one of his real-life character's speeches, and brings thoughtfulness and texture to a man who is never simply lionised. As for Sorry to Bother You, Uncut Gems and Knives Out's Stanfield, he plays conflicted with a raw, nervy air — and with the vulnerability and confusion of someone manipulated into a cause he genuinely wants to be a part of, yet required to double-cross the people he believes in. So much about Judas and the Black Messiah scorches itself into memory, although fans of its central duo will find themselves left with a distinctive dream. If Kaluuya and Stanfield can keep acting in movies this invigorating, ardent, resonant and essential, audiences will keep basking in their greatness. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ivHf4ODMi4
It's easy for Sydneysiders to forget how lucky we are to be surrounded by water. For a good reminder, hop on the ferry to Manly, grab a board from Manly Kayak Centre ($25 per hour), and spend the morning paddling around the gorgeous waters of the North Harbour. While you could easily idle around the moored yachts, we recommend heading to Store Beach, a secluded little delight that's only accessible by water. Once you've worked up a hearty appetite, head to one of Manly's many cafes for a leisurely Sunday brunch. We're especially big fans of The Boathouse, where, despite the gorgeous decor, it's totally acceptable to show up with your hair still dripping seawater.
Art galleries don't just showcase great works by renowned talents on their own walls. They also loan out their collections, touring them to other sites around the globe. That's great news for Australians, who've been able to check out pieces from London's Tate Britain and New York's Museum of Modern Art in recent years, all without leaving the country. Come 2021, you'll also be able to feast your eyes on two big collections of European masterpieces from two different overseas institutions: from New York's The Met, which is heading to Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art, and from London's National Gallery, which'll take over the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. The latter, called Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London, has just been announced — and will hit the Australian Capital Territory from March 5–June 14, 2021. If you were looking for a reason to take a local holiday interstate next year, the NGA has not just one but 60, because that's how many works this huge exhibition will feature. The gallery isn't joking about the showcase's title, either. When you'll be exhibiting Van Gogh's Sunflowers, you can throw around the word 'masterpiece' as much as you like. Other high-profile works include Rembrandt's Self Portrait at the Age of 34, plus Vermeer's A Young Woman seated at a Virginal. And, artist-wise, Titian, Velázquez, Goya, Turner, Renoir, Cézanne, Botticelli, El Greco, Constable, Van Dyke, Gainsborough and Gauguin are all also on the bill. [caption id="attachment_792837" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers 1888, National Gallery, London, Image courtesy the National Gallery, London[/caption] When peering at the exhibition's pieces, art aficionados will be taken through seven important periods in Western European art history, from a range that spans 450 years. That means exploring work from the Italian Renaissance, checking out the Dutch painting of the Golden Age, and feasting your eyes on British portraiture — as well as scoping out pieces from the 17th- and 18th-century Grand Tour, Spanish art from the 17th century, works that focus on landscape and the picturesque, and examining the birth of modern art. When Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London hits our shores, it'll mark a big milestone, too — as the largest batch of works to venture beyond the United Kingdom in National Gallery's 192-year history. Announcing the exhibition, National Gallery of Australia Director Nick Mitzevich mentioned exactly what you're probably now thinking — that is, that the showcase is a nifty way to see the world in a period when we can't venture far physically. "At a time when Australian audiences are unable to travel overseas, we are thrilled to be able to welcome visitors to Canberra to see this exclusive showcase of world-class art," he said. Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London exhibits at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra from March 5–June 14, 2021, with tickets on sale now. Top images: Installation view, Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers, The National Gallery, London © The National Gallery, London; installation view, Anthony van Dyck, Lady Elizabeth Thimbelby and Dorothy, Viscountess, The National Gallery, London © The National Gallery, London; installation view, Giovanni Giralomo Savoldo, Mary Magdalene (far left), The National Gallery, London © The National Gallery, London.
Paper is the unsung hero of the last two thousand years and it will continue to prevail despite claims of its obsolescence. Looking beyond the scribbles and characters printed on it, there is a tactile dimension to paper that is almost impossible to trump. Remember your joy when you first discovered gsm, satin gloss and embossed surfaces — all properties of paper Steve Jobs is yet to replicate. The Paper Mill is a shrine to the sheaf, in prime position at Sydney's heart, and from this Wednesday it hosts its second exhibition, lies/lions/lines. For the past two weeks, a brains trust of artists has taken residence at Angel Place in an effort to explore paper's many creative merits. For some this is a direct relationship with paper itself, bending and cutting the flat muse into sculptural dimensions. Others have wedded ink and sheet to show that doing it the traditional way still flings the spice. lies/lions/lines will be exhibiting Bababa International, Lionel Bawden, Bonita Bub, Biljana Jancic, Adrian McDonald, Andrew Moran, Ivan Muniz Reed & Benjamin Warren, Tom Polo and Teo Treloar. If those names mean nothing to you, pencil in Saturday, October 23rd for a hot bout of artists talks at 4pm. Image by Garry Trinh
Fratelli Fresh has long been a favourite among Sydney diners since Barry McDonald started the chain many, many years ago, and the newest instalment of the franchise is due to open its doors in Crows Nest in early December. The classic Italian eatery will take the place of the existing Bavarian Bier Café on the humming Willoughby Road dining strip, and aims to continue the legacy of providing traditional, artisanal products for a reasonable sum of dollarydoos that McDonald has consistently delivered for the past few decades. The new restaurant comes on the back of the franchise being sold to hospitality giants Urban Purveyor Group earlier this year, and UPG's recent merge with Neil Perry's Rockpool Group to create the super-entity, the Rockpool Dining Group. With nearly 50 venues owned by one of the biggest restaurant conglomerates, Fratelli's latest incarnation is the next step in an aggressive expansion campaign that looks to take the culinary experience offered by restaurants like Rockpool Bar and Grill, Burger Project and Spice Temple all across the country. They've just opened their first Fratelli outpost in Melbourne, and the first two of many (we're talking 100 over the next five years) Fratelli Famous food court pizza spinoffs. They plan to open another four to six Fratellis in 2017. It's almost a scientific fact that the Emerald City of Oz has a deep adoration for the Fratelli empire, and it'll be interesting to see how Sydneysiders will take to the new management. Initially, McDonald's daughter Nina Gravelis stayed on as brand general manager after UPG's takeover, but she has recently stepped aside to open her own restaurant, Exchange Restaurant and Bar on Oxford Street. The menu at the Crows Nest joint will focus on seasonal products, and will include classics and favourites like hand-crafted pizzas, zucchini flowers, calamari fritti, delicious salumi plates, and house-made gelato, all delivered with a price point you wouldn't shake a stick at. It's clear the new owners of the group are looking to shake the concept up, but, according to Rockpool Dining Group CEO Thomas Pash, they're aiming to maintaining the standard of products and service that loyal customers have grown to expect from the franchise. Pash told us that the group aims to bring the "Fratelli magic" to a wider audience. "We have always been mindful of not diluting that magic — only enhancing where we can," Pash says. The history of Fratelli Fresh under Barry McDonald has been written in stone, but the future of the franchise under its new management has still yet to be seen. Will we love the new incarnation of the brand as much as the old one? Only time will tell. But until then, we will still be scoffing banoffee pie in the corner. Fratelli Fresh Crows News is set to open on Thursday, December 8 at 118 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest. For more info, head to fratellifresh.com.au.
The Dutch pioneers of aburdist multi-media performance art, PIPS:lab, are bringing their breathtaking show the Washing Powder Conspiracy to Sydney this weekend. Taking place in the kooky confines of the Serial Space gallery in Surry Hills, it promises to be an evening of theatrical high jinx and mayhem, as this collective take on post-Clinton American imperialism, armed with an eccentric arsenal of audio and visual weapons, and a washing machine. As they sing, dance and act along to music made with drums and adapted household objects such as irons, their performance will be recorded and projected live on the screens behind. The footage will be edited live using much the same techniques as electronic musicians use on stage. Things could likely spin out of control as these crazy Dutch guys and girls push the boundaries of performance, art and technology with their visually stunning and interactive show. Audience participation is a given. There will also be free workshops taking place in conjunction with the show, where you learn how to paint with light!
New voices, same interdimensional chaos: that's what Rick and Morty will start beaming in October. The sci-fi animated sitcom has locked in its return date for season seven, hitting on Sunday, October 15 in America. That's Monday, October 16 Down Under, where it gets schwifty in your streaming queue via Netflix. If you're wondering what kinds of chaos are in store this time around, Adult Swim — which airs the series in the US — isn't giving much away as yet. "We ride together. We die together. We're buried in the backyard together," it teased in a first poster for the new season. And if you're also wondering how the show's titular chaotic scientist and his grandson will sound the new episodes, that hasn't yet been announced. Earlier in the year, the network dropped Justin Roiland due to domestic violence charges. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rick and Morty (@rickandmorty) Anything can happen in Rick and Morty, with a change of vocal tones for Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith one of the least out-there developments within the show's narrative. Given that the show clearly gleaned inspiration from Back to the Future, there's some obvious dream casting right there just waiting to happen — but whoever gets the gigs will be lending their tones to a genius scientist going on wild adventures with a high schooler. Viewers can still expect the show's eponymous pair to keep wreaking havoc, and the series to keep zipping between as many universes as it can. And, for Rick and Morty's hijinks to still draw in Morty's mother Beth (Sarah Chalke, Firefly Lane), father Jerry (Chris Parnell, Archer) and sister Summer (Spencer Grammer, Tell Me a Story). Spanning ten episodes, season seven will hit everywhere that it can in this dimension — in more than 134 countries, and also in 38 languages. If you're keen to rejoin the smartest Rick and Morty-est Morty in the universe, start getting excited. There's no trailer for Rick and Morty's seventh season yet — we'll update you when one arrives. Rick and Morty's seventh season will premiere globally on Monday, October 16 Down Under. It streams via Netflix in Australia and New Zealand.
If 2020 has reminded us of anything, it's that some surprises are truly terrible. But at least there's plenty of the other, nicer kind of surprise to even things out. Like the brand-new Quiet XPA from emerging brewery Heaps Normal, which just happens to be both full-flavoured and surprisingly alcohol-free. Now gracing bottle shop shelves across the country, the unfiltered booze-free ale is Heaps Normal's debut creation, with more non-alcoholic releases planned for the not-too-distant future. It has been carefully brewed to stand up against its more traditional indie craft counterparts, while also promising the glorious gift of zero hangovers. As far as the beery stuff goes, it's got tropical, citrus aromas, backed by a balanced bitterness and just a hint of sweetness from the malt. And, in another win for the health-conscious, the XPA is rocking less calories than the average full-strength beer, plus it's made with less sugar than many alcohol-free alternatives. [caption id="attachment_782993" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Heaps Normal co-founders Andy Miller, Ben Holdstock and Peter Brennan[/caption] Heaps Normal is the brainchild of four mates — Andy Miller, Ben Holdstock, Peter Brennan and Jordy Smith — who each had various reasons for wanting to cut down the booze and are now on a mission to help normalise mindful drinking. And it's clear they're not alone, with results from last year's Australia Talks National Survey suggesting 90 percent of Aussies see drug and alcohol abuse as one of the biggest issues facing our country. In fact, according to a recent Neilsen survey, around two-thirds of Australian drinkers between the ages of 21 and 34 are making an effort to minimise their alcohol consumption. And that's data from before a global pandemic swooped in, cooped us all up at home and saw many folks quaffing a little more than usual. Now, expect to see plenty more booze-free options on offer at bars and bottle shops, as brands like Heaps Normal respond to a growing call for non-alcoholic drinks that taste legit. If you indulged a little more than usual over lockdown and are looking to cut down, you might just be surprised with what guilt-free goodies are out there. Find out more and order your Quiet XPA at the Heaps Normal website.
Since the beginning of time, humans have always matched food with wine. Jesus broke bread with vino, the Vikings had their salted fish and mead, the French have cheese and champagne and the Italians cicchetti and aperitivo — a pairing we've all enjoyed more than a few times this summer. If you've spent the last few months like we did, cured meats, olives, vegetables in oil, cheese and the like have become a diet staple, especially when paired with a spritz or even simpler, a crisp glass of prosecco. As we move into autumn, there's no need to lose this little evening, pre-going out ritual — even if that summer sun starts to slip away. To help you take the magic of this molto buono pairing from the bar terrace and into your home, we've partnered with the wine aficionados at Dal Zotto and crafted five cicchetti to serve with the new Dal Zotto prosecco. Before your next night out, grab a few friends, a bottle of bubbles and kick back at your own at-home aperitivo hour. Red and white gingham tablecloths are entirely optional. CURED MEAT AND CHEESE TOASTS The zesty flavour of the prosecco cuts through the rich flavours of the meats and cheese. Plus, making it DIY limits prep time so you can easily plate, serve, eat and go. — preferred cured meats (spicy salami, salumi, prosciutto, bresaola, etc.) — preferred cheeses (provolone, parmesan, mozzarella, gorgonzola, etc.) — baguette, sliced about 2 centimetres wide and toasted Plate the meats, cheeses and bread together for everyone to construct themselves to their preference. Just make sure to keep the bubbles flowing. PANCETTA WRAPPED PRAWNS This upscale version of shrimp on the barbie is crunchy and rich and contrasts beautifully with the ripe fruit flavours and crisp acidity of prosecco. — 16 raw prawns, deveined — 8 pancetta rashers — aioli (serves four) Preheat the oven to 200°C and cut the rashers in half lengthwise. Wrap each prawn in a pancetta slice and place on a baking tray and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until fully cooked. Serve with aioli and well-chilled prosecco. BRUSCHETTA This classic is an oldy but a goody — and requires minimal effort. All you'll need is a toaster, chopping board and well-sharpened knife. Oh, and a glass of prosecco for while you're constructing. — 4 large slices of ciabatta — 4 tomatoes, roughly chopped — 2 garlic cloves, crushed — 2 red onions, diced — 3 cloves garlic, minced — 1/2 cup of basil, chopped — pepper and salt, to taste — balsamic and olive oil, to drizzle (serves four) Toast the ciabatta until almost burnt, then oil the bread. Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl, then divide the mixture evenly onto each piece toasted slice. Top with a drizzle of olive oil and garnish with basil leaves. Serve alongside a glass of prosecco immediately. PESTO ESCARGOT No, we're not eating snails. It's just a tasty pastry which has a cute snail-like (spiral) appearance, and the bitey parmesan and pesto counter the bubbly prosecco perfectly. — 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, defrosted — 3 tablespoons basil pesto — 1 cups parmesan cheese, grated (makes about 12 pieces) Preheat the oven to 180°C, then line a baking tray with baking paper and set aside. Roll out the dough and spread the pesto and cheese evenly over the pastry. Then, roll the sheet tightly into a long scroll and slice evenly into 12 pieces. Lay each piece on the tray leaving 2 centimetres between each roll, and bake for 10–15 minutes. Enjoy at a snail's pace over the afternoon with a bottle of bubbly, of course. ANTIPASTI SKEWERS Prosecco and antipasto are like old-timey best mates; they're always better together. The acidity of the prosecco counterbalances the saltiness of the olives and the creaminess of the mozzarella. — prosciutto — bocconcini — pitted olives — grape tomatoes — marinated artichoke hearts, drained and halved — basil leaves — skewers Add each ingredient onto a skewer, alternating colour and taste as you go. Arrange all the skewers on a serving platter, drizzle with olive oil and serve with a glass of prosecco. Keen for more fizz? Visit Dal Zotto for a glass of bubbly perfection. And once you're there, share your first Dal Zotto drink experience to Instagram and hashtag #FirstDZ to go in the running to win a year's worth of Dal Zotto prosecco and many more weekly prizes.
