When Super Mario Kart first rolled onto Super Nintendo consoles back in 1992, it came with 20 inventive courses and endless hours of fun. 26 years later, and the game isn't just speeding through desert tracks and rainbow roads — but onto the real-life streets, and now Google Maps. Because zooming Mario Kart-style through Tokyo wasn't enough, or bringing the IRL concept to Australia either, you can now spend the next week getting navigational directions from everyone's favourite cartoon plumber. Plus, he'll not only pop-up on the app, but as you drive along the road, he'll drive along with you on Maps — in celebration of Mario Day, which is March 10 (or MAR 10). [caption id="attachment_659698" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Google Maps[/caption] Anyone keen to take a drive with Mario simply needs to update their Maps app, then look for a question mark-shaped box that resembles a block from Super Mario Brothers. That's all there is to it — and it's not quite as fun as being able to actually play Mario Kart on Google Maps, like their Pac-Man April Fool's Day update a few years back, but it'll probably make you look up directions more often than you actually need over the next seven days. It goes without saying, but you you should still be watching the road as you drive — and not Mario on your phone, as cute as the gimmick may be. How else are you going to keep your eyes peeled for bananas, shells or gold coins? Via Google Maps.
When Taylor Swift announced that The Eras Tour was finally shaking its way to Australia, locking in five dates in two cities in February 2024, excitement echoed as loudly as the music superstar's voice. But, with such a condensed block of shows, nerves jangled as well. Getting a ticket to Swift's concerts in America caused a Ticketmaster meltdown, and has sparked new US legislation in response — and then there's scalpers and their inflated prices. With the singer-songwriter set to play her first two Aussie gigs of the tour at the MCG in Melbourne across Friday, February 16–Saturday, February 17, the Victorian Government has taken a key step to ensure that Swift fans don't get ripped off. Under the state's Major Events Act 2009, it has declared the 'Fearless', 'Enchanted', We Are Never Getting Back Together' and 'Blank Space' talent's shows a major event, which gets a whole heap of penalties around scalping's bad blood kicking in. [caption id="attachment_906252" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ronald Woan via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] Look what scalpers have made the Victorian Government do, basically. Under major event ticketing declarations, tickets to the concert must legally be available for a fair price, not the gargantuan costs that they can be flogged off for on the resale market. There's a specific figure specified under the law, in fact, with tickets to a declared major event unable to be resold for more than ten percent more than their original value. Other requirements include ticket package sellers needing authorisation from the event organiser, plus individual ads for tickets including both ticket and seating details. If a ticket seller flouts the rules, the penalties are steep — from $925 up to $554,760. [caption id="attachment_906254" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ronald Woan via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] This isn't just big news for Melburnians. Given that Swift is taking The Eras Tour to just two Aussie cities, it's relevant to the massive numbers of interstate and overseas attendees expected. The Victorian Government predicts that more than 60,000 people from around the rest of Australia, and from New Zealand, will be part of the 180,000 folks catching the singer during her two MCG concerts. Seeing Swift work through her entire career so far, playing tracks from each of her studio albums in a three-hour, 44-song, ten-act spectacular, The Eras Tour kicked off in March in the US, where it's still playing. Swift will also head to Mexico, Argentina and Brazil in 2023. Then, in 2024, she's off to Australia, Japan, Singapore, France, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, the UK, Ireland, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Poland. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) This'll be Swift's first tour Down Under since 2018, when she brought her Reputation shows to not only Sydney and Melbourne, but Brisbane and Perth, too. In the US, it's been breaking ticketing and venue records — expect tickets to get snapped up quickly Down Under as well, but now for a fair price in Victoria. [caption id="attachment_906253" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ronald Woan via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] TAYLOR SWIFT: THE ERAS TOUR AUSTRALIAN DATES 2024: Friday, February 16–Saturday, February 17 — Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Friday, February 23–Sunday, February 25 — Accor Stadium, Sydney Taylor Swift will bring The Eras Tour to Australia in February 2024. Tickets for the Melbourne shows go on sale at 10am AEST on Friday, June 30, with the Sydney shows on sale at 2pm AEST on Friday, June 30. The American Express VIP Package pre-sale runs for 48 hours from Monday, June 26 — from 10am in Sydney and 2pm in Melbourne — and the Frontier Members pre-sale runs 24 hours from Wednesday, June 28, again from 10am in Sydney and 2pm in Melbourne, or until all pre-sale tickets have been snapped up in both instances. Head to the tour website for further details. Top image: Ronald Woan via Wikimedia Commons.
Three shows on the Australian leg of Lady Gaga's The MAYHEM Ball tour were never going to be enough. First, a second Melbourne gig was added during the presale period — and now a second Sydney concert has joined her Aussie trip as well. If you're hoping for more from there to meet demand, however, that's all there'll be. Tour organisers have advised that the latest Harbour City concert is the singer's final Australian date on this run. Little monsters, you were already excited — but now you have more chances to see Mother Monster live. On her December 2025 visit this way, Lady Gaga is playing five gigs: across Friday, December 5–Saturday, December 6 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, then on Tuesday, December 9 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, before finishing up over Friday, December 12–Saturday, December 13 at Sydney's Accor Stadium. When the 14-time Grammy Award-winner takes to the stage at the quintet of massive concerts, she'll not only play her first Australian shows in 11 years — she'll do her first-ever Australian stadium concerts as well. The tour kicks off in Las Vegas in July, a few months after Lady Gaga finishes her two-weekend Coachella headlining gig — the second of which can be livestreamed worldwide across Saturday, April 19–Monday, April 21 Australian time, just as everyone did with the first. Before The MAYHEM Ball tour begins, she's also doing shows in Mexico City, Singapore and Rio de Janeiro. After her Vegas dates, everywhere from Las Vegas, New York and Toronto to London, Stockholm, Berlin and Paris will also score Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta's presence. Given that this is Gaga's first Aussie visit since 2014's ArtRave: The ARTPOP Ball gigs (with the Joanne and Chromatica Ball tours bypassing this part of the world), tickets for the local leg have understandably been going fast. When she added 13 new dates to the initially announced first shows on the tour overseas, they all sold out swiftly. As the name makes plain, Germanotta is touring on the back of MAYHEM, her latest album — and seventh in a row to go to number one on the Billboard 200. It also debuted in the top spot on Australia's charts, and gave Gaga her biggest streaming week ever by notching up 240-million streams on its first week alone. In addition to MAYHEM tracks such as 'Disease', 'Abracadabra' and 'Die with a Smile', fans can likely look forward to hits from across the artist's career, such as 'Poker Face', 'Bad Romance', 'Paparazzi', 'Born This Way' and 'Rain on Me' — plus, of course, seeing Gaga live onstage, rather than getting your fix via her film work in recent years in A Star Is Born, House of Gucci and Joker: Folie à Deux. Lady Gaga's The Mayhem Tour Australia 2025 Dates Friday, December 5–Saturday, December 6 — Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Tuesday, December 9 — Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Friday, December 12–Saturday, December 13 — Accor Stadium, Sydney [caption id="attachment_998819" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Frank Lebon[/caption] Lady Gaga is touring Australia in December 2025. General sales kicked off at 12pm on Thursday, April 17 for more shows, with times varying per city. For the second Sydney date, presales will start at 12pm on Tuesday, April 22, then general sales from 1pm on Thursday, April 24. Head to the tour website for more details. Live images: Raph PH via Flickr.
Thanks to Guy Sebastian, Dami Im, Isaiah, Jessica Mauboy, Montaigne, Sheldon Riley, Voyager and Electric Fields, Australia is no stranger to heading to Eurovision. In November 2024, the iconic song contest is coming to us instead. For the first time ever since beginning in 1956, Eurovision is touring, with an Aussie show now locked in for Sydney before spring is out. London, Paris, Stockholm, Madrid, Warsaw and Amsterdam are also on the itinerary before and after Eurovision on Tour's Down Under gigs, but its visit to Australia is different. This is the only country receiving multiple concerts, spreading Europop across the nation's east coast — in Melbourne and Brisbane as well. The concept dates back to 2019, but the pandemic initially got in the way. After that, it took two years of negotiating to lock in the setup. Now that Eurovision on Tour is officially happening, it'll play The Enmore in Sydney on Sunday, November 17 with 18 performers. On the lineup: Australia's own Im and Silia Kapsis, with the latter competing for Cyprus this year. Attendees can also look forward to 1991 winner Carola from Sweden, 2013 winner Emmelie de Forest from Denmark, and everyone from the UK's Nicki French, Portugal's Suzy and Malta's Destiny to Efendi from Azerbaijan, Ovi & Ilinca Bacila from Romania, and both Rosa López and Soraya from Spain — plus Italian African pop star Senhit. Eurovision on Tour Australian Lineup 2024 Senhit (San Marino) Dami Im (Australia) Carola (Sweden) Destiny (Malta) Efendi (Azerbaijan) Emmelie de Forest (Denmark) Esther Hart (Netherlands) Jalisse (Italy) Linda Martin (Ireland) Nicki French (United Kingdom) Ovi & Ilinca Bacila (Romania) Rosa López (Spain) Silia Kapsis (Cyprus) Soraya (Spain) Sunstroke Project (Moldova) Suzy (Portugal) The Roop (Lithuania) Theo Evan (Cyprus)
Sydneysiders are blessed to live in such a multicultural city harbouring a plethora of different cuisines from across the globe. And when it comes to Asian food, we're downright spoilt for choice — especially in the city's inner east. If you're searching for an Asian feast, the Sydney's inner east, including Zetland's East Village, is packed with regional Asian-style eateries. In fact, you're spoilt for choice. So, to help you hunt down the perfect prawn dumplings, Singapore noodles or barbecue pork buns, here are our picks of the bunch. Plus, after 6pm, you can score free parking at East Village — which means you can spend that money on an extra serving of spring rolls and enjoy them without watching the clock. So, if you're looking for a tasty, Asian-inspired feed, whether it's very authentic or a little bit experimental, these are some of the spots to consider. HAVE AN AUTHENTIC YUM CHA EXPERIENCE AT EAST PHOENIX Sydneysiders love an all-you-can-eat deal, and yum cha has to be the peak. The theatre of the trolleys zooming past, saying yes to way too any steaming plates of food and only stopping when you're on the precipice of a food coma — what an experience. East Phoenix — the fifth member of Sydney's Phoenix Restaurant Group — delivers on all fronts. If you're planning a special occasion, there is a private dining room available, but we recommend sitting in the main area during your visit where all the action is happening. Aside from the huge a la carte menu, the restaurant also offers banquets, starting at $40 per person, featuring all the big hits — spring rolls, Peking Duck pancakes and crispy skin chicken. Meanwhile, yum cha is available from 11am–3pm on weekdays and 10.30am–3pm on weekends. For $30 per person (excluding drinks), you can indulge in steam barbecue pork buns, steamed Chinese broccoli, fried prawn dumplings and more. GRAB A QUICK (AND AFFORDABLE) LUNCH FROM P'NUT STREET NOODLES For dishes inspired by popular streetside stalls in Thailand, make tracks to P'Nut Street Noodles. The eatery serves up street-style noodles, soups or salads using authentic sauces that are made from scratch. For a tasty lunch that'll barely dent your wallet, P'Nut also has a pretty stellar meal deal — you can nab Singapore noodles, cashew nut stir fry with rice or nasi goreng for under a tenner. If you're just after a snack, opt for chilli squid with sriracha mayonnaise or the popcorn chicken with sweet plum sauce, served in a crispy waffle cone. BECOME A TOP CHEF AT TAISHO WAGYU JAPANESE BBQ The Japanese term taisho is used to describe a chef of certain esteem and skill — which should give you an idea of what to expect at this East Village eatery of the same name. The folks behind Taisho Wagyu Japanese BBQ are all about traditional flavours, fresh ingredients and meticulous technique. Head down any day between 11am–10pm to enjoy edamame, gyoza and tempura vegetables, before launching into the main event. Every table at Taisho is fitted with a barbecue, so you can grill everything from shiitake mushrooms and pork belly to premium wagyu beef short rib to your heart's (and belly's) desire. TUCK INTO A JAPANESE-INSPIRED BURGER AT UNAYA A little further afield is Unaya, a bright and colourful eatery on Gadigal Avenue in Waterloo. Here, you'll find Japanese share-style snacks — think tempura popcorn prawn, edamame and takoyaki octopus balls — alongside a menu of grilled meat and veggie skewers, Japanese-inspired burgers and wraps. Our pick is the chicken katsu burger ($14.90) with cabbage slaw and chilli mayo served on a brioche bun. Not keen on a burg? Unaya's signature offering is its rice bowls, served with your choice of meat (teriyaki chicken, grilled unagi or wagyu beef), plus two sides and soup. You'll get change from a twenty for most of these bowls, too. Unaya also has an extensive sake selection, including yuzu, peach and green tea-flavoured umeshu, alongside a very creative cocktail menu — including one with Yakult, vodka and condensed milk. For dessert, you can enjoy matcha churros with white chocolate sauce DOWN AS MANY DUMPLINGS AS POSSIBLE AT E-DRAGON DUMPLING BAR For when nothing but a quality handmade dumpling will hit the spot, E-Dragon Dumpling Bar, based off the tastes of Shanghai, has just what you need. Whether you prefer yours steamed, pan-fried, deep-fried or in a soup, this eatery has just what your belly desires. And, if you're feeling like a bit of something extra on the side of all tiny morsels of flavour, there are plenty of cold plates, soups, sides and noodle dishes, too — think Taiwanese sausages, spicy duck wings, soy beef and wonton soup. SLURP CREAMY NOODLE SOUP AT UMAMI STONE POT The opportunity to get interactive at mealtime continues at Umami Stone Pot. Per hot pot tradition, you can expect a communal pot bubbling away in the centre of the table filled with a punchy, spice-heavy broth, noodles, vegetables, tofu and some form of meat. But unlike other hot pot joints you'll find around the city, Umami's hot pot is prepared in a stone pot embedded in the table. Based on the traditional technique from the Yunnan province in China, the dish is covered with a chimney-shaped straw lid, which allows the broth and ingredients to steam and intensify in flavour. Umami has several bases available, including a sweet and sour broth, beef, mushroom and milky fish. You have the option to order just one flavour or half and half. Winter may be over, but a giant, steaming bowl of noodles is a fine meal in any season. BUILD YOUR OWN BOWL AT MÁ LÀ TÀNG Má là tàng gives you the opportunity to explore the flavours of southwest China. This bright and spacious eatery specialises in malatang, the traditional Sichuan-style street dish. It's essentially customised hot pot for one. You'll start by selecting your ingredients, which span everything from vegetables and sliced meats to noodles and broth. Send your bowl off to the kitchen and a few minutes later, you'll be presented with a piping hot bowl of soup. Not up for a (mostly) liquid lunch? Opt for chaung chuan xiang — skewers with your choice of grilled meats, vegetables or bean products — or one of the daily bento boxes. Really, the options are endless and all hot, spicy and extremely tasty. We promise you won't leave hungry. GET A CHILLI HIT AT YASAKA RAMEN As we have already established, steaming, brothy noodle soups surpass the seasons — and ramen is right at the top of our list of not just noodle soups, but dishes in general, that make for a winning order no matter the weather forecast. The inner-city is teaming with top ramen joints, including the original outpost of this very business in the CBD. But if you're craving a quality, spicy broth when you're hanging around the eastern suburbs, Yasaka Ramen reigns supreme. This Waterloo spot, which is signposted with the epic slogan 'No Ramen No Life' (something we heartily agree with), opened in late-2018 and specialises in a hearty, rich tonkotsu broth. You can choose from a range of options, like the black garlic ramen with squid ink or the kakuni ramen with a slow-cooked soft pork bone. If you can handle the heat, opt for the spicy ramen — you can select your level of spiciness from a scale. Round up the crew and eat your way around Zetland's top Asian restaurants. To learn more about East Village, head this way.
With restrictions on indoor gatherings currently in place across Australia — first limiting non-essential inside events and venues to no more than 100 people in one space, and then implementing a limit of one person per four square metres — the nation's hospitality industry is changing fast. Many restaurants, cafes and bars have added or expanded takeaway and delivery options, ensuring that you can still eat and drink their wares at home and, crucially, help support their businesses. And in Continental Deli Bar Bistro's case, that now extends to its popular canned cocktails. Usually, you might hop into Continental Deli's in Newtown or the CBD for a Mar-tinny. Now, you'll be knocking back a Quaran-tinny — and you can do so while sitting on your couch. The venue describes it as "like a normal martini, but you drink it alone in your house". https://www.instagram.com/p/B9_PI8wj-Za/ While you'll still need to head in to pick up your canned cocktails, this is the first time that Continental Deli has made them available for takeaway. It hopes that'll only need to be the case for a limited time — depending how long the COVID-19 situation lasts, obviously. Continental Deli is currently still open for dining in and, as always, you can grab and go from its deli, sandwich and dry goods range. Find Continental Deli Bar Bistro at 167 Phillip Street, Sydney and 21o Australia Street, Newtown — open Monday–Friday in the CBD and seven days in Newtown. Top image: Kitti Smallbone.
All hail! The (self-crowned) queen of comedy is coming to a cinema near you! But before you baulk in fear of damaging your corneas with exposure to the notorious nightmare that is Joan Rivers' plastic face, you'll do well to know that Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg's documentary is quite remarkable indeed. Chronicling the 75th year in the life of the indefatigable and utterly incorrigible Rivers, Stern and Sundberg locate the comedienne's demand for the spotlight and increasingly desperate schedule alongside an illuminating trip into the archives of her distinguished career. Upon witnessing the impressive strides Rivers' took in what was really a man's profession, as well as the personal tragedy experienced en route, it becomes difficult to dismiss her as merely that loudmouth on the red carpet; she is patently so much more. Complex, driven and oftentimes downright hilarious, Rivers can quip about living in more luxury than Marie Antoinette, yet she too fears when the crowd will turn (as one riveting stand-up scene shows all too well). This documentary leaves no doubt that Joan Rivers is a piece of work, but she wouldn't have it any other way. Screening in limited release at the Chauvel and the Hayden Orpheum. https://youtube.com/watch?v=j92Rka-FtUw
Throughout May, a huge selection of restaurants are serving up exclusive menus, offering generous discounts and sharing primo culinary intel as part of American Express delicious. Month Out. The program of events is extensive with experiences that cover a range of price points making it accessible for all foodies, no matter your budget. Whether you've got a spare $20 to get your fix or you're willing to splurge on an immersive one-off dining experience, we've found something to suit all price tags — from budget to blowout.
You've passed the nervous jitters of the first date, and you're feeling good after a follow up rendez-vous, so now what? When you're planning a third date in Sydney, you'll want to get a few things right. First up, the venue should be easy-going and inviting. You're still getting to know your potential future partner, so it's wise to choose a place that's not too loud or raucous, making it easier to chat. At the same time, you want to be somewhere fun and interesting. Whether you're after a rooftop bar with killer views, a place to eat with an impressive wine list, or a lesser-known neighbourhood gem with live music, we bring you this list of places that'll guarantee your catch-up has the right vibe and provides some talking points. Settle in for an evening of people watching, live performances or plates of delicious snacks. Recommended reads: The Most Romantic Bars in Sydney The Best Bars in Sydney The Best Restaurants in Sydney The Best Underground Bars in Sydney
Thirteen months after Australia's borders closed and international travel was banned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Aussies can finally enjoy an overseas holiday again. The destination: New Zealand, with the long-awaited trans-Tasman travel bubble now up and running as at 11.59pm on Sunday, April 18. A quarantine-free travel bubble between Australia and NZ has been floated and discussed plenty of times over the past year. A one-way arrangement has actually been in effect since mid-October 2020, with New Zealanders able to visit some Australian states. But it has taken quite some time for a reciprocal plan to kick into gear, so if you feel like you've been hearing about the bubble for months and months (and months), that's definitely accurate. Here's how it works: Australians can hop on a flight, which have been dubbed 'green zone flights', and soar across the ditch as they would've pre-pandemic. To avoid quarantine, you'll need to have spent 14 days in either Australia or New Zealand before you travel — and you'll only be onboard with folks who fall into the same category. The crew on those flights won't have flown on any high-risk routes for a set period of time, too. To qualify to enter NZ, you'll need to also meet the usual meet immigration requirements, not have had a positive COVID-19 test result in the past 14 days and not be waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test taken in the last fortnight. And, you'll have to complete a travel declaration and a pre-departure health declaration; however, getting tested for COVID-19 before departure is not a requirement. At the airport and on the plane, you'll need to wear a face covering. That'll remain the case when you land in NZ, too. Travellers from green zone flights will then be taken to their own arrival area, away from folks landing from other parts of the world that are going into managed isolation and quarantine facilities. Random temperature checks and health assessments are part of the on-ground process as well. Then, once you're out of the airport, you're asked to download and use the NZ COVID Tracer app to keep track of your whereabouts, to abide by the usual social distancing and hygiene measures that've become commonplace in Australia, and to keep an eye on NZ's COVID-19 alert levels. You'll also need to be prepared in case the travel bubble arrangement is disrupted due to new COVID-19 cases in either NZ in Australia. If an outbreak arises in an Aussie state, there'll be three options. Firstly, if the case is clearly linked to a border worker in a quarantine facility and is well contained, travel will likely continue. If a case isn't linked to the border and the relevant state went into lockdown, NZ will likely pause flights from that state. And, if there are multiple cases of unknown origin in a state, NZ will probably suspend flights for a set period of time. Australia's international border still remains shut to most global travel, although a similar travel bubble with Singapore is currently under discussion for a potential July start. If you're keen to start planning your NZ jaunt, we've rounded up some of our favourite glamping sites, wineries, sights and restaurants in NZ. To learn more about the trans-Tasman bubble, head to the NZ Government website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. To find out more about the virus and travel restrictions in New Zealand, head over to the NZ Government's COVID-19 hub.
When it comes to dining out, Sydneysiders are spoilt for choice. So if you've ever wished you could experience all your favourite chefs in one place, you're in luck, because now you can. Introducing The Dining Table, a pop-up restaurant brought to you by the team behind Beer The Beautiful Truth, plus some of Sydney's coolest, most talented chefs — expect an all-star line-up including Bar Brose's Adam Wolfer, Nic Wong from Potts Point's Cho Cho San, Luke Powell from LP's Meats and Acme's Mitch Orr (just to name a few). Across ten nights, a different chef will take over the pop-up to serve a highly delicious three-course meal, pairing each course with a different beer. The dinners will be dedicated to showing diners the magic that can happen when great food and beer come together. And in celebration of this coming together of excellent chefs, amazing food and superb beers, we've secured a pretty epic prize for one of our dear readers. You could win yourself a VIP dining experience at Bar Brose, valued at $500, plus another $500 to spend towards some tasty brews from MoCU, a curated online shop of beer and wine. At Bar Brose, look to the Feast Menu, serving up Wolfer's Hungarian-Jewish eats. Taking you on a whirlwind tour of the Eastern European cuisine, the menu features deep fried Hungarian flat bread (lángos) with smoked sour cream, Hungarian dukkah, gefilte fish, horseradish, beetroot, turnip dumplings, celeriac and native lime; Hungarian dumplings (nokeldi) with pumpkin, bush tomato and egg yolk; parsnip schnitzel; pastrami and, for dessert, orange and poppy seed kugelhopf cake with whipped buttermilk. There's also a vegetarian menu available for the non-carnivorous. As for MoCU, for the uninitiated, the online shop is a haven of beer (and cider and wine). The shop curates its offering from artisanal breweries and winemakers the world over, so with $500 you could certainly find yourself on a round-the-world tour (or two) via several limited release, specially crafted drops. To go in the running, enter your details below. [competition]632124[/competition] Image: Kimberley Low.
It's been a big few months for new hotels around Australia, including just-opened spots and places that'll launch in the coming months and years. Sydney now boasts the first Down Under outpost for Ace Hotels, and will soon score Porter House Hotel, too — plus the local debut of The Waldorf Astoria in 2025. Melbourne has welcomed the design-driven AC Hotels, Newcastle is nabbing its own QT with a rooftop bar and a suite in a clock tower, and the Gold Coast is nabbing The Langham. There's also a new hotel in the works for the Barossa in the middle of a vineyard, and the Yarra Valley is getting one as part of a big gig venue. Don't go thinking that Brisbane is missing out, though — because that's where the new voco Brisbane City Centre comes in. The chain has just taken up residence on North Quay right next to Brisbane Quarter, which means that it's in a prime riverside position. And, to take advantage of that location, it features a views aplenty, as well as a rooftop pool. Brisbane's first voco hotel — and the second for Queensland, after voco Gold Coast — it also comes with 194 rooms, as well as hangout space Kraft & Co. There, you can drink coffee by day and kick back in a lounge bar by night. You'll find the latter on the ground floor, slinging everything from eggs for breakfast and brunch through to cocktails till late. Wherever you're spending your time at this new staycation spot, you'll be surrounded by a sleek fitout by Sydney-based interior design studio JPDC, which takes its cues from the hotel's riverside locale. Dark blue tones are a big feature, alongside neutral colours — and maximising natural light. Among the site's features, voco Brisbane City Centre also boasts an all-hours gym, plus 11 meeting and function spaces. And, as part of a sustainability push that also includes aerated shower heads and refillable Antipodes products, guests can zip around the city for free on handcrafted bamboo bikes from Wyld Bikes. Find voco Brisbane City Centre at 85–87 North Quay, Brisbane. For more information or to make a booking, head to the voco website.
Winter is a notoriously difficult time for the hospitality industry. The month of May, teetering on the cusp of winter, is not the best month to open a restaurant unless, of course, that restaurant has a Nordic theme. While Sydneysiders rug up and rooftop bars citywide bunker down, Norsk Dor has set up shop on Pitt Street. And who better to guide us through the chilly months than a cosy Scandinavian-inspired restaurant? Norsk Dor isn't 'Nordic' as you may imagine it — you won't find any allusions to Vikings (aside from that fur draped on the back of your chair). But you will find a hearty menu, chock full of fresh produce and protein. The venue is inspired by the years head chef Damien Ruggiero spent in Sweden, where he lived on a salmon farm with no power and no gas — but plentiful salmon and potatoes. What he learned? Ingredients are king, and they certainly are at Norsk Dor, where the menu fluctuates not with the season but with the availability of good produce. Each component is sourced close to home, such as salmon from Mount Cook in New Zealand and kingfish from Manly. "For us, it's about respecting the raw ingredients, getting the freshest produce, keeping it simple and using Scandinavian traditional techniques (like curing) and reinventing that for Australian produce,' says general manager Stephen Byrne (formerly of fellow basement dweller Uncle Ming's in Wynyard). Norsk Dor consists of an closely-linked bar and a kitchen, intimate not just because of the atmospheric lighting that cloaks the whole venue, but in the way they interact. The kitchen feeds, shares ingredients with and inspires the cocktail and bar menus. Tired of olives and crostini for bar food? This bar menu is a challenge to the palette, an adventurous little taste of the restaurant menu with dishes like salmon on crisp rye bread, king crab pate and quail egg. Visiting Norsk Dor is a bit of an 'experience' — especially in a rather whatever part of the CBD. A nondescript industrial door gives way to a yellow-lit corridor, leading to a dark, earthy lair. Foliage grows here in abundance (helped along by hydroponic lamps) and fluffy kangaroo hides are folded over elegant chair backs. Rich wood and simple concrete work together in the space to create the perfect frame for Ruggiero's dishes and Byrne's cocktails. Byrne says the interior design was also a labour of love. "We did it all ourselves. We've been working on this project for nine months now… Justin Best and I worked really closely on the design. It fits in with the whole ethos of the place, it follows through into our menu as well and we wanted the food and drinks to shine through." Find Norsk Dor at 70 Pitt Street. Open Monday - Saturday 5pm - 12am.
Just as NAIDOC week kicks into gear for 2019, Australia's Budj Bim Cultural Landscape has been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List — becoming the first Australian site to receive recognition exclusively for its Aboriginal cultural values. During its current meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation added the south-west Victorian site to its list of landmarks and areas that are legally protected due to their significance. Located on Gunditjmara country, the region spans the Budj Bim volcano, Tae Rak (Lake Condah), the Kurtonitj wetlands, and Tyrendarra's rocky ridges and large marshes. It also includes remnants of more than 300 round, basalt stone houses, which demonstrate the Gunditjmara people's permanent settlement in the area. Of specific interest to UNESCO, Budj Bim features a system of channels, dams and weirs, all made possible due to basalt lava flows that have been carbon-dated back to 6600 years. The complex network is considered one of the the largest and oldest aquaculture setups in the world, and is used not only to contain floodwaters, but to trap and harvest the kooyang eel. The listing comes after five years of work between Gunditjmara people and the Victorian and Australian governments to develop Budj Bim's World Heritage nomination, and marks Australia's 20th entry on the list — alongside the Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu National Park, Fraser Island, the Tasmanian wilderness, the Greater Blue Mountains area, the Sydney Opera House and the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, among others. [caption id="attachment_729904" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Tae Rak channel and holding pond,Tyson Lovett-Murray, Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation[/caption] In total, UNESCO has added 21 new sites to the World Heritage List as part of its 2019 conference, which runs through until Wednesday, July 10, and will examine 35 nominations in total. In addition to Budj Bim, the new entries showcase spots in China, Iran, France, Iceland, Brazil, Bahrain, Canada, Germany, Czechia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Poland, Myanmar, Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Burkina Faso and Iraq, including Babylon. The list of new cultural sites chosen so far is as follows: Migratory bird sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China — natural site. Hyrcanian forests in the Islamic Republic of Iran — natural site. French Austral Lands and Seas in France — natural site. The fire and ice of Vatnajökull National Park in Iceland — natural site. The culture and biodiversity of Paratyand Ilha Grande in Brazil — natural and cultural site. Ancient ferrous metallurgy sites of Burkina Faso — cultural site. Babylon in Iraq — cultural site. Dilmun burial mounds in Bahrain — cultural site. Budj Bim Cultural Landscape in Australia — cultural site. Archaeological ruins of Liangzhu City in China — cultural site. Jaipur City, Rajasthan in India — cultural site. Ombilin coal-mining heritage of Sawahlunto in Indonesia — cultural site. Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group of mounded tombs from Ancient Japan — cultural site. Megalithic jar sites in Xiengkhouang — Plain of Jars in the Lao People's Democratic Republic — cultural site. Bagan in Myanmar — cultural site. Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies in the Republic of Korea — cultural site. Writing-on-Stone /Áísínai'pi in Canada — cultural site. Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří mining region of Czechia and Germany — cultural site. The landscape for breeding and training of ceremonial carriage Hhrses at Kladruby nad Labem in Czechia — cultural site. The water management system of Augsburg in Germany — cultural site. Krzemionki Prehistoric Striped Flint Mining Region in Poland) — cultural site. UNESCO also extended the heritage listing of the Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region, to not only include northern Macedonia but also Albania. Prior to the 2019 meeting, the World Heritage List included 1092 different sites spread across 167 countries. Need some travel inspiration — or a reminder of just how wondrous our planet is? Browsing the full list will take care of that for you. Top images: Lake Condah, Tyson Lovett-Murray, Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation / Tae Rak in flood, Tyson Lovett-Murray, Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.
You might not expect cocktails to feature in a health kick. But, head to the inaugural St-Germain x La Maison Wellness Weekend, and you'll discover that you can have your liqueur — and drink it, too. Taking over the Paramount Recreation Club in Surry Hills, on September 14–15, this event is all about 'healthy hedonism'. Indulge, sure, but look after yourself, too. In a two-hour session, you'll take part in a yoga and meditation class. Then, after finding your zen, you'll be feasting on brunch and snacks — and St-Germain spritzes, all included in the ticket price. St-Germain, the 100 percent natural French elderflower liqueur, so you can expect your spritzes to be even more refreshing than usual. Plus, it's low in alcohol. Your host for this retreat will be La Maison Wellness's Camille Vidal, a London-based yoga and meditation teacher, who's spent the past fifteen years in the hospitality industry. She's written two cocktail books — How to Drink French Fluently and How to Spritz French Fluently — in collaboration with alcohol magazine, Punch. Now, she's also launching a La Maison Youtube channel full of recipes for 'mindful' cocktails. At this event, Vidal will be talking about the importance of balance and mindfulness. Sessions will take place on Saturday, September 14, from 12.30–2.30pm and 3.30–5.30pm and on Sunday, September 15, from 11.30am–1.30pm and 2.30–4.30pm. Tickets cost $33.43 per person and include a bunch of pressies to take home, including a sports bag, sports towel, two St-Germain glasses, a 50ml bottle of St-Germain and a cocktail recipe card. To book your spot in for the inaugural Wellness Weekend, head here.
Sydneysiders need no longer hypothesise about taking all their cans to South Australia, you'll be able to nab a tiny return right here. In a new initiative by the City of Sydney (modelled on successful overseas ventures), a series of vending machines will reward recyclers for throwing in their empty plastic bottles or cans. Sure, the rewards might be food truck vouchers. But it's something. Still in the trial stages, the machines are ready for feeding on Dixon Street Mall, Haymarket and Alfred St and Circular Quay. These chomping vendors can hold up to 2000 bottles and cans each before reaching capacity. Feeding one of the machines isn't rewarding recyclers in cash money yet, instead you'll nab little freebies — two-for-one food truck vouchers, ten cent donations to charity or entry into the draw for New Year's Eve Dawes Point tickets. A prevalent and well-established project in the U.S, Norway and Germany, these 'reverse vending machines' have been proven to achieve colossal recycling rates — South Australia's rose up to 90 percent (double the rate of NSW). City of Sydney reported that 15,000 bottles and cans are currently chucked into landfill every minute Australia-wide. That's a crapload of Coke cans. Contrary to our smug, uppity recycling faces, just over 40 percent of bottles and cans are recycled annually in NSW. People are still throwing their Mount Franklins in with their banana peels. "In 2013 beverage containers and their associated rubbish made up 41 per cent of the total rubbish and 59 per cent of the top ten rubbish items reported by volunteers in NSW," said Clean-Up Australia founder and chairman, Ian Kiernan AO. "This is a serious problem. We need better ways to capture these containers, turning them from rubbish into a resource. The cleanest and most accessible solution we have seen is the reverse vending model." While we're not sure if a few raffle tickets will be enough incentive for Sydneysiders to recycle their Passiona cans, it's certainly a start. Recycle your cans in the Sydney CBD on Dixon Street Mall, Haymarket and Alfred St and Circular Quay.
Woolloomooloo icon, The Tilbury, has been revamped just in time for summer. Designers Luchetti Krelle (the same people behind the design of ACME and Barrio Cellar) have used their magic to turn it into a bright and breezy space with plenty of wood tones, gold and a splash of pastel blue. In fact, the whole colour palette screams modern maritime. This major overhaul of the interior, courtyard and upstairs area is the pub's first in twelve years. The restaurant has plenty of natural light and the chairs look like they're wearing snuggly jumpers. Hooray for extra comfort during your dinner! For those who prefer a warm breeze, balmy summer afternoons are just around the corner and the revamped courtyard is the perfect spot for some after-work drinks or a lazy meal. Owner Scott Whitehouse wants to "give people a more relaxed experience when visiting the hotel... without jeopardising the already simple classic style." Interior renovations usually go hand in hand with menu changes and this is no different. With head chef James Wallis behind the pass, The Tilbury has a new produce-driven grill menu for you to enjoy with your mates. It's fine gastropub fare-focused with dishes like Moroccan spiced lamb rump and a Black Angus rump (with a marbling score of three). We've got our eye on the 64 percent Valhrona chocolate mousse with vanilla ice cream though — washed down with a Riesling or a pint of pale ale. This is one local that's keeping things up to date. Find The Tilbury at 12-18 Nicholson St, Woolloomooloo.
The same team behind Frankie Magazine is about to launch a new publication entitled Smith Journal, a kind of guy-friendly take on the concept that has worked so brilliantly for the ladies. Over the years Frankie has created its own niche in the world of magazines. its creators saw a dearth of publications lacking warmth, impeccable design and solid content, so they filled the gap and they’ve done spectacularly well off it. In the past two years Frankie has had astounding jumps in circulation, making it the fastest growing magazine in the country. And the reasons for that are many, including their clean, environmentally-friendly design, support for underground acts and emerging creatives, and their emphasis on strong content, publishing distinctive writers like Benjamin Law and Marieke Hardy. Now they’re applying the same logic to the world of gentlemen’s magazines. The idea behind the name – Smith – is that of blokes doing stuff with their hands – blacksmiths and wordsmiths and the like. Their positioning is both old fashioned and down to earth, but never attempting to be cool or exclusive. And just like Frankie doesn’t bar the boys from the clubhouse, Smith also welcomes lady readers. The difference between Smith and Frankie is that it’s going to be a wee bit bigger and a little less regular. It’ll be printed out at a not-entirely-bus-friendly edition of 140+ pages, with only two issues a year in limited release. The first issue is out September 5.
This December, you can score a bottle of vino for as little as $8.50 a pop thanks to Vinomofo's Boxing Day Sale. Running from Friday, December 25 till Thursday, December 31, the sale will offer up to 70 percent off a heap of local and international wines — and it'll all get delivered straight to your doorstep for free. So, get ready to stock up on vino to help ring in the New Year. Vinomofo is an online wine company for those who love wine, but without all the pretension that sometimes comes with it. The Melbourne-based company delivers wine to thousands of people around the world — so it's safe to say it knows what it's doing when it comes to grape juice. The Boxing Day sale will see some of the biggest price drops from Vinomofo yet and will include more than 100 wines. It'll be adding additional daily wine deals over the week, too. Think celebratory champagne, epic-value prosecco and plenty of summer-suitable rosé, plus a huge range of white and red varieties — all for a steal. And, to top it off, shipping for all orders purchased in that time period will be free. Score epic wine deals via Vinomofo's Boxing Day Sale — for a limited time only.
A longtime festival favourite among foodies, the Good Food & Wine Show, is back for its 2022 run. And, like always, the event packs a flavourful punch — there's the Good Food Village, which showcases artisan producers (with tastings galore); the Riedel Drinks Lab and its roll call of vino masterclasses; and The Kitchen by Harris Scarfe and its supercharged list of hospo heavyweights sharing their tips, tricks and favourite recipes. Here at Concrete Playground, good food and wine is our religion. We're up on the latest openings and frequent the delicious mainstays, we try out the hot-ticket ingredients (be it yuzu or alc-free liqueurs) and we happily attend events celebrating the tip-top of Aussie producers, dining venues and culinary talents. So, bringing it all under the one roof — with tickets for just $28 (or $35 with a tasting glass to keep) — is a sure-fire way to have us racing to plan a tasty itinerary for the day. After successful weekenders in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, the annual extravaganza is set to hit Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre from October 21–23. This year is truly not one to be missed — read on for our picks at this year's shows. NOODLE SMACKDOWN AND DINNER INSPIRATION As someone who learns best by seeing things in action, I can guarantee you I'll be spending most of my Good Food & Wine Show at The Kitchen by Harris Scarfe. There'll be a bunch of live cooking demonstrations courtesy of well-known chefs sure to equip you with new kitchen tricks and some much-needed dinner inspiration. With so many incredible options available, it's tough to decide which class to attend. So far, I've got my eyes firmly fixed on Brendan Pang's Noodle Smack Down Street Food demonstration. Courtney Ammenhauser, Branded Content Manager A CHEESY WONDERLAND The food show is always a cheese wonderland, and tasting your way up and down Cheese Lane (and then up and down again) is a delicious way to spend your day — just mentally prepare yourself for those cheese dreams afterwards. Here are three little words that should get nearly everyone excited: cheese, chocolate and sparkling. This Good Food & Wine Show masterclass — hosted by cheese expert and owner of Smelly Cheese Project Valerie Henbest — is dedicating 45 minutes to the not-so-common pairing of cheese and choccie (with a glass of bubbles on the side), and is sure to tempt a crowd. You'll want to nab a ticket, stat, if you don't want to miss it. Sarah Ward, Associate Editor CULINARY STARS AND BIG, BEAUTIFUL BAROSSA REDS Since wine always tastes better when you know a bit about whatever the heck it is you're sipping, I'll be heading to the free palate appreciation classes at the Riedel Drinks Lab. The sessions are led by resident wine guy Nick Ryan and involve some expert tutelage, as well as tastings. In the midst of winter's chill, the class dedicated to big, beautiful reds is calling out to me. Libby Curran, Staff Writer A TICKET ESPECIALLY FOR THE WINE LOVERS First things first, I will definitely be nabbing myself a Wine Lovers Ticket. If you're into your fine drops, the extra dollars are well worth it — you'll take home a Riedel magnum tasting glass and an expert-selected bottle of vino, get exclusive access to back vintages and a tote bag to haul your goodies around in. The highlight in my eyes? Is it Really Better to be Single?, the punny wine-tasting masterclass that will have Nick Ryan chatting through the ins and outs of blending (and shining a light on why it's one of the most important skills in a winemaker's toolbox). A stop by the Good Food Village for a refuel by way of tastings and my day is made. Grace MacKenzie, Branded Content Manager EVENTS WORTH CROSSING THE DITCH FOR Confession: this is a hypothetical recommendation as I'm stuck over here in New Zealand and can't head to the show. But it may surprise Aussies to know that here in Aotearoa we are fanatical about MasterChef Australia. And no contestant has had an impact on me or my mother more than Brendan Pang during his tenures in 2018 and 2020. We were women obsessed. So, seeing him in real life whipping up dumplings and street eats during the Noodle Smack Down Street Food masterclass is absolutely worth booking flights across the ditch for. While I'm at the show, I'd definitely head to the Wine and Dine Tasting Room for Perfetto! Italian Food and Varietals, which combines two of my greatest loves: pasta and wine. Learning how to effectively match bold local drops to the diversity of Italian cuisine is almost as good as heading away on my own Euro-summer vacation. Almost. Sarah Templeton, New Zealand Editor Ready to start planning your tasty day out? Head to the website to explore the full lineup and book tickets. Top images: Jessica Wyld and Joseph Byford (last image)
Hotel Steyne's very own bootleg bar, Moonshine, is the ideal shanty for you and your rum-running buddies on a Thursday night this spring. There's raucous live music, a huge range of cider and rum (over 100 bottles to choose from) and a good serve of hearty meals. There's also $8 Sailor Jerry until late. Head in early for a feed from Moonshine's Seaside Grub menu offering nine types of pizza, barbecue and hot wings, beef and veg nachos, as well as 'moondogs', with your choice of a smoked frankfurter, Sailor Jerry-infused barbecue pulled pork or smoked sauerkraut and Piparras peppers. Opt for the kitchen special, and get a moondog and Young Henrys tinnie for $10, available until the kitchen closes at 9pm. Then from 9pm, the live music kicks off, with sets by the likes of local artists Ruby Fields, The Hard Arches, Drunk Mums, The Ruminaters, Maddy Jane, Hollow Coves and The Pinheads. Head to the Steyne's Moonshine Thursdays each week to catch a different act and eat your way through each of their moondogs and pizzas; check out the weekly lineup here.
This is it, folks. The Big Dance. After the Sydney Mardi Gras festival's culmination at the parade that stops the city, the top ticket in town is the one that gets you into the Entertainment Quarter. The party lands on March 4 this year and the bill features twins for the win, with the unavoidably catchy pop stylings of The Veronicas opening the show for indie legends Tegan and Sara. Beats will be curated by a massive mix of DJ talent from home and abroad, including Sylvin Wood, Joelby and the best named DJ ever, DJ Dan Murphy. All American Boy, Steve Grand, will also perform. Image: Sydney Mardi Gras.
Normally ugliness is relative and objective, but not if you’re at one of the stranger events taking place during the Basque city of Bilbao’s annual cultural festival Aste Nagusia or ‘Big Week’. Somewhere in between the comparatively commonplace displays of music, art, fireworks and bullfights taking place over the nine-day celebration falls the bewildering Concurso de Feos, which literally translates to ‘The Ugly Competition’. Concurso de Feos was apparently initiated as a spin on the controversial and outdated beauty pageant. Though it is also a great alternative for those not endowed with the skills required to perform the spectacular facial feat known as a gurn (perhaps due to still having at least six teeth) but who continue to dream of having their ugliest mug immortalised on the Internet. The Spanish competition apparently encourages the use of fingers to assist with the distorting process, with entrants stuffing digits into their nostrils, eyeballs and inner cheeks in their quest to perform the most unsightly sneer in all the land. There appears to be no age restrictions on competing, with the event popular amongst both old and young alike. And, obligatory jokes aside, Concurso de Feos can claim the dual merits of providing locals with a comical distraction from the Basque County’s economic woes and the rest of the world with a good boost of self-confidence. via Geekologie
Think digital media is all about working on beanbags and not running work past your editor? Not true! (Okay, sometimes.) Come intern at Concrete Playground and learn the real ins and outs of producing arts, culture, food and lifestyle editorial in a fun and fast-paced online environment. We're currently looking for interns in Sydney to work with the team in our Redfern office one day per week. You will need to demonstrate excellent writing skills as well as a love of and engagement with Sydney's cultural life. Expressions of interest should be addressed to editor Rima Sabina Aouf at contribute@concreteplayground.com.au. Include a CV and 2-3 samples of your written work. Image from House of Cards. Does not resemble real life, where you'll have a desk, a real true desk.
What date was Beethoven born? What was Jimmy Barnes' surname at birth? What is Taylor Swift's favourite number? Whether you're an expert in 18th-century classical music or 21st-century pop, you now have a new way to show off your knowledge. Music trivia has landed at Baptist Street Rec. Club in Redfern. Every Tuesday night, from 7pm in the trophy room, Colin Delaney is asking round after round of questions on everything and everyone in music. There are no limitations on genres, artists or periods. While you're working your brain, you'll be listening to a rotating playlist of bangers — from pop, rock and country to hip hop, indie and R&B. Plus, music trivia coincides with Pad Thai Tuesday, letting you take your pick of chicken, beef or pork for $15. Head along as part of a team of up to seven, or fly solo (and prove that one head is better than many). Either way, excellent prizes are up for grabs.
Picture this: you're nine years old and you have ten minutes to grab a treat from the local Baker's Delight before your swimming lesson. You spread your fingers on the glass display cabinet and spot the glistening pink finger buns. Your mum lets you get one. You can't believe your luck. Life is good. Nowadays, while you don't need anyone's permission to eat sweets, local bakeries and restaurants are becoming increasingly creative with their takeaway offerings — and that has hailed in the glorious return of the humble finger bun. Here's your guide on where to find the best of these afternoon delights. But, eat them for breakfast if you want, because when it's right, it's right. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ines Francesca English (@inesenglishh) HUMBLE BAKERY, SURRY HILLS You've probably seen a pic or two of Humble Bakery's finger buns. These ridiculously fluffy fruit buns are coated in thickly piped cream cheese icing and finely shredded coconut. And don't be fooled, it may look like a slice of tasty cheese inside, but that's just a friendly and absolutely necessary slab of butter. These buns are not for the faint hearted, but a must-try for any finger bun aficionado. And if you're after something salty, order the so-simple-yet-so-good avocado toast, or keep your eyes peeled for the rotating sando specials. Previous sandwiches have included a roast pork number with grilled radicchio, chimichurri and mayo. Get it during lockdown: You can order while you're there or order for pick-up or delivery here. [caption id="attachment_824234" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Good Ways Deli and Trent Van der Jagt for Buffet Digital[/caption] GOOD WAYS DELI, REDFERN Good Ways Deli only opened up in April this year, but it's quickly making a name for itself as the go-to sandwich shop in Redfern. Its sandwiches are packed with natively-inspired ingredients, including kangaroo mortadella option as well as a maffra mature cheddar with pickled apple sando. Bottle green and cream interiors add to the Australiana feel, however Good Ways' version of Australia's favourite childhood treat earns itself an honourable mention on this list. Good Ways' take has strawberry gum icing and 100s and 1000s, and has now become a permanent fixture in its daily pastry cabinet. Be sure to check out the vegemite scrolls and lamingtons while you're there. Find it during lockdown: Good Ways Deli is open to the public for takeaway only at this time. [caption id="attachment_824235" align="alignnone" width="1918"] Image: Alan Benson[/caption] FLOUR AND STONE, WOOLLOOMOOLOO Sydney has been saying 'take my money' to Flour and Stone for almost ten years, and it's coffee and cardamon finger buns are only adding to the obsession with the Woolloomooloo bakery. Flour and Stone's underlying mission statement is that its bakers "believe they are making the world a better place" by baking their goods — and we'd tend to agree. Fluffy, creamy, and never not exceptional, the Flour and Stone finger bun is one for the books. Get it during lockdown: Flour and Stone deliver all over Sydney. Order online here or call the store on (02) 8068 8818. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Saga Enmore (@saga_enmore) SAGA, ENMORE We love to see brioche repurposed into almost anything, but especially into finger bun form. Saga has been pumping sultana and citrus peel brioche boys out for some time now, but they aren't a regular offering, so call ahead. If they're there, you're in for a treat: Saga's finger buns are topped with maraschino icing and coconut for an upscale take on the Australian classic. Be sure to grab a smoked salmon bagel and check out what pie specials they have on. You won't be disappointed. Get it during lockdown: Saga is still open during their regular hours for takeaway. Order ahead via phone on (02) 9550 6386. WILSON'S CAKES AND PIE SHOP, MASCOT Wilson's Cakes and Pie Shop is the kind of old school bakery that sells small meringues in the shape of bunny rabbits with smarties for noses. Established in 1926, it still has its original mid-century milkbar-esque hand painted signage — so you know it's good. Wilson's finger buns are more like finger logs: long, thick and rectangular, unlike their contemporary cylindrical cousins. With sultanas mixed through the soft base and a classic strawberry glaze on top, these will bring you right back to the first time you ever tried the nostalgic finger bun. We've also heard their old school pies are as good as it gets, and only set you back $4, while their mammoth finger buns cost $2 each. Get it during lockdown: Call (02) 9667 2765 to order ahead. POLES PATISSERIE, PENRITH Family-run Penrith bakery, Poles Patisserie, has been serving up home-style baked sweets and pies for decades. Their finger buns lean towards the more traditional side of the scale, unlike their city-baked counterparts. These classic yeast-risen, sultana studded buns are coated with a thin layer of either plain or strawberry fudge, then dusted with desiccated coconut or the ever-exciting 100s and 1000s. Get it during lockdown: Call (02) 4722 5903 to order ahead. BAKER'S DELIGHT It would be a sin to not shout out the original Aussie finger bun. Whether you're in the mood for cinnamon, chocolate, 100s and 1000s, coconut, pink fondant or plain (would not recommend), your local Baker's Delight has it covered. You also can't deny their loose change pricing; these guys only set you back $1.90, and some of them are even dairy free. Get it during lockdown: Baker's Delight are still open for takeaway as usual during lockdown. Check for your local store here. Top Image: Good Ways Deli and Trent Van der Jagt for Buffet Digital. Remember to wear a mask and social distance. To keep up-to-date with the latest COVID restrictions, head to the NSW Health website.
When Jacksons on George's ambitious re-build and redevelopment was first announced back in 2018, it was billed as a pub of the future. While it may have taken five years, Studio Hollenstein's forward-thinking three-storey building is almost complete and the venue has been given a rough open date: September. Alongside the open date, we've also received details on the multiple restaurants and bars that will be housed within the multi-level opening which is set to arrive at Circular Quay's Sydney Place this spring. Leading the charge at Jacksons on George will be Head Chef Steven Sinclair in collaboration with Maurice Terzini (Icebergs, Re-) and Michael Broome. Sinclair arrives at the inaugural venue for Terzini and Broome's DTL Entertainment Group with a wealth of experience in world-renowned kitchens. Alongside time spent overlooking Bondi Beach at Icebergs, he's also cut his teeth at two of Ireland's top restaurants, The Old Schoolhouse Inn and The Potte Inn, plus Simon Rogan's Michelin-starred L'Enclume in England (currently doing a five-week residence at Bathers' Pavilion). Boasting an elegant modern design across its floors and artworks from former Archibald and Sulman Prize finalists, the sleek new venue will be split into three distinct hospitality offerings — a ground-floor public bar, a luxe bistro and a breezy rooftop bar. Wander in from George Street and you'll find a classic pub sporting a fresh fitout from Sydney-based studio Richards Stanisich. Both here and up on the rooftop you can expect the tried-and-true combination of pub feeds done well, house twists on classic cocktails and perfectly poured local beers. Some of the unexpected turns you'll discover on the pub menu include slow-cooked duck sausage rolls, Moreton bay bug buns and the beloved roast chook, brined, air-dried and cooked over charcoal. Elevating the feeds here will be Bistro George, a European-inspired diner that champions local produce. Clams casino, brined Ora king salmon gravlax, salt-crusted wagyu ribeye and a signature Jacksons banoffee sundae will all grace the menu at the date night-ready first-floor restaurant. Later into the night, Bistro George will transform into a cocktail bar and live music venue with a reduced supper menu. This will be the kind of place that you can slip into for an after-dinner drink or a late-night snack. An exact open date for Jacksons on George has arrived just yet, but you can look out for updates over at the pub's Instagram page. Jacksons on George will reopen at 176 George Street, Sydney following its ambitious transformation in September. Photography: Nikki To
I don’t want to start with a lame joke about how this film festival will be wheely good. Nor do I want to talk about how there are so many good films to choose from that you might find yourself in a fixie. I guess it’s just that, with so many bike puns to choose from, you might tyre of it.OK, enough. This year’s Bicycle Film Festival means a jam-packed five-day season with six film programs, a Joyride art show and even a street party. The first of the programs on Friday 13 November will screen Where Are You Go, a feature length film for which directors Benny Zenga & Brian Vernor spent four months on the Tour D’Afrique, the world’s longest bicycle race, and Made in Queens, a ten-minute short documentary about a group of Trinidadian cyclists in Queens. The second program of the evening will show eleven bike-themed short films from the USA, France and Italy.Saturday 14 November begins with a street party and ends with an after party. In between that, you can catch thirteen more short films and the feature-length I Love My Bicycle: The Story of FBM Bikes. The film, directed by Joe Stakun, tracks the rise of bike company FBM (Fat Bald Men), begun by Steve Crandall in the 90s as a reaction to the commercialisation of BMX. Switzerland, Canada and Spain get a look in on Sunday 15 November, with two short films about cyclists versus nature (Virtuous Chapter 10 and -40°C) and the feature-length 7 Deserts, in which Spanish cyclist Sergi Fernandez literally crosses seven deserts on a solo trip. Later that evening, those who missed Made in Queens and Where Are You Go have the chance to catch up on their viewing.The international BFF comes but once a year, so don’t miss your chance to see some of the best bike-centric films from around the globe — if you think you can handle it. Ticket prices for this event vary, season passes are available.
You'll soon be able to get closer to Jenolan Caves' magical Blue Lake — and its resident platypuses — than ever before, thanks to an impending $8.5 million upgrade to the legendary tourist attraction. On top of that, gear up to explore more territory via an additional walking track and get educated at a brand new visitors' centre. It has been some time since Australia's most famous caves scored a good dose of infrastructural love. While it's currently possible to walk around Blue Lake, the path is uneven and, because of falling rocks, closed in some spots. However, the upgrade will see the construction of a boardwalk, allowing visitors to get super close to the water without endangering themselves — all the better for platypus spotting. Meanwhile, keen hikers can look forward to an extension of Jenolan's network of trails. The plan is to open up access to extra areas and panoramas, with the construction of the Binoomea Track and Inspiration Point lookout. Last but not least, a new visitors' centre will give the caves a grand entrance and play host to a theatrette, where you'll be able to learn all about Jenolan's history and unique environment. The NSW Government is funding the upgrade via the Regional Growth – Environment and Tourism Fund. Work is expected to begin soon and wrap up by December 2021.
If your long-tortured eyebrows are in need of some loving attention, head to Honeytusk Eyebrow Studio's flagship shop in Rozelle. Whether you're sporting a couple of untamed caterpillars or a pair of 90s-style pencil lines, you can figure out your eyebrow future in consultation with these pros. A standard sculpt can be achieved through tweezing, waxing or threading, with colouring and brow lamination (which involves brushing and setting the brows for a more defined look) also on offer. You can give your lashes some love here, too, with colouring and extensions available as well as a lash lift that shapes and curls your natural eyelashes.
If you're looking for your first glimpse of the latest Star Wars movie, there's no need to travel to a galaxy far, far away, because the initial teaser trailer has just dropped in this one. Nine months before the main franchise's ninth episode hits cinemas (and 11th theatrical flick overall), Disney has gifted audiences a sneak peek of what comes next — and the movie's moniker. Come December, fans will be getting comfy to watch Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker. Right now, there's a two-minute sneak peek to whet your appetite. Given the title, the way that Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi wrapped up and the theories that have been swirling around Daisy Ridley's Rey since she was first introduced in Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens, it should come as no surprise that the scavenger-turned-pilot takes centre stage. Also popping up are Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron and John Boyega's ex-stormtrooper Finn, helping out the film's plucky heroine once more; Adam Driver's Kylo Ren, wielding his red lightsaber for the dark side yet again; and long-standing series favourites Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO, of course. The late Carrie Fisher features as well, with the actor's appearance as General Leia Organa made possible by using previously filmed footage. And two other familiar characters also rejoin the fold, including Billy Dee Williams' Lando Calrissian and a sinister figure who's heard rather than seen. The huge cast list keeps going, with Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran and Lupita Nyong'o all returning, Mark Hamill also included, and Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell and Naomi Ackie among the Star Wars newcomers. As he did with The Force Awakens, JJ Abrams sits in the director's chair. And while this isn't the end of the Star Wars story by any means — a new TV series, The Mandalorian, is headed to Disney's new streaming platform later this year, and two big-screen spinoff trilogies are in development from The Last Jedi helmer Rian Johnson and Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, respectively — The Rise of Skywalker is being badged as the finale of the Skywalker saga. Feel the force with the first teaser below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adzYW5DZoWs Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker releases in Australian cinemas on December 19.
Crack out your boat shoes and best shades — this summer, Cargo is embracing its proximity to the water with a nautical-theme takeover, complete with boat-style lounges and a pop-up spritz bar by Belvedere Vodka. From Friday, November 2 until the end of December, you can enjoy a leisurely day-drinking (and eating) session at this King Street Wharf hot spot. You'll find five different summer spritz options — cucumber, Aperol, peach, cherry and citrus concoctions — for just $15 a pop. And in keeping with the theme, Cargo has designed a nostalgic seaside-inspired food menu to enjoy with your many drinks, featuring grilled scallops, neopolitan ice cream sandwiches and good old-fashioned fish and chips. For those who can't get enough spritz action (we don't blame you), there's also a spritz and seaside package available for $60 per person. Across two glorious hours, the spritzes will be free-flowing as you snack on potato scallops, oysters, salmon poké and cajun shrimp with creole mayo. Plus, if you come down on a Sunday, you'll be graced with live acoustic music from 1–4pm. To book the Bottomless Belvedere Vodka Spritz and Seaside Package, head to the Cargo website.
Like a much much more labour-intensive profile picture, a portrait is how a person has thought someone should be seen. This is a horrible analogy, but, frankly, so too are some of the paintings at The Real Refuses. TAP Gallery, fantastically, are for the 14th year running putting up what doesn't go into the Archibald Prize at the state gallery or the accompanying and also pretty institutional Salon Des Refuses at S.H. Ervin. Once you've culled 3000 or so entries for the Archie, Wynne and Sulman prizes down to however much can be packed into the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and had a panel select an exhibition of the very worthwhile not-quites, and you let artists submit directly to the gallery at an afternoon tea, it gets Really Interesting. There are a few landscapes on show, but the real point is picking out who you recognise and seeing what's been done to their face. What distinguishes the 'refuses' from the 'includeds' is more to do with subject than skill: there are lovely paintings here, where people really might be looking out of the canvas at you, but you don't see the who or why other than as an exercise of the artist's (in most cases, pretty evident) talent.
Generally when you order a burger, it doesn't come flying to you at 100km an hour. The thought of that doesn't actually sound very fun or delicious; it sounds a lot like copping a pickle to the eyeball. But at Christchurch's C1 Espresso, high-speed sliders are a reality that doesn't hurt or impede your vision, thanks to an impressive overhead air suction system that delivers your chow straight from the kitchen to your table via pneumatic tube. It's the future, as owner Sam Crofskey puts it. And there is something very Fifth Element about food travelling through clear plastic tubes to get to your mouth, but this system is actually more in tune with the past than the future. Originally operating as a bank — and taken over by C1 after their previous site was destroyed in the February 2011 earthquake — the High Street building was already fitted with old-school pneumatic tubes. After using the vacuum-like system to transport handwritten orders to the kitchen, the next step, naturally, was to stick food up there and see what happened. With the existing tubes not quite big enough for edibles, new, slider-sized ones had to be fitted. They run from the kitchen and along the ceiling before dropping down to arrive at tables that sit up against the walls (and there's even talk of expanding delivery to outside tables through underground tubes). This means the cafe is always whirring, moving and buzzing; people's eyes flicker as they see a cylinder fly past up above and then grin in delight when said cylinder arrives at their table, holding three sliders and piping hot curly fries. "We just thought it was very Willy Wonka or something, and we had to do it," says Crofskey. "It was really important that when people talked about us after the earthquake, that they connected with us in the same kind of way as before ... We had to make sure that people would make the effort to come back." And with most of the city shut down — particularly when they initially reopened in November 2012 — C1 didn't just need a novelty; they needed to do something unique that fit in with their already-established brand and the community. Pioneering the second wave coffee movement since their beginnings in 1996 (back when no one knew what a barista was, according to Crofskey), C1 has always been known for great coffee and breakfast and details like their customised sugar packets that look like crayons and the sparkling water on tap from an old sewing machine. The pneumatic burgers and the decision to open for dinner are another extension of the C1 culture, and a good reflection of Crofskey's approach to hospitality. "We had a chance to reinvent ourselves and, when we reopened, we were deciding who we wanted to be," says Sam. "We didn't want to deviate from our brand — it's still warm and inviting, and a place for the community to come together." But offering breakfast, lunch and dinner isn't the only thing on Crofskey's agenda. Along with the cafe, he also works with a Samoan community to create a sustainable coffee industry in partnership with Women in Business, he bottles and sells OK! fruit nectars that also originate from the region, and he produces his own honey from the building's rooftop beehive and garden. And, with the cafe sharing real estate with a video store, art house cinema and, temporarily, the Christchurch Art Gallery, the space is so much more than somewhere to eat. "We had this idea that we wanted to have this space that people could get lost in for a while, so you can go here and go to the movies, come out and go to the art gallery," says Crofskey. And with plans to turn the upper levels into a boutique hotel, C1 will be like an island for the people of Christchurch. One where the room service is delivered at 100km an hour, of course.
Every major exhibition gives art lovers two gifts: the joy of discovering what'll display on its walls and halls when that first announcement hits, and the thrill of actually seeing the end results IRL while wandering, peering and contemplating. With Boston Dynamics robot dogs, work by Yoko Ono, a collaboration with Paris haute couture house Schiaparelli, and Tokyo-based artist Azuma Makoto's room-sized tribute to plants all on the just-revealed NGV Triennial 2023 bill, that initial round of delights starts now. Since 2017, the Melbourne-based National Gallery of Victoria has hosted the art showcase every three years, with this upcoming summer's iteration from Sunday, December 3, 2023–Sunday, April 7, 2024 the third. Designed to provide a portrait of the world each time it is staged — if art trends and breakthroughs; the artists making them; and the themes, ideas and events they're responding to — each NGV Triennial delivers a hefty program. This time, there'll be 75 works from 100-plus artists, complete with more than 25 world-premiere projects, all tying into the themes of magic, matter and memory. [caption id="attachment_896126" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Azuma Makoto, Block Flowers 2020 ©️ Azuma Makoto Courtesy the artist.[/caption] A big highlight: those mechanical pooches, who will also show off their very good painting skills. This clearly isn't Black Mirror, with Polish-born Agnieszka Pilat training the robot dogs to make art, which NGV Triennial attendees can then watch happen. They'll create a monolithic durational work, with Pilat exploring technology's power in modern life in the process. While attending NGV Triennial is free, you won't have to go inside the NGV International on St Kilda Road to see Yoko Ono's contribution. Drawing upon six decades making art, including her famed Instruction Pieces and major public art commissions, she's providing a large-scale text-based piece that'll display on the building's façade. [caption id="attachment_896130" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of Sheila Hicks's Nowhere to go 2022 at Off Grid, The Hepworth Wakefield, United Kingdom. Proposed acquisition, NGVWA.Courtesy the artist and Alison Jacques.[/caption] One of the joys of an exhibition like this is the sheer variety of works — although Schiaparelli's involvement would be a standout anyway. Artistic Director Daniel Roseberry is picking items from recent collections to display, plus a range of gilded surrealist accessories and body adornment. And, as well as showing his penchant for pushing boundaries and pairing art and fashion, there's set to be a celestial theme. Also immersive: Makoto's homage to nature, specifically plants and their magic, beauty and life force. The artist is freezing Australian flowers and botanicals into acrylic blocks, then combining them with a multi-screen film about the life and death of blooms. Yes, you'll be thinking about nature while you take it in. [caption id="attachment_896127" align="alignnone" width="1920"] David Shrigley, Really Good, 2016, bronze, 680 x 380 x 160 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London © David Shrigley. All Rights Reserved, DACS 2023.[/caption] Tracey Emin is also contributing a series of works, including five-metre-high text-based neon light installation based on the British artist's own handwriting. From Paris-based and American-born sculptor Sheila Hicks, Nowhere to Go will stack her blue-hued bulbous sculptures against a wall. Or, there's David Shrigley's Really Good — a seven-metre-high thumbs-up. Elsewhere, the massive one-hundred-metre-long woven fish fence, Mun-dirra, was made over two years by ten artists and their apprentices from the Burarra language group Maningrida, Arnhem Land — while large-scale commission Megacities is tasking ten street photographers to snap Cairo, Dhaka, Jakarta, Delhi, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Seoul, Lagos, Tokyo and Mexico City in all their urban glory. Don't miss Hugh Hayden's The end installation, which recreates a primary-school classroom but gets apocalyptic with branches and dodo skeletons. The full list of featured artists also spans Petrit Halilaj, Betty Muffler, Hoda Afshar and Fernando Laposse, plus Flora Yukhnovich, Yee I-Lann, Joyce Ho, Shakuntala Kulkarni and SMACK — and more, obviously. [caption id="attachment_896128" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of the NGV.[/caption] "In the three years since the last NGV Triennial, the world has experienced a great many structural shifts, including a global pandemic. Through the work of more than 100 artists, designers, architects and collectives from Australia and around the world, the NGV Triennial offers a powerful insight into the ideas and concerns empowering creative practice in 2023," said NGV Director Tony Ellwood, announcing the program. "The artists, designers and architects of our time play an important role in helping us to understand, navigate and relate to the world around us. The 2023 NGV Triennial offers audiences a valuable opportunity to experience new and surprising forms of creative expression from around the globe, which, together, present a compelling snapshot of the world as it is, while also asking how we would like it to be." [caption id="attachment_896129" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of Hugh Hayden's The End 2022. Courtesy of the artist.[/caption] NGV Triennial 2023 will display from Sunday, December 3, 2023–Sunday, April 7, 2024 at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne. Head to the gallery's website for further details. Top image: Aaron Richter.
On-screen, Ali Wong doesn't let go of grudges easily, at least in Beef. In rom-com Always Be My Maybe, she's also been romanced by Keanu Reeves. Tuca & Bertie had her voice an anthropomorphic song thrush, while Big Mouth sent her back to middle school. The American actor and comedian's next project: her current stand-up comedy tour, which has just locked in Down Under dates. Wong is presently working her way across the US and Canada, has also hit up London and Paris, and will head to Australia and New Zealand in July 2024. She's announced four dates, kicking off in Auckland, then jumping over to Melbourne. From there, she'll work her way up the east coast, next hitting up Sydney before wrapping up in Brisbane. Bringing her Ali Wong: Live tour this way comes after a massive 12 months for Wong. It was back in early April 2023 that Beef arrived, getting audiences obsessed and sparking plenty of accolades coming Wong's way. She won Best Actress Emmy, Golden Globe, Film Independent Spirt and Screen Actors Guild awards for playing Amy Lau, who has a carpark altercation with Danny Cho (Steven Yeun, Nope) that neither can let go of — and that changes both of their lives. The series itself, on which Wong was also an executive producer, has earned just as much love — including the Emmy for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series; Golden Globe for Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television; Gotham Award for Breakthrough Series under 40 minutes; Film Independent Spirt Award for Best New Scripted Series; and PGA for Outstanding Producer of Limited or Anthology Series Television. [caption id="attachment_893741" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew Cooper/Netflix © 2023[/caption] Behind the microphone, Wong's comedy career dates back almost two decades, including three Netflix stand-up specials: 2016's Baby Cobra, 2018's Hard Knock Wife and 2022's Don Wong. And, as an author, Wong also has 2019's Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life to her name. [caption id="attachment_946689" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Always Be My Maybe[/caption] Ali Wong: Live Tour Dates — Australia and New Zealand 2024: Monday, July 8 — The Civic, Auckland Thursday, July 11 — Palais Theatre, Melbourne Friday, July 19 — ICC Theatre, Sydney Monday, July 22 — Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Ali Wong is touring Down Under in July 2024, with presale tickets available from 9am on Wednesday, March 20 and general sales from 9am local time on Friday, March 22 — head to the tour website for further details. Top image: Andrew Cooper/Netflix © 2023.
The latest cure for festival FOMO is here: for the first time ever, two of Glastonbury's headline performances are being livestreamed around the globe for everyone to watch. Won't be in the UK during the fest? Always wanted to see big names take to the event's famed Pyramid Stage? A fan of Dua Lipa and/or Coldplay? Thanks to the BBC, you're now in luck. When Coachella rolls around each year, it's not just an exciting time for folks fortunate enough to be on the ground in California, but for audiences worldwide via the fest's arrangement with YouTube. Glastonbury and the BBC might only be streaming two sets across the planet and not the majority of the British event, but it's still a welcome development. [caption id="attachment_926976" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Lee[/caption] Your destination: the BBC's Glastonbury website, where you can catch Dua Lipa's set on the morning of Saturday, June 29, then Coldplay's — before the Chris Martin-fronted group returns to Australia and New Zealand later in 2024 — on the morning of Sunday, June 30. Dua Lipa's stint in the high-profile slot also marks her first-ever time on the Pyramid Stage. As for Coldplay, they're headlining the fest for the fifth time, albeit in their first visit since 2016. [caption id="attachment_963580" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Raph_PH[/caption] "The Glastonbury Festival is an icon of British culture, and this livestream will give fans around the globe a front row seat to headline performances like never before. This is just the latest example of our focus on bringing more cultural-defining moments like Glastonbury to fans on our platforms outside the UK so users can experience the best of British culture wherever they may be," said BBC Studios' Chief Commercial Officer Tara Maitra, announcing the global livestreams. "From this exciting live music experience from two of the biggest names in music, to the BBC News channel livestream that is coming soon in Australia, our digital platforms offer immediate, unrestricted and tailored access for all audiences," added BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand General Manager Fiona Lang. Also on the Glastonbury 2024 bill across Wednesday, June 26–Sunday, June 30 UK time but not being beamed to the world, sadly: SZA, LCD Soundsystem, PJ Harvey, Cyndi Lauper, Janelle Monae, Shania Twain, Disclosure, The Streets, Camilla Cabello, Bloc Party, The National, Avril Lavigne, Jessie Ware, Sugababes, Jamie XX, Kim Gordon, James Blake, Sleafod Mods, Orbital, The Breeders, Peggy Gou, The Cat Empire, Eric Prydz and a whole heap more. Glastonbury 2024 Livestream: Saturday, June 29 — Dua Lipa, 7–8.45am AEST / 6.30–8.15am ACST / 5–6.45am AWST / 9–10.45am NZST Sunday, June 30 — Coldplay, 6.45–8.45am AEST / 6.15–8.15am ACST / 4.45–6.45am AWST / 8.45–19.45am NZST [caption id="attachment_963582" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Raph_PH[/caption] [caption id="attachment_926978" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Lee[/caption] Glastonbury's 2024 livestream will broadcast Dua Lipa's set globally on the morning of Saturday, June 29 Down Under, and Coldplay's show on the morning of Sunday, June 30 — head to the BBC's Glastonbury website to watch. Dua Lipa images: Raph_PH via Flickr.
It's no secret that Sydney is home to some amazing bars, breweries and pubs. There's nothing better than sitting back in your favourite spot, with your favourite drink and getting stuck in with your best mates. And there's nothing worse than getting hungry and realising you'll need to give up your table in search for a feed elsewhere. But, while most of our top bar picks don't have kitchens, it turns out some of them allow patrons to bring in any food they fancy. So, we've teamed up with DoorDash to bring you some excellent spots around the city where you can settle in with a schooner in one hand and a snack in the other.
If there's ever a range of films that proves that every movie deserves to be seen in a cinema, it's Studio Ghibli's output. If you had your first experience with Spirited Away or My Neighbour Totoro at home, then felt compelled to catch a retrospective showing at your local picture palace, you'll understand. Indeed, Australian theatres get it, too, given how often the Japanese animation house's movies return to the silver screen. The Imaginary isn't a Studio Ghibli release, but it has a Ghibli pedigree. The second feature from Studio Ponoc after 2017's Mary and the Witch's Flower, it's both directed and penned by Ghibli alumni — the latter of which founded Ponoc. It made its Aussie debut on streaming this year, but is now getting a well-deserved big-screen outing at the 2024 Japanese Film Festival as one of its must-see titles. The just-dropped lineup for this year's JFF will give audiences the chance to see this enchanting tale about imaginary friends — 2024's third such film after Blumhouse horror movie Imaginary and the John Krasinski (A Quiet Place Part II)-directed IF, and the best of them — as well as nine other new Japanese features. The latest flicks out of its country of choice are just one part of the JFF setup, however. In four of its five cities, audiences will also enjoy a retrospective season that focuses on classics by Shohei Imamura, a two-time Palme d'Or winner courtesy of The Ballad of Narayama and The Eel. Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney will receive the full festival treatment, while just the new releases will play Perth. The festival kicks off with its retro sessions in the nation's capital in late September, before making its way around the country throughout October and into November. [caption id="attachment_971203" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Let's Go Karaoke! Film Partners[/caption] Opening the fest: Mom, Is That You?! , a mix of heartwarming comedy and workplace commentary from prolific director Yoji Yamada (Kinema no Kamisama). Other highlights include chaotic karaoke antics in Let's Go Karaoke!, with a choir boy and a yakuza striking up a friendship over singing lessons; fellow manga adaptation Sand Land; World War II-set historical drama Shadow of Fire; and rom-com Our Secret Diary. Or, there's more laughs via A Samurai in Time and The Dancing Okami, with the first paying tribute to samurai stuntman Seizo Fukumoto and the second inspired by an IRL tourism campaign — and also thrills via Matched and Out, following a wedding planner who connects with a suspected serial killer without knowing via online dating, plus a former juvenile gang leader's quest for redemption. [caption id="attachment_971204" align="alignnone" width="1920"] MIRAIEIGASHA[/caption] 2024 marks the Japanese Film Festival's 28th year in Australia — and the event's in-person lineup comes after its online program screened in the middle of the year. "Australia has always been a second home to Japanese film, with an exponentially growing audience captivated by Japanese cinema every year," said Manisay Oudomvilay from The Japan Foundation, Sydney, announcing the 2024 JFF bill. "Each of the featured films this year dissects the common human experience from a uniquely Japanese perspective, which will resonate with everyone regardless of their familiarity with Japanese culture." [caption id="attachment_971205" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sand Land Film Partners[/caption] Japanese Film Festival 2024 Dates: Canberra: Latest releases: Wednesday, October 9–Tuesday, October 15 at Palace Electric Special series: Tuesday, September 24–Wednesday, September 25 and Saturday, September 28–Sunday, September 29 at NFSA Perth: Latest releases: Monday, October 14–Tuesday, October 22 at Palace Raine Square Brisbane: Latest releases: Thursday, October 17–Tuesday, October 22 at Palace Barracks Special series: Monday, October 7–Wednesday, October 16 at QAGOMA Melbourne: Latest releases: Monday, October 21–Tuesday, October 29 at The Kino Special series: Thursday, October 31–Sunday, November 3 at ACMI Sydney: Latest releases: Thursday, October 24–Monday, October 28 at Palace Norton Street and Palace Moore Park Special series: Wednesday, October 9–Sunday, November 10 at AGNSW [caption id="attachment_971206" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Dancing Okami Film Partners[/caption] The 2024 Japanese Film Festival tours Australia from September–November. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the festival website. Top image: Studio Ponoc.
Who'll win orb-topped trophies? Who'll wear what? Who'll make the best, funniest and most rambling speeches? Whenever January hits and the Golden Globes approach for another year, they're the standard questions. Here's another: where can Australians watch the red carpet action and the ceremony? In 2023, the answer to that last query is streaming — and, to be specific, Stan. The Aussie platform has nabbed the exclusive broadcasting rights to this year's Golden Globes, covering both the pre-show and the awards themselves. Both will be streamed live on Wednesday, January 11, starting at 11am AEDT / 10am AEST for the arrivals and 12pm AEDT / 11am AEST for the gongs themselves. [caption id="attachment_884053" align="alignnone" width="1920"] CleftClips via Flickr[/caption] This'll mark the first time that Stan has aired the Golden Globes, which be beamed into your streaming queue from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. On hosting duties: comedian Jerrod Carmichael. Nominated: a hefty list of the past year's best movies and TV shows, because these awards cover both. Among the big-screen contenders sits everything from Everything Everywhere All At Once and The Banshees of Inisherin to Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Elvis. On the small screen, The White Lotus, Severance, Only Murders in the Building, Abbott Elementary, Wednesday and more are vying for accolades. Australians have also earned a hefty showing among the nominees, including Baz Luhrmann's Best Director nom for Elvis, and Cate Blanchett, Margot Robbie, Hugh Jackman and Elizabeth Debicki all picking up acting nominations (for Tár, Bablyon, The Son and The Crown, respectively). If you're wondering who'll be presenting awards rather than trying to win them, expect to see Ana de Armas (The Gray Man), Billy Porter (Cinderella), Colman Domingo (Euphoria), Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween Ends), Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll), Nicole Byer (Nailed It!) and Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) among the folks taking to the stage. Of course, the fact that the 2023 Golden Globes take place on a Wednesday isn't the best for parties — although they will hopefully liven up the middle of your week. The 2023 Golden Globes will be announced on Wednesday, January 11 Australian time, streaming via Stan from 11am AEDT / 10am AEST for red carpet arrivals and 12pm AEDT / 11am AEST for the ceremony itself. Wondering who's nominated? Read our rundown of this year's nominees.
Stranger Things is wrapping up with its fifth season, and with one final battle against Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower, Emmanuelle) in a Hawkins where the Upside Down is no longer just an otherworldly realm. The mood, then, as captured in the just-dropped official teaser trailer for the show's last run: "wherever this blood leads, I need you to fight one last time". A reverberating metal tune (Deep Purple's 'Child in Time'), explosions, a town under military quarantine, a hunt for Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown, The Electric State), Terminator franchise icon Linda Hamilton, tears, hearty embraces, huge stands: this sneak peek at Stranger Things season five has them all. As the trailer demonstrates, it also possesses a sense of occasion. Audiences should already be feeling it, given that this is goodbye to the series, but the show's characters clearly are as well. Yes, Netflix is going big on finales of late, with Squid Game coming to a conclusion in June, too. With Stranger Things, Down Under viewers will be tuning in not once, not twice, but three times for this farewell trip to Indiana — starting in November 2025, then checking in again in December this year, then finally on the first day of 2026. On Thursday, November 27 in Australia and New Zealand, the first four-episode volume of season five will drop. Then, come Friday, December 26, you can mark Boxing Day with the second three-chapter volume. Finally, Thursday, January 1, 2026 will kick off with the last Stranger Things episode ever. Back in June, Netflix also dropped a clip teasing the show's swansong — one filled with looks backwards at the tale that Stranger Things has told so far, which means peering at how young the cast was when the show premiered in 2016, as well as glimpses forward. Accordingly, from what's in store, fans already know that comas, bedside vigils, exploring via torchlight, shaking floors and a key piece of advice — "run" — all feature. Season five makes finding and killing Vecna its main aim, all Eleven has been forced into hiding. The year: 1987. The time: autumn. That's a jump forward from the fourth season's spring 1986 timing. And one way or another, the residents of Hawkins that viewers know and love will have their final experience with the eeriness that's been plaguing their town for years. That's the promise that bidding adieu to Stranger Things, of course, even if the hit Netflix show's end won't be it for the franchise's broader universe. If it feels like there's been a lengthy wait for more — even with the series no stranger to long delays between seasons — that's because there has been. When November rolls around, it will have been almost three-and-a-half years since season four, a gap extended due to 2023's Hollywood strikes. Before that, just under three years elapsed between seasons three and four, and just under two between the second and third seasons. The 13-month gap between seasons one and two seems positively short, then. Late in 2024, Netflix revealed the titles of Stranger Things' eight season-five episodes. If you feel like obsessing over the monikers for clues, you've had eight hints for a while, then. The season will kick off with 'The Crawl', then deliver 'The Vanishing of ...', 'The Turnbow Trap' and 'Sorcerer'. Next comes 'Shock Jock', 'Escape From Camazotz' and 'The Bridge', before it all ends with the enticingly named 'The Rightside Up'. Alongside Brown and Bower, season five brings back all of the other usual faces, too — so Winona Ryder (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice), David Harbour (Thunderbolts*), Finn Wolfhard (Saturday Night), Gaten Matarazzo (Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain), Caleb McLaughlin (The Deliverance), Noah Schnapp (The Tutor), Sadie Sink (O'Dessa), Natalia Dyer (All Fun and Games), Charlie Heaton (The Souvenir: Part II), Joe Keery (Fargo), Maya Hawke (Inside Out 2), Priah Ferguson (The Curse of Bridge Hollow), Brett Gelman (Lady in the Lake) and Cara Buono (Things Like This). As for more Stranger Things-related antics after season five, when creators Matt and Ross Duffer revealed that their sci-fi show was working towards its endgame back in 2022, they also said that they had more stories to tell in this fictional realm. Instantly, we all knew what that meant. Netflix doesn't like letting go of its hits easily, after all, so the quest to find a way to keep wandering through this franchise was about as surprising as Jim Hopper's (Harbour) usual gruff mood. Check out the teaser trailer for Stranger Things season five below: Stranger Things season five will arrive in three parts, streaming in Australia and New Zealand on Thursday, November 27, 2025; then on Friday, December 26,2025; and finally on Thursday, January 1, 2026. You can watch the first four seasons now via Netflix — and read our review of season four. Images: courtesy of Netflix © 2025.
A man, his family and a firearm: all three sit at the heart of The Seed of the Sacred Fig. A girl and a gun might've been late, great French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard's perfect formula for a movie, but Iranian writer/director Mohammad Rasoulof now adapts that setup around his own cinematic passion: fighting back against the Iranian regime. IRL, over the course of more than two decades, he's faced the wrath of his homeland's censorship, seen his work banned, been prohibited from making movies and from leaving the country, and endured multiple prison sentences. When Rasoulof's eighth and latest masterful and moving feature debuted at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, he was in attendance after fleeing Iran, where a new eight-year jail term had just been handed down. The first shoots of the idea for The Seed of the Sacred Fig came to the filmmaker while the now-exiled talent was incarcerated. Imprisoned during the 2022–23 Women, Life, Freedom protests that sprang from the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, he saw the movement from inside Evin Prison in Tehran. Upon his release, it became part of his new big-screen narrative, with the picture even incorporating real on-the-ground footage. Also guiding The Seed of the Sacred Fig is a question that Rasoulof has long contemplated from his dealings with the regime — and that flowed through in his prior film, 2020 Berlin International Film Festival Golden Bear-winner There Is No Evil — also: "how do people who work with the system function internally?". As the protests about the loss of a woman arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly also were, Rasoulof's Best International Feature Oscar-nominee is a snapshot of generational clashes and change, too. The man: Iman (Missagh Zareh, Homeless), who has just been promoted to investigating judge in the Revolutionary Court. The family: his wife Najmeh (Soheila Golestani, Two Dogs), college-aged daughter Rezvan (debutant Mahsa Rostami) and younger offspring Sana (Setareh Maleki, Cafe). The gun: Imam's service piece, freshly bestowed upon him for his new role. When the weapon goes missing, he starts pointing fingers, already paranoid about the public fallout from his job and now suspecting those closest to him — the youngest of which are only just learning what he does for a living. Adding to the powder-keg situation: the nationwide political uprising, which has Imam signing death sentences, comes to his home courtesy of Rezvan's friend Sadaf (Niousha Akhshi, The Lion Skin) and puts the family matriarch at odds with his horrified daughters. At Cannes — where Rasoulof's 2013 film Manuscripts Don't Burn won the FIPRESCI Prize and his 2017 feature A Man of Integrity emerged victorious in the Un Certain Regard section — The Seed of the Sacred Fig collected five different accolades from its berth in the main competition, a Special Jury Prize among them. Other film festival audience awards have also come its way, including in Sydney, plus nominations at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs. To get the movie to viewers, though, and to make it to begin with, involved shooting in secret with Rasoulof largely unable to be on set. Then came the 28-day journey out of Iran to Germany, the country that The Seed of the Sacred Fig represents at the 2025 Academy Awards. What does the global response to the film — the festival slots, popping up at Locarno, Melbourne, New Zealand, Telluride, Toronto, New York, Busan, London, Adelaide and Brisbane events as well, and many others; the nominations and prizes, right through to the Oscars — mean to Rasoulof given what he went through to bring the movie to fruition and ensure that audiences could see it? "I'm very happy that a film that half of which had not yet been shot exactly one year ago, while we were shooting, is being seen by worldwide audiences and doing so well," he tells Concrete Playground. "And I think it's not just me. I think everyone involved in its making is very happy, because what brought us together really was fighting for artistic freedom — and all we dreamt of was managing to complete the shoot without being arrested." How does Rasoulof navigate the scrutiny, oppression and attempted censorship that comes his way each time that he makes a film? How did The Seed of the Sacred Fig evolve from seeing how Iranian women were protesting to following a family of three women and an investigating judge impacted by the uprising? What does the reality of directing a movie in secret entail — and what impact does it have on the finished product, given how much energy is expended just to avoid the authorities' attention? Digging into a powerful picture that's designed to inspire questions with the man behind it, we also asked Rasoulof about all of the above. On Navigating the Scrutiny, Oppression and Attempted Censorship That Rasoulof Faces Whenever He Makes a Film "Well, I think the biggest difference, if I think about one year ago and now, is hope. Of course, I did have hope one year ago, but the hope I have now is much greater. It was really like a small crack through which the lights came in that I could see in the distance. And it's grown, and this gives me greater energy to continue working and to continue living. And I don't think it's just me. I think again, all my cast and crew feel exactly the same way or similarly." On How The Seed of the Sacred Fig Evolved From Seeing How Iranian Women Were Protesting to Following a Family of Three Women and an Investigating Judge Impacted by the Uprising "For many years, I was very curious about the people who work in the regime, in the different parts of the regime that I had dealings with — the security operators, the censorship operators, the judiciary. And I was really concerned with trying to understand, on the one hand, how they think, but also while they interrogated me, I'd be wondering 'how do we differ? Why are they unable to understand me and why am I unable to understand them?'. And so this curiosity stayed for me, and I was always hoping I could find an opportunity to explore it in a film. In 2022, I was arrested a few months before the Woman, Life, Freedom movement began. And after the movement began — at its height, in fact — I had a chance encounter with a senior prison official, who told me how he'd come to hate himself and even thought about taking his life because of his job and his collaboration with the regime, and how fiercely he got criticised and pressurised all the time by his children because of his job. And at that point I thought it would be really interesting to tell a story about a family where such a big divide had arisen, but which would also, at the same time, allow me to pursue that question that had stayed with me for all these years about how do people who work with the system function internally." On the Parallels Between the Film Being Made Clandestinely and the Secrets Being Kept Among the Family in the Movie "The limitations move along with you from the moment you start writing the script. They always accompany you when, of course, you're working in a repressive regime. And so you've got to find new ways ahead to make your film, but that also leads to a very strong awareness of the choices you're making — because if you make the wrong choice, you might not be able to continue. So we go to sets on the basis of decisions we've made early on to suit in a very precise way. And yet, during the shoot, there will always be unpredicted variables, things, problems, unexpected scenarios whereby you've got to make a different choice to what you were expecting in the moment. So you can plan as much as you want, but it's only when it comes to executing the work that you realise 'if I can't shoot, if I can't do that as planned, how can I proceed?'. And limitations really force you to find new paths forward." On Directing a Feature When You're Not Able to Be On Set "I started shooting and making films and 35mms during the analogue periods, when you didn't know what you'd see, really — what you were filming until later when it was developed in in a lab. And so you had a general impression and general image, but you didn't have a precise image or impression. And then later on, the video assist was introduced, where you could sort of control the set and watch the monitor at the same time — which became very fascinating for me and for lots of other filmmakers, because we were able to focus on the monitor. And in a way, [that's how] we made this film — we had a monitor that I had access to online while directing remotely. And then I had a secure sound connection to the set, mediated by a number of assistants. Of course, it was very slow. There were interruptions. There were moments when the connection was lost, and so I'd lose the control of the set for various minutes and then we had to reestablish it — so it was very laborious and difficult. But what mattered the most was that I was able to maintain, the priority was for me to maintain my concentration, but also to make do with the slowness and the inevitable delays. Wherever possible, of course, I would come as close as possible to set or actually appeared a few times, and that was much more fun and much better." On the Approach to Casting — and to Building an On-Screen Family — When You're Making a Movie in Secret "It's always difficult to compose a family in any film, because the members of the family have to look similar in a convincing way to the audience. So of course, if you're making a film underground, it becomes much more difficult to compose a believable family, because you're choosing from a much smaller pool of actors. But we spent a lot of time on this with my close collaborators, examining all the possibilities. And once we selected the father and the younger daughter, we then managed to find the mother and the older daughter. But yes, it was very difficult. It was extremely time-consuming. But I think in the end we were very successful." On How Having to Work in Secret, and the Energy That Goes Into It, Impacts a Finished Film "Well, when you're working with this kind of pressure, you always do have this feeling that you may manage to escape the system, and to ignore it and to defy it, but it doesn't mean you're escaping limitations. You're simply working with a different set of limitations. What is paramount to me is that the audience, when it watches the film, should not feel that the film was made with this sort of limitation. Of course, there are lots of aspects that I would have liked to play more with under different circumstances, but let's say the priority is really for the audience to feel that they're watching something that wasn't shot under this kind of duress." The Seed of the Sacred Fig opened in Australian cinemas on Thursday, February 27, 2025.
Now in it's third year, MTV Beats & Eats returns November 18 to take over Wollongong's Stuart Park. Just steps from North Wollongong beach, the festival brings live music and food lovers together for one big ol' party that will satisfy both your belly and your soul. Themed 'Space Fantasy', the festival encourages attendees to come in fancy dress as whatever their space fantasy may be. Astronauts, martians, space cowboys, alien unicorns — whichever costume you choose, you could win $2,000 for best dressed, $1,000 for second and $500 for third best dressed. Plus you'll look awesome. With past acts including Savage, PACES, Tigerlily and DJ Steve Aoki, you can expect an even bigger roster of local and international acts this year. Plus, in between sets, fill up on a range of eats from food vendors from the region, along with a few Sydney imports expected to dish out some top-notch barbecue, burgers and pizzas. And, though you probably don't need another excuse to get a ticket, your attendance will also go towards a good cause. With every ticket sold, MTV Australia will donate $1 to headspace, the national youth mental health foundation.
One of the best restaurants in Australia will be immortalised in print, thanks to a new book by chef Dan Hunter. Brae: Recipes and Stories from the Restaurant will showcase the history, philosophy and food of the iconic eatery in country Victoria, and is shaping up as one of the most salivating reads of the year. Due to hit shelves on May 1 thanks to Phaidon Press, the 256-page hardback will explore the early days of Brae, while also charting Hunter's journey from kitchen porter to celebrated chef. Personal essays will explore Hunter's ethical vision and strong preference for local ingredients. It's an approach that saw Brae rewarded with the number two spot on the list of Australia's Best Restaurants last year. Amateur cooks will also be keen to get a glimpse of Hunter's recipes, a number of which will be included in the tome. Finally, the book will feature more than 150 of artist Colin Page's photographs, detailing the food, the kitchen and breathtaking Australian landscape that surrounds the restaurant on all sides. Brae: Recipes and Stories from the Restaurant hits bookshelves and online stores from May 1 with a recommended retail price of $75.
Remember last year when Sydney got a 125-metre zip line between two CBD skyscrapers? Well, this year another charity initiative will take the form of a high-flying, dare devil feat. Abseil for Youth 2018 is taking Sydneysiders 135-metres into the sky and placing them atop a CBD building, where they'll proceed to scale down the 33-storey skyscraper — all for a good cause, of course. This adrenaline-fueled abseil event is actually in its ninth year, so its not new to the theatrics-for-charity trend. This year, it'll take place over two days from October 18–19 at 1 Market Street — just a few blocks from the QVB and next to the Shelbourne Hotel. So who are you barreling down a skyscraper for? Abseil for Youth specifically fundraises for the Sir David Martin Foundation (a not-for-profit that supports disadvantaged Australian youth) and Triple Care Farm (an award-winning Southern Highlands rehabilitation program for people aged 16–24). The fundraising target is set at $280,000 for 2018. The set up allows six people to abseil at a time, so it's a big incentive to get your mates together, though it'll be an expensive group outing with the $200 per person rego fee. There's also a minimum $1000 fundraising goal per individual and $5000 per team of six. Once you register, you'll be directed to create a fundraising page — so you can start encouraging your family, friends, office mates and casual acquaintances to donate. If heights don't terrify you and fundraising is your jam, go ahead and sign up over here. Abseil for Youth 2018 will take place at 1 Market Street, Sydney on Thursday, October 18 through Friday, October 19. To learn more and to register, head over here.
It can be tough going on the front lines of an intergenerational war. Trenches full of smashed avocado, unidentifiable projectiles landing all around you — that's a cassette, that one's a fax machine — and all day long the wafting propaganda, "You will never own a home". It's enough to send any millennial mad. Fortunately, this January, Sydney Festival is bringing in reinforcements. If you're an art lover who's managed to log fewer than three decades on this planet, SydFest has set aside a number of discounted tickets ($39–49) to certain events for you. The folks at the festival understand the plight of young people — our looming uni debts and exorbitant Sydney rent — and they want to pull us from the trenches and treat us to a (cheaper) night on the town. Given this year's program is bursting with dramatic and diverse shows and experiences, it can be slightly overwhelming knowing what to pick. Well, comrades, we're here to help. We've pulled together seven shows offering the Under 30s discount that'll make you forget your woes.
Last month, when the NSW Government announced that the South East Light Rail would be up and running by the end of the year, many a Sydneysider scoffed in disbelief. The CBD's The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room was among the most cynical — owner Fraser Short was so sure that the eternal construction that's been happening outside his George Street venue would continue into the new year, that he promised to throw a party if it was completed on time. And, in case you missed it, the long-awaited light rail route officially opened to the public this past weekend. So, keeping good on its promise, The Morrison is throwing a one big — and free — party on Tuesday, January 21. From 5pm, you'll be able to get a few drinks, snacks and, of course, the venue's famed oysters — all be on the house. You just have to RSVP here. [caption id="attachment_749345" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The light rail on George Street.[/caption] To summarise the saga that is the CBD and South East Light Rail project: it was first announced back in 2012, construction began in 2015 and, since then, it's faced legal stouches, cost blowouts (to almost $3 billion) and delays galore, due to everything from awry overhead wires and a discovery of thousands of Indigenous artefacts. Its prolonged construction has massively impacted businesses in the CBD, Surry Hills and Kensington — The Morrison is one of many businesses that have brought a class action against the State Government seeking compensation for loss of revenue. If you're heading to the party, maybe you can jump on the light rail — it will take you straight to The Morrison's door.
Before Stranger Things returns for its fifth and final season sometime in 2025, Finn Wolfhard has some slasher things to deal with. Movie lovers in Sydney and Melbourne can see how that pans out at Fantastic Film Festival Australia's 2025 run. With Hell of a Summer, the actor also turns co-director and co-writer with his Ghostbusters: Afterlife, When You Finish Saving the World and Saturday Night co-star Billy Bryk, with the pair giving the summer-camp masked-killer horror subgenre their own spin. Helping out on-screen: Gladiator II and The White Lotus' Fred Hechinger, plus Reservation Dogs' D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai. That's how Fantastic Film Festival Australia is opening this year, with a meta horror-comedy. From there, this celebration of boundary-pushing pictures has 26 more features on its lineup, 16 of the rest brand-new and then ten others must-see classics. Sydneysiders can get their fix from Thursday, April 24–Friday, May 16 at Ritz Cinemas, Randwick, while Melburnians have two destinations: Lido Cinemas, Hawthorn across Thursday, April 24–Thursday, May 15, plus Thornbury Picture House from Tuesday, April 29–Monday, May 5. If you haven't been to FFFA before, the event is marking its fifth iteration in 2025 — and one of its hallmarks, the nude screening, is back for the occasion. Get ready to say "yeah, baby" to watching a movie sans clothes, with Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery this year's flick to watch while wearing nix (following on from past sessions of nudist camp-set comedy Patrick, The Full Monty, Zoolander and The Naked Gun). Another highlight of 2025's program: the retrospective dedicated to Scottish writer/director Lynne Ramsay. Her filmography might only span four features since 1999, all of which are showing at FFFA, but it's a resume that any fellow helmer should envy. For audiences, getting the chance to see Ratcatcher, Morvern Callar, We Need to Talk About Kevin and You Were Never Really Here on the big screen — whether for the first time or as a revisit — is a cinephile's dream. Among the fest's new fare, The Second Act hits the lineup after opening the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, with Rubber and Deerskin's Quentin Dupieux enlisting Léa Seydoux (Dune: Part Two), Louis Garrel (Saint-Exupéry) and Vincent Lindon (The Quiet Son) for his latest absurdist satire. Or, catch Tár's Noémie Merlant in The Balconettes, which she co-wrote with her Portrait of a Lady on Fire director Céline Sciamma; see what happens when The Wild Boys and After Blue's Bertrand Mandico combines two film essays in one split-screen presentation in Dragon Dilatation; and head back to 1999 while journeying into teen antics 3000 light years away in Escape From the 21st Century. Viewers can get a dose of eerie puppetry via Monkey's Magic Merry Go Round, too, then watch Crispin Glover (Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities) as a magician in Mr. K and undergo a unique animated musical-comedy experience with Spermageddon. Back with FFFA's 2025 blasts from the past, John Woo's (The Killer) gun-fu great Hard Boiled is the festival's closing-night pick, including screening in 35mm in Sydney. If you're keen on a movie marathon, Umbrella-Palooza will get you watching three films about technological nightmares, all courtesy of Australian distributor Umbrella Entertainment — starting with 2002's Cypher, then heading back to 1990's vision of cyberpunk in Hardware, before the OG Japanese Pulse unleashes its presence. Supporting homegrown efforts, the fest has 1977 psychological thriller Summerfield among its retro component, alongside four newcomers: the Super 8-shot A Grand Mockery; the Pedro Almodóvar (The Room Next Door)-inspired Salt Along the Tongue; Pure Scum, which is set amid Melbourne's private-school culture; and Sword of Silence, as shot completely under a full moon. Aussie talents are also in focus in the Sydney Shorts and Melbourne Shorts screenings. "FFFA is a celebration of vibrant, boundary-pushing cinema, spotlighting unrestrained and wholly original voices from around the globe. It's an invitation to take a ride on the wild side, discover cult classics in the making and join our community of likeminded cinematic explorers," said Artistic Director Hudson Sowada, announcing 2025's flicks. 2025 Fantastic Film Festival Australia Dates Melbourne: Thursday, April 24–Thursday, May 15 — Lido Cinemas, Hawthorn Tuesday, April 29–Monday, May 5 — Thornbury Picture House, Thornbury Sydney: Thursday, April 24–Friday, May 16 — Ritz Cinemas, Randwick Fantastic Film Festival Australia runs in April and May at Ritz Cinema, Randwick in Sydney, plus Lido Cinemas, Hawthorn and Thornbury Picture House, Thornbury in Melbourne. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the FFFA website.
In Swiss Army Man, Daniel Radcliffe plays a dead guy with a rather particular set of skills. Manny is prone to excessive bouts of flatulence, and uses his explosive gift to assist his only friend. After he washes up on a deserted island, he's just what Paul Dano's stranded and suicidal Hank needs to help him find his way back to civilisation. Manny also comes in handy in a host of other ways: his erections act as a compass, he spits fresh water out of his mouth, and he simply gives Hank some much-needed company. You may have already heard about the so-called farting corpse movie, particularly after it reportedly prompted mass walk-outs at this year's Sundance Film Festival (where it also won the Best Directing award). In truth, there's a lot more to Swiss Army Man than the emphasis on bodily functions would suggest. The feature filmmaking debut of Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (known collectively as DANIELS), consider it the sweetest film you're likely to see about a deceased dude who looks like Harry Potter letting rip. Indeed, every burst of air expelled from Manny's buttocks provides a reminder of why everyone is so obsessed with the noisy but amusing phenomena. Put simply, to fart is to be human. Remembering what it is to be alive is just what Hank needs after much too long spent in isolation — and if it takes being forced to explain the ins and outs of love, family, masturbation and more to a cadaver whose chatter could simply be a figment of his imagination, then so be it. Sure, it's a rather absurd way for a film to address existential concerns, but hey, it works. As silly as it all appears, there's a careful balancing act at the heart of Swiss Army Man as it charts the unlikely duo's time together, including the stories Hank tells Manny about the girl (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) he had a crush on before his current predicament changed his life forever. Kwan and Scheinert might seem to spend a little too much time revelling in scatological humour, but after inspiring laughs, they also spin a story that contemplates plenty of hard truths. Actually, it's not just the toilet gags that may throw viewers off, but also the film's dream-like look and feel. Yet it's also why the end product isn't only insightful, but also so utterly disarming. It takes confidence to go from boy wizard-level fame to zipping around the ocean like a human jet ski. Radcliffe proves not just up to the challenge, but adept at bringing his dead character to life. While some sequences follow in the footsteps of '80s comedy Weekend at Bernie's, Manny is more than a prop — he's the film's not-quite-beating heart. Across from Radcliffe, Dano does what he does best, although he's much more effective when he has his co-star to bounce off of. With that in mind, you can add tender buddy comedy to Swiss Army Man's list of qualities. In short, this fart-filled flick will move you in more ways than one.
There's a big, white container sitting down a back alley in The Rocks. Black letters on the side spell out 'séance' so it's obvious that this container's not transporting furniture. And the dark curtains that hang across the entrance make it look kind of ominous. Séance is actually a new installation that aims to mess with your senses. Participants take a seat inside the tiny space, put on a headset and are told to place both hands on the table. The lights go out leaving the container in absolute darkness and, for 15 uneasy minutes, participants are taken on an immersive journey led only by touch and sounds. Expect to feel confused, repulsed and struck with temporary claustrophobia. According to organisers Darkscape, numerous participants bailed halfway through sittings during the recent Melbourne sessions. You're probably thinking that there's something dark or supernatural about the whole thing — and going by the name, we don't blame you. But the installation's organiser assures us that 'séance' is simply a French word meaning 'session' or 'sitting'. Did we mention that the velvet seats date back to 1913 and were pulled from an abandoned theatre? And so Séance is a sensory experience that looks at the psychology of both sensory deprivation and the dynamics of a group sitting together. It's a scary indicator of how easy it is for confusion, disorientation and information overload to affect our judgment. Artists David Rosenberg and Glen Neath (who have collaborated in other sensory deprivation projects before) are the creative masterminds behind the project, which has been described as 'disorienting' and 'deeply unsettling'. We're serious when we say it's not recommended for the claustrophobic, the easily frightened or those afraid of the dark. After a hugely successful residence in Melbourne, the installation is in Sydney for another few weeks. A stint in Brisbane may also be on the cards for next year. Séance is open daily until December 10 at Atherden Street, The Rocks. Tickets cost $20 each and you can purchase them through the website.
