Spring means plenty of fresh produce at outdoor markets and hours spent lounging by the water. What's better than a day that combines both? Cambridge Markets is popping up in Watsons Bay with the return of the beloved market in 2024. Head to Robertson Park from 10am–4pm on Sunday, October 20, to browse over 150 stalls against the backdrop of the picturesque harbour scene. From boutique homewares and independent fashion labels to speciality crafts and local purveyors, you can shop for a mix of essentials, gifts and items for the home, and feel good knowing you're investing in small independent businesses and local vendors. And don't forget about the food. Between purchases, fill up on market favourites such as paella, bagels, pastries and gozleme, and enjoy a picnic with those sweeping water views. The Cambridge Markets team is behind huge markets across Sydney, from Pittwater to Cronulla, Ryde Wharf and the Entertainment Quarter, so to call the group experienced would be an understatement. The Watsons Bay iteration is for one day only, so prepare a crew and find your deepest tote bag — you'll need it. Head to the website to find out more.
Update Monday, March 7: Due to severe weather warnings for the weekend, King Street Carnival has been forced to cancel its two outdoor stages at Camperdown Memorial Park and Sydney Park. Refunds will be provided for the ticketed events. The in-venue gigs in the style of King Street Crawl will still go ahead across all three days. The festival is working to secure indoor performance spaces for some of the artists on the original outdoor lineup. Keep an eye on the King Street Carnival Instagram for up-to-date information. Before 2020 turned the world upside down, King Street Crawl was a yearly tradition. After taking the last two years off due to COVID-19, the inner west institution is returning with a massive new three-day event pushing out from King Street and into neighbouring roads and two idyllic outdoor spaces. King Street Carnival will run across the weekend Friday, March 11 and Sunday, March 13 throughout Newtown's main road as well as Enmore Road, Erskineville Road, the Sydney Park Amphitheatre and Camperdown Memorial Park. Heading up the outdoor concerts is legendary group Yothu Yindi who will share the headlining spots with the likes of Rolling Blackouts C.F., Sarah Blasko, Middle Kids, Stella Donnelly and Ratcat among others at Camperdown Memorial Park throughout the weekend. Over at Sydney Park, Horrorshow, Confidence Man and You Am I are topping the bill, accompanied by Barkaa, Young Franco, King Stingray and Tropical Fuck Storm. Sydney party mainstays Heaps Gay and Inner West Reggae Disco Machine will also be taking over the park's Brick Pits throughout the weekend. This year, the Camperdown Memorial Park and Sydney Park Amphitheatre showcases will be ticketed. Tickets are on sale now, starting at $55 for a Friday-only past and increasing up to $137 for all three days. However, if you're strapped for cash, never fear, as King Street Crawl's usual array of free gigs will still be stretching out along King Street and across the inner west, with local artists like 1300, Dante Knows, Liyah Knight, Big Skeez, Ultracrush, Party Dozen and Good Pash taking to the stage across the weekend. Check out the huge (and we mean huge) lineup at the King Street Crawl website. [caption id="attachment_793807" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Buoys; April Josie[/caption] Top image: Destination NSW
The Abercrombie is back! The storied corner pub and haven of electronic music is reopening in December thanks to Solotel who will be reviving the Ultimo venue, reintroducing its packed dance floors and 24-hour license to Sydney's nightlife. Mark Friday, December 23 in your diaries, as that's the date the pub will swing open its doors and kick things off in true Abercrombie fashion with a 36-hour-long party that will stretch from 5pm on the Friday all the way until 5am on Christmas Day morning. Just a few of the names making appearances across the bar's first 36 hours include Astral People DJs, dameeeela, Andy Garvey, Mike Who, Nomad Radio, Pure Space, Lovejoy, Ayebatonye and original regulars of the space back in its previous lifetime, Purple Sneakers DJs. Entry is free so you can pop in and out of the venue throughout the 36 hours if you're not ready to party for a day and a half straight. While you're at the revamped Abercrombie, you can explore the two new spaces opening as part of its reopening transformation. Head upstairs and you'll discover a sleek cocktail lounge and rooftop bar called Casa Rosa, or discover Lil Sis, a cosy wine bar and bottle shop located in the adjoining terraces next to the pub. [caption id="attachment_881870" align="alignnone" width="1920"] dameeeela[/caption] THE ABERCROMBIE 36-HOUR PARTY LINEUP: Andy Garvey Astral People DJ's Ayebatonye B_A Banquet DJ's Blueprint Bobby Vibe Positive Caravan Club Sweat DJ's Conspiracy Crew dameeeela Daniel Lupica eclectic. Edseven Gallery Recs Kali Lovejoy Mike Who Nomad Radio Paul Jextra People's Party Pure Space Purple Sneakers DJ's RAW Reenie Said Dami Undisclosed DJ's UNDR Ctrl DJ's Velodrome
Kick off the first weekend of summer with a massive street party, taking over the laneway between The Courthouse Hotel and Websters Bar in Newtown. Hitting the bustling thoroughfare on Saturday, December 2, 2023's Newtown Street Party will feature a cracking lineup of local musicians, plus a hefty program of food and drinks. Presented by The Courty and Young Henrys, the laneway mini festival will welcome sets from The Beefs, Sweet Talk, Greatest Hits, Salarymen, RISSA, Manfredo Lament and Lady Lyon. Evening Records DJs will also be on-site on the day to set the tone behind the decks. [caption id="attachment_747996" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mary's burgers[/caption] Mary's will be bringing its beloved burgers down a couple of streets to keep patrons well fed, alongside a selection of tacos being cooked up by The Courty's culinary crew. And there will be pop-up bars from both the beloved pub and Young Henrys, serving up ice-cold tinnies. This is the second year the Newtown Street Party is popping up — an evolution of The Courthouse and Young Henrys' popular tinnie crack event. Entry is free via donation, with the event raising money for the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre. [caption id="attachment_928037" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Salarymen, Tom Wilkinson[/caption] Top image: Young Henrys Tinnie Crack.
It's a decades-old inner-west tradition: watching the Newtown Jets' home footy game from up on the hill at Henson Park, that is. But things have been dialed up a few notches over the years with the introduction of The Beer, Footy & Food Festival. After a two-year pandemic-related hiatus — and then multiple weather-related postponements — the beloved festival returned in April of this year, but after so long out of the game, the team behind the festivities has decided to return for a second 2022 edition. A good time for footy lovers, foodies and everyone in between, the event is set to dish up a huge afternoon of family-friendly fun. As well as the match-up between the Inner West's two most beloved footy sides — the Jets and the South Sydney Rabbitohs — you can expect a celebration of another Inner West triumph: craft beer. Keep that thirst in check with drops from 33 different brewers, including Grifter, Wayward, Batch, Yulli's Brews, Young Henrys, Hawke's, Willie The Boatman, Glebe Brewing Co, Brickworks and a heap more. Doom Juice will also be onsite pouring glasses of natural, minimal-intervention wines to enjoy while you watch the game. And, organisers have roped in a good number of food vendors, too. Get ready to enjoy snacks from the likes of Bush, Happy as Larry, Brooklyn Boys Bagels, Good Ways Deli, and Sparky's Jerk BBQ among others. And make sure you pack your footy so you can take part in the post-match kick-around on the hallowed turf of Henson Park.
Porch & Parlour has risen from the ashes, opening its doors for the first time since a fire forced its closure in August. The beloved Bondi bar and eatery is sporting a fresh look throughout, incorporating a new retail space and a revamped menu offering. On the walls, you'll now spy artworks by the likes of Vicki Lee and Ted O'Donnell, while a striking blue San Remo coffee machine is turning out those New Year caffeine hits. Alongside tried-and-true menu staples like the green pea pancake and breaky bowl, the Porch & Parlour kitchen is dishing up a swag of new season creations, zinging with vibrant local produce. Think, cinnamon scroll french toast, topped with banana, blueberry compote, maple syrup and a whipped lemon feta cream, and a loaded veggie bowl with cashew and turmeric dressing, all primed for those post-beach brunch sessions. And for lazy afternoon visits, see the 'sundowner' offering, running from 4–8pm, Friday through Sunday. You'll find top-notch specials on sips like Regal Rogue spritzes, lemon myrtle-infused gin and tonics, and mezcal margaritas.
To anyone who's ever seen a boy band struggle to croon over the screams of an enraptured crowd, the energy from the adolescent girls losing their minds would seem enough to solve the looming global energy crisis. Is it clean? Not always. But there are 60 years worth of gig footage — from The Beatles to One Direction — that classifies this energy as renewable. Fangirls understands this, and it is returning to Sydney to share that boy hand love. The hit show first came on the scene with sold-out sessions during its Belvoir debut in 2019, and has also popped up at the Seymour Centre — but the critically acclaimed Aussie musical will be presented in the Opera House's Drama Theatre from Thursday, July 28–Sunday, September 4. The musical peeks into the poster-plastered bedroom and love-heart-emblazoned diary of teen girl fandom. It's a celebration of the time in your life when you're convinced the haircuts of a pop group may well bring civilisation to its knees. It's witty and fun, sure. But writer and lyricist Yve Blake also probes an insidious double standard: why is it that when boys cry at the footy, that's the love of the game, but when girls cry at a Justin Bieber concert, that's pathetic? Through protagonist Edna (Manali Datar), a city girl conspiring to confess her undying love to True Connection frontman Harry, Fangirls also examines the sorts of messages sold to young women as well as the power of the modern fan. In the age of the internet, pubescent devotees are a coveted market, but they are also the new talent scouts, organising online to confer godhood on anybody playing acoustic guitar in their bedroom, rhyming 'your face' with 'gotta get out of this place'. Fangirls is boppy and sugary in spades. But it also asks you to spare a thought for those crying, screaming and full of joy in the front row. They're going through a hugely transformative time. And, they may be the ones keeping your lights on in years to come. [caption id="attachment_851096" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dayna Ransley[/caption]
Bon Appetit Selera Malaysia has been serving up casual, generous servings of Malay food on Enmore Road since May 2018 — and now it's opening a second outpost, dubbed Everything Malaysia, in Darlinghurst. Opening today, Monday, October 29, underneath Ching-a-Lings, the eatery is offering a pretty sweet banquet deal. Available every night of the week for lunch and dinner its all-you-can-eat jackpot will only set you back $11.90. Yep, $11.90. While it is a buffet, it's a buffet stocked with quality Malaysian fare — no lukewarm scrambled egg or dry sangas here. It's stocked with everything from beef rendang burgers to sweet and sour fish and roti canai, and there are a heap of vegan options, too (if you do choose all vegan, all-you-can-eat is only $10.90) including eggplant masala and vegan tom yum soup. If you've tasted everything and you're in a curry stupor, reenergise with a teh tarik (a hot milk tea beverage) or an Air Bandung (a sweet, pink Malaysian drink) — Bon Appetit offers free (non-alcoholic) drinks if you spend $40 or more on food. To celebrate the opening of its new outlet in Darlinghurst, they will be giving away 300 free Malaysian lunch buffet meals this Monday, October 29. The grand opening will kick off from 11:30am and run until 3:30pm (or until 300 people hungry for Malay food have been fed, so get in early). Find Everything Malaysia at 129 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst from Monday, October 29 at 11.30am. Image: Bon Appetit Selera, Enmore
This July, where there's smoke in Parramatta, you can bet there's fire. Acclaimed ensemble Casus Circus is on its way to Riverside Theatres with Chasing Smoke, a show that blends the spark and flare of bombastic circus with the slow-burning beauty and nuance of 65 000-plus years of First Nations storytelling. Directed by Samoan Australian Natano Fa'anana and performed by Australia's only all-First Nations circus ensemble, this award-winning show takes a completely unique approach to documenting Indigenous experience and history. It is both a celebration of survival and culture and a lament for what has been lost and is still under threat. And, its limited season will run from July 16–17 only. Too often we consider circus as a medium powered purely by spectacle — the swallowing of fire and the juggling of buzzing chainsaws. But Chasing Smoke is an altogether more stunning feat. It manages to balance the sheer delight of contemporary circus spectacle with the weight of a sustained and often painful, but ultimately powerful narrative. You've never been under a Big Top like this. Chasing Smoke is happening at Riverside Theatre from July 16–17. For more information and to book, visit the website.
Each month, Netflix adds a whole heap of new movies, shows and specials to its lineup. It's impossible to watch all of them, and if you tend to gravitate towards its big series and films — Stranger Things and The Witcher, plus features such as Marriage Story and The Trial of the Chicago 7 , for instance — that's understandable. But don't scroll your way past the service's comedy offerings. As with everything on every streaming platform, the selection can be a bit hit and miss; however, Netflix was responsible for one of the best sketch comedies of 2019, aka the sidesplitting I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. In 2020, Netflix is hoping that its latest addition to the genre will also strike a chord, this time with Aussie comedians Aunty Donna at its centre. The troupe's absurdist gags, satire and wordplay is heading to the streamer via the six-part Aunty Donna's Big House of Fun, which'll be available to watch from Wednesday, November 11. As the just-released first trailer shows, viewers are in for silliness galore, as led by Aunty Donna's Mark Samual Bonanno, Broden Kelly and Zachary Ruane. The Office star Ed Helms also pops up, and executive produces the series — with Comedy Bang! Bang!'s Scott Aukerman and David Jargowsky also falling into the latter category. Since forming in 2011, Aunty Donna just keeps expanding its resume. It has played gigs everywhere from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival to Edinburgh Festival Fringe, toured the country several times, made a number of web series and released an album. In a year where we could all use a genuine reason to laugh, Aunty Donna's Big House of Fun adds to that list. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BVoYKwTc4E Aunty Donna's Big House of Fun will be available via Netflix from Wednesday, November 11.
Opened in early 2025, Miji Bar & Grill made an immediate splash amongst Japanese food fans, as its dazzling izakaya-inspired design, playful cuisine and self-pour sake station made for a lively dining experience. Now the place has got a new winter special, launching a Hotpot Set Menu for $75 per person. Available from May–July, the menu gets diners in the mood with fresh edamame topped with sea salt. Then, the pace ramps up quickly, with two serves of steamed abalone adorned with awabi kimo sauce, kombu jelly and pickled radish. Next, it's time for the tantalising main event: sukiyaki beef hot pot brimming with a hearty combination of wagyu beef, wombok and fresh mushrooms in a rich sukiyaki broth. Then, this soothing hotpot feast rounds out a choice of two desserts — a hojicha choux or Mont Blanc. Michelin-trained Executive Head Chef Jacob Lee earned his culinary stripes working in a host of highly rated restaurants around the globe, from New York's A Voce Columbus to Seoul's acclaimed Mingles and Tartine Bakery. Now, Lee's latest adventure in Sydney is ready to make your winter.
With over 45 million visitors globally, Body Worlds is one of the world's most visited health and wellness exhibitions. It's also frequently described as a "life changing experience" — visitors can expect to leave with an understanding of the marvel that is the human body. Now, after its popular Australian premiere in Melbourne, the original exhibition of real human bodies is coming to Sydney for the first time. Body Worlds Vital — which is different to the Real Bodies exhibition that, earlier in the year, garnered protesters amid claims the bodies were of executed Chinese political prisoners — will be on display at Sydney Town Hall from December 3 until March 2019, taking attendees on an intricate journey of the workings of the human body, through an authentic, visual display of over 150 donated specimens. The human bodies and body parts, donated for the benefit of public education, have gone through a meticulous process of plastination, and demonstrate the complexity, resilience and vulnerability of the human body in distress, disease and optimal health. The exhibitions were founded by anatomist and scientist Dr Gunther von Hagens and physician and conceptual designer Dr Angelina Whalley. And all the specimens displayed at the exhibitions are from an established body donation program with consenting donors — so far 17,000 bodies from around the world have been donated to Dr von Hagens' Institute for Plastination. The Australian tour specifically focuses on contemporary diseases and ailments and how everyday lifestyle choices can improve health and wellness, to live with vitality. The 150 specimens on display stem are preserved through a scientific process that replaces body fluids with polymers. Interactive elements include the Anatomical Mirror, where visitors will see how organs are positioned in their own body, a photo display that showcases longevity and healthy ageing, and healthy organs shown in direct comparison with diseased organs. Body Worlds Vital will be on display from December 3 – March 31 at Sydney Town Hall, 483 George Street, Sydney. Tickets are $32 for adults and are on sale now here.
This March, Victoria Park will be awash with the sounds of over 20 of the world's biggest names in house, electronica and techno. Days Like This will bring EDM talent from Europe and North America to Sydney Uni's grassy slopes. Of note is Sven Vath, Maceo Plex, Booka Shade, Marcel Dettman, The Black Madonna and Floating Points, as well as a handful of local acts. Aside from having a huge grassy dance floor and views of the city skyline (plus it's within walking distance of numerous bars and pubs), there will be a range of market stalls, bars and food outlets for your festival fuel. And after being called out for the complete lack of female artists on last year's lineup, you can expect an actual female presence this time round, including Cassette, Kali, Gabby (all from Australia), Heidi (Canada) and Sonja Moonear (Switzerland).
An authentic Greek cafe and dessert bar is opening in Ramsgate, bringing filoxenia, the warmth of Greek hospitality, to the residents of Sydney's south. The Good Filo will channel Thessaloniki and the ancient city's millennia-old baking traditions in their handmade delicacies. Visitors will be able to purchase lunches, desserts and Greek pastries, from moussaka to tsoureki. A strong, black coffee is recommended on the side to wash it all down. Launching on Rocky Point Road on January 3, the store will be captained by Aki Daikos and head baker Kiriakos Metaxotos. The former might be familiar from Tella Balls, while the latter will produce all the cafe's delights by hand, following recipes that have caused generations of mouths to water. Expect paninis, pastries, moussaka, baklava, bougatsa (made from your choice of semolina custard, cheese or a minced meat filling between layers of filo pastry) and galaktoboureko (semolina custard wrapped in a sheet of golden filo). Other delicacies include peynerli, a type of thick-based, Greek pizza first enjoyed by Greeks who lived on the Black Sea, and the tsoureki, a stringy-textured pastry with a semi-soft crust which fills the store with intense, spiced aromas when baked. Other highlights stem from inventive food hybrids, such as the croissantaboureko, which combines croissants with galaktoboureko as its name suggests; and the tsourektabouriko, which is a tsoureki with a galaktoboureko centre, all in the shape of a doughnut. https://www.instagram.com/p/BdWJQ6FDkW_/?taken-by=thegoodfilo There's also daily-made fresh bread, and it pretty much goes without saying that you shouldn't leave without trying a Greek frappe. And keep an eye out for other experimental specials, such as the Greek monsieur. "There really isn't a place like it in Sydney, and it's always been my dream to bring my motherland to Sydney," says Daikos. The Good Filo will open on January 3 at 336-342 Rocky Point Road, Ramsgate. For more information, head to the cafe's website.
You sure couldn't accuse Sydney restaurant Bill & Toni's of expanding too quickly. After all, it's only now — with more than 50 years under its belt — that the Darlinghurst institution is preparing to add three more venues to the family. So, why now? Well, the venue has a new owner, Chris Montel, who, since taking over last year, has swiftly made plans to launch three more outposts by the end of 2018. Surfers Paradise and Melbourne's Lygon Street will each get their slice of Bill & Toni's in the coming months, followed by a venue in Montel's own stomping ground of Cronulla later in the year. The aim for each, according to Montel, is to recreate the vibe and offering of the original — everything from the retro-leaning decor to the memorabilia lining the walls will be reimagined for the new spaces. The loveable old-school diner has cemented its status as a cult favourite of Sydney's Italian dining scene with its generous fare, pinball machines and the complimentary orange cordial that makes its way onto most of the tables. But, arguably, its charm lies in the fact that it's been around forever, and we're not quite convinced that will resonate with new cities and communities — especially Lygon Street, which is full of long-running old-school Italian joints already. While details for the Cronulla restaurant are still vague, the planned interstate outposts will be a little smaller, each boasting just one level and room for about 150 people, though they'll be dishing up the same short and snappy menu Darlinghurst folks have been loving for years. Time will tell if those hefty serves of crisp chicken schnitzel and spaghetti bolognese will win over a few new lifelong fans. Bill & Toni's will open on the Gold Coast, Melbourne and Cronulla in Sydney's south this year. We'll let you know opening dates and exact locations of the three new venues as they drop. Until then, you can visit the OG Bill & Toni's at 72–74 Stanley Street, Darlinghurst. Images: Kimberley Low.
In Nosedive, the first episode of the third season of Black Mirror, life's ups and downs are dictated by social media. Everything Lacie (Bryce Dallas Howard) does is rated by those around her, and she rates them in turn. Those rankings contribute to an overall score, out of five, which influences where she can live, hang out, travel, shop and more. Being Black Mirror, it's both a bleak and creepy vision of the future, and an idea that's not all that far removed from reality. If you watched the episode and thought "wouldn't that make a great game?", then you're not the only one. Five stars to you and to American game publisher Asmodee Group, we guess. The latter has turned Nosedive into a game that requires players to "create a 'perfect' life by collecting Lifestyle cards, while avoiding any dings to your Social Score that could cause everything you've worked for to come crashing down," according to its sale listing on the US version of Target's website. The strategy game is designed to be played by three to six people, and also has an app component. Each person's Social Score is based on how much other players like the experiences you give them via the app, with more than 1000 available. Nosedive will cost US$19.99, and whether it'll make the jump to Australia is yet to be seen. It's not the first off-screen chance that Black Mirror fans have had to feel like they're in one of the anthology series' episodes, thanks to an immersive London exhibition dedicated to the show last year. Via The Wrap.
It is usual not to smile when seeing a family torn apart by the death of a child. There are too many reasons to cry or become angry. And yet, even amidst the most shocking of revelations, The Only Child has the power to also draw sympathetic, mirthful laughter from its audience.Developed by Melbourne company The Hayloft Project, The Only Child is a gift especially developed for Belvoir Downstairs. Writer/director Simon Stone and co-writer Thomas Henning (of the Black Lung) have led an exceptionally talented creative team in their reconstruction of Henrik Ibsen's Little Eyolf. The result is a resounding success, an example of theatre that taps into the most ancient qualities of the art: balancing tragedy and comedy and presenting narratives that can drive a stake into anyone's soul, regardless of their place in life. The Hayloft Project is creating theatre in the same spirit as that undertaken by the likes of Shakespeare; by using existing stories to develop new work for a specific ensemble of actors, in a specific space, the company has produced a piece of tremendous poetry, truth and effect for today's audience.Photo by Patrick Boland
The glass facade of 20 Martin Place will be temporarily repurposed as a huge, vertical dance floor for the world's most kinetic (and vertigo-inducing) public space activation project, as part of Art & About Sydney. Bandaloop, under the guidance of choreographer and artistic director Amelia Rudolph, aims to honour nature, space and community by mesmerising unsuspecting crowds with jaw-dropping performances. Dancers will execute intricately-choreographed moves at heights that most performers would quickly decline. As a result, the message behind each performance is both graceful and provocative, challenging the way we would normally think about the space we occupy each day. The US-based performance group has toured the world extensively, re-defining the idea of dance by performing at places not generally thought of as dance floors: think museums, atriums, billboards and cliffs. Bandaloop combines new climbing technology, stunning costumes and dynamic physicality to bring performance art to new crowds. See the high-flying act at Martin Place on Friday, August 18 at 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 5pm; Saturday, August 19 at 12pm and 2pm and Sunday, August 20 at 12pm and 2pm.
It is wonderful being able to watch two artists collaborate over a period of years and through various projects, developing both as individuals and equally creating their own shared practice. Helen Herbertson and Ben Cobham’s creative partnership is a perfect example, and they are bringing two of their new works to CarriageWorks this month.Running as twin shows, Morphia Series and Sunstruck – a premonition of events offer Herbertson and Cobham’s exploration of dream and memory. Morpheus, Greek god of dreams, entices us with his undulating distortion of the waking mind, while solarised visions of worlds been and becoming crackle between performer and audience.Poetry – linguistic, physical, aural and visual – guides Herbertson and Cobham’s joint practice, and theirs is a relationship that has sold out shows across the country. Be quick to grab your place for these performances, as audience numbers are strictly limited.Photo by Jeff Busby
H&M, the Ikea of fashion, have really been kicking goals lately. Not only have they proven themselves the ultimate champions of affordable Swedish threads, they've nearly approached world domination. The much-loved brand boasts over 3000 stores in more than 50 countries, and each store they open in Australia is met with a frenzy. We saw it at Melbourne's GPO earlier this year and we're about to see it at the Macquarie Centre next month, but that will be nothing compared to the craziness announced for next year. H&M have just announced they will open a Sydney flagship store at the Glasshouse on Pitt Street in mid-2015. The fashion goliath will stand at three storeys tall and cover 5000 square metres. We were just joking about the comparison to Ikea, but seriously, you're probably going to get lost in there. As expected with such an enormous space, the store will house not only the latest clothing collection but also homewares, sportswear and accessories. Stock will be replenished daily, and the shopping centre will increase its trading hours to cope with the undoubtedly huge crowds. For comparison, 1.7 million people have passed through the Melbourne flagship store since its opening in April. Of course, there must be a reason for all this hysteria. Not only are the clothes cheap and of decent quality, H&M's Australian manager Hans Andersson has practically announced the brand as saviour of Australian fashion. "Sydney ... has world-class restaurants, yet the shopping is not up to the same standard," he said. "It has to change; as retailers we have to do better." For those that are too impatient to wait until next year, Sydney's first H&M store is opening in North Ryde on October 16 and a pop-up store also just appeared in the CBD as part of Vogue Fashion's Night Out. It's all happening! Maybe kill some time by sharpening your nails and perfecting a snarl to intimidate other shoppers. Via The Sydney Morning Herald.
I was about just verging into adolescence when my parents took me to Loch Ness. It was painful attempting to keep up that despondent, outsider teen thing when all I could think about was what if we actually saw her. Nessie, I mean. She didn't pop up but I did get an excellent oversized pencil from the souvenir stand, commemorating that moment of awkwardness (braces) and magical thinking (water monster oft depicted in suburban gardens using car tyres cut in half). I threw away the shackles of being too-cool-for-quetzalcoatls after that, and fell headlong into a fantasy bent. The sphinx, the griffin, that most phallic of fantastical creatures the unicorn, and, given the local landscape, the bunyip all became worthy of my bookshelf. I'm thankful, then, that the American History of Natural History focussed their brainy attentions on the topic and pulled together a traveling exhibition that traces the foundations of these lurking legends. Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids has now come to Sydney's very own Australian Maritime Museum, just in time to pique holiday interest in things that go bump in the night and in the daylight too. The exhibition looks at ways in which humans have been inspired by nature and folktales to bring chupacabras and yetis to our cynically spellbound attention. Mythic Creatures has a hefty holiday program for the taking, where kids can explore wild things and their ways, including a (night at the) museum sleepover. Full information is available online. Image: Mermaid rescued Collection Canadian Museum of Civilization
If last week's drastic drop in temperature has you dreading the blustery days ahead, Merivale is giving Sydneysiders a reason to push forward into winter. This June, the Sydney hospitality monolith is launching Bottoms Up, Sydney, a daily happy hour that offers 49 perfect off all the booze at a whopping 37 of its venues. No joke. From 5–7pm every day in the month, its bars, restaurants and pubs will be slinging all cocktails, mixed drinks, spirits, beer, wine and even Champagne (up to $200) at nearly half price. That's precisely $8.67 packaged Japanese cocktails at Ms. G's, $9.95 thyme Campari tonics at Charlie Parker's and $7.65 margaritas at El Loco, plus cheap wines by the glass at The Newport and Fred's and even cheaper craft beers at the Queens Hotel and The Paddington. Punters can also expect additional partner events and offers on throughout the month, so keep an eye on this space. And organise knock-off happy hour drinks ASAP. Bottoms Up, Sydney will run every day from June 1–30 from 5–7pm. You can find the full list of venues here.
Get those brain juices flowing and beef up your repertoire of interesting chat, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) is hosting its Conversation Starters: Truth or Dare series this weekend. Packed with over 25 free and ticketed events, the weekend-long program is the second of its kind for the museum, this year inviting visitors to explore the inexactness of truth. On September 8 and 9, your perceptions will be shaken and your inner lie detector honed, with a lineup of thought-provoking talks, interactive workshops, games, performances and dinners. The series takes cues from artist Sun Xun's work in manipulating image, sound and text, plus the current climate of 'fake news' to ignite conversations on what (and who) to trust. Start your weekend with a creative writing workshop, led by Paola Balla and then hit a free lunchtime session on learning how to tell a convincing lie (and not get caught), hosted by comedian Michael Hing, illusionist Adam Mada and author Felicity Castagna. Afterwards, ponder the question "When is it OK to lie?" at the interactive Ethics of Truth panel and 'fess up to a lie that you told your parents as a kid at the Don't Tell Mum confession booth. From 3–4.30pm, join Jay Katz and Miss Death as they discuss the credibility of certain 'otherworldly' conspiracy theories from Sasquatches to life on Mars. To end the first day, put your senses to the test with a unique three-course meal on the MCA Sculpture Terrace overlooking the harbour. Each course will involve some form of edible trickery (Heston-style) and be accompanied by a glass of wine. Meanwhile, provocateurs will spark conversations across the table about what the truth means to you. Sunday will see MCA curator Clothilde Bullen explore the truth behind fake Aboriginal art and its impacts, while Hing returns to the stage to teach you how to spot a liar with emotional intelligence expert Eleanor Shakiba. You can also take part in an interactive workshop with artist Aleks Danko which allows you to have a go at controlling and altering newspaper headlines. For more information on the program or to purchase tickets, visit the MCA website. Image 2: Kai Leishman.
With their third studio LP, Wilder Mind, in hand, Mumford and Sons are heading our way this November. Their Sydney performance, happening on November 14, will take the form of a mini-festival in The Domain, personally curated by Marcus and his band mates. Titled Gentlemen of the Road, the event is an Australian extension of the tour that has been taking the Brit rockers to small, off-the-beaten-track towns all over the UK and the US. So far, they’ve invited the likes of The Flaming Lips, James Vincent McMorrow, Primal Scream and the Foo Fighters to join them. Their Sydney lineup is bringing us a slew of big names, both local and international. From far away, there’ll be UK songwriter and 2015 NME Solo Artist of the Year Jake Bugg, in his only Australian show; synth poppers from Baltimore Future Islands; and UK indie pop rockers The Vaccines. And three lucky local acts have also scored spots on the bill — Brisbane’s The Jungle Giants, who are currently touring their second album, Speakerzoid; 2014 triple j Unearthed Artist of the Year, Meg Mac; and Brisbane’s Art of Sleeping, who’ll be opening the show with their compelling folk-rock.
Playing fictional movie star Vincent Chase in eight seasons of Entourage — and in the forgettable Entourage movie, too — Adrian Grenier got pretty comfortable playing someone who was constantly in front of the camera. That trait remains in his latest project, twisty new Netflix thriller series Clickbait. This time, Grenier steps into the shoes of a man who disappears suddenly, leaving his loved ones distraught. Then, when he pops up afterwards, it's in an online video that makes a shocking claim. In the clip, Nick Brewer (Grenier, Stage Mother) holds a card that says "I abuse women. At 5 million views, I die." His sister (Zoe Kazan, The Big Sick) and wife (Betty Gabriel, Get Out) are already distressed, but their nightmare only worsens once the video starts doing the rounds — unsurprisingly. Across eight episodes, the show then follows their efforts to find and save him, as well as the information they uncover along the way about the man they thought they knew. Swapping between different perspectives throughout its run, and stepping up the stakes in the process as well, Clickbait ponders the big, broad, important and constantly relevant intersection between our identities and our increasing use of social media. Just how our online and real-life selves can differ — and what types of behaviours we might indulge virtually that we wouldn't IRL — is only going to continue to garner the world's attention, which this Melbourne-shot series clearly attempts to tap into. Yes, if you spot any familiar sights while you're binging Clickbait from Wednesday, August 25 — or while you're watching the suitably tense just-dropped first trailer for the series — that's because it was filmed in the Victorian capital. It's a big month for high-profile shows that were made in Australia and are now hitting streaming, actually, with Amazon Prime Video dropping the Byron Bay-shot, Nicole Kidman-starring Nine Perfect Strangers as well. Check out the trailer below: Clickbait will be available to stream via Netflix from Wednesday, August 25. Top image: Ben King/Netflix.
Time Exposures: 60 Life Portraits, on show in the exhibition space on level two of Sydney University’s Fisher library, is an absolute delight. The exhibition consists of sixty ‘portraits’ of people admired by artist Sharon Zwi. Each work is a composite portrait is made up of twenty-five black and white photos taken throughout the subject’s life, presented chronologically. Not everyone featured in the exhibition is a high-profile Australian, but many are. There are feminists, judges, teachers, scientists, writers, filmmakers, politicians, and many others. Eva Cox, Margaret Whitlam, Shanti Raman, Michael Kirby, John Coetzee, and David Stratton fill out the long list of subjects. "Photographs address my interest in memory, place, identity and history. Each photo was taken in a time and place of different historical events," explains Zwi. "I also find it fascinating to see the changes as people grow up, mature and age; at what stage you see the 'essence' of the person, when their personalities are formed and their faces take on their identity." There is something deeply intimate about these works. It feels like you’re looking through a stranger’s private photo albums (which, essentially, you are). Some of the images have been shot professionally, but many are amateur snaps taken over the course of a lifetime. It’s a lovely reminder that life is peppered with so many happy, important occasions worth celebrating and recording. There are pictures of beaming newlyweds, photos thrilled fathers have taken of their wives holding newborn babies, pictures of graduations, confirmations, school pictures, snapshots of cherished dogs, photos with friends and family, holiday happy snaps, photos of people welcoming new pets into the family and photos of young children excited as they hold their new sibling for the first time. It’s terrifically moving. I only wish that these wonderful works could have been presented in the University Art Gallery. Who knows why they weren’t. I guess there is something nice about being able to stop and look at some gorgeous art while dropping off your library books, but where they’re displayed feels less like an ‘exhibition space’ and more like ‘an available wall’. This is one of the more poignant exhibitions I’ve seen in a long while. Make sure you take a trip (downstairs) to level two next time you drop into Fisher.
It's not every day that a neon blue van pulls up in Sydney and starts handing out free food and free drinks. But, in North Bondi from 9am–5pm on Friday, February 19, that's exactly what's happening. Setting up shop at the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club, the Ultra Violette Airstream is making its Sydney debut. It's a very brightly coloured van run by the sunscreen brand. And, yes, free protection from the sun's rays is part of the giveaway. You'll also score some free Rollers Bakehouse croissants, ice cream and coffee. Fridays are already great as they are, but that should put an extra spring in your step. Free merchandise will also be on offer, because this one-day-only event is all about reminding you to slop on some sunscreen. Clearly, when it comes to a topic this important, Ultra Violette is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that message sinks in. [caption id="attachment_717602" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Kitt Gould[/caption]
This post is sponsored by our partners, the Aroma Festival. For six days, Adore Estate’s nomadic coffee lab will call Playfair Street home as part of the Aroma Festival. Made out of two shipping containers, it’s an experimental cafe, where you can sample up to five different blends, watch a host of brewing methods in action, check out expert baristas working their magic and purchase specialty tools of the trade that you can test out at home. Over the past year or so, the lab has been popping up at all kinds of major food events, including the Sydney and Brisbane Fine Food Shows, the Melbourne International Coffee Expo and the Royal Easter Show. Adore Estate Coffee, even more ubiquitous, has been adding some rather hefty accolades to its awards swag, including Silver at the Sydney Royal Fine Food Show in both 2014 and 2013. The team has been working hard at developing and perfecting the label’s five signature coffees: Pure Organic, a single origin from northern Peru; Mastro, a distinctive sweet, smooth blend that brings together Africa, Asia and the Americas; Jackson, a rich, chocolatey special; Florito, an intense blend of hill-cultivated beans from Guatemala and Costa Rica; and Jackson 5, a full-bodied, balanced number. Try them all in one fell swoop from July 21-27. Opening hours will be 11am-2pm Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm Saturday and 10am-5pm Sunday.
Paramount Recreation Club — a rooftop dedicated to fitness above the newish Paramount House Hotel — is gearing up for the festive season. On Saturday, December 1, the yoga mats and gym balls will be swept aside to make way for the club's Holiday Market. If you're on the hunt for locally designed and made gifts, then make sure you add this one to the calendar. The good folks at Paramount have handpicked a bunch of their favourite brands and designers, including linen from In Bed, Le Labo's fragrances, Japanese basics from nearby store Provider, Mud ceramics, and bits and bobs form Dinosaur Designs, The Plant Society, Maison Balzac and The Locals Market. Anyone who arrives within the first hour (i.e. between 10am and 11am) will score free coffee, courtesy of Coffee Supreme, while the Rec Club Kiosk will serve healthy eats right up until 4pm.
Think of all the best things in life: the beach, beats and booze. They're all essential to a pre-game beach party (and, coincidentally, all start with B for some reason). So last weekend we teamed up with Sonos and got a pretty little beach house in Byron, loaded up on Stone & Wood beers, set up Banoffee on the balcony and got her to sing out towards the bay. It was Concrete Playground's own Beach Break. Duo-to-watch Kllo were there too, and we got to listen to their sweet electronic tunes with the Saturday arvo sun sky-high over Byron Bay. While Banoffee played 'Let's Go to the Beach' — and we basked in the glory of the fact that we were indeed already at the beach — we sipped on wines from Jacob's Creek and Stoneleigh Wild Valley and G&Tea cocktails made with Four Pillars gin, Earl Grey tea and Fever Tree soda. Also being shaken and stirred was Baron Samedi spiced rum punch and an Aperol and watermelon concoction that made it feel like summer all over again. Here's some snaps we took of the festivities. We're keeping these on-hand for gloomy days stuck in the office. Video: Andy Fraser.
She's collaborated with Kendrick Lamar for Miami Art Basel and Grammy Award-winner Lizzo for World Pride Day. And now, acclaimed New York-based artist Shantell Martin has landed in Sydney to lend some of her bold, artistic flair to Mardi Gras. Known for her signature black and white designs that are often delivered as live art performances, the artist and LGBTQIA+ activist descends on MCM House for a pop-up exhibition showcasing a slew of new exclusive prints. She's here in collaboration with Absolut Art, with the collection on show until Thursday, March 5. Expect to catch a series of monochromatic works, offering an exploration of Martin's oft-visited themes of identity, intersectionality and play that are right on key for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. If you see something you like, there'll be a range of the artist's pieces available to buy at the pop-up or from the Absolut Art website Also up for grabs is a one-off piece Martin created live earlier this week, inspired by her trip to Australia and its own LGBTQIA+ pride.
Take your Christmas shopping to the next level this weekend — that is, level four of the Strand Arcade. That's where a large collection of artisan producers will be selling home products, ceramics, accessories and more. And it's all in the name of supporting independent Australian art, fashion and design. It'll all take place at Courtesy of the Artist's 200-square-metre multi-purpose space at the top of the arcade this Thursday to Saturday. For the market's opening on Thursday night, there'll be DJ Charlie Villas on the decks. Look out for flawless products from a long list of Australian makers including Alison Jackson Tableware, watches from Aãrk Collective, Isobel Sippel Studio, Gewürzhaus Herb and Spice Merchants, Lauren Webster, Loom Towels, Carrol Russell, Fink, Tracy Dickason, Pass A Ball, Avi Amesbury, Ainslie Walker and Pendolino Olive Oils. If you can't make this week's markets — which run from 6pm to 9pm on November 16, 10am to 5.30pm on November 17, and 10am to 4pm on November 18 — then stay tuned for further Christmas markets in December.
These days, the term 'neighbourhood watch' is more likely to evoke an Orwellian state than a sense of community. Lally Katz is well aware of this, and opens her new play with a few lines about Kevin '07, recalling a more hopeful time in recent Australian history when a widespread sense of discontent and disillusion was nonetheless familiar to many. Directed by Belvoir's resident director, Simon Stone, this sharp suburban drama is all about how people reflect and deflect the behaviour of others in the most unexpected ways. On sleepy Mary Street, recycling bins are hastily wheeled to the kerb, taking residents only a safe heel-spin away from the sanctuary of their own homes. An elderly Serbian migrant, Milova (Kris McQuade), who attempts to visit the unreceptive Ana (Robyn Nevin) for coffee, elicits immediate sympathy when she is regularly dismissed as a spy. The huge mortgage of distrust that defines contemporary Western society is identified in Ana's insistence that she is “busy, always busy”. Ana is a flinty-eyed Hungarian immigrant who has survived World War II and outlived two husbands. Katz wrote the role specifically for Nevin. Inspired by a feisty Hungarian neighbour of her own, she developed Neighbourhood Watch under Nevin's fierce instructions to create a role that was "tough and funny". Ana lives all alone, save for her fearsome watch dog, Bella, who is, significantly, heard but never seen. The ageing migrant forms an unlikely friendship with the somewhat flaky young Catherine (Megan Holloway), an anxious aspiring actress who needs distraction from her own internalised monologue just as much as Ana needs an audience for hers. Both women have hard life lessons to learn — one about the pitfalls of trusting too much; the other about the penalties of trusting too little. The set is innovative and imaginative: Slate-grey carpet climbs up the walls; the only fixed item is the piano upon which Stefan Gregory plays his score. Stone uses a fast-turning revolving stage to spin the audience back in time and to take Catherine imaginatively back through Budapest. The turntable effect also reflects how different characters' paths both cross and fail to cross. The need for real community and friendships is challenging material to explore, and overall Neighbourhood Watch meets the challenge, showing how connecting with others may enable us to move forward in our own lives.
What do bread, bagels, pasta, pastries, biscuits and beer have in common? Other than the fact that they're all delicious, they're all also made from grains. And, they'll all be on offer at Sydney's latest food festival, which is dedicated to the humble crop behind so much of what we eat today. If snacking on artisan bread, downing a plate of penne and washing it down with a pint of lager is your idea of a delicious multi-course meal, then the Grains Festival has you covered. Taking place in the very fitting space that is The Flour Mill of Summer Hill — aka a working flour mill until 2009 — from 10am on Sunday, July 1, the event celebrates grain-based food and beverages in an array of forms. And carbs, obviously. Bringing their best grain-focused fare are the likes of Knafeh, Brooklyn Boy Bagels, Brasserie Bread, The Bread and Butter Project, Adamo's Pasta, The Farm Wholefoods and more, while Young Henrys, Cake Wines, The Grifter Brewing Company and Capital Brewing Co will be on drinks duty. With the area set to become a foodie precinct as part of its redevelopment, the festival is really all about getting folks to visit the new space — but it'll also feature playdough for any younger attendees, plus live tunes for everyone. Grains Festival takes place from 10am on Sunday, July 1 at The Flour Mill of Summer Hill, 2 Smith Street, Summer Hill. For more information, visit the event's Facebook page.
You know those beach movies from the fifties? The ones starring moondoggies and beachbunnies, with synopses like "four boys, intent on making records in a big surf competition, meet four girls intent on marriage"? Well, imagine that but the girls have a bit more ambition, and the film is set at night with a more disco deadbeat vibe. A Hole in the Sky Records is kinda like that. Psychedelics at the clambake, you dig? If you think my description is a little loopy, then may I refer you to the official label bio that informs us that the founders were swept up in a tornado in '68 and are currently sending their tunes from outer space. This January, that very label is making a trip back to planet earth headquarters to host a little party at everyone's favourite danceteria, Good God. From their impressive stable of bands (which includes Tame Impala, Jacques Renault and The Delicate Genius), they'll be trotting out Perth psychpopniks Pond and a band much loved in these parts, Canyons (in fact, we featured them in our book). What's more, all proceeds are going to a Haiti earthquake relief fund.
Most Aussies flock to cinemas in summer to escape the heat, but this March, why not embrace it and catch a few flicks while floating in Wylie's Baths, when the heritage-listed tidal pool plays host to the Floating Film Festival. After being cancelled due to some wild weather in November, the festival will run across March 15 and 16. It features a lineup of marine-themed films, including Blue The Film, a documentary about ocean pollution and its devastating impact on marine life, and Duct Tape Surfing, a moving short-film about a surfing paraplegic. If the thought of spending hours in the water gives you wrinkly finger-filled nightmares, fret not — you can also watch the films stretched out on the pool's surrounding rocks and deck. On the deck, you'll also find wines by the Yarra Valley's Innocent Bystander, G&Ts by Four Pillars and summery snacks. As an added bonus, profits from the night go to maintaining the baths, so you can spend many a summer cooling off in its waters. Updated: December 14, 2018.
It’s a '70s vibe with '50s tunes that the trusty Paddington watering hole The Unicorn and its downstairs den Easy Tiger are rockin’. Or, more accurately, rollin’. New night Roller Dog Thursdays features slick roller-skating waitstaff to take your order of $10 all-you-can-eat hotdogs. And trust us, if you're going to be gorging yourself on hotdogs, having waitstaff on wheels to bring them to you isn't just a gimmick; it's a necessity. Some of the finger-licking bites you can expect include spicy frankfurts served with bacon, cheese and fried jalapenos (Spicy Gambino), a pork and fennel sausage with prosciutto, cabbage and bocconcini (Italian Gangster) and a hot dog trying its very best to be a taco (Mexican Bird Man). Forget about waiting a whole year for the next hot dog eating competition: Roller Den Thursdays is the new time for you and your belly to get reacquainted.
By now, everyone should know what the big deal is with superstar chef David Chang. To those unfamiliar, only two words are necessary: pork buns. We in Sydney have had a chance to experience Chang's Momofuku empire thanks to Momofuku Seiobo opening a while back, but the rest of his restaurants overseas sadly still evade us. Now Momofuku Seiobo is stepping back in time to bring us a taste of New York's Momofuku Ssäm Bar's 2007 menu, some of which is now iconic — like Chang's signature pork belly buns with hoisin, cucumber and spring onions. Best of all, you won't have to fight for a reservation, just for a spot in the queue; no bookings are being taken for Ssäm Bar 2007. All dishes are $10-40, and you get a Tanqueray G&T on arrival. The Momofuku Ssäm Bar 2007 is one of our top ten picks of Good Food Month. Check out the rest of our recommendations.
Under normal circumstances, when a new-release movie starts playing in cinemas, audiences can't watch it on streaming, video on demand, DVD or blu-ray for a few months. But with the pandemic forcing film industry to make quite a few changes over the past year — widespread movie theatre closures will do that — that's no longer always the case. Maybe you're in lockdown. Perhaps you haven't had time to make it to your local cinema lately. Given the hefty amount of films now releasing each week, maybe you missed something. Film distributors have been fast-tracking some of their new releases from cinemas to streaming recently — movies that might still be playing in theatres in some parts of the country, too. In preparation for your next couch session, here's nine you can watch right now at home. THE SPARKS BROTHERS "All I do now is dick around" is an exquisite song lyric and, in Sparks' 2006 single 'Dick Around', it's sung with the operatic enthusiasm it demands. It's also a line that resounds with both humour and truth when uttered by Russell Mael, who, with elder brother Ron, has been crafting art-pop ditties as irreverent and melodic as this wonderful track since 1969. Sparks haven't been dicking around over that lengthy period. They currently have 25 albums to their name, and they've taken on almost every genre of music there is in their highly acerbic fashion. That said, their tunes are clearly the biggest labour of love possible, especially as the enigmatic duo has always lingered outside the mainstream. They've had some chart success, including mid-70s hit 'This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us', Giorgio Moroder collaboration and disco standout 'The Number One Song in Heaven', and the supremely 80s 'Cool Places'. They're beloved by everyone from Beck and 'Weird Al' Yankovic to Jason Schwartzman and Mike Myers, too. They're the band that all your favourite bands, actors and comedians can't get enough of, but they're hardly a household name — and yet, decade after decade, the Maels have kept playing around to make the smart, hilarious and offbeat songs they obviously personally adore. Everyone else should love Sparks' idiosyncratic earworms as well — and, even for those who've never heard of the band before, that's the outcome after watching The Sparks Brothers. Edgar Wright, one of the group's unabashed super fans, has turned his overflowing affection into an exceptional documentary. It's the Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and Baby Driver's first factual effort, and it's even more charming and delightful than the films he's best known for. That said, it'd be hard to mess up a movie about Sparks, purely given how much material there is to work with. Russell and Ron, the former sporting shaggier hair and the latter donning a pencil-thin moustache rather than the Charlie Chaplin-style top lip he's brandished for much of his career, are also heavenly interviewees. That's the thing about these now-septuagenarian siblings, every Sparks tune they've ever blasted out into the world, and this comprehensive yet always accessible film that's instantly one of 2021's best: they're all joyously, fabulously, eccentrically fun to an infectious and buoyant degree. The world has always needed more Sparks on a bigger stage; now, to the benefit of everyone that's ever loved them and anyone just discovering them, it's stopped dicking around and is finally delivering The Sparks Brothers is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. Read our full review. LITTLE JOE Pipes blow gently. The camera swirls. Rows of plants fill the screen. Some are leafy and flowery as they reach for the sky; others are mere stems topped with closed buds. Both types of vegetation are lined up in boxes in an austere-looking laboratory greenhouse — and soon another shoot of green appears among them. Plant breeder Alice (Cruella's Emily Beecham, who won the Cannes Film Festival's Best Actress award for her work here) is cloaked in a lab coat far paler than any plant, but the symbolism is immediately evident. Audiences don't know it yet, but her shock of cropped red hair resembles the crimson flowers that'll blossom in her genetically engineered new type of flora, too. "The aim has been to create a plant with a scent that makes its owner happy," she tells a small audience. She explains that most research in her field, and in this lab, has revolved around cultivating greenery that requires less human interaction; however, her new breed does the opposite. This species needs more watering and more protection from the elements, and responds to touch and talk. In return, it emits a scent that kickstarts the human hormone oxytocin when inhaled. Linked to parenting and bonding, that response will make everyone "love this plant like your own child," beams Alice like a proud parent. So starts Little Joe, which shares its name with the vegetation in question — a "mood-lifting, anti-depressant, happy plant," Alice's boss (David Wilmot, Calm with Horses) boasts. She's borrowed her own teenage son's (Kit Connor, Rocketman) moniker for her new baby, although she gives it more attention than her flesh-and-blood offspring, especially with the push to get it to market speeding up. The clinical gaze favoured by Austrian filmmaker Jessica Hausner (Amour fou) is telling, though. The eerie tone to the feature's Japanese-style, flute- and percussion-heavy score sets an uneasy mood as well. And, there's something not quite right in the overt eagerness of Alice's lab colleague Chris (Ben Whishaw, Fargo), and in the way that Planthouse Biotechnologies' other employees all instantly dismiss the concerns of the one naysayer, Bella (Kerry Fox, Top End Wedding), who has just returned to work after a mental health-induced sabbatical. Making her first English-language feature, Hausner helms a disquieting and anxious sci-fi/horror masterwork. Like many movies in the genre, this is a film about possibilities and consequences, creation and its costs, and happiness and its sacrifices — and about both daring to challenge and dutifully abiding by conformity — and yet it's always its own beast. There are aspects of Frankenstein at play, and The Day of the Triffids, and even Side Effects also. But as anyone familiar with Mary Shelley's iconic work knows, combining familiar elements can result in an intriguing new entity that's much more than just the sum of its parts. Little Joe is available to stream via Google Play and YouTube Movies. Read our full review. STREAMLINE Chasing a dream can feel like swimming through cool water on a hot summer's day — gliding, splashing and laidback paddling all included — with each refreshing stroke propelling you closer towards your own personal finish line. That's when everything is going well, of course, and when whatever your heart and mind desires seems as if it's waiting at the end of the pool. Otherwise, when you're bogged down by everyday minutiae and nothing seems to inch forward, working towards a set goal can also resemble treading water. It can mirror repetitively doing laps, too, when your destination seems out of sight despite all the hard work you're putting in. And, if you're tired and fed up with all the effort needed to even keep afloat — and when your heart is no longer in it — it can feel like floundering and drowning. In Streamline, all of these sensations and emotions bubble up for 15-year-old Benjamin Lane (Levi Miller, A Wrinkle in Time), as he pursues a professional swimming career, a spot in a prestigious squad in Brisbane and, ideally, an Olympics berth and all the glory that goes with it. Indeed, one of the delights of this Australian movie, which boasts Ian Thorpe as one of its executive producers, is how evocatively it sprinkles these swashes of feelings across the screen. Written and directed by feature first-timer Tyson Wade Johnston, Streamline is a sports drama as well as a small town-set family drama — and it's also a portrait of that time when you're expected to dive headfirst into adulthood, and into knowing what you want to do with the rest of your life, but you're also inescapably wracked with uncertainty and apprehension. Teenage awkwardness and angst aren't simple states to capture on-screen, although enough coming-of-age movies have been buoyed by both; however, Streamline opts to plunge deep into the existential stress that goes beyond feeling out of place with your peers or being annoyed at your parents. Its protagonist, who everyone just calls Boy, only really connects with his girlfriend and best friend Patti (Tasia Zalar, Mystery Road) at school. And, he's definitely mad at his mother and father. He resents his single mum Kim's (Laura Gordon, Undertow) efforts to keep him focused, which he sees as controlling rather than nurturing. He's doing tumble turns internally over his dad Rob (Jason Isaacs, Creation Stories), who's just been released from prison and has never been a positive influence in his life. Boy is also furious at his surrogate father figure, Coach Clarke (Robert Morgan, The Secrets She Keeps), for all the cajoling that coaches tend to give. But, mostly the swimming prodigy is unsure — about what he wants, what he's been told he wants and what to do next. Streamline is available to stream via Stan. Read our full review. THE SUICIDE SQUAD New decade, new director, new word in the title — and a mostly new cast, too. That's The Suicide Squad, the DC Extended Universe's new effort to keep viewers immersed in its sprawling superhero franchise, which keeps coming second in hearts, minds and box-office success to Marvel's counterpart. Revisiting a concept last seen in 2016's Suicide Squad, the new flick also tries to blast its unloved precursor's memory from everyone's brains. That three-letter addition to the title? It doesn't just ignore The Social Network's quote about the English language's most-used term, but also attempts to establish this film as the definitive vision of its ragtag supervillain crew. To help, Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker James Gunn joins the fold, his Troma-honed penchant for horror, comedy and gore is let loose, and a devil-may-care attitude is thrust to the fore. But when your main aim is to one-up the derided last feature with basically the same name, hitting your target is easy — and fulfilling that mission, even with irreverence and flair, isn't the same as making a great or especially memorable movie. Indeed, a film can be funny and lively, use its main faces well, have a few nice moments with its supporting cast and improve on its predecessor, and yet still fall into a routine, unsuccessfully wade into murky politics, never capitalise upon its premise or promise, keep rehashing the same things, and just be average, too — and right now, that film is The Suicide Squad. Mischief abounds from the outset — mood-wise, at least — including when no-nonsense black-ops agent Amanda Waller (Viola Davis, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) teams up Suicide Squad's Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman, The Secrets We Keep), Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney, Honest Thief) and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie, Dreamland) with a few new felons for a trip to the fictional Corto Maltese. Because this movie has that extra word in its title, it soon switches to another troupe reluctantly led by mercenary Bloodsport (Idris Elba, Concrete Cowboy), with fellow trained killer Peacemaker (John Cena, Fast and Furious 9) and the aforementioned Polka-Dot Man (David Dastmalchian, Bird Box), Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior, Valor da Vida) and King Shark (Sylvester Stallone, Rambo: Last Blood) also present. Their task: to sneak into a tower on the South American island. Under the guidance of The Thinker (Peter Capaldi, The Personal History of David Copperfield), alien experiment Project Starfish has been underway there for decades (and yes, Gunn makes time for a butthole joke). In this movie about cartoonish incarcerated killers doing the US government's dirty work, Waller has charged her recruits to destroy the secret test, all to ensure it isn't used by the violent faction that's just taken over Corto Maltese via a bloody coup. The end result is silly and goofy, fittingly — and yet, even when a supersized space starfish gets stompy (think: SpongeBob SquarePants' best bud Patrick if he grew up and got power-hungry), this sequel-slash-do-over is never as gleefully absurd as it should be. Again and again, even when Gunn's gambit works in the moment, that's how The Suicide Squad keeps playing out. The Suicide Squad is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. Read our full review. REMINISCENCE The look is all Blade Runner. The idea owes a few debts in that direction, too. In Reminiscence's vision of the future, androids don't dream of electric sheep; however, humans do escape into memories while they slumber in a tank of water, reliving and interacting with cherished moments from their past as if they're happening again right that instant. The mood takes a bit of the aforementioned sci-fi classic's tone, and Blade Runner 2049's as well, but then doubles down on the noir, and on some of the plot twists. Playing a veteran of a post-flood war that's seen Florida split into the haves and the have-nots, and also a man in possession of the technology and know-how to let paying customers reminisce, Hugh Jackman (Bad Education) isn't ever told "forget it Nick Bannister, it's Miami". Given that Reminiscence often feels like it wants to be a futuristic take on Chinatown, that wouldn't phrase feel out of place in the slightest, though. This is a film that lets its influences flicker to the surface that forcefully. It trades in memories, too, conjuring up a long list of smarter fare. And while it gives Westworld co-creator Lisa Joy a new outlet for many of the themes that've always hovered through the hit HBO show — primarily humanity's increasing disconnection with each other, and the growing yearning to find solace in either artificial or nostalgic settings, or both — she gleefully treads in her own footsteps. Or, the writer/director gives the ideas she's clearly fascinated with a different appearance and atmosphere than she's been working with on TV, but still largely enjoys the same toys. Perhaps Joy just gets comfort from the familiar, just like Bannister's clients. That might ring with more truth if Reminiscence didn't primarily use its intriguing underlying concept — a notion with plenty of promise, even as it nods to sci-fi gems gone by — to wrap up a romance in a mystery in a flimsy fashion. The hard-boiled Bannister has settled into his routine guiding people through their personal histories, with assistance with his ex-military colleague Watts (Westworld's Thandiwe Newton), until the film's femme fatale walks through the door asking for help. Singer Mae (Rebecca Ferguson, Doctor Sleep) has lost her keys, wants to use Bannister's tech to find them and ends up earning his besotted affection in the process. Then bliss turns to heartache when she disappears suddenly. Bannister is as obsessed with tracking her down as he is with her in general when they're together, but secrets about the woman he realises he never really knew keep being pushed to the fore as he searches. Also prominent: dialogue that feels like it's parodying all the movies that Reminiscence is copying, which drags the feature down word by word. Thankfully, Jackman, Newton and Ferguson's performances exceed the trite phrases that they're repeatedly forced to utter. The film's look and feel gleam and haunt by design, even though they also shine with and are haunted by the greats of a genre Joy clearly loves; however, this ends up being a movie about revelling in the past that happily plays it safe instead of striding into the future. Reminiscence is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. SOME KIND OF HEAVEN If you didn't know that Some Kind of Heaven was a documentary, you might think that it was a skit from I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. The same kind of social awkwardness that makes the Netflix sketch comedy such an equally savage and hilarious watch is present in this factual look at the retirement community also dubbed "god's waiting room": The Villages, Florida, the world's largest master-planned, age-restricted locale of its kind, and home to more than 120,000 people. This is a place for folks aged over 55 to live in multiple senses of the world. Couples tend to move there, then sign up for some of the thousands of activities and clubs that get them out dancing, kayaking, cheerleading, swimming and more. If a resident happens to be on their own — usually after their partner's passing — they can get involved in the local singles club, too. Around since the early 80s, and also described as "Disney World for retirees", this community is meant to be a dream. It was specifically designed to resemble the kinds of small towns its inhabitants likely grew up in, right down to the shop-filled main street and the large town square, and locals aren't ever meant to want to leave. But as Some Kind of Heaven follows four folks who've made The Villages their home — including one ex-Californian import that's just squatting — it demonstrates the reality that lingers behind the busy facade and glossy sales pitch. Requiem for a Dream's Darren Aronofsky is one of the doco's producers and, while Mother!-style horrors never quite pop up, this isn't a portrait of bliss by any means. Many of The Villages' residents are clearly happy. In his first feature-lengthy documentary, filmmaker Lance Oppenheim trains his gaze at people who aren't likely to appear in any of the community's brochures, however. Every shot lensed by cinematographer David Bolen (1BR) and boxed into the film's square frame is scenic and striking — Some Kind of Heaven sports an exquisite eye for visual composition — but much of what the movie depicts feels like stepping into a surreal alternative realm. (In one sequence, the camera meets a room filled with women called Elaine, all of whom introduce themselves one after one — and it's a scene that could've come straight out of any one of David Lynch's visions of suburban horror.) Approaching their 47-year wedding anniversary, Reggie and Anne think they've found the place for them. That's what they're both saying, at least, but The Villages means different things for each of them. Reggie has used the move to embrace his love of drugs and doing whatever he wants, and Anne has once again been forced to stand by his side, including when he's sent to court and admonished for his rudeness while representing himself. Then there's Barbara, a widow from Boston who didn't ever plan to live in Florida alone. She still works full-time, a rarity among her fellow residents, and she yearns for the company she thinks a margarita-loving golf cart salesman might bring. Rounding out the interviewees is the sleazy Dennis, an 81-year-old living in his van until he can find an attractive and rich woman to marry. Some Kind of Heaven doesn't judge him, or anyone else in its frames, but it lets these stories speak volumes about a place positioned as a fantasy land and yet really just bringing out the chaotic teenager inside everyone. Some Kind of Heaven is available to stream via Docplay. WEREWOLVES WITHIN The last time that filmmaker Josh Ruben trekked to a snowy mountainous locale and tracked the characters stranded in its midst, Scare Me was the end result, with the entertaining horror-comedy combining cabin fever chaos with creepy tales. Accordingly, it's easy to see how he's jumped from that Sundance hit to Werewolves Within, which shares the same kind of setting and setup — but with lycanthropes and a whodunnit twist. Forest ranger Finn (Sam Richardson, Promising Young Woman) has just arrived in the remote town of Beaverfield as the weather turns and the strange attacks start. He's barely been given a tour by fellow outsider Cecily (Milana Vayntrub, This Is Us), the local mail carrier, when the village's generators are found destroyed and the bodies start piling up. Finn has already established that he's surrounded by eccentric characters, including an oilman (Wayne Duvall, The Trial of the Chicago 7) trying to build a pipeline through the foliage, a store owner (Michaela Watkins, Search Party) obsessed with her dog, a constantly arguing couple (No Activity's George Basil and Barry's Sarah Burns) with a fondness for skirting the law, and a pair of ex-city slickers (What We Do in the Shadows' Harvey Guillén and Saved by the Bell's Cheyenne Jackson); however, he's soon forced into close quarters with his new neighbours as they all try to work out who's transforming into a ravenous creature and indulging their hunger. If it all sounds a bit like Cluedo but with werewolves, there's a reason for that; the 2016 virtual reality game that Werewolves Within is based on also matches that description. Adapted into a movie, the narrative aims for Knives Out with claws — but, while overflowing with one-liners, sight gags and a healthy sense of humour to a not just jam-packed but overstuffed degree, the end result is never as funny as it should be. It's never quite as fun, either, even though the concept is a winner on paper. Comedian-turned-screenwriter Mishna Wolff spends far too much time trading in the glaringly apparent, not to mention the predictable. Hell is other people here, and the fact that a seemingly quaint and friendly small town can be filled with deceit, duplicity and disaster is hardly a new observation (and neither is the musing that the sniping within the community just might be worse than the supernatural threat they're now facing). That almost every character remains purely one-note doesn't help, and nor do the over-amped performances given by all of the film's supporting players. Richardson is a delight, though, as he has been in everything from Detroiters to Veep. Indeed, he makes the case not just for more work, but for more leading roles. Vayntrub sinks her teeth into her part, too, and her rapport with Richardson is one of the movie's highlights. Also engaging: the off-kilter tone that Ruben adopts throughout, again aping his previous — and better — feature. Werewolves Within is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. THE ICE ROAD They're called ice road truckers and, between 2007–17, they earned their own reality TV series on the History Channel. They're the folks who don't just drive while it's frosty, but steer big rigs onto frozen lakes and rivers in Alaska and Canada — using routes obviously only available in winter to haul freight from one point to another. And, they're the focus of The Ice Road. In his latest stock-standard action flick following Honest Thief and The Marksman in the past year alone, Liam Neeson joins the ice road trucking fraternity, although his character only does so as a last resort. A seasoned long-haul driver, Mike McCann has had trouble holding down a job ever since he started caring for his Iraq War veteran brother Gurty (Marcus Thomas, The Forger), who came home with PTSD and aphasia, and is also a gifted mechanic. The pair have just been fired from their latest gig, in fact, when they see Jim Goldenrod's (Laurence Fishburne, Where'd You Go, Bernadette) callout for help driving gas wellheads to a remote Manitoba site where 26 miners have been trapped by an explosion. It's a dangerous task, and one that calls for three trucks making the distance as quickly and carefully as possible. Mike and Gurty set out in one vehicle, Jim in another, and Native American driver Tantoo (Amber Midthunder, Roswell, New Mexico) and mining company insurance agent Tom Varnay (Benjamin Walker, The Underground Railroad) hop into the third rig, but transporting their cargo and saving the buried workers is a tense and treacherous mission. Much about The Ice Road will sound familiar to anyone who's seen Sorcerer, William Friedkin's stellar 1977 thriller about trucking volatile dynamite along a rocky South American road — which adapted 1950 French novel The Salary of Fear, a book that first reached cinemas via 1953's Cannes Palme d'Or-winning The Wages of Fear. This isn't an acknowledged remake, but icy, however. It'd be far better if it was, because the tension that ripples from simply driving along the titular route is The Ice Road's strongest element. In the feature's first half, after setting the scene for both the McCanns and the miners, writer/director Jonathan Hensleigh (Kill the Irishman) stresses the perils of trucking down frozen rivers. Bobbleheads placed on dashboards wobble whenever the ice threatens to become unstable, pressure waves shimmer and action-movie stress bubbles within the film's gleaming white images. That'd be enough to sustain the movie, but Hensleigh believes otherwise, which is where predictable double-crossing on the ice, among the stranded miners and back at company headquarters comes in. Even Neeson can't make the long list of cliches that fill The Ice Road's script entertaining, not that he seems to be trying all that hard. He's gruff and grizzled, and he yells, punches and fights for what's right, but he also just makes viewers wish they were watching him confront wolves in excellent survival thriller The Grey, or drive a snowplough in the average Cold Pursuit. Unsurprisingly, the rest of the cast fare just as badly, including the thoroughly wasted Fishburne and Midthunder, and Mindhunter's Holt McCallany as one of the miners. The Ice Road is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. ESCAPE ROOM: TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS More than once in Escape Room: Tournament of Champions, a supporting performance stands out — and not for the right reasons. Overdone and obvious, these portrayals leave audiences with no doubt that the corresponding characters are part of the game that this franchise has been playing for two movies now. The overall premise of this series sees ordinary folks receive invites that lead them into a maze of escape rooms. These are literal life-and-death spaces, and the body count grows room by room. This time around, Zoey (Taylor Russell, Words on Bathroom Walls) and Ben (Logan Miller, Love, Simon), the sole survivors of 2019's series starter, are trying to track down the villains responsible for the death traps. Of course, they're soon stuck in another one, alongside four fellow winners (In Like Flynn's Thomas Cocquerel, Follow Me's Holland Roden, Queen & Slim's Indya Moore and Step Up: High Water's Carlito Olivero) from other games. There's supposed to be a sense of anxiousness about where the escape rooms begin and the outside world ends, and vice versa, but that's completely stripped out of this second effort. Throughly unsubtle bit-part performances, even for a movie this blatant at every turn, will do that. Escape Room: Tournament of Champions is still tense when Zoe, Ben and their fellow pawns are trying to sleuth their way to safety, thankfully, but that's largely a result of giving them twisty puzzles to solve at an urgent pace. Watching people trying to problem-solve quickly comes with innate tension. Will they succeed? Won't they? The seesawing between those two extremes is inherently suspenseful. That, and the rooms themselves, are two of Escape Room: Tournament of Champions' three highlights. The third: Russell, who is capable of so much more — as seen in Waves, for example — and gives her part here more depth than is written on the page. But, as much as returning director Adam Robitel (Insidious: The Last Key) tries to spin something memorable out of the nervous tone, elaborate spaces and Russell's presence, the repetition and overtness gets tiring fast. While individual scenes may be tense, the overall film never is. It's always apparent where the narrative is headed, even when the six credited writers (Mortal Kombat's Oren Uziel, Hand of God's Daniel Tuch, Counterpart's Maria Melnik, The Hive's Will Honley, Invincible's Christine Lavaf and Wildling's Fritz Böhm) think they're serving up surprises; thought has clearly gone into the minutiae of each escape room, and yet little seems to have been afforded the bigger picture. Visually, and in its soundtrack, every stylistic touch paints by the numbers, too. Also much too predictable: that the film is a setup for yet more to follow. The Final Destination franchise has ratcheted up five instalments so far, so the Escape Room series, the closest thing it has to a successor, can obviously keep milking its setup for several more formulaic movies to come. Escape Room: Tournament of Champions is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. THE MISFITS Imagine Robin Hood meets Ocean's Eleven meets the Fast and Furious franchise, but helmed by the filmmaker behind Deep Blue Sea, and somehow starring the unlikely combination of Pierce Brosnan (Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga), Tim Roth (Luce) and rapper/comedian/TV presenter Nick Cannon (Chi-Raq). Then, picture a film set in the fictional Jeziristan, because appropriating a particular culture and applying it to a made-up place is apparently okay by this flick's powers-that-be — and also envision a movie so blatant with its Islamophobia at every turn that Cannon's character is almost constantly making fun of Middle Eastern accents and Arabic names, citizens of this part of the globe are largely depicted as terrorists or psychopaths, a group of villains is called the Muslim Brotherhood, but all the gloss and glitz of Abu Dhabi, where the movie is shot, is leered at (as are the scantily clad women seen in its hotels, too). No one wants to visualise this flick, but unfortunately it exists. And yes, The Misfits is as atrocious as it sounds. Director Renny Harlin (who also has Cliffhanger and The Long Kiss Goodnight to his name) seems like he's simply trying to recreate shots, looks and scenes he likes from far better films, but badly. And, the fact that co-screenwriter Kurt Wimmer also has the atrocious 2015 remake of Point Break on his resume makes a huge amount of sense, because this bag of tripe just stitches together plot points from almost every other heist feature there is (as exacerbated by dialogue as bland and cliched as every aspect of the narrative). A big contender for the worst movie to reach Australian cinemas this year, and a film that surely wouldn't have ever gotten the chance if the pandemic hadn't upended the theatrical release slate, The Misfits brings together a ragtag gang of well-meaning criminals. They anoint themselves with the movie's moniker after ruling out 'motley crew' for obvious reasons, if you're wondering how stupid and inane this feature gets — and quickly. Bank robber Ringo (Cannon) usually flexes his light-fingered skills to rip off the wealthy and give back to the poor, so obviously he's keen to form a makeshift family with martial arts expert Violet (Jamie Chung, Lovecraft Country), who likes punishing terrible men; explosives-obsessed Wick (Thai popstar Mike Angelo), who blows up nasty businesses; and 'the Prince' (Rami Jaber, Tough Love), who may or may not be royalty in another made-up country. Their next target: a vault of gold hidden inside a maximum-security Jeziristan jail overseen by nefarious businessman Warner Schultz (Roth). Their latest recruits: UN-employed humanitarian Hope (Hermione Corfield, Sea Fever) and, if she can convince him, her conman dad Richard Pace (Brosnan), who of course has a history with their mark. Much that happens is nonsensical, which also applies to the messily staged and shot action scenes. The movie's sexism goes hand in hand with its blatant racism, too. Daddy issues, second chances, car chases, slow-motion explosions, pointless visual tricks — that's all part of this hideous package as well, alongside absolutely zero subtlety or enjoyment. The Misfits is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. Looking for more at-home viewing options? Check out our lists of movies fast-tracked from cinemas to streaming back in May, June, July and August. You can also take a look at our monthly streaming recommendations across new straight-to-digital films and TV shows.
Ahhh, the 1980s. It may have been a decade of shame for the fashion industry, but for today's TV and film producers it's a limitless goldmine of nostalgia. Red Oaks, The Americans, Deutschland 83, the 'San Junipero' episode of Black Mirror and, of course, Stranger Things, have all benefited from the public's deep-seeded yearning for the MTV-era. And that's to say nothing of the countless '80s properties that have been rebooted, reimagined or received unexpected sequels. King among the works mining '80s nostalgia is Ernest Cline's 2011 sci-fi novel Ready Player One, now adapted for the big screen by director Steven Spielberg. And it is, to put it bluntly, a nerd's wet dream writ large. Set in a densely overpopulated and largely dystopian future, the story sees the world's impoverished masses spending the majority of their time jacked into a VR universe known as The Oasis. But despite being billed as a digital paradise in which anyone can be whomever they want, the reality (both real and virtual) is far narrower. A competition drives every individual within the Oasis, promising both unimaginable riches and control of the program itself. One such desperate contestant is teenager Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan), who escapes his daily grind in the slums by assuming a virtual identity and racing his vintage DeLorean against his fellow gunters (short for "Easter egg hunters"). Together with his friends (none of whom he has ever actually met in real life), Wade works to secure victory over the thousands of professional gunters hired by IOI, a shady corporation whose malevolent CEO Nolan Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn) wants to assume control of the Oasis and monetise its every available pixel. Given that Ready Player One is positively overflowing with pop-culture references, Spielberg should be applauded for inserting so few of his own. There's the DeLorean, of course (Spielberg produced Back To The Future), and the iconic musical cues to accompany it. But by and large his movies take a back seat to other fan favourites like Alien, The Breakfast Club and – in the film's most outstanding sequence – Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. The movie is also heavy on the video game references, from Atari originals through to Overwatch. At its best, Ready Player One uses these tips of the hat to advance its story in wildly creative ways. For the most part, however, the never-ending winks are little more than pavlovian treats. As a result, scenes often feel like cinematic fast-food: delicious at the time but lacking in substance and quickly forgotten. Spielberg has, for most of his career, been a master of crafting movies that appeal to all ages. And yet even though the majority of the references in Ready Player One are aimed at those born between 1970 and 1990, it's hard to see the film speaking to many viewers above the age of 25. While the CGI is impressive, the action is far too frenetic. The dialogue, meanwhile, is painfully hammy (the gamer jargon, in particular, feels like Spielberg was given all the parts to an IKEA wardrobe without any instructions on how to put it together). At least Sheridan and his co-stars do a solid job, and Mendelsohn is nothing if not committed to his performance – albeit in service of a role that oscillates haphazardly between a serious villain and a pantomime one. It's hard not to see a great many current or imminent real-life scenarios akin to the world of The Oasis. Which is why it's such a pity that, instead of exploring the dangers of a plugged-in existence, Ready Player One opts to keep things light, ultimately saying little more than doesn't this all look cool? And sure, Spielberg's approach makes for an entertaining blockbuster. But we can't help but wonder about the movie that might have been. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSp1dM2Vj48
This April, an unlikely duo will emerge to bring Sydneysiders a new sarnie worthy of your finest hangover. Two city favourites, PappaRich and Belles Hot Chicken, are teaming up to create a Malaysian-style fried chicken mashup, which will be available from April 9 through June 18 at PappaRich locations along Liverpool Street and Broadway. On offer for both lunch and dinner, this spiced-up sandwich features Belles' signature fried chicken, plus Malaysian slaw with coconut vinegar and a collab 'Pappa Mac' sauce, all between PappaRich's toasted Hainan-style sweet bread. Belles' chef Morgan McGlone is the man behind this creation, so you know it'll be damn tasty. The sandwich costs $13.90 and will be available for lunch and dinner from April 9 until June 18 at PappaRich locations at 185 Broadway, Ultimate and 57 Liverpool Street, CBD.
Culinary puns, food-themed songs, and the delightful adventures of a burger-slinging family: on the small screen, that's what Bob's Burgers has been serving up since 2011. Just like the dish that's right there in the title, there's more than one way to enjoy this animated gem, however, with The Bob's Burgers Movie set to hit cinemas in May this year. The film has been a long time coming — and not just because the series it springs from has been on the air for a whopping 12 seasons now. The Bob's Burgers Movie was originally due to reach the big screen back in mid-2020, but the pandemic got in the way. Think of it as the movie version of IRL supermarket shortages. Thankfully, 2022 is here with the promise that The Bob's Burgers Movie will be a real thing that we'll all get to feast our eyeballs on — and soon. And if your appetite for a movie-length musical comedy-mystery-adventure flick about Bob Belcher (H Jon Benjamin, Archer) and his nearest and dearest isn't already ravenous, the film's just-dropped trailer is here to help. Sexy burgers, a big summer for Tina and trying to keep Bob's Burgers afloat after a ruptured water main causes a huge sinkhole right in front of the store: they're all on the movie's menu, as is a mystery that only Belcher kids Tina (Dan Mintz, Veep), Gene (Eugene Mirman, Archer) and Louise (Kristen Schaal, What We Do in the Shadows) can solve. And yes, The Bob's Burgers Movie does offer a solution to the feeling that every Bob's Burgers' fan has felt more than once: not wanting this colourful, hilarious and engaging animated meal to end when you're binging through it in 20-minute episode blocks. Check out the trailer for The Bob's Burgers Movie below: The Bob's Burgers Movie will open in cinemas Down Under on May 26, 2022. Images: Courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Late night eats could be more important to inner city Sydney bars than ever, with the passing of new State Government legislation forcing venues to keep their kitchen open while there's alcohol being served. According to the Daily Telegraph, the Liquor Legislation Amendment has been passed through the State Lower House and will hit the floor at the Upper House this week. This new move could mean venues have to keep kitchens open and chefs hanging around hoping for drinking punters feel like a little nibble, a serious financial strain on any bar. With Sydney venues already jumping through every hoop to boost dwindling figures after the introduction of the lockouts, this could be some pretty bad news for CBD/Kings Cross/Surry Hills et al. Bar owners are pretty worried, mainly because most late night punters are more interested in another round than a sit-down meal — or they'll head elsewhere for a nosh, to Hot Star Large Fried Chicken, Fatima's or Golden Century. Sure, the model works for already late night food-focused spots like Darlinghurst's Henrietta Supper Club and Surry Hills' Brooklyn Social, who both keep the kitchen open late, but will every bar be able to make the switch and keep the chefs on? It probably depends on the type of venue. "If the market was there to keep a kitchen open late at night we would, but it’s not," Kings Cross venue co-owner Danny McPherson told the Tele. "Sometimes we don’t have many customers around and we don’t get a lot of business after 10pm so it is insane to try and regulate something like this. It is going to mean we will need to pay to keep our chefs on which is going to really burden us financially." Then there's the issue of spots without kitchens, whether a venue like Oxford Art Factory could really run with this new legislation. With police looking to extend the lockout from the CBD and wanting everything shut down by midnight, and #notearsshed over the recent lockout-blamed closure of the Backroom, Sydney venues are truly being put through the financial ringer by the government — according to the Telegraph, businesses have reported a 40 percent revenue loss post-lockout. The legislation hits Upper House this week, we'll keep you posted. Via Daily Telegraph.
Luke Mangan is in the midst of reshuffling his 21-restaurant empire to make room for his next brand — Luke's Kitchen, which will open in Waterloo on February 15, taking over the MOJO by Luke Mangan space on Danks Street. Posited as more of a "neighbourhood eatery" than the existing space, the modern Australian menu will consist of snacks, share plates and sides, along with daily specials like whole fish and roasts carved at the table. As part of the opening selection, dishes will include Tasmanian ocean trout sashimi with coconut yoghurt; roasted organic chicken with cauliflower purée, asparagus and preserved lemon; and barbecued marron (Western Australian crayfish) with peach, celery and truffle honey. In the kitchen, 29-year-old chef Mathew Leighton will be at the helm. The Sydney-born young gun is a Mangan veteran, having worked across multiple venues including Glass Brasserie, Chicken Confidential and multiple Salt restaurants in Asia. The existing warehouse space has been given a softer revamp using an earthy colour palette, warm pendant lighting and retro touches, including a beaded curtain and floral screen. For seating, they've installed large wooden tables, a street-view benchtop and a new bar. For drinks, the menu boasts an extensive selection of wine by the glass, bottles that span a wide range of varietals and regions, and cocktails by the group's mixologist, Karl Higgins. "It's unpretentious, it's comfortable, and it's a place where guests can swing down for a glass of wine and oysters, or the works," says Mangan. The famed Australian restaurateur is calling Luke's Kitchen his flagship venue, with further expansion of the new brand expected in 2018. For those who are sad to see MOJO go, the New York-inspired wine bar will relocate to the CBD later in the year, where Magan feels the bar's city vibes are better suited. Luke's Kitchen will open on Thursday, February 15 at 8 Danks St, Waterloo. Opening hours are Wednesday through Thursday from 4pm to late, Friday from noon to late, Saturday from 10am to late and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Images: Minhky Le
It's a rare treat to see classical favourites performed by world-class musicians in a beautiful setting. And it's even rarer for that experience to be completely free — but that's exactly what you get at Sydney Symphony Under the Stars. Each year the renowned orchestra brings its rapturous performances to Parramatta Park, with the park's rolling green hills acting as a backdrop to a fantastic free program. Appearing free of charge and unticketed as part of Sydney Festival, the Sydney Symphony will perform a sparkling new program of tunes ranging from beloved movie themes to original works from the great composer, multi-instrumentalist and didgeridoo virtuoso, William Barton. Victor Frankowski Barton himself will be in attendance performing on the didgeridoo, joined by Anoushka Shankar on the sitar, as well as Aunty Delmae Barton, Véronique Serret and Iva Davies AM among the standout cast of musicians. Expect a cut from John Williams' score to E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, James Horner's main title from Apollo 13, an arrangement of Icehouse's 'Great Southern Land' and Strauss' 'Blue Danube'. Pack a picnic basket and your favourite rug before heading down early to nab a spot in front of the huge stage located at Parramatta Park's The Crescent. Then sit back, relax and be treated to a world-class performance from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Benjamin Northey, building to the grand finale of a thunderous firework display lighting up the night's sky. Starting at 8pm on Saturday, January 20, the event is family-friendly — and spots are first-come-first-serve with no online registrations. Top images: Jamie Williams
Spend a cruisy summer Saturday evening listening to acoustic songs and staring at Sydney Harbour thanks to Cockatoo Island's sunset sessions. Every Saturday until February 16, you'll be able to listen to music from local acoustic musicians. Venue 505 has curated the lineup, so you know you're in for an ace run of talent. Sets start at 5pm, but we recommend heading over to the island early to soak up as much sun as possible. And, because the combination great music and gorgeous begets some refreshments, there will be beer and wine, as well as cheese and charcuterie boxes available to purchase. Tickets are $25 each.
Here's something that no one thought about before the pandemic: checking whether the border between Victoria and New South Wales was open or closed. Restrictions on travel between Australian states have been a big part of the past two years, as we've all had to live with. But overnight — from 11.59pm on Thursday, November 4, in fact — Victoria fully reopened to NSW. The change means that all of NSW is now classed as a green zone under Victoria's traffic light-style border permit system, allowing all NSW residents to head south without quarantining or testing. That applies to both travellers and workers, and marks the first time in more than six months that Victoria has deemed the whole of Australia — every Local Government Area within the country, in fact — as green zones. You do still need to get a permit under Victoria's border system, however, and you have to verify that you aren't COVID-19 positive — and that you aren't currently considered a close contact of a positive case and therefore required to isolate. But other than that, the border is open. And, it applies to everyone, whether or not you've had both jabs. That said, Victoria does have different rules in place for the unvaxxed under its reopening roadmap, which visitors will need to abide by. So, those who haven't had two vaccinations will be under much stricter conditions while in the southern state. BREAKING: the NSW-Vic border opens tonight at 11:59, allowing free travel between Australia's two biggest states well ahead of the Christmas period. #Reunited pic.twitter.com/MY5xhkqO7B — Dom Perrottet (@Dom_Perrottet) November 4, 2021 For the trip vice versa, NSW is allowing free travel to Victorians, but only if they've had two jabs. If you fall into that category, there are no other requirements for entering New South Wales unless you've recently been to a venue deemed "of high concern" in Victoria. Otherwise, if you're over the age of 16 and you aren't double-vaxxed, you still can't enter NSW for recreation. The border change comes just days after NSW dropped its quarantine requirements for double-vaxxed Victorian travellers, on Monday, November 1, and a couple of weeks after Victoria did the reverse. And yes, the summer of 2021–22 is shaping up to be the summer of travel, as Australia's borders start to reopen. That's now applying internationally, much to the delight of everyone who has long been dreaming of an overseas holiday. And, albeit at different stages as Aussie states open up at their own rates, it's kicking in domestically as well — with Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia recently announcing when they'll reopen their borders, too. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Victoria, head over to the Victorian Government's website. Top image: Mulwala Bridge by Yun Huang Yong via Flickr.
If someone was to ask you to imagine a dinosaur, and to picture one type only, it's likely that the Tyrannosaurus rex would come to mind. The towering ancient creature is just that fascinating to kids and adults alike, and not solely because it's rarely far from screens. Head to any museum with a T. rex fossil on display and you'll be surrounded by crowds, whether or not they've seen King Kong, a Jurassic Park movie or Night at the Museum. Head to Melbourne Museum from Friday, June 28–Sunday, October 20, 2024 in particular and expect to have plenty of company, then. Thanks to the Victoria the T. rex exhibition, that's when the fossil of Tyrannosaurus rex Victoria will make its Australian debut in the state with the absolute best name for the occasion. The specimen dates back 66 million years, and is one of the world's largest and most complete T. rex skeletons. Showing exclusively at Melbourne Museum, it's also marks the first time that a real T. rex has ever been on display in Victoria. How big is big? Found in South Dakota in 2013, Victoria is comprised of 199 bones, including a skull that weighs 139 kilograms. The fossil reaches 12 metres in length and 3.6 metres in height. And, because the skull is so heavy, it has to be displayed separately as it can't be mounted upon Victoria's body. Victoria the T. rex will also feature interactive elements, such as multi-sensory installations that'll let you experience how the Tyrannosaurus rex saw and smelled, plus dioramas and a section where you can make your own customised 3D T. rex. Welcome to... the cretaceous period, then. The informative side of the showcase will step through recent palaeontological findings, so that you'll get an idea of what Victoria's life was like all that time ago — and also find out what brought about her end. If that's not enough dino action to make you feel like David Attenborough — or his brother Richard in Jurassic Park and The Lost World — Victoria the T. rex will display alongside Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs, which has been open at Melbourne Museum since 2022. The latter permanently features Horridus, the world's most complete Triceratops fossil, and entry to both exhibitions is included in one ticket. At IMAX Melbourne, 45-minute documentary T.REX 3D will also be showing — complete with footage of Horridus — from Friday, June 21. "Victoria the T. rex will see visitors from near and far enthralled by this real-life wonder alongside another marvel from the cretaceous: the world's most complete Triceratops fossil Horridus, whose permanent home is right here at Melbourne Museum," said CEO and Director of Museums Victoria Lynley Crosswell. "'Melbourne Museum will be the only place on Earth where, for a limited time, visitors can come face-to-face with two of the biggest and best real dinosaurs who once walked the planet." Victoria the T. rex will be on display from Friday, June 28–Sunday, October 20, 2024 at Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton. Head to the museum's website for tickets from Wednesday, April 10, as well as further information. Images: Neon Global.
Since opening in 2011, Bowral's Biota Dining has become one of Australia's most-adored regional restaurants. With every passing year, more hats are added to its portfolio. But, like many a high-achieving chef, owner James Vile has been dreaming of new possibilities. In January 2019, one of them will be realised when Barn by Biota opens. This project will see the restaurant take over a stunning, 100-acre property in nearby East Kangaloon for two nights per month with a 60-person dinner party featuring hyper-local ingredients, all sourced from within a radius of just a few kilometres. Seated around communal timber tables decked with local plants and flowers, guests will feast on honey, meat, yabbies, fruit, garlic and potatoes sourced from the property itself and transformed into delightful dishes by head chef Ryan Kovac, who's worked extensively with Viles. Further produce will come from neighbours' backyards and from a bunch of Biota's favourite farmers, including Redleaf Farm (pork and eggs), Pecora Dairy (cheese and lamb) and Quarter Acre (fruit, veggies, herbs, edible flowers, edible weeds). Before dinner, you'll be treated to a tour of the property in the company of owners Louise and John Keats, followed by a spot of yabby fishing and drinks around a stone outdoor fire pit. This is all included in the price of dinner — $190 a head. Anyone who's keen to stay the night are able to book The Loft, a luxurious two bedroom above Barn, surrounded by dreamy rural views. The Loft sleeps four and starts at $280 a night. It can be booked through Airbnb and is open for reservations right now — so call your besties and start planning that summer getaway. Barn by Biota is located in East Kangaloon. The first two dinners will take place on 11 and 25 January, 2019. For more information and to reserve your spot at the dinner or The Loft, head to barnbybiota.com.
Like lots of Melburnians this year, Fonda will be celebrating its birthday month in lockdown. But fiestas will still be in strong supply regardless of restrictions, thanks to the restaurant group's newly dropped takeaway offering. In honour of its tenth birthday, Fonda has launched a menu of DIY taco kits and bottled margaritas that are primed for nights in and sunny picnic sessions alike. At $60, the taco kit comes packed with everything you need to make eight tacos — corn tortillas, fresh fillings, guacamole, pico de gallo and chipotle aioli, plus your choice of the signature chicken, slow-cooked beef brisket or roasted sweet potato. To wash it all down, you'll find a range of pre-batched margaritas in house flavours like Coconut, Makrut & Chilli, Watermelon & Lime and Chilli Mango. Grab a mixed four-pack of 100ml serves for $60, or try any flavour by the share-friendly half-litre bottle for $65. What's more, the Fonda folk have put together the ultimate playlist to soundtrack your festivities, sure to transport you to a night out at the OG Richmond restaurant — find it here. The taco kits and margaritas are available for pick up from Fonda Hawthorn, Windsor, Richmond, Collingwood and its Bondi outpost in Sydney. Pre-order online.
