More than three decades since it was first published, the Watchmen series of comics is still considered one of the all-time greats of the medium. Brought to the page by writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons, the premise says plenty: in an alternative version of the world we all live in, superheroes definitely exist — but their presence has drastically altered history. Here, the Cold War turned out differently, caped crusaders largely work for the government and anyone else enforcing law and order while wearing a costume has been outlawed. Now, imagine that tale told with a satirical edge that deconstructs the superhero phenomenon, and you can see why it has hordes of devotees. Back in 2009 when comic book flicks were just starting to pick up steam — and when 22-film franchises were a mere dream — Watchmen was turned into a movie by Zack Snyder (who was fresh from 300, but hadn't made the jump to Batman v Superman or Justice League yet). Sequels clearly didn't follow; however, HBO is now hoping that the story will flourish on the small screen, enlisting Lost and The Leftovers co-creator Damon Lindelof to make it happen. Obviously, with Game of Thrones finishing, the network is in the market for a new pop culture phenomenon. This isn't just a straight adaptation. Apparently the series "embraces the nostalgia of the original groundbreaking graphic novel of the same name while attempting to break new ground of its own," according to HBO. An exact release date hasn't yet been revealed, other than fall in the US (aka spring in Australia and New Zealand) — but if you can't wait until then, HBO has dropped the first teaser for the new series. It's your first chance to catch a glimpse of the show's stacked cast, which includes Jeremy Irons, Don Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson, this year's Best Supporting Actress Oscar winner Regina King, Hong Chau, Louis Gossett Jr and Aussie actress Adelaide Clemens. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zymgtV99Rko Watchmen will air on HBO in the second half of the year, with an exact release date yet to be announced. We'll keep you updated — including about air dates Down Under.
There are many activities you can do in a two-hour time slot. You could watch all six episodes of the ABC's satirical beauty blog Sarah's Channel, cook 60 packets of 2 Minute Noodles or listen to Pink Floyd's 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' 4.6 times. But we think the tastiest way to pass 120 minutes is to spend it eating endless plates of tacos. And that's exactly what you can do each Sunday in January, when El Camino Cantina dishes out two hours of unlimited tacos for just $19 a pop. Rock up to any of its four Sydney venues — in Manly, Miranda, Entertainment Quarter and The Rocks — between 3pm and 6pm, and you'll be able to dig into a bottomless feast of everyone's favourite Mexican dish. To redeem the offer, you will need to purchase a drink of sorts. Watermelon margs will be $7.50 — but you can get a glass of sangria, a Dos Equis or, really, anything else on the extensive drinks menus. [caption id="attachment_745997" align="alignnone" width="1920"] El Camino Cantina EQ[/caption] If you're getting a crew together, you might want to book in advance. You can lock down a table here.
When a beaming face is described as "the worst smile I have ever seen in my life", it isn't quickly forgotten. The grins in Parker Finn's films aren't meant to be easily shaken. That line springs from the writer/director's debut feature, which wasn't his first to wonder what might happen if someone couldn't stop seeing the same Cheshire Cat-like expression everywhere to nerve-shredding effect. Before Smile became the highest-grossing horror movie of 2022 — and before the box-office smash spawned 2024 sequel Smile 2 — Finn played with the same concept in his 2020 short Laura Hasn't Slept. Australian actor Caitlin Stasey (Class of '07) plays the eponymous character, who can't get some shuteye as the film's title notes. As she explains to a therapist when the short begins, closing her eyes means having nightmares about a smiling face. When Smile then starts, Laura is in the frame again, still struggling with a grin that no one wants to see. The concept from there: that being taunted and haunted by the eerie smile that can appear everywhere and on anyone is both deeply unsettling and contagious. Smile's point of focus is psychiatrist Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon, Mare of Easttown). In Smile 2, it's mega pop star Skye Riley's (Naomi Scott, Anatomy of a Scandal) turn. When the supernatural force at the centre of Finn's work so far is smiling, which is whenever it's on-screen no matter the face it has taken, the unlucky target's whole world feels anything but warm. Horrific, terrifying, distressing, tormenting: those terms all fit as well. So discovers Skye a year after a car accident ended her last tour, also leaving her both injured and grieving. She's on the comeback trail when Smile 2 kicks off, with a new album out and a fresh run of live gigs to come. Then a smiling malevolent evil won't leave her alone — and the spiralling that follows as she endeavours to understand what's happening, what's real and what isn't, and how to stop it, all plays out in the public gaze. These are flicks to see with an audience, even if Laura Hasn't Slept made the program at 2020's SXSW in Austin, which took place solely online due to the pandemic. It still won a Special Jury Award in the Midnight Short program, then clearly caught Hollywood's attention. Finn himself loves seeing viewers react to his movies. His latest chance to do just that came via Smile 2's Australian premiere. It was also his latest connection with SXSW, this time at SXSW Sydney 2024, where the film screened as one of the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival headliners. [caption id="attachment_976458" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Don Arnold/Getty Images for Paramount[/caption] "It's the best. I think that, especially as a writer/director, it's incredibly delayed gratification when you're trying to make a film. It takes years to do it. The whole reason that I make films is for audiences, and that moment when you finally are putting it out in the world, I love watching the film with audiences," Finn tells Concrete Playground following a screening that he advises was "fantastic, great crowd, really fun". He continues: "so to hear everybody screaming or laughing or gasping or going silent all at the same moment, it's the best". Also featuring Lukas Gage (Dead Boy Detectives), Rosemarie DeWitt (The Boys), Ray Nicholson (Licorice Pizza — and, yes, the son of Jack Nicholson), Dylan Gelula (Hacks), Peter Jacobson (Fly Me to the Moon) and Raúl Castillo (Cassandro), plus Smile's Kyle Gallner (Strange Darling) returning, Smile 2 skews bigger, bolder and gorier than its predecessors. It reinforces a clever connection at the heart of the franchise, too: that seeing people happy and smiling when you're having a tough time, with or without a supernatural force at work, can be hellish itself. We also chatted with Finn about what makes an unshakeably scary smile for him, the inspiration for the franchise, researching pop stars, casting an incredibly committed Scott as Skye, his hopes for the future of all things Smile and more. On What Makes a Perfectly Unnerving Smile That Creeps You to Your Bones "The smiles in the film are all human performance. We're not adding any VFX or CG to these. And for me, it's that uncanny sort of smile that feels like it should be friendly. But the way that we frame it, the way that we have the throughline of how the actors perform it — for me it's the disconnected eyes from the smile that don't break staring at you, it just creates so much tension and stress for me. I find it really creepy." On What Inspires a Maniacally Smiling Figure to Pop Into Your Mind When You're Dreaming up a Serial Killer-Like Supernatural Entity "I think that what's so great about, for me, the concept of Smile is that of course there's turning the warm, friendly gesture on its head, and turning it into something cruel and upsetting — but what I really love about it is this idea of how we employ smiles almost as a mask. And what we put out into the world, we're trying to say 'hey, everything's okay' and it's hiding what's really going on on the inside. In the world of Smile, I love that if you look on the other side of that coin, the smiling faces are also hiding something on the other side, belying what's really behind that smile, something quite evil. And for me, I love that dichotomy." On Making a Connection Between Skye Spiralling and How a Smile Can Feel Taunting If You're Struggling "The reason I want to tell these stories, I love all these big supernatural elements, but it's really about this character's story and really trying to put the audience in this character's shoes. Which was an interesting challenge for this film because Skye is a mega-famous pop star, which is not necessarily a relatable scenario for most people. But I wanted to go behind that velvet rope and tie them to this human being who's quite broken and dealing with really fraught emotions. And I wanted people to really be able to connect with her and relate with her as a human being, and to feel the stress and the anxiety and the walls closing in as she's spiralling out of control, trying to use all the techniques of filmmaking to make the audience feel what Skye feels." On the Research That Went Into the Pop Star Side of the Story, Including Diving Into Pressures, Expectations and Constant Public Scrutiny "I think we're at this peak parasocial relationship with celebrity, and nothing is bigger in celebrity or fame right now than pop. So some of these pop stars have been elevated to the status of a demigod. And I was so interested about what's going on behind the scenes, the real person behind that. How can you deal with that level of expectation? So I dove headfirst into research. I watched every documentary that I could. I read every essay, every article, every interview and just kind of immersed myself in that world of pop. And so much from that research directly wormed its way into the script and into the film. It really helped guide a lot of what I wanted to do." On Enlisting Naomi Scott to Play Skye — and Her Performance at the Pop Star's Best and Worst Moments "I think that Naomi was the perfect storm for this character. She inherently has this X-factor gravitas to her, where I believe this mega pop star, that she could really be this character. But at the same time, she's capable of these incredibly raw, human moments, as she's hitting rock bottom. And it happens to be that she's this incredibly talented singer, she can perform choreography, she can do all these amazing things. She's such a force of nature, and the role was incredibly demanding, and it was an absolute dream to get to work with her." On Creating an Unsettling Mood and Tone That Kicks in Immediately and Doesn't Subside "Mood and tone, and this creeping sense of dread, is something that is really important for me to build into these films. I wanted to make sure that in both films, we, from the opening frame, feel incredibly anxious — and that the movie, what we're exploring with some of the themes and motifs, I want to create that emotionality for the audience, to make them feel what the movie is doing to the characters. It's all about this precision use of filmmaking tools. Obviously performance, what we're doing with the camera, sound design, everything, to just build this stress that just keeps bubbling and boiling more and more and more — and it turns into this powderkeg that's ready to explode by the end." On Finn's Dream for the Concept When He Was Starting Out with Laura Hasn't Slept "The dream was that it got into SXSW. That was as far as I had gotten — as far as thinking 'hey, how is this film going to live and be presented to the world?'. I made that short to stand alone. But while I was in post on it, I had this idea that eventually became the first Smile. The short had really inspired that journey towards Smile. But I think that short and everything that happened after, that's a very rare example where reality way, way, way overshot any expectations I had. So it was like a pinch-me, dream-come-true moment." On Going Bigger in Scope, Scares, Tension, Intensity, Gore, Shocks and Boldness with Smile 2 "Of course I wanted to challenge myself. For me, I only want to make films that I'm terrified to make. I think that's how I'm going to get the best out of myself. But making that jump from the first Smile to Smile 2, it's a much bigger film and I bit off a lot more. But I always love to try to punch above my budget and above our schedule, and go maximalist with everything. So we have more resources, yes, but we also are doing so much more, this so much more movie to make — so it was still just about putting that one foot in front of the other and trying to create the best experience for the audience possible." On Where Finn Would Like to Take the Smile Franchise From Here "I think we'll have to see. I think there's a lot of really exciting directions that that Smile could go. Right now, I'm really excited to see how audiences react to Smile 2. If we're so lucky to have audiences connect with it, I love the idea that these movies could just keep getting more and more off the rails and insane, and really doing new, unexpected versions of what Smile is. That would be important to me, to keep it very fresh and exciting and unexpected." Smile 2 opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, October 17, 2024.
As part of its push to get encourage tourism to regional NSW and bushfire-impacted areas, the NSW Government has launched five new culinary trails that will guide you through the picturesque Southern Tablelands. If you're looking for a food-filled trip out of the big smoke, these trails are designed to take the planning out of your travels while ensuring you hit the best spots this beloved NSW region has to offer. Located within three hours of Sydney, these food and wine trails are designed to be taken as a self-guided tour through your choice of five distinct areas within the Southern Tablelands. The five journeys have been labelled: Wine, Water, Wonder; Vibrant Villages & Passionate Producers; Wild Hume: Nature & History; Off the Beaten Track; and Recharge in the Great Outdoors, with each providing travellers with a wholly unique experience. [caption id="attachment_865326" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Contentious Character[/caption] So, let's break down a few of these trails. Number one is Wine, Water, Wonder which is based around Lake George. It includes trips to the adorable Some Cafe in the small town of Collector, a range of food and shopping spots, and a winery crawl through the idyllic vines of Lerida Estate, Lake George Winery, Contentious Character and Lark Hill Winery. The Vibrant Villages & Passionate Producers trail takes you to stops like Grabben Gullen's The Albion Hotel for locally caught seafood, a 300-year-old sock-making dynasty in Crookwell, Laggan Pantry for a six-course degustation and a range of century-plus-old pubs. And, trail three — Off the Beaten Path — explores the areas between the Southern Highlands' Queanbeyan and Braidwood. On this adventure, you'll explore the historic town of Captains Flat, take on our choice of scenic hikes and stumble upon charming pubs, cafes, delis and galleries. Head to the Visit NSW website for the full breakdown of each tourist trail and to begin planning your trip to the Southern Tablelands. [caption id="attachment_865325" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bungonia National Park[/caption] Plan a trip to the Southern Highlands through the NSW Government's tourist trails. Images: Destination NSW
Yulli's, Surry Hills' purveyor of standout vegetarian fare and great brews since 2008, is expanding — imminently. On Friday, July 20, the team will throw open the doors to its brand new taproom and restaurant in Alexandria, Yulli's Brews. While the space itself isn't new, owner Karl Cooney and head brewer James Harvey have been in there for a while brewing award-winning ales such as Norman, it's the first time the space will be open to the public. And it'll be 100 percent vegan. From the beer through to the wine to the neat lineup of bush tucker-meets-Southeast Asian eats, not a fish scale, cheese crumb or bacon rind will appear. But it won't skimp on flavours — or personality, which carries through from the eclectic design to the anthropomorphic beers. The space, which can hold 150 people, is split into two areas — a ground floor for big tables and standup beers, and a large mezzanine for sit-down eats — and is filled with tables made from repurposed boat decking and vintage finds from nearby Lunatiques. Designed by Surry Hills' Snell Architects, it has an industrial edge (fitting, for a warehouse) with plenty of nods to Yulli's past. Take a seat on the mezzanine floor and you'll be able to look straight into the production area and watch Harvey and Cooney brewing. You'll also be able to taste three brand new Yulli's brews, including its first cider, Margo. Like all its brews, the dry and fruity apple cider is named after an employee — who still works at the Yulli's restaurant in Surry Hills. If you're not a beer — or cider — fan, fear not: Yulli's Brews has a full bar. And it's all local. And all vegan. Cooney admits that sourcing completely vegan wines — which are all from NSW — was tough, but well worth the effort. On the lineup of local spirits, expect to see plenty of nearby gin distiller Archie Rose. Food is a mishmash of cuisines. You'll find yiros made with Vietnamese ingredients — and served on house-made flat bread — and dumplings stuffed with bunya nuts, which Cooney recommends you pair with Chuck Black, Yulli's bunya nut porter on tap. The kitchen, which will also act as a production site for Yulli's restaurant, will be overseen by Kenny Kim, who did a big stint back at the Surry Hills restaurant. It'll also be churning out vegan fare for nearby pubs, who have been hitting up Cooney for years to look after the vegan part of their menus. While there's no word yet on what pubs they'll be supplying, if you're a vegan in the inner west, expect dining out at pubs to get a lot more exciting in the upcoming months. Find Yulli's Brews from 4pm, Friday, July 20, at 75A Burrows Road, Alexandria.
An odd couple to some, a truly remarkable couple to others. Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne and multi-instrumentalist St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark) will be unleashing their brass-heavy collaborations at one of the classiest joints around town — the State Theatre — as part of Sydney Festival 2013. The New York-based duo will be accompanied by a brass band on the evening to ensure every quirky interjection from their debut release, Love This Giant, is executed live. Together, they have created an album oozing with eccentric musical ideas, swamped in the obscurities of jazz, pop and funk. The two artists are like kindred spirits, seamlessly creating a record that stays true to each artist's musical identity yet morphs into an entirely new musical beast of its own. When brought to life, this giant will no doubt take on greater sonic measures for an enthralling live experience. Read our list of the 12 best things to see at the Sydney Festival in 2013. https://youtube.com/watch?v=hpPYKJAnwUo
With social distancing and public gathering rules in place across the country, Mother's Day is going to look a little different in 2020. While the annual celebration of mums isn't usually associated with fried chicken, KFC is, this year, bucking the trend and launching a 'mum-umental' celebration of chook. This Mother's Day weekend, KFC is slashing 25 percent off its entire menu — and delivering it to your door. So, order some finger lickin' good chook and Zoom your mum to tell her you love her (and maybe send her a gift, if you haven't already). The limited-time offer is available from select KFC stores nationwide and runs from Saturday, May 9 till midnight on Monday, May 11. To get your hands on some cheap 11 secret herbs and spices, head to Menulog's website or use the Menulog app and enter KFC4MUM at checkout. The deal is only valid when you spend $30 or more. While your food is on its way, you can meditate with KFChill, a wellness website that lets you unwind to the sound of chicken frying, gravy simmering or bacon sizzling away in a pan. Yes, it'll make you hungry. You can't road trip to the world's first drive-thru-only KFC or marry your loved at the famed chicken chain this weekend, but 25 percent off a Zinger Burger, Original Recipe Chicken and potato and gravy is sure to lift your spirits. Plus, Popcorn Chicken is a pretty good snack for when you're binging Tiger King or streaming this year's Oscar-winning flick. KFC is offering 25 percent off its entire menu via Menulog from Saturday, May 9 to 11.59pm on Monday, May 11. To order, head to the Menulog website and enter KFC4MUM at checkout. The deal is only valid for orders of $30 or more.
HBO's Cordyceps infection isn't going anywhere soon — not for the seven more weeks that The Last of Us' first video game-to-TV season has left to air, and not for a further season after that either. In excellent news for fans of the PlayStation title, the Pedro Pascal (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent)- and Bella Ramsey (Catherine Called Birdy)-starring show it has inspired, and both, the US network behind it has officially announced that its first massive hit of 2023 will return for a second season. This development is hardly surprising, but still obviously hugely welcome. When it comes to mashing buttons, the 2013 game also inspired a 2014 expansion pack and 2020 sequel. Also, even just two episodes in so far, HBO's version has been attracting viewers faster than any sudden movement attracts zombies. When the series' debut episode aired on Sunday, January 15 in the US and Monday, January 16 Down Under — where it screens and streams via Foxtel and Binge in Australia, and on Neon in New Zealand — it became HBO's second largest debut ever. The first? A little show called House of the Dragon in 2022. In America alone, The Last of Us' movie-length first instalment has notched up more than 22 million viewers, while its second episode earned 5.7 million viewers just on one night — more than a million than that premiere chapter, and giving HBO its largest-ever growth from week one to week two of any series it has ever made. In other words, even after leaping to television with a huge gaming fanbase behind it, The Last of Us' popularity is spreading. Given how impressive the HBO series' first season is — how thoughtful, character-based, well-cast, and committed to exploring not just what's happening in its contagion-ravaged dystopian world but why life is worth fighting for — that too is unsurprising. For newcomers to the franchise on consoles and as a TV series, it's set 20 years after modern civilisation as we know it has been toppled by a parasitic fungal infection that turns the afflicted into shuffling hordes. Pascal plays Joel, who gets saddled with smuggling 14-year-old Ellie (his Game of Thrones co-star Ramsey) out of a strict quarantine zone to help possibly save humanity's last remnants. There wouldn't be a game, let alone a television version, if that was an easy task, of course — and if the pair didn't need to weather quite the brutal journey. As a television series, The Last of Us hails from co-creator, executive producer, writer and director Craig Mazin, who already brought a hellscape to HBO (and to everyone's must-watch list) thanks to the haunting and horrifying Chernobyl. He teams up here with Neil Druckmann from Naughty Dog, who also penned and directed The Last of Us games. Alongside Pascal and Ramsey, the series also boasts Gabriel Luna (Terminator: Dark Fate) as Joel's younger brother and former soldier Tommy, Merle Dandridge (The Flight Attendant) as resistance leader Marlene and Aussie actor Anna Torv (Mindhunter) as smuggler Tess. And, Nico Parker (The Third Day) plays Joel's 14-year old daughter Sarah, Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus) and Nick Offerman (The Resort) feature as isolated survivalists Frank and Bill, Storm Reid (Euphoria) pops up as Boston orphan Riley, Jeffrey Pierce (Castle Rock) plays quarantine-zone rebel Perry and Yellowjackets' Melanie Lynskey also guest stars. HBO hasn't announced when season two will arrive, but cross your fingers that it drops early in 2024. Check out the full trailer for The Last of Us below: The Last of Us screens and streams via Foxtel and Binge in Australia, and on Neon in New Zealand. Read our review of the first season. Images: Liane Hentscher/HBO.
Seems we can't get enough of giant floating ducks. But this one could power an entire city. Hoping to make the city of Copenhagen carbon neutral by 2025, a crack team of British artists and designers (Hareth Pochee, Adam Khan, Louis Leger, Patrick Fryer) have pitched one quacker (sorry) of a multipurpose, sustainable energy-producing tourist attraction. Shaped like a giant sea duck and geared up to dabble in Copenhagen Harbour, the proposed 12-storey high structure has been envisioned in lightweight steel, covered top-to-webbed-toe in solar panel plumage. This futuristic duck's not just a planet-saving device though, it has public art aspirations. Collecting the sweet, sweet sunshine during the day for conversion, the 'energy duck' would become an art installation at night with LED lights snuggled within the solar panels. The LEDs are designed to march in time to the hydro turbines within the duck, choreography that reminds the city that sustainability is working while they promenade. Art-meets-sustainability design at its most novelty, the duck is one of the resulting proposals from the Land Art Generator Initiative, a genuinely great project fusing art and design for alternative solutions to renewable energy production. But why a colossal sea duck? First and foremost, the design gives a big nod to the city's local wildlife, whether the local ducks accept their new oversized friend or not. But there's science afoot in this ducked-up idea. According to designboom, the entire design hinges around the different H2O elevations within and without the floating vessel. The duck will store that sweet collected energy in its belly. When the city needs a little power boost, the base of Ol' Quacky is flooded to trigger the necessary amount of electricity for a national grid. Want to get a little closer to the supercharged aquatic adventurer? You'll be able to board, wander through and chill out in the duck's innards, checking out those wondrous PV panels and enjoying the fact that you're hangin' in a duck. Of course, the duck is still just a proposal, but as far as giant floating ducks go, this one seems the most permanent and planet-saving we've seen yet. Via Time and designboom.
Bondi Road welcomed a small but exciting newcomer to its ranks when tiny restaurant Peppe's opened its doors last week. The 40-square-metre Italian joint is slinging a simple pasta menu and natural wines by the glass. Oh, and it's all vegan. Owners Joe Pagliaro and Grace Watson (of Waterloo's vegan fine diner Paperbark) are looking to make their latest venture a go-to for the Bondi community. "Joe and I always wanted to open a really local Italian place and so far it's working out — we've only been open 1.5 weeks and we've already seen a few regulars three or four times," says Watson. Diners can expect pared-back, rustic interiors of timber and exposed brick. The fit-out is "nothing crazy" — Watson describes it as "a relaxed place where people can feel at home — and the only seating is around the two communal tables or at the long bar. In the kitchen is Joel Bennetts, who trained under renowned chef Grant King at Pier Rose Bay and later helped King open the two-hatted Gastro Park. Bennetts resumé also boasts Three Blue Ducks and mostly recently a stint at Japan boutique hotel AIR Myoko, where he spent the nights slinging vegan degustations to the masses. It's a succinct blackboard menu of around 12 dishes and eight wines by the glass at a time, both of which will change regularly. Produce is locally sourced and — as with all good traditional Italian food — ingredients are treated in a straightforward way. The pasta is made in-house daily, with a special focus on the gnocchi. Recent sauce varieties include pesto with green pea, Peppe's pomodoro and the gnocchi bianchi. The latter is sauced in cauliflower puree and three-hour porcini stock reduction, then topped with oyster mushrooms, crisped sage and toasted pangrattato-style breadcrumbs made with Iggy's bread. [caption id="attachment_717561" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The gnocchi with pesto and green pea.[/caption] To complement the pasta, there are rotating salads and sides on offer — currently the arancini is doing the rounds, made with Sicilian green olive and oregano and served with tomato aioli. The house tiramisu is, thankfully, a permanent fixture on the menu, and will be joined by regular dessert specials like the coconut and vanilla panna cotta with torched fig, orange and Campari syrup. On the drinks side, the wine menu focuses on local and sustainable drops, as well as Italian labels courtesy of Fun Wines — an Aussie wine importer run by the highly lauded Giorgio de Maria (of the now-closed 121BC and Vini). As far as Italian restaurants go, Peppe's is trying to keep the price point down, too, with a pasta dish, side and glass of wine adding up to around $40. Peppe's is in good company on Bondi Road, with natural wine bar Ode and mainstay The Corner House just next door, plus the recently renovated Sefa Kitchen across the street and Merivale's revamped The Royal just down the block. Coming up, there'll be soul, jazz and blues acts on every Monday from 5.30pm — so you can chase away those Monday blues with a steaming bowl of pasta, a glass of wine and some heartwarming live music, too. Find Peppe's at 261 Bondi Road, Bondi. It's open for dinner Wednesday through to Monday from 5–9.30pm. Images: Kitti Gould.
Ah, the munchies. When entire value packs of Chicken Crimpys spontaneously vanish, and McDonald's just doesn't seem sufficiently mass-produced. Well 50 bucks can buy you a whole new level of stoner stomach satisfaction this August, when the most excessive gustatory combos imaginable dare to show themselves at Queenie's. Queenie's Up in Smoke will be a one-off stoner extravaganza where the entire concept of "three-course meal" is laughed at and spat upon. We're talking fourth and fifth courses of grease and fat, crunchy and smooth, sweet and sour united in unholy matrimony — including, for example, the 420 Sandwich with lobster, Pringles, Baconnaise, tomato and lettuce on a panfried brioche bun. Uh-huh. You need more? How about Smoked, Baked & Fried, with turkey wings and maple syrup, jonkaroo and chilly fried peanuts? Or the Taco Bell Island Party, with pulled pork, pineapple, cheddar cheese nacho chips, Ras Lick sauce and a fried taco? Oh, you need these Pretzel S'mores, too? And the Beef Rib for 2 for 1? And the tablecloth? Here, take it, but don't eat my jacket. Okay, take that too. Stop eating me. I'm not amused. Up in Smoke takes place on August 15. $50 a head — bookings essential. To reserve a spot email bookings@queenies.com.au or call (02) 9212 3035.
Finding a beach Down Under isn't hard. According to Tourism Australia, this nation girt by sea has 11,761 such coastal spots. But each year, only one is named the best beach in the country by beach expert Brad Farmer AM. When you stop being envious about his dream job, you can use his selection as travel inspiration for this year's sun-, sand- and surf-fuelled getaways. Your 2024 destination: Squeaky Beach. The Wilsons Promontory spot in Victoria has taken top place on Farmer's annual top ten for the year ahead, after South Australia's Stokes Bay, which is located on Kangaroo Island, earned the honours for 2023. Past winners include Misery Beach in Western Australia in 2022, Cabarita Beach in New South Wales in 2020, Nudey Beach on Fitzroy island in Far North Queensland in 2018 and Cossies Beach in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, in the Indian Ocean, in 2017. [caption id="attachment_939139" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mark Watson[/caption] Squeaky Beach emerging victorious as Australia's Best Beach for 2024 is the first time that a Victorian beach has placed number one on the ranking. Farmer, who is one of Tourism Australia Friends of Australia, called the location 220 kilometres out of Melbourne — which is a three-hour drive — an "acoustic squeaky-clean delight of compressed quartz and silica sand underfoot" and "one finely tuned favourite to its many fans". "The crashing waves and clear waters of Squeaky Beach stretch for some 700 metres, gracefully enclosed by impressively coloured granite boulders at either end. It's also one of the region's most photographed beaches for good reason. It's simply beautiful," Farmer continued. He also gave Victoria's Bells Beach an honourable mention after his first-place pick — which would make the OG 1991 Point Break proud. [caption id="attachment_939141" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kramer Photography[/caption] Officially in second spot on 2024's list is The Farm in Shellharbour in New South Wales, followed by Tasmania's Cockle Creek, which is Australia's southernmost beach, in third. Spreading the love around the mainland and beyond, Farmer's fourth placing went to Madfish Bay in Western Australia, his fifth to Pulu Blan Madar Island in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and sixth to Cylinder Beach on Queensland's North Stradbroke Island. Lord Howe Island's Lagoon Beach came in seventh, South Australia's Long Beach in Robe sits at eighth and Queensland's Cow Bay in Far North placed ninth. Tenth takes the rankings to the Northern Territory, to Casuarina Beach in Darwin. [caption id="attachment_939131" align="alignnone" width="1920"] @jmax[/caption] "The list of 'best beaches' attracts headlines both here in Australia and in key international tourism markets around the world. That's why I take the chance to uncover some of those destinations that might not be well-known but are home to some of Australia's and, in my opinion, the world's best beaches," explained Farmer. "The year's list includes at least one beach from each state, the Northern Territory and even an Australian external territory, which is well off the coast of Australia, but the search for best beaches extends far and wide and one island on the far-flung archipelago caught my eye." [caption id="attachment_939136" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Colby James[/caption] "Of course all of the 'best Australian beaches' for 2024 are worthy of the recognition and so are the many thousands of others in Australia and off our coast, making it a tough, sometimes controversial job to come up with a list of just ten but it has been an honour to do just that once again," Farmer said. You know what to do from here: start making holiday plans that involve your togs. Given the spread of spots across the top ten in the 2024 Australia's best beach list, Aussie in every state and territory except the Australian Capital Territory can hit up one of the year's picks without travelling interstate. For motivation to travel further afield, though, you can't get much better. [caption id="attachment_939137" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jaxon Roberts[/caption] The Top Ten Best Australian Beaches for 2024: 1. Squeaky Beach, Wilsons Promontory, Victoria 2. The Farm, Shellharbour, New South Wales 3. Cockle Creek, South East, Tasmania 4. Madfish Bay, Great Southern, Western Australia 5. Pulu Blan Madar Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands 6. Cylinder Beach, North Stradbroke Island, Queensland 7. Lagoon Beach, Lord Howe Island, New South Wales 8. Long Beach, Robe, South Australia 9. Cow Bay, Far North, Queensland 10. Casuarina Beach, Darwin, Northern Territory [caption id="attachment_939133" align="alignnone" width="1920"] @in focus studios[/caption] [caption id="attachment_939134" align="alignnone" width="1920"] @_markfitz[/caption] [caption id="attachment_939135" align="alignnone" width="1920"] @visualjon[/caption] For more of Brad Farmer's beach tips, head to his Best Australian Beaches website. Top images: travelsoftnt, @lillypollard and P Fleming. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
No one went to Splendour in the Grass in 2024, after the Australian music festival announced its dates and lineup, then ditched its plans. No one attended Groovin the Moo this year, either, after it went through the same cycle of reveals and cancellations. Harvest Rock hadn't gotten to the stage of unveiling its bill, but it is now the latest Aussie fest to pull the plug on its event for this year, also joining Spilt Milk, Summergrounds Music Festival and Dark Mofo. "After two years of eating, drinking and dancing in Adelaide, we've made the difficult decision to postpone Harvest Rock 2024," announced the festival team in a statement on both the event's website and its social media channels. "This decision was made to ensure that Harvest Rock continues to deliver the experience that our local, national and international fans have come to know and love into the future," the message continued. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Harvest Rock (@harvestrockfest) If you're wondering when Harvest Rock will be back, there's no confirmation of that as yet. "We look forward to delivering another amazing Harvest Rock in the future," the statement also advises. It was back in 2022 that Secret Sounds, the crew behind Splendour in the Grass, gave Australia another massive multi-day music festival. The big aim: to get everyone dancing in a park in Adelaide each spring, including interstaters heading to South Australia to enjoy the fest's travelworthy lineups. The first year welcomed Jack White, Groove Armada, The Avalanches, Crowded House and Courtney Barnett, for starters. 2023's second spin featured Jamiroquai and Beck doing Australian-exclusive shows, plus everyone from Sparks and Nile Rogers & Chic to Bright Eyes and Paul Kelly. [caption id="attachment_969733" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ian Laidlaw[/caption] A two-day blend of music, food and wine — well, it is in SA — Harvest Rock has also spanned Adelaide's top restaurants and eateries serving up dishes, a culinary-focused stage and wine tastings in the two years that it has taken place. Upon debut, it instantly proved a success, attracting 15,000 attendees per day; however, that hasn't made it immune to Australia's spate of recent music festival cancellations. While Harvest Rock hadn't revealed its 2024 lineup, it did make tickets available for this year in 2023. If you snapped some up, you'll receive an automatic refund via however you purchased them within 14 days. Harvest Rock 2024, which was set to take place at Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka and King Rodney Park / Ityamai-itpina, Adelaide, is no longer going ahead. Head to the festival's website for further details.
Get your weekend off to a strong start with Boogie Brunch at Manly's Little Pearl. Set right across from the beach, you can take a mid-morning dip beneath the waves and still have plenty of time to make your way to this upbeat two-hour session. Featuring a tantalising, Asian-inspired 6-course feast and bottomless spritz package, this brunch does things a little differently. Powerhouse pop collective Sexy Sunday Jam has put together a revolving lineup of musical talent performing lung-busting soul and R&B tunes. Whether you and your pals are fresh as a daisy or recovering from Friday night's festivities, dishes like karaage chicken betel leaves, wok-tossed king prawns and chilli-glazed cauliflower slides will have you feeling better than ever. Then, the spritz selection is bursting with fruity flavours, like wild hibiscus and limoncello. Alongside a huge range of house wines, beers and tasty non-alcoholic options, this free-flowing beverage offering hits the spot. Bookings are $95pp and run across 12pm and 2.30pm sessions every Saturday.
A new blockbuster exhibition is headed Sydney's way, delving into one of the most famous figures in history. Whether you loved learning about the past at school or prefer to get your history fix via flicks like The Mummy, there's something about Tutankhamun that always intrigues — and now more than 150 objects from the ancient boy king's tomb are coming to the Australian Museum. Set to grace the museum's walls in 2021, Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh marks a century since King Tut's treasure-laden resting place was first discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter back in 1922. The exhibition's world-premiere season is currently running in Los Angeles — and while exact Sydney dates are yet been announced, it'll head to our shores for a six-month period, with the New South Wales capital becoming one of only ten cities around the world to play host to the showcase. Golden jewellery, elaborate carvings, sculptures and ritual antiquities will all feature, in an exhibition that "is exclusively focused on interpreting the significance and meaning of artifacts from Tutankhamun's personal tomb and includes," according to the Los Angeles season's website. Visitors can expect to set their sights on a ceremonial bed that historians believe was made for the pharaoh's funeral, a life-sized wooden statue of Tut and a jewelled container that held his liver. Given it's the world's largest Tutankhamun exhibition outside of Egypt — featuring 60 pieces that have never previously left the country — it's a rather big deal. It's also the final time that these items will leave Egypt, as they're set to be permanently housed in the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, which is due to open this year. Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh's trip to Sydney will be made possible by a $50 million upgrade to the Australian Museum, which will enhance the facility's ability to host large-scale exhibitions. "Repurposing existing storage space will see the significant expansion of the touring exhibition halls to 1500 square metres across two levels – allowing the Museum to host either one big blockbuster or two exhibitions simultaneously," said museum director and CEO Kim McKay. Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh will display at the Australian Museum in Sydney in 2021, with dates yet to be revealed. For more information, keep an eye on the Australian Museum website. Images: AP Images / King Tut: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh at the California Science Centre.
Pixar may be the dominating force in animation, but a showcase of artistic hopefuls will be on display at UTS. For its second year, the Sydney International Animation Festival (SIAF) opens its doors to the intricate world of animation, with a lineup that includes Pixar animator Rodrigo Blaas' gorgeously creepy directorial debut Alma as well as Oscar-winning short Logorama. Other anticipated Global Goodies are Jean-Christophe Lie's acclaimed short The Man in the Blue Gordini and Mathieu Bergeron and Yves Martel's (suitably, animated) documentary A Thorn in the Mind, which ventures behind the scenes of six renowned animators. Alongside the two days of screenings, SIAF will also run an inaugural one-day symposium on 'Animated Histories and Futures' as well as screening the finalists for the debut SIXTY40 Proto-ninja Nationwide Animation Competition. Local talent will be showcased in the Animaaate! program, plus the exciting digital vision of dreamtime, Wadu Matyidi. https://youtube.com/watch?v=DCmW4c40iK8
Stay tuned. More info on its way. Image: Ian Tom Ferry.
If you've got a hard earned thirst for some spiffy beer merch, the folks at Victoria Bitter have you covered — and that's been the case for a couple of years. Hankering not just for any old branded VB gear for your wardrobe, but for a retro knitted Christmas sweater? Then you'll be pleased to discover that the famed Carlton & United Breweries beer has just added a new woolly piece to its range. Called the Very Best Christmas Sweater, VB's new jumper looks exactly like you'd want a festive VB piece of apparel to look — and yes, it comes covered with stubbies and snowflakes. Naturally, it makes great use of the brand's red, green and white colour scheme, too. Indeed, the beer's logo has really just been screaming for the Christmas treatment. If you're eager to celebrate Christmas in July by sinking a few brews, you now have the perfect outfit for it. That said, only 500 will be available to purchase. The first 100 have already sold out after going on sale this week, but 400 more will be up for grabs — for $80 each — sometime in the week commencing July 13. Keep an eye on VB's 'Big Cold gear' website for further details. [caption id="attachment_775621" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Victoria Bitter[/caption] Also on offer: the rest of the brand's retro-styled collection, which nods firmly to the brew's lengthy history quenching the thirst of hardworking Aussies. There are crewneck jumpers, t-shirts, hoodies, beanies and caps, all emblazoned with that instantly recognisable logo. Alongside all the clothes, you'll also find VB jigsaw puzzles — plus glasses, water bottles, coolers, speakers, bar mats and even fridges. Victoria Bitter's 'Big Cold Gear' line is available for purchase online, including its Very Best Christmas Sweater. Top image: Victoria Bitter
As far as food and drink matches go, the combination of messy Buffalo wings and an ice cold can of beer is one for the ages. And yet, only now has this classic duo spawned a Sydney restaurant of its own, with best mates Anthony MacFarlane and Alfredo Perez opening Darlinghurst joint, Wings and Tins. To make up for lost time, the boys are going hard on the concept — an assortment of wing varieties decked out with house-made sauces, seven styles of fries, and an enormous lineup of tinnies ranging from local craft brews to foreign favourites. As the kitchen flexes its creative muscles, there'll be new wings specials unleashed each week, but currently the menu has with nine types of wings including this beauty: a double fried, bacon-wrapped wing, served on a waffle with hot sauce, maple syrup and lime aioli. Regular offerings run the gamut from smoky chipotle barbecue wings, to a blackberry and brown sugar version. And, if you fancy playing with fire, there's the T-bone's Doom Juice wings, doused in a sauce made from Carolina Reaper chillies. Down a whole serve to get your mug on the wall of fame, or order the Russian Roulette, where one of these mouth-burners is secretly stashed amongst a basket of regular wings. As for the space, Perez and MacFarlane have taken over the former digs of Darlinghurst's No Name, decking it out with a series of cosy booths, each one complete with a can-crusher and its own theme. Spend the evening chowing down on wings and slamming cans, in a seat styled like a vintage Swedish ski cabin.
If there's one thing that 2020 could use to help distract us from the year's struggles, it's a big dose of rampaging, ravenous dinosaurs. That's the Jurassic Park franchise's remit, of course, and while it won't release its latest live-action big-screen outing until 2021, the series is expanding to Netflix via an animated show. Yes, when it comes to an island filled with dinosaurs, humanity just won't learn. Since Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park hit bookstores in 1990, spawning not only Steven Spielberg's 1993 blockbuster film, but two direct sequels and the recent Jurassic World movies, people just keep clamouring to share the same landmass as re-animated prehistoric beasts. That remains the case in Netflix's Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, which links in with the events of 2015's initial Jurassic World flick — and to the franchise's familiar setting, Isla Nublar. This time, six teenagers have been chosen to attend a new adventure camp on the other side of the remote deathtrap. If you've seen the movie, you already know that the dinos break loose, because of course they do. That leaves the plucky youths fighting to survive. As for what happens next (hint: it'll involve stampeding beasts and fleeing humans), you'll find that out when Camp Cretaceous hits the streaming platform on September 18. Executive produced by Spielberg — as well as Jurassic World executive producer Frank Marshall, plus two-time series director Colin Trevorrow — the show is aimed to help fill the gap until Jurassic World: Dominion film releases in 2021. You're probably already excited about that movie, given that it brings back Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum; however no one is going to complain about more excuses to watch out-of-control dinosaurs. Camp Cretaceous forms part of Netflix's family slate, so you can probably expect less scares than usual — although the official teaser below is a little creepy. And as for who is voicing Camp Cretaceous' characters, the cast includes Paul-Mikél Williams, Jenna Ortega, Ryan Potter, Raini Rodriguez, Sean Giambrone and Kausar Mohammed as the campers — as well as The Good Place's Jameela Jamil and Set It Up's Glen Powell as camp counsellors. Check out the official teaser trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKJwbsx1BSc Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous will hit Netflix on September 18, 2020.
Sydneysiders have spent two months in lockdown now — and if you've been putting all that extra time at home to good use by sprucing up the house and doing odd jobs, you're definitely not alone. Home renovation proved popular during 2020's lockdown, too. Obviously, it's hard to avoid finally painting that wall, putting up that shelf, making over your garden or fixing all the things around the place that you've been pushing back for far too long when you're spending all day (and every day) at home. Naturally, that means that Bunnings Warehouse hasn't been lacking in customers during this stay-at-home stint. But if you're eager to pick up DIY supplies during the rest of Sydney's lockdown — so, until the end of September — you'll need to stick with online orders. Due to changes in the city's restrictions, the hardware retailer has temporarily shut down all of its stores in Greater Sydney, other than to trade customers. Under new rules that came into effect at 12.01am today, Monday, August 23, more businesses in places considered Local Government Areas of concern by the New South Wales Government are required to move to click-and-collect shopping — including garden centres, plant nurseries, office supplies, hardware and building supplies, rural supplies and pet supplies. That includes Bunnings, but the chain is going one step further and applying the rule citywide. "With the new restrictions on retail spanning a large part of Sydney, Bunnings has made the decision to temporarily close all its stores across Greater Sydney to the general public," said Bunnings Manager Director Mike Schneider. "This is in support of the government and for the safety and security of team members, customers and the community. We know from experience that applying a consistent approach across a metropolitan area is easier for our team to manage and helps reduce travel by residents between LGAs." Last year, the hardware retailer implemented a drive-and-collect service, so that's one option for picking up your hardware goods. DIY enthusiasts just need to complete their purchase online, wait for notification that their order is ready, and select their preferred pickup date and time. Then, when you drive to the store, you'll park in a designated drive and collect bay, and text or call the store to let them know you've arrived. All you need to do next is wait for a staff member to bring out your goods and put them in your car boot. Sadly, drive-and-collect doesn't apply to Bunnings' sausage sizzles, so they're off the cards in Greater Sydney for now. And if you'd prefer not to leave the house at all, you can also use the chain's click-and-deliver service. For further information about Bunnings' drive-and-collect service — or to place an order — visit the chain's website.
Before our always-on devices and the internet meant that everyone could discover almost anything in seconds, how did anyone know about spectacular surfing spots that weren't in their own backyard, or near enough — and about what people were doing on those waves? When the sport was just becoming popular in Australia in the 50s, taking advantage of the fact that this is indeed a nation girt by sea, how did word of where the best breaks are spread, and the latest techniques? The answer to these questions sits at the heart of Australian documentary You Should Have Been Here Yesterday. To be exact, the solution to sharing tips on where and how to hit the waves provides the bulk of the film. By rustling up 16mm cameras however they could, the era's surfers shot their own footage, then screened the results far and wide to eager crowds. Filmmaker Jolyon Hoff — also a surfer — now splices his latest feature together from such material. First, he made another surfing-related film — and if it wasn't for 2009's Searching for Michael Petersen, about one of the country's legends of 70s surfing, You Should Have Been Here Yesterday wouldn't exist, either. "It all started with that film. I was a film student when I first started making that film — and Michael Peterson was the ultimate iconic mythological character of 1970s Australian surfing. But when I went to make the film, he was also schizophrenic and whenever he saw a camera or an interview, he couldn't talk to people, he couldn't be around people, he found that very difficult," Hoff tells Concrete Playground. [caption id="attachment_981744" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steve Otton[/caption] "When you're setting out to make a film about someone like that, you've got to find some footage — and you've got to find some surfing footage. You can't show the rubbish stuff because it's the icon, he's this mythological character. So that journey took me to Dick Hoole's garage up behind Byron Bay," Hoff continues. Inside, he went into one of the surf photographer and fellow filmmaker's rooms, which was filled with 16mm films and surfing paraphernalia. "And we found some footage of Michael, but that whole time — and this is what, 2007, maybe 2008? — I was looking around at all these other film reels and thinking 'wow, I wonder what other gold is hidden in those?'. So that's where the kernel of the idea began." More than a decade and a half later, You Should Have Been Here Yesterday weaves that rediscovered gold into a cinematic poem that takes inspiration from non-surfing docos Moonage Daydream and Mountain. As Bret Morgen's stunning David Bowie tribute and Australian director Jennifer Peedom's ode to towering peaks both are, it's also designed to be as immersive as a movie can be. The best surfing films can't replace the real-life experience, of course, but they can make you yearn to catch waves yourself — or to see them ebb and flow in front of you with the naked eye. They also give non-surfers and surfers alike a close-up look at one of the planet's great joys, and ensure that a quote from Point Break always rings true: "surfing's the source, it'll change your life". [caption id="attachment_981743" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hamish Ludbrook[/caption] Australian lives were changed by surfing, and Australia was as well, as You Should Have Been Here Yesterday explores via its gorgeous restored footage. As clip after clip of waves rolling across the Aussie coastline fills the screen, scratches and other markers of the material's heritage still visible, voices give the imagery context. Morning of the Earth director Albe Falzon, surfer and surfboard shaper Wayne Lynch, 1993 Women's World Champion Pauline Menczer, author Tim Winton and others get talking. The documentary covers how jumping on a board became the nation's new youth culture, the response to the filmed material at the time, how surfing connected the land Down Under to the world, the sport's local commercialisation, the reaction to women riding the waves and more. You can also see You Should Have Been Here Yesterday as compiling examples of behaviour that's oh-so-familiar today: people taking the art of capturing their experiences, and of sharing stories as well, into their own hands. They filmed waves; today, anyone with a phone can record anything. We chatted to Hoff about that, too, and about making movies about surfing, why surfing has such big-screen appeal, his inspirations, retaining the imperfections in the imagery and what surfing culture means to Australia. [caption id="attachment_981747" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew McAlpine[/caption] On Getting Into Making Documentaries About Surfing and Australian Surf Culture "I'm a lifelong surfer, and then by trade I'm more of a filmmaker — I'm a filmmaker who surfs rather than a surfer that makes films. With Searching for Michael Peterson, I was fascinated by the idea of heroes and legends, and what it is about these people that captures our imagination, that we just become so enamoured about this person and somehow project all of our ideas onto that person. So that film was really about heroes and myths, and why we're drawn to these kind of people, troubled people in particular. This film, You Should Have Been Here Yesterday, it was a little bit different. It was a bit of a response to something that I feel. Well, it's a few things. I feel that surfing undersells itself in a whole lot of ways. So back in the 60s and 70s, surfing was the leading youth culture, and youth culture was part of this movement within Australia where everything was changing. Everything was shifting as a country — modern Australia, I'm talking about — we were becoming more confident, we're starting to do things for ourselves, making our own films, our own art movement, the Australian film industry began. And surfing was right there at that moment. [caption id="attachment_981746" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bob Evans[/caption] We were a leader in so many things that are now deeply part of the Australian cultural DNA — when we headed up the coast and experimented with not working for the man, and healthy living and connecting to country, connecting to nature. Beginning to explore Eastern philosophies and different ways of living, all of this was part of surfing. And surfing was there, because the young people were so desperate to go catch waves, it was there before the hippies and before a lot of those other more well-known movements. So in one way, I wanted to remind surfers who we are and how important that was as part of a shift in modern Australia — and maybe remind the rest of the world to look back at that time in Australia, a beautiful time in Australia. It feels to me like an adolescent period of Australia. There was this freedom, but also this naivety, like an adolescent — full of energy and going everywhere, but we made some mistakes. At the same time, there were beautiful things about that period. I'd like maybe as Australia moves forward to look back and go 'what was brilliant, what was fantastic about that that period in Australia?'. So that was the motivation behind this film." [caption id="attachment_981750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steve Otton[/caption] On the "I Need to Make This Movie" Moment with You Should Have Been Here Yesterday "I think it gestated a long time. I must have thought about that moment when I was in Dick Hoole's garage in 2007 and 2008, thinking what other gold is on those film reels. Film technology became better, so you could go back and rescan that old 16mm film. I became a father, I've got teenage children, my interest in that generational change and how information is transferred across generations became stronger. I think these ideas are just always kicking around in the brain and little pieces pop together. The first moment would be would be Dick Hoole's garage, and the idea that maybe there's some gold, some really important pieces of Australian history, in those film real scattered around his garage. [caption id="attachment_981754" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew McAlpine[/caption] And it is important. It was important. Those surf filmmakers that went out and started filming their mates, their friends, that was the first time kids started filming themselves, ever. Before that you would have seen ABC, channel networks, Channel 9 or whatever it was, government propaganda — that was the only film footage you saw. And this was kids going 'we're not interested in that bullshit. This is what we think is important. This is what we think is invaluable'. Then they got their hands on cameras, and at great expense and great lengths, to film those moments, whether it's surfing or life or what their friends were doing. And that's the process that's gone through until now. You see now that kids everywhere, whatever they're doing, they're filming their friends and they're sharing it with each other. And that whole conversation is taking place. So they really changed the landscape, and it was part of this process of change in that mediascape that's just continuing at at a rapid rate now." [caption id="attachment_981748" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alan Rich[/caption] On the Appeal of Surf Films as a Genre — Especially on the Big Screen "It's just beautiful. It's just incredible shots. There are a whole lot of things within those early surf films that, to me, are everything that film is about. So in those days, you couldn't see surfing anywhere else. So if you're a surfer and you're in New South Wales, you want to know what the Queenslanders were doing or what was happening in Hawaii, you had to go to the surf film — you couldn't see it anywhere else. So in that way, it became the way that we shared stories and transferred information. [caption id="attachment_981751" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Esta Handfield[/caption] Then those kids from New South Wales would see what somebody's doing in Hawaii, and then they try and copy it, and then they'd come out with a new way, and then that film would go back. And so, along with the conversation, it became really important as a community-building exercise — and cinema as a community-building and information-, knowledge-sharing kind of place. To me, that's what storytelling and filmmaking is all about: bringing us together around these stories. But surfing specifically, you've got giant waves, you've got water, everything's moving all the time. It's like one huge, giant special effect. If you can have a giant wave 50-foot high on the screen in front of you and it comes crashing over you, it's still just an amazing, visceral feeling. [caption id="attachment_981760" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew McAlpine[/caption] Surf films are a genre. This film is more of an experimental form than your standard surf adventure film. But surf films as adventure films do have a genre. They're about escapism. Surfers left the cities in Australia in our film in the 50s and 60s to go and explore new ways to live, and I think that still there's a yearning to be out there in nature, and to be enveloped by nature and to be free. So much of our lives is driven by work and consumerism, and we're always constantly being put in a box, that you have to behave like this and that, and follow this rule and follow that rule. And surfing and catching waves, and other adventure sports as well that have grown from this, just provide this opportunity to feel free of all of that, and to be connected to nature and connected to the world in those place, rather than stuck in these regimented boxes that so many of us find ourselves in." [caption id="attachment_981753" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dennis MacDonald[/caption] On You Should Have Been Here Yesterday Taking Inspiration From Moonage Daydream and Mountain "Because we had all of this archive footage — we had 150 hours of archive footage, and it was all beautiful. And so we wanted to, like Moonage Daydream and Mountain, we wanted to get at an idea. Mountain is using absolutely stunning footage to get at an idea of why are we drawn to the mountain. Why are you drawn to climb a mountain? It's a madness in many ways. Why would you do that? It's dangerous. You could die. It's cold. I don't climb mountains, but it was trying to get at the idea of what it is that draws us to these places. And so in that way, Mountain by the incredible Jen Peedom, an amazing Australian filmmaker, inspired us. And then Moonage Daydream, just the form, that was just so radical — that form of 'hey, you don't need to have talking heads. You don't need somebody to come up and tell you what to think at any one moment. You can just sit back and absorb a film'. Moonage Daydream is an experience. It was a cinematic experience. You come out of that and you're jingly jangly — you're like 'what did I just see?'. [caption id="attachment_981761" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bob Evans[/caption] I was really hoping to get that feeling of surfing across, and that idea of being in nature and being connected to the world. So Moonage Daydream really gave us the confidence that we could do this film. For the first 90 percent, 95 percent of the film, there's no talking heads. It's just footage and voice. And I love that everybody in the audience takes their own journey through the film. It evokes something in them. They're not told 'this is what you should be thinking now. This is the moment'. Usually the talking head comes up and tells you 'well, that was a really great moment, we were all amazed'. I don't want to be derogatory, it's a really great filmmaking technique, but I wanted people to take their own journey through it and experience it. I tried make an experiential film." [caption id="attachment_981755" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bob Evans[/caption] On Retaining the Imperfections in the Restored Footage So That It Really Does Look Like a Treasure Trove of Material On-Screen "We love it. It was too much to fix it all up, and then why would you? It would have cost a fortune and taken years. And I love that idea of everything not being perfect. Some of the most-imperfect footage is some of my favourite, actually — some of the scratchy stuff that you can just barely see. I think those imperfections speak to where it's come from — that it was lost and it was made by essentially amateur filmmakers, and it was made by kids. And they went out there and they gave it a good shot. It wasn't polished. It was innocent and naive, the films. It was innocent and naive times. And then the footage, this is what we've managed to capture. [caption id="attachment_981757" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dick Hoole[/caption] So I really just adore those imperfections. Maybe it's getting older or something, and I go 'oh well' — and I look around at all the older people around me, and I think we're all, once we've been through things, once we've been on journeys, we all collect all these imperfections along the way. The footage is like that. We love it, and we couldn't do anything different. So we cleaned it up. Kade [Bucheli, who also worked on Hoff's 2022 documentary Watandar, My Countryman, about former Afghan Refugee and photographer Muzafar Ali] spent 14 months scanning. And literally the process, it's a physical process — like white gloves and cleaning it, and fixing splices, and then maybe a little bit of a certain solvent. But that was it. And then when we got it as good as we could physically, then we scanned it, and went 'well, we've given it love and care'. [caption id="attachment_981758" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bob Evans[/caption] It feels as it should to me. I've seen some films that have been restored. What they do with surfboards now, the analogy is maybe surfboards — they fix up the old surfboards, and then sometimes they fix up the old surfboards to the point that they look brand new. And then everyone goes 'oh, it just looks brand new. I loved that little ding or that little bit of discolouration or that mark that it had'. So I think it's like that. And I've seen that in some restorations as well, that it just ends up looking like any old digital kind of modern-affected piece, and you're losing something that's now a part of that artefact. Those blemishes now belong to that footage. They are what that footage is now." [caption id="attachment_981759" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alan Rich[/caption] On What Surfing Culture Both Means to Australia and Says About Australia "I don't know what it means to Australia, but what I think about is that — I'm talking modern Australia, we came over here and then really post-Second World War, we started to get more confident, and that's when the kids decided they were going to head out of the cities. And they found these beautiful places up and down the coast, and around Australia. And then they came to them to surf, to ride waves. But I have begun to think — I'm really interested in this idea of connection to Country. And I see that surfers are getting more and more connected to these places. They revere these places. We go on pilgrimages to these places. We love these places. And I sometimes question whether it's the land, this ancient land that we find ourselves on, calling us to come — and to come to us. Because surfers, we don't go there to farm it or to make money or anything. We go there to have joy, to meet friends, to have beautiful times together. Or maybe for solace, to dive into the water and wash away our difficulties. [caption id="attachment_981752" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew McAlpine[/caption] So I think it's a part of the process of this country beginning to speak to us as a people, as a modern Australian people, and draw us away from that really big British empire or imperialist force that keeps us really locked into these very regimented lives. Surfing's been a leader culture in a lot of different ways, and I feel that maybe in this way, maybe in the most humblest of senses, maybe it's the beginning of a connection to Country that Indigenous people have had for 40,000, 60,000 years. And maybe it's the beginning of us being able to understand what maybe a sacred site means, or what maybe it means to be connected to Country. So I think it's a little window into that. But it could be a whole lot more, a whole lot of other things as well." You Should Have Been Here Yesterday opened in Australian cinemas on Thursday, November 21, 2024. Top image: Dick Hoole.
Sushi has become so commonplace, it's usual to see it revolving around kitchen staff on colour-coded dishes on a conveyor belt or packaged in Woolies trays for the lunchtime business rush. There's not a lot of genuinely great sushi chefs in Sydney, but we've found a venue home to a few: Sake in The Rocks. Inventive sushi turns customers' head here for different reasons. And if the food doesn't get heads spinning, the 40 plus sakes on offer will. Three years since it opened in the Argyle complex in The Rocks, Sake still has its hat and its Aussie executive chef Shaun Presland at the helm. He trained and worked in Japan for 15 years before being headhunted for Nobu's Bahamas outing, then transferred to Sydney, at the Establishment's Sushi-e and Sake. Famed for his spicy but clean-on-the-palate platter of kingfish jalapeno, Sake has an extensive menu that's printed on fold-out paper, perhaps a vague nod to the art of origami, but it's more akin to opening up a Tokyo train network map. Appropriate, as there are many potential trips through Japanese cuisine to take, from steamed dumplings to Chinese-inspired prawn shumai with spicy ponzu or even wagyu beef with ginger and chives. The mains are once novel but now familiar eye-catchers such as popcorn shrimp. It's quite easy for diners to be marinated themselves if each dish is matched with a glass of sake, so the dessert extravaganza could be a much-needed sugar-rush hit. Certainly every assortment of ice cream, chocolate mousse and finely cut jelly is present, to cater for the inner child. As for the surroundings, Sake's faux traditional Japanese entrance foyer is simple and unassuming, with wooden stools and tables. The long walk into the main room reveals a cavern-like space divided between tables, booths and shoes-off and bum-on-floor tatami dining. Like the food, it's a blend of old tradition and flashy modernity. Three years down the line, this particular sushi train has not derailed. To extend the analogy, if anything, it's still Sydney's Japanese bullet train.
Great news, dog lovers of Sydney: you can now expect to see more pups at more pubs. Across the country, 18 venues are serving pooches their very own version of charcuterie — adorably dubbed 'barkuterie' — including at BrewDog's South Eveleigh bar and The Winery in Surry Hills. If you spend your life with a canine companion, you'll be able to take your barking buddy on a bar date from Saturday, September 16. On the menu: barkuterie boards created in collaboration with online pet supplies retailer Pet Circle, featuring three dog treats from Nature's Cuts and Zignature paired with seasonal fruit and vegetables. So, while you drink and graze, so can your pupper. Just don't go giving your dog any beer to go with their barkuterie board, of course. The canine snack plate comes in at $12, and arrives to celebrate spring. It's a limited-time special, however, getting tails wagging for four weeks — or until stocks last. 2023 has already delivered doughnut-shaped biscuits for dogs — now this is your next excuse to treat your pet.
Ever wanted to watch Simon Pegg recreate Eat Pray Love? Then you're in luck. It may head to China, Africa and Los Angeles in a quest for contentment, but there's little in Hector and the Search for Happiness that wasn't first seen in that well-known book turned film — other than numerous references to Tintin, that is. Pegg plays the titular therapist, living a seemingly satisfactory life with his devoted girlfriend, Clara (Rosamund Pike). He thinks he is happy, until a dream featuring Hergé's boy adventurer starts him wondering about the meaning of the word. His practice is flourishing and patients accept his guidance willingly, yet he's no longer certain his orderly existence qualifies him to dispense advice. Broadening his horizons becomes the obvious course of action, as Hector sets off around the world in the pursuit of exhilaration and enlightenment. Food, spirituality and romance ensue in the adaptation of psychiatrist-turned-author François Lelord's novel of the same name, in an effort comprised of episodic encounters with thinly drawn characters. A wealthy businessman (Stellan Skarsgård), ruthless drug lord (Jean Reno), former flame (Toni Collette) and distinguished professor (Christopher Plummer) cross Hector's path, each imparting life lessons. To ensure audiences are paying attention, every piece of wisdom Hector gleans is also emblazoned on the screen in scribbled handwriting. In a travelogue film brimming with platitudes, it feels fitting that what is seen in Hector and the Search for Happiness — scrawled statements of supposed knowledge aside — fares better than what is heard. The feature's central performances are amiable, with Pegg more earnest than usual, and Pike luminous, though barely used. From the UK to the US and everywhere in between, the far-flung settings are handsomely and brightly photographed. Alas, a likeable cast and lush images can't overcome trite and troubling material that shouts its sentiments as loudly as it can. Though poised as a warm comedy, there's little that's funny about a script sketchily espousing "be yourself" teachings likely to be found in fortune cookies and overdosing in schmaltz as Hector mingles with babies and the dying — and they're the less concerning elements. Insensitive cultural tourism reinforces stereotypical perceptions and highlights the film's privileged perspective, as does the handling of Hector and Clara's relationship, with marriage and parenthood posed as the real sources of happiness. Coming from the director of Hannah Montana: The Movie and Serendipity, Peter Chelsom, the feature plays out like a cartoonish fairytale, but the lack of serious intent and the overt adherence to formula doesn't excuse its offensiveness or laziness. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty did soul-searching globetrotting before, and better. Hector and the Search for Happiness merely wades along the shallow and sugary edges of the self-help pond. https://youtube.com/watch?v=JElca1Latos
Freelancers, come in from the cold. If you're tired of dodging daggers from café owners, ferreting around for power points and battling snail-paced Wi-Fi, then get yourself to Glebe. The Works is a new three-level co-working space — and its bottom floor is a cafe dedicated to drop-in freelancers. Co-owned by Young Entrepreneur of the Year Kris Spann and The Courthouse Hotel owner David Milton, The Works Kiosk is the stuff of freelancers' dreams. We're talking super-speedy internet, power points and USB chargers at every table, a meeting room and — wait for it — a private, soundproof booth, where you can Skype without annoying everyone within earshot. "We created the kiosk specifically for freelancers, entrepreneurs and creatives who aren't comfortable in cafes and don't necessarily want to go to libraries," Kris Spann says. "We wanted to provide them with a safe space, where they could work without worrying, as well as meet and network." There's seating for 27 people, arranged for solos, as well as small groups. And to keep you fuelled up while you're brainstorming, discussing, planning or writing, they have the most important things on-hand: coffee and snacks. Allpresso Espresso is served all day, as is a simple food menu of smoothie bowls, quiches and pastizzis. If you're familiar with the space at 62 Glebe Point Road, you'll know that antiques and oddities shop Halchemy Design is also on the ground floor. It's separated from the Kiosk by an acoustically-treated wall. On the second level is a light-filled, 150-capacity event space, available for talks, launches, exhibitions, screenings and so on. "There's not really a similar venue in Glebe," Kris says. "So, we think it fills a hole." Meanwhile, the third floor is taken up by a co-working space, filled with permanent creative tenants, including MusicNSW, Musicland, Over the Moo, The Fifth Estate, Sendle and Swaz Creative. There's also a bunch of hot desks, which, pending interest, will be available come spring. Sound like you? Email cowork@theworksglebe.com.au. The Works Kiosk is located on the ground floor of The Works at 62 Glebe Point Road, Glebe. It's open Monday to Saturday, from 8am till 4pm. If you're interested in hiring a hot desk 2-3 days a week email cowork@theworksglebe.com.au or visit theworksglebe.com.au.
When lockdowns and restrictions started becoming a reality in 2020, a heap of cinemas around Australia began jumping online. Venues as varied as Sydney's Golden Age, Melbourne's ACMI and Australian-wide chain Event Cinemas launched their own streaming services, as did Palace Cinemas and the team behind the Ritz, Lido, Classic and Cameo cinemas — not just when the pandemic first hit, but as it kept impacting movie-going as we know it. That wasn't merely a 2020 or early 2021 trend, and it isn't simply limited to city or big national chains. Indeed, Australia has just scored another digital spot to check out movies from home, with Theatre Royal Castlemaine in regional Victoria adding its own platform to your viewing options. Watch something on this one, however, and you'll be supporting a 167-year-old venue that's been open since 1854 and operating as a cinema since the silent movie era. The first films flickered across its screen back in 1919, and it's now one of the oldest continuously operating theatres in the southern hemisphere. Theatre Royal Castlemaine's streaming site is called Royal Flix and Chill, and it's curated by cinema co-owner Felicity Cripps, some movie-loving friends of the venue and Castlemaine Documentary Festival Director Claire Jaegar. It's a pay-per-view platform, so you'll just fork out for what you want to watch on a title by title basis — with more than 100 films currently on offer, and five new additions set to join the catalogue each month. At the time of writing, highlights include recent fare such as A Quiet Place Part II, The Father, Antoinette in the Cevennes, The Godmother and The United States vs Billie Holiday — plus flicks from the past few years like Parasite, For Sama, Dunkirk, Get Out and Shoplifters. Or, there's also older titles such as Donnie Darko, City of God, There Will Be Blood, Tampopo, Chinatown, The Big Lebowski, The Professional and Twelve Monkeys; Australian movies like High Ground, Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra and Bran Nue Dae; documentaries such as Honeyland, Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry and Studio 54: The Documentary; and European cinema highlights including Cold War, Dogman and Toni Erdmann. "The cinema is one of the toughest arms of our business. We are one of the last remaining single-screen venues in the country and that is because it is so hard to make ends meet when there is so much available to view in the digital world. But it's also very special and as a long-standing 'picture palace', we want to do all we can to keep it going," said Cripps. "That's where our virtual cinema comes in. A way to connect with people who may not be able to physically attend our cinema and a way to show more arthouse and international films with less overheads, it's intended to compliment the in-house offering and draw a wider audience with a uniquely curated library of amazing cinema, available to everyone." For more information about Theatre Royal Castlemaine streaming platform, or to start watching, head to the Royal Flix and Chill website.
SBS has launched their newest cooking program, The Chef's Line, employing a competition format that gives an inside look at how commercial kitchens really operate. The nightly program follows four amateur cooks and four professional chefs over the course of a week as they battle it out to prove who does it best. Every week, the show features four chefs from a particular restaurant, ranging from the apprentices and the chef de parties, to the sous chef and the head honcho. Each night, the contestants go head to head with one member of the chef's line, and the contestant with the least impressive dish is graciously shown the door. On Thursday nights, the last amateur standing unleashes their skills against the head chef. The dishes are judged blindly by Australian food icons Dan Hong, Mark Olive, and Melissa Leong, who take turns each night to either taste and decide the winner, or get about the kitchen, having a chat with the competitors. The week culminates with program host Maeve O'Meara heading to the restaurant in the spotlight for a behind-the-scenes peak at their chef's line in action. It's a pretty interesting twist on something viewers have seen plenty of lately — aka the contemporary cooking competition — as there's less emphasis placed on drama and things going wrong. Instead, The Chef's Line has the kind of vibe you'd expect when a few mates cook up some wicked food in the kitchen. With the relatively small number of contestants getting a complete refresh each week, there's no time to develop a narrative arc of intrigue and cutthroat competition, so the show relies on simply showing some home cooks making rad dishes while hanging out with chefs who make the same dishes for a living. Which, really, is what a cooking show is all about: good food and good people make for good watching. With a multicultural focus, the program brings a new cuisine to the fore every week, ensuring a swathe of various challenges as contestants aim for authentic, global dishes. Week one ran from April 3, championed Vietnamese cuisine, and took its chef's line from the guys behind Dandelion in Melbourne, as led by Geoff Lindsay. "It's a really wonderful way to celebrate diversity," said the program's creator, Chris Culvenor, calling the unique format a "celebration of the diversity of Australian food culture." The Chef's Line airs on weeknights on SBS at 6pm. If you're keen on the great dishes whipped up on the show, recipes will be made available from sbs.com.au/thechefsline.
In the lead-up to International Women's Day on Sunday, March 8 — which celebrates the achievements of those who identify as female and how far we have come in the fight for gender equality for everyone — you can read books written by some of Australia's best female authors. For free. The catch? You just need to find them. Books on the Rail has teamed up with female-identifying Australian authors to drop signed copies of their novels on trains, buses, trams and ferries all over Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane this week. Expect to find works written by Maxine Beneba Clarke, Clare Bowditch, Dr Anita Heiss, Jamila Rizvi, Carly Findlay, Kitty Flanagan, Gabbie Stroud and Holly Wainwright, among others. With a goal to get more people reading books by Australian women, the week-long initiative will see the famous authors hiding their own works. So, as well as picking up a new free read, you might get to meet one of your literary idols. For hints on what, where and when, keep an eye on the Books on the Rail Instagram Stories — it looks like a few copies of Jane in Love by Rachel Givney are already travelling around Sydney. Another one to look out for is Vivian Pham's The Coconut Children. https://www.instagram.com/p/B9D3hzEnJzN/ Launching in Melbourne back in 2016, Books on the Rail sees a diverse collection of books set loose on trains, trams, ferries and buses around Australia — kind of like a roving public transport library. You can also become book ninja yourself. Find out more in the Books on the Rail Facebook Group. Free novels will be dropped on buses, trains, trams and ferries around Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane until Sunday, March 8. For hints, keep an eye on the Books on the Rail Instagram Stories.
The end of March sees the beginning of cherry blossoms beginning their bloom all over Japan. The cherry blossoms, or sakura, are a fleeting beauty, only revealing the pretty pink petals for a couple of weeks each year — with tourists hailing from all over the world to catch a precious glimpse. With the country's borders reopening to tourists at the end of 2022, there is no better time to head to Japan and soak in all of its wonders than right now. Plus, with the sakura season varying around the country, you can experience that pink sky a bit later in the year if you head further north than Tokyo. If a Japan trip is in your near future, we're jealous! But, you're also probably feeling a tad overwhelmed with the myriad sights to see, activities to do and snacks to snack on. So, it's handy that Klook is up to date with the greatest ways to explore the country. Heading to Tokyo? Osaka? Okinawa? There's parasailing, dedicated cherry blossom experiences, temples aplenty and much more. But, if you're not heading there in the near future, CP's got you covered — don't fret. We've rounded up some standout Japanese experiences in Sydney that will ease you through your travel bug. SAMPLE THE CHERRY BLOSSOM COCKTAIL MENU AT BLOSSOM BAR If you are itching to go full Anthony Bourdain in the alleyways of tiny bars littered through Shinjuku's Golden Gai, but can't quite make it to Japan this year, be sure to make a beeline for Blossom Bar in Sydney's Spice Alley. Brought to you by the team at Gin Lane, Blossom Bar is bringing sakura season Down Under with its own makeshift pink sky and a selection of Japanese cocktails. Taste the northern hemisphere's spring with a Sakura Spritz. This sip's loaded with cherry blossom gin, sakura infusion, cherry-red maraschino and prosecco. Then, take it to the next level with transportive bites from KYO-TO. TAKE A STROLL THROUGH THE JAPANESE GARDENS AT CAMPBELLTOWN ARTS CENTRE The island of Okinawa is a must-see in Japan that needs to scoot to the top of your to-go list. Its tranquil atmosphere and beautiful nature are showcased best at the famous Southeast Botanical Garden (pictured above). But don't worry, if you can't make it to the "Hawaii of Japan", simply spend the afternoon enjoying the Japanese Gardens in Campbelltown Arts Centre. The garden has been blooming since 1988, with Japanese plants and beautiful craftsmanship making it the perfect place to go if you are needing a bit of tranquillity. Entry is free during opening hours, so you're free to admire the natural beauty and then grab a coffee and lunch at the Arts Centre Cafe. HAVE A KARAOKE SESSION WITH A SIDE OF GYOZA AT GOROS, THEN A NIGHTCAP AT BANCHŌ BAR You can't visit Japan without a karaoke session to start or end your night on the town. Luckily, Goros is your slice of Japanese nightlife right in Surry Hills. The venue features karaoke rooms that are completely free to book, so you and your gang will have plenty of cash to spend on sake and yakitori to fuel your performances. After you've shown off your star potential, head to Haymarket for a nightcap at the hidden back-alley bar Banchō. Here you'll find drinks expert Yoshi Onishi crafting delicious cocktails and pouring a premium selection of Japanese whisky. [caption id="attachment_893353" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gyro[/caption] RELAX AT THIS RYOKAN/BATHHOUSE IN BALMAIN If you are in desperate need of a holiday to unwind, but won't be checking out the sentōs of Japan, head to Balmain instead for an authentic Japanese bathhouse experience. Ryokan Gojyuan feels like a secluded paradise and is a spot for you to soak in some tranquillity. Indulge in the watashi no hi — 'my day' — package where you will soak in a special wooden hinoki bath. For $286, you can book for just you or you can bring a buddy and while away for two hours. You'll savour tea on arrival and a Japanese dessert afterwards. BUY SOME MANGA AT KINOKUNIYA If you can't travel to Japan in person this year, take a literary journey. Located in the CBD, this Japanese bookstore drenched in Sydney's sunshine sits on top of The Galleries overlooking the city. With an incredible selection of Japanese literature, graphic novels, manga and art and design books, Kinokuniya is a place to get lost in for hours on end. Embrace One Piece manga or explore the worlds of Murakami and Mieko Kawakami — we reckon it's (almost) as much of a good time getting lost in the pages of a book as it is in the streets of Tokyo. [caption id="attachment_893354" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marco Montalti[/caption] REPAIR YOUR BROKEN CERAMICS AT A KINTSUGI AUSTRALIA WORKSHOP Klook is full of exciting activities you can enjoy in Japan this spring. But, if you're wanting to take up a new hobby while embracing some culture right here in Sydney, we suggest you check out Kintsugi Australia's workshop in the CBD. Kintsugi is the traditional Japanese art of repairing broken pottery using lacquer and gold, dating back to the 16th century. This art form embraces the Japanese celebration of beauty in imperfection, beautifully highlighting a break or flaw instead of disguising it. Kintsugi Australia offers a range of courses, whether you are looking for something modern, traditional, beginner or intensive. Workshops run most days — there's something for everyone to embrace and enjoy. [caption id="attachment_694678" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Luisa Brimble[/caption] TRY SOME RAMEN AT RARA RAMEN If a booth at Ichiran Ramen in Tokyo isn't on this year's cards, enjoy the flavourful Japanese broths at RaRa Ramen instead. It might not deliver the same experience as devouring a bowl of Ichiran's tonkotsu pork broth, but we're confident it won't disappoint. At RaRa, noodles are made fresh each morning to slurp down with broth that owners Scott Gault and Katie Shortland have spent years perfecting. Enjoy your soul-warming bowl in a relaxed, communal atmosphere that mimics the izakayas of Osaka. RaRa is all over Sydney, with venues in Redfern, Randwick, Eveleigh — and even Burleigh Heads, for the Queenslanders. [caption id="attachment_886842" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Declan Blackall[/caption] HAVE AN UNFORGETTABLE OMAKASE EXPERIENCE AT BESUTO If you're feeling sorry for yourself for missing out on cherry blossom season in Japan this year, we suggest you stay local and really treat yourself — and what's more indulgent than an omakase experience? For something truly unforgettable, head to Besuto, the 14-seat fine-diner in the Quay Quarter Lanes precinct offering an intimate culinary experience. Here, the inventive meets the traditional, with your chef handcrafting a seasonal menu with the best available produce. The fish is outstanding and handled with precision and practised skill, and the 15-strong roll call of courses will leave you happy and full. HEAD TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS TO STAY AT A JAPANESE BATH HOUSE Heading to Japan and Fukuoka's on your list? Be sure to check out Klook's Kumamoto Castle and Kurokawa Onsen day trip. After you explore some majestic historical castles and visit an active volcano you will end the day with a relaxing dip in the hot springs of Kurokawa. If you're staying on home soil, why not head to the Blue Mountains for a relaxing weekend away? You might not have a vista that includes volcanoes, but the mountains are just as magical. Plus, you can stay at the Japanese Bath House for a weekender that includes your own onsen experience. Here, there are multiple mineral-rich baths full of natural spring water overlooking a bountiful naturescape — we promise you'll feel worlds away from home in this Japanese oasis. There are plenty of Japanese experiences you can enjoy right here in Sydney, but if you can't quite cure your travel bug, it might be a sign that a last-minute trip during cherry blossom season is just what you need. Best place to start planning? Klook. For more information, head to the website. Top images: AXP Photography; Jezael Melgoza.
North Shore lovers of organic coffee, kale, and other stuff that generally helps to stop you getting sick, you've cause to cheers over another wheatgrass shot. About Life, one of Sydney's healthiest institutions, has come your way. Self-described as a "holistic lifestyle hub", About Life was already taking care of trying-to-prevent-your-early-death in five locations: Bondi Junction, Double Bay, Surry Hills, Rozelle and Cammeray. But why stop there, when millions of city dwellers are in need of shinier skin, brighter eyes and internal makeovers? Opened on March 31, the Lane Cove branch is doing just as its predecessors have done: bringing you not only a grocery store specialising in all things whole, local, fresh and organic, but also a cafe, a self-serve food bar and, in case you're planning a not-very-naughty party, catering service. The coffee is just as you'd expect it: 100 percent organic, from the beans to the milk, and, if you're considering improving your caffeine hit, you're invited to try a ginger turmeric latte. In the food bar, dubbed 'Nature's Servery', you'll find About Life's signature creations, from cacao rich bircher to coconut cinnamon rice pudding to raw zucchini noodles with kale pesto and cauliflower tabouleh. A hectic special events calendar is in the works, too. Keep an eye out for cooking demos, book launches, product launches and Q&A sessions led by experts. Find About Life at 62 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove. Open 7am-8pm daily and 8am-5pm on public holidays.
Merivale has acquired its fourth venue within Sydney's inner west, purchasing the long-standing Norton's Irish Pub. Sitting at the corner of Norton Street and Parramatta Road, Leichardt, just down from the suburb's Italian Forum and Norton Plaza, the pub currently operates as your tried-and-true Irish pub and sports bar with a classic pub food menu. Merivale, no doubt, have big ideas for the venue with future plans for it expected to be announced in the coming months. Norton's joins Vic on the Park, Queens Hotel and 3 Weeds as part of Merivale's inner west portfolio. "It is such a privilege to be part of Sydney's vibrant inner west; every suburb has a unique energy and their local pubs play a special role in shaping their culture," said CEO Justin Hemmes. While 3 Weeds is currently closed, the Rozelle neighbourhood pub and bistro is expected to reopen later in 2021 under Merivale's ownership, following an extensive refurbishment. The heritage-listed venue will feature the first inner west outpost of Merivale's popular Italian eatery, Totti's. [caption id="attachment_702661" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Totti's Bondi[/caption] Merivale currently operates more than 60 venues across Sydney, including Mr. Wong, The Beresford, Ivy and Coogee Pavilion. Hemmes' collection of bars and restaurants has been growing in recent years, with the purchase of venues such as The Duke of Gloucester Hotel and Hotel Centennial. Earlier in 2021, Hemmes purchased waterside bar The Quaterdeck on the NSW south coast and the historic Tomasetti House down in Melbourne, marking Merivale's first ventures outside of Sydney. Merivale will receive the keys to Norton's Irish Pub later this month.
Last year, Taco Bell returned to NSW following failed attempts in 1981 (when it was to taken to court by Sydney store Taco Bell's Casa) and 1997. And it seems, at least in the case of the US Tex-Mex chain, third time is indeed a charm. Today, Thursday, October 22, Taco Bell announced it'll be continuing its Australian expansion and opening two more stores in the state this spring. Joining existing stores in Blacktown and Newcastle, the two new NSW stores will be located in Albion Park, 90 minutes south of Sydney, just past Wollongong, and Ballina, which is 30 minutes south of Byron Bar, right near the Big Prawn. And they'll both have drive-thrus — so, you may be able to pick up a Cheesy Chipotle Burrito or Crunchy Taco on your next road trip. Going by the Newcastle menu, we can safely assume that quesadillas, burritos, Crunchwraps, nachos, power bowls and, of course, tacos (including the Gordita Crunch with both a crunchy and soft tortilla) will all be the lineup. It looks to be affordable, too, with $2.50 tacos, $3.50 mini quesadillas, $3 churros, $4 burritos and $3 cinnamon twists. Taco Bell NewcastleKeep an eye on the Taco Bell Facebook page for opening day specials, too, which often include freebies, limited-edition merch and limited-edition menu items, too. It won't stop there, either, with Taco Bell saying it'll open a minimum of 40 stores across NSW and the ACT in the next four years. We'll let you know when anymore locations are announced. Find Taco Bell at 2–3, 61 Princes Highway, Albion Park Rail from Monday, October 26 and Taco Bell at 107–109 Fox Street, Ballina from Monday, November 2. Top image: Taco Bell Robina by Hugo Nobay. CORRECTION: OCTOBER 26, 2020 — This article previously stated that the two new Taco Bells would have margaritas and beer, this is incorrect. They are both unlicensed.
This November, you can score a bottle of vino for as little as $8.50 a pop thanks to Vinomofo's epic Black Friday Sale. Running from 10am Thursday, November 26 till 10am Monday, November 30, the sale will see up to 70 percent off a heap of local and international wines — and it'll all get delivered straight to your doorstep for free. If you haven't already heard the word, Vinomofo is an online wine-slinger for those who love wine, but without all the pretension that sometimes comes with viticulture. The Melbourne-based company delivers wine to thousands of people around the world — so it's safe to say it knows what it's doing when it comes to grape juice. The sale will include more than 100 wines, with Vinomofo adding additional daily wine deals over the weekend, too. Think delicate pinot noir, easy-drinking rosé, celebratory bottles of sparkling and full-bodied shiraz for a steal. And, to top it off, shipping for all orders purchased in that time period will be free. Score epic wine deals via Vinomofo's Black Friday Sale — for a limited time only.
No one celebrates their birthday just once in any given year, especially if you're hitting a big milestone. Where's the fun in that? Yes, that proves true of cinemas as well, including the Ritz in Randwick — which is marking 85 years of screening movies, movies and even more movies with not one but two huge retrospective programs. The first, called 85 Films in 85 Days, is showing a different film from each of the venue's 85 years on each and every day until mid-October. That's a hefty effort, but the cinema's Australia on Celluloid program has it beat, at least in terms of duration. Again, that title is descriptive. In this retro showcase — which runs from Saturday, July 30, 2022–Monday, July 24, 2023 — the Randwick picture palace is diving back into Aussie movie history, and also screening each and every flick on its list in glorious 35mm. So, you're getting a blast from the past in two ways: in what you're watching and via how it's being shown. The program is filled with gems, unsurprisingly, kicking off with 1978's Newsfront — which is set in the 1940s, and follows two Cinetone newsreel company employees (Bill Hunter and Chris Haywood) covering news stories in the days before TV. Also on the list: the original Storm Boy, Aussie war dramas such as Gallipoli and Breaker Morant, and everything from They're a Weird Mob and The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith through to Love Serenade and The Last Days of Chez Nous, plus Jedda, Shame, Don's Party, The Man From Hong Kong and The Coca-Cola Kid as well. Almost every genre is covered — and if it's an Aussie film released between the 50s and the 90s, odds are it'll flicker across the Ritz's screens at some point during this lineup. Among the many highlights, expect to see plenty of Aussie stars in their early days — including Bryan Brown in 1980's Stir, Noni Hazelhurst and Michael Caton in 1982's Monkey Grip, Colin Friels in 1986's Malcolm, Ben Mendelsohn and Claudia Karvan in 1990's The Big Steal, and Hugo Weaving and Russell Crowe in Proof the same year. Sessions run on Saturday afternoons weekly, with encores on Monday evenings.
When lunar new year arrived earlier in February, the year of the tiger kicked into swing — but 2022 just might be the year of the red panda, too. Pixar's next animated flick about a girl who turns into a red panda, called Turning Red, hits streaming in March, and Taronga Zoo has just announced that it's now home to a couple more of the IRL critters. And if you'd like to spend your time checking out the latter right now, no matter the weather or where you live, the Sydney spot has also launched a red panda cub cam. The word you're looking for? Or the sound, to be more accurate? Yes, it's "awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww". The two cubs were born back on December 8 to mum Amala and dad Pabu, and don't yet have names, but you can now watch them from home whenever you like. Taronga's red panda cub cam is free, too, and features videos of the little cuties being born, plus weekly highlights showcasing what they've been up to. So, you can't live-stream them all day every day, but you can still get a huge dose of adorableness. The camera is currently trained on the cubs' purpose-built, soundproof nest box, where they've been living with Amala since birth. Expect to see plenty of mum as well, with Taronga's Carnivore Keeper Rebecca Baldwin advising that she's usually on hand looking after her little ones. "Amala is very attentive and nurturing. Through the monitoring of our CCTV cameras, we can see that she is constantly grooming and cleaning the cubs and is encouraging them to take their first wobbly steps within the security of their nest box," said Baldwin. "Whilst they are still small and weighing only a couple of hundred grams, the cubs are spending their time within the security of their nest box which makes for great viewing. They won't start to venture out under the cover of darkness until they're about 12 weeks old," said Baldwin. Taronga already lets you fill your time staring at capybaras, seals, meerkats, otters, sumatran tigers, lions and elephants, all without leaving your home, thanks to its online TV channel — but if it keeps adding cameras, we'll keep watching. Taronga Zoo Sydney and Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo started their online streams in 2020 for obvious reasons, and also releases regular videos across its Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channels — and makes keeper talks and other clips available online as well. To watch Taronga Zoo's red panda cub cam, head to the zoo's website. To check out Taronga TV, head to the channel's website — or keep an eye on its videos on its Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages.
No longer confined to children's birthday parties, bouncy castles, inflatable obstacle sources and blow-up labyrinths are currently hot property for adults (and their inner kids, of course). And the next blow-up event to hit Australia is big. Really big. Dubbed 'The Big Bounce Australia', it's an inflatable theme park made up of Guinness World Records-certified world's biggest bouncy castle, a 300-metre long obstacle course and a three-part space-themed wonderland. You're going to need a lot of red cordial to bounce your way through all of this. Set to hit Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth in early 2020, The Big Bounce is open to both littl'uns and big'uns, but there are a heap of adults-only sessions, so you don't have to worry about dodging toddlers on your way through. Tickets for adults will set you back $55, which gives you a whole three hours in the park — you'll need it. Inside, you'll encounter the aforementioned bouncy castle — aptly named The World's Biggest Bounce House — covering a whopping 1500 square metres and, in some spots, reaching ten metres off the ground. In this house, you'll encounter a heap of slides, ball pits, climbing towers, basketball hoops and (if you can believe it) a stage with DJs, confetti cannons and beach balls. Then, there's The Giant, with 50 inflatable obstacles, including giant red balls and a monster slide. [caption id="attachment_749668" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Big Bounce AirSpace[/caption] Before you hit the final, three-part section of the park, you may need to pause, down some red frogs and maybe even have a nap. Or not, you do only have three hours to explore it all. Next up, is AirSpace, where aliens, spaceships and moon craters collide with a five-lane slide, some more ball pits and an 18-metre-tall maze. Now, you'll certainly need a nap. This extremely OTT theme park is hitting Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse first (January 3–19), before heading to Sydney's St Ives Showground (January 24–February 9). After that, it'll head to Adelaide (February 14–March 1), Brisbane (March 6–22) and Perth (April 3–19) — locations haven't been announced for these ones yet, but we'll let you know when they are. Tickets for The Big Bounce Sydney and Melbourne are on sale now. We'll update you when the rest drop.
The Rocks is often described as the birthplace of modern Sydney, so it only makes sense that this historic precinct is transforming into a creative hub for September. Presented as the first-ever Arts & Culture Month, this addition to the city's early spring cultural calendar is a welcome one. Running from Monday, September 1–Tuesday, September 30, the inaugural event is stacked with fascinating experiences, from live music and stand-up comedy to diverse markets and weekend workshops. Get to know the local creative scene through Art Trail Night on Thursday, September 25, as renowned precinct artists Shazia Imran and Max Mendez host meet-and-greets in open-late galleries. For a self-guided adventure, this is also your chance to check out pieces by Nancy Liang, Jumaadi, Vanessa Berry and Linda Brescia tucked down local laneways. Meanwhile, The Rocks Square will be activated throughout the week, with Comedy Night on Wednesday, September 10 and Poetry Slam on Wednesday, September 17. Plus, there are live jazz sessions every Thursday from 6pm, while local DJs light up Sundays as they go crate digging for their favourite dance floor tunes. Take part in vino tastings and listen to viticulture tales at the NSW Wine Cellar Door Talk from Saturday, September 27–Sunday, September 28. Blak Markets returns for one day only on Sunday, September 21, celebrating First Nations creativity and culture. Then, Wildflower's Native Displays offers the chance to learn about bush food through native botanical installations crafted by the namesake Indigenous landcare experts. With loads more to explore, journey to The Rocks for a culture-filled encounter.
Deep-fried ice cream is the kind of confection that delivers the best of two worlds: cold and creamy, warm and crunchy. This singular treat takes the starring role in a new flagship Strathfield store from longtime Sydney food truck Duo Duo. Sporting a slick modern fit-out, the store could be dismissed as one of the big gelato chains — but step up to the stylish marble countertop and you'll be greeted by a far more inventive addition to Sydney's dessert scene. Of course, the deep-fried ice cream is a major drawcard. The pandan coconut is the original speciality with sweetened coconut sauce and roasted coconut flakes making it a must-try for coconut lovers. The vanilla bean serve comes topped with house-made salted caramel and butterscotch popcorn, while the cookies and cream flavour is paired with Nutella ganache and cookie crumble. There's plenty more to love here if you're on the hunt for a sweet treat that's a little less hedonistic. There's a classic gelato bar out front scooping classics like vanilla bean and pistachio, alongside more inventive flavours like durian, macha, taro, Vietnamese iced coffee and Thai milk tea. Plus, there's doughnuts. The team recommend tucking into a crème brûlée or strawberry, cream and berry jam-filled options, while crowd-pleasers like Biscoff cheesecake or classic original glazed are also up for grabs. If you're feeling parched after you've devoured your dessert, Duo Duo is ready with a selection of in-house sodas and teas as well. Order a green grape, yuzu or lychee soft drink, or opt for tea available in strawberry hojicha, apple black or grape sencha.
Sydneysiders, you're in for a treat this spring and summer. Quick Brown Fox has announced that it will be running a program dubbed After Hours on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Starting from 3pm until late, guests can enjoy the establishment's airy courtyard and coveted alfresco streetside seating while sipping on refreshing spritzes spanning Aperol, elderflower and rossini. Meanwhile, Head chef Daniel Grey has curated a new Mediterranean-inspired snacks menu comprised of anchovy toast with housemade fermented chilli mayo, appellation oysters served natural or with a Champagne vinaigrette, grilled miso burnt butter King Prawns, eggplant with a sticky tamarind peanut glaze, and more. Check out Quick Brown Fox's website for more details and bookings. [caption id="attachment_877339" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Quick Brown Fox - Supplied[/caption] Top images: Quick Brown Fox - Supplied
A new cooking class is coming to Paddy's Market, thanks to the folks behind Filipino Food Movement Australia — a non-profit organisation aiming to bring the country's food and culture into the limelight. The series will showcase the Philippines' diverse cuisine, which varies from island to island (and there are over 7000 islands in total). Each workshop will feature a different recipe and be hosted by Filipino Australians from a range of food-focused backgrounds, including chefs, restaurant owners, cookbook authors and food writers. The first cooking class will take place on Saturday, February 29 and champion adobo. This national dish consists of meat, seafood or vegetables simmered in a marinade of equal parts vinegar and soy sauce, plus heaps of garlic and whole black peppercorns. It'll be hosted by the Australian non-profit's founder Anna Manlulo. She'll create four versions of adobo, all of which you'll get to feast on after the class. All of the ingredients and produce will be sourced from Paddy's, too, so you know these recipes will be easy to replicate — and you'll be sent home with recipe cards, so you don't need to worry about forgetting the technique, either. The two sessions will take place from 11am—1pm and 2—4pm, and each costs just $20. More in this event series will be coming up in the following months as well, so keep an eye on the website. Image: Jerome Sicat
No matter how much the term 'post rock' may still continue to irk, Tortoise are the influential people to blame for forcing some underpaid music journo to unleash it onto the post-Krautrock-progressive-experimental-instrumental world all those years ago. A band comprised over time of members of Slint, Sea & Cake, The For Carnation and many more (let's no-one mention Zwan), Tortoise remains one slow, amazing beast. Formed in 1990, they rose rhythmically to the forefront of the Chicago/Thrill Jockey scene, releasing only six full-length albums over the last twenty years, but each one a gem. Cycling through different interests and moods, Tortoise have explored jazz and electronica and, moving away from their noticeably non-vocal music, released a covers record in 2006 with Bonnie Prince Billy. Their twists and turns have won heapings of critical praise and a rabid (more mature nod-along than Bieber fever) fanbase. Tortoise curated an early All Tomorrow's Parties festival and are scheduled to play the New York version later this year by way of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. In the meantime, they play one show in Sydney, touted to be a truly special occasion. https://youtube.com/watch?v=6zRJftR_508
If the words sex, violence, blood, and gore don't get your attention, then nothing will. How about a scene between an ex-prime minister and Annabel Chong, star of what was described as the World's Biggest Gang Bang? Has your heartbeat risen? Palms turned sweaty? Written by multi-award-winning Singaporean playwright Alfian bin Sa'at, sex.violence.blood.gore began its life as a secret squirrel underground affair in Singapore. Still avoiding the mainstream, it re-emerged in a pop-up theatre space in Melbourne, and now it's come to say hi to us in Sydney. If the idea of Japanese soldiers on their last night with their shared sex-slave or a nymphomaniac geography teacher at the height of her sexual awakening floats your boat, then off to the Old Fitz with you. Directed by Stephen Nicolazzo and performed by a cast of seven, these vignettes focusing on carnal urges are sure to excite. The bondage-style costumes will alone.
The Australian winners for the Airbnb Host Awards for 2022 have just been announced. As well as operating impressive places to stay, these Hosts have been recognised for providing extra special hospitality, going the extra mile to provide things like breakfast hampers, welcome gifts sourced from local boutiques and other stand-out experiences. It's far beyond the 'find your key in the lock box hidden in the carport, mind the rusty nails and spiderwebs' kind of hospitality. These Hosts truly go all out. The coveted Host of the Year award went to Alstonvale's Carla Dawes (pictured below), whose Olinda Cottage in the NSW Northern Rivers welcomes guests with a mix of personal touches, unexpected features and warm and welcoming experiences. Dawes cooks up homemade meals, gathers fresh flowers for each guest, buys local sourdough for brekkie and has even lent a hand with a proposal. (We just hope the couple left a five-star review.) Tasmanians Peter and Charlie were named Best New Host for the luxury self-contained studio they run on their bush property in the Huon Valley. One of the biggest perks of this stay is the in-studio dining — the hosts cook up a restaurant-quality dinner made from produce grown in their very own permaculture food garden. Meanwhile, The Winged House (pictured below), which is designed to look like a plane on a cliffside in Tasmania's Table Cape, has picked up the Most Unique Stay award. We'd also put it up for best room with a view — the panoramic sea views here are next-level stunning. The sole Victorian property on the list took out the title of Best Designed Stay. Coombs Hill Barn (pictured below), located in Merrijig in Victoria's High Country, was a true labour of love for owners Katherine and Wade Harris — they spent three years dismantling, re-erecting and designing a 160-year-old barn that they had shipped over from the USA. The result is a truly breathtaking property that blends traditional, rustic and industrial accents with a natural palette inspired by the surrounding mountains. The Best Nature Stay award, recognising Hosts who showcase the best of Australia's stunning natural landscape, went to The Container. Susie and Gordon (pictured below) have been Hosts for over 12 years, and wanted to ensure their Airbnb encompassed nature from the outside in while showcasing the possibilities of sustainable travel. Everything here is eco-friendly, from the repurposed shipping container which makes up the shell of the accommodation to the solar- and hydro-powered electricity that the property runs on and chooks laying eggs for guests. Plus, this rural paradise is located just 20 minutes from Launceston, making it an easy choice for holidaymakers looking to reduce their travel footprint. Of course, Airbnb isn't just about accommodation — it's also a platform for experience providers. Paul Quincey won the award for Most Magical Experience for his guided kayak tours along a secluded part of Noosa's Lake Weyba — and on-water experience that gives visitors the chance to see sea eagles and stingrays in their native habitats. For the full list of this year's winners and runners-up in each category (and to plan your next stay), head to the Airbnb website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Being an Airbnb Host is hard work, but also a truly rewarding experience — and Carla Dawes, who has just been named Australia's Airbnb Host of the Year, can certainly vouch for that. Having joined the accommodation platform as a Host five years ago, Dawes transformed the downstairs of her residence in Alstonville, NSW into a welcoming destination for travellers from around the world to call home during their time in the Northern Rivers. Dawes goes above and beyond to make her guests feel as welcome as possible — from providing fresh flowers, herbs and eggs from her property for guests to enjoy during their stay, to stocking local produce that showcases the best of the region. We sat down with the official host with the most to chat about her hosting journey, what she loves about it and her tips and tricks for beginners. What do you do to ensure an outstanding experience for your guests? Hosting for me is about putting everything into a stay that I would want to experience on my travels. For me it's all in the detail — greeting your guests is always a nice way to welcome them and answer any questions they might have before they settle in. I think wanting to give your guests the very best experience you can, in every way, is the making of a good Host. I supply a book full of my local recommendations for cafes, restaurants and places of interest — such as galleries, shops, walks and beaches. I think this is a valuable resource, especially if your guest isn't familiar with the area. Hopefully this directs them to a wonderful experience. To ensure an outstanding experience I think it's most important to have your place sparkling clean from top to bottom. Added extras like spare pillows, blankets and towels — things that make your guests stay that little bit more comfortable — also help. I supply local products to showcase our region's wonderful offerings, such as a fresh loaf of sourdough from Harvest in Newrybar, Brookfarm muesli and Byron Bay Cookies. I also like to place fresh flowers and herbs from my garden and fresh eggs from my hens as a special touch. Guests are also welcome to collect eggs and harvest their own vegetables, herbs or fruits from my garden to use during their stay. What inspired you to offer local ingredients for breakfast? When I'm travelling, it's about escaping my daily routine. Sitting on a deck and having breakfast with coffee is one of my favourite ways to start the day before exploring the local area. This is what I want my guests to experience. I take pride in using fresh eggs from my hens and homegrown seasonal produce from my garden. What's something you wish you knew when you started hosting? When I started hosting, I didn't have many people to talk to about tips and tricks for Hosts until I found the Airbnb Community online forum where a large range of subjects are covered. Now it's my go-to if I ever need advice from other Hosts and the Airbnb team. What do you find rewarding about hosting? I love that I get to meet all sorts of people from different countries, backgrounds and professions, and to hear their stories and help them in any way I can to make them feel welcomed, relaxed and taken care of. Creating magical moments with my guests for their loved ones is pretty special, even with such a small part I play in setting up the flowers, food or secret surprises is always a joy. What advice would you give to someone thinking of becoming a Host? What are some good ways to get started? I think when you start out as a Host, creating a routine around preparations and having an area to store equipment for your listing is helpful. Respond to guests' enquiries as quickly as possible. Also, provide clear instructions on check-in times, directions to your place and a contact number. What are some of the benefits of hosting? What has hosting allowed you to do? I run a 14-acre property with vegetable gardens, an orchard and chooks among some of the day-to-day jobs. Becoming a Host has not only allowed me to earn an income from my property, but it has also given me the freedom and flexibility to continue my work on the land without being committed to a 9-to-5 job elsewhere. Want to begin your own hosting journey with Airbnb? If you're feeling inspired, head to the website to find out how to get started. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Welcome to the joys of major film festivals in spring, Sydney. Getting holed up in a cinema for a week or so is usually a winter activity in the Harbour City, because that's when Sydney Film Festival takes place; however, the first-ever SXSW Down Under is arriving in 2023 with its very own celebration of peering at screens. So, for eight October days, movie lovers can wander in and out of darkened rooms while the weather is pleasant outside, not frosty — and see everything from Saltburn, the new Jacob Elordi (Euphoria)-starring thriller from Promising Young Woman director Emerald Fennell, to the freshly remastered 4K version of iconic Talking Heads concert flick Stop Making Sense. After dropping a number of screening highlights over the past few months, SXSW Sydney's debut Screen Festival has unveiled the full 75-plus session bill that'll get projectors a-flickering from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22. So, opening night's Australian thriller The Royal Hotel from Casting JonBenet and The Assistant director Kitty Green (and starring the latter's Julia Garner) now has more company than just the world premiere of documentary Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles, plus nine other titles announced back in July that span everything from features starring Indonesian rappers and docos about Tokyo Uber Eats riders. Saltburn will enjoy its Australian premiere at SXSW Sydney, while Stop Making Sense will get The ICC's Darling Harbour Theatre echoing in glorious 7.1 surround sound. The venue will be home to the fest's biggest titles, which also includes opening night and The Wiggles doco; ONEFOUR: Against All Odds about the eponymous drill rap band; and Ryuichi Sakamoto|Opus, which covers the recorded concert by the late, great The Revenant composer, who passed away in March 2023. Also on the bill: supervillain parody The People's Joker, which gives the caped-crusader realm a queer coming-of-age spin; TLC documentary TLC Forever; Sleep, a Korean horror-comedy by Bong Joon-ho's former assistant; the Hugo Weaving (Love Me)-starring The Rooster, which follows a hermit and a cop who form a bond during a crisis; and a retro session of Aussie classic Lake Mungo. Or, SXSW Sydney's film fans can see Black Barbie, a Barbie flick that isn't filled affection; the Indian Australian Sahela, which tells a queer tale set in Western Sydney; Satranic Panic, a homegrown road movie and a creature feature; Milli Vanilli, another of the event's music docos; and Uproar, as starring Hunt for the Wilderpeople's Julian Dennison, Our Flag Means Death's Rhys Darby and Starstruck's Minnie Driver. As part of the fest's First Nations program, Fancy Dance explores being pushed to the margins with star Lily Gladstone just as she'll also be in cinemas in Killers of the Flower Moon — and, from the main program strand that heroes pushing boundaries and serving up surprises, attendees can see This Is Going to Be Big, about Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School in Bullengarook staging a John Farnham-themed musical. For fans of cult fare in the making, the SXSW Sydney Midnighters lineup includes the 16mm-shot Riddle of Fire and the Steven Soderbergh (Full Circle)-produced thriller Divinity, while the music selection will also celebrate Cyndi Lauper via Let the Canary Sing. Among a feast of screen content that also encompasses 40 shorts, plus 20 music videos and 13 XR projects, TV will get some love — that's why the event is called a Screen Festival, not a film fest. Standouts span Night Bloomers, a horror anthology from both Korea and Australia; Erotic Stories, another anthology that'll deliver exactly what it sounds like; and Doona!, a Korean rom-com led by Suzy Bae. If you recall hearing about SXSW winners from its Austin fests, Sydney's version is doing the same, with ten movies competing in its feature competition, another ten vying in the shorts field and eight XR works also seeking some extra love. Alongside indoor sessions at Darling Harbour Theatre and Palace Cinemas Central, free outdoor screenings are also on the bill at the SXSW Sydney 2023 hub in Tumbalong Park. The complete lineup there is still to come, but the program will survey the OG fest's best and brightest, starting with Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement's What We Do in the Shadows — the movie, not the also-ace TV show — as well as classic anime masterpiece Ghost in the Shell and Richard Linklater's Dazed & Confused. "The first ever SXSW Sydney Screen Festival aims to platform the most exciting new voices, new forms and new ways of creating on screen. We hope to inspire our audiences and industry, by unwrapping the future of Screen innovation as it emerges," said Ghita Loebenstein, the event's Head of Screen, announcing the 2023 program. "Like our Austin counterparts, our festival presents global programming from leading creators, and our unique offer is this distinctive Asia Pacific lens. We also thematically lean into our sister pillars across music, games and tech, celebrating where our forms and communities converge. Most of all, SXSW Sydney is a festival which earnestly centres vision, irreverence and fun." Can't wait to watch your way through the everything that you can? SXSW Sydney Screen Festival wristbands are on sale now and will get you into unlimited screenings. [caption id="attachment_917938" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Netflix[/caption] As well as viewing movies and TV shows aplenty, the 2023 SXSW Sydney Screen Festival also features an array of speakers. Black Mirror's Charlie Brooker is one of the headliners — not just of the screen component, but of SXSW Sydney overall. Similarly getting chatting: Indigenous filmmakers Leah Purcell (The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson), Kodie Bedford (Mystery Road: Origin) and Jub Clerc (Sweet As); Osher Günsberg recording an episode of his podcast Better Than Yesterday with a yet-to-be-announced special guest; and Gone Girl, The Nightingale, The Dry, Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers producer Bruna Papandrea and Binge's Executive Director Alison Hurbert-Burns. Queer Eye star Tan France was also slated to attend, but has had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. SXSW Sydney will run from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22 at various Sydney venues, with the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival running from Sunday, October 15–Saturday, October 21 at The ICC's Darling Theatre and Palace Cinemas Central. Head to the SXSW Sydney website for further details. If you're keen to make the most of Australia's first SXSW, take advantage of our special reader offer. Purchase your SXSW Sydney 2023 Official Badge via Concrete Playground Trips and you'll score a $150 credit to use on your choice of Sydney accommodation. Book now via the website.
We don't mean to alarm you but it's already mid-November, which means it's time to start thinking about your festive plans — including where you want to be toasting the arrival of 2023 on the biggest night of the year. If you're sick of battling crowded bars and booked-out eateries on New Year's Eve, we completely get it — and we've got you covered. This year, nab a NYE ticket to North Sydney hotel View Sydney where you can ring in the new year with top-notch views of the city and a prime position for the fireworks. And after a tough couple of years sans celebrations, View Sydney is making up for it by throwing not one, but two (!) New Year's Eve bashes so you can choose your own adventure: celebrate over a civilised multi-course dining experience, or party until your feet fall off. For revellers looking for a relaxed but elegant atmosphere, View Dine is a bougie banquet taking over the hotel's restaurant, serving a degustation menu to be enjoyed alongside sweeping harbour views. Costing $350 per person, you'll get five courses of fresh Australian produce — and local wines to match, of course. Start 2023 the way you mean to carry on — over good food, drink and conversation. For those revellers looking to dance the night away, View Soiree is the hotel's open air event ready to bring all the celebratory vibes. DJs will be playing all night and free-flowing wine, beer and signature cocktails will be on offer. Live cooking stations will be firing up all evening to provide a selection of international cuisine – think Brazilian BBQ, Mexican food, sashimi and fresh seafood. And the best part? All of your food and drink is included in the $400 ticket price so all you need to do is turn up ready to party. Both events will offer front-row seats to Sydney's spectacular fireworks displays at 9pm and 12am, so gather your group and book your spots now — and rest easy through December knowing NYE is all taken care of.
Now that spring has sprung, what better time to give your old ceramics collection a spruce up? Especially since you can score some fab pieces on the cheap, at Mud Australia's one-day-only Sydney flash sale. The legendary Aussie label is opening the doors to its Marrickville studio tomorrow, Saturday, September 8, and is slinging a whole assortment of its handmade porcelain and homewares for at least 50 percent off the regular price. Head along from 10am to find some very pocket-friendly deals on designs that are samples, slightly chipped, left over from discontinued lines, imperfectly glazed, or as the team describes, 'outrageously organic'. You've got until 4pm to load up on cute ceramic bargains and sort out your mates' pressies (and Christmas pressies, it's soon) for the rest of the year.
Folks can't stop talking about Christy Tania. Not only is the renowned dessert chef set to bend minds with her 'Floating Ice Cream' creation on tonight's episode of MasterChef, she's also preparing to launch her own permanent dessert shop, Glacé, in Melbourne's Windsor this August. And, as a teaser for the sweetness to come, Tania's treating both Sydney and Melbourne to a sneak peek, hosting dessert pop-ups in each city, from May 25–28. Across four days, sweet tooths will be able to get their hands on two variations of that magical Floating Ice Cream number — one vanilla and cherry cognac, the other chocolate and cherry cognac — when Tania takes over the Omega and Neil Perry Kitchen at the Prahran Market. The chef first popped up in 2013, after famously steering Melbourne dessert bar Om Nom into its first chef's hat within just two months of heading up the kitchen. Since then, her inspired sweet treats have continued to dazzle and astound, both out of the Om Nom kitchen and during a host of MasterChef guest judge appearances, making jealous messes of audiences across the country. As Tania's first permanent solo venture, Glacé promises to be every bit as impressive as the rest of her artisan treats, the contemporary space set to offer a hefty range of frozen desserts and innovative ice cream flavours, crafted with local ingredients. Make a date with Tania's trademark ice cream push pops, with their layers of cake sponge and ice cream. Find Christy Tania's Glacé pop-up from May 25 until May 28, at the Omega & Neil Perry Kitchen, within The Prahran Market, 163 Commercial Road, South Yarra. The Floating Ice Cream will be available each day, from 11am until sold out. Sydney details are yet to be confirmed.
Radiance in the face of conflict, determination amid oppression, striving for basic human rights at your most vulnerable: these aren't easy experiences to live through, or to bring to the screen. Iranian Australian filmmaker Noora Niasari knows both firsthand, with her debut feature Shayda based on her childhood. Aged five, she resided in a women's shelter with her mother. The latter fought for freedom by moving to the other side of the world, away from everything that she knew, and carving out an existence anew. As Niasari's mum battled for agency and independence, and for the ability to divorce and also retain custody of her daughter, she still taught the young Noora Farsi, and Persian dance. She passed on Nowruz, or Persian New Year, traditions as well. "I think that was the element of the process that I underestimated — how challenging it would be, just on a very psychological, emotional level," Niasari tells Concrete Playground about the sifting through her own experiences to make the Melbourne-set and -shot Shayda. "It's one thing to direct your first feature film with a much bigger crew than you've ever had, much bigger cast, a lot of different personalities. And then to be triggered by your childhood trauma every day in the process — it's not something I would recommend to anyone." "It's something that I'm still struggling with, to be honest," Niasari continues, noting that she continually comes back to why she made the movie. "The fact that this story is much bigger than me and my mum, that it's already touching women and families all over the world, that really means something to me. I feel like it's a catalyst for healing, not just for me and my mum, but for so many people. That's what drives me to keep going and keep putting the putting the story out there." [caption id="attachment_910860" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Taylor Jewell/Associated Press[/caption] Niasari started Shayda from her mother's unpublished memoir, adapting it and fictionalising elements — and while it doesn't tell an easy tale, it's an easy film to fall for. Named for her mum's on-screen surrogate, who is played by 2022 Cannes Best Actress-winner Zar Amir Ebrahimi (Holy Spider), Shayda is clearly deeply personal. With engaging first-timer Selina Zahednia as Mona, Niasari's own in-film double, naturally it feels not only lived-in but like it has materialised as a movie from memories. As it charts its eponymous character's quest to start afresh, it tells of resilience and perseverance, strength and self-determination, and courage and community. It doesn't ever shy away from its protagonist's struggle to be permitted to be her own person, or from the pain and distress that she's forced to feel as she maintains that mission; however, in heroing its eponymous figure's fortitude, bravery and spirit, Shayda is also a hopeful film. Audiences at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival agreed; in January, Shayda won the US fest's World Cinema — Dramatic Audience Award. That world-premiere berth in Park City was just the start of the feature's festival run. Next stops: opening this year's Melbourne International Film Festival, then closing Switzerland's Locarno Film Festival. Internationally, Amir Ebrahimi's name is a drawcard. Cate Blanchett's, too, given that the Australian Tár and The New Boy actor executive produced the feature. The Tehran-born, Australian-raised Niasari is equally as talented behind the lens, after studying architecture then film; being mentored by iconic Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami; making documentaries in Wales, Lebanon and Chile; and beginning to focus on the Iranian diaspora community with her shorts and now this. Ahead of Shayda launching MIFF in early August, then hitting Australian cinemas in late September, Niasari chatted Concrete Playground through turning her own childhood into this powerful and important feature — plus balancing darkness and hopefulness, casting, engaging Melbourne's Iranian community, the Sundance experience, MIFF's coveted opening-night slot and her journey to becoming a filmmaker. ON NIASARI REALISING THAT SHE NEEDED TO TURN HER CHILDHOOD INTO A FILM "I lived in that women's shelter with my mum when I was five years old, and the woman who was running the shelter, who the character Joyce [played by Leah Purcell, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson] is based on, she's kind of my godmother now. She's been a family friend, my mother's close friend, for over 25 years. We often talk about those times, and it's an experience that's stayed with me through my whole life. Whenever I told people about living in a women's shelter, they were so surprised. I feel like there's not enough awareness of what services are available, and what those experiences are. But I was compelled to tell this story of female empowerment, and to show the world of a women's shelter that we haven't really seen on screens before." ON DECIDING WHERE TO STAY TRUE TO REALITY, WHERE TO FICTIONALISE AND WHY "I was lucky to have an amazing script editor throughout the scriptwriting process. The first draft was very much adapted from my mum's unpublished memoir, which I encouraged her to write before I did the adaptation. But the drafts after that were a departure from the autobiographical details of our life, of that memoir. There's certain things that in real life seem far too dark for a cinema audience — and it's important to prioritise the cinematic experience over what really happened. It very about finding the cinematic potential of the story beyond what happened to us. Thankfully I had my script editor, and a lot of amazing notes from producers — and also just a lot of kind of soul searching, and finding the moral compass of each character, and what they would do in this given scenario and that given scenario. It very much became a fictional exercise at a certain point, and it also incorporated not just my mother and I's story, but stories from my godmother — a lot of her personal experience of working in the shelter is in the film as well. So it's really an amalgamation of fact and fiction, and blurring those lines in order to tell a cinematic story." ON MAKING A FILM THAT SEES BOTH DARKNESS AND HOPE "From the start, I wanted there to be a lot of grounding in the mother-daughter connection, which is a beautiful one that they have. And in the celebration of Persian New Year — the film takes place over the course of that time. Celebrating the cultures and traditions, the poetry, the dance, those are things that kept my mother and I buoyant through those difficult times, and that's something I wanted to capture in the film. Whenever there's darkness, there's light as well. Finding that balance was really a priority for us — my cinematographer, production designer, all of us, we were always thinking about that, whether it came to the lighting or the set dressing or the costumes. Despite the fact that there's difficult themes, we wanted the audience to feel the hope and the joy, and the strength of Shayda and the other women in this in this shelter and in this situation, because there's more to life than the darkness." ON CASTING ZAR AMIR EBRAHIMI AS SHAYDA "We cast her before she won Cannes. It was very, very fortunate timing. Zar is an incredible woman, incredible human being, what she's been through. Just her story is amazing, but I'll leave that to for readers to Google. From the very first self-tape I received from Zar, within a few seconds I knew she was Shayda. It was that powerful. She has this dual strength and vulnerability happening all at once, just in her gaze, in her presence, the way she carries herself. This is a quality that I was always looking for in the character. And Zar also brings so much of her life experience to this film, and has so many parallels to my mother. They also became good friends in the making of the film, which was a beautiful thing as well because you could feel the sisterhood and bonding, and the deeply felt connections — which I feel came across in the performances, too." ON FINDING SOMEONE TO BASICALLY PLAY NIASARI HERSELF AS A CHILD "We auditioned Iranian girls all over Australia, through Persian schools, mostly grassroots casting. And Selina was one of the shortlisted applicants in Melbourne, which was lucky because we were shooting in Melbourne. She came to the callback and to the audition room, and my assistant and I were just blown away by her ability to lock into a situation emotionally and respond to it. For a six-year-old, her emotional intelligence was just phenomenal. She cried in the audition, not prompted by anything but the actual situation we gave her. Then she was able to snap back to the joy and dancing that she loves. She's actually very different to who I was as a child. She has a really happy family. She's got a beautiful childhood, no trauma — she's a really happy kid. As soon as the audition finished, when knew it was her, we were like 'that was remarkable, she's the one'. But then we were like 'but we have to protect her; we have to protect that joy and that light and spark'. So that's what we went about doing — protecting Selina from the material, and making sure that she stayed who she is. She has, and I'm glad that we went above and beyond to do that." ON ENGAGING WITH FELLOW MEMBERS OF MELBOURNE'S IRANIAN COMMUNITY "Their collaboration was really important when it came to preproduction and the making of the film. There's a place called House of Persia in in Melbourne — one of the founding members is my cinematographer's mum. We ran a lot of our rehearsals and auditions there. And we had huge amounts of volunteer extras and people helping us set up the fire-jumping festival, like multiple stall owners. It was a remarkable show of support from the community. They were very excited, very collaborative and just happy to be a part of something like this. It doesn't happen every day for there to be an Iranian Australian feature film financed by Screen Australia. I'm pretty sure that ours is the first. People were really, really excited, and generous and kind and supportive. And we're super grateful to everyone who supported us in the community." [caption id="attachment_910852" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Loccisano/Getty Images[/caption] ON PLAYING SUNDANCE AND WINNING AN AWARD WITH NIASARI'S DEBUT FEATURE "It was definitely a dream come true to screen at Sundance, and to win an award was such a huge honour. It meant a lot to me, and to the whole team, because it just showed that the film is not just a film about my mother and I's personal experience — that it's a universal story that crosses borders, that audiences from all over the world and all different backgrounds are connecting with the film. That's what the audience award meant to me. For me, the most important thing is making a connection with the audience, so it was a wonderful thing to happen." ON OPENING MIFF "It feels surreal at the moment. I've had three shorts at MIFF. I was in the Accelerator Lab [a workshop for emerging short-film directors]. I became a filmmaker in Melbourne, and I really love Melbourne. In so many ways, it feels like a graduation to even just be at the festival with my feature. The opening-night spot, it's important in so many ways, but at the same time I just want to have fun with it and celebrate our hometown screening. But it does signify something new, in a sense, because I don't know how many Australian films have opened MIFF that are the majority in the different language, from a different cultural perspective to what we're used to, from a filmmaker who's lived that and who is from that world. I'm proud, and I'm grateful that my community is being seen and represented in this way." [caption id="attachment_910851" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images[/caption] ON THE JOURNEY FROM ARCHITECTURE TO DOCUMENTARIES TO SHAYDA "My mum used to take me to the Brisbane Film Festival, and I think one of the first films I saw in the cinema was a Jafar Panahi film. He was Kiarostami's assistant, and then I continued watching his films and Kiarostami's films. Just Iranian cinema in general was pivotal in my adolescence through to university. It always stayed with me, and the poetry and everything. I feel like I always had that undercurrent or simmering desire to tell stories, but I just didn't see it as a possible career path. It was never made mention to me until I was in architecture school. Even when I was in high school, I wanted to go to art school and I had a great art teacher, but filmmaking — nobody ever handed me a camera and said 'you could be a director one day'. It just never came to be. And especially with my mum, it was a single-parent family, and she was working, she was studying, she was hustling my whole childhood and adolescence. It was kind of amazing to discover it at that age of 19. I'm not one of those filmmakers who's like 'oh yeah, I watched E.T. when I was growing up and decided I want to be a director'. I think it was just something that was inside me, and was discovered slightly later based on the circumstances of what I was doing. I loved architecture school, too. I did work for a year and was definitely at a crossroads. But I just fell in love with storytelling, with making movies and being able to make a connection with people through that medium, so I haven't looked back since then." Shayda opens the 2023 Melbourne International Film Festival on Thursday, August 3, then releases in Australian cinemas on Thursday, October 5. Read our review.
