Here are your Friday night plans sorted: grab your best eating partner and head to the Chinatown Markets, making its return to a temporary new location this Friday, September 5. The markets will set up shop next to the Paddy's Market Light Rail stop in Chinatown, and will operate every Friday from 5 to 10pm. The new temporary location offers the perfect opportunity to explore the restaurants and stores along Dixon Street, which forms the heart of Chinatown, before heading to the markets. Expect over 40 stalls selling food and handcrafted goods, with cultural experiences throughout. With a selection of food from street vendors who have honed their recipes over decades, and from emerging young chefs creating new takes on old favourites, you won't leave hungry. Past favourites include dumplings, noodles, takoyaki, roti, pho, and curry. To the dismay of regular visitors, the markets had been closed for several weeks due to major infrastructure works upgrading the Chinatown precinct. However, the exciting announcement of the reopening of the markets means locals and newcomers alike can still enjoy all that the markets have to offer while the upgrade works continue. The vendors of popular Dragon Bearded Candy are "excited to be able to trade in this new location. We're not just selling food — we're sharing our culture and story with every creation." The Chinatown Markets return on Friday, September 5. While nearby parking is available, the new location offers convenient direct light rail access. Images: Supplied.
Even after 112 years, creating a musical comedy about a disaster that claimed more than 2200 lives could feel tone deaf. So it's important to note that Titanique is not about a historic tragedy. Not really. This raucous and rib-tickling show began its life as an in-joke between three Broadway luminaries — performers Marla Mindelle and Constantine Rousouli and director Tye Blue — who wanted to pose the question: what if the true hero of James Cameron's Titanic was, in fact, Canada's greatest icon, Céline Dion? The result is 90 minutes of pure joy, underpinned by the belting power ballads of Québec's most famous daughter and a shade of outrageous humour bluer than the Heart of the Ocean. Much like its humble off-Broadway origins, the Australian premiere of Titanique has been staged in one of Sydney's smaller theatres, The Grand Electric in Redfern. While packing a larger auditorium would have been an easy task for such a feel-good show, producers Michael Cassel and Eva Price's decision to place this production in such an intimate space is a master stroke. In these close quarters, where the performers are within touching distance, there are even more opportunities to bulldoze the fourth wall and amp up the camp extremes of the show's bawdy zingers. But Titanique doesn't just deliver laughs. While the bizarre plot — a fever dream retelling of Cameron's cinematic epic from the perspective of Céline Dion, via the songs of Céline Dion — offers comedy of the silliest kind, the singing prowess on display is no joke. Marney McQueen delivers a forensically detailed impression of Dion, backed up with astonishing vocals all but indistinguishable from the real thing. Indeed, the entire cast wow with their voices, which only acts to make the narrative absurdities even more hilarious — it's a truly unique experience to hear McQueen, Abigail Dixon as the "unsinkable" Molly Brown and Georgina Hopson as Rose, flawlessly nailing the chorus of 'Tell Him' while suggestively rubbing an eggplant. Much like The Book of Mormon (which is returning to Sydney next year), Titanique taps a rare yet potent duality: the guilty pleasure of gutter humour and the soaring thrill of a virtuosic performance. Through this double-dose of serotonin, peppered with crude one-liners, pop culture references (with some fresh Australian content added for local benefit) and a generous drenching of fabulosity, this is a show that will leave your heart full and your sides split. Images: Daniel Boud
Were Picasso's Cubist portraits of women true to life? It would suggest there were a lot of chicks with displaced eye sockets hanging round Paris in the 1900s. Now a Spanish fashion photographer, Eugenio Recuenco, has reimagined Picasso's Cubist muses as live beings, styling his models in the same surrealist manner that Picasso painted them. Recuenco's portraits are weird, emotional and lovely in their own right. His women subjects mirror the poses of the originals, with elegant silhouettes, painted skin and outlandish costumery all projecting a moody atmosphere. Post-production by Recuenco gave the photographs the same feel as the paintings via color manipulation, while the mysterious spaces he used amp up the dreamlike quality. Recuenco has a large dossier of equally stylised art and fashion projects. Beside this project, which was published in the Spanish weekly SMODA, his website shows fairytale scenes and tableaux vivants that suggest their own narrative worlds channelling the work of artists Goya, El Greco and Zurbaran. Check out a selection of the Picasso-inspired portraits below. Via Flavorwire.
Live music lovers, listen up. The lineup for Great Southern Nights is officially here. With over 300 live gigs across New South Wales from Friday, March 21 to Sunday, April 6, Great Southern Nights is setting the stage in 2025 for some of Australia's biggest names in music to hit venues across the state. Plan your itinerary right, and you can see a year's worth of live music sorted within just over two weeks. Perhaps one of the highlights of New South Wales' arts and cultural events calendar, the celebration of live music will take place in multiple venues across NSW (120, to be exact), including Sydney, Western Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and the Central Coast region, along with Broken Hill, Byron Bay, the Central West, Orange, Tamworth and Tilba. So no matter where you are, you've got live music within driving distance. It also doesn't matter how old you are and what genre you're into. There will be classic Aussie music names like Hoodoo Gurus and Missy Higgins, as well as up-and-coming artists like aleksiah. And this year, it gets even better – with two outdoor program highlights to its already massive calendar. Newcastle's Midtown District and the Hollywood Quarter in Sydney will offer unique, walkable gig trail experiences. Newcastle will host its Gig Trail throughout Midtown Newcastle from 2pm on Saturday, March 29, through to 2am on Sunday, March 30. Further down the coast in Sydney, Surry Hills' Hollywood Quarter precinct will transform into a haven for music fans from 12pm on Saturday, April 5, through to Sunday, April 6, at 4am. During the rest of the festivities, Newcastle will host acts like Boo Seeka, King Stingray, Running Touch, Sarah Blasko, Xavier Rudd, Dashville, The Cruel Sea and many more. Newcastle's nightlife is truly set to light up. Newcastle venues that will play host to acts include; Bar on the Hill The Stag and Hunter Hotel The Hamilton Station Hotel King Street The Exchange Hotel King Street Hotel The Wickham Park Hotel Budgewoi Hotel The Great Northern Hotel The Koutetsu The Happy Wombat Civic Theatre Bar Earp Distilling Co Jams Karaoke The Scholar's Den The Rogue Scholar The Greenroof Hotel Mad Poet Bernie's Bar Civic Theatre Ravella In Sydney, expect the streets to come alive with big names like aleksiah and Alice Ivy, who will bring their vibrant performances to Enmore. ARIA award-winning Lime Cordiale and Bootleg Rascal are some more exciting acts to join the stage in Sydney's Inner West. Meanwhile, Babe Rainbow will hit up Bondi, with SAFIA and Havana Brown as some other fan favourites that you'll be able to catch as part of all the fun. Some of the Sydney venues that will play host to acts include; The Alex Hotel Glass Island The Chippo Hotel The Lansdowne Hotel Factory Theatre PS40 Vic on the Park Dee Why RSL Jacksons on George Pyrmont Bridge Hotel Oxford Art Factory Gasoline Pony Darling Nikki's Butter Sydney The Townie (Town Hall Hotel Newtown) The Beresford The Duke of Clarence Mary's Underground The Vanguard Papa Gede's Bar The Agincourt Hotel Since I Left You JAM Record Bar East Village Hotel Butchers Brew Bar The Bearded Tit Metro Social Trocadero Room Jolene's Sydney Jacksons on George Pyrmont Bridge Hotel The Midnight Special Gasoline Pony The Loft on Broadway Marrickville Bowling Club The Union Hotel Pleasure Club Darling Nikki's Surry Hills Hotel Red Rattler Theatre Golden Age Cinema & Bar The Metro Theatre Just down the Princes Highway in Wollongong, The Music Lounge will welcome Olivia Coggan and Emily Wurramara along with the smooth jazz tunes of Emma Pask. Alternatively, Northeast Party House, Satin Cali, WAAX, Sesame Girl, Pyschdaleic Pron Crumpets and Sam Allen will take the stage at UOW Uni Bar. At La La La's, you will find Blistar. For a more chilled-out vibe, head to Anita's Theatre in Thirroul and see Missy Higgins, Birds of Tokyo and jazz-funk band The Cat Empire. Just around the corner at Frank's Wild Years, sit back and relax to the tunes of Mess Esque and Snowy. And that's only a handful of what to expect down in the Gong'. Other venues that will be taken over include; The Prince Halfway Ryan's Hotel North Wollongong Hotel Thirroul Railway Hall Illawarra Folk Club Servo Food Truck Bar Howlin' Wolf Five Barrel Brewing Dicey Riley's Heyday Humber Reub Goldberg Brewing Machine Wombarra Bowlo Novotel Towardgi Beach Hotel Just an hour and a half along the M1 on the Central Coast, artists taking the stage include The Rions, Marcia Hines, Telenova, Ngaiire, Baby Animals and surf-rock favourites The Grogans. Venues include; Ocean View Wamberal Drifter's Wharf Mumbo Jumbo's The Sunken Monkey Hardy's Bay Club Avoca Beach Theatre The Art House FunHaus Factory Inc Pocket Bar Everglades Country Club Warners Bay Theatre Doyalson RSL Images: Supplied. Don't miss out on this year's Great Southern Nights. Plan your trip and book your tickets now.
Sydney is spoiled with a wealth of bars that also offer up top-notch eats alongside their drinks. Uncanny is the latest to join this list, as a King Street cocktail bar offering a selection of delightful Mediterranean share plates. Located just across from Newtown Station in the former digs of Gurdys, the cocktail bar comes from a family of experienced hospitality veterans — Julien, Michel and Laura Bouskila — who have joined forces to open their first venue. "Uncanny came to be through a mutual excitement and desire to create a venue that felt like a home away from home," co-founder Laura Bouskila says. As with the best cocktail bars in Sydney, you can order all of your standards alongside a selection of house specials. Uncanny's creations stretch from the sweet to the strong, playing on classic mixes. The Julio Ricter takes a mezcal margarita and adds a salt and za'atar rim; while The Ritz features thyme-infused Aperol with sparkling rosé and soda. While the drinks hit the spot, the food is the big drawcard. The standout is the bed of hummus with hot lamb mince on top, which Bouskila recommends paired with the Julio Ricter. Elsewhere on the share-friendly menu is eggplant and pomegranate molasses, harissa and sumac potatoes with chilli aioli, 24-hour marinated chicken shwarma and sautéed harissa prawns. Plus, you'll also find trivia, live music and open mic comedy at the bar on three Tuesdays of each month. Originally slated to open in June of 2021, the pandemic hit the bar pretty hard, with delays and closures continuing until the start of this year. "Since opening again in January, we have not looked back," continues Laura. "We are so grateful and excited that the Newtown community is loving the vibe of Uncanny." Uncanny is located 349 King Street, Newtown. It's open 4pm–late Tuesday–Friday and 3pm–late Saturdays.
Australians will never be torn apart from their love of an 80s power ballad by one of the nation's most-successful rock bands: that's what the first-ever Triple J Hottest 100 of Australian Songs revealed. First announced in June 2025, open for voting for a month and unveiling its countdown on Saturday, July 26, the public-voted ranking of the country's favourite homegrown tunes of all time culminated with INXS topping the poll with the yearning refrains of 'Never Tear Us Apart'. The Michael Hutchence-crooned song was one of two by the band to make the list. The other: 'Need You Tonight', also from their 1987 blockbuster album Kick, which came in at number 59. Although Triple J advised that the largest number of voters hailed from the 18–29-year-old age group, everyone took the task of truly surveying classic Aussie tracks seriously, with more than half of that demographic's picks going to songs released before they were even in high school. Nothing in the top ten initially hit airwaves before 2011. After 'Never Tear Us Apart', the Hottest 100 of Australian Songs featured Hilltop Hoods' 2003 release 'The Nosebleed Section' in second place, followed by The Veronicas' 2007 track 'Untouched' in third, then 'Scar' by Missy Higgins from 2004 in fourth and Crowded House's 1986 tune 'Don't Dream It's Over' by Crowded House in fifth. Next came 2000's 'My Happiness' by Powderfinger — the highest-ranked former annual Hottest 100 winner — then a Cold Chisel double with 1984's 'Flame Tree's and 1978's 'Khe Sanh', Paul Kelly 1996 Christmas favourite 'How to Make Gravy', and Gotye and Kimbra's 2011 smash 'Somebody That I Used to Know'. As well as 'My Happiness' and 'Somebody That I Used to Know', a heap of other prior yearly Hottest 100 victors made the all-Aussie ranking: Powderfinger again with 'These Days', Angus and Julia Stone courtesy of 'Big Jet Plane', Jet's 'Are You Gonna Be My Girl', Flume featuring Kai with 'Never Be Like You', Augie March's 'One Crowded Hour', Vance Joy with 'Riptide', Bernard Fanning's 'Wish You Well', Chet Faker's 'Talk Is Cheap', 'Confidence' by Ocean Alley and The Whitlams with 'No Aphrodisiac'. Tame Impala's 'The Less I Know the Better' also featured after winning the Hottest 100 of the 2010s. Indeed, only Spiderbait's 'Buy Me a Pony', Alex Lloyd's 'Amazing', The Rubens' 'Hoops', Flume's 'Say Nothing' and The Wiggles' cover of 'Elephant' didn't make the Hottest 100 of Australian songs after previously topping the yearly poll. A range of artists ranked up multiple appearances in the countdown, starting with Fanning with four — three courtesy of Powderfinger. Hilltop Hoods, Crowded House, Jimmy Barnes, AC/DC, Silverchair, Midnight Oil and Gang of Youths all picked up three, while not just INXS but also The Veronicas, Higgins, Cold Chisel, Kelly, Gotye, Angus & Julia Stone, Empire of the Sun, Hunters & Collectors, The Church, Icehouse, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Avalanches and Spiderbait nabbed two places apiece. Although no one needs a reason to celebrate Aussie music, Triple J has one: 2025 marks its 50th birthday. That fact tied into one big caveat with the poll, with voters needing to choose a track that was released before the station hit that milestone on Sunday, January 19, 2025. Stats-wise, the chosen 100 tunes came from 2,655,826 total votes, the fourth highest that have ever been received for a Triple J Hottest 100. Also, more tunes sprang from the 2000s than any other decade, while 24 artists on the list championed the benefits of Triple J Unearthed, because that's where they got their start. Daddy Cool's 'Eagle Rock' from 1971 is the oldest tune that made the cut, while 2021's 'Hertz' from Amyl and The Sniffers is the most recent. And yes, both 'You're the Voice' by John Farnham and 'The Horses' by Daryl Braithwaite earned a place. Here's the full Hottest 100 of Australian Songs list: 1 'Never Tear Us Apart', INXS 2 'The Nosebleed Section', Hilltop Hoods 3 'Untouched', The Veronicas 4 'Scar', Missy Higgins 5 'Don't Dream It's Over', Crowded House 6 'My Happiness', Powderfinger 7 'Flame Trees', Cold Chisel 8 'Khe Sanh', Cold Chisel 9 'How to Make Gravy', Paul Kelly 10 'Somebody That I Used to Know', Gotye featuring Kimbra 11 'Sweet Disposition', The Temper Trap 12 'Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again', The Angels 13 'Thunderstruck', AC/DC 14 'These Days', Powderfinger 15 'You're the Voice', John Farnham 16 'Innerbloom', Rüfüs Du Sol 17 'Tomorrow', Silverchair 18 'Beds Are Burning', Midnight Oil 19 'The Less I Know the Better', Tame Impala 20 'Big Jet Plane', Angus & Julia Stone 21 'Down Under', Men at Work 22 'To Her Door', Paul Kelly & the Messengers 23 'Are You Gonna Be My Girl', Jet 24 'Walking on a Dream', Empire of the Sun 25 'Throw Your Arms Around Me', Hunters & Collectors 26 'Never Be Like You', Flume featuring Kai 27 'Can't Get You Out of My Head', Kylie Minogue 28 'Straight Lines,' Silverchair 29 'Under the Milky Way', The Church 30 'The Horses', Daryl Braithwaite 31 'Highway to Hell', AC/DC 32 'Torn', Natalie Imbruglia 33 'One Crowded Hour', Augie March 34 'Booster Seat', Spacey Jane 35 'Great Southern Land', Icehouse 36 'Treaty (Radio Mix)', Yothu Yindi 37 'Back in Black', AC/DC 38 'Better Be Home Soon', Crowded House 39 'Reckless', Australian Crawl 40 'Covered in Chrome', Violent Soho 41 'Prisoner of Society', The Living End 42 'Magnolia', Gang of Youths 43 'Joker & the Thief', Wolfmother 44 'Into My Arms', Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds 45 'Eagle Rock', Daddy Cool 46 'Shooting Stars', Bag Raiders 47 'Solid Rock', Goanna 48 'Riptide', Vance Joy 49 'It's Nice to Be Alive', Ball Park Music 50 'Holy Grail', Hunters & Collectors 51 'Brother', Matt Corby 52 'The Special Two', Missy Higgins 53 'Better in Blak', Thelma Plum 54 'I Touch Myself,' Divinyls 55 'My People', The Presets 56 'Working Class Man', Jimmy Barnes 57 'Wish You Well', Bernard Fanning 58 'Frontier Psychiatrist', The Avalanches 59 'Need You Tonight', INXS 60 'Let Me Down Easy', Gang of Youths 61 'Talk Is Cheap', Chet Faker 62 'Australia Street', Sticky Fingers 63 'I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green)', Redgum 64 'Cosby Sweater', Hilltop Hoods 65 'Confidence', Ocean Alley 66 'Power and the Passion', Midnight Oil 67 '! (The Song Formerly Known As)', Regurgitator 68 'Chemical Heart', Grinspoon 69 'Weather with You', Crowded House 70 '(Baby I've Got You) On My Mind', Powderfinger 71 'Jimmy Recard', Drapht 72 'Freak', Silverchair 73 '1955', Hilltop Hoods featuring Montaigne and Tom Thum 74 'London Still', The Waifs 75 'The Unguarded Moment', The Church 76 '4ever', The Veronicas 77 'Weir', Killing Heidi 78 'Black Fingernails, Red Wine', Eskimo Joe 79 'Hello', The Cat Empire 80 'We Are the People', Empire of the Sun 81 'Berlin Chair', You Am I 82 'High', Peking Duk featuring Nicole Millar 83 'Cigarettes Will Kill You', Ben Lee 84 'Streets of Your Town', The Go-Betweens 85 'Delete', DMA's 86 'Hearts a Mess', Gotye 87 'The Deepest Sighs, the Frankest Shadows', Gang of Youths 88 'Chateau', Angus & Julia Stone 89 'Hertz', Amyl and the Sniffers 90 'Black Betty', Spiderbait 91 'No Aphrodisiac', The Whitlams 92 'Electric Blue', Icehouse 93 'Since I Left You', The Avalanches 94 'Clair de Lune', Flight Facilities featuring Christine Hoberg 95 'Calypso', Spiderbait 96 'Evie', Stevie Wright 97 'I Want You', Savage Garden 98 'Red Right Hand', Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds 99 'Blue Sky Mine', Midnight Oil 100 'Better', The Screaming Jets Triple J's Hottest 100 of Australian Songs was unveiled on Saturday, July 26, 2025. For more information, head to the Triple J website. Top image: Fryderyk Gabowicz/picture alliance via Getty Images.
Trying not to think about Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet is about to become impossible in Australia. So will getting Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On' out of your head, where it's dwelled for most people since the Oscar-winning track was released in 1997. The reason: a new Titanic exhibition is dropping anchor Down Under, making Melbourne Museum its berth for four months. From Saturday, December 16, 2023–Sunday, April 14, 2024 Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition will bring 200-plus items from the ship to the Victorian capital, in its Aussie trip after selling out its Paris season and also proving a hit in the US. The pieces on display are legitimately from the vessel's wreck site, too, after the RMS Titanic's ill-fated voyage in April 1912 — aka the events that James Cameron (Avatar: The Way of Water) turned into the DiCaprio (Killers of the Flower Moon)- and Winslet (Ammonite)-starring Titanic more than a quarter-century ago. For everyone bound to exclaim "I'm the king of the world" while walking through Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition's Australian-exclusive stop, this is the king of all Titanic exhibitions. In fact, it's the most extensive in the world. As well seeing the genuine objects from the ship, attendees will wander through full-scale recreations of the vessel's interiors, such as the veranda cafe, first-class parlour suite and grand staircase. "Tragedy, heroism, sacrifice, survival and loss — these are themes the evokes which continue to resonate today, with people of all ages across the globe," said Museums Victoria CEO & Director Lynley Crosswell, announcing the exhibition. In addition to the recovered items and recreations of the Titanic's spaces, the exhibition will tell tales about those who were onboard the ship that launched its maiden voyage on April 10, 1912, only to sink five days later on April 15 after hitting an iceberg. This exploration of a tragic chapter in history will focus on passengers and crew alike, while also stepping through the vessel's class divisions and pondering the boat's legacy. Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition will display at Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton from Saturday, December 16, 2023–Sunday, April 14, 2024 — head to the venue's website for further details and tickets. Images: EMG / Alexandre Schoelcher / Museums Victoria.
This winter, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia is hosting a major exhibition by celebrated British artist and sculptor Cerith Wyn Evans, his first comprehensive showing of work in the Asia-Pacific. Titled Cerith Wyn Evans .... in light of the visible, the exhibition transforms the MCA's galleries into a shifting, radiant landscape of light, sound and space that evolves with the natural light of Circular Quay. [caption id="attachment_1008799" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Cerith Wyn Evans, Sydney Drift, 2025, installation view, Cerith Wyn Evans …. in light of the visible, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, 2025, image courtesy and © Cerith Wyn Evans, photograph: Hamish McIntosh[/caption] Visitors will be able to walk through and experience the towering neon wall of F=O=U=N=T=A=I=N (2020), the suspended lights of Sydney Drift (2025), sonic installation Composition for 37 Flutes (2018), and site-specific works that react in real-time to the light and sound of Warrane (Sydney Harbour). It's a full sensory experience that invites you to wander around and find something unexpected around every corner. There's also a stack of related events happening over the next few months, including improvised dance and music performances, walking tours through the city, exhibition tours, plus an early morning meditation and Tai Chi experience. The Museum is also open late until 9pm on Saturday June 14. [caption id="attachment_1008798" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Installation view, Cerith Wyn Evans …. in light of the visible, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, 2025, image courtesy and © Cerith Wyn Evans, photograph: Hamish McIntosh[/caption] 'Cerith Wyn Evans …. in light of the visible' is showing at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia until Sunday, October 19. Find out more and book tickets at the MCA Australia website. By Jacque Kennedy Header image: Installation view, 'Cerith Wyn Evans …. in light of the visible', Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, 2025, image courtesy and © Cerith Wyn Evans, photograph: Hamish McIntosh
"We can all see the same night sky, but we impose different interpretations on the elements we see within it," says Cara Pinchbeck, senior curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and co-curator of Under the Stars — a free exhibition that brings together artworks with a shared fascination of the night sky. "Here in Sydney, the Dark Emu exists within the dark spaces between the stars. In a predominantly European perspective, people look to the stars and don't see the emu. So even though we can be looking at the same thing, we might see things completely differently," says Pinchbeck. The exhibition marks 250 years since Captain Cook landed at Kamay (Botany Bay), in which one of his missions was to document the transit of Venus. Co-curators Pinchbeck and Jackie Dunn took inspiration from this stargazing mission to create an exhibition that highlights the "deep knowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have of the night sky that predates Cook by tens of thousands of years." The exhibition honours the way First Nations farmers, sailors, scientists and storytellers have looked to the night sky for centuries. By bringing together artworks by Indigenous artists with those made in many different eras by many different cultures, Under the Stars seeks to question what we know — and to celebrate what we share. Here are five artworks to seek out on your next visit. [caption id="attachment_778109" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Katie Paterson, 'Earth-Moon-Earth (Moonlight Sonata reflected from the surface of the moon)' (2007) Photo: AGNSW, Felicity Jenkins[/caption] A SONATA REFLECTED FROM THE SURFACE OF THE MOON One of the first pieces you might notice is a piano, seemingly playing a ghostly tune all by itself. Though the piano itself is not the artwork. "We don't actually own the piano as part of the work," says Pinchbeck. "Because it hadn't been displayed yet within the Gallery, we thought it was a really exciting moment to realise the work within the Gallery's space." The 2007 artwork 'Earth-Moon-Earth' is a sonic work by Scottish artist Katie Paterson, who translated Beethoven's Moonlight sonata into Morse code before sending it to the Moon. "It is such an evocative idea — this sonata is sent to the Moon, received back, and a loss of sound, or shift in translation, happens in that process," says Pinchbeck. As messages are received back to Earth via a radio-like transmission, information is 'lost' in the Moon's craters, which, when re-translated back into music produces a gap in sound. [caption id="attachment_778116" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boyd, still from video 'History is made at night' (2013), courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney © Daniel Boyd[/caption] A PORTAL OF DOTS DESIGNED TO QUESTION WHAT WE KNOW 'History is made at night' is both a video artwork and series of paintings by artist Daniel Boyd. The artwork looks at recent science relating to dark matter to question if our understanding of history can ever be fully understood — as our knowledge of space and time is constantly changing. "He's looking at the fact that we will never really know the truth about what has happened historically, because so much is lost over time," says Pinchbeck. The paintings refer to artefacts that show how people in the Pacific navigated using the stars and knowledge of the currents. "It points to connections between people from Australia to other locations that aren't widely spoken of. So, in some ways, it's questioning why we always go back to Cook and we don't also talk about these other connections that people within Australia had to other places around the world." [caption id="attachment_778974" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gail Mabo, 'Tagai' (2020), courtesy of the artist, with thanks to the staff of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences & Microscopy Australia, The University of Sydney © Gail Mabo[/caption] A NEW ARTWORK WITH INTIMATE HISTORY Renowned artist Gail Mabo created a new artwork for the exhibition; 'Tagai', commissioned for Under the Stars, is an intricate star chart made using bamboo grown by her father — land rights pioneer Eddie Koiki Mabo — at James Cook University. It also uses 3D-printed stars to define the shape of Tagai, a constellation that is important to Torres Strait Islander people and is used for navigation and harvesting. When his spear points to the horizon, it's time to harvest. "Gail planned the work and made the work in the Gallery space, so she only saw the work herself when it went up onto the wall the day before the exhibition opened, which was pretty amazing," says Pinchbeck. "Gail's generosity in embracing many ideas across the exhibition led to the creation of 'Tagai', which is an extremely personal work, but it also refers to a bigger idea about how we all have our own journey in life, and Tagai is there to guide us, but we're all going to see him and be guided by him differently." [caption id="attachment_778104" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shaun Gladwell, video still of 'Planet and stars sequence: Barrier Highway' (2009), Art Gallery of New South Wales, gift of Peter Lin and Harry John Wilson 2015. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program © Shaun Gladwell[/caption] A CYCLICAL VIDEO WORK OF CREATION AND DESTRUCTION Sydney-born artist Shaun Gladwell created a series of works in 2001, and one part of that series is 'Planet and stars sequence: Barrier Highway', which takes up an entire wall in the exhibition. You watch as Gladwell kneels beside the highway in remote New South Wales (80 kilometres east from Broken Hill), ready to create an image of planets and stars using an aerosol can and a white card, only to destroy it with a layer of black paint. "For me, it speaks to that constant cycle of the world, how things are appearing, disappearing, being created again," says Pinchbeck. "It has some connections with other works nearby that relate particularly to the Moon, and how it is constantly reborn each month, and then goes through its phases until it disappears and comes to life again. [caption id="attachment_778972" align="alignnone" width="1920"] An installation view from the exhibition 'Under the Stars' at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Photo: AGNSW, Felicity Jenkins[/caption] SEVEN SISTERS THAT SHOWS CENTURIES-OLD CONNECTIONS Artist Gulumbu Yunupingu lived and worked in North East Arnhem Land, and there are two bark paintings of hers within the exhibition. "She used to speak about how we all look up and see the stars and so we're all connected as people," says Pinchbeck. There is also a series of prints that Gulumbu created with her six sisters. "There's a narrative connected to her country, which relates to the [star cluster] Seven Sisters, also known as Pleiades. It tells of the travels of a group of sisters to various islands off the coast of North East Arnhem Land, and one of those islands is Djakapurra (Singapore). It's really interesting because it points to people navigating and travelling via the stars. But it potentially speaks of connections between Aboriginal people and people in Asia that may go back centuries — and we don't necessarily appreciate that as much as we could." 'Under the Stars' runs until 2021 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. It is free to attend. Top image: An installation view from 'Under the Stars' at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Photo: AGNSW, Felicity Jenkins.
Next time a Sydney staycation or holiday is on the cards, you can forget all about the pesky task of finding a decent pet-sitter. Instead, that fur-kid of yours is allowed along for the ride — if you opt for a stay in one of The Old Clare Hotel's newly pet-friendly suites. Having scored a complete revamp back in 2015, the heritage-listed Chippendale lodgings has now broadened its clientele to include those of the four-legged variety. As of Monday, January 13, two of the hotel's suites — the Kent and Abercrombie — are completely pet-friendly. On request, they come decked out with extras like handmade pet bowls crafted by Motion Ceramics, Fuzz-Yard plush toys and a miniature retro-style lounge for your pet's sleeping and relaxing. For guests on the go, there's a pet directory listing animal-friendly bars and eateries, and handy dog-walking and dog-sitting services available through the hotel. And your furry mate can even get in on the all-important room service action, with a complimentary menu of in-room pet dining options. They'll find treats like Yummi roo bites for cats and Savourlife beef-flavoured dog biscuits, and dry and wet food, all available 24/7. Up to two pets are allowed per room and while the the offering is aimed primarily at dogs and cats, the Old Clare is also open to other critters — get in touch to see if your pet gecko, guinea pig or bunny is welcome along. Having your four-legged friend along on your getaway does come at a bit of a price, with the extra room charge clocking in at $100 per pet. That's on top of your suite's best available rate, so if you've got your doggo in tow, expect to pay starting from around $300 per night total for a stay in the Kent room and around $370 for the Abercrombie. Find The Old Clare Hotel at 1 Kensington Street, Chippendale. To book your pet-friendly stay, contact the reservations team on reservations@theoldclarehotel.com.au or call (02) 8277 8277.
Thanks to her vibrant, playful and dot-filled body of work, Yayoi Kusama is known for many things. Her brightly coloured pumpkins, often blown up to larger-than-life size, are instantly recognisable. Her mirrored infinity rooms constantly dazzle the eye, too. But when it comes to interacting with her pieces, the Japanese artist's obliteration rooms might be her most entertaining creation. The concept really couldn't be more simple. As every visitor enters the space, they're given a page of stickers. Then, as quickly or slowly as each person sees fit, it's their job to place those stickers around the room. If you're heading along at the beginning of the exhibition's run, you might see plenty of white surfaces just waiting to be covered with circles of colour. If you're taking part towards the end of its season, a rainbow of dots might already fill every nook and cranny. First developed for children as part of an Australian show — Queensland Art Gallery's APT 2002: Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art — back in 2002, obliteration rooms have been part of Kusama's repertoire ever since. That said, in almost two decades, she hasn't extended the idea to a greenhouse — until now. As announced in mid-2019, a huge site-specific Kusama exhibition will display at the New York Botanical Garden, kicking off in May this year. KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature sprawl over The Bronx venue's entire 250 acres, both inside and out. And, while the broad details were unveiled when the show was first revealed, the site has started announcing specifics — such as Kusama's first obliteration greenhouse. Called Flower Obsession, the interactive artwork will task visitors with applying coral flower stickers throughout the interior of the space. Given that KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature is all about celebrating the natural world and its inspiration on the artist's work, it's safe to assume that the greenhouse will actually function as a greenhouse. Just don't go plastering any stickers on the plants, of course. [caption id="attachment_732283" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] New York Botanical Garden, Robert Benson[/caption] Another just-revealed highlight: Infinity Mirrored Room—Illusion Inside the Heart, which'll take Kusama's famed infinity room concept outdoors, responding to changing light throughout each day and season. Dancing Pumpkin will tower 16-feet high — and be shaped like the vegetable, naturally — while the vivid I Want to Fly to the Universe will span 13 feet in height, with the biomorphic form featuring a yellow face and polka dots. They're all brand new works; however the exhibition will also reimagine some of the artist's existing pieces. A recreation of the painting Alone, Buried In A Flower Garden might be the most striking, with the NYBG's horticulturists planting a whole garden that mimics its shapes and colours. Elsewhere, tulips and irises will be planted in formations that'll resemble pumpkins when they bloom. Also, floral presentations will bring another of Kusama's pieces to life in a new medium — using violas, salvias, zinnias and chrysanthemums. [caption id="attachment_758873" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Infinity Mirrored Room—Illusion Inside the Heart (2020)[/caption] As all of these aspects of the exhibition make plain, attendees won't just be walking through multiple halls filled with Kusama's work or moseying around an entire gallery. This is a multi-sensory experience, involving wandering around the whole grounds and spying her pieces not only placed on walls and floors everywhere, but mixed among the natural wonders outside. When the showcase kicks off in 2020, running from May 9 to November 1, visitors can also expect a host of Kusama's giant floral pieces, nature-based paintings, botanical sketches, collages and soft sculptures. KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature marks the first-ever large-scale exploration of the acclaimed artist's overflowing fondness for the natural world — and, taking its cues from nature, the show is designed to transform over the course of the exhibition. Obviously, interactive installations such as Flower Obsession will evolve thanks to audience participation, but the whole space will also change with the seasons. Transitioning from spring to summer to autumn during the exhibition's duration, the different conditions will add a new tone to Kusama's work. If you've been contemplating making New York travel plans for this year, consider this some extra motivation. Yayoi Kusama's exhibition at the New York Botanical Garden will run from May 9, 2020 to November 1, 2020. Head to the venue's website for further details — and to purchase tickets from February 26.
Sydney mightn't be known for its ice and snow; however, that doesn't mean you can't slide across a frozen surface in the centre of the city. From Saturday, September 26 to Sunday, October 11, the ICC forecourt will become a winter wonderland thanks to the Darling Harbour Frozone. Popping up for two weeks in winter, the Frozone is back for the school holidays — but it's not just for littl'uns. In fact, it's open till 9pm, which means it's the perfect date-night idea for when you want to do more than just grab a drink. So don your warmest winter woollies, grab your bestie, date or fam, and head to the Harbour. The rink is open to the public every day, with 45-minute sessions costing $22 for adults and less for kids ($18 for a child, $10 for a toddler). Walk-ups are welcome, but you can also pre-book tickets on line over here. Darling Harbour Frozone is open from 10am–9pm daily.
UPDATE, January 14, 2022: A Quiet Place Part II is available to stream via Paramount+, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. When every noise you make could send savage aliens stalking, slashing and slaughtering your way, it's the waiting that gets you. When you're watching a nerve-rattling horror film about that exact scenario, the same sentiment remains relevant. In A Quiet Place, the Abbott family went into survival mode after vicious creatures invaded, hunted down every sound and dispensed with anyone that crossed their path. For the characters in and viewers of the 2018 hit alike, the experience couldn't have screamed louder with anxiety and anticipation. Evelyn and Lee (Wild Mountain Thyme's Emily Blunt and Detroit's John Krasinski) and their children Regan (Millicent Simmonds, Wonderstruck), Marcus (Noah Jupe, The Undoing) and Beau (Cade Woodward, Avengers: Endgame) all silently bided their time simply trying to stay safe and alive, but their continued existence lingered under a gut-wrenching shadow. The critters were still out there, listening for even a whisper. It was a matter of when, not if, they'd discern the slightest of noises and strike again. That type of waiting drips with tension and suspense, and also with the kind of inevitability that hovers over everyone alive. A certain bleak end awaits us all, a truth we routinely attempt to ignore; however, neither the Abbotts nor A Quiet Place's audience were allowed to forget that grim fact for even a moment. Initially slated to arrive in cinemas two years later, then delayed by the pandemic for 14 months, sequel A Quiet Place Part II isn't done with waiting. The film doesn't shy away from the stress and existential distress that marking time can bring, but it also tasks its characters with actively confronting life's inevitabilities. After an intense and impressive tone-setting opening flashback to the first day of the alien attack, when the Abbotts' sleepy hometown learns of humanity's new threat in the cruellest fashion, the storyline picks up where its predecessor left off. It's day 474 — the earlier film spent most of its duration around day 472 — and Evelyn, Regan, Marcus and the family's newborn are grappling with their losses. That said, they're also keenly aware that they can't stay in their Appalachian farmhouse any longer. After spotting smoke on the horizon and setting off in that direction, they reconnect with Emmett (Cillian Murphy, Peaky Blinders), an old friend who has been through his own traumas. Evelyn sees safety in numbers, but he's reluctant to help. Then Regan hears a looping radio transmission playing 'Beyond the Sea' and decides to track down its source. The plan: find other survivors, and also find a way to get the upper hand over their aggressors, all to stop spending their time simply waiting. A Quiet Place Part II isn't about making do, closing ranks and merely enduring, but about making a concerted choice to try to conquer an immensely difficult situation even when the odds seem insurmountable. No one can ultimately escape death, of course. Still, when it lurks in the form of extra-terrestrials who seem to have borrowed their resourcefulness and reflexes from Jurassic Park's raptors (and their ability to withstand most threats from Terminator 2: Judgment Day's killing machines), you can plan, prepare, fight and outsmart. The first film also used its alien attack story to explore the parental urge to protect children from life's harms, but here, writer/director/co-star Krasinski ponders the realisation that dawns upon all mums and dads eventually: that, despite their best efforts, their kids will always have to face the world's woes on their own terms. Both formidable and maternal — because the 'strong female lead' trope shouldn't exclusively favour the former — Blunt is once again a force to be reckoned with as the doting, wearied but determined Evelyn. But, while she's given top billing, this isn't the Looper, Edge of Tomorrow and Sicario star's film. Krasinski doesn't just broaden out the movie's mindset, themes and slice of dystopian life, but also expands his focus. The feature's second half masterfully intertwines Evelyn's efforts to get supplies, Marcus' struggles while babysitting and Regan's perilous quest, and it's the latter that's given pride of place. And, once more, rising talent Simmonds is exceptional. With her character proving bold, poised and resolved to do her best for her family, the young actor radiates confidence, commitment and fortitude. Indeed, while she could've been left to play sidekick to Murphy in a surrogate father-daughter relationship, there's no doubting that Simmonds is the film's hero — whether or not her character, who is deaf, is using her hearing aid as a weapon. Pushing Regan to the fore, and Simmonds with her, is a smart, savvy, engaging and rewarding move on Krasinski's part — and it's not the only choice he's made that earns that description. The film's aforementioned opening, including a particularly stunning shot set in the thick of the chaos, provides the type of spectacle that most movies can only dream of. (If the actor-turned-filmmaker wanted to dive headfirst into the action genre next, he'd have zero troubles settling in.) A Quiet Place Part II may spend more time squaring off against its aliens, rather than dwelling in a world where they'e an ever-present but often-unseen threat, but it never overplays its hand. In its fast-paced narrative, intimate visuals and pitch-perfect audio, it never simply rehashes its predecessor and hopes that the same successes will spring, either. The Abbotts' mission has evolved, as has the vivid cinematography (by Legion's Polly Morgan) that sees this post-apocalyptic world with a bittersweet eye, and the meticulous, characteristically silence-heavy soundscape as well. While the feature's potency and skill doesn't come as a surprise this time around, and neither does the unsettling unease that comes with all that waiting and those pervasive hushed tones, every second of this stellar sequel is no less thrilling. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku4yAbIu6ao A Quiet Place Part II opens in Australian cinemas on Thursday, May 27, with advance screenings over the weekend of Friday, May 21–Sunday, May 23.
This year, Broadway Sydney has gone all out for the festive season — aiming to make this Christmas the 'bestmas'. You'll see this the moment you step through its doors. The entire shopping centre has been decked out with seasonal decorations, from an abundance of fairy lights to the many installations that hang from the ceilings and adorn the walkways. It's a proper summer wonderland. But the centre is going well beyond decorations for Christmas — there will be a jolly Santa ready to pose for photos within a huge hot air balloon set within a starry night-scene. Broadway even has Sensitive Santa bookings available for those families that need a little extra calm during portrait time. A separate pop-up Christmas studio has been set up for your four-legged friends, too. You can get them all dressed up for some paw-fect portraits with some of the colourful accessories available. And if you visit Broadway on Thursday, December 15 (from 1–6pm), you'll likely run into a roaming Grinch. Then on Friday, December 16 (from 10am–5pm) the Grinch will join Santa for some extra fun festive family portraits. And if you're a shocker at gift wrapping — or just don't have the time — Broadway has set up a gift-wrapping station, giving all proceeds to the Chris O'Brien Life House. This will be open every day until Friday, 23 December, meaning even your last-minute gifts can be expertly wrapped. Plus, it will only cost you $2 per gift. To help shoppers spread the festive spirit, Broadway has also partnered with the Addison Road Community Organisation. Within the centre, you'll find a large donation box for visitors to fill with all kinds of gifts. These will go into 2000 Hampers of Hope before Christmas Day, which the Addi Road team will distribute to those who would otherwise go without. And anyone who spends $100 at Broadway can go into the draw to win one of six specially curated Christmas prize packs. Each is themed and comes with a huge selection of prezzies — you've got The Party Santa, The Beauty Santa, The Foodie Santa, The Summer Santa, The Fashion Santa and The Homewares Santa. For a chance to win, simply scan the promotional QR code when visiting the centre or enter the competition via the online portal. You'll also need to attach a receipt to show you've spent at least $100 in the centre. There are stacks of festive things to do at Broadway this year — who knows, it might just help make this Christmas the 'bestmas' after all. Visit the Broadway Sydney website to see its extended hours, make Santa bookings and sign up to win one of the six different gift boxes.
There are your regular neighbourhood delis and butchers — and then there is Bexley North's German Butchery Deli & Cafe. This place stocks everything you'd expect from a German butchery and deli, from cold cuts, sausage links (yes, including bratwurst) and pâté to traditional German smallgoods and bread. If you've got a craving for a particular German delight, perhaps while reminiscing about that trip you took a few years back or reconnecting with old family traditions, this shop should have it. You'll find knödel (potato or bread boiled dumplings), sauerkraut, gherkins and, of course, salt pretzels. You may also stumble across some products that are common on European supermarket shelves, but not so much here, including curry ketchup, Austrian Almdudler herbal lemonade and Czech Kitl flavoured syrups. Planning a party? The team here can put together platters that'll set you back as little as $8 a head, too. Image: Trent van der Jagt.
Decked out in a nostalgic pastel colour palette and service up exciting twists on cafe classics, Cafe Bondi is the newest beachside brekkie spot to open in the eastern suburbs. The Sydney spot is offering up a fresh breakfast and lunch menu full of favourites seven days a week. Head up from the surf and browse the menu, which spans smashed avo ($19), acai bowls ($17) and buttermilk hotcakes ($22). If you're looking to shake up your first meal of the day, you can also order zucchini fitters ($22) with avo salsa, grilled chorizo and watermelon radish — or a vegan turmeric tofu scramble ($21) with eggplant, sautéed spinach, cherry tomatoes avocado and house salsa. From 12pm, lunch is served. Among the menu highlights: a schnitzel sandwich ($18), a vegan bowl with crispy chickpeas and sauteed kale ($22), and the Cafe Bondi burger ($26) — which is made with a tajima beef patty, cheddar , bacon, tomato, lettuce, pickles and onions. If the food isn't a big enough draw card for you to beeline to Cafe Bondi after your next morning swim, the menu also includes a series of breakfast cocktails including watermelon mimosas ($14) and bloody marys ($16). The cocktails sit beside an extensive beer and wine list ideal for your next boozy brunch. Images: Kimberly Low.
Spring means plenty of fresh produce at outdoor markets and hours spent lounging by the water. What's better than a day that combines both? Cambridge Markets is popping up in Watsons Bay with the return of the beloved market in 2024. Head to Robertson Park from 10am–4pm on Sunday, October 20, to browse over 150 stalls against the backdrop of the picturesque harbour scene. From boutique homewares and independent fashion labels to speciality crafts and local purveyors, you can shop for a mix of essentials, gifts and items for the home, and feel good knowing you're investing in small independent businesses and local vendors. And don't forget about the food. Between purchases, fill up on market favourites such as paella, bagels, pastries and gozleme, and enjoy a picnic with those sweeping water views. The Cambridge Markets team is behind huge markets across Sydney, from Pittwater to Cronulla, Ryde Wharf and the Entertainment Quarter, so to call the group experienced would be an understatement. The Watsons Bay iteration is for one day only, so prepare a crew and find your deepest tote bag — you'll need it. Head to the website to find out more.
Anyone who's been outside in the last few days will have noticed that Sydney's been unseasonably warm. Yesterday hit 20 degrees and last night the low was just 12 — in the sun you don't even need a light jacket. Although this undeniably adds to our ever-present anxiety about global warming, it's hard to deny it: this winter has been delightful. And you probably won't have to raid your house for your beanie anytime soon — well, not this week, anyway. Meteorologists have predicted that this next winter week could hit temperates more than seven degrees above the average maximum temp for July (which is 16.4, according to the Bureau of Meteorology). The temp is expected to hit 20 degrees on Saturday, July 20 before rising to 22 degrees on Sunday, July 21. Next week, it's meant to peak at 24 (!) on Tuesday before dipping back down to 20 on Wednesday. [caption id="attachment_663537" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paros Huckstepp.[/caption] The highest temperature on record for July is 26.5 degrees (on July 30, 2017), so we could come pretty close. This is a bit of contrast to the end autumn — when we were dealing with some frosty cold fronts and a whole heap of snow (even in the Blue Mountains) — although, it's not unexpected. Australia did swelter through its hottest summer on record and autumn was our third warmest ever. If you've got the weekend off, make the most of it — visit a beach, do a seaside walk or catch a ferry to explore islands and national parks. Top image: Bondi Beach by Paros Huckstepp
Things are looking up in Brisbane, with rooftop bars popping up all around the River City in recent years, plus a new 100-metre-high Sky Deck set to follow. Sydney has the Sydney Tower Eye, Melbourne has its Skydeck and now the Queensland capital will gain its own lofty tourist attraction — complete with a restaurant, bar, glass-floor viewing platform, and 360-degree vantage out over the Brisbane CBD and Brisbane River. The Brisbane Sky Deck forms part of the city's $3.6-billion Queen's Wharf precinct, a project that's been in the works for at least eight years now. Finally slated to open by the end of 2023, and sprawling between Alice, George, Queen and William streets, the development will be crowned by the sky-high spot to grab a bite, drink and take in stunning views — which'll sit atop everything other dining options, hotels, shops, apartments and a heap of public space. While part of one of Queen's Wharf's resident resorts — it's set to feature four hotels — Sky Deck will be open to the public. Also, it isn't small, with a capacity of 1500 visitors at a time. Here, folks keen to scale great heights can also host parties, with an events space part of the setup. Brisbanites, your shindigs are looking up as well. Specific details about Sky Deck's restaurant and bar, including their menus and operators, haven't yet been revealed; however, that glass-bottomed platform will sit around the midway mark of the structure. From the just-released artists impressions of the venue, locals and tourists alike can expect ample greenery and crucial outdoor seating elsewhere, the latter giving everyone plenty of places to stop, sit and take in the panoramic vista. Expect Brisbane's Sky Deck to be popular, too. The Queensland Government certainly does, with Deputy Premier Steven Miles advising in a statement that "the Sky Deck will be a magnet for the estimated 1.4 million international, interstate and local visitors to the city each year." As for the rest of the Queen's Wharf Brisbane redevelopment area, it spans across 12 hectares in the CBD, and will include around 50 new bars, cafes and restaurant; a casino; those four aforementioned hotels; approximately 1500 apartments; and a swathe of retailers in a huge new shopping precinct. The full precinct features repurposed heritage buildings, too, plus the Neville Bonner Bridge and Brissie's first riverside bikeway cafe. For Brisbane inhabitants, Queen's Wharf has been in the making for so long — and the construction around it just seems to be taking forever, too — that it feels like it has always been coming. But "let's meet at Queen's Wharf" is something that'll soon be able to be said, including by visitors. Ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, the River City is transformation central, including tearing down and rebuilding the Gabba; renewing and reinvigorating South Bank, complete with a treetop walk, a permanent handmade goods market and new riverside lawns; making over Victoria Park; and revamping and expanding Northshore Hamilton. Also, a new seven-hectare riverside parkland is set to join South Brisbane, QPAC's fifth theatre is under construction and Kangaroo Point is set to score a new green bridge with an overwater bar and restaurant. Queen's Wharf is slated to start opening in the Brisbane CBD from late 2023. We'll update you when a specific date is announced — and you can find out further details in the interim via the development's website.
If you hoped that 2021 might see an end to border restrictions and lockdowns, the first few days of January — and the end of December 2020, too — have sadly scuppered that kind of thinking. Today, Friday, January 8, it was announced that the Greater Brisbane area in Queensland will be going into a three-day lockdown in response to the latest local case of COVID-19 in Brisbane, in a hotel quarantine worker. And that now has implications for folks in New South Wales who've been in Greater Brisbane recently. NSW isn't closing its border to Queensland, or to the Greater Brisbane area. But at the daily NSW press conference on Friday, January 8, Acting Premier John Barilaro announced new requirements for anyone in NSW who has been to Greater Brisbane — which includes the Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton and Redlands local government areas — since 12.01am on Saturday, January 2. If you fall into that category, you're required to isolate under the same conditions that'd be in place if you were still in Greater Brisbane. Accordingly, from 6pm AEST/7pm AEDT on Friday, January 8 until 6pm AEST/7pm AEDT on Monday, January 11, anyone who has been in Greater Brisbane since 12.01am on Saturday, January 2 are required to stay at home. The rules in place are the same as during March's lockdown — which means that you're only allowed to leave the house for four reasons. So, you can only head out for work or education if you can't do that at home, for essential shopping, for exercise in your local area, and for health care or to provide support for a vulnerable person. While Queensland has had community cases of the coronavirus before — including back in July and August, when restrictions were tightened only weeks after they had been relaxed from the first lockdown — the state is being particularly cautious in the current instance because it involves the new, more contagious UK strain of COVID-19. That's why NSW has also taken action, and is applying stay-at-home conditions to anyone who has departed, left, worked or been in those Greater Brisbane areas. Unsurprisingly, Minister for Health Brad Hazzard also advised that "if you don't have to come [to NSW] from Brisbane, don't come in the next few days". He continued: "if you really need to, comply with the moments your government has placed on new in Brisbane but comply with them here in New South Wales". https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1347334261926359040 The news comes as NSW reported 11 new cases over the past 24 hours, including four new local cases and seven acquired from overseas. Sydneysiders are also asked to continue to frequently check NSW Health's long list of locations and venues that positive coronavirus cases have visited over the past week — and, if you've been to anywhere listed on the specific dates and times, get tested immediately and self-isolate. You can also have a look at the venue alerts over at this new interactive map. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
It's time to get your freak on because the spooky season is officially in full swing. To celebrate, Hordern Pavilion is hosting a massive inclusive horror party, with multiple beloved Sydney venues transforming over the weekend as part of the festivities. Whether you're after a scare, a thrill or to hit the dance floor, this two-day bash is returning to cater to everything you'd imagine for a party-filled fright night. If you want to get the party started early, Oxford House will don a new look on Friday, October 27. The venue will be rebranded as HORRORHOUSE and will be pumping tunes and festive frights all night as an immersive "concept hotel" experience. Then, on Saturday, October 28, Halloween fiends can hit up Hordern Pavilion from 6pm for the main event. The stacked lineup features performances from famed drag stars including Brooke Lynn Hytes (Canada's Drag Race), plus Kween Kong and Hannah Conda (runner-ups on RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under). There will also be makeup stations where professional artists will transform patrons with creepy makeovers — and for those who want to be fully immersed in the spirit of Halloween, there's a nightmare-fuelled Scare Zone. What exactly awaits you in the zone is a mystery, but Horrorween promises you'll come away spooked. Those in attendance will also find spaces to dance the night away with a lineup of queer international DJ talent spinning tracks — including Ben Bakson, GSP and Caca Werneck, alongside a bunch of local DJs. Finally, an Oxford Street favourite and a popular Darling Habour spot are throwing a pair of after-parties. Starting at 11pm on Saturday, October 28, Universal is giving you the opportunity to party from the pitch-black night through to the witching hour and beyond with its club night Déjàvu, rebranded as Déjàboo. Or, you can opt to hit up waterfront favourite HOME, for its Morning Gory (a spin on its Morning Glory events). Head to the Horrorween Festival website to grab your tickets for this ghoulish celebration and for further details on the citywide festivities.
With its latest movie-fuelled event, Immersive Cinema is hoping that you've never felt like this before — and that you love Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey dancing up a storm in a much-adored 1987 romantic drama. The second part is easy. As for the first, you might've actually stepped into this interactive Dirty Dancing experience back in 2019 when it first came to Australia. Who doesn't want to have the time of their life twice, though? For its second Aussie stint, Dirty Dancing: The Immersive Cinema Experience is only heading to Melbourne, taking over the Flemington Racecourse on Saturday, April 1–Sunday, April 2, 2023. If Francis 'Baby' Houseman can take a trip to Kellerman's Mountain House in the Catskills with her family, you can hit up the venue — and the Victorian capital if you're not a Melburnian — to get whisked away to the next best thing. Here, attendees will get plunged into the world of Dirty Dancing. Taking over the outdoor venue, Dirty Dancing: The Immersive Cinema Experience won't just screen one of Swayze's biggest film roles, but will recreate the world of the popular film. That means that attendees will travel back to 1963 in spirit, check into the flick's setting, and enjoy a day of painting classes, volleyball, croquet, mini golf and — of course — dance lessons. You can probably also expect a stint of carrying watermelons, and definitely a dance showcase. And yes, it all ends with an evening screening of Dirty Dancing on the big screen. You'd be just a fool to believe that's all that's on the agenda. Actors and dancers will roam around like the wind and, food- and drink-wise, Americana-style eats will be available at 12 different dining spots, while seven pop-up bars will sling summery cocktails — all on offer for those with hungry eyes (and stomachs). Also, there'll be a dedicated watermelon stand, plus a picnic area among the rose bushes. You'll also be able to wander through recreations of Kellerman's famous fictional spaces. That includes the staff quarters where Baby Houseman gets her first taste of dirty dancing, as well as the studios where she learns all the steps from and starts swooning over Johnny Castle. Wherever you head, nobody will be putting Baby in a corner. Like the film version of Kellerman's, the event is also an all-ages affair — and everyone is encouraged to dress up like it's the 60s, but appropriate footwear for dancing is a must. Also, because no one had phones back in the 60s, it's a technology-free experience as well. The only screen that matters: the big one showing the movie, of course. Dirty Dancing: The Immersive Cinema Experience will take over Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Saturday, April 1–Sunday, April 2, 2023. Ticket presales start at 10am AEDT on Monday, November 28, with general public tickets available from 10am on Wednesday, November 30. Images: Mushroom Creative House.
Wintertime is gallery time in Melbourne, so it's no surprise the NGV took a go-big-or-go-home attitude to follow up their extended Van Gogh and the Seasons exhibition. Thankfully, they haven't disappointed with a huge display of the works of Katsushika Hokusai. Running until October 15, the Hokusai exhibition is the largest single assemblage of the artist's work ever to be seen in Australia. More than 150 of his works are on display – including his five career-defining series of woodblock prints, the complete 15 editions of handprinted manga, plus silk works and rarely exhibited paintings. To make the exhibition a reality, NGV curator of Asian art Wayne Crothers worked closely with the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum (JUM), a privately owned gallery and one of the world's largest collectors of Japanese woodblock prints. Crothers says this relationship allowed the NGV to showcase the "highest quality examples" of Hokusai's work available. On entering Hokusai, you'll get to know the artist from works from his early career before coming to his universally acclaimed Thirty-six Views of Mt Fuji series. Created during Hokusai's own circumvention of Mt Fuji and his eventual summit, this series is the best instance of Hokusai's uncanny ability to depict everyday Japanese life and the population's closeness to nature. Next up is the unmistakable centrepiece — The Great Wave off Kanagawa — while across the gallery threshold is A Tour to the Waterfalls in Various Provinces, which rests against a distinctly 'Hokusaian' Prussian blue backdrop. Here, the gallery splinters into various spaces dedicated to his many manga volumes, and other lesser-known (but equally as impressive) works. While we're fortunate enough to be able to see many of Hokusai's headline artworks for the first time in Australia, Crothers explains the artist's most famous works are only the beginning to this exhibition: "One of the things we wanted to show through this exhibition was for everyone to enjoy 'The Wave', but then move beyond it and to experience the imagination in Hokusai's other creative projects." Here, with the help of Crothers' nuanced insight, we've selected five great works (aside from The Great Wave) from the Hokusai collection that you can't possibly miss. [caption id="attachment_630150" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Amida Falls in the far reaches of the Kisokaidō Road, courtesy of The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, Matsumoto.[/caption] THE AMIDA WATERFALL ON THE KISO ROCK, A TOUR TO THE WATERFALLS IN VARIOUS PROVINCES, (C. 1832-1833) The Waterfalls series represents some of the most experimental and creative works Hokusai produced at any time throughout his career. A stunning design piece, The Amida Waterfall on the Kiso Road shows an overhead view of flowing water, before halfway down the work changing perspective to a right-angled illustration of a waterfall. [caption id="attachment_630153" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hokusai install at NGV, shot by Tom Ross.[/caption] VIEW OF THE PONTOON BRIDGE AT SANO IN KOZUKE, REMARKABLE VIEWS OF BRIDGES IN VARIOUS PROVINCES (1830) One of Crothers' favourite works of the exhibition, this piece captures the beautiful Japanese winter landscapes, while the travellers trudge across the snow covered pontoon in silence. Throughout this series, Hokusai illustrates the changing of the seasons across diverse locations and depicts the lives of working class Japanese people during this period. [caption id="attachment_630155" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The ghost of Kohada Koheiji, courtesy of The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, Matsumoto.[/caption] 100 GHOST STORIES (1831) Based upon numerous well-known Japanese supernatural tales, the Ghost Stories series is Hokusai's surreal interpretation of these stories. Taking a satirical and humorous approach, for this woodblock print series Hokusai took one small detail from each popular fable and crafted caricatures, which mocked government corruption, societal wrongs and other common issues during this era. An immaculate collection, Crothers says these prints best demonstrate Hokusai's "vivid imagination". [caption id="attachment_630159" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hokusai installation, shot by Tom Ross.[/caption] CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN, THIRTY-SIX VIEWS OF MT FUJI (C. 1830-1833) While you might assume Thirty-six Views of Mt Fuji has 36 accompanying prints, in fact, the series was so popular that Hokusai created an additional ten prints (although the original title was kept). Described by Crothers as the perfect 'final gesture', this 46th print depicts a group near Mt Fuji's summit, which was said to hold the key to immortality — a topic Hokusai often showed interest in. REFLECTION IN LAKE AT MISAKA IN KAI PROVINCE, THIRTY-SIX VIEWS OF MT FUJI (C. 1830-1833) Depicting a peaceful reflection of the summertime summit of Mt Fuji in its lush landscape, this woodblock print is another from the subsequent ten prints to the original series. Hokusai is known for including many subtle details and references throughout his work, and on closer inspection of this piece, you'll notice the distinctly summer time Mt Fuji shows off its wintery side in the lake's reflection. Hokusai is now showing at NGV International.
Before Cannes Palme d'Or-winning director Apichatpong Weerasethakul won one of cinema's most-coveted prizes for Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives — and picked up prestigious awards at the same festival for Tropical Malady and Blissfully Yours before that, then went on to make his English-language debut with the Tilda Swinton (The Killer)-starring Memoria — the acclaimed Thai filmmaker initially hopped behind the camera for 2000's Mysterious Object at Noon. It was his first feature. It heralded the arrival of an exceptional new talent. At First Films, Sydneysiders can catch it on the big screen. When red carpets and whichever stars stroll around glitzy events monopolise the headlines, it can seem as if film festivals are all about the big end of town — aka the movies that'll hit a theatre near us all anyway, and the actors and directors that we all already know. That's one part of the cinema industry staple. Another far-more-crucial component is highlighting new voices and getting their impressive movies before audiences. That's the First Films format. Surry Hills' Golden Age Cinema and Bar launched its own film fest that's solely about debut movies in 2022. In 2024, it's back between Thursday, December 5–Sunday, December 8 to again celebrate new discoveries — and showcase a feature in Weerasethakul's first film that helps illustrate why debut stints behind the camera are worth cherishing. The fest opens with the already-soldout Go Fish, another rightly revered blast from the past, with a 4K restoration of Rose Troche's first film screening to mark the influential queer cinema title's 30th anniversary. Also on the six-movie program, All, Or Nothing at All from Jiajun 'Oscar' Zhang uses Shanghai's Global Harbor mall as its setting; Mountains follows a Haitian man in Miami, and won Monica Sorelle the Independent Spirit Awards' Someone to Watch Award; and Jazmin Renée Jones' documentary Seeking Mavis Beacon steps through the story of the model on the cover of 80s-era typing software. All three are Australian premieres. Making its Sydney debut, The Hidden Spring sees Jason Di Rosso from ABC Radio National's The Screen Show turn writer/director while musing on his father's terminal illness.
International fast food giant KFC is inviting its diehard fans to take their gravy drinking habits to the next level, unveiling one of its wackiest, most unnecessary releases yet — a series of cocktail recipes crafted on its signature gravy. Yep, the same marketing team that last year gifted the world with fried chicken-scented bath bombs has found another way to infuse flavours of the deep frier where they probably shouldn't be infused. According to the Independent, KFC's taken cues from bone broth cocktails that have been creeping onto forward-thinking (read: paleo) drink lists around the world, working with cocktail pros to design three boozy sips that hero its legendary gravy. The lineup includes a meaty version of the classic bloody mary (complete with a popcorn chicken skewer as the suggested garnish), and The Southern Twist, featuring bourbon and a parsley brown sugar rim. Requiring a touch more flair is the Finger Lickin' Sour, made with mezcal, cherry liqueur, marmalade and egg white. Gravy so good you can drink it... #BlueMonday pic.twitter.com/G5C1IgfM0H — KFC UK & Ireland (@KFC_UKI) January 15, 2018 This is of course another elaborate publicity campaign by the brand, but one that admittedly sums up weird food trends pretty well. And the recipes are indeed available online, along with videos created by London-based ad agency Mother, just in case you feel like getting creative the next time you order KFC. Come to think of it, this would make one hell of a hair of the dog drink. Via the Independent. Image: YouTube.
Sydney Metro's city and southwest line is set to launch in 2024, and a host of new venues will be opening in North Sydney as part of the transport hub. From midyear, Victoria Cross Station will welcome a group of 20 new retailers to Miller Street. While North Sydney has seen a boom in premium hospitality offerings over the last couple of years — including the incredibly luxe Poetica located right across from the station — the new dining options at Victoria Cross Station will be a who's who of beloved casual Sydney eateries. [caption id="attachment_748000" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mary's[/caption] Mary's Burgers fifth Sydney outpost and Marrickville Pork Roll's fourth location headline the list of vendors. Also coming to the station: Only Coffee, North Sandwiches, DOPA, Machi Machi, Top Impressions Bakery, Sushi Hub and McDonald's. That's right, loaded banh mis, Mary's famous beef burgers, top-notch coffee, crispy chicken karaage, affordable sambos and Big Macs — they'll all be available in the heart of North Sydney from the middle of next year. [caption id="attachment_736938" align="alignnone" width="1920"] DOPA[/caption] There will also be a new multi-level drinking and dining venue called Miller House opening the following year, offering more refined eats and sips. Plus, five terrace restaurants, cafes and bars will open alongside the flagship venue in 2025. Alongside all of these exciting hospitality additions will be Victoria Cross Tower, a 42-storey, 58,000-square-metre office building that will host 7000 office workers. "With the first retailers set to open mid-next year and the precinct to be completed by 2025, Victoria Cross will soon be a social business district for workers, visitors and locals and complement North Sydney council's public domain strategy to foster thriving activity from east to west of the CBD," says Lendlease Victoria Cross Project Director Jessica Paterson. [caption id="attachment_763480" align="alignnone" width="1920"] North Sandwiches[/caption] Victoria Cross Station's new eateries will start opening in mid-2024. Head to the Sydney Metro website for more information.
As bottomless brunches have swept across Sydney — dizzying drinkers with gallons of Turkish wine, Spanish sangria and bloody marys — vegans have been patiently waiting their turn. Well, animal friends, here it is. As of September 30, Barangaroo rooftop Untied will be treating you to a 100 percent cruelty-free bottomless brunch every Sunday until the end of summer. For two sun-kissed hours, you'll be sipping on as many vegan bevvies as you can handle, while gazing over Harbour views. The drinks list includes a bunch of wines, plus three cocktails: the Cinzano Spritz, the Lychee Snap and the Beetroot Sunrise. Matching these delights will be a six-course feast. Kick off with palm heart croquettes with mango-chilli sauce, and corn fritters with Mexican salsa and chipotle aioli, before diving into walnut tacos, tofu and eggplant shakshuka and jackfruit burritos. Come dessert, it'll be time for fried banana rolls with Ben & Jerry's coconut choc-chip ice cream and caramel sauce. Vegan Bottomless Brunch has two sittings every Sunday: 11am-1pm and 1.30pm–3.30pm. Images: Alana Dimou. Updated: October 31, 2018.
There's no more cheerful, warming way to end a day of skiing than with a hearty feast and glass (or two) of mulled wine. You can find both — and plenty more culinary adventures — at Thredbo's many restaurants, cafes and bars. Whether you're looking to linger over hot chocolate while surrounded by snow-covered peaks at Australia's highest eatery, tuck into Austrian goulash with a stein of German beer, sit down to a multi-course dinner accompanied by fine wines or sip Champagne in a hot pool, you can. Here are five spots that should be on every après-skier's list. MERRITTS MOUNTAIN HOUSE Take a quick trip to Europe, without leaving the slopes, at Merritts Mountain House, located at the lower end of the Cruiser Chair. On a clear day, claim a table on the spacious outdoor deck and soak up some sunshine. Otherwise, get cosy indoors. Either way, you'll be tucking into comfort food — from Austrian goulash and German bratwurst to lamb shanks and soups served in bread bowls. Yep, it's exactly the big fuel up you need after hours conquering the mountain, whether that was on the Crackenback Supertrail (the longest run in Australia) or on Friday Flat mastering your snowplough. Match your feast with a gluhwein (mulled wine), stein of beer or schnapps. Should you happen to be passing by on a Saturday between July 1 and September 16, you'll have a chance to kick back to DJs at Corona Sunsets' Merritts Midday Sessions. EAGLES NEST Prepare for extraordinary views of Australia's mightiest summits at Eagles Nest, the highest restaurant in the nation. To get there, catch the Kosciuszko Express Chairlift as far as you can, then settle in for 270-degree panoramas of The Snowies. It gets pretty cold up here, but there's a crackling log fire to keep you company. The menu covers moreish snacks, such as brie melts and hot chips, as well as mains made to warm your cockles, including burgers, soups and roast pumpkin salad. If you're dropping by for afternoon tea, then be sure to go for the homemade scones with hot chocolate. The drinks list takes its inspiration from Europe, covering gluhwein, German beer and an extensive collection of schnapps. KAREELA HUTTE Kareela Hutte takes on-mountain dining and drinking to a whole new level. Think fresh produce, premium-quality meats, beautifully composed plates and lush desserts. It's more like an inner-city restaurant than the average ski resort offering — and definitely the spot where skiing foodies prefer to stop. If you're travelling with a mate or two and keen to share, then order a platter loaded with cheese, olives, antipasto, meats and bread. If your roaring appetite is not up for sharing, among the mains you'll find excellent steaks, tender roasts and fancy burgers. There's also an impressive wine list featuring numerous European and Australian drops. Special events, like wine maker's lunches and Champagne breakfasts, take place every season. They tend to book out well in advance though, so get your mitts on tickets as soon as you can. THREDBO ALPINE HOTEL POOLSIDE BAR Feel like a dip after your ski session? Make tracks for Thredbo Alpine Hotel, where a piping hot pool and, most importantly, an accompanying bar await. Don your cossies, grab a flute of Champagne and settle in for a muscle-relaxing soak, canopied by stars. Themed parties and live music happen throughout winter; take a peek at the calendar to find out who's playing when. This is another haunt for Corona Sunsets' gigs. This year, you can expect Melbourne's North East Party House on Saturday, July 21 and DJ Running Touch on Saturday, August 18. Before that, on Saturday, July 14, Kosciuszko Pale Ale will host a Poolside Après Party, featuring DJ Jamie Allen and old-school bluesy rockers 19-Twenty. RIVER INN The only ski-in, ski-out hotel in Thredbo is River Inn, located just 50 metres from Thredbo's legendary beginner's slope, Friday Flat. And the good news is you don't have to sleep over to enjoy one of its après-ski sessions. All you have to do is slip out of your skis or board, and head into the Inn's onsite Bavarian Bar and Restaurant. As the name suggests, this spot is dedicated to all things from Bavaria, the German state famous for its fairytale-like villages and for founding a little thing called Oktoberfest. There's a stack of Bavarian beers on tap and a Bavarian-inspired menu to boot that's big on schnitzels, burgers and sausages. Keep an ear out for live music, too. Check out all your dining options for a post-ski feed and bev here.
It was the early 1950s when the world got its first glimpse of Andrew Geller's holiday home designs. On the beach and full of light, Geller's unique homes were created to serve one purpose: an escape. Nicknamed 'the architect of happiness', Geller left behind a legacy of beautiful beach-dwelling designs. Holiday houses hold a special place in the heart of peace-seekers and sun-worshippers. Andrew Geller dedicated most of his career to making that place of relaxation and sunshine just right. His homes are considered modest but distinctive. Popping out of dune grass in interesting wooden shapes, Geller's work reflects his creativity and desire to create useful designs. Many of his designs have fallen victim to reconstruction and the test of time. And though he passed recently, Geller's iconic designs live on through memories and photographs of homes once filled with laugher and sandy feet.
YCK Laneways, a new cultural precinct that launched last year encompassing the CBD laneways in York Street, Clarence Street and Kent Street is throwing a huge party across six weeks. Kicking off on Monday, April 11, the food and music festival will feature in-venue events throughout the six weeks alongside a huge three-day party on Barrack Street across the ANZAC Day long weekend. If you're looking for something to do across April and May, check out the festival's lineup where live music, workshops and pop-ups will be happing across Since I Left You, Esteban, PS40, The Duke of Clarence, Stitch Bar, Uncle Ming's, Prince of York and many more venues in and around the city laneways. Catch a live set from Ange or Lady King at Since I Left You's fairy light-lit Garden Stage, have your tarot read at Stitch Bar, enjoy a set menu from surprise chefs at PS40 and make a book in a dinner with live music at Esteban-d. You'll also be able to find special meals from celebrity chefs Manu Feidel, Anna Polyviou and Luke Hines in the venues across the duration of Intersections. These limited-time menu items will each be available for two of the six weeks. At the Barrack Street party you'll find masterclasses by day and live music come sun-down. Sydney favourites including Maybe Sammy, Cantina Ok!, Hickson House and Sydney Oyster Farm Tours will all be running workshops across the three-day weekend, before an equally stacked music lineup takes over each night. Sneaky Sound System, Wafia, Day1, Kota Banks, Ula, East Av3, B Wise and A.Girl will all be making appearances. You can find the full program over at the YCK Laneways website. [caption id="attachment_654874" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alana Dimou[/caption]
Drape yourself in your finest pastel apparel and don a pair of sandworthy shoes — you're heading to Bondi Beach for a Champagne-fuelled, seasonally-driven picnic. And when we say Bondi Beach, we mean literally — as in, on the sand. If you're thinking this is sounding a bit like one of those white dinner affairs, your antennae are on point. Named A Moveable Feast, this event, which debuted last year, has been dreamt up by none other than Antoine Bessis, event director of Diner en Blanc. But this time he's diversifying the palette — into pastel colours — and aiming to recreate the Riviera on Sydney's most famous beach. Your ticket will buy you top-notch food, wine and Champagne, as well as a curated entertainment program, finishing with barefoot dancing. The tickets are $165 per person to be purchased in pairs, and include your seats at a styled table and an eight-course feast designed by chef and restauranteur Luke Mangan.
Melbourne-born furniture label Jardan now has a new space in which to showcase its covetable designs, this week opening the doors to its stunning Sydney flagship store on Paddington's Oxford Street. IF Architecture — the Melbourne firm responsible for the likes of wine bar Marion, Cutler & Co's recent makeover and Jardan's Melbourne and Brisbane stores — has transformed the two-storey art deco building once home to Ariel Booksellers into a seriously good-looking showroom, where colour reigns supreme. Reflecting Jardan's own 30-year connection with Australian home life, the interiors of the new store pay homage to the country's most influential art and design families, inspired by their iconic interpretations of Sydney's ever-changing colour palette. To that end, expect tones that speak to the vivid blues of Brett Whiteley's Sydney Harbour painting, the oranges, blues and greens synonymous with Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy's Dinosaur Designs, and the bold colours favoured by celebrated interior designer Marion Hall Best. The store — which is their first in Sydney — will leave design buffs with their jaw on the floor. Even if you're not in the market for some expensive new designer furniture, if you're in Sydney, it's well worth dropping in for a peek. Jardan's new Sydney flagship store is located at 42 Oxford Street, Paddington. For more info, visit jardan.com.au.
If dessert is your favourite meal of the day, then you should make your way to the sugary sweet and whimsical world of CandyFest High Tea at Shangri-La Sydney. The limited-time high tea is only available from September 28 until October 13, right in time for the school holidays. Held in the Grand Ballroom of the luxe hotel, candy lovers will delight in the confectionery creations the dessert masters of Shangri-La Sydney have dreamt up. Choose between a slice of the giant rainbow swirl lollipop cheesecake or fluffy fairy floss fraise gateau, or opt for a chewy, gooey marshmallow brownie or a jelly bean cupcake. Get involved and create your own decadent desserts like a lolly pizza cookie at the interactive stations. Sweet treats aren't the only dishes on offer. Savoury options include the ratatouille vegetable calzone, barramundi fish pie, Grandma's beef croquette and scalloped potato gold coins. The food isn't the only reason to make your way to the high tea. The Grand Ballroom will be decked out with balloons in the shape of giant gummy bears, unicorns, rainbows and colossal candy canes (of course). It's a dream setting for any child — or adult looking for a luxe afternoon of delicious treats to satisfy the sweetest of sweet teeth. CandyFest High Tea is available for a limited time only across three weekends. It will be hosted in the Grand Ballroom on September 28–29, October 5–6 and October 11–13 in two seatings at 11am–1pm and 2–5pm. Bookings can be made on the website, priced at $84 per adult (aged 12 and above) and $64 per child (aged 11 and under). There is no charge for children under two years old.
Forget long-haul flights and lengthy stopovers — our closest neighbours are brimming with idyllic islands, gorgeous beaches and scenic regions just waiting to be enjoyed. It's never too late or too early to start planning your next holiday — and New Zealand has plenty to offer if you're looking for an unforgettable travel adventure in the middle of the year. Between geothermal phenomena and snow-capped peaks, the country is home to first-class skifields, dramatic volcanic landscapes, practically untouched coastal tracks and foodie paradises. While it can be tempting to curl up and stay in come cooler temperatures, nature's most fun playground emerges during winter and an escape to New Zealand is the only way to make the most of the season. To help you get planning for your mid-year break, here are ten places worth working your 2025 travels around. Wānaka Just a one-hour drive from Queenstown over the dramatic Crown Range and through Cardrona Valley is Wānaka, a lakeside village offering an equal level of heart-stirring beauty as its larger sibling. Boasting its own microclimate, Wānaka comes to life in the winter. The waters become icy and the surrounding peaks, which become cloaked in snow, reflect off the lake. The arrival of winter also marks the start of ski season and Wānaka is home to not one, but four ski resorts — each with distinct terrain. There's the world-class Cardrona Alpine Resort, straddling Queenstown and Wānaka, where the southern hemisphere's most extensive terrain park proudly sits alongside a mix of groomed runs and backcountry options. Conquering Roys Peak — one of the South Island's signature hikes — on foot is weather dependent during winter and you might need confident hiking skills, but Treble Cone Ski Area offers breathtaking views of the peak and Lake Wānaka regardless of whether you hit the resort's steep slopes. Rounding out Wānaka's resorts are Snow Farm and Soho Basin by Amisfield, both offering one-of-a-kind experiences. The former is where you'll find New Zealand's only cross-country facility while the latter is home to a guided catskiing experience that will take you deep into the backcountry beyond resort boundaries with catering by Queenstown's lauded wine producer and restaurant Amisfield. Back on solid ground, the family-owned Maude Wines is highly recommended for wine lovers, while beer fans are spoiled for choice with everything from tasting rooms to open-plan breweries and garden bars. [caption id="attachment_986162" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ian Trafford[/caption] Wellington New Zealand's capital is brimming with more restaurants, cafes and craft breweries than you can poke a wizard's staff at. It's no secret that the city has more cafes, bars and restaurants per capita than New York City — meaning you'd have to try pretty hard to have a horrible meal or bevvy in the city. (Here are five spots to get you started at any rate.) Your weekend on the waterfront might also include wandering through street art-filled laneways, copping postcard-worthy views from the top of Mount Vic, taking in some culture at our national museum or getting up close and personal with native birdlife at the world's first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary. The relatively small Wellington CBD also makes hopping around the city, and between eateries, a breeze. [caption id="attachment_986165" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Miles Holden[/caption] Abel Tasman National Park The Abel Tasman National Park is best known for its coastal track which bypasses stunning shoreline and lush native bush that's accessible year-round. A 60-kilometre one-way journey might seem like a long way to trek, but when you can set your pack down and rest on secluded golden sand beaches, it's well worth it. On the way you'll discover Cleopatra's Pool — a natural rock pool with a moss-lined waterslide — negotiate tidal crossings, walk across a suspension bridge and encounter a seal colony. If you'd prefer a more relaxing adventure, you can take a water taxi or kayak between different locations. Top beaches worthy of a visit include Anchorage Bay, which is home to the track's first large camping spot, Torrent Bay, Kaiteriteri and Awaroa. [caption id="attachment_986166" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Miles Holden[/caption] The Poor Knights Islands Northland's Poor Knights Islands and its underwater network of caves, cliffs and tunnels are renowned for their diving and snorkelling. Jacques Cousteau once rated the area as one of the top ten dives in the world. The sea surrounding the islands has been a marine reserve since 1981, and offers a great variety of underwater habitats to explore, from kelp forest and sponge gardens inhabited by a multitude of exotic fish — many of which aren't found anywhere else in New Zealand, to black coral found in deeper waters and the steep cliffs that plunge up to 100 metres below sea level. If you're willing to brave the colder winter water temperatures, you'll be rewarded with exceptional visibility in the water that's still rich with sealife to observe. Aoraki/Mount Cook Standing at 3724 metres, Aoraki/Mount Cook is New Zealand's tallest mountain. With its sharp peak and plummeting crevasses, the sheer sight is enough to keep you on edge, but the company of the mountain is oddly comforting. Ngai Tahu, the main iwi of the region, consider Aoraki as the most sacred of the ancestors that they had descended from. The name is believed to mean cloud piercer. Ascending the steep peak is no easy feat and should be reserved for the most experienced climbers, or those safely tucked inside a helicopter. Winter transforms the mountain and unleashes its full natural beauty. From Hooker Lake, south of the mountain, the modern explorer can indulge in the ever-inspiring lake and mountain. As you drive into the region, past the electric blue Lake Pukaki, and catch the first glimpse of the mountain in the background, you know you're in for a vision of a lifetime. [caption id="attachment_791440" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Glen Sinclair.[/caption] Wharariki This windswept beach at the top of the South Island has to be one of the country's most photographed sections of coastline. Wharariki is only accessible via a 20-minute track from the end of Wharariki Road, which travels over farmland and through coastal forest. With particularly big seas, sightseeing is the number one attraction here — and the Archway Islands will certainly serve up the goods. The group of four rock formations rising from the tide provide an exception photo opp, especially if you decide to tour the region on horseback. The beach is popular year-round, but winter is the best time to walk the flat shores if you prefer your vistas less busy. [caption id="attachment_610026" align="alignnone" width="1282"] Rob Tucker.[/caption] New Plymouth Sitting on the western knob of the North Island, halfway between Auckland and Wellington, is New Plymouth — one of the country's best-kept secrets and a town bored of being thrown into the same basket as Palmerston North. At the heels of the mighty Mount Taranaki, or mini-Mount Fuji, you'll find a blossoming foodie paradise, a thriving arts scene and world-class festivals like WOMAD. The 13-kilometre coastal walkway is a must when visiting the region — head along the winding trail past the rugged coast and popular surf beaches. Elsewhere, the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre is the first gallery in New Zealand dedicated entirely to a single artist. The structure's undulating stainless steel exterior is a major landmark in the CBD, a work of art in itself, and gives great insight into the groundbreaking artist and his obsession with 'art of movement'. [caption id="attachment_791436" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trevor Klatko.[/caption] Ninety Mile Beach This epic 88-kilometre-long stretch of sand has to be seen to be believed. The famed northland beach starts near Kaitaia and makes its way up to Cape Reinga. At low tide, the beach is officially a public highway, but don't even think about bringing your rental hatchback here — several have been swallowed by the unforgiving seas. The dunes at Te Paki in the north are famously used for bodyboarding — just expect to take home pockets full of sand. Whether you're sliding on down when the weather dips or in full sunshine, bring water and sunscreen. [caption id="attachment_986368" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Miles Holden[/caption] Waipoua Forest The walking track to Tāne Mahuta, the largest known living kauri tree in Aotearoa, in Waipoua Forest only just re-opened at the end of 2024, which makes exploring this pocket of New Zealand even more special. Nearby is Te Matua Ngahere, which just might be the oldest tree in New Zealand. While it's not possible to test the tree to confirm, Waipoua Forest on the whole is incredibly lush, verdant and well worth exploring. Fiordland At the heart of Fiordland sits Milford Sound. A spot that hardly needs an introduction, visiting Milford Sound during the winter months is a chance to experience a completely different side to one of New Zealand's best-known and most-visited landmarks. Famously one of the wettest places not just in New Zealand, but the world, winter is one of the few times in the year when Fiordland dries up just a touch, revealing crystal clear skies and unobstructed views. Although it's still best to be prepared for wet weather, this is the season to try your luck. Just as we retreat inwards during the winter, so too do marine wildlife — during the winter, seals, penguins and dolphins tend to head inwards into the Sound, which makes spotting them in one of New Zealand's most breathtaking vistas a very real possibility. Find your very own Aotearoa New Zealand here. Top image: Miles Holden.
This Chinatown spot is best known for the ridiculous amount of banchan (that is, free sides) that come with the barbecue. There's kimchi, Korean soup, pickled radish and gochujang (a traditional fermented chilli sauce), to name a few. The soy-marinated pork short ribs ($22) are a must-try for every palate. For the more adventurous, go for the thinly sliced beef tongue ($19) or pork neck ($20) — both specialities that taste much better than they sound. The pork belly ($20) should only be attempted by pros, though, as it is easy to end up with a tough fatty layer. The place itself is simple with fast service that is great for groups. Images: Kitti Smallbone
Situated snuggly below the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the North Sydney Olympic Pool is one of the most picturesque and recognisable swimming complexes in Australia. In recent years, however, there have been urgent calls to renovate the pool. In 2019, it was reported to be "deteriorating rapidly" and in need of a multimillion-dollar revamp. Those revamp plans have now been put into action with a $63.9 million-dollar revamp to begin in late March. North Sydney Council announced earlier this month that building company Icon, the organisation responsible for Sydney Olympic Park's beleaguered Opal Tower and The Calyx in the Royal Botanic Gardens, would be in charge of the renovations. Upgrades to the pool will include a new fitness and leisure centre, a new warm water pool, an expanded gym with harbour views, a new 970-person grandstand and increased accessibility. Both the 50- and the 25-metre pool will receive a full upgrade, however, art deco features such as the harbourside wall, sundeck and water spray feature will all be maintained. A gelato bar will also be built on the sundeck for those looking to live out the stuff of summer dreams by enjoying a cold treat from the new grandstand as you look out onto Sydney Harbour. North Sydney Mayor Jilly Gibson said the renovations to the 84-year-old pool would allow it to be enjoyed for "many decades to come". The pool will remain open until the end of February under current COVID-19 restrictions. You can book a swim in the 50-metre pool through the council website. A full breakdown of the redevelopment and FAQs are available online via the North Sydney Council website. North Sydney Olympic Pool is located on Alfred Street, Milsons Point. The pool will close in late February and renovations will begin in March 2021.
If you've been to A Tavola in either Darlinghurst or Bondi or Besser in Surry Hills, you'll know what to expect at Flour Eggs Water. As the name suggests, the main focus of the Tramsheds hang-out is quality handmade pasta made from the namesake ingredients. With an epic pasta-making setup on display, guests can sit down for a bowl of the good stuff and watch their pasta made right in front of their eyes, or take it away to cook at home. Renowned chef-owner Eugenio Maiale deliberately deviated from the traditional restaurant formula to create something special. "A Tavola is more of a restaurant, while Flour Eggs Water is more of a pasta bar," says Maiale. "It's a place to come for fresh, handcrafted, hand-filled and extruded pastas using the best possible ingredients." A pasta bar sounds like something from our dreams, as do most of the dishes on Maiale's morish menu. The crowd-pleasing pappardelle with beef, tomato, red wine and parmesan ($33) is full of warmth and flavour while the cauliflower and mint orecchiette ($29) is deceptively simple and extremely delicious. With the basics covered — perfectly cooked al dente pasta — there's room to focus on the bucketloads of fresh seasonal produce. The venue boasts a comprehensive, cleverly curated wine list which showcases a throng of family-run wine producers that are dedicated to crafting the very best natural wines. It also has plonk from small Italian and local wineries on tap — yep, just when we thought we couldn't love this place anymore.
The beer world is filled with big names, heavy hitters and brands that you'll find almost anywhere around the globe. They're all well and good (and tasty), and everyone has heard of them. But, whether you're having a cold one after work or throwing back a few tins on a weekend, there's nothing quite like supporting a top-notch local brew. Perhaps it's the fact that the beer you're enjoying was made so close to home. Maybe it's the feeling of knowing that you're showing some love to folks in your own community. We think it's both, actually — because sipping and celebrating a top homegrown brew is one of life's small but still significant pleasures. As everyone across the state is well aware, New South Wales has a healthy beer scene — and we're sure you're knocking back local brews rather often. Still, if you need a few pointers, or you're just keen to support nearby breweries every chance you get, we're here to help. We've teamed up with our pals at BWS to highlight five NSW-based up-and-comers you should add to your must-drink list. And whether you already know and love them, or you're discovering them for the first time, you can also throw some extra support their way by voting for them to be stocked in more BWS stores across the state.
After playing to sold-out arenas the globe over, the Black Keys will return to Australia this October. The Lollapalooza and Coachella headliners are bringing their latest album 'El Camino' to six Aussie locations. Though the Black Keys started out humbly as a two-member garage band, their rise to festival and arena headliners is a testimony to their music. Australian fans welcomed the band to Oz in 2003, and have since enjoyed five more Black Keys tours. This tour highlights the band's seventh album in a show which promises to be their best yet. The Black Keys will make appearances in Newcastle, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and at Perth's Rock It festival. Don't miss out: tickets go on sale after noon today here.
Last weekend, Sydney looked a little different than it has since COVID-19 took over our lives and shutdown our hospitality venues in March. We sat in cafes with our coffees, had a pub feed with mates and went out to dinner — all of which had been off the cards for months. There were some restrictions, though. The strict ten-person limit meant, for us, that getting a table was trickier than usual. For those on the other side of the kitchen pass, it meant filling every one of those ten seats was crucial. With so few tables allowed at a time, making a profit was either out of the question or going to be pretty slim. But, still some went empty, with several venues having bookings that simply didn't show up. Not even a phone call. Even in normal circumstances, it's a pretty bad move. Now? Unfathomable. One of those cursed with a no-show on opening weekend was celebrated chef Mat Lindsay's Surry Hills wine bar Poly. One of the top spots in town, with an award-winning chef behind it, the wine bar reopened as Petite Poly, with bookings available on Friday and Saturday. But, people just didn't show. "Clearly ten seats is not going to generate huge income but it all helps," Lindsay told Concrete Playground. "More than that, though, we were excited to provide a place so people could come out finally and get a little hospitality and some food that didn't come in a box and reheated. And our team were really excited to be providing that again. Mostly I was upset for the people that came wanting and excited to be there, but we had to turn them away disappointed only for the seats to go empty." [caption id="attachment_698801" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Poly, Kitti Gould[/caption] Up the road at Crown Street's late-night bar Low 302, another table went to waste. A four-person table — which is 40 percent of every venue's capacity right now — didn't show up. Nor did they call to cancel, meaning the bar couldn't fill it with one of the many people on its waitlist. "No shows, whilst maximum capacity numbers are so restricted, is an extra issue that nobody in hospo needs right now," owner Aref Jaroudy told CP. "It was so disappointing for the crew. We're not going to make bank with just ten people. It was turning people away that was the most upsetting for us. It's a shame. We got slammed with potential bookings when we announced we were opening. To say no, you feel like you're letting them down." As a result, you'll now have to pre-pay for a set menu at Poly when making a booking, something the team had wanted to avoid. Low 302 is going ahead with no deposit for this weekend's upcoming bookings, but if there's another no show, it might have to make the switch. https://www.facebook.com/Low3o2/posts/2929795243754894 Some Sydney restaurants required a deposit straight off the bat, including Marta in Rushcutters Bay and Potts Point diner Chester White. Others are only taking reservations for private parties of up to ten people, requiring a minimum spend, which is paid at time of booking. Such venues include the CBD's multi-level restaurant and nightclub Prince of York, Maurice Terzini's Ciccia Bella in Bondi and Woollahra's I Maccheroni. Paddington's Tequila Mockingbird started off with walk-ins to get a grasp for it all and is now taking bookings, taking credit card details for bookings of six or more and has a $100 minimum spend for groups of eight to ten. When asked about people cancelling if sick, owner Michael Fegent told CP: "I don't want to give people too many rules. We'll adjust as we go." For more spontaneous diners, you can head to venues like Maybe Frank, Chaco Ramen and Pizza Fritta, which are walk-in only at this time. [caption id="attachment_659258" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chaco Ramen[/caption] It's no secret the hospitality industry has been one of the hardest hit by COVID-19 restrictions. According to website I Lost My Hospo Shift, at last count, 2614 Aussie hospo workers had lost their jobs and 13,339 shifts had been cut, which equates to over $2 million in lost wages this week alone. So, despite the no shows, the limited capacities and turning people away, Sydney pubs, restaurants, bars and cafes reopening is a big win. If you've got a booking and can't make it — a situation that is sometimes inevitable — or wake up with so much as a sniffle, restaurants and bar owners ask you to at least call ahead of time, so they can offer the spot to a walk-in or someone else on the waiting list. "If a person is feeing in anyway unwell, the last thing they should be doing is going out to a restaurant," Jaroudy told CP. "Nor should they be penalised — say if a deposit had been taken — if they cannot make the booking...There's no one size fits all perfect solution here. If you are unwell, stay home. If you can call and cancel that's great." To find out what other Sydney restaurants are now open to dine-service, have a look over here. Top Image: Poly by Kitti Gould
Australia's Wine List of the Year Awards has celebrated its 32nd anniversary in a prestigious award ceremony at NSW Parliament House, where 300 of the industry's top players came together to see who would take out top spot this year. It will come as no surprise to any lucky wine lovers who have visited Melbourne newcomer Circl to learn that the wine house on Punch Lane took out the prized trophy for Australia's Best Wine List for 2025. The venue, which has fostered a new culture of accessibility and inclusivity when it comes to trying rare wines, offers more than 150 drops by the glass and approximately 1,500 wines by the bottle. And while there were a few other notable winners this year, Circl dominated the awards across multiple categories for good reason. They picked up the awards for Best List of Wines by the Glass, Best Champagne List, Best Sparkling Wine List, Best Wine List Victoria, Best Wine List — City, and Best Listing of Victorian Wines. We can only imagine what exquisite champagne Xavier Vigier, Circl's sommelier, chose to pop to celebrate such an impressive collection of awards. And Vigier himself also took out top prize, winning the Sommelier's Choice Award, which is voted upon by Australian sommeliers, as well as the coveted Judy Hirst Award, which recognises the sommelier responsible for curating the winning list. Senior Judge Andrew Graham praised Circl's wine list for its accessibility and its expansiveness. Graham says, "So often, the great wines of the world seem almost mythical. They're things that drinkers dream about, but so rarely get to experience. Yet the astonishing list from Circl resets what is accessible. Led by a truly sublime offering of wines by the glass, which is gleefully heavy with famous 'unicorns', there is eye-watering depth throughout this list. You can start with the wonderfully well contextualised champagne offering, take a flight of rare rosé and end up with a dive into magnificent rare old Australian shiraz. What a journey!" Bennelong won the Best Wine List NSW, Fico took out the title in Tasmania, and Agnes in Queensland. Six venues were added to Australia's Wine List of the Year Hall of Fame, including Melbourne Supper Club, Stillwater in Hobart, and The Boat House in Canberra. Chris Lucas' Maison Bâtard was awarded the Tony Hitchin award for Australia's Best New Wine List, and Society succeeded with the Best Digestif List, Australia's Best Listing of Museum and Rare Wines, and Australia's Best Listing of French Wines. Rob Hirst OAM, who founded the awards with his late wife Judy in 1993, says, "We're grateful to receive such significant support from the industry and our award partners for yet another year of Australia's Wine List of the Year Awards, and the quality of wine lists across the country has never been better. There is a clear interest and intent by sommeliers, venue owners and beverage managers and directors to build harmony and synergy between the menu and drinks list, and this year's results are proof that the skill and dedication to this task is stronger than ever." Circl's extraordinary accomplishment makes it a back-to-back win for Victorian venues, with the award going to Gimlet at Cavendish House in 2024. The prestige and importance of the awards were summarised by the Chairman of Judges, Peter Forrestal. "The enthusiasm with which those involved in restaurants and, more generally, in serving the public is infectious. The imaginative quality of the food being brought to Australian restaurant tables and the wines that sommeliers have to offer their customers has never been more satisfying or stimulating. The education of sommeliers is at an all-time high. Documenting all this since 1994 is Australia's Wine List of the Year with another record number of entries to affirm the quality of individual restaurants and to record excellence at the table." Images: supplied, feature image, Arianna Leggiero. Has all this talk of wine made you thirsty? Check out the best wine bars in Melbourne today.
Taking up residence in Haymarket's historic Mountbatten Hotel, Sita is an impressive Thai restaurant with one of the very best in charge of the pots and pans. That would be chef Air Jantrakool, an eminent star in Sydney's Thai culinary scene, with over 35 years of experience. Most prominently, Jantrakool spent over 15 years as head chef of David Thompson's Sailors Thai – a cherished institution that closed its doors after two decades of service in 2016. Born in Chiang Mai, Jantrakool is bringing her Northern Thai heritage to Sita with a bold menu that celebrates her homeland and earliest memories with food. Yet there are more than a few innovative ideas too. Highlights include crispy pork belly in sweet and sour sauce, and rich Northern-style coconut curry with soft egg noodles and pickled mustard greens. However, Jantrakool is just getting started. Working away on a plethora of dishes that combine authentic flavours with a modern touch, in the near future, guests can also expect the menu to feature butterfly pea dumplings, minced pork salad, and bite-sized pork buns served with Jantrakool's signature sauce, perfected over the past 20 years. With these creations and others drawing inspiration from various aspects of everyday life in Thailand, each dish is shaped by Jantrakool's deep connection to the nation's cuisine. "Sita is more than just a restaurant – it's a love letter to the food of my childhood," says Jantrakool. "Each dish is made from the heart, as if I were cooking for family." Leading the venue is JDA Hotels (General Gordon Hotel, The Peakhurst, Union Place Hotel), who have set about transforming the 1882 hotel into a space that wouldn't look out of place in a bustling Bangkok nightlife district. While the exterior might say classic Aussie pub, with its bottle-green titles and timber planter boxes, it's a different affair once inside. Styled by Span Design Studio, ornate gold mouldings, mirrored walls and cherry-toned ambient lighting add an upbeat dimension without sacrificing the building's storied history. Sita's team have also created a series of complementary cocktails for the Mountbatten Hotel's Cherries Bar. Order up a Phuket Calada, a tropical twist on the classic pina colada that blends mango, pandan and dark rum, served in a coconut-polished bowl. Meanwhile, the gin-based Simon's Secret features citrus, watermelon and playful bubble-gum notes. Sita is open daily at the Mountbatten Hotel from 11.30am–3pm and 4pm–9.30pm at 701 George Street, Haymarket. Head to the website for more information.
For artist Sarah McCloskey, there was never really a question whether or not she would pursue a career in art. "There's never been another thing that I've been interested in," she says. Growing up in Perth, McCloskey explains that she "always, always had a pencil in [her] hand". After graduating from high school, she completely immersed herself in that world. She worked part-time in an art gallery and started a university degree in fine art, all while steadily honing her craft. In February 2019, she moved to Sydney to pursue being an artist full-time. It was one of several choices that McCloskey has made over the last decade in a bid to shape her career and find her unique creative voice. This year, McCloskey joins a slew of visionary creatives collaborating with Miller Design Lab — the home of creativity and self-expression built by Australia's leading minds in design, art, technology and fashion. The platform is a celebration of our nightlife and its impact on culture to deliver exceptional moments to you and your home. Here, we speak to McCloskey about seeking new challenges that shape her creative voice and finding inspiration. There's something that's really clear when talking to McCloskey: she isn't afraid of facing a challenge. In fact, she welcomes it. "I think the things I feel most proud of come from throwing myself into something new and giving it my best shot," she says. Although the bulk of her current work is painting murals, it's a relatively new medium for her after concentrating on graphite illustrations for the first part of her career. Explaining how she fell into the medium, she says, "I just was lucky enough to be working in a space and surrounded by some people who had been painting walls for decades." Since then, McCloskey's painted murals for several arts festivals, including Wonderwalls Festival in Port Kembla. But there are plenty of tricky aspects of it. "They were some of my largest walls and had tight timeframes. I learned a lot and was super proud. I do love painting murals, but I definitely feel it afterwards. Especially if I'm painting something really big in a short amount of time in the sun or the rain.....It is pretty physically taxing." Acknowledging that she can't continue with murals long-term, she started "dipping her toe" into yet another new challenge last year: oil painting. And she began with what she describes as "a pretty vulnerable choice to paint a sad selfie". Now, rather than seeing the cancellation of much of her upcoming mural work at festival and events (due to COVID-19) as a setback, McCloskey's taking it as an opportunity to keep forging ahead in her career path. "I'm in the studio constantly and actually putting time into some oil paintings that I've had sitting here waiting for me to finish. I want to build up a body of work with a view to have an exhibition." One of the most recent oil paintings that McCloskey has produced was for Miller Design Lab, which she describes as "pretty true to my style... which is very much portrait-based. I do have an interest in strong colour palettes, so I chose neon to be my light source, which is something I hadn't done before." Delving further, McCloskey explains how customisation plays a role in her process. "Through the years, I would take a photo reference [from Pinterest or Instagram] and tweak it to make it my own... I like to keep the realistic aspects and the things that make it recognisable, especially if it's a face, but turn it into something that doesn't really exist in this world. Through painting, especially murals, that's something I do using colour and other botanical elements." It's no surprise then that McCloskey considers nature a huge source of inspiration. She mentions the Royal Botanic Garden and Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden as two of her favourite places in Sydney to visit. And, when the sun goes down, the inspiration keeps flowing. "The nightlife of the city is that perfect time at the end of the day when everybody gets to go out and connect with people. Whole creative industries exist in the night for our pleasure and entertainment, and being able to get out amongst that is an amazing way to recharge." For Sarah, that means tracking down live music. "I'm always that person who is trying to drag all my friends to some gig. That's the perfect place to see a bunch of other creative people in their element on a stage. I always feel pretty motivated by that — seeing people smash it in their own creative field. I'm not a musician at all but seeing one is like 'Fuck yeah, I'm going to go and be good at my thing now'." For more, check out Sarah McCloskey's collaboration with Miller Genuine Draft here. For more ways to celebrate your city's nightlife and recreate its energy in your own space, head this way. Images: Reuben Gibbes
Canadian artist Jon Rafman has presented viewers with a collection of the most bizzare, quirky and often disturbing images that are captured on Google's Street View. Named after the nine cameras that sit on top of the vehicles used to capture the images that form Google's mapping service, Rafman's work has again expanded notions of art and street photography. The collection includes four masked strangers on a highway in Mexico, a van engulfed in flames on the brink of explosion in Brazil, and a man revealing his bare bottom in Ireland. Rafman states that he collected the images through Street View blogs and his own use of the service, and has offered a lengthy essay detailing the purpose of the work and it's significance. Like the stunning images captured by Aaron Hobson, Rafman has shown us that the Internet is reaching a vastness that allows us to become virtual explorers of the world. With Google's mission to map the entire world and immortalise it online, there will be no shortage of images from fascinatingly random locations that we haven't even heard of. Next time you pass one of Google's vehicles you should quickly comb your hair and flash your best smile. After all, you might become part of an artwork. [via Buzzfeed]
Perhaps you've spent some time this year building a Lego bouquet. Or, if you're a Melburnian, you might've made a trip to a Lego recreation of Jurassic World. Whatever interactions you've had with the plastic building blocks of late — including picking up some Lego and IKEA storage boxes, meditating to the sounds of jumbled bricks or signing up for a subscription service during lockdown — you may not have thought about one inescapable fact: that all that plastic is the stuff of environmental nightmares. Lego itself hasn't been ignoring the obvious. Back in 2018, it committed to using sustainable materials in all its core products and packaging by 2030 — and it started by producing a range of sustainable pieces made from plant-based plastic, called bio-polyethylene. The next step: making its bricks from recycled plastic. And while the company isn't quite ready to start selling sets made from recycled materials in stores, it has just unveiled its first prototype bricks. The new blocks are made with PET plastic from discarded bottles, and mark the first that've been made from a recycled material to meet the brand's quality and safety standards. It took some work to get to this point, though, with materials scientists and engineers spending the past three years testing more than 250 types of PET materials — and hundreds of other plastic formulations. One of the trickiest things to nail (and one of the most important): getting the bricks to clutch together. In a statement, Lego said that "it will be some time before bricks made from a recycled material appear in Lego product boxes". From here, it'll keep testing and developing the PET-made bricks, before deciding whether to move into the pilot production phase — with this process expected to take another year at least. And if you're wondering about the plastic used in the new blocks, it has been sourced from US suppliers, with a one-litre plastic bottle providing enough raw material for ten 2 x 4 Lego bricks. For further information about Lego's sustainability plans, head to the brand's website.
Whether you associate it with lunchtime eats or late nights at the Greenwood Hotel, Greenwood Plaza is set to raise the bar as the team behind Plate It Forward brings two new venues to North Sydney. The pair of exciting openings north of the bridge celebrate feel-good food that affects real social change. The retail precinct has already welcomed the arrival of Anything But Humble, the second pie shop from Shaun Christie-David and his crew. Plus, a second Kabul Social eatery is on its way to Greenwood Plaza as well, following the overwhelming success of the initial location in the CBD's MetCentre. You'll find a fusion of culinary inspiration at Anything But Humble, with the presence of bold Mexican flavours alongside subtle Sri Lankan cues and nods to Afghani cuisine — or Australian food at its multicultural best, as the team behind the forward-thinking eateries like South Eveleigh's Coyoacan Social and Enmore Road's Colombo Social defines it. The soon-to-open sophomore outpost for Kabul Social will bring the flavours of Afghanistan to the lower-north shore. Expect to find an array of menu items dedicated to Afghani-style eats, from the Kabuli burgers and fresh dumplings to build-your-own lunchboxes perfect for North Sydney office workers. The Greenwood Plaza eatery owes its restaurant concept and menu to a collaboration between the Plate It Forward crew and a group of female refugees, so the careful curation of its offerings pays homage to authentic Afghani food. At the forefront of its ethos, the Plate It Forward crew aims to serve up hearty food that is truly impactful. As a result, every dollar spent at any of the group's venues, including the two new outposts, is donated to a great cause. Anything But Humble passes on its earnings to providing training and employment opportunities to empower individuals with disabilities, while the second Kabul Social eatery will dedicate its practice to providing meals to disadvantaged communities. Every meal purchased will provide a two-meal donation to Afghan communities in need. And what better way to contribute to long-lasting social change than by sinking your teeth into a flavour-filled and impact-driven meal? The proof is — quite literally — in the pastry. For those seeking to track their contribution, the impact of your purchases is available in real-time — take a look at the digital display while ordering and you'll be able to see the number of donated meals you've provided. You'll find both Anything But Humble and Kabul Social's North Sydney outposts inside Greenwood Plaza. Anything But Humble is open now 10am–4pm Monday–Saturday, while Kabul Social is set to open in the coming weeks.
On most weekends, somewhere in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane is hosting a beer festival. They might not happen every single weekend, but they definitely pop up with frequency. Only one is called the Great Australasian Beer Spectapular, however, and dedicates itself to weird, wild, wonderful and inventive varieties that are made exclusively for the booze-fuelled party. And that very fest has locked in its dates for 2023. If you're a newcomer to GABS, as the festival is known, it started off as a Melbourne-only celebration of ales, lagers, ciders and more. Then, it started spreading along Australia's east coast capitals, as well as to New Zealand. So far, its 2023 plans will see it return for its Aussie run to see out autumn and welcome in winter. While only dates and venues have been confirmed so far, and not brewers heading along or the beers they'll be whipping up, attendees can look forward to an event that's considered to be one of the best craft beer and cider festivals in the Asia Pacific region. One big reason: it'll pour at least 120 brews, which in past years have been inspired by breakfast foods, savoury snacks, desserts, cocktails and more. In 2022, peanut butter, coffee, earl grey tea, chicken salt, pizza, fairy floss, bubblegum and sour gummy bears all got a whirl. The event surveys both Australian and New Zealand breweries, with more than 60 set to be pouring their wares this year. Also on the bill: other types of tipples, including non-alcoholic beers, seltzers, whiskey, gin, cocktails and wines. GABS is known for dishing up a hefty lineup of activities to accompanying all that sipping, too, which'll span a silent disco, roaming bands, circus and sideshow performers, games and panels with industry leaders in 2023, as well as local food trucks and vendors to line your stomach. GREAT AUSTRALASIAN BEER SPECTAPULAR 2023 DATES: Friday, May 19–Sunday, May 21 — Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Friday, June 2–Saturday, June 3 — ICC Darling Harbour, Sydney Saturday, June 10 — Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane GABS will take place across Australia's east coast throughout May and June— head to the event's website for further details.
If there's one thing the suburb of Canterbury lacks it's trendy restaurants. Instead, the area is littered in car dealerships, bathroom showrooms and desolate properties waiting to be snapped up by building developers. But in amongst the grime and grit is a modern gem serving up an eclectic mash-up of Mexican and Turkish fare, which people from all over Sydney pack out almost every night of the week. You'd have no idea Pazar was even there if it wasn't for the pink neon sign. From the outside, it looks like an old, derelict garage with peeling paint and faded signs situated on the busiest road in Canterbury, but on the inside, the change of scenery is remarkable. There's loud music, carnival lighting draped from the ceiling beams, wooden feature walls, an open kitchen complete with a wood-fired oven, waiters ducking in-between tables and an atmosphere that's buzzing with chatter. And it's much bigger than you'd expect, too. They've built a colourful outdoor area that's conveniently covered with retractable panels to keep the elements in or out, depending on the weather, and they've dropped in an old shipping container to enclose the space — with the idea that it might eventually become the space for a takeaway drive-thru. When it comes to the share menu, there are 15 savoury options to choose ranging from $5–38, eleven of which are vegetarian. And they do things a little bit different here. While there is table service, staff won't take your original food and drink order at the table (well, not verbally). Instead, grab a paper menu and pen off the table and get ticking. That's it. When you're done choosing, just hand your order over. However, any orders that follow can be ordered later with your waiter. They're a friendly bunch. The first thing you'll want to tick off on your menu is the maple-smoked labne with nectarine and fennel jam, sesame seeds and pepitas ($15). It's phenomenal despite simply being strained yoghurt. It's creamy, smoky, crunchy and sweet, sort of like adding quince to cheese and crackers, but so much better. However, it doesn't come served with bread, which is an extra $5. The kofte ($16) aren't your typical kofte either. There's no ground meat, but rather spiced red lentils, bulgur and mixed pickles that come served with a plate of lettuce cups, which makes it look more like san choy bao than the Middle Eastern staple you're used. It's surprisingly tasty, however — almost like the real thing. You also won't find falafel, but instead zucchini herb balls with feta and sumac yoghurt ($10 for 3). The flavour is delicate and the texture is spongy. If you want to be wowed, then the ember-blackened pumpkin with pepita chimichurri, feta and toasted almonds ($24) will do just that. You can watch the chefs roast the pumpkins whole in the wood-fired oven from behind the back counter until they're completely charred on the outside and perfectly orange and cooked in the centre. For meatier options, the roast pork belly with smoky chipotle salsa, pineapple and quinoa salad ($34) probably isn't worth the price tag, but it does come with some superbly crisp crackling. The drinks menu is small, but still covers most things — from cocktails to craft beer to sangria and wine. The only thing you won't find is sparkling or Champagne by the glass, so if you love bubbles, you'll have to settle for a $58 bottle instead. There are also no split bills, so you've been warned. Whether you live in the neighbourhood, or just passing through, this one in a million restaurant (in Canterbury) is definitely worth a visit if not several. Images: Kitti Smallbone
