Sydney institution Marigold Chinese Cuisine has been serving Sydneysiders its beloved Chinese dishes and yum cha for nearly forty years. Following a disastrous two years for hospitality due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the iconic Haymarket venue has announced that it is closing its doors to the public on Sunday, December 5 this year. It's shattering news for the city's recovering hospitality industry. Usually open daily for lunch and dinner, including the holiday period, Marigold is a yum cha and Christmas Day staple for Sydneysiders. "Dearest customers and supporters. With a heavy heart, we announce the closing of Marigold Restaurant," reads the statement on the Marigold website. The statement sites the pandemic, as well as plans to extend the Citymark Building as the reasons for its closure. "In the past 39 years, we have been very privileged to have served Sydneysiders and visitors from interstate and overseas, many of whom have become our friends," the statement continues. "The children and grandchildren of our customers have grown up with us and held their milestone celebrations in the restaurant." The devastating news comes just two months after it was revealed fellow iconic Sydney restaurant Golden Century had gone into administration. While there has been speculation that the venue could still be saved, the future for Golden Century remains unclear. If you want to experience Marigold one last time, the Haymarket spot is open seven days a week for yum cha and la carte 10am–3pm, and la carte dinner and dim sum degustations 5.30–9.30pm each day. You can also order takeaway by calling the restaurant on 9281 3388. Marigold is located at Level four and five, Citymark Building, 683 George Street, Sydney. It will close to the public on Sunday, December 5.
The spirit of cabaret is alive and well in Sydney, with one of the world's most-celebrated chanteuses lighting up Sydney Spiegeltent for two months. Her particular mix of debauchery, dark humour and biting social commentary make this one of 2024's must-see shows. German kabarett superstar Bernie Dieter — described as "an electrifying cross between Lady Gaga, Marlene Dietrich and Frank-N-Furter in sequins" — is bringing her infamous gin-soaked haus band and her troupe of bombastic bohemians to the Harbour City from Wednesday, May 29–Sunday, July 28. Gather your fellow deviants for this one. [caption id="attachment_841679" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Johannes Reinhart[/caption] The show encapsulates the spirit of the notorious kabarett clubs of Weimar Germany, and features a vibrant lineup of international talent. The billing includes the dangerous art of hair hanging (we're getting split ends just from the mere mention of this one), flame breathers, gender bending aerial performances and plenty of strip teasing and pole dancing. The colourful show celebrates freedom and diversity in all its forms — Dieter herself describes it as "the ultimate party at the end of the world".
Not so long ago, Newtown locals went to the 'Townie' to drink and a handful of cafes to eat. Now there's a long list of options each quirkier, cleverer and more welcoming than the last. But one does not simply open a venue in Newtown. Its locals are fiercely loyal and discerning, known for having evicted a McDonalds back in the '90s. A bar or restaurant opening up in Newtown has to feel like it was made by Newtown, not just plonked down in it, and that's produced some excellent establishments that are loved by both locals and outsiders. Check out these ten standouts. Miss Peaches Soul Food Kitchen American food may be flavour of the month, but it's also the flavour of Newtown, as several recent openings attest. Step off Missenden Road and be transported to a pseudo-Louisiana where Miss Peaches and her Soul Food Kitchen are waiting. The spacious brick bar has old-school Southern charm with plenty of comfy booths, a balcony overlooking the hustle and bustle of King Street below, plus a blues-infused vinyl collection to get any feet dancing. The menu is the antithesis of all diets and not for the faint of heart. Think cornbread sliders filled with deep-fried mac and cheese, chicken or beef short rib (3 for $18), crispy tater tots with maple bacon ketchup ($8) or flaky crawfish pies ($12). Cornerstone Like Tutankhamun's tomb, Carriageworks' food and drinks site seems to have had an ancient curse menacing it. Venues have come and gone (most recently John and Peter Canteen), perhaps banking on a more formal, sit-down crowd than they can reliably attract in a pre-show context. New bar and restaurants Cornerstone has a real chance of kicking this hex. It's grazing menu is masterminded by the Fresh Catering team, and it boasts a truly gorgeous fit-out that lures you in even if you're not spending the evening with a show at Carriageworks. The Garden Bar at the Marly The Marlborough Hotel has tried to banish the ghosts of first years past with its new fit-out, and it's doing surprisingly well. New owners John Singleton and Geoff Dixon have breathed new life into the pub by introducing the Garden Bar while still maintaining the old-school charm for which the Marly is known. back courtyard is the perfect spot to spend the afternoon catching some rays in the secluded, art deco-furnished terrace. The kitchen has gone Deep South, and not timidly. You gotta try the waffles — choose from crispy buttermilk deep-fried chicken, smoked pulled pork, cheesy BBQ sirloin or Mexican lentil toppings ($8). Soda Pony Newtown has always had a superlative cafe scene, and Soda Pony is the latest bearer of that tradition. Positioned at the south end of King Street, Soda Pony fits in seamlessly amongst the many second-hand vintage stores, invoking feelings of nostalgia with its mismatched chairs and antique posters. Try their epic choc-malt frosty thickshake ($5.50) — only for the courageous, but totally worth it. What's more of a bonus is that they're serving a mean Double Roasters coffee ($3.50) here, so reheating your mitts is taken care of. You may, however, have to take care of your landlord — you've found a new home. Mary's The fit-out is undoubtedly cool, a step up from some of the surrounding venues without a doubt. From the literally bottomless Jack Daniel's bottle light fixtures to the big, chunky, brother-made wooden table on the far right ground floor corner, it's clear a great deal of time and effort has gone into gutting what once was and tailoring it to suit Newtown's growing crowd of aesthetes. Luckily, judging from the diversity of said crowd, and much like the suburb itself, everyone and anyone seems to be welcome. The burgers are already famous — like Maccas in style, but with the fancy finger work of Powell on the grill, not to mention the fabulously now trashcan-lid-smoked bacon as an optional extra, the taste beats that shining yellow M any day. The Bank Hotel Beer Garden The Bank's got a reputation as being a boozy outer suburbs drinking den frequented by out-of-Newtowners and doesn't quite fit into the area's grungier vibe. Now the longstanding Sumalee Thai restaurant downstairs, which was serving Newtown's international cuisine of choice for about 20 years, has made way for a gourmet gastro pub grub kitchen. The nameless kitchen offers restaurant-standard meals rather than dishing out just burgers and chips (although that too is on offer, if renamed 'bun stuffers'). There's no reason why the Bank won't enjoy the same success as the Newtown Hotel, and there are plans to extend the terrace to a front balcony, like the Newtown (though some work needs to be done on the bland front bar to make the back garden, which is very inviting, to be more than a hidden secret). Osteria Russo & Russo Technically, this may be Enmore, but Russo & Russo's effect is definitely felt towards the Newtown end of the street. It's building up the local fine dining scene pioneered by Hartsyard, Spencer Gutherie and Sixpenny. Head chef Jason Saxby bent the norm at The Bridge Room with nice, quirky takes on traditional dishes, but he's free from the semi-corporate environment now. There are no Italian standards on the menu, but rather busy, fussy dishes such as the wild hare ragu intertwined with scarlet red, hand-rolled beetroot pasta ($24). The glazed beef cheeks with semolina gnocchi, broad beans and radicchio ($28) is a hit, too. Newtown Social Club It was a sad day for Sydney's live music scene when Newtown's beloved Sandringham Hotel was placed in receivership last June, and even sadder when it was finally forced to shut its doors in December. But there was also cause for cautious optimism, with word that the team behind two of Melbourne's most iconic venues, the Corner Hotel and Northcote Social Club, would be taking over the site. Bands haven't started playing yet (the band room on the second floor needs renovations), but it's a nice place for a cheap pizza and beer in the meantime and has retained a lot of the old venue's spirit. Newtown Hotel Okay, this one's been open since October last year, but it's been such a pioneer of the Newtown Renaissance, it deserves a long celebration. The pub oozes Newtown; from local street artists' art adorning the walls, to the cinema on the second floor, which shows indie flicks during the week. And you may remember the pop-up bar Freaky Tiki, which operated in the hotel before the refurbishment? Well, the Tiki is well and truly alive too, with cocktails from the former bar that scream rock and roll. Try the Janis Joplin, chamomile tea-infused Jack Daniels, white crème de cacao, Cointreau and lemon ($16). Hartsyard Hartsyard may be the oldest venue on this list (one year old in May), but it's the kind of place that keeps surprising you anew. It's American food again, this time with the experimental touch of a fine diner. Start with the poutine ($23) for a no-holds-barred introduction to American cuisine that borrows generously from the Bible Belt, French Canada and the friction between urban and rural dining. Hartsyard prides itself on homegrown ingredients and traditional recipes reappropriated for a modern palette, and it delivers on all three fronts. So, grab your friends, order generously, and be prepared to use your hands and lick your fingers. By the Concrete Playground team.
Aqua Ignis Bathhouse is redefining communal bathing in Australia, as an architectural and cultural landmark in the Blue Mountains. Rooted in its cultural connection, Aqua Ignis positions itself as a ritual practice — one that is immersive and deeply sensory. Designed by Korean-born, Germany-raised architect Siki Im, the project serves as a departure from traditional Australian spa culture. Instead of framing bathing as a luxury escape, Aqua Ignis prides itself on offering a more elemental experience. The bathhouse, conceived as both a sanctuary and sculpture, sits low within the landscape, utilising stone and water to immerse guests in a spatial meditation on contrast and flow. The space invites guests to experience bathing as not an out-of-the-blue activity, but a journey that moves through the elemental transitions of stillness and sociality. Expert guides lead guests along two contrasting pathways inspired by the ancient Eastern philosophies of Yin and Yang. Yin flow represents a quieter, more reserved journey, featuring a steam room, a magnesium-rich thermal bath, and silent reflection zones. Yang flow begins with a dry sauna, followed by a cold plunge and communal rest spaces. Each space has been carefully crafted to engage the body through the use of temperature and texture. At the same time, the architecture amplifies the emotional experience, utilising natural light, acoustics, and materiality to heighten awareness of oneself and one's surroundings. The opening positions Aqua Ignis as one of the most significant new wellness destinations in Australia, and a powerful example of how architecture can shape not just space, but behaviour and emotion. Find out more about Aqua Ignis and make a booking. Images: Supplied
Located in the Sydney CBD's shiny new dining and business precinct Brookfield Place, Tenkomori Ramen House's Wynyard outpost has been serving up steaming hot bowls of brothy goodness in the heart of the city since opening at the beginning of the year. To celebrate the beginning of Vivid Sydney, Tenkomori is offering a ramen deal that's seriously good value. For one day only, the eatery is offering $1 ramen. Yes, you're reading that correctly. Break out the gold coins, because from 5pm on Friday, May 27 you'll be able to get a bowl of Tenkomori's signature ramen for just $1. The Tenkomori Ramen on offer as part of the deal is filled with steamed pork loin, pickled takana greens, a fish cake, dried seaweed and a seasoned boiled egg. Head after work and grab yourself a $1 feed before you head out to explore all the lights, art and music Vivid has to offer this year.
Purrfect news, feline fans: everything a dapper doggo can do, a cute cat can as well. While that's an accurate statement in general, as anyone who has ever shared their life with both a pooch and a kitty will know, it's also the thinking behind Sydney's returning animal event. From the folks behind the Dog Lovers Festival comes the mouser equivalent: the Cat Lovers Festival. If you wear the 'crazy cat person' label as a badge of honour, stop to pat every moggie you meet while you're walking down the street or spend your all of your spare time watching cat videos (or all of the above), then you'll want to block out Saturday, August 24–Sunday, August 25 in your calendar. Expect Sydney Showground to come alive with the sounds of meows, and expect pussy lovers to come out in force. On the agenda: feline-focused education and celebration. Before you go thinking about adorable kitties wearing glasses and sitting at desks, or popping streamers and wearing party hats (awwwwwwwww), humans will be doing the learning and rejoicing. Really, what's more informative and exuberant than entering the Pat-A-Cat zone and getting cosy with cats of all shapes and sizes — and possibly taking one home with you? If that doesn't tickle your whiskers, expect to meet more than 200 kitties, hit up a cat supermarket, listen to talks about felines, watch cat shows, see a fabulous feline performance on the WHISKAS Stage and grab a bite to eat — or even a glass of bubbles at the Purrr-secco Bar. Just remember: there'll be plenty of mousers in the Cat Lovers Show house, so you'll need to leave your own moggie at home.
Calling all Sydneysiders looking to get the jump on this year's silly season: have your holiday shopping list at the ready. Woollahra Hotel is once again hosting its pop-up Christmas Market — a one stop shop for unique holiday decorations, festive treats, special crafts and customised gifts. This annual market isn't just a chance to knock out your gift list. It's also a celebration of the wonderful Woollahra community. Over 20 local businesses will come together to offer exclusive deals that are only available for this event. Grab that perfect Christmas wine from Moncur Cellars, shop for bespoke jewellery with Mitchell Maker Jewellery and find artisan homewares by the good folks at The Bay Tree. When you're done shopping for others, be sure to treat yourself with a Christmas cocktail as you enjoy live music from the Arthur Washington Quintet at the top level of the hotel from 4pm until late. Whether you're shopping for others, looking to treat yourself or you're just getting into the holiday spirit, this pop-up market has it all. Support local businesses in the spirit of the season and mark your calendars for a merry night to remember.
If your resolutions for 2023 involve being your best self in the kitchen, this year keeps bringing folks Australia's way who can definitely help. First, Israeli chef Yotam Ottolenghi made his way around the country on a speaking tour. In May, Britain's Marco Pierre White is doing the same. And, also the same month, the one and only Nigella Lawson will enjoy her latest visit Down Under. Dubbed An Evening with Nigella Lawson, this tour will see the television and cookbook favourite chat through her culinary secrets — and food in general, her life and career, and more. If you're the kind of person who starts plotting your next meal before you've even finished the last, or loves eating more than anything else, Lawson's visit will help get right to the guts of your food obsession. And, the two Sydney events at the State Theatre on Sunday, May 21 — at 2pm and 7.30pm — will also feature a Q&A component so that you can ask Lawson whatever you've always wanted to yourself. Even when she isn't answering audience questions, Lawson will have plenty to cover — she has a hefty pile of cookbooks to her name, starting with 1998's How to Eat: Pleasures and Principles of Good Food and including 2020's Nigella's Cook, Eat, Repeat. When she hasn't been filling our bookshelves with recipes, she's been whipping through them on TV, too, on everything from Nigella Bites, Nigella Feasts, Nigella Kitchen and Nigellissima through to Simply Nigella and Nigella: At My Table. And, she's been popping up on Top Chef, MasterChef Australia and My Kitchen Rules as well.
When Suicide Squad reached cinemas screens back in 2016, it garnered plenty of attention. Critics largely hated it, fans loved it and some folks tried to shut down Rotten Tomatoes because of it. Come awards season, it picked up an Oscar (for best achievement in makeup and hairstyling) as well as two Razzie 'worst' nominations. The divisive reactions just kept coming, although there were two things that almost everyone agreed on. Firstly, most people rightfully loathed Jared Leto's interpretation of the Joker. Secondly, the majority of viewers adored Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. While the DC Extended Universe hasn't gotten a whole lot right in its attempts to emulate the Marvel Cinematic Universe (see Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League, for example), its powerbrokers did seem to pay attention to the super-sized Suicide Squad debate. In response, they're giving the world what it wants: more Robbie as everyone's favourite ex-psychiatrist turned antihero. In Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), Harley Quinn has moved on from the clown prince of crime (much like DC has moved on from Leto, at least for now, with Joaquin Phoenix playing the character in last year's standalone Joker film). In the aftermath of their breakup — an explosive event, as the film's just-dropped new trailer shows — she rounds up a crew filled with other fearsome Gotham ladies. Prepare to spend time with Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), the Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) as they try to thwart supervillain Black Mask (Ewan McGregor). Directed by Cathy Yan (Dead Pigs), also co-starring Chris Messina and Ali Wong, Birds of Prey marks Quinn's first solo cinematic outing — and as the both the first sneak peek and the new trailer demonstrates, it's going big, bold and over-the-top. Bright, vibrant, fun and frenetic are all terms that apply, too. When it hits theatres next month, expect plenty of colour, chaos and formidable gals wreaking havoc, in what's been rumoured to be the first in a Quinn-focused trilogy. With Suicide Squad getting a sequel in 2021, confusingly titled The Suicide Squad and helmed by Guardians of the Galaxy's James Gunn, the pigtailed prankster definitely isn't leaving screens anytime soon. Check out the new trailer for Birds of Prey below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygzqL60kvwU&feature=youtu.be Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) will hit Australian cinemas on February 6, 2020.
When the time came for Hannah Gadsby to follow up her international smash-hit show Nanette, that seemed a rather difficult task. After all, the one-woman stand-up performance copped serious praise on its 18-month travels across Australia and the UK, even scooping the top honours at both the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe — and spawning its very own Netflix special. But, then Douglas was born, with the beloved Aussie comedian returning to the stand-up stage with a performance named after her own pet pooch. While Nanette pulled apart the concept of comedy itself, dishing up an insight into Gadsby's past, Douglas took comedy fans on a "tour from the dog park to the renaissance and back". It toured stages across Australia and New Zealand in late 2019 and early 2020, and then hit Netflix a year ago. Next on the agenda: following up both of those supremely popular shows, and doing so in-person. Between July and November this year, Gadsby will be doing just that thanks to her new stand-up set Body of Work. It'll tour Australia in 2021, before heading to the UK, European and North America in early 2022. Despite spending the past year sitting out the pandemic, as we all have, Gadsby's humour won't have lost its charms. She'll be kicking off her tour in Canberra, then heading to Albury, Newcastle, Hobart, Launceston, Darwin, Bendigo, Albany, Bunbury, Mandurah, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane. And yes, she'll be playing Sydney, too, although those dates and details haven't yet been revealed. https://twitter.com/Hannahgadsby/status/1391545052564914176 HANNAH GADSBY 'BODY OF WORK' TOUR DATES: July 23–24 — Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra July 26 — Albury Entertainment Centre, Albury July 29 — Newcastle Civic Theatre, Newcastle August 5–7 — Theatre Royal, Hobart August 15–16 — Princess Theatre, Launceston August 22 — Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin August 27 — Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo September 1 — Albany Entertainment Centre, Albany September 3 — Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, Bunbury September 4 — Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Mandurah September 10–11 — Regal Theatre, Perth October 26–31 — Comedy Theatre, Melbourne November 26–27 — QPAC, Brisbane Dates TBC — Sydney Hannah Gadsby's 'Body of Work' will tour Australia from July to November 2021. For further details — and to buy pre-sale tickets from Wednesday, May 12 and general tickets from 9am on Friday, May 14 — head to the comedian's website.
Darren Aronofsky may have been lauded for his portrait of The Wrestler, but he certainly doesn't pull his punches in the ballet world. Turning the dial up to 11, Aronofsky brings glorious new meaning to the term 'melodrama' as he refashions the tragic tale of the Swan princess into a sexy, haunting and sublimely over the top cinematic romp. Taking more than a few cues from Dostoyevsky's The Double, Roman Polanski's Repulsion and of course Powell and Pressburger's seminal The Red Shoes, Aronofsky and his screenwriters serve up Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman), a timidly ambitious ballerina desperate for perfection. When ballet company director Thomas (Vincent Cassel) ousts his prima ballerina (Winona Ryder) and instead selects Nina to play the lead in his revamped production of Swan Lake, the pressure immediately begins to take its toll on his new princess. Thomas knows Nina is perfect for the virginal White Swan, but he forces her to confront her lack of sensuality and wild abandon required for the sultry Black Swan. This role is better suited to the free-spirited new recruit Lily (Mila Kunis), and this perceived treat to her new reign fractures Nina's fragile psyche. Add to the mix a terrifyingly infantilising mother (a scene-stealing Barbara Hershey) and a history of stress-induced scratching, and Aronofsky has a veritable crucible of psychological factors to toy with on screen. And toy he most definitely does, leading his audience into the depths of Nina's psychosis via Portman's utterly spellbinding performance. She is simply exquisite, literally and figuratively flapping about on stage, rail thin and wild-eyed. It is a testament to her committed preparation that Portman looks at home in the ballet company, and similarly she seamlessly slips into Nina's protracted childhood amongst her wall-to-wall pink, plush toy filled bedroom. There's even a music box, complete with a twirling ballerina. Yes, everything is that black and white in Black Swan, and that's exactly how Aronofsky wants it. If you're searching for any hint of nuance or subtlety, you're in the wrong place. Aronofsky is more like a bull in a china shop, but therein lies all the fun. See Black Swan for Portman, for the production design and for the sheer, ballsy, maddening brilliance of it all. https://youtube.com/watch?v=5jaI1XOB-bs
When Mov'In Bed first launched, it helped solve a problem. Can't choose between hitting up an outdoor cinema or watching a film in bed? Here, you don't have to. Up and running since mid-January, Mov'In Bed's new outdoor beach cinema stacks on another layer to that equation like it's building a sandcastle. Can't pick between flicks under the stars, going to the beach or being cosy? Again, this is the solution. Because getting folks seeing films on a mattress — pillows, blankets and all — beneath the evening sky wasn't enough (or on a boat in Darling Harbour, or a car on Entertainment Quarter's rooftop), Mov'In Bed Outdoor Cinema's beach stint is taking to the sand at Harbour Park in Barangaroo until Sunday, April 14, 2024. And all those white grains that'll be beneath your feet? There's a huge 280 tonnes of the stuff, which the pop-up's 150 queen-sized beds sit atop. If you haven't had the chance to enjoy the experience, which features a 15-metre 4K screen, as yet, the pop-up outdoor picture palace has just revealed what's showing on its February and March lineup. The last month of summer kicks off with Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, then also boasts Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, John Wick: Chapter 4, Ferrari, Next Goal Wins, Wonka and The Iron Claw. Come autumn, All of Us Strangers, The Holdovers, Past Lives and Studio Ghibli's The Boy and the Heron also feature. Where's the best place to see Sydney-shot Sydney Sweeney-starring rom-com Anyone But You? In Sydney near the water — which plays more than a small part in the movie — obviously. With the 2024 Academy Award nominations freshly announced, Mov'In Bed Outdoor Cinema at Barangaroo is also showing Killers of the Flower Moon again in the coming months. And on Oscars day itself, it'll screen whatever wins Best Picture (so, likely Oppenheimer). The night will also include champagne to celebrate, and attendees are encouraged to wear red carpet-ready outfits. Before marking Hollywood's night of nights, Mov'In will get into the mid-February spirit with the Mean Girls musical for Galentine's Day, The Notebook on Valentine's Day and Crazy Stupid Love on Singles Awareness Day (aka Thursday, February 15). Other retro titles across the newly unveiled flicks span go-tos such as Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Dirty Dancing, Notting Hill, When Harry Met Sally and Clueless. And, although it's only a couple of years old, Top Gun: Maverick has already become an outdoor cinema staple. Whatever you select to see, expect company, with January's sessions selling out. Expect DJ-spun tunes, focusing on songs from film soundtracks, upon arrival as well. No one wandering by will hear a thing once the movie starts playing, however, because Mov'In uses noise-cancelling headphones for every attendee. Gates open at 6pm, with movies playing from 8.30pm. And price-wise, tickets will range from $12–75 per person. Mov'In Bed Outdoor Cinema's beach stint runs until Sunday, April 14, 2024 at Harbour Park, Barangaroo. For further details or to book, head to the Mov'In Bed Outdoor Cinema website.
If the Venice Film Festival can dedicate an entire island to virtual reality, and Brisbane can host its own VR festival, then Melbourne's year-round cinema hub can make the interactive technology a permanent part of its collection. As well as launching a new limited-offering VR commission, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image is adding a VR Lounge to its screen-filled spaces. Come September 23, ACMI will not only say hello to Prehistoric VR, a free two-week step back in time, but will also ask visitors to get comfy in their newest addition. The former, called the first 360-degree VR puppetry experience of its kind, comes from performing arts company Erth Visual & Physical Inc and award-winning visual artist and filmmaker Samantha Lang, while the latter will showcase a rotating array of VR works. The third ACMI commission that has asked established performing artists to turn a live stage work into realistic 360-degree virtual reality, where Prehistoric VR is headed isn't a surprise — when it comes to interacting with creatures that no longer roam the earth, life finds a way. Until October 8, the immersive experience dives onto the ocean floor, and back 200 million years, to encounter the aquatic critters from the Ediacaran to the Cretaceous periods. On the permanent front, ACMI's new ongoing VR Lounge will form part of its free Screen Worlds exhibition, kicking off with mystical fairy tale The Turning Forest. Created by Melbourne-based VR company VRTOV, who also have space at ACMI's co-working space ACMI X, it premiered to rave reviews at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival, even earning comparisons to The NeverEnding Story. ACMI's commitment to virtual reality isn't new, with the centre premiering the spooky Ghost, Toast and the Things Unsaid and immersive dance experience Stuck in the Middle With You in 2016. As ACMI Director and CEO, Katrina Sedgwick explains, "as the national museum for film, TV, games digital culture and art, ACMI is fascinated by the rapid evolution of VR and the new ways practitioners are engaging audiences through this platform." Image: Renee Stamatis Photography.
As it turns out, not even an electrical fire can keep Nomad down. Al and Rebecca Yazbek's acclaimed Surry Hills Mediterranean diner suffered extensive damage after a fire broke out in the restaurant's ceiling in early September, but the show's far from over. While the Foster Street restaurant site undergoes a hefty rebuild and some much-needed repair work, Nomad will keep chugging along, albeit in a slightly different forma. It has popped up around the corner at 85 Commonwealth Street for a three-month residency. This new space was previously home to modern Thai institution Longrain and most recently the much-hyped Orana in Residence pop-up, so it's safe to say Nomad is joining some pretty good company. Nomad Up The Road — as the pop-up is called — takes the form of a sophisticated 140 seater, decked out with much of the original restaurant's artwork and furniture. It has front-row seating along the open kitchen, as well as roomy, group-friendly tables, and a private dining area for 24. [caption id="attachment_748861" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Petrina Tinslay[/caption] Chef Jacqui Challinor continues to head things up in the kitchen, but, without Nomad's famed woodfired oven, expect a few changes to the food. On the menu, long-standing favourites like the kingfish ceviche, duck mortadella and that creamy cannellini bean hummus join a slew of new inventions. Kingfish croquettes are served with XO sauce and finger lime, ricotta dumplings are saucy and topped with shiitakes and calamari gets an Argentinian twist with chimichurri and fried potatoes. To finish, there's the famed olive oil ice cream sandwich, as well as an orange blossom sundae and a black sesame and white chocolate doughnut. Nomad Up The Road is open for lunch and dinner from Monday to Saturday, and its ever-popular bottomless rosé lunches have made the move over, too. For $75 a head, you get 90 minutes of endless glasses of rosé and a five-course menu. Nomad's Foster Street space will open with a suite of upgrades early in 2020. Find Nomad Up The Road at 85 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills. It's open from Monday–Saturday midday–3pm and 5.30pm–midnight. The OG Foster Street restaurant is slated to reopen in early 2020. Images: Petrina Tinslay
You can never have too many occasions to eat cheese, but this returning Australian cheese festival isn't just keen to shower cheese fiends with creamy goodness. A collaboration between Bruny Island Cheese Co cheesemaker Nick Haddow and the organisers of Pinot Palooza, Mould wants dairy lovers to explore and devour the mild, hard and soft bites that Australia's best cheese wizards have to offer. Returning for a fourth time in 2022 — after a chaotic couple of years, as all fests have endured — the cheesy event will paint Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney yellow for a couple of days in each city this winter. And there won't just be a few cheeses on the menu. More than 75 artisan cheeses from around the country will be ready and waiting for you to devour, spanning dairy from 27-plus producers. That lineup includes Bruny Island Cheese Co, naturally, plus Grandvewe, Milawa Cheese, Yarra Valley Dairy and Stone & Crow. There'll also be wares from Section 28, Red Cow Organics, Nimbin Valley Cheese, and newcomers such as Dreaming Goat, Long Paddock Cheese and Second Mouse Cheese. The 2022 events will span multiple days in each stop — running over three days in Brisbane and Melbourne, and two days in Sydney. For the first time ever, Mould is also headed to Hobart in October, if you feel like a cheese-eating trip to the Apple Isle this spring (with exact festival dates still to be announced). Alongside unlimited tastings of Australia's best cheeses, Mould will also feature flavoursome fare from cheese specialists that've been created just for the fest, too. Think of it as a cheese tasting trip around Australia without leaving the city. Of course, snacking on samples and purchasing slices and slabs to take home with you are just two ways to enjoy cheese. The fest will have cooking demonstrations, masterclasses and talks so you can stretch your cheese knowledge as well as your cheese stomach. And it wouldn't be a cheese festival without beverages to wash it all down with, so expect a bar serving Aussie wines, whisky, vodka, gin, beer, cider, cocktails and sake — all of which match nicely to a bit of cheese. Unsurprisingly, Mould is rather popular. Last year, attendees tucked into a one million samples across the fest's three cities, and also took home over 3.5 tonnes of Aussie dairy products. So, if this the kind of event that your cheese dreams are made of, you'll want to nab a $45 ticket ASAP. MOULD — A CHEESE FESTIVAL 2022 DATES: July 1–3 — John Reed Pavilion, Brisbane Showgrounds, 600 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills July 22–24 — The Timber Yard, 351 Plummer Street, Port Melbourne August 12–12 — Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh October TBC — Hobart TBC Mould — A Cheese Festival tours Australia from July. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the event's website.
It's a classic wine-lover's dilemma: you're keen on a restaurant's rare drop, but you can't get a sip without paying up for the whole bottle. P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants is looking to solve this quandary, at least temporarily, with the launch of a month-long tasting series presented at its P&V Paddington location. Teaming up with wine tech innovators Enomatic from Friday, June 27–Sunday, August 3, this series features the brand's wine serving system, where each glass is presented at the ideal temperature and freshness long after the cork is popped. With this specialised equipment at hand, P&V will delve into their deep cellar to pour ultra-rare, cult and small-batch wines. Without needing to stress about doing major damage to your wallet, this is your chance to sample highly coveted vino, with weekly in-store tastings and special appearances throughout the month. Expect scarce by-the-glass pours featuring Italy's barolo legends Rinaldi and Cappellano, jura icons Ganevat and Overnoy, and Australian wineries Sami-Odi and Wendouree. If you get involved, you're invited to settle into L'Avant Cave, the cosy wine bar attached to P&V's Paddington store. Here, the tasting experience is taken to even greater heights with a menu of snacks and small plates paired with these exquisite wines. With tastings available during regular store hours, guests will get a heads-up on the weekly wine lineup via the store's Instagram.
Wherever you are in Australia, you're never far from nature. But, when you really need to unwind, your best bet is to find somewhere remote — preferably, a place where emails, phone calls and bosses can't reach you. Plus, you should find some serious natural beauty on which to feast your weary eyes. To that end, we've taken a good look around the nation at some of the most spectacular spots — from the coral-filled waters of Queensland's Heron Island to the empty beaches of NSW's Mimosa Rocks National Park to the granite boulders of Tasmania's Bay of Fires. And just like us, Stoneleigh Wild Valley is all about celebrating the wondrous work of nature. The New Zealand winery follows a wild fermentation process for its wines resulting in flavours that are rich in complexity. So, together, we've scoped out five spots around the country where you can unwind — perhaps even with a glass of vino in hand. Next time you're planning a weekend getaway, make tracks to one of these beauties. Your overworked body and fatigued brain will thank you. [caption id="attachment_728904" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland.[/caption] HERON ISLAND, QLD 72 kilometres off Gladstone lies Heron Island, one of the Great Barrier Reef's most unspoilt islands. Just 800 metres long and 400 metres wide, it's mostly national park — fringed with white sands and, beyond that, coral reef. Between November and March every year, green turtles and loggerhead turtles (both threatened) nest here and you're welcome to watch them, as long as you stick to turtle watching guidelines. Any time of year, expect to meet seabirds a-plenty, plus many a sea critter if you go on a snorkelling or scuba diving excursion. There's just one place to stay: the eco-friendly Heron Island Resort, where you can choose from private rooms surrounded by pisonia forest, suites with incredible sunset views and a beach house with room for up to four guests. [caption id="attachment_728989" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Aragunnu Walking Track via Destination NSW.[/caption] MIMOSA ROCKS NATIONAL PARK, NSW Found on the NSW South Coast, around five-and-a-half hours' drive south of Sydney, Mimosa Rocks National Park is a land of empty beaches, rocky headlands and forests filled with wildlife. If you're keen to immerse yourself in nature, pitch your tent at a beachside campground, such as Aragunnu or Picnic Point. Prefer the comfort of four walls? Book the heritage Myer House. Either way, be sure to take a dip at Moon Bay, go for a stroll along Middle Lagoon Walking Track and check out the surf at Nelson Beach. [caption id="attachment_728931" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Kuilenburg.[/caption] BAY OF FIRES, TAS Bay of Fires takes its name from its flaming colours. Granite boulders covered with bright orange lichen frame the coastline and, in contrast with the deep blue of the sea, create an extraordinary effect. The bay stretches for 50 kilometres along Tasmania's northeast coast, from Binalong Bay in the south to Ansons Bay in the north. Get back to nature in a tent at a free campground, sleepover at a luxe glamping site or sink into comfort at a B&B. Wherever you sleep, make sure you spend some time exploring on foot — whether you conquer the four-day Bay of Fires Walk or stick to day hikes. [caption id="attachment_688566" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trevor King via Destination NSW.[/caption] LORD HOWE ISLAND, NSW Take some time off the mainland at Lord Howe Island, a rugged paradise that's a two hours' flight east of Sydney with a population of just 382. To spend your entire break wrapped up in nature, embark on the Seven Peaks Walk, a five-day, 45-kilometre hike that takes in banyan forests, coastal cliff faces and magical beaches. If that sounds too long, there's a bunch of day walks to try, too. Alternatively, go snorkelling in clear waters, laze about on beaches or paddle board around. And forget all about crowds: no more than 400 visitors are allowed on the island at once. [caption id="attachment_719735" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria.[/caption] THE GRAMPIANS, VIC Clear your head with some invigorating mountain air in The Grampians, a mountain range three hours' northwest of Melbourne dotted with waterfalls, wildflower meadows and dizzying peaks. Begin your adventures at MacKenzie Falls, one of Victoria's biggest waterfalls, before heading to mystical Silverband Falls, surrounded by lush ferns and flowers. For views that go on forever, drive to Boroka Lookout, Reeds Lookout or Mount William, which, at 1167 metres, is the highest peak in the range. Or, if you're keen to get moving, take a hike. A good place to start is The Pinnacle, accessible by a variety of walking tracks, which range from 2.1 to nine kilometres. Enhance your adventure through nature with Stoneleigh Wild Valley, whose 2017 sauvignon blanc recently won gold at the New York International Wine Competition 2019. Top image: Lord Howe Island.
Sydneysiders are in for one big night of live music when the Young Henrys Rock & Roll Circus rolls back into town next month. After taking its show down to Melbourne for the first time during Good Beer Week in May, the free blowout is set to return to its home city on Halloween night. Head in to Frankie's on Wednesday, October 31 , when some of Australia's best musical talent will join forces for one night only. Expect a 'super band' to once again take the stage. Dubbed The Replicas, the band is made up of members from The Delta Riggs and The Preatures, along with Wild Honey's Adam Della Grotta. They'll perform classic hits, 70s–90s English punk covers and alternative favourites for the masses from 8pm until the wee hours. Joining the band on stage is a lineup of guest singers, including Dave Faulkner (Hoodoo Gurus), Joe Jackson (Sloan Peterson), Melissah Marie (Moody Beach), Gideon Bensen (Fiction Writer), Caitlin Harnett, Andy Golledge, Jess Kent and Charlie Collins — with many more announced closer to. And Young Henrys will of course be taking over the bar's taps with its brews and cider, too. Image: Katje Ford.
Barangaroo House is taking 'rosé all day' to the next level, transforming its entire three-storey venue into an homage to this pink drink for the entire month of October. Expect daily serves of the stuff in the form of bottomless rosé lunches, pop-up raw bars and a rosé vending machine, along with hot pink decor aplenty — including graffiti, neon lights, a disco lift and a hidden, all-pink room to boot. Heaps of food and drink specials are on offer across all levels. Start at House Bar, which is serving up $12 glasses of frosé and $35 carafes of rosé sangria, plus rosé spritzes for $18. Meanwhile, a custom vending machine will dispense mini bottles of Moët & Chandon rosé and a pop-up oyster bar will be on every Thursday through Saturday. Swing by during weekday happy hour, which features $2 oysters and $6 glasses of rosé, along with $6 prawn rolls and $10 cocktails. Next, make your way upstairs to Bea, where a second rosé raw bar features the likes of kingfish with rhubarb black pepper and caviar served with all of the accompaniments. On weekends, Bea is also offering $55 bottomless rosé lunches (Friday through Sunday, must be added to a main meal or set menu). Up on the roof, Smoke is pouring and shaking a heap of rosé cocktails ($18–19), including the Coming Up Rosé (Belvedere, Lillet Rose and Chandon sparkling rosé with watermelon juice) and the Rosé Highball (rosé vermouth, Aperol and Campari with pomegranate and tonic). DJs are on every Saturday from 4pm, too. For the full lineup of eats, drinks and entertainment — as well as to book a table — head to the Barangaroo House website.
If you were planning to commute by train this Monday morning, it may take you a bit longer than expected. At 2am on Monday, February 11, a car crashed into train signalling equipment in Riverwood, in the city's south, which has resulted in delays across the network. While the T8 Airport & South Line has predominantly been affected, with commuters reporting delays of up to 30 minutes, Sydney Trains has announced that Inner West and Leppington Lines are also impacted. https://twitter.com/T8SydneyTrains/status/1094671623121031168 Repairs are underway and extra customer service staff are available to help commuters, with some services likely to be replaced by buses. According to commuters on Twitter, some Macarthur services are running more than 30 minutes late. Sydney Trains Chief Executive Howard Collins has also taken to Twitter, telling Sydneysiders that the signalling equipment has been "badly damaged" and to "expect major delays". https://twitter.com/HowieCollins/status/1094667824683900928 To stay up-to-date with delays and replacement buses, check the Transport for NSW website and real-time apps.
Step into the Upside Down at Australia's most famous landmark. Fans of Stranger Things have been counting down the days to the smash hit sci-fi show's second season for over a year. Now, a select few will be given the chance to view the premiere in the most spectacular surroundings imaginable: the Sydney Opera House. The screening will take place on Friday, October 27 at the same time the season opener debuts in Los Angeles, hours ahead of its worldwide release on Netflix. What's more, the Opera House's northern and southern foyers will be transformed into the world of Hawkins, Indiana circa 1984. There'll be pinball machines, an '80s soundtrack and themed chow from the likes of Benny's Burgers. And yes, fans are encouraged to dress up. There will actually be two screenings at the Opera House – the first at 10.30am and the second at 12pm. Each session will run for approximately three hours, including pre-show entertainment. Tickets are free, and will be made available to Opera House newsletter subscribers from 10am on Wednesday, October 11, and to the general public from 9am on Friday, October 13. If you want to subscribe, you can do so via this link.
Forget about deckchairs and picnic blankets – you won't need either at Mov'In Bed. Instead, movie lovers are invited to snuggle up in a bed under the stars, in what is surely the most comfortable outdoor cinema experience in Sydney. Located at Moore Park's Entertainment Quarter, this year's lineup is bursting with great titles across a wide variety of genres. Whether you're an action fan, feel like a laugh or need a heartwarming romance to cuddle up close to, the team at Mov'In Bed have got you covered. Below, we've picked out five of our favourites from the jam-packed program. Happy viewing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kSuas6mRpk ACTION: KILL BILL VOLUME 1 & 2 Two movies means twice the action in this blood-spattered double bill from legendary director Quentin Tarantino. Join Uma Thurman's deadly assassin, a ruthless killer known as The Bride, on what the movie advertisements referred to as "a roaring rampage of revenge". Over the course of more than four hours, our sword-swinging protagonist cuts down dozens of enemies on her way to her final target. The dialogue is stellar, the choreography intense, the music as cool as in any film of the past 20 years. Oh, and the cast? Phenomenal. Put simply, Kill Bill is the work of a master at his brilliant best. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntxS1bBg5o0 HORROR: HAPPY DEATH DAY Think Groundhog Day, except Bill Murray keeps getting brutally murdered. That's the basic premise of Happy Death Day, an ingenious new horror flick from the producer of Get Out, Insidious and Paranormal Activity. Jessica Rothe plays an unfortunate college student forced to relive the same day again and again — a day that ends with her being killed by a masked assailant. Find the killer, break the cycle — or at least, that's the plan. Mixing scares with a healthy dose of black comedy, Happy Death Day is perfect if you like movies like Scream or Drag Me to Hell. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJmpSMRQhhs ROMCOM: THE BIG SICK One of the surprise hits of the year, The Big Sick is an utter delight and one of our absolutely favourite films on the Mov'In Bed program. Based on the experiences of its writer and star, the film follows aspiring Chicago comedian Kumail Nanjiani and his fledgling relationship with Emily (Zoe Kazan). There are two complications. Firstly, Kumail's family want him to marry a nice Pakistani girl. Secondly, Emily is soon struck down by a mysterious illness that leaves her in a coma. A romcom unlike any other, The Big Sick is funny, heartfelt and never ceases to surprise. See it with someone you love. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQFIu9InG7Q COMEDY: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 It has been quite the fun year for Marvel movies — and before Thor: Ragnarok showered cinema-goers with offbeat antics, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 got there first. A sequel to 2014's superhero space effort, it's a case of keeping the intergalactic adventure going as Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper) and Groot (Vin Diesel) try to save the universe, again. This time, they've got some daddy issues to deal with in the form of Kurt Russell, but the series' inability to take itself too seriously and ace '70s soundtrack remain. It's the perfect cure for comic book movie fatigue, so gather the gang. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgVo96JaqeM DRAMA: EYES WIDE SHUT An iconic filmmaker's last-ever movie. A real-life Hollywood duo diving into a tale of marital disharmony. A film that holds the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous shoot. There's much that intrigues about Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut; the film took a whopping 400 days to make, had been on the director's slate since the late '60s and stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman back when they were the biggest couple in the world. And, that's all before even contemplating the film's story. Cruise and Kidman play a married couple rocked by infidelity and one particularly wild night, in an erotic drama that's provocative, probing and has to be seen to be believed. Snag tickets to these flicks and check out the full program for Mov-In Bed here.
Formerly known as Sausage Queen Brewing, Queens of Chaos is housed at The Sausage Factory on New Canterbury Road in Dulwich Hill. Here, you can learn how to make your own snags via an on-site class, or simply opt to feast on your favourites that have been hand-twisting by the experts, while sampling its excellent selection of brews. The beer's ethos is all in its name: it's for the bold, uninhibited, life-of-the-party types. Wondering which brew to choose? We can't go past the deliciously tart Pash Rash Rhubarb Pineapple and Hibiscus Sour.
Escape the hustle and bustle of city living and stay in the beautifully restored terrace house, the White House in the gorgeous town of Molong in the Orange region. All the heritage elements you would expect can be found in this quaint house on the heritage-listed main street: timber floors, throughout, high ceilings with pressed tin and large timber windows. The well-equipped two-storey property has plenty of space for those travelling in a group. Downstairs you'll find the kitchen, living room, toilet and laundry with views out onto the courtyard with a large lemon tree — a perfect spot for your morning coffee if the spacious terrace verandah doesn't take your fancy. There are three bedrooms (one queen and two doubles) and a bathroom upstairs. Molong is a quiet town a 25-minute drive from Orange and close to the region's standout wineries. If the great outdoors is on your itinerary, Molong is also a short drive from Lake Canobolas Reserve and Mount Canobolas. As with many of the small towns in the region, you can find numerous boutique shops, pubs, grocery stores and cafes. Images: David Brodie
You'll be the talk of the town – or at least the group chat – if you're the lucky winner of Tio's latest giveaway. With this raucous cocktail bar renowned for its ice-cold margaritas, they're making sure you can enjoy your fair share's worth this Margarita Month by giving away $1000 of signature drinks to one blessed person. Just know your friends and probably a few friends of friends will be hitting you up for the foreseeable future. Presented in partnership with El Jimador Tequila, Tio's Cerveceria invites the winner of this massive giveaway to sample the entire menu. With this in mind, you and your pals will undoubtedly work your way through plenty of classic, spicy and Tommy's margaritas. However, a big night out might call for something special – like the fishbowl-style mega marg or the ever-changing list of weekly specials. Not one to be satisfied with the tried-and-true, the Tio's team whips up a new margarita flavour every week, ensuring there's always something exciting to sip on. In the past, you might have encountered creative concoctions featuring everything from Lao Gan Ma Chilli Crisp and Pocari Sweat to Biscoff and pickles. For the most love-struck time of the year, this week's Valentine's celebrations have called for a Frozen Cherry Marg topped with love heart candles. Ready to enter? All you have to do is sign up for the MUCHO Group mailing list, follow Tio's Cerveceria on Instagram and leave a comment on this post describing your most creative – or even slightly insane – cocktail idea. Entries for the giveaway close on Friday, February 21, with the winner announced on Monday, February 24. If you're the chosen one, it won't be long until your friends are hassling you to organise the night of nights at this Surry Hills mainstay. Tio's Cerveceria is located at 4/14 Foster St, Surry Hills. Head to their Instagram page for more information. Images: Dexter Kim
In the words of Tyrion Lannister, it's not easy being drunk all the time. Everyone would do it if it were easy. That may be true, but you can certainly give it a go, when Game of Rhones returns for another year. An epic wine tasting event inspired by the grapes of France's Rhone Valley and the works of George R. R. Martin, this year's Game of Rhones will visit all Seven Kingdoms – by which we mean Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Wellington and Auckland. Each event will welcome more than 40 different winemakers, including Shaw + Smith, Yarra Yering, Tarrawarra Estate, Olivers Taranga and Paxton Biodynamic Wine (although exact producers vary city to city). There'll also be a number of food vendors on hand as well to ensure you don't go hungry. In between goblets, ticketholders will get the chance to chat with sommeliers at the Rhone Bar, vote for their favourite vintages as part of the People's Choice Award, and take part in a blind tasting 'torture chamber' that we promise is more fun than the name makes it sound. It should also go without saying that dressing up as your favourite GoT character is highly encouraged. Zombie John Snow, anyone?
After bringing hobbits, dwarves and walking trees to life in The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films, New Zealand's Weta Workshop has their sights set on something smaller for their next project: bugs. Forget sending creepy crawlies scurrying across cinema screens, however. A creative collaboration between the five-time Academy Award-winning special effects wizards and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, Bug Lab: Little Bugs, Super Powers will be scampering through the Melbourne Museum. With its Australian premiere season due to infest the Nicholson Street institution between 23 June and 15 October, the immersive exhibition gives little critters a big stage — and a boost in size as well. Visitors can get up close and personal via ultra-detailed large-scale models that look like a cross between colourful bug art and everyone's giant bug nightmares, with six particular specimens in the spotlight: the orchid mantis, bombardier beetle, jewel wasp, dragonfly, Japanese honeybees and katipō, aka New Zealand's most dangerous native spider. If you're easily spooked by insects, you might want to stop reading. Or, perhaps going along and getting a bug's-eye view of the world will help? Physical and digital adaptive stations will allow attendees to explore bugs' abilities in detail, test their own against them, and probably inspire a few folks to pretend to be Spider-Man. Elsewhere, bug chambers will showcase their adaptive skills, delving into camouflage, mind control, super speed, swarm intelligence and deadly venom. A section dedicated to the ways in which the creatures in question are influencing new technologies — think fly-like collision-tolerant drones, nanotechnology based on butterfly wings and 3D printed objects created from silk — will also be included, in what promises to be much, much more interesting than any bug-related science lessons you took at school. And if you just can't get enough, the attached IMAX theatre will be screening Bugs: Mighty Micro Monsters 3D during the exhibition's run. Bug Lab: Little Bugs, Super Powers comes to the Melbourne Museum from 23 June and 15 October, 2017. For more information or to buy tickets, head to their website.
An expansive venue open from breakfast until late has opened in the former Jet Cafe site of Sydney's century-old Queen Victoria Building. The historic George Street building constructed in 1898 is a popular thoroughfare for commuters travelling to and from Town Hall Station and is home to boutique retail tenants and a wide range of food and drink offerings ranging from cheap and cheerful takeaway to fine dining. The latest restaurant to take up residence in the QVB is Manon, an all-day European brasserie from Marco Ambrosino (Fratelli Paradiso) and Manny Spinola, the team behind Bondi's new 94-seat Mediterranean restaurant and bar, Lola's Level 1. "I have walked past the site for 24 years, dreaming of opening a grand cafe," Spinola says. "I am so thrilled to be in partnership with Marco to bring a French brasserie to the QVB. Manon will be a place to sit and people-watch while enjoying French cuisine, giving customers a taste of the European lifestyle whether it's at breakfast before work, a long lunch or an ambient dinner." [caption id="attachment_858433" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Monon team, Nikki To[/caption] Starting with breakfast, takeaway coffee and pastries are available from 6am. Visitors can also nab a table and enjoy a seated breakfast full of a mix between French and Australian morning favourites. There's a range of viennoiseries and baguettes, including pain au chocolate croissants and croque monsieur — plus breakfast hits like avocado and feta toast, bloody marys, buckwheat crepes or crab on toast with remoulade, avocado and a poached egg. [caption id="attachment_858435" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] Come lunchtime, you can choose from The Classics range that includes highlights from the breakfast menu and French bistro standouts like steak frites. There's also a raw bar with oysters, kingfish tartare and scallop carpaccio; and extravagant mains ranging from pan-fried coral trout to whole lobster and one-kilogram rib-on-bone côte de boeuf. From 5pm dinner follows a similar trajectory. The raw bar returns with the addition of caviar service. The array of entrées includes bone marrow tartine, snail meurette and grilled scampi. And the mains add beef wellington and cheesy crab souffle to highlights from lunch. [caption id="attachment_858436" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] Each Friday and Saturday, Manon offers up its services to those looking for a late-night feed, with weekend supper on offer following dinner. As expected for a luxe European brasserie in one of the city's most glitzy buildings, the fit-out is a sleek French-inspired design. The interior was a return to collaborator Chris Grinham who also worked on Lola's. "Marco and Manny's vision coupled with this site is a dream for us to work with and create something," Grinham said. "There's an alluring romanticism set within this design — so too a heady dollop of unique 'French' appeal." [caption id="attachment_858434" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] Manon is located in the Queen Victoria Building, 55/455 George Street, Sydney. It's open 7am until late Monday–Friday and 8am until late Saturday and Sunday.
The festive season is in full swing, which probably means there are more than a few long, lazy weekday lunches in your very near future. Handy then, that modern Chinese spot Holy Duck is rounding out 2018 with a series of cheap bottomless dim sum feasts, happening six days a week at its Castlecrag restaurant. Any lunchtime, from Tuesdays through Sundays until the end of the year, you can swing by here and eat your fill of dumplings and other dim sum classics for a bargain $25. The menu boasts ten different styles, from steamed scallop and prawn dumplings and soup-filled xiao long bao, to crispy duck spring rolls and wontons with a Shanghainese spicy sauce. And there is no time limit on your booking. Perfect if your office is located around St Leonards or Chatswood. You'll probably want to book in advance to secure a table — just be sure you don't have too much work waiting for you back at the office after lunch.
It's been a while in the making but planning for the 'adult Triple J' is now well underway, with Myf Warhurst at the helm. After taking control of digital music channel Dig in October last year, Triple J today announced that the over-30s station will be rebranded as Double J and officially launched on April 30 with Warhurst as regular presenter. The new station name is a throwback to Triple J's early days as Double J — a time when listeners were introduced to The Ramones and Joy Division and the station became a landmark in Australia's music history. Now, Double J will focus on the nostalgia of the '80s and '90s "celebrating the iconic music you grew up with" (N.B. This means a lot of Nick Cave, Nirvana and INXS), while adding in some palatable new sounds. "We have wanted to build a station like this for a number of years and now, with your help, we are really proud to deliver Double J," says Triple J manager Chris Scaddan. "While it won’t be a throwback to the music of the original Double J, it will be a station that takes the best elements of triple j’s past - a name, a presenter and the incredible archives, thrown headlong into the future with the best new sounds around." The reaction on Twitter has been positive with a touch of needling. — Callum Wilson (@Cal___) April 8, 2014 HEY! Gen X (old people) stop listening to @triplej its sad & you're making it uncool.We made you another thing over here #DoubleJ #TripleJ — Michael Davis (@MikeyMikeD) April 8, 2014 Regardless, the move is a necessary step to satisfy those who have felt disconnected from the national youth broadcaster of late. Alongside the usual complaints — "The Doctor sucks"; "Dubstep sucks"; "I hate hipster music and banjos" — Triple J has courted some controversy in the past few months about the homogenisation of their playlists. Faced with the familiar, high-rotation airplay of young indie acts like San Cisco, upcoming bands and old favourites alike have been reportedly feeling pressure to conform to a specific sound. Double J will hopefully help to quell this unrest and provide a bit of diversity to the listening landscape. "One of the best things any of us working in the media can do is to deliver something that audiences genuinely want," says ABC director of radio Kate Dundas. "We recognise people want to stay connected to music and discover new artists as they go through life — that’s the simple aim of Double J." Double J will launch at midday on Wednesday, April 30, with a live broadcast from Warhurst. The former Spicks and Specks favourite will present a daily show from 11am–3pm weekdays. The full list of programs and presenters will be revealed on air and you can listen in via the ABC radio app, online at www.doublej.net.au, or on your digital radio or TV.
Spend a lobster, get a lobster — and get some change as well. If you fancy treating yourself to an indulgent but affordable seafood bite, you can nab a lobster roll from Motto Motto from Tuesday, November 9 for just $16. The Japanese chain is adding the limited-edition menu item to its range at all stores Australia-wide, which includes Castle Towers, Macquarie Centre and Marrickville Metro in Sydney. Whether you're levelling up your lunch or you're hankering for a seafood dinner, your next roll just got a whole lot fancier. Motto Motto's version comes with lobster — of course — as well as shallots, avocado, black fish roe and yuzu dressing. If that's started your tastebuds watering, you'll want to get in quick, as it's only expected to be on offer for around a week. And, obviously, you don't need to pay for your purchase with a $20 note — but when you're buying lobster, you know you want to.
UPDATE, August 18, 2023: This screening is no longer showing at Roseville Cinemas, aka Sydney's oldest cinema, playing at The Reservoir Cinema in Surry Hills instead. This article has been updated to reflect that change. They're the world's most fearsome fighting team, or so the catchy theme tune goes, and they're heading back to the big screen. There's always a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie in the works of late, or so it seems — a couple of new flicks released back in 2014 and 2016, and a new animated flick is on its way in 2023 — but seeing the 1990 live-action film in a cinema is a rare treat. Mark 7pm and 9.15pm on Saturday, August 19 in your diary, Sydneysiders. This isn't any old screening, though. Haus of Horror is behind it, after showing horror movies at Parramatta Gaol and Camperdown Cemetery earlier this year. This time, The Reservoir Cinema in Surry Hills is the setting. Because the next Haus of Horror season won't begin until the weather gets warmer, the horror event fiends are heading indoors, going green and showing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in stink-o-vision. Yes, you'll receive scratch 'n' sniff cards, which you'll use to emit appropriate scents as you watch. Already thinking about pizza, as TMNT always inspires? You'll be able to smell it during the session as you watch Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael (and Sam Rockwell in a blink-or-you'll-miss-it part). Also, there'll be pizzas to purchase, a bar serving drinks, pre-film trivia testing your Turtles knowledge and a photo booth. Tickets start at $35, or cost $57 with a pepperoni ooze pizza and $60 with a vegan version.
UPDATE, January 16, 2023: The Menu is now streaming via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Whichever new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory adaptations hit screens in the future — beyond the already-slated Timothée Chalamet-starring origin story and Netflix's animated plans to whatever else might pop up — no one need cast Ralph Fiennes as Willy Wonka. The Menu has already done so, and fantastically, albeit not in name but in tour-guiding, court-holding, string-pulling and monologue-delivering spirit. In this slickly appetising culinary thriller, the ever-versatile No Time to Die, The King's Man and The Forgiven star plays Julian Slowik, the head chef at the most exclusive of exclusive restaurants: the fictional Hawthorne, which adorns its own private island, is pickier than a fussy eater about its guest list, and comes with a cult-esque crew of kitchen and hospitality staff. And at the eatery's latest sought-after sitting, Slowik takes his patrons through an unforgettable edible adventure, unfurling surprises with every meticulously selected, prepared, served and introduced degustation course. Getting "yes chef" bellowed his way by Slowik's underlings on command, Fiennes is a sinister delight in this vicious and delicious flick. With his character terrorising staff and customers alike, but similarly trapped with his employees in the hospo grind, Fiennes is also visibly having a ball in an entertainingly slippery role. He plays the part with the instant presence to make a room of well-paying patrons snap to attention just because he's there, and his facial expressions — his eyes in particular — are a masterclass in passive malevolence. There's a cruel streak in Slowik, as there is in the movie, but The Menu is a black, bleak, vengeful comedy as well. Director Mark Mylod (What's Your Number?) and writers Seth Reiss and Will Tracy (The Onion) know the best thing to eat, aka the rich, and turn their fine-dining factory into a savage, savvy and scathingly amusing satire about coveting $1250-a-head meals but letting the workers behind them slice, steam, stir and sweat through upscale kitchen drudgery. Babbling snootily about mouth-feel before even getting to Hawthorne by boat, Tyler (Nicholas Hoult, The Great) doesn't spare a passing thought for the restaurant's workers. A self-confessed foodie who can't abide by the eatery's no-photography rule for a single course, he's in fanboy heaven after finally scoring a booking — and doesn't his companion Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy, Amsterdam) know it. She's less enthused, and her lack of fawning over her surroundings, Slowik, each plate and the theatre of it all rankles her date. She's the least-excited diner of the evening's entire list, in fact, which also spans status-chasing finance bros (The Terminal List's Arturo Castro, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series' Mark St Cyr and The Now's Rob Yang), a cashed-up couple (Mass' Reed Birney and Julia's Judith Light) who attend regularly, an arrogant food critic (Janet McTeer, Ozark) and her editor (Paul Adelstein, The Greatest Beer Run Ever), and a movie star (John Leguizamo, Encanto) with his assistant (Aimee Carrero, Spirited). Mylod and Tracy share Succession on their recent resumes — the former directing 13 episodes, the latter writing two — which has them prepped for exactly this kind of dressing down; if you're going to boil down the one percent to size, there's no better cooking school. That background shows not just in the cleaver-sharp script or dedicated attention to glossy detail, but in the commitment to bite hard into a spate of targets. Where 2022 TV sensation The Bear carved up toxic kitchen life by displaying its chaos to a so-stressful-and-accurate-it-feels-like-you're-there degree, The Menu shreds and skewers by going after money and the performative culinary antics it can bring. That's part of what makes Fiennes' role so compelling, and his portrayal with it: the film's audience can see the pull that Slowik has over his staff and customers, and the screenplay spells out his professional misdeeds, but they also know what enables such behaviour. As breadless bread courses come Tyler, Margot and company's way, plus other just-as-precisely curated dishes — the feature is structured around Slowik's titular array — Charlie and the Chocolate Factory proves just one easy influence for The Menu. The Game, David Fincher's twisty quarter-century-old thriller, is another, with Slowik and his offsiders, warden-like restaurant manager Elsa (Hong Chau, Homecoming) included, pushing and prodding Hawthorne's latest intake unbeknownst to them. Yet another source of flavour springs from 1962 surrealist gem The Exterminating Angel, about guests at a lavish party who aren't permitted to leave. There's nothing subtle in The Menu's borrowings and nods, or about The Menu overall, but that doesn't make its class warfare-fuelled cinematic feast any less satisfying. In the hospitality realm, this cutting morsel is diligent in bringing together recognisable ingredients, too; satires, even delectably brutal ones, can't be vague. The Menu's audience can give some of their thanks to Ethan Tobman's (Pam & Tommy) production design and Lindsey Moran's (Animal Kingdom) art direction, providing Hawthorne with the style and sheen of Magnus Nilsson's shuttered Fäviken in Sweden, Ferran Adrià's El Bulli in Spain and René Redzepi's Danish drawcard Noma. From San Francisco's Atelier Crenn, Michelin-starred chef Dominique Crenn acted as the movie's chief technical consultant, overseeing dishes cooked by her IRL culinary partner Juan Contreras. Like The Bear, this vision of making and plating cuisine feels so authentic that you can imagine it appearing on Chef's Table — and, continuing the flick's credentials, that show's creator David Gelb is The Menu's second unit director. All the technical proficiency anyone can amass means little if the end result isn't mouthwatering, though, but that's a problem The Menu doesn't have. Also, an extravagant meal can wow the tastebuds but dull the joy if it doesn't feel like an experience, which isn't a struggle The Menu faces, either. As tense as a pressure cooker, as smooth as a squirt of the finest olive oil and bubbling with high-quality wares — Taylor-Joy and Chau join Fiennes among the cast's standouts — Mylod's film perfects a necessary balancing act as well. Amid silky lensing by cinematographer Peter Deming (Twin Peaks season three), rhythmic splicing by editor Christopher Tellefsen (The Many Saints of Newark) and a nerve-rattling score by composer Colin Stetson (Color Out of Space), The Menu knows the difference between the artistry that restaurants like Hawthorne champion and cultivate, and the woes, disparities and oppressions of the culinary world. One it still appreciates, the other it eviscerates, and battle between the two it scorches and sears, right down to the blunt but gratifying ending.
Macquarie Park's multi-level neighbourhood pub and entertainment venue The Governor Hotel welcomed an exciting new Cantonese restaurant with a hatted chef at the helm in August 2022. JINJA has made its home on level one of the expansive venue, bringing XO southern lobster scallop dumplings and a specialty tea dispensary to northwest Sydney. Now, seven months on, JINJA has introduced a yum cha service, which is available for lunch Wednesday–Sunday. The menu spans favourites from Cantonese brunch, highlights from the restaurant's usual menu and western yum cha standards — plus bottomless Keemun black tea for $5 per person. Steamed barbecue pork and mushroom buns lead the way alongside a classic dumpling roster. There's also chicken sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf, pork ribs, barbecue roast duck, spring onion pancakes, a congee and soup selection, and plenty of favourites hot off the wok including broccoli in oyster sauce, truffle fried rice, and salt and pepper squid. While you won't find any mango pancakes, there's a few fun dessert options if you want to conclude your yum cha with something a little sweet. Choose between custard buns, coconut mango pudding and golden lotus paste rolls. While the bottomless tea is the go-to drink option during yum cha, there's an array of beverages that you can add to your experience. Take your pick from the 17 traditional Chinese teas on offer, as well as a boundary-pushing cocktail list and more than 100 local and international wines. Leading the kitchen and pulling together these yum cha delights at JINJA is Head Chef Sebastian Tan, who previously ran the hatted Silks and Teahouse out of the Crown Sydney. JINJA is located at Level 1, The Governor Hotel, 9 Waterloo Road, Macquarie Park. It's open for lunch Wednesday–Sunday and dinner Wednesday–Saturday. Yum cha is available 12–2pm Wednesday–Sunday. Images: Steven Woodburn.
Nicolas Cage is sorely missed in Five Nights at Freddy's, not that he was ever on the film's cast list. He starred in 2021's Willy's Wonderland, however, which clearly took its cues from the video-game franchise that this attempt to start a corresponding movie series now officially adapts. Willy's Wonderland wasn't great, but a near-silent Cage battling demonic animatronics was always going to be worth seeing. Unsurprisingly, he's mesmerising. In comparison, the actual Five Nights at Freddy's feature stars Josh Hutcherson deep in his older brother phase, bringing weary charm to a by-the-numbers horror flick that's as routine as they come no matter whether you've ever mashed buttons along with its inspiration — which first dropped in 2014 and now spans nine main games, a tenth on the way and five spinoffs — or seen everyone's favourite Renfield, Pig and Color Out of Space actor give an unlicensed take a go. Writer/director Emma Tammi (The Wind), the game's creator Scott Cawthon (Scooby Doo, Where Are You? In... SPRINGTRAPPED!) and co-screenwriter Seth Cuddeback's (Mateo) movie iteration of Five Nights at Freddy's doesn't just arrive after a Cage film got there first; it hits after season 16 of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia wreaked havoc on a comparable setting already in 2023. If you're looking for a pitch-black comedic skewering of eateries in the style of Chuck E Cheese, the IRL pizzeria-meets-arcade chain that Freddy Fazbear's Pizza is patently based on, that's the best of the year. So, the Five Nights at Freddy film lingers in multiple shadows. There's symmetry on- and off-screen as result: shining a torchlight around in the movie uncovers sights that its characters would rather not see, and peering even just slightly through recent pop culture shows that this picture isn't alone, either. The concept in Five Nights at Freddy's whether you've got a controller in your hand or you're watching a flick: at the once-popular Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, which was big with families in the 80s, working the night shift at the restaurant's long-shuttered base has killer consequences. That's when the life-sized singing-and-dancing furry robots that performed shows for kids when the place was operational now go menacingly a-wandering, and also make their lack of fondness for visitors brutally known, causing a high staff turnover. Five Nights at Freddy's does explain why, but everything from what's going on to the reason behind it is horror movie 101. The film may take place in an eatery rather than a home — a creepy one, of course — but it's basically a haunted house affair, and happily ticks all of the most standard of genre boxes. Taking the gig from career counsellor Steve Raglan (Matthew Lillard, Scream) reluctantly, Mike Schmidt (Hutcherson, Futureman) doesn't want to be anywhere but his own abode come dark, let alone in a dilapidated old funhouse restaurant with anthropomorphic animal figures as one of its main attractions. But he's in need of work after being fired from his mall security job because he wrongly thought that a dad scolding his son was a man kidnapping a child, and reacted violently — and he has his ten-year-old sister Abby (Piper Rubio, Unstable) to look after. They're all that each other have left since the death of their parents and the abduction of their brother Garrett (Lucas Grant, The Patient) years before that, which Mike feels responsible for, other than the overbearing aunt (Mary Stuart Masterson, Blindspot) who is maliciously suing for custody. Mike normally spends his evenings attempting to find out what happened to Garrett via his dreams, a task he continues at Freddy's, with his preoccupation elsewhere giving the animatronics free rein. The place is inherently eerie in a dusty, overlooked, caught-out-of-time way — and also if you just think that giant teddy bears like Freddy can be ominous anyway — but Five Nights at Freddy's lead hasn't noticed until local cop Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail, You) drops by one night while patrolling her beat. Fuelled by his tragic past and ignoring the key 'don't fall asleep' rule of his overnight gig, he's too busy yawning his way to some shuteye to put dream theory to work to unlock his memories of the incident that shattered his family forever. Constructing a film around an oft-snoozing protagonist can be a double-edged sword, and cuts the wrong way here, reminding viewers that they might prefer to be slumbering as well. All that's endeavouring to keep most of the audience awake is predictable circuitry, from horror's current obsession with examining trauma's impact (and the genre's undying love of overusing any trend in flicks great, average and terrible) to overt nods in Stephen King and Scooby Doo's directions. That Scooby Doo vibe is telling, though: rather than just trying to evoke nostalgia in viewers who can remember their days as kids in arcades, family-themed restaurants or combos of both, Five Nights at Freddy's is as much aimed at adolescents now. Accordingly, Tammi hasn't taken a Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey approach — not that that's a worthy example of blending cuddly critters with horror at all — with her film focusing on mood, anticipation, suggestion and jump scares over anything gory or terrifying. Younger audiences still deserve better than a movie this generic. Everyone deserves something other than a film where more time is expended on the build-up and backstory than with Freddy Fazbear, Foxy, Chica, Cupcake and Bonnie. Created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop, the mechanised mascots look the part, but are both under-deployed and then stuck going through the murderous motions. Winking casting that gives away too much is also part of the Five Nights at Freddy's film experience. So is the pointless aunt subplot, which couldn't be more cartoonish. Scenes that do nothing but gush exposition — and ensure that there's zero mystery around who knows more than they're letting on — similarly bog down the movie. Hutcherson and Rubio nonetheless do well enough with pixel-thin characters, especially in a feature that frequently seems as if it has spliced an unrelated flick about sibling trauma into the Five Nights at Freddy's premise. A picture based on the gaming series was always bound to happen, and Blumhouse adding another established well-known horror name to a stable that also includes Black Christmas, Fantasy Island, The Invisible Man, The Craft's sequel, three Halloween movies, Firestarter and the latest The Exorcist entry was just as likely, but it shouldn't play like everything within it and about it is dully inevitable.
Barangaroo's Ume Burger is harking back to its fan-crazed pop-up days, this time heading out to Rhodes to join forces with beloved local cafe Left of Field. The pair's one-night block party will take over Gauthorpe Street next to the cafe on Friday, March 23 from 5.30pm. Unsurprisingly, it's all about the food at this party, with a brand new yet-to-be-revealed collab burger on offer, along with Ume classics and sides — we hope this means the Menchi burger with pork katsu and tonkatstu sauce will make an appearance, or the Japanese fried chicken with curry mayo. Left of Field will also serve up its signature pavlova hotcakes while Australian Brewery slings ice-cold brews and DJ Levins sorts the tunes. If Ume's past pop-ups are anything to go by, it's best to get there early and score yourself some tasty eats before it's all gone.
With its cracking wine scene and passionate local producers, Orange is one of Sydney's favourite autumn weekenders. But finding time out to make the 260 kilometre trip isn't easy. So in May, the town will be coming to you — or, more specifically, to the Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel. A follow-up to the inaugural We Heart Orange, held in 2014, the event incorporates a month's worth of Orange-inspired happenings. From May 1, the hotel's drinks list will gain a slew of bottles from Orange-based wineries, including Logan, Philip Shaw, Ross Hill, Heifer Station and 15 others. You'll be able to sample them any time during the month. But if you're looking to boost your wine knowledge, pop in on May 14 or 28 for an evening masterclass, to be hosted on the hotel's top deck, complete with water views. The headline act is the Taste Orange Food and Wine Festival, set to take over Robertson Park on Saturday May 16 and Sunday May 17. Wander around all day trying gourmet produce and wine, which will be travelling in from the country for the weekend. For best value, book yourself some tasting sessions before you go — $30 buys ten x $3 coupons and a complimentary glass. We Heart Orange will wrap up on May 29 with a grande finale, when Racine Restaurant pops up in the Hotel's Sunset Room for one night only, with executive chef Shaun Arantz presenting a specially curated menu.
When Jacksons on George's ambitious re-build and redevelopment was first announced back in 2018, it was billed as a pub of the future. While it may have taken five years, Studio Hollenstein's forward-thinking three-storey building is almost complete and the venue has been given a rough open date: September. Alongside the open date, we've also received details on the multiple restaurants and bars that will be housed within the multi-level opening which is set to arrive at Circular Quay's Sydney Place this spring. Leading the charge at Jacksons on George will be Head Chef Steven Sinclair in collaboration with Maurice Terzini (Icebergs, Re-) and Michael Broome. Sinclair arrives at the inaugural venue for Terzini and Broome's DTL Entertainment Group with a wealth of experience in world-renowned kitchens. Alongside time spent overlooking Bondi Beach at Icebergs, he's also cut his teeth at two of Ireland's top restaurants, The Old Schoolhouse Inn and The Potte Inn, plus Simon Rogan's Michelin-starred L'Enclume in England (currently doing a five-week residence at Bathers' Pavilion). Boasting an elegant modern design across its floors and artworks from former Archibald and Sulman Prize finalists, the sleek new venue will be split into three distinct hospitality offerings — a ground-floor public bar, a luxe bistro and a breezy rooftop bar. Wander in from George Street and you'll find a classic pub sporting a fresh fitout from Sydney-based studio Richards Stanisich. Both here and up on the rooftop you can expect the tried-and-true combination of pub feeds done well, house twists on classic cocktails and perfectly poured local beers. Some of the unexpected turns you'll discover on the pub menu include slow-cooked duck sausage rolls, Moreton bay bug buns and the beloved roast chook, brined, air-dried and cooked over charcoal. Elevating the feeds here will be Bistro George, a European-inspired diner that champions local produce. Clams casino, brined Ora king salmon gravlax, salt-crusted wagyu ribeye and a signature Jacksons banoffee sundae will all grace the menu at the date night-ready first-floor restaurant. Later into the night, Bistro George will transform into a cocktail bar and live music venue with a reduced supper menu. This will be the kind of place that you can slip into for an after-dinner drink or a late-night snack. An exact open date for Jacksons on George has arrived just yet, but you can look out for updates over at the pub's Instagram page. Jacksons on George will reopen at 176 George Street, Sydney following its ambitious transformation in September. Photography: Nikki To
Khanaa has just arrived on Crown Street, shaking things up with unrivalled Bangladeshi cuisine by Chef Opel Khan. Khan has worked with over 20 restaurants across Australia, Asia and Europe and runs Métisse, Acqua e Farina and Pizza Boccone in Sydney. The notable chef is known for pushing culinary boundaries and leading the charge with cutting-edge cuisine. His latest restaurant is no exception — the menu fuses Khan's love of gastronomy and his mastery of fine-dining techniques with his Bangladeshi culture and childhood. In the open kitchen, chefs Lucinda Khan and Jazz Singh prepare elegant dishes such as aloo pakora (fried potato) topped with buffalo curd and shiraz caviar, duck leg confit samosa with fermented daikon and paaya made from bone marrow and oxtail consommé. Guests will be treated to unexpected textures and flavour combinations like tomato marshmallows (which literally melt in your mouth) served with a tart and tangy tomato chutney sorbet or tender marinated beef shortribs with aloo bhorta (mashed potato) and crispy saltbush. A highlight is Chef Opel's Mosaic, which is almost too pretty to eat — delicate slices of raw tuna, kingfish and trout are held together with edible carbon on a bed of refreshing spiced watermelon, topped with clarified ghee. If you're unsure where to start, the team, including Khan, are more than happy to chat you through the menu, or you can opt for the tasting menu to experience a curated selection of nine courses. Khanaa is located at Shop 3, 335 Crown Street, Surry Hills and is open for dinner between 5–10pm from Tuesday to Sunday. Make a booking at the restaurant's website.
Upkeeping a healthy lifestyle during winter can be a bit of an uphill battle — and we're not just talking about that incline over at Heartbreak Hill. It's cold, it gets dark before the workday is even over, and we're burying our bodies under at least two layers of clothing. However, eating healthily is a habit that is fairly easy to maintain — if you know where to start. Forget the notions of lifeless salads or hours spent in the kitchen though. It's time to explore the world from your sofa. Together with DoorDash, we've put together this list of exciting healthy feeds that you can get delivered right to your front door.
Lana's highly collaborative Chef Series returns in 2025, featuring a host of new one-night fusions between some of Sydney's best culinary talent. Executive chef Alex Wong and Restaurant Ka's Zac Ng are kicking off the event this year, drawing from the former's stellar reputation for seafood-driven, Asian-Italian cuisine and the latter's contemporary Cantonese cooking. [caption id="attachment_991075" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leigh Griffiths[/caption] Ng is set to be the ideal partner, bringing decades of experience from many of Sydney's most respected restaurants. Building his reputation at Flying Fish, Sepia and XOPP by Golden Century, he now leads Ka – an innovative 10-seat chef's table where he blends Cantonese-style flavours with modern techniques and flair. For this exciting event, the duo will produce a fascinating sharing menu for $129pp, featuring dishes like mud crab tart with silken tofu, pork jowl with abalone, and scallop tortelli with coral prawn and trout roe. Make this lavish feast even more special with a Mercer Wines pairing for $65 extra. Presented in Lana's dining room in the converted Hinchcliff Wool Stores building on March 4, this bold collab is the first of several to come. [caption id="attachment_991077" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] Top image: Yusuku Oba
Vegans, it's a great time to be in Sydney. In February, world-famous animal-free chef Matthew Kenney opened his first Australian restaurant in Woolloomooloo. And now, the city's own Alfie's Kitchen – creators of innovative, plant-based degustations – has announced that it's moving into permanent digs. Before this, Alfie's shared its creations at secret warehouse feasts, held at various spots around Sydney. If you've ever attended one, then you'll know that head chef and co-owner Joey Astorga creates original, beautifully-plated dishes, often featuring native ingredients. Examples include paperbark smoked leek with finger lime and kipfler potato; hazelnut pâté with salted plum, roasted beetroot and toasted wattle seed; and rhubarb and lemon myrtle mousse with frozen strawberries. Both these – and numerous other delights – will be on the menu at Alfie's new home, Paperbark. A collaboration with Sydney's plant-based fast food joint Verd, the restaurant is moving into the Casba complex on Danks Street in Waterloo, where you'll also find Kepos & Co. and Allegra Dining. At dinner, choose between a la carte and tasting menus. Or, if you're peckish, go for bar snacks, such as salt, vinegar and pepperberry potato churros. When the weekend rolls around, brunch will be on offer. Astorga is planning some fun takes on classics. Think smashed avo, soldiers and toasties, but with unusual ingredients, such as finger lime and marinated oyster mushrooms. The drinks list is big on small-batch, minimal-intervention Australian drops. "The wine list reflects what we drink, small producers who care about every aspect of what they do," said Alfie's co-owner Hellene Algie. "We want to highlight the great minimal-intervention wines being made around the country." There's also a bunch of local craft beers and a signature cocktail menu made up of botanical-infused concoctions. Paperbark will open on Wednesday, June 20 at Casba, 8-18 Danks Street, Waterloo.
Grab a drink and join digital illustrator Bianca Beers to design your own piece of sneaker art at the Butter x Impossible pop-up in The Rocks. On two Sundays — from 12–2pm on March 20 and March 27 — Beers will be at Butter x Impossible's plant-based burger joint to run a two-hour afternoon class, guiding attendees through the process of creating sneaker art. Beers — an accomplished artist from Western Sydney whose client list includes activewear companies such as Nike and Puma as well, as software companies Adobe and Sony — will teach participants how to sketch and draw a sneaker design on paper step by step. Your $40 ticket includes a drink on arrival from the Butter Bar and all of the necessary art materials — and, if you're feeling peckish while you're there, plant-based burgers will be available for purchase from Butter x Impossible's menu.
If you've brunched at Paddington Markets during the past few months, chances are, you've sampled banh xeo: the mighty Vietnamese pancake. From now on, you don't have to wait until Saturday morning to get your fix. Stall owners Ben Sinfield and Tania Ho have set up their own restaurant in Rosebery and it's called, well, Banh Xeo. While the pancake is the eatery's centrepiece, it's far from all that head chef Sinfield (ex-Fred's, Ester, St John) is whipping up. He's also bringing his fine-dining training to a bunch of regional dishes rarely served in Australia, including bún bò huế (spicy beef and lemongrass noodle soup) and bún riȇu (blue swimmer crab and tomato soup). Plus, you can look forward to meeting 'Britnamese': the restaurant's signature blend of British and Vietnamese cuisines. They're not the most obvious of pairs, but Sinfield has come up with some interesting creations, such as bone marrow and toast, a London classic, spiced up with chilli-lemongrass paste. There's also crispy pig's head nuggets: pig's head meat, deboned, crumbed and fried, and served with shiso leaves and dipping sauce. And, come dessert time, Archie Rose gin, found just next door, is mixed with tonic in a granita, which is dashed with Vietnamese mint and lime zest. "This goes back to the fact that I love the food of Vietnam, but also want to bring in some of my own background," says Sinfield. "We laughingly call it 'Britnamese'. I have a lot of classical training, but I also want to bring in the flavours and the freshness of Vietnamese food, so it will be good to do a bit of both." Meanwhile, Ho will be taking care of front of house. "We absolutely love it that people can come to our stall, and now our restaurant, and try something they have never seen or tasted before," she says. "We find they really love it and that's very exciting for us." Banh Xeo will pop up for six months to start and, if all goes well, look into settling in for good. You'll find it at Shop 11, The Cannery, 61 Mentmore Avenue, Rosebery. Opening hours are Tuesday-Sunday for lunch from 10:30am and Thursday-Saturday for dinner from 5pm. For further details, head to their Facebook page.
In 2024, Doja Cat topped the Triple J Hottest 100 of songs from 2023 and added Coachella headliner to her list of achievements. This year, she's notching up a first touring-wise: the superstar's debut arena gigs in Australia. Come December 2025, the 'Say So', 'Kiss Me More' and 'Vegas' talent will hit Sydney, playing on Monday, December 1 at Qudos Bank Arena. Her Aussie (and NZ) shows are part of the rapper's Ma Vie world tour, which also has international stints in Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, Bangkok and Kaohsiung locked in for December. The run of dates takes its name from Doja Cat's upcoming fifth album Vie. Expect to hear Jack Antonoff- and Y2K-produced single 'Jealous Type' as part of her set, with new tune first debuted live at San Francisco's Outside Lands Music Festival at the beginning of August. [caption id="attachment_1018453" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dana Jacobs/WireImage[/caption] Vie follows 2018's Amala, 2019's Hot Pink, Planet Her from 2021 and 2023's Scarlet on the Grammy-winner's discography. It's the latter that delivered 'Paint the Town Red' — 2023's Hottest 100 number one, which marked the first time that a female rapper and woman of colour topped the poll.The tune also sat at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks, was the first rap song to reach those heights in 2023 and topped the Billboard Global 200 chart for four weeks in a row, too. [caption id="attachment_1018452" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jacob Webster[/caption] Top image: Raph_PH via Flickr.
From the inventive mind of contemporary Irish playwright Edna Walsh paired with the assured direction of Kate Gaul, TAP Gallery presents the Sydney premiere of Penelope, a creative reworking of the bloody climax of Homer's The Odyssey. At the bottom of a drained swimming pool there is an unlit, untouched barbeque; nevertheless, the atmosphere is hot and electric. Over 100 suitors whittled down to just four men. They conspire how to win the affections of Penelope in the absence of her warrior husband, Odysseus. Both Vaudevillian and tragic, this is a play steeped in the anxiety of Odysseus's return. It is a compelling cesspit of violence and anguish, sparked with offshoots of cabaret and black humour. This is Gaul’s second undertaking of a Walsh play. Her disciplined handling of last year’s The New Electric Ballroom earned great praise. In the wake of its success, expect this production to be another memorable tour de force of contemporary theatre.
Pull out your loose change stash and check under the couch, because one of the best food deals we've seen in a while will hit The Rocks next week. For one day only, The Argyle is slinging dumplings for just ten cents a piece. Head on in from 11am on Tuesday, April 23 and bring your appetite — and all the silver coins you can find. Expect a dim sum feast of gyoza, har gow and shumai on offer, with prawn, vegetable and pork varieties up for grabs. There is one catch — punters must purchase a full-price drink to access the ten-cent dumpling extravaganza. The deal is available all day and bookings are recommended — so head here before all the tables for next week are snatched up. If you miss out this round, you can still nab $1 dumplings (and $5 Asahi) at the venue every Tuesday — though the deal isn't nearly as appealing once you've considered the ten-cent version.
The end of March sees the beginning of cherry blossoms beginning their bloom all over Japan. The cherry blossoms, or sakura, are a fleeting beauty, only revealing the pretty pink petals for a couple of weeks each year — with tourists hailing from all over the world to catch a precious glimpse. With the country's borders reopening to tourists at the end of 2022, there is no better time to head to Japan and soak in all of its wonders than right now. Plus, with the sakura season varying around the country, you can experience that pink sky a bit later in the year if you head further north than Tokyo. If a Japan trip is in your near future, we're jealous! But, you're also probably feeling a tad overwhelmed with the myriad sights to see, activities to do and snacks to snack on. So, it's handy that Klook is up to date with the greatest ways to explore the country. Heading to Tokyo? Osaka? Okinawa? There's parasailing, dedicated cherry blossom experiences, temples aplenty and much more. But, if you're not heading there in the near future, CP's got you covered — don't fret. We've rounded up some standout Japanese experiences in Sydney that will ease you through your travel bug. SAMPLE THE CHERRY BLOSSOM COCKTAIL MENU AT BLOSSOM BAR If you are itching to go full Anthony Bourdain in the alleyways of tiny bars littered through Shinjuku's Golden Gai, but can't quite make it to Japan this year, be sure to make a beeline for Blossom Bar in Sydney's Spice Alley. Brought to you by the team at Gin Lane, Blossom Bar is bringing sakura season Down Under with its own makeshift pink sky and a selection of Japanese cocktails. Taste the northern hemisphere's spring with a Sakura Spritz. This sip's loaded with cherry blossom gin, sakura infusion, cherry-red maraschino and prosecco. Then, take it to the next level with transportive bites from KYO-TO. TAKE A STROLL THROUGH THE JAPANESE GARDENS AT CAMPBELLTOWN ARTS CENTRE The island of Okinawa is a must-see in Japan that needs to scoot to the top of your to-go list. Its tranquil atmosphere and beautiful nature are showcased best at the famous Southeast Botanical Garden (pictured above). But don't worry, if you can't make it to the "Hawaii of Japan", simply spend the afternoon enjoying the Japanese Gardens in Campbelltown Arts Centre. The garden has been blooming since 1988, with Japanese plants and beautiful craftsmanship making it the perfect place to go if you are needing a bit of tranquillity. Entry is free during opening hours, so you're free to admire the natural beauty and then grab a coffee and lunch at the Arts Centre Cafe. HAVE A KARAOKE SESSION WITH A SIDE OF GYOZA AT GOROS, THEN A NIGHTCAP AT BANCHŌ BAR You can't visit Japan without a karaoke session to start or end your night on the town. Luckily, Goros is your slice of Japanese nightlife right in Surry Hills. The venue features karaoke rooms that are completely free to book, so you and your gang will have plenty of cash to spend on sake and yakitori to fuel your performances. After you've shown off your star potential, head to Haymarket for a nightcap at the hidden back-alley bar Banchō. Here you'll find drinks expert Yoshi Onishi crafting delicious cocktails and pouring a premium selection of Japanese whisky. [caption id="attachment_893353" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gyro[/caption] RELAX AT THIS RYOKAN/BATHHOUSE IN BALMAIN If you are in desperate need of a holiday to unwind, but won't be checking out the sentōs of Japan, head to Balmain instead for an authentic Japanese bathhouse experience. Ryokan Gojyuan feels like a secluded paradise and is a spot for you to soak in some tranquillity. Indulge in the watashi no hi — 'my day' — package where you will soak in a special wooden hinoki bath. For $286, you can book for just you or you can bring a buddy and while away for two hours. You'll savour tea on arrival and a Japanese dessert afterwards. BUY SOME MANGA AT KINOKUNIYA If you can't travel to Japan in person this year, take a literary journey. Located in the CBD, this Japanese bookstore drenched in Sydney's sunshine sits on top of The Galleries overlooking the city. With an incredible selection of Japanese literature, graphic novels, manga and art and design books, Kinokuniya is a place to get lost in for hours on end. Embrace One Piece manga or explore the worlds of Murakami and Mieko Kawakami — we reckon it's (almost) as much of a good time getting lost in the pages of a book as it is in the streets of Tokyo. [caption id="attachment_893354" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marco Montalti[/caption] REPAIR YOUR BROKEN CERAMICS AT A KINTSUGI AUSTRALIA WORKSHOP Klook is full of exciting activities you can enjoy in Japan this spring. But, if you're wanting to take up a new hobby while embracing some culture right here in Sydney, we suggest you check out Kintsugi Australia's workshop in the CBD. Kintsugi is the traditional Japanese art of repairing broken pottery using lacquer and gold, dating back to the 16th century. This art form embraces the Japanese celebration of beauty in imperfection, beautifully highlighting a break or flaw instead of disguising it. Kintsugi Australia offers a range of courses, whether you are looking for something modern, traditional, beginner or intensive. Workshops run most days — there's something for everyone to embrace and enjoy. [caption id="attachment_694678" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Luisa Brimble[/caption] TRY SOME RAMEN AT RARA RAMEN If a booth at Ichiran Ramen in Tokyo isn't on this year's cards, enjoy the flavourful Japanese broths at RaRa Ramen instead. It might not deliver the same experience as devouring a bowl of Ichiran's tonkotsu pork broth, but we're confident it won't disappoint. At RaRa, noodles are made fresh each morning to slurp down with broth that owners Scott Gault and Katie Shortland have spent years perfecting. Enjoy your soul-warming bowl in a relaxed, communal atmosphere that mimics the izakayas of Osaka. RaRa is all over Sydney, with venues in Redfern, Randwick, Eveleigh — and even Burleigh Heads, for the Queenslanders. [caption id="attachment_886842" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Declan Blackall[/caption] HAVE AN UNFORGETTABLE OMAKASE EXPERIENCE AT BESUTO If you're feeling sorry for yourself for missing out on cherry blossom season in Japan this year, we suggest you stay local and really treat yourself — and what's more indulgent than an omakase experience? For something truly unforgettable, head to Besuto, the 14-seat fine-diner in the Quay Quarter Lanes precinct offering an intimate culinary experience. Here, the inventive meets the traditional, with your chef handcrafting a seasonal menu with the best available produce. The fish is outstanding and handled with precision and practised skill, and the 15-strong roll call of courses will leave you happy and full. HEAD TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS TO STAY AT A JAPANESE BATH HOUSE Heading to Japan and Fukuoka's on your list? Be sure to check out Klook's Kumamoto Castle and Kurokawa Onsen day trip. After you explore some majestic historical castles and visit an active volcano you will end the day with a relaxing dip in the hot springs of Kurokawa. If you're staying on home soil, why not head to the Blue Mountains for a relaxing weekend away? You might not have a vista that includes volcanoes, but the mountains are just as magical. Plus, you can stay at the Japanese Bath House for a weekender that includes your own onsen experience. Here, there are multiple mineral-rich baths full of natural spring water overlooking a bountiful naturescape — we promise you'll feel worlds away from home in this Japanese oasis. There are plenty of Japanese experiences you can enjoy right here in Sydney, but if you can't quite cure your travel bug, it might be a sign that a last-minute trip during cherry blossom season is just what you need. Best place to start planning? Klook. For more information, head to the website. Top images: AXP Photography; Jezael Melgoza.
The Squish Burger — a cheeseburger flattened with an iron fish press — has been making headlines (and Instagram posts) at Bondi Beach Public Bar since 2017. Now, Executive Chef Monty Koludrovic (Icebergs, The Dolphin) is moving the famed lunch item east, and adding heaps of truffle into the mix. The compact burger is heading to The Dolphin's venue-within-a-venue, Scout Sydney. The world-famous London cocktail bar made its way Down Under back in February, with founder Matt Whiley bringing his highly unusual, hyperlocal cocktails with him. Now, Koludrovic is giving us even more to love about the bar by recreating a truffled version of the BBPB Squish. While the Bondi version had two patties, the Surry Hills version has one and comes with truffled cheese, truffled burger sauce and Polish-style pickles for $28 all up. It's joined by another brand new dish, too — a $16 Chicago-style deep dish pizza, topped with tomato, garlic and fresh mozzarella (with additional prosciutto for $4). Alongside the new eats by Koludrovic, Whiley is turning out his usual high quality of seasonal cocktails. At the moment, those include the Cameflage (vodka, clarified cow and camel milk, pet nat caramel and yuzu) and the Human Race (Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz gin, wax leaf, mango and passionfruit mead and tonka). Yup, pairing them together is sounding like one very tasty combo. Scout Sydney is located on the top floor of The Dolphin Hotel at 412 Crown Street, Surry Hills. The new menu items are now available to order.
