So, you've always wanted to explore Australia, but keep jetting off overseas instead. Or, maybe you like the idea of travelling more than actually doing it. For anyone keen to experience destinations they haven't yet visited — and for those that are happy enough to pretend that they're on holiday instead of hopping on a plane — virtual reality offers a solution. And, with their new VR app, Qantas is jumping on that bandwagon. Fresh from announcing that they're closing in on non-stop flights between Australia and Europe, the airline has released their next attempt to change travelling as we know it. Courtesy of 13 immersive 360-degree videos, you can now enjoy everything from a world-first virtual fly over of Uluru to diving at the Great Barrier Reef off Hamilton Island. Heading to Sydney's VIVID, climbing the Harbour Bridge, taking a sunset river cruise through Kakadu National Park, and discovering the spectacular sights and inhabitants of Ormiston Gorge — they're all on the agenda (and once you've felt just like you're there, Qantas is clearly hoping that you'll book a real trip). You can also glide in a hot air balloon over Alice Springs and sail to Whitehaven Beach as part of your virtual tour of the country. Additional content showcasing other locations will be rolled out over the coming weeks, so if you've caught the VR travel bug, your journey is just beginning. And while the Qantas VR app is currently available on iPhone, Android, Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive devices, don't stress if you don't have the requisite headwear — you can also watch in 2D mode on your phone.
There is absolutely no denying that Lorde is the artist of the moment. And the hype surrounding today’s video release for her latest single, 'Team', is no different, with all the clicks causing Vevo to crash minutes after the clip was posted. 'Team', directed by LA director Young Replicant (The xx, M83), sees Lorde mostly sitting down — limiting her usually impressive dance moves. But she knows where she's going with it. "This video was borne from a dream I had a few months ago about teenagers in their own world, a world with hierarchies and initiations, where the boy who was second in command had acne on his face, and so did the girl who was queen," she said on her Facebook page. "I dreamt about this world being so different to anything anyone had ever seen, a dark world full of tropical plants and ruins and sweat. And of this world, I dreamt about tests that didn't need to be passed in order to be allowed in: sometimes the person who loses is stronger." The vid — plus several of Lorde's recent live performances, including a killer ARIA appearance in Sydney over the weekend — have come to prove that as she continues to gain ridiculous popularity, her style becomes more and more quirky. And we dig it — the 17-year-old, continuing to demonstrate the power of youth in her ironic music videos. 'Team' is the third single to be released from Pure Heroine. Lorde will return to Australia in February to perform at Laneway Festival.
Say adios to a mild October; the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority are adding a little spice to the calendar with 2013's Fiesta. A free celebration of Latin American music, dance, food and culture, the festival is expecting more than 200,000 punters from Saturday, October 12, till Saturday, October 26. Tumbalong Park will host Chile’s Quique Neira, Buenos Aires' Kevin Johansen and Brazil’s Sistema Criolina, while a Carnivale-style parade will cha-cha-cha their way along Darling Harbour on October 12 for one heck of an opening night that includes giant puppets, samba dancers, capoeira performers and batucada drummers. Tumbalong Park, Harbourside Ampitheatre, Cockle Bay and the Village Green will see food stalls, craft stalls and learn-to-salsa classes also join the line-up.
Saturday morning is rapidly becoming the new Friday night thanks to bottomless brunches, with mimosas and prosecco often the tipple of choice. If, however, you're more of a hophead than a bubbles enthusiast, Misfits in Redfern has just the thing for you — Brews with the Crew. The Brews with the Crew series involves three-hour bottomless boozy lunches featuring a different brewery each month. So, expect to see Aussie brewers serving up sumptuous schooners paired with a feast whipped up in the Misfits kitchen. It's $70 a pop and includes three hours of craft beer and a hearty share-style banquet to help line the stomach — think brisket sliders, duck pancakes, onion rings and soy- and sesame-glazed chicken wings. It kicks off from noon on the second Saturday of the month. First up is all-vegan brewery Yulli's Brews on March 13. Then, WA alehouse Beerfarm is taking over on April 10, before much-loved Marrickville brewery Grifter serves up cold ones on May 8. While Misfits has a laidback vibe, bookings are essential to secure a spot at one of these coveted sessions. So, go ahead and book via the website. Images: Steven Woodburn
Forty years ago, fresh from making one of the greatest sci-fi/horror movies ever made in Alien, Ridley Scott gifted the world another futuristic classic that helped define and reshape science fiction on-screen. It's almost impossible to name a movie or TV series in the genre that's popped up over the past four decades and hasn't owed a huge debt to Blade Runner — and, soon, that list will include a new Blade Runner TV series. Philip K Dick's 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? has already given rise not just to Scott's iconic Harrison Ford-starring adaptation in 1982, but also to exceptional 2017 sequel Blade Runner 2049 and recent animated series Blade Runner: Black Lotus. Of course, if Ford's other huge sci-fi franchise can just keep popping back up, including on both the big and screens — see: The Force Awakens, Rogue One, The Last Jedi, Solo, The Rise of Skywalker, The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett — then clearly this one can as well. The Blade Runner series obviously has some catching up to do to get to Star Wars-level continuations, and quantity isn't the same as quality, but spending more time in its vision of the future is definitely welcome. The OG film was set in 2019, so we're now well past then — and the new series has been dubbed Blade Runner 2099, which means we'll be jumping quite a ways forward in time. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Amazon Studios is behind Blade Runner 2099, once again bringing a small-screen favourite to streaming given that it's doing exactly that in September this year with the eagerly awaited The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. When it leaps forward to 2099, the new Blade Runner show will act as a sequel to both the initial film and Blade Runner 2049 — but who'll be starring and directing hasn't yet been revealed. That said, busy The Last Duel and House of Gucci filmmaker Scott has confirmed his involvement, Variety reports, noting that the pilot for the show has already been written, and that it's envisioned as a ten-hour series. There's obviously no sneak peek at Blade Runner 2099 yet, but you can check out the trailer for the original 1982 Blade Runner below: Blade Runner 2099 doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when more news is announced. Via Variety / The Hollywood Reporter.
You may have thought bringing the chefs behind the World's 50 Best Restaurants to Melbourne next year was enough. But Wine Australia, Tourism Australia and The World's 50 Best have decided to take it one step further and bring the world's top sommeliers along with them. If you had access to that calibre of people — wouldn't you? Last month, we waxed lyrical on the World's 50 Best Restaurants awards and the week of foodie fun that surrounds it — industry events, workshops and eats that will go down between April 1-17. The news that the greatest wine minds in the world are tagging along for the celebration is the cherry on top of an already delicious sundae. The pool of sommeliers are from restaurants already in the top 50 and the Best Sommelier in the World competition. They're the biggest wine nerds from around the world, and they'll be treated to trips to our most important wine regions, as well as specially tailored tastings that show off the best that Australia has to offer. The point is to bring together the most influential people in the wine game from around the globe and really show off what's available in our Great Southern Land. So while we won't be able to attend any of these exclusive industry events, they will bring light to the Australian wine industry and hopefully encourage more chefs to explore what's available food-wise in Australia. It ties in perfectly with the restaurant awards and Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, which is celebrating its 25th birthday this year. These sommeliers will sample the best wines our shores produce in conjunction with the best food in the world, which hopefully, according to Wine Australia CEO Andreas Clark, will help them to "walk away with a refreshed perspective and love of Australian wine". The wine list throughout the events will be curated by some of Australia's sharpest wine minds, with the panel being drawn from a pool of wine writers, sommeliers, winemakers and consultants with the aim of showcasing the quality and diversity of Australian wines. Panelists include Franck Moreau of Merivale, Amanda Yallop from Quay and the editor of Gourmet Traveller Wine, Judy Sarris. As the world becomes more and more connected, the unique gastronomies and wine cultures from all around the world are becoming more apparent, and more available, on a global scale never seen before. This event and others like it are the embodiment of a spreading and sharing of these cultures and their individual bold flavours. William Drew, Group Editor of the World's 50 Best Restaurants, said: "Wine is a key aspect of the overall gastronomic experience and Australia boasts some of the finest wine producers in the world, so this collaboration makes perfect sense." And while we blush with a feigned modesty, we truly can't help but agree.
The war on waste isn't just about banning plastic shopping bags, recycling plastic drink containers, phasing out plastic straws and finding alternatives to disposable coffee cups. That's a great start, but humanity's reliance upon single-use plastics includes cutlery, plates, stirrers, cotton buds and more. Europe has committed to stop using such items by 2021, building upon similar decisions in the UK and France, while Australia is working towards banning all non-recyclable packaging by 2025 — but one Aussie state is now taking matters into its own hands. As originally revealed earlier this year, the South Australian government has been exploring the possibility of implementing its own ban on single-use plastic items. After a consultation period — which followed the initial proposal by SA Environment Minister David Speirs, who released two discussion papers and called for for public feedback — the plan is progressing towards legislation. The government will now draft applicable laws for further community input, with the aim of introducing them to parliament in 2020. If they're enacted, it'll become the first Australian state to take the step. SA Premier Steven Marshall has outlined the proposed ban, which'll occur across multiple phases. At present, the government is trialling plastic-free precincts. When the legislation comes into effect, plastic straws, cutlery and stirrers will be phased out immediately, then takeaway polystyrene containers and cups will follow 12 months later. As for takeaway coffee cups, plastic bags and other takeaway food service, further investigation and consultation will be undertaken before eradicating them from circulation. https://www.facebook.com/StevenMarshallMP/photos/a.334019693384086/2240955376023832/?type=3&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCgQEDNSaeZW-ix7RSmoon8MNPIMnKTQMdJynEovfagvk0Qc8FeIer17xgDJjo8GTsDkxiNJUMPUPgHPbwasO3fOkX2xwSuybsGzBQZOLx5UOxsgTghfVz4pOfoZ68issh_w_1scmiE6bNXV0QAATbBw8cQplg2d5CzUuCV7b9Ebh_j2toAPshn-xQpP4n76zaucK56WXfhmv58JzY-6HT4HzBgw5Et3NJo2Mg48O0BwM11PwniCfX4tEXlrSEvjnC_vRFqnNsYLNtyHP8KAUwGmKeqdbm8GzM8KaRu05zf-g8NHef-7Bg2Tf78LsmaweIMPp_lceUvUMOY-Qme8bp5qQ&__tn__=-R SA was the first state in the country with a container refund scheme, introducing its 10-cent refund for eligible items back in 1977 — and causing an entire generation of interstate dwellers to grow up making jokes about driving a haul of cans and bottles to Adelaide to collect some cash. It was also the first state to phase out lightweight plastic bags, a move that came into effect in 2009. In comparison, New South Wales only brought in container refunds in 2017 and is yet to commit to banning single-use plastic bags. Victoria doesn't have a container refund scheme on the horizon, but will phase out plastic bags this November. And Queensland enacted both container refunds and a plastic bag ban in 2018. While action at a government level continues to take its time across the country — apart from in Hobart, where takeaway containers will be banned either late this year or early next year — companies and venues have been stepping in themselves. McDonalds will remove plastic straws from its packaging by 2020, IKEA is phasing out single-use plastics by the same year, Melbourne's Crown Casino is cutting down its plastic usage, the Queen Victoria Market is banning plastic bags and straws and Coca-Cola Amatil is also getting rid of plastic straws from 115,000 Aussie venues. In the skies, Portuguese charter airline Hi Fly is committed to becoming the world's first single-use plastic free airline by the end of 2019, while Qantas is eradicating 100 million single-use plastic items from its flights and lounges each year from 2020 onwards.
The sun is peeking out from behind the clouds, the birds are thinking about swooping, and now we really know winter will soon be out of here because summer's Sydney Festival 2015 has made its first lineup announcement. It's a show called Tabac Rouge by acclaimed circus mastermind James Thierrée, and in true festival style, it's a medium masher. The dance, theatre and acrobatics fusion is described as a "feast of visual poetry" by Sydney Festival director Lieven Bertels, who saw it in London earlier this year. "The show explores a world somewhere between the silent cinema classic Modern Times and a Jeroen Bosch painting — sometimes dazzling and funny, sometimes alienating and grotesque, but always hypnotic," he says. An adventurous recent work with a thumbs up from Europe (less so the UK), Tabac Rouge revolves around a disillusioned dystopian king trying to make sense of the world. Frenchman Thierrée plays the lead role, surrounded by a cast of agile performers, a junk shop aesthetic, an imposing scaffold set and plenty of smoke, mirrors and dramatic lighting effects. It sounds weird and enigmatic, but hopefully not quite so weird and enigmatic as this year's mostly impenetrable signature event, 'underwater opera' Dido and Aeneas. https://youtube.com/watch?v=VH2MmpE9THc The grandson of Charlie Chaplin and great-grandson of Eugene O'Neill, Thierrée was raised in his parents' circus troupe, Le Cirque Imaginaire. Needless to say, his understanding and flexibility with the circus arts is right up there. He's a Sydney Festival veteran too, having brought us Junebug Symphony (2003), Bright Abyss (2006) and Au Revoir Parapluie (2008). You won't be able to miss Tabac Rouge; it plays at the Sydney Theatre for the whole duration of the festival. Tickets for the Australian exclusive start at $85/$72 concession, and premium tickets ($119/$109) are on sale now through the Sydney Festival website. Look out for full festival lineup announcement on October 23.
If spending a couple of sunny days immersed in live tunes at Falls Festival is part of your summer ritual, we come bearing sad news: the end-of-year music fest won't take place over the 2023–24 season. The event's organisers have announced that they're sitting out this year after a chaotic period — including the festival's pandemic cancellations between 2019–2021, returning in a big way at the end of 2022 and beginning of 2023, and also hosting a Melbourne edition. While the fest's team has announced the event's hiatus as "a year off", whether it will return for the summer of 2024–25, what the festival might look like and where it will take place hasn't yet been revealed. "The past few years has seen unprecedented change in the live music space, both front of house and behind the scenes. While Falls' reboot in 2022–23 was full of amazing moments and we were thrilled to reconnect with our Falls fam, our team needs a break, so this year we'll take time off to enjoy the holiday period and allow some space to re-imagine how Falls will look in the future," said Secret Sounds co-CEO and Falls producer Jessica Ducrou, announcing the news. "We send huge love and appreciation to all our patrons for their ongoing support and for the great vibes they brought to the 2022–23 events. You really are the heart and soul of Falls and we look forward to updating you with our plans when the time is right." "We also want to send our love and thanks to our extended Falls team including staff, contractors, volunteers, sponsors, partners, suppliers, stakeholders and key agencies that we work with each year, for their enduring passion, dedication and support" Ducrou continued. Falls Festival has spent 28 years celebrating each new year with a hefty array of acts, including Arctic Monkeys, Lil Nas X, Peggy Gou, Jamie xx, Chvrches and The Wiggles to see out 2022 and welcome 2023. For its 2022–23 run, Falls took place in Pennyroyal Plains in Colac in Victoria, North Byron Parklands in Yelgun in New South Wales and Fremantle Park in Fremantle. It's been an eventful few years for the fest beyond the pandemic mayhem, too; back in 2021, Falls announced that it was saying goodbye to its usual Tasmanian leg in Marion Bay after 17 years, and also moving from Lorne in Victoria after a 27-year stint. Falls Festival won't return over the 2023–24 summer season. We'll update you when the event's comeback plans are announced. For more information in the interim visit the festival's website. Images: Charlie Hardy / Ash Westwood.
It's a dilemma as old as walls themselves. Do you use the space to hang something stunning? Or put in shelves to hold your books and gewgaws? Finally there is a solution that allows for both form and function. Riveli art shelves are a brilliant idea, formed of modular shelf units that can fold up against the wall, revealing the artwork on the underside. Even better, you can customise it with your own works and change them with your moods as you can slide your own images in and out, or attach them with magnets. And if you're the sort of person who always favours function over form, you can insert other materials, like mirrors or white boards to create a supremely functional set of shelves... or just use them to play an elaborate game of noughts and crosses. [via Core77]
Los Angeles duo Electric Guest are heading to Australia for Splendour in the Grass, fresh from touring around the world. The band appeared in MTV's Artists to Watch in 2012 list and have recently released music videos for popular tracks 'American Daydream' and 'This Head I Hold'. Their album, Mondo, which was produced by Danger Mouse, has been dubbed "a seamless fusion of Motown, '70s daytime radio funk lite, indie rock and '60s French pop". In addition to playing at Splendour, Electric Guest will play sideshows in Sydney on July 31 at Oxford Art Factory and in Melbourne on August 1 at the Northcote Social Club, and Concrete Playground has some tickets to give away. To go in the running to win a double pass to see Electric Guest at Sydney's Oxford Art Factory, just subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email your name and postal address to us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au
If this Cinco de Mayo finds you in Byron Bay (and if it does, let it be known that we’re jealous), salsa on down to seasprayed local cantina Miss Margarita. This colourful shack does the kind of vibrant, uncomplicated, flavourful Mexican nosh you’d expect from the beachside town and once hub of hippiedom, and they’re joining forces with Corona to celebrate the now-international day of Mexican culture appreciation (slash excuse to challenge yourself to a fajita-eating competition of one). Head down at lunch, hand over $15, and you get a Corona and two of Miss Margarita’s super fresh tacos. These guys are no mean feast, with varieties like tropical pork with pineapple, shredded chilli and tamarind beef, and house black beans with feta and jalapenos that’ll have you lip-smacking and finger-licking your way out of there. They’ve also got $25 Corona buckets all day long (or one for $7.50) and a $5 happy hour from 5–6pm. That’s a deal we can say ¡Salud! to.
An expanding arts and cultural phenomenon in the heart of Austin, Texas, each year South by Southwest hosts thousands of musicians, showcases the latest innovations in technology and introduces some of the year's most intriguing movies to the world. Amongst the most buzzed about films of SXSW 2014 was an Australian production named The Infinite Man, a low-budget, sci-fi rom-com about a man who attempts to give his girlfriend the perfect romantic weekend, only to accidentally trap her in a never-ending time loop. In the wake of its world premiere in Austin, with a release date set for the middle of the year, we spoke with producers Kate Croser and Sandy Cameron about the process of getting the movie made, the story's biggest influences, as well as the rapturous reception that saw the film listed by Time, Indiewire and The Hollywood Reporter as one of the most exciting movies of the festival. WORKING ON A BUDGET Financed through Film Lab, an initiative of the South Australian Film Corporation that offers funding to Australian scripts that can be produced on a limited budget, The Infinite Man was written and directed by first-time feature filmmaker Hugh Sullivan, who Cameron first met at university. "When Film Lab was announced, it forced us to start thinking," Cameron recalls. "We came up with a bunch of ideas … and it quickly emerged that that was the one that would work." Low-budget filmmaking can be tricky, but the producers had high praise for their writer-director's work ethic. "I think he really enjoyed it, but at the same time it was very challenging," says Croser. "We promised the crew we wouldn't work any overtime, because we couldn't afford to. So as soon as we finished for the day, whatever was left over, Hugh and the director of photography would just go out and [film] themselves … they were working much longer hours than anyone else." INSPIRING SCI-FI Naturally, The Infinite Man is far from the first time that romance and science fiction has been mashed together. "A touchstone for us was always Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," asserts Croser. "It's not time travel, but it's got a similar sensibility and tone, and it's also a love story like ours … for us, the time travel is secondary to the exploration of the relationship and the characters." Cameron, meanwhile, makes a comparison that was also made by several critics, to Shane Curruth's cheaply made, highly convoluted time travel drama Primer. "Something that can be done on that low budget, that can get across that complexity of ideas, that was an inspiration, to a degree," says Cameron. "People were giving feedback in Austin saying 'this is like the funny Primer.'" HEADING SOUTH BY SOUTH WEST For the producers, getting into SXSW was always the goal. "A big part of our plans was to get a big festival to launch the film, because being such a small film, you need to get that exposure somehow," says Croser. "The SXSW audience is exactly the audience for the film." "The most exciting experience for us was the world premiere", she continues. "We got there and saw the name of the film up in lights, which was really exciting, and then we saw a line around the block. We sat down in the cinema with the audience and from the moment the film started, people were laughing, and the room felt so warm, and the response really felt genuine … that was just the best feeling."
There are a lot of cliches in breaking up. It's not you it's me. I can't be with anyone right now. You're not in love with me; you're in love with the idea of me. Pretty much all of those cliches, it seems, had their first outing in an 1879 play, A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen, when Nora Helmer walked out on her husband, introducing the European public to the idea that relationships can and sometimes should end. It didn't go down too well, with many people scandalised and the ending softened for a future production. But it's an idea that's lasted and a play that's never lost its resonance. Much-loved independent company Sport for Jove are breaking with their usual Shakespeare programming to present this traditional but ever sparkling, beautifully honed production. A Doll's House is all about lead Nora (Matilda Ridgway), devoted and happy wife of Torvald (Douglas Hansell). She believes her bank manager husband is a more heroic man than he is, though he's openly a self-involved, controlling sexist around her. For his part, he thinks she's a helpless, pretty little bird, though it's something she layers on for his benefit. Little does Torvald know that Nora once engineered a scheme that would save his life but hurt his pride — and you know that revelation is not going to go down well, despite her faith in a "miracle". A Doll's House stuns with its early feminist insights into power and relationships, but its ultimate idea that to flourish in a couple, we first need to know ourselves as individuals is one that resonates for all genders. The emotional minefield of bad relationships is palpable in this crystalline production, adapted and directed by Adam Cook. A lot of this works so well because Ridgway is sensational in the part. As Nora, she has to manage so many different modes of being in front of so many different characters, and each evolving as her predicament progresses. From ditsy to defiant, she gracefully nails each stop on Nora's journey, while adding playful charm that actually makes us like her. If Ridgway's not in demand for a dozen main stage roles after this, it's a scandal. While performances from the whole cast (including Anthony Gooley as the slippery Krogstad and Barry French as dear family friend Dr Rank) make the script sing, it's a shame that the set seems to try for full 19th-century bourgeois Norway on a budget. With unrestored vintage furniture, insurance-firm grey carpet, startlingly ordinary doors, and brown, brown everywhere, the look is so drab and depressing, it's distracting. Most baffling of all, when the set does break from realism — with semitransparent back walls bathed in glowing blue light — it's only to create another eyesore. Even for a traditional staging, it's unfortunate that more creative solutions could not have been found for a room furnished "comfortably and tastefully". Designer Hugh O'Connor has done a wonderful job with the period costumes, however, which set the tone for the drama nicely. Some stories never get old. Others only get more interesting when we are allowed the joy of viewing of them with modern eyes. A Doll's House is such a story. With a 'sequel' coming up from the crafty minds at Belvoir, it's worth catching up on this classic now.
Last month, when the NSW Government announced that the South East Light Rail would be up and running by the end of the year, many a Sydneysider scoffed in disbelief. The CBD's The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room was among the most cynical — owner Fraser Short was so sure that the eternal construction that's been happening outside his George Street venue would continue into the new year, that he promised to throw a party if it was completed on time. And, in case you missed it, the long-awaited light rail route officially opened to the public this past weekend. So, keeping good on its promise, The Morrison is throwing a one big — and free — party on Tuesday, January 21. From 5pm, you'll be able to get a few drinks, snacks and, of course, the venue's famed oysters — all be on the house. You just have to RSVP here. [caption id="attachment_749345" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The light rail on George Street.[/caption] To summarise the saga that is the CBD and South East Light Rail project: it was first announced back in 2012, construction began in 2015 and, since then, it's faced legal stouches, cost blowouts (to almost $3 billion) and delays galore, due to everything from awry overhead wires and a discovery of thousands of Indigenous artefacts. Its prolonged construction has massively impacted businesses in the CBD, Surry Hills and Kensington — The Morrison is one of many businesses that have brought a class action against the State Government seeking compensation for loss of revenue. If you're heading to the party, maybe you can jump on the light rail — it will take you straight to The Morrison's door.
The Crown fans, it's time to say goodbye to the 20th century. You'll also be farewelling the show's leaps back several decades, too. When season six of Netflix's royal drama arrives later in 2023, the hit series will embrace the 21st century, including the early days of Prince William and Kate Middleton's relationship. Netflix has confirmed that The Crown will return this year for another dose of regal intrigue, although no exact release date has been announced. Based on past patterns, it's safe to expect it to arrive in November. For now, the streaming service has unveiled its first sneak peek at the next batch of episodes, however — images, not a trailer — which does indeed focus on the man currently second in line to the throne after Queen Elizabeth II's passing in 2022. Screen debutant Ed McVey takes on the role of Prince William, while newcomer Meg Bellamy will slip into Middleton's shoes. The Crown's sixth season will follow the IRL pair's first meeting at university in St Andrew's, starting the story that's played out in plenty of headlines and a ridiculous amount of worldwide media coverage since 2001. While everything that's popped up in the show draws its details from history — dramatised history, of course, but still history — this next instalment is bound to feel even more familiar. Getting closer to our current time will do that. When the series began, it kicked off with Queen Elizabeth II's life from her marriage to Prince Philip back in 1947. The first season made its way to the mid-50s, the second season leapt into the 60s, and season three spanned all the way up to the late 70s. In season four, the royal family hit the 80s, while season five covered the 90s. Just like in season five, Downton Abbey, Maleficent and Paddington star Imelda Staunton dons the titular headwear, while Game of Thrones and Tales from the Loop's Jonathan Pryce wears Prince Philip's shoes — and Princess Margaret is played by Staunton's Maleficent co-star and Phantom Thread Oscar-nominee Lesley Manville. Also, Australian Tenet, The Burnt Orange Heresy and Widows star Elizabeth Debicki returns as Princess Diana, with The Wire and The Pursuit of Love's Dominic West as Prince Charles. News around the show's fifth and sixth seasons has changed a few times over the past few years. At the beginning of 2020, Netflix announced that it would end the royal drama after its fifth season. Then, the streaming platform had a change of heart, revealing it would continue the series for a sixth season after all. There's no trailer yet for The Crown season six, but you can revisit season five's trailer below: The Crown's sixth season will hit Netflix sometime before 2023 is out — we'll update you with an exact release date when one is announced. Images: Keith Bernstein / Netflix
Cold and dark and gloomy, winters in Hobart aren't exactly the most attractive proposition. Or at least they weren't until the birth of Dark Mofo. Presented by the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), for the past few years this immersive arts festival has disturbed and dazzled locals and mainlanders alike with a mix of music, performances, installations, light and sound works, and art that simply defies categorisation. And from the looks of things, 2017 will be no exception. Revealed today at the stroke of midnight (of course), the latest Dark Mofo lineup is an expectedly weird and wondrous beast, featuring all manner of artists from around Tasmania, Australia and the world. Creative director Leigh Carmichael has called the program their "most ambitious yet", while pointing to a number of works — including iy_project 136.1 Hz, a large-scale laser work by the UK's Chris Levine, and Siren Song, a city-wide audio piece involving a range of female artists — as highlights sure to keep "the audience, the organisers, and some of the authorities enthralled." [caption id="attachment_616924" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo.[/caption] Carmichael also draws attention to 150.Action, from Austrian artist Hermann Nitsch. The dark, disturbing performance piece involves an orchestra and around 500 litres of blood, and is sure to be one of the standouts of the final weekend. "This work will be extremely confronting and challenging, but we would encourage our audience to embrace the opportunity to witness the intensity of the ritual, in this one-off exclusive performance, unlikely to ever happen in Australia again," said Carmichael. Then there's Crossing, a 200-kilometre pilgrimage down the Midlands Highway, which will take participants on a pilgrimage to six different churches over six consecutive nights. They'll experience a mix of light, sound and video art along with organ and theremin performances from Melbourne's Miles Brown. [caption id="attachment_616925" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image: Antony Crook. Courtesy of the artist and Dark Mofo.[/caption] Of course it should go without saying that this is just the tip of the iceberg. This year's enormous music lineup features the likes of Scottish art-rock legends Mogwai, indigenous hip-hop act A.B. Original, and Norwegian black metal pioneers Ulver in concert with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. There'll also be an industrial-scale transcendental rave at Hobart City Hall presented by the Red Bull Music Academy. MONA, meanwhile, will use Dark Mofo as a platform to unveil its latest exhibition, The Museum of Everything, described by its curators as "an astonishing assortment of artworks from the world's first and only wandering institution for the untrained, unintentional, undiscovered and unclassifiable artists of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries." The exhibition will have its grand opening on the first Saturday of the festival, and will be on display at MONA until early April 2018. Then there are the Dark Mofo staples. The annual Winter Feast will once again feed all comers, while Dark Mofo Films will feature a selection of big screen curios new and old. And who'd want to miss the annual Nude Solstice Swim, a communal dip in the ocean at sunrise the day after the longest night of the year? Just remember, winter in Hobart can be pretty bloody cold. Dark Mofo runs from June 8-21. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Tuesday April 11. For more information visit www.darkmofo.net.au. Top image: MONA/Rémi Chauvin, 2014. Courtesy MONA Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
No one just throws together a film festival program. For 18 years now, Sydney Underground Film Festival has carefully curated annual lineup after annual lineup, giving Harbour City cinephiles a feast of movies at their most surreal and sublime again and again. But if Sydney has ever boasted a film fest that's as much about rocking up and seeing where the mood takes you as it is about making a date with specific flicks, it's this one. Here, a conversation waiting in line for one movie might lead you to your next. To mark its latest milestone — turning 18 is no small feat for any film festival, let alone an independent fest that called Marrickville's Factory Theatre home for years, and now takes place at Dendy Newtown — SUFF has another astutely picked program on offer. Across a four-day run between Thursday, September 12–Sunday, September 15, everything from classic John Waters to Kristen Stewart's latest awaits. If past fests are any guide, it'll also sport one of the best vibes in both Sydney's and Australia's festival scenes, where feeling like you're about to discover something wild and wonderful is always in the air. Trust SUFF to open its 18th fest with Waters' Female Trouble, which also has an occasion to commemorate: its 50th anniversary. The Divine-led film is screening with scratch 'n' sniff cards for the full sensory experience. The one and only Waters is an interviewee in closing night's Scala!!!, too, about the London cinema in the same name. The rest of the documentary's title is Or, The Incredibly Strange Rise and Fall of the World's Wildest Cinema and How It Influenced a Mixed-up Generation of Weirdos and Misfits, which gives viewers an idea of the kind of tale it's telling. Stewart fans should have Sacramento on their must-see list, with the Love Lies Bleeding, Crimes of the Future and Spencer actor co-starring in the road-trip film with Michael Cera (Dream Scenario), Maya Erskine (Mr & Mrs Smith) and Michael Angarano (Oppenheimer), the latter of whom also writes and directs. SUFF's roster of pictures with big-name ties also covers documentary Michel Gondry: Do It Yourself, about the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind filmmaker; Daaaaaali!, which sees Rubber and Deerskin's Quentin Dupieux explore iconic artist Salvador Dalí in the director's usual offbeat way; and The Visitor from Bruce La Bruce (Saint-Narcisse), which pays tribute to Pier Paolo Pasolini's Teorema. Or, there's the Village People in Can't Stop the Music — and yes, dressing up to attend the screening is encouraged. Other highlights span black comedy Mother Father Sister Brother Frank, page-to-screen horror-thriller Saint Clare, more road trips with RATS!, and We Are Zombies from the team behind Turbo Kid and Summer of 84. If you caught stunning 2018 animation The Wolf House on the festival circuit — including at SUFF 2019 — Chilean filmmakers Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña are back with The Hyperboreans. "At SUFF, we're all about celebrating the wild, the weird and the wonderfully unexpected. This year's festival will take you on a journey through cinema's most daring corners — where anything can happen and usually does," explains Festival Director Nathan Senn. "Our lineup of films is a testament to the fearless creativity of filmmakers who dare to challenge, provoke and entertain, and we can't wait for our audience to join us for the ride." Sydney Underground Film Festival 2024 screens at Dendy Newtown, King Street, Newtown, from Thursday, September 12–Sunday, September 15. For further information, or to buy tickets, head to SUFF's website.
There is plenty to see and do in Canberra at any time of year, but a strong case can be made for visiting between September and November. The city really blossoms in spring (see what we did there?) — so there's no wonder why it's home to one of Australia's biggest and best annual flower festivals. Can't make it to Floriade this year? Never fear, there are still plenty of epic experiences to have in the nation's capital during spring. Whether you're planning a trip with mates, a significant other or solo, this list of activities will help you emerge from your winter hibernation with a spring in your step. Please stay up to date with the latest ACT Government health advice regarding COVID-19.
Corey McMahon directs a small cast in this funny yet serious piece about two actors who make friends with a seemingly ordinary bloke called Adam and unwittingly throw his life into chaos. It's a play about human connection, our perception of mental illness as a society and the consequences of using someone's life in the name of 'art'. "Music proves that the central character can be a fully formed person who just happens to have a mental illness," says McMahon. Music by Australian playwright Jane Bodie is having its world premiere as part of Griffin's Independent season. Since winning the 2006 Victorian Premier's Award for A Single Act, Bodie has been busy directing and writing for both television and theatre. She's also squeezed in a gig at NIDA as head of playwriting. You might have caught her play This Year's Ashes back in 2011. Music marks her return to the Griffin stage, in what looks like an interesting year ahead for the Stables. Inspired by her brother's teenage years, the play includes some of his favourite songs from the era, including 'This Charming Man' by The Smiths, 'Transmission' by Joy Division, 'Rock the Casbah' by The Clash, 'Into Temptation' by Crowded House, 'Spellbound' by Siouxsie and the Banshees, 'Fools Gold' by The Stone Roses, 'Song 2' by Blur 'Miserere Mei, Deus' as performed by the Kings College Chapel Choir. Music runs from April 2 to 26 at the SBW Stables Theatre in Kings Cross, and thanks to Griffin Theatre Company, we have three double passes to the first preview to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
If you're currently in wanderlust mode, currently waiting for a new travel deal to decide where you're going next, then we have some news for you — running off to Australia's iconic Red Centre has just gotten incredibly affordable, thanks to Qantas' latest flight sale. We think this part of Australia is always a worthy travel destination but it's just that much more appealing with cheap tickets. It's the perfect excuse to explore the extraordinary regions around or between Uluru and Alice Springs — full of quintessentially Aussie landscapes and wildlife. The sale launched this morning and runs until September 26 (or until sold out). During this time, Qantas is slinging tickets to the Red Centre for $199 each way. That's a saving of about $180 each way. But the discounted tickets are only available during specific dates in summer. Nab this deal for flights between November 1 and December 14, 2022, as well as between January 17 and March 30, 2023. This might be a quite specific period, but it's also one of the best times of year to visit. And are you wondering what to do once you get there? Uluru's incredible Field of Light installation is a permanent recommendation — and you can also check out our guide to visiting the Red Centre. Qantas' Red Centre sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Monday, September 26 (or until sold out). Images: © Tourism NT
In a place like Sydney where the state of our public transport system is constantly being debated and criticised, the Subway Etiquette Posters by NYC artist Jason Shelowitz, or Jay Shells, could provide some relief to regular commuters. Despite NYC being in a different hemisphere, it's good to know that Sydneysiders are not the only commuters who experience run-ins with nail clippers and subway polluters. Jay Shells' Subway Etiquette posters are the product of a survey of 100 commuters and their pet peeves, poking fun at things like eating on public transport, noise pollution, seating priority and physical contact. [via Trendhunter]
Thirteen months after Australia's borders closed and international travel was banned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Aussies can finally enjoy an overseas holiday again. The destination: New Zealand, with the long-awaited trans-Tasman travel bubble now up and running as at 11.59pm on Sunday, April 18. A quarantine-free travel bubble between Australia and NZ has been floated and discussed plenty of times over the past year. A one-way arrangement has actually been in effect since mid-October 2020, with New Zealanders able to visit some Australian states. But it has taken quite some time for a reciprocal plan to kick into gear, so if you feel like you've been hearing about the bubble for months and months (and months), that's definitely accurate. Here's how it works: Australians can hop on a flight, which have been dubbed 'green zone flights', and soar across the ditch as they would've pre-pandemic. To avoid quarantine, you'll need to have spent 14 days in either Australia or New Zealand before you travel — and you'll only be onboard with folks who fall into the same category. The crew on those flights won't have flown on any high-risk routes for a set period of time, too. To qualify to enter NZ, you'll need to also meet the usual meet immigration requirements, not have had a positive COVID-19 test result in the past 14 days and not be waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test taken in the last fortnight. And, you'll have to complete a travel declaration and a pre-departure health declaration; however, getting tested for COVID-19 before departure is not a requirement. At the airport and on the plane, you'll need to wear a face covering. That'll remain the case when you land in NZ, too. Travellers from green zone flights will then be taken to their own arrival area, away from folks landing from other parts of the world that are going into managed isolation and quarantine facilities. Random temperature checks and health assessments are part of the on-ground process as well. Then, once you're out of the airport, you're asked to download and use the NZ COVID Tracer app to keep track of your whereabouts, to abide by the usual social distancing and hygiene measures that've become commonplace in Australia, and to keep an eye on NZ's COVID-19 alert levels. You'll also need to be prepared in case the travel bubble arrangement is disrupted due to new COVID-19 cases in either NZ in Australia. If an outbreak arises in an Aussie state, there'll be three options. Firstly, if the case is clearly linked to a border worker in a quarantine facility and is well contained, travel will likely continue. If a case isn't linked to the border and the relevant state went into lockdown, NZ will likely pause flights from that state. And, if there are multiple cases of unknown origin in a state, NZ will probably suspend flights for a set period of time. Australia's international border still remains shut to most global travel, although a similar travel bubble with Singapore is currently under discussion for a potential July start. If you're keen to start planning your NZ jaunt, we've rounded up some of our favourite glamping sites, wineries, sights and restaurants in NZ. To learn more about the trans-Tasman bubble, head to the NZ Government website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. To find out more about the virus and travel restrictions in New Zealand, head over to the NZ Government's COVID-19 hub.
Two immersive nights of music are coming to Carriageworks. In honour of their 40th anniversary, Synergy Percussion is presenting Xenakis vs Pateras, a performance of contemporary percussion scores by renowned composers. The first night will feature Pleiades,which was composed in 1978 by Iannis Xenakis. It combines the different sounds of percussion instruments, ranging from drums to vibraphones. A performance of Australian composer Anthony Pateras' original work Beauty Will Be Amnesiac or Will Not Be At All is presented the next night as a counterpoint to Pleiades. Pateras incorporates many of the same percussion instruments but sound engineer Jérôme Noetinger will overlay an electronica sound using six different channels of electronic sound design. The musicians will be set up on different platforms throughout the space in Carriageworks, allowing the audience to move freely around the room. The mobility of the audience creates a unique musical experience for each individual. https://youtube.com/watch?v=xwndhuUEj2w
Restrictions and lockdowns have meant many Melbourne art galleries have spent more time closed than open in 2020. But it seems the culture gods have smiled down and cut us a little slack when it comes to one of the biggest, most anticipated art events to hit the city in three years. With art galleries now able to begin reopening, the NGV Triennial is set to return for its blockbuster second iteration this summer, taking over NGV International from Saturday, December 19. Held every three years, the Triennial made its huge debut in 2017, pulling a hefty 1.23 million visitors and remaining the NGV's most visited exhibition even today. Triennial 2020 looks set to follow suit, as artists from over 30 different countries share a diverse spread of works reflecting on a truly unique time in our world's history. Melbourne art lovers will be overwhelmed by the free large-scale exhibition of international contemporary art, design and architecture, showcasing 86 projects by more than 100 artists, designers and collectives. Expect to see US artist Jeff Koons pay homage to the goddess of love Venus with a towering mirror-finished sculptural piece, while renowned interior designer Faye Toogood reimagines a series of gallery spaces with commissioned furniture, tapestries, lighting, sculpture and scenography. Turkey's Refik Anadol has put together a video work, capturing digitised memories of nature with help from artificial intelligence and machine learning. Meanwhile, a showcase by Yolngu woman Dhambit Mununggurr is replete with her trademark blue hues, including a set of 15 large-scale bark paintings. Lauded Japanese architect Kengo Kuma joins forces with Melbourne-based artist Geoffrey Nees, using timber from trees that died during the Millennium Drought at Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens to construct a pavilion. The structure will then feature as part of a multi-sensory walkway delivering audiences to a new piece by South Korean artist Lee Ufan. If ever there was an exhibition worthy of your post-lockdown gallery-hopping debut, it's this. [caption id="attachment_795361" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of Refik Anadol Quantum Memories 2020 © Refik Anadol Photo: Tom Ross[/caption] Top image: Installation view of Porky Hefer, 'Plastocene – Marine Mutants from a disposable world' 2020, courtesy Southern Guild, Cape Town. Photo by Tom Ross.
Tokyo-based bar Tokyo Confidential touches down in Sydney next month, and what better place to host the pop-up than Japanese-inspired restaurant and listening bar Rekōdo? Drop in to the vinyl bar at Barangaroo House from 6–10pm on Wednesday, May 1, for elevated house party vibes, with DJs spinning a playlist devised by the bar's co-founder Tom Egerton and venue manager Sho Nomura, alongside a curated selection of Tokyo Confidential's signature cocktails. The menu for the night features four cocktails. Options include the Tea Sea with gin, sauvignon blanc, green tea, grappa and salt; the Tokyo Banana Colada with bourbon, banana, coconut and pineapple; and the Glass Slipper with rum, yuzushu, pandan and melon. "It's exciting to be able to bring our brand of hospitality to Sydney and share it with guests, to really try and bring some of Tokyo with us. We aren't the typical Japanese bar people may be expecting," Egerton says. In addition to the cocktail lineup, Rekōdo's Head Chef Michael Dabbs has designed a small menu of bar food to complement the drinks, including dishes like bang bang chicken, yellowfin tuna nori tacos, and soft-shell crab baos. Make a booking at the Tokyo Confidential x Rekōdo website.
Prepare to see some very fashionable pups strolling the streets of Australia, because instantly recognisable fashion label Gorman has launched its latest line of limited-edition dog coats. What's more — as part of a collaboration with PetRescue — those new threads will have their wearers looking good for a very good cause. All profits will go towards providing extra support and boost awareness for the life-changing organisation, which advocates for change around Australia's dysfunctional pound system and helps find forever hopes for lots of pups. The quilted dog jackets are available in three different exclusive Gorman prints — named Neighbours Garden, Walk It and Green Fingers — and four sizes, ensuring pups big and small can look the goods. Each features a polyester shell and lining and adjustable velcro straps for the perfect fit. [caption id="attachment_718376" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Harvey in Green Fingers.[/caption] Just imagine how many looks your fluffball will get down at the dog park. If you do want to snag one, however, we recommend you head in-store or online ASAP — these babies are known to sell out quickly. Gorman's PetRescue range of coats is now available online and at Gorman stores nationwide. Prices start at $39. Top image: Floyd in Green Fingers.
Writers and film buffs have their festivals, and art lovers are treated to spectaculars all year 'round, but it's not so often we get to stop and take stock of the music world. With very few panel-style events, our interaction with music mostly consists of late-night jaunts to the local bandroom under the influence of a few cheeky bevies. Enter BIGSOUND 2014: the Australian music world's equivalent of SxSW. This morning these Brisbane legends released their lineup for the 2014 festival and, at 80 bands deep, it's pretty impressive. Reading like a who's who of local up-and-comers, the bands involved include Sydney festival darling Alison Wonderland, Adelaide rockers Bad//Dreems, Melbourne '90s revivalists Client Liaison and 19-year-old Brisbanite Thelma Plum. Running for just two days from September 10-12, this annual music conference will be jam-packed with not only live performances but panels, interviews and talks from the world's best. This year's international speakers include James Minor from SxSW, Tom Windish from The Windish Agency, Ben Marshall from the Sydney Opera House, and Jerome Borazio and Danny Rogers from St Jeome's Laneway Festival — maybe the only Aussie festival that saw any success this year. Taking place as always in Fortitude Valley, this local love-in will run over 12 locations including new sites such as The Underdog, The New Globe, The Elephant, Crowbar, and a new outdoor venue by Brightside and Magic City. You'll have your work cut out for you to see everything, but luckily you can start planning now. Tickets have gone on sale today via Oztix with a 2-day pass only setting you back $69+bf. For a lineup of 80 stellar bands, you've gotta admit that's a pretty decent deal. Check out the full lineup: Airling Alison Wonderland APES Ash Grunwald Avaberée BAD//DREEMS Banoffee Baptism of Uzi Blank Realm BONJAH Brad Butcher Caligula's Horse Client Liaison Coach Bombay Crooked Colours D.D Dumbo Deep Sea Arcade Devon Sproule DMAs Ernest Ellis Eves Fieldings Flyying Colours Fractures Fraser A. Gorman Gold Fields Halfway Hayden Calnin HITS Holy Holy I'lls Indian Summer Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders Jane Tyrell Jess Ribeiro and the Bone Collectors Jesse Davidson Jimblah Karl S. Williams KINGSWOOD Klo KLP LANKS Left. L-FRESH The LION Lia Mice Little May Lime Cordiale LOWER SPECTRUM Luca Brasi LUCIANBLOMKAMP Lurch & Chief Major Leagues Mansionair Milwaukee Banks Morning Harvey Oisima Okenyo Olympic Ayres Orphans Orphans PACES Panama Pikelet REMI Ruby Boots Sampology ft. Tom Thum & Jordan Rakei Scenic Steve Smyth Step-Panther Stillwater Giants Sweet Jean Sydonia Teeth & Tongue The Bennies The Creases The Harpoons The Murlocs The Phoncurves The Tiger & Me Thelma Plum Thrupence Tin Sparrow Tkay Maidza Tully On Tully wordlife Yeo
A Brush With Fame is a fundraiser that gives us 'normies' the chance to own a one-of-a-kind work of art made by some of our favourite bands and musicians. After years of hosting some of the world's best musical artists, Sydney's FBi Radio is releasing a collection of artworks created specially for them by everyone from Yeasayer to Iggy Pop, Vampire Weekend to Boy and Bear. As these acts passed through the hallowed halls of Sydney's favourite indie radio station, they were asked to stick fabric markers to plain white canvas, and let those creative juices flow. The visual ramblings were then collected, and will soon be on sale for the public to own. In addition to the possibility of owning a piece by a favourite musician, works by visual artists like Archibald finalist Abdul Abdullah and street artist Beastman are up for grabs. There's also a canvas doodled on by acerbic wit-smith, Marieke Hardy, and one by the brains behind Mambo, Reg Mombassa. The sale goes down on November 22 via the wonder of eBay, with bids starting at $50. All the funds go towards running the not-for-profit public radio station. Head to the FBi site to see a list of all the artists, pictures of their many varied visual offerings, and all the other necessary details.
When Sydneysiders want to spend a day carving up the snow, they usually have to jump in a car for at least five hours and head to one of NSW's ski resorts. But, in a few years, it might be as easy as jumping on a train to Penrith, thanks to a new $300-million indoor Winter Sports World that's been proposed for the city — and has just received Penrith Council's official endorsement. Set to be built in Jamisontown on the corner of Jamison Road and Tench Avenue, the centre will include a 300-metre indoor ski slope, an Olympic-size ice skating rink, and both ice and rock climbing facilities. If executed to plan, the proposal claims the ski slope will be one of the top ten high-performance training centres in the world. And yes, it'll use real snow. A food and drink precinct featuring bars, restaurants and cafes, and a 120-room hotel have also been included in the proposal. One of those eateries will be a revolving fine diner, too, and everything will have snow views. A snow play area is also part of the plan, alongside conference and function rooms. Visitors will be able to learn to ski onsite, as part of the resort's positioning as a feeder site to outdoor snow fields. The idea: that you'll learn the ropes indoors, then later head out of town to try the real thing. The development, which sought public feedback last year and is being put forward as a new major attraction for the area, is part of the Penrith City Council's plan to double visitors and tourism revenue in the area by 2025. If it goes ahead, Winter Sports World is expected to contribute $80 million to the NSW economy each year. Once built, the facility is hoped to provide a boost to Australia's Winter Olympians and their training, providing a venue for alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboarding and figure skating, as well as ice hockey, speed skating and curling (and possibly cross country and biathlon as well). The Winter Olympics haven't traditionally been one of Australia's sporting strong suits — the national team first competed in 1936 and didn't win its first medal until 1994. The proposal has been in the works since November 2018, and in development for the past seven years in total. Site owner and developer Peter Magnisalis will now finalise the plans with the council and the NSW Planning Department, with an aim to start construction in 2022 ahead of a 2024 target opening date — in winter, of course. If construction does kick off, it certainly won't be the only big new development happening in Western Sydney, with Badgerys Creek set to become home to Sydney's next major airport. For more information about Winter Sports World, head to the proposed venue's website. Images: artists' impressions of Winter Sports World.
In the 21st century — by virtue of the smartphone technology each of us carry around in our pockets — everyone's a photographer. And while of course your selfies still qualify as #art, we all know there's art and then there's art. The latter form is what you'll find at the Australian Centre for Photography, Australia's leading national organisation devoted to photography and new media. One of the longest running contemporary art spaces, the ACP was founded in 1973 and remains a strong creative influence within Australian cultural life. At any given moment the space plays host to a number of free exhibitions, from the finest in student photography to the skilful final products of the industry's ultimate boundary pushers. And if you're really looking to up your selfie game, ACP Workshop runs photography courses for all levels from total rookies to seasoned pros wanting to finesse their skills.
Everyone's favourite melancholic hitmaker Post Malone is coming back to Australia later this year. The global superstar was just in the country in January and February supporting Red Hot Chili Peppers, but he must've enjoyed his time Down Under, because he's already announced a run of headline Australian shows as part of his If Y'all Weren't Here I'd Be Crying world tour. Diamond-certified multiple times over, Posty will be hitting Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne throughout November on this run of shows. You can catch him at the Brisbane Showgrounds on Thursday, November 23; The Domain in Sydney on Wednesday, November 29; and Melbourne Showgrounds on Thursday, November 30. He's also swinging past New Zealand beforehand for a show in Auckland on Tuesday, November 21. The fun, however, does not stop there. Live Nation's tour poster for the Australian run of dates includes four other yet-to-be-announced stops: Canberra, Gold Coast, Ballarat and Perth. Interestingly, these locations lineup with where and when the touring festival Spilt Milk usually pops up. The festival is set to drop its lineup this coming Tuesday, July 4 at 8am, so it looks like Malone may be a real possibility to headline this year's edition. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXhTHyIgQ_U This tour is in support of Post Malone's fifth studio album Austin which is set to arrive on Friday, July 28 featuring recent singles 'Mourning' and 'Chemical'. You can expect a career-spanning performance dipping into his most recent album, 2022's Twelve Carat Toothache, and his catalogue of global smashes like 'Congratulations', 'Rockstar', 'Sunflower' and 'Circles'. Check out the poster for Post Malone's Australian tour below — featuring the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane shows, as well as the unannounced Canberra, Gold Coast, Ballarat and Perth dates. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Live Nation Australia (@livenationaustralia) POST MALONE: IF Y'ALL WEREN'T HERE I'D BE CRYING AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR DATES Tuesday, November 21 — The Outer Fields at Western Springs, Auckland Thursday, November 23 — Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane Wednesday, November 29 — The Domain, Sydney Thursday, November 30 — Melbourne Showgrounds Post Malone is touring Australia and New Zealand in November 2023. Tickets for Australian shows go on sale online on Monday, July 13 — at 1pm in Brisbane, 12pm in Sydney, and 11am in Melbourne, with pre-sales via Vodafone from Thursday, July 6 and from Live Nation on Tuesday, July 11. For more information, head to the tour website. Tickets for New Zealand shows go on sale online at 12pm on Thursday, July 13, with pre-sales via One NZ on Thursday, July 6 and from Live Nation on Tuesday, July 11. For more information, head to the tour website. Top image: Chrisallmeid
We're all familiar with Sydney’s great affinity for Mexican food. These days, you can’t throw a sombrero without hitting a cute cantina filled with bright flags, smiling skulls and a slew of salt-rimmed margaritas. But decor and tequila aside, the real determining factor of a great Mexican joint is, of course, in the food — more specifically, the tortillas and their toppings. Whether you like them soft or crispy, from an authentic taqueria or shovelling them down at an all-you-can-eat competition, our picks of top ten tacos will go down a treat. We've even included a DIY version, so you can continue the fiesta at home. Dos Senoritas Top Taco: Baja fish and shrimp taco. The Baja-style seasoned mayo sauce is addictive. Touted as Sydney’s only authentic Mexican, Dos Senoritas upholds its longstanding reputation with a traditional Guadalajaran-style menu by native chef, Domingo Medina. While the decor could do with a refresh, it’s the award-winning tacos you came for and it’s here they abound. Just choose your shell, (gringo style - flour tortilla, street style - corn tortilla or tex-mex - crispy taco shell) and for $25, choose three tacos off the menu. There’s charbroiled chicken, marinated steak, spicy ground beef, Baja fish and shrimp or Dos XX (Mexican beer) battered fish. Tacos are served with rice and beans, guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream and coriander. The authenticity is apparent in the flavour and spice lovers will appreciate the use of real Guadalajaran chillies. 265D Victoria Road, Gladesville; 02 9817 3737; www.dossenoritas.com.au Al Carbon Food Truck Top Taco: Carnitas Tacos. Slow, slow cooked pork with unmisseable extras. Canterbury favourite La Lupita moved to CBD venue The Basement, but then headed back to Canterbury under a new name, PAZAR Food Collective. But the crew's part-time food truck has been chugging away the whole time. The tacos here are $6, slightly bigger than your usual and packed with flavour. 'Al Carbon' means 'cooked over charcoal' in Spanish, and these guys are all about tradition. Making tortillas fresh to order in the truck, you can expect north Mexican-style tacos and nosh from the Sonoran region. The Carnitas Tacos (super slowly roasted pork with ciccarones (crackling) and habanero onion lime salsa are full of crispy, porky deliciousness. The truck also churns out the epic Sonoran Hot Dog ($12), bacon-wrapped beef, Applewood smoked hot dog in a bolillo roll with frijoles, salsa Mexicana, Oaxaca cheese, guacamole, salsa de chile de arbol, smoked jalapeno mayo and American mustard. We know we're talking tacos here, but this is some kind of meaty wizardry. Various spots around Sydney; www.visitalcarbon.com El Loco Top Taco: Carne Asada. The lemongrass adds a burst of Asian flavour to the tender beef. At Dan Hong’s Surry Hills establishment all tacos on the $5 menu are flavourful and inspired combinations. Spit roasted pork with pineapple salsa is a stand out, but the pub also offers lemongrass beef with salsa verde and queso, prawn with salsa verde and pico de gallo, chicken with sweet corn salsa, and a marinated tofu taco for the often-neglected vegos. The secret taco changes daily and the staff are tight-lipped about its contents, but it’s known to sometimes be offal. A good tip for those who can’t handle their gluten, or are watching their waistlines: lettuce cups can be substituted for tortillas. If you’re feeling particularly ravenous, keep your eyes peeled for their ad hoc taco eating competitions which are often organised during festival season or on a Mexican holiday. The deal is to eat as many as you can throw down in 15 minutes, but beware: they’re slathered with Dan Hong’s spicy sauce. The next one for 2014 is on March 25, but a word of advice from this writer and past taco-eating female champion: you need a stomach of steel to come out of this comp unscathed. 64 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills or at the Slip Inn, 111 Sussex Street, Sydney; 02 9211 4945; www.elloco.com.au El Topo Top Taco: Jaias y jalapeno. The soft shell crab is fresh and tender, and the lighter option on the menu. Taking your tastebuds on a trip to Oaxaca, El Topo gives us a taste of traditional Central Mexican flavours. There are three tacos on offer: the cochinita pibil (roast pork, radish and pickled onion, $6), the pollo negro (grilled chicken, black bean, and corn salsa, $6) and the newest and most popular addition, the jaias y jalapeno (soft shell crab, mulato mayo and a jalapeno and cactus salsa, $8). But for those sceptics who think tacos just won’t fill you up, the best way to go about things is to order one of the bigger mains, and add some tortillas ($1 for two) on the side. Try the traditional slow-cooked lamb shoulder, with a traditional mole sauce ($30) or the 12-hour beef brisket with Oaxacan barbecue sauce ($34). This joint is oozing atmosphere, and with ample seating, including a courtyard and a long communal table. After a tough day of shopping, this is the best place to refuel with ample options at the ready. (Don’t forget the roasted crickets!) 500 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction; (02) 8383 5959; www.theeastern.com.au Chica Bonita Top Taco: Baja fish taco. Flaky fish with a spicy Baja sauce goes down a treat on a hot day. Lazing around at the beach can really work up an appetite, so as your newly golden belly growls with hunger, head on over to this tiny Manly bar that’s full of spunk and looks just like you’ve stumbled upon a little corner of Mexico. Put the fries-stuffed burritos out of your mind (but definitely consider them next time) and get the soft shell fish tacos, the best on the menu. They’ve got a crispy batter with a Baja-style spicy cream. The Tama Asada (grilled steak with fried corn and pickled onions) or the Cochinita Pibil (shredded pork with salsa and pickled onions) are also both satisfactory options. All tacos are $5 and are only available in the evening. To enjoy them properly, they should definitely be served with a crusty beer (salt-rimmed beer) or two. 7 The Corso, Manly; (02) 9976 5255; www.chicabonita.com.au Mexicano Top Taco: Chipotle beef taco. Slow cooked beef in spicy chipotle peppers gives an authentic taste of Mexico. A little further north in Narrabeen, Mexicano head chef Sean Prenter and his team showcase their fresh take on modern and street-style Mexican. Sean takes pride in sourcing fresh, quality and local produce so you can take comfort in your food being some of the tastiest and most authentic around. All the tortillas are traditionally hand rolled and pressed daily using wheat and corn masa flours. Must-try tacos are the Mexican fish taco, with battered local fish of the day and a spicy chipotle mayo ($16 for three) and the chipotle beef brisket ($16 for three) or for a hearty vegetarian option, go the roasted winter taco (pumpkin, eggplant, zucchini and local cheese, $13 for three). We also hear a little whisper that the owners are opening up a new taqueria-style venue, MX, in Mona Vale soon. Shop 2, 209-211 Ocean Street, Narrabeen; (02) 9970 8975; www.mexicano.com.au Flying Fajita Sisters Top Taco: Huachinango. The grilled snapper is a lighter option with ample flavour thanks to the guajillo salsa. Glebe’s long-standing Mexican haunt is known for it cheap tacos and glowing wall of tequilas. Using fresh, seasonally available produce as well as imported spices and sauces that are usually only found in Mexico or the US, the taco menu is well-researched and constantly changes. For $14.90 you get two fresh, soft corn tortillas which you can fill with either Huachinango (grilled snapper, in a guajillo salsa, black beans, and queso fresco), Huitlacoche y Hongos (mexican corn truffles, braised mushrooms, salsa verde and queso fresco), Pollo Asado (grilled chicken in a guajillo salsa, black beans and queso fresco) or the taco stalwart, Al Pastor (roasted pork with pineapple salsa). If you’re looking for a mid-week meal that won’t reach too deep in your pockets, Flying Fajita Sisters also offers Taco Tuesday, where tacos and shots of tequila are a measly $3, making it that much more easy to say ‘si’ to a taco fiesta. 65 Glebe Point Road, Glebe; (02) 9552 6522; www.flyingfajitasistas.com.au DIY taco recipe Turn your kitchen into a taqueria and host your own taco party. Put the cervezas on ice and try out our recipe for Californian Baja fish tacos. Fish tacos with avocado salsa Makes 10 tacos Avocado salsa 1 punnet cherry tomatoes, de-seeded, finely chopped ½ red onion, finely chopped ½ large avocado, cut into cubes 2 radishes, finely sliced ½ bunch coriander, finely chopped 1 lime Spiced fish 1 tbs plain flour 1 tbs ground sweet smoked paprika 1 tsp ground cayenne pepper 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper 2 tbs olive oil 2 large white fish fillets 10 small flour tortillas 2 cups shredded red cabbage 1. To make avocado salsa, mix tomatoes, onion, avocado, radish and coriander into a small bowl. Squeeze over juice of half the lime and mix gently. 2. Mix flour, paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl. Add fish fillets one at a time, coating the whole fillet with the flour mixture. 3. Heat oil in a large fry pan and add fish fillets. Cook for 4 minutes on each side until cooked through. Allow to cool slightly, then transfer to a plate and slice into 1cm pieces. 4. Meanwhile, heat a small, dry frypan to medium heat. Fry the tortillas, one at a time, for 20 seconds on each side. Transfer to a plate and keep warm. 5. To serve, add a few slices of cabbage to the middle of a tortilla and top with 4 pieces of fish. Top with salsa mixture and douse with as much hot sauce as you can handle. El Topo and DIY taco photos by Leigh Griffiths.
Films concerning cars and racing have often been less than fantastic (unless Ryan Gosling or Vin Diesel is at the wheel). However, Ron Howard may be about to add another option to that short list with Rush, a film for motoring and film enthusiasts alike. "You've seldom felt more alive in a movie theatre than you will experiencing Rush," was Variety reviewer Peter Debruge's verdict on the film, which is currently sitting at 100 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Rush explores one of the most famous rivalries in Formula 1 history — British bad-boy James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) versus disciplined champion Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl) — and their memorable 1976 season where Hunt and Lauda pushed each other to the limits of their sport, resulting in a horrific crash and legendary comeback that earned its own page in sporting lore. The events of that season in a sport that saw deaths occur annually at the time is the stuff of great human drama, giving Hemsworth and Brühl plenty of fuel to work with. What is set to push Rush to pole position on the grid though is the incredible realness created by Howard's camera techniques throughout production. He takes the audience deep into the thick of the action by integrating cameras directly into the cars themselves. The race sequences eradicate the boredom of watching cars go around and around and allow us to enjoy the action and the film's exploration of ego. Add in a Hans Zimmer score and this could be very busy come award season. We are holding a private advance screening of Rush on 2 October at Dendy Newtown, ahead of the film's national release on 3 October. To be in the running for one of 75 double passes, just subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then click here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZKqB987FpMI
Live music lovers, listen up. The lineup for Great Southern Nights is officially here. With over 300 live gigs across New South Wales from Friday, March 21 to Sunday, April 6, Great Southern Nights is setting the stage in 2025 for some of Australia's biggest names in music to hit venues across the state. Plan your itinerary right, and you can see a year's worth of live music sorted within just over two weeks. Perhaps one of the highlights of New South Wales' arts and cultural events calendar, the celebration of live music will take place in multiple venues across NSW (120, to be exact), including Sydney, Western Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and the Central Coast region, along with Broken Hill, Byron Bay, the Central West, Orange, Tamworth and Tilba. So no matter where you are, you've got live music within driving distance. It also doesn't matter how old you are and what genre you're into. There will be classic Aussie music names like Hoodoo Gurus and Missy Higgins, as well as up-and-coming artists like aleksiah. And this year, it gets even better – with two outdoor program highlights to its already massive calendar. Newcastle's Midtown District and the Hollywood Quarter in Sydney will offer unique, walkable gig trail experiences. Newcastle will host its Gig Trail throughout Midtown Newcastle from 2pm on Saturday, March 29, through to 2am on Sunday, March 30. Further down the coast in Sydney, Surry Hills' Hollywood Quarter precinct will transform into a haven for music fans from 12pm on Saturday, April 5, through to Sunday, April 6, at 4am. During the rest of the festivities, Newcastle will host acts like Boo Seeka, King Stingray, Running Touch, Sarah Blasko, Xavier Rudd, Dashville, The Cruel Sea and many more. Newcastle's nightlife is truly set to light up. Newcastle venues that will play host to acts include; Bar on the Hill The Stag and Hunter Hotel The Hamilton Station Hotel King Street The Exchange Hotel King Street Hotel The Wickham Park Hotel Budgewoi Hotel The Great Northern Hotel The Koutetsu The Happy Wombat Civic Theatre Bar Earp Distilling Co Jams Karaoke The Scholar's Den The Rogue Scholar The Greenroof Hotel Mad Poet Bernie's Bar Civic Theatre Ravella In Sydney, expect the streets to come alive with big names like aleksiah and Alice Ivy, who will bring their vibrant performances to Enmore. ARIA award-winning Lime Cordiale and Bootleg Rascal are some more exciting acts to join the stage in Sydney's Inner West. Meanwhile, Babe Rainbow will hit up Bondi, with SAFIA and Havana Brown as some other fan favourites that you'll be able to catch as part of all the fun. Some of the Sydney venues that will play host to acts include; The Alex Hotel Glass Island The Chippo Hotel The Lansdowne Hotel Factory Theatre PS40 Vic on the Park Dee Why RSL Jacksons on George Pyrmont Bridge Hotel Oxford Art Factory Gasoline Pony Darling Nikki's Butter Sydney The Townie (Town Hall Hotel Newtown) The Beresford The Duke of Clarence Mary's Underground The Vanguard Papa Gede's Bar The Agincourt Hotel Since I Left You JAM Record Bar East Village Hotel Butchers Brew Bar The Bearded Tit Metro Social Trocadero Room Jolene's Sydney Jacksons on George Pyrmont Bridge Hotel The Midnight Special Gasoline Pony The Loft on Broadway Marrickville Bowling Club The Union Hotel Pleasure Club Darling Nikki's Surry Hills Hotel Red Rattler Theatre Golden Age Cinema & Bar The Metro Theatre Just down the Princes Highway in Wollongong, The Music Lounge will welcome Olivia Coggan and Emily Wurramara along with the smooth jazz tunes of Emma Pask. Alternatively, Northeast Party House, Satin Cali, WAAX, Sesame Girl, Pyschdaleic Pron Crumpets and Sam Allen will take the stage at UOW Uni Bar. At La La La's, you will find Blistar. For a more chilled-out vibe, head to Anita's Theatre in Thirroul and see Missy Higgins, Birds of Tokyo and jazz-funk band The Cat Empire. Just around the corner at Frank's Wild Years, sit back and relax to the tunes of Mess Esque and Snowy. And that's only a handful of what to expect down in the Gong'. Other venues that will be taken over include; The Prince Halfway Ryan's Hotel North Wollongong Hotel Thirroul Railway Hall Illawarra Folk Club Servo Food Truck Bar Howlin' Wolf Five Barrel Brewing Dicey Riley's Heyday Humber Reub Goldberg Brewing Machine Wombarra Bowlo Novotel Towardgi Beach Hotel Just an hour and a half along the M1 on the Central Coast, artists taking the stage include The Rions, Marcia Hines, Telenova, Ngaiire, Baby Animals and surf-rock favourites The Grogans. Venues include; Ocean View Wamberal Drifter's Wharf Mumbo Jumbo's The Sunken Monkey Hardy's Bay Club Avoca Beach Theatre The Art House FunHaus Factory Inc Pocket Bar Everglades Country Club Warners Bay Theatre Doyalson RSL Images: Supplied. Don't miss out on this year's Great Southern Nights. Plan your trip and book your tickets now.
The ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come are set to descend upon Australia — just as things are getting merry, of course. After haunting Ebenezer Scrooge on the page since 1843, and sparking the miserly Charles Dickens-penned character's change of attitude on stages for almost as long, they'll work their magic Down Under courtesy of The Old Vic's version of A Christmas Carol, which is heading our way for the first time. While A Christmas Carol itself has been delighting theatre audiences for close to two centuries — the first stage production reportedly debuted in the UK mere weeks after Dickens' novella was published — this new take on the tale initially premiered in London back in 2017. It has proven a huge smash since, including picking up five Tony Awards for its Broadway run. Next stop: Melbourne from November. Just in time for festive season, A Christmas Carol will enjoy its first Aussie season at the Comedy Theatre, kicking off on Saturday, November 12 and playing till Saturday, December 24 (of course). Whether it'll also hit up other Australian cities yet hasn't been revealed — but tickets to see it in Melbourne would make a mighty fine early Christmas present. This version hails from two Tony-winners, too: director Matthew Warchus (Matilda the Musical) and playwright Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child). The list of impressive talent involved also includes Aussie actor David Wenham, with the Lord of the Rings, Seachange, Goldstone, Lion, Top of the Lake and Elvis star playing Scrooge. "A Christmas Carol is a ripping yarn, this production is as compelling as it is surprising. I'm counting the days to get back on the stage in the role of Scrooge. It's a story of hope, redemption and community. I guarantee the audience will leave the theatre feeling better about themselves and the world at the end of the show. A perfect story to be told at Christmas time," said Wenham, announcing the show's Australian debut. The rest of the local cast is yet to be revealed — and, story-wise, the production obviously still focuses on its selfish and greedy central character that's become synonymous with curmudgeonly behaviour, his Christmas-hating ways, and his journey of compassion and redemption with help from the spirits of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come. Not only does the play work through that beloved story, but it also incorporates 12 Christmas carols, including 'Joy to the World' and 'Silent Night'. The words you aren't looking for: "bah humbug!", unless you truly do despise Christmas — and haven't yet been given your own ghostly reasons to rethink your stance. A Christmas Carol will host its Australian premiere season in Melbourne, playing the Comedy Theatre, 240 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, from Saturday, November 12–Saturday, December 24, 2022. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday, September 16 — for more information, or to join the ticket waitlist, head to the musical's website.
Photobombing is an art attempted by many, yet perfected by few. Ruining somebody's photo in the most humorous way possible takes impeccable timing and swift movement. Now, photobombing experts will have their work cut out for them as software company Scalado look set to release their new Remove technology. As the name suggests, Remove allows you to erase unwanted objects from those precious picture moments. When a photo is taken, Remove actually takes a lightning-quick succession of snaps, and detects moving objects within the lens. It then gives you the option to simply remove any moving objects, leaving the regular background unscathed. If you're a little vain and a strict perfectionist, Remove will be right up your alley. Not only will you be able to erase immature friends who sneak into your photos, but you also won't have to worry about flying birds, speeding cars or annoying pedestrians. Taking the perfect picture for your bedside table has never been so easy. No word on when it will be available to the public, but we're guessing that plenty of teenage girls will be eager for this one. Check out the video below and see how this technology works. https://youtube.com/watch?v=flNomXIIWr4 [Via Mashable]
It's said we make 35,000 decisions a day. The weight of these choices varies greatly, but often it's the small decisions we make that can have the greatest impact, particularly on a global level. From bringing a reusable cup to the coffee shop to buying high-quality threads, there are plenty of small changes you can make to reduce your carbon footprint and still make an impact. Sustainability is not a buzzword; it's something that should be at the forefront of our day-to-day decision making. For Australian menswear brand M.J. Bale, moving towards a more sustainable future drove the decision to launch a new range of single-source garments from a low-impact farm in Tasmania. To celebrate the Kingston Collection, we've partnered up with M.J. Bale to give you five simple tips to help you make more sustainable choices in your daily routine. BUY LESS AND BUY QUALITY Although nabbing a fast-fashion bargain seems like a good idea at the time, after a couple of washes it will probably look a little worse for wear. Why? Because these trend-driven pieces aren't designed to last. Investing in higher-quality items means you'll have a closet that'll stand the test of time as well as reduce your impact on the environment; clothes manufacturing has a pretty dire impact on the environment, so the less often you buy, the better. M.J. Bale is just one Australian fashion house that favours timeless, well-made threads over seasonal trends — although it is always sartorially suave. "We don't believe in trends at M.J. Bale," says founder and CEO Matt Jensen. Furthermore, the new Kingston Collection range heroes sustainable wool. For Jensen, traceability was key to his decision to partner with Simon Cameron — a sixth-generation farmer of the environmentally low-impact Kingston Farm. "The wool in these Kingston suits comes from this exact farm," explains Jensen, "and this is the grower who produced it, and this is how well he treats his merino sheep, and this is how he takes care of the land." Head into your nearest M.J. Bale store and make the conscious effort to ditch the fleeting trend-based fashion cycle and create a timeless wardrobe with premium pieces that'll serve you for years to come. [caption id="attachment_710930" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW.[/caption] WALK OR CYCLE TO WORK Getting to the office doesn't have to include a crowded commute or circling the block for hours trying to find a park. Boost your step count and hit the pavement or hop on your bike and cycle to the office. Not only will you get the blood pumping but walking and cycling also help to reduce your carbon footprint. Plus, you'll skip the congested city traffic making for a much calmer start to your day. If walking, set yourself up for success by starting small. Aim to get off a couple of bus stops earlier than usual or try walking home a couple of afternoons each week. Get creative and find ways to maximise this time by tuning into a good podcast, crafting a killer playlist or scheduling a phone call with one of your out-of-town mates. If you're cycling, you're likely to get home faster rather than sitting in the evening car crawl after work. BRING YOUR OWN CUP TO YOUR COFFEE RUN For the caffeine addicts among us, our day doesn't start until we have a coffee in hand. But our love for a cup of joe shouldn't cost the earth. As most notably brought to light by the War on Waste, it is estimated that Australians throw away 50,000 disposable cups every half hour. That's roughly 2.7 million a day, or one billion each year. In Sydney alone, we discard approximately 100 million annually. And that's mostly all into landfill. Nabbing yourself a re-usable coffee cup is a no-brainer in 2019. It's one simple change to your morning routine that can make huge strides towards reducing unnecessary waste. Plus, these sturdier cups make for a damn good drinking experience, with sealable lids and thermal insulation designed to keep beverages hot all the way to your desk. Taking things up a notch, Sydney has just launched Green Caffeine — the city's first free re-usable coffee cup sharing network. If a city can take this simple sustainable step on board, so can you. [caption id="attachment_698391" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Carriageworks by Jacqui Manning.[/caption] PREP YOUR LUNCHES WITH LOCAL FARMER'S PRODUCE No one really wants to spend their Sunday night slaving over the stove, but hear us out. Meal prepping is one of the best ways to save yourself some extra dosh each week and means you'll avoid splurging on pricey UberEats orders when you're too busy to grab lunch. Plus, by going to some local markets, you can turn your grocery shop into a delightful weekend jaunt. Who doesn't want to spend a morning patting pooches, grabbing a coffee (using your keep cup, of course) and soaking in some sunshine all while smashing out the weekly grocery shop? Farmers' markets have fresh, sustainable and often organic produce from nearby farms. Not only does eating local help support grass-roots farmers, but it also lowers the distance produce has to travel to arrive from paddock to plate, meaning fewer carbon emissions polluting the environment. Sydneysiders, head to Marrickville Organic Food Market every Sunday morning from 9am, Carriageworks Farmers Markets each Saturday from 8am or Erskineville Farmers Market every Saturday from 9am. GO DIGITAL AND SAY NO TO UNNECESSARY OFFICE PRINTING Let's face it, office printers are the pits. They're constantly jammed, out of ink or running low on paper. And don't get us started on scanning. Next time you mindlessly hit Command + P, think again. What are you about to print? How long will you use this hard-copy? Could you work from the digital version instead? Take a moment to question your decisionmaking and consider ways to reduce the number of runs you make to the printer. Sure, there are some cases where you can't escape printed documents, but making a start by not printing unnecessary emails or files will help limit that churn through huge quantities of ink and paper. Top image: M.J. Bale Kingston suits by Jamie Azzopardi.
When you think about getting some culture, your first thought might be to dust off the ol' passport and hop on an eyeball-drying flight across the globe. But with tens of thousands of years of rich and complex Indigenous history in Central Australia, it's high time we appreciate the culture present in our own country. We've teamed up with Tourism Central Australia to highlight ten of the most soulful experiences the majestic Red Centre has to offer, from dot-painting against a backdrop of sheer red cliffs to candid conversations with First Nations artists. Want to plan your very own adventure to the Red Centre? Take a look at our handy trip builder to start building your custom itinerary now.
Seeing the South Pole is a bucket-list dream at the best of times, and even more so in 2020. But, if you have a bit of spare cash to burn, it's actually achievable — including while Australia's borders are closed to international travel. Eager to head overseas just for one day? Then you'd best get in quick to score a seat on the upcoming Antarctica flights out of Australia. As it has in previous years, sightseeing group Antarctica Flights is taking bookings for a series of rare, sky-high charter tours. And if you're wondering how the day trips can go ahead during COVID-19, that's because they're classified as domestic flights. You won't even need to take your passport with you. Departing Melbourne (November 15 and December 31, 2020), Sydney (November 22, 2020 and February 21, 2021), Perth (January 26, 2021), Brisbane (February 7, 2021) and Adelaide (February 14, 2021), these flights will cruise above the dazzling Antarctica Treaty area for around four hours. Each flight path is carefully chosen to maximise viewing from both sides of the plane and to ensure the best views should the weather turn nasty, while some passengers will rotate seats to allow everyone an equal shot at the spectacular scenery below. Travelling on a Qantas 787 Dreamliner, the whole trip clocks in at around 12.5 hours — depending on your departure city — during which you'll hear from expert Antarctic explorers, talking about the polar environment and its fascinating history. All that, while enjoying some better-than-average QANTAS plane food, full bar service and, in the lead-up to the views, a spot of in-flight entertainment — classic flick Happy Feet, or some Antarctic docos, of course. As expected, this kind of plane trip doesn't come cheap — you're looking at $1199 to be seated without direct access to a window. Other options, including the Economy Class Standard ($2199), the Economy Class Superior ($3199) and the Premium Economy Class ($3999) involve seat rotations throughout the flight, so passengers can spend time both close to the window and further away. Of course, you and your favourite travel buddy could drop $7999 each on Business Class Deluxe tickets to have a window seat and the one next to it all to yourselves for the entire flight. Regardless of which type of seat you fork out for, COVID-19 safety measures will be in effect — including temperature testing and pre-flight health and safety forms; providing disposable masks, sanitiser and disinfectant wipes; enhanced cleaning procedures; and not selling all seats in Economy Class. Antarctica Flights' 2021–21 season is open for bookings now, with flights out of Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide between November 15, 2020–February 21, 2021. Images: Antarctica Flights
Mungo isn't a lake, but it was one tens of thousands of years ago. And it's still one of the most important places to see in Australia because it's where the oldest human remains were found, being those of Mungo Man and Mungo Lady, who lived at least 40,000 years ago. If you're up for a road trip, take the 70-kilometre Mungo Track. There are also plenty of walking trails, including the ten-kilometre Zanci Pastoral Heritage Loop and a bunch of short strolls to lookouts and significant spots. Images: Destination NSW
While Messina's main jam is crafting supremely scoffable varieties of gelato, the brand's love of food extends far beyond the freezer, as proven through a series of pop-ups it's dubbed Messina Eats. Every couple of months, the cult gelateria throws a big ol' food party in the carpark at its Rosebery headquarters. And on Saturday, November 3, it'll be serving up solely breakfast dishes. Yup, you can finally eat Messina for brekkie. Of course, its interpretation of breakfast is entirely decadent. The brand's pastry chefs bake basically everything — bikkies, brownies and cake included — that goes into the gelato, but they'll be putting some baked goods aside for this event. Expect croissants (including some filled with hazelnuts from Messina's own nut farm) and strawberry danishes alongside a head of savoury options that look even better. Croissants will be filled with 'nduja and Gruyere, croissant dough will be topped with smoked salmon and fried capers, and hash browns will be served poutine-style with pulled brisket and an egg on top. There will be bacon and egg rolls, too. If there was ever a time to have breakfast dessert, it's here. Save room for a palmier gelato sandwich and brioche buns with granita and whipped cream. The whole thing will go down from 8am till 3pm on Saturday in the carpark at Messina's Rosebery HQ.
Phone or tablet? If that's a question that you've ever asked yourself, Samsung now has the answer. This week, the company unveiled the prototype for its new foldable smartphone, confirming one of the biggest rumours in the technology game. At the Samsung Developer Conference in San Francisco on November 7–8, the company revealed a device that's clearly still in development, but combines the best of both worlds when it comes to regular-sized touchscreen phones and their larger siblings, aka tablets. The handset boasts a new interface and display that enables it to both function as the former and fold out to become the latter — for those times when you just need a bigger screen, we guess. The interface is called One UI and is designed for one-handed use, anchoring the most relevant information to the bottom of the screen. As for the Infinity Flex Display, as well as being able to fold in the middle, it will also move whatever you're looking at from its smaller size to its larger size as you unfold the phone. In what might be one of the biggest drawcards, it'll support simultaneous app use when the larger display is used, thanks to functionality Samsung has dubbed Multi Active Window. Yes, this means that you can have three things open and active at the same time. Design-wise, the device uses one single screen that is foldable down the centre like a book, instead of flipping from the top like the clamshell handsets that have long defined the way we all think about flip phones. Other details are scarce — this was Samsung's first real teaser that the new foldable format is definitely in the works, rather than an actual product launch. It's not the first time that the company has mentioned the device. Speaking with CNBC earlier in the year, IT and mobile communications division CEO DJ Koh noted that more details would be revealed at SDC — although clearly we'll all have to keep waiting for in-depth specifications, and even information such as a name, release date and price. Contrary to how the device might seem at present, Koh also noted that it won't just be a tablet in a more compact form. Images: Samsung.
Sydney ambient electro darlings Seekae have just dropped news of their third album and a national tour in August. Luckily they haven't done so silently. They've also gifted us with a new single, 'Test & Recognise'. Picking up the tempo and embracing the power of the synth, it could signal a new direction for the group — from classic chillout sessions to the dancefloor. With past releases, The Sounds of Trees Falling on People and +DOME, Seekae have made a name for themselves in the past few years, playing local festivals like Harvest and Golden Plains. Known for hypnotic electro-pop such as 'Void', 'Crooks' and 'Blood Bank', their name is synonymous with late night drives through the city or relaxed midnight hangs with friends. In the bigger picture, their debut was named one of the albums of the decade by FBi Radio, and their follow-up earned them four nominations at the Australian Independent Music Awards. Since then they've been touring internationally and even took to the stage at this year's SxSW. Seekae's third album, The Worry, is openly described as their most ambitious work to date. Bringing vocals to the fore and losing some of that distinctive ambient haze, it definitely marks a departure from their past sound that may not win over all fans. However, the shift will make for an entertaining live gig. Caught somewhere between blissful oblivion and classic electro these new tracks are sure to get people awkwardly shuffling around the dance floor nationwide. Seekae National Tour Dates: Saturday, August 9 - Darwin Festival, Darwin* Tuesday, August 12 - The Zoo, Brisbane Friday, August 15 - The Gov, Adelaide Saturday, August 16 - The Villa, Perth Friday, August 22 - 170 Russell St, Melbourne Saturday, August 23 - Metro Theatre, Sydney Tickets are on sale this Friday, June 30. *Tickets for Darwin Festival go on sale June 26.
Earlier this year, the NSW Government announced that it would be knocking down Moore Park's Allianz Stadium (AKA Sydney Football Stadium) and rebuilding it for the tidy sum of $729 million. While whether or not this close-to-a-billion-dollar exercise is exactly necessary is still up for debate, plans are speeding ahead. Construction on the predominantly rugby and soccer stadium — which closed last week — is expected to begin later this year, and the government has just released the first designs for the new state-of-the-art sporting facility. The new stadium, designed by Cox Architects, will have a roof that can reflect noise back into the stadium and be lit up with the home team's colours and a bronze façade inspired by Sydney's sandstone geology. Any further design specifics have been kept pretty quiet, but News Corp is reporting that it'll be Australia's most 'female-friendly' stadium with bigger and better change room facilities and bathrooms. A reflection, perhaps, on the growing popularity of NRLW and AFLW. Allianz Stadium, and the adjacent Sydney Cricket Ground, will be serviced by the new CBD and South East Light Rail, which is — at this stage — expected to be completed by mid-2020. On the other side of the city, Sydney Olympic Park's ANZ Stadium will all also be getting an expensive facelift. The 75,000-seater stadium — which hosts everything from the rugby league games to Taylor Swift concerts — is undergoing a $810 million renovation which is slated to start in late 2019 and be completed by mid-2021. Sydney Football Stadium is slated for completion in 2022.
In a bid to encourage more families, tourists, and elderly Sydneysiders to venture into the city into the wee hours of the morning, the City of Sydney Council plans to install hydraulic, self-cleaning, pop-up pissoirs. Part of the initiative Open Sydney, the toilets follow on from last year's successful trial of portable loos in popular night spots such as Kings Cross. Councillors hope that these more effective and aesthetically pleasing urinals will help revitalise the Sydney nightlife and promote a safer, more welcoming city after the sun goes down. And how would pop-up pissoirs help achieve these aims? These rather sophisticated toilets, which have already been used in parts of Europe for a number of years now, disappear completely during the day only to be hydraulically lifted (in two minutes) by the simple press of a button on a remote. Rather than having to be installed each night and removed each morning as portables loos are, the pop-up sort can simply be run by neighbouring bar staff and street cleaners. The self-cleaning function also means that the nifty machines clean themselves to magically become good as new at the beginning of each night. Each stainless steel contraption has four cubicles and is hoped to significantly reduce public urination, particularly in areas already identified in the council's research. According to the Council's manager of late-night resources, portable urinals "diverted 5000 litres of wee in Sydney this Summer, otherwise that would be in people's front doorsteps and on our streets". The pop-up urinals are hoped to assist this even further by being more inviting and more numerous. The council's long-term strategy hopes to ensure the success of the Sustainable Sydney 2030 commitment and is centred on developing Sydney's night-time economy. It will also involve encouraging businesses and retailers to have later trading hours, particularly during festivals such as Vivid Sydney or Chinese New Year; doubling the number of Nightride bus services travelling around the city; opening our first 24-hour library; increasing police presence; and providing local tour guides for tourists. Essentially, the key goals are for Sydney to become more global, more connected, increasingly diverse and inviting, and to be locally responsive. Sydney is renowned for its fantastic culture and alluring nature by day. This vision wants to ensure the development of that belief by night as well. Via Sydney Morning Herald and City of Sydney Council.
Australia's longest-running conservation charity, National Trust, marked its 75th anniversary in 2020. After postponing celebrations last year, it's now marking the milestone with a series of special weekend events to showcase rich heritage treasures across the state. The program of celebratory events last four months, and this weekend with the Best of the Blue Mountains, and there'll be plenty to eat, drink, see and do at three of the beautiful properties all within a short drive of one another. Take a stroll through the winding paths of the European-inspired Everglades House and Gardens, and stop into the art deco-style house to check out the finalists from this year's NSW Reconciliation Art Challenge. Make sure you're outside at 2pm for a free glass of wine in the world-famous gardens. At Woodford Academy, the annual Harvest Festival will celebrate the region's long history of self-sustainability and artisanal wares, with a variety of stalls showcasing local produce, homemade preserves, plants and more. The community event will also host live music and games, with all proceeds contributing directly to the upkeep and conservation of the oldest building in the Blue Mountains. Entry to the venues is free, but to comply with social distancing guidelines, booking is essential. Head to Eventbrite to reserve your ticket for each property: • Everglades House & Gardens • Woodford Academy For a full list of events hosted by National Trust to celebrate its 75th anniversary, head here.
Studies show that 100 percent of human beings have, at one point in their lives, taken a spoon out from the drawer, scooped out peanut butter from the jar and leaned against the kitchen counter with their eyes closed, enjoying their makeshift PB spoon treat. Well, studies would show that if anyone bothered to do a peanut butter behavioural study. But the people at the Peanut Butter Bar don't need data to know peanut butter anything is a solid business plan. For two years, Christina Elbakht has been developing and testing the menu and it's nearly here. The bar is opening in Leichhardt in October and will sell peanut butter in all its forms. Elbakht claims they're all free from refined sugars, preservatives and fake stuff too, relying heavily on the natural nut butter. The aim of the game for Elbakht is to help people on restricted diets or eating plans have a good relationship with food and enjoy a treat once in a while. Or maybe she just wanted an excuse to eat a truckload of peanut butter. Either way, a peanut butter bar is a now a thing and their menu is full of it — expect PB delicacies like ice cream, milkshakes, balls, puddings and slices of all varieties. As far as themes go, it's pretty niche — and it will be interesting to see if the novelty has longevity. But, hey, we'll give peanut butter pudding a go. The Peanut Butter Bar will open at 161 Norton Street, Leichhardt in October. For more info, visit peanutbutterbar.com.au.
New Zealand is known for high quality produce, but because the Southern Island of Aotearoa is home to barely over one million people, we think they might need some assistance in consuming all that can be foraged from its land, air and sea. Here are some of Concrete Playground's best gastronomic reasons to head across the Cook Strait. Land Even in drier months the landscape in New Zealand is a lush green. The abundance of grass for four legged animals means that the human animal at the end of the chain ends up with a healthier and tastier meal. It starts with lamb. It has to. Although current statistics show that the person to sheep ratio in New Zealand has dropped to 7:3, that still works out as more than 32 million sheep. When driving around the South Island it is easy to spot numerous woolly winter bottoms peaking out from the green terrain. New Zealand is, of course, one of the largest exporters of lamb in the world. Carnivores will also enjoy the strong flavoured venison provided by the fields of delicate looking deer. At Wanaka’s Botswana Butchery you can start with a Southland Venison Carpaccio followed by a slab of Fiordland Venison Top Side. Other wintery game meats include rabbit and hare. Air Then there are the birds. There are foreigners such as ostrich and pheasant. One of the New Zealand natives however is the Titi, also known as the mutton bird. The Rajuira Maori have rights to gather these birds from the southernmost region of New Zealand - their bounty being served in only a spattering of restaurants. Queenstown’s Fishbone Bar and Grill serves them pan roasted with kumara chips when they’re in season. The dark meat of the seabird retains the flavour of its fish filled diet. Even after soaking and boiling the flesh in fresh water a strong salty anchovy taste lingers. Sea With nearly 6,000 km of coastline the choice of salt water fish is immense. The ocean sourced Hapuka and Blue Cod are also joined by fresh water counterparts. The Akaroa Cod is cooked to perfection at the Pegasus Arms bar in Christchurch. It is served with a homemade aioli and a super intense tomato sauce for chip dipping. As the cool winters defrost into the spring months of September and October the whitebait season begins. It demands regular roadside stops to fill up on whitebait fritters. You’d hope for one with minimal egg to just bind together a generously fish-packed patty. Housed in a little stall near the end of Fyffe Quay in Kaikoura, the Kaikoura Seafood BBQ offers a delicious version along with a great variety of whatever other fresh seafood could be found in the ocean that morning. It seems even those guarded by shells are not safe from hungry seafood lovers. The coastal town of Kaikoura is named after its famed crayfish. Kai (‘eat’) Koura (‘crayfish’) is an order that only seems fair to obey when visiting the seaside settlement. One can also choose from the monstrous Green Lipped Mussels and the Paua, the abalone whose pearly opal shell is valued as much as its mushroom-like flesh. The Green Dolphin Restaurant & Bar in Kaikoura has a hearty seafood stew giving you a chance to try a whole variety of seafood in one, huge, meal. The plump New Zealand Bluff oysters are widely regarded as the world’s best. Developing in the pristine cold waters of the Foveaux Strait they are large creamy mouthfuls of the ocean. Each year the seaside town of Bluff, from which the oysters take their name, has a festival to celebrate and enjoy the delicacy. With South Island dining establishments including the Cuisine Restaurant of the Year 2011, Riverstone Kitchen in Oamaru, as well as one of Rick Stein’s favourites, Fleur’s Place in Moeraki, its world class produce is sure to be used to its full potential. The waistline may shudder but at least the conscience is clear – you’re simply there to help out after all.
Aussies can finally have their dreams of a white Christmas come true with Thredbo's Christmas in July. There'll be no dashing through the bush in a rusty Holden ute — this Christmas (in July), you're going to get the real deal from the big man. Santa Claus will be feeling fine in his natural snowy habitat, taking to the slopes to show off his fresh tricks and sick skills (we've heard a snowboard is his weapon of choice). When he's not carving up the powder he'll be wandering around the mountain giving out warm Christmas cookies and spreading holiday cheer. Head down to the Friday Flat Clock Tower between 3.30pm and 4.30pm to meet the cheeky man in the red suit and snap a pic — it might be your only chance to ever have your Santa photo as it apparently should be (in the snow), so make sure you don't miss it. To find out more about Thredbo's exciting winter program, head to thredbo.com.au.
