Following a stellar debut edition in 2022 headlined by the likes of The Dandy Warhols, DMA's and The Tesky Brothers, Wanderer Festival is returning to the picturesque Sapphire Coast between Friday, September 29–Sunday, October 1 — and it has just dropped its jam-packed lineup. The indie-rock-heavy program of acts pulls together beloved locals with a sprinkle of international acts and a hefty dose of young fast-rising musicians. Headlining the lineup is a quartet of festival faves in Ocean Alley, The Jungle Giants, Spiderbait and Thelma Plum, alongside the UK's oddball rock group Django Django, American folk songwriter Kevin Morby and contemporary blues singer-songwriter Son Little. Deeper into the lineup you'll find the recent subject of the 2023 Archibald Pize-winning painting, Montaigne, plus Art vs Science, Lisa Mitchell, Urthboy, Alice Skye, Babe Rainbow, C.W. Stoneking, Kim Churchill, Haiku Hands, Dice, Annie Hamilton and Rum Jungle. Just like last year, the festival will also host a heap of local south coast NSW musicians including the Bega Sound Collective, Whiskey Dram, Flavuh and the Big Lost Band — a huge rock and roll orchestra made up of musicians from local high schools and arts communities. The full program will also feature art, comedy, theatre, circus performers, artisan workshops and live screenings of both footy grand finals. [caption id="attachment_788985" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ocean Alley[/caption] "Wanderer is beyond anything I could have hoped for in a festival and for this region. It delivers an authentic and exceptional festival experience no matter who you are or where you come from and it was amazing to see it so wholly owned, embraced and deeply loved by the local community as well as travellers from as far as Western Australia and the Nothern Territory," said festival's founder Simon Daly. The festival is all-ages and family-friendly. One-, two- and three-day passes are all available, as well as camping tickets and even glamping packages available for $1045 for two people or $1155 for groups of five. Wanderer Festival will return to Pambula Beach, Saphire Coast between Friday, September 29–Sunday, October 1. Tickets are on sale now. Festival images: Ruby Boland
Is there anything more intimate than wandering around someone's home when they're not there, gently rifling through their things, and — literally or not, your choice — spending a few minutes standing in their shoes? Yes, but there's still an intoxicating sense of closeness that comes with the territory; moseying curiously in another's house without their company, after they've entrusted their most personal space to you alone, will understandably do that. In Mothering Sunday, Jane Fairchild (Odessa Young, The Staircase) finds herself in this very situation. She's naked, and as comfortable as she's ever been anywhere. After her lover Paul Sheringham (Josh O'Connor, Emma) leaves her in a state of postcoital bliss, she makes the most of his family's large abode in the English countryside, the paintings and books that fill its walls and shelves, and the pie and beer tempting her tastebuds in the kitchen. The result: some of this 1920s-set British drama's most evocative and remarkable moments. Jane is used to such lofty spaces, but rarely as a carefree resident. She's an aspiring writer, an orphan and the help; he's firmly from money. She works as a maid for the Sheringhams' neighbours, the also-wealthy Godfrey (Colin Firth, Operation Mincemeat) and Clarrie Niven (Olivia Colman, Heartstopper), and she's ventured next door while everyone except Paul is out. This rare day off is the occasion that gives the stately but still highly moving film its name as well — Mother's Day, but initially designed to honour mother churches, aka where one was baptised — and the well-to-do crowd are all lunching to celebrate Paul's impending nuptials to fiancée Emma Hobday (Emma D'Arcy, Misbehaviour). He made excuses to arrive late, though, in order to steal some time with Jane, as they've both been doing for years. Of course, he can't completely shirk his own party. Mothering Sunday does more than luxuriate in Jane's languid stroll around a sprawling manor, or the happiness that precedes it — much, much more — but these scenes stand out for a reason. They're a showcase for Australian actor Young, who has graduated from playing troubled daughters (see: 2015's The Daughter and the unrelated Looking for Grace) to searching young women cementing their place in the world (see also: 2020's Shirley). With her quietly potent and radiant help, they say oh-so-much about Jane that wouldn't have sported the same power if conveyed via dialogue. They're also exactly the kind of sequences that screenwriter Alice Birch (Lady Macbeth) knows well, although she isn't merely repeating herself. Helping pen the page-to-screen adaptations of Sally Rooney's Normal People and Conversations with Friends, she's inherently at home revealing everything she can about her characters just by observing what they do when no one's watching. The broader story in Mothering Sunday also springs from a book, this time from Graham Swift's 2016 novel, with French filmmaker Eva Husson (Girls of the Sun) making her English-language debut in the director's chair. Swift didn't choose an annual occasion at random, with the day cloaked in sadness in the Sheringham and Niven households — and across Britain — in the shadow of the First World War and all the young men lost to the conflict. Indeed, marking Paul's engagement is the best way to spend the date because his brothers, and the Nivens' boys too, will never have the same chance. The need to don a stiff upper lip, to keep calm and carry on, and to embody every other grin-and-bear-it cliche about English stoicism is deeply rooted in grief here, and more will come in this touching feature before the sunny March day that sits at its centre is over. In lesser hands than Swift's, Husson's and Birch's, Jane might've been a peripheral player — or one part in a straightforward upstairs-downstairs setup that could've stepped directly out of Downton Abbey. Thankfully, that isn't Mothering Sunday either as a book or a movie. While class clashes are inescapable within the film's frames, it's how the eponymous date shapes Jane, and how moments both big and small change anyone, that dwells at its core. The picture also flits forward to its protagonist as a writer, where she's drawn back to that past idyll and heartbreak while navigating a relationship with Oxford philosopher Donald (Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù, Gangs of London). And, it jumps further into the future still, where the even-older Jane (Glenda Jackson, making her first movie since 1990's King of the Wind) has spent decades reflecting on that one Mothering Sunday, plus the other joys and losses life has brought her way, in her head, heart and through her work. It's easy to think you know what to expect with Mothering Sunday. Within its 104-minute running time, its pace is as leisurely as British dramas come. Whether roving around the Sheringhams' mansion, the garden party or less lavish places, Jamie Ramsay's (Moffie) cinematography is the epitome of handsome. Also, reteaming The Crown's O'Connor and Colman signals its emphasis on performances (Young and Firth pair up again, too, but the film actually pre-dates their work on HBO miniseries The Staircase). And yet, Mothering Sunday is also never that formulaic, and it isn't merely the movie that could've been constructed simply by connecting the obvious dots. Husson's and Birch's touches give it a gloriously sensual feel, and not only in the lingering sex scenes, their thrusting bodies and even the stains that a tumble in the sheets can cause. Clearly, the two women who've turned Mothering Sunday into a yearning, sultry and textured splash of celluloid have taken the narrative's message to heart: that leaping in, lapping up whatever delights come your way, and also facing the pain if and when it comes, is always better than holding back to avoid the scantest trace of woe. There's nothing overtly forceful about Young and O'Connor's performances, but the same can be said of the wonderful duo, who could fuel several movies with their chemistry alone. That Firth and Colman don't have quite the same presence fits with their characters, though, who nonetheless prove an affecting portrait of post-war mourning. And while there's little that's left unsaid in Morgan Kibby's emotive score, her third for Husson — or in three-time Oscar-winner Sandy Powell's (The Young Victoria, The Aviator, Shakespeare in Love) eye-catching, period-appropriate costuming, either — that too couldn't be more apt, with the film revelling in what it can when it can.
Picture this: you're on a weekend escape in the Central Coast and you've just spent your day at the beach, swimming and baking in the sun, or going on an invigorating walk along the Bouddi Coastal Trail. As the sun starts to dip, you (like us) might start contemplating a refreshing cocktail or two. Which is fair, you're on holidays after all. For this, there are many options, but if you're near Terrigal, you'll want to head to Pocket Bar. Sister to Sydney's Stitch Bar and Button Bar, Pocket Bar is situated opposite the beach and pairs modern twists on classic cocktails with fun bar snacks. For drinks, you'll be sipping on the likes of a watermelon martini ($19), a raspberry lolly-inspired daiquiri ($18), the Gold Digger ($18) — the bar's version of a whisky sour with honey, chocolate liqueur, amaretto and burned coconut — and a maple-infused highball ($18). If you're hungry, there are plenty of dishes with which to line your stomach. Think wild mushroom arancini ($10), cheeseburger spring rolls ($18), beer-soaked corn ($9), chilli salt squid ($12) and jerk chicken wings ($12).
Cinco de Mayo is nearly upon us — and Coogee Bay Hotel is celebrating in a big way. Mexican Madness will take over the venue's seaside garden across Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5. Expect Mexican-inspired everything — from the vibe and entertainment to the food and drinks. The space will transport punters from the Coogee coastline to the beaches of Mexico with a fully immersive fit-out, a three-piece mariachi band and a full menu of Mexican eats and drinks from the kitchen — think tacos and nachos paired with Lexington Hill margaritas, ice-cold Coronas and other themed cocktails. A full lineup of live entertainment will be on throughout the weekend, too. But it's not always enough just to feel like you've been to Mexico for the day. That's why the hotel is also running a competition for an all-inclusive, seven day trip to Mexico for two. Simply purchase one bucket of Corona or two Lexington Hill margaritas at Coogee Bay Hotel to be in the running. The deal will also be running at the adjoining Liquor Barn until May 31. You'll score one entry if you purchase two Lexington Hill cocktails or a Corona six-pack to take away — or three entries with a case. Mexican Madness will take place across May 4–5, from noon until sundown each day. For more information, head to the website. Images: Kai Leishman and Karina Lee.
Edition Book Bar is the luxe cafe-bookstore experience for when a simple espresso with your Penguin classic isn't bougie enough. Located on Harris Street, Pyrmont, the interior has a slick, industrial feel with a range of brown leather couches, stools and large tables to plonk yourself down on. Leaf through upscale hardcover lifestyle books on a range of topics whilst sipping champagne, or order a cheese plate to accompany your latest fiction obsession. Happy Hour is every day from 4-7pm, with $6 house wines, beers and spirits and a rotating $10 cocktails special. Embrace that life of leisure.
Brisbanites, prepare for your next hotel getaway — but don't expect to travel very far. Come March 2018, the CBD will welcome its first new luxury hotel in decades, W Brisbane. A five-star establishment on the northern side of the river, it's the type of place that screams 'staycation'. Views beyond South Bank and Mt Coot-tha from each of its rooms, three dining and drinking venues, a lounge-style lobby that boasts a DJ booth by night: they're all part of the W Brisbane experience. In-room cocktail bars, free Netflix, a barbecue-lined poolside area and 1,100 square meters of function space are as well. Taking over the spot at 300 George Street that previously housed the city's supreme courts, and forming part of the new Brisbane Quarter development, the hotel won't be lacking in lush facilities, amenities or reasons to drop by. Those staying the night can pick from 280 standard rooms, 28 suites, two extra-luxe spaces they've dubbed "wow" suites and one "extreme wow" offering — all decked out with custom-designed furniture inspired by the state's history. If that's not blissful enough, guests can also head downstairs to the spa, which features a hair and nail salon, vitality pools, relaxation pods and rejuvenating salt inhalation chambers. W Hotels is owned by Marriott International. New hotels are also planned for Sydney in 2019 and Melbourne in 2020. As for the rest of Brisbane Quarter, it's slated to include an office tower, apartments and two levels of retail too. Find W Brisbane at 300 George Street, Brisbane from March 2018. For more information, or to make a reservation from November 2017, visit the hotel website.
Contemporary artist Julie Mehretu is renowned throughout the world for her large-scale, abstract paintings which erupt with colour, energy and movement and have been said to redefine contemporary art. [caption id="attachment_978358" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Julie Mehretu, image courtesy and © Julie Mehretu, photograph: Josefina Santos[/caption] Exclusive to Sydney, Julie Mehretu: A Transcore of the Radical Imaginatory runs from Friday, November 29, 2024, to Sunday, April 27 2025, as part of the Sydney International Art Series. The exhibition will feature over 80 of Mehretu's works, including large scale paintings, prints and drawings. The New York-based artist is widely regarded as one of the most exciting, original and thought-provoking painters of her generation, reflected in the recent 83-foot-high glass mural commission for the Obama Presidential Centre in Chicago. Mehretu is renowned for her monumental works, which are informed by histories of art, architecture and our contemporary world, from revolution and migration to climate change. [caption id="attachment_980179" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Julie Mehretu, Hineni II (E.3:4), 2019-2020, ink and acrylic on canvas, Kravis Collection, image courtesy and © Julie Mehretu, photograph: Tom Powell Imaging[/caption] Head over to MCA Australia to experience big, bold and dynamic multilayered paintings. While you're there, you could even check out programs responding to the exhibition, including talks, tours, a Family Space and special events. A highlight is Julie Mehretu; Up Late part of Sydney Festival's Art Up Late (Wednesdays 8, 15 and 22 January until 9pm.) Or, On Friday, February 14, MCA Australia and Heaps Gay are teaming up for a date night at the Museum. This will mark the first day of Sydney Mardi Gras and of course Valentine's Day. The event is free, with entry to the Julie Mehretu exhibition ticketed. Julie Mehretu: A Transcore of the Radical Imaginatory is taking place from Friday, November 29, 2024 to Sunday, April 27, 2025, from 10am–5pm (closed Tuesdays and 25 December) as part of the Sydney International Art Series. Tickets are available online and at MCA, and the exhibition is free for MCA Members and children ages 17 and under. Art Passes are also available, covering single entry to all three exhibitions in the Sydney International Art Series including Magritte and Cao Fei at the Art Gallery of NSW. Find more information and book tickets at mca.com.au. Header image: Julie Mehretu, 'Sumo', 2024, ink and acrylic on canvas, image courtesy and © Julie Mehretu, photograph: Tom Powel Imaging.
For some, it's hard to remember a time when having a tattoo wasn't the norm. While originally a sign of rebellious counterculture, now you'd be hard-pressed to go a day without spotting at least one out in the wild — after all, 30 percent of Australians* now sport some kind of ink. The prevalence of tattoos may have changed, but certain requirements around donning new ink remain the same. Namely, the need for aftercare products. It's always been essential to take care of your tattoo in order to preserve the vibrancy of the ink and keep your skin healthy. But when your options were limited to greasy balms and clinical ointments, it was easy to let this fall by the wayside. For Another Self is changing all that by turning the tables on tattoo aftercare. Offering products that are lightweight, natural and nourishing, its range of skincare could be just the solution you — and your tattoos — are looking for. For Another Self is built around a trio of signature products, which are formulated with 100 percent organic ingredients. Every item is vegan, cruelty-free, and free from parabens, sulfates, and silicones, enabling you to keep your tattoos looking vibrant and your skin nourished, without relying on harsh chemicals. It's a more conscious approach to tattoo aftercare, embracing not only the experience of being inked, but how this reflects your very personality and individuality. "Tattoos are a form of self-expression, and we wanted to create products that celebrate that, not minimise it," For Another Self founder Luke explains. "Tattoo aftercare has been dominated by a clinical approach that doesn't resonate with the values of the new generation of tattoo lovers. Our products are made to match their mindset, authentic, organic, and designed to nurture tattoos as personal works of art." So how can For Another Self's treatments help you avoid the more irritating parts of tattoo care? First up, there's the Tattoo Oil ($29), which should be applied daily to keep your tattoo looking fresh. This treatment is packed with antioxidant-rich sunflower oil, along with moisture-locking jojoba oil and omega-packed avocado and argan oils. This combination of oils will help to keep your skin soft, while preserving your ink and enhancing its vibrancy. To help maintain that vibrancy, you'll also want to apply the Tattoo Balm ($29) regularly. This treatment uses shea and mango butter to deeply hydrate your skin, along with coconut and castor oil to lock in moisture. To help your ink stay bold and defined, its formula also includes hemp seed and avocado oil, along with lime and mandarin essential oils that help soothe your skin and prevent irritation. If this isn't your first time under the gun, this balm is also a great option when it comes to caring for older ink. Then there's the Tattoo Exfoliator ($29), which should be applied roughly two to three times a week. This exfoliator helps buff away dead skin cells without stripping away moisture, ensuring your ink remains bright and defined. This treatment is a blend of ultra-hydrating shea and mango butter, along with a combo of avocado, castor and hemp seed oils to moisturise your skin. To top things off, this exfoliator has a pleasant, earthy scent, thanks to cedarwood and bergamot essential oils — because why not feel and smell good? When used separately, these treatments will do a good job of keeping your tattoos looking fresh and your skin nourished — but combining them will go a long way to keeping your ink looking as good as new. For Another Self also offers the Ritual Kit ($69), which bundles all three products into a convenient package. After all, you're it for the long run with a tattoo, so you may as well ensure it continues to look as good as the day you got it. For Another Self is available to purchase online, and you can save 10 percent off your next order with the promo code 'FAS10'. You can learn more here. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy. Images: For Another Self
Finishing work on a Thursday afternoon, you can feel the weekend coming. You might want to hit the town but you're just looking for the right excuse. Powerhouse Museum has been offering up that excuse with a run of free late-night events happening every Thursday since January — and it's now it has extended its run with a fresh lineup for the cooler months. Part of the Culture Up Late initiative funded by the NSW government, the after-dark affair is running till the end of June. The festivities are on till 9pm each week, and you can expect talks on music, art and design, alongside musical performances and exhibitions. Highlights from the new program include a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community from Queerscreen, with film screenings and live performances on the bill; a night of electro tunes, performances and visual feasts courtesy of Electronic Music Conference (EMC); and the Museum's new exhibition all about the iconic Aussie gum, Eucalyptusdom, which you can be one of the first to check out — and after hours, no less. A pop-up outdoor bar is set up on the Harris Street terrace, featuring a special Campari cocktail menu for Thursday night refreshments. [caption id="attachment_811875" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jordan Munns[/caption] All exhibitions and events are free but bookings are recommended. Head to the Powerhouse Museum's website to browse the free program — and to book tickets. Images: Jordan Munns
Newtown lamington revolutionary Tokyo Lamington is collaborating with Sydney coffee roaster Stitch Coffee to celebrate International Coffee day on Friday, October 1. The two beloved locals are coming together to offer International Coffee Day goodie bags that feature two new flavours of lamingtons and a sneak peek at Stitch's new drip coffee bags. The limited-time lamington flavours are a cinnamon coffee cake with cafe latte cream, cinnamon coffee jelly, vanilla sponge, white chocolate and cinnamon dip and gingerbread cookie crumbs; and a mandarin coffee lamington made with natsu-milkan curd, whipped caramel coffee, a mandarin coffee-soaked sponge, meringue and mandarin zest. Both flavours use Stitch's brand new Colombian cinnamon and mandarin coffee. Inside the $20 packs, you'll find one of each of these special-edition lamingtons and two drip coffee bags, one of each of the new flavours. Head to either Tokyo Lamington on Australia Street or Stitch Coffee's Broadway store from Friday until Sunday to try the new lamingtons and coffee.
In as much as anyone can be one, Janette Sadik-Khan is an urban development rockstar. Spearheading the re-design of both New York City's transport system and the world-renowned Times Square public space, she is a global leader in her field. And, in speaking at this year's Velo-City conference in Adelaide, Sadik-Khan has offered some advice for Australian cities. Namely, our streets should be more like "living rooms" and — surprise, surprise — we definitely need better bike lanes. With six years under her belt as the Transportation Commissioner of New York City, this lady knows exactly what she's talking about. "Our streets are where we play and meet, kind of like the living rooms of New York," she told the crowd at Velo-City this week. Fighting a war against congestion, Sadik-Khan endeavoured to make New York's public spaces accessible for all — walkers, cyclists, drivers and those relying on public transport. In one of her biggest projects, last year she transformed Times Square into a communal pedestrian space with hundreds of fold-out chairs. It proved to be a huge win for businesses as well as the local community, and in fact shot the area into the top ten retail spaces in the world for the first time ever. In her trip down under, Sadik-Khan has praised cities such as Sydney, Adelaide and Auckland, stating that they seem to have a great deal of leadership at the local level. In fact in just this last week, Sydney has announced a new speed limit for their CBD in order to limit pedestrian accidents, and Melbourne City Council is considering the closure of many main streets in favour of an innovative new walking plan. However, the area all cities are lacking in is undoubtedly their facilities for cyclists. Sadik-Khan claims we must invest in better bike lanes and sustainable bike-share programs. Though many of our major cities have such programs in place, they're understandably not functioning as well as they could. With car doorings a regular occurrence, and animosity towards cyclists at an all-time high, it's clear more can be done. Of course, New York is far from the perfect example. I personally would be terrified to ride my bike through the main city streets and I don't think the local cabbies would be happy to share the road with me either. But it's undoubtedly a beacon of hope. With your feet up on a deck chair in the middle of an NYC icon, you can't help but think something's gone right. Via ABC. Photo credit: hadsie via photopin cc and cuellar via photopin cc.
A new Parisian hotel designed by French artist Matali Crasset is offering travellers a completely new hotel experience. Recently opened in the trendy Rue Chardonne area, Hi-Matic Hotel is entirely internet-based and has no traditional staff. Guests are given a unique code when they make an online reservation and that code gives them access to the building. Once inside, guests are able to check in and pay for their stay on computers (that then dispense their room keys). If they become hungry or bored, guests are able to purchase organic foods, books, music and playful objects from vending machines located in the hotel. The aim of the Hi-Matic is to create a new type of hotel - something unique and luxurious but also practical and accessible. The spaces within the hotel are bright and futuristic, with eco-friendly materials such as organic paint being used throughout. The design is simple but striking and effective. All this does not come without a price, however, with rooms starting at AUD$180 a night. [Via Design Boom]
From humble food truck beginnings, Melbourne Greek doughnut-slinger Lukumades opened its first bricks-and-mortar spot in West Melbourne in 2017. Now, it's about to bring its deliciously chewy on the inside, golden and crispy on the outside dessert to Sydney. Slated to open on Thursday, May 2, the Lukumades Sydney outpost will be located in DUO Central Park — the plant-covered skyscraper opposite the eyesore that is UTS Tower —dishing up a modern spin on traditional Greek loukoumades. Cult favourites such as the Oreo Balls smothered in white chocolate and served with a scoop of cookies and cream gelato — and the White Nutella Balls topped with salted caramel sauce and crushed biscuits — will be on the menu, as well as more traditional doughnuts dusted with icing sugar or dipped in honey and cinnamon. To drink, Lukumades specially roasted blend of coffee by Sydney-based William De Nass roasters will be available, as well as milkshakes, traditional Greek soft drinks and tsikoudia — a Greek grape-based spirit. Lukumades is not just expanding to Sydney, either. As well as Perth and a second store in Melbourne, the brand has its sights set globally — thanks to its recent franchising — with stores in the United States and Cyprus anticipated to open by the end of the year. Lukumades is slated to open on Thursday, May 2 at Shop 2, DUO Central Park, 38 Broadway Chippendale. It will be open from 10am–11pm daily.
If all goes to plan, this could be one of our last Friday nights in lockdown. And how better to send it off than with a big ol' living room boogie? Fittingly enough, this Friday, October 23, also marks the final event in Melbourne Fringe Festival's lockdown program, starring a celebratory edition of fan-favourite, Mr McClelland's Finishing School. Broadcasting to a screen and speaker system near you from 9pm, the virtual dance party will see DJ Andrew McClelland working his usual magic, guiding you all through a foot-stomping, groove-inducing mix of indie, pop, soul and rock tunes. Live and loud from his own lounge room, mind you. Clear out the coffee table, put the breakables somewhere safe and get ready to sweat out your lockdown frustrations to hard-hitting songs from across the decades. Best of all, it's an affordable night spent cutting shapes. You'll pay $5 if you're flying solo, $10 for a household ticket, or $15 if you're joining in from some other magical place where IRL partying is still allowed.
Just ten months ago, it was announced that Kensington Street Social — the Chippendale restaurant by celebrity chef Jason Atherton — was closing its doors and being replaced by Barzaari. Now, its eastern Mediterranean successor is following suit and shutting up shop for good on Saturday, August 31. The short-lived Chippendale restaurant is Sydney's second outpost of Barzaari, with the still-open original launching in Marrickville back in 2016. Its closure was announced today in a statement from the company, saying "owners Andrew Jordanou and Darryl Martin will place their full focus on their original Barzaari Restaurant in Marrickville". The inner city restaurant is known for its charred vegetables and slow-cooked meats (coming out of the woodfired oven), pillowy breads (perfect for wiping through dips) and all-you-can-eat falafel feasts (for just $20) — all of which you can still enjoy for another 18 days, mind you. [caption id="attachment_729972" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] Barzaari also currently looks after the food menus at The Clare and The Old Clare Rooftop bars, but when it closes A1 Canteen will take over. No new plans have been announced for the space just yet, but we'll let you know when they are. Find Barzaari Chippendale at 3 Kensington Street, Chippendale until Saturday, August 31.
Midweek dinners couldn't get any cheesier. After a successful run last year, Handpicked Cellar Door is bring back its raclette dinners, devoting Tuesday and Thursday nights every week to piping hot, melted cheese. From 5.30pm–10pm, the team will warm a mammoth wheel of raclette before your eyes, then slice it straight onto your plate. For $24, you'll be eating the raclette alongside premium pancetta, pickles and potatoes, with a vegetarian option also available ($20). And, before you ask, there's of course the option of matching wines as well. Just 25 bucks will buy you a 'swipe right' four-wine flight, made up of Mornington Peninsula chardonnay, two types of shiraz (one from Heathcote and one from the Barossa Valley) and Margaret River cab merlot. Their Tinder joke, not ours. If this doesn't get you off your couch on a chilly winter night then nothing will.
Their name may be more likely to evoke tacky action cinema than melodious pop-punk, but New Zealand trio Die! Die! Die! would like to invite you to The Standard for just one leg of their Harmony In Australia album tour. Produced by Chris Townend (Portishead, D12, Violent Femmes) the band’s fourth offering Harmony is set to be the record of the year. Encapsulating savant pop elements with the raw energy and emotion of their live performance, Harmony is yet further proof that the band continue to evolve. With Opossum bassist Michael Logie in the ranks, Die! Die! Die! Can be expected to deliver an intense and euphoric show even more blistering than before, full of quietly menacing basslines and bursting with melody.
Now this one is intriguing. If an out-of-the-box gin-heavy event is calling your name, the return of this crime themed gin sesh is the right fit for you. Head over to Frank Mac's at The Rocks for a night filled with treacherous tales of vice, murder and mayhem — plus, a side of crafted cocktails — for you to devour. In your 90-minute session, Sydney crime historian Max Burns-McRuvie will host a deep dive into Sydney's gin-adjacent crimes. You'll delve into the city's dark criminal history while enjoying Frank Mac's antipasto board and two expertly-made seasonal cocktails showcasing one of the stars of the night: gin. [caption id="attachment_900048" align="alignnone" width="1920"] (Pictured: Sydney crime historian Max Burns-McRuvie)[/caption] This undeniably niche event runs on three Wednesday nights — May 24, July 26 and September 27 — throughout the year and the price of admission is just $55 per person. It would be a crime to miss it. Check out Frank Mac's official invitation for more information, or head straight to the bookings page to lock in your spooky session. Image credit: Steve Woodburn.
Whether you're keen on a harbourside drink, a stunning view, an excuse to wander and enjoy the Royal Botanic Garden or you're simply a die-hard 'Sunshine on a Rainy Day' fan, next week's wintery edition of The Garden Social has you covered. This time round, the alfresco event is celebrating First Nations artists and cultures. Taking over The Domain's Tarpeian Lawn, the event features a sweeping vantage of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. But, the real draw card is the lineup of First Nations musicians there to serenade you. Headlining? National treasure Christine Anu. Joining the stand-out talent is Ngiyampaa singer-songwriter Pirritu, Yorta Yorta musician Madi, Adelaide-based multi-instrumentalist Rob Edwards (pictured below) and many more. For the full lineup and list of set times, check out the website. You'll also have the opportunity to join in on First Nation cultural practices. There's traditional grass-weaving, sand painting and woodcarving workshops, plus the unique opportunity to contribute to the creation of a Warrane Community Connection Map hosted by Yibaay Wagaan Wiradjuri artists. The cashless event is your chance to warmly farewell winter. With a fantastic spread of food options to choose from and an onsite bar to keep you watered, the lush green grounds are ready and waiting to host you this August. The Garden Social hits Tarpeian Lawn from 5–10pm, Friday, August 12; 11am–10pm, Saturday, August 13; and 11am–8pm, Sunday, August 14. For set time details and more information, head to the website. This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government.
The epic, Western-tinged two-plus hours of John Carter flew by. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the film, which makes it odd that I'm about to spend most of this review digging into it. It's because I love you, John Carter people, and you were less than the sum of your parts. Edgar Rice Burroughs' series of books about the exploits of teleported US Confederate soldier John Carter on the planet of Mars are legendary among fantasy fans. Like, Tolkien legendary. It paints a picture of Mars — Barsoom in the local language — as ridden with civil war that is killing the planet. The enlightened city of Helium is on the defence against the creeping, consumptive city Zodanga, but it will take the involvement of Carter and the hitherto neutral tribe of Tharks to tip things in their favour. What happens on Barsoom is complicated, which is part of what makes it an absorbing, convincing, full world. Suffice it to say, there are good guys — Carter (Taylor Kitsch), Princess Dejah (Lynn Collins) of Helium, self-sacrificing Thark Sola (voiced by Samantha Morton) — and bad guys: Prince Sab Than (Dominic West) of Zadonga, the god-like Therns (led by Mark Strong), the tyrannical Thark Tal Hajus (voiced by Thomas Haden Church). The bad guys have all the tech, but the good guys have all the righteousness. Studios have been trying to make John Carter into a movie for decades, and ultimately, that might be the problem. Even when it's fantastic, it feels old. It's not the fault of the visual effects, which, although they might not have the majesty of Avatar, are still rich, seamless and alive (oddly, only the make-up required to turn the humanoid Barsoomians red looks fake). There's just a different sensibility to the action/adventure/fantasy genre these days, and dream team director Andrew Stanton (WALL-E, Finding Nemo) and cowriters Michael Chabon (author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, The Yiddish Policemen's Union) and Mark Andrews (another Pixar luminary) chose not to invoke it. This is most apparent in characterisation. Despite the occasional charms both actors bring to the roles, crusaders and lovebirds Carter and Dejah are a little too perfect, a little too staid, a little too archetypal. They speak in grandiose non-communications. They are never tongue-in-cheek or self-referential. Perhaps that means John Carter will age handsomely, but in the present, it doesn't fit. And that brings us to another gaping anachronism: No-one left on Earth thinks there may be life on Mars, now or anytime in the last 100 years. Space probes since the 1960s have told us so. When Burroughs wrote the series (1912-43), Mars hung heavy with possibility, but it no longer captures our imaginations in the same way. In fact, popular theories going around the internet suggest movies made about Mars are doomed to commercial failure, and Disney clocked on too late. Audiences are keen to suspend reality, but only when led into a compact by a tenable proposition. In this case, John Carter is saddled with a ridiculousness it doesn't deserve. For those who prefer their adventure stories set in space, there's much to enjoy in John Carter, and you might even get original-trilogy-Star Wars-level tingles. But with a few key tweaks, it could have carried so much more critical and box-office weight, and that's the disappointment.
Sydney's Wild Life Zoo may be temporarily closed to the public, but its keepers are continuing to feed and care for its many animals, big, small, scaly and slimy. And it's inviting you to get in on the action this week when it live streams the feeding of one of its biggest residents. At 2.30pm AEDT on Wednesday, March 25, you can watch Rocky the mammoth 365-kilogram saltwater crocodile splash around in his large pool, clamp his jaws around snacks and maybe even show off a death roll or two. Before the feeding kicks off, there'll be a Q&A with Rocky's keepers Caroline, Ashley and Sofia, who'll be answering all of your questions about the world's largest reptile. Thankfully, this isn't the only live-stream the zoo is planning. Keep an eye on its Facebook page for future cute and slightly scary content, including possible koala cuddles, snake feeding and after-dark hangs with the nocturnal animals. Live-Stream: Feeding Time with Rocky the Crocodile is happening at 2.30pm AEDT via Wild Life Zoo's Facebook page.
Over on Crown Street, Night Parrot leans into top-notch wines from the likes of Lo-Fi Wines' Das Juice, Adelaide Hills' Vinteloper and Yarra Valley's Punt Road Winery. The bar recently changed hands but things remained unchanged for now, so you can sip funky natural drops alongside a selection of Asian-style snacks, including handmade dumplings, bao and Korean popcorn chicken. Images: Stefan Posthuma
Off the back of two super fast-selling seasons in Parramatta, Sydney's most ambitious outdoor cinema is bringing its 150-bed (yes, bed) theatre back for the warmer weather. And this time around, it will be held closer to the CBD, at Moore Park's Entertainment Quarter. Grab a buddy you're comfortable to share a blankie with (or make a bold first date move) and book a bed between October 27 and December 10. The cinema will screen a range of films, including new movies (American Assassin, The Foreigner), horror (It, The Shining), subtitled foreign films (Goodbye Lenin, City of God), Disney classics (Cinderella, Peter Pan), Japanese anime (Naruto, My Neighbour Totoro) and some of the best releases of 2017 (Wonder Woman, Dunkirk). Mov'In Bed has planned themed and party nights too. Scorcese gets his own night with screenings of Goodfellas and Wolf of Wall Street and there's a Love is Love night — featuring Brokeback Mountain and Moonlight – and, of course, Halloween night with a horror selection. There'll be the normal cinema food bar selling beer, lollies and popcorn etc. — but we think this will probably be overshadowed by Burger Project and Fratelli Fresh bringing food directly to your bed. If you don't want to shell out for a bed, you can bring a picnic blanket and chill out on the grass. Just remember to book your spot before you rock up. Mov'In Bed runs from October 27 to December 10 at the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park. For ticketing and event information, visit movinbed.com.au.
Following a sell-out launch event in May, Red Rock Deli is putting together its second secret supper — and this time it's bringing one of Adelaide's most renowned chefs to host an exclusive dinner for some very lucky Sydneysiders. Duncan Welgemoed (Africola) is behind the next mouth-watering feast which will be inspired by Red Rock Deli's new limited-edition flavours. All the details are very much under-wraps, including what he'll be cooking up, but given Africola is famed for its North African-inspired woodfired meats and veggies, you can expect this three-course meal to be filled with flame-grilled delights. Despite everything being very hush-hush, here's what we can reveal: Welgemoed will be flying up for the supper on Thursday, June 20, and his dinner will be inspired by Red Rock Deli's flame-grilled steak and chimichurri flavour. We can also tell you that this experience will involve more than just the dishes — after arriving at the collection point in Sydney's CBD, you'll be whisked away to a mystery location where you can expect everything from the decor to the food to have a fiery theme — although the menu will remain a secret until you arrive. There are two sessions of this lavish dinner, with room for just 20 guests at each. Tickets to Duncan Welgemoed's secret supper cost $110 per person. Enter the ballot below to be given the chance to purchase tickets. The lucky winners will receive a secret link to buy tickets to the evening on Tuesday, June 11th. Please note, the Secret Supper menu will not cater to ANY dietary requirements or allergies. There are strictly no changes to the menu. [competition]717901[/competition] Image: Simon Bajada
"If you don't see it, you're mainstream." Blerg. Don't let the tagline from this cringe-inducing local promo campaign divert you from seeing the wondrously singular Holy Motors, which has been gathering such rapturous/bemused word-of-mouth as to render even good advertising redundant. After its premiere in competition at Cannes, June's Sydney Film Festival rushed to add Holy Motors to its scheduled programme. August's Melbourne International Film Festival ran a retrospective of the works of its director, Leos Carax, a slim oeuvre comprising five feature films over 28 years, the high point of which was 1991's Lovers on the Bridge, starring a young Juliette Binoche. In Holy Motors Monsieur Oscar (Denis Lavant) is driven around Paris to a series of appointments, each its own separate setpiece. Applying elaborate costume before stepping out of his limousine-cum-dressing room, he becomes a dowager's-humped old woman begging in the street, a thuggish hit man sent after his own doppelganger, and an odd little troll who emerges from the underground to crash a fashion shoot, among other transformations. Why is he employed to do any of these things? Who could possibly be a client or beneficiary of this bizarre service? Some hints of the superstructure that explains his existence appear, but they're just that: hints. What matters to Holy Motors is the condition of human beings within the world it has invented, and the loose poetry it spins on the performative aspects of our contemporary lives. Weirdness affected for weirdness's sake can get tired fast. But Holy Motors' kooky anti-narrative isn't for the hell of it, and it definitely isn't boring. There's a two-step test it passed to justify its rampant weirdness to me: First, it threw up utter beauty, often. I can't let go of the image of two improbably agile motion-capture-suited artists meeting for an erotic dance in the dark, of a naked and aroused imp posing for a Rococo tableau with a chartreuse-silk-wrapped Eva Mendes. Second, you might not know exactly what's going on, but you have the sense that Carax does (although he and his stars are being notoriously tight-lipped). That feeling of a fantasy world following its internal logic keeps incredulity at bay. It means when Kylie Minogue appears to sing a melancholy ballad, you go with it. See Holy Motors. See it see it see it see it. Relent and go down the rabbit hole. Holy Motors won't save you from the mainstream, but it will remind you of the sheer possibilities of cinema and the pulchritude we've yet to dream up. And if you're thinking that all sounds like Holy Motors is too hepped up on its own self-importance, rest assured, there are talking cars that will dispel any chance of that. https://youtube.com/watch?v=WTNUPcb9YuQ
Recently under new owners, the Alfred Hotel is a charming old art deco pub, just off Parramatta Road in Camperdown. With Jamie Dyball in the kitchen, the pub serves up a Sunday roast that never disappoints. The $20 roast special changes weekly but always features a beautiful gravy and of course a yorkshire pudding. Keep an eye on the rotating craft beer taps which offer new selections pretty much every week, alongside classic offerings from larger multinationals to keep all thirsty punters happy. Images: Trent van der Jagt.
Liberating creativity from rational thought just as the colour field painters sought to destroy illusion, Matthew Allen’s forthcoming exhibition Where You Go I Go Too, offers a place of refuge at Sullivan+Strumpf Gallery. It is a painterly antidote to an increasingly detached and complex world. In this exhibition, Allen celebrates the beauty of raw materiality and its formal qualities, stating: “I deem a work valid when there is an interplay between the tactility of surface and the depth of light, colour and space.” In this way, he is engaging with the gravitational flow of paint and the immersive experience generated by the aesthetic flatness of the canvas. Allen's practice draws largely from the history of 20th century abstract expressionism and the theoretical domain of colour psychology. He aims to spark an epiphanic experience in the viewer, akin to the intentions of the melancholic colour-field pioneer Mark Rothko. He also seek to imbue his painting with a sense of mystic elusiveness, mediating between things verifiable and things unreachable. Where You Go I Go Too invites the viewer to partake in an unearthing of truth, igniting the spirituality of painting as a physical action and paint as material substance.
With the middle of the year fast approaching and too many months gone since Christmas, you're probably thinking about when you can next take a break and get away from it all. So, you could be planning a trip to New Zealand; the trans-Tasman bubble is now open, finally. Or, if you'd like to head to — or make the most of — South Australia, its government wants to give you an extra incentive. As it has done twice already, the SA Government is handing out another round of vouchers in its Great State Vouchers scheme. This time, $50, $100 and $200 vouchers are up for grabs, but only for residents of SA, New South Wales and Victoria. You can put them towards tours and experiences throughout the state, and you can choose which type of single-day, overnight or multi-day experience you're keen on, too, with different activities on offer at different voucher amounts. Because previous iterations of the scheme have proven mighty popular — to the surprise of absolutely no one — you'll also need to enter a ballot this time around. It's open right now, and closes at 10pm ACST / 10.30pm AEST on Friday, April 23. If you're successful, you'll be allocated your preferred voucher at random, which you can then use to book between Tuesday, April 27–Sunday, May 23 for visits from Tuesday, April 27–Saturday, July 31. https://twitter.com/marshall_steven/status/1384651436697407489 If you're wondering what's on offer, activities include gin-blending masterclasses, whale watching, ghost tours, kayak tours of the Adelaide CBD, and food and wine tours of the Clare Valley — plus tours of Adelaide Central Market, a trip to the River Murray Dark Sky Reserve, spending two days on Kangaroo Island, and venturing into the Flinders Rangers for three days. There are a few caveats, unsurprisingly. You can only enter the ballot for one voucher, whether you opt for the $50, $100 or $200 amont, and you'll have to also spend some of your own money to use it — to make up the shortfall in price for your chosen tour or experience — as well. But, if you received a voucher in prior rounds, you can definitely still enter. Accommodation isn't covered this time, either. The idea is that folks heading to SA from interstate will then pump some cash into the economy by paying for hotels — and flights, food and drinks — while they're there. A whopping 50,000 vouchers are on offer, with 45,000 allocated for SA residents and 5000 for folks from NSW and Victoria. And if you're successful, you'll get word on Saturday, April 24. For further details about South Australia's Great State Vouchers scheme — or to enter the ballot for one before 10pm ACST / 10.30pm AEST Friday, April 23 — head to the voucher scheme website.
Spring has finally sprung. What better way to enjoy the warmer and brighter evenings than by toasting the change of seasons at Darlinghurst stalwart East Village Hotel? In collaboration with Roku Gin, East Village is hosting 'Spring Nights' on its rooftop terrace. From Tuesday to Sunday from 4pm onwards, guests can enjoy bespoke Roku Gin cocktails — only available on the rooftop bar — and a special bar snack menu. For the event, the three-tiered pub has transformed its rooftop terrace into a sakura springtime wonderland, with fairy lights and cherry blossoms adorning trellises and the bar. There are three cocktails to choose from: Some Other Spring (with Roku Gin, dry vermouth, yuzu, peychauds and orgeat, garnished with cucumber ribbons), Kitsuka (Roku Gin, elderflower, orange blossom, citrus and soda, garnished with a fresh orange slice and flowers) and the aptly named The Golden Hour (Roku Gin, umeshu and orange bitters in a Nick and Nora glass). East Village is also slinging three bar snack plates to enjoy with the cocktails: citrus-cured salmon on crispy rice cake, chicken tsukune skewers and housemade vegetarian gyoza with ponzu dipping sauce. There's even an offer for two plates and two cocktails for a special price. In Japanese, Roku means "six". As part of Roku's commitment to shun — a Japanese practice of enjoying food and drink in its proper season — each of its six botanicals (sakura leaf, sakura flower, sencha tea, gyokuro tea, sansho pepper and yuzu) is harvested at the peak of its maturity. The cocktails crafted by East Village attempt to showcase the botanicals while also being an ideal choice for sunset drinks after work on the terrace. Roku Gin Spring Nights at East Village Hotel is on from Tuesday, September 19 until Tuesday, October 31, from 4–10pm. Walk-ins are accepted, but bookings can be made on the East Village website. Images: Brooke Zotti
Director Godfrey Reggio and composer Philip Glass have joined forces with filmmaker Jon Kane to create a "cinematic time capsule for the 21st century". Visitors is a haunting black-and-white film that explores humanity's relationship with technology, and the potential dangers such a relationship could bring. The wordless film will be shown in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House, accompanied by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra playing Glass's musical score live. The film comes to Sydney after its premiere at this year's Toronto Film Festival. Its release coincides with the 30th anniversary of Glass and Reggio's first collaboration — the phenomenal Koyaanisqatsi, the first of the Qatsi Trilogy. Visitors is a rare and wonderful opportunity to see this special mode of filmmaking at its best, with the score performed live in an unbeatable venue. https://youtube.com/watch?v=-DieLfWWf0w
Get your Hunter Valley gourmet experiences and fine wines with Sydney Harbour views this autumn. Hunter by the Harbour is on its way to Cockle Bay. So, between Monday, October 12, and Sunday, November 8, you're invited to a stack of scrumptious dinners, special wine menus, beer invasions and masterclasses. If you're a newbie to the often intimidating world of wine tasting, book a spot at Blackbird Cafe's Wine 101 with Tulloch Wines, scheduled every Thursday throughout the month. If you want to know more about how and why wine creation happens (and have a feast while you're at it), head to one of the wine maker's dinners, like this four-course degustation with McWilliams at Baia the Italian, this repast with Michael Partridge of Petersons Champagne House at Cafe Del Mar or this shiraz-powered seafood and meat extravaganza with Di Iuliis at I'm Angus Steakhouse. Meanwhile, numerous Cockle Bay bars and restaurants, including Adria and Nick's Cafe & Bar, will be adding Hunter Valley wines to their menus. And, at Pontoon, Murray's Craft Brewing Co. is planning on taking over the taps all month.
You may recognise Nongshim ramyun's iconic packaging from various trips to your local grocery store or as your go-to budget meal when you're strapped for cash but in need of a flavour-filled feed. Well, the Korean Ramyun brand is teaming up with Morgan McGlone (founder of Belles Hot Chicken and one of the brains behind one of our favourite Sudney bars, Bar Copains) for a delicious pop-up. Aptly named Shin's Table, the temporary eating spot will celebrate the launch of Nongshim's latest product range and eco-friendly change to paper packaging. Shin's Table, kicking off on Friday, November 24 and remaining open until Sunday, December 3, will be dishing up a menu of Asian-inspired dishes, specially curated by chef McGlone. Head over to 137 Oxford Street on Friday from 5pm and you'll be met with a tight selection of noodle dishes for $16. Heat things up with the chilli chicken ramyun paired with napa cabbage, tofu and chicken thigh pieces, or opt for the vego-friendly cheesy stir fry ramyun — starring the Shin Stir Fry with cheese — topped with kimchi, spam and nori. For smaller dishes — or sides, depending on your stomach's capacity — take your pick from kimchi-, pickled chilli- and cheese-loaded tater tots for $10, Korean fried chicken (KFC) wings for $15 and chips with a cheesy pork bolognese and tomato sauce at $9. Plus, each week offers up an additional elevated ramen dish available for $24. For the first week, you'll be able to grab a seafood-centric ramen containing the familiar OG Shin Red noodles, squid, crab and fish cakes. For week two, the limited-edition ramen will feature tender wagyu beef, a cured egg yolk and shiitake mushroom with Shin Black noodles. And to top things off, there are limited-time cocktails from an old fashioned with a Korean twist to bubbly mimosa seltzers and a ginger lima soda highball. Once you've eaten to your heart's content, swing by the prize wheel on your way out and you'll score some free merch ranging from chopsticks and noodle packets to beach towels and bottles. Each day's opening hours will vary, with some days opening from lunchtime to dinner and others opening for a special dinner service. For its opening day, Friday, November 24, Shin's Table will be open from 5pm to 9pm. The weekend following the launch will open for a lunch and dinner service from 12pm to 10pm on Saturday, November 25, and from 12pm to 7pm on Sunday, November 26. The pop-up's second week will run from Thursday, November 30, to Sunday, December 3. Thursday's pop-up will run from 5:30pm to 9pm, Friday will be open from 5pm to 10pm and the Saturday and Sunday hours will remain the same as the previous weekend — so there will be plenty of time to swing by and secure an enticing meal. Head over to Nongshim Australia's Instagram page for upcoming event updates.
In a time of great upheaval for Australian music festivals, it's rare to get a bit of good news. Which is why we're super-excited to hear that the Secret Garden festival completely sold out in just a few hours, despite having no advertising budget and the lineup not having been released yet. It's testament to the amazing work that the organisers have done over the first five years of this fledgling festival: they have created an event with a great vibe, full of good times and dress-ups (and yes, the occasional paint fight) and they work really hard to make sure everyone has an amazing time. This year's lineup — pulled together by FBi Radio host, GoodGod programmer and all-around great dude Adam Lewis — is full of really excellent Australian bands, all of which have been making serious waves in 2013. There's lots more to come; these are just the first handful of around 40 acts to be announced, not to mention the guerrilla arts performances that pop up all weekend and a huge Farmers vs Zombies battle planned for the first day. But without further ado, here is the first lineup. Bloods Client Liaison D.D Dumbo Donny Benet Elizabeth Rose Goldroom (DJ Set) Lancelot (Live) Little May Nantes Olympia Palms Papa Vs. Pretty Richard In Your Mind The Rubens Ryan Hemsworth Shining Bird Straight Arrows Sures The Trouble with Templeton World's End Press
The beloved schnitty might not be the first thing you think of when you hear the word "degustation", but that's all about to change. Inner west pub The Toxteth is celebrating Sydney's favourite crumbed chicken dish with a one-off, eight-course schnitzel degustation on Saturday, September 14. For a tidy $50 a head, guests will find themselves tucking into eight crafty schnitzel dishes, featuring a whole swag of different proteins. There'll be a kangaroo schnitzel teamed with bush tomato and lemon myrtle, a fish number with baby capers and cheesy potato, and even a dessert schnitzel matched with chocolate mousse, Anzac biscuit crumbs and berries. As for the standard chicken version, it'll be elevated with a gutsy wasabi and sesame crumb. Of course, a schnitty just isn't a schnitty without a cold beer to match, so Pirate Life has jumped on board to offer a special degustation beer pairing menu. You'll be able to team your dishes with matched beers from the South Aussie brewery for an extra $25 a head. To book, head to The Toxteth Hotel website. Images: Kitti Gould
The Darling Harbour Jazz and Blues Festival is celebrating twenty two years this Queen's Birthday weekend. Set across four stages, including the world famous floating Harbourside stage, the program looks set to excite. To celebrate this anniversary the festival is pulling out all stops, bringing together the best of the local and international jazz scene, including headliners Dr Lonnie Smith, Trevor Watts, Veryan Weston and former Cat Empire member Harry james Angus, to name just a few. For the first time ever visitors can experience Moonlight Jazz In The Chinese Garden, a unique music event in a beautifully tranquil location, as well as a Festival Bar at Tumbalong Park. Plus, young jazz fans can get up close and personal with one of Australia’s best jazz artists, John Morrison, who will be running free big band workshops on Sunday and Monday at 11am in Tumbalong Park.
The world's best water polo players are converging on Bondi to compete in this year's Water Polo by the Sea. Taking over Icebergs on Thursday, March 9, the event will see the Aussie Sharks go head-to-head against the International All Stars, whose members hail from Europe and the US. Given that stacks of people want to be in the front row for this mighty match, the organisers are offering a few VIP options. To match your viewing with an Aperol Spritz and Maurice Terzini-designed canapés, grab a spot on the Icebergs Dining Room and Bar's top-floor balcony. Or, to get poolside, go for the Aspen Snowmass Birdcage experience, which involves Nexba-infused cocktails, Peroni and Latin street food, including tapas and tacos, from Contrabando. Either way, you'll be invited to join the players at the official after party, to be held at Hotel Ravesis from 8pm. And, if all that sounds like it's going to blow your budget to smithereens, the General Admission tickets are much more wallet-friendly at $63 each.
UPDATE, Thursday, February 27, 2025: Drake was also scheduled to play Sydney on Friday, March 7, but that gig has been postponed to a yet-to-be-confirmed future date. Here's the headlines: Drake is coming to Australia in 2025; it's his first trip this way since 2017; and you're now going to have 'Hotline Bling', 'Too Good', 'Passionfruit', 'Nice for What', 'In My Feelings', 'One Dance' and 'Laugh Now Cry Later' stuck in your head again. The Canadian artist is bringing his Anita Max Win tour Down Under, including to Sydney in February and March. The five-time Grammy-winner is hitting the Harbour City for four shows. Drake will play Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday, February 16–Monday, February 17, then on Wednesday, February 19–Thursday, February 20. The Degrassi: The Next Generation star last took to the stage in this neck of the woods on his Boy Meets World tour, which means that eight years have passed between those gigs and his 2025 visit. The platinum-selling singer is fresh off his 2023–24 It's All A Blur Tour, which saw him chalk up over 80 soldout shows in North America. On that prior trip, Drake had four studio albums to his name: 2010's Thank Me Later, 2011's Take Care, 2013's Nothing Was the Same and 2016's Views. He's doubled that since, so expect tunes from 2018's Scorpion, 2021's Certified Lover Boy, 2022's Honestly, Nevermind and 2023's For All the Dogs, too. Images: The Come Up Show via Flickr.
This travelling boat bar is one of Sydney's latest and most dynamic ways to take in the harbour. It's a ticketed experience, but you can think of it like buying a ferry pass; from just $9 (for a short time only), you have entry to the boat and bar, hopping aboard from Circular Quay or King Street Wharf. Once you're aboard the revamped boat there are two areas in which you can kick back to enjoy drinks and snacks, while taking in the ever-changing unbeatable harbour views. On the lower deck, you can hang out on lounges and listen to live music, ordering cheese and charcuterie plates, all while working your way through the new cocktail list. On the upper deck, it's slightly more formal with table service and a restaurant menu of miso barramundi, Thai-style tuna and apple salad, and chicken karaage with lemon mayo. Plus, you can order indulgent desserts through the QR code menu, wherever you sit, such as the tiramisu tower.
As a nation girt by sea, as our anthem tells us, Australia boasts plenty of water. We're surrounded by it thanks to our scenic shorelines, picturesque harbours and cosy coastal inlets. And courtesy of the gobsmackingly gorgeous pools, curvy rivers and splash-tacular waterfalls found inland as well. Indeed, it's particularly easy to take a dip if you're in Sydney, whether you're roaming around close to home or roving further afield when the weather's warm. Sea spray, refreshing swimming holes and even crystal-clear public pools are usually only a stone's throw away. Here's where you'll find them — and cool down.
If the words bubbly and antipasto are your requirements for a damn good time, read on. Sydney's first ever Italian sparkling wine festival, Bolle Italia is coming to the recently opened Bar Machiavelli in Rushcutters Bay this October. This brand new festival will give wine enthusiasts and people who just really like the sound of a popping cork the chance to taste a glass (or a bottle) of some of the world's best sparkling wines — in particular paying tribute to world-class Italian sparkling wines from Friuli to Sicily and Piedmont to Sardinia. Festival founders and Italian sparkling wine importers Heath Felton and Marco Zaccariotto created the festival after they noticed the increased demand for quality sparkling wines in Australia over the past few years. "The Bolle Italia wine festival will give Australians the rare opportunity to taste quality Italian sparkling wines coming into the market, and learn how to recognise the difference," said Felton. For those wanting to improve their dinner party chit chat, sommeliers will be running masterclasses, so you can drop comments like 'creamy' or 'nuanced flavours of brioche and lemon zest' and actually know what you are talking about. If pairing your bubbly with a meal is more your thing than swilling the cheapest sparkling from a plastic flute at the races, be sure to nab a ticket to the Bolle Italia Degustazione — a six-course degustation with an exclusive menu designed by Bar Machiavelli's owner and chef, Paola Toppi, for 2016's Good Food Month.
Move over Muriel's Wedding — Australia's getting another homegrown comedy about life, love and tying the knot. That'd be Top End Wedding, which tells a completely different tale, but looks set to warm hearts all the same. Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival this week among a record contingent of Aussie flicks, Top End Wedding follows the chaos that comes with popping the question, trekking across the country and trying to track down a runaway relative. At its centre sits newly engaged couple Lauren (Miranda Tapsell) and Ned (Gwilym Lee). Head over heels and heading off to Darwin to stage Lauren's dream wedding — in the super short timeframe of just ten days — they discover that her mum (Ursula Yovich) has gone AWOL. Tapsell not only stars in the movie, but co-wrote the script. She also reunites with The Sapphires filmmaker Wayne Blair, who sits in the director's chair again here. And if Lee looks familiar (and looks like he should be wearing a massive mop of curls), that's because he's just been seen in Bohemian Rhapsody as Queen guitarist Brian May. Fellow The Sapphires star Shari Sebbens also features in the new film, alongside a cast that includes New Zealand's Kerry Fox and The Bill alum Huw Higginson. Given the film's title, plenty of the Northern Territory's scenery looks destined for some screen time as well. It's not often that we get an Aussie rom-com that takes a road trip through the top end, after all. Check out the first feel-good trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=uoDBvGF9pPU&feature=youtu.be Top End Wedding will hit Australian cinemas on May 2.
Somewhere on the timeline of illustration history, the humble comic spread from the sweaty palms of pre-teens and into mainstream and indie media. Film companies pumped millions into realising childhood dreams, while pretty girls with black hair revealed that they were also fluent in the secret language of frames, inks and lettering. Comic books, graphic novels, manga — these galaxies amid the universe of illustrated words had successfully wooed the zeitgeist. Now, Graphic, in its second year celebrating comic books and related cultural media, will show Sydney just how much we need those 'funnies'. Legendary comic artist and writer Robert Crumb headlines the 2011 festival at Sydney Opera House. Responsible for deconstructing the American comic book and revolutionising the form forever, his sexual, shocking and acid inspired illustrations include famous cartoon characters like Fritz the Cat and Keep on Truckin'. To win one of five double passes to see Robert Crumb, simply subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email us hello@concreteplayground.com.au by 5pm on Friday, July 15. https://youtube.com/watch?v=FlT4QZchxQw
Tarts Anon and Koko Black are both huge names in Melbourne's food scene, as are the folks who dream up all their delicious creations. Pastry Chef Gareth Whitton built Tarts Anon into one of the city's top cake shops, won Dessert Masters, is working on a new cookbook and even created a pressure test for MasterChef Australia. He's a household name, having also worked with teams at Mill Brewery, Gelato Messina, Al Dente Enoteca and Kori Ice Cream. Koko Black's Head Chocolatier Remco Brigou has been working in the world of chocolate since the age of 18, and has been an innovative tour de force at Koko Black for nearly eight years. He's also no stranger to partnering with other chefs, having worked with Lune, Connoisseur, Black Star Pastry and Tokyo Lamington. Now, these two giants in the sweet-toothed sphere of Melbourne's hospitality industry have come together for World Chocolate Day, creating a limited-edition chocolate and leatherwood honey tart. This decadent treat is only available from Friday, July 5–Sunday, July 7, at a few Koko Black stores across Melbourne and Sydney, and at both of Tarts Anon's Melbourne locations. We chatted with both Whitton and Brigou about collaborating on the new tart, and how valuable that these partnerships can be for both chefs' personal growth and the success of their businesses. We also touched upon the role that collaborations can play in helping hospitality companies stay afloat during these incredibly difficult times. On Coming Together to Create a Limited-Edition Chocolate Leatherwood Honey Tart Brigou: "World Chocolate Day is a very important day for us at Koko Black. It is the day that truly celebrates what we do, and for this special occasion we like to work with like-minded brands to create something amazing. The entire Koko Black team, myself included, have always been big fans of Tarts Anon — we'd often discuss how amazing the tarts are and how we would love to work with Gareth and the team one day. So, this was the perfect opportunity, and we reached out. After the first introduction call, we knew straight away that both our brands share the same values, beliefs and spirit for innovation and excellence. We knew straight away that this was going to be a great collaboration." Whitton: "We were asked to join forces with the team at Koko Black as part of their annual celebration of World Chocolate Day. After being such big fans of theirs as well as seeing the elite execution of their previous WCD activations, we were thrilled with the opportunity to work together. Remco and I got together after piecing together a few rough ideas, and chatted out some of these napkin sketches and how we could bring them to life. I had a format that I had in mind, we knew it had to involve chocolate, and we then fell on the idea of using the leatherwood honey honeycomb as inspiration. We also pulled from Remco's Belgian heritage with the peperkoek, plus a couple of textures and recipes that we use quite regularly at Tarts Anon." [caption id="attachment_925594" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Whitton's previous collaboration with Gelato Messina[/caption] On Why It's So Great to Work with Other Chefs Brigou: "For me personally, I love working on collaborations. It is a great way to meet amazing like-minded people in the industry, but it is also a great way to stay inspired. The richness that comes from sharing knowledge and ideas is very valuable to me, and it is something that I will always be thankful for." Whitton: "I always try to work with people who are either very similar to us, or completely opposite. Kinda like matching colours of clothing. Not similar enough, and it's hard to find a connecting point, but if it's either easily interchangeable or very complimentary, then it doesn't seem forced. It opens you up to new environments where you perhaps aren't as confined with your creativity, and also allows you to explore things that you wouldn't see day to day." On the Power of Partnerships to Help Businesses Get Through These Tough Times Brigou: "I think it is important for brands to work together, not only so we can all leverage from each other, but more importantly so we can create an experience to both our customers and maybe introduce our customers to a different brand that they maybe never heard from before." Whitton: "[Collaborations] are a (relatively) low-cost way of exploring new ventures, and keeping outgoings low is of the utmost importance in times like these. Particularly in branches of the industry that rely on seasonal trade (like ice cream, for example) it helps to collaborate with brands that thrive in cooler months to keep revenue coming in. The underlying issue that the industry faces is that the market is becoming so unbelievably saturated right now, which feeds the staffing crisis and the high turnover of businesses. There's a new competitor emerging every other week, so the revolving door of what's 'hot' is moving faster than ever. Collaborating is a good way to stay relevant and be ahead of the game." [caption id="attachment_833241" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brigou's previous collaboration with Connoisseur. Image by Julia Sansone.[/caption] On What's Holding the Industry Back Right Now Whitton: "It's hard to be too optimistic in times like these, there are too many motivated and passionate people trying to grab a hold of a dwindling number of opportunities. The emergence and prevalence of the food blogger is giving a platform that previously only the passionate and culinarily educated had access to, to anyone with an opinion. Now Google reviews and social media are rife with ill-informed and sharp-tongued critics single-handedly destroying businesses, and politics are creeping deeper and deeper into our dining rooms. It seems nihilistic to say, but I fear that most people are too concerned about staying afloat themselves that we're all treading water right now. The amount of tax that small businesses pay is frankly obscene. This is the big killer — wages will always take the biggest chunk, but that is an investment in people. When significant amounts of money are routinely taken from you and continually hinder any opportunity to grow, you are faced with the grim reality of choosing between success in your business or compromising your values to solely chase revenue." On the Best Advice That Brigou and Whitton Have Ever Received From a Collaborator Brigou: "I have had the privilege to work with a lot of amazing people and all of them have taught me so much, whether it is techniques, flavour combinations, or the passion and determination to deliver a beautiful product. I also like to think I have inspired them as well and maybe even taught them something, because that is the beauty of collaborations. It is a two-way street and I feel that sharing knowledge and letting people discover new things is the heart of our industry." Whitton: "The best thing I have learnt from someone I've collaborated with is to understand what it is you want to get out of the partnership. Having a game plan instead of trying to just feature two representations of your brand side by side will always triumph. Quality over quantity." Gareth Whitton and Remco Brigou's limited-edition chocolate and leatherwood honey tart is only available from Friday, July 5–Sunday, July 7 at a few Koko Black stores across Melbourne and Sydney, and at both of Tarts Anon's Melbourne locations. For more information on where to get the tart, visit the collaborations's website.
As anyone who has booked a flight, had to suddenly change their trip and been stuck paying handsomely knows, travel and flexibility haven't always gone hand in hand. But with the entire idea of making firm and definite plans undergoing quite the shift in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Virgin Australia is responding to this uncertain period by scrapping its change fees until next year. Make a reservation to travel between now and January 31, 2021 and, if life gets in your way and you need to rearrange your trip, you'll be able to make unlimited changes to your booking without being charged extra. It's worth noting, however, that this only applies to the usual change fee — that is, the amount travellers can be slugged with just for the act of altering their itinerary. If changing your flights involves a difference in fare, you will still have to pay any shortfall amount. The idea, unsurprisingly, is to encourage Australians to get booking — even knowing that little is certain when it comes to leaving the house, interstate borders or just life in general in these coronavirus-afflicted times. Virgin is calling the move its 'Passenger Promise', which spans a number of other measures designed to make travellers feel safer and more confident about taking to the skies. Also included: contactless check-in, pre-flight health screening questionnaires for all travellers when checking in, staggered boarding as part of social-distancing measures, distancing between passengers onboard where possible and minimising movement during the flight. Passengers will also receive free face masks and hand sanitiser kits, and be asked to scan their own boarding passes to limit their contact with crew, while increased cleaning protocols are also in place. To find out more about Virgin Australia's new change fee policy, visit the airline's website.
When it comes to loving a particular film, not all affection is created equal. There's the type of fondness that inspires a fan to tell all their friends about something great that they've seen, and then rewatch it over and over again. Then there's the kind of adoration that becomes a fully fledged obsession. Kumiko (Rinko Kikuchi) fits the latter bill, but even then her fascination is a little more passionate than most. Joel and Ethan Coen's Fargo is the object of her excessive attention, and she doesn't just fixate over it, she believes it. It's not the bickering hitmen, inept car salesman and determined local sheriff — as anyone who has seen the blackly comic crime classic will be familiar with — that strikes a chord. Instead, it's the briefcase filled with money buried in the Minnesota snow. To understand why she's so intent on thinking the movie is more than fiction is to understand her largely solitary existence in Tokyo. Kumiko is 29 years old and still working as an office lady, a position her boss thinks she should've well and truly outgrown. Her mother only calls to scold her about her dismal personal life, and her only friend is her pet rabbit, Bunzo. So when she happens across a VHS copy of Fargo, embracing its tall tale as truth adds purpose to her days, and trekking across America to find the stack of cash it tells of becomes her destiny. Reality is actually at the heart of Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter, though the filmmaking Zellner brothers — writer, director and actor David and co-writer and producer Nathan — aren't just living this fantasy themselves. They're delving into an urban legend that sprang up around the death of a Japanese woman in the US, which was first chronicled in 2003 documentary This Is a True Story. Indeed, those exact words are the first seen in Fargo itself, sparking reports at the time that it was based on real-life circumstances. Keeping that in mind, Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter makes its own fable out of diving into the strangeness that can stem from both truth and fiction, as well as the tenuous relationship between the two. The basis for its premise aside, the film also offers an offbeat look at isolation, and the lengths someone will go to in order to escape into a dream rather than face their reality. There's no mistaking the magical realism at work in the Zellners' approach, as their gorgeous icy frames make Kumiko's quest seem larger than life, and the atmospheric score by The Octopus Project proves both haunting and hopeful. There's no avoiding the questions it raises about the protagonist's fragile, lonely state, either. Kikuchi plays the titular character with perfection, her performance as slow in building as the movie itself, but also as beguiling the longer she's on screen. It's one of quirks and details adding up to something you can't look away from, even if you're simultaneously enthralled and frustrated. That's the reaction Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter elicits: whole-hearted intrigue in its ideas, and traces of exasperation in its meandering. Well, that, and making you want to rewatch Fargo as soon as possible — and as long as you don't book a plane ticket to America to search for the briefcase yourself, that's not a bad thing.
Making a movie about the life and work of Sebastião Salgado might seem like a rather easy task. For more than 40 years, the Brazilian social documentary photographer and photojournalist has travelled the world chronicling the people and places most don't ever see — the sights well off the beaten path. He has captured and collated thoughtful, contemplative long-term studies on topics such as work, migration and the interplay between nature and humanity, as seen in both books and exhibitions around the globe. The images snapped by his camera are as detailed, delicate and sometimes devastating as any seen on film, and look just as breathtaking when projected onto a cinema screen. It is far from surprising, then, that The Salt of the Earth emphasises his output in all its glory. Blowing his pictures up big is a marvel no filmmaker could resist, not even seasoned veteran Wim Wenders (of Pina and Buena Vista Social Club fame) and his co-director Juliano Ribeiro Salgado (Sebastião's son). They understand the extraordinary power of the images they have to work with, and use them accordingly. Their film lovingly lingers on a series of carefully selected snapshots that epitomise his entire career. And yet, even when gifted with such stunning visuals as an obvious starting point — and an apt ending point, too — Wenders and Juliano Ribeiro ensure The Salt of the Earth never merely lets the photos do all of the talking. Though each picture says plenty and then some, the tales behind them aren't just interesting asides used to make the movie more than a feature-length slideshow or bulk up its running time; they're integral to the broader story. Sharing insights into specific images, Sebastião's many memories are filled with twists and turns. The intrigue continues as he speaks about how he came to his profession after starting out working in economics, and how things have panned out since. He is frank and generous in looking back at his life, never sugar-coating the details nor avoiding the difficulties. This isn't only his story, however, with the photographer's anecdotes joined by those of his wife and long-term collaborator, Lélia Wanick Salgado, and of Juliano Ribeiro, too. That's what helps make The Salt of the Earth so engaging and so effective in ranging beyond Sebastião's always-arresting output. The film gets to the heart of the interplay between the art and the artist, as well as the ripple effect throughout his family. It may seem like a son crafting a tribute to his father, yet intimacy isn't the same as sentimentality. Instead, the documentary is really a textured portrait of a man who has dedicated more than just his career to taking textured portraits.
Sydney isn't short of ways to stay fit. Finding a routine or style of workout that sticks can be a totally different story though — particularly one that'll get you jumping out of bed in the early morning when the temperature outside is still in the single digits. But Darlinghurst's newest concept gym could be the answer. Undercard Boxing utilises a new fitness style, developed by co-founders Kesava Commerford and Zach Vickers, that combines boxing, strength and metabolic conditioning training styles. Unlike visits to big gyms, where you can often spend more time waiting for the machine you need than actually on it, Undercard exclusively runs small-group classes (maximum 36 people) and personal training sessions, so you can expect a more personal experience. Undercard involves heading underground and throwing punches in a dimly lit, orange-tinted space. Classes run for about an hour and will test both your strength and endurance — you'll rotate between boxing on a water-filled punching bag, using free weights and doing interval sprints on the high-tech treadmills. There's no chance of getting bored here — it's a high-intensity workout that'll really get your blood pumping. Plus, you can grab a coffee or post-workout protein smoothie from the on-site cafe. To celebrate the launch of this new fitness craze, we're giving away a three-month membership to Undercard Boxing. You'll get to attend two classes every week for three months — and, to keep yourself accountable, you'll get to bring along a mate, too. To be in the running (pun intended), enter your details below. [competition]728449[/competition]
If you're looking for a decadent way to toast to the change of the seasons, you should make your way to Reign at The QVB for a spring-themed high tea celebrating the launch of Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition — the first in Roku Gin's Seasonal Festive Collection. Roku, which translates to 'six' in English, is made with six Japanese botanicals. Each of these botanicals is plucked at the peak of its seasonality — as is the Japanese practice of Shun. The sakura season is one of the most popular times of the year in Japan, as the petals blanket the country in a pink hue. A vision of marble, brass and musk pink, Reign at The QVB is the perfect location for a high tea with a Japanese twist. On the savoury tier, you'll find cranberry chicken sandwiches, smoked salmon sandwiches with dill and cream cheese and Japanese egg sandwiches. On the sweet tier, choose between plain and wattleseed raisin scones with clotted cream and quandong jam, macarons, madeleines, raspberry brownies and lemon meringue tarts. For those keen to sample more of the seasonal gin, guests can enjoy three bespoke cocktails made with Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition that will be served with the high tea. First is the Sakuragi Spritz, a regal-themed floral-forward spritz made with the gin, St Germain, Pommery Brut Royal Pommery Brut Rosé champagne and a touch of chrysanthemum syrup to amplify the sweet floral notes. Next up is a more fruit-forward number, "A Night in Tokyo", a blend of Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition, strawberry-infused Campari and jasmine tea. The third is called "My Amai", which translates to "my sweetness", a take on a gin sour made with Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition, rose syrup, lemon juice and egg whites. Ahead of the delectable Japanese-inspired high tea and paired cocktails, guests who purchase the VIP experience ($129pp) will enjoy an exclusive and intimate gin tasting led by Roku Gin Brand Ambassador James Buntin. He will be joined by florist-turned-perfumier Saskia Havekes, founder of Grandiflora, who has crafted a beautifully floral perfume inspired by the floral botanicals in Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition. All attendees at this event will go home with a full-size perfume (50ml, valued at $220). This fragrance will only be available at exclusive Roku Gin and Grandiflora events happening throughout spring in Sydney. Tickets to this exclusive high tea are limited. Be sure to book in fast to secure your spot. Find out more information on the event website. Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition is available at Dan Murphy's stores nationwide. Find out more info and purchase on the website. Images: Supplied
When Dr Jane Goodall volunteered to live among chimpanzees in Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park, newspaper headlines were dismissive. Nearly 60 years later, the pioneering primatologist is world-renowned for her groundbreaking research — highlighting how closely connected humans are to our closest living relatives. Having dedicated the past six decades to her ongoing study, animal welfare in general and conservation, Goodall has lived a vastly fascinating life, which she'll be chatting about when she comes to Australia in May 2019. Goodall will appear at Jane Goodall: Rewind The Future event, which heads to the ICC on Wednesday, May 8. The session will feature a 40-minute lecture by Goodall about her work, followed by a conversation between Goodall and a host for the same duration. Topics certain to get a mention include just how revolutionary her findings were at the time — and the impact they still have now — as well as her connection with the resident primates of Gombe. You can also expect Goodall to discuss her subsequent efforts to fight against threats to African chimpanzee populations, such as deforestation, illegal trade and unethical mining operations. Indeed, wildlife and environmental conservation is the main aim of the Jane Goodall Institute, which she founded in 1977. The Jane Goodall Institute Australia and Think Inc. are behind her 2019 Aussie trip.
Those currently working from home have probably seen two major changes to their routine: less shoes and more snacks. To help with the latter, Australia's much-loved biscuit maker Arnott's has been opening its vault and releasing some of its coveted recipes — for the first time in history. So far as part of the snack expert's Big Recipe Release, it has unveiled its Monte Carlo, four-ingredient Scotch Finger and Iced VoVo recipes. Next up is a decadent twist on everyone's favourite chocolate-coated bikkie: the Tim Tam. While the company hasn't revealed exactly how to make the beloved biscuit, it is sharing how you can whip up salted almond Tim Tam brownies — aka the kind of snack you probably didn't know that you were craving until right now. This recipe has been put together for home bakers by Arnott's Master Baker Vanessa Horton, and timed to celebrate a very apt occasion: World Baking Day, which falls on this Sunday, May 17. Of course, while that's a great excuse to make Tim Tam-flavoured brownies, you can obviously cook them up whenever you like — and however often, too. As you'd expect, you do, in fact, need flour to make Tim Tam brownies, but we've rounded up some of the spots selling the essential ingredient across the country, which aren't supermarkets. Australia's oldest baker will continue to release a new recipe for one of its famous biscuits every week until social distancing regulations are lifted. Next up, will it be the Mint Slice? Pizza Shapes? Tim Tams themselves? We'll have to wait and see. In the meantime, though, here's the Tim Tam Brownie recipe: SALTED ALMOND TIM TAM BROWNIES Melted butter, to grease 120 grams dark chocolate, chopped 120 grams butter 1 1/2 cups (400 grams) caster sugar 3 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup (120 grams) plain flour 1 tablespoon cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1 200 gram packet of Arnott's original Tim Tam, chopped 1/2 cup almonds, chopped 1/2 teaspoon sea-salt flakes Method Preheat oven to 180ᵒC (or 160°C fan forced). Grease a square cake tin (20 x 20 centimetre) and line with baking paper. Place chocolate and butter in a medium saucepan over low heat, then stir until melted and smooth. Allow to cool slightly. Stir sugar into the chocolate mixture, then add the eggs one at a time — stirring well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Combine flour, cocoa powder and baking powder in a small bowl. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture. Stir until just combined. Stir through Tim Tam pieces. Pour batter into prepared tin. Spreading evenly, sprinkle with almonds and sea salt flakes. Bake for 30 minutes or until firm. Set aside to cool completely. Cut into pieces and serve.
