IKEA's blue-and-yellow Frakta bag has been a shop staple for more than three decades. It has helped carry your purchases of (too many) tea light candles, and proven an integral part of moving house. It's been used to make everything from masks and boots to bucket hats and even outfits for dogs, and has inspired a $2000 Balenciaga knockoff as well. And now, it's getting a new colour — so get ready to add a different hue to that pile of bags stuffed in one of your cupboards. Back in 2019, the Swedish retailer dropped a limited-edition rainbow version of the instantly recognisable, and super versatile bag; however, it was only available for short time. From November this year, IKEA will release a vibrant pink iteration as well, this time as part of a new collaboration with designer Zandra Rhodes. The vivid Karismatisk bag falls under the Rhodes-designed, 26-piece collection of the same name and, obviously, it's pink. The colour is bright, and there's another design flourish you won't find on the regular blue Frakta, too: side frills. "It is playful and functional — and the colour pop of pink adds an extra Zandra accent," said the designer. The Karismatisk bag will be available to purchase at IKEA stores n Richmond, Rhodes and Logan from November for $3. It'll also be available online at the same time. Across the rest of Rhodes' collection, you can also pick up cushions with eye-catching prints, both blue and pink vases, gold lampshades, and a range of rugs — plus mirrors, LED lighting, and candlestick and tea light candle holders. The Karismatisk bag will be available to purchase at IKEAs stores in Richmond, Rhodes and Logan from November for $3, and online via the retailer's website at the same time.
Rosebery's food precinct, The Cannery, has just added a Parisian offering to its ever-expanding repertoire. Frenchies Bistro and Brewery comes from craft-obsessed, French-born duo Vincent de Soyres and Thomas Cauquil (head brewer and head chef, respectively), who join a roster of heavyweight neighbours, including Saporium wholefoods market, Archie Rose Distillery, Black Star Pastry and Kingsmore artisan butcher. Inspiration for the space came from the team's time spent trekking Eastern Siberia, of all things. "We spent two months hungry, talking about food and beer," says de Soyres. The 'French-industrial' fit-out has warm bistro lighting that complements the dark beams of the Rosebery warehouse, along with lots of personal touches — including the venue's hand-crafted wooden tables, made by de Soyres' dad at his farm in France. The brewery, kitchen and bar sit on the ground floor, while the upstairs mezzanine houses the bistro where Cauquil will show off his world-class repertoire — he's cooked in Michelin-starred restaurants around the globe, including Paris restaurants Le Miroir and Le Violon d'Ingres, Madrid's El Chaflan and Sydney's Moxhe. "It's food that is affordable, with a lot of work behind it," says de Soyres. The menu will adapt on a daily basis, depending on the seasonal and regional produce available. "We will not be serving asparagus in winter." Despite being local as, the bistro menu features dishes not commonly found in Sydney, much less at a brewery — think veal tongue carpaccio, Balmain bug in puff pastry and beef and bone marrow stew. But the menu doesn't only appeal to more adventurous types, either, with a North African-style confit lamb and traditional Toulouse sausage with rosemary jus also present on the menu. For takeaway and the bar downstairs, Frenchies will sell Cauquil's specialty terrines, pâtés and meat parfaits, recipes he learnt while training under world renowned charcutier Arnaud Nicholas. The brewery side of the operation also focuses on seasonality, with the beer produced on-site and meant to pair with the menu. De Soyres flexes his international brewer's muscles with the Biere de Garde range, which he describes as "a bit like white wine, refreshing while complex and interesting". He takes a very organic approach to brewing, and finds it important to convey each beer's terroir, a sense of place ordinarily only used to refer to wines. The Frenchies core range also includes their Comet Pale Ale, made with wild American Comet hops, along with a German Kölsch, French IPA and an Aussie Red Rye. In the coming weeks Frenchies will also open for Sunday brunch, which will be complete with pastries, charcuterie, cheese and breakfast beer. Whether you're a Francophile, craft beer lover or both, you'll want to check out this space. Frenchies Bistro and Brewery is now open at The Cannery, 61-71 Mentmore Avenue, Rosebery. It will be open seven days for lunch and dinner (except for Sunday, which is only open for lunch), with Sunday brunch to start in the coming weeks. For more info, visit frenchiesbistroandbrewery.com.au. Images: Alana Dimou.
Newtown has a lot going for it, and its standout bar scene is right up there at the top of the list. Some have been around forever and are still packing out the house every night, others are newcomers that have already won a spot on our go-to list. From natural wine bars, speakeasy-style haunts and cocktail spots to tiki bars and rock 'n' roll burger joints, King Street has it all. Here's our list of the best of the bunch.
We know beach, barbies and blue skies make a perfect summer, but nowadays our favourite season isn’t complete without an hour or two at our city’s arguably most iconic attraction. For the third year running, the Sydney Opera House is transforming itself into a playground of sights, bites and goodies including The Summerhouse Tour to take you behind the scenes where the magic happens, as well as summer specials promotions to ensure you make the most of every mouthful. Running until the end of January from 5pm daily, the Summerhouse Tour (one hour, $45) is ideal if you’re new to the city or an Opera House old hat. Not only will you finish with a beer, wine or Bellini, taking in the sunset surrounded by the buzzing crowd, but you’ll explore scenes and settings us normal folk would usually never get to see. Led by an expert guide (with a few insider secrets to divulge), you’ll explore theatres, foyers and off-limit areas where more than 1,600 shows have wowed crowds over the House’s 58-year history. Book online and save 10% on your ticket, or if you can’t make the 5pm start, fear not: all other tours will be running as usual from 9am. The recently renovated Opera Bar will be decked out in a tropical theme and offering a juicy $20 prawn cocktail promo plus two drink specials. Nab yourself a young coconut (spiked, of course) or a deliciously cooling slushie, available in watermelon granite or frosty fruit flavours. The theatre bars themselves will be dressed up to suit the summer theme, with three seasonal cocktails at $15 each, including the fresh lemon and ginger, rum and lemonade Aloha; a Paradise Point of vodka, lemon juice, honey and ginger ale; and the Pink Bikini, combining tequila, grapefruit and lime juice. For something non-alcoholic, keep your eyes peeled for the Liana Raine popsicle cart serving on the Upper Concourse. Then — with sandpits, interactive performances, a Veuve Clicquot pop up and dedicated kids' areas — to name just a few attractions (more detail here), all that’s left is to enjoy summer like a true Sydneysider. For the full program, see the Summerhouse website.
There's always something happening in New South Wales, no matter what time of the year. So whether you're a local looking for extravagant summertime surf carnivals on the coast or an interstater on the hunt for cosy winter festivities, there's something for everyone. So why not get a weekend getaway on the books? We've scoured the calendar for festivities taking place across the state, and here's our round-up of the outdoor events. Depending on where you go, you'll need some sunscreen, a good jumper or a couple of napkins. Adventure awaits.
NSW public transport is set to become more environmentally sustainable under a new initiative from the NSW Government that promises to switch the state's fleet of 8000 buses to electric by the year 2030. Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance announced the decision on Wednesday, December 3, saying the state government would be rolling out 50 electric buses next year, marking the start of the transition to zero-emission technology over the next decade. Five electric buses have been trialled in the inner west over the past 18 months, which, according to Constance, have received positive feedback from drivers and passengers. The inner west will also receive the majority of the first batch of new electric buses. Thirty of the 50 electric buses expected to hit the road in the first quarter of 2021 will run in the area via the transport organisation Transit Systems. Outside the inner west, the new buses will be run out by Punchbowl Bus Company, Busabout and Interline in Sydney's southwest and Transdev in the north. The new buses will be manufactured by a range of local and overseas companies including BCI, Yutong, Nexport BYD Gemilang and Nexport BYD Volgren, with more local manufacturers to be added in the future, according to Transport for NSW's Deputy Secretary of Greater Sydney Elizabeth Mildwater. The announcement comes as the impact of climate change continues to be felt across the country, with Sydney experiencing its hottest November night on record. The Australian Government is also under pressure to introduce stronger environmental legislation, with 14 Pacific leaders just yesterday writing an open letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison urging him to commit to net-zero carbon emissions by 2015. An extra 1200 services have also recently been added to the Sydney public transport network to combat increased demand over summer. The additional services include 900 new weekly night bus services running between 9pm and 4.30am on Friday and Saturday. You can learn more about the plan for electric buses via the Liberal party website.
Established in 2009 to discuss difficult issues, push boundaries and inspire debate, Sydney's Festival of Dangerous Ideas has spent a decade exploring provocative topics — and it's celebrating its tenth anniversary in the same fashion. This year's event will tackle the theme 'dangerous realities', focusing specifically on racism, surveillance and climate change. After postponing its weekend-long Town Hall event in April due to the government's ban on non-essential gatherings over 500 people, FODI has decided to return next month with a succinct digital program for 2020. It's called FODI Digital, aptly — and fans will be happy to hear that headliner Edward Snowden is still on the docket. The whistleblower will — of course — examine the reality of mass governmental surveillance system. As expected, he was always planned to appear via livestream rather than in person, so not much has changed. The one-hour conversation will take place on Thursday, September 24 from 7pm. Alongside Snowden, the program features Professor Marcia Langton AM on Thursday, September 10 and Journalist David Wallace-Wells on Saturday, October 11. Langton will discuss the truth about racism in relation to Australia's Indigenous people, as well as our society's resistance to accepting our racist past. Meanwhile, Wallace-Wells will dissect the climate crisis in a conversation titled The Uninhabitable Earth. As all events will be live-streamed, tickets will cost just $10 for Langton and Wallace-Wells and just $15 for Snowden — or nab tickets to all three for $30. FODI is presented by The Ethics Centre, who co-founded the fest with the Sydney Opera House, then partnered with UNSW for the 2018 version of the event on Cockatoo Island. While this year's digital season is decidedly different from past iterations, it still boasts the fest's usual high-calibre range of speakers — so another eyeopening FODI season awaits. FODI Digital will take place across three separate online conversations on Thursday, September 10; Thursday, September, 24; and Saturday, October 11. For tickets, visit the festival's website. Top image: Jodie Barker
The last two years have been peppered with high-flying hotel openings, with the likes of Next, the W, AC Hotels and Movenpick just some of the brands that have come to make Melbourne home. But the city's next exciting accommodation addition comes not in the form of a sleek newcomer, but an old favourite reimagined. Rydges Melbourne is currently undergoing a top-to-toe transformation, slated to return in its next incarnation from autumn. And it's leaving the past well behind. You can push aside any existing notions you had of this long-running hotel brand — Rydges Melbourne 2.0 is a whole new kettle of fish. Set in the heart of the action on Exhibition Street, the hotel is set to reopen as a Rydges flagship complete with 370 freshly revamped rooms, including 35 suites, plus 25 new apartments catering to the business-leisure set. A completely overhauled look steered by the renowned Luchetti Krelle features soothing interiors of natural stone and pale timber complemented by loads of natural light. An impressive collection of local art has been curated by interior designer Janet Graham, and all the rooms are kitted out with Rydges' signature DreamBeds. Alongside all that, there's a hefty 1500 square metres of revamped event and conference spaces, including a lofty ballroom in the former Bobby McGees digs and a brand-new rooftop terrace. And there'll be more news to come soon about the property's signature restaurant, which is set to "celebrate the theatre of food". Rydges Melbourne is currently taking bookings from June onwards, with prices starting from $270 a night. Rydges Melbourne is set to reopen at 186 Exhibition Street, Melbourne some time in autumn. We'll share more details about its offerings as they drop.
Do you wanna know the latest big Australian tour news? Yes, if you're an Arctic Monkeys fan, you do. Already slated to head Down Under for Falls Festival and Lost Paradise, the Sheffield rockers have just gone and added three huge standalone — and outdoor — gigs to their tour itinerary. We bet you'll look good on the dance floor when January 2023 rolls around, obviously. 2022 marks two decades since the band first formed in their Yorkshire home town, and they'll see out the year in Australia, then start next year here as well. For their solo shows, Alex Turner, Jamie Cook, Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders will hit Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl and Brisbane's Riverstage, both with Mildlife in support, before heading to The Domain in Sydney with DMA's & The Buoys. Arctic Monkeys' last tour to come our way, 2019's Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino World Tour, was massive. Actually, every tour they've brought Down Under has been. Given their career to-date — including scoring the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history when Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not released in 2006 — that's hardly surprising. (Nor are the Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday shirts always spotted in the crowd whenever the band makes the trip Down Under, with Aussie supporters of the group's two hometown soccer teams routinely coming out in force.) It's been four years since the Monkeys' last album, the aforementioned Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino — but they won't be short of hits to play. Expect plenty of fun when the sun goes down, and not just a number-one party anthem on the set list. And if you're somehow not already excited, snap out of it. ARCTIC MONKEYS 2023 AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES — STANDALONE SHOWS: Wednesday, January 4 — Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, with Mildlife Wednesday, January 11 — Riverstage, Brisbane, with Mildlife Saturday, January 14 — The Domain, Sydney, with DMA's & The Buoys Arctic Monkeys are touring Australia in January 2023. Tickets go on sale online at 12pm local time on Friday, June 17, with pre-sales via the band from 10am AEST on Wednesday, June 15 and through Frontier from 10am AEST on Thursday, June 16. For more information, head to the tour website. Top image: Raph_PH via Flickr.
The unassuming streets of Newcastle have seen major rejuvenation in recent years. The former industrial centre has been transformed into a happening spot packed with hip bars and eateries plonked right beside a stunning stretch of coastline. Make the most of the salty air with a stay at The Beach House at Merewether. This luxurious private home provides the perfect digs for up to seven guests to chill out and lean in to the beachside lifestyle: quick morning dips after catching the sunrise from your deck's front-row seats, before bubbling away the afternoon in the backyard spa. Right on your doorstep is Bathers Way, a six-kilometre coastal path linking the nearby Merewether Ocean Baths (the largest in the southern hemisphere) to Nobby's Lighthouse in the north. Once the sun goes down, check out hidden spots in the CBD, like whisky speakeasy Coal & Cedar (to enter, you'll have to text a number scribbled on a brick wall) or the sprawling Foghorn Brewery, which houses a bar and restaurant in an art deco warehouse.
Houseboats are the aquatic equivalent of packing up a camper and taking yourself where the road leads. Rather than traversing the neverending highways that cut across our broad country, why not try cruising the rivers and waterways that trail like veins through some of the remarkable landscapes Australia has to offer? From fishing on the Ord River to skippering your own sailboat in the Whitsundays, sleeping on a boat opens up a whole new world of adventure holiday. For a cruisy vacation you haven't thought of yet, here are our top ten picks of houseboats around the land, and a couple that aren't technically houseboats, but provide an unmatchable experience on the water nonetheless. FIVE STAR SPA, WISEMAN'S FERRY, NSW Able Houseboats on the Hawkesbury River has a berth for 12 people, and as the name suggests, has a nice spa for soaking while boating. Wiseman's Ferry only takes an hour or so to reach by car from Sydney, so the boat is perfect for a cheeky weekend on the river. A weekend for 12 people on the stunning Hawkesbury River starts at $4820, which is starting to verge on the exxy side, but can you really put a price on happiness? Particularly happiness induced by houseboat? THE RIVERDREAM BOATEL, RENMARK, SA So, there's a luxury houseboat, then there's an insanely luxurious houseboat. Then there's the Riverdream. Boasting five king-sized bedrooms, a spiral staircase that leads you to the control room, a tinted ceiling, central heating, barbecue and everything short of its own helipad, this is the houseboat that Elton John would probably hire if he had any interest in houseboats. Operating along the Murray River, this boat shows off some of the most picturesque landscape that South Australia has to offer, all in the comfort of a floating five star resort. Prices start at $180 per night, per person. OCEAN SPIRIT, HOPE HARBOUR, QLD It's a general rule with boat-bound holidays that the stronger the pun, the better the boat. So Ocean Spirit (from Fantaseas) has to be one of the best boats out there. Ocean Spirit is moored at Hope Harbour, just north of Surfer's Paradise. It has four bedrooms, all lined with leather and panelled with polished wood, plus a barbecue on deck and what's that? A spa? Yep, there's one of those, too. Midweek prices in the normal season start at $3200 for four nights, and the boat can sleep you and 11 friends. CRUISE AWAY, WALPOLE-NORNALUP, WA A houseboat getaway doesn't mean you have to take a whole squad of mates. Instead, tear it up peacefully on the waterways with a romantic getaway for two. Cruise Away, a four-berth houseboat moored in the Walpole-Nornalup National Park on the southern tip of Western Australia, provides ample opportunity for exactly that. Cruise through the park, set off up the rivulets on the dinghy provided, try your hand at fishing for dinner, or simply sit on the deck and soak up the natural beauty of this less-explored landscape. Three nights in the peak season starts at $1225. LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT, KUNUNURRA, WA From the bottom of Australia's western edge to the top, Love At First Sight is a six-berth houseboat moored in Kununurra on the banks of the Ord River. This boat will take you away from the hubbub of urban living into the complete embrace of nature. Keep a line out for bream, catfish and even barramundi to catch yourself your very own dinner. Prices start at $1500 for three nights in peak season. PINK LADY, MILDURA, VIC It's all too often that a holiday house is a stark reminder that you've travelled far from the comforts of home. Pink Lady, however, aims to make this less and less obvious with an injection of what All Seasons Houseboats call the Platinum Indulgence. The boat has all the trimmings necessary for a fancy hotel, including a barbecue, spa, bar and a fitout worthy of a luxury hotel. Prices for a three-night sojourn on the Pink Lady start at $3200, but the upshot of this is that some of this coin goes towards the Breast Cancer Network Australia. HERO, ECHUCA MOAMA, SA Another entry on the list that isn't exactly a houseboat, but worth mentioning nonetheless. Echuca Moama sits on the banks of the Murray River, and has long been known as the paddle steamer capital of Australia, but only by those who knew Australia has a paddle steamer capital. Hero organises overnight stays in the floating hotel, where guests experience the luxury of 1874, the year that Hero was built. The crew do their best to maintain the beautiful interiors, which only accentuate the views of the countryside as they scroll past. The cost of staying on Hero varies, depending on your stay. SCALLYWAG, BLANCHETOWN, SA Although houseboats are an amazing idea for groups, it's always nice to spend a little time with just you and a special someone. In that case, the two-berth Scallywag has you covered. You can crew Scallywag, just the two of you, up the Murray River, soaking in the rugged scrub that lines the riverbanks. The queen bed sits below a panoramic window, so you can watch the moon and stars as you sleep. The roof is decked with timber, so there's plenty of space up there to soak in the sights. Scallywag is moored at Blanchetown, and prices start at $1050 for three nights in the normal period. LEOPARD 48, WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS, QLD Houseboats, given their general lack of the ability to brave any kind of surf, usually stick to rivers and canals. But what if you're feeling like an overnight holiday on the ocean? Bareboating uses the same principals as houseboating, where you acquire yourself a boat, a skipper and crew it yourself, and then return it when you're done. Whitsunday Escape provides everything from sailboats to powered yachts, including the very fancy catamaran, Leopard 48. Nightly rates for the five-star boat start at $1950 per night in the peak season, but when split between 11 mates, that's not too much to pay to captain your own sailboat around the Whitsunday Islands. SOLWAY LASS, WHITSUNDAYS, QLD While not exactly a houseboat, I think we can all agree that the Solway Lass definitely deserves to be on this list. I mean, look at it. It's a pirate ship. Tours start out at Airlie Beach, and the skipper takes you on a three-day voyage around the Whitsunday Islands, so you can cruise about on a 100-year-old pirate ship without worrying about having to steer the thing. The trip carries you to Whitehaven Beach, Hook Island, and through a whole heap of bushwalking opportunities. Prices start at $560 per person for three days with meals included, and accommodates groups of up to 30 people.
Not every Sydneysider has the luxury of being able to nab a cheeky beach dip in Tamarama after work. The words "hectic traffic", "epic trek", "generally CBF" start a long list of pretty solid excuses. If you're an inner-city dweller, chances are you've found your nearest community pool for cooling off and doing mad laps in. Luckily, the City of Sydney's built a fair few aquatic centres around town. And the first day of summer's the perfect time to try 'em all. For free. On Saturday, December 1, the City of Sydney is opening up four of its swimming pools for free from 10am till 3pm, inviting locals to try out everything each 50-metre pool has to offer — including the insanely pretty Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool located on the edge of the harbour, Redfern's lovely yellow-hued Prince Alfred Park Pool, Victoria Park Pool in Camperdown and Cook + Phillip Park Pool on the edge of Hyde Park. You could hope between each one for a full comparison. Do note that the $40 million Harry Seidler-designed Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre isn't doing an open day, despite being located in the City of Sydney. There'll be a range of activities for all ages on the day, including tours, fitness classes, aquatic inflatables, learn-to-swim information, barbecues and face painting. Plus, you get to swim for free. The idea behind the open days is to give you a chance to test out the facilities associated with the City of Sydney's 360 card — $54.50 a fortnight for access to all five of the City of Sydney's aquatic centres across the city, and their adjoining fitness facilities. Image: City of Sydney.
That gloom-less Sunday afternoon vibe, that triple-header sleep-in, that victorious pyjamas-only Monday. The long weekend is upon us and if you think you're going to spend it catching up on understandably excellent episodes of BoJack Horseman, there's too much balmy air and tasty events in Sydney to even consider bunking in. Dig into the hearty, hearty deliciousness that is Good Food Month, then there's two free carpark gigs, entire festivals dedicated to cider and chocolate and one heck of a sharply dressed birthday party. Perhaps you're making the roadie to Newcastle for the National Young Writers Festival to fill your brain with sweet knowledge and creativity. Newcastle's underrated, you should visit One Penny Black for pourovers or The Edwards for cheesy fries. Just do it. We've broken it down for you, the best things to do in Sydney over the long weekend. Take your pick of Saturday, Sunday and Monday's best around-town nosh pop-ups, parties and live gigs — you've plenty of time to nurse that fuzzy bear head in time to drift back to work on Tuesday. Get amongst it. SATURDAY Junkyard Festival at the Vic It's starting to feel like every weekend one of our favourite inner-west music havens, Vic on the Park, is hosting one must-attend event or another. Not that we're complaining. On Saturday, October 4 it's the Junkyard Festival at the Vic. The Junkyard Festival is held bimonthly in Sydney's inner west, showcasing some pretty sweet local music. The lineup sees a string of local favourites such as Deep Sea Arcade, Chicks Who Love Guns, The Upskirts, Doc Holiday Takes the Shotgun and Grease Arrestor playing in the Vic's beloved carpark. Supplementing all this live music goodness, the crew have also got some solid DJ action going on in the form of Palms, Tsars, Zero Likes, Ok Cocaine, Bachelor Pad, Bust Lip and Simbles. Entry is completely free, however RSVPs are encouraged. Drinks are recommended. Saturday, The Vic on the Park. The Festival of Chocolate How has this not been done before? Over Saturday and Sunday, you'll feel like a kid in a candy store. The two-day Festival of Chocolate will see The Rocks transformed into a sea of market stalls, as dessert chefs from all over the country try to win you over with an array of chocolate-inspired concoctions in every mouth-watering form possible. 2014 is the debut of this festival, featuring as part of Good Food Month. Though some of what we might think of as the big guns of Australian dessert are staying home for this one, Rocks residents Ananas Brasserie, Baroque Patisserie, Bar 100 and La Renaissance will be spruiking their tasty, melty wares, alongside wider NSW choco-talent Sweetness the Patisserie, Chocolarts, Le Pain Quotidien, Adora Handmade Chocolates and Danieli's Fine Foods. Watch the people who have dedicated their life's work to making chocolate — heroes, really — demonstrate on the Chocolate HQ stage. Saturday and Sunday, The Rocks. Louder than Words - Sydney Dance Company Expect to see the human body pushed to its absolute limits, choreography that seems almost miraculous and a potent blending of music, poetry, costuming and design.This exclusive Sydney season, Louder Than Words, is bringing two of the most awe-inspiring dance works (ever!) to the Sydney Dance Company stage. And they're both world premieres. From SDC artistic director, Rafael Bonachela, there's Scattered Rhymes, which is a collaboration with Australian composer Nick Wales and Grammy-nominated British composer Tarik O'Regan. Then, from Greek choreographer Andonis Foniadakis, there's Parenthesis, which features an original score written by French composer Julien Tarride and costumes created by fashion designer-photographer Tassos Sofroniou. Kicks off Saturday, Sydney Theatre, Walsh Bay. National Young Writers Festival National Young Writers' Festival (NYWF) is the four-day writerly celebration that takes over the imaginations of young writers around the country. Directors Alexandra Neill, Jessica Alice and Lex Hirst's colourful program features familiar names like Benjamin Law, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Clementine Ford, Lawrence Leung, Genevieve Fricker, Steph Harmon, James Colley, Patrick Lenton and more (including some other names you might not recognise now but definitely will in the next five years). Blowing out 17 candles this year in Newcastle, NYWF is growing bigger and wiser by the year. But a festival is never too old for an intergalactic-themed ball and a spelling bee-cross-Hunger Games-style battle of the brains, right? Thursday to Sunday, Newcastle. The Shiny, Newly-Reopened Manly Wine Seaside wine is pure textbook How to Long Weekend stuff. Reopening its doors following the first renovation since opening in 2009, Manly Wine is back with a clean slate ripe for the long weekending. Unveiling a brand new set of threads for summer, The Keystone Group's outdoor, beachside wine bar is perfect for barefoot, post-swim weekend wines. Pair rose spritzers with Manly Wine's signature prawn and chorizo gumbo, wagyu burgers or a Northern Rivers 150 day grain fed rib on the bone, or perhaps the raw seafood bar is on the cards post-dip — steered by head chef Joel Robinson. They're open for brekkie if you're up that early seizing the day, unless you're more beers and sunsets inclined. From Saturday, South Steyne Road, Manly. SUNDAY Watsons Bay Cider Festival Summer is nearly upon us. Days are getting longer and the sun is shining near unwaveringly. To celebrate, the good folks at the Watson's Bay Boutique Hotel are throwing a festival dedicated to our favourite crisp fruit beverage — cider. Perched on the Watsons Bay foreshore, this establishment knows a thing or two about hosting chilled summer events, even in spring. Their Cider Festival will span the long weekend October 4-6 and feature a variety of local and imported ciders. Making good use of the fact that cider rhymes with slider, snacks in slider form will be available all day (as will non-rhyming paella). Live music will be plentiful, and for the go-getters among us, there's an apple bobbing competition and a 'cider trail' along Military Road. Saturday to Monday, Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel. The Vines Free Carpark Gig The Vines are a long way from their Rishikesh days. The reformed, Craig Nicholls-run, Sydney staple is back with a new double album Wicked Nature — their sixth studio album — and two new members. Drummer Lachlan West and bassist Tim John have joined Nicholls for the latest reincarnation of The Vines, a band that quite simply refuses to surrender. After a three year hiatus from any touring The Vines will return to the stage for an exclusive one off show to perform their new material — in the carpark of Enmore's Vic on the Park. Creating a bonafide ruckus over the October long weekend, The Vines will play a free show on Sunday, October 5 from 1–6pm. Sunday, The Vic on the Park, Marrickville. Ruby's BBQ Nothing like 16-hour slow smoked brisket and crunchy burgers on a long weekend Sunday. IconPark season two residents, Rupert & Ruby are holding a Ruby’s BBQ event at the Stanley Street location from 11am-3pm on Sunday, with executive Chef, Eli Challenger cooking up specialties for your meat-loving self. Nom on Challenger's Carolina pulled pork and Kentucky fried chicken — which saw Ruby’s BBQ win the coveted People’s Choice Award at Taste of Sydney. Be sure to book for this one, as these melt-in-your-mouth meats are hot property in this town. To make a booking (and you'll need to) visit IconPark. Sunday, Rupert & Ruby at IconPark, Darlinghurst. The Glass Menagerie — Belvoir In the opening monologue of The Glass Menagerie, Tom Wingfield (Luke Mullins), a thinly veiled portrait of Tennessee Williams, informs the audience that he intends to give them "truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion". Soon after, he casually remarks that "The play is memory … it is sentimental, it is not realistic." So which is it to be? Truth or sentiment? Belvoir’s latest production grapples not only with Williams’ text but also his disdain for the theatrical conventions of his time. The Glass Menagerie is not only compelling theatre, it is proof that you needn’t take a hatchet to the classics if you want to make them say something new. Saturday and Sunday, Belvoir, Surry Hills. Goodgod Small Club Fourth Birthday It's hard to believe, but it's four years now that Goodgod Small Club first started bringing its much-needed, eccentric, eclectic good times to the CBD. To celebrate their fourth birthday, they're putting on an epic shindig — as only Goodgod know how. That means, of course, a venue-consuming, all-night-long, convention-obliterating party — this time around themed 'Taking Care of Business'. At the centre of the action will be the Goodgod 'house band' presented by Siberia Records, and Alex Cameron (one-half of Seekae). You can also expect a parade of special guests including Ariane, Astral DJs, Champain Lyf, Drongo, Mike Who, Nacho Pop, Power Suit, Shantan Wantan Ichiban and Tyson Koh. And the dress code? Under the suave 'Taking Care of Business' theme, Goodgod wants to see you looking your public holiday schmickest, so they're asking for suits. Yep, suits. Sharpen up. Sunday, Goodgod Small Club, Chinatown. MONDAY Sydney's Best Coastal Walks You can walk to the shops. You can walk to work. But no walk will feed your soul like a walk by the water. And if you live in Sydney, your soul should be pizza-party-level full. These ten coastal walks have it all — wild scrub, picturesque paths, yacht clubs and war ruins. Bar stops right where you need them. Parts of the Bondi to Coogee you can blitz in an hour, while the Bundeena to Otford track is an overnighter. Here's your next ten weekends' worth of active leisure. All weekend, all summer long. Check out our whole test-walked list here. Foe, Like The Enemy Pop-Up Store The acquisition of good vintage clothing can be a difficult feat. Much like the metaphoric fog, sometimes you have to sort through a whole bunch of crap until you find something good. Fortunately for us, the guys behind Foe, Like The Enemy have trawled through Asia and the Americas to source the best vintage clothing they could get their hands on. After a wildly successful first pop-up instalment, Foe are holding their second pop-up store in Regent Street, Redfern from September 24 — October 8. For a limited time you can walk into a real-live shop and try on vintage clothes in an actual changeroom — we're talking Jurassic Park denim details, well-worn flannos, as many retro sunglasses as you can predict to lose at a music festival. Saturday to Monday, Regent Street, Redfern. Pinot Palooza Master sommelier Madeline Triffon describes Pinot Noir as 'sex in a glass', while winemaker Randy Ullom calls it 'the ultimate nirvana'. One of the most challenging grapes in the world of vinification, it's also one of the most surprising and rewarding. No wonder Bottle Shop Concepts — the good folk who brought Game of Rhones our way in June — are coming back to town with Pinot Palooza, an epic travelling wine festival celebrating all things Pinot Noir. For just one day, wine connoisseurs in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will have the chance to sample more than 150 drops, direct from the Southern Hemisphere’s best producers. Think Ata Rangi, Yabby Lake, Bay of Fires, Rippon, Kooyong, Mount Difficulty — and that’s just the first few leaves on the vine. Pinot Palooza will hit Sydney on Monday, October 6 at Carriageworks, you can buy tickets right here. Monday, Carriageworks, Eveleigh. The Clock Salumeria Nibble on a piece of Italy this weekend; we're talking meats, cheeses, wines, All the Molto Bene Things. The perfect afternoon or pre-dinner plan, Surry Hills' Clock Hotel is hosting their very own Salumeria, a pop-up bar just for the long weekend. Paying homage to traditional Italian delicatessens (salumeria), mixed boards will feature a range of meats including prosciutto, hot sopressata and capicola alongside cheeses such as gorgonzola, pecorino and taleggio; all complemented by gardiniera, pane de casa and green tomato marmellata. You'll only fork out $20 for two meats one cheese, $30 for four and three, so if you rock up with a small crew it'll cost next to nothing to nibble. And anything involving carafes of Prosecco and Chianti sounds pretty perfect to us. Check out the new Whisky Room while you're at it. Saturday, Sunday and Monday, The Clock Hotel, Surry Hills. Gone Girl The director of Seven, Fight Club and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, David Fincher has made a career out of stylish, devilishly entertaining pulp. His latest film, Gone Girl, is absolutely no exception. Adapted from Gillian Flynn's bestselling novel of the same name, it's a dark and twisting tale that presents itself as both a biting commentary on relationships and media frenzy, and a subversion of procedural film conventions. And at the same time, it fully embraces the sleaze and exploitation of that which it critiques. The film is very much double-edged sword. It condemns us for our obsession with violence while funnelling it down our throats. Once again, Fincher is dressing up trash as serious art, wanting to have his cake and eat it too. And frankly, we wouldn't take it any other way. All weekend, various cinemas around Sydney. Words by the Concrete Playground team.
Before donning a face covering became a regular part of life for everyone during the pandemic, one of the most famous mask-wearing figures in popular culture was doing it first. And, the fictional character will be doing so again in Australia — but, although The Phantom of the Opera was set to head to Sydney from September this year, and then to Melbourne from November, the famed musical's upcoming dates have been postponed. Accordingly, the music of the night will still be crooning its way into both cities via to a new season of the acclaimed Tony-winner; however, it'll now happen sometime in 2022 instead. New dates haven't been announced as yet, but Opera Australia, who is staging the production, advised that it had decided to push its shows to next year due to "the uncertainty created by the ongoing restrictions imposed by both the New South Wales and Victorian Governments because of the indefinite COVID-19 lockdowns." "This has been a really difficult decision for OA and our partners to make and has certainly not been made lightly when so many people will be affected," said Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini. "After making box office history at the Opera House, it was clear that Australians were very excited about this new production of the world's most successful musical, and we'd brought together a fantastic cast of Australian performers, it's heartbreaking to have to postpone." When it does eventually hit the stage, the current production of The Phantom of the Opera will arrive in Down Under after breaking records in the UK and touring the US for seven years. Australia will become just the third country to witness this take on the tale, in fact. Obviously, all of the familiar songs are part of it, such as 'All I Ask of You', 'Masquerade' and the titular number. You'll also be lapping up Maria Björnson's original costumes, too. But, if you've seen the show before, expect the chandelier to look a little different. Australian musical theatre performer Josh Piterman is set to play the Phantom, after first wearing the character's mask in London pre-pandemic. He'll be joined by a cast and orchestra of 65 people, which'll make The Phantom of the Opera one of the largest musical productions in Australia. If you need a refresher on the musical's story, it follows soprano Christine Daaé and the masked musical genius who lives beneath the Paris Opera House — and the latter's obsession with the former. Although first turned into a stage musical in the 80s, it's based on Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel. And yes, you might've seen the 2004 movie, which starred Gerard Butler as the Phantom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jpaw9dft2Y The Phantom of the Opera will tour Australia in 2022. Tickets for current shows will remain valid for the production's new dates, when they're announced. For further information, head to the musical's website. Top image: Michael Le Poer Trench.
The Devon Cafe crew landed in Bondi Junction with the opening of DOPA, a Japanese-focused joint starring a simple, fresh rice dish curated exclusively for the health-conscious Bondi local: the donburi. The Bondi Junction location is the seventh for the rice bowl-slinging franchise, and brings the full range of reimagined rice bowls focused on sustainable production and high quality ingredients. The signature dish is a more nutritious substitute for some of the traditional fast food joints available within the confines of Westfield Bondi Junction. Opt for the donburi and you'll be met with 20 variations featuring teriyaki chicken, pork katsu and wagyu beef tongue. And, because this is Bondi we're talking, a vegan-friendly Bondi-exclusive dish was added to the menu upon opening. The 'Bondi don' stars a plant-based patty on a bed of rice, topped with vegan cheese, mustard, tomato sauce and shredded nori. For a sweet treat, take your pick from the dessert selection. The soft and chewy mochi daifuku ranges from matcha to fruity flavours like strawberry; cool off with a light strawberry parfait, or opt for a slice of DOPA's original or matcha cheesecake. Plus, there is also an extensive selection of fruity in-house brewed teas to sip on in order to cool down on a sweltering summer day.
The centrepiece of the 2018 Biennale of Sydney was Ai Weiwei's 60-metre inflatable boat, a critique and exploration of the global refugee crisis. Next year, when the Biennale returns to art galleries across Sydney, the lineup of 70-plus artists will be examining another poignant issue close to the heart of Australia: First Nations sovereignty and intergenerational trauma. Running from Saturday, March 14 until Monday, June, the 2020 Biennale will be titled Nirin, which means 'edge' in the language of western NSW's Wiradjuri people. The citywide exhibition will be made up of installations, artworks, interactive experiences and spoken-word pieces exploring seven themes inspired by 'nirin', which range from bagaray-bang (healing) to yirawy-dhuray (food) and gurray (transformation). This year's themes are timely, for two reasons: the 2020 blockbuster will fall on the 250th anniversary of Captain Cook's voyage to Australia — and it will be helmed by a new First Nations artistic director, famed Sydney-born, Melbourne-based interdisciplinary artist Brook Andrew. Andrew has selected an impressive lineup of artists and creatives — many of them First Nations — from around the world to exhibit at the Art Gallery of NSW, Woolloomooloo's Artspace, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Cockatoo Island, MCA and the National Art School for the exhibition's 12 weeks. And 33 have just been announced today. The first announcement includes American cinematographer Arthur Jafa, who's worked with Solange and Spike Lee; famed Australian chef Kylie Kwong; Pakistani American sculptor Huma Bhabja, whose works are often seen as grotesque and confronting; audiovisual Beirut artist Lawrence Abu Hamdan; and Mexico's Teresa Margolles, who recreates morgues and objects inside them to explore thoughts surrounding death. While there's no word yet on what artworks we'll see pop up next May, previous exhibitions have included mirror-filled shipping containers, an 'Embassy of Spirits' and a multimedia installation teamed with vocals by Rufus Wainwright — and Andrew himself is known for creating confronting and interactive inflatable works. So, expect many playful, immersive and boundary-pushing installations to make an appearance in 2020. FIRST BIENNALE OF SYDNEY 2020 LINEUP Tony Albert Maria Thereza Alves Lhola Amira Sammy Baloji Huma Bhabha Blacktown Native Institution Anna Boghihuian Eric Bridgeman Victoria Santa Cruz Léuli Eshrãghi Jes Fan Nicholas Galanin Fátima Rodrigo Gonzales Lawrence Abu Hamdan Arthur Jafa Hannah Catherina Jones Bronwyn Katz Mayun Kiki Kylie Kwong Barbara McGrady Ibrahim Mahama Teresa Margolles Misheck Masamvu Katarina Matiasek JotaMombaça Prof Sir Zanele Muholi The Mulka Project SJ Norman Taqralik Partridge Laure Prouvost Lisa Reihana Latai Taumoepeau Gina Athena Ulysse The 22nd Biennale of Sydney will run from Saturday, March 14 until Monday, June 8. We'll keep you posted on the whole artist lineup and exhibition program. Image: Biennale of Sydney 2018 by Zan Wimberley.
With international travel expected to be off the cards until mid-2022, and Australians encouraged to spend their holiday dollars at home to help the country's tourism industry, the 2021–22 Federal Budget is committing a hefty amount of cash to roads, rail and infrastructure projects. Aiming to support the nation's economic recovery from the pandemic, and boost jobs in the process, the Budget allocates $15.2 billion over the next ten years as part of an overall $110 billion spend across the same period. The Great Western Highway between Katoomba to Lithgow ($2 billion), Victoria's Monash ($250 million) and Pakenham ($380 million) roads, and Queensland's Bruce Highway ($400 million) are just some of the stretches of road that'll receive upgrades. So will the Great Eastern Highway in Western Australia ($200 million), the North-South Corridor from Darlington to the Anzac Highway in South Australia ($2.6 billion), the Midland Highway in Tasmania ($113.4 million) and the Northern Territory National Highway ($150 million). Announced last night, on Tuesday, May 11, this year's Federal Budget commits $3.8 billion in new spending to New South Wales, $3.4 billion to Victoria, $2 billion to Queensland, $1.6 billion to WA, $3.4 billion to SA, $377.2 million to Tasmania, $401 million to the NT and $186.2 million to the Australian Capital Territory. If some of the above projects sound familiar, that's because part of the cash has been allocated to works currently underway — but as a new funding commitment. Also covered: the Princess Highway Corridor in Jervis Bay ($500 million), and the M5 ($87.5 million) and M12 motorways ($229.4) in NSW; the Melbourne Intermodal Terminal ($2 billion), as part of the national freight network; the third stage of the Gold Coast Light Rail ($126.6 million); and stage 2A of the Canberra Light Rail ($132.5 million). The Budget also includes $1 billion to extend the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program to 2022–23 — which, as its name suggests, is all about supporting local councils to deliver local road and community infrastructure projects — as well as another $1 billion to continue the Road Safety Program into the same year. For more information about the 2021–22 Federal Budget, head to the government's website. Top image: Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons.
No matter how much time you've dedicated to learning Beyoncé's dance in 'Formation', chances are you can appreciate a good dance move here and there. But today's pop culture choreography didn't just appear on TV screens and dancefloors around the world by magic. Before they became a part of everyone's best routines, it is highly likely that they were conjured up by the next generation of contemporary choreographers and performers. In fact, we'd bet on it. Eight such artists are currently on display at the Melbourne semi-finals of the 2016 Keir Choreographic Award, which commissions and presents new choreographic works in a competitive context. In the biennial award's second edition, Aussie practitioners Sarah Aiken, James Batchelor, Chloe Chignell, Ghenoa Gela, Martin Hansen, Alice Heyward, Rebecca Jensen and Paea Leach will battle it out for the prestigious prize and a very tidy $30,000. On the jury is Brussells-based performance theorist Bojana Cvejić, curator and critic Pierre Bal-Blanc, US choreographer Sarah Michelson, the inaugural recipient of the Award Atlanta Eke and founder of the foundation, Phillip Keir. The four selected finalists will then travel up to Sydney to perform over three days at Carriageworks, with evening performances on May 5, 6 and 7, along with an afternoon performance on May 7. You can even get involved by voting for the Audience Choice, which awards one of the artists $10,000. So you won't just be witnessing trail-blazing performances of music and movement, you'll also be getting a glimpse of (and participating in) the future of dance. And it might just help with your Beyoncé moves. And thanks to Carriageworks, we're giving away 10 double passes to the Keir Choreographic Award, taking place over three days from May 5-7. Just enter below. [competition]570178[/competition] Image: Gregory Lorenzutti for Dancehouse.
Sometimes art events in aid of community awareness about something or other can be a little naff. Sometimes they're all about the artists acting heroic while pretending they are not waiting for that commercial gallery to call â€" oooh ouch! But sometimes, when the artists involved are attempting something of a particularly spectacular magnitude, such projects can be both really great and worthy of their cause. Artist and undergraduate architect Mathieu Gallois and graduate architects Caz Comino and Vesna Trobec are marking the beginning of their fundraising drive for global organisation Habitat for Humanity (ultimate goal a million big ones), with a concept driven exhibition in the foyer of CarriageWorks. As part of 1 House = 1000 Homes seven community organizations â€" Ghana, Philippines, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Namibia and Sri Lanka â€" have been invited to propose how they would spend the proceeds of the sale of one Australian house (said house/s coming from the kind benefaction of Australian property developers, well that's the idea anyway). In an attempt to highlight global wealth disparity, 1 House = 1000 Homes will exhibit the seven proposals in a huge installation, combining large-scale sculpture, photographs, video and animation. So if you know any super nice property developers maybe take them on a date to CarriageWorks...
Money doesn't grow on trees, but it might just pop up around the corner. At least that's how things work when Treasure Hunter Australia gets involved. Bringing a real-world game to Sydney, adventure-lovers and thrill-seekers are invited to solve cryptic clues about every possible nook and cranny on George Street. With puzzles and location-based hints sent via a custom app, the players who solve the most riddles will climb the leaderboard, with the top ten entering a final showdown. Then, a quiz battle broadcast live on Instagram from a George Street venue will determine who wins the hunt and takes home $10,000. Keen to play? The event kicks off at 1pm on Sunday, August 3. "We created this to bring people together for something fun, outdoors, and genuinely rewarding," says Michael, Founder of Treasure Hunter Australia. "It's not just about the money — it's about the excitement of the chase and doing something totally different with your weekend." Even if you don't score the cash on the day, there are sponsor giveaways and mystery challenges to hunt down and keep you guessing. Think of it like The Amazing Race meets Pokémon GO — except the cute characters are cold, hard cash and prizes. Best of all, every ticket holder is entered into a separate $10,000 cash draw, where everyone has a chance to win. Just know, the event is for adults only, with tickets priced at $49.99 per participant. Stirring up plenty of viral chaos on social media, trust that Treasure Hunters Australia's next massive event will have people searching high and low along George Street, putting their heads together to crack the clues and claim the cash. Treasure Hunter Australia's $20,000 event is happening along George Street, Sydney, on Sunday, August 3. Head to the website for tickets and more information.
Catch iiiiiiiiit! If summer for you was all about hitting the crease and making sure you yelled "out" as loudly as possible, you'll want to stop hitting refresh on your email and take a little break to reminisce over the good times. Together with TikTok, who ran a summer-long activation called #ClassicCatch in Australia, we've picked out five TikTok videos that have us wishing we'd spent more time perfecting our bowl. Here are five legends who did just that, showing us how to land the perfect catch on the sand to hitting a six in the sweltering Aussie heat. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@fairmoodz/video/6785779214101630214?lang=en[/embed] According to TikTok maker and photographer Joel (@fairmoodz), old mate Doug here has never played cricket before, yet he smashes it — only to be caught out. What a catch. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@harlsmalone/video/6745028181704625413?lang=en[/embed] What can we say? Harley has clearly been smashing the Weet-Bix for brekkie. No, you didn't just flip the dial to Channel Nine, @harlsmalone has only gone and given his beach cricket match an upgrade to professional level with a little audio. And why the hell not? Did you see that catch? Right between his teeth. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@kaybawa/video/6716017780166102277[/embed] Melbourne-based TikToker Kaybawa has opted for some truly inspired slo-mo action to show off his sweet bowling skills. He's also paired it with R Nait's beats, a stormy looking sky and the facial expression of a master. What a ledge. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@cricketdistrict/video/6900918387866619138[/embed] Hear that encouraging clap? These cricktokkers are not messing around. Cricket District posts hours of spins, bowls and LOLs on its page. This mid-air catch is a classic. [embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@bigmads/video/6813258573473238277[/embed] One of our personal faves, AFLW player Maddi Newman isn't just an all-rounder on the sports field but she's also a fan of Lizzo. Here, she brings three loves together in one clip (her dad, cricket and Lizzo) to show it ain't just the fellas hitting it out of the backyard this summer. Onya, Maddi. Download TikTok to watch more #ClassicCatch videos and look for TikTok's cricket themed activations in your city. Top image: Lochie Blanch; Unsplash
The Irishman screens in cinemas from Thursday, November 7, and will also stream via Netflix from Wednesday, November 27. Is Martin Scorsese cinema's foremost purveyor of pissing contests? In the posturing men that fill the filmmaker's frames, penis-measuring and ego battles keep bubbling up. The urge to assert one's superiority and claim one's domain pulsates through gangster classics such as Mean Streets, Goodfellas and The Departed. It's also evident in The Wolf of Wall Street, which takes aim at the need to one-up everyone and everything. But, spread across six decades and told with a deeply melancholy sense of contemplation, this notion seeps through The Irishman with particular weight and purpose. It's impossible not to notice it when, surrounded by mob heavies on one side and a corrupt labor union leader on the other, the film's central hitman observes these two opposing forces agitating for supremacy — by any means possible, and frequently to their own detriment. That hitman is Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), after the World War II veteran-turned-truck driver crosses paths with Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci). Taken under the crime boss's wing, he rises through the ranks as far as any non-Sicilian can — becoming, at his mentor's behest, the mob's conduit to outspoken Teamsters head Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). Adapted by Steven Zaillian (The Night Of) from Charles Brandt's 2004 non-fiction text I Heard You Paint Houses, Scorsese's film is told from the octogenarian Sheeran's perspective, as he reflects on his life's volatile ups and downs while remembering a pivotal road trip, and the events that led to it. It's no spoiler to say that, in bookending scenes, he's whiling away his remaining days in a nursing home. And even if you don't know your 20th century American history, it's no spoiler to say that Sheeran's cronies don't all enjoy the same fate. Sometimes, Scorsese introduces bit-players via text outlining their name, date of death and its cause, stressing the cutthroat nature of the gangster world. In the process, he illustrates the cost of behaviour that's as common as breathing in The Irishman, and that his protagonist becomes accustomed to. As Sheeran progresses from stealing steaks to grease mob wheels, to "painting houses" (read: killing), to taking on a union role to help control the headstrong Hoffa, he's thrust into the thick of ego-driven conflict. He not only adapts, but prospers at the expense of many a life, with this violent true tale doubling as an indictment of the destructive deeds and mindsets that remain baked into society. It's telling that, when a remorseful Sheeran finally confronts the fallout from these constant power struggles, he's no longer cool, calm and collected. It's just as potent when, after seeing her dad at his worst, his daughter Peggy (played by Lucy Gallina as a child and Anna Paquin as an adult) makes the movie's biggest statement by shunning this dog-eat-dog regime, and refusing to even really speak. Scorsese ruminates on the consequences of acquiescing, and the strength required to avoid being complicit — ideas that reach far wider than Sheeran's story. The director has probed the murky basis of American life in complex gangster flicks for half a century, with The Irishman proving a meaty musing on the subject as filtered through one mobster's recollection. And, what a gangster flick this is. Nearing 80 himself, Scorsese is as stunning a filmmaker as ever. The Irishman swaps the endless energy of his earlier output for a more patient but still lively unravelling across three-and-a-half hours — and revelling in the minutiae, hearing conversations that seem to go nowhere, and spying the cycles and repetition is all by design. Stylistically, the film is classic Scorsese from the opening tracking shot that recalls Goodfellas through to the devastating final image, all thanks to cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto (Silence). As she's done since Who's That Knocking at My Door and Raging Bull, editor Thelma Schoonmaker not only gives the movie its pace, but moves seamlessly between time periods as Sheeran's story jumps back and forth between decades. What would a Scorsese film be without his on-screen muses, though? De Niro is a powerhouse, taking the ebbs and flows of Sheeran's life in his stride, and acting his way past the barely noticeable de-aging special effects that help wind back the clock. Somehow, this is Scorsese and Pacino's first pairing, but the director and actor are on the same wavelength, especially when they're at their most boisterous. Harvey Keitel steps in front of the filmmaker's lens for the sixth time, and Vinyl's Bobby Cannavale and Ray Romano make an imprint as fellow mobsters, too. If one star acts as weathervane for The Irishman, though, it's the inimitable Pesci in his welcome return. He has barely acted since Casino, and he's in quietly menacing rather than frenetically ferocious mode, which sums up this compelling epic perfectly. Gangster chest-beating resonates through every second of the phenomenal crime drama, which earns its lengthy running time — but the toll that's left unsaid echoes far louder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHXxVmeGQUc
It's difficult to speak about the Hollywood without mentioning its owner, Doris Goddard. This is partly because her paraphernalia is plastered onto one of the walls, an intimate shrine to her history. (Goddard emerged from slums of Glebe to become a successful film star, performing alongside big names like Katherine Hepburn and Bob Hope.) Another reason might be that she is often in the pub herself, occasionally for one of her renowned midnight performances. The hotel itself is perfectly suited to an ex-Hollywood starlet. Nestled amongst the deco era buildings of Surry Hill's long vanished film industry (including the heritage listed Paramount Building), all the right details are in place: from a curved wooden bar to antique toilets. That said, there's nothing fussy or intimidating about the joint. Bar staff are friendly and relaxed. The menu consists of chips in wooden bowls and cheese platters, which are more nostalgic than fancy. And the best beer on tap is the Hollywood's own lager. While the cosy atmosphere is all part of the charm, it's also the only limitation. I'd suggest you turn up early and take over a table, or perhaps duck in for a cheeky afternoon's beers and snacks. When this place gets busy, it gets busy - and with good reason.
Thanks to seminal documentaries such as The Endless Summer, excellent action flicks like Point Break and even the formulaic cheesiness such as Blue Crush, surfing is no stranger to cinemas. Big waves and big screens go hand in hand quite often, in fact, as seen in everything from beach party flicks like Gidget, surf dramas such as Drift, docos including Morning of the Earth and even the animated likes of Ride Your Wave. The next addition to the ever-growing surf movie genre: documentary Girls Can't Surf, which heads back to the 80s and into the backlash by female surfers against the male-dominated industry. Sick of being told that professional surfing wasn't for them — and being considered a gimmick, sideshow and complete afterthought compared to their male peers — a group of women fought back, striving for equal pay and treatment. Yes, this doco features an important story — as told through interviews with pioneering female surfers such as Jodie Cooper, Frieda Zamba, Pauline Menczer, Lisa Andersen, Pam Burridge, Wendy Botha and Layne Beachley. Behind the lens, it's directed by Christopher Nelius, who is no stranger to the waves thanks to 2012's Storm Surfers 3D. With summer now in full swing, the arrival of Girls Can't Surf's trailer couldn't be better timed — although you will have to wait to see the film itself. After being selected as part of the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, it'll premiere locally at the Perth Arts Festival in January, then hit up Sydney Film Festival's Summer Season and Westpac Openair, before hitting cinemas nationwide on March 11. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBjcbZla2cA&feature=youtu.be Girls Can't Surf releases in Australian cinemas on March 11, 2021. Top image: Don King
Summer may be most Sydneysiders' season of choice, but there is one very compelling reason to enjoy the cooler months while they're here, and that's the ability to test your limits on spicy food. Beaches and barbecues are great, but so is rugging up in a cosy cardi, popping on the heater and devouring a hot (both temperature and spice level) meal. And chilli has benefits beyond lighting a little fire in your belly — think antioxidants and endorphins. So, with our mates at DoorDash, we've rounded up an array of spice-heavy dishes from all manner of cuisines that'll help you keep temperatures high. No matter where you live in Sydney, the choice is yours. 'Tis the season for cosy decadence, after all.
Melbourne's skyline is looking up, with the city gaining another huge tower that's not only the Victorian capital's new tallest building, but also the tallest residential building in the whole Southern Hemisphere. Named Australia 108, the Southbank building features 100 storeys soaring 319 metres high, which is more than 20 metres above the city's previous tallest building, the 88-storey, 297.3-metre-tall Eureka Tower. It comes just under Gold Coast's 332.5-metre-tall Q1, though, which still holds the title of Australia's tallest building. Designed by architects Fender Katsalidis, who also led the design of the Eureka Tower, together with World Class Global, the tower's apartments are currently three-quarters complete. The building also has a two-storey Star Club — within the protruding gold Starburst, inspired by the Commonwealth star on the Australian flag — which is home to two infinity pools, dining rooms, gyms and lounge areas. Apartments are split into the Sky Rise Residences (up to level 67) and the luxury Cloud Residences (from level 72 and above). But, they're going for a pretty penny. According to Realestate.com.au, the main penthouse sold for $25 and a two-storey apartment on level 90-91 was on the market for a bargain $10 million. The building officially took out the title as Melbourne's tallest building when it 'topped out' earlier this week, which means the roof is now complete. Australia 108 is slated for completion at 70 Southbank Boulevard, Southbank by the end of September, 2020. For more information, head to the website.
Ever wondered how all those Bondi folk manage to pull off that casual-yet-cool look so convincingly? Assembly Label has something to do with it. Set up in 2011 by Damien Horan and Dan Oliver, this brand specialises in minimalist, beach-going basics for men and women. Think linen singlets, mohair cardis, studio pants, silk shorts, long-sleeved shirts and track pants in whites, blues, greys, blacks, seaside-inspired stripes and tropical prints. Having opened in early 2015, this shop is Assembly Label's first (you'll find the second in Manly). Horan and Oliver designed the interior in collaboration with Mr and Mrs White. The light and airy feel reflects the brand's values: simplicity and functionality delivered with clean-cut style. Ash panels are washed with a lime finish. Shelves are made of white-painted plywood. Cactii in white, black and terracotta pots line the window sills. In addition to a handpicked selection of clothing, there are impeccably-arranged homewares and accessories.
At the risk of sounding a little anti-social, I can admit to remembering a time when I was sitting at a pub with a bunch of friends who were all busily tapping away at their iPhones (myself included). It's a sight that at first seems inappropriate for the pub but, in the age of the smartphone, probably one that won't disappear anytime soon. Untappd is an app that will have you doing more of the above. Released last week, the app is a social network for lovers of beer. And unlike checking your Facebook, using Untappd at the pub is a little more socially acceptable because you actually have to be at the pub drinking beer to use it. The app combines all the familiar social networking features such as check-ins, friending and rating. So if you're familiar with those things (via Fourquare, Facebook and Yelp) you'll understand the concept behind this beer-drinking app. It allows you to share what you're drinking and where you're drinking it, as well as your rating to earn some creds for drink choices. And for those who wish they could track 'life stats' like this guy, it does that too. If you ask me, it's probably a good way to keep busy during those awkward standing-alone-while-friend-goes-to-the-bathroom moments at the pub.
Sydney's dining-and-more precinct in Forest Lodge, Tramsheds, has become somewhat of a one-stop-shop for visitors. The old Rozelle Tramway Depot was revamped a few years ago and is now a hub of eating and meeting. It's home to some of Sydney's best-known eateries including Belle's Hot Chicken, Gelato Messina and Bodega 1904, as well as a medical centre, organic health food store and a brewery. On any given week, you can also find Artisan Lane buzzing with markets and workshops. And, from Saturday, October 27 through to the end of November, you'll have another reason to visit: Tramsheds' spring series, RAW. The campaign will see the precinct transform into a hub of seasonal activity highlighted by a 14-square metre suspended sculpture dubbed The Floral Cloud by Loose Leaf. There'll also be the Edible Spring Garden, a three-metre long garden run by Iku Wholefoods chef and co-founder Holly Davis. Davis will be on-site sharing tasters and tips on healthy spring cooking — and you're welcome to take some herbs from the garden home with you. Pumpkin carving will be taking place — it is Halloween season after all — as well as some slightly less wholesome activities in the form of the Archie Rose Spritz Bar churning out free gin spritzes (well, one per person). There'll also be watercolour and floristry workshops on the go, so you can level up in personal skills. And, while you're learning new stuff and eating great food, you can rest assured it's for an even better cause than just your personal development — the Tramsheds vendors are supporting the Drought Angels initiative throughout this period. For the full program and vendor list, or to book your spot in a workshop, head here.
Drum roll please: the Groovin the Moo lineup is here, and 2014 looks like a real crowd-pleaser. The big guns this year include a few topnotch international acts, like electronica king Robert Delong (USA) and Dizzee Rascal (UK), as well as some of our well beloved locals like Karnivool, Illy and Architecture in Helsinki. The Naked and Famous (who we'll probably end up claiming as Australian soon) are making their way across the ditch, too. A fair slab of the artists announced have really proved their worth lately, taking out a number of spots in triple j's Hottest 100 of last year, including the winner of the coveted number one spot, Vance Joy. Rounding out the first announcement are Action Bronson, Andy Bull, Cults, Disclosure, Holy Fuck, The Jezabels, The Jungle Giants, Kingswood, The Kite String Tangle, Loon Lake, Parkway Drive, Peking Duck, The Presets, Thundamentals, Violent Soho, Wave Racer and What So Not. This year marks the move towards something new as well, with the very first Groovin the Moo art exhibition. It's running in conjunction with the Maitland Regional Art Gallery, making a space for images, graphics, objects and a mishmash of multimedia from the Groovin the Moo archives to show off the colourful history of the festival itself. It runs from March 7 to May 25, and entry is free. Over the last couple of years we've seen huge changes on the Australian music festival scene, losing some stalwarts and seeing some youngsters really come to fruition. Since its inception, Groovin the Moo has been one of those festivals that really looks like sticking around, bringing the best in Australian and international talent to the country, to the people who can't get to shows in the big smoke. Tickets are $99.90 and go on sale at 9am on February 4 for Victorians, Queenslanders and Western Australians, and at 9am on February 5 for South Australians, New South Welshpeople and Canberrans. Ticket and more information available at the Groovin the Moo website. Fri 25 April – Oakbank SA (ANZAC Day Public Holiday) Oakbank Racecourse Oakwood Road, Oakbank SA Sat 26 April – Maitland NSW Maitland Showground Blomfield St, Maitland NSW Sun 27 April – Canberra ACT University of Canberra Kirinari St, Bruce ACT Sat 3 May – Bendigo VIC Bendigo's Prince Of Wales Showground 42 – 72 Holmes Rd, Bendigo VIC Sun 4 May – Townsville QLD Murray Sports Complex – Townsville Cricket Grounds Mervyn Crossman Dr & Murray Lyons Cres, Idalia QLD Sat 10 May – Bunbury WA Hay Park (off) Parade Rd Bunbury WA https://youtube.com/watch?v=uJ_1HMAGb4k
Shlomi Palensya has been mastering dough throughout his career. Formerly the Executive Pastry Chef at the Ritz-Carlton in Israel and Sydney's Park Hyatt, Palensya has turned his attention towards a different kind of dough — with his first solo venture, Ta Ta Ta Pizza, based in Bondi. Located in the backstreets of the eastern suburb, Ta Ta Ta sees the accomplished chef bring his experience in high-end hotel kitchens to a more casual pizza-by-the-slice spot. The eastern suburbs' takeaway eatery specialises in thick, fluffy, and crunchy Roman-style al taglio pizzas. This airy style of pizza is perfect for those who like their pies thicker without being too doughy. It also allows Palensya to flex the skills he gained as a pastry chef and to get creative with the flavours, thanks to thicker pizza bases that can facilitate plenty of toppings. The flavours on offer are continually changing but centre around fresh produce, with prominently vegan and vegetarian options on offer alongside a few choice salami-based flavours. The easiest way to attack the menu is to get a few friends together and opt for the chef's selection, which includes three to six different styles of pizza, depending on how big your group is. There's also your standard Italian favourites like the margarita, an olive- and three-cheese-topped pizza, and the simple Roman salami. Spice lovers can opt for the hot salami and jalapeño option, or else there are some more adventurous combinations like corn cream, shallot and feta; artichoke, goat's cheese and parmesan; or a trio of mushrooms with kale, chilli and parmesan cream sauce. Rounding out the menu is a pair of salads, including a classic burrata, rocket, cherry tomato, parmesan, balsamic glaze and olive oil combo, plus a couple of jarred desserts — such as an on-the-go tiramisu.
According to the BucketFeet philosophy, "Art is not meant to hang in an expensive gallery, it is meant to travel and be seen." Why hang paintings on your wall when you can wear them in the street? BucketFeet, a Chicago-based company, sells artist-designed footwear. Every one of their products is a unique piece, envisioned by an artist and realised through ethical production methods. The artists involved collect royalties from every shoe sold. Launched in spring 2011, they're now selling in 12 countries, and the best news is, they've just hit Australian shelves. Co-founders Raaja Nemani (who doubles as CEO) and Aaron Firestein (chief artist) first met in Argentina, where Raaja was escaping the world of finance via extended international travel and Aaron was working as a photographer with a sideline in putting Sharpie to sneaker. "[Aaron] designed a pair of shoes for me that inspired a pair of shoes we later launched with BucketFeet called 'Cuadras', based on the city blocks of Buenos Aires," says Raaja, who went on to wear the shoes across six continents and gather the attention of footwear lovers at every stop. "I think what made the shoes special were the stand out colours he used, which you wouldn't necessarily think go together. They were so unique and original, and while I'm not the craziest dresser, I always like to wear a unique piece — usually a cool pair of shoes or a cool hat. Lately, it's been BucketFeet!" Now launching their SS14 line, they've clocked up more than 100 shoe designs by 70 artists. And those artists are a diverse bunch. "It doesn't matter where you're from or what social class you fit into," says Aaron. "For example, we have worked with artists from the favelas of Rio who work jobs as pizza delivery boys during the day and paint at night, just because they love it so much. We've also worked with people who get artwork commissioned by big companies like Disney, Dr. Pepper or Sony for their marketing campaigns. Art is the unifying factor and, if the person has talent, we want to work with them. Everyone's got a story." The artists involved earn US$250 upfront for their work and then $1 per pair of shoes as well as royalties for as long as the shoes are sold. The payment system is the same no matter how many shoes are sold, or through which channels. "On a global scale, our give-back is substantial," says Raaja. "More than the financial element, we drive awareness and exposure to our artists. We think this is more important than money. There's something to be said about applying artwork to shoes and then having a person walk around in those shoes. The art travels, it is seen by new people, and I think that is what matters most. To get into a pair of Bucketfeet, check out their website or their Australian stockists, Monster Threads.
If Sydney CBD's 1821 wasn't already opulent enough, the Greek restaurant is adding a basement bar that sounds equally as decadent. Opening this Saturday, March 25, Bar Odessa will act as the restaurant's new cocktail and spirit bar — fitted out in gold and velvet, of course. The downstairs bunker-style bar will have its own discrete speakeasy-style side alley entrance. The cocktail and wine list has been curated to match the the food menu upstairs, acting as a seamless transition from dinner to drinks, or vice versa — think signature Moscow Mules, 'super premium' Russian Beluga vodka and bottle service. For regular patrons, they'll even offer an exclusive 'lock-and-key' service, which allows guests to purchase a bottle and have it displayed in a glass cabinet between visits, with a personalised name plaque, no less. As mentioned, the fit-out is tremendously luxe, with gold and bright red velvet furnishings and a lavish staircase connecting it to the restaurant above. This kind of decadence is no surprise from the 1821 team, who had their entire restaurant designed and built in Greece before shipping it to Australia, a choice that reportedly cost more than $3 million. With this much grandiosity behind the venue, it's hard to imagine a place like this turning into anyone's local or regular after-work drinks spot. That said, in these hard times for Sydney's nightlife, we'll always welcome a new bar opening in the CBD. Bar Odessa will open this Saturday, March 25 downstairs at 1821, 122 Pitt Street, Sydney. For more info, visit their website.
Back in early May, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said that when interstate travel was allowed once again, flights could drop as low as $19. Today, Friday, June 19, he's delivered on his promise. Qantas and Jetstar have just announced a huge tourism recovery sale with 200,000 discounted fares across the two airlines — including 10,000 flights on Jetstar for just $19. The domestic flight sale kicks off at 9am today and runs until midnight on Monday, June 22, or sold out. In the sale, you'll find cheap flights on more than 35 routes to 15 destinations across NSW, Victoria, South Australia, the NT and Queensland — but, before you book, we suggest you check in on when interstate borders are opening. Travel between NSW, Victoria and the ACT is currently allowed, but Queensland is working towards reopening to visitors from other states on July 10, although that hasn't been officially confirmed as yet, while the Northern Territory announced it'll reopen on July 17 — and South Australia is slated to do the same on July 20. Neither WA nor Tasmania have yet to announce reopening dates — but flight deals to these destinations are expected to be added when they are. Regional travel within your state is allowed, too, and you'll also find cheap flights from Sydney to Byron Bay (for $19), and Brisbane to Mackay (for $49). Other discounted flight routes include Sydney to Hamilton Island ($79), Brisbane to Darwin ($79) and $19 one-way flights on 22 routes, such as Melbourne to Sydney, Sydney to Gold Coast, Melbourne to Byron Bay, Brisbane to Whitsunday Coast and Adelaide to Cairns. Flights are available between July 14 and October 31. [caption id="attachment_743607" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Whitsunday Beach by Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] With Australian borders likely to remain closed to international travel until 2021, the Government has been telling Aussies to get out and explore their own backyards, which Joyce hopes this sale will also encourage. "We know that these low fares will encourage even more people to get on a flight to take a short holiday or visit family and friends. We've already seen our flights from Sydney to Cairns fill up on the days after the proposed Queensland border opening date of 10 July 2020, so we're adding more," Joyce said in a statement. "This is a great opportunity to go to the amazing places in our own backyard that you haven't got around to seeing like the Barossa Valley or the Great Barrier Reef." As we are still in the middle of a pandemic, flying will be a little different to normal. Qantas and Jetstar have introduced a range of safety measures, including hand sanitisation stations, contactless check-in and masks provided to all passengers (but wearing them is not mandatory). Qantas and Jetstar's domestic sale runs from 9am on Friday, June 19 until 11.59pm on Monday, June 22 or sold out.
Koi Dessert Bar's edible creations continue to capture Sydneysiders with their "too beautiful to eat, yet eat them we must" vibes. It was only a matter of time before the dessert bar jumped on the high tea bandwagon, and we're glad it finally has. Every weekend in August, it's hosting a winter high tea with reinvented classics and a heap of black truffle to boot. For $65 per person, you get free flowing coffee and tea, plus two savoury bites and four of the eatery's signature desserts — think lemon meringue in a jar, black sesame tarts and a decadent-looking green globe with mango mousse and yuzu curd. Plus, Reynold Poernomo has created WA black truffle and cream-filled scones, and black truffle macarons just for the occasion. He's also turning out oh-so-pretty truffle rose tarts — made from roasted milk chocolate ganache with truffle-infused vanilla topped with rose and caramel cocoa nibs. If you miss out on the winter high tea, despair not. A spring version will return for a month in November, then again in February with a summery twist. The Koi Winter High Tea is available every Saturday and Sunday in August at both Chippendale and Ryde locations. To book, head over here.
The hair, the hips, a whole lotta shakin' and Tom Hanks in a far less friendly role than usual: they're all part of the just-dropped trailer for Baz Luhrmann's Elvis. After a nine-year absence from the silver screen following 2013's The Great Gatsby, the Australian filmmaker returns to cinemas with a biopic about the world's most famous blue suede shoe aficionado, with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and The Dead Don't Die's Austin Butler sporting Presley's pompadour. Shot in Australia with a cast that also spans a wealth of local talent — Olivia DeJonge (Better Watch Out) as Priscilla, Richard Roxburgh (Fires) as Presley's father Vernon, newly minted Oscar-nominee Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Power of the Dog) as singer Jimmie Rodgers, and David Wenham (The Furnace) as country artist Hank Snow, for starters — Elvis clearly has a big story to tell. Charting the king of rock 'n' roll's rise to fame, exploring the role that manager Colonel Tom Parker played in that success and examining how Presley became the enduring symbol of rock 'n' roll that he still remains now, 45 years after his death, as everything from touring exhibitions to his enduring status in popular culture keep showing: that's all in the movie's remit, too. As Parker, Hanks also has a significant task. In the trailer, the News of the World and A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood star's first words set the mood for his character: "there are some who make me out to be the villain of this story". Launching Elvis' initial sneak peek, Luhrmann explained that Hanks' role obviously isn't quite that simple. "He ran towards that. It's interesting because 'villain' is too easy to wrap it up," the filmmaker advises. "He tells the story, [but] he doesn't go on to tell the story that says 'and they're right'... It's a device, because when it comes to a historical character, there's only ever someone's telling of that story. Even in life, if you lived with an Elvis, it's your memory — your version of their life." From its first trailer, Elvis is unmistakably a Luhrmann movie. As everything from Strictly Ballroom and Romeo + Juliet to Moulin Rouge! and his Netflix series The Get Down have already shown, the Aussie director doesn't hold back when it comes to style, flair, and embracing the look and feel of whichever world he's diving into. Describing his process, Luhrmann goes a step further. "I am the ultimate outsider. I come from a very small country town, not dissimilar to Tupelo [Mississippi, where Presley was born] — where I come from, Tupelo would've been called the big smoke or a city because my town was so small, like five houses. But I'm the ultimate outsider, so when I go and do Moulin Rouge! and it's in Paris, I come as an outsider and live it. If I do The Get Down, I come as an outsider and live it. If I do The Great Gatsby, I come as an outsider and I live like [author F Scott] Fitzgerald — I probably got a little bit too much into some of the things that Fitzgerald did — but I do live it, it's a real truth." "That's why I make films so infrequently. So the greatest joy for me is to make films and to live it," he explains. For the writer/director, who works here with a script also credited to his regular co-screenwriter Craig Pearce, plus The Get Down's Sam Bromell and The Killing's Jeremy Doner, Elvis isn't just about its namesake. "A great biopic is terrific, but something like Amadeus, for example, it's not really about Mozart — it's about jealousy. And the truth is is that in this modern era, the life of Elvis Presley could not be a better canvas on which to explore America in the 50s, the 60s and the 70s," Luhrmann notes. "It's a mythical life that he lived‚ very young, 42 years. But that 42 years is is three great lives put into a short period of time. And what's extraordinary about it is that that life is culturally at the centre of the 50s, and socially the 60s and actually the 70s. And it's a great canvas on which to us explore America. So that's what drew me in — that and a guy called Colonel Tom Parker, who I always like to say was never a Colonel, never a Tom and and never a Parker." Check out the trailer for Elvis below: Elvis releases in cinemas Down Under on June 23, 2022. Images: Hugh Stewart.
Luck, be a lady tonight: when Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour's famed floating stage returns for 2025, Guys and Dolls will be sweeping audiences off to 50s-era Manhattan from the city's — and the country's — most-stunning performance venue. As one production does each year, the hit five-time Tony-winning musical will unleash its showgirls and gangsters, as well as its incredibly catchy tunes, against a helluva backdrop. Guys and Dolls will play the unique waterfront opera venue at Mrs Macquaries Point from Friday, March 21–Sunday, April 20, following in the footsteps of West Side Story in 2024, Madama Butterfly in 2023, The Phantom of the Opera in 2022 and La Traviata in 2021 — to name just a few shows that've gotten the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour treatment over the years. This time, expect a new version of a musical that first premiered on Broadway in 1950, then on West End in 1953, and has enjoyed many a revival in the seven decades since. The story, as also conveyed in the 1955 Marlon Brando- and Frank Sinatra-starring film — which was nominated for four Oscars — follows Sky Masterson as he endeavours to win big, then crosses paths with missionary Sister Sarah Brown. Also weaved into the narrative: the tale of Nathan and Adelaide, with the former also immersed in gambling and the latter his fiancé. [caption id="attachment_968005" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Opera Australia's Performance of West Side Story on Sydney Harbour 2019, Hamilton Lund.[/caption] Tunes such as 'Luck Be a Lady', also 'Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat', 'Adelaide's Lament' and 'I've Never Been in Love Before' will echo across the harbour in the latest take on Guys and Dolls. Helping make the season even more of a spectacle is Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour veteran set designer Brian Thomson, who also demonstrated his talents on La Traviata, Carmen and West Side Story. As always, also included in this Guys and Dolls experience is not just the show on the overwater stage, but also fireworks each evening, dazzling Sydney skyline views and hitting up pop-up dining spots that are constructed onsite each year. [caption id="attachment_968004" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour 2019 — West Side Story, Hamilton Lund.[/caption] Top images: Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour 2016 — Turandot, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour 2021 — La Traviata and Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour 2022 — The Phantom of the Opera, Hamilton Lund.
If you can't afford the time or money for a South Pacific island holiday this summer, then drop by the East Village instead. The terrace has done away with its winter theming and has transformed into a tiki cocktail bar, complete with blow-up lobsters, plastic palms, tropical ferns and old-school mugs. Along with the surroundings, head chef Richard Pattende's specials will take you straight to a balmy, white-sand beach. Try jerk chicken boa with pineapple ketchup and coriander, burrata with grilled mango and papaya salsa, kingfish carpaccio and grilled snapper escabeche with charred spring onion and olives. Meanwhile, bar head honcho Adam Rutherford has made some summery additions to the cocktail list, including the Jungle Boogie, the Banana Colada, the Rye Tai and the Painkiller. The pop-up will run throughout summer.
It's popped up in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. It sold out in just 45 minutes when it originally launched in 2014. Now it has become a full-time fixture in Marrickville. It's Messina Creative, Gelato Messina's next-level sugar-heavy degustation restaurant. In previous iterations, the restaurant's capacity has been in the single digits. But, with the privilege of Messina's expansive new Marrickville HQ, it can now seat up to 20 dessert lovers a night. The Inner West headquarters opened back in April with 40 different flavours, gelato cakes, chocolates and a fully-stocked dessert wall. The latest move is welcoming this imaginative dining experience, with limited spots available each month. The menu at Messina Creative is ever-changing, with the gelato lords' team of chefs and mixologists crafting six-course meals paired with either alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages. Each course will, of course, feature either gelato or sorbet. The opening sample menu features gastronomical creations like yuzu and olive oil gelato with scallop sashimi and caviar, truffle gelato paired with ricotta and butternut tortellini, a secret twist on garlic bread, and a scoop of wild honey gelato topped with lemon beehive and honey tuille to round out the meal. The luxurious set menu will set you back $165 per person, which includes non-alcoholic bevs. If you want to pair your wild gelato creations with a cocktail and a pét-nat, the alcoholic drinks package is an additional $40 a head. To kick things off, the Messina degustations will be available Thursday–Saturday at 7pm throughout August and September. But, you'll want to act fast — almost all of the bookings for the first two months have been snatched up already. From there, bookings will be released monthly. To stay on top of when bookings are being released, sign up for the mailing list at the Messina website. Messina Creative is now open within Gelato Messina's Marrickville HQ at –9 Rich Street, Marrickville. Seatings are available at 7pm Thursday–Saturday, with new bookings being released monthly.
Lobster has long been the fancy champagne of the seafood world. For most of us, it's the kind of dish that you can only justify having when you really feel like going all out and treating yo'self — but, this month, the indulgent crustacean-based meal is gracing Betty's Burgers' menu. Combining fresh lobster meat, the chain's special mayonnaise, shallots, chives, lemon and spice, Betty's new lobster roll will be on offer at all of its 22 Australian stores from Thursday, February 13. If your stomach is already rumbling, you can tuck into one for a reasonable $23 (which includes a side of fries). You'll need to get in quickly, though, as the lobster roll only available for a couple of weeks — or until sold out. It's worth noting that last time the roll was on the menu, it only lasted less than a week. So if you're particularly keen, it's best to go sooner, rather than later. Known for its Shake Shack-style burgs and frozen custard desserts (called concretes), Betty's is making a foray into lobster to celebrate its beachy roots. While you can now grab a Betty's burger at nine Sydney outlets, four Melbourne spots, five Brisbane outposts, one Toowoomba eatery and one location in Adelaide, the company first began in Noosa, and then expanded to the Gold Coast. Betty's Burgers' lobster roll is available at all 27 Australian stores from Thursday, February 13. For more information and to find your nearest store, visit Betty's Burgers' website.
Sipping on a bespoke cocktail while the new season's couture is unveiled in realtime on a mammoth screen is, believe it or not, a life experience open to you this week. Style gawkers can watch all the Fashion Week catwalk action, live-streamed direct from Carriageworks to the purpose-built screen at Martin Place, while having their thirst quenched by a pop-up bar care of Double Bay's Pelicano. Hosted by Pelicano's Tim Holmes a Court and Daimon Downey, the Fashion Week Australia Bar will have a grazing menu as well as drinks and will be soundtracked by live DJ sets. The screening of the runway is a joint venture between Jasu.com and the City of Sydney, bolstering Lord Mayor Clover Moore's push to broaden public engagement with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia. Democratising MBFWA in this way will certainly add some sparkle to the city air as homegrown designers like Lisa Ho, Ginger & Smart and Romance Was Born (full show schedule here) flaunt their new wares, while everyday Sydneysiders get to strut their own stuff, drinks in hand, and enjoy a spectacle normally witnessed only by fashion industry insiders.
When the eighth season of Game of Thrones finished its run a few months back, and the highly popular show along with it, everyone knew that it wasn't really the end. The world created by George RR Martin will live on in his books, whenever the author finally publishes the long-awaited next instalment of his A Song of Ice and Fire series. And, it'll keep going in multiple GoT TV prequels. Like residents of Westeros hoping that summer (or at least autumn) will last for ever, HBO isn't ready to let go of its highly successful commodity. In 2017, the US network announced that it was considering five different prequel ideas, green-lighting one to pilot stage in 2018. Now, it looks poised to give another series the go-ahead. Details about the first spinoff show are still relatively thin on the ground. Co-created by A Song of Ice and Fire author George RR Martin with British screenwriter Jane Goldman (Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and the two Kingsman movies), it'll be set thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones, with Naomi Watts, Miranda Richardson and John Simm among the cast. But, as The Hollywood Reporter reveals, the second potential series has a firm basis. Adapted from Martin's book Fire & Blood, it'll focus on House Targaryen. We all know what happened to GoT's last surviving Targaryens, aka Daenerys, her brother Viserys and her boyfriend/nephew Jon Snow. Fire & Blood jumps back before all that, to 300 years prior — with the first 738-page volume of the text, which was published in November 2018, starting with Aegon I Targaryen's conquest of the Seven Kingdoms and working through the family's history from there. [caption id="attachment_721122" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] HBO.[/caption] Given Daenerys' affinity for dragons, and her relatives' fondness for using the fire-breathing beasts to wage wars and claim power (sound familiar?), they also play a part in the tale. Plus, Aegon I created the Iron Throne, which means that this is an origin story in more ways than one. Whether the Fire & Blood adaption will progress from a concept to a show is yet to be seen, but you don't have to be the Three-Eyed Raven to know that some of these prequel ideas will hit screens. Apparently two other ideas are also still under consideration — because, like winter, more GoT shenanigans are definitely coming. Via The Hollywood Reporter. Top image: Helen Sloan/HBO.
Fancy some grime? A Euphoria star? A mix of international must-sees and homegrown up-and-comers? A swag of folks making their first trips our way? Then consider yourself sorted at St Jerome's Laneway Festival in 2024 — starting with headliners Stormzy, Steve Lacy, Dominic Fike and Raye. When the beloved event hits Sydney in February, Stormzy will top the roster after he was meant to head Down Under in 2022, but pulled out of Spilt Milk and his Australian and Zealand tour. At the Aussie fest, he was replaced by Lacy, in fact, but now the UK sensation and the 'Bad Habit' talent will share the same Laneway bill. [caption id="attachment_915848" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] Fike heads from the screen to Laneway's stages, while Raye comes our way with 'Escapism' still stuck in everyone's heads. From there, the lineup also spans AJ Tracey, d4vd, Dope Lemon and Unknown Mortal Orchestra — and goes on from there. Stormzy and Fike are doing exclusive Laneway tours — so, of you want to see either (or both), you'll only catch them at the fest. The date and place to pop in your diary: Sydney Showground on Sunday, February 4. [caption id="attachment_871106" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dave Kan[/caption] LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2024 LINEUP: Stormzy Steve Lacy Dominic Fike Raye AJ Tracey Cordae d4vd Dope Lemon Eyedress Faye Webster horsegiirL Nia Archives Paris Texas Skin On Skin Unknown Mortal Orchestra Blondshell DOMi & JD BECK Hemlocke Springs Pretty Girl Angie McMahon Confidence Man Teenage Dads JK-47 Miss Kaninna Vacations Images: Maclay Heriot, Daniel Boud and Dave Kan.
Now that World Martini Day is on the horizon, luxury Darling Harbour hotel W Sydney is getting in the mood with the launch of Martini Month from Monday, June 1–Monday, June 30. Produced in collaboration with Belvedere vodka, the hotel's in-house restaurant, BTWN, will serve a trio of limited-edition martinis. Best of all, guests checking in on the big day — Saturday, June 21 — will score a complimentary mini martini to mark the occasion. Yet these cocktails made with Belvedere Organic Vodka get even more special, as they're each paired with a gourmet bite. Your options include the oyster martini with an Appellation oyster; the saltbush martini with a saltbush and lamb shoulder scrumpet and pickles; and the salt and vinegar martini with a fish and chips-inspired coating, cod roe and potato chip. That's all suitably luxurious. However, this martini-led experience goes so much further, as guests staying in the hotel's luxury suites throughout June will receive the lavish Turn Up Service, where an in-house bartender will arrive at your room to serve a dream mini martini. Made to your specific tastes, whether you prefer your drink dry, dirty or shaken, the service also includes moreish snacks, like martini-infused sour cream, gourmet crisps, and stuffed Manzanilla olives. Book a stay in W Sydney's Fantastic Suite, the Marvelous Suite, the five Wow Suites or the Extreme Wow Suite to make the most of this cocktail-forward celebration.
Like the producers of expensive Swiss watches, artisanal chocolate and complicated pocket knives, Movenpick ice cream is committed to Switzerland's seemingly national standard of perfection. If you haven't yet sampled the gourmet brand's indulgent flavours, (made from real Swiss cream), then what better time to taste test than on the country's national day? On August 1, Movenpick is offering the first 250 customers to their NSW, Victoria and Queensland stores a complimentary scoop of Switzerland in a cone (or a cup, if that's more your thing). Be torn between 24 flavours, such as velvety caramelita, crunchy meringue in double cream or their famous classic Swiss chocolate. Head to the following stores for your free scoop: NSW: Bondi, Darling Harbour, Manly, Newcastle. VIC: Doncaster, Boxhill, Melbourne Central, QV Melbourne (Highpoint). QLD: Brisbane CBD, Brisbane Emporium, Portside, Surfers Paradise, South Bank, Broadbeach, Cairns, Carindale, Harbour Town, Paddington, Indooroopilly. Opening times and locations vary; see the website for details.
Still coming to terms with the fact that the Newtown Social Club's gig-hosting days are drawing to an end? Us too. But — for better for worse — when one door closes, another one opens. And after the live music venue shuts theirs in April, the same doors will swing into action — to reveal a mini-golf bar. Yes, the NSC's bandroom is s becoming an indoor mini-golf course. The new venue is called Holey Moley Golf Club, and it comes to Sydney after opening in Brisbane last September. Set to open in June, the bar will pair putt putt and pints across the two-storey King Street space. Just what each stop on the 27-hole course will entail is yet to be revealed; however Game of Thrones, Super Mario, Alice in Wonderland and clowns all feature up north. Yes, clowns. It's as batshit crazy as it sounds. Importantly, Holey Moley isn't just transporting its Brissie concept to Newtown — and, according to the team, it's not simply filling one of Sydney's many struggling live venues with a gimmick. Cognisant of the history of the site and the state of the industry, the powers that be at Holey Moley's parent company Funlab have advised that music will remain a feature. That'll include weekend gigs, DJ sets, championing local up-and-comers, and potentially even battle of the bands-style comps, all in a space that turns taking to the green into a boozy evening of revelry. Newtown isn't the only spot on Holey Moley's expansion trail either, with an Adelaide venture due to open in May, and a Melbourne joint listed as coming soon on their website. Find Holey Moley Golf Club at 387 King Street, Newtown from a to-be-announced date in June. Keep an eye on their website for more information.
Quay Restaurant's Executive Chef is injecting a dose of nostalgia back onto its menu — Peter Gilmore's renowned Snow Egg is returning after six years in retirement. This throwback dessert took the country by storm upon its initial appearance at Quay Restaurant's menu back in 2008, and now it's back for a temporary residency at the eatery. The Snow Egg even featured on an episode of Masterchef, so you're guaranteed that its return is a massive deal. For ten dessert-filled days, the coveted dish will appear on Quay Restaurant's menu once more, with American Express aiding the venture. You'll be able to experience the dessert in the form of four experience packages from Saturday, May 25, to Saturday, June 15 — if all of the reservations haven't already been snapped up. Dished up in the restaurant's private Green Room, you can pair the treat with either a glass of bubbles for $98, a glass of rosé for $136, a glass of 2007 Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires for $175, or a non-alcoholic feijoa fizz infused with cardamom and vanilla for $98. Slots start at 6pm each night, with final bookings available at 9.45pm.
Rockpool Dining Group has headed to The Hills, open its ninth Sydney outpost of The Bavarian. The 350-seat German-style restaurant opened in May at the Rouse Hill Town Centre, and it brought its oversized beers, food platters and sports-screening televisions along with it. The beer hall boasts 17 taps — think German mainstays like Löwenbräu, Stiegl and Hofbräu and local brews by Urban Craft Brewing — along with an outdoor beer garden. The fit-out will follow suit of the brand's existing venues and will include stone walls, alpine timber finishes, beer barrel tables and a stein chandelier, plus bar-side dining. Those massive, litre-sized beer steins that The Bavarian is known for serving are accompanied by hearty dishes like crispy pork knuckle with sauerkraut and creamy mash, or crackling pork belly with onion bier jus; plus a range of gourmet sausages, giant pretzels, share platters and loaded schnittys — from American, Mexican and Hawaiian to one that weighs an insanely hefty one-kilogram. Weekday deals include $15 lunch specials, all-you-can-eat meat platters on Mondays and two-for-one cocktails on Thursdays, along with a daily $5 drinks happy hour from 4–7pm. Apart from food and booze, The Bavarian is a go-to for watching sports, with several extra-large screens available throughout the space. Rockpool Dining Group — which was formed when Urban Purveyor Group acquired Neil Perry's Rockpool Group — has signed 15 new leases in the last 90 days, so we'll surely be hearing about more openings in the months to come. The Rouse Hill location not only marks the ninth across Sydney but is one of six additional Bavarians slated to open across the country in the next few months, including another in Castle Hill. So while it isn't necessarily new or breaking new ground, it is a significant opening for the suburb.
Where would we be without Aussie hospo legends? They're there when we need midday croissants, midweek pub feeds and celebratory midnight margaritas. They help us get through the bad weeks — and the good ones. Not to mention they've had it pretty rough over the past year and a bit — which made us realise how integral they are in our day-to-day lives. So, now it's our turn to give a little back. To help you say thanks to all the hospo legends in your life and, more broadly, the industry, we've teamed up with Australian Cocktail Month. The inaugural event came about as a way to support the country's mighty fine bars, so we've come up with six easy-as ways for you to give back to the industry — especially if you're a bit of a bar fly. [caption id="attachment_785137" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] HAVE A PUB MEAL WITH YOUR PINT If you usually stop by your local on your way home for a drink with mates, you're already doing a bit to help out. But rather than just ordering a cold one and then hightailing it out of there, why not order yourself a hearty pub feed, too? Not only will it help out the kitchen staff, but also the ones behind the bar as, let's face it, you'll probably order another round (or few). These days, pub meals go beyond your usual steak and chips offering (not that we don't love that, too). Next time you're keen for a drink and a feed, track down the likes of southern US-style snacks, woodfired pizzas and top-notch Asian nosh at one of your locals if you're not in the mood for pub classics. Plus, many venues have weekly events like live music, trivia and boozy bingo to keep you entertained. SAY CHEERS AT A COCKTAIL FESTIVAL Say a huge cheers to bars and the people behind them by grabbing a ticket to the inaugural Australian Cocktail Month. Running over the month of May, the event is popping up in 72 bars across Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Head to any of the participating venues for specialty cocktails — and support the bar industry as you sip to your heart's content. All cocktails will cost a cheeky $14, or $10 for non-alcoholic concoctions. All you have to do is get your hands on a ticket here, then join in the month-long celebration. GET YOURSELF SOME FUN MERCH One easy way to say cheers to the hospo places you love and frequent (almost too) regularly is to pick up some merch. Yep, wear your love for your local literally on your sleeve. For years, many pubs, breweries, bars, cafes and sandwich shops across the country have been selling branded tees, jumpers, hats and totes for you to sport and represent them on the streets. And, in the wake of COVID-19, even more jumped on the bandwagon — so now you're spoiled for sartorial choice. Sydney places like Yulli's Brews, Paramount Coffee Project and Tio's all sell some slick wares. Melbourne venues such as Proud Mary Coffee and Piccolina have good merch, as does Smith and Daughters' online merch store, which boasts branded earrings, cursive pins and denim dog jackets. In Brisbane, breweries like Newstead Brewing Co, Green Beacon and Felons all sell great branded tees and totes, too. GIVE BACK WITH COLD, HARD CASH You know those dingy glass jars on the countertops of your favourite watering holes and diners? Well, they're not there just for show, so next time you order yourself an iced mocha latte (or something stronger) throw in any loose change you've got. Not much of a cash-carrier? That shouldn't stop you adding a couple of extra bucks to your bill after you've had a fabulous time wining and dining yourself silly. Or, level things up by donating to a hospo relief fund, such as Tip Jar. Another Aussie charity doing a lot of good is OzHarvest. As well as reducing our country's food waste, the charity runs a hospo-focused program, offering industry employment and engagement pathways for at-risk youths. [caption id="attachment_733302" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] BUY LOCAL Instead of getting all your supplies from the major supermarkets, buy local. This way you'll back the independent places that serve the community through quality lattes, loaves of sourdough, bottles of wine and gourmet goodies. As hospitality venues were shut and, later, operating at smaller capacities, providores, suppliers and makers of small-batch products also did it tough last year. So, next time you're thirsty, head to a boutique bottle-o. When you're after some cheese, head to a delicious dairy wholesaler in your area. You get the idea. And, after adapting to the trying times of COVID-19, many cafes, bakeries and restaurants are still selling staple goods, which, let's be honest, provide a much nicer shopping experience than a supermarket. [caption id="attachment_760761" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julia Sansone[/caption] TURN UP TO YOUR TABLE Australia's food and drink industry is still recovering. So, now we can eat, drink and be merry in venues once again, we should catch up with mates, celebrate a promotion and grab a coffee with colleagues when we can. We're not saying burn a hole in your pocket, but if you love trying new places or hitting up your favourite haunt, then celebrate the fact that you can do these things. Word of advice: don't be a no-show. Yes, turning up to a booking is a pretty simple thing to do. But if you don't? Well, not only does someone else miss out on eating and drinking all the tasty things, but also the venue loses money and staff may get their shifts cut short. If you can't make it for whatever reason, simply call ahead so your table doesn't go empty. Australian Cocktail Month is taking over top bars across the Australia from May 1–31. To buy your ticket, and for the full list of participating bars, head here. Top image: Bar Margaux, Kate Shanasy
