Eastern Sydneysiders don't have to drive across the city for a little western magic. Opened in April 2015 on New South Head Road in Vaucluse, The Trail offers a unique blend of Little Marionette coffee and a creative brunch-happy menu, straight out of Marrickville or Redfern. And boy, does it get busy on the weekend. "I live on Addison Road in Marrickville and I love the cafe culture that's around there. We're spoiled for choice," says owner Nick Stubbs, who earned his barista stripes from years at Pyrmont's Cafe Morso. "But I've also been coming to Parsley Bay for a while. It's a really nice area, but there aren't a lot of cafes. From talking to locals, I found out that there's actually a bit of demand around here for quality and for something different." Drawing on advice from previous bosses, including Morso's Andy Webb, Stubbs decided to open his own cafe in The Trail; keeping things simple and as effective as possible. "The layout is minimal and sleek. I wanted people to feel welcome, so I didn't want clutter. I worked with a great carpenter who loves blackbutt, so we found some pieces with a natural finish — and it's come up really, really beautifully." The same minimalist principle is applied to the Trail menu, except that it's jazzed up with some fine dining finesse. The elegantly simple menu is all available all day. We're talking buckwheat porridge with brandied rhubarb, poached quinoa, pecan and honeycomb ($14); roasted pepper and Manchego omelette with jalapeno salsa rocket and pinenut salad ($16); and hot smoked trout with roast cauliflower, picked grapes, almonds, quinoa and kale salad, and celery and verjuice dressing ($16/20). For classic brunchers, there's also braised brisket on a brioche bun served with rosemary roast potatoes ($18), or the more breakfasty option of The Trail's jamon and egg roll with house pickles and chipotle aioli ($10). Kitchen closes at 3pm weekdays and 2pm weekends Images: Andy Fraser.
Just like that, the sun is shining, and the spring school holidays are here. Wondering how you'll keep the minis busy while you're still working, cooking, shopping and the rest? We've come to your rescue — with ten irresistible activities happening in and around Sydney. Head to Sydney Zoo to meet Peppa Pig alongside her family, including her brand new baby sister, Evie. Then, make tracks to the 2025 Play! Kids Festival for performances, interactive experiences, and workshops galore. Plus, there are plenty of creative and educational adventures for kids who like to learn — covering music, art, craft and more. Your house is now officially a whine-free zone. [caption id="attachment_1024842" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Supplied[/caption] Meet Peppa Pig at Sydney Zoo Peppa Pig and her family have flown all the way from Peppatown to spend some time in Sydney. And why not? It's 13 degrees and rainy in London right now. She'll be appearing twice a day, every day, at Sydney Zoo during the spring school holidays, alongside her brother, George, and her mummy and daddy. Her brand new baby sister, Evie, is coming along, too, on her first trip Down Under. Catch a mini show at 10am or midday, then hang around afterwards for a meet and greet at 11am or 1pm. Admission is included in Sydney Zoo entry. Kids under three get in for free; for kids three or older, it's $19.90. [caption id="attachment_1024852" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Supplied[/caption] Join The Play! Kids Festival in Sutherland Much-loved performer Emma Memma, a shark-themed puppet show and a meet-and-greet with Sharks footy player Jesse Ramien are all on the program at this year's Play! Kids Festival. For five days — from Wednesday, October 1-Sunday, October 5 — there'll be more performances, interactive experiences and workshops than even your most play-crazy kids can handle. Get tickets on an event-by-event basis, or bundle up with a Play! Pass, which, for $50, buys one performance, one dance workshop and one art workshop. All the action takes place at The Pavilion in Sutherland, and the program is on the Play! Kids Festival website. [caption id="attachment_1024864" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Woollahra Libraries Website[/caption] Head to Music Mania! at Woollarha Libraries Is your little one forever singing, dancing or tapping on hard objects? Help them fulfil their musical potential at Woollahra Libraries this spring school holidays. At Musical Craft Workshops, kids aged 5-12 will build sound-making creations from new and used objects. Then, at African Drumming Workshops, they'll beat their own drums, while learning about the role drumming plays in sharing music, language and culture. Tickets are $5 per workshop. Book them on the Music Mania! website. [caption id="attachment_1024875" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Supplied[/caption] Meet Bluey and Bingo at The Australian Reptile Park Peppa Pig isn't the only kid's television personality making the rounds this spring school holiday. Head to the Australian Reptile Park in Somersby, and you'll meet the world's favourite blue heeler: Bluey, in the company of her little sister, Bingo. The duo will host daily live shows at 10.15am and 1.30pm with some of their favourite games, like Magic Asparagus, Magic Xylophone and Keepy Uppy. Plus, by pre-booking, you could nab the kids a meet-and-greet at 11.15am or 12.30pm. Admission is included in entry to the Australian Reptile Park. While you're on the Central Coast, check out all the best places to eat, drink and stay with our weekender's guide. [caption id="attachment_1025337" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Australian Museum website[/caption] Relics at The Australian Museum A team of LEGO Masters winners has created an incredible exhibition at the Australian Museum. Relics will transport your child to a new world where entire, pint-sized LEGO civilisations live within vintage objects. See an old fridge transformed into a cryogenic health resort, a typewriter reimagined as a newspaper office, and a VW Beetle hosting a revolution in how we source and use energy. In between getting lost in 14 displays, the kids can get busy building their own LEGO models and going on scavenger hunts. Tickets are available via the Australian Museum website. [caption id="attachment_1025730" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Taronga Zoo website[/caption] Explore Taronga Zoo by Lantern Light Got a kid on your hands who wakes up when the sun goes down? Embrace it this spring school holiday at Taronga Zoo's new after-dark event. For ten nights from Friday, October 3-Sunday, October 12, you'll be able to see what the animals get up to after closing time. Catch a seal display at twilight before wandering along trails lit by lanterns, then stopping by a firepit for a street food feast. Also on the program is a magical mermaid show, plus live music and a savannah-side sunset bar hosted by Archie Rose — because not everything has to just be for the kids. [caption id="attachment_1027304" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Supplied[/caption] Get Into Free Activities at Public House Petersham Public House Petersham has just had a big, family-friendly reno — and, to celebrate, it's putting on a bunch of free activities this spring school holiday. All the action launches on Saturday, September 27, with an entire day of events, from face painting and roaming hula hoopers to an animal farm and a jumping castle. Then, head along on Tuesday, September 30, for pizza-making classes; Thursday, October 2, for arts and crafts classes; Sunday, October 5, for a reptile show and balloon-twisting sessions; and loads more. On top of that, get a free kid's meal with any adult meal daily. [caption id="attachment_1027330" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Supplied[/caption] Kids' Concierge at The Hyatt Regency Dreaming of taking the family on a holiday but lacking the means or the time? Treat them to a kid-centric staycation on the waterfront at the Hyatt Regency. As soon as they arrive, they'll feel like they're guests of honour, thanks to free treats, including lollies and cookies in the lobby. In the room, settle them into their cosy robes and get them busy with complimentary activities, before checking out the dedicated kids' menus (budget-friendly tip: the brekkie buffet is free for 0-5 year olds and half price for 6-12 year olds, ands several of the hotel's restaurants offer a free kid's meal with an adult meal). You'll then be ready to explore the many family-friendly spots nearby, with the help of the Hyatt's specially curated map. [caption id="attachment_1027348" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Supplied[/caption] Get Tickets to Fringe Kids Every September, Sydney Fringe takes over the city with performances of all kinds — from plays and musicals to circus and live music. This year, the Fringe Kids program is back, bringing you shows every day of the spring school holidays. Head to the Entertainment Quarter to catch the All Star Circus, the Giant Balloon Show, the Flying Bubble Show and much more. Then catch the Dorothy in Oz cabaret in Marrickville, watch snail-inspired comedy in Erskineville and take a musical adventure in Ultimo. The rest of the program is on the Fringe Kids webpage.
Everyone has their Christmas viewing rituals, whether you watch your way through every Home Alone movie each year (yes, even the recent one), pop on It's a Wonderful Life with the family after a big lunch or prefer saying yippee ki-yay to Die Hard. Until recently, however, it's likely that watching Australian festive flicks wasn't high on your list, given this country of ours doesn't have all that much seasonal fare to its name. Back in 2020, streaming service Stan aimed to help change that with A Sunburnt Christmas, a festive caper about a criminal, some kids and end-of-year hijinks — aka Australia's answer to Home Alone and Bad Santa, in a way. In 2022, the platform is set to add another homegrown title to its catalogue sometime before Christmas hits, too. Given it stars Miranda Tapsell and Matt Okine, it looks worth a watch based on its cast alone. [caption id="attachment_700158" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Top End Wedding[/caption] Christmas Ransom stars Okine (The Other Guy) as every kid's second-favourite person during festive season: the owner of a toy store. Things aren't too merry for his character, however, when his shop is held up by thieves on Christmas Eve. And yes, as the name makes plain, he's held for ransom. These kinds of Christmas movies usually involve children, whether or not they turn them into Macaulay Culkin-level stars — so obviously a couple of kids get caught up in the heist. To save the day, they enlist the help of Tapsell (Top End Wedding), who plays a pregnant security officer. Announcing the film, Stan notes that it's inspired by Home Alone, Die Hard and Elf. If you've ever seen just one Christmas flick for even just a few minutes, you will have spotted plenty that's predictable about the setup. Alongside Tapsell and Okine, Christmas Ransom stars Ed Oxenbould (Wildlife), Genevieve Lemon (The Tourist), Bridie McKim (Bump), Evan Stanhope (Thor: Love and Thunder), Tahlia Sturzaker (Ascendant) and Chai Hansen (The Newsreader) — and boasts Adele Vuko (Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am) in the director's chair. Add it to your festive viewing alongside this year's other big Aussie Christmas film, if it also surfaces in time: the upcoming movie based on Paul Christmas classic 'How to Make Gravy'. Otherwise, this newcomer will join the likes of A Sunburnt Christmas; Bush Christmas, both the 1947 and 1983 versions; the animated Around the World with Dot; and recent-ish horror movies Red Christmas and Better Watch Out — the latter also featuring Oxenbould. Christmas Ransom will be available to stream via Stan sometime this festive season — we'll update you with an exact date when one is announced.
French dining is experiencing a renaissance in Sydney with a spate of new bistros — like Hubert, Bistro Rex, LoLuk and the soon-to-open Eté and Frenchies — slowly but surely taking over. The latest is District Brasserie, a new fine dining venue committed to bringing affordable luxury to the masses. All we can say is, let the revolution begin. Located on the lower ground floor of the Chifley Tower, the new 200-seater venue consists of an all-day bakery serving tartines, croissants and Single O coffees as well as a restaurant designed for long business lunches and romantic wining and dining. The venue is luxurious, and was designed by Paul Kelly (the hospitality designer, not musician). Expensive details extend all the way from the mid-century leather furniture, striking green marble bar and aged brass furnishings, to the Riedel glassware and fine linen napkins. If it weren't for the shopping centre escalator outside you could be in one of Paris' finest. However, perhaps what's most surprising is that when you open your schmancy leather-bound menu, the prices seem quite reasonable (gasp!) not at all the eye-watering costs you had planned to pass on to your finance department or significant other. And perhaps even more surprisingly, the portion sizes are quite generous — not the petite, miniscule, itsy-bitsy, quail egg on a crouton-sized dish that we have come to expect from the French. Take for instance the charcuterie ($32) which is served as a platter of house-cured salami, peppered duck prosciutto, burrata, pickled vegetables and charred bread — it could easily satisfy a ménage à trois. While we're similarly impressed with the diameter of the steak tartare ($25), for us, the flavour fails to live up to its esteemed reputation. The avant-garde, modern take, is spicy — like Mexican spicy — and the top layer of black smoked onion crumble renders the classic zesty dish completely unrecognisable. If you do give it a go, skip the tapioca crackers provided (which only serve to confuse us further) and load it up on the naturally-fermented organic sourdough, which comes complimentary from District's on-site bakery. It's some seriously good bread. For us, the pièce de résistance is the steak frites ($37), which promises to bring a tear of pride to a carnivorous French person's eye. The lean Jack Creek's sirloin is flamed in a Josper charcoal oven, ours cooked just how we asked, and served with a whipped béarnaise sauce and a side of seasoned fries and watercress. The 120-strong wine list is also a highlight. Compiled by sommelier Benjamin Moechtar, the selection includes plenty of interesting drops from Australia, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal, with gorgeous boutique Greek wines scattered here and there as a treat. While individual dishes are reasonably priced, after you end up over-ordering — and then polishing off several bottles of fine French Burgundy — it probably won't feel like a cheap night for long. We just hope you reach that level of contentment (and mild drunkenness) in which you don't mind.
Last winter, Sydney Restaurant Group announced that three of its venues would be slashing their usual prices by half for a limited time. That tasty deal was such a resounding hit with hungry Sydneysiders that the same half-price offer is now being rolled out again — and this time, six restaurants will be taking part. Until the end of August, special three-course menus will be available at 50 percent off their usual cost at Ripples Chowder Bay, Ripples Little Manly, The Fenwick in Balmain, Manta in Woolloomooloo, Noi in Petersham and Summer Salt in Cronulla. [caption id="attachment_910329" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ripples Chowder Bay[/caption] "We launched our 50 percent-off dining campaign in winter 2023 across three of our restaurants to encourage diners to enjoy the best of Sydney's winter dining scene despite current challenges," Sydney Restaurant Group Director, Daniel Drakopoulos said. "Our commitment to delivering exceptional dining experiences remains strong, and we are now offering a range of signature menus at half the regular price — providing an affordable opportunity to savour the finest winter dishes." Waterfront views are also on the menu at Ripples Chowder Bay, where diners can enjoy three courses plus a choice of sides for $59 per person, Wednesday–Sunday; and at Manta, Woolloomooloo, situated on the iconic Finger Wharf, where the same deal is available seven days a week. The Fenwick in Balmain ups the ante with uninterrupted views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which you can enjoy while you savour an indulgent three-course feast plus sides from Sunday–Thursday for $59 per person. [caption id="attachment_962685" align="alignnone" width="2000"] The Fenwick. Image: Kim Low[/caption] Beachy vibes beckon at Ripples Little Manly, which is offering a $49 three-course menu on Friday and Saturday evenings; and at Summer Salt in Cronulla, where a $59 three-course menu is available Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings. For a more laid-back meal, neighbourhood Italian Noi in Petersham is offering a $59 three-course deal across both lunch and dinner. To sweeten the deal even further, BYO with a $16 corkage fee is available at Ripples in both Chowder Bay and Little Manly; and at Summer Salt and Noi for $15. We'll drink to that. [caption id="attachment_962684" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Noi. Image: Jacqui Turk[/caption]
Global culture, technology and entrepreneurship juggernaut Remix stopped in Sydney for two days from May 8-9. We went, we watched, we wrote things down. Here are some takeaways from the event. Three people to internet stalk after Remix Sydney 1. Anna Higgs (@AnnaEHiggs), head of digital at Film4. As well as being a totally inspiring powerhouse who, just lately, has commissioned stuff like Frank, 12 Years a Slave and 20,000 Days on Earth, she live tweeted the whole of Remix like a boss. 2. Peter Tullin (@PeterTullin and Simon Cronshaw, co-founders of CultureLabel.com (@CultureLabel) and this whole worldwide conference shebang known as Remix. They seem to know everything about what's going on in the culture/technology/entrepreneurship world, and they were genial hosts to boot. 3. Dr Hugh Bradlow (@hughbradlow) works for Telstra, not always the most inspiring company, as chief technology officer but he is so much more than that. A sweetly excitable geek who loved telling us about the system he's set up to measure energy use in his home, he also asked some of the week's biggest questions about the future. Intra-preneurship: Building a Culture of Innovation This ends up being hilarious. Because Leigh Carmichael, creative director at Dark MOFO, MONA's Winter Festival, has a simple and popular dictum: kill the committees. But that's not going to work for everyone on this panel who doesn't have the luxury of being bankrolled by a wealthy, art-loving gambler. Mark Goggin, director of Sydney Living Museums, is a good counterpoint, his talk entitled 'taking creative risks with public money'. That organisation (formerly the Historic Houses Trust) has definitely managed to bring in new audiences and stage a variety of interesting cultural events. But both Leigh and Mark basically agree: you have to empower creatives with as much decision making ability as possible. The organisation's leaders have to endorse creative risk-taking (even knowing they won't all be successes) and make sure that attitude rules the discourse. Mark points to the @sweden Twitter ("a new Swede every week") as an inspiringly risk-taking public program — even when the person in control has been sexist, racist, offensive or otherwise disappointing, the government has stuck it out. Mark Goggin from @sydlivmus speaking on taking creative risks with public money. That org is on a roll. #innovation #RemixSyd — Concrete Playground (@PLAYGROUNDnews) May 8, 2014 Three ideas that stuck at Remix Sydney 1. We're suckers for storytelling. No matter what you're doing, you will need to be able to tell your 'story' at every stage — from getting funded, to finding your audience to showing off at a big, intimidating conference like Remix. 2. Think of your project as a treasure map not a road atlas. Anna Higgs uses this as a guideline for making cross-platform work, but it ends up being applicable to just about everything (except road trips). 3. How do you build a world where people lead meaningful lives when this is happening? Seriously, Dr Hugh Bradlow, CTO of Telstra, wants us to figure this shit out. Uh oh. @hughbradlow #terrified #thefutureisnow #RemixSyd pic.twitter.com/QfdTEtTjET — Lisa Burns (@LisaKBurns) May 9, 2014 The Experience Economy: Creating Extraordinary Moments and Stories That Get People Talking Everyone on this panel is certain they haven't heard the phrase 'experience economy' before, but they instinctively get it. They've each been part of masterminding an event or place that has gone beyond the usual definitions and ways of doing things — and brought together a community of people in a shared moment. There's Andrew Valder of the Garage Sale Trail, Heather Whitely Robertson of the MCA and Kaj Lofgren of the School of Life. It seems what Remix is hinting at is that brands might be trying to leverage this need that people have to connect with each other in real life (while at the same time tweeting and Instagramming it). Quelle horreur. Someone, at some point posits that art at the moment isn't about the art so much as it is about bringing people together to view it. There may be truth to that, but as Heather tells it, art is essentially personal, and ultimately the experiences we remember will be the ones we connect to internally, rather than externally. Can culture orgs create both experiences at the same time? That looks like the challenge. So true "increasingly art doesn't exist for arts sake, it is a catalyst for bringing ppl together in meaningful ways" @PaulBarclay #RemixSyd — Kaj Lofgren (@kajlofgren) May 8, 2014 Three projects to read more on after Remix Sydney 1. The School of Life — At Melbourne's School of Life (founded by Alain de Botton), the cafe gives out philosophical conversation cards with each purchase, facilitating chats that are more open and probing than the norm. 2. Four Pillars Gin — Admittedly, this Australian gin was created by a publicist, so its branding is top notch. But it's backed up its December 2013 Pozible success with a March 2014 double gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and the team has real passion for both the pure spirit and building an Australian cocktail culture. 3. MoMa's Art Lab — Is this the coolest art app ever? The box says "for ages seven and up", but time has shown no one is too old for creative art education without the big words. Public Forum: Rethinking Cross-Platform Performance for Live and Broadcast Audiences Niche topic, but any lover of performance should feel the pull of it. It's not like as a society we're going to see theatre less, but now that we're consuming so much media, so constantly (several screens at a time, often), how can live performance works remain relevant to public debate? How can they find new audiences? This panel brought together some of Remix's key guests — Anna Higgs, commissioning executive for the UK's multiplatform Film4; Freya Murray, arts manager at SKY Arts, another multiplatform innovator; Allegra Burnette, creative director of digital media at MoMA; and Tom Uglow of Google's Creative Lab. These guys have all gone beyond the idea of merely recording a live show and broadcasting it into a box in the corner of a living room. Allegra was at MoMA during what's possibly art's most viral moment — Marina Abramovic's The Artist Is Present — and spoke of how unpredictable that was; they just put the pieces out there and facilitated the internet to do it's thing. Freya emphasised that when setting out on these kinds of projects, you need to be flexible and reactive to your audience. Go with the flow, even if that's the most scary thing of all. Working in this area is a treasure map journey rather than road map journey. Must experiment @AnnaEHiggs #Rethinkingcrossplatform #RemixSyd — Rima Sabina Aouf (@rimasabina) May 8, 2014
The last of Red Rock Deli's Secret Supper series is just around the corner. Giorgio Distefano, the chef behind Cremorne's celebrated Italian eatery Ms. Frankie, is hosting the next mouth-watering feast and will be cooking up a storm on Thursday, October 17. But what's on the menu? You might have guessed it, but there's an element of secrecy to this whole Secret Supper thing. Not only is the event to take place at an undisclosed Melbourne location, but we have no idea what kind of creative dishes Distefano will be serving up. All we know is the menu will be inspired by Red Rock Deli's new Chilli, Roast Garlic and Lemon Oil Deluxe Crisps. Add to this the event's theme of 'elevation of the senses' and we can probably expect some pretty big flavours. To find out more, we had a chat with the man himself to suss out what his favourite Melbourne restaurants, chefs and dishes are and where he draws inspiration from. "For me, food is all about bringing people together and creating connections," Distefano says, explaining that at the supper he wants to spark curiosity in diners and encourage them to get to know the people around them by sharing a menu of colourful and delicious-smelling foods. [caption id="attachment_608218" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Trattoria Emilia, Brook James[/caption] It's clear all the senses are important to Distefano, as all his favourite restaurants speak to him through more than just the food. He loves the "welcome and homely feeling" of Trattoria Emilia on Little Collins Street, where he enjoys the "earthly and delicate flavours" of dishes like the tuna tartare. Distefano mentions Chinatown's Seamstress for its shared menu (and the combo of fish and fruit in the spanner crab, papaya and mango salad), and Tipo 00 for the way the restaurant centres on shared entrees and homemade pastas. We're betting the chef's "simple yet authentic and flavourful Italian" style of cooking will shine through in some sharing plates during the supper. [caption id="attachment_725693" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tipo 00[/caption] You might also have to get your hands a little dirty, if Distefano's love of interactive food is anything to go by. "I like the idea of people helping themselves to create their own dishes," he says, referencing Supernormal's bao with twice-cooked duck leg, plum sauce and vinegar. Distefano praises the Flinders Lane restaurant for its balance of Asian flavours in modern dishes and the way diners get to be involved with assembling their own food. He heads out of the city to Niddrie for his favourite open souvlaki at local restaurant Nobel Greek Tavern, which he loves for its big, flavourful portions. Praising the restaurant's simple approach to food, Distefano adds, "I enjoy the embedded flavours of herbs in the meat and the exceptional cooking of the meat on the spit." From homely traditional restaurants to the "sophisticated and flavourful cooking" of Neil Perry's Rockpool Bar & Grill ("I always order their aged beef with homemade potatoes"), Distefano draws inspiration from right across the spectrum of Melbourne's colourful culinary community. Taking pity on us in our quest for the hot menu gossip, Distefano reveals we can expect an interactive dining experience and "flavours which many would associate with home-cooking", hoping to get minds whirling and childhood memories back to the surface. To register for tickets to Giorgio Distefano Secret Supper, head over here. And, while you wait for the big night to roll around, you can get cracking on this Distefano-certified recommendation circuit. Top Image: Parker Blain.
Tickets are now on sale for the sixth annual March Into Merivale Food and Wine Festival. The eight-week feast will include over 60 gourmet events across Sydney, offering everything from pastry classes to wine tastings to mafia-themed Italian feasts. This year's theme is 'Born to Cook', with Merivale's super chefs concocting culinary delights based on their earliest and fondest food memories. You can celebrate the festival's kick off on Wednesday, February 12, by heading along to the 3000 guest-strong launch party at Ivy. There's live entertainment and the chance to meet and sample the wares of Merivale's favourite chefs, sommeliers and bartenders. Pricing is actually pretty reasonable, with a $35 ticket getting you entry, plus eight food and drink tokens to redeem at the various stalls. During the festival you might be tempted by 'Things on Sticks' at Ms G's — an eight-course banquet of food on sticks with a cocktail thrown in for good measure. Or the urban barbecue party at Ivy presided over by Manly's Papi Chulo. Palmer & Co will be running several mixology classes (canapes and cocktails included) and the Beresford's doing a beer tasting. Those fortunate enough to still be able to stomach tequila can experience El Loco's tequila tasting and Mexican snack event, whilst fancier folk can take high tea and champagne at Est. There's also $33 meal deals across all 11 Merivale restaurants to take advantage of. The festival runs from February 12 to April 11. Tickets can be purchased at the Merivale website, and booking in advance is a must. You can check out the full events listing here.
Pack your camp gear, fishing rods and multiple sets of swimmers and visit this Sapphire Coast gem. You'll find idyllic inlets like Nelson Beach or Moon Bay, perfect for swimming, surfing and fishing. Picnickers and those prepared to paddle with a canoe or kayak should head to Nelson Lagoon. Or, if it's sea life you seek, stroll along the walking track to Wajurda Point lookout and spy whales and dolphins among the endless blue. Park your pack at the campgrounds at Gillards, Picnic Point or Middle Beach for a canvas room with an ocean view. Or, you can book the historic Myer House by Lake Wapengo for up to 12 people. The nearby towns of Bermagui and Merimbula are good spots to stay for the less intrepid, too — and you can even fly straight into the latter if you're short on time. [caption id="attachment_802263" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] Image: National Parks
Surf's up at Sydney Olympic Park — and before autumn is over, you'll be able to take to the waves without hitting the beach in the Harbour City. Originally greenlit back in 2017, construction on Urbnsurf Sydney's massive man-made surf park has been underway for a while now, with the facility targeting opening before winter 2024 since last year. Here comes the news we've all been waiting for, then: first, that the site has begun pumping out waves; second, that it has an exact launch date. Mark Monday, May 13 in your diary. That's when the $75-million development will open at its 3.6-hectare venue, giving Sydney its first Urbnsurf complete with perfect waves year-round, plus impressive food and beverage offerings. Expect to have company, though, as the park — the brand's second in Australia, after opening in Melbourne in 2020 — can accommodate up to 1000 people a day. Sydney surfers can look forward a diamond-shaped lagoon with waves up to two metres in height. Thanks to LED lighting illuminating the man-made waves after dark, visitors will also have the option of an evening swim. The lagoon will be capable of churning out waves every eight seconds, with surfers set to catch between ten and 12 waves per hour. And the pool isn't small — it's about the same size as the Sydney Cricket Ground. It'll host a range of sessions catering to all types of surfers, whether you're just learning, are returning to the sport or consider yourself an expert. When surfers are done riding waves, Urbnsurf Sydney will also feature a wellness studio, skate park, Rip Curl store and a surf academy for those looking to take their skills to the next level. Just keen to swim, not surf? There's a pool for that as well. Plus, Sydney hospitality group Applejack has been put in charge of the culinary offerings at the park, as announced in 2023. Applejack owns and operates venues across Sydney such as Forrester's, The Butler, RAFI and Bopp & Tone. The team will be bringing the same produce- and service-driven approach found at its venues to Urbnsurf Sydney's premium restaurant with a rooftop terrace, waterfront cafe and takeaway kiosk. Applejack joins the Urbnsurf family alongside farm-to-table favourites Three Blue Ducks, who provide the food and drink offerings down in Melbourne. Find Urbnsurf Sydney at Sydney Olympic Park from Monday, May 13, 2024.
Right now, Adore Beauty is a huge Aussie-owned retailer known for offering up deals on thousands of beauty products exclusively to online customers. It's also much-loved for its generous free samples and for giving away Tim Tams with every single purchase. But come Saturday, February 1, Adore Beauty will officially have a permanent bricks-and-mortar shop in Melbourne's Westfield Southland. The new store will house skincare, haircare, fragrances, makeup and a heap of other wellness items from over 300 beauty brands — both Australian and international. But team is seeking to make the most of the in-person shopping experience by not merely setting up a bunch of aisles full of products and leaving it there. At the centre of the flagship Adore Beauty store, visitors will find a large curved table that will host regular masterclasses, activations and even the odd live podcast recording. There'll even be a leading-edge digital skin analysis system, which will help punters gain a deeper understanding of their personal skin type and needs. You'll also still get a free Tim Tam with every purchase — thank the chocolate gods. And to entice folks in on the opening day, the Adore Beauty crew is giving the first 250 visitors a free goodie bag chock-full of 20 samples. This is the first retail store out of many more to come for Adore Beauty, with plans for a national store network set to roll out over the next few years. Adore Beauty's CEO Sacha Laing shared, "The Southland store is the first step in a new and exciting chapter for Adore Beauty that will see us bring our online experience that our customers know and love into physical settings where they can explore, learn and play with beauty with the guidance of our in-store experts." Adore Beauty's first-ever retail store opens on Saturday, February 1, and can be found at Level 2 of Westfield Southland, Cheltenham. For more details, you can check out the company's website.
For residents of Australia and New Zealand, taking an overseas holiday hasn't really been on the agenda for much of the pandemic due to strict international border controls in both countries. Since April, however, the trans-Tasman bubble has let Aussies take a getaway in NZ and vice versa, all without having to go through quarantine upon arrival. But, with COVID-19 cases growing across Australia again, and the Greater Sydney area and all of both Victoria and South Australia currently in lockdown, NZ has just suspended the arrangement. Announced today, Friday, July 23, by NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, the pause applies to quarantine-free travel to and from all Aussie states and territories. This isn't the first time that the bubble has been put on hold with all of Australia, with the same thing happening at the end of June. It has been paused with individual Aussie states before, too, as is currently the case with New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. This time, though, the nationwide suspension will stay in place for at least the next eight weeks. The pause will come into effect from 11.59pm NZT / 9.59pm AEST today for Australians entering NZ. For New Zealanders heading home, managed return flights will run for the next seven days; however, to get on one, you'll need proof of a negative pre-departure test. And, if you've been in NSW, you will still have to go into managed quarantine for 14 days. Folks who've been in Victoria must self-isolate upon return, and also have a negative Day 3 test. "There are now multiple outbreaks, and in differing stages of containment, that have forced three states into lockdown. The health risk to New Zealanders from these cases is increasing," Prime Minister Ardern said. "We've always said that our response would evolve as the virus evolved. This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but it is the right decision to keep New Zealanders safe." https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/1418393858795196419 When NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern first announced the two-way bubble between Australia and New Zealand back in April, she noted that it could and would be paused if and when outbreaks occur — so none of the suspensions so far, including this one, are surprising. The NZ Government advised that this current pause "will give Australia time to manage its current outbreaks, while giving New Zealand health officials the time to monitor the situation, assess travel developments in other countries and consider different quarantine-free travel settings while ensuring New Zealanders are safe." To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. To find out more about the virus and travel restrictions in New Zealand, head over to the NZ Government's COVID-19 hub.
Little Beach is Sydney camping spot for people who don't like to share. You and five mates can claim the entire campsite for yourselves — there are just six pitches in this tiny campground. It's hidden along a small, secluded cove within the Central Coast's expansive Bouddi National Park. Backed by coastal rainforest and shaped by stunning cliffs, the Little Beach surrounds are hard to beat. It also offers picnic tables, barbecues and toilet facilities for those who need a little extra creature comfort. If you have time to spare, take on the eight-kilometre Bouddi Coastal Walk, which runs between MacMasters Beach and Putty Beach. Images: Central Coast Tourism
They're sticky, cinnamon scrolls, drenched in glaze and famous all across the USA. And now, at last, they'll be available Down Under. Yep, Seattle-born bakery chain Cinnabon will land in Australia imminently, with a Brisbane outpost ready to open before the year is out. The launch was first announced in January this year, when family-run Queensland company Bansal Foods scored the Aussie rights to Cinnabon. But, now, we finally have some details. Set to open on Saturday, December 14, the store will be located inside Toombul Shopping Centre in Brisbane's north. Cinnabon has been going strong in America since 1985 so it's already picked up plenty of Aussie fans along the way. But this will be the first time we're able to get our hands on those sticky, cinnamon-infused baked goods on home soil. The new Brisbane store be slinging a trio of Cinnabon cult classics, including the classic cream cheese cinnamon roll, the popular chocolate-drizzled Chocobon, and very extra Caramel Pecanbon. They'll be available in both mini and large sizes, along with packs featuring either four or nine 'minibons'. There will be coffee and lots of sugary drinks to pair with your snacks, too, including a cinnamon bun frappe. And, if you're yet to get acquainted with the decadent dessert creations, just know to expect aromatic, cinnamon-spiked dough made to a long-held recipe, decked out with stacks of signature cream cheese frosting and loaded with extras. They're notoriously tough to replicate. Toombul Shopping Centre recently opened a new neon-lit upstairs dining precinct, Cinnabon won't be a part of that. Instead, it'll be located on the ground floor near the Coles. And if you're not in Brisbane, it probably won't be too long until Cinnabon makes its way down south. The Toombul store is set to be the first of many. A second Brisbane store in Mt Gravatt is set to open in January 2020 and, going off plans announced earlier in the year, Cinnabon is looking to launch in Sydney and beyond in 2021. Cinnabon is slated to open its first Australian store on Saturday, December 14 on the ground level of Toombul Shopping Centre, 1015 Sandgate Road, Toombul. We'll keep you updated on an exact opening date.
The words "indie pop" have in many circles become synonymous with hipster pretentiousness. Last Dinosaurs ain't that kind of indie pop. Coupled with their taste for button-up shirts and primary coloured jeans, the Brisbane quartet have taken the template supplied by such indie darlings as Vampire Weekend and Bombay Bicycle Club, cranked up the guitar histrionics and added some shout-along choruses plus a bunch of irresistibly funky, off-kilter grooves to give us a sound that has had critics salivating and brought them sold-out concerts across Australia and Europe. Then of course there is the Brisbane quartet's insatiable taste for causing havoc on stage. The boys' growing reputation for putting on unforgettable, dance-till-your-feet-hurt shows has set them apart from the glut of indie pop outfits that seem to clog every other bar and venue in Sydney. In honour of their debut album In A Million Years celebrating its first birthday this month - an album that The Guardian described as a "possible contender" for best Australian album to reach British shores in the last twenty years - Last Dinosaurs are bringing their guitar-powered pop to UNSW's Roundhouse. Book online before tickets become extinct. https://youtube.com/watch?v=EqGs36oPpLQ
The Australian Open is coming in hot for its 2023 edition, with thousands of punters set to descend on Melbourne Park for two weeks of Grand Slam tennis action from Monday, January 16–Sunday, January 29. But as usual, the tennis won't be the only thing pulling crowds and whetting appetites. Serving a few aces of its own is the AO's 2023 food and drink offering — a star-studded lineup of restaurant pop-ups and experiences to tempt tennis-goers and foodies alike. Throughout the tournament, a slew of big-name chefs and dining institutions will be headed courtside to dish up a blockbuster menu of culinary gold. Among these familiar favourites you'll catch Andrew McConnell's modern Asian diner Supernormal, hosting both a set-menu restaurant and a walk-in-friendly al fresco dining terrace. And yes, there'll be plenty of that famed lobster roll to go around. Meanwhile, award-winning Sydney chef and seafood maestro Josh Niland (Saint Peter) will treat locals to a taste of his sustainable fish and chipper Charcoal Fish, which is heading south for the first time. Hit the pop-up eatery for cult-fave dishes like a rotisserie Murray cod roll with gravy and crispy skin, and the double yellowfin tuna cheeseburger. You can also nab tickets to his one-off talk. [caption id="attachment_884148" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Charcoal Fish[/caption] Fellow Sydneysider Jacqui Challinor will be recreating the magic of her own Nomad stable courtside, serving bites like mushroom and bone marrow empanadas, standout house-made charcuterie and a Middle Eastern-inspired olive oil cream sandwich. There'll be restaurants by Penfolds and Rockpool Bar & Grill if you fancy dialling up the sophistication factor, as well as a pop-up fine-diner by the Stokehouse crew serving a sumptuous set-menu affair — including an adorable tennis ball dessert. And a collective of chefs including Victor Liong (Lee Ho Fook), Adam D'Sylva (Tonka, Coda) and Scott Pickett (Longrain, Estelle) are assembling to cook up the fusion feast of your dreams. Elsewhere, you can tuck into plates from the likes of Victoria by Farmer's Daughters, Shane Delia's Maha, Oasis, Ca Com (by Anchovy's Thi Lee and Jia-Yen Lee) and The B.East. Josh Fry will be whipping up a menu of two-handed delights a la Rocco's Bologna, while Mischa Tropp showcases his acclaimed Keralan fare — that legendary butter chicken included. No one's going thirsty, either. The palm-fringed AO Spritz Bar will be your go-to for all things fizzy, with the menu ranging from a booze-free guava marg to a signature hibiscus-infused spritz. It'll be rocking a breezy resort-inspired aesthetic, complete with bookable cabanas and a prime location adjacent to Charcoal Fish. Meanwhile, over at the Canadian Club Racquet Club, you'll find another tidy lineup of sips, alongside free gigs, street food by Beatbox Burgers and Taco Truck, and the tennis action playing live and loud on the big screens. Further booze pop-ups come courtesy of labels like Piper Heidsieck, Balter, Sommersby, Peroni and Gordon's. [caption id="attachment_884140" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Maha[/caption] [caption id="attachment_884143" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Penfolds Restaurant[/caption] [caption id="attachment_884145" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Supernormal[/caption] The 2023 Australian Open and its food offering will take over Melbourne Park from Monday, January 16–Sunday, January 29. For details on the full lineup or to book a table, see the website. Top images: Stokehouse, Nomad.
Located just a hop and skip from the station, Merrylands' Mase Cafe is a popular local weekend brunch spot, and with good reason. Come here for brekkie options that fuse a Mediterranean-influence with classic Aussie dishes. All of your usual suspects make the cut, including bacon and egg rolls, smashed avo on toast and muesli — and these sit on the menu with the likes of a mushroom and spinach shakshuka (topped with creamy feta and served with za'atar sourdough) and kafta plates served with hummus and fattoush. For drinks, expect taro, turmeric and red velvet lattes to accompany your typical coffees and teas. Queues should be expected on weekends, so be sure to book ahead or plan to wait.
The Sydney hospitality legends behind The Mary's Group are celebrating the 22nd Biennale of Sydney with the launch of a new venue. Originally welcoming in patrons in March, then postponed until June with the rest of the Biennale, Mary's On The Edge is now open on Cockatoo island — and it's serving up a whole heap of Mary's favourite dishes in one spot for the first time. Patrons can tuck into Mary's famed burgers, chicken schnittys from The Unicorn and Detroit-style slices by Mary's Pizzeria — all at once. The pop-up is also slinging some brand new dishes, including a caesar salad and a few different sandwiches. And, it's pouring natural wines from P&V Merchants, plus Campari and soda, mulled wine, and Young Henrys' beer and ciders. [caption id="attachment_765329" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Unicorn chicken schnitzel[/caption] The full-service bistro is open daily, with bookings recommended. So grab your mates and spend an afternoon exploring the top-notch (and free) exhibition around Cockatoo Island — check our top picks here — then enjoy a few drinks with pizza, burger and schnitty in hand. Mary's On The Edge is open on Cockatoo Island until September 6. Opening hours are 9am–4pm Monday–Wednesday and and 12–6pm Thursday–Saturday.
Each year, the National Gallery of Victoria commissions a new temporary structure to evoke a fresh perspective on the gallery. Previous years have seen a pink car wash and an openair maze pop up in the NGV's Grollo Equiset Garden, but 2018's Architecture Commission, announced today, will be a direct reflection of the gallery itself. A collaborative effort between Melbourne firm Muir and landscape architecture studio Openwork. Doubleground draws inspiration from past and present aspects of NGV International. The design is centred on a dramatic passageway that recalls the triangular patterns found within the NGV's Great Hall glass feature wall and on the gallery's roof. Elements of the NGV Garden will literally be raised up as sections of the garden become sharp embankments, creating canyon-like passageways below. The Sir Roy Grounds-designed building also provided inspiration for Doublegrounds decking area, which echoes the NGV International's foyer, while a bamboo garden reflects the building's former bamboo courtyard. Architect Amy Muir used her memories of visiting the gallery as a child to compose a blueprint for the new commission. "The 2018 Architecture Commission provides an intervention that challenges the role of the NGV Garden," Muir said of her studio's designs. "Acknowledging the intent and architectural language of the original Roy Grounds building, the Commission seeks to bring the memories of place back into play." Promoting the positive relationship between architecture, landscape and civic space, Doubleground was chosen ahead of 73 other entries from around Australia due to its collaborative and multi-disciplinary approach. As 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the NGV International, gallery Director Tony Ellwood explained the new commission "offers visitors a unique opportunity to reflect upon and re-examine the history and design of the Gallery as an integral part of Melbourne's public realm". The 2018 NGV Architectural Commission will be free to visit in the Grollo Equiset Garden at NGV International from November 2018 until April 2019.
This year has seen an explosion of dining precincts open within Sydney's major developments. In 2019 alone, our city has welcomed the Barrack Place laneway and the Green Square dining precinct in the Infinity Building, as well as Darling Square's final retailers within Electric Treat Street and the Exchange Building's Maker's Dozen food hall. Not to mention two major announcements for 2020 openings within the South Eveleigh precinct. Next up is Quay Quarter Lanes, which will open as part of the massive new Quay Quarter Sydney precinct in late 2020. It'll be located on Loftus Lane — between Young and Loftus streets behind Customs House — in Circular Quay, and will span specialty cafes, all-day restaurants and late-night bars, plus boutique shops and 106 luxury apartments up top. Once completed, it will boast 20 retailers all up. The only restaurant to be announced so far is by New Zealand restaurateur Scott Brown — he's responsible for Auckland's much loved Italian restaurant Amano. Brown's new sustainable and seasonal concept will open within the heritage-listed Hinchcliff House on Young Street. The sizeable four-storey old wool store covers 1000 square metres will be restored as part of the project — as will Circular Quay's second remaining wool store, Gallipoli Club. Sydney-based Wiradjuri-Kamilaroi artist Jonathan Jones has been commissioned to create a site-specific installation for the laneway — his work aims to draw attention to issues including climate change, land management and the disappearance of unique Aboriginal languages and cultures. The food-filled space is set just across from the Quay Quarter Tower, the precinct's 50-storey glass skyscraper, which is slated for a late 2022 opening. It's all part of a $2.7 billion development by AMP Capital — which is also looking after the $140-million Marrickville Metro upgrade and its own massive dining precinct. Once finished, the Quarter Quay Sydney precinct will span 11,000-square-metres (or over two city blocks) of prime Circular Quay real estate. By its 2022 completion date, over 50 retail tenancies will be included in the precinct. Quay Quarter Lanes is set to open to the public in late 2020, and the full Quarter Quay Sydney precinct will open by late 2022.
The February instalment of Firstdraft’s dynamite exhibition program features four Sydney-based and rurally engaged emerging artists. Siân McIntyre and Alex Pye explore notions of Australiana and Australian identity through mixed media, sculpture and performance, with their respective bodies of work titled Circular Settlements and Cumnock: The Musical!. In the second and fourth gallery spaces, Laura Moore (Framed) and Christopher Handran (Aqueous Humour) examine photography, the lens and framing through various approaches, shedding light on experiences of immersion, sensation, spectacle and the everyday. Opening night for February at Firstdraft is on Wednesday, February 4, from 6-8pm.
It's supposed to be the happiest time of the year, but Christmas sure does require everyone to make a whole heap of decisions. You need to select which gifts to buy your nearest and dearest, all the ways you're going to celebrate with your loved ones and where to spend any time you get off over festive break, for starters. You also have to pick how many seasonal-themed events to attend across December, and which dishes to make and/or eat. And, you need to choose something to drink — on several occasions over the whole period. Need something to pour into your next festive-themed cocktail, or to sip with pudding on the big day itself? Bass and Flinders has just released a limited-edition spiced Christmas brandy that's designed for both — or just to drink neat over ice when you're saying a jovial cheers to your friends and family if you prefer. The idea: to basically make a brandy that tastes like Christmas pudding in a bottle (because why just eat dessert when you can drink it, too?). Head distiller Holly Klintworth took inspiration from her family's own Christmas pudding recipe, in fact, which has been passed down through four generations. If you're wondering what you'll be knocking back, Bass and Flinders' spiced Christmas brandy uses chardonnay grapes from a Victorian vineyard, which have been distilled and matured to into an Aussie-made spirit. Then, the distillery steeped it with Christmas fruits and spices for ten days — with dried currants, cranberries and apricots; spices such as nutmeg, clove and cardamom; and also citrus rind, frankincense and myrrh. Golden amber in hue, and smelling like all of the aforementioned ingredients, the tipple is now available to purchase for $125 for a 700-millilitre bottle. And if you're after a few cocktail ideas, Bass and Flinders has also come up with a spiced brandy eggnog recipe on its website. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bass & Flinders Distillery (@bassandflinders) Bass and Flinders' spiced Christmas brandy is available to purchase now — for more information, head to the brand's website.
When Secret Sounds, the crew behind Splendour in the Grass, gave Australia another massive multi-day music festival in 2022, it did so with a big aim: to get everyone dancing in a park in Adelaide each spring. That event is Harvest Rock, and it keeps putting on travelworthy lineups. 2023's second spin already features Jamiroquai and Beck doing Australian-exclusive shows, plus everyone from Sparks to Bright Eyes — and it just scored a few new additions. Joining the bill at Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka and King Rodney Park / Ityamai-itpina, Adelaide, on Saturday, October 28–Sunday, October: Tash Sultana, Bernard Fanning doing his last Australian show for 2023 and Jade Bird making her first trip Down Under. And, Babe Rainbow, Charlie Collins, Floodlights and Surprise Chef are hopping onboard, too. So, festivalgoers can expect to hear everything from 'Jungle' and 'Wish You Well' to 'Houdini' and 'Juice of the Sun' in the South Australian capital. Harvest Rock II, as 2023's festival has been dubbed, already boasted Rodgers & Chic, Santigold, Chromeo and Ladyhawk as well, plus Flight Facilities, Baker Boy, Julia Jacklin, Chet Faker, Ocean Alley, Bad//Dreems, Thelma Plum and Vera Blue. Paul Kelly was also part of the first lineup announcement, as was The Rolling Stone Revue featuring Adalita of Magic Dirt, Tim Rogers of You Am I and Tex Perkins — yes, all teaming up to play The Rolling Stones' greatest hits. A two-day blend of music, food and wine — well, it is in SA — Harvest Rock instantly proved a success upon debut last year, attracting 15,000 attendees per day. In addition to live tunes, the fest spans Adelaide's top restaurants and eateries serving up food at the Feastiville precinct, onsite eatery Wildwood led by arkhé's chef and co-owner Jake Kellie, a culinary-focused stage and wine tastings. There's also a wellness centre doing tarot readings and massages, and mini festival Little Harvest for kids. HARVEST ROCK II LINEUP: Babe Rainbow Bad // Dreems Baker Boy Beck (Australian exclusive) Bernard Fanning Bright Eyes Built to Spill Charlie Collins Chet Faker Chromeo Flight Facilities — Decades DJ set Floodlights Jade Bird Jamiroquai (Australian exclusive) Julia Jacklin Ladyhawke Nile Rodgers & Chic Ocean Alley Paul Kelly Sam Barber Santigold Sparks Surprise Chef Tash Sultana The Lemon Twigs The Rolling Stone Revue Thelma Plum Vera Blue Warpaint Harvest Rock 2023 will take at Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka and King Rodney Park / Ityamai-itpina, Adelaide, on Saturday, October 28–Sunday, October 29, 2023 — with tickets on sale now.
We're pretty familiar with the drinks that are typically associated with summer: beer, spritzes and, more recently, the rise of the seltzer. And whilst we are big fans of knocking the top off one of these delightful drinks when the mercury rises, sometimes we can't shake our penchant for something a little bolder to hit our tastebuds. After long days spent sizzling in the searing sunshine, there really is nothing better than a bourbon in hand inside a cool, air-conditioned bar to take the heat off. To make things easier, we've teamed up with Buffalo Trace to help you find a spot to scratch your bourbon itch this summer.
Founded by obstetrician and fertility specialist Toby Angstmann, Canberra's Underground Spirits was brought into this world with a "life's too short" mentality. Even when you're a well-regarded doctor, life is clearly too short not to pursue your dream of making spirits. Angstmann has transported some of his medical skills to his new business, too — which is where the brand's impurity-removing cryofiltration process was born. The result: smooth tipples that go down easily, as anyone who tries Underground Spirits' caramel vodka discovers. Of course, the very concept of caramel vodka was always going to tempt tastebuds. How could it not? Think warm, sweet, creamy and buttery, and the kind of spirit you'll want several sips of. Underground Spirits' distillery is located in Kambah, in the southern outskirts of Canberra, with products available online. As well as caramel vodka, it makes cold-brew coffee vodka, shiraz and pepperberry gin, a special-edition native gin in collaboration with the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra, and standard vodka and gin.
While travelling far away for a vacation may seem tempting, there's no reason not to embrace all those primo travel destinations located right here in Victoria. And, if sun, sand and water are top of your post-lockdown holiday wish list, you don't need to look any further than the popular coastal stretch of East Gippsland. Just three hours east of Melbourne, this regional gem is primed for that warm weather getaway you've been dreaming of, filled with idyllic waterfront retreats offering the ultimate antidote to city life. We've done the hard work for you and rounded up 10 of the most blissful waterfront stays you can book in East Gippsland. Pick a favourite, pack those fishing rods and lock in some much-needed time lakeside. Recommended reads: The Best Glamping Sites in Victoria The Best Pet-Friendly Stays in Victoria The Best Places to Stay Along the Great Ocean Road The Oar House, Metung Surrounded by breathtaking nature, this coastal-chic stay is picture-pefect. Enjoy the sunny deck, pet-friendly yard and private walkway down to the beach. From $322 a night, sleeps six. Locanda, Paynesville Perched right on the canal, this roomy retreat boasts its own jetty, modern features throughout and some primo outdoor living spaces overlooking the water. From $259 a night, sleeps seven. Lakescapes, Metung At this high-set coastal escape, you're in for blissful 180-degree lake views. The minimal cottage comes complete with an expansive deck for those sunset cocktails. From $205 a night, sleeps four. Captain's Hideaway, Paynesville A modern coastal getaway, overlooking the bay. This pet-friendly beach house features all the amenities you could desire, plus generous outdoor living and yard. From $357 a night, sleeps ten. Anchored, Paynesville Sleek and spacious, this waterfront beauty is sure to impress. Enjoy light-filled open-plan living, jetty access, and a stunning canal-side deck and barbecue. From $786 a night, sleeps ten. Amazing Views, Metung This revamped beach cottage will delight you with its water views, leafy setting and modern fit-out, all located just across the road from the jetty. From $250 a night, sleeps seven. The View at Captain's Cove, Paynesville Find this modern self-contained townhouse perched right on the canal, offering a blissful outlook, primo location and smart coastal styling throughout. From $289 a night, sleeps six. The Loft, Paynesville A modern waterfront gem, complete with private jetty and pool. Expect generous, bright living areas, with space to sleep the whole gang. From $325 a night, sleeps ten. Mallacoota Magic, Mallacoota Enjoy a well deserved recharge on this three acre property overlooking Mallacoota Inlet. The cozy cottage includes an outdoor campfire, deep tub and incredible views. From $440 a night, sleeps four. Teulu House, Nungurner Based on an eastern European courtyard style, this modern lakeside ranch provides sufficient seclusion while offering a stunning view the Gippsland Lakes. From $235 a night, sleeps four. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
There's a good chance you'll be hiding from the weather the next few days, as heavy rainfall and even flooding are expected to impact residents in both New South Wales and Queensland. With some predictions warning of rainfall reaching triple figures, SES NSW crews are on standby, warning about dangerous downpours in northern and north-western NSW. So far, flood warnings have been issued for parts of the Mid North Coast, Hunter and North West Slopes, with minor to moderate flooding likely from late Wednesday and isolated major flooding considered possible. Elsewhere, the SES also warns of possible moderate flooding in the Hunter and Colo River catchments from Thursday morning. "We're sending aviation assets, high clearance vehicles and crews into the areas likely to be impacted by this rainfall," said NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Colin Malone. "While we're prepared for an increased volume of calls for assistance, we ask the community to prepare too." View this post on Instagram A post shared by YIAGA (@yiaga.au) With the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting significant rainfall across much of the east coast from Wednesday, the 24-hour rainfall prediction stands at 40–90 millimetres set to drench the region. Sydney has already experienced its wettest start to August since 1998; waterlogged land cannot soak up new rainfall, leading to more severe run-off that can cause river levels to rise quickly. Fortunately, the cold front bringing these wild conditions is expected to abate from Friday. "We'd like to remind people that flash flooding can occur suddenly and without warning," said Assistant Commissioner Malone. "Please never, under any circumstance, drive through floodwaters. If you come across a flooded road, turn around and find another way." Stay up to date with the latest weather warnings at the Bureau of Meteorology website.
Celebrity chef Marco Pierre White needs little introduction – his epic career has seen him work with the likes of Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal at renowned restaurants across the world. But the latest project from the Michelin-starred chef isn't in the kitchen, but in the form of an app that allows customers to score meals at some of the city's best restaurants at discounted prices. Launching in Melbourne this month, EatClub is a new platform that allows restaurants to offer real-time discounts to customers at specifically slow or off-peak periods So if a restaurant doesn't have many covers for dinner, they can put up four tables and offer, say, 30 percent off to EatClub users that book those tables before 7.30pm. When you open the app, you're shown a selection of nearby restaurants with live deals on a map or in a list. You can then browse the restaurant's interior, peruse the different deals on offer and even check out the menu before you redeem the deal. It's a first in, best dressed system, so if you see something you want to jump on, best be quick – once a deal has been redeemed, it disappears from the app. The technology was co-founded by Matt Cantelo, Ben Tyler and Pan Koutlaki (ex-CEO of Foodora) who worked alongside Pierre White. The idea is that it'll encourage people to eat out more on a whim, an activity that has declined noticeably since delivery apps like UberEATS and Deliveroo have risen in popularity. More than 130 Melbourne restaurants are on board so far, including +39 Pizzeria, Mr Scruffs, Papa Goose and Babu Ji. Arguably the most exciting part of the app is that twice a day, at a random time, one restaurant will offer a 100 percent off deal for a single table. The first person to snatch up this daily deal will be able to dine for free, which is as good a reason to give it a go as any. EatClub has only launched in Melbourne so far, but there's talk of the app launching in Sydney very soon. To download EatClub, visit the Apple App Store or head to Google Play.
Aunty Donna have been busy over the past few years. Since 2020, they've brought both Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun and Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe to the small screen. They've played corpses in Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, and also dropped a $30 bottle of wine that's literally called $30 Bottle of Wine, too. The Australian comedy troupe embarked upon a world tour in 2023 as well, selling 90,000-plus tickets. If you're keen to see Mark Samual Bonanno, Broden Kelly and Zachary Ruane live, your next chance in Sydney happens in 2025. Aunty Donna are hitting the stage again — and in the Harbour City, Enmore Theatre is their destination, playing nightly between Monday, September 1–Saturday, September 6. This time, audiences will enjoy the Drem experience, with Aunty Donna unveiling their brand-new live sketch show. Will everything be a drum again? Will morning brown get a tribute? How much room should you leave for Christmas pud? If you're instantly thinking about these questions, you're clearly already a fan. In the trailer for the tour, Bonanno, Kelly and Ruane are promising big things in their comedic usual way. "In 2025, Aunty Donna will be touring the greatest live comedy show ever seen by human beings," the trailer advises. "You have asked 'is it funny?'," it continues. "Leading experts in the field have made it perfectly clear that it is the best comedy show ever made."
Street food is more than just a meal — it's a cultural experience. When you tuck into a paper plate of food made in front of your eyes, then take a seat on rickety chairs or just the sidewalk itself, you're getting a taste of a city, its culture, and the people who live there. Enter El Primo Sanchez, Paddington's own piece of Mexico. The venue has just relaunched its menu in the style of a street-food taqueria, focusing on all things tacos and top-shelf tequila. We caught up with Eduardo Conde, El Primo's general manager, to learn more about the inspiration behind the change, the new flavours on offer and how to mix and match with the venue's world-class cocktails. On the Inspiration to Switch to a Taqueria Menu "To be honest, it just felt right for who we are," says Conde of the recent switch to a taqueria-style menu. "El Primo's always been about energy — bright lights, music, tequila, a bit of karaoke chaos. We wanted the food to match that." Chef Diego Sotelo is the Guadalajara-born talent behind Rico's Tacos and helped Conde with the redesign. "When Diego came on board, we all agreed tacos were the answer. Primo's Taco Corner is about letting people build their own experience, mix and match their toppings, dip things in consommé, grab a drink, dance a little. That's the spirit of a Mexican street night out, and that's what we wanted here." On the Key Details That Make Mexican Street Food the Real Deal Authenticity comes first and foremost for experiences like this. Conde and Sotelo knew that from the get-go. This is no 'white people taco night' (as seen on TikTok), this is a high-quality experience lifted straight from the streets of Mexico and dropped onto Oxford Street. So in this case, what makes the difference between real and imitation? "For me, it comes down to time and honesty. Real Mexican food is slow, layered, and bold. We're talking long marinades, dried chiles, masa tortillas, flavours that come from patience. A lot of copycat versions skip the steps that make it special. They go light on spice or lean into Tex-Mex shortcuts. But real street food has soul. You should taste smoke, citrus, vinegar… depth." On the Perfect Pairings in the Food and Drink Menus The food at Primo is, well, primo. But the venue is known first and foremost for its cocktails. That's no surprise, considering Conde was the 2023 Diageo World Class Australian Bartender. While the original drinks menu set a high bar, Primo recently launched a fresh new cocktail offering titled 'No Mames'. To celebrate, we challenged Conde to create some perfect pairings of his cocktails with his three favourite new menu items. Quesabirria and Marakame "People go wild for [the quesabirria]. The beef, the cheese, the consommé…it's got that melty, messy, flavour-packed thing going on. You dip it like it's French onion soup but with a Mexican heart. It needs something smooth to balance it out, and the Marakame [a tequila-based cocktail with white chocolate and citrus] does just that." Al Pastor Pork Belly and Mandarin Paloma Jarrito "This is straight from the street stalls of CDMX. Twelve-hour marinade, coals, fresh pineapple, boom — you're in Mexico with one bite. We pair it with a fizzy mandarin Paloma in a jarrito. It's light, zesty, bright, and it cuts right through the fat and spice." Beer-Battered Baja Fish Taco and Flama Blanca "This is your beach moment. It's a bit of a sleeper hit, but once people try it, they're hooked. Crispy golden fish, crunchy slaw, and then you've got the Flama Blanca with lychee, vanilla, and tequila — it's creamy and a little tropical. Like Tulum in a bite and a sip." On the Ideas That Didn't Make It Past the First Draft Of course, not everything is a winner. Conde says some flavour combinations ended up on the taqueria's cutting room floor. "We had some early favourites that we just couldn't fit in. There was a chorizo con papas dish I was obsessed with: spicy, rich, comforting — like something you'd eat at your abuela's house after a night out. We also played with a snapper ceviche, super fresh and citrusy, which would've been killer with a mezcal spritz. They didn't fit the final format, but who knows? Maybe they'll make a comeback one day." For more information on the El Primo Sanchez menu or to make a booking, head to the website.
If you're programming an openair cinema by the beach, which movies are a must-see? When Sunset Cinema hits Bondi Pavilion from November 2023, Jaws, Blue Crush and Finding Nemo tick the oceanside picture palace boxes. If you're showing flicks in the lead up to Christmas, what else has to get a whirl? Cue Home Alone, Die Hard and Elf, of course. And, if you're setting up shop in a year where Barbie had Ken declare that his job is "beach", you really need to show that as well. Get ready, Sydney cinephiles — all of the above are covered in Sunset Cinema's debut Bondi program. As first announced in September, cinema will join sun, surf and sand as one of the best things to enjoy at Bondi from Friday, November 17, which is when Sunset Cinema heads to Dolphin Court. There'll be bean bags to sit on. There'll be a bar serving boozy beverages, food trucks dishing up bites and popcorn as a snack option. There'll be movies under the stars, of course, with the full lineup just dropping. [caption id="attachment_883146" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bondi Pavilion[/caption] The season will get started with My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, then also show recent releases such as Asteroid City, A Haunting in Venice, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and Past Lives. They aren't out yet, but Saltburn and The Marvels will be by the time that Sunset Cinema rolls around. Among the water-themed titles, Ground Swell: The Other Side of Fear and Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl are also on the bill. And, amid the festive flicks, so are The Holiday, Love Actually and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Also going retro: Dirty Dancing. In other words, there's plenty to watch — all under the beachside sky. Sunset Cinema is no stranger to Sydney. Over the summer of 2022–23, it screened in St Ives and also North Sydney, with a season at the latter also on the itinerary again from January 2024. Getting its projectors spinning at Bondi Pavilion is a brand-new addition to its lineup, however, and an exciting one. Film lovers can get their al fresco flick fix until Saturday, December 23, with Sunset Cinema screening from Monday–Saturday. "We are excited to bring our unique brand of entertainment to the Bondi community this summer," said Sunset Cinema's General Manager Brad Garth, announcing the Bondi Beach season. "The Sunset Cinema movie experience is all about delivering quality entertainment that everyone can enjoy. We can't wait to launch the perfect summer event at Australia's most iconic beach." Sunset Cinema will take its openair flicks to seven locations across Australia's east coast over the summer of 2023–24, including Wollongong, Canberra, Brisbane and Melbourne. At all stops around the country, BYO picnics are encouraged; however, the event is fully licensed, which means alcohol can only be purchased onsite. And if you don't pack enough snacks, that's where the hot food options, plus plenty of the requisite movie treats like chips, chocolates, lollies and popcorn, come in. Sunset Cinema will hit Dolphin Court, Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach from Friday, November 17–Saturday, December 23 — screening from Monday–Saturday. Head to the Sunset Cinema website for further details and tickets. Top image: Brett Boardman Photography.
Sydney Mardi Gras has kicked off for 2024 and the good times have well and truly arrived. One of our favourite events on the program is Queer Art After Hours at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Going down on Wednesday, February 28, the annual extravaganza is keeping the gallery up late with an all-out celebration of Sydney's LGBTQIA+ community. Best of all, it's free! You can catch a hand-voguing workshop with Davina Chor; leather-making and bootblacking stations at the Dyke vignettes activation; origami card craft from Western Sydney artists emoeba h♡rtbridge and Bonnie Huang; and a screening of Tarik Ahilp's Three pieces of erotic autofiction. [caption id="attachment_941696" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Felicity Jenkins[/caption] There will also be DJ sets and performances popping up across the gallery spaces, tarot readings with MYSDIX (Angela Dix) and Mystic Mae, a Rainbow Youth Hub hosted by the Youth Collective and Queerleaders, and a charity lap dance auction from Lap Dance For Your Rights. The rest of the gallery will be open so you can squeeze in a trip to the AGNSW's blockbuster Kandinsky and Louise Bourgeois exhibitions. Plus, there will be a heap of pop-up food vendors and bars coming to the gallery for Queer Art After Hours, ensuring you're well-fed and can take in the festivities with a drink in hand, if you so please. [caption id="attachment_941695" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Hay[/caption] Top image: Anna Hay
Peter Pan fans love Michigan’s latest public art experiment. Secret fairy doors have been appearing in walls, doors and windows all over the city of Ann Arbor. Even though it might break a five-year-old’s heart to say it, they’re not actually works of magic, but the creations of real-life artist and writer Jonathan B. Wright. Like Kenneth Grahame, author of The Wind in the Willows, Wright began his work with the desire to entertain his own family. Back in 1993, after planting a magical miniature portal in his own home, he found his children investigating it in fascination. ‘In 1993, the first fairy door that I know of was found in our house,’ Wright explains in an interview with the Michigan Daily. ‘The door was not necessarily attributed to a fairy. My wife was running a childcare program in our home and it was the kids who found the door and they speculated on what might be living there — which included a “lion mouse” and various other tiny beings.’ Twenty-two years later, in Spring 2005, a fairy decided to set up house in Ann Arbor’s popular café, Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea, and it wasn’t long before others moved into gift shops, music venues and even the public library. Each door is a one-of-a-kind piece, imitating an aspect of the human-sized business, organisation or residence to which it is attached. Even the local Google office features a pint-sized entranceway titled ‘Giggle’. ‘I see [urban fairies] as a kind of new generation of fairies, maybe ones that have got beyond some of the traditional foibles of fairies — being allergic to iron, etc.,’ says Wright. ‘They’re a little bit more interested in people, and that’s why they live in closer proximity.’ He and his partner have been enthralled by magic and mythology for years. Wright has written several fairy-inspired books and is responsible for the running of urban fairies operations. [via PSFK]
Artist, illustrator and muralist George Rose is a big believer in looking within to ignite that creative spark, rather than banking on anything external. "That way, I'm a lot more independent, and I don't have to wait for inspiration or wait to see something for it to trigger another thought," she explains. "It's a much more calculated way of doing things, but it means that my creative output is not reliant on anything else. I can just create my own stuff." For the artist, there's a creative freedom that comes with that assurance, knowing that inspiration is something that can always be tapped, regardless of time, place or outside muses. It's a creative process born of a lifestyle that sees the artist constantly moving between Sydney, Brisbane and her current hometown of Melbourne. We sit down with Rose to discuss her inspirations, artistic process and the denim she wears to get her creative juices flowing. "There are lots of different aspects to my work; it depends on where I am because I've got such a transient existence," she explains. "I'm travelling around quite a bit, so I'm not reliant on a lot of stable or external structures. Quite often, I've got to create my own inspiration and my own work environment. I've never been super great with structure, anyway." When the inspiration's been tapped, and it comes down to creating a piece, Rose champions a sort of back-to-front approach. "Often I'll be asking a lot of questions of my work, even before I've started anything," she explains. "In a way, it's working backwards, like asking, 'Ok, what's the output of this? Who's it for? Where is it situated? Is there anything that client wants to say or that I want to say? What feeling do I want to create for someone who's looking at the mural?' If I can answer all of them, that gives me direction for what I do next." See some of Rose's bold artworks, and it'll come as no surprise that that creative flair also extends to her wardrobe — though she'll tell you functionality is key when getting down and dirty with some paint and a wall. "I have a pair of denim overalls that I wear because they wear really well and they've got pockets everywhere and I don't have to wear belts and they don't fall down," says the artist. "And it just so happens that denim overalls are in right now so I'm pretty happy with that!" Off the tools, she likes to have a little more fun with her wardrobe. "I really enjoy Melbourne style," says Rose. "It's a lot more relaxed. You can push it in different directions and pair different things with one another; I really enjoy that aspect of it. I can mix and match things from my mum's wardrobe, things from a $2 shop and things from, say, The Iconic. There aren't many rules. "I like wearing dresses and skirts, but I'm a jeans girl," she admits. "I always feel comfortable when I'm in my jeans, and I've always got a staple selection in my wardrobe." As for her favourite piece right now, it's a black denim number she stumbled upon when collecting jackets for a potential art project. "It's oversized, it's super baggy, it looks like I'm wearing my dad's jacket — but I kind of like that aesthetic," she laughs. "Dad clothes!" Check out George Rose's work here, and find the denim that brings out the creative, innovator and gamechanger in you at The Iconic. Images: Kate Shanasy.
UPDATE: FEBRUARY 12, 2019 — This winter, we'll be able to return to Margaret Atwood's unsettling dystopian realm, with the announcement that the third series of The Handmaid's Tale will hit SBS and SBS On Demand at 8.30pm on Thursday, June 6. Lucky for us Down Under, this is the same time as it'll be dropping on Hulu in the States, so hopefully no spoilers will crop up. The 13-episode series will follow June's (Offred's) continued struggle against the controlling regime. While details are scarce, a teaser was dropped during this month's Super Bowl — which you can watch below. Under his eye. Praise be, Handmaid's Tale fans. The series' third season is due to hit the small screen sometime this year, and US streaming platform Hulu has just released the first sneak peek during the Super Bowl. Blessed be not only the fruit but the football, we guess. If you've been immersed in this world from the absolute beginning and can remember the show's first trailer, then this initial look at the next season will feel somewhat familiar. Of course, that's by design. How better to show just how creepy the fictional society of Gilead is than to start with a dose of recognisable propaganda — and then dive deep into the chaos that awaits Offred/June (Elisabeth Moss) and her fellow subjugated women? As the fiery clip tells us, it's time to wake up. Otherwise, details about the third season are about as scarce as a happy woman in red. The series' regulars are expected to return, and given how the second season wrapped up, expect the story to get even darker, too. While the current trailer may be brief, there's plenty more Handmaid's Tale bleakness to enjoy this year (well, not that enjoy is necessarily the right term). Margaret Atwood, author of the original 1985 novel that started it all, is coming to Sydney next month. And, she's also releasing a long-awaited sequel, called The Testaments, which'll hit bookshelves comes September. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=11&v=PuWg6AyzETg The Handmaid's Tale's third season will screen on SBS in Australia at 8.30pm on Thursday, June 6.
Are you getting a little tired of watching Liam Neeson sneer at bad guys and battle repressed emotional problems? Maybe you've had enough of George Clooney's attempts to reignite the magic of Ocean's Eleven while butchering modern history in the process? Your average trip to Hoyts or Village can be a bit of a let down, and it's not all to do with the fact they charge $11 for a small popcorn. Enter Sydney Film Festival, saviour of all cinephiles. SFF has today revealed the first 32 films on its 180-strong program, and so far it's looking pretty damn excellent. Most films will be taking their Australian premiere at the festival and a few come straight from the screens of this year's SXSW. The most of exciting of these is Frank — an offbeat comedy based on real events in which Michael Fassbender plays the lead singer of an indie-pop group who always wears a giant papier mache mask on his head. The film also stars Maggie Gyllenhaal and the guy who played Bill Weasley in Harry Potter. Do we have your attention yet? Other incoming SXSW treasures named after men include Joe — a Nic Cage film that doesn't look outrageously awful. By all accounts Cage takes the form of a nuanced and realistic human being and doesn't suck at it! Even stranger than that is the fact that this "Southern Gothic drama" comes from director David Gordon Green (Prince Avalanche, Pineapple Express). Is this the most impressive April Fools' joke ever? Time will tell. As always, the SFF documentaries are looking strong too. Is The Man Who Is Tall Happy? details maybe the most impressive tete-a-tete ever recorded, between much-loved dreamer and director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and arts-student deity Noam Chomsky. Music docos stand on their own with the inclusion of Pulp — a loving portrait of the beloved Britpop band and its frontman, Jarvis Cocker. And sociopolitical issues get their showing with Ukraine is Not a Brothel — a work from Australian director Kitty Green that investigates the Ukrainian feminist organisation FEMEN and their "naked war against patriarchy". As less than a quarter of the full program, the films released so far are an indication of very good times to come. So please, stop enabling George Clooney's midlife crisis and save your ticket money for the good stuff. Sydney Film Festival will run from June 4-15. The full program will be announced on Wednesday, May 7.
If you're staring at that blank space on your bedroom wall and feeling uninspired, fret not. The Other Art Fair returns this December. The celebrated global event returns to Sydney for the eighteenth time from December 2–5. The fair will showcase a lively collection of emerging artists alongside wondrous art installations including a set of huge luminous bubbles in the stimulating surrounds of Barangaroo's The Cutaway. This iteration of the fair is actually 2021's second Sydney showing, after 2020s was delayed until March this year. The creative works of more than 110 carefully chosen artists, each selected by a prominent panel of art industry experts, will be up for sale. From the ornate to the inexpensive, The Other Art Fair offers thousands of artworks starting from as little as $100. Plus, the artists will be on-site, so you can chat with them and hear the stories behind your chosen piece. The vast four-day event is complemented by art activations, hand-poked tattooing, workshops and immersive performances, plus street food and DJ sets. This summer edition will play host to installations The Birds by Eness and Fever Originals, and Evanescent, an ethereal display of giant bubbles that previously popped up in Brisbane as part of Curiosity Brisbane. Make a party of it by attending on opening night ($35–40), or stop by for a general browse between Friday to Sunday — general entry tickets cost $20 online or $30 on the door. [caption id="attachment_804058" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Evanescent[/caption]
Dragging yourself off the couch on a Sunday isn't always easy, but you'll feel a little more inspired with Since I Left You's Slow Sundays. Having launched earlier this year, the dog-friendly event series celebrates the simple joys of a lazy Sunday. Expect hands-on workshops, market stalls, rejuvenating food and drinks, and an ambient soundtrack to lift your end of the week. You might not have guessed that a CBD bar would be the perfect space for an event like this, but the team at SILY is all about making the most of their picturesque courtyard. With a towering mural, twinkly lights and a regular program of live music, the space makes for an ideal hidey-hole to escape the buzz of the city. Coming up on Sunday, March 30 at 1pm, the second edition of Slow Sundays is all about the simple joy of crafting. Thanks to the crafting expertise of Handy with Scissors, you'll be able to get hands-on with collage and card-making, watercolour painting, embroidery, tin embossing, basic leatherwork and more. It wouldn't be a booking at SILY without a dose of live music, so your crafternoon adventure will be soundtracked by a setlist of appropriately lazy Sunday-themed tunes by Closed Circuits DJs. And, perhaps most importantly, your ticket includes a complimentary welcome margarita, which ought to help get your creative juices flowing if nothing else. No matter if you're a DIY newbie or a total craftaholic, you're welcome to come along and explore your artistic side at your own pace.
Hot Young Female Artist meets mysterious but alluring stranger. Said stranger-cum-muse sparks creative rush but causes upset between Nina (artist) and Sam (her boyfriend). “An electrifying new Australian play about passion, fidelity and the creative mind”. Flightfall is the first full-length play by new Australian playwright Emily Calder. It features a swathe of young acting talent - Augusta Miller, James Elliot, Ryan Corr and Alexandra Fisher - and is supported by a host of super production people. Hot Aussie talent at the Old Fitz with a beer and a laksa. Um, yes please. *Preview & Cheap Tuesday: General $17, Beer Laksa & Show (BLS) $25
Calling all whiskey connoisseurs: the whiskey brand of American country music singer-songwriter, musician and 11-time Grammy winner Chris Stapleton, Traveller Whiskey, is finally making its way out of the States and all the way down to Australia. For one month only from the end of February, the only place to taste it (for free) is at the Sydney CBD's own slice of the American South: Jolene's Sydney. This is no one night only tipple, Jolene's will transform into what may well be one of the biggest shouts of whiskey Sydney has ever seen — with one free tasting of Traveller for every patron nightly at 8pm between Tuesdays and Sundays. In addition to the whiskey round, Jolene's will be dishing out Traveller-inspired cocktails and food. Try the East Kentucky Sweet Tea made with Traveller Whiskey and blackberry (Kentucky's state fruit) liqueur, which is an ode to Stapleton's Kentucky roots as you snack on an all-American menu which features the likes of loaded tater tots topped with smoked brisket, liquid cheese and Traveller Whiskey-infused barbecue sauce. Whether you're a Stapleton fan or whiskey lover, you'll find something worth sipping or snacking on at Jolene's. One of Sydney's most popular country and Western music bars, there are even more Traveller-inspired events to enjoy alongside each free round. Don't miss live country music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, as well as surprise offers and experiences for anyone who stops by. Australia's biggest round is taking place exclusively at Jolene's between Thursday, February 27 until Thursday, March 27. Visit Jolene's Sydney to get a taste of Traveller Whiskey.
When the Bondi Short Film Festival started in 2001, creator Francis Coady thought it was pretty insane that his young filmmaker friends had missed out on entering other film festivals in Sydney because the films had already screened in other Australian states. He was right! Indie film watchers don’t care if what they’re seeing has already screened in Perth or Melbourne, they just want to experience something thought provoking, poignant, hilarious and beautiful, or that has Ryan Gosling in it. Twelve years on the Bondi Short Film Festival continues to screen cinematic Australian gems that fulfill almost all of these criteria and, while the power of the collective continues to endorse babeliciously quirky actors as the marker of a feature-length film's watchability, the quality of a BSFF one is determined only by captivating storylines and cinematography, brilliant music and set design and some of the best young acting talent in this country. The only restrictions the festival places on filmmakers is that entries must be less than 15 minutes long, making it a two-hour melting pot of powerful drama, quirky comedy, thought-provoking documentaries and stunning animation. Judging entries this year are Noni Hazlehurst, Christiaan Van Vuuren, Jessica Tovey, Kristy Best, Dr Ruth Harley, and Andrew McFarlane. All of these things will take place under the waterfront Bondi Pavilion, making the festival one of the finest ways to see in the summer. Concrete Playground has five double passes to give away to the matinee session of the Bondi Short Film Festival. To go in the running, just subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au.
If you know your Alessi’s from your Starck’s, then you must be attending Brisbane Indesign, and if you’re attending Brisbane Indesign, then surely you will be talking the talk and schmoozing the greats at the Brisbane Indesign after party. Held at the uber shmick Oh Hello!, design lovers will be getting together and letting their hair down after a big two days at Brisbane’s ultimate design event. Originally know as The Monastery Night Club, Fortitude Valley’s reining nightclub for the past 10 years, the venue has since been transformed into a creative hotspot. Designed by two of Brisbane’s most talented creative’s, interior designer Alexa Nice and artist/ founder/ owner of Australian street wear label Grand Scheme’s Jimmy Bligs, Oh Hello! has been fit out with milk crate seats, vintage cushions, wall projections, LED lanterns and hand painted walls. It’s not just the design aesthetic that draws in the people, but the amazing array of signature cocktails on offer served in old-fashioned jam jars. All in all, Oh Hello! is sure to be the perfect spot to knock back some killer cocktails, mingle with like-minded creatives and soak up some excellent aesthetics. Registered guests gain free entry, so make your way to Fortitude Valley at 7pm.
Again and again, fans of slasher films have seen the one about the unhinged murderer butchering teen victims. They've seen more than one, in fact. It's a horror convention: take a bunch of young adults, then dispense with them person by person as a killer works through childhood trauma. Penning and helming his first feature — his short Z Is for Zygote was included in The ABCs of Death 2, and he did special effects work on Psycho Goreman, too — writer/director Chris Nash knows the basics of his chosen genre as much as any other diehard viewer. He's just as aware of the great, and greatly influential, flicks gone by such as Halloween and Friday the 13th. He's well-versed in their tropes in storytelling and in form alike. Making his full-length debut with a picture called In a Violent Nature, he's also clued up on what happens when someone sinister gets a-stalking in scenic surroundings. Plot-wise, Nash isn't trying to break the mould with his account of Johnny (Ry Barrett, Massacre at Femur Creek) and the folks who are unlucky enough to fall across his path. But the filmmaker asks a question: what if a rampaging slaughterer's terrors came not with a score heralding their every menacing move (even when those tunes can become iconic, as John Carpenter's Halloween music has), but with the ordinary silence of everyday life in nature punctuated only by noises just as commonplace, and then by the sounds of a killer at their insidious worst? In its imagery, In a Violent Nature adds another query: what if the audience wasn't biding its time with those likely to perish, tension dripping from not knowing when and where the murderer would strike, but was stuck at the side of the force causing such gruesome mayhem as the inevitable approaches? There's seldom any escape from a slasher; however, Nash finds a new way to take that idea literally. Let's call it the bang-and-whimper method of tackling the genre, because lives cease here with each given as much attention. Johnny still metes out big kills that create a din and sear themselves into memory. One inventively grisly death in particular can never be erased from brains, and ensures that everyone watching is incapable of contemplating its setting or the pastime involved in the same way ever again. Another sequence suggests that it's going a similar way, but becomes unforgettable for the fact that it holds back on grim expectations. And, of course, mewls of pain are hardly new to horror. Here, though, Nash's commitment to the film's ambience gives both its bangs and its whimpers extra impact. This is the way that the world ends for Johnny's prey: not with just a bang or solely a whimper, but with the haunting, echoing combination of the two that compels In a Violent Nature's viewers to reckon with them in the moment. Nash's understanding of horror at its most stock-standard commences with In a Violent Nature's opening, where wandering campers chat while stumbling across a grave beneath an old fire tower. A gold locket hangs in plain sight, which leads Troy (Liam Leone, Eli Roth Presents: A Ghost Ruined My Life) to pocketing the jewellery, opting for the kind of stupid decision that people in a slasher flick love. Yes, it'll come back to taunt him. So awakens Johnny from the earth. So stirs his ire as well. But how the audience might anticipate that this plays out from the above description isn't ever how the feature stages it. The focus is rarely on those potentially awaiting a date with the heavens, to the point that their faces aren't the picture's most-common sight. Neither is Johnny's, whether or not it's under a smoke helmet. Nature isn't merely a location, but the expanse that fills cinematographer Pierce Derks' (Frankie Freako) frames — sometimes in close shots, sometimes sprawling. As Johnny sets off, there's not a shred of doubt lingering that he'll indulge his violent urges — the reasons for which get a backstory layered in, details that are knowingly by the book — via a relentless frenzy. Nash and Derks aren't in a hurry, largely lurking behind their killer with patience as he turns the wilderness into his hunting ground. He walks. He slays. Sometimes the results are splattered across the screen with slaughterhouse-esque gore and guts. Sometimes a savvy cut by editor Alex Jacobs (V/H/S/85) conveys what has happened instead of getting blatant and bloody. The camera remains static more than it roves, and peers on from long-held wide shots more than it zooms forward. Johnny's temperament is expressed by the pace of his stride, which becomes In a Violent Nature's metronome of unease. Masked characters, not the actors who play them, tend to carve their place in common pop-culture knowledge out of horror movies. Michael Myers is the household name, for instance, as much as Nick Castle (Halloween Ends) should be. Barrett deserves the same recognition, making Johnny a petrifying presence even when so frequently spied from a few footsteps back. That said, he isn't carrying the film alone on-screen. The travellers that meet the figure's hooks and other weaponry start out disposable, but leave an impression the longer that they survive, Andrea Pavlovic (Our Mother's Secret Affair) especially. That'll ring familiar, too; to take the risks that Nash does, and to test if a slasher flick can work the way he wants it to — and it can — he leans into the template everywhere else possible. It was a Sundance sensation to kick off 2024, proved a box-office hit in America for independent studio IFC Films and now has a sequel in the works, but a movie like this, with the output of director Terrence Malick (A Hidden Life) as much of a touchstone as the Friday the 13th and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre franchises, is a gamble. Both of the latter two horror sagas earn clear nods, yet there's no mistaking In a Violent Nature's lyrical skew thanks to its ever-present greenery and naturalistic soundtrack. Combine the two and scares still spring, laced with dread that gushes like a limb lopped off by a log splitter. While it's frightening to ponder that ghastly turns of fate can and do occur randomly, as regular slashers capitalise upon, it's bone-chilling to confront that truth when it's presented as an inherent, innate, matter-of-fact certainty of existence. In a violent nature indeed.
Seeing the restored print of the 1948 Powell & Pressburger classic The Red Shoes is like seeing it for the first time. And, if it really is your first time taking it in, how I envy you! Following two and a half years of restoration work propelled by Martin Scorcese, editor Thelma Schoonmaker and the team at the UCLA Film & Television Archive, The Red Shoes absolutely sings on screen. The colours dazzle as much as the actual story, which remains elegantly suspenseful and haunting. Based loosely on a Hans Christian Anderson fairytale, this is the story of the intersection of three very driven personalities: a dancer, a composer and a ballet director. It is not the happy tale of collaborative fulfilment however; it is the story of the passionate obsession behind creative ambitions and the ruthless choices demanded between art and life. It is also a glimpse into the netherworld of a ballet company at work, so realistic due in part to the casting of both actors and real dancers. The titular ballet — choreographed and performed by Robert Helpmann and Leonide Massine — is shown in one of the most stunning scenes ever marked upon film, each frame dripping into the next. At its center, naturally, are the red shoes that contain more magic and horror than Dorothy's. If you are the kind of film lover who is glancing longingly at your flat screen television as you read this review, thinking "I'll just wait for the blu-ray", I advise you to start this article over, up there at the first paragraph, and to pay attention this time. Of course a film as stunning as this will be wonderful any way you watch it but please, pirouette to the popcorn counter and see this masterpiece on the big screen while you can. * To begin this repertory run at the Chauvel with appropriate fanfare, Kevin Powell, son of co-director Michael Powell will introduce the film on opening night, Thursday March 18th at 6:30pm. https://youtube.com/watch?v=tSgar55BfPw
This September sees one historic Sydney hotel transformed into a multi-faceted gallery space, when it plays host to the next edition of contemporary art fair, Spring 1883. From Wednesday, September 11, to Saturday, September 14, 26 acclaimed art galleries from across Australia, New Zealand and the USA will descend on the Establishment Hotel to deliver an intimate art experience. Far from your average art fair, Spring 1883 will showcase an array of surprising installations and shows, incorporated throughout the hotel's rooms, penthouse suites and even its gymnasium. As you wander the site, you'll stumble upon a curation of various works from the likes of Sydney's Cement Fondu, Melbourne's John Street Studios, {Suite} and Mercy Pictures out of New Zealand and New York-based Dutton gallery. Brisbane's The Renshaws will make its Spring 1883 debut with a solo exhibition by Michael Georgetti, while Sydney's own artist-run space Fires will curate the Project Room: a group show by five Aussie artists taking over the Establishment's gym. Spring 1883 runs from Thursday and Saturday midday–7pm, and Friday midday–8pm. Image two: Fires, 'The Sundowner' (2019). Photo by Uri Auerbach
Ippudo's flagship store (Westfield CBD), is giving away 300 bowls of ramen on Tuesday, December 13 to celebrate its ten-year anniversary. That's oodles of noodles. The first 300 customers to Ippudo Westfield can choose from the signature shiromaru, akamaru or karaka-men ramen for free. For first-timers, the shiromaru — Hakata-style ramen with juicy pork loin, crunchy bean sprouts and silky black mushrooms — is the speciality that put Ippudo at the top of the ramen trade. If you like your ramen creamier, opt for the karaka-men and you'll be served a bowl of tonkotsu broth with Ippudo's secret dashi, spicy minced pork miso and pork belly. These bowls of brothy goodness have been on our list of the best ramen in Sydney for quite some time — so this is the perfect excuse to give them a try if you haven't already. But don't worry if you're not one of the first 300 customers. For the rest of the day, they'll be offering a buy-one-get-one-free deal for all ramen on the menu. But keep in mind that both deals (the free ramen and the two-for-one ramen) are specifically dine-in only. That means no dining at the desk back in the office. Head to Ippudo in Westfield Shopping Centre from 11:30am to get some free ramen. Check out their Instagram page for more info. Images: Leigh Griffiths
2018 is nearly upon us, so it's time for a revamp. Freshen up your aesthetic for the new year with bedding, kitchen and bathroom textiles from IN BED. The online store is hosting a Christmas pop-up from December 14 to 24, so you'll have ten whole days to snatch up some goods and manifest your dream life through décor. Homewares from Tara Burke, Anglepoise, Wingnut + Co and more will be available. If you fancy a drink, be it alcohol or coffee, IN BED will also be hosting a series of events during the pop up — including Christmas drinks on December 14 from 4pm to get thing started, and complimentary coffee on December 16, with gingerbread treats. The pop-up runs 10am to 4pm daily and will stay open until 7pm on Thursday, giving you plenty of time to pick up some linens and homeware for Christmas
ARIA-winning artist and bighearted Sydney legend Sarah Blasko will play an intimate gig at Giant Dwarf in Redfern on World Refugee Day, Friday 20 June. With all ticket sales going straight to the Refugee Council of Australia, Blasko's fundraiser is a direct response to the federal government's funding cuts to the RCOA, announced as an addition to the recent budget. After the release of her stunning fourth album I Awake to critical high-fivery in 2012, Blasko is breaking out of creative hibernation to play for a cause. "I'm emerging from what I'll affectionately call my 'fifth album writing cave' to play this special show at Giant Dwarf (the latest venture from the Chaser team) during Refugee Week. I'm an ambassador this year and The Refugee Council need financial support now more than ever to continue their positive work within refugee communities in Australia," said Blasko. "They are also an important force in lifting the veil on our country's treatment of asylum seekers. So, come watch me sing for the night and you'll be supporting them. I promise at least one new song and special guests." After a whopping 33 years of operating, the RCOA found more than half a million dollars of funding cut from their budget — after Immigration Minister Scott Morrison found his portfolio was funding the organisation. "It seems extraordinary that our organisation — which has been doing this work through thick and thin for 33 years — has been singled out for this treatment," Paul Power, chief executive of the RCOA told ABC radio. "This in many ways illustrates the state of the relationship between the non-government sector — particularly organisations working on asylum issues — and the government at the moment." This isn't the first time Blasko has used her fame for a good cause. Last year, the multi ARIA-winning artist teamed up with eBay to open a temporary online store in support of charity organisation Bowel Cancer Australia (after losing her mother to bowel cancer 14 years ago). All proceeds from her personally donated auctioned clothing, books, homewares, vinyl and bric-a-brac went directly to the organisation. Blasko will be joined onstage with some special yet-to-be-announced guests, alongside her solid session buddies. Tickets are available from Giant Dwarf's website. https://youtube.com/watch?v=IyzF4dRpqow
