After building a cult following at Paramount House's rooftop and in a sleepy Newtown backstreet, A.P Bakery has opened a third Sydney outpost, this time enticing city workers back to the CBD with delectable pastries and lunch treats on Barrack Street. The A.P team's third bakery and cafe brings all of their favourites to a hole in the wall hidden among the hustle and bustle of a pedestrian-only section of Barrack Street. Keep an eye out for the warm glow of the bakery and the bright yellow A.P Place sign and head in to discover some of the best baked goods and brunch items Sydney has to offer. The menu here follows the A.P formula pretty closely. There's top-notch coffee from Reuben Hills, a range of sandwiches including the famous egg and cheese sando and a new cauliflower toastie, and a daily list of pastries, cakes, pies and bread. After extensive 'research', we can confirm that the Sri Lankan chicken curry pie, Aleppo pepper and asiago cheese scrolls, and fig leaf cream and rhubarb croissants are all must-tries if they're on the menu the day you visit. There are also a few special items that have been created specifically for the CBD shop. From 11am you can nab thick slices of pizza that you'll only find on Barrack Street, plus sandwiches made with the same bianca dough. And there's a cheeky salt and vinegar hash brown on the menu that's worth a try. If you needed an excuse to head back to the office, there aren't many better than A.P's creations. Because if you wanted to visit on a Saturday or Sunday, you're out of luck — A.P Place is only open on weekdays. Time to call in sick and get your hands on a cauliflower toastie. Images: Finley Jones
No longer confined to children's birthday parties, bouncy castles, inflatable obstacle sources and blow-up labyrinths are currently hot property for adults (and their inner kids, of course). And the next blow-up event to hit Australia is big. Really big. Dubbed 'The Big Bounce Australia', it's an inflatable theme park made up of Guinness World Records-certified world's biggest bouncy castle, a 300-metre long obstacle course and a three-part space-themed wonderland. You're going to need a lot of red cordial to bounce your way through all of this. Set to hit Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth in early 2020, The Big Bounce is open to both littl'uns and big'uns, but there are a heap of adults-only sessions, so you don't have to worry about dodging toddlers on your way through. Tickets for adults will set you back $55, which gives you a whole three hours in the park — you'll need it. Inside, you'll encounter the aforementioned bouncy castle — aptly named The World's Biggest Bounce House — covering a whopping 1500 square metres and, in some spots, reaching ten metres off the ground. In this house, you'll encounter a heap of slides, ball pits, climbing towers, basketball hoops and (if you can believe it) a stage with DJs, confetti cannons and beach balls. Then, there's The Giant, with 50 inflatable obstacles, including giant red balls and a monster slide. [caption id="attachment_749668" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Big Bounce AirSpace[/caption] Before you hit the final, three-part section of the park, you may need to pause, down some red frogs and maybe even have a nap. Or not, you do only have three hours to explore it all. Next up, is AirSpace, where aliens, spaceships and moon craters collide with a five-lane slide, some more ball pits and an 18-metre-tall maze. Now, you'll certainly need a nap. This extremely OTT theme park is hitting Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse first (January 3–19), before heading to Sydney's St Ives Showground (January 24–February 9). After that, it'll head to Adelaide (February 14–March 1), Brisbane (March 6–22) and Perth (April 3–19) — locations haven't been announced for these ones yet, but we'll let you know when they are. Tickets for The Big Bounce Sydney and Melbourne are on sale now. We'll update you when the rest drop.
Melbourne is home to one of the best places in the world to have a drink in 2023, and the Victorian capital's Byrdi is back among the top 100 watering holes around the globe. Each year, The World's 50 Best Bars does exactly what its name says, picking the standout 50 bars on the planet — and 2023's top 50 will be announced on Tuesday, October 17 in Singapore. But this ranking doesn't stop at 50, which is where its annual The World's 50 Best Bars extended 51–100 longlist comes in. It's announced first, throwing some love at the next 50 venues worth checking out, and Byrdi is Australia's sole entry. [caption id="attachment_921791" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jana Langhorst[/caption] There's a touch of déjà vu about this news, because this exact thing also happened in 2021. So, once again, the La Trobe Street bar has scored some worldwide recognition and become the only Aussie joint to make this year's extended list ahead of the top 50 reveal. In 2022, Byrdi didn't feature in either the longlist or the top 50, with Melbourne's Caretaker's Cottage and Sydney's Re featured in the former, and the Harbour City's Maybe Sammy and Cantina OK! in the latter. This year, Byrdi ranked 61st, down from its 56th placing in 2021. In 2020, it came in at 80th, after only opening in 2019. In its 2023 ranking, Luke Whearty's famed local cocktail haunt was applauded for being "seriously cool, coming complete with its own lab for creating bold new ingredients" and serving up "a damn good time". Its Jungle Byrd cocktail, which is made with Carolina Reaper chilli, bitters, lacto-fermented pineapple and Davidson plum, also earned a specific shoutout. [caption id="attachment_748361" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] Byrdi was launched in 2019 by Whearty and co-founder Aki Nishikura, who were also behind Singapore's multi award-winning — and World's 50 Best Bars regular — Operation Dagger. You'll find the Melbourne favourite nestled within the CBD's Ella precinct, whipping up some truly exceptional, innovative drinks. It sits on 2023's The World's 50 Best Bars extended 51–100 longlist alongside watering holes from 33 other cities, including six from the US, plus five from both the UK and Singapore. Fourteen of this year's picks have made the list for the first time, such as the debut entries from Tulum, Guadalajara and Tirana. When the full list drops, here's hoping that Australia is well-represented. In addition to placing in the top 50 in 2022, Maybe Sammy took out 22nd place in 2021 and Cantina OK! came in at number 23. Melbourne's Above Board earned a spot at number 44 and the aforementioned Re placed, too. Watch this space — we'll run through the winners of the World's 50 Best Bars 2022 list when they're announced. [caption id="attachment_748365" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] For the full 51–100 list of the World's 50 Best Bars for 2023 (and past years' lists), see the website. The top 50 rankings will be revealed at 5.20pm AEDT on Tuesday, October 17 via Facebook and YouTube. Top image: Byrdi, Haydn Cattach.
What happens when you take the Australian teen series of the 90s and update it to the 2020s, all while riding a huge wave of nostalgia for all things stemming from three decades back? Even thanks to just the first part of that equation, every fan of beloved 1994–99 hit Heartbreak High could've told you that the end result would be a smash. And, streaming on Netflix since September, that's exactly how the ace new Heartbreak High revival has turned out — so much so that there's going to be a second season. No one has been saying "rack off" to the Sydney-set show's latest run, or its new batch of Hartley High teens, or their fresh dose of teen chaos. Not Aussie audiences, with the series sitting in Netflix's top ten TV shows in the country for the five weeks since its release. Not global viewers either, with Heartbreak High 2.0 also reaching the top ten in more than 43 countries, including in the US and across Europe, Africa and Asia — and spending three weeks in the global top ten, too. The streaming platform also advises that its subscribers clocked up 42.6 million hours watching Heartbreak High in three weeks. That's not bad for the latest high school-focused revival, doing what Beverly Hills, 90210 did, plus Saved by the Bell and Gossip Girl as well, but with a firmly Aussie spin. Unsurprisingly, Netflix has greenlit Heartbreak High for a second season, although exactly when it'll drop hasn't been revealed. Still, if you're keen to spend more time with Amerie (Ayesha Madon, The Moth Effect), Harper (Asher Yasbincek, How to Please a Woman), Darren (screen first-timer James Majoos), Quinni (Chloe Hayden, Jeremy the Dud), Dusty (Josh Heuston, Thor: Love and Thunder), Ca$h (Will McDonald, Home and Away), Malakai (Thomas, Troppo), Spider (Bryn Chapman Parish, Mr Inbetween), Ant (debutant Brodie Townsend), Sasha (Gemma Chua-Tran, Mustangs FC) and Missy (fellow newcomer Sherry-Lee Watson), start getting excited now. Season one started with Amerie becoming a pariah at Hartley after a big revelation — an "incest map" plotting out who's hooked up with who throughout the school — and also struggling with a sudden rift in her friendship with bestie Harper. Attempting to repair her reputation, she calls on help from her new pals Quinni and Darren, all while working through her crush on Dusty and developing feelings for Malakai. And that's just the start of Heartbreak High's 2022-set story so far. It was back in 2020 that Netflix initially announced that it was bringing the series back — and yes, it sure is a 2020s-era take on the Aussie classic. Adolescent chaos is still the main focus, including everything from friendship fights, yelling about vaginas from the top of a building and throwing dildos at walls through to consent, crime, drugs and police brutality. The original Heartbreak High was a massive deal, and was filled with now-familiar faces, including Alex Dimitriades, a pre-Home and Away Ada Nicodemou, and Avengers: Endgame and Mystery Road's Callan Mulvey as Drazic. It painted a multicultural picture of Australia that was unlike anything else on TV at the time. And, for its six-year run across two Aussie networks, the Sydney-shot show was must-see television — not bad for a series that started as a spinoff to the Claudia Karvan and Alex Dimitriades-starring 1993 movie The Heartbreak Kid, too. Check out the trailer for the new Heartbreak High below: Heartbreak High season two doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when one is announced. The show's first season is available to stream now via Netflix. Read our full review.
A new takeaway restaurant run by Afghan refugees has brought a taste of Afghanistan to Sydney's CBD. Kabul Social is the latest project from Plate It Forward, the employment-based social enterprise that previously brought us Enmore's beloved Sri Lankan restaurant Colombo Social. Each aspect of the restaurant, from the menu through to the design, has been a collaborative effort between Plate It Forward and a group of female refugees led by Restaurant Manager Swita who arrived in Australia six months ago. Swita is joined by a team ranging in hospitality experience. "Our hope with Kabul Social is to not only highlight the issues for Afghan people and refugees by bringing forward these voices, but also to encourage people to see how simple it can be to start creating change, and create meaningful impact through something as simple as buying your lunch," Plate It Forward co-Founder Shaun Christie-David says. Located in the MetCentre right by Wynyard Station, the venue can host up to 25 diners but takeaway is encouraged. City workers can drop in for a next-level lunch option they can feel good about. For every meal sold at Kabul Social, Plate It Forward donates two meals to people in need — one meal in Australia and one in Afghanistan, meaning you're making a real positive impact each time you pick up a Kabul feast. On the menu, you'll find three categories of meals. There are dumplings filled with your choice of spiced lamb or garlic chive; burgers and wraps; and loaded boxes. If you want to wrap two hands around some fresh house-made Afghan bread, you can choose between charcoal chicken, lamb shoulder, fried eggplant or roast pumpkin. Or, opt for a loaded box. Each box starts with either spiced rice, fries, salad or bread, and is then loaded with your choice of protein and sauces — there's green or red chilli chutney and Afghan mint yoghurt on hand. "Plate it Forward is a truly inspiring social enterprise, and the Human Rights Commission was proud to name it last year's Community Human Rights Champion in our annual Human Rights Awards," Australian Human Rights Commission President Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM said. "We are delighted to see its next incarnation in Kabul Social. The great value of Plate It Forward goes beyond the incredible meals it serves – the organisation provides community and connection, which are such important foundations for refugees seeking to start a new life in Australia." Kabul Social is located at Shop 15, MetCentre, 60 Margaret Street, Sydney. It's open 11am–3pm Monday–Friday. Images: Kitti Gould
Just months after one Melbourne proposal claimed to be constructing the country's tallest building, another towering skyscraper has popped up to snatch its lofty crown. The latest super-tall contender is the $2 billion Green Spine, with UN Studio and Cox Architecture emerging victorious in the international competition to design the new addition to Southbank, all for developer Beulah International. Winning out over five other shortlisted proposals, the 356.2-metre-high Green Spine is actually two cantilevered towers that sport a noticeable twist — that is, the structures both physically twist in their geometric design. Terracing and glass also feature prominently, as does greenery. Indeed, as well as plant-filled public spaces along the ground and stepped lower levels, the building will include a 'future botanic garden' at its peak, which will basically be a garden in the sky that's accessible to everyone. Before you start looking up, however, The Age reports that a building application hasn't yet been submitted for the mixed-use development, which plans to feature apartments, offices, a hotel, retail spaces, an entertainment centre, restaurants, bars, a BMW showroom, a school and even a cinema. If it does come to fruition, Green Spine could possibly eclipse the previously announced Magic, also in Melbourne, which will span between 330 and 362 metres. The city's current tallest building is the 297.3-metre tall Eureka Tower, however the 319-metre Australia 108 residential tower at Southbank is in progress, and the 323-metre-tall One Queensbridge tower is also slated for the Crown precinct. Around the rest of the country, the Gold Coast's Q1 presently reaches 332.5 metres, with the new 328m Orion Towers in Surfers Paradise in development.
Life hack: pretending that you're still on your best-ever Tokyo getaway (or the dream one you plan to go on when Japan fully reopens to international travel) is a perfectly acceptable way to get through the daily grind. Eating Pocky as a snack works. Hitting up your favourite ramen joint for lunch does, too. Going home to a few post-work cans of -196 — aka the premix from the makers of Strong Zero — definitely fits the bill as well. The ready-to-drink -196 launched in Australia in 2021, with a double lemon variety that you probably sipped ASAP — it sold out when it first arrived. What's better than one such tipple, which hails from Japanese brewing and distilling company Suntory? Two, naturally. Prepare to start knocking back -196 in double grape, again blending shochu, vodka and soda — but with a whole lot of grape flavour. Wondering about the name? That's because the fruit for both varieties is frozen at -196 degrees Celsius, then crushed, powderised and infused with spirits. In Japan, Strong Zero comes in double grapefruit, double ume and double shekwasha, if you're holding out hope for more flavours in the future. For now, you'll be able to pick up -196's double grape variety from the end of October, available in bottle-os nationwide. Suntory's -196 double grape will hit bottle shops across Australia at the end of October.
Love, Tilly Devine is no stranger to takeovers — the venue previously featured Western Australian winemakers Yoko Luscher-Mostert and Andries Mostert of Brave New Wine back in late 2022. Now, the wine bar is set to shine a spotlight on some local Greek hospitality veterans. This time around, NSW winery Aristotelis Ke Anthoula and chef Tim Cassimatis will be heading up a Greek takeover of the venue. With top-notch eats, traditional Greek-inspired drinks, and a public holiday on the following day, you have every reason to spend your Monday night having your fill of Greek treats. The winery on show is run by South Pambula duo, Tony Zafirakos and Maddie Park-Neilson and receives its name from its founders — Zafirakos' parents — Aristotelis and Anthoula. From starting the business out of a Sydney garage in the 80s to owning and operating a winery on NSW's south coast, the pair continue his parent's legacy by honouring their heritage and producing pure, handcrafted and minimal-intervention wines. Both Zafirakos and Park-Neilson will be pouring their latest range of hand-made wines, including their Retsini, inspired by the traditional Greek wine Retsina. The drink is fermented with Aleppo pine tree resin that is flown in from a small mountaintop village in Greece and is 100-percent Riverland Zibibbo. A variety of other sips from the producer will also be on offer, including the duo's effervescent take on rosé and their skin-contact white-ish Fiano. Covering the eats portion of the takeover is Cassimatis. Known for his Greek pop-ups at both Kosta's Takeaway and Whole Beast Butchery, and having also taken up space in restaurants such as Rockpool Bar & Grill and Barzaari, the renowned chef will bring his wealth of experience to Love, Tilly Devine to provide a hefty menu of Greek classics. The menu will feature an elegant take on traditional Greek dishes to lead you on a journey across the regions of the Mediterranean nation. You'll find chicken pita souvlaki with smoked chilli and a snake bean salad, barbecued Port Lincoln octopus, kalitsounia — cheese-and saltbush-filled pastries, and Cassimatis's take on a hotdog — loukanika sausage paired with koji mustard and leek sauce. Head over to the Darlinghurst bar at 5pm on Monday, April 24, for this wine- and souvla-filled night. Book your spot here, or feel free to drop by on the day — walk-ins are also welcome. Photo credits: Bruno Sefani and Dexter Kim.
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 21, 2018: It has been announced that Gould's Book Arcade is not gone for good — it will be reopening at a new location at 536 King Street. So, while its whole book collection is not up for grabs, it will be seriously downsizing. After more than 50 years — and almost 30 years on King Street — Gould's Book Arcade closed its doors in August. While we're mourning the loss of the literary institution, where many a Sydney Uni student spent many a night immersed in a maze of ancient titles, it's not all doom and gloom. Firstly, Commune — an organisation dedicated to the provision of low-cost spaces for creatives and communities — is taking over, so the building won't be turned in to a towering apartment block. Secondly, before setting up, Commune is hosting Booktown — an epic sale of books, records and comics. Yep, what remains of Gould's legendary collection is up for grabs, with single books starting at $1 and boxes from $10. You can also snag records for $5 a pop. Having kicked off on Monday, September 17, the event will continue until Sunday, September 30. And all proceeds will go towards restoring the building. Books, Records and Comics Sale will be open from 11am–7pm daily.
Inclusive yoga and pilates studio TRUNK is launching its newest location in Mascot this weekend — and to celebrate the grand opening, the brand-new studio is running a bunch of its classes for free. The suburb's newcomer is bringing founder Rima Alijew's compelling fitness ethos to O'Riordon Street, hosting friendship-focused and all-inclusive sweat sessions for the area's locals. Head over this Saturday, August 19, to score free yoga, barre and pilates sessions throughout the morning — just be sure to register at the Mascot studio's website prior to attending. The studio is kicking off the morning at 8am with barre and pilates classes and will close out the celebratory sessions with the option of an hour-long barre or yoga class, finishing at 11:30am. Plus, parents hoping to catch a free session are able to bring their little ones along — parents and bubs classes are available if you opt for a barre session. TRUNK Reformer Studios' third outpost will officially open for business on Monday, August 21. If you miss the open day, you can nab your first five classes at the studio for just $50.
The bars that exist in five star hotels are a different breed. Grain bar, perched at the Four Seasons on George Street, epitomises this said breed. This newbie has a quiet elegance, A grade barmen and waiters who know what you want before you do. A prototype of eating and drinking decadence, Grain is the modern version of what hotel bars in the movies stand for; a place of sultry looks, sophisticated liquor and and inspiring service. Grain reflects the ethos of the bar; everything possible is carefully crafted or hand made, every ingredient is of quality. The entire interior is made of dark timber, which glows in the low yellow light engulfing the bar in cosiness. The island bar is the stand out feature, which is made of frosted glass covered in twisted pieces of Queensland Blackbutt timber, which gives the internationally branded bar a sense of location. Trays suspended at different levels hold perfectly aligned bottles of spirits aloft. The cocktail menu is a thing of wonder. The De Vines ($17), comprising grapes, elderflower and pisco shaken with lime and topped with sparkling wine is perfectly refreshing. The Eastern Promise ($19), fresh pineapple, coriander and vodka shaken with absinthe, is unlike any other cocktail I've tasted. The usually sweet pineapple is mellowed by the absinthe and as you sip, you get an incredible hit of coriander on the nose. The substantial food menu is designed to share and incredibly tempting, something we've come to expect from Hamish Ingham of Bar H. The oysters (there is a choice of three) are large and incredibly fresh, Moonlight en Surface ($4.50 each) are particularly good if your prefer them creamy and salty rather than fishy. The Old Man's Fried Salt Bush ($12) is a plant from South Australia with wide leaves that are dipped in batter, deep-fried and served with garlic aioli. This is a great drinking dish as it is salty with a fantastic crunchy texture. The flavour of the plant, however, is somewhat lost. This is a shame as the strong herbaceous, almost citrusy flavour compliments the salty batter very well. The Grain burger and fries ($21) is suited to those after something heftier; the seeded roll is stuffed full with pulled beef short rib, radish, onion and sorrel. The rangers valley hanger steak with salt and vinegar parsnip ($29.5) is cut up to share, with a salsa verde-type sauce is melt-in-your-mouth tender. I'm dying to try the Roquefort and chocolate oaties ($12) or box of tobacco chocolate almonds ($8) but am nearing on a food coma, so opt for a beer instead. My pick? The Brooklyn Lager ($11) which is amber and hoppy. So if you're in Circular Quay after a show at the Opera House, this is the perfect way to top a classy night. Make your way down to Grain quickly, because its set to dish up a full house seven days.
Some people are just born with a penchant for spirits. The Australian genius of a distiller behind Mr Black cold drip coffee liqueur has come up with a perfect gin — one he's calling 'garden grown' gin. It's called Distillery Botanica and, to be honest, drinking it feels like strolling merrily through a summer garden. There's a good reason for that. Philip Moore, the brains behind Distillery Botanica, sources all the botanicals from his very own garden in Erina on the Central Coast. To get the most out of the plants, he uses a 1000-year-old technique known as 'enfleurage'. It involves placing the flowers on a layer of coconut oil, into which their fragrance diffuses over two or three days, creating the purest possible perfume. The heady scent hits you as soon as the glass reaches your hand. "The hero botanical is marraya," says Will Miles, Distillery Botanica partner and brand director. "It looks a bit like jasmine, but it's got slightly wider petals and grows on tall, lush hedges. All the flowers are handpicked at the distillery, in the garden, so the gin really has the essence of the place where it's made." In addition to murraya, there's jasmine, honeysuckle, orange blossom, rose, chamomile, coriander, orris root, sage, angelica and juniper. You can order a bottle of Distillery Botanica online. (The actual bottle, by the way, is one you'll want to keep for aesthetics alone — five years went into its design.)
With his first feature, Samoa-born, New Zealand-based writer/director Miki Magasiva is living the filmmaking dream, all by championing what's important in his culture. Tinā, about a grieving mother who takes a job at a private school after the Christchurch earthquakes change her life forever, premiered at the Hawai'i International Film Festival late in 2024. Just over six months later, it's a homegrown hit that's earned so much affection from audiences in Aotearoa that the picture is now one of the most-successful NZ films in history. Sitting in sixth place as at mid-April 2025, Tinā is behind only Taika Waititi's Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Boy, then The World's Fastest Indian, Once Were Warriors and Whale Rider. For the year so far overall, it's second to A Minecraft Movie at the New Zealand box office. Taking on her first lead role after decades as an actor — on-screen, see: The Market, One Thousand Ropes, The Changeover, Filthy Rich, The Breaker Upperers, The Justice of Bunny King, Our Flag Means Death, The Rule of Jenny Pen and more — Anapela Polataivao wasn't envisaging this reaction, after she initially came onboard Tinā to help with the movie's development process without knowing that Magasiva had plans for to star. "Let's just say I did not anticipate this kind of response," she tells Concrete Playground. "You do the work and then you walk away and hope for the best, but this has been a continual — the response has been incredible, and mainly from our people, who are so appreciative of the work. And also a lot of the comments also are about their pride in the work, and visibility and for them being seen in our stories. So that's a great compliment." Did Magasiva foresee that Tinā, which takes its title from "mother" in Samoan, would strike such a chord? "Yes and no," he advises. "We were confident we had an initial script that people would enjoy watching. And then once we did the first round of edits, we knew we were onto something good that people would want to go and watch. However, having said that, the eventual response that we've gotten so far has been far beyond what we expected." "Touching on what Bels has just said before, you make these films and then you think 'that's it, my job's done. I'll just send it off — and if people go watch it, great. And if people don't go watch it, well, that's fine, too. We can't help that.' But having people come up to us and talk about their experiences, transformational experiences with family members and themselves, having gone through watching the film, is just way beyond what we ever expected. And so it's just been this really massive surprise for us that we're just so overwhelmed by and thankful for." Screening in Australian cinemas since Thursday, May 1, following its NZ release on Thursday, February 27, Tinā's origins mirror plenty of other movies in one regard: art imitating life. That said, Magasiva combined inspiration from IRL choir contest The Big Sing, the New Zealand choral festival for high schools that's been running for over 30 years, with not only tapping into Samoan culture but paying tribute to both the importance of connection and the leadership role of mothers. Mareta Percival, the heartwarming film's fictional protagonist, dotes on her daughter when the feature begins, encouraging her to make the most of her singing talents. Then tragedy strikes. While grappling with her loss, substitute teaching at a wealthy school becomes a necessity — and starting a choir that croons Samoan tunes proves a much-needed move for Mareta and her new pupils alike, even if some in the privileged community that's barely letting her in are vocal in their opposition. Tinā sits on Magasiva's resume after decades in the business as well, including earning acclaim for his shorts — Rites of Courage arrived in 2005, then Uso in 2006 — and working in television. The Panthers, of which he helmed two episodes, was the first-ever New Zealand TV drama series to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival. On We Are Still Here, an anthology feature directed by Indigenous filmmakers from New Zealand and Australia that opened the 2022 Sydney Film Festival, he was one of the behind-the-camera talents. His success with Tinā is far from overnight, then, but it might not have happened if he hadn't been so moved by online The Big Sing footage. With Magasiva and Polataivao, we also explored the journey from Tinā's first sparks to the tale that viewers are now being so touched by in cinemas — a story that puts the importance of moving forward collectively at its core; that is shaped by grief, and understands how mourning is so personal yet universal; and that also centres navigating cultural differences as a warm, hopeful film, while not shying away from the impact of attitudes of prejudice. And, we unpacked how Polataivo came to be its lead, what that achievement means to her, how Magasiva built Tinā's cast around its star and more. On Finding Inspiration for the Film in Online Footage of High School Choirs Miki: "It was hearing the choir performing. We grew up in churches, Samoan churches, listening to choirs, so we know it well. We have this sort nostalgic memory anytime we hear all of our old church choir songs. And so when I saw that, I was just so emotionally moved. I almost cried watching that video or that YouTube clip. I just thought that would make a great premise. I thought 'if I can just recreate some of the emotion that I'm feeling at the moment, I think we're on to something really special here' — and so I think luckily we've done a little bit of that." On the Path From Watching New Zealand's The Big Sing Competition to a Story About a Grieving Samoan Mother Getting a Job in a Private School in Post-Earthquake Christchurch Miki: "Well, it's a story process, much like you go through when you when you create stories. And what's always good is we had the end in mind, and so we wanted just to build towards that moment, that end. We were always working our way towards the end. So it's about 'who's the main character?'. And it's a drama, and so we try to create situations and journeys for her to get to that end — and put her into situations that challenge her, and put her into situations where she has relationships with others that really drives her towards the end there. And then when you're piercing these things together, you source techniques that you like yourself. There's a lot of comedy in the film, and so I wanted to infuse the storyline with a bit of comedy. And it seemed to work well, because it has this sort of mother-teacher relationship that I always find funny, and I think that that can be a really rich ground for comedy. Add into that a bit of emotion, add into that music, and then just drive the story towards the end — it's a really fun part of the process." On Polataivo's Initial Response to the Project — and Being Asked to Help Develop the Film Without Knowing That Magasiva Wanted Her to Play the Lead Anapela: "Yes, this guy — let's not go there." Miki: "I tricked her." Anapela: "He did. Because these things, I'm just so used to working as part of the team, being the assistant or coach or stuff like that. So when I come in to help, I don't have any other thoughts or any other preconceived anything. It's just like 'I'm going to help my friends'. So when these guys got the green light, and then I get the call saying 'hey, we had you in mind for it' — gosh, I was just like 'you little ...', all of the things. And then, of course, I think we did our first read — I had said yes after that, and then we did our first read where everyone was a mess and we were all in tears. And that's just when you know it's a family affair and it's going to work." On Polataivo Scoring Her First Lead Film Role After Decades as an Actor Anapela: "I think this is different. This was a different one, because it was more personal — so it wasn't like 'oh my goodness'; it was really like 'okay'. I didn't even think about being in the lead, either. I just felt like I was just part of the fabric of the story. There's so many moving parts. Yes, you may be driving the thing, but you understand, well I understand, you'll be able to play that — and to be helpful and to assist in the purpose of it. So it was not an 'oh my goodness' moment. It was an 'oh my gosh', because it's personal, it's family, and you just know. My partner would always say to me 'Bels, it's one shot, one shot for Miki, let's go' — with that tone. And I get it. It is. Any shot we get, it is a shot. And we don't take those things lightly, either. So we go and you pour all of yourself in there. And we do have a big sense of responsibility, as well, to continue." On the Importance of This Being a Movie About Community and About Moving Forward Collectively Miki: "It's everything. It is what we are to be Samoan or Pacific. It's just how we see the world. So right from the way we run our sets to the way we run our production, to the themes of our story, that's how we communicate — and that's how we see the world, and that's how we work. So it is everything to us. And so to have a film reflect those themes, it's really important and allows us to highlight our culture in a way to the world that communicates what it is like to be Samoan and what it is like to be a Pacific Islander, what it's like to live in New Zealand and Aotearoa. And I think a lot of communities around the world can resonate with that, can see something in that, that they connect with as well. So I think it's a very human condition." On Making the Specific and Personal Universal Through the Film's Story of Grief and Connection Anapela: "It's not a thing — it just is. It's only when we talk about these things and analyse, but they are just a way of being. It's like with Miki talking about in Samoan, we're talking at very young age about sharing, and also that you're not the most-important person in the line. If anything, you're the last, you're supposed to help. It's never ever about you. There's this quote that says 'I is we always in a Samoan village'. So it's that mentality. That's how we're born. We're born into religion. We're born into all these things that make us Samoan. That goes more into the nitty gritty of what it's like. But when you try to find all those nuances in her, to not only explore but to allow those things about her being Samoan to breathe on-screen, to bring life and to evoke — let's just say, some of the comments that I've read, and I know it's from non-Samoan viewers, are 'we get a window, we kind of understand now what that means to be a Samoan just through that story'." Miki: "And it is things that we think about when we're piercing it together as well, so that will be the heart of it. But we've tried to create a story that does feel universal, that everybody can connect with. So we're telling a story from a Pacific perspective, but we're telling a story that's a universal story. Those who go and watch the film will see that it's not all about just being a Pacific Islander. And we've had great success back home in New Zealand because the entire country has found something to connect with. And we've tried to build that into the story, when we pieced it all together — that it is about community and coming together, and cultural acceptance. A large part of our European community back home have connected with the film because it has those things in it, and it does deal with things that they can connect with and they find funny, and they can find some sort of connectivity back to how they grew up as well. So hopefully it is a universal story for everyone." On the Movie's Approach to Navigating Cultural Differences Miki: "I tried to put it this way: we're not trying to hide from our past, and we are saying that these things did happen — and actually continue to happen, let's face it. And we've dealt with a lot of that stuff both on the nose, both directly and a little bit more subtly in the film, too. But you have to have that backdrop to it. You have to have some sort of setup for the entire film to end up in a place that we hope everybody ends up, which is inclusiveness and working together and coming together despite our differences — that we can celebrate a culture and the richness of it, we can say that we have been through this and some of us continue to go through these, but we can work our way through it through cultural acceptance and working together as a community." On Building the Cast and the Choir Around Polataivo Miki: "It's an exciting part of it. So, all of our students had to sing in their auditions. They all sung songs to audition for it. We went through the natural casting process. But we got really lucky when we came across Antonia [Robinson, Mystic], who has a musical background herself. She's a great singer anyway. She sings in her real life. But she's also a wonderful actress. We absolutely love Antonia. She's very hard-working, she's super talented. We know she's going to go on to great stuff after this. And then we managed to also find and create students next to her, in Zac [O'Meagher, Uproar] and Talia [Pua, Happiness Is the Path] and Tania [Nolan, The Convert] who had their own unique traits that they could bring to the group as a whole. Outside of that, we also have lots of wonderful New Zealand actors in there. Beulah Koale [Next Goal Wins] is in there, and Nicole Whippy [Shortland Street] is in there. Jamie Irvine [Literally Dead] is in there." Anapela: "Alison Bruce [The Gone]." Miki: "Alison Bruce as well. So we've got all of these well-known and really experienced New Zealand actors that not only are around Bels, but also help support and stand next to Bels." Anapela: "And our guy from Perth." Miki: "And Dalip Sondhi [Better Man] as well, who I think is a wonderful Australian actor — from England originally as well, the UK. So it was just special to be able to build a cast to support that. And they were all just so wonderful and embracing the community spirit of what we were trying to create. They're all amazing in the film, so it's quite lucky — super lucky and grateful." Tinā opened in Australian cinemas on Thursday, May 1, 2025, and in New Zealand cinemas on Thursday, February 27, 2025.
Flipping through a newspaper, feeling the flimsy paper in your hands and finding your fingerprints smudged with ink might by a dying ritual; however The Wall Street Journal is hoping that people still want to take the time to sit, peruse and consume the news at a leisurely pace. Instead of hanging out at a cafe rifling through physical pages, readers can now enter an architect-designed virtual New York apartment to get their news fix thanks to the publication's just-launched VR news app. WSJ VR is the newspaper's new virtual reality app for Google's Daydream platform, ushering news junkies into a different kind of reading experience. Now available to download via Google Play, it allows users to view a wall filled with a live feed of breaking news, watch interactive 360-degree videos and see a visualisation of real-time market data, all in swanky digs designed by architecture firm Michaelis Boyd. Interactive storytelling is the WSJ's main focus, particularly allowing "the Journal's reporters and editors to take readers and viewers of our journalism anywhere in the world," said Andy Regal, WSJ's Global Head of Video, in a statement. Whether that's something anyone actually wants is yet to be seen, but it's certainly quite different to scrolling through newsfeeds on a smartphone screen. Users can do more than read, watch and see the news while they're using the app; they can also engage with the space — which is based on a mix of the firm's real-life residential projects — on a 360-degree axis. Accordingly, even if you're not keen on staying up-to-date on global events and financial developments in the most immersive way possible, the app also offers views of the New York City skyline — and it's cheaper than a plane ticket. Via Dezeen.
What does a group of pink guards do when they hit an Australian beach? That isn't likely to be a storyline in Squid Game when it returns for its second season on Boxing Day 2024, but we have been given the answer in the lead up to the show's much-anticipated comeback anyway. In Melbourne on the morning of Tuesday, December 10, 2024, St Kilda Beach welcomed 200 visitors, all kicking back on the sand — on towels, reading, sitting under umbrellas, throwing balls, flying kites and more — in eye-catching Squid Game attire. As announced on Monday, December 9, Netflix sent a continent of pink guards to the seaside patch of the Victorian capital to remind everyone that the show's second season is on the way — and soon — in an eerie fashion. There wasn't a green tracksuit in sight, but there were plenty of jumpsuit- and mask-wearing folks enjoying a morning out. This isn't the first time that the streaming platform has brought the South Korean sensation Down Under. When season one proved a massive success, the creepy Red Light, Green Light doll from the show towered over Sydney Harbour. Up at Sydney's Luna Park, you'll have another chance to get some IRL Squid Game action — without any murder, of course — when an immersive experience hits the tourist attraction to get you playing Red Light, Green Light from Monday, December 16, 2024. Three years have passed since Squid Game became an award-winning Netflix sensation — for viewers and, in the show itself when new episodes drop, for Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae, The Acolyte) as well. Audiences and Player 456 are alike are in for a new round of life-or-death matches when the streaming smash finally returns, although only the series' protagonist will be fighting for survival again while on a quest to shut down this chaos forever in season two. No one watching should ever want Squid Game to end; however, the show itself will wrap up in 2025 with season three. First comes the long-awaited second season to end 2024, though, where Player 456 is back in the game with new fellow competitors for company. Netflix has been dropping multiple early looks at season two, including a teaser trailer to kick off November — and it finished off the month with a new glimpse at what's to come. As the show's protagonist dons his green threads once more for the new season, his new fellow competitors are wary of his motives. Also part of the recent teases: Lee Byung-hun (The Magnificent Seven) as Gi-hun's nemesis Front Man, plus Wi Ha-joon (Little Women) also back as detective Hwang Jun-ho. For season two, Gong Yoo (Train to Busan) also returns as the man in the suit who got Gi-hun into the game in the first place; however, a show about a deadly competition that has folks battling for ridiculous riches comes with a hefty bodycount. Accordingly, new faces were always going to be essential — which is where Yim Si-wan (Emergency Declaration), Kang Ha-neul (Insider), Park Sung-hoon (The Glory) and Yang Dong-geun (Yaksha: Ruthless Operations) all come in. Squid Game's pink guards took over St Kilda Beach in Melbourne on the morning of Tuesday, December 10, 2024. Head to Netflix's social media for more details. Squid Game season two streams via Netflix from Thursday, December 26, 2024. Season three will arrive in 2025 — we'll update you when an exact release date for it is announced.
These dream-like pictures look as though they could be from the set of Inception, but they're actually screenshots from Google Earth. Artist Clement Valla zooms into Google Earth at certain angles to reveal a surrealist vision of our world, capturing the images he finds. The only editing effects applied by the artist are basic color adjustments and cropping. A particular penchant for bridges and roads has resulted in an extraordinary collection of screenshots. “I am collecting these new typologies as a means of conservation – as Google Earth improves its 3D models, its terrain, and its satellite imagery, these strange, surrealist depictions of our built environment and its relation to the natural landscape will disappear in favor of better illusionistic imagery. However, I think these strange mappings of the 2-dimensional and the 3-dimensional provide us with fabulous forms that are purely the result of algorithmic processes and not of human aesthetic decision making. They are artifacts worth preserving.” [Via PSFK]
The mercury is soaring, cold and cloudy days have become a distant memory and enjoying a few hours of sunlight after knock-off time is a daily occurrence. Yes, it's summer — which means that soaking in Australia's sultry weather is the number-one pastime across the nation. Well, that and finding something refreshing to drink on those hot days and nights when you're hanging with your mates and having a fiesta. Enter spritzes. They're light, they couldn't pair better with our climate and they have long been a warm-weather favourite. Feel like you've tried every type of spritz there is, though? Don't want to simply serve the same old drinks to your friends next time you're kicking back by the barbecue or pool? That's where the tequila versions come in — and they're sure to get the party going at any at-home do. We've teamed up with top-notch tequila brand — and, fun fact, Matthew McConaughey's go-to agave juice — Jose Cuervo to bring you four incredibly easy spritz recipes to add to your must-drink list. THE CUERVO SPRITZ Serves one Sometimes, you don't need a complicated recipe — you just need a tasty beverage. This zesty spritz is big on fruit flavours, but still impossible to get wrong. Ingredients 30ml Jose Cuervo Especial Silver 20ml lychee liqueur 10ml lemon juice 15ml simple syrup 2 dashes Angostura orange bitters 120ml soda water 1 mint sprig (optional) Method Add ice to a tall glass, then fill with Jose Cuervo Especial Silver, lychee liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup, Angostura orange bitters and soda water. To finish, garnish with a mint sprig. THE TEQUILA BUCK Serves one Every buck cocktail features two key ingredients: ginger beer and something citrusy. This version also adds tequila, plus raspberry cordial or grenadine and aromatic bitters for a rosy-hued tipple. Ingredients 45ml Jose Cuervo Especial Reposado 15ml raspberry cordial or grenadine 20ml lime juice 2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters 120ml ginger beer 1 lime wedge or candied ginger (optional) Method Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then add Jose Cuervo Especial Reposado, raspberry cordial or grenadine, lime juice and Angostura aromatic bitters. Shake for about 30 seconds. Strain into a wine glass and top with ginger beer. Then, garnish with lime wedge or candied ginger. Or, you could just watch this quick how-to video below. https://youtu.be/lxpNiYKB514 ELDERFLOWER T'N'T Serves one Tequila pairs mighty well with tonic, as this take on an old favourite shows. You'll also enjoy the distinctive taste of elderflower here, so you won't confuse this for any other spritz. Ingredients 30ml Jose Cuervo Especial Silver 20ml elderflower liqueur 10ml lime juice 2 dashes Angostura orange bitters 120ml tonic 1 cucumber slice (optional) Method Fill a wine glass with ice, then add Jose Cuervo Especial Silver, elderflower liqueur, lime juice, Angostura orange bitters and tonic. Stir, but only briefly, then top with a cucumber slice as a garnish. SPARKLING MARGARITA Serves one A margarita, but make it sparkling? This spritz is as simple and straightforward as it sounds. It's also a perfect go-to for when you only have a few ingredients on hand. Ingredients 45ml Jose Cuervo Especial Reposado 120ml lemon soda 1 lemon wedge (optional) Method Fill a wine glass with ice, add Jose Cuervo Especial Reposado and top with lemon soda, then garnish with a lemon wedge. See? Simple. Find more Jose Cuervo cocktail recipes by visiting the brand's website.
With its golden beaches, lush rainforests and abundant green valleys, North Coast NSW has all the tools to recharge the weariest of souls — or those just in dire need of a holiday. It's also home to some of the state's most renowned producers, who are busily pumping out wine, beer and spirits — which you can sample at cellar doors aplenty — as well as award-winning eateries serving up excellent local produce in stunning locales. So you can make the most out of your next North Coast NSW trip, we've done the hard yards and planned out four adventure-packed holidays. And right now, you can score $100 off select North Coast NSW accommodation when you book through Trip.com. [caption id="attachment_856861" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Koala Hospital, Port Macquarie, Destination NSW[/caption] FLY INTO PORT MACQUARIE TO MEET WILDLIFE AND RIDE WAVES When you're in Port Macquarie, whichever direction you point your compass towards you'll find entrancing rainforests and beaches backing onto sprawling national parks. After touchdown at the city's conveniently located airport, secure a rental vehicle and scoot over to the coast to explore the rainforest canopy and sheltered coastline of Sea Acres National Park. You're bound to spot an ark of critters including goannas, diamond pythons, brush turkeys and even a koala or two. Then, take a free self-guided tour of the Koala Hospital for more cuddly sightings and greater insight into the lives of these beloved marsupials. Motor an hour up the coast to find a marine menagerie in Hat Head National Park. Korogoro Creek is a pristine snorkelling spot where you can spy hermit crabs, flat head, mullet and octopus below the water line, while whales and dolphins might occasionally surface through the waves, too. You'll find excellent surf breaks for experienced riders just south at Crescent Head. And if you're a beginner? Learn to tackle the region's famous tubes with On Point Surf School. After a day on the water, you'll likely need to refuel — venture inland to Bago Maze and Winery to enjoy a wine tasting paired with local cheese and charcuterie before meandering through the venue's carefully sculpted lilly pilly hedge maze. A stay on the Hastings River at Rydges Port Macquarie provides plush interiors with water views, as well as easy access to some of the city's best dining options. Tuck into fresh seafood at The Stunned Mullet or Bills Fishhouse and Bar, which both showcase seasonal local produce. Ensure you leave enough room for dessert, with the creamy artisan scoops at Blue Cow Gelato a tip-top option. [caption id="attachment_856161" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Opal Cove Resort Coffs Harbour, Destination NSW[/caption] FLY INTO COFFS HARBOUR TO EXPLORE ANCIENT RAINFORESTS AND REMOTE COASTLINES Alight the plane at Coffs Harbour Airport with your adventure shoes at the ready. In classic Aussie family holiday tradition, you'll need to kick things off with a choccy-covered banana and a quick round of laser tag at the Big Banana. Then, unwind in the spacious suites at Opal Cove Resort. This expansive seaside venue provides everything you need to relax and recharge, from a sauna and spa to a fully equipped gym and an arcade games room. Start your grand expedition into the great outdoors by ambling through national parks and nature reserves along the Solitary Islands coastal walk. Those tackling the full 60-kilometre trail will move from windswept headlands to undisturbed beaches and lush rainforest paths over three or four days of hiking and camping (depending on your pace). There are also plenty of day-trip opportunities, with spots for ocean fishing, swimming and picnicking. For even loftier views, head to Sealy Lookout (Niigi Niigi) and walk along the Forest Sky Pier which dramatically juts out over the canopy of Orara East State Forest. To put the stunning view into historical context, join a Giingan Gumbaynggirr Cultural Experience tour and learn about the cultural practices and stories of Traditional Owners, the Gumbaynggirr people. If that's still not enough nature for you, head an hour out of Coffs to the otherworldly Dorrigo National Park, where you can walk among 600-year-old trees in the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest. The small township of Bellingen is a perfect pit stop on the scenic drive here along Waterfall Way. Savour a lunch of shared plates in the artfully restored church that houses Cedar Bar & Kitchen, or stop in at Black Bear Cafe for a quick coffee in the heart of town. [caption id="attachment_856170" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Angourie, Destination NSW[/caption] FLY INTO BALLINA FOR A SURFING AND PADDLING SAFARI Flights landing at Ballina Byron Gateway Airport are often packed with holidaymakers headed for Byron Bay's star-studded beaches. But if you're keen to take the road (slightly) less travelled — that offer equally glorious seaside adventures — head 90 minutes south to the relaxed township of Yamba. Along the route, stop in at Razorback Lookout in Evans Head for spectacular sightlines up the coast before exploring the varied landscapes of Bundjalung National Park. Pack a hiking lunch and walk the ten-kilometre Jerusalem Creek loop, or book a rejuvenating forest bathing tour, which involves Japanese-inspired mindfulness movements honouring different natural elements, with Iluka Nature and Soul at Woody Head campground. Make Yamba Sun Motel your base once you reach town. The comfortable rooms come in a number of configurations and can accommodate both couples and larger families. The Sun also places you in the heart of this close-knit community, with beaches, friendly cafes and local attractions all within walking distance. Start your day with an Allpress Espresso coffee from eclectic local fave Yum Yum Angourie Cafe and General Store, or tuck into a hearty Turkish-inspired breakfast at the charming Beachwood Cafe. Get active on the water with a Yamba Kayak tour, and paddle around the islands and mangrove mazes of the Clarence River. Or, wetsuit up and tackle the Angourie Point surf break. Even if you're not confident on a board, you'd be remiss not to catch the dramatic right-handers roll in at this renowned spot from the safety of the sand. [caption id="attachment_856169" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fingal Head, David Kirkland[/caption] FLY INTO THE GOLD COAST AND HEAD SOUTH TO CHASE WATERFALLS AND LOCAL FEASTS After touchdown, find yourself some wheels and scoot over the border to explore the nearby NSW coastline. Head southward and you'll immediately hit the Tweed Shire. Here, you'll find fine-dining spots hidden among rolling green valleys, myriad beaches to suit towel-snoozers and wave-riders alike, picturesque cruises along the Tweed River and plenty of cultural experiences to fill up your holiday itinerary. Be sure not to miss the Tweed Regional Gallery and Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Centre, before visiting the seemingly never-ending sandy expanse of Dreamtime Beach. For liquid sustenance, head to the cellar door at Husk Distillers, home of the chameleon-like Ink Gin. Then enjoy the hearty fare served up at Potager — much of what you taste in your miso pumpkin and potato gnocchi with coconut ricotta and warrigal greens has been plucked directly from the onsite garden. Less than an hour on the road and you'll be in the heart of Byron Bay. Set yourself up at the glamorously renovated Byron Springs beach house, tucked away on a palm-lined cul-de-sac with easy access to sprawling Tallow Beach and Arakwal National Park. If you can tear yourself away from the hotel's sun-drenched therapy pool, book a tour with Trip.com to uncover natural gems and native refreshments. The Chasing Waterfalls tour will ferry you between glistening cascades, quiet bushlands and rarely visited swimming holes, while the Afternoon Brewery and Distillery session will introduce you to locally concocted craft beers and fragrant spirits. With $100 off select North Coast NSW accommodation via Trip.com until June 21, now is the ideal time to explore all that the region has to offer. Top images: Destination NSW
Completed in June 2024, the $4.3-million upgrades to Wollemi National Park's popular glow worm tunnel aren't much to look at. That is to say, the improvements to the once-slippery pathway and the new handrail preventing accidental stumbles into web-covered walls have been discreetly designed to keep visitors' eyes fixed above them on the bioluminescent light show taking place on the disused rail tunnel's craggy ceiling. Installing the new safety features had to be painstakingly executed under extraordinary conditions to preserve the peace of the resident glow worm colony. Workers had to transport more than 350 tonnes of materials by hand through dense rainforest for more than a kilometre and any materials too heavy to be carried had to be flown in by helicopter. To mitigate the risk of fume emissions, excessive vibrations or chemical spills damaging the delicate tunnel habitat, none of the typical equipment that might usually be deployed on a construction project could be used — only hand-operated tools. Special lighting solutions, using only red light — a colour the glow worms are unable to see — were also installed to allow workers to see in the otherwise pitch-dark, 387-metre-long tunnel. Time-lapse cameras tracked changes in the colony's glow intensity to monitor the worms for signs of stress. Thanks to these efforts, park officials were confident that the worms remained blissfully unaware of the construction taking place just metres away. [caption id="attachment_969812" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Wollemi National Park Glow Worm Tunnel prior to the upgrades.[/caption] While making upgrades to the tunnel were challenging, they were also necessary. The tunnel, which was once part of the now-defunct Wolgan Valley Railway line and has been disused since 1932, is an ideal habitat for the glow worms because of the small stream that runs through it. However, slippery conditions posed a potential risk to visitors coming to view the natural wonder, so a new raised walkway built on top of the stream now offers a far safer environment while preserving the running water that is so essential to the habitat's conditions. Beyond the tunnel, there have also been major improvements to facilities throughout the Glow Worm Tunnel precinct to make its somewhat remote location within Wollemi National Park more accessible. These include the completion of 5.7 kilometres of upgraded walking tracks, new picnic tables, a new toilet block and an expansion of the car park. An estimated 50,000 visitors are expect to make use of the new facilities annually. "The new path through the wonderful Glow Worm Tunnel makes it safer and easier for visitors to access and importantly, minimises disturbance to the glow worms," NSW Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said. "I want to congratulate the team from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for conducting this work under such delicate conditions and keeping the glow worms safe in the process." The Wollemi National Park Glow Worm Tunnel is now open to the public. Visit the Wollemi National Park website for more details. Images: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services.
Is the 21st century Middle-earth's golden age? For viewers, that keeps proving the case. The 00s had barely begun when The Lord of the Rings franchise started its journey to becoming one of the global box office's biggest-ever film sagas — it currently ranks 12th — by first arriving between 2001–2003 as Peter Jackson's initial trilogy based on JRR Tolkien's beloved and iconic fantasy novels. After The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King met such adoring cinema audiences and earned accolades, of course The Hobbit next made the leap to the silver screen under Jackson's direction, from 2012–2014 and again as a trio of flicks. A decade has now passed since An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle of the Five Armies as 2024 wraps up. The lack of Middle-earth at the movies also comes to an end via The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. Jackson has focused on documentaries since The Hobbit films, courtesy of the First World War-centric They Shall Not Grow Old, plus TV series The Beatles: Get Back and accompanying movie The Beatles: Get Back — The Rooftop Concert. Since becoming almost as synonymous with all things LoTR as the author who created it, however, he's still attached to the saga. In the live-action realm, planned Andy Serkis (Venom: The Last Dance)-directed and -starring 2026 release The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum boasts Jackson as a producer. First, though, he has executive-produced The War of the Rohirrim, the franchise's new anime instalment. One of his greatest choices from The Two Towers and The Return of the King still echoes here, too, and literally, with Miranda Otto reprising her role as Éowyn. The 21st century's original LoTR pictures were a massive deal everywhere, but the wealth of Australian actors among the cast didn't go unnoticed across the ditch from where New Zealand's green hills earned their most-famous movie use yet. While Otto, David Wenham (Fake), Cate Blanchett (Disclaimer) and Hugo Weaving (How to Make Gravy) weren't strangers to the screen by any means at the time, The Lord of the Rings remains one of the projects that they'll each forever be known for. Playing elves, Blanchett and Weaving were each able to return for The Hobbit flicks, but popping up at different times in the saga isn't as easy when you're portraying a human. In Otto's case, The War of the Rohirrim has found a way to bring her back as Éowyn. Like streaming series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, but unrelated to it, the new film is set before the events of the LoTR movies, but is told as a tale relayed by Rohan's best-known noblewoman and shieldmaiden. Imagine Éowyn "coming back and telling this story to her children"; that's what Otto did, she tells Concrete Playground. The narrative that the character unfurls from 183 years prior to her time has another Rohan heroine at its centre, explaining why she's someone that Middle-earth's kingdom of men, as well as its famed horsemen, should champion — even if her deeds don't furnish Rohan's songs and haven't been mentioned to audiences before. Héra (Gaia Wise, A Walk in the Woods) is the daughter of king Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox, Succession), whose reign and house are threatened by a marriage proposal. When Wulf's (Luke Pasqualino, Rivals) hand in matrimony is rejected, so sparks the battle that gives filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama's entry into the LoTR franchise its moniker. With episodes of Blade Runner: Black Lotus, Star Wars: Visions, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 on his resume, Kamiyama is well-versed at stepping into existing and already-adored worlds, and at giving them the anime treatment — a task that awaited with The War of the Rohirrim, and that the director handles with ease. That said, in connecting a tale that wouldn't be so resonant if viewers weren't familiar with Éowyn paving the way in the saga first with its on-screen past, Otto's voicework couldn't be a more crucial part of the movie. Returning to the role, she understands how the pair are mirrored, and also Éowyn's impact on the page and on the screen so far. "This character was really significant to a lot women growing up," she notes. Reteaming Otto with Philippa Boyens — who shared a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar with Jackson and Fran Walsh for The Return of the King, then penned the story for The War of the Rohirrim's script and also produces the new film — the latest LoTR movie adds to a busy few years for an actor who last graced cinemas in 2023 hit Talk to Me. On the small screen, she's also brought her talents to everything from Wellmania and Koala Man to The Clearing, Ladies in Black and Thou Shalt Not Steal of late, expanding a filmography that has taken her through War of the Worlds, Cashmere Mafia, Blessed, South Solitary, I, Frankenstein, The Homesman, Rake, The Daughter, Homeland, 24: Legacy, Annabelle: Creation, Downhill, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, True Colours, Fires and more in the past two decades. We also chatted with Otto about what excited her about a Lord of the Rings comeback, reprising the role solely as a voice actor and the responsibility of portraying Éowyn — as well as whether the diversity of parts that she's been enjoying was the original dream back in her pre-The Two Towers days in The Last Days of Chez Nous, The Nostradamus Kid, Love Serenade, The Well, Doing Time for Patsy Cline, What Lies Beneath and Human Nature, plus what she makes of her journey across her career so far. On What Excited Otto About Returning to the World of The Lord of the Rings, and to Playing Éowyn, But This Time in an Animated Film "I was really excited by the idea that it was anime. I thought it was so interesting to go back into this world of Lord of the Rings and Tolkien and tell the story as an anime, and all the things that that gives you licence to do. The films have always done so well over there, and I feel like there's something in Japanese mythology that really has some kinship with Tolkien's mythology in some ways. So it just sounded like a great fit. And the idea of coming back as a narrator was really lovely. It made utter sense to me the way that Philippa put it forward to me when she wrote to me about doing it. I could understand the concept, that it was Éowyn coming back and telling this story to her children. I just really liked that idea." On How Otto Approaches Not Only Reprising the Role of Éowyn, But Solely Doing So as a Voice Actor "The first time I came back to do the recording was, I think, in 2022, and I'd just had COVID and my voice was croaky — and I thought 'oh they'll like it, because I sound kind of husky and deep and mature'. And then they were disappointed because they wanted me to have the same voice. They really very much wanted to hear the Éowyn voice from 20 years ago. So when we came to do the second recording in Wellington, it was great to actually be in the studio with Philippa and with Kenji, and to actually get to see more of the film. And I worked with Roisin [Carty, The Agency] again, who had done a lot of the dialect work on the original films. So that was a great way of really fully getting back into the character. And just being back in Wellington, and being back with a lot of the same people, really took me back to that feeling of Middle-earth." On Whether Returning to Éowyn Was Something That Otto Could Imagine Two Decades Ago When She First Played the Part "It's just amazing — you think 'my gosh, that much time has passed, wow'. No, I never. I very much knew when we made the films, I remember the first time coming over and seeing some of the footage, and going to the costume fittings and seeing the footage, I remember that night I did not sleep because I was so excited to be a part of it. I felt like I knew in that moment that these films would last a really long time, and it's exciting as an actor to be a part of something that will actually last for people. But I never thought at the time about being able to come back in any way. I know when they made The Hobbit, many of the Elvish characters got to come back. But me being a mere human, I wasn't involved in that story. So I never envisaged that I would get the call, but it was very lovely." On Héra's Story Following in Éowyn's Footsteps, Even If the New Tale Is Set Before the Original Films "I think it's really lovely that there's that mirroring of those two characters. To me, it also felt like in Lord of the Rings, Éowyn holds this legacy of the women of Rohan, the shieldmaidens. And she speaks about the women of Rohan, and you get a sense that there's this this lineage of women who have come before her, the people she looked up to and formed her. So when you go into this film, you get to see the women that she admired. She is telling the story because she admires Héra and finds Héra inspirational, and so it's really lovely to get a sense of that history." On Otto's History of Playing Influential Women Beyond Éowyn "I think it's the way the interesting roles have come my way. I think I just gravitate to women like that. It's really to do with the writing of the character, and whether it speaks to me — like sometimes I can read something and think 'that's really good, but I don't have any emotional connection to it' or 'I haven't got that spark'. In a rational sense, I know it's really good, it's probably going to be a great project, but I just don't have that launch point within myself in my gut that tells me 'I want to do this'. So I think I just respond to what's on the page. I don't make tactical choices of thinking 'I need to play influential women' — it's more just that I'm drawn to those characters. They're interesting to me." On the Sense of Responsibility That Comes with Playing Éowyn "It does come with responsibility. When you're a returning to a film, I think you have the responsibility, you're carrying the mantle of the history of those trilogies into this film. And I certainly feel when I meet people who are huge fans of film, that this character was really significant to a lot women growing up. Really, really significant, Éowyn's story. And I'm just the person holding that role. The character was written by Tolkien, invented by Tolkien and brought to the screen by Peter Jackson, and I'm just the conduit of it. But it is a responsibility when I meet people to understand their stories and how significant Éowyn was to them." [caption id="attachment_983393" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thou Shalt Not Steal[/caption] On Whether the Diversity of Otto's Roles From the Past Few Years, Including Talk to Me, The Clearing, Thou Shalt Not Steal and Ladies in Black, Was What She Hoped for When She Was Starting Out "I definitely hoped that I didn't get stuck in the girlfriend roles. I sensed, in the scripts I would read along the way, there was a lot of female roles where you were just the girlfriend and they didn't have a lot of character written on the page. I prefer playing characters that are strongly written on the page, that I can leave myself and become someone else. And it's not just relying on my personality — that I can be somebody else. So I definitely didn't want to, from the beginning, be typecast into any particular thing. I really didn't want to be boxed in. And that's probably why I do tend to choose really different things, because I just don't want to be in any kind of cage, I guess." On What Otto Makes of Her Journey as an Actor So Far, Including Returning to Lord of the Rings "I feel really lucky. I have to say, Lord of the Rings was a really significant part of my career because I think it's given me that longevity in some ways. To have been a part of something that was so beloved has definitely helped my career. I feel really lucky that that I'm working, and that I still get to work with really interesting people. I've worked with a lot of younger, like first-, second-time directors in recent years, which has been really great. I feel really blessed. It's been really nice coming back to Australia, where I've felt like I've been able to jump around and do lots of different things. I've felt like in recent years in Australia, in film and particularly in television, there's a lot of different genres happening now, a lot of different styles, which has been so great and so inspiring to see. Dylan's [River, Robbie Hood] work in Thou Shalt Not Steal is so different to Gracie's [Otto, Seriously Red] work in Ladies in Black, and they're so different to Danny and Michael's [Philippou] work in Talk to Me. So it's just been really nice to work with all those different energies, I think." The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, December 12, 2024.
It's almost time to tick over into another trip around the sun. But before our current rotation is complete, we have to give this year a massive send-off that celebrates the ups and, hopefully, helps us forget the downs. Fortunately, this New Year's Eve in Sydney is stacked, with these dining encounters, late-night parties and waterfront events making for a memorable final night on the town. New Year's Eve at Cibaria Manly Bring a little Italian spirit to your NYE send-off, as Cibaria Manly presents a specially curated share menu, complete with ocean views and beachfront vibes. Priced at $240 per person, the experience begins with oysters in chardonnay mignonette, warm pizzetta bianca and loads more before arriving at the scotch fillet main, served with a Barolo jus and truffle-pecorino fries. As midnight approaches, enjoy a suitably sweet treat with a Cibaria hazelnut tiramisu. Find out more here. New Year's Eve Dinner Party at Olympus Dining Ringing in the end of 2025 — and a hugely successful debut year — Olympus Dining is transforming into a Greek amphitheatre for an unforgettable dinner party. Bringing along their friends, Four Pillars and Louis Roederer, this Med-inspired banquet — think Sydney rock oysters, a fully stocked souvlaki station and watermelon ouzo slices — is paired with cocktails, wine and beer. From 9pm, the party goes up a notch, as hosts Daimon Downey and Rich Penny guide DJ-led tunes beneath the oculus. Find out more here. Cosmic Universe at Opera Bar Luxe doesn't even begin to describe Cosmic Universe — Opera Bar's galaxy-inspired NYE playground. An incredible fireworks vantage point, this lavish experience, priced at $745 per ticket, features non-stop live performances and DJ sets alongside roaming canapés and complimentary food stalls, available until midnight and beyond. Don't have a budget? An ultra-exclusive VIP lounge costs $20,000 — stacked with free drinks, decadent bites, a dedicated host and uninterrupted views. Find out more here. Balcony Bottomless Package at Coogee Bay Hotel The Coogee Bay Hotel is lighting up NYE with a special balcony bar bottomless experience. Gazing over Coogee Beach with exceptional views of the fireworks, this $180 package features a huge array of tasty bites, spanning freshly shucked oysters, beer-battered potato scallops, crumbed short ribs and more. The drinks are just as inviting, with champagne poured on arrival (and at midnight) alongside beers, wines and cocktails all night long. Find out more here. New Year's Eve at The International Get among the NYE action in Sydney CBD, as The International celebrates the occasion across three vibrant spaces, each with its own skyline view. Head to Wine Bar for easygoing partying, complete with cocktails, slushies and oysters, or enter Panorama Bar for elevated sunset cocktails. If dining is more your mood, The Grill's openair setting is the way to go, featuring woodfired steaks flamed in a two-hatted kitchen. Find out more here. NYE Dinner at The Dry Dock Launch into the New Year with a four-course sharing dinner prepared by The Dry Dock's head chef Ben Sitton. Available for $195 per person, this feast includes an amuse bouche, shared entrees, mains and desserts alongside a glass of Lallier Réflexions R.020 Brut Champagne or a schooner of Asahi Super Dry on arrival. When it's time for the fireworks, guests are welcome to head across the street to Mort Bay Park to catch the harbour show before returning to the restaurant for plenty more partying. Find out more here. NYE at Felons Manly Toast the final sunset of the year, as Felons Manly puts together a vibrant feast made for the Cove. For $149 per person, you'll enjoy a three-course set menu, elevated by a free drink on arrival. As the night wears on, a special 9pm fireworks display will set the tone, followed by live music and tune-spinning DJs that keep the waterfront shindig going into the early hours, both inside and on the jetty. Find out more here.
At the 2024 British Film Festival, when you're not watching movies starring Saoirse Ronan, Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh and Barry Keoghan, you'll be catching the latest performances from Ralph Fiennes, Jude Law, Pierce Brosnan and Helena Bonham Carter. There's never any lack of big-name talents gracing the screen at Australia's annual celebration of the UK's latest and greatest contributions to cinema, but this year's is particularly jam-packed — so much so that there's not just one feature boasting Ronan among its cast, but two. Blitz, which sees the Foe, Little Women and Ammonite actor team up with 12 Years a Slave, Widows and Small Axe filmmaker Steve McQueen, is the British Film Festival's 2024 opening-night film. Playing Down Under fresh from also launching the London Film Festival, the period drama heads back to World War II, and starts the fest's month-long run at Sydney's Palace Norton Street, Palace Moore Park, Chauvel Cinema and Palace Central from Thursday, November 7–Sunday, December 8 with one of the year's must-see movies. At the other end of the festival, the also highly anticipated We Live in Time will close out the event. Pugh (Dune: Part Two) and Garfield (Under the Banner of Heaven) lead the romance from Brooklyn filmmaker John Crowley, which follows a couple's relationship across a decade. The second Ronan-led flick on the full 2024 British Film Festival comes courtesy of page-to-screen adaptation The Outrun, where the four-time Oscar-nominee plays a recovering addict — and there's plenty more highlights on the program from there. Hard Truths sits in the fest's centrepiece slot, reuniting iconic director Mike Leigh (Peterloo) with his Academy Award-nominated Secrets & Lies star Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Surface). Also boasting the coveted pairing of an impressive helmer and an exceptional on-screen talent: Bird from Andrea Arnold (American Honey), which is where Keoghan (Saltburn) pops up. As for Fiennes (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar), he stars with Juliette Binoche (The New Look) in The Return, a British spin on Homer's Odyssey — and also in papal thriller Conclave with Citadel's Stanley Tucci, Killers of the Flower Moon's John Lithgow and Spaceman's Isabella Rossellini. Law (Peter Pan & Wendy) plays King Henry VIII opposite Alicia Vikander (Irma Vep) as Katherine Parr in Firebrand, while Brosnan (The Last Rifleman) and Bonham Carter (One Life) feature in romance Four Letters of Love. Other standouts include the century-hopping dark comedy Timestalker from Garth Marenghi's Darkplace alum Alice Lowe, the Gillian Anderson (Scoop)- and Jason Isaacs (Archie)-led The Salt Path, Julia Louis-Dreyfus (You Hurt My Feelings) facing death in Tuesday, and Kelly Macdonald (Operation Mincemeat) and Damian Lewis (Billions) in vampire comedy The Radleys. For music fans, there's a dedicated themed sidebar featuring both Blur: To the End and Blur: Live at Wembley Stadium — one about the band's most-recent chapter, the other a two-hour concert film — as well as the Led Zeppelin-focused The Song Remains the Same and The Rolling Stones-centric The Stones and Brian Jones. This year's British Film Festival is also peering backwards via retrospective sessions of Ratcatcher, the debut feature from You Were Never Really Here's Lynne Ramsay; the Bonham Carter- and Dame Maggie Smith (The Miracle Club)-starring A Room with a View; and classic British historical dramas such as A Man for All Seasons, Heat and Dust, The Lion in Winter and Kenneth Branagh's (A Haunting in Venice) Henry V.
Maybe you've gone in for pizza and had a surprisingly great cocktail. Or maybe you've done it the other way around. Either way, one thing is for sure: Maybe Frank does great pizza and cocktails. And now, the team behind the Surry Hills' restaurant is expanding its offering with Maybe Sammy, opening in The Rocks tomorrow. Owners Stefano Catino and Vince Lombardo have just completed their new Harrington Street digs, which sits just opposite Neil Perry's Rosetta. The venue is fittingly named after another jazz era icon, Sammy Davis Jr. — if you hadn't guessed, Maybe Frank is named after Sinatra. But this new venture is all about the cocktails — something that Maybe Frank has gained quite a following for. The restaurant's leading barman Andrea Gualdi most recently won the Australian Bartender of the Year at the 2017 Diageo World Class Competition. He's a co-owner along with Catino and Lombardo, and leads the bar team at the new venue. Gualdi's cocktails at Maybe Frank are theatrical — complete with rose petals, pop rocks and charred wood — and the drinks at Sammy are equally creative and entertaining. Named after the Rat Pack's favourite venues, the cocktail list features eight signature sips, including the Circus Circus, made with rye, vermouth, mint and poblano and presented with a magic trick; the vodka- and passionfruit-infused Lady Luck, which is, interestingly, served with house-made hand cream (to use, not drink); and the Thunderbird, made with jasmine kombucha, Aperol and a Czech herbal bitters called Becherovka. Those whose wallets are noticeable lighter after the festive season will be happy to know that a lineup of 'minis' also features on the menu — a rotating list of classic tipples for only $10 a pop. If, on the other hand, you came into possession of lots of coin over Christmas (lucky you) you may choose to indulge in one of the 'high roller' cocktails, which start at a cool $70 each and feature ingredients like Champagne and Hennessy. Coffee also features heavily on the menu, with a list of non-alcoholic caffeinated drinks and boozy ones, such as the Sammy Shakerato (with Ethiopian coffee, Campari and limoncello). What the new menu doesn't feature is pizza. Replacing the Italian eats are snacks inspired by 1950s Hollywood glamour, complete with a fit-out that emulates a high-end hotel bar. Designed by Sydney's LD Studio, the space is opulent, with pink velvet banquettes, gold lamps, brass fittings, marble tiles and lots of indoor plants. Find Maybe Sammy at 111 Harrington Street, The Rocks from Wednesday, January 9. It's open from 4pm–12am, Tuesday and Wednesday; 4pm–2am, Thursday–Saturday; 4pm–12am, Sunday. Images: DS Oficina. Updated January 7, 2019.
When the end of July hits, the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games will kick off, with the finest athletes from Commonwealth countries competing to take home shiny medals. That's all well and good and interesting; however, we've found a much cuter display of sportsmanship that's also popping up this July. At 1pm on Thursday, July 21, viewers can watch four adorable guide-dogs-to-be participating in their very own Puppy Games. Yep, that's a thing and we're definitely here for it. If it sounds familiar, that's because it has been held for the past two years, too — but clearly this is the kind of adorable event that needs to be held annually. Once again, the folks at Seeing Eye Dogs have teamed up The Petbarn Foundation to host the canine-centric games — and, this year, with pet food brand Royal Canin as well. The results will be streaming on a device near you via the event's website. No matter where you're located in Australia, it sounds like perfect lunchtime viewing. How do the Puppy Games work, you might be asking? The event will see young trainee guide dogs Sandler, Tambo, Rani and Tom tackle a series of skill-testing challenges, with their every move captured on camera. They'll be helped through their tasks by their trainers — Abi, Jack, Lina and Paige, respectively. Accordingly, you can watch the young pups hurtle through a time trial, take on a 'puppy patience' food bowl challenge and battle it out for glory in the 'dogstacle distraction course'. And they are very much just pups — Tambo and Tom are the youngest at 11 weeks old, while Rani is the comparative veteran of the competitors at 15 weeks old. The project aims to support fundraising efforts for the annual Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal, of course, but also promises a much-needed boost of dopamine and general happy feels all round. Viewers can donate to the cause by hitting the link on the event's website. This year, the appeal is shooting for a goal of $1 million to help cover the costs of breeding, training and caring for at least 20 Seeing Eye Dogs. Can't make Thursday's viewing? Fear not, the full event will be up on YouTube to rewatch any time you need a mood boost. The 2022 Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs Puppy Games will stream via the event's website from 1pm on Thursday, July 21.
Florentijn Hofman has transformed France's Loire River into a giant bathtub with his enormous rubber duck sculpture. The duck floats from city to city, nodding its cute yellow head at passersby. Before beginning its trek down the Loire, the duck has brought nostalgic smiles to the faces of witnesses worldwide; it may just be impossible not to smile at this strikingly out-of-place, yet adorable creation. Dutch artist Hofman is renowned for his tongue-in-cheek pieces, including a memorable party-hat-sporting frog perched on the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art in Kobe, Japan in 2011. The duck sculpture, constructed of rubber-coated PVC atop a pontoon with a generator, measures at 25 metres high, and 25 metres across. Here's to hoping on of our favourite childhood bath time companions will make a splash in Australasia soon.
Situated on the banks of the Murray River, Tocumwal is the ideal destination for an outdoorsy getaway. With virtually endless opportunities for fishing, camping and hiking in the surrounding areas, you can spend your days bouncing between the riverside beaches or seeing the fascinating landscape from high above. With the help of Wild Turkey, we've selected a series of activities that'll take your visit to this lush Riverina district to the next level, whether you're seeking relaxation, adventure or a bit of both. [caption id="attachment_843939" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elliot Kramer[/caption] GO BEACH HOPPING The Murray River flows right through the heart of Tocumwal, and 24 riverside beaches within close proximity to town ensure you can make the most of every sunny day. With this stretch of Australia's longest river lined with shady red gums and native bushland, there's a quiet patch of shoreline with your name on it. For instance, Tocumwal Beach, Apex Beach and Finley Beach are all within a quick drive of one another. If you don't mind a quick drive, Bouchiers Beach and Smithers Beach are also top-notch options. No matter which beach you like the look of, the water is perfect for swimming and kayaking. [caption id="attachment_843057" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rob Blackburn - Visit Victoria[/caption] SEE THE SIGHTS FROM ABOVE Take flight above the countryside with Sport Aviation, one of the top attractions in Tocumwal. Courageous passengers can experience heart-pumping flights in both gliders and light sports aircraft, whether you're just looking for a thrill or keen to learn the basics of piloting. Leaving from the runway located just outside town, you'll soar high above the rolling hills and sprawling river system with an expert guide. Traversing across the landscape, these nimble aircraft provide a striking bird's-eye view, ensuring you have the best possible vantage point to soak up the scenery. [caption id="attachment_843062" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flicker (bkstreets49)[/caption] EXPLORE LOCAL TRANSPORTATION HISTORY It doesn't take long to wander from one end of Tocumwal to the other, but this historic part of the world is overflowing with fascinating history everywhere you look. Once you've touched down after your glider flight, you can head next door to the Tocumwal Historic Aerodrome Museum — once home to Australia's largest RAAF base — to learn about the town's wartime legacy. If you prefer trains to planes, the Tocumwal Railway Heritage Museum presents fascinating photos and railway memorabilia dating back to 1908. Meanwhile, Chrysties Classics and Collectibles Museum (pictured above) offers an eclectic mix of classic cars, tractors and vintage machinery that showcases the region's extensive farming legacy. [caption id="attachment_843066" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] HIT THE GREENS Handy with a set of clubs? Tocumwal Golf and Bowls Club is the ideal place to practise your swing, with not one but two 18-hole courses — and regular tournaments — revealing how you measure up. With the club also boasting a driving range, a chipping green and two putting greens, budding Shooter McGavins will find themselves in heaven. If you're new to golf, head to Finley Golf Club, around 20 kilometres outside of Tocumwal. With no bunkers or hills to worry about on this course, beginners can let loose on the fairways as much as they like. And with daily tee times available for non-members, getting involved couldn't be easier. Nearby Cobram, meanwhile, is home to one of the Murray's premier golf destinations. The Cobram Barooga Golf Club (pictured above) boasts 36 championship-level holes on which to test your skills, as well as lush lawn bowls greens, a full-service clubhouse and even a mini-golf course (that recently hosted the Australian Mini Golf Open) on its expansive grounds dotted with beautiful native flora and fauna. [caption id="attachment_843056" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emily Godfrey - Visit Victoria[/caption] GET OUTDOORS Tocumwal is the perfect place from which to set off on an outdoor adventure, with Barmah National Park recognised as particularly special for bushwalking and horse riding. Home to the world's largest river red gum forest, the expansive park also boasts stunning wetlands that provide critical habitat for over 200 bird species. Closer to town, you're welcome to admire the alluring Murray River from the shoreline, but it's even better when you hire a boat and drift along the waterway instead. With the area renowned among anglers in search of cod, perch and trout, it's the ideal way to find a quiet place to drop a line and spend a lazy day enjoying the calm waters of the mighty Murray. Find out more about Wild Turkey's Discovery Series at the website. Top image: Emily Godfrey, Visit Victoria
Campbell Parade mainstay Hotel Ravesis has muscled its way back onto Bondi's new cocktail spot radar, reopening with a bold new look and completely revamped offering. Gone are Ravesis' dated silver trimmings and stark grey walls, the hotel's new summery shake-up capitalises brilliantly on its beachfront address, showcasing panoramic ocean views from its Art Deco windows, and a coastal-chic fitout of flamingo pink and dazzling white. The two-storey stunner's sprawling wraparound terrace has been spruced up, and the space's assortment of breezy dining and bar spaces adorned with a healthy dose of wicker and greenery. Hotel Ravesis is currently restyling its collection of 12 boutique suites and rooms. The hotel will remain open throughout the process with all rooms due for completion by mid-2017. Chef Peter Streckfuss (The Lemon Tree, Catalina) is on the pans, delivering a Mediterranean-accented menu full of fresh, lively flavours. He's letting the top-notch local produce do all the talking, throwing down a variety of great seafood options, and shucking oysters fresh to order. The perfect match to some post-beach cocktails, we'd say. Even the entertainment program has been given a big old overhaul, pulling together a rotation of midweek solo artists and bands, and DJs throughout the weekend. On Wednesday nights an eight-piece superband of Sydney musicians called The Elements, made up of artists from The Whitlams, Skunkhour and the Bernard Fanning band, has the stage. Images: Nikki To and Katje Ford.
Can you believe 2023 is coming to a close? Time has truly flown by and during the whirlwind 12 months Sydney welcomed a swathe of brilliant new openings. From ultra-lavish bistros to affordable neighbourhood diners, the year has has been rich with new ideas and passion projects springing forth to elevate our hospitality scene. Pulling together a list of the year's best openings is no easy feat. The shortlist for this article was over 40 venues long. But after much thought and some robust debate we've narrowed it down to a compact selection of our favourite 15 openings of 2023, newcomers that've been impressive since the day they swung open their doors. Before we get to the top 15, there are some honourable mentions we wanted to shout out. Smoking Gringos garnered lines around the block thanks to its juicy birria tacos, Alfie's flipped the idea of a CBD steakhouse on its head, Famelia nailed the wine bar brief, and Nu'u effortlessly delivered a passion for southern Mexican cuisine and small-batch spirits. Poetica blew away North Sydneysiders, as did Chez Blue with Rozelle locals. Caravin and Deux Freres both delivered the moody European holiday vibes, and Bobby's is a sure-fire summer hit in Sydney's south. Now, without further ado, in no particular order, here are our picks for the 15 best openings in Sydney this year.
How many ways can Melbourne go dotty for Yayoi Kusama? Everyone is about to find out. The National Gallery of Victoria's big summer 2024–25 exhibition is dedicated to the Japanese artist, complete with a five-metre-tall dot-covered Dancing Pumpkin sculpture in NGV International's Federation Court, plus a world record-breaking number of infinity rooms and other immersive installations, many featuring spots. There'll be polka dots inside and out around the venue, including on the plane trees on St Kilda Road. On Wednesday, November 27, 2024 — in the lead up to the exhibition's run from Sunday, December 15, 2024–Monday, April 21, 2025 — the NGV has unveiled the beginnings of Kusama's latest artwork. A version of Ascension of Polka Dots on the Trees is being staged in Melbourne, with more than 60 trees outside the gallery having their trunks covered in pink-and-white polka-dotted material. The first row has been completed, which anyone in the vicinity can now check out — and by early in the week commencing Monday, December 2, 2024, all four lanes of St Kilda Road in front of the NGV will be brightly wrapped. With over 180 works set to feature, in what'll be the largest Kusama retrospective that Australia has ever seen — as well as one of the most-comprehensive retrospectives devoted to the artist to be staged globally, not to mention the closest that you'll get to experiencing her Tokyo museum without leaving the country — stepping foot inside the NGV will still be mandatory for art lovers. But Kusama is also livening up the road for everyone to enjoy all day and all night long. In the past, including when Ascension of Polka Dots on the Trees debuted at the Kirishima Open Air Museum in Japan in 2002, a red-and-white colour scheme has been used; however, Melbourne has scored its own bold-pink iteration. Ascension of Polka Dots on the Trees is obviously free to view, joining several other artworks that won't cost anyone a cent to see during the exhibition. The aforementioned Dancing Pumpkin is already on display. NGV International's glass waterwall is also going pink, but with black rather than white dots. Kusama's new version of Narcissus Garden, which dates back to 1966 and will feature 1400 30-centimetre-diameter silver balls this time around, is set sit in front of the waterwall and in parts of Federation Court. Plus, the yellow-and-black spheres of Dots Obsession will hang over the Great Hall. Then there's the artist's sticker-fuelled, all-ages-friendly The Obliteration Room, where audiences young and old pop coloured dots everywhere — 'obliterating', as Kusama calls it — to cover an apartment interior that's completely white otherwise. Overall, Yayoi Kusama will step through the 95-year-old artist's eight decades of making art via a thematic chronology. Some pieces hail from her childhood. Some are recent. Her output in her hometown of Matsumoto from the late 30s–50s; the results of relocating to America in 1957; archival materials covering her performances and activities in her studios, especially with a political charge, in the 60s and 70s; plenty from the past four decades: they'll all appear. [caption id="attachment_950480" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yayoi Kusama, 2022 © YAYOI KUSAMA[/caption] Yayoi Kusama displays at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne from Sunday, December 15, 2024–Monday, April 21, 2025. Head to the NGV website for more details and tickets. Images: Yayoi Kusama's Ascension of Polka Dots on the Trees, 2002/2024, on display along St Kilda Road, Melbourne for the National Gallery of Victoria's Yayoi Kusama exhibition until 21 April 2025. © YAYOI KUSAMA. Photo: Tobias Titz.
The Autark Home redefines waterfront living. Passivhaus, an independent research institute, has built an eco-friendly floating houseboat. The houseboat is highly energy-efficient, runs completely on solar power and is ten times more energy efficient than the average house. The Autark Home is currently flaoting in Maastricht, Netherlands. Designed by Pieter Kromwijk, the prototype has gained popularity because of its ultra-low energy consumption. There are plans to produce more Autark Homes to meet the demand of willing buyers.
One of Sydney's most beloved clubs and live music venues is closing permanently. After nine years of trade, Chippendale's Freda's will host its last event and shut its doors on Sunday, November 21. A mix of lost revenue due to COVID-19 restrictions and the uncertain future of the building Freda's currently occupies are the reasons named for the closure by Owner David Abram, who made the announcement on Instagram yesterday. Freda's will be remembered for its packed dance floors and support for local, boundary-pushing artists. Over the last nine years, Freda's has been a haven for expression and art in Sydney, providing a performance space for artists including Mac Demarco, Rainbow Chan and Sui Zhen, as well as countless DJs, performance artists and rising musicians. The club has played a prominent role in Vivid for the last five years and was one of the first Sydney establishments to receive a 4am extension following the lockout laws. In his statement, Abram said, "The 100-year-old warehouse we have inhabited, as is the way for many grassroots cultural spaces, will eventually become a memory to the high rise construction that is likely to envelop Chippendale in the next 10 years." He also praised his parents, saying "without question the most important people on this journey are my parents Freda and Phil. Both immigrants and holocaust survivors of humble beginnings, they have taught me you can make creativity the centre of your life and succeed." View this post on Instagram My statement on the closing of Freda's in a few weeks. Please swipe right —> A post shared by David Abram (@fireonthedecks) on Nov 1, 2020 at 8:56pm PST Although Freda's won't be able to host one final dance party due to current venue restrictions, it is throwing the Festival of Freda's over the next three weekends. Artists including Rimbombo, Gauci, Fascinator, Simon Cadwell and the Freda's House Band will take the stage performing a mix of live and DJ sets in celebration of the last nine years of Freda's. You can except the Last Night of Disco on November 6, Freda's Final Birthday the following day, a Vibe Positive party on November 20 and The End on the venue's final day. Freda's is located at 107-109 Regent Street, Chippendale. The Festival of Freda's will run from Friday, November 6 until the club's last day on Sunday, November 21. Tickets and more info is available at Freda's website. Top Image: Imogen Grist
Based just south of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie is often a thoroughfare on coastal road trips to and from Sydney. Yet the city, which is home to the largest saltwater lake in the southern hemisphere, has every right to be a destination in itself — thanks in no small part to its burgeoning culinary scene. The lakeside city is home to buzzy cafes, breezy waterside restaurants and farm-to-table establishments that celebrate the region's excellent local produce. Throw in picturesque lakeside towns and plenty of ways to enjoy the great outdoors, and you've got every reason to make your next visit to Lake Macquarie more than just a pitstop. In partnership with Lake Macquarie Tourism, we've handpicked nine must-try dining destinations in the city. If you want to level things up even more, visit before June 27, snap a picture of your meal at any eatery in the area, upload it to Instagram with the hashtag #LakeMacFoodie and follow @visitlakemac. In doing so, you'll enter the running to win a Sunday brunch on a luxury yacht for six people, thanks to Silver Sun Sailing. Emerson's on the Lake Sweeping lake views and beautifully executed contemporary Australian cuisine have made Emerson Rodriguez's eponymous restaurant an essential stop for any foodie visiting the Hunter region. Set in Toronto's welcoming Royal Motor Yacht Club, the airy restaurant and event space is a sure spot for any kind of occasion, be it a casual lunch, elegant date night or special celebration. Make the most of the unobstructed lake views by taking a seat by the floor-to-ceiling windows or on the expansive outdoor terrace to soak up the sunshine. On the menu, you'll find appetisers such as chargrilled Bermagui octopus with tzatziki and Emerson's signature duck pâté with baby cornichons, figs and toasted sourdough, as well as mains like pan-roasted Port Stephens snapper served with school prawn-flecked colcannon potatoes and chive beurre blanc. 8 at Trinity The expansive and oh-so-stylish 8 at Trinity is perched on the edge of the lake at Trinity Point Marina and features a 350-seat dining area, a large terrace, a sprawling lawn and an eye-catching marquee. The menu is inspired by owner Natalie Johnson's global travels but features a host of locally grown produce. Highlights include roasted watermelon with burrata and 30-year-old aged balsamic vinegar; sea scallops paired with celeriac, pine nuts and blackcurrants; and a 1.2-kilogram Hong Kong-style whole lobster accompanied by egg noodles and a buttery ginger sauce. If you're really indulging, don't go past the spectacular seafood platter piled high with Sydney Rock Oysters, Moreton Bay bugs, kingfish ceviche and more. [caption id="attachment_960424" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Leigh Griffiths[/caption] TINTA With the Pacific Ocean on one side and the idyllic Lake Macquarie on the other, TINTA is just as good for a relaxed seafood lunch as it is for some low-key sundowners. Tuck into a selection from the seafood-focused menu featuring starters such as Sydney rock oysters with a cucumber mignonette and a picture-perfect lobster and prawn roll. Then there are mains that include orecchiette tossed in vodka sauce and finished with house-smoked salmon and grilled market fish with Greek-style lemon potatoes and green beans — pair the latter with a serve from the six-strong margarita menu for a breezy feast in the sun. Good One This charming Belmont cafe is all about service with a smile — and you'd have every reason to smile thanks to its location alone right across from Lake Macquarie. Swing by for short-order brunch plates and loaded toasties like The Vego, packed with chargrilled zucchini and capsicum, sundried tomatoes, swiss cheese, basil pesto and rocket, as well as excellent coffee starring beans from Wyong-based roaster Glee Coffee Roasters. Mama P Wholefoods The clue is in the name at this Charlestown spot — Mama P is all about crafting food with real (read: unprocessed) ingredients. The family-run cafe started life over a decade ago when husband and wife James and Kylie Pheils wanted to provide healthy but delicious treats for their two young sons. Fast forward to today, and the cafe is now slinging some of the best brunches in the region. One section of the menu is dedicated to its famous warm toasted vegan waffles — opt for them topped with berries and coconut ice cream, fresh seasonal fruit or bacon, fried egg and maple syrup. Almost everything is made from scratch with plenty of meat-, gluten-, dairy- and refined sugar-free options making Mama P a surefire crowd-pleaser. Mr Sister Coffee Speers Point or Stanmore? You'd be mistaken for thinking you're in an Inner West haunt when you step into this sleek coffee shop at the tip of Lake Macquarie, but there's a definite coastal sensibility about this whole affair — think whitewashed interiors elevated with light wood elements and an impressive tiled counter that frames the space. The focus here is on the excellent coffee — with beans by Coffee Supreme — but there's also a tidy selection of fresh pastries, cakes and other baked goods, as well as quiche, focaccia or toasties if you're after something more substantial. If you like the bread, swing by early to pick up a loaf of oven-fresh sourdough from the well-stocked pantry. Martha Drink and Dine A proud new addition to the historic Belmont 16s Sailing Club, Martha is an elegant restaurant and bar that's quickly become a must-visit for locals and visitors alike. It becomes pretty clear why from the moment you step inside the first-floor venue with its stylish design, attentive service, well-crafted cocktails and Mediterranean-influenced food menu. But the real showstopper is the views, which are so close to the waterfront, you might as well be on the lake. While dinner here is an excellent choice for an elegant date night or catch-up, you'd have just as good a time stopping by for drinks, with a roster that pays tribute to Hunter Valley wineries, breweries and distilleries. Caves Coastal Fact: Lake Macquarie is twice the size of Sydney Harbour. As such, there is a heap of relatively undiscovered — but no less picturesque — spots that can fly a little under the radar. You get the feeling that's exactly how the locals of Caves Beach like it. Named for, yes, the spectacular caves that dot its coastline, this little locale is full of charm and, in the case of Caves Coastal Bar and Bungalows, proper, old-school hospitality. This restaurant, bar and boutique hotel is set more or less on top of the beach and is an ideal spot for a sundowner thanks to its summer-ready cocktail list and considered wine menu, with most pours available by the glass. Pair your serve with some of the best views on the coastline, and even a night in one of the beautifully appointed on-site bungalows or villas, and you'll think twice before seeing this part of the world as just a thoroughfare. To win a luxury Sunday brunch for you and five guests, dine at any venue in Lake Macquarie during the competition entry period and share a photo of your experience on Instagram using the hashtag #LakeMacFoodie. Entries open 25 May and close 22 June 2024. The winner will be announced on 27 June on the @visitlakemac's Instagram page. For more top-notch dining destinations in and around Lake Macquarie, visit the Lake Macquarie Tourism website.
Why drink a regular beer when you can enjoy a beverage that glows in the dark? And why scour the shops for bottled varieties when you can make your own bright bioluminescent tipples? They're the questions former NASA biologist Josiah Zayner will get you pondering when you discover his latest illuminating product. After leaving the American space agency to start his own company, The Odin, he has created a fluorescent yeast kit that will add a glow to your home brewing endeavours — or perhaps inspire you to start. The key ingredient is called the Green Fluorescent Protein, or GFP, that actually originally comes from a jellyfish. With the Engineer Any Yeast to Fluoresce kit, you'll actually make your own yeast that contains the protein, which will then glow when exposed to a black light. Technically, thanks to some concerns by the US Food and Drug Administration, it's being sold for educational purposes — but Zayner does intend for it to be used for brewing beer. The Odin has a full statement about any safety concerns on the company's website. The good news is that the kit ships internationally, so you really can make your glow-in-the-dark beer dreams a reality. The not-so-good news — if you're low on cash and time, that is — is that it costs US$199 and requires ten hours of effort over the course of two days to get to the ready-to-brew stage. Luminous beer might light up your next drinking session, but it isn't something you can make lightly, it seems. For more information about the Engineer Any Yeast to Fluoresce kit, visit The Odin's website. Via Eater. Image via The Odin.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in July, but KFC wants you to celebrate the festive season midyear not once but twice. First, it's dropping a heap of deals for the next month. Then, it's sending three groups to the Colonel's Lodge in August, where getting into the yuletide spirit with plenty of chicken while holidaying for two nights in the Blue Mountains is on the menu. The fast-food chain has previously slipped into the Christmas in July mood with ugly sweaters for humans and pets alike, which are back for another year alongside seasonal socks, hoodies, bucket hats and more. If you have some of those in your wardrobe or you buy them now, you know what to wear if you score one of the trips to the brand's latest pop-up. Whatever you don, the three winners will be heading to a wood-panelled mansion filled with red-and-white theming aplenty, a whole lot of KFC merchandise and also Christmas wares, with up to three mates. While you're there, you'll enjoy full KFC catering up to $2000 per day. Not in New South Wales but love the Colonel's finest? The prize also spans economy flights from your nearest capital city to Sydney. For people already in NSW, you might receive transport from your home to the Blue Mountains, but that's up to KFC's discretion. Three draws are taking place, each for those who hit up the KFC app to spend $30 or more on the chain's Christmas in July deals, which run from Monday, July 1–Wednesday, July 31, 2024. The first period covers purchases from Monday, July 1–Sunday, July 14, and will be drawn on Monday, July 15 for a stay between Thursday, August 1–Saturday, August 3. The second period covers eating KFC between Monday, July 15–Sunday, July 21, for a draw on Monday, July 22 and a stay between Saturday, August 3–Monday, August 5. And the third will reward those getting some finger-lickin'-good chicken between Monday, July 22–Wednesday, July 31, as then drawn on Thursday, August 1 for a stay from Monday, August 5–Wednesday, August 7. The deals that'll help you become eligible for winning a Colonel's Lodge getaway include half-price zingers on Monday, July 1, then the likes of nine pieces of original recipe for $9.95, $1 regular chips and $10 tenders. A different special will land each day. KFC fans will know that this kind of pop-up isn't a surprise for a brand that's also done 11-course fine-dining degustations, Peking Duk-led festivals, a nightclub, weddings, cocktails, a crispery that double-breaded and fried everything, and a soothing playlist of chicken frying and gravy simmering — which is genuinely relaxing — in the past. KFC's Christmas July deals run from Monday, July 1–Wednesday, July 31, 2024, with spending $30 or more via the KFC app getting you an entry to stay at the Colonel's Lodge. Winners will need to take their trips in August. Head to the brand's website for more details.
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch did it. Kimmy vs The Reverend, You vs Wild and Cat Burglar, too. With these four titles and more, Netflix has actively embraced interactive content in recent years. Choose Your Own Adventure books have a lot to answer for, clearly, with being able to select your way through streaming picks — making choices about what happens next within a movie or show, that is, rather than simply deciding what to watch — popping up often enough that it's now just another viewing option. But only the streaming platform's new heist thriller series Kaleidoscope boasts 40,320 different ways to dive in. Here, that vast array of choices is indeed a gimmick, giving a familiar robbery narrative shiny packaging. Picking a route through Kaleidoscope's eight instalments is also automated, at least if you do what Netflix tells you. When each subscriber presses play on the series for the first time, they're given one of seven colour-coded instalments at random. From there, viewers move onto one of six chapters, any of which could roll next, and so on. The only inbuilt rule: White: The Heist, as the episode that shows the heist itself is called, always screens last. That whittles down the options to 5040, which is still a hefty number. Created by author and screenwriter Eric Garcia, whose novel Matchstick Men previously slipped him into the world of grifters — and was turned into a Nicolas Cage-starring film — Kaleidoscope also allows Netflix customers to make their episode choices manually. Whether you stick to the random order the platform throws your way or genuinely choose your own adventure, however, the result is identical. One narrative, eight chapters, thousands of outcomes: that's the show from a storytelling standpoint, with the plot itself remaining unchanged. Does one's interpretation of Kaleidoscope and perspective on its characters differ depending on which order you see its instalments? That's the aim, but the playful series proves ridiculously easy to binge no matter how you move through its Green, Blue, Violet, Red, Pink, Orange and Yellow chapters. Wherever viewers hop in, a crew of thieves awaits, all attempting to bust into an underground vault packed with $7 billion in bonds in the middle of a massive hurricane. Doing the pilfering: veteran criminal Leo Pap (Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul), his lawyer and longtime friend Ava Mercer (Paz Vega, 13 Minutes) and smuggler Stan Loomis (Peter Mark Kendall, Top Gun: Maverick), plus chemistry wiz Judy Goodwin (Rosaline Elbay, Ramy), her safe-cracker husband Bob (Jai Courtney, The Suicide Squad) and driver RJ Acosta Jr (Jordan Mendoza, ZIWE). Their target: SLS, a New York corporate security outfit run by Roger Salas (Rufus Sewell, Old). Kaleidoscope also throws SLS employee Hannah Kim (Tati Gabrielle, Uncharted), her sister and roommate Liz (Soojeong Son, Servant), and FBI agents Nazan Abbasi (Niousha Noor, The Accidental Wolf) and Samuel Toby (Bubba Weiler, Dopesick) into the mix — because family ties and law enforcement are heist genre staples. Anyone who has ever seen a film or show about stealing a big score already knows the drill, and Garcia and his team of fellow writers know it. Accordingly, of course the safe is ultra-secure, and extremely difficult to both get to and break into. Of course the job is also tied to an act of revenge, too. Also, of course Kaleidoscope slots into the eat-the-rich fold that Netflix also worked so well with Squid Game. And, while he doesn't play a fast-food shop owner who's secretly a drug kingpin, of course thinking about Esposito's time on both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul comes quickly as well. Past secrets, new rivalries, love triangles, close calls with pursuing cops, everything that can go wrong definitely going wrong: they all have a part, predictably so even amid all the shuffling. The just-keep-pressing-play hook comes from the overall puzzle, though, which is what Kaleidoscope's delivery gimmick serves up. Non-linear storytelling always involves sleuthing for clues and putting together pieces, which is why the heist genre loves it. It's also why, in these whodunnit-saturated times — Netflix did just gift the world Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, after all, and has another on its way) — this series goes all in. Consequently, Kaleidoscope's audience is instantly keen to know how everything fits together, sifting through each episode for clues and details alike as the show flits between timeframes. With the entire narrative spanning a quarter-century, chapters jump between 24 years, seven years, six weeks, three weeks and five days before the heist, plus the morning after and six months later. Although each instalment is tied to a hue, only Green — which perhaps makes the best entry point — lets its eponymous colour shine visually. That's disappointing albeit unsurprising; Kaleidoscope is slickly shot, but happy sticking to an aesthetic formula. The scrambled storytelling and Esposito do plenty of heavy lifting, and overtly; thankfully, the latter alone always makes for engaging viewing. Playing determined, authoritative but also vulnerable, it's hardly astonishing that the five-time Emmy-nominee is the standout among the cast. Similarly expected: that Courtney comes across as gratingly cartoonish. That said, that's just how one of Kaleidoscope's rotations pans out. Perhaps the other 40,319 (or 5039) treat the bluster-fuelled Bob more kindly — shifting perceptions on heroes and villains, and mysteries and revelations, is all part of the gimmick. That makes an interesting thought experiment, but maybe don't go thinking about how Netflix's algorithm is dictating each viewing path through Kaleidoscope, likely to keep everyone hooked based on their past watchlist, even if it works. Check out the trailer for Kaleidoscope below: Kaleidoscope streams via Netflix. Images: Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.
Sydneysiders have spent two months in lockdown now — and if you've been putting all that extra time at home to good use by sprucing up the house and doing odd jobs, you're definitely not alone. Home renovation proved popular during 2020's lockdown, too. Obviously, it's hard to avoid finally painting that wall, putting up that shelf, making over your garden or fixing all the things around the place that you've been pushing back for far too long when you're spending all day (and every day) at home. Naturally, that means that Bunnings Warehouse hasn't been lacking in customers during this stay-at-home stint. But if you're eager to pick up DIY supplies during the rest of Sydney's lockdown — so, until the end of September — you'll need to stick with online orders. Due to changes in the city's restrictions, the hardware retailer has temporarily shut down all of its stores in Greater Sydney, other than to trade customers. Under new rules that came into effect at 12.01am today, Monday, August 23, more businesses in places considered Local Government Areas of concern by the New South Wales Government are required to move to click-and-collect shopping — including garden centres, plant nurseries, office supplies, hardware and building supplies, rural supplies and pet supplies. That includes Bunnings, but the chain is going one step further and applying the rule citywide. "With the new restrictions on retail spanning a large part of Sydney, Bunnings has made the decision to temporarily close all its stores across Greater Sydney to the general public," said Bunnings Manager Director Mike Schneider. "This is in support of the government and for the safety and security of team members, customers and the community. We know from experience that applying a consistent approach across a metropolitan area is easier for our team to manage and helps reduce travel by residents between LGAs." Last year, the hardware retailer implemented a drive-and-collect service, so that's one option for picking up your hardware goods. DIY enthusiasts just need to complete their purchase online, wait for notification that their order is ready, and select their preferred pickup date and time. Then, when you drive to the store, you'll park in a designated drive and collect bay, and text or call the store to let them know you've arrived. All you need to do next is wait for a staff member to bring out your goods and put them in your car boot. Sadly, drive-and-collect doesn't apply to Bunnings' sausage sizzles, so they're off the cards in Greater Sydney for now. And if you'd prefer not to leave the house at all, you can also use the chain's click-and-deliver service. For further information about Bunnings' drive-and-collect service — or to place an order — visit the chain's website.
Amidst the Qantas Centre, TNT head office and other similarly industrial commercial buildings, on the decidedly less cool (read: south) side of the city, lies a graffitied beacon of hope for the workers and residents that share the suburb of Mascot. For one thing, it's the first wine bar in the area. But it's also attracting a devoted daytime crowd for the Mediterranean-inspired menu, De Gabriel coffee and the contagious energy of owner, Elizabeth Woods (don't get her started on the coffee; she's what you'd describe as 'passionate'). On a corner site, it enjoys great exposure on the intersection of two main roads just up from the train station. The configuration is awkward but Woods and designer UI Building Studio have used it to create three different zones, each with its own feel — from the people-watching front counter to the restaurant-style banquette seating along the length of the venue and the relaxing bar/lounge area at the back (with balcony). It was nearly two years in the making but it's been a labour of love, with Woods' personality stamped all over it (and recorded in her blog). The small venue is made bright and inviting with a minimal materials palette — concrete and plywood punctuated by graffiti art by Alex Lehours, whose work Woods spotted at the Outpost exhibition on Cockatoo Island in 2011. We go after work to see it in its wine bar state and it's pretty packed. We start with one of the specials, prawn and corn fritters ($10), which is unusual and interesting, as are the grilled chorizo chips with spiced apple puree ($8.50). The Renegades Plate — an easy share option with grilled bread, tzatziki, tomato chutney and diced egg mayonnaise ($12) — is a winner when you pile some of each into a mouthful. The Mojito ($11) is well balanced and the 2010 Mandala Pinot Noir from Yarra Valley ($10 glass) just okay, but the winner is the 2010 Sons of Eden, Kennedy GSM from the Barossa Valley ($8 glass). Something that sets The Renegades apart is the forward-thinking focus on technology. They have an engaging social media voice and have just launched an app (Woods' husband was formerly in the IT industry). The app allows mobile ordering — perfect for an office worker who's running late. Simply choose from the menu, pay on credit or put it on your tab, and it's ready for pick up when you get off the train. Pretty neat. Renegade: An outlaw; a rebel. They definitely got the name right.
Thanks to the wonders of technology, overcoming the language barrier isn't as difficult as it used to be. Forget phrasebooks — if you've got a smartphone, these days you're usually covered. Not all translation apps are created equal, however. In fact, only one promises real-time translation of both words and voice in 90 different languages. The free piece of software destined to find a home on every traveller's device of choice is DoTalk, an Australian-made invention aiming to make the process of making friends overseas even easier. And asking for directions, ordering a drink, trying to work out the local public transport system, asking for directions again (we all get lost while venturing far and wide, admit it) — plus all of the other routine holiday situations that involve human interaction. Available now for both iOS and Android, DoTalk offers users two options: translating via text, which is great if you're emailing or trying to read a sign; and translating live voice conversations, which is ace in plenty of other scenarios. For a fee, it can also handle group chats with up to 10 participants, even in multiple languages. As for just where it'll come in handy, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, French and Indonesian currently rank among the app's most popular languages; however you'll also find everything from Albanian to Zulu on offer."Our goal with DoTalk was to create a free, fun and easy-to-use app which provides an open forum for people to easily connect and communicate, regardless of language barriers or location and without delay," says founder Reno Nicastro. For more information about DoTalk, visit their website.
You could say life has been somewhat colourless over the past couple of years thanks to a pesky thing called a pandemic. That may be a touch melodramatic, but you catch our drift. With summer on the horizon, we're itching for days at the beach, road trips with mates and kicking back with our families and loved ones. Bliss. Here to inject a big dose of colour into the months ahead is Aussie artist Mulga (AKA Joel Moore), whose super-fun designs radiate summer vibes. Recently, the Sydney-based muralist and illustrator teamed up with go-to outdoor retailer Kathmandu for a limited-edition collection of beach essentials. To celebrate the new range, we chatted to Mulga to get a sense of what it's like to be in his brightly hued, quirky character-filled world — plus what he's got planned over summer. Then, you can head to our competition to go in the running to win some of the next-level beach gear. MULGA THE LATE BLOOMER First up, Mulga wasn't always creating art; he only picked up the practice in 2012. "I worked in financial planning. I realised I didn't like that," hey says. Once he got serious about his art, though, he didn't look back. He began painting murals — which he still loves doing — then expanded to making his own products such as printed tees, boardies, totes, art prints and oh-so-COVID-appropriate face masks. He's also a big fan of brand collaborations, which has seen his work pop up in Sydney streets, on buses, across swimming costumes and even on Maxibon wrappers. In his art, you'll find a lot of bearded dudes and chiller animal characters — think koalas holding surfboards, sunglasses-clad chickens and cockatoos eating ice cream. One of the first animals he got into painting was gorillas after a visit to Taronga Zoo, which has become a motif in his years-long practice. "I use lots of bright colours and try to inject a little bit of humour into my creations." HIS VISUAL CATCHCRY Looking at Mulga's work, it's clear that laidback summer vibes are Mulga's visual catchcry. "I love summer and the beach and surfing and my love for that just flows out through my art," he says. It makes sense, considering he's an avid surfer: "One of my dreams is to spend a year on a tropical island doing nothing but surfing and making art." Why summer specifically? "It's a time of summer holidays and Christmas and pool parties. What's not to love?" The man's got a point. And when the mercury's soaring, he'll be at the beach with his kids, getting an ice cream, cruising around on a boat and "chilling in the hammock under a palm tree". HIS LATEST COLLAB So, it makes sense that his collab with Kathmandu is all about making the most of sunny days at the beach. The range combines Mulga's signature bright, quirky prints and patterns with Kathmandu's functional designs. "I did my thing which is making funky artworks and Kathmandu did their thing which is making quality products, and the result is funky quality products." There are t-shirts, sand-proof towels, water bottles, camping chairs, sun shelters and beach umbrellas — all of which will take your summer adventures to the next level. "The beach tent is pretty rad." Mulga says. "I'm looking forward to the moment when I go to the beach and see someone with the Mulga x Kathmandu tent. I'll stroll by and say 'nice tent'." Check out the full Kathmandu x Mulga beach collection on the Kathmandu website. Keen to score beach gear for free? Enter our competition to go in the running to win a sweet Kathmandu x Mulga prize pack before November 14.
Croissants can be found in pretty much every cafe, bakery, supermarket and weekend market in the country. So it's a true endorsement of the calibre of Lune's croissants that mammoth queues have been a familiar sight at the bakery's original Elwood outpost and its larger successor in Fitzroy, Melbourne. Sydneysiders have been waiting a long time to form their own line for a Lune croissant and now, after five years (and a few false starts), the first Harbour City outpost of the much-hyped croissanterie is ready to welcome its first punters on December 7. The date was announced on Lune's Instagram account with the simple message: "Sydney, let the games begin." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lune Croissanterie (@lunecroissant) Melburnians may have reason to be jealous of Sydney's croissant lovers. The Rosebery branch of Lune will be its largest to date. Located within a renovated warehouse, more than 65 staff will be hustling to produce the more than 5400 golden, buttery scrolls of perfectly puffed pastry sold every day. Better yet, a satellite store in Martin Place is set to open not long after the Rosebery branch, offering Sydneysiders even greater access to Lune's bounty of baked treats. Lune's founder Kate Reid started the business as a humble wholesale operation 12 years ago. Since then, she has not only grown the brand into a multi-venue success but has also earned global recognition, including Lune's croissants being declared the best in the world by The New York Times and cookbook icon Yotam Ottolenghi insisting they be "the prototype for all others". However, despite this incandescent praise, Lune's arrival in Sydney has been a hard-won battle, dogged by failed partnerships and stalled developments. A 2019 proposal to bring Lune to Chippendale was scuttled by pandemic shutdowns while a second attempt to open a branch in Darlinghurst was upended by building limitations on a heritage-listed site. A third potential venue in Martin Place offered an ideal location but was too small to support a commercial bakery on the scale that would be necessary. Meanwhile, as plans to open in Sydney remained in limbo, Lune opened its first Queensland location in Brisbane. [caption id="attachment_953899" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Reid[/caption] Determined to make a Sydney bakery a reality, Reid and her brother Cameron began scouting potential locations, finally discovering a venue of the size needed in Rosebery. Indeed, the space is so substantial, that it has created an opportunity for Lune to expand its offering. While the bakery is a production hub, also baking croissants for sale in Martin Place, it also has space for seated customers. Much like its sister venue in Fitzroy, there is a temperature-controlled glass cube where bakers work in view of hungry punters. Plans for the future include the introduction of the Lune Lab, which will create experimental tasting menus featuring both sweet and savory dishes in collaboration with notable chefs, such as Kylie Kwong. In addition to its signature croissant, both Sydney outlets will serve coffee from Ona, a rotating seasonal pastry and a selection of Lune favourites including its pain au chocolat, ham and gruyere croissants and morning buns flavoured with cinnamon, brown sugar and orange zest. Find Lune Croissanterie at 115/151 Dunning Ave, Rosebery, open from December 7. For more details visit the Lune Sydney website.
Warehouse parties are great. Secret Mexican holiday-inspired, neon-drenched, immersive warehouse experiences are even better. Curated by a group of Mexican visionaries and artists, Day of the Dead 3.1. promises to be one heck of a Burning Man-channeling spectacle you'll want to lock down tickets for — on sale this Saturday, August 15 at 12.30pm. And with the demand already high, this event is expected to sell out within hours, so your crew had better be ready. For hundreds of years, El Dia de los Muertos has been one of the biggest parties in Mexico honouring the dead. The 4000 year-old tradition's history can be traced back to Mexico's indigenous beliefs of the afterlife — that death is only the beginning. Now it's Australia's turn to delve into the underworld, as The Day of the Dead finds its way to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane this spring, in secret locations within each city. Expect interactive art installations, light projections, extravagant costumes, murals created by renowned street artists and an exclusive lineup of local and international DJs and musicians — including one big ol' festival favourite headliner. The lineup will be released closer to the day, so stay tuned. Pop-ups by a handpicked bunch of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane's go-to local Mexican eateries, like Playa Takeria, have been selected to create Dia de los Muertos menus. Plus, there'll be Mexican cervezas and tequila/mezcal cocktails to provide you with enough sustenance to dance the night away. With instructions being sent to ticket holders just one week before the event, this is secret warehouse party business at it's best. Each city's locations are more closely guarded than an abuela's special mole sauce ingredient and will only be released one day before the party. Get ready to nab a ticket and start preparing your best Dia de los Muertos outfit. Day of the Dead will visit Sydney on October 24, then Melbourne on October 31 before ending in Brisbane on November 7. Tickets are $75 and go on sale here on Saturday 15 August at 12.30pm and are expected to sell out super fast. Don't stall on this one, it'll be the death of you.
If catching a flick in style is your thing, get ready to plan a night out at Restaurant Hubert. The subterranean CBD restaurant and theatre is back with another season of its hit Magnum & Movies series for 2023, entertaining Sydneysiders with film, food and plenty of wine (in magnums, of course). It'll largely all take place every second Monday in Hubert's Theatre Royale, to really ramp up the film-meets-dinner vibe. Each evening will feature plenty of popcorn; canapes on arrival; an intermission buffet featuring braised beef cheek, roasted heirloom carrots and seasonal buttered greens; Restaurant Hubert's famous crème glacee for dessert; and magnums of wine, which will be passed around throughout the night. While past events have had running themes, this season's group of films is quite varied. Star-studded titles like The Big Short (January 23) sit alongside classics such as Amelie (February 13 and February 14) and Whiplash (March 27), while other picks include Dallas Buyers Club (February 27) and beloved music documentary Searching for Sugar Man (March 13). Tickets don't come cheap at $165 per head, but that price includes everything (food, wine, film andpopcorn). And, it's the kind of decadent weeknight affair you don't get to enjoy every day. These sessions unsurprisingly sell out quickly, so booking your spot ASAP is recommended.
Brisbanites already know the joys of living in the River City, and now the rest of the world is catching up. In 2023, the Queensland capital keeps being named among the globe's top places, first thanks to TIME magazine, then scoring the only Australian place to stay on the first-ever World's Best's 50 Hotels list and now getting the tick of approval from Frommer's. The travel guide publisher has unveiled its 'Best Places to Go in 2024' rundown, which isn't ranked but does compile Frommer's top spots to put on your itinerary next year. "This year, Frommer's selections for the 'Best Places to Go' combine our growing hunger for fresh discovery, balanced with a rising need for affordability and accessibility. Frommer's authors, researchers and staffers around the globe have selected destinations that shine in our time and are expecting rising fortunes in 2024," the publisher advised. "Whether it's forging new inroads to previously isolated attractions, marking milestones in sustainability or cultural heritage, or basking in a previously denied spotlight, each destination on our Best Places to Go list could play a pivotal role in our shifting travel sensibilities in 2024." Why yes, #Brisbane DID make our list of the top places on the planet to visit in 2024. Here's why: https://t.co/WTtkE3e1I7 pic.twitter.com/ESX5PzzMjP — Frommer's (@Frommers) October 25, 2023 Fifteen places have received the nod, with Brisbane the only Australian location on the list. It's named second in a selection that the publisher notes is "in no particular order". The city earned some love partly for converting "the river into a world-class asset, devising new ways to go over, under and around the waterway — and show it off at new entertainment districts with dazzling views". Also mentioned: everything from the upcoming Queen's Wharf precinct to the existing Howard Smith Wharves, and also K'gari and Minjerribah. And yes, the fact that Brisbane is hosting the 2023 Olympic and Paralympic Games gets a shoutout as well. "Brisbane's reputation as a generic Aussie backwater is over. It belongs to the world now," Frommer's also states. Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has been quick to celebrate the latest global tick of approval for the River City. "Brisbane residents already know our city is the best place in the world to live and now the world knows it's Australia's best place to visit," said the Mayor. "People are flocking to Brisbane in record numbers to live so it's no surprise our city is being recognised as a world-class destination to visit too." "Brisbane's suburbs are great places to live and our city's incredible climate and world-class destinations like South Bank and Howard Smith Wharves are capturing hearts across the world. Our river city is on an incredible trajectory and this is just further recognition that Brisbane just keeps getting better." Brisbane's company among Frommer's 15 picks for 2024 includes The Cook Islands, Seville in Spain, Dresden and Chemnitz in Germany, Guanajuato in Mexico, Scotland's islands, Nepal, Prince Edward Island in Canada and Panama City, Panama. America is well represented thanks to the state of Kentucky, Santa Fe in New Mexico, the Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho, Glendale in Arizona, Utqiagvik in Alaska and Maui in Hawaii. For the full Frommer's Best Places to Go in 2024 list, head to the publication's website.
Circus advisor Preston Jamieson has a unique perspective on the musical Pippin, having performed in the first Broadway production and during the US national tour before working as a circus coordinator for the show's tour in Japan. "I've been involved in every single production," says Jamieson. "This is the first time I've done a new Pippin with completely new acrobats — and I'm really excited about that. They're champions, and I know we're going to wow." When Concrete Playground spoke with Jamieson, Pippin was only in its first week of rehearsals — and, unusually, the rehearsal studio for the show is precisely where you'll get to experience it: on stage at the Sydney Lyric Theatre. It'll be the first show to open at the Lyric in Sydney since the theatre temporarily closed due in March 2020. Its cast includes locals like Ainsley Melham (Aladdin), who plays the titular role, and Kerri-Anne Kennerley, who plays his grandmother. The role of Leading Player will be performed by US actor Gabrielle McClinton (pictured, below), who knows the story inside out from performing in its Broadway and US tour productions. [caption id="attachment_789195" align="alignnone" width="1920"] US actor Gabrielle McClinton plays the Leading Player, photographed during rehearsal by Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] The 2013 Broadway revival of Pippin was lauded for having a woman of colour cast in the Leading Player role, and it's now part of the show's tradition. The same production also won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival. But, though the Sydney version is based on the Broadway show, it doesn't mean you'll get to see a carbon-copy of the Broadway production when it opens on Tuesday, November 24. "Every iteration is unique because of the skills the acrobats bring to the table," says Jamieson. "Sydney's will be slightly different than any other version we've ever done before." [caption id="attachment_789193" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] Though it's too early to confirm exactly what we can expect to see on stage, we do know there'll be hand-to-hand (partner) acrobatics, plus aerial and silk acrobatics, and a guy who can clamber up a ladder without any support. "If it's in the centre of the room, he can get to the top of the ladder," says Jamieson. During his time with the show, Jamieson has learned knife-throwing, as well as how to set the acrobatics within the key 'spots' allocated to each song, which includes tunes like 'Corner of the Sky' and 'Magic to Do', all composed by Oscar- and Grammy Award-winning composer Stephen Schwartz (Wicked and Godspell). "We're also trying to find a spot for some hair hanging, too. One of our acrobats has hair-hanging experience, and, as crazy as it seems, they suspend themselves by their own hair. It's a [Pippin] first." There'll also be "a 67-year-old dangling by her feet, so there's going to be a lot of death-defying," he says. [caption id="attachment_789198" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ainsley Melham as Pippin, Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] On the surface, Pippin's medieval storyline might seem a little dated for 2020. But Jamieson says the most surprising thing about the production — no matter what stage it's on — is "how relevant and touching" the show is. Pippin is a prince struggling to find his identity and purpose in a life destined for the throne. "And, to have a show that has the wow-factor, but also the personal, intimate touch, is really hard to pull off. "It's everything that's been missing from our lives right now," Jamieson adds. "And, this show, more than any other, has the relevance of finding your fulfilment; doing something because it fulfils you. And we need a lot more of that in the world today." Images: Cassandra Hannagan
When it comes time to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and big work wins, Sydney has no shortage of special occasion venues to choose from. But, with so many options, it can be tricky deciding where to head with your crew for a luxurious treat yourself-style long lunch. To make it easy, we've teamed up with Citi to narrow down some top Sydney faves for a leisurely lunch spanning the spectrum from hatted restaurants and award-winning degustations to Middle Eastern eats and coastal views aplenty. Plus, there are a few wine pairing suggestions in there, too. Plus, with Citi's Citibank Dining Program, you can indulge even further with a complimentary bottle of wine at any one of these seven venues. Just tell them when you book that you'll be paying with your Citibank card, and the wine is yours for the choosing — with each restaurant offering two different bottles, most of which are locally produced right here in New South Wales.
Eye-catching and thought-provoking art has once again descended upon Sydney's coastline, with the 23rd Sculpture by the Sea exhibition kicking off today. Stretching along two kilometres from Bondi to Tamarama Beach, you'll find 111 sculptures from 19 countries. The exhibition is free, and you can catch it from October 24 through November 10. This year, you'll find sculptures by ten Czech and Slovak artists marking the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, a series of protests that led to the fall of communism in what was then Czechoslovakia, and the collaborative Succah by the Sea, which sets out to re-imagine the Jewish Festival of Succot. You'll also be able to hear directly from the artists every Saturday and Sunday. Among the 100-plus incredible installations, and the 450,000 people expected to visit the spectacle over the 18-day exhibition, it can be tricky to know where to look. And, considering this might be the last year Sculpture by the Sea is held in Bondi, it would be tragic if you missed any of the best pieces. Here are our pick for this year's highlights. [caption id="attachment_747672" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] WANG KAIFANG: THE STATUE OF MAD LIBERTY Made of 24-karat gold (and copper and stainless steel, but that's not quite as fancy), Chinese artist Wang Kaifang's The Statue of Mad Liberty reflects the chaotic nature of the modern world. The distorted figure represents the way freedom fills us with joy, before the panic sets in. It is meant to encompass all that goes into society, humanity, science and art. The swirling gold piece sits well among the artist's numerous previous works — Kaifang is considered one of China's most influential cross-disciplinary artists, and while his portfolio covers everything from architecture and fashion, through to painting and photography, shimmering metallics and abstract shapes are recurring motifs. [caption id="attachment_747796" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] ANGELA FEMIA, CAROLYN HUNTER, PAULINE PLUMB AND CRISTINA HARRIS: OUT OF REACH This is an artwork you could easily miss or dismiss as part of the scenery on a particularly bright day, but we think it's one you should keep an eye out for. A team of four local artists — all graduates of the Sydney College of the Arts and regular collaborators — is responsible for these quaint ceramic houses, nestled among the rocks alongside the trail. The tiny white homes of all different shapes and sizes were inspired by the current nationwide angst about the unattainability of the Australian Dream — something a lot of millennials can certainly relate to. Artists Angela Femia, Carolyn Hunter, Pauline Plumb and Cristina Harris created Out of Reach as a playful take on the pursuit of that white picket fence. [caption id="attachment_747676" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] JOEL ADLER: VIEWFINDER Emerging Sydney designer Joel Adler wants you to look a little closer at the undercurrents and the impacts of constantly demanding more. From its spot on a cliff by Marks Park, Viewfinder reflects the whirling waves below using a toughened double-sided glass mirror, like a periscope. The weighted sculpture is made from weathered steel, creating a rather aesthetically pleasing contrast between the rust orange of the structure and the ocean blue beyond. The sculpture allows you to see parts of the waves below that you can't usually see from the path, which the artist hopes will make you consider the possibilities created by new perspectives and how we view our relationship with the land. [caption id="attachment_747679" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] JIAO XINGTAO: YELLOW AND GREEN Another installation that hits close to home is Jiao Xingtao's two-piece Yellow (2015) and Green (2012). While these sculptures are made from painted fibreglass, its easy to see why his work is known for being hyperrealistic — the tears, scrunches and ripples of discarded packaging are carefully replicated. Even for art novices, the screwed up packets of Wrigley's Doublemint and Juicy Fruit gum are a clear commentary on waste and consumerism. If you want to check out more of his work, Xingtao is currently exhibiting as part of White Rabbit Gallery's tenth birthday retrospective Then — here are our picks for that one, too. [caption id="attachment_747680" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] LUKÁŠ RITTSTEIN AND BARBORA SLAPETOVA: BIRD OF PARADISE A large steel bird, bright and vibrant, emerges from a car in a symbol of purity and an optimistic outlook for the future, from Czech artists Lukáš Rittstein and Barbora Slapetova. A melding of the technological and the natural world, Bird of Paradise and its brights colours are meant to make you want to dance, love and search for something new. This striking piece is part of a showcase of ten Czech and Slovak artists exhibiting at this year's event, in honour of the 30 years that have passed since the Velvet Revolution (known as the Gentle Revolution to the Slovaks), which saw the end of more than four decades of totalitarian communist oppression of Czechoslovakia. [caption id="attachment_747764" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Clyde Yee[/caption] MORGAN JONES: THE SUN ALSO RISES New Zealand sculptor Morgan Jones is the recipient of the $70,000 Aqualand Sculpture Award for his piece The Sun Also Rises — so it's kind of a big deal. Made from weathering steel, the work is representative of the circular inevitability of our existence, designed to restate its rhythms. In that vein, Jones has referenced a quote from the book of Ecclesiastes, one of the books of the Old Testament, for the sculpture's title: "The sun also rises, and the sun goes down. And hastens to the place where it arose." It seems fitting to take it all in as the sun rises over the sea. Sculpture by the Sea runs until November 10. For more info, visit sculpturebythesea.com. Top images: Trent van der Jagt.
Make your way to the Yanada Room in Lewisham's Meriton Luna Apartments over the next six months, and a frenzy of creativity awaits — run by artistic group New Moon, it's the inner west's new collaborative and community-focused hub. Opening its doors on Tuesday, July 10 — with the official opening slated for Sunday, July 29 — the space will play host to a monthly calendar filled with exhibitions, installations, workshops, talks and more. More than that, each lineup will revolve around a particular theme, with all things food in the spotlight during July. On the first month's agenda: a community dinner that'll give you the chance to meet the New Moon team, a spoon sweets (aka preserves) sampling and demonstration session, zine-making workshops and artist chats. Or, drop by to check out an audiovisual food installation by Good Food Crap Drawing's Anna Wu and The Unbearable Lightness of Being Hungry's Lee Tram Lam, which will include interviews with Aussie folks in the food and wine industry, food samples and a visual component. Comprised of Kim Siew, Amy Mills, Rosell Flatley and Eleni Christou — and supported by the Inner West Council — New Moon came together working on community art projects, artist-run initiatives and exhibition spaces, which makes their current venture the culmination of their experience to date. Future months will see the space shine a spotlight on books, sustainability, art, craft and celebration; however the Yanada Room is also designed to offer locals an informal meeting place beyond New Moon's regular programming. Specifically, the group wants to help reduce the isolation that can come with living in a high-rise filled city — and whether you're a budding creative or someone just keen to check out new exhibitions and events, that's something we can all relate to. Find New Moon at the Yanada Room, Meriton Luna Apartments, 22 Hudson Street, Lewisham from July 10. Visit the New Moon Facebook page for further details.
In A Complete Unknown, Timothée Chalamet stepped into Bob Dylan's shoes in the 60s and charted his rise to fame. A trip to the past and aspiring to greatness is also on the actor's agenda in his next film. Instead of folk music, Marty Supreme's eponymous figure is passionate about ping-pong — and he's certain that it's going to be the next big thing. "I know it's hard to believe, but I'm telling you: this game, it fills stadiums overseas. And it's only a matter of time before I'm staring at you from the cover of a Wheaties box," Marty advises in the A24 movie's just-dropped teaser trailer. Welcome to your first sneak peek at the second of two features that are filling a very specific niche: 2025 releases (in the US, at least) directed by a Safdie brother solo and focusing on sports. Josh Safdie helms Marty Supreme. His Daddy Longlegs, Lenny Cooke, Heaven Knows What, Good Time and Uncut Gems co-directing sibling Bennie has The Smashing Machine on the way, starring Dwayne Johnson's (Red One) as IRL MMA fighter Mark Kerr. Could 2025 nominee Chalamet and Johnson find themselves going head to head come awards season for different Safdie films? That's firmly a possibility. As Marty Supreme's Marty Mauser, Chalamet's task (or obligation, as his character puts it) is chasing the dream that is ping-pong success — for himself and for the game his loves, which no one else seems convinced of in the 50s-set flick's first sneak peek. Gwyneth Paltrow (The Politician) pops up in the Marty Supreme trailer as a famous movie star, while the eclectic cast also includes fellow actors Fran Drescher (A Tooth Fairy Tale) and Odessa A'zion (Until Dawn), rap star Tyler, The Creator, filmmaker Abel Ferrara (Turn in the Wound) and magician Penn Jillette. In America, Chalamet's latest film is a Christmas treat, releasing on Thursday, December 25. That's two years in a row that the merriest day of the year and Chalamet have gone hand in hand in the US, as A Complete Unknown also dropped on the same date. When Marty Supreme will hit cinemas Down Under hasn't yet been revealed. Josh Safdie co-wrote the movie with Heaven Knows What, Good Time and Uncut Gems co-screenwriter Ronald Bronstein, and helms a feature on his lonesome for the first time since 2008's The Pleasure of Being Robbed. Check out the first teaser trailer for Marty Supreme below: Marty Supreme releases in US cinemas on Thursday, December 25, 2025 — we'll update you on Down Under release details when they're announced.
Since hitting Broadway five years ago, notching up 11 Tony Awards, nabbing the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and just becoming an all-round pop culture phenomenon, Hamilton was always going to make the leap to cinemas. So, it's no wonder Disney has leapt at the opportunity, bringing Lin-Manuel Miranda's historical hip hop musical to the big screen in late 2021 — albeit via a filmed version of the stage production, rather than a traditional stage-to-screen adaptation. Miranda has talked about turning his acclaimed show into a movie, and apparently the first draft of a script has been written, but while a film version of his earlier musical In the Heights will reach cinemas in mid-2020, a feature adaptation of Hamilton isn't happening just yet. Everyone still wants to see the tale of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton on the big screen, though — if you haven't been lucky enough to catch the popular musical in New York, as it toured the US or on London's West End, then you probably just want to see it, period — so this "live capture" version is here to fill the gap. Shot at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway back in 2016, this cinematic screening of Hamilton is still a big deal. Actually, given the fact that it features the original Broadway cast — including Miranda in the eponymous role — it's a huge deal. Everyone who missed out on the opportunity to see the musical's initial run live will be able to do the next best thing, with Hamilton jumping on the popular trend of screening filmed versions of plays and musicals in cinemas. https://twitter.com/Lin_Manuel/status/1224377343126462466 As noted in Disney's US press release, only American and Canadian seasons have been announced so far, kicking off from October 15 in 2021— but with something as huge as Hamilton, it's safe to assume that these "live capture" screenings will make their way Down Under as well. The stage production finally arrives in Australia in March 2021, so if you miss out on tickets (or can't afford to buy them) this could be a nice consolation prize. In addition to Miranda — who stars, and wrote the musical's music, lyrics and book — this filmed version of the production features Daveed Diggs (Velvet Buzzsaw) as Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, Leslie Odom Jr. (Murder on the Orient Express) as Aaron Burr, Christopher Jackson (When They See Us) as George Washington, Jonathan Groff (Mindhunter) as King George, Renee Elise Goldsberry (The House with a Clock in Its Walls) as Angelica Schuyler and Phillipa Soo (the Broadway version of Amelie) as Eliza Hamilton. Hamilton will screen in US cinemas from October 15, 2021 — we'll update you with a local release date if and when a Down Under run is announced. Via Variety. Top image: Hamilton, Broadway. Photo by Joan Marcus.
It's always a good idea to wear sneakers when you're walking around a gallery, but they're the only kicks that'll do when Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street arrives Down Under. First staged by The Design Museum in London, this exhibition pays tribute to the footwear's origins and evolution — through sports to fashion, surveying iconic brands and names, and obviously touching upon basketballers Chuck Taylor and Michael Jordan's relationships with the shoes. In total, more than 200 sneakers will be on display during Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street's Australian-premiere and Australian-exclusive season at the Gold Coast's HOTA Gallery. The six-level spot will give over its walls and halls to shoes, shoes and more shoes over the summer of 2023–24, starting on on Saturday, November 25, and marking the site's first major design exhibition since opening in 2021. While a hefty amount of trainers will feature, the entire showcase will span 400-plus items. The other objects at Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street include photos, videos, posters, artworks and process material, all helping to explore the journey that the footwear style has taken in its design and culturally. Expect to learn more about sneakers that were initially made specifically for getting sweaty, which is where the Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars and Nike Airs come in (and, with the latter, to add to a year that's already seen the movie Air step through the story behind them). Also set to feature: the shoes that've become cultural symbols (such as the Vans Half Cab and Reebok InstaPump Fury), future advancements in making kicks (as seen with Biorealize for Puma) and big-name collaborations (Jordan, of course, plus Run-DMC and more). Attendees will also check out sneakers that've made a splash on the runway (Comme des Carçons and A-Cold-Wall*, for instance), find out more about plant-based sneakers (such as Veja and Native Shoes) and customisable kicks (as Helen Kirkum and Alexander Taylor are doing), and dive into celebrity endorsements (Travis Scott with Nike, Pharell for Adidas and the like). Laid out in chapters called 'STYLE' and 'PERFORMANCE', the exhibition's first part goes big on aesthetics and its second on the act of making the best trainers — covering Chuck Taylor's basketball clinics, sneaker culture in New York City and everything that's happened since. "Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street reveals the role young people from diverse backgrounds have played in making individual sneakers into style icons and in driving an industry now worth billions," notes Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street Curator Ligaya Salazar. "The exhibition also gives behind-the-scenes insight into new upcycling and sustainable design practices, unseen prototypes predicting the future of performance design, and streetwear and fashion collaborations that changed the face of the industry." "As an active city with a vibrant street culture and enthusiasm for fashion, summer on the Gold Coast is the perfect time and place to celebrate the iconic footwear phenomenon. We are thrilled to be presenting this internationally acclaimed exhibition exclusively in Australia," added HOTA's Interim CEO Mik Auckland. Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street is the Gold Coast venue's second huge Australian-exclusive in 2023, following Pop Masters: Art From the Mugrabi Collection, New York and its focus on Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring from February–June. Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street will open on Saturday, November 25 at HOTA Gallery, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise Gold Coast — head to the exhibition's website for further details and tickets. Images: Ed Reeve, Design Museum London.
