When Stephen King's Doctor Sleep released in 2013, it didn't just return readers to the world of his 1977 hit The Shining — it also meant that a film adaptation became inevitable. Hollywood loves a sequel after all, so it should come as no surprise that the book is indeed headed to the big screen, with the movie's director just announced. Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Hush, Ouija: Origin of Evil) will helm the follow-up, which explores the adult life of Danny Torrance, aka the tricycle-riding tyke at the centre of the first story. And while it might seem like the filmmaker has pretty big shoes to fill — particularly given Stanley Kubrick directed the 1980 classic that became one of the greatest horror movies of all time — Flanagan is no stranger to King's work. In fact, the last credit on his resume is last year's Gerald's Game, as based on the famous author's 1992 novel. A bestseller when it was released in print, Doctor Sleep checks back in on Danny — now going by Dan — who is unsurprisingly bearing emotional and psychological scars from his experiences at the Overlook Hotel. Variety reports that Flanagan will also rewrite the script, which was originally adapted by A Beautiful Mind Oscar winner Akiva Goldsman. Goldsman was also among the writers of last year's awful King-based effort The Dark Tower, as well as Transformers: The Last Knight and Rings. Via Variety.
Performed on Burramatta country, In Situ is both a series of dances within Parramatta Park and an interactive experience for the attendee. Ten of Sydney's best choreographers have create a series of solos, performed by the next generation of dance artists. To find the performances, you'll need to download an interactive map onto your phone to help you locate the various dancers, and, as you draw near to a piece, its corresponding music will begin to play through your headphones. Marrying the rich heritage of the country with the landscape of Parramatta Park and innovative technology, this work from Western Sydney's Dance Makers Collective (The Rivoli, 2020) and performed by their youth company, Future Makers, promises to be a captivating experience. Image: Ro Llauro.
Asian food is everywhere in Australian culture, and it's about to experience another twist in the form of Sens-Asian, a showcase conjured by Luke Mangan. Think of it as a warehouse party with an Asian street market vibe, cocktails and great food. Katherine Sabbath, Black Star Pastry and N2 Gelato. You've seen their creations on Instagram; you've probably double-tapped those creations. They'll be there producing delicious Asian-inspired desserts. Mangan and MOJO head chef Wayne Lee will be holding down the savoury fort and dishing up things like Taiwanese fried chicken and soft shell crab po'boys. We wish we had a third hand to hold a Singapore Sling. Food starts at $15. A live DJ will be providing tunes, and to top it all off, Sydney street artist JUMBO will be there completing a large-scale piece on the warehouse roller doors.
Sydney's Nantes have been hovering just under the radar for a couple of years now, winning hearts and minds while seeing single after single gets added to Triple J. And now, following the recent release of BeingsBeing, their debut album, Nantes are hitting the road to bring you their take on atmospheric synth-indie-pop. Joining them are Battleships a Sydney-based band of transplanted Queenslanders making noise overseas as well as in this suburnt country. They list bands like The National, Elbow and Boxer Rebellion among their influences, and there's definitely a similar mesmeric, melodic quality to songs like 'Your Words' and 'Coming Back to You'. Both acts have been a staple of local festivals for a little while now, although they tend to be on right at the start of the day along with all the other undiscovered gems, at a time when most of us are still trying to decide which ironic T-shirt possesses an acceptable level of street-cred. And if you're worried about parting with $20 for their GoodGod show, they're doing it for free at Bondi's Beach Road Hotel on Wednesday, April 10. https://youtube.com/watch?v=8IaHeTxqUKs
Whatever Pedro Almodóvar and Penélope Cruz happen to be selling — and whenever, and in whichever films — audiences should always be buying. It isn't quite right to liken the acclaimed filmmaker's long-running collaboration with one of his favourite leading ladies to commerce, though, so another comparison fits better: whatever this duo birth into the world, viewers should embrace as a parent does a child. Across four decades now, the Spanish pair has gorgeously and soul-stirringly made cinematic art with the utmost understanding of how to make people feel. They know how people feel, too, and have the combined resumes best exemplified by Live Flesh, All About My Mother, Volver, Broken Embraces, Pain and Glory and now Parallel Mothers to prove it. Their shared filmography also constantly demonstrates another essential insight into human existence: that life is emotion, whether facing its beginning, end or both. Now helming his 22nd feature, Almodóvar has long filled his works with other recurrent inclusions and fascinations, many of which also burst onto the screen again here. When he initially united with Cruz on 1997's Live Flesh, she gave birth on a bus; in their second pairing, the Oscar-winning All About My Mother, she played a pregnant nun; with their most recent collaboration before this, Pain and Glory, she was mum to the writer/director's fictionalised surrogate — so that she's one of his titular matriarchs now is vintage Almodóvar. He brings back another of his veteran stars in Rossy de Palma (Julieta), paints with the vibrant-toned costume and set design that make his movies such a blissful sight for colour-seeking eyes, and focuses on mothers of all shades navigating life's many difficulties as well. Yes, Parallel Mothers is classic Almodóvar, but nothing about that description ever simply unfurls as expected. As the movie's moniker indicates, Janis, the almost-40 photographer that Cruz (The 355) inhabits with the quiet force and fragility that's second nature whenever she's directed by Almodóvar, is just one of Parallel Mothers' mums. Teenager Ana (Milena Smit, Cross the Line) is the other and, despite the feature's title, their stories keep converging. The two first meet in a Madrid hospital, where they share a room, give birth simultaneously, chat about how they're each going it alone with no father in the picture and quickly form a bond — as different as they otherwise appear, down to contrasting sources of support (Janis' brightly attired magazine-editor best friend Elena, which is where de Palma pops up, versus Ana's self-obsessed and distant actress mother Teresa, played by Estoy vivo's Aitana Sánchez-Gijón). Janis and Ana descend separately into motherhood afterwards, but twists of fate keep bringing them back together. Soapiness, aka the kinds of narrative developments characteristic of daytime TV, is another of Almodóvar's touches. But while his career has spanned films light and camp, dark and serious, and almost everything in-between, he inherently recognises that the line between what's dismissed as melodramatic contrivance and what people do truly experience is thinner than a blue slash on a positive pregnancy test. He unravels Parallel Mothers' story with that notion beaming underneath, and while also tackling a real and grim chapter of his country's history that he's never overtly confronted in his work. Before Janis and Ana can meet again and again, their lives and those of their infant daughters' forever intertwined, Janis gets in the family way to anthropologist Arturo (Israel Elejalde, 45 rpm) — who she snaps at a job, then asks to unearth the mass grave in her village that she suspects has housed her great-grandfather's body since he went missing in the Spanish Civil War. A lesser filmmaker would fail to convincingly stitch together Parallel Mothers' past and present, and wouldn't turn the picture into a missive of hope for the future as well — an ode to the ways in which women have weathered the ills, woes, wars and heartbreaks of oft-absent men, and a musing on how acknowledging that reality is a key step to reshaping it. Almodóvar is an exceptional filmmaker, of course, and so every bold move he makes here excavates multi-layered complexity, emotion and, to borrow his last release's name, pain and glory. His embrace of soap opera-style twists and the lingering shadows of Spain's recent history in tandem is chaotic, but his film never sports that air because it accepts it all as truth. There's no heightened histrionics — just the awareness that life is emotion because it's a state of ongoing trauma, as peppered with snatched moments of happiness and learning to appreciate what you can so that you can keep going on. Warm and radiant, and as great as she's ever been for Almodóvar or in any feature, the magnificent Cruz internalises this concept — of enduring and persevering, whether in tirelessly striving to finally exhume her family's past, in lucking into becoming a mother, or when faced with a certainty that's the stuff of maternal nightmares — so completely and sensitively that she's sheer on-screen perfection. There's nothing thin about her performance, but you can see right into it, gleaning the whirlwind of complicated factors that push, pull, swirl, sway and motivate Janis' every choice. She's amply matched by Smit, who turns in a far more internalised portrayal, but one that's still a revelatory portrait of resilience and resolve in its own way. That said, Almodóvar may love his strong female leads, but he also adores flaws; in his movies, no one is faultless, and his characters and the performances behind them are all the more powerful for it. Also potent: Almodóvar's style, rampant as it is, and what it conveys about the tale he's telling. His work is never just about what happens, but how — and with his players, the same rings true in their actions — so all of the colours, deep-focus shots, close-ups of Cruz and Smit's faces, mirrored images featuring the pair and sometimes-sudden edits that bring this picture to fruition are pivotal pieces in Parallel Mothers' puzzle. The mastery of the director's returning technical talents (cinematographer José Luis Alcaine, composer Alberto Iglesias, editor Teresa Font, costumer Paola Torres and production designer Antxón Gómez, all back from Pain and Glory) helps shape the film into a haunted Hitchcockian thriller at times, for example, as well as a clear-eyed look at Spanish history. It's as visually arresting as an Almodóvar movie can be, too, and interweaves its seemingly disparate approaches as commandingly as it does its chalk-and-cheese narrative threads. Sensual and savvy and always sublime, Parallel Mothers sells everything within its immaculate frames — and surrendering to its emotional, visual and thematic pull is as natural as life and death.
If Christmas sent your credit card into overdrive — meaning you now have no spare cash for NYE tix — then The Bucket List's free NYE Beach Party might well be for you. Doors will be open from midday, bringing you DJs, a summery menu and cocktails — all within eyeshot of one of the world's most famous beaches. The musical lineup, kicking off at 5pm, is headed by globetrotting DJ Kaz James, who, in the past year alone, has played Coachella with Seth Troxler and Skream, opened Ushuaïa's new underground spot and appeared at Nic Fanciulli's Social Festival. Hot on his heels are Nicky Night Time, Murat Kilic, Robbie Lowe, Herman, Mikey Bam Bam, Maga (Scorpios Mykonos) and Sucre Sale (France), as well as special guests. The party goes until 2am and bookings aren't available. We're guessing you'll need to get there early.
The stage is about to get saucy this weekend as finalists shimmy and sparkle away during the Miss Burlesque Australia 2012 Competition. Set to woo audiences and judges alike, Oz's brightest burlesque stars - one from each state - will take to the stage in a succession of themed performances. Each will show what they've got in a 'Classic', 'Gown Parade', and their choice of a 'Unique' or 'Neo' performance. Not brushed up on your burlesque lingo? Not to worry: these ladies will spell it out in feather fans and sequins. Not to be left out, burlesque-loving guys will compete in the pageant's first ever Mr. Boylesque Competition. Male entrants from around the country will perform their most outrageous 'Unique' routines in hopes of winning that crown. Regarded as one of the world's leading burlesque pageants, Miss Burlesque Australia 2012 promises to deliver the very best of this revived, tongue-in-cheek art form. Prepare for the finalists' one-two punch of sexy and sassy; it's bound to be one hell of a show.
A psychedelic, space-rock show like no other, The Flaming Lips have been putting on incredible live acts for three decades. Their music is meant for an outdoor festival stage, and for Sydney Festival 2016, they'll be playing out in the open at The Domain — for free. No catch. For the fanatics out there who want to get up close and personal, there is also $50 VIP access passes on sale now, which allows you to jump the queues and sit front-of-stage. Fifty bucks for premium viewing of one of the best live acts around? Now that's a VIP event we can get on board with. Check out more of the best Sydney Festival events under $50 here.
Even a ridiculously large prosthetic nose won't stop the charming Richard Roxburgh from getting the girl, as audiences will discover when he takes the stage as Edmond Rostand's large-nosed hero in the Sydney Theatre Company's upcoming production of Cyrano de Bergerac. Andrew Upton's adaptation of the 1897 French love story will star Eryn Jean Norvill (Romeo and Juliet) as Roxane, Roxburgh's love interest. The historic love triangle is completed with the handsome but dimwitted young Baron, Christian, to be played by Chris Ryan (Thyestes). Whether you're familiar with the classic tale in the original French verse, or if you only recognise the story from Steve Martin's depiction of Cyrano in the '80s romantic comedy Roxanne, this play promises both laughs and a poignant take-home message about how wordplay, swordplay and panache can trump brainless beauty. Just be prepared for lots of nose jokes. Cyrano de Bergerac is on from November 11 to December 20 at the Sydney Theatre, and thanks to STC, we have three double passes to give away to the performance on Tuesday, November 18. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
Books and good lighting have never seemed to go together. As a child I was always encouraged to read less, because "you'll ruin your eyes!" Clearly my parents never anticipated that glasses would become cool. Regardless, I spent most of my childhood reading in bad light, and I am now quietly smug that I have reached my early twenties and have never had a cavity despite refusing to drink milk, have curly hair without eating my crusts, and have perfect vision, unaided by optometrists, despite having spent most of my life with my head in a book. Now Swiss designer Boris Dennler, in his 2007 series of lamps entitled Livresse, is bringing books and good lighting together in one lovely, yet contradictory, invention. Dennler has chosen to re-purpose books, an item frequently overlooked when it comes to the world of interior lighting, and transform them into eco-friendly lamps. The books are turned into fully functional soft-lighting lamps without causing damage to the pages, and can be easily changed if you need to swap your Mills and Boon lamps for early French philosophers. The lamps are also portable, so you could easily freak people out by hanging them from the trees. Recycling at it's best. [Via Designboom]
As always, it's a rough time for those involved in local, independent theatre. The intimate, upstairs theatre at the Tap Gallery in Darlinghurst will be closed from November 5 until further notice. What started as a complaint about fire safety in July, then turned into a council problem. The theatre space never actually received approval to open and now owners need to lodge a development application as well as provide disability access. "We are all terribly upset, but our duty of care towards our patrons and their guests requires that we close the space while we assess our options," reads a statement on the venue's website. "Meantime, our good friends at Sydney City Council are working with us to investigate and resolve a way forward." The venue has been home to a few very successful shows recently, and the news comes as a shock to those in the industry. Audiences were packed into the 50-seat space just a few months ago for Lobby Hero and Penelope. The theatre had further shows lined up including Playing Rock Hudson which was due to open on November 6. All upcoming productions have since been cancelled. "We had heard the rumours, but had been assured by the venue that they would not be closed," the show's artistic director told SMH. "I think Sydney needs to take a look at its independent scene. In terms of venues, there are very few legitimate options for independent artists." At least there's one silver lining: if you're an indie theatre producer looking for a rehearsal space, Tap is offering discount rates. The theatre is available for hire for $25 per house or $200 per day. Hopefully, there will be somewhere to actually put on the show once you're done. Via SMH.
Summer is gone and the CBD might seem as though it's in a season-long shadow — but there's at least one place where the holiday vibes are in full swing. The old Verandah Bar on Elizabeth Street — which sold for over $9 million last year — has relaunched its dining room Social at Verandah. The restaurant sees the property's restaurant transformed into a urban garden oasis, complete with sprawling balcony, tropical prints throughout and about a greenhouse's worth of lush foliage. Here, interiors feature a vacation-inspired mix of warm tones, dark timber and rattan, while a bold mural by artist Chris Nixon brings the dining room's main wall to life. To match, Executive Chef Brad Sloane has put together a sharing menu centred around ethically sourced native Australian produce. It's approachable, yet smart, featuring classic chargrilled steaks, alongside dishes like a yabby tail and roast pumpkin tortellini, kangaroo tartare topped with quail egg yolk, and a whole suckling pig that's carved at the table. That's backed by a global-reaching wine list, extensive selections of gin and whisky, and a crop of signature cocktails. And that's just phase one of Simon Tilley and Nick Wills' reinvention of the CBD haunt — the adjoining Verandah Bar has also enjoyed an overhaul, and is slated to open its doors in the coming weeks. Social at Verandah is now open at 55–65 Elizabeth Street, Sydney. For more info, visit the Facebook page.
"I didn't want to simply be a socialite," Jep Gambardella (Toni Servillo) tells us. "I wanted to become the king of socialites." He has succeeded grandly in this most empty of ambitions; his life seems an endless parade of high-society gatherings, fashionable soirees and art gallery openings. A louche writer resting on the laurels of his lone novel and the occasional magazine piece, Jep has turned recently turned 65 and is shaken from his decadent torpor when he learns that his first love has died. The news acts as a reminder of his own looming mortality and is a chance to reflect on the gradual decline of Rome. Writer-director Paolo Sorrentino's last film was the somewhat divisive little gem This Must Be The Place; this is a much more elaborate affair, stuffing dozens of vignettes of city life into its 142-minute running length. It evokes comparison with his great countrymen Federico Fellini and feels like a belated companion piece to La Dolce Vita, in its ambition, sweep and affectionate but pointedly warts-and-all portrait of a decaying, decadent metropolis. The Great Beauty is in cinemas on January 23, and thanks to Palace Films, we have 15 double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Read our full review here. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=koxRDhAQOpw
Andrew Upton’s The Present, an adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s 1878 play, Platonov, sets the drama of Anna Petrovna’s 40th birthday party in post-Gorbachev, '90s Russia. The celebrations bring together a redundant military class at odds with a younger, principled middle class. Widowed Anna (Cate Blanchett) now faces an unsatisfying choice between two powerful ex-military men, Alexei (Martin Jacobs) and Yegor (David Downer), who have the necessary political links for her to sell the oil on her inherited property. Her decision is made none the easier by the fact that she still loves Mikhail (Richard Roxburgh). Alice Babidge’s design sets the play squarely in the '90s, but it’s not specifically Russian; this could easily be a British or Australian contest between generations for cultural dominance. The setting works, but when sound designer Stefan Gregory chooses 'London Calling' during a scene change, accompanied by a projection of metallic looking dark water, it’s apparent that director John Crowley was aiming for something more potent than a depiction of a disaffected middle class. Punk politics is the wrong choice for Chekhov — he does middle class ennui, not dissent. While Platonov was not one of Chekhov’s successful plays, his mastery of listlessness and thwarted dreams is alive and well in Upton’s adaptation. Mikhail’s lamentations at his own failure to change the world don’t come from a sense of protest approaching that of The Clash, but from a self-aggrandising expectation that he would one day be a great writer. Even the wet-around-the-ears Kirril (Eamon Farren) isn’t moving to Europe to dance and take drugs out of a political impulse; he simply wants to get high and have a lot of sex. This is a cast of theatre big guns (Cate Blanchett, Richard Roxburgh, Jacqueline McKenzie, Toby Schmitz), so it’s surprising in the opening scenes that the ensemble comes to less than the sum of its parts. Upton’s adaptation includes frequent moments of hubbub and interjection, which causes confusion in scenes that should function as the narrative setup. The second half is much sharper and consequently more interesting and at times riveting. This is a handsome-looking piece of theatre with good performances. Roxburgh in particular lights up the huge Roslyn Packer Theatre (formerly Sydney Theatre) with ease. The setting of '90s Russia works, but Crowley’s layering on of a punk musical aesthetic is superfluous. The Present is sold out, but a limited number of Suncorp Twenties tickets are released each Tuesday morning for the following week's performances. More info on how to book.
When the sizeable estate that Elizabeth Bay House formerly sat on was subdivided in the 1920s — with the mansion remaining, but its grounds broken up — the move eventually gave rise to Arthur McElhone Reserve. Named for a Sydney alderman and designed by council employee Ilmar Berzins, it sits on three old lots that remained unsold in the 1940s. Whether you decide to peer back at the house or down at Sydney Harbour, you'll find a peaceful patch of nature. Bringing a picnic and relaxing among the flowers is recommended. So is checking out the ornamental lake and its stone bridge.
After more than a year of teasing — including initial hints in 2019, official confirmation in 2020, a first teaser a week ago and a full trailer a couple of days back — Friends: The Reunion will finally hit screens this month. HBO's US streaming platform HBO Max has gotten the gang back together, reuniting Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow to chat about orange couches, smelly cats and whether a couple is on a break. And, in just-announced news, Australian viewers will be able to get their own hefty dose of 90s sitcom nostalgia at the same time as folks in America. Local streaming platform Binge has just announced that Friends: The Reunion will hit the platform at 5.02pm on Thursday, May 27. Aussie fans were always going to be able to watch the special somewhere, and Binge was always the likely destination, but that has only been confirmed less than a week out from the show's airdate. Dubbed 'The One Where They Get Back Together' in the special's teasers, the reunion comes 27 years since the TV sitcom about six New Yorkers made audiences a promise: that it'd be there for us. And, as well as making stars out of Aniston, Cox, Perry, LeBlanc, Schwimmer and Kudrow, Friends has done just that. Sure, the hit series wrapped up its ten-season run in 2004, but the show has lived on — on streaming platforms, by sending an orange couch around Australia, by screening anniversary marathons in cinemas and in boozy brunch parties, for example. Friends: The Reunion promises to take pop culture's lingering affection for the show to another level, though. During the unscripted special, the actors behind Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, Ross and Phoebe will chat about their experiences on and memories of the show — all on the same soundstage where Friends was originally shot, so expect to see some familiar faces and some recognisable decor. Aniston, Cox and the gang also have a few other famous pals for company, with the hefty guest lineup spanning folks with connections to the show and others that must just love it. On the list: David Beckham, Justin Bieber, BTS, James Corden, Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne, Lady Gaga, Elliott Gould, Kit Harington, Larry Hankin and Mindy Kaling, as well as Thomas Lennon, Christina Pickles, Tom Selleck, James Michael Tyler, Maggie Wheeler, Reese Witherspoon and Malala Yousafzai. Check out the Friends: The Reunion trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYB1HvwHnkg Friends: The Reunion will be available to stream in Australia via Binge, hitting the platform at 5.02pm on Thursday, May 27.
Join Seasoned Music for their Autumn 2012 event. Every change in season they create a one-off boutique music event. These high-end parties provide unforgettable experiences for revellers. This season's event is inspired by the concept of a German beer garden. Expect plenty of schnitzels and imported beer, to be enjoyed to the tune of some of the world's most-renowned musical artists. Sip your beer amid twinkling fairy lights and naturally, huge, high-quality speakers. The event is as much about the atmosphere as it is the music. Arrive early and dressed to impress. The enchanted autumn evening ahead of you is sure to make you forget your end-of-summer woes. Tickets to Seasoned Music are available here through Moshtix.
Polyamory (loving two or more people, sincerely, at the same time) from the outside tends to look a bit like piloting a fighter jet, requiring talent, instinct and a lot of practice. But it looks to me like it can be done, and done well. One half of Serial Space's upcoming debators are happy to agree with me, the other half are happy to see my heart pulled apart in two equally well-loved directions. As part of their series of Great Debates, Serial Space is hosting The Great Love Debate - That Polyamory Doesn't Work, to put the idea to bed once and for all. Debating for the affirmative are Imperial Panda regular Eddie Sharp, Angela Bowne Anderson and ACON icon Siri May. Contradicting are Performance-Spacer Lara Thoms (who is either Spat or Loogie), as well as Nigel Cox and Jess Keen. Recently preggers Nick Coyle is adjudicating, and you can relax after the love-fueled bloodletting to the discs of Tyson Koh alter-ego Baron Mundi. Serial Space is home to deep thinkers and agile speakers. You may or may not find yourself changing your mind, partner or preconceptions, but you're likely to fall in love with all on stage.
Western Sydney is set to score an ambitious new academic precinct, with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announcing plans for a second University of Sydney campus to be built in Westmead. Part of the University's promise to invest a cool $500 million towards the region's future, the new campus is expected to host over 6000 students by 2030, and potentially up to 25,000 by the year 2050. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the campus would be located on the site of Cumberland Hospital, and right near Westmead Hospital. As such, the new campus would have a focus on research and health. The university's Vice-Chancellor and Principal Dr Michael Spence AC said in a statement that the Westmead campus will focus on "the opportunities and challenges posed by disruptive changes at the intersection of technology and the human experience", which means things like advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence and data would be some of the main topics studied. The University of Sydney has the Berejiklian Government's support, so it will now enter into a two-year negotiation period with Health Infrastructure NSW and UrbanGrowth NSW Development Corporation. A master plan should be released after that. The new campus is part of a huge push to boost Sydney's Western infrastructure and services to allow it to act like Sydney's 'second CBD'. As part of the State Government's $1 billion Westmead Hospital Redevelopment, plans for the site also include a research-led education facility backing the Westmead Health and Education Precinct, affordable housing options and public services including a new school. The new uni will join join Western Sydney University, which had campuses in Bankstown, Parramatta and Campbelltown, among others. Other significant plans for the area include a second Sydney airport to be built at Badgerys Creek by 2026, major improvements to transport infrastructure (like the Parramatta Light Rail and the Sydney Metro West project, which includes a high-speed underground tunnel linking the two CBDs) and the $2 billion mixed-use redevelopment they're calling Parramatta Square.
As if Bill Murray's moustache wasn't excitement enough, the entire soundtrack to Wes Anderson's new film, The Grand Budapest Hotel, is currently streaming ahead of its release at Pitchfork. And true to the director's form, the 32 songs have enough whimsy and intrigue in them to knock Jude Law on his pipe-smoking, tweed-wearing back. Unlike Anderson's more gutsy early offerings like Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums, the Grand Budapest soundtrack easily favours Russian folk songs over anything like The Ramones or The Velvet Underground. In that way, it's much more akin to the music found in Moonrise Kingdom or Fantastic Mr. Fox — one could easily imagine the characters scurrying around while looking at ornate objects from above. In fact, that's what the film looks like as a whole. From the trailers already released it seems much less like Wes's early, thoughtful character studies, and much more a madcap reunion of his on-screen favourites. Not that we're ones to complain about another opportunity to see Jason Schwartzman with cigarettes morosely hanging out of his mouth, or Bill Murray in high-waisted pants. Like all things Wes, this soundtrack is an acquired taste. If you're already a fan, the music has the ability to transport you — its folksiness is almost otherworldly. If you're not, we recommend you stay clear of it. If Wes couldn't win you over with The Beatles and Elliott Smith, I doubt the Osipov State Russian Folk Orchestra is going to do the trick. The Grand Budapest Hotel will be released in Australian cinemas on April 10. Stream the soundtrack here.
It's been five weeks since two young people died of suspected drug overdoses at Sydney music festival Defqon 1. A few days later, the NSW Government responded by assembling an expert panel to advise on ways to improve safety at our festivals. Now, those panelists — including Chief Medical Officer Dr Kerry Chant, Police Commissioner Mick Fuller and Chair of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority Philip Crawford — have revealed their recommendations, outlined in the Keeping People Safe At Music Festivals report. The advice is mainly centred around three points: new liquor licences for festivals, improved harm-reduction education and harsher penalties for those caught with drugs. Pill testing, however, has not been considered. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has already responded to the report, confirming the government will introduce a new licensing regime specifically for music festivals, provide more support for health workers at festivals and will trial on-the-spot fines for anyone caught in possession of drugs at music festivals. The SMH has reported this fine to be around $400-500. In a press conference after the report was released, Ms Berejiklian also confirmed that harsher penalties would be introduced for people who supply an illegal drug that causes someone's, and could see them spend 10-25 years in jail. If you've been keeping tabs on the situation, it'll come as little surprise that pill testing wasn't even on the table, given the government's very vocal stance against the concept. In fact, in the press conference, Mr Fuller even labelled the idea of pill testing saving lives as "a myth". Plenty of pill testing advocates have taken to social media to slam his suggestion, and the expert panel report as a whole. Most are citing extensive research that's been undertaken overseas, as well as the pill testing trial that took place at Canberra's Groovin The Moo festival earlier this year, as proof of pill testing's success as a life-saving measure. Dear @nswpolice and Commissioner Mick Fuller, here's a 42 page 'myth' detailing an empirically evaluated pill testing program conducted in Australia. We have the evidence. Disregarding it is reckless, irresponsible and dangerous policy. https://t.co/hKCN1hTpTB — Tim Powell (@TJ_Powell1) October 23, 2018 https://twitter.com/RichardDiNatale/status/1054572370596253696 You can read the full Keeping People Safe At Music Festivals report here.
From slinging back a shot of whisky with a frosty lager to chase, to sampling a flight of single malts with paired craft brews, whisky and beer have walked hand in hand for years. But what is it about these two particular drinks that just works? What other possibilities exist on the horizon of adult beverages, beyond the humble boilermaker? We caught up with Michael Nouri, brand ambassador of single malt whisky, Auchentoshan (pronounced 'ock-un-tosh-un'), to delve deeper into the world of fermented grains. No stranger to the heavenly duo, Auchentoshan are serving up their own take on whisky and beer throughout June in Sydney and Melbourne with the Auchentoshan & Ale, a refreshing cocktail of Auchentoshan American Oak, pale ale, fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup. So strap in, friends, to see why whisky and beer make up a power couple that rivals even the Underwoods. THE IRREFUTABLE FACTS OF CHEMISTRY While the idea of actually mixing whisky and beer together might seem a little counterintuitive, the result exposes a whole new level of flavours. By the very nature of their chemistry, the brew and spirit are simply destined to be partners in crime. "Whisky starts its life as beer," Michael explains, so from the get go, the two share characteristics that complement one another. "You're taking whisky back to its origins. The spirit has a great cereal-like, grain structure to its flavour profile, and so does beer," so putting the two together is a no brainer, like with the Auchentoshan & Ale, where the scotch's distinctive nut and citrus base notes match those of many pale ales. However, even though whisky and beer have so much in common, another important part of the pairing equation is the fact that they're also so different. As their shared characteristics are enhanced by combining the two, the differing aspects of their profiles are also accentuated. Since beer is so refreshing, it adds a nice counterbalance to the warmth and intensity of a straight spirit like whisky, Michael explains. Auchentoshan American Oak, for example, balances the sweetness of the oak with the subtle fruity hops and citrus acidity of pale ale; ice-cold frothiness meets with a slick heat, and that's where the magic happens. "You know what whisky tastes like, and you know what beer tastes like, but when you put them together, it's a completely different beast." AN ENDLESS WORLD OF POSSIBILITY When you've got two ingredients that both complement and contrast each other, you're left with a combination that's too great to fail, and what's even better is how there's an absolutely endless stream of pairing possibilities. From matching a young bourbon to a rich porter, to combining a crisp pale ale with a rounded scotch like in the Auchentoshan & Ale, there are endless whiskies and beers to try together, and the industry is always coming out with new variations. "The beer camp, just by virtue of the industry itself, is quite progressive," Michael says. And while the whisky world can be a little conservative, it is catching up with new trends and ideas. You have distillers like Auchentoshan who are challenging the norms, and triple distilling their whisky to create a delicate flavour that's great on its own, but also makes for an interesting drop to experiment with. "You've got a whole variety of experimentation happening now, with different grains, with rice, with quinoa and a whole variety of other stuff," and these new variations mean boundless products to pair up. BEYOND THE BOILERMAKER With these endless possibilities, comes a lot of experimentation. The boilermaker is almost old hat now that both brewers and distillers are trialling more and more combination styles. "That's the whole beauty of what we do, it's experimental. We're trying new things, we're discovering combinations, and we're finding new ways to bring something interesting to people that they've never thought was interesting before" — like combining scotch, pale ale, fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup into one refreshing tipple. But when it all comes down to it, it's important to bear in mind that "ultimately, all you want to do is sit there, close your eyes and enjoy that drink." We couldn't agree more. Sit back, close your eyes and enjoy an Auchentoshan & Ale found around Sydney and Melbourne until the end of June.
From global behemoth Netflix to the arthouse, indie and documentary-focused Kanopy, picking a streaming platform can take as much time as actually picking something to watch on a streaming platform. The latest to enter the market has quite the point of difference, however — and not just because it's free. If viewing the likes of Bronson, Drive, Only God Forgives and The Neon Demon has you on the same wavelength as filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn, then you're in luck — the Danish writer/director has started his own streaming service. Called byNWR.com, it's a self-appointed "an unadulterated expressway for the arts", according to the site itself. After opening in beta in July, it's now officially up and running. A venture in conjunction with existing platform Mubi as well as the Harvard Film Archive, byNWR.com highlights a different restored cult classic each month, with the selection picked by a guest editor. Each film is supported by content themed around the chosen flick, such as essays, videos, photos and music. If you're thinking that you've probably seen the movies on offer (and that they're probably available elsewhere), think again. The site launched with three titles chosen by journalist Jimmy McDonough, and it's highly unlikely that you've watched and rewatched 1965 horror effort The Nest of the Cuckoo Birds, 1967's Hot Thrills and Warm Chills and 1967's Shanty Tramp endlessly, or even seen them on a big or small screen recently. The second volume will start rolling out from September, and will include 1961 thriller Night Tide starring Dennis Hopper, 1971's If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do?, and 1967's Spring Night, Summer Night — all curated by film publication Little White Lies. "I hope my site will inspire people to see the world a different way," Refn explained The Guardian, while also touching upon something fans of the filmmaker's own work will be more than familiar with: pushing people out of their comfort zones. If Refn's choices sound like the kind of thing you would like to see in a cinema, Little White Lies also reports that the streaming site will be accompanied by special screenings around the globe.
Celebrating a white Christmas is at the top of many people's bucket lists — and now you can cross it off with the German International School Sydney's annual Christmas Market. Held on August 17–18, the market brings festive cheer to Sydney's northern beaches with a host of open-air market stalls, traditional German food, fairy lights and music. Before you explore, grab a mug of warm and spicy mulled wine from the Glühwein Hut. The market will be overflowing with traditional German cuisine, including favourites such as bratwurst, sauerkraut, pancakes and pretzels. Styled like a classic European Christmas market, the array of stalls will be covered in charming fairy lights with many offering a range of high quality local produce, festive decorations, homewares, jewellery and more. There will also be a giant inflatable 'snow globe' with fake snow that you can step inside, a bonfire that'll keep you thawed and some marshmallows going around that could use some light toasting on the flames. The German Christmas Market will run from 5–9pm on Friday, August 17, and 4–9pm on Saturday, August 18.
Look, it was only a matter of time before this happened. Following on from the success of similar places in New York and Amsterdam, Australia's first avocado pop-up cafe is coming to Sydney. And it'll be avocado everything, seven days a week. Don't act surprised — we created this monster. The pop-up — named Good Fat, because everyone knows that's the best health benefit/justification for eating copious amounts of avo smash — will opens its doors on November 2 in Surry Hills with about 20 items on the menu that incorporate avocado. Sydneysiders will be able to indulge in creations such as the avocado breakfast skin (an avocado smoothie bowl served in its own skin) and a Cornetto-inspired avo ice cream cone. If you haven't already twigged, the whole thing is a promo for Australian Avocados, a non-profit representative body for the Australian avocado industry. But even so, avocados are a brand we're happy to support with our love and money. If you feel the same, the pop-up will be open will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner until November 30 and all dishes will be under $20. Good Fat will be open from November 2–30, from 7am to 9pm on Monday through Saturday and 8pm to 5pm on Sundays, at 355 Crown Street, Surry Hills.
Three Blue Ducks is expanding its collection of ever-popular farm-to-table eateries with a new road trip-worthy regional restaurant. Following the opening of a Snowy Mountains outpost in 2020 (and closures of its Brisbane restaurant and original Bronte cafe), the hospitality group has now turned its attention to the New South Wales mid-north coast to showcase the area's renowned produce at a venue in Bellingen. Opening on Thursday, July 13, this new addition to the Three Blue Ducks family will be located at scenic Bellingen hotel The Lodge, expanding the group's current slate of locations to five alongside Rosebery, Byron Bay, Melbourne and Nimbo. Located on the hotel's 16-acre gardens, the restaurant will offer all of the hallmarks of Three Blue Ducks with a menu that favours bold, spice-packed dishes. "We've always loved working with spice, lemongrass, ginger, chilli, makrut, et cetera, and after working closely with the local producers and farmers, we've created a menu for the restaurant that showcases these flavours," says Three Blue Ducks' Darren Robertson. "The menu draws from some of the favourite dishes we've cooked during our travels and at our other locations over the years, combined with new dishes to keep it fresh and exciting for us, our staff and people that drop in." The Three Blue Ducks crew has been working with a range of local suppliers including Levenvale Farms, The Patch Organics, Nautical Wholesale Seafood, Coffs Coast Mushrooms and Promised Land Organics to pull together a menu that places the spotlight on the best beef, seafood, chicken and vegetables that the region has to offer. The all-day restaurant will kick things off early on Saturdays and Sundays with Single O coffee and brekky favourites like the restaurant group's beloved granola, bacon and egg rolls, avocado and roasted mushroom toast, and cocktails like Bloody Marys and cherry blossom spritzes. From there, Bellingen locals, hotel guests and tourists alike can settle in for a flavour-packed lunch or dinner, with a hefty a la carte selection available alongside a series of set menus. There's a prominent Asian influence throughout the menu, with dumplings and bao on offer as starters, salt and Szechuan pepper squid and prawn toast available on the smaller plates, cauliflower curry on the mains and a chocolate yuzu eclair ready to round out your meal. Other highlights diners can expect at Three Blue Ducks Bellingen include beef tartare with fragrant chilli oil and togarashi; lemon, lime and south plum duck; fried chicken sandwiches; ponzu-topped oysters; flat-iron steak with citrus butter and curry leaf; and miso caramel cheesecake. There will also be a separate functions menu, with the Three Blue Ducks team working with The Lodge to offer private events and catering for weddings. The Lodge boasts 30 individual rooms, luxury glamping options, a pool with day beds and a bar, and five alpacas that wander the gardens. Reservations for the restaurant are open now. [caption id="attachment_834387" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Three Blue Ducks, Rosebery[/caption] Three Blue Ducks Bellingen will open on Thursday, July 13 at The Lodge, 1381 Waterfall Way, Bellingen. It'll be open for dinner Monday–Sunday, lunch Friday–Sunday and breakfast Saturday–Sunday.
When JK Rowling dropped those last terrible three words on us at the close of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, all was not well. It would never be well without Harry, Ron, Hermione and co. in our lives. But great things are bubbling in the wizarding world, with Supreme Mugwump Rowling announcing the release of an eighth Harry Potter book. If we look Petrified, it's because HOLY SHIT. According to Pottermore, Rowling's own kickass content website, 2016 will see a special rehearsal edition of the script book of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I & II — Rowling's first play on London's West End that picks up 19 years after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and that abominably cheery epilogue on Platform 9 3/4. Print and digital editions of the book will publish right after the play's world premiere in winter 2016. You'll be able to read the version of the script from the Cursed Child's preview performances (a Definitive Collector's Edition will come later). JUST. LOOK. AT. IT. What's in store for Harry and the gang? The Cursed Child is set 19 years after the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Harry is now a Ministry of Magic employee, and the play focuses on his youngest son Albus Severus Potter — the heart pangs. The official synopsis of the play (and now official eighth book) was released by co-writers J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany on October 23, 2015: "It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places." It's been 20 years since the UK publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Twenty. Re-read it, go see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them when the film comes out and sit on your sorting hats until the EIGHTH HARRY POTTER BOOK arrives. Oh god, I need a butterbeer. Via Pottermore.
It's been one heck of a tough year for the country's bar industry, as venues spent months navigating lockdowns, restrictions and, more recently, capacity limits. But despite all the craziness, Australia has still managed to make a splash at this year's edition of the World's 50 Best Bars Awards. Four local drinking establishments each nabbed themselves a spot among the 51–100 top bars in the world, as announced last week. Those voted in the top 50 will be revealed at a separate virtual awards ceremony held on Thursday, November 5. All four Aussie bars to make the 51–100 list are located in Melbourne, which has just lived through some of the world's toughest COVID-19 restrictions as part of its second-wave lockdown. Fitzroy bar The Everleigh snagged the 73 spot, while newer CBD haunt Byrdi came in at 80. Petite Collingwood bar Above Board followed not too far behind at number 84 and the long-running Black Pearl — which has scooped a spot in the Top 50 list numerous times throughout the award's 12-year history — was voted in at 98. [caption id="attachment_748362" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Byrdi by Kate Shanasy[/caption] Elsewhere on the list, London's Scout (by the now Sydney-based bartender Matt Whiley) came in at 51, while the USA had seven bars in the lineup, including The Dead Rabbit in NY and San Francisco's Trick Dog. The annual awards are voted on by over 540 bar industry experts from around the world, including bartenders, consultants, drinks writers and cocktail specialists. Australia will now wait to see if any more local venues make it into the World's 50 Best Bars list later this week. Last year's one–50 lineup featured just one Aussie bar, with Sydney's Maybe Sammy taking out position 43. Check out the full World's 50 Best Bars Awards 51–100 list at the website. The one–50 list will be revealed at 3pm UK time on Thursday, November 5, via Facebook and YouTube. Top image: The Everleigh by Gareth Sobey
CHiPS is an extraordinarily annoying film. Annoying, because it's 85 per cent predictable, homophobic rubbish, but also 15 per cent genuinely funny. The quality of those few jokes that do land hence raises the question: was the writer, director and star Dax Shepard just lucky on those rare occasions? Or was he simply lazy on all others? Given the movie is merely the latest in a long line of old TV show reboots, laziness seems the more likely contender. This hypothesis gains further credibility when you consider the comedic chops of Shepard's cast, which includes Michael Peña, Kristen Bell and Maya Rudolph, among others. Hell, Shepard himself is no mug when it comes to making us laugh; how he, or anyone else, could possibly think this script was strong enough to move into production may forever remain a mystery. The plot of CHiPS is at once hideously convoluted and entirely predictable. Peña plays Frank "Ponch" Poncherello, an FBI agent going undercover into the California Highway Patrol in order to expose a gang of corrupt officers suspected of carrying out a series of armoured car robberies. He's partnered up with probationary officer Jon Baker (Shepard), a former X-Games motorcyclist whose body is now in a state of such ruin it's comparable to that of Lloyd Bridges' Admiral Benson in Hot Shots. Addicted to pain killers and determined to win back his adulterous trophy-wife Karen (played by Shepard's actual wife Kristen Bell), Baker is an Owen Wilson-esque modern age man forever discussing the closure of issues and expressing concern for Peña's presumed homophobia. Together, Ponch and Baker cycle around California, occasionally doing police work, but mostly just swearing, masturbating and blowing things up until the movie just sort of ends. The funny bits are funny – a moment involving a hit and run with paparazzi, for example, elicited actual applause from our audience. But successful gags are so few and far between that it makes the exercise of discovering them feel like too much for too little. Vincent D'Onofrio does a solid job imbuing his gang leader character with at least some degree of complexity when all other characters around him are merely caricatures. But it's not nearly enough to save this otherwise decidedly dull and frequently downright cringeworthy affair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IfqqUTW-i4
It's just become a whole lot harder for any New South Wales driver to get away with using their mobile phone while driving — and it's thanks to a world-first move by the NSW Government, which is adopting speed camera-style technology to detect the illegal behaviour. This past weekend, on December 1, the Government permanently rolled out phone detection cameras across the state. Like speed cameras, these ones will be both fixed and mounted on relocatable trailers. So how will they work? Well, the high-def cameras will take an image of the two front seats of the car, then use an artificially intelligent system to detect folks using their phones while they're behind the wheel. All incriminating images will be verified by a person before any fines are sent out. The cameras can apparently operate in all conditions, day and night, and regardless of the weather. The permanent rollout comes after a six-month trial of the technology — and spying more than 100,000 drivers using their phones illegally. The program will continue to expand until 2023, when the Government hopes it'll be checking 135 million cars annually. [caption id="attachment_742763" align="alignnone" width="1920"] A photo taken during the trial[/caption] For the first three months after the cameras are mounted, drivers using phones will receive warning letters. After that, though, you'll cop a $344 fine ($457 in a school zone) and five demerit points if you're caught texting, 'gramming, taking selfies, sending emails or any other illegal phone activity while driving. While some drivers will see this as a cash grab, the government is hoping it'll reduce the number of road fatalities, with Minister for Regional Roads Paul Toole saying, "independent modelling has shown that these cameras could prevent around 100 fatal and serious injury crashes over five years." The phone detection cameras were rolled out across NSW roads on December 1, 2019. For more information, head to the Transport for NSW website.
Waterfalls run in abundance along the aptly named Waterfall Way, which commences the scenic 185km drive between Coffs Harbour and Armidale. You'll encounter dazzling cascades when passing through the New England and Dorrigo national parks, but the shimmering double drop of Ebor Falls shouldn't be missed. Watch the Guy Fawkes River roar down a 100-meter gorge from three viewing platforms that also provide sweeping views across the valley. Take an easy stroll between each lookout to spy wedge-tailed eagles soaring above golden strawflowers and rare ground orchids that bloom around the upper falls in the warmer months, before settling in for a break at one of the woodland picnic areas. Image: Destination NSW
Under a crisp blue sky, a black Ferrari careens in circles around a dusty track. It circles, and circles, and circles. If you're bored already, then chances are you won't fancy taking a trip to Sofia Coppola's Somewhere. Shot in long takes, this languorous, intimate and shamelessly introspective film is in many ways created as a companion piece to Lost in Translation; another story that could easily be lumped under the title 'first world whinge,' were it not so beautifully crafted. Ensconced in the plush purgatory of the Chateau Marmont, listless and lost celebrity Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) whiles his time away in semi-drunken stupor, his only company being whomever he can lure into his bedroom, and the occasional phone call from his agent. Then one day Johnny wakes up to find his 11-year-old daughter Cleo (Elle Fanning) sitting on his bed, and in her company Johnny starts to notice, and then to question, the gilded cage he has crafted for himself. Somewhere is time-image cinema in the vein of Michelangelo Antonioni. This essentially means: don't expect much to happen, it's all about sinking into the atmosphere that Coppola quietly, expertly conjures. Coppola, with her remarkable cinematographer Harris Savides (Elephant) and accompanied by original music from her partner Thomas Mars of Phoenix, together have crafted a piece of contemplation as cinema. It won't work for everybody, particularly those who can't quite dig up some empathy for a character tantamount to a poor little rich boy. But here Coppola is both aware and unapologetic — the jets, the glamorous hotel suites, the press junkets — it's her world and she's recreating it intricately and self-reflexively. Dorff benefits from similarly reflexive casting, where his own faded celebrity almost becomes a cautionary tale for Johnny. Drunk, bewildered, and eventually yearning, Dorff brings Johnny to life with compassion and pathos. He is however routinely upstaged by the glorious Elle Fanning, whose fresh-faced performance delights, and who manages to hit her emotional mark with much more conviction than her costar. But their chemistry is wonderfully understated and in a testament to Coppola's assured direction. For all its restraint, slice-of-life naturalism and superb soundtrack, Somewhere is a film and a mood that you can sink into like a deep, comfy sofa. This languid ambiance is threatened by the film's comparatively overstated ending, for in crafting the conclusion to the opening metaphor, Coppola unfortunately goes for the glaringly obvious. It feels like a disappointing misstep, but even this is not quite enough to spoil the reverie. *Advance screenings at select cinemas on Christmas day https://youtube.com/watch?v=uVQtL8GQPFA
On Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8, Palace Norton Street and the Chauvel Cinema will become the most magical places in Sydney. Split across the two days, all ten Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films will grace the two venues' screens, serving up a whole weekend of wizarding wonder. BYO time-turner if you don't think you'll be able to get through it all otherwise. Ten films, you say? Yep, this really is a celebration of every Potter-related flick there is, which means the eight movie versions of J.K. Rowling's original seven books, plus both Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Fantastic Beasts and the Crimes of Grindelwald as well. Watch Harry, Hermione, Ron and co. spend their first day at Hogwarts, play quidditch, search for the deathly hallows and battle He Who Must Not Be Named. And, then jump back several decades earlier to explore the exploits behind one of their textbooks. Potterfest: A Harry Potter Marathon kicks off at 10am on Saturday, runs through until 11.40pm that evening, and then screens again from 10am–10.45pm on Sunday. Dressing up in costume is always highly recommended, as is indulging in the whole two days of Potter nerdery — with tickets costing $50, or $40 for Palace members.
If you're a fan of Gelato Messina and its sweet treats, the past couple of years have just kept on giving. That saying doesn't apply to much at all during the pandemic, but it definitely fits in this situation. The dessert chain has released all manner of one-off specials, launched a new range of chocolate-covered ice cream bars in supermarkets, dropped a merchandise line and brought back its Christmas trifle, for starters — and, as it did in 2021, too, it's also doing Easter cocktails. A collaboration with Cocktail Porter, Messina's DIY drinks kits let you whip up your own boozy beverages — and, because it's that time of year, you'll be doing so inside an Easter egg. Yes, you read that correctly. What's the point of being an adult at Easter if you can't combine sweet treats with alcohol? Basically, these kits answer a familiar dilemma, especially at this time of year. No one likes choosing between tucking into an orb of chocolate and having another beverage, after all. Flavour-wise, get ready to sip and eat a whole heap of salted caramel. These packs come with Messina's popular dulce de leche topping, as well as Baileys, cold-drip coffee and Mr Black Coffee Liqueur. You'll also receive chocolate Easter eggs, obviously, which you'll pour your mixed liquids into — as well as pieces of salted caramel popcorn to pop on top. You can pick between two different-sized packs, with the small kit costing $80 and making five drinks, and the large costing $145 and making 12. Fancy drinking Easter cocktails out of rabbit-shaped mounds of chocolate? That's on the menu as well. This kit doesn't actually feature Messina products, but espresso martinis served out Lindt milk chocolate bunnies should still tempt your boozy tastebuds. This one also comes with vodka, cold-drip coffee, sugar syrup and Mr Black Coffee Liqueur, and the prices for both small and large batches are the same as the salted caramel kits. Cocktail Porter delivers Australia-wide, if that's your Easter drinking plans sorted. It's now doing pre-orders for both packs, which'll start shipping from mid-March. To order Cocktail Porter's Easter cocktail kits, head to the Cocktail Porter website.
If you, like us, have been cooking at home much more frequently since the pandemic hit, you've probably also become more aware of your food-related waste. Luckily for us — and the environment — though, more and more companies are focusing on sustainability in the kitchen. Next on that list: Great Wrap, a compostable alternative to cling wrap that's made from 100 percent plant-based material. The Australian-owned, family-run business was co-founded by Julia and Jordy Kay, who spent 18 months developing the Great Wrap formula. While many compostable plastics can take ages to decompose, Great Wrap is made from plants and breaks down into non-toxic molecules in less than 180 days — faster than an orange peel. If you're already a sustainability warrior, you know that's an impressive feat. The cling wrap is (of course) food safe and durable as well. Each roll is 30-metres long and perforated in 30-centimetre intervals for easy tearing. And, most importantly, it's another way for home chefs to enjoy cooking while minimising their environmental impact. Apart from the cling wrap, the company also produces pallet wrap for businesses — something that's especially useful in breweries, bottle shops and other venues. It's currently out of stock, but will be back in September, so keep an eye out. For domestic use, you can buy three rolls for $29.90 or six rolls for $49.90, with free shipping on all orders — and a ten percent discount currently on offer for all new accounts too. Great Wrap has also garnered the support of online natural wine shop Drnks. If you're interested in trying the product out on a smaller scale, you can grab a single-roll order on the Drnks website for a tenner. To find out more about Great Wrap and order a three- or six-pack, head over to greatwrap.co.
"Get a little closer... Cut open my sternum and pull my little ribs around you", Megan James sings on Purity Ring's "Fineshrine", a song so immaculate and pretty it takes a few listens for the darkness of the lyrics to come into focus. The Canadian duo revel in this kind of contrast: Lush, manicured synth pop with a dark undercurrent that leaves a more unsettling afterglow. Initially formed out of Montral indie band Gobble Gobble, Purity Ring's debut full-length Shrines ranks as one of the year's best, an immersive, swirling collection with pulsing rhythms and pockets of deceptive darkness. Touring for Golden Plains festival, the pair will also bring their live show (which includes a renowned light show courtesy of the other member, Corin Riddick) to Sydney. Their first show at Oxford Art Factory is already sold out, so hurry to catch their recently announced second one.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, many Australians have turned to home baking for comfort. Scroll through your Instagram feed and you're sure to see an overexcited jar of sourdough starter, a misshapen loaf or a #squishvid. Head on over to your local supermarket, though, and you're likely to find empty shelves where the flour once sat. This isn't just the scenario in Australia, either. According to Miller Magazine, flour demand has doubled in the UK and French supermarket sales have tripled, and in an episode of Samin Nosrat's new podcast Home Cooking a desperate Angelean asks how to make their wife white cake without the hard-to-find white flour (hint: you can't). But, if you're keen to begin your own baking adventures, not all hope is lost. You might actually find the elusive powder hiding at your local restaurant or cafe. As restaurants have been forced to adapt during the closure of non-essential indoor venues, many have pivoted to providing their local communities with grocery essentials and produce boxes. And one of the essential products they're selling is — you guessed it — flour. [caption id="attachment_768410" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emma Joyce[/caption] Many Sydney cafes, including Marrickville's Cherry Moon, Brickfields in Chippendale, St Peters' Sample Coffee and Surry Hills' Reuben Hills and Single O, now have flour on their shelves, available to pick up or (in some cases) deliver. If you're looking for the gluten-free version, Waverley's Wholegreen Bakery has you covered. Two pubs, The Tudor Hotel and The Royal Hotel, are now convenience stores, stocking toilet paper, hand sanitiser and, yes, flour. Some restaurants are also selling produce boxes, including Fratelli Fresh, which are filled with a heap of pantry staples. In Melbourne, non-profit cafe Sibling has its own online store with baking ingredients, including flour and yeast, while St Kilda East's Grosvenor Hotel and Lamaro's Hotel in South Melbourne both have their own a bottle-o and shop. Ted's Grocer — formerly all-day diner Theodore's — also has produce boxes and essentials. If you've already jumped on the baking trend and are looking at other quarantine cooking projects to start, we're rounded up six fun, tasty and time-consuming recipes you can try out here. If and when you do decide to head out to get groceries, remember to follow the Australian Government Department of Health's social distancing guidelines. Top image: Cherry Moon by Kitti Gould
In the past couple of weeks, Sydney has seen fluctuating restrictions in response to the northern beaches COVID-19 outbreak. While the NSW Government allowed for relaxed gathering limits for three days over Christmas, Premier Gladys Berejiklian reinstated pre-Christmas restrictions across both the northern beaches and Greater Sydney. Then, changes to the city's New Year's Eve celebrations were announced on Monday, December 28. Now, the day before New Year's Eve, Berejiklian has announced even stricter gathering limits in response to increasing concerns about transmission of COVID-19 in other parts of Greater Sydney — with these new limits to be in place on New Year's Eve and "until further notice". Come midnight tonight, Wednesday, December 30, households across the Greater Sydney area — which, currently, includes the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and Wollongong — will be limited to five visitors (including children). For outdoor gatherings outside of the northern beaches, the new limit is 30 people. Stay-at-home orders remain in place for northern beaches residents until, at the earliest, January 2 for the southern zone and January 9 for the northern zone. For New Year's Eve, residents of the northern zone are still allowed to have indoor and outdoor gatherings of up to five visitors — provided they are also from the northern zone. Meanwhile, for those in the southern zone, the new restrictions will replace the previously announced ten-person gathering limit, with now only five visitors allowed from within their zone. For the rest of Greater Sydney, the new restrictions replace the ten-person indoor gathering limit and the 50-person cap for outdoor public gatherings announced just days ago. Restrictions on gatherings in regional NSW remain unchanged, with 50 allowed at indoor gatherings and 100 at outdoor. For venues in the Greater Sydney area — which include hospitality venues — the one person per four-square-metre rule is still in effect. And, a cap of 300 people remains for big venues, even if a large space can hold more than that and still abide by the density requirement. For venues in regional NSW, the limit is one per two square metres. https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1344072885627863040 The announcement comes as NSW records 18 additional cases of locally acquired COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, December 29. Nine of those are directly linked to the Avalon cluster, while six — all from the same family — are linked to a new cluster in the inner west, known as the 'Croydon cluster'. Three further locally acquired cases are under investigation, with two from members of the same household in Wollongong and one from northern Sydney. Yesterday saw around 17,267 tests — a significant drop from the high testing numbers between December 24–27 — with the Premier stating she wants the testing rates to "go higher" and for people "to come forward and get tested if you have the mildest of symptoms". Sydneysiders are also asked to continue to frequently check NSW Health's long list of locations and venues that positive coronavirus cases have visited over the past week — and, if you've been to anywhere listed on the specific dates and times, get tested immediately and self-isolate. You can also have a look at the venue alerts over at this new interactive map. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
This is one of those performances that makes you wonder why you can’t seductively spin that many hula hoops around your body dressed in a sexy lycra glitter suit, or dangle yourself from the ceiling with a single hand without raising a sweat. Or maybe it’s shows like this that make you realise why you can’t and shouldn’t ever attempt to do so. Empire has been produced by Spiegelworld and is all about the Spiegeltent experience with circus-y, burlesque-y goings on inside. Think round seating in velvet booths, tons of mirrors, and a show that’s as intimate as you can get without becoming a part of the performance. If you’ve been to the Spiegeltent during Sydney Festival you know what you’re in for. There’s also a carnival-style bar for those of us who simply cannot go without a glass of wine in our hands during a show, as you watch magicians, singers, extreme rollerskating, banana tricks, performers dangling in balls, slapstick and a few others showing off what their muscles can do.
After releasing an album every year for seven years, Woods are bringing their dark, artful, occasionally mystical folk-rock-pop to Australia for the first time this month. Their latest album, Bend Beyond, maintains the spirit of spontaneity that has characterised their music from the outset, but the songwriting is more sophisticated and more deeply affecting than ever before. "As blood drips from bone, can you feel me?" questions lead vocalist Jeremy Earl on the song, "Is it Honest?" The live shows promise prolonged improvisations; eerie soundscapes, involving distortion and surreal noise experimentation; and, of course, Earl's magnetic falsetto. Since their inception, the critics have been comparing Woods to the Grateful Dead, as well as krautrock groups like Can and Neu! Appearing at Goodgod on Australia Day, Woods will be supported by Black Zeroes + Camperdown and Out. https://youtube.com/watch?v=D8SuI7BqKP0
With the Year of the Pig almost upon us, The Rocks is turning its regular weekend markets into a Lunar New Year celebration. From 10am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday between February 1–10, lanterns and themed stalls will be lining the cobblestones of Playfair Street, George Street and Jack Mundey Place. As is usually the case at The Rocks' regular Friday Foodie Market, there will be plenty of tasty treats to choose from, with Mr Bao and Let's Do Yum Cha slinging steamed buns and dumplings, a special Banh Mi snag at Jarrod's Shakes and Snags, and Agape Organic Food Truck's menu of duck fries and san choy bao. On the sweeter side, Merry Pops, Yum Thai Juice Bar and Som Som Candy are providing everything from smoothies to pig-shaped fairy floss for the New Year. You can find the perfect new year gift for anyone with a selection of boutique stalls offering everything from silk scarves to spicy Thai condiments. Plus, if you happen to be there at 1pm, 2pm or 6pm, you'll find yourself in the middle of a traditional lion dance. The market will stay open until 10pm each night.
Stories involving someone's testicles (especially engorged ones like this) usually aren't very heartwarming. But 31-year-old Thomas Cantley is currently proving that assumption wrong. Over the course of this month, Cantley has been rolling a giant inflatable testicle across the USA to raise awareness of testicular cancer. Relying on people's kindness and support, he is currently travelling from California to New York and has been raising a lot of eyebrows along the way. Diagnosed with a stage three testicular cancer in 2009, Cantley started his ballsy mission in order to break some of the taboo surrounding the topic. "It's a 96 per cent survival rate if caught early," he told KSBW. "I want to prove you don't need billions of dollars or the promise of a cure to make a difference in the fight against cancer." His mission is instead about creating conversation. With his own cancer currently in remission, he's travelled more than 750 kilometres over the course of the month. People are inviting him to stay with them, buying him meals, and writing their own cancer-related stories on his giant testicle as he goes. With the Ball Push project now nearing its end, he's even earned himself the nickname of Mr Ballsy. Ever since Forrest Gump began running for the sake of running, we've had a fascination with these novel acts of endurance. Frankly, we're personally fascinated whenever anyone completes a regular marathon. What would compel someone to do that to themselves? But in the case of Thomas Cantley, the reason is very clear. Taking advantage of the humour all young men seem to find in their balls, Cantley is tactfully asking guys between 15 and 35 to "go check their nuts". And hey, if a cancer survivor can trek all the way across the USA dragging a very annoying inflatable ball, you can probably muster a quick fondle or trip to the doctor. Follow the rest of the journey via the Ball Push website or Facebook page. For more on the issue, check out the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation. Via A Plus and KSPW.
The stage is about to get saucy this weekend as finalists shimmy and sparkle away during the Miss Burlesque Australia 2012 Competition. Set to woo audiences and judges alike, Oz's brightest burlesque stars - one from each state - will take to the stage in a succession of themed performances. Each will show what they've got in a 'Classic', 'Gown Parade', and their choice of a 'Unique' or 'Neo' performance. Not brushed up on your burlesque lingo? Not to worry: these ladies will spell it out in feather fans and sequins. Not to be left out, burlesque-loving guys will compete in the pageant's first ever Mr. Boylesque Competition. Male entrants from around the country will perform their most outrageous 'Unique' routines in hopes of winning that crown. Regarded as one of the world's leading burlesque pageants, Miss Burlesque Australia 2012 promises to deliver the very best of this revived, tongue-in-cheek art form. Prepare for the finalists' one-two punch of sexy and sassy; it's bound to be one hell of a show. Further details can be found here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=yyfz6dJkx2s
Is there anything to look forward to on Mondays? Thanks to Love, Tilly Devine, now there is: lasagne. Chef Harry Levy's pork and veal lasagne with rosemary-infused sofrito, to be exact. From July 2 to September 3, the Darlinghurst wine bar will be pairing slices of its lasagne with a glass of organic red for $25, every Monday night. The catch? There are only nine slices available each week. So, we suggest heading in as soon as the doors open at 5pm to beat the crowd of vino and pasta aficionados and secure a coveted piece. Chef Harry Levy has been working on his bolognese recipe since he was a teen, in an attempt to replicate his mum's, and it features a slew of tasty ingredients — veal, porcini mushrooms and a creation he calls "chilli guy" (chilli and garlic). Levy says lasagne is perfect for winter (and gloomy Mondays) because "it's comforting and nostalgic". We agree. While the brand of wine will change each week, it will always be an organic drop from the wine bar's extensive list. Expect bold reds and funky drops, such as a cabernet franc from Yarra Valley's Blood Moon winery. Image: Buffet Digital
Anyone who's been in Sydney over the last few weeks will have noticed that it's been unseasonably warm. Winter's usual chill has been swapped for mild temperatures and, instead of regular downpours, the city has seen a stream of clear sunny days — during the day, you barely even need a light jacket. And this weird weather all came to a head this weekend, with Sydney copping one of the hottest winter days it's ever had. Earlier in the week, Weatherzone has predicted that yesterday — Sunday, July 30 — would come pretty close to topping the highest temperature on record for July: 25.9 degrees (which was set back in 1990). And they were right. At 2.10pm, the mercury hit 26.5 degrees — making it Sydney's warmest July day ever. #Sydney sets new July heat record, 26.0 degrees. Last year it took until October to get this warm https://t.co/sbzHtvvHzG — Weatherzone (@weatherzone) July 30, 2017 It's pretty insane. But while Sydneysiders reaped the benefits of the warm day — and all the warm weather has been undeniably delightful — it doesn't bode well for us in the long run. In fact, if only adds to our ever-present anxiety about global warming, an increase in extreme El Niño events and what that might mean for Australia and the world.
¡Viva el cine español! Australia's carnival of Spanish-language cinema is on the verge of adulthood and is celebrating the occasion in style. Commemorating its 17th birthday in 2014, the Spanish Film Festival will once again showcase the best of the Spanish and Latin American film industry, from twisting crime tales to slick ensemble love stories, heart-warming comedies and searing social dramas. This year's festivities will be bookended by two big favourites from Spain's prestigious Goya awards. Opening night features the sixties-set road-trip movie Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed, winner of six statues including Best Picture, Director and Actor. Two-a-half-weeks later, the macabre comic fantasy Witching and Bitching, featuring Best Supporting Actress Terele Pávez, will bring the festival to a close. Other highlights on the 30-film program include The Golden Cage, which won Best Cast at the Cannes Film Festival, and Scorpion in Love, a boxing drama in which Javier Bardem plays a neo-Nazi gang leader. (Not such a heartthrob now, is he ladies?) For the full Spanish Film Festival lineup, visit the festival website Image: Still from Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed. https://youtube.com/watch?v=xAPS2uPFNkY
If you've long been wanting to impress your cinephile friends with your knowledge of classic horrors, here's your chance to educate yourself. Throughout October, the Ritz Cinema in Randwick is playing cult classic horrors, thrillers, dramas, sci-fi and fantasy movies. Get ready to gasp, gawk and grab the edge of your seat. Start with the all-time scaries The Exorcist and The Shining, or check out 2018 flicks Bad Times at the El Royale, Venom or the remake of Halloween. And if you've ever been to a costume party and wondered who the people in the black and white stripes or the girl with the black bob, white shirt and cigarette have come as, well, after watching Beetlejuice and Pulp Fiction, you'll have your party parlance down pat. And on Halloween Eve there'll be a preview of the much anticipated, Golden Lion-nominated flick Suspiria, which is an homage to the 1977 film of the same name.
If you've been looking for an excuse to visit La Salut again, here's your chance. A favourite in Sydney for Spanish wine and some of the city's best bar snacks, La Salut is throwing a $50 wallet-friendly, Menu Del Dia — otherwise known as a fixed-price lunch. "It's the best way to dine in Spain," Executive Chef Scott McComas-Williams says. "You can go to Michelin-starred restaurants and get a sick feed for a good price." Hailing from the 1960s, the three-course lunch at La Salut includes vermouth on arrival, plus an entree, main and dessert. Kicking off on Saturday, February 25, the first Menu Del Dia runs to anchovy-stuffed olives, manchego-topped tortilla and pan Catalan, a rich tomato and garlic Spanish bread. Chorizo, morcilla and pork belly stew, and a Cabra Pimenton — milk cheese coated in paprika — finishes the three-course menu. La Salut's Menu Del Dia is available for walk-ins only every Saturday and Sunday from 12pm. Extra desserts, wine and snacks can be purchased from the regular menu. La Salut comes from the Love Tilly Group, who are also behind Sydney favourites including Ragazzi, Dear Sainte Eloise and the titular Love, Tilly Devine. Images: Nikki To, Dexter Kim
In an emotional sense, things aren't really looking up in Australia at the moment. 2020's horror show has continued into 2021, thanks to new outbreaks and lockdowns, because the chaos of the pandemic hasn't passed just yet. But, for one night, it's worth literally looking up with your eyes and your noggin — because a conjunction of Venus and Mars is about to happen way above our heads. Peer skywards tonight, on Tuesday, July 13, and you'll see the two planets in close proximity. How close? According to NASA, they'll appear a mere finger's width apart. They won't actually physically be that close, of course, but they'll sure look like it. If you're not familiar with the term 'conjunction' within the field of astronomy, it refers to two objects or spacecraft sharing the same right ascension or ecliptic longitude — so they're at the same angular distance in one way or another. Specifically, it's used to describe the moment that two objects are at their closest apparent point together in the sky. You might remember the term from last year, because Jupiter and Saturn went through the same thing in December. https://twitter.com/NASAAmes/status/1414660845557125120 For this conjunction, you'll want to find a spot where you can peer in a northwestern direction. That's where you need to look — but if you're wondering when you should take a peek outside this evening, The Conversation advises looking up between 6.30–7.30pm. You'll be able to see Venus before then, from dusk, but Mars will only be visible once it gets dark. In Australia, you'll spy Mars slightly above its neighbour, and to the left. Venus isn't hard to spot; it has been called "the evening star", after all. To get a glimpse of the red planet, you'll need to peer a little harder, as it is nowhere near as bright. To get the best view, you'll want an unobstructed vantage of the sky — and, to look even closer, to use binoculars or a telescope. If you do choose some optical help, you'll be able to see both Venus and Mars in the same field of view. 2021 has already delivered a few sky shows, via pink, blood and strawberry moons, so this is just the latest astronomical gift this year. But, at a time that hasn't been big on good news, it's definitely worth looking up for. The Venus and Mars conjunction will be visible in the evening of Tuesday, July 13. For further details, head to the NASA website.
