The iconic Nobbys Headland boasts 360-degree views of Newcastle and the surrounding coast, offering the area's furthest views over the Pacific. The lighthouse grounds are only open Sundays from 10am till 4pm, but it's the perfect place not only for whale watching but also to catch a view of dolphins and seals. Watching so many majestic sea creatures migrate at once is truly a sight to behold. The simultaneous city and sea lookouts also allow for a unique viewing experience — so be sure to remember your binoculars for this one. Image: Destination NSW
Thanks to its extremely photogenic Strawberry Watermelon Cake, Black Star Pastry's fame has spread far and wide beyond the two cities — Sydney and Melbourne — that the Australian bakery has called home over the past decade and a half. It currently only has stores in the New South Wales capital, but dessert lovers everywhere from the Gold Coast and Perth to New Zealand and Singapore can enjoy its two latest creations for the first time ever. Yes, Black Star Pastry is going both national and international. Black Star Pastry is spreading its wares thanks to a new collaboration — and February is indeed the right time for dream team-ups. For a month from Friday, February 14, 2025, the bakery is joining forces with QT Hotels to whip up an exclusive menu. If you're thinking that the two specials on offer really should have a romantic theme given when they're arriving, you're 100-percent right. Whether you're celebrating Valentine's Day or just keen on a super-indulgent treat until Friday, March 14, you can tuck into either The Love Bomb or The Ghost — or both. As their names make plain, these dishes do take their cues from aspects of the modern dating game. Prefer to enjoy one or two solo? No one's stopping you from doing that, either. With The Love Bomb, you'll be sending your tastebuds to chocolate heaven. The dish starts with chocolate financier as a bed, then features chocolate crèmeux and levels of chocolate sponge — with every layer coated in chocolate mousse ganache. On top: red streusel and raspberry chocolate shards. Opt for The Ghost and you'll be feasting on a tiered treat boasting sponge cake, what's been dubbed a "crunchy surprise", vanilla mousse, strawberry and raspberry compote, chocolate truffle garnish and milk-coconut coating. Each costs AU$18, comes with a love letter to keep nodding to the romance angle, and is on QT's limited-time Eat Your Heart Out menu at every QT Hotels & Resorts signature dining restaurant — and via its room service. So, that not only means that you can head to the Sydney, Bondi and Melbourne venues, but also to QT's Gold Coast, Perth, Newcastle, Canberra, Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown and Singapore locations. You have Black Star's Group Head Pastry Chef Arnaud Vodounou and QT Gold Coast Head Pastry Chef Daniel King to thank for the dishes. "The key for both Arnaud and I when creating the cakes was for it to feel like a true collaboration of brands and flavours. The V-Day cakes play on the subtle nods of flair we are known for at QT along with our use of premium ingredients, whilst creatively spinning a signature Black Star Pastry masterpiece to do things a little bit differently," said King. "We can't wait for Australians across the country and our international friends in New Zealand and Singapore to experience our indulgent and delicious creations, many for the very first time," added Vodounou. QT Hotels x Black Star Pastry: Eat Your Heart Out is available from Friday, February 14–Friday, March 14, 2025 at all QT locations — head to the hotel's website for more details.
Bubbly 25-year-old Louella Mathews isn't exactly your stereotypical sommelier. The self-confessed wine nerd worked her way up through waitressing gigs at Orange's Lolli Redini and Racine restaurants before landing a coveted role in the elite team of sommeliers at Neil Perry's Rockpool. Concrete Playground caught up with Mathews to find out just how a person ends up getting to play with wine for a living, and what it takes to become that rare authority, the Master Sommelier. Being a sommelier seems like one of those fantasy jobs that people dream about but nobody expects could actually happen. Like being an astronaut. Or Beyonce. Tell us a bit about how you got here. I grew up in Orange refusing to eat anything but macaroni and cheese, so it was a bit ironic that I landed up working in hospitality. I started out as a food runner and eventually wound up managing a great restaurant in Orange called Racine, where there was no sommelier so I got to work on the wine list. Orange is a really tiny wine area, so a lot of the restaurants carry the same wines. I really wanted to do something more unique and had a lot of fun trying to track down interesting bottles that our customers mightn't yet have come across. But then customers would ask me questions I couldn't answer, or winemakers would talk to me in terms I didn't understand, and I realised I needed some actual training in order to do it properly. I enrolled myself in the Wine Spirits and Education Trust (WSET) program at Ryde TAFE and sent my resume to every three-hatted restaurant in Sydney. I started at Rockpool on George as a section waiter and when an opportunity came up to work as a sommelier, I jumped at it. You work in a field that has traditionally been quite male-dominated. Have you ever experienced reluctance from diners to accept the advice of a young female sommelier? I'm the only female sommelier at Rockpool and people often assume I'm a waitress. I'll go to a table to ask if they need help with the wine list and they'll say "yeah, sure, but could I please speak to the sommelier?" On the whole, though, I think that the element of surprise actually works to my advantage; it lets me be more casual and approachable. I guess I'm a bit less intimidating than your stereotypical sommelier and that can make people feel more comfortable asking me questions about the wine. Once, though, I did feel annoyed when a customer asked if I found that my female palate impaired my work as a sommelier. Right. Those girly hormones interfering with your tastebuds and all. Exactly. To be fair, I guess it's scientifically possible that men and women have different palates, I don't know. In any case, I'm guided less by my own taste and more by the customer, the reason they've chosen to dine with us, what they're eating, and their price range, and I use all of those elements to work out what wine they'll really enjoy rather than necessarily giving them what I would enjoy, which is what a lot of other sommeliers would do. On the topic of palate, were you born with yours or did you develop it through training? Oh, it's definitely something you develop over time. I'm really sceptical about this idea that you have to be born with a super-palate in order to do this job. At the beginning, whether you admit it or not, you'll start out thinking "this honestly just smells like wine". And then it's "okay, this smells like Riesling". And gradually you learn to expand on that — if it's a Riesling, you know to expect lemon citrus, you know there will be something floral there; I can always reliably say there's white acacia, for example, in a Riesling. As you become more experienced you can pick up all sorts of characteristics in the wine, but to begin with it's more about learning the vocabulary and knowing what to expect in any given varietal. What do you think lies ahead for you, career-wise? My ultimate goal is to be a Master Sommelier. There are only two hundred in the world. There have been three in Australia: Michael Engelmann from Rockpool Bar & Grill who just moved to New York, Franck Moreau from the Merivale Group and Sebastian Crowther from the China Group. So no women. You might be the first. That's the dream. What will you have to do to get there? There are four levels of exams. In May next year I'll do level two, then I'll fly to New York or London to complete level three which is the Advanced Sommelier course, and then level four is the Master Sommelier level. It's very self-driven learning. You spend a year studying and tasting wine and then you have a three-day exam where you blind taste six wines and you're expected to identify exactly what they are, including the vintage. There's also a written exam and a service component where you serve wine to a panel of judges and they throw a barrage of questions at you and you have to impress them with what you know. Are there any particular places you'd like to work along the way? I'd love to work at Quay, which was the first three-hatted restaurant I ever experienced, and Eleven Madison Park in New York. Honestly, if I could get a job at Eleven Madison Park just polishing cutlery, I would be happy. There's been an explosion in celebrity chefs over the past few years. Are we about to enter the age of the celebrity sommelier? I hope so. I'd love to be a celebrity sommelier. There's something really sexy about wine, so I think it would work quite well. Maybe I'll be the Nigella Lawson of wine. And finally, for the punters at home, what wine should we all be drinking right now? If I could only drink one wine for the rest of my life it would be an Austrian Grüner Veltliner. It's like Riesling, which I love, but it's got texture to it and much more depth. You get herbs, flowers, fruit and texture; it's the complete package.
A city break in Aotearoa New Zealand's biggest city, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, has never offered more. There's an itinerary to suit all timeframes and holiday personalities — from the city-slicker to beach-goer, the shopping-focused traveller to the foodie whose appetite leads the way. It's a city constantly evolving its offerings, with hospitality joints popping up left, right, and centre. So, we've scoped the best experiences and places to note with 100% Pure New Zealand to help you make the most of your Auckland break. Add an extra car ride out of the city or linger a little longer in the big smoke — it's over to you to indulge your whims. What we can promise is all roads lead to a memorable stay. One with world-class views, innovative foods or even dramatic black sand underfoot. [caption id="attachment_929906" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Hotel Britomart[/caption] Stay: The Hotel Britomart The Hotel Britomart pulls out every stop for a distinctly Aotearoa New Zealand stay in downtown Auckland. Exposed timbers and brick nod to the building's past life as a factory and Masonic house, while modern luxury oozes from local artisan-crafted furniture, recycled glass chandeliers and crockery. Inside the rooms, minibars are filled generously with local treats. The 99 sustainable rooms are categorised by their views. Generous windows offer direct glimpses of the Waitematā Harbour, the CBD's skyline, or the vibrant laneways. The Wairoa Suite, the largest of the five Landing Suites, offers sprawling rooftop views framed by architecturally designed wooden details. Downstairs, the all-day restaurant kingi focuses on elevated seafood, with a sommelier-curated wine library showcasing local terroirs. Tucked away in the on-site lane are a fleet of complimentary vintage bikes, ready for adventures. Stay: Mövenpick Hotel Auckland Auckland is a food-lovers paradise, and now you can stay at a hotel where food is the focus. Mövenpick Hotel Auckland's daily Chocolate Hour indulges guests with a complimentary daily buffet of truffles, cakes and fondue between 3.30–4.30pm. When it's time to break the sugar rush, on-site restaurant BODA offers panoramic harbour views, Korean-New Zealander cuisine and inventive cocktails. Or retreat to the sleek, monochromatic suites, knowing the 24-hour ice-cream sundae service means that your next sugar hit isn't far away. A central location makes Mövenpick Hotel Auckland the perfect base for urban adventures. Step out from the lobby to Auckland's main Queen Street or explore the local boutiques and eateries in the adjacent Commercial Bay. For adventures further afield, Auckland's main Britomart Train Station is on the same block to connect you to most mainland suburbs, while the main ferry terminal — the gateway to wine-mecca Waiheke Island and bird sanctuary Tiritiri Matangi — is just a few metres beyond. See: Ever-Changing Landscapes with GO Rentals As exhilarating as city life is, renting a car, even for a day, is your ticket to seeing Auckland in all its glory — and fast. After all, you're never more than 45 minutes away from a beach. Jump in a GO Rentals four-wheel-drive to venture through the bush, to wineries and eventually to the surf-ready black sand beaches of west Auckland. Closer to town, soak up all dimensions of Auckland through the skyroof of a climate-friendly GO Tesla. Cruise through the bustling beach strips of the eastern suburbs like Mission Bay and Kohimarama along Tamaki Drive. Drive up one of Auckland's many maunga (mountains) for quintessential Auckland views. Mt Eden and Mt Albert offer panoramic views, and the nearby townships are brimming with artisanal bakeries and cafes for picnic essentials. Round out your journey by offsetting emissions with CarbonClick, and you'll feel just as good as you did driving breezily behind the wheel. See: Explore the City's Seaside You can't come to Auckland without experiencing it from its most impressive vantage point: the glittering Viaduct and surrounding Hauraki Gulf. If you stay in Auckland's city centre, you'll be a short walk from Te Wero Island — a nook in the Viaduct that houses many of Auckland's bustling harbourside bars and restaurants like St Alice, Dr Rudi's and it-bistro, Soul Bar. It's an ideal spot to rug up and maximise your culinary experiences. Otherwise, the area's public transport and ample roads make it accessible from all directions. The nearby New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa runs harbour cruises on the beloved wooden boat, Breeze, for a different vantage point of the city too. [caption id="attachment_929939" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] ai_yoshi via iStock[/caption] See: Nature and Heritage Your Way at Auckland Domain Auckland's sprawling park is home to 150-year-plus trees as well as a stunning winter garden that's well worth the visit on any trip to Auckland. It's New Zealand's oldest public park, 200 acres in size and has four kilometres of walking tracks that can be used to explore the scenery and peaceful vibes above the city. It's serene surroundings can be enjoyed year-round, but if we're being honest, it's particularly magical when temperatures dip in the city. The gardens' sculpture walk takes on a new dimension when experienced with a bite in the air, with the cool metal of the sculptures in stark contrast to the grassy greens of the park. Taste: Exquisite Pacific Fusion at Metita At the newly opened Metita restaurant in SkyCity, explore the urban ritual that Aucklanders love most: indulging in new fusion cuisines. Offering contemporary Pasifika cuisine, Metita explores the intricate flavours of the many island cultures that call New Zealand home and chef Michael Meredith's Samoan roots. Dishes include inventively garnished meats, caviar and corned beef buns, and the signature oysters cooked in marrow. There's no shortage of things to do, see, drink, and eat here. Being Auckland's largest entertainment precinct, SkyCity houses 15 bars and eateries as well as the iconic Sky Tower and its 350 metre-high city views. There's also the award-winning East Day Spa (home to the nation's only marble lounger tepidarium) and two hotels. Taste: Authentically Loved Auckland Eats Aucklanders have solidified their love of eating into a collaborative list of must-try dishes: Auckland Iconic Eats. This list is updated yearly by public vote, and the quality is consistent. Favourites include the chicken parfait from Britomart's Mr Morris, succulent fish sliders from SkyCity's Depot and Gochu's pork and kimchi-stuffed milk buns. Consider it a starting point for your next sit-in menu, or treat it as a bar-crawl-like mission to tick off as many as possible and test the limits of your belt buckle. Taste: New-Wave Māori Flavours at Ada Adding to the list of cuisines that are hard to find outside of New Zealand is Ada, where Chef Kia Kanuta prepares elegant Māori comfort kai (cuisine). Rewarewa fried sourdough is topped with a bespoke mushroom grown only for Ada, paua (abalone) gets a vongole and chilli-infused twist, while snapper is battered whole and served with his iconic Marmite béchamel. Everything is harvested sustainably and served with the finesse of Chef Kanuta's French training. Ada is in The Convent Hotel, located in the trendy suburb of Grey Lynn, 15 minutes from downtown and easily accessible by bus or car. Lovers of interiors and architecture will appreciate the space's sleek transformation from a former 1922 Spanish-revival nunnery to a boutique hotel. Find your very own Aotearoa New Zealand here.
In its very first moments, House of the Dragon's opening episode delivers exactly what its name promises: here be dragons indeed. Within ten minutes, the Iron Throne, that sprawling metal seat that all of Westeros loves fighting about, also makes its initial appearance. By the time the 20-minute mark arrives, bloody violence of the appendage-, limb- and head-lopping kind fills the show's frames as well. And, before the debut instalment of this Game of Thrones prequel about House Targaryen's history even hits its halfway mark, a brothel scene with nudity and sex is sighted, too. Between all of the above, the usual GoT family dramas, squabbles over successors and power struggles pop up. Of course they do. Kicking off on Monday, August 22 Down Under — via Foxtel and Binge in Australia and SoHo, Sky Go and Neon in New Zealand — House of the Dragon was always going to check all of the above boxes. None of this can constitute spoilers, either, because none of it can come as a surprise. Game of Thrones' fame and influence have become that pervasive, as have its hallmarks and trademarks. Everyone knows what GoT is known for, even if you've somehow never seen this page-to-screen franchise yet or read the George RR Martin-penned books that it's based on. Also, everyone knows that Game of Thrones was the most-talked about and obsessed-over show on television between 2011–19, and that it didn't exactly go out with a bang when it wrapped up its eighth and final season three years back. Accordingly, trying to recapture past glories was bound to be HBO's main aim in its first step back into this fantasy world, rather than daring to tread new territory. House of the Dragon happily sticks to the saga's basics, so much so that everything you think will happen does — and making a drinking game around it is as easy as spotting feuds, orgies, incest, gore and fraying bonds of blood in the Seven Kingdoms. After green-lighting a different prequel to pilot stage, scrapping it, then picking this one to run with instead — and also making plans to bring novella series Tales of Dunk and Egg to TV, working on an animated GoT show, exploring other potential prequels and forging ahead a Jon Snow-focused sequel series — House of the Dragon is the first Game of Thrones successor to arrive in streaming queues. Its focus: the Targaryen crew 172 years before the birth of Daenerys and her whole dragon-flying, nephew-dating, power-seeking story. Cue silky silver locks aplenty, of course, including cascading from King Viserys I's (Paddy Considine, The Third Day) head as he takes to the Iron Throne over his cousin Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best, Nurse Jackie). She had a better claim to the spiky chair, but is also female. New show, same male-dominated hierarchy and accompanying bullshit. History repeats itself several times over, with Viserys' leap to power just the starting point. House of the Dragon is concerned with the same fights about the throne, but over whether the king's dragon-riding daughter Princess Rhaenyra (Upright's Milly Alcock, then Mothering Sunday's Emma D'Arcy) becomes his heir, or the future son he's desperate to have, or his headstrong younger brother Prince Daemon (Matt Smith, Morbius). No one wants the latter, and everyone around Viserys has an angle. It isn't out of kindness that Hand of the King Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans, The King's Man) tells his own daughter Alicent (The Lost Girls' Emily Carey, then Slow Horses' Olivia Cooke) to cosy up to their ruler at his loneliest. And when Rhaenys' husband Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint, It's a Sin) suggests an option, it's all about tying his Valyrian bloodline with the Targaryens. Even if the word "succession" wasn't uttered every couple of minutes — and it is — it'd be clear that another HBO series has left an imprint on showrunners Miguel Sapochnik (an Emmy-winner for directing Game of Thrones' 'Battle of The Bastards') and Ryan Condal (Colony). If House of the Dragon's key pair had written both GoT's and Succession's main characters and narrative beats on post-its, stuck them on a wall, then rearranged the lot to create a slightly different story, this would easily be the end result. That familiarity and formula is exactly what HBO want, too. Sitting down with House of the Dragon is meant to feel like slipping back into an old favourite like no time has passed, and it does. Seeing recognisable places, spying already-explored character dynamics, revisiting how difficult it is to be a woman in Westeros, hearing names such as Lannister and Baratheon get a mention: that's all part of the comfortable design. Some prequels evoke their predecessors perfectly, while also evolving into their own spaces. One of the absolute best examples, Breaking Bad spinoff Better Call Saul, just finished up its run. From the first six episodes in its ten-chapter debut season, House of the Dragon is content with the initial part of that equation, flapping the same wings and getting the same reaction as GoT — doing what HBO knows will work, and endeavouring to put Game of Thrones' lacklustre ending in its slipstream. Thanks to its visibly hefty budget, as seen in what makes it on-screen (dragons and all), it easily and instantly looks the part; however, House of the Dragon's biggest strength in achieving its main aim springs from its packed cast. New show, similar story, more dragons, thrilling performances: that's also the blueprint — and when it works, it works. Considine, Smith, Alcock, D'Arcy, Carey, Cooke and company navigate been-there-done-that tales, but ensure this prequel do-over never plays like a mere and rote rehash. Considine can bring depth to any part he takes on, including House of the Dragon's Ned Stark equivalent, while Smith ranks alongside Ben Mendelsohn as one of the most compelling actors at playing shady and shifty that's working today. This isn't really Viserys and Daemon's story, though. It's Rhaenyra and Alicent's, and Alcock and D'Arcy, plus Carey and Cooke, are up to that task. Here be dragons, and here be the women forced to deal with more and worse, including their own complicated relationship. Yes, as sure as winter is coming, this is a Game of Thrones spinoff. Check out the full House of the Dragon trailer below: House of the Dragon airs and streams from Monday, August 22 Down Under via Foxtel and Binge in Australia and SoHo, Sky Go and Neon in New Zealand. Images: Ollie Upton/HBO.
According to one urban myth, Sydney's jacarandas are the work of an unknown hospital matron who sent every new mother home with a seedling. Another states that soldiers brought the trees home as gifts on their return from World War II. The problem is that there's no evidence for either. So, no one really knows how Sydney came to have so many of these. What we do know, though, is that, come late October, the city begins to transform into a vision of purple, as hundreds of jacarandas bloom. But they don't hang around for long — the flowers typically peak in mid-November and usually disappear by early December. So, if you're keen to see them, it's time to start planning a day out. Here are a few spots — both in and near Sydney — where you can get your jacaranda fix this spring. Recommended reads: The Best Walks in and Around Sydney The Best Day Trips from Sydney — for Summer The Best Bike Rides in and Around Sydney CIRCULAR QUAY AND THE ROCKS The Rocks' heritage-listed sandstone provides a particularly striking backdrop to see blooming jacarandas in Sydney. Turn your adventure into a lovely walk by starting at the Royal Botanic Gardens and following the Harbour shore line to The Rocks, taking in the sights as you go. And while you're there, make a proper day of it by grabbing some drinks at The Glenmore Hotel's rooftop, a natural wine at Le Foote or a Nashville-style chicken burger at the Circular Quay outpost of Belles Hot Chicken. PADDINGTON Paddington's most famous jacarandas line is Oxford Street, just outside Victoria Barracks. But you'll find plenty more among the suburb's back streets and parks — especially around Five Ways. Grab a coffee and pastry from Funkis Koket Cafe or Padre, and take your time wandering around the neighbourhood streets on a sunny weekend. HUNTERS HILL While you're on the north shore, head a little west to take a stroll through Hunters Hill. For a local's perspective, jump on board a walking tour with the Hunters Hill Trust. But if you prefer to go at your own pace when checking out Sydney's blooming jacarandas, you can take the self-guided tour around Hunters Hill. LAVENDER BAY To see a purple sea against the brilliant blue of the Harbour, head to Lavender Bay on the lower north shore. Other spots to check out nearby include Wollstonecraft, Waverton and Kirribilli's famous (and always packed with photo-takers) jacaranda 'tunnel' on McDougall Street. Follow it up with a venture to The Greens for food, bevs and barefoot bowls in the sun. GRAFTON Located six hours north of Sydney just above Coffs Harbour, Grafton should be top of any Jacaranda lovers' hit list for Spring. The regional town even hosts its own Jacaranda Festival every year, kicking off on Friday, October 27 in 2023. The festivities celebrate the violet-hued blooms and include a float parade, drag bungo and a long lunch underneath the colourful trees. [caption id="attachment_782750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] Images: Destination NSW.
For those in search of culinary variety, food courts used to be the natural go-to. Then came the age of precincts, which boomed in the wake of the pandemic as businesses within walkable footprints banded together to form easily navigable options for a venue-hopping night out. Over the past couple of years, however, a new breed of dining destination has emerged combining the calibre of stand-alone venues that used to be the preserve of precincts with the under-one-roof convenience that was once the food court's monopoly. Hospitality hubs are fast becoming the apex predators of Sydney's dining scene, with many of the most compelling openings of 2024 falling into this ascendant category of venue. Typically operated by a single hospitality group, these multi-venue, often multi-level and, crucially, multi-purpose establishments can simultaneously cater to punters seeking very different experiences, be that a pre-dinner cocktail and a restaurant booking, a laidback after-work drink, a cute date spot or somewhere to let loose with a dancefloor. We've picked out the best of the bunch in Sydney, including two newcomers set to open within weeks. Which will you visit first? Recommended reads: The Best Italian Restaurants in Sydney The Mexican Restaurants in Sydney The Best Pizza in Sydney The Best French Restaurants in Sydney
When caped crusaders team up on the page or the screen to battle a threat to the world or galaxy, there's probably no such thing as too many superheroes. For audiences, however, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been testing exactly how many spandex-heavy capers get everyone switching off. It hasn't been stretching the limits specifically to answer that question; Disney has just been releasing a hefty amount of Marvel movies and TV shows. If you've been feeling MCU fatigue as a result, the Mouse House hears you. Going forward, fewer new Marvel films and television series will arrive each year. "We've been working hard with the studios to reduce output and focus more on quality — that's particularly true with Marvel," advised CEO Bob Iger on Disney's second-quarter earnings call on Tuesday, May 7. "We're slowly going to decrease volume and go to about two TV series a year, instead of what had become four — and reduce our film output from maybe four a year to two or a maximum three," Iger continued. [caption id="attachment_925151" align="alignnone" width="1920"] ©Marvel Studios 2023. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] The move comes in what's set to be a quieter Marvel year in cinemas anyway. Picture palaces in 2024 are only welcoming Deadpool & Wolverine, which releases in July. The streaming slate might be busier, after Echo hit Disney+ in January — and with WandaVision spinoff Agatha: Darkhold Diaries, plus the animated Eyes of Wakanda and Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man, yet to get air dates — but there'll definitely be fewer MCU tales hitting screens in total. In contrast, 2023 was huge Marvel for viewers, with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Marvels on the big screen, plus Secret Invasion, Loki and What If...? on screaming. 2022 was also massive, thanks to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Moon Knight, Ms Marvel and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. And in 2021, Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, Spider-Man: No Way Home, WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Solider, and the first Loki and What If...? seasons all dropped. [caption id="attachment_899279" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo by Jessica Miglio. © 2023 MARVEL.[/caption] Marvel has already floated spacing out its releases so that its schedule in cinemas and on streaming isn't as jam-packed, and then pushed back a few titles during 2023's Hollywood strikes. Now, it's sticking to a strategy that Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige told Entertainment Weekly about last year, saying that "the pace at which we're putting out the Disney+ shows will change so they can each get a chance to shine". Right now, audiences will see Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts on the silver screen in 2025 — the first in February and the second in May. The new Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us)-, Vanessa Kirby (Napoleon)-, Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear)-starring Fantastic Four is also dated to arrive next year, in July. 2025 is meant to welcome Blade back to the screen, too, as led by Moonlight and Green Book Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali, but that'd make four films in one year. So, if Iger is sticking to three movies or less in a year, that could change. From there, just two new Avengers flicks are locked in with release dates at the moment, one in 2026 and the other in 2027. On the small screen, Daredevil: Born Again is due in 2025, while Ironhart, Marvel Zombies, Wonder Man and Vision Quest don't yet have dates. From Marvel's upcoming slate, only Deadpool & Wolverine has a trailer — check it out below: For more information about Marvel's upcoming slate of films and TV shows, head to the company's website. Images: Disney.
The producers of Serial and This American Life are teaming up on a brand new true crime podcast hitting the digital airwaves next month. Better yet, they're taking a page out of Netflix's book and dropping every single episode at the exact same time. According to a report by Rolling Stone, the non-fiction S-Town is set in rural Alabama and will investigate "the son of a wealthy man who allegedly boasted about getting away with murder." "This story takes so many unexpected turns," said This American Life presenter Ira Glass in a statement. "Every episode is a new surprise. And the story has this feeling and mood that's different from anything else we've done. I don't think people have heard a show like this." S-Town is one of three new podcasts being launched under the 'Serial Productions' banner. It will be hosted by long-time This American Life producer Brian Reed, and is due to be released sometime in March. Image: Peabody Awards, CC.
This month the City of Parramatta is hosting Moon Markets to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival (also known as the Mooncake Festival), an annual calendar holiday celebrated in many Asian countries. Head to Epping on Sunday, November 13 from 5 pm to 9 pm, to witness the transformation of the suburb's Town Centre into a bustling open-air hawker's market, complete with live lion dancers, food stall pop-ups and drool-worthy drinks. With Sydney street-food faves Firepop serving their signature sticky sizzling skewers, Yummy Time Dumpling delivering on the pork bun front and Tebu Sugarcane Juice on hand to keep you hydrated (alongside a few emerging vendors such as Churros La Flamenca, Egyptian Grillers and Natas & Co Portuguese tarts added to the mix) the traditional harvest festival will be a celebration of culture, cuisine and the kind of colourful #moonmarketmagic moments just begging to be captured for the 'gram. Keen to kick off your celebrations early? Pop into Epping Town Centre and check out the The Langston Weekender, which starts at 9 am on the same day. Moon Markets will take place from 5pm on Sunday, November 13. For more information, visit the website.
The Big Green Idea is an initiative of the British Council, and it's all about treasuring Australia's creative people and and people who want to make the world a better place. The project is aiming to attract and encourage local entrepreneurs to develop new sustainable projects which will help people adapt to the effects of climate change in cities. It's all a part of a region-wide initiative begun by the British Council to encourage environmental sustainability across East Asia and the Pacific. And they have some very attractive grants up for grabs. This year up to six grants will be awarded to environmentally conscious kids which have the potential to make a dramatic impact on the country's environmental future. You can apply for either a $10, 000 or $20, 000 cash grant. The successful applicants will also get project mentoring by business and sustainability leaders, as well as the British Council, to help the projects have the greatest and widest positive impact they can. Applications are open now. They can address issues such as resource efficiency, travel, water, sustainable design, communications campaigns and the effects of climate change on disadvantaged communities. So if you've been inspired by the upcoming Earth Hour, get your idea submitted for a chance to make a real change.
Usually you don't find good coffee in shopping arcades. But that's not true in The Strand Arcade, where Marrickville's Coffee Alchemy operates its pocket-sized Gumption coffee bar. Like its roastery-cafe, this one delivers quality coffee, sans the fuss (that is to day, any food). So let the coffee speak for itself and order up — try the signature house blend, Hairy Chest. If you like it, you can even buy a bag to take home. It's standing room only inside, with tall counters outside in the arcade providing seats, should you loll about for longer — and with hours to match the arcade's shopping times, it's open till 5pm on weekdays and 6pm on Thursdays.
It's tempting to wallow in sadness that summer's over and start counting the weeks until December 1 rolls out (for the record, it's 36), but we'd rather concentrate on the positives. And one very big positive is an end-of-season sale. There's never a bad time to treat yourself to some new clothes — especially when you're saving a heap of money in the process. Resort and swimwear label Tigerlily is offering something very relevant to your interests: a big old four-day warehouse sale to get you some much-welcome bikini bargains. The Aussie brand is known and loved for its timeless prints and unique swimwear, so getting your mitts on some of the goods for up to 70 percent off is a major win. Past-season Tigerlily collections will be on offer with pieces starting at just $20 — and it isn't just swimwear. Dresses, shorts, kaftans and other clothing will also be reduced to help with your 2019 summer stockpile. The Tigerlily warehouse sale will take place at Paddington Town Hall from March 28–31, running from 9am–9pm on Thursday, 9am–6pm on Friday and Saturday and 10am–4pm on Sunday.
When M Night Shyamalan earned global attention and two Oscar nominations back in 1999 for The Sixth Sense, it was with a film about a boy who sees dead people. After ten more features that include highs (the trilogy that is Unbreakable, Split and Glass) and lows (Lady in the Water and The Happening), in 2019 he turned his attention to a TV tale of a nanny who revives a dead baby. Or did he? That's how Apple TV+'s Servant commenced its first instantly eerie, anxious and dread-filled season, a storyline it has followed in its second season in 2021, third in 2022, and now fourth and final batch of episodes currently streaming. But as with all Shyamalan works, this meticulously made series bubbles with the clear feeling that all isn't as it seems. The director's Knock at the Cabin, another highlight to his name, isn't his only project worth spending time with in 2023. It isn't the only intriguing use of former Harry Potter star Rupert Grint on his resume, either, in a part that's the actor's best post-Wizarding World role. With Servant's latest go-around, Shyamalan is in producer mode, after popping in and out as a helmer across past ten-episode seasons. He's also still in his adored thriller territory, still paying homage to Alfred Hitchcock and still playing with twists, this time in a show that resembles a dark take on Mary Poppins. What happens if a caregiver sweeps in exactly when needed and changes a family's life, but she's a teenager rather than a woman, disquieting instead of comforting, and accompanied by strange events, forceful cults and unsettlingly conspiracies rather than sweet songs, breezy winds and spoonfuls of sugar? That's Servant's basic premise. Set in Shyamalan's beloved Philadelphia, the puzzle-box series spends most of its time in a lavish brownstone inhabited by TV news reporter Dorothy Turner (Lauren Ambrose, The X-Files) and her celebrity-chef husband Sean (Toby Kebbell, Bloodshot). Living well-to-do lives, the wealthy pair appear the picture of happiness, complete with a newborn son to fulfil their perfect family portrait. But as 18-year-old nanny Leanne Grayson (Nell Tiger Free, Too Old to Die Young) quickly learned in Servant's first season, there's nothing normal about baby Jericho. After the tot tragically passed away, he's been replaced by a lookalike doll to calm the otherwise-catatonic Dorothy's grief. Leanne's job: selling that well-meaning deception. Just as Knock at the Cabin unveils its first big twist early, so did Servant when it began. Before its debut episode was over, writer/producer Tony Basgallop (Berlin Station) revealed that the reborn doll filling Jericho's place has come alive after Leanne's arrival. So arises questions that are still being explored and mysteries that keep deepening in season four, including the young nanny's role in it all and the true meaning of her ties to the Turners. As the increasingly suspicious Dorothy, more-accepting Sean and Dorothy's recovering-alcoholic brother Julian (Grint, Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities) start discovering early, Leanne springs from an unconventional background with heavy religious ties — from a disturbing group intent on bringing her back and willing to stop at nothing to do so — and her happiness appears closely linked to the state of affairs in her new household. As Servant's seasons have inched by, Basgallop, Shyamalan and an impressive array of filmmakers — Raw and Titane's Julia Ducournau, Casting JonBenét and The Assistant's Kitty Green, Goodnight Mommy and The Lodge's Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, Holiday's Isabella Eklöf and Predators' Nimród Antal among them, plus Shyamalan's daughter Ishana — have kept the series focused on grief, belief and how they each feed into each other. Whatever the reason behind Jericho's comeback, having faith in him being back has kept Dorothy and the Turners' townhouse functioning. Sean and Julian are willing to accept the unusual turn of events to maintain a facade of normality, but have the family unwittingly made a bargain with severe consequences? Since Leanne crossed their doorstep, decay has also blighted their home. Jericho returned, but Sean's taste and smell disappeared, splinters started showing up everywhere and that gorgeous home began to crumble. Termites, maggots, bed bugs: they've all plagued Servant's covetable abode, which sprawls up and down but also ripples with a claustrophobic air. Cinematographer Mike Gioulakis — a veteran of Shyamalan's Old, Jordan Peele's Us and 2014 horror hit It Follows — winds through its main setting's halls, floors, nooks and crannies like he's creeping through a festering haunted house. His lensing is ghostly in its movements, elegantly but emphatically disrupting the sense of balance visually in every way it can. Sometimes, it pivots suddenly. Sometimes, it peers on from afar when a moment screams for a closeup, and vice versa. Often, it flits from focused to unfocused — and, in telling its off-kilter tale, the show's framing has little use for symmetry. Servant isn't just impeccably shot — see: season four's debut episode, an unease-dripping spin on The Birds that sees Leanne swarmed in the street by cult members — but also unnervingly scored. The childlike plinking of the opening theme, with composer Trevor Gureckis (Voyagers) doing the honours, is unshakeably haunting from the get-go. In its music box-esque notes, bursts of playfulness and innocence echo, and also the feeling of sweetness turned sour. That's the mood lingering in the latest deliberately paced, insidiously atmospheric episodes, as Dorothy returns home after season three's big finale and fall, Sean attempts to balance his TV success with his family commitments, and Leanne and Julian become the de facto parents of the house. Leanne demands domestic bliss, but Dorothy is more certain than ever that the Turners would be far better off without the teen, even hiring nurses Bev (Denny Dillon, The Outsider) and Bobbie (Barbara Kingsley, The Flight Attendant) as a buffer. In Servant's last hurrah, there's still no such thing as a cosy status quo — and doesn't the series have the spellbinding performances to show it. Alongside a never-better Grint at his most gruff, begrudging and scattered, Kebbell is mesmerising as a man pinballing back and forth between work and home, Dorothy and Leanne, and what he knows and believes. That said, as Dorothy and Leanne keep doing battle as rival matriarchs — including with a Misery-style situation thanks to Dorothy's injuries, with the nanny segueing from Mary Poppins to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest's Nurse Ratched as well — Ambrose and Free are nothing short of phenomenal. However Shyamalan and Basgallop wrap up this discomforting tale, and whether or not they stick the landing, Servant has gifted viewers four seasons of spectacular duelling caregivers and gripping domestic tension, and one of streaming's horror greats. Check out the trailer for Servant season four below: Servant streams via Apple TV+.
It's the beloved series that's been on the air for more than a decade, and finally made the leap Down Under this year. That'd be RuPaul's Drag Race, which first premiered in the US in 2009, wholeheartedly embraced its mission to unearth the next drag superstars, and debuted its Australian and New Zealand version earlier in 2021. And, in spectacularly great news for fans of local drag talent — and of the show's namesake — RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under is coming back for a second Aussie and NZ season in 2022. The original US series aired its thirteenth season this year, so this is a program with proven longevity. It has also spun off international iterations before, including in the UK — where it's also hosted by RuPaul — plus in Thailand, Holland, Chile and Canada. So, revving up the engines for another spin Down Under shouldn't come as a big surprise. And yes, RuPaul will be back on hosting duties again. After Kita Mean took out this year's first season of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under, exactly who'll be donning eye-catching outfits, navigating dramas and vying for glory next year hasn't been revealed — because casting is now open until Tuesday, October 5. Obviously, exactly when the second season will air on Stan in Australia and TVNZ OnDemand in New Zealand in 2022 hasn't been announced yet either. Neither has the lineup of celebrity guests, after 2021 saw Kylie Minogue, Dannii Minogue and Taika Waititi all pop up. Fans already know the format, which features fashion challenges, workroom dramas and lip sync battles aplenty. If you're still a newcomer to all things Drag Race, you'll watch the next batch of Australian and NZ competitors work through a series of contests to emerge victorious, and join the likes of Mean and US contenders Jinkx Monsoon, Sasha Velour and Sharon Needles in being crowned the series' winner. Check out RuPaul's announcement video for Drag Race Down Under season two below: RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under will return for a second season in 2022 on Stan and TVNZ. Top image: RuPaul's Drag Race.
What's better that seeing world-famous operas on a regular stage? Watching one iconic production performed on Cockatoo Island, then sleeping over afterwards — and seeing another come to life on a floating theatre right on top of Sydney Harbour. While the latter is usually a standard part of Opera Australia's annual program, the organisation has just announced that it's doubling the openair fun in its 2022 lineup. If witnessing Cockatoo Island get turned into an opera venue sounds like your idea of an unforgettable night out, that's exactly what's happening from November 25–December 18, 2022. The production: Georges Bizet's Carmen. It's been staged in Opera Australia's harbour program before, but now it's getting its own island. And, you'll have a few options when it comes to watching — including booking seats on Cockatoo Island, or mooring a boat and viewing the performance projected onto a big screen. Keen for a sleepover? You can choose between the waterfront campsite, a holiday house or an apartment with a harbour view. For those eager to see the latest iteration of Opera Australia's regular Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour series, that'll take place from March as usual — from March 25–April 24, 2022. While previous shows have spanned everything from West Side Story to La Traviata, next year's season will involve the music of the night and someone who was wearing a mask long before the rest of us. Yes, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera will take to the floating stage. The show planned to debut locally (and on land) in 2021, but that was postponed until 2022 due to the pandemic. Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is usually extremely popular, with more than 400,000 people attending between its 2012 premiere and 2019 — when, in one year alone, it sold 62,000 tickets. If you're keen to head along to either Carmen on Cockatoo Island or The Phantom of the Opera as part of Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour — and to see two of opera's biggest titles staged in stunning surroundings — the waitlists are now open before tickets go on sale in November. The Phantom of the Opera as part of Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour will take place from March 25–April 24, 2022, while Carmen on Cockatoo Island will be held from November 25–December 18, 2022. For further details, or to join the ticket waitlist, visit the Opera Australia website. Images: Opera Australia / Hamilton Lund.
Sydney's south may be better known for its beautiful beaches and slow-living lifestyle, but it's also home to a bustling hotspot filled with food, fashion and entertainment. Since the surge in Chinese migration to Sydney in the 90s and 00s, Hurstville has been considered a hub for Chinese — and, more broadly, Asian — culture with a wealth of quality Asian groceries, yum cha joints and herbal medicine stores to check out. And that's just the start of your shopping adventures — scattered between these Asian shops, you'll find more small businesses dedicated to other cultures and distinct interests. We've teamed up with American Express to showcase a selection of awesome local businesses to shop small in Hurstville and its surrounding suburbs. When you're next searching for that obscure ingredient for a recipe, a gift, or a really good feed, this list is here to help — and you can shop small at all of these spots with your American Express Card.
Whether you're after world-renowned cocktails, bevs with panoramic views or elegant twists on classic tipples, there's a bar in Singapore that caters to every whim and mood. The city's multitude of bars shine at crafting inventive drinks that highlight local flavours and showcase the creativity and diversity of its multicultural population. A night out in the city doesn't have to burn a hole in your pocket — with the help of Singapore Tourism, we've rounded up some top-notch happy hour deals at popular bars around Singapore, so you can sip and sit back without worrying about your wallet. At the time of publishing, 1 SGD is equal to about 1.14 AUD. [caption id="attachment_981032" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Elephant Room[/caption] The Elephant Room Step into the vibrant world of Little India at The Elephant Room. Ranked as one of Asia's 100 Best Bars, the cocktail bar in Chinatown showcases the flavours, aromas and culture of Singapore's Little India district. The drinks menu includes bold, spice-forward cocktails inspired by the area, as well as Indian twists on classic drinks and a selection of spirits from India. Jothi's Flower Shop is named after the iconic store that has served the community for over 50 years, while Buffalo Road recreates the gin and tonic using native ingredients flown in from India. There are even cocktails derived from Indian cuisine, like the Briyani, Chicken Curry and Spiced Crab Rasam. If you prefer your food in more solid form, pair your drink with one of the naan pizzas or small share plates. Between 5–7pm every day, you can sample any of the signature concoctions for only 20 SGD. Jigger & Pony If you're visiting Singapore, you can't leave without having a drink at Jigger & Pony. The esteemed bar has been featured in the top ten of Asia's 50 Best Bars and listed as one of The World's 50 Best Bars for the past six years. A themed cocktail list is released each year, presented in a 70-page menu-magazine (or "menuzine"). Some of the drinks for this year are the Smashing Sundae with gin, vodka, fernet, melon, green tea, shiso and vanilla ice cream; Ugly Tomatoes with gin, tomatoes, kummel and elderflower; Strawberry Fields with tequila and cold-extracted strawberry; and Champagne Ramos Fizz with gin, cream, lemon, vanilla, bread, port and champagne. Happy hour is available daily from 6–7.30pm and includes a cocktail of the month or one of three signatures for 19 SGD, wine for 14 SGD and beer for 12 SGD. Morton's The Steakhouse Next up on the cocktail tour, we're travelling stateside. Morton's The Steakhouse is a popular American chain with over 55 locations in the US and eight locations internationally. The Singapore outpost is situated at the Mandarin Oriental hotel, right by Marina Bay. Stop in for Power Hour between 5–7pm during the week for 12 SGD beers, 20 SGD wines and 19 SGD cocktails. If you order the signature MORtini, you'll also get to munch on a complimentary filet mignon sandwich before you head out for the night. [caption id="attachment_981855" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Store[/caption] The Store Now that you've had a touch of glitz and glam, it's time to go hip and homey at The Store. Hidden behind an unassuming teal door, the laidback bar feels like you're sipping in the elegant living room of your coolest friend. Drinks include accessible and elevated cocktails such as the Clamatoberry with tequila, clarified clamato, sherry, strawberry and umami bitters; Shibuya Sour with whisky, sake, elderflower, yuzu and wasabi; and Prickly Pearloma with mezcal, Ancho Reyes Verde, pear puree and grapefruit soda. Drop in between 4–6pm on Tuesday–Saturday for 11 SGD cocktails and appetisers. Southbridge For panoramic vistas across Singapore, head on up to Southbridge. The rooftop bar is perched next to the Singapore River, with views from Parliament House to Marina Bay Sands and Raffles Place. Southbridge's happy hour is perfectly timed between 5–8pm on Monday–Thursday, so you can enjoy the sunset as you sample oysters with a range of toppings for 23 SGD and sip on glasses of sparkling for 16 SGD, spirits from 12 SGD and buckets of Singapore Lager for 78 SGD. You're in for a treat if you visit on a Sunday, as the happy hour deals run all day. Hopscotch With three central locations across Singapore (Gardens by the Bay, Gillman Barracks and Capitol Arcade) Hopscotch is a convenient option for a refreshing drink after a long day of exploring. The casual venue pours inventive cocktails and shooters inspired by the city, incorporating local flavours such as pandan, kaffir lime, calamansi, mangosteen, gula melaka, milo and even savoury bak kut teh (pork and herb broth). The happy hour runs from 5–8pm every day, with wine, beer and house spirits starting at under 10 SGD, and all cocktails priced at 18 SGD. Book your Singapore holiday now with Flight Centre. Images courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board, The Store and The Elephant Room.
Spending more time at home is much easier to stomach with a hefty range of desserts on hand, or at least that seems to be Gelato Messina's long-running pandemic motto. The gelato chain keeps spoiling our tastebuds with specials, with everything from decadent cookie pies to 40 of its best flavours and full tubs of its indulgent limited-edition desserts on offer over the past year or so. It has also whipped up its own take on that vanilla and chocolate-layered ice cream cake everyone considered the height of extravagance as a child, too — and now it's bringing that tasty take on Viennetta back for another round. If you've been indulging your sweet tooth as a coping mechanism lately — frozen desserts were subject to strict item limits last March, so plenty of folks clearly went big on sugary comfort food — then consider yourself primed for this super-fancy version of the nostalgic favourite. It's another of Messina's limited releases, with tubs of the rippled gelato creation available at all its stores for a very short period. There's a twist this time, however, with this Messinetta (as Messina calls its Viennetta) also inspired by its take on Golden Gaytimes. If you've tried a scoop of the brand's popular Have a Gay Old Time flavour, then imagine that, but turned into Viennetta. This limited-time-only dessert combines layers of caramel and milk gelato, then covers it with chocolate-covered biscuit crumbs, and finally tops it all with ripples of vanilla and caramel chantilly cream. And yes, the end result looks like the dessert you know and love, but in a caramel colour for a change. The latest release in Messina's new 'Hot Tub' series, the Have a Gay Old Time Messinetta can only be ordered online at 9am on Monday, August 2, with a one-litre tub setting you back $35. You can then go into your chosen Messina store to pick up your tub between Friday, August 6–Sunday, August 8. If you're in Sydney, just remember that you'll now need to be headed to a store within ten kilometres of your house. Gelato Messina's Have a Gay Old Time Messinetta tubs will be available to order at 9am on Monday, August 2, for pick up between Friday, August 6–Sunday, August 8 from all stores except The Star — keep an eye on the Messina website for further details.
In Disney's non-stop quest to not only remake its animated hits, but to make them look as lifelike as possible, the Mouse House has already brought Dumbo, Aladdin and The Lion King back to our screens so far this year alone. But it's not done yet, with the company's new streaming platform set to welcome another high-profile do-over before the end 2019: a live-action version of Lady and the Tramp. To answer the question you've all been wondering, yes, it'll feature real spaghetti and meatballs. In all seriousness, the film does actually star real dogs — not photo-realistic canines cooked up by a special-effects team. The adorable pooches will still be given human voices, of course, with Tessa Thompson lending her tones to everyone's favourite pampered pupper and Justin Theroux doing the honours for her street-smart love interest. Playing an American cocker spaniel and a schnauzer, Thompson and Theroux aren't the only big-name talents going to the dogs. A Star Is Born's Sam Elliott will get gravelly as a bloodhound, Catastrophe's Ashley Jensen is a Scottish terrier, Avengers: Endgame's Benedict Wong voices a bulldog and Janelle Monae pops up as a pekingese. They'll be joined by a few cast members who'll stick with their two-legged forms, including Hearts Beat Loud's Kiersey Clemons, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl's Thomas Mann, and Community co-stars Yvette Nicole Brown and Ken Jeong. Story-wise, the film will wag the same tale, as the upper middle-class Lady crosses paths with — and then eats pasta with — a downtown stray called Tramp. Directed by The Lego Ninjago Movie's Charlie Bean and co-written by US indie filmmaker Andrew Bujalski (Computer Chess, Results, Support the Girls), Lady and the Tramp will sport a few changes when it drops on Disney+ upon the service's November launch, however. Monae is reworking 'The Siamese Cat Song' to remove the original's offensive connotations, and will also perform two new tunes for the soundtrack. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2ZDDU34gYw The live-action Lady and the Tramp remake will be available on Disney+ when it launches Down Under on November 19.
The thirteenth course at Kuro's Kitchen is cheese. A French double-cream, it doesn't come with crackers and quince paste, but a gleaming layer of gold mead gel — brewed in house using one of Australia's best honeys, Malfroy's Gold, no less — and three peppers: Taiwanese maqaw, Tasmanian pepperberry and sansho. This commitment to sourcing, and respecting, the best produce the world has to offer is consistent throughout the 14 other courses, too. There's a chocolate glaze made using Amazonian cacao tracked down by a Peruvian cacao hunter; hay-smoked Merimbula duck, which is finished at your table on a glowing coal; and nine-score David Blackmore wagyu that's aged in hojicha tea, wrapped in Hokkaido kombu and covered in a charcoal salt crust and slow roasted till just rare. The good news is Kuro's Kitchen may just be one of the best meals currently on offer in Australia. The bad: it's only around for a limited time. [caption id="attachment_776244" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] Located at the back of Kuro, an a la carte Japanese restaurant on Kent Street, the space was meant to be home to an omakase fine-diner called Teramoto by Kuro. But then, the pandemic hit, and sourcing some ingredients became increasingly difficult — so, the team changed tact, and is biding its time with Kuro's Kitchen: an experimental 15-course, six-seat pop-up with a menu that changes every night. Both restaurants are run by Executive Chef and Co-Owner Taka Teramoto and Sommelier Wanaka Teramoto (both from Waqu in Crows Nest), as well as Co-Owner Alan Wong. Together with Potts Point's Henderson & Co, the trio oversaw the design of the space, too, which sees the heritage sandstone building brought to life with modern touches. [caption id="attachment_776251" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] Monochromatic tables and chairs, polished concrete and copper tiles feature throughout, but the most eye-catching element is the lighting. Fifty-six American oak light 'portals' spread across the walls are inspired by the Arashiyama bamboo forest in Kyoto. Wanaka says when the sun sets through the forest, it feels like it's glowing. At nighttime, Kuro glows, too. In the open kitchen at the back, you'll find Head Chef Nobu Maruyama (Bar H), who oversees the a la carte menu, while Taka focuses on the pop-up with Sous Chef Jack New (Icebergs). The food fuses old and new, like the space, with Japanese dishes and ingredients given a modern spin. Hand-cut ramen noodles are served in duck consommé with Tasmanian truffle, diced bluefin tuna is topped with sherbet-y davidson plum powder and Diamond Shell clams come with a zingy aged chardonnay vinegar. [caption id="attachment_776246" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] While Wanaka's wine list is predominantly Australian with a focus on boutique wineries with minimal-intervention philosophies, the cocktails, shaken up by bartender Fumiaki Michishita, take inspiration from Japan. There's the Sober Experience (soba-infused Jameson and absinthe with kabosu and umami syrup), the Lava Flow of Mt Fuji (brown sugar shochu, coconut and matcha) and, if you dine at Kuro's Kitchen, The Royal Alexander cocktail made with Hennessy XO, chestnut syrup and Tasmanian truffle salt — and topped with the grated Amazonian cacao. Dining at the chef's table inside Kuro is an experience that's only set to get better — and more expensive — with the launch of Teramoto (hopefully, by the end of the year). For $160 a head for 15 courses, Kuro's Kitchen comes in at a relative bargain compared to many degustations across the country — but, for now, it's only meant to stay until the end of October. You can snag your seat right here. Kuro's Kitchen is running nightly from Tuesday–Friday at 6.30pm (for a 7pm start). Images: Kitti Gould
It's about time for her arrival: Christina Aguilera's, that is, with the 'Dirrty', 'Genie in a Bottle', 'What a Girl Wants', 'Lady Marmalade' and 'Beautiful' singer heading Down Under this November for a one-night-only gig. Hitting Australia for the first time since 2007, the singer headlines Victoria's statewide music celebration Always Live, which is returning in 2023 for its second year after a successful debut run in 2022. Aguilera will play Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse on Saturday, November 25, in a show that'll also mark 20 years since her album Stripped. One of pop music's former Mouseketeers, the six-time Grammy-winner leads a bill that spans more than 165 artists at 60-plus events — all in Victoria. In other words, she spearheads a lineup that's designed to get the state's residents hitting up live gigs, and to entice tourists from the rest of the country to make music-filled holiday plans. 2023's leg of Always Live runs for 17 days, from Friday, November 24–Sunday, December 10, with a feast of shows — also including Swedish DJ and producer Eric Prydz bringing his HOLO set our way in an Australia–New Zealand exclusive; songwriter and producer Jai Paul also playing his only shows in this neck of the woods; and Jessie Ware putting on two intimate evenings outside her Summer Camp headlining stint. Already on the Meredith bill, Caroline Polachek has added a solo gig at Melbourne's Forum Theatre. Also a huge highlight: BLAKTIVISM at Hamer Hall, with King Stingray, Tasman Keith, Emma Donovan, Uncle Bart Willoughby, Deline Briscoe, Sorong Samarai and Suga Cane Mamas. For Swifties, tribute gig Taylor Made will see Alex The Astronaut, Charley, Clare Bowditch, Emily Wurramurra, Kate Miller-Heidke, Lisa Mitchell and Sophia J Smith shaking off their best Taylor Swift covers. [caption id="attachment_899478" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Raph_PH via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] Returning from last year, Emma Donovan and Friends will again hero acoustic tunes from First Nations artists, while purpose-built pop-up studio SOUNDBOX will be back at the Arts Centre Melbourne forecourt. The jam-packed program also boasts the Tones and I-curated Music In the Park in Mornington, featuring The Cat Empire, The Veronicas, Budjerah, KAIIT and The Pierce Brothers; the Gonna Be Good series, with everyone from Holy Holy, Aleksiah, ILLY and The Temper Trap to Northeast Party House, Casey Barnes and Ruby Fields; Summer Camp, as already announced; and SOULTRAINS, which is getting Lee Fields & The Expressions, plus Surprise Chef, playing four venues along four Metro train lines. Still on a railway theme, there's End of the Line, a festival popping ip at the end of the train lines in Sandringham and Williamstown. Clare Bowditch headlines the former, and Alex Lahey the latter. And, music lovers can look forward to the Jamaican Food and Music Festival at Seaworks, the Ballroom Mix Tapes series at Brunswick Ballroom — which will launch brand-new releases — and a regional tour by Amyl and the Sniffers. Throw in Peter Garrett and The Alter Egos hitting Wangarratta Arts Centre, Cosmic Psychos marking their 40th anniversary and A.B. Original headlining a free show at Victoria Park Lake, and clearly the list well and truly goes on. In fact, there's so much to fit in that an event called Garage Band will pop up on Saturday, October 14, before the Always Live dates, featuring 25 emerging bands playing an original song each on four stages in Federation Square. Always Live 2023 runs from Friday, November 24–Sunday, December 10, with one pre-festival gig on Saturday, October 14. For more information, and to get tickets, head to the festival website. Christina Aguilera will play Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse on Saturday, November 25, with pre sales from 12pm AEST on Tuesday, August 29 and general sales from 12pm AEST on Wednesday, August 20.
Maybe you have a date with the 2024 Paris Olympics. Perhaps Paris is the ultimate stop on your travel bucket list. You might've been to the French capital before, but dread the lengthy trip that always accompanies heading to Europe from Australia. Whichever fits, Qantas has excellent news: the Aussie airline is now getting passengers to the City of Light speedier, launching direct flights from Perth to London. Non-stop legs from the Western Australian city to Europe have just kept joining Qantas' itinerary in recent years, giving travellers faster journeys with fewer stopovers. First, Qantas launched direct flights from Perth to London. Then came straight-to-Rome routes as well. The Perth to Paris flights were announced back in 2023, and have now taken off timed perfectly for the soon-to-begin 2024 Olympics, Euro summer getaways and hitting up Europe in general all year round. Sitting on one plane for almost an entire day isn't for everyone; however, if you can handle looking at the same aircraft walls, screens and fellow travellers for 17 hours and 20 minutes, that's now on the agenda. Expect to spend three hours less in transit from Perth to Paris as a result, which is three hours more that you get to spend in the City of Light pretending you're in Lupin or Emily in Paris. Expect to fly on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, too, and to be travelling on the longest non-stop flight to France from anywhere across the globe. To begin with, the flights are running four days a week, moving to three days per week in mid-August 2024 after peak season. Qantas is the only airline doing direct Perth-to-Paris flights, with the new service adding 75,000-plus new seats from Australia to Europe annually. And yes, at least for July, passengers have Amelie among the in-flight movie options. "In recent years we have seen a significant increase in customers wanting to fly direct on long-haul routes and avoiding stopovers wherever possible. Our direct flights from Perth to London and Rome have some of the highest customer satisfaction on our international network," said Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson "With these new flights, our customers can depart Perth in the evening and arrive in Paris in time to enjoy brunch overlooking the Eiffel Tower." Of course, if you hail from another part of the country other than Perth, you will have to make your way to the Western Australian capital first. Still, that flight from Perth to Paris won't make a layover — getting you from Down Under to France quicker, plus without switching planes, worrying about connecting legs and navigating other airports. Wondering about the possibility of travelling non-stop to Europe from Australia's east coast, which Qantas has been looking into for years now? The carrier announced that in 2022 that it was aiming to begin direct Sydney-to-London flights (and direct Sydney-to-New York routes as well) in late 2025, but now is targeting a mid-2026 launch. Fingers crossed for departure dates from Melbourne and Brisbane as well, plus adding a direct leg to Berlin among the non-stop Euro destinations. Qantas' new Perth–Paris direct flights are now flying, running four times a week until mid-August 2024, after which they'll run three times a week. For more information or to book tickets, head to the airline's website. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
For elegant, timeless pieces inspired by Paris, the ultimate city of style, make sure you stop by French Cargo for some, well, French cargo. Owner Kathie Argyros opened the doors to the boutique in 2014, inspired by her love of everything and anything French. Inside, you'll find a chic range of homewares, including 100 percent French linen, cushions, candles, soaps, rugs and furniture. Argyros travels to Europe regularly to source stock for the store, so you can expect to find a number of vintage and antique items from flea markets, too. We all know someone (probably your mum) who is just as obsessed with France as Argyros, making this a must-visit spot for your gift-buying needs — you could pick up a cotton apron for your amateur chef pal or wall art for your mates that just bought a house. Image: Trent van der Jagt.
Hollywood's night of nights is fresh in your memory, your to-watch list has grown considerably, but your wallet doesn't want to play ball. Call Dendy Cinemas' latest special a case of great timing, then, with the chain offering up discount tickets that'll solve your problem. Until March 15, as long as you purchase online, you'll only pay $8 for your movie of choice at Newtown or Opera Quays. Or movies. With everything from Black Panther to Phantom Thread to Lady Bird currently screening, there's plenty to watch if you're keen to spend as much time in a darkened room as possible. The special isn't available for special events, Dendy Arts sessions, pre-book tickets or preview screenings, but you're certain to find something to watch regardless.
The focus of yoga trends seems to be constantly changing — from beer yoga to hip hop yoga and rooftop yoga to farmside yoga, we thought we'd seen it all. Now, Dubai's Atlantis The Palm is bringing 'underwater' yoga onto the scene. Before you think about holding your breath while doing a submerged upward dog, the class isn't quite as complicated — or as cool — as it sounds. The yoga course is not held in the water, but instead it takes place inside a tank-like room called the Ambassador Lagoon. The Lagoon sits within the resort's Lost Chambers Aquarium, a 17-hectare openair marine habitat that boasts over 65,000 sea creatures within a massive maze of underwater corridors and passageways. The 250-plus salt and fresh water species include sharks, eels, rays and piranhas, as well as hundreds of exotic fish. That's a whole lot of marine life on call to sit audience to your meditation. The all-levels, 20-person class runs every Tuesday and Friday. Each ticket includes a yoga mat, bottle of water and valet parking, which we guess is what puts the price up at 120 Dirham (around $44 AUD). The lavishness of the course is no surprise coming from this 46-hectare luxury resort. Being in a darkened room surrounded by shimmering water and peacefully floating sea animals does sound quite relaxing, and, although there won't be any actual underwater feats involved, we don't think it would be quite as calming in practice anyway. Post-yoga, there's always the 18 million litres of fresh water which powers waterslides, river rides, tidal waves and pools to entertain yourself with. Underwater yoga is held at Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai. If you're heading there any time soon, visit their website for more information and bookings.
In Melbourne the World's 50 Best Restaurants award ceremony has just wrapped up. We can only imagine (and dream of) how delicious the Neil Perry-supplied canapés would have been, how many recipes were swapped with slurred handwriting, and how cheery (read: boozy) all those chefs are right now. But we assume two of the most cheeriest will be Ben Shewry and Dan Hunter, as their restaurants — Attica and Brae, respectively — have just been named in the top 50 in the world. With the ceremony having just taken place at Melbourne's Royal Exhibition Building this evening (the second time the awards have been held outside of London), the two Australian chefs have had the honour of being placed in the world's best 50 restaurants while on home turf. Attica's ranking is pretty consistent with last year's results, with the Melbourne restaurant moving up one spot to 32 from 2016 (and regaining its 2015 ranking in the process). However it was Brae, which is located in regional Victoria, that was the biggest mover this year — it moved up 19 spots to land at number 44 this year, cracking the top 50 for the first time. It was announced that last week Sydney's Quay placed at number 95, so it's a huge deal for Australia to have three restaurants in the top 100. The top trio of restaurants for 2017 aren't staunchly different from previous years, but have been shuffled around a little. Last year's number one spot-holder, Massimo Bottura's Osteria Francescana, has been moved back to second place, to make way for last year's number three, Eleven Madison Park, to take the top spot. This sees Spain's El Celler de Can Roca move back to third place.
The martini faithful will insist this cocktail classic never went away — and they'd be right. James Bond's favourite tipple is hardly an obscure concoction, but ubiquitous as it may be, this stalwart sip is nevertheless having a moment in Sydney right now. One of the nation's most revered chefs and restaurateurs, Neil Perry, added Bobbie's, a basement martini lounge, to his Double Bay empire this week, tapping a New York bar legend to bring the project to life. Linden Pride, who alongside Nathalie Hudson launched Big Apple hotspot Dante, is not merely overseeing the cocktail list. Bobbie's is so named in honour of Pride's grandfather, Australian DJ Bob Rogers OAM, the nation's longest-serving radio announcer who is credited with introducing Top 40 radio programming on 2UE in the late 1950s. In a further nod to Pride's illustrious grandfather, Bobbie's will also be a live music venue. Chippendale also scored a new martini bar this week from veteran barkeep Grant Collins. Dry Martini, as the name suggests, is dedicated to celebrating the evolution of its namesake beverage as well as its caffeinated cousin, the espresso martini. Meanwhile, over by Darling Harbour, Barangaroo House is putting on a month-long martini festival, with $10 mini 'tinis and martini-inspired specials on offer across all three levels throughout September. The rising popularity of the martini has not gone unnoticed in Potts Point either. Following the runaway success of its limited-time $5 martini happy hour in August, upmarket brasserie Franca is extending its Five @ 5 offer indefinitely. But why is the martini so damn popular? "Drinks, like fashion, are cyclical," Collins (pictured above) explains to Concrete Playground. "They were big in the 50s and 60s and then made a comeback in 90s." During their last renaissance 30 years ago, innovative mixologists gifted us fruit-laced neo-martinis like the infamous passionfruit-powered Porn Star martini, as well as the now wildly popular espresso martini, creating playful alter-egos for an otherwise rather serious cocktail. By contrast, the most recent uptick in the martini's popularity is getting back to basics, according to Collins. "Consumers are looking for healthier drinking options, sans sugar, and a martini is about as clean as you can get with regards to mixing a cocktail — neat liquor stirred well over ice, no sugar sugar syrups, sweet juices or liqueurs," Collins explains. [caption id="attachment_971268" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dexter Kim[/caption] While that simplicity is certainly true of the gin and vermouth OG, the martini has been a powerful muse for bartenders, with countless variants now gracing the menus of bars all over the world. "Its a drink with such a rich history and legacy," Collins says of the martini's power to inspire. "It's always had such romance on the silver screen, in movies like Casablanca, All About Eve and Some Like It Hot, where Hollywood stars like Clarke Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jnr all promoted and drank martinis in their movies. And of course, there's also the popularity created by Ian Fleming and his Bond novels in the 50s and 60s, which is also where we get the Vesper martini from. World leaders like Churchill and Franklin D Roosevelt also swore by them. I think all of this cemented the martini as a drink that was never going to go away." [caption id="attachment_751374" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Gidley, Dominic Loneragan[/caption] So, where are the Harbour City's best martinis? While you should certainly check out both Bobbie's and Dry Martini, CBD steakhouse The Gidley should also be top of your hit list. It has one of the savviest martini offerings in town, served with a silver platter of accoutrements including pipettes with brine and vermouth as well as olives, citrus skins and pickled onions so guests can pimp their dirty, dry, wet or Gibson martini any way they like. And because a single martini is never enough, every order automatically comes with a second serve, kept in a small bottle on ice so it remains perfectly chilled when you come to pour. At Alfie's, also owned by Liquid and Larder who operate The Gidley, the city's "iciest martini" awaits. Chilled to -10 Celsius, it's poured from a sub-zero thermos and made with Four Pillars olive leaf gin or Mother of Pearl vodka, vermouth, and a splash tarragon vinegar. While you can choose your preferred garnish, the pink onion is our recommendation, for a pop of colour and some extra zing on the palette. [caption id="attachment_937586" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bar Planet[/caption] The Cantina OK! team perfected the margarita at their tiny laneway outpost in the CBD, so it's little wonder they've done the same for the martini at their Newtown cocktail joint, Bar Planet. Featuring a specially distilled small-batch gin from Marrickville's Poor Toms, the house signature is a great gateway sip for martini newcomers. The Continental Deli trailblazed its innovative canned cocktail line with the mar-tinny. The OG was a silky smooth number with a twist already included in the can, but the recipe has leaned dirty in recent times, including a limited-edition truffled version that, we'll be honest, was something of an acquired taste. Not only can you order these perfectly preprepared cocktails chilled and ready to drink while dining at The Continental, you can also stock up and take a supply home with you. [caption id="attachment_696573" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Continental Deli, Kitti Smallbone[/caption]
"We are the smartest men in America. We literally have the resources to take over the world." When four tech billionaires on a snowy getaway in a sprawling mansion start talking that way, as the characters in Mountainhead do in the new film's just-dropped full trailer, no one else is likely to benefit. Other than audiences, that is, because this is the latest project from Succession creator Jesse Armstrong — and it marks his return to the screen after that huge HBO hit wrapped up in 2023. Here, the world is in chaos. Violent confrontations, atrocities, nations teetering both politically and economically: that's the situation. On a luxe weekend in icy climes, four titans of tech watch on. What could the US President have to say when he calls, then? "That your platform's inflamed a volatile situation, circulating unfalsifiable deepfakes, massive fraud, market instability" is one prediction that Mountainhead's sneak peeks have been teasing. Armstrong both writes and directs — and is still clearly in eat-the-rich mode as the ultra-wealthy quartet at the centre of his new movie respond, or don't, to an international crisis perhaps of their making. Steve Carell (Despicable Me 4), Jason Schwartzman (The Last Showgirl), Cory Michael Smith (Saturday Night) and Ramy Youssef (Poor Things) play the cashed-up crew, aka Randall, Souper, Venis and Jeff, who aren't above shouting about their supposed greatness from mountaintops and writing their net-worth figures on their bare chests. Mountainhead might be Armstrong's first feature as a director, but it's a straight-to-streaming flick, hitting HBO Max in Australia on Sunday, 1 June, 2025. Co-starring alongside Carell, Schwartzman, Smith and Youssef: Hadley Robinson (Anyone But You), Andy Daly (Night Court), Ali Kinkade (Lessons in Chemistry), Daniel Oreskes (A Real Pain), David Thompson (It's What's Inside), Ami MacKenzie (Pulse) and Ava Kostia (Love Across Time). Although Armstrong is best-known for Succession — understandably so given that it has earned him seven Emmys — he's an Oscar-nominee for In the Loop's screenplay, also co-created Peep Show, was a writer on The Thick of It and Veep, co-penned Four Lions and wrote a season-one episode of Black Mirror, among other credits. Check out the full trailer for Mountainhead below: Mountainhead streams via HBO Max from Sunday, June 1, 2025. Images: Macall Polay/HBO.
Has anyone (not on an away-from-home work conference) ever wilfully gone for a drink in a hotel bar? Brightly lit, beige dominated, uptight, boring ... they're not exactly a recipe for a crazy evening of intoxicated escapades. The owners of the new QT Hotel hope to prove the hotel bar naysayers wrong. The retail industry may be in distress, but that hasn't stopped them investing $69 million into the redevelopment of the old Gowing Bros buildings, the former department store that went into receivership in 2006. Myer and David Jones may be suffering from ever-quietening cash registers just around the corner, but on the QT, the developers hope the flash hotel and adjoining Gowings Bar and Grill make loud noises in the dining scene. Certainly the décor of the building is impressive. The art deco entrance, tucked next door to the State Theatre, leads to a 1920s-style café and barber shop. A lift ride up one floor into a dark hotel lobby filled with leather armchairs and unnerving mannequins, leading into Gowings' chrome and wood opulence. Walls of wine bottles, a lush lounge, an open kitchen … the money spent on the demolition also clearly went on the interior design. The impressive-sounding "creative food director" Robert Marchetti, formerly of Icebergs and North Bondi Italian, has developed a menu around a wood-fired oven selection of mussels, pork chops, founders, scallops or a Friday-only pinot and suckling pig (lunch only, $46). But the choicer picks are the crispy duck with spiced skin on a bed of mash and steamed greens ($44) or yellowfin tuna rubbed in fennel ($44). For dessert, the double-baked dark choc crème brulee with marinated cherries ($14) is a Middle Eastern-style curveball in its presentation. There are a lot of ideas and personality poured into this Gowings glass, to the point were it's overflowing with little corners to investigate and morsels to taste. Over stimulation is never a bad thing, and anyway, they've catered for the more chilled-out drinker with a cocktail lounge upstairs. It certainly has injected some oomph into that usual sterile stereotype of what a bar or restaurant attached to a hotel should be, as if the owners actually want their guests to have fun. One can only imagine what the rooms look like, before and after a night here.
All your market needs are sorted in Kings Cross on the weekends. On Saturdays, you'll be roaming stalls of seasonal, farm-fresh produce of the organic and conventional types, plus other local, artisanal products including bread, pastries, meats, cheeses, nuts, plants and flowers. On Sundays, the organic markets become a design market where you can browse stalls of vintage and second-hand clothing, jewellery, candles, books and plenty more treasures to uncover. There are also food stalls set up on both days so plan to head over for a coffee and brekkie.
A new food/art installation in Tokyo is offering a multi-sensory eating experience that combines delicate Japanese cuisine with stunning projections and sound. Located inside Sagaya, a Saga beef restaurant in the city's Ginza district, the permanent installation, titled Worlds Unleashed and then Connecting, was created by art collective teamlab and serves just eight guests each day. Projections depicting Japanese scenery and wildlife illuminate the walls and table, and react different to each artfully presented dish on the rotating monthly menu. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLYxixvQ_hw "When a dish is placed on the table, the world contained within the dish is unleashed, unfolding onto the table and into the surrounding space," explains the collective. "A bird released from one dish can perch on the branch of a tree unleashed from another. The trees that grow from each dish are not identical; their sizes and shapes are affected by the worlds unleashed by the other dishes on the table. These unleashed worlds are also affected by your behaviour. If you stand still, a tiny bird might alight on your hand; if you move suddenly, it might fly away." Pretty lofty, but we're never opposed to ambitious creativity on our plates. Via Designboom.
If one particular Bee Gees song was ever the answer on Heardle, the music intro spinoff from Wordle, every Australian would guess it instantly. That tune: 'Spicks and Specks', which has been gracing the ABC's music quiz show of the same name since 2005 — whenever the show has been on the air, that is. It'll start echoing from your television again from Sunday, August 7, too, which is when the national broadcaster is bringing back the beloved series. Back in June, the network announced that the show would return this year for ten episodes, but now it has revealed the actual date. Adam Hills, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough will be back as well, hosting and taking on team captain roles respectively, while this new season also boasts an impressive list of guests. Hamish Blake, Denise Scott, Dave O'Neil, Luke McGregor, Rhys Nicholson, Nath Valvo and Zoe Coombs Marr will all return, while Casey Donovan, Montaigne, Emma Watkins, Dylan Alcott and Mama Alto will make their Spicks and Specks debut. And, that doesn't include the lineup of bands performing. If you're somehow new to the ABC hit, it answers an easy question. What's better than watching a heap of top Australian talent sit around and talk about music? Watching them do all of the above while flinging around trivia, competing for points and just generally being funny, too. From there, taking a few cues from the UK's Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Spicks and Specks throws plenty of queries at its star-studded teams — pitting Aussie musos and comedians against each other. Yes, it's no wonder that the show has proven a hit several times over, and that it keeps coming back. It was a first weekly favourite when it initially aired between 2005–2011. Then, it was revived back in 2014, but with a new host and team captains. Finally, it started gathering its original lineup of Hills, Warhurst and Brough back together, first via a one-off reunion special, then with four new Spicks and Specks specials across 2019–20, and then in its regular format since 2021. Obviously, Spicks and Specks has been enjoying more comebacks than John Farnham of late. For its 2022 run, it's also dropping clues to a new game in each episode. To play The Secret Song, you'll need to watch out to cryptic clues uttered by Hills during the regular questions and games, which Warhurst and Brough also need to pick up on — and doing just that could mean the difference between winning and losing. Until August 7 arrives, check out a sneak peek at Spicks and Specks' new season below: Spicks and Specks will return to ABC TV and ABC iView from 7.40pm on Sunday, August 7.
If Neil Buchanan taught us anything on Art Attack it was that a toilet paper roll can be used to design an array of artistic works. Whilst the word 'intricate' may never be used to describe the toilet roll castles he helped us build, it perfectly describes the artworks created by artist Anastassia Elias using only toilet rolls and a scalpel. Since 2009, the French artist has sculpted 67 works from these rolls, with each as spectacular and beautiful as the next. She carves the detail of each scene from other rolls and then delicately inserts them through a slit cut into the roll that frames each individual piece. Her works include dancing ballerinas, a busy construction site, an incredibly detailed science laboratory and an amusement park spanning two toilet rolls. Rouleaux, the title of the series and the accompanying book, is available here. In the meantime, you can check out our favourites below. Via Huffington Post.
You'll be able to go further into brain-imploding Water Temples, delve into more shitty dungeons and ride Epona across more of the Sacred Realm gathering rupees; the brand new Legend of Zelda game is going to go open world. Finally (finally) taking cues from long-celebrated megamap games like Oblivion and Fallout 3, Nintendo looked back to Zelda's history to develop their eighteenth official adventure — and online opinions are predictably flying. Series producer Eiji Aonuma announced the new Wii U Legend of Zelda game during the Nintendo Digital Presentation at the annual E3 annual video game conference overnight in LA. Nintendo needed a big ol' eel slap of a new game announcement last night, leaning on Mario Kart 8 to kickstart struggling Wii U sales. Looking back to older Zelda games, the developers decided it was high time for Link to explore bigger maps again (many, many years after Oblivion, Skyrim and even Fallout 3 had delivered gamechanging —heh — open world formats). Expanding the best bits of the old school 2D Link to the Past, everyone's favourite Ocarina of Time and GameCube's 2002 Wind Waker, Nintendo are finally cottoning on to the joys of open world in RPGs. To be fair, the new game looks badass. If I had an Ocarina in my possession, I'd be throwing down notes on Epona's Song and hitching a ride there immediately. The new Legend of Zelda is expected in 2015. https://youtube.com/watch?v=mM9MGY2OL8o Via Kotaku.
Perched above a previously underutilised, quietly beautiful stretch of Darling Harbour, NOLA Smokehouse and Bar is a new addition to the Streets of Barangaroo's tower restaurants. The style tips its hat to one of America's most revered and distinctive cities with hanging basket ferns, wicker chairs and gorgeous wrought iron detailing around the bar. The menu wears the New Orleans influence lightly though — think more along the lines of smoked meats and sazeracs rather than bowls of gumbo and po' boys. Service is knowledgeable and friendly, giving what could easily be a stuffy upmarket venue a taste of laidback Southern hospitality. The menu covers loose groupings of starters and share plates and is particularly strong on seafood; go for a half-dozen oThis Baranf Pacific oysters with a sharp shallot vinaigrette and/or a thick chipotle bloody mary sauce ($25) straight off the bat. A tuna sashimi dish ($24) offers just a hint of Southern spice with its Creole seasoning, and comes strewn with lightly salty caviar-like sea grapes. Mains revolve around the smoking room, and a good way to sample a range of their handiwork — not to mention eat your way into an agreeable food coma — is with the Pit Master's Picks ($43 per person), which includes lamb, pork sausage, brisket and chicken. The velvety-soft brisket pairs nicely with a dollop of chimichurri sauce while the blackened, tea-brined chicken (also available separately for $48) is particularly mouth-watering, full-flavoured and smoked to a soft texture. One of the salad options, the chargrilled cos ($22), goes way beyond being an afterthought for non-carnivores, bringing crunch and plenty of colour with coils of neat green zucchini ribbons, vivid purple radicchio leaves and the dusky orange zucchini flowers. Another big part of NOLA is the drinks list. Cocktails run from well-balanced originals like a bourbon, blueberry and lemon concoction called the Berry Blues to classics like the evergreen Vieux Carré — named after the city's famed Old Quarter — and the sazerac, one of the great gifts New Orleans has given to the world (all $18-20). The back bar also holds an admirably encyclopaedic collection of American whiskies, with plans to expand the range to well over 500 US varieties. All the big names are represented here, but try one of their lesser-known varieties, or something different, like a super smoky Octomore. The dessert list includes some New Orleans specialities like pecan pie and molasses jelly. Bananas Foster would have been a nice addition, but its absence is soothed by the decadent likes of a cookies and cream dish with ice cream, honeycomb, fresh berries and bourbon caramel ($13). Besides, when the last rays of sun are disappearing over the harbour and a breeze is filtering in through the airy room, you'll hardly be complaining.
If you want to catch public transport in Sydney, the Opal card has been the main way to pay for your trip for a while now. But that's all changed. After rolling out card payments on light rail and ferries back in March last year, and on trains in November, Transport for NSW has announced that contactless card payments has now been rolled out across all Sydney buses. Which means, you can now travel the entire Opal network, without an Opal card. Yep, you can leave your Opal in your wallet/on your desk/down the side of the couch — with this new technology, you can just tap your card or phone (Visa, Mastercard and American Express are all accepted in credit or debit) right onto the regular Opal scanners. Doing this will charge you for an Adult Opal single trip ticket, and if you use the same card each time you travel, the daily, weekly and Sunday caps will automatically be applied to your fare. Other Adult Opal fare discounts are available on contactless payments, too. Which means if you transfer between services, travel off-peak, usually qualify for the Weekly Travel Reward (where, after eight trips in a week, you get half-price fares) you'll get those discounts on your credit card across the train, light rail, ferry and bus network. Moving away from dedicated transport cards — or adding other payment options — will make things easier for tourists and travellers (and people who, god forbid, leave their Opal at home), who shouldn't have to buy a new piece of plastic just to catch a bus or train (or pay extra for a paper ticket if they don't) when they're visiting. However, if we're moving towards a contactless future, ensuring the new system remains accessible for anyone that doesn't have a smartphone, smartwatch or bank card remains a concern. Contactless and credit card payments are now available on Sydney bus, train, light rail, ferry and Metro services.
A stunning location, a giant 350-square-metre cinema screen, and an impressive range of new and classic movies: that's the Westpac Openair Cinema formula. Come January 2023, Sydneysiders will be able to enjoy that combination for another summer, with one of the city's favourite outdoor movie-watching spots returning for 40 nights from Sunday, January 8—Tuesday, February 21. But don't forget the other huge drawcard: the food. Westpac Openair Cinema confirmed its dates for its next summer season back in October, and it's also been unveiling a few other tidbits ahead of the full program reveal later in November. One of those is the very important — and tasty — news about the event's culinary lineup, with Kitchen by Mike's Mike McEnearney behind the food range just like in 2022. While the exact menu hasn't been revealed as yet, the 2023 spread will hero European summer influences — and you'll have two spaces to choose from. The southern end of the event will feature Mike's signature Kitchen by Mike dishes, plus reserved dining tables to eat them at, while The Point will serve up a relaxed range of meals and snacks. Wondering what you'll be seeing on the big screen, to go with McEnearney's dishes? Three films have been locked in: this year's Palme d'Or-winner Triangle of Sadness, the Harry Styles- and Florence Pugh-starring thrills of Don't Worry Darling and the fashion-focused Mrs Harris Goes to Paris. Back when the dates were first announced, the team behind the beloved event did drop a few other names of movies that've caught their attention, and that "would be pretty awesome experiences on Sydney Harbour", though. On that list: Elvis, Top Gun: Maverick, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Fire of Love, Ticket to Paradise, Moonage Daydream and Bros. Whatever else graces the screen, catching a flick at the Mrs Macquaries Point pop-up cinema is a warm-weather tradition, and those panoramic views of the city, the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge that go with it are spectacular. As happens every year, tickets are likely to go quickly when they go on sale on Monday, December 12 (with pre-sales for Westpac customers from Wednesday, December 7–Friday, December 9). Across the summer of 2018–19, more than 40,000 tickets sold within the first two days of pre-sale — so put it in your diary ASAP. Westpac Openair 2023 runs from Sunday, January 8—Tuesday, February 21. Tickets will go on sale on Monday, December 12, with pre-sales for Westpac customers from Wednesday, December 7–Friday, December 9 — and we'll update you with further details about the lineup when it is revealed. Westpac Openair Cinema images: Fiora Sacco.
A four-week festival is taking over Sydney's inner-east throughout October. Eastside Unlocked will see 80 different events pop up across 35 venues, spanning the likes of Potts Point, Surry Hills, Darlinghurst and Woolloomooloo. "Eastside Sydney has so much to offer when it comes to culture, live performance, food, drink and more," says the festival's manager Lorraine Lock. "We're inviting Sydney to rediscover Eastside's world-class restaurants, art galleries, cosy cocktail bars and iconic nightlife venues." So, what's on the program? Rosie Campbell's is hosting a Caribbean Festival, you can head to Ching-a-Lings for a life drawing class, Bitter Phew will be taken over by a natural beer festival, Ezra will be hosting a night of fashion and feasting, and The Winery is sticking true to its name and serving up a rosé festival. [caption id="attachment_536727" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Rosie Campbell's[/caption] There's also a range of Halloween-themed events to celebrate spooky season, including an immersive horror experience at Hotel Hollywood. Soda Factory is running a series devoted to Halloween hijinx and you can settle in for a spooky drag brunch at Bar Nina. And if you've been looking for an excuse to don your cowboy hat all year, Shady Pines will also be celebrating with a Halloween honky tonk. Other participating venues include The Strand, Eternity Playhouse, Brix Distillers, Darlo Bar and Kings Cross Hotel, just to name a few. You can check out the full program and plan out your next four weeks of eastside activities at the Eastside website. [caption id="attachment_751542" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bitter Phew[/caption] Top image: The Winery by Letícia Almeida
Your trip finally made it out of the group chat, but now the struggle is on to keep the friendships intact after the trip. It's almost impossible to imagine anyone having a bad time on the Sunshine Coast, but where you choose to call home while you're there can make all the difference. In partnership with Visit Noosa, we've compiled a guide to some of the top-notch accommodation options around the region — from one-bedroom studios on Noosa's main strip and luxe hotels with ocean views to easygoing resorts with kid-friendly activities and multi-bedroom homes. [caption id="attachment_965601" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Netanya[/caption] For Style Savants Stay in the heart of the action at Netanya Noosa. The sophisticated resort is sandwiched between the bustle of Hastings Street and the tranquillity of Main Beach, so you'll be in a prime position to experience the best of the area. There are serviced apartments to suit all types of groups, ranging from poolside studios for solo travellers and couples to two-bedroom beachfront rooms with a rooftop terrace and even a three-bedroom penthouse villa with views across Main Beach and Laguna Bay. Each self-contained apartment features king beds, a kitchenette and flexible housekeeping options, while the resort offers concierge services, laundry facilities, on-site parking, Tesla airport transfers and a heated beachfront pool. [caption id="attachment_965595" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Noosa Springs Golf Resort[/caption] For Wellness Fanatics If shopping or lounging by the beach doesn't quite cut it for you, book in at the Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort for wellness activities galore. Spend your days working on your handicap at the 18-hole golf course, playing tennis, doing laps in the heated pool or taking part in one of the many daily exercise classes at the fitness centre before unwinding at the spa. Alongside classic treatments such as massages, facials, body scrubs and wraps, there's also a flotation pool and thermal suite with a hydromassage pool, infrared sauna, steam room and blitz shower. [caption id="attachment_965597" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sofitel Noosa[/caption] For Luxury Lovers Level up your stay at the five-star Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort, conveniently located on Hastings Street. Sofitel combines attentive service with luxe rooms and stellar facilities, including a day spa, the hatted Noosa Beach House Restaurant, a swim-up pool bar and the Riviera Bar. If you can tear yourself away from the resort, Main Beach is only a two-minute walk away, while Noosa National Park and Sunshine Beach are just five minutes by car. [caption id="attachment_965596" align="alignnone" width="1920"] RACV[/caption] For Families If you're travelling with the whole family, RACV Noosa Resort has you covered. It offers everything from one-bedroom apartments to multi-storey, three-bedroom villas that sleep up to eight people. Keep the kids entertained (and maintain your sanity) with the resort's wide range of facilities, which include heated pools with water slides, a games room, playground, spa, tennis court, restaurant, bar and free shuttle service to Noosa Junction, Hastings Street and Main Beach. During the school holidays, you can even entrust your kids to the qualified professionals at the Kids Club Care service, who will host games and activities for your little ones between 5.30–8.30pm, so you can enjoy a romantic dinner without the little ones. [caption id="attachment_965600" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Clubb Coolum[/caption] For Surf Buffs Go straight from rolling out of bed to rolling into some of the Sunshine Coast's legendary waves at Clubb Coolum Beach Resort. The relaxed resort has a range of two- to three-bedroom apartments with views of the water and is located right by Coolum Beach. The lesser-known beach is only a 30-minute drive from Noosa Heads and boasts various wave types for all skill levels. If you're starting out, Coolum Surf School is a five-minute walk from the hotel. After hitting the surf, you can keep your heart rate up at the outdoor pool, gym, games room or tennis court before kicking back in the sauna or whipping up a feast at the barbecue. [caption id="attachment_965598" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tingirana[/caption] For Cosy Couples It's all about embracing the coastal aesthetic at Tingirana Noosa, where you can don your best sun hat while cosying up with a mystery novel on a blue-and-white striped recliner at the beachfront pool. Choose from one-bedroom studios overlooking Hastings Street or one- to two-bedroom apartments and penthouses facing Noosa Beach. Each comes equipped with a kitchen, a private balcony overlooking the water and a barbecue. Guests also get direct beach access and can use the resort's infinity pool, gym, restaurant (which offers room service) and parking. [caption id="attachment_965599" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zinc[/caption] For Long-Term Stays If you're planning to enjoy the Sunny Coast for a longer stretch (because why wouldn't you?), opt to rent a holiday unit from Zinc Properties. The company has a range of two-bedroom apartments available in Noosa Heads, complete with parking, kitchens, private balconies and extras like an outdoor barbecue, a pool, hot tub and water or hinterland views. And if you decide to extend your stay indefinitely, there are even apartments and houses for rent or sale on the Zinc Properties site. [caption id="attachment_965602" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Niche[/caption] For Bigger Groups Prefer the privacy of your own place? Niche Holidays has you covered with over 80 stylish properties around Noosa. From two-bedroom apartments with direct access to Main Beach to a five-bedroom Mediterranean-style villa with a pool and a sprawling eight-bedroom home with a private jetty, Niche Holidays has a property for every type of group — with enough bedrooms and private breakaway spaces for when group tensions start to rise and your social battery runs low. Start planning your Noosa getaway and find out more at the Visit Noosa website. Images: Tourism Noosa
In 1999, two new releases posed the same question: what would happen if a member of the mafia went to see a psychiatrist about his many woes? The first, The Sopranos, changed TV forever. Indeed, it's the show that many people instantly think of whenever they see HBO's famed logo sequence on the small screen. And it also ensured the comedy movie with the same premise, aka Analyse This, would always be seen as the lesser of the two projects. Focusing on New Jersey mobster Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), and spanning both his professional and personal lives, The Sopranos is the gangster series that all subsequent gangster series want to be — and the weighty, nuanced, compelling and thoughtful drama that paved the way for everything from Six Feet Under and The Shield to Mad Men. The now-late Gandolfini is an absolute powerhouse in the lead role, imbuing Tony with both volatility and vulnerability, as he's paired perfectly with Edie Falco as his wife Carmela
Not quite the picture of a fledgling festival, Creative Sydney is only turning two but already wise to the game. Part of Vivid festival's 'light, music and ideas' masterplan, Creative Sydney will enliven, educate and blow your socks off. All events are at the MCA and all are free, between June 5 and 13. The first round up of specialists includes creators of the biannual Finders Keepers markets, Brooke Johnston and Sarah Thornton, as well as Douglas Lance Gibson, the man at the helm of indie bible Mountain Fold. Also sharing their skills are TMOD, aka Georgie Swift, and Milenka Osen, aka conceptual jewellery-makers and interactive stationary designers extraordinaire. The 10 x 10 project returns this year, with 10 industry icons each letting you know their top 10 creatives to keep an eye on (or employ) in the coming year. The business end isn't left out of the deal either, with 'how to' panels for agents and managers, curators, promoters, creative advertisers and artists trying to survive on their work. Other features focus on the mapping of Sydney's creative territory and incorporating sustainability into everyday business practice. We're particularly getting behind I, Robot — a Creative Sydney session par exemplar, where high-tech players Dorkbot mix it with the more lo-fi likes of Even Books and the Australian Theatre for Young People for a night that plumbs the depths of meaning that sci-fi has always promised. The festival will finish with a giant Block Party at Circular Quay. Image: Totem poles from George Gittoes' performance, Night Vision, Creative Sydney 2009.
Sydney has no shortage of sunny rooftops and quaint hole-in-the-wall bars ready to serve you up a cocktail seven days a week, but if you're looking to experience the best cocktails the city has to offer, Maybe Sammy should be top of your list. The Rocks cocktail bar was named the 11th best bar in the world last year and to kick the new year off in style, it has revealed a brand new cocktail list featuring 20 inventive creations. Themed around the bar's namesake Sammy Davis Jr and his 1977 performance at the Sydney Opera House, the Sammy Davis Jr 'In Person' menu features nine exciting mixes. There's the Too Close for Comfort, a combination of Michter's rye whiskey with a porcini mushroom-infused vermouth and an in-house made porcini distillate perfume; 'Till You Hear the Bell, a riff on a margarita with bell pepper and palo santo (a medicinal tree native to South America); Mr Bojangles with peanut butter, whiskey and fermented honey; and Bang Bang, which is topped with a bergamot bubble. Also on the menu is the Eee-O-Eleven, a reference to both a classic Davis Junior song and Maybe Sammy's placement on the World's Best Bars list. The pineapple rum-based delight is poured over Mapo mango gelato and complemented with coconut, lime and banana. For those on a budget — or those looking to sample more of the menu — four new mini cocktails are now on offer for $11 each, including mini versions of the bar's signature drinks such as the Mini Sammy, which mixes Ketel One vodka, St Germain elderflower and house-made cranberry shrub. High roller cocktails, take home cocktails and a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic coffee-based drinks all maintain their spots on the menu alongside the bars extensive wine list. Check out the full menu at Maybe Sammy's website or drop in for a rundown in person. [caption id="attachment_794854" align="alignnone" width="1920"] DS Oficina[/caption] Maybe Sammy is located at 115 Harrington Street, The Rocks and is open from 4.30pm–12am Wednesday and Thursday and 4.30pm–1am Friday and Saturday. Top images: Daniele Massacci
Chucking a sickie is as true blue Australian as breaking out an impromptu Nutbush boogie. Now you're being encouraged to mute your office notifications, as Visit Sunshine Coast is giving away all-expenses-paid, two-night escapes designed to clear your head through pristine nature and non-stop warm weather. With applications now open until Thursday, September 11, ten lucky winners will be randomly selected on Thursday, September 18. If you're among the chosen few, you have just 12 hours to pack your bags and organise a friend to join you on this spur-of-the-moment 48-hour adventure. Touching down on the Sunshine Coast, winners get to choose from three relaxing mini-breaks designed for peace, calm and wellness. Think ocean floats, tranquil spa treatments, rainforest walks, long lunches and farm stays — all intended to help with workplace-related burnout. According to Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Matt Stoeckel, almost two-thirds of Australians have experienced professional burnout. "Whether it's a dip in the sea or a hike through the rainforest, a nature-based break is just the right medicine, and we're inviting Aussies to come and find their own sunshine moment." Top image: Jesse Lindemann.
When Reservation Dogs first breezed into streaming queues in 2021 — including via Binge in Australia and Disney+ in New Zealand — it did so with heart, style and purpose, delivering a rarity in the current TV landscape. Authentic depictions of life for Indigenous North Americans are scarce on the small screen, or any screen. Such shows that riff on a Quentin Tarantino movie with their moniker, start with a brazen and entertaining heist, unfurl their stories through creative cinematography, serve up a stunningly thoughtful coming-of-age tale and survey an entire community obviously are, too. And a series that does the above with Taika Waititi's (Thor: Love and Thunder) brand of deadpan humour, befitting his role as co-creator and executive producer, as well as co-writing the very first episode — doing so alongside showrunner and Seminole Nation filmmaker Sterlin Harjo (Mekko) — is genuinely unclaimed territory. In Reservation Dogs' first season, the end result was one of the best new TV shows of 2021. This year, its second season is one of the best and most moving returning shows of 2022. This gloriously heartfelt and perceptive series is dedicated to diving deep into the Indigenous North American experience today — as a teenager, primarily, but constantly broadening its focus to the parents, elders and spirits so instrumental and influential in its central foursome's life in Oklahoma's Muscogee Nation. It's no wonder that season one earned a Peabody Award, which celebrates US media's most powerful, enlightening and invigorating stories. It's no wonder, either, that the show has been picked up for a third run as well. Bear (D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Beans), Elora (Devery Jacobs, Rutherford Falls), Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis, Ghostbusters: Afterlife) and Cheese (debutant Lane Factor) are those restless adolescents at the heart of Reservation Dogs, and they've shared a California dream since the series' very first episode. But when the debut season wrapped up with a tornado, plus a figurative storm of hard truths and buried feelings, the gang's relocation fantasy didn't play out as expected. The lure of family and culture remained strong, as did holding onto a past that's brought happiness as well as hurt. While losing one of their best friends, Daniel (first-timer Dalton Cramer), to suicide was big motivation for wanting to head away — it was also his plan, too — actually following through proved a far trickier prospect when it became tangible. In season two, the more things change, the more they stay the same — until they don't. Elora still attempted to go west anyway to close out season one, but being on the road with enemy-turned-travelling companion Jackie (Elva Guerra, Dark Winds) gets tumultuous. For Bear, Willie Jack and Cheese, staying on the reservation requires facing life on the reservation and all that it entails, including the pain that no one wants to shoulder and plotting out a future that no one ever thought would exist without Daniel. Bear tries by getting a job in roofing, which ends up being beside Daniel's dad (Michael Spears, 1883). Willie Jack and Cheese feel like the group is cursed, and turn to town elder Uncle Brownie (Gary Farmer, First Cow) for assistance. Elora is called back, confronting loss, tradition and the friends she left behind. Reservation Dogs can be a series of side-splitting comedy. The lines that the writers find for Spirit aka William Knifeman (Dallas Goldtooth, Rutherford Falls), the warrior who died at (but not in) the Battle of Little Big Horn and is quick to dispense advice Bear's way, are comic gold every time he's on-screen. (Wanting him to get his own spinoff comes easily.) It's also a show filled with goofy capers, from the opening Flaming Flamers chip-truck heist through to a hilarious late season-two episode where lighthorseman Officer Big (Zahn McClarnon, Westworld) unwittingly takes acid, then stumbles upon a racist land-grabbing conspiracy that's fuelled a local myth, all with salvage yard owner Kenny Boy (Kirk Fox, Parks and Recreation) by his side. This is and always has been a sitcom about home, though, a term that's oh-so-loaded in a First Nations context. What does it mean to want to flee land that's been taken from Indigenous communities from centuries? That was one of the first season's key questions. What does it mean to rediscover that homeland, even knowing how much heartache lingers? That's a pivotal consideration in the second season. California — the oasis it represents, including fresh scenery, leaving everyday troubles behind and seeing the ocean for the first time — still can't be shaken, however. Sometimes, the only way to weather life's ups and downs is to realise how much you'd miss what you already have if it was gone, too. Made with such an evident commitment to minutiae, and to feeling lived-in at every moment, Reservation Dogs spins both its episodic stories and its long-running arcs, themes and emotions into something wonderful and insightful again and again. One season-two episode departs to the yearly Indian Health Summit with the Aunties, including Bear's mother Rita (Sarah Podemski, Resident Alien), who get their own time away. Another follows Cheese to a group home run by the misguided Gene (Marc Maron, Respect), where he's sent through no fault of his own — while yet another goes to prison, where Willie Jack visits Hokti (Lily Gladstone, Certain Women), her aunt and Daniel's mother. From the engaging cast and complex narrative to the incisive examination of everything it means to be an Indigenous North American right now, plus the crucial commitment to telling Indigenous stories with Indigenous on- and off-screen talent (every writer, director and series regular is Indigenous), Harjo deserves all the kudos that can be showered his way for this gem of a show. Seeing where each episode heads, what surprises are in store, and how it keeps giving the USA's First Nations people on-screen representation and a voice, is a continual and rewarding delight. Seeing how Reservation Dogs values both personal tales and fleshing out a community portrait, and excels equally in realistic and magical storytelling, is as much of a highlight. As for Waititi, his way with sitcoms shouldn't be astonishing. The Eagle vs Shark, Boy and Hunt for the Wilderpeople helmer is three for three in America — including not only this, but also Our Flag Means Death, which will return for a second season after 2022's debut run; and the What We Do in the Shadows TV spinoff, which just aired its fourth season and has a fifth and sixth on the way. Indeed, while there are many reasons to be thankful for the New Zealand filmmaker as his resume keeps attesting, using his fame to help bring the gift that is Reservation Dogs into the world is firmly one of them. Check out the trailer for Reservation Dogs season two below: Reservation Dogs streams via Binge in Australia and Disney+ in New Zealand. Images: Shane Brown / FX.
Think of a New York-set or -shot movie or TV show, and odds are that it probably featured the Waldorf Astoria. Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums filmed there, for one. Sex and the City did as well. Booking in a luxe stay within its stately confines might be high on your travel bucket list as a result — but come 2025, you'll be able to enjoy the Waldorf Astoria experience right here in Australia. Adding to its 30-plus sites around the world — including in Las Vegas, Cancun, Beijing, Berlin, Bangkok and the Maldives, to name a selection of spots — the hotel brand is setting up shop in Sydney in just a few years. Set to tower over Circular Quay, it'll be the Hilton-owned chain's first-ever Aussie location. It'll also join the lineup of six Waldorf Astoria properties in the Asia-Pacific region. [caption id="attachment_849250" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel[/caption] So, whether you're Sydneysider now dreaming of an indulgent staycation or you hail from elsewhere but you're always looking for an excuse to visit the New South Wales capital, you'll have a new place to spend a lavish night (or several). And, given the location — at One Circular Quay, 1 Alfred Street — you'll be able to lap up impressive vistas over the Harbour Bridge and Opera House while you're there. Now under construction, Waldorf Astoria Sydney will feature 220 rooms — 179 guest rooms and 41 suites — across its 28-floor expanse. Also a huge highlight: two new restaurants, the Waldorf Astoria Spa on level one, and the central gathering space that the brand has dubbed 'Peacock Alley' at its sites around the globe, which'll come complete with the Waldorf Astoria clock. Plus, to truly take advantage of the views, the hotel will also include a rooftop bar — and yes, peering out over the harbour here will be a given. Design-wise, Tokyo-based firm Kengo Kuma & Associates is doing the honours alongside the Sydney-based Crone Architects; expect a luxurious look that'll "artfully blend contemporary living with cutting-edge design," according to the statement announcing the hotel. "As the first Waldorf Astoria property to debut in Australia, Waldorf Astoria Sydney signals Hilton's commitment to expanding our luxury portfolio to the world's most sought-after destinations," said Hilton Chief Brand Officer Matt Schuyler. "Our highly personalised, elegant service and iconic environments are at the heart of every hotel, and we look forward to delivering unforgettable experiences to our guests in Sydney." Waldorf Astoria Sydney is one of 20 new hotels that the chain is set to open around the globe — so if you get accustomed to the brand's deluxe stays once it opens its doors locally, you'll have plenty of additional sites worldwide to add to your must-visit list. The Waldorf Astoria is due to open at One Circular Quay, 1 Alfred Street, Sydney, sometime in 2025 — we'll update you with further details when they're announced. Top image: Waldorf Astoria Beijing.
Before the pandemic, when a new-release movie started playing in cinemas, audiences couldn't watch it on streaming, video on demand, DVD or blu-ray for a few months. But with the past few years forcing film industry to make quite a few changes — widespread movie theatre closures and plenty of people staying home in iso will do that — that's no longer always the case. Maybe you've been under the weather. Perhaps you haven't had time to make it to your local cinema lately. Given the hefty amount of films now releasing each week, maybe you simply missed something. Film distributors have been fast-tracking some of their new releases from cinemas to streaming recently — movies that might still be playing in theatres in some parts of the country, too. In preparation for your next couch session, here are 12 that you can watch right now at home. ELVIS Making a biopic about the king of rock 'n' roll, trust Baz Luhrmann to take his subject's words to heart: a little less conversation, a little more action. The Australian filmmaker's Elvis, his first feature since 2013's The Great Gatsby, isn't short on chatter. It's even narrated by Tom Hanks (Finch) as Colonel Tom Parker, the carnival barker who thrust Presley to fame (and, as Luhrmann likes to say, the man who was never a Colonel, never a Tom and never a Parker). But this chronology of an icon's life is at its best when it's showing rather than telling. That's when it sparkles brighter than a rhinestone on all-white attire, and gleams with more shine than all the lights in Las Vegas. That's when Elvis is electrifying, due to its treasure trove of recreated concert scenes — where Austin Butler (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) slides into Presley's blue suede shoes and lifetime's supply of jumpsuits like he's the man himself. Butler is that hypnotic as Presley. Elvis is his biggest role to-date after starting out on Hannah Montana, sliding through other TV shows including Sex and the City prequel The Carrie Diaries, and also featuring in Yoga Hosers and The Dead Don't Die — and he's exceptional. Thanks to his blistering on-stage performance, shaken hips and all, the movie's gig sequences feel like Elvis hasn't ever left the building. Close your eyes and you'll think you were listening to the real thing. (In some cases, you are: the film's songs span Butler's vocals, Presley's and sometimes a mix of both). And yet it's how the concert footage looks, feels, lives, breathes, and places viewers in those excited and seduced crowds that's Elvis' true gem. It's meant to make movie-goers understand what it was like to be there, and why Presley became such a sensation. Aided by dazzling cinematography, editing and just all-round visual choreography, these parts of the picture — of which there's many, understandably — leave audiences as all shook up as a 1950s teenager or 1970s Vegas visitor. Elvis is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Read our full review. MOTHERING SUNDAY Is there anything more intimate than wandering around someone's home when they're not there, gently rifling through their things, and — literally or not, your choice — spending a few minutes standing in their shoes? Yes, but there's still an intoxicating sense of closeness that comes with the territory; moseying curiously in another's house without their company, after they've entrusted their most personal space to you alone, will understandably do that. In Mothering Sunday, Jane Fairchild (Odessa Young, The Staircase) finds herself in this very situation. She's naked, and as comfortable as she's ever been anywhere. After her lover Paul Sheringham (Josh O'Connor, Emma) leaves her in a state of postcoital bliss, she makes the most of his family's large abode in the English countryside, the paintings and books that fill its walls and shelves, and the pie and beer tempting her tastebuds in the kitchen. The result: some of this 1920s-set British drama's most evocative and remarkable moments. In a page-to-screen affair adapted by screenwriter Alice Birch (Conversations with Friends) from Graham Swift's 2016 novel for French filmmaker Eva Husson (Girls of the Sun), Jane is used to such lofty spaces, but rarely as a carefree resident. As played with quiet potency and radiance by Young, she's an aspiring writer, an orphan and the help; he's firmly from money. She works as a maid for the Sheringhams' neighbours, the also-wealthy Godfrey (Colin Firth, Operation Mincemeat) and Clarrie Niven (Olivia Colman, Heartstopper), and she's ventured next door while everyone except Paul is out. This rare day off is the occasion that gives the stately but still highly moving film its name as well — Mother's Day, but initially designed to honour mother churches, aka where one was baptised — and the well-to-do crowd are all lunching to celebrate Paul's impending nuptials to fiancée Emma Hobday (Emma D'Arcy, Misbehaviour). He made excuses to arrive late, though, in order to steal some time with Jane, as they've both been doing for years. Of course, he can't completely shirk his own party. Also, the day won't end as joyfully as it started. Mothering Sunday is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. LIGHTYEAR In the realm of franchise filmmaking, "to infinity and beyond" isn't just a catchphrase exclaimed by an animated plaything — it's how far and long Hollywood hopes every hit big-screen saga will extend. With that in mind, has a Pixar movie ever felt as inevitable as Lightyear? Given the main Toy Story plot wrapped up in 2019's Toy Story 4, and did so charmingly, keeping this series going by jumping backwards was always bound to happen. So it is that space ranger figurine Buzz Lightyear gets an origin story. That said, the trinket's history is covered immediately and quickly in this film's opening splash of text on-screen. Back in the OG Toy Story, Andy was excited to receive a new Buzz Lightyear action figure because — as this feature tells us — he'd just seen and loved a sci-fi movie featuring fictional character Buzz Lightyear. In this franchise's world, the likeable-enough Lightyear from director Angus MacLane (Finding Dory) is that picture. Buzz the live-action film hero — flesh and blood to in-franchise viewers like Andy, that is, but animated to us — goes on an all-too-familiar journey in Lightyear. Voiced by Chris Evans (Knives Out) to distinguish the movie Buzz from toy Buzz (where he's voiced by Last Man Standing's Tim Allen), the Star Command space ranger is so convinced that he's the biggest hero there is, and him alone, that teamwork isn't anywhere near his strength. Then, as happens to the figurine version in Toy Story, that illusion gets a reality check. To survive being marooned on T'Kani Prime, a planet 4.2 million light-years from earth filled with attacking vines and giant flying insects, the egotistical and stubborn Buzz needs to learn to play nice with others. For someone who hates rookies, as well as using autopilot, realising he can only succeed with help takes time. Lightyear is available to stream via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. BENEDICTION To write notable things, does someone need to live a notable life? No, but sometimes they do anyway. To truly capture the bone-chilling, soul-crushing, gut-wrenching atrocities of war, does someone need to experience it for themselves? In the case of Siegfried Sassoon, his anti-combat verse could've only sprung from someone who had been there, deep in the trenches of the Western Front during World War I, and witnessed its harrowing horrors. If you only know one thing about the Military Cross-winner and poet going into Benediction, you're likely already aware that he's famed for his biting work about his time in uniform. There's obviously more to his story and his life, though, as there is to the film that tells his tale. But British writer/director Terence Davies (Sunset Song) never forgets the traumatic ordeal, and the response to it, that frequently follows his subject's name as effortlessly as breathing. Indeed, being unable to ever banish it from one's memory, including Sassoon's own, is a crucial part of this precisely crafted, immensely affecting and deeply resonant movie. If you only know two things about Sassoon before seeing Benediction, you may have also heard of the war hero-turned-conscientious objector's connection to fellow poet Wilfred Owen. Author of Anthem for Damned Youth, he fought in the same fray but didn't make it back. That too earns Davies' attention, with Jack Lowden (Slow Horses) as Sassoon and Matthew Tennyson (Making Noise Quietly) as his fellow wordsmith, soldier and patient at Craiglockhart War Hospital — both for shell shock. Benediction doesn't solely devote its frames to this chapter in its central figure's existence, either, but the film also knows that it couldn't be more pivotal in explaining who Sassoon was, and why, and how war forever changed him (as also seen in his later guise, when he's played by The Suicide Squad's Peter Capaldi). Sassoon and Owen were friends, and also shared a mutual infatuation. They were particularly inspired during their times at Craiglockhart as well. In fact, Sassoon mentored the younger Owen, and championed his work after he was killed in 1918, exactly one week before before Armistice Day. Benediction is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. JURASSIC WORLD DOMINION When Jurassic World Dominion was being written, three words must've come up often. No, they're not Neill, Dern, Goldblum. Those beloved actors reunite here, the trio appearing in the same Jurassic Park flick for the first time since the 1993 original, but the crucial terms are actually "but with dinosaurs". Returning Jurassic World writer/director Colin Trevorrow mightn't have uttered that phrase aloud; however, when Dominion stalks into a dingy underground cantina populated by people and prehistoric creatures, Star Wars but with dinosaurs instantly springs to mind. The same proves true when the third entry in this Jurassic Park sequel trilogy also includes high-stakes flights in a rundown aircraft that's piloted by a no-nonsense maverick. These nods aren't only confined to a galaxy far, far away — a realm that Trevorrow was meant to join as a filmmaker after the first Jurassic World, only to be replaced on Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker — and, yes, they just keep on coming. There's the speedy chase that zooms through alleys in Malta, giving the Bond franchise more than a few nods — but with dinosaurs, naturally. There's the plot about a kidnapped daughter, with Taken but with dinosaurs becoming a reality as well. That Trevorrow, co-scribe Emily Carmichael (Pacific Rim Uprising) and his usual writing collaborator Derek Connolly (Safety Not Guaranteed) have seen other big-name flicks is never in doubt. Indeed, as a Mark Zuckerberg-esque entrepreneur (Campbell Scott, WeCrashed) tries to take over all things dino, and ex-Jurassic World velociraptor whisperer Owen Grady (Chris Pratt, The Tomorrow War) and his boss-turned-girlfriend Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard, Rocketman) get drawn back into the creatures' realm, too much of Dominion feels like an attempt to actively make viewers wish they were watching other movies. Bourne but with dinosaurs rears its head via a rooftop chase involving, yes, dinos. Also, two different Stanley Kubrick masterpieces get cribbed so blatantly that royalties must be due, including when an ancient critter busts through a door as Jack Nicholson once did, and the exact same shot — but with dinosaurs — hits the screen. Jurassic World Dominion is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. THE KITCHEN BRIGADE When a chef sticks to a tried-and-tested recipe, it can be for two reasons: ease and excellence. Whipping up an already-proven dish means cooking up something that you already know works — something sublime, perhaps — and giving yourself the opportunity to better it. That process isn't solely the domain of culinary maestros, though, as French filmmaker Louis-Julien Petit makes plain in his latest feature The Kitchen Brigade. The writer/director behind 2018's Invisibles returns to what he knows and does well, and to a formula that keeps enticing audiences on the big screen, too. With the former, he whisks together another socially conscious mix of drama and comedy centring on faces and folks that are often overlooked. With the latter, he bakes a feel-good affair about finding yourself, seizing opportunities and making a difference through food. Returning from Invisibles as well, Audrey Lamy (Little Nicholas' Treasure) plays Cathy, a 40-year-old sous chef with big dreams and just as sizeable struggles. Instead of running her own restaurant, she's stuck in the shadow of TV-famous culinary celebrity Lyna Deletto (Chloé Astor, Delicious) — a boss hungry for not just fame but glory, including by dismissing Cathy's kitchen instincts or claiming her dishes as her own. Reaching boiling point early in the film, Cathy decides to finally go it alone, but cash makes that a problem. So, to make ends meet, she takes the only job she can find: overseeing the food in a shelter for migrants, where manager Lorenzo (François Cluzet, We'll End Up Together) and his assistant Sabine (Chantal Neuwirth, Patrick Melrose) have been understandably too busy with the day-to-day business of helping their residents to worry about putting on a fancy spread. The Kitchen Brigade is available to stream via, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU What's yellow, round, inescapably silly and also just flat-out inescapable? Since 2010, when the first Despicable Me film reached screens, Minions have been the answer. The golden-hued, nonsense-babbling critters were designed as the ultimate sidekicks. They've remained henchman to malevolent figures in all five of their movie outings so far, and in the 15 shorts that've also kept telling their tale. But, as much as super-villain Gru (Steve Carrell, Space Force) would disagree — he'd be immensely insulted at the idea, in fact — Minions have long been the true drawcards. Children haven't been spotted carrying around and obsessing over Gru toys in the same number. The saga's key evil-doer doesn't have people spouting the same gibberish, either. And his likeness hasn't become as ubiquitous as Santa, although Minions aren't considered a gift by everyone. At their best, these lemon-coloured creatures are today's equivalent of slapstick silent film stars. At their worst, they're calculatingly cute vehicles for selling merchandise and movie tickets. In Minions: The Rise of Gru, Kevin, Stuart, Bob, Otto and company (all voiced by Pierre Coffin, also the director of the three Despicable Me features so far, as well as the first Minions) fall somewhere in the middle. Their Minion mayhem is the most entertaining and well-developed part of the flick, but as an 11-year-old Gru tries to live out his nefarious boyhood dreams in 1976, it's also pushed to the side by director Kyle Balda (Despicable Me 3), co-helmers Brad Ableson (Legends of Chamberlain Heights) and Jonathan del Val (The Secret Life of Pets 2), and screenwriter Matthew Fogel (The Lego Movie 2). There's a reason that this isn't just called Minions 2 — and another that it hasn't been badged Despicable Me: The Rise of Gru, although it should've. The Minion name gets wallets opening and young audiences excited, the Rise of Gru reflects the main focus of the story, and anyone who's older than ten can see the strings being pulled at the corporate level among the by-the-numbers slapstick hijinks. Minions: The Rise of Gru is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. AFTER BLUE (DIRTY PARADISE) In his 2017 feature debut, French writer/director Bertrand Mandico took to the sea, following five teens who were punished for a crime by being sent to a mysterious island. Sensual and lurid at every turn, The Wild Boys was never as straightforward as any description might intimate, however — and it proved both a tempest of influences as varied as Jean Cocteau, John Carpenter and David Lynch, and an onslaught of surreal and subversive experimentation several times over. Much of the same traits shine through in the filmmaker's second feature After Blue (Dirty Paradise), including an erotic tone that's even more pivotal than the movie's narrative. Mandico makes features about bodies and flesh, about landscapes filled with the odd and alluring, and where feeling like you've tumbled into a dream most wonderful and strange is the instant response. Tinted pink, teeming with glitter, scored by synth, as psychedelic as bathing in acid and gleefully queer, the fantastical realm that fills After Blue's frames is the titular planet, where humanity have fled after ruining earth. As teenager Roxy (debutant Paula-Luna Breitenfelder), who is nicknamed Toxic by her peers, tells the camera, only ovary-bearers can survive here — with men dying out thanks to their hair growing internally. In this brave new world, nationalities cling together in sparse communities, with roving around frowned upon. But that's what Roxy and her hairdresser mother Zora (Elina Löwensohn, Mandico's frequent star) are forced to do when the former meets and saves a criminal called Kate Bush (Agata Buzek, High Life), who she finds buried in sand, and are then tasked by their fellow French denizens with tracking her down and dispensing with her to fix that mistake. After Blue (Dirty Paradise) is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. SUNDOWN In Sundown's holiday porn-style opening scenes, a clearly wealthy British family enjoys the most indulgent kind of Acapulco getaway that anyone possibly can. Beneath the blazing blue Mexican sky, at a resort that visibly costs a pretty penny, Alice Bennett (Charlotte Gainsbourg, The Snowman), her brother Neil (Tim Roth, Bergman Island), and her teenage children Alexa (Albertine Kotting McMillan, A Very British Scandal) and Colin (Samuel Bottomley, Everybody's Talking About Jamie) swim and lounge and sip, with margaritas, massages and moneyed bliss flowing freely. For many, it'd be a dream vacation. For Alice and her kids, it's routine, but they're still enjoying themselves. The look on Neil's passive face says everything, however. It's the picture of apathy — even though, as the film soon shows, he flat-out refuses to be anywhere else. The last time that a Michel Franco-written and -directed movie reached screens, it came courtesy of the Mexican filmmaker's savage class warfare drama New Order, which didn't hold back in ripping into the vast chasm between the ridiculously rich and everyone else. Sundown is equally as brutal, but it isn't quite Franco's take on The White Lotus or Nine Perfect Strangers, either. Rather, it's primarily a slippery and sinewy character study about a man with everything as well as nothing. Much happens within the feature's brief 82-minute running time. Slowly, enough is unveiled about the Bennett family's background, and why their extravagant jaunt abroad couldn't be a more ordinary event in their lavish lives. Still, that indifferent expression adorning Neil's dial rarely falters, whether grief, violence, trauma, lust, love, wins or losses cast a shadow over or brighten up his poolside and seaside stints knocking back drinks in the sunshine. Sundown is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. THE REEF: STALKED In the crowded waters of cinema's shark-attack genre, which first took a hefty bite out of the box office with mega hit Jaws and then spawned plenty of imitators since, a low-budget Australian effort held its own back in 2010. The second movie from writer/director Andrew Traucki after his crocodile-attack flick Black Water, The Reef wasn't ever going to rake in enough takings to threaten the larger fish, but the stripped-back survival-thriller was grippingly effective. As Black Water did with 2020's Black Water: Abyss, the creature-feature helmer's shark film has now be given a sequel — and like Traucki's other franchise, this followup is a routine splash. The filmmaker keeps most of the basics the same, casting out a remakequel, aka a movie about basically the same scenario but with different faces. No, Traucki isn't seeking a bigger boat, or even to rock the one he has. The Reef: Stalked does make one curious new choice, however, stemming from its nine-months-earlier prologue. The film's opening sequences set up a harrowing source of trauma for protagonist Nic (Teressa Liane, The Vampire Diaries), and also clumsily equate domestic violence with the ocean's predators in the process. The aim is to show how Nic and her youngest sister Annie (debutant Saskia Archer) refuse to become victims after their other sibling Cathy (Bridget Burt, Camp-Off) is stalked and savaged in a different way, fatally so, at the hands of her partner Greg (Tim Ross, Dive Club). After finding Cathy herself, Nic is so understandably distressed that she heads as far away as she can, but returns from overseas for a big diving and kayaking trip that was important to her sister. With friends Jodie (Ann Truong, Cowboy Bebop) and Lisa (Kate Lister, Clickbait), plus Annie, they embark on a multi-day paddle — but it isn't long until a different sinister force terrorises their getaway, even if you don't already know what "the man in the grey suit" refers to in surfer slang. The Reef: Stalked is available to stream via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Read our full review. THE PRINCESS Finding a moment or statement from The Princess to sum up The Princess is easy. Unlike the powerful documentary's subject in almost all aspects of her life from meeting the future King of England onwards, viewers have the luxury of choice. Working solely with archival materials, writer/director Ed Perkins (Tell Me Who I Am) doesn't lack in chances to demonstrate how distressing it was to be Diana, Princess of Wales — and the fact that his film can even exist also underscores that point. While both The Crown and Spencer have dramatised Diana's struggles with applauded results, The Princess tells the same tale as it was incessantly chronicled in the media between 1981–1997. The portrait that emanates from this collage of news footage, tabloid snaps and TV clips borders on dystopian. It's certainly disturbing. What kind tormented world gives rise to this type of treatment just because someone is famous? The one we all live in, sadly. Perkins begins The Princess with shaky visuals from late in August 1997, in Paris, when Diana and Dodi Fayed were fleeing the paparazzi on what would be the pair's last evening. The random voice behind the camera is excited at the crowds and commotion, not knowing how fatefully the night would end. That's telling, haunting and unsettling, and so is the clip that immediately follows. The filmmaker jumps back to 1981, to a then 19-year-old Diana being accosted as she steps into the street. Reporters demand answers on whether an engagement will be announced, as though extracting private details from a teenager because she's dating Prince Charles is a right. The Princess continues in the same fashion, with editors Jinx Godfrey (Chernobyl) and Daniel Lapira (The Boat) stitching together example after example of a woman forced to be a commodity and expected to be a spectacle, all to be devoured and consumed. The Princess is available to stream via Google Play and YouTube Movies. Read our full review. 6 FESTIVALS Three friends, a huge music festival worth making a mega mission to get to and an essential bag of goon: if you didn't experience that exact combination growing up in Australia, did you really grow up in Australia? That's the mix that starts 6 Festivals, too, with the Aussie feature throwing in a few other instantly familiar inclusions to set the scene. Powderfinger sing-alongs, scenic surroundings and sun-dappled moments have all filled plenty of teenage fest trips, and so has an anything-it-takes mentality — and for the film's central trio of Maxie (Rasmus King, Barons), Summer (Yasmin Honeychurch, Back of the Net) and James (Rory Potter, Ruby's Choice), they're part of their trip to Utopia Valley. But amid dancing to Lime Cordiale and Running Touch, then missing out on Peking Duk's stroke-of-midnight New Year's Eve set after a run-in with security, a shattering piece of news drops. Suddenly these festival-loving friends have a new quest: catching as much live music as they can to help James cope with cancer. The first narrative feature by Bra Boys and Fighting Fear director Macario De Souza, 6 Festivals follows Maxie, Summer and James' efforts to tour their way along the east coast festival circuit. No, there are no prizes for guessing how many gigs are on their list, with the Big Pineapple Music Festival, Yours and Owls and Lunar Electric among the events on their itinerary. Largely road-tripping between real fests, and also showcasing real sets by artists spanning Dune Rats, Bliss n Eso, G Flip, B Wise, Ruby Fields, Dope Lemon, Stace Cadet and more, 6 Festivals dances into the mud, sweat and buzz — the crowds, cheeky beers and dalliances with other substances that help form this coming-of-age rite-of-passage, aka cramming in as many festivals as you possibly can from the moment your parents will let you, as well. This is also a cancer drama, however, which makes for an unsurprisingly tricky balancing act, especially after fellow Aussie movie Babyteeth tackled the latter so devastatingly well so recently. 6 Festivals is available to stream via Paramount+. Read our full review. Looking for more at-home viewing options? Take a look at our monthly streaming recommendations across new straight-to-digital films and TV shows — and our best new TV shows, returning TV shows and straight-to-streaming movies from the first half of 2022. Or, check out the movies that were fast-tracked to digital in January, February, March, April, May, June and July.
In good news for people who hate spending more than ten seconds on a single task, you can now get personalised contents insurance with just one swipe. A new app named Trōv has just launched in Australia, and it allows you to insure individual items quickly, painlessly and potentially without even having to ask your parents for help. It's being described by media outlets as the 'Tinder of insurance', which is honestly quite ridiculous as the only similarity between the two apps is the generic swiping motion and the fact you access it on your smartphone. But despite the fact that the app can't offer you a date for Friday night, Trōv is pretty cool. The app allows you to insure individual items against damage, loss and theft on-demand. So you add your valuables to your account (at the moment they're just insuring common electronics), choose your excess, and — much like switching Wi-Fi on and off — 'turn on' protection for that particular item. You can 'turn off' protection in the same way as well. Insuring individual items means that you don't need to take out a hella expensive blanket contents insurance plan just to cover the one or two things you own that actually have monetary worth. And, during periods when you're not using your gear or it's packed away safely, you can turn insurance off to save some moolah. Best of all, it's a good alternative to not insuring any of your stuff and simply praying that the God of small things is a merciful one. Another concession to the tech generation is the claims process, which can be started by sending a text. It's not quite at the level of ordering takeaway with an emoji but it's certainly better than being on hold with an insurance claims operator for ten hours. The San Fransisco start-up behind Trōv have obviously tried to understand the way Gen Y use technology and apply it to something we largely don't understand: insurance. According to The Age, Trōv has gained $US39 million in funding so far, which includes $US5 million from Australian insurance company Suncorp — hence the Australian launch. It will expand to the UK later this year, and the US in 2017. Trōv can currently only insure electronics and appliances, but is working to add more options to their repertoire. In the meantime, you can insure some of the most precious items we have: our laptops and phones. They're the bringers of GoT, memes and UberEATS, after all.
Winter in Woollahra has become unimaginable without Sunday roast at Bistro Moncur. And, now that the chilly weather has set in, it's back for another round — with a menu that changes every six weeks. The season kicked off with Dewsbury pork belly, and has since moved onto Riverina lamb rump. It arrives at your table with Yorkshire pudding, duck fat potatoes, pumpkin puree, petits pois a la francaise, and rosemary jus. All this will set you back $45 a plate. Like the rest of Bistro Moncur's creations, the brains behind the Sunday roast is London-born chef Tom Deadman. He took over the 30-year-old kitchen in 2022, having worked at Read's in the UK (which had a Michelin star at the time), as well as Becasse in Surry Hills and Hotel Centennial, also in Woollahra. Looking for other Sunday roasts? Hop next door to try Woollahra Hotel's offering, to NEL Restaurant for a ten-course degustation, or to The Botanist in Kirribilli for a fancy beef wellington.
