New restaurants and takeaway joints open every week in Sydney — so much so that it's hard to keep up, let alone determine which ones to visit. But you know what gets our attention? Free stuff. That's why we're pleased to tell you that, to celebrate last week's opening of their new Surry Hills store, Zeus Street Greek will be giving out free souvas to anyone who visits the new location this Friday, June 2. All you have to do is walk into the Foveaux Street store between noon and 3pm on Friday and you'll score yourself a free pita. These are ZSG's version of a souvlaki, which you can get filled with chicken, pork, lamb, falafel, haloumi or soft shell crab. Plus, for each pita given away on the day, ZSG will donate $2 to Weave Community & Youth Services, a charity that supports disadvantaged children, young people and families. Just in case you weren't sure if ZSG was a chain yet — the Surry Hills outpost is their 14th store to open in Australia. They currently have ten stores Sydney and a couple across Canberra, Newcastle, Brisbane and Perth, with another four to open imminently. Zeus Street Greek Surry Hills is now open at 2/69-81 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills. To celebrate the opening, they will will be giving away free pitas on Friday, June 2 from 12–3pm. For more info visit zeusstreetgreek.com.au.
C'mere little one, come join Papa in this little dark corner and let him play some smokey tunes for you. You like it, don't you, darling, there's a base note of romance here – that's right – but surely an innocent face like yours shouldn't smile at the hint of all those dirty, grinding gypsy highlights...Oh, but it does?Well, if you want more my poppet, come follow all the other children into the dark as we make our way to that old church of sin and joy, The Red Rattler. Swing or sway, my love, just move to the dreamy melodies of my dear brethren, The Barons of Tang, and bid farewell to all those dull mornings forever from now.AND THEN ROCK, sweetheart, because the Barons have dragon blood too, don't forget, and its fire will turn your heart to toast. So let's eat toast together, dear one: you, me, the Barons, the Crooked Fiddle Band, Captain Kickarse and the Awesomes. I promise there'll be a delicious spread.Don't worry kids - if you miss this gig, the Barons of Tang are also playing as part of the Verge Arts Festival!The Dogs of Rotterdam from Verb Studios on Vimeo.
Premier Barry O'Farrell’s new legislation provokes an obvious question. Why should the entire class, including some of its top students, be punished because of the misdemeanours of a few? There's no doubt that action should be taken to avoid turning Kings Cross into a no-go zone akin to parts of Downtown LA. But eating into the vibrant post-midnight culture that Sydneysiders have worked so hard to cultivate, particularly over the past few years, is risky. Not to mention potentially ineffective. So risky, in fact, that one of the Cross's most bustling hotspots is shutting its doors and relocating as a result. Since opening just months ago, Buns & Balls has established itself as the go-to bar for acoustic and electronic music, classic cocktails, burgers and a spot of Buck Hunter. There hasn’t been a single incident of either violence or out-of-control-intoxication. With its chill, beachy-in-the-city atmosphere, it actually seems like an antidote to some of the big 'problem spots' in the area. But O’Farrell's legislation threatens to compromise trade (and vibe) so severely that the owners are pulling up stumps. In their ongoing licensing talks, the venue has been given such instruction as “a burger not being considered a meal” and “patrons being seated at all times/not being allowed to stand on the restaurant’s outdoor terrace”. Hmmm. Not sure about you, but last time I ate a burger I felt pretty full. As for sitting at all times, perhaps just a tad draconian? Not exactly conducive to a great night out? For Buns & Balls, the laws make business practically impossible. So they’re moving. Thankfully, they’ve found a new, as yet unspecified home in the Eastern suburbs, outside of the harsh conditions of the CBD precinct. Media rep Simon Hancock of SIMON SAYS believes that Buns and Balls will not be the only business to suffer unjustly under the legislation. “Action must be taken to curb alcohol-fuelled violence in our city, but these harsh, ‘blanket’ regulations are not the answer,” he said. “Proposed lock outs will simply put more punters on the streets rather than off, while small, safe venues like Buns & Balls in the area are forced to close due to impossible regulations.” Read more about what some of our favourite bars have had to say in response to the State Government proposals in our feature.
Can you think of a better way to spend a muggy, summer night than with an outdoor movie and quality food in Bondi? From January 25 to March 4, American Express is bringing its outdoor cinema to Sydney's coastline. Movies on the big screen this season will include Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Call Me By Your Name, Pitch Perfect 3, Coco, Crazy Stupid Love and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Salt Meats Cheese will be supplying the movie bites with a daily menu of gourmet food, including their truffle pecorino pasta, arancini antipasti and woodfired pizza. In addition, there will be 40 events across the installation, including live music performances, DJs and trivia. Every Sunday, $3 from your ticket will go to OzHarvest to provide meals for people in need. You'll also be able to make use of the bar, serving 4 Pines beer, Giesen wines, cocktails and frosé all night long. Oh, and it's a dog-friendly space with special picnic platter for the pooch, so you don't need to leave part of your family at home. Plus if you're an Amex user you'll get 15% off selected tickets, plus a blanket.
When Sally Rooney's first page-to-screen hit arrived in streaming queues in 2020, it made instant stars out of Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal. The pair's recent respective roles in Fresh and The Lost Daughter sit among plenty more to come, but part of what made Normal People work so devastating well was watching its disarmingly relatable romance play out with fresh faces that could've been anyone. That same idea sits at the heart of Conversations with Friends, too, Rooney's debut novel but second book to leap to television. The quietly magnetic Alison Oliver makes her debut at the 12-part Dublin-set series' centre, and it's a perfect stroke of casting. Available to stream in full via Prime Video from Monday, May 16 — dropping ready to binge, revel in and obsess over, as Normal People did — Conversations with Friends doesn't opt for newcomers across the board, though. That's another savvy move, placing Oliver amid well-known actors Sasha Lane (Loki, American Honey), Jemima Kirke (Sex Education, Girls) and Joe Alwyn (The Souvenir: Part II, The Favourite), who immediately exude engrained confidence. Oliver's character, pensive literature student Frances, is in the same situation. She's always on-edge and on the verge of withdrawing whenever the show's four key characters spend time together, like she feels overwhelmed by everyone else's company. Conversations with Friends didn't have Oliver go method and live Frances' life, of course, but compared to her co-stars, she's a blank slate ready for viewers to see themselves in. Peeking into intimate connections and feeling as though they've been lifted from your own life, or from emotions you've navigated and weathered, is one of Rooney's key skills as a writer. It's true of both Conversations with Friends and Normal People in print, and it's a knack that the same creative team — Rooney as an executive producer, co-screenwriter Alice Birch (Lady Macbeth) and co-director Lenny Abrahamson (Room, Frank) — have brought to both TV adaptations. In text and flickering across the screen, both tales step into complicated romances that simmer with intensity. They confront class clashes and the difficulties that spring from them as well. And, they force contemplative women to confront what they want, who they are, how they'll grow as people and the others they might give their hearts to. In Conversations with Friends, 21-year-old Frances is first poised as the other half in a couple that's not a couple, at least anymore; she went to school with and used to date the outspoken and outgoing Bobbi (Lane), but now the two university students are best friends and spoken-word poetry partners. It's during one of their performances that successful writer Melissa (Kirke) spots the duo's act, compliments them afterwards and invites them over for a swim, then back to her well-appointed house for a drink. Enter Nick (Alwyn), Melissa's actor husband, who holds himself like he'd rather be anywhere but there but is too polite to upset the status quo. He's as reserved and introverted as Frances — and they catch each other's eyes, while Bobbi and Melissa gravitate towards each other. Soon, Frances is part of another couple, one that's only secretly a couple: between the sheets, in stolen moments, and with much awkwardness while trying not to be discovered by either Bobbi or Melissa. As was also such an influential part of Normal People, she's caught in a relationship that's as filled with terse, tense yet deep discussions as it is with instances where saying nothing says everything there is. Despite its name, cut out Conversations with Friends' loaded silences and you could likely reduce its running time by half, but you'd also rip away much of its heart and soul. It's a show about what can't or won't be said; about the interiority that we all live within, some more than others; and about how, when and why we open ourselves up to and allow ourselves to truly become vulnerable with others. Conversations with Friends is catnip for Normal People fans, in other words — and rewardingly so. There's no escaping the similarities, including in the midseason trip abroad, and in the dreamy-yet-naturalistic approach that Abrahamson and fellow director Leanne Welham (His Dark Materials) use to anchor viewers in the show's dramas. Watching along feels like sliding into the series' love quadrangle, observing along even more quietly than Frances often does, but experiencing every emotion — blatant and unspoken — along the way. The mood: swooning melancholy. The look: the kind of cosiness and uncertainty that drips from Ireland's overcast skies and sweater-friendly climes. The sensation: sensitive, realistically messy and deeply lived-in. Hitting bookshelves in 2017, Rooney's novel was her first success, earning buzz after a seven-way auction for the publishing rights, and garnering award nominations. It's a portrait of entangled lives, and the intricate webs that love, lust, friendship and loyalty weave, but it's also a character study of one woman learning how to face and reveal her true self. Frances' affair with Nick, and the ripples it sends through her bond with Bobbi, Bobbi's infatuation with Melissa, and Melissa and Nick's marriage, fuels just one of its narrative threads. Frances' complex relationship with her divorced parents (Derry Girls' Justine Mitchell and Tommy Tiernan), her view of her health and her unwillingness to ask for help even when she needs it most leave just as big of an imprint. It's little wonder, then, that Oliver is Conversations with Friends' most pivotal player — but she's also in fantastic company. Wanting to spend more time watching Bobbi and Melissa's growing connection isn't just a result of Rooney's layered story, but of Lane and Kirke's textured performances and bubbling chemistry. The same proves true of Melissa and Nick's stressed relationship, with Kirke and Alywn compellingly ebbing and flowing through the couple's ups and downs. "Who knows what happens between two people when they're alone?" Frances comments early, chatting to Bobbi about Melissa and Nick — and Conversations with Friends makes its audience desperate to know the answer no matter which possible combination of its four main characters it happens to be focusing on at any given moment. Check out the trailer for Conversations with Friends below: All 12 episodes of Conversations with Friends are available to stream Down Under via Prime Video on Monday, May 16. Images: Enda Bowe/Hulu.
J-horror fans, rejoice: Australia's Japanese Film Festival is back for 2023, and it boasts a couple of highlights for lovers of scary cinema. If you're a fan of Japan's contribution to frightening flicks, then The Forbidden Play is your first must-see. Behind the lens is Hideo Nakata, the director of 1998's iconic Ringu, aka the movie that helped spark a global obsession (and the American spinoffs, too). This time, the filmmaker tells of a son wanting to bring his mother back to life, so much so that he keeps chanting a resurrection spell that awakens something evil. This year's JFF isn't just about unsettling titles, but it does also feature Immersion, which hails from Ju-On: The Grudge director Takashi Shimizu (who also helmed the first US remake starring Sarah Michelle Gellar). In his latest effort, he's playing with grudges again, as well as traditional Japanese superstitions, virtual reality and a secluded island — which is never a good setting for a horror film. In Sydney, the 2023 festival arrives in October — and in two parts. One of the delightful aspects about this film festival is its two-pronged approach, giving both recent and retrospective titles their own time to shine. So, classics will get a spin at The Chauvel from Monday, October 23–Wednesday, October 25, then new releases at Palace Central, Palace Norton Street and Palace Verona from Thursday, October 26–Tuesday, October 31. Officially opening the event for 2023: We're Broke, My Lord!, a character-driven story about an unexpected inheritance from director Tetsu Maeda (And So the Baton Is Passed). From there, audiences can also look forward to the aforementioned to J-horror pictures; the animated Gold Kingdom and Water Kingdom; Citizen Kitano's tribute to actor, comedian and filmmaker Takeshi Kitano (Outrage Coda); and Yokaipedia, which is about three boys on a monster-filled quest. Fellow standouts include Yudo: The Way of the Bath, a comedy about bathhouse rituals; romance We Made a Beautiful Bouquet; Natchan's Little Secret, where three drag queens head to a funeral; and Single8, with director Kazuya Konaka's paying tribute to filmmaking before the digital era. And, in the special series — aka the fest's retrospective thread — post-war Japanese cinema figure Kо̄ Nakahira is in the spotlight. JFF will screen 1956's Juvenile Jungle and Milkman Frankie, 1957's Temptation, 1962's Danger's Where The Money Is!, and 1963's Mud Spattered Purity, as well as Flora on the Sand, Only on Mondays and The Hunter's Diary from 1964, plus 1965's The Black Gambler. Top image: © 2023 IMMERSION Production Committee.
Now this is a playground for the ages. January's Sydney Festival will see the brand new Cutaway at Barangaroo Reserve house one of the largest community events in festival's 40 years. Olivier Grossetête’s The Ephemeral City invites Sydneysiders to use boxes and tape to create a temporary city — one which will be excitedly demolished come Australia Day. This unprecedented project also includes a free Flying Fox zipline, a projection of Shaun Gladwell’s Skateboarders vs Minimalism and a full audio-visual experience at Gallery Hour. The best part? The entire Barangaroo program is absolutely free. Check out more of the best Sydney Festival events under $50 here. Image: Vincent Lucas
Close out your Anzac Day in style with a musical feast from the guys that did the Malcolm in the Middle theme. They're doing an intimate gig at the Upstairs Beresford, playing their classic album Flood all the way through, just for you and 399 others. See the rest of our ten best things to do this Anzac Day.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we take you to Pan Pacific Singapore. [caption id="attachment_892011" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Singapore Tourism Board[/caption] WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? This five-star hotel is right in the heart of Singapore, boasting views across Marina Bay, the South China Sea and surrounding city skyline. It also boasts a heap of extra luxe features, including three pools and an in-house spa. THE ROOMS This is a mighty big hotel, with 790 lavish rooms and suites available to guests. You can go for the more modest Deluxe Room — which is still an impressive 38 square metres in size and has sweeping views across either the city or bay. Alternatively, you can opt for one of the more luxurious suites or studios that have separate living and dining rooms, additional bedrooms and little kitchenettes. There's even the Urban Jungle suite which is made for families. It has a super fun jungle-themed room with an inflatable rocking hippo, a tepee and a treehouse bunk bed that sleeps two kids. FOOD AND DRINK As you'd expect in a city known for its food, this opulent hotel boasts a series of spectacular restaurants and bars. There is the fine-dining Cantonese restaurant Hai Tien Lo and the Keyaki Japanese Restaurant which has its own Japanese rooftop garden. But one of our favourites has to be Edge. Here, you get to feast on a high-end buffet that includes fresh oysters and lobster, roast meats with all the trimmings and a massive selection of local dishes. Quantity and quality combine at this spot. [caption id="attachment_864958" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Singapore Tourism Board[/caption] THE LOCAL AREA Pan Pacific Singapore is close to most of the city's best bits. Head to the adjoining Marina Market for boutique stores, walk along the nearby Singapore River for more entertaining and dining options or take a quick cab ride to any of the city's other great sites. Be sure to check out Little India, Chinatown and Arab Street as well as the famous island of Sentosa, if you seek beach clubs and water activities. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips to destinations all over the world.
Paddo Collective — a cohort of local businesses that have joined forces to revitalise the suburb — invites you to dive into Paddington's peculiar past — a history filled with notorious crimes, eccentric architecture and unsolved mysteries. This new walking tour blends the past and present, weaving together local sights, stories and secrets with the help of Sydney historian Max Burns-McRuvie, who will guide tourgoers through the area's heritage as they visit some of Paddington's best venues. Expect to stop by local staples such as Fred's, Tequila Mockingbird and The Wine Library for a taste of their contributions to the suburb's evolving culture. You'll also reach into the past at four chilling historic sites to uncover tales of murder on terraces, sinkhole crises and Paddington's rise from rags to riches. Max Burns-McRuvie is one of Sydney's most thrilling tour guides, hosting fascinating trails through Sydney's grim past via his company Journey Walks. His specialty is crime history, so expect to discover much about the vice, murder and scandal that helped shape the Paddington we know and love today.
Get through the hump day heat with some cool tunes at Venue 505. Every week, the Surry Hills venue hosts Blue Wednesday Jazz Lounge, an evening devoted to jazz and blues classics. Once the lights are down low and a cocktail is in your grasp, the office will dissolve into nothing but a hazy memory. On stage, you'll find the Venue 505 house trio: guitarist Carl Dewhurst, bassist Cameron Undy and drummer Tim Firth. But, this is a jazz gig, so you can usually count on surprise guests. The straight-forward food menu offers pasta, pizza, Greek salad, a cheese board or a mezzo plate. Drinks-wise, there's a good selection of wines, craft beers, top-shelf spirits and cocktails. Reservations aren't possible so get there as early as you can to nab a comfy couch – either right up front or in a shadowy corner. Doors open at 6pm and the music starts at 8.30pm. Image: Katje Ford.
Every movie lover knows that there's never a bad time to catch a flick. Your couch might have a groove in it to prove it, too, and your favourite seat at your local cinema as well. Usually, however, you can't mosey out to see a film on the big screen at midnight, or 2am, or 6am — but for one night in Sydney, you can. For 24 hours from 6pm on Saturday, February 4, Macquarie Street East is set to score a new — and free — all-night art, music, food and creativity festival: Mopoke. Taking place from Shakespeare Place through to Hyde Park Barracks, it promises an impressive feast of pop-ups, activations and cultural offerings, and it is indeed running all throughout the evening. If you're a cinephile, though, it's the just-announced free 24-hour cinema that'll have you most excited. Across Mopoke's duration, the fest is teaming up with the crew behind Mov'in Cinemas — aka the team that's given Sydney and Australia in-bed cinemas, and also a rooftop drive-in and a floating cinema with boats in the Harbour City — to set up a non-stop outdoor cinema. It all kicks off at 6pm, like Mopoke itself, and has movies playing in specific slots for the evening and day afterwards. The last will start screening at 3.30pm on Sunday, February 5. Even better: Mov'in's powers-that-be clearly know that everyone loves Studio Ghibli flicks because there's two on the lineup. Greet the dawn with a 6am session of Spirited Away, or enjoy an 11.30am Sunday morning date with My Neighbour Totoro. Still with filmmaking favourites, Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation is the midnight movie — if you want to do karaoke before or afterwards, you'll need to head elsewhere, though — and Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch has the 8.30am slot. Also on the bill: ABC documentary Secrets of the Australian Museum at 6pm, The Mopoke Short Film Festival from 7pm, Aussie art doco Whitely at 10pm and 1928's Show People at 2am. Or, there's Oscar-winner The Artist at 4am, Midnight in Paris at 1.30pm (in what seems like a missed opportunity, time-wise) and the Willem Dafoe-starring Vincent van Gogh biopic At Eternity's Gate in the last slot. While entry is free, bookings are required in advance — and expect to have plenty of company. As for the rest of Mopoke, it includes theatre performances and gigs, as well as live art and magic shows — plus ten multicultural rotation of food trucks to keep you well-fuelled — as connected by black-lit paths. Mopoke Sydney will run from 6pm on February 4–6pm on February 5, along Macquarie Street East, Sydney CBD. For more information — and to book free cinema tickets — head to the event's website.
Since April 2017, Manly Spirits Co. has been bringing handcrafted Australian spirits to the northern beaches and beyond. It's the brainchild of couple David and Vanessa, who spent 18 months visiting distilleries across the US, the UK and Europe before setting up their own digs in Manly. To sample their creations, swing by the distillery's tasting bar. Lined with light timber, splashed with copper and dotted with turquoise-topped bar stools, this cosy spot hits just the right balance of coastal breeziness and pared-back industrial style. Those unfamiliar with Manly Spirits should start with a tasting. There's a choice of four, including the Distillery Tasting Flight, which lets you sample three drops, and the G&T Flight, which includes premium tonic water, an ice bucket and garnishes, so you can mix and match to suit your tastes. The Manly Spirits range takes much of its inspiration from Australian natives, especially those available along Sydney's coastline. The Marine Botanical Vodka, for example, features kelp and sea parsley foraged from local beaches, while the Coastal Citrus Gin is infused with lemon aspen, lemon myrtle, meyer lemon, sea parsley and coriander. There are whiskies and liqueurs, too. Should you get peckish, the snacks menu offers cheese, sardines, jamon andr olives. Alternatively, you're welcome to order a pizza from nearby Mimmo or Sale Pepe. Images: Alana Dimou.
Chin Chin built its name on punchy Southeast Asian fusion cuisine, with the Sydney outpost carrying on the Melbourne original's legacy since 2017. Now the famed restaurant is hosting a one-night-only collab with Four Pillars, featuring a gin-fuelled dinner on Wednesday, August 13, stacked with knock-out cocktail pairings. Complementing Chin Chin's beloved four-course Feed Me selection, the night kicks off with a Disco Is 4 Eva cocktail. Its yuzu and passionfruit burst is the ideal match for kingfish sashimi and prawn and ginger dumplings. Up next, the Tamarind Southside offers a sweet-tart blend, combining dry gin, tamarind caramel, lime and mint. It goes down a treat paired with roasted pork belly and roasted pumpkin served with peanut satay. Then, it's time for the Bang Bang Bloody Shiraz, a spicy number concocted from Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin, tequila, and hot and sour sauce. Married with chicken khao soi and a mixed leaf salad brimming with fresh Asian herbs, expect a curious combo overflowing with citrus and peppery notes. Of course, you can't depart without dessert — in this case, it comes with a double dose of gin. Here, the Mango Sticky Rice cocktail, featuring toasted rice-infused yuzu gin, is served alongside a coconut sago brimming with Four Pillars Negroni Gin ripple ice cream and rhubarb candied pink grapefruit.
As winter closes in, you might be tempted to take anything that requires leaving your warm and toasty home off of your schedule. We get it. But it's no excuse. Even if it's cold outside, there are plenty of winter-friendly (and delicious) reasons to get out and about this season — especially down south. Tasmania might be known for its chilly weather, but, these days, it's also got quite the reputation as a culinary destination — and for good reason. Top-notch culinary menus make use of the freshest, seasonal and local produce and can be found all over the Apple Isle. That's why we've made it our mission to discover the Tassie restaurants that'll warm both your belly and your cold little hands this winter. Here are five of the best. Hope you're hungry. [caption id="attachment_719307" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chris Crerar.[/caption] STILLWATER — LAUNCESTON Stillwater is quite possibly the best-known restaurant in Tasmania. Situated on the edge of the Tamar River in Launceston — and set within a restored 1830s flour mill — the space is cosy, with warm lighting and timber furnishings, and boasts stunning views. The seasonal menu is a love letter to the island state, celebrating fresh, local produce and the region's best vineyards, distilleries and brewhouses. Our tip: opt for the Arras sparkling, which some might call Australia's best answer to Champagne, paired with flavour-packed seafood dishes like the fresh Moulting Bay oysters or the Tasmanian blacklip abalone with whipped tofu, brown butter ponzu, enoki and avruga caviar for a particularly indulgent experience. A visit on a clear winter day is something special — not only will you get a great view over the water, but be treated to the spoils of a Tassie winter. Expect a menu that makes the most of the abundant and rich produce available in winter like cauliflower, beetroot and brussels sprouts along with treats like oysters and black truffle. TEMPLO — HOBART Tucked away in the back streets of Hobart, Templo is all about intimacy. Which makes it a dream find on a cold winter night. Eating at this 20-seat restaurant feels as if you're at a friend's dinner party, with the exposed brick walls, low hanging lights and close quarters creating a warm atmosphere and cheerful vibe. Choose from a concise list of unique wines, and look to the large blackboard for the ever-changing, seasonal food offering. But while the dishes rotate often, they have a consistently Italian flair to them that's unmistakable and are all made with the freshest produce. If it's available, the gnocchetti with crunchy fried bread will knock your socks off. While seemingly simple, Templo is about shared food, unique wines and a solid communal vibe, making it a charming neighbourhood stalwart and an absolute must during Tasmanian winters. FRANKLIN — HOBART There's a confidence to Franklin that's reflected in every aspect of the restaurant. The contrast of the raw, exposed concrete interior and the soft kangaroo hides and heated floors (which are a real godsend when you step in from the cold) elevates the large space from a classy wine bar to something unexpectedly elegant. Housed in an old Ford showroom within Hobart's historic Mercury Newspaper Building, Franklin is the epitome of industrial-chic. And it's not just the interior design that's special — the food is distinctive, too. With one of Australia's most talented young chefs, Analiese Gregory, and a ten-ton woodfired scotch oven both in the open kitchen, the restaurant serves a menu featuring a made-from-scratch mentality. Everything occurs on-site — whole beasts are broken down, bread is baked daily, cheeses are made and meats are cured. It's a feast for both the eyes and the tastebuds that truly champions local produce. GERONIMO APERITIVO BAR AND RESTAURANT — LAUNCESTON The second you walk into Launceston's Geronimo Aperitivo Bar and Restaurant, your winter blues will disappear. Packed with old-school charm, the space is adorned with Carrara marble, recycled timber, Greek metals, Italian ceramics and lots of warming Euro food on every table. Each dish is designed to share, so it's best to cosy up with some mates and order up. When it's cold outside you'll want to make a beeline for the confit duck leg — which is spiced with orange and star anise and comes with hazelnuts and cabbage — or maybe the fried polenta dumplings and a serve of winter veg. The bar's cherry-tinted take on the manhattan will send you home warm, full and slightly boozed. DIER MAKR — HOBART Dier Makr is made for winter. Broody and a little bit dark, the eatery sits within a large, nondescript, grey building. It doesn't exactly scream "this is one of the best restaurants in town" — but that's beside the point. Once you've found your way inside, you'll find a sleek, intimate bistro and bar where a playful degustation menu will take you on a journey of the senses. Try the seared mussels with chicken fat and mizuna-spiked golden ale. And opt for the cauliflower cooked so many different ways — you'll never look at the humble vegetable the same. Dier Makr is all about showing off the best Tasmanian produce, with a selection of natural and minimal intervention wines to match. Plus, there's a walk-in cellar if you want to bring back a souvenir. Top image: Stillwater, courtesy Tourism Tasmania and Rob Burnett.
In the ultimate food-meets-fashion fusion, Ralph Lauren has opened his first New York City restaurant next door to the brand's flagship store on Fifth Avenue. Polo Bar is Lauren's third restaurant, following his original RL Bar and Grill in Chicago and Ralph's in Paris. Inspired by the brand's signature Polo range, the lamp-lit New England style design takes luxury to new and heady heights. Caramel tones dominate the interior, with parquet floors underfoot and wood panelling extending onto the ceiling, while equestrian-themed art and an exclusive Henry Koelher polo match mural adorn the walls. If you're popping in for oysters and cocktails, then the brass-topped bar is where you'll head, with its rows of gleaming bottles and oversized silver champagne coolers. For those power lunches (and dinners-to-impress), sink into the tan banquettes of the restaurant itself. Polo Bar's menu features American classics, served on the restaurant's own tableware. There's a meat-heavy bent to the homestyle fare, with steaks and burgers the apparent focus of the kitchen, and beef sourced periodically from Lauren's own ranch in Colorado. We like the sound of the New York strip steak with brown butter, or the famous Polo Bar Burger with cheddar and crispy bacon. Alternatively, go for the roast chicken or the Loch Duart wild salmon, and succumb to outfit-envy as the Ralph Lauren models — or rather, waitstaff — serve you in their leather wingtips and silk ties. While there's apple pie and five-layer chocolate cake for dessert, you can’t go past Ralph's Coffee Ice Cream with dark chocolate shortbread cookies, made with the brand's own custom blend coffee. So while you're saving for that airfare, scrounge up a little more for a luncheon or two at this pretty establishment. Polo shirts welcome, of course. Via Grub Street. Images: Polo Bar.
Just a few short months ago, no one could've predicted that the Queensland border would become one of 2020's most debated topics. It's a subject that has inspired plenty of comments, especially among interstate and federal politicians calling for Queensland to open back up — with the state closing its border to help stem the spread of COVID-19, then keeping it shut while other restrictions have been easing. Today, Tuesday, June 30, that chatter can finally stop — with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirming Friday, July 10 as Queensland's official date for reopening to interstate visitors from all states and territories except Victoria. That date was initially outlined in Queensland's COVID-19 roadmap, and discussed earlier in June, with a final call on opening up the border always expected at the end of this month. That's great news for folks who live in New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory, of course — however, with coronavirus case numbers spiking in Victoria over the past couple of weeks, residents of that state won't be allowed into Queensland as yet. In fact, as Premier Palaszczuk announced, "Queensland has very large concerns about the state of Victoria", which means that, "due to current community transmission levels, the border with Victoria will remain closed — and will be strengthened". https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1277816426724638721 A week prior to the Queensland border opening to all other areas of the country, the state will implement a new regime for visitors from Victoria — to come into effect from noon on Friday, July 3. Anyone travelling from Victoria, including Queenslanders, will be refused entry unless they go into forced quarantine for 14 days, in a hotel, at their own expense. Folks coming to Queensland from other states from July 10 will also need to complete a border declaration form. On it, they'll need to certify that they haven't travelled to Victoria in past 14 days — and the government has advised it'll be checking these statements, and that making a false statement will be an offence. Also, while Victoria has been singled out at present due to its COVID-19 situation, Queensland will review its border position with other states should outbreaks occur elsewhere. The aim is to avoid community transmission in Queensland, with Premier Palaszczuk noting that "if the Chief Health Officer reviews any state or territory at any time, and there is community transmission like Victoria, we may have to take action". If you're a Queenslander hoping to hop over the border for a mid-year holiday — and come back home without any hassle — the confirmation of July 10 as the official border reopening date is also a welcome development. That said, Premier Palaszczuk has urged all Queenslanders not to go to Victoria. Queensland's announcement comes on the same day that South Australia revised its plans to open its borders, revealing that it won't open to Victorian residents on July 20 as initially advised — with details to come regarding NSW and ACT residents, and inhabitants of other states already allowed to enter SA. To find out more about Queensland's COVID-19 restrictions, and the status of the coronavirus in the state, visit Queensland's online COVID-19 hub. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top image: Hill Inlet in the Whitsundays by Tourism and Events Queensland.
Located along the bustling Kings Street Wharf with excellent views out to the harbour, The Sporting Globe x 4 Pines is much more than a sports bar: it's a sporting destination. The venue has over 50 HD screens on which avid sports fans can watch their game of choice, live from around the globe. There are even private booths with touchscreen TVs if you aren't feeling the game playing on the bigger screens. The menu is bursting with tasty classics — with low-gluten and plant-based options provided. There are great-value deals in the '7 Day LineUp' including half-price steak on Tuesdays, and $5 schooners, wines and spirits, Thursday–Friday from 5pm–7pm. Even better? Kids eat free on Monday and Tuesday. As its name suggests, the venue has partnered with Aussie craft beer purveyor 4 Pines. Be sure to toast to your team's sporting success with the signature TSG x 4 Pines Australian Pale Ale or any of the other flagship 4 Pines offerings. Is beer not your thing? There are plenty of cocktails, spritzes, wines, RTDs and non-alcoholic options on the menu, too.
Chamomile gin, quinoa vodka and moonshine are among the spirits now available for tasting just outside of Melbourne in Healesville, following the opening of brand new distillery Alchemy. The business has taken over a century-old bakery, which you'll find hidden away up a laneway, off the main street. And not only is there a cellar door, there's a cocktail bar and accommodation too. At the centre of Alchemy's operations is a hybrid pot still with a 100-litre capacity. This mighty machine enables founders Evan Kipping and Jannick Zester to experiment with a variety of left-of-field flavours and ideas. While the aforementioned chamomile gin, quinoa vodka and moonshine are Alchemy's core products, there's also a bunch of small-batch spirits on the go at all times. "Sinking our teeth into making multiple spirits has allowed us to collaborate with local producers," says Zester. "We've been overwhelmed with support and are currently playing with local strawberries, cumquats and grapes from the Yarra Valley." You're invited to taste Alchemy's offerings and/or settle in for a signature cocktail, craft beer or local wine — either indoors, at the bar, or out in the sunny beer garden splashed with greenery. If you want or need to sleep over, there's a two-bedroom apartment overlooking the main street that'll sort you out. To get more deeply involved, join Alchemy's barrel-ageing program. The crew is giving 100 people the opportunity to own their own 20-litre barrel. You'll start by going through the whiskey-making process, including mashing, distillation and fermentation, then, throughout maturation, make return visits to sample your creation. Two years down the track, choose to release the whiskey, stick with it as it continues to age or pop it in a bottle and take it home. Alchemy Distillers is now open at 242 Maroondah Highway, Healesville. For more info or to book a room, visit alchemydistillers.com.
Jello Biafra, the voice that defied the Reagan era as frontman of Dead Kennedys, is bringing his chaotic punk back to Australia. Inspired by The Stooges' performance at Iggy's 60th birthday bash, Jello set about immediately recording the first album with his new accompaniment. Audacity of Hype was well-received by new and old fans alike, enabling the production of two follow-up EPs and sophomore album White People and the Damage Done, the content of which dominates their setlist. Whilst his new musical troupe is not as confronting as DK were, fans can still expect to experience layers of guitar accompanied by the obligatory crashing of drums and impassioned vocals in Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine. Like true punks they do not hold back, tackling corruption, foreign policy and scandals through blunt lyrics punctuated by explosive rock. The rage of their lyrical content personifies itself in Biafra's onstage flailing and intensity. Catch them in Sydney for one stick-it-to-the-man night only on Saturday, May 18.
It is a staple of the horror genre. Old books always give people the information they need to conquer the monster hellbent on murdering them, so they go to the library, where they are conveniently murdered by the villain just after reading how to overcome them. How apt, then, that Freak Me Out, the gory staple of the Sydney Film Festival, returning in 2013, will be presenting a sneak peek of their upcoming horrors at the ever-popular Late Night Library in Surry Hills on Thursday, May 23. The preview will be hosted by Richard Kuipers, the programmer of this years Freak Me Out section of SFF. He will be showing snippets of 2013's films, which include the SXSW Midnight Movie Audience Award-winning Cheap Thrills; the crazed-Nazi-scientist-themed Frankenstein's Army; and The Rambler, which features a mysterious turn from romcom leading man Dermot Mulroney, who you may know from My Best Friend's Wedding. Kuipers will also be discussing the intricacies of selecting films for the festival, which promises to be almost as entertaining as the moments on screen. Best of all it is free. So head on down, take a friend if you're scared and make sure you don't enter any clearly suspicious dark spaces.
British songstress Beth Orton is in Australia, performing a national tour singing in churches across the country. The BRIT Award winner is arresting audiences across the nation with her angelic voice that perfectly suits the ambience offered by her chosen venues. Beth has been involved in music for more than two decades, and her experience is evident in her lyrics and voice, which she controls with carefully crafted technique and aplomb to convey the powerful emotions that simmer beneath the surface of her songs. Her tour is made possible by Heavenly Sounds, who utilise the acoustics offered by the architectural splendours of Australia's churches to present intimate concerts that will not be forgotten. Beth's is happening at St Stephen's Uniting Church in Sydney for one night only on Tuesday, May 14.
"An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all," Oscar Wilde once famously quipped. Sydney's Festival of Dangerous Ideas puts such a claim to the test. For three days, the event transforms the Opera House into a simmering cauldron of probabilities, possibilities and impossibilities. There's no question that can't be asked, no convention that can't be challenged, no notion that can't be overturned. Now in its fifth year, the Festival promises to penetrate the territory of the taboo deeper than ever before. The programme, announced today, features 82 speakers from 10 different countries and 33 hours of discussion across 32 various subjects. Journalist David Simon (creator of The Wire and Treme) will bring his intellectual might and downtown experience to the statement 'Some people are more equal than others', exploring the searing divide that undermines America's claim to the provision of equal opportunity. The perpetual question of gender and power will receive a 21st-century treatment, with Hannah Rosin considering the aftermath of 'The end of men',before joining a panel discussion proposing 'The world is not ready for women in power'. Then there'll be debates on 'monogamy vs. monogomish', the 'death of journalism', and John Safran masquerading as a white supremacist. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Already feeling fired up? Tix, available in a range of multipacks, go on sale on Monday September 2. FODI runs from 2-4 November.
For the first time in history, Sydney Film Festival's Official Competition and the Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or have been won by the same film: Bong Joon-ho's Parasite. The final feature to screen as part of this year's SFF competition — and the recipient of rapturous audience applause after its first session in the State Theatre — the twisty family thriller took out 2019's $60,000 prize. Visiting Sydney for the second time in three years, after presenting Okja as the festival's closing night film back in 2017, Bong was on hand to receive the award. "This festival is really amazing, especially the audience… really special and extraordinary," the South Korean filmmaker said in his response to the accolade. "This is the most meaningful prize for me — in this beautiful city and beautiful theatre, and one of the most beautiful audiences in the world." A dark, devious, devastatingly smart and deceptively hilarious movie about two South Korean families — one struggling to get by, the other living in the lap of luxury — Parasite couldn't be a more deserving winner. From its slippery narrative that plays with several genres, to its exceptional performances from a cast led by Bong regular Song Kang-ho (The Host, Snowpiercer), to its scathing statement on class and its exquisite and astute production design, this tense, urgent and constantly surprising piece of cinema is one of the best films of the year so far. Also, as Bong told the Sydney audience, it was inspired by the time the director spotted a smudge on his pants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEUXfv87Wpk Selected by a jury consisting of Australian producer John Maynard (Jirga), Australian director Ana Kokkinos (Head On), Brazilian actor and filmmaker Wagner Moura (Marighella), New Zealand director Gaylene Preston (My Year with Helen), and Indian artist and filmmaker Ritu Sarin (The Sweet Requiem), Parasite emerged victorious in a hotly contested field — competing against Berlinale Golden Bear winner Synonyms, Oscar nominee Never Look Away, Pedro Almodovar's sumptuous Pain and Glory, the Tilda Swinton-starring The Souvenir, gentle New Zealand drama Bellbird and the Australian duo of Judy & Punch and Hearts and Bones, among others. It joins an impressive list of previous SFF prizewinners, including The Heiresses (2018), On Body and Soul (2017), Aquarius (2016), Arabian Nights (2015), Two Days, One Night (2014), Only God Forgives (2013), Alps (2012), A Separation (2011), Heartbeats (2010), Bronson (2009) and Hunger (2008). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtLKQ09ikBg Also receiving a gong at SFF's closing night was She Who Must Be Loved, a documentary about pioneering Indigenous figure Alfreda Glynn, which took out the Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Australian Documentary (a $10,000 prize). It's slated to hit NITV on Sunday, July 14 at 8.30pm. Short film All These Creatures also nabbed the Dendy Live Action Short Award and the Rouben Mamoulian Award for Best Director, while fellow shorts Sohrab and Rustum and Ties That Bind picked up the Yoram Gross Animation Award and the Event Cinemas Australian Short Screenplay Award, respectively. The 2019 Sydney Film Festival ran from June 5–16. If you missed Parasite at the festival, you'll be able to catch it at Australian cinemas from Thursday, June 27.
Music festival lineups are always cause for excitement, but sometimes spending a whole day at a fest doesn't fit into your schedule. Thankfully, life found a way to ensure that you can still see your favourite acts: festival sideshows, which a heap of talent on the 2024 Groovin the Moo lineup just announced. Can't head to Newcastle, Canberra, Bendigo, Adelaide Showground, the Sunshine Coast and Bunbury this April and May to catch GZA, Claire Rosinkranz, Kenya Grace, Stephen Sanchez and The Beaches? All five have announced their own gigs while they're Down Under. In great news for folks in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, they're all playing all three cities. Perth gets a few sideshows as well; however, if you're elsewhere, you'll have to travel. Wu-Tang Clan's GZA is taking to the stage with full live band The Phunky Nomads, on their Liquid Swords Live Australian tour — starting at Sydney's Liberty Hall, then heading to 170 Russell in Melbourne, The Triffid in Brisbane and Magnet House in Perth. And yes, the set usually includes a heap of the tunes that GZA is best-known for, because Wu-Tang Clan covers ain't nuthing ta f' wit. Rosinkranz has her debut 2023 album Just Because to play through at Max Watts in Melbourne, Oxford Art Factory in Sydney, The Zoo in Brisbane and Perth's Rosemount Hotel. Making her first trip to Australia, 'Strangers' artist Grace will play Melbourne's The Night Cat, Fremantle's Freo.Social, and also Oxford Art Factory and The Zoo just like Rosinkranz. After hitting our shores last year, Sanchez returns to bust out 'Until I Found You' again, this time at Enmore Theatre in Sydney, Forum Melbourne, The Tivoli in Brisbane and Perth's Astor Theatre. And Toronto's The Beaches have dates at The Lansdowne, The Zoo and Howler in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, respectively. [caption id="attachment_939692" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Caity Krone[/caption] Groovin the Moo 2024 Sideshows: GZA + The Phunky Nomads Thursday, May 2 — Liberty Hall, Sydney Friday, May 3 — 170 Russell, Melbourne Tuesday, May 7 — The Triffid, Brisbane Friday, May 10 — Magnet House, Perth Claire Rosinkranz Tuesday, April 30 — Max Watts, Melbourne, Wednesday, May 1 — Oxford Art Factory, Sydney Tuesday, May 7 — The Zoo, Brisbane Friday, May 10 — Rosemount Hotel, Perth Kenya Grace Tuesday, April 30 — The Night Cat, Melbourne Thursday, May 2 — Oxford Art Factory, Sydney Wednesday, May 8 — The Zoo, Brisbane Saturday, May 11 — Freo.Social, Fremantle Stephen Sanchez Monday, April 29 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Tuesday, April 30 — Forum Melbourne, Melbourne Monday, May 6 — The Tivoli, Brisbane Wednesday, May 8 — Astor Theatre, Perth The Beaches Wednesday, May 1 — The Lansdowne, Sydney Monday, May 6 — The Zoo, Brisbane Thursday, May 9 — Howler, Melbourne Groovin the Moo is touring Australia in April and May 2024. For tickets and more information, head to the festival's website. The festival's sideshows are touring across the same months, with presale and general sale dates varying — head to the tour pages for GZA, Claire Rosinkranz, Kenya Grace, Stephen Sanchez and The Beaches for all the details. Top image: Azuree Wiitala.
An honest man follows his ambitions, but finds trouble at every turn. We’ve seen this story done before and done well; however, films as gloomy and gripping as A Most Violent Year don’t come around that often. It’s not necessarily the chaos and corruption the movie tells of that gets under your skin, though there’s plenty of that. What makes this tense, moody thriller so insidious and effective is the way it states the costs and consequences without offering an alternative. Adapt or perish, it says. That’s just life, it tells us. When we first meet that well-intentioned businessman, Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac), he’s running — and doesn’t stop throughout the film. Yes, he’s frequently standing still, but he’s never really relaxed or comfortable. He’s continually chasing the next step in his carefully controlled climb from poor immigrant to heating oil mogul, and the movie loves nothing more than to watch his struggle. Understanding why Morales itches to keep moving is simple, despite everything — his wife, Anna (Jessica Chastain), his fancy home and his growing oil company — seeming the picture of happiness. Thugs keep hijacking his trucks, threatening his staff and prowling around his house. The assistant district attorney (David Oyelowo) has targeted him in an investigation into the industry. If a property deal crucial to expanding his empire falls through, he could lose everything. Writer/director J.C. Chandor previously made Margin Call and All Is Lost, which gives an indication of the uneasiness on display. Yet again, his characters walk the fine line between success and failure, trapped in a horror story about survival in capitalist times. The American Dream is mentioned, and that’s certainly what the movie contemplates, though it’s rarely so blunt about it. Instead, it is telling that the story is set in New York in 1981 — reportedly the city’s most crime-ridden year on record, hence the title. That Selma cinematographer Bradford Young chooses to make everything from subway cars to suburban homes look shadowy and inescapable is just as revealing. Chandor has always benefited from clever casting, but in A Most Violent Year he has hit the jackpot. Isaac is exceptional as someone trying not to drown — metaphorically, not literally, here — in stormy waters. Everyone who rightfully loved him in Balibo, Drive and Inside Llewyn Davis will only do so all over again. Morales is the type of conflicted role only he could’ve done justice to. He’s constantly composing himself for the next drama — whether discussing tactics with his attorney (Albert Brooks), or begrudgingly asking a competitor (Alessandro Nivola) for help. And then there’s his battle with Anna, as formidably played as the gangster’s daughter she is by the equally outstanding Chastain. If ever there was a depiction of marriage to test the “behind every great man, there’s a great woman” adage, it’s this one (matching stylish period outfits included). It may take time getting there, building patiently and unnervingly, but when A Most Violent Year ends, it’s like the slap in the face you knew was coming yet couldn’t duck to avoid. Another famous saying springs to mind: be careful what you wish for. Viewers wanting a complex and compelling film needn’t fear, but anyone wanting life to be full of unambiguously happy endings just might.
They're taking to hobbits to Isengard at the Orpheum this winter, with one movie marathon to rule them all. Round up the Fellowship, stock up on lembas bread for sustenance and hide your finest pipe-weed from the Southfarthing for one sitting of all three of Peter Jackson's beloved OG Tolkien film adaptations at the Hayden Orpheum. Kicking off with The Fellowship of the Ring and ending with The Return of the King, this cave troll of a marathon clocks in at 558 minutes, starting the journey at 11am and including two 30-minute meal breaks (breakfast and second breakfast, if you will). If you make it to the final handful of endings, you can pat yourself on the back and smash a ringwraith screech at the nearest Cremorne resident on your way home (note: do not actually screech at the residents). Without a ticket, expect at least one overenthusiastic Orpheum staff member to make an example of you, thundering "You shall not pass!" to raucous applause. So buy a ticket, precious.
Across six seasons, Netflix's Chef's Table added plenty of high-profile additions to everyone's culinary bucket lists, celebrating the stellar kitchen skills of talents such as Massimo Bottura, Francis Mallmann and even Attica's Ben Shewry. For the streaming platform's next delicious adventure, it's re-teaming with the documentary series' creators for another food excursion — this time focusing on both famous and lesser-known players in the global street food scene. Available to binge now, the aptly titled Street Food hops around the planet to showcase hawker stallholders, food carts and other folks making a big impact in their small street kitchens. In the show's first nine-episode season, Asian cuisine is on the menu. Get ready to get hungry for dishes from Thailand, Japan, India, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore and The Philippines. Each country earns its own episode, focusing on various local street food heroes, their stories of hard work and perseverance, and the cultural context behind their cuisine. In Bangkok, the well-known Jay Fai takes viewers through her story, while Delhi's Mohamed Rehan whips up a buffalo stew that's been tempting tastebuds since the 1800s, and Chiayi's Uncle Goat cooks in a giant oven cave. Over in Osaka, Mr. Kita has one of the oldest takoyaki stalls in the city, and Singapore's 85-year-old Master Tang has been making wanton noodles since he was orphaned in World War II. Already feeling your stomach rumble? Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI_LjETc_Ak Street Food is available to stream on Netflix now. Images: Martin Westlake/Jisang Chung/M.Synchrony/Netflix. Updated: May 28, 2019.
Sydney-based record label Trackwork has been blazing a trail for boundary-pushing hip hop and dance music rising out of this city for the past five years. As part of the 2023 Vivid program, the label is pulling together some of its favourite musicians for a night of heavy bass in Martin Place's CTA Business Building. Arriving at the nostalgic underground venue that most recently hosted The Weary Traveller during Sydney Festival, Trackwork Presents Club Service pulls together a lineup of some of the most interesting beatmakers and songwriters from across Australia and the world. LA-based Dominican producer Kelman Duran heads up the night, fresh from collaborating with Beyoncé on her most recent album Renaissance. Local producer Utility will be popping up for a collaborative set with rapper Vv Pete — who recently supported Denzel Curry and was named FBi Radio's Next Big Thing. Rounding out the lineup is Berlin-based musician Cassius Select, digital artist and black metal enthusiast Serwah Attafuah and Poison, the new team-up from DJ Plead and T. Morimoto. If you get peckish while you're on the dance floor, you're in luck. Eddy Avenue's new pizza joint Pizza Oltra is in charge of the bistro for the night, so you can satisfy your cravings with some cheesy slices between sets. The night kicks off at 5pm and will run until 2am. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TRACKWORK™️ (@trackwork_) Top image: CTA Business Club during The Weary Traveller, Sydney Festival
Openair shopping sprees are an inevitable spring/summer plan for Sydneysiders; a monthly outdoor market is soon to be a permanent thing at the Central Park development off Broadway. Kicking off October 12, The Brewery Yard Markets will be set on sunny Chippendale Green on the second Sunday of every month, with stalls selling artisanal foodie-heaven fare beside stands of vintage and locally-produced wares. Though the markets are a radically different retail approach to the franchises currently populating Central Park's vertical 'living-mall', they're sure to be a boom for the soon to be densely-populated inner city complex. And why not make the most of the development's specially-landscaped outdoor areas as summer rolls in? The markets will launch mid-way through the development's Summer Playground festival, with highlights including Long Lunch Sundays — where $15 will buy you a lunch special, to be eaten while lazing back in complimentary deck chairs and listening to live acoustic tunes. As for weekday entertainment, Central Park's got you covered with Thursdays Games Day — head to the Green in your break to see the space transformed into a pop-up fun fair with giant Jenga, table tennis and treasure hunts. Then there's the one-off openair Twillight Summer Cinema, screening everyone's favourite Dirty Dancing on September 25 — with dinner thrown in with your ticket price. Winter, consider yourself well shunned. Central Park's Summer Playground program runs September 8 until October 5. Check out the whole program here.
With the Australian Government looking at relaxing some restrictions in mid-May and international travel potentially on the cards in four months, some of the country's most-popular events are optimistically pencilling in dates. One of them is Sydney's always busy Sculpture by the Sea. The free outdoor sculpture exhibition is set to takeover the two-kilometre Bondi–Tamarama coastal walk this October (when it usually takes place), which is exciting for two reasons: firstly, we may see some semblance of normality return to our lives by October; secondly, the event organisers have resolved their stoush with Waverley Council. To rewind a little, in mid-2019, the organisers of Sculpture by the Sea were at loggerheads with the Council over the construction of a new path, and were scoping out alternative locations for the long-running art exhibition. In a statement released this morning, Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos said after months of discussions, "both parties [are] thrilled to come to an agreement to see the exhibition return to its home in Bondi". And the exhibition won't just return to Bondi this year either, but at least until 2030 with the organisers and Council agreeing to a ten-year deal. [caption id="attachment_694146" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sculpture by the Sea 2018 by Trent Van der Jagt[/caption] In regards to COVID-19, organisers said the exhibition taking place this October is "pending any public gathering restrictions" and that it's discussing a postponement contingency plan. "Waverley Council will continue to monitor what impact COVID-19 measures in NSW will have on public events in the future," Mayor Masselos said. "But for the meantime, we just want to congratulate Sculpture by the Sea for moving forward in this new chapter." NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has said social distancing measures will remain a "part of our lives" until a vaccine is found, which some experts are saying could take 12–18 months, so if it does go ahead, Sculpture by the Sea may look a little different this year — with restrictions on how many people are allowed on the path at each time, for example. Last year, the event saw approximately 450,000 visitors over three weeks. For now, though, Sculpture by the Sea is planning to go ahead from October 22–November 8 and is taking applications from Australian and international artists. And, in the meantime, you can check out our favourite works from last year over here. Sculpture by the Sea is set to take place from October 22–November 8, 2020 on the Bondi–Tamarama coastal walk. For more information, head to sculpturebythesea.com.
Australia's three levels of government – local, state and federal – wrap a lot of red tape around innovative initiatives. But, for once, the three are working together to bring you a whizzbang new adventure. With Manly at its northern end and Bondi at its southern, the 80-kilometre Bondi to Manly Walk will hug Sydney Harbour and the East Coast nearly all the way, taking in secluded coves, spectacular views, bushland, clifftops, legendary landmarks and, as the name suggests, two of our busiest beaches. Putting their weight behind the concept for many moons have been John Faulkner, a former Labor senator, and Lachlan Harris, former senior press secretary for Kevin Rudd and chief executive of RevTech. The two co-founded the Bondi to Manly Walk Supporters Group. Around 60 kilometres of the trail pass through public land, while the remaining 20 are comprised of footpaths. Many are already part of established routes, but will be linked together and clearly marked. Just some of the well-known spots the trail will visit are North Head, Balmoral Beach, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, Point Piper and South Head. The halfway point is Kirribilli — perfect for a dip in the North Sydney Pool, a spin on the ferris wheel or a picnic overlooking the Harbour. There'll also be an educational element to the experience. According to the SMH, signposts along the way will cover history and culture, with an emphasis on the people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land through which the Bondi to Manly Walk travels There's no word yet on when the Bondi to Manly Walk's construction will begin (or be completed), but with the government partnership being announced — and signed by six Sydney councils — yesterday, we're hoping it starts to take shape pretty quickly. We'll update you as soon as anymore announcements are made. Image: Watsons Bay.
Melbourne's bubble tea franchise Gotcha Fresh Tea is rapidly expanding — into Sydney. Having already opened one in Chinatown's Dixon Street, it's just launched a second store in World Square. Its eye-catching neon purple and pastel pink hues make it easy to spot among the shopping centre's many other offerings. Gotcha also stands out from the pack thanks to its teas, which are all exclusively grown and hand-picked on the Gotcha plantation in Taiwan — the country where bubble tea originated, mind you. The extensive menu goes deeper than your average bubble tea shop, too. Milk teas come in red bean, bamboo charcoal, taro and durian flavours. Fruit teas come with sliced fresh fruit, including lychee, passionfruit, cumquat and mango. They all range from $5.20–18. There are also teas available with cheese, salted egg or tiramisu foams; a range of 'healthy' collagen teas in bamboo, aloe vera and mulberry flavours; and a menu of macchiatos, lattes, health teas and smoothies to choose from. Of course, you can add pearls and jelly to any and all flavour combinations. Gotcha's expansion is no where near slowing, either, with over 15 stores slated to open in 2019.
A few decades ago, marijuana becoming legal in parts of the western world while cigarettes were banned in public venues would have seemed unthinkable. Now, who knows what the future holds for drugs? In this panel discussion, psychoactive medicines are unpacked by Australian experts. Professor Iain McGregor and Dr Samuel Banister work in the field of medicinal cannabis and will be drawing on the findings of their investigations into the changing stance of big pharma. The pair will be joined by Dr Margaret Ross, who is currently running the country's first clinical trial using psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms) and has views that challenge conventional medical perspectives. Chairing the session is journalist and drug advocate Jenny Valentish, so prepare to have your horizons widened.
No more ten buck burgers, crinkly fries and arepas, Surry Hills' beloved pub The Carrington is closing its doors. The Drink N Dine team — of Norfolk crabtaculars and Forresters multi-leveledl sardinery — are set to clink their last glasses this Sunday, August 31 after three super successful years. The Drink N Dine team are yet to reveal their reason for closing the Bourke Street pub, a move that seems pretty sudden after their only recent success with new Australo-Americanised Latin American restaurant, Chica Linda. If you're a fan of those tasty, tasty arepas and messy-as-blazes King Crab Diablo out the back, Chica Linda is sadly shipping out too; a sadly short stint, having just opened in May this year. "So long farewell auf wiedersehen good night. It's with heavy hearts we say goodbye to The INFAMOUS Carrington this Sunday," said the team in their final mailout. "After three good years it's time for us to drink one last beer, so come say goodbye in our final week." Facebook erupted in a collective wave of comment sobs, with still no clues from the Drink N Dine crew. Home to epic jugs of Sangria, solid Sunday roasts and epic schnitzel-fuelled trivia, the Carrington has been a go-to for Surry Hills low-key hangs since 2011— even kindly cranking one of Sydney's best hair-of-the-dog pub brekkies. It shall be sorely missed and messily farewelled under a gush of local brews and cheap eats. Cheers for the crinkle-cut memories, Carrington. The Carrington raises its final toast on August 31. Bid the team adieu with crinkle cut fries at 538 Bourke Street, Surry Hills.
He has serenaded Laura Dern with an Elvis song, swooned over Cher, swapped faces with John Travolta, voiced a version of Spider-Man and won an Oscar for playing an alcoholic. He's appeared on-screen as brothers, professed his love for milking alpacas and fought ninjas from outer space, too. We're talking about Nicolas Cage, of course, and the list of amazing inclusions on his resume just goes on. Indeed, he's about to step into Joe Exotic's shoes — and, via a new Netflix series, teach the world about the history of swear words as well. Nicolas Cage's History of Swear Words is a very real series that definitely exists, and will hit the streaming platform on Tuesday, January 5. So yes, if you were hoping that 2021 would be better than 2020, we can think of one very good reason why that's likely to prove the case. The concept behind the show is extremely self-explanatory. For that very reason, Netflix didn't release too many details when it first announced the show earlier in December. But, via a just-dropped new full trailer, it has given Cage-loving viewers more of a glimpse at what's in store. Prepare for Cage on hosting duties, plus experts and famous faces like Sarah Silverman and Nick Offerman popping up to talk through the origins, pop culture usage, science and cultural impact of oh-so-many expletives. Obviously, you don't get Cage involved in this kind of project without having fun with the concept. The first teaser trailer for the series made that plain — and nodded to Face/Off fans, too — and this new sneak peek does as well. Cage starts the latest trailer by screaming one word, then ends it by giving the audience quite the invitation. Clearly, it's glorious. Check out the latest trailer for Nicolas Cage's History of Swear Words below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XByiHpUvrj0 Nicolas Cage's History of Swear Words hits Netflix on Tuesday, January 5. Top image: Adam Rose/Netflix.
Restauranteur and culture whisperer, Maurice Terzini (Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, CicciaBella, RE), is the latest member of Sydney's food scene to head north with a brand new dining venture that's been 20 years in the conjuring. The aptly named Belongil Beach Italian Food leaves the waiters in white coats and silver service in Bondi, and trades it for a casual, coastal vibe more fitting of the ultra laidback, village-y pocket of beach a few minutes outside the heart of Byron Bay. The space is primed for long lunches and languid sundowners — all open-plan, airy and pink toned. The menu, designed by Head Chef Danny Rossi (Elements of Byron), showcases the best of local producers and growers, from fresh sliced charcuterie to butterflied local sand whiting with oregano butter and a Moreton Bay Bug roll served on a potato bun with vadouvan mayo. The wine list has a focus on small production or family run wineries from Italy, coastal Mediterranean and coastal Australia. The food nods to Terzini's modus operandi of uncomplicated, classic Italian food with a focus on fantastic produce and ingredients. And, for that, he's come to the right place. The region's reputation of excellence as a producer continues to draw some of Australia's most prestigious food talent. Recent adoptees of the area include rising culinary superstar, Alanna Sapwell, who is set to inject new life into Beach Byron Bay, one of Australia's most covetable pieces of restaurant real estate. She'll soon be steering the kitchen, alongside Seamus Brandt (former head sommelier at Bennelong) who joined Beach as Operations and Beverage Manager earlier in 2021. Sustainable food powerhouses, Matt Stone and Jo Barrett (Oakridge Wines estate), were recently added to the lineup at hinterland food haven, Harvest Newrybar, under innovative creative director David Moyle. Belongil Beach Italian Food is now open at 35 Childe Street, Byron Bay. For booking and menu information visit the website. All images by Nikki To.
Underground is a flexible word. At the Sydney Underground Film Festival it can mean under the radar, shocking or simply strange. Put together originally as an antidote to the demise of alternative cinemas like the Valhalla, Third Eye or the Mandolin, it has a line-up which straddles a broad range of independent films that don't tend to get a showing elsewhere. This year the Festival returns with screenings at its Factory Theatre HQ, excursions to a Sydney College of the Arts after-party and a Mu Meson Archives festival warm-up. Opening the festival are the low-budget super-heroics of Super by Troma refugee James Gunn. A Man Within will profile the writer and Kerouac-befriending William S Boroughs, while at Sydney College for the Arts, Jack Sargeant will curate post-festival day of local and American film at SUFF+Plus. This College excursion also bulges in the middle with a panel featuring writers from X, the local low-budget, Kings Cross thriller that features as the festival's closing night film. Free Radicals presents a history of experimental filmmakers, including luminaries like Andy Warhol and Maya Deren, while doco Dragonslayer follows one boy's coming-of-age in US skateboard culture. Also up for grabs are sessions of shorts spotlighting women directors, sex & love, and animation. As part of this year's Sydney Underground Film Festival Concrete Playground is proud to present the screenings of The Ballad Of Genesis And Lady Jaye and Trilogy.
Gone are the days when gin was simply a clear spirit that tasted good with tonic. It still is, but it now comes in so many varieties that you could dedicate an entire liquor cabinet just to juniper-based beverages. Shiraz gin, chardonnay barrel-aged gin, spiced Christmas gin, pink gin made from cherries and raspberries, green ant gin and even non-alcoholic gin — they're just some of the recent types tempting your tastebuds. And if most of the above sound great for an Australian summer, then consider Bass and Flinders' truffle-infused gin your new winter go-to. Returning for 2018, the limited-edition truffle gin blends fresh Australian Black Perigord truffles — sourced from Red Hill farms, where possible — with a vapour-infused mix of juniper, angelica root and calamus root. Like all of the distillery's tipples, it also uses Bass and Flinders' grape-based eau de vie spirit, which creates a particularly smooth texture. "It is a standalone gin that's wonderful neat, or alongside creamy sauces and strong cheeses," says head distiller Holly Klintworth — or, you could opt to make your own truffle martini. Whichever way you'd like to drink it, the truffle gin is available from Friday, July 13 from Bass and Flinders' cellar door in Victoria's Red Hill, as well as via the distiller's website. If you happen to be in the vicinity of the former on Saturday, July 14, you can also take part in a truffle hunt, which includes truffle gin tastings plus cocktails with cheese platters.
China Diner has been a longstanding eastern suburbs hotspot for locals to hit up for a luxurious spread of dumplings or after-work cocktails by the beach. The moody interiors are the perfect place to while away the hours, while working your way through the drinks menu and that day's exciting mix of modern Cantonese eats. The mixed steamed dumplings ($24) are an easy place to start and always a home run with the whole party. Similarly, the chicken and sesame spring rolls with blood plum ($17) and the prawn and black fungi wontons ($17) are certified crowd-pleasers. More sizeable options are available to share or to order for a solo feast. The stir-fried king prawns ($37) come marinated in XO sauce and accompanied by asparagus and baby corn, the steamed silken tofu ($17) is topped with black vinegar, chilli and sesame seed dressing, or you can go all-out and opt for the twice-cooked crispy half chicken ($36). If you're with a group and you're looking to splurge, turn your attention towards the banquets which are available for $49, $59 and $69 per person depending on how extravagant a meal you're planning. The $59 option comes with all of your favourites including barbecue pork buns, xiao long bao, twice-cooked crispy chicken and pork san choi bao. And, as of Sunday, May 8 2022, yum cha is back on the menu. Exclusive to the Bondi outpost, China Diner's yum cha has made a return from 11am until 3pm every Sunday. Carts are roaming with a range of dumplings and buns (the prawn tom yum is definitely the way to go) with other China Diner favourites like 'chiko spring rolls' and chilli caramel pork belly on hand to ensure you have a memorable finish to your weekend. Updated Thursday, May 11 2022.
Wine connoisseurs will know that, beneath all the fancy sommelier pairings and wine speak, the one true pairing for all wine is a hot loaf of sourdough bread. (And maybe a thick slab of brie. Mmm brie.) So you'll also be stoked to hear that the newest site for Sydney bakery Sonoma is also going to have a wine bar extension, where you may revel in your lust for wine and late-night sourdough. Your new favourite place in the world is set to open next month in Rose Bay, on the corner of New South Head Road and Newcastle Street, but don't expect any pretentious bread sommelier business. Sonoma owner Andrew Connole told Good Food the vibe will be a casual wine bar, perfect for a little bread, wine and cheer. With shared dishes all centred around bread — and an enviable craft beer menu to boot — we're pretty sure after-work drinks at Sonoma will soon become the only reason you drag yourself to the office. And it makes sense that sourdough and wine should come together in such a glorious way because, like wine, creating sourdough is a very complex process. In the motherland of sourdough, Sweden, there's even a roaring trade for sourdough hotels, where you can leave your sourdough in good hands while on vacation. Yeah, feel free to drop that little factoid at Friday afternoon bread drinks. You're welcome. Via Good Food. Image credit: Katie Quinn Davies / Sonoma Bakery
With The Crown, Netflix has spent four seasons so far — five come November — dramatising the story of the current British royal family; however, that isn't the streaming platform's only dalliance with the UK's sovereigns. While Bridgerton focuses on a firmly fictional aristocratic family in the 19th century, it does include a very real monarch: Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel, Dune). The Regency era-set show is a work of imagination as well as alternative history — but it is still giving its actual historical queen her own spinoff. As announced in 2021, prequel series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story will delve into the figure's backstory, including her rise to power and prominence. Also covered: her relationship with King George, as well as Violet Bridgerton and Lady Danbury's early years. While the end result, a limited series, won't arrive until sometime in 2023, Netflix has just dropped a first glimpse at Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. In it, the young titular figure (India Amarteifio, The Tunnel) is desperate to climb a wall to escape marrying George (Corey Mylchreest, The Sandman), who she hasn't yet seen. She asks for help from a man — and, if you've seen even a second of Bridgerton, and therefore have a feel for its tone and the way it likes to unfurl its narrative, you can likely guess how the clip ends. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story will also feature Rosheuvel, as well as Ruth Gemmell (Deep State) as Violet Bridgerton and Adjoa Andoh (The Witcher) as Lady Danbury. They'll be joined by Connie Jenkins-Greig (Solitary) as young Violet, Arsema Thomas (Redeeming Love) as young Lady Danbury, Michelle Fairley (Gangs of London) as Princess Augusta, Sam Clemmett (Cherry) and Hugh Sachs (Bridgerton) as the young and old Brimsley, Richard Cunningham (The Witcher) as Lord Bute, Tunji Kasim (Nancy Drew) as Adolphus, Rob Maloney (Coronation Street) as the Royal Doctor and Cyril Nri (The Witches) as Lord Danbury. When it was announced, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story hardly came as a surprise. If you live in one of the 82 million households that gave Bridgerton a stream during its first month on Netflix — making it the platform's most-watched new series ever at the time — then you would've noticed that the Queen stole every scene she was in so convincingly and savagely that all around her withered in comparison. The prequel series will chart how the Queen's marriage to King George also created a societal shift, sparking the world of the ton, as seen in Bridgerton — and it's being called part of "the Bridgerton-verse" by Queen Charlotte and Bridgerton executive producer (and Grey's Anatomy and Scandal creator) Shonda Rhimes. So yes, as well as the already-announced third and fourth seasons of Bridgerton itself, you can probably expect more spinoffs to arise. Check out the first clip from Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story below: Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story will stream via Netflix sometime in 2023 — we'll update you with an exact release date when one is announced. The first and second seasons of Bridgerton are available to stream now.
The classic Italian tradition of aperitivo is more than just a pre-meal drink to warm up the appetite — it's a whole vibe. And that laidback energy is evident all day at L'uva Pasta & Wine Bar, one of a suite of new food and beverage outlets that's adding new life to 25 Martin Place (formerly known as the MLC Centre). This Roman-inspired spot is a prime location for a relaxed catch-up in the heart of the CBD, featuring cosy leather banquettes and an understated colour palette throughout. Take it all in with a selection from the excellent wine list which showcases boutique vineyards from Australia, Italy, as well as a handful from France — there's a more than handy selection available by the glass and carafe, too. Also on offer is a tight list of classic and signature cocktails designed with aperitivo hour in mind. The one-page food menu at L'uva features a considered range of share plates that'll tempt you to hang around for a bit. Highlights include a pillowy nduja gnocchi with cime di rapa, housemade focaccia with a zingy caponata dip and a signature Sardinian fregola with slow-braised octopus.
Imagine simply waving a pen around in the air and creating real-life 3D objects while you do it. Well imagine no longer, because thanks to the development of the 3Doodler, the world's first and only 3D printing pen, this incredible feat has become a reality. The nifty gadget draws in the air or on surfaces, using heated PLA plastic which solidifies into a stable structure almost immediately after being released from the pen. The 3Doodler can be used to create anything from simple shapes and forms to more sophisticated jewellery items, decorative arts, or complex structures as intricate as a mini Eiffel Tower. It's an exciting tool for artists, jewellery makers, designers, or anyone who wants to let their imagination run wild. Requiring no batteries, extra software, or parts, the pen can be plugged into a power socket and open a whole world of creation (quite literally) at your fingertips. At this stage the 3Doodler is also significantly cheaper than any other 3D printer out there, so you can have endless hours of creative fun without breaking the bank. The founders, Max Bogue and Peter Dilworth, who both have a rich background in manufacturing and inventing, hoped to release the product on the market by December 2012. However, in order to ensure the model was functioning perfectly, which they guarantee it now is, they waited to happily announce its launch now. To back the project, visit their Kickstarter. With already over 20,000 backers, and US$1.8 million pledged, they must be doing something right. Via Hyperallergic.
Over the past few years, Gelatissimo has whipped up a number of creative flavours, including frosé sorbet, gelato for dogs, and ginger beer, Weet-Bix, fairy bread, hot cross bun, cinnamon scroll, chocolate fudge and bubble tea gelato. Most recently, it made Biscoff, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey's Kisses varieties, too. For its latest offering, the Australian dessert chain is taking inspiration from another beloved foodstuff — in case you can't choose between tracking down and devouring some Caramilk chocolate or licking your way through a few scoops of ice cream. Yes, that very combination is now on the menu, with Caramilk Hokey Pokey-inspired gelato earning the honours as Gelatissimo's January flavour of the month. Now on sale, it starts with caramelised white chocolate gelato — which is then topped with hazelnut and peanut toffee pieces. If you're only just learning about Caramilk Hokey Pokey bars, that's because they haven't been easy to come by in Australia — but now you can try the next best thing in ice cream form. At Gelatissimo, the new gelato flavour will only be available for the month of January at all stores Australia-wide, and only while stocks last. That includes via delivered take-home packs via services such as UberEats, Deliveroo and DoorDash. Gelatissimo's Caramilk Hokey Pokey gelato is available from all stores nationwide for the month of January.
Over the past few years, Gelatissimo has whipped up a number of creative flavours, including frosé sorbet, gelato for dogs, and ginger beer, Weet-Bix. fairy bread, hot cross bun, cinnamon scroll and chocolate fudge gelato. Most recently, it made a bubble tea variety, too. For its latest offering, the Australian dessert chain is taking inspiration from another beloved foodstuff — in case you can't choose between slathering Belgium's Lotus Biscoff cookie butter spread over bread or licking your way through a few scoops of ice cream. Yes, that very combination is now on the menu, with Biscoff gelato earning the honours as Gelatissimo's August flavour of the month. Now on sale, it starts with buttery cinnamon biscuit gelato — which is then layered with slabs of cookie butter, then topped with crunchy biscuit pieces. If you're only just learning about Lotus Biscoff cookie butter spread, it's made from the crumbs of Lotus Biscoff caramelised biscuits, and is basically a cookie-flavoured version of peanut butter or chocolate spreads like Nutella. Understandably, it has picked up quite a following — and, in its spreadable form, comes in creamy and crunchy varieties. At Gelatissimo, the Biscoff gelato will only be available for the month of August at all stores Australia-wide — and only while stocks last. That includes via delivered take-home packs via services such as UberEats, Deliveroo and DoorDash. Gelatissimo's Biscoff gelato is available from all stores nationwide for the month of August.
Erskineville's mainstay Rose of Australia Hotel is expanding upwards, revamping their top floor into Howard's Cantina and Cocktail Bar. The two-phase launch began on May 4 with a new cocktail menu, but punters are now able to dine at Howard's from Thursday, May 11 with the launch of the cantina's food menu. The new space is named after Howard Leach, who first purchased the building 21 years ago and whose family still owns the hotel. The fitout pays a similarly retro homage with brightly patterned furnishings, contemporary artwork, a purple neon sign emblazoned with the command "name your poison", and picnic-style bench tables. The cantina's cocktail menu will focus on classics with a twist — think a traditional whisky sour topped with a Barossa Shiraz float and a Negroni garnished with a smoked hickory-chip which has been pre-soaked in Grand Marnier. Come May 11, chef Chris Bell's share menu will be up and running, and will include white wine poached lobster tail, whey-braised lamb shoulder and a head of iceberg topped with caviar. For sides, Bell is serving up cauliflower with crisp anchovies and pickled turnip, as well as smoked pumpkin wedges with whipped garlic and mint seeds. They're also combining coca-cola sorbet and buttered popcorn in a wacky dessert which is named after the politicians, journalists and generally eccentric characters that have made the Rose their local haunt over the years. Howard's Cantina and Cocktail Bar is now open inside the Rose of Australia Hotel at 1 Swanson Street, Erskineville, with the cantina food menu available from May 11.
When the Australian Government announced a ban on non-essential events and mass gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday, March 16 due to COVID-19, a flurry of event cancellations was always going to follow. In Sydney, that means a massive change to the city's usual Easter ritual, with the Sydney Royal Easter Show shuttering its 2020 plans. In a statement on the show's website, the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW announced that "due to increased public concern, to protect the health of stakeholders and visitors, and in response to the Prime Minister and COAG's direction that any organised mass gathering over 500 people should be cancelled, the 2020 Sydney Royal Easter Show is cancelled". https://www.facebook.com/RASofNSW/photos/a.220183041408213/2895303727229451/?type=3&theater This year's event was due to run from Thursday, March 26–Monday, April 6 — with the show considered Australia's largest annual ticketed event, attracting more than 820,000 attendees each year. First held in 1823, this is the first time the show has been cancelled because of a public health emergency since the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1919. Ticket holders and exhibitors will receive refunds, and will be contacted about the next steps within the next five working days. The Sydney Royal Easter Show joins a growing list of cancelled events and closed venues, with large swathes of cinemas shutting in China, Iran, South Korea, Japan and across Europe, and theme parks doing the same in Asia, Europe and the US. We've also seen the cancellation of Texan music and film festival South by Southwest and postponement of Coachella. More locally, Tasmania's Dark Mofo and both the Grand Prix in Melbourne and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival have all been cancelled. The 2020 Sydney Royal Easter Show will no longer take place from Thursday, March 26–Monday, April 6 . For more information, visit the show's website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
There might be no such thing as a free lunch, but at least there's now cheap lunch, thanks to Sydney Place. The Circular Quay dining precinct is doing its bit to help you through the cost of living crisis by bringing you 11 days of affordable lunches. On weekdays from Monday, April 14, until Friday, April 25, you'll be able to munch your way through a variety of Japanese, Thai and Italian dishes, each at $10 a pop. Drop by Dopa by Devon for a steaming chicken don bowl, crowded with crispy fried free-range chicken thigh fillet and steamed rice, sprinkled with seaweed, sesame and shallots, topped with a 63° soft egg. Alternatively, swing by Sushi Yuzen for two sushi rolls of your choice alongside a warm miso soup, or Gang Thai, where you can choose between chicken pad see ew, chilli basil chicken with steamed rice; and yellow curry. Meanwhile, Bourke & Ward is offering Roman Pizza, and Toby's Estate will swap your tenner for a chicken and avocado wrap with a regular coffee.
