The Colins Butcher is an excellent place to visit for your culinary needs, with an extensive selection of gourmet meats on offer. This butchery in Zetland is great for fresh and ethically sourced meat — it boasts produce that is 'natural, hormone and chemical-free' to ensure you get the best quality. Colins also sells handmade sausages and smoked meats, and it has its own biltong machine for dehydrating. There's also a hot food deli counter, so you can try before you buy. The team at Colins is passionate about its stock, so ask them a couple of questions and see what they can recommend — your dinner guests will thank you later.
Mulalo is the bright, bold and energetic Aussie rapper from the western suburbs of Naarm (Melbourne) whose music exploded onto the scene in 2021 with the release of her track 'M31 (Racing Down the Hume)'. What followed was a packed year of making and performing music: warming crowds up for Cakes Da Killa and Triple One, hitting the stage at Bendigo's Groovin the Moo and the release of her instant-hit 'Tracy Grimshaw'. Ahead of her appearing at The Kraken Black Spiced Rum's one-night-only underground Sydney gig, Subterranean Summer, taking place at Marrickville's The Great Club, Concrete Playground's Ben Hansen caught up with the artist to chat everything from collaboration and community in the hip hop scene, to her music's quintessentially Australian references and how she's feeling about sharing the stage with hardcore favourites SPEED and Posseshot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjNDwcWqzWM If someone isn't a Mulalo fan, who is Mulalo? What's the vibe? If people don't know Mulalo, they're a bit late. Mulalo is me. I'm her. I'm just all about making music for the girls, making music to have fun to. That's who Mulalo is. There's been a lot of change in the local hip hop landscape in the last 10 years — how do you feel about hip hop in Australia right now? I feel like when people thought about rap music in Australia, they were thinking about a very specific type of genre of music, which is fine. But especially being a young immigrant who grew up in [Melbourne's] western suburbs, I see how diverse it is: that wasn't being represented in mainstream rap in Australia. Now it's like you're getting all these young people from all over that are just doing their thing. That's how I think it's changed. And now it's cool, 'cos the people that are actually doing it, I relate to. Do you feel like there's more community now that there's a lot more collaboration? Yes! Every time I go somewhere, I always post it on my Instagram. "People are like 'Oh my god, you're here! Let's meet up, let's hang out!' You get to meet all these people and make sick music." Who's your favourite collaborator to make music with? My two OGs: Nerve and Kuya Neil. Like, those are my boys. They're the best, 'cos they know me. Like, they're me, but in a man's body. Do you have any more songs coming out with them soon? Yes! I do! Like, literally my next few singles are produced by either or. Jumping to the lineup for next week's gig. There's Posseshot and SPEED — is there anyone else in the lineup that you're a fan of? Honestly, I've never seen Posseshot perform, but in my life — from my ex-boyfriend to my friends — they were always wearing the t-shirt. And I was like, who is this? So I'm so excited to see them perform. And I'm excited to see SPEED perform again — I'm gonna be in the mosh. We did a show once together and it was hectic. Were you in the mosh pit that time? I was very much sidestage. I couldn't do it. But you think you might jump in the mosh pit at The Kraken Subterranean Summer? Yeah, I'm gonna get into the crowd. Changing gears, hip hop and punk both came out of resistance and protest. Do you think there's a relationship between the two genres? One hundred percent. Just because people are delivering their message differently doesn't mean it's not an act of protest. I feel like SPEED's message, my message, Posseshot's message are kind of all the same. They're just all delivered differently. Do you see the fans of those genres are receptive to the different kinds of music in a really wide swathe of sounds? I often find that crowds are super receptive of more punk music, more hardcore music, 'cos you know, I turn it up every time. The boys from SPEED support me so much, like on a ground level, and even Posseshot, they've supported me on a ground level. So if the artists are like, 'We write for her', I know that the crowd is going to be open, and like, 'Let's give it a chance, open up our minds to something different'. Last time you played with SPEED, did it gel? Did their fans get around it? It was a very interesting show 'cos it was a hip hop versus rock kinda vibe. Nerve was on the lineup, Barkaa, me and SPEED. And honestly, it was lit. It went off. "The people that were in there were just so open to receiving. Which is what I love about fans of SPEED and Posseshot, they are just so open to receiving music and having a good time and turning it on." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q74Nz5RlG2Y You weave in a lot of local references in your music, whether it's 'Racing Down the Hume' or all the references in 'Tracy Grimshaw'. Is that something that, when you're writing a song, you're setting out to do because you want to make it relatable? Or does it just come naturally? I feel like people think that it's intentional, but anyone that knows me — and, like, talks to me for more than five minutes — knows that I love Australiana culture. I absolutely love it. You'll catch me at the RSL getting a chicken parma and a VB on a weekend. Like, that's my vibe. And then it's just like, why would I reference stuff that's not from where I'm from? Why would my song be called Katie Couric? Like, I watched Tracy Grimshaw and she's an icon. That track will be nice to perform at The Great Club cos it has an RSL, local-club energy. Are you excited to play here, at The Great Club, for The Kraken Subterranean Summer? Do you think your songs will translate well to this venue? I'm a bit nervous for The Kraken Subterranean Summer event at The Great Club cos I'm very different to everyone else that's on the lineup, and I don't know how the crowd will receive me. But I light it up every time. Like, I don't care, I'll light it up every time. When you're performing on a lineup with lots of different bands, are you chatting to other artists? Maybe hooking up collaborations? Or is it a bit nerve-wracking? I'm not going to lie to you, I'm shy. And I also have facial blindness. So when you know people through social media and you're like, 'Is that that person? Is that that person?' You should try this time! I always did say I wanted to do a song with SPEED. I feel like I would kill it. I think it needs to come together. We need to force them to do it. Are you excited when you're performing on a lineup like this that you might introduce someone to a type of music that they had kind of dismissed previously? Yes, definitely. It's good when you have opportunities, like this one with Kraken, where I know it's a challenge. Obviously my people are going to be there, the people that listen to my music are gonna be there, but they won't be most of the crowd. So it's going to be a good challenge. "And I'm doing it for the girls always. I'm gonna show the boys how the girls do it. You know what I mean? I turn it up." Do you ever consider just turning the bass or the 808s up a bit if you're at a heavier show to try and really get the crowd going? Oh, I am notorious for hitting the red. They say: 'Oh, it needs to be at this level'. Me when they walk away: 'Let's blow the speakers, what are we doing? Let's turn up.' Anything else you're really looking forward to at The Kraken Subterranean Summer? Drinking the Kraken! Seriously, for real. I was waiting for them to give me one to try, The Kraken Black Mojito: mint and lime, topped with soda water. I'm gonna get some ice, a nice glass — maybe I'll get one from behind the bar. Have it on stage. Honestly, I wanna reach final form [at The Kraken Subterranean Summer]. This is one of my last shows of the year before I go overseas to South Africa, and I wanna do this sick show. It's gonna be so cool and people are gonna be like, 'That was sick!' and I'm gonna be like, 'Yeah it was! Do you wanna go and get a Black Mojito?' And just turn it up, and see SPEED perform and see Posseshot perform. Hopefully they bring merch. Mulalo takes to the stage at The Kraken Subterranean Summer on Thursday, December 1, at Marrickville's The Great Club. To catch the interview in action, head to Instagram. Top image: Minori Ueda Interview: Ben Hansen
If you don’t enjoy Lego and Ikea, there’s something wrong with you. Having ransacked a Scandinavian storeroom, Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro are back to meditate on our materialist existence. Venereal Architecture at Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery is a collection of bright and beautiful sculptures. But while everything is glossy and geometrically precise, there’s also a twinge of something a little menacing. Healy and Cordeiro are sculptors of the readymade. They dig up found objects and mix them into new formations. You may recall some of their playful reinventions, such as the colourful wall of Ikea furniture propping up a dinosaur skeleton. This was featured at the MCA in 2012. Indeed, the Swedish mega-brand has been a long-held source of inspiration. There’s also an instinct to catalogue that runs throughout their practice. It’s as if they are attempting to archive the present, creating an orderly arrangement of excess. The sculptures featured in this exhibition are Lego-built animals combined with Ikea furniture. There’s a tortoise wedged under a glass coffee table, a lion guarding a baby’s changing table, and — my favourite — a speckled black octopus coiled around a yellow chair. It’s as if these rainbow-coloured creatures have been tamed and slotted into a showroom. In fact, some unions look to be a bit sinister. For example, there’s a deer violently pierced by an Ikea trestle. The animal is quite literally bolted down, forcibly domesticated. A big theme for these artists is the way in which we manipulate our surroundings. They shatter words like ‘custom’ and ‘unique,’ satirising society’s veneration of banal objects and trendy furnishings. In fact, the sculptures are decorated with perfectly manicured pot plants, some with little blankets of brown Lego soil. While this is super cute, it also highlights our preference to imitate nature, to aestheticise it and pair it with a matching decor. Although the connection Healy and Cordeiro draw between Ikea and sex may feel a little whimsical at first, it’s interesting to think about the link between carnal desire and consumerism. Their Lego portraits are vaguely discernable sex acts — physically pixelated and named after Ikea products. The fact that they are made of cheap, hard and mass produced plastic may parallel the sad state of sex industry, rife with exploitation. In sifting through the junk of everyday life, Healy and Cordeiro critique the ins and outs of first world living, from the oversupply of flat-packed dream homes to the porn industry. In many ways, Venereal Architecture pulls towards something a little more disturbing than is first expected. By scratching beneath the surface, these artists engage with globalisation in thought-provoking ways. Serious stuff aside, I love the simple parallel between crafting a fantasy home as a child with Lego and graduating to an adult level of assemblage through Ikea. Goes to show, this exhibition ain’t just bogged down in weighty issues; it’s good fun too.
Glebe Point Road's Sri Lankan Street Food is known for some of the area's best Sri Lankan curries and and hoppers. From March 8, the restaurant will do away with its regular a la carte menus for weekly Sunday all-you-can-eat buffet lunches — for just $35. The dishes on offer on the Sundays will come from all a few of Sri Lanka's regions. Expect fish and jackfruit curries from the south; egg hoppers and dosa from the north; herby coconut sambol and turmeric veggies from Hill Country; and the biriyani and black pork curry that you can find in Colombo and the surrounding area. There'll be plenty of meat and vegan options and, if you're not too full, the lunch includes dessert, too. And you can BYO. There will be two sittings each week: one at 11am and one at 1.30pm. Bookings are a must and, at only $35 a pop for a bottomless feast, you can bet these lunches will book up quickly each week.
If you've committed yourself to extending the holiday indulgence and enjoying a January stuffed with good food, the legends at Nomad are here to help you reach your goals. This weekend, Executive Chef Jacqui Challinor is bringing back a much-loved lockdown project — her next-level bomboloni, aka Italian doughnuts. After achieving cult status as a lockdown special served up by the Surry Hills restaurant last year, the bomboloni are back for a one-weekend-only appearance. On offer from 10am this Saturday, January 15, and Sunday, January 16, you'll find two dreamy varieties of the treat: a savoury version comes loaded with sujuk, haloumi and a fried egg, and a fairy bread-inspired creation, starring burnt butter cream, strawberry glaze and a coating of 100's & 1000's, that sweet-toothed bombolone fans will be all about. Both are available for takeaway only, with the sweet bombolone going for $10 a pop and the savoury one priced at $16. If last year's are anything to go by, however, they won't be hanging around for long — you'd better get in as early as you can.
With a voice so high you picture him as a cartoon character, Michael Angelakos fronts the Massachusetts wonky popsters Passion Pit. After the release of the Chunk Of Change EP - purportedly a Valentine's offering to the singer/songwriter's then girlfriend, the band went on to explode from relative obscurity with the release of their debut Manners. As is becoming increasingly the way for bands to get known these days, the Pit also licensed their catchy single Sleepyhead to countless advertisements and TV shows. Now they are touring as part of The Big Day Out and stopping by The Metro for their first ever Australian headline show. It will be interesting to see if they can pull off the big, thick layering and heavily built up vocals of their album - but they must be doing something right as they've opened for everyone from The Killers to Death cab For Cutie and are being praised from press and public worldwide.
Just as not all movies are created equal, neither are all stints on screens. The big, in budget and attendance, stick around. The small, in audience awareness but not in artistry or effort, might not stay that long. Such a cinema environment sees many gems fall by the wayside in the battle for viewer hearts and minds – many that rank among the year’s best, too. So which 2014 films should you have perhaps taken a chance on instead of just seeing the latest shiny blockbuster? Here’s ten that local box office performance tells us you most likely missed, but really shouldn’t have. THE BABADOOK Jennifer Kent’s debut feature is one of the best among Australian efforts, horror films, and haunted house fright fests — both of this year, and of all others. Alas, in a nation that rarely embraces anything spooky on the big screen en masse, it came and went quickly, though what it lacked in local attention it is now making up for in international acclaim. Such recognition is mere window dressing for a movie that allows its equally touching and terrifying content to make its own statement as it charts a single mother’s troubles when her six-year-old son finds fear in a formidable figure that springs from the page into his bedroom. The style, the story and the scares can now continue off-screen, too, courtesy of a crowd-supported production run of the pop-up book at the centre of the chills. Read our full review. ALL THIS MAYHEM Great dramas are made of the same ingredients as this stunning homegrown true tale, a rise to fame, a fall from grace, seeking glory at all costs, and getting mixed up with the wrong things among them. In Eddie Martin’s documentary, all this and more is wrapped up in a roller-coaster ride that starts in the Melbourne suburbs, reaches the heights of the international skateboarding scene, and comes crashing towards its conclusion with the tragedy of what might have been in different circumstances. For those unfamiliar with the story of brothers Tas and Ben Pappas, the film offers the best account you’ll ever experience. For those aware of the details, devastation still emanates from a feature suitably straightforward in structure and shattering in sentiment. Read our full review. FORCE MAJEURE While audiences flocked to Gone Girl’s twisty take on marriage and masculinity, a Swedish couple holidaying in the French Alps with their kids spawned the same musings in just as cynical and striking a fashion. Force Majeure begins with a seemingly impending avalanche, in the face of which, a man runs away as his family looks on. Watching the aftermath as the central pair fight in public yet drift apart in private is not only astute but also amusing in its insights. Writer/director Ruben Östlund has crafted an acerbic comedy of discomfort that says everything about the most intimate of interpersonal relations, with a mastery of form to match the complexity of theme. Read our full review. MY SWEET PEPPER LAND One feminist western – A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, which also earns many other descriptors, too – is starting to appear at Australian festivals and in niche screening runs; however, this year also brought another to local screens. Writer/director Hiner Saleem and actress Golshifteh Farahani combine to chart a teacher’s fight for independence in male-dominated Kurdistan, both excelling with the material. Also fuelling the narrative is a policeman’s quest for a new existence free from his gun-slinging past. In this tale of two outsiders endeavouring to establish their own identities and exert power over their own dominion, all the tropes unravel amid a desolate landscape, and given the parallels with the nation’s sociopolitical climate, the film ranges beyond its adopted genre. Read our full review. THE MISSING PICTURE Wading through the past to get a grasp on his – and Cambodia’s – present, filmmaker Rithy Panh attempts to fill in the gaps in his own and well as the collective memory. With the assistance of sculptor Sarith Mang, he assembles figurines and dioramas of clay and wood to restage scenes from his childhood, the fleetingly beautiful and the inescapably brutal among them. The documentarian earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film for his efforts, his latest offering continuing his prolonged fascination with the state of his country. As modest as it is meticulous, and as moving and illuminating, too, this is a picture that shouldn’t be missed. Pun intended. THE DARK HORSE Stories similar to the real-life circumstances of Genesis Potini have been seen before on screen, steeped as they are in a relatable arc of redemption. What James Napier Robertson’s film perfects is the mindset of the troubled chess prodigy turned coach to marginalised youth, in every expressive image and atmospheric sound, and in a tone that never loses hope – just like its inspiration. Formula might seethe through the underdog story, but so does authenticity. The feature swept the recent New Zealand Film Awards for its earnest and emotional efforts, with acclaim rightfully thrown the way of star Cliff Curtis and supporting actor James Rolleston (worlds away from the work he is best known for, his titular role in the charming Boy). Read our full review. THESE FINAL HOURS When this Australian apocalyptic effort made its world premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2013, it set audiences ablaze with excitement for its fresh cinematic talent and its invigorating approach to the end of the world. Fast forward to a year later, and the flames spluttered when Zak Hilditch’s debut earned a general release, a response that doesn’t reflect the skill and style of the movie. Nathan Phillips plays against type in a story not of special deeds but of looking beyond a selfish, self-serving mindset. As his protagonist, James, journeys from nihilism to humanism upon a road trip through Perth’s suburban streets — motivated by the lost, lonely girl he decides to help — he evokes a quiet awakening not just for the character but for a new Australian classic. Read our full review. SON OF A GUN Not even the lure of Ewan McGregor enticed patrons into theatres for Julius Avery’s first feature, another film coming out of Western Australia. As a veteran criminal masterminding a jailbreak, then caught in a web of mobster manipulation, the Scottish actor rightfully commands attention — but so do his co-stars, Australia’s own Brenton Thwaites as the innocent immersed in underworld dealings, and Swedish actress Alicia Vikander as the obligatory love interest. Yes, there’s no escaping the film’s fondness for standard crime caper cliches as it navigates prison hierarchies, daring heists and dalliances with Russian gangsters, but its embrace of its genre exceeds what could’ve just been an ordinary assembly of average parts. Avery also shows a knack for set pieces and a confidence with pace and tone that keeps everything moving beyond the familiar. Read our full review. NYMPHOMANIAC Lars von Trier doesn’t make films to cater for all tastes, to be certain. Danish cinema’s enfant terrible earned the label after making many a feature considered unpalatable by broader audiences. Four hours of his work may be an endurance test for some (and that’s the short version of his latest effort); however, his frank dissection of female sexuality demands to be seen. Lust eclipses love as the driving mechanism in the experiences of Joe as she grows from a girl into a woman, ever-aware of her carnal impulses. Some chapters hit the mark better than others, just as some performances — from a cast that includes Stacy Martin and Charlotte Gainsbourg sharing the lead role, as well as Uma Thurman, Christian Slater, Shia LaBeouf and Jamie Bell — suffer the same fate, yet the end product is never anything less than engrossing. Read our full review. OUT OF THE FURNACE A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it run in Australian cinemas excuses many from failing to cross paths with the latest feature from Crazy Heart writer/director Scott Cooper. Though he again steeps his story in the struggles of those striving for something more but continually restrained by their circumstances, here he places his stumbling characters in the midst of small-town malaise, post-war apathy and generational inertia. Excellent work from Christian Bale, Casey Affleck and Woody Harrelson lies at the core of an intimate, intricate effort played out with a brooding look and feel from start to finish. Also strong is the sense of conviction that helps patch over thematic similarities with other films.
UPDATE, April 24, 2021: Parasite is available to stream via Stan, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. When writer-director Bong Joon-ho lets two families roam around and unleash their best and worst in an opulent South Korean mansion, he couldn't have placed them in a better spot. The kind of house that anyone would dream of living in, Parasite's main setting is a multi-storey playground filled with wide-open spaces, gleaming surfaces and modernist decor, all opening out onto a grassy, leafy backyard. A real estate agent's fantasy as well, this not-so-humble abode is the bricks-and-mortar pinnacle of success and wealth. As created by production designer Lee Ha-jun to meet Bong's specific vision (a real house that matched the filmmaker's needs simply didn't exist), the labyrinthine structure is a puzzle box, too. Within its walls, mysteries linger. Here, anything and everything could happen. Parasite proves exceptional in every single frame and detail that it flicks onto the screen — but the way that this sprawling central home encapsulates the movie's very essence is a towering feat. Already lauded and applauded, not to mention awarded the top prizes at both the Cannes and Sydney film festivals, Parasite isn't short on achievements. Internationally renowned and beloved as the auteur behind The Host, Snowpiercer and Okja, Bong has crafted a bleak, twisty blend of black tragi-comedy, pulsating thrills and socially relevant horror — a movie that's such a phenomenal example of all that cinema can and should be that you'll want to high-five the filmmaker after watching it. Parasite possesses a pitch-perfect cast of both veteran and up-and-coming actors, all playing their parts with devastating precision. It's scripted, with Okja assistant director turned first-time co-writer Han Jin-won, to tease, mesmerise, infuriate, satirise and amuse in equal measures. And its look and pace, courtesy of the finessed work of cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo (Bong's Mother) and editor Yang Jin-mo (Bong's Okja), is as polished and probing as its all-important setting. When viewers first meet Ki-taek (Song Kang-ho), his wife Chung-sook (Chang Hyae-jin), and their young but grown-up children Ki-woo (Choi Woo-shik) and Ki-jung (Park So-dam), they're dwelling in a damp, cockroach-infested basement apartment. They're also all out of work. Piggybacking whichever unlocked wi-fi network they can find keeps them going — and, when the streets outside are being fumigated, the family isn't opposed to keeping the windows open to take advantage of the free pest control (health consequences be damned). Combined, their only regular source of income comes from folding pizza boxes, with zero other prospects on the horizon. Then Ki-woo's former classmate Min (Park Seo-joon) asks if he'll fill in at a lucrative private tutoring gig. While Ki-woo doesn't have the requisite university degree such a position usually needs, it's easy to manufacture thanks to Ki-jung's impressive photoshop skills. Taking plenty of cues from this early bit of subterfuge, Parasite could be dubbed the ultimate 'fake it till you make it' movie. Stepping foot inside the film's main setting, Ki-Woo wows not only his new, quickly love-struck teenage pupil Da-hye (Jung Ziso), but her flighty mother Yeon-kyo (Cho Yeo-jeong) too. He's soon part of the household, which also includes tech entrepreneur patriarch Park (Lee Sun-kyun), pre-adolescent son Da-song (Jung Hyeon-jun) and their housekeeper (Lee Jeong-eun). With Ki-woo eager to bring his own family into this rich, luxurious orbit, an underhanded plan emerges. Without spoiling any specifics from this narrative juncture onwards, Bong was inspired to write Parasite after spotting a smudge on his pants. This intriguing tidbit gives very little away, although corrupting an otherwise pristine environment — and pondering whether a splatter of disarray makes supposed perfection and privilege better or worse — is the film's thematic stomping ground. The movie's lush locale draws viewers in, all so that it can shatter the allure. Slippery performances, with seemingly clear-cut characters becoming anything but, do the same. So too does Bong and his crew's exacting craftsmanship, which keeps audiences both immersed and guessing. Add shifting tones and changing genres to the fold as well, because evolution and elusiveness are among the movie's most crucial tools. Indeed, from sets and actors to framing and mood, every element of Parasite is weaponised. More than that, it's all calibrated and wielded for maximum impact. This isn't just a killer picture on all of the standard levels, however. Contemplating society's growing class collisions and inequities, Parasite also makes a killer statement. It shouldn't escape attention that three of the past year's absolute best and most astute works, all from South Korean or Japanese filmmakers, have taken aim at the increasing gap between the haves and the have nots. Or, looking to America as well, that one of 2019's great horror releases plays in the same terrain while also bringing race into the equation. Parasite shares its grifting, struggling family with Hirokazu Kore-eda's Shoplifters, its tonal flips and wiliness with Lee Chang-dong's Burning, and its malevolent tone with Jordan Peele's Us, adding to a blossoming field of urgent, intense and diverse cinema that interrogates the societal status quo with a rightfully scathing eye. That said, there's no mistaking Bong's dark, devious and delightful thriller for any other film — or for anything but a hands-down masterpiece. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_0KJAzyUJc
Virtual reality is no longer just something found in science fiction films, as anyone who has experienced a VR concert or tour, attended a festival of VR flicks or bought their own VR headset is more than aware. That's just the beginning. The next step in this brave new world — well, maybe that's where everything the likes of The Matrix, TRON, eXistenZ and Strange Days told us starts to come into play. In Vienna, a world-first bar lets patrons combine the real and virtual worlds in a new fashion: by heading out for a few beverages, donning the requisite gear and hanging out in an intangible space rather than just soaking in the bricks and mortar surroundings. Who needs to chat to the people around you when you can plug in, play and interact in the VR space, right? Equipped with an array of VR gear, Vrei Lounge encourages both, with Playstation VR, HTC Vive, Samsung GearVR and more all on the menu alongside the usual selection of booze, coffee, pizzas and muffins. While you're sipping and snacking, you can play mini-golf, train to be a space pirate, repair robots, plunge into the underwater deep or race cars — virtually, of course. It might be the first of its kind, but with arcade and pinball bars popping up with frequency these days, expect more alcohol-fuelled VR haunts to follow around the world. It does indulge humanity's now-engrained love for always being glued to a screen, after all. Whether putting on a headset and having a tipple is better than lounging around and chatting to your mates — that's up to you. Via AWOL. Image: Vrei.
Locals will soon score their first taste of Sydney Tower's multimillion-dollar food and drink makeover, with the first of three impressive new venues set to open its doors in a matter of weeks. First announced back in February, the Trippas White Group's $12-million redevelopment will see the creation of a new three-level bar and restaurant precinct for the famous CBD building. And we now know what's in store, with the company today revealing more about its plans for the three new offerings. Launching first, on Friday, September 25, is Infinity at Sydney Tower: an upscale restaurant replacing the former 360 Bar and Dining on Level 1. Under new Head Chef Mike Dierlinger (The Bridge Room), it's set to plate up a modern Australian menu fusing local produce with international flavours and technique. Dierlinger will draw on his experience working at Michelin-starred restaurants across the globe, to deliver a menu of elegant fare "crafted with an international twist". And you can expect a pretty flash setting to match, as the venue serves up those stunning revolving views across the city and its surrounds. [caption id="attachment_782344" align="alignnone" width="1920"] An artist's impression of Infinity[/caption] Dierlinger is also helping to guide the culinary offering of fellow Sydney Tower newcomer, Bar 83, which is also opening on September 25. Housed up on Level 3, a soaring 83 floors above street level, this one is set to be the city's highest drinking destination. It'll take the form of a luxury cocktail lounge and bar, also rocking some pretty spectacular views — till 2am on Friday and Saturday. The lounge will have a retro vibe with white and red circular seats, gold banquettes, metallic lights and art deco mirrors. Plus, it'll have some big-name talent on the floor (and behind the bar) with award-winning bartender Jenna Hemsworth (Restaurant Hubert, The Baxter Inn) stepping in as venue manager. [caption id="attachment_782937" align="alignnone" width="1920"] An artist's impression of Bar 83[/caption] Rounding out the trio will be Level 2's casual dining offering, known as SkyFeast at Sydney Tower. This one's gearing up to be a modern update on the touristy buffet of old, featuring unlimited dining options celebrating cuisines from around the world. Infinity at Sydney Tower and Bar 83 are set to open on Friday, September 25. SkyFeast will launch later this year. All three can be found at Sydney Tower, between Pitt and Castlereagh streets, Sydney CBD. Top image: Sander Dalhuisen Updated September 10, 2020.
Co-owners Ciara Doran and Eoin Daniels are no strangers to The Rocks, having opened whisky bar The Doss House on the same street back in March 2018. Now, they've shifted their focus to another beloved spirit — gin. Enter from George Street and make your way through the two-story heritage building (plus a hidden courtyard), before pulling up a seat at the five-metre-long bar. The stools provide the perfect vantage point to take in a show of cocktail mixology or have a gander at the shelves brimming with bottles. Sample more than 100 juniper blends sourced from all corners of the globe as you sip your way through a carefully curated cocktail menu that features an impressive variety of house-made ingredients. [caption id="attachment_834050" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Steven Woodburn.[/caption] "The silver lining from the last three months of lockdown is that we've been able to use the time to really refine our cocktails," said Frank Mac's Beverage Manager Daniel Strahand (The Doss House, Mary's, Spice Temple). "I've spent days perfecting syrups, cordials and bitters." Highlights of the extensive drink menu includes the Shillings, perfect for fans of an apple and lychee martini. The concoction is a mixture of JJ Whitley gin, salted caramel, and surprise surprise, apple and lychee. The Mac Martini is another stand-out — the vesper-style martini is made with dry gin and an infusion of lemon myrtle, kaffir lime and bay leaves. It's their signature cocktail for a reason. Since it's never a good idea to drink on an empty stomach, the venue also offers a food menu that's short but sweet. It features various plates that are ideal for sharing, like oozy burrata with crusty sourdough and cheese boards paired with chunks of organic dark chocolate and seasonal market fruit. For something more substantial, guests can order a panini packed to the brim with truffle-infused sopressa (Italian aged salami) or a roasted vegetable pie made by Infinity Bakery especially for the venue. The dish is paired with a traditional Irish curry sauce, a nod to Ciara's great uncle Frank Mac who was always to be found at the centre of his local village bar. [caption id="attachment_834051" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Steven Woodburn.[/caption] The historic sandstone walls, dating back to the 1840s, tie in seamlessly with the cosy and intimate ambiance of the downstairs space. Vintage leather banquettes and velvet armchairs furnish the area, with paperback novels and candles dotting the tops of the low wooden tables. With its endless gin list, crafted cocktails and heritage charm, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better place for a cheeky tipple than Frank Mac's. Frank Mac's is open at 83 George Street, The Rocks. It is open from 3pm–12am on Wednesday & Thursdays, 3pm–1am Friday & Saturdays and 3pm–12am Sundays.
You may not think a good gym session should be followed up with a delicious frozen dessert. Maybe an afternoon of lifting weights followed by indulging in a double-choc or salted caramel and peanut frozen treat doesn't seem like the smartest idea if you're working for those gains. Well, if you see the YoPRO Frozen Dessert Van outside your gym this month, you don't have to run the other way. It will be roaming around Sydney to give away free frozen dessert sticks or scoops of your choice for ten days only. We can't give too much away but you might want to keep a look out at Manly Wharf on Sunday, March 6 and North Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club on Saturday, March 12. It'll also be parked outside gyms around town during the week — follow YoPRO on Instagram to get the scoop on where you need to be to score a free and delicious protein-packed frozen dessert. The namesake healthy snack expert's new line of high-protein frozen desserts are perfect for when you're after some guilt-free indulgence. There's a range of delicious flavours on offer, with each tub packed with ten grams of protein, no added sugar and less than 165 calories per serve. For more information, head to YoPRO's Instagram.
For everyone who'll always love Dolly Parton, the icon herself has unveiled excellent news: she's turning her life story and unrivalled career into a musical, which will debut on Broadway in 2026. Parton is writing the new stage show's music and lyrics. She's also co-penning the book for the musical. Will she pop up during a performance? You'll have to head along to Hello, I'm Dolly to find out. If the production's name sounds familiar, then you truly are a Parton fan: it shares its moniker with her very first studio album, which was released in 1967. In the almost six decades since — a year short of it when Hello, I'm Dolly premieres, in fact — Parton has done everything from dominate country music and star on the big screen to read bedtime stories and donate money to COVID-19 research. Her music is also no stranger to Broadway thanks to 9 to 5: The Musical, as based on the 1980 film of the same name, which made its leap to theatre's most-famous district in 2009. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dolly Parton (@dollyparton) "Hello, I'm Dolly, and I lived my whole life to see this show on stage," said Parton in a statement about the musical. Dolly diehards, you now have this in common with the legend. "I've written many original songs for the show and included all your favourites in it as well. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll clap, you'll stomp, it truly is a Grand Ol' Opera. Pun and fun intended. Don't miss it!" Parton continued. As well as composing the score and new songs for the show, and co-writing the book with Maria S Schlatter, Dolly is producing Hello, I'm Dolly with Adam Speers for ATG Productions and Danny Nozell for CTK Enterprises. There's no word on an exact opening date as yet, or any casting details or touring plans after its Broadway run, but Parton just keeps pouring cups of ambition. And if you're now begging for the musical to please head Down Under, we understand. There's obviously no clips or imagery from Hello, I'm Dolly available yet, but check out the trailer for 9 to 5 — the film — below: Hello, I'm Dolly will premiere on Broadway in 2026. We'll update you with any details of a season Down Under if and when they're announced. Head to the musical's website for further details in the interim.
Renovations to Australia's oldest pool are finally complete, with the Dawn Fraser Baths set to reopen to the public as soon as the NSW Government's public health orders allow. Constructed in the 1880s and renamed after local Olympian Dawn Fraser in the 60s, the baths were closed to the public for upgrades in 2019. The $8 million heritage restoration sees the much-loved swimming hole receive a host of cosmetic improvements, as well as addressing the structural issues that were flagged by engineers and the inner west council back in 2018. "I promised to save Dawn Fraser Baths and, while its been a long hard fight, together we have now secured the future of Australia's oldest and most beautiful harbourside pool for generations to come," Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said. "I spent half my childhood there and it's where I learnt to swim, so I know just how special this place is and how vital Dawny's is to the social fabric of our community." The restored pools were originally flagged to be completed by summer of last year, however a series of issues arose throughout the restoration process. The southern pavilion and boardwalk, for example, were found to have no structural foundations, forcing builders to construct new foundations eight to ten metres underwater. The southern pavilion, kiosk and amenities of the baths were all in need of restoration as well due to flooding worsened by rising sea levels. While the baths remain closed due to Great Sydney's lockdown, the inner west council has plans to celebrate the reopening with an extended winter swimming season and two weeks of free admission once public health orders roll back to allow residents to visit. As part of the winter season, daily health and wellbeing classes will be run at the baths including yoga, pilates and tai chi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jAuN1xpXnY You can read more about the restoration of the Dawn Fraser Baths here.
After the year that's been, we've all got our sights set on making this summer one to remember. So, no doubt, you'll want to shake things up a little — and, if you're hosting the crew around for some backyard drinks, you'll want to make sure those sips are darn memorable, too. Because balmy days call for cocktails, we've teamed up with tequila distiller 1800 Tequila to help you unleash your inner bartender. Recently, the brand launched a limited-edition merch range in collaboration with Aussie accessories queen Poppy Lissiman and Sydney-based artist Manu Crooks. So, if you were looking for some bold new accessories for summer, it's got you sorted in that department — but you better get in quickly, before they sell out. Now, the two aforementioned creative legends, plus 1800's Hayley Dixon (Proximo Spirits Tequila Specialist), have come up with three tequila cocktail recipes that are guaranteed to spice up your next at-home session. POPPY LISSIMAN'S TASTE OF TULUM Serves one Sleek, chic and a little bit fun, this little libation created by Poppy Lissiman is the perfect drink for summer nights spent on the dance floor. The concoction uses 1800 coconut-infused tequila, which lends a taste of the tropics, while prosecco keeps things sophisticated. So, break out the champagne flutes and get shaking. Ingredients 30ml 1800 Coconut 15ml peach syrup 10ml Fino sherry 20ml fresh lemon juice 5ml simple syrup 90ml prosecco Method Minus the prosecco, shake all ingredients together, then double strain into a champagne flute. Top the glass with prosecco and garnish with lemon zest. MANU CROOK'S CHERRY CHILL Serves one The classic cherry-cola combo gets served a grown-up twist in this moody drink designed by hip hop artist Manu Crooks. Expect smoke and spice from the 1800's barrel-aged Reposado, which is perfectly balanced with a fun, fruity hit from the rest of the ingredients. It's safe to say that this is one smooth sip that'll see you from day to night. Ingredients 30ml 1800 Reposado 15ml cherry liqueur 2ml vanilla extract 15ml simple syrup 25ml fresh lemon juice Dash Angostura orange bitters 60ml cola Method Minus the cola, shake all ingredients together, then double strain the mix into a double rocks glass over ice. Top with the cola and garnish with a lemon twist. 1800 TEQUILA'S SUMMER STAPLE Serves one When sunny skies and post-swim sessions call for a tipple that's fresh and fruity, keep your cool with this fizzy, pink-hued number. Made with the extra-smooth, double-distilled 1800 Silver, it's a crafty riff on the classic G&T that's sure to become your new summer go-to. Ingredients 40ml 1800 Silver 15ml watermelon syrup 15ml honey syrup (three parts honey, one part warm water) 20ml fresh lemon juice 15ml fresh grapefruit juice 60ml dry tonic Method Minus the tonic, shake all ingredients together, then double strain the mix into a highball glass over ice. Top up with tonic and garnish with a watermelon wedge. Spice up your summer with these three easy-to-make 1800 Tequila cocktails, then get yourself some fresh new accessories from the 1800 Essential Artists merch range. 1800 Tequila promotes responsible drinking practices, for 18 years and over only.
The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney has officially been lit up for Vivid 2019 — and from Friday, May 24, you can explore the garden's 15 glowing light installations after dark. Of course, you're going to want a beverage which you do so, which is where this pop-up nautical-themed bar comes in. With a fit-out to delight your inner wharfie, the bar will be treating chilly Vivid travellers to cosy serves of mulled wine, vino by the glass and the bottle, and a tidy line of Archie Rose gin cocktails. Make sure you try the glowing blue HMAS Royal Archie, with its blend of dry gin, macadamia and pineapple. There'll be plenty of warm food to round out your visit, including a hearty fish chowder served in a crusty bread bowl, mac 'n' cheese spiked with fresh lobster, and classic fish and chips. Throw in a cinnamon sugar-dusted pineapple fritter with ice cream and you'll be well fuelled and ready to set sail on the rest of your night's Vivid adventures. The bar will pop up in the Royal Botanic Garden from this Friday and will be open from 6–11pm each night of Vivid. You'll find it among the glowing trails of the Light Walk which, this year, includes everything from giant bees and a field of fireflies to exotic birds. Food images: Cole Bennetts.
For a city with such a warm climate, Sydney doesn't exactly have an over-supply of rooftop bars. But budding entrepreneur Lyndon Gannon wants to change that. And he has his sights set on the rooftop of the Dymocks Building, which, as you probably know, is smack-bang in the centre of the city on George Street. According to Gannon, the space (pictured) would have capacity for 200 people. He believes that a bar area, small kitchen, greenery as per The Grounds of Alexandria and pergolas — to keep out the rain, when those famous Sydney downpours do hit — could all be part of the picture. Which all sounds great, but, given that the rooftop's not been developed for public use before, it would need to jump through quite a few compliance hoops before gaining council approval. Gannon also cites "heritage and acquiring a DA for use, and construction difficulties" as issues standing in his way. While no concrete plans are in motion yet, Gannon — who was the Liberal candidate for Balmain in 2015 and, having left politics, recently founded his own company, Pie in the Sky Partnerships — says he is in conversation with the building's manager and owners. Which is promising. At the same time, he's investigating a bunch of other unusual, underutilised spaces for their hospitality potential. "Sydney has a lot of basement bars, but not many rooftop bars," Gannon says. "There's a gap in the market...There are so many dormant spaces that could be turned into exciting new places." While the Dymocks dream could turn out to be merely a pie in the sky, activating unused spaces for the public is something we'll always chuck our support behind. Watch this space.
The past 18 months really emphasised just how important our local cafes are. As many of us worked from home, the neighbourhood coffee shop and its familiar faces became focal points for our communities — after all, the majority of the IRL interactions we had over winter were with the baristas and waitstaff who show up every day to bring a little joy to the monotony. To that end, Concrete Playground teamed up with Milklab to shine a spotlight on a few beloved Sydney cafes that have been keeping our writers and editors fuelled with caffeine and wholesome community vibes. [caption id="attachment_835946" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arvin Prem Kumar[/caption] ADA'S AFFAIR, DARLINGHURST WHAT IT IS: This charming cafe has all the hallmarks of a neighbourhood favourite — solid food options, excellent coffee, and friendly, warm service. Tucked away on an unassuming Darlinghurst corner behind St Vincent's Hospital, Ada's Affair might just be the neighbourhood's best-kept secret. WHY WE LOVE IT: Expertly brewed coffee by Sample always makes a cup here a cut above. It's an ideal foil for the tight menu of thoughtfully elevated brunch classics and fresh pastries. WHAT TO ORDER: Start your day right with a cup of the batch brew and a BAE, Ada's perfectly constructed brekkie burger featuring house-made bacon jam, spinach frittata, cheese and smoky tomato relish on a brioche bun. WEST JULIETT, MARRICKVILLE WHAT IT IS: A bucket-list inner west cafe, West Juliett has been delivering the goods for nearly a decade. Set in a large, light-flooded corner space with whitewashed brick walls, polished concrete floors and a decent amount of comfortable outdoor seating, this Llewellyn Street spot is a favourite for both two- and four-legged patrons. WHY WE LOVE IT: There's a big focus on keeping things homemade here, with everything from the pastries to the sodas made in-house. There's also a range of house-made preserves — and an excellent hazelnut dukkah — available to take home to help you level up your DIY breakfast game. WHAT TO ORDER: The picture-perfect Buckwheat Benny — featuring buckwheat pancakes, beetroot hummus, broccolini, spring peas, poached eggs and hollandaise — is as good as it looks. Save room for one of the enormous homemade cookies and pair it with a Milklab Oat cap for an unimpeachable treat. TWO DOORS DOWN, GLADESVILLE WHAT IT IS: This bright and airy cafe on Gladesville's main thoroughfare offers a relaxing getaway from busy Victoria Road. Grab a seat in the cosy courtyard to soak up the rays as you tuck into Middle Eastern-inspired brunch fare. WHY WE LOVE IT: Excellent service and a wide-ranging brunch menu make Two Doors Down one of the suburb's most popular spots. The coffee here, by Campos, is as consistent as you'll find, too, and is complemented by the full suite of Milklab milks. WHAT TO ORDER: Try the sambousek — a classic Lebanese snack of a fried pastry parcel bursting with aromatic minced meat, pine nuts and spices, and served with a fresh green salad and homemade hummus. For dessert, opt for a velvety hot chocolate with coconut milk — Two Doors Down owner Elie Youssef swears that it tastes like a liquid Bounty bar. SHOWBOX COFFEE, MANLY WHAT IT IS: Showbox is a Manly go-to for excellent coffee and baked goods in a warm setup on buzzy Whistler Street with a pared-back interior of exposed brick and pale wood. WHY WE LOVE IT: A constantly evolving food and coffee menu showcasing local producers and roasters means that you can have something different on just about every visit. There's also a solid selection of homemade cakes and pastries, with a rotating selection that became a must-try for north shore dwellers during lockdown. WHAT TO ORDER: While much of the menu changes regularly (recent dishes have included a hot dog with LP's chorizo, shaved garlic brussels sprouts, bourbon onion jam and dijon mustard, and potato rosti with a herbed yoghurt base, roasted radicchio, broccolini and dill), it's hard to go past the epic ham and cheese toastie. It's a two-handed affair with shaved doubled smoked ham, swiss, cheddar and garlic salt sandwiched in perfectly toasted sourdough and topped with lashings of parmesan. Add a Milklab flattie to the mix for a luxurious mid-morning combo. [caption id="attachment_835959" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arvin Prem Kumar[/caption] PLUNGE NO. 46, SUMMER HILL WHAT IT IS: Set in the heart of Summer Hill village, Plunge has been a go-to for Hillians on both sides of the train tracks for nearly 20 years. The space itself features minimalist decor and plenty of outside seating — including kerbside, for all your weekend people-watching needs. WHY WE LOVE IT: Coffee by Alchemy, a Mediterranean-accented menu and a friendly atmosphere make Plunge one of Summer Hill's most popular spots. If you can't snag a table, grab your order to go and find a spot in one of the many nearby parks just outside the village. WHAT TO ORDER: The Summer Cous Cous Porridge is a true delight. It's a colourful plate, topped with tropical fruit, pistachio and mascarpone. If you're after something more straightforward, there's a great range of wraps and toasties — the three cheese and truffled mushroom option makes for a truly luxurious cafe experience. MADAME & YVES, CLOVELLY WHAT IT IS: Yves Scherrer might just be one of the most credentialed pastry chefs working in Australia. The classically trained pâtissier began training at age 16 in his native France before working in venues around Europe, the US and Canada. He moved to Australia just over a decade ago, where he worked at restaurants including Est and Kisumé before opening his eponymous Clovelly venue. WHY WE LOVE IT: World-class pastries with views of one of Sydney's most picturesque beaches has seen Madame & Yves build a loyal following since opening in 2019. The cosy spot is bathed in white and features clever pastel accents, making it a perfect accompaniment to Clovelly's chilled beachside vibes. WHAT TO ORDER: Madame & Yves' homemade baked goods take temptation and inject it with high voltage. A classic croissant is always a good place to start but if you want to branch out there's a range of tricked up croissants, beautiful eclairs and a tight selection of homemade gelato to tempt you further. Whichever you choose, be sure to pair it with a bowl of coffee, French style. We challenged one of our writers to switch to oat milk for a week. Find out what they discovered here. Ask your barista for Milklab oat or head to the website for more information. Top image: West Juliett
He turned the world's most famous shipwreck into one of biggest movies in history and reinvented 3D filmmaking to make another box office behemoth — and now James Cameron is bringing the ocean's depths to Sydney. Making its world premiere at Sydney's Australian National Maritime Museum from May 29, 2018 until January 30, 2019, James Cameron – Challenging the Deep will dive deep into the Titanic and Avatar director's rather expensive hobby: deep-sea exploration. When you make a movie about a necklace called the Heart of the Ocean, becoming obsessed with the sea is understandable, and Cameron has quite the array of artefacts, specimens, underwater recordings, inventions, cinema-scale projections, and film props and costumes to prove it. They'll all be on display, in a showcase that examines the filmmaker's passion for understanding and wading through our oceans. According to the The Sydney Morning Herald, Cameron himself will be in attendance to open the exhibition — taking a break from making four (yes, four) Avatar sequels. And if you're wondering why he's launching his latest project here, it could have something to do with his custom-built Deepsea Challenger submersible, which was made in Sydney. Back in 2012, Cameron piloted the vessel to the Mariana Trench, a cool 10,994 metres below the sea and also the deepest part of the ocean, becoming the first person to venture there solo. You might've seen a documentary about his efforts, 2014's Deepsea Challenge 3D, which is just one of the many movies to chart his fascination with what lurks beneath. After kicking things off with 1989's The Abyss, he not only sent Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio running around the RMS Titanic, but made his own documentary about exploring its real-life ruins, aka 2003's Ghosts of the Abyss. Expect The Abyss and Titanic to feature heavily in the exhibition. James Cameron – Challenging the Deep will display at Sydney's Australian National Maritime Museum from May 29, 2018 until January 30, 2019. For more information, visit the exhibition website. Image:NOAA/Institute for Exploration/University of Rhode Island via Wikimedia Commons.
When you have the golden beaches of Avoca, the famed pelicans of Woy Woy, lakes, waterfalls and historic landmarks all in one easy drive from Sydney, it's easy to see the appeal of spending the weekend in the Central Coast. Only an hour's drive, or a 90-minute train ride away, the Central Coast is renowned for its natural beauty — and with an ever developing food and drink scene, too, the area has all the escapism you could ask for in a brief getaway without having to forgo the comforts of a city lifestyle. Though you shouldn't pass up the opportunity to dive into the surf at Tallow Beach, picnic at Lobster Beach, or trek through Bouddi National Park, we think there are some unexpected gems you should add to your weekend hit list next time you cruise up the Pacific Highway. Take a look at these seven lesser known things to do on the Central Coast, from cruising for pearls to devouring epic s'mores. While regional holidays within NSW are now allowed, some of the places mentioned below may be operating differently due to COVID-19 restrictions. Please check websites before making any plans.
The National Gallery of Victoria has hosted some of Australia's biggest contemporary art exhibitions in recent memory. There was the Andy Warhol and Ai Weiwei blockbuster that paired the works of two of the most significant artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, the huge debut of the NGV Triennial late last year and, next week, the Melbourne gallery will unveil a collection of works from New York City's MoMA. But, in the coming years, all these exhibitions could be moved to a new location, as the Victorian Government has today announced plans for a brand new contemporary art gallery to be built nearby. This is a pretty big deal. The new gallery — dubbed NGV Contemporary (NGVC) — will be part of a major redevelopment of the Southbank arts precinct and, according to the Victorian Government, will be the biggest contemporary art gallery in the country. While it will be part of the NGV, it'll be a standalone gallery, and will be built around the corner on the site of the old Carlton & United Breweries building on Southbank Boulevard. It sounds like the NGV's permanent collection will stay at NGV International, while NGVC will focus purely on contemporary art and design. As well as the gallery itself, the redevelopment will also add 18,000 square metres of public space to the area, theatre upgrades and new facilities in an attempt to turn 1 City Road into Melbourne's arts hub. The State Government will invest $208 million for the first two years of the project — this will allow the NGV to start planning and raise philanthropic funds. Premier Daniel Andrews is calling the redevelopment a "once-in-a-generation" project, and thinks it will be a "game-changer" for the city. Once completed, we think it's safe to assume that the NGV will be able to pull even more big names for its blockbuster exhibitions.
For almost 30 years, December 21 Down Under has been known as Gravy Day. The reason: Paul Kelly's 'How to Make Gravy', which released in 1996. The best way to mark the occasion, of course, has always included making gravy and listening to the song. But in 2024, there'll be another way to celebrate: watching the movie adapted from Kelly's tune. News that the flick was coming initially dropped in 2022, with musician Meg Washington and writer/director Nick Waterman announcing that they'd locked in the rights to make the song into a film. Then, Australian streaming platform Binge revealed that it's behind the movie, marking its first-ever original feature — and that it'd hit this year. Now, the movie version of How to Make Gravy has a release date, arriving on streaming on Sunday, December 1. How to Make Gravy, the film, also now boasts a trailer. So, if you've been wondering how a tune becomes a movie, here's a glimpse. The Royal Hotel co-stars Daniel Henshall (RFDS) and Hugo Weaving (Slow Horses) feature as Joe and Noel. The first hails from the song — he's the prisoner who writes to his brother Dan to kick things off — while Noel is a new addition. Also starring: Brenton Thwaites (Titans) as Dan, Kate Mulvany (The Clearing) as Joe's sister Stella and Damon Herriman (now that he's no longer playing Charles Manson in both Mindhunter and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) as her husband Roger. French actor Agathe Rousselle from Titane, who is making her first English-language film, also features as Joe's wife Rita. And yes, there's a Frank and a Dolly, aka Joe's twin daughters (newcomer Rose Statham and Christmas on the Farm's Izzy Westlake) — and an Angus, Joe's son (Jonah Wren Phillips, Sweet Tooth). Still on names from the music, Eloise Rothfield (Boy Swallows Universe) is Dan's daughter Mary, while Eugene Gilfedder (Babyteeth) and Kym Gyngell (The Artful Dodger) are brothers Gary and Murray. Kieran Darcy-Smith (Mr Inbetween) is also among the cast as new character Red — and with Washington one of the picture's driving forces, Adam Briggs, Brendan Maclean, Dallas Woods, Patience Hodgson and Zaachariaha Fielding are among the musicians with cameo roles. There's no word yet if Kelly pops up as the film tells of Joe's family's preparations to spend their first Christmas without him. Check out the trailer for How to Make Gravy below — and, because you've likely now got it stuck in your head, the music video for the song as well: How to Make Gravy will stream via Binge from Sunday, December 1, 2024. Images: Jasin Boland.
After the Sydney Opera House replaced its Festival of Dangerous Ideas with Antidote last year, we didn't think we'd see it again. But the festival is about to rear its head for its ninth iteration, this time trading in its Bennelong Point digs for a space at Cockatoo Island. Co-founded by The Ethics Centre (TEC) and the Sydney Opera House back in 2009, FODI 2018 won't just have a new venue, but a new partner as well — teaming up with the UNSW Centre for Ideas for the first time. But the concept will remain the same, again bringing together thought leaders and creative thinkers for a weekend of critical discussion around the most important global issues of today. This year's festival, curated by Festival Director Danielle Harvey and UNSW Centre for Ideas Director Ann Mossop, will examine the theme of Trust and Truth, and will aim to incite debate, push boundaries and inspire intellectual freedom. And it has some big names on its bill. Stephen Fry — the Englishman with many hats: writer, comedian, actor, activist — will be holding a talk on the art of furious oration at Sydney Town Hall, entitled The Hitch after the festival's inaugural speaker: the controversial author and critic Christopher Hitchens. On the topic of controversy, activist Megan Phelps-Roper will be taking the stage to discuss her time at the Westboro Baptist Church. The festival's international lineup also includes Israeli-American writer Ayelet Waldman discussing the benefits of microdosing LSD, and Angela Nagle, author of Kill All Normies, exploring the culture clash between the alt-right and the left. Locally, feminist and author Germaine Greer, who's latest novel On Rape just hit the stands, will chat about outrage, while activist Mick Dodson argues the existence of modern-day European colonialism. A heap of thought-provoking panels are also on the program, including discussions on sex robots, the Australian media, nationalism and whether or not inequality is always bad. Those wanting to experience something a bit different can head to a part monologue, part striptease with artist Betty Grumble — called Sex Clowns Save the World — philosophy workshops and a Counterstrike LAN party (basically, a gaming party), where an electronic sculpture shoots "blood" at gamers. As this year's festival is located on an island, you'll need to catch a ferry across to the insightful talks. Thankfully, festival passes include ferry transport to Cockatoo Island — and start at $89. Images: Yaya Stempler.
Keen for a solid burg in the CBD today? There's a cheeky little burger battle happening underneath Martin Place, with the genuine wizards at Pub Life Kitchen taking on the burgers of Barrio Cellar. On Thursday, August 27 from 12-3pm, the PLK Cheeseburger will take on the Barrio Burger, giving you an excuse to wolf down more than your average recommended burger portion for a regular Thursday. Not familiar with the competition? PLK have earned their stripes in burgery serving seriously excellent creations inside Ultimo's tiny Lord Wolseley Hotel. PLK have been known to put everything from Dorito fried chicken to chilli jam doughnuts on their buns, so don't underestimate these guys. Needless to say, their cheeseburger is a force to be reckoned with. Barrio Cellar, while they're probably known more for tacos and tequila, have created a worthy weapon of their own — the meaty, meaty, oh-so-cheesy Barrio Burger. This really is the best way any Thursday lunch could go. Bring on the burgs.
Israeli cafe Shuk revealed some exciting news back in August when it announced that — after nearly five years serving the Bondi crowds — the brand would be expanding for the first time and opening a second spot in Elizabeth Bay. But it seems one new spot wasn't enough, with the cafe revealing it's also opening a third spot on the lower north shore — very soon. While the Elizabeth Bay launch has been pushed back till January, the Chatswood spot threw open its doors this morning — Monday, December 10 — along Victoria Avenue. The 100-seat cafe has a sprawling al fresco dining area that's reminiscent of Bondi. It has launched with the brand's signature breakfast and lunch offerings, with dinner service to come in the New Year. The 50-seat Elizabeth Bay will open in summer within the Trebartha Apartments in Rosyln Gardens — a retirement community that has recently been redeveloped by Lendlease. It'll boast a bright and airy balcony along with classic Shuk design elements. All three venues will have a consistent fit-out, including indoor and outdoor seating, long share tables and floor-to-ceiling windows. The brand's head chef German Sanchez will oversee all three kitchens and is bringing over existing Shuk signatures to the new venues — including those baked egg shakshuka and gluten-free teff pancakes for brekkie, and eight-hour slow-cooked lamb and hummus platters for lunch. The brand's daily baked breads, bagels, sourdoughs and challah will also be available across the venues and Sanchez will introduce new dishes to both cafes, giving each a stand-alone 'personality'. Shuk Chatswood is now open at 260 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood. Opening hours are Monday through Sunday from 6am–5pm. Keep an eye on this space for updates on dinner service and the Shuk Elizabeth Bay opening.
Marrickville ceramics studio Clay Sydney is bringing back its super-popular in-studio classes from June, so you can book in for a fun date night or catch up with a mate. After a brief hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions (and moving classes online), the in-studio workshops will be running with limited class numbers. The studio's resident ceramicists will be running wine and cheese nights (BYO vino and cheese), where you'll learn the basics of ceramic design. You'll be hand-building a vase or mug out of white speckled clay then using vibrant glazes to finish. If you'd rather skip the snacks and get straight into getting your hands dirty, Clay hosts wheel throwing classes, plus date night-specific ones on Sunday evenings. The 90-minute classes will take you through how to throw clay on the wheel. Other classes include a mug and mimosa workshop and a planter party. At the end, you'll get to take home a perfectly imperfect product, handmade by you. You can check out times here. Or, if you're planning a special occasion, you can also arrange a private class — think hens parties, birthdays and corporate events. Clay Sydney has changed up its studio a bit to ensure safe social distancing, as well as implemented stricter cleaning routines. In-studio classes will set you back $80, which includes all the gear and guidance you need. For those who would prefer getting creative from the couch, Clay Sydney has been running its Clay At Home sessions ($55), which will continue. Online classes work like this: sign up and the studio will courier you clay and tools; watch the webinar at the scheduled time (or take an on-demand class), chat to the tutors and make your creation; drop your work off at the no-contact spot outside the Marrickville studio; the team will fire it; and you'll be able to pick it up from the no-contact pick-up point. You can also watch the webinar at a later date if you need. For future class dates and to book your spot, check the Clay Sydney website.
If you're in Barrington Tops, your trip won't be complete without a moment or two at the top of a scenic lookout. Offering all-encompassing views of the stunning landscape, you can gauge a sense of the region as a whole. Thunderbolts lookout showcases the gorgeous plateau region between Scone and Gloucester, dense with Antarctic beech trees and moss-covered forest floors. Nearby is Devils Hole lookout, which sits at an altitude of 1400 metres and offers breathtaking views of the dense forestry and undulating mountains beyond. Elsewhere, Careys Peak is at the end of an invigorating walking track that will take you through heavily wooded country before giving way to a peak in the Williams Range, where you can survey the ground you've just traversed from a cracking lookout spot. Image: Don Fuchs
The futuristic new Exchange building that's currently being built at Darling Square has been a long time coming, and information on what will be in the six-storey structure has come to us in dribs and drabs — but, as we edge closer to a mid-year opening date, more information on just what will be inside is coming to light. We already know that the Kengo Kuma-designed building will house a library and some pretty serious eats — and today, the final six eateries have been announced for The Exchange's food hub, Maker's Dozen. Those that have just been added to the bill are Tramsheds' sustainable seafood shop Fish & Co, takeaway poke favourites Fishbowl, Chippendale's bubble tea cafe Bubble Nini and Sri Lankan hopper stand Hopper Kadé, which has just shut its shop in Darlinghurst to prepare for the move. Cabramatta's Vietnamese eatery Bau Truong will be opening its third outpost, and Tapavino will launch its fourth: Boque by Tapavino. [caption id="attachment_715988" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bubble Nini bubble tea.[/caption] They join some of Sydney's most talked about restaurants, which have already been announced as part of the dozen. These include a new contemporary restaurant from late-night Chinatown institution Golden Century; a second outpost of Andy Bowdy's Saga; fusers of Japanese and Vietnamese goodness Mr. Bao Buns; a new bar and bottleshop from craft beer specialists Bucket Boys; and Pasta Wafu, an exciting new Japanese pasta shop created by Hamish Ingham and Rebecca Lines of Banksii and Kerby Craig of Ume. When it opens later this year, the Maker's Dozen will open from dawn till late seven days a week, making sure that those who work or live around Haymarket, Ultimo and Darling Harbour always somewhere to go for brekkie, lunch, dinner, dessert or drinks. Anthony Gill Architects is taking care of the design, with a Japanese-inspired mix of natural materials, relaxing colours and tidy lines. There'll be seating for 400, giving you a choice of indoor and outdoor communal tables, as well as areas for the specific areas. Maker's Dozen is slated to open in Darling Square's The Exchange in mid-2019. We'll update you as soon as further announcements are made.
With all this talk about breakfast, it can be easy to forget just how important lunch is. The sacred midday meal marks an important time of the day to rest your brain, revive your body and regain your slowly deteriorating sanity — so don't you dare waste it scoffing a sad sandwich in front of a screen. To help you best utilise your hour of power, we've teamed up with the MLC Centre to create a list of five eateries that promise you a better lunch break. Plus, if you spend $10 at any of these eateries, you'll also receive a 10 percent discount at any participating MLC service, perfect for when you also need to get your hair cut, fix your shoes or pick up some flowers (lunch is two hours right?). IKU WHOLEFOOD Ditch the sad salad you created from whatever semi-limp vegetables you had left in the fridge, and treat yourself to something fresh. Not just for wellness warriors, Iku serves tasty and nourishing lunch options, with not a boring choice in sight. There's loads of variety to choose from, including a hearty red lentil and fennel casserole, spicy Malaysian laksa and a warming tamarind tempeh curry. It's filling food, but it won't see you passed out in a food coma. If you're feeling particularly virtuous, get a side of the homemade zingy pickles, but maybe grab some mints for the rest of the afternoon. NUDEFISH POKE Skip your limp pre-made salad for a fresh and healthy poke bowl from food court favourite, Nudefish Poke. Similar to a deconstructed sushi roll, this popular Hawaiian salad is made from raw fish tossed with various fresh toppings and served over a bed of rice. What's great about Nudefish Poke is that it focuses on premium ingredients, not padding, with options like the sashimi-grade albacore tuna, grilled sesame eggplant and house-made beetroot and carrot pickles. Drizzle with miso tahini and there you have it, summer in a bowl whatever the season. Choose from the seven bowls on offer or you can build your own. SCHNITZ It may not be Wednesday night at the pub, but there's no reason why you can't get schnit-faced with your mates. If the whole team has hijacked your lunch break, you can't beat a round of crispy, fried schnitzels, served with cabbage coleslaw and Tasmanian russet potato chips drizzled in homemade kettle gravy. Unlike at the pub, you won't find any frozen or deep-fried schnitzels here. Here the schnitties are each fillet pummelled and crumbed fresh each morning then pan-fried to golden perfection on the spot. Those with errands to run can also grab a schnitzel wrap, roll or schnitz on a stick to go. BURGER PROJECT Neil Perry's burgers from the Burger Project will leave you feeling ready to tackle your 2pm without the meat sweats. What sets these babies apart are the beef patties made from 36-month aged grass-fed Cape Grim Tasmanian beef, which is minced and formed by hand, then seared on a hot grill to pink perfection. There are 11 different offerings to choose from, including a katsu burger, made from free-range Lilydale chicken, and a vego-friendly confit mushroom burger. And because its cheat day, you may as well load up with the chipotle chips and a Valrhona chocolate milkshake. Oh, and a strawberry Pavlova soft serve for the road. CHACHU'S INDIAN STREET FOOD While Indian food certainly raises the bar from your usual desk sandwich, not everyone wants to be dipping curries so close to a clean white business shirt. Enter the kathi roll, a Kolkatan street food perfect for a quick (and neat) lunch. The convenient takeaway snack can be made from tandoori chicken or crispy paneer, which is then layered with egg, green chutney and salad and safely swaddled in a charred paratha bread. Wash it down with one of Chachu's mango lassis or pick up a few takeaway jalebis for an afternoon pick-me-up. See all the MLC Centre lunch options here, where you'll receive an exclusive ten percent discount to spend on any participating MLC Centre service.
UPDATE, December 9, 2020: Pixar Putt has extended its stay at Bankwest Stadium until Sunday, January 31, 2021. The below details have been updated to reflect that change. Summer holidays are in the distance and a long weekend is around the corner, which means the part-tee is just beginning. To help us start getting into the holiday groove, our favourite Pixar characters are popping up in Parramatta at a new mini golf course inspired by some of our favourite Disney films. After setting up its (temporary) home in Darling Harbour last year, the kidult-friendly course is now heading to Bankwest Stadium (with five new holes) from Saturday, September 26 until Sunday, January 31. Designed to challenge both eight-year-olds and adults, Pixar Putt features nine- and 18-hole courses that take you past childhood heroes like Buzz Lightyear, Sheriff Woody and Elastigirl. Hit a few balls with Darla and Marlin from Finding Nemo, and flick one past Princess Atta from A Bug's Life. No need for a trip to Disneyland. Pixar Putt is also open for after-dark sessions every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night — because the post-work putt-putt hours are perfect for those date nights when you want to do more than just have dinner and see a movie. Until Thursday, December 17, you can head by from 3–10pm Thursday–Friday, 10am–10pm Saturday and 10am–8pm Sunday. Between Friday, December 18–Sunday, January 31, those hours change to 10am–8pm Sunday–Wednesday and 10am–10pm Thursday–Saturday. As COVID-19 restrictions are still a fact of life, the mini golf course will have physical distancing measures, plenty of hand sani and restricted capacity — which means tickets will sell fast. You can snag yours from pixarputt.com.au. Updated December 9.
Spend the day lazing about in one of Sydney's sweetest parks; Mardi Gras' Fair Day is back again for 2015. With gourmet food stalls, live music and comedy acts, this day-long celebration is sure to make your Sunday just a little more colourful. From 10am on February 22, join the expected 80,000 other attendees heading along to Chippendale's Victoria Park for a free excuse to get out and enjoy the sun. Everyone's covered, with fairground rides, on-stage entertainment and the festival's famous DoggyWood dog show. Round off the day by kicking on to King Street for the free After the Fair Party at the Newtown and Bank Hotels.
Some of the world's very best cocktail bars and makers will be in Sydney this month, as the Maybe Cocktail Festival returns for its third edition. Taking place from April 7–13, the event will see 20 of the world's best bars, including seven bars ranked in The World's 50 Best Bars 2024 list, taking over some of Sydney's very best bars for Australia's biggest international cocktail event. With these noteworthy cocktail shakers hosting 25 events over the festival's seven days, you won't have to look far to discover signature cocktails, exclusive collabs and world-class hospitality. So, who's on the lineup this year? Landing at #9 on The World's 50 Best Bars 2024 (and #2 on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024), Seoul's Zest will take over Prefecture 48 for a headline event, while Barcelona's Paradiso (#10) will get down to El Primo Sanchez to showcase its creative libations. Also in attendance are a host of high-profile names from around the globe, including Connaught Bar (#13) and Satan's Whiskers (#29) from London, Buenos Aires' CoChinChina (#22) and Florería Atlántico (#46) and Milan's Moebius (#38). They'll be landing at world-class Sydney venues including Little Cooler, Dean & Nancy on 22, Whisky Thief and more. This edition of the Maybe Cocktail Festival boasts the event's most gender-balanced lineup to date. Among the acclaimed bartenders making the trip, there's Sarah Dawn Mitchell from Teresa Bar (Napier, New Zealand), Gan Kwok Yee from Cosmo Pony (Jakarta), and Daniela Negrete Leal and Gina Barbachano from Brujas (Mexico City). "In its third year, Maybe Cocktail Festival has become a must-attend event for cocktail lovers, and I'm incredibly proud that so many of the world's best bars are eager to be part of it," says festival director Stefano Catino. "These bartenders aren't just flying in to make drinks — they're showcasing their expertise, creativity, and the unique hospitality that has made their bars world-renowned." Whether you're a Sydney local or just visiting, the festival is a stellar opportunity to experience the best of international cocktail culture. You can sip agave-centred cocktails from Mexico City's top bars, discover what makes New York hospitality so special and experience the bold flavours driving Singapore's bar scene from strength to strength. You can RSVP to any guest shift, workshop or party of your choosing via the event's website, and you can buy two tokens at the door of each venue — $50 will get you two cocktails from visiting bartenders. The Maybe Cocktail Festival is happening from Monday, April 7–Sunday, April 13, 2025, at various venues across Sydney. Head to the festival's website for more information.
If you're tossing and turning all night — it might not just be because of the state of the world. Your mattress and pillow is something you spend nearly a third of every day lounging on, so it's never not a good time to treat yourself to some upgrades. Luckily, premium homewares brand Ecosa wants to help out. In the lead-up to the end of financial year, everything on the Ecosa website is 25 percent off from Monday, May 31 until Wednesday, June 30. So, if you've been complaining non-stop to your office buddies about a crook neck, get yourself fancy memory foam pillow. The ergonomic pillow boasts an adjustable height, a curved shape that suits side and back sleepers and a compressible foam that supports the natural shape of your head. Plus, it comes with two compression bags so you can pack it up and take it with you everywhere. If that's not enough, Ecosa is also offering free shipping and returns Australia-wide, plus a 100-day free trial period. So if you order a mattress, bed base or one of Ecosa's new cot mattresses, you'll be treated to free same-day delivery, meaning you can start sleeping right from tonight. Ecosa is a one-stop sleep shop with luxe bamboo sheets, silk pillowcases, wooden bed base, memory foam mattress and weighted blanket all available at the discounted price. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
It's been a whirlwind time for Sydney's hospitality scene. This time last year, two of the city's favourite restaurants announced they'd be closing their doors within weeks of each other. First, it was Enmore Road's beloved neighbourhood diner Hartsyard, followed by Chippendale's longstanding hatted restaurant Automata. While it's always tough to see your favourites close, the dust has now settled with a host of exciting new opportunities springing forward from the turnover. Automata's Clayton Wells is running Mod Dining at the Art Gallery of NSW and is now the Group Creativity Director (Culinary) at Public Hospitality, Hartsyard's Dot Lee and Jarrod Walsh have taken over the food and drink operations at The Old Clare and finally, Wells' old Automata digs have now been transformed into Longshore, Lee and Walsh's new seafood restaurant and wine bar. The dining room has been given a makeover by design firm Guru Projects which maintains the sleek welcoming atmosphere that Automata boasted, welcoming up to 80 guests at a time for lunch and dinner. The menu can be approached from a few different angles, but the ideal way is to head in with an open mind and tackle one of the set menus that spotlights fresh and sustainable produce from both the sea and the land. "We're thrilled to be opening Longshore and bringing the suburb's first wine bar and restaurant to Chippendale," says Walsh. "Our menu is inspired by coastal ingredients and techniques from around the world, and we're excited to showcase the best of what our local producers have to offer." The centrepiece of the kitchen's offerings is an $80 experimental ten-course snack flight. If you're someone who loves to try a bit of everything, this is for you. Sample your way through the hot and cold elements of the menu including coral prawn tartlet with shellfish mayo, pickled Jervis Bay mussels, kangaroo tartare, glazed green lip abalone crumpets, Margra lamb ribs and salt and vinegar potato scallops. There's also a more standard a la carte menu and a pair of larger tasting menus — a $150 five-course degustation for dinner or a $100 three-course set menu for lunch. Other highlights to keep an eye out for include cured yellowfish tuna, dry-aged swordfish steak with XO butter and Westholme wagyu tri-tip with bone marrow sauce. As with Hartsyard, the drinks list is also integral to the Longshore experience. The wines focus on a diverse range of sustainable producers that make crisp drops destined to be paired with some fresh seafood. The cocktails also have a sustainable streak, like the strawberry old-fashioned which uses a zero-waste, house-infused strawberry whisky. The open-plan dining room provides the best spot in the house, with prime views of the kitchen, but if you're on the hunt for somewhere in Chippendale to pop in to discover your next favourite wine paired with a few next-level snacks, there's also 12-seat al fresco area for short stays. Then, you can always head up to The Old Clare's rooftop bar for a poolside cocktail. [caption id="attachment_905602" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jason Loucas[/caption] Longshore is located at 5 Kensington Street, Chippendale. It's now open for lunch Friday–Sunday and dinner Thursday–Saturday and Monday. Images: Jason Loucas
Spread out over 130 hectares, the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens is the place to come for a quiet stroll through nature and see some endangered native flora. The gardens are open every day from 9am-4pm and entry is just $3. For a fiver, you can join a guided tour that'll lead you through the history of the site and the themed gardens, plus there are a few walks throughout the garden's bushland where you may see birds, goannas, possums, wallabies and koalas in their natural habitat. There are also some ongoing events, including an Artist in Residence Program, featuring music, weaving and Aboriginal art ($10 including entry). After you've finished exploring, head to the Kookaburra Cafe for Devonshire tea, sandwiches and cakes.
Film tix for a tenner, filmmaker Q and As, happy hours, themed parties and an epic virtual reality program are all happening at this year's Sydney Film Festival Hub, which will take over Town Hall from 7–17 June. Whether or not you have a movie ticket, head to the bar between 4:30pm and 6pm on weekdays for happy hour drinks, including $12 gin cocktails and $8 wines. The festival's beverage partners are Archie Rose, Young Henrys and Eden Road Wines, so you'll be in good company. While you're at it, poke your head into the Hub Box Office: $10 tickets will be up for grabs until 8:30pm nightly. Meanwhile, Talks at the Hub will give you the chance to learn more about the back stories behind your favourite flicks. Some of the festival's biggest titles, including Dying to Live, Jirga, Half The Picture and The Breaker Upperers, will be up for discussion among their directors, actors and producers. If you feel like disappearing into an alternative world for a while, then step into one the Hub's virtual reality shows. Planet Immersive will transport you deep into the Arctic, to experience the impact of climate change, while Space Explorers: A New Dawn travels into outer space. The full VR program is over here. Throughout the festival, three free themed parties will be thrown in the hub. Kicking things off on Thursday, June 7, is Mad Mix Party — combining video art and feminist tunes — then on Saturday, June 9, Boys II Girlz Party will feature hits from Take That, NSYNC and The Jackson 5. The latter will (fittingly) follow the screening of I Used To Be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story. The following Saturday, Spike Lee's funky soundtracks will be showcased at Spike's Juke Joint. Sydney Film Festival Hub will be open Tuesday–Friday, 4.30pm till late; Saturday 9 and 16 June, 11:30am-late; Sunday 10 June, 11:30am-late; and Sunday 17 June, 11:30am-6pm.
If you're looking for some peace and tranquility among the mountains then head straight for the idyllic Buddong Falls campground. This remote patch of land is a great base to explore the surrounding national parks and maybe catch a glimpse of some of the local wildlife that make their homes within the surrounding ribbon gums and along the nearby creek and waterfall. If you're not the most seasoned camper then fear not — picnic tables, barbecues and public toilets are all readily available to make things a little more comfortable.
Fresh from causing vehicular chaos in the Fast and Furious franchise — and loving it — Jason Momoa is swapping roads for the ocean in that other big-budget saga he's been known to glisten through: DC's movies. It's been five years since the first solo cinema swim for Arthur Curry arrived, with Aquaman marking just the sixth entry in the DC Extended Universe. Now the series will hit 15 instalments with sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, ahead of a fresh direction for the comic-book company's flicks under new co-head honchos James Gunn and Peter Safran (The Suicide Squad's director and producer, respectively). So, Momoa is back as DC's wettest superhero. What happens for the actor and his character from here, however, hasn't yet been confirmed. Wherever both go, they're going to tussle with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Ambulance) as Black Manta again first — as Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom's just-dropped first trailer shows. Slated to hit cinemas on Boxing Day as the fourth DC feature of 2023 after Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash and Blue Beetle, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom also hails from Australian director James Wan (Malignant), as the first film did — and sees Patrick Wilson (Insidious: The Red Door), Amber Heard (The Stand), Nicole Kidman (Special Ops: Lioness) and Temuera Morrison (The Book of Boba Fett) return alongside Momoa and Abdul-Mateen II. Dolph Lundgren (Minions: The Rise of Gru) and Randall Park (Strays) are back as well, all in another movie that dives into the sea, heads down to Atlantis and paddles about trying to save the world. The story this time: Black Manta is still after vengeance, but now has the Black Trident and its powers to help. So, as well as being a father and the new King of Atlantis, Aquaman has to seek his own assistance. That's how Wilson's Orm, Curry's half brother, ends up fighting by his side instead of being his imprisoned enemy. So, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom looks set to splash around a tale about family in a variety of ways. Again, Momoa did just pop up in Fast X — and Wan also has a history with that high-octane realm, directing Fast and Furious 7 in 2015. Wan and Wilson keep loving dipping in the same pool together, too, given that Wan created The Conjuring franchise and co-created the Insidious franchise. Check out the trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom below: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom opens in cinemas Down Under on Tuesday, December 26, 2023.
It might've taken three years, but Netflix has finally produced its first original Aussie series. Shot entirely in Queensland, and providing fuel for your summer binge-watch sessions, Tidelands is a supernatural crime drama series about a fictional fishing village, dubbed Orphelin Bay, with strange inhabitants: a group of dangerous half-Sirens, half-humans called 'Tidelanders'. Cal McTeer (Charlotte Best), a young women who returns to the small village after a stint in jail, discovers the body of a local fisherman and must navigate the town's drug smuggling history while also investigating the Tidelanders, who are led by Adrielle Cuthburt (Elsa Pataky). Eight episodes, each running for 50 minutes, have been made by Brisbane's Emmy Award-Winning production company Hoodlum Entertainment. Available on Netflix since Friday, December 14, Tidelands doesn't just gift Australian users with a new favourite series, with the show landing in all 190 countries that the streaming platform is available in. Thinking you've seen plenty of Aussie stuff on Netflix already? You're not wrong; however there's a difference between throwing old sitcoms and standup specials into a range inexplicably overflowing with new Adam Sandler movies, and actually funding brand new Australian material. Last year, it was announced that they'd join forces with the ABC to co-produce a second season of Glitch, which showed them dipping a toe in the water — but now they're completely diving in. Before watching the entire series, check out the full trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhsjoQLKaiY Tidelands is now available on Netflix.
A new sibling venue from Haymarket's Mr Chen Beef Noodles has just opened in Chinatown with a cheap-and-cheerful menu perfect for budget catch-ups with friends. Chef Chen Dumplings is now open six days a week on Quay Street, offering highly affordable Chinese and Malaysian eats with al fresco dining. As you may have derived from the name, dumplings are the speciality here. Plus, as part of a new promotion, you can get them for just 80-cents a pop. There are four types of dumplings available as part of the deal, which will run from Wednesday, September 28 — pork and chive; pork and prawn; pork and cabbage; and vegetarian. These discounted dumplings are available from 5.30pm each day until they sell out, and are only available for those that dine in. Each potion of dumplings is available steamed or fried and will set you back $8 for 10 dumplings, with a minimum order of one full portion. Accompanying these pockets of goodness on the menu are the likes of barbecue duck bao, crispy-skin Singapore chicken, Indomie Goreng and black pepper beef. And, if you want to add some cuteness to your meal, there are also adorable panda-shaped buns. Adding to the budget-friendly good times, Chef Chen Dumplings is also BYO with no corkage, so you and your date or your friends can bring your favourite drop of wine or craft beers to enjoy with your dumplings and noodles. There's even a BWS right across from the road. You can thank us later.
Arriving at Sydney's jack-of-all-trades dining precinct Sydney Place, Matkim is Circular Quay's intimate new omakase restaurant bringing bold Korean flavours to the intimate degustation-style dining experience. The eight-seat venue is the latest in a far-reaching variety of opens to hit the precinct, joining fast-casual spots like Kosta's Takeaway and Malay Chinese Noodle Bar, as well as more refined hospitality options like Bar Besuto and Bistro George. As with many of Sydney's best omakase experiences, this will prove a hard-to-book spot with just one 6pm seating for eight guests each night. As you would expect, it also doesn't come cheap, with the Chef's Table Menu setting you back $259 per person. But you'll be treated to a night filled with inventive, artistic dishes showcasing local produce and specialty Korean ingredients (the team imports sesame oil, gochujang and doenjang to use in the kitchen). "In our kitchen, every dish tells a story," says Executive Chef Jacob Lee. "We're not just preparing food; we're weaving a narrative of Korean culture, history and tradition with every ingredient we choose." "Our philosophy is deeply rooted in the elements of air, fire, earth and water, mirroring the trigrams of the Korean flag. It's a dance of flavours and techniques that brings our guests closer to the essence of Korean cuisine, but under a new lens." The menu isn't set in stone night on night, but some of the highlights Matkim has served up since opening include Western Australian marron with Korean crab soybean soup; yukhoe tangtangi — a beef tartare dish topped with octopus that's having a big resurgence in popularity in Korea at the moment; and a trio of tiny sweet treats including peanut praline choux and a mugwort macron served in a pint-sized chest. Once you've managed to secure a booking, you're in for an evening watching Lee and the meticulous team go to work in the open kitchen as they bring you one unique dish after another. Matkim is located at Shop CQT.07 180 George Street, Sydney. Head to the restaurant's website for more information.
Australians, it's time to pack away your gumboots for the year and completely forget about dancing in a field this spring — because music lovers won't be descending upon North Byron Bay Parkland in November. For the second year in a row, Splendour in the Grass has been forced to change its plans due to the pandemic. Like fellow Byron Bay festival Bluesfest, the event will now sit out 2021 completely due to the COVID-19 situation in New South Wales, and will instead reclaim its usual winter slot in 2022. The dates to mark in your diary: Friday, July 22–Sunday, July 24, 2022, as that's when the fest will now celebrate its 20th-anniversary event. And, in a welcome development, festival organisers have confirmed that already-announced headliners Gorillaz, The Strokes and Tyler, The Creator will all still play next year. "With vaccine rollout progressing more slowly than anticipated, we have made the decision to move the 20th-anniversary edition of the festival to July 2022," said Splendour in the Grass co-founders Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco in a statement. "We are confident that moving the festival to July 2022 will finally see us enjoying Splendour in the Grass in all its glory. More of the population will be vaccinated, international talent will have the ability to enter the country more freely and we'll be able to deliver the Splendour in the Grass that you know and love." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Splendour in the Grass (@splendourinthegrass) The news is hardly unexpected; Bluesfest made the same announcement just two days ago, on Wednesday, August 18. Also, Splendour had already ditched its usual July 2021 plans in favour of a move to November, and also scrapped a planned pop-up event in Sydney in July as well. One Splendour-related event has gone off without a hitch this year, though: Splendour XR, the event's online-only fest. Who else will join Gorillaz, The Strokes and Tyler, The Creator onstage hasn't yet been revealed, but the festival now has plenty of time to finalise its lineup given that Splendour's new dates are 11 months away. If you have already purchased a ticket for SITG 2020 or 2021, you'll be happy to know that they're still valid for the 2022 edition. And if you don't have a ticket yet, you can head to the festival's website to nab a pre-loved ticket now. Splendour in the Grass has been postponed again and will now take over North Byron Bay Parkland from Friday, July 22–Sunday, July 24, 2022. All 2020 and 2021 tickets are valid for the new dates, with pre-loved tickets currently available via splendourinthegrass.com. Top image: Charlie Hardy.
If ever there was anything Huckleberry Finn and Jim wished they sailed past as they made their way down the Mississippi River, surely it was a music festival. The Riverboats Music Festival is that dream come to life — and about 14,500 kilometres from Old Man River. Set in the twin-towns of Echuca-Moama, the festival takes place under towering river red gums in a natural amphitheatre next to the mighty Murray River. Sip local wine as you dance the night away to incredible music acts — this year will see Neil and Liam Finn headlining, as well as performances by Josh Pyke, Kasey Chambers and a whole stack of others. Mouthwatering regional food will also be on offer, as historic paddle steamers meander past on the Murray and the chorus of corellas welcome the sunset. Perhaps one of the prettiest and most laid-back music festivals in Australia.
While overseas boba chains are kicking goals all over our city, there's something to be said for a local haunt. No Fail is Sydney's homegrown bubble tea brand. Its signature item is the brûlée pearl milk tea, which you can also add cheese foam and even a full on side of crème brûlée to. No Fail has also recently released a new yoghurt range, which changes seasonally — at the moment, there are watermelon, paw paw and strawberry yoghurt flavours to choose from. Secret menu items are on the docket here, too, and the new cups have a caricature of a pig dabbing on them. The brand has recently expanded from Haymarket to open a second outpost in Sydney's other bubble tea mecca, Burwood, and we expect more will follow.
Feel as though your life has been lacking a little excitement lately? If so, change out of your tracksuit pants, turn off Netflix and visit the team at Kitepower to get introduced to an adrenaline-filled, life-changing hobby. Australia's largest specialty retailer of everything to do with kites and kiteboarding, Kitepower is run by a father-son team who have been immersed in the sport for nearly 30 years. Founder Steve McCormack wanted to spread the word on the benefits and fun of kite flying through all the sport's forms, from single line kites for kids to the hardcore sport of kiteboarding. The shop is right across the road from the beach so you can give your new toy a test drive straight away. And if you're still yearning for that adrenaline rush, Kitepower offers kitesurfing lessons for the more daring. Images: Trent van der Jagt.
One of the many great things about living in Sydney is that, even when the cold sets in and the days grow darker, there's still plenty going on that will draw you out from underneath your doona. After all, culture stops for no season, which means you can expect a plethora of events to take over our fair city this winter. We've joined forces with Willoughby City Council to highlight a handful of the exciting happenings going on around the lower north shore. From thought-provoking artworks to gin tastings and rollicking musical numbers, there's sure to be something to pique your interest — whether you're a north shore local, or keen to hop across the bridge to get your culture fix. [caption id="attachment_811589" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Voices by Svetlana Reinish, Ukraine[/caption] CHECK OUT LUMINOUS PROJECTIONS AT CHATSWOOD NIGHTS The hustle and bustle of Chatswood CBD gets even more colourful this winter with Chatswood Nights (May 21–July 10) — a seven-week festival of lights, food and performances. From installations that turns The Concourse into a melange of light to a series of projections that explore themes including meaning and inspiration behind love, Chatswood Nights fuses aesthetics with thought-provoking concepts. As well as the captivating light shows, on Friday afternoons the lawn turns into a hub of music to set the mood for the evening. And, being Chatswood, you know there's an abundance of tasty food to get your hands on, too. GO ON A TOUR OF FINDERS GIN DISTILLERY Born from a love of travel, fine produce and craft products, Finders Gin Distillery was the first distillery to grace the lower north shore. So, if you love G&Ts any time of year, you'll want to check out this spot (if you haven't already). On Saturday afternoons, you can take a tour of the venue and learn about how Finders makes its batch-distilled vodka and award-winning gin. As part of the tour, you'll partake in a guided tasting session (because, of course, you want to sample the stuff), then once the tour's complete, you can kick back and work your way through the cocktail menu. [caption id="attachment_811596" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Catto[/caption] CATCH THE GENRE-DEFYING GIG 'NEXT CHAPTERS' Billed as a combination of 'virtuoso musicianship and astonishing physical theatre', Next Chapters is the result of a collaboration between the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and Australia's leading physical theatre troupe, Legs on the Wall. Playing at The Concourse in May, the show features a classical recital paired with aerial movement; an orchestral piece featuring acclaimed saxophone ensemble Nexas Quartet; a tone poem composed by Joseph Newton, winner of the 2021 Young Composer's Award; and, for the finale, Shostakovich's Ninth Symphony accompanied by Legs On The Wall. It's sure to be a spellbinding experience that will push the limits of whatever you thought you knew about orchestral concerts. Keen? Head to Ticketek to nab yourself some tickets. HEAD TO AN EXHIBITION ALL ABOUT ANIMISM Beyond Matter is an immersive exhibition, which combines sound, video, painting, sculpture and scents, exploring the concept of animism. For indigenous cultures around the world, animism — the belief that objects, places and creatures all possess a soul — has long formed everyday rituals and spiritual practices. In this exhibition at Willoughby's Incinerator Art Space, seven Australian-based artists explore this topic, with each bringing their unique perspectives. Entry to the exhibition is free, too, so there's no reason not to check this one out. SEE SMASH-HIT MUSICAL 'PRISCILLA: QUEEN OF THE DESERT' The Academy Award-winning film and hit Broadway musical that is The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a cultural phenomenon. Now, an iteration of it is rolling the metallic bus — and killer disco soundtrack — into Chatswood's The Concourse this May by way of the Willoughby Theatre Company. Not only is the company the first NSW community theatre group to stage the much-loved favourite, but also, as Sydney was where the OG stage show launched, it marks a homecoming of sorts. For tickets, head to the Ticketek website. [caption id="attachment_812382" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Catto[/caption] DIP A TOE INTO THE WORLD OF OPERA WITH 'THE MAGIC FLUTE' Mozart's famed opera, which premiered in Vienna in 1791, was an instant success. It remains a much-loved classic, thanks to its ever-relevant themes of enlightenment and ignorance; wisdom and truth; and finding one's way in the world. This winter, the tale of Prince Tamino and his daring adventure to rescue Pamina — aided by an array of musical instruments that possess magical powers — is coming to a lower north shore stage. Condensed from its original 165-minute running time to a (very) watchable one hour, this production of The Magic Flute is directed by Peter Coleman-Wright AO and performed by Pacific Opera and the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra. For tickets to Willoughby Symphony Orchestra's Next Chapters, head to Ticketek. To check out what else Willoughby Council has in store this winter, head to the website. Top image: Robert Catto
Every Australian city has its fair share of standout pizza joints, but only one is home to the country's best pizza. If you had an inkling you were chowing down on some world-class pizza, Melburnians, you might have been onto something — with the head chef and co-founder of South Yarra's 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar taking out top honours at the recent Campionato Mondiale Della Pizza (World Pizza Championships). In April, pizza maestro Michele Circhirillo made the trek to Parma, Italy, to battle it out against the big guns in the internationally renowned competition. He claimed the title of Australia's Best Pizza overall, with 48h's Di Parma creation. It's a menu favourite featuring ingredients specific to the Italian region: mozzarella fior di latte, rocket, prosciutto di Parma and Grana Padano parmesan. For Circhirillo, who himself grew up in the northern Italian region of Piemonte, this was the third time competing in the revered pizzaiolo challenge. "It's such a great experience to live and breath pizza for a week," he muses. "All everyone does is talk pizza." Having named their pizza bar 48h, after the minimum time required for natural pizza dough to rise, it's clear that Circhirillo and co-owner Fabio Biscaldi are pretty serious about their dough. Even more so now that their careful concoction of flour, water and yeast has scooped them the ultimate bragging rights in the world's most serious pizza competition. https://www.instagram.com/p/BwQ9sjugxnK/ Melburnians can sample Circhirillo's award-winning pizza skills at both the South Yarra and Elsternwick restaurants, any day of the week. But how about some expert tutelage so you can recreate the magic at home? Among its series of hands-on kitchen masterclasses, 48h also offers pizza-making workshops, most taught by the master himself. The next one's coming up on Saturday, June 29. Find 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar at 373 Malvern Road, South Yarra and 15 Gordon Street, Elsternwick.
The Game of Streaming Services has a new, long-awaited and undeniably powerful player vying for the throne. Apple have unleashed their streaming champion, Apple Music, announced at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) at San Francisco's Moscone Centre today. Apple Music is set to launch on June 30, locked in for $10 a month (or $15 for the family plan, designed for up to six people). For this monthly fee, you'll get access to the full Apple Music library, 'expert recommendations', Apple's own curated lists of new music, and unlimited skips on Apple's radio stations. Will it work? Can Apple successfully sweep Beats Music under the rug? We're keen to try it out. So where's all this music coming from? Apple Music is linked directly to iTunes, iTunes on-demand and the cloud — we're talking 30 million songs. The streaming service combines music you've bought with music you haven't bought. The new Apple Music interface will show you music videos and artist pages, as well as 'For You' recommendations (one of Spotify, Pandora, Tidal's biggest opportunities for sweet, sweet business). All playlists will be user or DJ generated; a big bird-flip from Apple over algorithm-generated playlisting. Recommendations will also come from the social network element of Apple Music, Connect. Made particularly for artists, the service allows artists to make their own pages (or their labels, managers etc.), allowing artists to share new music and users access to behind the scenes content, photos, interviews, B-sides (yep, all the extra bits Tidal is offering). There's no word yet on the royalties artists will receive (Spotify and Pandora, for example, don't have the most ethical fees around), so watch this space. Radio plays a big role in Apple Music too, with the Beats 1 service (the one BBC's Zane Lowe left his top radio host spot for this year) announced by Apple's Jimmy Iovine today. Apple is calling this the world's first truly global radio station, one which will broadcast 24 hours a day to over a hundred countries worldwide from bases in New York, London and LA. In case you're wondering whether Siri will have her say in Apple Music, you're bang on the money. You can ask Siri to play her favourite song, bring up playlists, or use the service like Shazam with questions like, "Siri, play the LL Cool J song from the end of Deep Blue Sea." Boom. Streamed. Apple Music will be available on Mac, iOS, Apple TV on June 30 and (wait for it) PC and Android later this year. Apple are offering three-month trial membership so you can test it out for yourself. Via Apple and Wired.
Even if you won’t be rolling in the Byron grass with Outkast and Lily Allen come July, you can still get a slice of Splendour action with Festival sideshows. At least 22 international acts will bring some love to Sydney and Melbourne, with a few going west-side for Perth-based fans. Tickets go on sale via Secret Sounds at 9am AEST on Friday, May 9. Here’s who’s going where. Melbournians will be able to catch up with London Grammar at the Festival Hall on Tuesday, July 22, and Sydneysiders at the Horden Pavilion, on Thursday, July 24. Their debut album, If You Wait, sauntered straight into the ARIA Charts at no.2 when released in September last year. The week following, Foster the People will make appearances at the Palais Theatre on Monday, July 28, and the Enmore Theatre on Tuesday, July 29. Since last visiting Antipodean shores for the Big Day Out 2012, they've been busy putting together new album Supermodel. English songwriter Ben Howard will be playing songs from his Mercury debut album Every Kingdom, as well as a few more recent creations at the Palais on Wednesday, July 30; the Enmore on Thursday, July 31; and the Astor (Perth) on Friday, July 25. And for a dose of Memphis soul and infectious Afro-beat, see Kelis in action at Melbourne's Prince Bandroom on Tuesday, July 22, and Sydney's HIFI on Wednesday, July 23. Meanwhile, London electro-pop darlings Metronomy will appear at Perth’s Astor Theatre on Wednesday, July 23, Melbourne’s Forum Theatre on Friday, July 25, and Sydney’s Metro on Wednesday, July 28. They’re hitting Australia hot on the heels of playing Glastonbury and Primavera Sounds. Expect fresh yet timeless tunes from their Mercury Prize-nominated The English Riviera and new album Love Letters. There’ll also be guest appearances from Liverpool-based indie poppers Circa Waves, who’ll then play their own headline show on Tuesday, July 29, at Sydney’s Newtown Social Club. If you’re under 18, The Strypes will have you covered. They’re four Irish lads whose birth certificates prove they’re not yet legal, but they sound more like old guys who’ve been hanging out in blues-rock clubs for eons. They’ll be at Sydney’s Newtown Social Club on Wednesday, July 23, and Melbourne’s Northcote Social Club on Tuesday, July 22. Similarly bluesy and rock-driven are Nashville group The Wild Feathers. But they also throw a significant dash of folk into the mix. In fact, they recently played the ultimate in songwriter support gigs — Bob Dylan’s pre-show set. Catch them in Melbourne at the Northcote Social Club on Friday, July 25, and in Sydney at the Newtown Social Club on Saturday, July 26. Another folksy act is Seattle six-piece The Head and the Heart. One minute they were busking and playing open mics; the next, they were selling out San Francisco’s Fillmore and appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman. They’ll be bringing their intelligent songwriting, sweet harmonies and minimalist percuth. For a more punksy take on rootsy music, check out NYC four-piece Skaters, who’ll be at the OAF on Thursday, July 24, and Melbourne’s The Corner on Saturday, July 26. Triple J recently named their debut full-length, Manhattan, album of the week. At the other end of the groove spectrum is collective Jungle, who are all about floating melodies and ethereal electronica. They’re heading our way after accompanying Haim across Europe, impressing crowds at SXSW and playing Fuji Rock. Catch them at The Corner, Melbourne, on Tuesday, July 29, and the Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, on Wednesday, July 30. While we’re on the topic of the ethereal, Australian-turned-LA-resident Ry X will be travelling his homeland in two manifestations — as part of enigmatic trio The Acid and solo. See the former at Goodgod Small Club (Sydney) on Wednesday, July 23, and Northcote Social Club (Melbourne) on Thursday, July 24, and the latter at the Oxford Art Factory (Sydney) on Tuesday, July 29, and Howler (Melbourne) on Wednesday, July 30. Other sideshows to watch out for include Grouplove, The 1975, Sky Ferreira, Phantogram, Future Islands, Mikhael Paskalev, Asgeir, Darlia and Mas Ysa.
As far as cocktails go, mimosas rank among the easiest to whip up, even if you'll never give Australia's best bartenders a run for their money. But maybe you just never get the quantities of sparkling and orange juice right. Perhaps you always find either champers or OJ in your fridge, but not both. Or, you could love sipping mimosas at brunch picnics and aren't so fond of lugging around multiple different bottles. Whichever fits, new Australian brand mYmosa has a solution. It serves up mimosas in a can, all ready for you to enjoy without doing any mixing yourself. Pick up one of the label's tinnies and you'll be drinking Australian dry white wine paired with natural orange flavours, then carbonated — and you won't be doing any pouring yourself. If it sounds like the kind of tipple you now wished you'd thought of, you won't be surprised to hear that it came about after mYmosa founders Amanda Goddard and Bec Pini went on a work trip to New York City in 2017, found themselves sipping sparkling rosé out of cans — and mimosas at breakfast — and had a brainwave. The two Brisbane marketing and communications professionals then spent five years pursuing their mimosa-in-a-can idea, aided by a lull in work that came with the COVID-19 pandemic. Clearly, we now know how the duo spent lockdown. "Bec and I have always been known as the first to start a party and last to leave a party, so it just feels like a natural progression to create a beverage that can be enjoyed at any time of the day, anywhere and at any occasion," explains Goddard. "We are a classic start-up story, where the kitchen bench, a soda stream, ample variations of wine and orange became our laboratory," adds Pini. "Fast forward, and we have worked with a formulation team, a winery and a manufacturer to create our 'little darling'." mYmosa's 250-millilitre cans are vegan and gluten-free, and currently available via online bottle shop SIP'ER, retailing for $10 a tin or $34 for a four-pack. Or, you can nab cases of 16 via the mYmosa website for $128.40. While the brand has launched with one variety, Goddard and Pini are working through new formulations — so your canned drinks list might soon be growing. There's something to say cheers to, over an Aussie tinned mimosa of course. Find mYmosa cans on sale now via online bottle shop SIP'ER, retailing for $10 a tin or $34 for a four-pack.
