This year, Melbourne and Australia got its first not-for-profit bar Shebeen on Manchester Lane. With every drink sold going towards developing projects in its country of origin, it is changing the way we think about charity and sipping a tipple. We have Simon Griffiths to thank for this. Concrete Playground got hold of Simon to talk about his philanthropic work, Shebeen, toilet paper and his cat. What drove you to philanthropic work? I started working in the corporate world but quickly realised that I wanted to use my skills to solve social problems, not just business problems. After a lot of research I found that the number one problem faced by development aid organisations was a lack of funding, so I decided to create a new channel for funding, moving away from the donation market, and instead creating an avenue for consumer dollars to create social impact. After you came up with the concept for Shebeen with Zanna McComish, what was it that made you think, this really might work? The basic concept was actually 100 percent Zanna's, but it has snowballed into something much larger and more sustainable over the years. When Zanna first mentioned the idea to me, I was so excited that I knew a lot of people would dig it as well ... we just had to figure out how to make the business model work. How was it getting partners and suppliers on board? The really tricky part was raising the capital to get the venue open. We ended up raising social capital, i.e. without any financial return, from 20-25 different investors, then pieced together product partnerships with Brown-Forman, Schweppes and Silver Chef to fill the remaining cash shortage. We did everything on a tiny budget, so had to garner pro bono support from anyone and everyone, including Foolscap Studio (interior architecture), Swear Words (graphic design), Run Forrest (PR and communications), McCorkells Construction (building), Alpha 60 (uniforms), Tin & Ed (murals and uniform graphics), and so on. It has been a long but amazing ride! What is one of the projects you are most excited about contributing to in the developing world? I really get off on KickStart, who we work with in Ethiopia. Around 80 percent of the poor in Sub-Saharan Africa are small-scale farmers who depend on unreliable rain to grow crops. KickStart figured out that irrigation would allow many of them to move from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture, so they developed the MoneyMaker pump to allow farmers to draw water from rivers, ponds and wells to irrigate large areas of land year-round. Basically their pumps create a substantial and sustainable increase in household income — and they're really great at measuring their impact. We know that every $1 we give them turns into $12 of profits and wages for one of their farmers. That's a pretty exciting return-on-investment — or return-on-drinking-an-Ethiopian-beer. For you, how does Shebeen's support to the developing world differ from other charitable organisations? Basically we give consumers an opportunity to put their purchasing power to work. Now that we're open we're 100 percent self sustaining — we're already profitable and will start donating funds in the next four months or so. We'll only seek to raise additional capital to open new venues. What do you want people to take away from Shebeen? We want them to start thinking a little differently about what it means to be a consumer, and where their money ends up. After five years in the making. What does it feel like to walk into the bar and see it as a reality? It's still quite surreal to see people in there! But we've been so busy it's also been difficult to stop and celebrate. I'm taking my first weekend off for the year this weekend — it's going to be great! Where do you see Shebeen in five years? In five years we're hoping to have venues in five or more locations and will hopefully be looking at our own retail range of products as well. What is your favourite drink on the menu? I've really gotten into our cocktails. I really like the Ginger Kaffir Limeade, which is made with Kaffir Lime infused Finlandia vodka, and our warhead-sour lemon frozen margaritas, which we're making with El Jimador tequila. We're just about to start experimenting with cocktails on tap, too. What gets you out of bed in the morning? Usually my alarm, or my cat biting my foot. Occasionally it's a hangover. What's next for Simon Griffiths? Getting Shebeen doing a great takeaway lunchtime trade, opening the second Shebeen venue, and selling more toilet paper — I also run whogivesacrap.org. Images by Clever Deer.
Poppies and Amber is a bespoke florist hidden just off The Corso on the newish Market Lane. The staff here put together beautiful bouquets daily — all you have to do choose if you want a 'bold', 'pastel', 'earthy' or 'sculptural' arrangement. The florist also doubles as a homeware store, selling cushions, throws, and ceramics that will bring a blossoming aesthetic to your own home. As well as picking up Moroccan pillows, weaved baskets and Indian blankets, you can treat yourself to Soul & Ark bath salts.
Surry Hills has a brand new small bar, dubbed Suey Sins, touted as inspired by the drinking dens of 1920s pre-war Shanghai. Taking its name and inspiration from one of the Chinese city's 'iconic call girls' of the time (according to the team), this new themed bar is the work of 25-year-old Eli West, who picked the theme based on her travels and family heritage. "I have spent most of my life travelling in Indonesia, and have some Chinese heritage and I like to think I may be related to a character very similar to Suey Sin," said West. "I love the idea of this seductive, alluring woman who had old world charm and poise but also knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it. I see a bit of that in myself and the young women who will drink here." Taking somewhat problematically generalist cues from the surrounding areas of Chinatown, Haymarket and Thai Town, the bar's press release said that "the area around Campbell Street and the Asian influence in the suburb combined with the winding alleyways and old inner-city buildings create an old world, exotic aesthetic that is continued inside the bar." While the space is promoting 1920s pre-war Shanghai as the inspiration for the theme, the drinks menu isn't really on-theme. Easy-going sips come in the form of Australian craft tinnies, long necks "for the gents" according to the team (come on, really? "For the gents?"), and a pair of signature boozy slushies that currently includes a frozen cider concoction. Did they have slushies in pre-war Shanghai? Just checking. Cocktails have been named for the seven deadly sins — the Greed is a Mojito-like mix of spiced rum, mint, lime, palm sugar, and French champagne, while the Lust features a blend of white rum, coconut water, dragonfruit, and lemon syrup. Meanwhile, the Suey Sins kitchen has opted away from the dumpling-centric offering of fellow pre-war Shanghai-inspired Sydney haunt, Uncle Mings, in favour of a broader array of Asian small bites and the undying Sydney prerequisite: burgers. But granted, Tsuru Food Truck has leant their magic to the menu, with the likes of mi goreng spring rolls, lotus root nachos, and the signature bao available until midnight, all week long. Suey Sins is open Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm – late on Level 1, corner of Campbell and Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills. By Libby Curran and Shannon Connellan.
Inner west coffee haven Ashfield Apothecary is turning two and to celebrate, it's giving away free coffees all day on Saturday, November 13. The cafe has partnered with Single O who is also celebrating a birthday and will be serving up free cups of Single O's Freewheelin' 18th Birthday Blend. There will also be a sweet treat created by cake master and pop-up enthusiast Tokyo Lamington. The Strawberry Gum Espresso lamington is created with vanilla sponge, whipped espresso cream and strawberry gum before being coated in espresso white chocolate and toasted coconut. Head to Charlotte Street between 7am–3pm to score your free cup of joe, however if you want to make sure you get your hands one of the limited-edition lamingtons, get down early as they're in short supply. Ashfield Apothecary opened in November 2019 and has been a go-to spot for coffee lovers in the area ever since. The cafe prides itself on crafting its coffee with beans from a rotating roster of roasters, spotlighting different coffee-makers from near and afar including an international coffee supplier once every two months.
Anyone who's been outside over the last week will have noticed that Sydney has been unseasonably warm, with temperatures reaching 20 degrees or over for the past eight days. If you've been thinking that this toasty patch is not just out of character given the time of year, but rather prolonged, you're spot on. In fact, it's the first time that the city has achieved the feat in July. It looks as though that new record-setting period will continue, too, since temps above 20 are forecast through until Monday. Today, Friday, July 26, is due to hit 20, as is tomorrow, Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28 — while Monday, July 29 will reach a maximum of 21. The last time that Sydney sweltered through a prolonged July warm spell was actually just last year, although it ended after seven days. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the city reached six days in a row above 20 in 2013 — but before that, the record was five back in 1928. If the current run continues, 2019 will max out at 12 consecutive days. According to Weatherzone, the increased temperatures will likely smash another record as well. Sydney has already experienced 12 days above 20 degrees in total this month, with July 2018 holding the current mantle at 13. https://twitter.com/BOM_NSW/status/1154248438529384448 If you've been enjoying the hardly wintry climes, the fact that nicer conditions will be sticking around over the weekend is obviously good news — in the sun you don't even need a light jacket. It's hard to deny that this winter has been more pleasant than usual; the average maximum temp for July is 16.4, according to BOM, and the city has only dropped below that average once this month. But it undeniably and rightfully adds to the ever-present anxiety about global warming. Next week, however, it might be time to dig out your beanie again, as slightly frostier conditions are due to return. The mercury will dip down to 17 on Tuesday, July 30 and Wednesday, July 31, with the drop accompanied by showers. The wet weather will remain on Thursday, August 1, when a temp of 18 is forecast. The warmer spell has been a bit of contrast to the end autumn — when we were dealing with some frosty cold fronts and a whole heap of snow (even in the Blue Mountains) — although, it's not unexpected. Australia did swelter through its hottest summer on record and autumn was our third warmest ever. If you've got the weekend off, make the most of it — visit a beach, do a seaside walk or catch a ferry to explore islands and national parks. By Sarah Ward and Lauren Vadnjal. Via Weatherzone. Image: Manly by Paros Huckstepp.
If Taylor Square is involved in your daily commute, you’re probably familiar with the work of Reko Rennie. Now part of the urban texture of Darlinghurst, Always has been, always will be is the unmissable Flinders Street mural. Glowing with lurid pink and bright blue, this work showcases Rennie’s trademark use of geometric diamonds and his neon palette. Echoing the traditional markings of the Kamilaroi people, he combines his Indigenous heritage with a street art aesthetic. In association with blackartsprojects, No Sleep Till Dreamtime is Rennie’s latest solo exhibition. Spread across Chalk Horse and the Art Gallery of New South Wales, it continues to interrogate how Aboriginality is framed in an urban context. Unlike the flat colours and neon lettering of his public projects, this exhibition shares a bigger vocabulary of symbols and explores more complex processes of art-making. In addition to his usual repertoire of spray cans and stencils, Rennie’s technique of hand pressing metallic foil onto boards creates an uneven shine. This evidence of application draws attention to the finer details of these works. In some works, the iconic diamond pattern is printed underneath, intensifying the creases and scratches on the surface. In other works, the pattern is overlaid, as if attempting to wrestle down its unruly consistency. Ideas of sovereignty are prevalent throughout Rennie’s practice, often represented by the repetition of a crown, a star and the Aboriginal flag. These symbols reflect on Australia’s original inhabitants, commemorating a forgotten monarchy. Drawn individually, they look like one fluid gesture, almost like a carefully meditated (but modernised) Zen painting. When combined, they are obsessively repeated like a wallpaper pattern, becoming a kind of iconographic cursive. Interestingly, the crown is also a tribute to Jean-Michel Basquiat, the poetic pauper turned art world superstar. Rennie’s introduction to graffiti culture was guided by the New York underground of the '70s and '80s, particularly with the coalescing of hip hop, street art and post-punk. In fact, the title of the exhibition takes its cue from the Beastie Boys’ 1986 single 'No Sleep Till Brooklyn'. Rennie’s cross-fading of vivid colours seems to convey a touch of nostalgia for this era. There's also his use of the hard-edged lightning bolt, which hints at a more local AC/DC flavour. Both eye candy and political punch, Rennie's works pull together symbols from his ancestral tribe, hip hop subcultures and street art gods. It's a very autobiographical practice. He seeks to carve out a strong Aboriginal presence in urban environments, moving beyond one-dimensional portraits of Indigenous Australia.
Refettorio OzHarvest Sydney opened in 2022 with the goal of feeding those in need. The Crown Street eatery supplies free lunches to those dealing with food insecurity four days a week. The daily plant-based menu is packed with nutrition and applies a zero-waste policy. In order to raise money for OzHarvest and to invite the public into the space, the Surry Hills spot hosts regular neighbourhood dinners, too — and to mark its first birthday, it has pulled together an all-star lineup for its March series. Every Wednesday night in March, Refettorio OzHarvest will welcome a different beloved chef for the Guest Chef at the Ref series. Each guest will grace the kitchen, whipping up a three-course meal for the diners using rescued ingredients from other kitchens. Kicking things off with Da Orazio's Orazio D'Elia on Wednesday, March 1, the month-long series will feature appearances from Spice Temple's Andy Evans, Claire Van Vuuren of Bloodwood, plus Colin Fassnidge and Matt Moran. You can expect dishes in each chef's signature style that also abides by the eatery's no-waste policy. Van Vurren's dinner on Wednesday, March 15 will be an extra-special one, with P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants accompanying the food with a selection of non-alcoholic beverages. [caption id="attachment_842715" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] Each ticket to the dinners will set you back $120, and while the price tag is hefty, it's one that you can feel good about. Each ticket sold will directly translate to serving six people a nourishing meal during the venue's lunch services. The eatery serves approximately 70 freshly made meals each day that it's open, supporting the community and ensuring that everyone has access to a filling meal. Spots at the dinners are sure to fill up quickly, so if you want to treat yourself to a special meal for a good cause, head to the OzHarvest website to secure your seat. [caption id="attachment_842709" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] GUEST CHEF AT THE REF SERIES: Wednesday, March 1 — Orazio D'Elia, Da Orazio Wednesday, March 8 — Andy Evans, Spice Temple Wednesday, March 15 — Claire Van Vuuren, Bloodwood with P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants Wednesday, March 22 — Colin Fassnidge, Banksia Bistro at Banksia Hotel and ex-4Fourteen Wednesday, March 29 — Matt Moran, Chiswick, House Canteen and Barangaroo House Refettorio OzHarvest Sydney's Guest Chef at The Ref series will run on every Wednesday in March. Tickets are $120 per person. Top image: Jasper Avenue.
The combination brewery and bar is a staple in Sydney's Inner West with the area sporting dozens of quality venues brewing their own craft beers on-site. While you can find a wide array of these beer-loving haunts scattered around Newtown and Marrickville streets — from quaint independent operations to expansive King Street spots — they're much less common in Sydney's east. Curly Lewis is looking to change this and pioneer a new wave of brewpubs in the eastern suburbs, opening a 120-seat Campbell Parade venue that will be bringing freshly brewed craft beers and top-notch eats to Bondi. "We felt there was a gap in the market for beer-lovers in the eastern suburbs. You have to go to the inner west or northern beaches for a brewery experience," Curly Lewis co-founder Oli dos Remedios said. Easing into things, the bar will begin by producing two highly drinkable signature beers — the Curly Lewis Clean Cut Larger and the Bondi Hazy Ale. Two taps at the bar will be dedicated to these in-house beverages, while the rest will showcase a rotating selection of wildcard beers sourced from breweries near and far. Head Brewer Scotty Morgan says: "The brief for the beer was simple. We are brewing a stone's throw from the beach – our core beers needed a clean and easy drinking approachability, made for those baking hot beach days. We are confident that our range of beer will appeal to the average Aussie classic beer drinker through to an avid craft beer lover." As with all good bars, there's also a bank of spirits behind the bar ready to whip you classic cocktails and a wine list featuring local Australian drops with some funky skin-contact varieties on offer. In the kitchen, the co-owners of nearby Frank's Deli, Sammy Jukubiak and Ben Kelly have pulled together a menu that draws from modern Australian favourites and European classics. There are meatballs, croquettes and deli plates to start, Reuben sandwiches for your main, and basque cheesecake to finish it all off. Once you get a taste for the Curly Lewis brews, you can also find them at local venues and bottleshops including Bondi Beach Cellars, Beach Road Hotel, Neighbourhood, Salty's and Bondi Liquor Co. Curly Lewis is located at 102-106 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach. It's open 11am–11pm Tuesday–Saturday and 11am–10pm Sunday.
Chef Brooke Nazzari from Cooking 101 shares a recipe for warm beer and bacon cheese dip, blended with James Squire Hop Thief 7 American-style pale ale. This smoky, gently beer flavoured dip is heavenly. Filled with three cheeses, fried free range bacon pieces, zesty mustard, smoky paprika and a decent splash of Hop Thief 7 American-style pale ale, it has all the winning ingredients for the perfect warm dip. I serve it with corn chips and veggie sticks, but warm crusty bread would be just as delicious. Ingredients 200gm free range bacon (diced into small pieces) 250g cream cheese ½ cup parmesan ½ cup shredded mozzarella 1tbs wholegrain mustard 1tsp ground dried paprika ½ cup James Squire Hop Thief American Pale Ale 2 x spring onion (diced finely) Salt and pepper to taste Method 1) Gently fry off the bacon pieces until they are golden brown. Remove from the heat and put it on some paper towel to absorb the fat while it cools. 2) Meanwhile, in a food processor blitz the cream cheese, parmesan, mozzarella, mustard, paprika and beer until it's all well combined. Stir in the spring onion, ¾ of the bacon, salt and pepper, making sure it's all mixed through well. 3) Spoon the mixture into an oven proof ramekin/dish, top with the remaining bacon and bake for 20-25mins in a moderate oven, until it's warmed through and deliciously gooey. Top image: Dollar Photo Club.
Before Xboxes and Furbies, Tamagotchis and Beanie Babies, there was Lite-Brite. When it was first released in 1967, this colourful toy encouraged kids to unleash their creativity. It was an immediate hit and while it may be something of a museum piece compared to the technology kids have access to today, its simple interface of brightly coloured illuminated pegs remains one of the most ingenious inventions in the history of toy making. Adding to its collection of immersive experiences, Luna Park has partnered with Lite-Brite's creator, Hasbro, to create a new cinematic adventure that will delight visitors of all ages. The event has already wowed audiences in Toronto and Las Vegas, and now it's Sydney's turn to enter a kaleidoscopic realm of storytelling and adventure. Luna Park's 3000-square-metre Big Top is the venue for this dazzling joyride, created by Emmy Award-winning content company Secret Location. Inspired by the pointillistic design of the Lite-Brite toy, this 40-minute, 360-degree installation transports the viewer to a series of fantastical worlds, from a dreamy oceanic plunge into the depths and a time hop back to the era of the dinosaurs to an intergalactic jaunt across the cosmos with a gang of friendly robots. Staying true to Lite-Brite's original design, the visuals are entirely conceived using the toy's distinctive hexagonal peg pattern and only use shades of colours from the six original pegs: orange, pink, green, blue, yellow and clear. Set to a poppy synth-driven soundtrack, this vibrant event is the perfect way for families and friends to share a collective moment of wonder and hopefully leave inspired about the possibilities of self expression. Priced to meet the current moment of high living costs and low going-out budgets, Lite-Brite: Worlds of Wonder costs just $15 per adult to enter or just $12.50 per person if you visit as a group of four or more.
Sydney Film Festival's full program has finally dropped and when this year's festival rolls around, it'll do so with Oscar nominees, festival award winners and Sundance hits, plus the world premiere of an important Australian documentary. Throw in plenty of famous faces, a few more local flicks and a heap of acclaimed docos, and another busy fest is in store between Wednesday, June 5 and Sunday, June 16. After staying local with its 2019 retrospective — a showcase of ten films by trailblazing female Aussie directors — SFF is also keeping close to home with a lot of its lineup. Fittingly, Sydney audiences will be the first in the world to see The Final Quarter, a documentary about the horrific racism faced by former Sydney Swans AFL player Adam Goodes, as well as his determination to call it out and the response he received. Other homegrown highlights include a Michael Hutchence doco Mystify, the Mia Wasikowska-starring Judy & Punch, Vietnam War era-flick Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan, dystopian sci-fi I Am Mother and Jennifer Kent's exceptional The Nightingale. On the star-studded front, Sydneysiders will finally get to see Claire Denis' High Life, Elisabeth Moss as a Courtney Love-style alt-rock singer in Her Smell, the stellar sci-fi flick that sends Robert Pattinson and Juliette Binoche into space in a bleak but enthralling way as well as Adam Driver and Bill Murray battling zombies in Jim Jarmusch's The Dead Don't Die, which comes to SFF straight from Cannes Film Festival. While the festival typically announces a whole swag of Cannes titles closer to the fest, it has already bagged a few, including Pedro Almodóvar's Pain and Glory, starring Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz; Parasite, the latest satire by Okja filmmaker Bong Joon-ho; and Kleber Mendonça Filho's fiercely political Bacurau, As for SFF's $60,000 prize, Sundance standout The Souvenir (starring Tilda Swinton and her daughter Honor Byrne Swinton) and Berlinale Golden Bear winner Synonyms are among the 12 titles competing. With so many highlights screening in just a number of days, prepare to spend plenty of time in a darkened room. The 2019 Sydney Film Festival runs from June 5 to 16. To check out the full program and to buy tickets, head to the festival website.
If you've been dreaming of that perfect European summer, or have had your feed flooded with uber-popular and super-trendy French pastries, then this brand-new boutique bakery-slash-cafe is calling your name. Frenchies Bakery & Pâtisserie is the new venture from the team at Frenchies Bistro & Brewery, arriving with handcrafted French delights to the streets of Rosebery. Following the success of the team's original brewery and its attached dining room, the Frenchies team has traded craft beers for flaky croissants at its new venture — located just two doors down from the OG venue in the suburb's The Cannery building. "We developed a reputation for our bakery items during the lockdowns, so much so that even after they ended, we were often asked when these products were coming back," said Thomas Cauquil, co-owner of the new locale. "So, it's this demand for French-style bakery products in the area, paired with our passion for baking, that ultimately inspired the launch of Frenchies Bakery & Pâtisserie." The stylish newcomer is serving up freshly baked treats daily from an inviting cafe-style bakery space. Take your pick from the sweet and savoury selections on offer, which are created utilising classic French baking techniques with a modern flare and using only the best of fresh, local produce. At Frenchies Bakery & Pâtisserie, you can expect to find an array of classic French viennoiseries (baked goods) like crispy kouign-amann and warm, buttery pain au chocolates — so you can have your very own Emily in Paris moment — alongside gorgeous pâtisseries including the pistachio and raspberry religieuse, and chocolate, hazelnut and vanilla entremet. Plus, there is sourdough aplenty and some hefty lunch options. Think baguette sandwiches featuring house-made pork rillettes, hearty pies and specialty coffee from The Little Marionette. To top off the offerings, there is a selection of handcrafted cakes designed specifically for events. If you've wanted a millefeuille for your birthday, a croquembouche for a christening or a fruit-forward pavlova fit for any occasion, you'll find them all here. You'll find Frenchies Bakery & Pâtisserie at 4/61–71 Mentmore Ave, Rosebery. It's open 7am–3pm Wednesday–Sunday.
Masters of block colour boardies, brewers of insanely good coffee and actual surfing enthusiasts Saturdays NYC have finally opened their very first Australian flagship store — in Bondi, where else? Until now, Saturdays NYC has only been available at stores like Incu around the country. Saturdays started their empire in 2009, selling boards, wetsuits, art and other lifestyle accessories in SoHo. Their wooden-floored Crosby Street digs became New York's go-to downtown surf shop, evolving into the coffee bar-fronted menswear Mecca it is today. After opening another NYC venture in the West Village in 2012, the crew expanded to Tokyo, Kobe, Nagoya and Osaka (featuring Saturday's first foray into cafe food). The Bondi store continues the tried and true Saturdays store-and-cafe formula, one that's sure to flourish in the beachside suburb. Sitting on Gould Street, the fitout is inspired by Saturdays NYC's Japan stores, inspired by surf shops of the '50s and '60s with a minimalist finish — we're talking breezy, light-filled spaces with blonde wooden floors and detailing. Like their international chapters, there's a coffee bar up front brewing up Surry Hills' own Artificer beans (a Sydney alternative to their signature Saturday blend, which New Yorkers will cross Manhattan for). And what will you be spending all your Saturday pocket money on? Saturdays specialise in weekend-y essentials, from bright boardies to printed cotton tees, sunglasses to wetsuits, surfing coffee table books to Mr. Zog's Sex Wax — not mention their own magazine. It's basically beachwear and accessories for people that can't always get to the beach — bringing a little Saturday into the boring, boring, suit-wearing workweek. Importantly (for Bondi especially), Saturdays NYC aren't just a brand that talks the surfwear talk, they also actually want you to get in the damn waves (just down the road). There's a unique range of surfboards to buy from both local and international shapers. Coffee Bar: Monday-Saturday 7am - 3pm, Sunday 8am - 3pm Retail Store: Monday-Wednesday 10am - 6pm, Thursday 10am - 7pm, Friday-Saturday 10am - 6pm, Sunday 10am - 5pm
NOMAD Group's new multi-faceted 100-seat Surry Hills venue Beau is now complete. After launching Beau & Dough earlier in February, the Reservoir Street spot has now swung open the doors to its sleek wine bar and seafood restaurant. Headed up by former Stanbuli chef Ibrahim Kasif, Beau & Dough is all about manoush. "I can't wait to see people walking down the street with a manoush in their hands," he says. The laidback eatery is open 7am until late, seven days a week, serving flavoursome flatbread alongside Single O coffee and blue-eye trevalla burgers. Beau Bar, its elegant sibling, still brings a welcoming energy to the site, but with an extensive selection of wine and heftier, more lavish eats. You can expect an impressive 300-strong vino list offering different varieties and price points. "The opening wine list features around 300 bottles, with 25 wines by the glass, including wines on tap and premium wines served from Coravin," NOMAD Group's Beverage Director Ged Bellis says. "The by the glass list will change on a weekly basis, with 'blink and you will miss them' pours of super rare wines available for those with a keen eye." With private use of Fracks Lane which connects Reservoir Street to NOMAD's Foster Street, the bar is perfectly set up for a post-work or pre-dinner drop-in if you're on the hunt for an inner-city spot to enjoy an aperitif or a catch-up over a glass of wine. However, with the luxurious food options on offer, you can also settle in for dinner here. In contrast to the expansive drinks list, the food menu is tight and refined. The initial 'On Ice' selection sets the tone with oysters, caviar and lobster. From there, you'll find XO oyster mushrooms, kingfish tabbouleh, coral trout and an ox-tongue and lobster roll. Bookings are available, but walk-ins are also welcome. "Our private laneway is the perfect spot for the impromptu date," says NOMAD co-owner and Creative Director Rebecca Yazbek. To begin with, Beau Bar is open from 5pm, seven days a week. Then, from Saturday, March 4, its opening hours will expand, with lunch on offer from midday. Beau is located at 52 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills. It's open seven days a week, with Beau & Dough open 7am–late and Beau Bar open from 5pm.
If you've recently found yourself in a park tossing a lump of wood around, and often, then we've got an event for you. Anyone who fancies themselves a chance of making the Finskaroos will be descending on Petersham Bowling Club on Sunday, October 29 for the Australian Finska Championship. Surrounded by the dreamy suburban surrounds of the Inner West bowls club, 128 pairs of Finska lovers will go head to head from 9am, battling it out for the grand prize of $1000. For anyone not on board the hype train just yet, Finska or Finnish skittles is an outdoor group game where teams have to knock down wooden pins in a race to 50 points. The competition is open to everyone, from first-timers to experienced throwers. After the first few rounds, teams will be split into two comps to ensure that you're paired up with players of a similar skill level to themselves. If you want to spend your Sunday on the greens scoring points over a beer and a laugh, you will need to sign up beforehand. Registration will set you and your Finska partner back $40 per team.
With Snapchat, Facebook Live and Instagram Stories, we thought we'd already seen peak selfie. But last week Nokia unveiled its new flagship device, the Nokia 8, which has been built for just that: streaming selfies. The brand new smartphone is primed for personal content sharing, with world-first technology that allows use of its front- and rear-facing cameras simultaneously. Dubbed the 'bothie' by Nokia, this feature uses the phone's dual sight mode to pull footage from both cameras into a split-screen visual, which can be live-streamed in real-time to your social feeds. You can record what's in front of you and your reaction to it for your fans (read: mum) to watch — most probably on Facebook Live or Instagram Stories. It's a cool little spec for sure, but, as the phone's flagship feature, we can't help but feel Nokia is differentiating the 8 through trend rather than technology. After all, the phone's longevity relies on selfies being a thing. But while the popularity of this bothie feature has a limited lifespan, the phone itself might just have enough to keep you hooked, even after you've grown bored of live-streaming your entire existence. For this device, Nokia has worked with ZEISS optics for the first time to ensure both front and back cameras are as slick as can be. The Nokia 8 is also first smartphone to feature Nokia OZO Audio to capture and play audio with 360-degree surround sound — a function that'll really take those 4K videos to the next level. It 64GB storage and also includes unlimited uploads to Google Photos. The device runs smoothly on Android — much like the Google Pixel — and is powered by the Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM 835 Mobile Platform. A bit longer than in iPhone, it feels nice in the hand and is engineered with a graphite-shielded copper cooling pipe to suck out the heat and keep it running without overheating. The best part about the phone is that is will retail at $899, which is a bit cheaper than many of its competitors — the iPhone 7 128GB and Samsung Galaxy S8 64GB currently retail for round $1200. The Samsung has just announced the Note 8, which is expected to be even more expensive, while Apple will announce the new iPhone 8 early next month. It will be interesting to see how the Nokia 8 compares to the new release of iPhones — but if you're looking for a usable Android phone at a reasonable price, the Nokia 8 is a really solid contender. The Nokia 8 is available now for pre-order from JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman for $899. By Libby Curran and Lauren Vadnjal.
Visual artist Ho Tzu Nyen loves cats. While previous works have explored Singapore's colonial past, in Ten Thousand Tigers, Nyen chooses to reveal one of his home country's neglected histories — the history of the feline. In this work, he reveals how cats, whether "big and small, wild and domesticated, imagined and real" have had real, undervalued significance in the birth of the nation. Premiering in Australia at Carriageworks for the first time, Nyen's visual work, Ten Thousand Tigers pays homage to the symbolic power and sheer magnificence of the Malayan tiger. Blending together live performance, video, installation, and sound, Nyen's work is a spectacular sight of surreal theatrics that hopes to unearth the supernatural cosmologies and mythical folklores surrounding the creature. As an artist, Nyen has previously displayed exhibitions at the Guggenheim, the Venice Biennale, Tate Modern and Sydney's Artspace, among others. Image: Ho Tzu Nyen, Ten Thousand Tigers, 2014 Esplanade Singapore (Olivia Kwok).
Two hours' journey west from Bathurst lands you in the 12,000-strong town of Parkes, another gold rush settlement. Before you ask, yes, the place is named after Federation's daddy, Henry Parkes. Apart from hosting the annual Elvis Festival, it's home to the CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope, as seen in Rob Sitch's 2000 flick, The Dish. Drive 20 kilometres north through farmlands to see the 64-metre telescope that helped broadcast man's first moonwalk and has since found more than half of the known 2000 pulsars (spinning neutron stars). Entry is free for the telescope viewing area and the astronomy and space science exhibition. But, you'll have to pay $7.50 to access the 3D Theatre, where you'll catch a variety of three-dimensional short animated flicks. The CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope is open seven days a week, from 8.30am–4.15pm and has an onsite cafe with glass walls, so you can keep looking for signs of alien life while you're eating. Image: Destination NSW
Maybe Sammy is no stranger to winning an award. It was named in the top 50 bars in the world in 2019, 2020 and 2021 — and named the Best Bar in Australasia at The World's 50 Best Bars in all three years. Back in 2019, it was also named the Best International New Cocktail Bar at the 2019 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards in New Orleans. The Spirited Awards recognises the best cocktail bars from around the world since 2007, and this year Maybe Sammy has one-upped itself taking out two honours at the 2022 ceremony. Firstly, the bar's staff have been crowned Best International Bar Team, while co-founder Martin Hudak has also been awarded Best International Brand Ambassador. Maybe Sammy beat out the Best International Bar Team shortlist which included Columbia's Alquimico, Greece's The Clumsies and Spain's Two Schmucks to be named the cream of the crop in the areas of experience, professionalism, hospitality and consistency of service. While the entire team was recognised, Hudak was singled out and named Best International Brand Ambassador for his work with the beloved local coffee liqueur brand Mr Black. Maybe Sammy was the only Australian bar to be recognised at the ceremony. Elsewhere in the world, London featured heavily in the international categories, with Tayer + Elementary taking out the Best International Cocktail Bar, Sexy Fish being named Best International Restaurant Bar and the confusingly named A Bar with Shapes for a Name winning Best New International Cocktail Bar. Plus, Katana Kitten out of New York was named Best US Cocktail Bar, New Orlean's Jewel of the South took out Best US Restaurant Bar and fresh Albuquerque face Happy Accidents won Best New US Cocktail Bar. [caption id="attachment_794856" align="alignnone" width="1920"] DS Oficina[/caption] You can find the list of winners for the Tales of the Cocktail 2022 Spirited Awards at the award ceremony's website.
Powerhouse Late will get a special spin next Thursday for SXSW Sydney. Established artists and up-and-comers from across the globe will bring free live music to Powerhouse Ultimo for one night only. [caption id="attachment_921573" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Credit: Dillon Gibbs[/caption] From 5–9pm on Thursday, October 19, you can catch sets from hugely popular Indonesian singer-songwriter Isyana Sarasvati, South Korean synth-pop group ADOY and Aussie rockers Dust on Stage 1. Stage 2 will welcome rising local musos Tiffi, POOKIE, Big Skeez and SUPEREGO, while Stage 3 will host electronic artists Nuum, Moss and Sonic Mutations in their debut live performance. Grab a cold one from the Young Henrys bar between tunes before you venture onto the museum's interactive exhibits. Use VR to play with 3D models of the museum's collection in the Victorian Reality exhibit or wander through a 360-degree projection room and write your own message with mist in the multisensory Atmospheric Memory. Powerhouse Late is free, but registrations are recommended and can be made at the Powerhouse website. Top image: Jordan Munns
Enjoy being served by a human being at a cafe or restaurant and being able to ask "what are your specials for today?" whilst you can because food delivery techniques are changing fast. Scrap that, they are dropping fast. After flying drones recently emerged to deliver food to patrons at London's renowned YO! Sushi restaurant and beer to festival revellers in South Africa, a group of innovative Melburnians have decided that wasn't cool enough, so they have decided to deliver double the cool. Not only are they serving delicious jaffles in Flinders Lane, they have elected to do it by parachute. That's right, by parachute. Then they gave their service an excellent pun-moniker: Jafflechutes. COOL. Describing themselves as the world's first float-down eatery, Jafflechutes has a process that sounds simple enough. You select your delicious filling (cheese and tomato; cheese, ham and pineapple; or the all-out cheese, roast beef, dill pickles, mushroom and mustard), pay via Paypal, stand on the 'X' at 349 Flinders Lane at your nominated time and catch your snack. Just be aware, if it gets stuck in the tree, then the people at Jafflechutes cannot stress enough to not climb the tree. Wind gods permitting, delicious pockets of cheese filled dough will be raining down on Flinders Lane tonight from between 10pm and midnight, and whilst they have sold out this time around (the Jafflechuters have got 600+ likes on Facebook since starting their page on August 12), they hope to be back in the near future should everything work out fine. What could possibly go wrong? You can follow Jafflechutes on their Facebook and Twitter.
Prepare to unleash your inner Katniss, pretend you're taking down the Capitol and pray that the odds be ever in your favour. The Hunger Games is coming to Sydney, and you're invited. No, there's not another book or movie. No, you're not being forced to compete in violent endeavours. Instead, you can peek behind the scenes at one of the biggest dystopian film franchises in recent times. Taking over the new International Convention Centre Sydney from December 20, 2016 to February 5, 2017, The Hunger Games: The Exhibition isn't just the first event of its type to grace the just-opened venue — it's also an epic journey into the world of Panem. Iconic costumes such as the Girl on Fire dress, props like the Mockingjay pin, various set pieces and more will make you feel like you're there. Depending on how intricately you know your Hunger Games history, we'll let you decide whether that's really a good thing. Alongside seven galleries dedicated to different parts of the quest undertaken by the Jennifer Lawrence-played character, Hunger Games lovers will also find interactive content and immersive environments, including an explorable map of Panem, the Gamemaker's control table and other attractions that haven't been seen before. The Hunger Games: The Exhibition comes to Australia after wowing fans in New York and San Francisco, and while Australia has strong ties to the flicks, there's no word yet as to whether a certain series-starring Hemsworth will make an appearance.
A new Parisian-style bistro is the latest restaurant to join the regenerating Potts Point dining scene. While the inner city suburb has been plagued by some big-name closures over the past couple of years, a spate of openings have occurred in the last few months. The Monopole team opened a pizza joint. Morgan McGlone moved in with some charcoal chicken. And chef Ben Sears brought a touch of Tel Aviv to the area. Now, three of Sydney's most-acclaimed young chefs and sommeliers are opening the doors to Bistro 916: a neo-bistro with lobster frites and bottles of chablis. Heading up the new bistro is renowned chef Dan Pepperell who has previously flexed his French culinary skills at Restaurant Hubert, and plated up inventive Italian fare at Alberto Lounge, 10 William Street and Frankie's. Joining Pepperell at the helm is Hubert and Alberto collaborator sommelier Andy Tyson, as well as Rockpool Dining Group chef Michael Clift. Bistro 916 is set to open on Challis Avenue, in the former location of Merivale's Lotus pop-up. The Dan Hong-led revival of the former Potts Point favourite had its last service in December 2020 before the building was transformed into Bistrot 916. [caption id="attachment_746694" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lotus[/caption] Pepperell and Clift have created a seafood-heavy menu that offers up new takes on bistro classics. You can expect oysters, steak au poivre, boudin noir spring rolls and handmade pasta with garlic and snails. Accompanying the food will be a wine list featuring a selection of some the most exciting French and Australian wine producers, including plenty of drops from Burgundy, Champagne and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. "I never get tired of making wine lists," sommelier Tyson said in a statement. "In the sense that there are always new producers doing exciting stuff. Wines are just getting better and better." Reservations for Bistrot 916 are open for dinner Friday, February 5 onwards. The bistro is open for dinner seven days a week and lunch Friday–Sunday from February 12. Find Bistrot 916 at 22 Challis Avenue, Potts Point from Friday, February 5. Top image: Michael Clift, Dan Pepperell and Andy Tyson by Jason Loucas
Sydney hospitality legends Kenny Graham and Jake Smyth (of Mary's, The Lansdowne, The Unicorn, P&V Wine and Liquor, Mary's Pizzeria) have taken over the historic jazz venue The Basement and begun transforming it into a live gig space, a wine bar and a new harbourside Mary's. And the first of those three has just opened. Yep, you can now stroll on down to Circular Quay and dig into a juicy Mary's burger and fried cauliflower. Wait, what? Yep, this new Mary's has, for the first time ever, a vegan menu. Plant-based peeps, rejoice — you can now get your fill of the famed burgers and fried 'chicken'. The 'chicken' is fried cauliflower and the burgers are made with vegan patty, cheese, bun and a vegan take on Mary's sauce. As an added bonus, there's also no chance of contamination with the kitchen having its own vegan-only cool room, grills and fryers. If you were lucky enough to head along to Mary's Newtown's one-off all-vegan collab with Shannon Martinez (of Melbourne's Smith & Daughters and Smith & Deli), you'll know that the boys do vegan well. Very well. As co-owner Smyth said in a statement, "it's fucking delicious plant based food, designed to make your carnivorous mates jealous." Those carnivorous mates who do prefer their burgers and fried chicken the traditional Mary's way — made with juicy beef and poultry — fear not, you'll find all the meat-filled classic here, too. As well as Mary's classic loud tunes, natural wines, local beers and raucous service. In a change of direction for the duo, though, you can also eat your burgers outdoors (in the sun) at the 30-seat Mary's Alfresco.
Hunter St. Hospitality, the team behind Rockpool Bar & Grill, Saké and Spice Temple, is opening a luxurious new cocktail bar in a newly renovated space in The Rocks. Alice has moved in and transformed the basement level of 16 Argyle Street, the building formerly occupied by The Cut Bar & Grill. Situated next to The Rocks nightclub The Argyle, Alice boasts a 65-seat main bar and a semi-private space with the capacity for an additional 10 guests. The bar is fitted out with jewel-toned booths and velvet drapes, with Hunter St. enlisting the help of People of Design to create a sleek, luxurious atmosphere. Head downstairs into this classically romantic cocktail lounge and you'll be greeted by an inventive selection of drinks. Signature creations include the Alice Spritz, combining Cocchi Americano, prosecco and raspberry shrub; the Nitro Spumoni, a Campari sour made with saffron tincture, tonic reduction and nitro grapefruit; and the Spicy Calavera mezcal margarita, flavoured with fresh lime, agave, pineapple, chilli and coriander. While the cocktails are the obvious centrepiece of the offerings at Alice, the bar snacks are just as big of a drawcard, drawing from the menus of its sibling venues in Rockpool and Spice Temple. The dishes are equal parts lavish and playful, like the caviar service which comes accompanied by tater tots and créme fraiche. Small plates include chicken liver parfait profiteroles, Sichuan fried chicken, empanadas and an array of raw and sliced items like scallop crudo, beef carpaccio and pickled cauliflower. Those in search of something to satisfy a more stable hunger can order from the bar's sandwich menu. Think pork katsu and cabbage sambos, pork and fennel hot dogs and a moreish cheese toastie made with four types of cheese and accompanied by a cheese dip. Alice will open at 16 Argyle Street, The Rocks from Thursday, September 8. It will be open 5pm–midnight Wednesday–Thursday and 4.30pm–1am Friday–Saturday.
After a fairly long stretch of time in which twee monarchs Belle and Sebastian haven't graced our shores, the prolific Glaswegian darlings of indie pop, and facilitators of bedroom dancing everywhere since 1996 are returning to Australia. Even though our arty-side-of-weird inner teenage selves are squeeing with excitement, no one's begrudging them the long absence; frontman Stuart Murdoch has been keeping well busy writing and directing his 2014 movie musical, God Help the Girl. This tour comes in the immediate wake of the release of their ninth studio album in two decades, Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance. We spoke to Murdoch about stylistic changes, having cocktails created in one's honour, putting politics in pop, and how — once — you may have just been his unwitting muse. You’re heading to Australia very soon, and you’re doing a show at Taronga Zoo — pretty cool. Have you ever played anywhere else kind of unusual? Well, we played at the American ambassador’s house in London last month at a party, because his wife was a big fan. That was interesting. They made a special cocktail in our honour and served them, and people got really drunk. It was pretty red, so I think there was raspberry in it somewhere, but I think that was the only thing that was non-alcoholic. Do you think it summed you up as a band in a cocktail? I didn’t taste it, because I don’t really drink. But it went down pretty sweet, so maybe it did sum us up. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vS1Hf3CVGs[/embed] I was reading this interview you did with Meredith Graves and you're talking about the new record and whether it's a political record or a radical record. Some of the tracks — like 'Allie' and 'The Party Line' — do seem overtly current and like commentary on the state of the world. Were you consciously making something more political with this album? No, not consciously. I think it crept in there. When you say overtly, I think it's probably more covertly. I don't think I could ever put the politics first and foremost. I think if I was in The Clash, or if I was Billy Bragg... They have a flair for that kind of stuff. They're telling it how it is, whereas I don’t feel quite so polarised. I'm not quite sure what I think about certain subjects, so it's nice to have the characters in the songs think about the politics. You see the story of Allie who seems to be pretty messed up with all the pressures on her personally and politically. In 'The Cat with the Cream' it's almost like a similar character who's musing about the disappointments of the politics of the day, wishing she could get behind a true leader. I love the line about her making a list of her heroes and thinking about what they went through and how "it's much darker, much harder than anything that happened to you." I feel like everyone who lives privileged, safe lives must have that thought. I agree with that. I'm always looking back. You can't avoid all that. I watch so many history shows on the BBC. Growing up in the '70s in Scotland, I felt that we were living in the shadow of the Second World War. It wasn't really too much after that. Most of the teachers at our schools fought in the war. You didn't have a choice. You went off and did your bit for your country and you went through all this hardship, and it does put into perspective the troubles in our own lives. What about your song 'Enter Sylvia Plath'? Everyone seems to be saying how big of a change it is for you, that it's super dancey and it doesn’t really sound like the Belle and Sebastian that we're used to. Tell me about making that and what went into it and how it came to be as it is. I'll tell you — that one was super easy. I don't mean to sound like I'm being arrogant. Okay, maybe on the surface there's a little bit of a stylistic change but there's nothing unnatural about it; it was super easy for us to do. I just woke up and I heard that sound in my head, it couldn't sound any other way. Once we got the bass going and we got a few synths on it — that's definitely the way it's supposed to be. I love so much of the music from the early '80s, and I guess I'm channeling some of that into this new record, which is fun to do. But I think the theme of the story, the words, they're consistent with what Belle and Sebastian has written about for years and years. You've talked about muses in the past, and there's a song on the album called 'The Everlasting Muse'. Back around the time of your diary-series-cum-book The Celestial Cafe you said your muse was the Belle and Sebastian fan. You've also talked about Glasgow being your muse before. What about now — do you have a muse or muses? I do change my mind from year to year. You change and you grow up and you think. But that's a life, isn't it? I do remember specifically when I was writing the diary all the time. I was a single guy, I was living on my own, so every night I would be addressing who I thought was the Belle and Sebastian fan, because they were reading the diaries. I knew who I was writing for. But the idea of the muse is almost like a two-way street. Sometimes I can't decide whether you're writing for the muse, or whether the muse is writing for you. In that song on the new record, it's a two-way thing. I'm acknowledging that the muse exists — that somebody is sending me this music, that it's coming from somewhere else. But I'm beseeching her to send me some pop songs because I need to write a whole album. That was the first song that I wrote for this album. I just thought it would be kind of funny, kind of cheeky to actually address the muse directly. I love that line, at the end, what is it? "Be popular, play pop—" "Be popular, play pop, and you will win my love." It's a bit tongue-in-cheek. I like that idea. I like that idea that if we ever somehow cut through to the general public, that at last the muse will return her love. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4-ozvWipFE[/embed] One thing that seems to be carried through all the music you've made with Belle and Sebastian — which spans about two decades now — is that it's full of characters and stories. Not all pop music has that. Why do you think there is that storytelling pattern in your music? I'm not saying that’s an ideal thing, I'm not saying it's better than other music. It's a trick, to an extent. Sometimes the best pop music comes from a person’s experience. But the trouble was I didn't have so much experience, especially when the group started, because I was sort of waylaid with this illness, and it stopped me from doing so many things. I was really stuck inside a room a lot of the time, so I used to dream. I used to fantasise about everyday living. To me, the idea of people going off to their nine-to-five job was tremendously glamorous. The idea that they would be around other people all day, that they would tell jokes at the photocopier... All that stuff seemed glamorous to me. So I ended up writing about characters rather than my own life. Have you got any glamorous plans for while you're here in Australia? Not too much. I just want to feel the sun on my bones. I want to lie out on a park bench and just feel the warmth. See Belle and Sebastian at the Tivoli on January 28, at the Enmore Theatre on January 29, at Twilight at Taronga on January 31, or at the Palais Theatre on February 1. Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance is out now via Matador.
Audiences attending this, the first of Sydney Dance Company's 'New Creations', will find a double-bill that draws on very different parts of the human being. Adam Linder, Australian-born and German-based choreographer, has tripped into the well of collective unconscious and brought back a series of visions that explore the fractured nature of our identities. In contrast, Rafael Bonachela seeks the physical energy of human breath and how this muscular activity can create a colourful palette of emotional states. These pieces are not a simple mind-body split, however. Linder's Are We That We Are demonstrates the physical emanations of a psyche in conflict, opening with a beautiful image of a man-as-horse (Richard Cilli) led ceaselessly through his dressage paces by a resolute trainer (Emily Amisano) to the point of collapse. From this establishing theme, Linder's piece traces multiple connections between the primitive animal consciousness and the higher, often fragile, states of human sensibility. This is best captured in the duet between Linder and Charmene Yap, who flow and grind upon one another in a sex-act both gentle and bestial. The overall sense of Are We That We Are is a grungy engagement with the mind in crisis. Nick Schlieper's lighting douses sequences in colour washes, strikes at dancers with side-on strobes and, in the later stages of the piece, dominates the space with a flying lighting rig, all of which give a rock concert attitude to the stage. Jordan Askill's relaxed, streetwear costume design — tight jeans and loose t-shirts — equally conspires towards this end. Bonachela's 6 Breaths switches the mood from grunge to elegance, in a collaboration with Italian composer Ezio Bosso's beautiful score for six cellos and a piano. The piece opens with a mesmeric animation by Tim Richardson, constructing two static lovers out of particles — ash or dust, perhaps. While Linder's piece is character driven, Bonachela's main thrust comes from his epic states, where all thirteen performers control the stage at once. Moving in unison, this chorus maintains the more traditional expectation for a dance piece, although there is a very touching duet between Richard Cilli and Alexander Whitley at the heart of this piece. This classical, elegant theme was carried through 6 Breaths by Schlieper's lighting design, which constructed rows of light pillars both upstage and downstage to showcase the performers as their own Greek-like pantheon. Matching this were the costumes of Josh Goot, a Sydney-based designer, who created a modern, black-marbled shift for the dancers, equally evocative of the brief cuts of classical Greece. Bonachela and Linder's 'New Creations' is a well-curated pairing, designed to provide an equal dose of provocation followed by a gentle return to comfortable territory. However, this at times takes a step too close towards being something-for-everyone. Overall, my impression was of a night with exciting flickers amidst a mood of unchallenged meditation — worth watching for those in need of relaxation. https://youtube.com/watch?v=XmLlQjYzz0Q
Norah Head Lighthouse is a 1903-built lighthouse that's as popular for its twilight tours as it is for weddings with a view. And for proximity to hard-to-reach beaches and uninterrupted whale watching vistas, its two former lighthouse keeper quarters are hard to beat. Each early 20th century living quarters has three bedrooms and ample shared spaces for dining and relaxing, both available from $355 per night. From the quarters you'll be within walking distance to rock pools and bush walking trails, and when you return you'll have use of a barbecue and time to explore the grounds. Don't feel like cooking? Don't worry, your food ordering apps work here too. And once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, make sure you time your trip to climb the 96 stairs of the lighthouse for those 360-degree views.
If you're after an unconventional stay in the countryside, this pimped-out 1949 London double-decker bus is sure to satisfy. Located in Artisans Park, near Bathurst, this accommodation has a double bed and two singles in the upper deck, so it's great for a getaway with mates or for a family. In the lower deck, you'll find a kitchen and bathroom and doors which open onto a covered BBQ area. It's got an indoor fireplace, heating and outdoor firepit for those cold winter nights, plus epic views across the region and access to private bush tracks. Overall, it's a good pitstop if you're exploring NSW's Central West region, including a place to rest your head after visiting a few local cellar doors. [caption id="attachment_771667" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Riparide[/caption]
Clear your diary, grab your sneakers and prepare to get busy, boombastic and nostalgic — another new music festival is coming to southeast Queensland, with Shaggy and Sean Paul topping the bill. After attracting more than 20,000 festival-goers each year for the past decade, New Zealand's huge One Love Festival is making its first-ever trip across the ditch. The reggae-focused fest will debut in Australia on Saturday, February 1, 2020, taking over Southport's Broadwater Parklands for a day of Jamaican-influenced tunes. Yes, the festival is taking place in the summertime — and yes, Shaggy is bound to sing that classic track — however he'll have plenty of company when he hits the waterside stage. As well as Sean Paul, the lineup also includes old-school reggae stars Toots and the Maytals, Polynesia's Fiji and New Zealand's Sons of Zion, as well as 1814, Third World, Lion Rezz, Paua and the One Love DJs. The one-day Gold Coast leg — which will take place a week after the 2020 New Zealand fest — marks the fifth new music festival headed to the region in the next six months. It's clearly a great time for fans of massive outdoor live music gigs, with the XXXX brewery hosting its first music festival in mid-November, Coolangatta welcoming beachside fest Sandtunes at the end of that month, Calvin Harris and Armin van Buuren hitting up Brisbane for Festival X at the same time, and Wildlands arriving in Brissie just before the end of the year. One Love Festival will take place on Saturday, February 1, 2020, at Southport's Broadwater Parklands on the Gold Coast. Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, September 11 at Oneloveaustralia.com.
If you've ever said "XOXO" aloud, you've obviously seen Gossip Girl, the glossy, quickly addictive drama about Manhattan teens, their hectic lives and their glam outfits that initially aired between 2007–2012. It's the show that introduced the world to Blake Lively, Chace Crawford, Leighton Meester and Penn Badgley, and made everyone want to sit on the steps of The Met. It also demonstrated that you can never have too many headbands, and had us all wishing that Kristen Bell could narrate our every move, too. Gossip Girl is getting a follow-up series with a brand new cast that's also heading to Binge, because nothing says goodbye forever these days — and because all that drama was never going to subside for too long. But there's still nothing quite like the original, which starts with the return of Serena van der Woodsen (Lively) to the Upper East Side and the fallout within her inner circle, as constantly chronicled by an all-knowing blogger.
For many actors, it is playing Hamlet, Macbeth or Lear that marks their career success. Perhaps not playing them in the local church town hall, but certainly on a recognised stage and with a substantial audience these are Shakespeare's big 'uns. Which means there is a an awful lot of expectation going into the performance that it live up to the Bard's best. John Bell's Lear, fortunately, wasn't a disappointment. Though Bell might have become the name synonymous with Shakespeare in performance, in Australia at least, the company hasn't always lived up to expectations. But playing the titular character himself, John Bell comfortably embodied the arrogance that defines Lear, while never falling prey to a melodrama (this is the third time the actor has played Lear, so he should have it down by now). It seems it's a Bell Shakespeare company policy that actors will not attempt a false British accent when delivering their lines, which is a welcome relief; however, Susan Prior's Cordelia did stand out as being someone who has all too recently attended elocution lessons. King Lear, for those unfamiliar with the story, is the tale of an old king who splits his kingdom among two of his three daughters after they profess their love for him. His third daughter, unwilling to play his game, is banished. As in any Shakespeare tragedy, what follows is conspiracy, eye-gouging, betrayal and death. The staging was sparse but poignant — the play opens with a round elevation spinning centre stage, matched by a spherical curtain that circles it, creating a perfectly Shakespearean image of the world' s players being no match for the heavens that control us. While this does suggest that perhaps Lear's downfall comes not from his pride but rather from a force beyond his power, which would not be this reviewer's take on the situation, it reflects a recurrent theme in the play. While by no means perfect — indeed the production ends with a fizzle where a bang should be, and earlier scenes lose their impact as a result — as a rendition of one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies, it is a thoroughly enjoyable production. The banter between Lear and his fool is fast and witty, Regan and Goneril are perfectly malevolent, Edmund is as conspiring as Edgar is noble and all in all the result is a solid and suitably tragic production of Shakespeare's arrogant king.
The first act of Sweet Nothings is wildly, wonderfully misleading. Two handsome men and women drink and flirt while surrounded by great wealth and no worries. It's almost Gossip Girl-esque, though the characters inspire even less of your empathy. That all changes with act two, where aristocratic bachelor pad owner Fritz (Graeme McRae) and goodtime guy Theo (Owen Little) fade into the background and we're hurtled into the middle-class suburbs to spend some quiet time with Christine (Matilda Ridgeway). The near-faceless, dismissible young woman from the previous night's gathering is given a life and personality, and a rather great one at that. It becomes a moving, at times cringe-inducing, at times heartbreaking play to watch, as we see her deeply, uninhibitedly in love with Fritz, despite his often noncommittal behaviour and despite the remonstrations of her nosy downstairs neighbour Katharina (played with gorgeous wile by Lucy Miller). This is puppy love as we rarely see it portrayed — generously, as something special and emboldening. What she can't know, though we've known all along, is that Fritz's deepest love is reserved for another man's wife, a society woman with whom he's had a drawn-out affair that's just been exposed. He and Theo don't see the girls as their equals, though Fritz has affection for and something like a longing to love Christine back. It's, you know — complicated. Grounded, pleasure-seeking Mitzi (Clementine Mills) can enjoy it for what it is; Christine cannot. Sweet Nothings is an adaptation by Scottish playwright David Harrower (Blackbird) of the late 19th-century Liebelei by Austrian Arthur Schnitzler (Leibelei is alternately translated as Flirtation and The Reckoning, which is quite a perfect binary). Schnitzler's frank portrayals of sexuality were shocking for the time, while his perceptiveness as to human psychology still surprises (Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut is also based off one of his works). Here, he gets behind the usual moralising that would be applied to both the men and women and looks for something truer. It's mounted at Sydney's ATYP Studio with fair success by the reliable pantsguys (Punk Rock) and Geraldine Timmins and directed by John Kachoyan, following its debut at London's Old Vic in 2010. The contemporary setting becomes a bit of a stumbling block when duels and social idiosyncrasies suddenly become hugely important to the plot, but generally the whims and dilemmas of these characters are enduring. Sophie Fletcher's set is lushly textured and makes great use of the space. However, it's Ridgeway's performance that makes the show. Her sweet mannerisms render Christine irresistible when she could so easily have been annoying, and later flashes of stoicism and anger are impeccably handled. Her total delightfulness makes Sweet Nothings' conclusion all the more painful. 'Heart-wrenching Everything' would be the better title.
When Ben & Jerry's wanted to call for action on climate change, it stuck to its strengths, releasing a new ice cream flavour to draw attention to the topic. When it wanted to specifically target the Australian Government's support for fossil fuels, it did the same as well. But, in its latest effort to support renewables, the dessert brand has decided to branch out. Its new release won't just satisfy your sweet tooth — it'll also quench your thirst. For a limited time, Ben & Jerry's beloved choc chip cookie dough flavour is no longer just something that you eat. You can now drink it, too, thanks to a collaboration with 4 Pines. The brew tempting your tastebuds: a new Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Nitro beer. And yes, like ice cream, it's best served as cold as possible. When you crack open a can — which can be bought individually, in four-packs and in 24-tin cartons from Monday, May 17 — you'll then sip a lactose-infused brown nitro brew. Expect a decadent and creamy taste, as well as plenty of colour thanks to the nitro infusion. You'll also find the beer on tap at selected venues, and on the menu at the GABS Craft Beer and Cider Festival in Melbourne and Brisbane — and if you start hankering for dessert afterwards, well, that's understandable. When 4 Pines was in the brewing stage, the new beer was made with energy sourced from solar and wind — which powers the brewery's main Brookvale site and headquarters. But that's not the only way that the ice cream-inspired brew is drawing attention to renewable energy. Teaming up with community-owned power company Enova Community Energy, Ben & Jerry's and 4 Pines are contributing funds from the beer project to Enova to use to install solar panels for a community group. So, your next brew can help a worthy party do their bit to help the planet. Ben & Jerry's and 4 Pines' Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Nitro beer hits bottle shop shelves on Monday, May 17. You'll also find it on tap at selected venues, and at the GABS Craft Beer and Cider Festival in Melbourne and Brisbane.
Hanging for some peyote-infused psychfolk, tinged with communal love vibes and the sounds of the desert winds as interpreted by swirling organ tones? Turns out you don't have to go to New Mexico, because New Mexico is coming to you this autumn, thanks to Mistletone. A collective based in NM's rural mountainscape, headline band Brightblack Morning Light are all heavy love, a bevvy of shaman showmanship rooted in the bliss out zone of washed out sunset rock. For this tour, Brightblack will be a trio consisting of founder Nathan Shineywater aka Nabob, Danielle Stech-Homsy of Rio En Medio and the percussionist Cannupa Luger. Sounds like a fully formed meditational tripod to me. Their most recent album, Motion to Rejoin, was one of the very best of 2008, its slow unravelling of a mix of complex orchestrations and simpler, feathery atmospheric jams forming a beautiful and cohesive record for a midsummer night's dream. For those wanting more, I recommending reading an interview they did with Trinie Dalton for the much missed (in print) Arthur Magazine, available online. It's just as exciting that Rio En Medio is touring, Stech-Homsy's folk offerings deserving of a double-headline tour. Having released a debut record on Devendra Banhart's Gnomonsong label, this solo project has the ethereal sound of a feathered dreamcatcher and the fixed confidence of an Ojo de Dios. Between them, Brightblack Morning Light and Rio En Medio have performed with Os Mutantes, Vashti Bunyan, Joanna Newsom and Grizzly Bear, amongst many others. To win one of two double passes to see Brightblack Morning Light, just visit our Facebook page, click 'Suggest to Friends' then confirm your entry by leaving a comment on the wall. Winners will be contacted by DM on Wednesday morning. https://youtube.com/watch?v=F0vgBbuG5E8 https://youtube.com/watch?v=wGJBXc5o-YU
It's no coincidence that the words amorous and amoral sit so closely together in the dictionary, and Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky explores this sentiment through the passion of an affair between its two title characters. It opens in 1913, with Coco (Anna Mouglalis) attending the Paris debut of Stravinksy's (Mads Mikkelson) new work The Rite of Spring, one of the most famous instances of audience rioting in the 20th century. The combination of Stravinsky's intensely rhythmic score, primitive aesthetics and choreography expressing a pagan ritual of a young girl dancing herself to death caused outrage amongst the top-hatted patrons, whose fistfights were eventually broken up by police. This scene is captured in perfection by director Jan Kounen, whose balance of fury and elegance is a well-crafted thrill. It is a shame, then, that the film's peak is also it's opening. From that initial sense of fire and fury, Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky cleans itself up as the Russian Revolution takes its toll and Stravinsky flees back to Paris in 1920 with family in tow. Chanel, with ulterior motives hidden in her delicate cloche, invites them to stay at her Garches villa. His children settle in to their new life but his wife, ill with consumption, rightly expresses an immediate desire to leave. A certain tension builds between Chanel and Stravinsky, both strongly independent but controlled by guarded desires. Mouglalis, it should be noted, is the former face of a Chanel perfume, and one of Karl Lagerfeld's muses, giving the production of the film the intimate detailing of connections. The styling and locations are stunning, but the film itself lacks passion, which is not the usual emotional base of adultery. This is a film that will satiate those who are happy to be swept up in the style of Paris in the '20s, but, akin to Mouglalis's cat-like indifference on screen, there'll be no cause for rioting down the aisles. https://youtube.com/watch?v=0xh719Kzeec
Bondi Hardware is ushering in the winter solstice with a new menu that feels like a (very fashionable) cosy woollen scarf to pull around you on a chilly Saturday night. Nana's honey lemon tea moonlights in cool cocktail form as The Flower Doctor ($17), made naughty with Tanqueray and elderflower liqueur and lifted with a hint of orange blossom water. To really warm the cockles, opt for a hot Batlow cider, mulled with cinnamon twills and melted butter (yes, really) and served over warm orange pieces. Winter continues on the plate, with a menu designed to encourage huddling and cuddling over delicious shared dishes. Roasted garlic, chilli and pomegranate bring warmth to a delicate albacore tuna ceviche ($19), while a buttery braised beef cheek, served on a bed of horseradish mascarpone, pulls apart at the softest touch of the fork ($20). The salads are rustic and the dips are creamy and rich, with whole baby beetroots, pickled mushrooms and charred bread making welcome appearances. The Notorious P.I.G. leaves no doubt as to who is King Pig; succulent pork belly pieces are topped with a sticky candied apple glaze ($20). Fun, casual elegance abounds in this winter wonderland. Warm candlelight dances against recycled timber panels and exposed brickwork, and catches on the wall-mounted tools that hark back to the venue's history as a hardware store. Winter orchids in rich, dark colours fill mismatched bottles and jars, and alternate with wax-laden DIY candelabra on the tables. On the wine front, a range of appealing by-the-glass options makes decision-making pleasantly difficult. The beers are boutiquey and international, and include the Vale IPA ($9): an American-style Indian pale ale that combines hops from three different countries. The bustle by the bar is friendly and interested, with a communal atmosphere that merges conversations and guarantees new friends. On the wall, a mural-enshrined handyman encourages Bondi's Twitterati to live in the moment. "The only thing that tweets here," he instructs, "are the birds."
The Maybe Sammy crew have done it again. The globally-acclaimed bar team have launched another exciting spot — and this time, it's located inside one of the team's pre-existing venues. Paddington mezcal bar El Primo Sanchez is now home to a brand-new (and extremely intimate) speakeasy named La Prima, injecting a dose of Oaxaca's inviting atmosphere into Sydney's inner city. Following in the footsteps of other hidden venues around the city like the famed secret speakeasy at Frankie's Pizza, La Prima is located behind an unassuming wall, which doubles as a doorway. The newest addition to El Primo Sanchez offers up an intimate dining experience that operates as invite-only — unless you happen to stumble upon its entrance during your visit to the Oxford Street bar. La Prima hosts up to 30 guests — ten seated and 20 standing — in a dimly-lit space decked out with candlelit tables and featuring rustic exposed brick walls displaying a plethora of agave and retro frames. Once you've found your way inside, you can order select bites from the kitchen's curated list of playful Mexican dishes led by Head Chef Alejandro Huerta. Think: guac paired with fermented green tomato and chilli crunch, or Blackmore wagyu barbacca accompanied by salsa roja infused with miso. The bar offers a rotating menu of crafted cocktails, with its latest tequila-forward lineup starring the floral Perfume de Gardenias — a shot of Patrón Reposado combined with peach and citrus cordial and jasmine soda; the Encanto — a fruity cherry soda mixed with Patrón Silver and dry vermouth; and the Pastel de Planto — Patrón Reposado partnered with banana and cinnamon cordial, salt and agave. The celebrated team's tight-lipped approach to this mysterious Oaxaca-inspired hideaway will allow patrons to fully immerse themselves in the experience of discovering its intrigue — and when you pair its much-loved food and beverage menus with a slice of adventure, it seems like the recipe for success. You'll find La Prima hidden inside El Primo Sanchez at 27-33 Oxford Street in Paddington.
City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has proposed an idea to make Sydney Harbour more swimmable, as part of her address at the Sydney Water Innovation Festival earlier this week. During her speech, Moore outlined how government-wide initiatives could be implemented around inner-city waterways to reduce water pollution, thus making these bodies of water swim-friendly for locals and tourists. While no concrete plans have been set in motion yet, renders supplied by the City of Sydney and created by Andrew Burges Architects show possibilities for new swimming areas — including ocean pools implemented at Beare Park and Pirrama Park. An ambitious infrastructure project at the Glebe Foreshore, featuring a floating aquatic centre on top of the harbour, is also in the mix. The Beare Park and Pirrama Park concepts would require minimal infrastructure once water quality was at an acceptable level, with swimming areas at Pirrama Park focused on reusing existing infrastructure. The Glebe project, on the other hand, would be a significantly larger undertaking, with the pool sitting on top of a man-made island connected to the foreshore by a footbridge. [caption id="attachment_829140" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Render of Pirrama Park[/caption] "Swimming in the harbour is no pipe dream," Moore said. "Cities around the world are turning to their natural harbour assets rather than building more infrastructure. Copenhagen spent 15 years transforming its harbour from a highly polluted waterway to a swimmer's paradise where wildlife is thriving." The key to introducing swimming to the harbour is cleaning up the waterways, Moore says. Some ways the City of Sydney is already pushing for this is through reducing stormwater pollution entering the harbour and implementing water sensitive urban design. The city council requires support from other sectors of the government in order to convert the harbour into a swimmable body of water. "This vision rests on improving water quality," Moore continued. "Being able to swim safely in the harbour is a wonderful symbol of a healthy water ecosystem. If we can clean up the harbour, we will unleash enormous potential for community recreation and wellbeing." [caption id="attachment_829141" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Render of Beare Park[/caption] The Sydney Water Innovation Festival is held on Monday, October 18–Wednesday, October 20. Registration is free. All images: Andrew Burges Architects supplied by City of Sydney.
After filming two of his last four movies in Australia (Lion and Hotel Mumbai), and also stepping into a Dickens classic set in Victorian England (The Personal History of David Copperfield), Dev Patel is heading somewhere completely different. Jumping back to medieval times, he's delving into the fantasy genre, messing with Arthurian legend, and swinging around a mighty sword and a giant axe, all thanks to the dark and ominous The Green Knight. Based on the 14th-century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the film casts Patel as Sir Gawain. Nephew to King Arthur (Sean Harris, Mission: Impossible — Fallout), he's a knight of the Round Table and fearsome warrior. The character has popped up in plenty of tales, but here, he's forced to confront the giant green-skinned titular figure in an eerie showdown. As the poem explains, the Green Knight dares any other knight to strike him with an axe, but only if they'll then receive a return blow exactly one year and one day later. Based on the new, just-dropped trailer, this film adaptation looks to be sticking to that story rather closely — and the end result also looks more than a little moody, brooding and creepy. Patel is in great company, too, with The Green Knight also starring Alicia Vikander (Earthquake Bird), Joel Edgerton (Boy Erased) and Barry Keoghan (Calm with Horses). Games of Thrones' Kate Dickie pops up as Guinevere, while her co-star Ralph Ineson — who is also known from the Harry Potter flicks, The Witch and the UK version of The Office — plays the Green Knight. Originally set to release in 2020 until the pandemic hit, The Green Knight is the latest movie by impressive and always eclectic writer/director David Lowery. His filmography spans everything from Ain't Them Bodies Saints and Pete's Dragon to A Ghost Story and The Old Man and the Gun — and, based on both the initial teaser and the new sneak peek, The Green Knight won't be like anything on his resume so far. Check out the new trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS6ksY8xWCY The Green Knight will release in the US on July 30, but it doesn't yet have a release date Down Under — we'll update you when it does.
Building a business is similar to making a sandcastle. Getting started is easy — all you need is a bucket, sand and a big idea. But, if you want to turn that building into an empire, you'll need to get serious. That includes hiring a team, engaging an accountant and maybe moving out of your home office. Basically, it means scaling up. To do that, you'll need cash and some smart strategies. Luckily, you're not the first person to scale up a business — and there are heaps of people that you can go to. So we've teamed up with Westpac to tap into the minds of some entrepreneurs who have successfully scaled up. Here, we've nabbed some golden words of wisdom from four guns that have steadily increased their cashflow and turned their hospitality venues into varied businesses. Read on for four hacks they've used to successfully (and sustainably) grow their businesses. [caption id="attachment_724984" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] STREAMLINE YOUR BUSINESS TECH It's no secret that Luke Powell, renowned head chef and owner of LPs Quality Meats, knows how to grow a business. The mastermind behind his 110-seat Sydney eatery always knew he'd need oversight to keep his business thriving. With the opening of his second venue — Newtown pizzeria Bella Brutta — last year, it was time to invest in tools that would put valuable analytics at his fingertips. "We have used a few different point of sale (POS) systems since we opened," Powell explains. "We now use Kounta for all the venues and find it very insightful and useful with all the information it can provide." Consolidating stats for both of his venues means Powell can make informed business decisions in real time. Not only has this saved him huge chunks of time but also means he's able to explore and invest in new revenue streams — like starting a wholesale smallgoods business on the side. [caption id="attachment_712428" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Milton Wine Shop.[/caption] ALWAYS CONSIDER WAYS TO BROADEN YOUR OFFERING Milton Wine Shop's Lyndon Kubis is first and foremost a wine nerd. As wine bar operators, Kubis sees himself and his team as "the DJs of the wine world" — they don't make the wines, but they serve them "with passion". In order for the hits to keep playing, it's important that the point of sale process runs smoothly — Kubis uses Kounta point-of-sale software, which offers great insights for detailed reporting and directly integrates with Presto, Westpac's payment terminal. Kubis says this has helped the business to achieve "super easy end-of-day reconciliations" that feed "directly into [their] accounting software". With the reconciliation process taken care of, Kubis was able to focus on broadening the shop's offering — making it more than just a one-trick pony. The shelves may be donned with bottles of high quality wines from niche producers, but, now, it also now delivers a thoughtful selection of beer and spirits, too. This has diversified the offering and customer base of Milton Wine Shop, making it more broadly accessible and financially sustainable. LET YOUR CUSTOMERS DO THE TALKING If you've never visited a Devon Cafe outpost – in either Sydney or Brisbane — chances are you've seen it on Instagram. With dishes like the truffle sundae and brioche french toast, its menu is made for food blogger flatlays. Owner Derek Puah has always embraced the power of social media to grow his business, and an active online presence enabled him to reach and build a network of loyal customers. "We find a lot of our biggest fans are on Instagram and they love to share photos of their experiences," Puah explains. Re-sharing images not only means that Devon has readymade content (with very little investment) — but it also serves to attract new customers and keep diners coming back for specials. Plus, those searching for a brunch spot can hear first-hand from other customers about what they can expect. [caption id="attachment_734827" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] TREAT TIME AS YOUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE William Edwards, founder of Sydney distillery Archie Rose, watches his time. Very seriously. For Edwards, every hour of his day is planned with purpose. "My calendar is my bible — if there's something in there, I'll be there. If there's not, I won't be there," he says. "I schedule when I wake up, when I check email, when I perform certain types of tasks, leave work, get ready for bed, go to sleep, etc. and what days are work vs meeting vs admin days." Sound pretty hardcore? Even Edwards admits it's not going to work for everyone, but, at its core, it's about visualising your day, taking responsibility for your schedule and how much time you allocate to building your business. Now that you have some top tips, it's time to take the first steps towards scaling up your business. And when it comes time to set up your payment technology, look to Westpac's Presto Smart terminal. It's made for speedy payments, busting queues, reducing keying errors and seamlessly connecting to a range of Point of Sales systems, including Kounta, to help you keep track of cashflow. Please note that the above information is intended to be general in nature and should not be relied upon for personal financial use. To request more info and speak to Westpac, head here. Top image: Kitti Gould.
The force is strong with this one — the Lego-building force, that is, with the largest collection of life-sized Lego Star Wars models ever assembled, as well as the biggest touring Lego exhibition, hitting Australia in 2025 (and world-premiering Down Under). Melbourne has locked in the first-ever Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition season. And yes, of course it'll open on Sunday, May 4. Melbourne Museum will be filled with more than eight-million bricks, all making models based on the George Lucas-created space saga. What music goes best with turning all that Lego into a Star Wars fan's dream? 'Luke's Theme', aka the franchise's main tune? 'The Imperial March' when things get tricky? 'Parade of the Ewoks', just because? That's a question for Ryan McNaught aka Brickman, who has indeed been spending time turning plastic rectangles, squares and other shapes into a recreation of a galaxy far, far away. The exhibition is set to take 25,000-plus hours of building, which is occurring at McNaught's headquarters in Tullamarine. Here's a question for attendees, too: which tunes will pair well with walking through this Lego Star Wars wonderland? The full list of models that'll feature hasn't been unveiled so far, but one will be life-sized — and that'll be a Lego Star Wars first. A huge 64,759 bricks are being used to craft the three-metre-high X-wing Red-5, taking 382 build hours. Attendees can also expect to see battle scenes between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, plus Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul duelling, and also Emperor Palpatine's throne flanked by two Royal Guards. If you're keen to check it out, you'll need to be in the Victorian capital to wander through Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition. As well as the hosting the world-premiere season, which will run until Monday, January 26, 2026, the stint at Melbourne Museum is an Australian exclusive. While you're there, you won't just be looking at all things Star Wars in Lego — you'll be able to get building yourself. Images: Museums Victoria.
Tim Flach has captured wild animals in a way you may never have seen before. Studio-lit and beautiful, these animals create gorgeous subjects (although we're pretty sure they prefer their natural habitat to a black back drop and spotlight). Having spent years studying our bond with animals, Flach is known for his conceptual portraits of animals and the unique way in which he differs from a classic wildlife photographer. He has been awarded the Professional Photographer of the Year at the International Photography Awards and has published books, including Equus and Dogs Gods. He recently published More Than Human which features these photos and many more. His photographs challenge us to think of these animals and view them in ways in which we haven't before. He uses the defamiliarisation technique by placing familiar things, in this case animals, in an unfamiliar place to provoke questions and curiosity from the viewer. You can visit his website to view the entire More Than Human series.
Need a little help getting through the week? Pelicano's new midweek special, The Interlude, will undoubtedly lift your mood. Held every Wednesday from 6pm until late, this laid-back event is your chance to recharge, featuring $25 unlimited pizzas alongside $12 Aperol spritzes and $8 Peronis. While you feast and sip on these familiar combinations, DJs will spin chilled old-school beats in the background. Spanning the best throwback hip-hop and R&B tunes, it won't take long to feel a little more pep in your step. Plus, soaking up the atmosphere on the al fresco terrace with your closest pals won't hurt either. Reopened in October after a major renovation, Pelicano serves up delightful Italian and Mediterranean flavours from the heart of Potts Point. Primed for a post-work get-together, navigating the office for the rest of the working week is bound to feel a little easier following this session.
Sustainable design company SMIT has been busy developing solar power solutions as simple as putting up some sun protection in your backyard. Tensile Solar Structures are "lightweight, modular systems that produce solar power". And they're not limited to decorating your place. The product has real-world applications: providing shade in car parks by day and generating power to light up at night is just one example. The SMIT design team who created this versatile product were inspired to combine technologies of fabric architecture, composite materials and thin film photovoltaic technology. Designers Samuel Cochran, Teresita Cochran and Benjamin Wheeler Howes have also worked on the Solar Ivy project, a solar energy device attaches to the sides of buildings like ivy vines. [Via Good]
In a universe with an immutable timeline it is still possible to travel into the past, but doing so results in the creation of a new, alternate timeline, occupying a separate reality. So, when Sooners took their instruments and hopped back into the 1940s, they spawned a new world of hope crushed beneath institutional collapse. Likewise, Gideon Bensen and the Preachers have crashed through underground clubs, breaching the turn of the Fifties and powering through the Sixties in their own timeline of decadence and delight. Nostalgia, for a newborn world of dappled light and muddy tears, is at its strongest in the words and melodies of A Casual End Mile.Take this free trip into worlds that are old and yet new, and perhaps you will tear away your own trinkets of times gone by.
By this point in 2020, you probably feel like you've spent most of your year at home — and either watching or cooking something while you've been there. Thanks to both country-wide stay-at-home requirements and city-specific lockdowns, that's how the past six months have played out. And, as a result, you likely feel as if you've seen every cooking show and made every recipe there is, too. Enter Raph's Mean Cuisine, the YouTube culinary series hosted by Melbourne restaurateur Raph Rashid, who the city's residents will know from Beatbox Kitchen, All Day Donuts and Juanita Peaches. In bite-sized episodes clocking in at under 12 minutes, the show adopts a very nostalgic approach to helping you up your kitchen game — because if there's one thing we're all experiencing this year, it's a yearning for a time before the pandemic. Specifically, Rashid is focusing on 80s cooking classics, with each instalment of his seven-part first season showcasing a dish that's bound to bring back memories. They're simple, easy recipes, too, which you'll be able to recreate at home without any trouble. As Rashid explains, "I just wanted to inspire people to cook in real kitchens, in sharehouses. And I just love cooking with friends. It's kinda what life's all about". Accordingly, he teams up with a different guest in each episode, and together they whip up the cuisine in the spotlight in Rashid's home kitchen. And, as well as recipes, every episode includes tips and hacks as well. On the menu: apricot chicken made with sommelier Matt Skinner, chow mein made with artist Esther Olsson's help and curried sausages with assistance from 1800-Lasagne's Joey Kellock. Six episodes are available at present, also covering Mars bar slice, chicken kievs and tacos, as cooked with florist Hattie Molloy, chef Mike Hoyle and artist Nadia Hernandez. Fancy trying your hand at a lamb roast as well? In the show's finale, that's on offer. Dropping at 6pm on Tuesday, September 8, it'll see Rashid join forces with pro skater Nick Boserio and Melbourne Food and Wine Festival Creative Director Pat Nourse to revive an 80s (and Sunday) staple. Check out Raph's Mean Cuisine's first episode, focusing on apricot chicken, below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVHsUwQAlhk The first six episodes of Raph's Mean Cuisine are available to view on YouTube, with the seventh — the season finale — dropping at 6pm on Tuesday, September 8.
It's a tradition well-known to many Australians: wake up on the weekend, make a beeline for your closest Bunnings, down a snag in bread. It's also a tradition that's been around since the 90s, and one we've been missing for seven very, very long months since Bunnings postponed its sausage sizzles back in mid-March because of rising concerns around COVID-19. In good news for Sydneysiders, the weekend ritual is about to make its long-awaited return this month. First relaunching in some states and territories back in July, the charity sizzles are set to roll out across NSW from Saturday, October 10. Each year around 40,000 sausage sizzles are hosted at Bunnings stores, help raising much-needed funds for local charity groups and sporting teams. Community groups that had sizzles pre-booked will be prioritised, with 130 already booked in for the first weekend back. When they do return, there will, of course, be social distancing and hygiene measures in place — measures we're all very used to at this point — including spaced queues, increased cleaning and separate ordering and pick-up points. Bunnings sausage sizzles are set to return in NSW from Saturday, October 10.
Not content with creating four of Sydney's favourite venues in Bar Planet, Cantina OK!, Tio's and The Cliff Dive — plus the beloved OK! sparkling margarita seltzer — Mucho hospitality group has just served up another absolute home run with its new hidden underground cocktail lair Centro 86. Described as an "old, fancy Mexican cantina on shrooms", the fresh Sydney CBD opening takes the magic of Bar Planet, as well as Cantina OK!'s love of margaritas, and applies it to an expansive 110-seat space. But before you settle in for a few fanciful cocktails, you've got to find the bar first. Wander down Pitt Street until you find the Centro 86 sign. At this point, you'll have to take a right-hand turn and venture around to the unassuming Hoskings Place, where you'll find a fire escape and luminous Centro 86 sign, which will lead you down two flights of stairs to the moody subterranean watering hole. Mucho has kept things local, working with a collection of Sydney and Australian artists to transform the space. David Humphries, the mind behind Bar Planet's psychedelic countertops, is back to inject big splashes of colour into the bar — while the team has enlisted local stained-glass artists, ceramicists, furniture makers and visual artists to bring the venue to life. Margaritas are the name of the game at Centro 86, with five varieties on the menu, including the sensational and ultra-unique parsley-topped Verde — a must-try. Adding to that something special is a set of three old-school ice shavers, bringing a dose of theatrics and a melt-in-your-mouth touch to the drinks. The inventive cocktails don't stop with the margs, with sherry-forward mixes and a fresh take on Bar Planet's Scorpino gracing the menu, alongside a refined wine and beer list featuring a few minimal-intervention drops and Wildflower Brewing's beloved table beer. There's also an expansive tequila collection featuring spirits available from $13–180. You'll find varieties that the Mucho team has aged themselves, ultra-rare options, plus Australia's first agave spirit that's distilled up in Bowen, Queensland. And it wouldn't be a Mucho venue without a bag of popcorn on your table — this time with a new secret spice mix that's promised to rival the fan-favourites of the group's other venues. Located just metres from The Caterpillar Club and Ragazzi, this opening marks another impressive addition to the ever-improving Sydney CBD as it bounces back from the lockout laws. A few city-best margs and a bag of popcorn before heading off to enjoy a bowl of artichoke ravioli at one of our favourite restaurants in Sydney — sounds like a match made in heaven. Centro 86 is located at Basement 86/88 Pitt St, Sydney — find the entrance on Hoskings Place. It's open 4pm–12am on Tuesday and Sunday, and 4pm–2am on Wednesday–Saturday. Stay up to date with the bar at the venue's Instagram. Images: Dexter Kim.
