You know what's better than heading back to the office? Heading away on holiday. Scoot is helping make that idea even more tempting with its latest summer sale, running from now until Monday, January 12. Sure, this ultra-budget airline isn't exactly stacked with frills, but who needs them when the airfares are this cheap? What's more, Scoot has been extra crafty with its travel dates, ensuring there are loads of affordable options positioned around Australian long weekends throughout 2026. That means a little savvy planning can help you keep hold of your annual leave. For instance, you might maximise your time away around Australia Day with a carefully chosen airfare or book in eight days' leave around Easter to jet-set for 16 days straight. So, where are you headed? Chasing sun, culture or street food is made easy with stellar itineraries for Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and Malaysia. Filled with life-changing experiences, you'll return home refreshed, or at least motivated to book another overseas adventure. And demand for these destinations is expected to soar, so don't let your colleagues hand in their leave before you get the chance. Travel periods include: January 19–March 18, April 15–June 4, July 13–September 10, and October 5–October 24. As for the prices, these discounted fares are good for the wallet. Travel from Sydney to Koh Samui starting from $300, or fly Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh City starting from $240. Travellers in Perth can score an even better deal, with one-way fares to Bangkok starting from $179 or Penang from $159. With heaps more options, your next getaway doesn't have to wait. Scoot's Summer Sale is happening now until 11.59pm on Monday, January 12. Head to the website for more information.
In a year when we're all spending a whole lot more time at home than we ever planned to, you may have become obsessed with upgrading your abode (and we don't blame you). One of the best ways to brighten up your space is with pops of colour, and that goes hand-in-hand with one of the most colourful art movements of the last century — the pop art era. Distinguished by its flashy imagery and bold colours, pop art flourished in the 1950s and 60s across the UK and US, and, to a degree, Australia. Whether you're an art lover or just want to freshen up your space, we've picked out six simple ways you can bring a slice of pop art into your life, with help from our friends at LEGO Art — from kitschy statement jewellery to patterned cushions and build-your-own artwork. We've also made sure you can order these items from the comfort of your home. Each item can be shipped directly to your doorstep. [caption id="attachment_782323" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikita Majajas by Liz Ham[/caption] WEAR POP ART-INSPIRED JEWELLERY FROM DOODAD AND FANDANGO Sydney-based jewellery brand Doodad and Fandango is all about that pop art look, thanks to founder Nikita (Margarita) Majajas' obsession with Japan's Harajuku fashion movement. She creates wearable art that's inspired by the bakelite and celluloid costume jewellery of the 1930s and 50s, and she wants her customers to experience the glamorous look of the era with new, modern designs. These products are anything but fast fashion — every piece is handmade to order using locally sourced, collector's-grade material and the process is sustainable, too. Plus each item is just really fun — think a Stud choker ($140), Act Now earrings ($80) and even a range of bolo ties ($90) to choose from. BUILD ANDY WARHOL'S MARILYN MONROE AND FRAME IT We've been loving the rise of adult colouring books, paint sets and other calming kidult trends. And now a childhood favourite is offering a much more adult version of your favourite coloured bricks. There's a new LEGO Art range which is specifically designed for grown ups. Our pick is the iconic Marilyn Monroe portrait ($199), based on the artwork by Andy Warhol, one of the leading figures of the pop art movement. Each set comes with four different building options, so you can recreate and display the entire portrait series — all with a Warhol signature tile to boot. If puzzling together colourful squares isn't therapeutic enough, the experience also comes with a specially curated soundtrack to listen to as you build. SIP FROM THESE POP ART-INSPIRED MUGS Miss perusing the museum gift shop after seeing an exhibition? Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art has you covered. Whether you live out-of-state or are just being 'rona safe, you don't have to head into the museum to check out its store. The online shop offers a huge range of art-adjacent products that can be delivered direct to your doorstep. Including these Andy Warhol-themed mugs ($24.99), dubbed the 'Andy Tea-Hall'. It's sure to make your daily (or hourly) cuppa a bit more fun. The shop also offers heaps of other ceramics and homewares, as well as jewellery and gift ideas. BRIGHTEN UP THE LOUNGE WITH PATTERNED CUSHIONS World-renowned Finnish brand Marimekko has a penchant for patterns, and it has been brightening up homes and wardrobes around the world for six decades. Expertly crafted to last, the brand's products are the perfect addition to any house. While there are stores all over Australia and New Zealand (and over 100 around the world), you can also simply order online. Marimekko's designs come in all different hues and patterns, with pillows, covers and cushions all on offer — think orange groves, vivid greens, floral patterns and bold black and white shapes. All of the textiles are printed at the company's factory in Helsinki. Cushion covers (50 x 50 centimetres) start from $53, and shipping is free if you spend over $150. STOCK YOUR LIBRARY WITH POP ART BOOKS A coffee table book is a great way to bring pop art into your home without committing to it long-term. There are (not surprisingly) heaps of books on the subject, and Brisbane's Queensland Art Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) is a good place to start. Its online shop offers stacks of art books and specialises in Australian and First Nations art and artists. If you're just beginning your pop art collection, our top pick is Flavia Frigeri's Pop Art: Art Essentials ($20). The book follows the movement from its beginnings in post-war consumerism all the way to its global rise in the 1960s. Explore works by well-known artists like Roy Lichtenstein alongside Japan's Ushio Shinohara and Argentina's Marta Minujín. Delivery is a $15 flat rate across Australia, $30 for New Zealand and $10 if you live locally. SPORT YOUR LOVE FOR WARHOL WITH WEARABLE PIECES OF ART If you're looking for other ways to show your love of pop art without decorating the house, there's a huge range of clothing, jewellery and other art-related fashion accessories up for grabs from the Museum of Contemporary Art. This wooden Andy Warhol brooch ($29) is a hand-painted statement piece that closely aligns with Warhol's quote, "Fashion wasn't what you wore someplace anymore; it was the whole reason for going". Created by Milk Thieves' designer Emma Lee, the brooch was handmade on the South Coast using sustainably sourced, laser-cut bamboo. And it'll add a bit of nostalgic pop culture into your accessory roster. Discover more about the new LEGO Art range, here.
It's time to get the word "Jellicle" stuck in your head again: to mark 40 years since it first hit the stage in Australia, Cats has locked in a new season Down Under. Back in July 1985, Aussie audiences initially experienced Andrew Lloyd Webber's acclaimed production, which turned a tale inspired by poems from T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats into an award-winning theatre hit. The place: Sydney, aka where Cats is heading again from June 2025. Four decades ago, the show pranced and prowled through Theatre Royal Sydney — and the new season will scamper across the boards there again, too. There's no word yet on whether the show's 2025 Australian run will make stops in any other cities, so if you're keen for some new Cats memories, booking a seat in the Harbour City is your only current way of guaranteeing them. "Cats is a legendary show that I've admired for over 40 years. A sparkling fusion of music, dance and verse, it was revolutionary when it first opened and enticed new audiences into the world of musical theatre," said producer John Frost for Crossroads Live about the new Aussie performances. "I can't wait to bring the original production of Cats back to Australia where it all began, at Theatre Royal Sydney, to celebrate its 40th anniversary in Australia." If you're new to Cats, it spends its time with the Jellicle cat tribe on the night of the Jellicle Ball. That's the evening each year when their leader Old Deuteronomy picks who'll be reborn into a new Jellicle life by making the Jellicle choice. And yes, "Jellicle" is uttered frequently. Of late, audiences might be more familiar with Cats as a movie. In 2019, the musical made the leap from stage to screen with a star-studded cast including Idris Elba (Hijack), Taylor Swift (Amsterdam), Judi Dench (Belfast), Ian McKellen, (The Critic) James Corden, (Mammals) Jennifer Hudson (Respect), Jason Derulo (Lethal Weapon), Ray Winstone (Damsel) and Rebel Wilson (The Almond and the Seahorse) playing singing, scurrying street mousers. If you ever wanted to see Swift pouring cat nip on a crowd of cats from a suspended gold moon, or were keen to soothe your disappointment over the fact that Elba hasn't yet been James Bond by spotting him with whiskers, fur and a tail, this was your chance. For its efforts, the Tom Hooper (The Danish Girl)-directed film picked up six Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture. But while the movie clearly didn't hit the mark, you can see why this feline-fancying musical has been such a huge theatre hit when it makes its Aussie stage comeback. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cats Australia (@catsthemusicalau) Cats will play Theatre Royal Sydney, 108 King Street, Sydney, from June 2025. Head to the musical's website to further details and to sign up for the ticket waitlist. Images: Alessandro Pinna.
If furniture could talk, the couch from Friends would have plenty to say. For a decade up until 2004, the orange-hued lounge played a pivotal on everyone's favourite 90s sitcom, as Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe whiled away the hours in Central Perk, reclined upon the sofa's comfortable-looking cushions, drank copious amounts of coffee and nattered non-stop about their lives. As far as on-screen seats go, it's up there with the most famous. And Australian streaming platform Stan bringing it Down Under. The current home of Friends in Australia, the service is celebrating the show's 25th anniversary — and while it can't bring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer to our shores to mark the occasion, it can whip up a replica of the couch they plonked their butts on for ten seasons. Keen to sit where your TV besties once did (or on a settee that resembles the one they sat on, to be precise)? Then you can do just that between Thursday, August 29 and Sunday, September 22. Stan's couch pop-up is touring Aussie shopping centres during that period, spending different weekends in various spots in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. We can't promise that the sofa will always be empty, like it magically was whenever Monica, Rachel and the gang wanted to grab a caffeine hit, but you will be able to see and touch the replica either way. An adjacent coffee cart will also serve up drinks, an acoustic performer will set the mood by playing 90s covers (including Phoebe's memorable ditties) and there'll be themed merchandise on offer, naturally. There's not much more to the promotion, other than showering Friends fans in nostalgia, letting everyone snap a selfie on the sofa and serving up a reminder that the show is available to stream. That said, if you take a pic, post it to your social media network of choice and tag Stan, you can win prizes, including a trip to New York City. COUCH DATES AND LOCATIONS Melbourne Central, Vic — Thursday, August 29 (10–9pm); Friday, August 30–Sunday, September 1 (12–5pm) Robina Town Centre, Qld — Thursday, September 5 (3–9pm); Friday, September 6–Sunday, September 8 (11–4pm) Westfield Tuggerah, NSW— Saturday, September 7–Sunday, September 8 (11–4pm) Westfield Chatswood, NSW — Saturday, September 7–Sunday, September 8 (11–4pm) Burnside Village, SA — Saturday, September 14–Sunday, September 15 (12–5pm) Westfield Southland, Vic — Saturday, September 21–Sunday, September 22 (12–5pm) Broadway Shopping Centre, NSW — Saturday, September 21–Sunday, September 22 (12–5pm) The Friends couch is touring the country between Thursday, August 29 and Sunday, September 22. Visit the Stan Facebook event for further details.
Show me someone who says they don't like road trips and I'll show you a liar (or someone you should be blocking ASAP). Road trips are the backbone of travelling around our giant island nation, and exploration is in our DNA — but what do you do when you yearn to take off into the great beyond but all your mates are busy? Well, why not take your dog? Chances are you have one (especially if you clicked on this story) — about half of Australian households do. So who needs friends when you can take your best furry mate down one of the most mesmerising road trips Australia has to offer? That's right. Pack your bags, grab your car 'cause we're ditching Perth and heading south along the great southern coast of WA, all the way to Esperance, with plenty of dog-friendly pit stops along the way. Don't have a car? Check out SIXT, which offers pet-friendly car rentals from Perth Airport, Perth City, Fremantle and Kewdale. Now, on with the show. PAW-FECT PERTH Hey, what's the rush? Before we scoot off, why not check out some of the best stuff to do with your pooch in the great capital — plus it gives you plenty to do at the end of your trip if you want to do this itinerary in reverse. Check out some of the West's best dog cafes in the form of Slate Cafe in Bennett Springs and The Dog's Breakfast Cafe in Swan Valley — the former features a fully enclosed dog playground with a large, grassed area, while the latter is home to an agility park and dog playground, as well as a doggie pool and spa. Kind of jealous. If you're looking to stretch your legs, the Swan River Foreshore Loop and the Sir James Mitchell Park to Charles Peterson Park walks are scenic, accessible, and most importantly, dog-friendly. DOG-FRIENDLY WINERIES IN MARGARET RIVER First stop: Margaret River, one of the best wine regions in the country. Take this golden opportunity to pretend to be a wine connoisseur with the peace of mind that comes with knowing your dog — who knows you actually don't know a thing about wine — can't talk to rat you out. Sip on fancy wines at dog-friendly wineries like Woody Nook Wines, Xanadu Wines, Passel Estate, Cape Mentelle, and Stonefish Wines. Just watch your little pal doesn't knock over a wine glass or two. If wineries aren't your thing, Drift Cafe, White Elephant Cafe, and The Hairy Marron are all lovely options for you and your pal to enjoy a nice coffee break together. Or if breweries are more your scene, you're in luck, with Margeret River being home to a bunch of dog-friendly options, including Cheeky Monkey Brewing Co, Margaret River Brewhouse, Beerfarm and Bootleg Brewery. If you feel like crashing for the night, check out RAC Busselton Holiday Park, a pet-friendly powered campsite nestled on the doorsteps of Busselton and Dunsborough — not too far from Margaret River. DOG-FRIENDLY CAFES IN ALBANY Need a pick-me-up? Stop by Albany's dog-friendly cafes, where you can indulge in a much-needed caffeine hit while your bestie scoffs down its third puppuccino (relax Rex). Dylans on the Terrace and Hybla Tavern are the paces to be when it comes to dog-friendly cafes and pubs, with both offering outdoor seating so you can both enjoy the fresh air. Albany also has plenty to offer in its many stunning beaches dotted along Frenchman Bay. Or if you'd fancy some lush green over sandy gold, head to Whalers Cove, which offers a nice five-kilometre loop bushwalk in the form of the Uredale Point Heritage Trail. [caption id="attachment_912573" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Albany Wind Farm. Image: Harry Cunningham (Unsplash)[/caption] CATCHING THE WIND AT ALBANY WIND FARM Next up, Albany Wind Farm, where you can witness wind turbines that make you feel as insignificant as raisin cookies at a potluck (no one's touching those). Enjoy the coastal breeze and panoramic views, while your little pal probably wonders why you dragged them to this windy wonderland. On a serious note, the wind farm offers some lovely walking tracks, including one leading up the coast and another to the lookout. Keep in mind that while the area is dog-friendly, off-leash is prohibited. [caption id="attachment_913228" align="alignnone" width="1920"] World of Travoluton 360, Flickr[/caption] CHECK OUT NATURE'S POOCH: ALBANY'S FAMED DOG ROCK That's right, it's a rock that looks like a dog — and on this road trip, you'd be a fool to miss it. There's nothing artificial about this rocky canine, the formation is completely natural. And besides being a testament to the endless wonder of mother nature, it's also the perfect spot to snap a cute pic of your lil pal in front of their giant rocky cousin — if that doesn't get you Insta engagement, nothing will. Once you're ready to hit the hay, you'll be spoilt for choice in Albany, as there's a cornucopia of pet-friendly accommodation options available. [caption id="attachment_784595" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Great Ocean Drive. Image: supplied[/caption] THE GREAT OCEAN DRIVE As you continue towards Esperance, take the scenic Great Ocean Drive. Brace yourself for stunning coastal views, turquoise waters meeting pristine white sands, and a reminder that nature's beauty is clearly showing off. The 40-kilometre loop of picturesque winding roads includes plenty of perfect spots to stop and take in the natural splendour of WA — a sight to behold for any species. [caption id="attachment_897522" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Weilim Zheng[/caption] EXPERIENCE ESPERANCE You've made it, now you both deserve to chill out — and what a perfect spot to do so. Running along Esperance's beaches must feel like winning the lottery to dogs — sandy, wet, and vast. Check out Eleven Mile Beach, Salmon Beach, Blue Haven, Fourth Beach, and Ten Mile Lagoon for endless sandy adventures for your favourite mutt. Saving the best for last, check out Lucky Bay to catch one of the only places in the world where kangaroos sunbathe on the beach (yes, you heard me) — so you might wanna bring a leash for this one. And once you're ready to rest those tired legs, head to RAC Esperance Holiday Park, where dogs are always welcome. Looking for a pet-friendly rental to take you and your best furry mate on the road trip of a lifetime (or looking for a bigger car to fit your furry mate)? Check out SIXT, which welcomes customers to bring their family and furmily along for the ride, so no one gets left behind. Auto club members including NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAA, RACT, RAC and AANT will receive 15% off SIXT's daily rates. Click here to book now
A huge milestone birthday, a homecoming, and a stacked lineup filled with top talent from the creativity, design and technology fields: that's what's on Semi Permanent's agenda this year. A go-to event for all things design-related, the festival will return to Sydney's Carriageworks for three days between Wednesday, May 25–Friday, May 27 — and while impressive lineups always go with the territory here, this year's bill stands out in plenty of ways. Firstly, it's the event's biggest program ever. The theme for Semi Permanent's 2022 fest, which also marks its 20th anniversary, is 'perspective'. As founder and executive creative director Murray Bell explains, "2022 is a demarcation in the evolution of both our purpose and our organisation." To help sort through the theme, more than 25 speakers have been announced — spanning everything from journalism and film through to art and typography. Attendees will be able to hear from the folks behind The Betoota Advocate; learn more female-driven on-screen storytelling from Dollhouse Pictures co-founders Gracie Otto, Krew Boylan and Jessica Carrera; and glean insights from boundary-pushing creative director, journalist and strategist Royce Akers. The hefty lineup of talent will anchor Semi Permanent's talks program, of course, but the fest is keen to expand its format even further in its big birthday year. That includes the launch of the Permanent Art and Design Book Fair, which'll bring together more than 30 leading publishers, artists and designers — and, for your reading pile, will showcase hundreds of books, magazines, zines, posters and digital editions, spanning both new and previously unseen works. [caption id="attachment_843322" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Toby Peet[/caption]
Turning your phone off during a movie is cinema etiquette 101. Not kicking the seat in front of you, or talking during the film, or taking in food with aromas so pungent they stink out the whole theatre — they're all on the list as well. Usually, so is wearing clothes; however, the returning Fantastic Film Festival Australia is making attire optional for some of its 2022 sessions. One of Australia's film fests dedicated to weird and wonderful cinema — a tranche of flicks so glorious that several events celebrate them — FFFA is back for another year, screening at the Ritz Cinema in Randwick in Sydney and Lido Cinemas in Hawthorn in Melbourne from Thursday, April 21–Friday, May 6. It has just unveiled its full 2022 lineup, too, and its naked screening certainly deserves attention. The fest debuted the concept last year, and it's bringing it back this year. Even better: you'll be getting your kit off to mark the 25th anniversary of The Full Monty. Stripping off while seeing a classic movie about men stripping isn't the only highlight of this year's program, of course — and yes, if you want to see Robert Carlyle and company while remaining dressed, you can leave your hat on (and the rest of your clothing as well). The attire-optional session sits alongside other standouts such as opening night's viking epic The Northman, starring Alexander Skarsgård and Nicole Kidman, and directed by The Witch and The Lighthouse's Robert Eggers; closing night's New York Ninja, which was shot in 1984, only finished in 2021 and follows a vigilante tale; and a 4K restoration of the inimitable 1981 great Possession starring a young Sam Neill and always-wonderful Isabelle Adjani (The World Is Yours). In total, 22 features and eight shorts and special events sit on this lineup of strange, surreal, out-there and purposely offbeat flicks. We're All Going to the World's Fair arrives from Sundance, combining psychological horror with a coming-of-age story — and a storyline about an online roleplaying game — while French film After Blue is a sci-fi western fantasy about a mother and daughter tracking a killer in toxic forests. There's also indie animation Absolute Denial, which has been compared to Frankenstein but in a digital world; Agnes, which explores a case of demonic possession in a convent; Japan's Dreams on Fire, featuring acclaimed dancer Bambi Naka in her first lead role; Norwegian nightmare The Innocents, as directed by The Worst Person in the World co-writer Eskil Vogt; and The Timekeepers of Eternity, which is adapted from Stephen King novella The Langoliers. On the events bill, FFFA is hosting Music Video Blind Date, to connect Melbourne musos with filmmakers in the hopes of making music video magic — and, thanks to an evening called Cinema 1 Nightclub, it's getting DJ Female Wizard to spin tunes inside a theatre while artist Baben Shin provides the visuals. And if you're keen to celebrate the launch of the program, the fest is also hosting a sneak-preview session of Michelle Yeoh-starring multiverse gem Everything Everywhere All At Once in advance — on Saturday, March 26. Fantastic Film Festival Australia runs from Thursday, April 21–Friday, May 6 at Ritz Cinema, Randwick in Sydney and Lido Cinemas, Hawthorn in Melbourne. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the FFFA website.
If you're a devotee of the theatre, then August is definitely your month in Sydney. There are shows galore, from Broadway classics such as Chicago and West Side Story to the musical productions of Bring It On at the State Theatre and Muriel's Wedding at Sydney Lyric Theatre. Feet already tapping to the imaginary music? Well, it might just be time to book yourself in for a theatre-themed staycation. Line up all the shows you want to check out and book into the luxurious West Hotel on Sussex Street, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton to be your home away from home. The new hotel is based on Sussex St in the CBD, conveniently close to the theatres, and a heap of bars, cafes and restaurants that you can visit in between shows. [caption id="attachment_650803" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bennelong. Image: Brett Stevens.[/caption] ENJOY A DAZZLING PRE-SHOW DINNER There's nothing worse than sitting through a show you're absolutely loving, except you can't concentrate properly because your tummy is rumbling. Avoid the discomfort by calling into one of these venues before the theatre doors open. The minimalist share plates at Poly in Surry Hills are a failsafe choice if you're heading to the Capitol Theatre. And before any State Theatre show, a sumptuous Italian feast at QT Sydney's low-lit, elegant Parlour Cucina is just the ticket. If you don't feel like dining at the Star Casino eateries before heading to the Lyric Theatre, it's worth trying out the evening tasting menu at the gracefully European-inspired Pyrmont wine bar Bar Clementine. Finally, if you're seeing West Side Story at the Sydney Opera House and want to really make a night of it, there's no better choice than Bennelong's Big Night Out set menu, which features high-end versions of Aussie favourite (yes, including Bennelong's famous lamington dessert) for $170 a head. [caption id="attachment_698588" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bancho Bar.[/caption] DEBRIEF POST-SHOW OVER A COCKTAIL Everyone knows that after you leave the theatre, you are feeling alive and filled with melodious energy. So, it's the perfect time to head to a nearby bar with your theatre buddy and discuss all your favourite moments from the stage spectacular you just witnessed. If you're seeing Chicago at Capitol Theatre, then head to Haymarket's Bancho Bar for a Japanese-inspired cocktail and some delicious katsu skewers. After an Opera House show, stop by Kittyhawk, which is just a quick walk up Macquarie Street, to find a Parisian military-themed bar with a seriously interesting cocktail list. Solander Dining and Bar is a top spot to hit for a gab and na Aussie botanical cocktail after seeing Muriel's Wedding at Sydney Lyric Theatre, while mezcal bar Cantina OK! is an ideal place to check out after a visit to the State Theatre. It's only a six-minute walk back home to your lavish room at West Hotel, too. [caption id="attachment_635708" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sydney Opera House. Image: Letícia Almeida[/caption] HAVE A TRUE BEHIND-THE-SCENES THEATRE EXPERIENCE If you always dreamt of being a performer (but unfortunately lacked the voice or moves), this is your chance to take a peek behind the stage curtain. On the Sydney Opera House backstage tour, you'll not only be guided around all the backstage nooks and crannies but also regaled with behind-the-scenes stories of performers and shows that have graced the stages. Plus, you'll also get finish your tour with a delicious breakfast in the Green Room (typically the domain of crew and performers). If that's not enough to delight your operatic senses, The Opera Centre in Surry Hills also offers tours. This is where sets, costumes and props are made for some of Sydney's biggest productions, so you'll get to poke around the production workshops and see the huge amount of work, talent and skill that goes into staging the productions you adore. [caption id="attachment_729157" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Old Fitzroy. Image: Tanya Saint James.[/caption] HANG OUT WITH LOCAL THESPIANS Ask any aspiring actor or beloved Aussie thespian — certainly anyone in the Sydney theatre scene — and they'll tell you the same thing: there's nowhere better for a schooner than Woolloomooloo icon The Old Fitzroy Hotel. The Old Fitz, recently taken over by new owners, houses Australia's only 'pub theatre' — the stage of which has welcomed some of Australia's most beloved acting talents. The regulars, many of whom graced the stages of a bygone era or wrote some of Sydney's best local productions, are part of this pub's furniture and their stories will no doubt delight. Enjoy a classic British pub feed on the back patio, then head to the front tables to see if any of the regular famous Aussie faces will be joining you. [caption id="attachment_586723" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Moya's Juniper Lounge. Image: Steven Woodburn.[/caption] HEAD TO A JAZZ BAR IF YOU CAN'T GET 'ALL THAT JAZZ' OUT OF YOUR HEAD If you're one of the many heading to the Capitol Theatre to see the Broadway classic Chicago, then chances are you'll spend the following few days with 'All That Jazz' on unrelenting repeat in your head. The only way to resolve that, in our opinion, is giving your noggin what it's asking for: all the jazz. Hit up Marrickville jazz haunt Lazybones Lounge or, if you need something a little closer to the city, Venue 505 is a quintessential Surry Hills jazz bar that's only a 10-minute drive from West Hotel. And if you're free on a Sunday night, Moya's Juniper Lounge in Redfern has all the live jazz you could ever want — plus $10 negronis. [caption id="attachment_722457" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Glenmore.[/caption] GET A DOSE OF SHAKESPEARE AT A PUB Shakespeare shows probably conjure up visions of stuffy playhouses and equally stuffy patrons — but, historically, performances of the Bard's work were much less refined. So bringing Shakespeare shows back to their roots in pubs is exactly what the creators of Bar'd Work, Chris Huntly-Turner and James Haxby, set out to achieve. The Shakesbeer Sessions happen at pubs all around Sydney — the majority of which are a quick 10-minute drive from West Hotel, like the aptly named Shakespeare Hotel or The Glenmore — so check out the calendar here to see what tragicomedy is on the books next. [caption id="attachment_697915" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Goros.[/caption] BELT OUT YOUR FAVOURITE TUNES AT A KARAOKE BAR You've just exited the theatre doors with music in your heart and your head is filled with show tunes — maybe the catchy cheerleading chants from Bring It On, the Broadway classics of Chicago or West Side Story or the hits of ABBA beloved by the titular character in Muriel's Wedding. What do you want to do more than anything? Do your own star performance, of course. Luckily, Sydney has plenty of options. You and your show buddies can share the glass karaoke room and giant Japanese katsu at Bang Bang or head to Goros for a private room and plenty of Japanese cocktails and bar snacks. If you want to kick on, Sydney institution Ding Dong Dang has plenty of private karaoke rooms so you can continue to get boozy and belt out 'Mamma Mia' into the wee hours. [caption id="attachment_698575" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Employees Only.[/caption] HAVE AN AUTHENTIC NYC DINING EXPERIENCE AFTER SEEING 'WEST SIDE STORY' If you've got your tickets in-hand and are eagerly hanging out to see West Side Story at the Opera House, make the wait little more bearable with a tasty NYC-inspired meal. For a proper NYC bagel that emulates the pastrami monstrosities from Katz's Delicatessan, head to Brooklyn Boy Bagels in the CBD. If you're after a long, boozy lunch, NYC-inspired cafe Bowery Lane is a perfect choice, offering hickory-smoked salmon on rye, juicy pork cutlet and an impressive wine list with plenty of drops from the US. Or for dinner and a drink, head to Employees Only — this delightful underground venue is the Sydney outpost of the award-winning New York speakeasy. It's serving up monterey jack cheeseburgers, marrow poppers, caviar service with blinis and, of course, world-class cocktails. Don't worry if you have one too many — your room at West Hotel is only a few minutes away. [caption id="attachment_731501" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sydney Dance Company.[/caption] PRACTISE YOUR BEST 'CELL BLOCK TANGO' WITH A THEATRE JAZZ DANCE CLASS If you can't stop those feet from tapping and sashay-ing around the streets after seeing Chicago, it might be worth investing an hour in a theatre jazz class at the Sydney Dance Company. This dance school has regular drop-in classes, which is perfect if you get an undeniable urge to cell block tango all of a sudden. And don't fret about your skills — classes range from experienced and beginners, so you don't have to be Bob Fosse to join in. [caption id="attachment_634987" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Giant Dwarf Theatre.[/caption] GO 'OFF-BROADWAY' AND EXPERIENCE SYDNEY'S SMALL THEATRE SCENE Sydney is obviously known for its gorgeous theatres and established production companies, but it also has an impressive small theatre scene. If you have spare time in between shows, it's worth checking out what's on offer at Giant Dwarf in Redfern — a Sydney favourite for comedy. Meanwhile, Griffin Theatre and Eternity Playhouse, both in Darlinghurst, offer impressive local productions in intimate settings. If you're after something a touch more indie and underground, head to the New Theatre in Newtown, which has been home to the non-conformists who act purely for the love of it since the 1930s. Make your mini musical-themed break easy with a stay at West Hotel and discover more of the city's showbiz-style happenings. Top Image: The Glenmore.
Playground Weekender is, for the uninitiated, a four-day extravaganza in arguably the most gorgeous festival location near Sydney, Del Rio's Riverside Resort on the Hawkesbury. We're talking lush green bush land, a sparkly river and all the trimmings of a 'Riverside Resort' - nine hole golf courses, tennis courts, riverside chalets and kangaroos that serve you cocktails. Add yoga, the Club Tropicana (!) swimming pool, cabaret, cinema, a beauty salon and a 24 hour general store, and there's little wonder if features very near the top of our list of favourite festivals. Now back for its sixth year with a cavalcade of amazing artists and things to do, the 2012 edition will feature performances by artists such as Chic ft. Nile Rodgers, Boy and Bear, Roots Manuva, Black Lips, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Unkle Sounds, Shapeshifters and Lanie Lane. If you need a break in between shows go and visit the Village Green, home to an array of food stalls, stand up comedy, and a beer and cider garden. Or, if you prefer, do a session of yoga and have a massage in a teepee. Playground Weekender takes place from March 2-5 at Del Rio Riverside Resort, Wiseman's Ferry. Want to get your hands on a four-day double pass? To win, simply subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already), then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au. Entries close at 5pm on February 29, 2012. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Z5ExV8ABNNU
Canada, oh Canada, a land of wide plains, challenging mountains, great falls, eclectic cities, clashing cultures and comedians who are claimed by the US authorities; is it any wonder that this country deserves its own film festival? Punching a sixth notch in its moose leather belt, Possible Worlds hits Sydney this month with twenty features and five shorts spread amongst Dendy Opera Quays, the Factory Theatre and the Australian Museum. Given that Canada is a country that jumps from ocean to ocean, it's no surprise that the films on offer reveal many alternate views of the Great White North. By no means is the following a definitive list of the 'best' of the festival, but these are certainly films that have grabbed my attention. The Festivalists have cleverly chosen to open proceedings with a screening of Score: A Hockey Musical, which keeps no secrets in its title. Featuring Olivia Newton-John and gallons of youthful exuberance, Score cheekily doffs its helmet to one of Canada's biggest passions. Pontypool hikes festival-goers over to the infection horror genre, with an intelligent twist that involves a zombie-like virus spreading through language, while existentialism gives birth to the filmic riddle that is You Are Here. Taking a route amongst more down-to-earth matters are the documentaries Kinngait (about the Inuit arts capital) and Force of Nature, a film biography of David Suzuki. Broken Social Scene fans can dance away in This Movie is Broken, which tosses a romantic interlude amongst a BSS concert. Actually, it's quite hard to just choose a few films from the Possible Worlds line up - the Festivalists have themselves a program that will compel you to live in the cinema for two weeks.
Billie Eilish doesn't ask "what were the Academy Awards made for?" in her Oscar-nominated tune from Barbie. If she did, however, Hollywood saluting the films of the past year is one answer. For everyone watching at home, here's another: watching the biggest annual stint of cinema-industry recognition there is, and also getting into the celebratory spirit at home. So, you've seen this year's nominated movies. Whether you're hoping that Oppenheimer, Barbie, Poor Things, Past Lives or something else gets a shiny statuette for their efforts, you've pondered who might win — and who should. The next step when the 96th Oscars take place on Monday, March 11, Down Under time, is to feel the Kenergy over cocktails (or whatever other beverage takes your fancy). Don't just nurse your glass and imbibe randomly, though. To truly get you into the Oscars spirit, our 2024 drinking game outlines when to take a small sip, a big gulp, a couple of mouthfuls or however much of a swig that you feel like. Some of our cues to join in are relevant every year. Some are specific to 2024's gongs. So, ensure you've got the requisite supplies, pay attention to everything happening during the ceremony and say cheers to Hollywood's night of nights — and drink responsibly, of course. A Small Sip: Drink Like You've Found Bliss in Your Daily Routine A winner gets played off. The term "Barbenheimer" is uttered. Barbenheimer gets credited with saving cinema. Someone pretends to be a Barbie. Margot Robbie wears pink. Martin Scorsese receives a standing ovation. Steven Spielberg receives a standing ovation. Lengthy movies are mentioned — whether celebrated, complained about or parodied. Taylor Swift appears or gets a shoutout — or one of her songs is busted out. Jimmy Kimmel feuds with Matt Damon. The strikes are referenced. Artificial intelligence comes up. The words "movie magic" or "magic of the movies" get a mention. Someone uses their speech — or presenting gig — to angle for their next job. Matthew McConaughey says "alright, alright, alright". Sam Rockwell dances. [caption id="attachment_945212" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimberley French/Netflix ©2023[/caption] A Big Gulp: Drink Like You're Working Up the Courage to Make History "Destroyer of worlds" gets uttered. Someone comments that they forgot that Cillian Murphy is Irish. Kate McKinnon appears as Weird Barbie. Someone involved in Barbie other than Margot Robbie wears pink. You hear an Australian or New Zealand accent. Meryl Streep wins without being nominated. Someone makes up a new category. A joke bombs and AI gets the blame. Someone says that this is going better than the Golden Globes. 'P.I.M.P.' is played — any version. Leonardo DiCaprio's love life is mentioned. The rest of the Kens appear onstage with Ryan Gosling during the 'I'm Just Ken' performance. Anya Taylor-Joy and Charlize Theron co-present an award. A winner forgets to thank their spouse, but remembers at the last minute. Someone mentions the Dune cups. [caption id="attachment_945213" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jason McDonald/Netflix © 2023.[/caption] A Few Mouthfuls: Drink Like You're Trying to Balance Your Personal and Professional Passions Someone ponders whether they — or Sandra Hüller — killed their partner. Wes Anderson won't accept the award for Best Live-Action Short because the stage setup isn't symmetrical. Bradley Cooper conducts the orchestra. Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix attend as Harley Quinn and the Joker. Emma Stone brings her The Curse co-star Nathan Fielder as her date. A toilet is cleaned during the ceremony. Nicolas Cage tries to swap faces with someone. Godzilla appears. Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino are all seen together. Someone has a Dune cup. Anyone eats flamin' hot Cheetos. Nicole Kidman forgets how to clap again. Someone reads out the wrong winner. [caption id="attachment_945214" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Seacia Pavao / © 2023 FOCUS FEATURES LLC[/caption] As Much as You Like: Drink Like You've Been Left Behind at Christmas Getting left behind at Christmas is worked into a skit. Justine Triet becomes just the fourth woman to win the Best Director category. During Lily Gladstone's Best Actress speech, if she wins. Past Lives wins an award. An Australian wins an award. Someone exclaims "I must go punch that baby!". Messi from Anatomy of a Fall makes an appearance. America Ferrera recreates her Barbie speech. Robert Downey Jr says that he's returning as Iron Man. Greta Gerwig announces that she's making a toy franchise that started with Barbie. The 2024 Oscars will be announced on Monday, March 11, Australian and New Zealand time. For further details, head to the awards' website. Wondering where to watch this year's Oscar contenders? We've put together a rundown for both Australia and New Zealand. Wondering who'll win? Check out our predictions.
When Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4 roll around, Sydney fans of a certain former boy band star-turned-actor-turned-Coachella headliner will be heading in one direction: to Accor Stadium to see Harry Styles finally bring his latest tour Down Under. Given the fame he's enjoyed in One Direction and now as a solo music superstar, the Grammy Award-winning, Don't Worry Darling and Dunkirk co-starring talent is going big with his postponed Aussie visit — so you'll be singing along to 'Watermelon Sugar', 'As It Was', 'Adore You' and 'Sign of the Times' in a crowd. It's a case of better late than never, of course. Styles was originally headed our way in November 2020; however, we all know how that panned out and why those shows didn't eventuate. That delay means that he doesn't just have two albums to play, but three, with Styles' third solo studio Harry's House releasing last year. And, attendees will also be listening to UK duo Wet Leg, who've scored the supporting slot.
One of the great things about Alanis Morissette's discography is that it's filled with songs and lyrics that prove apt in plenty of situations. You oughta know that there's a musical dedicated to the Canadian singer's tunes, for instance — and now that it's coming back to Sydney this winter, you might want to say thank you. This news isn't like rain on your wedding day. It doesn't resemble finding a black fly in your chardonnay. And it definitely isn't anything like hitting a traffic jam when you're already late, either. But, it will have you singing those lines, because Tony-winner Jagged Little Pill the Musical will return to Theatre Royal Sydney for a second run. The Broadway show's trip Down Under kicked off at the same venue last December, then moved to Melbourne. Now, it's back in Sydney from Saturday, July 9–Sunday, August 21. Inspired by Alanis Morissette's 1995 album of the same name, Jagged Little Pill the Musical weaves a story around songs from that iconic record. So yes, it's a jukebox musical like Mamma Mia!, We Will Rock You and Rock of Ages. Famed tracks 'Ironic', 'You Oughta Know', 'Hand in My Pocket', 'Head Over Feet' and 'You Learn' all feature, in a production that boasts music by Morissette and her album co-writer and producer Glen Ballard, lyrics by Morissette, and a book by Juno Oscar-winner Diablo Cody. And, songs such as 'Thank U', 'So Pure', 'That I Would Be Good', 'So Unsexy' and 'Hands Clean' all pop up as well, even though they hail from the musician's subsequent albums. The show stars Natalie Bassingthwaighte as Mary Jane Healey, with Jagged Little Pill the Musical telling the Healey family's tale as they struggle with their seemingly idyllic suburban lives after a troubling event in their community. Expect to hear Morissette's tunes — including two new songs written just for the show — used in a story about social issues relevant to today, but also with an overall message of hope, healing and togetherness. Images: Jagged Little Pill the Musical, Australian production, Daniel Boud.
Bondi locals, consider your weekend breakfast plans sorted. Lifestyle brand Venroy is teaming up with two of Sydney's most beloved names, Iggy's and PIÑA, for a weekends-only pop-up at its Bondi store, serving fan-favourite pastries, breads and iced drinks without leaving the Bondi bubble. Running across consecutive Saturdays and Sundays on December 6–7 and December 13–14, the pop-up will serve baked goods and drinks from 9am until sold out at Shop 1/20 Hall Street, Bondi Beach. On the menu: an exclusive Venroy x Iggy's 'V' Feta Twist, plus Strawberry Kouign Amann, plain and chocolate croissants, fresh baguettes, and Iggy's signature small and large round loaves. Drinks come courtesy of PIÑA, including the raving Iced Oat Matcha and Cold Brew, alongside an exclusive Venroy Cold-Pressed Pomegranate and Ginger Juice. There's also an exclusive lineup of limited-edition merchandise — a Venroy x Iggy's T-shirt, cap and tote. Expect lines, carbs and a very Bondi crowd, this Saturday, December 6 and Saturday, December 13.
Established in 2002 by twin brothers Brian and Vincent Wu, this now-stalwart multi-brand boutique has stuck to its original guns — curating and showcasing luxe men's and women's clothing from around the world, in window displays drool worthy in their sleek simplicity. Stocking a mix of high-end and high street brands like Karen Walker, Nike, A.P.C. and Vanishing Elephant, Incu's become a sort of empire, expanding to new territory across Sydney and the country. The flagship Galeries store is well worth a heart-eyed browse — for its open spaces, clean lines and oozing-of-cool atmosphere, as much as the clothes on its racks.
In case you've been living under a huge soundproof rock, Sydney WorldPride is set to release an outpouring of queer energy across the city and beyond. For three weeks (Friday, February 17 to Sunday, March 5), there'll be Pride events and parties happening in every corner of town. Among them includes a series of parties and celebrations of Australia's queer community courtesy of Absolut Vodka — a brand that's been a vocal supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community worldwide since the 1980s. First up is the cheekily named Rainbow Routes. You know the double-decker sight-seeing buses that cruise the city? Picture that, but for WorldPride. The Rainbow Route bus tours are running on Thursday, February 23 and Friday, February 24, and will take you on an insightful (and entertaining) tour through the history of Sydney's queer culture curated by the one-and-only Kat Dopper of Heaps Gay and Pleasures Playhouse. Travel through time from 1978 to 2023 and learn about parties, places, marches and moments while enjoying live entertainment from renowned queer performers. For something less mobile, you can head to Merivale's The Alex in Alexandria for 'House of Home' — a unique transformation of the upstairs room into an immersive, museum-like experience in tribute to Ballroom Houses. These singular LGTBQIA+ community events date back to the 1950s and are built around the families you choose, not the ones you're born with. Beyond that, you can go into the running to instantly win $20 drink vouchers. Vouchers you could use to cover refreshments at any of 30+ venues around Sydney that have partnered with Absolut for the festival, and you'll be able to make use of an interactive map on the website to help you find those venues – AKA your next party – in a heartbeat. For more information on Rainbow Routes or The House of Home, to book tickets and to see all participating venues for Absolut Vodka x Sydney WorldPride, visit the website.
This unassuming Japanese-leaning small bar located near Kensington Street's Spice Alley is well versed in the art of making a great highball. It also has an extensive menu of shochu, sake and Japanese whisky. Blossom Bar has just six indoor seats, much like Tokyo's hidden high-rise cocktail bars, so it's not easy to nab a spot here. But, it's well worth it once you do (there are also more tables outdoors). Drinks-wise, the Kinobi Highball showcases Japanese dry gin, zesty yuzu tonic and cherry and peach bitters. Snack on seared salmon nigiri in between sips — it's the perfect combination to appreciate the technical skills and well-executed simplicity required to make both Japanese cocktails and sushi.
Nineties kids, Disney fans and everyone who's ever cried over a lion cub that just couldn't wait to be king, it's time to climb onto a rock and yell your lungs out. The circle of life has struck again, and The Lion King is back. It's in live-action form this time around, and the second teaser trailer for the new movie has just dropped. You can watch it here courtesy of Beyoncé. Yes, Beyoncé is in the new Lion King. Releasing in mid-2019, the film will once again tell the tale of Simba, who's set to take over the pride from his father Mufasa, only for his malicious uncle Scar to get in the way. You know where it goes from there — and you'll be hearing the voices of Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as his childhood pal Nala, and James Earl Jones as his dad. Yes, the latter is reprising his role from the original film. Other big names attached include Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, John Oliver as Zazu, and Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen as Timon and Pumbaa. Elton John is back working on the soundtrack with Tim Rice, as they both did on the first film. They'll reportedly have some help from Beyoncé, naturally, while The Jungle Book's Jon Favreau is in the director's chair for the entire production. If you're anxious about how it might turn out, it's worth taking Timon and Pumbaa's advice at this early stage — although this initial look should help get rid of your worries for the rest of your days. The Lion King hits Australian cinemas on July 18, 2019. We'll share the full-length trailer when it hits the internet.
While heading to the beach might be the last thing on your mind in this chilly weather, Port Stephens is giving you a pretty convincing reason to head north this winter. Its annual month-long Love Seafood festival celebrates all things local, fresh and from the ocean — and sees seafood aficionados flock to the coastal town every August. From fish, prawns and oysters to crab and lobster, the seafood from around the region is mighty fine and well worth the two-and-a-half-hour drive from Sydney. Running over the month of August, Love Seafood is an indulgent food fair complete with long lunches, degustation dinners, galas, cruises and even town-wide jazz performances. If you make the journey up the coast, you'll be tucking in at top-notch restaurants, sharpening your cooking skills at weekly cooking classes and tasting seafood aplenty from local vendors. Once you've had your fill of local fare, you can head behind the scenes for a tour of fish farming and aquaculture, too. To entice you even more, we've teamed up with The Anchorage Hotel & Spa to give one lucky winner (and their mate or date) a night at its Hamptons-inspired digs. You'll be staying right on the water, with each room decked out with plenty of seaside (but incredibly luxe) charm and ocean views. You can claim your prize at any point until Sunday, September 1 (between Sundays and Thursdays). Plus, we're throwing in breakfast with bottomless bubbles and a two-course lunch at The Anchorage's Galley Kitchen — with seafood galore, of course. Love Seafood will take over Port Stephens from Thursday, August 1 to Sunday, September1. If you're keen for a getaway and stuffing yourself silly with seafood — which you obviously are — enter your details below to be in the running. [competition]731887[/competition]
Entertaining takes a particular skill. Managing all the moving pieces for an evolving group of people, catering to all tastes and keeping everything running smoothly can be difficult even for hardcore party people. If you get it right, you've pulled together a great evening for your guests. Get it wrong, and it can be messy. You might screw up a key ingredient in dessert, three people might turn up with potato salad or you could forget that one friend who is going veg-o this month. We're not all made for it, and that's okay. What if we told you there's a way to have that winning success and have most of the work done for you? That's where Woodford Reserve comes in. This bourbon has been making waves and memories the world over since 1996. Now it's ready to bring the gold entertaining standard to your home on a mission to revolutionise the at-home cocktail party. We've teamed up with Woodford Reserve to offer one lucky winner the Woodford Reserve Whiskey Wagon, a complete evening of high-end whiskey tasting at home, paid for and stocked by Woodford Reserve. The prize includes a four-hour session for up to 40 people, with two professional bartenders preparing and pouring classic old fashioned cocktails, bourbon and sodas, lighter summery cocktails plus canapés to match, as long as the wagon can be parked on private property, you're eligible to win. Ten lucky runner-ups will receive a bottle of Woodford Reserve and a premium cocktail kit to craft the drink however they like. To enter this luxurious giveaway, all you need to do is fill out the form below before Monday, November 6. [competition]916881[/competition]
Medowie Macadamias is a plantation based in the quiet town of Medowie, Port Stephens. It has been around since 1980, and now has five varieties of macadamia trees planted across its 12 acres. If you'd like a tour of the farm, you'll need to contact the owners in advance. If you just want to turn up, there are signs dotted around that explain the history of the farm and the production process, which you can browse while you wait for your food from the onsite cafe. It serves breakfast and lunch, plus a selection of sweets and coffee. Take some time to browse the shop, too, which sells a range of macadamia-based products — from chilli-coated macadamia nuts and macadamia honey to whopping 2.2-litre macadamia oil bottles and cosmetics.
The mind behind one of Melbourne's most celebrated restaurants Farmer's Daughters — as well as its sibling venue Victoria — is finally setting up shop in Sydney with an expansive new 220-seat venue. Alejandro Saravia is set to open his new Harbour City venture Morena in Martin Place's historic GPO building this November. Saravia has been a trailblazer in South American cuisine in this country for the good part of two decades, challenging Australian conceptions of Peruvian food across various restaurants since 2006. He launched Farmer's Daughters down in Victoria back in 2021, taking out the Hospitality Award at the annual Melbourne Awards later that year. [caption id="attachment_914963" align="alignnone" width="1920"] GPO Building, Poidabro[/caption] Ambitious new Sydney eatery Morena will be a vibrant celebration of South American food, with Saravia pulling inspiration from his homeland of Peru, alongside Cuba, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico in crafting the menu. "For me, opening Morena represents the culmination of over 15 years of working to shine a light on the unique flavours and hospitality of Latin America," says Saravia. "We aim to transform Australians' perspective of Latin American cuisines, showcasing the diverse culinary heritage beyond just street food, all while preserving the rich cultural roots and authentic flavours that define it." [caption id="attachment_860957" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Farmer's Daughters[/caption] As with Farmer's Daughters, Morena will place heavy importance on the produce used in the kitchen. The accomplished chef and restaurateur works closely with local Australian farmers and producers to guarantee he's utilising the best the country has to offer, while also maintaining strong ties to Latin American suppliers to ensure his dishes are built around authentic ingredients. Paired with the eats will be a strong wine list featuring a hefty showing from Spanish and South American drops, plus a range of signature cocktails starring Latin American spirits. "I am so excited to open Morena in the heart of Sydney," says Saravia. "With this new venue, we will be elevating the way Sydneysiders engage with the diverse cuisines from across Latin American cultures." [caption id="attachment_833157" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Farmer's Daughters[/caption] Morena will open in November 2023 at 1 Martin Place, Sydney — keep an eye on the restaurant's website for further details in the interim.
Christmas can often be a crazy time, and we can't think of anything worse than running around a shopping centre trying to sort out gifts. We all know the drill, and it's carnage, to say the least. Amazon is our go-to for simple gift ideas that you can pre-order from the comfort of your home, which means avoiding the carnage and taking your time to choose the right gifts. To get you started, we have ten gift ideas you can buy from Amazon right now. Whether you're buying for your impossible-to-buy-for teenage cousin, skin-care-obsessed auntie or for the kids in your life, we've got you covered. 1. Ottolenghi SIMPLE Perfect for any aspiring chef or summer entertainer — it's nearly guaranteed that everyone will love Ottolenghi SIMPLE, a cookbook and a great gift idea for someone you don't know too well or someone hard to buy for. The book features 130 of chef Yotam Ottolenghi's award-winning recipes that are easy enough to cook at home but turn out restaurant-quality (if cooked correctly). Better, if you're invited to a dinner party by whoever you gift the book to, you know you'll be in for a treat. 2. Ultimate Ears Boom 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker Another easy gift idea that most people would be stoked to receive, the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker is a great summer gift item, since it's completely waterproof that also floats. Who knows? Maybe you'll get to reap the benefits of this gift at some stage. It also comes in seven different colours, so you can find a good match for whoever you're buying for. You can thank us later. 3. Cocktail Set The silly season is the perfect time to drink cocktails at home or to host parties (obviously with a cocktail bar), hands down. And gifting this sleek, stainless steel cocktail set for Christmas may be the perfect timing. The set includes pourers, a strainer, a muddling stick, two Boston shakers and two bartender spoons. A great gift idea for any aspiring mixologists out there, whether they're a beginner or pro. 4. Crocs Jibbitz Shoe Charms If you haven't heard of Jibbitz, you've clearly managed to steer clear of the front page of social media. A trend that no one saw coming, having a few extra charms on your Crocs is now actually, well, elite. Great for kids or adults who love rocking their Crocs, Jibbitz is an easy way to personalise the classic shoes, with a variety of charms that pop into your shoes' holes, instantly making Crocs even cooler. 5. The Ordinary Skincare It seems that everyone is in their self-care era at the moment, which means skincare is a top priority. Gifting a friend or loved one with The Ordinary The Daily Set is bound to be a practical gift that actually gets used. The set includes three gentle and hydrating formulas suitable for all skin types across all seasons for daily use, including The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser, The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid with B5 and The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA. 6. LEGO® One of Amazon's top picks when it comes to gift ideas, the LEGO® Creator flatbed truck with a helicopter, fuel vehicle, hot rod SUV and car toys is one of the best simple gift ideas for kids, as well as big kids. LEGO® Creator 3 in 1 sets give the giftee a choice as well, since the pieces can be used to assemble three different sets. Timeless, ageless, genderless and always entertaining, you really can't go wrong with LEGO® as a gift. 7. Noise Cancelling Earbuds If you ask us, noise-cancelling earbuds are no longer a luxury but an essential. If you're trying to find a Christmas gift for your friend who is always travelling or listening to tunes, or you noticed a mate with ancient corded headphones, then the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds may be the way to go. They feature technology that analyses each ear and adapts sound so that the active noise-cancelling earbuds are custom-tailored, plus they come with nine soft ear tips and stability bands for ultimate comfort. 8. Mortar and Pestle Sometimes, the best gift is a simple one. Enter the granite Mortar and Pestle. There's no kitchen tool simpler than this. Made from solid granite, this kitchen staple is great for crushing herbs, spices, garlic, basil and whatever else you so desire. It's a great gift for those in your life who love cooking. And, if it turns out they don't like cooking, then it also makes for an aesthetic piece of decor on the kitchen bench, So it's a win-win. 9. Minecraft Board Game If we could place a bet on whether the kids in your life play Minecraft, we would confidently put money on it being a yes. They can't get enough, and gifting them with anything Minecraft-related is sure to be a hit. This Minecraft Board Game from Ravensburger is an easy-to-learn strategy board game where players explore the Overworld, mine resources, build structures, collect weapons and fight mobs. Perfect for Minecraft lovers, it's also fun even if you have never played Minecraft. 10. Fitness Tracker Do you have any fitness freaks in your friendship circle? Or maybe your old man is looking to get back in shape? Look no further than the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Health & Fitness Tracker. This sleek little thing helps you track workouts and health metrics with over 150 sports modes, continuous heart rate monitoring, SpO2 measurement, and sleep analysis. It also looks cool and comes in a range of different colours. Images: Supplied by Amazon. Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links, Concrete Playground may earn a commission when you make a purchase through links on our site.
Star Wars fans, prepare to punch it on down to Sydney's Powerhouse Museum in November — and prepare to come face to face with 200 original objects from the popular sci-fi franchise at Star Wars Identities: The Exhibition. You might have to wait more than 12 months until Star Wars: Episode IX reaches cinemas late next year, but you can spend your days from November 16, 2018 until June 10, 2019 perusing the items that helped make space opera movie magic happen. Coming to Australia for the first time, that includes costumes, props, models and artworks from the Lucasfilm archives, complete with a galaxy's worth of favourites — think BB-8, R2-D2 and the Millennium Falcon just for starters. Get a glimpse of Yoda, you will, circa Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back. You'll also feel the power-hungry menace radiate from Darth Vader's suit from Star Wars: Episode VII — Return of the Jedi. Star Wars Identities is also an interactive exhibition, with creating your own unique character also part of the experience. If you've ever felt as though you should be hanging out in a cantina somewhere on a remote planet, here's your chance to answer a heap of questions, work through a series of stations and find your inner Star Wars hero. You won't need to use the force — rather, you'll receive a smart technology bracelet and a headset to use while you're in the exhibition (but if you want to say that you're using the force or even want to give midi-chlorians some credit, no one will stop you). The Powerhouse Museum is no stranger to Star Wars shenanigans, having hosted a weekend's worth of May the Fourth fun earlier this year. For those already planning their costumes for this 90-minute experience, you're welcome to attend as Han Solo, Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker or whichever other character you'd like — but helmets and masks will need to be left in the cloak room, and you'll also need to leave your lightsabers at home.
The top-tier wine and stellar produce of the Mudgee wine region is headed to Sydney, courtesy of the annual Lane Cove Food and Wine by the River event. On Sunday, November 3, Sydney's gastronomes should head to Burns Bay Reserve on the North Shore, where they can sample a tempting selection of top drops from vineyards whose bottles speak for themselves. With a winemaking tradition that dates back to the mid-1800s, Mudgee has earned a reputation for producing some of Australia's best pours, including award-winning riesling, chardonnay, shiraz, and a plethora of Italian and Spanish varietals. At Lane Cove Food and Wine by the River, the winemakers behind these superb sips will share the secrets of their craft. While these locally produced wines are a major drawcard, the event is also a showcase for the region's other delicious delights, including beers, spirits and gourmet treats — set against the backdrop of the Lane Cove River. With more than 20 different vendors creating a pop-up market, as well as live music performances, yummy street eats and fun activities for the kids, there's plenty to keep the whole family smiling. Mudgee Wine Association president Deborah Clear says the event is a chance to show off the region's renowned wines and produce. "Mudgee has long been a top destination for Sydneysiders looking for a weekend escape filled with delicious food and wine served in a stunning landscape, surrounded by genuine country hospitality. This event continues to offer a unique chance to bring a slice of Mudgee's charm to the city, showcasing what makes us special—exquisite food, superb wines, and exceptional service".
In very English news, everyone's favourite well-mannered witch (sorry Sabrina) Hermione/Emma Watson, has been covertly distributing books on the London Underground. Watson has been sneaking around under the city, like the most conspicuous rat in the world, hiding copies of Maya Angelou's Mom & Me & Mom as part of her feminist book club initiative Shared Shelf. While we dig Watson's initiative and the feminist slant of her book drop, the concept isn't exactly original. She dropped the copies of the book — which is this month's pick for her online book club — on the Tube (complete with personal notes inside them because she's an angel) as part of Books on the Underground, who have been dropping books all over the shop for years. Closer to home, Books on the Rail started a book ninja empire in Melbourne that has rapidly been expanding across the country. Founders Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus have been coordinating their book ninja operation since April of this year. It's a simple concept – BotR distributes hundreds of books on Melbourne public transport. You know their work by the sticker on the front, encouraging you to read, enjoy and return the book. They started the project by giving away their own books and op-shop finds and now get regular deliveries from authors and publishers. The project is fuelled by the sustainable energy of social media, with commuters sharing and reviewing their reads under the hashtag #booksontherail. BotR is also gaining steam in Brisbane and Sydney. They've even recently organised a book club to take place on a Melbourne train. Early reviews dub it 'peak Melbourne'. Via BBC. Image: Emma Watson via Instagram.
Stay tuned. More info on its way. Images: Kitti Gould.
If you're anything like us, you buy a lot of coffee, and odds are that means you burn through a lot of takeaway cups. But what you might not realise is that those cups contain a plastic liner that means they cannot be recycled. It's for this reason that the City of Sydney is throwing its weight behind a BYO coffee cup campaign – and a ton of local cafes are already on board. The aim of Responsible Cafes is to get cafes and customers to ditch takeaway coffee for good. "There are now over 2,500 cafes across Australia offering a discount to people with a BYO coffee cup," said founder Justin Bonsey. "It's great for our pocketbooks, great for cafes to bring in new customers and great for the planet." Cafes keen to get on board can sign up via the Responsible Cafes website. In return, they'll be added to a searchable map that, according to Bonesey, is visited by over 1 million people every year. Among the cafes that have already signed up include About Life Bondi Junction and Surry Hills, Darlinghurst's Infinity Bakery and The Royal, Surry Hill's BangBang Espresso and Soul Origin locations across the CBD and suburbs. The campaign will receive an injection of government funding via the City of Sydney's latest round of knowledge exchange sponsorships. "In our area alone, 100 million takeaway coffee cups end up in landfill every year – and each one takes around 50 years to decompose," said Lord Mayor Clover Moore. "Responsible Cafes connects and promotes cafes that encourage customers to refuse takeaway cups for good, and they're aiming to recruit another 100 new city cafes." It's not the first step that the City of Sydney has taken to address the issue. Last year they gave a $17,500 grant to Closed Loop, who installed standalone bins for coffee cups in office buildings in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. And it's also not the only bit of good environmental news we've gotten recently. Just last week, supermarket chains Coles, Woolworths and Harris Farms all pledged to stop using single use plastic bags as of 2018. Keep it up, Australia.
One of the standout establishments of Darlinghurst's colourful cafe scene, Japanese spot Sandoitchi put itself on the city Sydney sandwich map when it opened in 2018 with a standout pork katsu sando on its menu. Succulent pork deep fried in panko served with cheese, nori, pickled carrot and tonkatsu mayo in between two crustless slices of white bread, the katsu sando was an immediate hit — and one of our favourite in the city. You'll now find that same pork katsu atop koshihikari rice on the Oxford Street shop's new dinner menu. Combining fresh seafood and traditional Japanese flavours — such as umami-packed miso, tangy yuzu and spicy szechuan — the dinner offering is available from 5.30–9.30pm, Wednesday–Friday. Seafood-lovers should look to the 'small' dishes, which include jumbo oysters, yellow fin tuna and a unique take on katsu made with Balmain bug. The mains focus on the traditional tonkatsu sets, all coming with house katsu sauce, koshihikari rice, miso soup, cabbage and white ginger dressing. Choose from the aforementioned signature pork sirloin katsu, or ones made with chicken, tofu, fish or prawns. You can complement your meal with fruit sodas and four different Teacraft teas — and follow it up with a green tea panna cotta or yuzu sorbet served with honeycomb, strawberry and fried banana. Plus, everything — apart from the king prawn katsu ($21) — is under $20, too. The cafe is only open for dinner four nights a week for now, but if you do end up swinging by during the day, you'll find another exciting new addition on the menu: truffle. Available for a limited time ('tis the season), the menu features extravagant truffled versions of the egg, prawn katsu and buttermilk fried chicken sandwiches. If you'd like to get a little creative, you can also add truffle to any dish for $15. Sandoitchi is now open for dinner from Wednesday–Saturday from 5.30–9.30pm. It's also open for breakfast and lunch from 7am–3pm Monday–Friday and 8am–3pm Saturday–Sunday.
There's no such thing as an ordinary dish to chef Nelly Robinson, namesake of and driving force behind Sydney restaurant NEL, as his degustation menus keep demonstrating. KFC? Lamingtons? French onion soup? Pots of honey? They can all be given a fine-dining twist, and have. And if it can work for Moulin Rouge! and Paddington Bear, it can work for Christmas. Nel is no stranger to Christmas spreads, but it is celebrating 2023's jolliest time of year with a specific range of treats. The new menu takes its cues from the traditional story of Christmas. It's also filled with festive culinary traditions, but not as you know them — from roast spuds to Christmas Day seafood. Nel's chef and namesake Nelly Robinson has found 11 ways to interpret Christmas food staples from around the world while still giving them his usual creative spin. Available from Tuesday, November 14–Saturday, December 23, the Surry Hills institution's new Christmas degustation features a Nel take on seafood blinis featuring crab salad and flowers on mini crumpets, a black charcoal crumbed sausage in the shape of a star that's paired with curry sauce, and a delicate rendition of silly season carbs called Nanna's Potatoes. There are also dishes named after Love Actually, 'O Christmas Tree' and 'Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer' — we can all imagine what that one might be. Rounding out the menu is a reinvention of the traditional Danish Christmas dessert risalamande. In Denmark, a whole almond is often hidden in rice pudding, with anyone who finds it given a prize. In Robinson's version, there's just big flavours instead, with the dessert starring a vanilla rice pudding foam, amaretto ice cream, and an almond, cinnamon and wild rice granola. There are plenty more surprises to be discovered across the 11 courses, plus diners can also opt for a selection of wines meticulously paired with the dishes by the restaurant's head sommelier. Sydneysiders can tuck in for $185 per person, with another $155 each on top for the classic wine pairing or an additional $185 for the premium wine journey. Or, there's a non-alcoholic matching drinks selection for $85 per head. Nel will also be opening for lunch on Saturdays in November, and Friday and Saturdays in December, to give diners extra options. Nel's 2023 Christmas degustation is on offer from Tuesday, November 14–Saturday, December 23 at 75 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney. For more information or to book, head to the Nel website.
Earlier this year, we were flocking to Neil Perry’s new less-than-$10 Burger Project, to find out how the many-hatted chef fares when it comes to feeding the people. And now, the exotic-yet-bargain-priced burger is taking on yet another incarnation with the opening of Burger Liquor Lobster. The chief drawcard is its seafood menu: lobster rolls, prawn rolls, crab burgers and popcorn lobster, all for $15 a piece. Popping up for the summer in both Paddington’s The London Hotel and Manly Wharf Hotel, the eatery and bar takes the space previously occupied by Chur. The affordable prices don't mean there's any skimping on the ingredients front. The lobster is of the salt and pepper variety, accompanied with lemon aioli, chives, red onion and lettuce, while the crab is crispy soft shell, spiced up with chilli Singapore sauce and cooled down by Asian slaw. As far as burgers go, they're all $10 and come in five editions: beef, chicken, pulled pork, lamb and vege. These traditional-sounding flavours are each delivered with a twist. The chicken, for example, is dressed up with mint, shallot, slaw, chilli and lime mayo, while the vege is comprised of chickpea and lentil fritter, beetroot yoghurt, kale and corn relish. Plus, if you're carb-conscious or GF, you can opt to have your mini-feast wrapped in lettuce rather than a bun, or order it as a salad. That'll leave you a few extra calories to spend on the cocktail list. It's all about fresh, summery concoctions, such as Lychee Passionpit (vodka, lychee, passionfruit sorbet, sparkling wine), My Tini Wini (gin, lemon juice, lavender syrup, watermelon, raspberries, crème de peche), and Rock Lobster (Bulldog Gin, St Germain elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, pineapple juice, yellow Chartreuse, orange blossom marmalade). They're all priced at $16. Both venues have taken on a playful, nautical fit-out. You’ll notice it most at The London, where glass buoys, ropes and crab pots are all part of the décor. Burger Liquor Lobster opens on Tuesday, November 11, at Manly Wharf Hotel, ((02) 9977 1266; East Esplanade, Manly) and upstairs at The London Hotel ((02) 9331 3200; 85 Underwood Street, Paddington). Opening hours are midday till late, seven days a week.
Let's go party, indeed: Barbie is here, filling Australian cinemas with pink-hued cheer, and slaying both the patriarchy and the Australian box office. Greta Gerwig's Margot Robbie-starring take on the famous doll packed picture palaces not just with every shade of not-quite-red it could, but with people, breaking a Malibu DreamHouse worth records in the process. If you noticed plenty of fellow filmgoers watching this trip to Barbie Land, then Los Angeles, then back with you last weekend, that was the experience mirrored around the country. In fact, Barbie notched up the biggest opening at the Australian box office for 2023 so far, raking in $21.5 million including preview screenings. The stats keep coming, but the best is truly historic: Barbie enjoyed the biggest opening weekend for a film directed by a female filmmaker. It earned that same huge opening weekend title for films with any of Robbie, Gerwig and Ryan Gosling (The Gray Man) involved. Now that's some Kenergy. Also, Barbie helped smash even more records as part of the double feature of 2023: Barbenheimer. Thanks to both Barbie and Christopher Nolan's vastly dissimilar atomic-bomb thriller Oppenheimer, the Aussie box office saw its biggest-ever Saturday and Sunday takings. On Saturday, July 22, $11.1 million spent bested the $10.3 million recorded in April 2019 when Avengers: Endgame released. On Sunday, July 23, the $10.5 million gross topped the $9.96 million taken in December 2105 — on the Boxing Day public holiday on December 27, in fact — as fuelled by Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens, plus Boxing Day releases. Specific cinemas also broke past records. At Sydney's Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, the independent theatre scored its highest-grossing weekend in its 88-year history. Oppenheimer in 70mm notched up the cinema's highest-grossing opening ever, while Barbie now sits second in that same category. At Melbourne's Cinema Nova, the also-independent cinema looks set to earn its biggest box-office week of all time. If it does, it'll break the record set in January 2020, when Gerwig's Little Women was playing alongside films like Jojo Rabbit and Parasite. Barbie also took the opening-week record from Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel, and might become the first film by a female filmmaker to hit the venue's top ten of all time list. As for Oppenheimer, it's in the top ten biggest opening weekends. It shouldn't be lost on anyone that Barbie and Oppenheimer's successes mean that two movies that aren't part of long-running franchises have audiences flocking in. Neither film comes in as the fifth or 11th or 17th or 31st entries in a long-running saga, and don't we all know and love it. Here's the big takeaway: more of that please, especially given that oh-so-much of what reaches the silver screen is a sequel, prequel or chapter in a sprawling universe these days. Check out the trailers for Barbie and Oppenheimer below: Barbie is showing in Australian cinemas now. Read our review. Oppenheimer is also showing in Australian cinemas now. Read our review, too.
As fans of a certain fictional cat-like Japanese character should already know, Hello Kitty Land is a real place that exists in Tokyo, and it's probably a bucket-list destination for your next Japan trip. But Sydneysiders don't need to hop on a plane to celebrate the bow-wearing, feline-resembling animated favourite for the next three months, with Darling Square hosting a huge Hello Kitty-themed street festival. Running now until Friday, April 29, this Hello Kitty fest is actually a Hello Kitty Town — so expect the precinct to be positively purring with all things Hello Kitty. Created in partnership with Sanrio, the Japanese company behind the super-popular character, the set up includes exhibitions, inflatable installations and Hello Kitty-themed food and drinks. Who doesn't want to eat a sandwich shaped like the perpetual third-grade student, or drink Hello Kitty rose mocktails? On the art side of the setup, Hello Kitty Town is home to Australia's largest Sanrio art exhibitions, spanning pieces from top graphic designers, illustrators and street artists such as UK cartoonist, writer and illustrator Gemma Correll, Berlin-based artist and illustrator DXTR, Melbourne large-scale mural painter Justine McAllister, and Aussie artist Travis Price, who is the featured artist for the festival — with their wares all displayed in an outdoor gallery. And, there's also a five-metre Hello Kitty inflatable that, yes, is as adorable as it sounds. Food- and drink-wise, the menu currently includes Kurtosh's apple pie (Hello Kitty's favourite meal) covered in pink coconut sprinkles, and themed ramen from IIKO Mazesoba. The two brothless ramen bowls on offer are a spicy tuna option with Hello Kitty nori; or a chicken karaage bowl packed with togarashi, sriracha mayo, homemade sesame chilli oil, onsen egg and the same themed nori. You can also feed your four-legged pals with a pup-friendly menu and activities on offer. Take your furry friend to the Hachi Dog Boutique and Spa or order them a Hello Kitty-shaped dog cake and a bento box filled with natural Australian-made dog treats. There'll be more additions to the program — and to the menu — announced over the event's three-month run, tempting you to indulge your Hello Kitty love multiple times. Obviously, Hello Kitty merchandise is on sale, because a festival like this wouldn't be complete without it. And, also to the surprise of no-one, this is firmly a family-friendly affair. No one ever really outgrows Hello Kitty, though, do they? Updated: Wednesday, April 6
Maroubra locals who have been looking at the inner west with envy at the area's range of markets are about to be blessed with a monthly market of their own. After two false starts due to extreme weather, the market maestros at Cambridge Markets launched this monthly market at Maroubra Beach in partnership with Randwick City Council on Saturday, November 2, which runs from 8am–2pm. Dozens of vendors will dish out hot food, cool drinks, and all sorts of homemade goodies, so you'll want to bring plenty of shopping bags with you. There will also be water bottle refill stations so you can stay hydrated as you explore. Expect also to find fashion, homewares, toys, fresh produce, art, craft, gifting, vintage clothing, plants, and plenty more. Plus, there'll also be live music, along with activities to partake in and some fun rides for the kids. Held down at Broadarrow Reserve, mere steps from the beach, the Maroubra Beach Markets will be held on the first Saturday of each month from 8am–2pm. The Maroubra Beach Markets are taking place on the first Saturday of every month from Saturday, November 2, from 8am–2pm. For more information on Cambridge Markets or any of its events or markets across Sydney, visit the website.
Sydney isn't short on stellar accommodation options for visitors or staycationers alike. But by the end of 2024, the city will boast yet another prime place to spend a night, with the 25Hours Hotel chain arriving in Paddington. Making its first foray into Sydney, the new 25Hours Hotel will take over the heritage-listed site at 1–11 Oxford Street where South Dowling Street, Victoria Street and Barcom Avenue intersect. The hotel is a four-level development from Sydney property developer Central Element in partnership with Boston Global Group, and has been designed by Australian architecture firm Tonkin Zulaikha Greer. The massive structure will feature 109 rooms, a cafe, a destination restaurant and bar, a lush garden, a trio of retailers, a live music space and wellness facilities. The interior design for the property has been developed by Woods Bagot, who previously worked on the Ivy precinct and Shell House. Head up to 25Hours Hotel's top level, and Sydneysiders will also find a rooftop bar that overlooks Oxford Street, Sydney's eastern suburbs and the harbour — which is certain to be a drawcard whether you're booking in for a night or just after a post-work drink. In the middle of the building, the venue will feature a big central courtyard that'll sprawl across the site and host live events. 25Hours Sydney will join a global roster of accommodation under the chain which proclaims to have "a 25 Hours Hotel in every cool city", with the Sydney project joining locations in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, Paris, Vienna, Copenhagen, Dubai and Zurich. You'll find 25Hours Sydney at 1-11 Oxford Street, Paddington in December 2024. Head to the hotel's website for further details.
Much-loved farm-to-table eatery Three Blue Ducks has expanding its ever-growing suite of establishments to regional NSW, with the Sydney restaurant group opening an outpost at Nimbo Fork Lodge, at the bottom of the Snowy Mountains, in late November. Originally opening in Bronte back in 2010, before expanding to Byron Bay, Rosebery, Brisbane (in the W Hotel) and Melbourne (inside a surf park), the restaurant collective is known for its dishes packed with locally and ethically sourced produce. The group's latest iteration is no different. The menu has been designed around the on-site kitchen garden, award-winning sustainably farmed Provenir Beef and trout from local Tumut waterways. If the locally sourced trout isn't fresh enough for you, though, you can head out to the renowned fly-fishing areas nearby and provide your own catch of the day for the chefs to use. You can eat that trout as an entree — smoked atop crisp bread with dill and crème fraîche — or as a main, where it comes whole, butterflied and with lashings of garlic, lemon and dill. Elsewhere on the menu, you'll find crumbed pork terrine, roasted beets with almond cream, Nimbo tomahawk lamb chops and harissa-spiced cauliflower with chimichurri and roasted hazelnuts. [caption id="attachment_788800" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Three Blue Ducks team by Nikki To[/caption] You can pair this food with cocktails filled with Aussie ingredients and spirits, such as the Native Negroni made with Brookies gin and Poor Toms Imbroglio; all-Aussie brews, including Bright Brewery sour ales and Heaps Normal's Quiet XPA; and local and international wines helpfully listed under headings like 'fruit forward and food friendly red' and 'light and aromatic white'. For a sweet finish, you've got three options: crema catalana (very similar to a crème brûlée), sea salt meringue with lemon curd and, the most decadent option, self-saucing choc pudding. We think the latter will be just what you're after when you head back to the lodge after a chilly day out on the snowfields — or down by the river fishing for trout. Because, of course, it's all about location at this latest Three Blue Ducks. While you could, on some days, convince us to drive four hours for the perfect chocolate pudding, that's not the only drawcard here. Located in the heart of the picturesque Tumut Valley, 30 minutes' drive from Gundagai, Three Blue Ducks is situated inside a boutique hotel with six cottages, five suites and a bar and restaurant. There are a host of activities you can experience nearby, including bike rides, bushwalks, fly-fishing and horse rides — or, if you're an avid skier or snowboarder, you can jump in the car and head to Selwyn Snow Resort, just under two hours away, when it reopens. The snowfield was extensively damaged during the 2019-20 bushfires, but is currently being rebuilt. The new restaurant is open for dinner from Wednesday to Sunday, with lunch available on weekends. For more ideas, check out our guide to activities in the Snowy Mountains region. Find Three Blue Ducks at Nimbo Fork Lodge, 330 Nimbo Road, Killimicat. You can make a booking at the restaurant here and at Nimbo Fork Lodge here.
While almost everyone loves hot chips, agreeing on which takeaway option does them best is far more contentious. Plus, everyone has their preferences when it comes to tomato sauce. However, Mutti has teamed up with acclaimed chef Nelly Robinson of Sydney's NEL Restaurant to create a single, show-stopping fry that might just settle the debate. Bringing together the humble chip and the world of fine dining, this over-the-top tribute set out to achieve the World's Fanciest Fry. Once you start delving into the ingredients and process that make it happen, it's hard to deny that this unique creation has truly taken the classic side dish to extraordinary heights. "To create a fry truly worthy of Mutti tomato ketchup, we had to go all in. We started with the fanciest Chipperbec potatoes we could get our hands on, blanched them in Wagyu beef fat, and finished them with fresh truffle and served with scampi caviar. This isn't just a chip — it's the McLaren of fries," says chef Nelly Robinson. With a creation this lavish, settling for an ordinary condiment is simply not an option. Fortunately, Mutti's range of premium table sauces made for the ideal pairing at the launch of this special dish. If you're the kind of person to slather your chips in sauce, perhaps they'll also take your humble feast up a notch. As for the World's Fanciest Fry, it's now available on NEL Restaurant's menu until the end of June. But don't expect this supremely decadent treat to come cheap. Priced at $35, this curious delicacy has seen the everyday, moreish side dish transformed into a luxurious morsel that takes centre stage. Says Robinson: "It's crispy, rich, outrageously indulgent and possibly the most culinary brainpower ever invested in a single hot chip. But with a ketchup as good as Mutti's, the fry's gotta bring its A-game!" The World's Fanciest Fry is available until the end of June at NEL Restaurant, 75 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney. Head to the website for more information.
Basically the hub of all coffee table books, Published Art stocks everything and more on art, design, photography and architecture. You're unlikely to just stumble into this stuff anywhere else. Every book on the shelf goes through a careful screening process, each being hand-picked and directly sourced by the store manager, Rebekah Lawson. Expect to find titles such as Henri Cartier-Bresson: Here and Now housed alongside children's books of full-colour Pinocchio illustrations. Prices won't break the bank either — most items can be bought for under $100. The shop is open Tuesday to Friday from 10am till 4pm, or you can schedule a visit by appointment.
Taking over Darling Harbour's Tumbalong Park, The Artistry 2025 is a celebration of the immense diversity that makes up the Asia-Pacific region. Held from February 7-9, curated food, music, art and cultural events proudly capture Sydney's multicultural communities. As you might expect, culinary exploration is a big focus, with 20 food vendors bringing an assortment of tantalising flavours. Then, live entertainment throughout the festival shifts from an energetic performance by Justice Crew to Lunar New Year parades and thumping DJs. Some countries like Thailand, Indonesia and Hong Kong even have their own pavilion, helping visitors gain deeper insight into what makes each culture unique. "The Artistry 2025 is a celebration of Sydney's unique identity as a melting pot of cultures. By combining the traditions, flavours and art of Asia-Pacific, we're creating a festival that brings people together to embrace and honour our shared diversity," says festival director Yudi Loefti. Alongside mahjong workshops, live street art and a pop-up art gallery, there's also the chance to catch Sydney's first-ever open-air Muay Thai tournament. Entry to the festival is free, but some events are ticketed.
Newly opened Haymarket hole-in-the-wall Mr Chen Beef Noodle is celebrating its launch by giving out steaming hot bowls of its hand-stretched noodles — for free. Head into the Prince Centre digs on Thursday, July 11 and tuck into a Lanzhou-style beef noodle soup, or one of five other signature noodle bowls, without spending a dime. Head Chef Gary Yuen boasts 40 years of experience cooking traditional Chinese fare, having started working in kitchens at the age of just eight — so you can rest assured that you'll be getting some quality eats here. For the free bowls of warming noodles, which will be available from 5pm, you can choose from the signature beef noodle, one topped with pickled cabbage, another filled with wontons and one served with chicken. They arrive with your choice of five freshly made noodle types, too, ranging from extra thin to super thick. The giveaway is limited to one bowl per person and only available until sold out — so get in quick. And, if you miss out this round, you can still grab 50-cent dumplings every day from 8–10pm. Those include pan-fried classics, barbecued pork buns and xiao long bao. And it's always free BYO at Mr Chen, too. Mr Chen will be giving away free bowls of noodles (eat-in or takeaway) from 5–9pm or until sold out.
In 2022, The Kid LAROI embarked upon his debut headline Australian tour, selling out arenas across the nation and adding more dates to meet demand. Two years later, the Aussie star otherwise known as Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard is returning to local stages again in November 2024. Initially announced in 2023 and due to happen in February 2024, then postponed to October due to trying to confirm a "really big surprise and special guest" and "a bunch of other logistical stuff", The Kid LAROI's The First Time Australian tour is back on. When he hits Sydney on Saturday, November 16, he'll have Migos frontman Quavo and the Harbour City's own ONEFOUR in support. The Kid LAROI has made some changes to the tour itinerary, which is in support of his debut studio album The First Time. This was meant to be his first-ever Aussie stadium tour — and while that isn't the case in all cities, he's still headed to Commbank Stadium in Sydney. The First Time might've been a new 2023 arrival, but The Kid LAROI has been releasing music since 2018 — solo, and also teaming up with everyone from Juice WRLD and ONEFOUR to Justin Bieber. Accordingly, fans can look forward to hearing 'Stay', 'Without You', 'Thousand Miles', 'Love Again', 'Girls' and more come spring.
If there's one thing Sydney has a lot of, it's water. Whether it's the gobsmackingly beautiful harbour, the many rivers snaking their way to the sea from the west or the scores of pristine white sand beaches that stretch along the city's giant coastline, this whole place is full of H2-oh-wow moments. They're basically at every turn. But sometimes heading to Bondi Beach for the umpteenth time just won't cut it. So here are a few ideas to help you get wet, steal some sea spray and cool down creatively. [caption id="attachment_556149" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Jason James via Flickr[/caption] STAND UP PADDLEBOARDING AT BALMORAL BEACH There are a heap of places to rent a paddleboard in Sydney, but head northside to the stunning harbour beach of Balmoral to be rewarded with calm waters, beautiful views of the bay and island and several options for top-notch coffee when you've conquered the board. Hit up Balmoral Boatshed on The Esplanade, where you can hire a board and get taught the basics before being sent out on your own. It's $30 for the first hour, with discounted rates for subsequent hours. [caption id="attachment_545050" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Andrew JWC via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] GRAB A KAYAK AT ROSE BAY If you've accidentally skipped arm day at the gym, a session in a kayak at one of Sydney's eastern suburb beaches will help you even things out. The folks at Rose Bay Aquatic Hire will fit you out with a life jacket, paddle and your choice of a one- or two-man kayak for around $25 an hour per person. The lightweight boats are surprisingly easy to manoeuvre and, once you get the hang of it, you'll be able to explore a pretty large section of the bay and harbour. Kayak out to Shark Island (if you buy entry first) or pull up at Milk Beach for a little rest and/or lunch break. They don't require a hefty deposit either — just some photo ID to be left behind as security. And if you're keen for more kayak time, check out our other favourite places to kayak in Sydney. [caption id="attachment_551558" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dollar Photo Club[/caption] TAKE A SURFING LESSON AT MAROUBRA Maroubra is one of the most underrated beaches in Sydney's east. The parking is considerably easier and cheaper than Bondi or Bronte, and the waves are consistently good. It's the perfect spot to try your hand (or feet) on a surfboard. A two-hour beginner's lesson with Let's Go Surfing is only $60 and includes all equipment and instruction. Classes are kept to a maximum of six people too, so you'll get plenty of one-on-one help — and if you want to keep practicing after class, board hire is available for around $20 an hour. And if you can't get to Maroubra, try one of these prime surfing spots for beginners. [caption id="attachment_556134" align="alignnone" width="1280"] EastSail[/caption] HIRE A BOAT AND EXPLORE SYDNEY HARBOUR You do need a boat license for this one — so if you don't have the paperwork, find a mate who does. It'll be totally worth it — because once you've got control of the boat, you'll have the freedom of exploring all the amazing nooks and crannies of Sydney Harbour. Spend a few hours cruising around the eastern suburbs playing 'which waterfront house would I buy if I won Lotto?', and then head to a secluded inlet like Milk Beach or Chinamans Beach to drop anchor and have a swim. There are a heap of places around Sydney that will rent you a vessel, but we like EastSail at Rushcutters Bay, which is reasonably priced and has a good selection to choose from. [caption id="attachment_556132" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dollar Photo Club[/caption] RIDE THE FERRY TO MANLY This one might not be that exciting for those who do it as part of their commute every day, but it's a classic Sydney experience for a reason. There aren't many views of the harbour city more beautiful than from the deck of a giant yellow (or green) ferry as it glides past the Opera House and under the Harbour Bridge. Pack a picnic and take it to Manly; Little Manly Cove is perfect for a quiet afternoon, otherwise smash some fish and chips on Manly Beach and have a quick dip before jumping on a ferry home. Hot tip: make it a Sunday journey and you'll pay only $2.50 on your Opal card for the entire return trip. [caption id="attachment_556135" align="alignnone" width="1280"] phonetography101 via Flickr[/caption] TAKE THE RIVERCAT UP THE PARRAMATTA RIVER For a unique look at Sydney that you may not have yet considered, jump on a RiverCat and make the trip west without having to deal with traffic, freeways and the endless car yards that line Parramatta Road. The catamaran hits decent speeds on the way, and the journey takes about 45-minutes from Circular Quay. Once you arrive, head into Parramatta's CBD to explore an area that is bustling with great cafes, bars and restaurants. There's even a Gelato Messina. The Village People were right – 'Go West', life is peaceful there. [caption id="attachment_556136" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Thunder Jet Boat[/caption] GET YOUR HEART PUMPING ON A JET BOAT You might dismiss this as a tourist trap, but the Sydney Harbour jet boat rides are actually pretty fun. You'll hit high speeds, get spun in circles all over the place, and the ratio of splashes to enjoyment is pretty high. Add in the incredible views you'll get of Sydney Harbour and you've got yourself a pretty sweet little ride. Thunder Jet Boat and Harbour Jet are both good options. Book online for better deals. [caption id="attachment_556137" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Sydney Seaplanes[/caption] GET A BIRD'S EYE VIEW FROM A SEA PLANE Yes, we're moving into seriously luxe, seriously expensive territory here — but if you have the funds, the opportunity to see the city from above is totally worth it. Taking off in a sea plane is unlike anything you'll have ever experienced — it's sort of a cross between a speedboat and a go-kart. But then, all of a sudden you'll lift up and above what is arguably the world's greatest harbour. Go all out and book a fly-and-dine package at Jonah's through Sydney Seaplanes for a harbour tour followed by a fabulous meal and a view of Whale Beach. It's certainly not cheap — but for an anniversary or special occasion, it will be utterly unforgettable. EXPLORE CLARK ISLAND If it's a picnic with extremely good views of the water you're after, pack your rug and basket and head to one of Sydney's islands and most unique national parks. You can get to Clark Island either by water taxi, private boat or kayak — just note that a $7 landing fee applies. There are gorgeous shaded gazebos dotted about the island, and plenty of places for a swim. You'll just need to book your trip in advance through the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. TAKE A SAILING LESSON Sailing has so many excellent words: Dinghy! Starboard! Ahoy! Use them with confidence after you've felt the sea spray in your face and the wind through your hair. Sydney By Sail offers one-off day cruise sailing trips where they'll show you the ropes (quite literally in this case), or you can sign up for an intensive two-day 'Introduction to Yachting' course that will build you some serious sea legs. They're located right near the Maritime Museum as well, for more #boatspiration. Top image: Visit St. Pete/Clearwater via Flickr
As happens every year, more than a few Australian films will reach local screens in 2021. Some have already proven exceptional, others have earned the exact opposite description, and more flicks to come will fall into both camps. But great, average and terrible movies alike, no homegrown title that hits cinemas and/or streaming this year will garner as much attention as Nitram. It's the first Aussie feature to play in the Cannes Film Festival's coveted competition in a decade, it's one of the big local premieres at this year's Melbourne International Film Festival, and it's headed to Australian cinemas and then Stan after that. Read the movie's moniker backwards, however, and you'll see why it has already attracted controversy. Reuniting Snowtown and True Story of the Kelly Gang filmmaker Justin Kurzel with screenwriter Shaun Grant, who penned both movies, Nitram steps through the lead up to the events in Port Arthur 25 years ago. Caleb Landry Jones (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) plays the eponymous figure, who lives with his mother (Judy Davis, The Dressmaker) and father (Anthony LaPaglia, Below), and finds a friend in a reclusive heiress named Helen (Essie Davis, Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears). Of course, while the film isn't specifically about the tragedy of April 28 and 29, 1996 — promotional materials stress that it's about the time leading up to those dates — every Australian knows where the story goes from there. Before anyone has seen the feature, Nitram has already sparked debate about whether any film should explore this traumatic chapter of Australia's past. Thanks to their last two collaborations, Kurzel and Grant have an impressive history when it comes to tackling the nation's darker and thornier moments, however — and if Snowtown especially is any guide, the result will be difficult but must-see viewing. From the just-dropped first trailer, too, audiences look set for a haunting movie. In response to the conversation already surrounding the film, the filmmakers have advised that "Nitram was written as a response to the proliferation of regular mass shootings across the world and is an exploration of the issues and events that led to this atrocity, rather than a re-enactment of it, to bring the gun control debate to the fore and to try to ensure history does not repeat itself." Check out the trailer below: Nitram will have its Australian premiere at the 2021 Melbourne International Film Festival, and will release in local cinemas afterwards — and stream via Stan — with exact dates yet to be announced.
UPDATE, November 18, 2022: See How They Run is still screening in Australian cinemas, and is available to stream via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. As every murder-mystery does, See How They Run asks a specific question: whodunnit? This 1950s-set flick also solves another query, one that's lingered over Hollywood for seven decades now thanks to Agatha Christie. If this movie's moniker has you thinking about mouse-focused nursery rhymes, that's by design — and characters do scurry around chaotically — however, it could also have you pondering the famed author's play The Mousetrap. The latter first hit theatres in London's West End in 1952 and has stayed there ever since, other than an enforced pandemic-era shutdown in COVID-19's early days. The show operates under a set stipulation regarding the big-screen rights, too, meaning that it can't be turned into a film until the original production has stopped treading the boards for at least six months. As that's never happened, how do you get it into cinemas anyway? Make a movie about trying to make The Mousetrap into a movie, aka See How They Run. There's a clever-clever air to See How They Run's reason for existing. The same proves true of its narrative, the on-screen explanation about how The Mousetrap sits at the centre of this film's story, and the way it details those rules around adapting the play for cinema. Voiced by in-movie director Leo Köpernick (Adrien Brody, Blonde), that winking attitude resembles the Scream franchise's take on the horror genre, but with murder-mysteries — and it also smarts in its knowing rundown about how whodunnits work, who's who among the main players-slash-suspects and what leads to the central homicide. First-time feature filmmaker Tom George (This Country) and screenwriter Mark Chappell (Flaked) still craft a film that's enjoyable-enough, though, albeit somehow both satirical and by the numbers. Keeping audiences guessing isn't the picture's strong suit. Matching its own comparison to Christie isn't either. But the leads and snappy sense of fun make this a mostly entertaining game of on-screen Cluedo. Was it actor Richard Attenborough (Harris Dickinson, Where the Crawdads Sing), his fellow-thespian wife Sheila Sim (Pearl Chanda, War of the Worlds), big-time movie producer John Woolf (Reece Shearsmith, Venom: Let There Be Carnage) or his spouse Edana Romney (Sian Clifford, The Duke) getting murderous in the costume shop at the backstage party celebrating The Mousetrap's 100th show? (And yes, they're all real-life figures.) Or, was it the play's producer Petula Spencer (Ruth Wilson, His Dark Materials), the proposed feature adaptation's screenwriter Mervyn Cocker-Norris (David Oyelowo, Chaos Walking) or his Italian lover Gio (Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, The Queen's Gambit)? They're among See How They Run's other enquiries, which Scotland Yard's Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell, Richard Jewell) and Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan, The French Dispatch) try to answer. After the death that kicks off the film, the two cops are on the case, working through their odd-couple vibe as they sleuth. Naturally, everyone that was in the theatre on the night in question is a suspect. Just as expectedly, convolutions and complications abound. Plus, possible motives keep stacking up — and there's plenty of in-fighting among the stage and screen in-crowd who might've done the deed. In other words, even with equally parodying and paying homage to all things murder-mystery chief among See How They Run's aims (alongside showing off that it thinks it knows the basics as well as Christie), it isn't blind to following the standard formula. The guiding narration, which notes that it's always the most unlikeable character that gets bumped off, takes a ribbing approach; "seen one, you've seen 'em all" it advises, because Köpernick was charged with helming The Mousetrap's leap into movies, wasn't so impressed with the source material, then advocated for violence and explosions to spice up the whole thing. Yes, viewers are meant to see parallels between what he's saying and what they're watching. Yes, being that self-aware and meta truly is a feature-long commitment. The Mousetrap mightn't actually ring a bell for everyone going into See How They Run, however. That's not overly astonishing — Christie not only put her demands regarding a movie version into a contract, thinking it'd only be onstage for a handful of months, but also decreed that each show finishes with the cast getting the audience to promise that they won't give away the play's secrets. As a result, it hasn't enjoyed Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile's broader recognition, and this flick mightn't make you want to seek it out. A rousing advertisement for The Mousetrap, See How They Run definitely isn't. There's an odd feeling to Chappell's gags at the play's expense, which are as thudding as they are superfluous. Thankfully, there's nothing surplus about the central double-act that is Rockwell and Ronan, two consistently stellar actors proving just that again here. While their co-stars do exactly what they need to and no more, he plays fraying and shambling with an attention-grabbing sense of physicality — he doesn't dance, sorry, but movement is still pivotal to building Stoppard as a character — and she sports a keen-as-mustard vibe that could've carried over from her Wes Anderson film appearances. The strongest feeling emanating from See How They Run when it's all over and solved: teaming up Rockwell and Ronan again, and ASAP. If there's room on-screen for multiple middling-at-best recent Hercule Poirot pictures, there's room for movies about a cracking pair inspired by the moustachioed Belgian and the English scribe behind him. That lead casting is pivotal to helping See How They Run weather its excess of nudging — and those ill-thought-out The Mousetrap digs — but the film is still never quite the three things it blatantly wants to be. It isn't up there with Christie's page-turner best, and nor is it as sharp as the smart and slick Knives Out, or what'd happen if Wes Anderson was indeed directing Ronan and his fellow frequent star Brody in an immaculately styled whoddunnit. Looking the part isn't a problem; the delightful aesthetic, with its symmetry, rich hues and ornate detail, shines bright. Just as lively and enticing: the gleaming cinematography by Jamie Ramsay (Mothering Sunday) and the jazzy score by Daniel Pemberton (Slow Horses). But if See How They Run was one of its own characters, it'd be the know-it-all who thinks they've fulfilled their role perfectly, yet doesn't quite. Every murder-mystery has one; this film, while largely engaging to play along with, is one.
Do you need a winter hangover cure the entire family can enjoy? You’re in luck, ‘cause Festival of the Winds is here to nurse the headache at Bondi Beach this Sunday, September 14. Colourful cartoon characters, giant animals and flowers, fighter kites, box kites, delta kites and more are scheduled to appear at the festival, which kicks off at 11am on what we hope will be a sunny spring day. Internationally renowned kite flyers (yes, they exist) will be boasting some pretty spectacular flying skills with their handmade creations. So dust off that kite you packed away at age ten and show off your (probably rusty) flying skills, or join in on one of the kite-making workshops on offer throughout the day. But this isn’t just a day for kite enthusiasts; there’ll be loads of dance workshops, puppet shows and a whole lot more that both children and the nostalgic can enjoy.
Market City is adding a new food hub to its offering, launching eight Asian eateries as part of the new 1909 Dining Precinct on its third floor. The precinct will open in stages, beginning with the unveiling of Australia's second Mr Meng Chongqing Gourmet outpost today, Thursday, March 8. Cheeky If You Are The One host Meng Fei is swiftly expanding his noodle franchise since opening in Melbourne in mid-2017. Sydney patrons can expect the chongqing spicy noodles and signature deep fried spring rolls on offer. This might seem a little weird, but Grandpa Meng is actually a Kim K-level celeb in China thanks to his shenanigans on the cult dating show and already has a string of noodles shops to his name. The remaining seven restaurants will all be open by mid-2018. They'll range from casual takeaway joints to full-on dining rooms, like the 200-seater that will house the first Australian site for Macau's popular hot pot chain, Dolar Shop. The other eateries will be Kogi, a Korean barbecue restaurant specialising in soju-marinated meats; YAYOI Japanese Teishoku, offering up set meals like wagyu beef hot pots and grilled eel on rice; Chinese eatery Beijing Impressions; and sushi train Fugetsu. Two additional restaurants are yet to be announced. The precinct's design is focused around a communal lounge area, with each restaurant boasting a custom fit-out. Jin Wu Koon, a Sydney-based dragon and lion dance team, will perform an official blessing ritual in the space today, which is meant to bring luck, fortune and prosperity. "We are excited to be evolving our offer to deliver an elevated day-to-night food experience, heralding a new era of dining at Market City and something we believe will further underscore our position as one of the city's most authentic and vibrant Asian food destinations," says Market City manager David Yam. The opening coincides with Market City's 21st anniversary and the dining hall's name reflects the year the building was constructed — then housing Sydney's first fruit and veg market. The precinct's launch marks the second stage of renovations, with the first floor food court revamped last year. 1909 Dining Precinct opens Thursday, March 8 on level three of Market City , 9–13 Hay Street, Haymarket. It will be open seven days a week until late. We'll keep you updated and you can check marketcity.com.au for more information.
Send in the terrifying clown: that's what Stephen King did when he penned IT back in 1986, as did a 1990 miniseries adaptation of his horror novel, then the hit 2017 IT movie and its 2019 sequel IT: Chapter Two. A prequel to those two recent films, IT: Welcome to Derry is doing the same. Pennywise is back, and Bill Skarsgård (Nosferatu) in the part, in a small-screen return to the franchise that's premiering in October 2025. If you've read much of King's work, then you would've agreed with some of the first words spoken in the initial teaser trailer for HBO's new IT series: "anywhere but Derry". That's a great motto if you're keen to avoid unnerving and supernatural events, which have frequented the fictional town's streets in the author's pages for decades — and in their leaps to the screen, too. The just-dropped second sneak peek at the show keeps demonstrating why the Maine locale isn't an ideal place to live. "Things are certainly different here" is quite the understatement, in fact, as is "things do happen from time to time". King's go-to setting is clearly at the heart of the series, which steps through Derry's scares before the terror that viewers have already seen and experienced. Alongside the transdimensional evil entity known as Pennywise, there's a spate of missing children, more kids seeking answers, a new family moving in, uncaring police, violence in the streets, a curfew, eerie smiles and cackles, voices in the pipes and a crimson balloon — as per the two teasers so far. If you've somehow missed all things IT until now, it follows the exploits of that maniacal clown, as well as the folks that he's rather fond of terrorising. IT: Welcome to Derry's cast includes Taylour Paige (Brothers), Jovan Adepo (3 Body Problem), Chris Chalk (Feud), James Remar (Megalopolis), Stephen Rider (What Lies Under the Tree), Madeleine Stowe (Soundtrack) and Rudy Mancuso (The Flash). Returning to oversee the show is filmmaker Andy Muschietti, who helmed the most-recent two IT movies and last directed DC Extended Universe flick The Flash. He's also behind the camera here on multiple episodes, expanding his Derry-set vision from his two features. And yes, HBO and its streaming service HBO Max are in franchise mode of late, adding The Penguin to the world of The Batman, expanding the Game of Thrones realm with not only House of the Dragon but also the upcoming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, announcing a new drama series set in The Conjuring universe and locking in a Harry Potter series that readapts the books. IT: Welcome to Derry falls into the same camp. Watch the latest IT: Welcome to Derry teaser trailer below: IT: Welcome to Derry is set to stream via HBO Max in Australia and Neon in New Zealand from sometime in October 2025 — we'll update you with an exact release date when it is announced. Images: HBO.
Acclaimed London and Miami bar Sexy Fish is sparing no expense in launching its new cocktail menu. The renowned international venue is taking to six continents (sorry Antarctica) to unveil its latest creations, enlisting the help of four host bars across the globe to join in. Luckily for us, one of those bars is right here in Sydney, with South Eveleigh's Re- the representative from Australia. The menu launch will take place on Monday, March 6, with Sexy Fish's two venues premiering the boundary-pushing displays of mixology alongside Cape Town's Cause Effect, EL BARON in Cartagena, Zest in Seoul, and Re-. Arriving from Matt Whiley and Maurice Terzini in 2021 with a focus on sustainability and an exciting drinks list, Re- will showcase 20 cocktail creations, including 16 alcoholic combos and four non-alcoholic variations. "Re- is thrilled to have been chosen as the Australian counterpart for the launch of Sexy Fish's new cocktail menu, Trinity," says Whiley. "We've loved working with Sexy Fish to create their Trinity menu Down Under, ensuring our sharp focus on local ingredients and sustainability continue to lead the way with drinks, preferencing innovation and taste while minimising waste." Highlights from the menu include a coconut and lemongrass cocktail featuring Absolut Elyx vodka and sake; a playful creation made with marshmallow-infused gin and fortified wines; and the Coffee and Toast, which combines brown butter-infused mezcal, coffee, caramel, Campari and manzanilla. Re- will open especially for this world-spanning cocktail showcase on the Monday, with no bookings available — walk-ins only. If you want to taste what Sexy Fish has been whipping up, just venture down to South Eveleigh early and nab a spot at the bar.
