Ever since I started watching How to Make it in America I started noticing more and more graffitied vans looking very much like the Rasta Monsta van from the show. Although it's taken watching the television show to notice run-down but artfully graffitied vans about town, illustrated vans make quite an interesting addition to the otherwise boring-coloured vehicles that line the streets of the city. New York artist Kevin Cyr takes this admiration of cars-as-mobile-canvases-for-graffiti to another level. His Van Series of oil and silkscreen paintings capture the finer details of twenty vans and vehicles found in Brooklyn, NY, and take note of the commercial aspect of vehicles otherwise dismissed as well past their used-by date. [via Flavorwire]
Hankering after a dose of wellness, but lacking the time and money to escape to a fancy country retreat? Despair not. Across the weekend of June 16 and 16, a bunch of free winter wellness sessions — including yoga and meditation classes — will be taking place right here in Sydney, at the stunning Wylie's Baths in Coogee. Led by instructors from Yogarama, the event gives you a chance to quieten your mind, relax your body, breathe in fresh salty air and soak up epic ocean views, all without travelling more than a few kilometres and without spending a cent. On Saturday, there'll be morning yoga flow and mindfulness at 7:30am, followed by hatha flow yoga at 9am and meditation and hatha yoga at 10:30am. The next day, arrive at 7:30am for mat pilates, then hatha flow yoga and meditation at 9am. Online registration is essential.
In a year where Kings Cross was finally freed of its legislative shackles; Sydney reopened, locked down and then reopened again; and a dystopian doll from a hit Netflix series towered over the city, it's safe to say that there were plenty of ups and downs. Despite all of this, Sydney's hospitality and arts scene offered up new and exciting ventures from Catalonian wine bars to new citywide festivals. We compiled a list of our favourite new venues and exciting events that made this year better during the good times and the bad as part of Concrete Playground's Best of 2021 Awards. Now we're presenting the cream of the crop, with both a reader-voted People's Choice award and an overall CP Pick in each of these categories: Best New Restaurant Best New Bar Best Event Best New Space Best Lockdown Pivot So, with no further ado, the winners for 2021 are... BEST EVENT CP PICK: SEVEN METHODS OF KILLING KYLIE JENNER From Sydney theatre gems Darlinghurst Theatre Company and Green Door Theatre Company, this hilarious and whip-smart stage show explored the connection between the online and IRL, as well as the role of the internet in societal inequality. Co-directed by Zindzi Okenyo and Bardi and Jabirr Jabirr woman Shari Sebbens (Top End Wedding, The Sapphires), starring Vivienne Awosoga and Moreblessing Maturure, and supported by an all-female production team, Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner followed an argument between two friends over the eponymous influencer and her supposed 'self-made billionaire' status. The show unpacked the commodification of Black women while charging headfirst into the modern collision of the twitterverse, your digital history and how people behave IRL. Plus, if you missed it the first time, the production is returning for a limited run at Darlinghurst Theatre Company early in 2022. PEOPLE'S CHOICE: PARRAMATTA NIGHTS While Parramatta's usual arts festival Parramatta Lanes was forced to cancel and move online, Parramatta Nights sprung up in its place. Finding that sweet spot between restrictions and lockdowns, the three-week festival included a heap of activities and activations for Parra locals and patrons from across Sydney who ventured to our second city for cheap gigs, tasty food and family-friendly fun. The live music lineup took place on top of the Eat Street carpark, surrounded by the new fleet of high-rise buildings, and was absolutely stacked. On the lineup: Briggs, Ruby Fields, Triple One and The Chats, all performed for just $10 alongside a pop-up bar and a food stall from Parramatta favourite Butter. Plus, there was free live jazz in Parramatta Square, an openair cinema showing La La Land and 10 Things I Hate About You as well as Bollywood hits Tanhaji and Street Dancer, a roller rink and carnival rides for the kids. BEST LOCKDOWN PIVOT [caption id="attachment_824128" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] CP PICK: BART MART When Bart Jr and owner George Woodyard tried out a once-off lobster roll, they didn't anticipate the response it'd get. "I had about 50 people on Instagram message me asking if they could pre-order for next time, and so many people came by afterwards and said, 'please do it again'," Woodyard said. Piled high with fresh WA rock lobster, NSW Clarence River king prawns, tarragon, chive and horseradish, Bart Jr's lobster rolls eventually became a regular fixture of the Redfern bar's lockdown menu, available every Friday from the restaurant's takeaway window — lovingly named Bart Mart. While these rolls were the star of the show, there were plenty of other items to get excited about on the menu. Date-night packs, heat-at-home meals and fancy panko-crumbed market-fresh ling Fillet-O-Fishes were just some of the exciting options Bart Jr provided to bring a smile to local faces. [caption id="attachment_747368" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] PEOPLE'S CHOICE: RAGAZZI AT HOME Many of our favourite dine-in-only restaurants came up with new ways to bring their dishes into our homes during lockdown. Delivery service Providoor helped facilitate the likes of Bistrot 916, CicciaBella and Restaurant Hubert to send restaurant-quality meals to Sydneysiders with minimal preparation required. Likewise, Sydney mainstays like Rising Sun Workshop set up their own delivery services. A real highlight of this wave of delivered meals was Ragazzi, who provided Sydneysiders with the opportunity to indulge in some next-level pasta at home. Highlights from Ragazzi At Home included ravioli of burrata, house-made mortadella and cavatelli with cime di rappa and anchovy ragu, but the menu changed each week. Topping off the whole experience was the ability to add some luxe extras, such as a huge range of wine or a selection of fancy pantry items from Fabbrica to your order. BEST NEW BAR [caption id="attachment_798918" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] CP PICK: CAFE FREDA'S Like much of its clientele, Freda's has grown up — but it hasn't forgotten how to have fun. After the closure of the beloved Chippendale nightclub last year, owner David Abram didn't sit on his proverbial hands for long, opening the doors to the new iteration of Freda's just months later. As is clear from the name, Cafe Freda's isn't a nightclub. That said, it isn't really a cafe, either. It's a restaurant, neighbourhood bar and creative space. Like its predecessor, it's a haven of expression, art and music. The pastel-covered bar sits below an art gallery and hosts some of Sydney's most exciting DJs on the regular. Unlike the OG Freda's, however, here there's a stronger focus on food and wine. The kitchen is helmed by chef Xinyi Lim, with a continually changing menu that's always driven by seasonal and locally sourced produce. Topping the whole thing off is a revolving list of some of the best natural wines on offer in Sydney. [caption id="attachment_836017" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jiwon Kim[/caption] PEOPLE'S CHOICE: APOLLONIA Hidden underground in the basement level of new four-storey Sydney venue Hinchcliff House is Apollonia, a cocktail bar with an affinity for negronis and romance. The dimly lit bar is named after a character from The Godfather and embodies the love-stricken nature of Apollonia and protagonist Michael in the film. Whether you're swinging by to grab a drink or heading downstairs for a nightcap after your meal at one of the building's other venues, you're going to want to start and end with the cocktail list. From wheat vodka and Italian honey liqueur creations through to the Chinoto Manhattan made with rye, pepperberry, chinito vermouth and juniper amaro, the cocktails are flavoursome and pack a punch. If you stick around until midnight on a Friday night, you'll be treated to The Thunderbolt. This weekly tradition at Apollonia is a toast to what's important: friends, life, love and negronis. BEST NEW RESTAURANT CP PICK: MAIZ Started as a family-run food stall at the Summer Hill Flour Mill Markets by brother and sister Juan Carlos Negrete and Marissa Negrete, Maiz is an all-day Mexican brunch spot. The speciality here is the tortas, addictive fresh-baked bread rolls that come piled high with chorizo, scrambled eggs and pulled pork. Set in a beautiful openair courtyard of a historic 1830s building, Maiz sets itself apart with big, bold flavours, hefty serving sizes and a unique take on Mexican cuisine Sydney hasn't seen before. The menu is inspired by Negrete's time living in the central region of Mexico. The neat selection of brunch options purposefully steers away from tacos and highlights other mainstays of Mexico's cuisine instead. Completing your experience at Maiz is coffee from small-batch Sydney roaster Madding Crowd Coffee, plus an array of mezcal, tequila, Mexican beers and boozy agua frescas. [caption id="attachment_832341" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] PEOPLE'S CHOICE: LA SALUT La Salut is the latest showstopping venue from the team behind Love Tilly Devine and Ragazzi. Hidden inside Redfern's overhauled Norfolk House & Hotel, the buzzy 40-seat venue boasts a sleek renovated bar space lined with imported Spanish wines. At the helm of La Salut is Love Tilly's Matt Swieboda and Nate Hatwell, alongside Executive Chef and co-owner Scott McComas-Williams, who have crafted an exceptional drinks list and delectable bar food. You can begin the night with a selection of jamon, sliced fresh to order and served up with sourdough before you make a choice. Do you get several rounds of bites for the table or opt for large plates with even larger flavours? Drinks-wise, the wine list is broad and dynamic, largely focusing on different regions of Spain and a good selection of quality Australian drops. And while the vino options are exciting, the price range is by no means oppressive. BEST NEW SPACE [caption id="attachment_837012" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jordan Munns[/caption] CP PICK: PHOENIX CENTRAL PARK Phoenix Central Park is Sydney's stunning secret. Hidden in Chippendale, the arts and music listening space only opens to the public for select performances. Seats at these shows are almost always allocated via a ballot, so it takes a little luck to get inside. The intricate space is the vision of philanthropist Judith Neilson AM, founder of the White Rabbit Gallery. Its curved beige walls are reminiscent of New York's Guggenheim, while the central music space is an impressive multi-level amphitheatre. When artists hit the stage, the muted beige walls are often illuminated by colourful lighting displays, transforming the venue. If you haven't been lucky enough to find a way in, you can watch Phoenix's series of online performances, Halo. Featuring local favourites like A.Girl, Shady Nasty and Annie Hamilton, these stripped-back live shows illustrate the beauty of the space as well as the musicianship on offer. But, there's an upcoming chance to sneak your way in IRL, with the venue set to host three upcoming performances as part of Sydney Festival — all of which are open to the public via a ticket ballot. [caption id="attachment_810673" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Grana, Jiwon Kim[/caption] PEOPLE'S CHOICE: HINCHCLIFF HOUSE Hinchcliff House is a four-storey mega venue that's overtaken the heritage Hinchcliff Wool Stores in the ever-evolving Quay Quarter. The huge standstone structure plays host to five new venues: two Italian eateries, an underground cocktail bar, a private hospitality space and an attached bakery. While each venue brings something interesting to the table, the real marvel of Hinchcliff House is the huge wool store it sits within. At Grana, bare sandstone walls are accompanied by wooden beams, and large grain and wheat bundles are placed around the restaurant. The space links your dining experience to the history of the building, while the menu heroes pasta and bread made in the building's mill. Or, for something completely different, head downstairs to the Peopel's Choice for Best Bar of 2021, Apollonia. Here, the lights are dimmed and soft beige tones are traded for romantic hues, leather seats and an expansive cocktail menu. Congratulations to all the winners. Our city is a better place with you in them.
Ooh this festival is automatic, it's systematic, it's hydromatic. No, it's not Greased Lightning, it's ChromeFest. But it wouldn't be a surprise to see Danny Zuko with the sleek Greased Lightning car at this festival of vintage vehicles and nostalgia for the good ol' days. It is taking over The Entrance from Friday, October 25 to Sunday, October 27 for three days of cars and chrome. There will be 450 show cars from across the Central Coast with vehicles that can be traced back to between 1950 and 1979. The immersive nostalgia extends to the tunes, too, as rock and roll and rockabilly bands will play live on five stages throughout the festival precinct. Beyond that, the festival will feature retro market stalls, themed food, vintage fashion parades and pinup pageants. Be sure to attend the opening night of Chrome After Dark, a free night of live music in Memorial Park, to get your best boogie on and kick off the weekend with a bang.
If you're tossing and turning all night — it might not just be because of the state of the world. Your mattress and pillow is something you spend nearly a third of every day lounging on, so it's never not a good time to treat yourself to some upgrades. Luckily, premium homewares brand Ecosa wants to help out. In the lead-up to the end of financial year, everything on the Ecosa website is 25 percent off from Monday, May 31 until Wednesday, June 30. So, if you've been complaining non-stop to your office buddies about a crook neck, get yourself fancy memory foam pillow. The ergonomic pillow boasts an adjustable height, a curved shape that suits side and back sleepers and a compressible foam that supports the natural shape of your head. Plus, it comes with two compression bags so you can pack it up and take it with you everywhere. If that's not enough, Ecosa is also offering free shipping and returns Australia-wide, plus a 100-day free trial period. So if you order a mattress, bed base or one of Ecosa's new cot mattresses, you'll be treated to free same-day delivery, meaning you can start sleeping right from tonight. Ecosa is a one-stop sleep shop with luxe bamboo sheets, silk pillowcases, wooden bed base, memory foam mattress and weighted blanket all available at the discounted price. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
It’s a universal truth that ‘big things’ are generally better than small things. Consider oversized board games, for example, the main attraction at Games Central, the newest reason to visit The Rocks in your downtime. Arena Calcetto helped Sydneysiders recover from Australia’s World Cup defeat and the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority know a good thing when they see one. For five weeks, expect bigger crowds than usual at The Rocks Square as a program firmly planted in fun takes over the tourist hub with giant-sized versions of classic games like Snakes and Ladders, ping-pong, Jenga and fail-proof people-pleaser foosball. Games Central is on from noon – 3pm on Tues - Thu from September 2-18 and on Mon - Fri from September 22-26 (school holidays).
It's been a big year for Sydney hospo group Merivale. On top of reopening The Newport back in March, they've rounded out the year by opening their long-awaited Oxford Street double venue Fred's and Charlie Parker's and also buying Botany Road's Tennyson Hotel for a cool $37.5 million. And to top off a huge 2016, they're opening another new venue today, Monday, December 12. In April of 2015, they bought the iconic Queen Victoria Hotel in Enmore — and now, 19 months later, they're ready to open her back up. Like Fred's and Charlie Parker's, the Queens Hotel (as it's now known) will comprise of two venues: a restaurant and a bar. Downstairs will be home to Queen Chow, a Cantonese restaurant lead by Papi Chulo duo Christopher Hogarth and Patrick Friesen and dumpling master Eric Koh, formerly of Mr. Wong. The menu is packed full of twists on traditional Hong Kong street fare like salt and pepper cuttlefish and silken tofu and prawns with chilli bean mayo. They'll also have a whole roast duck with plum sauce on the menu, and a typhoon shelter crab, which is deep fried and served with garlic, chilli, black bean and pulp from soybeans. Dayum. If your tastes run more towards delicious pillows of filled dough, the dim sum menu has been lovingly designed by Eric Koh, guided by his 30 years of dumpling experience. He'll be serving up steamed, baked and fried dumps for lunch, dinner and late night supper — the latter of which should really be a legal requirement of all bars. And once you've gorged to satiation at Queen Chow, head upstairs to The Smelly Goat (excellent name, team) for some bizarre cocktail combos. We've got a lot of faith in the Merivale team (we recently drank a cocktail flavoured with grass from Centennial Park at Charlie Parker's), so we're willing to give their weirder inventions a try — like the Dutch Courage cocktail with carrot, Maker's Mark and white wine. Could go either way. But we're champing at the bit to try the Moloko Plus – it comes with Crunchy Nut milk, white rum and cardamom. Sounds very Momofuku Milk Bar and totally acceptable to drink at breakfast. Naturally, because it's Merivale, you'll be sipping these concoctions in supremely well-styled surrounds. The bar will have a salon feel with fabric-lined walls and black timber panelling, plus an onyx bar top and taxidermy bird boxes filling the space. It's been done in collaboration with Merivale regulars Amanda Talbot and Kelvin Ho of Akin Creative, who have also styled the downstairs restaurant as well. The Queens Hotel is Merivale's first venture into Sydney's inner west, so it'll be interesting to see how to the venue is received by locals. End-of-year drinks, anyone? The Queens Hotel opens at noon on Monday, December 12 at 167 Enmore Road, Enmore. It will be open for lunch, dinner and supper seven days a week. For more info, visit merivale.com.au/queenshotel.
Is there anything to look forward to on Mondays? Thanks to Love, Tilly Devine, now there is: lasagne. Chef Harry Levy's pork and veal lasagne with rosemary-infused sofrito, to be exact. From July 2 to September 3, the Darlinghurst wine bar will be pairing slices of its lasagne with a glass of organic red for $25, every Monday night. The catch? There are only nine slices available each week. So, we suggest heading in as soon as the doors open at 5pm to beat the crowd of vino and pasta aficionados and secure a coveted piece. Chef Harry Levy has been working on his bolognese recipe since he was a teen, in an attempt to replicate his mum's, and it features a slew of tasty ingredients — veal, porcini mushrooms and a creation he calls "chilli guy" (chilli and garlic). Levy says lasagne is perfect for winter (and gloomy Mondays) because "it's comforting and nostalgic". We agree. While the brand of wine will change each week, it will always be an organic drop from the wine bar's extensive list. Expect bold reds and funky drops, such as a cabernet franc from Yarra Valley's Blood Moon winery. Image: Buffet Digital
It's cherry blossom season and Ultimo's Oh Matcha is getting into the swing of things with $1 sakura soft serves for three hours on Thursday, August 11. From 5–8pm on the day, patrons will be able to pick up a bright-pink mini soft serve made with sakura cherry blossom powder and topped with match powder and edible flowers. While this promotion is only available for three hours, the limited-time flavour will be available from Oh Matcha throughout August in both soft serve and sundae form. The first 100 customers to visit Oh Matcha on Thursday, August 11 will also be given a free dessert voucher, with the store slinging over $1000 worth of vouchers over the course of the day. While you're there, you can also pick yourself up a black sesame or matcha float, a hot matcha latte or choose from a range of cakes. To stay up to date with all of the cherry blossom celebrations, follow Oh Matcha on Instagram.
Sydney's newest hotel is so keen on the whole 'choose-your-own-adventure' idea that, when it opens next month, it will let guests select their own rooms. Billed as the city's "first authentic custom designed hotel", Camperdown's soon-to-open Collectionist Hotel wants to push that concept of individualised guest experiences to a whole new level, letting them pick a favourite from the assortment of designer suites on offer. It's slated to open next month in a former warehouse space, where a team of seven designers and 13 artists have been kept busy creating 39 unique rooms. But instead of being allocated a random suite, guests at The Collectionist will suss out the available rooms at check-in and choose exactly where they want to spend their stay over a welcome drink — a concept Collectic Hotels co-founder Daniel Symonds likens to browsing works of art. No two two rooms are the same, apparently, as each will boast its own unique colours, textures and style. A great idea if you're in the mood to choose, but probably less than ideal when you're crashing hard after a long-haul flight. Or if all the rooms have already been taken by people who arrived earlier than you. Unsurprisingly, The Collectionist has also done away with the usual room number caper, in favour of eclectic names like the Queenie Fah Fah, Cloud Runner and La Chamber Noir. Just don't expect them all to be your cup of tea. "I would be surprised — and a little disappointed, to be honest — if there weren't some divided opinions on the rooms designs," said Symonds. "We have purposely set about creating rooms that will challenge the 'norms' on hotel room design." The Collectionist Hotel will open at 9–13 Marsden Street, Camperdown in May 2018. You can't book a room yet, but you can check the website for updates.
Visual artist Ho Tzu Nyen loves cats. While previous works have explored Singapore's colonial past, in Ten Thousand Tigers, Nyen chooses to reveal one of his home country's neglected histories — the history of the feline. In this work, he reveals how cats, whether "big and small, wild and domesticated, imagined and real" have had real, undervalued significance in the birth of the nation. Premiering in Australia at Carriageworks for the first time, Nyen's visual work, Ten Thousand Tigers pays homage to the symbolic power and sheer magnificence of the Malayan tiger. Blending together live performance, video, installation, and sound, Nyen's work is a spectacular sight of surreal theatrics that hopes to unearth the supernatural cosmologies and mythical folklores surrounding the creature. As an artist, Nyen has previously displayed exhibitions at the Guggenheim, the Venice Biennale, Tate Modern and Sydney's Artspace, among others. Image: Ho Tzu Nyen, Ten Thousand Tigers, 2014 Esplanade Singapore (Olivia Kwok).
Giant of the design and art market world, Finders Keepers will blow back into Sydney the last weekend of November. Running over the Friday, Saturday and Sunday at The Cutaway in Barangaroo, Finders Keepers will bring with it over 200 stalls — and a lot of very nice things that you can splash your emergency dosh on. What's an emergency if not needing to treat yourself to some fancy new threads, jewellery or homewares, stat? It's called 'retail therapy', look it up. As well as supporting local designers, the market will house a smorgasbord of talented folk from around the country. Plus, all these artisanal wares are coming to town just in time for you to tackle your Christmas shopping list early. To avoid aimless wandering (though there are plenty of food trucks, coffee pit stops and even bars to keep you sustained during your visit), here's a handy list of the five stalls you should scope out first. FOR ETHICAL FASHION: THE SOCIAL OUTFIT The Social Outfit does more than just providing you with a snazzy Christmas Day outfit: the Newtown-based brand, which will make its Finders Keepers debut this season, provides employment and training to refugees and new migrants. Focusing on helping its employees build their skills and providing a support network, The Social Outfit is giving back to the community while also creating really cute shirts. And, those shirts are made from organic, end-of-roll and remnant fabrics donated to it, which has so far saved more than four tonnes of textile waste since the team began in 2014. FOR ARTWORK: EGGPICNIC Design studio Eggpicnic creates illustrations of birds and other wild animals that toe the line between sketch, digital art and cartoon. And the friendly little critters are all designed in the name of wildlife conservation. Set up by Camila De Gregorio and Christopher Macaluso, both designers, the illustrations are simple, colourful and meaningful. Working with not-for-profit partners, Eggpicnic supports conservation efforts through its sales — including protecting endangered species and action on climate change. Once you've seen these amazing designs, we bet you'll start spotting them everywhere, with large-scale public art pieces installed all around the city. FOR YOUR BAG: MEMOBOTTLE There's nothing more convenient than a water bottle that fits in every bag you have, right? Memobottle sees your ratty old Pump bottle and raises you its slim, flat pack-design. Available in either A5 (750 millilitre) or A6 (375 millilitre) sizes, choose whichever fits best with your daily bag situation and off you go. It's stylish and contributes to the reduction of single use plastics. The A6 is even slender enough to fit into a pocket, so dehydration is a thing of the past even if you don't generally carry bags. FOR HOMEWARES: HOME BY HARLEQUIN If you're in search of a fancy vessel to house whatever it is you like to put inside your canisters (there's something comforting and grown-up about storing your dried pasta in them, surely), then this is a go-to for you. Home by Harlequin creates many a stylish, hand-crafted vessel made from casting stone. Finished with resin and oil, they have the vibe of ceramics without the use of a kiln. Coloured oxides pepper the canisters with both bright and neutral colours, so there'll be something to please everyone and their preferred aesthetic. Started by Lauren Eaton, a Sydney-based creative and maker, she'll brighten up your house with her wares (whether they're holding flowers, pasta or your M&M stash). FOR A BITE TO EAT: MISS LILLY'S KITCHEN Fact: there's nobody in the world who hates pie. But if we're mistaken, and you do, turn away now. Sweet, savoury, shared or all to yourself, pie time is every time (breakfast, lunch and dinner are all A-plus pie opportunities). If you're catching on to the fact that we're into pie, pick up what we're putting down and swing by Miss Lilly's Kitchen: purveyors of pies and pastries all made with spelt flour, free-range eggs and meat. Those who normally stay away from pies because of wheat will be pleased to know there are gluten-free options, too. For more information about the Sydney's Finders Keepers Spring/Summer 2018 market and for the full list of vendors, head to the website. Images: Eggpicnic/Memo Bottle, Samee Lapham, Finders Keepers Sydney Autumn/Winter 2018.
Wandering through a delightfully heated gallery, musing haughtily over the eccentricities of an abstract work, then mulling over a peppery glass of Malbec in the gallery cafe has to be one of the more indulgent, undeniably snooty but nevertheless excellent ways to spend a wintry Sydney hour. Time is of the essence this month, with a smattering of exhibitions concerned with the past, present and (especially) the future taking over Sydney galleries in August. You can also see the latest painting series by two artists known for their emotional insight, visit a group show starring your new favourite female photographers and take in a seriously exhilarating survey exhibition of Australian artist David Griggs.
If the only thing stopping you from existing entirely on fried chicken is the threat of skyrocketing cholesterol levels and less-than-healthy arteries, the soon-to-launch Goobne is sure to take your fancy. The legendary Korean chicken chain is known for dishing up a slightly more virtuous spin on crispy chook, and it's launched its first Aussie store. Making its home within the Darling Square food precinct, this Sydney flagship caters to those chicken cravings without undoing too many efforts at the gym. Goobne's signature bird has the kind of crisp skin you dream about, but because it's oven-roasted without any oil, it's also a whole lot healthier than its fried counterparts. There are seven varieties of saucy roast chicken to choose from, including black pepper, a fruity soy and garlic number, and the fiery Volcano. You'll also find dishes like the UFO Fondue Chicken, which sees drumsticks scooped through a pool of rich melted cheese. The menu also stars a swag of fried rice creations, noodle dishes and sides, including the signature Goobne egg rolls that come topped with various house-made sauces. And, potentially most excitingly, everything can be ordered directly to your table using your smartphone. Meanwhile, a lineup of K-razy Cocktails lives up to its name, with concoctions like the vibrant blue Sharknado and the Corona-Rita — a tequila on the rocks crowned with an upside down stubby of Corona. Find Goobne at Darling Square, 35 Tumbalong Boulevard, Haymarket. It's open from 11.30am until late every day. Updated: December 2, 2019.
The freshly prettified Prince Alfred Park will welcome the Surry Hills Festival home this year, along with a killer program of musicians, art installations, pop-up bars, the ever-integral Surry Hills Dog Show and a cool new Sustainability Hub showcasing fresh ways to live green. Food, arts and dog-related details will be announced as Saturday 27 October draws closer, but for now you can get excited about the musical line-up released this morning. And with the festival set to draw culture-hungry folks from far beyond the 2010 postcode to the sprawling grounds there really is something for everyone. This year will see artists playing across two separate stages and a cozy Chai Temple. On the main stage headliners Tijuana Cartel will be emitting the rhythmic electro-reggae beats along with their new single “Snappy Tom” (a Surry Hills exclusive), and plenty of great preceding acts will provide a satisfying progression of sonic accompaniments for everything from single-origin lattes to craft amber ales. Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire!, True Vibenation, The Liberators and Nantes will be among those setting the cogs in motion. When the sun goes down and the kids go home the Purple Sneakers, Softwar and Slow Blow DJs will be spinning vinyls with Canyons and Alison Wonderland, and the aforementioned Chai Temple will provide acoustic repose and pillows for those less disco-inclined. Full music line-up is: Tijuana Cartel Alison Wonderland Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! The Tongue Canyons (DJ Set) Nantes Purple Sneakers DJs The Liberators Softwar SOSUEME DJs Mojo Juju Slow Blow True Vibenation Rhythm Section Showcase Steve Smyth Keyim Ba Madhu The Surry Hills Festival 2012 will take place on Saturday, 27 October in Prince Albert Park (cnr Chalmers & Cleveland Streets) from 9.30am
It's the film festival that gives German cinema fans a showcase of the European nation's latest and greatest movies without leaving Australia. It's a way to catch up on highlights from the Berlin International Film Festival from Down Under, too. And, it's where German-language flicks from beyond the obvious nation equally get their time to shine. Here's another description that fits: it's also where one of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's masterpieces is almost always on the bill. The event in question is the German Film Festival, which has a huge 2025 in store even just by the numbers. Making its way around Australia between Wednesday, April 30–Wednesday, May 28, this year's fest has 29 days of movies on offer across eight legs in nine places and 23 cinemas. Cinephiles in Sydney, get excited: 20 features, plus 14-part miniseries Berlin Alexanderplatz, are hitting Palace Norton Street, Chauvel Cinema, Palace Central and Palace Moore Park between Thursday, May 1–Wednesday, May 21. Fassbinder's addition to this year's program is playing on the silver screen across three weekends — and clearing your diary to see the page-to-screen great that is Berlin Alexanderplatz couldn't be more highly recommended. The German Film Festival's 2025 opening-night pick is romantic comedy Long Story Short, kicking off the celebration of cinema by giving Australia the chance to see one of Germany's recent box-office smashes. Other highlights across the complete program include six flicks that first played at this year's Berlinale, spanning closing night's Mother's Baby, the Nina Hoss (Tár)-starring Cicadas and conspiracy thriller Hysteria, alongside Hildegard Knef-focused documentary I Want It All, comedy of manners What Marielle Knows and the family-friendly Circusboy. That strand of movies also demonstrates the fest's fondness for variety, and for veering from the amusing to the thrilling and the dramatic. Or, attendees can catch Anatomy of a Fall Oscar-nominee Sandra Hüller in heist comedy Two to One, which is based on real-life events in 1990; Lars Eidinger (Babylon Berlin) as an orchestra conductor in Dying; Sam Riley (Widow Clicquot) in biopic John Cranko, about the choreographer; the literary loving The Door-to-Door Bookstore, as fittingly based on the novel; or Winners, which picked up the 2024 German Film Award for Best Children's Film.
The Ingenia Holiday Parks Sydney Family Show is back for 2025, and it's set to be a goodie, especially if you have energetic little ones in tow. From Saturday, April 12 to Sunday, April 27, gather the kids and head to The Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park for an Easter wonderland with exciting attractions, rides and entertainment for the whole fam. The Ingenia Holiday Parks Sydney Family Show really does offer something for everyone. Especially since this year's event introduces brand-new stage performances, including the Paw Patrol Stage Show, which will run from Saturday, April 12 to Tuesday, April 22 and the Bluey Live Interactive Experience, which will run from Wednesday, April 13 to Sunday, April 27. Or, if your kids prefer to walk on the wild side, there will be returning favourites like the Monster Jump inflatable obstacle course and an all-new Monster Sports Jam, both bringing high-energy sports activities into the festivities. If you and the fam prefer a classic, carnival-style affair, you can immerse yourself in carnival rides, stunt shows and animal encounters, and for the parents, there will be plenty of shopping and food stalls. And, of course, no Easter weekend is complete without show bags. If you love dogs, the Dachshund Day on Sunday, April 13, will offer doggie talent shows, themed market stalls and adorable dachshund meetups. And on the final day of the show, the Greyhound Adoption Day can get you meeting greyhounds in need of a forever home. There will be two hours of free parking available to take the time pressure off of any pup-to-be meetings. Whether you're there for the animals, the rides or just a fun day out with the kids, the Ingenia Holiday Parks Sydney Family Show offers all your favourite easter show traditions with great value – just in time for the school holidays. Images: Supplied. For more information or to book your tickets, visit the website.
Actors are sometimes accused of narcissism, attention-seeking behaviour and daftness. The Lunch Hour by Chris Aronsten at Darlinghurst Theatre, directed by Kate Gaul, is not helping. The play is a self-referential, singing, dancing farce about actors employed at a theatre box office, where they surreptitiously work on grant applications and project ideas whilst being hounded by their ineffectual washed-up boss, Martin, a playwright. Theatre about theatre can be plagued by in-jokes and narrowness, but it doesn't have to be a sentence to irrelevance. The Sydney Theatre Company's The Histrionic was about theatre as well as (among other things) the xenophobia of Austria and, by extension, Australia. The Lunch Hour, by comparison, is theatre about only theatre. It reveals some extreme narcissism on the part of Aronsten and a poor programming decision by Darlinghurst Theatre. What seems to have been intended as a cathartic group hug for struggling artists is more like an embarrassing 'overshare', to use an ugly word. These details of actors' lives are neither interesting nor dramatic. Often when plot is missing there are at least some remarkable relationships to hone in on, which in this case are also not forthcoming. Some of the cast have moments of triumph over the text. For example, Branden Christine playing a grouchy Fran has some smooth dance moves and very funny rapping. Similarly, Briallen Clarke playing a dopey Felicity and Bali Padda playing the cleaner, Ali, were comic standouts. The problem with this play is not so much its tiny scope but its complete lack of breadth. David Williamson and Joanna Murray-Smith may be prime examples of Australian parochialism, but they at least attempt to tell relevant stories, after a fashion. The Lunch Hour is not only provincial; it is also about absolutely nothing. Thankfully, this sort of infantile storytelling is an exception to Sydney's otherwise stimulating theatre community.
Located in Greenwich on Sydney's north shore, The Hairdresser has been operating since 1982 with an ethos as straightforward as its name — sustainability with superior performance. The Hairdresser is a chemical-free salon that specialises in curly and fine hair, offering elevated styles and innovative techniques to their clients. You can get a basic blow-dry starting from $62, while more complex dos are $105 (45 minutes) or $125 (60 minutes) — just talk to the team about what you're hoping to achieve and they will let you know how much time is needed. Plus, The Hairdresser offers hair extensions, if long, voluminous locks are what you desire.
Food. Wine. Art. If any of these words pique your interest, then Sydney's five-day French celebration is for you. Uniting people in the spirit of Bastille Day, the popular event is back again in 2021 — after sitting out 2020 for obvious reasons. This year's street fest will take over Circular Quay with everything from live tunes to wine tastings. Expect a big emphasis on the latter, of course — and food, too. All that wandering and watching is hungry (and thirsty) work, after all, so there'll be around 70 pop-ups keeping guests fed and watered. From Wednesday, July 14–Sunday, July 18, you'll be able to tuck into fresh raclette, feast your way through plenty of other cheeses, fill out your wine-tasting passport and enjoy a few crepes. Or, pick up a couple of macarons, grab a glass of sparkling from the champagne bar, sip the best craft brews France has to offer and warm up over a mulled wine — or several. If previous years are anything to go by, Bastille Festival is set to be an epic showcase of food, wine and art. That said, this year's event will be a little smaller in scale than previous years in order to provide attendees with a COVID-safe experience.
Anything Jamie Dornan can do, Zac Efron can, too? That's the situation that'll play out on streaming service Stan this January. First, Dornan will get stranded in the outback in TV thriller The Tourist, and then Efron will do the same in Gold — aka the movie he shot when he decamped from Hollywood to Australia during the pandemic and seemed to be the only thing other than COVID-19 that was making headlines. Gold will also play in some cinemas, if you'd like to watch Efron try to survive the Aussie landscape on the big screen — with the film receiving a theatrical release on January 13, then streaming via Stan on January 26. Wherever you choose to watch it, you'll see the High School Musical, The Greatest Showman and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile actor get a serious case of gold fever after stumbling upon the biggest gold nugget ever found. Efron's character, known only as Man One, discovers the huge chunk of gold with the movie's writer/director/co-star Anthony Hayes (Total Control) — who, yes, plays a figure known as Man Two. The pair of drifters then come up with a plan to excavate the precious metal, but it involves Man One staying behind to guard it while Man Two goes to nab the necessary equipment. As the just-dropped first trailer for Gold shows, that doesn't look too promising for Man One. Gold also features Wentworth and Cargo's Susie Porter as a stranger who crosses Man One's path — and obviously features oh-so-many lingering looks at the outback backdrop that filmmakers have loved ever since 70s greats such as Wake in Fright and Walkabout. Plonking big-name stars against Australia's striking terrain is only a small genre, but it's still a growing one — with Gold joining everything from The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Australia to The Rover and The Dressmaker. Check out the trailer for Gold below: Gold will screen in selected cinemas from January 13, and stream via Stan from January 26.
It's blast from the past time, again — and time to spend a couple of nights journeying back a few decades just by hitting the dance floor. Whether you lived through the 90s rave scene, spent every weekend enjoying club life in the 00s or just wish you were old enough to have ticked both boxes, Ministry of Sound will take you there when its huge Testament parties return for 2024. Ministry of Sound itself was around through both eras, so you couldn't be in better hands to get retro via old-school 90s and 00s bangers. The Testament events last toured Australia in 2023, and will return for this year from the end of August through to early September — for two nights each in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, plus one-day-only stops on the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast. Each evening is devoted to either the 90s or the 00s, so you'll need to attend both if you want to make shapes to tunes from both decades. But it's a choose-your-own-adventure type of affair, so fans of late 20th-century beats can hit up the session dedicated to 90s house, rave, trance and garage tracks if that's all that you're keen on, while lovers of 00s electro and breaks get their own shindig. More than 80 DJs will be on the decks between Saturday, August 31–Sunday, September 8, with Danny Rampling, Judge Jules and Seb Fontaine joined by Mousse T, Laidback Luke and X-Press 2 on headlining duties. The first three, all from the UK, are all about the 90s — and the second three are no strangers to getting dance floors pumping with 00s tunes. Australia's own John Course, Mark Dynamix and Dirty South are also on the lineup, alongside over 70 other names across the tour. And if you went to 2023's events, you'll be making a date with different venues in some cities. In Sydney, the newly reopened White Bay Power Station will host a music party of this type for the first time. In Brisbane, Felons Barrel Hall awaits for letting loose by the river. Ministry of Sound: Testament 2024 Dates: Sydney: Saturday, August 31 — 00s session at White Bay Power Station Saturday, September 7 — 90s session at White Bay Power Station Melbourne: Saturday, August 31 — 90s session at The Timber Yard Saturday, September 7 — 00s session at The Timber Yard Brisbane: Sunday, September 1 — 00s session at Felons Barrel Hall Friday, September 6 — 90s session at Felons Barrel Hall Gold Coast: Sunday, September 1 — 90s session at Miami Marketta Sunshine Coast: Sunday, September 8 — 00s session at The Station Perth: Friday, August 30 — 00s session at Metro City Sunday, September 8 — 90s session at The Court Ministry of Sound: Testament 2024 Lineup: Danny Rampling Judge Jules Laidback Luke Mousse T Seb Fontaine X-Press 2 Dirty South John Course Mark Dynamix Minx Alex Taylor Andy Murphy Ange Annabelle Gasper Barking Boy Ben Korbel B2B Declan Lee Boogs Casey Leaver Cassette Chantal Chiari Chris Wilson Craig Obey Darren Briais Diamond D Ember Franky D Gavin Campbell General Lee Goodwill Greg Sara Hutcho Ian Spicer Illya Jackness Jade James A Jen E JJ John Ferris Jumping Jack Kate Monroe Kevin Matt Kitshon Matt Nugent Menis Micah Miggy Mike Dotch Mind Electric Ming D Miss Doodes Mr Sparkles Pete McNamara pH Pussymittens Rachel Harvey Rob Sharp Robbie Lowe Robin Knight RobKAY Rudy Sam Hill Sardi Sgt Slick Shamus & Gabby Sheen Spacey Space Stephen Ferris Sunshine Sweet Chilli DJ's T-Rek Tim McGee Tonez Trent Anthony Ministry of Sound: Testament 2024 will tour Australia in August and September. For further details, and to buy tickets — with pre-sale registrations until 11.59pm on Tuesday, May 21, then pre-sales from 12pm on Wednesday, May 22 and general sales from 12pm on Thursday, May 23 — head to the event's website. Images: Rachel Rachel / Ashlea Caygill.
Throwing axes: yay or nay? Unsurprisingly, hurling hatches is the type of activity that probably has you leaning one way or another. Curious about giving it a go, but haven't gotten around to hitting up Sydney's Maniax in Marrickville? Let Winterfest tempt you in. This one-afternoon-only event is all about coming along and trying — and it'll let you get chucking weapons for cheap. From 12–5pm on Sunday, August 6, Maniax is doing 15-minute sessions for just $15 per person. Already sent a few Maniax blades flying in the past? You can still head on over to score some cheap entertainment for the afternoon. For the uninitiated, Maniax gives you the chance to very safely throw a hunk of sharpened steel attached to a handle, and compete with your partner and/or friends to see who has the most Viking blood coursing through them. Sling those axes, sink a bullseye, then calm down after all the hatchet-lobbing excitement with a drink. To assist with the latter, Winterfest is doing pizza-and-beer deals for two for $30, too.
While the extended sunny days and warm temperatures may seem like a gift, in truth the region is also experiencing one of the most severe droughts on record. Two years on and the drought in rural New South Wales and Greater Sydney shows no sign of slowing — so the NSW Government is taking action and placing the city on enforced water restrictions for the first time in almost decade. They'll come into effect this Saturday, June 1, with the level one restrictions affecting both residents and businesses in Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra. Last month recorded one of the lowest April rainfalls in 16 years and Sydney is currently seeing some of the lowest inflows into dams since the 1940s. The immediate future isn't looking too promising, either, with the BOM predicting below-average rainfall and higher temperatures throughout winter. Greater Sydney's dam levels, at time of publication, were sitting at 53.4 percent. While water restrictions are usually automatically triggered when levels dip below 50 percent, the NSW Government has introduced them early to help protect Sydney's water supply from drought conditions. So what does this mean for Sydneysiders day-to-day? At the current restriction level, you can still water your garden and lawn with a watering can — or you can use a trigger nozzle hose, but only before 10am or after 4pm. Use of standard sprinkler systems are a big no-no, though. You can also wash your car and garbage bins, but only with a bucket or trigger nozzle hose. You also can't clean pathways, driveways or other paved areas with a hose. Here's the full list of what you can and can't do at this stage. While fines for not following restrictions range from $220–550, there is a three-month grace period. Fines will commence on September 1. The last time water restrictions were enforced in Sydney was in 2003 (lasting till 2009) during the Millennium Drought. At one point, Sydney's total water supply dropped to a historic low of 33.9%. Level one water restrictions for Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra kick off on Saturday, June 1. To find out more about what you can and can't do, head to the Sydney Water website. To stay up-to-date with the state's dam levels and the ongoing drought, keep an eye on WaterNSW website and Twitter.
Singer-songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov is a bit of an anomaly in the music world. Despite his success in music (he has clocked over 300 million streams on Spotify), Isakov still spends as much time as possible on his land, sewing seeds, growing crops and recording in his home studio. It's a testament to Colorado's beauty — the US state is famous for its vast prairies, rugged mountains and tumbling waterfalls. It's also a musical paradise, with 360 festivals held every year. And we want you to experience all that this state has to offer. So, to celebrate Isakov's upcoming Australian tour, we're giving away a trip to his homeland. For five days, you and a mate will get to explore some incredible scenery, plus see Isakov live in concert at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver. This epic prize, worth a cool $5596, includes return flights to Denver, Colorado, three nights in a loft-style room in lower-downtown hotel The Maven, tickets to Isakov's show and a bunch of other local adventures — all thanks to Visit Denver. Next up, thanks to Colorado Tourism Office, you'll have two days of free exploration around Colorado with a rental car and accommodation in a town of your choice (within two hours' drive of Denver). And if you don't land the main prize, we also have tickets to give away to his concert here in Sydney on Saturday, March 16. Enter with your details below for a chance to win. [competition]708847[/competition] Image: Colorado Josh.
With international travel banned indefinitely and many Australian states and territories closing their borders, travel is in no one's immediate plans — and the airline industry is responding accordingly. In late March, Qantas and Jetstar suspended all international flights and cut domestic flights by 60 percent, temporarily stepping down two-thirds of their 30,000-person staff in the process. Virgin Australia also suspended all international flights from March 30 — and cut domestic flights by 50 percent — but is now reducing its local capacity even further. From yesterday, Friday, April 10, Virgin Australia has suspended all domestic passenger flights except for a return service between Melbourne and Sydney, running once daily except Saturdays. In a statement on the airline's website, the group said "Demand for travel has continued to decline with border restrictions and the need for people to stay home due to social distancing measures." https://www.facebook.com/virginaustralia/photos/a.10151888728861990/10156927916476990/?type=3&theater Tasmania, WA, SA, NT and Queensland have all closed their borders to non-essential travel and require interstate visitors to quarantine for 14 days. And, as of yesterday, Queenslanders are required to obtain a permit to cross back over the border from interstate, too. These measures are similar to those currently in place for Australians returning from overseas, which mandates compulsory 14-day isolation periods for all international travellers Qantas and Jetstar haven't yet announced further cuts to their domestic flights, and all three airlines currently working with the government to help bring stranded Australians home. Qantas is helping bring Aussies back from Peru, Argentina and South Africa, while Virgin Australia is running flights to Los Angeles and Hong Kong. If you have ticket for travel up to June 30, 2020, Virgin Australian will let you change your booking or cancel and request a travel credit with no change and cancellation fees. You can find out more about this on its website. For more information about Virgin Australia's reductions, visit its website. For further details about Qantas and Jetstar's plans, visit the company's website.
Fittingly located on Waratah Street in the centre of Mona Vale, Aqua Rosa's beautiful flower arrangements are sure to brighten up your day. Chose between native bouquets of banksias, bottlebrushes and dried eucalyptus, to pretty pink posies and elegant orchids, or pick up a cute knick knack for a gift. The friendly staff are on hand to help pick out the perfect florals, and to put together an arrangement that could be mistaken for an art installation. Images: Trent van der Jagt.
A new Japanese cafe in Ashfield has garnered much attention since it opened earlier this year. But its owners, former chefs at Lotus Barangaroo and Billy Kwong, didn't set out to open a cafe — they just wanted to make great miso. "We started off making our own miso paste and dressing, and people kept asking us how to use it," says Donna Chau, who co-owns Koku Culture with Kenji Okuda. "So we decided to open a cafe around these products, where we'd make everyday food but with a Japanese twist." Think smashed avo on thick-cut milk toast from Newtown's Azuki Bakery ($16); zucchini, corn and nori fitters with yuzu sour cream and chilli salt ($15.50); and a matcha soufflé pancake ($16) topped with brûléed custard and served with fresh fruit and honey comb. [caption id="attachment_755408" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brûlée matcha pancake by Kimberley Low[/caption] You'll find these three on Koku Culture's all-day brekkie menu — a second lunch menu kicks off from 10am. Everything on both, apart from the seared wagyu ($23), comes in under $20, so a brunch here won't bust your summer holiday budget. On the later menu, there's a confit king salmon with green tea soba noodles and house-made miso dressing ($19) and the popular crispy rice burgers (with rice in place of buns) featuring beef, koji chicken or a corn fritter (all $15). Another fan-favourite is the wok-fried eggs, which is a little like a deconstructed okonomiyaki (savoury Japanese pancake): the crispy eggs are laid on a bed of purple cabbage and topped with bacon, dancing bonito flakes, Sriracha and okonomiyaki sauce. A daily specials board offers the likes of a sesame-crusted tofu noodle salad with spicy soy dressing and a matcha sundae, which we hope makes a reappearance during the hotter summer days. And for drinks, there's Single O coffee and weekly changing blends, plus matcha, hojicha (roasted green tea) and yuzu teas. You can order iced versions of all of these, too. [caption id="attachment_755403" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matcha sundae by Kimberley Low[/caption] The intimate 29-seat Ashfield cafe is meant to feel like an extension of Chau and Okuda's nearby home. It's a simple fit-out with herringbone tiled walls, light timber tables — with a mix of low, high and bench seating — and heaps of natural light. If you (understandably) develop a miso addiction after visiting Koku Culture, you can nab the duo's packaged products for takeaway at the cafe and at the Erskineville Farmers Market. A vegan kimchi will also be released imminently and a range of soy sauces is slated for release sometime in 2020. Find Koku Culture at 1/355 Liverpool Road, Ashfield. It's open from 7am–4pm daily. Images: Kimberley Low.
This Friday Belles Will Ring will bring their new single, Come North With Me Baby, Wow to The Gaelic Hotel. Equal parts the blameless blues of Morphine and the retro-quirk of Belle and Sebastian, these Blue-Mountaineers know how to make your memory pine for places it never went. Featuring distorted guitar lines and a dusty mariarchi brass section, Come North With Me Baby, Wow is evocative and deftly nostalgic, with the dreamy drone-pop edge that made 2007's debut, Mood Patterns, and 2008's mini-album, Broader Than Broadway, perfect soundtracks for summer. Recorded in the Blue Mountains with frontman Liam Judson presiding once again over the production controls, the single is accompanied by a remix of Come To My Village by Cloud Control's Alister Wright. It includes a lush B-side beauty, Old Man Tomorrow, with Lauren Crew on lead vocals for the first time. Come North With Me Baby, Wow is pastoral psych-pop styling at its best, and with support from acousmatics Guineafowl and new-wavers Magnetic Heads, Belles Will Ring promise to entertain at The Gaelic — or, if nothing else, provide an otherworldly backdrop to your night of whimsical drinking. https://youtube.com/watch?v=c_7AwkXZa_w
In what might just be one of the hottest collabs to hit Sydney this season, Cafe Kitsuné has taken up residency in Surry Hills, joining forces with a slew of local talent to deliver one very tasty, super stylish pop-up. With previous instalments in Tokyo, Paris and Seoul, the cafe concept from cult French fashion label Maison Kitsuné has finally hit Australia, making its home at Surry Hills cafe Artificer from November 28 to December 21. Australian fashion retailer Incu is co-helming this local iteration: a part cafe, part retail space showcasing the Café Kitsuné collection of tableware, ready-to-wear threads and accessories in Australia for the first time. The drinks list will feature a range of Café Kitsuné classics, including coffee made on the label's own beans, iced yuzu and the signature iced matcha latte. To match, you'll find sweet treats from some Sydney favourites — think, Mango Yuzu Cheese by Black Star Pastry a limited-edition Gelato Messina Green Tea-ramisu and assorted delights from Brickfields Bakery. Cafe Kitsuné x Incu is open from 7am–3pm Tuesday–Friday and 8am–1pm Saturday and Sunday.
Ah, Sriracha. Possibly the only condiment with a true cult following. From ramen to lollies, it can be used on and in anything, literally. Devotes can’t live without that so hot but so good burn that leaves mouths on fire, noses runny and eyes watery. Well, people, there’s some bad news. The major Sriracha factory in California is partially shutting down. All because the citizens of Irwindale couldn’t take a little heat. Residents complained of heartburn, inflamed asthma and even nosebleeds that were caused by a "spicy odour" coming from the factory. They took Huy Fong Foods to court, where a local judge ordered the manufacturer to stop doing, er, whatever they were doing to cause the stench. The ruling does not order the company to stop operating entirely, nor specify the types of actions that are required. Basically, they can go back to making their spicy sauce once they get that damn smell under wraps. The best part: the judge conceded to the "lack of credible evidence" linking the apparent health problems to the odour, but said that it seems to be "extremely annoying, irritating and offensive to the senses warranting consideration as a public nuisance." Weeeak. So what does this mean for Sriracha lovers? Well, because Huy Fong uses only the freshest chillies in its secret recipe, the fiery little guys must be ground within days of harvest. This process, which happens only two or three months out of the year, has fortunately been completed. The bottling process goes on year round, but a partial shutdown of this factory, the largest of two, could leave the sauce to spoil. Since the company already struggles to keep up with its growing global demand, this is no bueno. Huy Fong’s founder, David Tran, claims he’s never raised the wholesale price for the sauce in over 30 years, but that might have to change. So you might want to think about making a supermarket trip or two, like soon. Image via ilovememphis. Story via Quartz.
That bully who stole your lunch money in school? Send 'em glitter. In one of the most gleefully evil services we've seen in years, website Ship Your Enemies Glitter does just that — you hand over AUD$10, they send an envelope of glitter (or "herpes of the craft world") to your enemies. They'll inevitably open the suspicious package, get glitter all over themselves and never be able to rid themselves of the shiny stuff again. "We fucking hate glitter. People call it the herpes of the craft world," say the team on their site. "What we hate more though are the soulless people who get their jollies off by sending glitter in envelopes. We’ve had enough so here’s the deal: there’s someone in your life right now who you fucking hate. Whether it be your shitty neighbour, a family member or that bitch Amy down the road who thinks it’s cool to invite you to High Tea but not provide any weed." Thanks to Reddit, the site has gone viral and is experiencing the odd downed service moment due to epic visits. We know what you're thinking, isn't this pretty dangerous? Envelopes full of suspicious stuff are White House lockdown material. The Inquisitr pointed out the FAQs on the site reveal a darker side to the seemingly lighthearted prank. But the Ship Your Enemies Glitter team aren't backing down. One user complained, "My recipient got glitter in both eyeballs, is now blind and would like to file charges. Help?" To which the team simply replied, "Heh." Way harsh Tai. UPDATE 11AM THURSDAY, JANUARY 14: After being in business for about 24 hours, Ship Your Enemies Glitter is up for sale. After making a cheeky five figures in less than a day, Owner Mathew Carpenter tweeted this last night: "ShipYourEnemiesGlitter with 1m visits, 270k social shares, $xx,xxx in sales, tonnes of people wanting to order. 24 hours old. For sale." According to StartUp Smart, Carpenter claims the website had a cheeky one million visits, 270,000 social media shares and sold over six figures in glitter within an hour. Now he's done. Crafty bastard. Via Inquisitr and StartUp Smart.
Activewear fans, we've got some big news: P.E. Nation is bringing back its warehouse sample sale — but, this year, it's all online. The athleisure experts hosted their first ever sample sale in 2016 (and everything sold out in the first day) but, luckily, you don't have to worry about being crushed in a throng this year. You just need to have your mouse at the ready. Whether you're stocking up your own balcony-gym wardrobe (or WFH outfit, if we're totally honest) or doing a solid for sporty loved ones, you'll find an extensive array of swim, activewear, accessories, sweaters and jackets available from 12pm on Thursday, April 16 — and all for 60 percent off. There'll be accessories from $40, tops and bottoms from $60, outerwear from $140 and snow (for those future holidays) from $230. Remember the age-old advice of when it comes to sample sales, you need to get in quick. Given the following the label has amassed since General Pants Co. design director Pip Edwards and former senior Sass & Bide designer Claire Tregoning joined forces, its functional, fashionable bits and pieces are bound to be popular. So, keep an eye on the website. P.E. Nation's Online Warehouse Sale goes live on Thursday, April 16. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Contemporary art is celebrated at aMBUSH Gallery in Waterloo. The exhibition space supports both commercial and philanthropic causes with a focus on supporting emerging and established Australian artists. In addition, its new CBD outpost and public space activations' works engage several mediums and styles including illustration, painting, photography and sculpture.
Stay tuned. More info on its way.
Have you ever thought you could easily step in for Matt Preston on Masterchef Australia? Or are you a budding writer or photographer with a love of food so great you're just itching to start writing about Australia's best restaurants and bars? If so, head to the Vibe Hotel Sydney in the CBD on Thursday, July 25, with a notebook and pen in hand, and prepare to be schooled in being a food critic. Renowned Aussie food critic and editor Grant Jones (Chef's Garage, The Daily Telegraph) will be hosting a one-off dinner and food critic masterclass geared toward teaching you how to review and flat lay like a pro. Set up in the hotel's Storehouse Sydney Café Central and Bar from 6.30pm, the workshop will teach you how to taste and write about food like a critic, as well as perfecting the craft of social media snaps. Dishes will be served share-style with pizza to start, followed by Cone Bay barramundi, beef flank or basil pesto penne pasta. For dessert, the kitchen will whip up zabaglione trifle and chocolate semifreddo. If you're vegan, there'll also be a plant-based menu available on request. It'll cost you $45 all up, including food, drinks and all the tasting tips you can imagine from a restaurant reviewing master. The Vibe Hotel Sydney's Copy the Critic will run from 6.30–9pm on Thursday, July 25. Tickets can be purchased here.
The reinvigorated Sydney Festival has completely transformed our city in summer (note the flagpoles which every year proclaim just that) and it’s made Sydney a truly amazing place to be in January. The whole city is turned into a summer wonderland, there's something amazing to do every single night, and people flood the Domain to see sophisticated performances while merrily sipping beer, cider, goon or all three. But mostly what the Sydney Festival does is bring us some truly spectacular performers — Sufjan Stevens, Grizzly Bear, Emmylou Harris, Camera Obscura and this year's headliner, PJ Harvey — whose artistic merit is second only to their ability to entertain. The Sydney Festival now has a total audience of about 1 million, making it the most attended cultural event in Australia. Every year the festival grows and improves, and with the state government recently giving the festival a heap of cash to extend their program, it makes the prospects for this summer's partying very exciting indeed. Take a closer look at what makes our shortlist of must-sees and -dos in the musical, theatrical and artistic sides of Sydney Festival 2012.
Summer is here, which means that it's time to leave the den that we've crafted for ourselves for our winter hibernation. We need to go outside, and there's no better way to get into the 'outside' than by roughing it under a canvas sheet with fire and nature. But camping doesn't have to be all about being at one with nature; it can be about surviving in the coolest way possible. With this level of bad-assery in mind, here are the top ten gadgets you need to make camping an excellent trip to the great outdoors instead of a terrible trip to the hospital with hypothermia. TENTSILE STINGRAY TREEHOUSE TENT First on your pyramid of camping needs is shelter, and this is the coolest shelter around. The Stingray hangs from the trees, keeping you safe from bugs, animals and all those things that go bump in the night. Going for about AU$850, this genius tent is 4.6 metres square and can hold a whopping 400kg. Now all you have to worry about are the Drop Bears. US$749 from tentsile.com MUSUCBAG LITE Despite having a potential gross-out for a name, this is the 'handiest' sleeping bag you'll ever see. Because it has hands. And feet. Ever get sick of having to get up out of your sleeping bag to get some water or a snack? Fear not, the MusucBag has you covered. Now you can sit around drinking with friends without having to leave the comfort of your bedding. It's like the Snuggie of the camping world. The 'classic' is 119 euros from musucbag.com. TRANSPARENT CANOE For the more sporty of us, summer camping trips are all about getting in or on the water, whether it's the beach or a not-at-all scary lake. For these grand occasions, there's Hammacher's Transparent Canoe. Can't decide between snorkelling or kayaking? Fine, because now you can row your heart out and check out the depths beneath you, all at the same time. US$1900 from the Hammacher online store. BIOLITE CAMPSTOVE Possibly the coolest innovation in heat since the discovery of fire, the BioLite CampStove takes the heat from an internal fire to create electricity that charges phones, tablets, lights and anything else with a power cord. One chamber holds a fire made from twigs that's suitable for cooking, which fuels a generator in another chamber. It's about the size of a drink bottle, affordable and eliminates the need for lighting a giant fire every time you want a cup of tea. The BioLite CampStove is simply one of the coolest inventions in town. US$129.95 from the BioLite online store. KANZ FIELD KITCHEN Camping can seem somewhat less appealing when you think about the fact that it means eating a whole load of tinned spaghetti — it's hard to lug around the gear necessary to cook a decent meal. Instead, why not pack up the portable and awesomely nifty Field Kitchen? It houses a two-burner stove top, cabinets and a prep area, all in less than a metre cubed. Get the fully pimped propane version for US$1640 from the Kanz online store. LIFESTRAW Not only is it important to be comfortable and have your phone charged whilst camping, it's also important to have clean water, which is where the life straw comes in. The straw looks like a little water bottle, and can filter 1000L of filthy, stagnant water into the purest elixir you've ever had. Handy for when you just can't boil up some river water and wait for it to cool. US$19.95 from the Lifestraw store. Plus, for every straw you buy, part of the funds go towards distributing LifeStraw Community institutional water purifiers to schools in Africa. BEAR GRYLLS SCOUT ESSENTIALS KIT Whether or not Bear Grylls really does do all the wicked stuff he appears to on television, there's no doubt that he's the ultimate survival guy, and this kit is all the basics he deems necessary to live outside. There's a scout knife, a first aid kit, a compass and an LED light, just for starters, and it's all packaged up polypropylene case. £35.99 at the Bear Grylls website. VICTORINOX TINKER DELUXE SWISS ARMY KNIFE This isn't just a camping essential; this is a life essential. Everyone needs a Swiss Army Knife because they can do just about anything. Victorinox are always coming up with innovations that already improve on the perfect design, and the Tinker Deluxe is one of the best examples. With a knife, a can opener, scissors, pliers, screwdriver and the always handy bottle opener, this camping/life essential is well worth the $80 it costs to have one. YETI TUNDRA 65 WHITE COOLER The Tundra 65 isn't the cheapest cooler in town, but it sure is the best. It holds 60L, which is about 39 cans of beer. Which is a lot. Plus, the walls are super thick, so it keeps these cans of beer cooler for much longer than your regular old cooler. It may cost a pretty penny, but what a price to pay for beer that's still cold until you've finished the case, which is what camping is all about, isn't it? US$399.99 from Yeti, FESTIVE BRAZIL HAMMOCK Finally, it's essential to touch on the more comfortable side of sleeping outdoors — glamping, if you will. For those of us who really don't like getting dirty or sleeping on a thin mat, glamping is an opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful views outdoors in comfort. And for that, there's the Festive Brazil Artisan Crafted Hammock. Not only is it big enough for two, it's all done up in pretty rainbow colours, and is finished with crocheted draping, hand crafted by Brazilian artisans. At $160, it's the perfect excuse to skip the hike. US$159.99 from Novica.
Lior's sophomore album, Corner Of An Endless Road has been described as “Led Zeppelin meets Nick Drake at a teahouse in the Middle East sharing a hookahâ€. Elaborate melodies and fancy water pipes aside, he is also the man responsible for penning the wedding-favourite hit, This Old Love, from his debut album, Autumn Flow. Earlier this year the singer-songwriter collaborated with shadow artists, Stephen Mushin and Anna Parry, the same dynamic duo behind the puppetry in the video to his song and duet with Sia, I’ll Forget You, and Lior is now set stage a special encore season of the Shadows and Light concerts with accompaniment from the Tailem String Quartet.A percentage of proceeds from the series will be donated to Youngcare - an organisation working towards constructing state-of-the art purpose-built facilities for young adults who require 24-hour care.
There's endless potential for a quick and relatively healthy lunch when you're hankering for a sanga. This simple lunch staple has the ability to stoke the flames of nostalgia almost instantly. Whether it's a white bread sandwich that takes you straight back to the schoolyard quadrangle, or a swish and fun grown-up take on the global lunchbox favourite; they are fun, easy and damn delicious. We popped into Sydney's top cafes to seek out delicious things between bread (with extra points for those that champion the humble egg) so you can level up your lunch game with an excellent sambo that's also good for you. In fact, there are 11 different vitamins and nutrients packed into only 300 kilojoules in every egg. Australian Eggs recommends opting for whole eggs to get the most out of this little package of goodness. Read on for our picks of where to find tasty lunch options that are better for you than you might think.
With the 2014 FIFA World Cup seriously almost upon us, it's time to start your carb loading, vuvuzela blowing and early morning venue planning. Despite the Brazil-based, productivity-dooming early starts for all matches, a number of Sydney venues are finding ways to work with the lockout and open their doors to football-mad patrons, offering up some World Cup specials and screenings to give you the best seats in the house over the next few crazy, crazy weeks. THE ENMORE THEATRE Having proven itself one of the best places to watch the 2010 World Cup, the Enmore Theatre will again be live broadcasting all games involving both the Greek and Australian teams. Boasting a giant 9x6m screen, enormous sound system, warm theatre seating, bar, cafe and — most importantly — wildly passionate fans surrounding you, spots will be sure to sell out quickly. Cost: $15 + booking fee (02 9550 3666) Location: 118-132 Enmore Road, Newtown Website: www.enmoretheatre.com.au/events/2014/06/14/fifa-world-cup-australia-vs-chile THE ROSE One of Sydney's go-to pubs for The World Game, The Rose has proved a solid World Cup venue over the last few instalments. With its openair beer garden and last year's renovated upstairs area perfect for early morning ventures, Chippendale's beloved Rose is a solid pub option if you're after the buzzy vibe without the supercrowds. They’re screening games every morning from the wee hours both inside and out, with bacon and egg rolls ($7), brekkie pizzas ($15), bacon, feta and tomato croissants ($8) and eggs benedict ($16) strolling on out out of the kitchen. The legends are even putting on coffee for all morning games, and giving out wifi codes so you can bring your laptop and work/play multitask. Nice. Cost: Free Location: 52-54 Cleveland St, Chippendale Website: www.therosehotel.com.au WORLD SQUARE Boasting another giant screen and an enormous warmed-up marquee, World Square will be broadcasting the games live, beginning with Brazil vs Croatia from 5:30am on 13 June. Grill'd, Sourdough, Primavera and Gloria Jeans will be open to keep you appropriately nourished, penalty shootout competitions will be on to keep you appropriately entertained and Brazilian dancers will be on hand to keep you appropriately questioning your ability to dance. Repeats of the games will also be run throughout the day in case the dawn starts are as unappealing as your samba. Cost: Free Location: 680 George St, Sydney Website: www.worldsquare.com.au/news_events.asp VIC ON THE PARK Enmore/Marrickville's favourite finger-on-the-pulse pub Vic on the Park are hosting a World Cup brekky on Saturday, June 14, screening the Socceroos vs Chile game in all its false hope glory in the front bar. Opening at 7:30am for an 8am kick off, the kitchen will be cranking out epic bacon and egg rolls ($10), while the always legendary bar staff whip up freshly squeezed voddy OJs ($8) and Bloody Marys by the glass or by the jug ($10/$25). Then they’ll rinse and repeat the brekky goodness for the England vs Italy game the next morning on Sunday, June 15. Cost: Free Location: 2 Addison Road, Marrickville WEBSITE: www.facebook.com/thevicenmore THE LIGHT BRIGADE This World Cup, the Light Brigade in Woollahra isn't taking any chances with its reputation as being the sport-watching pub of the Eastern Suburbs. It's pulling out all stops — extending trading hours through the night and early morning, playing live games through the night (plus replays during the day for those not-so-diehards who value their sleep), and serving up a night menu, hot breakfast and coffee to keep you fuelled no matter what strange hour of the day or night you find yourself there. Expect to see all Australian games, all major group games and selected finals, and expect to see them on a pretty impressive 103" plasma screen. Cost: Free Location: 2A Oxford St, Woollahra (02) 9357 0888 Website: www.lightbrigade.com.au/article/2014-fifa-world-cup MLC CENTRE If you fancy yourself fairly adroit with a foosball table, and need a break from watching actual games (we won't tell anyone), head to the MLC Centre when the rest of the world heads to bed to prove your mad skills on the small field. From June 12 to July 13 there'll be two foosball tables set up in the centre of the birdcage, ready for you to battle it out for your own World Cup glory. There are no prizes here, save bragging rights. That, and the knowledge that you're pretty awesome. Cost: Free Location: 19 Martin Place, Sydney Website: www.mlccentre.com.au BRAZA CHURRASCARIA If you can't make it to Brazil, the next best thing is a straight up authentic Brazilian restaurant — and Braza Churrascaria is the place you're looking for. It'll be screening all the Brazilian and Australian group matches, as well as the Round of 16, Quarters, Semis and the Final. Put another way, they'll be screening a lot of Brazil's matches and three with Australia. They'll also be serving up a massive Brazilian breakfast complete with sausage and rump cap skewers, stuffed cheese bread, Brazilian tortilla and polenta chips. Cost: $24 big breakfast Location: 1/25 Harbour St, Darling Harbour (02) 9286 3733 Website: www.braza.com.au/ NEWMARKET HOTEL Having just installed a two-storey bigscreen in the beer garden, the Newmarket brings the large-scale CBD buzz to your Mascot local. Kicking off at 6:30am for Brazil vs Croatia on Friday, June 13, the Newmarket has been know to put everything on hold for a sporting event — rugby, SuperBowl, league; you name it, the Newmarket's yelled at it. Solid pub food, local brews, enraged locals — sounds like a World Cup go-to to us. Cost: Free Location: Cnr Gardeners Rd and Botany Rd, Mascot Website: www.newmarkethotel.com.au HOYTS If sport really is the last truly unscripted drama, then Hoyts is the pefect place to catch every FIFA 2014 blockbuster. Throughout the entire tournament, selected cinemas will be offering up not only their cinematically enormous screens, surround sound systems and candy bar treats, but also a hot breakfast package included with your ticket. Forget biting your nails and instead sink your teeth into a hot toastie (bacon and egg or ham and cheese), then wash it all down with some OJ as you cheer on your team through the big climax and into the closing credits. Cost: Group matches - $22 per person, Round of 16/Quarter Finals/Semi-Finals - $27 per person, Final - $32 per person (all matches include a $1.10 online booking fee / discounts available for group bookings over 20 people). Location: Selected cinemas Website: www.hoyts.com.au/movies/hoyts_plus/2014_fifa_world_cup.aspx THE STAR From 13 June to 14 July, The Star will be offering two huge venues in which to catch all the games live. Sports Bar will feature all 64 games, along with pre-game entertainment and loads of food and drinks; whilst The Star Event Centre will be transformed into the ultimate fan experience - the 'Hyundai Fan Park' - boasting cutting edge audio visual technology, live entertainment and food offers. And if you don't like Australia's chances in the World Cup, remember: they are still better odds than winning just about anything in The Star. Cost: Free Location: Casino (Level 1): 80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont Website: www.star.com.au/whats-on-sydney/Pages/brazil.aspx HOME Let's not kid ourselves — getting out of bed is hard enough at the best of times, and 2:30am in winter is far from the best. The solution? Stay in bed. One of the more amusing characteristics of the past two World Cups since Australia has been involved is the sound of households around your neighbourhood cheering in unison through all hours of the morning (amusing, so long as you're also awake). For those who favour the comfort of your own fridge and couch groove over the roaring shared experience, SBS will be screening every game live, with kickoff times handily calculated by any number of websites, like Fox Sports' comprehensive FIFA breakdown. And remember, if you're calling in sick to work, lie down on your back while spinning flu-ridden lies; it restricts airflow and enhances the effect. Or buy the sick notes in advance. Cost: Free (plus ample Cheezel, beer and questionable-but-barbequable meat budget) Location: Your joint, strewn with television-thrown socks, pencils and other non-commital screenward torpedoes Website: www.facebook.com/dontfuckwithmywallchart Words by Tom Glasson, Jessica Surman and Shannon Connellan.
The twin film phenomenon means that movies often come in pairs, with two flicks with the same premise arriving at the same time. Now, meet Australia's two current twin flight sales. After Virgin launched a Valentine's Day sale for flights to and from Queensland, Qantas has unveiled a 72-hour sale on fares across the country. Whether you're a Sydneysider thinking about a Byron Bay getaway, a Melburnian keen on jaunt to Tasmania or a Brisbanite eager to hit The Whitsundays, you have options. There's more than 500,000 fares covered, featuring everywhere from Queensland's tropics to the Apple Isle's cities, and from Perth to Sydney, too, as well as all the other state capitals, the Gold Coast, Coffs Harbour, Broken Hill and more. And, on 25-plus routes, flights will cost you under $150. The cheapest, as tends to be the case on all flight sales, is the Sydney–Ballina route, which'll get you from the Harbour City to Byron Bay from $109. Then, the Melbourne–Launceston fare comes in at $119, Gold Coast–Sydney at $125, Gold Coast–Melbourne at $129 and Brisbane–Hervey Bay at $139. The sale runs until 11.59pm on Saturday, February 17, so you'll want to get in quickly to get a bargain. And, as always, if fares sell out earlier, you'll miss out. Inclusions-wise, the sale covers fares with checked baggage, complimentary food and beverages, wifi and seat selection. If you're keen on heading further afield, but just across the ditch, Qantas also has a sale on flights to New Zealand on right now. This one runs until 11.59pm AEDT on Monday, February 19, or until sold out again. The sale covers Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington, for dates between March–December 2024, with starting prices from $499 return. Go on, pack your bags. Qantas' 72-hour surprise sale runs for 72 hours until 11.59pm on Saturday, February 17, or until sold out. It's also doing a New Zealand sale until 11.59pm AEDT on Monday, February 19, or until sold out again. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
C'mere little one, come join Papa in this little dark corner and let him play some smokey tunes for you. You like it, don't you, darling, there's a base note of romance here – that's right – but surely an innocent face like yours shouldn't smile at the hint of all those dirty, grinding gypsy highlights...Oh, but it does?Well, if you want more my poppet, come follow all the other children into the dark as we make our way to that old church of sin and joy, The Red Rattler. Swing or sway, my love, just move to the dreamy melodies of my dear brethren, The Barons of Tang, and bid farewell to all those dull mornings forever from now.AND THEN ROCK, sweetheart, because the Barons have dragon blood too, don't forget, and its fire will turn your heart to toast. So let's eat toast together, dear one: you, me, the Barons, the Crooked Fiddle Band, Captain Kickarse and the Awesomes. I promise there'll be a delicious spread.Don't worry kids - if you miss this gig, the Barons of Tang are also playing as part of the Verge Arts Festival!The Dogs of Rotterdam from Verb Studios on Vimeo.
As the tourism industry has undergone a pretty massive shake-up in the last few years, with jet-setting becoming increasingly accessible and technology only making it easier to see the world, it's time to figure out what's best for the industry and how it can meet the needs of everyone. From December 7 to 8, REMIX Sydney Summit 2017 will host more than 100 industry leaders across cultural institutions, technology start-ups, policymakers and media visionaries. And at this year's event, the discussion of cities is high on the agenda, as some of our favourite destinations look for ways to bring in tourism dollars, all while keeping the locals happy. Finding a solution isn't easy, but to try and make sense of it all, Remix Summit will host Future Tourism — Embracing a Changing Traveller. This panel discussion will present perspectives from Airbnb's ANZ Country Manager Sam McDonagh, Lonely Planet's Director of Global Communications Laura Lindsay, Sydney Opera House's CMO Christina Erskine, the ABC's Big Ideas Presenter Paul Barclay and our very own Rich Fogarty, founder of Concrete Playground. To get you up to scratch on what's pushing the travel industry forward, and some of the growing pains it faces, we have a word with some of the esteemed panellists below. [caption id="attachment_649090" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hiking Horseshoe Bend, Arizona.[/caption] What are some of the most exciting developments in cultural tourism? Sam McDonagh: Airbnb is at the cutting edge of innovation when it comes to tourism and travel. The increasing trend we are seeing is that Airbnb travellers want to experience the places they are visiting in a deeper and more authentic way... Airbnb Experiences — local activities crafted and led by local people — are now available in 40+ cities across 26 countries, and in every continent except Antarctica. These people-powered travel activities are addressing an opportunity in the market for guests to live like locals, expanding Airbnb's offering beyond the homes and neighbourhoods where people can choose to stay, and into the local activities people can choose to do when they get there. Laura Lindsay: It is really exciting to see how travel is becoming more accessible than ever... Travel is a great way for people to appreciate other cultures and it's really encouraging to see that international travel is growing, alongside an increased awareness of the need for sustainability. At Lonely Planet, we are always encouraging travellers to broaden their horizons to discover new destinations and experiences — close to home and further afield. The growth in accessibility of many destinations around the globe should help with growing tourism numbers in a sustainable way and something that recommendations for lesser known destinations can help with. [caption id="attachment_627580" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Badu Gili at the Opera House.[/caption] Christina Erskine: I'm most excited by experimental artistic collaborations that lead you to discover an unexpected city, space or community. Immersing yourself in niche pockets of a culture and genuinely connecting with locals is energising and uniting, particularly now. Banksy's wild Walled Off Hotel in Palestine, Hobart's alt-culture festival Dark Mofo or the now well-established — but no less extraordinary — immersive experience Sleep No More in NYC all do the same thing for me: engage my senses, provoke conversation and challenge perceptions about a culture. At the Sydney Opera House, we strive to reimagine experiences that live up to the promise of the building. Whether it's Badu Gili that shares ancient First Nations stories through nightly sunset projections onto our sails or our backstage tours which draw back the curtain on the inner-workings of this world-famous performing arts centre and World Heritage-listed architectural masterpiece. Rich Fogarty: Companies like Cool Cousin, Airbnb and Tinder make connecting with locals quicker and easier than ever before. This means that your experiences on the ground are more authentic and long-lasting because you're not just making memories, but friendships, too. This gives both locals and travellers a greater sense of community, belonging and connectedness, which can only make the world a better, happier place. Those connections that technology can now expedite for us will hopefully make us more tolerant, empathetic and open-minded as a global community. You rarely meet a well-travelled bigot. [caption id="attachment_648683" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arc de Triomf in Barcelona.[/caption] Anti-tourist sentiments are growing in places like Berlin, Barcelona and others — is there an ideal way to balance the needs of locals and the wants of tourists? Sam: We believe that locals and tourists can very happily co-exist, and the home-sharing community of Airbnb is a great example of this. There are of course infrastructure challenges that do occur in popular tourist destinations all around the world — whether that's between Christmas and New Year in Lorne, Victoria where the community sees a spike in visitors during the holiday period, or in Barcelona, Spain where the population is 1.6 million but they receive more than eight million tourists each year. So, of course, there will be challenges on the accommodation front. Specifically in Barcelona we've seen phenomenal growth in Airbnb Experiences — giving locals an opportunity to welcome tourists to their wonderful city, share their passions and interests with them and at the same time make a little extra cash. Laura: Each city is different and experiencing a unique set of challenges, but it's vital that there is a dialogue between businesses, governments and travellers to ensure that travel is managed in the most responsible way possible. Context is key. Yes, there is an increasing number of reports of over-tourism, but stories of content tourists and business owners don't sell papers or get clicks. It is important to remember that travel is about more than cruise ships; there are millions of genuine and mutually beneficial interactions happening all over the globe as a result of travel. The travel industry needs to help encourage balance and smart solutions — like Peru's limited ticketing for Machu Picchu to ensure that much-loved tourism hotspots aren't loved to death. [caption id="attachment_649092" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cinqe Terre, Italy.[/caption] Christina: It's important for destinations to focus on sustainable growth and maintaining close, consultative relationships with their local communities to create experiences that complement the needs of locals and visitors. For the Opera House [one of the world's busiest performing arts centres] balance is key. In addition to putting on almost 2000 performances and hosting 500,000 tour patrons each year, the Opera House is committed to environmental and social sustainability, whether that's delivering on our Conservation Management Plan, working toward recycling 85% of our operational waste, becoming carbon neutral by 2023 or our industry-first Reconciliation Action Plan. When sustainable growth is coupled with effective marketing, the balance can start to be achieved. Rich: It's important for the companies driving demand to collaborate with local governments on the creation of contemporary, commonsense policies and practices when it comes to nightlife and accommodation in particular. It's also on us, as travellers, to be mindful of the people and places we're visiting. Education and empathy are important drivers for building sustainable tourism practices. We may also need to get used to more places enforcing quotas like those employed on the Inca Trail and planned for the Cinque Terre coastline. It's vital that hotspots like those retain their natural beauty for generations to come. [caption id="attachment_648685" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Travelling Nice, France.[/caption] What are your respective companies and organisations doing to pursue the 'future of tourism'? Sam: At Airbnb, we believe in a world where anyone can belong anywhere in the world, and we are constantly evolving to meet the needs of our guest and host community. We want to deliver an inclusive and global end-to-end travel platform, and Airbnb Experiences — the most significant shift in the company's nine-year history — is the first step in addressing the feedback from our community about the future of tourism. We are constantly evolving and will continue to do so. Laura: At Lonely Planet, two of our three core business values are focused specifically on this: the belief that responsible travel can be a force for good and that we should always look to broaden our horizons. By providing informed context and unbiased accounts of the way travel can impact on destinations and their communities, Lonely Planet's content can help travellers to decide how their choices will affect places and help to ensure that travel has a positive impact on the world... Lonely Planet covers 95% of the planet and we know that every destination has something to offer the traveller. We encourage the community of travellers to consider a broader range of places to visit through campaigns such as Lonely Planet's Best in Asia — our annual selection of the most timely places to visit in Asia as selected by our experts for the region; Gansu in China recently topped the 2017 list. [caption id="attachment_646567" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Streets of Tokyo.[/caption] Christina: We're in the midst of our Decade of Renewal: a program of major building works and organisational change to prepare the Opera House for future generations of artists, audiences and visitors ahead of our 50th anniversary in 2023. Each year it's estimated that 70% of international visitors to Australia visit the Opera House, and we anticipate that attendance will continue to grow. We're constantly evolving our tourism offerings and experiences to adapt to the changing needs and tastes of our international and local visitors, such as engaging Chinese audiences with Mandarin language tour products (along with tours in six other languages) and acknowledging foodies with our new culinary experience Taste of the Opera House. Rich: Concrete Playground is looking at ways that we can play a bigger role in the travel process, particularly during the planning stage. We want to extend our voice and network so that we can provide connection to local voices in global cities so that our readers can uncover insights and ideas for their travels on a platform they already know and use. [caption id="attachment_648684" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nashville, Tennessee.[/caption] Which global city do you think has the best balance for locals and tourists? Sam: While I might be biased, I believe Sydney is an international city that is set apart from others on a couple of fronts, including our availability of locally sourced produce and the proximity of the harbour and wonderful beaches to the CBD — you could be in a meeting in the city in the morning and do the Bondi to Bronte walk in the afternoon. These experiences are readily accessible and make Sydney one of the world's most unique global cities. With more than 50 percent of Airbnb listings in NSW located outside of traditional accommodation hotspots, we are seeing tourism expand outside Sydney and into the regions, opening access to these culturally diverse areas and having a significant economic impact on local communities. Laura: What a question! There is no one perfect city but some cities do it very well. We just selected Seville as our number one city worldwide to visit in 2018 for a great blend of exciting events focused on the city's artistic heritage and a laidback local culture fuelled with sherry and tapas. I also spend a lot of time in Nashville for Lonely Planet, as we have an office there and the music scene is such an intrinsic part of the city's culture and one that appeals to locals and tourists alike — it's a pretty unique atmosphere. [caption id="attachment_649089" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brooklyn Bridge Park, NYC.[/caption] Christina: Cities where locals genuinely welcome and embrace the traveller, which have the support and protection of their governing tourism bodies are able to achieve the best balance. San Francisco does this well. There's a sense of energy and innovation in the city. San Francisco embraces community activism, is at the forefront of the environmental movement and celebrates people from diverse cultures and communities. It was also the lead city to partner with the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, pledging to harness the economic benefits of tourism without damaging the environment or harming local culture. Rich: New York. Having been both a tourist and a local there, it's perfect for both. The city is just so big, bold and vibrant that everyone just fades into the background and becomes part of the bigger picture. Even though Manhattan itself is such a tiny bit of real estate, there's something for everyone. [caption id="attachment_648686" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Streets of Shanghai.[/caption] What's your favourite country or city to visit and why? Sam: As Airbnb's ANZ Country Manager, I obviously have a soft spot for Australia and New Zealand, but a very close third favourite country would be Italy — its people, food and deep cultural history. Travel around Italy is easy and you can go from the Amalfi Coast to Tuscany via Rome in just a few short hours. Laura: Working at Lonely Planet, my answer to that question changes regularly — I love travelling and am always on the search for a new favourite! Most recently, Belize absolutely blew me away — a postcard-perfect island lifestyle, coupled with the friendliest locals I've ever met and once in a lifetime wildlife encounters with howler monkeys and manatees; Belize I think will be pretty hard to beat! [caption id="attachment_649088" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lake Braies, Sudtirol, Italy.[/caption] Christina: Growing up as an expat kid in China in the early 90s left me with a deep fascination and curiosity for the country. The fusion of old and new world China in Shanghai, contrasted with its French colonial history, makes for a dynamic and unconventional city to explore. My Shanghai hit list includes staying at the URBN Hotel, exploring the M50 art district and photographing art deco architecture in the Hongkou district. Rich: Italy is hard to beat. From the mountain refuges of the Sudtirol to the beach clubs of the Amalfi Coast, it's just so epic and beautiful at every turn. The food is the best in the world and the people are generally incredibly friendly. The Maldives would be a close second. Hear more from Sam McDonagh, Laura Lindsay, Christina Erskine and Rich Fogarty at Remix Sydney Summit 2017 from December 7–8. Don't miss the Future Tourism – Embracing a Changing Traveller panel discussion on the Main Stage, December 7 at 2pm.
Whether you've got a birthday to ring in or just want an inviting space to feast with friends, Cho Cho San's Buns and Bottomless Bubbles lunch is now held every Saturday and Sunday. Bringing the fun of Japanese izakaya culture to Potts Point, you probably shouldn't expect the most authentic experience. Yet that doesn't mean the banquet menu doesn't feature highlights from top to bottom. Spanning share plates and fluffy bao served with crispy chicken katsu and an assortment of condiments like pickled ginger, chilli and cucumber, each booking is rounded out by a delightfully chewy mochi. This being a bottomless session, guests can also expect house sparkling, wines and beers in abundance, while you're invited to add a seasonal cocktail package for $35pp. Keen? You'll choose from a strawberry rhubarb spritz, Tokyo tommy margarita and honeydew highball. From kickstarting a party to keeping the festivities going, getting down for Buns and Bottomless Bubbles is bound to impress. Plus, if it's your birthday, bring a group of eight or more pals to receive a complimentary offering. Lunch is $95pp and runs every Saturday and Sunday from 12–3pm.
As summer draws nearer we all feel that urge to GTFO of the city, and when the weather heats up sometimes all we want to do is eat oysters on the Great Ocean Road or blast out summery tunes on the way to a three-day music festival. The list of cool, boutique festivals seems to get longer and more varied, so we've picked out seven regional festivals that we think are worth the drive not only for the main event, but also for the cute country towns and rolling vineyards they inhabit — from grape harvests in the Granite Belt of Queensland to family-friendly music festivals in country New South Wales. Before you head out on a long drive, make sure you're doing it in comfort. MG's new limited-edition MG3S hatchback has ample luggage space (perfect for three-day camping festivals), rear camera and parking sensors (to help you nab that last parking spot) and an AppleCarPlay system (for that podcast binge). Start planning your journey to these seven events below.
If you thought that Michael Jordan was the epitome of cool and Albert Einstein didn't know how to have a good time then prepare to have your perceptions shattered. A significant part of being a successful celebrity is the act of persuasion. This includes the constant act of generating and maintaining a public image that appeals to a wide audience. Kurt Cobain did dense and brooding, Bill Clinton did regal and commanding, and Stalin did intense and intimidating. Yet here are ten photos that prove that sometimes what the spin media show us about famous people is not exactly the whole story. Teenage Eminem adorned in Alf T-shirt Kurt Cobain eating pizza Hillary and Bill 'The Dude' Clinton at Yale Dean Martin and John Wayne cooking spaghetti Hitler looked ominous even when riding a sled Michael Jordan as a dorky College kid Stalin: Part time dictator, part time model Colonel Sanders with Alice Cooper Winston Churchill says 'Line up, ladies!' Albert Einstein: everyone's favourite drunk uncle
For the past 11 years, Australians that are fond of a tipple have been familiar with one particular figure: two standard drinks per day. Equating to 14 drinks per week, that's the maximum number of standard beverages that Aussies were told they should consume to minimise the risk of health repercussions from their boozing, as per the National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) guidelines on the subject. But that amount has just been revised as part of the first revamp of those recommendations since 2009. Now, as initially flagged this time last year but officially confirmed today, Tuesday, December 8, by the NHMRC, only ten drinks per week is recommended. Staying within that number will "reduce the risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury" in healthy men and women, the organisation advised. And if you're wondering how many of those ten tipples you should have in one sitting, the NHMRC says you shouldn't exceed four standard drinks on any single day. If you need a reminder, a standard drink is defined as ten grams of pure alcohol, no matter what type of beverage you're sipping. That's around 285 millilitres of full-strength beer or a can of mid-strength beer — and 100 millilitres of wine or a single shot of spirits. Sticking within the new guidelines — which aren't rules or laws, but recommendations — means that you'll have "less than a one in 100 chance of dying from an alcohol-related condition", Australia's Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly says. "Every year there are more than 4000 alcohol-related deaths in Australia, and more than 70,000 hospital admissions. Alcohol is linked to more than 40 medical conditions, including many cancers," he explains. Just how many bevvies you should have a week and a day comprises the first guideline. You'll already be well aware of the other two. They recommend that children and people under 18 years of age should not drink alcohol — which has been legislated, of course — and that women who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding shouldn't either. The change to the number of standard drinks recommended per week came about after a wide-ranging analysis and review by the NHMRC — into "health effects of drinking alcohol, modelling, data on Australian drinking patterns and best practice guideline development processes", the statement about the change advises. An Alcohol Working Committee was formed, featuring independent health experts such as doctors, medical and public health professionals, researchers and consumer representatives, to guide the development of the new guidelines. And then the NHMRC Council, which includes the Chief Medical Officers of the Commonwealth and each state and territory, endorsed the new guidelines. Alcohol industry body Alcohol Beverages Australia has already voiced its unhappiness about the new recommendation, while the Cancer Council has come out in support of the changes — with the latter noting that three percent of cancers diagnosed in Australia are caused by alcohol. For more information about Australia's new guidelines for reducing the health risks from drinking alcohol, head to the National Health and Medical Research Council website.
The Emirates British Film Festival is back for another year, with more Benedict Cumberbatch than ever before. The Sherlock star gives a sure-to-be-Oscar-nominated performance in The Imitation Game, about mathematician Alan Turing, the man who cracked Nazi Germany's Enigma code and, in doing so, helped turn the tide of the war. The historical thriller is one of 15 recent films on the festival program, which kicks into gear at select Palace Cinemas this week. Other standouts include the Belle & Sebastian-infused musical God Help the Girl and the intense action-drama '71, set on the streets of Belfast during The Troubles in Northern Ireland. There are also new films from acclaimed directors including Liv Ullmann, Ken Loach and Mike Leigh, in the form of Miss Julie, Jimmy's Hall and Mr. Turner, respectively. The contemporary contingent is bolstered by a selection of six beloved classics from the 1960s. Get a dose of kitchen-sink realism with Billy Liar, go on the run with Michael Caine in The Italian Job or experience full-blown Beatlemania with A Hard Day's Night.
