There comes a time when each of us wants an upgrade: to take a grown-up step away from flat-packed, ready-made living and start turning that ‘Dream House’ Pinterest collection into a reality. Beachside hut, slick city unit or terrace house in the leafy ‘burbs – whatever your style, Concrete Playground has the pick of Sydney’s best interior (and a little bit of exterior) design stores right here. So you can put away that IKEA catalogue, pronto. Chee Soon & Fitzgerald Stocking both local and international designers like Georg Jenson, Artemide and Marimekko, as well as their own brand CSF, this Crown Street store is known for its modern decorative fabrics, wallpaper and lighting. They also provide a custom design service in store for all sorts of soft furnishings like lamp shades, rugs and throws. 387 Crown Street, Surry Hills; (02) 9360 1031 Clothfabric Whether you're covering your bed, sofa, tables or walls, Clothfabric has handmade pieces from local craftsmen who use local materials. They design all of their items from a 'surf' tea towel and 'seaweed chalk' cushions to abstract wallpaper and floral bed linen. 35 Buckingham Street, Surry Hills; (02) 9699 2266 Corporate Culture From tables to beds, lighting and acoustics Corporate Culture in Chippendale has everything to make your house designer from top to bottom. With designers from Arne Jacobsen to Hiromichi Konno you will definitely find something to fit your style. 21-23 Levey Street (off Buckland Street), Chippendale; (02) 9690 0077 David Met Nicole Vintage amazingness is what can be found at David Met Nicole with quirky pieces from the UK, France and America. Mannequins, world globes, clocks, furniture is what you will find from the 1900s to the 1950s. 382 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills; (02) 9698 7416 Dust For lovers of antiques and bric-a-brac, Dust is the place to be for all things unique. From headdresses, taxidermy and chandeliers to vases, lamps and artworks. 381 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst; (02) 9332 2854 Elements I Love Genuine vintage furniture and homewares collected from France and India, including ornate antique wooden doors, cast iron chandeliers and brass keys (in case you've lost your own, obviously). Personally, we're coveting the delicately (and lovingly) string-bound, battered and fraying paperbacks in the store window. 2/276 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills; (02) 9698 8884 Great Dane Great Dane, located in Redfern is a mix of modern and classic Scandinavian designs from furniture to accessories and lighting. Brands include And Tradition, De Vorm, NUD Collection and many more creative designers to choose from to give your home a Scandinavian edge. Slick, modern Scandinavian and Danish interior designs, from hand-crafted timber chairs and coffee tables to oak and walnut work tables and lightweight metal, timber and plexi shelving. 613 Elizabeth Street, Redfern; 0417 279 548 Hub With an array of designers that will help you fit out every nook and cranny of your living quarters Hub lives up to its name for all your furniture needs. A focus on chairs, lighting, living and floor coverings from designers across the globe such as Fatboy, Skitsch, Celine Wright and David Mellor. 66-72 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills; (02) 9217 0700 Ici et La Ici et La has an abundance of all things Francaise - deck chairs, striped fabrics, French garden furniture and accessories. Pieces are continually shipped from France which means there is always something new that may be perfect for your home. 7 Nickson Street, Surry Hills; (02) 8399 1173 Jardan All designed and made in Melbourne, Jardan has a wide range of sofas, chairs, tables and beds that are custom made through a family owned and run company. 650 Botany Road, Alexandria; (02) 9693 2288 Koskela At Koskela, owners Russel Koskela and Sasha Titchkosky have a philosophy to produce environmentally-friendly, sustainable furniture that is also beautiful. All of the stock at their Rosebery warehouse store, including wooden kitchen stools or a classic timber base sofa, are designed by Koskela and, where possible, made from reclaimed timbers. They also sell inspired wicker light frames, loom rugs and a colourful range of recyclable polyethylene stools for your garden or balcony. 1/85 Dunning Avenue, Rosebery; (02) 9280 0999 Latitude If your idea of a dream pad involves white-washed pine, wicker chairs and fleece blankets for curling up after a day at the beach - Latitude in Manly is the interior design store for you. Here, inspiration is drawn from chic, contemporary beachside living. Whether or not you have the beach view, you can certainly kit out your home to feel like you do. 12 Sydney Road, Manly; (02) 9976 5623 Living Edge Living Edge is Australian owned offering beautifully designed furniture from around the world with a mix of iconic and classic pieces. Priding themselves on the most carefully chosen pieces offering a huge range of pieces for your home or office. Designers such as Charles & Ray Eames, Mark Newson, Pierre Paulin are just a few of the names you will be able to find architecturally sound space. 74 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills; (02) 9640 5600 Macleay on Manning With brands in store like Missoni, Fornasseti, Kenzo, Paul Smith, Bouvier and Jasper Conran (and many more besides), Macleay on Manning is interior design with a little va va voom. From modern classics like Andy Warhol prints on your crockery to eery ghost-like faces engraved into the bottom of your whiskey glass, owners Jill and Rod Ordish have handpicked both local and international designs in furniture, art, jewellery and books, among other homeware treats. 1/85 Macleay Street, Potts Point; (02) 9331 4100 Object Gallery Celebrating the work of Australian designers, Object Gallery provides a sales platform for as many as 200 different artists and designers each year. The Surry Hills shop stocks an eclectic mix of ceramics, fabrics, glass, and other gifts and home knick knacks. 417 Bourke Street, Surry Hills; (02) 9361 4511 Orson & Blake If you prefer your furniture with bold prints, adventurous colour and that luxurious feel, Orson & Blake in Surry Hills is likely to have a sofa, cushion set or canvas painting to suit your style. Stocking almost everything you'd need to kit out your home, from leopard print, cowhide or shiny gold ottomans (yes please!) to your own wicker hanging chair: they have it all. 483 Riley Street, Surry Hills; (02) 8399 2525 Planet Planet prides itself on simple designs and sustainably-sourced natural fibres like oak coffee tables, muslin lampshades and oversized jute rugs. They stock a solid collection of ceramics, textiles, lighting and those big investment pieces of furniture, like a strong oak frame bed. It's like the antidote to IKEA. 114 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills; (02) 9211 5959 Seasonal Concepts Stepping into the wonderland that is Seasonal Concepts, in Redfern, will feel every bit like you've stumbled upon an indoor marketplace. There's a vast collection of varied and unique items, everything from antique and retro furniture to a taxidermy peacock. Pick up truly one-off, pre-loved items (quick) before someone else gets there first. 122 Redfern Street, Redfern; (02) 8399 2435 Space Space has a huge variety of creative pieces from designers and brands from around the world such as Fiam Italia, Roll & Hill and Triangolo. The showroom is big and has something for every room and taste. 84 O'Riordan Street, Alexandria; (02) 8339 7588 Shelf/Life Simple, elegant products and homeware designs with a conscience. Shelf/life carefully sources handmade, local and ethically produced stationery, kitchen accessories, gifts and ornaments to decorate your home with products that have been designed to outlive the trends. Shop 1, 50 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills; (02) 9211 2858 Vampt Vintage Design At their main showroom in Surry Hills, you’ll find one off vintage and retro pieces like a teak boomerang sofa table, 1960s ‘futuristic’ chairs, an Art Deco drinks cabinet, and even Danish Tivoli pendant lights by the very same Jorn Utzon who designed Sydney Opera House. 486-490 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills; (02) 9699 1089 Wall Candy Wallpaper Delicious, fun, playful or simple, elegant and classic. This store has a never-ending collection of Wall Candy wallpaper designs: floral, geometric, striped - you name it, and we betcha, they have every colour. 420 Crown Street, Surry Hills; (02) 9331 5884 Workshopped Like an exhibition in upcoming Australian designers, Workshopped has been supporting and selling locally designed homewares and home accessories for over a decade. Inject some fun and flamboyance in your home with some quirky, playful products like Takeshi Iue's Japanese-style fruit bowl which elegantly fans out like a flower, or a porcelain fish bowl inspired by George Orwell's 1984, offering your goldfish a touch more privacy than the average cylindrical glass bowl. 2/8 Hill Street, Surry Hills; (02) 9146 4353 Words by Emma Joyce & Jane Fayle
Nothing brings out the whole neighbourhood like a street celebration. The road closes as people spill out of their homes, kids run wild as the parents catch up on what's new — it's a special and extremely nostalgic vibe. If you remember that feeling, especially if you live on or near or if you're overdue to visit some of Sydney's beloved inner-city streets, then you should be eagerly awaiting the return of Sydney's equivalent celebration. Some of the city's most prominent roads are being temporarily transformed for Sydney Streets. The City of Sydney is closing roads to cars and opening them to festivities, allowing and encouraging local businesses to take over the street for a day of community celebrations. Activities involving food, music, live entertainment and more. This will be a significant series of events, so which roads are closing and when? Let's find out together. Macleay Street — Saturday, February 17 Kicking off the 2024 run, Sydney Streets will head to Potts Point, taking over Macleay Street between Darlinghurst Road and Hughes Street between 11am and 10pm. It's a busy, tree-canopied road and home to some of the finest cafes and bars in the inner east. We'll update you with more information on the available activities soon, but we can give you an idea of what to expect on the day. Participating venues include NYC-in-the-50s-inspired bar The Roosevelt, which will be taking it outside with a live DJ, a jazz band setting up at Bistro Rex, the Sydney city shopfront of deluxe chocolatiers The Chocolate Box, and boutique fashion label A Date With Mabel. Anytime Fitness will be challenging you with assault courses for prizes, and you can get into the Mardi Gras spirit with Drag Storytime with Joyce Maynge, a pop-up stage in Fitzroy Gardens with performances from local artists along with acoustic sets in Llankelly Place from Marcus Corowa and more. Stanley Street — Saturday, February 24 The following week, we head across town to Darlinghurst and Stanley Street, where the Yurong Street to Crown Street section will hold the festivities from 11am to 10pm alongside the extended traffic closure. With the likes of Bar Nina, The Long Goodbye and Stanley's on Stanley participating on the day, that means good times are all but guaranteed. Sydney Streets will bring Joyce Maynge for more drag storytime to celebrate Mardi Gras, plus cartoonist portraits, an art workshop and face painting for the kids. You'll be celebrating favourites and newcomers of the area alike, like Harry's by Giuls — which will be dishing out pizza and Aperol aplenty. The Colonial has recently arrived, following two shops in Neutral Bay and Balmain, boasting a menu inspired by India's history. There's also the Mongolian Wooden Bar and Grill, Khaoyum TN and Bar Reggio, all open for business. Glebe Point Road — Saturday, March 9 Two weeks later, the celebrations shift west to Glebe Point Road, specifically the diverse stretch of shopfronts and residences from Parramatta Road to St Johns Road. It's student territory, so packed with culture and vibes from dawn till dusk. The area will be closed to traffic on Saturday, March 9, from 9am to 10pm to let the activities flourish on foot between 11am and 10pm. The aforementioned vibes stem from the people but also great spots, all of which will come alive for Sydney Streets — spots like tapas bar Despana with an all-day offering of paella, tapas and sangria, free crystals from local shop Mineralism and a food stand from Banh Mi Dee. Enjoy cocktails, live music and Sri Lankan crepes at Kandy by Sri Lankan Bites, pastries and fresh juice from Dispensary 1908, a Sydney Streets return from newcomer cafe Soul Garden, and a mobile coffee and cookie cart plus face painting for the kiddos by local favourite Dirty Red. Redfern Street — Saturday, March 16 Next up on the list is Redfern Street, the main stretch of road that runs from Regent Street to Chalmers Street. It's a busy road day and night, shuffling commuters and after-dark pedestrians in equal numbers. From 11am to 10pm, many businesses will open doors to the busy foot traffic outside. When it comes to food and drink, Redfern Street is home to all sorts, and it's all happening for Sydney Streets. From plant-based pub feeds with a live performance at The Sunshine Inn to Thai sweet treats at Sweet Monster. There are also beers aplenty from The Noble Hops, a range of Italian eyewear and hair braiding at Face Furniture, student-written publications and writing activities on offer at Story Factory, flash tattoo sales from Markd Tattoo and an outdoor pinball competition at local favourite Beercade, DJs and paella at Vamonos Paella and painting workshops at Sydney Creative. Harris Street — Saturday, March 23 The following weekend will bring Sydney Streets to Pyrmont and a small stretch of Harris Street (between Pyrmont Bridge Road and Union Street) for its 11am to 10pm offering to pedestrians. Adjacent to Sydney Harbour, Harris Street is another ideal setting for the series, brimming with culture, activities and Sydney spirit. Some of the participating businesses for this weekend include a pop-up bar (plus tastings) from the local branch of Porter's Liquor, craft beer and pub feed pros at The Quarryman's Hotel, experts of fitness and flexibility at Sense of Power Pilates, newcomer Miami Bar, a pop-up reading corner in Union Square — and the self-titled 'Masters of Steak' at Element's Bar and Grill will open a pop-up bar of their own. Crown Street — Saturday, April 6 Further south is a beating heart of activity in Sydney, the beloved Crown Street in Surry Hills. For Sydney Streets, the stretch from Foveaux Street to Cleveland Street will host November's first Saturday of community celebrations. Any Sydneysider is familiar with the offering of this famous road, so with the standout venues colliding with the standout vibes of Sydney Streets from 11am to 10pm, it's set to be quite the Saturday. The entertainment will come from the likes of roaming circus acts, dancers and bands — while local spots joining the celebrations include Surry Hills Fine Wines, which will offer extensive wine and cocktail tasting alongside music and entertainment; the Surry Hills outpost of the pizzeria Via Napoli will be dishing out pizza and arancini; Tuscan-style hotspot Giuls will open its famous Aperol cart alongside pizza and sandwiches, plus the beloved artisan butchery Ardi's Block to Grill, food stalls from Masala Theory and The Clock (which will also be running a beer garden takeover on Collins Street) and outdoor dining spaces at Bertos Espresso and Royale Specialty. Sydney Streets will be taking over several roads between Saturday, February 17 and Saturday, April 6. For more information, visit the website.
You don't need an excuse to visit the Golden Sheaf's beer garden. The creeping vines and twinkling fairy lights are usually excuse enough. But if you're looking for one, here it is. From Sunday, June 1, the Sheaf is dishing up a roast every Sunday. For $30, you'll get a plate loaded with roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, golden potatoes, honey-and-mustard parsnips, carrots and rainbow chard — all doused in gravy. Add an entree in the form of charred Tassie octopus or crispy calamari, along with a glass of Untitled pinot noir from Victoria or a Right Bank shiraz from the Barossa Valley, and you'll be all set for a long and cosy afternoon. The beer garden is well heated — but if you're still cold, it's even warmer inside. The Golden Sheaf is just one Solotel's 13 pubs that's putting on a Sunday roast all winter. You'll also find a $30 special at The Kings Cross Hotel, The Strand in Darlinghurst, The Clock in Surry Hills, The Courthouse and The Bank in Newtown, The Erko in Erskineville, Public House Petersham, The Norfolk in Redfern, The Sackville in Rozelle, Camelia Grove in Alexandria, Bridgeview in Willoughby and The Albion in Parramatta.
Franca is an upscale French-style brasserie that marries the country's famous cuisine with a coastal twist, from elegant digs in Potts Point. Supported by a steadfast dedication to the freshest seasonal ingredients, just as the name suggests, it won't take long to appreciate why the team views food as the universal language. There's no better example of this on the restaurant's menu than its Moreton Bay Bug. Served in-shell, this supremely tender feast is finished with house-made Café de Paris butter that brims with herbs, garlic and citrus notes. Yet the place isn't afraid to have a little fun with it. Available as a strictly limited creation, Franca's talented kitchen, guided by Head Chef Luke Davenport, is ready to unveil its Moreton Bay Bug Roll, a playful reimagining of their famed dish. Launching on Tuesday, June 3, it features decadent meat layered on a toasted brioche and served with Tabasco and potato chips. And for the first week only, guests who order this fine creation will receive a complimentary 10-gram serving of Oscietra caviar. While you're probably already planning your visit, understand that this unique dish is being prepared in exceedingly few numbers. Served specially from 5–6pm, only 10 guests have the chance to taste it per day, making it one of Sydney's most exclusive dining experiences. Ready to feast on this fancy invention? Franca's Moreton Bay Bug Roll is available for $28, while the 10-gram serving of caviar will cost $30 once the free add-on period ends on Sunday, June 8. Head along to score what is likely Sydney's most luxurious sandwich. The Moreton Bay Bug Roll is available from Tuesday, June 3 at Franca, Shop 2/81 Macleay Street, Potts Point. Head to the website for more information.
When news arrived that Brooklyn Nine-Nine is coming to an end after its upcoming eighth season, did it hit you a little harder because you've spent the past year binging and re-binging its latest batch of episodes? According to a rundown of Australia's most-rented and -bought video-on-demand titles from 2020, plenty of TV lovers spent the last chaotic year watching comedic cop antics. The show ranks second on the television list — and, across both film and TV, it has a heap of company. The Australian Home Entertainment Distributors Association (AHEDA) has released four top ten lists, all detailing exactly what Aussies were hiring and buying to watch online in 2020. Netflix did something similar late last year, when it reminded us all that we'd feasted our eyeballs on Cobra Kai, The Haunting of Bly Manor to Enola Holmes and Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness; however, this new rundown focuses on things you would've headed to digital purchase and rental stores to see (so, to services such as Google Play, YouTube Movies, Amazon Video, Apple TV, the Foxtel Store, Telstra Box Office and Fetch). With cinemas closed for months, a number of recent flicks then fast-tracked online, it's hardly surprising that movies that quickly jumped to digital proved popular. Jumanji: The Next Level topped the best-selling list, followed by Sonic the Hedgehog. Also now sitting in virtual movie collections around the country: Frozen 2, Joker, Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise Of Skywalker, Bad Boys For Life, The Gentlemen, Bloodshot, Scoob! and Ford v Ferrari. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyYgDtY2AMY Some of the above films also feature on the most-rented list, which Joker topped. Sonic the Hedgehog came in second again, with The Gentlemen, Jumanji: The Next Level and Gemini Man rounding out the top five. They were followed by 1917, Knives Out, Ford v Ferrari, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood and Hustlers. And, if you made an effort to support local fare while Australia's creative sector was affected by the pandemic, AHEDA has detailed which ten Aussie-produced movies received the most love. Ride Like a Girl came out on top, The Invisible Man took second spot and Miss Fisher and The Crypt of Tears nabbed third. Then came Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan, 100% Wolf, Go!, Peter Rabbit, Black Water: Abyss, Carl Barron — Drinking with a Fork and The Nightingale. On the TV front, Brooklyn Nine-Nine's seventh season was only pipped by Outlander's fifth season. On the rest of the televisio list: The 100's seventh season, Vikings' sixth season, The Undoing, Supernatural's 15th season, Big Little Lies' second season, Game of Thrones' eighth season, Chernobyl and the first season of Succession. AHEDA also noted that the Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter franchises were popular (unsurprisingly), and that digital purchases and rentals soared in April and May (again, to the surprise of of no one) by between 29–55 percent. To rent or buy any of of the above titles online, head to services such as Google Play, YouTube Movies, Amazon Video, Apple TV, the Foxtel Store, Telstra Box Office and Fetch.
Good Ways Deli has built a cult following for its fresh piled-high sandwiches and standout coffee since opening in Redfern in 2021. Despite arriving in a suburb known for top-notch bakeries, the brainchild of Jordan McKenzie and Tom Pye has carved out a beloved niche with kangaroo mortadella sandos, nostalgic baked goods, milo mochas and a selection of great pantry items. Just over one year later, Good Ways expanded with a second outpost just a few suburbs over in Alexandria. Similarly to its Redfern counterpart, the Buckland Street cafe is located in a heritage-listed corner shop adjacent to a leafy park — a perfect spot for a new cafe and one that McKenzie and Pye came across almost accidentally. "We were kind of looking, but not really looking," Pye says. "And then I cycled past one day and there was a little A4 piece of paper in the window which said 'for rent'. So I called the number, and I met the landlord that day." The menu here brings across favourites from Redfern while introducing more baked goods into the fold. This includes new forays into the world of pastries and cakes like lamingtons, sourdough ANZAC biscuits, Maffra cheddar and Vegemite scrolls, and an iteration on weekends a killer vanilla slice. Sandwiches were at the core of the first Good Ways Deli's success, and they're still here on Buckland Street. There are six house sandos on offer, accompanied by a rotating special. Expect the daily house-made sourdough ciabatta rolls to be filled to the brim. There's the renowned Good Ways salad sandwich with mushroom pate, a deli-focused number with Whole Beast Butchery kangaroo mortadella and LP's salami cotto, a cheese toastie, a next-level ham sandwich and a brekkie creation. "Since we opened Redfern we've constantly been evolving the mainstay sandwiches, now we feel they're content. The focus for the sandwiches was always to do less, but best, and we'd be stoked to become the people of Alexandria's go-to lunch spot," says McKenzie. McKenzie and Pye are hoping to get to know the local community and become an Alexandira mainstay. According to Pye: "We want this shop to be a go-to for dog-owners (the park's across the street), school folks, commuters, everyone. A place to drop into for a quick takeaway or just for a yarn. The best part about hospitality for us is the honour of people taking time out of their day to spend time and hard-earned money with us. It's pretty humbling." Images: Nikki To
UPDATE, Friday, June 20, 2025: 2025's First Nations Film Festival — National Reconciliation Week has been extended until Wednesday, August 6 (from its original end date of Tuesday, June 10). This article has been updated to reflect that change. As part of the flurry of streaming services always competing for our eyeballs, FanForce TV joined the online viewing fold during the COVID-19 pandemic as a pay-per-view platform. The service runs all year round, of course, but it goes the extra mile for National Reconciliation Week, which is when it hosts one leg of the First Nations Film Festival (previously known as the Virtual Indigenous Film Festival). In 2025, the National Reconciliation Week season is taking place between Tuesday, May 27–Wednesday, August 6, all solely online. The returning fest has four features and a collection of shorts on its lineup, starting with The Moogai — which sees writer/director Jon Bell (Cleverman) turn his own short into a full-length film, explore how Australia's past continues to haunt in the process, and brings back his stars Shari Sebbens (The Office) and Meyne Wyatt (Troppo) as a couple grappling with Stolen Generations trauma with their growing family. Also excellent: Like My Brother, a must-watch documentary that follows four young Indigenous women from the Tiwi Islands as they set their sights on playing AFLW at the highest level. With Blown Away, the impact of Cyclone Tracy upon Darwin is in the spotlight four decades later — and Winhanganha, which was commissioned by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, sees Wiradjuri artist Jazz Money examine archives through a First Nations lens. To view this at-home screen celebration, you'll need to buy an all-access pass, which lets you catch everything for $38.
When it comes to summer, Australia hits it out of the park. Proof? Just look at how many high-quality festivals are held in the sunny months. From camping festivals with a secret lineup in a dairy farm, to a one-day inner city dance parties, there's pretty much something for every inclination (and intensity) this summer. And with all the frivolity and letting loose that happens on festival grounds, it's forgivable to forget who'll be gracing the stages. The 2018–19 season shows off an incredible crowd of Aussie musicians, with names almost eclipsing the international talent they'll be playing alongside. Courtney Barnett, Gang of Youths, Flight Facilities and Stella Donnelly are a representation of the hundreds of Aussies doing the rounds, joined by international artists such as Cardi B, Anderson .Paak and Nicki Minaj headlining. But it's not just about the music. There'll be no shortage of visual art and the food offerings, like every year, are more and more gourmet and accommodating to dietaries (even at some of the more remote locations).
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.
Because you're reading this, we know you're not someone who received a pet for Christmas, only to decide it wasn't for you. We know you're one of the good folks. You're probably wishing that you did receive a loveable animal as a gift, even if you already have one — or several — that you adore. And now more than ever. We understand your yearning, and so does the RSPCA. And, to find permanent homes for pups, cats, bunnies and guinea pigs surrendered into its care, it's calling out to the community to help look after its many animal during this tough time. While more of us are working from home and practising social-distancing (and increasingly wanting a four-legged friend as a comforting companion), the RSPCA is encouraging Australians to foster or adopt. So, if you've been thinking about adding a pet to your fam (and have considered it thoroughly), now might just be the time. Last year, the RSPCA found new homes for 2654 pets Australia-wide. Right now, RSPCA NSW has 2577 animals in its care, ready for new homes full of love and pats — temporarily or forever. In a statement, RSPCA NSW CEO Steve Coleman said, "As this pandemic escalates, we are asking for your help to find forever homes for the animals in our care." The Victorian and Queensland branches echo this sentiment, with one website saying, "our foster program is now more important than ever". If you're keen to foster a furry friend, you can register in NSW, Victoria and Queensland as usual; however, for adoption, the process has changed a bit in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As of today, Friday, March 27, you must make an appointment before visiting one of the RSPCA NSW's locations, which can be done by filling out this form. Once that's done, they'll arrange a time for a meet-and-greet with your potential new family member. A similar process is in place at RSPCA Queensland's locations — you'll need to fill out this pre-adoption form before heading in — and in Victoria, you must submit an application before you can set up a time. According to the RSPCA, at present there is no evidence that you can contract COVID-19 from a companion animal or that they can become sick if exposed to the virus. If you're thinking about adopting, you can check out all the good boys, kittens, bunnies and birds looking for new homes in NSW, Victoria and Queensland. For details about adopting and fostering animals, head to the RSPCA NSW, Victoria and Queensland websites. If you are going out to meet a potential new family member, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health.
The writing of Arthur Miller still feels exhilarating. Working in the mid-20th century (sometimes while playing husband to Marilyn Monroe), he crafted American suburban dramas that expound on the great incompatibilities of family, capitalism, morality and social responsibility. In that way, they're basically the postwar generation's Breaking Bad. And, as we presume will be the case with BB, his works have a lot of wit, wisdom and heartache to impart to audiences 60 years on. All My Sons, Miller's first commercially successful play, follows a neighbourhood reunion in the American mid-west. The joy and nostalgia of the moment is darkened by secrets, upsets and deceptions planted long ago. Everything revolves around the household of Joe Keller (Marshall Napier) and his wife, Kate (Toni Scanlan). His grown-up son, Chris (Andrew Henry) is back in the house to greet Anne (Meredith Penman), who may as well be family — she's Chris's childhood friend, his MIA brother's former girlfriend and the daughter of Joe's former business partner. She'll be even further embedded in the family if Chris's planned marriage proposal is accepted. There are obstacles: Kate still believes her son Larry will return from war and she won't entertain notions otherwise. Anne's brother, George (Anthony Gooley), is on his way with a message from his jailed father. The endless stream of neighbours traversing the Kellers' lawns has a way of stirring the pot. And there are those pesky, swirling secrets. This production of All My Sons is inaugurating a brand-new theatre space in Sydney, the Eternity Playhouse, the new home of the Darlinghurst Theatre Company. It's great to see Sydney's theatre scene expanding so — the venue (created with the City of Sydney and Tonkin Zulaikha Greer architects) looks smashing and this show is an auspicious beginning. While the production is quite staid — period costume, literal staging, none of that 'director's theatre' jazz that so irks some people about recent projects at STC and Belvoir — it's done very, very well. And it's right that there should be a space for that sort of traditional, playwright-centred theatre in Sydney (though that's not all that's going on at the Darlinghurst Theatre Company. The 2014 season includes a show titled The Motherf**ker in the Hat, so it's not all that stuffy). It's the performances from the stellar cast that make All My Sons so exceptionally riveting. The permutations of characters on stage are constantly shifting, and with each actor's entrance comes a new, different wave of energy that perks you up in your seat. It helps that this dynamic is hardwired into the script, with characters constantly gossiping about whoever's not present so as to prod your anticipation. Napier is a commanding presence in a role that recalls his work as that other American patriarch, Big Daddy, earlier in the year. A touch of vulnerability is essential to pulling off Joe, however, and Napier handles that balance with finesse. Scanlan is an equal wonder as Kate, who always knows more and exerts more control than you think she can — until the moment she can't. It's a big cast, and under the direction of Iain Sinclair, no-one lets the side down. I could take or leave the production and sound design, by Luke Ede and Nate Edmondson respectively. Two gaping entrances in the back wall prove a confusing and pointless distraction (if they're a permanent feature of the configuration, well, good luck with that, future Eternity set designers), while the cascading white clapboard background does not inspire the imagination as was intended. The sound design often interferes in an obvious fashion, with the swelling music in the show's climax the worst offender. Nevertheless, All My Sons is a joy. Go see a timeless tale and welcome a theatre honouring Eternity. Image by Brett Boardman.
Japanese cuisine has some of the world's most fascinating and multifaceted traditions and techniques underpinning its creation. Couple that with some of the highest standards of cooking, and it's clear why it's so well loved. But, with our weekly rounds of takeaway sushi and ramen, it's easy to leave many iterations of Japanese food undiscovered. Luckily, us Sydneysiders are blessed with so many dining options that switching up your usual and exploring something new is a simple task. Our Japanese dining scene is ever-expanding, with recent openings delivering everything from fire-fuelled omakases to small shops slinging fruit-filled sandos. Although a trip would be delightful, you don't need to fly to the Land of the Rising Sun to experience traditional and exciting Japanese food. So, together with Kuon, the team behind four standout Japanese spots in Sydney, we've curated a list of hot options if you're looking for specific Japanese dishes. Plus, right now, if you book an omakase experience at Irori Kuon before Sunday, June 30, use the code CONCRETE to score $50 off per person. [caption id="attachment_898799" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Credit - Brooke Zotti[/caption] CHARCOAL GRILLED OMAKASE: IRORI KUON A lot of great Japanese food in Sydney is from the team at Kuon, who have four restaurants across the city, each named after and specialising in a certain cooking style. The latest addition is Irori Kuon, whits sits in Darling Square. As per the name, this venue specialises in irori — aka a charcoal grill often sunk into the floor of an omakase restaurant. Here, the irori is raised to a visible point and encased in glass, where diners have full view of the creation of dishes over the stone-lined pit filled with white-hot charcoal. As to what's cooked, the team use a seasonally rotating menu of fresh Australian produce that is presented in its raw form before being prepared and cooked over flames and coals. There's no sushi in sight here, so check your desire for raw food at the door. Bookings are for all-inclusive sessions on specific nights — don't forget to use the code CONCRETE when booking. YAKITORI: CHACO BAR This Potts Point institution is the cosiest and coolest spot to discover the joys of Fukuoka-style yakitori. The ultimate street food, these charcoal-grilled skewers let the flavour of the meat shine, with a smokiness that pairs perfectly for the ultimate bite. You will find yakitori all around Japan as a tasty street snack, or skewers aplenty to be scoffed with a beer in one of many izakayas. But, here in Sydney, Chaco Bar delivers. If meat isn't your thing, opt for the king oyster mushroom with comté and cured yolk. Otherwise, sample the full range of skewers — which includes a 9+ wagyu outside skirt and a tsukune meatball that's served with an onsen egg. You can enjoy your yakitori with some extra share plates and sides that honour traditional Japanese cuisine with a playful hint of experimentation. Think the umami explosion of the wagyu carpaccio dressed in egg yolk, Parmigiano Reggiano, uni and truffle. Or, the almond tofu with honey goat's curd, heirloom tomato, pear and balsamic. [caption id="attachment_892327" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Credit - Jina Ihm[/caption] TRADITIONAL OMAKASE: KISUKE From Japanese to English, omakase translates to 'I'll leave it to you'. Meaning, once seated, diners ditch their control over the menu and place their trust in the chef. For a more traditional omakase experience, head to Kisuke in Potts Point and snag one of its six seats. There, chef Yusuke Morita will serve his signature sushi and other bites from a daily-changing menu that promises only the highest quality ingredients. The omakase courses showcase Chef Morita's illustrious career spanning Tokyo, Amsterdam and Sydney — where he opened Kisuke in 2020, creating a place to harness his passion for Japanese cooking. Expect the dining experience to last around two-and-a-half hours, and transport you to Japan and back via your palate. The family-run joint puts omotenashi in pride of place — the Japanese custom of providing standout hospitality and kindness, without expectation of anything in return. MAZESOBA: IIKO Mazesoba literally translates to 'mixed noodles', a specialty kind of brothless ramen served with a umami soy-based sauce. IIKO has brought this popular Japanese dish to Sydney — penned as an Australian first — with locations in Darling Square and Barangaroo. Thick and chewy homemade noodles are served with toppings for you to mix together yourself. The classic Mazesoba comes topped with pork belly chasu, green onions, nori, bamboo shoots and an onsen egg for an added dose of saucy goodness. Otherwise, the spot has dandan, karaage and even cheese mazesoba, plus a vegan option with sautéed mushrooms and slow-roasted tomatoes. It's a great casual dining spot for a quick lunch break or an easy dinner date with both beers and sake on offer — the perfect way to switch up your regular ramen-fix. DONBURI: DOPA Japanese rice bowls, or donburi, combine various toppings with a carby base — and a delicious side of pickles and miso soup too. Whether you're yet to try or a seasoned fan, get yourself to Dopa, the multi-spot Sydney eatery serving some seriously delicious donburi. Here, it's all about easy dining and high-quality, sustainable produce. Pick from a range of don, with the popular picks being chicken don with teriyaki or ginger shallot, a soft egg and roasted seaweed and the grilled king salmon don with saikyo miso. Make sure you save room for dessert, Dopa also doubles as a milk bar with Japanese sweet treats including matcha shakes, fluffy cheesecake and an even fluffier matcha Shibuya toast. There's sleek Dopa venues in Darling Square, Regent Arcade, Macquarie Centre and Darling Quarter. SANDOS: SANDOITCHI Anyone who has been lucky enough to travel to Japan will remember grabbing a quick sando to-go from the convenience stores. Impossibly soft milk bread filled with egg and mayonnaise or cream and fresh fruits. Darlinghurst's Sandoitchi has brought the craze straight to Sydney, with the always-bustling cafe serving some of the tastiest sandwiches you can get. With a perfected bread-to-filling ratio across the whole range, the go-to here is the pork kastu sando with American cheese, cucumber, pickled carrot and tonkatsu mayo. Enjoy your sando with a Single O coffee or a matcha latte. [caption id="attachment_892326" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Credit - Promo Link[/caption] SHABU SHABU: HANASUKI Shabu shabu is a specialty style of nabemono — or Japanese hot pot — where thinly sliced meat and vegetables are cooked in a bubbling pot of warming broth. Keen to get slurping? Check out Hanasuki. This sleek Chatswood venue is serving up some of the best authentic shabu shabu. Chef Takashi Yamamoto has curated a menu with the utmost precision, ensuring every vegetable and piece of meat and seafood is sliced to any exact width for the ultimate tasting experience. Sit around a bar with your own personal pot of shabu broth — and if you are feeling really indulgent, opt for some A5 wagyu, you won't regret it. TEMPURA: HACO If deep fried goodness is your thing, tempura could be your religion. A thin batter surrounding anything from plump prawns or squid, to tofu, eggplant or lotus root, quickly crisped up in a deep fryer? Heaven. It's then time you experienced the philosophy of Chef Kensuke Yada at Haco. Yada has created a specialised omakase experience, which uses tempura to hero each ingredient across his 20-odd-course menu. The cooking technique not only adds a layer of crunch, but gently steams the inside component, preserving its natural flavour. The minimalist venue holds only 12 seats and is tucked away on Alberta Street, a hidden gem that will make you feel miles away from home. Kuon is the ideal spot to start your Japanese culinary expedition in Sydney. And, if you use the code CONCRETE when you book, you'll save $50 per person on the omakase experience. For more information and to nab your seat, head to the website. Top image: Brooke Zotti
It's a truth that Morticia, Gomez, Wednesday and Pugsley would treasure: nearly a century might've passed since The Addams Family first graced the pages of The New Yorker in the 1930s, but this creepy, kooky, mysterious and ooky brood will never die. America's first macabre family keeps entrancing and enchanting audiences, luring them in with their unflinching embrace of the eerie, the gothic, and the all-round dark and twisted. Forget bumps, jumps, screams and shrieks, however; this off-kilter crew might pal around with a severed limb and adore graveyards, but they also delight in a gloriously eclectic, eccentric, embrace-your-inner-outcast fashion, as the 1960s TV show, 1991's live-action film The Addams Family and its 1993 sequel Addams Family Values, and now new Netflix series Wednesday understands and adores. Dropping all eight season-one episodes on November 23 — a Wednesday, when else? — The Addams Family's latest go-around arrives stitched-together as so much is of late. Netflix's algorithm has accurately gleaned that viewers love cartoonist Charles Addams' horror-influenced creations. It knows that people like mysteries and teen coming-of-age tales, two of the platform's favourite genres. And, the service is well-aware that already-beloved big names are a drawcard. Throw in Tim Burton directing like it's his 80s and 90s heyday, current scream queen Jenna Ortega sporting the trademark plaits, 90s Wednesday Christina Ricci returning in a new part, and a supernatural school for unusual children complete with Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children-meets-Hogwarts vibes, and Wednesday's various pieces are as evident as the sewn-on limbs on Frankenstein's monster. Mary Shelley's famous creature is an icon and a marvel, of course, and more things should want to follow in its footsteps. In the author's game-changing book, it lived, breathed and fascinated despite its seams being oh-so-visible, and Wednesday does the same — and quickly engages and entertains. Seeing why and how Netflix has crafted this series, and which levers it's pulling to electrify its experiment, is as easy as getting a killer glare from Wednesday's teenage protagonist. Enjoying every second because it's astutely, knowingly and lovingly spliced together is just as straightforward, especially with Scream, Studio 666 and X star Ortega leading the show so commandingly and convincingly. This version of the Addams family's eldest child is indeed full of woe, like the nursery rhyme she's named for. She wouldn't have it any other way. Played by Ortega with a knockout stare every bit as gleefully bitter as Ricci's and 60s TV show star Lisa Loring's, Wednesday has been bouncing around public schools, but she's suddenly out of options. After unleashing a pool of piranhas on Pugsley's (Isaac Ordonez, A Wrinkle in Time) tormenters — torturing him is her job, not the water polo team's — she's enrolled in the haunted house-esque Nevermore Academy. Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones, Prodigal Son) and Gomez (Luis Guzmán, The Resort) went there. In fact, they met and fell in love there. But the preternaturally morbid Wednesday is even less thrilled than usual, until she discovers there's a spate of grim deaths to solve. Harry Potter and X-Men comparisons spring the moment that Wednesday locks eyes on Nevermore, and only deepen when the series reveals that it caters to vampires, werewolves, sirens, gorgons and other paranormal folks. Wednesday's roommate is pastel-loving lycan Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers, Girl in the Basement), who hasn't yet 'wolfed out', for instance. Her immediate nemesis is queen bee Bianca (Joy Sunday, Dog), who has to wear an amulet to avoid unleashing her siren powers. Smartly, series creators and writers Miles Millar and Alfred Gough — who co-created Smallville together two decades ago, so know the ropes when it comes to mining the high-school angst of well-known figures — stick with Wednesday's namesake's withering attitude, and with a wryly comedic mood. She isn't fussed about the whole magical educational institution setup, and the show she's in recognises that it's a setting and a source of plenty of humour rather than the real focus. That centre of attention instead: Wednesday, always. People in and around Nevermore are disappearing, though. Students and Vermont locals might be getting torn to pieces by a monster, or they might show up again the next day even after Wednesday witnesses their murders. None of the adults — not headmistress Larissa Weems (Gwendoline Christie, Flux Gourmet), new teacher Marilyn Thornhill (Ricci, Yellowjackets), local sherriff Donovan Galpin (Jamie McShane, The Lincoln Lawyer) or Wednesday's court-ordered therapist Valerie Kinbott (Riki Lindhome, Knives Out) — are particularly open to her theories or happy about her investigations. A misanthropic teen black sheep sleuthing around an exclusive school and the insular town it's in, making few friends in the process, and determined to expose deep, dark secrets? Yes, there's more than a touch of Veronica Mars to Wednesday, too. Yes, there's thorny romances as well (enter Your Honor's Hunter Doohan as the sheriff's son Tyler and Pretty Hard Cases' Percy Hynes White as Nevermore pupil Xavier Thorpe), just with a brunette lead, a blacker colour palette and moody woodland surroundings. If you're well-acquainted with the formulas behind most high school-set dramas, or whodunnits and detective tales, then Wednesday has few shocks and surprises. Nonetheless, it remains a twisted and easy to binge from start to finish, all thanks to two key factors. First is that standout lead casting, with Ortega slipping into Wednesday's dead-eyed scowl like she's always worn it, never softening it, ensuring that Wednesday lives up to it and perfecting the part's deadpan humour at the same time. Zeta-Jones and Guzman play the lusty Morticia and Gomez with flair, Fred Armisen (Los Espookys) makes a suitably offbeat Uncle Fester, and Christie relishes her authoritative role, but the intense Ortega is the show's blackly and wittily charming heart. Secondly, although Burton doesn't helm every episode in the series — just the first four — Wednesday is as quirkily mesmerising as the Frankenweenie, Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands' greatest work. More than that, it's among his finest output in a couple of decades, in no small part because it looks so bewitchingly attuned to his preferred melancholy aesthetic, complete with wonderfully surprising and seductive design choices. There's Danny Elfman-composed theme music to help perfect the mood, too, continuing a collaboration with Burton that goes all the way back to 1985's Pee-wee's Big Adventure. Wednesday doesn't exceed its 60s or 90s predecessors — it swiftly and thoroughly bests the recent animated flick and its own follow-up, though, which isn't hard — but it's exactly what a Burton-style take on The Addams Family was always bound to be. Whether you're popping a witch's shawl on and grabbing a broomstick you can crawl on, or not, it's worth playing a call on. Check out the trailer for Wednesday below: Wednesday streams via Netflix from Wednesday, November 23. Images: Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.
For animal-lovers, one silver lining of the pandemic-era cloud was all the adorable live-streams that made their way into our feeds. Watching cute critters all day, everyday, became a favourite pastime, thanks to various zoos and aquariums around Australia and beyond. After all, what better way to brighten your mood than to lose a few minutes, hours or days to some adorable creatures on screen? Fast-forward to now and Melburnians — or anyone interested in the city's birdlife, really — again have something special to watch. This live-stream isn't actually new, but it's particularly relevant at this time of year. Thanks to a camera on 367 Collins Street in the CBD, you can train your peepers on two rare peregrine falcons nesting on a high-up ledge outside the building. You're able to give them a squizz any time you like, but from August onwards each year (aka now) is when you'll see them lay and hatch their chicks. At the moment, the eggs are already there, so you'll spy a whole lot of sitting atop them as the feathered couple waits for their progeny to hatch into the world. Once they've arrived, you'll also see vision of the parents bringing food back to the nest for their little ones to eat. For a peek at all the action, head to the Mirvac building's website. For those visiting the high-rise itself, the CCTV footage of the falcons is also on display in the foyer. This particular nest comes with quite the history, too, as peregrine falcons have been nesting at 367 Collins Street since way back in 1991. This is actually the only known peregrine falcon nesting site within the Melbourne CBD, which obviously makes it extra special. Check out the live-stream below: For more information about 367 Collins Street's peregrine falcons and their nest, head to the 367 Collins website and the 367 Collins Falcon Watchers Facebook page.
By now, a huge portion of Sydneysiders have sat at the bar at Restaurant Hubert — usually after waiting in line. So the fact that the team behind the CBD restaurant, the Swillhouse Group, has opened a new venue is welcome news. It has taken over the Surry Hills space once home to Berta and turned it into an entirely new venue: Alberto Lounge. And while its warm Italian trattoria vibes are something of a contrast to the dapper French style of Hubert, its clear the Swillhouse team has stuck with the same formula that has spelled success for all of its venues. Anton Forte — who's at the helm of this buzzy enoteca alongside brother and business partner Stefan Forte, wife Allie Webb and group general manager and fellow Swillhouse member Toby Hilton — sums it up best. "It's friendly service, high-quality product, a fun room, good music, a good vibe," he explains. "I think those core values run through any project we do. Our complete and unadulterated focus is on building the best venue we can." Dive inside Alberto Lounge and you'll find personal space is at a cheerful minimum, the room cosy, classical and heavy on the timber. A laidback joint that works just as well for that two-drink fly-by, as for a long, lazy feast over many bottles of wine. It's all the best parts of a classic trattoria, served up with that Swillhouse touch. Alberto references the team's favourite haunts of recent travels across Italy, with Forte describing it as their idealised 70s Italian restaurant. "It's kind of an extension of our living spaces," he muses. "It's really an expression of who we all are now — it's warm, cosy and super casual." For Forte, Alberto's take on Italian is a little like what Hubert's is on French: traditional in presentation, but with modern technique and ingredients. In the kitchen, it's Hubert Head Chef Dan Pepperell, who's taking the reins on this old-school, new-school mash-up. The menu features plates like creamy burrata, slick peppers in 'crazy water' (an Italian tomato, basil and oil sauce), and a cotoletta, crumbed and crispy. A handful of pasta options are on the menu, too, and might include a hollow-centred bucatini cooked through Amatriciana sauce, depending on when you visit. Meanwhile, the $95 bistecca steak is primed for those settling in for the long haul. The matching drinks offering shows the team's staying true to form, with an impressive back bar creating some top-notch cocktails. The list runs to classic-leaning sips, crafted with care, while the wine selection is a global lineup with a firm focus on Italy. It's got big love for Italian varietals and the likes of old-world Barolo, but also a penchant for newer, natural drops, with iterations from across Jura, the Loire, Australia and Spain. On the whole, Alberto isn't too formal or too stiff. You might have trouble getting in, though — the venue only accepts a small number of bookings each night, so get there early if you're a walk-in. Find Alberto Lounge at 17–19 Alberta Street, Surry Hills. It's open from 5pm till midnight Monday to Thursday, 12pm till midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 12–10pm on Sunday. Images: Kitti Smallbone.
Ever convinced yourself that you needed something from Bunnings on a Saturday morning just so that you could down a snag in bread? If you answered no to that question, we don't quite believe you. The hardware chain's sausage sizzles are a beloved Australian weekend ritual, and we all missed them when they were put on hiatus during lockdowns. Come Saturday, July 23, however, they'll cost an extra $1. The price increase marks the first change in 15 years, and will see snags in bread go up from $2.50 to $3.50. And if you're quick to blame inflation, you're right, but it's worth remembering that the whole point of the sausage sizzles is to raise money for community groups. With the price of just about everything going up over the past few months, the community groups, not-for-profit organisations and charities that host the weekend barbecues have asked Bunnings to up the price so that their fundraising activities aren't impacted. When sausages, bread, onions, sauce and oil costs more for them to buy, that's less cash they're making after those snags have been sizzled, then sold to hardware-shopping customers. The entire price increase — the whole price for each snag, in fact — still goes directly to the community group running the barbie. So, while you'll be out an extra dollar, you'll also still be doing an ace deed. Drinks will remain $1.50, which means that you can grab a bite and a beverage for a fiver. On average, each Bunnings sausage sizzle brings in around $800–900, with more than 155,000 held at Bunnings outlets across Australia in the past five years alone — raising more than $140 million in that period. Bunnings' sausage sizzle prices will increase to $3.50 per snag from Saturday, July 23. For more information about the hardware chain, head to its website.
THE Rodriguez is coming back to Australia. Touring nationally this October and November, the 72-year-old enigmatic legend was last here in 1981 playing with Midnight Oil, after touring in the late '70s to small success. Now he's riding a wave of newfound support back to our biggest venues, thanks in part to two South African fans. Most people had no idea who Sixto Rodriguez was until the Oscar-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man dropped in 2012, prompting longtime fans to shake a fist and spin a bitter "I told you so." A self-taught guitarist, Rodriguez played around the traps in Detroit during the '60s but saw no real success in the States with his two albums Cold Fact (1969) and Coming from Reality (1971). Different story in South Africa, where he was pretty much bigger than Elvis — inspiring South African anti-Apartheid activists and musicians alike (unbeknownst to Rodriguez himself). One of music's most mysterious heroes, Rodriguez was even thought to have died until two Cape Town fans in the late 1990s, Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman and Craig Bartholomew Strydom went to find out if the rumours were true (cue Oscar-winning doco). The man also has a cheeky bachelor's degree in philosophy from Wayne State University, he ran for political office and he's had to work construction jobs to support his family. Undeniable and relatively unknown legend. Rodriguez will play Brisbane Convention Centre, Sydney Opera House, Melbourne's Palais Theatre, Adelaide's AEC Theatre and Perth's Kings Park and Botanic Garden. Tickets on sale on Thursday August 28 at 12pm local time. Members of the Niche mailing list and ticket agent mailing lists can purchase pre-sale tickets on Tuesday 26 August at 12pm until Wednesday 27 August at 5pm. For further details or to sign up to the mailing list please visitwww.nicheproductions.com.au. Rodriguez Australian Tour Dates: Sunday October 19 — Convention Centre, Brisbane. Tickets via Ticketek or 132 849. Tuesday October 21 and Thursday October 23 — Sydney Opera House. Tickets via Opera House Box Office or 02 9270 7111. Saturday October 25 — Palais Theatre, Melbourne. Tickets via Ticketmaster or 136 100. Wednesday October 29 — AEC Theatre, Adelaide. Tickets via Ticketek or 132 849. Friday November 7 — Kings Park & Botanic Garden, Perth. Tickets via Ticketmaster or 136 100. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qyE9vFGKogs
Bouldering is having a moment in Sydney. If you're a new to the term — or the sport — think of it as rock climbing, but without the ropes and crazy heights. One of Sydney's first bouldering-only gyms, 9 Degrees launched in Alexandria back in 2015 and has since opened locations in Parramatta and Lane Cove in Sydney, and Enoggera in Brisbane. Now, in 2020, it's unveiled its fifth gym in Waterloo. At Waterloo, like at its other gyms, 9 Degrees' bouldering climbs are split into nine different levels of difficulty. The levels are, handily, colour-coded, so you can start with yellow (easiest) and work your way up to white (hardest). Plus, the gym has a kilter board (basically, a training wall) to help you level up. The gym is open every day of the week and, excitingly, till 10pm most nights. But, with COVID-19 restrictions and density limits, weeknights (after 5pm) are booking only, so pop over to the website to lock in your session. A day pass will set you back $20 (with an extra $7 for optional shoe hire) or you can sign up for a two-week trial for $49 or grab a multi-pass. As an added bonus, well-behaved dogs are welcome at the gyms (excerpt Parramatta), but they must remain on leash at all times. 9 Degrees Waterloo is open from 10am–10pm Monday–Wednesday, 4pm–10pm Thursday and 10am–10pm Friday and 8am–9pm Saturday–Sunday.
If you're a Rozelle local — or simply a burger enthusiast — it's likely that you already know about this joint dedicated to the dish. From the classic cheeseburger and B&E to the famed Oklahoma smashed fried onion burger, this Darling Street outpost has been slinging quality burgers since its grand opening in 2019. Eat at ROBs — Rozelle's original burgers — is all about crafting a culinary experience that's housed neatly between two toasted burger buns. Its menu takes cues from familiar American-style dining, but with a twist. Each patty is seasoned generously with an in-house spice blend and is paired with ROBs' sauce — a specialty burger sauce curated by the team. With a menu spanning seven burgers and a humble bacon and egg roll, the casual outpost has lived up to its promise to leave a lasting impression upon locals and new diners alike. The cheeseburger is kept simple, with smashed patties, cheese and onions on a soft potato roll from Martin's, and it boasts enough flavour for the burg to be served without sauce. As for the chicken cheeseburger, this fresh take centres around a chicken patty instead of the classic beef, which is paired with bacon, lettuce, provolone and guacamole. Finally, the dish that the joint has become renowned for is its Oklahoma smashed fried onion burger. Expect a crispy yet juicy patty, or two if you opt for the double, accompanied by the classic pairing of lettuce, pickles, fried onion, melted cheese and ROBs' sauce.
Owned by an ex-Coffee Alchemy barista, new neighbourhood café Double Tap is serving up coffees to froth over. Despite its remote Marrickville location, hidden among warehouse lots and residential terraces, the new family-owned coffee shop is already starting to pick up steam, with many considering their brews pretty hard to beat. It's the first venue for owner and manager Daniel Karaconji, who worked as head barista at Coffee Alchemy for almost a decade. While the batch of beans may be different, Karaconji continues to win over hearts and spike blood pressures with his silky milks and caramelised cremas. If you're interested in knowing what you're drinking, Double Tap sources all its coffee from small batch roasters only, with its house blend Silver Bullet by Panorama Coffee Roasters in Sydney's Wetherill Park. Used for white coffees only, the Silver Bullet blend is made from Brazilian and Ethiopian beans and reveals lingering notes of cacao, berries and stone fruits. For black coffees, customers can choose their own single origin beans, with offerings from Sample Coffee, Wood & Co, Grace & Taylor, Small Batch Roasting Co and Market Lane, among others. If you're starting to get the jitters, try hitting up the food menu, with Double Tap serving a homely menu of toasted sarnies, fresh salads and brekkie bowls. Made on toasted Brickfields sourdough, the sandwiches are particularly tasty, even more so, when you consider the price. Options include a free-range poached chicken with chives, blanched almonds and a mustard-seed mayo ($9.50) as well as a mortadella, provolone and fresh mint with sliced green olives ($9.50). Cakes are also a standout with Karaconji's wife and mum hand-baking the selection. Today, Karaconji's mum Yovanka has rustled up a CWA-quality strawberry and cream sponge ($6), while his wife Elizabeth came to the table with a glazed lemon and yoghurt ring ($6). Slices are whooping nana-sized portions and the rustic appearances and homemade taste are equivalent to a big, warm hug. While this may be a family-owned cafe, the interiors are sleek, with warm Australian timbers, native floral decorations and a botanical wall mural, painted by Karaconji's brother, Alex. While Double Tap may not be doing anything "new" or "different" per se, sometimes just doing the simple things well can be pretty revolutionary. Images: Letícia Almeida
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your text trip. In this instalment, we take you to The Hotel Britomart, where you'll find modern eco-friendly accommodation set on Auckland's city harbour. If you're due for a VIP escape to this sensational hotel, you're in luck. Right now there's an ultra exclusive Auckland getaway, curated by our editors, that you can snap up on Concrete Playground Trips. But we only have 20 packages (for two travellers) so when we say 'ultra exclusive' we really mean it. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? This is where luxury design and amenities are perfectly paired with sustainable practices (it is New Zealand's only 5-Green Star hotel). THE ROOMS Each of the 99 rooms is designed for tranquil escapism. Think of Hotel Britomart like a city retreat, lined in natural and sustainably sourced timber. Guest rooms all come with in-built sofas, hand-made ceramics and minibars full of locally sourced treats. Attention to detail is on point. But that's just your entry level experience of Hotel Britomart. You've then got the hyper luxe suites, each with their own unique selling point. The Poraenui Suite is one of their very best, giving a whole new meaning to rooftop living. This 74-sqm living space occupies a glassy pavilion tucked discreetly onto the rooftop of the heritage Buckland Building (blending heritage with modernity). Up here, both the living room and bedroom open onto a private 28-sqm terrace with views across neighbouring heritage rooftops to the city and Takutai Square. Pick a book from their mini library, order up some local New Zealand wine, and you have just found your new happy place. You won't regret staying up here. FOOD AND DRINK The in-house restaurant, kingi, is also a must-see. It is set within the heritage Masonic House, and showcases sustainably caught seafood paired with unique wines. Chef Tom Hishon has devised an evolving menu that's perfect for this all-day food-consuming haven (you'll usually find a mix of guests staying at the hotel as well as local foodies). Expect dishes like octopus carpaccio and pan-roasted snapper, alongside stories about the talented fishermen and women who sustainably caught the produce on your plate. It's all traceable and tasty. THE LOCAL AREA The Britomart area is located in central Auckland, right along the harbour. It's a 24-hour hub of culture, food and shopping. Boutique stores championing local designers are scattered all over. Restaurants, bars and pop-up food stalls keep the local workers and the tourists equally happy. And you can easily get all around Auckland from here. THE EXTRAS You can rest peacefully knowing you are staying in one of the most sustainable hotels in New Zealand — it is New Zealand's only 5-Green Star hotel. You can even make your stay eco-friendlier by booking a Green Package. For every day you're there, these guys plant a native tree at sister property The Landing, located in the Bay of Islands. Guests even have the option to fly there via helicopter, for an even longer and more luxurious getaway. And lastly, to add to its green credentials, Hotel Britomart rents out its own bikes so that guests can get around town without having to call cabs or use public transport. 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.
The Olympic Games bring nations together in a worldwide contest of sport and competition. But the Olympics do much more than this too by providing an arena for remarkable triumphs, terrible failures, true perseverance and utter determination. Even through devastating wars, ongoing global conflicts, drastic terrorism acts and natural disasters, nations of the world have managed to unite (almost) every four years for over a century in a demonstration of friendly competition and unity. With the approaching London Olympics, it got us thinking about the spectacular images from past Olympic Games — photos that make you think, laugh, cringe or cry. Here is our pick of the best photographs from each summer Olympic Games throughout history. Athens 1896 - The Starting Gun Fires The first international Olympic Games to be held in the modern era. Being the 'birthplace of the Olympic Games', Athens was a suitable first venue. Athletics events obtained the most international field of the sports on offer, with the major highlight being the marathon; this was the first time the event had been held in international competition. Paris 1900 - Women Compete for the First Time Women donned their sporting caps and get-ups (apparently dresses in those days) for the first time at an international sporting event in Paris in 1900, with Charlotte Cooper being crowned the first female Olympic champion. 1000 competitors took part in 19 sports at these Games, which was held during the 1900 World's Fair. St. Louis 1904 - 3rd Time Not Such a Charm The St. Louis Olympic Games almost became the last due to such poor management. Making the same mistake as Paris did four years earlier, the World's Fair was run at the same time, causing audience members to be lost to other cultural exhibitions and events. Many athletes were also a no-show due to the Russo-Japanese War. London 1908 - Kings, Queens and Cramming London only had a short amount of time to ready themselves for these games as the original location, Rome, had to focus funds on restoring Naples following the destruction of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius two years earlier. The London games saw the setting of the new official distance for the marathon; in an attempt to restore the importance of the monarchy, British officials changed the track to start below the window of the Royal Nursery and finish in front of the King. Stockholm 1912 - Women's Gymnastics The Olympic Games in 1912 was the year of many firsts - and one last. The final Games to issue solid gold medals, Stockholm also held the first Olympics to have art competitions, the first to feature the decathlon and pentathlon, the first to have an Asian nation participate (Japan), and the first death during competition after Portuguese competitor, Francisco Lazaro, died from hyperthermia in the marathon. The Games also had a whopping 48 women compete (most of which appear to be in the Norwegian's Gymnastics team above). Berlin 1916 - A No-Show The Olympics were due to take place in Berlin in 1916, and it was expected to be a grand affair with the development of the new 'Deutsches Stadion'. The stadium was released with a parade, 10,000 pigeons and 60,000 people. If only they could get that many people to turn up to the real event though, because the Games didn't go ahead in this year due to the turmoil embroiling Europe at the time with the outbreak 0f the Second World War. Antwerp 1920 - Return to the Stadium The Games of the VII Olympiad were offered to Antwerp to honour the suffering the citizens had endured during World War I. The Games had originally been set to appear in Budapest, however as a German ally, Hungary, and many other nations such as Germany, Austria, Bulgaria and Turkey, was banned from competing. France appeared strong in the games, as is evident through Suzanne Lenglen's valiant effort on the tennis court. Paris 1924 - The Old Switcheroo Known as 'The Flying Scot', Britain's Golden Boy, Eric Liddell, stubbornly refused to take place in the 100m finals, as the event was to take place on a Sunday. The devout Christian thus decided to simply swap events in favour of the 400m sprint, ignoring the vast differences in distances and strategies. Despite the public's low expectations of his abilities, Liddell managed to not only win the competition, but also tied the Olympic record. Amsterdam 1928 - Jumping for Joy After being denied the ability to play host to the Games in both 1920 and 1924, the Olympics were finally celebrated in Holland in 1928. This was the first games to have an Olympic flame lit during the event and was also the first time that 400m athletics tracks were used. Los Angeles 1932 - Jumping Hurdles Mildred Zaharias wasn't the only one overcoming hurdles and breaking records in 1932, with California attempting to look past the worldwide Great Depression plaguing the globe at the time. These Summer Olympics held less than half the number of participants that competed in its previous location, Amsterdam, because many nations were unable to pay for the trip to Los Angeles. However, this didn't seem to impact the US too negatively as newspapers reported that the Games nevertheless reaped a profit of US$1,000,000. Berlin 1936 - Showing Off After being denied their chance to host the games in 1916, Berlin gained a second opportunity in 1936. The games were held on the eve of the Nazi Regime's rise to power in Germany, which occurred two years later. In an attempt to outdo the Los Angeles Olympics four years prior, the Nazis built a new 100,000 seat track and field stadium, six gymnasiums and many other small arenas. London 1948 - Third Time is a Charm After the Games were cancelled in Tokyo in 1940 and again London in 1944 (due to the Second World War), the Olympics finally returned to the world stage in 1948. Due to the destruction the war had caused in Europe, the games became known as the 'Austerity Games'. No new venues were built for the games and rather than being housed in an Olympic VIllage, athletes were housed in existing accommodation. Helsinki 1952 - A Record Breaking Event Known for being the games in which the most number of records were broken (until the 2008 Olympics in Beijing that is), Helsinki also saw the return and first appearance of a large number of nations. A total of 69 nations competed in the games, a figure 59 higher than that of the 1948 Games. Japan and Germany both appeared this time, along with 13 totally new nations such as The People's Republic of China and the USSR. Melbourne 1956 - Exceeding Expectations Melbourne was selected by a mere one vote margin and many were skeptical of its suitability as the reversal of seasons would mean that athletes would be unaccustomed to the wintery weather at the Summer Games. The Games proved to be a success and later became known as the 'Friendly Games'. Betty Cuthbert (above) was a star for the Australian nation by securing three gold medals, in the 100m, 200m & 4 x 100m sprint relay. Rome 1960 - Frozen in Time After emerging from the quarter and semi-finals of the 100m with the quickest times, German Armin Hary jumped the gun by false-starting twice in the finals. By the third, time, he seemed to have honed his panther-like reflexes to run a speedy 10.2 second and take out the Gold Medal. Tokyo 1964 - Savvy Games The Olympic Games held in the Tokyo in 1964 were the first Olympics to be telecast internationally without the need for tapes to be flown overseas, as was required previously. They were also the first games in which South Africa was barred from participating due to its apartheid system. Mexico City 1968 - Black Power Although you've probably seen this image a thousand times, the use of sport for making overt political statements and to become a vehicle for change, which is embodied in this photo, cannot be ignored. The Black Power Salute, made by African American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos in the 1968, was a contentious gesture. Ostracised at the time, their demonstration only became recognised as a demonstration for dignity years later. Munich 1972 - Shadows The Games in Munich were largely overshadowed by the Munich Massacre, in which eleven Isreali athletes and coaches, a West German Police Officer and five terrorists were killed. Despite the event, the West German Government was determined to present a new democratic government, after the last games held in Germany was under the Nazi Regime. To this aim, the official motto of the games became 'the Happy Games'. Montreal 1976 - A Perfect Performance Romanian Gymnast Nadia Comaneci made Olympic history in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal by becoming the first female gymnast to ever be awarded a perfect score of 10 for her wondrous display on the uneven bars. Comaneci was also the the first Romanian gymnast to win the all-round event and was only 14 at the time - no wonder she appears to be floating on air. Moscow 1980 - Boycott Because of the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, the United States and a number of other countries boycotted the games in Moscow. As a result the games garnered a mere 80 participating nations, the smallest number since the 1956 Olympics. All in all a fairly non-eventful Games evidently. Los Angeles 1984 - Yep, another Boycott In retaliation to America's boycott four years prior, this time the Eastern Bloc nations boycotted the games. Seems like the fighting fire with fire approach is being employed here. Seoul 1988 - Cracking Under Pressure In the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the world's best diver at the time. Greg Louganis seemed to crack under the pressure - and that's not the only thing he cracked. In his attempt to complete a reverse 2 and a 1/2 pike somersault, the diver didn't get enough distance from the board and hit his head on the board, requiring temporary sutures. Barcelona 1992 - A Family Affair Renowned 400 metre sprinter Derek Redmond tragically tore a hamstring in the middle of the semi-final race at the 1992 Games in Barcelona. However, after his father tore past the security to go to his son's aid, Redmond was able to fight through the pain to complete a full lap, finishing with a standing ovation from the crowd. Atlanta 1996 - A Bombshell of an Olympics In the middle of the Atlanta Games in 1996, Eric Rudolph conducted his first of four terrorist bombings, killing two people and injuring 111. Rudolph bombed the Centennial Olympic Park, which was designed as the 'town square' of the Olympics. Sydney 2000 - Controversial Cathy Making the history books, Freeman brought glory to the Australian population by claiming the title of winner of the 400m track event. She was only the second ever Australian Aboriginal Olympic Champion. Following the race, the sprinter proceeded to (somewhat controversially and against Olympic norms) take a victor lap carrying both the Aboriginal and Australian flags. Athens 2004 - Making Waves Charnvudth Saensri of Thailand made waves with his strong stroke in the men's swimming 1500 metre freestyle heat in Athens. (Ok he didn't do that well but you can't go past the beauty of the photograph and his sheer determination). Beijing 2008 - As Fast as a Bolt Despite unfavourable wind conditions, Usain Bolt smashed through the 100m sprint world record with a swift 9.69 seconds. If that wasn't enough Bolt then went on to win gold and set another world record in the 200m. This made Bolt the first sprinter to ever break both records at the same Olympics.
You don't have to look too hard to glimpse the ways in which our obsession with food transcends reality on a regular basis. The culinary world is forever influencing gaming culture; whether it's a virtual dish depicted on screen, an iconic scene centered around cooking or eating, or an entire storyline inspired by food, glorious food. And this month, you'll get to experience all that from a fresh perspective for PlayStation to Plate — an innovative new dining concept that invites top local chefs to bring to life virtual food from the PlayStation universe. Running from Friday, December 3–Sunday, December 12, it'll see three Aussie eateries each create a limited-edition menu item that reimagines an iconic video game dish IRL. The restaurants are serving up their signature creations across all ten days of the pop-up, but you can also have any of the dishes dropped to your door courtesy of Deliveroo. [caption id="attachment_835422" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Italian Bowl's Thief Pasta[/caption] In Sydney's Newtown, pasta restaurant The Italian Bowl took on the task of recreating the Thief's Pasta, from critically acclaimed action-adventure title Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. Owner Alexi Spyridis explains that it was both the treasure-hunting aspect of the game and the virtual dish's heritage that inspired his selection. "[Nathan] Drake (the main character) is searching for treasure and that's what we do in the kitchen: search for those perfect dishes," Spyridis tells Concrete Playground. The Thief's Pasta features near the start of the game when characters Elena and Nathan enjoy a home-cooked feed while sitting on the couch together at the end of a long day. Spyridis has imagined the virtual dinner as a hearty bowl of penne pasta crafted with Italian sausage, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, olives and bocconcini, saying: "These flavours are common in Italian cooking so it was a pleasure to help bring this to life." There's also a strong appreciation for the way in which we all bond over the sharing of food. The immersive game-to-reality experience doesn't end there. "We want to bring them into Nate and Elena's world," Spyridis explains. "With every order, customers get a limited-edition Thief's Pasta porcelain bowl wrapped in an old map, a personal note from Elena on the back of a previous travel image, and torn-out diary notes, including sketches and the pasta recipe." Certainly not your standard spag bol, right? The restaurateur sees a raft of similarities between gaming culture and food culture in general, but especially with Uncharted, musing: "Drake travels all over the world for treasure and that's how Aussies feel about food." Of course, with Spyridis' own restaurant sitting in the multicultural culinary melting pot of Newtown, he sees this thirst for adventure and new flavours first-hand. "We've not been able to travel much over the past two years, so finding other ways to experience travel, either through food or gaming, has helped us get by". Ask Spyridis and he'll tell you that Uncharted also has some parallels to operating a family-run eatery like The Italian Bowl. "In this game, you have to work together as friends and that's exactly how we run the business, one big family working together. It's not always easy but you always find a way," he muses. "Just like Drake!" Catch PlayStation to Plate from December 3–12, in Sydney and Melbourne. You'll find each dish featured on the menu at its respective venue, as well as being available for takeaway via Deliveroo.
Whether it's an igloo or a pop-up glamping tent, Sydneysiders love a luxurious and private outdoor dining space. With winter in full swing, waterfront fine diner 6HEAD is taking these private dining pop-ups to another level with its unique set of dining domes along Sydney harbour. Located at the historic Campbell's Stores in The Rocks, 6HEAD will be erecting domes in its al fresco dining area to provide a luxurious experience with unbeatable views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. The domes will pop up from Friday, June 28 until Sunday, August 28 with space to accommodate groups of up to six for a night of food, drinks and harbour views. There are two domes sizes, medium and large. The medium size can accommodate up to four people and comes with an attached minimum spend of $1000, while the large size can fit you and five others but has a $1500 minimum spend. While you're watching the commuters cross the bridge and the waves crash against the pier from the comfort of your dome, there are a couple of different ways you can attack the 6HEAD menu. A la carte options include starters like wagyu bresla, oysters and caviar alongside a seafood-heavy mains selection and a hefty array of steaks ranging from MB3+ fillet for $67 all the way up to the signature MB9+ wagyu tomahawk for $350. If you want the decisions taken off your hands you can opt for one of the set menus. The most extravagant option — The Dawes — will set each guest back $164 and includes olive bread, wagyu bresaola, kingfish ceviche, Mayura rump tartare, dry-aged tomahawk, rice pudding and a dessert cheese board. A premium or deluxe wine package can also be added to the set menu, both of which include a variety of sparkling, red, white and rosé. To reserve a place in the 6HEAD waterfront domes, head to the restaurant's website. Images: Steven Woodburn 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.
Not all that long ago, the idea of getting cosy on your couch, clicking a few buttons, and having thousands of films and television shows at your fingertips seemed like something out of science fiction. Now, it's just an ordinary night — whether you're virtually gathering the gang to text along, cuddling up to your significant other or shutting the world out for some much needed me-time. Of course, given the wealth of options to choose from, there's nothing ordinary about making a date with your chosen streaming platform. The question isn't "should I watch something?" — it's "what on earth should I choose?". Hundreds of titles are added to Australia's online viewing services each and every month, all vying for a spot on your must-see list. And, so you don't spend 45 minutes scrolling and then being too tired to actually commit to anything, we're here to help. We've spent plenty of couch time watching our way through this month's latest batch — and, from the latest and greatest through to old and recent favourites, here are our picks for your streaming queue in December. BRAND NEW STUFF YOU CAN WATCH IN FULL GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery opens with a puzzle box inside a puzzle box. The former is a wooden cube delivered out of the blue, the latter the followup to 2019 murder-mystery hit Knives Out, and both are as tightly, meticulously, cleverly and cannily orchestrated as each other. The physical version has siblings, all sent to summon a motley crew of characters to the same place, as these types of flicks need to boast. The film clearly has its own brethren, and slots in beside its predecessor as one of the genre's gleaming standouts. More Knives Out movies will follow as well, which the two so far deserve to keep spawning as long as writer/director Rian Johnson (Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi) and Benoit Blanc-playing star Daniel Craig (No Time to Die) will make them. Long may they keep the franchise's key detective and audience alike sleuthing. Long may they have everyone revelling in every twist, trick and revelation, as the breezy blast that is Glass Onion itself starts with. What do Connecticut Governor and US Senate candidate Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn, WandaVision), model-slash-designer-slash-entrepreneur Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson, Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon), scientist Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr, The Many Saints of Newark) and gun-toting, YouTube-posting men's rights activist Duke Cody (Dave Bautista, Thor: Love and Thunder) all have in common when this smart and savvy sequel kicks off? They each receive those literal puzzle boxes, of course, and they visibly enjoy their time working out what they're about. The cartons are the key to their getaway to Greece — their invites from tech mogul Miles Bron (Edward Norton, The French Dispatch), in fact — and also perfectly emblematic of this entire feature. It's noteworthy that this quartet carefully but playfully piece together clues to unveil the contents inside, aka Glass Onion's exact modus operandi. That said, it's also significant that a fifth recipient of these elaborate squares, Andi Brand (Janelle Monáe, Antebellum), simply decides to smash their way inside with a hammer. As Brick and Looper also showed, Johnson knows when to attentively dole out exactly what he needs to, including when the body count starts. He also knows when to let everything spill out, and when to put the cravat-wearing Blanc on the case. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery streams via Netflix. Read our full review. KEVIN CAN F**K HIMSELF Not once, not even jokingly, does Annie Murphy utter the words "ew, David" in Kevin Can F**k Himself. She's never ever just a little bit Alexis, either. Murphy is just as exceptional and awards-worthy here, however, in a superb show that's a clever and cutting dark comedy — and, perhaps more accurately, offers a clear-eyed unpacking of what sitcoms usually mean (Schitt's Creek excluded, obviously) for women. In its first season in 2021, Kevin Can F**k Himself cast its star as Allison Devine-McRoberts, wife to the manchild of a titular figure (Eric Petersen, Sydney to the Max), and clearly in the kind of TV show about obnoxious husbands and their put-upon spouses that've been a small-screen mainstay for far too long. In those segments of the series, the lights glow, the McRoberts home looks like every other abode in every other program of its ilk, multiple cameras observe the action and viewers can be forgiven for expecting Kevin James to show up. Also, canned laughter chuckles — always unearned. Consider the above setup Kevin Can F**k Himself's starting point, though, because the show itself does. From there, creator Valerie Armstrong (Lodge 49) exposes what life is truly like for Allison — who is considered Kevin's wife first and foremost by almost everyone around her — including by switching looks, hues and camera arrangements whenever its namesake isn't around. The visible change is smart and effective, with this two-season show keeping digging into Allison's bleak situation from there. In the spirit of the series' title, she's trying to rid herself of her horrible marriage, including with help from neighbour Patty (Mary Hollis Inboden, The Righteous Gemstones). Alas, as this second and sadly last batch of episodes shows — as its first did as well — nothing is ever that easy. In a better world, Kevin Can F**k Himself would've had more time to unfurl and interrogate its story, but in this world it doesn't put a foot wrong with the time it's been given. Murphy and Inboden make one of TV's best duos, too; fingers crossed that someone reteams them again sometime soon. Kevin can F**k Himself streams via AMC+. Read our full review of 2021's season one. LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER Neither Emma Corrin's nor Jack O'Connell's resumes lack past highlights — The Crown for the former, and Skins, Starred Up, '71 and The North Water among the latter's — but the two actors scorch up the screen in Lady Chatterley's Lover. There'd be a problem if they didn't, given that the film adapts DH Lawrence's famously steamy and even banned 1928 novel. (In Australia, even a book about the British obscenity trial that the tome inspired was censored.) To tell this tale about an upper-class wife, her unfulfilling marriage to a Baronet injured in World War I, and the sexual and emotional yearning she quenches with the family property's gamekeeper, chemistry has to drip from the images, sparks need to fly so furiously that the movie's frames almost ignite, and a feverish and all-encompassing mood is a must. Along with actor-turned-director Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre (The Mustang), Corrin and O'Connell bring all of the above to the latest take on Lady Chatterley's Lover, and help the sumptuous erotic period drama itself not just bubble but boil. As lensed with a sensual eye by cinematographer Benoît Delhomme (At Eternity's Gate), this achingly romantic film sees its titular Lady Connie (Corrin, My Policeman) meet her also-eponymous paramour Oliver Mellors (O'Connell, Seberg) following the war, after Clifford Chatterley (Matthew Duckett, A Confession) has returned paralysed and moved his bride into his stately estate. Talk of an heir remains — pre-injury, it was the first thing mentioned in their wedding toast — but Clifford's condition, as well as his focus on writing a novel and then modernising the local mine, prove obstacles. Connie could have a discreet affair for the sole purpose of getting pregnant, however, as Clifford suggests. But it isn't just a head-over-heels clandestine love that springs with Mellors, who's also a veteran. Connie and Oliver are bowled over by the kind of adoration, affection and lust that inspires frolics in the fields and stripping down in the rain, all while their romance also helps interrogate class clashes. As well as woozily heady, vibrantly performed and handsomely shot, Lady Chatterley's Lover also enjoys eating the rich; yes, that's sexy, too. Lady Chatterley's Lover streams via Netflix. NANNY In Nanny, Aisha (Anna Diop, Us) is haunted, both when she's asleep and awake. Her slumbers are disturbed by nightmares, but seeing rising waters and unwelcome spiders isn't just relegated to when the Senegalese woman in New York closes her eyes. A gut-wrenching sense of unease also lingers while she works, after securing a childminding job for rich Upper East Side residents Amy (Michelle Monaghan, Echoes) and Adam (Morgan Spector, The Gilded Age). Their five-year-old daughter Rose (Rose Decker, Mare of Easttown) adores Aisha — more than her parents, it often seems. And, the nannying gig helps Aisha distract herself from missing her own son, who she's desperately trying to bring over to the US. She's haunted by his absence, too, and by the stolen snippets of conversation she gets with him on the phone, constantly juggling the time difference. The supernatural disturbances plaguing Aisha and her feelings about leaving her child in Senegal to chase a better future for them both are clearly linked, although Nanny is atmospheric and insightful rather than blunt and overt. The first horror film to win Sundance Film Festival's Grand Jury Prize, this evocative effort hails from writer/director Nikyatu Jusu, who makes her feature-length debut with quite the calling card. 2022 isn't short on affectingly moody and evocative female-focused thrillers with a maternal bent — see: Resurrection, which also debuted at Sundance — but Nanny's addition to the fold is deeply steeped in Aisha's immigrant experience. Thanks to all that otherworldly water, it feels like it's always steeping, in fact, soaking in the troubles and struggles of trying to snatch even a piece of the American dream when you're not wealthy, white and originally from the so-called land of the free. Also prominent: the dispiriting minutiae of Aisha's day, aka exactly what she has to endure to even have a chance of gaining what comes easily and obliviously to her employers. Like its central figure, Nanny is haunted several times over, too. Nanny streams via Prime Video. COLIN FROM ACCOUNTS A girl, a guy and a meet-cute over an adorable animal: that's the delightful and very funny Colin From Accounts' underlying formula. When medical student Ashley (Harriet Dyer, The Invisible Man) and microbrewery owner Gordon (Patrick Brammall, Evil) cross paths in the street one otherwise standard Sydney morning, they literally come to an impasse. He lets her go first, she flashes her nipple as thanks, then he's so distracted that he hits a stray dog with his car. As these circumstances demonstrate, Colin From Accounts isn't afraid to get awkward, much to the benefit of audiences. There's a syrupy way to proceed from the show's debut moments, intertwining sparks flying with idyllic dates, plus zero doubts of a happy ending for humans and pooches alike. If this was a movie, that's how it'd happen. Then there's Dyer and Brammall's way, with the duo creating and writing the series as well as starring in it, and focusing as much on ordinary existential mayhem — working out who you want to be, navigating complex relationships and learning to appreciate the simple pleasure of someone else's company, for example — as pushing its leads together. Just like in the Hollywood versions of this kind of tale, romance does blossom. That Dyer and Brammall are behind Colin From Accounts, their past chemistry on fellow Aussie comedy No Activity and the fact that they're married IRL means that pairing them up as more than new pals was always going to be on the show's agenda. It's how the series fleshes out each character and their baggage — including those who-am-I questions, Ash's difficult dynamic with her attention-seeking mother Lynelle (Helen Thomson, Elvis), and the responsibility that running your own business and committing to care for other people each bring — that helps give it depth. Colin From Accounts lets Ash and Gordon unfurl their woes and wishes, and also lets them grow. Sometimes, that happens by peeing and pooping in the wrong place, because that's also the type of comedy this is. Sometimes, it's because the show's central couple have taken a risk, or faced their struggles, or genuinely found solace in each other. Always, this new Aussie gem is breezy and weighty — and instantly bingeable. Colin From Accounts streams via Binge. Read our full review. DREAMING WALLS: INSIDE THE CHELSEA HOTEL Part of Manhattan since the 1880s, the Chelsea Hotel is as much a New York City icon as the Statute of Liberty or the Empire State Building, and as influential over the cultural landscape as well. It's where 2001: A Space Odyssey was written by Arthur C Clarke and Stanley Kubrick, where Janis Joplin and Allen Ginsburg have resided — Patti Smith, Madonna, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and Leonard Cohen as well — and a key factor in the Andy Warhol co-directed 1966 film Chelsea Girls. It's the last place that poet Dylan Thomas stayed, and where Nancy Spungen, girlfriend of the Sex Pistols' Sid Vicious, was found dead. All of these details could fuel a documentary, or several, but that's not the approach that the Martin Scorsese-produced Dreaming Walls: Inside the Chelsea Hotel takes. As the building undergoes extensive renovations that've been happening for years, upending long-term inhabitants and transforming historic apartments, filmmakers Amélie van Elmbt (The Elephant and the Butterfly) and Maya Duverdier spend time with the people determined not to leave. Everyone who still calls the Chelsea home knows the ins and outs of its past; "the ghosts who haunt it," as one puts it. But Dreaming Walls considers those everyday dwellers — most linked to creative fields in one way or another, of course — the life and soul of the current joint. That might be easy when so much of the place, and its gorgeous gothic architecture, is a construction site in the documentary's frames. The contrast between stripped-bare walls and jam-packed apartments that've been occupied by the same people for decades is haunting as well. It's no wonder that this ethereal and evocative film is largely content to loiter, to listen and to bear witness to the folks who've been there, seen it all, heard what they didn't personally experience and aren't willing to simply move just because a boutique spot is poised to take over. Dreaming Walls: Inside the Chelsea Hotel streams via DocPlay. BUMP Time-jump alert: when Bump returns for its third season, four years have passed in this supremely bingeable Aussie dramedy's on-screen world. Oly (Nathalie Morris, Petrol) and Santi (Carlos Sanson, Sweet As) are no longer high schoolers, or even teenagers. They're also no longer the couple that took a big leap at the end of season two by moving into their own apartment, away from both of their chaotic families, while Oly finished her HSC, Santi started working full-time and both juggled all of the above with caring for baby J. Indeed, this new batch of Bump episodes begins with its central pairing taking the now almost five-year-old Jacinda (Ava Cannon) to her first day of kindergarten. All three are both excited and nervous amid the awkward co-parenting energy between the now-split Oly and Santi — and as Oly's mother Angie (Claudia Karvan, Moja Vesna) surprises them en route. Times and ages may have changed, and situations and appearances as well, but the warmth this series feels for its characters — and the complexity it works through in well-worn scenarios — steadfastly remains. We said it when the first ten-episode season dropped at the end of 2020, and we still stand by it today: Heartbreak High fans, Bump is for you, too. That isn't just because Karvan starred in The Heartbreak Kid, the movie that the OG Heartbreak High spun off from, but due to its dedication to chronicling the ins and outs of growing up and parenting in Sydney — yes, with school a focus as well. Bump has matured as Oly and Santi also have, however, even if the same can't always be said about Angie, Oly's dad Dom (Angus Sampson, The Lincoln Lawyer) and her older brother Bowie (Christian Byers, Between Two Worlds). A key theme in season three: what it means when life already hasn't turned out as planned when you still have so much of it left ahead of you. The show is called Bump, after all, and finds plenty of them paving everyone's paths. With the series also devoting its time to Santi's stepmother Rosa (Paula Garcia, Thirteen Lives) and best friend Vince (Ioane Saula, Preppers) among its broader look at Oly and Santi's support network, it also finds an array of ways to contemplate hopes, dreams, loves, losses, joys and disappointments. Bump streams via Binge from December 26. NEW AND RETURNING SHOWS TO CHECK OUT WEEK BY WEEK ABBOTT ELEMENTARY The Office did it, in both the UK and US versions. Parks and Recreation did so, too. What We Do in the Shadows still does it — and, yes, there's more where they all came from. By now, the mockumentary format is a well-established part of the sitcom realm. Indeed, it's so common that additional shows deciding to give it a whirl aren't noteworthy for that alone. But in Emmy-winner Abbott Elementary, which is currently streaming its second season, the faux doco gimmick is also deployed as an outlet for the series' characters. They're all public school elementary teachers in Philadelphia, and the chats to-camera help convey the stresses and tolls of doing what they're devoted to. In a wonderfully warm and also clear-eyed gem created by, co-written by and starring triple-threat Quinta Brunson (Miracle Workers), that'd be teaching young hearts and minds no matter the everyday obstacles, the utter lack of resources and funding, or the absence of interest from the bureaucracy above them. Brunson plays perennially perky 25-year-old teacher Janine Teagues, who loves her gig and her second-grade class. She also adores her colleague Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph, Ray Donovan), the kindergarten teacher that she sees as a mentor and work mum. Actually, Janine isn't just fond of all of the above — she's so devoted to her job that she'll let nothing stand in her way. But that isn't easy or straightforward in a system that's short on cash and care from the powers-that-be to make school better for its predominantly Black student populace. Also featuring Everybody Hates Chris' Tyler James Williams (also The United States vs Billie Holiday) as an apathetic substitute teacher, Lisa Ann Walter (The Right Mom) and Chris Perfetti (Sound of Metal) as Abbott faculty mainstays, and Janelle James (Black Monday) as the incompetent principal who only scored her position via blackmail, everything about Abbott Elementary is smart, kindhearted, funny and also honest. That remains the case in season two, where Janine is newly single and grappling with being on her own, sparks are flying with Williams' Gregory and James' Ava can't keep bluffing her way through her days. Abbott Elementary streams via Disney+. LET THE RIGHT ONE IN Is every vampire film destined to become a television series? Where Buffy the Vampire Slayer, What We Do in the Shadows and Interview with the Vampire have already tread — the latter just this year, too — Let the Right One In now follows. Originally a devastatingly haunting Swedish novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, then an entrancing 2008 film in its original language, then an American big-screen remake called Let Me In, this one just keeps drawing audiences in. In its present guise, it takes its tale to New York, where Mark Kane (Demián Bichir, Godzilla vs Kong) and his daughter Eleanor (Madison Taylor Baez, Selena: The Series) are trying to live as normal a life as they can when the latter is a member of the bloodsucking undead. Other changes abound, including the fact that Ellie has been blighted by her condition for just a decade; that NYC is being plagued by a series of brutal but strange killings; and that former pharmaceutical executive Arthur Logan (Željko Ivanek, The Last Duel), his estranged daughter Claire (Grace Gummer, Dr Death) and afflicted son Peter (Jacob Buster, Colony) factor into the narrative. Because everything is a murder-mystery of late — see: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery above, and fellow recent streaming hits Only Murders in the Building, The Afterparty, Bad Sisters and Black Bird — so is Let the Right One In circa 2022 in its way. When Ellie befriends a boy, as has happened in every version of this tale so far, his mother happens to be a police detective investigating those aforementioned deaths. So, while the show chronicles Ellie and Isaiah Cole's (Ian Foreman, The Holiday Switch) affinity as outsiders, with the magic-loving neighbour kid bullied at school, it also charts his mum Naomi's (Anika Noni Rose, Maid) time on the job. And, this Let the Right One In is also a survival quest, chasing a cure for Ellie's predicament. In other words, creator and writer Andrew Hinderaker (Away) has taken the source material, filtered it through thoroughly 2022 obsessions, conjured up there requisite moody vibe and filled it with weighty performances. Sinking your teeth in is recommended. Let the Right One In streams via Paramount+. 2022 CINEMA HIGHLIGHTS WORTH CATCHING UP WITH AT HOME FLUX GOURMET Flickering across a cinema screen, even the greatest of movies only engage two senses: sight and hearing. We can't touch, taste or smell films, even if adding scratch-and-sniff aromas to the experience has become a cult-favourite gimmick. British director Peter Strickland hasn't attempted that — but his features make you feel like you're running your fingers over an alluring dress (In Fabric), feeling the flutter of insect wings (The Duke of Burgundy) or, in his latest, enjoying the smells and tastes whipped up by a culinary collective that turns cooking and eating into performance art. Yes, if you've seen any of his movies before, Flux Gourmet instantly sounds like something only Strickland could make. While it's spinning that tale, it literally sounds like only something he could come up with as well, given that his audioscapes are always a thing of wonder (see also: the sound-focused Berberian Sound Studio). And, unsurprisingly due to his strong and distinctive sense of style and mood, everything about Flux Gourmet looks and feels like pure Strickland, too. The setting: a culinary institute overseen by Jan Stevens (Gwendoline Christie, Wednesday), that regularly welcomes in different creative groups to undertake residencies. Her guests collaborate, percolate and come up with eye-catching blends of food, bodies and art — hosting OTT dinners, role-playing a trip to the supermarket, getting scatalogical and turning a live colonoscopy into a show, for instance. Watching and chronicling the latest stint by a 'sonic catering' troupe is journalist Stones (Makis Papadimitriou, Beckett), who also has gastrointestinal struggles, is constantly trying not to fart and somehow manages to keep a straight face as everything gets farcical around him. Asa Butterfield (Sex Education), Ariane Labed (The Souvenir: Part II) and Strickland regular Fatma Mohamed play the three bickering artists, and their time at the institute get messy and heated, fast — but this is a film that's as warm as it is wild, and stands out even among Strickland's inimitable work. Also crucial: riffing on This Is Spinal Tap. Flux Gourmet streams via Shudder. Read our full review. STREAMING HIGHLIGHTS FROM EARLIER IN THE YEAR WORTH CATCHING UP ON THE LAST MOVIE STARS Filmmakers adoring filmmakers is basically its own on-screen genre. Six-part documentary limited series The Last Movie Stars gives that idea a different spin: actors loving actors. Here, Ethan Hawke turns director, not for the first time — see: films Blaze, Seymour: An Introduction, The Hottest State and Chelsea Walls — to show his affection for the inimitable Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. Unsurprisingly, he has a wealth of company, some chatting through their fondness for two Hollywood talents like no other and some contributing by giving voice to interview transcripts. For a memoir that didn't eventuate, Newman and Woodward compiled chats by a who's who of showbusiness during their careers; however, they also had the tapes destroyed. Cue George Clooney voicing Newman's chats, Laura Linney doing Woodward's, and everyone from Oscar Isaac, Sam Rockwell and Mark Ruffalo to Rose Byrne and Zoe Kazan also subbing in for other famous names. That's where The Last Movie Stars' audio comes from, echoing with insightful discussions given the emotion they deserve. Hawke also includes new zoom chats with his players, as well as with Martin Scorsese, his daughter and Stranger Things star Maya and more, but his engrossing and probing series is head over heels for pairing those recreated interviews with archival footage. Staring at Newman and Woodward is easy, as is celebrating them and their relationship. This isn't just a case of deserved worship, though, but shows its subjects as real people rather than just stars — all while exploring Hollywood at the time, stepping through their careers and contemporaries, and overflowing with clear-eyed warmth. Hawke doesn't avoid tricky traits or truths, and this in-depth doco is all the more enlightening and compassionate for it. Whether you already treasure Newman and Woodward or you've always wanted to know more about the two legends, this is a movie buff's pure and utter dream. The Last Movie Stars streams via Binge. MO For three seasons on Ramy, Mohammed Amer has played Mo, the diner-owning cousin to the show's namesake. For those three seasons, including 2022's batch of episodes, he's also been part of one of the best and most thoughtful shows currently streaming, especially when it comes to the immigrant experience and telling Muslim American stories. Instead of just co-starring in an art-imitates-life dramedy inspired by someone else's existence, however, Amer has taken a leaf out of Ramy Youssef's book with Mo — a show with the same underlying concept, as co-created by Amer and Youssef. This time, the pair draw upon Amer's background rather than Youssef's. So, Amer's on-screen alter-ego is a Palestinian living in America. He's a refugee, in fact, who fled the Middle East when he was a child and sought asylum with his family. His US home: Houston, Texas. IRL, every one of these points is drawn from Amer's existence, as fans of his Netflix standup specials Mo Amer: The Vagabond and Mo Amer: Mohammed in Texas will recognise. That's the history behind Mo, with the series' eight-episode first season honing in on its protagonist's attempts to gain US citizenship. Mo Najjar (Amer, Black Adam), his mother Yusra (Farah Bsieso, Daughters of Abdul) and brother Sameer (Omar Elba, Limetown) have been waiting two decades to have their cases heard — another detail ripped from reality — and trying to forge new lives while remaining in legal limbo has long since taken a toll. Spanning losing jobs, trying to find a new one as an undocumented American resident, the Najjars' family dynamic, pain from back home they haven't processed, the weight of cultural traditions and expectations, and Mo's relationship with Mexican and Catholic mechanic Maria (Teresa Ruiz, Father Stu), there's no shortage of detail and drama to Amer's passion project. Indeed, every second of the series feels as personal and authentic as it clearly is, and does far more than merely give Amer his own Ramy. Mo streams via Netflix. Need a few more streaming recommendations? Check out our picks from January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November this year. You can also check out our running list of standout must-stream 2022 shows as well — and our best 15 new shows of the year, top 15 returning shows over the same period, 15 shows you might've missed and best 15 straight-to-streaming movies of 2022.
Following in Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement's footsteps isn't easy, but someone had to do it when What We Do in the Shadows made the leap from the big screen to the small. New format, new location, new vampires, same setup: that's the formula behind this film-to-TV series, which is now streaming its fifth season via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Thankfully for audiences, Matt Berry (Toast of London and Toast of Tinseltown), Natasia Demetriou (Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga) and Kayvan Novak (Cruella) were enlisted as the show's three key bloodsuckers in this US spinoff from the New Zealand mockumentary, all in roles that they each seem born for. The trio play three-century-old British aristocrat Laszlo, his 500-year-old creator and partner Nadja, and early Ottoman Empire warrior Nandor, respectively, who all share an abode and the afterlife in Staten Island. In cinemas, the film version of What We Do in the Shadows already proved that the concept works to sidesplitting effect. Vampire housemates, they're just like us — except when they're busting out their fangs, flying, avoiding daylight, sleeping in coffins, feuding with other supernatural creatures and leaving a body count, that is. On TV, What We Do in the Shadows has been showing that there's not only ample life left in palling around with the undead, but that there's no limit to the gloriously ridiculous hijinks that these no-longer-living creatures can get up to. Based on every season so far, including season five, here's hoping that this vampire comedy continues forever. It was true as a movie and it's still true as a television show: What We Do in the Shadows sparkles not just due to its premise, but when its characters and cast are both as right as a luminous full moon on a cloudless night. This lineup of actors couldn't be more perfect or comedically gifted, as season five constantly demonstrates. Berry's over-enunciation alone is the best in the business, as is his ability to play confident and cocky. His line readings are exquisite, and also piercingly funny. While that was all a given thanks to his Toast franchise, Year of the Rabbit, The IT Crowd, Snuff Box, The Mighty Boosh and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace history, What We Do in the Shadows is a group effort. Demetriou and Novak keep finding new ways to twist Nadja and Nandor's eccentricities in fresh directions; their characters have felt lived-in since season one, but they're still capable of growth and change. Some ensemble comedies only shine when their talents combine. Some let one or two stars do all of the heavy lifting. As stellar as Berry, Demetriou and Novak each are, What We Do in the Shadows is the sharehouse ideal of a TV comedy: everyone contributes no matter if they're together or alone. That includes Harvey Guillén (Werewolves Within) as Nandor's long-suffering and ever-dutiful familiar Guillermo, and Mark Proksch (The Office) as energy vampire housemate Colin Robinson. At the series' outset, Guillermo could've just been a tagalong offsider and Colin that exhausting friend everyone has, but with vampire-centric spins. Guillén and Proksch are now not only scene-stealers — especially the former's looks to-camera and the latter's deadpanning — but the source of some of the show's savviest jokes and the subjects of a few of its best episodes. With its game cast making everything they touch a comic gem, TV's iteration of What We Do in the Shadows has never been afraid to take risks as its episodes have soared by. In season four, that meant watching Colin grow up again from a baby — and it was hilarious. Over its run, the show has also seen Guillermo discover that he descends from the undead-hunting Van Helsings, a precarious history given his usual companions. He still desperately wants to be a bloodsucker himself, however. Indeed, that continuing conflict is season five's starting point, with a bitten Guillermo not quite sinking his teeth into anyone yet, worrying about why and also struggling with keeping his possible transformation a secret from Nandor. If Nandor finds out that Guillermo has been turned by his convenience-store cashier pal Derek (Chris Sandiford, Moonfall), wounded pride and a fractured friendship won't just be the end result. As the familiar discovers, being given the chomp by anyone other than the vamp he serves is a faux pas punishable by death — his own, and his master's out of deep shame — in otherworldly circles. This plot strand is season five's new direction for Laszlo, too, as he commits to helping understand why Guillermo isn't feasting on necks like a typical bloodsucker. As he experiments and assists, Nadja endeavours to battle a hex. She also learns that a Little Antipaxos neighbourhood exists right there in Staten Island, gaining a tonic for her frequent homesickness. Season five's storylines get Colin draining souls on the local campaign trail, running for the borough's comptroller purely to feed during debates and other political events. Plus, The Guide (Kristen Schaal, The Bob's Burgers Movie) makes her presence known — more than that, she'd like to be seen as one of the gang — after her time as an envoy to the Vampiric Council, then aiding Nadja with running her vampire nightclub. Visits to the mall and to space, staging a pride parade with perennially clueless neighbour Sean (Anthony Atamanuik, Little Demon), trying to get Nadja's ghost laid: that all happens in early episodes across this latest season. So does What We Do in the Shadows' best staple, aka this supernatural crew bickering, bantering and roasting each other. Case in point: season five finds occasion for Laszlo and Nandor to squabble over whether wit and charm or hypnotism is the best way to bend humans to a bloodsucker's will. What We Do in the Shadows' characters are so well fleshed-out now, and so delightfully performed, that having two of them argue and attempt to one-up each other remains gleaming comedy. The show's writers aren't slumbering. Sharpness and silliness still combine in gags everywhere — about Laszlo learning that he's Kim Cattrall in a Sex in the City quiz, just for starters, and in having Nadja's spirit ask speed-daring partners "how do you feel about taking the virginity of a dead ghost?" as well. Spending eternity with someone, or a quintet of seasons to-date, means loving hanging out with them, though, and this show is understandably mesmerised. Check out the trailer for What We Do in the Shadows season five below: What We Do in the Shadows' fifth season streams via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand.
Not all that long ago, the idea of getting cosy on your couch, clicking a few buttons, and having thousands of films and television shows at your fingertips seemed like something out of science fiction. Now, it's just an ordinary night — whether you're virtually gathering the gang to text along, cuddling up to your significant other or shutting the world out for some much needed me-time. Of course, given the wealth of options to choose from, there's nothing ordinary about making a date with your chosen streaming platform. The question isn't "should I watch something?" — it's "what on earth should I choose?". Hundreds of titles are added to Australia's online viewing services each and every month, all vying for a spot on your must-see list. And, so you don't spend 45 minutes scrolling and then being too tired to actually commit to anything, we're here to help. We've spent plenty of couch time watching our way through this month's latest batch — and, from the latest and greatest through to old and recent favourites, here are our picks for your streaming queue from October's haul. BRAND NEW STUFF YOU CAN WATCH FROM START TO FINISH NOW BECKHAM Strike It Like Sam Kerr would make an excellent movie title. As fans of football and film alike already know, Bend It Like Beckham got there first 21 years ago, borrowing its moniker from David Beckham's uncanny knack for curling the ball when taking a free kick. The former Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan, LA Galaxy and Paris Saint-Germain player — and England captain — now sees his name grace the screen again via Beckham, the instantly compelling four-part documentary about one of the biggest talents to ever play the world game. A birth-to-now chronicle, the series spins a fairytale that's all real and came true. David was once a quiet boy from a working-class family with a dad who loved soccer. He took to the sport with passion and dedication, and has since lived out any and every aspiring athlete's wildest fantasy. Director Fisher Stevens, who is recently best-known for acting in Succession, appreciates the dream ride that Beckham has experienced, but also sees the costs and tolls. Reflecting on that for him are several Beckhams, including the man himself, Spice Girl Victoria (who is adamant that she wasn't into football when she met David and still isn't now), and his doting parents Sandra and Ted. As countless YouTube complications have already captured, watching Beckham on the pitch at the height of his footballing powers is pure sporting joy — a fact that can be appreciated in the doco by soccer diehards and the unacquainted alike. Beckham shows off the skills, demonstrating how exceptional he was on the field and why the world responded. Witnessing that prowess is also key in understanding how everything from brand partnerships to global tours, famous teammates to disapproving team managers, and championships to tabloid harassment followed. Various Beckhams aren't the only folks chatting. Sir Alex Ferguson, Gary Neville, Eric Cantona and Rio Ferdinand are among the footballing names. Anna Wintour makes an appearance. But David and Victoria's observations, memories and insights — and relationship, in the 90s, since and now — are at this docuseries' core. Red cards, the World Cup, big moves, fan abuse and taunts, sacrifices and scandals, sarongs and hairstyles, the Beckhams' wedding, being peak 90s and pop-culture icons, changing clubs, owning clubs, family life: it all factors into this captivating and satisfying watch. Beckham streams via Netflix. THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER Of the many pies that Succession's Roy family had their fingers in, pharmaceuticals wasn't one of them. For virtually that, Mike Flanagan gives audiences The Fall of the House of Usher. The horror auteur's take on dynastic wealth gets a-fluttering through a world of decadence enabled by pushing pills legally, as six heirs to an addiction-laced kingdom vie to inherit a vast fortune. Flanagan hasn't given up his favourite genre for pure drama, however. The eponymous Usher offspring won't be enjoying the spoils of their father Roderick's (Bruce Greenwood, The Resident) business success, either, in this absorbing, visually ravishing and narratively riveting eight-parter. As the bulk of this tale is unfurled fireside, its patriarch tells federal prosecutor C Auguste Dupin (Carl Lumbly, SWAT) why his children (including Pet Sematary: Bloodlines' Henry Thomas, Minx's Samantha Sloyan, The Peripheral's T'Nia Miller, iZombie's Rahul Kohli, The Wrath of Becky's Kate Siegel and The Midnight Club's Sauriyan Sapkota) came to die within days of each other — and, with all the gory details, how. As with The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor before it, plus The Midnight Club as well, Flanagan's latest Netflix series finds its basis on the page. The author this time: Edgar Allan Poe, although The Fall of the House of Usher isn't a strict adaptation of the iconic author's 1840 short story of the same name, or just an adaptation, even as it bubbles with greed, violence and paranoia (plus death, loss, decay and the deceased haunting the livin)g. Character monikers, episode titles and other details spring from widely across Poe's bibliography. Cue ravens, black cats, masks, tell-tale hearts, pendulums and a Rue Morgue. What if the writer had penned Succession? That's one of Flanagan's questions — and what if he'd penned Dopesick and Painkiller, too? Hailing from the talent behind the exceptional Midnight Mass as well, plus movies Oculus, Hush, Ouija: Origin of Evil, Gerald's Game and Doctor Sleep, the series that results is a gloriously creepy and involving modern gothic horror entry. The Fall of the House of Usher streams via Netflix. Read our full review. OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH First dropping anchor with its debut season in 2022, and finding a mooring among the best new series that the year had to offer, Our Flag Means Death's premise has always glinted as brightly as its impressive cast (not just Uproar's Rhys Darby and Thor: Love and Thunder's Taika Waititi, but also Bloods' Samson Kayo, Creation Stories' Ewen Bremner, Bank of Dave's Joel Fry, Game of Thrones' Kristian Nairn, Hello Tomorrow!'s Matthew Maher, Loot's Nat Faxon, The Sex Lives of College Girls' Vico Ortiz and The Batman's Con O'Neill for starters). It follows Darby as self-styled 'gentleman pirate' Stede Bonnet. Born to a life of privilege, he felt that seafaring and swashbuckling was his calling, leaving his life on land behind to hop on a ship — details that all spring from reality. Creator David Jenkins (People of Earth) isn't interested in telling the exact IRL tale, however. Consider those basics merely Our Flag Means Death's departure point. On-screen, Stede gets caught up in both a workplace comedy and a boatmance. The first springs from his certainty that there has to be a nicer way to glide through a pirate existence, and the second from his blossoming feelings for feared marauder Edward Teach (Waititi), aka Blackbeard. When season one wrapped up, Stede and Ed had found love in a buccaneering place, but also felt splashes of uncertainty about what their relationship means, leading to heartbreak and a breakup. Season two picks up with the show's motley crew of characters torn in two, with Stede and his loyal faction marooned on the island tourist destination that is The Republic of Pirates — fantasy is as much a part of Our Flag Means Death as comedy and romance — and Blackbeard back to his robbing and murdering ways on The Revenge. The series' attracted opposites will find their way onto the same deck again, but choppy waters are in store for their emotions, as well as ample bobbing up and down, ebbing and flowing, floating and sinking, and everything else that the ocean brings to mind. Similarly splashing their way: rivalries, curses, old pals, new foes, betrayals, forgiveness, glorious silliness, trauma, lopped limbs and a merman (plus Madeleine Sami from Deadloch among the show's new faces). Our Flag Means Death streams via Binge. Read our full review. LUPIN Forget Emily in Paris — the best Netflix series set in the French capital focuses on a light-fingered smooth mover who is as adept at stealing hearts as he is at pilfering jewels and art. The streaming service's Lupin isn't the first screen outing based on the Maurice Leblanc-penned master of disguise, with the author's famous character first popping up on the big screen over a century ago, then appearing in both movies and TV not just in his homeland but also in the US and Japan since. Centred on a gentleman thief who takes his cues from the fictional figure, however, Netflix's take on all things Arsène Lupin is equally creative, riveting, twisty and entertaining. With the charismatic Omar Sy (Jurassic World Dominion) as its lead, it also couldn't be better cast — as viewers initially discovered in January 2021, when Sy's Arsène superfan Assane Diop started showing off his larceny skills in the series' instantly engaging five-episode first part. The angle proved savvy. The central casting is sparkling. Creators George Kay (who has since made the Idris Elba-led Hijack) and François Uzan (Family Business) perfected the rollicking vibe. And, director Louis Leterrier (Fast X) turned in some of his best work helming the debut three instalments. It's no wonder that the show became the most-watched series in a language other than English on Netflix at the pre-Squid Game time. A second five-chapter part arrived in June the same year, but audiences have had to wait until now for a third. Now streaming its seven new entries, Lupin's third part dazzles again. As its central figure tries to protect his family while the world thinks that he's dead, crime capers don't much more charming — and bingeable — than this page-to-screen heist affair. Leblanc introduced the world to Lupin in short stories in 1905, with 17 novels and 39 novellas following. In some, Herlock Sholmes pops up — and yes, the reference to Arthur Conan Doyle's detective is clearly on purpose. Although Sherlock Holmes isn't quite Arsène Lupin's English equivalent, the two characters give readers and viewers alike the same thrills. If spending time with smart figures with silky skills in can't-put-down and can't-look-away mysteries is what you're after, both deliver. Netflix's Lupin gives the French favourite a modern-day Sherlock-esque spin, but with another pivot to put the suave Senegal-born Diop and his various quests in the spotlight. Lupin streams via Netflix. Read our full review. HOT POTATO: THE STORY OF THE WIGGLES Get ready to wiggle: Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Greg Page and Jeff Fatt have ensured that Australia has been in that exact state for so long. It was more than three decades back when the university classmates, all studying early childhood education, decided to combine their area of interest with music — not for fame, which has come and then some since, but to put what they were learning into action while engaging and teaching kids. If your childhood spanned Australia in the 90s onwards, or you've ever spent time parenting or babysitting someone who fits into that category, then you know the end result. Indeed, folks in most parts of the world do, too. The Wiggles haven't gone wrong since those early and humble beginnings. Only Field, aka the Blue Wiggle, remains part of the skivvy-loving group's current main iteration, but such is The Wiggles' beloved status that all four can and do fill arenas filled with adults on OG Wiggles tours. Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles charts the why, what and how about the Aussie troupe, who've also won Triple J's Hottest 100, appeared at Mardi Gras and performed at Falls Festival in just the last couple of years. Comprised of archival clips and recent interviews — all lively and colourful — plus earworm-level kids tunes that everyone knows no matter if you've ever actively watched or listened to The Wiggles, Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles hits the screen from a filmmaker that's no stranger to exploring the stories behind pivotal figures. Also on Sally Aitken's resume: Valerie Taylor: Playing with Sharks and David Stratton: A Cinematic Life, although neither had such a penchant for bright primary hues. This is a tale of a great idea and the hard work that made it a success, of friendship and being able to do what you love, of creative genius and lucky breaks, and of both finding and spreading joy. It's an account about big red cars, pirates with feathers for swords and dinosaurs called Dorothy as well, of course, and of teaching approaches and learnings, sacrifices made, health tolls weathered, a band becoming a show, and a group ensuring that it wasn't just entertaining Australia and beyond — it was representing its audience, too. Unsurprisingly, Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles is both enlightening and likeable; so, classic The Wiggles, then. Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles streams via Prime Video. ONEFOUR: AGAINST ALL ODDS Members of ONEFOUR happily chat through their lives and music careers in ONEFOUR: Against All Odds, with first-time feature filmmaker Gabriel Gasparinatos regularly putting brothers J Emz and YP, plus their friend Spenny, centre screen to tell their story in their own words. As the trio talk, they're never anything less than candid and impassioned about their childhoods growing up in Mount Druitt in Sydney's western suburbs, the lack of opportunities available to the Pacific Islander community, being openly told as teens that they'd end up in jail, when paths and choices made those harsh words come true, and the reason that they're famous: their tunes. But everyone involved in this film, and those watching as well, must wish that this was a different movie — not due to anything about how the doco itself is made or plays, but because of the grim reality that it charts. If only this wasn't an account of friends who found not only something they loved but a new way forward in drill rap, which they turned into viral success and more, only to be constantly harassed by a New South Wales police squad that usually targets organised crime, terrorism and bikie gangs. Sharing J Emz, YP and Spenny's dismay comes easily while viewing ONEFOUR: Against All Odds, which takes a thorough ride through the group's origins, career and run-ins with the law. Feeling enraged at the police attempt to censor art — shutting down gigs in NSW and around the country; also thwarting international touring plans; and constantly making their presence known to ONEFOUR's talents, their families and their community — because they claim that the band's tracks will incite violence is just as inescapable. Gasparinatos interviews law enforcement representatives on-camera, and their words don't and can't justify the shocking treatment that ONEFOUR has received and keeps receiving as singles such as 'What You Know', 'The Message', 'Home and Away' and The Kid LAROI collaboration 'My City' have struck a chord with listeners locally, nationwide and internationally over the past six years. This plight isn't over, either; in fact, when ONEFOUR: Against All Odds premiered at SXSW Sydney, the heavy representation from the thin blue line didn't go unnoticed or unreported. The film chronicles the group's highlights, such as earning recognition, starting dance crazes, one-man gigs, a stadium The Kid LAROI show and the band's resilience, while always conveying how true the doco's title rings. ONEFOUR: Against All Odds streams via Netflix. THE PIGEON TUNNEL What happens when one of the world's great documentarians, and a master at the talking-head format, turns his lens toward one of the best authors of espionage intrigue that's ever graced the page? The engrossing The Pigeon Tunnel, Errol Morris' (an Oscar-winner for The Fog of War) exploration of John le Carré's life and work. Of course, the latter's tales haven't just spilled through books, but onto screens themselves long before he was a doco subject — and his IRL exploits are as fascinating as anything ever captured in The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Constant Gardener, A Most Wanted Man, Our Kind of Traitor, The Night Manager and The Little Drummer Girl. How did the man born David Cornwell, who was in his 80s when he sat with Morris for a frank interview before his passing in December 2020, become the go-to for cloak-and-dagger affairs? And what kind of rollercoaster of an existence inspired such narratives? le Carré aka Cornwell explains all here — from his dad's shady schemes, his mother leaving and his time as a teacher through to working for MI5 and MI6, and becoming a novelist. The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories From My Life precedes this film, hitting bookstores in 2016 as the only full-length non-fiction text to le Carré's name. Whether you've read that or not, devoured one or some or none of his spy tales, done the same with the movie adaptations or are coming to the author anew here with just slight recognition drawing you in, The Pigeon Tunnel is gripping as a documentary. A gifted storyteller on the page, the movie's central figure is just as talented when he's in front of the camera — often framed askew, in a feature that tellingly takes the aesthetics of le Carré's favourite genre to heart. Morris and his adept regular editor Steven Hathaway also splice in examples from the author's pen, given there's such a large amount to choose from, which isn't merely a case of illustrating the impact of his work. Indeed, The Pigeon Tunnel knows that the lines between fact and fiction are faint, including when surveying, probing and interrogating decades in the eventful life of someone who spent more than one job spinning complicated webs. The Pigeon Tunnel streams via Apple TV+. TOTALLY KILLER Kiernan Shipka has long said goodbye to Mad Men's Sally Draper, including by starring in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. After her dalliance with witchcraft, she's still sticking with horror in Totally Killer, but in a mix of slasher tropes and a Back to the Future-borrowing premise. There's a body count and a time machine — and 80s fashions aplenty, because where else does a 2023 movie head to when it's venturing into the past? Also present and accounted for: a tale about a high schooler living in a small town cursed by a past serial killer, which brings some Halloween and Scream nods, plus Mean Girls and Heathers-esque teen savagery. And, yes, John Hughes flicks also get some love, complete with shoutouts to Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink star Molly Ringwald. Totally Killer doesn't skimp on knowingly and winkingly mashing up its many influences, clearly, or on enjoying itself while doing so. The end result is a heap of fun, as hailing from Always Be My Maybe's Nahnatchka Khan behind the lens, along with screenwriters David Matalon (The Clearing), Sasha Perl-Raver (Let's Get Married) and Jen D'Angelo (Hocus Pocus 2). Shipka plays Vernon resident Jamie Hughes, who has spent her whole life being told to be careful about everything by her overprotective parents Pam (Julie Bowen, Modern Family) and Blake (Lochlyn Munro, Creepshow) after an October turned deadly back when they were her age. Unsurprisingly, she isn't happy about it. The reason for their caution: in 1987, three 16-year-old girls were murdered in the lead up to Halloween, with the culprit badged the Sweet 16 Killer — and infamy ensuing for Jamie's otherwise ordinary hometown. Pam is still obsessed with finding the murderer decades later, but her daughter only gets involved after a new tragedy. This Jason Blum (The Exorcist: Believer)-produced flick then needs to conjure up a blast in the past to try to fix what happened then to stop the new deaths from occurring. Always knowing that it's a comedy as much as a slasher film (as seen in its bright hues, heard in its snappy dialogue and conveyed in its committed performances), Totally Killer leans into everything about its Frankenstein's monster-style assemblage of pieces, bringing its setup to entertaining life. Totally Killer streams via Prime Video. THE BURIAL Find the right story, enlist an ace cast, and any genre can thoroughly entertain and engage while ticking recognisable boxes — and legal drama The Burial is one such hearty example. The true tale: Mississippi resident Jeremiah Joseph O'Keefe's mid-90s David-versus-Goliath battle against businessman Raymond Loewen, with their respective funeral operations at the centre, and also lawyer Willie E Gary representing O'Keefe's side when it went to court. The stars: Tommy Lee Jones (The Comeback Trail) as the 75-year-old grandfather who is having government troubles over the insurance side of his company, and wants to secure a future for his sizeable family (including 13 children); ever-busy and reliable character actor Bill Camp (Boston Strangler) as a cashed-up promised buyer of three funeral homes to add to his North American deathcare empire; and Jamie Foxx (Strays) as the smooth-talking, jury-whispering, private jet-owning Florida-based personal injury lawyer who is convinced by the just-graduated Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie, Elemental) to give a case he normally wouldn't think twice about a go. After writing and helming 2017's Novitiate, filmmaker Maggie Betts takes on both gigs again — co-scripting with Doug Wright (Quills), who also came up with the story that's based on a New Yorker article — on a film that doesn't only step through cracking courtroom antics, but is cleverly funny, too. The details are rousing, as well as infuriating, with Loewen reneging on an agreement with O'Keefe, the latter suing the former with Gary's help, and predatory practices regarding race and economic status becoming plain. After jumping from sci-fi/horror with They Cloned Tyrone to raucous comedy with Strays and now this, Foxx is giddily excellent playing a character that could've been all style and no substance, even as someone who exists IRL, but proves flashy yet genuine. His rapport with Jones, as cemented by the music off late-80s/early-90s R&B act Tony! Toni! Toné!, also shines. And although John Grisham could've penned the ins and outs if it was all fiction, this is still a smart and involving movie, and an easy crowd-pleaser. The Burial streams via Prime Video. NEW AND RETURNING SHOWS TO CHECK OUT WEEK BY WEEK LOKI One of the best performances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes from the man who was first charged with getting villainous, but now leads his own spinoff series as a complex and playful hero. While Tom Hiddleston's acting talents are well-established far beyond playing the God of Mischief — see: The Deep Blue Sea, The Hollow Crown, Only Lovers Left Alive, High-Rise, Crimson Peak and The Night Manager, for instance — the MCU has been all the better for his involvement for more than a decade. A scene-stealer in 2011's Thor, his parts in film after film kept getting bigger until streaming series Loki arrived. Amid Disney's rush of greenlighting shows for Disney+, starting this one couldn't have been easier; as Thor: Ragnarok in particular demonstrated, adding more Hiddleston has always been a winning move. Indeed, when it slid into queues in 2021 as just the third series in the MCU's small-screen realm, following WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki proved that more Hiddleston in a six-part TV show was also a delight. As one of Marvel's standout shows, it came as no surprise when this stint of time-hopping trickery confirmed that it was returning for a second season in that run's final episode. Now back for another half-dozen instalments, Loki becomes the first of Marvel's television entries to earn a second go-around. That isn't an achievement that it takes for granted. Picking up exactly where season one left off, Loki season two sticks to some familiar beats but also makes its own leaps, and remains fun, funny, lively and smart in the process. It feels more lived in, too, a description that rarely applies to any franchise about caped crusaders and their nemeses, gods, multiverses and temporal chaos, this one among them. And, as well as Hiddleston excelling overall, plus opposite Owen Wilson (Haunted Mansion) and Sophia Di Martino (The Electrical Life of Louis Wain), this time-jumping return also brings Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan into another temporal jumble, which is as great on-screen as it sounds on paper. Loki streams via Disney+. Read our full review. UPLOAD Every show about the afterlife, whether it's The Good Place or Upload of late, relies upon an inescapable truth: if some form of existence can go on after death, humanity's worst traits will go with it. Greg Daniels' addition to this stream of thought relies upon AI, virtual reality, plus capturing the consciousness of someone before they die so that they can spend eternity in a simulation — if they can afford it — and while The Office and Parks and Recreation writer/co-creator has made another sitcom, rather than going all Charlie Brooker and Black Mirror, the end result doesn't evade the fact that people are people whether they're flesh and blood or digital approximations. So, as he resided in the luxurious country club-esque Lakeview after shuffling off the mortal coil, computer programmer Nathan (Robbie Amell, The Witcher) wasn't free of living's troubles. Instead, he had daily struggles and the fallout from his demise to deal with. Now three seasons in, Upload has brought its protagonist back to regular reality, downloading into a body with the help of his former virtual handler-turned-girlfriend Nora (Andy Allo, Chicago Fire), but he's still facing the same troubles. Well, mostly the same — because downloading is risky, hasn't been done successfully before and Nathan's bleeding nose is a worrying sign. As Upload's main duo battle big tech, the series continues to probe the limits that capitalism will take advancements to while prioritising circuitry and dehumanising people. Nathan's ex Ingrid (Allegra Edwards, Briarpatch), who financed his trip to Lakeview, is increasingly coming around to this way of thinking. Even the plentiful AI Guy (Owen Daniels, Space Force) is getting progressively rebellious against the systems, coding and rules that are behind his very existence. Upload season three keeps complicating its storyline, but also keeps doubling down on its critique of wealth disparity, companies ruling over people, modern society's endless quest for control and cash, and the hellscape that might come if and when digital afterlives leap off the screen. Amell, Allo, Edwards and Daniels remain perfectly cast, as does Zainab Johnson (Tab Time) as one of Nora's colleagues and Kevin Bigley (Animal Control) as another Lakeview inhabitant, in a series is repeatedly astute and amusing. Upload streams via Prime Video. Read our full review. A RECENT BIG-SCREEN RELEASE YOU MIGHT'VE MISSED EMILY If Emily had been made two or three decades earlier, it might've starred Frances O'Connor, rather than boast the Australian actor-turned-filmmaker as its writer and director. Back in the 90s and 00s, O'Connor played with literary classics in movies such as Mansfield Park and The Importance of Being Earnest, plus a TV version of Madame Bovary. Now, making an accomplished and emotive debut behind the lens, she explores how Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights might've come to be. Is a Kate Bush-inspiring piece of gothic romantic fiction of such passion and yearning — the only one from a writer lost to tuberculosis at the age of just 30 in 1848 — the result of a life touched by both? That's a question that this fictionalised biopic ponders. Emily begins with another query, however, although it's also basically the same question. "How did you write it?" Emily's (Emma Mackey, Sex Education) older sister Charlotte (Alexandra Dowling, The Musketeers) demands. "How did you write Wuthering Heights?" As one Brontë grills another, "I took my pen and put it to paper" is Emily's literal answer, offered as she reclines, pale and not long for this world, alongside printed versions of her now-iconic story. The response provided by the gorgeously shot, impressively acted and deeply moving Emily is far more complicated, but O'Connor's choice to open her movie with this scene and question is both clever and telling. One perspective on great artists, including of words, is to view their work as intertwined with their lives — aka this feature's preferred vantage. A key perspective of Emily, too, is not letting the small amount of detail known about the middle of literature's three Brontë sisters dictate how this story is told. That copy of Wuthering Heights by Emily's side? It bears her name, as does every iteration printed today, but her book wasn't first published under her real moniker — her pen name was Ellis Bell — until two years after her death. Emily streams via Stan. Read our full review. Need a few more streaming recommendations? Check out our picks from January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August and September this year. You can also check out our running list of standout must-stream shows from this year as well — and our best 15 new shows of 2023's first six months, top 15 returning shows over the same period and best 15 straight-to-streaming movies from January–June 2023, too.
On Sunday, March 25, Public House Petersham will team up with day party crew One Day to transform its car park into a booming afternoon party with live music and pop-up bars. A new mural will be painted in real-time, too — lookers-on will have a chance to watch some of the best artists in action as they spray artworks onto the car park walls. DJ sets will be played by Spit Syndicate's Nick Lupi, party hero Levins, FBi's FlexMami and other local legends. And if hip hop isn't your thing, get involved in the 20-strong female Bad Bitch Choir which will be performing twice throughout the afternoon. This event will differ slightly from other One Day parties, in that it's explicitly family friendly. Because parents need to party too. Public House Petersham is known for being a good spot for families in the inner west, and, as well as the above, it'll have bubble machines, face painting and other activities to keep little ones entertained. And pups are welcome too.
At Koskela, owners Russel Koskela and Sasha Titchkosky have a philosophy to produce environmentally-friendly, sustainable furniture that is also beautiful. All of the stock at their Rosebery warehouse store, including wooden kitchen stools or a classic timber base sofa, are designed by Koskela and, where possible, made from reclaimed timbers. Koskela also sells a unique range of homewares including lighting, ceramics and soft furnishings, as well personal accessories including beauty products and jewellery; basically, everything you need to create a finely curated life. The warehouse also houses a gallery space that displays curated exhibitions from a range of Australian artists each month and runs workshops if you're keen to learn a craft and get your hands dirty.
Whether you're looking to sip or sup in Balmain, you'd best call in for a sip or sup at one of the local's favourite watering holes, Cat & Fiddle. This independently owned and operated establishment has been a mainstay in the locale since 1920. It's undergone numerous facelifts and rejuvenations but remains a local favourite with its Trivia Tuesdays, Monday Bistro Family Night (hospo workers get a free drink on the house), live music, bottomless brunch weekends and, of course, happy hour from 3-6pm Monday to Friday. The bistro is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner — 12-3pm and 5-9pm — serving up Mediterranean-style pub grub with eats inspired by cuisines from France, Greece and the Amalfi Coast. Pop in for some loaded hummus, 'Greek Style' grilled octopus, crab linguini, woodfired pizzas or your classic pub fare, with chicken schnitty, burgers galore, sausages and mash, steak cuts or fish and chips on the menu. Wash down your feast of choice with an Australian vino. Cat & Fiddle's wine list is brimming with wines from coast to coast, whatever your preference — bubbles, white, pink, orange or red. If you're more of a cocktail-girlie, you can opt for a classic or amp up your choice with the venue's signature cocktails, like Mr Rose, made with Archie Rose Gin, elderflower syrup, fresh strawberries and lime, or Jalapeño My Way, made with 1800 Tequila, Cointreau, shaken with fresh lime juice, jalapeño-infused sugar syrup, and a Tajin spice rim. Images: Balmain Rozelle Chamber of Commerce
Calling all sleuths of Australia — again. If you haven't fulfilled your murder-mystery fix on the big and small screens over the past few years, and if you missed a whodunnit play hailing from the one and only Agatha Christie in both 2022 and 2023, then you'd best make a new date with The Mousetrap. Here are two questions for you to solve first: why is this play coming your way once more a big deal, and when is it doing the rounds again? The answers: as well as being penned by Christie, it's the world's longest-running play; and, because its past Aussie seasons have proven such a hit, it's returning to a heap of cities from May–September 2024. As well as heading to Hobart and Darwin, this tour is favouring regional and smaller spots. That means seeing The Mousetrap in Newcastle, Wollongong, the Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Geelong and Frankston — among other stops — for audiences in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. Initially premiering in London's West End in 1952, The Mousetrap has been treading the boards in the UK ever since, only pausing during to pandemic venue closures. When theatres reopened in Britain, so did the show. Indeed, when it arrived in Australia in 2022, The Mousetrap did so 70 years to the month that it first debuted. Unsurprisingly, that hefty run means that the show has enjoyed the longest stint for any West End production, and for any play anywhere in the world. So far, there's been more than 28,500 London performances. To answer the other obvious question, yes, it's all about an unexpected body. The murder-mystery starts with news of a killing in London — and with seven people snowed in at a guest house in the country. They're strangers, which is classic Christie. When a police sergeant arrives on skis, they're told that the murderer is among them (which, again, is vintage Christie). They all have wild pasts, too, and all those details are spilled as they're interrogated, and also try to work out who among them is the killer. Those guests at Monkswell Manor include a pair of newlyweds who run the house, a spinster, an architect who is handy in the kitchen, a retired Army major, a man who says his car has overturned in a drift, and a jurist. Naturally, there's another death as they're all puzzling it over — and a twist conclusion, which audiences have been requested not to reveal after leaving the theatre for seven decades now. Again, it's all Christie all over, which'll be evident if you've seen the recent film versions of Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile — or the original cinema adaptations, or read the books, or devoured anything else that Christie ever wrote. And, if you caught 2022's See How They Run, you'll be more than a little familiar with The Mousetrap as well. This theatre work started as a short radio play, which was written as a birthday present for Queen Mary. It aired in 1947 under the name Three Blind Mice, after which Christie rewrote it as a short story, then adapted it again for the stage as The Mousetrap. And no, there isn't a movie of it — because Christie stipulated that it can't leap to the screen until at least six months after the West End production closes. Clearly, that hasn't happened yet. In Australia, the play boasts Robyn Nevin directing and John Frost for Crossroads Live Australia producing. AGATHA CHRISTIE'S THE MOUSETRAP 2024 AUSTRALIAN TOUR: Saturday, May 11–Saturday, May 25: Newcastle Civic Theatre, Newcastle Thursday, May 29–Sunday, June 2 — HOTA, Home of the Arts, Gold Coast Tuesday, June 11–Monday, June 24 — Theatre Royal, Hobart Thursday, June 27–Sunday, June 30 — Civic Theatre, Orange Thursday, July 4–Sunday, July 7 — Geelong Arts Centre, Geelong Thursday, July 11–Saturday, July 13 — Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin Wednesday, July 17–Friday, July 19 — Glasshouse, Port Macquarie Tuesday, July 23–Wednesday, July 24 — Empire Theatre, Toowoomba Wednesday, July 31–Saturday, August 3 — Frankston Arts Centre, Frankston Thursday, August 8–Sunday, August 11 — Albury Entertainment Centre, Albury Thursday, August 15–Sunday, August 25 — Glen St Theatre, Frenchs Forest Thursday, August 29–Sunday, September 1 — Entertainment Convention Centre, Mackay Thursday, September 5–Monday, September 16 — Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap will tour Australia in 2024. For further details and tickets, head to the play's website. Images: Brian Gleach.
Auckland is a city built on stories. Some are told in theatres that once hosted Bette Davis and Bob Dylan. Some on the slopes of former volcanoes. The rest, you'll have to find for yourself in the city's cobbled streets and galleries. Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland's) charm blooms beyond the tourist stops. Past the Sky Tower and steeple of St Patrick's Cathedral, you'll spot an unassuming vintage facade. Here, at 53 St Patrick's Square, The Motor House forms the foundation of Hotel Indigo Auckland. Once a showroom for Cadillacs and motorcycles, it now acts as your key to the city. Inside midtown's tallest building, warm wood panels, Māori art, and leather touches make an unexpected home out of the building's industrial bones. [caption id="attachment_1037197" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Hotel Indigo Auckland[/caption] But the best part? The hotel's position puts you at the heart of the city. Here, your neighbours are indie bookstores, laneway bars and suburban swimming spots. Here's how to plan a weekend getting lost in the hills, islands and laneways of Tāmaki Makaurau. [caption id="attachment_1037201" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Maungakiekie[/caption] Wide Open Spaces Auckland was built around the valleys and ridgelines of 53 ancient volcanoes. You can see it in the sprawling, green knolls of Maungakiekie. Also known as One Tree Hill. These Teletubbyland-esque hills act as Auckland's best viewing platform. Back in the city's heart, find Khartoum Place. Shady trees and a fountain's trickle make it a pocket of calm that locals retreat to. Check out the tile artwork in honour of the Women's Suffrage Movement in New Zealand and have a break to caffeinate. Take a short stroll and you'll find yourself at the wharf. Catch a ferry 40 minutes off the coast and you'll land a world away on Waiheke Island. Sundrenched vineyards, shaded olive groves and your footprints on white sand beaches await. Or, dive right into the harbour at the Karanga Plaza Tidal Steps: a totally free swimming area on the shores of the city. Take Notes on the Culture Follow any street in Auckland, and you'll find yourself at a crossroads of culture. Here, Māori culture threads through so much of the city, linking with European history in the wharves, cafes and museums. Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki is home to the world's largest collection of New Zealand art. Enter through majestic kauri tree columns to spend a day working through four levels of exhibitions. Plan your visit to Aotearoa in November, and you'll catch the Elam School of Fine Arts annual graduate show. Take a stroll through midtown and you'll find a slew of independent bookshops like Unity Books, Time Out Bookstore, and Hard To Find Books. Read local stories spun into poems or get lost in the whodunnits of local crime author legend Ngaio Marsh. [caption id="attachment_1039738" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hotel Indigo Auckland[/caption] Dine Like the Locals Vulcan Lane was once an unnamed and muddy track. Today, it's a meeting point of some of Auckland's best bars, cafes, restaurants and boutique shopping. The Queensferry Hotel was one of the first to move in over 200 years ago. It's Auckland's oldest pub, but its menu is modern and best enjoyed al fresco while people-watching. Each Thursday, the laneway comes alive with free jazz performances from local music schools and seasoned pros. Follow the warm cathedral light down St Patrick's Square and you'll find Bistro Saine. Here, beyond the art-filled lobby of Hotel Indigo, you'll find this modern take on the classic European bistro is a destination in its own right. Leather banquette seating, antique tableware and perfectly cooked steak makes it easily to forget you're not in Paris. [caption id="attachment_1037203" align="alignleft" width="1920"] The Civic Theatre[/caption] Read the Stars The 1930s were Auckland's golden age. Theatres, cinemas and music halls were soundtracked by Māori soprano Ana Hato and The Beatles. Legendary spots like Everybody's, The Roxy, and Peter Pan Cabaret may be gone, but their legends live on in the feel of the streets. The Civic Theatre is perhaps the magnum opus of Auckland's golden age. Inside, giant, golden elephants and carvings of Buddha line the walls alongside gaudy chandeliers. Above it all—for no reason other than opulence—is a replica of the Auckland night sky at 10pm on Saturday, April 20, 1929. Bette Davis, The Rolling Stones, Nick Cave, Bob Dylan, and even the Dalai Lama have visited. Nowadays, you can catch a musical or comedy show there. [caption id="attachment_1037204" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Hotel Indigo Auckland[/caption] The Perfect Base When your step count is nearing new heights, Hotel Indigo Auckland makes for the perfect place to rest your tired feet. The hotel's historic home, The Motor House, plays the role of muse. In each corner, you'll find nods to the past. From the scaffold-inspired wardrobes and vintage fixtures to the factory facade still bearing the names of its former owners, you can feel the stories of Auckland past in each inch of the hotel. Step out from the lobby and you'll be met with a view of the Sky Tower and Auckland at your feet. Want to stay in the thick of it? Find out more about Hotel Indigo Auckland here. Lead image: Hotel Indigo Auckland
This conversation delves into the relationship between art and its underestimated cousin, craft. Far from living room knits and quilts, there’s a mountain of innovative products finding a lucrative market online. Through platforms like Etsy and Instagram, these entrepreneurial makers are carving out new business models and satisfying the demand for a more local touch. Held at Koskela in Rosebery, the panel will consist of Emma Rutherford, Luke Temby of CUPCO, Rebecca Chua of Chuchu Designs and design writer Gillian Serisier (MC). This event is one of our top ten picks of Art Month. Check out the other nine here. Image: Courtesy of Rebecca Chua, styling and photography by Emma Duckworth and Abbie Melle.
Today, Eric Bana is a world-renowned film and TV star with a resume that spans Australian and Hollywood fare. Black Hawk Down, Hulk, Troy, Munich, Star Trek, Hanna, Aaron Falk movies The Dry and Force of Nature: The Dry 2, US television shows Dirty John and Untamed: they're all on the Aussie actor's resume. At the beginning of 2000, however, he had a part in The Castle as his sole big-screen appearance, alongside his small-screen sketch comedy work in the likes Full Frontal, plus a few episodes of medical drama All Saints. Then came Chopper. Ever since Bana portrayed Mark 'Chopper' Read in the exceptional Andrew Dominik (Blonde)-directed flick, it's been one of the first roles that springs to mind whenever anyone thinks about the Australian talent. Well-deserved accolades came his way, including Best Actor at the Australian Film Institute Awards (which have since become the AACTAs). If you need a reminder of why his performance demanded such praise — and the film, too — catching a 25th-anniversary cinema screening of the iconic feature will do the job. To celebrate a quarter of a century since Chopper first hit Aussie picture palaces, the film is returning to local big screens for a limited season from Thursday, August 21, 2025. As well as the movie itself — one of the finest Australian entries in the true-crime genre, and a stunning feature debut from Dominik — audiences will also see 13 minutes of bonus behind-the-scenes footage, chats with Bana, Dominik and Read among them. How does Bana look back on the role that made him an international movie star, and tells one of the most-infamous crime tales in Aussie history? "Chopper was an incredibly unique and distinctive character. Getting the chance to play someone like him is rare. It's always a treat if a film holds up over time, and I'm proud of its space in the Australian film landscape," he advises. This isn't Chopper's first return to the big screen — it also enjoyed 20th-anniversary sessions, pops up on retrospective programs and received the Hear My Eyes treatment at MIFF 2022 — but it's always worth watching in cinemas. Marking the leap from making music videos to features, the movie also helped catapult Dominik's career, too, with The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Killing Them Softly and Blonde all following, plus episodes of Mindhunter, and Nick Cave-focused documentaries One More Time with Feeling and This Much I Know to Be True. Check out the 25th-anniversary trailer for Chopper below: Chopper is returning to Australian cinemas from Thursday, August 21, 2025.
UPDATE, March 15, 2021: Brooklyn is available to stream via Netflix, Stan,Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. From its opening frames, Brooklyn feels like a film from another time. Director John Crowley (Closed Circuit) stays patient as he surveys the life of aspiring Irish bookkeeper Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan), and equally unhurried when he follows her to 1950s New York in search of a better life. He watches and waits as she does the same, though the movie doesn't suffer for it. Instead, it becomes a rare effort that knows how long things take to unfold, and isn't in a hurry to rush any moment. A leisurely sense of timing isn't the film's only old-fashioned flourish — and nor is the gorgeous period look it cultivates, showcasing the intricate work of cinematographer Yves Bélanger and production designer François Séguin. The film version of Colm Tóibín's 2009 novel of the same name, as adapted by author Nick Hornby, also eschews the need for extremes. It still ponders conflicting options, as Eilis is torn between her old and new homes, her past and her future, and between two men who love her. It's just that the movie understands a simple truth that many don't: that, regardless of the choice or conflict, the bulk of reality exists somewhere in the middle. Perhaps that's why Eilis' tale — struggling to leave her widowed mother (Jane Brennan) and caring sister (Fiona Glascott), seeking states-side assistance from kindly priest Father Flood (Jim Broadbent), and moving into a Brooklyn boarding house overseen by the strict Mrs Kehoe (Julie Walters) — always feels so honest and heartfelt. And perhaps that's why it continues to feel genuine as Eilis falls for plumber Tony Fiorello (Emory Cohen), then finds her love tested when she connects with Jim Farrell (Domhnall Gleeson) upon a forced return to Ireland. Indeed, what appears to be a straightforward romantic drama soon proves much more nuanced and sincere, with the stellar cast also doing their part. The film's determination to take things slowly doesn't just suit the story, but the performers, particularly the sensitive efforts of Ronan. She plays the shy Eilis as someone who feels much but says little, and there's nothing quite as moving as watching her face convey the character's inner turmoil. Cohen and Gleeson, the former previously a standout in The Place Beyond the Pines and the latter popping up in everything from Ex Machina to The Force Awakens to The Revenant, ensure their respective love interests remain more than narrative complications — and that Eilis' fondness for them both is just as thoughtfully realised. Combine the central trio's textured portrayals with the movie's overwhelmingly bittersweet tone — another outlier in an art form usually obsessed with clear-cut emotions — and Brooklyn becomes a rousing, resonant throwback in the most pleasing and engaging of ways. Here, saying that the film seems much older than it is proves the best kind of compliment.
Endeavour Vintage Beer Co. finally has a place to call home in The Rocks. The Endeavour Tap Rooms opened at the tail-end of 2016 (and then reopened after a spell in 2020) and, oddly enough, is more bar than a brewery. The beer itself plays second fiddle to the restaurant and main bar, which not only contains eight brew taps but also has four additional taps for rotating cider, wine and house cocktails. The tiny, 600-litre brewhouse is squeezed into a small side room and looks more like a display brewery than a functioning one. The two-storey, three-bar venue itself is nicely done, which isn't too surprising considering the partnership from Applejack Hospitality, the minds behind Bondi Hardware, Della Hyde and Circular Quay's Hacienda. They've necessarily maintained that heritage building fit-out with its stained glass windows, vintage wallpaper and chic chandeliers, giving the space a living room vibe. We're very much into the all-Australian, seasonally harvested ingredients they're using. We'd recommend the bar snacks. Think dishes like dressed oysters on a half shell, raw hiramasa kingfish tostadas and crispy, succulent pork hock nibbles that lend themselves nicely to the needs of the after-work crowd the venue seems geared towards.
Black Friday and its super-cheap sales only come once a year. Use the occasion to score a bargain holiday, however, and the memories will last a lifetime. Thanks to Virgin's addition to the 2022 shopping frenzy, you have options — whether you're happy to explore Australian destinations or fancy a getaway further afield. A whopping 500,000 fares are currently up for grabs as part of the airline's Black Friday, Bright Holidays sale, covering a heap of Aussie and international spots. Sticking with home turf, you can head to Byron Bay, the Whitsundays, the Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Hamilton Island, Alice Springs, Hobart and more. And, if you're eager to journey overseas, you can hit up Bali, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Queenstown. With discounts of up to 30-percent off, one-way domestic fares start at $55, which'll get you from Sydney to Byron Bay. As always, that's cheapest route. Other cheap flights include Brisbane to either Cairns for $89 and Hamilton Island for $99, Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast from $109, Adelaide to the Gold Coast from $125 and Perth to Hobart from $189. Internationally, both one-way and return flights are on offer — with return deals including Sydney to Fiji from $469, Brisbane to Vanuatu from $539 and Melbourne to Queenstown from $489. If you're wondering when you'll need to travel, there's a range of dates from January–June 2023, all varying depending on the flights and prices. As usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick. Virgin's discounted fares are now on offer until midnight on Tuesday, November 29 or sold out, whichever arrives first. Virgin's Black Friday, Bright Holidays sale runs until midnight AEST on Tuesday, November 29 — or until sold out. 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.
The name Knowles may be synonymous with Beyoncé — AKA Kween Bey— but her li'l sis Solange isn't standing in any shadows. The singer, songwriter, actress, model and fashion icon has won a Grammy, starred on the front covers of magazines and released a chart-topping album — and now she's coming to Sydney. It was announced this morning that Solange will be headlining Vivid LIVE 2018, performing four shows on June, 1, 2, 3 and 4. They will be her only Aussie performances this time round. This will be her first Australian performance since she toured back in 2014 (aside from a one-off performance at H&M in 2015). And she has released a tonne of sweet tunes since — including her award-winning album A Seat at the Table, which hit number one in the charts in late 2016. So, in June, expect to hear Solange belt out hits such as 'Don't Touch My Hair' — the lyrics of which the London Evening Standard's editors probably should've heeded — and 'Cranes in the Sky', which won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance. To get your hands on tickets, you'll need to enter a ticket ballot. To do so, head to the Opera House's website between now (Monday, February 26) and midnight on Sunday, March 4 and register. Successful applicants will be notified on Thursday, March 8. No other live music acts have yet been announced for Vivid LIVE 2018 — with the rest of the lineup expected to be announced in the upcoming weeks — but if it continues anything like it has started, this year is going to be a banger. Solange will perform four shows at Vivid LIVE 2018 at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall between June 1–4. Registrations for the ticket ballot are now open.
Redfern sometimes seems like a birthing ground for hip cafes and bars. As easy as it may be to find cafes with attractive staff and the kind of pastiche laden decor that the arts crowd and university students love, it's a little harder to find prices to match. That's what makes Cofee Tea & Me such a draw for impoverished students and Redfern urbanites alike - it has that unique combination of charming decor, really good food, and delightfully low prices. Despite the name, it is the food that is the strongest part of the cafe's appeal. While many other cafes stock a wide variety of the typical panini/pie/salad combination, Coffee Tea & Me focus on one very different offering: bagels. These aren't your typical bagels either, but denser, flatter, sesame-topped bagels that are far more filling than they look. They're baked fresh daily, off premises, and come in a range of fresh fillings - from the archetypal ham, cheese and tomato, to vegan options such as grilled seasoned tofu with tahini, tomato, avocado and fresh rocket on wholemeal. The prices are a lot less varied, stretching from $5.90 to only $7.90. The best part of the deal is the $1 regular coffee with the purchase of any bagel. Campos coffee brewed on a La Marzocco machine, or T2 tea if you would prefer. They also reward loyalty bountifully, offering a free coffee for every 5 purchased. Coffee Tea & Me may not be the best place to meet up with friends; the chandelier-lit inside area is barely able to fit three customers at a time while the quirky mismatch of outdoor furniture is only ever empty late in the afternoon, outside of meal times. It is, however, the perfect place to visit alone, and if the prospect is at all daunting, the genuinely friendly staff will make you feel right at home.
Since the late 1990s, Jackies Cafe has been serving Paddington's locals from its sun-drenched courtyard amid the area's designer shopping hub. Led by head chef Josh Booker, the cafe dishes up simple breakfasts and lunches made with locally sourced ingredients — regular trips to the market or the farms themselves are on Booker's schedule to make sure he is cooking with the freshest produce. The breakfast menu is mostly Australian brunch classics, with some Japanese twists — try vanilla ricotta pancakes ($19.50), lobster scrambled eggs with lime and coriander dressing ($22) or the raw seasonal green bowl with poached egg, avocado, enoki mushrooms and miso dressing ($21.60). At lunch, longstanding chefs Tatsuo Ito and Masayuki Takegawa man the sushi bar, providing fresh Japanese delicacies. A number of other dishes are available, including a tuna poke bowl ($26), Balmain bug linguine ($28) and a classic beef burger ($23.50). Drinks include caffeine from the Australian-made Mothersky Coffee, Simon Says juices and smoothies, and a small 'summers in the courtyard'-friendly selection of alcoholic tipples (think Aperol spritz, mojitos, King Valley prosecco and French rosé). And, just this month, the Paddington institution has launched dinner three nights a week, welcoming patrons hungry from a day of shopping for a late-afternoon bite and a glass of wine, or a full al fresco dining experience. Alongside its usual breakfast hours, Jackies will open from 5.30–11pm, Thursday to Saturday with a full dinner menu of sushi, sashimi, sharing plates and main meals. Tuck into steamed shiitake mushroom and eggplant gyoza ($16.50), salmon caviar boats ($22.60), pork and prawn ramen ($32) and braised beef rib with wasabi mash ($48). Save room for dessert, because the dark chocolate mousse with miso caramel and espresso foam ($12) and the matcha ice cream with seasonal berries and black sesame praline ($12) look like just the right amount of decadence to cap off a meal of this calibre. Images: Kitti Gould.
If you're still sans long weekend plans, put this one on your list to check out: a giant new community market is launching in Sydney's Inner West, offering locally made goods and live entertainment. Marrickville's new Metro Market is a collaboration between the creators of design and arts store Hypmotive and the folks behind fresh food retailer Panetta. The result is set to be the suburb's largest maker's market, with an array of artists, designers and suppliers from the area and beyond set to be slinging their wares. This month's iteration will run on the ground level of the Smidmore Street Precinct, on Saturday, June 11 from 10am-4pm. If you're headed away for the long weekend, don't worry — it's set to be held every month, so you've got plenty of time to peruse the edible treats, homewares, fashion and art. The lineup is set to change and grow, but this week you'll be able to glaze your own ceramic pots and buy bespoke dry bouquets and arrangements. The little ones can get their faces painted, while older shoppers can enjoy the live entertainment on offer. If you're looking for a winter wardrobe update there will be stalls of vintage fashion, while creative home cooks can peruse the 15 stalls of fresh local deli products and speciality grocery goods. And yes, there will be tasters. Marrickville's metro market kicks off on Smidmore St on Saturday, June,11 from 10am-4pm. Head to the website for more info and a list of vendors.
That's right, there's another beer festival in town. The Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular is a Melbourne player making its Sydney debut. There is, of course, a diverse range of craft beers paired with food from local Sydney restaurants (including Three Blue Ducks, Veggie Patch, Mary’s and LP Meats), but what makes this event different is the whopping 120 brews created specifically for the event by local and international brewers. “This year we have one-off beers being made including oysters, orange peel, coriander seeds, finger limes, peaches, cherries, truffles, chocolate, biscuits, split peas, pineapple, coconut, vodka and a beer which will taste like banoffee pie," GABS co-organiser Steve Jeffares says. The standard way to get through all this bounty is with a 'tasting paddle' of five tokens for $10. This will get you five 85ml tasters and 1/60th of the way through the beer offering at this spirited new festival.
Garçon is a cafe from The Little Marionette team. It sits at the entrance of Tramsheds so you can enter either through the food hall or from the car park, and it's your go-to for a takeaway or sit-in coffee — it has some really awesome amphitheatre-like cushioned seating arrangement around the coffee roaster. Best part is, at night the cafe turns into a bar serving espresso martinis.
They say home is where the heart is — that might explain the location of Ben and Emily Calabro's latest venture. The brother-sister duo grew up in Gladesville on the Lower North Shore, giving their new neighbourhood cafe, District Eatery, a sentimental edge. Serving elevated takes on Aussie-inspired favourites from breakfast to lunch, enticing dishes and warm details tie this spot to the local community. Now 14 years into their journey, the duo first established their reputation with the quality breakfast game at Pyrmont's Quick Brown Fox. Most recently, the Calabros turned their attention to Rosa, a nonna-approved pasta bar inspired by the Amalfi coastline. Now, the pair is ready to rival the city's top brunch spots with District Eatery. "There's something very special about returning back to Gladesville and bringing a concept that we wished we had growing up. Every detail of District Eatery has been carefully considered to create a comfortable space for locals to enjoy and spend time together," says co-owner Ben Calabro. Working closely with JSLJ Architecture, District Eatery's interiors balance the natural and industrial. Think floor-to-ceiling windows that invite loads of light, custom timber joinery and neutral ceramics set against a handmade concrete bar, along with terrazzo-speckled floors and high-gloss burgundy tiles. Bold but welcoming, quick takeaways or extended catch-ups are equally suited to the space. As for the menu, there's a steady hand in charge. Head Chef Daniel Grey brings years of experience from working in renowned kitchens like AALIA and The Apollo, offering fresh takes on brekkie and brunch staples. The ultimate bacon and egg roll is served as a pressed croissant, with fontina and Kasundi ketchup. Meanwhile, the hotcakes are stacked with roasted rhubarb and strawberry almond crumble, finished with strawberry syrup and house-made vanilla bean ice cream. Recalling the local community, the Calabros' connection to Gladesville isn't a tenuous one. The pair attended nearby schools and played soccer at Monash Park, just a short stroll from District Eatery's corner location. Plus, the duo's hospitality journey began a few streets away at their first coffee shop in Top Ryde City Shopping Centre. Says Ben: "To open this venue in our home suburb, for the community we grew up in, means the world to us."
Of all of Earth's natural ecosystems, there's nothing quite like rainforests. An incredibly important part of our global climate, these verdant kingdoms make up only three percent of our planet's surface but are home to more than half of terrestrial animals. They absorb pollutants, are crucial to the livelihoods of one in every four people and effectively act as the 'lungs' of planet Earth. We might not have a rainforest here in Sydney, but the next best thing in town is the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and its dedicated greenhouse space, The Calyx. This indoor space is home to thousands of plants year-round, and it also hosts regular exhibitions like Alchemy of a Rainforest. Having opened on Sunday, September 15, this latest exhibition is all about the rainforest. It showcases the variety and beauty of the biomes with recreations of plants, flowers, trees and animals made with recycled materials by environmental artist Jane Gillings. From humble seeds and busy butterflies to an oversized satin bowerbird bower you can walk through, the exhibition is built to immerse you in and educate you about the mysteries of nature and the little living things that make our rainforests and world go around. Before leaving, be sure to swing by The Leaf Department Cafe, the on-site eatery within The Calyx, for a cup of coffee and a hearty sandwich to enjoy indoors or on the grass outside. Have you got any events coming up? This quiet oasis is sticking around in The Calyx until well into 2025, and will be available as a function space for hire for any special occasion you can fit inside a rainforest. Alchemy of a Rainforest runs from Sunday, September 15. Entry is available with a donation. Visit the website for more information.
This Saturday, January 26, the Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel will again host the annual Sydney event both your pooch and you will be pumped for: the Every Man and His Dog stand-up paddleboard race. Also open to those without a paddleboard (it can be hired on the day) or a four-legged friend (can't hire, go without), the race offers something for everyone, with different categories including long distance, sprint and a team relay. And there are awards for best-dressed dogs (and humans). You don't have to participate, if you're like us, you'll likely be crazily Instagramming from the shore. It's dogs on paddleboards, people. Dogs. On. Paddleboards. Kicking off at 7.30am, the SUP race will leave your tummy grumbling. Luckily, the Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel have your back (or stomach) with snacks available from the market place out the front and from inside at the bar, which is open for breakfast from 7am.
The Bay Run is one of Sydney's most idyllic stretches of tarmac, skirting the inner-west's waterfront through suburbs like Leichhardt, Drummoyne, Russell Lea and Rozelle. Yet a just-released announcement is set to make Callan Park in Lilyfield an even more popular destination along the route, thanks to a brand-new $3.8 million swimming spot — the Callan Park Tidal Baths. Whether you're rising early to beat your course record or taking a stroll with friends (keep to the left, please), you'll soon be welcome to cool off with a dip. Made possible by a partnership between the NSW Government and the Inner West Council, the project was first explored in 2018, with long-held plans for the Iron Cove foreshore finally getting the go-ahead. Included in the design, the future Callan Park Tidal Baths will feature an accessible pathway and ramp alongside a generous fixed jetty, pontoon and shark net. Closely integrated with the surrounding parkland, the aim is to deliver a family-oriented recreation facility ripe for safe and accessible swimming for the whole community. "The iconic Bay Run and surrounding parklands are already a community hub for family fun, sport, relaxation and exercise, so adding a swim spot where people can cool off in summer will be the perfect addition to an already thriving public space," says Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully. So, when can you slide into your togs? Once the final approvals are in place, construction on the Callan Park Tidal Baths is expected to take around six months. That means you should be able to enjoy a post-run swim by the time summer in 2026 comes around. In the meantime, Greater Sydney Parklands is preparing a Callan Park Foreshore Master Plan for community consultation in the coming months. "The Callan Park Tidal Baths will be a spectacular addition to the Bay Run, which is already one of the best-used recreation facilities in Sydney," says Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne. "This swim site is the next step in the incredible rehabilitation of the Parramatta River and will attract swimmers and families from all over the Inner West to take a dip in Callan Park." The Callan Park Tidal Baths are expected to open by summer 2026. Head to the website for more information. Image: NSW Inner West Council
Gone are the days when a lobby was just a lobby. Now, you'll find all sorts of great cafes, wine bars and coffee nooks jazzing up the bottom of office buildings and residential complexes all over Australia. And for Sydney, the latest of these is cafe Lobby Boy, which has made its home in Northpoint Tower, right in the middle of the action of the North Sydney CBD. Spurred by the success of the original Lobby Boy over in Commonwealth Bank's Eveleigh site, this new northern counterpart is once again the work of Ramzey Choker — the mind behind hits like The Grounds of Alexandria and The Grounds of the City. The result of another collaboration with design studio Acme and the Cromwell Property Group, Lobby Boy North Sydney is decked out with rustic timber flooring, soft lighting and splashes of musk pink and deep green. It's a warm and relaxed space, designed to act as a chilled out meeting place for the buzzing Miller Street office block above. From the kitchen comes a contemporary daytime offering, flecked with international influences. You'll spy the likes of a brioche brekky jaffle stuffed with maple-glazed bacon, roast tomato, egg and smoked barbecue mayo, and a brown rice chirashi salad starring tuna tartare, edamame, charred avocado and salted kombu. A ploughman's-style sandwich is loaded with leg ham, cheese, pickles, heirloom tomato and relish, and a lineup of small plates features the likes of Asian-style South Australian mussels, fried school prawns and an heirloom carrot and buffalo mozzarella tart. Of course, coffees are pumping all day. To match, there's a range of shakes and smoothies, and a line of house-made sodas in flavours like Berry Minty and Pine Passion Fizz. Choker and his team also have plenty more big things in the works, including a huge new dining precinct, espresso bar and coffee research lab opening in South Eveleigh next year. So stay tuned for that one. Find Lobby Bar North Sydney on the ground floor of Northpoint Tower, 100 Miller Street, North Sydney. It's open 7.30am–4pm Monday to Wednesday, 7.30am–late Thursday and Friday and 9am–2.30pm Saturday.
From New York's Rachel Comey to London's You Must Create, Denmark's Henrik Vibskov to Greece's Esiot and Paris's Cuisse de Grenouille, The Standard Store is the place to find international brands in Sydney. Its carefully curated and constantly evolving selection of high-end clothes, shoes, accessories and homewares is always a pleasure to browse — if only to get a good idea of what's happening in fashion and design around the world. Run by Sydney-based Nicola and Orlando Reindorf, the store also hosts small pop-up events from time to time, so it's worth keeping an eye on its Facebook page for workshops and talks. [caption id="attachment_779690" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] Images: Cassandra Hannagan.
May has the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, June boasts the Delta Aquariids and December welcomes the Geminids. In November, however, it's Leonids time. Arriving at the end of spring in Australia and New Zealand, the Leonids may not be quite as well known as some of its counterparts, but it's still a shower worth looking up for. And it's famous for one impressive reason: its spectacular meteor storms. It can feature more than 1000 meteors per hour, but it only occurs around every 33 years — and, sadly, the most recent occurred in 2001. Still, while you won't spy that kind of intense onslaught in 2020, you will still see meteors. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts there'll be around five per hour hurtling across the heavens on average. At its peak, timeanddate.com predicts 15 per hour. In good news for those Down Under, the Leonids can be seen in the Southern Hemisphere. Although it runs from Friday, November 6 until Monday, November 30, it's best detected between Saturday, November 14 and Friday, November 20 — and it's expected to be at its peak between Tuesday, November 17 and Wednesday, November 18. Like many astronomical shows, catching an eyeful after midnight is recommended (aka when the moon has set and its light will not interfere). Named for the constellation of Leo, which is where it appears to radiate from in the sky, the Leonids aren't just renowned for its huge showers approximately three times each century, but also for its place in history. During the storm of 1833, it has been estimated that more than 100,000 meteors streamed across the sky per hour — and, as a result, the Leonids helped play a part in the formulation of the first theory about the origin of meteors, NASA notes. The Leonids stem from the Comet Tempel–Tuttle, which was actually first officially recognised after the famous meteor shower of 1833 — in 1866, in fact. And, if you're wondering why the Leonids' storms only hit every 33 years or so, that's because that's how long it takes for the comet to orbit around the sun. [caption id="attachment_751114" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The peak of the 2009 Leonids meteor shower. Image: Navicore via Wikicommons.[/caption] For your best chances of getting a glimpse, the usual advice applies. Get as far away from bright lights as possible — this could be a good excuse to head out of the city to a clear-skied camping spot — and pray for no clouds. And, given that the Leonids originate from the Leo constellation, that's what you'll be looking for in the sky. To locate Leo, we recommend downloading the Sky Map app — it's the easiest way to navigate the night sky (and is a lot of fun to use even on a non-meteor shower night). The Leonids meteor shower is best detected between Saturday, November 14 and Friday, November 20. Top image: Mike Lewinski via Flickr.
