Pre-work swims and afternoon picnics are better thanks to Petersham Park's friendly neighbourhood cafe that's reinventing the classic pool canteen. Splash Coffee took over the food and drink offering at the Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre in late 2023, setting up shop with standout coffee, loaded sambos, fresh salads and a freezer stocked full of ice creams. Splash is the second Inner West opening from the team behind Newtown's always-pumping Soulmate — an accomplished crew also boasting the minds behind northwest Sydney favourites The Tuckshop and the now-closed Baron. Open seven days a week, Splash begins to stir from the early hours, swinging open its doors from 6.30am each morning. That means pre-work swims paired with a hearty brekkie and Single O coffee are well and truly on the cards. The all-day breakfast section of the menu spans granola, smashed (or splashed) avo and B&Es (or V&Es — vego and egg rolls). If you're after something bigger, picks include fish and chips, a selection of sandwiches and a loaded Bradman burger. The fish sandwich is a certain summer hit, packing thin pieces of fish schnitzel, American cheese, house-pickled beetroot, white onion, shredded lettuce and a signature sauce between two ultra-fluffy pieces of white bread. Summer swimmers can head to the takeaway window inside of the pool in order to elevate their dips with a heap of nostalgic treats on offer at the cafe — including a chip butty (with optional curry sauce), milkshakes, smoothies and your classic ice cream selections. Splash's proximity to the park also opens it up to servicing leafy picnics under the nearby trees. The team has even supplied picnic blankets, which you can borrow when you order a coffee or a feed. A bloody lovely neighbourhood spot.
As a writer I'm pretty happy with the fact that I get to sit around in pyjama pants all day, but even that has nothing on being a professional LEGO builder. New York-based artist Nathan Sawaya is man with this enviable job title, and he has created the first exhibition ever to focus exclusively on LEGO bricks as an art medium. Turning something that nearly all children have at home — and most adults still have a sentimental attachment to — into incredible large-scale sculptures, this is an exhibition that truly exemplifies the belief that art should be accessible to all. Art of the Brick has been selling out all over North America for several years, and has finally made its way to Sydney. Those with a predisposition to jealousy should probably avoid the exhibition, which will make even the most carefully constructed LEGO Pirate ships and intricate themed villages seem like, well, toys. Sawada’s creations resemble everything from pieces of fruit to famous faces and actual-size dinosaur skeletons, all created without the help of building instructions. Book early, because tickets will be hotter than a kit of LEGO Technic.
Two sets of unsavoury characters meet in a Boston warehouse in the dead of night to exchange a suitcase full of money for a truck full of guns. It should be a simple swap, but inevitably the deal goes pear-shaped and bullets begin to fly. As premises go, the one at the heart of Free Fire could hardly be any simpler. But it's that simplicity, in part, that makes this pitch-black action comedy work as well as it does. Taking the glamour, if not the glee, out of violent big-screen gun battles, Free Fire draws more on slapstick comedies than it does Hollywood shoot 'em ups. No one here is a particularly good shot, with the characters spending the bulk of their time huddled behind makeshift barriers nursing flesh wounds and screaming obscenities. Every injury is another punch line, as foot chases slow to a stumble and eventually a crawl. At times, you may wish director Ben Wheatley did a better job maintaining a sense of visual geography – it's not always clear which character is where or who it is they're shooting at. Then again, the film is fundamentally about confusion, so perhaps that's the point. A percussion heavy jazz score accentuates the sense of chaos, while driving home the fact that the shooters are making things up as they go. But more important than being able to keep track of who did the shooting is whether you actually care about the people getting shot. The script is a little thin when it comes to character development, but a strong cast helps flesh out what's on the page. Armie Hammer as a smooth talking sales rep, Brie Larson as an inscrutable mediator, Cillian Murphy as a soulful IRA lieutenant and Michael Smiley as his uptight comrade lead an ensemble that also includes Sam Riley, Jack Reynor and Noah Taylor. Only Sharlto Copley, as an ostentatious arms dealer, crosses the line into caricature, although thankfully he's funny more often than he's annoying. Ultimately though, how entertaining you find Free Fire will largely depend on how much you can laugh at people getting killed and/or maimed. Although considerably less nasty than some of Wheatley's earlier films such as Sightseers and A Field in England, this is still a decidedly dark affair. It's probably for the best than it only runs for an hour and a half. You can only go so long with a concept like this before the laughs are replaced with a sense of unease that's not anywhere near as fun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDD3I0uOlqY
2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, and at Sydney Festival 2019, there'll be a whole heap of ways to celebrate the occasion. As we commemorate the gents who first traipsed across the lunar surface, it's not a bad opportunity to think back on a few of the earlier Apollo missions. Remember Apollo 3, the unmanned mission to test whether or not NASA could successfully restart the ship's engines? Or Apollo 7, the first live TV broadcast from space? No, we don't either. The truth is, during the space race, a whole bunch of people did a whole bunch of crazy things to pave the way for the Armstrong/Aldrin moonwalk. To recognise these lesser-known space odysseys, SydFest has commissioned 11 cosmos-themed works for Barangaroo. With a combination of sculpture, interactive installations and roaming performers, this is a great chance to delve into some of the leaps that made Neil's 'small step' possible 50 years ago. Apollo 11 is part of Sydney Festival's dramatic and diverse 2019 program. Check out the full lineup here.
Oh Moretti, how we adore thee. Set back from Leichhardt's busy Norton Street hustle, 17 years on this strip is saying something. That authentic pizzeria air hits you the moment you're in there and it's like some sort of voodoo. You're half expecting to start speaking fluent Italian. But we shan't get too carried away: we're here for the pizza (although other mains are equally as tempting). Crunchy and thin throughout — not even a raised border in sight, the focus is on the toppings. Pizza bianche (white base) options are aplenty: opt for the Trastevere ($24.50) if you fancy Roman sausage with potato and rosemary, or Oscar ($24) with mascarpone and prosciutto. Get the napkins out if you're ordering the rosse (tomato base) — the saucy discs are even more dribble-worthy. We got Spagna ($24.50) with garlic, prawns, artichoke hearts, basil and chilli and a Jema ($24.50) with chorizo sausage and heaven-sent Buffalo mozzarella. Whatever you choose, don't forget you're as close to Italy as you'll be for awhile, so make room for their famous tiramisu ($14.50).
It told you it was freakier. Giving 2003's mother-daughter body-swapping comedy a 22-years-later sequel means upping the ante, then. When the Freaky Friday franchise returns to cinemas, it'll again subject Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis, The Last Showgirl) and Anna (Lindsay Lohan, Our Little Secret) to a switch; however, they're not the only characters waking up to an unexpected change. Anna's daughter Harper (Julia Butters. The Fabelmans) and future stepdaughter Lily (Sophia Hammons, The Absence of Eden) will also learn what it's like to literally walk in another person's shoes to understand how they feel. As the just-dropped full trailer for the film shows, that's how sequel Freakier Friday is living up to its name: by getting four characters, not two, in on its identity crisis. This time, it's Harper and Lily who are squabbling, just as Tess and Anna were in the first flick — but the entire quartet experience the consequences. The new Freakier Friday sneak peek follows a first glimpse at the movie earlier in 2025, which already promised more chaos, plenty of nods to its predecessor — a nostalgic favourite — and taking the body-swap scenario up a few notches. The storyline: Anna is about to get married to Eric (Manny Jacinto, The Acolyte), hence gaining a stepdaughter, with the process of merging families happening just as a familiar situation pops up. It was back in 2023 that word arrived about a follow-up to the 00s version of Freaky Friday. Audiences will see the results on the big screen Down Under on Thursday, August 7, 2025. There's no fortune cookie involved, it seems, but there is a fortune teller (Vanessa Bayer, No Good Deed) who tells Anna and Tess that they've "walked in each other's paths" and "learned a lesson — a lesson that may serve you again". She also advises Harper and Lily that they're "called to be family". Similarly returning alongside Curtis and Lohan from Freaky Friday: Mark Harmon (NCIS: Origins), Chad Michael Murray (Sullivan's Crossing), Christina Vidal Mitchell (The Terminal List), Haley Hudson (Queen Gorya), Lucille Soong (Raya and the Last Dragon), Stephen Tobolowsky (The Madness) and Rosalind Chao (3 Body Problem). For more company, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Never Have I Ever) also joins the cast. Behind the lens, Nisha Ganatra (The High Note, Late Night) is directing, with Curtis and Lohan among the executive producers, all on a movie that keeps building on the Freaky Friday name. The initial Curtis and Lohan team-up didn't start the franchise, of course. Instead, it began with the 1972 book by Mary Rodgers, then the 1976 Jodie Foster (True Detective: Night Country)-starring first movie adaptation, and also a 1995 remake with Gaby Hoffmann (Zero Day). After 2003's beloved Curtis- and Lohan-led take, horror flick Freaky also gave the idea a spin in 2020. Check out the full trailer for Freakier Friday below: Freakier Friday releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, August 7, 2025. Images: Glen Wilson © 2024/2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
He gave The Social Network five stars, Hostel none, famously refused to grade Romper Stomper, and declined to cover Wolf Creek 2 at all. But how would David Stratton rate a documentary about his own life and love of film? It's a question we'll never know the answer to, although the fact that we're all wondering speaks volumes about the veteran film critic's impact. It also explains why there's now a doco about him and the Australian cinema landscape he has helped shape for more than half a century. Let's face it — for most Aussie film and television viewers, movies and David Stratton go hand in hand. For 28 years on SBS's The Movie Show and then ABC's At the Movies, he dissected the week's big screen releases on the small screen, with much of the country tuning in to catch his insights and hear his banter with co-host Margaret Pomeranz. He'd profess his hatred for shaky cam, she'd sigh "oh David," and their back-and-forth would make a conversation about an average film much, much more interesting. They even have their own board game. And while that might've all come to an end, the movie buff's movie buff isn't done sharing his love of cinema. Indeed, from the end of May, he'll talk audiences through the best flicks Australia has to offer in a three-part TV series. Consider David Stratton: A Cinematic Life the feature-length appetiser. Directed by experienced television helmer Sally Aitken, the documentary endeavours to do two things: step through Stratton's life and career, and explore a selection of influential Australian titles. The former comes complete with tales of the critic's cinema-obsessed youth, photos of his pre-beard days, a glimpse inside his catalogue of movie notes (which he refuses to digitise), and a number of famous faces popping up to sing his praises, including Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, and Mad Max director George Miller. To achieve the latter, the film takes Stratton around the country to visit locations immortalised on film while diving into explorations of the titles in question – from outback horror Wake in Fright and beloved comedy Muriel's Wedding, to the roadway thrills of the original Mad Max and the relatable warmth of The Castle. Understandably, there's plenty to fit in — the British-born Stratton arrived down under for what was supposed to be a two-year visit, became the director of the Sydney Film Festival for 18 years, and was the subject of ASIO interest thanks to his trips to overseas film festivals. Similarly, with around 100 flicks earning a mention, there's no shortage of movies in the spotlight. Using one as a gateway to the other, David Stratton: A Cinematic Life does an impressive job of weaving its two points of focus together. Hearing about Stratton's fascinating experiences will make you want to discover more (thankfully, his 2008 autobiography I Peed on Fellini can help fans do just that), while discovering his thoughts on an array of local films will make you want to dedicate the foreseeable future to an Aussie movie marathon. Deftly edited and filled with affection, David Stratton: A Cinematic Life is the kind of film the man himself would likely give several stars and probably more. We reckon Pomeranz would feel the same way, although here we have to be content with her commenting on her former sparring partner's shoes. Yes, that's another reason the documentary is worth watching. Come for the moving tribute and informative trip through Aussie film history, stay for the long-awaited David and Margaret reunion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoTbplWKvOg
In 2022, The Kid LAROI embarked upon his debut headline Australian tour, selling out arenas across the nation and adding more dates to meet demand. Two years later, the Aussie star otherwise known as Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard is hitting local stages again, locking in tour dates for November 2024. Initially announced in 2023 and due to happen in February 2024, then postponed to October due to trying to confirm a "really big surprise and special guest" and "a bunch of other logistical stuff", The Kid LAROI's The First Time Australian tour has now set both its dates and venues. His supports at five of his seven stops: Migos frontman Quavo and Sydney's own ONEFOUR. [caption id="attachment_926206" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adam Kargenian[/caption] "I'm really excited to confirm the November tour dates and bring my show to Australia. It's going to be incredible to perform back home and share this experience with all of you," said the singer-songwriter, revealing the new dates. "I'm also pumped to announce that Quavo will be joining the tour as a special guest. Can't wait to see you guys and make this tour unforgettable!" The Kid LAROI has made some changes to the tour itinerary, which is in support of The Kid LAROI's debut studio album The First Time and was originally set for a five-city Australian run. This was meant to be his first-ever Aussie stadium tour thanks to shows at Melbourne's AAMI Park, Perth's HBF Park, Adelaide's Coopers Stadium, Sydney's Commbank Stadium and CBUS Super Stadium on the Gold Coast. Now, however, he's hitting up HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Commbank Stadium in Sydney, Perth's RAC Arena, Adelaide Entertainment Centre, MyState Bank Arena in Hobart and Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena. Quavo and ONEFOUR won't be on the bill on the Gold Coast or in Hobart. The First Time might've been a new 2023 arrival, but The Kid LAROI has been releasing music since 2018 — solo, and also teaming up with everyone from Juice WRLD and ONEFOUR to Justin Bieber. Accordingly, fans can look forward to hearing 'Stay', 'Without You', 'Thousand Miles', 'Love Again', 'Girls' and more come spring. The Kid LAROI The First Time Australian Tour 2024: Monday, November 11 — HOTA, Home of the Arts, Gold Coast Thursday, November 14 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Saturday, November 16 — Commbank Stadium, Sydney Wednesday, November 20 —RAC Arena, Perth Sunday, November 24 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Wednesday, November 27 — MyState Bank Arena, Hobart Friday, November 29–Saturday, November 30 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne The Kid LAROI is touring Australia in November 2024, postponed from February 2024. Head to the Australian ticketing site for more information — and for presales from 1pm local time on Tuesday, August 6 and general sales from 1pm local time on Thursday, August 8.
By day, Gaku serves up steaming bowls of ramen. By night, it's an innovative izakaya with ingredients and techniques borrowed from across Europe and Asia. But first: the ramen. Gaku serves up four different types: a yuzu-spiked duck broth with smoked duck and duck meatballs, a seafood bowl with salty clam consommé and poached clams and a chicken tonkotsu with pork char siu served standard or spicy. Sydney has no shortage of ramen, but Gaku makes it unlike anywhere else in the city. Chefs Haru Inukai (owner of the now-closed Sussex Centre Ramen Ikkyu and Elizabeth Bay's BlancHaru) and Shimon Hanakura (ex-Aria) add modern twists to the dishes without sacrificing technique — they successfully combine their experience making traditional ramen and working at fine dining establishments. The only problem you'll have with the ramen is getting your hands on a bowl. Only 40 portions are made each day, and they're not sold takeaway. Meaning, you'll have to head into the restaurant — a compact, but not overcrowded space on Darlinghurst Road with exposed bricks and wooden details — between midday and 2pm, any day of the week. If you can, grab a seat at the long wooden bar overlooking the kitchen and watch Inukai and Hanakura at work. Try and get a seat at the bar at night, too. You'll want to come back to check out the equally innovative dinner menu. At first glance, it's what you'd expect from a Japanese grill: karaage, wagyu, sashimi and pork belly. But look closer and you'll find ingredients and techniques borrowed from France, Italy and China. The wagyu is bresaola, cured and thinly sliced and served with Padrón peppers and a shichimi buttermilk. There's a burrata salad, too, with chunks of tomato and salty bonito flakes. Inukai's signature, a riff on Hakka salt-baked chicken, is a whole spatchcock cooked and served in a shiso and koji salt bake. It's both impressive to look at and to eat — the salt crust sealing in the flavours and the juice. It's not all innovation and experimenting, either — some dishes are refreshingly simple. Often sourced that morning (you can keep an eye on the daily catches via Instagram), the sashimi is served with wasabi and pickled kohlrabi. The grilled Angus or wagyu steaks are sliced and presented with a plate of sauces: black pepper, wasabi and soy. Gaku may seem like a typical izakaya but Inukai and Hanakura's use of fine dining techniques — at both lunch and dinner — and its eclectic and interesting ingredient list make it anything but. As word of Gaku spreads, it's only getting busier (and harder to snag a midday bowl of ramen) so we recommend booking a visit, tout de suite. Images: Trent van der Jagt
Every Saturday night, just as the sun sets and the Vivid lights turn on, Bungalow 8 is getting into the festival spirit with a neon party. The whole venue will turn into a glowing wonderland. Enter after 9pm and you'll be handed a glowing wristband, putting you straight on theme. Then, at 9.30pm, the face painters will arrive, offering free neon makeovers. Once you're done, head over to the bar for a glow-in-the-dark cocktail, before hitting the light tunnel for a photo shoot. Soundtracking all the action will be DJs. To guarantee entry, make a booking or sign up to the guest list online. Can't see yourself raging away a Saturday in the dark? Bungalow 8 is also setting up another Vivid pop-up, dubbed McBungalow. Drop by on Thursday–Sunday evenings for takeaway cheeseburgers and frozen Coke and Fanta from the barbecue station. It's a fun way to refuel in between light-seeing.
Some problems require quick and urgent solutions, as 2020 has demonstrated over and over again. Other struggles prove more of an inconvenience than anything else, and don't really need quite the same fast and strong response. But the latter category is still filled with the types of troubles we've all spent more time pondering than we probably should've — like trying to carry four beers back from the bar in one go, for instance. Yes, there are actually already multiple solutions to this issue. Trays exist, or you can get a friend to help. But if you're not too fond of either of those options, hospitality company Merivale, food and beverage company Lion, and marketing company Ogilvy have teamed up to create 'super schooners'. They look like regular glasses, but bigger — and they're actually comprised of four glasses in one. Basically, when you pull the super schooners apart, they break into wedge-shaped glasses. But they're easier to carry when they're all pushed together — which is exactly what they've been designed for. And, they're coming to one Sydney pub for summer, aka the prime season for sinking cold ones with the gang. The super schooners will launch at Vic on The Park in Marrickville, with brew lovers able to literally pick up a four-in-one-glass from the evening of Wednesday, November 18. Yes, their availability has been timed to coincide with the last State of Origin game. You can choose to have them filled with Furphy or Byron Bay Ale, and the entire thing will cost you $35. Sydneysiders could potentially be able to order a super schooner at other Merivale venues around town down the line, too, although nothing has been confirmed as yet. If you're located in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth and you think this four-in-one glass would make your stints at the pub much, much easier, you'll have to cross your fingers that another hospitality group based in your city gets onboard with the super schooner concept. Sydneysiders can grab a super schooner from Vic on The Park, 2 Addison Road, Marrickville, from Wednesday, November 18. Merivale might roll out the concept to its other Sydney venues in the future — we'll keep you updated if that happens.
Before getting a glimpse into everyone else's lives was as simple as logging into your social-media platform of choice, a game arrived that let its players do something similar with computerised characters. A spinoff from SimCity and its city-building follow-ups, The Sims allows whoever is mashing buttons to create and control virtual people, then step through their existence. First hitting in February 2000, it has spawned three sequels, plus a whole heap of expansion and compilation packs for each — and online, console and mobile versions as well. A quarter of a century since its debut, The Sims still keeps dropping new releases. To mark its 25th birthday, there's now The Sims: Birthday Bundle. That's one way to celebrate the game's latest anniversary. Here's another: stepping inside a three-day Australian pop-up dedicated to the beloved life simulator, which is heading to Melbourne's Australian Centre for the Moving Image from Friday, February 21–Sunday, February 23, 2025. Despite The Sims' more-recent titles, thinking about the game usually means thinking about the 2000s. So, this pop-up is taking that truth to heart by celebrating the Y2K era, too. Going along involves entering inside a 2000s-era pre-teen bedroom that's been decked out by Josh & Matt Design with all of the appropriate touches. Yes, it'll be nostalgic. Yes, there'll be CD towers and blow-up couches, just to name a few decor choices. The pop-up will also feature free stations where you can play The Sims: Birthday Bundle, if the best way for you to commeroate the occasion is by diving into the franchise virtually. In addition, there'll also be a free panel about the game on the Saturday, with speakers including Josh & Matt Design's Josh Jessup and Matt Moss — who are big The Sims fans — and EA/Firemonkeys' Simulation Division General Manager Mavis Chan.
Located 91 metres above sea level within the breathtaking Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Barrenjoey Lighthouse sits at Sydney's most northern point and boasts unbroken views over (the ironically named) Broken Bay, the park and the Central Coast. Thanks to its height, the site is one of the most popular whale watching spots in NSW, which you can reach via a leisurely one-kilometre hike. If you're looking for a tougher trek, the short Smugglers Track will have you heavily breathing in the panoramic views when you reach the top. The lighthouse is a sight to behold in itself and retains its original sandstone finish from the 1800s. You can access the inside of the lighthouse on a guided tour — and if you like that, check out these ten lighthouses near Sydney. Images: Destination NSW
Dracula's castle is the place that nightmares are made of, as anyone who has read Bram Stoker's iconic 1897 gothic novel or seen a vampire flick knows. Nestled in the Carpathian mountains in the heart of Transylvania, it's also a place you can actually spend a night in. Well, it's a 14th century mountain-top manor that served as the inspiration for the creepy dwelling in the book, but you get the picture. Close enough, right? No, the fictional master of the undead isn't pulling his own What We Do in the Shadows-style caper; it's not a share house, and there won't be a doco crew there filming everything. And no, you don't have to willingly get lured in by a charismatic recluse who can turn into a bat, or turn up to help him with legal matters (but hey, if you want to pretend that you're Keanu Reeves in the 1992 movie, go for it). Instead, it's as simple as hitting up Airbnb to win a chance to stay at Bran Castle in Romania. The accommodation-sharing service has offered up shark tanks, van Gogh's bedroom, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' secret lair and an Abbey Road slumber party with Mark Ronson before, so you shouldn't be surprised. Now that's how you celebrate halloween. Plus, the evening will be hosted by the great grand-nephew of Bram Stoker himself, Dacre Stoker, who actually wrote a sequel to the bloodsucking classic in 2009. After riding in a horse-drawn carriage at sunset, probably seeing swooping bats and hearing howling wolves, he'll answer your knock at the door — and once he does, you're trapped until dawn. As an expert on Transylvanian lore, he'll guide you through lamp-lit corridors, creepy nooks, squeaky staircases and secret passages. There's 57 rooms in total, including lofty tower lookouts, deep dark crypts, a grand dining room perfect for an intimate candlelit dinner, and luxurious velvet-trimmed coffins to sleep in. Entrants must be 18 and over, and it goes without saying that anyone who is easily frightened shouldn't bother. For more information, visit the castle's listing on Airbnb.
The sun is out, the cicadas are humming and the beaches are calling – but don't let the summer go by without taking an indoors break to check out Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age: Masterpieces from the Rijksmuseum at the Art Gallery of NSW. Until Sunday, February 18, you can gaze at 78 incredible artworks — including a rare Vermeer and an entire room devoted to Rembrandt — by the greatest Dutch painters of the 17th century. From stormy seas to tranquil domestic scenes to intricate studies of flowers and fruit, each work radiates with the abundant artistic energy of an era buzzing with power, wealth and cultural confidence. We spoke to exhibition researcher Josephine Touma to get a glimpse into a seriously unmissable, beautifully arranged exhibition. [caption id="attachment_649477" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Johannes Vermeer: Woman Reading a Letter, 1663, Rijksmuseum, on loan from the City of Amsterdam (A. van der Hoop Bequest).[/caption] JOHANNES VERMEER: WOMAN READING A LETTER (1663) Vermeer nerds will already know just how exciting it is to have this work in Sydney. Not only is it one of only 35 surviving Vermeer paintings in the entire world, it's also completely enchanting. Typical of the serene domestic scenes Vermeer painted at the height of his powers, the work captures an uneventful domestic moment — a woman at home reading a letter — and, through sublime use of light, colour and atmosphere, elevates it to a thing of extreme beauty. "These are the paintings that he's become most loved for and I think it's because they're very beguiling," says Touma. They also spark curiosity: in this case, the woman's bent head and parted lips create a sense of romantic suspense. "There's a story there but we don't know what it is. Who is the letter from? What's she thinking? What's she feeling? There's a sense of expectation, there's a bit of mystery and there's enough to ignite the viewer's imagination." Fun fact: Van Gogh was apparently a big fan of this work, particularly for the gorgeous ultramarine (what he called 'celestial blue') seen in the woman's bed jacket, a costly pigment Vermeer made from finely ground lapis lazuli stones imported from Afghanistan. [caption id="attachment_649475" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Judith Leyster: The Jolly Drinker, 1629, Rijksmuseum, purchased with the support of the Vereniging Rembrandt.[/caption] JUDITH LEYSTER: THE JOLLY DRINKER (1629) One of just two works by women painters in the exhibition — and by far one of the most entertaining — Leyster's The Jolly Drinker immediately raises a smile. A large painting in a much brighter key than was typical of the period, the work depicts a rosy-cheeked, feather-capped fellow holding up an empty (and we assume, recently full) tankard. It's the kind of character study that was fairly common for the period, with one difference: he actually looks like a real person. "What Leyster brings to that genre is a real sense of the character of an individual. He's got such a distinctive face. He looks like a real person you could know," comments Touma. (True; he bears an uncanny resemblance to this writer's Uncle Martin after a few too many Riojas.) The painting doesn't feel like a warning against drunkenness. Touma notes the gorgeous green sage colour, the infectious sense of joy and abandon within the work. "For all their reputation for being pious and austere, protestant and strict, the Dutch had fun, and they also poked fun at themselves." Art trivia: For a long time, Leyster's works were wrongly attributed to fellow Haarlem painter Frans Hals or her husband Jan Miense Molenaer. [caption id="attachment_649474" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jan Davidsz de Heem: Still Life With Flowers in a Glass Vase, 1665– 70, Rijksmuseum, on loan from the City of Amsterdam (A van der Hoop Bequest).[/caption] JAN DAVIDSZ. DE HEEM: STILL LIFE WITH FLOWERS IN A GLASS VASE (1665-70) "We deliberately placed this picture as the final painting in the exhibition, because I think it's a real statement of artistic dexterity and ingenuity," says Touma of De Heem's illusionistic Still Life with Flowers in a Glass Vase. Reflecting both the period's fascination with botany and a tendency for artists to show off their refined technique, the work displays De Heem's incredible ability to transform a three-dimensional natural scene into a two-dimensional painting. Particularly impressive is the sense of texture: it really seems like you could touch the cold, smooth glass of the jar, the silkiness of the petals, even the sliminess of the tiny snail in the bottom right corner. For the flower buffs: tulips were imported into the Netherlands from Turkey the century prior and considered an exotic symbol of wealth. In fact, a few decades before De Heem painted this work, tulips were so popular that people went a little crazy. "There's evidence in the archives that says people spent as much on a single bulb as they did on an Amsterdam house," reveals Touma. (Feel better about your $5 avocado yet?) You'll spot two kinds of tulips in the painting - the 'Viceroy' and the 'Semper Augustus,' which at the time were the two most prized varieties. [caption id="attachment_649473" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jan de Bray: Judith and Holofernes, 1659, Rijksmuseum.[/caption] JAN DE BRAY : JUDITH AND HOLOFERNES (1659) Anyone familiar with other painterly interpretations of this biblical subject might be used to seeing a bit more gore (Artemisia Gentileschi's Judith Slaying Holofernes springs to mind). There's still a lot of blood red present, but it's used for the velvet bedding and the colour of Judith's ornate dress, and instead of a grisly scene, de Bray chooses to depict the final moment before all hell breaks loose, resulting in a painting that brims with tension despite it's fairly small scale. Touma notes that, interestingly, de Bray's Holofernes isn't depicted as a massive brute. "There's a vulnerability there in the way he's painted the flesh, he's so vulnerable and pale, his neck open," explains Touma. "He doesn't look like a threatening, rugged figure." Judith in comparison seems incredibly strong and solid. The figure of the maid — in Gentileschi's version, a capable contemporary rolling up her sleeves and helping to pin Holofernes down – is here a cowering, child-like figure, perhaps serving as a point of empathy for the viewer. Hot tip: look out for the candle in the foreground that's been snuffed out, which Touma suggests may symbolise that Holofernes' life is due for a similar fate. "It's a bit obvious town but he's a Dutch painter, he loves symbolism!" [caption id="attachment_642223" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn: Self-Portrait as the Apostle Paul, 1661, Rijksmuseum, de Bruijn-van der Leeuw Bequest, Muri, Switzerland.[/caption] REMBRANDT HARMENSZ. VAN RIJN: SELF-PORTRAIT AS THE APOSTLE PAUL (1661) Last but certainly not least, the iconic Self-Portrait as the Apostle Paul by Rembrandt. Hailed as one of the greatest minds in the history of art, Rembrandt worked consistently throughout a long career and produced over 40 self-portraits (not a vanity thing, self-portraits meant both a constantly available sitter and a chance to return to the same subject with endless innovation and experimentation) including this one, painted eight years before his death aged 63. See it with a mate or two, and odds are you'll all read something different in the complex, ambiguous facial expression. "Everyone who stands in front of a Rembrandt self portrait reads a different emotion," says Touma, for whom it is a painting about "resignation, wisdom and pathos." Created later in life after the death of his first wife and many financial losses, the work stands in stark contrast to an early etched self-portrait completed in his 20s that you'll find in the opposite corner of the room. Comparing the two is revealing. "You can see the progression from a young, cocky, ambitious artist in this haughty self portrait to this later one where he's feeling perhaps a bit more brittle, but experienced," says Touma. "If anyone embraced the signs of ageing and the wisdom of old age, it was Rembrandt." Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age: Masterpieces from the Rijksmuseum runs until February 18 as part of the Sydney International Art Series 2017–2018.
As the chill of winter settles in, it's easy to see your enthusiasm for a night on the town being replaced by a deep craving to don your long dachshund-print pajamas and settle in for a dry and drama-less night watching Netflix. But there's one thing we know that's worth braving the cold for, and that's cosy beers at one of Sydney's fireplace-equipped pubs and bars. It's your chance to feel like Hemingway with an alcoholic beverage in one hand as you relax in a room filled with that incredible open fire. Here are sixteen of the best. AUSTRALIAN YOUTH HOTEL, GLEBE An inner west institution that offers respite from the hustle and bustle of the nearby Broadway, the Australian Youth Hotel has cosy lounges by a crackling fireplace. Grab a seat here — in front of the big screens — and you won't want to leave. If you manage to drag yourself away from the fire, check out the 'nude' function space, which from 1967-1974 operated as a brothel. While you're up, order a hearty meal from the restaurant — it does $15 steaks on Mondays and schnitzels on Wednesdays. [caption id="attachment_660833" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alana Dimou[/caption] THE DOSS HOUSE, THE ROCKS A bootery, a boarding house and an opium den. These are just a few of the past lives of 77–79 George Street, but The Doss House is the latest moniker for this heritage-listed building — and this time round, it'll focus on whisky. The basement bar boasts five distinct spaces that each pay homage to a past tenant. The exposed sandstone walls and renewed original fireplaces are paired with brass fittings, antique mirrors, luxurious orange velvet banquettes and an antique chesterfield sofa. Behind the bar, you'll find over 150 different whiskies. Ask the knowledgable bartender to take you through them, then sit by the fire, whisky in hand, and forget about the dreary weather outside. THE LORD DUDLEY HOTEL, WOOLLAHRA Boasting the warmth and history of an old English pub, all dark woods and shadowy corners, The Lord Dudley is a perfect place to hide away this winter. A mock Tudor building complete with a creeping vine-covered exterior, it has a rabbit warren of adjoining rooms awaiting you inside. The maroon-carpeted floors sink in all the right places due to the storied halls being ploughed by a steady stream of drinkers who come seeking solace and warmth. You'll find the roaring fireplace in the lamp-lit, timber-panelled rear lounge, which is furnished with booth-style tables and doubles as the games corner. You can gather a mob of mates around and while away a winter night with a competitive game of Scrabble or the ever heart-quickening Connect Four. THE TREEHOUSE HOTEL, NORTH SYDNEY The Treehouse, an after-work retreat in North Sydney with an Alice in Wonderland vibe, isn't going to give you the typical old English fireside experience. Filled with gargoyles, vine-covered wrought iron and mirrors on every wall, the general whimsy of the bar is contrasted against some clean modern touches — the sleek, glass-encased fire being one of them. No wood logs here; this fireplace is treated as an artistic feature piece raised above the dining area, encouraging you to take a seat at one of the sleek black booths beneath and spend your night watching flames licking through a chrome hearth. While the menu isn't cheap (mains above $30), it's worth the price to sit after work with a glass of wine in hand. THE CRICKETERS ARMS HOTEL, SURRY HILLS A reliable local, the Crix has all the comfort and familiarity you need for a cosy winter's night. It's a beautiful old pub, boasting wooden floors and wall tiles, a laid-back atmosphere and plenty of character behind the bar. In winter, a fireplace is always lit and surrounded by cosy lounges. There's also a pool table that's free on Thursdays, so be ready for the fight. With $10 bar meals on Mondays, free trivia on Tuesdays and full roast dinnners of Sundays, it's the perfect place to make your warm home base all through the wintertime. HARPOON HARRY, SURRY HILLS Located on the corner of Goulburn Street and Wentworth Avenue, the century-old Macquarie Hotel building has been so beautifully restored that upon entering you immediately forget you're mere minutes from the CBD. With the wicker chairs, hand-painted Cuban detailing and sweet tunes, Harpoon Harry is the perfect place to sit by the fire and escape from the city grind. On the menu you'll find riffs on Mexican and southern USA dishes, such as smoked tacos, slow-cooked beef cheek, wagyu burgers and philly cheesesteaks. [caption id="attachment_663122" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Smallbone.[/caption] THE DUKE OF CLARENCE, CBD Named after the fellow who would go on to become King William IV, The Duke of Clarence is a particularly ambitious venture — it's an 1800s-style British tavern, somewhere Charles Dickens might have penned Great Expectations over a couple of ales and a pork pie. It's also the perfect place to escape to during the winter months — order one of the 500 spirits off the menu (and maybe the hearty bone marrow on toast) and settle down in front of the fireplace. Stay there long enough and you may be inspired to write a novel of your own. THE BUCKET LIST, BONDI BEACH Sometimes the perfect winter bar is in the last place you'd think to look — the beach. Nothing beats coming in from the biting winds of the coast to a shack warmed by a roaring fire, though it's too rowdy to ever be called 'cosy'. In winter The Bucket List serve a warming menu with the likes of fish pot pie (made with what's fresh that day) and lamb shank surrounded by glazed winter veggies and mash. You'll just need to add a glass of red to complete the hearty dishes. MORRISON BAR & OYSTER ROOM, CBD Enter, and you're greeted by an industrial-chic interior complete with exposed brick and concrete pillars. The mood lighting and dark wood add to the wintery appeal of Morrison Bar & Oyster Room, and the fireplace seals the deal. Well suited to the after-work crowd, it's a place to warm up next to open flame with drink in hand. For post-work noshing, it's the oysters that you're here for — head in between 6 and 7pm on Wednesdays and you'll get them for $1 each. THE DOLPHIN HOTEL, SURRY HILLS The Dolphin Hotel has made a splash in the Sydney food scene for its ultra-chic interiors, high-flying Italian cuisine and charming salumeria and wine bar. As you can probably tell already, this ain't no ordinary boozer. Aside from the dining room, The Dolphin boasts a number of different drinking and dining spaces, including a public bar, wine room, mezzanine and, our favourite winter spot, the open air terrace with fireplace. Cosy up with drink in hand and enjoy the rare winter sensation of feeling warm while sitting outside. The producer-focused wine list boasts more than 35 wines by the glass and over 150 by the bottle, so you'll have plenty excuses to get stuck in. THE FOXTROT, CROWS NEST The easily missed and almost unmarked Gothic doors on Falcon Street hide a darkened entryway to one of the city's most exciting hidden playgrounds. Forsake the lovely indoor courtyard for the season and head to the carpeted living room 'round the fire for a chance to feel the comforts of home with the addition of a luxurious drinks menu. Alongside a solid craft beer selection on tap, there is an impressively curated seasonal cocktail list, including the Disco Punch — with pisco, pineapple syrup and candied pineapple — and the Bison Grass Cooler with vodka, apple and lemongrass. Come Tuesday and Wednesday for $10 pizzas or Thursday for a $10 Jameson and apple juice. THE OAKS, NEUTRAL BAY The opulent fireplace at The Oaks Hotel is one of the finer you'll find at a pub in the city. Founded in 1885, The Oaks enter a new phase last year when the upstairs was redesign by Sibella Court. The pub's upper levels have been Courted into a bright, gaudy 1930s den of art deco meets art nouveau sophistication — with a serious amount of drapery. We're always down for drinking cocktails in venues that look like either the set of a Wes Anderson or Baz Luhrmann film, especially when there's a fireplace involved. LORD NELSON BREWERY HOTEL, THE ROCKS As Sydney's oldest pub (if we disqualify The Fortune of War for being demolished and rebuilt), this Australian monument is a great place to stare into the flames with a beer in hand and contemplate a long history of Australians taking shelter from the cold. With exceptional views straight across the harbour to watch for oncoming storms, naval prints on the walls and a warm atmosphere, it's the perfect old English-style pub in which to find sanctuary. The beer selection is particularly special, with seven beers brewed on-site. We suggest pairing a Victory Bitter (a classic English ale with a touch of caramel) and a beef pie with mushie peas and gravy for the perfect winter pig out. THE OLD FITZROY HOTEL, WOOLLOOMOOLOO With a theatre out back and roaring fire upfront, The Old Fitz has prided itself as a meeting place for artists, writers and musicians for over a century. After a night of supporting independent theatre by taking in a show and chatting with the locals, don't be shy about asking the bar staff for their marshmallow stash — they often have some in winter for you to roast over the fire (it's a bit of a local secret). The crowd is ebullient and warm, and industrial-levels of noise are rarely reached, meaning you can actually have a conversation with mates over a couple of brews. THE COMMONS LOCAL EATING HOUSE, DARLINGHURST Tucked back away from the rush of Oxford Street and behind a fern-filled sandstone courtyard, the Commons is a warm sanctuary of fireside whiskey, fine foods and maybe a little jazz. The heritage building has been kept intact, with sandstone and exposed brick walls a feature. The long, communal wooden tables surrounding the fire in the main room give you the feel of dining in an old farmhouse, which is exactly what the building was 160 years ago. Downstairs will reveal a cosy little bar with magazines, books and, if you're lucky, a jazz trio plucking out the tunes, and the well-balanced whiskey and cocktail menu will keep a fire in your belly. BAR NO.5, ALEXANDRIA Bar No. 5 doesn't just talk the talk about being a local joint. The repurposed warehouse Alexandria bar is focused not only on seasonality and sourcing local ingredients, but is also enacting a closed-loop policy for the venue — think foraging, bee keeping, solar panels and a composting worm farm to boot. It's a made-by-locals-for-locals venue, owned by Alexandria folk in an area keen for repurposed hospitality spaces. If all this doesn't make them neighbourhood champions, the bar also has an alcove dog area with leash hooks and a gas fire to cosy up by during winter. The best day to drop by is Sundays, when it's slinging weekly happy hour deals and live acoustic sets from 5–7pm. Top image: Australian Youth Hotel by Katje Ford.
Having earned cult status (and TikTok stardom) among the seafood lovers of the USA and Melbourne, Cajun-style restaurant The Boiling Crab is coming to Sydney, bringing its famed signature crab boil offering to Haymarket. Monday, August 13 will see the chain open an expansive restaurant on Harbour Street, a couple of years on from making its first Australian splash in Victoria. Just like its siblings in the south, the new Sydney outpost invites you to don a bib and gloves, turf your inhibitions, and get messy digging into saucy piles of seafood and accompaniments. The menu delivers a sumptuous choose-your-own-adventure scenario. First, select your hero seafood — perhaps some Aussie lobster, Moreton Bay bugs, king crab legs, clams or baby octopus — which is priced by weight, then steamed or boiled in your choice of seasonings, sauces and spices. The latter ranges from 'non-spicy' up to 'XXX (I Can't Feel My Mouth!)', and you can round it all out with extras like gumbo, corn on the cob, whole baby potatoes and cajun-spiced fries. It's delivered to you in the bag, ready to be spilled onto your paper-topped table and devoured with abandon. Fans of the fried stuff can supplement their feast with a hefty lineup of crispy things served by the basket. You'll find hot wings in a variety of coatings, soft shell crab served atop a pile of chips, fried calamari and the crunchy Sha-Bang Bang Shrimp, available in three levels of heat. You'll be quenching your thirst throughout with a crisp imported brew, margarita or michelada — or you can BYO drinks for $3 per person. The Boiling Crab will open at the Ground Floor, 68 Harbour Street, Haymarket on Monday, August 13 — open 12–10pm Monday–Sunday.
Decking out your house with budget-friendly homewares and furnishing your abode with meaningful items aren't mutually exclusive. A case in point: Kmart's First Nations program. The retailer highlights Indigenous talents by creating collections in collaboration with artists — and, crucially, making their work accessible en masse. The latest creative teaming up with the brand: Dharug and Darkinjung artist Kyralee Shields. As Wiradjuri artist Judith Young did in 2023, Shields has overseen her own range with the department store, which hits shelves — and online — on Thursday, April 4. Called Mudyin Ngurrawa, it takes its name from the Dharug term for "family on Country". As featured on bedding, candles, servingware, candles, wall art and more, the theme comes through in the designs, the use of colour and the tales told via her art. One pink-, green- and brown-heavy pattern spans bottlebrush and gum leaves, native flowers and yam daisies, and representations of the tides and mountains. Another splashes a pale pink hue around prominently, using circles, arcs, dots and drawings of message sticks to link to Shields' ancestors, her maternal grandmother in particular, her mother and her three children, and also represent the space between Shields and The Dreaming. Clearly, when Shields makes art, she's taking her cues from her Indigenous heritage while conveying her own identity, and also aiming to both express and inspire cultural pride. Her pieces tell a story, then, including about her family and her mother's experience as part of the Stolen Generations, with Shields working closely with Kmart's design team in Melbourne to ensure that it came through authentically and accurately in the Mudyin Ngurrawa collection. To witness the results, and fill your home with them, you can shop the range's 13 items, with prices starting at $5. For that amount, you can get a four-pack of napkins. From there, a two-pack of Mudyin Ngurrawa mugs costs $10, while $12 gets you a three-pack of tea towels, a plant pot or a serving board. A tablecloth costs $14 — as do two types of candle, a mountains and a wildflowers version, as sold separately. Or, opt for the enamel bowl for $18 or enamel tray for $25. The quilt set comes in two sizes, queen and king, for $20 and $24, respectively. And, a canvas to hang is priced at $29. "Collaborating with Kmart is a dream come true. It's allowed me to work with a brand I grew up with who provide quality, on-trend products that are accessible to a wide demographic. It has enabled me to share my art with a wider audience while working with a forward-thinking chain," said Shields about the range. "Having a brand like Kmart support First Nations artists provides broad exposure to our culture and heritage through art and storylines within the evolving contemporary style, which is important to me," she continued. "It's been so gratifying to work on this project with such a wonderful team of people. It's also been enlightening to see all the different aspects that took my original painting through to the completion of this incredible range that now line Kmart's shelves." Kmart and Kyralee Shields' Mudyin Ngurrawa collection is on sale online and in-store from Thursday, April 4, 2024.
I'm no kidnapper. I've never tried and, unless this film critic thing really falls through, I hopefully never will. That said, were I to give it a crack, I can't help but think the overarching guideline for a successful 'grab' must be that my victim isn't dead by the time I get him. But look, I'm getting ahead of myself here. To the movie... In 2013 the world found itself subject to a ridiculous 'White House Being Taken Over By Terrorists Only To Be Saved By One Gritty Muscled Dude' genre battle between Olympus Has Fallen and the far superior White House Down. Now, three years later, we get London Has Fallen – the sequel to the former nobody was calling for. Starring Gerard Butler as Secret Service agent Mike Banning, London Has Fallen chronicles a devastating series of attacks throughout London on the morning of a state funeral, with the goal of assassinating world leaders and kidnapping the US President (Aaron Eckhart). Ah. There we are again. Kidnapping. I guess I'm just saying I'd be reluctant to use explosives near my target because of the potential for hurting him. I probably wouldn't, for example, instruct one of my generic 'international terrorist' henchmen to spend several minutes simply lobbing rocket-propelled grenades directly at the President's car. Or his hiding spot. Or his face. Anyway, minor side point. London Has Fallen boasts arguably the most outstanding supporting cast of Academy Award winners and nominees asked to do nothing but stare at a screen. Morgan Freeman, Jackie Earle Haley, Melissa Leo and Angela Bassett all shine for the several seconds that they're given in the White House Situation Room, and... Sorry. Not to get sidetracked again, it's just – they shoot his helicopter down. The President's helicopter. While he's in it. From an aviation safety standpoint alone, statistically that's a huge risk to take when you want to capture him alive. It's like using a nuke to get the toy out of a Kinder Surprise. As for the script, the terrorists speak in advertising slogans like "Vengeance must always be profound, and absolute", while Butler's hero Banning consistently spouts racist gems like "why don't you go back to Fuckheadistan or wherever it is you came from?" In fact, London Has Fallen is so astoundingly jingoistic and overtly xenophobic, you half-expect the credits to conclude with "Paid for by Trump 4 President". Plus...they just shoot at the President all the time. Especially when he's in cars. And then they ram those cars with garbage trucks, even before they know whether or not he's wearing a seatbelt. And it's not as though seatbelts are a guarantee of survival in a major collision... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AsOdX7NcJs
First there was Shirt Bar. Then came champagne and sneaker bar Butter. Now, to complete the outfit, Surry Hills has welcomed Soultrap, Sydney's first hat bar. Taking over the old Play Bar space on Campbell Street, new underground venue Soultrap combines mistelle and millinery, or more specifically, fortified wines and feathered fedoras. The hybrid venue was established by small bar specialist Christophe Lehoux who co-founded House of Pocket group, which includes much-loved drinking dens Pocket Bar, Stitch Bar and Button Bar. Lehoux is passionate about small bars and hat making, and rather than choose between his two loves, he thought, "to hell with that, I'm doing both". When he isn't taking orders or pouring drinks behind the bar, you can find him at the back of Soultrap working away in his dedicated hat workshop. His handiwork is displayed throughout the venue and all hats are available for purchase. Headgear aside, the venue functions primarily as an underground small bar and live music venue. The bar is run by Josh Craker (ex-QT Sydney) and the house specialty is mistille, a traditional French drink made from fermented grape juice and eau de vie (fruit brandy). Each region in France has its own variation and Soultrap offers a fair few, either as mistille melanges (mixed mistilles) or mistille-spiked cocktails. For an introduction into the mysterious world of mistille, we recommend the Pinocchio ($17), a simple aperitif combining Pineau des Charente and bitter Campari. The taste is sweet, light and floral, similar to Pimm's or sherry. Alongside mistelle, Soultrap serves a selection of seasonal cocktails, craft beers and organic and biodynamic wines. The cocktails are the real deal, too — strong, subtle and not too sweet. Top tipples include the Australian Fare ($22) a Manhattan made from Australian amaro and a native botanical vermouth, and the Spouses' Sour ($18) a cherry marzipan concoction, made from Aperol, gin, almond syrup and orange blossom. Soultrap's food menu is just as sophisticated as its drinks, with a selection of small French and Italian morsels, which can be combined to create a charcuterie or cheese plate. Options include the jamón serrano ($7), Brillat-Savarin ($8) squid in its ink ($8), peppered fig paste ($4) and baked camembert ($13). For something more substantial, there's also the pissaldiere ($14) a flaky French pastry topped with caramelised onions, anchovies and olives, and a smoked ocean trout dip with crisp endives dippers ($13). The tradition of live music continues with Soultrap hosting a jazz, soul and funk night every Thursday and vinyl-only DJ sessions on Saturday. And for bringing great drinks and live music back to Surry Hills — we take our hats off to them. Appears in: Sydney's Best Underground Bars for 2023
Seek, it's said, and you shall find. While the meaning of this phrase is scriptural in origin, it's accurate in the case of The Corner Shop. A new bricks-and-mortar site opened by the duo behind popular market stall and online retailer The Crown Street Project, you'll be handsomely rewarded for your efforts in getting there. The inviting, airy and newly refurbished space is housed on the ground level of a bright yellow late-1800s corner terrace, along the leafy residential stretch of Henderson Road in Alexandria. It's a location that might usually require a reason to head there, but you'll find plenty in this gallery-style space that showcases a thoughtful edit of vintage designer fashion alongside artist-made studio ceramics and sculptures, handmade jewellery by local designers, vintage homewares, pottery and gift items. Unlike many other vintage stores, the racks here are not cluttered — each has been curated to tell a story through colour and texture. Pieces also come with modern-day measurements where appropriate, ensuring you can find your correct size with ease. As well as issues around sizing that can give false hope to many a vintage shopper, gone too are notions around pre-loved items being less-than: pieces here, which are selected by founders Gavin Dee and Addison Marshall, are restored by hand and treated like you might expect a new item to be handled in a brand-name boutique. The spectacularly bearded gents, who both have fashion and design backgrounds, are also expert stylists and are happy to offer guidance where you might require it. As for what's on the custom-made fixtures, at any given time you can find high-end streetwear next to pre-loved high-fashion pieces from houses including Gucci, Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake, Kenzo and more. The real gems though are pieces by obscure Australian designers from the 1970s and 80s, an era that delivered some truly iconic looks and about which Dee and Marshall are truly passionate (and knowledgeable to an encyclopaedic degree). The boys will also be collaborating with stylist Joanne Gambale, founder of Slogue, to run sustainable styling workshops — keep an eye out on Instagram to find out more about these.
Hollywood loves an awards ceremony, and boasts a regular lineup of statuette-bestowing occasions to prove it. Stellar television shows and the folks who make them can win everything from an Emmy and a Golden Globe to a Screen Actors Guild Award and a BAFTA — and more — because cinema isn't the only screen format that likes rewarding its best and brightest at glitzy occasions with lengthy speeches and shiny trophies. Awards ceremonies are also a handy source of information for TV fans. They're fun to watch, but they can also help you work out what else you should be watching. So many television shows vie for everyone's eyeballs each year, so knowing that something has scored a few gongs (or even more than a few) might help rocket it to the top of your must-see list. Streaming platform Binge features quite a number of award-winners in its catalogue, for example, if you're not quite sure what you should marathon your way through next. In collaboration with the service, we've taken a look and picked five of our accolade-receiving favourites that you can check out now — including via a 14-day free trial for new customers.
Do you remember when you lost at something as a kid and your parents told you that it didn't matter? "Winning isn't everything" and "It isn't winning that matters, it is about taking part" were lines bandied around regularly by our mums and dads in order to shelter us from the truth: winning does matter. Who wants to be Buzz Aldrin when you can be Neil Armstrong? Nothing wants to come second, especially nations. Global politics is the most competitive arena on this planet. It has led to world wars and bloody competition for resources. Thankfully, though, the world can now sleep easy as the peacemakers over at Doghouse Diaries have created a light-hearted infographic titled What Each Country Leads The World In that allows every country to be a winner. Whilst some titles will be unwanted, including Ethiopia leading the way in employing children and Yemen's crowning as the ruler of the gender gap, some will be celebrated. Norway can enjoy its position atop the summit of democracy and Ireland can bask in its quality of life. Of course, the best discoveries are the statistics that appear tongue-in-cheek. Greenland leads the way in personal space and my favourite, Antarctica has the most penguins. Explore the world in our gallery below and be surprised at what many countries lead the world in. Via Fast Co.Create.
Write a list of all the gifts you need to buy and take it to this shop. Step inside this Paddington treasure trove of knick-knacks and odd items and you're guaranteed to find something irreverent, joyful or unusual for your loved ones. Novelty gifts? Tick. Bath and body set? Yep. Opus has it all. And when you don't know where to start, there's a handy online gift guide to sort your well-groomed dad and your tech-savvy mum. It's a primo place to go when you have absolutely no idea what to get — maybe it's a book on how to be a boss bitch, new candles for the friend with new digs, or drinking games for that Kris Kringle. Make it your first stop and give yourself a giggle at the humorous cards section. [caption id="attachment_798513" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] Images: Cassandra Hannagan
UPDATE: June 14, 2020: Amazing Grace is available to stream via Binge, Foxtel Now, Google Play and YouTube. In January of 1972, Aretha Franklin walked into Los Angeles' New Temple Missionary Baptist Church, stood in front of Reverend James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir, and started singing. For two nights, she turned a place of Christian worship into somewhere heavenly for everyone — because you don't need to have faith to recognise a transcendent experience. Those lucky enough to be there, including Mick Jagger and Rolling Stones' drummer Charlie Watts on the second evening, were understandably ecstatic. As the Queen of Soul recorded her latest gospel album, the crowd sang and cheered, with many moved to tears. And, for nearly half a century, their joy was the stuff of legend. Music fans, even those who don't consider themselves aficionados of the genre or who weren't yet born, have long wished they could've been there That envy wasn't just sparked by stories, or by the success of Franklin's resulting album, which is still the biggest-selling disc across her entire recording career. In addition, it stemmed from wondering what could've been. As the two shows left attendees rapturous, filmmaker Sydney Pollack recorded the whole thing with the intention of turning it into a documentary, however technical problems and legal issues got in his way. After 47 years and a lot of wrangling, the concert doco now exists. It's a case of better late than never, obviously. An exceptional film, as well as a hefty reminder about the importance of following standard filmmaking procedures (Pollack didn't use clapperboards while he was shooting, making it immensely difficult to synchronise his audio and visuals), Amazing Grace was definitely worth the wait. Directed by Pollack but brought to completion in the years after his 2008 death by editor Alan Elliott, this is a concert doco of the highest order. For the first time, the entire world can watch one of the finest performances by one of the finest singers ever to unleash their vocal cords — and understand why Franklin, this record and the shows it sprang from are all so revered. There's nothing quite like seeing someone at their very best, which Amazing Grace firmly demonstrates. And yet, the movie's power runs much deeper. This is a snapshot of collective reverence, respect and euphoria, radiating from Franklin's passionate gaze, floating through the air with her melodious voice and infecting everyone in earshot. Solely focusing on its star and those in the room with her, it's a portrait not just of two memorable gigs, but of the way that great art transforms those making and witnessing it. The act of peering intimately at Franklin, who manages to seem both serene and determined whether she's holding a prolonged note or taking a moment's pause, is truly one of bearing witness. So too is seeing the effect that she has on her audience when she's belting out a tune (when she's not singing, she barely says a word). To appreciate all of the above requires something that every concert demands, yet is becoming all too rare, especially with today's gig-goers increasingly filming on their phones first and watching the show in front of them second. Amazing Grace is a testament to many things, including Franklin and her prodigious talent, a community not often seen on-screen, and the perseverance required to actually get this movie into theatres — but it also proves an ode to simply being in the moment. When you're so lost in what you're doing that nothing else matters: that's what Amazing Grace immortalises. The world around Franklin and her on-lookers could've completely disappeared and no one would've have noticed — not the charming Reverend Cleveland, who emcees the proceedings; not her father CL Franklin, who kicks off the second night with a few words; and not even Pollack, who is sometimes spotted flitting around the church. Capturing this is one thing; conveying it to Amazing Grace's viewers and making them feel the same way is another entirely. Both feats are achieved here, perhaps never more so than when Franklin unfurls all 11 minutes of the documentary's titular track. How sweet the sound — and sight, and experience — indeed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N7WthSspQ4
Over the past six months, Fleabag picked up six Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes, becoming the most-acclaimed TV comedy of the past year. Sadly, that isn't enough to inspire Phoebe Waller-Bridge to make more episodes of the hit show — but for everyone lamenting the Fleabag-sized hole in their lives, the multi-talented Brit has a new project landing soon. She has a couple, actually. Waller-Bridge helped write the script for delayed Bond flick No Time to Die, which is no small feat. If you're keen to see her on-screen, however, then you'll want to add Run to your must-watch pile. Waller-Bridge executive produces and pops up among the cast, with Vicky Jones — the director of her Fleabag stage show, and a script editor on Fleabag's first TV season — writing and producing the series. Hitting HBO in the US in mid-April and Foxtel in Australia around the same time, Run spends time with ex-lovers Ruby Richardson (Unbelievable's Merritt Wever) and Billy Johnson (Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker's Domhnall Gleeson). They dated in college and, 17 years ago, they made a pact. First, one of them has to text the word 'run' whenever they feel like it. Next, the other has to respond the same way. After that, they both have to drop everything, step away from their everyday lives and meet at Grand Central Station, then travel across the America together. For Ruby, that means escaping her monotonous existence and leaving her husband (Mad Men's Rich Sommer) at home. As for what happens next, while last month's first teaser gave a bit of a glimpse, the just-released full trailer provides more of a sneak peek. Expect plenty of chatty train trips, as well as both tension and laughs — with HBO badging the series as a romantic-comedy thriller. And if you're wondering about Waller-Bridge, she plays Laurel, a woman who Ruby and Billy meet on their journey. Check out the full trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9TjitrfeMo Run starts streaming on Foxtel Now and screening on Foxtel Showcase in Australia, Thursdays at 8.30pm from May 7. Image: Ken Woroner/HBO. UPDATE: MAY 7, 2020 — Run was initially meant to hit Foxtel back in April, but it was postponed till May 7. The above copy has been updated to reflect this.
For Australian music fans, Triple J's Hottest 100 is the most important event of the calendar year — followed closely by the date Splendour in the Grass tickets go on sale. With so much at stake music-wise, nominating yourself as host for the Hottest 100 party — and deciding what to serve — can be a daunting task. So, we've teamed up with BWS to ensure you snag a sausage that pairs perfectly with your Hottest 100 picks — a banger for your banger, if you will. Plus, if you share a snap of your snags to Instagram (post or story) and tag BWS, the company will donate $1 for every sausage in the picture to GIVIT. How good. So, before you head to the shops to get the supplies, hit this list to make sure you select savoury cylinders that are as tasty as your favourite tunes. 'GET MY OUT' BY KING STINGRAY Fans of this track by King Stingray are likely to have found themselves in one of two circumstances in 2021: a seemingly unending lockdown in one of our major cities or in a garbage job that they were ready to give the middle finger to. In our opinion, lovers of a song called 'Get Me Out' deserve a snag that'll set them free. If that's you, we can't go past the free-range frankfurters from Paddock to Plate. 'HERTZ' BY AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS The high-octane energy of Amyl and the Sniffers requires a snag that'll live up to the band's turbo reputation and gets the job done without too much fuss. And, since we're matching it with a title that measures frequency, we believe quantity is important, too. Our pick for Sniffers fans is a value pack of snags that are a staple at all good sharehouse barbecues and Bunnings sausage sizzles — the 1.8 kilomgram value pack of thin snags from Woolies. These bangers have been proven to satisfy the masses and feel almost as good as fanging down a highway in a Hertz hire car. 'MAREA (WE'VE LOST DANCING)' BY FRED AGAIN.. AND THE BLESSED MADONNA If you voted for 'Marea (We've Lost Dancing)', there's a good chance you're the person at a party who dominates the dancefloor. Considering you'll be spending most of the day hurling your flesh prison all over the backyard, we recommend taking your snags in small doses to avoid tasting them twice. A 16-pack of chicken chipolatas are an ideal bite-size snag that you could probably woof down in one go if you really tried. Plus, given there are so many in the pack, you'll have plenty of fuel to sustain your dancing all the way to number one. 'LIE TO ME AGAIN' BY THE BUOYS If you're someone who wants to be lied to, a pack of the plant-based snags with the adjective 'beefy' in the title seem like the kind of misleading sausage that you'd be into. Unreal Co's six-pack of vegetarian beefy brats are perfect for people who want to feel hoodwinked by a sausage. Go on, gaslight yourself with this irresistible snag. It'll be just like when the person this song reminds you of did it, right? 'KIM' BY TKAY MAIDZA (FEATURING BABY TATE) A track that brings as much heat as 'Kim' by Tkay Maidza and Baby Tate calls for a snag that is as hot and spicy as the song itself. Our solution? The smoked chilli snags from Suzy Spoon's Vegetarian Butcher. These vegan sausages are both super delicious and pack a punch, much like the song in question. Big fan of chilli dogs? These are a quality meat-free alternative with a chorizo-like flavour for an added kick. 'GOLD CHAINS' BY GENESIS OWUSU Fans of Genesis Owusu aren't your run-of-the-mill music lovers. They boast a superior sonic palate and we suspect that this elite taste exists when it comes to the humble snag, too. Lovers of an award-winning artist will want an award-winning snag. And, if Kel Knight has taught us anything, winning sausage competitions is serious business. Our go-to is The Gourmet Sausage Company's award-winning artisanal pork and fennel bangers. 'STAY' BY THE KID LAROI AND JUSTIN BIEBER Voted for a collaboration this huge in the Hottest 100? You'll be needing a snag that has a minimum of three main ingredients in it for the countdown. There are plenty of combination sausages to choose from however we're of the firm belief that it's the chicken, feta and spinach variety that pairs perfectly with this sad banger. It's salty, smooth and surprisingly good — much like the Bieber x Laroi collaboration itself. 'DRIVERS LICENCE' BY OLIVIA RODRIGO So you spent 2021 rinsing Olivia Rodrigo's debut album Sour? Us too. And while we simply adored immersing in the rich teenage angst of the record, a track from an album with a title this tangy needs a sweeter snag to balance things out. We recommend a pack of honey-flavoured beef sausages. And if that's a touch too sugary for you, load them up with onions to ensure you get that all-important cathartic cry while slicing them up and belting out this tune. Want to support a good cause while you enjoy your bangers? Upload a snap of your snags to Instagram (post or story), tag @bws_au and use the hashtag #snagadonation to ensure a $1 for every sausage in the shot is donated to GIVIT. Just make sure your Instagram profile is set to public for your entry to be counted. For more information, visit the website. Images: Elliott Kramer.
The Opera Centre is essentially the operations headquarters for Sydney's world-class opera scene. Setting foot inside is entering another world — all manner of artisan crafts and trades are on display here. The creation of an opera employs professionals from many different areas. You've got milliners (hat makers), wig makers, carpenters, scenic designers, cobblers and costumiers setting the scene. Then there are the performers and trainers — choreographers, language coaches, musicians, stage managers, conductors and singers — who all coming together to produce a live, visually and audibly spectacular production. For a crash course in all things opera, The Opera Centre offers guided tours of their workshops and rehearsal studios so you can get an intimate look at all that goes into putting a show on the big stage. Tours run every weekday at 10am and 2pm for groups of two and up to 40 people. It's recommended you book two weeks in advance so a knowledgeable guide can be assigned to your group.
Sitting in Matt Moran's CHISWICK in Woollahra, you could be mistaken for thinking you were on some glorious estate in the Southern Highlands — not some 5km from the Sydney CBD. Wherever you are, floor-to-ceiling windows open onto lush greenery; on one side, there's a mini, landscaped park, on the other a thriving kitchen garden. It's the latter that drives the heart of the restaurant's menu, which is famous for its fresh, seasonal produce. "Matt [Moran] grew up on a farm," says CHISWICK's head chef Richie Dolan. "He's a country boy, so his philosophy has always been paddock to plate — about using the best seasonal produce available." Every morning, the chefs pick piles of herbs, leaves and veggies — and, by midday, they're on your plate. Sounds simple, but it takes a lot of time, a lot of planning and one hell of a vision to do things this way. In a very special opportunity this February, we gave Concrete Playground readers the chance to experience Richie Dolan's produce first hand, teaming up with James Squire to create a Summer Banquet at CHISWICK. An initimate 34 sitting of 34 lucky readers sat down to a five-course meal custom-made by Richie, each dish paired with a specific James Squire tipple, and were taken through the bespoke menu by Richie and James Squire's head brewer Chris Sheehan. They also took home a bespoke hamper from Sydney company Caring Canary, filled with delicious eats and JS drinks. Images and video: Samantha Hawker.
Looking for something to fill your time (that's not live streaming koalas or re-watching Tiger King over and over again)? TAFE NSW has this morning, Monday, April 6, released 21 online short courses that you can home complete at home — without spending a cent. Announced by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, the free courses are to help people diversify their skills during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fee-free accredited courses are open to people over 17 who live or work in NSW and are an Australia or NZ citizen, permanent resident or humanitarian visa holder. [caption id="attachment_766149" align="alignnone" width="1920"] If you tick those boxes, you can grow your digital skills with Engaging Customers Using Social Media or eMarketing for Small Businesses, increase your medical knowledge with a S2/S3 Pharmacy Training or up your management nous with the Team Leader Skill Set. Courses range in commitment from 3–11 hours a week for up to 26 weeks.[/caption] These new courses add to TAFE NSW's existing fee-free short courses, which are available to those impacted by this season's devastating bushfires and women looking to launch a small business. Early last year, NSW Government also announced it was subsidising up to 100,000 TAFE courses and apprenticeships under its Smart and Skilled program. TAFE NSW has paused face-to-face courses until at least Monday, April 27. To find out more about and enrol in one of TAFE NSW's fee-free online short courses, head to the TAFE NSW website.
Lives don't just thrive in New York City apartment buildings. As Only Murders in the Building keeps showing, sometimes they end, too. Folks connected to the fictional Arconia complex haven't been having a good run in the hit mystery-comedy series, but neighbours and podcasters Mabel Mora, Charles-Haden Savage and Oliver Putnam — as played by Selena Gomez (Emilia Pérez), Steve Martin (It's Complicated) and Martin Short (Grimsburg) — keep investigating their untimely demises, and talking about it. Audiences keep watching, too. You'll next be viewing the trio's antics and sleuthing along with the series' latest whodunnit scenario from spring Down Under, with Only Murders in the Building setting a Tuesday, September 9, 2025 premiere date for its fifth season. There's no trailer as yet, but the show has unveiled its first-look image, and also enlisted Gomez, Martin and Short in a clip announcing the day to pop in your calendar. [caption id="attachment_972138" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Disney/Eric McCandless)[/caption] Yes, it's happening again: to continue to live up to its title, there's been another murder in the building. This time, Charles, Oliver and Mabel refuse to accept that the death of a beloved figure was accidental. As they endeavour to prove that's the case, mobsters and powerful billionaires all become involved, as do more Arconia residents. Michael Cyril Creighton (American Horror Stories) is back among the cast as well, as are Meryl Streep (Extrapolations), Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Bride Hard), Richard Kind (Poker Face) and Nathan Lane (The Gilded Age). Season five also features Bobby Cannavale (Unstoppable), Renée Zellweger (Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy), Logan Lerman (We Were the Lucky Ones), Christoph Waltz (Old Guy), Téa Leoni (Death of a Unicorn), Keegan-Michael Key (Dear Santa), Beanie Feldstein (Drive-Away Dolls), Dianne Wiest (Apartment 7A) and Jermaine Fowler (Sting). [caption id="attachment_912213" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Patrick Harbron/Hulu[/caption] By now, everyone should already well-aware of Only Murders in the Building's setup. Each season, a new murder takes place in the apartment tower that its main sleuthing trio call home. It was true in 2021's season one, then 2022's season two, 2023's season three and 2024's season four. Also accurate in every season: when Mabel, Charles and Oliver are on the case, a heap of fellow big-name talent both help and hinder their investigations. There's no trailer yet for Only Murders in the Building season five, but check out the date announcement video below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Only Murders in the Building (@onlymurdershulu) Only Murders in the Building streams Down Under via Disney+, with season five premiering on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Read our reviews of season one, season two and season three. Top image: Disney/Patrick Harbron.
If you're a Lorde fan, there's no better news than this: in February 2026, the 'Royals', 'Green Light', 'Solar Power' and 'What Was That' singer-songwriter will hit the stage in Sydney. The New Zealand star's Ultrasound world tour is bringing its gigs Down Under, heading to four cities in Australia and making dates with arenas at every stop. Ella Yelich-O'Connor last took her Solar Power tour this way in 2023. This time, as part of a run of concerts that begins in September 2025 in the US — and also includes gigs in Canada, the UK and across Europe — she has levelled up venue-wise. In the Harbour City, Qudos Bank Arena is Lorde's destination, playing on Wednesday, February 18–Thursday, February 19, 2026. There might be a three-year gap between Yelich-O'Connor's last Down Under shows and her upcoming Ultrasound tour concerts; however, in addition to writing and recording Virgin, she's been busy making a surprise Sydney club appearance back in May 2025 at a Lorde-themed night. The focus of Lorde's 2026 Harbour City gig: 2025 album Virgin, which features the aforementioned 'What Was That' — her first original new track in four years — alongside 'Man of the Year', 'Hammer', 'Favourite Daughter' and 'Shapeshifter', and hit number one in Australia upon debut. Images: Joseph Okpako/WireImage and Thistle Brown.
Some stories are so wild that they can only be true, and the tale of Australian cult The Family is definitely one of them. That's worth remembering when it finally becomes your next homegrown streaming obsession — in fact, you probably won't be able to forget it — with Disney+ taking inspiration from the sinister Aussie sect for a new eight-part series called The Clearing. If you're new to The Family — and you didn't see the excellent and supremely creepy 2016 documentary that shares the cult's name, or the 2019 series The Cult of the Family, both by filmmaker Rosie Jones — then strap yourself in for quite the story. It was very real, forming in the 1960s around Melbourne, with charismatic yoga teacher Anne Hamilton-Byrne at its head. A cult run by a woman is already extremely rare, but this tale also includes adopting kids who looked identical, dressing them in matching clothing, claiming that Hamilton-Byrne was a living god and, because that's not enough, a lot of LSD. Police raided the sect's Lake Eildon compound back in 1987, all those children were removed from the property, and Hamilton-Byrne and her husband fled Australia, but were arrested in the US in 1993. [caption id="attachment_611844" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Family[/caption] There's more to this tale, which inspired JP Pomare's novel In the Clearing — and that's what The Clearing adapts. The show will step into the fictionalised but still chaotic details by following a woman who starts to confront her nightmarish past to stop a secret cult that's gathering up children to serve its master plan. Unsurprisingly, the mood will be tense, with the Disney+ series firmly a psychological thriller. Cast-wise, almost every famous Aussie acting name possible is involved, or so it seems, including Teresa Palmer (Ride Like a Girl), Miranda Otto (True Colours) and Guy Pearce (Mare of Easttown), as well as Claudia Karvan (Bump) and Mark Coles-Smith (Mystery Road: Origin). Also set to appear on-screen: Hazem Shammas (The Twelve), Kate Mulvany (Hunters), Xavier Samuel (Elvis), Anna Lise Phillips (Fires), Harry Greenwood (Wakefield) Erroll Shand (The Justice of Bunny King), Doris Younane (Five Bedrooms), Miah Madden (Dive Club), Julia Savage (Mr Inbetween), Gary Sweet (Wentworth), Alicia Gardiner (Offspring), Matt Okine (The Other Guy) and Jeremy Blewitt (The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart), plus Lily La Torre (Run Rabbit Run) and Ras-Samuel Welda'abzgi (Neighbours). We told you it was a hefty list. [caption id="attachment_862740" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Cult of the Family[/caption] Behind the lens, Jeffrey Walker (Lambs of God) and Gracie Otto (Seriously Red) are on directing duties, with Elise McCredie (Stateless) and Matt Cameron (Jack Irish) creating and writing The Clearing — with help from co-writer Osamah Sami (Ali's Wedding). The Clearing is one of Disney+'s first three newly commissioned local scripted dramas — its first three ever, in fact — alongside The Artful Dodger and Last Days of the Space Age. There's obviously no trailer for The Clearing yet, but you can check out the trailer for The Family below: The Clearing will stream via Disney+, with a release date yet to be revealed — we'll update you with further details when they're announced. Top image: The Cult of the Family.
The year that Adam Elliot's Mary and Max reached cinemas, Sarah Snook earned her first on-screen credit in an episode of All Saints. A decade and a half later, the Oscar-winning Australian animator and the Succession star have joined forces on Memoir of a Snail. Elliott finally has a new stop-motion feature sliding into picture palaces, with Snook lending her voice to the lonely Grace Pudel, the coming-of-age tale's protagonist with a story to spin. Fresh from locking in its Australian premiere as the opening-night flick at the 2024 Melbourne International Film Festival, Memoir of a Snail has just dropped its first trailer to give audiences a glimpse at what's in store. Get ready for Elliot's distinctive animation style — because no one makes clay in shades of brown, black and grey look as expressive as the Melbourne talent — bringing Grace's existence to life. Get ready for snails almost everywhere, too, including as clocks, music boxes, hats and ornaments. "Dad used to say that childhood was like being drunk: everyone remembers what you did except you," explains Snook as Grace to begin this debut peek at Elliot's long-awaited sophomore feature. "But I remember everything," she continues. As Grace talks through the details, snails don't merely feature heavily, clearly giving the picture a metaphor for its lead character — in the movie, the book-loving, shy and anxious Grace is also relaying her experiences to a snail called Sylvia. As it charts a trail of loss, angst, friendship and learning to embrace life, that Memoir of a Snail is bowing on home soil at MIFF couldn't be more fitting. It's "about Melbourne, made by Melburnians and voiced by Melburnians," said Elliott when the festival revealed the flick as its launch pick. To make that connection clear even just in this initial teaser, the trailer includes St Kilda's Luna Park. Joining Snook in the voice cast is a who's who of Australian talent, such as Kodi Smit-McPhee (Elvis), Eric Bana (Force of Nature: The Dry 2), Tony Armstrong (Tony Armstrong's Extra-Ordinary Things), Nick Cave (The Electrical Life of Louis Wain), Jacki Weaver (Hello Tomorrow!) and Magda Szubanski (After the Trial) — and also French actor Dominique Pinon (The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon). After playing MIFF, Memoir of a Snail will hit Australian cinemas in general release on Thursday, October 17, 2024, with this year not only marking 15 years since Mary and Max, but 20 years since Elliot won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for Harvie Krumpet. Check out the trailer for Memoir of a Snail below: Memoir of a Snail releases in Australian cinemas on Thursday, October 17, 2024.
UPDATE, May 16, 2021: You Were Never Really Here is available to stream via Shudder, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Never has a beard felt as important as it does in You Were Never Really Here. Mottled with grey and sporting the texture of steel wool, it's visibly abrasive. It looks scratchy to touch, and as though its coarse mess would grate against the skin underneath. That skin belongs to Joe (Joaquin Phoenix), though he's troubled by more than his choice of facial hair. In fact, the desolation in his eyes and the menacing heft of his frame suggest that his shield of bristles is thoroughly by design. An assassin who rescues young girls from sex trafficking rings — and who's haunted by his own childhood abuse, as well as his past as a soldier and FBI agent — he coats his chin with a wiry nest partly as armour, partly in order to feel something. The fourth film by directorLynne Ramsay, You Were Never Really Here inspires intricate dissections of every element within its frames — and every aspect of its brooding protagonist, too. Charting Joe's latest assignment, it's ostensibly a crime thriller, but it's really a character study of a despairing man. As the filmmaker demonstrated in We Need to Talk About Kevin, her movies relay their narratives with a minimalistic but expressionist touch. They plunge viewers into their protagonist's headspace with distorted flourishes, yet offer up only what they need to. You Were Never Really Here achieves this with jarring flashes of Joe's memories, with shots that box people in using their surroundings, and with a ragged, raging score by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood. It also does the same just by staring at Joe, and letting audiences soak up his broken yet brutal presence. First seen finishing a job in Cincinnati (and trying to finish himself as well), Joe is a man of few modes. Usually he's ruthless and task-oriented, whether arranging his next hit, buying the hammer he'll wield or deploying his deadly skills. When he's at his Queens home with his elderly mother (Judith Roberts), he's kind and caring, a tenor he reserves only for that situation. In-between, he's fighting a war inside — one that he can temporarily put at bay by saving exploited children or by playfully singing with his mum, but can never completely win. The suicide attempts continue, fuelled by emptiness and isolation, although something holds him back. Then Joe is enlisted to rescue Nina (Ekaterina Samsonov), the pre-teen daughter of a New York senator (Alex Manette), and his world goes astray. Early in the piece, Joe takes a cab from a job, but this isn't merely an updated Taxi Driver. He speaks little and swings a hammer, but the film isn't a riff on Drive. He even watches Psycho with his mother — and recreates its infamous screeching noise and stabbing motion outside of his bathroom — but that's not where this is heading either. As boilerplate as You Were Never Really Here might sound with its tormented protagonist, avenging storyline and penchant for violence, this isn't a picture that walks in anyone's shoes other than Ramsay's own. The writer-director has long delved into the lingering echoes of trauma, not only in the dense and complex Kevin but in her earlier efforts Ratcatcher and Morvern Caller too. If other flicks spring to viewers' minds when watching You Were Never Really Here, that's purely because Ramsay has only made four features in two decades — and, criminally, her last came out seven years ago. While it's a distinctively immersive Ramsay creation, You Were Never Really Here isn't a film that's big on plot. The novella it's based on numbers less than 100 pages, after all. But if Joe's tale is concise in the hands of author Jonathan Ames (Bored to Death), then it's positively stripped bare on the screen in the bleakest, tensest yet also most rewarding way. There's freedom in such an economical approach — the freedom to build an entire world around Joe's festering pain, to show why he'd rather just disappear, and to explore how the agony he can't shake shapes his entire reality. Indeed, You Were Never Really Here is disarmingly effective in conveying how post traumatic stress disorder burrows into the deepest recesses of someone's mind, controls their every move, and casts an enormous shadow over everything that they see and hear. And, of course, why it might spark them to lurk both at the edges of society and behind a scruffy beard. Playing Joe, Phoenix won the Cannes Film Festival's best actor prize for more than just his appearance. His is a powerfully wounded performance, a portrayal that wears the character's internal distress as openly as the scars that cover his back and arms. Phoenix boasts a resume filled with damaged figures, be they vicious in Gladiator or sweet in Her, and he's the ideal actor for Ramsay's intense and exacting film. Smashing skulls, cradling bodies in a stream, slurping milkshakes — no matter what he's doing, he's as gripping and galvanising as he's ever been. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQyDaGWQ43w
This week, Sydney welcomes Melbourne-based artist Ash Keating for a live install of Gravity System Response, his first public project in Sydney. Keating has shown around Australia and internationally, including at the National Gallery of Victoria and in Tokyo, Seoul and Jogyakarta, but it's a rare chance to see him in action. Especially to watch his unique process of using the high-pressure force of fire extinguishers to spray paint metres into the air. Part outdoor mural, part performance art, Gravity System Response draws on Keating's background in graffiti, video, conceptual work and performance art to create "camouflage paintings" in response to the colours and energy of the space around them. The name of the work is a reference to the gravity effect of working with paint so high up. Keating plays with gradient and drips, making decisions on the fly as he lets the work "build itself". As well as an exploration of energy, abstraction, gravity and colour, Gravity System Response is a celebration of the place of art and public space in cities; it aims to support a vibrant, open city full of art, music and culture. The work is set to be a timely piece as Sydney debates how (and when and how late) we use public spaces and the role that art has to play in the life of a city. Keen to see it all come to life? The live-action artmaking is taking place at The Domain from Wednesday, December 5–Thursday, December 6, between 11am–2pm. Keep an eye on the Facebook event to find out more details, including the exact location. This new work is presented by the City of Sydney's Art & About program and curated by Billie and Elliott Routledge of Funstudio.
Alabama Shakes have been hailed as one of the most exciting bands in the world right now. They've earned glowing reviews from The Telegraph, Pitchfork and the New York Times, and not just because they're impossible to hate (fact). Tingle-worthily humble origins are one reason you can't help but fall in love with these guys, another is postwoman-turned-frontwoman Brittany Howard. Howard has ceased delivering mail and is now charged with the responsibility of delivering rapturously powerful vocals, which she does with a soul-heavy wail that has been compared to Howlin' Wolf and Janis Joplin. Backed by stomping swamp rock and woefully twanging guitar strings courtesy of her classmates-turned-band members, it'll move you in more ways than one. With their acclaimed debut Boys & Girls still running on high rotation, Alabama Shakes are heading to Australia for the first time in January for Big Day Out. They'll play one sideshow at The Metro. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Le-3MIBxQTw
For most Sydneysiders (the ones born here at least), a weekend trip to Newcastle is not at the top of their to-do list. For the weekend upcoming though, I strongly recommend that changes. The reason: Summer Vibes at The Croatian Club. For the unacquainted, The Croatian Club is an actual Croatian bowling club in the semi-industrial Newie suburb of Wickham. It has only one permanent employee, a suitably taciturn bartender called Parvo, and most nights of the week you will find only a handful of grumbling old men from the mother country there. Sounds like a swell joint, right? Well, there’s also an assortment of summery outdoor activities, a community veggie garden, a wood fire pizza oven and this Sunday, the Summer Vibes festival. Starting from 11am, you can chill on the bowling green with a beer, play bocce or giant chess, and take advantage of really cheap (and delicious) pizzas. Oh, and then there’s the bands, a stunning line-up featuring Thee Oh Sees (USA), Straight Arrows, Circle Pit, Absolute Boys, Kirin J Calinan and several handfuls of excellent others. If you still need reasons to make the trip, try this one: it will only cost you $30 to get in. For an event that is guaranteed to contain no Southern Cross tattoos or Australian flags, this is what you might call a 'ripper deal'.
The increasing rise of streaming platforms could mark the death of movie-going as we know it, or so says the popular line of thinking that's been floating around for years. We're fairly certain that online services won't completely kill cinemas, however, even as huge companies like Apple and Disney try to battle it out with Netflix. There's a simple reason, and it's all about the spectacle. If the big screen dies out, all of those huge superhero battles will lose a bit of their sheen — and so will nerve-wracking creature features. It's a truth universally acknowledged that there's nothing quite like watching savage critters attack while you're sat in a darkened theatre, where nothing can disrupt the tension and a whole room of people are reacting to the on-screen horrors. That's one of the reasons Steven Spielberg's Jaws proved such a hit, after all, with the movie credited with inventing the mid-year blockbuster season. Since the 1975 thriller, plenty of films have tried to follow in its footsteps, both seriously and comedically. Crawl is the latest, slinging killer crocodiles at Skins and Maze Runner star Kaya Scodelario — because, well, why not? Directed by Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes, Piranha 3D) and produced by Sam Raimi (the original Evil Dead trilogy, Drag Me to Hell), Crawl takes place in Florida, just as a huge hurricane hits. Scodelario's Haley is told to evacuate, but she wants to find her missing dad (Barry Pepper) first — and he's injured and stuck in the crawl space of their family home. So far, so unfortunate. But then floodwaters rise, the storm keeps belting down and something with teeth is lurking below the water. If you're not fond of jumps, scares and snapping foes, this won't be for you. If you are, check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4WuVXo_XAM&feature=youtu.be Crawl releases in Australian cinemas on July 11. Image: Sergej Radović. © 2019 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All rights reserved.
Waiting in line at the game for a measly beer has driven many a tormented, forward-shuffling queuer to madness. Sweating brows, heavy tsking and dancing tip toes are the marks of those desperate to balance missing chunks of team victory and avoiding sobriety. But those purveyors of everything fast and novelty, the US, have solved that pesky problem of waiting in line for your frosty beverage. Concessionaire Delaware North and Anheuser-Busch have created Draftserv, a self-serve beer vending machine because BASEBALL. Although regular beer vending machines have been a Thing for some time now, this one's a draft pourer. The slightly gaudy machines appeared at a Minnesota Twins baseball game on the weekend and caused spontaneous jigs and raised eyebrows across the joint. You pay by the ounce (per 28 grams) and the machine cuts you off if it knows you've chugged too much. Bonafide genius. Thirsty beer lovers flash their ID and buy a preloaded $10, $20 or $50 card, then head on over to the Draftserv and scan it for frothy goodness via touchscreen. The machines serve Bud and Bud Light for 38 cents an ounce (about US$4.50), which is almost, almost, almost considered beer but quintessential for sportswatching. Fancy beer drinkers can up it to 40 cents an ounce for Shock Top Lemon Shandy and Goose Island 312 Pale Ale (just under US$5). You can even order half beers. But if you try to pass that 48-ounces-every-15-minutes limit you'll be cut off, because The Machine Knows. "It's a way to engage with the customer and allows the fan to have greater control of what they're drinking," said Jerry Jacobs Jr., principal of Delaware North. "There's obviously some novelty value to this, but it also allows people to pour what they want. If they want half of a cup, that's all they will pay for." Whether or not the machines will make it to Australia remains to be seen, we'll just have to chug a few self-serve beer slushies while we're waiting in line. Via ESPN and Gizmodo.
Spending time on a tram isn't everybody's idea of a great time, but Penrith has a new food and drink spot that'll have you heading out to catch the next service. The Carriage, located in the carpark of the already popular O'Donoghues Irish Pub, is framed around a reinvigorated 1964 Berlin tram and is serving up American-style street food and drinks. To eat, there's a rousing selection of burgers, brisket and loaded fries, and some exciting creations like the Risk it for the Brisket — a beef patty topped with 12-hour smoked brisket, bacon jam and house-made pickles all sealed in a milk bun. Keeping you refreshed are favourites like Canadian Club and Pimm's, both on tap, and there's a host of wine and beer to choose from, too. Open Friday and Saturday nights, and all-day Sunday, The Carriage's expansive outdoor seating area has enough space to sit all your mates, and there's a bevy of local musicians coming through to keep everyone entertained all weekend long. What started out as a side project for O'Donoghues turned into a much more expansive endeavour. The Carriage — which will play host to a series of gigs over the upcoming months, including Thundamentals in May — hopes to become a key player in Penrith's growing nightlife.
Everyone remembers studying ancient Egyptian history in school. Pyramids, pharaohs, boy kings, mummification: they aren't easily forgotten. Your next chance to explore this chapter of the past will get you walking through works from centuries ago, covering the time of Tutankhamun, Ramses II, Nefertari, Khufu and even Alexander the Great, all as part of an impressive exhibition at Melbourne's NGV International called Pharaoh. Meet the venue's midyear blockbuster for 2024, which will fall into Victoria's annual Melbourne Winter Masterpieces season. Following on from 2023's Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi, this middle-of-the-calendar spectacular will run from Friday, June 14–Sunday, October 6 and feature items from the British Museum. That loan is quite significant, too, with Pharaoh including the venue's biggest-ever borrowing of ancient Egyptian jewellery, as well as pieces that previously haven't been shown. [caption id="attachment_918948" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Statue of Ramses II as a high-priest, Abydos, Egypt, 19th Dynasty, reign of Ramses II, about 1279-1213 BC, Limestone, H 171cm, W 71.5cm, D 98cm, © The Trustees of the British Museum.[/caption] In total, more than 500 works will be on display as the NGV peers back at Egypt from the 1st Dynasty to the Roman era — so, from around 3000 BCE to the 4th century CE. Expect to see plenty of gleaming artefacts given that focus on ancient Egyptian jewellery. The exhibition will also span coffins and other funerary items, as well as examples of architecture spanning tombs, temples, and also massive monuments and sculptures. "Pharaoh seeks to introduce a new generation of visitors to the perennially fascinating visual culture of ancient Egypt through an unprecedented exhibition of sculpture, architecture, jewellery and more from the British Museum in London," said NGV Director Tony Ellwood AM, announcing the exhibition. "The NGV's exhibition will place precedence on the exceptional craftsmanship of the ancient Egyptians, highlighting their refined artistic sensibility and technical skill." [caption id="attachment_918946" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shabti of Pharaoh Sety I, Tomb of Sety I, Valley of the Kings, Thebes, Egypt, 19th Dynasty, reign of Sety I, about 1294-1279 BC, Blue faience, H 22.8 cm, W 9.6 cm, D 9.6 cm, © The Trustees of the British Museum.[/caption] Among the specific highlights, a hefty wall from a 2.5-metre-high, three-metre-wide limestone wall from a mastaba tomb dating back to the Old Kingdom is one of them — complete with hieroglyphic texts carved into the surface. Also going big: a huge fist made of stone from a statue of Ramses II that hails from Memphis, in the temple of Ptah, and weighs in at almost 1.5 tonnes. Still on that particular ruler, Pharaoh will feature an enormous limestone statue of Ramses II that shows him as a high priest. Visitors will also be able to see a seated statue of Sety II, Ramses II's grandson, which is also notable for being one of the most complete sculptures that still exist from the time. Or, check out Pharaoh's oldest item, a five-centimetre-wide ivory label that shows the 1st Dynasty's King Den. Jumping forward, a green siltstone head of the 18th Dynasty's Tuthmose III wearing the cobra headdress will also feature. [caption id="attachment_918943" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ivory label with King Den, Abydos, Egypt, 1st Dynasty, about 2985 BC, Ivory, H 4.5cm, W 5.3cm, D 0.3cm, © The Trustees of the British Museum.[/caption] Among the gold, silver and gemstone-studded jewellery, everything from rings and necklaces to collars and girdles will be on display — and as sourced from tombs, so will amulets that were placed to protect the deceased, to examine the role that adorning bodies played in ancient Egyptians' beliefs about the afterlife. Pharaoh won't just focus on jewels used after death, however, with pieces from places such as Akhenaten's royal city Amarna also part of the exhibition as it examines everyday life. Still on royals, the showcase will boast objects from Deir el-Medina, where the craftspeople who were responsible for carving and decking out the Valley of the Kings' royal tombs resided. Here, attendees will see letters, notes, sketches and poems carved on limestone fragments. "The British Museum's collection of ancient Egyptian objects — one of the most comprehensive outside of Egypt — tells the fascinating story of life and death in the ancient Nile Valley in unparalleled depth and breadth. We are thrilled to be able to share the collection with the Australian public and celebrate the extraordinary artistry of the ancient Egyptians with a new international audience," added Daniel Antoine, the British Museum's Keeper, Egypt and Sudan. While Pharaoh is exclusive to Melbourne, it's about to become a great time to step back to this chapter in the past Down Under, with Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs also on the way to the Australian Museum in Sydney to display more 181 rare artefacts and treasures. [caption id="attachment_918944" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ornament of a winged scarab holding a sun-disc, Provenance unknown, possibly Thebes, Egypt, 12th Dynasty, reign of Senusret II, about 880-1874 BC, Electrum, lapis lazuli, cornelian and feldspar, H 1.8cm, W 3.5cm, D 3cm , © The Trustees of the British Museum.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_918947" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Statue of a lion erected by Amenhotep III, reinscribed by Tutankhamun, Gebel Barkal, Sudan, 18th Dynasty, reign of Amenhotep III, about 1390-1352 BC, Red granite, H 117cm, W 216cm, D 93cm, © The Trustees of the British Museum. [/caption] [caption id="attachment_918942" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Head of colossal statue, probably of Amenemhat III Bubastis, Egypt 12th Dynasty, reign of Amenemhat III, about 1854-1808 BC Granodiorite H 83cm, W 85cm, D 71cm © The Trustees of the British Museum.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_918950" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ostracon showing Khnummose worshipping Meretseger, Deir el-Medina, Egypt, 19th–20th Dynasty, about 1295-1069 BC, Limestone, H 16.5 cm, W 20.2 cm, © The Trustees of the British Museum.[/caption] Pharaoh will display at NGV International on St Kilda Road, Melbourne from Friday, June 14–Sunday, October 6, 2024 — head to the NGV website for further details and tickets. Top image: Plaque of Amenemhat IV, Probably Byblos, Lebanon, 12th Dynasty, reign of Amenemhat IV, about 1808- 1799 BC, Gold, H 2.9 cm, W 3.1 cm, D 0.1 cm, © The Trustees of the British Museum.
Tent? Check. Essentials packed? Check. Good-value booze from the nearest The Bottle-O? Check. The only thing that's missing is coffee… at least that was the case until we asked you, our dear readers. When tasked with providing your best camping spots and hacks, someone promptly stated, "Wacaco espresso maker. Must have." Genius. Now we're ready to go camping. (And here's that caffeine friend, if you need a new camp-ready gadget.) Without further ado, here is a standout list of knock-out spots to camp all around Australia, submitted by you. [caption id="attachment_892839" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Ogdum[/caption] BENDALONG, NEW SOUTH WALES Find your best holiday-self at the edge of the ocean, where a haven of white sandy beaches, consistent surf breaks and towering eucalyptus trees await. Bendalong Holiday Haven is a park with something for everybody — think self-contained cabins, caravan access and plenty of spots to pitch a tent. There's no shortage of activities to enjoy either, say swimming, fishing, surfing, volleyball or checking out the local wildlife on a bush walk. Camping here is nothing if not wholesome, and if you're staying for more than a night or two, do as one of our readers suggests and "take a thick mattress, sleep is so important". Holiday Haven Bendalong, 1 Waratah Street, Bendalong, New South Wales [caption id="attachment_892846" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Leelakajonkij[/caption] PUTTY BEACH, NEW SOUTH WALES Nestled in the lush surroundings of Bouddi National Park on the Central Coast, Putty Beach Campground is a short stroll from the warm sand and calm waters of its namesake shoreline. With a cosy 20 camping sites available for tents (no campervans, FYI), you'll need to book in advance if you want to secure a holiday here. Keep in mind that while there is running water and flushing toilets, you won't be able to have a hot shower here since the campsites aren't powered — it's all part of the authentic camping experience. Putty Beach Campground, Putty Beach Rd, Killcare Heights, New South Wales WYE RIVER, VICTORIA Picture this: the tent gets pitched without a hitch and as the sun is setting your mate hands you a cold one. Breathe in the refreshing sea air of the Wye River beachfront, this is good ol' Aussie camping at its finest. With all the amenities you need to have an epic stay, just pack good booze and good food, as there's a kitted-out camp kitchen and onsite barbecues. And if you're settling in for more than a weekend, consider this tip from one of our readers: "You need two tables: one to relax and eat at and one to store shit on." Sounds smart to us. Wye River Campground, Great Ocean Road, Wye River, Victoria [caption id="attachment_892850" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] On Patrol Photo[/caption] THE GRAMPIANS, VICTORIA With majestic sandstone mountain ranges and world-renowned hiking trails at your fingertips, there's little wonder why one of you shared The Grampians as your fave place to camp. Tents, motorhomes and caravans are all welcome inside the national park, with multiple camping options in the area providing choices aplenty for a convenient home base between your tramping excursions. Or, opt for a more off-grid experience in a forest park spot. Reader's tip? "Grab yourself some Yetis! They keep your drinks cold for hours!" Something you're sure to need as you embark on the many great walks from your campsite. There are several accommodation options in The Grampians region, head to the website for more information. [caption id="attachment_892856" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Stephane Debove[/caption] CHANCE BAY, QUEENSLAND The Whitsundays may be synonymous with Instagram-worthy luxury holidays, but you're as well placed for a fantastically memorable time at the spectacular Chance Bay on Whitsunday Island. The area's only accessible by boat — with anchoring permitted and ideal access during mid or high tide — but undoubtedly worth the mission for the opportunity to immerse yourself in all that the area has to offer (that's turquoise waters, secluded white-sand beaches and a symphony of wildlife, if you didn't know). This particular spot is off the beaten track, so you'll need to bring drinking water along with the usual camping requirements, especially a can of Bushman. Even better, do as one of our readers does: "Bring a hanging mosquito net and throw it over the tent." You can thank us (and them) later. Chance Bay Campground, southeast coast of Whitsunday Island, Queensland GLAMPING AT O'REILLY'S, QUEENSLAND If you're more of a five-star kind of holidaymaker than an under-the-night-sky type, O'Reilly's Campground has the ideal setup for you. Featuring 17 powered safari tents, this is as effortless as camping gets. As one of our readers puts it: "Glamping is easier and you get the camping benefits". Say less. With the breathtaking rainforest of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park on your doorstep, there's an abundance of adventurous attractions for all. Partake in morning yoga before strapping in for the epic flying fox later on, or opt for an e-bike tour first thing and plan for some spectacular stargazing come nightfall. O'Reilly's Campground, 3582 Lamington National Park Rd, Canungra, Queensland NINGALOO CORAL BAY CAMP, WESTERN AUSTRALIA Go on a secluded snorkelling safari, swim above the coral gardens in a marine sanctuary, hop aboard a humpback whale-watching tour, take a relaxing boat cruise at sunset and dive in for a swim alongside manta rays, reef sharks and turtles on the UNESCO World Heritage Ningaloo Reef. Attention: camping-heaven is a place on earth called Ningaloo Coral Bay, the epic campground just metres away from the beach where you'll unwind from your aquatic adventures each day. Complete with both powered and unpowered sites for tents, caravans, campervans and motorhomes, this seaside paradise has it all — including the practical things like a camp kitchen and barbeques, plus shops and amenities nearby. Ningaloo Coral Bay Camp, 1 Robinson Street, Coral Bay, Western Australia ROTTNEST ISLAND, WESTERN AUSTRALIA Imagine camping under the shade of native trees just a stone's throw from the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean. A mere 10-minute stroll from Rottnest Campground, you'll find the stunning vista that is Pinky Beach, one of the island's popular beaches known for its idyllic swimming conditions. Too-cute quokkas and nature-soaked activities, Rottnest Island is a winner by anyone's standards. It's also home to events and pursuits on and offshore, from exhibitions and history tours to wildlife spotting and swell chasing. What will you do first? Rottnest Campground, Strue Road, Rottnest Island, Western Australia [caption id="attachment_688400" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Isaac Forman[/caption] KANGAROO ISLAND, SOUTH AUSTRALIA Camping is all about embracing life in the slow lane. S0 if you're clever, you'll make like this CPer: "Have a camping box ready with all your cutlery, salt and pepper and small gear — then you can just hit the road!" No rushing around before you head, or finding out you've left something necessary behind. What better place to head off for some chill vibes than the pristine landscape of Kangaroo Island? Whether you want to wake up with the waves or stay somewhere secluded, there's seven campgrounds to choose from on the island, so you're sure to find the facilities and features you're looking for. Just a 45-minute ferry or quick 30-minute flight from Adelaide, your unforgettable island camping adventure awaits. There are multiple camping options on Kangaroo Island, for more information visit the website. [caption id="attachment_865212" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Danny Lau[/caption] AYER'S ROCK CAMPGROUND, NORTHERN TERRITORY A guide to camping in Australia wouldn't be complete without a recommendation for visiting Uluru — and Ayer's Rock Resort campground, located just 20km away from the sacred site, came out on top — as suggested by more than one of you. Visit one of Australia's most magnificent — and culturally significant — outback treasures by day and hook up at one of the powered sites or pitch your tent to sleep under the stars by night. There's a host of enlightening cultural experiences and tours to fill your itinerary with, too — the hardest part will be finding the time to fit it all in. Ayer's Rock Resort Campground, 173 Yulara Dr, Yulara, Northern Territory Thanks for your participation, dear readers. Now, happy camping. For good value booze on your camping getaway, head to your closest The Bottle-O. To browse the range or find a store, head to the website. Top image: Charlie Blacker.
From road trips to romantic getaways, the South Coast has already given us a long list of reasons to visit. But it looks like Shoalhaven's iconic Huskisson Hotel has gone one better and added another to the calendar — collaborating with Fever Tree and Shoalhaven Council to host this year's Gin Flight Festival. And we're not mad about it. Held at White Sands Park (adjoining the Husky) on Saturday, November 26, Gin Flight Festival will see both local and big-city distillery heavyweights — including Hendrick's slinging some deliciously fruity creations — mixing up their best juniper berry-based cocktails across two fun-filled timeslots. And, whether you enjoy a family-friendly daytime session from midday to 4pm, or kick on for an evening sesh from 4.30 to 8pm, you're guaranteed some gin-credible beachside party vibes. At this all-ages event, you can expect lawn games overlooking the beautiful bay, a lineup of live musos and plenty of photo opportunities in Gin Flight's signature floral swing. Hungry? Pack your own picnic rug, and check out some ridiculously fresh food pop-ups showcasing top-notch local cuisine. If you've ever wondered if there was any way to improve a weekend away at Husky — where you can enjoy direct access to the Huskisson Hotel and Beach, whale-watching cruises, as well as some of the best cafes, restaurants and bars in Jervis Bay — then adding an epic gin festival to the mix should just about it do it. Tickets to this unmissable event are $15 + processing fee (for adults children under 18 are free), and sure to sell out fast, so head to the website and select your preferred session today.
If you happen upon a pink furry fortune-telling ghost on a walk around Sydney, you may have run into a local Newtown resident out-and-about or you may have discovered a new art installation commissioned by the City of Sydney. Beginning the year by bringing some artistic joy to the streets of the city centre, the Council has installed four temporary artworks across the city as part of the new City Art Laneways public art program. The four art pieces, commissioned for up to $50,000 each, can be found in Barlow Street, Wilmot Street, Abercrombie Lane and Barrack Street, all located in the CBD and Haymarket. Environmental group Dirt Witches has transformed Haymarket's Barlow Street into a micro forest made from 30 plant species. The installation incorporates critically endangered eastern suburbs banksia scrub, as well as sugarbag stingless native bees and their hives, and will host talks on environmentalism from scientists, poets, academics and artists throughout its activation. On Abercrombie Lane, you'll find the aforementioned pink furry ghost offering up insights into the year ahead through an interactive fortune-telling video titled We Are All Astonishingly Wise. This omniscient spirt, created by Katy Plummer, allows you to draw an oracle card containing a mysterious riddle designed for self-reflection on the year that's been and what is to come. Multimedia artist Adam Norton has installed giant badges around Barrack Street emblazoned with provocative and prophetic slogans. The badges are mounted to lamp posts and draw on the uncanny relationship between current climate and public health emergencies and pop culture and science fiction that anticipated these emergencies in years gone by. Wilmot Street's artwork is yet to be installed, but when it is you'll find a vibrant light installation that responds to the mood of the weather by artist Rochelle Haley. We Are All Astonishingly Wise will be up until Sunday, February 7, 2021, while Giant Badges, Ever Sun and Barlow Street Forest will remain until July. Read more about the City of Sydney's City Art Laneways program and where to find each artwork at the City of Sydney's website. Images: Jessica Lindsay
A brand new climbing gym has arrived in Sydney, and it boasts a whopping 850 square metres of bouldering space. Set just around the corner from Marrickville Metro, the new Fitzroy Street digs are open daily and offer training facilities, a fitness centre and an onsite cafe — along with indoor climbing walls aplenty, of course. This is the third outpost for BlocHaus, which hails from Melbourne and Canberra. The newest space includes an adjustable kilter board, 40-degree woodie, campus and peg boards and an eight-metre padded slack line. Its climbing options also offer shorted walls and padded mats — so ropes, spotting partners and additional gear aren't necessary here. Apart from the bouldering gym, there's also a specialised training facility and a fitness area complete with weights, bars and bands. Alongside the equipment, visitors can grab a coffee and snacks from the onsite cafe, or pick up merch and equipment in the adjoining shop. For those new to bouldering, you can grab a day pass for $20, or a ten-visit pass for $180. If you're already an avid climber, your best bet is to sign up for a membership, which will cost just $30 per week and comes with added benefits like unlimited use of all facilities, ten percent off merch and mates deals. BlocHaus Bouldering is open from 6am–10pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 10am–10pm Tuesday and Thursday; and 9am–9pm Saturday and Sunday.
Attention all cheesecake lovers: you need to add this Japanese dessert spot to your must-try list. Japan's most viral cheesecake brand, LeTAO, is dishing its decadent desserts from a sleek Sydney store inside the Regent Place precinct. Residing alongside the likes of Uncle Testu, Tenkomori and Dopa Donburi and Milkbar, the flagship store celebrates Japanese ingredients and scenery through desserts created with an ethos of blending nostalgia with modernism. LeTAO achieves this by creating cheesecakes that are reminiscent of the classics but draw inspiration from Japan's gorgeous natural landscapes, featuring the flavours, texture and presentation of modern dining. This viral dessert brand began slinging its much-loved cheesecakes throughout Japan in 1998 — and the desserts first reached Australian shores in 2022 in Melbourne — before finally hitting up Sydney with its heavily sought-after sweet treats. The George Street store dons a moody aesthetic with museum-style interiors. Curated by K. Holland architects, LeTAO's stone-grey walls, mirrored ceilings and textured granite benches draw inspiration from Hokkaido's mountains. Inside you'll find a display case containing the famed goods sitting in the centre of the intimate space. Plus, there are dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing its sweet treats to citygoers passing by. As for the menu, there's a rotating selection of seasonal specials — usually fruit-centric flavours like the Niagra Grape Double — available alongside LeTAO's beloved signature range. Take your pick from six permanent flavours, including the iconic Fromage Double featuring Hokkaido cream, Italian mascarpone and Australian cream cheese, and the indulgent Chocolat Double using 66-percent cacao Spanish chocolate and a chocolate crumb. Rounding out the selection is an Aussie-exclusive creamy mousse cheesecake. This decadent snow cake is a celebratory dessert curated to reflect the Japanese snow and launched in honour of the flagship Sydney store. And the dessert range does not end there — LeTAO also offers a jersey milk swiss roll, chocolate truffles infused with Darjeeling tea, and cheese and chocolate cookies — all of which can be purchased in-store or online. To top things off, in-store-only items like fresh dairy directly from Hokkaido and the exclusive ice cream sundae and soft serve selection are also on offer.
In 2018's Skate Kitchen, filmmaker Crystal Moselle let audiences air and ollie through New York, with the entrancing and often dreamlike teenage drama stepping inside an all-female skateboarding crew. Even better: it was based on a real-life group of the same name, and starred its members. Now, because this story just keeps getting better, the director has brought all of the above back for TV spinoff Betty. You don't need to have seen the film to enjoy this slice-of-life look at these girl skaters' lives, however. All you need is a couple of hours to watch these young women hit their boards, navigate the normal adolescent experiences, and cope with all the ups and downs of trying to literally glide through a male-heavy realm. And, to simply enjoy spending time with these friends — because Moselle is particularly skilled at making her viewers feel like they're part of the gang.
Whether you're in lockdown, working from home, social distancing in general or just in need of a pick-me-up, your day could always do with a few more cute animals. And, if you didn't realise this before the pandemic, you definitely will have over the past 18 months: the internet is always happy to oblige. Over the last year or so, Melbourne's zoos have live-streaming their penguins, leopard cubs and giraffes, while Sydney's aquarium brought us playtime with Pig the dugong — and the Wild Life zoo opted for cuddles with quokkas, and Brisbane's Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary went with a non-stop look at one of Australia's cutest native marsupials. The list of animal-focused streams has kept growing, too, including Melbourne Aquarium's own series of meditation and relaxation videos. And now, also from Melbourne, a den of small-clawed otters are getting in on the fun. Melbourne Zoo set up this webcam last year, actually, when it was trained on the venue's four Asian small-clawed otter pups. Now, it's still capturing the little cuties — and their parents — via two cameras. The word you're looking for? "Awwwwwwww," obviously. The pups were born in February last year to otter parents Paula and Odie, who became the first of their species to breed at the Victorian site since back in 2011. And, whether they're sleeping or playfully fighting — a type of behaviour that helps them bond — these little critters are immensely adorable. The otter webcam joins Melbourne Zoo's Animals at Home portal, where you can also peer at the aforementioned penguins, snow leopards and giraffes — and lions, too. As the otter live-stream runs all day, every day, we can't promise this won't put a slight dent in your usual plans — and, on weekdays, your productivity — but we can promise that it'll help brighten up your day every so slightly. Check out Melbourne Zoo's Animals at Home portal via its website. Images: Zoos Victoria
Total Recall is loosely based on the 1990 Schwarzenegger film Total Recall, which in turn was loosely based on the 1966 short story We Can Remember It for You Wholesale by Philip K Dick. Generally when things become that loose, they tend to fall apart, and Total Recall could definitely have benefitted from some rigorous tightening. Set in the not-too-distant future, Earth has become largely uninhabitable save for two key landmasses: 'The United Federation of Britain' and — in an amusing gibe — 'The Colony' (better known to Australians as 'Australia'). The two are linked by an ultra-fast transit system allowing the impoverished colonists to travel to the UFB for work and still be home by dinner. Plagued by the monotony of this routine, factory worker Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell) decides to remedy his tedium via 'Rekall' — a shady service that allows a person to implant desirable memories directly into his or her own subconscious. Circumstances spiral out of control, however, and Quaid soon finds himself grappling with everyone and everything, be it his own wife (Kate Beckinsale), the dogged animatronic authorities called 'Synthetics' or simply his overall grasp on reality. The film makes a major departure from its 1990 predecessor by dropping the Mars subplot entirely in favour of a local setting; however, fans of the original can rest easy knowing the other narrative tent poles and iconic components remain, including Quaid's elaborate false identity kit, his mysterious dream girl (Jessica Biel) and, yes, the three-breasted prostitute. There’s also the same ruthless villain, Vilos Cohaagen, given a disappointingly saccharine rendering this time round by Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston. Despite its impressive special effects, high production values, and an extensive supporting cast that also boasts Bill Nighy and John Cho, the whole film feels like one long, drawn-out chase sequence devoid of almost any substance. The relationships are cold, the performances largely hammy, and with five writers credited, it's hardly surprising the script plays like an amalgam of other (and better) films' elements, like the amnesia-ridden hero of Bourne coupled with the ambiguous reality of Inception within the two futuristic cityscapes of I, Robot and Blade Runner — depending on which side of the planet you are. For an idea grounded in genuinely fascinating ethical, philosophical, and technological questions, this Total Recall remake has opted for form over substance and feels regrettably thin as a result.
