With the impact of COVID-19 continuing to be felt worldwide — including in Australia, where mass gatherings of over 500 people will be banned from Monday, March 16 — everyone could use a little light in their lives at present. It won't be coming from the usually radiant Vivid Sydney, however, with with luminous annual festival cancelling its 2020 event. In a short statement, the festival advised that "unfortunately, Vivid Sydney 2020 has been cancelled on the recommendations of the Australian Government and health authorities regarding non-essential, organised gatherings of more than 500 people". On Facebook, it provided further details, explaining that "the decision to cancel was not taken lightly. Vivid Sydney must follow the advice of health officials to ensure the health and safety of attendees and everyone involved with the event". https://www.facebook.com/vividsydney/posts/10157962724233397?__xts__[0]=68.ARDCG3xavDcAqXRBAMsOQFLAELmPpU30KHOxyVUHdZu89RSXER3aX4D_3zDac5pbbNJl2ZTc_VaqfYBHQYNSiDtRBAUl28cnDPxalb0vo7lHb9UB8aNWiuTYoISPxaze2CONivIjqSCbEkHHseUClqUPfeEIXcv7Q30mBjMhERyy_eDWaXZhMGiEBrJ3TKXs8LpKZxmKEFNPTzijXwphkPsnYnbncLeJq42WBnYHuMClxpyYjJ-2FDUiweW4A-NokSf41hQacoQCUdBhzgAbXSrKx4ydI1kNRXQ_u6ny9g5npB7qpXBU2uJdKSuWGgWHAC9iQzufm7x38A&__tn__=-R The 2020 event was slated to take place from Friday, May 22–Saturday, June 13, and had already announced its first headliner for the year: US neo-soul singer and poet Jill Scott. Vivid was due to release its full lineup of gigs, installations, light shows and other cultural events this month. Last year, the event attracted more than two million attendees, so its cancellation in the current circumstances doesn't come as a surprise — especially as other events are doing the same both locally and globally. Vivid joins a growing list of scrapped events and closed venues, with large swathes of cinemas shutting across Asia, the Middle East and Europe, and theme parks doing the same in Asia, Europe and the US as well. We've also seen the cancellation of Texan music and film festival South by Southwest and postponement of Coachella. More locally, both the Grand Prix in Melbourne and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Tasmania's Dark Mofo and the Sydney Royal Easter Show have all been cancelled. Vivid Live 2020 will no longer take place from Friday, May 22–Saturday, June 13. For more information, visit the event's website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top image: Hamilton Lund.
Imagine sitting under the gentle glow of candlelight, enjoying a live performance of Coldplay's "Sky Full of Stars." Thanks to The Concert by Candlelight series, this could soon be true. Returning for its fourth year, the series will host The Music of Coldplay by Candlelight across three locations, Sydney, Perth and the Gold Coast. While it may not be the band itself, world-class vocalists and a live band from London's West End will honour legends Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, and Will Champion with powerful performances. The performers will kick things off at 7.30pm Darling Harbour Theatre at ICC Sydney on Saturday, September 13. The show will take over The Star Theatre on the Gold Coast on Friday, September 19, before making the journey west to Perth's Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, September 27. Given that Coldplay visited fans down under relatively recently in 2024, it's unlikely they'll be gracing us with their presence anytime soon. So, The Music of Coldplay by Candelight may be the closest thing to the real deal Aussies can get, at least for a while. Each concert is a one-night-only event, and they're coming up faster than you think. So get in quick; tickets are likely to sell out fast. The Music of Coldplay by Candlelight will be held in September in Sydney, Perth, and the Gold Coast. Performances start at 7.30pm. For more information or to book tickets, visit the website. Images: Supplied.
In Circular Quay for Vivid? Switch your brain on while you're at it. Sydney Opera House's forum for new ideas and open discussion, Homegrown Talks, focuses on First Nations this weekend — timely considering the event falls on the anniversary of the 1967 national referendum. Held at the Opera House Playhouse on May 27, the talks will follow two distinct sessions. The first, titled 'Unfinished Paperwork: Recognition and Sovereignty', is a political discussion on the 1967 national referendum, which gave constitutional status to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Panelists include Maori activist Tame Iti, 2015 NAIDOC Person of the Year Rosalie Kunoth-Monks OAM and Secretary of the Aboriginal Provisional Government Michael Mansell. The second session is held immediately following, titled 'Open for Business: Diverse Economies in First Nations Communities' and looking at the public focus on the mining economy, despite the diverse businesses that exist within First Nations. The panel will include seven-time ARIA awarded songwriter David Bridie and Manus Island musician John Faunt, along with scholarly activists Marcia Langton AM and Amelia Telford. The talks are sure to be hard hitters and mind-openers, worth every penny.
Melbourne institution Padre Coffee's first inter-state outpost has landed in Paddington, complete with a storefront where you can peruse the brand's beans alongside all of the equipment you could ever want for home brewing. And, if you're looking to take your coffee knowledge to the next level, the charming no-frills cafe also boasts a dedicated education and training space. Following its massive success at its flagship stores across Melbourne and Noosa, as well as online, the brand decided it was finally time to branch out into new territories — and venturing into the ever-growing Sydney caffeine market was up next. Setting up shop at Paddington's Five Ways, Padre Coffee has brought its beloved blends to Glenmore Road. For less adventurous coffee drinkers, opt for the brand's staples like the Seasonal Blend and the Golden Rule — a sweet, fruity blend featuring notes of plum, peach and apricot. If you want to expand your pallet, try the Wild Child and its flavour profile of dried fruit, honey and dark chocolate. Although they specialise in organic beans and brews, the brand is not limited to coffee — you'll also find a range of exciting teas, chocolate and sugar for sale at the Sydney outpost as well. Feeling snacky? You can also nab a sweet treat from local vendors to pair with your freshly made cup of joe. Expect pastries and bread from Staple Bread & Necessities, cookies from Cut Lunch Deli or famed Portuguese tarts from Clovelly's Tuga Pastries.
Marrickville's new Metro Market is a collaboration between the creators of design and arts store Hypmotive and the folks behind fresh food retailer Panetta. The result is set to be the suburb's largest maker's market, with an array of artists, designers and suppliers from the area and beyond set to be slinging their wares.his month's iteration will run on the ground level of the Smidmore Street Precinct. If you miss anyone one iteration of the market, don't worry — it's set to be held every month, so you've got plenty of time to peruse the edible treats, homewares, fashion and art. The lineup is set to change and grow, but this week you'll be able to glaze your own ceramic pots and buy bespoke dry bouquets and arrangements. The little ones can get their faces painted, while older shoppers can enjoy the live entertainment on offer. If you're looking for a winter wardrobe update there will be stalls of vintage fashion, while creative home cooks can peruse the 15 stalls of fresh local deli products and speciality grocery goods. And yes, there will be tasters.
The heritage-listed Hibernian House is home to an eclectic mix of creative professions including artists, musicians and tailors. One such resident is Hibernia Tattoo Studio — an appointment-only studio with a team of six expert (and in demand) tattoo artists. The experience is personalised, starting with one-on-one consultations and a dedicated artist that will be assigned to you for the full process. Each artist has their own unique style, specialising in Japanese Irezumi, florals, geometric and oriental designs.
While it seems the large majority of Australian expats have decided to put down roots in London or New York, Hong Kong has one heck of an Australian population — especially in the culinary scene. From Melbourne-style coffee bars and roasteries to underground contemporary Chinese fusion restaurants and Western Australian iron ore mine-themed cocktail bars (really), Honkers is brimming with little pieces from home for Australian travellers. Embracing the traditional cooking styles of HK with a little contemporary twist, these Aussie expat hubs aren't just for travellers, seeing locals queue up as much as visitors every day and night of the week. If you're planning a visit to Hong Kong, pop by and see how Aussies are representing. THE IRON FAIRIES One of the most talked about cocktail bars in Hong Kong is themed around nothing less niche than a Western Australian iron ore mine. Think Flintstones-like private cave nooks, gritty mining tools lining the back bar, live jazz, and a casual 10,000 dead butterflies suspended from the ceiling. Prolific Australian designer Ashley Sutton simply ran with what he knows — he really is a former miner from Western Australia. Sutton makes his own gin, Iron Balls, which features in a few of the highly decadent cocktails (a craft beer or wine-focused bar this ain't). Try the 'Underground Martini'. Pull up a leather Chesterfield armchair around what looks like a macabre bonfire of bodies but is actually a pile of iron fairies (hence the bar's name). Each fairy has its own name and personality — word is that each is named for Sutton's ex-girlfriends. Don't steal them like a jerk, instead you can buy a fairy and have it packaged up with magic dust and wishes. But what's this tunnel, and where does it lead... LG, 1 Hollywood Road, Central. J.BOROSKI Followed the tunnel? You've emerged into one of the city's newest, most unique and most visually jaw-dropping cocktail bars. Also designed by Ashley Sutton and run by owner/mixologist Joseph Boroski, this bar is a syndication of its sister bar in Bangkok and apparently operates on an invitation-only basis. Horned beetles tile every inch of a curved tunnel ceiling, while framed giant spiders line hidden alcoves made for intimate conversations. There's no cocktail menu at J.Boroski, only particularly intuitive bartenders who'll quiz you on your preferences before producing your perfect elixir. "Have we shown you the sex room?" asks the manager. We can't tell you about the sex room, but we can tell you it exists and involves 1950s porn. You'll just have to find it for yourself. Your only clue? Follow the spiders. Secret location. To request an invitation call +852 2603 6020 or email hk@jboroski.com. HO LEE FOOK Taiwan-born chef Jowett Yu has created one heck of a Hong King must-visit with his modern Chinese, Elgin Street restaurant in Central, Ho Lee Fook (say it out loud, you got it). The name literally translates to "good fortune for your mouth" and is inspired by old school Hong Kong cha chaan tengs (tea restaurants) and late night Chinatown haunts in 1960s New York. Yu's known in Australia for his Tetsuya's training and for co-opening Sydney restaurants Mr Wong and Ms.G's with Eric Koh and Dan Hong. You won't have trouble missing this highly publicised spot — just look for one of the most Instagrammed walls in the city, a clinquant assembly of waving cats. Just try and keep tipsy passersby away from this selfie trap. Downstairs, in his dimly lit, Chinese street art-adorned basement, Yu weaves contemporary Chinese magic through street food staples like French toast (Yu hides peanut butter in his version, and casually serves it with condensed milk ), prawn toast done okonomiyaki-style, and roast wagyu short ribs with jalapeño purée. But it's the roast goose that has foodies aflutter at HLF — order that bad boy 48 hours in advance. 1 Elgin St, Central, Hong Kong PEEL STREET ESPRESSO If you're looking for a little piece of Australian cafe life in Hong Kong, head for Central and seek out Peel Street Espresso, the brainchild of Scottie Callaghan from local wholesale roasting company Redback Specialty Coffee (co-owned by Keith Regan and Craig Jackson). Opened in February 2016, this modernist, cement corridor space looks straight out of Melbourne or Sydney, and plays host to locals and visitors to the city alike, with the Ho Lee Fook team regular coffee fiends. Perch up at the window bar with a black, white or filter coffee ($3.30 each), a freshly baked and schmeared bagel ($5-11) or the quintessentially Australian avo toast ($14) before a big day of exploring. If you pop back after closing time, the coffee beans are whisked away and the space transforms into a wine bar. 38 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong, www.redbackcoffee.com.hk [caption id="attachment_600511" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Maison Libanaise[/caption] MAISON LIBANAISE Fancy a spot of Lebanese in the middle of Hong Kong? Head for SoHo's Maison Libanaise, a three-storey, canteen-style restaurant inspired by 1960s Beirut, the 'Paris of the Middle East' with its French-inspired architecture and contemporary food scene. On the ground floor you'll find takeaway nosh from Le Comptoir, on the first floor lives Le Salon, a seated, sharing-focused restaurant doing Lebanese mezze, and on the rooftop you can sip on a wine or two at La Buvette, overlooking SoHo's streets. Head chef James Harrison hails from Melbourne and trained under Greg Malouf at MoMo. He's dishing up honey-glazed haloumi, eggplant fattoush and hearth baked pita bread daily. 10 Shelley Street, SoHo [caption id="attachment_600509" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Ophelia[/caption] OPHELIA Yeah, yeah this one's another Ashley Sutton, but look at it. An epic peacock-themed cocktail bar inspired by 19th century opium dens and located in the nightlife-happy area of Wan Chai, Ophelia polarises bar fans in the city (like any venue boasting a penchant for blatant voyeurism, decorated female performers and onstage debauchery). Chef Angus Harrison, who's previously worked with Martin Boetz and Luke Mangan, does tapas here, perfectly paired with the bar's Asian herb-heavy cocktail menu. Shop 39A-41A,1/F, The Avenue, Lee Tung Avenue, Wan Chai. OTHER AUSTRALIAN-HELMED RECOMMENDATIONS Belon Carbone Le Garcon Saigon Images: Shannon Connellan unless otherwise specified. Concrete Playground travelled as a guest of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
Fans of skyward beers, listen up — a Chippendale favourite has reopened its rooftop bar. As you might know, The Lansdowne and its sky-high outdoor area have a storied history. The rooftop spanned a few different iterations while the Mary's team was at the helm. Now, under the guidance of the crew behind the Oxford Art Factory, The Lansdowne has brought back sun-soaked sips two days a week. Head upstairs on a Friday or Saturday and you'll find a bright-blue oasis high above City Road that's perfect for a weekend catch-up with mates. The openair bar was given a quick-fire revamp during the summer and now boasts retro beach umbrellas to shade you from the sun's rays, as well as the full suite of food and drinks from the pub downstairs. Sweetening the deal is a brand-new deli menu that The Lansdowne has introduced in conjunction with its new Head Chef Eugene Novikov. The accomplished hospitality veteran takes the reins of the beloved pub's kitchen after previously working at three-hatted Queenstown restaurant Amisfield and Hamilton Island's Qualia. Sandwiches are the heroes of this new culinary offering, with options including a wagyu meatball sambo, a chicken schnitzel sanga, a classic reuben and a cajun-spiced prawn po boy. Accompanying the sandwich selection, you'll find a Chicago-style hot dog, beef and vegan burgers, chicken wings, wedges and waffle fries. [caption id="attachment_895476" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alana Dimou[/caption] "The Lansdowne was an exciting opportunity to demonstrate how food, music and culture can all come together as the city comes back to life with activity," says Novikov. Rounding out the fresh additions to the venue is the return of its weekly music series, Graveyard Shift. The late-night sessions run free gigs in the downstairs bar every Friday from 10.30pm, serving as the ultimate kick-on spot for Sydneysiders looking to start their weekend right. VB and Brookvale Union have come on board to support the series, slinging $7 VBs and $8 ginger beers each Friday. You can head to the Lansdowne website for any upcoming Graveyard Shift lineups, as well as the full suite of gigs happening at the venue. [caption id="attachment_895478" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alana Dimou[/caption] The Lansdowne is located at 4pm–12am Wednesday–Thursday, 4pm–5am Friday–Saturday and 4pm–10pm Sunday. The Lansdowne rooftop bar is open on Fridays and Saturdays.
2024 marks a big milestone for an unsung Sydney cultural pillar, one you might not be aware of. As of October, the Entertainment Quarter markets are celebrating 23 years of connecting Sydneysiders with fresh produce and artisanal products from all around Australia and the world. After 23 years, most Sydney residents have likely wandered the stalls at least once, whether they knew the name of the market or not. It's a memorable experience to see the empty showground transformed with the sights, sounds and smells from 100+ stalls. The Entertainment Quarter was organised with an activity-first approach, but the markets bring depth to the usual range of Hoyts, Strike Bowling and al fresco pub dining. Current vendors include Mayfarm Flowers (which brings buckets of flowers directly from its local farm), Vegie King, Prickle Hill Produce and Organic Bread Bar. Choose a delicious lunch option from an array of international options — like Spanish from Mojo Picon, Vietnamese from Pho Bay, Israeli from Food Theatre and Ottoman Turkish Gozleme. Or, stick to old favourite Two Duck Trading Co. with its French provisions, baskets and striped tees. Beyond the food, you can also browse a beautiful natural range of handmade body washes, creams and candles from Verve Candles, and get a jump-start on silly season planning by stopping by Wrappsody and stocking up on premium wrapping paper, cards, ribbons and Christmas bonbons and decorations. The lineup of stalls shifts week to week, changing with the seasons and reflecting growing conditions. If you prefer your shopping to focus on sustainable products, made authentically by original vendors, plan a trip to Moore Park for the EQ Markets. The markets are open from 8am–2pm, every Wednesday and Saturday. Visit the website for more information.
Vivid Fire Kitchen has returned to The Goods Line for 23 nights of smoky, fire-fuelled feasting. Running until Saturday, June 14 as part of Vivid Sydney, the nightly event will welcome a stellar lineup of local and international pitmasters, barbecue experts and chefs, from Firedoor's Lennox Hastie and Viand's Annita Potter to US-based, Australian live-fire chef and TV host Jess Pryles and American chef and TV personality Nyesha Arrington. On the menu, you'll find fire-flecked fare from celebrated Sydney kitchens like Aalia and Bar Copains alongside food trucks slinging a veritable world of flavours, including Filipino skewers by Hoy Pinoy, South American-style barbecue by Burn City Smokers, and creative plant-based Indian bites by Pocket Rocketz. There's also a dedicated seafood barbecue stand showcasing the best of Australia's fruits of the sea — plus, Mapo Gelato and Korean donuts from Miss Sina sweetening the deal. There'll be heaps of masterclasses and demonstrations, too, including wine sessions led by Mike Bennie at a bar pouring drops exclusively from NSW. First Nations Nights will spotlight Indigenous chefs and traditional fire cooking, highlighting native ingredients and cultural connections to fire. The National Indigenous Culinary Institute and chef Mindy Woods — recent winner of the Champions of Change award as part of The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 — will also be appearing to share their knowledge. Entry is free — you'll have to pay for what you eat and drink, though — and with so many demos, masterclasses and chefs, no two nights are the same. And if you're still hungry, there's plenty more on the menu at this year's Vivid, from a plant-based 1950s-style American diner — complete with roller rink — to openair street eats on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.
One of 2023's most-anticipated films is hitting Palace Cinemas' big screens on Saturday, October 28. That flick: Strange Way of Life, the latest work by inimitable Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar (Parallel Mothers). It's a 30-minute short, hence the fact that it won't get the usual silver-screen release — and it's also a sublime queer western starring Ethan Hawke (Moon Knight) and Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us). Almodóvar? Hawke? Pascal? Queer western? Yes, that's Strange Way of Life, which is why it's such a must-see. It made its Australian debut at this year's Sydney Film Festival, heading to our shores straight from premiering at Cannes — and now it's showing in the Harbour City again at Palace's Fashion Focus Premiere sessions at Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona and Palace Central. In this bite-sized film, Sheriff Jake (Hawke) and rancher Silva (Pascal) share a history, working together as hired gunmen a quarter-century ago. Then, circumstances bring them back together; however, a reunion isn't the only reason they've crossed paths again. "The strange way of life referred in the title alludes to the famous fado by Amalia Rodrigues, whose lyrics suggest that there is no stranger existence than the one that is lived by turning your back on your own desires," explains Almodóvar. Tickets cost $25 for Palace Movie Club members and $30 otherwise, for sessions that include a glass of prosecco or wine upon arrival — and are all about celebrating not only the short, but also the costumes designed by Anthony Vaccarello, with fashion house Saint Laurent producing the film. Also on offer: an interview with the one and only Almodóvar before the short plays. Palace Norton Street and Palace Central are doing drinks at 6.45pm and the screening at 7pm, while the times are 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start at Palace Verona.
It's no secret we love a swimming hole. From Bondi Beach's glistening Icebergs to out-of-town ocean pools and hot bore baths in outback NSW, we spend our spare summer days driving in search of a swimmable body of water, and the other seasons eagerly awaiting the ripeness of summer. And the best part is that this fine state of ours is full of swimming spots unique to our sunburnt landscape, both on rugged coast and hidden in-land among bush and desert rocks. Caroline Clements and Dillion Seitchick-Reardon visited a whole heap of them as 'research' for their new book, Places We Swim Sydney. While the book collates handy information about 40 pools, beaches, waterfalls and dams within two hours of Sydney's CBD, here, they detail five of the stunning spots that you should most definitely plan to visit before summer ends. [caption id="attachment_785508" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dillon Seitchik-Reardon[/caption] CASTLE ROCK BEACH, NORTH SHORE This tiny cove is part of the Manly to Spit walk, so if you're coming in via the coastal trail, you will find some respite along the ten-kilometre track at the jungly section between Clontarf and Grotto Point. But if you're not walking, there is some limited parking located on Cutler Road and in the Ogilvy Road cul de sac. Look out for the signposted MSW (Manly Scenic Walk). Steep, worn stairs descend from Ogilvy Road to this small beach. The namesake is a large, freestanding boulder that has been a little ambitiously titled. It's unusual to find detached rocks like this in the Harbour, so despite its lack of turrets or drawbridges, it does carry some significance and is a useful marker for anyone approaching via boat. If you're capable, it is also fun to scramble up here and sit on top of the rock to take in a sunset. Beachgoers tend to gather at the base of the stairs, which is good enough on a quiet day, however hundreds of metres of reef and beach extend in both directions, giving Castle Rock plenty of space for visitors, without impacting privacy or ever feeling too crowded – an essential quality in any revered harbour beach. Swimmers float up and back past oyster-covered rocks in deep, clear water, careful of where they put their feet down. Back on shore, groups of teenagers collect in gaggles on sandy towels, constantly adjusting their bathers to avoid dreaded tan-lines. On a hot day, with a strong northerly wind, it is a popular place for boats to seek shelter. Prepare yourself for an amplified mixed tape of 80s, 90s and noughties dance hits. But that is just about anywhere in the Harbour over the summer. Speed boats pull right up to the sand, collecting friends like it's an Uber Pool ride, or arrive delivering ice creams on a circuit to some of the north shore's remote bays. Most of the time, however, it's calm enough to forget that you are in a city at all. [caption id="attachment_785515" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dillon Seitchik-Reardon[/caption] GORDONS BAY, EASTERN BEACHES Clovelly, as a suburb, has perfected the sand-less swim. It's a quality that is gleefully celebrated by at least one half of this author team. No buried children, or castles, or lightly crumbed human schnitzels will be seen here. No awkwardly sliding a grainy foot into a pair of jeans and sending shivers up your spine. No bringing the beach back to your car, your shower, and your bed. If those things excite you, then it is best to look elsewhere. The only thing you will take away from Gordons Bay is a good time and new dog friends. In the winter you can get it all to yourself, while the summer brings a festive, communal atmosphere. Gordos is a high-walled bay fringed by hulking boulders and rock-shelves. People lay about on rock slabs around the perimeter, as if claiming a private island. To be honest, there is also a small sandy beach, but that isn't why you come here. The deep water (about 15 metres in the centre) is protected by an offshore reef, providing a safe place to swim in almost all conditions. The clear, calm ocean is incredibly inviting, which makes it a popular destination for standup paddle boarding, snorkelling and diving. In fact, just below the surface is an underwater nature trail that was constructed by the Gordons Bay Scuba and Dive Club. Above water, it's always a fun scene. Walkers are constantly dropping in from the track above and if you stay long enough you will inevitably run into someone you know. Or better yet, someone you'd like to know. Sharing a sandstone slab with new people is a fast way to make friends, especially if one of them is a poodle. Dogs chase balls into the ocean or stumble around the boulders in hot pursuit. Although it is not an official dog beach, the council tends to look the other way so long as everyone remains on their best behaviour. The same can probably be said for humans. [caption id="attachment_785509" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dillon Seitchik-Reardon[/caption] MACCALLUM POOL, NORTH SHORE This historic 30-metre-long pool is hidden on the western side of Cremorne Point. Some may say it's one of Sydney's best-kept secrets. You didn't hear it from us. Tucked into the leafy hillside (along the Cremorne Foreshore Walk), this harbour pool has prime views back towards the city skyline, the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. This was once a members only facility for locals and still retains a certain air of exclusivity. In the 1920s, it was named the Cremorne Bathing Pool, and entry required wearing a patch on your swimsuit bearing the red initial 'CBP'. Back then, swimming here cost five shillings a year. Entry is free these days and no gang affiliation is required. Maccallum Pool is up there with some of the most iconic places to watch the fireworks on New Year's Eve, and may be the closest most of us will get to owning a boat on the Harbour. To be clear, it is not where you go to swim a kilometre. It's too short and notoriously cold, due to its sheltered position. However, the perimeter timber decking catches the afternoon rays and is what makes this such a special place. Visitors drop in from the footpath above, walking the timber deck as they marvel at the views just beyond the picket fence. This is where people go to enjoy their own company. It's meditative and thoughtful. The afternoon sun feels healing and gentle. On any given day, you will likely find someone drinking a beer and reading a book, making a long phone call to an overseas family member, or stretched out on a yoga mat. As we break bread and cheese with our friend, we are grateful for this stolen moment and to live in a city where such things are possible. [caption id="attachment_785510" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Helena Dolby[/caption] MCIVERS LADIES BATHS, EASTERN BEACHES There is some kind of unspoken sisterhood established between swimmers at the sanctuary that is McIvers Ladies Bath – the last women's only swimming pool in Australia. It might be a nod, eye contact in the water or a gentle smile as you arrive. Tucked into the cliffs between Coogee Beach and Wylie's Baths, this is a meditative space to escape and relax. Throw a $2 coin into the donation basket and follow the cream-coloured balustrade as it winds down the hill, leading you to the sunlit pool overlooking Coogee Bay. Since 1876, ladies have swum laps and read books in the sun here, with the company of others, giving women of all swimming abilities and cultural backgrounds a safe way to experience the ocean. [caption id="attachment_785505" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dillon Seitchick-Reardon[/caption] BILGOLA ROCKPOOL, NORTHERN BEACHES At the base of a steep coastal valley studded with cabbage palms, Bilgola is usually a quiet place and one of the northern beaches' most concealed 50-metre swims. We're sure if you didn't know it was here, you'd easily drive right past this coastal enclave. In fact, it's hard to see Bilgola from almost anywhere else. The land rises steeply behind the beach to Bilgola Plateau (169 metres high) and then descends to Clareville on the western side of the peninsula. Houses pepper the valley walls, with 3000+ residents united by a love of the precipitous waterfront location. From the pool, you can look down the length of the 500-metre beach, where waves roll and crumble over sandbars, making it a mellow place for beginner surfers, and those escaping the crowds at popular neighbouring breaks. Weekdays are leisurely here, with regular lappers before work and seniors who meet every Wednesday, year-round, followed by a coffee at the kiosk on the south end of the beach. If you grew up swimming in Australia you'll remember a few of these things: the ringing of a whistle to approach the starting block, a belly full of nerves before you dive in and the sound of muffled chants through waterlogged ears. These are memories we associate with school sports, and it is this nostalgic feeling that comes flooding back when we arrive at Bilgola Rockpool. On Saturday mornings from October to March, this secluded spot turns into a full-blown carnival. Cardinal red and myrtle green flags are hung at either end of the pool (we've heard it is a nod to the Rabbitohs). Lane ropes, that aren't usually there, are strung up across the pool. The smell of sausages, eggs and bacon cooking on a barbecue waft over from a marquee, selling iced cupcakes and lollies. Kids are either covered in sand, draped in towel ponchos or are collecting seaweed to throw at each other. Meanwhile, surf club members round-up swimmers aged three to 80 to race, so long as they can swim a lap. On most days at Bilgola, there's no time-keeping, no megaphone and no fanfare, and we love it for its slow pace and peaceful outlook. This is an edited extract from Places We Swim Sydney by Caroline Clements and Dillon Seitchick-Reardon, published by Hardie Grant Travel RRP $39.99 and is available online and in stores nationally. Top images: Bilgola Rockpool by Remy Gerega.
With Mystery Road, True Colours and now High Country, Australia's screen industry has been increasing its Indigenous detective tales of late. It's a welcome shift, and one that Leah Purcell chalks up to the strength of the genre. "I think a cop show is a great drama. You've got everything in it, and we do cop shows very well in this country," she tells Concrete Playground about her stint as Andie Whitford, the character that was written for her — in the series that was also penned for her — by Wentworth duo Marcia Gardner and John Ridley. "Then when you've got a mystery-thriller, it's an opportunity to get audiences together, sitting on the lounge at home with their family — and actually, it brings about discussion," Purcell continues. "That's when you know that you've got a good show. We did a screening, and people got around and were wanting to work out who'd done it, and they saw that opportunity with only one episode," Purcell continues. Debuting its eight-episode first season in March — which is now available to watch in full via Binge — High Country gives viewers much to talk about and sleuth along with. In the Mystery Road and The Dry mould, it's about a city detective digging into a rural case and cracking the secrets of close-knit communities. It's also about the landscapes that shape not only small towns but also the people in them, and reflect their strengths and struggles in the terrain. And, High Country follows a personal journey. Andie didn't grow up in the town of Broken Ridge, only to return now, as the protagonists of Mystery Road and The Dry did with their respective settings; however, she's trying to embrace the place as home after making a tree change with her artist partner Helen Hartley (Sara Wiseman, Under the Vines) and high-schooler daughter Kirra (Pez Warner, making her TV debut). The setup: Andie and her family move to Victoria at its most mountainous (where Force of Nature: The Dry 2 also traversed earlier in 2024) just as a spate of missing-person cases pile up. Sam Dryson (Ian McElhinney, The Boys in the Boat), the retiring police chief that she's replacing, has an older disappearance that he's determined to solve — a missing boy that he's insistent that former teacher Damien Stark (Henry Nixon, The PM's Daughter) abducted — but also notes that deaths and vanishings aren't uncommon in the region. He's still a helpful mentor, though, as Andie endeavours to stop people going AWOL or worse from being a local fact of the life. But even before she begins asking questions, the rest of the town isn't always as accommodating, nor are all of her new colleagues. [caption id="attachment_953804" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Narelle Portainer[/caption] Purcell's acting career spans three decades now, and everything from 90s dramas such as GP and Police Rescue, then Lantana and The Proposition on the big screen, through to the likes of Redfern Now, Black Comedy, Wentworth, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart and Shayda recently. It wasn't just the whodunnit Aussie-noir angle that appealed to her about High Country, but also Andie's complexity, the challenge of being first on the call sheet on a major series and co-stars that also include a first-time dramatic collaboration with Aaron Pedersen (High Ground). As she did with The Drover's Wife — which she made as a play, a book and then a movie — showcasing a part of the country that she fell in love with while filming Somersault and Jindabyne in the 2000s was a big factor. That passion on Purcell's part is evident in every scene that she's in throughout High Country, as it always has been whenever she's in front of the camera — or, with The Drover's Wife, also behind it. What gets her excited about a role, the series and the part of Andie being specifically penned for her, championing more than just the stereotypical vision of Australia's landscape, digging into Andie's backstory and the response to her arrival beyond the dialogue, working with the rest of the show's cast: we chatted with Purcell about all of the above. [caption id="attachment_953802" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Martin Philbey[/caption] On Both High Country and the Part of Andie Being Written for Purcell "The project was written for me, so that was pretty awesome and humbling. Marcia Gardner and John Ridley, who were the creators behind Wentworth — when we were wrapping up that series, Marcia said 'we'd love to work with you again, Leah. And guess what? I've written something for you and a show around you'. And she said 'would you be interested in being in it?'. And I said 'mate, if you get it up, give me a call'. So six months later, she rings me and says 'I've got it up'. But what was also appealing is the beautiful high country. I'd just finished, a couple of years before, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, my first feature — that was done in the high country, the Snowy Mountains on New South Wales side. So to come across to Victoria to film in that location was amazing. The stories were really interesting. Who doesn't love a good cop show and a mystery-thriller whodunnit? To be a part of it and being in the rural area — I'm a country girl from country Queensland in Murgon, so to go back and portray that sort of setting on our TV was important to me as well." On Championing More Than Just the Stereotypical Vision of Australia's Landscape "Normally it's the reds and the brown and the heat. I fell in love with the high country when I did Jindabyne and Somersault in that area. And I just went 'gee, we don't utilise this landscape enough'. Then when I got the idea to pursue The Drover's Wife, I said 'we've got to do it in the high country and have that beautiful big sky, and the blues and the greens that we don't see'. Even when I was selling the project overseas, people said 'what, there's snow and green in Australia?'. And I thought 'yes, there is'. [caption id="attachment_815948" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson[/caption] As I said, it was one of the drawcards to High Country for me. And also because that landscape is so alive, it is a character within this show as well. It's also important to Andie on a couple of levels. One, yes, as the detective, the sergeant trying to solve the mysteries — because is it just that these people took a wrong step on a trail in the bush? Or is there more behind it? And also for her and her journey, the land really speaks to her and makes her look at herself. You want a character with many story threads to it, so you've got depth to play in emotionally. So that was another drawcard. But the location, your eyes will be stimulated — the beauty in the landscape is just phenomenal." On Purcell's First Read on Andie — and What She Knew That She Could Bring to the Part "She's a fearless woman, but also there's a vulnerability to her, which is nice. She's a great detective — and it was something that I had done before, but the challenge was to find what I could bring to her that was new to me as a performer. It was different from the other roles that I had done, so that's where the challenge was for me. And what I liked is that she's quieter, she's an observer. And I guess that's what makes her a great cop. She observes things, takes things in — and a deep, a deep thinker. But I really wanted to show her vulnerability as well as the brilliance in her detective work — and that she's a strong, strong woman in the face of what she has to do for her job." On Conveying the Tough Journey That Andie Has Had in an Unspoken Way "We're women. We've lived it. It wasn't anything too difficult. We've all had those sort things thrown at us — and it was just great to have an opportunity to play with that on-screen. And then Andie finding the power, and showing that she's worthy of the position that she's in, and that she's good at what she does, and the respect comes. But it's a great place to start in a series, so you've got a place to go — and she works hard to do it, but she does it." [caption id="attachment_910859" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shayda[/caption] On What Gets Purcell Excited About a Role Three Decades Into Her Acting Career "Getting a lead role is something that's important to having a look, because you want the challenge. And I think that I've earned my stripes. So that was appealing, of course. And I just want to be able to connect. To be challenged, I think, is important, so that you stay engaged and you want to be there, and work hard." [caption id="attachment_953803" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Martin Philbey[/caption] On What Purcell Learns From a Part Like Andie and a Show Such as High Country "Be careful what you ask for in being number one on the call sheet. There's a lot of hard work, that's what I've learned. But I love that. Thirty-three years [in], I want to be engaged. I want to be challenged. That's what was appealing that for me in taking on the role of Andie." On Working with the Rest of High Country's Impressive Cast "Believe it or not, this is the first time that Aaron [Pedersen] and I have actually shared work together in a drama. It was awesome. Our chemistry is really, really great. And he was a pleasure to work with. Then you've got Ian McElhinney from Belfast in Ireland. Mate, what a legend — just what he brought. We all challenge one another. There's some really awesome people that are doing awesome acting, and it's a challenge in a friendly way. But it's like 'ohh, so you're going to do that — right, can I top you on this?'. So that made the project fun, and it was a joy to go to work every day. We had an awesome cast that worked so hard and tirelessly. That was pretty demanding. There were really cold days and rain, and there was snow, and there was minus-zero days where I had to stand there with no jumper on, and I had too many clothes on to put the thermals underneath. But it was just a pleasure to be on, and I'm so excited and I just want our Australian audiences to really support Australian stories — to tune in, and hopefully the ratings will be there and we'll be able to go again on a second season." High Country streams via Binge. Read our review. High Country images: Sarah Enticknap / Narelle Portanier.
Ever had that feeling of rustling around in a cupboard on the hunt for a beach towel, only to uncover something that looks suspiciously like a bath mat? Or maybe you're flush with beach towels but just feel like a fancy new one this summer. Whether you're in need of a new towel, are looking to buy one as a Christmas gift or have seen lots of snazzy ones at the beach and simply want to see what's out there, our list will help you out. From geometric shapes, to luxurious linen, towel with hoods and those roundies everyone seems to have nowadays, here's our favourite Australian and New Zealand-made towels and where to get 'em. CLASSIC TOWEL, VERTTY Nope, that's not an artfully folded stack of towels. That's Vertty's reinvention of the humble beach towel into a geometric design object. Not only does their unique design show that you can think outside the box (or, er, rectangle) for even the most everyday beach object, they've incorporated other handy design features like a waterproof pocket, and quick-drying, lighter weight fabric. Plus, it comes in a range of eye-popping colours to make sure summer is just the way you like it. Check out their matching geometric swimwear, too. $79. THE AZTEC ROUNDIE, THE BEACH PEOPLE Round towels. They're a thing. According to The Beach People, they dreamt-up "the original roundie" in the lush Northern Rivers region of NSW. That was back in 2013, and their first collection sold out in weeks. Current towels on offer include this hand-drawn black and white design, as well as other spiffy prints like The Paradis. Others have jumped on the round towel bandwagon — including Basil Bangs, whose round 'Love Rugs' also feature a waterproof pocket and fold down into a carry case with built-in shoulder strap. $110. LUXE TOWEL WATEGOS, SUNNY LIFE It's no secret, we love Sunny Life's beach towels just as much as we love their umbrellas. And for tropical colours that pop on an unmissable beach towel, it's hard to go past this velour-finished number. You'll never lose sight of your spot on a packed summer beach again. Pair it with one of their beach pillows and we reckon you're onto a winning combination. Or, if you're looking for something floating to stretch out on, these guys also do some pretty mean inflatables. Luxe lie-on floating cactus, anyone? $69.95. STONE PRINT TOWEL, MÖVE Here's an unusual one for you. Möve's towels feature lifelike digital prints, like this stone design. They also have one with a print of weathered wooden boards, rippled water, and even landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Brandenburg Gate. Those ones are a bit cheesy, but the pebble print is mint. Although it might look like you're lying on stones, you'll be a lot comfier — the 100 percent cotton velour towel has a snuggly weight and is soft and absorbent. Their bath towels are worth checking out while you're there, too – they even have a line of towels inspired by architecture, namely the drawings of renaissance master builder Andrea Palladio. Möve ships their towels worldwide. EUR €39.90. LINEN LAGUNA, COAST NEW ZEALAND Step aside, Turkish towels, because we just discovered linen towels — and can't get enough of them. Well, maybe we won't do away with them entirely, but linen is pretty great. Incredibly fast drying, versatile and lightweight in your beach bag, we reckon they might be the next big thing. This towel from Coast New Zealand is available in a range of fetching stripes, and comes all the way from an 100-year-old family mill in Lithuania. There are also these guys in the US who make a plainer linen towel which comes with a compression strap, or the House of Baltic Linen closer to home. NZD $149. THE ECLIPSE LINEN THROW, KATE & KATE This is one hella pretty linen towel. Yes, we're still on about how great linen towels are — and, yep, this throw counts as a towel. Its name is a nod to this multi-functional rectangle's nature. When you're not using it on the sand, it's equally as useful as a lightweight blanket, picnic rug, shawl, tablecloth, throw for your sun-drenched daybed… you get the drift. Designed to fade, they come in a stack of designs including a couple with some pretty nice bronze and metallic details. $159. MARINE TIGER HIDE BEACH TOWEL, MASLIN & CO Well, this was the first time we've come across a beach towel that folds out into the shape of a tiger hide (don't worry, it's 100 percent cotton). Manufactured by Maslin & Co, who take their name from Australia's first nude beach, these guys say they're inspired by nature, the surreal, and beach vagabond culture. You can choose which one's your jam from their collection of different-coloured animal-shaped towels. Plus, they come with either a classic leather short or longer cross-body strap holder, so it's easy to carry your new towel with you wherever you wander. $195-250. EXTRA LARGE RAINBOW POM POM TURKISH TOWEL, I LOVE LINEN Somewhere along the line we're sure our grandmas had a towel like this, brought out for summer beach picnics or to dry off after running through the sprinklers on the lawn. Now our retro towel memories have come back to life (albeit with a little upgrade) thanks to the clever people at I Love Linen. Designed in Melbourne, their towels are hand-woven in Turkey's central region, famous for the quality of its textiles. Retro pom poms, 100 percent cotton, and that distinctive Turkish towel edging. It's comfy, super-absorbent and big enough to be a picnic rug as well as a beach towel. $89.95. SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS TOWEL FOR TWO, PENDLETON A towel wide enough for two — now that's the recipe for a comfy beach session. Whether you've got a beach buddy or just want the extra room to stretch out yourself, this luxurious 100 percent combed cotton number from Pendleton has you sorted. Based in the States' beautiful Pacific Northwest, as well as making a range of other spa and beach towels (and their iconic woollen blankets) the sixth-generation family-owned business has a focus on social responsibility — community, country and planet. USD $79.50. HOODED TOWEL, TURKISH MURKISH A towel and hooded wrap? Why didn't we think of that before? This handy number brings the best of Turkish towels and beachwear together in a classic striped print. Each batch of towels are dyed and loomed by artisans in Turkey. The end product? A modern shape you can wear as well as lie on, served up in a fast-drying blend of bamboo and Buldan cotton from the inner Aegean region of southwest Turkey. $99.95. Top image: The Beach People.
Get ready to boogie: JAM Record Bar is here to shake up Sydney's CBD with a lively space filled with epic tunes. Merivale is behind the venue, with CEO Justin Hemmes and his Bettina driving a passion project that's aptly named after their parents John and Merivale. Residing in George Street digs, this newcomer opens its doors on Friday, April 19 with 15,000 vinyl records and an enticing Japanese snack menu created by Sushi e's Head Chef Michael Fox. Plus, there's cocktails that draw inspiration from Japanese favourites, as well as the classics, curated by Merivale's Creative Cocktail Lead James Irvine. The music-focused outpost's history is rooted in the legacy of its namesake, with the family, including John and Merivale, launching an array of JAM-titled projects from the 50s up until 2003. They ranged from JAM Jeans and its adjacent clothing store through to record label JAM Recordings, which founded national music festival Good Vibrations. While the venue may be small, the hits are anything but. Merivale's Head of Music and Entertainment Nick van Tiel has taken on the task of ensuring that the record bar's vinyl collection — which spins on a custom vintage JBL sound system — is wide-spanning. Thanks to the diverse selection of tunes chosen by the JAM Record Bar team, you'll walk into a different set of songs each time. This intimate spot takes cues from Tokyo's popular listening bars, putting its own spin on the concept. Justin and Bettina both worked with Akin Atelier and Merivale's in-house teams to bring the space to life. JAM Record Bar features pink plywood, cork and 'pink batt' insulation to create a surround-sound experience that emulates sitting inside a speaker box pumping out bangers. As for eats, expect snacks like Japanese-style sandos, spring rolls and grilled skewers starring ingredients like furikake and yuzu tartare. The drinks list highlights the iconic highball and plenty of sake, alongside margaritas and a stiff old fashioned. Find JAM Record Bar at 320 George Street, the Ivy Precinct, Sydney from Friday, April 19 — open 12pm–12am Monday–Saturday and 12pm–10pm Sunday. Images: Mattia Panunzio.
While the team behind laid-back Italian fine-diner Secolo bid arrivederci last year, the same crew has returned to the CBD with Tessuto, a nostalgic trattoria. Bringing Italian coffee specialties, stacked sandwiches, desserts, spritzes and more, this welcoming spot offers exciting takes on a host of classic combinations. Plus, terrazzo floors and timber panelling have given its 190-year-old home an authentic makeover. Perfect for early morning feeds or afternoon drinks, Tessuto's custom-made marble bar is the ideal place to perch with a strong coffee or cocktail. There's no shortage of tempting options to consider, but the tiramisu iced latte made with layers of mascarpone cream, double espresso, cacao sprinkle and Savoiardi biscotti will certainly satisfy any sweet tooth. Meanwhile, the Dirty Sicilian, a single shot of espresso served with Italian hot chocolate, is a one-two flavour punch. The Italian inventions keep coming, with the Picciriddu another highlight. This drink is a single espresso shot served with milk froth, pistachio cream and a decadent pistachio crumb rim. With the name meaning 'little boy' in Italian and inspired by a small Sicilian island renowned for its pistachios, Tessuto's co-owner and barista Salvatore Messina grew up amid this scenic spot, using the landscape to inform his creative menu. The food menu is similarly inventive, with head chef Mattia Senesi returning to the Tessuto kitchen with more than a few creative ideas. If you're heading along for breakfast, check out options like blue swimmer crab omelette, carbonara scrambled eggs and a sumptuous spread featuring soft-boiled eggs, avocado, fresh tomato and ricotta. Lunch extends into antipasti, house-made pastas, steak mains and, of course, a myriad of fresh focaccias like prosciutto with mozzarella, fresh tomato and house-made basil pesto. "Office workers don't tend to have a lot of time to stop for lunch during the week, but that doesn't mean they should have to sacrifice on quality and taste," says Senesi. "Our dishes are perfect for whether you're looking for a quick lunch to break up the day, or something more leisurely, where you can really savour the experience." There's also the chance to make your work lunch or weekend hang a little more indulgent with a booze lineup primed for a good time. Alongside a selection of Italian spritzes – Venetian, Disaronno and Limoncello – there are also iconic cocktails like Americano and Amaretto sours. Meanwhile, a rotating collection of Italian and Australian drops are poured by the glass, carafe and bottle. While this charming eatery has a forward-thinking approach to its Italian cuisine, it also pays homage to the history of its location. This spot was home to a bustling textile importer in the 1800s, specialising in fine soft goods like silks and cotton. With Tessuto translating to fabric in Italian, naming the venue was the ideal opportunity to honour the enduring memories made between these walls. "Every venue we've ever had has been located somewhere that has its own story to tell," says co-owner Tanja Arienzale. "It's something that's really important to us and particularly with the length of time this property has been around, we wanted to honour it." Tessuto is open Monday–Friday from 7am–4pm and Saturday from 8am–2pm at 32-34 York St, Sydney. Head to the website for more information. Images: Steven Woodburn
With so many beauty products floating around, it's hard to know if your current ten- (or one-) step skincare routine is making any kind of difference. It might seem obvious, but Carla Oates, founder of The Beauty Chef, recommends starting with what's on the inside — with products that work on improving your gut and skin microbiome. The Beauty Chef first saw success with its GLOW®️ Inner Beauty Essential: a probiotic supernutrient powder that features powerhouse ingredients such as vitamin C, biotin, niacinamide, prebiotics and zinc to give your skin a serious glow-up, while supporting healthy hair, nails, digestion and energy. The entrepreneur has since spent the past 15 years creating a line of innovative inner beauty products for skin, gut and whole-body wellness that are now sold at David Jones, MECCA and Sephora — as well as beloved by people across the globe. In partnership with Klaviyo, we caught up with Oates to uncover her path into the industry, her advice for fellow entrepreneurs and the importance of listening to your gut. How did The Beauty Chef come about? As a child, I suffered from eczema and allergies. My mum took me to see a naturopath who dramatically changed what I ate, removing processed foods and allergens like gluten and dairy. My allergies and eczema subsided, so I experienced firsthand that what we eat can affect our skin and health. My daughter also experiences eczema and allergies. With the assistance of health professionals, we removed specific trigger foods from her diet, and I began researching the link between gut and skin health. As I explored this link more closely, I decided to put my family on a gut-healing protocol, which included eliminating certain foods and introducing lots of lacto-fermented whole foods with beneficial bacteria into our diet. Friends and family took notice and I realised I was onto something. Why focus specifically on inner beauty? Inner beauty is so important. When people start to delve deeper into understanding what makes skin healthy, it's not so much about what they're putting on their skin but how they're nourishing it from within. I focus on inner beauty because so many benefit from it. I've spoken to people who have tried all sorts of concoctions to remedy their skin on the outside, but it's only once they look to support their skin and health from the inside that results become abundantly clear. Can you break down the gut-skin connection for us in simple terms? The simplest way is to use the analogy of our gut as a garden. If the soil in the garden isn't healthy, balanced and thriving with a good array of nutrients and bacteria, then the plants that grow within its soil will struggle to blossom. The gut is where 70 percent of our immune system lies. It's where we make nutrients, regulate hormones, detoxify enzymes, neutralise pathogens and make neurotransmitters, so it's super important to get your digestive health in check. For someone just discovering The Beauty Chef, where should they start? GLOW®️ Inner Beauty Essential or GLOW AGELESS™ Inner Beauty Essential are five-star probiotic supernutrient formulas that promote healthy glowing skin, hair and nails, energy and gut health. From there, you can target any other specific skin, gut health or wellbeing concerns with products from the rest of our range — all our products are designed to work together for enhanced results. What challenges did you have to overcome as a woman establishing her own business? When I launched in 2009, ingestible beauty was a foreign concept. Pioneering the category wasn't easy because retailers didn't have a category for it. One of the hardest things was convincing manufacturers to support our low volumes. I had to find my CEO voice and seriously hustle to help them see my vision and understand the product. In the beginning, I was wearing every single hat, from product development to marketing and even HR. Now, we have 30 full-time staff at our head office. A key learning for me has been understanding and accepting that I can't be and do everything all the time. And, as the business expands, it's imperative to support that growth with leaders who are specialists in what they do. Networking with other female founders is also very important for me, both professionally and personally. No matter how different our businesses may be, we face similar challenges. When you connect, you can relate to each other and share learnings. How has Klaviyo helped your business? Klaviyo email and SMS have helped The Beauty Chef streamline our communications with our customers. We now have one central platform for key communications to our customers and can effectively personalise and segment to ensure long-term retention. Do you have any advice for other budding entrepreneurs? Do what you love because success requires hard work, so you might as well spend the hard work doing something you wholeheartedly enjoy. Plus, you are bound to be more successful doing something you have fire, passion and drive for. Try not to get caught up in trends and make sure you're creating products that serve a purpose and provide a solution that is unique. And be gutsy and follow your gut instinct. Discover The Beauty Chef's full range of products at the website, and find out more at the Klaviyo website.
Vibey Potts Point izakaya Cho Cho San has brought back its annual Ramen Month for 2025. The kitchen will be serving steaming bowls of yuzu shio ramen every Monday–Thursday evening and Friday lunch until Friday, June 27, making it a perfect option for those looking for a weeknight warmer. This year's hero ramen is a bright, umami-laden, Tokyo-style chicken and bonito broth elevated with yuzu tare and finished with saffron ajitsuke tamago, green mizuna and negi. Toppings-wise, you can choose between king prawn and clam (which will set you back an extra $10), butter-poached chicken or hearty fried mushroom. [caption id="attachment_640610" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] You can grab a solo bowl for $25, but if you're keen to linger a little longer, you can level up with The Cho Ramen Set for $45. This option adds a drink on arrival (your pick of yuzu soda, sake or Sapporo beer), three pieces of tuna sashimi and a pork katsu bun. Limited portions of ramen are available each day, so you'll need to make a booking to guarantee yourself a spot. It's also long been one of Sydney's more popular winter dining deals, so if you like your comfort food with a bit of edge, this is one not to miss.
As we settle into the new year, many of us are prioritising our health and fitness goals for 2024. Fittingly, we've seen a rise in running clubs and events in recent times as both a fitness and a cultural movement – a way to get moving and connect with others. So why not take it to the next level? To raise funds for the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (founded in the 1980s) and celebrate 40 years of helping Australians with cancer, the Real Insurance Sydney Harbour 10k and 5k race will be heading back to the 80s and 90s on Sunday, July 28. Retro Run promises a nostalgic journey along a scenic track, lit up with neon, lycra, and big hair, as well as music zones and pop-culture pit stops. [caption id="attachment_949841" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Supplied[/caption] So get ready to lace up your Dad sneakers and dust off those leg warmers for a great cause. Whether you are a seasoned runner, a newcomer seeking a new challenge, or love to dress up, all are welcome to sign up and join in on some retro fun. [caption id="attachment_949840" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Supplied[/caption]
After seven years of bringing food to Australians' doors — and alcohol, kitchen and household products, and pop culture-themed board games in some places, too — Deliveroo has delivered a significant piece of news: it now no longer operates in the country. Via a series of messages to customers, on social media and on its local website on Wednesday, November 16, the company announced that it was shutting its Aussie service effective immediately. "Deliveroo no longer operates in Australia," the organisation's website now reads. "Deliveroo has taken the difficult decision to leave Australia. We have been proud to bring so many people amazing meals from Australia's great restaurants over the years," it continues. The company is now in administration, with KordaMentha appointed to oversee the process. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Deliveroo (@deliveroo_au) In its statements on social media, Deliveroo called the news a "sad announcement" and reiterated that it "has been a very difficult decision to make". It also called out Australia's "amazing food" and "thousands of brilliant restaurants and riders". Obviously, the sudden shuttering will impact both considerably. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Deliveroo staff will receive compensation, and drivers who made a delivery in the past three months. As a result of the closure, Deliveroo's app is now no longer accepting orders, leaving customers to use competing food-delivery services such as UberEats, Menulog and DoorDash. Since opening in Australia in 2015, in efforts to stand out in a crowded market, Deliveroo has done everything from giving away burgers and Tim Tams, offering free delivery during lockdowns and slinging free fries based on vaccination levels through to even dropping off free Gelato Messina choc tops by boat. For more information about Deliveroo ceasing operations in Australia, head to the service's website.
With Lacoste tennis dresses donned, twee baked goods in hand and Famous Friend bingo card at the ready, we checked into Wes Anderson’s newest and wildly anticipated new pop-up book of a cinematic endeavour, The Grand Budapest Hotel. Murder, art theft, pastry and Adrien Brody's moustache — Anderson serves up his most diabolical, zany undertaking yet, using every trick in his own book. FUTURA IS DEAD Looks like Anderson has relinquished his hold on his longtime minimalist typeface go-to Futura, handing the reins to Lorde and Vampire Weekend and opting for a more weighted, slab serif font called Archer. Often featured in credits sequences of old Italian films, Archer is described by developers Hoefler & Co. as "sweet but not saccharine, earnest but not grave, Archer is designed to hit just the right notes of forthrightness, credibility, and charm." Film schools worldwide will undoubtedly be mass-installing the new typeface immediately. POLITENESS GETS YOU EVERYWHERE, EVEN OUT OF JAIL Sporadically reciting romantic poetry, giving lectern-delivered philosophical orations to the hotel staff about guest rudeness, serving up mush in prison with five-star finesse, Ralph Fiennes solidifies himself as downright godly in his role as M. Gustave, the flamboyant, charming and silver-tongued concierge of The Royal Budapest Hotel. Winning as many friends as he makes enemies, Fiennes sees Gustave balancing art theft, jailbreaks and cologne appreciation with breezy, theatrical conviction. Goes to show, a little complimentary affection will get you everywhere, darling. CELEBRITY BINGO MEANS A TOPNOTCH CAST A well-known fact, Anderson has accrued quite the crew of illustrious buddies simply by sticking with familiar faces all career long. Zissou-Tenenbaum-Rocket leads Bill Murray, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman have stepped back from the top spots for cheer-inducing pop-ins and supporting roles, making way for the new Wanderson Posse of Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton and Adrien Brody. Prompting constant outbursts of “Ohhh, it’s that guy!” from cinemagoers, we’ve come to actually wait for Anderson’s flurry of crafty cameos. Once again, Anderson’s cohort of well-liked celebs play dress up and wear All The Moustaches, with every screen guru from Tom Wilkinson to Jude Law and Harvey Keitel making their fleeting moments count. Now with added newbies Lea Seydoux and Saoirse Ronan, being in a Wes Anderson cast is now the hottest bill around. JEFF GOLDBLUM MAKES LEGAL JARGON SOUND UNBELIEVABLY EROTIC Jur-is-diction. Ex-ec-u-tor. If Jeff Goldblum wasn’t mystical and unnervingly alluring enough, he’s gone and landed himself one of his most potentially meme-worthy roles to date, with circular, thick-rimmed spectacles to boot. Using flashcards to describe a murder scene without taking one eye off the camera, dumping his dead Persian in a trashcan and being chased through an art museum by Willem Defoe aren’t nearly as exhilarating moments as Goldblum simply reading the contents of a last will and test-a-ment. IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT Meticulously premeditated and artful mise en scene, idiosyncratic scripting, perfectly flawed and outlandishly eccentric characters and a ukulele-fuelled soundtrack have become a formidable formula for Anderson, slowly developing into an extreme form of his own genre. After being royally reprimanded by critics for Moonrise Kingdom being a little too cute for their liking (heartless bums), TRBH sees the Twee King back on form with all the artful weirdness of The Royal Tenenbaums peppered with The Life Aquatic’s epic storybook set detail and The Fantastic Mr. Fox’s jolly good humour. With super zooms, painted landscape backdrops, frontal character portraits, horizontal tracking shots and whole lot of font, Anderson seems more settled in his own style than ever. And that’s quite alright, darling. The Grand Budapest Hotel opens April 10.
'Drink fresh' is the general rule of thumb when it comes to beer, but not all brews must be consumed according to a 'best by' date. Because really, some things are just better with age (see: wine, whisky, wisdom). And in actuality, some beers are better with some age. So, in celebration of Coopers' 2017 Vintage Ale release, we're exploring the idea of ageing, and more particularly, ageing beer, because time can be of the essence when it comes to some of the finest things in life. We've already looked at five unexpected things that get better with age (number one being beer), and now we're diving deeper into this idea of ageing brews. Chief brewer of the iconic Coopers Brewery, Dr Tim Cooper is an impressive figure within Australia's beer scene. Not only is he a certified medical doctor, but he also heads up the family business, continuing to grow its legacy. As part of this legacy, his team has explored the process of ageing beers since 1998 when they released their very first Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale. For the uninitiated, these beers are made with the intention that they should be cellared before enjoyed in order to help deepen flavour and bring out new aromas as the brew ages. Looking to dive a bit deeper into this cellaring process, we sat down with Dr Tim to talk through all things aged beer — why you should try it, which beers you should (and shouldn't) cellar and how to age them correctly. WHY YOU SHOULD AGE BEER "My father used to tell tales at the brewery of a Norwegian sea captain who would purchase a year's supply when docking in port closest to the Adelaide brewery," says Dr Tim. "He would hoard the beer for his travels, preferring to drink those stored from the previous years as they had matured. This was back in the 1970s, and showed that people were interested in ageing back then." Come the 1990s, numerous requests from publicans pressured the brewery to consider a vintage seasonal; by the time 1998 came around, the Coopers Vintage Ale was born. Whilst it's not entirely clear what will happen when a beer ages — there are just too many variables — maturation cannot be considered emphatically better or worse, it merely changes the beer's flavour. "Ageing takes some of the raw edges off the perceptible flavour and can definitely be an improvement," Dr Tim asserts. Ageing beer brings out new flavours, replacing harsher notes with softer, sweeter aromas. "Fermentation with ale yeast imparts fragrant esters of tropical fruit, pineapple and banana evident early on," explains Dr Tim. "These compliment the floral and fruity notes arising from the addition of aroma hops. Consumers will enjoy these flavours when drinking these ales fresh." Then, over a relatively short time, the fruity and floral character of the ferment esters and hops dwindle, so by the five year mark, the malt characteristics become fortified. This further ageing will foster umami and vinous characteristics of, say, port wine. When it comes down to it, however, it's all dependant on your own tastes. The reason you should try ageing beer exists in why you drink it in the first place — "the end goal should be for better enjoyment." WHICH BEERS CAN BE AGED Overall, beers with higher alcohol are up to the challenge of cellaring. "By and large the Coopers Vintage products are generally higher than average in alcohol," Dr Tim explains. Similarly, sour styles and beers you can buy already barrel-aged fend nicely, developing flavour and complexity as time goes by. These heftier, more alcoholic beers — think stouts, porters and barley wines — not only have natural means of reducing the negative effects ageing has on taste, but their flavours often benefit. Fruity, floral notes and any bitterness decrease due to the natural degradation of hop profiles, all while malt characteristics such as bready notes and sweetness generally take over. Just keep in mind that hop-centric beers, lagers and beers with lower ABV are generally brewed for fresh consumption. Their flavours will suffer from any prolonged ageing. HOW TO PROPERLY CELLAR Implicitly funky and unpredictable, beer is like a jazz musician who leads by listening rather than following any sheet music. So ageing beer can go in strange directions, both pleasant and less than. How should you cellar your beer to best bring out deeper flavours and avoid ruining the brew? It's best to avoid oxygen, heat and sunlight. A young beer will age gracefully under proper conditions. Coopers helps you out on the oxygen front, by naturally conditioning their bottles to help remove any free oxygen that will ruin your beer. Dr Tim explains how "naturally conditioned beers can be best [for ageing], as the yeast mops up the oxygen left over in the bottles helping to curb oxidation and spoilage." He also suggests storing a carton or two in a central part of your house that isn't likely to heat up, "preferably a dark cellar, but anywhere that is cool, around ten to 15 degrees, is good." A space with minimal light is also ideal to avoid too much sun. Without breaking open the chemistry textbooks, the reason to avoid storing your beer in sunlight is that ultraviolet light breaks down acids from the hops to the same sulphur radical as the smell of skunk spray — hence why as some beers age, they can become 'skunked', particularly hoppy beers and lagers like IPAs and golden ales. Quite possibly the biggest challenge of ageing beer is keeping it cellared long enough to allow for the ageing process to take place. "I'm completely hopeless," says Dr Tim. "I do always enjoy every vintage, but [I don't] always remember to take it home." We can appreciate that when it comes to tasty beers, it is hard to keep your hands off them. Sometimes ageing can be a great thing. Stock up on some Coopers Vintage Ale 2017 and try it yourself. Words: Mikey Lowe and Quinn Connors.
High tea is typically considered a British tradition, however, the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth is giving it a decidedly Parisian touch. For a limited time only, the Sydney hotel is serving up a sophisticated spread every Saturday and Sunday from 1–3pm, for $89 per person. And, although you won't find scones and cucumber sandwiches on the menu, you'll still say "oui oui" to the selection of sweet and savoury delicacies being dished up. As well as taking inspiration from the couture catwalks of the City of Love, and treating guests to tea in the Sofitel's plush Velvet Room, the menu is also reminiscent of the kind of flavours you would find in a traditional French patisserie. Get started with a mini baguette with slow-roasted truffle beef, before tucking into petit pea choux and caviar, dainty quiche with smoked duck and porcini and traditional French chicken pithivier pies. Then, indulge in sweet treats such as elegant macarons, religieuse (choux pastries filled with rose and raspberry cream), mandarin-vanilla cannelés and a decadent Opera cake featuring lemon myrtle meringue. And while warm brews will be on the menu, we suggest complementing your feast with a glass of fine French Champagne — Moet Imperial to be precise. Whoever said "let them eat cake" was definitely onto something. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sofitel Sydney Wentworth (@sofitelsydney) To make a booking, visit Sofitel Sydney Wentworth's website today.
TONI&GUY remains one of the most-recognised and trusted hair salons in Australia — for good reason. The brand exploded since opening in Australia back in 1995 and now boasts 19 locations across the nation along with an internationally-recognised hairdressing academy. Yes, they are overachievers. Needless to say, you're in safe hands at TONI&GUY in Bondi Junction. The team spans Style Directors and Technical Directors aka the seasoned salon experts. Services cover the full spectrum of cutting, blow-drying, colouring and treatment, with cuts starting from $105. All cuts include a complimentary consultation and blow dry, so you're guaranteed to walk out with something you love. Picking the right hair salon for yourself is something of an art. But with quietly confident hairdressers and warm, relaxed service, TONI&GUY makes it pretty easy.
Ethically accredited since 2012, Manning Cartell's sophisticated clothing is made right here in Sydney (a very rare thing, even for local fashion designers). Sisters Cheryl, Vanessa and Gabrielle Cartell chose to use their family name to set up the fashion brand in 2005. It's since amassed a celebrity following, including famous fans Amal Clooney and Margot Robbie. The socially responsible clothing label is all about kitting you out for the night (or a very fancy daytime do). It has embellished dresses, chic black jumpsuits and structured shirt dresses that range from $400–1000. Even casual polo dresses are made to stand out from the crowd. [caption id="attachment_779788" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] It also makes and sells sustainable and environmentally friendly leather jackets, pants and skirts, plus a range of party-ready mules, metallic heels and shiny jewellery. You could easily drop $1000 in store, but you'd walk out with an entire evening outfit stored, which has value in itself. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
Sometimes, it isn't just enough to watch your favourite TV show. You want to live and breathe it, feel like you're stepping into it, and obsess over it any way that you can. For Yellowstone fans, that can now include hitting up a pop-up Dutton Ranch-themed bar — for three days only, to celebrate the Kevin Costner-starring western series' return for season five. Your IRL destination: Surly's American Tavern. Your mental destination: Montana, where Yellowstone's dramas play out. This pop-up by Australian streaming service Stan — which airs the show here — is all about immersing you in a Dutton-style hoedown, complete with different reasons to drop by on each day. Head along on Friday, November 18 for ropin' and bull ridin' all day long, as well as $15 wings and tinnies combos. That'll add a yeehaw to after-work festivities — cowboy hat and boots optional. Then, on Saturday, November 19 you'll be able to listen to live music from honky-tonk acts Amber Rose and James Ellis and The Jealous Guys from 6pm. There's a new $15 deal as well, pairing brisket and beer. Wrapping things up, the Sunday, November 20 agenda serves up burgers and bourbon for your $15, and also includes Yellowstone-themed trivia from 4–6pm. Images: @jadedamico.
The industrial grid-like backstreets of Brookvale are best known for their breweries, but among the tanks and taps, one spot is trading pale ales and parmies for garam masala negronis and slow-cooked goat curry. Bazaar & Bar reimagines the wine bar through an Indian lens, plating up bold, spice-driven dishes alongside natural wines and cleverly layered cocktails — and proving there's more to this patch of the Northern Beaches than just beer. The venue has been brought to life by experienced operator Kabir Arora (the brains behind Manly mainstay Sketch) and Head Chef Adwait Jagtap (Raja, Kolkata Social), whose produce-forward menu draws on personal memories and regional recipes. True to the wine bar template, there's a menu of small plates and share-style dishes — but instead of focaccia, you'll find pillowy naan, and kingfish crudo is swapped for a semolina-crusted kingfish collar with fiery recheado spice rub. The usual hanger steak gets a hearty upgrade in the form of champaran mutton, which replaces lamb for goat that's slow-cooked on the bone and dressed with a fragrant mix of smoky garlic and spice. It's confident stuff, but remains familiar and approachable. "We're not trying to reinvent Indian food — we're showcasing it in a setting people might not expect," says Arora. The cocktail list picks up where the food menu leaves off, showcasing classics with a distinctly Indian twist — think curry leaf gimlet, smoked jaggery old fashioned and a garam masala-infused negroni. A tight, accessible wine list champions Australian producers, with a handful of internationals also in the mix. It takes place in an inviting space that mirrors this blend of tradition and modernity, with design elements drawn from the vivid colours and textures of Indian bazaars. To that end, the venue's name isn't just a case of clever alliteration — a small spice bazaar shelf near the bar is lined with house-made pickles, chutneys and sauces available for purchase.
There are sandwiches, then there are sandwiches, and then there's Lucky Pickle. Take the sharp turn into High Holborn Street at the corner of Crown and Devonshire Streets, and you find yourself in a minuscule, hole-in-the-wall-type operation, where the staff stand behind a counter dishing out their own take on bread with fillings, and it's a take on things that's definitely worth trying. Opened by Tio's bartender Arash Katrak with Anna Berry, Lucky Pickle takes the approach of simplicity — simply choose from five different sambos. To accompany, there is a selection of soft drinks, and the whole deal is cash only. But rather than getting the feeling that there isn't much to choose from, it instead makes for a quick decision, and a high likelihood of being satisfied. The lunch variations are all a fancier version of classic sandwiches, using homemade sauces and ingredients prepared in-house. Take the pork belly sandwich, accompanied by duck liver pate, veggies and a crazily excellent sriracha. With the heat from the chilli and the spice from the coriander thrown in there, you get a unique twist on the classic Vietnamese banh mi. Sticking with the Asian theme, they also make a great chicken katsu, dished up with sesame and red cabbage, as well as the traditional Japanese tonkatsu sauce. It's not all meat (though there is also a mortadella with smoked mozzarella and pesto). The pescatarian option contains fish dip, radish, rocket and mayo, and a vegetarian option is always on rotation, whether it be a goat's cheese sandwich or quinoa salad. The style of the joint is, once again, in its simplicity. There's hardly room to sit, with a single communal table tucked in behind the door and a few bread crates outside. But that's the vibe of the shop — come in, grab a quick, tasty bite and be on your way. If you're going to sit down, grab a carafe of water and your sandwich on your canteen tray and enjoy with the magazines scattered about the place. It's important to get in quick, though, because this little gem is only open Monday to Friday, 10.30am to 2.30pm, or until they're all sold out. It's silly to say that the guys at Lucky Pickle are reinventing the sandwich because, well, how? It is fair to say, however, that this one-stop sandwich shop is creating intensely tasty versions of classic sandwiches that are well worth taking an early lunch break for.
Leading stylist and Dyson Global Ambassador, Peter Thomsen has been working out of his luxury salon Chelsea Haircutters for over 25 years. Located on the stunning South Coast of NSW, Chelsea Haircutters is an ideal salon to book into when you have a fancy event to attend south of Sydney. Thomsen specialises in blonde and balayage, so you can trust him with any of your complex colouring needs. But it's not just colouring that Thomsen is known for. If you want a style service that'll turn heads at a special event, Thomsen will ensure you leave the salon with a gorgeous look created with the help of innovative Dyson tools.
If you're fond of cats big and small — fluffy, hair-free, scampering, sleeping and the like — then you'll know one golden rule: every day is better when there's meowing mousers involved. And, maybe you've secured that sweet situation thanks to your own purring pet. Or, perhaps you're just the kind of person who makes a beeline to any kitten they see, tries to become its best friend and can't focus on anything else while it's in the vicinity. Whichever fits, adding more cats to your day is something that every feline fan wants — and it's definitely a part of the Cat Protection Society of Victoria's new dream gig. It's a volunteer job, spanning a three-month stint in Melbourne, but it'll 100-percent bring kittens your way. The role: CPSV's official 'cat cuddler'. Yes, that's really what it's called. Obviously, what it entails is rather self-explanatory — because the lucky person who scores the position will be tasked with providing love, affection and enrichment to the cats and kittens in the society's care as they wait to be adopted. The word you're looking for? "Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww". This is the organisation that offered cat cuddling gift vouchers as Christmas gifts last year, after all — but this is even cuter. The caveats: you'll need to be in Melbourne to take the gig, and you'll need to have a minimum of three hours per week — on one weekday each week, and during normal operating hours — to head to CPSV's adoption centre to give its kitties all those snuggles. If that sounds like you — or if you've got a pussy-loving pal that you know would love it — all applicants have until Friday, June 4 to apply to temporarily join the society's team of around 40 volunteers. To throw your name in the ring, you'll want to head to the CPSV website and upload a short video (up to two minutes max) that explains why you should be the official Cat Protection Society Cat Cuddler, and also complete the online application form. To apply for the Cat Protection Society of Victoria's 'cat cuddler' position before Friday, June 4, head to the organisation's website.
The beginning of a new year isn't solely about deciding how you'd like to change your life for the better. That's just one January tradition. Another: plotting out where around the world you'd like to travel to across the 12 months to come. Arriving mere days into 2024, The New York Times' annual '52 Places to Go' list is a handy guide for inspiration — including for Down Under spots earning global recognition. After 2023's list included Auckland, Kangaroo Island and Australia's Red Centre to soak in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park's wonders, 2024's counterpart features New Zealand by train, the entire state of Tasmania and Queensland capital city Brisbane. Experiencing Aotearoa's charms by rail placed fourth, while the Apple Isle came in at 29 and Brissie took 39th spot. The NYT gave a 17-day journey across NZ some love for being "a simpler and more sustainable way" to see the country, calling out stops at "transcendent sites like the volcanic peaks of Tongariro National Park and Te Papa Tongarewa Museum" to begin with. Also earning a mention: getting the ferry to the South Island, then taking "a ride through world-class vineyards and along the jagged coast", plus whale- and dolphin-watching in Christchurch, before hitting the Southern Alps for "views to white-capped peaks, rushing rivers and alpine lakes". Tasmania earned its placing for enabling visitors to get out in nature via guided walks, celebrate Indigenous culture and focus on local produce. Taking a three-day trek across Bruny Island, foraging for wattle seeds and pepperberries, and chef Analiese Gregory's wild-cooking dishes all scored a specific callout. Brisbane keeps popping up on lists like this lately — see also: travel guide Frommer's, which also named the city one of 2024's best spots to visit; TIME, which put it on its world's greatest places list for 2023; and the World's Best 50 Hotels, which picked The Calile as its only Australian and Oceanic entry in its inaugural countdown in 223 — and the obvious reason was called out in the NYT's first sentence. Yes, that'd be hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Queen's Wharf precinct and its towering Sky Deck, restaurant Agnes and the Brisbane Powerhouse — including eating dinner hanging off the side of the building at vertical dining experience Vertigo, and the upcoming Melt OPEN queer arts fest — all were singled out. So was The Calile, which is clearly Brissie's most-famous hotel. [caption id="attachment_921654" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Markus Ravik[/caption] Topping the '52 Places to Go' rankings for 2024: North America's path of totality, where a total solar eclipse will be take over the skies in April, followed by Paris — the host of the 2024 Olympics — and Yamaguchi in Japan. Maui in Hawaii rounded out the top five, while Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni in Arizona (the sacred Indigenous land around the Grand Canyon), Singapore, O'Higgins in Chile, Ladakh in India and Geneva in Switzerland filled the rest of the top ten. Across the full 52 picks, Manchester in England, Negombo in Sri Lanka, Morocco, Lake Toba in Indonesia and Ireland's Waterford also featured. So did Mustang in Nepal, Vienna in Austria, the Albanian Alps and Flamingo in Florida — and plenty more spots to instantly put on your must-visit list. For The New York Times' full 52 Places to Go list for 2024, head to the publication's website. Top image: Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Whether your running shoes have been pounded to dust or you could just use a high-performance pair, ASICS is hosting a standout giveaway ready to help you leap into a brand-new exercise regimen. Held at Centennial Park on Saturday. January 17, Comfort Swap is offering runners the chance to trade in their old, smelly, blister-inducing shoes for a brand-new pair of ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28. What's more, making the trade couldn't be simpler. Ballot winners just need to turn up with their old runners, no matter the brand or condition, and swap them for one of 250 free pairs up for grabs. Meanwhile, all swapped shoes will be recycled through ASICS' partner Tread Lightly — an Australian footwear initiative that transforms unwanted sports shoes into running tracks, playground surfaces and more. On the day, a host of ASICS athletes will be in attendance to inspire everyone to add a little more movement to their lives. You'll find Australian men's marathon record holder and Olympian Andy Buchanan, Olympic 400-metre hurdler Sarah Carli, Olympic high jumper Brandon Stark, Olympic springer Kristie Edwards and South Sydney Rabbitohs star Cameron Murray. To help you get acquainted with the new shoes, this crew will lead a quick 3.5-kilometre run around Centennial Park's iconic loop. Ready to enter? The ballot is now open until 7am on Wednesday, January 14, with 250 winners randomly drawn from all valid entries. "Physical discomfort shouldn't be what stops someone from experiencing the mental benefits of running," says Mark Brunton, Managing Director at ASICS Oceania. "This event proves that when comfort comes first, everything changes. This is our Sound Mind, Sound Body philosophy in action: remove the physical barriers, unlock the mental uplift."
Another incredibly cool freebie, this whimsical fairground is just as much for adults as it is for kids. Think a Ferris wheel fitted out with toilet seats and a bicycle-powered carousel, all of which are made with recycled objects. The vision for the installation was created by a collective of artisans led by Jordà Ferré and Oscar de Paz, and is just one piece of the free summer nights at Parramatta's Alfred Square. Check out more of the best Sydney Festival events under $50 here.
The Potting Shed is the latest venture by Alexandria's food and coffee mecca The Grounds, and it must surely be the only Sydney restaurant where the entrance is adorned with a flaming wheelbarrow. As each table is nestled amongst planter boxes, hanging gardens and lush green foliage, selecting a spot for dining in the low-lit al fresco area conjures a sense of being part of a Disney princess's daydream. Hence, The Potting Shed is equally perfect for romantic dates or casual groups. While perusing the extensive menu, we recommend relaxing with a warm pear cider ($12) comprising vanilla bean, pear syrup and Hillbilly Cider, brewed locally in the Blue Mountains. This cosying refreshment is charmingly heated over a soft open flame at your table. Be sure to peek inside the tin teapot and retrieve the two soft pear cheeks infused with the aromatic spices. The first section of The Potting Shed menu, Share with friends, consists essentially of communal plates designed for leisurely grazing. The generous meals are therefore ideal for sharing as well as catering to those who enjoy sampling a little of everything. The crispy school prawns with sriracha mayo ($11) was a standout, as was the delectable cheese plate ($20 for two). This plate is handsomely laden with internationally sourced cheese, cured meats, fruit, marinated vegetables and also hosts an assortment of daily baked breads. If guidance is required, the cordial waitstaff can offer suggestions on the perfect pairing from their substantial wine list. The salads are hearty numbers; roasted baby beets with goat's cheese, radicchio and hazelnuts ($19) particularly impresses and would provide a fresh accompaniment to any of the meat-centric main courses. The mains menu features free-range locally produced meats, and with grand portions, consider sharing a selection amongst a group, unless you're starving. There's sticky glazed slow-cooked short ribs ($22) and crumbed veal cutlet with spiced plums ($24); however, it's difficult to bypass the charcoal Holmbrae half chicken ($28) — three hours of sous vide, then finished on the fire and served atop a bed of grains alongside an elegant salad of cucumber ribbons, pomegranate, fenugreek and walnuts. The charcoal chicken was so incredibly succulent it amazingly managed to possess the flavour of eight chickens packed into one god-like super chicken. On the lighter side, there's the Pansotti ($19), plump pasta parcels stuffed with sweet roasted carrots and goat's cheese, dressed with an earthy walnut sauce and a drizzling of marjoram burnt butter. This artfully balanced vegetarian dish is decidedly where the money is at. If you have any space left for dessert, don't pass up banana tarte tatin with coconut icecream and hazelnut praline ($12) or the mango and pineapple sundae with a scoop of salted caramel ice cream ($12). Otherwise, if you can't muster another course, there's a comprehensive cocktail menu, if you prefer your dessert to be of the liquid variety.
White apartment walls are so blah. Make them so yesterday with one (or all five) of these simple do-it-yourself art projects. Relatively easy, cheap, and removable, these projects are ideal for the broke, rent-paying tenants out there, and could fool anyone into thinking you're an interior designer. 1. Paint Sample Wall Designs Ever left the hardware store with a stash of these in your pockets? The paint sample wall is hard to resist, with its enticing, color-organized array of shades. If you don't want to commit to four whole walls of 'Pacific Pine' or 'Blackberry Harvest', simply trim each sample to a desired size and arrange in a design of your choice. 2. Wallpaper Transfer Bust out the old trusty Sharpie and mimic the artistically sketched wallpaper designs by the likes of Marimekko. Craft blog Curbly shows you how. 3. Coffee Stirrer Wall Art Surely Starbucks won't mind if you 'borrow' a few extra coffee stirrers. Follow Make & Do Girl's tutorial to create these fabulously tactile, wooden pieces of art. Simply paint, arrange, and glue. What could be easier (or cheaper)? 4. CD-Case Frames The advent of the iPod certainly rendered CDs obsolete. But before you designate all of those clear jewel cases to the rubbish, reconsider. With just a little effort from you, they may be transformed into the perfect picture frames for that poster you've been meaning to hang. 5. Custom Colour Wall Calendar Inject a little fun into your daily scheduling by creating your own custom colour wall calendar. Chalkboard-finish paints are available in traditional shades in stores, but if you use this Martha Stewart formula, you can concoct your own hue. [via GOOD]
Last year I described the inaugural Handa Opera on the Harbour as "probably the best outdoor event to ever be staged in Australia". This year it is even better. This applies whether you love opera or can't fathom it. There's so much to enjoy in this night out: the transporting music, the lively choreography, the larger-than-life costumes, the themed pop-up bars and that eternal fail-safe: the outlook over the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and other wonders of Sydney Harbour. If your thoughts wander away from the action on the stage, it's to drink in the sense of occasion and feel immediately intoxicated. This year's Opera Australia production, made possible by the funding of philanthropist Dr Haruhisa Handa and the International Foundation for Art and Culture, is Georges Bizet's Carmen, the fiery Spanish love story with the French libretto. It's programming is a good call on many counts. First, there's the music, the familiar melodies of which are giddying. If you don't know the Toreador's Song by title, you might know it as an ad for roll-a-doors, while the trills of Carmen's Habanera are instantly recalled via classic renditions or mash-ups of the likes seen in the 2001 Beyonce/Mos Def/Lil' Bow Wow TV movie, Carmen: A Hip Hopera. It's also a show that takes place mostly among the underclasses and so has the grungy charm of a West Side Story, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels or other perennial of popular entertainment. Director Gale Edwards and her team have moved the setting forward 60-80 years into early 20th-century Spain under the fascist rule of Francisco Franco, which adds an appropriate air of oppression given Carmen's literal and romantic imprisonment. The revamped setting also gives designer Brian Thomson a clear aesthetic to work with, and the design elements cohere better than in last year's La Traviata. It's a glam military-industrial look that lends itself nicely to neon, fireworks and tanks swinging in on cranes. The Carmen set may look like its been built to be viewed from the Opera House (from where you can read the giant letters as if they're the Hollywood sign and you're on Mulholland Drive), but its real value is definitely seen from the stadium seating at Mrs Macquarie's Point. The reverse of the letters is moodily rusty, lit in many different ways and hides scaffolding that is impressively utilised during the show. One of the best non-traditional additions to the opera is the contemporary, pasodoble- and seguidilla-inflected dance numbers choreographed by Kelley Abbey (a familiar name to US So You Think You Dance fans who also has a long history in Australian musical theatre). Coupled with the costumes of Julie Lynch, they add a flamboyant sense of passion and spectacle. I've left it till late in this review to delineate the plot of Carmen, because it's not that pivotal. Carmen is a freethinking gypsy who has to choose between the bullfighter she loves and the military officer she kind of likes who busted her out of prison once. And because it was written in more misogynistic times, one of these men will have to kill her. It's not too deep. On the plus side, the music of Carmen quite clearly communicates character and even emotional struggles within characters, an aspect of opera that can usually be hard to grasp for beginners. The drama is well paced, although the denouement happens all of a sudden and perhaps more could have been done to make it feel like a real ending. With state-of-the-art sound only audio engineers could distinguish from concert hall acoustics, Opera on the Harbour is a polished production and an accessible way to experience opera. It's not cheap, but the $79 C-reserve seating at least affords a decent view (unlike most opera houses) and the tapas dining option is reasonably priced and quickly dispensed. And with the balmy March of 2013, you've every chance of a dry, dreamy night. Thanks to Opera Australia, we have two double passes to give away to Carmen on Saturday, April 13, and Sunday, April 14. To be in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email us with your name and postal address at hello@concreteplayground.com.au. Carmen closes on April 14.
Take a kid or several, then add a skill to be mastered and a feat to be overcome. Next, paint the protagonists as underdogs, and show synchronicity between their efforts and the act of growing up. It worked in 1980s fantasies Labyrinth and The NeverEnding Story — and the adventures of The Goonies too. The approach trickled through the baseball-themed The Sandlot Kids and the hockey-centric The Mighty Ducks trilogy in the 1990s. Circa 2000s, the espionage antics of Spy Kids and the wizardry of the Harry Potter films followed the formula. Now comes the locally made Paper Planes, a feature for a new generation of childhoods yet one that feels ripped from all others that came before. As the title suggests, the age-old pastime of creating plane-like shapes out of paper provides the movie with its premise. In this activity that anyone can enjoy, one ordinary child finds a new ability, chases glory, and circles a solution to his adolescent problems. Yes, it is supposed to sound familiar. No, it is not supposed to be subtle. Twelve-year-old Dylan (Ed Oxenbould) is the Western Australian kid in the spotlight, often left to his own devices by his grieving father (Sam Worthington) and deemed different in his country class but soon anointed with the promise of something more. A simple schoolroom lesson unlocks his knack for folding and throwing paper planes, a talent his teacher (Peter Rowsthorn) encourages. With the help of a bully turned best pal (Julian Dennison) and his cheeky grandpa (Terry Norris), Dylan sets his sights on national and international championships. By design, the path plotted by writer/director Robert Connolly and co-scribe Steve Worland isn't difficult to discern. In his coming-of-age quest of trying to triumph in the paper plane arena, Dylan encounters an adversary (Nicholas Bakopoulos-Cooke) and makes a new friend (Ena Imai); however, being comfortable in his own skin and repairing the relationship with his dad are more important outcomes. With magical realism and hearty humour bubbling through the film in abundance, Paper Planes endeavours to offer the same joyful jaunt for all ages that helped fellow homegrown efforts Babe and Red Dog achieve success – and with the same penchant for striking backdrops and broad performances, too. Well-meaning cheesiness, as seen in repeated sequences of planes rocketing past outback landscapes, and earnest portrayals of stereotypical characters acting as expected (including brief appearances by Deborah Mailman and David Wenham) are what the feature is made of. Alas, it is nostalgia, not enchantment, that keeps Paper Planes flying, if never quite soaring. Think back to the feel-good movies of your youth, because Connolly obviously has. Simplicity, sweetness and sticking to the well-worn script are the main aims of his Australian fable, and ones attained with the biggest blast of old-fashioned exuberance the filmmaker – and the film – can muster.
The best way to avoid being disappointed on Valentine’s Day is to avoid having any expectations. And you’ll definitely want to leave any preconceptions at the door if you’re planning on showing up to The Standard on the 14th, because this chaotic musical adventure will hold more surprises than a box of assorted chocolates eaten with chopsticks while wearing a blindfold. Love Me is a sonic assortment of unique performances from Australian and international artists, who will be conducting a journey through the jungle of love via an unpredictable selection of covers, collaborations and reinterpretations. Delving into everything from rock cabaret and post-pop to musical comedy and burlesque, the only thing that’s certain is that unless you’re in a bona fide relationship with Ryan Gosling then this will be way better than any Valentine’s Day plans you’ve got lined up already. Performers include Australian rock diva Paul Capsis, NYC bravest and bawdiest burlesque duo The Wau Wau (that’s “vow vow”) Sisters, Triple J presenter/piano basher/ukulele painter Brendan MacLean, cabaret comedian Queenie van de Zandt and the silvery-voiced Tyran Parke. More will be announced closer to the time, though if they’re anything like the unpredictable bunch already named then knowing who they are won’t really tell you what to expect anyway.
Sydney's oldest pub, the Fortune of War, reopened in May 2025, ready to receive guests again almost 200 years after it first opened. Relaunching with the new 60-seat Bistro 1828 and an expansive breakfast offering, the venue's next chapter is bound to be a bright one in its enduring history. Nestled in a heritage-listed building, two neighbouring retail stores and a bar were carefully transformed to create the new bistro, with its name serving as a nod to the year former convict Samuel Terry founded this venerable institution. While the venue was revamped, maintaining its old-world character was a vital consideration for WDS Hotels group co-owner Steve Speed. Inside, design details reflect the building's immense legacy, from beaten copper panelling to 19th-century medicine bottles and old maps. Says Speed: "We had outgrown the previous space, so by opening Bistro 1828, more people are able to enjoy the historic charm, character and sense of community that accompanies every visit to Sydney's oldest pub." From its home on the corner of George and Globe Streets, the bar offers a mix of high, table and bench seating. Slide into the Italian leather banquettes to sip down a cold brew as the sun streams in through the stained-glass windows. Then, in the main dining room, floor-to-ceiling windows and an elevated rear space provide several cosy spots to suit your mood. Meanwhile, a new open kitchen slots between these zones, significantly increasing the venue's capabilities, with an extensive breakfast offering an exciting addition. Led by Executive Chef Mark Williamson (The Woollahra Hotel), the menu spans classic and signature options, like avo on toast, eggs benedict and breakfast burgers, alongside the Fortune of War big breakfast. Plus, there's a bloody mary made with the pub's secret recipe set to give your day a boost. The venue's all-day dining menu is available to order from in the original pub, Bistro 1828 or amid the sunny al fresco area. Regulars will be happy to know that much-loved favourites like the beef and Guinness stew and the fish and chips are still on the menu, while Williamson has added fresh salads, pastas and shared starters. The Fortune of War's accommodation has also received a complete renovation, with the upstairs Russell Boutique Hotel ready for bookings. Featuring 28 rooms with unique designs, each offers a sophisticated blend of modern comforts and vintage charm, from antique furnishings to marble fireplaces. "[The Fortune of War] has been a destination watering hole for almost 200 years, and this renovation will ensure it stays that way for the next 200," says Speed.
Get your wish, This That fans: come November, the coastal festival will return for the first time since early 2022 with another impressive lineup. US singer, songwriter and producer Porter Robinson leads the just-dropped roster of talent for the two-city touring event, which hits up Brisbane and Newcastle, joined by Australian favourites Gang of Youths. Queenslanders, you're heading to Sandstone Point Hotel on Saturday, November 4 to dance to 'Goodbye to a World' and 'Let Me Down Easy'. Music lovers of New South Wales, make a date with Wickham Park in Newcastle on Saturday, November 11. Also on the first This That 2023 lineup announcement: Peking Duk, Hockey Dad, Alex Lahey, Slumberjack, Set Mo and The Presets doing a DJ set, plus Lola Scott, Trophy Eyes, Dear Seattle, Chillinit, Hooligan Hefs, Jesswar, Sophiya, Godlands, Kinder, Alice Ivy and more. This That has traditionally taken place in spring, but that time of year wasn't happy for the fest, or for Newcastle and Brisbane folks planning to dance their way through the music festival, in 2022. The event had to pull the plug on its October and November dates "due to a combination of issues", organisers advised; however, it always promised that it'd be back in 2023. Some of this year's acts were also on last year's cancelled lineup, such as The Presets, Winston Surfshirt, Chillinit, Hockey Dad and Jesswar. This That 2023 will take place across three stages: the This stage, complete with fireworks; the That stage, the go-to for DJs and rappers; and the Other stage, which is about art, immersion and sensory installations. THIS THAT NOVEMBER 2023 DATES: Saturday, November 4 Sandstone Point Hotel, Sandstone Point, Queensland Saturday, November 11: Wickham Park, Newcastle, New South Wales THIS THAT NOVEMBER 2023 LINEUP: Porter Robinson Gang Of Youths Alex Lahey Alice Ivy Chillinit Dear Seattle Eliza & The Delusionals Godlands Hockey Dad Hooligan Hefs Jesswar Kinder Kita Alexander Lola Scott Peking Duk The Presets [DJ set] Set Mo Slumberjack [Live] Sophiya Trophy Eyes Winston Surfshirt + Triple J Unearthed winner Newcastle only: Made On Sunday DJs Ned Bennett Who Is Arcadia Daydreaming Soundsystem Queensland only: Rory Tolsher Sammy G Jess Toasty This That will return in November 2023, playing Sandstone Point in Queensland and Newcastle in New South Wales. For more information, and for pre-sale tickets from 8am on Tuesday, August 1 and general sales from 8am on Thursday, August 3, head to the festival's website. Images: Mitch Lowe / Jordan Munns / Zagexma via Wikimedia Commons.
To the north of Bongil Bongil National Park is Sawtell Beach and headlands, where the coastal views are worth a visit any time of the year but are most popular during whale watching season. You can view the humpback migration from a grassy picnic spot as the headlands allow both northern and southern views. Just ten kilometres from Coffs Harbour, the beachside town is also a popular spot for a swim or surf. While you're here, check out Sailors Bay at low tide, when you'll be able to reach the tidal rock pools. Image: Destination NSW
Here at Concrete Playground, we're big proponents of the night-time economy. Cities that keep things moving after dark often offer the best in food, beverages and culture. And while Australians are notorious morning people (who love their 8am flat whites), data from Visa has shown that we still find a lot of value in getting out in the evening. The Visa Australia Night-time Economy Index 2025 is a new in-depth analysis measuring data such as spending, vibrancy, venues open and even the number of nightworkers who are boosting the economy after dark. According to the data, Melburnians are getting off the couch the most frequently and spending their hard-earned dollars on bars, restaurants, and late-night feeds. Sydney and its surrounding metro areas also nabbed 12 of the 20 top night-time hotspots, proving that the city is slowly bouncing back from its lockout laws. Of course, it's not exactly surprising that the two most populous East Coast cities are ruling the after-dark economy. However, there are also several regional areas, such as Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, that are tapping their cards once the sun sets. Canberra is also increasing its evening spending, thanks to tourists and the opening of more eateries. To learn more about the future of the night-time economy and what's trending after dark right now, Concrete Playground's Managing Editor, Eliza Campbell and Staff Writer Alec Jones shared their insights. CP: Melbourne was named the number one night-time hotspot in Australia according to data from Visa. Does this surprise you? Eliza: It doesn't surprise me at all. This city has an inherent underground nature that invites you to always be exploring and looking beyond the surface — particularly after dark. And nightlife isn't limited to weekends, either. Between gallery exhibitions, secret music gigs and speakeasy bars, there's something to get lost in at all hours, any day of the week. CP: 12 out of 20 of the night-time hotspots were in Sydney and its metro areas. What's your favourite thing about Sydney after dark? Alec: This began to pick up in late 2023 after we all shook off the last of lockdown fever, but it's that feeling of merriment in the air. It's like static electricity. Walking past busy bars and restaurants in suburbs like Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, and Newtown, hearing the chatter and seeing people share food and drinks with their friends and family, it never fails to make me smile. CP: What's one trend you're seeing emerge in the night-time economy that excites you? Eliza: The resurgence of secret gigs and DJ sets. I love the idea of last-minute announcements to see some of the world's best artists in intimate settings — first-come, first-served. There's less of a distinction between going to a live gig and going to a bar now. We want once-in-a-lifetime cultural experiences that blend seamlessly into the fabric of our city's nightlife, and I'm so here for it. Alec: Venues in Sydney that are really performing are the ones with a loyal audience, but also a hook. Something you can't find anywhere else, whether it's on the menu or just in the space. People aren't going out just to get drunk or have a feed; they're doing it to go to these specific places. [caption id="attachment_885691" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Above Board[/caption] CP: What's your top tip for planning the perfect night out? Eliza: Have a rough outline of the kind of evening you want to have — but leave room for spontaneous adventures. There's nothing worse than not knowing where to go or what to do next, but equally, some of the best nights are all about the memories you make getting from point A to point B. CP: What's a venue or precinct that gets the night-time experience right? Alec: YCK Laneways in the Sydney CBD has actually done a great job of revitalising an area that doesn't really scream "nightlife." The bars in that area are some of the most interesting venues you'll find in the city and are all within walking distance of one another (and your bus or train home). Eliza: One of my favourite Melbourne venues that absolutely nails the night-time experience is Collingwood's Beermash — and its (somewhat secret) adjoining speakeasy bar, Above Board. Beermash spotlights independent craft beer and wine producers and lets you take-away or drink-in at bottleshop prices. Al fresco drinks on the Smith Street terrace can be followed by award-winning cocktails upstairs in what's, in my opinion, one of Melbourne's most unique hidden bars. From casual and fun to cosy and intimate — the perfect evening trajectory. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beermash (@beermash) [caption id="attachment_1025682" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Hyde Park[/caption] CP: How is nightlife intersecting with other parts of culture (like art, fashion, live music) in interesting ways right now? Eliza: What's interesting about the intersection of nightlife and culture right now is that there's less separation than ever before. With the rise of low- and no-alcohol trends, nightlife in 2025 isn't just about partying or bar-hopping anymore. People still want to experience their city after dark — but that now spans the full spectrum of the arts: galleries and museums staying open late, fashion infiltrating the food and drink scene, and live music spilling out from bandrooms into public (and often free-entry) spaces across the city. CP: Where's your favourite after-dark venue? Eliza: An after-dark venue needs good music, good drinks and just the right amount of grunge. For me, that's Heartbreaker in the CBD. Catch me screaming post-punk revival with a negroni in hand in the early hours of the morning. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Heartbreaker Bar 💔 (@heartbreakerbar) Alec: Crows Nest on the lower North Shore has exploded since the Metro station opened, Parramatta is packed with great venues, and love it or hate it, Bondi continues to be iconic without trying very hard. Ask a local who lives in a different part of Sydney from you and follow their advice. [caption id="attachment_994726" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Carriageworks[/caption] CP: What do you hope to see more of in our after-dark spaces from both venues and councils? Eliza: I'll always scream and shout about supporting the Arts. Free entertainment like live music, performance and exhibitions not only supports our incredible local arts community but also helps people stay connected to the endlessly inspiring, exciting and thought-provoking creative industries — especially in tough political and economic climates. The more we can bring people together, the better. Alec: Regular events like night markets consistently draw big crowds from locals, but what if instead of the same old gozleme and chips-on-a-stick stands, we got famous restaurants from around Sydney to get involved? That'd help connect communities with food and drink they can't usually find on their side of whatever the closest bridge is (we don't cross any of them enough). CP: For people who say, "There's nothing to do after 9pm anymore", what would you tell them? Alec: You're not trying very hard. You can find something really cool if you just look a little bit harder. Eliza: I'd say, "Where are you? Obviously not in Melbourne." Discover the vibe near you. Lead image: FG Trade Latin / Getty
It's easy to understand why Bart Freundlich, filmmaker and husband of Julianne Moore, decided to remake After the Wedding. A best foreign-language Oscar nominee in 2006, the original Danish feature is a thorny melodrama that's big on moral dilemmas, but even bigger on revelatory moments and performances — and gender-swapping the main characters, shifting the action to America and giving Moore a lead role was clearly too juicy an opportunity to pass up. So was casting his wife opposite Michelle Williams, another actor who can play steely and fragile in the same breath, excels at portraying complex, realistic women, and manages all of the above with the utmost subtlety. Indeed, if any uncertainty hovers over Freundlich's movie, it isn't "why?", but "why didn't it happen sooner?". Perhaps the answer to the second query resides in After the Wedding's narrative, which acts like a Rorschach test for audiences. Some will see splotches of #firstworldproblems connected through convenient, even implausible twists. Others will notice how the film stresses the enormous chasm between the needy and the rich, refuses to trade in simplicity, and has meticulously calculated each and every plot development. Of course, both perspectives can prove accurate at once. A movie can seem neat, chaotic, overly structured and random in tandem, because life almost always does the same thing. Leaning into these contradictions actually deepens After the Wedding — as its conflicted characters are forced to navigate testing circumstances, Freundlich's film never even thinks of settling into a safe, cosy niche. Location-wise, though, the opposite is true. After the Wedding is largely set in a privileged world, spending the bulk of its time in New York penthouses, offices and country estates. The film introduces Isobel (Williams) while she's meditating at the Kolkata orphanage she helps run, then whisks her across the globe to secure funding from business high-flyer Theresa (Moore) — and makes a point of stressing how uncomfortable Isobel is with the change of environment. That's the first major upheaval that pushes Williams' calm yet flinty character out of her comfort zone. When Moore's brittle hotshot demands that Isobel extends her trip and, even though they've just met, also insists that she attends her daughter's upcoming wedding, additional surprises follow. It's impossible to delve further into the plot without giving too much away; however Isobel is hardly thrilled when she meets Theresa's sculptor husband Oscar (Billy Crudup), or takes a proper look at Grace (Abby Quinn), the blushing bride. The best moral dilemmas double as mysteries, inspiring a series of questions. How will the intricate plot pieces fit together? How will the various players respond? How will tussling with a life-altering scenario change everyone involved? After dropping the first big revelation early — his film is called After the Wedding, after all — Freundlich keeps the complications coming thick and fast, but takes time to revel in Isobel, Theresa, Oscar and Grace's reactions. That's the nuts and bolts of the movie, as relayed in heated altercations, awkward exchanges, pensive moments, and big breakthrough scenes that push Isabel and Theresa to their limits. Naturally, Williams and Moore couldn't be better; fresh from stellar work in Fosse/Verdon and Gloria Bell, respectively, that's why the reliably excellent duo was cast. Without them, After the Wedding might've felt soapy, especially after discarding its predecessor's jittery camerawork for conspicuously smooth and gleaming visuals, but that's never the outcome. When a story loves thrashing in as many different directions as this one, it takes particularly textured and nuanced performances to hammer home its tender core, which is what Williams and Moore continually bring to the table. Elsewhere, Crudup is understated but underused in support, while Quinn holds her own with the film's high-profile leading ladies — and that's no mean feat. The elephant in the room? It's the place where elephants are far more common, with Isabel's life in India — and her bond to eight-year-old Jai (Vir Pachisia), the abandoned boy she's become a replacement mother to — never fading from view. Still, while she's desperate to return and keep making a difference, hers is never a clumsy white saviour tale. This part of the story is noticeably blunt, as are the film's other attempts to address class differences (as Isabel rattles off stats about child prostitution to Theresa, they're interrupted by a catering snafu over a lack of lobster, for example), yet the instinct to grapple with one's issues by helping others rings true. Perhaps surprisingly given how many twists it strings together, After the Wedding proves affecting and engrossing in general for the same reason: no matter what the film throws at the screen, its heaving emotional landscape always feels devastatingly real.
Wiseman's Ferry is a teeny, tiny village perched on the banks of the mighty Hawkesbury River, surrounded by national park and with a population of just 220. The settlement gets its name from one Solomon Wiseman, an ex-convict who, in 1827, organised the first river crossing by ferry. And his service still runs today. A weekend at Wiseman's usually involves hours lolling by, on and in the river; pretty walks through nearby Dharug and Yengo National Parks; some pub grub at Wiseman's Inn and perusing paintings by local artists. On top of that, the annual Return To Rio rolls into town in November for three days to add even more reason to make your way to the idyllic village. This year, Carl Cox and Eric Powell will be powering through their Mobile Disco, a twelve-hour (yep) marathon of funk, soul, disco and classic house, pumped out by a live, twelve-piece band. Also in the line-up are Incognito, Lee Foss, &ME, Fabio and Grooverider, Bedouin, Neil James and loads more dance music legends. When you're not furiously making shapes, you can take a timeout at yoga classes, meditation sessions, markets and swimming holes. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to help you make the most of your Return to Rio. Here are the best options for what to eat, what to do and where to stay during the festival weekend. EAT AND DRINK At Return To Rio, expect an array of food stalls, peddling all kinds of international cuisines, from steaming pho to massive burgers, designed to fuel all-night dancing. Vegos and vegans, fear not: you'll be well catered for, too. Also, if food options are any worry, you're invited to pack your own steak or haloumi slab and fry it up on one of the barbecues provided. Outside of the festival, no visit to Wiseman's Ferry counts without a visit to Wiseman's Inn. Built in 1827, this sandstone retreat was once Solomon Wiseman's stately home and is now owned by ex-Wallaby Bill Young. On cool days, relax by the open fire; on hot ones, head into the shady beer garden. Either way, keep an eye out for the local ghosts who are said to be roaming the halls of the inn. Meanwhile, you can find coffee, house-made pies and wraps at Wiseman's Ferry Grocer, and a solid modern Australian offering at Busby's Cafe, where dishes include garlic prawns in creamy chive-white wine sauce, as well as baby barramundi fillets with kipfler potatoes and tomato-rocket salad. For a fancier bite, reserve a table at Riverbend Restaurant, within the idyllic, landscaped gardens of The Retreat. The ever-changing menu is big on local, seasonal produce. DO Festival bound? Your first job is to dance until you're wrecked. After that, wander around the Return To Rio markets, relax at a yoga session and restore your energy by the pool, complete with cocktail bar and soundtracked by reggae. Your ticket also gets you access to the resort's facilities, which include a nine-hole golf course, volleyball and tennis courts and plenty of river frontage. When you're ready to find out what lies beyond the festival gates, a bush walk is a good starting point. For a piece of convict history, as well as some stunning Hawkesbury vistas, there's the Old Great North Road World Heritage Walk, a nine-kilometre loop that begins on the river's northern bank (you'll need to catch the ferry). If you're short on time, it's possible to stroll along just one section, such as Hangman's Rock. A more challenging adventure is the 11 Kilometre Walking Track, which takes in ferny forests, friendly creeks and some steep sections. Next up is the question of getting onto the water. Hawkesbury House Boats hires out various vessels, from kayaks to speedboats. Meanwhile, Xterra Adventures offers guided tours in the form of a four-hour escapade up MacDonald River, a tributary of the Hawkesbury that includes morning tea. Keen to meet a few arty types? Wiseman's Ferry's natural beauty and isolation have been attracting them for years. Check out their work at Ferry Artists' Gallery, a community-run venture that exhibits painting, sculpture, jewellery, ceramics and glassware. There are occasional workshops, too. STAY The festival grounds give you pretty much every accommodation option under the sun: camp it (with your own tent), glamp it (with Simple Pleasures providing all your needs) or tipi it (in one of Rainbow Tipis' magnificent creations). Should you seek the protection of four solid walls, book a cabin, lodge or home — depending on the size of your crew. Last, but not least, you're welcome to bring your own mobile digs, be they van, car or motorhome: just make sure you book a spot before leaving home. Like the idea of popping in and out of the action? Get some buddies together and sleepover on a houseboat. Able Hawkesbury River Houseboats have them for all budgets. At one end, there's the five-star Spa, with five queen-sized ensuite bedrooms, a ten-person jacuzzi, full kitchen, lounge room and wrap-around deck. At the other, there's the humble Aquavan two to four berth, with sleeping space for up to four on day lounges that turn into double beds, a shady front deck and a barbecue. The benefit of the Aquavan's littleness is that you can go exploring on the Colo and MacDonald Rivers. Back on land, the aforementioned Wiseman's Inn harbours a bunch of straightforward, affordable rooms. Or, if you want to go all out on a luxe stay, check into The Retreat, a 50-acre property with 54 rooms, including spa suites, as well as a golf course, tennis courts and pool. Return To Rio takes place at Del Rio Resort from November 3 to 5. Personalise your next adventure via The Playmaker, driven by Mazda3.
Clear your weekend schedules Sydneysiders — a bottomless margaritas and tacos weekend brunch is here. Carbòn, Bondi haunt Taqiza's new wood-fired Mexican joint, has decided to indulge in a brunch experience that brings all the good vibes of a summery vacation in Tulum to a standard Sydney weekend. Every Saturday and Sunday from 12–5pm, you can feast away on all the tequila, lime and salsa goodness your belly can fit for $75 per person. For the tacos, imagine the likes of confit beef brisket, fried barramundi, barbecue octopus and even vegan chorizo. The high-quality ingredients don't stop at the food either, with Carbòn using some of the best tequilas and mezcals for those margs you'll be downing — including the aromatic vintage Tequila Ocho. So, for a non-stop flavour feast, reserve a table online, put on your snazziest pair of stretchy pants and hop on down to Bondi for all the margaritas you can drink and tacos you can eat.
Could you get more theatrical than glorious Walsh Bay? Soaring warehouse conversions, the glittering harbour — and the iconic STC at the hub of the Arts Precinct. Walsh Bay Kitchen, within the Roslyn Packer Theatre, opens its doors on the burgeoning food strip of Hickson Road. The space is slick with off-Broadway style: think parquetry floors and leather banquettes. The recessed lightboxes seem a nod to stage lights, casting dress circle moodiness. But instead of the whispers of a reverent audience, here chatter bounces off the upholstered walls. If mirth and merriment bars a thousand harms and lengthens life, there isn’t a better reason to catch an end-of-season show and dig in here. Specialising in pre-theatre dining and post-show supper, the restaurant opened to coincide with the launch of The Present and was thrust into the world. The fare, with hints of modern Asian, isn’t reinventing the wheel. Like Upton and Chekhov, classic combinations needn’t be toyed with. And with daily lunch specials of nachos, fish and chips and spag bol, it seems head-chef Kay Huang is playing down any stuffiness once associated with theatre-going. The dinner menu (two course $47, three course $57 with a glass of wine) offers good food piled high on stunning, Insta-worthy glazed plates, like free range chicken pat? with moscato jelly, pickle and baguette toast ($16). There’s a bar menu for grazing over aperitif hour; the ginger scallop ceviche a highlight ($16). It’s a decidedly Sydney spread, from zingy Japanese to the creamy bistro classic of the snapper. The unabashedly rich chocolate slice for dessert ($14) is a fitting finale in a town that prides itself on flamboyance, cut by a good dose of sea salt. There are many reasons catching a play is a good idea — the thrill of entertainment with an intimacy often lacking in our screen-obsessed world — and Walsh Bay Kitchen is one more. Simplicity with an elegant, Australian ease, this is a place you’ll sneak into at intermission and come back to again, ticket not necessary. Walsh Bay Kitchen is also open Sundays as per the performance schedule.
