As the name suggests, Lounge Lovers is the place to head when your cosy spaces need a bit of a zhuzh. A company dedicated to providing beautiful homewares at affordable prices, Lounge Lovers has a team of in-house buyers that works directly with the suppliers to ensure it can continue to offer modern and luxurious decor pieces at a competitive price. Initially starting out as an online store, founder, Derek Kerr, quickly realised the demand to sit on and feel furniture before purchasing is a huge priority for people like us who aren't willing to risk being stuck an uncomfortable couch.
There ain't nothing quite like country music, is there, partner? First popping up in the American South more or less a century ago, it's a simple yet satisfying genre that has found fans worldwide. Some of the most recognisable artists in history have been country singers — with a podium including Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers and more. If you know or love any of the above artists, you'd best secure some tickets to the upcoming Country by Candlelight tour. Having sold out theatres across the UK, it's headed down south (or down under, in this case) to tour across Australia and Aotearoa throughout February and March. After a series of February shows in NZ, the Australian tour will arrive in Queensland for a Gold Coast show at The Star Theatre on Sunday, March 1. The following week, it's Sydney's turn at Darling Harbour Theatre on Sunday, March 8, before moving to Melbourne Town Hall on Thursday, March 12. Then, the tour will hop across the country to PCEC Perth on Sunday, March 15, before an additional Queensland show at QPAC Brisbane on Thursday, March 19. Finally, the tour will conclude in South Australia at Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, on Sunday, March 22. Each show starts at 7.30pm and should wrap up (encores notwithstanding) by 10pm. Country by Candlelight will tour across cities in Australia and New Zealand from Sunday, February 15 to Sunday, March 22. For more information or to book tickets, visit the website.
Want to surprise mum this Mother's Day? And does she love sweet treats? How about a spot of gin in her tea? Well, that's exactly what this boozy take on a celebratory high tea is offering up. Unexpected Guest Distillery is teaming up with local favourite Bourke Street Bakery to curate a new take on high tea to spoil all the ladies of the hour. Hosted at its flagship distillery in Marrickville, the high tea will take place from 12pm on Sunday, May 12. At this unconventional high tea, expect to find teas that have been transformed into gin cocktails, which are then served in vibrant teapots. As for bites, you'll be able to pair your sips with baked goods from the Bourke Street Bakery crew — both sweet and savoury — instead of the classic finger sandwiches and macarons. Take your pick from three types of sliders, including shredded chicken paired with perinaise sauce and cabbage slaw, along with three variations of flaky pastries, with the indulgent chocolate ganache tart leading the lineup. For $79, you'll receive a welcome drink, three cocktails, three sliders and three baked treats. Bookings start from 12pm and can be made at the website.
Many would say trekking around an art gallery does not exactly count as a workout. I beg to differ. But it remains that art and exercise are worlds apart and I take my hat off to anyone who successfully manages to marry the two. Interactive collective YesYesNo has collaborated with sportswear giant Nike to develop software which integrates with Nike+GPS data to generate abstract digital artworks. Runners' routes are recorded by a Nike Sports Watch and, based on the speed, consistency and unique style of each person's run, dynamic formations are revealed. A two-day workshop was held to launch the Nike Free Run+ 2 City Pack, inviting runners to record their movements and use colours and composition to personalise their exercise artworks. They took home unique high resolution prints and a custom shoebox with their name, distance run and route laser-etched onto the surface. It's not quite the first project of its kind, with rock band OK Go! unveiling a similar idea in partnership with Range Rover recently. [Via Engadget]
We hope you're hungry for more kitchen chaos: after dishing up stellar viewing in its first, second, third and fourth seasons, The Bear is returning for a fifth serving. What does this mean for the restaurant that shares the show's name? For Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White, The Iron Claw)? And for fellow chef Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri, Inside Out 2), too? You should hopefully find out in 2026. The news of The Bear's renewal for season five comes just days after season four dropped its full ten-episode run, ready for prime winter viewing. So, if you've binge-watched your way through it and were left with questions about what happens after its season finale, answers are indeed on the way. "The Bear continues to be a fan favourite worldwide, and their response to this season — as seen through incredibly high viewership ‚ has been as spectacular as any of its previous seasons," advised John Landgraf, Chairman of FX, the US network behind the series. "Year in and year out, Chris Storer, the producers, cast and crew make The Bear one of the best shows on television, and we are excited that they will continue to tell this magnificent story." There's no word yet on any specifics beyond The Bear's locked-in fifth season, including timing, storyline, and returning and guest cast members. But expecting to get watching mid-2026 is completely reasonable, given that each of the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning show's four seasons so far have all arrived in winter Down Under. In season four, Carmy's days running his dream restaurant were potentially numbered. In fact, a literal clock put on the business by The Bear's key investor Cicero (Oliver Platt, Chicago Med). As time ticked down, pondering the future became a theme not just for Carmy and Syd, but among the rest of the crew — including Carmy's sister Natalie (Abby Elliott, Cheaper by the Dozen), the Berzatto family's lifelong pal Richie Jerimovich Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Hold Your Breath), and the eatery's staff Marcus (Lionel Boyce, Shell), Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas, Cat Person), Ebraheim (Edwin Lee Gibson, Unprisoned) and Neil (IRL chef Matty Matheson). Check out the trailer for The Bear season four below: The Bear streams via Disney+ Down Under — and we'll update you with more details on season five when they're announced. Read our reviews of seasons one, two and three. Images: courtesy of FX Networks and Hulu.
Everybody loves condiments, but it's hard to imagine sitting down to a 33-minute documentary about one. Until, perhaps, we reveal that the condiment of choice is Sriracha, the punchy hot sauce that inspires cult-like levels of devotion the globe over. Sriracha is a Kickstarter-funded documentary by Griffin Hammond that follows the rise of the ubiquitous 'rooster sauce' in America after a Vietnamese refugee named David Tran decided to make his own version of the sauce, which originated in Thailand but is also popular in Vietnam as a condiment for pho. Tran founded Huy Fong Foods in 1980, and since then the company's revenues have grown by at least 20 percent every year — amazingly, without advertising. The documentary mainly consists of interviews with Tran, as well as several die-hard Sriracha fans. According to reviews, there's some interesting trivia in there and it does give you an insight into the company and its founder. But it's also been described as "one long Sriracha commercial" due to its lack of non-Sriracha-loving subjects. There's some anxiety among Sriracha lovers following the recent partial shutdown of the main Huy Fong factory in California. Combined with a new 30-day freeze on shipment, it's looking like a short-term shortage may be a reality. Have fortitude, heat fiends. You can watch the trailer for Sriracha below. The full documentary is available on Vimeo for $5. Via the NPR blog.
Supporting charities should generally be the kind of thing you do without an expectation of anything in exchange. But there's definitely something nice about getting a return on your good deeds, beyond the fuzzy feeling of helping someone in need. Making it easier than ever is SleepOut for Homeless Youth — the first public fundraiser hosted by the Property Industry Foundation — on Thursday, November 10 at Centennial Park . The event, which takes place right next to the Wild Play Discovery Centre, will encourage attendees to sleep out without a roof over their heads for one night, so they can get a glimpse into the struggles faced by homeless young Australians needing a place to sleep. The event's charitable aim is to raise funds to build a 19-bedroom refuge for young people and change some pretty rough statistics — like the fact that 44,000 people under 25 don't have a secure place to sleep. And what's in it for you (in addition to the aforementioned feel-good vibes)? In the process of spending the evening bundled in a sleeping bag and looking at the night sky, you'll also have the opportunity to enjoy some excellent entertainment, eats and general fun — there'll be goodies like food trucks, lawn games, trivia, an acoustic guitarist, and a fire-making workshop so you can toast marshmallows. Over 16 and keen to get involved? Register for free, for SleepOut For Homeless Youth's overnight fundraiser on Thursday, November 10 at Centennial Park, and do your bit to end youth homeless — while having a stellar evening out in the process.
If you'd like to tuck into a burger created by famed chef Heston Blumenthal, you'd usually need to head to one of his restaurants. But that's no longer the case thanks to a new collaboration with Grill'd, with the British culinary whiz whipping up two new plant-based burgs for the chain. These combinations of bread, salad and mushroom-based meat use Fable, the brand that turns shiitake mushrooms into a meat alternative (and a product that's obviously gotten Blumenthal's tick of approval). And, because there's a couple of options, burger lovers also have the chance to sink their teeth into a limited-edition version that's only available for two weeks this August in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth — and after lockdown in Sydney. The special burg in question? That'd be the Heston Fable Burger, which is made with a Fable patty, tofu, cucumber, fresh slaw and hoisin sauce, and then topped with Fable's plant-based version of crispy beef — and served on a brioche bun. Only 4000 are available, and one will set you back $35. That said, that price includes a serving of Grill'd's chips with white miso mayonnaise, as well as choice of pinot noir, chenin blanc, a local beer or a non-alcoholic drink. If your tastebuds are now well and truly tempted, the Heston Fable Burger is only available from Grill'd for dine-in sittings at the chain's Hawthorn and Windsor stores in Melbourne, Carindale and Wintergarden shops in Brisbane, and Scarborough outlet in Perth — with Sydney details to be announced post-lockdown. You can book now, though, with reservations available online from Tuesday, August 3 by visiting the eatery's website. Folks in New South Wales can also register their interest online. If you're keen to take a bite of a second Blumenthal-created burger — and to do so whenever you like — that's where the Fable Spicy Cheeseburger by Heston comes in. It too is made with a Fable patty, as paired with aged cheddar, Spanish onion, dijon mustard, dill pickles, egg mayonnaise and Heston's fire roasted spicy tomato sauce. And, this one is available on Grill'd's regular dine-in, takeaway or delivery menu at all stores — and for $14.50 — from Tuesday, August 3. The collaboration between Blumenthal and Grill'd is part of the latter's broader range of Fable burgs, with two more varieties also joining the menu. The Fable Truffle features a Fable patty, aged cheddar, cos lettuce, fresh basil and truffle mayonnaise, while the Fable Southern BBQ features a Fable patty, cabbage slaw, shredded carrot, Spanish onion, egg mayonnaise, dill pickles and native Davidson plum barbecue sauce — and they're both available now on the regular lineup as well. Heston Fable Burgers are available from Grill'd for dine-in sittings at the chain's Hawthorn and Windsor stores in Melbourne, Carindale and Wintergarden shops in Brisbane, and Scarborough outlet in Perth — from Sunday, August 8–Sunday, August 22, with bookings available from Tuesday, August 3 by visiting the eatery's website. Folks in New South Wales can also register their interest online, with the burgers set to become available in Sydney after lockdown. The Fable Spicy Cheeseburger by Heston is available on Grill'd's regular dine-in, takeaway or delivery menu from Tuesday, August 3.
Slumbering surrounded by red kangaroos, emus, echidnas and koalas just got cosier, and more targeted to couples keen on an animal-filled getaway without their mates in tow. Up at Australia Zoo, the Queensland tourist attraction has been welcoming overnight guests to Beerwah since 2022, launching The Crocodile Hunter Lodge with two-bedroom cabins. Now, it's expanded its accommodation options to include one-bedroom spaces, adding four new rustic lodges. If you're keeping count, that gives Australia Zoo 12 cabins in total now, all tailored for memorable and unique holidays. Here, patrons can visit the zoo, check out all creatures great and small, then stay the evening. There's even a wild group of eastern grey kangaroos that are seen hopping around the place each day. The four new one-bedroom 'Red Kangaroo' cabins come complete with wraparound decks that peer out over the site's bushland surroundings, as well as the wildlife within it. Expect to spy microbats, owls, kookaburras, possums and parrots, too, with nest boxes placed around the lodges to create homes for each. Also included: king-size beds, kitchens in each cabin, heated floors, smart TVs in the lounge, private carports and stone bathtubs for post-zoo soaks. Plus, guests all get access to The Billabong, the Crocodile Hunter Lodge's 25-metre infinity pool, which also looks out over the native wildlife. "We're delighted to introduce four wonderful one-bedroom cabins for guests, which will help us cater to groups of different sizes," said Terri Irwin. "The Lodge offers a unique and immersive experience that not only reflects on our conservation work, but honours Steve's important dream to connect people with wildlife and encourage them to become true conservationists." Whichever size cabin you stay in, your visit comes with unlimited Australia Zoo entry, where more than 1200 animals await — and a peek inside the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. Getaways here still don't come cheap, though, with prices starting at around $949 for an overnight visit for two adults. For larger groups planning a visit, three-bedroom cabins will also join the site in 2023, with an exact opening date yet to be revealed. When it first opened its doors, The Crocodile Hunter Lodge launched alongside the zoo's Warrior Restaurant & Bar, if you're looking for somewhere to grab a bite during your trip. Boasting a focus on Aussie cuisine, locally sourced ingredients, and paying homage to Indigenous Australians and the plants that have long been part of First Nations diets, it welcomes in lodge guests and general punters for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and also for group bookings in its private dining room. The Crocodile Hunter Lodge's grounds also spans more than 3000 native trees and shrubs, including greenery that provides food for species such as the endangered glossy black cockatoo, with sustainability and conservation is a big focus. Find The Crocodile Hunter Lodge at 88 Irwin Road, Beerwah, Queensland. For further information, or to make a booking, visit the venue's website.
There’s a rumbling in the north. The swift opening whoosh of shiny new doors, followed by a frantic cavalcade of foot traffic, as ravenous battalions of Sydneysiders clamber to taste test the newest offerings of the northern suburbs. From Cammeray to Cremorne, Mosman to Manly, there’s been a serious influx of contenders for the culinary crown of late — establishments somewhat under-appreciated by the more east-, west-, and southern-dwelling Sydneysiders. But winter is coming, and you’re going to want to know where to hole up. From Scandinavian-style eateries to quirky art bars, revamped bowling clubs to Italian jetty restaurants (and not to mention whatever Merivale is plotting in Newport), north Sydney's newest are staking their claim for the city's patronage — regardless of their crow-measured proximity from the CBD. Rally your troops and get amongst it. Correction: Mona Vale's La De Da bar was originally on this list. Unfortunately, we've since learned it's closed due to "operational costs proving too great". Better luck next time, Mona Vale.
When Baz Luhrmann's Australia hit the big screen in 2008, it debuted right here on home soil. Now that it has been reworked as a TV show, the exact same thing is happening. That series: Faraway Downs, a six-parter that was first announced in 2022 and is destined for Disney+ Down Under from November. For its big premiere, it'll make a splash at the first-ever SXSW Sydney Screen Festival, joining the program as its closing-night screening. Before streaming from Sunday, November 26, Faraway Downs will first be seen by audiences on Saturday, October 21, complete with Luhrmann in attendance. Nicole Kidman also just recently joined the SXSW Sydney bill for a discussion about her production company, which has been behind Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, The Undoing and more, but hasn't been announced as a guest at Faraway Downs' big unveiling. For 15 years, Australia has inspired a particular line of thought when it comes to Luhrmann's movies: they can't all be good ones, even if almost all of them are. Australia is the one outlier on his resume — the one film that doesn't live up to the spectacular Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, The Great Gatsby and Elvis — so it's been given some tinkering and reimagining to return as Faraway Downs. "I was inspired to re-approach my film Australia to create Faraway Downs because of the way episodic storytelling has been reinvigorated by the streaming world," said Baz Luhrmann. "With over two-million feet of film from the original piece, my team and I were able to revisit anew the central themes of the work." "I am honoured to world-premiere Faraway Downs in Australia, the place that has inspired me and my work my entire life, and with a partner like SXSW who deeply recognises the intersection of film, television and music with storytelling," Luhrmann continued. [caption id="attachment_921555" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hugh Stewart[/caption] Combining two of the nation's biggest actors with one of its biggest filmmakers, Faraway Downs still stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, of course. If you need a refresher on Australia's plot — and therefore the new episodic version's plot, too — it follows English aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman, The Northman) after she comes into possession of an Aussie cattle ranch. To save it from cattle barons, she enlists the help of a drover (Jackman, The Son). That's just the overall gist, however, given that the sprawling movie also spans World War II and its impact, as well as the country's historical treatment of Indigenous Australians. Fittingly given the OG name — and as usually proves the case with Luhrmann's flicks — the cast includes a who's who of homegrown talent. As well as Kidman and Jackman, plus Brandon Walters (Mystery Road) as Nullah, everyone from Essie Davis (Nitram) and Bryan Brown (Hungry Ghosts) to Ben Mendelsohn (Secret Invasion), Jack Thompson (High Ground) and David Wenham (Elvis) features, as does the now-late David Gulpilil (Storm Boy) and Bill Hunter (The Cup). There's no sneak peek at Faraway Downs as yet, but you can check out original trailer for Australia below: Faraway Downs will close the 2023 SXSW Sydney Screen Festival on Saturday, October 21, then stream Down Under via Disney+ from Sunday, November 26, 2023. If you're keen to make the most of Australia's first SXSW, take advantage of our special reader offer. Purchase your SXSW Sydney 2023 Official Badge via Concrete Playground Trips and you'll score a $150 credit to use on your choice of Sydney accommodation. Book now via the website.
Somewhere in the Australian wilderness there's a spot with tall trees, lizards sunning themselves on rocks, the sound of total solitude — and a really expensive tent. We don't know where it is, but if you can find it, it's yours to keep. The tent — along with some $3k kitty of camping goods — has been hidden in a secret campsite somewhere in Australia. It's been put there by outdoor mega brand Kathmandu as part of a new scavenger hunt that leads entrants to the location — if you can find it, you score the whole lot. So how will you find it? Clues to the Hidden Retreat will be released across the brand's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram from Wednesday, February 14 up until Saturday, February 24. The clues are said to be cryptic and will specifically test competitors' knowledge of Australian wildlife through the use of images, videos and — randomly enough — poetry. Unfortunately, there's no worm for the early bird in this case — if you do discover the secret location before February 24, you still need to wait and get to the campsite first on that day to win. You'll also have to arrive during the designated 'prize winning window', which is from 7am–12pm. The first to arrive during this window will go home with the gold, winning a seriously decked out campsite package, which will include this three-person tent, a connectable living space and two down sleeping bags, plus a bunch of extra gadgets. Sure, it's a big promo for Kathmandu and it requires a lot of commitment, but if you've got some spare time up your sleeve, the prize will be a big asset for avid (or aspiring) campers. Handy if you want to tick off these beach camping spots this year. The four runners-up will win a smaller campsite package, each valued at over $2000. For anyone else who shows (up to 200 people), you won't go home empty-handed, but will only nab a BPA-free water bottle for your efforts. To be eligible, you must first RSVP to the Facebook event page. Happy hunting.
As you travel down King Street you will notice the focus shifts away from eateries and clothing shops. In a small pocket at the south end, vintage and second-hand stores abound. Offering antiques, recycled goods and interesting one-of-a-kind items, a visit to these stores will give allow you to inject some signature pieces into your apartment and avoid it becoming an IKEA catalogue rip-off. Some of our favourites are Bloodworth Bellamy, Envision54 and the enormous Newtown Furniture Haven. Image: Bloodworth Bellamy
Located along the bustling Kings Street Wharf with excellent views out to the harbour, The Sporting Globe x 4 Pines is much more than a sports bar: it's a sporting destination. The venue has over 50 HD screens on which avid sports fans can watch their game of choice, live from around the globe. There are even private booths with touchscreen TVs if you aren't feeling the game playing on the bigger screens. The menu is bursting with tasty classics — with low-gluten and plant-based options provided. There are great-value deals in the '7 Day LineUp' including half-price steak on Tuesdays, and $5 schooners, wines and spirits, Thursday–Friday from 5pm–7pm. Even better? Kids eat free on Monday and Tuesday. As its name suggests, the venue has partnered with Aussie craft beer purveyor 4 Pines. Be sure to toast to your team's sporting success with the signature TSG x 4 Pines Australian Pale Ale or any of the other flagship 4 Pines offerings. Is beer not your thing? There are plenty of cocktails, spritzes, wines, RTDs and non-alcoholic options on the menu, too.
When December hits, 'tis the season to be jolly. 'Tis the season to be celebrating over cocktails and sipping plenty of drinks in general, too. But even just a few days into the merriest time of year, or summer, you might feel like you've already tried every beverage there is. Enter Cocktail Porter's DIY Messina espresso martini kits, which come in dulce de leche and chocolate-hazelnut versions. You might've sipped these boozy treats before, actually, because this isn't the first time they've been available. Still, Cocktail Porter has brought them back for the appropriate time of the year, letting you make your own boozy end-of-year beverages — or start-of-year, once 2023 hits — using Messina products. Unsurprisingly, these make-at-home packages have proven popular, especially after we've all been spent more time than usual at home over the past few years. Now that there's no restrictions on heading out of the house, though, they're back to being an easy favourite for parties, casual after-work sips and occasions like Christmas — or just because. First, the dulce de leche espresso martini kit. Basically, it's the answer to a familiar dilemma. No one likes choosing between tucking into dessert or having another boozy beverage, so these kits combine the two. To enable you to whip up dulce de leche espresso martinis at home, you'll get a box filled with vodka, coffee liqueur, cold-drip coffee and Messina's dulce de leche topping, plus Messina's chocolate hazelnut spread and shaved coconut to go on top. Prefer a Nutella-esque spin to your espresso martinis? The Messina choc-hazelnut espresso martini kit comes with the gelato chain's choc-hazelnut spread, as well as vodka, espresso and Baileys. For a garnish, the pack also includes Ferrero Rochers for you to crush. Once your kits arrive, you just need to follow the instructions, then get drinking. Whichever variety you choose, you can pick between two different-sized packs. A small dulce de leche kit costs $85 and serves up six drinks — or you can opt for the large for $149, which makes 18 dessert cocktails. With the choc-hazelnut, you'll pay $80 for the six-drink pack and $145 for a 16-cocktail offering. Cocktail Porter delivers Australia-wide, if that's your summer drinking plans sorted. You can also sign up for a subscription, which'll see a different kit sent to your door each and every month. To order Cocktail Porter's Gelato Messina cocktail kits, head to the Cocktail Porter website.
If your office crew is a creative lot who would appreciate a more mellow bonding experience, roll up your sleeves and get your collective palms working a great hunk of clay. Auart's new Petersham digs offers group classes for up to eight people, from one-time sessions for total novices to package classes for enthusiasts. There are few experiences that are more meditative than throwing clay on the pottery wheel and few things more hilarious than the collapsed gobs resulting from a first-time attempt on the wheel. Do yourself and your colleagues a favour and mark this in the calendar. Images: Age of Innocence Studio
In multiple different web-slinging franchises across multiple decades, everyone's favourite friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man has been on quite the on-screen journey. He's been played by different actors, faced a whole heap of different foes, and spun his way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, too — and in Spider-Man: No Way Home, all this chaos is set to converge. The third Spider-Man movie starring Tom Holland (Chaos Walking) in the role, Spider-Man: No Way Home already teased plenty of multiverse madness in its first teaser trailer. Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog) plays a pivotal part this time around, too, ahead of the character's own dedicated next flick — Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness — which is set to arrive in 2022. But the just-dropped new Spidey sneak peek shows just how far the movie is willing to go when it comes to all those other Spider-Man films that've reached screens over the years. No, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield don't show up, but some of the villains they fought make an appearance. Get ready to get reacquainted with Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin from 2002's Spider-Man, as well as Alfred Molina's Otto Octavius from 2004's Spider-Man 2 and Thomas Haden Church's Sandman from 2007's Spider-Man 3. Also re-emerging: Rhys Ifans' the Lizard from 2012' The Amazing Spider-Man and Jamie Foxx's Electro from 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2. If you're wondering how this all works, it stems from the big reveal at the end of Spider-Man: Far From Home, where Peter Parker's secret identity was unveiled to the world. No Way Home picks up with Parker struggling to deal with the fact that everyone now knows who he is, and that he can't now just be an ordinary high schooler when he's not acting the hero. So, he asks Doctor Strange to spin a time- and space-twisting spell, which tears a whole in the world and sparks all of this multiverse mayhem. So far, there's still no sight of Maguire or Garfield — but that could be the kind of surprise that's being saved for cinemas. And, whether the film gets playful as the phenomenal animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is obviously still yet to be seen. No Way Home will feature a heap of other familiar faces, including Zendaya (Space Jam: A New Legacy), Marisa Tomei (The King of Staten Island) and Jacob Batalon (Let It Snow). Behind the lens, Jon Watts returns after previously helming both Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home as well. In a nice piece of symmetry, when Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness does hit cinemas next year, it'll be directed by Sam Raimi — who also directed the Maguire-starring Spider-Man movies in 2002, 2003 and 2007. Check out the full No Way Home trailer below: Spider-Man: No Way Home opens in Australian cinemas on December 16. Images: ©2021 CTMG. All Rights Reserved. MARVEL and all related character names: © & ™ 2021 MARVEL.
There should be a name — or at the very laziest, a portmanteau — for the kind of the film that instills a sense of dread in its audience from the outset and just lets it sit, collecting in the base of one's stomach until the very final moments. Thomas Vinterberg's new film, The Hunt, would then appear at the top of a wiki entry for that term, alongside keywords: intense, powerful and great-bone-structure. Mads Mikkelsen plays Lucas, a resolute divorcee with a strong jaw (keyword) who's rebuilding his life in a small Danish township, trying to win back some time with his somewhat estranged teenage son while working as a kindergarten aide. Lucas is that classic infants teacher — equal parts stern disciplinarian and schoolyard fool. When his best friend's young daughter, his student Klara, makes an offhanded remark suggesting he's been sexually inappropriate towards her, his good community standing is suddenly upended, no good against the chilling fear of innocence lost. From the outset, the case is handled appallingly by Lucas's colleagues. Klara is provoked with leading questions and when she tries to recant, her uneasiness is taken for truthful shame. As the lie spreads through the school and then the town and beyond, Lucas becomes resolutely calm towards the situation, outraged to the point of passivity. As his friends, family and lover question his integrity, he doesn't directly deny the charge, though you wish, agonisingly, that he would. Instead he poses the question back to the accuser, leaving open a small window of hope as a gust of hysteria blows right on through. There's violence, fear and a deep sense of dread as Lucas's community all but takes to him with a pitchfork. This is Vinterberg's best since his dogme 95 blazer Festen (1998) which also touched on some of the same issues of abuse and family, though with a more sickeningly farcical touch. Much of The Hunt's success lies in Mikkelsen's stoic performance, which rightfully won him the Best Actor gong at Cannes in 2012. The Hunt is a taut, unpleasantly bristling drama and one of the best and most precisely directed films we'll see this year. https://youtube.com/watch?v=0KwzEQPMppI
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.
The lower north shore has the best of both worlds. You can zip into the CBD easily and (traffic depending) quickly, and it's close to some of the country's finest beaches. Chuck in some sweet harbour views and you can see why Neutral Bay in particular is such a popular neighbourhood. We've teamed up with American Express to uncover seven of the suburb's top spots. Whether you're after a fresh hairstyle, doing your weekly shop or just craving a good cup of joe and some eggs for brekkie, Neutral Bay has you covered — no matter the occasion.
It's hard to beat a burger for low-key indulgence — and what better filling to go for than crispy, crunchy and juicy fried chicken? Whether you prefer Southern-style, Korean or karaage, there's something about the decadent beauty of the fried chicken burger that immediately satisfies cravings. Scouring countless pubs, bars and burger joints, we laboured night and day to determine our favourites — okay, we just ate lots of burgers. Then we compiled a killer list of some of Sydney's best spots to hit up for the ultimate fried chicken burger experience.
If you're more about the bean than the brunch, then Primary Coffee Roasters is the joint for you. The only food on offer is a selection of mouth-watering pastries from Penny Fours in Leichhardt, so the staff's full attention is focused on making you the perfect cup of coffee. And Primary's team has quite the background, too — with owner Dan Kim known in Sydney coffee circles for his work at Brewtown in Newtown and Heritage Coffee Brewers in Summer Hill. As well as serving up great lattes and the like, Primary is also a big supporter of The Umuvumu Project, raising money to help the children of coffee farmers in Rwanda. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
Cleveland Street's Norfolk Hotel might not be Sydney's oldest pub, but it's got a case to make as the city's most consistently evolving. In just the past decade, the Redfern watering hole — which poured its first beer in 1921 — has passed through the hands of no less than three different hospo groups. And now, its latest iteration has been unveiled. After being taken over earlier this year by local hospo juggernaut Solotel (the group behind the likes of The Abercrombie, Chiswick and Oxford House), the new Norfolk is leaning into its long-held reputation as an easygoing, no-nonsense local, complete with trivia, spin the wheel and a badge draw. The opening follows a months-long restoration, which sees the century-old institution return with a new look and mission as it embarks on its next chapter. Helming this next chapter are GM Marcella Guilfoyle and Executive Chef Toby Wilson (pictured below), whose buzzy taqueria Ricos Tacos is still holding down the fort in the pub's courtyard, while the upstairs Club Ricos also remains intact. Wilson has also turned his attention to the Norfolk's new pub menu, which champions local suppliers — Good Ways Deli is both providing the focaccia and teaming up with Ciccone & Sons for a lamington ice cream sandwich — while showcasing pub classics with a thoroughly contemporary remix. On the menu, you'll find the likes of house-made pork and fennel sausage roll sold by the inch, beef and VB party pies, a roast chicken and sage roll with a side of dipping gravy, and those lamington ice cream sandwiches. "The new menu keeps it classic, but everything's made with heart," says Wilson. "It's a team effort to bring the best of the 'burb to the table." At the bar, you'll also find a bit of the surrounding 'burbs (and slightly further beyond) with boutique local wines available by the glass and a dark lager collab with Alexandria brewers Yulli's. There's also a selection of aperitivo-style cocktails, with some available on tap. "The Norfolk has always stood for good times, great food and that sense of belonging you only get from your local," says Guilfoyle. "We're proud to be back, collaborating with some of the neighbourhood's greatest success stories and creating a space where everyone's welcome." The Norfolk is now open at 305 Cleveland Street, Redfern. For more information, head to the venue's website. Images: Steven Woodburn.
Don't buy a ticket to see Hotel Coolgardie if you're feeling emotionally vulnerable. It's a difficult film to stomach, for many reasons, and just as tricky to critique. Directed by Pete Gleeson, the documentary follows the story of Steph and Lina, two young Finnish travellers set down in Perth to make some money after having their bank accounts drained in Bali. It's there that they're groomed by a recruiter to do some country pub work in the little town that gives the movie its name. "It's quite a big mining area, so a lot of the clientele of the pub[s] are going to be gentlemen," the recruiter says, ominously. "You have to be the kind of girls that are okay to have male attention and not really sweat it." Shortly after, when they arrive at the Denver City Hotel pub where they'll live and work for the next three months, the pair are greeted by a welcome sign that reads "New Girls Tonight". Lina and Steph meet the previous barmaids Becky and Clio. They've done their stint and seem almost sad to be leaving, partying with the locals at a final send off. They're bubbly and flirt with the clientele; they lean in and act like perfect barmaids. Steph and Lina do not. They're reluctant to play nice, can sometimes barely understand the thick local accents, and don't win a lot of sympathy from the men who have them trapped. Pouring drinks, they soon learn, is not the only task barmaids are expected to perform at the pub. The message is clear: be complicit in maintaining a structural framework that oppresses you, or GTFO. What follows is a deeply uncomfortable look at toxic masculinity, male domination of public spaces through microaggressions, and the binge drinking culture that rots small mining towns. The ensemble of local blokes bring a playful Aussie cadence to their misogyny, one that strikes a light-hearted note against the darkness. Admittedly, Coolgardie isn't entirely bereft of kind folk. But if this documentary doesn't make you feel physically sick, you may be part of the problem. Director Gleeson has been criticised in some corners for not taking a firmer stance against the mistreatment of Steph and Lina. The doco self-identifies as a "sometimes amusing, sometimes appalling, surprisingly moving portrait of small-town insularity, fragile masculinity and the plight of the outsider forced to adapt or face the consequences". The line between observation and interference can be hard to find, for documentarians and photographers alike. Once found, it can be similarly tough for the audience to stomach. Regardless, prospective viewers should not be deceived: the mild description belies a dark documentary that exposes the reality of life for marginalised folk (in this case, women and tourists) in patriarchal, racist outback Australia. If you've ever felt othered, Hotel Coolgardie will resonate with you like nails on a chalkboard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nop_Jq9M_R8
Head Chef Ali Snoubar brings his decades of culinary experience and expertise from award-winning restaurants the world over to this Syrian eatery in Merrylands. Those familiar with Middle Eastern cuisine will know it's all about sharing, so the more, the merrier. Here, choose from a selection of hot and cold mezze, such as the fried pumpkin kibbeh, then move on to the likes of a chicken shawarma plate with rice or hot chips. The $115 'family deal' features a combination of dishes and drinks, while three banquet options each offer a selection of skewers, dips, salads and meat, to suit groups of all sizes and appetites. Images: Al Shami
Sydney's ever booming craft beer scene is welcoming a new kid on the block — run by one of the original innovators in Australian craft beer. Samara (Sam) Füss boasts a 16-year career in the industry and is among the country's first female brewers, giving Sydney's newest brewery, Philter Brewing, a seriously experienced head start. Starting out at Sydney Brewing — back when it was still Schwarz Brewing — and more recently holding the heavyweight title of head brewer and production manager of Young Henrys, Füss's rap sheet also includes founding member of Pink Boots Society and The Women in Beer Collective, as well as beer judge for the Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA) and Sydney Royal Show Beer and Cider Awards. There's no doubt this is a woman who knows her beer. Philter Brewing is a distinct departure from the modern, graphically designed, trendoid beer logos that have become the norm in the wild world of craft. Instead, Philter is going for a "classic 1980s Australian aesthetic", which materialises in their first release, an extra pale ale — the simple white can highlights the brewery's name above a diagonal blue and gold streak. It's a pretty Fosters-like design, to be honest. There's no catchy brew name and no artsy description. Their slogan, "seductively beer" essentially gives the impression that the can contains, well, just beer. The unfiltered brew is naturally cloudy and overall easy drinking. It is meant to appeal to both craft beer lovers and those at the beginning of their beer journey, and, it would seem, also aims at steering away from the pretension the craft beer industry is often accused of. The brand raises a good question of what exactly qualifies as craft beer — is it the ingredients, the brewing process, the size and scope of the brewery? Or is it the innovative brew recipes, the 'damn the man' attitude and pushing the boundaries of what a beer can be? Punters can decide on the craftiness for themselves, as the Philter Brewing XPA is currently available at pubs and bottle shops around Sydney, including the bars at The Henson, The Lord Raglan, Bloodwood and The Cricketers Arms and the fridges at Bucket Boys, Beer Cartel and Camperdown Cellars. The team is also hoping to open their own brewery in the inner west come spring and will continue to contract brew in the meantime.
Huge news, food lovers — especially if you've ever had a steak at Rockpool Bar & Grill, a pink blossom cocktail at Saké, some meat and bread at the Burger Project, a parma pizza at Fratelli Fresh or a stein at Munich Brauhaus. Until this week, some of those eateries were owned by Urban Purveyor Group, and some by Rockpool Group. Now, they've joined forces, pulled them all under one umbrella, and created the epic hospitality venture that is Rockpool Dining Group. Yep, all of your favourite restaurants are now part of the same company, including Spice Temple, The Cut Steakhouse, Rosetta, Bavarian Bier Cafe, El Camino Cantina, Fratelli Famous, Café Ananas and Saké Jr as well. The group's portfolio spans 47 places and 15 restaurant brands across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Perth, and features Tex-Mex and Asian-fusion venues, plus everything in between. Sounds pretty epic — and if you're a fan of Rockpool's Neil Perry, don't worry' he's the head of culinary for the combined outfit. His most recent venture, the more casual Eleven Bridge in Sydney, isn't part of the merger. Creating a tasty Frankenstein's monster of the culinary and dining world comes with added resources, obviously, which all us hungry folks will enjoy in the form of new must-eat destinations. Rockpool Dining Group expects their portfolio to grow to more than 80 eateries over the next 12 months. And, if that's not enough, they plan to expand to more than 200 over the next few years. We already knew that Brisbane is going to get on the Munich Brauhaus train; however other new projects such as a second Rosetta at Grosvenor Place in Sydney, a smaller-format Spice Temple and a Rockpool Bar Series are also slated. And they're looking abroad as well, with the group in early discussions to open first venues in both London and Los Angeles.
The former PM most closely associated with the love of a cold one has today launched his own brewery, Hawke's Brewing. Yes, Bob Hawke has taken the only logical step post-the SCG skulling session of 2012, launching his maiden beverage this afternoon in Sydney. Hawke's Brewing has been established in conjunction with Hawke and David Gibson and Nathan Lennon. As well as producing a brew or two, the brand is also committed to furthering free market solutions to environmental issues, with a cut of all the profits going towards Landcare, a non-profit organisation that Hawke helped establish during his time as Prime Minister. "Mr. Hawke played an important role in the establishment of Landcare nationally almost 30 years ago," Tessa Jakszewicz, Landcare Australia's CEO said. "And it's really great to see his continued support of the movement today." The first drop out of the brewery, Hawke's Lager, is also crafted from 100 percent Australian ingredients, and Mr. Hawke won't take a penny from the profits — every cent of his share is going straight to Landcare. It will be available at 11 select venues, including Surry Hills' The Clock, Petersham Public House, Manly's New Brighton Hotel and The Courthouse in Newtown, across Sydney as of April 20. Cans of the lager will be available to buy from Camperdown Cellars from April 25, before rolling out across other bottle shops, restaurants and bars across the country. Gibson and Lennon came up with the idea for the brew during a frosty Australia Day in New York. They floated the proposal to Mr. Hawke, who took to it like a polly to a yard glass. Just over two and a half years later, the brew is set to hit our shelves. When asked how it felt to have his own beer, he said it felt "bloody good".
Lovers of high tea will tell you that it's just as much about aesthetic as taste: the outfits, the adorable tiny food and the unmatched setting looking over the glittering harbour. Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney's new offering, Blu Bar High Tea, offers all of the above in spades. With sweeping views over the water and beyond from level 36 and resident pastry chef Anna Polyviou (otherwise known as the 'punk princess of pastry') at the helm, you can be sure this will be a little different than the typical civilised high tea experience. And, the best bit — apart from that epic view — is that the high tea is buffet-style. You know what means? All the sandwiches and sweet treats you can manage. You can expect a bit of a twist on the usual cucumber and bubbly affair, starting with free-flowing teapot cocktails, filled with funky concoctions like Passion Tea-quila and Pink Panther. Traditional snack favourites like egg sandwiches and quiches will be on offer, and some not-so traditional desserts. Sweet treat flavours include piña colada (coconut, pineapple, lemongrass and Malibu), popping (caramel, popcorn and chocolate) and strawberries and crème (strawberry, mascarpone and vanilla). What forms these ingredients will take is anyone's guess given Polyviou's imaginative style. This quirky high tea takes place in the hotel's Blu Bar every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 11.30am–1.30pm and 1.45–3.45pm. It's priced at $75 per head on Friday and $95 per head on Saturday and Sunday and includes a glass of Champagne on arrival (Saturday and Sunday only) before you start on those free-flowing cocktails. What a civil weekend activity indeed.
From slabs of dirt that represent Sydney's landscape to evidence of complex rituals in neolithic times, there's a lot of history to unpack at the University of Sydney's new museum. Opened in 2020, bringing together objects and artworks from across three of its existing collections, the Chau Chak Wing Museum can entertain you for hours. And as it's free to explore, you can return to learn a little more about each item's storied past. To give you a slice of what you can find inside its cube-like structure, we asked Deputy Director of the Museum Paul Donnelly to tell us about five objects of enduring curiosity. PLASTERED SKULL FROM JERICHO It might seem a little morbid to start with a plastered skull, but this human cranium tells us a lot about our shared histories. "It's 9,500 years old," says Donnelly. "One of 11 found in Jericho in the 1950s by Dame Kathleen Kenyon, who is the doyenne of archaeology in the Middle East." Archaeology students will know her from the Wheeler-Kenyon method of excavation. And visitors of the British Museum will know its 'sibling' skull, found in the same place and time. Donnelly tells us it's the skull of an adult male, which they can tell from the sutures of the skull and shape of the brows. Its lower jaw was removed and it has been defleshed and covered in mud plaster, and if you look closely, you'll see marine shells in place of its eyes. Thanks to its condition, we can also tell its use. "Our interpretation is this was likely to be ancestor worship," says Donnelly. "We know from historical periods in that part of the world that there was a monthly ceremony in which they would dine with their dead ancestors. The elite would go into their relatives' tombs and have a feast with the long-dead relos. We're very fortunate to have an item like this at the Museum." FLOOR FRESCO FROM MARU-ATEN, EGYPT One of the benefits of opening a new museum has been the impetus to undergo complex conservation projects. One of those projects was rebuilding an ancient Egyptian floor fresco, from hundreds of little pieces found during excavations at Tell el-Amarna in the 1920s. "The new museum has provided lots of opportunities to display more material — we now have three times the material on display than before," says Donnelly. "Tell el-Amarna has held a fascination for people because it was the Canberra of ancient Egypt in the 1300s," he says. The ancient city was established in 1346 BC by Pharaoh Akhenaten as a new capital centred around a new, singular deity. "Akhenaten decided to abandon all the gods except for Aten, the sun god." It was a short lived tenure, and afterwards the culture returned to its pantheon of gods. "It's a fascinating period to have a pharaoh go down this bizarre monotheistic path. When I look at this pavement, I see all the connections to the individuals we have been fascinated with for millennia. In this particular fresco, it's from a royal temple made for the daughter of Nefertiti. It's possible to imagine that both Akhenaten and Nefertiti walked upon that very fresco." ACHEULEAN HAND AXE FROM EUROPE The oldest handmade item in the Chau Chak Wing Museum isn't immediately obvious, and it mightn't be what you'd expect. The 500,000-year-old object, on display in Object/Art/Specimen, resembles a significant moment for humanity. "The Acheulean hand axe is at least 500,000 years old," says Donnelly. "It's from the time of homo heidelbergensis, who were advanced enough to be using handmade stone tools." The axe was found by independent researcher Jacques Boucher de Perthes in the 1830s — and its discovery led to a lightbulb moment in a devout period of time. "He found them in the gravel pits of northern France in the same context as extinct megafauna, and even in the 1830s they knew these animals had long been extinct. So it was this lightbulb moment for him that suggested that we were older than what was proclaimed in the Bible." Boucher de Perthes published his theory in a book, which is on display next to the stone axe. AERODYNAMIC ANTI GRAVITY SUIT During the Second World War, the University of Sydney was home to a top-secret research project led by Professor Frank Cotton. His mission: to keep pilots from blacking out when they hit extreme speeds in fighter jets. "As fighter planes became more manoeuvrable and faster, they were hitting the kind of G-forces that would pull blood away from the head into the legs," says Donnelly. "And pilots were blacking out." All around the world, scientists were responding to the issue — and Australia's response was a rubber anti-gravity suit. "The rubber pants went up to the waist. When the pilot hit dangerous G-forces these air sacs would inflate and compress the legs, so there was nowhere for the blood to pool into." Though the rubber suit never saw combat, it was successful in its trials, explains Donnelly. On display in the museum are sections of the suit: rubber pants, boots and pipes that would have connected to the plane. They're just a selection of 170 bits and pieces discovered in the Anderson Stewart Medical Building at the University in the 1990s, 50 years since they were stored away in the human centrifuge built during the covert project. ALAN SONFIST, 'THE EARTH OF SYDNEY' (1981) The Chau Chak Wing Museum brings together items formerly housed in the Nicholson Museum, the Macleay Museum and the University's art collection. One of its early criticisms was that bringing art, objects of science and antiquities together "didn't fit", which is playfully honoured in the opening exhibition Art/Object/Specimen. It's where you'll find an artwork created for the Sydney Biennale 1982, featuring mounted squares of earth, sand and pebbles sourced from across the city. "To see soil and sand and rocks mounted as art, I thought that was fantastic," says Donnelly. The archaeologist was particularly drawn to Sonfist's work, which had been wrapped up for 30 years at the University. Now visitors can view it next to a portrait of Charles Perkins and measuring chains that were used to divide up and commodify land. "It's all about what people bring to the objects — and how they become different in relation to other things around them," he says. "One person's art is another person's object, is another person's specimen." The Chau Chak Wing Museum is free to attend. It's open from 10am–5pm on Monday–Wednesday; 10am–9pm on Thursday; and 12–4pm on weekends. The Museum will be closed from December 23–January 6. It will reopen on January 7, 2021. Top image: 'Love' by Robert Indiana (1912) and 'The Earth of Sydney' by Alan Sonfist (1981) courtesy of Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney.
Summer and Christmas are behind us, but that doesn't mean the part-tee is quite over. To keep the holiday feeling going, our favourite Pixar characters are popping up in Darling Harbour at a new mini golf course inspired by some of our favourite Disney films. After setting up its (temporary) home in Melbourne earlier this year, the kidult-friendly course is now heading to the ICC Forecourt from April 6 until May 12. Designed to challenge both eight-year olds and adults, Pixar Putt features nine- and 18-hole courses that take you past childhood heroes like Buzz Lightyear, Sheriff Woody and Elastigirl. Hit a few balls with Darla and Marlin from Finding Nemo, and flick one past Princess Atta from A Bug's Life. No need for a trip to Disneyland. So, if you didn't beat your cousin at backyard cricket over the holidays, challenge them to a rematch in Darling Harbour. All you need is your hat and A-game (and no pressure if you remain defeated, there's always the nineteenth hole nearby). Pixar Putt is also open for after-dark sessions every Friday and Saturday night — and they're only for adults. Running from 7–10pm, the post-work putt-putt hours are perfect for those date nights when you want to do more than just have dinner and see a movie. Pixar Putt is open between 10am–8pm, Sunday–Thursday; and 10am–10pm, Friday–Saturday. From 7–10pm on Friday and Saturday nights, sessions are for adults only. Updated: May 2, 2019.
The really great thing about summer is that entertaining flies no matter what time of day. Whether a lazy picnic, a barbeque lunch or a knockout dinner party is your fancy, you can do it on the cheap and cheerful if it's summertime. We’ll take you through a day of dining to delight the senses and suit the budget. Day: PICNIC Two words: Potluck Picnic. We love gatherings we don't have to organise ourselves nearly as much as we love impressing each other with our innovative/shameful/purchased dishes. If you want to divvy up the dishes (salad, sweets, nibbles, etc), do that, but it's even better if you can cover the bases yourself and let others fill in the blanks. For food, sort out a frittata, some dips and pull apart bread, and a good old fashioned barbecue chook for plate fillers. Some hearty salads are a must — think rice salad, pasta salad and a simple garden. Pack everything into a cooler and don't forget the bag of ice. Food storage containers are a lifesaver — if the picnic's going as great as you hope it will, you'll be distracted by the fun and games while the ants and insects* are gorging themselves on your camembert. Serve everything buffet style. Picnics are all about the bits and pieces. Some pointers: forget paper plates, paper napkins and plastic cutlery — clunky and causes loads of wastage. A set of linen napkins from a budget store are super cheap and they look fancy. Likewise, platters are good value, last forever, and quick and easy to clean. If you've got plastic KeepCups, use those for drinks. Don't forget the rug and think about music: jazz is great any time of day and a little Bill Evans goes a long way. If you're planning on your humble picnic rolling into the sunset ,just make sure your playlist can go the distance. *be a hero and bring a whopping citronella candle. Afternoon: BURGER BARBEQUE Barbeques are great because they’re all about the BYO. You can use your crockery and cutlery and get the dishwashers happening or a couple of eager beavers on the dishes to minimise cleaning up. For nibbles, forget bags of chips and packets of dips and cheese: it all adds up to dollars and a spoilt appetite. Make a batch of tortilla chips using a bag of flat bread sprinkled with oil and salt and rubbed with garlic. Cut into triangles and pop in the oven. A quick guacamole using full cream yoghurt to mix will help you out, or else one of those inexplicably excellent layered Mexican dips that still make the odd appearance at suburban baby showers. For food, hamburgers all the way — but they don't need to be boring. It's all about what you add to the mince to make it a treat. Chop up a bunch of parsley, sauté some onions, tear up some fresh bread — you want small chunks, not those fine little breadcrumbs — crack a couple of eggs and add some fresh chilli or flakes, salt and pepper. You're good to go. Grab some good buns or a good loaf of crusty bread; forget those trendy mini buns, you want something to sink the teeth into. Grilled onions and tinned beetroot are must-haves, along with chopped tomatoes and iceberg lettuce. Think bacon, cheese and pineapple for extras, or consider a homemade garlic bread. And dessert? Pavlova is super cheap to make: get a good recipe, some seasonal fruit, a nice thick cream whipped with a little caster sugar and vanilla essence, and you're everyone's best friend. Night: MOROCCAN SUMMER PARTY This summer, let's head to Morocco. There are loads of yummy vegetarian dishes which are always cheaper than meat — keeps everyone happy as long as it's delicious. Start with dips. Making your own is way cheaper and a great point of conversation. If you don't have a food processor, borrow one for the occasion. Serve hummus and capsicum dip with sprigs of coriander and fresh, bright vegetables for dipping. For drinks, do a Moroccan-style sangria by adding loads of fresh mint. Serve in whatever you’ve got — plastic coloured cups are just as good as tall glasses. If you're skint, have guests each bring a cheap bottle of red. Then all you're forking out for is a bit of white rum, tea and fruit. Dinner is a Moroccan vegetable tagine — so easy and time effective. It looks like pumpkin, sweet potato, zucchini and carrots boiled up and combined with a homemade harissa paste. Make sure you add sauteed onions, garlic and chilli; whack in a few tins of tomatoes and some lemon juice; and then let it all cook up so it forms a nice sauce. Have a bunch of small bowls laid out on the table filled with finely sliced almonds, mint and coriander for sprinkling on top. Serve the tagine on a bed of quinoa (or if the budget is super low, couscous). Dessert is spicy poached pears in red wine. Skin your pears, chop them up into quarters, fill a saucepan up with red wine, chuck in a couple of sticks of cinnamon and some brown sugar and a couple of cloves, and cook for around 40 minutes. Spend what you've saved on economical cooking on a snazzy carton of vanilla ice cream. Presentation-wise keep this one simple; the load of fresh, colourful, tasty food and drink carries the evening alone. If you do want to tizz the place up, it's all about loud, bright accessories — red napkins, a loud tablecloth and bunch of bright flowers in the middle of the table for the win. Picnic image by Lindsay Smith.
How does Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega, Death of a Unicorn) fare against airport security screenings? Why is she willingly returning to a school for the first time ever? What happens when she plays with dolls? How has Tim Burton (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) worked Joanna Lumley (Amandaland), Steve Buscemi (The Studio), Billie Piper (Kaos) and Thandiwe Newton (Mufasa: The Lion King) into Wednesday's cast for the series' second season? Some of that has been revealed in the just-dropped teaser trailer for the Netflix hit show's long-awaited comeback — and any other questions you have will begin receiving answers soon. Wednesday has not only unveiled its first season two sneak peek, but also announced its return dates. There's two, because the streaming platform is going with a split release this time around. Part one arrives on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, then part two on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. Conjuring up another spot in your streaming queue three years after its first season released, Wednesday again follows its namesake to Nevermore Academy in its second season — and again features a fresh mystery for her to solve, amid navigating a new round of other woes. The initial trailer also spans her reunion with roommate Enid (Emma Myers, A Minecraft Movie), Wednesday likening her second trip to Nevermore to "returning to the scene of the crime", bees, pink mist, creepy and kooky playthings, swinging axes and a few truths. "Wherever there's murder and mayhem, you will always find an Addams," Wednesday notes — followed by "I do my best work in the dark". Season two will also feature more of Catherine Zeta-Jones (National Treasure: Edge of History) as Morticia, Luis Guzmán (Justified: City Primeval) as Gomez, Isaac Ordonez (Color Box) as Pugsley and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (Dreamers) as Deputy Ritchie Santiago, all getting meatier parts than in season one. Among its new cast members, not only Lumley, Buscemi, Piper and Newton are onboard, but also Evie Templeton (Criminal Record), Owen Painter (Tiny Beautiful Things), Noah B Taylor (Law & Order: Organised Crime), Frances O'Connor (The Twelve), Haley Joel Osment (Blink Twice), Heather Matarazzo (Paint) and Joonas Suotamo (The Acolyte) — plus Christopher Lloyd (Hacks), following Christina Ricci (Yellowjackets) among the stars of the 90s Addams Family films popping up in Wednesday. Fred Armisen (Fallout) remains Wednesday's take on Uncle Fester, however — one that Netflix is so keen on that there's talk of a spinoff about the character. In its first season, Wednesday unsurprisingly proved a smash, breaking the Netflix record for most hours viewed in a single week, then doing so again — notching up 341.23-million hours viewed in its first week, then 411.29-million hours viewed in its second. All things Addams Family have always found an audience, with the Ricci-led 90s films beloved for decades for good reason, and the 1960s TV show and 1930s The New Yorker comics before that. Check out the first teaser trailer for Wednesday season two below: Wednesday season two arrives in two parts, with part one dropping on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 and part two on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, both via Netflix. Read our full review of Wednesday season one. Images: Helen Sloan/Netflix © 2025.
Back in May 2013, we brought news of NASA's US$125,000 3D pizza printer to your cyber-doorstep. Now, we've got something cheaper, sweeter and much more personal for you. At the 2014 CES (Consumer Electronics Show), held January 7-10 in Las Vegas, US company 3D Systems unveiled the world's first kitchen-ready 3D food printers, the Chefjet and the Chefjet Pro. Designed with pastry chefs as the target market, the Willy Wonka-esque contraptions can print sugar in three different flavours (cherry, sour apple and mint), as well as milk chocolate. The Chefjet, which will retail for less than US$5,000, can conjure up single-colour goodies, such as cake decorations and fancy sugar cubes. The Chefjet Pro will carry the heftier price tag of US$10,000 but will offer the creative flexibility of full-colour printing and the ability to handle larger volumes. A digital cookbook will take over the role of the likes of Jamie's 30-Minute Meals and Nigella Express. "The machine uses an ink jet print head that's just like the one you would find in your desktop 2D printer," said Liz von Hasseln of 3D Systems. "It spreads a very fine layer of sugar then paints water onto the surface of the sugar, and that water allows the sugar to recrystalise and harden to form these complex geometries." The Chefjet and the Chefjet Pro will hit the commercial market sometime later this year. Via dezeen magazine.
If there's anyone in Sydney who knows where to find the best street art, the smartest galleries and the most fun art gatherings, it's Scott Marsh. Even if you don't know his name, chances are, you know his work. His most famous piece is undoubtedly Kanye Loves Kanye, a seven-metre-tall mural of two Kanyes kissing one another, which appeared in Teggs Lane, Chippendale, in April 2016. Within a month, someone paid Marsh $100,000 to buff (graffiti-speak for paint over) it. Also among his international headline-grabbing works are Casino Mike, a satirical portrait of former NSW premier Mike Baird painted as a protest against the lockout laws, and Tony Loves Tony, an image of Tony Abbott marrying himself. In partnership with Pullman Hotels and Resorts, we're helping you explore more on your next holiday and make sure you get those experiences that the area's most switched-on residents wouldn't want their visitors to miss. In Sydney, we've called in Scott, whose favourite spots range from Wendy Whiteley's dreamy harbourside garden to the best shops for premium spray paint. A stay in one of Pullman's two locations in central Sydney — Hyde Park and Quay Grand Sydney Harbour (there's also two more at Sydney Airport and Sydney Olympic Park) — will not only put you in the thick of all this action, it will let you contemplate all you've seen in five-star luxury at the end of the day. Read on for Scott's perspective on Sydney's artistic hot spots, and check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. SUNDAY WALLS AT THE LORD GLADSTONE Since June 2015, artists and musicians have been gathering once a month at the Lord Gladstone in Chippendale for Sunday Walls. From 2 until 10pm, an emerging or established graffiti artist works on a temporary mural with a stack of spray cans, while live hip hop DJs provide a soundtrack. Punters hang around to watch, eat $10 fried chicken and share $15 jugs of Frank Strongs. The Lord Gladstone attracts a pretty laidback, eclectic crowd, and watching a new art work appear before your eyes can't not be fun. GOODSPACE GALLERY OPENINGS Goodspace Gallery gives Chippendale a weekly art fix with exhibition openings on Wednesday evenings from 6pm–9pm. Artists score a good deal because the space doesn't charge rent or take commissions. Plus, both local and international talent features. In early November, Sydney-based photographer James Simpson exhibited Endless Summer, a collection of photos influenced by French and Italian cinema of the '60s and '70s. The week before, photographer Joshua Valageorgiou, who splits his time between Sydney and Athens, took over the space with Cluster, a black-and-white analogue series. [caption id="attachment_644404" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Luke Shirlaw[/caption] IRONLAK ART AND DESIGN About a year ago, this graffiti-dedicated retail space opened on the ground floor of Central Park, Broadway. It's the Sydney flagship of Ironlak, a premium spray-paint brand founded in the early 2000s by Australian graffiti artist Luke Shirlaw, in collaboration with brothers Levi and Heath Ramsay, and now sold internationally. Not only is Ironlak Art and Design a great place to check out quality products and meet artists, the walls are covered in street art. Plus, it's open until 8pm 363 days a year, so even if you're in a full-time job, you can drop by and get what you need to start your next project. REDFERN AND NEWTOWN GRAFFITI AND STREET ART There's a few great street art spots around Redfern and Newtown that I check out whenever I can. More often than not, I find something new to see. In Redfern, expect to catch me around The Block or Phillip Lane, where there's a lot of Indigenous street art, including works by Reko Rennie and Hego, telling stories of history, identity and resistance. When I'm in Newtown, I take a wander down Wilford and Gladstone Streets. Young Henrys is nearby, which means it's pretty tempting to stop for a beer sample or two. FINTAN MAGEE'S HOUSING BUBBLE MURAL This is my favourite mural in Sydney. It's called The Housing Bubble and it's on the side of the Urban hotel, on the corner of Enmore and Station Streets. Fintan Magee, an artist who was born in Lismore and grew up in Brisbane, painted it over the course of four days during Marrickville Council's Perfect Match street art festival in July 2015. Every year, the event brings a bunch of new works to Sydney, by providing artists with spaces and encouraging crowds to watch as they sketch, paint and spray. [caption id="attachment_644637" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Newtown Graffiti[/caption] SYDNEY STEEL ROAD, MARRICKVILLE Found just a short walk from Sydenham Station, Sydney Steel Road puts a whole lot of excellent art, colour and vibrancy into an otherwise industrial area. There's everything from realistic portraits to political statements to giant, surrealist murals. When you're done here, wander across Camdenville Park to May Lane, which gives you a stack more work to see. A shopkeeper started a graffiti wall there more than 15 years ago because he wanted to create a space where artists could work legally. May Lane is a fixture on the Perfect Match program, so major new works are added each year. 567 KING Newtown's graffiti writers have been stocking up here since August 2005, and these days, artists of all kinds drop by. Whether you want spray paint, pencils, paints or paper, you can get it. Plus, if listening to a bit of hip hop on vinyl or CD while you're working is your thing, you can make your picks in the shop and ask the crew to deliver them to your door. There's also a handy commissioning service: get in touch with a request for an artwork and 567King will hook you up with the right artist for the job. BRETT WHITELEY STUDIO When Brett Whiteley died in Thirroul in 1992, he left behind this studio in Surry Hills, where he'd worked and lived since 1985. Walking in here is a bit like stepping back in time, into Whiteley's private and artistic life. There are paintings he started but never finished, piles of books that gave him inspiration and quotes scrawled across the wall. In the adjoining gallery, temporary exhibitions showcase works owned by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Whiteley Estate and private collectors, so there's always a new reason to visit. WENDY'S SECRET GARDEN Across the harbour, in Lavender Bay, is the creative work of the other half of the legendary Whiteley partnership: Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden. From 1970, for the best part of 20 years, the Whiteleys lived in a house nearby. When Brett passed away, Wendy coped with her grief by setting to work on the land, which back then, was disused railway property, covered in rubbish and weeds. Now, it's a haven of blood leaf, ginger, angel's trumpets, palms, fig trees and sandstone walls overhung with rambling vines, where I come to escape, sketch and drink coffee. MCA ARTBAR MCA ARTBAR combines art with music and live performance to create something entirely new. The happening takes over various parts of the gallery on the last Friday of every month, and even if you've checked out the program, you never can tell quite what you're in for. In July 2017, Latai Taumoepeau curated Archipela_GO ....this is not a drill, a mix of live performances and interactive works exploring climate change. Before that, in May, Vivid 2017 artist Julia Gorman brought together samba dancers, DJs, artists and a pop-up jewellery stall for a night of colour and light. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
A quarter of a century is a long time to spend with Larry David, even with gaps along the way. Friends and acquaintances of the fictionalised and heightened version in Curb Your Enthusiasm might have some not-so-positive things to say about investing that chunk with one of TV's great curmudgeons. If you're a fan of the satirical series that premiered in 2000, however, 12 seasons isn't enough. But David has called time on his second small-screen smash. While CYE hasn't beaten Seinfeld's episode count, going out with 120 instalments versus 180, it stayed on-screen on and off for far longer than the ultimate show about nothing — and, right up until its final moments, it didn't avoid for a second the fact that Seinfeld was always going to cast a shadow. Streaming in Australia via Binge and New Zealand on Neon, Curb Your Enthusiasm isn't Seinfeld 2.0 for a lengthy number of reasons that'd get anyone saying "yada, yada, yada". But in riffing on David and his life, playing with his fame for co-creating one of the all-time sitcom hits has been baked into the premise from day one. Cue appearances from Seinfeld cast members, also as themselves. Cue dedicating a season focusing on making a Seinfeld reunion special as well. Accordingly, when CYE's ending first came into sight, of course the inimitable force behind both shows began the last season with the series' iteration of Larry going where Seinfeld's characters closed out their tale: jail. In season 12's debut episode of ten, he isn't incarcerated due to criminal indifference. Rather, Larry's stint behind bars comes about thanks to the opposite. In Atlanta to attend a rich fan's (Sharlto Copley, Beast) birthday party, on a paid gig courtesy of the success of Young Larry — CYE's in-show show about David's childhood, in the style of Young Rock and Everybody Hates Chris — he gives a bottle of water to Leon's (JB Smoove, Música) Auntie Rae (Ellia English, Blood Pageant) while she's in line to vote. That's illegal in the state of Georgia. The cops pounce immediately. So, with the nudging and winking — and reshaping and tinkering — that Curb Your Enthusiasm does exquisitely well, one of the season's key threads is born. Larry being Larry, he wasn't really trying to make a stand against ridiculous voter-suppression laws. Larry still being Larry, he's also content to capitalise upon being regarded as a hero, complete with droves of media attention. And, Larry never able to be someone other than Larry, he's his petty normal self regardless of how much praise flows from Bruce Springsteen — or ire, because getting to know Larry even when he's being commended and congratulated doesn't always mean actually liking him, as the plot strand involving The Boss, his final Los Angeles gig, COVID-19 and whose drinking cup is whose screams. Before Beef was winning Golden Globes, Emmys and other awards for trivial squabbles, David got there first. Before The Rehearsal and The Curse's Nathan Fielder was inspiring cringing so vigorous that you can feel it in your stomach, David was as well. Almost anything can happen and has happened to Larry, and being argumentative and awkward, holding grudges and rarely having his foot out of his mouth in response is a constant. Since season one, whatever has come his way has usually involved his manager and best friend Jeff Greene (Jeff Garlin, Never Have I Ever), alongside the latter's perennially suspicious wife Susie (Susie Essman, Hacks). Initially as his spouse and then as his ex, Cheryl David (Cheryl Hines, The Flight Attendant) has frequently weathered the fallout in his vicinity. So have his friends, such as Ted Danson (Mr Mayor) and the late, great Richard Lewis (Sandy Wexler) as themselves from the get-go, plus the aforementioned Leon Black, who moved in with Larry when the Davids took in his sister Loretta (Vivica A Fox, Bosco) after Hurricane Katrina. The show's swansong season is vintage Curb Your Enthusiasm, including when a lawyer who looks like one of David's many enemies, overhearing golfing lessons, throwing things at CODA Oscar-winner Troy Kotsur, getting disgruntled over breakfast menus cutting off at 11am and shirking reading scripts for old colleagues are involved. Season 12 also sees Larry try to date Sienna Miller (Extrapolations), sponsor Lori Loughlin (Blessings of Christmas) to join his country club and attempt to befriend Conan O'Brien (Conan Without Borders) when he moves into the same neighbourhood. He learns the Gettysburg Address while urinating, conditioning himself to feel the urge when he hears it afterwards. He's suspected of drawing penises on billboards. Also on his list: conjuring up schemes to ditch his girlfriend Irma (Tracey Ullman, Death to 2021) that he despises and get out of looking after an acquaintance's daughter if he passes away. From its premiere at the turn of the century to its farewell now, Curb Your Enthusiasm has been fascinated with whether someone as set in his ways as David — who was the inspiration for George Constanza — can and will ever change. He doesn't, and watching why that's the case only stopped being comedy gold when the credits rolled on the very last episode. That goodbye is named 'No Lessons Learned'. David gives voice to the idea, too: speaking to a young boy being told how to behave by his mother, he's unrepentantly Larry, telling the child "I am 76 years old and I have never learned a lesson in my entire life". As he bickers with a flight attendant about turning off his phone on the plane to Atlanta, gets crude hand signals from a driver who won't let merge on the highway and questions something about an ex-girlfriend of Richard's that's never normally spoken about (because when would that stop Larry?), his own words keep ringing true. When season 12 sent Larry to jail early, echoing how Seinfeld ended, it was always working towards more overt nods in its predecessor's direction. Cycling through legal representation (Will & Grace's Sean Hayes plays one attorney), Larry has been bound for court ever since. Airing grievances, all coming from folks who believe that they've been wronged by him over the years, was the natural — and gloriously, gleefully intertextual — path for Curb Your Enthusiasm's climax, then. David has learned lessons, though, since penning the end of Seinfeld. How that pans out, and CYE's conclusion overall, is pretty, pretty, pretty perfect. Check out the trailer for Curb Your Enthusiasm season 12 below: Curb Your Enthusiasm streams via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Images: HBO.
Ah, Sriracha. Possibly the only condiment with a true cult following. From ramen to lollies, it can be used on and in anything, literally. Devotes can’t live without that so hot but so good burn that leaves mouths on fire, noses runny and eyes watery. Well, people, there’s some bad news. The major Sriracha factory in California is partially shutting down. All because the citizens of Irwindale couldn’t take a little heat. Residents complained of heartburn, inflamed asthma and even nosebleeds that were caused by a "spicy odour" coming from the factory. They took Huy Fong Foods to court, where a local judge ordered the manufacturer to stop doing, er, whatever they were doing to cause the stench. The ruling does not order the company to stop operating entirely, nor specify the types of actions that are required. Basically, they can go back to making their spicy sauce once they get that damn smell under wraps. The best part: the judge conceded to the "lack of credible evidence" linking the apparent health problems to the odour, but said that it seems to be "extremely annoying, irritating and offensive to the senses warranting consideration as a public nuisance." Weeeak. So what does this mean for Sriracha lovers? Well, because Huy Fong uses only the freshest chillies in its secret recipe, the fiery little guys must be ground within days of harvest. This process, which happens only two or three months out of the year, has fortunately been completed. The bottling process goes on year round, but a partial shutdown of this factory, the largest of two, could leave the sauce to spoil. Since the company already struggles to keep up with its growing global demand, this is no bueno. Huy Fong’s founder, David Tran, claims he’s never raised the wholesale price for the sauce in over 30 years, but that might have to change. So you might want to think about making a supermarket trip or two, like soon. Image via ilovememphis. Story via Quartz.
When you've scored the gig of playing Karate Kid: Legends' new titular character — the first part of the movie's moniker, not the second — stepping into shoes previously worn by Ralph Macchio (The Deuce) in three 80s films, then by Hilary Swank (Yellowjackets) in the 90s and Jaden Smith (Entergalactic) in 2010, is indeed a daunting prospect. That's the reality for American Born Chinese and Mean Girls star Ben Wang, and he's well-aware of what putting on the gi in the Miyagiverse means. "It's terrifying," he tells Concrete Playground. "I know how many people love these movies, so I want to make sure that we get it right." Wang isn't just merely familiar with the fact that people are fond of 1984's The Karate Kid and its four other follow-ups before his film (on the small screen, streaming series Cobra Kai also amassed a devoted following across its six-season run between 2018–25). His journey with a saga that made "wax on, wax off" one of cinema's most-famous phrases, then added "jacket on, jacket off" in the 21st century, actually commenced as a fan himself. Securing the part of Karate Kid: Legends' fresh-faced martial-arts prodigy Li Fong involved being up for a battle to begin with, given that he was among more than 10,000 actors who auditioned. It also required someone with existing fighting skills, which Wang boasts after being inspired by The Karate Kid circa 2010. As Li, he's following in iconic footsteps, clearly. He's also entering a film and TV universe with personal significance to him. And, he's doing all of that while starring beside The Karate Kid's OG teen in Macchio — and also alongside Jackie Chan (A Legend), who debuted as kung fu shifu Mr Han opposite Smith in the flick that Wang grew up with. There's an extra layer to his casting, too, that can now be called a theme across his career. For Wang, Karate Kid: Legends is another project that partly connects to his own experience. His role in American Born Chinese with Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar-winners Michelle Yeoh (Wicked) and Ke Huy Quan (The Electric State) reflected his own childhood as the only Asian kid in his class for years. Now, Li mirrors the move that he made from China to America when he was young. While Wang relocated from Shanghai to Minnesota, his Karate Kid: Legends character is whisked from Beijing to New York when his mother (Ming-Na Wen, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai) accepts a new job. [caption id="attachment_1008321" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dave Allocca/StarPix for Sony Pictures[/caption] Viewers know going in that karate kids tend to find themselves training for a showdown. Thanks to the Five Boroughs Tournament, Li is no different. Also a recognisable staple that's present here: a nemesis that needs facing with flying fists and feet. Consequently, Karate Kid: Legends pits its protagonist against Conor Day (Aramis Knight, Ms Marvel), the aggressive ex-boyfriend of Mia Lipani (Sadie Stanley, Cruel Summer), one of Li's new NYC friends. Yes, Han's expertise is called upon as his former student prepares. Macchio's Daniel LaRusso is also enlisted to assist, making the trip from California. Their job: to help Li combine kung fu and karate. That said, Karate Kid: Legends recognises that its main character already has skills by getting him doing his own teaching first, showing Mia's pizzeria-proprietor dad Victor (Joshua Jackson, Doctor Odyssey) — a former boxer — some moves so that he can try to hop back into the ring to settle his debts. Six years since his first-ever screen role in The Untamed, after also popping up in MacGyver and The Last OG — plus episodes of Launchpad and Search Party as well, and also featuring in movies Sex Appeal, Chang Can Dunk, Sight, Good Egg and Isle Child — Wang is on both sides of the Karate Kid Universe's beloved sensei-student dynamic, then. In a likeable addition to the franchise that knows how to hits its marks, he's visibly getting a kick out of everything that portraying Li demands. The thrill of being cast, the links to his own experiences, mentorship off-screen, shaking up who's doing the guiding: when we chatted with Wang, we also discussed all of the above. On the Excitement of Becoming the New Karate Kid (and Kung Fu Kid) While Starring Alongside the OG in Ralph Macchio The joys of being chosen to play Li are many for Wang. "I mean, I feel like if you tell any kid that he's going to get to fight Jackie Chan, they'd get pretty excited about it," he notes. "These are movies that I've been a fan of myself since I was a kid. I saw the Jackie Chan remake — that came out when I was in elementary school, and I saw it in a theatre. And I loved it. It's one of the reasons why I started doing martial arts in the first place." "And Ralph's films were passed down to me by my aunt. They were her favourite films. So I understand how much love there is for this franchise and for these characters." "So getting to be a part of it, after I've been a fan of it for so long, is a bit surreal. But it's fun." And yes, facing off against Chan is both enjoyable and tough, Wang advises. "Fighting, doing a fight scene with Jackie Chan, is as fun and as hard as you think it is." On the Personal Links with Wang's Experiences and Both Karate Kid: Legends and American Born Chinese A three-year stretch that spans scoring a lead TV role and then becoming the next Karate Kid star is a fantasy for an actor. Wang's gleaming current run looks set to continue via Stephen King adaptation The Long Walk opposite Mark Hamill (The King of Kings), reuniting with that film's director Frances Lawrence for 2026's The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, plus a Jon Hamm (Your Neighbours and Friends)-starring and David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer)-directed comedy. The type of affinity with his characters and their experiences that he's been finding in Karate Kid: Legends and American Born Chinese are also dream — and rare — developments. That's purely been good fortune. "I mean, I've just been lucky," Wang reflects. "Both American Born Chinese and this film, and a lot of other films I did, I'm not for this and for that. I wasn't at a point in my career yet where I was able to make choices about what I was taking." "I just got lucky that the projects that existed and wanted me to be a part of them also had in them these great characters that so reflected my own experience. So it's a point of luck and it's also a point of pride for me to have been able to bring these characters to life." On How the Film's Theme of Mentorship Translated Off-Screen with Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan When learning from experienced veterans and guiding new generations is a core component of a film or TV show's plot, does it translate among the cast when the cameras aren't rolling? In streaming's new Owen Wilson (Loki)-led golfing comedy Stick, the answer was yes according to its cast, for instance. For Wang with Macchio and Chan on Karate Kid: Legends, he describes it as "kind of a watch-and-learn sort of thing". "These guys are, they're amazing at what they do. Jackie has been making movies since he was six-and-a-half years old. He's made, I think, somewhere around 20 million films," Wang continues. "And Ralph has been the karate kid — this character, he's been dedicated to this character in this storyline, for 40 years. So he's the Pliny the Elder of Karate Kid. He keeps the books." "So it's really just as long as you're open, you're going to absorb some things, and that's just what I tried to do." On What It Means That Wang's Karate Kid Isn't Just Soaking in Wisdom From Everyone Else, But Is Also Passing on His Own Skills Under director Jonathan Entwistle (I Am Not Okay with This) and screenwriter Rob Lieber (Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween), that Karate Kid: Legends lets Li instruct as well as absorb isn't a minor detail — and its importance isn't lost on Wang, either. "Yeah, it's a great play on the formula of the franchise. I think it's a great way to expand the theme that you're talking about, of mentorship," he says. "What does it mean to be a good teacher? What does it mean to have a good teacher? And who can be a teacher and who can be a student?": for Wang, they're the movie's thoughtful questions as a result. Karate Kid: Legends opened in Australian cinemas on Thursday, June 5, 2025 and opens in New Zealand cinemas on Thursday, June 26, 2025.
A picture is worth a thousand words, but can a picture capture the unique sound of a moment, of laughter, of a single word? With Bespoken Art, your words can in fact be translated into a work of art, a canvas that depicts the exact sound waves of your voice. Founder and CEO David Caulkins launched the company to create "art that speaks volumes," and his vision has given individuals the opportunity to hang on to a particular sound. By uploading sound bites to the Bespoken Art website or recording a word or phrase over the phone, sound waves are captured and printed onto a canvas. You can personalize the picture even more by choosing the color and size of the canvas and sound wave, making it a true original. Bespoken Art allows you to capture a quote, sound or word with the Classic Sound Portrait, combine up to five different voices on the Multiple Voice Sound Portrait, pair up with your significant other to share vows in the Double Pane Sound Portrait or print a smaller laser-printed version with the Desktop Sound Portrait. You can even capture audio over 30 seconds with the Song Sound Portrait, for meaningful songs or messages. Pictures may be worth a thousand words, but words can now paint beautiful pictures.
Have you ever been casually scoffing a big tub of rocky road ice cream — the kind with the hulking big chunks of chocolate and marshmallow that may just slip right into your heart valves, killing you right then and there — and thought, man, I wish there were some carrots up in this mix? I doubt it. Because no one has ever, or should ever have thought that. Enter Haagen-Dazs' new Japanese offerings: Carrot Orange and Tomato Cherry; the ice cream flavours that have just usurped vanilla as the dull person's ice cream of choice. Set to launch on May 12, the veggie flavours make up a new line of products appetisingly named Spoon Vege (you can't accuse them of being coy about it). "Carrot Orange [will] take the gentle flavour of carrot and add to it the fresh citrus taste and scent of orange, giving the carrot a sophisticated and refreshing twist," reads the translated press release that is astonishingly not satire. "Tomato Cherry [will] combine the natural sweetness of tomato with the fruity flavour of cherry, which should accentuate the rich taste of the tomato." Now, Carrot Orange is clearly the winner of the two — carrot cake is a thing that exists, orange sorbet is acceptable. At the very least Carrot Orange can be a thing that annoying Gym People eat with half-guilty expressions. After all, these ice creams will be somewhat healthy; containing about half the amount of milk fat found in their sweeter counterparts. But in any circumstances, Tomato Cherry: not okay. Chow down on some Cherry Garcia instead. Via RocketNews and PSFK.
If Twin Peaks can return after 25 years, then holding out hope for Mindhunter's comeback eight years since its second season remains perfectly reasonable. According to star Holt McCallany (Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning) — the Bill Tench to Jonathan Groff's (Étoile) Holden Ford — there might be reason to be optimistic. He's shared the tidbit that David Fincher (The Killer) could continue the acclaimed serial-killer series, but as three movies rather than a new season. Mindhunter debuted in 2017, then released its second season two in 2019 — both of which were exceptional. Since then, however, viewers keen for more of the show's look into the origins and operations of the FBI's Behavioural Science Unit haven't been showered with good news. Netflix let the cast's options expire in early 2020. In 2023, Fincher himself said that there'd be no more. But McCallany now notes that the door to reviving Mindhunter is open, even if only slightly. "I had a meeting with David Fincher in his office a few months ago, and he said to me that there is a chance that it may come back as three two-hour movies," said the actor in an interview with CBR. "But I think it's just a chance," he continued. "I know there are writers that are working but, you know, David has to be happy with scripts." Fincher not only executive produced and directed episodes of Mindhunter for Netflix, but did the same on House of Cards — and on Love, Death & Robots as well. His last two movies, Mank and The Killer, were also made for the streaming platform. Next up on his filmography is a follow-up to Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, as penned by QT, directed by Fincher, starring Brad Pitt (Wolfs) as Cliff Booth and backed by Netflix. Both as a true-crime series and a streaming series in general, Mindhunter has always stood out from the crowd. Combine Fincher, the serial-killer domain that he dug into earlier in Seven and Zodiac, non-fiction book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit and a whole heap of real-life cases, and you get the greatest show that the streamer has ever made. Its focus: the folks who interview mass murderers to understand how they think, then use the learnings to help stop other killings, with the series drawing on its factual source material to dramatise the Behavioural Science Unit's beginnings. In its first two seasons, McCallany and Groff starred alongside Anna Torv (Territory) — and IRL notorious figures such as Ed Kemper, David Berkowitz and Charles Manson were part of the narrative, with help from Cameron Britton (Mickey 17), Oliver Cooper (Burt) and Damon Herriman's (The Bondsman) performances. There's obviously no word yet as to when Mindhunter could return if it does return. Check out the trailer for Mindhunter's first and second seasons below: Mindhunter's first and second seasons are available to stream via Netflix. We'll update you about any Mindhunter movies if and when more details are revealed. Via CBR. Images: Merrick Morton/Netflix.
There are a whole lot of bands that make you want to dance, but none have done it quite so well in the past few years as The Wombats. Shooting to global recognition in 2007 with 'Let's Dance To Joy Division' and 'Moving To New York', staples of indie dance-floors everywhere, the pressure was on for the Liverpool three-piece to follow up with something that went above and beyond their debut. With last month's release of This Modern Glitch they look set to eclipse themselves, and are back in Australia to begin an intense year of touring. Sporting a very fine hat, the Wombats' drummer Dan Haggis sat down to chat with Madeleine Watts ahead of their Sydney gig. I'm sure every Australian asks this, but how did you get to be called the Wombats? It was completely random. We've made up stories in the past, but actually we just needed something for the poster for our first gig. Me and Murph called each other 'silly goats' or 'wombats' sometimes. But it stuck, and now we can't get away from it. How was Groovin' The Moo over the weekend? It was amazing. We didn't know what to expect, but it's just insane. Even though it was freezing last night, people still had their tops off, just going for it and having a great time. To be honest we've never really had a bad experience in Australia, except one where we were jet lagged and broken from touring too much. What did you guys do differently with the new album? We were really happy with the first album, but we played for so long that we needed something completely different. The first album was right up in your face, non-stop high energy, which probably reflected how we were at the time. But this album is more thought through. So we had ninety percent of the songs mapped out but then we could mess around in the studio and get excited and geek out with knob twiddling. What kind of bands were you listening to when you were recording? We're all fans of Depeche Mode, New Order, Joy Division, obviously, and Kraftwerk as well. We had a couple of really grungy new songs. Then we did some DJ sets for a bit of pocket money one weekend and we were absolutely annihilated. And me and Murph were in the hotel room dancing around to Kraftwerk, still pissed I think. So we bought a Moog right after that. I think we wanted to challenge ourselves to be octopuses. Was it just you, or all of you, who had near death experiences before recording? It was me and Murph. Murph was in a car going really fast and ended up in a bush by the side of the motorway. Then we were in Dubai, and I was on a dune buggy - just, you know, a day off in the desert, normal day - and my girlfriend was on the back and I got a bit over-excited, as you do, and went too fast and she went flying off the back. I tried to keep on but I couldn't, so I fell off and it landed next to me. But things like that wake you up a bit. It shakes you and you go "oh fuck it, we're not immortal." You guys all met at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. Did you meet Paul McCartney while you were there as well? Yeah, we've met him a couple of times actually. At LIPA Paul McCartney does one-on-one song-writing classes. Then we met him again at the European Music Awards. We passed him and said, "oh, Sir Paul, congratulations on your award." And he said, "Oh yeah. Thanks for your album, really liked that 'New York' song," And we said, "OK, thanks a lot, take care," and then walked off and all screamed wildly for ten minutes and generally shat ourselves. Then we ended up doing an interview with him on Radio One. Which was even more nerve-wracking because we were the presenters. Imagine if your first interview was live on Radio One with Paul McCartney. That's what we did. It was fucking horrendous. But it went really well. Talked about tea with him for a while. Finally, after all this time can you still dance to Joy Division? I think we can, yeah. We just have to be really shitfaced. https://youtube.com/watch?v=DRhUIJextp8
[Via Mashable]
Get ready to groove; RAFI Records is back from March 8, bringing bottomless beats to your Saturdays. North Sydney's beloved vinyl session is serving up free-flowing drinks, delicious food and laidback vibes, all from just $120 per head. This year, it's all about DJ Foxy Fuzz, who's taking over the decks with her signature fusion of Latin rhythms and soul. It's the ideal soundtrack to shake off the week and get the good times rolling. The day kicks off with the A Side from 12pm; an easygoing afternoon of smooth tunes. When 2:30pm hits, the B Side brings all the energy with more party-happy beats. On the menu is silver trevally with caviar, avocado, green apple and jalapeño; crispy chickpea and green chilli hummus; and grain-fed flat iron with black garlic butter. Plus there are plenty of vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free options in the mix, as well as dessert for just $8. And the drinks? Sip on mimosas, NV Applejack Be Present, 2024 Palmetto Rosé, Freshwater Crisp Lager and a standout sauvignon blanc from Adelaide Hills. RAFI Records is the ultimate Saturday session – music, eats, and all-round excellent vibes. Let the good times spin.
The Maybe Sammy crew have done it again. The globally-acclaimed bar team have launched another exciting spot — and this time, it's located inside one of the team's pre-existing venues. Paddington mezcal bar El Primo Sanchez is now home to a brand-new (and extremely intimate) speakeasy named La Prima, injecting a dose of Oaxaca's inviting atmosphere into Sydney's inner city. Following in the footsteps of other hidden venues around the city like the famed secret speakeasy at Frankie's Pizza, La Prima is located behind an unassuming wall, which doubles as a doorway. The newest addition to El Primo Sanchez offers up an intimate dining experience that operates as invite-only — unless you happen to stumble upon its entrance during your visit to the Oxford Street bar. La Prima hosts up to 30 guests — ten seated and 20 standing — in a dimly-lit space decked out with candlelit tables and featuring rustic exposed brick walls displaying a plethora of agave and retro frames. Once you've found your way inside, you can order select bites from the kitchen's curated list of playful Mexican dishes led by Head Chef Alejandro Huerta. Think: guac paired with fermented green tomato and chilli crunch, or Blackmore wagyu barbacca accompanied by salsa roja infused with miso. The bar offers a rotating menu of crafted cocktails, with its latest tequila-forward lineup starring the floral Perfume de Gardenias — a shot of Patrón Reposado combined with peach and citrus cordial and jasmine soda; the Encanto — a fruity cherry soda mixed with Patrón Silver and dry vermouth; and the Pastel de Planto — Patrón Reposado partnered with banana and cinnamon cordial, salt and agave. The celebrated team's tight-lipped approach to this mysterious Oaxaca-inspired hideaway will allow patrons to fully immerse themselves in the experience of discovering its intrigue — and when you pair its much-loved food and beverage menus with a slice of adventure, it seems like the recipe for success. You'll find La Prima hidden inside El Primo Sanchez at 27-33 Oxford Street in Paddington.
Whether robots will inherit the earth is yet to be seen, although science fiction keeps telling us they will. Until that becomes a reality, they're going to keep pitching in to help make our lives scarier easier. Take food deliveries, for example. Here we were, just getting used to UberEATS helping us eat from a wider arrange of restaurants without leaving home — aka ferrying meals from places without their own delivery service — and now machines are taking over. Welcome to the future. Yelp and robotics company Marble have joined forces to start delivering food orders on the streets of San Francisco, with a small number of four-wheeled bots transporting meals in the city's Mission and Potrero Hill neighbourhoods. The robots "use advanced sensors and high-resolution 3D city maps to efficiently and politely navigate busy urban environments", in case you were wondering. Yep, they'll bring you your food and they'll be nice about it. If you saw Marble's machines in person, you'd definitely notice. Built from the base of an electric wheelchair, and featuring swappable cargo bays to ensure that goods of various sizes can be stored and moved in the most efficient manner possible, they measure just over four metres in height and travel at a pace of three to four miles per hour. For the current trial, they'll venture short distances of around one mile over a six to eight-hour shift, accompanied by living, breathing people to make sure everything runs smoothly. Good to see that humanity still has a use. As for those doing the ordering, they'll simply sit back and wait — and, after receiving a text message with a customised code, unlock the bot when it gets to their door. Expect more robotic food delivery to follow. It was just last year that Dominos unveiled an autonomous vehicle built for the sole purpose of delivering pizza. And, shortly afterwards, the company completed the world's first-ever pizza deliver drone. Via CNet. Images: Marble.
A new art gallery has launched in Darlinghurst with the goal of fostering a space for emerging artists in Sydney. Creative studio Babekühl has opened the site on Oxford Street, taking over the former building that fetish store Sax Fetish called home. Babekühl (pronounced babe-cool) has previously been at the helm of a range of multi-disciplinary art projects, including creating music videos for Justin Bieber and Free Nationals, art installations in The Clock Hotel and animating electronic duo Bag Raiders' national tour. The creative collective is now sharing the love, opening a space for young, talented artists to exhibit their work in the heart of Sydney. "I grew up at a time where Darlinghurst, and especially Oxford Street, was the cultural centre of Sydney, but we've been watching it lose some of its energy in recent year," said Bebkühl co-founder Billy Ryan. "We're not interested in gentrifying the area; we're here from a cultural stewardship point of view." The gallery is hidden below a street-level retail space run in collaboration with Sydney record label Motorik. The store features designer vintage clothes, accessories, art, and a collection of local and niche electronic vinyl records. Motorik and Babekühl worked on the shop, gallery and event space throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, transforming it from the basement of the fetish shop. [caption id="attachment_790663" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Billy Ryan[/caption] Since opening on Saturday, November 14, the gallery has been exhibiting Ryan's series Bloomscapes. The series, shot in Shanghai in 2019, captures an expansive cityscape through infrared photography that turns natural trees and shrubs into a wondrous mass of pink reminiscent of an alien algae bloom. A short film and an ambient soundtrack accompany the photography in the humble exhibition space. Bloomscapes will run until Wednesday, November 25, when it will make way for Gnurra Gooah Yewi (South East Wind), a collaborative exhibition between Dale Collier, Tim Buchanan and Wanjun Carpenter. The gallery is also currently running a callout for artists and professionals that want to use the space. If you're looking for a space to exhibit your art or want to check out what Babekühl has done, you can head to the collective's website. Bebekühl Gallery operates out of 110a Oxford St, Darlinghurst. It is open Tuesday–Friday, 12pm–6pm and Saturday–Sunday 10am–6pm. Images: Billy Ryan
You don't need an excuse to visit the Golden Sheaf's beer garden. The creeping vines and twinkling fairy lights are usually excuse enough. But if you're looking for one, here it is. From Sunday, June 1, the Sheaf is dishing up a roast every Sunday. For $30, you'll get a plate loaded with roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, golden potatoes, honey-and-mustard parsnips, carrots and rainbow chard — all doused in gravy. Add an entree in the form of charred Tassie octopus or crispy calamari, along with a glass of Untitled pinot noir from Victoria or a Right Bank shiraz from the Barossa Valley, and you'll be all set for a long and cosy afternoon. The beer garden is well heated — but if you're still cold, it's even warmer inside. The Golden Sheaf is just one Solotel's 13 pubs that's putting on a Sunday roast all winter. You'll also find a $30 special at The Kings Cross Hotel, The Strand in Darlinghurst, The Clock in Surry Hills, The Courthouse and The Bank in Newtown, The Erko in Erskineville, Public House Petersham, The Norfolk in Redfern, The Sackville in Rozelle, Camelia Grove in Alexandria, Bridgeview in Willoughby and The Albion in Parramatta.
