Boasting an expansive skylight, outdoor courtyard and space for 600 people, the University of Technology's campus bar is a popular spot for bands, DJs and themed events. When it's not emptied out for parties, the lively venue serves simple drinks and classic pub food for lunch and dinner, such as mac and cheese balls, chicken wings, nachos and a range of pizzas and loaded fries. There are also pool tables, video games and big screens to entertain you and your mates between sips at the in-house bar or outdoor beer garden. Though the bar is primarily catered to students — with weekly meal specials and 10% off food and drinks for UTS students and staff — members of the public can tag along for gigs and casual drinks. Top image: Jess Gleeson
It's no overstatement to describe Neil Perry — the restaurateur, chef and revered doyen of Australian cooking — as an icon. Now, however, it's official. On Thursday, June 6, Perry was announced as the winner of the Woodford Reserve Icon Award at a glitzy ceremony in Las Vegas for The World's 50 Best Restaurant Awards 2024, one of the culinary scene's most prestigious gongs. The achievement, which is voted for by an international panel of 1080 industry experts, recognises an outstanding contribution to the hospitality industry that's deemed worthy of global notice. "Throughout my career, I've been incredibly lucky to work with some of the finest hospitality professionals in the world, doing what I love and creating memorable experiences for people to enjoy," said Perry of his accomplishment. "I hope this award inspires everyone in our industry to keep going and to never give up." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Neil Perry (@chefneilperry) For more than four decades, Perry has been a guiding light of Sydney's restaurant scene. Cutting his teeth in some of the city's top kitchens, including Sails in Rose Bay, he first made his mark in 1986 when he launched the Blue Water Grill in Bondi. However, it was his next major venture — and arguably his most famous — that would catapult him to global stardom. Opened in 1989, Rockpool quickly asserted itself as not only one of Sydney's top fine-diners, but also one of the nation's — and in 2002, it was ranked the fourth best place to eat on the planet by The World's 50 Best Restaurant Awards. Today it has grown to be a cherished brand, with sister venues in Perth and Melbourne. Despite Perry stepping down as the group's Culinary Director in 2020, it continues his storied legacy, ranking as the eighth best steak restaurant in the world in May 2024. [caption id="attachment_960466" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] One of Perry's defining traits is his ability to project his love and understanding of food through many cultural lenses. From Asian to Italian and even burgers and aeroplane food, Perry's menus are a fusion of top-tier produce and craftsmanship with an accessible attitude and a belief that cooking doesn't need to be gastronomically pretentious to be exceptional. Take, for example, his most recent venture Margaret, a deeply personal "neighbourhood restaurant" named for Perry's deceased mother. Despite its humble billing, the judging panel noted that at Margaret, diners experience "a veteran bringing together his love of super-fresh seafood and Asian flavours to outstanding effect". It also currently ranked as the third best steak restaurant in the world. Since opening Margaret in 2021, Perry has extended his presence on Double Bay's Guilfoyle Avenue to the Baker Bleu bakery next door, and he has two more venues preparing to open in the area in late August: Asian-inspired diner Song Bird and cocktail bar Bobby's. [caption id="attachment_961054" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Petrina Tinslay[/caption] The only other Australian to be recognised by this year's The 50 Best Restaurants Awards was Josh Niland, whose revolutionary low-to-no waste seafood diner Saint Peter placed 98th on the 100-venue longlist. Perry is one of Australia's most-decorated chefs, having earned more Good Food Chef's Hats (Australia's answer to Michelin stars) than any other individual in the country, as well as numerous other accolades. However, this latest laurel makes the point most definitively: if you're someone with even a glancing interest in eating well, you need to experience a dish crafted by Perry at least once in your life. [caption id="attachment_961135" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Petrina Tinslay[/caption] For the full rundown of The World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards 2024, head to the list's website. Top image: Petrina Tinslay.
Some people are going to be very unhappy with Belvoir. After one recent play in which two women constantly murdering each other prompted loud revulsion (not from us), here is another female ensemble repeating the same act. For longer. More gruesomely. In all fairness, though, it's totally different. The two companies take distinctly separate approaches to the theme of violence in life and on stage. Cain and Abel, from The Rabble, is aesthetically rich, mercilessly cerebral, and earnest in that very Melburnian way. Recently, the interstate experimentalists have turned pornography into art (The Story of O) and staged The Portrait of Dorian Gray as a presentational maze (Room of Regret). They don't go easy. With Cain and Abel, they take a simple and intriguing premise: what would happen if the Biblical first act of violence was committed between sisters rather than brothers. Would it change how we see woman-on-woman violence? Would it be normalised? Would it be more explicit? Are women cursed to the cycle of violence just as easily as men? The Rabble's strength is definitely in looks. Artistic directors Kate Davis and Emma Valente also designed the set and costume and the lighting and sound respectively. The production elements are the story here, as much as what's going on between actors. The group explores their theme in a glass-walled greenhouse that fills the tiny Belvoir Downstairs space. Shrouded in haze and periodically drenched by a sprinkler, performers and regular Rabble-aisians Dana Miltins (Cain) and Mary Helen Sassman (Abel) drift through the space, until Miltins swoops in for the kill. Rinse, repeat. As their costumes deplete from Mormon to minimal, the iconography seems to get correspondingly more modern. The scenes hint at jealousy, disdain, competition and sadism — always carried through to their extreme. What it all means, it's hard to say. Unfortunately, The Rabble's own views on women and violence are communicated so opaquely that it is difficult to draw much significance from the gender-swap. It is more a presentation of female violence, whose meaning comes from your reaction to it. Are you repulsed? Disconnected? Turned on? That might matter. If you're partial to a bit of open-endedness — particularly served bloody and phantasmagorical — then there's a lot to love in Cain and Abel. The work is imaginative and risky, its elemental imagery is powerful, and at a little over one hour, it doesn't overstay its welcome. Having the Rabble visit Sydney is a rare pleasure we could get definitely get used to. Image by Brett Boardman.
Maybe you recall first seeing Rebel Wilson two decades back in Fat Pizza. Perhaps her part as "girl in alley" in the Nicolas Cage-starring Ghost Rider initially caught your eye. Or, it might've been her two big Hollywood breaks: Bridesmaids and the Pitch Perfect franchise. Whichever fits, the Australian actor has charted quite the path over the last 21 years — and she's keen to share a heap of stories about it. That's happening in two ways: her new book Rebel Rising: A Memoir and a tour of the country's east coast to chat about her career so far. The printed tome fuels the in-person conversations, of course, with the former due to hit shelves in April, then the live sessions happening in May. An Evening with Rebel Wilson has the right moniker, then, with the event heading to the Sydney Opera House, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre and Hamer Hall at Arts Centre Melbourne. In taking to the stage to reflect upon her journey, Wilson follows in the footsteps of everyone from Henry Winkler to Tony Hawk so far in 2024. That said, no one has taken the same route to fame as the Sydney-born actor, with dog shows, creating TV's Bogan Pride and winning an acting scholarship launched by Nicole Kidman just some of the steps along the way. As well as talking through time in the spotlight that's seen her feature in Cats, Isn't It Romantic, Senior Year and Jojo Rabbit as well — plus How to Be Single, Pain & Gain, Grimsby and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, too — Wilson is set to reflect on her personal experiences. Expect a behind-the-scenes glimpse, then — apparently with a Brad Pitt tale thrown in, and details about martial-arts tournaments and an Oscars hallucination induced by malaria. An Evening with Rebel Wilson 2024 Australian Dates: Thursday, May 9 — Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, Sydney Sunday, May 12 — Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Tuesday, May 14 — Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, Melbourne An Evening with Rebel Wilson hits Australia's east coast in May 2024, with ticket presales from 10am on Wednesday, February 21 — head to the tour website for further details.
In a year like 2020, it can feel like we've reached the end of humanity. Maybe the end of everything? Now, take that morbid vision of the future and sprinkle a bit of cannibalism into the picture. That's what physical theatre maestro Mitch Jones has done with his darkly comic Autocannibal. With Earth's resources completely decimated, the sole-surviving human must consider making a meal of himself in order to live another day. It's the dystopian, visceral clowning around we deserve to start the new year. Images: Jacinta Oaten
Queer Screen doesn't just host two LGBTQIA+ film festivals in Sydney each year, with Mardi Gras Film Festival arriving in the first half and Queer Screen Film Fest in the second. It also takes those fests to the rest of Australia via online versions. So, to start September, you can get cosy on the couch while streaming your way through a number of movies from the QSFF lineup without leaving home. While the fest runs from Wednesday, August 28–Sunday, September 1, it goes virtual from Monday, September 2–Sunday, September 8. Closing night's Gondola, about female cable-car conductors expressing their emotions in the sky, is among the titles you'll be able to catch on your own screen. So are the gay, sapphic and trans and gender-diverse shorts strands, with Lukas Gage (Road House) and Keiynan Lonsdale (Swift Street) making appearances via the bite-sized Stay Lost. Plus, at-home viewers have American Parent, about a lesbian couple raising a toddler during the pandemic; Big Boys, focusing on a teen with a crush; All Shall Be Well director Ray Yeung's 2019 film Twilight's Kiss; and The Judgment, about US-based Egyptian boyfriends returning home and dealing with the supernatural, among their other choices.
A special photographic exhibition is coming to Sydney just in time for the 2019 Chinese New Year festival. Running from Friday, February 1 to Sunday, February 10, China: Moments in Time will celebrate the work of renowned photojournalist Marcus Reubenstein. It'll feature 70 vibrant, large-scale prints and multimedia installations captured from across 20 Chinese cities, taking the audience on a journey through the daily lives of locals and highlighting the nation's diverse culture. Largely told through candid shots of everyday people, the collection delves into the nation's 5000-year history, exploring China's ancient past right up to its state-of-the-art modern age. Alongside this free exhibition, there'll also be opportunities to meet Reubenstein — across two-hour Q&A sessions held at 11am on Saturday, February 2 and 9 — so you can find out what inspired the 19,000 photographs he shot throughout China, his selection process and various travel tidbits. Forming part of the City of Sydney Lunar Festival, China: Moments in Time will be shown at 541 Art Space on Kent Street in the CBD. Head into town to get amongst the lively Chinese New Year festivities, but remember to drop into the gallery and discover the personal stories of those who come from the most populous country on earth, too. Supported by the CMC Markets, China: Moments in Time is free to attend and runs 11am–5pm from February 1–10. For more information, and to register for a Q&A session with Marcus Reubenstein, visit the website. The exhibition will also run a competition where you could win a trip for two to Chengdu, China, 'home of the panda'. Find out more and enter here.
2024 started with Donald Glover on-screen in the TV remake of Mr & Mrs Smith. 2025 Down Under will begin with Childish Gambino returning to Australia and New Zealand on his The New World tour. The rapper and hip hop star has announced five dates across the two countries, starting in January and running into February, on what will be his first trip to these shores since 2019. On the agenda, then: summertime magic, when the musician/actor/writer/director plays not just his latest album Atavista — the finished version of 2020's 3.15.20 — but tracks from a career behind the microphone that dates back to 2011. Accordingly, expect to hear 'This Is America', 'Redbone', 'Sweatpants' and other songs from his past records Camp, Because the Internet and Awaken, My Love!. The Down Under leg of the tour will kick off at Spark Arena in Auckland, Gambino's only Aotearoa show. From there, he's hitting up the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena, Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena and RAC Arena in Perth. When he last headed this way — complete with a headline spot at Splendour in the Grass — it was after initially announcing a 2018 Australian tour, then cancelling it due to an ongoing injury. Before that, he performed at Falls Festival in 2016. [caption id="attachment_955317" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eli Watson via Flickr.[/caption] Gambino mightn't have been on Aussie and NZ stages for a spell, but Glover had the final two seasons of Atlanta — both in 2022 — reach screens since he was last Down Under. Voice work on Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, producing TV series Swarm, the aforementioned Mr & Mrs Smith: they've all joined his resume as well. He'll also be heard as Simba again in Mufasa: The Lion King, the prequel to 2019's photorealistic version of The Lion King, before 2024 is out. On all Australian and New Zealand shows, Gambino will be supported by Amaarae. Childish Gambino 'The New World' Tour 2025 Australia and New Zealand Dates Tuesday, January 28 — Spark Arena, Auckland Saturday, February 1 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Tuesday, February 4 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Friday, February 7 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Tuesday, February 11 — RAC Arena, Perth Childish Gambino is touring Australia and New Zealand in January and February 2025 — with ticket presales from Thursday, May 16, 2024 at staggered times, and general sales from Monday, May 20, 2024 at staggered times. Head to the tour website for further details. Top image: Eli Watson via Flickr.
After a brief sneak peek featured in Disney+'s teaser trailer for its 2025 slate, The Handmaid's Tale has unveiled its first proper look at its upcoming sixth season — the dystopian thriller's final run. Since 2017, watching the series has meant wishing for one thing: the end of Gilead, the totalitarian, male-dominated society that rules the show's dystopian version of the United States. (No, not the masterplanned Sydney community of the same name.) In the award-winning series adapted from Margaret Atwood's book, that outcome is finally coming in a way, and fans will be able to see how the tale wraps up from April 2025. For June (Elisabeth Moss, The Veil) and her fellow red-wearing women, revolution is also coming. Rallying against the oppressive status quo however possible has sat at the heart of this series since day one — and in the last season, June is back in the fight. The teaser trailer for season six is narrated by its protagonist, noting the ways that the regime tried to push her and her fellow women down, including via their restrictive attire. "The dress became a uniform — and we became an army," June advises. Of course, it's highly likely that The Handmaid's Tale won't conclude with the total destruction of Gilead, because a TV version of The Testaments in the works — and is set to arrive sometime after The Handmaid's Tale finishes its run. It too is based on an Atwood novel, on her sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, which hit shelves in 2019, which means that her fictional nightmarish realm isn't going far. If you haven't read the book, The Testaments is set 15 years after the events of its predecessor, and also includes familiar characters. How that'll play into the end of The Handmaid's Tale on-screen obviously hasn't been revealed. For now, blessed be your streaming queue with The Handmaid's Tale season six this autumn — and praise be what looks like one helluva reckoning. Alongside Moss, Yvonne Strahovski (Teacup), Bradley Whitford (The Madness), Max Minghella (Maximum Truth), Ann Dowd (The Friend), O-T Fagbenle (No Good Deed), Samira Wiley (Breaking News in Yuba County), Madeline Brewer (Space Oddity), Amanda Brugel (Dark Matter), Sam Jaeger (Wolf Man) and Ever Carradine (The Neighbourhood) all return among the cast, with Josh Charles (Moss' The Veil co-star) a new addition. The sixth season of The Handmaid's Tale debuts in the US on Tuesday, April 8. Down Under, it streams via SBS On Demand and Neon. Check out the first teaser trailer for The Handmaid's Tale season six below: The Handmaid's Tale season six debuts on Tuesday, April 8 — and streams Down Under via SBS On Demand and Neon.
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.
Strong women, strongly written. Maxim Gorky's play Vassa Zheleznova is sometimes said to have been a bit before its time. A dying businessman's children are eager to know where his wealth is going, after he does. While they jostle for position, their mother has her own plans. As part of the first year's season of new director Ralph Myers, the Belvoir is presenting a new translation of this classic, rarely-played work. Translator Karen Vickery and writer Jonathan Gavin have transplanted it from a mercantile story in pre-communist Russia to tell the tale of the fate and family of a small Aussie business. Vassa Zheleznova has something in common with The Borgias. It starts out with hungry inheritors scratching around a deathbed, and much of its fame springs from the strength of a female lead ruthless in her pursuit of the good of her family. So if you want to see if women can get away with the same scale of bastardry on stage as men, The Business is ready to move you or scare you. Or darker things to boot.
The back-to-work blues have hit us all pretty hard this year — especially as summer took its time to shine. If you're like us, you're already yearning to escape the office or your current work-from-home situation. And this loved-up time of year (yup, Valentine's Day is coming) offers up a great excuse to book a trip away with your partner. With this in mind, Virgin Australia has launched the Bring on More in Adelaide sale, offering up to 30% off flights to the City of Churches — with prices as low as $89 one way from Melbourne. You may not know it, but Adelaide is a mighty romantic city. It's home to spectacular wine, chocolate and fresh oysters — all aphrodisiacs — alongside a huge variety of activities made for loved-up couples. So, this year, swap the usual Valentine's Day staycation for an unforgettably romantic (and discounted) trip to Adelaide. Here's some inspiration to get you love birds started. [caption id="attachment_886121" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tommaso Cantelli[/caption] JOIN AN OYSTER TOUR There are stacks of reason why oyster tours are great for dates. First off, there is the aphrodisiac element (if you believe all that), but it's also a unique way to feel swanky while enjoying the outdoors. Few places compare to the famed Coffin Bay, located on South Australia's picturesque Eyre Peninsula. Here, you and your partner can don some arguably unsexy waterproof waders to frolic in the clear blue waters and learn a little about oyster farming. You'll then head back to the beachside Salt Water Pavilion where you can dine on freshly caught oysters while sipping on local wines. EXPLORE VAST WINE REGIONS Speaking of wine, Adelaide is surrounded by several world-famous wine regions. And you really don't have to go far to visit them. You've got the Adelaide Hills located just a 30-minute drive from the CBD, McLaren Vale at 45 minutes, and the Barossa (where Two Hands Wines, pictured above, is located) and Clare valleys around 1.5 and two hours away, respectively. Pick one, book a driver (so one of you doesn't have to miss out) and explore as many cellar doors as you can — possibly opting for private tours and tastings to make it all the more romantic. STAY IN A LUSH HOTEL A romantic getaway is incomplete without a luxurious place to rest your heads — or get Ade(laid)e. One of our favourite CBD stays is the undeniably cool Hotel Indigo (pictured above), which boasts large luxurious rooms and an outdoor pool overlooking the city. If you can't make it to Paris but you're looking for a chic French-style getaway, book a stay at Sofitel Adelaide. This glamorous five-star hotel has a huge array of rooms and suites as well as its own wine bar and French fine dining restaurant. It's also hard to overlook the old-school glamour of The Playford. Unwind in the spa and sauna after a long day of exploring Adelaide before returning to your opulent art nouveau suite to order room service to your bed. [caption id="attachment_777850" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sia Duff[/caption] PARTAKE IN EXCEPTIONAL DINING Heading to Adelaide means heading to a deliciously diverse range of restaurants and bars — most championing local produce with incredibly tasty and creative dishes. As a strong start, there's the much-adored Africola (pictured above), where North African dishes are backdropped by art-covered walls and an energetic buzz. Over on Peel Street, Southeast Asian street food meets natural wine at Gondola Gondola, the upstairs Bread and Bone plates up woodfired burgers, steaks and ribs, and the appropriately named Peel St features a menu of refined yet simple fare made from quality local ingredients. Alternatively, you can amp up the romance with one of the best meals you'll likely ever have — book a table at Restaurant Botanic, the winner of Australia's Restaurant of the Year award for 2023, to experience modern Australian dining at its absolute finest. [caption id="attachment_785247" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adam Bruzzone via South Australian Tourism Commission[/caption] DISCOVER UNIQUE DATE DESTINATIONS The City of Churches is far more than its places of worship — there are countless things for loved-up couples to do here. First off, as we are talking romance, we highly recommend a trip to the Haigh's Chocolate factory — for Adelaide is the birthplace of this beloved chocolate maker. Here, you can taste all its best creations and go on a special behind-the-scenes tour to see how this all-too romantic treat is created. But if you want to get out in nature, you can try a dolphin sanctuary kayak tour, paddling about with your partner in tow. Moreover, a day spent wandering around the Art Gallery of South Australia is aways a win, while a sunset cruise along the coast is what Valentine's Day is made for. You're clearly spoilt for choice. Take advantage of Virgin Australia's latest travel deal, booking discounted flights to Adelaide here. But hurry, the sale ends on Monday, February 6. Top image: Skillogalee courtesy of South Australia Tourism.
While Australian winters can get pretty damn nippy (hello slanket, our old friend), unfortunately we're not often blessed with really fun cold weather. We don't get snow, sleet or iced-over lakes which means we don't get snow days, slush fights, skating, tobogganing or a plucky bobsledding team to represent us in the Olympics (okay, we do have that last one). The Winterlight wonderland in Parramatta's Prince Alfred Square ‚ back for a third year — is aiming to right this grievous wrong. From July 6, you can delve into the kind of winters that the Starks seem to fear so much: a snowy, fun winter. The installation boasts all the icy activities you could ever want. If gliding around a treacherous ice pond with knives attached to your boots is your bag (known as 'ice skating'), you'll be delighted to know there's a large ice rink planned. But if you're more of a demure ice frolicker, the ice toboggan may be more your thing. Or perhaps a trip down a slick ice slide? The world is your cold, wet oyster. A turn about the rink will set adults (14 years and older) back $23, but after you ease your tired feet back into normal shoes and try to remember how to walk, the real fun begins. Winterlight is decked out with a delicious, delicious village serving up Turkish gozleme, hot chocolates, bratwurst and burgers. And really, aren't bratwurst and mugs of hot chocolate the real spirit of winter? Winterlight will be open Monday to Thursday from 11am till 10pm and Friday to Sunday 9am till 11pm. Images: Ali Mousawi.
When the weather turns even just a few degrees warmer and the sun's out, you best believe Australians are congregating around the closest body of water — beach, lake, blow-up pool you name it. And while that urge to swim and watch waves lap against the sand takes up a lot of our time, it's not all of it. And let's be honest, there's only so many times we can shake water out of our ears, or sand out of our grundies. So for those times, when we need our hands to de-prune or maybe just aren't feeling it, we've lined up a bunch of great events and happenings that are taking place this summer. From award-winning broadway musicals to Christmas markets, music festivals and, the eagerly awaited return of the KFC Big Bash League. There are lots on this summer in Sydney, so, have a read below.
It's been 12 months since Melbourne institution Chin Chin crashed onto the Sydney scene, opening its sister restaurant in the heart of Surry Hills. And of course, the bold, lively eatery known for its big flavours and fun-loving attitude isn't about to let that milestone pass by without some serious festivities. So, Chin Chin is celebrating its first birthday with a rollicking Bangkok-style party in Chii Town (its underground level) on Thursday, October 25, featuring spicy eats and live entertainment running long into the night. Tickets are selling fast at $88 per person, which includes all food, entertainment and a few late-night surprises. You're in for dishes like crunchy school prawns with house-fermented chilli sauce and burnt lemon, Sydney Pacific oysters matched with a green nahm jim granita, Vietnamese rice paper rolls stuffed with poached chicken and slaw, and a spicy Thai take on 'pigs in blankets'. What's more, you'll be able to lubricate your evening in style, with Chin Chin's full lineup of signature sips available from the bar.
Mud, moss and murky waters mightn't sound like dream Airbnb features, but they couldn't be more exciting if you're a fan of pop culture's favourite solitude-loving ogre. To celebrate Halloween with a fairy tale theme, the accommodation booking platform has added a unique Scottish Highlands stay that'll turn you green with envy if you don't score the reservation — and have you spending the weekend at Shrek's Swamp IRL if you do. Hey now, this is the nostalgic all-star of Airbnb listings, aka a recreation of a spot straight out of the Shrek movies. And the host? Donkey, although it's unlikely that that means that either Eddie Murphy or a domesticated equine will be there to greet you. Here's what is definitely included: two nights for up to three guests in a stumpy structure that goes rustic inside and out, all for free. You'll enjoy a parfait, fireside stories, waffles in the morning, "earwax candlelight" to set the mood (the listing's words, not ours), and having the whole place to yourselves behind the "danger" and "stay out" signs. Oh, and absolutely no torches and pitchforks. Whether onions are included hasn't been revealed. "Shrek's Swamp is lovely. Just beautiful. The perfect place to entertain guests," said Donkey, announcing the stay (well, said Airbnb giving the statement the appropriate themed spin). "You know what I like about it? Everything. The overgrown landscaping, the modest interiors, the nice boulders, all of it. I can't wait for guests to experience this muddy slice of paradise for themselves." If you're keen, you'll need to try to nab the booking at 4am AEDT / 3am AEST / 6am NZDT on Saturday, October 14 — and, if your wish comes true, you'll be off for a stay across the weekend of Friday, October 27–Sunday, October 29. As always, whoever gets the reservation is responsible for their own travel, including if they have to get to and from Scotland. This listing is also helping a good cause, with Airbnb making a one-off donation to the HopScotch Children's Charity, which helps vulnerable and disadvantaged children in Scotland, as part of the Shrek's Swamp promotion. Somebody once told us that the platform loves offering up once-in-a-lifetime spots to slumber, as its recent history shows. In the past, it has had nights at Barbie's Malibu DreamHouse, the Ted Lasso pub, the Moulin Rouge! windmill, Gwyneth Paltrow's Montecito abode, Hobbiton, the Bluey house, the Paris theatre that inspired The Phantom of the Opera and the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine up for grabs. Also on the list: The Godfather mansion, the South Korean estate where BTS filmed In the Soop, Japan's World Heritage-listed Suganuma Village and the House of Sunny studio. Last Halloween, it similarly went with a movie theme, listing the Sanderson sisters' Hocus Pocus cottage. For more information about the Shrek's Swamp stay on Airbnb, or to book at 4am AEDT / 3am AEST / 6am NZDT on Saturday, October 14 for a stay across Friday, October 27–Sunday, October 29, head to the Airbnb website. Images: Alix McIntosh. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Six seasons and a movie. That's how long everyone who loved sitcom Community — its cast and crew included — hoped that the community college-set comedy would run. Alas, when the show wrapped up after 110 episodes in 2015, it only achieved the first part of that goal. And while a film doesn't appear to be in the works in the immediate future, the Greendale gang are all reuniting for a virtual table read. After Parks and Recreation banded its cast together for a new one-off special episode to raise money for charity during the COVID-19 pandemic, Community is following in its footsteps — although its cast and crew won't be performing fresh material. Instead, they'll be reading through the season five episode 'Cooperative Polygraphy', Variety reports. Cast members will join forces via an online video call, stepping back into their old roles. That means that Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jim Rash and Ken Jeong will all be present. Fresh from hosting the Tiger King post-series special via video chats, Joel McHale will be involved as well. And, in news that'll have all Community fans singing "Troy and Abed in the morning", Donald Glover will be, too. Glover left the series partway through the fifth season. They'll be joined by Community creator (and Rick and Morty co-creator) Dan Harmon, as well as a special guest: Game of Thrones and Narcos actor Pedro Pascal. The latter will read the part originally played by Walton Goggins when the episode aired. Screening in full via Sony Pictures TV's Community YouTube channel at 7am AEST on Tuesday, May 19 (2pm Pacific Time on Monday, May 18 in the US), the reunion will also feature a Q&A with the cast — and fans will be asked to donate to José Andrés' World Central Kitchen and Frontline Foods. If you're now in the mood to binge your way through Greendale antics in the lead up, all six seasons of the series is now streaming on Netflix, too — and on Stan in Australia. Check out the Community season one trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4W4L9TLJa8 The Community virtual table read will air via Sony Pictures TV's Community YouTube channel at 7am AEST on Tuesday, May 19 (2pm Pacific Time on Monday, May 18 in the US). Via Variety. Image: Netflix.
'Battle' is normally a dirty word, but in the art world, it can be a mark of originality, technical skill and style. Or at least, that's how the Basel Royale Art Prize's 24 finalists will be judged in the upcoming 12 heats. Official submissions to the prize will be made by the artists live at Lo-Fi on Taylor Square, where the jams will be provided by electronic taste-makers Astral People. Every Thursday for 12 weeks, beginning on August 15, two artists will go head-to-head in a three-hour long blitz of creative energy to see whose work makes it to the final showcase on November 7. But don't just stand and watch — the public can have a say by voting in person using tokens or online via Instagram. Aside from Instacred and a sense of self-satisfaction, the winner will also be sent to Art Basel in Miami, one of the most significant international art events, which displays a selection of modern and contemporary works from around the world.
Surry Hills is home to some of Sydney's finest and most beloved restaurants, bars, pubs, hotels and cinemas — from shiny new spots to historic stalwarts. In order to celebrate this bustling suburb, a two-week festival of food, drink, music, art and just about anything else you could imagine is popping up in September. Surry Thrills encourages downtown Surry Hills venues to flex what they've got and put on enticing one-off events throughout the 16-day program. Think long lunches, wine tastings, big-name collaborations, bar takeovers, artist talks, art exhibitions, live music and a whole bunch more. There's a heap of names attached to the festival, both big and small. You can expect pop-ups and events from the likes of the Ace Hotel, Alberto's, Butter, Chin Chin, the China Heights Gallery, D.O.C, Gildas, Golden Age Cinema & Bar, Hollywood Hotel, Harry's, Nomad, Paramount House Hotel, Pellegrino 2000, Poly, The Soda Factory and Tio's Cerveceria — all of which are within walking distance of each other. [caption id="attachment_702832" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alberto Lounge, Kitti Gould[/caption] "Our vision is to link all of the incredible businesses together, unite the Downtown Surry Hills precinct and to highlight the depth and breadth of creativity in this unique and diverse precinct," Brett Robinson of The Point Group said. "We've enjoyed being a part of this great community for many years, and to lead the way highlighting these sensational people and the experiences they create is super exciting." The festival will be taking over the inner-city suburb from Thursday, September 15–Friday, September 30. Full event details will be released shortly, so keep your eyes out for changes to the Surry Thrills Instagram page for further information. Ed Loveday, the festival's Creative Director said: "Surry Thrills is about celebrating what a great place Downtown Surry Hills is to hang out and have fun from morning to night. It's home to some of Australia's most critically acclaimed restaurants, cocktail bars, cafes, and pubs. You can catch a film, an art exhibition, live bands or dance the night into oblivion, then wake up in the morning at one of Sydney's coolest boutique hotels." Surry Thrills will be taking over downtown Surry Hills from Thursday, September 15–Friday, September 30.
Bars where you can do more than just sit around and drink are really having a moment. And, in no small part, it's thanks to the ever-expanding empire of Funlab, the company in charge of the ever-popular Holey Moley, Strike Bowling and Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq. Now, Funlab has brought its B. Lucky & Sons concept to Wollongong. It's a bar-meets-arcade with some actually good pawn shop prizes, instead of the usual plastic crap you get. Think vintage Chanel bags, classic cameras and rare vinyls, plus a Nintendo 64 in its original box and Tune Squad swag from the 1996 cult classic, Space Jam. Yup, they're going real old-school with this one. It's hidden behind the façade of a pawn shop, and decked out with eclectic furnishings. For drinks, the bar is slinging creative cocktails and alcoholic bubble teas. Meanwhile, the food menu consists of pizzas, toasties and some sides. As far as games go, expect throwbacks for the millennial generation — featuring everything from Mario Kart and Space Invaders to NBA Hoops and a Dance Dance Revolution knock-off. Head in on a Tuesday for half-price games, or on Wednesday when selected games will spit out double tickets. And although the venue will be open to littl'uns during the day, it'll be strictly adults-only at night, so you don't have to worry about being laughed at by a ten-year-old when you fall off Rainbow Road for the 14th time.
There's an unassuming poke shop sitting on Queen Street in Woollahra. Behind the charred wood wall at its back — actually a sliding door — you'll find Izy, the eastern suburbs' new modern izakaya. Previously home to Japanese eatery Kenny Rens, the space has been given a makeover, and the food and drinks list reinvented by chef Jack New (Icebergs, Sokyo), bartender Atlanta Pahulu (Ramblin' Rascal Tavern) and front-of-house powerhouse Sebastien Dallee, who previously co-owned The Nine in Bondi. While most dishes on the menu are cooked on a large robata grill — stretching along the length of the open kitchen and bar — they're anything but traditional. New is known for his fusion cooking, previously pairing Scandinavian techniques and Japanese ingredients at the now-closed Edition, and he's implemented it here, too. Japanese ingredients are featured throughout the menu — with nori, koji and miso making regular appearances — and they're often paired with Italian flavours and dishes. Burrata ($20) is served with sake-glazed grape, charred on the robata, and should be ordered with a thick slab of 'garlic bread' ($6.50) topped with vibrant spread of smoked garlic and garlic chives; and koji-fried quail ($18) pairs well with a side of brussels sprouts ($10) tossed in house-made XO. As is the case at most izakayas, the food here is meant to facilitate drinking, so most dishes are salt- and chilli-heavy and easy to eat with your hands — a standout being the Hawaiian skewers ($14), made from cubes of pineapple and chestnut-fed pork cooked on the grill and topped with kewpie. Sakes and accessible naturals lead the drinks lineup (the particularly peachy La Violetta pét-nat goes down a treat) but are backed up by Japanese whiskeys, craft beers and, surprisingly, punch. Served in sharing bowls — portioned for two-to-three people, or one, very thirsty, customer — the punch rotates often, including options such as white wine and rum with mandarin and clove syrup. Izy, like most good Sydney restaurants these days, uses local produce and has a focus on sustainability, purchasing meats from Victor Churchill and seafood from Costis — both located stone throws' away on Queen Street. The menu also adapts to absorb leftover ingredients from the poké shop out front and a regular wastage user is the Salmon vs Salmon ($16), a build-your-own taco made using dehydrated salmon skins cooked in squid ink. Sydney has no shortage of bars serving up natty wines and next-level bar snacks, but this one — with its moody, fiery dining room, inventive eats and dangerously quaffable pét-nats — is worth hunting down. Izy is now open at 146 Queen Street, Woollahra from 5–10pm every day except Monday. Images: Nick Diomis.
For 14 years, the Voodoo Festival has possessed New Orleans' Halloween with some of the world's most sought-after live music acts, from Pearl Jam to The Cure to Nine Inch Nails. This year, Sydneysiders will have the chance to experience a little of the magic, with The Bourbon getting their ghoul on in preparation for the city's first ever Voodoo. From 6pm, doors will open to reveal a scarily transformed venue, complete with evil twins. Headline acts are Australian rockabilly band Pat Capocci and the Two-Timing Playboys and urban party outfit Pocketful of Soul. They'll be delivering killer guitar licks and dance tunes until late. Award-winning chef James Metcalfe is conjuring up a Halloween-inspired menu, featuring oysters with Bloody Mary granita and spiced pumpkin pie with maple ice cream. Entry is free, plus all guests will receive a complimentary cocktail, courtesy of sponsors Smirnoff and George Dickel. Costume's not compulsory, but it's definitely anticipated. Why not get into the spirit?
This year has been one of the most challenging faced by Sydney's hospitality industry in decades, eclipsing even the turbulent and uncertain periods during the COVID-19 shutdowns and the gruelling months of trading restrictions that followed. The industry has been rocked by a drastic downturn in revenue driven by a number of factors, but chiefly the soaring cost of living, which has forced many consumers to give up dining out regularly. Josh and Julie Niland, the hospitality heavyweights behind celebrated low-to-no waste seafood venues including Saint Peter and Fish Butchery, have already lost two venues to the closure crisis: the OG Fish Butchery in Paddington and their fast-casual concept Charcoal Fish in Rose Bay, which both closed in April. Now, another Niland restaurant has been forced to close permanently. [caption id="attachment_983665" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Petermen[/caption] Petermen, which opened in St Leonards on the North Shore in February of 2023, will serve its last service on Sunday, December 15. In a statement, Josh and Julie Niland cited the challenging economic conditions hammering the hospitality sector as the main reason for shuttering the business. "Our time on Chandos St, St Leonards, has brought a lot of joy to us and our team, and we have welcomed the most incredible guests. However, the past 12 months have been extremely challenging for independent businesses within the hospitality industry." the statement reads. [caption id="attachment_826356" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Charcoal Fish in Rose Bay[/caption] "Sadly, Julie and I have had to make the decision to close Petermen. Our last day of trading will be Sunday, December 15. We wish to thank the local community for all their support. We are incredibly grateful to our team, who will continue with us at Saint Peter and Fish Butchery. A big thanks to our suppliers, incredible guests, and everyone who has assisted in making Petermen a special restaurant to dine in." While this is no doubt a disappointing outcome for the Nilands, 2024 hasn't been all bad for these leading lights of Australian dining. In August, the couple's flagship restaurant, Saint Peter, relocated to The Grand National Hotel, expanding its dining room substantially. In November, the pair also announced the opening of a new restaurant at the new luxury Hamilton Island resort The Sundays, expanding the Niland's Australian footprint beyond NSW for the first time. [caption id="attachment_739656" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fish Butchery. Image by Cody Duncan[/caption] Petermen will open for its last service on Sunday, December 15. For more details and to make a booking, visit the Petermen website.
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.
Us Aussies might not get to enjoy a white Christmas here on home turf, but that doesn't mean we can't indulge in all the classic wintery yuletide treats. Think, fruit mince pies, creamy egg nog and spiced gingerbread fresh from the oven. Or hey, how about a festive fusion of gingerbread and gin, like you'll find in the latest drop from The Craft & Co? The Collingwood distillery has just announced the return of its cult favourite Gingerbread Gin, a seasonal creation that's been steadily growing in popularity since debuting in 2019. Having just scooped another medal at last month's Australian Gin Awards, the spiced tipple is once again heading to a bottle shop shelf near you, with this year's edition now available to buy from The Craft & Co's online store and select booze retailers. The spirit is a nod to one of the classic food and drink pairings, inspired by stories from 18th-century England, when Brits would apparently warm the cockles with a combination of hot gin and gingerbread. The Craft & Co's riff on this concept takes the form of a rich, smooth gin, with warming flavours imparted by a mix of cinnamon, macerated ginger root, smashed nutmeg and tonka bean. It's unfiltered and clocks in with an ABV of 40 percent. So, how to put this Gingerbread Gin to good use? Apart from sipping it neat or on ice for a quick hit of Christmas cheer, the distillers recommend matching the drink with some blood orange soda or ginger beer. We're told it also works a treat in milky cocktails, and you can find recipes for a Gingerbread Gin Alexander and a Gingerbread Gin Egg Nog over on The Craft & Co's website. You can grab a Gingerbread Gin for $85 from The Craft & Co's online store or at its cellar door at 390 Smith Street, Collingwood. It's also available from select retailers including Dan Murphy's, BWS and Boozebud.
Paddington favourite Tequila Mockingbird brought its South American and Mexican flare to the CBD last month when it opened the doors to its pop-up restaurant, Tequila on York. As of next week, the pop-up will be replaced by a more permanent Mexican spot called Esteban. The multi-level venue will be split into three distinct offerings: an upstairs restaurant, a downstairs mezcal bar and a laneway dining space. In the kitchen, Executive Group Chef John Frid is plating up Mexican share plates created using traditional cooking techniques, but with sustainably sourced Aussie produce. Corn tortillas are made in-house daily, while the custom-built parilla grill and vertical charcoal rotisserie have been installed to turn out the likes of tacos al pastor, woodfired octopus and ironbark-grilled chicken mole. Other specialties served in the upstairs restaurant include kingfish ceviche with watermelon sorbet, chile verde and fried plantain; wattleseed-rubbed duck breast with yellow chilli peppers; and a massive one-kilogram rib eye, paired with a salsa flight or porcini butter. [caption id="attachment_786885" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] Meanwhile, in the the basement bar and alfresco dining area, it's all about the street food — with tacos, ceviche and tortas on offer from lunch straight through until 12.30am (five days a week). Alongside the tacqueria-style menu is an emphasis on mezcal and tequila, with a roving trolley pouring drops for patrons throughout the night. To combine a bit of both, punters can opt for Esteban's signature margarita flight, which will feature three mini cocktails paired with three tacos — those include the wagyu beef tartare on blue corn tortillas, the prawn cocktail with Patron salsa and the Tasmanian salmon ceviche. Charcoal-roasted adobo pork, beef barbacoa and spicy chicken tinga are also up for grabs. [caption id="attachment_786882" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] Designed by Sydney architects Humphrey & Edwards (Barangaroo House), the space takes inspiration from the underground basement bars of Mexico City, as well as 1930s art deco buildings. The heritage aspects of the building have also been preserved, including its exposed sandstone walls, high archways and existing timber beams. Upstairs, expect the intimate 45-seater to boast an open kitchen with counter seating, as well as a floor-to-ceiling mural created by Sydney artist Nanami Cowdroy. Other artworks include hand-painted and beaded bottles, which have been crafted in Oaxaca. In the basement, you'll find leather booths and banquettes, plus a granite bar top and custom-built timber cabinets to hold all of that distilled agave. The bar claims to be home to the largest collection of mezcal and tequila in Australia. On the way in, take a closer look at the 400-kilogram front door, which was created from acid-aged steel by Byron Bay artist Daniel Heapy. Find Esteban at 1 Temperance Lane, Sydney from Tuesday, October 27. The downstairs taqueria will be open from 11.30am–1am Tuesday–Saturday and the upstairs restaurant will be open from 12–2.30pm Wednesday–Friday and 5–10pm Tuesday–Saturday.
One of the most affordable spots on the harbour this NYE is at Bar Ombre. For $350, you can enjoy a five-course meal, three-hour drinks package and views of the fireworks from the rooftop of Salt Meats Cheese Circular Quay. On the menu at this openair event, you'll find a selection of shared starters including zucchini flowers, rosemary and garlic focaccia and soft shell crab, as well as an oyster, prawn and tuna seafood platter. You'll then be offered your choice of either crisp-skinned Tasmanian salmon and wagyu scotch fillet with truffle butter and charred broccoli. In the lead up to midnight, you'll be treated to mini cannoli and tiramisu, and prosecco, red and white wine along with beer will be free-flowing through the night. If you want to be among the action and enjoy a hearty Italian meal, but aren't fussed about the fireworks, you can alternatively book a table downstairs, which includes a three-course meal and glass of Moët for $145. [caption id="attachment_723370" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] Bookings are available via the Salt Meats and Cheese website. Image: Kitti Gould
Instantly recognisable in their freeform design and luminescent colours, Dinosaur Designs have become somewhat of a household name when it comes to homewares and jewellery. So when it's time for Christmas gift shopping, they're always the kind of place you can rely upon. Each of their items – necklaces, bangles, bowls, jars, vases – are meticulously handcrafted from coloured resin so not one object is ever the same as another.
If December to you means luminous festive decorations — November as well, or basically the second that Halloween is over — then simply driving through your neighbourhood can be a jolly good time. Wherever you look, there just might be a glowing set of Christmas lights sharing its seasonal merriment and brightening up the suburban streets. Of course, these lit-up displays really shouldn't cause such a fuss. They pop up everywhere every year, after all, and we're all well and truly aware of how electricity works. But twinkling bulbs are just so hard to resist when it's the happiest portion of the calendar. Perhaps you're a casual Christmas lights fan, and you're completely fine just checking out whichever blazing displays you happen to pass in your travels. Maybe you have a few tried-and-tested favourite spots, and you return to them every year. Or, you could want to scope out the best and brightest seasonal-themed houses and yards. Whichever category you fall into, an Australian website called Christmas Lights Search is likely to pique your interest, especially given that it has been updated for 2023. Christmas Lights Search is as nifty and handy as its name suggests, covering festive displays all around the country. To locate all the spots that you should head to, it's as easy as entering your postcode or suburb — or those of places nearby — and letting the site deliver the relevant options. Plus, it also rates the lights displays, if you want to either go big or stay home. It's also constantly being updated, so, like the best combos of glowing trees, sparkling bulbs and oversized Santas, you might want to check it out more than once. When you pick an individual address listed on the site, you'll be greeted with some key information, too. The level of detail varies per listing, but expect to potentially peruse photos, the ideal hours to swing by, a date range and a description of what's on offer. All that's left is to get searching, plot out where you'll be heading every night between now and Christmas Eve, and get ready to see oh-so-many reindeer, candy canes and snowmen. Putting up your own Christmas lights for the neighbourhood to see? Spotted something in your travels that you think everyone else would like to check out? You can add both to Christmas Lights Search as well. [caption id="attachment_882325" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] To find festive displays near you, head to the Christmas Lights Search website. Top image: Donaldytong via Wikimedia Commons.
This contemporary art gallery has been a small but significant member of the inner-city art scene since its establishment in 2012. The Commercial, based in Redfern, represents a steady flock of emerging and established artists across a number of mediums and disciplines. Exhibitions typically last for a month making repeat visits a must for art enthusiasts. Recent works on offer have included Emily Hunt's silk monotypes and ceramics as well as paintings by Tim Schultz and Patrick Hartigan. The estate of prominent Australian Aboriginal artist Michael Riley is also managed by The Commercial. Riley's work in photography and film made a significant contribution to the representation of rural Aboriginal communities and Indigenous society.
Across ten extremely amusing initial episodes in 2022, Loot had a message: billionaires shouldn't exist. So declared the show's resident cashed-up character, with Molly Wells (Maya Rudolph, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem) receiving $87 billion in her divorce from tech guru John Novak (Adam Scott, Madame Web), then spending most of the Apple TV+ sitcom's first season working out what to do with it (and also how to handle her newly single life in general). That she had a foundation to her name was virtually news to her. So was much about everything beyond the ultra-rich. And, she was hardly equipped for being on her own. But Loot's debut run came to an entertaining end with the big statement that it was always uttering not so quietly anyway. So what happens next, after one of the richest people in the world decides to give away all of her money? Cue season two of this ace workplace-set comedy from Wednesday, April 3. Created by former Parks and Recreation writers Alan Yang and Matt Hubbard, in their second Rudolph-starring delight — 2018's Forever was the first — Loot splices together three popular on-screen realms as it loosely draws parallels with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his philanthropist ex-wife MacKenzie Scott. At her charity, as Molly's staff become the kind of friends that feel like family while doing their jobs, shows such as 30 Rock and Superstore (which Hubbard also has on his resume) score an obvious sibling. As its protagonist endeavours to do good, be better and discover what makes a meaningful life, The Good Place (which Yang also wrote for) and Forever get company. And in enjoying its eat-the-rich mode as well, it sits alongside Succession and The White Lotus, albeit while being far sillier. Nothing was broken about this mix and setup in season one, so there's no fixing required the second time around — just leaning in further and letting Loot's talented cast make the most of it. Co-starring alongside Rudolph: Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (American Horror Story) as foundation head Sofia, Joel Kim Booster (Fire Island) as Molly's assistant Nicholas, Ron Funches (Good Burger 2) as her cousin Howard and Nat Faxon (Our Flag Means Death) as company accountant Arthur, plus Stephanie Styles (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Meagen Fay (9-1-1) as the cheery Ainsley and hippie-ish Rhonda to round out the office gang. As motley crews dictate, everyone has a personality archetype. Sofia is dedicated and determined. Nicholas chases clout. Howard and Arthur both bring sweetness, the latter as a daggy dad who also becomes Molly's everyman love interest, for instance. Loot has a clear lead, but it also patently adores its ensemble; with this group, there's plenty to love. After Molly's huge announcement, she has downsized mansions in season two, while also grappling with John's rekindled romantic interest and trying to make good on her word — and to get her homelessness-tackling project Space for Everyone off the ground. Loot knows that the path back from such an extravagant existence isn't straightforward, though. Plenty of its humour comes from Molly attempting to do what she thinks is right, but being the type of out-of-touch that money literally buys. Still, she has a caring heart and noble intentions, which Loot always sees. This is a series that's teeming with designer attire, jet-setting, lavish spiritual retreats and opulent dream homes, and watches them gleam, yet is keenly aware that nothing sparkles as brightly as truly being yourself, learning what makes you feel fulfilled, real connection and genuine benevolence, all of which are priceless. It's hard to imagine anyone but Rudolph selling Loot as wholeheartedly, or ensuring that the concept hits its mark. It isn't a simple task, parodying the ridiculously affluent while humanising a lead character who can't remember anything but rolling in dosh — and also showing her well-to-do trappings without undercutting the show's eat-the-rich mantra by making her life, or even just the materialism, freedom and security of a an abundant bank balance, seem aspirational. By now, however, almost three decades since she made her screen debut and nearing a quarter century since her first Saturday Night Live days, it's been proven several times over that Rudolph can do everything. Playing Molly requires that flexibility, as honed so expertly in sketch comedy. It also hinges on Rudolph committing to being the joke again and again, while digging past satirising Molly to unearth the person beneath the billions. Put Loot's lead in any show or movie and it's worth watching (see also: everything from Away We Go, Bridesmaids, The Way Way Back and Sisters to Up All Night and Maya & Marty). That said, also harking back to her SNL stint, she's a spectacular team player even when giving a star turn, which this recognises. Yang and Hubbard have filled Loot's cast perfectly with actors who bounce off of Rudolph flawlessly, including in guest roles in season two. When Ana Gasteyer (American Auto), Rudolph's SNL co-star, pops up as another obscenely well-off ex-wife, audiences can be forgiven for wanting a spinoff that pushes them both to the fore. And when Benjamin Bratt (Poker Face) joins the series briefly, it's a sublime inclusion. For the show's regular ensemble, season two delivers more subplots and supporting-character arcs. Sofia gets a boyfriend (O-T Fagbenle, Secret Invasion), plus more time away from the job that she's devoted to. Nicholas dives into his cultural heritage, adopted upbringing and dating behaviour. Howard follows an opposing route to Molly, endeavouring to free himself from debt rather than giving away money, while also embracing a passion as a side hustle. Chemistry still lingers between Molly and Arnold, but no workplace sitcom lets romance come easily — and no series about a person bettering themselves, and also unearthing themselves in a midlife crisis, allows new love to blossom quickly, either. From Molly doing Vogue's 73 Questions and Taylor Swift obsessions becoming a plot point to runway appearances and weaving in a hilarious nod to a movie masterpiece, Loot isn't short on other reasons to get giggling — or other ways to flesh out Molly and the gang. Another pivotal element that it boasts in abundance: the potential to keep growing, especially as Molly's bank balance dwindles. Skewering levels of wealth that no one should have, and that only the one percent of the one percent can grasp, will never stop proving rich and necessary comic material. Loot has bite, laughs, thematic capital to keep building upon and a roster of talent making it one of Apple TV+'s comedy standouts. It was true in its first season and remains the case in its second: this is a series to invest in. Check out the trailer for Loot season two below: Loot streams via Apple TV+, with season two starting on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.
Anyone with even a passing interest in gaming will be familiar with the concept of the ‘boss arena’. Be it Mario or Mass Effect, there’s an intuitive moment experienced by every player when their character suddenly strolls into a vast open space surrounded by high, insurmountable walls and they're gripped by an immediate, unnerving sense that things are about to get a whole lot worse. Whether or not this idea directly informed the production team of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part II, the same unsettling sensation rears its head throughout the franchise’s final installment and will leave audiences scrambling for their invisible 'save buttons' time and time again. An abandoned city square, a deserted mall and a sewer system all play host to these phenomenally tense and terrifying sequences (so much so in that last sequence that parents were taking their children out of the screening). Indeed, this is a fittingly bleak and violent conclusion to a franchise where anything less would have represented a disappointing commercial concession. To end on a positive note would have offered an incompatibly upbeat finale to this tale of dystopian bloodsport in which children are forced to kill for entertainment and political intimidation. Even the satirical pomp of characters like Elizabeth Banks’s Effie and Stanley Tucci’s Caesar has been stripped bare, so much so that you could almost be forgiven for thinking Mockingjay II was filmed in greyscale. Gone, too (thankfully) is the teenage angst that mired much of the previous film in near unceasing dullness. In fact, everything here is kept mercifully simple: Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) intends to kill President Snow (Donald Sutherland), but to do so she and her team must first navigate the perils of the Capital minefield. That’s it. That’s all that’s going on here. And the film is much stronger for it. The problem, of course, with such a dark and joyless approach is that portrayals of gritty, hardened soldiers can easily be mistaken for bored or lacklustre performances, and Mockingjay II is no exception. Sutherland, in fact, appears to be the only one enjoying himself, both as a character and a performer. His wry smile and pointed barbs earn almost every one of the sparse laughs throughout, leaving everyone else to move from scene to scene as if in a communal drunken daze. On the rare occasions where emotion does surface, it’s invariably from one of the supporting roles. To its credit, Mockingjay II doesn’t hold back in its depiction of war crimes, and its final stages boast a moment that is genuinely shocking, both narratively and visually. None of the films that have followed the original have been able to match it – either in terms of story or performance – but the finale is not far behind. A fittingly bleak and violent conclusion to a compelling if overlong young adult franchise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-7K_OjsDCQ
Stay tuned. More info on its way.
While the university photocopier and Officeworks help you print some stuff in bulk, and cheaply, there's a whole world of other offerings that Sydney's artists can get close to if they have something special to land on the printed page. Concrete Playground recently chatted with four local Sydney printers. Some use very new technology, others work with much older techniques. And, while none are as cheap as the photocopier, all four of these local printing houses are relatively accessible for the lone artist. Want to learn how to print an object? A zine? A book? A poster? Read on. We'll tell you how it's done. Zines: The Rizzeria "I felt absolutely gutted. It was horrifying." This is how Leigh Ragozzi describes the feeling of watching the (accidentally administered) death throes of the Rizzeria collective's original Riso printer. This photocopier-shaped machine was the raison d'être of the collective. He found himself dropping the machine back at their St Peters studio alone, after a successful residency at the Performance Space. The ramp that the collective usually used to wheel it up the step was missing. Not able to get ahold of any help, he tried to heft the heavy machine up a step where the studio's ramp normally went. He missed. And that wasn't the end of it. After Ragozzi returned the rented truck they used to transport the Rizo, he was mugged. "I emailed everyone and told them everything that had happened that day. I had to deal with that unpleasantness of not feeling safe in the city, and also having busted up one of the best print cooperatives around." You can understand why he was upset. The Riso was cool. With a Riso you can essentially spit out high speed colour screen prints, like a photocopier can spit out copies. It's the same basic some people might remember from the fragrant, purple school handouts made with a ditto machine or mimeograph. Sydney printer, Kernow Craig (now of Blood and Thunder), saw a Riso in action at Knust in the city of Nijmegen, Holland. Craig was floored by the machine — and the workshop around it — and convinced all sorts of people to chip in for one when he returned to Sydney. For the original machine, the cash was raised as a form of gentle loan (later repaid). For its replacement, the Rizzeria collective ran a successful Pozible campaign. Now they have a new machine happily up and running, most of an old machine for parts and no debt. And using the new machine is a pretty simple process to get your head around. You start by making a Saturday appointment via the Rizzeria's web form. Once you arrive, a member of the collective will be on hand to guide you through your first go. Your design (or zine page, or A4 poster) gets scanned up top like a photocopier. But, instead of copying it onto A4, the printer etches the design onto a roll of wax paper that pops out up the top. This wax paper gets wrapped around a cylinder that pops out of the centre of the bed popping out of a CT scanner. The ink for the printing is inside the cylinder. And, as the pages of paper go through, it spits out ink around the patterns. It really is just like screen printing, but the ink is being pushed through the cylinder against the passing pages, instead of a flat screen. Pages pop out as fast and reliably as a photocopier. For a second colour, you just etch out another stencil of a matching design, stick another colour ink in the cylinder and run the paper through again. The paper will get both versions of the image, but lining up the two colours on the one sheet ("registration") is pretty hard. So, for more than one colour, the Riso machine works best with a second colour that looks ok even if it slips a little out of place. At the time of compiling this article, the Rizzeria were still working out their new charges. But they expected them to be pretty similar to the old ones, which worked out at roughly $5 for a single, fully printed zine. The Rizzeria is up and running at its new home in the Oxford Street Design Store every Saturday (book here). For speed stencilling beginners, the Rizzeria is also running an Introduction to Stencil Printing starting Saturday July 21. 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Next >
If Black Swan didn't make the ballet world look tough enough, the boys from The Dream are sure to fix that. The Australian Ballet has been putting its dancers through their paces ahead of the company's launch of the production early next month. A fascinating rendition of Shakespeare's iconic A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Dream is part of a triple bill of works by leading 20th-century choreographer Frederick Ashton at his spectacular best. Expect magic and musicality, and did we mention men en pointe? That's right, to play the role of Bottom the donkey, the male dancers will have to make like the ladies and dance on their toe-tips (a technique they've learnt in just 12 weeks, as dancer Christopher Rodgers-Wilson described to us for our feature). Bringing Shakespeare's most magical work to contemporary audiences, think of this as the perfect first-taste of ballet for anyone who's never dared step foot inside the Opera Theatre.
If you haven't heard the news, South by South West is officially coming to Sydney for its first festival outside of Texas later this year, and details of its massive gaming-focused arm of the conference, officially titled the SXSW Sydney Gaming Festival, have now been revealed. Running for the length of the festival, the gaming program will feature a Sydney edition of a global esports tournament, an indie game showcase, a tabletop game expo, hands-on demonstrations for AR and VR creations, panels, performances, a social hub and an investment summit for pitch sessions and general industry hobnobbing. The headline event will be the Intel Extreme Masters, which will arrive at the Aware Super Theatre from Friday, October 20-Sunday, October 22 following massive iterations in Katowice, Rio de Janeiro, Dallas, and Sydney back in 2019 when the event sold out Qudos Bank Arena. The longest-running pro gaming tour in the world, Intel Extreme Masters is the gaming world's equivalent of the World Cup or the Olympics and will bring some of the world's leading esports pros to Australia. The Indie Games Showcase will place the spotlight on 150 independent games from Australia, New Zealand and the globe, with sessions diving into the world of the indie open to both industry and general audiences. You can catch sneak peeks of a new animated word game called Gubbins, a highly stylised adventure puzzle game called Birth and a restaurant-set time management game called The Chef's Shift among the 150 titles. If you prefer your games more tangible, there will be a dedicated tabletop festival within the conference with exhibitors, demos, seminars, stage sessions and a freeplay area all dedicated to IRL card, roleplay and board games. [caption id="attachment_906082" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gubbins[/caption] This is just the start of the gaming section of the SXSW Sydney program with more to be announced closer to the date. Beyond gaming, the world-renowned fest is bringing together innovators and venue-fillers from across a heap of industries between Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22. There's been an initial announcement of keynote speakers and musicians, plus a heap of local artists and a pair of parties so far, with more to come. On the previously announced section of the program, you'll find speakers like Chris Lee (also known as Lee Sung-Su), the Chief A&R Officer and former CEO of K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment; The Genesis Machine author and Future Today Institute founder Amy Webb; and Saudi women's rights activist Manal al-Sharif — plus a heap of musicians like Redveil, Connie Constance, Otoboke Beaver, Wallice, Chameleon Lime Whoopiepie, Teenage Joans, Phoebe Go, MALI JO$E, Ashli. [caption id="attachment_906083" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Birth[/caption] The festival will take place within a walkable precinct within the Sydney CBD, Haymarket, Darling Harbour, Ultimo, Chippendale and more. Think of the fest's footprint as a huge hub, with festivals within the bigger fest, exhibitions, talks, networking opportunities and streetside activations popping up everywhere. So far, venues named include Powerhouse Museum, ICC Sydney, UTS, Central Park Mall, the Goods Line Walk, The Abercrombie and Lansdowne Hotel. SXSW Sydney will run from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22 at various Sydney venues — head to the festival's website for further details. 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.
When it comes to first dates (or any social gatherings, for that matter) it's hard to beat Sydney's inner west. There's an array of restaurants that serve multicultural cuisine, plenty of dog-friendly courtyards and quintessential Aussie pubs to choose from, plus loads of lively venues to hit up as the sun sets and the night picks up the pace. Whether you're a music lover, a cocktail connoisseur or simply after an intimate spot for a late-night pash, we've teamed up with Inner West Council to compile the best of the west — especially when you're trying to impress. Wow your date with your local bar knowledge and keep the sparks flying well into the evening.
In front of the camera, Thomas M Wright's first credit came courtesy of Round the Twist. Two decades later, he has roles on everything from The Secret Life of Us, Top of the Lake and The Bridge through to Van Diemen's Land, Balibo, Everest and Sweet Country to his name. But since hopping behind the lens in 2018, the Australian actor-turned-filmmaker has proven one of the country's most fascinating new directors — first with Acute Misfortune and now with the upcoming The Stranger. That initial helming stint saw Wright take on the story of artist Adam Cullen and journalist Erik Jensen, after the latter was invited to stay with the former in 2008 to turn his life story into a biography. One of the most stunning recent Aussie filmmaking debuts, Acute Misfortune not only explored its subject in a riveting warts-and-all fashion, but also interrogated the nation's fascination with festering masculinity — and yes, it truly was something special. Premiering at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, then set to arrive in Australian cinemas on October 6 before hitting Netflix around the globe on October 19, The Stranger also draws from reality — from the effort to apprehend the person responsible for Daniel Morcombe's abduction and murder. That said, this isn't a recreation or a dramatisation. If you didn't know about the ties to reality going in, or even before pressing play on the just-dropped new trailer, you probably wouldn't pick it — even with lines like "this is the largest missing person's case in the history of our state and is one of the largest in the history of our country". Crucially, The Stranger isn't about the crime, but focuses on the undercover operation to bring the perpetrator to justice. Joel Edgerton (Thirteen Lives) stars as Mark, who goes undercover to befriend drifter Henry (Sean Harris, Spencer) — first striking up a conversation while travelling, with Henry unaware of Mark's true identity and motives. While fictionalised, The Stranger joins Australia's growing list of unsurprisingly tense films unpacking dark chapters in the nation's past, such as Chopper, Snowtown and Nitram. Check out the trailer for The Stranger below: The Stranger will release in Australian cinemas on October 6, and stream Down Under via Netflix from October 19.
Here's an excuse to roll out of bed early, then start your day with a cinema date: on Sunday mornings, Hoyts is slashing its standard ticket prices to $10 before midday at its cinemas across Australia, including in Sydney. Head to one of chain's picture palaces and pick whichever film that's playing, as long as it's an early session that begins prior 12.01pm, to score a bargain movie date to kick off winter. Sure, Sunday mornings are prime sleep-in time, but this is a hard deal to pass off if you're a cinephile, on a budget, like spending the colder months indoors, are looking for a cheap date idea or all of the above. Initially, the special was only running for June, but now it has been extended for the foreseeable future, with no end date locked in. Movie-wise, there are plenty of titles to choose from, whether you're keen on the Austin Butler-starring motorcycle drama The Bikeriders, the horror thrills of A Quiet Place: Day One, or getting animated with Inside Out 2 and Despicable Me 4. You can also catch Twisters and Deadpool & Wolverine, which release in July. You don't need to be a Hoyts member to score the discount; however, there are some caveats. The $10 tickets are only available on Sundays; can be booked online, via the Hoyts app or in-person at the cinema; and will attract a booking fee for everything but physical purchases. And again, the deal applies just to standard sessions, not HOYTS LUX and special events — but you can pay extra to sit in a D-BOX motion recliner or get the Xtremescreen experience. Updated Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
"I ran into her on computer camp"... was that in Bergen, Norway? The synth-driven duo with a slick devotion to red tracksuits are back with "the most extravagant single in history". Datarock's new single 'Catcher In The Rye' comes as a designer toy with a USB stick that features 110 tracks, 1500 photos taken at their shows across 33 countries, 20 music videos, and Never Say Die, a brand new hour-long concert film. Definitely extravagant, and a novel idea, if you think about it. Generally lumped in with fellow electro-rock revivalists LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip and Klaxons, Datarock are the self-proclaimed peak of pop evolution. They deliver Devo-esque disco with post-punk licks, effortlessly traversing between four/four Groovebox rhythms and spacey melodies. They are festival favourites across North America, Europe, Asia and South America, as renowned for their onstage aerobics and uptempo performances as they are for their covetable tracksuits. Datarock are in Australia for Groovin the Moo but are bringing their shimmery sonic soundscapes to the Oxford Art Factory this Thursday. It'd be a smart idea to grab tickets and get a pair of wraparound Porsche sunglasses quick.
Everybody loves a good procedural. Meticulously charting the steps of an investigation can be as immersive as it is thrilling; there's a reason that serial killer flicks and cop shows prefer the approach, after all. Truth applies the style to a tale of media troubles, tracking a group of US journalists trying to cover a story of national significance. Unfortunately, while the film sticks to the formula of chasing leads and piecing together a puzzle, it does so in a standard and heavy-handed fashion. It's a disappointing outcome, and surprising for two reasons. The first is that the real-life circumstances that inform the feature — the incident that ended the careers of seasoned news producer Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett) and veteran news anchor Dan Rather (Robert Redford) — are both complicated and compelling. The second is that although filmmaker James Vanderbilt is sitting in the director's chair for the first time, he previously wrote the script for David Fincher's Zodiac, one of the best procedural efforts ever made. With Truth, he offers an account of a controversial report about then-President George W. Bush's military record, which aired on American TV's 60 Minutes in 2004. Mapes, Rather and their team (played by the likes of Topher Grace, Dennis Quaid and Elisabeth Moss) burrowed into rumours and leaked memos surrounding the President's service with the Texas Air National Guard in the 1970s and the preferential treatment he might have received, only to be subjected to accusations of factual inaccuracy and political bias in the aftermath of the broadcast. Much of the enjoyment of procedurals stems from the journey on which they take the audience, letting us watch as details are discovered and dots are joined together. Alas, in adapting Mapes' memoir Truth and Duty: The Press, the President and the Privilege of Power, Vanderbilt renders Truth an exercise in telling rather than showing. Everything of importance is spelled out multiple times, and speeches about the downfall of the media are given more weight and emphasis than the minutiae of the investigation. The underlying situation remains fascinating, as does the statement the film makes, but the former too often feels like a tool for the latter. Thank goodness for Blanchett, who channels both the vulnerability of her Oscar-winning portrayal in Blue Jasmine and the steeliness of her performance in Elizabeth. The crusading film she's in might largely go through the motions, but the same could never be said for her. Redford, too, is expectedly strong, playing Rather with weariness and wisdom. Sadly, the rest of the cast is relegated to sidekick roles and bit parts, a symptom of Vanderbilt's blunt focus. That said, Noni Hazlehurst stands out among a bunch of local talent that also includes Rachael Blake, Andrew McFarlane, Steve Bastoni, Martin Sacks and Nicholas Hope. Turns out the movie was actually shot in Sydney: the biggest surprise in a movie that lacks them otherwise.
Sweet Bird Andsoforth is about a group of friends caught in that awkward place between adolescence and adulthood. Playing with the imaginary pleasures of their undecided futures, they are burning unchannelled energy in a town “where there is no common youth club, no pub and no café… and not a trace of city.” Yet it is proving a surprisingly hard place to leave. The friends are realising that, regardless of their choices, they're still going to have to continue to deal with a strange, consumerist world where it’s an act of courage to take any kind of artistic or emotional plunge. The script of Sweet Bird Andsoforth was written by a 22-year-old German playwright called Laura Naumann, and the play has never been produced - until now. Praise must go to the translator, Benjamin Winspear, for his lyrical and stimulatingly surreal dialogue, while director Laura Scrivano makes the most of a group of young actors who have energy, versatility and vivacity to burn. Hanna Sandgren's set design features a sloping stage ideally suited to drunken staggers and individualistic swaggers. The hillside slant is particularly effective when characters leave or re-appear - when Bomb (Alex Millwood) and Tiny (Geraldine Hakewill) decide to chase life's “beautiful moments” together, they quite literally leap off the edge. This original production had a three-week creative development period at Fraser Studios in 2010 before securing its four-week season as part of ATYP's Under the Wharf program. Initially developed with the support of World Interplay, it is innovative and ballsy theatre, vividly recalling a period of time we can all relate to: we've all been 18. With particularly strong performances from Geraldine Hakewill and Michael Cutrupi, it's accessible but poignant, a rare combination which engages as well as challenges the audience.
Recently, a wave of international hotel chains have been choosing Melbourne as the first spot to drop their luxury accommodations in Australia — Lanson Place and The StandardX. And the latest to join the fold is 1 Hotels, which is preparing to open a luxury hotel at the newly revitalised Northbank Precinct in May 2025. Located right on the Yarra River, the pet-friendly hotel will be home to 277 guest rooms and 114 hotel-branded residences, a slew of drinking and dining destinations, a resident-only rooftop and a lavish day spa. The level-five spa will have a large sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and swimming pool, plus its own gym with in-house trainers. As with 1 Hotels in London, Hollywood and New York, this Melbourne site will include swathes of reclaimed and recycled materials as well as stacks of plants and other natural elements. All in all, you'll find over 2000 plants scattered throughout 1 Hotel Melbourne, plus there'll be direct access to a 3500-square-metre riverside park. This park is part of the new Seafarers Rest precinct, which sits within the broader Northbank Precinct. This oft-forgotten wedge of land between Flinders Street and the river — located opposite Southbank and accessed via the Seafarers Bridge — is preparing for a massive glow-up. And 1 Hotel will be one of its main attractions. 1 Hotel Melbourne is slated to open in May 2025, and will be found at 9 Maritime Place, Melbourne. For more information, you can check out the hotel's website.
Forget Christmas carols — when the end of the year hits, one song stands above the rest in Australia. Maybe you just find yourself singing it as December 21 approaches. Perhaps you make an annual pilgrimage to see Paul Kelly play it, given he usually tours at that time of year for good reason. Or, you could celebrate gravy day by, well, making gravy. The recipe's right there, after all. The song we're talking about: Kelly's Christmas classic 'How to Make Gravy', which was first released in 1996 on an EP of the same name. More than a quarter-century on, it's as intertwined with the festive season Down Under as prawns and street cricket — and it's being turned into a movie. As first reported by Variety, How to Make Gravy will hit screens thanks to Warner Bros. Australia and Speech and Drama Pictures — the latter of which is run by musician Megan Washington and writer/director Nick Waterman — who've locked in the rights to make the song into a film. As anyone who knows the words by heart and is currently singing them right now while they're reading this is well aware, Kelly's tune tells a story, starting with a prisoner called Joe who writes to his brother Dan. Presumably, Stella, Frank and Dolly will all also feature, and Rita, Roger, Mary and her new boyfriend. Junior Murvin will have to pop up on the soundtrack, of course. Also, the words "and give my love to Angus" better get uttered — or would it really be a How to Make Gravy movie? It's far too early for announcements regarding casts and release dates, but you could probably put money on it hitting screens — big or small, whichever it heads to — on December 21. Whether that'll be this year or next also hasn't been revealed, but you're about to get a new gravy day tradition either way. (And, given the character of Joe also pops up in other Kelly songs such as 'To Her Door' and 'Love Never Runs On Time', cross your fingers that we're about to get a PKCU — Paul Kelly cinematic universe — too.) How to Make Gravy, the movie, doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when further details are announced. Via Variety.
Calling all companions, Whovians and Time Lords: the TARDIS has materialised in Sydney. Again Thats right, a Totally Awesome Radical Doctor Who Impromptu Shop has opened up at World Square Shopping Centre (Shop 9.28), allowing you to purchase all of your favourite Doctor Who memorabilia and necessities to fight Daleks. The pop-up shop is touring this time to promote the new Doctor, Peter Capaldi. and the launch of series eight on ABC TV in August. It will allow Australians to purchase exclusive merchandise never before made available to them. This includes replica props and coats from the UK and Canada, as well as the Doctor Who Home range, allowing you to pour your tea from a TARDIS themed pot and pour your emotions over the deaths of past and present companions into a Dalek-themed diary. Traditional merch items will also be on sale, including DVDs, books and toys. Oh, by the way, you can get your photo taken in-store in the TARDIS photo booth. The store is open 10am-7pm daily (except Thursday when it's open until 9pm and Sunday when it's 5pm).
South Eveleigh's wellness festival, Live Well 2025, is officially in full swing (just like a pickleball racquet), and there are only two more weeks to enjoy the lineup of mindful activities. The month-long festival has been designed to be budget-friendly, with many of the events being free. Kicking off lunchtimes is Happy Hoops at the Village Green on Saturday, September 20. Led by Fembot JuJu, this high-energy hula hoop fitness class is equal parts core workout and nostalgia trip, so it's the perfect exercise regimen for those who love a bit of entertainment with a side of abs. Then, for the latter half of the day, you can head to BrewDog for Bonsai and Brews from 5.30-7pm. For $50 per person, sip craft beer while learning the ancient art of bonsai shaping and take home your very own miniature tree. If you love Pilates, but not the price tag, then you'll be pleased to find out about free Pilates sessions at Body Fit Redfern. Every Friday until the end of the month, the mat-based class is beginner-friendly and runs from 12.30-1.15pm for a perfect midday reset. Running alongside it all is the Pickleball Pop-Up at Innovation Plaza (8am–6pm daily until Saturday, September 20). The fast-growing paddle sport has taken the world by storm, and this week you can drop in, grab a racquet and try it for yourself. Plus, it's completely free. South Eveleigh's Live Well festival runs until September 30. To find out more about these wellness-focused events and what else is on offer, head to the website. Images: Supplied
For the past few months, the New South Wales Government has been handing out $25 food and entertainment vouchers as part of its Dine & Discover program. The scheme aims to get the state's residents out of the house and patronising both hospitality businesses and cultural institutions, with four vouchers available to everyone in NSW over the age of 18 — two $25 vouchers to use at restaurants, cafes, clubs and other food venues, and another two $25 vouchers specifically for performing arts, cinemas, amusement parks and the like. After rolling out the scheme statewide from mid-March, Dine & Discover was meant to come to an end on Wednesday, June 30, which gave folks in NSW more than three months to use their vouchers. But with the deadline just a few weeks away, the State Government has announced that it is extending the program for another month — to give NSW residents even more time to apply and then head out. Haven't used any of your vouchers yet? Still have a couple left to redeem? Haven't registered? Either way, you now have until Saturday, July 31. That's the big change — however, you can also now redeem both types of vouchers seven days a week, including on public holidays. The vouchers can be used at a hefty number of participating COVID-safe registered businesses, with the full list available on the Service NSW website. You still can't use them on tobacco, alcohol or gambling, though — and you can only use each voucher once, including if your transaction totals less than $25. You'll also need to use all of your vouchers separately, actually, because the idea is to get NSW folks heading out several times to several different places. And, they have to be redeemed in-person while you're spending time out of the house. No, that doesn't cover takeaway. [caption id="attachment_779831" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] To access the vouchers, you'll need a MyServiceNSW account — and the corresponding Service NSW app, so you can use the vouchers digitally. Wondering where to visit once you've registered? We've put together a rundown of deals that'll help you get the most out of your vouchers. The Dine & Discover program was announced as part of the NSW Government's State Budget 2020–21 in a bid to help NSW's hospitality and entertainment businesses, which have had a rough run during COVID-19. Originally called Out and About, the program is designed to encourage folks to head out of the house, have a meal, and see a movie or show. And, to do so on multiple occasions. The NSW Government's Dine & Discover scheme will now run until Saturday, July 31. For more information, visit the government's website. Top image: Kitti Gould
For many beer drinkers, opting for a craft creation isn’t just about taste. It’s also about supporting the little guys and choosing microbreweries over multinationals. But the fact that more and more consumers are spending their dollars on local produce is not going unnoticed by big companies. And they’re responding by bringing out beverages that might look, smell and taste like craft beers, but are, in fact, macrobrewed masqueraders. So, a team of US-based entrepreneurs has come up with an app that can tell the difference between beverages from "real craft breweries" and those from "assembly line multinationals". It’s called Craft Check and its motto is "Drink Craft — Not Crafty". Using an iPhone, the user scans the bottle’s barcode or searches by brewery name. The app responds by communicating whether the brewery meets the Brewers Association’s definition of ‘American Craft Brewery’. Thousands of producers are included and records are updated monthly, incorporating new businesses and buy-outs. Findings can be shared via Twitter and Facebook, meaning that friends can be kept in the loop. The only catch for Antipodean drinkers is that ‘Craft Check’ is pretty much only applicable in the US. That’s because most other nations in the world don’t have a definition for ‘craft brewery’. It’s such a subjective term that deciding exactly what it means is pretty tough. Luckily, our team has taken out some of the guess work for you. Via PSFK.
We've all been there: you're eating something delicious and your adorable dog wants some, but it's just not good for them. Everyone who shares their life with a barking four-legged best friend has experienced this scenario, because pooches always want to do whatever their humans are doing — and eat whatever they're eating, too. Sadly, while cute pups love the sight and smell of plenty of human treats, they just can't stomach some foodstuffs. Chocolate is a culprit, as everyone remembers come Easter. Thanks to its milk and sugar content, ice cream is another. If your four-legged best friend goes yapping mad over heaped ice cream cones, here's the good news: Gelatissimo is releasing a new limited-edition flavour that's both human and canine-friendly. We're not saying that you and your fluffball should share the same cone of the frosty dessert, but you definitely could. Made fresh in-store, the new scoop is banana and strawberry flavoured. To make it suitable for dogs, it's made with oat milk, so it's also vegan. It also features cavendish bananas and strawberries, unsurprisingly. That said, puppers with a history of pancreatitis or allergies do need to steer clear. Those who can tuck into a tub will find it at Gelatissimo outlets around the country from early October, but only for a limited time. If it all sounds familiar, that's because Gelatissimo did something similar back in 2019, but with a peanut butter flavour. "Our last pup-friendly gelato was the hugely popular, limited-edition Pawesome Peanut Butter," says Filiz Kaya, Gelatissimo's Head of Product Innovation. "It is still requested to this day, so we wanted to bring back the concept, but this time with a fresh and fruity twist." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Harvey the Border Collie 🐾 (@henlo.itsharvey) Vegan banana strawberry gelato is available at all Australian Gelatissimo stores for a limited time from early October. For more information and to find your nearest store, visit Gelatissimo's website.
"Accio April 2022" isn't something any character has uttered in either the Harry Potter or Fantastic Beasts films, but it's what you might be chanting to yourself right now if you're a fan of both. Four years after the last big-screen entry in the Wizarding World — the franchise that's sprung up around The Boy Who Lived — Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore has just dropped its first trailer. When Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2 reached cinemas a decade back, it was never going to be the end of the on-screen story. Cue the Fantastic Beasts series, which took an illustrated guide book about magical creatures, spun a story about its magizoologist author Newt Scamander, and started a Harry Potter prequel saga. Conjuring up more enchantment hasn't been quite so straightforward this time around, however — and how you feel about 2016's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and 2018's Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald might just depend on how spellbound you are with everything HP. But this franchise-within-a-franchise was always going to go on, and The Secrets of Dumbledore is the third entry in the planned five-film series. When it hits the silver screen next year, The Secrets of Dumbledore will once again give Jude Law another 'young' role; he played The Young Pope, so seeing him step into young Albus Dumbledore's shoes in The Crimes of Grindelwald felt like the most natural thing in the world. And, just like in that last Fantastic Beasts flick, Law's version of the future Hogwarts headmaster is pivotal to Scamander (Eddie Redmayne, The Trial of the Chicago 7) and his pals' efforts to face off against the evil Gellert Grindelwald. That said, Grindelwald, the dark wizard who just keeps trying to control all things magical — and wreak havoc on everything in general — isn't quite the same this time around. Both Colin Farrell (Voyagers) and Johnny Depp (Minamata) have previously played the role, but Mads Mikkelsen (Riders of Justice) has now replaced the latter. As the trailer for The Secrets of Dumbledore shows, Grindelwald is still solemnly up to no good — and his devoted following is only growing — so it's up to Scamander, Dumbledore, Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston, The Third Day), Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol, Between Us) and Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler, The Walking Dead) to try to save the day. That requires a dangerous mission led by Scamander, who obviously crosses paths with plenty of beasts (it's right there in the franchise's title). Ezra Miller (Zack Snyder's Justice League) also returns as Credence/Aurelius Dumbledore, while Jessica Williams (Love Life) follows up her brief appearance in The Crimes of Grindelwald by return as Ilvermorny professor Eulalie 'Lally' Hicks. And making the magic happen behind the lens is David Yates, who has directed every Wizarding World film — Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts alike since 2007's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Break out the butterbeer and check out the trailer below: Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore opens in cinemas Down Under on April 7, 2022.
