This year, the World's 50 Best Restaurants awards will be held in Melbourne, and will see the globe's biggest culinary names descend on Australia to shed some light on what goes into creating the world's best dishes. But what about the food that gets left behind? Well, none other than the world's best chef Massimo Bottura will tackle the issue of food waste head-on when he teams up with a slew of local chefs and food waste charity OzHarvest for an exclusive degustation in Sydney on Sunday, April 2. Bottura — the super affable renowned chef behind Italy's Osteria Francescana, which was again named the number one restaurant in the world last year — will host the eye-opening event at OzHarvest's Alexandria headquarters. While he won't be cooking, he'll be joined by a hand-picked team of local chefs who will, including Rob Cockerill (Bennelong), Josh Niland (Saint Peter), Monty Koludrovic (Icebergs, The Dolphin), Clayton Wells (Automata) and James Viles (Biota). They'll plate up a fine dining feast made with food that's usually destined for the bin, matched to some top Aussie wines. The 130 lucky diners will enjoy sharp service led by Rockpool Dining Group's food and beverage director Jeremy Courmidas, the sommelier skills of Icebergs' James Hird, and a stunning setting designed by George Livissianis and decorated with works from some leading Australian artists. Plus, with everyone's time and all produce and products donated, all proceeds from the night will head straight to OzHarvest, as well as Bottura's Italian food waste non-profit Food for Soul. It's set to be a once-in-a-lifetime dining event, so, naturally, it comes with a once-in-a-lifetime price tag. Tickets will set you back a cool $1000. Tickets to Massimo Bottura's OzHarvest degustation dinner go on sale at 9am this Tuesday, March 14, and are available here.
Good Food Month is nearly upon us and it's time to get those stomachs ready. A few weeks ago, we narrowed down the (frankly intimidating) list of events to our top ten favourites. But that wasn't the whole story. Good Food Month is also a chance for our lesser-known regional chefs, winemakers and producers to shine. From sustainable dining, farm and microbrewery tours to local farmers' markets, our regional foodie cousins are providing a host of events across NSW that are worth the day trip (or weekender). We've narrowed down the out-of-town events to five of the best. Pump up those gas tanks and ready yourself for a road trip. A Lunch in the Hothouse at Biota Voted by Good Food Guide as this year's Regional Restaurant of the Year and with two chef's hats under its belt, Biota Dining is gunning. Everything at Biota is done locally in Bowral — they have their own kitchen garden and source 60 percent of their produce from the surrounding area. For Good Food Month, they're hosting a languid 3.5hr lunch. For that little extra Biota twist, the chefs are employing primitive cooking techniques such as air-drying, charcoal-pit cooking and curing. October 25 from 11.30am-3pm, $160 ($45 extra with drinks). Reservations info@biotadining.com or phone (02) 4862 2005. Farm + Kitchen + Chef at Darling Mills Farm They've been behind some of Sydney's finest restaurants for the last 20 years. Darling Mills Farm supply produce — from salad leaves to microherbs — to top restaurants and have been a long-time staple at Growers' Markets. Now, owner Steve Adley is opening its doors for a chance to tour the greenhouses and walk along the farm's paddocks in Berrilee (near Berowra Waters). If the thought of all that exercise is making you hungry, well rejoice, because the tour is followed shortly by a three-course seasonal lunch. If this sounds totally up your alley, you might also want to check out Roberts Circa 1876's Spring Garden Party in Pokolbin, for a chance to tour the market garden and feast on three-courses of 'soul food' for just $75pp. October 3 & 5 from 11.30am-3.30pm, $125. Reservations (02) 9655 1339 or dmfarm@bigpond.com Orange Wine Festival Night Market If Sydney's Night Noodle Markets is anything to go by, Orange's Wine Festival Night Market is sure to be a triumph. Over 50 stalls will feature in Orange's biggest night market, in a collaborative effort from the area's winemakers, producers and chefs. Bask under the fairy lights and chill with some of the region's cool-climate wines, food and live music. October 24 from 5.30-9pm. Gold coin entry. Dishes and wine range from $6-10. Cider Sampler Lunch in Megalong It's hard to beat cider and pork when it comes to concocting a perfect marriage of flavours. Well, Blue Mountains' Cider Barn certainly got it right. As part of its launch, they're offering a chance to sample over 20 varieties of cider plus two courses of woodfired slow-cooked pork and pears poached in cider. Oh, and on top of that, there's also a cheese tasting. October 18 from 11.30am-2pm, $85 (including beverages and four cider samples). Reservations (02) 4787 8188, marketing@megalongcc.com.au or through the website. Dinner in the Brewery at Hopdog Touring a microbrewery isn't something you have the chance to do every week. Let alone dining while you're there. South Nowra's HopDog Beer — an ale-only producing brewery — is joining forces with chef Dave Campbell for a unique experience where you can do just that. Campbell, of Wharf Rd Restaurant, perhaps more known to the local crowd as the founder of Surry Hills' The Book Kitchen, has previously worked with Australian gastronomical trailblazers such as Neil Perry and Tetsuya Wakuda, while HopDog's Tim Thomas has over 13 years of professional brewing experience under his belt. October 10 from 6-9.30pm, $95. Reservations (02) 4422 6651 or enquiries@wharfrd.com.au. Top image: Roberts Circa 1876
It's a problem that everyone can relate to: your thirst needs quenching, but your tastebuds are craving two completely different things. You could make the hard choice and pick between them — or, if you happen to be hankering for a dish made with nori and beer (and getting your fill of dumplings, too), you could make a beeline to Harajuku Gyoza. From Wednesday, July 14, the Australian gyoza chain is serving up a new tap beer that's made with seaweed. Yes, we mean that literally. The Scottish-style ale has a malty taste and an amber hue to match, and, during the brewing process, sheets of nori are added to the boil — which is where it gets its umami flavour. Given that Harajuku Gyoza has already served up raindrop cakes, Nutella gyoza and salted caramel gyoza, mac 'n' cheese, pepperoni pizza and marshmallow dumplings, and charcoal karaage chicken fondue, its latest menu item is hardly surprising. It has a history of pouring inventive brews, too, with black sesame and matcha ice cream-flavoured beers on offer in 2020. Both then and now, the brews come courtesy of Yoyogi Brewing Co, and use Japanese brewing techniques as well as Japanese-inspired ingredients. If you fancy pairing the new beer with two of Harajuku Gyoza's old favourites — cheeseburger gyoza, which is stuffed with burger pieces, aged cheddar, onion, pickles, mustard and tomato sauce; and mozzarella gyoza, which is filled with the obvious, then deep-fried and sprinkled with Twisties salt — that's up to you. Usually the chain's special additions to its menu are only available for a limited time, so you might want to get in quickly. Harajuku Gyoza's Japanese dessert-inspired beers will be available at all Australian stores — at Darling Harbour in Sydney; at South Bank and the CBD in Brisbane; and in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast — from Wednesday, July 14.
If the pandemic hadn't hit, Sydneysiders would've been able to peer at more than 150 items from Tutankhamun's tomb this year, all without leaving town. So would've Australians visiting the Harbour City, too, because Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh was due to display at Sydney's Australian Museum in 2021 — until the events of the past 15 months or so happened. While the King Tut showcase was sadly cancelled — with that news coming through back in March — the Australian Museum will still be diving into Egyptian history in the near future. Come summer 2023, the venue will play host to Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs. This time, there'll be more than 180 rare artefacts on display, all connected to a different pharaoh, including animal mummies, royal masks, amulets and other golden treasures from the ruler's tomb. Focusing on Egypt's third pharaoh from its nineteenth dynasty — a ruler also known as Ramses II, who reigned from 1279–1213 BCE — this showcase is set to be big. It'll be the largest collection of Ramses II items to ever leave Egypt, in fact, and will also mark the first time in more than three decades that items connected with the pharaoh have left their home country. So, as well as experiencing a slice of history, you'll be able to take a peek at objects that no one has seen outside of Egypt for 30-plus years. Created by World Heritage Exhibitions and supported by Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs will also let attendees enter the ruler's temples — virtually, via the first walkthrough of its kind. And you'll be able to watch the first full-length documentary that's ever been made about Ramses II's tomb, too. [caption id="attachment_816405" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Grey Nurse Shark at Magic Point off Sydney, Eric Schlogel[/caption] The exhibition will receive funding from New South Wales' 2021–22 budget, as part of $40 million that's being committed to get major cultural exhibitions from around the world to come to the state in the next four years. Also nabbing financial support from the state government, and also coming to the Australian Museum: Sharks, which the site is developing itself. As the name makes plain, it's all about the aquatic animals, and it's set to display at the venue from winter 2022 until summer 2023. "This funding will also help the Australian Museum to premier and globally tour one of the largest, most ambitious glimpses into sharks that any museum has ever produced," said Director and CEO of the Australian Museum Kim McKay AO. "The Australian and Pacific relationship with sharks is completely unique — we know them, we understand them, we live with them every day, and we're going to share this with the world." Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs will display at the Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Sydney, in the summer of 2023 — with exact dates and details yet to be announced. Sharks will display at the venue from winter 2022–summer 2023, with further details still to be announced. We'll update you with more information about both exhibitions when it is announced.
For animal-lovers, one silver lining of the pandemic-era cloud was all the adorable live-streams that made their way into our feeds. Watching cute critters all day, everyday, became a favourite pastime, thanks to various zoos and aquariums around Australia and beyond. After all, what better way to brighten your mood than to lose a few minutes, hours or days to some adorable creatures on screen? Fast-forward to now and Melburnians — or anyone interested in the city's birdlife, really — again have something special to watch. This live-stream isn't actually new, but it's particularly relevant at this time of year. Thanks to a camera on 367 Collins Street in the CBD, you can train your peepers on two rare peregrine falcons nesting on a high-up ledge outside the building. You're able to give them a squizz any time you like, but from August onwards each year (aka now) is when you'll see them lay and hatch their chicks. At the moment, the eggs are already there, so you'll spy a whole lot of sitting atop them as the feathered couple waits for their progeny to hatch into the world. Once they've arrived, you'll also see vision of the parents bringing food back to the nest for their little ones to eat. For a peek at all the action, head to the Mirvac building's website. For those visiting the high-rise itself, the CCTV footage of the falcons is also on display in the foyer. This particular nest comes with quite the history, too, as peregrine falcons have been nesting at 367 Collins Street since way back in 1991. This is actually the only known peregrine falcon nesting site within the Melbourne CBD, which obviously makes it extra special. Check out the live-stream below: For more information about 367 Collins Street's peregrine falcons and their nest, head to the 367 Collins website and the 367 Collins Falcon Watchers Facebook page.
Finding an effective way to cope with the ever-growing issue of urban density isn't easy. The more that big cities expand, the more crowded that they become. In a place like Tokyo that crams more than 37 million people into its metro area, it requires savvy thinking — such as a building that's also a vending machine, printing out the homes within its walls onsite and to order, perhaps? Designed by architecture student Haseef Rafiei, the pod vending machine house-dispensing skyscraper dispatches new, customisable, affordable pods that are chosen by its residents. After deciding upon size and inclusions — if you don't want a kitchen, you don't need to get one, for example — each modular dwelling is made there and then, and then added to the building. The printer sits on top, and will get higher it adds more apartments to the structure; aka, it grows as the need for more housing grows. It's just a proposal at this stage, but it sounds impressive. Expanding your home, or using the pods for offices, is also mooted. Basically, Rafiei has taken a busy city, 3D printing and tiny apartments, and thrown them into a futuristic blender to conceive the ultimate mashup. Taking inspiration from the avant-garde capsule structures proposed by Japan's Metabolist Movement in the '60s, his concept earned an honourable mention in architecture and design journal eVolo's 2017 Skyscraper Competition. The innovative skyscraper offers an addition to Tokyo's skyline, provides a potential solution to the city's cramped housing situation and reflects its penchant for robotics and technology; however if you've ever been to the Japanese capital, you'll recognise that it nods to another important facet of everyday living in the bustling locale. That'd be its love of vending machines. Spotting them on every corner, even in residential areas, is just part of walking through the city. Maybe one day, spotting buildings that double as apartment-printing vending machines will be as well. Image: eVolo.
When Eric Bana (Dirty John) stepped into Aaron Falk's shoes in The Dry, more was always bound to follow. On the screen, the film became a massive Australian box-office hit in 2021 thanks to its twisty mystery, determined detective, stunning Aussie scenery and spectacular cast. It was capitalising, of course, on the story's proven success on the page. And, to the delight of movie producers and audiences, the beloved novel by author Jane Harper was just Falk's first appearance. Accordingly, throw that formula together again and you now have Force of Nature: The Dry 2, the big-screen sequel that hits cinemas in Australia and New Zealand on August 24. This follow-up sees the core duo of Bana and writer/director Robert Connolly (Blueback) return, with the latter again investigating a case. This time, as both the movie's initial teaser and just-dropped full trailer explore, he's looking into the disappearance of a hiker from a corporate retreat attended by five women. Alongside fellow federal agent Carmen Cooper (Jacqueline McKenzie, Ruby's Choice), Falk heads deep into Victoria's mountain ranges to try to find the missing traveller — who also happens to be a whistle-blowing informant — alive. Also featuring in Force of Nature, which has a powerhouse list of Aussie talent just like its predecessor: Anna Torv (The Last of Us) as missing hiker Alice Russell, plus Deborra-Lee Furness (Jindabyne), Robin McLeavy (Homeland), Sisi Stringer (Mortal Kombat) and Lucy Ansell (Utopia). Richard Roxburgh (Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe), Tony Briggs (Preppers) and Kenneth Radley (The Power of the Dog) pop up, too, while Jeremy Lindsay-Taylor (Heartbreak High) is back in the role of Erik Falk. Touting its connection to The Dry right there in its name, Force of Nature: The Dry 2 comes after its predecessor did massive ticket-selling business. Not only did it notch up more than $20 million in Australian ticket sales, but it sat in sixth at the annual Aussie box office two years back after Hollywood franchise titles Spider-Man: No Way Home, No Time to Die, Godzilla vs Kong, Peter Rabbit 2 and Fast and Furious 9. Yes, greenlighting this sequel must've been the easiest decision ever. Yes, you can probably expect Harper's Exiles to get the movie treatment next. Reteaming not just after The Dry, but also fellow 2023 release Blueback, Connolly and Bana make quite the pair when it comes to Aussie crime cinema — with Connolly the producer of one of the best local crime movies ever made, aka 1998's unnerving The Boys, and Bana famously the star of the similarly excellent Chopper. Check out the full trailer for Force of Nature: The Dry 2 below: Force of Nature: The Dry 2 releases in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on August 24, 2023. Read our full review of The Dry. Images: Narelle Portanier.
By day, they climb cliffs and learn survival skills. By night, they sit around a campfire singing songs and discussing philosophy. They're the Cash clan — and if their everyday activities haven't convinced you that the six siblings aren't part of an ordinary family, the determination and dedication of their father, Ben (Viggo Mortensen), should do the job. There's a reason that the heartfelt film that tells his tale is called Captain Fantastic, after all. Whether he's running around the forest in America's Pacific Northwest, or making a scene by wearing a bright red suit to a funeral, the eccentric, affectionate Ben always seems larger than life, and much like a superhero to his kids. But, when tragedy strikes, he's forced to take them on the road out into the real world. With his oldest son Bo (George MacKay) also contemplating leaving his untraditional upbringing behind for a new college adventure, and his parents-in-law (Frank Langella and Ann Dowd) unhappy about his off-the-grid parenting methods, conflict soon begins to brew. As the offbeat brood treks across the country in a coming-of-age journey for both adolescent and adult characters, Captain Fantastic traverses territory that feels familiar and fresh all at once. Yes, the path it takes is sometimes a little predictable, but writer-director Matt Ross generates enough genuine emotion to ensure that it also feels authentic .This is a warm, rich and vibrant production, both visually and in tone. Continuing his spate of fantastic performances in under-seen fare like The Two Faces of January and Far From Men, Mortensen is more than partly responsible for the movie's charms. In fact, he's simply magnetic in a progressive, protective parent role that trades heavily on his gruff yet tender charisma. With much of Captain Fantastic dependent upon unpacking the many layers and contradictions of a man who gives his 6-year-old son a copy of The Joy of Sex but hasn't imparted his 16-year-old with enough practical wisdom to know how to talk to girls, the subtle complexity he brings to his protagonist couldn't be more pivotal. Around him, his young and experienced co-stars also shine, particularly MacKay and the veteran Langella. It helps that Ross knows a thing or two about unusual families, with the actor-turned-filmmaker having starred in the polygamous TV drama Big Love for five seasons. While Captain Fantastic directs most of its fondness towards its unlikely hero and his eclectic clan, it also explores the importance of not only difference but balance. That's not an easy feat given how endearing the main characters and their unorthodox lifestyle are, and proves a testament to how multifaceted this smart, sweet picture really is.
We've all heard the term 'airport novel', which refers to fast-paced, easy-to-devour fiction that's perfect to read when you're on a long flight and you've watched everything on the onboard entertainment system — or, to flick through while you're waiting to hop on the plane. If you're the kind of traveller who always starts your trip with a visit to the airport newsagency to pick up new reading material to help while away the hours, then you probably have a stash of paperbacks that fit the bill. And, because its name and premise are oh-so-perfect for the genre, you might even have The Flight Attendant on that pile. Chris Bohjalian's novel was first published in 2018. Two years later, at a time when we'd all love to be flying far more than we've been able to of late, it makes the leap to the screen as an eight-part miniseries. On the page and on streaming platform Binge, The Flight Attendant unfurls a pulpy, twisty tale that starts high in the sky, bounces around the globe and delivers a hectic murder-mystery — all with the eponymous Cassie Bowden (The Big Bang Theory's Kaley Cuoco) at its centre. Cassie likes sipping mini bottles of booze as much as she likes pouring them for the travellers on her flights — and she also loves her jet-setting lifestyle. When she's at home in New York between trips, she parties away her time in bars and via her vodka-packed fridge. When she's stopping over in overseas cities between legs, she's known to do the same. In Bangkok, though, she does something that she's not supposed to. After flirting with first-class passenger Alex Sokolov (Game of Thrones' Michiel Huisman) throughout the flight, she makes an excuse to ditch drinks with her coworkers and takes up his dinner offer. The next morning, she feels the repercussions. Also, she finds herself confronted by a dead body, trying to outsmart the authorities both in Thailand and back in the US, and endeavouring to work out just what's going on. The Flight Attendant's many ups and downs are best discovered by watching, of course, with the series aligning viewers with Cassie as she embarks upon a very turbulent ride. Her life in general fits that bill — it's chaotic and, in depicting that reality as Cassie slowly begins to explore why she's so drawn to her job and to boozy benders, the show itself is as well. Think sudden revelations and reversals, multiple points of interest playing out across a split-screen setup, and cliffhangers to end every episode (and keep viewers keen to watch more). Also noticeable, and crucial: the fact that Cassie is unreliable in general, and was blackout drunk on the night in question so she can't remember what happened. This is a tightly and glossily made whodunnit; however, it's also a thorny thriller that tasks its key figure with scrambling around not only trying to investigate the case, but also to work out her role within it. In topic, themes and tone, Cuoco leaves The Big Bang Theory far behind. She's still engagingly erratic as Cassie, though — but in a different and deeper way. As the character's personality, background and present situation calls for, she finds the fine line between messy and likeable, and poignant and even slapstick on occasion. Cassie makes so many terrible decisions that they become her defining trait but, thanks to Cuoco in career-best form, she never feels like she's just being driven by the plot's many machinations. The always-charming Huisman gets more screen time than viewers might initially expect, too, and the series is better for it. Plus, post-Girls, Zosia Mamet is also a welcome inclusion as Cassie's steely, no-nonsense best friend and lawyer Annie, who eventually calls out her pal on her baggage. Airport novels frequently require readers to simply go with the flow. As a slick, swift-moving TV series that knows exactly the kind of story it's telling and goes for broke, The Flight Attendant is no different. The fact that it's filled with intrigue, often of the implausible and even ridiculous yet still instantly addictive type, will surprise no one — it's what such tales are supposed to serve up, after all. But there's darkness, weirdness, pathos and plenty of twisty comedy on offer here as well. It's easy to get immersed in, and to be entertained by. And, it'll help vicariously indulge your wanderlust and plunge you into a bingeworthy mystery at the same time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rWnlXbnQLk&feature=youtu.be The Flight Attendant is available to stream via Binge — with the first seven episodes online now, and the series finale available from the evening of Thursday, December 17. Images: Phil Caruso, HBO.
This independent, non-profit Kings Cross gallery doesn't just take its name from its location. The Cross Art Projects is interested in art that intersects in several ways, too — especially with life and with the public sphere. That's what it has been showcasing since it was founded back in 2003, first on Roslyn Street and then at Llankelly Place since 2009. Step inside, and you'll find boundary-pushing work gracing its walls, all from contemporary artists. All art is designed to spark a conversation, of course, but The Cross Art Projects is committed to hosting them as well — including with activist, heritage and architectural groups.
Next time you pick up a club, order a drink and hit the mini-golf greens at Newtown's Holey Moley, you'll be able to swing your way around E.T., Forrest Gump, and Jaws-themed holes — or, if you'd prefer, you can grab a microphone. The popular King Street spot occasionally gives its two nine-hole courses a revamp, with the multi-level venue unveiling its latest creations after refurbishing half of them. As well as making over a considerable part of its existing site, Holey Moley has also made two crucial new additions: two karaoke rooms. If you're fond of belting out a tune, you can jump between pretending you're in Happy Gilmore and living out your A Star Is Born dreams by heading into the two onsite singing suites. For those keen to keep tap, tap, tapping away, the rebadged holes also span snakes, sharks, Lego and pineapples under the sea, and come with names such as 'The Loop Hole', 'Gone Fishin'', 'The Moon and Pars' and 'Draw Fore'. [caption id="attachment_628408" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Holey Moley Newtown by Tom Wilkinson[/caption] While in renovation mode, Holey Moley has also shaken up its menu — and is offering bottomless brunch every Saturday and Sunday between September 21–October 31. For $50, you get a cocktail on arrival, unlimited mini-golf, two hours of bottomless beer, cider, wine and sparkling, and a feed. The latter includes waffle fries, burgers, fried chicken ribs and popcorn shrimp with vegan options available. As Holey Moley loves themed things, the cocktails will match the new holes, with options such as the Shark Bite Colada, BlockManDu (topped with lollies and Lego) and an espresso martini made with Reece's peanut butter cups. While Sydney isn't short on boozy bottomless brunches, this one is great for when you want to do more than just sit down and eat (and drink). Holey Moley's bottomless brunch sessions will run every Saturday and Sunday from September 21 to October 31. It's available from 11am–4pm and can be purchased at the venue.
Sydney's ever booming craft beer scene is welcoming a new kid on the block — run by one of the original innovators in Australian craft beer. Samara (Sam) Füss boasts a 16-year career in the industry and is among the country's first female brewers, giving Sydney's newest brewery, Philter Brewing, a seriously experienced head start. Starting out at Sydney Brewing — back when it was still Schwarz Brewing — and more recently holding the heavyweight title of head brewer and production manager of Young Henrys, Füss's rap sheet also includes founding member of Pink Boots Society and The Women in Beer Collective, as well as beer judge for the Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA) and Sydney Royal Show Beer and Cider Awards. There's no doubt this is a woman who knows her beer. Philter Brewing is a distinct departure from the modern, graphically designed, trendoid beer logos that have become the norm in the wild world of craft. Instead, Philter is going for a "classic 1980s Australian aesthetic", which materialises in their first release, an extra pale ale — the simple white can highlights the brewery's name above a diagonal blue and gold streak. It's a pretty Fosters-like design, to be honest. There's no catchy brew name and no artsy description. Their slogan, "seductively beer" essentially gives the impression that the can contains, well, just beer. The unfiltered brew is naturally cloudy and overall easy drinking. It is meant to appeal to both craft beer lovers and those at the beginning of their beer journey, and, it would seem, also aims at steering away from the pretension the craft beer industry is often accused of. The brand raises a good question of what exactly qualifies as craft beer — is it the ingredients, the brewing process, the size and scope of the brewery? Or is it the innovative brew recipes, the 'damn the man' attitude and pushing the boundaries of what a beer can be? Punters can decide on the craftiness for themselves, as the Philter Brewing XPA is currently available at pubs and bottle shops around Sydney, including the bars at The Henson, The Lord Raglan, Bloodwood and The Cricketers Arms and the fridges at Bucket Boys, Beer Cartel and Camperdown Cellars. The team is also hoping to open their own brewery in the inner west come spring and will continue to contract brew in the meantime.
A quarter of a century is a long time to spend with Larry David, even with gaps along the way. Friends and acquaintances of the fictionalised and heightened version in Curb Your Enthusiasm might have some not-so-positive things to say about investing that chunk with one of TV's great curmudgeons. If you're a fan of the satirical series that premiered in 2000, however, 12 seasons isn't enough. But David has called time on his second small-screen smash. While CYE hasn't beaten Seinfeld's episode count, going out with 120 instalments versus 180, it stayed on-screen on and off for far longer than the ultimate show about nothing — and, right up until its final moments, it didn't avoid for a second the fact that Seinfeld was always going to cast a shadow. Streaming in Australia via Binge and New Zealand on Neon, Curb Your Enthusiasm isn't Seinfeld 2.0 for a lengthy number of reasons that'd get anyone saying "yada, yada, yada". But in riffing on David and his life, playing with his fame for co-creating one of the all-time sitcom hits has been baked into the premise from day one. Cue appearances from Seinfeld cast members, also as themselves. Cue dedicating a season focusing on making a Seinfeld reunion special as well. Accordingly, when CYE's ending first came into sight, of course the inimitable force behind both shows began the last season with the series' iteration of Larry going where Seinfeld's characters closed out their tale: jail. In season 12's debut episode of ten, he isn't incarcerated due to criminal indifference. Rather, Larry's stint behind bars comes about thanks to the opposite. In Atlanta to attend a rich fan's (Sharlto Copley, Beast) birthday party, on a paid gig courtesy of the success of Young Larry — CYE's in-show show about David's childhood, in the style of Young Rock and Everybody Hates Chris — he gives a bottle of water to Leon's (JB Smoove, Música) Auntie Rae (Ellia English, Blood Pageant) while she's in line to vote. That's illegal in the state of Georgia. The cops pounce immediately. So, with the nudging and winking — and reshaping and tinkering — that Curb Your Enthusiasm does exquisitely well, one of the season's key threads is born. Larry being Larry, he wasn't really trying to make a stand against ridiculous voter-suppression laws. Larry still being Larry, he's also content to capitalise upon being regarded as a hero, complete with droves of media attention. And, Larry never able to be someone other than Larry, he's his petty normal self regardless of how much praise flows from Bruce Springsteen — or ire, because getting to know Larry even when he's being commended and congratulated doesn't always mean actually liking him, as the plot strand involving The Boss, his final Los Angeles gig, COVID-19 and whose drinking cup is whose screams. Before Beef was winning Golden Globes, Emmys and other awards for trivial squabbles, David got there first. Before The Rehearsal and The Curse's Nathan Fielder was inspiring cringing so vigorous that you can feel it in your stomach, David was as well. Almost anything can happen and has happened to Larry, and being argumentative and awkward, holding grudges and rarely having his foot out of his mouth in response is a constant. Since season one, whatever has come his way has usually involved his manager and best friend Jeff Greene (Jeff Garlin, Never Have I Ever), alongside the latter's perennially suspicious wife Susie (Susie Essman, Hacks). Initially as his spouse and then as his ex, Cheryl David (Cheryl Hines, The Flight Attendant) has frequently weathered the fallout in his vicinity. So have his friends, such as Ted Danson (Mr Mayor) and the late, great Richard Lewis (Sandy Wexler) as themselves from the get-go, plus the aforementioned Leon Black, who moved in with Larry when the Davids took in his sister Loretta (Vivica A Fox, Bosco) after Hurricane Katrina. The show's swansong season is vintage Curb Your Enthusiasm, including when a lawyer who looks like one of David's many enemies, overhearing golfing lessons, throwing things at CODA Oscar-winner Troy Kotsur, getting disgruntled over breakfast menus cutting off at 11am and shirking reading scripts for old colleagues are involved. Season 12 also sees Larry try to date Sienna Miller (Extrapolations), sponsor Lori Loughlin (Blessings of Christmas) to join his country club and attempt to befriend Conan O'Brien (Conan Without Borders) when he moves into the same neighbourhood. He learns the Gettysburg Address while urinating, conditioning himself to feel the urge when he hears it afterwards. He's suspected of drawing penises on billboards. Also on his list: conjuring up schemes to ditch his girlfriend Irma (Tracey Ullman, Death to 2021) that he despises and get out of looking after an acquaintance's daughter if he passes away. From its premiere at the turn of the century to its farewell now, Curb Your Enthusiasm has been fascinated with whether someone as set in his ways as David — who was the inspiration for George Constanza — can and will ever change. He doesn't, and watching why that's the case only stopped being comedy gold when the credits rolled on the very last episode. That goodbye is named 'No Lessons Learned'. David gives voice to the idea, too: speaking to a young boy being told how to behave by his mother, he's unrepentantly Larry, telling the child "I am 76 years old and I have never learned a lesson in my entire life". As he bickers with a flight attendant about turning off his phone on the plane to Atlanta, gets crude hand signals from a driver who won't let merge on the highway and questions something about an ex-girlfriend of Richard's that's never normally spoken about (because when would that stop Larry?), his own words keep ringing true. When season 12 sent Larry to jail early, echoing how Seinfeld ended, it was always working towards more overt nods in its predecessor's direction. Cycling through legal representation (Will & Grace's Sean Hayes plays one attorney), Larry has been bound for court ever since. Airing grievances, all coming from folks who believe that they've been wronged by him over the years, was the natural — and gloriously, gleefully intertextual — path for Curb Your Enthusiasm's climax, then. David has learned lessons, though, since penning the end of Seinfeld. How that pans out, and CYE's conclusion overall, is pretty, pretty, pretty perfect. Check out the trailer for Curb Your Enthusiasm season 12 below: Curb Your Enthusiasm streams via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Images: HBO.
Just when you thought you'd tasted every type of margarita there is — every type that El Camino Cantina can pop on its menu, too — the Tex-Mex chain has gone and released a new line of cocktails just in time for summer. Like margs? Have a sweet tooth? Then this Take Me to The Candy Shop range is for you, given that the boozy lineup is filled with bright-hued, candy-flavoured concoctions. These margs even come with edible candy garnishes, so your sweet tooth really will be satisfied. There's seven varieties on offer, including the trusty favourite that is the grape Nerd variety. From Tuesday, November 30–Sunday, January 2, it's being joined musk, marshmallow, gummy bear, Hubba Bubba and Skittles tipples, as well Squirm and Red Ripperz as well. The kind of drinks you'd be able to see in the dark — again, the colour really does stand out — these beverages are served frozen and Cadillac-style, aka with a float of Grand Marnier. In Sydney, you'll find them livening up your next summer drinks at El Camino in The Rocks, Entertainment Quarter, Manly and Miranda.
Colourful, quirky and diverse — the Berry Reserve Markets are held on the third Sunday of every month in Narrabeen. Here, you'll find arts and crafts, plants, jewellery, clothing and trinkets — much of which is locally made and handcrafted, too. If you work up an appetite, there are plenty of food stalls selling delicious dishes as well as places to get coffee and cool drinks. Berry Reserve Markets is the place to visit to find rare treasures and interesting gifts for the people you love. It's also ideal for a Sunday stroll in the sunshine before hitting the surf. And if you would like to have a stall yourself, download the application form on the website.
Don't be fooled by the last-century name, because 1908 Cronulla is as contemporary as they come. Hands down one of the more stunning venues in southern Sydney, this ivy-covered, high-ceilinged, glass-fronted building is a popular choice for weddings in the area. It's also a great place to go for a sophisticated dinner or drinks. Like many restaurants in Cronulla, 1908 celebrates its coastal proximity through a seafood-heavy menu. Tuna is served as a charred tataki with coriander butter and an elegant buckwheat and leek risotto and and the oysters come with a trio of garnishes: natural, prik nam pla (a sweet, spicy Thai dressing), and jalapeño mornay. If you're after something heartier, the steak frites is rubbed in pastrami spices and served with curried sauce. Make sure to accompany your meal with one of the options from the exceptional cocktail menu. To match the sophisticated setting, order the Champagne for Mixologists, which combines Veuve Clicquot Rich with grapefruit, cucumber, lime, ginger and cold tea. It will set you back $110, but then, this place is all about indulgence.
Back in 2018, KFC wanted us all to relax to the sound of sizzling chicken. Over the past few years, IKEA has tried to put everyone to sleep by listening to its catalogue read aloud — and to get folks to bliss out while watching its products take a 14-day journey to Australia, too. Now, it's Lego's turn to help relieve our stresses, with the toy brand releasing a new relaxation playlist that has been created using its interlocking bricks. If that familiar clicking sound makes you feel zen, you'll be keen to give Lego's 'White Noise' tracks a whirl. If you instantly feel calmer whenever you hear a heap of bricks jumbled together, then you'll be in your element as well. The playlist runs for three and a half hours, and has just hit the company's website, as well as 15 different streaming services including Spotify and iTunes. It only uses Lego bricks, too, so everything you'll hear was made with the famed blocks. More than 10,000 pieces were used to create tracks with names like 'It All Clicks', 'The Waterfall' and 'Searching for the One (Brick)', with the full playlist spanning seven tunes that all clock in at around 30 minutes each. And yes, they do indeed sound like they've been created using Lego. Yes, if you've ever played with the bricks yourself, you already have all those sounds committed to memory. Lego has been touting its wellness credentials of late, including via its new Botanical Collection — which is designed to help adults destress, unwind and get mindful. So, it should come as little surprise that the company suggests you listen to its new playlist while you're building its latest kits. To listen to Lego's White Noise playlist, head to the company's website — or check out your streaming service of choice, such as Spotify and iTunes.
Gone are the days when celebrating Easter just meant eating all the chocolate eggs you can handle and treating yourself to all of the hot cross buns while they're in stores. Keep doing both, naturally, because this time of year wouldn't be the same otherwise. But choc-flavoured cocktails have quickly become an Easter staple, too — and award-winning distillery Archie Rose Distilling Co's new lamington tipple has arrived at exactly the right time. Lamingtons are the dessert that just keeps giving: giving us vodkas, cruffins, croissants, gelato bars and sneakers all inspired by them before now, in fact. So, of course Archie Rose has joined the trend with its new Dark Chocolate and Raspberry Lamington Bottled Cocktail, which is indeed exactly what it says on the label. A limited-edition tipple — so, it's here for a delicious time, not a long time — it comes ready to pour either over ice or paired with soda. Archie Rose also recommends a garnish in the form of a berry skewer. That berry flavour is a big part of the cocktail anyway, which goes heavy on raspberry, chocolate, honeycomb and coconut. It's made on Archie Rose's signature dry gin, and also includes notes of citrus — for balance, the company says. You'll only find it via the brand's website, in its latest creative tipple in a range that's previous included riffing on ice cream, dropping a coffee whisky and taking inspiration from Vegemite. Archie Rose Distilling Co's Dark Chocolate and Raspberry Lamington Bottled Cocktail is available now via the brand's website, costing $59 per bottle.
Amid wondering how everything and anything would cope with feelings — elements such as water, fire, air and earth being the current example — Pixar also enjoys venturing to infinity and beyond. The Disney-owned animation studio first became famous and beloved thanks to the Toy Story franchise, and a space ranger figurine who loved spouting an intergalactic catchphrase, but the company is no stranger to heading into the heavens in its movies. With 2022's Lightyear, Pixar left earth for obvious reasons. When you're making a film about said space ranger toy — well, about its inspiration, to be exact — space is part of the package. With 2024's upcoming Elio, the studio is instead playing with aliens and putting earth on trial. Oh, and hanging out with a kid who says he's the planet's leader. That child is the movie's namesake, who isn't short on imagination, but could never have dreamed up the adventure that awaits. In the feature's just-dropped first teaser trailer, Elio goes on an out-of-this-world journey when he's beamed up to the Communiverse. That's an interplanetary organisation that looks after galaxies far and wide — and it mistakes the kid for earth's ambassador. How does an otherwise ordinary child cope with being in space, meeting alien lifeforms and being put through a number of challenges? What does he learn about himself along the way? Cinemagoers will find out on February 29, 2024, with Pixar's next flick after Elemental arriving on leap day — a date that no one should forget. Adrian Molina, screenwriter and co-director of the gorgeous Coco, helms the movie, while the cast includes Yonas Kibreab (Sweet Tooth) as Elio, America Ferrera (Superstore) as Elio's mom Olga, Jameela Jamil (Poker Face) as Ambassador Questa and Brad Garrett (High Desert) as Ambassador Grigon. While 2023 will only see one Pixar movie hit screens, Elio is one of two slated for 2024. Also on the lineup next year: Inside Out 2. Check out the teaser trailer for Elio below: Elio will release in cinemas Down Under on February 29, 2024.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. THE FORGIVEN Patience is somewhat of a virtue with The Forgiven. It would be in it, too, if any of its wealthy white characters hedonistically holidaying in Morocco were willing to display the trait for even a second. Another addition to the getaways-gone-wrong genre, this thorny satirical drama gleefully savages the well-to-do, proving as eager to eat the rich as can be, and also lays bare the despicable coveting of exoticism that the moneyed think is an acceptable way to splash plentiful wads of cash. There's patently plenty going on in this latest release from writer/director John Michael McDonagh, as there typically is in features by the filmmaker behind The Guard, Calvary and War on Everyone. Here, he adapts Lawrence Osborne's 2012 novel, but the movie that results takes time to build and cohere, and even then seems only partially interested in both. Still, that patience is rewarded by The Forgiven's stellar lead performance by Ralph Fiennes, playing one of his most entitled and repugnant characters yet. Sympathies aren't meant to flow David Henninger's (Fiennes, The King's Man) way, or towards his wife Jo (Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye). Together, the spiky Londoners abroad bicker like it's a sport — and the only thing fuelling their marriage. Cruelty taints their words: "why am I thinking harpy?", "why am I thinking shrill?" are among his, while she counters "why am I thinking high-functioning alcoholic?". He's a drunken surgeon, she's a bored children's author, and they're venturing past the Atlas Mountains to frolic in debauchery at the village their decadent pal Richard (Matt Smith, Morbius) and his own barbed American spouse Dally (Caleb Landry Jones, Nitram) have turned into a holiday home. Sympathy isn't designed to head that pair's way, either; "we couldn't have done it without our little Moroccan friends," Richard announces to kick off their weekend-long housewarming party. But when the Hennigers arrive late after tragically hitting a local boy, Driss (Omar Ghazaoui, American Odyssey), en route, the mood shifts — but also doesn't. The wicked turns of phrase that David slings at Jo have nothing on his disdain for the place and people around him, and he doesn't care who hears it. His assessment of the desert vista: "it's very picturesque, I suppose, in a banal sort of way". He drips with the prejudice of privilege, whether offensively spouting Islamophobic remarks or making homophobic comments about his hosts — and he doesn't, nay won't, rein himself in when Richard calls the police, reports the boy's death, pays the appropriate bribes and proclaims that their bacchanal won't otherwise be disturbed. The arrival of Driss' father Abdellah (Ismael Kanater, Queen of the Desert), and his request that David accompanies him home to bury his son, complicates matters, however. While David begrudgingly agrees, insultingly contending that it's a shakedown, Jo helps keep the party going, enjoying time alone to flirt with hedge fund manager Tom (Christopher Abbott, Possessor). John Michael McDonagh hasn't ever co-helmed a feature with his filmmaker brother Martin, but actors have jumped between the duo's respective works, with Fiennes — who starred in Martin's memorable In Bruges — among the latest. The siblings share something else, too, and not just a knack for assembling impressive casts; they're equally ace at fleshing out the characters inhabited by their dazzling on-screen cohorts via witty and telling dialogue. The Forgiven plays like it's in autopilot, though, but having Fiennes, Chastain, Smith and Jones (who appeared in Martin's Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) utter its lines is a gift. Indeed, here it's the attitudes captured while they're speaking, and the behaviours and mannerisms made plain in how they're speaking, that add layer upon layer to this murky affair. That'd ring true even if Driss, Abdellah and the tense journey with the latter to inter the former weren't even in the narrative. Read our full review. FULL TIME Perhaps the greatest trick the devil ever pulled — the devil that is time, the fact that we all have to get out of bed each and every morning, and the sleep-killing noise signalling that a new day is here — was to create alarm clocks in a variety of sounds. Some are quiet, soft, calming and even welcoming, rather than emitting a juddering screech, but the effect always remains the same. Whatever echoes from which device, if your daily routine is a treadmill of relentless havoc, that din isn't going to herald smiles or spark a spring in anyone's step. The alarm that kickstarts each morning in Full Time isn't unusual or soothing. It isn't overly obnoxious or horrifying either. But the look on Laure Calamy's face each time that it goes off, in the split second when her character is remembering everything that her day will bring, is one of pure exhaustion and exasperation — and it'd love to murder that unwanted wake-up siren. That expression couldn't be more relatable, as much in Full Time is, even if you've never been a single mother living on the outskirts of Paris, navigating a train strike, endeavouring to trade up one job for another for a better future, and juggling kids, bills, and just getting to and from work. At the 2021 Venice International Film Festival, Antoinette in the Cévennes and Call My Agent! star Calamy won the Best Actress award in the event's Horizons strand for her efforts here — and while the accolade didn't come her way for a single gaze, albeit repeated throughout the movie, it easily could've. Mere minutes into Full Time, it's plain to see why she earned herself such a prize beyond that withering gape, however. Calamy is that phenomenal in this portrait of a weary market researcher-turned-hotel chambermaid's hectic life, playing the part like she's living it. In our own ways, most of us are. The first time the alarm sounds, Julie Roy (Calamy) is already lethargic and frustrated; indeed, writer/director Eric Gravel (Crash Test Aglaé), who won the Venice Horizons Best Director gong himself, charts the ups and downs of his protagonist's professional and personal situation like he's making an unflagging thriller. In fact, he is. Julie is stretched to breaking point from the get-go, and every moment of every day seems to bring a new source of stress. For starters, her job overseeing the cleaning at a five-star hotel in the city is both chaotic and constantly throwing up challenges, and the hints dropped by her boss (Anne Suarez, Black Spot) about the punishment for not living up to her demands — aka being fired — don't help. Julie has put all her hopes on returning to market research anyway, but getting time off for the interview is easier said than done, especially when the French capital is in the middle of a transport strike that makes commuting in and out from the countryside close to impossible. Also adding to Julie's troubles is well, everything. The childcare arrangement she has in place with a neighbour (Geneviève Mnich, Change of Heart) is also precarious, thanks to threats of quitting and calling social services. Having any energy to spend meaningful time with her children at the end of her busy days is nothing but a fantasy, too. Trying to get financial support out of her absent ex is a constant battle, especially given he won't answer the phone — and the bank won't stop calling about her overdue mortgage payments. It's also her son Nolan's (J'ai tué mon mari) birthday, so there are gifts to buy, plus a party to organise and throw. Julie is so frazzled that having a drink with her best friend is a luxury she doesn't have time for, because some other task always beckons. And when a father from her village, the kindly Vincent (Cyril Gueï, The Perfect Mother), helps her out not once but twice, she's so starved of affection that she instantly misreads his intentions. Read our full review. MURDER PARTY With apologies to William Shakespeare, all the world isn't just a stage in French farce Murder Party. Instead, it's a game, then another one, then yet another after that. This candy-coloured murder-mystery takes perhaps the ultimate high-concept setup and hones in on a crucial fact: that audiences love whodunnits, whether they're watching them on the screen or reading them on the page, because charting the unravelling details entails sleuthing along. In other words, when we're wondering who killed who in which room and why (and with what weapon), we're playing. The board game Cluedo also nailed this truth, as have murder-mystery parties, plus the increasing array of other interactive shows and events that thrust paying participants into the middle of such puzzle-laden predicaments. And while Murder Party acknowledges this idea in a variety of manners, here's the first and simplest: it's set among a family famed for making best-selling board games themselves. First-time feature writer/director Nicolas Pleskof and his co-scribe Elsa Marpeau (Prof T) kickstart the film with a killer setup: that eccentric crew of relatives, their brightly hued home on a sprawling country estate, an usual task given to a newcomer and, naturally, a sudden passing. Architect Jeanne Chardon-Spitzer (Alice Pol, Labor Day) is asked to pitch a big renovation project to the Daguerre family, transforming their impressive abode so that living there always feels like playing a game (or several). Patriarch César (Eddy Mitchell, The Middleman) already encourages his brood to enjoy their daily existence with that in mind anyway, including dedicating entire days to letting loose and walking, talking and breathing gameplay. But he's looking for a particularly bold next step. He's unimpressed by Jeanne's routine proposal, in fact. Then he drops dead, the property's doors slam shut and a voice over the intercom tells the architect, plus everyone else onsite, to undertake a series of challenges to ascertain the culprit among them — or be murdered themselves. Also thrust into the high-stakes game, which'll dispense with anyone who refuses to take part or guesses incorrectly: César's son Théo (Pablo Pauly, The French Dispatch), daughter Léna (Sarah Stern, Into the World) and nudgingly named youngest boy Hercule (Adrien Guionnet, Le Bazar de la Charité). Yes, sibling rivalry complicates the hypothesising, as well as the attempts to stay alive. Théo is particularly friendly towards workaholic Jeanne, adding another complexity to the already-chaotic situation. Similarly at hand is the dead man's younger wife Salomé (Pascale Arbillot, Haute Couture) — a mystery writer herself — and his no-nonsense offsider sister Joséphine (Miou-Miou, The Last Mercenary). And, because a home this immense was always going to have some help hovering around, butler Armand (Gustave Kervern, Love Song for Tough Guys) gets drawn in, too. If Amelie and Knives Out combined, the end result would look like Murder Party. If Wes Anderson and Agatha Christie joined forces, the outcome would be the same. It's highly unlikely that Pleskof was ever going to call his feature Murder in the Game-Filled Mansion or Death While Rolling the Dice, but that's the overwhelming vibe. There's an escape room element, too — thankfully, though, nodding towards the Escape Room franchise isn't on the agenda. Murder Party's characters get stuck in intricately designed locked spaces and forced to piece together clues to secure their freedom, and are only permitted to remain breathing by keeping their wits about them, but no one's in a horror movie here. Read our full review. THE REEF: STALKED In the crowded waters of cinema's shark-attack genre, which first took a hefty bite out of the box office with mega hit Jaws and then spawned plenty of imitators since, a low-budget Australian effort held its own back in 2010. The second movie from writer/director Andrew Traucki after his crocodile-attack flick Black Water, The Reef wasn't ever going to rake in enough takings to threaten the larger fish, but the stripped-back survival-thriller was grippingly effective. As Black Water did with 2020's Black Water: Abyss, the creature-feature helmer's shark film has now be given a sequel — and like Traucki's other franchise, this followup is a routine splash. The filmmaker keeps most of the basics the same, casting out a remakequel, aka a movie about basically the same scenario but with different faces. No, Traucki isn't seeking a bigger boat, or even to rock the one he has. The Reef: Stalked does make one curious new choice, however, stemming from its nine-months-earlier prologue. The film's opening sequences set up quite the harrowing source of trauma for protagonist Nic (Teressa Liane, The Vampire Diaries), and also clumsily equate domestic violence with the ocean's predators in the process. The aim is to show how Nic and her youngest sister Annie (debutant Saskia Archer) refuse to become victims after their other sibling Cathy (Bridget Burt, Camp-Off) is stalked and savaged in a different way, devastatingly and fatally so, at the hands of her partner Greg (Tim Ross, Dive Club). Drawing attention to assaults against women and femicide is a worthy mission, but it lacks bite here. Traucki's metaphor is as clear as the sky on a cloud-free day, and yet the domestic abuse plot point primarily plays as a way to complicate Nic as a character — PTSD flashes and all — rather than make a meaningful statement about violence within intimate relationships. After finding Cathy herself, Nic is so understandably distressed that she heads as far away as she can, but returns from overseas for a big diving and kayaking trip that was important to her sister. With friends Jodie (Ann Truong, Cowboy Bebop) and Lisa (Kate Lister, Clickbait), as well as Annie — who isn't known for enjoying the water, let alone for handling herself on it — they embark on a multi-day paddle. It isn't long until a different sinister force terrorises their getaway, though; even if you don't already know what "the man in the grey suit" refers to in surfer slang, this is a shark-attack sequel, after all. Aside from the haunting shots taking Nic back to Cathy's last moments, everything about The Reef: Stalked plays out as expected from the moment the quartet set off from north Queensland. Cue the obligatory waves of jump scares, many efficiently staged but their impact lessening as they just keep coming in increasingly predictable ways (when shark flicks are happy to swim by the numbers, if you've seen one movie like The Reef, 47 Metres Down, The Shallows, Bait, The Meg and the like, it feels like you've seen them all). Cue the tension that springs from the film's characters rarely being close enough to the shore to escape — but, when it's convenient, being close enough for kids playing on the beach to become potential fodder. Cue a score by Mark Smythe (Love You Like That) that tells viewers exactly how to react at every moment, too, and dampens the thrills and frights as a result. Still, Traucki has cast The Reef: Stalked well, enough that buying Nic and company's life-or-death stress comes easily. Trusting them, rather than clunkily overcomplicating the setup — no matter how well-intentioned — might've resulted in a better return to The Reef. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on April 7, April 14, April 21 and April 28; and May 5, May 12, May 19 and May 26; June 2, June 9, June 16, June 23 and June 30; and July 7, July 14 and July 21. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Fantastic Beasts and the Secrets of Dumbledore, Ambulance, Memoria, The Lost City, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Happening, The Good Boss, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, The Northman, Ithaka, After Yang, Downton Abbey: A New Era, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, Petite Maman, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Firestarter, Operation Mincemeat, To Chiara, This Much I Know to Be True, The Innocents, Top Gun: Maverick, The Bob's Burgers Movie, Ablaze, Hatching, Mothering Sunday, Jurassic World Dominion, A Hero, Benediction, Lightyear, Men, Elvis, Lost Illusions, Nude Tuesday, Ali & Ava, Thor: Love and Thunder, Compartment No. 6, Sundown, The Gray Man, The Phantom of the Open, The Black Phone, Where the Crawdads Sing and Official Competition.
It's been a whirlwind time for Sydney's hospitality scene. This time last year, two of the city's favourite restaurants announced they'd be closing their doors within weeks of each other. First, it was Enmore Road's beloved neighbourhood diner Hartsyard, followed by Chippendale's longstanding hatted restaurant Automata. While it's always tough to see your favourites close, the dust has now settled with a host of exciting new opportunities springing forward from the turnover. Automata's Clayton Wells is running Mod Dining at the Art Gallery of NSW and is now the Group Creativity Director (Culinary) at Public Hospitality, Hartsyard's Dot Lee and Jarrod Walsh have taken over the food and drink operations at The Old Clare and finally, Wells' old Automata digs have now been transformed into Longshore, Lee and Walsh's new seafood restaurant and wine bar. The dining room has been given a makeover by design firm Guru Projects which maintains the sleek welcoming atmosphere that Automata boasted, welcoming up to 80 guests at a time for lunch and dinner. The menu can be approached from a few different angles, but the ideal way is to head in with an open mind and tackle one of the set menus that spotlights fresh and sustainable produce from both the sea and the land. "We're thrilled to be opening Longshore and bringing the suburb's first wine bar and restaurant to Chippendale," says Walsh. "Our menu is inspired by coastal ingredients and techniques from around the world, and we're excited to showcase the best of what our local producers have to offer." The centrepiece of the kitchen's offerings is an $80 experimental ten-course snack flight. If you're someone who loves to try a bit of everything, this is for you. Sample your way through the hot and cold elements of the menu including coral prawn tartlet with shellfish mayo, pickled Jervis Bay mussels, kangaroo tartare, glazed green lip abalone crumpets, Margra lamb ribs and salt and vinegar potato scallops. There's also a more standard a la carte menu and a pair of larger tasting menus — a $150 five-course degustation for dinner or a $100 three-course set menu for lunch. Other highlights to keep an eye out for include cured yellowfish tuna, dry-aged swordfish steak with XO butter and Westholme wagyu tri-tip with bone marrow sauce. As with Hartsyard, the drinks list is also integral to the Longshore experience. The wines focus on a diverse range of sustainable producers that make crisp drops destined to be paired with some fresh seafood. The cocktails also have a sustainable streak, like the strawberry old-fashioned which uses a zero-waste, house-infused strawberry whisky. The open-plan dining room provides the best spot in the house, with prime views of the kitchen, but if you're on the hunt for somewhere in Chippendale to pop in to discover your next favourite wine paired with a few next-level snacks, there's also 12-seat al fresco area for short stays. Then, you can always head up to The Old Clare's rooftop bar for a poolside cocktail. [caption id="attachment_905602" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jason Loucas[/caption] Longshore is located at 5 Kensington Street, Chippendale. It's now open for lunch Friday–Sunday and dinner Thursday–Saturday and Monday. Images: Jason Loucas
Time to scope out an enormous bib and the hardiest pair of gloves you can lay your hands on. On June 2, House of Crabs will host a one-off seafood orgy by the name of 'Endless Bag Monday'. And yes, it means exactly what you think it does. You get to eat as much crab (and as many prawns, mussels and clams) as you, your stomach and your shell-cracking knuckles can handle. The feast kicks off at 6pm. We suggest you arrive right on time because you'll have only two hours to get your money's worth. Tickets are $100, which ain't cheap but, the boil is banging and the atmosphere streaks ahead of the city's hotel seafood buffets. Given that the venue inspires queueing on regular nights, bookings are most definitely recommended. Guarantee yourself a bottomless bag by calling (02) 9699 3177 or sending an email to houseofcrabs@drinkndine.com.au.
Start prepping your prank calls: Moe’s Tavern is coming to town. From May 23-30, the first floor of the Woolloomooloo Bay Hotel will turn into Homer Simpson's favourite drinking den. And, of course, the go-to destination for Krusty Burgers, Duffalo Wings, Lard Lad Donuts and Duff Beer. The pop-up is in honour of the fact that Australia is about to add Duff Beer — the official version — to its bottle shop shelves. You may well have seen fakes masquerading about the place, but this is the real thing. It’s being described as “superbly crafted with a perfect balance of flavour and refreshment featuring a deep golden colour with caramel aromatics and a hint of fruit”. It’s perhaps a more poetic description than Homer might have conjured up. His song of praise went something along the lines of, “I enjoy the great taste of Duff; Yes, Duff is the only beer for me; Smooth, creamy Duff ... Zzzzzzzz.” From May 28, you’ll be able to take it home (and write your own verse), for $17 a six-pack of 355ml cans and/or $45 a case. You’ll find it at BWS or Dan Murphy's. Via 2Day FM.
If you're fond of R&B, hip hop and nostalgia, you'll want to grab your diary ASAP: Fridayz Live is back for 2025. The festival last popped up in 2023, then sat out 2024. There's no lineup just yet, but the event has locked in dates and venues for its four Australian stops, with Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth on the itinerary. This year's Fridayz Live run will kick off on Friday, October 17 at Brisbane Showgrounds, then head to Sydney's ENGIE Stadium on Saturday, October 18. The following weekend, Perth's Langley Park will welcome the fest on Friday, October 24. The final stop: Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on Saturday, October 25. The lineup isn't far away, either, with the announcement set for 6am on Thursday, May 22. Whoever is on the bill will follow in the footsteps of Jason Derulo, Boyz II Men, Kelly Rowland and Flo Rida in 2023, plus TLC, Shaggy, Ashanti, Craig David, Akon and Macklemore in 2022. Before that, Fridayz Live previously went by RNB Fridays, but with the same focus music-wise. Kelis, En Vogue, Usher, Salt-N-Pepa, Ginuwine, Naughty by Nature and Janet Jackson have also graced past lineups. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fridayz Live (@fridayz_live) The last time that Fridayz Live was on the concert calendar Down Under, it also went to Adelaide; however, a visit to the South Australian capital hasn't been announced for 2025. Fridayz Live joins Spilt Milk in making a comeback this year after sitting out 2024, in a welcome trend for the Aussie live music scene. Fridayz Live 2025 Dates Friday, October 17 — Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane Saturday, October 18 — ENGIE Stadium, Sydney Friday, October 24 — Langley Park, Perth Saturday, October 25 — Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Fridayz Live is touring Australia in October 2025. We'll have the lineup for you at 6am on Thursday, May 22, 2025 — keep an eye on the festival's website and Instagram in the interim.
Over the last few years, we've seen a certain literary crime-solver follow the action-packed route with Robert Downey Jr, then stalk around modern-day London as Benedict Cumberbatch, and head to America in the guise of Jonny Lee Miller. We've seen Sherlock Holmes in his prime, puzzling over clues and cracking cases. We've seen him save the day, struggle against a nemesis or two and even shoulder a few rough patches. What we haven't seen is the famous "elementary!"-exclaiming figure later in life — well, until now that is. Enter Mr. Holmes, an effort that explores what comes next for the cantankerous detective with the brilliant analytical mind. Set in 1947 and adhering to the original timeline for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's creation, the latest filmic take on the ace investigator sees him older, wiser and a little worse for wear. His deductive skills still put others to shame, but his 93-year-old memory is failing. After a trip to Japan, Sherlock (Ian McKellen) returns to his seaside farmhouse buoyed with hope that he's found the answer to his ailing state; yet even his great intellect can't conjure a solution to getting long in the tooth. As he attempts to gather his wits to write his own version of his last-ever case, he shares his knowhow with Roger (Milo Parker), the young son of his housekeeper (Laura Linney), with the boy eager to learn everything he can from his idol. Watson might be absent, and Baker Street isn't a primary place of interest, but no rendering of the legendary detective would be complete without a cryptic situation (or several) to unravel. Just don't expect a traditional whodunit, because that's what this film is not. Piecing together the tale Holmes is jotting down — as well as the secretive details of his recent overseas jaunt — actually prove the feature's least intriguing parts. In a film that's more character study than mystery, the real enigma in need of untangling is Sherlock himself. Other recent screen incarnations have fleshed out the person behind the reputation, though not in such a delicate and delightful fashion as McKellen's hobbling, grumbling curmudgeon. His super sleuth isn't just a formidable brain packaged with some unsociable traits; he's a fragile elderly man facing a short future while looking back on a life he's no longer all that certain about. It feels fitting, then, that director Bill Condon lets his star steal the show in their second collaboration after 1998's acclaimed Gods and Monsters. In adapting Mitch Cullin's novel A Slight Trick of the Mind and trawling through its driving theme of accepting mortality, the filmmaker hones in not just on matters of the busy head, but those of the unfulfilled heart — and he has the perfect lead for the job. Condon also boasts a fine eye for the warm hues needed to colour Mr. Holmes' interpretation of the icon's golden years, and a feel for the stately rhythm required for what amounts to a hero's last chapter. Yes, his film is old in its protagonist and old-fashioned in its nature, but it's also an elegant, enjoyable alternative to the recent spate of rousing revisionist takes. That dispelling myths about the fictional hero becomes the film's running joke speaks to the vibe he's going for — and when it comes to Sherlock on screen, it's a vibe that's more than welcome.
Sydney nightlife precinct YCK Laneways is making the most of the month of August with a four-week music, art, food and drink festival celebrating women in creative industries and hospitality. As part of YCK Front & Centre, more than 50 individual events will take place across 15 CBD venues. The culmination of the festival will be across the August 26 weekend with a three-day marquee event titled Front & Centre presents: Live at YCK. Throughout the days, attendees will be treated to masterclasses from hospitality veterans including a spirits distilling workshop from Women of Australian Distilling, a Cornersmith-led pickle your own vegetable masterclass and a truffle grading and tasting experience with Ganymede Truffles. Come nighttime, live music and entertainment will take over with a stacked lineup including sets from the likes of Jaguar Jonze, JOY, Bella Hatch, Kilimi and Pirra. Across the 15 venues, there is a tonne of other highlights. Over at PS40, the bar will be running its regular chef collaboration series with a female-led lineup; Esteban will be hosting live art from Nanami Cowdroy; plus female and non-binary DJ collective Pho the Girls will be taking over Since I Left You among the dozens of events popping up across the laneways. Rounding out the program is a series of limited-edition cocktails inspired by Moulin Rouge! The Musical which has been rolled out across the venues for the entire 31-day program.
Aspiring artists and lovers of wine will both feel right at home in this BYO art studio in Surry Hills. Located on Holt Street around the corner from Central Station, Cork & Chroma is a 'paint and sip' studio that embraces one of life's universal truths: everyone is more creative when they've had a little bit to drink. Open evenings Wednesdays through Saturdays as well as Sunday afternoon, the studio is run by artist Hillary Wall along with her husband B.J. A visit costs $60 for a three hour session, during which time an artist will run you through the basics of acrylics on canvas, before you're let loose to create a masterpiece of your own. They also host private functions and parties, if you're looking to make a mess with your friends. Canvas, paints, brushes, easels and glassware all come provided, while they also have a selection of nibbles for purchase, including cheese, chilli spiced nuts and Dello Mano chocolate brownies. All you need to bring is the liquid inspiration.
Blurring the lines between life and art, Ross Watson is getting a well-deserved party. An Anniversary celebrates his 15-year legacy with a gallery exhibition of some of his best hyperreal works. Running as a part of the Mardi Gras 2015 festival program, Watson's provocative creations will be showing at Waterloo's Depot Gallery for two weeks only. The Melburnian tackles issues of sexuality and self-expression in his signature playful style (without fear of ruffling a few feathers along the way). An international art-world favourite, Watson's dynamic, out-of-the-box efforts are what sets him apart, earning him the praise of Elton John and Stephen Fry, among others.
If you were planning on catching the train this weekend, you're in for quite the journey. Not just because you may have a long weekend adventure, but because Sydney's trains will be reduced from Thursday, January 25 through to Sunday, January 28. According to a statement released this afternoon by Transport NSW, trains will run to a reduced timetable across the four days. As well as this, the Carlingford and Cumberland lines will be cancelled entirely, with buses running instead, and services will finish up earlier than usual on Sunday night. This poses a huge problem for those working on Thursday or over the weekend, with Transport for NSW suggesting commuters allow for "extra travel time" on both rail and the roads. Buses, ferries and the light rail will run as usual. This is because the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) cannot reach a negotiation with rail management — the same negotiations that have seen a 24-hour strike planned for Monday, January 29. Problems with staffing and conditions of the trains have been rife since a new, more extensive timetable was introduced in November last year. Commuters have been directly impacted by these issues this year, battling a string of delayed and cancelled services. The Monday strike is still planned to go ahead unless the RBTU can reach a fair agreement with the NSW Government and Sydney Trains. This is expected to be announced tomorrow. For more details and updates, check Transport for NSW. Image: Wikimedia Commons.
Since November 2024, 200,000 people have enjoyed an IRL Bluey experience in Brisbane, wandering through the immersive installation dedicated to the series in the city that the animated hit sprang from. That number is set to grow. Due to its unsurprising success, Bluey's World is sticking around the Queensland capital, extending its season until February 2026. On- and off-screen, Bluey is inseparable from Brissie. For its setting, the hit animated series takes inspiration from the Sunshine State spot. It also hails from a studio based in the River City. The Heeler home resembles Brisbane's Queenslanders, too. And back in 2022 when a replica of the Bluey house popped up temporarily, there was only one place for it. It always made sense, then, that stepping inside the famous show would happen in the exact right location. Announced in 2023, Bluey's World gets attendees walking around life-sized sets that recreate the beloved family-friendly staple. Yes, the Heeler house and yard are part of the setup — for real life. Yes, you can expect to hear "wackadoo!" more than once while you're there. Movie World might've badged itself as Hollywood on the Gold Coast, but it's no longer the only big tourist hotspot giving visitors to southeast Queensland — and locals as well — a chance to explore their on-screen favourites IRL. Sprawling across 4000 square metres, Bluey's World features the Heelers' living room, playroom, kitchen, backyard (poinciana tree included) and more. Alongside bringing the global TV sensation's sets into reality, it also boasts familiar interactive games such as Keepy Uppy and Magic Xylophone, plus other activities for both kids and adults. Haven't accompanied your own little ones, or your nieces and nephews, to Bluey's World yet? Perhaps you know that appreciating the adorable Aussie show about a family of blue heelers isn't just for children, but you still haven't made the trip. Either way, this addition to Northshore Pavilion in Northshore Brisbane is big — literally thanks to its sizeable floor plan. And yes, as seen in the series, you can arrive via CityCat, including right through until early next year. "The response to Bluey's World has been phenomenal. Seeing families laugh, play and explore the attraction firsthand has been incredibly rewarding. We set out to create a truly special experience, and it's wonderful to watch it become a must-visit Brisbane destination for fans of all ages," said Bluey's World Producer Andrew Kay. "We're so proud of the one-of-a-kind experience we've created, and with the season now extended, we can't wait to welcome even more fans to Bluey's World. Reaching 200,000 visitors in just a few months is a testament to the love and enthusiasm for Bluey. It's been amazing to see families from all over the world step into Bluey's home and immerse themselves in the Heeler family's adventures," added BBC Studios ANZ Head of Commercial Scott Modra. Visitors should plan to spend 70 minutes bounding through the experience — and will also find an indoor playground that nods to Bluey's Brisbane neighbourhood, plus spring rolls and pizza on offer at the cafe. There's a soundscape to match, plus a gift shop. Bluey's World is exclusive to Brisbane, making it a tourist attraction to fans not only locally and nationally but worldwide. Unsurprisingly, that's a big part of the push from both the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council, who are supporting the BBC Studios- and HVK Productions-produced experience. Find Bluey's World at Northshore Pavilion, 281 MacArthur Avenue, Northshore Brisbane until February 2026 — head to the attraction's website for more information and tickets.
When Disney announced that it was jumping on the streaming bandwagon via its very own platform, it unsurprisingly announced a number of new Marvel series specifically made for the small screen. None are yet to arrive on Disney+ so far, following the service's launch late in 2019 — but that hasn't stopped the Mouse House adding another high-profile show to its upcoming roster. Later this year, WandaVision — focusing on Avengers Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) — will drop. At some point in the future, viewers will also be able to watch The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, about Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) and Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie), while Loki, starring Tom Hiddleston, was always slated for 2021. Also in the works are Hawkeye, Ms Marvel, Moon Knight and She-Hulk. And, as Variety reports, now joining them at a yet-to-be-revealed date is a show about Nick Fury. Yes, that means that Samuel L Jackson looks set to score his own Marvel series. At this stage, details are scarce — other than the fact that Jackson will star, and Kyle Bradstreet (Mr Robot) will write and executive produce. But if you've been craving more time with Fury, who usually only pops up as a supporting player, this'll be the news you've been waiting for. Fury, and therefore Jackson, did appear in two episodes of the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV show in 2013 and 2014, so this won't be the character's first small-screen outing. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Fury has popped up in 11 of its 23 films to-date, after first showing up in 2008's Iron Man. He has since featured in everything from Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger to multiple Avengers films, as well as 2019's Captain Marvel and Spider-Man: Far From Home. If you need a refresher about one of the character's recent big-screen appearances, check out the Captain Marvel trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1BCujX3pw8 Via Variety. Top image: Marvel's The Avengers. Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Photo: Zade Rosenthal. © 2011 MVLFFLLC. TM & © 2011 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.
Next Thursday, March 13, will see the sixth annual, four-day Taste of Sydney festival set up shop in Centennial Park to deliver a foodie feast far more suited to our city’s more discerning palates. This year’s a biggun, primed to serve up a whole heap of delicious treats. There'll be more than 60 selected food, wine and cocktail items, including recipes designed especially for you; 100+ bespoke artisan producers and providers; a plethora of demos and masterclasses for budding cooks, chefs, bloggers and beyond; plus music and entertainment throughout for those simply after a bite and a bevvy. But before you get lost in a huge list of must-trys, it’s always important to remember that you don’t need a gastronomical portfolio rivalling Matt Preston’s cravat to know what’s good. All you need is this guide, an empty stomach and an open mind. Come Hungry An obvious tip but one to be taken seriously: there’s going to be a lot to choose from and the last thing you want to do is limit yourself because you lunched too late. For example, Surry Hills' fave Chur Burger will have you salivating over their bespoke 'Taste' burger, while the folks behind Newtown’s Bloodwood will be making their presence known. Other standouts include Popolo, Biota, 4Fourteen, Four in Hand, Jonah’s, Porteno and Longrain. Prepare for a Hangover We’re not telling you to binge drink yourself into oblivion, but the 'taste' element at Taste ain’t just solids. The Gourmet Traveller WINE Pop Up Bar by Rushcutters, for example, will be the place to sip and savour a host of selected drops. Or, if wine’s not your thing, try the new apple and guava flavour among the usual refreshingly sweet combinations at the Rekorderlig Cider Bar. The Sail & Anchor Beer Hall have hops and barley sorted through interactive sessions and tastings from Australia’s best home-grown and imported labels, while Cointreau and Galliano will be whipping up a cocktail or two. Learning is Fun! This year will see the launch of the brand new Lurpak Cookery School teaching how to best use said Danish butter, while the Plumm Wine Theatre presented by Gourmet Traveller WINE asks you to pop in and lift your wine knowledge alongside prestigious sommeliers and critics. Others not to be missed are the food and beverage matching masterclasses by Celebrity Cruises, the always popular Country Kitchen for the eco-minded among us, and Sensology’s The Art of Cocktail Making. Of course, the Taste Kitchen is back again with Sydney’s top chefs sharing the secrets of their favourite dishes, and the Dilmah Chef's Skillery in association with Australian Gourmet Traveller is the place to have all those burning questions answered. Warm Up Your Bowling Arm 2014’s Taste of Sydney has a pretty nifty little attraction brought to us by Galliano in the form of a two-lane Bocce area upon entrance, allowing multiple players the chance to enjoy a game of this boules-related funtime while sipping a cocktail or three. Look out for picket fencing and seating, or simply listen out for the laughter as pissed-up people attempt to give this a go. Tassie is Trending Not only is the Tasmanian Pavilion returning this year with its focus on all the best produce to ever grace our fair shores from the Apple Isle (we’re talking seafood, bakeries, wineries, distilleries and butchers all showcasing their gourmet delicacies), there’s also the opportunity to win a holiday for two including flights, accommodation and car hire to, you guessed it, Tassie. It Doesn't Hurt to Spoil Yourself With so much going on, it never hurts to treat yourself to a little luxury, and the Taste of Sydney VIP Lounge includes two complimentary drinks, unlimited access to the lounge and $30 worth of Crowns (festival currency) to use at any of the vendors you desire. VIP tickets also come with $20 GoodFood Gift card and a $50 UBERblack ride. After all, this festival comes but once a year and we all deserve a little extra sparkle now and again. Taste of Sydney will run from Thursday, March 13, to Sunday, March 17, 2014. Tickets start from $25 and are on sale now from Ticketek. Take advantage of the special ticket offer and book two general entry tickets for $40. Just enter the word FEAST into the promotional code box when booking. This offer is valid on advance purchase tickets only and applies to general entry tickets. Crowns (the official Taste currency) can be pre-purchased in denominations of 30 or 50 Crowns through Ticketek.
Whether you watched along from 2009–15 when it was in production or you discovered its joys via an obsessive binge-watching marathon afterwards, Parks and Recreation is one of the 21st century's TV gifts — and the beloved sitcom cemented its stars, from its lead roles through to its supporting parts, as audience favourites. Plenty of those talents also share something else in common: a fondness for touring Down Under. Nick Offerman has done it, taking to Australia's stages. Amy Poehler has made multiple promotional Aussie trips for Inside Out and Inside Out 2. Henry Winkler even headed this way to chat through his lengthy career. Now, add the latter's on-screen son to the list. Ben Schwartz, aka Parks and Recreation's Jean-Ralphio Saperstein, has a date with Sydney and Melbourne in 2025. [caption id="attachment_968141" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Disney/Image Group LA[/caption] Don't be suspicious: Schwartz will be performing his Ben Schwartz & Friends live improv show, which begins with just a couple of chairs onstage. Where it goes from there, you'll only discover on the night — because that's the joy of improv. He's doing two gigs, one at the Sydney Opera House on Saturday, May 3 and another at Hamer Hall on Sunday, May 4. Schwartz isn't just known for Parks and Recreation, although that's the first thing on his resume that'll always come to mind for Parks fans. Since his time in Pawnee wrapped up — since he stopped being one of the woooooooorst people in the fictional Indiana town, that is — he's also starred in murder-mystery comedy The Afterparty, voiced a certain spiny blue mammal in Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, loaned his vocal tones to Star Wars: The Bad Batch and Invincible, and featured in Space Force and Renfield. You'll find Arrested Development, This Is Where I Leave You, The Interview, The Walk, House of Lies, The Lego Movie 2, BoJack Horseman, Bob's Burgers, DuckTales and Central Park on Schwartz's filmography, too, and a whole heap more. Does his resemblance to Stranger Things' Joe Keery come up in Ben Schwartz & Friends? Again, you'll need to attend to find out. [caption id="attachment_842850" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Afterparty, Apple TV+.[/caption] Ben Schwartz & Friends Australian Dates 2025: Saturday, May 3 — Sydney Opera House, Sydney Sunday, May 4 — Hamer Hall, Melbourne Ben Schwartz & Friends plays Australia in May 2025, with ticket presales from 10am on Wednesday, July 31 and general sales from 11am on Friday, August 2. Head to the tour website for more details. Top image: The Afterparty, Apple TV+.
The Australian bottleshop deserves a do-over. For too long we've purchased our grog at generic liquor stores that only really highlight the big, familiar names. Enter Native Drops. Bondi Beach's newest drinks retailer is putting a refreshing spin on the way we buy alcohol, turning the quick dash up to the bottle-o into an experience that features not only wine tasting, but also meet the maker sessions and workshops for customers. "Supermarkets can't showcase a lot of good wine in these places because they're being supported by big labels which have demand requirements to fill," co-founder Daniel Ferster explains about his venture, which aims to offer a sophisticated alternative to the model Aussies currently know. Ferster and his business partner Daniel Berman are the wine-obsessed brains behind the month-old space, which sells solely Australian wine, beer and spirits. It's a boutique business that emphasises the importance of buying local and provides a glimpse into just how vast, delicious and amazing the nation's industry is. Regions from Tasmania to the Margaret River are represented, with the selection hand-chosen and centred around small batch and often biodynamic producers. Featured wine producers include The Other Right, Arfion, Swinging Bridge, CRFT and Charlotte Dalton. Native Drops also plans to stock native cheeses, and will open a deli section in February. The interior design is earthy and rustic. Designer and architect Andy McDonnell has repurposed the site into a truly intimate space. It's low-lit and clean, with splashes of timber, copper and stone. Australian flora and fauna are celebrated with wildflower arrangements by local floral designer Selena Murray. "We've got a big tasting room attached and we're hosting a weekly wine-tasting series," says Ferster. "It's fashion-forward space and a cellar door-like experience." Native Drops is located at 7/19-23 O'Brien Street, Bondi Beach. Opening hours are 10am to 5pm every day, except Thursday (10am to 7pm) and Saturday (10am to 10pm). Visit their website for further details.
Whether you're searching for budget skincare solutions, are stuck in a makeup rut or have never quite figured out how to apply eyeliner properly, YouTube has long been a beauty vlogging haven. But what if you're trying to stay glam after nuclear winter decimates the earth, wipes out life as we know it and forces the mutated remnants of humanity deep underground? Only Sarah's Channel can show you how to dazzle in that literally nightmarish situation — and how to make homemade lipstick out of saliva, clay, blood and what seem to be glow-in-the-dark mushrooms. It's set two centuries after a world-ending disaster and, after initially dying along with the vast majority of the population, Sarah (Claudia O'Doherty) has been reanimated. She's supposed to help the planet's waning survivors grow crops, overcome illnesses, restart civilisation and avoid being eaten by a giant monster called Quahmork — just everyday things, really — but the beauty vlogger, influencer, brand ambassador and author would rather keep doing what she knows. In her original life, Sarah had more than 3.5 million subscribers across her various social media platforms, and she's not going to let them down. They're all dead, but what's the point of saving the few not-quite-people left if no one looks their best? That's the idea behind the ABC's hilarious new satirical series, with Sarah's Channel taking amusing and astute aim at influencer culture and manufactured authenticity — all while its eponymous host dispenses beauty advice in a bleak, post-apocalyptic future, of course. Now available on both ABC iview and YouTube, the first season's six five-minute episodes cover everything you need to know if you're having #dystopianworldproblems, including Sarah's favourite products, her daily routine living in a fortified bunker and how to give a makeover to a slimy subterranean creature who has evolved from humanity. If you loved Australian actor and comedian O'Doherty in Netflix's Love — if you thought she was the best thing about the romantic dramedy, in fact — then you'll feel the same about her turn as the relatable yet oblivious Sarah. She stars alongside Sarah's Channel writer/director Nick Coyle (stage production Feather in the Web), who plays terrified mole person Justin. Sarah's Channel is the smart end-of-the-world parody and scathing takedown of online behaviour that you didn't know you needed. Watch the first episode below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deLiDLkQzio The entire six-episode first season of Sarah's Channel is now available to watch on ABC iview and YouTube.
Nothing makes a nice meal fall apart quite like pairing it with the wrong wine — and nothing reveals how little you know about wine like trying to defend your wine choices. Imagine if you knew how to sniff, swirl and speak eloquently to what makes a wine perfect for the delicious feast you have prepared. As MasterChef Australia's official wine of choice for the second year running, Jacob's Creek is here to help home kitchen chefs create an evening worthy of a master. It's bringing back last year's sell-out Kitchen Collective pop-up, where ticketholders can learn skills from previous MasterChef Australia guest judge (and the man behind Huxtaburger) Daniel Wilson and Rocker chef Stuart Toon, a former MasterChef UK contestant. From a pop-up on Bennelong Lawn, you'll take part in a cook-off against your mates and enjoy a three-course dining experience, as wine experts Kristy Farrell and Katherine Candy let you in on the secrets of food and wine pairing. Jacob's Creek has let us have a sneak peek at the menu, and we have the recipes for an entree and dessert to share with you. Test your skills before the big day, and sharpen your wine talk with tasting notes for the Jacob's Creek wines they pair with from Jacob Creek's chief winemaker Dan Swincer. ENTREE When you pop down to the market to gather fresh ingredients for this confit vanilla king salmon, make sure to pick up a bottle of Jacob's Creek Barossa signature chardonnay. The creaminess of the wine works with the fat deposits of the fish (often called the wagyu of the sea), while the drop's citrus notes and the finger lime in the dish refresh the palate. Obviously, the ultimate pairing is putting wine in your food, so a splash of that chardonnay makes the fennel puree even creamier. Be sure to comment on the nutty, cashew notes in the wine, and how they interplay with the macadamia pesto. CONFIT VANILLA KING SALMON Ingredients 5 portions (about 400gm) of New Zealand king salmon, boneless, skinless and bloodline removed Half a vanilla bean 1 bunch of watercress, picked 1 finger lime 70ml of extra virgin olive oil FENNEL PUREE Ingredients 1 large fennel, diced 1 tablespoon of butter 50ml of Jacob's Creek Barossa signature chardonnay 40ml of cream Sea salt and ground white pepper MACADAMIA, THAI BASIL AND FINGER LIME PESTO Ingredients Half a bunch of Thai basil, picked 100gm of roasted and salted macadamia nuts 5gm of freeze dried finger lime powder Pinch of citric acid 125ml of extra virgin olive oil Method Switch your oven on to 90 degrees celsius, then get started on the vanilla oil. Cut the vanilla bean in half, scrape the seeds out and into a small bowl with 20ml of the olive oil. Add a pinch of salt and mix. Place the salmon fillets, evenly spaced, onto a baking paper-lined tray and rub the salmon on all sides with the vanilla oil. Pop that to the side (keep at room temperature). For the fennel puree, heat a saucepan over medium heat and add butter. Once melted, add fennel and sweat for five minutes stirring often. Add the chardonnay, then cover with a lid and turn down to low. Give it a stir every four to five minutes and cook until soft with no colour. Once the wine has evaporated and the fennel is soft, add cream. Puree with a stick blender, season with sea salt and ground white pepper and pass mixture through a fine sieve. Put the puree to the side and cover. In a bowl, mix up 50ml of the olive oil and the flesh of finger lime, making sure to remove any seeds. Set this aside for later. Pop the tray of salmon into the oven and cook for about 10 minutes or until just cooked. While that's in the oven, toss the basil leaves, macadamia nuts, finger lime powder and citric acid into a food processor until finely chopped. Add olive oil and blitz until it is the consistency of pesto and season with salt and pepper. Hey, presto, you've got pesto. To plate up like a real masterchef, warm the fennel puree and put a nice circle slightly to the left of centre on the plate. Carefully place the salmon half on the puree. Top with a quenelle (fancy way of saying an oval-shaped scoop) of the pesto and four pieces of watercress. Finally, whimsically drizzle that bad boy with finger lime oil, and enjoy with a glass of Jacob's Creek Barossa signature chardonnay. DESSERT Decadent is the only way to describe this dark chocolate and plum mousse, served with chocolate, coconut and shiraz soil and raspberry coulis. It's best enjoyed with a glass of Jacob's Creek Barossa Signature shiraz tempranillo. Each flavour in the dish mirrors the flavours of the wine: plum from the tempranillo, chocolate from the shiraz and coconut from the American oak. Plus, the fruity sweetness of the tempranillo matches the tart and slightly sour coulis. So fancy. Just make sure you correctly pronounce "tem-pra-ni-yo", so you sound sophisticated. DARK CHOCOLATE AND DAVIDSON PLUM MOUSSE Ingredients 200 grams of coconut milk 200 grams of dark chocolate 3 grams of Davidson plum powder 2 egg whites, room temperature Pinch of salt 20 grams of castor sugar 5 dark chocolate cylinders Method In a small saucepan, bring coconut milk to the boil, making sure not to scorch the bottom. While that's heating up, place the chocolate and Davidson plum powder into a stainless steel bowl. When the coconut milk is lightly simmering, pour it over the chocolate. Stir once with a rubber spatula and let sit for two minutes to melt, then stir well until it is all combined. Next, whisk two egg whites on high. Once it starts to froth up, gently add the sugar bit by bit until it's all mixed together. Continue to whip until glossy, stiff peaks have formed, but do not over whip. Grab the rubber spatula again and quickly fold one-third of the meringue into the chocolate mixture, making sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl. Fold in the rest of the meringue, mixing gently until it's all combined. Transfer the mousse into a piping bag and pipe into the chocolate cylinders, making sure not to leave any air gaps. Cover with baking paper and pop in the fridge to set. CHOCOLATE AND SHIRAZ SOIL Ingredients 40ml of cold water 100 grams of caster sugar 75 grams of dark chocolate 10 grams of shiraz powder 30 grams of desiccated coconut, lightly toasted 10 grams of raw cacao powder Method Place the water in a small saucepan and gently pour the sugar into the middle of the water, careful not to get any sugar crystals on the side of the pan. Do not stir or mix. Prepare a pastry brush in a small bowl of cold water to brush down the sides if the syrup starts to crystalise around the edge of the pan. Put the chocolate in a medium-sized stainless steel bowl and set aside until the syrup is ready. Pop the saucepan on a high heat and wait until it dissolves and starts to bubble. Don't stir the sugar. Continue to cook until you start to see golden brown edges. Immediately remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk into the chocolate; don't forget to whisk around the edges. Keep whisking until all the chocolate has crumbled and looks like soil, which should only take a couple of minutes. Mix in the shiraz powder, toasted coconut and raw cacao, and transfer onto a baking paper-lined tray to cool. RASPBERRY AND ROSELLA COULIS Ingredients 150 grams of frozen raspberries 20 grams of caster sugar Juice of half a lemon 2 grams of dried rosella powder Method Over medium heat, mix up raspberries, sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan, using a wooden spoon to break up the berries as they start to soften. Turn the heat down to low and simmer for two minutes. Pour the raspberry mix into a sieve over a bowl, pushing through with a spatula. Add the rosella powder and mix well. If you have one handy, transfer the sauce to a small squeeze bottle for next-level presentation. Pop this in the fridge until you are ready to plate up. On the plate, place a few puddles of the raspberry coulis and a couple of spoons of chocolate soil. Top with a chocolate cylinder of mousse and use a sieve to dust with plum powder. Pop open a bottle of Jacob's Creek Barossa Signature tempranillo shiraz and pour yourself a glass to enjoy with your indulgent dessert. Jacob's Creek Kitchen Collective will take place between Tuesday, July 16 and Sunday, August 4. Daytime sessions will run from 12pm–4pm every Thursday to Sunday, and the nighttime experience will run from 6pm–10pm every Tuesday to Sunday. Only 16 seats are available for each session, so move quickly and get tickets here.
New year, new vacation season, new gorgeous destination — and new round of chaos at HBO's favourite luxury resort chain, too. After proving not only a huge hit but the best new show on TV in 2021, The White Lotus is returning for a second spin from the end of October. And, as happened in the show's first run, holidaying at the titular chain comes with a whole heap of mayhem for the new batch of guests. Trust Tanya McQuoid-Hunt, aka the character that newly minted Emmy-winner Jennifer Coolidge was born to play, to sum it up in the just-dropped trailer for season two: "it's just been a series of very bad decisions." She's the only main figure on this new getaway, and she's travelling to the just-as-exclusive White Lotus hotel in Sicily with her husband Greg (Jon Gries, Dream Corp LLC) and assistant Portia (Haley Lu Richardson, After Yang) — however the former isn't happy that the latter is with them. Also, Tanya thinks that Greg might be cheating. While the Hawaii-set first season of The White Lotus also starred Murray Bartlett (Physical), Connie Britton (Bombshell), Steve Zahn (Where'd You Go, Bernadette), Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria), Fred Hechinger (Fear Street), Brittany O'Grady (Little Voice), Kekoa Kekumano (Aquaman), Alexandra Daddario (Songbird), Jake Lacy (Mrs America) and Natasha Rothwell (Insecure), a new cast of faces is joining Coolidge and Gries this time around — all with their own vacation issues. Checking into season two: F Murray Abraham (Mythic Quest), Michael Imperioli (The Many Saints of Newark) and Adam DiMarco (The Order) as three generations of one family; Aubrey Plaza (Best Sellers) and Will Sharpe (Defending the Guilty) as a newly wealthy couple vacationing with pals played by Theo James (The Time Traveller's Wife) and Meghann Fahy (The Bold Type); Tom Hollander (The King's Man) as an English expat away with Leo Woodall (Cherry) as his nephew; Beatrice Grannò (Security) and Simona Tabasco (The Ties) as locals; and Sabrina Impacciatore (Across the River and Into the Trees) as this White Lotus' manager. Mark Monday, October 31 in your diary, as that's when HBO's biting satire will return for its second season, including via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand. Yes, we know that that's the same date as Halloween, but prepare for something twistier, more scathing and more playful than trick-or-treating — at least based on The White Lotus' exceptional first go-around, which just swept Hollywood's TV night of nights in September. Once again, creator/writer/director Mike White (Brad's Status) is behind the series — and also once again, the social satire will follow a week in the lives of titular resort's guests and employees. Season two will span seven episodes, however, prolonging the holiday fun/mess. Check out the trailer for The White Lotus season two below: The second season of The White Lotus will be available to stream Down Under via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand from Monday, October 31. Read our review of season one.
If you've ever jumped in the ocean, headed on a camping trip or rugged up for a night of stargazing in the middle of winter, we're going to hazard a guess and say you like the cold. No, you unabashedly love it. Ticking some boxes for you? Then you'll find plenty of excuses to head outdoors during the new winter event series Sydney Solstice. Running from Tuesday, June 8 till Sunday, June 20, Sydney Solstice is taking over the harbour city with a series of pop-ups, gigs and dazzling light shows that'll help you make the most of the chillier months. We've teamed up with NSW Government via Destination NSW to round up nine Sydney Solstice adventures you can have this winter — from moonlight kayaking sessions to pop-up ice rinks and dance floors tucked away in laneways.
The flavours of Southeast Asia are heading to the beach. Chef Milan Strbac has launched the second site of his upscale eatery Sugarcane in Coogee. Occupying the Carr Street site previously held by Nissaki Greek Taverna, the new 100-seat restaurant and cocktail bar starts service tonight, Thursday, July 21 at the south end of Coogee's beachfront. The venue feels similar to its Surry Hills sister restaurant, but with a decidedly more seaside feel. Along with the open terrace that looks out on to the beach and a great roof-hanging greenery arrangement, the Coogee menu has a big focus on seafood with the addition of a raw section on the menu. Expect bites like scallop ceviche with lime and chilli, kingfish with toasted rice and a sashimi platter. Of course there will be all your favourites like pad Thai, Sumatran curry and some melt-in-your-mouth wagyu beef. So why Coogee? Well, Strbac is a local and he wanted to create a place the local community could come and dine any night of the week. "I want the restaurant to have a casual feel where you could walk in off the beach, have a few snacks and a drink, and feel comfortable in your beach gear," says Strbac. "Or the ideal venue for a casual date night." In addition to Strbac himself, the kitchen team at Sugarcane Coogee will include ex-Mr Wong chef Tristan Balian and sous chef Yoshi Fuchigami (ex-Catalina). Flynn McClellan, who used to be at Uncle Ming's, will be looking after the bar and creating cocktails, like their twist on a Vietnamese iced coffee and a piña colada. Not a half-bad roster, we think you'll agree. Sugarcane Coogee will be open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday at 56 Carr Street, Coogee. For more info, visit sugarcanerestaurant.com.au. By Tom Clift and Lauren Vadnjal.
The Entertainment Quarter's multi-storey live music venue is set for a huge transformation with the Mary's Group taking over operations at the Moore Park spot. Formerly Hi-Fi and Max Watt's, the 1200-capacity hall will be renamed Liberty Hall and taken under the wing of burger bros, Mary's founders Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham. Located across from the Hordern Pavillion and the Entertainment Quater's new pub Watson's, Hi-Fi quickly became a Sydney mainstay for midsized gigs in the early 2010s. It was then renamed Max Watt's House of Music in 2015. Now, with Smyth and Graham at the helm, the venue will host gigs ranging from local acts finding their feet and club nights to tours with big international acts. "We are humbled at another opportunity to take the reins of yet another fallen live music venue and pour energy and hard work into creating an exciting creative space for Sydney's arts community," Graham said. Liberty Hall will swing its doors open from late October with initial lineups and shows set to be announced over the next couple of months. View this post on Instagram A post shared by George Kostopoulos (@gm.kosto) "Today's announcement is another great step forward in the renaissance of Sydney's live music scene," NSW 24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues said. "This new venue will give a platform for creative talent from Sydney and beyond, whilst also helping to revitalise the Entertainment Quarter precinct. It's a big shot in the arm for our city's 24-hour economy and I can't wait to experience its first performances." The live music venue will be accompanied by a new Mary's restaurant next door, serving up the team's signature burgers and fried chicken. The burger joint will become the group's fifth Sydney location, joining Newtown, Castelraigh Street, Circular Quay and the recently opened Castle Hill outpost. This won't be the team's first foray into live music programming. Below the Circular Quay location, you'll find another salvaged space, the underground gig space Mary's Underground. Previously known as The Basement, Mary's resurrected the venue a year after it was forced to close. Smyth and Graham also ran gigs out of The Lansdowne for over half a decade before stepping away from the venue in February. Thankfully for the city's live music junkies, the beloved City Road pub has been saved by the Oxford Art Factory team. [caption id="attachment_747991" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mary's by Kitti Gould[/caption] Liberty Hall will be located at Building 220, 116-122 Lang Road, The Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park. It will open in late October. Images: Tom Wilkinson
You might not know that noted film banger of the 00s Bring It On has been made into a stage musical — and, having already done the rounds on Broadway in 2012, and hitting Melbourne last year, it's going to cartwheel into Sydney for two weeks this August. Responsible for the phrase "cheerocracy" and your unrealistic expectations of high school, it seems the original movie still has some decent cultural capital to give. If you've been wondering, in the last 19 years, what exactly the world of competitive cheerleading might have going on with it these days, this musical is for you. If you had a Kirsten Dunst poster on the back of your childhood bedroom door, this musical is for you. To be honest, if you've watched the film even just a few times, it's probably for you too. With music and lyrics by Tony Award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (of Hamilton fame) and the stage adaptation by Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q), the musical is only loosely based on the original film of 2000, which starred your girls Kirsten and Eliza Dushku. Unlike the five sequels that followed the movie — all of which went directly to VHS — the musical looks like it has a refreshing amount of sass, cutthroat rivalry and aerial stunts. Bust out your best spirit fingers and get them tapping on your keyboard if you want tickets — Bring It On: The Musical is making its way to Sydney's State Theatre, but it's only going to be step-pivot-split jumping around town for a strictly limited two-week run.
Kano — "a computer anyone can make" — will soon be a widespread reality, following a Kickstarter campaign that's raised more than US$1 million. London-based tech geniuses Alex and Jonathan came up with the concept about a year ago. They felt that, in comparison with the toys they had growing up, today’s technology is inaccessible. Alex’s seven-year-old cousin, Micah, clarified the issue — and set the challenge — when he asked why couldn’t computers be “as simple and fun as lego”? Over the following 12 months, Alex and Jonathan travelled the world, talking to children, parents, educators and artists. All the research led to the development of Kano. According to Alex, "It’s based on three principles — simple steps, storytelling, physical computing — and tying them all together, with a sense of play and exploration.” Kano arrives in the consumer’s hands as a kit. Starting from scratch, the user builds the computer, powered by Raspberry Pi, as well as a speaker, a wireless server, HD video, music, and a custom-designed case. A basic introduction to coding enables the step-by-step construction of simple games such as Pong and Snake, as well as the modification of more complex games like Minecraft. Beyond that, the possibilities are limited only by the user’s imagination. Kano is open source, so there’s access to an abundance of software. Back in May, Alex, Jonathan and their team released a run of 200 prototypes, which sold out quickly and inspired plenty of positive reviews. When it came to expanding their scope, they turned to Kickstarter. Upon going live last month, the campaign achieved its initial goal of US$100,000 within 18 hours. Since then, a stretch goal of US$1 million has been conquered. Open until December 19, the campaign is still accepting donations of $119, which buys a Kano kit.
