How often do you think about the Roman Empire? So asked the much-memed question of 2023, as no one could avoid. With Gladiator II reaching cinemas to give 2024 one of its big blockbusters for the year, another query, also Roman Empire-related, springs to mind: how often do you think about Ridley Scott's 2000 epic Gladiator — the film that won five Oscars, including Best Actor for Russell Crowe as general-turned-arena combatant Maximus — whenever you're thinking about the Roman Empire? The first Gladiator is that influential. For more than two decades since its release, the swords- and sandals-heavy movie has proven an enduring pop-culture touchstone when it comes to contemplating its specific chapter of history through a Hollywood lens, and just in epic cinema overall. Are we not entertained? Audiences the world over were at the turn of the century, so it has never been surprising that talk of a follow-up has been buzzing since 2001. How a second feature would play out has shifted, changed and evolved several times since — Nick Cave even wrote a script — but the film that's transporting viewers back to the Colosseum still boasts exactly what it always needed: the now-octogenarian Scott at the helm. Audiences should be thankful that the iconic Alien, Blade Runner and Thelma & Louise filmmaker has added another Gladiator flick to his resume, returning to one of his hits again as he last did with the Alien realm with Prometheus and Alien: Covenant (and that he's continuing to be prolific, helming his fourth film of the 2020s after The Last Duel , House of Gucci and Napoleon). Paul Mescal (All of Us Strangers), Connie Nielsen (Origin) and Fred Hechinger (Thelma), three of Gladiator II's stars, aren't just grateful that Scott is behind the camera on the film; speaking with Concrete Playground when they were in Australia for the movie's premiere in Sydney, the trio couldn't have been more inspired by their time working with the director. "Basically I want to be like Ridley when I grow up. That's the root of it for me," Mescal shared with us. Nielsen described returning to one of Scott's sets, and stepping back into the Colosseum in particular, as feeling "like I was coming home". And Hechinger summed up the enthusiastic trio's communal sentiments about collaborating with the filmmaker, when asked what they had each learned from him at the end of our chat — which sparked eager answers. "I know this was your last question and you had a minute, but clearly if you asked this at the beginning of the interview, we could have talked the entire interview for five months about all the things that we learned from him." [caption id="attachment_979923" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures[/caption] As Lucius, Mescal is Gladiator II's focal point, with the Aftersun Oscar-nominee, plus The Lost Daughter, Carmen and Foe talent, leading his first Tinseltown blockbuster just four years after the Irish actor became a global obsession courtesy of Normal People. He slides into Crowe's (The Exorcism) shoes in terms of starring in a Gladiator picture, and also into Spencer Treat Clark's (Salem's Lot), who portrayed the same character as a boy in the first film. Lucius' path is familiar, too, taking him from military command to slavery and fighting for his life in front of Roman crowds. As Gladiator viewers know, his mother, aka Nielsen's Lucilla, has seen this situation occur before as well — but this time, it's Hechinger and Joseph Quinn (A Quiet Place: Day One) as sibling Emperors Caracalla and Geta who are lording over the empire, rather than Joaquin Phoenix (Joker: Folie à Deux) as her brother Commodus. Scott's knack for casting remains exceptional with Gladiator II, which also boasts Pedro Pascal (Drive-Away Dolls) as Roman general Marcus Acacius and Denzel Washington as power broker Macrinus. Mescal ensures that Lucius is a determined, devoted and unflinching leader, whether he's literally guiding an army or battling as a gladiator — and also warm, vulnerable and open. Nielsen, who has featured in everything from the Wonder Woman films and Nymphomaniac to TV's Boss and The Following between stints as Lucilla, keeps unpacking how women, even those seen to have some influence and status, can sometimes only be permitted to inhabit a certain space in their worlds. And for The White Lotus, Fear Street and Pam & Tommy alum Hechinger, playing Caracalla means being hedonistic, ruthless, reckless, power-hungry and blood-thirsty opposite not only Quinn but also Caracalla's pet monkey Dundus. With Mescal, Nielsen and Hechinger, we also discussed the present-tense nature of Scott's sets, finding space for Lucilla's political instincts, stepping beyond Crowe's shadow and turning in unpredictable performances — alongside unpacking male psychology, Gladiator II's rallying against the control of the one percent and the devil-may-care abuse of power, and more. On What Nielsen Was Most Excited About in Returning to the World of Gladiator After More Than Two Decades Connie: "The fact that this is a mature woman of experience and of intellectual weight. You don't see many women like that in the theatre kind of ever. And so the way they wrote her, they really made her, yes, the heart and the big mother in the film, but they also made so much space for her political instinct and also for her dreams. You don't really see that much, and so it was very exciting to see and expand on a woman that I played as a young girl." On Mescal Always Being in the Moment Despite the Pressures and Responsibilities of Following in Russell Crowe's Footsteps Paul: "You feel a sense of pressure and responsibility with every single film that you ever make — this being different in the sense that Gladiator, the first Gladiator, is absolutely adored, as it should be. Russell is absolutely adored for that performance, as he should be. But the idea of legacy or pressure is a fundamental problem — it's directly in conflict with trying to carve out your own performance. You can't really lean into it all that much, because the words used to describe the first one and Russell are applied over time, and with the act of making the film — Gladiator II or any film — it has to be utterly present-tense. You have to go to work and build it beat by beat, block by block, day by day. And Ridley's sets are wonderfully, wonderfully present-tense. There's no time to breathe or think about the past or think about the future. You are carving out your own plot of land and desperately trying to protect it." On How Hechinger Crafted a Hedonistic, Ruthless, Reckless and Utterly Unpredictable Character Like Caracalla — and One of a Pair Fred: "I think you want a genuine feeling of danger and ..." Connie: "Unpredictability." Fred: "... Unpredictability. I guess it's a little bit of a conundrum. How do you craft unpredictability? But I think you have to put so many things in there that you can find how to get out of your own way, or at least you have enough tools and elements that you not only surprise others but yourself. What Paul is speaking to in terms of Ridley's set is a true gift in that regard. He's building an environment that is utterly convincing, and also hurtles forward whether you interact with it or not. So the urgency and the full-body need to be heard, and to carve some space, as Paul was telling you about, I think really mixes with my character and all the characters in the film. You have to reckon with the space and there's no shortcut for you. You realise on other sets how many shortcuts are built in, and sometimes the disservice to the work that that does. I think, in this case, there's a real challenge every day — and that as an actor is a gift, because if you're playing someone who's impulsive and dangerous, the environment matches that level of danger and sense of possibility." Connie: "And also Fred, you weren't getting any rehearsals, really." Fred: "Yeah, there is no rehearsal. I mean, Ridley doesn't do rehearsals." Connie: "So you guys basically had to make up a lot of choices prior to even coming to set." Fred: "Joe Quinn and I did work closely on certain aspects of their brotherhood. There's a quality to their relationship that is a double act — at least in public they are. And so some of those Colosseum days felt like we were preparing for the Colosseum. We were preparing for a public thing. We're thinking 'how do we as a duo speak to Rome today?'. And so that it mirrored the story in a lot of ways there. And then I would say that the private side of them, that dynamic was something that was less prepared and spoken about with Joe — but implicitly by not talking about it, we were sort of secretly preparing the opposite side of it, in terms of the public and the private of their relationship." Connie:" I think for the rest of us, who were sitting around and watching them start up this whatever dog-and-pony show you guys are doing that day, I was like 'that is so cool'. It was really cool for us to watch. You guys had really worked hard to get things ready and I just love that. It's so professional." Fred: "Thank you, it means a lot." On What It Feels Like to Step Into Scott's Colosseum — for the First Time and When You're Returning Connie: "For me, it was so strange. It really felt like I was coming home. I know this place — what is it called, the prodigal daughter, returning to daddy's home?" Fred: "I felt — I think I said this to you in person — I felt that Connie was such a leader to all of us. I do remember this first days when you were talking about the experience of returning to the Colosseum, what the Colosseum was like then versus now. It not only made us feel more comfortable as people on the set, it also was really intelligent in terms of continuing to build the world for us. I think it was really creatively generous and additive." Connie: "Well, also because the first Colosseum was kind of like golden and bronzey just very sort of sun-drenched and gorgeous. And this one had a lot of red and black, and a lot of soot, a lot of homeless people at the arches outside of it. There was just a completely different set this time. And so it was both home, but it was also very clear that Ridley had told the story that 18 years had passed since we last left the Colosseum in Gladiator. And that was just very impressive for me to watch how all of the tools that he as a master plays on. And no one tells you. You have to really look. And when you're looking, you realise 'oh my god, he's playing on that and that thing', and it's like he's this master weaver." Paul: "100 percent." Fred: "I really think it's the time. It's the end of an empire. It's where greed goes to die. My first conversation with Janty Yates, our costume designer, I said to her 'I want Caracella to feel like rotting gold'. And when you looked around ..." Paul: "It felt that way." Connie: "It was rot everywhere. Social rot." Fred: "Yeah." On Mescal's Determination to Unpack Male Psychology in His Roles — and to Find Warmth, Vulnerability and Openness While Playing a Gladiator Paul: "I think it's this whole conversation about actors being transformative, which I think is so important, but it's also like if you look at painters that you really admire or any other form of artist, there is a template in the form that we admire about, say, van Gogh or Vermeer or something like that. We're not asking them to change their style every time. Acting is slightly different if you're wanting to play different characters, but there is something that I'm drawn to in terms of the complexities of male psychology. Like, what is it about the way that we think is as young men in the world? That ultimately feels like, when I'm acting, that's my job to kind of allow an audience into to our psychology. And I think when you're playing somebody who is brutalised and uses violence as a weapon in order to survive, that's one thing, but I think that you would grow tired of that as an audience if that was two-and-a-half hours of somebody expressing their life through violence. And I'm glad that you referenced that there is vulnerability there, because all of that anger isn't a means of being — it's a symptom that is built from the hurt that he's experienced. And also it's a fun lens to get to play with. Like, how are you trying to let that version of the vulnerability creep through? So I think the kind of performance style that I'm interested in, both in doing and watching, is not when you hit an audience over the head — you're trying to slowly invite them in to be suspicious or curious about what's going on underneath the surface for every character I play, and it was no different with Lucius." On Whether Gladiator II's Class Clashes Make It Feel Like a Movie for the Moment Connie: "I think it's more subtle than that. I think I can understand why there is this experience of it, because we inevitably mirror ourselves in the stories that we watch. I also know that for sure this was part of what Ridley was playing on but. But as always with Ridley, it's very subtle. I think that this is universal. It doesn't just belong to this moment. It belongs throughout history, that we consistently have to work at achieving that balance. I think maybe when I was younger, when I was like 20, 30, even 40, I still believed that we were moving towards universal democracy. When Tiananmen happened, I thought …" Paul: "That's surely going to be a moment." Connie: "For sure, that's going to be freedom for so many people. And then now we're in the position that you don't feel like we're consistently moving towards that universal freedom. And I would even say that international rule of law has really taken a step back over the last five, six years, seven years. And so I think that it's understandable that people read into it. But I do think it's subtle and I also don't think it's the main cause of the film." Paul: "I agree." On What Mescal, Nielsen and Hechinger Learned From Working with Ridley Scott Paul: "The thing that always strikes me about Ridley is if Ridley decided to never make a film again, he will go down as one of the greatest. But the thing that has struck me on a daily basis is that he could be so entitled as a man and a director, and he's one of the least-entitled people I know. His appetite for work ..." Connie: "Is total." Paul: "... is total. And I think as much as I have enjoyed everybody else that I've worked with, it's something that myself and everybody else included would probably say — that everybody else's work ethic pales in comparison to what he brings just innately as a human being. So to get to watch that from somebody in their 80s is exactly what I would dream of having when I'm — basically I want to be like Ridley when I grow up. That's the root of it for me." Connie: "For me, I look at him as a teacher at all times. I remember on the first film, I came on set in England, we were shooting the Germania battle, and I walk on set and I'm seeing 3000 soldiers on this giant open field that has literally been created by cutting and burning trees. Of course, completely sustainably. And I asked him 'but how are you going to make sure that the audience understands that Russell is coming from behind the enemy lines? How are you going to make sure they understand that?'. And then he was just like 'alright, let me show you'. And he just showed me how all of the battle cameras were turning from left towards right. And then he said 'with all of these cameras where I am filming Russell galloping behind the lines, I am sending that camera from right to left. Intrinsically people will understand that this is what's happening'. He also just drew up a diagram in three seconds and described exactly what it would look like from cut to cut to cut, like that, off the bat. When we were on stage at a screening in London just a few days ago, he started describing how he was building, for example, an action sequence that involved baboons. And the way in which he described his choices, going from 'oh, I once met that one little baboon and that baboon had alopecia' — and the creativity of his brain, and then followed by his ability to then create a way of doing it, which literally did not exist probably technically before. But he's leaning on the amazing people that he hires, and who are able to read into what he's trying to create. Then he is able to describe probably better than anyone what it is that he wants. He's able to say to me 'say that line' and I say it. And he's like 'no, not like that. Give me another line'. I'll come up with another line, and he's like 'no, too much description. Go there. Say it this way'. I'll come up with a line where, I'll go for that third time or fourth time, it'll be the right line. 'Okay, keep that line'. You just are willing to bend over backwards for him and come up with 20 different lines. I'll have written out literally 20 different versions of what I'm trying to say, and he will tell me which one that will work, and he will then, with the greatest respect, incorporate it." Fred: "His work ethic is an expression of his infinite love of cinema and the collaborative act of movie-making. I just think seeing Ridley on a film set is like is like seeing the most-perfect combination of the two." Connie: "He's like a conductor." Fred: "He shares his love in the most-infectious way. And it's funny because I know this was your last question and you had a minute, but clearly if you asked this at the beginning of the interview, we could have talked the entire interview ..." Connie: "Yep." Paul: "Just like that." Fred: "... for five months about all the things that we learned from him. He teaches a million things every day and the things that he teaches you, sometimes he doesn't even need to tell you. They're just happening. He lives through action." Connie: "But also he's amazing at actually directing without judging, which is a unique difference. He's not judging what you're doing." Fred: "Yeah." Connie: "He's directing from this open space." Fred: "Conducting." Gladiator II opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, November 14, 2024. Images: © 2024 Paramount Pictures.
Live music and big festivals might be back after a pandemic-enforced hiatus, and in a huge way, but that doesn't mean that the days of cancellations are over. After already hosting fests in Newcastle and Brisbane earlier this year, This That has scrapped its plans to return for a second round of 2022 events in spring. The festival announced its October and November lineup back in June, with Earl Sweatshirt and Flight Facilities leading the bill — and What So Not joining them in Brissie only, The Presets in NSW, plus Vera Blue, Winston Surfshirt, DMA's, Chillinit, Skeggs, Hockey Dad, Jesswar and more on the full roster across both locations. But now none of the above will take to the stage, with This That focusing on coming back in October and November 2023 instead. As posted to the event's website and social media channels, organisers said that "it's with huge disappointment that we must announce This That's October and November 2022 festivals won't be going ahead at Sandstone Point (QLD) and Newcastle (NSW)". "This is due to a combination of issues, including the current level of market saturation resulting in supply chain issues and labour shortages, difficult economic conditions including ballooning insurance premiums and infrastructure costs, and the forecast of ongoing extreme weather patterns — so many factors that have the potential to lessen the experience we want to always deliver," the statement continued. "We were really looking forward to backing up our two huge events from earlier this year where it was so great to party with everyone back in February and March. For now, the team feels the smartest thing is to take a rest and be fresh and ready for This That again in November 2023." View this post on Instagram A post shared by THIS THAT (@thisxxthat) This That was scheduled to return to the Sandstone Point Hotel in Queensland on Saturday, October 29, then make its way to Newcastle on Saturday, November 5. Instead, you can lock new 2023 dates in your diary: Saturday, October 28 in the Sunshine State and Saturday, November 4 in NSW. There's no word yet who'll lead the bill next year, obviously, but watch this space. And if you had tickets for this spring's now-shuttered events, you'll be hearing from Oztix, and will receive your refund automatically within seven to 15 business days. THIS THAT OCTOBER–NOVEMBER 2023 DATES: Saturday, October 28: Sandstone Point Hotel, Sandstone Point, Queensland Saturday, November 4: Newcastle, New South Wales This That will no longer take place in October and November 2022, and will instead return to Sandstone Point and Newcastle at the same time in 2023. Tickets for the 2022 events will be refunded automatically — for more information, head to the festival's website. Images: Mitch Lowe / Jordan Munns.
Unless you've by some miracle stumbled upon the ultimate sharehouse situation, there inevitably comes a point when the whole thing starts to get pretty old — and yet owning your own piece of real estate feels like it just ain't ever going to happen. If that's the case, how would you feel about testing out co-living? The concept is Sydney's newest real estate offering and — at present — features blocks of studio-style units rented out individually by the one landlord or property group. Typically, they've got communal areas and include services like cleaning and laundry in the rent. So you're living under the same roof as others, with all the social benefits, but with your own private space and no chance of anyone else stealing the last of your choccy milk from the fridge. While it has proved popular overseas, Australia is just now making its first foray into the co-living space, with Alex Thorpe and Rhys Williams — the same guys behind hotel group Veriu and co-working space +U — among the first to embrace the concept locally. They're gearing up to launch their own co-living brand UKO in Stanmore this September. UKOs in Paddington and Newtown are expected to follow, too. The pair's aim is to shake up the rental market by offering more bang for your rental buck. Here, the networking and social aspects are the biggest drawcards, so you'll find a big communal courtyard, complete with veggie patch and a relaxation zone, which doubles as an outdoor cinema by night. Each UKO facility will also have its own dedicated 'community host', charged with planning and running events, setting up any communal meals and facilitating networking. The Stanmore set-up features three different room styles, starting at a not-so-cheap $525 per week for the adaptable, studio-style UKO Flex, and reaching $595 per week for the UKO Loft. They're not exactly roomy, so to maximise space, the units are kitted out with a suite of flexible features, that can fold or roll away when you're not using them. And it seems UKO won't be your only co-living option, with Commercial Real Estate reporting that local investment group Caper Property also has plans to jump into the market. The website has revealed that the company will be launching three co-living properties in Sydney over the next 12 months — including one in Leichhardt's Bald Faced Stag. Caper Property acquired the 1800s inner west pub back in April, and has plans to develop it into a restaurant, bar, cinema and live music venue, as well as a "120-bed" co-living space. These new co-living spaces are promising a lot for something that sounds an awful lot like renting a tiny studio — or living in a fancy uni dorm — for pretty much the same price, so we'll be keeping an eye on how successfully they run post-launch. But as Sydney's rental market — and its property market in general— is currently a big expensive mess, more options certainly aren't a bad thing. UKO Stanmore is slated to open this September.
Long before Sculpture by the Sea, SWELL Sculpture Festival and the Lorne Sculpture Biennale, there was the Mildura Sculpture Triennial. It was Australia's first-ever event for large-scale contemporary sculptures — and, in the 1960s and '70s, drew thousands of artists, students and travellers to Mildura, a town on the edge of the outback, 600 kilometres northwest of Melbourne. Inspired by open skies, endless plains and the mighty Murray River, these artists pushed the boundaries of sculpture as we then knew it, delving into earth art, performance, site-specific works and ephemeral installations. Today, the Biennale's legacy lives on in Mildura's art scene — through galleries, public art and big events. In April 2025, English-Australian artist Bruce Munro arrived with Trail of Lights. To experience this legacy for ourselves, we escaped to Mildura for a few days. Along the way, we long lunched on the river, cruised on a 19th century paddle steamer, wandered around pretty satellite villages, stayed at a California-inspired hotel, and ate more than our fair share of juicy oranges — Mildura is famous for growing them. [caption id="attachment_1016549" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Supplied[/caption] Feasting on Arts, Culture and History Our adventures began on the Murray, which runs through Mildura. Just downstream, it meets the Darling, forming the fourth biggest river system in the world. So, it makes sense that Munro — who loves significant sites from Uluru to Salisbury Cathedral — would choose Mildura for one of his monumental works. We crossed the river at sunset onto Lock Island. As the sky darkened, thousands upon thousands of tiny lights started to flicker among the grass and rocks and trees — each gradually dimming, then brightening, like fireflies. A web of pathways let us walk beside them, while the weir gushed eerily in the distance, then through them, where they seemed to continue beyond the horizon into infinity. Unlike other, more sensational light spectacles, Trail of Lights was a dreamy, meditative experience — made all the more powerful by having the island more or less to ourselves. "People react in all kinds of different ways; some people have told me it made them cry," a hotel owner later told us. Soon, Munro will bring a second work – Fibre Optic Symphonic Orchestra – to the nearby ancient Perry Sandhills. [caption id="attachment_1019599" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Mildura Arts Centre Facebook[/caption] Lock Island is ten minutes' walk from Mildura Arts Centre, where the Sculpture Park lets you travel back in time to the Triennial. Highlights include Ron Robertson-Swann's Beethoven, Simon Hopkinson and Gary Willis's Work–Art, and John Robinson's Mortality. While you're there, wander through Rio Vista, a 19th century mansion built by WB Chaffey and his wife, Heather. Chaffey and his brother, George, were Canadian engineers who brought irrigation to Mildura, so we have them to thank for most of Australia's supply of grapes and oranges. Other spots to get your art fix in and around town include NAP Contemporary, the Mural Walking Trail, and, for silo art, the nearby rural localities of Werrimull and Walpeup. [caption id="attachment_1019908" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Discover Mildura[/caption] The Great Outdoors – from the Murray River to Mungo National Park For artists – or for anyone, for that matter – it's impossible to ignore Mildura's extraordinary landscapes. Our explorations started on the Murray River, with a cruise on the paddle steamer P.V. Rothbury. Built in the 1880s, she used to tow wool barges, but now she's dedicated to taking visitors on two-hour trips downstream, where Mildura's township gives way to gumtrees and birdsong. Another way to get to know the river is on foot, following one of many waterfront trails, such as the 3.5-kilometre stroll from the CBD to the Arts Centre or the 4.9-kilometre track to Lock 11. [caption id="attachment_1021367" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Supplied[/caption] Keen to go further afield? Consider a day trip to Mungo National Park — where Mungo Lady and Mungo Man were found — with Discover Mildura. In the company of a family that's lived locally for generations, you'll travel through the awe-inspiring plains to Mildura's northwest, be treated to homemade morning tea (pray for the banana bread!), walk among the Walls of China (one of NSW's most well-known landmarks), visit Mungo Woolshed and go deep into Mildura's history. Other tours explore wineries, farm gates, nearby villages, the Murray River and more — plus, there's the option of booking a private adventure. [caption id="attachment_1019909" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Discover Mildura[/caption] Other spectacular stops to add to your itinerary include Orange World (a 50-acre working citrus farm), the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens (for 2,500-year-old trees), Perry Sandhills (400 acres of moving dunes), the Murray-Darling River Junction, the Murray-Sunset National Park (for stunning pink salt lakes) and Hattah-Kulkyne National Park (for freshwater lakes thriving with birdlife). [caption id="attachment_1019930" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Mildura Boathouse Facebook[/caption] Where to Eat and Drink Having boated and strolled beside the river, we were ready to eat beside it. So, we headed to the Mildura Boathouse Eatery & Bar, a big, bright space splashed in aquamarine and white on the waterfront. For the best views, claim a table on the deck under a big umbrella. Our favourite on the local produce-fuelled menu was the mushies topped with goat's cheese, truffle mousse and poached eggs on bread baked 15 minutes' drive away at Gio's in Redcliff. But the brekkie roll packed with egg, bacon and cheddar and slathered in secret sauce came a close second. [caption id="attachment_1021369" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Supplied[/caption] Another beautiful place for riverside feasting is Trentham Estate, a winery on the Murray, 20 minutes' drive east of the CBD. Whether you sit in the glass-walled dining room or on the verandah, you'll be gazing over dreamy water views, foregrounded by green grass and shady gums. We settled in for a long lunch, travelling from a baked scallop-prawn tart, to pan-fried salmon with basil pesto on sweet potato mash, to an exquisite lemon meringue tart with berry coulis and vanilla ice cream. To get even closer to the water, opt for a picnic on the lawn, with a cheese platter followed by chocolate fudge cake. Either way, there's plenty to explore on the wine list, from the budget-friendly The Family range to the award-winning Reserves. [caption id="attachment_1019964" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: 400 Gradi website[/caption] Back in town, we loved 400 Gradi, a Melbourne export which opened in Mildura in 2022, for its flash-fried calamari, light prawn and zucchini white pizza, rich mushroom pappardelle and irresistible tiramisu — all served in a slick, grand space, with excellent service. Also worth checking out are SteamPunk and BLK MLK for coffee, Brother Chris and Twenty Seven for brunch, Oak Valley and Capogreco for wine tasting, The Spanish Grill for top-notch steaks, Baghdad Kitchen for charcoal-grilled delights, and, for a legendary multi-course dinner, Stefano's. [caption id="attachment_992001" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Supplied[/caption] Where to Sleep A drive down Mildura's main street gives the impression the town is home to more motor inns per capita than maybe any other town in Australia. We don't have any stats on that, but we can tell you we were happy with our decision to opt for Kar-Rama. Opened in February 2025, it takes inspiration from California, in its breezy palm trees, white deck chairs and sparkling heated pool. The rooms — decked in pastel shades — come with king-sized beds draped in top-shelf linen, excellent showers, comfy Bemboka robes, a complimentary minibar, Nespresso coffee machines and Leif toiletries. Hot tip: for extra space and light, ask for a room on the first floor and consider paying a bit extra for a deluxe studio. Other inviting sleepovers in and around town include Indulge Apartments (for a touch of luxury), All Seasons Houseboats (for more time on the river) and Mungo Lodge (for deeper exploration of Mungo National Park). [caption id="attachment_992008" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Supplied[/caption] Concrete Playground travelled to Mildura with the support of Visit Victoria.
If striking blue water set among rock formations and beach caves are your (and your dog's) thing, look no further than Currarong Beach. Located just under three hours' south of Sydney, this coastal beauty offers sheltered swimming (or kayaking) for you and your pup. It's off-leash at different times depending on the season, so check the Shoalhaven website before letting Fido roam free. On the way down south, don't forget to stop off at Shoalhaven Heads, which has its own 24-hour off-leash areas along the expansive Seven Mile Beach — it spans 12 kilometres and is located about 45-minutes north of Currarong. Image: Destination NSW
These days, a meal isn't just a meal. It's a bubbling, troubling cauldron of ethical, environmental and health dilemmas. Are genetically modified foods okay or not? Is eating meat an immoral act? Should you quit sugar? A new mini talks fest, to inaugurate at the Sydney Opera House on 14 July, is dedicated to these and other food-related issues. The Fixing Food Festival will kick off at midday, with a panel made up of I Quit Sugar author Sarah Wilson, indigenous food expert Jody Orcher and CSIRO research scientist Professor Grant Brinkworth. They'll be discussing the $64 million question: what should I eat? Reformed anti-GMO activist Mark Lynas will take the floor at 1.45pm to deliver a solo talk titled GMO: No Way or OK? Lynas is an interesting one — in 2013, he publicly apologised for having prevented GMO trials and has since worked in Africa and Asia with scientists who use the organisms to help independent farmers. Wrapping things up at 3.30pm will be a talk from British writer Louise Gray, who wrote The Ethical Carnivore after spending a year eating only animals she killed with her own two hands. Along the way, she explored slaughterhouses, halal meat, roadkill and alternative proteins, such as insects. You'll have to buy tickets to each event separately, with the talks coming in at $39 each. Tickets to the panel are $55 but include a lunch box salad filled with native ingredients, including kangaroo, bush tomatoes, bush nuts and finger lime dressing. Image: Leticia Almeida.
Designer Peter Bristol enjoys playing with our perceptions of everyday objects. First he created the 'cut chair', the legs of which appear as though they've been sliced through, so the seat seems to be hovering in the air. Now, he's designed a bag that looks like a paper clip. 'New scale creates new purpose,' reads Bristol's website. 'The binder icon functions so well as a bag you can almost take it seriously.' Made of wool felt and aluminium tubing, the clip bag was conceptualised in 2007 but has only just been released. Bristol is currently seeking a manufacturing and/or distribution partner, and has put out a call for interested parties to make contact. Any takers will be working with a multi-award winning designer. Since 2005, Bristol has received professional recognition in the form of 24 various awards, including a 2011 Spark Pro Gold Award for his Microsoft Touch Mouse and an IDEA GOLD for his Nanopoint Microfluidics Controller. [Via boing boing]
If you're sick of buying tops that don't quite fit, you may want to consider investing in custom-made t-shirts. The sustainable basics label makes one thing and one thing only — really comfy, tailor-made men's and women's tees in every colour. And, best of all, you end up with ones that actually fit correctly and last longer. With a bricks-and-mortar shop in Haymarket's Steam Mill Lane, Citizen Wolf has a local and ethical approach to clothes-making. It exclusively uses local materials and manufacturing services, buying all of its fabric — cotton, organic cotton and Merino wool — from a series of ethically accredited mills in Melbourne and with every single garment made in a micro-factory in Darlinghurst. Plus, it makes every piece to order, meaning there's no unsold inventory going to landfill. So, you can pick up quality threads and feel good about it, too. In an era of fast fashion and temporary trends, Citizen Wolf is undeniably going against the grain — and its proving less certainly is more.
Five years in the making, W Hotel's luxury Darling Harbour development will finally bring the global hotel chain back to Sydney in October this year. Originally scheduled to open in 2020, the unmistakable harbourfront hotel has faced several delays and setbacks, but will finally swing its doors open in three months' time — and it has just revealed the next-level dining options that are in store for Sydneysiders and guests alike. The flagship restaurant and bar for the hotel will be called BTWN, playing on the building being wedged between its neighbouring expressways. This ambitious all-day eatery's kitchen is led by Head Chef Chris Dodd (ex-Aria, The Blue Door and Bistrot Plume), whose menu places emphasis on sustainability and local New South Wales produce. Hotel breakfasts and hearty dinners will be available here, with expected highlights from the mains menu including poached Murray cod, slow-cooked yoghurt-rubbed lamb shoulder and mushroom ragout. The level-three restaurant can be seen from the adjacent highway, acting as a living, breathing billboard for the hotel. Inside, designer Bowler James Brindley uses urban hallmarks and a slick chrome fitout inspired by airstream food trucks to celebrate the hotel's place in the heart of the city. Come sundown, a one-of-a-kind dessert bar labelled 2AM will open inside BTWN. Acclaimed Singaporean dessert chef Janice Wong is in charge of this venue within a venue — her first permanent outpost in Australia. Wong has twice been named Asia's best pastry chef on The World's Best Restaurants list, and runs restaurants and dessert bars across Singapore, London, Korea and Tokyo. The accomplished lover of all things decadent has crafted a menu that will appeal to both sweet tooths and more conservative dessert-enjoyers — and one that is designed to pair with BTWN's wine list and custom cocktails. 2AM's cacao forest is created using chocolate mousse, passionfruit chocolate, and consommé made from mango, lime and lychee. Or, there's the cassis plum, which places a bombe with yuzu pearls on top of elderflower yoghurt foam and choya granita. Rounding out the offerings at the sleek inner-city venue is the cocktail bar, which will keep things rolling from midday till late with a meticulously designed drinks list and sweeping views of Darling Harbour. Located within The Ribbon, the multimillion-dollar development has been designed by HASSEL architects and sits on the former IMAX theatre site (don't worry, the new IMAX is scheduled to also reopen this year). Outside of the dining options, W Sydney's drawcards include 585 stunning rooms and suites, plus exuberant shared spaces throughout the hotel including a heated rooftop infinity pool overlooking the water, a luxury spa and a gym. If you want to be one of the first to stay in the massive Darling Harbour accommodation, bookings are now open for stays starting from Wednesday, November 1. [caption id="attachment_909978" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Janice Wong[/caption] W Sydney will open its doors in October 2023 at 31 Wheat Road, Darling Harbour — head to thee Darling Harbour website for further details.
Apple's plan to build its first Australian flagship store at Federation Square has been one of Melbourne's most controversial new building projects in recent times. And now, after almost 18 months of back and forth, it looks like the plans will be scrapped after Heritage Victoria today refused the huge tech company's application to knock down one of the existing buildings. Heritage Victoria has this afternoon officially refused Apple's application for a permit to 'dismantle and demolish' the Yarra Building and build a new two-level store on the site. In its refusal, the body noted that the proposed building would have an "unacceptable and irreversible detrimental impact on the cultural heritage status" of Fed Square as it would 'encroach' on public space and detract from the cohesive design of the current square format. It says that the negative impacts of the proposal "are not outweighed by the benefits". The Andrews Government has confirmed that, without the ability to build a new structure, Apple will not go ahead with the project. Instead, the government will launch a review (with public consultation) into the future of Federation to ensure it grows as "an innovative and exciting place for our community". https://twitter.com/NTAV/status/1114007888458948608 This will make opponents to Apple's plans very happy. After being announced in late 2017, Apple's proposed Fed Square store has received considerable community backlash, both around the designs and the fact that it would tear down and replace the existing Yarra Building — and displace the Koorie Heritage Trust in the process. The government has confirmed that the trust will be able to remain in its current home while the review is being completed. It's gone through a lot since. The Victorian landmark was granted temporary heritage protection in August, and then in October it was recommended for permanent inclusion on the Victorian Heritage Register by Heritage Victoria, which prevented any work on the new Apple store from commencing. This refusal doesn't mean Fed Square has heritage status — and it doesn't mean another retail offering could take its place. Heritage Victoria has stated that a "more conventional" commercial business could be viable for the Yarra Building if its requirements could result in a smaller impact on the square. Image: Robert Blackburn, Visit Victoria.
When Sir Allen Lane stood daydreaming on an Exeter station in 1935, letting the seeds for Penguin Books take hold, he probably didn't imagine that his range of, intelligent books at a low prices would one day be roughed up, played with, and soaked in semillon at a ramshackle flat above a convenience store on King St, Newtown. But he'd probably approve, as both Penguin Books and Penguin Plays Rough, a monthly night for writers, share an abiding love for literature and low prices. We caught up with the co-creator, Elly King, to find out more Why did you start Penguin Plays Rough? We wanted Sydney's emerging writers to have a place to tell their stories. A place for fans of the written word to get cosy, drink wine and soak up something new. Who runs it? It's run by myself and Pip Smith but it's kind of a family affair. Our flatmate Tarik is our poster design genius and you can probably catch the fourth and fifth members of the household, Monika and Vincent the cat, manning the door at some stage. If you could bully one book in an alley, what would it be? A Tale of Two Cities. That book gave me ample grief in high school to justify being bullied. Every time I hear the opening line, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, I want to cry. Hang on, I am bullying it, or is it bullying me? Word of advice to young Sydney writers? Carry a notebook. People watch. Find the fascinating. Come to Penguin Plays Rough every third Monday on the month. Bag a wildcard spot and read us a story! This month PENGUIN plays ROUGH is teaming up with Monthly Friend to bring you Working Title, with five writer/performers unlocking the stories behind seven slides from one motel room...
Japanese food is one of the most popular cuisines worldwide, and it's no wonder. It's flexible, healthy, often served fresh, presented beautifully and perhaps most importantly, it tastes fantastic. You can get a box of takeaway sushi or a bowl of ramen all over the world, but certain elements and specialties of Japanese cuisine have yet to take off worldwide. Whether it's down to unique ingredients, well-guarded local knowledge or a certain…flair that turns away more conservative palates, these dishes you need to seek out in the land of the rising sun itself. So, should you be planning a Japan jaunt, save this guide for some of its lesser-known treats and where to find them. Goya Chanpuru, Okinawa Prefecture Starting in the summery and tropical south of Japan, we have the regional specialty of goya chanpuru hailing from sunny Okinawa. Chanpuru itself is an Okinawan stir fry of vegetables and fresh tofu, but the most popular variety comes with a helping of a bitter gourd called goya. The summer vegetable is sliced and stir-fried in oil with pork, eggs and, crucially, Okinawan tofu (which is prepared differently from other tofu). The result is a bitter but healthy meal, rich in vitamin C. [caption id="attachment_991975" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Hanasunrise via iStock[/caption] Buri Daikon, Kagoshima Prefecture Moving north to the island of Kyushu and Kagoshima Prefecture, a popular at-home winter dish made with vegetables and fish, takes our eye. Buri daikon is specifically made with yellowtail, commonly fished in Kagoshima Prefecture, and thick slices of daikon, a Japanese radish — especially a sweeter cultivar called Sakurajima daikon. The daikon is chopped and stewed with yellowtail, sake and ginger, then served with shredded ginger — making for a fantastic winter warmer. [caption id="attachment_991976" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Stossi Mammont via iStock[/caption] Horakuyaki, Ehime Prefecture Ehime Prefecture is home to one of Japan's three major tidal flows, the Kurushima Strait. The fresh seafood that's the main ingredient in horakuyaki is almost exclusively caught in this very strait. Popular in Imabari, horakuyaki is a luxurious dish that's innately connected to the rich maritime culture of the region and is fairly simple to prepare. Commonly made with bream, octopus, shrimps and clams caught in the strait — the catch is prepared, lightly salted, then steamed and roasted in a flat pan called a horaku nabe. It's tender, rich in seafood flavour and a common sight at banquets and celebrations year-round. [caption id="attachment_991978" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] ES3N via iStock[/caption] Fuku Sashi, Yamaguchi Prefecture Fuku sashi is Yamaguchi Prefecture's regional spin on the internationally known dish of fugu, sashimi of the highly poisonous pufferfish. It's a dish that can only be prepared by accredited chefs since one wrong cut can make the meat of the fish fatal when consumed. When a chef in Yamaguchi Prefecture is qualified to serve fugu, it's used in this locally popular dish. The fish is sliced so it's translucently thin, then served with ponzu sauce — made with soy sauce and citrus juice. It's also popular with sliced chives or grated radish. While popular, a decline in fugu stock has made the dish reserved for special occasions. [caption id="attachment_991983" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] TokyoViews via Flickr[/caption] Tekonezushi, Mie Prefecture Local meals often have a simple origin, and that's the case with tekonezushi, tracing its origins to being a simple meal that fishermen could prepare while still out on their boats. Not far from Japan's largest cities, the waters of Mie Prefecture are busy with fishing boats, often hunting skipjack tuna. Hence, local fishermen and now restaurants often prepare tekonezushi. All it takes is tuna or bonito sashimi marinated in soy sauce and placed on a bed of vinegared rice with a sprinkle of nori (dried seaweed) and shiso (perilla) on top. [caption id="attachment_991985" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Hideya Hamano via Flickr[/caption] Hotaruika no Sumisoae, Toyama Prefecture In central Japan where the mountains meet the Sea of Japan, Toyama Bay is home to a population of stunning firefly squid, which is the centrepiece of hotaruika no sumisoae. Traditionally residents of deep water, these luminescent cephalopods make quite the sight in the shallows. Often served in early spring, coinciding with the fishing season, this dish is prepared by boiling the squid in salted water and then serving with leeks and a generous pour of vinegared miso (miso, vinegar, hot pepper and sugar). Kiritanpo Nabe, Akita Prefecture Nearby in Akita Prefecture is kiritanpo nabe, a local take on hot pot that dates back to when loggers used to climb the region's mountains in search of timber. The key carbohydrate base is kiritanpo — rice that has been boiled, mashed and grilled on a cedar skewer. Cooked in a cylindrical shape, they're added to a boiling hot pot with chicken bone broth and a mix of ingredients. Typically, you'll see sliced root vegetables, mushrooms, thin noodles and chicken as well as sake, salt and soy sauce. It's often served for celebrations and is the star dish in local festivals in the region. Milk and Dairy Products, Hokkaido Prefecture Japan's northernmost island (and prefecture) of Hokkaido might be most famous for its snow resorts, but the area is also home to Japan's dairy industry. The climate is ideal for dairy production and is where over 50% of Japan's milk originates. Supposedly, the milk has a rich, vanilla-esque flavour. As such, there are all sorts of treats to try. Lavender soft serve ice cream, cheese, butter, bread and milk jam (the Japanese equivalent of dulce de leche) are some of the most popular treats, all served in restaurants and the regions working dairy farms. Discover more and start planning your trip to Japan at the Japan National Tourism Organization website. Header image: Green Planet World via iStock. Body images courtesy of the Japan National Tourism Organization unless specified otherwise.
With international trips off the cards for the next little while — even if a travel bubble with New Zealand does eventuate by the end of the year — it's time to throw the focus back onto the stunning scenes and world-class landscapes found right here on home soil. After all, this big ol' island of ours is brimming with enough natural beauty to give any international destination a run for its money. And now the folks at Tourism Australia have come up with a new way for you to scratch that domestic travel itch, without even leaving your front door. The organisation has just dropped an impressive new video series, tipping its hat to the unique sights, sounds and textures of Australia. The flicks really endeavour to engage your senses and make you feel like you're there, too, with the videos made using high-tech 8D audio — a sound engineering treatment designed for listening through headphones, which makes music and effects sound as though they're coming from every angle. Each of the six videos is themed around a different colour, evoking various emotions based on the striking hues of Australia's natural scenescapes. For example, the soothing Blue: A Moment of Joy mini-escape takes punters crashing through waves at Esperance in Western Australia, gliding over the sparkling waters of the Great Barrier Reef, swinging by Hervey Bay for a spot of whale-watching and frolicking with seals in South Australia's Baird Bay. [caption id="attachment_784598" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hutt Lagoon, Tourism Western Australia[/caption] The Magenta: A Moment of Freedom video envelops audiences in the romantic sunsets and vibrant tones of destinations like Hinchinbrook Island National Park, the Kimberley and Hutt Lagoon, while White: A Moment of Peace is a minimalist's dream, featuring calming shots of Lake Eyre's salt plains, Fraser Island's glistening sands and Mount Kosciuszko's slopes drenched in snow. Whether you're allowed to trek interstate just yet or you're simply planning for the day when you can, these virtual escapes should offer a good dose of domestic travel inspiration — no long-haul flight required. Check out all six video escapes at the Tourism Australia website, or via the YouTube channel. Top images: via Tourism Western Australia and Tourism & Events Queensland
At a glance The Chippo's menu seems like classic pub grub — think wedges, steak and the requisite chicken parma. But look a little closer, and Louisiana-born chef Charlie Fisher's influence becomes clear. Entrees include popcorn chicken (or shrimp) tossed in Cajun spices, along with buffalo wings, southern fried chicken and American-style mac and cheese. As for the main course, if you're not feeling sirloin, why not make a mess with pork ribs served in Dr Pepper BBQ sauce. They're also serving up a selection of burgers, inspired by their previous Cheekyburger pop-up. And for dessert, there are few things more American than homemade pecan pie. On the entertainment front, The Chippo will feature pub trivia on Mondays, comedy on Tuesdays, improv and $1 wings on Wednesday and live music Thursday through Saturdays. On Sundays they'll be cooking up pig on the spit — because at least that way you'll start your week with a belly full of bacon.
Glebe Point Road's Sri Lankan Street Food is known for some of the area's best Sri Lankan curries and and hoppers. From March 8, the restaurant will do away with its regular a la carte menus for weekly Sunday all-you-can-eat buffet lunches — for just $35. The dishes on offer on the Sundays will come from all a few of Sri Lanka's regions. Expect fish and jackfruit curries from the south; egg hoppers and dosa from the north; herby coconut sambol and turmeric veggies from Hill Country; and the biriyani and black pork curry that you can find in Colombo and the surrounding area. There'll be plenty of meat and vegan options and, if you're not too full, the lunch includes dessert, too. And you can BYO. There will be two sittings each week: one at 11am and one at 1.30pm. Bookings are a must and, at only $35 a pop for a bottomless feast, you can bet these lunches will book up quickly each week.
Located on Cleveland Street, Kindred is the brainchild of chef Matt Pollock (A Tavola), who spent more than a year renovating the 45-seat space. The food is Italian inspired, but not strictly Italian. So, expect to find Mediterranean dishes made with a spattering of Aussie ingredients — and lots of vegetarian options. Starters such as roasted pumpkin ($11) with whipped ricotta and fermented chilli and chargrilled octopus ($17) with eggplant purée, precede heartier mains like bucatini with guanciale and agnolotti with cauliflower and sunflower seeds ($27). All pastas can be made with gluten-free pappardelle for an extra $2, too. While it's tempting to go hard on the entrees (the bread and the pastas) leaving room for dessert is rewarded. The chocolate fondant with peanut butter gelato ($13) and fig leaf semifreddo sandwich ($13) are both winners As well as having tasty fare — that keeps dietary requirements in mind — everything from the pasta to the bread and the cultured butter is made on site, and produce is sourced from local suppliers. The wine list, meanwhile, has many organic, biodynamic and natural drops, and is bolstered by a selection of local spirits, too.
Taking over Darling Harbour's Tumbalong Park, The Artistry 2025 is a celebration of the immense diversity that makes up the Asia-Pacific region. Held from February 7-9, curated food, music, art and cultural events proudly capture Sydney's multicultural communities. As you might expect, culinary exploration is a big focus, with 20 food vendors bringing an assortment of tantalising flavours. Then, live entertainment throughout the festival shifts from an energetic performance by Justice Crew to Lunar New Year parades and thumping DJs. Some countries like Thailand, Indonesia and Hong Kong even have their own pavilion, helping visitors gain deeper insight into what makes each culture unique. "The Artistry 2025 is a celebration of Sydney's unique identity as a melting pot of cultures. By combining the traditions, flavours and art of Asia-Pacific, we're creating a festival that brings people together to embrace and honour our shared diversity," says festival director Yudi Loefti. Alongside mahjong workshops, live street art and a pop-up art gallery, there's also the chance to catch Sydney's first-ever open-air Muay Thai tournament. Entry to the festival is free, but some events are ticketed.
There are certain cuisines that any city worth its salt must be able to produce with pizzazz. Pizza, for obvious reasons I won't waste time going into, is one of them. Arte Bianca, a nine-week-old addition to Double Bay's smart-casual scene, is a Sicilian-inspired pasta and pizzeria that deserves to be added to any za-lover's list. And, if it keeps up its current game, it could very well be in the running as one of the best in Sydney. An ambitious claim I know, but let's think about this for a moment. There are two types of pizza: the fat, doughy thick-based versions ideal for soaking up hangovers, and the thin, more traditional style versions that focus on real flavour. The only problem is that a lot of places churning out the latter either throw on too much sauce making the dough soggy and causing the ingredients to slop all over the shop, or the base is just too crispy so all you get is an overpowering burned bread taste in your mouth. Arte Bianca, on the other hand, serves up an almost perfect combination of both. And to be honest, so it should. Owners Mark Paterno and Wendy Limond have been on the hospitality scene for a long time, with Mark spinning pizzas for almost 40 years. Throw his Sicilian heritage into the mix alongside one other pizza chef and two kitchen chefs, and this Italian newbie is prepped and primed for the long haul. On our visit we ordered the signature prosciutto, aged for two years (the meat, that is), and the seafood. If the former wasn't served horizontally, it would be literally rolling out the doors, and the latter is so fresh the big fat juicy prawns go in raw, come out cooked and compliment the unshelled mussels like a salty, fishy charm. We also tried the mushroom risotto, which if you like mushrooms, will knock your socks off in the best ways. The place also looks the part. Bright and white, it includes stylish accents like inside supporting beams left untouched, so their multilayered history of paint jobs shines through loud and proud. The words 'arte bianca' translate as 'white art', in homage to the dough of its primary foodstuff. We're told at this stage there have been some issues with the electrics, so dimmer switches will be added to create more ambiance as soon as possible, but to be honest none of that matters if you can nab yourself an al fresco seat. Take in the autumn ambience of this fancy part of town, sip on a nicely made negroni, and after your meal knock back some house-made limoncello alongside one of the creamiest, well-balanced tiramisus we've had in a very long time. Did we mention the service is also superb? No? Well, it's real, passionate and professional. And to be honest, we're pretty damn happy about it. After all, pizza has such a history it deserves somewhere nice to be served up. Get in and get in quick, the secret is out and plenty of people will be heading east to get their hands on some of the best pizza in Sydney. Words by Jack Arthur Smith. Photos by Bodhi Liggett.
Sydney WorldPride is making LGBTQIA+ history in 2023 as the first-ever WorldPride held in the southern hemisphere. It can't last forever, sadly, running from Friday, February 17–Sunday, March 5 — and, ending as it'll spending that whole time, it'll wrap up with one helluva party. That gig is closing night's Rainbow Republic, which features German pop star Kim Petras alongside MUNA, G Flip and more. Fresh from nabbing a Grammy nomination for 'Unholy' with Sam Smith, the 'If Jesus Was a Rockstar', 'Heart to Break', 'Future Starts Now', 'Coconut' and 'Malibu' singer will take to the stage as part of a a seven-hour show filled with live music, DJs and dancing — a queer megamix, if you like. On hosting duties: Keiynan Lonsdale (Love, Simon, The Flash, Eden), who'll also perform. Peach PRC, Alter Boy, BVT and Vetta Borne are also on the bill. Indie popsters MUNA will be making their Australian debut when they do the honours at Rainbow Republic, G Flip's pivotal slot comes after they played the AFL Grand Final, following one iconic event with another. RAINBOW REPUBLIC SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE CLOSING CONCERT LINEUP: Kim Petras MUNA G Flip Keiynan Lonsdale Peach PRC Alter Boy BVT Vetta Borne
The Opera Centre is essentially the operations headquarters for Sydney's world-class opera scene. Setting foot inside is entering another world — all manner of artisan crafts and trades are on display here. The creation of an opera employs professionals from many different areas. You've got milliners (hat makers), wig makers, carpenters, scenic designers, cobblers and costumiers setting the scene. Then there are the performers and trainers — choreographers, language coaches, musicians, stage managers, conductors and singers — who all coming together to produce a live, visually and audibly spectacular production. For a crash course in all things opera, The Opera Centre offers guided tours of their workshops and rehearsal studios so you can get an intimate look at all that goes into putting a show on the big stage. Tours run every weekday at 10am and 2pm for groups of two and up to 40 people. It's recommended you book two weeks in advance so a knowledgeable guide can be assigned to your group.
Australian painter Brett Whiteley loved to paint, draw and sculpt works of art around the theme of birds. He once said he couldn't think of a nicer theme of celebration than the feathered creatures he was fascinated by since childhood. And Whiteley chose to use his bird theme across his career to express joy, humour and love. Now, in an exhibition at the Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills, you can see many of those works of art together — a full flock of creative expression and adoration for sculptural nests, giant eggs and anthropomorphic sketches. Whiteley captured not only the beauty of birds, but also their characters. Since he was a kid, he'd observe birds in all their actions and perceived personalities. He wanted to get to know them, and, through this free exhibition you can get to know his pet passion in all its glory. As the exhibition is not ticketed, you can simply fly by for a visit between 10am–4pm, Thursday to Sundays. Images: Installation view of the 'Brett Whiteley: Feathers and Flight' exhibition at the Brett Whiteley Studio, Surry Hills. Photos: AGNSW
There's a beer revolution going on across Sydney, thanks to a solid crew of passionate, independent crusaders. Taking their work just as seriously as a master vintner or distiller, these hardy souls are tackling a notoriously difficult craft and producing beers that are punching above their weight internationally. The craft beer movement is all about matching beer with food — something we're all for — and allowing punters to taste an array of different beers, often presented as a tasting flight or in beer paddles. It's an exciting new frontier for Sydney's drinking scene and Concrete Playground has your back: here are our picks for the ten best places to drink craft beer in our fair city. The Union Hotel Live music hub, Sunday afternoon mecca, superior local — The Union is certainly many things to many people. It's also home to one of the best and most extensive craft beer lists going around. The Union team have a particular knack for picking hard-to-find but quality craft beers like Noisy Minor, Bridge Road and Prickly Moses to offer on tap. There's also a way above average range of bottled craft beers like Shenanigans, as well as a range of beers from hometown heroes Young Henrys. Ask for a tip from the knowledgeable staff, or follow them to get a heads-up on what's on tap for the week. 576 King Street, Newtown; (02) 9557 2989; www.unionnewtown.com.au Royal Albert Hotel Surry Hills has suddenly found itself the nucleus of Sydney's craft beer revolution — and the Albert is one of the key sites, stocking the likes of Riverside Brewing Company's 44 American Amber and Modus Operandi. Like many craft beer venues, the Albert has a rotating selection on tap. You'll often find selections from Illawarra Brewers, one of the most interesting new craft brewers around. Look out for their Hefeweizen, an unusual split barley and wheat beer with notes of banoffee and bubble gum. 140 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills; www.royalalberthotel.com.au Keg & Brew Formerly a grotty inner city establishment, this old warhorse has been transformed into a modern gastropub by the same team behind the similarly-titled Dove & Olive. They've kept the tiled walls but ditched the previous air of dinginess. There's a strong American-leaning menu which includes the likes of the calorific deep-fried Twinkie, less a dessert than a middle-finger to the health food industry. But the Keg & Brew's worth a trip for its beer list alone, and they also have three beers on the go at any one time on their traditional hand pumps, which serve beer at a cooler 8-10 degrees and are said to show greater complexity in flavour. 26 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills; www.kegandbrew.com.au Welcome Hotel A pub since the late 19th century, this dog-friendly Balmain joint must rank as one of Sydney's great locals as well as a must for anyone into craft beers. Amid a classic setting of plush leather couches and old school wooden stools, you'll find a generous range of small breweries represented — including the likes of Mountain Goat and Moo Brew, while Parramatta's Riverside fly the flag for Western Sydney. 91 Evans Street, Rozelle; (02) 9810 1323; www.thewelcomehotel.com.au Dove & Olive This breezy, often boisterous Surry Hills establishment is another example of a previously anonymous drinking hole which has been revitalised around craft beer. It's a modern space with well-presented food, but it's in their expertly curated beer offerings where the Dove & Olive really shines. Grab a beer paddle and select from a range of unusual tipples on tap. The now hugely popular pub also features four-course dinners where each stage of the meal is matched to a beer, while their Craft Beer Fight Club — where brewers 'fight to the death' for the chance to get their brew on tap for a month — is quickly becoming the stuff of legend. 156 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills; (02) 9699 6001; www.doveandolive.com.au The Local Taphouse A bustling, multistorey Darlinghurst venue where beer is taken as seriously as wine, The Local Taphouse is a slick but soulful venture which successfully recreates the formula used at its Melburnian sister venue in St Kilda. There's a Sunday roast and a gorgeously designed, sun-dappled rooftop bar, but the focus here is squarely on their bar and the drinks menu, featuring the likes of Stone & Wood, Batch and James Squire limited editions. These taps will keep you going for a while. Bar staff are happy to have a chat about the beers on offer or to recommend a tipple from the 200 that rotate through their taps over the course of the year. With a great selection of brews and must-attend extras like beer appreciation talks, this towering pub is one for repeat visits. 122 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst; (02) 9360 0088; www.thelocal.com.au Forest Lodge Hotel Don't be fooled by the unassuming boxy red brick facade; the Flodge is an inner west gem. An old-school pub reinventing itself as a craft beer hotspot while retaining its old-school feel with a range of vintage paraphernalia and unpretentious, hearty pub food, this Arundel Street hotel's also a got a great variety of independent beers available. A hub for students, tradies and craft beer lovers alike, you'll find the likes of Murray's and Feral Brewing on tap. Choose four for a paddle ($15) and you're in craft beer heaven. 117 Arundel Street, Forest Lodge; (02) 9660 1872; www.forestlodgehotel.com.au 4 Pines Brewing Company Like the beer equivalent of a cellar door, this wharfside microbrewery has a low-key but consistently good bar — the ideal way to sample their wares. Food-wise, you'll find favourites like fish and chips, steak and a towering mega burger which almost dares you to eat it. But you're here for the beers, which run the gamut from ale to stout and bitter and the always-popular kolsch. These upstart brewers have made a big splash since forming in 2008, winning awards and getting their brews on tap across the city. Visit their home turf to see what all the fuss is about. 29/43-45 East Esplanade, Manly; (02) 9976 2300; www.4pinesbeer.com.au Lord Nelson Hotel They've been in the game since 1841 (Sydney's longest unbroken run of liquor trading), and they're still going strong. While the Lord Nelson's beautiful sandstone walls give the place a real colonial feel, it's no relic, remaining one of the city's most atmospheric places to down a schooner or two. The Lord Nelson's beers, brewed onsite since the hotel was redeveloped in the 1980s, only use natural ingredients (no sugar or preservatives here) and are a must for fans of craft beer. Their famed pale ale Three Sheets is a classic and the Old Admiral will appeal to those who love a Guinness. Also keep an eye out for the range of nautical-themed seasonal beers. 19 Kent Street, The Rocks; (02) 9251 4044; www.lordnelsonbrewery.com Redoak Boutique Beer Cafe One of the original craft beer hotspots and still among the best, Redoak is distinguished by its European feel. There's a range of locally brewed craft beers on offer, including the Bloody Wit, brewed with blood orange and candied sugar, or the bottled Christmas Cheer, which is made to a fifth generation Irish recipe. Budding beer connoisseurs can sign up for one of their regular beer classes, and everyone else can work their work through the menu of tasting and share plates, all of which have been matched with beers. 201 Clarence Street, Sydney; (02) 9262 3303; www.redoak.com.au
These days, with doggos treated more like children and/or celebrities, there are plenty of human businesses popping up just for the four-legged. There are dog friendly bars and venues with special treats for your pal — think Cuckoo Callay's pupachinos and Wayward Brewing's handmade beer biscuits. Not to mention puppy speed dating, puppy sharing and puppy delivery services. We'll refrain from going on. Woof Gateaux is the latest in a line of pup-based boutique businesses who cater to all our indulgent dog parent whims. It is a premium dog bakery crafting indulgent cakes and treats for your prized pooch. Their cakes look like sweet frosted dreams but they are definitely made for dogs and not people. They come in either raw or cooked form, made with mince (lean kangaroo, turkey or veal) with bases made from carrot and honey. And that creamy frosting? Potato and peanut butter — which sounds pretty great, if any bakers out there want to do the same for human cakes. They also offer a range of customisable cupcakes, doughnuts, and snackables which are very Instagrammable and rival even Grumpy Donuts in prettiness. The chef at the helm, Jason Blachowski, has over 25 years' experience making people food so you can be sure your pupper is in for a gourmet treat — one that they will probably snarf up in ten seconds flat without even savouring the flavours, but c'est la vie. You know, the future that sci-fi promised us was a lot more hovercrafty. But this version, awash with gourmet options for dog treats, ain't bad either. Check out Woof Gateaux's full cake range here.
If there's one thing Sydney has a lot of, it's water. Whether it's the gobsmackingly beautiful harbour, the many rivers snaking their way to the sea from the west or the scores of pristine white sand beaches that stretch along the city's giant coastline, this whole place is full of H2-oh-wow moments. They're basically at every turn. But sometimes heading to Bondi Beach for the umpteenth time just won't cut it. So here are a few ideas to help you get wet, steal some sea spray and cool down creatively. [caption id="attachment_556149" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Jason James via Flickr[/caption] STAND UP PADDLEBOARDING AT BALMORAL BEACH There are a heap of places to rent a paddleboard in Sydney, but head northside to the stunning harbour beach of Balmoral to be rewarded with calm waters, beautiful views of the bay and island and several options for top-notch coffee when you've conquered the board. Hit up Balmoral Boatshed on The Esplanade, where you can hire a board and get taught the basics before being sent out on your own. It's $30 for the first hour, with discounted rates for subsequent hours. [caption id="attachment_545050" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Andrew JWC via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] GRAB A KAYAK AT ROSE BAY If you've accidentally skipped arm day at the gym, a session in a kayak at one of Sydney's eastern suburb beaches will help you even things out. The folks at Rose Bay Aquatic Hire will fit you out with a life jacket, paddle and your choice of a one- or two-man kayak for around $25 an hour per person. The lightweight boats are surprisingly easy to manoeuvre and, once you get the hang of it, you'll be able to explore a pretty large section of the bay and harbour. Kayak out to Shark Island (if you buy entry first) or pull up at Milk Beach for a little rest and/or lunch break. They don't require a hefty deposit either — just some photo ID to be left behind as security. And if you're keen for more kayak time, check out our other favourite places to kayak in Sydney. [caption id="attachment_551558" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dollar Photo Club[/caption] TAKE A SURFING LESSON AT MAROUBRA Maroubra is one of the most underrated beaches in Sydney's east. The parking is considerably easier and cheaper than Bondi or Bronte, and the waves are consistently good. It's the perfect spot to try your hand (or feet) on a surfboard. A two-hour beginner's lesson with Let's Go Surfing is only $60 and includes all equipment and instruction. Classes are kept to a maximum of six people too, so you'll get plenty of one-on-one help — and if you want to keep practicing after class, board hire is available for around $20 an hour. And if you can't get to Maroubra, try one of these prime surfing spots for beginners. [caption id="attachment_556134" align="alignnone" width="1280"] EastSail[/caption] HIRE A BOAT AND EXPLORE SYDNEY HARBOUR You do need a boat license for this one — so if you don't have the paperwork, find a mate who does. It'll be totally worth it — because once you've got control of the boat, you'll have the freedom of exploring all the amazing nooks and crannies of Sydney Harbour. Spend a few hours cruising around the eastern suburbs playing 'which waterfront house would I buy if I won Lotto?', and then head to a secluded inlet like Milk Beach or Chinamans Beach to drop anchor and have a swim. There are a heap of places around Sydney that will rent you a vessel, but we like EastSail at Rushcutters Bay, which is reasonably priced and has a good selection to choose from. [caption id="attachment_556132" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dollar Photo Club[/caption] RIDE THE FERRY TO MANLY This one might not be that exciting for those who do it as part of their commute every day, but it's a classic Sydney experience for a reason. There aren't many views of the harbour city more beautiful than from the deck of a giant yellow (or green) ferry as it glides past the Opera House and under the Harbour Bridge. Pack a picnic and take it to Manly; Little Manly Cove is perfect for a quiet afternoon, otherwise smash some fish and chips on Manly Beach and have a quick dip before jumping on a ferry home. Hot tip: make it a Sunday journey and you'll pay only $2.50 on your Opal card for the entire return trip. [caption id="attachment_556135" align="alignnone" width="1280"] phonetography101 via Flickr[/caption] TAKE THE RIVERCAT UP THE PARRAMATTA RIVER For a unique look at Sydney that you may not have yet considered, jump on a RiverCat and make the trip west without having to deal with traffic, freeways and the endless car yards that line Parramatta Road. The catamaran hits decent speeds on the way, and the journey takes about 45-minutes from Circular Quay. Once you arrive, head into Parramatta's CBD to explore an area that is bustling with great cafes, bars and restaurants. There's even a Gelato Messina. The Village People were right – 'Go West', life is peaceful there. [caption id="attachment_556136" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Thunder Jet Boat[/caption] GET YOUR HEART PUMPING ON A JET BOAT You might dismiss this as a tourist trap, but the Sydney Harbour jet boat rides are actually pretty fun. You'll hit high speeds, get spun in circles all over the place, and the ratio of splashes to enjoyment is pretty high. Add in the incredible views you'll get of Sydney Harbour and you've got yourself a pretty sweet little ride. Thunder Jet Boat and Harbour Jet are both good options. Book online for better deals. [caption id="attachment_556137" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Sydney Seaplanes[/caption] GET A BIRD'S EYE VIEW FROM A SEA PLANE Yes, we're moving into seriously luxe, seriously expensive territory here — but if you have the funds, the opportunity to see the city from above is totally worth it. Taking off in a sea plane is unlike anything you'll have ever experienced — it's sort of a cross between a speedboat and a go-kart. But then, all of a sudden you'll lift up and above what is arguably the world's greatest harbour. Go all out and book a fly-and-dine package at Jonah's through Sydney Seaplanes for a harbour tour followed by a fabulous meal and a view of Whale Beach. It's certainly not cheap — but for an anniversary or special occasion, it will be utterly unforgettable. EXPLORE CLARK ISLAND If it's a picnic with extremely good views of the water you're after, pack your rug and basket and head to one of Sydney's islands and most unique national parks. You can get to Clark Island either by water taxi, private boat or kayak — just note that a $7 landing fee applies. There are gorgeous shaded gazebos dotted about the island, and plenty of places for a swim. You'll just need to book your trip in advance through the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. TAKE A SAILING LESSON Sailing has so many excellent words: Dinghy! Starboard! Ahoy! Use them with confidence after you've felt the sea spray in your face and the wind through your hair. Sydney By Sail offers one-off day cruise sailing trips where they'll show you the ropes (quite literally in this case), or you can sign up for an intensive two-day 'Introduction to Yachting' course that will build you some serious sea legs. They're located right near the Maritime Museum as well, for more #boatspiration. Top image: Visit St. Pete/Clearwater via Flickr
'Based on real events'. It's been an incredibly popular theme of late, with an almost unceasing run of biopics and historical dramas coming our way every year for the past decade or so. Those four simple words imbue a movie with an immediate sheen of credibility, commanding the audience's attention and respect in equal measure. The thing is, it's also particularly sneaky. 'Based on real events' doesn't mean 'happened'. Instead, it provides filmmakers with a sizeable caveat upon which almost almost any fact can be supplanted by something far more exciting, or more moving or…whatever the movie needs, really. Hacksaw Ridge, Mel Gibson's first directorial offering in over a decade, stands apart on this front for two distinct reasons. Firstly, it opts for the far more concrete 'A True Story' at its opening. Secondly, it takes the almost unprecedented step of underselling the feats of its protagonist, American war hero Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield). In real life, as in the film, the famous WWII conscientious objector refused to carry a weapon because of his religious beliefs as a Seventh Day Adventist, yet still earned himself the Congressional Medal of Honour when he single-handedly carried 75 wounded men on his back during the battle for Hacksaw Ridge, lowering them one-by-one down a cliff face to safety while under constant fire from the enemy. Doss' real world battlefield valour, however, extended far beyond this feat, with his citation referencing numerous other instances of extraordinary heroism that fail to even rate a mention in the film. Perhaps it was cut for time, or perhaps Gibson and his team concluded that Doss' actions were already so unbelievable, to detail all of them would challenge even the most faithful historian. Either way, it's refreshing to see an already humble hero presented without the need to over-emphasise, over-sell and over-indulge. Filmed in Australia with a predominantly local supporting cast, Hacksaw Ridge offers a surprisingly conventional first half for a director of Gibson's talent. The flashbacks to Doss' childhood and his troubled parents (Rachel Griffiths and Hugo Weaving), the romance with his sweetheart (Teresa Palmer) and his initiation into the military (under the supervision of Vince Vaughn and Sam Worthington) all play dangerously close to melodrama, saved only by the quality of the actors' performances. The sole purpose of this first phase is to establish with none too subtle a touch Doss' fervent religious conviction, cataloguing each and every instance of persecution, bullying and even the court martial that threatened to see him imprisoned for the duration of the war. But Gibson has made a career out of terrifyingly visceral combat scenes (see also: Braveheart and Apocalypto), and from the moment the first bullet tears through the air and into the flesh of the soldier it finds, Hacksaw Ridge sheds its corniness and transforms into a brutal, confronting and violent recreation of one of WWII's bloodiest battles. Neither as involved as Saving Private Ryan, nor as haunting as The Thin Red Line, Hacksaw Ridge nonetheless delivers a truly frenetic sense of warfare, at times seeming closer to the clashing armies of the middle ages than the modern combat of the last century. The film is unashamedly unilateral in purpose, and the closing shot of Doss essentially ascending to Heaven is rather on the nose. Still, as a tribute to a genuinely extraordinary man and a return to form by Gibson, both are as welcome as they are overdue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2-1hz1juBI
It's not every day you get to try a world-famous dish without leaving the country. But that's exactly what Sydneysiders are in for when Joe Beddia brings a taste of his renowned Philadelphia pizzeria to Bondi later this month. Hailed by Bon Appétit as the best pizza in America, Pizzeria Beddia's pies have a seriously good rep, and you don't want to miss their week-long appearance at Bondi Beach Public Bar, running from July 22 to 28. The pop-up will open at 6pm and sling pizzas until sold out. Beddia's original two-employee-only shopfront in Fishtown, Philadelphia, shut its doors in March to make way for a larger operation launching later this year. Sad news for locals, maybe, but as it turns out, a big win for the pizza lovers of Sydney. Having made every single pizza ever served at his cult favourite restaurant, Joe Beddia is now out to win over a new legion of Aussie fans, from a 60-seat Bondi pop-up pizzeria crafted entirely from pizza boxes. He'll be slinging a range of his signature, non-traditional pizzas starring local ingredients and matched with a cracking wine list curated by BBPB sommelier James Hird.
There are few Sydney bars with the same cult status — or, indeed, square meterage — as Cantina OK!. Tucked down a nondescript, blink-and-you'll-miss-it CBD laneway, the six-seater sliver of a bar is famous for its world-class mezcal program, hand-shaved ice and one of the most celebrated margaritas on the planet. It's also just unveiled a brand-new menu, which, in keeping with the rest of the cocktail list, is as conceptual as it is delicious. Themed around rituals, the menu taps into familiar everyday and universal acts, from the ancient — like ceremonial wood burning or cooking with hyperlocal ingredients — to the more contemporary — like logging off and touching grass. The menu reimagines these small, grounding acts as sensory experiences delivered in cocktail form, with ingredients like wood-washed tequila, burnt chilli sorbet and grass jelly. The new menu — named Ritual — consists of three headline cocktails, each drawing on an element of symbolic or cultural significance. Opening proceedings is the the Nevada OK!, a bright, fragrant yet earthy mix of tequila, vetiver soda and lemongrass over pandan ice and grass jelly. Inspired by the modern ritual of reconnecting with the ground after a day online, this drink is described by group Creative Director Jeremy Blackmore as "a silly, serious and very delicious combination". Next up, the Sour OK! is inspired by the cross-cultural practice of wood burning, from Day of the Dead offerings to tea ceremony incense. This silky, aromatic sipper stars a cherry wood- and palo santo-infused tequila, with solid support roles from coconut, egg white, tapioca pearls and nata de coco for a delicate hit of texture and depth. [caption id="attachment_1005251" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dexter Kim[/caption] Rounding out the set is the Whip OK!, a smoky, spicy and sweet riff on recado — the rich spice paste made from blackened chillies that anchors much Yucatecan cuisine. Here, tequila and mezcal are layered with burnt chilli, lime and an intriguingly bright blackberry sorbet. It's finished with a shimmering spray of silver-coloured olive oil, itself a nod to the ancient superstition of blessing liquids with silver and moonlight. "We are celebrating some of life's little rituals," says Blackmore about the new menu. "Cantina OK! is built on them — from the way we greet every guest to the hand-drawing of each weekly special. It's about celebrating the 'right now', and being part of the bigger ritual of a night out in a garage down a dimly lit alley." [caption id="attachment_1005287" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dexter Kim[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1005288" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dexter Kim[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1005290" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dexter Kim[/caption] Cantina OK!'s new Ritual menu is available now. Find it at the end of Council Place, Sydney CBD. F0r more information, head to the Cantina OK! website. Top image: Dexter Kim.
Looking for a new burger adventure? Head down to Xi'an Biang Biang in Chinatown for a chance to try the world's oldest hamburger, a 2000-year-old ancient meat sandwich. You'll also discover an entire menu of Chinese dishes you've (probably, maybe) never seen, tried or heard of before. Xi'an Biang Biang is located at the Town Hall-end of Dixon Street, just a few doors down from the well-known compass point of N2 Gelato. It's a cheap and cheerful kind of place, packed out with students and plastic chairs at a ratio of 2:1. While most of us are well-acquainted with Cantonese or Sichuan cuisine, Xi'an Biang Biang specialises in native fare from the Shaanxi province of China. The region is known for its handmade noodles and hot, sour flavours - let me introduce you to a few of the gang. The most famous Shaanxi dish is the biang biang noodles ($9). This simple country bowl is made from hand-pulled noodles, thick as a belt and chewy in texture. At Xi'an Biang Biang, they're served swimming in bright red oil which has been liberally seasoned with cumin and chilli. Here's a suggestion for you, don't wear white. Another popular Shaanxi dish is the cold noodles in garlic sauce ($10). This time around the noodles are thin and coarse, accompanied with torn up pieces of solidified gluten, which, for all intents and purpose, could actually be a kitchen sponge. Both noodles and sponge are coated in a sour garlic sauce with heady notes of black vinegar. Those who like their noodles hot and comforting might find this dish a little confronting. Naturally, we've saved the best for last. The surprise hit of the menu is the rougamo or 'burger' ($8), as they called it on the menu. This Shaanxi street food is made from a disc of pastry stuffed with pulled pork which has been stewed in soup for hours on end. The result is crunchy, crispy goodness paired with meltingly tender meat. Expect warm, fatty juices to drip down your arm. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner. And perhaps what makes this experience even more magical is that rougamo back to 221BC making it the first ever hamburger or sandwich, or pie, or whatever else you think this exciting dish resembles. So if you consider yourself a fan of Mary's, Burger Project or Five Points, then take a trip down to Dixon Street to find out where the madness all began. Images: Letícia Almeida.
Yass, a small NSW town near Canberra received the signature Queer Eye makeover when the Fab Five descended on the town earlier in June. Well, the whole town didn't, but George — a cattle farmer and former rodeo cowboy — did. As did the local pub. A rundown of the show, for the uninitiated, the original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy show hit screens a whopping 15 years ago — running from 2003 to 2007 — and the reboot Queer Eye returned to Netflix this year. The general premise is that the Fab Five give less-fashion-savvy men (and it seems, establishments) much-needed makeovers. In Yass, while three of the Fab Five, Jonathan Van Ness, Tan France and Karamo Brown, were looking after George the cattle farmer, the remaining two — Antoni Porowsi and Bobby Berk — renovated the local pub's bistro and introduced a new signature dish to the menu. Fittingly, the five were also crowned — by Yass Mayor Rowena Abbey — Yass Queens. Yas, queen. If this reference is lost on you, it's a term said to have originated in the 80s ballroom community, but recently surged to popularity thanks to this YouTube video. The Australian mini-episode of Queer Eye will is now available to watch, with Queer Eye's second season also streaming on Netflix since June 15. Check out Yass, Australia! below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM2zD5FtrkQ&feature=youtu.be
Mud, moss and murky waters mightn't sound like dream Airbnb features, but they couldn't be more exciting if you're a fan of pop culture's favourite solitude-loving ogre. To celebrate Halloween with a fairy tale theme, the accommodation booking platform has added a unique Scottish Highlands stay that'll turn you green with envy if you don't score the reservation — and have you spending the weekend at Shrek's Swamp IRL if you do. Hey now, this is the nostalgic all-star of Airbnb listings, aka a recreation of a spot straight out of the Shrek movies. And the host? Donkey, although it's unlikely that that means that either Eddie Murphy or a domesticated equine will be there to greet you. Here's what is definitely included: two nights for up to three guests in a stumpy structure that goes rustic inside and out, all for free. You'll enjoy a parfait, fireside stories, waffles in the morning, "earwax candlelight" to set the mood (the listing's words, not ours), and having the whole place to yourselves behind the "danger" and "stay out" signs. Oh, and absolutely no torches and pitchforks. Whether onions are included hasn't been revealed. "Shrek's Swamp is lovely. Just beautiful. The perfect place to entertain guests," said Donkey, announcing the stay (well, said Airbnb giving the statement the appropriate themed spin). "You know what I like about it? Everything. The overgrown landscaping, the modest interiors, the nice boulders, all of it. I can't wait for guests to experience this muddy slice of paradise for themselves." If you're keen, you'll need to try to nab the booking at 4am AEDT / 3am AEST / 6am NZDT on Saturday, October 14 — and, if your wish comes true, you'll be off for a stay across the weekend of Friday, October 27–Sunday, October 29. As always, whoever gets the reservation is responsible for their own travel, including if they have to get to and from Scotland. This listing is also helping a good cause, with Airbnb making a one-off donation to the HopScotch Children's Charity, which helps vulnerable and disadvantaged children in Scotland, as part of the Shrek's Swamp promotion. Somebody once told us that the platform loves offering up once-in-a-lifetime spots to slumber, as its recent history shows. In the past, it has had nights at Barbie's Malibu DreamHouse, the Ted Lasso pub, the Moulin Rouge! windmill, Gwyneth Paltrow's Montecito abode, Hobbiton, the Bluey house, the Paris theatre that inspired The Phantom of the Opera and the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine up for grabs. Also on the list: The Godfather mansion, the South Korean estate where BTS filmed In the Soop, Japan's World Heritage-listed Suganuma Village and the House of Sunny studio. Last Halloween, it similarly went with a movie theme, listing the Sanderson sisters' Hocus Pocus cottage. For more information about the Shrek's Swamp stay on Airbnb, or to book at 4am AEDT / 3am AEST / 6am NZDT on Saturday, October 14 for a stay across Friday, October 27–Sunday, October 29, head to the Airbnb website. Images: Alix McIntosh. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
The first sip of an oat flat white from your local cafe tells you everything you need to know. On a good day, it's smooth, balanced and creamy — on a bad day, it's flat, split or watery. So what makes the difference between a great (or not so great) dairy-free coffee? According to Anthony Douglas, World Barista Champion, long-time team member at Melbourne's Axil Coffee Roasters, and MILKLAB Global Brand Ambassador, it all comes down to the milk. Anthony knows a thing or two about making great coffee. And he's spent more hours than most perfecting the relationship between espresso and milk. "When I first touched a coffee machine I had no idea there were even competitions let alone that I would be up there myself on stage," he tells Concrete Playground, when asked how he became one of the world's best baristas. "About five years into my career, that was my first exposure to competition. I decided to give it a go, and realised how much I could learn and grow through competition. That's what kept me going until I finally won." Now, his approach is all about the fundamentals. In fact, he believes a great cup of coffee should be simple. "I've always found the best results by keeping the process simple, focusing on the basics and executing them well," he says. For Anthony, a good coffee using plant-based MILKLAB comes down to three things: temperature, texture and integration. "[It's about] being really present as you're steaming the milk and breaking down those bubbles. [Also] being conscious of how you're integrating the milk with the espresso so you preserve the flavour, while still ensuring it's integrated properly from top to bottom," he says. It's something most people have tried at home, but it seems easier said than done. That is, until you've got a few of Anthony's go-to techniques up your sleeve to help achieve the perfect jug of silky milk. "I think it's important to achieve an even whirlpool and really maximise the power of the steam wand," he recommends. "Tilting the wand to the side enough so it spins, but not too close to the side, and ensuring it's angled low enough to really break down any bubbles on top." If you really want to level up your milk game, he suggests introducing the air quickly so you have more time to texturise the bubbles into that delicious, creamy microfoam. And his final tip is temperature. "Too hot and the quality of the milk degrades, is more dilute (due to the extra time spent introducing steam). Too cool and the milk can overpower the flavour of the coffee due to the lack of dilution." "Drinking temperature also has a massive impact on the types of flavours we experience and is one of the first things most customers notice when drinking a milk-based coffee." [caption id="attachment_1014856" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anthony Douglas, World Barista Champion[/caption] When it comes to plant-based options, Anthony has a clear favourite — but rates them all. "Each milk does have its own unique flavour and texture based on the ingredient it's centred around," he says. "I think my favourite would be MILKLAB Oat as it is the most versatile and works well to showcase any coffee it's paired with. MILKLAB Almond has a beautiful natural sweetness from the almond and is quite easy drinking. MILKLAB Soy I find has a great rich sweetness and body. MILKLAB Macadamia has this beautiful lush texture. And MILKLAB coconut once again has an amazing texture and tropical flavour that really works well with coffee." It turns out, not every milk behaves the same way with every coffee and there's quite a bit of science behind making sure things go smoothly. "The key is understanding how they interact with different coffee. Coffee that is highly acidic, very fresh, or roasted darker often doesn't integrate as smoothly and can cause separation or curdling," he says. If you're running into this issue, Anthony has one simple trick. "[You can] add a small splash of cold plant-based milk to the espresso before steaming and pouring. Cold milk has a higher tolerance for acidity and heat, and this step can help neutralise the compounds in the coffee that might otherwise cause a negative reaction." So, there you have it. To get a plant-based coffee worthy of a world champion, go back to basics, perfect your steam wand technique and don't forget the power of temperature. With a little intention and the right milk, you can get cafe-level results at home. Discover the full barista-approved MILKLAB range on the website.
Winter is coming, as Game of Thrones has been telling us for years — but the show's final season is coming first. Before the weather turns cold again in the southern hemisphere, fans of the epic HBO series will be able to discover how the popular series wraps up, with the eighth and final season hitting the small screen at 11am on Monday, April 15. That's next week, friends. Prepare the snacks. And with the final season, will come the death of many more cherished characters. As George RR Martin has shown us, over and over and over again, no one is safe from his murderous pen (or keyboard) — any character's death is fair game. The list of deaths in the first seven seasons is long — longer than even Arya Stark's list — and the fallen are being commemorated in an eery new Game of Thrones cemetery, which has popped up today in Centennial Park. Yes, right here in Sydney. Eight giant graves as well as numerous tombs have been created by Foxtel, ahead of next week's series premiere, in the sprawling inner city park, and each is inscribed with names of who lays inside. There are the fallen Starks: Eddard, Benjen and Rickon; the Baratheons (or should we say, Lannisters): King Tommen and Robert; and the Stark direwolves: Shaggy Dog, slain by Smalljon Umber in S06E09, and Summer, mauled by wights in S06E05. We'll never forget who else died in that latter episode — 'The Door' — either: Hodor. With the final season promising a huge final battle between the living and the White Walkers, we think this cemetery, which features hands and animals emerging from the graves, may also be ominously hinting to something else: we're going to see the return of many favourite fallen characters — as wights. In the offical trailer, dropped last month, you see Arya running through the halls of Winterfell — could she be running from something, newly reanimated, in the crypts? Then, there's this Crypts of Winterfell teaser. We'll let you continue speculating for yourselves, but expect one helluvan emotional Walking Dead-style murdering-of-fallen-friends battle to go down this season. Prepare many boxes of tissues. The cemetery is currently a bit of a work in progress, but we'll update you as soon as it's complete. It's not the first IRL teaser for the new season, either, a Iron Throne scavenger hunt took place earlier this month, with six sworded seats popping up around the globe. Images: Lauren Vadnjal.
Architecture aficionados and self-confessed sticky-beaks, listen up. The historic city of Bendigo, located an easy two-hour drive from Melbourne, will throw the doors open on some of its top buildings for one weekend next month. Across October 27–28, locals and visitors will get the chance to see inside spaces that are generally closed to the public. A boom town during the gold rush period, Bendigo is home to a rich architectural heritage that has been met with rapid development in recent years. Hop on one of the vintage trams and explore the city from the inside. The Open House weekend is a chance to engage with city planners and discuss Bendigo's design future. Visitors are welcome to explore the iconic designs of the city, from private homes and heritage buildings to commercial and civic developments. Over 20 buildings will be on display — highlights include the $630 million Bendigo Hospital (the largest regional hospital development in Victoria), along with B House, a newly completed, bespoke three-bedroom townhouse designed by E+ Architecture. Plus, you can enter the historic Beehive Building while its still under renovation. The building was designed by the famed Charles Webb (the architect behind Melbourne's Royal Arcade) and erected in 1864. Alongside the program will be a series of talks and public workshops. For more information or to pre-book tours, head to the Open House Bendigo website.
If you've been looking for a reason to finally book that trip to Tasmania, here it is. Beaker Street Festival is returning from Tuesday, August 12 to Tuesday, August 19 and it's bringing a full week of death, pleasure, humanity and connection to Hobart and beyond. Don't be fooled, this isn't your average science festival. Now in its ninth year, Beaker Street is where art meets ideas and curious minds come together to explore what it means to live well, die better and stay curious along the way. There's over 70 events to look forward to across the week, including museum takeovers, field trips, speakeasy-style science salons, plunge pools, live music, pub nights, expert talks and experimentation. [caption id="attachment_1007080" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Oi Studio[/caption] The festival's main stage at Hobart City Hall is returning this year with a jam-packed schedule of headline talks, performances and debates. It's the kind of festival that makes you feel like a local, with something new and weird to discover around every corner. "We want to remind people that science isn't just learning facts – it's about feeling, experiencing, and connecting. It invites us to explore big ideas, expand our perspective, and share moments that bring people together," says Festival Founder and Creative Director Dr Margo Adler. [caption id="attachment_1007079" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Rosie Hastie[/caption] So whether you're a science nerd, a live music fan or just someone who wants a reason to visit Tassie this winter, this festival is for you. Beaker Street Festival runs from Tuesday, August 12 to Tuesday, August 19 across Hobart and regional Lutruwita/Tasmania. See a full festival guide and book your tickets now on the Beaker Street Festival website. By Jacque Kennedy
Australian Fashion Week, the southern hemisphere's biggest fashion event, has been part of the international fashion calendar for nearly three decades. The 2024 iteration, which runs from May 13-17, promises to be one of the biggest yet. Its five-day program features emerging designers alongside established names and culminates in the final night runway show. It's not just catwalks. There are panels discussing burning fashion topics like gender diversity, club culture, and sustainability. While it may not have the reputation of London or Paris, the Carriageworks event still pulls in 33,000 attendees annually and has been the launchpad for big names in the industry, like Anna Quan and Bec + Bridge. Perhaps most interesting, however, is AFW's selection of Changemakers: an exclusive group of industry luminaries pushing fashion forward and getting the privilege of impacting the week's programming. This year's chosen few include Rumbie Mutsiwa, a Chippendale-based hairdresser specialising in curly and afro hair, and James Bartle, whose Outland Denim brand provides jobs for women affected by human trafficking. Plenty of the events during the week are open to the public, but you'll need to purchase tickets in advance, so get in quick.
Good news gaming fiends: Melbourne's first hotel games-inspired room is now available for you to live out all your gamer dreams. View Melbourne has created a 35-square-metre room that's custom-made for gaming, providing guests with everything they need for the ultimate game night. It's essentially a fully loaded paradise for gamers and, yes, it's as good as it sounds. The PC corner includes an MSI MEG Trident X2 computer, dual 27-inch 170Hz Esports gaming monitors, a full Elgato streaming setup and a game library that boasts an extensive collection that's continuously updated. The setup also includes an Xbox controller, MSI gaming headset, mouse, keyboard and a Logitech speaker system. Meanwhile, the couch and main television are perfectly set up for all kinds of console gaming, from intense solo sessions to epic four-player parties. The main machine is a Nintendo Switch hooked up to a 55-inch Samsung TV complete with Apple TV, accompanied by four Nintendo Switch pro controllers. On the games front, all the Nintendo faves are available, including the big Mario titles, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Pokémon: Let's Go Pikachu and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Plus, guests also have access to a huge catalogue of NES, Super NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Colour, Game Boy Advance, Sega Genesis and Nintendo 64 games, all of which are available to play via the Switch. Now, let's talk perks. The room comes with bottomless popcorn, which you'll make in the room yourself; a whole fridge filled with energy drinks, soft drinks, beer and wine; various spirits; and a fully stocked snack bar with an array of gamer faves (yes, even Cheetos). The popcorn is complimentary, but you'll pay for everything else that you eat and drink. The room is full of gamer memorabilia without feeling crowded, and the customisable RGB lighting adds a cool touch (don't worry, you can turn it off if it isn't your thing). Up to five people can stay in the room, so it's the perfect space for epic Mario Party sessions. The setup includes a king bed which can transform into two singles, a sofa bed, and the option to add a portable bed. The room is inclusive for two guests, with each additional adult costing $40 per night. Kids under 12 stay free if they're using existing bedding. For those looking to stream, the high-speed internet and Elgato gear, and even a ring light are there for a seamless experience. And if you're in Melbourne for business, the PC corner doubles as a workspace. In short, the room is a cool blend of nice hotel amenities and a gamer's dream setup, offering a fresh, fun way to stay in Melbourne if you're visiting — or a dream staycation if you just want to live out your 12-year-old kid fantasy. Find View Melbourne at 562 St Kilda Road, Melbourne — and head to the View Melbourne website for bookings.
If you, like us, are a big fan of cheese, you'll know the tasty hobby can get a bit pricey. From stocking up on wheels of brie to splashing out on truffled gouda and buying legit parmigiano-reggiano, things start to add up. Luckily, one of Sydney's finest providores is selling some of it cheap — real cheap. Two Providores — known for souring quality ingredients from Australia's best artisan producers — usually supplies top Sydney restaurants, cafes, caterers and retailers. But when many of its usual customers closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, it decided to start selling its wholesale goods to you. One of which is two kilograms of smooth, salty, spreadable cubes of Meredith Dairy goat's cheese, marinated in a blend of olive oil, garlic and herbs. Yep, your wildest cheese dreams just came true. The two-kilogram tubs of the award-winning goat's cheese are going for only $60 a pop. To put that price into perspective, the 550-gram jars at Woolies go for $20 each. Better yet, you can get it delivered straight to your doorstep. The catch? You'll have to spend a minimum of $200, but that should be easy enough once you check out everything else Two Providores has in stock. You can also order it here and pick it up from its Marrickville warehouse the next day. Or take a gamble and head there on Saturday, when it's open to the public. https://www.instagram.com/p/B_wG1MDDvAg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Two Providores is open to the public from 9am–1pm on Saturdays, and is offering next-day pick up and delivery to most suburbs when you order online. It's selling two-kilogram buckets of Meredith Dairy goat's cheese for $60 while stocks last. To order, head here. Updated June 22, 2020.
IconPark is not your average pop-up restaurant. The first online platform to focus on hospitality concepts, it has transformed how we view crowdfunding and has pole-vaulted the business to the forefront of the industry. With the rock star season two winners Rupert and Ruby wrapping up and scouting for season three talent far underway, co-founders Paul Schell and Dean McEvoy have hit their 2014 New Year’s resolution. Their success has inspired the Future of Funding panel discussion. The joint effort with General Assembly will bring together established entrepreneurs and industry newbies for a bit of wisdom-sharing and a beer. McEvoy will act as mediator while Schell shares the stage with Society One CEO/co-founder Matt Symons, Equitise co-founder Chris Gilbert and Reinventure Group co-founder/managing director Simon Cant. A low-key but potent event, this is a must-attend for all you aspiring tycoons out there.
Australia's war on waste has received a significant boost, with the Federal Government pledging to ensure that 100 percent of the country's packaging is recyclable, compostable or reusable in the next seven years. Announced by Minister for the Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg, the target will be implemented by 2025 or earlier. The Commonwealth will also work with state and territory governments to increase the nation's recycling capabilities — and prioritise 'waste-to-energy' projects, which convert waste that is unable to be recycled into energy. Also on the agenda: ramping up the purchase of recyclable materials by the various levels of government by using more recycled paper, and building roads and construction projects out of recycled mattter. The focus not only on mandating the widespread uptake of recyclable packaging, but also finding ways to use and process it forms part of the country's response to China's decision to stop importing waste. Since the beginning of 2018, Australia has been struggling to find solutions for the 1.3 million tonnes of recyclable materials it previously sent to Chinese facilities each year, a figure that accounts for 35 percent of our recyclable plastics and 30 percent of our recyclable paper and cardboard. Earlier this month, it was discovered that one Queensland council had been sending recyclable matter to landfill instead. The promise to scrap non-recyclable packaging in general arrives as several other eco-friendly bans are coming into effect — or, in the case of Hobart's Australia-first commitment to get rid of single-use plastic containers, are set to by 2020. Single-use bags are on their way out in most states, with Queensland joining the fold this coming July and Victoria following suit, leaving New South Wales as now the only state that hasn't made the same pledge. Elsewhere, Aussie bars venues have begun phasing out straws, and campaigns to reduce the use of single-use takeaway coffee cups also continue.
Sydney Beer Week is back with a bang, bringing food, music and plenty of brews to venues across the city from Monday, October 20 to Sunday, October 26. Whether you're a proud beer geek or just looking to shake up your weeknight routine, there's plenty to discover across a packed seven days. This year's program features everything from laidback tastings to lively trivia nights. The Beer & Brewer Awards will take over Mountain Culture's cavernous Redfern brewpub on Tuesday, October 21, spotlighting the best in the industry while welcoming punters to celebrate alongside the makers. Meanwhile, homebrewers will get their chance to shine at the Pro-Am on Saturday, October 25, where ticketholders can vote for their favourite amateur brew, with a free sausage sizzle on the side. Beyond the beer, there'll be a massive trivia night at The Bob Hawke Leisure & Beer Centre, Hot Ones-inspired spicy wings challenges, beer-pairing dinners, lawn bowl competitions, gigs aplenty and even an interactive Shakespeare night at Pyrmont's historic Terminus Hotel. With dozens of events popping up across pubs, breweries, bars and restaurants from the Inner West to the Northern Beaches, Sydney Beer Week is shaping up as a huge one. Head to the event's website to explore the full program and to grab your tickets.
When you wish upon a star, do you wish for all things Disney to be worked into your daily life? If so, then you'll be familiar with Sydney fine-dining institution NEL and its Once Upon a Time degustations. Since 2019, the Harbour City restaurant has been regularly plating up 11-course meals featuring dishes inspired by the Mouse House and its movies. In fact, it's done so four times so far. 2024's run will mark the enchanting dining experience's fifth chapter, then — and NEL's Executive Chef and namesake Nelly Robinson has new film-themed culinary creations in store. From Tuesday, April 16–Saturday, August 10, fans of top-notch meals and Disney alike can flutter into the Surry Hills eatery to enjoy courses that take their cues from Frozen, 101 Dalmatians, The Jungle Book and more. Both savoury and sweet dishes are on offer, with or without beverages — including cocktails — that also help tell a magical tale. For those who'll never be able to let their Mouse House obsession go, cured ocean trout Nordic-style — complete with a pickled onion snowflake, snow made out of cream cheese, and dustings of lemon and dill done at your table — is on the menu. Of course the Cruella de Vil-themed plate goes with a black-and-white colour scheme, featuring ricotta gnocchi, pan-seared mushroom and a celeriac velouté. And there'll be far more than the bare necessities tempting your tastebuds with the banana-shaped cream paired with roasted white chocolate and peanut butter brittle. Other courses include a nod to Peter Pan via a golden sweet pastry crumble, aka the Once Upon a Time degustation's version of pixie dust; saying "hi ho, hi ho" to a Snow White-inspired dish; and also paying edible tribute to Mulan, The Lion King, Bambi and The Nightmare Before Christmas. There's even NEL's version of a wand, aka a chicken and eggplant pastry that comes in a crisp tulle. "I am taking our diners on a journey of nostalgia. It is so much fun creating this menu. The films continue to inspire me. With the team at NEL, we have crafted the menu to ensure a moment of joy and wonder in every single dish," says Robinson about his fifth Once Upon a Time menu. NEL is known for its themed degustations, also spanning KFC-inspired dinners, Moulin Rouge!-themed and Christmas degustations, and heroing native Australian ingredients in the past. Unsurprisingly, the Once Upon a Time spread is especially popular — and because it serves up new and fresh dishes riffing on the Mouse House's favourites each time, it's always a different experience each year for locals and Disney-adoring visitors to Sydney. Price-wise, this childhood-inspired feast will require an adult salary, costing $185 per person, with beverages matched for an extra $165. Reserving a spot ASAP for dinner Tuesday–Saturday from 5.15pm, and for lunch from 12pm on Saturdays as well, is recommended — this always books out. NEL's Once Upon A Time (Chapter Five) degustation is on offer from Tuesday, April 16–Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 75 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney. For more information or to book, head to the NEL website.
Pre-COVID, world-renowned Melbourne artist Rone proved a game-changer when it came to street art installations, pushing the envelope with his large-scale multi-room works engulfing abandoned cottages (The Omega Project), deserted mansions (Empire) and derelict office blocks. While it's been a minute since his last foray of this kind, now, Rone is back with what's set to be his most expansive project yet — he's taking over Melbourne's iconic Flinders Street Ballroom to stage his next immersive masterpiece, Time. More than three years in the making, this ambitious new work will completely transform Flinders Street Station's hidden third floor and ballroom, and it's open to explore from Friday, October 28–Sunday, January 29. [caption id="attachment_871518" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rone, by Tony Mott Photography[/caption] As is Rone's way, Time is a masterclass in storytelling and imbued with history. Like a sentimental love letter to mid-century Melbourne, it invites audiences to time-travel back to post-WWII, its 11 themed rooms sharing fictional histories that shine a light on the working class. Each chamber is brought to life via a curation of original — and carefully recreated — heritage artifacts, lighting, soundscapes and historic architectural features; with the haunting female portraits that have become Rone's trademark gazing down from above. Prepare to be transported back to the public libraries, typing pools and machine rooms of yesteryear as you wander through the intricately designed spaces, pondering the meaning of time, progress and loss. The major installation has taken a team of over 120 people several months to deliver, including long-time Rone contributors such as interior set decorator Carly Spooner and sound composer Nick Batterham. [caption id="attachment_708994" align="alignnone" width="1920"] From Rone's 'Empire'[/caption] Time follows similar large-scale transformations from Rone's famed back catalogue, including fleeting Alphington work The Omega Project, and Empire, which presented imagined stories of the wealthy upper class of old. The mysterious, long-closed Flinders Street Ballroom has enjoyed an artistic revival these past few years, having recently played host to Patricia Piccinini's otherworldly exhibition A Miracle Constantly Repeated. [caption id="attachment_630072" align="alignnone" width="1920"] From Rone's 'The Omega Project'[/caption] Find Rone's 'Time' at Level Three, Flinders Street Station, Melbourne, from October 28–January 29. Tickets are available online from 10am Thursday, September 29. Top image: The Clock Room, part of 'Time', photo by Rone.
If you've got a hard-earned thirst for some spiffy beer merch, the folks at Victoria Bitter have you covered, and that's been the case for a couple of years. Already decked out most of your wardrobe with VB gear, but still looking for something to splash around in at the beach? Then you'll be pleased to discover that the famed Carlton & United Breweries beer has just joined forces with Budgy Smuggler on a new range of swimwear. Available via Budgy Smuggler's website, the Victoria Bitter collection includes briefs for men — budgie smugglers, obviously — plus one-piece swimmers for women, with both types available in multiple designs. If you're keen to have the classic beer logo emblazoned across your body, you can choose between green and white backgrounds. You can also opt for a 'sticker bomb' design, which features multiple different VB logos, or pick one with cartoon beers as well. Whether you're a beachgoer or you prefer lazing around a pool, you'll need a towel, too, with four different types available with the same imagery. They'll set you back $55 each, while the mens' bathers cost $65 and womens' togs cost $100. If you're keen on other VB-themed items as well, you can still head to the brand's site to check out its retro-styled collection, which nods firmly to the brew's lengthy history quenching the thirst of hardworking Aussies. There are crewneck jumpers, t-shirts, hoodies, beanies and caps, all emblazoned with that instantly recognisable logo. Alongside all the clothes, you'll also find VB jigsaw puzzles — plus glasses, water bottles, coolers, speakers, bar mats and even fridges. And, as part of its ever-expanding range of merch, don't forget that VB also has its own scent now, too. The Victoria Bitter Collection is available to purchase from Budgy Smuggler's website. Top image: VB.
After a tumultuous start to the year, the Art Gallery of NSW is back. At the moment, you can catch a heap of free exhibitions, including the 22nd Biennale of Sydney, Some Mysterious Process: 50 Years of Collecting International Art and Shadow Catchers. Now, the major cultural institution is looking to the future, announcing its huge lineup of spring/summer exhibitions — including the much-anticipated Archibald Prize. It would seem Sydney's arts scene is getting back to normal (with restrictions, of course). The prestigious portrait prize was meant to kick off last month, along with the Wynne and Sulman, which recognise the best landscape painting of Australian scenery, or figure sculpture and the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project, respectively. But, due to growing COVID-19 concerns, the exhibitions were postponed by the gallery back in March, with hopes to show later in the year. Yesterday, Tuesday, June 23, AGNSW revealed new dates, which will now run from September 26 right through January 10, 2021. So, you'll have plenty of time to check it out. Also coming to grace the gallery's walls is a landmark retrospective of celebrated impressionist landscape painter Arthur Streeton, which will run from November 7, 2020–February 14, 2021. A member of the Heidelberg School of Australian impressionism, Streeton produced works that were (and still are) quintessentially Aussie — from sun-drenched pastoral landscapes to the waters of Sydney Harbour. He also received the Wynne Prize in 1928. At the AGNSW, Streeton will feature more than 150 works, some of which have not exhibited for over a century, and will include a selection of works from the artist's time in Egypt, England, Italy and WWI France, too. "We're extremely excited to delve into the life and work of one of our most influential Australian painters, Arthur Streeton, who defined a unique image of this country," AGNSW Director Michael Brand said in a statement. "Streeton's brilliant evocations of light, land and sea are among the most enduring paintings for many Australians." [caption id="attachment_773984" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arthur Streeton, 'Cremorne Pastoral', 1895, Art Gallery of New South Wales via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] That's not all that you'll be able to catch over the warmer months, either. Kicking off next month is a solo exhibit of major works by Lebanon-born Australian artist Khaled Sabsabi, which will run till sometime next year. Titled A Promise: Khaled Sabsabi, it'll feature the artist's large-scale immersive works and more intimate paintings. From October, there'll be a collection of drawings by eight contemporary Aussie artists, dubbed Real Worlds: Dobell Australian Drawing Biennale 2020, as well as Joy: an Indigenous art exhibition, featuring objects and short films by artists from across the Central Desert, including Judith Inkamala, Marlene Rubuntja and Sally Mulda. Both exhibitions will be free and kick off on Saturday, October 24, with closing dates yet to be announced. Then, from Saturday November 14, the gallery will house a provocative and humorous retrospective of Australian artist Pat Larter's work over the past 30 years, which challenges conventions of the male gaze and stereotypes of female sexuality. Unfortunately, the scheduled 2020 Sydney International Art Series exhibitions, Matisse: Life & Spirit, Masterpieces from the Centre Pompidou, Paris and Matisse Alive have been postponed indefinitely. As have exhibitions Brack, Margel Hinder, Classicism and The Purple House. For more information on the Art Gallery of NSW's current and upcoming exhibitions, head to the website. Ticket information for the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2020 will be available here from Saturday, August 1. Ticket information for Streeton is yet to be announced — we'll be sure to keep you updated. Top image: Art Gallery of NSW
There will always be a place in our hearts for cheese-smothered, salsa-drenched high-street Tex-Mex — may foil-wrapped logs of spicy meat ever be our hangover saviour. But if you think burritos, nachos and slushy margs represent the true breadth and depth of Central American cuisine, Sydney's growing collection of new-wave Mexican restaurants should make you think again. Double Bay's Gitano makes one of the more persuasive cases for Mexico's fine-dining alter ego. Head Chef Alvaro 'Clark' Valenzuela, formerly of Potts Point mezcal bar and eatery Chula, is expanding his diners' horizons with a menu that highlights the nuance and shade of Mexican cuisine, showcasing popular dishes from Mexico City, Oaxaca, Puebla, and the Yucatán Peninsula, with the menu's crudo selection highlighting flavours from the country's northwestern coastal regions. Prepared using traditional techniques, animal fats such as tallow and ghee are favoured over seed and vegetable oils, just as they would be in Mexico. However, this is no slavish lesson in authenticity. Many cultures have invaded, influenced, traded with and integrated into Mexico over the centuries, bringing with them food traditions that have percolated through the country's diverse culinary vocabulary. Valenzuela offers clever riffs on the classics that speak to these surprising cross-cultural histories with plates like the atun tostada, featuring tuna sashimi, a tangy ponzu drizzle, crispy taro, pops of tobiko roe and an anchoring hit of heat from a chipotle aioli, nodding to the influx of Japanese migrants who came to Mexico City and Guadalajara in the 1940s. There's also the carne tartara, a loosely minced grass-fed wagyu tartare served with a molten trough of roasted marrow on the bone, spiked with aji amarillo, a mild Peruvian chilli, recalling flavours first brought to the New World by the French army in the 1860s. Valenzuela's food not only draws on his home country's heritage, but also from his own family's traditions, taking inspiration from his abuelita. "She taught me that everything in life should be done with love, and that includes cooking," Valenzuela says. "There's a lot of love in everything I create — from a simple taco to a more complex dish." True to his grandmother's wisdom, the street-food inclusions on the menu are executed with an emphasis on excellence and care — even the guacamole is heightened with a drizzle of jalapeño oil, which lifts the judicious combination of minced and diced avocado folded with crunchy raw onion, a heady garnish of fragrant unchopped cilantro leaves, and of course, the all-important house-made tortilla chips on the side, dusted with chilli salt. Baja fish tacos, dressed with sweet pickled cabbage, bright hunks of green tomato and a fresh, zesty pico de gallo, get a glow up with the snapper fillets coated in corn masa and fried in ghee, creating a wonderfully crisp exterior around the succulent, moist fish within. The same commitment to quality and creativity can also be found behind Gitano's bars. By the main entrance, a Patrón bar focuses on premium tequila, while the dining room bar is a shrine to agave spirits, with multiple varieties of mezcal, tequila and raicilla. "Because we have several different flavours of margaritas, we blend multiple mezcals to get that variety from dry and spicy to more fruity," Gitano's General Manager Francisco Rosales says. "We also have a twist on the mojito which is something that I really love. It's really refreshing, with the smokiness of the mezcal and bitterness of grapefruit juice — it's a party in your mouth." Speaking of partying, Gitano is more than just an eatery. Behind the main dining room, a spacious cocktail lounge with a dance floor and resident DJs spinning Latin-Afro house music channels the swagger and spirit of Central America. There's even VIP bottle service on offer for those who really want to make a night of it (and have cash to splash), complete with dedicated wait staff, a reserved booth and top-shelf booze. Gitano's arrival in Double Bay is yet another feather in the cap of this ascendant hospitality enclave. In addition to its established stalwarts like Neil Perry's Margaret and popular pub The Golden Sheaf, a glut of recent openings, including Tanuki, Bartiga and Perry's new Asian concept Song Bird, have put Bay and Cross Streets back on the map as a top dining destination in inner Sydney. With a 3am licence and 200-patron-capacity club, Gitano is adding an extra dimension to this fast-rising hospo hub, making it not only a go-to for quality dining, but a nightlife hotspot to boot. Images: Kitti Gould
With a history that trips back almost a century, the heritage-listed Balmoral Bathers' Pavilion is pretty hallowed turf. So, it's only fitting the historic waterside venue has an impressive cast of Sydney hospitality and design gurus overseeing its next phase of life. The art deco beauty has reopened after an extensive ten-week makeover, with some new and old hospitality elite at the helm. The new-look beachside venue now sports a fancy fit-out by award-winning design studio Luchetti Krelle, whose works you'll have spied at the likes of Manly Greenhouse, Verandah Bar, Banksii and the Sydney Opera House lobby. Expect lots of white tablecloths, sea-toned stripes, plants and lots of light from the venue's epic floor-to-ceiling windows. [caption id="attachment_744387" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The view from the dining room.[/caption] The new-look Bathers' gives you a few options: the bistro, the bar, the kiosk and the fine dining restaurant. The Bathers' Bistro is your more casual option, and it's open for brekkie, lunch and dinner. But, prices still aren't exactly cheap — smashed avo is $22, and mains like grilled Yamba prawns and fish pie will set you back around $35–45. For something a bit more special, you'll want to make a reservation in the venue's fine dining offering, The Good Room. The menu will change daily, but expect lots of seafood and cuts of duck breast and lamp rump. It's a set menu deal here, with two courses for $90 and three for $110. You'll also have 350 wines to choose from and an ocean view from wherever you sit. For snacks, you can grab a seat in the adjoining bar, and, on Sunday afternoons, the terrace will become a champagne bar, so you can indulge in Louis Roederer, prawns and steak frites alongside panoramic views of the ocean. If you're just after a post-swim feed, there's also the option to grab a hamper or fish and chips from the downstairs kiosk. A visit to the upstairs gallery is also an option Front-of-house star Cam Fairbairn has jumped on board to head up the service side of things, filling a void we've all been feeling since the closure of Rushcutters Bay favourite Acme earlier this year. In the kitchen, four years on from a previous stint at Bathers' Pavilion, Cameron Johnston (St Claude's, Jonah's) makes his return, stepping into the role of co-head chef of the venue's fine dining restaurant. alongside Peter Gong (Catalina). Kumiko Endo, with stints at Attica, Tetsuya, Fujisaki under his belt, joins the gang as head pastry chef, while Jess Mead (Acme, Kingdom of Rice) takes on the task of restaurant manager. Owner-Chef Serge Dansereau has overseen the Bathers' Pavilion site for the past 20 years and confirmed earlier this year that he's been granted a new lease for the next two decades. So you can expect to have more than a few Sunday sessions here. Bathers' Pavilion is now open at 4 The Esplanade, Balmoral. The bistro is open daily from 7am until late, and the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner every day except Monday. Top image: WikiCommons.
Sydney, it's your time to play the most entertaining game of "what if?" there is, especially if you love classic tales, pop songs and sensational musicals. Whether you studied it in high school or just obsessed over Baz Luhrmann's glorious 90s movie, everyone knows how Romeo and Juliet ends — and it doesn't conclude happily for either of its eponymous star-crossed lovers. But what if it didn't wrap up that way? What if Juliet lived to love again? And what if her experiences from there, after thwarting theatre's greatest tragedy, involved a whole heap of earworm tunes from the last couple of decades? The answer to how all of that might turn out already exists, all thanks to Olivier Award-winning jukebox musical & Juliet. A hit in London's West End since 2019, it remixes the iconic love story in multiple ways — tinkering with its narrative and throwing in all that toe-tapping music. And, it's coming to the Harbour City in 2024. The acclaimed show arrived in Melbourne in February 2023, with Australia only its second stop outside of the UK following Toronto. Now, it's taking its Shakespeare-meets-pop spectacle to more Aussie locations, locking in a run at Sydney Lyric Theatre from Tuesday, February 27–Sunday, June 2, 2024. A Perth run at Crown Theatre has also been confirmed from Saturday, December 30, 2023–Thursday, February 8, 2024 — Brisbanites, cross your fingers that the River City also gets a spin. If you're now thinking "wherefore art thou?" about & Juliet's setup, it picks up after the ending we all know doesn't eventuate. And, it muses on what might happen if Juliet could choose her own fate instead. That scenario involves Anne Hathaway — no, not that one — and her husband William Shakespeare, and features songs by Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Robyn, Katy Perry, The Weeknd, Kelly Clarkson and more. Tunes that get a spin: 'Larger Than Life', 'I Want It That Way', '... Baby One More Time', 'Show Me Love', 'Oops!... I Did It Again', 'As Long As You Love Me', 'Stronger', 'I Kissed a Girl', 'Since U Been Gone', 'It's My Life', 'It's Gonna Be Me' and a whole heap of others. The common factor between them all is Swedish songwriter Max Martin, who penned or co-penned every track on the musical's soundtrack. As well as Martin's involvement — including as one of & Juliet's co-creators — the musical features a book by the Emmy-winning Schitt's Creek writer and The Big Door Prize creator David West Read. And if you're wondering about the show's shiny Olivier Awards, it was nominated for nine for its West End debut season, and nabbed three: for Best Actress in a Musical, Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical and Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical. Down Under, Lorinda May Merrypor plays Juliet, while Rob Mills is Shakespeare, Amy Lehpamer steps into Anne's shoes and Blake Appelqvist gets his Romeo on. Also in the cast: Casey Donovan, Hayden Tee, Jesse Dutlow, Yashith Fernando, Georgia Anderson, Jade Delmiguez, James Elmer, Riley Gill, Jerome Javier, Giorgia Kennedy, Jordan Koulos and more. "If there were ever a show and a city that were made for each other it is Sydney and & Juliet, and I am thrilled we are finally bringing them together. This show that celebrates joy, love, diversity and taking chances are the same things that inspire and drive the people of Sydney and we can't wait to share it with them," said producer Michael Cassel, announcing the Sydney season. "& Juliet was such a hit in Melbourne that it completely sold out — I just know Sydney will embrace the show with spectacular enthusiasm." Check out the trailer for & Juliet below: & Juliet will play Sydney Lyric Theatre from Tuesday, February 27–Sunday, June 2, 2024, which includes preview performances from Tuesday, February 27–Wednesday, March 6 with tickets for $79. For more information or to sign up for the ticket waitlist — before tickets go on sale in September, with pre-sales from Monday, September 25 and general sales from Friday, September 29 — head to the musical's website. & Juliet will play Crown Theatre, Perth, from Saturday, December 30, 2023–Thursday, February 8, 2024 — with pre-sales from Monday, August 28 and general sales from Thursday, August 31. Images: Daniel Boud.
One underground restaurant dedicated to steak wasn't quite enough for Bistecca's James Bradey and Warren Burns. The Liquid and Larder directors, and minds behind The Wild Rover and Grandma's Bar, have just opened The Gidley — an opulent basement restaurant inspired by old-school New York and London steakhouses. The subterranean setup means there are no windows and no distracting "beautiful harbour views", says Bradey. Lack of distractions is a passion of the restaurateur duo, who banned phones at the table at their original steak spot Bistecca. The same goes here, too. Instead of Instagram, you'll be soaking up the lusciously designed space, by Darlinghurst studio Tom Mark Henry, which was made to feel like a "rabbit warren" that you could lose yourself in. Split into several rooms, including a lounge, dining area, wine bar and private room, the restaurants seats about 120 all up. Expect lots of velvet (both drapery and furnishings), along with dark timber veneer, herringbone floors and plush leather lounges — aka all those vintage steakhouse feels. Linking the space back to its home shores is the ornate wallpaper, which depicts native Australian flora and fauna. "It's a fun bit of 80s nostalgia," explains Bradey, who says the space is a throwback to a time when "the stock market was booming and everyone was wearing big puffy jackets". [caption id="attachment_751374" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dominic Loneragan[/caption] Overseeing the menu, which has its own notable throwbacks, is Bistecca Head Chef Pip Pratt. Taking inspiration from supper clubs and steakhouses, the menu heroes one dish: the Riverine black angus rib eye. Here, it's done three ways: chargrilled on-the-bone, a classic prime rib roast in either English cut (300 grams) or Gidley cut (700 grams) and a hard-to-come-by spinalis steak. "That fatty side of the rib eye is called the spinalis, and we've taken it off and are cooking it as its own standalone steak," say Bradey. "It's very rich, decadent and delicious." To finish your steak off, douse it in your choice of green goddess, confit garlic mustard or truffle, mushroom and burnt butter sauce. While the rib eye is the star of the show, unlike Bistecca, steak isn't the sole dish vying for your attention here. Other mains include whole grilled flounder with butter and lemon, brick chicken in a good old-fashioned British bread sauce and a savoury pumpkin pie that's layered with whipped goat's cheese and better resembles a lasagna. It wouldn't be a traditional steakhouse without a burger, either — this one has a double beef patty with cheddar, pickles and optional bacon and egg. There's also a raw bar serving up the likes of oysters, caviar and prawn cocktails for starters, plus heaps of sides and salads — expect mac 'n' cheese, potato gratin and caesar salad sit alongside broccolini with braised leek and shaved brussels sprouts. Desserts come with a bit of nostalgia, too, with the likes of pecan pie, raspberry cheesecake and bowls of chocolate and eucalyptus ice cream. Prefer drinking your desserts? Order the banana split old fashioned cocktail with ice cream-washed Jack Daniels and salted maple syrup. [caption id="attachment_751371" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dominic Loneragan[/caption] Since no steak is complete without a good glass of red, there's, thankfully, plenty of that. The extensive wine program is looked after by Bistecca's award-winning sommelier Alice Massaria, with the 13-page list featuring many well-made drops from many well-known brands, many of which are bio-dynamic and sustainable. Massaria's list also shines a light on female winemakers, with a special focus on Vanya Cullen of Cullen Estate. Bartender extraordinaire Jonothan Carr (Archie Rose, Kittyhawk, Door Knock, Burrow Bar) is pouring a "straight and stiff" array of batched and bottled cocktails. Expect all of your usual suspects and more creative options, including negronis for two and martinis served on silver trays. Other house specialties include toasted chamomile spritzes and a banana split old fashioned. Find The Gidley at 161 King Street, Sydney. It's open Tuesday–Saturday from 5.30pm–late and Friday 12–3pm. Images: Dominic Loneragan
When you have the golden beaches of Avoca, the famed pelicans of Woy Woy, lakes, waterfalls and historic landmarks all in one easy drive from Sydney, it's easy to see the appeal of spending the weekend in the Central Coast. Only an hour's drive, or a 90-minute train ride away, the Central Coast is renowned for its natural beauty — and with an ever developing food and drink scene, too, the area has all the escapism you could ask for in a brief getaway without having to forgo the comforts of a city lifestyle. Though you shouldn't pass up the opportunity to dive into the surf at Tallow Beach, picnic at Lobster Beach, or trek through Bouddi National Park, we think there are some unexpected gems you should add to your weekend hit list next time you cruise up the Pacific Highway. Take a look at these seven lesser known things to do on the Central Coast, from cruising for pearls to devouring epic s'mores. While regional holidays within NSW are now allowed, some of the places mentioned below may be operating differently due to COVID-19 restrictions. Please check websites before making any plans.
Surry Hills might not be the first place you expect to find an independent smokehouse, but By Kai is exactly that. Originally a stall at the Green Square Markets, this tiny hole-in-the-wall eatery located across the road from the Cricketers Arms Hotel is built around its in-house smoker, with every step taken to produce the highest quality smoked trout. The fish is sourced from the Snowy Mountains and delivered to By Kai in less than 24 hours. From there they're brined, filled with a sprig of rosemary and placed in the smoker where the magic happens, collecting flavour from the hickory pecan wood. Even the wood is locally-sourced and cut with a drop saw instead of a chainsaw in order to avoid contamination. The result is perfectly tender and smokey fish that's used for the restaurant's signature dish — a vibrant Thai noodle salad using herbs from the garden out the front, topped with the diligently prepared trout ($24.50). The salad is the biggest hit on the menu, which can be paired with your daily coffee or a bottle of sparkling yuzu soda ($5). Plus, By Kai is BYO ($5 corkage), so you can nab a spot out in the al fresco dining area and enjoy a spot of smoked trout with your favourite bottle of white wine. Other highlights of the menu include trout croquettes paired with a simple green apple salad and a smoked lemon mayo ($20.50) and the smoked beef toasty which presses swiss cheese, house pickles, tomato chutney and, of course, smoked beef between slices of sourdough ($19.50). There are also take-home provisions sitting up on the counter. As you're settling up, add a smoked lemon to your order which makes the perfect addition to a G&T or salad. Or, take home some prawn oil to spice up your midweek pasta recipe. You may catch By Kai smoked trout popping up at other places around Sydney, as well. The artisan smokehouse already supplies its goods to neighbouring wine bar Lokal, as well as Bang Tang in Potts Point and Bronte Road Bistro. [caption id="attachment_894655" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jarrad Shaw[/caption] Top image: Jarrad Shaw
