26 artists, 39 works and a sign of the visual arts calender getting into full swing, this show is a nice continuation of Brenda May Gallery's tradition of opening up each year with a sculpture survey show. Except on the viewing end one does not so much 'survey' as 'ooh and ahh', 'wonder how it is even possible for a person to do that', 'resist the temptation to check one's lipstick in the ones with reflective surfaces' and 'remember not to touch'. Sculpture explores materiality in a really important way: while any artwork (or any object) is possessed of thinghood, it's almost impossible for a sculpture to not be thoroughly metaphysical because the properties of how it has been made and what it has been made out of are foregrounded in how we make sense of it. Sculpture has potential to be both abstract and figurative at the same time, and this can be deployed to interesting ends. Oliver Tanner's Reclining Steel Figure, for instance, is what it says it is, but is so evocative in its lines as to create a real sense of human embodiment, and those two qualities stand (recline?) in a sort of syllogistic opposition. Or take Jimmy Rix's Stumpy, a truncated-looking chainsaw — stumpy in form — carved out of ironbark timber (a stump of it). Irony! Looking at sculpture is looking at the clever human ability to make things into and out of what they are not, requiring awareness of how shapes and materials and ideas all inform the way we understand what something is, and that what it is is what it means. And — honest! — it feels like a less convoluted project than I've described it as here when you're doing it.
Every February, Secret Garden Festival takes over a forest just outside Sydney with a 48-hour extravaganza of music, live performance, costumes, food and art. Central to the colour, action and frivolity is a collection of epic purpose-built installations, which, over the years, have ranged from a suspended stage inspired by a flying saucer to a kissing booth created with a chainsaw. Now, we can't tell you what to expect for the festival's upcoming 11th year — as is custom, the lineup won't be announced until tickets sell out and most of the other details remain a secret until the moment you arrive. But to show you why people turn up to this mysterious two-night disco each year, we're rewinding the clock to take a look at the wackiest of Secret Garden's installations over the last decade. See you at the kissing booth. THE KISSING BOOTH (2015) One thing's for sure: gardeners dig kissing. Set up at the 2015 shindig in an empty forest, the Kissing Booth attracted a constant and enthusiastic queue. Kissers could order items from a dedicated menu — such as a main of pash with a side of squeeze — on entering. The installation's popularity showed that gardeners were just as keen on participating as spectating, thereby paving the way for more interactive programming. The Kissing Booth was the creation of Max Downes, brother of Secret Garden founder Clare Downes, who agreed to build it on the condition he could use a chainsaw. HUMAN FOOSBALL (2016) Yep, this was as nuts as its name suggests. Using bamboo, Ned Long and the Bamboo Crew constructed foosball of human proportions in 2016. True to the game, all participants were tied to beams, which allowed only limited horizontal movement. Teams had to register in the lead-up to the festival and were part of an actual competition, which culminated in a grand final, trophies and dramatic thank you speeches. Whenever a match was in progress, powerful stadium lights provided illumination, making sure spectators didn't miss a second. APPLAUSE THEATRE (2016) Also part of 2016's celebrations was the Applause Theatre, which turned every single secret gardener into an unwitting performer. Placed at the festival's entrance, it was filled with, well, anyone and everyone who cheered, clapped and whooped as ticket holders arrived. Yep, it's a pretty simple idea, but an effective one — and stacks of fun. The theatre was designed and built by Fresh Prince Studio, a design company based in Sydney, whose recent projects include a tiny house for Unyoked and a hanging shade garden for The Squires Landing at the Overseas Passenger Terminal. CAMP QUEEN MOTEL (2017) If you're a die-hard secret gardener, you'll be familiar with Camp Queen. This stage, devoted to drag queens, has been at the heart of shenanigans for yonks. Last year, head honcho Joel De Sa decided to take things to the next level with Camp Queen Motel. This involved turned the stage into an installation that looked like accommodation. DJs spun tunes at a central reception desk, and, on checking into one of two rooms, guests discovered drag shows in full flight. HOUSEPARTY (2017 + 2018) For the last two years, Secret Garden has extended from the forest into four solid walls with Houseparty. This installation was set up exactly like your favourite neighbour's home, complete with a stereo that let you play your own music. As with all Secret Garden festivities, watching people immerse themselves to the point where reality and festival become blurred is half the fun. At one point, a gardener became the home owner's offspring and jumped atop a table: "My parents are going to freak when they come home!" Before long, a couple of equally immersed gardeners turned up at the door step in police uniforms and tried to shut the party down. COSMOTEQUE (2018) You might've experienced some wild dance floors in your short time on Earth, but none like Cosmoteque. Inspired by a flying saucer, this otherworldly structure was suspended from a tree during Secret Garden 2018, in the deep, deep dark of an old, old forest. Its total dedication to soul and disco had revellers dancing non-stop throughout the festival's 48-hour marathon. Cosmoteque was the creation of Olivia Luella and Six Finger Society. Secret Garden Festival 2019 is happening over the weekend of February 22–24. You can snap up tickets here.
Even speaking as a big West Wing fan I never expected to be hooked on a Danish political drama that hinged on delicate coalition negotiations and that educated me about Greenland. But that’s exactly what the three-year-old, UK-captivating, Danish drama Borgen manages to do. If you saw Daniel Day Lewis’s turn as Lincoln, you’d have some idea about how much drama can be twisted out of the politics of the middle ground. That film has a moment in which the future of the slavery debate hinges on one famously unswerving character’s ability to compromise. Will he or won’t he? Borgen gives its lead character that same moral dilemma and it spreads it over years. “Borgen” means “castle”, and is shorthand for the Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen where the Danish Parliament sits. The show follows Birgitte Nyborg (Sidse Babett Knudsen), the leader of a small political party, as she’s unexpectedly thrust into the role of Prime Minister (well, stats minister) at the head of a coalition government. Around her, in Denmark’s complex parliament, political rivals jockey — some are in her cabinet, some outside — a 7.30-style news shows keeps watch and her family gets slotted into her diary around it all. Both Aussie and British coalition experiences seem to inform the political setup, but the politics of the show are all Nyborg. Nyborg is no Gillard. On the day of the election, she bicycles to work. When her spin doctor offers her a game-changing leak from a shady connection to the government, she refuses. Later that night, her husband Philip (Mikael Birkkjær) offers to take their kids home from the election party. And he’s ok with that. Nyborg is the politician that we want. She’s the sort of politician we most likely already have, quietly, at many levels of government, but in Borgen we get to watch from behind the scenes. We see her wrestle with her own intentions, her “team of rivals” cabinet and the whole road to her political wrangling’s public results. But these compromises begin to take a toll on the forthrightness that propelled her to office in the first place. And, as time goes on, her marriage as well. Nyborg’s marriage isn't the typical TV marriage of a career woman in dilemma. In many ways, it’s the same marriage that TV has always reserved for men, only better drawn. Nyborg’s career so dominates her family’s life that her husband Philip sacrifices his own career to look after the kids. Their connection has a powerful warmth and consideration, which give real scary weight to the tensions as the pressure increases over the course of the series. So much so that, despite the arresting politics, news and betrayals, this layered portrait of marriage quickly becomes the centre of program. It’s a program that gives real vulnerability to its men, too. Philip's feelings are as much a focus of the show as Nyborg, and even Nyborg’s sharp, devious spin doctor, Kasper (Pilou Asbæk) shows a strongly vulnerable underside as the series progresses. It’s a vulnerability is made all the more powerful by exactly how bruising the Machiavellian politics in the show are. It's a politics that Nyborg, clear-talking compromiser though she is, has little hesitation wading into. Does that tip her over the edge into exactly the sort of political arrogance that typified her rivals as the show begins? That’s the work of the series. Watching the political and the personal in Borgen unfold is gripping. And, in Australia, it’s a balancing act that feels very, very real indeed. Borgen starts on SBS tonight, screening at 9.35pm on SBS1 and via SBS on demand. You can skip ahead via the ABC Shop DVD. Photographs by Mike Kollöffel, Courtesy of DR TV.
After Sydney Contemporary's massive opening night shindig at Carriageworks, don't head home just yet. Instead, come party with us. In partnership with Sydney Contemporary, we've organised an epic opening night after-party. As soon as the arty shenanigans wind up at Carriageworks, make your way to the Royal Hotel in Darlington just down the road. There, you'll find creative duo Prue Stent and Honey Long, who'll be travelling all the way from Melbourne to mesmerise you with their spontaneous art and performance, where femininity, playfulness and distortion interact. Aside from this spectacle, the evening will be soundtracked by a steady stream of beats provided by local DJ Bobby Gray. If you're a regular at the Royal, expect to see it as you haven't before: transformed into a creative wonderland. The action will kick on till midnight. Entry to Concrete Playground's Sydney Contemporary Opening Night Nightcap is free. All you have do is RSVP over here, so we know to expect you — even if we can't tell you exactly what to expect. Image: Robert Jahnke.
With Winter's Bone, Debra Granik directed one of the undoubted film highlights of 2010. More than that, she directed the haunting drama to four Oscar nominations, earned herself a nod for Best Adapted Screenplay, and helped put Jennifer Lawrence on the path to superstardom. And yet, it still took eight years for the masterly filmmaker to helm her next fictional feature — eight years where her empathetic perspective could've been brightening up cinemas. Blame the difficulties faced by female directors, projects falling by the wayside or the vagaries of fate; whichever you choose, the big screen has sorely missed her work. It's not just that Granik makes movies about American life on the margins, as her 2014 documentary Stray Dog also illustrates. What sets her films apart is her probing yet compassionate approach, not only spinning stories about struggling folks striving to get by, but ensuring that her pictures feel humane and authentic above all else. They're traits that are much more rare in today's blockbuster-heavy cinema realm than they really should be, and they help Granik's gentle, thoughtful work soar. While that was evident in Winter's Bone, it's even more apparent in Leave No Trace, an equally tender and devastating father-and-daughter effort that's handled with supreme sensitivity, shot with unwavering kindness and, as a result, proves one of the best movies of this year. Adapted by Granik and her Winter's Bone co-scribe Anne Rosellini from Peter Rock's novel My Abandonment, Leave No Trace takes its title from what might as well be military veteran Will (Ben Foster) and teenager Tom's (Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie) unspoken motto. Living well off the grid in an Oregon forest, their entire existence relies upon not being spotted. And, as long as they're able to enjoy their lives in the manner that they prefer, they're happy hiding out and keeping things simple. The local authorities soon have other plans, busting up their modest camp, arresting Will and forcing the pair to re-integrate into society. To her own surprise, Tom warms to more traditional confines, but her PTSD-afflicted dad can only stomach mod cons and social worker check-ups for so long. Where Winter's Bone coiled a coming-of-age tale around a bleak mystery, Leave No Trace steeps its story in lighter but no less meaningful waters. Both feature young women learning to survive in fraught circumstances; however, even given the films' thematic similarities, Granik's latest is its own textured, complicated and delicate creation. At the movie's core sits a familiar battle that's fleshed out in an intimate and heartbreaking fashion — the choice between following in the footsteps of someone you adore, or following your own wisdom even if it'll completely change your life forever. This is a film about breaking free and forging a new path on many levels (from trauma, from the prevailing concept of normality, from the structures enforced by a broken country and from the parent-child bond), and they're all expertly and intelligently intertwined. As also seems to be Granik's remit across her small oeuvre to date, Leave No Trace overflows with everyday detail. Thanks to the director's patient gaze, no moment of Will and Tom's lives is too small or insignificant. That's never more evident than when the movie hones its focus on revelatory New Zealander McKenzie, who demonstrates not only Granik's keen eye for observation, but for talent. Acting against the similarly exceptional Foster (who's in career-best form), the young star's seemingly effortless naturalism radiates from the screen, with a cocktail of potent emotions always emanating from her pores. Indeed, while Leave No Trace is visually sumptuous with its lush wilderness-set visuals, it's downright sublime when it's simply watching its two leads quietly encapsulate the effects of America's increasingly fractured society. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVkX1qAyMrY
Perhaps you'd like to celebrate simply getting to this point in this hectic year. Maybe you're pleased that restrictions keep easing and life slowly seems to be inching towards normality. Or, you could just really like frozen margaritas — especially when they'll only set you back $10 a pop. Whichever category you fall into, Surry Hills' vegan Mexican joint Bad Hombres has you covered with its Not Sober October special. Teaming up with Altos tequila, it's pouring the cheap beverages all day every day this month. In your marg, you'll be sipping Altos Blanco, triple sec, lime juice and agave syrup. If you'd like a spicy version, you can ask for some jalapeños or red chilli added to your drink, too. Bad Hombres is also serving up a new spring menu, because no one should be downing margaritas on an empty stomach. Dishes include jackfruit tacos, plus charred kale quesadillas — or there's always the the joint's trusty nachos with house 'cheddar cheese', black beans, pico de gallo, guacamole and cashew cream. Images: Jude Cohen.
The warmer months are here, and our bodies are ready to take our indoor fitness routines to the outside world. Think yoga. Think nature. Think combining the two for the perfect summer activity. As well as mixing up your usual vinyasa routine, doing yoga in natural environments has great benefits for mental health since it combines the benefits of exercise with the restorative effects of being in nature. But where can you realign those chakras outside? We're here to point you to a few golden outdoor spots to practice your asanas. We've also found a few teachers who'll help you through the moves, but these spots are also excellent for when you need a solo session with just you and nature. Either way, make sure to be sun safe and do your sun salutations from the shade when that fiery ball you're saluting is at its strongest (11am–3pm). A sunrise or sunset yoga practice is prime for avoiding peak UV time and for ensuring you aren't a total sweaty mess by the end of class. Whatever time of day you practice, though, make sure to apply that SPF 30+, wear some protective clothing and lay your mat in the shade. NARRABEEN SURF CLUB, NARRABEEN BEACH Nestled halfway up the Northern Beaches, Narrabeen Beach is one of the most consistently clean beaches in Sydney, partly due to local conservation efforts aimed at protecting the ecosystems where Narrabeen Lagoon meets the sea. Slop on that sunscreen, plonk your mat right down on the sand with Louise Kelly of Surfside Yoga, breathe in the fresh air and flow to the calming sound of the waves rolling in. As a bonus, you can often spot dolphins here, giving you the full David Attenborough yogi experience. Corner of Ocean and Albert streets, Narrabeen BONDI BEACH A sweeping view of Bondi Beach, the splash of salt spray, an outdoor lap pool on hand and an outdoor yoga sesh makes an ideal start to any day. Yoga By The Sea runs sunrise classes at the southern pocket of the world-famous beach on Tuesday and Friday mornings, with sessions focusing on strength, fitness and flexibility. Can't make it to Bondi? Classes also take place at Bronte, Manly and Freshwater. 1 Notts Avenue, Bondi Beach [caption id="attachment_852734" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joppe Spaa (Unsplash)[/caption] MANLY BEACH So, you've mastered yoga on land and you're looking for a new challenge? Look no further: Manly's Flow Mocean has just the ticket with its weekend stand-up paddleboarding yoga classes. Paddle out to the floating studio for a 60-minute class that promises a lighthearted yet challenging practice that caters to just about any fitness and experience level. Prefer to stay on land? Flow Mocean also offers kayak yoga — no, it's not yoga on a kayak, but rather taking a kayak from Manly Kayak Centre Wharf to a secluded beach where you'll have a class on sand before taking a refreshing ocean dip afterwards. [caption id="attachment_852737" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hopefilmphoto (Unsplash)[/caption] YOGA IN THE PARK Health, happiness and community are at the heart of the mission of registered charity Live Life Get Active. Its online and IRL fitness workshops welcome people from all walks of life to stay healthy and active, with classes led by professional trainers. The charity offers regular yoga classes in parks throughout Sydney, from Cronulla to Castle Hill, offering yogis of all experience and fitness levels a chance to practice outdoors. The best part? All classes are absolutely free. If you are looking for more places to feel a sense of connection in New South Wales, head to visitnsw.com.
This October long weekend, spend a sunny afternoon at the The Vic Enmore's dog show "for the inner west's mutts and mongrels", hosted by charismatic comedian and dog-lover David Williams. Enjoy a day of snags, schooners and riotous laughter as Sydney's crafty canines face challenging obstacle courses, whilst primped pups compete for the title of cutest dog. There'll be a variety of other categories — including 'most disobedient dog', 'biggest dog' and 'lookalike - dog and owner' — and plenty of prizes up for grabs. Fun extras include a polaroid photo booth and a kid's jumping castle. Also, DJ Jack Shit, DJ Meem and Propaganda DJs will be spinning tunes from 11am until late. It's free to attend, though there's a $5 registration fee for the comp, which goes directly to Pet Rescue, a charity close to Vic co-owner Paddy Coughlan’s heart. His loveable pooch Max was adopted from the charity and subsequently inspired the pub's new logo. Come along for a barking good time. Photo credit: Jelly Dude via photopin cc
If the inside of a yoga studio is your kind of calm, then you'll be all sorts of pleased to know that one of Melbourne's primo yoga studios has made the move up north. One Hot Yoga & Pilates will open its doors at 34 Kellett Street, Potts Point this Saturday — and to mark the occasion, they're holding a whole weekend of free classes. Yes, we said free yoga, so get your mat out and start stretching. The classes will run all day on both Saturday, February 27 and Sunday, February 28, and will cover off most of the different classes that will be available once the timetable starts up proper. Choose from reformer Pilates, a power flow at 27 degrees or a slow hot flow at a slightly steamier 37 degrees, amongst others. Just be sure to book online in advance. One Hot Yoga was first opened in Melbourne back in 2012 by husband and wife team, architect Rob Mills and yogi Lucinda Mills. The Sydney studio is housed in a 1930s art deco building and, as you would expect from an architect, the space is set to look pretty sweet. So even if you just want to have a bit of a stickybeak — this is the time to do it.
When Song Kang-ho hasn't been starring in Bong Joon-ho's films, he's been featuring Park Chan-wook's and Kim Jee-woon's, plus Lee Chang-dong's and Hong Sang-soo's as well. One of Korea's acting greats boasts a resume filled with the country's directing greats — so getting the Memories of Murder, The Host, Thirst, Snowpiercer and Parasite star, plus Joint Security Area, Sympathy for Mr Vengeance, Lady Vengeance and Secret Sunshine talent, to play a filmmaker for his The Good the Bad the Weird and The Age of Shadows filmmaker feels like perfect casting even before Cobweb starts spinning its reels. Song's career highlights are already many, complete with a Cannes Best Actor Award for working with Japan's Hirokazu Kore-eda in Broker. Here, he's reliably and rakishly charming in a movie-making ode and on-set farce. For his own director Kim, Song plays a director Kim — but on-screen version Kim Ki-yeol is living in the 70s, and also in a rut. Once an assistant to a famed and acclaimed helmer who has passed away, now he's openly mocked by critics for his trashy fare in one of Cobweb's first scenes. He's made most of a masterpiece, however, or so he believes. The only thing that's required to ensure it's a complete classic is two more days to undertake re-shoots. His film is meant to be finished, but he's adamant that the cast and crew reteam (and his producer foot the bill) to ensure that the creative visions that keep haunting his dreams can become a feted triumph. Convincing everyone that he needs to isn't the only tricky feat, with challenges upon challenges unspooling the longer that the fictional Kim and his colleagues spend bustling. Also involved amid the lights, cameras and action: Shinseong Film Studio's Chairwoman Baek (Jang Young-nam, Project Wolf Hunting), who's hardly enamoured with Kim's new plan; Mido (Jeon Yeo-been, Glitch), the heir to his mentor's company; and actors Min-ja (Lim Soo-jung, Melancholia), Ho-se (Oh Jung-se, Revenant), Yu-rim (Jung Soo-jung, Crazy Love) and Madam Oh (Park Jung-soo). Cue doubts, shaky promises, unexpected alliances, philandering, secret pregnancies, squabbles about prominence, allergies to fake blood, fires, stars trying to juggle shooting the movie and a TV drama, and a supporting actor so wedded to stepping into a detective's shoes that he's deducing on the side between takes. It's an anything-that-can-go-wrong-will situation, and equal in careening chaos to two other recent behind-the-scenes filmmaking comedies: One Cut of the Dead and remake Final Cut, just without the zombies and single-shot gimmick. In both that 2017 Japanese hit and its 2022 French do-over, a commitment to keep filming and making art regardless of the cost thrashed around the picture as heartily as the flesh-eating undead. Courtesy of a script co-written with Shin Yeon-shick (1seung), Kim Jee-woon's characters share that determination without such pronounced life-or-death stakes. Bringing a cinematic reverie to fruition is a leap of faith, as Cobweb understands. When it works, it's not just magic but alchemy. "Here's to the ones who dream" might've been crooned by Emma Stone in La La Land rather than in this fellow tribute to that dream, but the sentiment fits. While Cobweb finds plenty of amusement in the on-screen Kim's madcap last-dash scramble to make the motion picture he'll always be known for, it also respects the passion, yearning, gumption and quest. There may be no shuffling masses to contend with, but there are movie-chomping censors who must approve every element that's destined to grace celluloid. For Song's Kim, zombies might've been nicer to deal with. The all-business Baek is all about toeing the line. Without the censors' tick, not a frame will reach audiences — and careers can crumble via blacklisting, too. Kim won't compromise on his tour de force, except that the whole whirlwind reshoot is a constant exercise in compromise. As various solutions spring up to stop the authorities' interference, including persuading them that the new ending will give them an "anti-communist film", setting Cobweb five decades back is a choice with meaning. Harking back to the days when South Korean cinema IRL was at the mercy of the state under the Yusin system rather than truly driven by artists, the film applauds the dedication and the hustle that sees any picture exist, and especially one under such circumstances. Cobweb's cast also deserve praise, with Song unsurprisingly chief among them, as he tends to be in whatever he's in. His selling task is twofold: swaying the production-within-a-production's on- and off-screen players to give their all to crafting his movie the way that it dances through his head, and whether or not it seems to make even a bit of sense; and getting Cobweb's audience invested not just in the madcap mania that Kim Jee-woon can't stop embracing, but emotionally. His co-stars are also up to going along for the ride, particularly Jeon as Kim's co-conspirator in pulling the whole gambit off. Both Song and Jeon get moments as actors playing actors, when Kim and Mido's respective fervour sees them resolved to step in front of the camera to guarantee the performances they want. He's best known for A Tale of Two Sisters, A Bittersweet Life and I Saw the Devil, but Kim Jee-woon is no stranger to dark comedy, as he eagerly plies here. His regular cinematographer Kim Ji-yong, who has been working with the director on and off since A Bittersweet Life, is equally acquainted with lavish lensing — and while Cobweb isn't as ravishing as his efforts on Park Chan-wook's 2022 stunner Decision to Leave (because almost nothing is), it remains an arresting sight as it flits from the black-and-white of Kim Ki-yeol's noir-esque Hitchcock-meets-soap opera flick to the retro period sheen of his existence. Don't go expecting to know exactly what the on-screen Kim is so feverish about, though. His counterpart splashes around the OTT movie inside the movie in fits and bursts, but it suits. Believing that Song's Kim believes in it is easy in a film this savvy, entertaining and adept at weaving its many strands.
It's hard to get a true snapshot of a place you're holidaying in when you don't have a friend who lives there to show you around. The Margaret River region presents its own unique set of challenges — with over 150 wineries and six days' worth of stunning coastal walking track, you're just not going to get to do it all are you? We've teamed up with Pullman Hotels and Resorts to bring you a guide to Margaret River that you can do in a few days, and that should leave you feeling like you really got to know the area. (If you ever decide to leave, that is. You do realise it's a food and wine mecca with a boho beach vibe that's long been punching above its weight in the culturescape, right?) Putting our heads together with Pullman Bunker Bay ambassador Shane Hilder — a creative consultant, entrepreneur and passionate amateur photographer who shot the most stunning images in this article — we've curated a list of ten must-dos that will expose you to Margaret River's many strengths. They range from a brewery in a dairy farm to a beach beloved for its stingrays, because the southwest of this country has no room for ordinary, apparently. Check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. FOOD & DRINK [caption id="attachment_643873" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Larry Cherubino winery[/caption] MARGARET RIVER WINERIES You didn't come all this way, to one of Australia's premier wine-growing regions, not to taste a truckload of wine. Plenty of tour operators offer group trips that will help you blitz a selection of the area's more than 150 cellar doors. Alternatively, sort your own car or bike and follow an itinerary of your own invention. Taking responsible service of alcohol to heart, several of the wineries also have strong food offerings that will more than line your stomach. Cullen Wines and Vasse Felix (the region's first winery, dating back 50 years) are two estates with excellent restaurants, while Woodlands Wines has some of the best reds in the region. Don't miss: The brand spanking new cellar door at Larry Cherubino. The former head winemaker at Houghton, Larry started producing wines under his own label in 2005 and has just opened a cellar door in Wilyabrup. METRICUP'S BEER FARM Right in the midst of Margaret River's zoned agricultural area is this brewery, recently converted from a working dairy farm, and with cows still roaming its fields. The Beer Farm's old creamy is now an entrance, and the roundhouse where the cows were milked is the brewhouse, but you'll spend most of your time in the old hay shed — which has been transformed into a bar filled with handmade wood benches, chesterfield couches and floor-to-ceiling murals. An atmosphere of casual fun pervades the whole space (pinball machines, lawn games and footy posts help kick that along), and you can get a good feed from the on-site food truck. Don't miss: Their lovely cloudy cider, made from local Manjimup apples. THE GOOSE BEACH BAR & KITCHEN The main attraction of The Goose is its position at the start of the Busselton Jetty — the longest timber piled jetty in the southern hemisphere. The views from here out over the waters of Geographe Bay will make you Zen out so deeply you could forget to eat. Though, don't — it's all local southwest produce here, whipped into comforting cafe classics. Start your day with eggs any which way, the house granola with coconut yoghurt, or a more adventurous salmon pastrami and 63-degree egg on rye. Don't miss: Walking off a meal on Busselton Jetty — it stretches nearly 2 kilometres into the ocean, with an underwater observatory at the end. MARGARET RIVER FARMERS MARKETS Is there anything more pleasing than a farmers market in an actual farming area? Everything is so damn fresh, it's practically still growing, and the people manning the stall are the actual growers. On every Saturday morning at the Margaret River Education Campus, this farmers market has been running for more than 13 years. It's where residents do their weekly shop, producers test out their new creations, and visitors go to try out everything from regional honey and olive oil to kimchi and kombucha. It's only about 50 stalls, but the good vibes are disproportionately huge. Don't miss: Having a coffee by local roastery Yahava and a plate of Má Là dumplings — made in the northern Chinese style but stuffed with the produce of Australia's southwest. WELLBEING & LEISURE [caption id="attachment_643870" align="aligncenter" width="1980"] by Shane Hilder[/caption] HAMELIN BAY Two words: Friendly. Stingrays. These guys just love swimming around the jetty here and don't care if you hop in the water with them. While patting and feeding of the rays isn't strictly encouraged, people often do it anyway, so just use your common sense and be respectful. Otherwise, Hamelin Bay is great for swimming, walks or just some solid lolling around. The beach is open to the northwest, so skip it if it's a windy day and opt for somewhere more secluded. There's a reason 11 vessels have been shipwrecked here over the centuries. Don't miss: On the plus side, that's 11 sites to explore if you've got a snorkel or scuba gear. [caption id="attachment_643871" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Shane Hilder[/caption] CANAL ROCKS While you're in Margaret River, you've got to do a section of the Cape to Cape Track — the 140 kilometre coastal path from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin that take about six days to walk in whole. A good segment to pick is around Yallingup, as it means you can take in the Canal Rocks. Waves have eroded a narrow path through the rocks in this headland over time, and watching the waters roar through it now is transfixing viewing. Unlike many other coastal spots, this one is great when the seas are rough, as the force of the waves is accentuated. There's a boardwalk over the rocks so you can get up close. You can swim around here too, but — need it be said — use caution. Don't miss: Watching the sunset from here over the Indian Ocean. If you're used to east-coast sunrises, you've been missing out on a world of colour. MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL Margaret River is betting that interest in mountain biking will continue to boom — it's apparently planning 500 kilometres in new trails in the coming years. There's already plenty there, winding through the region's famous jarrah and karri forests, with options for riders of all levels. Beginners can try the 10 Mile Brook track, following the Margaret River for some 15–20 kilometres, with an option to detour to the Colonial Brewery for lunch. Advanced riders might be more drawn to the Creek Trails, which include some sharp descents and what Margaret River Tourism terms the "flowy magic dirt" of Goobers Pool. Check their website for more tracks. Don't miss: Fat biking on the beach with The Margaret River Adventure Co. The oversized tyres mean your bike won't sink into the sand and it's actually fun. [caption id="attachment_643648" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Shane Hilder[/caption] BUNKER BAY One of the many excellent beaches along the southwest coast, Bunker Bay has the advantage of being relatively sheltered from the winds of the Indian Ocean. You'll only ever be facing smallish waves, which makes it a great spot for swimming and snorkelling. Fishing is also permitted in this area. Pullman ambassador Shane Hilder also rates this area for its photographic opportunities, especially the "forever-changing" characteristics of its afternoon versus morning light. Don't miss: A post-swim meal at Pullman Bunker Bay's restaurant The Other Side of the Moon (the name comes from a nearby surf break), which focuses on local ingredients like Manjimup truffle, Cape Naturaliste beef, and line-caught fish. ART & DESIGN RED CLOUD ART SPACE Opened in 2012 in Yallingup, Red Cloud Art Space is a gallery with two artists' studios attached. It's also the place you're most likely to find non-wine gifts for friends and family back home, as it brings a contemporary, minimal and accessible style to the Margaret River scene. Works on sale here range from WA artist Lisa Payton's abstracted and textural mixed-media canvases capturing the ocean hitting rocks (which hit around the $1000 mark) to individually handcrafted ceramic flowers by Perth's Bronwen Holding (which start at just $3). Don't forget to poke your head into the studios and watch the resident artists at work. Don't miss: Quarterly event Kaleidoscope. There's live music and drinks alongside displays of the latest work by Red Cloud artists, and your donation at the door goes to a chosen charity. MARGARET RIVER GALLERY If your budget stretches slightly higher, or you just want to get a look at some of the best contemporary art in the state, head to Margaret River Gallery. Located on Charles West Avenue in Margaret River town proper, this light and bright gallery focuses on works by leading WA practitioners and emerging artists, but it also catches some interstate names in its net. Look out for objects by local studio Melting Pot Glass, the oceanscape photography of Tony Warrilow, and poetic, migration-themed small sculptures by Lesley Whitham. Don't miss: The great jewellery selection by WA artists — clever, contemporary and not-too-exxy designs that make a great treat for someone (especially yourself). Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
Ever wanted something other than a beer to go with your burger on a Friday night? Or wondered which bev would pair well with the ramen you get delivered from UberEats? Well, the answer is wine. It doesn't just go well with steak or cheese — it goes down a treat with any number of foods. You just have to know which wine to choose. It's all about balance. A successful pairing creates a symbiotic relationship between the dish and the wine, and neither element will overpower the other. This can be achieved by picking a flavour in both the wine and the dish that you wish to enhance — this will create a connection between the dish and what you're drinking. A basic example is smoke; when you pair barbecued or chargrilled beef with a red wine that has a smoky element to its bouquet, it's going to enhance that flavour in both things. It makes for a cohesive dining experience that begins with the first bite of food and continues with a sip of wine. The other rule to remember is that acid and tannin (that's the 'puckering' feeling in the mouth when you drink a wine) break down protein in food — it's why your folks love a Barossa Shiraz or Coonawarra Cabernet when they're eating roast lamb on a Sunday. And don't forget to experiment with flavours and matches — it's how you'll get better at it. My only word of caution is to always take into consideration the weight of the wine that you plan to match with your dish, as a lighter, more aromatic wine can tend to get lost in a dish that is a heavier style of protein (and vice versa). To get you started, we've done the hard work (that is, the eating and drinking) to come up with the best Aussie wine pairings for some unconventional dishes. RAMEN AND ROSÉ Now that we're heading into winter, there will be more soups and broths on the agenda — and the king of liquid-based meals is, of course, ramen. However, ramen comes in all different flavours and styles (miso vs. broth, pork vs. tofu, black garlic vs. chilli, or all of the above) making it hard to pinpoint which style of wine to pair with it. Which is why Rosé is your hero — it comes in all different flavours and styles and has just enough fruit character to counteract the varying degrees of chilli in ramen. Side note: don't be fooled by the colour of the wine, as not all deeper-coloured Rosés are automatically sweet. Some have bolder fruit flavours with a dry finish, and for those of you who load up their ramen with every type of chilli, a more fruit-driven rose may just be your saviour. In one sentence: No matter your style of ramen, a fruity style of rose will create a nice counterbalance to any chilli or salt-driven flavours. Good if you like: Bold flavours, strawberries, sitting in the warm autumn sun when there's just a slight chill in the air. One to try: 2016 Vignerons Schmolzer and Brown 'Pret-a-Rosé' (Sangiovese, Pinot Noir and Shiraz), Beechworth, Victoria. FRIED CHICKEN AND PINOT NOIR One of the biggest mistakes you can make when pairing wine is thinking that you have to match red wine with red meat and white wine with white meat. Not true. If you work on the principle that you're matching flavour with flavour, the possibilities for food and wine matching become exponential. Fried chicken is a great dish to experiment with a lighter or aromatic style of red, like Pinot Noir or Cabernet Franc. You just need something with enough tannin structure to break down some of the protein of the chicken, a touch of acid to freshen the palate and counteract the grease, and something with a bit of spice to complement or enhance the seasoning on the chicken. In one sentence: A lighter red like a Pinot Noir will give a bit of freshness to the dense protein of fried chicken — and if the winemaker has used whole bunch to create a savoury element in the wine, this will pair nicely will the spices in the seasoning. Good if you like: Cranberry sauce on your turkey at Christmas time or like experimenting with flavours in the kitchen. One to try: 2016 Mallaluka Pinot Noir, Canberra District, NSW. CHEESEBURGER AND SPARKLING A vintage sparkling wine (particularly one from our spiritual home of sparkling, Tasmania) and a great burger is one of my all-time favourite food and wine pairings. The crunch of a toasted brioche bun with the smokiness of the grilled meat and a creamy bit of cheddar cheese is perfect paired with a sparkling wine — particularly one that has similar toasty flavours but the same backbone of acidity. This will refresh your palate after each greasy (but delicious) bite. In one sentence: Bring an element of luxury to your next takeaway burger with a sparkling wine — the toasty notes in the sparkling will pair with the bun and the acid will cut through the greasiness of the burger. Good if you like: Well, if you're human with tastebuds, you will love this pairing. One to try: 2007 Arras Blanc de Blancs, Tasmania. GOLDEN GAYTIME AND CHARDONNAY Desserts are often the hardest thing to create a pairing for as sugar tends to coat and dominate the palate. Find something with acid (like a late harvest Riesling) or a more delicate style of dessert wine (like a fortified wine or Mistelle) that isn't going to be cloyingly sweet on the palate (just avoid anything that has Botrytis on the label at all costs). Try sweet dishes paired with a lighter, fresher style of wine with citrus flavours and white floral notes, like a Chardonnay, so that the palate is refreshed at the end of the dessert. In one sentence: Sugar + sugar = avoid. Good if you like: Caramel and honeycomb flavours — basically anyone with a sweet tooth. One to try: Bremerton Mistelle fortified Chardonnay, Langhorne Creek, SA. POKÉ BOWL AND RIESLING Like Bert and Ernie and Vegemite and cheese, there are some pairings that are sacrosanct. Riesling and seafood is one such pairing that works every time — in particular with creamier or oilier fish like tuna, kingfish and salmon that you would find in a poké bowl. The floral layers of Riesling (in particular ginger blossom) would work harmoniously with this dish too, as they would pick up on the subtle ginger, miso or sesame characters you might have in your bowl. In one sentence: A creamier or oily fish paired with a bright and acid-driven Riesling is a classic pairing. Good if you like: Squirting lemon on your fish and chips before devouring it. One to try: 2016 Ochota Barrels 'Kids of the Black Hole' Riesling, Adelaide Hills, SA. Celebrate all types of Australian wine by getting involved with Aussie Wine Month over May — there will be events and tasting opportunities all over the country. Images: Kimberley Low.
To think of Double Bay is to picture beautiful young people at the Sheaf and old rich people everywhere else. However, 'Dubs' is in the midst of a fascinating revival. First those beautiful young people, perhaps tired of waiting for cabs outside the Sheaf, decided to stay on and live there. Inevitably the retail and eating spots quickly followed, and that's where Indigo fits in. Situated in the picturesque Transvaal Avenue, Indigo has a European cafe vibe complete with year-round alfresco dining. The tables on the pedestrian island are the most sought after when the sun's out, which is almost always - thanks Sydney! It's especially popular as a brunch or lunch spot, and you can expect to wait a little for a table on weekends. That said, they get you seated quickly and serve you even faster without ever making you feel rushed to finish. In fact, service is one of their real strengths. The team is young, friendly and very switched on. Morning favourites include the generously portioned Breakfast Bruschetta ($19.90), Bircher Muesli ($14.90) and Fluffy Ricotta Pancakes ($17.90), while the extensive lunch menu offers countless crowd-pleasers, such as the Pan Roasted Wagyu Beef Burger ($21.90), Roasted Butternut Pumpkin, Prawn and Pancetta Linguini ($29.90) and the Lemon Marinated Chicken Salad ($23.90), with avocado, Persian fetta, pine nuts and baby spinach. Everything's prepared on-site and the freshness comes through no matter what you order. Then there's the coffee, which is so good it deserves its own paragraph. Blended in-house, it has a light to medium roast and is hands down amongst the best you'll find in Sydney. We dare you to stop after just one. Phenomenal coffee, outstanding service and unavoidable food envy. Indigo ticks all the right boxes.
As summer draws nearer we all feel that urge to GTFO of the city, and when the weather heats up sometimes all we want to do is eat oysters on the Great Ocean Road or blast out summery tunes on the way to a three-day music festival. The list of cool, boutique festivals seems to get longer and more varied, so we've picked out seven regional festivals that we think are worth the drive not only for the main event, but also for the cute country towns and rolling vineyards they inhabit — from grape harvests in the Granite Belt of Queensland to family-friendly music festivals in country New South Wales. Before you head out on a long drive, make sure you're doing it in comfort. MG's new limited-edition MG3S hatchback has ample luggage space (perfect for three-day camping festivals), rear camera and parking sensors (to help you nab that last parking spot) and an AppleCarPlay system (for that podcast binge). Start planning your journey to these seven events below.
Across the 92-year history of the Oscars, only five women have ever been nominated for the Best Director award. Only one has won, too, with Kathryn Bigelow emerging victorious in 2009 for The Hurt Locker. Indeed, if anyone needs a reminder that gender inequality is still a big issue in the film industry, the situation at the Academy Awards paints a strong picture. When it comes to what viewers watch, one new streaming service is attempting to push more female filmmakers to the fore — and more movies and shows both starring and about women, too. Called Femflix, it has just launched in Australia and New Zealand with a growing catalogue of titles, all of which feature a female-identifying creative as its director, producer, writer, cinematographer or lead protagonist. The aim, obviously, is to support and champion stories about women and made by women — with Femflix developed to promote gender balance, tear down stereotypes and showcase a wide variety of female characters on-screen. And if you think that the timing is perfect for a women-focused streaming platform following the emergence of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, that's exactly what helped inspired the service. Among its launch catalogue, audiences Down Under can watch local films such as 52 Tuesdays, Strangerland, Tracks, Strange Colours and Waru, international flicks including Julieta, The Third Wife and Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts, plus star-studded cinema releases from the past few years like Suffragette, Madame Bovary and Testament of Youth. Or, you check out thrillers such as Compliance, sci-fi films like Before We Vanish and documentaries including I Am No Bird, Janis: Little Girl Blue and The Song Keepers. Offering free 3o-day trials, and costing $8.99 per month afterwards, Femflix can be streamed online, including via Chromecast and Airplay, with video apps for smart TVs under development. The new service arrives at a busy time for new streaming and online viewing services, with 2020 not only seeing everyone spend more time watching things at home, but giving viewers more to watch — including the launch of horror streamer Shudder Down Under, the global launch of short-form platform Quibi, the debut of architecture and design-focused platform Shelter, and cinemas including Palace in Australia and Roxy in New Zealand releasing their own pay-per-view options. For more information about Femflix — and to sign up — visit the streaming platform's website.
Good news, CBD goers: Frango is dishing up its iconic Portuguese fare from its Kent Street spot. If you're in the mood for charcoal-grilled chicken, this little laneway will have you sorted. This CBD spot was previously home to a popular Nandos joint but has since scored a vibrant, green, red, and yellow-hued revamp in true Frango fashion. Frangos has been serving up delicious eats since 1989 across the city. This CBD spot marks the family-owned business's 12th location and the first-ever inner-city location. The cult-favourite institution prides itself on offering a Portuguese-inspired menu that goes beyond the familiar classics. At this inner-city outpost, you'll find all of the affordable Frango favourites you know and love, from its renowned chicken burgers paired with crispy chips and juicy grilled chicken coated in a Portuguese spice blend to Frangos' iconic chilli sauce that's earned an 'unspoken staple' status. Plus, there are even handmade creamy Portuguese tarts and a decadent chocolate mousse to satiate those post-feed sweet cravings. And to top things off, you're guaranteed to enjoy that beloved signature taste in every flavour-packed bite, as the brand's director, Luis Fernandes, keeps a close eye on its crowd-pleasing eats. Whether you're after some succulent chook before or after knocking back some cocktails, looking to level up your sad desk lunch or a convenient feed for the family, you can rely on this eatery's prime location to sort you out. If you're in the mood for some drinks post-chicken-feed, Frangos Kent Street is just across from stellar cocktail bars, including PS40, Vinabar, Papa Gede's and Since I Left You.
You've heard the old adage that it's the little things in life that make us happy, right? Well, something as simple as a cheap but damn fine coffee certainly fits that bill — and given that new cafe Little Evie Redfern roasts theirs in house and charges an affordable $3 per cup, they must agree. Setting up shop on Bourke Street, the inner west's latest boutique coffee spot will satisfy your daytime caffeine cravings every day or the week. They'll also serve up homemade cakes to go with it, because taking care of business on the premises is what this new eatery is all about. Fancy a just-baked peanut butter cookie with your fresh-roasted cuppa, anyone? If you're after something more substantial food-wise, expect banana bread with ricotta and strawberry, breakfast bruschetta with horizon and haloumi, and lemon myrtle-cured salmon with scrambled eggs on Little Evie's all-day brekkie menu. Lunchtime options include sandwiches, salads, burgers and soups, aka the perfect kind of homemade fare. And if you're not a coffee fiend — because they do exist — then jugs of house-made soda, six types of cold-pressed juices, a range of shakes and smoothies, a sizeable wine and choice of four Aussie beers should satisfy your thirst.
If your ideal Sunday is resembles something out of a Fitzgerald novel, then you might want to ‘roll on’ over to Vaucluse House. On November 3, the historic estate in the harbourside suburb of Vaucluse is open for (over-18s only) play. So dress in your Sunday best and ride a vintage double-decker bus from the city to this gothic revival mansion and enjoy a leisurely day of lawn games, live music and picnicking with Pimms. If that’s not enough to entertain you for five hours, guests can take bookbinding workshops or enjoy cooking classes and tastings from colonial gastronomer Jacqui Newling. ‘Roll on’ is part of a program of Sydney Living Museums events surrounding the Eat Your History exhibition that offer gastronomic experiences inspired by Sydney’s historic homes, gardens, and kitchens. They’ve partnered with Wildwon Projects to host Roll On and later on in February, Stories from the Cellar at Elizabeth Bay House. History buffs and leisure lovers alike are welcome. Not sure what to wear? Check out their vintage-inspired pin board for inspiration.
Mike Leigh (Vera Drake, Happy Go Lucky) has done it again. With his singular, devastatingly incisive view from the kitchen sink, Leigh has stuck at the very heart of what it is to experience love, loneliness and that benign jealousy that comes from witnessing contentment. To set the scene Leigh calls on his Vera Drake lead Imelda Staunton, who in harsh close up delivers a stunningly raw performance as a woman seeking a cure for insomnia, yet one resolutely unwilling to broke any psychological inquiry. This stunning, severe prologue calibrates the film's emotional barometer as Leigh navigates humanity's highs and lows with a clear and compassionate eye. Divided into the four seasons, Another Year centres on the unadorned but happy marriage of Tom (Jim Broadbent) and Gerri (Ruth Sheen), who have a warm relationship with their grown son Joe (Oliver Maltman) and a modest garden allotment in which they routinely potter about. They'll often invite friends over to share in their bounty, which is how Mary (Lesley Manville) and Ken (Peter Wight) feature in their lives. But as easy-going and well rounded as Tom and Gerri are, Ken and especially Mary are not. Theirs are lives of silently screaming desperation, which throws Tom and Gerri's happiness into brutally sharp relief. Given a firm foundation by Broadbent and Sheen, Lesley Manville absolutely steals the show. It's an extraordinary, transfixing performance, not unlike a car crash at times as Mary runs roughshod over boundaries in an attempt to bask a little longer in the warmth of Tom and Gerri's (and even Joe's) affection. The film is often like being trapped at the most painfully awkward dinner party, which is the source of as much dark humour as pathos. So while outwardly it might seem like not a lot goes down in Another Year, Leigh's unobtrusive filming reveals volumes about the nature of friends and family. Part cautionary tale (heaven forefend that you're a 'Mary'!), part heart-warming tribute, Leigh has weaved together this patchwork of personalities and masterfully crafted Another Year into one of 2011's cinematic gems. https://youtube.com/watch?v=cm-mfxOiUXI
With summer finally approaching, it's time to do some serious defrosting. Although you may not exactly jet off overseas to warm up on some European beach, you can spend a few days soaking up the balmy temperatures and idyllic coastline of Queensland's aptly named Sunshine Coast. Just two and a half hours north of Brisbane, the world-famous destination of Noosa and its surrounds are brimming with gorgeous beach houses and coastal retreats for those seeking sun and surf. Beach sessions, rainforest treks and breezy holiday vibes await. We've done the hard work for you and rounded up a list of the most beautiful coastal stays you can book in Noosa right now. Pick a favourite, pack those bathers and get ready to launch into summer with a blissful beach adventure. Recommended reads: The Best Dog-Friendly Stays in Queensland The Best Hotels in Brisbane The Best Glamping Sites in Queensland The Best Island Stays in Queensland Newly Furnished Apartment, Noosa Heads This breezy light-filled apartment sits just minutes from the heart of Noosa, and features a chic white colour palette and downstairs pool. From $300 a night, sleeps six. Kamala Villa, Noosa Heads Rocking a fresh, playful aesthetic and featuring a spacious entertainer's deck, this modern villa is an ideal setting for your next beachside escape. From $450 a night, sleeps six. Lush Noosa Heads Retreat, Noosa Heads Just a quick stroll off the beach, this luxury resort apartment makes for a chic couples' hideaway. Enjoy sundowners on the patio, overlooking lush rainforest. From $500 a night, sleeps two. Chic Coastal Escape, Noosa Heads A retro-inspired beach escape with loads of natural light and a sun-drenched patio for lounging — all just minutes from Hastings Street. From $250 a night, sleeps four. Fairshore Apartment 38, Noosa Heads Want to stay smack bang on Noosa beach? This freshly renovated apartment boasts close-up ocean views and an incredible beachfront pool. From $668 a night, sleeps two. Spectacular Penthouse, Noosa Heads You'll love this luxury holiday villa's sunny pool and deck area; however, nothing beats the rooftop terrace featuring panoramic ocean views. From $904 a night, sleeps six. Noosa Escape, Noosa Heads Soak up sparkling ocean views from this light-filled Noosa Heads apartment, while enjoying a primo balcony and an enviable location just a short walk from the beach. From $693 a night, sleeps four. Little Cove Family Beach House, Noosa Heads Spacious and stylish, this pet-friendly holiday home backs right onto a lush national park — and it's just a quick hop from Little Cove Beach. From $950 a night, sleeps eight. The Beach House, Noosa Heads Featuring a gorgeous pool, private tennis court and crisp coastal aesthetic, this leafy beach retreat was simply made for vacationing. From $1178 a night, sleeps eight. Little Cove Magic, Noosa Heads This light-flooded holiday apartment overlooks the ocean, while being handily located close to all the action — so you can split your days between beach, balcony and pool. From $788 a night, sleeps four. Acacia Villa, Noosa Heads Located just beyond the buzz of Hastings Street, this breezy townhouse makes for a supreme coastal retreat. Expect chic styling and tranquil leafy surrounds. From $580 a night, sleeps six. Poinciana House, Noosa Heads Between the beautifully appointed interiors, covetable location, and sun-drenched pool and deck, this blissful beach retreat is bound to impress. From $1093 a night, sleeps ten. Images: Courtesy of Airbnb FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
It added booze to bowling, turned mini-golf courses into bars, and gave mashing buttons and hitting the arcade an alcohol-fuelled makeover as well. That'd be Funlab — and, if you like indulging your inner kidult over a few drinks, odds are that you've hit up its venues such as Strike, Holey Moley, Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq, and B Lucky and Sons over the past few years. That's the company's remit, after all: taking the kinds of activities that you enjoyed back when you weren't old enough to knock back cocktails, then adding the hard stuff. And, that's exactly what it's doing at Hijinx Hotel, its next venture. No, you can't stay there — but the world-first concept will see you hanging out in a space that's been decked out like a hotel, and then solving mental and physical puzzles as you wander through it. Funlab has dubbed Hijinx Hotel a 'challenge room hotel'. So, each of its 15 rooms will be filled with challenges for you to work through — with points awarded for how well you do within four minutes. Some rooms will see you play Twister or The Floor is Lava. Others will be decked out like the Titanic. There's one called the cereal ball pool room as well, which sounds chaotic. Basically, if you're a bit of a sleuth or you're never known to turn down a dare, you'll be in luck. Set to open in Alexandria in Sydney on June 3, Hijinx Hotel aims to riff on the escape room concept — but serve up fun that's far less stressful. Design-wise, it will look still like a hotel, even if you can't slumber there. There'll be a faux hotel reception and all, and the venue will take its aesthetic cues from the likes of The Grand Budapest Hotel and Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Based on the renders so far, there's also a bit of an Overlook Hotel vibe — but sorry, The Shining fans, this new hangout isn't meant to be sinister. And yes, obviously there's a bar. Actually, there'll be three. Exactly what'll be on the menu hasn't yet been revealed, but expect booze and bites to eat. Whether you're a Sydneysider now planning your next stint of kidulting or you live elsewhere and you're making plans for a trip to the Harbour City, Hijinx Hotel visitors will find the venue alongside a huge new Holey Moley that'll feature 27 holes — including some that are ten times the size of those at other spots. And if you're wondering exactly where both newcomers will sit, they're joining the location that currently boasts Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq. Usually, Funlab launches its new concepts in one city, then shares the love across other east coast capitals. So Melburnians and Brisbanites, cross your fingers that Hijinx Hotel will eventually pop up closer to home. Find Hijinx Hotel at 75 O'Riordan Street, Alexandria, Sydney, from June 3 — we'll update you with further details when they're announced. For further information about Funlab, head to the company's website.
Inimitable frozen dessert guru Nick Palumbo is responsible for making gelato the hottest thing in Sydney served below 0°C. His revered Gelato Messina sets the benchmark for gelato in Australia, taking a traditional Sicilian craft (everything is made from scratch using raw, natural ingredients) and carefully folding in an avant-garde approach towards flavours (there are six to seven specials released each week, with even the most deceptively unassuming beige ones accumulating Facebook likes in the hundreds). Now he's been tasked with the duty of finding one Australian craftsman blending tradition with inspiration. Ketel One has snagged Nick to sit on the judging panel of their Modern Craft Project, which you might remember us talking about here and which you should probably enter if you have a traditional craft, an entrepreneurial spirit and a partiality towards $100,000 cash prizes. Before the competition kicks off we stole a few minutes out of Nick's busy schedule to get the scoop on his idiosyncratic approach to artisan gelati. Concrete Playground (CP): Why gelato? Nick Palumbo (NP): In Messina, Sicily (where we are from) there is a huge culture of gelato and I wanted to create a brand that used traditional craftsmanship but was flexible in the sense that there is no limit to how creative you want to be. CP: What flavours did you launch Gelato Messina with back in 2002? NP: We only had 20 basic flavours back then but there was always a focus on quality. The innovation started to come in about two years later once we gained the trust of our customers. Coconut lychee, which sounds boring now, was our first "experimental flavour" back then. CP: Why did you decide to do the Gelato Messina Lab? NP: Because in the gelateria, we thought we had taken the quality side of things to quite a high level and all we had now was innovation of flavours. We wanted to push the boundaries a bit and marry in the world of high end patisserie with gelato, and saw it as a huge challenge and something that, to our knowledge, no one had done before. CP: The cakes are incredibly intricate — which one is the most satisfying to assemble? NP: The Black Forest, there are lots of components and the end result looks amazing. CP: They also incorporate many ingredients that aren't normally found in frozen desserts. Which ingredient poses the most problems? NP: All the jellies, they are hard to make soft at -18°C! CP: How do you come up with new flavours? NP: Basically we look for inspiration everywhere, especially from the world of patisserie, but it's also about continually finding flavours that work together. CP: What flavour has been the biggest surprise for you in terms of popularity? NP: Salted Caramel and White Choc Chip. It's now our best seller yet but when it first came out I actually heard a few people saying they didn't like it. Now those same people love it. CP: Obviously coming up with flavours must involve a lot of trial and error. What have been some of the errors? NP: Tomato sorbet. CP: I read a story about the frontman of Amy Meredith turning to his Facebook fans to demand the return of this favourite flavour (Elvis the Fat Years, which was then reborn as Christian Skinny Jeans). Is there anyone else you would like to reincarnate as gelato? NP: My three-month-old boy! The Milky Bar Kid. CP: Why did you want to become involved with the Ketel One Modern Craft Project? NP: Because Ketel One is an amazing brand full of history, which is my dream for Messina, and because there is not much in the way of support in this country for young people with a passion to do good things so anything that will help support artisans is something I'd like to be a part of. CP: What is next for Gelato Messina? NP: We open in Bondi in the middle of next year and we open in China (Hangzhou) in April next year. CP: And finally, cup or cone? NP: Silly question, CONE!
Press pause on Red Dead Redemption 2, relinquish the Playstation or Xbox controller and head to a Tokyo-style gaming mecca instead. Situated in the heart of Haymarket, the Capitol Square gaming arcade is one of Australia's largest entertainment centres based on the Purikura games machines of Japan. The arcade, all bright lights and flashing screens, looks as though it belongs on the neon-lit streets of Akihabara (a technopolis in Tokyo famous for its many electronics shops). Try your hand at the claw machines and score a plush Pikachu or coveted Gundam figurine. If skill testers aren't your thing, head to the photobooths of Photoland and spend the arvo taking selfies with friends. Print your pics on stickers and walk away with a super kawaii souvenir. Once you've had your gaming fill and worked up an appetite, make a b-line for the eateries which sit below. Keep the Japanese theme in full swing and hit up Yumei Japanese Restaurant for some top-notch okonomiyaki ($16.50) and beef tataki salad ($15).
Guardian Australia art critic Andrew Frost picked out two highlights from last year's International Symposium of Electronic Art (ISEA). One was Ryoji Ikeda's Test Pattern, a rolling strobe light of sound and thunder that invited the public into a vertiginous bay of the Carriageworks. The other was Alex Davies' the Very Near Future, an experiential installation that notionally takes you onto a trip 30 seconds into the future. This month, Sydney Festival restages the Very Near Future out of conference, in the much more public surrounds of Woolloomooloo's Artspace. Davies says one of his ambitions with the installation was “trying to represent time travel”. That is, let you feel like you're peering through a cut in time and space. He crafts his illusion by sending you trailing around a large-scale film set. As you explore, the film crew try to produce a little film noir, but accidentally explore a repeating multiverse of events, Groundhog Day-style. It's no trillion-year hop into the future, but rather an appealing chance to find out if this small-scale future will play out as planned. Image: Alex Davies, The Very Near Future, 2013, installation view, Carriageworks, courtesy of the artist.
Be warned, the hike to the top of The Castle isn't exactly a lazy stroll. Located in Budawang National Park, it's a three-hour drive from Sydney. So, if you can't cut an early start, head down the night before and pitch a tent by the river at Long Gully campground — which also gives you time to physically and mentally prep. Expect rock scrambling at great heights. If you'd rather hike with a pro, you can book in a guided tour through Big Nature Adventures on the NSW National Parks website. Despite its difficulty, this hike is worth it — The Castle is hands down one of the best mountain walks in New South Wales, giving you amazing views over Morton National Park, the Byangee Walls and Pigeon House Mountain. Image: Destination NSW
No one ever needs an excuse to escape their daily routines with a stint of mini golf, ten-pin bowling or sleuthing through a challenge room, but on Tuesday, September 5, Funlab's venues are giving you a mighty great reason to anyway. That's when the company's Day of Fun rolls around for 2023, and lets you get putting, rolling and puzzle-solving for $5 a pop — all to help Headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation. All day at 44 venues Australia-wide, including in Sydney, Funlab will donate all of its proceeds to the charity, which provides early-intervention mental health services to 12–25 year olds across Australia. So, you'll be aiding your own headspace — tap, tap, tapping your way around an indoor mini golf course will do that, for instance — and also showing some love to a great cause. Funlab's Sydney sites include Hijinx Hotel in Alexandria, Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq in the same suburb, Holey Moley in Newtown, B. Lucky and Sons at Entertainment Quarter, La Di Darts in Darlinghurst and multiple Strike Bowling joints — and the $5 deal covers bowling, darts, laser tag, an hour of games, one set of challenge rooms and nine holes of golf (all at $5 per activity). Booking in advance is recommended, but Archie Brothers and B. Lucky are doing walk-ins only. Obviously, if you'd like to add a few drinks — these venues serve plenty — that'll cost you extra. [caption id="attachment_681171" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption]
Prepare to spice up your April at the Woollahra Hotel's Mexican Fiesta in partnership with Mexican tequila brand Don Julio. Until Friday, April 24, you'll see the hotel's iconic upstairs terrace transformed into a vibrant oasis inspired by all things tequila. Think: lush greenery and pops of azure blue in honour of the blue agave plant. Experience a taste of Mexico and sip on a selection of specially crafted tequila cocktails, including the classic frozen margarita — served in mini Don Julio bottles for $15 — or switch it up with a pomegranate marg. Be sure to check out the fiesta over the weekends, when you will find live acoustic sessions starting from 2pm every Sunday. Book a table now for the ultimate weekend fiesta.
Many of us head to Adelaide for its world-class wineries. While its vineyards are a true highlight of South Australia, you also can't miss the vibrant city centre. With chic wine bars and award-winning restaurants, Adelaide's CBD makes for a perfect weekend getaway. Situated in the middle of the city's block (that's surrounded by lush parkland), you'll find Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets. The boutique accommodation is inspired by the city's festival influence, with colourful wall art and posters as interior decorations. Locally influenced decor is celebrated in the tessellated tile patterns and copper fixtures, which pay homage to the state's rich copper mining history. Filled with nods to the neighbourhood, Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets is a central base to everything you could need to make the most of the city. Here's how to spend a weekend eating and drinking your way through Adelaide's CBD. [caption id="attachment_934956" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Adelaide Central Market[/caption] To Market, To Market The Adelaide Central Market is a gem of the city. Established in 1869, it's a hub of food and culture (and one of the largest undercover fresh produce markets in the southern hemisphere) where you can lose hours wandering the stalls and chatting with local producers. Don't miss Lucia's, the authentic Italian deli that has been a part of the market since 1957. [caption id="attachment_915248" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Osteria Oggi[/caption] Foodie's Paradise Don't think you have to be in the vineyards to experience Adelaide's food scene. Just a stone's throw from Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets, you'll find several restaurants that rival the larger cities. Osteria Oggi on Pirie Street serves fresh, handmade pasta daily and offers a modern twist on the Italian you love. Long, communal tables are encouraged, and plates can be shared easily for an Italian-style feast. Right next door to Osteria Oggi is Soi 38. In 2014, the restaurant began serving street food snacks and dishes not found on other Adelaide Thai menus. Now, Soi 38 is an unrivalled dining experience that's serving regional dishes in the heart of the city. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Soi.38 Adelaide (@soi.38) Nearby, restaurant and bar Fino Vino offers a curated menu inspired by regional South Australia. Named a top ten restaurant in 2024 by Gourmet Traveller, Fino Vino is one to add to your must-try list when visiting the neighbourhood. View this post on Instagram A post shared by (@finovino_adelaide) Soak In the Neighbourhood Famous for its vino, sitting and sipping in the city's wine bars is a necessity when in town. When staying in the CBD, take a trip to Leigh Street. Located in the heart of the city, the cobbled street is full of character and heritage buildings. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Leigh Street Wine Room (@leighstreetwineroom) There are a number of small bars dotted down the street, but be sure to drop by Leigh Street Wine Room. The cosy bar serves over 400 drops and dishes up small plates to snack on while wine-tasting. On the same character-filled street, you'll find cocktail bar, Leigh Street Luggage, while award-winning cocktail bar, Maybe Mae, is located one street over. Really, you could spend all weekend flitting between Leigh Street haunts. Get Some Air After exploring the side streets of the city centre, find your bearings on its rooftop bars. Merrymaker is situated at the top of Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets. Located 16 floors above the city streets, Merrymaker is Adelaide's tallest rooftop bar and serves a select menu of cocktails, aperitifs, and snacks. With a limited selection of seating available, it's recommended that you book a table at the award-winning Merrymaker in advance (even as a hotel guest) to avoid missing out on the breathtaking city views. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Merrymaker Rooftop Bar Adelaide (@merrymaker_rooftopbar) 2KW Bar and Restaurant is another rooftop bar in Adelaide with spectacular views of the Adelaide Oval, Festival Theatre and Government House. On the weekends, you'll find DJs spinning tunes as the sun sets over Adelaide. [caption id="attachment_1038261" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets[/caption] Rest Up in Style With its stylish streets and reputation as a foodie hub, Adelaide's CBD is a vibrant neighbourhood that inspires. At the Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets, you can continue the energy of the city in its colourful boutique rooms. On the ground floor, you'll find modern Italian restaurant and bar, Market & Meander, as well as its famous pink booths. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Market & Meander was recently named a top ten hotel breakfast in Australia. You can also rest and recover in the hotel's luxe pool and gym. Situated in the heart of the action, the boutique accommodation makes for the perfect base to continue to explore South Australia's capital. Want to stay in the thick of it? Find out more about Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets here. Lead image: Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets
Let's be honest, interstate trips are the perfect budget-friendly breather. You get all your well-deserved downtime, without the fuss of long-distance flying and complicated international travel requirements. These Airbnbs are perfect for just that — with breathtaking views of cities across Australia for the perfect getaway. If you're eagerly planning day trips, weekend getaways and luscious week-long vacations, check out some of the best Airbnbs for the perfect vacation — or staycation — across Australia. Tamarama Panorama, Sydney In keeping with the beachside neighbourhood's "glamarama" reputation, the views from this home's floor-to-ceiling windows are dazzling. You can walk down your outdoor staircase to the beach, or just lay out on the balcony chairs and enjoy the ocean views from up above. From $700 a night, sleeps six. Harbour Hideaway, Sydney The views from this beachfront apartment and its gorgeous porch are hard to beat. If viewing the golden sand and blue water from above wasn't quite enough, the pad also has beach access. From $500 a night, sleeps two. Opera House Views, Sydney Whether you've lived in Sydney your whole life or you're just popping in for the weekend, this condo's jaw-dropping outlook over the city skyline will make you feel like you're seeing it for the first time. From $258 a night, sleeps four. Bondi Beach Ocean View, Sydney Only steps away from Sydney's most famous beach, this condo is close to not only Bondi Beach but also many nearby restaurants, bars and cafes. But its views will probably have you wanting to stay in. From $400 a night, sleeps two. Single-Bedroom Luxury Apartment, Melbourne Perfectly positioned near The Crown in the heart of Melbourne, you can take in pretty much all of the CBD from the floor-to-ceiling windows in this high-rise apartment. From $160 a night, sleeps two. Melbourne Spaceship Penthouse, Melbourne With windows on the walls and ceilings resembling a spaceship cockpit, enjoy an unmatched 270-degree view of Melbourne. From $258 a night, sleeps two. Breathtaking CBD Views, Melbourne Also conveniently located in Melbourne's CBD, the views from this apartment's bedroom are absolutely breathtaking. From $143 a night, sleeps four. Stylish Waterfront Apartment, Melbourne With utilities such as a gym, swimming pool and BBQ area all available, this property is a peaceful waterfront oasis — and only a free tram ride from Melbourne's bustling city centre. From $150 a night, sleeps two. Million Dollar Views, Brisbane Surprisingly, the real selling point of this high-rise apartment isn't its central location or its nice interior finishings, but the view from the apartment complex's rooftop pool. From $221 a night, sleeps four. Stylish One Bedroom, Brisbane Centrally-located and modern, the skyline views from this apartment and its roof will make even Brisbane locals feel like they're on a luxury vacation. From $189 a night, sleeps two. Riverview 29th Floor Apt, Brisbane Located in the heart of South Brisbane, treat yourself to stunning city views from the apartment, balcony, or rooftop infinity pool. From $205 a night, sleeps three. City View, Perth Slide open the glass doors after a long day exploring the city and enjoy the sunset over Perth from your living room. From $200 a night, sleeps two. Cottesloe Beach View, Perch Just steps from one of the most popular beaches in Western Australia, the ocean views are the star of this apartment. From $410 a night, sleeps four. French Farmhouse, Perth Craving a nature immersion? This pad is for the traveller whose ideal vacation involves forgetting about the outside world altogether. With a foliage-covered courtyard outside its windows, this rustic townhouse will help you forget about the existence of the city centre a mere five minutes away. From $200 a night, sleeps four. Glenelg Beachfront Apartment, Adelaide With arguably the best waterfront views on this list, this apartment gets up-close and personal with Glenelg Beach. But, just in case you get tired of the unrestricted views, there is plenty to do nearby in Adelaide's CBD. From $405 a night, sleeps four. Pearl, Adelaide A cosy and bright beachfront cottage, this recently renovated designer property boasts a sea view that can be enjoyed from the open lounge and kitchen or stone patio that leads directly onto the dunes. From $336 a night, sleeps four. Asri Garden Studio, Adelaide For secluded garden views, check out this tranquil studio inspired by Japanese and Balinese design. It's all about nature: nestled into a secluded garden and designed to incorporate natural materials and natural light. From $200 a night, sleeps two. View Studio, Hobart The best way to end an action-packed day in Hobart? Taking in the epic views of the city's lights from the bath in this Airbnb's master suite. From $235 a night, sleeps two. Tiny House Tasmania, Hobart For those looking to experience the tiny home craze, a trip to Hobart may be the perfect opportunity. This home overlooks the Derwent River and notably features an outdoor bathtub perfect for a relaxing evening after a day spent exploring. From $195 a night, sleeps two. Mountain View Retreat, Hobart If you prefer to get your outdoor fix in the mountains, this cosy mountainside retreat is only minutes away from Hobart — but has stunning views. From $140 a night, sleeps two. Marina Views, Darwin Enjoy this property's stellar view of the marina from its all-day shaded balcony, to keep you out of Darwin's heat. From $180 a night, sleeps four. Harbourfront Escape, Darwin This apartment right on Darwin's harbour will give visitors the perfect taste of Darwin's coastal life: explore during the day — or night — and then returning to the complex's outdoor pool and sunset views. From $189 a night, sleeps two. Opulent Ocean View Townhouse, Darwin Nestled in a quiet cul-de-sac, this townhouse boasts waterfront views in a prime location in Darwin's Stuart Park. Suitable for families or for a private getaway, you can switch off in this spacious stay and soak in the gorgeous sunrises — or sunsets — by the pool. From $481 a night, sleeps eight. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy. Images: courtesy of Airbnb
If bliss to you means peering at infinite reflections in lit-up mirror rooms, wading through brightly coloured ball pits and having pillow fights — plus hanging out in digital forests, watching tales told via shadows and hopping over musical tiles, too — then prepare to beam with joy when Dopamine Land arrives Down Under. The latest multi-sensory experience that's hitting Australia, it's being pitched as an interactive museum. Inside, you'll find themed spaces that you can mosey through, engage with their contents and, ideally, bask in nothing but pure happiness. With a name like Dopamine Land, it's immediately clear that contentment, glee, merriment and exuberance is the aim of the game here. So is evoking those feel-good sensations through nostalgia, because this is another kidulting activity — it's all-ages-friendly as well — and it's making its Aussie debut in Brisbane from Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Brisbanites, and anyone keen for a Sunshine State trip to revel in more than the sun's glow, can look forward to wandering around Dopamine Land at Uptown in the River City's Queen Street Mall. Locals know that the site was previously the Myer Centre — and, decades back, was home to a dragon-themed rollercoaster. So, it's a fitting venue to get everyone channeling their inner child, unleashing their imagination and, yes, hitting each other with cushions. Heading this way direct from London, the experience combines optical illusions, engaging soundscapes and more across its ten themed rooms. The ball pit is self-explanatory, but also takes its cues from Miami in the 80s, complete with a pina colada scent, an electro soundtrack and LED lights that pulse to mirror waves. The pillow-fight space also doesn't need much explaining; however, the decor is inspired by marshmallows and boxes of lollies, Mexican wrestling is also an influence and you can win the pillow-fighting championship. Fancy seeing stories play out via shadows? There's a room for that featuring a big top-style roof. If you try your hand at the musical tiles — well, your feet, to be more accurate — you'll create a melody as you jump around, with the lights changing as you go as well. And if getting as serene as possible is your aim, head to the Keep Calm Forest, which artificially recreates a woodland via LED trees, mirrors and sounds to match. There's even a room dedicated to the autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR, which goes big on projections and animations by Australian digital artist Cassie Troughton.
April is here, which means that it's almost that time of year: the time when you're either at Coachella or curing your FOMO by watching it at home. 2024's lineup dropped in January, featuring Lana Del Rey, Tyler, The Creator, Doja Cat and the reunited No Doubt as headliners. Now comes news just as big: if you're dancing along in your living room over two weekends this month and you've got a set clash, you'll be able to livestream multiple stages at once. How many? Four in total, all thanks to YouTube's annual coverage of the event. Each year, Coachella and the online video platform join forces to beam the massive music fest around the world. Of course, that's no longer such a novelty in these pandemic-era times — but being able to fill your screen with a quartet of Coachella sets at the same time definitely is. YouTube's multiview concert experience will enjoy its debut in the music space, and globally, at Coachella. This year, the service will be capturing six different stages, as it did in 2023 for the first time ever — with Sonora on the list for the first weekend and Yuma on the second. That said, while you can feast your eyes on four stages simultaneously, you'll only be able to hear one, so you will still need to pick a favourite in any given timeslot. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coachella (@coachella) Coachella 2024 runs from Friday, April 12–Sunday, April 14 and Friday, April 19–Sunday, April 21, which is Saturday, April 13–Monday, April 15 and Saturday, April 20–Monday, April 22 Down Under. For those lucky enough to be getting the IRL experience, the fest takes place at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. The full bill is a jaw-dropper, as usual, featuring a stacked array of acts that also spans everyone from Blur, Ice Spice, J Balvin and Peso Pluma to Sabrina Carpenter, Grimes, Lil Yachty and Flight Facilities. [caption id="attachment_936351" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Casey via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Coachella 2024 runs from Friday, April 12–Sunday, April 14 and Friday, April 19–Sunday, April 21 — which is Saturday, April 13–Monday, April 15 and Saturday, April 20–Monday, April 22 Down Under — at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, and livestreams via YouTube across the same dates. Top image: Roger Ho.
It's only been three short years since the world first discovered Paul Mescal courtesy of early-pandemic obsession Normal People, and what a three years they've been. Focusing solely on the Irish actor's on-screen work and related achievements, he's also popped up in The Lost Daughter, been nominated for an Oscar for Aftersun and famously spent time making a movie in Australia — and that flick, Carmen, has just dropped its first trailer. Remember all those Mescal sightings Down Under in early 2021? The whole the country does, and this film is why they happened. The movie turns the classic opera of the same name into a screen musical, and features the internet's boyfriend as Aidan, a marine with PTSD, opposite In the Heights and Scream star Melissa Barrera in the titular role. This clearly isn't a standard adaptation of the opera by Georges Bizet that first hit stages back in 1875, as based on the 1845 novella by Prosper Mérimée that's also called Carmen. Here, in what's been dubbed "a gritty modern-day tale", Carmen flees her home in the Mexican desert after her mother is murdered, then makes an illegal border crossing into America. Once in the US, she's troubled by more killings courtesy of a ruthless border guard — which doesn't go down well with his patrol partner, the aforementioned Aiden. So starts Carmen and Aiden's journey together, also escaping to look for her mother's best friend (iconic Spanish actor Rossy De Palma, Parallel Mothers). This take on Carmen also features standoffs, a nightclub as a sanctuary, a police hunt and finding solace in romance, with Benjamin Millepied making his directorial debut behind the lens. Best known as a dancer and choreographer, he was behind the ballet scenes in Black Swan — and also popped up on-screen as David. Millepied's first stint as a helmer will hit US cinemas in April, with a release date in Australia and New Zealand yet to be revealed. Seeing it turn up on the midyear film festival circuit, hitting the Sydney Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival and New Zealand International Film Festival, wouldn't be surprising. Adding to the project's big names is Nicholas Britell, who is responsible for Carmen's original score and songs, after also composing Succession's earworm of a theme. Check out the trailer for Carmen below: Carmen doesn't yet have a release date Down Under — we'll update you when one is announced.
Next time that you're looking for a cocktail spot, follow the pins. That's what The Pinnacle Guide, the new bar recognition system that's throwing some love at the top watering holes around the world, gives out. Michelin does stars, this ranking does pins — and on its just-announced first batch of picks, two Australian bars have made the cut. Scoring one pin apiece: El Primo Sanchez and Maybe Sammy, both in Sydney. The duo both hail from the same crew, in fact, and now have bragging rights over Australia's other cocktail havens. In total, 25 bars received one pin and 12 were given two pins. Nowhere has nabbed three pins so far. [caption id="attachment_889906" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] Created by three folks behind London Cocktail Week — Hannah Sharman-Cox, Siobhan Payne and Dan Dove — The Pinnacle Guide doesn't just make its selections based on beverages and bar service. Also considered: an establishment's approach to sustainability, diversity and philanthropy. The idea is for the guide's pinned watering holes to reflect everything that's required to be a cocktail bar, and that The Pinnacle Guide is the kind of list that heroes versatility as well. Bars submit to be considered, which requires them to provide information on their drinks program, how they manage their staff, and both the venue's aesthetics and its vibes. From there, anonymous reviewers comprised of mixologists, industry experts and bar enthusiasts undertake in-person reviews to decide which places deserve a place in the guide. [caption id="attachment_941736" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] To get a pin, a bar must be considered excellent, outstanding or exceptional both in front of and behind the bar. Securing three pins requires both the written application and the service during the reviewer's visit to be exceptional, and no venue has achieved that so far. Other overall considerations by The Pinnacle Guide include that commitment to sustainability, and ensuring that the drinks list expands beyond booze, with at least two curated non-alcoholic drinks required on the menu (so, thoughtful mocktails, not basic soft drinks). [caption id="attachment_889910" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] "We've been overwhelmed by the incredible response to the first round of applications for The Pinnacle Guide. In revealing this first list, we have been able to realise our goal of celebrating the extraordinary range of cocktail bars the world has to offer — from tiny drinking dens to majestic hotel bars," said Dove. "We're proud of our unique submissions process, which has allowed these deserving bars to shine — and we're excited to shed light on many many more in the months and years to come." In the first picks made since The Pinnacle Guide's applications opened in November 2023, entries came from around the globe, including Australia, the UK, the US, Singapore, Spain, Mexico and Dubai. Maybe Sammy's inclusion adds another accolade to its lengthy collection, including being named the number-one bar in the data-driven Top 500 Bars list for 2023 and also coming in 15th on The World's 50 Best Bars list for last year. The Pinnacle Guide's Pinned Bars: Three-pin bars: None Two-pin bars: ATLAS, Singapore Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour, Phoenix, USA Nipperkin, London, UK Origin Bar, Shangri-La Singapore, Singapore Panda & Sons, Edinburgh, UK Paradiso, Barcelona, Spain Pretty Decent, Louisville, USA Selva, Oaxaca, Mexico The American Bar at Gleneagles, Auchterarder, UK The Spy Bar at Raffles London, UK Thunderbolt, Los Angeles, USA True Laurel, San Francisco, USA One-pin bars: Artesian, London, UK Ballroom by Barbary Coast, Singapore Blue Bar at The Berkeley, London, UK Couch, Birmingham, UK Cure, New Orleans, USA El Primo Sanchez, Sydney, Australia Kiki Lounge, Isle of Man, UK KOL Mezcaleria, London, UK Kwant Mayfair, London, UK Little Rituals, Phoenix, USA Magnus on Water, Maine, USA Maybe Sammy, Sydney, Australia Meteor, Minneapolis, USA Milady's, New York City, USA Nightjar Shoreditch, London, UK Passing Fancies, Birmingham, UK Rattlebag, Belfast, UK Roka Dubai, UAE Sexy Fish, London, UK Sexy Fish, Manchester UK Side Hustle, London, UK Swift Soho, London, UK The Dead Rabbit, New York City, USA The Guards Bar & Lounge at Raffles, London, UK Velvet by Salvatore Calabrese, London, UK For more information about The Pinnacle Guide and its pinned bars, head to its website. Find El Primo Sanchez at 27–33 Oxford Street, Paddington, Sydney. Find Maybe Sammy at 115 Harrington Street, The Rocks, Sydney. Top image: Steven Woodburn.
In the time since Sydney's lockout laws came into effect, many venues in the lockout zone have closed — but quite a few have found new life too. Club 77 was resurrected in early 2016, The Flinders reopened under new management and Flamingo Lounge took over the old Hugos space late last year. Now, Kit & Kaboodle has been given a revamp. The bar — located on level two of the old Sugarmill Hotel, which became the Potts Point Hotel under new ownership last year — is set to open this month as Boogie Mountain, a self-indulgent venue dedicated to rock and roll. The bar takes its name from a commune set in 1970s Arizona desert and boasts a passion for the hedonistic. Think luxe red velvet lounges and hidden timber-panelled nooks, plus magnums of rosé and decadent lobster poutine. "The introduction of Boogie Mountain is about creating something unique, where patrons can relate to the venues offerings," says owner John Duncan. "We are very excited to give the space a new lease on life, with Boogie Mountain adding a great new option to Sydney's late night scene." It's open Thursday through Saturday only, with weekend hours offering lock-in until 3.30am (as long as you're inside by 2am, of course). Thursdays will see vinyls on the turntable and all-you-can-eat poutine specials on offer, too. You can expect non-stop tunes all night, with the rock soundtrack including the likes of Talking Heads and Iggy Pop. When you're not getting your boogie on, it's got classic American cocktails, an all-Australian wine list and craft beer tinnies to accompany those aforementioned magnums. For food, the poutine menu is joined by share plates like saffron risotto 'disco balls' and cheese boards, along with a post-midnight snacks menu of burgers, fries and apple pie. "We wanted to create a space that celebrated what Sydney was always about — a youthful loss of innocence, a sense of adventure, simple pleasures and free spirit," says designer Byron Georgouras. Boogie Mountain will open on April 20 on level 2 of the Potts Point Hotel, 33 Darlinghurst Road, Potts Point. It'll be open Thursday 6pm until late, Friday 8pm until 2am and Saturday 8pm until 2am (with lock-in until 3.30am). For more info, visit boogiemountain.com.au.
Talk about a show that delivered on its promise the first time around: when a fresh-from-Russian Doll Natasha Lyonne teamed up with Knives Out and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery filmmaker Rian Johnson on a whodunnit-of-the-week TV series, Poker Face did indeed prove a delight. A second season was quickly greenlit, in fact, and now it's on its way to your streaming queue. The sleuthing gem has also just dropped its full season two trailer. While the combination of Lyonne (Fantasmas) and Johnson was always set to be an ace, Poker Face gave the detective setup a particular spin. Protagonist Charlie Cale has a handy gift: being able to tell when someone is lying. In each weekly episode, she then worked her way through resolving a different crime, all while on the road in a Plymouth Barracuda. Then and soon, when season two kicks off on Thursday, May 8, 2025 Down Under — where it streams via Stan in Australia and TVNZ+ in New Zealand — Lyonne also has a heap of other well-known faces for company. Where season one boasted The Brutalist Oscar-winner Adrien Brody, to name just one high-profile figure, season two will feature fellow 2025 nominee Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) in multiple roles. If you're a fan of John Mulaney's wonderful Everybody's Live talk show, rejoice: not only Mulaney but also Richard Kind (Mid-Century Modern) are guest starring in Poker Face season two. From there, this season's roster also includes John Cho (AfrAId), Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets), Katie Holmes (Rare Objects), Awkwafina (Black Mirror) and Giancarlo Esposito (The Residence), as well as Alia Shawkat (Severance), BJ Novak (Lessons in Chemistry), Carol Kane (Between the Temples), Corey Hawkins (The Piano Lesson), Saturday Night Live pair Ego Nwodim (Mr Throwback) and Ben Marshall (Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain), Sam Richardson (It's Florida, Man) and Margo Martindale (The Sticky). Then there's Cliff 'Method Man' Smith (Power Book II: Ghost), Haley Joel Osment (Blink Twice), Justin Theroux (Running Point), Kathrine Narducci (The Alto Knights), Kevin Corrigan (Deli Boys), Kumail Nanjiani (Only Murders in the Building), Patti Harrison (The Electric State), Sherry Cola (Nobody Wants This), Gaby Hoffmann (Zero Day), Simon Rex (Red Rocket) and more. As well as the stellar lead turn from Lyonne and the show's smart writing, part of the fun of Poker Face stems from seeing how the series weaves in such a dream supporting lineup. The above list follow in the footsteps of The Menu's Hong Chau and Judith Light, Lil Rel Howery (Deep Water), Danielle MacDonald (The Last Anniversary), Chloë Sevigny (Bones and All), Ron Perlman (Nightmare Alley), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Pinocchio), Ellen Barkin (Animal Kingdom), Nick Nolte (The Mandalorian), Cherry Jones (Succession), Jameela Jamil (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) and Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All At Once) in season one. And yes, you'll have two chances to get a mystery fix from Johnson in 2025, given that Wake Up Dead Man, the third Knives Out movie, is also on its way this year. It too boasts another stacked cast, this time surrounding Daniel Craig (Queer) with Josh O'Connor (Challengers), Glenn Close (Back in Action), Josh Brolin (Outer Range), Mila Kunis (Goodrich), Jeremy Renner (Mayor of Kingstown), Kerry Washington (The Six Triple Eight), Andrew Scott (Ripley), Cailee Spaeny (Civil War), Daryl McCormack (Bad Sisters) and Thomas Haden Church (Twisted Metal). Check out the full trailer for Poker Face season two below: Poker Face season two streams from Thursday, May 8, 2025 via Stan in Australia and TVNZ+ in New Zealand. Read our review of season one. Images: Sarah Shatz/PEACOCK.
If we asked you to imagine a sophisticated, old-school barbershop, you'd likely conjure up something like The Barberhood. You'll find this classy looking spot in Martin Place and it looks like something directly out of the early 20th century: deep walnut timber panelling, plush leather seating, retro subway tiles and the staff sharply dressed in suits, ties and aprons. The Barberhood provides a premium service adhering to traditional techniques. So, what does that mean exactly? Well, you can expect scented hot towels, traditional tools and a straight razor clean up on the neck for every cut — but the style will be completely tailored to suit you. If you have facial hair that needs attending to, the barbers can offer a traditional wet shave, with hot and cold towels, straight razors and products, plus beard styling, shaping and treatments, and moustache trims. Whatever you get done, the team here is dedicated to ensuring you leave feeling (and looking) damn fine. Given its location — smack bang in suit land — this spot can get pretty busy, so booking is highly recommended.
Heading down vaguely eerie Sydenham Road, you may fear you've missed a turn somewhere along the way as airplanes swoop directly overhead. Just when you're sure the street is a tad too quiet, around the bend — marked with a giant painting of a lumberjack-like brewer in overalls — you'll find Batch Brewing Co inside one of Marrickville's roller-doored spaces. The warmth of the space, lit by strings of fairy lights, radiates onto the footpath as locals catch up over a few fresh glasses from the brewing team — American expats Andrew Fineran and Chris Sidwa. Long, high tables lined with bar stools fill the front of the ex-industrial building, making plenty of room for their usual bustling crowds, eager to get a pint from this week's offerings. Father back into the venue, Batch makes little attempt to hide the giant steel fermenting tanks, with plush leather booths lining the walls directly facing stacks of canned brews and machinery. And should they have to? Sydneysiders today are keen to know exactly where their products come from — and these boys aren't hiding a thing. Batch was the first of the now numerous craft breweries to open in the area, paving the way for Marrickville to become — as Fineran puts it — "the craft beer capital of Australia." Since opening in 2013, the pair have faced legal difficulties, treading a path no one had walked before, but with City Council support Batch Brewing Co. opened, and Marrickville is all the better for it, gaining a vibrant and diverse community built from the ground up. And with the addition of the new Sydney Metro at the Sydenham train station just a five-minute walk away, traveling to this suburb staple has never been easier. With a consistently stellar core range — a standout being their nitrogenated Milk Stout — these Marrickville veterans would already be worth a visit. However, on average the brewers produce a brand new beer every five days, meaning taps rotate out consistently. "For us, it's really just about just keep the variety coming in, making something that we're interested in," says Fineran. "That way, people know they're most likely going to get something different every time they come in... there's a good chance there's a beer they've never tried." Be sure to check their website regularly for what's on tap that week, and stop in Tuesday through Sunday for a bite from local food trucks — best enjoyed with a cold glass. "Our thing is to live our name Batch," Fineran says. "Do new and different beers all the time." Appears in: The Best Sydney Brewery Bars for 2023
All hail the Keanaissance — for bringing him back to our screens, and for making it acceptable to love his past hits as well. Before he was Neo and John Wick, he wasn't just one half of Bill and Ted and surfing FBI agent Johnny Utah but also a guy trying to stop the bus that couldn't slow down. We know you're a fan, and we know you've always wanted to relive the action movie magic that was Speed — so here's your chance. Step on board a vintage bus and prepare for the ride of your life. After thrilling fans and making plenty of new ones during several Brisbane Comedy Festival runs, Speed: The Movie, The Play finally brings its high-octane thrills to Sydney. It's hitting town as part of this year's Sydney Fringe Festival, and taking on passengers between Friday, September 20 and Sunday, September 29 — and this is one stint of public transport chaos you should willingly sign up for.
In The Guest Edit, we hand the reins over to some of Australia's most interesting, tasteful and/or entertaining people. For this instalment, we've enlisted comedian, actor, DJ, drag artist and all-round superstar Natali Caro (aka Papi Chulo) to run us through their picks for this year's Sydney Comedy Festival. You can catch Natali's one-person show Seeking Representation at the Factory Theatre on Saturday, April 30 or Sunday, May 1. NATALI CARO: During my four years of doing stand-up, it's safe to say that there are several pockets of comedy that I have intentionally steered away from, whether it be certain rooms, events or groups of people. As a queer, genderfluid person of colour, comedy spaces aren't always the most inviting. And, I know that many of my QTPOC audience feel the same way, avoiding comedy all together. But the truth is there are a lot of great comics in Sydney doing great things. Lucky for you, I have picked some of the funniest and most inviting of them all in anticipation for Sydney Comedy Festival, which kicked off Monday, April 25. I've done it chronologically too, look at me! (Most of these shows are on at different times as well, so there's a good chance you can catch them all.) AJ LAMARQUE: ENGLISH BREAKFAST AJ is about the same age as me, yet has the demeanour and wisdom of Julie Andrews in any movie starring Julie Andrews — and it's reassuring AF. There is something about tea rituals that just screams "CAMP!", and I am not surprised that AJ made this the thematic focal point of his debut solo comedy show. You will be in safe hands with this "self-declared Mixed Race Queen." AJ is charming, witty, full of panache and very much worth the "BYO Teacups." When: Thursday, April 28–Sunday, May 1 Where: Factory Theatre How much: $20 GABBI BOLT: I HOPE MY KEYBOARD DOESN'T BREAK Now, I've met a lot of people that DON'T like musical comedy. But those people just simply don't have the talent. They can't comprehend what it would take to write an hour of hilarious bangers — as your first solo show, nonetheless. I love musical comedy acts: Flight of The Conchords, Spinal Tap, Michelle Brasier ... The Chainsmokers. And I personally can't wait to watch Gabbi's POV on "climate change, feminism and why small towns have too many pubs." If Wayne Brady is a fan, then you will be too. When: Thursday, April 28–Friday, April 29 Where: Factory Theatre How much: $30–35 [caption id="attachment_851242" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Annie Walker[/caption] NATALI CARO: SEEKING REPRESENTATION That's me! I genuinely would be cheating you if I didn't gently nudge you toward "the best show of the year" (2020 and 2021!). This show has enough of everything to leave you satisfied and wanting more. I really wanted an agent so I put together the ultimate comedy showreel showcasing stand up, drag, impressions, sketch, audio visuals, song and dance. Two sold out shows and two standing ovations – not bad for my debut solo show ... let's make it three for three?? (Sunday's show will be Auslan interpreted.) When: Saturday, April 30–Sunday, May 1 Where: Factory Theatre How much: $15–25 THAO THANH CAO: MARMALADE The name intrigues me ... yet I am sure it has nothing to do with the song. If you ever wanted to know "what is the best safety tip when driving with a baby on board?", "how to creatively handle a racist?" and "what is the number one thing you should never do on a first date?", then this show is for you! Thanh has been playing rooms all over Sydney, selling out festivals and even winning awards (Short and Sweet comedy and several open mic contests). When: Saturday, April 30–Sunday, May 1 Where: Enmore Theatre How much: $25.90 NAOMI MOURRA AND PAGE BARTELT: YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS UP This is a split-bill show with one of my favourite, "Lebanese, lesbian, ex-Jehovah's Witness" Sydney comedians, Naomi Mourra. Naomi can tell the hell out of a knock-knock joke (I should give her credit for that one) and holds a bible like no one else. If her 2018 debut solo show, An Open Book, is anything to go by, then you don't want to miss your chance to catch her this festival season, talking all things, "chicks, chickpeas, cults and culture." And you get TWO comics for the price of one. When: Saturday, April 30 Where: Enmore Theatre How much: $15–20 OLIVER TWIST: GRIOT Oliver is a rising star in comedy and, conveniently, a very cool person. He is relentlessly funny and talented as an actor, writer and comedian. ICYMI, Oliver has been touring his debut play JALI, all over Australia, with great success. And it's no question this solo show is a must-watch. Oliver tells the story of his time in a refugee camp, applying to study in Canada: "where do you see yourself in five years? ... I was like, 'anywhere but here, literally anywhere but this refugee camp' ... that's why I'm doing this entire questionnaire." When: Thursday, May 5—Sunday, May 8 Where: Enmore Theatre How much: $20.40 HOT DEPARTMENT: AFTER PARTY Hot Department are bringing the HEAT all the way from Melbourne! You better believe this unhinged sketch comedy duo, composed of Patrick Durnan Silva and Honor Wolff, are "at it again. But this time, they're at it again." Sydneysiders are lucky to be graced with their appearance this comedy season. After getting many of us through several lockdowns online, it is timely and just that we get to see them IRL! When: Saturday, May 14–Sunday, May 15 Where: Factory Theatre How much: $25 HARRY JUN: ONE OF THE GOOD ONES Definition: A backhanded compliment said by bigots. Typically describes a person of colour who is complicit, and/or agrees with the bigot's social and political values. See, I always thought this meant "one of the good *male* comedians," which would in fact be true! This show "is about race, relationships and successfully failing to meet expectations," as well as Harry's "light-hearted and heavy-handed approach to uncomfortable situations." Harry Jun is *bleeping* funny and definitely worth the watch! When: Thursday, May 19—Friday, May 20 Where: Enmore Theatre How much: $15–20 SOPHIA MORRISON: LOVELY I've never met Sophia, but she seems lovely! Absurdist comedy isn't often given the airtime it deserves — not unless you are white and/or male. Often these acts can do whatever they want under the guise of "absurdism", and are celebrated as being clever or innovative simply for existing within the space. But Sophia mitigates this through hard work and thoughtfulness, rising above the mediocrity. In this show, Sophia "travels through time and place as she tries to find a Sophia-shaped hole for herself in a world not built for a dyslexic mind". When: Saturday, May 21—Sunday, May 22 Where: Factory Theatre How much: $18–22 The Sydney Comedy Festival runs from Monday, April 25–Sunday, May 22 at various venues around town. Top image: Dream Syndicator/Ash Penin.
Whether you’re sipping on an elegant cocktail, smashing a VB at the pub or prefer your drinks on fire, everyone gets the drunken munchies. The below bars and restaurants are not only cool joints in their own right, they also encourage your boozy snacking – for free. THE LITTLE GUY What: The best popcorn. Ever. When: Available all day, every day Secretly spiced popcorn flows endlessly at the iconic Glebe bar. Their commitment to craft beer, love of all things bluegrass and nightly live music gives this little bar some big personality. The small eats menu is bar-bite focused as well, but the popcorn is worth grovelling for. Not that the loveable bartenders would make you: the popcorn is passed out in endless bowlfuls. MOJO RECORD BAR What: Tasty Toobs and Cheezels When: Available all night Dan Noble and the crew have hung up their pork crackling days for some vego friendly options. When the Tasty Toobs run out, the Cheezels are poured a plenty. Apart from these cheesy, salty freebees that help stave off those craft beer munchies, Mojo has some exciting upgrades ahead: including a top secret new menu and a live music venue. More on that to come. SHADY PINES SALOON What: Wild West peanuts When: Available all night Difficult to locate and worth the alleyway confusion, Shady Pines is no fancy cocktail bar; this no-frills saloon serves the most basic and necessary of bar snacks — shelled peanuts. This adds to the real country feel, though the cowboy hat-wearing bartenders, mounted game and blasting country music certainly add to the charm. Try the signature George Dickel cocktail ($8.50) — whiskey and fresh apple juice — while you munch away. UNCLE MING'S What: Snow pea crisps When: Available all night The underground bar is serving up its own brews, whiskey on fire and colourfully named cocktails — try the Misty Mountain Manhattan ($20) or the share cocktail Wet Bush ($42). Yes, there is plenty to love about the red-lit, speakeasy-style bar, but customers come craving the complimentary snow pea crisps. The dumpling menu ($9) is worth a look too, but these little snacks are a perfect complement to the boozy atmosphere. THE WILD ROVER What: Smoked almonds When: Available all night The Safari-painted walls, array of craft beer options and $1 oyster happy hour are much loved at this Irish pub, as are the free smoked almonds that will make your mouth water and keep the beers coming. Sip your beer from a steel mug while munching away on these irresistible treats. If you’re up for a bit of craic, this is the place to be. HINKY DINKS What: Retro Popcorn When: Available all night The 1950s style bar has a mantra: "cocktails first, questions later". And those first cocktails come served with free paprika sprinkled popcorn. Popped in a retro red machine and served in blue and white county fair cups, this bar snack is best eaten with a popcorn tequila cocktail ($18 – $22). Be sure to stay for dinner — the American-inspired menu won Best Bar Food from the Australian Bar Awards. TATLER SYDNEY What: Chilli Coated Nuts When: Available all night The live music on every week, artsy lounge area and posh cocktail menu isn’t the only reason to visit this popular night club. They offer complimentary chilli coated nuts — a delicious complement to any beverage. The snack is a milder cousin to wasabi peas and is an upscale take on the standard bar snack. This is the perfect bar to extend your night after dinner at Hinky Dinks next store. BAXTER INN What: Endless bowls of Pretzels When: Available all night The ultimate spot for swanky whisky lovers, the free pretzels are a simple yet necessary accompaniment to your drink here. Gaze up at the library wall of backlit whisky bottles while the retro dressed bartenders serve up these salty snacks. There will be no shortage here — the bowls seem to appear on telepathic command. EARL'S JUKE JOINT What: Spiced snack mix When: Available all night The 'Betta Meats' bar is always sure to have great beer, a good crowd, friendly bouncers and cool bartenders. They're also always sure to serve complimentary bar snacks, whether it be a bowl of mixed nuts or a spiced snack mix. They currently have Batch Brewing Co's What-A-Melon beer in 640ml bottles ($16), perfect to share with a date over some pre-dinner snacks. TIO'S CERVECERIA What: Bag o' Popcorn When: Available all night At the Surry Hills spot for all things Mexican kitsch, you can get an entire bag of popcorn all to yourself. It's flavoured with sweet and smoked paprika, a salty snack that goes well with their margaritas and Rio Bravo cerveza — the beer sits on ice below hanging bras and an alter to a haloed dog. The full menu of Mexican favourites and the rowdy crowd add to the fun atmosphere. GIGI What: Peanuts with your Pizza When: Available all night Newtown's most popular pizza joint always comes with a queue. Luckily, it also comes with a bowl of peanuts to stave off your pizza cravings. After all, Italian restaurants should be filled with family, friends and happiness, not hangry hipsters starving for a slice. Brilliantly, Gigi’s keeps the ambiance, and the waiting, worth it with their simple bar snack. RAMBLIN' RASCAL TAVERN What: Corn Nuts When: Available all night Why pop it when you can have it fried. The little bowl of crunchy corn kernels taste great with beer, cocktails or Mary's burgers — that's right, Ramblin' Rascal now has the Newtown favourite in-house. The hidden bar and throwback decor takes you out of the CBD in more ways than one. BAKER BROS What: Classy olives When: Available Fridays from 4pm until late This espresso bar turned Friday happy hour venue emphasises good coffee, good food and good wine. Sticking true to its Italian roots and ever feeding its patrons, Baker Bros serves olives as its bar snack of choice. They also have a bar and chef's menu available, making Friday hands down the best day to visit this friendly spot. BUTTON BAR What: Indian-style peanuts When: Available all night Served in an Indian-style curry pot, the classic bar snack is made fancy at Button Bar. The dimly lit, wooden pub bar is cosy even in its packed, noisy atmosphere. The mulled wine ($9.50) and extensive spirits menu adds to this vibe. You can also get 'Pizza All Night' ($12-$16), a hard bargain to pass up. THE DOCK What: Popcorn and dancing When: Available all night (mostly) With hilarious bartenders, a fun crowd and nights full of '90s pop, this wacky Redfern joint is an ever-changing cast of characters. But the old-school dancing isn't the only freebee at this bar — you can also get free popcorn all night long. Drink, eat, dance and be merry.
Hornbags of Sydney, get ready to put those post-Christmas muffin tops to good use because Hudson Ballroom is throwing the Kath & Kim-themed party of your dreams. On Australia Day eve, Kath & Kim's Aussie Shindig will see the CBD bar celebrate two of our most iconic silver screen heroines, complete with life-sized cutouts, a photobooth and a very effluent crowd. The legends in charge have come up with a cracker of a drinks list, starring Aussie-themed creations like Barbecue Shapes Margaritas, Bloody Marys with footy franks, vodka Passionas and of course, Kim's beloved Cardonnay (the h is silent). Post your favourite Kath & Kim moment on the Facebook event page before the party, for the chance to score yourself some free drinks. There's even a $50 bar tab up for grabs, going to the best-dressed foxymoron or hunk 'o' spunk on the night. Best start assembling your finest netball skirts, midriff tops, matching tracksuits and lycra in preparation.
The Ingenia Holiday Parks Sydney Family Show is back for 2025, and it's set to be a goodie, especially if you have energetic little ones in tow. From Saturday, April 12 to Sunday, April 27, gather the kids and head to The Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park for an Easter wonderland with exciting attractions, rides and entertainment for the whole fam. The Ingenia Holiday Parks Sydney Family Show really does offer something for everyone. Especially since this year's event introduces brand-new stage performances, including the Paw Patrol Stage Show, which will run from Saturday, April 12 to Tuesday, April 22 and the Bluey Live Interactive Experience, which will run from Wednesday, April 13 to Sunday, April 27. Or, if your kids prefer to walk on the wild side, there will be returning favourites like the Monster Jump inflatable obstacle course and an all-new Monster Sports Jam, both bringing high-energy sports activities into the festivities. If you and the fam prefer a classic, carnival-style affair, you can immerse yourself in carnival rides, stunt shows and animal encounters, and for the parents, there will be plenty of shopping and food stalls. And, of course, no Easter weekend is complete without show bags. If you love dogs, the Dachshund Day on Sunday, April 13, will offer doggie talent shows, themed market stalls and adorable dachshund meetups. And on the final day of the show, the Greyhound Adoption Day can get you meeting greyhounds in need of a forever home. There will be two hours of free parking available to take the time pressure off of any pup-to-be meetings. Whether you're there for the animals, the rides or just a fun day out with the kids, the Ingenia Holiday Parks Sydney Family Show offers all your favourite easter show traditions with great value – just in time for the school holidays. Images: Supplied. For more information or to book your tickets, visit the website.
Wearing a pair of R.M. Williams says 'I'm ready for anything'. You could be going to the pub, walking into a work meeting or heading out to the farm to milk the cows. Sparkly footwear doesn't quite conjure up the same feelings of practicality. Well, until R.M. Williams released a special run of boots in gold metallic. For the past two years, the Aussie bootmaker has released a limited run of metallic gold boots to much fanfare — the shoes sold out quicker than most of us could transfer all our money into one bank account to pay for them. So we're sure more than a few people will be happy to hear that R.M.s will release a new limited edition metallic boot, this time in silver. This time it's the women's Millicent boot that has received the sparkly treatment. As with each R.M. boot, these have been crafted out of a single piece of leather and feature the same slim shape, elegant stitching and tapered heel cuban heel of the regular Millicent range. Each pair will be made to order, so expect a two-week delivery timeframe. R.M.s are arguably Australia's most iconic shoe. From a modest start in the Adelaide outback servicing the stockmen and women of the heartland, 85 years later, a diverse range of people still wear the boots — from farmers in the outback, to corporate businessmen, to the style set at fashion week. Australian designer Dion Lee has used R.M.s regularly in campaign shoots and runway shows, even creating his own for New York Fashion Week in 2014. Continuing to embrace contemporary styles and adapting to modern fashion without sacrificing their DNA has surely guaranteed the longevity of this historic label. This latest addition to the women's range is only available online. At $545 a pair, they're not exactly cheap — but if you're looking for an investment piece, a pair of R.M.s is the very definition of the phrase. If you ask nicely, maybe someone will chip in for them for Christmas. R.M. Williams' silver Millicent boots are available to order now at rmwilliams.com.au.
Each week, Australia's cinemas deliver plenty of excuses to spend time in a darkened theatre with your eyes glued to the big screen. But when the Jewish International Film Festival returns for 2021 — after sitting out last year due to the pandemic — it'll serve up even more reasons to spend a night or several at the flicks, especially if you're keen to explore a top-notch program of movies and television shows with ties to Jewish culture. A hefty lineup spanning 29 features, 19 documentaries and episodes from three TV series is on the bill when the festival hits Sydney between Thursday, February 18–Wednesday, March 24 — running at the Ritz in Randwick from February 18–March 17, and at Roseville Cinemas from March 6–24. JIFF 2021 will open with Incitement, which won Best Film at the Ophir Awards (aka Israel's version of the Oscars), and steps into a young Orthodox law student's attempt to assassinate the Israeli Prime Minister in 1995. At the other end of the fest, it'll close with the first two episodes from the third season of Shtisel, starring Unorthodox breakout Shira Haas as the member of a Haredi family in Jerusalem. Also on offer: Haas again, this time as a teenager with a degenerative health condition in Asia; coming-of-age comedy Shiva Baby, focusing on a college student dealing with dramas at the titular event; and When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, about a Jewish family fleeing Berlin in the 30s. Or, you can check out Ruth – Justice Ginsburg In Her Own Words, the latest documentary about the late, great Supreme Court Justice; Alan Pakula: Going for Truth, which pays tribute to the director of To Kill a Mockingbird, Sophie's Choice, All the President's Men and more; and The Last Vermeer, with Dracula's Claes Bang as an army officer investigating paintings taken by the Nazis and Aussie star Guy Pearce playing a Dutch art dealer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbOEtyKJ17A Top image: Shtisel, Ohad Romano.
Instead of 'dinner and a show', how about 'tea and an exhibition'? After spending a few hours wandering through the ever-changing and always fascinating Asian art on display at White Rabbit, settle in for homemade dumplings and tea at the Teahouse. Herbal teas are the go here — Chinese and Taiwanese styles that you may never have heard of are listed alongside white teas, iced teas and matcha products. Ask one of the staff if you need a recommendation — our pick is the chrysanthemum and goji berry which comes served in a glass pot so you can watch the leaves unfurl as your delicate brew infuses.
Heading to the The East Sydney Hotel is like going on a day trip to the country. Not because of its distance from the CBD, but because of its self-proclaimed title as Sydney's 'last country pub'. The Woolloomooloo venue is filled with timeless memorabilia and mismatched timber furniture, and has a classic pub menu with some decent craft brews on-tap (along with all the classics). It's also the perfect atmosphere for the upcoming winter months, and for a spot of afternoon jazz. Sundays bring live jazz and a great opportunity to chill out and get away from the chaos of inner city living. Cool cats Geoff Bull and his band The Finer Cuts (veterans of the Sydney jazz scene) play from 5pm until 8pm, creating a fluid set of smooth tunes and frenetic beats.
David Byrne started 2025 by singing and dancing with Robyn at Saturday Night Live's 50th-anniversary concert, then releasing the Saoirse Ronan (Blitz)-starring first-ever music video for 'Psycho Killer' 48 years after the song's debut. In 2026, he'll kick the year into gear by bringing his latest world tour Down Under in January. The iconic Talking Heads founder and frontman is hitting the road to support his latest record, September 2025 release Who Is the Sky?. In Australia and New Zealand, he's playing his first gigs since 2018, when he brought his American Utopia tour — which none other than Spike Lee (Da 5 Bloods) turned into a concert flick also called American Utopia, aka one of 2020's absolute best films — this way. In Sydney and thinking "this must be the place"? You're right: Byrne is venturing to the Harbour City, playing ICC Sydney Theatre on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. If you caught his American Utopia gigs or watched the film, you'll recognise some other familiar faces on the Who Is the Sky? tour. Byrne is taking to the stage with 13 musicians, singers and dancers, some of whom were part of the American Utopia band. Just like in those famous shows, his fellow performers will all be mobile throughout Byrne's latest set. Like tour, like album: Who Is the Sky? isn't just Byrne's first set of live gigs since American Utopia, but also his first record since that Grammy-winning release came out in 2018. Launching on Friday, September 5, 2025 — with first single 'Everybody Laughs' out now — the new album features St Vincent, Paramore's Hayley Williams, The Smile drummer Tom Skinner and American Utopia percussionist Mauro Refosco among its guests. Byrne has long been a must-see live performer — and there's long been filmic proof of that fact. Forty-two years ago this December, he made concert film history with Talking Heads when he walked out onto a Hollywood stage with a tape deck, pressed play and, while standing there solo, began to sing 'Psycho Killer'. Then-future The Silence of the Lambs Oscar-winner Jonathan Demme directed cameras his way, recording the results for Stop Making Sense. [caption id="attachment_1008708" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shervin Lainez[/caption] Live images: Raph_PH via Flickr.
UPDATE, July 20, 2020: The Lion King is available to stream via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. Picture this: as gorgeously detailed nature documentary footage plays, an exceptional cast of big-name actors lend their voices to prowling lions. In addition to vocalising the animals' thoughts and feelings, the human-uttered dialogue gives the majestic big cats an epic story, charting the ups and downs of a young cub born to the king and queen of the pride. The tale that follows combines parts of Hamlet, Star Wars and Kimba the White Lion, complete with love, loss, courage, threats, rebellion and father-son issues. It features witty one-liners and catchy songs, plus antics involving hyenas, meerkats, warthogs, hornbills and mandrills. But, even as the famous tones, engaging emotional beats, amusing gags, rousing music and lively array of critters all work their magic, something seems a little out of place — namely, the rendering of all of the above with such lifelike visuals. That's The Lion King circa 2019 in a nutshell. Using technology that has only improved since he turned The Jungle Book into a naturalistic spectacle three years ago, filmmaker Jon Favreau remakes another of Disney's cartoon hits with this different kind of animated wizardry. Here, unlike in his adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's classic text, there's no visible trace of humanity — and that just might make all the difference. Such an absence is true to The Lion King's source material, obviously, but without a character such as Mowgli scampering around, this special effects onslaught lacks an anchor. The film couldn't look more realistic, and yet it never feels real. While audiences have long become accustomed to getting swept away by Hollywood's trickery — especially since digital capabilities began bringing extraordinary sights to the screen — The Lion King can't quite manage the feat. Narrative-wise, anyone familiar with the 1994 movie knows what's in store. This version might credit a different writer, with Jeff Nathanson (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) adapting the original screenplay by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts and Linda Woolverton, but it has really just been given a new coat of CGI paint. As initially presented to the animal kingdom in an awe-inspiring ceremony, young Simba (JD McCrary) is fated to follow in his father Mufasa's (James Earl Jones) regal paw prints, much to the dismay of the latter's scowling, scheming brother Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor). And so, a plot is hatched. Instead of preparing for his destiny with help from his mother (Alfre Woodard) and best friend Nala (Shahadi Wright Joseph as a cub, Beyonce once she's grown), Simba is tricked into becoming an outcast. He runs free with pint-sized pals Timon (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen), and adopts their carefree attitude. As an adult lion (now voiced by Donald Glover), he's eventually forced to reassess his choices, as well as his role and place in the Pridelands. The cynical might say that this return to The Lion King lacks humanity behind-the-scenes, too, given all that the surefire box office hit represents. Disney keeps turning its animated back-catalogue into live-action fare — or photorealistic ones in this case — with a clear plan in mind: tap into nostalgia, then profit. Still, even knowing where it stands in the huge entertainment behemoth's filmmaking assembly line, the movie doesn't lack feeling. It's clearly the result of great affection and attention to detail, ensuring that its animals really do look like they're simply strutting through the savannah. Astutely chosen cast members such as the returning Jones, the melodic Glover, and the hilarious Eichner and Rogen all invest their four-legged alter-egos with resounding emotion. Coming back to the material that originally won him an Oscar, composer Hans Zimmer gives the story another stirring score, while Elton John and Tim Rice's reused tunes all hit the same stirring marks as they once again muse about love and life. Indeed, you can almost see the human fingerprints on the film, including in its gently moving tufts of lion fur, sweeping plains and flowering greenery — or the genuine love and care that went into them, to be more accurate. That said, viewers also bear witness as one of the most beloved movies of the past quarter-century is transformed into a very expensive and true-to-life cat video. That's no knock on feline clips or nature docos. Cooing over a cute mouser is one of life's simplest pleasures, and marvelling at the splendour of the natural world is one of its great privileges. But, watching The Lion King, it's impossible to get completely lost in any of these joys. Or, for that matter, to surrender to the slavishly faithful story or undeniably impressive visuals, which work well separately and yet don't convincingly fit together. Perhaps it isn't by accident that Timon and Pumbaa steal the show as they frolic through the film's frames, with an ad-libbing Eichner and Rogen proving the picture's standouts (sorry, Beyonce fans). It isn't new, but the wisecracking comic duo do espouse a fitting motto, and one that Disney probably hopes viewers truly take to heart this time around. It's possible to say "hakuna matata" to The Lion King redux, and feel the love for its highlights without falling tail over paws for the end product. Alas, it's harder to shake the sensation that it doesn't convincingly take its place in the cinematic circle of life. That opening, though, as recreated nearly frame-by-frame in all of its electrifying glory — it's a complete and utter wonder, albeit one that the rest of the movie can't manage to match. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TavVZMewpY
Sydney's cocktail scene is about to heat up this winter as popular Spanish liqueur Licor 43 is partnering with five top South American and Spanish restaurants to introduce the Carajillo 43. This twist on the classic Carajillo (kah-rah-HEE-yoh) cocktail combines fresh espresso with Spanish liqueur, known for its sweet, citrusy flavours, which come from a secret blend of 43 ingredients. For a limited time, from July 19, the first 43 amigos to order a meal can score a complimentary Carajillo 43 when they mention this promotion at each venue. Keep reading to find out where and how you can join the fiesta.
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.
