From vending machines lining the streets to combinis (that is, convenience stores) taking up real estate on every corner of Tokyo, it's clear Japan is a nation puts a lot on emphasis on convenience. The Japanese attitude to fast food is no different — except in Japan, convenience doesn't have to mean compromising on quality. From curry houses filled with salarymen, ubiquitous heartwarming hamburgers and contemporary takes on traditional Japanese meals that will set you back less than $5AUD a pop, this is where to get real fast food in Japan. [caption id="attachment_629778" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lucy Dayman[/caption] SUKIYA No matter how long you spend in the country, Sukiya (すき家) is one sight you'll become familiar with fast. With over 1600 stores dotted throughout the nation, the store's red, white and gold logo is a staple on the Japanese urban landscape. The 24-hour restaurant delivers no fuss, classic Japanese dishes, though their most iconic dish is gyudon, which translates to 'beef bowl'. What you'll get is shredded beef served over rice accompanied with topping of your choice. What's great about Sukiya is the chain's dedication to experimentation and perfection, with additions and modifications being made to the menu — so no matter how many times you've visited, there will be something new to try. A meal will set you back about ¥500-800 ($6-10AUD). [caption id="attachment_629781" align="alignnone" width="1920"] cathykid via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] OOTOYA Ootoya might be a little steeper in price than beef bowl outlets like Yoshianoya and the aforementioned Sukiya, but it's worth the extra yen. Plus, with the average price hovering around ¥800 ($9-10AUD) it's still cheaper than anything in Australia. Ootoya specialise in classic Japanese teishoku 'meal sets'. Though a meal set sounds like something you'd get in a retirement village or jail, it's actually the best way to appreciate carefully curated Japanese cuisine. It will usually include rice, miso soup, and a main dish, which might be fish, or soba noodles. At Ootoya the sets are seasonal, so you won't be stuck eating the same thing over and over. [caption id="attachment_629779" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lucy Dayman[/caption] HIDAKAYA RAMEN It's impossible to speak about Japanese fast food — or just Japanese food, for that matter — without giving time to the nation's most internationally loved culinary creation: ramen. In Japan, ramen is as diverse as it is popular; every prefecture, city, restaurant and even chef has a different take on the dish. In Tokyo the ramen options are almost excessive, so, if you do your research, you can definitely find the most perfect bowl for your palate. However, if you're after consistently good, cheap, filling and easy-to-access ramen, you can't miss Hidakaya. This generally 24-hour outlet is the perfect place to rest your weary body and dive into a warm comforting bowl any time of the day or night. Most meals will cost you little more than your pocket change at ¥500 ($6AUD) and, if you want to drink, booze options start at ¥270 ($3AUD). [caption id="attachment_629782" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dick Thomas Johnson via Flickr.[/caption] UOBEI GENKI SUSHI Like ramen, you sushi is incredibly diverse in terms of options, price points and specialties — but as a little local tip, Uobei Genki Sushi is kind of special. Cheap and always delicious, the crew at Genki Sushi have reinvented the concept of conveyor belt sushi. Rather than constantly rotating dishes, the Genki Sushi use the conveyor belt method to deliver specifically ordered dishes right to you. With touch screen menus, all you have to do is select what you feel like and, within moments — like some strange futuristic dream — the sushi will take a ride on a little delivery plate stopping right in front of your face. With dishes costing around ¥100 ($1.20AUD) and simple English ordering, there's really no excuse not to go. [caption id="attachment_629783" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hunter Nield via Flickr.[/caption] MOS BURGER It's impossible to speak about fast food in Japan without acknowledging the country's growing love of western cuisine. Like so many things here, Japan has turned appreciation into full-blown obsession and somehow managed to improve the already perfect. Though from the outside it seems like an average burger joint, MOS Burger is a not-so-little takeaway restaurant with a connection to the land: M.O.S stands for 'mountain, ocean, sun'. With over 1700 stores across the country, the store's mission is to "make people happy through delicious food". In a time where other burger chains are constantly unveiling artery clogging Frankenstein-style creations to garner publicity, Mos' humble attitude to producing made-to-order, well-crafted hamburgers is pretty refreshing. Depending on how fancy you want to go a MOS Burger will cost between 200- ¥600 ($2.50-8AUD) [caption id="attachment_629784" align="alignnone" width="1920"] kici via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] COCO ICHIBAN Though the icon status goes to ramen and sushi, curry is actually the most popular dish in the country. With over 1200 locations sprinkled throughout Japan (and more internationally), Curry House Coco Ichibanya are the local curry kings. Traditionally, Japanese curry is a more mild take on the Indian dish and it comes in a variety of forms. From curry with udon noodles, 'curry pan' (that's curry-filled bread) and the classic karē raisu (aka curry rice), this dish is a lot more Japanese than you anticipated. What makes Coco Ichiban so exciting is your freedom to fully customise your order. The amount of rice, spice and all those toppings are so nice that it means you're never going to get a mass-produced run-of-the-mill plate here. Depending on your order you can easily get a serious meal for less than ¥700 ($8AUD).
When news broke last month that Dominos had invented a $30,000 delivery robot, we thought we'd reached the apex of pizza-related technology. Turns out we couldn't have been more wrong. In a development that threatens to shatter the very fabric of existence, a pizzeria in Williamsburg, Brooklyn has invented...a pizza box. No, not a pizza box. A pizza box. A pizza box. Made from pizza. Behold. Introducing The PIZZA BOX PIZZA! A pizza box made entirely out of pizza! No waste, 100% pizza and 100% delicious. pic.twitter.com/2KxxndlK4Z — Vinnie's Pizzeria (@vinniesbrooklyn) April 27, 2016 Rendering all other modes of food transport and storage obsolete, this glorious edible container is the brainchild of Vinnie's Pizzeria owner Sean Berthiaume, who might actually be Thomas Edison reincarnated as a guy who really, really likes pizza. Having previously caught our attention after photos of his pizza with pizza topping went viral online, Berthiaume came up with this new creation while trying to think of ways to reduce waste. "I thought 'what if you can make something that you can eat every part of,'" he told NBC 4 New York. The pizzeria is still working out the finer points of delivery – for the time being, anyone who orders one will have it delivered to them wrapped in foil. A pizza delivered in a pizza box will run New Yorkers up a bill of around $40. Unfortunately we suspect that even if they did deliver internationally, both the box and its contents might go a bit stale in the time it takes to get to Australia. Via NBC. Header image via Dollar Photo Club.
Good news and bad news, movie lovers. The good news is that the IMAX in Darling Harbour is getting a major upgrade. The bad news is that, until it's finished, you'll have to watch your blockbusters in a regular cinema like a chump. The 117ft screen will cease operation on September 25 ahead of a "program of renewal" that will see the entire building demolished. In its place, rising from the ashes, will be a brand new IMAX facility, housed alongside a six-star hotel and a major new restaurant and retail complex. Crucially, the new screen will maintain the title of the largest on the planet (back off our record, world). Who knows, they may even add a couple of extra inches, just to stay ahead of the game. In addition to the giant-ass screen, the new cinema will also boast 430 seats along with the latest in IMAX laser projection and sound. Also included in the upgrade will be a brand new 40-seat luxury auditorium, where you'll be able to enjoy catered meals from surrounding restaurants while kicking back and enjoying the film. The downside to all this is that construction isn't expected to finish until 2019, which means watching the next three Star Wars movies, and about 86 Marvel new films, in a boring old multiplex. Alternatively you could pop down to Melbourne, home to the world's third largest IMAX? Yeah, we know. It's just not the same.
At this point, it's not really a surprise when Uber announces some strange, attention grabbing promotion. Sometimes they bring you ice cream. Other times, it's kittens. And this Australia Day, they're delivering the most Australian thing of all: an umpire to officiate your high stakes game of backyard cricket. Starting from 11am on January 26, Uber users in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra will be able to log onto the app and, with the touch of a button, request an UberUMPIRE who can lay down the law when it to comes to the at best sketchily laid out rules of the countries favourite backyard pastime. "Like so many great traditions, the official ‘rules’ of this revered sport have long been a cause of debate, testing the patience (and mateship) of well-meaning backyard athletes across the nation," reads a statement on Uber's website, confirming that yes, this is in fact an actual thing that is happening. "We thought it was about time someone put a stop to this, so we’ve joined forces with the legendary Billy Bowden and our mates at Optus to bring you UberUMPIRE – your very own, real-life, legit, Cricket Umpire on-demand." https://youtu.be/7Gxi6TKtVFk Via Pedestrian. Image via Dollar Photo Club.
It attracted 2.03 million votes in 2014, is regarded as 'the world's greatest music democracy' and is pretty much the only thing on Australian radios on Australia Day between the odd 'Khe Sanh'. Whether you 'get into it' or not, triple j's Hottest 100 has some serious reach, and this year, they're putting that blanket coverage to bloody good use. As part of this year's Hottest 100, triple j have teamed up with Indigenous school mentoring program AIME, for some hardcore fundraising. Aiming to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian students, AIME and triple j are encouraging Hottest 100 voters to donate right after they've popped their favourite songs in the voting form — votes open this Thursday, December 10. On Australia Day, you can also use your Hottest 100 rager or hushed barbecue as a fundraiser for AIME. In the lead up to the launch of the 2015 Hottest 100, we're stoked to announce a new partnership with triple j. Posted by AIME on Monday, December 7, 2015 It's all for a damn good cause, and you'll still get to screech about your favourite artist being played too early dammit. By donating in the Hottest 100, you'll be helping the hardworking AIME crew help 10,000 Indigenous kids finish school at the same rate as non-Indigenous students by 2018. Now that's worth getting all flustered about — albeit alongside whether Major Lazer tops the lot or not. It's not the first time triple j has worked with AIME; they've given big love to the crew around events like Homeground and NAIDOC week in the past. Here's hoping it rubs off on their listeners. Kyran Wheatley and Gen Fricker on triple j breakfast for #NAIDOCweek Posted by AIME on Thursday, July 9, 2015 Voting opens this Thursday, December 10. Via triple j.
It's time to dig the gumboots out of the back of your closet — Splendour in the Grass is returning to North Byron Parklands for another year. In 2023, Splendour celebrates its 21st year. Maybe your 21st birthday was the best night of your life. Or, perhaps you're still planning for the 21st to end all 21sts. Either way, Splendour's big two-one is serving up a massive lineup to celebrate. Lizzo, Flume, Mumford & Sons and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs lead the 2023 edition — the latter of which were slated to headline 2022's Splendour in the Grass lineup, but cancelled in the leadup. Flume's set is an Australian exclusive, celebrating ten years since his self-titled album and coming after his recent Australian tour in late 2022. Mumford & Sons are also doing an Aussie-exclusive gig, after last heading our way in 2019. Music lovers hitting Byron Bay can look forward to Hilltop Hoods, Sam Fender, J Balvin, Slowthai, Little Simz, Idles and Tove Lo as well, plus Arlo Parks, Ball Park Music, 100 Gecs doing another Aussie exclusive, Pnau and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard — and more. Plus, there's been some late additions to the lineup. Powerhouse Russian punk group Pussy Riot recently joined both the music and Forum programs. Danny Brown, Ocean Alley and Thelma Plum were all added, too, to replace Lewis Capaldi, Slowthai and Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Single-day, multi-day and camping tickets are all still available if you want to plan a last-minute trip up to Byron Bay. [caption id="attachment_891057" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Claudia Ciapocha[/caption] SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2023 LINEUP Lizzo Flume (Australian exclusive: ten years of Flume) Mumford & Sons (Australian exclusive) Yeah Yeah Yeahs Hilltop Hoods J Balvin Danny Brown (Australian Exclusive) Sam Fender Idles Little Simz Tove Lo 100 Gecs (Australian exclusive) Arlo Parks Ocean Alley Ball Park Music Iann Dior King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard 070 Shake Thelma Plum Pussy Riot Pnau Ruel Loyle Carner Benee Marlon Williams Hooligan Hefs Peach PRC Palace Dune Rats Tkay Maidza Noah Cyrus Skegss Sudan Archives Cub Sport Meg Mac X Club. Claire Rosinkranz Jack River The Smith Street Band Lastlings Jeremy Zucker Young Franco Sly Withers MAY-A The Vanns Telenova Vallis Alps Jamesjamesjames Kaycyy RVG Teenage Dads Balming Tiger Automatic Harvey Sutherland Gali Del Water Gap Royel Otis Shag Rock Big Wett Mia Wray Memphis LK Gold Fang Milku Sumner Forest Claudette Full Flower Moon Band William Crighton Hellcat Speedracer Triple J Unearthed Winners Mix Up DJs: Tseba Crybaby Latifa Tee Foura Caucasianopportunities Luen Mowgli DJ Macaroni Crescendoll Top image: Stephen Booth.
Anyone who’s dreamed of spending a summer living in Berlin has just gotten some added incentive. The German capital has officially enacted new rent-control legislation, in order to curtail rising rental prices that have been driving low-income earners out of the city. Must be nice. The new law, which was approved by the German parliament in March, will prohibit landlords from increasing rent to more than 10 percent above the local average. The law was already in place for existing contracts, but will now apply to new tenants as well. Berlin was previously experiencing some of the fastest rising rental rates in Europe, with the average rate jumping by more than 9 percent between 2013 and 2014 alone. If you’re wondering why Australia doesn’t have similar legislation on the books, then welcome to the club. A recent global survey that took into account rental prices as well as various other cost of living factors including food, transport and utilities found that Sydney was the fifth most expensive city in the world, with Melbourne right behind at number six. Brisbane came in at 21, while Perth and Adelaide tied at 24. By comparison, New York City was number 26. That’s right. Living in New York is less expensive than Perth. The NSW Greens Party actually proposed changes to Sydney rental laws during their state election campaign earlier in the year. Under their proposal, rises in rent would be tied to the rate of inflation, and landlords would be restricted to one price increase per year. Member for Newtown Jenny Leong has pledged to introduce the legislation to the state’s lower house. In the meantime, Flight Centre has tickets to Berlin starting at $1499. Via The Guardian. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
A new study by Melbourne's La Trobe University has led one expert to suggest what we've all known deep down for years: dogs should be allowed at the pub. A recent survey of more than 2300 Victorian pet owners found that 63 percent of dogs were not walked daily and that many animals were left alone for large amounts of time throughout the day. The solution? Take them out drinking, of course. According to La Trobe researcher Dr. Tiffany Howell, only 26 per cent of people take their pet on an outing every day, and 17 per cent do it less that once a week. It's a concerning statistic that RSPCA spokesperson Michael Beatty attributes to restrictive Australian laws that mean dogs are allowed in fewer public places than they are in other countries around the world. "In England or Scotland or New York they are always getting exercise because they go everywhere with their owner," Beatty told the ABC. "In Australia they can't go everywhere with their owner, like a pub ... They can in Europe and most parts of America and the UK." Obviously, we here at Concrete Playground fully support the notion that dogs should be allowed in pubs and bars. For starters, it'd mean you'd never have to drink alone again. Studies have shown that animal companionship is great for people's mental health and happiness, so that's another big mark in its favour. Plus, if you have one too many beverages, your dog can help you find your way home. Mr. Beatty also said that human laziness plays a major part in why pooches aren't getting enough exercise, telling the ABC that "unfortunately some people seem to think that owning an animal is a right rather than a privilege. With that privilege comes certain responsibility." And in case you were wondering, it's not just dogs in need of a workout. The same La Trobe Uni study found that 40 per cent of cats were overweight. Frankly, a nice long pub crawl would probably do them good. Just whatever you do, don't give your pets alcohol. We know you'll be tempted, but really, we cannot stress that enough. Via ABC Online. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
No longer just the realms of Monica Trapaga yazz residencies and kiddie-aimed pantomimes, the after-hours Twilight at Taronga series took it up a huge, cred-worthy notch last year. This summer, they'll be aiming even higher, returning with a new, eclectic lineup every weekend from Thursday, January 28 through Saturday, March 12. And this year's ARIA frontrunner, spinner of yarns and general face-melter Courtney Barnett is opening the whole thing. Bringing drawlin' ditties from her widely celebrated debut album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit to the zoo, Barnett kicks off one heck of a lineup for Twilight at Taronga 2016. Taking over the lawns of Taronga Zoo's fully-licensed natural amphitheater, this year's series is more locally-focused than last year's, with the likes of Violent Femmes, John Butler Trio, Birds of Tokyo, Josh Pyke, C.W. Stoneking and finishing up with Lady Black Mambazo. Plus, you can dag it up with ABBA tribute act Bjorn Again, returning for two nights due to popular demand after last year. After one of the most contemporary changes the Twilight at Taronga series has seen in its 20 years running, the feathered, furred and finned have plenty to choose from this summer. Picnic-bringing is encouraged, but there'll also be incredibly delicious hampers available onsite — we tasted them, they're extremely generous and genuinely great. There's a bar onsite, and general nosh available from the canteen. Either way, it's actually the one of the best dates in Sydney — lock those tickets down. TWILIGHT AT TARONGA 2016 LINEUP January 28 — COURTNEY BARNETT, supported by Jep and Dep January 29 — JOSH PYKE, supported by Winterbourne January 30 — FAR FROM FOLSOM featuring TEX PERKINS AND THE TENNESSEE FOUR February 4 — JOHN BUTLER TRIO, supported by Tinpan Orange - NEW SHOW ADDED February 5 — JOHN BUTLER TRIO, supported by Tinpan Orange - SOLD OUT February 6 — THE WAIFS, supported by Ruby Boots February 12 — BIRDS OF TOKYO, supported by Fractures February 13 — MISSY HIGGINS, supported by Paul Dempsey - SOLD OUT February 14 — MISSY HIGGINS, Special Guests TBA - VALENTINES SHOW ADDED February 19 – MARK SEYMOUR & THE UNDERTOW, supported by Ben Salter February 20 – JAMES MORRISON BIG BAND February 26 & 27 — BJÖRN AGAIN March 4 — VIOLENT FEMMES, supported by Xylouris White March 5 — COLIN HAY March 11 — C.W. STONEKING, supported by Marlon Williams March 12 — LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO Twilight at Taronga 2016 is happening January 28 to March 12. Tickets available from the website from Thursday, October 29. Image: Maclay Heriot.
Hitting Sydneysiders with an epic program of immersive, challenging, and mind-blowing art for another year, the Biennale of Sydney 2016 is an art lover's event like no other. Spanning multiple locations across the city and surrounds every two years, it's not hard to feel a little spoilt for choice. But before the festival wraps up in early June, we thought we'd save you some time and hand over our pick of the artworks you can't afford to miss. CHIHARY SHIOTA'S 'CONSCIOUS SLEEP' (2016) Insomniacs beware, this one might hit too close to home. Taking over the convict barracks of Cockatoo Island, Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota shows just how chilling a few hospital beds suspended by thousands of metres of black thread can be. Replicating the conditions encountered by prisoners back in 1861, Shiota's installation feels like stepping into a giant arachnoid's underground lair. It might seem like the stuff of nightmares, but the artistry of this space makes it a hauntingly beautiful experience. KEG DE SOUZA'S 'WE BUILT THIS CITY' (2016) Creating a cubby house from laundry bags, tarps and hessian sacks is just the start of Keg De Souza's contribution to this year's Biennale. As a unique, technicolour display of makeshift architecture, We Built This City has turned 16 Vine Street, Redfern into a hub of conversation for all the right reasons. The largest of her constructions to date, this tent is set to host The Redfern School of Displacement, bringing audiences talks and tours discussing global issues of displacement. Head along to this installation, and make sure to swing by for a guided 'Tour of Beauty' of Redfern and Waterloo, presented by SquatSpace. WILLIAM FORSYTHE'S 'NOWHERE AND EVERYWHERE AT THE SAME TIME NO.2' (2013) It's difficult to detach from your roots. For choreographer and artist William Forsythe, his longtime association with the Frankfurst Ballet and later the Forsythe Company has gone on to inform much of his recent artistic installations. Connecting the movement of dance with a spectacular series of 40 hanging metal pendulums, audiences are invited to navigate this unpredictable architectural space. The challenge? To avoid actually touching the objects themselves. MELLA JAARSMA'S PERFORMANCE 'DOGWALK' (2015-16) Taking things to a whole new level of bizarre, Mella Jaarsma is putting on a fashion show like no other. Alright, 'fashion' might be the wrong term to use here. But with costumes as elaborate as these, it's tempting to believe you've stumbled into some twisted couture show. Every Wednesday evening until June 1 head along to Jaarsma's installation Dogwalk at The Art Gallery of NSW, a 60-minute dog-walking performance filled some seriously creepy animal-skin costumes. Picking a part the bond between humans and animals, this show is definitely one to get you talking. DON'T FOLLOW THE WIND'S 'A WALK IN FUKUSHIMA' (2016-ongoing) Get a dose of global history at this one-of-a-kind Carriageworks installation. Brought to you by the curatorial collective Don't Follow the Wind (featuring Chim↑Pom, Kenji Kubota, Jason Waite, Eva and Franco Mattes), A Walk in Fukushima sees their collaboration efforts with 12 artists following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Step inside an inaccessible radioactive area of the Fukoshima Nuclear plant through 360-degree virtual reality headsets. You'll be intrigued and immersed in an abandoned landscape unlike anything you've seen before. BO CHRISTIAN LARSSON'S 'FADE AWAY, FADE AWAY, FADE AWAY' (2016) Camperdown Cemetery is home to some of colonial Australia's biggest names, but that doesn't concern Swedish artist Bo Christian Larsson. In fact, he's taken matters into his own hands by dressing each tombstone in a custom-made white cover. By obscuring the identities of each grave, Larsson hopes to rid this historic cemetery of its ingrained class hierarchies. And with nearly 2000 of these stones to see on site, this is sure to be one unnerving art excursion. LEE MINGWEI'S 'GUERNICA IN SAND' (2016) As kids, mastering the art of constructing the perfect sandcastle was a pretty tough gig. Protecting our sandy creations from trampling feet and rising tides certainly seemed like an almighty challenge to our younger selves. But imagine taking on the task of reproducing a famous Picasso creation with only one humble ingredient: sand. Taiwanese artist Lee Mingwei took this on, using the fragility and impermanence of this work to reveal the creative power transformation allows. With the help of eight dedicated volunteers, Mingwei has transformed the concrete floor of Carriageworks into a stunning recreation of Guernica. Audience members were encouraged to literally walk across the work on April 23 (later swept and restored by Lee Mingwei and his team). TARO SHINOD'S 'ABSTRACTION OF CONFUSION' (2016) Prefer things a little more zen? Why not make a trip to AGNSW and transcend the daily grind with Taro Shinoda's work Abstraction of Confusion. Take a seat on his tranquil tatami mat and let the simplicity of this installation wash over you. Drawing inspiration from philosophy and the power of meditation, you'll leave feeling as if you've been wandering through the paths of a beautiful Japanese garden. APICHATPONG WEERASETHAKUL'S 'HOME MOVIE' (2016) Film lovers, this is one to watch. Thai artist Apichatpong Weerasethakul brings his distinctive cinematic style to Carriageworks with his latest short, Home Movie. As a way of reflecting his time spent in Chiang Mai during turbulent political events, this seven-minute creation symbolises the relentless violence and instability that continues to terrorise the Thai nation. ALEXIS TEPLIN'S 'ARCH (THE POLITICS OF FRAGMENTATION) (2016) Consider the future of our world in a whole new light with Alexis Teplin's latest performance and installation Arch (The Politics of Fragmentation). See her abstract linen paintings act as the backdrop to this thought provoking performance, which poses the question "when decadence fails us in our quest for utopia, where do we end up?" This is one depiction of a fictional reality we are intrigued to see play out. Learn more about the Biennale program here.
UPDATE, January 22, 2021: Get Out is available to stream via Binge, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. When a movie starts with a character walking nervously along a dark street, we all know what's going to happen next. Decades of horror films have taught us that nothing good can occur here. And, in Get Out, the situation plays out exactly as we've been conditioned to expect. The scared person is abducted by a masked attacker and dragged into a car. Crucially though, the victim isn't an attractive young woman, but rather a black man (Lakeith Stanfield) getting snatched up in the kind of picket-fenced suburbia most white folks could stroll through without fear. If you've ever seen his work with Keegan-Michael Key across the five seasons of their sketch comedy show Key and Peele, writer-director Jordan Peele's fondness for dissecting matters of race won't come as much of a surprise. While his first stint as a filmmaker doesn't feature white zombies refusing to eat people of colour, the underlying idea that African Americans are treated differently still sticks. Here, as in his comedy, he presents a scenario that quickly goes from amusing to uncomfortable to downright unnerving. Following Get Out's sinister opening scene, the film's focus switches to Brooklyn photographer Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), who's about to head to his girlfriend Rose's (Allison Williams) family home in the country. He's meeting her parents for the first time, and he's understandably anxious. When he asks "do they know I'm black?", she assures him that it doesn't matter because her dad would've voted for Obama a third time if he could've. Chris has clearly heard similar sentiments before, and knows it's going to be awkward anyway. "I don't wanna get chased off the lawn with a shotgun," he jokes. After they arrive, Rose's father (Bradley Whitford) keeps dropping "my man" into daggy attempts at conversation. Her mother (Catherine Keener) is polite to Chris, but noticeably stern with their black servants (Betty Gabriel and Marcus Henderson). Then there's Rose's younger brother Jeremy (Caleb Landry Jones) who makes uncomfortable comments about Chris' physique. To say that things don't feel quite right is a horror movie understatement right up there with Rosemary finding her new neighbours a bit odd in Rosemary's Baby. But again, Chris has seen this type of behaviour before. He's not thrilled, but he's not astonished either. Like all sinister storylines, the events that unfold are best discovered with as little prior knowledge as possible. It's not hard to pick up on the cleverly deployed horror tropes as they appear: the isolated location, hitting a deer on the way there, and the vocal warnings from Chris' pal Rod (LilRel Howery) back home. Likewise, you won't be able to miss the way that race keeps seeping into every conversation, shaping the way the movie unfolds. Peele's mastery of his spook-inducing genre is evident from the outset, but it's how he uses his classic setup to subvert the expected cliches and unleash a barrage of scathing social commentary that proves downright genius. What's so great about Get Out is how it defies easy categorisation. It's smart and oh-so-timely in the way that it highlights what it's like to be black in "post-racial" America. It's also genuinely unsettling and tense in an edge-of-your-seat manner, and never stops making viewers question what it is they're seeing. Last but not least, it's frequently hilarious, which given the director's background shouldn't come as a surprise. Add all of that together, and you're gifted one of the most assured, astute, entertaining and intelligent horror movies to creep out cinemas in years.
Summer is coming to Chippendale's Old Clare Hotel. The recently revamped luxury lodgings opened for business a few months back, wowing us with their stylish interior and food offerings so good they border on offensive. To be honest, we didn't really need another reason to want to pay them a visit. But then who are we to say no to a high altitude pool and bar? Officially open as of Friday, November 20, The Old Clare Rooftop Pool and Bar is located on the fourth floor of the boutique hotel, which occupies the site that formerly housed the Carlton United Brewery Administrative Building. Visitors will be able to enjoy killer views of the city while lounging around on deckchairs in the sun, before cooling off with a dip in the proverbial drink. As for literal drinks, you can expect summer cocktails a plenty courtesy of Matt Fairhurst, who is also the beverage manager at the yet-to-be-opened Kensington Street Social downstairs. The Miami Vice, for example, is part pina colada, part frozen strawberry daiquiri, and seems like basically the most perfect poolside beverage that anyone could possibly imagine. They'll also have beers, ciders, spirits and gin & tonics with a twist, as well as fresh juice and non-alcoholic spritzers. Get a preview of the rooftop #Clarepoolbar at the Clare bottle shop this Sat 14th and Sun 15th Nov from 3-7pm. Expect tastes of the outrageous Miami Vice frozen cocktail, Strawberry Daiquiri layered with Pina Colada. Bring down the heat with chilled Murray's Fred beers and live music from Cory Jackson. P.S. Chances to win bar tabs for the Rooftop Pool and Bar opening (next) weekend for the best guests. -- #TheOldClareHotel #Clarebottleshop #unlistedcollection A photo posted by The Old Clare Hotel (@theoldclare) on Nov 10, 2015 at 10:06pm PST The Old Clare will also use the rooftop space for group fitness sessions that will be open to both hotel guests and the general public. Classes will include yoga, cardio boxing, circuit and personal training. The Old Clare Hotel can be found at 1 Kensington Street, Chippendale. The poolside bar will be open from 3pm Wednesday through Friday, and from 11am on weekends. Images: Nikki To.
Chucks: for a long time, it seemed like every second person had a pair. There have been different colors, patterns and materials, but there has never been a significant redesign of this ubiquitous shoe. Or at least there hadn't been – until now. On July 28 Converse is officially set to release the All Star II, a brand new iteration of their classic Chuck Taylor All Star. It's about time, too. As iconic as they may be, Chucks aren't historically the most comfortable shoe to actually wear. Walk any significant distance in them and your feet tend to feel like a combination of white noise and the burning sensation of the sun. Thankfully, it would appear Converse has been listening to our complaints. You won't hurt your arches with the new All Star II, which uses Nike Lunarlon cushioning to make it feel like you're walking on a fluffy cloud. The shoe will also feature a more "breathable" micro-suede lining and a padded non-slip tongue. At the end of the day though, while the guts may be different, the outside remains more or less the same. Converse is keeping the familiar rubber toe, All-Star patch and matte eyelets, albeit with a few minor enhancements. Moreover, classic Chuck-lovers don't need to worry: the All Star II isn't replacing the original. Rather, it's an addition to the family. Unlike its predecessor, there are only four colours available for the limited initial run (black, blue, red, and white). That being said, don't be surprised if Converse release more versions of this new shoe after the first run has ended.
So, you've mastered all the usual yoga poses, and you think you've attempted every variation that there is. Not so fast. There's a style you mightn't have tried, and it's all the rage in Brisbane. That'd be blindfolded yoga, aka one of the main attractions at the Left Brain / Right Brain workshop at Woolloongabba's Princess Theatre on January 29 and 30. Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like. All that bending and breathing you're familiar with — well, it's about to seem a whole lot different when you're doing it without being able to see anything. Using sensory deprivation to sharpen focus, shift attention inward and heighten instincts is the name of the game, with the trend towards sightless stretching gaining traction around the world for a couple of years. If you're keen to give it a go, you might also want to peruse the rest of the event's program. A sound bath session or other movement and music-oriented mind-expansion techniques, anyone? Of course, we haven't yet mentioned the most exciting part — well, for those a little self-conscious about their form, that is. With a blindfold wrapped around your head, you can't see your exercise classmates and they can't see you either. You don't get that at bikram or disco yoga. For more information, visit the Left Brain / Right Brain website. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
The man who helped Amsterdam maintain its nightlife will travel to Sydney in November, as one of the major guest speakers at this year's Electronic Music Conference. As the Night Mayor of Amsterdam, for the past few years Mirik Milan has built connections between business owners, residents and various government entities, creating a safe and prosperous environment under which the city's after dark culture could thrive. Huh. Must be nice. With its world famous lockout laws, the City of Sydney has obviously taken a slightly different approach to its citizen's nocturnal activities — something we're sure Milan will touch on in his opening keynote address. [caption id="attachment_578886" align="alignnone" width="226"] Pictured: Sydney's official nightlife policy.[/caption] "We believe Milan's knowledge and experience will be invaluable in our own city's pursuit of a vibrant and safe nightlife," said EMC programmer Eric Flanagan. "Amsterdam has shown us and the rest of the world that it is possible to achieve this." Although Night Mayor isn't actually an official government position — rather, Milan is the head of an advisory NGO — that hasn't stopped the former club promoter from having a significant impact on policy. In the past few years he's helped clarify Amsterdam's drug laws, introduced 'soft enforcement' services to try and deescalate potentially dangerous situations, and pushed hard for 24-hour licences in certain nightclubs which, since their introduction, have led to a significant reduction in street noise. He's been so successful that several other cities around Europe, including Zurich and Paris, have introduced Night Mayors of their own. Now in its fifth year, the Electronic Music Festival will run from November 28 until December 2 at the Ivy complex in Sydney, and will feature panel discussions, Q&As, workshops, parties and more. Early bird tickets are available now. Keep your eyes peeled for the full program announcement, which should be dropping soon.
UPDATE NOVEMBER 28, 2016: Sydney's pop-up glamping hotel has been postponed until 2017. New dates will be released soon. Glamping on an island in the middle of Sydney Harbour — it's one of the most decadent 'outdoorsy' things you can do (it's kinda, sorta camping, sure). Cockatoo Island has been doing this for years, but rival island Clark is taking things up a notch. Aussie company Flash Camp are setting up on Sydney's Clark Island, turning it into a temporary pop-up tent hotel. Best bit? They're also bringing a pop-up restaurant from Three Blue Ducks. No less than 22 specially-designed canvas tents will take over the island from November 19 to December 6, flanked by a pop-up version of Three Blue Ducks. Considering Clark Island has one of the best panoramic views in the harbour (Wine Island should know), this is some next-level, highly opulent, 100 percent Instagrammable pop-up biznatch. It's a pretty damn exxy $420 per person to stay, so prepare to break open that piggy bank. Who are Flash Camp? They're an Australian business specialising in temporary accommodation — glamping tents in particular. You might know them from their fancy, fancy tents at Splendour in the Grass (y'know, the ones that look drier and more plush than your own soggy palace with its own 'lake views'). Now, let's break down the 'hotel'. Each tent coming to Clark Island five metres in diameter and somehow fit in comfy single and king size beds, quality bed linen, bamboo furniture, solar lighting, Armadillo & Co rugs, Biology Skin toiletries and more. There'll also be a communal lounge and dining area, bathroom facilities and the best feature of all: YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY WATER. Invite someone you actually like. Three Blue Ducks are yet to reveal their hotel menu. "There's something really exciting about cooking a large cut of meat or freshly caught fish and inviting guests to interact and be part of that experience," says Three Blue Ducks co-owner and head chef Mark LaBrooy, who we assume will not be actually catching fish from Sydney Harbour to cook onsite. But then again... Flash Camp will pop-up on Clark Island from November 19 to December 6. Rates start at $420 per person, per night including breakfast, dinner and boat transfers. To book visit Flash Camp's website. Image: Elise Hassey.
If you're a female chef, sommelier, waiter, restaurateur or manager — in short, if you're a woman and you work in hospo — there's a brand new not-for-profit in Australia dedicated to you. It's called WOHO and it's already attracted the support of some big names in the industry, including Christine Manfield, Danielle Alvarez and Nadine Ingram, who'll be acting as mentors. Even though 51.8 percent of Australian hospitality workers are women, only 15.4 percent of CEOs in the same industry are. So, when it comes to the top jobs, females are seriously underrepresented. WOHO will be bringing educational opportunities and forums to professionals at all stages of their careers. Members will be able to share experiences, ask questions, discuss issues, seek advice and access a supportive network. There'll be a formal mentoring program, regular events and meet-ups. "It is a very exciting time for Australian hospitality, which is now getting more recognition on the world stage," says Julia Campbell, founder and chair of WOHO. "While our forward-thinking approach to food and concepts is well-recognised, it is imperative that we face the issue of female underrepresentation at a senior level in the industry. WOHO is a vehicle for us to inspire, recruit and retain more females and to give them the confidence to support themselves and each other in their professional development." The rest of the WOHO Board is made up of Anna Pavoni (Ormeggio), Jane Hyland (4fourteen), Claire van Vuuren (Bloodwood), Michelle Maiale (A Tavola), Jane Strode (Bistrode CBD), Lisa Hobbs (Dedes Group), Lisa Margan (Margan Estate), Kerrie McCallum (delicious and Stellar) and Lyndey Milan (OAM). WOHO will launch on May 29 at 6pm at Three Blue Ducks, 1/85 Dunning Avenue, Rosebery. There'll be food by Bloodwood, 4Fourteen, Pastry Project and Bistrode CBD, and drinks by Printhie, Lisa McGuigan, Margan Estate, Young Henrys and Santa Vittoria. Tickets are $25 (members) or $30 (non members). WOHO membership is $10/month.
There's no one right way to experience SXSW, whether you're attending the Austin or Sydney version, but one of the event's huge highlights is its high-profile list of folks who get talking. As 2023's debut festival Down Under demonstrated, this is the kind of event where you could be listening to Chance The Rapper one moment, then Black Mirror's Charlie Brooker the next. In 2024, it's also the type of festival where The Kid LAROI, human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson, author Johann Hari, Lucy Lawless, Grace Tame, Suzie Miller and Stephen Page are getting chatting. This year's lineup features more than 1000 speakers, 60-plus tech exhibitors, over 200 artists, 120-plus games and more than 75 screenings across Monday, October 14–Sunday, October 20 dates. Other standouts from the conference part of the program include Nick Kyrgios, Noémie Fox, Chad Lawson and Molly Taylor. Fancy hearing about heading into space? That's where Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg comes in. On the music side of the bill, not only is The Kid LAROI the keynote speaker, but the 'Stay', 'Without You', 'Thousand Miles', 'Love Again' and 'Girls' talent is introducing a First Nations showcase. Stepping from Heartbreak High to SXSW Sydney Music Festival, Ayesha Madon is also one of that strand's highlights. SAHXL, Nick Ward, BALTHVS, Total Tommy, brothers J-MILLA & Yung Milla, Joel Sunny, Ena Mori, Smol fish, HighSchool, Maina Doe, 404: you'll be able to see them as well. Screen-wise, once opening night's Y2K kicks off the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival, the program features everything from headliners Saturday Night, Smile 2, Nightbitch, The Front Room and Pavements to Slice of Life: The American Dream. In Former Pizza Huts from Barbecue and We Don't Deserve Dogs' Matthew Salleh and Rose Tucker — and Warwick Thornton (Samson & Delilah, Sweet Country, The New Boy), The Babadook composer Jed Kurzel and Barbie executive producer Josey McNamara among the talks. At Tumbalong Park, SXSW Sydney's festival hub is back 60-plus hours of free entertainment, too. Keen to feel like you're stepping inside some of your favourite TV shows? So is Prime Video's Primeville pop-up from Tuesday, October 15–Sunday, October 20 at Fratelli Fresh Darling Harbour. That's barely scratching the surface of 2024's SXSW Sydney characteristically jam-packed lineup. If you can't find something exciting to do, see, watch, learn from or dance to every single day of the fest, you clearly haven't looked at the program. [caption id="attachment_970635" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ian Laidlaw[/caption] Top images: Jordan Kirk, Ian Laidlaw and Jaimi Joy.
On the more casual end of the spectrum for the eating precinct, Gojima's American-Japanese fusion menu is more compact, with nine sushi burgers — made with a sushi rice and nori bun — and a selection of sides, such as Japanese-style southern fried chicken. For dessert, frozen custards and chocolate miso, green tea or strawberries and cream thickshakes are also available. Appears in: The Best Japanese Restaurants in Sydney Where to Find the Best Burgers in Sydney for 2023
It's great that rum is no longer only associated with pirates and over the top tiki bars. In the past few years we've seen a resurgence of this spirit that's born from sugarcane — it now doesn't just appear in the mojito, but is a staple of the bar menu. Bartenders regularly use rum to spice up classic cocktails and create over the top drinks. Sydney has many specialty rum bars in which knowledgeable bartenders (who know the difference between light and dark rum) perfectly mix up rum cocktails and know exactly what to mix with each type. In partnership with Baron Samedi Spiced, we asked our friends at The Lobo Plantation in Sydney for a few ways to use rum — so we can reignite our love for this tropical spirit and shake up our at-home cocktail routine. TASTE THE FLAVOURS IN AN OLD FASHIONED An old fashioned is a classic cocktail, often enjoyed with whisky, but best enjoyed with rum. It's a simple combination of rum, bitters and orange peel — easy to make, and a great way to take time to taste the flavours in your rum (rather than having it mixed into a tropical cocktail where the other flavours will overwhelm it). To make the The Lobo Plantation old fashioned, simply fill an old fashioned glass (the same size as a Negroni glass) with ice, add a shot of Baron Samedi Spiced (4oml), a splash of bitters and sugar syrup and stir it all together gently for 30 seconds. Top with an orange peel for a little citrus twist. TRY SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE TROPICAL Another classic way to enjoy rum is to mix it into a tropical, colourful cocktail and pretend you're on holiday. This type of drink should preferably be served in an extravagant glass, or served with a creative garnish (The Lobo Plantation serve theirs with a mini pineapple on top). To make The Lobo Plantation's Carribean-inspired Bajan Julep, build crushed ice into a tall glass and add a shot (40ml) of Baron Samedi Spiced. Mix in a dash of blackberry liqueur and a dash of fresh lemon juice, then add a teaspoon of passionfruit, a teaspoon of sugar and top it all off with ginger beer. ENJOY ON ITS OWN If you've decided that you really like rum, an easy, delicious way to enjoy it is to drink it on its own, stirred with a little ice. Rum was manufactured, distilled and made long before any other spirit was, and each brand has developed its own particular flavours and methods of distillation. Baron Samedi Spiced is infused with vanilla, cocoa, cinnamon that give off rich flavours of butterscotch, coffee and vanilla. Like whisky, when you sip rum the flavours are much more apparent. Although rum is made by distilling the byproducts of sugarcane — that long grass that's prevalent in countries like the Carribean and the Philippines, it tastes much more complex than that. It's delicious. Images: Kimberley Low at The Lobo Plantation.
A supermarket in Denmark has committed to fighting food wastage by only selling produce past its use-by date. Located in Copenhagen, the recently opened Wefood has been set up by not-for-profit organisation Folkekirkens Nødhjælp, selling expired food at a discounted rate with the hope of reducing the 700,000 tonnes of food that goes to waste in Denmark each year. "Wefood is the first supermarket of its kind in Denmark and perhaps the world as it is not just aimed at low-income shoppers but anyone who is concerned about the amount of food waste produced in this country," spokesperson Per Bjerre told The Independent. The supermarket came into being on the back of a successful crowdfunding campaign, which raised one million Danish kroner, or just over $200,000. The supermarket is staffed by volunteers, with profits being used to help fund Folkekirkens Nødhjælp's work in some of the poorest countries in the world. The supermarket also has the support of local government officials. "It's ridiculous that food is just thrown out or goes to waste," said Eva Kjer Hansen, Danish Minister for Food and the Environment. "A supermarket like Wefood makes so much sense and is an important step in the battle to combat food waste." According to the United Nations, human beings throw away around 1.3 billion tonnes of food each year. Given that one in nine people around the world don't have enough to eat, that's a fairly depressing statistic. In Australia alone we waste more than four million tonnes a year, although organisations like Second Bite and OzHarvest are doing their best to reduce that number. Perhaps we could use a Wefood of our own? Via The Independent.
For everyone who can't make a trip to IKEA to buy furniture and homewares without eating meatballs, but also doesn't eat meat, the Swedish retailer has added both vegetarian and plant-based versions to its range in recent years, including Down Under. But what if you feel the same about the chain's hot dogs? Enter IKEA's plant dogs, which have just hit Australian stores. Let's be honest — getting through a visit to the brand's warehouse-sized outlets doesn't just involve shopping, and also deciding that everything in your house could use a facelift, but also working up an appetite while browsing and buying. Accordingly, it usually entails tucking into one of IKEA's famed bites, whether you're sitting down for those meatballs mid-shop or nabbing a hot dog on the way to the car. Obviously, the original meaty hot dogs that've been on offer for more than four decades aren't going anywhere; however, these new plant dogs expand the range. They're made from rice protein, plus carrot, onion and apple — and they'll set you back $2 a dog. IKEA is working to make 50 percent of the meals in its restaurant meals plant-based by 2025, with offering plant dogs the next step in that direction. In Sydney only, on four individual dates, the brand is also busting out a plant dog truck to hand out freebies. You'll find it at IKEA Marsden Park from 2–6pm on Tuesday, May 28 and at IKEA Tempe from 11am–3pm on Wednesday, May 29. After that, it's popping up at Centenary Square in Parramatta from 12–4pm on Thursday, May 30 and at Dolphin Court at Bondi Pavilion, Bondi Beach, from 11am–3pm on Saturday, June 1. To nab a free taste — your choice of a plant dog or plant balls — from the yellow-hued truck at its Sydney stops, you will need to show your IKEA Family membership (and if you're not already a member, you can sign up for free online). IKEA's plant dogs are now available at its Australian stores — head to the chain's website for further details. The IKEA plant dog truck is popping up across Sydney from Tuesday, May 28–Thursday, May 30 and on Saturday, June 1.
When it comes to venturing out for a tasty feed, you don't have to ask us twice. And when that meal just happens to be raising funds for an excellent cause as well? Well, there are wins all round — which is the idea behind Enmore's newest culinary addition. There'll be plenty of winners at Colombo Social, which opened on Enmore Road. As a social enterprise eatery, it's lending a big helping hand to Sri Lankan asylum seekers and refugees, assisting them by providing employment opportunities and supporting their integration into Australia. The restaurant is the brainchild of Australian-born Sri Lankan Shaun Christie-David, who has teamed up with friend and hospitality veteran Peter Jones-Best. Inspired by Christie-David's own experiences feeling like an outsider during his childhood, the venue will recruit and train asylum seekers and refugees, as well as offering ongoing support through what's often a pretty rough transition period. Colombo Social is working with refugee support agency Settlement Services International — and not-for-profit suppliers. A meal here won't just help out folks doing it tough, though — it'll also open diner's tastebuds to a whole world of new flavours. In celebrating diversity, Colombo Social is dishing up a bold, colourful menu, melding authentic Sri Lankan flavours with clever tweaks and a bit of modern Australian fusion flair. You'll see that in Colombo-born Head Chef Chamara Pathiranage's menu — like the rich lamb bone marrow roll, the chilli mango-glazed fried chicken and a Sri Lankan-style 'snack pack' with devilled potatoes, pulled lamb and curry gravy. You also won't want to miss street snack staple kottu (chopped) roti, or the roti 'tacos' which come loaded with spiced soft-shell crab, mango salsa and fried curry leaves. A range of cooling cocktails rounds out the fun, with sips like the Invisible Mango Lassi – a milk punch concoction fusing Ceylon Arrack (a traditional Sri Lankan spirit), with custard, Sri Lankan tea and mango.
Keep it on the down low, but Sydney's got a brand new bar (well, technically new). Located in the basement beneath Riley St Garage in Woolloomooloo, in a subterranean space previously occupied by a mechanics workshop, Busby Under the Garage opened with little fanfare earlier this month. With champagne, cocktails and sophisticated bar food to accompany the classy surroundings, it seems like the perfect spot to wind up your evening after a big jaunt out on the town. That being said, you'll have to pick your nights carefully. While Busby will be open to the public on Friday and Saturday evenings, from Monday to Thursday it'll operate as a private functions space. According to Good Food, Riley St Garage co-owner Liesel Peterson initially planned to keep the new venue a secret from the public, utilising it as a hidden hangout for regulars and celebrities. Thankfully, he opted against that idea, and now it can be enjoyed by one and all. The drinks list at Busby promises wine, champagne and cocktails, while the food menu includes fish and chips as well as plates of cured meats and cheeses. The space itself, replete with luxe leather and industrial-style lighting, was designed by Alexander & Co, the same team behind the fit outs at Surly's, The Morrison, Daniel San and The Print Room. Busby Under the Garage can be found beneath Riley St Garage at 55 Riley St, Woolloomooloo. For more information, check them out on Facebook. Via Good Food. Image: Riley St Garage.
When the Vivid LIVE and Vivid Music (different things, it confuses us all) lineup was announced a good few weeks back, squeals were heard and hashtagged citywide. Since then there’s been time for the dust to settle and tickets to be snapped up, but you’re still sitting on your hands. Vivid kicks off on May 22 y'all, time to turn those circled program guides into reality. With kitsch '80s Japanese pop, brash Sydney garage punk, shoe-shufflin' soul and heartfelt indie folk on the bill, you can choose your own Vivid adventure through sound with our top picks. So grab a pre-drink at Vivid's Opera House pop-up bar, the Deep Purple Pool Hall, before Sufjan. Lock down your favourite Studio party. Take in some Italo beats and noms before Grace Jones. Or roll the dice on a Freda's party (highly recommended). Just don't watch it all happen on Instagram. By the Concrete Playground team. Image: Prudence Upton.
In an inspiring display of hospitality — one that you’d rarely associate with anyone in the moneymaking tourism industry — a new hotel in Vienna has been set up to provide accommodation to both tourists and refugees forced to flee their native countries. Recently opened just a stone’s throw away from the centre of the Austrian capital, the magdas Hotel boasts 78 furnished rooms for visiting tourists, right alongside two residential units providing housing for up to 25 young asylum seekers displaced by persecution and war. The hotel is an initiative of the Austrian arm of the international Catholic aid collective Caritas. In addition to providing temporary accommodation, magdas Hotel also offers employment opportunities, with a majority of the staff being refugees. No two guest rooms are the same, with most of the furnishing having been donated or purchased from second-hand stores. Don’t let the ramshackle set-up fool you though. This place looks nice. Basic rooms start from around €60 a night, although you might well be tempted to upgrade to a suite. Amenities include a breakfast buffet and a fully-stocked bar, while the front door is located just a few minutes away from the Praterstern Transportation Hub as well as the Prater Recreation Park. Fingers crossed that the magdas Hotel does well. It’s always nice to see social enterprises like this succeed, especially when you’re in a country whose own track record with refugees is a little... uh... less accommodating. That being said, certain Australian entrepreneurs have been taking steps in this regard, such as the recently opened migrant-run clothing manufacturer Social Outfit in Sydney and Melbourne. In the mean time, if you’re going to be in Vienna any time soon, you can book at room at the magdas Hotel via their website. Via Design Milk. Images: AllesWirdGut Architektur/ Guilherme Silva Da Rosa.
Every day, worldwide, McDonald's feeds approximately 1% of the earth's population. Like a partially-digested chicken nugget entering your bloodstream, we'll just let that sink in for a moment. The Founder, by writer Robert D. Siegel (The Wrestler) and director John Lee Hancock (Saving Mr. Banks) tells the true story of Ray Kroc, a milkshake mixer salesman from Illinois who in 1954 stumbled across an innovative hamburger joint run by the McDonald brothers (Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch) and convinced them to franchise it into the 92nd largest economy in the world. Again, just let it siiiiink on in. Played magnificently by Michael Keaton, Kroc presents as a ruthless and relentless businessman for whom 'no' is just a soft yes waiting to be solidified. "Contracts are like hearts" he explains at one stage to the brothers, "…they're meant to be broken". And so it was that the McDonalds empire began to form, with or without the support of the two men to which everything was owed. It's a fascinating, heartbreaking story to behold. Offerman and Carroll Lynch are perfectly cast as a pair of brothers whose steadfast belief in the importance of authenticity and quality seems at once admirable and naive - not to mention antithetical to the very ideas that would eventually turn each of them into multi-millionaires. Of course, the fact that they only make millions, and not billions, is what forms the bulk of the film's story, as it catalogues the means by which Kroc manoeuvred himself into a position of unmatchable power over the pair via manipulative and underhanded yet entirely legal means. By the time "gentleman's handshakes" are being proposed, you already know how things are going to end, just as you lament the feeling that there's nothing else the brothers could have done to stop it. This is a slick production from top to bottom, beginning with Siegel's superb script and its equal measure of laughs and wince-inducing severity. The direction, too, is impressively restrained, allowing the performers and script to shine without embellishment. As in the recent Birdman, Keaton is the standout in a field of outstanding actors, bringing similar levels of narcissism to the role. His serpentine smile and darting eyes betray much of the Kroc personality before he ever opens his mouth. Do not be surprised to see Keaton's name appear on the nomination roll for next year's awards season. In all, The Founder is an admirable piece of cinema that's at once a character study and a history lesson, just as its lead offers an uncomfortable mix of bastardy and astounding foresight. You won't like much about Ray Kroc by the end of this film, but you'll be hard-pressed to deny his determination, business acumen or impact upon a world in which 62 million customers eat at McDonalds every day. 62 million customers. That's more than the population of Great Britain. So yeah…just let that sink in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX2uz2XYkbo
Green Gourmet features a menu that reads like a vegan's heaven on earth. All dishes are entirely meat-free, dairy-free and (interestingly) free of onion and garlic as well. Green Gourmet buys into the ancient vegetarian practices of China and India, which tout vegetarianism as a means to rediscover ' universal love' and the pure character of man. Part of that practice is to eliminate all spicy-scented vegetables (including onion, garlic, leeks, spring onion and chives) which are believed to induce offensive reactions, from bad breath to lustfulness. Whether you are excited by Green Gourmet's adherence to these practices or thinking, 'Shit, the food will have no flavour', prepare to leave full and happy - and perhaps pleasantly surprised. Green Gourmet is family-owned and bases its business around creating nutritious food to benefit mind and body. The health vibes are apparent, making customers feel like they are cared about. And, don't worry, your tastebuds will be taken care of too. With one restaurant location in St. Leonards and a stall at the Sydney Vegan Market, Green Gourmet is clearly enjoying a regular crowd. Jump on this vegan bandwagon and stop in for some curry triangles and 'duck' spring rolls with hoisin sauce. If you prefer a spicy dish, we recommend the Sichuan style eggplant or cauliflower with sweet and spicy red vinegar glaze and sesame seeds. Make sure you save room for dessert, too.
Ah vino. Best paired with a fine cheese or a hearty meal, or enjoyed around the fireplace with your oh-so-classy friends. Or at least, that's how it works in your mind. In reality, we're more likely to be inhaling a $6 vintage straight from the goon sack, or using the discarded bottle as a microphone in our solo rendition of 'All By Myself' – all before stumbling woozily off to bed. Hopefully your experience lies somewhere in the middle of those two scenarios. But the reality is that, for every bona fide sommelier out there, a large portion of the rest of us are more likely to pick our poison based on the price and how nice the label looks, as opposed to things like acidity, provenance or bouquet. And something about tannins. Those are a thing, right? Embracing this fact, VinePair co-founder Adam Teeter (which is an excellent surname for a wine buff, by the way) has teamed up with illustrator Jeff Licciardo to produce 26 hypothetical wine labels that better reflect the average wine drinker's true experience. Forget about drinking to forget: these vintages know you better than you know yourself, offering everything from handy pairing suggestions ("drink me with post-break-up anger and takeaway") to positive affirmations ("yes, you're definitely on key") to nuggets of brutal honesty ("you're turning into your mother"). Look, somebody needed to tell you. At least this way you can get drunk immediately after hearing it. For more honest wine labels, visit VinePair. Via BuzzFeed.
Plan those half-hearted New Years Resolutions, the 2015 Falls Music and Arts Festival lineup is here, announced by triple j this morning. Returning to Lorne, Marion Bay and Byron for another bout of end-of-year scullduggery, Falls is back with the likes of Foals and Disclosure at the top of the bill (both with shiny new albums to boot). Expect those beloved Brits Bloc Party on the bill as well, alongside a killer collection of international gems — we're talking Gary Clark Jr, Mac DeMarco, Kurt Vile and The Violaters, Toro Y Moi, Django Django, Young Fathers and The Maccabees to start with. Even Weird Al' Yankovic will headline the opening Boogie Nights party. Random. Australia's contingent deserves two thumbs way up, from international goakicker Courtney Barnett to dancefloor dominators RUFUS and the likes of the legendary Paul Kelly (with his Merri Soul Sessions), Hilltop Hoods, Meg Mac, Gang of Youths, Hiatus Kaiyote, Little May, Alpine, Birds of Tokyo, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Seth Sentry, Halsey, BØRNS and more. Enough chatskies, here's that lineup you're after: FALLS FESTIVAL 2015 LINEUP: Alpine The Avener Birds of Tokyo Bloc Party BØRNS Courtney Barnett Disclosure Django Django Foals Gang of Youths Gary Clark Jr Halsey Hiatus Kaiyote Hilltop Hoods King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Kurt Vile & The Violators Little May The Maccabees Mac DeMarco Meg Mac Oh Wonder Paul Kelly & Merri Soul Sessions feat. Clairy Browne, Dan Sultan, Kira Puru, Vika & Linda Bull RÜFÜS Seth Sentry Toro Y Moi Young Fathers and more BOOGIE NIGHTS LINEUP Art vs Science El Vez Fleetmac Wood 'Weird Al' Yankovic and more Lorne, Victoria (18+) December 28, 2015 – January 1, 2016 Marion Bay, Tasmania (all ages) December 29, 2015 – January 1, 2016 Byron Bay, New South Wales December 31, 2015 – January 3, 2016 Via triple j. Image: Falls Festival.
Multisensory cooking, auto suggestion and a robotic desserts trolley: these are just a few of the things diners can expect when famed chef Heston Blumenthal restarts service at his three-Michelin Star restaurant The Fat Duck later in the year. After undergoing extensive renovations — during which time Blumenthal popped up in Melbourne's Crown Casino — the original Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, England is set to reopen this October. Interviewed by The Observer restaurant critic Jay Rayner, Blumenthal dropped a number of tasty tidbits as to what has changed. "The move to Australia was a great opportunity to question what the Fat Duck is," Blumenthal told Rayner. "In the sense that we cook food and it’s served to people, we’re a restaurant. But that’s not much, is it? The fact is the Fat Duck is about storytelling. I wanted to think about the whole approach of what we do in those terms." In addition to consulting with Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall on the idea of turning the menu into a story — complete with introduction and chapter headings — one of the most intriguing/terrifying things Blumenthal mentioned in the interview was that he had spoken with mentalist Derren Brown, star of Derren Brown: Mind Control, about ways of extracting information about his customers "without them being too aware", and using auto suggestive techniques in order to convince diners they're getting what they most desire. Yeah, that doesn’t sound sinister at all. The Fat Duck (along with other destination restaurants) has apparently long been in the habit of Googling guests in advance, but such prosaic sleuthing is no longer enough to sate Blumenthal. Other features of the "maturing" Fat Duck include a £150,000 robotic sweetshop shaped like a dollhouse and a new online booking system to help sort through the more than 30,000 table requests per day. You can, naturally, expect the prices to go up too — although considering the tasting menu was £220 a head before the renovations, that might keep you, and your suggestive mind, out of Blumenthal's orbit. Via The Observer..
Some artwork is just too spectacular to be limited to a canvas — not only to be seen, but truly experienced. Imagine walking through a Van Gogh masterpiece — Sydneysiders, you'll be able to very soon. In case you missed its previous two (very successful) runs, the globally touring multi-sensory experience Van Gogh Alive is coming back to Sydney from Thursday, December 8 until late February, 2023. After gracing the eyeballs of more than eight-million guests in 80 cities worldwide, the exhibition will be making its home in the The Entertainment Quarter's Grand Pavilion. Via 40 HD projectors, drifting fragrances and cinema-quality speakers, a visit will see you fully immersed in the colours, techniques and detail that immortalised Van Gogh in the art world. The massive 70-metre x 25-metre marquee will also boast a themed bar and cafe space to extend that immersion to your tastebuds. Walk through a multi-screen projection of Starry Night, touch real (fake) sunflowers instead of ogling painted ones in the Sunflower infinity room, and keep your eyes peeled for information on brand new spaces and experiences coming to this year's run. Kids and adults alike can appreciate the unique perspectives on the artist's inspirations via photos and videos alongside the staggering gallery. All of this come from Grande Experiences, a Melbourne-based group that owns and operates galleries and experiences as breathtaking as this one in over 150 different cities worldwide. Van Gogh Alive hits The Entertainment Quarter from Thursday, December 8 until Sunday, February 12, 2023, but could be extended later into February. For more information and to nab your tickets, visit the website.
Sydneysiders, prepare to take your love of the outdoors to its fanciest extreme. You'll get some fresh air, party by the ocean and swing a mallet like your life depends on it. That's right — the Royal Croquet Club will soon be making its New South Wales debut. After wowing Adelaide since 2013 and popping up in Melbourne and Brisbane earlier this year, March 24, 2016 marks Sydney's turn to enjoy an all-ages festival dedicated to the pastime many might associate with cult '80s teen flick Heathers. But the Royal Croquet Club isn't just about whacking balls around. Think 11 days of food, drinks, music and more good vibes than you can shake a croquet club at — which is an option here, clearly. Event organizers are keeping tight-lipped about the food and entertainment lineup, so we'll refrain from wild speculation. Based on what they put together for Brisbane, however, you should probably be getting excited. Games, sun, shade, tunes, food by local vendors and cocktails that won't stop flowing. What more could anyone possibly want? The Royal Croquet Club hits Bondi Park from March 24 to April 3. For more information, visit their website and Facebook page.
UPDATE Thursday, May 27: Ricos Tacos is closing its Rosebery taco truck. The truck's last day of service in front of Gelato Messina will be Sunday, May 30, with Ricos announcing it's "hibernating for winter". Head down this week for the last service of the truck, or head along to Ricos Marrickville pop-up at The Grifter Brewery Co. which will continue to serve the beloved tacos every Saturday and Sunday. Taco King at The George Hotel may be no more, with the Waterloo pub recently reopening under the direction of new operators, but the Taco King himself Toby Wilson is pressing on with a new tortilla venture: Ricos Tacos. The Taco King is dead, long live the Taco King. Following a two-day pop-up at the Grifter Brewing Co, the taco truck is setting up (slightly more permanent) shop in the car park of Gelato Messina's Rosebery HQ from Thursday, September 10. It'll be open from 5pm Thursday and 12pm Friday–Sunday until sold out, with three different $6 tacos on the menu: chorizo al pastor, Jalisco-style braised beef and fried cauliflower with tahini. Also on the lineup: corn chips and salsa ($8), black beans and rice ($6), cashew and malt horchata ($6.50) and iced hibiscus ($5). If you didn't try Wilson's tacos at The George, you may've encountered them at the various guises of Ghostboy Cantina (including at Dixon House and inside Tio's Cerveceria). Missed those, too? We suggest you make a beeline to Rosebery come Thursday. There's no word yet on exactly how long Wilson will be pressing tortillas in the Rosebery car park, but Messina says it'll be "ongoing" while its regular Messina Eats events are put on hold during COVID-19.
Apple's first wearable computer, the Apple Watch, is almost here. After months of furious pub debates, Android-loving naysaying and know-it-all speculation, Apple finally announced the release date for its next 'must-have' device at its 'Spring Forward' event in San Francisco — and the price tag for its sold gold version. Starting at AU$499 and running all the way up to AU$14,000 for their ultra-hard 18-karat gold version, the shrunken, wearable computer fits into a watch body and runs a modified version of iOS — the system running your iPhone and iPad right now. Available in two sizes (38 and 42mm height) the Apple Watch comes in three different 'collections' including the Apple Watch Sport Collection — with 60 percent stronger anodised aluminium case, though not completely waterproof — and the pretty, pretty AppleWatch Edition made from 18-carat yellow or rose gold, sapphire crystal glass (and costing that cheeky $10K). Not as baller as these watches, but a good first model. Preorders for the Apple Watch start April 10, available in the US, UK, China, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and Hong Kong. The watch will be available from April 24, but if you wander into a Genius bar you'll be able to try one on from the 10th. Analysts are predicting Apple could up to 60 million shipments within a year of its release — perhaps not if Pebble Time has anything to do with it. So, how does the Apple Watch work? Behold, the 'digital crown' controls all The primary joystick of the whole device, you can go all James Bond by using the rotating dial on the side of the watch to navigate (something many smartwatches leave out for aesthetics). Even so, the display is also used as a touch screen classic smartthing style. For all you constant screencrackers out there, that face is made from a super hard-as-nails single line sapphire material. Your watch can tell you to run faster Using four sapphire lenses on the back of the watch and the mighty, custom-designed S1 chip, the watch can detect your pulse rate (along with an epic amount of other info). Combine this with the accelerometer measuring body movement and the GPS tracking your distance, the watch can figure out how hard you're exercising and suggests fitness goals. What a beneficial jerk. 'Glance' at your most important info The Glances feature is where you make the watch all about you. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and your custom-selected screen of notifications pops up. Weather, dirty messages, calendars of events you're avoiding; it's all on your wrist. You can charge wirelessly No winding here. To charge up, the Apple Watch fuses MagSafe and inductive charging — you just hold the back of the watch near the charging connector and let the magnets pull everything together. Apparently the battery lasts 'all day', which could be anywhere from a probably 18 hours to 72 hours in Power Reserve mode. Siri runs the show Because the Apple Watch is so mini in screen size, Siri comes into play for a significant amount of commands. Yep, you'll feel like a spy. An awesome, awesome spy. You can send doodles to your mates Using the newly revealed app Digital Touch, watch wearers can create little animated drawings and send them to other watcheroos. Cute. App developers will be able to create Apple Watch versions, we're thinking Snapchat is particularly made for this. You need an iPhone for it to work And there's the catch. The Apple Watch needs an iPhone 5 or 6 nearby in order to function, feeding from the web or GPS info to work. Music, photos and contacts come across, sure, but this makes the device one of Apple's most you-need-that-to-get-this products ever, even the iPad stood on its own little stand. The Apple Watch will be available for purchase in Australia from April 24, pre-orders open from April 10. Via Mashable, TIME and PC Advisor.
Back in July, we told you about the opening of a booze-free bar in Auckland, whose owners hoped to tackle New Zealand's serious drinking obsession and simultaneously capitalise on council alcohol regulations that saw all city watering holes closed by 4am. It seemed like a nice idea in theory, but punters clearly didn't agree, and now just five weeks after opening, Tap Bar has shut its doors. Co-owner Grady Elliot admitted defeat to the New Zealand Herald, telling the paper, "We gave it a shot and Auckland drinking culture just didn’t tie in with the dry bar." Or, to put it another way, "No one showed up." Guys, this might be a reaaaaaal good time to start thinking about our relationship with alcohol. New Zealand's first and presumably last dry bar, Tap (briefly) served a mix of alcohol-free beer, wine and mocktails starting from around NZ$5. The absence of alcohol meant they could stay open all night, but according to Elliot, what few patrons they did get mostly stuck with the free water. The NZ$15 entry fee probably didn't help matters either. Perhaps the most depressing thing about this story is that Elliot was clearly well prepared for failure, and has already applied for a liquor licence for the location, which will reopen as a more traditional nightclub as soon as possible. Talk about sticking to your guns. On the plus side, now he'll be able to drink to forget about that pesky oversight. Meanwhile, the operators behind London's recently opened alcohol free bar Redemption are presumably rolling beer kegs in through the back door. Just in case. Via The New Zealand Herald. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Less than a month after being cancelled due to alleged financial mismanagement, the iconic Tropfest short film festival has been thrown a much needed lifeline. On the very day that the festival was originally meant to take place, Tropfest founder John Polson has announced the event will instead be held on Valentine's Day next year, after securing a last minute sponsorship deal with CGU Insurance. "It’s incredibly encouraging to see that the Australian public and corporate community really want to see Tropfest return," said Polson, who was forced to cancel the festival after discovering what he, at the time, called "a terrible and irresponsible mismanagement of Tropfest funds." No word yet on whether the CGU deal extends beyond this year, or whether it will help Polson cover the festival's six figure debt. Details on how the money was actually lost likewise remain unclear, although it's worth mentioning that Polson is currently engaged in legal action against Tropfest managing director Michael Laverty. He told the Sydney Morning Herald that "in my opinion, we've done nothing wrong but respond as best we can to a terrible situation brought about by bad management." Polson also took a swipe at the lack of assistance from the NSW government, saying "many people have asked what has the NSW government done since this crisis…the truth is not a lot at this point." "Tropfest is a great festival, providing unique platforms for talented filmmakers through its events and initiatives, and we are excited to be able to help them get back on their feet," said Ben Bessel, Commercial Insurance Chief Executive for IAG, which owns CGU Insurance. "Supporting this fantastic cultural event is about creating a renewed opportunity for Tropfest and all those small businesses associated with the event to continue to thrive and get some business done." In recent years Tropfest has attracted a national live audience of up to 150,000 people along with hundreds of thousands more via live TV broadcast. Polson confirmed that all 16 of this year's finalists will make their premiere as planned – albeit a few months late – live in Sydney's Centennial Parklands on February 14. Trop Jr., the festival's competition for filmmakers aged 15 years and under, will also go ahead.
"Franchise" needn't be a dirty word in Hollywood, and the Mission: Impossible movies are shining examples as to why that is. Now in its sixth instalment, this isn't just a franchise done right. It's a franchise that somehow improves with each new chapter – an ongoing escalation of stakes and stunts that never sacrifices the intelligent, honest and light-hearted storytelling that's been so critical to the series' sustained appeal. At the forefront once again is leading man and producer Tom Cruise, whose capacity for performing increasingly complex and outrageously dangerous stunts remains inversely proportionate to his age. In Mission: Impossible – Fallout his IMF agent Ethan Hunt is at it again, weaving cars and motorbikes through the traffic-packed streets of Paris, HALO jumping from 30,000ft and leaping across rickety London rooftops. Cruise even accrued over 2000 hours of helicopter flight time prior to filming, all so that he could personally perform what is arguably the film's most thrilling and death-defying sequence. His love of filmmaking is apparent in every frame he occupies, and its value to the enduring allure of the franchise cannot be overstated. That the Mission Impossible brand could survive beyond Cruise's involvement seems far less assured than, say, James Bond or Batman. Not unlike the two most recent Bond films, Fallout compels its hero to shine a light on his own past deeds, with the movie's title referring not just to the literal threat posed by three nuclear devices but also the consequences of a lifetime spent obediently killing, stealing and undermining at the behest of the US Government. Adding to the emotional stakes, Fallout also repeatedly asks its characters to weigh up the value of a human life, presenting them with multiple scenarios in which they're forced to choose between the one or the many – knowing that either path carries with it irreconcilable guilt and heartache. Written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie (whose return to the franchise marks the first repeat involvement by a director, with McQuarrie having also written and directed the previous instalment, Rogue Nation), Fallout achieves the rare feat of being an unceasing action movie that always feels more like a drama. There is no superfluity here. Every punch, shot, jump, crash and explosion exists because it must. This is a story-driven international escapade that never stops to sit down and catch its breath. Around Cruise the IMF family assembles once again, with Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Alec Baldwin and Rebecca Ferguson packing equal measures of comedy and conflict into every scene they get. Man of Steel's Henry Cavill also joins the action, with his lumbering, muscular CIA assassin representing an appealing counterpoint to Hunt's penchant for the softer, tradecraft touch. He and Hunt are at once rivals and compatriots – two competing assets unwillingly paired together in pursuit of a common goal. Or so it seems. As always, the Mission: Impossible franchise throws up all manner of red herrings, double-crosses and mask-pulling identity swaps, meaning – just like the characters – you're never quite sure who to trust. If the story borders on confusing at points, it's only because the time-honoured tradition of spy movies commands nothing less. Ever since 1996, this series has unapologetically embraced jargon-heavy dialogue and twists upon twists without ever feeling compelled to play it safe or dumb things down (Mission: Impossible 2 being the regretful exception). If most sequels fail because they're rushed into production purely to capitalise on their predecessor's success, Fallout demonstrates the benefit of having the patience and the discipline to say: we will make this film not when, but if a good enough story comes our way. So it is that McQuarrie, Cruise and company deliver a benchmark setter for action movies – a rollicking, tense and captivating piece of cinema that begs to be enjoyed on the big screen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb49-oV0F78
Imagine that you could spend an entire week or so at an overseas film festival. If time and money wasn't a concern, and you could put your everyday life on hold, which movie bonanza would you go to? Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto: they're all good choices. If you're after new indie flicks, you're probably already thinking about packing your bags for Sundance. Of course, Robert Redford's annual Utah event isn't the only early-in-the-year American film festival worth dreaming about. Come March in Texas, there's another fest making movie buffs envious. Since 1987, South by Southwest has proven a launching pad for music and technology — and, from 1994, for indie flicks, too. On the film front, SXSW's 2016 program keeps the good stuff coming with 137 features, including 89 world premieres and 52 efforts by first-time filmmakers. Alas, here at Concrete Playground we're watching from afar between March 11 to 20, rather than hopping on a plane to Austin. To soothe our jealousy, we've put together a list of the ten films from SXSW we're hoping will come to Australia. If we can't go to them, fingers crossed that they can come to us. DON'T THINK TWICE If you saw Sleepwalk With Me back in 2012, you're probably a fan of Mike Birbiglia. The comedian's first directorial effort, based on his one-man off-Broadway show and accompanying book of the same name, offered a breezy but insightful look at the problems of relationships, careers and planning for the future. His next film effort sounds just as subtly charming, with an improv troupe at its centre. Birbiglia stars again, joined by Keegan-Michael Key and Gillian Jacobs, should you need any more reasons to get excited. COLLECTIVE:UNCONSCIOUS Five filmmakers. Five dreams. Five attempts by the former to make movies out of the latter. Cinema is often called dreamlike, but collective:unconscious takes that description to another level. In stories involving the Grim Reaper hosting a television show and a sports class taking place inside of a volcano, among others, the group of indie directors doesn't just bring their own nocturnal imaginings to their screen. Instead, Lily Baldwin, Frances Bodomo, Daniel Patrick Carbone, Josephine Decker and Lauren Wolkstein attempt to make movies out of each other's unconscious musings. BEWARE THE SLENDERMAN You might've heard of the Slenderman. The very thin, very tall creature started popping up online in 2009, and was rumoured to stalk, abduct and generally terrorise and terrify people, particularly children. Slenderman was actually the creation of an online forum user, who created the figure as part of a Photoshop contest. That didn't stop two 12-year-old girls from killing their best friend in the hopes of meeting the faceless man, with documentarian Irene Taylor Brodsky dissecting their story, the impact of the darker side of cyber space, and how an internet meme inspired a murder. UNDER THE SHADOW We might've left Under the Shadow off of our Sundance list, but we won't make the same mistake twice. There's a reason that the Farsi-language film from Jordan, Qatar and the United Kingdom is playing a US festival again so soon after its world premiere in January, after all. Compared to The Babadook, Babak Anvari’s feature debut tells of a mother and daughter who begin to suspect that they’ve been targeted by evil spirits. Netflix has the rights to the frightening flick, but this sounds like something that really needs to be seen on the big screen. MY BLIND BROTHER Admit it: even the most serious film fans out there can't resist the lure of an impressive cast. Getting a group of great actors together doesn't always pay off, but when it does, it's magic. Here's hoping that's the end result for My Blind Brother, which stars Adam Scott, Nick Kroll and Jenny Slate. Yes, the fact that they've all either starred or popped up on TV sitcom Parks and Recreation is part of their appeal, but they're not the movie's only drawcards. Director Sophie Goodhart might be a first-time feature filmmaker; however she's adapting her own short film of the same name, which screened in competition at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. TOWER Sadly, mass shootings in US schools are a much-too-common occurrence — but it wasn't always this way. In 1966, when an ex-Marine sniper turned University of Texas engineering student started gunning down people from a tower looming over the tertiary institution's campus, no one had ever contemplated the possibility of such horrors occurring at a place dedicated to learning and education. Keith Maitland's documentary explores this bleak chapter in American history, albeit in an unusual fashion. Telling the previously untold stories of the witnesses, heroes and survivors, he not only delves into archival footage, but combines it with surreal, animated recreations. THE TRUST Two words: Nicolas Cage. We have more words to share about The Trust than that, of course — but we'd be lying if we didn't confess that the man who can be either the world's best or worst actor, depending on the film, wasn't the main attraction. With Elijah Wood, he plays a cop who stumbles upon a mysterious bank vault. If the combination of Cage and the storyline doesn't pique your curiosity, this might: writer/directors Alex and Ben Brewer are better known for their music video work, including winning an MTV Video Music Award for working with Justin Bieber. Yes, really. KARAOKE CRAZIES Karaoke and cinema go hand in hand. Plenty of movies feature everyone's favourite form of amateur singing; however surprisingly few make it their main focus (and yes, we're ignoring Gwyneth Paltrow vehicle Duets for a reason). In Karaoke Crazies, Korean filmmaker Kim Sang-Chan sets his feature in a karaoke bar, lets a serial killer loose, and makes the latter obsessed with the former. If that's not an ingenious idea for a movie, well, we don't know what is. IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE Ti West has played with satanic panic in The House of the Devil, and toyed with found footage and religious fanaticism in The Sacrament. He also charmed Aussie audiences in person when he visited the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2011 to present his haunted hotel effort, The Innkeepers. In his next film, In A Valley of Violence, West swaps scares for revenge and horror for the western genre. Ethan Hawke and John Travolta tag along for the ride, stalking through a small town in the 1890s, and playing a drifter and marshal, respectively. EVERYBODY WANTS SOME Okay, okay, so Richard Linklater's latest film — and his first after the awarded and applauded Boyhood — is one of the titles we know for certain will grace Australian cinema screens. That doesn't make us any less enthused about Everybody Wants Some, which has the honour of opening SXSW's film lineup, and has been called a spiritual sequel to his 1996 effort Dazed and Confused. Don't expect a sleazy Matthew McConaughey trying to hit on high school girls, this time around. Do expect another wild series of events, this time set over a weekend in college in the '80s.
Remember when Big Poppa's head chef Liam O' Driscoll cooked us up a feast of epic proportions? We sure do. To celebrate the launch of the KitchenAid Mini in Australia, we created a Mini Dinners video series and asked two of our favourite chefs to throw a dinner party and cook up three courses of their favourite food. Obviously, O'Driscoll stayed true to his Big Poppa's menu and cooked three courses of simple, rustic Italian food. He's given us his recipes so you can recreate the dishes at home. The Big Poppa's food philosophy is all about using fresh, local produce and letting it speak for itself. You're not allowed to do anything fancy, because if the produce is great to begin with you won't need to. Make sure everything you cook with is of the highest quality. If you've sat down and dined at Big Poppa's upstairs restaurant you'll know this is a big deal. Treat these recipes with respect. HAND CUT TAGLIATELLE WITH GLOBE ARTICHOKE, PARMIGIANO-REGGIANO, PANGRATTATO AND SALMORIGLIO INGREDIENTS PASTA 500g '00' flour or plain flour plus a little extra for rolling 3 whole eggs 4 egg yolks 20ml olive oil pinch of salt ARTICHOKES 8 artichokes 2 lemons 2 cloves garlic sprig thyme PANGRATTATO 2 cup of home made bread crumbs (made from day old white ciabatta or sourdough) 2 cloves garlic finely chopped 1/2 bunch of parsley chopped 2 lemons zested SALMORIGLIO 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 3 sprigs rosemary chopped 1/2 bunch oregano chopped 1/2 bunch flat leaf parsley chopped 1 teaspoon salt zest of 1 lemon 2 garlic cloves, minced dash of freshly ground black pepper METHOD PASTA Place all ingredients into the bowl of the KitchenAid Mini with the dough hook attachment and mix on speed setting 4 for around 4 minutes, or until dough starts to form a ball Remove dough to a lightly floured bench and knead until dough comes together and has a uniform consistency (the dough should spring back a little if pressed with thumb) Wrap tight in cling film and place in fridge for 30 min Remove from fridge and rest dough for 20 min Unwrap dough a cut into 4 pieces On a lightly floured bench roll each piece out with rolling pin Take 1 piece of rolled out dough and feed through the KitchenAid Mini pasta rolling attachment on setting 10, continue to feed dough through roller decreasing the setting 1 mark at a time, until you reach the 0 setting, Lightly dust finished pasta sheet at set aside Repeat process till all sheets are rolled out. Stack sheets on top of each other and slice with a sharp knife into 2cm strips Set cut pasta aside covered with tea towel until ready to cook ARTICHOKES Snap back tough outer leaves until you begin to expose the pale yellow ones. Trim top off and pare down the leaves which cover the base of the heart and trim stem down till the pale yellow is showing Cut Artichokes in half lengthways and with a spoon scoop out the choke and place artichokes in water mixed with a small amount of vinegar or lemon juice to stop oxidisation In a large pot of cold water place the lemons that have been cut in half, garlic, thyme and artichokes, simmer until the base of the artichokes can easily be pieced with knife Strain and set aside, when cooled slice each half in two PANGRATTATO Bring 1/2 cup oil to medium heat in heavy based frypan, add bread crumbs and toast a light golden colour. At this stage add garlic, lemon zest and parsley, and continue to toast until golden brown Remove pangrattato from pan using a slotted spoon on to a baking try lined with paper towel, and let drain of excess oil and cool SALMORIGLIO Place all ingredients in the KitchenAid Mini food processor attachment and blitz BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER Bring large pot of salted water to the boil and add pasta, cook for 2 min, add artichokes to water with pasta and cook for a further minute, strain and place in large mixing bowl with the salmoriglio, season with salt and pepper and mix Divide between 4-6 bowls and grate parmigiano-reggiano over each portion Top with pangrattato FLAT IRON STEAK TAGLIATA WITH CONFIT GARLIC BUTTER, TREVISO AND POTATO AL FORNO INGREDIENTS 1 kg flat iron steak, if unavailable flank or thick skirt can be substituted 1.5 kg waxy potatoes 2 heads of treviso or radicchio 3 sprigs rosemary 2 lemons 250g unsalted butter 1 head garlic 1 cup veg oil 1/4 cup chopped parsley salt pepper good quality Australian extra virgin olive oil METHOD BUTTER Place peeled garlic cloves in small pot with vegetable oil and heat at a low temperature until garlic is soft and starting to caramelise. Strain garlic and let cool In the KitchenAid Mini beat butter with paddle attachment and some salt until soft and pale in colour, add garlic and and parsley and mix until combined Take a sheet of foil and place a sheet of baking paper over this, spoon butter onto paper and then roll into a log twisting both ends until tight and butter feels firm Place butter log in fridge or freezer until firm Remove from fridge, unwrap and cut into 2cm wheels THE REST With are sharp knife thinly slice the potatoes into rounds and place slices overlapping each other into an oiled, deep, heavy based ceramic or glass baking dish. Drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper and add water but do not cover potatoes with liquid Bake in oven at 200 celsius for 30 min Add rosemary leaves and continue to bake for a further 15min or until potatoes are cooked and golden brown Slice treviso lengthways into quarters and place on baking tray, drizzle with oil and season wit salt and pepper, roast for 10-15 min Season steak and bring a non-stick frypan up to smoking with a little oil, cook steak for approx 3-4 minutes on each side till a nice crust forms Remove steak and rest for 3min before slicing across the grain and serving on plate or board with butter crumbled on top and lemons cheeks, and treviso on side TORRONE SEMIFREDDO WITH DOLCE LATTE INGREDIENTS 2 cups heavy cream 1/4 cup good quality honey 225g hard hazelnut or almond torrone, finely chopped (Torrone is an Italian nougat made with honey, egg whites, sugar and nuts) 1 can of sweetened condensed milk METHOD In a deep pot place the can of condensed milk, cover the can with water and bring to a steady simmer for 3-4 hours. (Be sure to keep an eye on water level and top up pot to avoid water level dropping below the top of the can. The cans may explode if not fully submerged). After 3-4 hours remove can with tongs and set aside In a large bowl, whip the cream with the honey until firm. Fold in the chopped torrone. Transfer the mixture to a large, deep plastic container and press a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface. Freeze until firm. Spoon semifreddo into bowls and open the can of condensed milk. Thanks to science it will have magically transformed into delicious caramel. Spoon caramel over semifreddo and enjoy Images: Samantha Hawker and Bodhi Liggett.
Vivid Sydney is officially upon us, ready to light up the night for another year. From May 26 through to June 17, the city will be flooded with colour and sound – along with a couple of million punters. Every bloody year, we're paralysed with indecision as to where the hell to start chasing the Vivid lights. We put together a handy guide to this year's light precincts, from Taronga Zoo to Darling Harbour. Consider it a highlights package. Literally. By Tom Clift and Jasmine Crittenden. ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden is taking its Vivid participation to a whole new level this year. For a start, there's Electric Forest, a tableau created by a collaboration between art, design, animation and music students. If you don't get lost there, prepare for the shock of five massive eyeballs staring straight at you and, beyond that, the more joyful Sunflowers, which, unlike the eyeballs, are kind enough to bow when you pass by. You'll also get to meet Rowi, a rare species of kiwi, and her baby, who are made of light globes and wear night-goggles. Yep, this is probably Vivid's whackiest site. TARONGA ZOO At Taronga Zoo, take a stroll among a bunch of over-sized, illuminated sculptures of animals. Think Jurassic Park, but less scary. You'll be given a wristband that powers interaction: prepare to be eaten by a Port Jackson Shark, get to know a Sumatran Tiger, see life from a turtle's perspective and find yourself surrounded by a swarm of bees. On top of that, a small number of tickets will be sold for the cable car experience. It's pretty awesome at the best of times and takes on a whole new dimension during Vivid. The only catch is that, unlike most of the festival's light events, the zoo's isn't free. Your best bet is to buy a ticket online in advance. THE ROCKS You'll scarcely be able to move in The Rocks this Vivid without stumbling across one installation or another. Visitors can hop, skip and jump their way across an LED hopscotch grid (Electric Hopscotch), peer through mysterious windows into worlds heretofore unknown (Portholes), send a letter to a stranger via a light-up postbox (MailboX), and make beautiful music using a 3D projected keyboard (MUSIC|box). Cap off your night with a visit to MCA, where the façade will come to life courtesy of Organic Vibrations, a major new projection work created by local artist Julia Gorman and French art-collective Danny Rose. CHATSWOOD In Chatswood, you'll find yourself wandering through a futuristic city, where Blade Runner meets steampunk. Head to the Interchange to feel small again, staring up at Voxelscape, an epic, spacey installation made up of 9000 glowing spheres, and to let off some steam at Gear Shift, an interactive projection that imitates a 19th century engine. You'll also find yourself looking heavenwards in Chatswood Mall, where a sparkling canopy leads you to Crossword, which sends out mysterious messages. If you're visiting during the day, check out Light Bounce, a refractive forest at Chatswood Chase. Meanwhile, The Concourse is hosting Future City/Smart City, a utopian community that's both airborne and sustainable; and, beneath it, you'll discover Steampunk Waterworld, a kind of industrial Atlantis. MARTIN PLACE Creative legends Motti+Smith are taking care of Martin Place this year. And, with the help of Stagekings and Paper Moose, they've turned it into DeepForest, an enchanting oasis that combines light with food. Hovering above the whole scene is Atmos, an extraordinary display of ribbons inspired by Aurora Australis. UrbanTree, which was a hit last time, is back with version 2.0, this time promising to carry you into a exotic ecosystem, where you'll meet a massive glowing frog. Lux Populi is a tree of a different kind, assembled out of a kilometre-long piece of neon rope, with branches ten metres above the ground. Meanwhile, expect to see Lloyd Rees Fountain transformed into a glittering, refractive wonder. BARANGAROO Watch where you're walking at Barangaroo this Vivid, lest the earth suddenly open up and swallow you whole. Illusory floor projection Trapdoor 'reveals' a cavernous world beneath Sydney's newest harbourside destination, with animations that pay tribute to the precinct's industrial history. Other standouts include A Day in the Light, a synaesthetic light and sound experience that recreates the various different phases of light that occur over the course of a day, as well as You-niverse, an inverted floating pyramid at Exchange Place where projections correspond to a number of Spotify playlists. DARLING HARBOUR A 60m x 40m wall of water provides the canvas for what will surely be one of the most spectacular projections at Vivid Sydney this year. Devised by Ignatius Jones and Peewee Ferris, Magicians of the Mist incorporates fireballs, lasers, music and LEDs, along with 12 massive pumps throwing 28 tonnes of water per minute into the air above Cockle Bay. At nearby Tumbalong Green, 32 beams of light will paint patterns in the sky, while animated waves crash down on the room of the Australian National Maritime Museum. CIRCULAR QUAY Last Vivid, Circular Quay was home to the to the world's largest interactive light display. This year, they're breaking their own record. In Dreamscape, visitors will use a touch-sensitive 3D model to control lights and projections on buildings around the Quay, as well as a one kilometer stretch of the Cahill Expressway and the eastern face of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Then of course there's the Opera House, which this year will be illuminated Audio Creatures, an audio-visual tableaux featuring images of pulsating sea creatures, vibrant bird plumage and iridescent plant-life.
Even the most adventurous of foodies have their limits, don't they? New documentary Bugs aims to put that idea to the test — and to make audiences squirm in the process. You don't make a film about two researchers from René Redzepi's experimental Nordic Food Lab exploring the culinary value and environmental benefits of eating insects without causing a reaction, after all. The eye-opening doco is one of 12 titles set to screen at the Antenna Documentary Film Festival from October 11 to 16, with the Sydney fest revealing a selection of highlights before their complete program announcement on September 6. Regardless of how experimental your eating habits are, the flicks unveiled should whet the appetite of factual cinema fans thanks to a wealth of thought-provoking content. When the fest isn't trying to get viewers pondering their next meal, it'll be inspiring discussions about everything from a ladies man living with HIV to the impact of nuclear waste in a small Russian town. The former comes courtesy of moving opening night film The Charro of Toluquilla, while the latter informs documentary City 40, which examines the people trying to survive in one of the most contaminated places on earth. And for a change of pace, anyone keen on an Italian holiday without the cost of an airfare should put Rome-set road movie A Present from the Past on their must-see list. Aussie effort A Mother and A Gun, which has its world premiere at the festival, is also certain to get attendees talking as it explores the life of Shelly Rubin, the woman who fell in love with the leader of the Jewish Defense League. Elsewhere, environmental effort The Islands and the Whales, a tribute screening of Abbas Kiarostami's Close Up, and the latest chronicle of Bobby Sands and his famous hunger strike — as previously brought to the screen in Steve McQueen-Michael Fassbender collaboration Hunger — also feature among Antenna's initial list of films. Yep, they might've only given viewers a taste of a dozen titles so far, but the fest's 2016 lineup looks as varied as it is interesting. The 2016 Antenna Documentary Film Festival screens at Palace Cinemas Paddington from October 11 to 16. The complete lineup will be announced on September 6. For more information, check out the festival website. Images: Lloyd Dirks, Tom Truong.
A quintessentially Aussie summer day can be built on a few key ingredients: sun, beer, food, live music and some form of physical activity. Rocks Brewing Co can achieve four of the five, weather permitting. And for the latter, you can just pop around the corner to Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq. Founded in 2008, and after spending its first five years as a 'gyspy brewer', Rocks Brewing Co finally set down roots in this Alexandria industrial estate in 2014. The digs features an exposed wood bar, spacious indoor and outdoor seating and excellent views of the stainless steel tanks. The core range of brews includes an American pale ale, a pilsner lager, a mid-strength pale, a west coast IPA and an award winner porter. If you're keen to secure a seat, Rocks Brewing Co is open for lunch and dinner, with the menu featuring share plates such as crispy pork and prawn wontons, nachos supreme and pork quesadillas. Mains feature fish & chips, sirloin steaks, schnitzels and a range of burgers. It's not reinventing the wheel when it comes to Sydney brewpubs, but it's doing all the right things mighty well. Image: Kitti Gould.
Two Birds Brewing is celebrating five years of making stellar, award-winning beers. Australia's first female owned and operated brewery is celebrating in fashion with an Australia-wide, week long birthday bash. As a big thank you to patrons around the country, co-owners Danielle Allen and Jayne Lewis are offering up their Golden Ale and Sunset Ale flagship brews for just five bucks a schooner — in a whopping 25 venues across Queensland, Victoria, NSW, ACT and Tasmania. Lewis and Allen have also each brewed a birthday beer — the Two Birds G&T IPA and Two Birds PX Belgian Dubbel — which will be tapped at each venue on Thursday, June 16. This is one killer way to celebrate and we'll be raising a glass to these two badass birds throughout the week. The Two Birds $5 birthday schooners will be available from Monday, June 13 – Sunday, June 19, with the Birthday beer tapped on Thursday, June 16. Their beers will be tapped at the following bars and pubs. VICTORIA The Nest - Two Birds Brewery and Tasting Room, Spotswood The Valley Cellar Door - Wine Bar, Moonee Ponds Stray Neighbour, Preston Junction Beer Hall & Wine Room, Newport Freddie Wimpoles, St Kilda The Park, Werribee Beer Deluxe, Hawthorn Cookie, Melbourne CBD Terminus Hotel, Fitzroy North Cambrian Hotel, Bendigo NEW SOUTH WALES Hotel Sweeney's, Sydney CBD Royal Albert Hotel, Surry Hills The Welcome Hotel - Ajò Restaurant, Rozelle The Public, Cammeray Grain Store, Newcastle East QUEENSLAND The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba Flux Restaurant & Lounge, Noosaville Lester and Earl, Palm Beach Death Valley Bar & Records, Morningside Woolly Mammoth, Fortitude Valley
If your midweek lunches have looked a little sad of late, here's something to get excited about: all through March and April Harpoon Harry will be flexing its daytime charms and dishing up a limited-edition offering of Lunchtime Sandwich Heroes. You can ditch the sad salad roll and forget about the lacklustre leftovers — Harry's got you sorted with a tempting rotation of $15 sambos, on offer weekdays to takeaway or eat in. And with two new sandwiches hitting the menu each fortnight, no one's about to get bored of this lunch bunch. Sandwich Heroes kicks off on Monday, March 2, with a hefty club sandwich and a vego number called Plants, Shoots & Leaves filled with eggplant and feta. Elsewhere on the lineup, you'll get to devour the likes of a Japanese 7-Eleven-inspired egg salad number and a fried chicken sanga worthy of your finest midweek hangover. The latter is set to star southern-style Rice Bubbles-fried chicken, house-smoked chilli mayo, avocado and cos. You'll also spy a cheeky rye number, loaded with sliced pastrami, swiss cheese, slaw and russian dressing — and a classic fish finger sambo somewhere in the mix. To check out exactly when you can find each sanga, check out the lineup below. HARRY'S LUNCHTIME SANDWICH HEROES LINEUP March 2–13: Club Members Only and Plants, Shoots & Leaves March 16–27: The Steaks Are High and Croquet in Tokyo March 30–April 10: Red & Green Roster and Fush Funger Sambo April 13–24: So-Fried Chicken and Pistrami De Resistance Harry's Lunchtime Sandwich Heroes are available weekdays from 11.30am–3pm or until sold out. Updated February 26
Five years after debuting its legendary menu of 'BRGRS' at the Macquarie Hotel, Sydney favourite Pub Life Kitchen closed down, taking some of the city's best burgers with it. Four long years later and the beloved venue returned to the bottom level of the Lord Wolseley Hotel in Ultimo. Pull up to the Bulwara Street window and you can pick yourself up a selection from the new-look pub-style menu. Of course, the burgers are back. Choose between The OG, stacked with dry-aged grass-fed beef, cheese, pickles, tomato, lettuce, roasted garlic and lime mayo, or the TLC, a fried chicken burger topped with cheese, pickles and green Sriracha mayo. Also returning, are PLK's hot and sticky chicken wings alongside a far-reaching menu of snacks and mains. If you're looking for something on the lighter side, you can head for the chickpea fritters, marinated octopus salad or roasted peppers with buffalo mozzarella and capers. Further down the menu in the 'bigger' section, you can find classic pub feeds like the rump stake with burnt onion butter and chicken schnitzel, side-by-side with some more unique items like LP's smoked pecorino, parsley sausage mash and gravy, dry-aged cevapi and braised eggplant with XO sauce. Images: Nikki To Appears in: Where to Find the Best Burgers in Sydney for 2023
Want your Uber ride to be even cheaper? Don’t mind sharing a ride with strangers and making awkward small talk? UberPOOL might just be your perfect service. As reported by The Guardian, it’s rolling out in London today and allows Uber users to opt into a carpooling option with a very attractive 25 percent discount on the standard Uber fare. Sharing is caring. It’s not guaranteed there’ll be another user opting into UberPOOL in the vicinity, but if you don’t get matched you still keep that tasty discount. So basically, you get rewarded for being a chill and environmentally conscious Uber user, even if you don’t even right share (it’s the thought that counts). As well as making Uber even cheaper for anyone willing to share, UberPOOL also environmental benefits — more seats on bums and more cars making full use of their capacity means less cars on the road and less pollution. The option has been rolled out in a few cities and even accounts for half of all rides taken in San Francisco (half!), so it’s not exactly a new concept but it’s certainly taking off. We’re still waiting for word of when it will hit our shores but you can guarantee it's likely to. Gizmodo's Luke Hopewell wrote an interesting account of his experience in an UberPOOL and pointed out the one major flaw in the plan: as well as being hella awkward to ride with a complete stranger, if you hop our first, that complete stranger knows where you're going or where you live. The app doesn't give you the name of your riding buddy, but that's no guarantee you won't be Ubering home with a weirdo. While we wait to see how it all plays out, let’s just scroll through #yourtaxis and giggle gleefully over terrible PR ideas. Via The Guardian.
They've made fireworks you can eat, cooked T-bone steaks with lava and served bespoke cocktails tailor made to match your DNA. But this past week in London, culinary wizards Sam Bompas and Harry Parr may have outdone themselves yet again. Hosted in a converted warehouse in partnership with deals website bespokeoffers.co.uk, The 200 Club can claim the title of the world's longest tasting menu, featuring 200 different dishes over 24 non-stop hours of service. Eight chefs toiled away in the kitchen creating the tasting plates, which ranged from truffle bubbles to coffee-compressed watermelon. A two hour sitting cost between £49 and £99 depending on the time of day, or you could attempt the entire gastronomic marathon for £2,000 per couple. Only four people have the stomach for the latter option, but we have to imagine they were happy with their decision. Of course it wouldn't be a Bompas & Parr affair without a little additional visual theatre. As such, each sitting was differentiated by the colour of the food, a move inspired by the monochromatic feasts of Emperor Nero. Check out the menu, as well as some photographic highlights, below. 200 CLUB MENU Yellow Breakfast: A morning repast that zings with citrus, caffeine and craft. This culinary explosion will hybridise flavours of the East and West in a high-energy, high-end display of homely food love. White Elevenses: A British tradition bejewelled in surreal sparkle. Expect custards, shortbread, quiches, clouds of confection sugar and a dreamy sweet vision of the classic treats. Green Lunch: This meal will be a rustic yet refined version of the garden snacking of yore. Look forward to leafy eating including the freshest greens, meats and cheeses, plus a procession of fluorescent jellies. Blue Afternoon Snack: A powerhouse of flavour for the lazy hours of the day. Taste an otherworldly array of vibrant and dusty turquoises in the form of naturally tinted roots and skilfully prepared fish. Purple Five O’Clock Tiffin: Rooted in the wild and rich darkness of summer, enjoy ingredients such as wild game and dark summer fruits. Dishes will speak to simple food traditions reinterpreted with modern culinary craft. Pink Dinner: Forget “trendy” food items like burgers or hot dogs. Your table will be buzzing with eye-popping fuchsia, cured meats, and smouldering wood smoke. Red Party Time: A sultry explosion of party vibes and hot weather flavours. You’ll see Australian and Asian influences, balancing classic spice and tropical tangs with modern style. Orange Drunchies: The extension of a great night out. Expect contradicting textures, bleeding edge techniques, and lashings of moreishness to tantalise the palate. Brown Blackout: Indulge in a meal of carnal urges – sweet, hot and savoury dishes. The chef will keep you on your toes with coffee, chocolate, black garlic, squid ink, soy sauce, and liquorice. Multicolour Final Countdown: A communal carousal of globally-inspired festival food. Mark the culmination of The 200 Club with a multinational flavour and colour explosion, using vibrant colours with grand presentations. Images by Adam Laycock via Bespoke Offers.
Since launching in the US in January, female friend-matching app hey! VINA has been the talk of BFF-seeking ladies everywhere. For anyone that's tried to boost their girl gang with people they meet at parties, work, cafes and the like, but found the process a little awkward (i.e. everyone), it's the gift that keeps on giving. Now, the popular service is finally going global — albeit with some surprising assistance. Where does the app that's been called "Tinder for girlfriends" get support to expand its remit? From Tinder, it seems. The two entities have teamed up to help more gals look for more pals in more places. With more than 17,000 cities on hey! VINA's waitlist, the demand is certainly there. In fact, the service tallied up over 100,000 users in its first two weeks of operation alone. That's the good news: Aussies, you can now get paired up with fabulous potential friends based on your preferences, location and existing networks of mutual connections (via Facebook), then swipe your way to the perfect pal. Whether you've recently moved away from your besties, or have just found life taking you in different directions, hey! VINA is here to help you make some new mates. Of course, with the app endeavouring to help ladies forge long-lasting platonic bonds, it's okay to raise your eyebrows at their new partnership with a company known for facilitating romantic hook-ups of the much, much, much briefer kind. VINA is adamant that, while they both share a mission to connect people around the world, the two organisation's services remain separate, and that hey! VINA will remain a women-only non-dating social connection platform. Their updated FAQs spell this out, and are clearly designed to assuage any fears that the app will become Tinder 2.0. As for Tinder themselves, their investment and mentorship falls in line with other recent developments aimed to expand their remit — and their status as a go-to app for meeting others. Though trialled in Australia first, Tinder Social launched worldwide in July as a way for different groups of friends to cross paths. And just this month, they joined forces with Spotify to bring music tastes into the matching and swiping process. Image via Dollar Photo Club.
The show must go on for the folks at the Moulin Rouge. 15 years after the release of Baz Luhrmann's smash-hit movie musical, the story of doomed lovers Christian and Satine is coming to the stage. The lavish adaptation is currently in its early stages, and will be directed by two-time Tony nominee Alex Timbers. "I first encountered Alex Timbers through the remarkable and inventive production of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and the brilliance of Here Lies Love," said Luhrmann in a statement. "I immediately recognised the young director's creative spirit and felt we shared similar sensibilities and instincts." Writing duties will be handled by acclaimed playwright and screenwriter John Logan, whose resume includes the recent James Bond outing Skyfall as well as the Tony Award-winning play Red. "It's immensely gratifying to know that a new wave of artists will be leading Moulin Rouge! into its rightful theatrical realm," said Luhrmann. The show is being developed by entertainment group Global Creatures, who previously worked on the theatrical adaptation of King Kong and helped bring Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom to the stage. A premiere date and location for Moulin Rouge! has yet to be announced.
