Sleek Nails sits on the upper floor of Newtown Central, just a stumble from the station. Beyond the convenient location, this salon offers expertise across the full range of nail art and care. Whether you're after acrylic nails, gel creations, a dip powder manicure or a statement shellac design, the team has got you covered. Don't be afraid to get wild with nail art either — think frescos of the night sky, intricate florals and careful fades of the colour spectrum. For pedicures, Sleek Nails will prime your digitals after a soak and scrub while you're settled in a sleek massage chair.
This Friday night, defending Premiers Penrith Panthers face off against the Melbourne Storm in a nail-biting Preliminary Final at Accor Stadium, with both teams just 80 minutes away from a spot in the 2023 NRL Grand Final on Sunday, October 1. For the Panthers, this game could be their springboard to go down in history as the first club to win three back-to-back Premierships in the NRL era. The reigning champions smashed through the first week of the Finals, beating the Warriors 32-6. But the Storm are not to be overlooked – with ten wins from 14 Prelim appearances, the Melbourne team have the best Preliminary Finals record of any club since 1998. The Panthers and Storm are familiar foes — the Storm triumphed in the 2020 Grand Final, but the Panthers came back swinging with a Prelim victory a year later. The Panthers have also won seven of the past 11 matches against the Storm, including victories in Rounds 18 and 23 this year. Will the Melbourne underdogs shake things up or will the Penrith stars walk away with a fourth consecutive Grand Final spot? Don't be that person who misses out on catching the action unfold — a ticket to the game is about the price of a schnitty and beer at the pub, so why not trade that in for an unforgettable live experience? Kickoff is at 7.50pm this Friday, September 22 at Accor Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park. Buy a ticket and find out more at the NRL website.
After its Australian debut saw 1000 Sydneysiders board a cruise ship for last year's immersive Titanic Experience, Beyond Cinema has decided to go all in with their fantastical cinematic extravaganzas — having already announced three new events for 2018. Just earlier this month, the immersive cinema company announced it'll transform a Melbourne CBD building into a jail for The Shawshank Redemption experience on June 30, and takeover Sydney's sandstone castle at Curzon Hall, Mansfield for The Great Gatsby version on August 19. Tickets for both events are currently on sale, with tickets including the film screening and additional options ranging from canapés or 'prison food' to bottomless drinks and a full sit-down dinner. Now, the cinematic journey will take a leap down the rabbit hole for a Sydney Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Transcending the boundary between film and imagination, the three-hour Alice in Wonderland-themed immersive experience will of course centre around English afternoon tea, which, like the film, will go insanely awry with bottomless 'potions' and punches. As with other events, fancy dress is required, which in this case will be your most colourful and bizarre outfit. Each attendee will also be assigned a character to gear their dress-up toward. It is unclear what film will be screened with this one, though, of course, there's bound to be some form of wild cinematic entertainment for guests. The location will remain secret for now and the date has not yet been announced, but you can sign up for pre-release tickets and get the latest updates here. Just don't be late. The Mad Hatter's Tea Party will happen in Sydney sometime in 2018. For updates on tickets, register here.
We all have movies that change us, open up the world to us and/or make us feel seen. Most folks, whether they're filmmakers or not, don't then bring new versions of those pictures to cinemas — no matter how much they might want to. Andrew Ahn's feature filmography started with his 2016 debut Spa Night, then delivered 2019's Driveways and 2022's Fire Island, and now adds a fresh take on a Berlin-winning, Oscar-nominated 90s box-office hit that marked just the second film from Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi Best Director Academy Award-winner Ang Lee. 1993's The Wedding Banquet was also the first gay movie, first gay Asian movie and first gay Asian American movie that Ahn ever saw. The man behind the camera on 2025's The Wedding Banquet was eight when he watched the original picture courtesy of a video-store rental. When he started on the path to becoming a filmmaker himself, and even once he had a movie or two under his belt — long before this project came his way, then — crafting his own version didn't ever occur to him. "Oh, it never crossed my mind — like, not a direct remake," Ahn tells Concrete Playground about the fourth feature on his resume, which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. "I think I thought about similar themes and ideas, but to make something that would be called The Wedding Banquet, I could never have imagined. It really took the producers approaching me. Our producers had been chatting before I was in the picture, and I think their scheming led to this." Three decades back, The Wedding Banquet focused on Manhattan-based gay Taiwanese man Gao Wai-Tung (Winston Chao, Daughter's Daughter), whose parents (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's Sihung Lung and Qing yu nian's Ah-Lei Gua) had no idea that he wasn't straight, let alone any awareness of his long-term American partner Simon (Mitchell Lichtenstein, Modern Houses), and so had matchmaking their son with a future bride and stressing their yearning for grandchildren firmly on their minds. As co-written by Lee with James Schamus (The King's Daughter) and Neil Peng (The Candidate), the film makes Wai-Tung's mother and father's dreams come true via Wei-Wei (May Chin, now a Taiwanese politician), a Chinese artist who'll be deported if she doesn't get a green card. Of course the eponymous event takes place, with Mr and Mrs Gao in attendance and in the dark that it's all a sham. Lee's movie is a comedy, romantic and screwball alike, and equally a deeply considered and thoughtful relationship drama, plus a compassionate family drama. A reimagining rather than a remake, 2025's The Wedding Banquet falls into all of the above categories still, so it's a rom-com, it's screwball, and it's both a relationship and family drama as well; however, Ahn and Schamus — who returned to co-write another The Wedding Banquet, after initially collaborating with Ahn by producing Driveways — have their eyes firmly on the queer experience right now. As a result, while there's winks and nods to the original, and clear affection for it evident across its frames, this take on the film is guided by how the initial flick's setup would truly play out two decades into the 21st century as it explores queer identity, cultural heritage and community. Accordingly, audiences meet two Seattle-based queer couples: Angela (Kelly Marie Tran, Control Freak) and Lee (Lily Gladstone, Fancy Dance), plus Min (Han Gi-Chan, Dare to Love Me) and Chris (Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live). Among their families, Angela's mother (Joan Chen, Dìdi) wins awards for her allyship, while Min's grandmother (Youn Yuh-Jung, Pachinko) is the head of a Korea-originated multinational company that he has always been expected to take over. Having children is Angela and Lee's priority, but after two unsuccessful rounds of IVF they're now out of money for a third. While cash isn't a problem for Min, the fact that his student visa will soon expire is — and so is Chris' commitment-phobic reluctance to marry him. The plan, then, is for Angela and Min to wed, helping the latter stay in the US in exchange for financial assistance for Lee's next IVF treatment. [caption id="attachment_1003561" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Janice Chung[/caption] One of the key points that's pushed further to the fore this time around is parenthood — and what it means to have a family as a queer couple. Ahn's fondness for the families that we choose, as seen across his filmography so far, remains a pivotal element of The Wedding Banquet, but so does the specific intention and effort needed to pass on your genes when getting pregnant can't just happen accidentally as it can for some in heterosexual relationships. That thread, and even a specific line of dialogue about it, comes from Ahn's own life. As such, he's not just lending his loving eyes to a new iteration of a movie that's personally important to him — alongside his Korean American background, he's lending parts of his existence. Ahn's on-screen ensemble is clearly phenomenal, including Gladstone in a more-comedic role than audiences are accustomed to seeing the Killers of the Flower Moon Oscar-nominee and Golden Globe-winner in, the director giving his Fire Island star Yang a more-dramatic arc, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker's Tran in a film with a smart and funny Star Wars line, Han getting his feature film and English-language debut, Chen after she was almost cast in the original and Youn's first American film since winning her Oscar for Minari. Also exceptional: how lived-in that they make their characters' connections feel. We spoke to Ahn about that, drawing from his own reality to highlight queer parenthood, how his past work — episodes of Bridgerton among them — led him here, fleshing out the narrative for 2025, tonal balance, found families and more. On Ahn's Past Work, Including Spa Night, Driveways, Fire Island and Directing Episodes of Bridgerton, Leading Him to a New Version of The Wedding Banquet "I think everything that I do feels informed by what I worked on in the past. Even Bridgerton I feel like snuck its way into The Wedding Banquet a little bit — the romanticism of it. I think The Wedding Banquet definitely required me to pull from so many different parts of my life, as a person and as a filmmaker, to make this film the best that I could." On Working Out Where to Take a New Iteration of The Wedding Banquet, Including a Broader Range of Characters, Exploring the Korean American Experience, and Examining Allyship, Found Families and Having Children "It was kind of step by step. When I rewatched the film in preparation for my conversation with the producers, there were first instincts that were just inspired by how beautiful the original film is. I wondered 'what if the bride in the original film, Wei-Wei, what if she also were queer and had a lesbian partner?'. And then, thinking about how gay people can get married now, I wondered 'now that we can, should we?'. Like 'do we really want to?' And then in the original film, there's an accidental pregnancy — 'but what if we see a couple trying to get pregnant, and planning to have a baby?'. And so these were very helpful foundation-building elements to the story, and I worked with James Schamus to really breathe life into these characters, and engineer the many different themes and questions that we were wrestling with. It was a very difficult process. We worked very hard, and we were writing the film for more than five years, and so it was a real labour of love. I'm so thankful for James, and just the years of experience that he had — not just as a screenwriter, but also as a producer and a director. You could not ask for a more-experienced collaborator." On First Watching Ang Lee's Film at the Age of Eight, Then Reimagining It Three Decades Later "I think it definitely helped that I had a really special relationship with the original film, but that wouldn't be enough. I think what helped me understand 'this is my film that I can make' was the phase of adulthood that I found myself in when I was working on this — and really thinking about getting married and having children. I had a lot of conversations with my boyfriend about marriage and kids, and I realised that I felt very strongly about how important and how beautiful queer family-building is — and that really was my guiding light through this whole process in making this movie." On Drawing One of the Film's Key Exchanges About the Intention Needed for Queer Couples to Start a Family From Ahn's Own Life "I wanted to talk about how that's a reality of queer people's existences — and one of the challenges of building family that's not even defined by homophobia. It's not like there's a straight person keeping us away from building family. It's our own hesitations. There's definitely, of course, a lot of financial and legal reasons that complicate queer family-building, but we kind of have to get out of our own way first, and just believe that this is something that we can do and that we want. And so I really wanted to talk about this particular nuance that I don't think has been explored in an in-depth way on the big screen. So it was an insight that I had only come to in having a conversation with my boyfriend, and I took that line of 'if it happens, it happens' straight out of my boyfriend's mouth onto the page." On Helping Ensure That Years and Even Decades of Intimacy Shone Through Among the FIlm's Characters Thanks to Its Stacked Cast "It's such an incredible ensemble, and I had so much fun working with them. They were all so game. They wanted to be vulnerable, and they showed so much generosity with each other and with me. I think of directing as creating an environment where these actors can feel safe and inspired, and so there was a lot of conversation that I had with each of the actors before they came to set — and then as much as we could find rehearsal time, we built in rehearsal time in our schedule so that we could fast-track an intimacy. I think these actors are all incredible, incredible actors, and so it's not hard to get a great performance out of them — and so for me, it's just about creating an energy and a space for them to really be present and work with each other well. And for me, I think a lot of that had to do with just putting together a cast and crew that really valued the story and what we were doing, and understood the meaningfulness of our work." On Casting Gladstone in a More-Comic Role Than Audiences Are Used to Seeing Her in, and Also Giving Yang a More-Dramatic Arc "I love being able to work with actors in a mode that they might not be used to or have been cast in before. I think it's fun to broaden the horizon for an audience of who these actors are and can be. Bowen, I loved working with him on Fire Island, and I just see so much charisma and vulnerability that I think is undeniable. And then when Lily, she's so serious in some of her work, but I saw her in some interviews and she's such a goofball. And I love that. And so I had a lot of belief that she could have fun in this role. And the way both of those actors — the way that all of our actors — traverse the balance of comedy and drama, it was very inspiring to watch." On Making a Romantic Comedy and a Screwball Comedy That's Also a Family Drama, and Is Deeply Considered and Thoughtful About Queer Identity, Cultural Heritage and Community "I think tone is one of the hardest things about filmmaking, and it's because it takes the entire process to figure out. You are writing it, you are directing it, you are editing it, and it's not until the very end, even with score and sound design and colour correction, where you've figured out the tone of your movie. And so it's really about trusting the artistic process and giving yourself options. In the script, we had alt lines for other jokes, for different zingers. On set, we would do certain takes more dramatically, do certain takes more comedically. In the edit, we're constantly adjusting. And so we had to just trust in the process — and in some ways trust in my own intuition and just energy. My editor Geraud Brisson [Lessons in Chemistry] mentioned that the film, it kind of feels like hanging out with me. And I used that as a creative north star in helping find that really complicated but fun balance of comedy and drama." [caption id="attachment_1003558" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fire Island, photo by Jeong Park. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved[/caption] On Why the Idea of Found Family Interests Ahn and Keeps Popping Up Through His Work "I think found family, it is something worth celebrating, and I think we can take it for granted sometimes. Our friends, our relationships — there's so much there, there's so much that needs to happen, there's so much work you need to put in in creating your chosen family. And so when you can create your own chosen family, it's really worth celebrating. And so it's something that I feel like whether you're queer or not, it's a very meaningful reminder" The Wedding Banquet opened in Australian cinemas on Thursday, May 8, 2025. The Wedding Banquet images: Luka Cyprian, Bleecker Street.
In a perfect world, all films would get a run on the big screen everywhere that shows them. Alas, that isn't the world that we live in. But just because a feature misses a season at the cinemas in Australia — playing at film festivals before hitting digital, perhaps, or made for and only ever set to stream — that doesn't mean that it can't be a gem, as our picks for the 15 best straight-to-streaming movies of 2023 makes plain. Indeed, the finest films of the year didn't only play on the silver screen. See: Michelle Williams' latest stellar performance, an Oscar-nominated documentary and a playful vampire effort from the director of Spencer, plus new treats from Wes Anderson, inventive horror movies, standout biopics and revived franchises, too. In fact, even cinephiles who basically live at their local picture palace know that theatres aren't the only place to catch the year's standout flicks. After we surveyed the best straight-to-streaming movies of 2023's first half in June, we've now done the same from across the entire year. Make your own popcorn, grab a drink, get comfortable on your couch, and there's your next at-home movie night — or 15 — taken care of. (And yes, we're bunching Anderson's recent shorts together and counting them as one project, because that's how they are best watched.) SHOWING UP Kelly Reichardt and Michelle Williams are one of cinema's all-time great pairings. After 2008's Wendy and Lucy, 2010's Meek's Cutoff and 2016's Certain Women, all divine, add Showing Up to the reasons that their collaborations are an event. Again, writer/director Reichardt hones in on characters who wouldn't grace the screen otherwise, and on lives that rarely do the same. With her trademark empathy, patience and space, she spends time with people and problems that couldn't be more relatable as well. Her first picture since 2019's stunning First Cow, which didn't feature Williams, also feels drawn from the filmmaker's reality. She isn't a sculptor in Portland working an administration job at an arts and crafts college while struggling to find the time to create intricate ceramic figurines, but she is one of America's finest auteurs in an industry that so scarcely values the intricacy and artistry of her work. No one needs to have stood exactly in Showing Up's protagonist's shoes, or in Reichardt's, to understand that tussle — or the fight for the always-elusive right balance between passion and a paycheque, all while everyday chaos, family drama and the minutiae of just existing also throws up roadblocks. Showing Up couldn't have a better title. For Lizzy (Wiliams, The Fabelmans), who spends the nine-to-five grind at her alma mater with her mother (Maryann Plunkett, Manifest) as her boss, everything she does — or needs or wants to — is about doing exactly what the movie's moniker says. That doesn't mean that she's thrilled about it. She definitely isn't happy about her frenemy, neighobour and landlord Jo (Hong Chau, Asteroid City), who won't fix her hot water, couldn't be more oblivious to anyone else's problems and soon has her helping play nurse to an injured pidgeon. Reichardt spins the film's narrative around Lizzy's preparations for a one-night-only exhibition, including trying to carve out the hours needed to finish her clay pieces amid her job, the bird, advocating for a liveable home, professional envy and concerns for her alienated brother (John Magaro, Past Lives). The care and detail that goes into Lizzy's figurines is mirrored in Reichardt's own efforts, in another thoughtful and resonant masterpiece that does what all of the filmmaker's masterpieces do: says everything even when nothing is being uttered, proves a wonder of observation, boasts a pitch-perfect cast and isn't easily forgotten. Showing Up streams via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. ALL THAT BREATHES Pictures can't tell all of All That Breathes' story, with Delhi-based brothers Nadeem Shehzad and Mohammad Saud's chats saying plenty that's essential. In the documentary's observational style, their conversation flits in and out of the film — sometimes, there's narration, too — giving it many meaningful words. Still, the images that Shaunak Sen (Cities of Sleep) lets flow across the screen in this Sundance- and Cannes-winner, and also 2023 Oscar-nominee, are astonishing. And, befitting this poetic meditative and ruminative doco's pace and mood, they do flow. All That Breathes' main pair adore the black kites that take to India's skies and suffer from its toxic air quality, tending to the creatures' injuries. As Sen watches, he adores them as well. Viewers will, too. Indeed, if there wasn't a single syllable uttered, with the movie just leaning on cinematographers Ben Bernhard (Talking About the Weather), Riju Das (14 Phere) and Saumyananda Sahi's (Trial by Fire) sights, plus Niladri Shekhar Roy ('83) and Moinak Bose's (Against the Tide) sound recording, the end result still would've been revelatory. This film trills about urban development, its costs and consequences, and caring for others both animal and human — and it chirps oh-so-much. It notes how everything that the earth's predominant inhabitants do has environmental impacts for the creatures that we share the planet with, including quests for economic dominance and political control. All That Breathes peers on as its subjects' tasks get harder even as they earn global attention, receive more funding and build their dream hospital. It sees how they put the majestic kites' wellbeing above their own, even as the numbers of birds needing their help just keeps growing. This is a documentary about animals falling from the skies due to pollution, two siblings trying to help them soar again, why that's so vital and what the whole situation says about life on earth — and it's vital and spectacular viewing. All That Breathes streams via Binge. THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR, THE SWAN, THE RAT CATCHER AND POISON Fresh from stepping into a play as a live production in a TV show in Asteroid City, and also flicking through a magazine's various articles in The French Dispatch before that, Wes Anderson now gets an author sharing his writing in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar. The 39-minute short film features Ralph Fiennes (The Menu) as Roald Dahl, who did indeed pen the tale that gives this suitably symmetrically shot affair its name — the book it's in, too — with the account that he's spilling one of several in a film that enthusiastically makes Anderson's love of layers known in its playful structure as much as its faux set. So, Dahl chats. The eponymous Henry Sugar (Benedict Cumberbatch, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) does as well. And, Dr Chatterjee (Dev Patel, The Green Knight) and his patient Imdad Khan (Ben Kingsley, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) also have a natter. The stories within stories within stories (within stories) share the fact that Khan has learned to see without his eyes, Chatterjee couldn't be more fascinated and Sugar wants to learn the trick for himself — to help with his gambling pastime. In his three decades as a filmmaker, Anderson has only ever made both features and shorts with one of two people responsible for their ideas: himself, sometimes with Owen Wilson (Haunted Mansion), Noah Baumbach (White Noise), Jason Schwartzman (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) and/or Roman Coppola (Mozart in the Jungle) contributing; and Dahl. With the latter, first came Anderson's magnificent stop-motion Fantastic Mr Fox adaptation — and now The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar sits among a series of four new shorts based on the author's work. This is still a dream match, with the director's beloved jewel and pastel colours, dollhouse-esque visuals, moving sets, love of centred framing and dialogue rhythm all proving a treat in this account of personal and spiritual growth. The cast is as divine on-screen as it sounds on paper, too, especially Cumberbatch and Patel. The next in the set, the 17-minute The Swan, pushes Rupert Friend (High Desert) to the fore in a darker tale about a bully. Throw in The Rat Catcher (about a small village with a vermin issue) and Poison (charting a life-and-death situation in British-occupied India) — each similarly 17 minutes in length — and there's only one thing to do: package them together as an anthology film. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, The Swan, The Rat Catcher and Poison stream via Netflix. Read our full review. EMILY THE CRIMINAL Enterprising, astute, intelligent and accepting zero garbage from anyone: these are traits that Aubrey Plaza can convey in her sleep. But she definitely isn't slumbering in Emily the Criminal, which sees her turn in a performance as weighty and layered as her deservedly Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominated portrayal in the second season of The White Lotus — something that she's been doing since her Parks and Recreation days anyway. Indeed, there's more than a touch of April Ludgate-Dwyer's resourcefulness to this crime-thriller's eponymous figure. Los Angeles resident Emily Benetto isn't sporting much apathy, however; she can't afford to. With $70,000 in student loans to her name for a college art degree she isn't using working as a food delivery driver, and a felony conviction that's getting in the way of securing any gig she's better qualified for for, Jersey girl Emily breaks bad to make bank when she's given a tip about a credit card fraud ring run by Youcef (Theo Rossi, Sons of Anarchy). Her simple task: purchasing everything from electronics to cars with the stolen numbers. Writer/director John Patton Ford makes his feature debut with this lean, sharp, keenly observed and tightly paced film, which works swimmingly and grippingly as a heist thriller with plenty to say about the state of America today — particularly about a society that saddles folks starting their working lives with enormous debts, turning careers in the arts into the domain of the wealthy, and makes even the slightest wrongdoing a life sentence. Emily the Criminal is angry about that state of affairs, and that ire colours every frame. But it's as a character study that this impressive film soars highest, stepping through the struggles, troubles and desperate moves of a woman trapped not by her choices but her lack of options, all while seeing her better-off classmates breeze through life. As she usually is, Plaza is mesmerising, and adds another complicated movie role to a resume that also boasts the phenomenal Ingrid Goes West and Black Bear as well. Emily the Criminal streams via Binge and Netflix. EL CONDE What if Augusto Pinochet didn't die in 2006? What if the Chilean general and dictator wasn't aged 91 at the time, either? What if his story started long before his official 1915 birthdate, in France prior to the French Revolution? What if he's been living for 250 years because he's a literal monster of the undead, draining and terrifying kind? Trust Chilean filmmaking great Pablo Larraín (Ema, Neruda, The Club, No, Post Mortem and Tony Manero) to ask these questions in El Conde, which translates as The Count and marks the latest exceptional effort in a career that just keeps serving up excellent movies. His satirical, sharp and gleefully unsubtle version of his homeland's most infamous leader was born Claude Pinoche (Clemente Rodríguez, Manchild), saw Marie Antoinette get beheaded and kept popping up to quell insurgencies before becoming Augusto Pinochet. Now holed up in a farm after faking his own death to avoid legal scrutiny — aka the consequences of being a brutal tyrant — the extremely elderly figure (Jaime Vadell, a Neruda, The Club, No and Post Mortem veteran) is also tired of eternal life. The idea at the heart of El Conde is a gem, with Larraín and his regular co-writer Guillermo Calderón plunging a stake into a despot while showing that the impact of authoritarianism rule stretches on forever (and winning the Venice International Film Festival's Best Screenplay Award this year for their efforts). The execution: just as sublime in a film that's both wryly and dynamically funny, and also a monochrome-shot visual marvel. A moment showing Pinoche licking the blood off the guillotine that's just decapitated Antoinette is instantly unforgettable. As Pinochet flies above Santiago in his cape and military attire in the thick of night, every Edward Lachman (The Velvet Underground)-lensed shot of The Count — as he likes to be called by his wife Lucia (Gloria Münchmeyer, 42 Days of Darkness), butler Fyodor (Alfredo Castro, The Settlers) and adult children — has just as much bite. El Conde's narrative sets its protagonist against an accountant and nun (Paula Luchsinger, Los Espookys) who digs through his crime and sins, and it's a delight that punctures. As seen in the also magnificent Jackie and Spencer, too, Larraín surveys the past like no one else. El Conde streams via Netflix. FLORA AND SON No filmmaker believes in the power of music quite like John Carney. In Flora and Son, the Once, Begin Again and Sing Street writer/director again lets his favourite refrain echo, this time with an Irish single mother, her rebellious teenage boy and the American guitarist who she pays to give her lessons via zoom. The eponymous Flora (Eve Hewson, Bad Sisters) feels like she's never had an adulthood of her own after falling (swiftly, not slowly) pregnant at the age of 17 to musician Ian (Jack Reynor, The Peripheral) — whose big claim to fame is that his band once opened for Snow Patrol — then being a mum through their relationship highs and lows. When she salvages a thrown-out instrument for now-14-year-old Max (Orén Kinlan, Taken Down) but he doesn't want it, she decides to give it a try herself. It's an escape from simply getting by, arguing with Ian, coping with Max's run-ins with the law and young mother-style existential malaise. It could be a path to a new future, too. And, with her teen also into music — but hip hop, rap and EDM, or whatever will impress his crush (feature first-timer Alex Deegan) — it's a way to bring Flora and son closer together. Music is in Hewson's blood given that she's the daughter of Paul Hewson, aka U2's Bono, with the Behind Her Eyes and The Knick star well-cast — and magnetic, and also endlessly charismatic — as the forthright, sweary, just-trying-to-get-by Flora. There's both yearning and energy in her electrifyingly lived-in performance, and in the melodic and soulful tunes that her character pens with teacher Jeff (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Poker Face) via video chats as they reflect upon their lives, loves, hopes and dreams via songwriting. Flora and Son boasts lovely performances all round, in fact. Kinlan is a dynamic find who deserves many more credits on his resume, Gordon-Levitt charms quietly and softly, and sparks fly when Carney gets the latter in the same space as Hewson through an easy but nice visual touch. The movie's moniker makes plain where its heart belongs, though, as Flora and Max learn not just about themselves but about their complicated bond with each other by making music. As always with this filmmaker's work, the original soundtrack is sublime. Also, the mood feels like a warm but clear-eyed hug. Flora and Son streams via Apple TV+. RUSTIN After Selma, One Night in Miami and Judas and the Black Messiah arrives Rustin, the latest must-see movie about the minutiae of America's 60s-era civil rights movement. All four hail from Black filmmakers. All four tell vital stories. The entire quartet boasts phenomenal performances, too — complete with a Best Supporting Actor statuette for Judas and the Black Messiah's Daniel Kaluuya, plus nominations for his co-star Lakeith Stanfield and One Night in Miami's Leslie Odom Jr (Selma's David Oyelowo was robbed). Colman Domingo, an Emmy-winner for Euphoria and Tony-nominee for The Scottsboro Boys, deserves to join that Academy Awards list for his turn as Rustin's eponymous figure. His performance isn't merely powerful; it's a go-for-broke portrayal from a versatile talent at the top of his game while digging into the every inch of his part. Domingo doesn't only turn in a showcase effort in a career that's long been absent on-screen leading role, either; he's everything that Rustin hangs off of, soars around, and lives and breathes with. Focusing on Bayard Rustin, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom director George C Wolfe's latest feature already had a riveting and important tale to tell, but Domingo proves its stunning beating heart. Rustin's namesake holds a place in history for a wealth of reasons, but here's one: it was at the event that he conceived, organised and gave almost everything he had to ensure took place that Martin Luther King Jr have his "I Have a Dream" speech. That moment at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in August 1963 will never be forgotten. Nor should Rustin's efforts in ensuring there was a protest — a historic demonstration with more than 200,000 attendees, in fact— to begin with against overwhelming pushback. Dr King (Aml Ameen, I May Destroy You) is a supporting player in this film, which explores the behind-the-scenes hustle and bustle from idea until the day, as well as Rustin's fight not just against racism but also homophobia as an openly gay Black man (including the battles he's forced to wage among his fellow crusaders for civil rights). Even while only covering a sliver of his subject's life, Wolfe largely takes the traditional biopic route, working with a script by Julian Breece (When They See Us) and Dustin Lance Black (an Oscar-winner for Milk); however, the potency of the Rustin's deeds and struggles, the importance of everything that he was rallying for and Domingo's electrifying lead performance all make his movie anything but standard. Rustin streams via Netflix. EARTH MAMA Add Savanah Leaf's debut feature to 2023's phenomenal first films from female directors, slotting in alongside Aftersun and Past Lives. Earth Mama mightn't riff on her own story as those two movies do for their filmmakers, but the former Olympic volleyballer and Grammy-nominee for Best Music Video (for Gary Clark Jr's 'This Land') does still draw upon reality to potent and empathetic effect. In 2020, Leaf and actor Taylor Russell (Bones and All) co-directed documentary short The Heart Still Hums, which dedicated its frames to single mothers forced to interact with the child welfare, fostering and adoption systems. In fiction, focusing on one young mum with two kids that she's desperate to reunite with and a third on the way, that's Earth Mama's story as well. Leaf won Best Debut Director at the 2023 British Independent Film for the confident and revelatory end result, which feels as initiate and raw as cinema gets — and, while firmly telling a social-realist tale about the plight of women in its protagonist's situation, balances its bleakness with hope, a sense of community, and astute and insightful doses of magical realism. Tia Nomore also makes a staggering debut herself as Gia, the 24-year-old whose pain at being away from her son Trey (Ca'Ron Jaden Coleman, This Is Us) and daughter Shaynah (Alexis Rivas, another first-timer) seeps from her pores. Getting their family back together isn't simple, though, as the authorities splash their disapproval at everything Gia does: her history wth drugs, which she's in recovery for; her new pregnancy, especially given that she isn't in a stable relationship; and being late to her supervised once-a-week sessions with kids, despite the fact that she's doing her best to meet all of child services' demands while also keeping her job. In some of the movie's visually brightest moments that come tinged with the surreal, Gia works in a mall photo store helping to take happy snaps of beaming couples and their offspring; immortalising their perfect dream is how she makes a living, while constantly chasing her own. There's poetry to Leaf's imagery, anger in her survey of how Black women are treated and defiance in Gia's determination — plus both complexity and compassion everywhere. Earth Mama streams via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. HUESERA: THE BONE WOMAN The sound of cracking knuckles is one of humanity's most anxiety-inducing. The noise of clicking bones elsewhere? That's even worse. Both help provide Huesera: The Bone Woman's soundtrack — and set the mood for a deeply tense slow-burner that plunges into maternal paranoia like a Mexican riff on Rosemary's Baby, the horror subgenre's perennial all-timer, while also interrogating the reality that bringing children into the world isn't a dream for every woman no matter how much society expects otherwise. Valeria (Natalia Solián, Red Shoes) is thrilled to be pregnant, a state that hasn't come easily. After resorting to praying at a shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in desperation, neither she nor partner Raúl (Alfonso Dosal, Narcos: Mexico) could be happier, even if her sister Vero (Sonia Couoh, 40 Years Young) caustically comments that she's never seemed that interested in motherhood before. Then, two things shake up her hard-fought situation: a surprise run-in with Octavia (Mayra Batalla, Everything Will Be Fine), the ex-girlfriend she once planned to live a completely different life with; and constant glimpses of a slithering woman whose unnatural body movements echo and unsettle. Filmmaker Michelle Garza Cervera (TV series Marea alta) makes her fictional narrative debut with Huesera: The Bone Woman, directing and also writing with first-timer Abia Castillo — and she makes a powerfully chilling and haunting body-horror effort about hopes, dreams, regrets and the torment of being forced into a future that you don't truly foresee as your own. Every aspect of the film, especially Nur Rubio Sherwell's (Don't Blame Karma!) exacting cinematography, reinforces how trapped that Valeria feels even if she can't admit it to herself, and how much that attempting to be the woman Raúl and her family want is eating away at her soul. Solián is fantastic at navigating this journey, including whether the movie is leaning into drama or terror at any given moment. You don't need expressive eyes to be a horror heroine, but she boasts them; she possesses a scream queen's lungs, too. Unsurprisingly, Cervera won the Nora Ephron Award for best female filmmaker at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival for this instantly memorable nightmare. Huesera: The Bone Woman streams via Shudder. ROBE OF GEMS In the very first moments of her very first feature as a director — after working as an editor on films such as 2012's Post Tenebras Lux and 2014's Jauja — Natalia López demands her audience's attention. She earns it and ensures it as well, and looking away while Robe of Gems unfurls its story is impossible afterwards. To kick things off, a patient and painterly glimpse at the rural Mexican landscape comes into sight, fading up and bringing more and more dusty grey details with it with each second. Then, without the frame moving, a frenetic man is seen bashing and slashing through the plants. Next, it becomes apparent that there's a reflection as part of the image. And, it's also quickly evident that viewers are seeing someone else's vantage as they look on at the landscape. In fact, a couple peers out, in the middle of getting intimate (and immediately before flinging wooden furniture around, strewn pieces flying everywhere). With the 'start as you mean to go on' maxim in mind, it's a helluva opening. López does indeed begin as she goes on, in a film that scored her 2022's Berlinale's Silver Bear Jury Prize. The pivotal villa belongs to Isabel's (Nailea Norvind, Julia vs Julia) family, and offers somewhat of a respite from a marriage that's splintering like that thrown-about furniture, with the clearly well-to-do woman settling in with her children Benja (first-timer Balam Toledo) and Vale (fellow debutant Sherlyn Zavala Diaz). But tension inescapably lingers, given that the onsite caretaker María (newcomer Antonia Olivares) is unsettled by the disappearance of her sister, a plot point that makes a purposeful statement. The police are investigating, the cartel has a local presence, corruption is an ever-present force, and the gap between the wealthy and not-so is glaring. Progressing carefully from that powerhouse opening, Robe of Gems quickly seeps under your skin — and as its first visuals make abundantly clearly, every second is a marvel to look at. Robe of Gems streams via Prime Video and Madman on Demand. CASSANDRO The story of luchador Saúl Armendáriz hits the screen in Cassandro, which takes its title from the American-born Mexican performer's ring name. As writer/director Roger Ross Williams (Life, Animated) works through with help from his charismatic star Gael García Bernal (Werewolf By Night), Armendáriz first came to wrestling in a mask — as an amateur living in El Paso but heading over the border to Juarez to get scrapping — then made a big switch to take on an exótico identity. That's where the openly gay competitor not only found himself, but also earned fame. He takes convincing, however, as this affectionate and thoughtful feature unpacks. Of course he wants to be able to express himself, bounce between the ropes with glamour and joy, carve out an accepting space and have crowds showering him with love. But exóticos have been traditionally positioned to lose. Dressed in drag, they've been used to show up the masculine strengths of their opponents. That homophobic situation isn't one that Armendáriz wants to embrace, but trainer Sabrina (Roberta Colindrez, A League of Their Own) thinks that he could make a difference, subvert the trend, stand out and become a better wrestler. Frequent documentarian Williams, who won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short for Music by Prudence, knows a great story — and stellar talent. Cassandro has both, including Armendáriz's rise to become the 'Liberace of Lucha Libre', the many ups and downs on that path, his relationship with his mother Yocasta (Perla De La Rosa, Villa, itinerario de una pasión), and Bernal's layered performance in his shoes and spandex. There's both passion and heartbreak in the actor's portrayal — shyness as Saúl and blossoming confidence as Cassandro as well — in another of Bernal's big career highlights. Indeed, he puts in a tour-de-force effort as the film explores Armendáriz's devotion to his mum; his complicated feelings about his absent, disapproving dad (Robert Salas, Family Portrait); his secret liaisons and not-so-clandestine love for married fellow luchador Gerardo (Raúl Castillo, The Inspection); his flirtations with the assistant (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio aka Bad Bunny, Bullet Train) to his key promoter (Joaquín Cosio, Narcos: Mexico); and what it means to get a shot in the ring with icon silver-masked El Hijo del Santo (as himself). Cassandro streams via Prime Video. THEY CLONED TYRONE Jordan Peele's Get Out and Us would already make a killer triple feature with Boots Riley's Sorry to Bother You. For a smart and savvy marathon of science fiction-leaning films about race in America by Black filmmakers, now add Juel Taylor's They Cloned Tyrone. The Creed II screenwriter turns first-time feature director with this dystopian movie that slides in alongside Groundhog Day, Moon, The Cabin in the Woods, A Clockwork Orange, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and They Live, too — but is never derivative, not for a second, including in its 70s-style Blaxploitation-esque aesthetic that nods to Shaft and Superfly as well. Exactly what drug dealer Fontaine (John Boyega, The Woman King), pimp Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx, Strays) and sex worker Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris, The Marvels) find in their neighbourhood is right there in the film's name. The how, the why, the specifics around both, the sense of humour that goes with all of the above, the savage satire: Taylor and co-writer Tony Rettenmaier perfect the details. Ignore the fact that they both collaborated on the script for the awful Space Jam: A New Legacy, other than considering the excellent They Cloned Tyrone as a far smarter, darker and deeper exploration of exploitation when the powers that be see other people as merely a means to an end. On an ordinary day — and amid vintage-looking threads and hairstyles, and also thoroughly modern shoutouts to SpongeBob SquarePants, Kevin Bacon, Barack Obama, Nancy Drew and bitcoin — Fontaine wakes up, has little cash and doesn't win on an instant scratch-it. He chats to his mother through her bedroom door, tries to collect a debt from Slick Charles and, as Yo-Yo witnesses, is shot. Then he's back in his bed, none the wiser about what just happened, zero wounds to be seen, and going through the same cycle again. When the trio realise that coming back from the dead isn't just a case of déjà vu, they team up to investigate, discovering one helluva conspiracy that helps Taylor's film make a powerful statement. They Cloned Tyrone's lead trio amply assists, too, especially the ever-ace Boyega. Like Sorry to Bother You especially, this is a comedy set within a nightmarish scenario, and the Attack the Block, Star Wars and Small Axe alum perfects both the humour and the horror. One plucky and persistent, the other oozing charm and rocking fur-heavy coats, Parris and Foxx lean into the hijinks as the central threesome go all Scooby-Doo. There isn't just a man in a mask here, however, in this astute and inventive standout. They Cloned Tyrone streams via Netflix. NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU Thanks to Justified, Short Term 12, Booksmart, Unbelievable and Dopesick, Kaitlyn Dever has already notched up plenty of acting highlights; however, No One Will Save You proves one of her best projects yet while only getting the actor to speak just a single line. Instead of using dialogue, this alien invasion flick tells its story without words — and also finds its emotion in Dever's expressive face and physicality. Her character: Mill River resident Brynn Adams, who has no one to talk to long before extra-terrestrials arrive. The local outcast due to a tragic incident from her past, and now living alone in her childhood home following her mother's death, Brynn fills her time by sewing clothes, making models of her unwelcoming small town like she's in Moon and penning letters to her best friend Maude. Then she's woken in the night by an intruder who isn't human, flits between fighting back and fleeing, and is forced into a battle for survival — striving to save her alienated existence in her cosy but lonely abode from grey-hued, long-limbed, telekinetic otherworldly interlopers with a penchant for mind control. With Spontaneous writer/director Brian Duffield's script matched by exacting A Quite Place-level sound design and The Witcher composer Joseph Trapanese's score, this close encounter of the unspoken kind is a visual feat, bouncing, bounding and dancing around Brynn's house and the Mill River community as aliens linger. Every single frame conveys a wealth of detail, as it needs to without chatter to fill in the gaps. Every look on Dever's face does the same, and every glance as well; this is a performance so fine-tuned that this would be a completely different film without her. Bringing the iconic 'Hush' episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer to mind, No One Will Save you is smartly plotted, including in explaining why it sashays in silence. Just as crucially — and this time recalling everyone's favourite home-invasion film, aka Home Alone — it's fluidly and evocatively choreographed. There's also a touch of Nope in its depiction of eerie threats from space, plus a veer into Invasion of the Body Snatchers, all without ever feeling like No One Will Save is bluntly cribbing from elsewhere. The result: a new sci-fi/horror standout. No One Will Save You streams via Disney+. RYE LANE When Dom (David Jonsson, Industry) and Yas (Vivian Oparah, Then You Run) are asked how they met, they tell a tale about a karaoke performance getting an entire bar cheering. Gia (Karene Peter, Emmerdale Farm), Dom's ex, is both shocked and envious, even though she cheated on him with his primary-school best friend Eric (Benjamin Sarpong-Broni, The Secret). It's the kind of story a movie couple would love to spin — the type that tends to only happen in the movies, too. But even for Rye Lane's fictional characters, it's a piece of pure imagination. Instead, the pair meet in South London, in the toilet at an art show. He's crying in a stall, they chat awkwardly through the gender-neutral space's wall, then get introduced properly outside. It's clumsy, but they keep the conversation going even when they leave the exhibition, then find themselves doing the good ol' fashioned rom-com walk and talk, then slide in for that dinner rendezvous with the flabbergasted Gia. It's easy to think of on-screen romances gone by during British filmmaker Raine Allen-Miller's feature debut — working with a script from Bloods duo Nathan Bryon and Tom Melia — which this charming Sundance-premiering flick overtly wants viewers to. There's a helluva sight gag about Love Actually, as well as a cameo to match, and the whole meandering-and-nattering setup helped make Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight an iconic trilogy. That said, as Rye Lane spends time with shy accountant Dom, who has barely left his parents' house since the breakup, and the outgoing costume designer Yas, who has her own recent relationship troubles casting a shadow, it isn't propelled by nods and winks. Rather, it's smart and savvy in a Starstruck way about paying tribute to what's come before while wandering down its own path. The lead casting is dynamic, with Jonsson and Oparah making a duo that audiences could spend hours with, and Allen-Miller's eye as a director is playful, lively, loving and probing. Rom-coms are always about watching people fall for each other, but this one plunges viewers into its swooning couple's mindset with every visual and sensory touch it can. Rye Lane streams via Disney+. CONFESS, FLETCH Since Mad Men had Don Draper want to buy the world a Coke to end its seven-season run back in 2015, comedy has been Jon Hamm's friend. He's the ultimate TV guest star, building upon stints in 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation while Mad Men was still airing with Toast of London, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Curb Your Enthusiasm, on a resume that also includes The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, Childrens Hospital, Medical Police, Angie Tribeca, The Last Man on Earth and Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp as well. So, casting him as the new Irwin Maurice 'Fletch' Fletcher couldn't be an easier move. Having fellow Mad Men standout John Slattery (The Good Fight) also appear in the latest flick about the investigative reporter, and the first since the Chevy Chase-led movies in the 80s, is another winning touch. Even if that reunion wasn't part of the film, Hamm is so entertaining that he makes a killer case for a whole new Fletch franchise — on whatever screen the powers-that-be like — with him at its centre. Hamm clearly understands how well he suits this type of character, and the genre; he's a comic delight, and he's also one of Confess, Fletch's producers. Superbad and Adventureland's Greg Mottola directs and co-writes, scripting with Outer Range's Zev Borow — and ensuring that Hamm and Slattery aren't the only acting highlights. Working through a plot that sees Fletch chasing a stolen artwork, discovering a dead body, and both looking into the crime and considered a suspect himself, the film also features engaging turns by always-welcome Twin Peaks great Kyle MacLachlan and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar gem Annie Mumolo. There have been several attempts to revive Fletch over the past three decades, including separate projects with Ted Lasso duo Bill Lawrence and Jason Sudeikis — on the page, the character spans nine novels — but viewers should be thankful that this is the action-comedy that came to fruition, even if it skipped cinemas everywhere but the US. Confess, Fletch streams via Paramount+ and Binge. Looking for more viewing highlights? We also rounded up the 15 top films of 2023, and another 15 exceptional flicks that hardly anyone saw in cinemas this year — plus the 15 best new TV series of 2023, another 15 excellent new TV shows of 2023 that you might've missed and the 15 best returning shows as well. And, we've kept a running list of must-stream TV from across the year, complete with full reviews. Also, you can check out our regular rundown of film and TV streaming recommendations, which is updated monthly.
After a year's delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Olympics are almost upon us. The 2020 games will be a little different to usual, though. Firstly, it's obviously now 2021, with the postponed games being held in Tokyo from Friday, July 23–Sunday, August 8. Also, there won't be any spectators due to the pandemic — with neither overseas travellers nor local residents permitted to attend. That's all well and good and interesting; however, we've found a much cuter display of sportsmanship that's also popping up this July. On Thursday, July 22, viewers can watch four adorable guide-dogs-to-be participating in their very own paw-lympics. Yep, that's a thing and we're definitely here for it. For the second year in a row, the folks at Seeing Eye Dogs have teamed up The Petbarn Foundation to host the Puppy Games — and it'll be streaming on a device near you, too. The event will see young trainee guide dogs Chessy, Frieda, Isobel and Ivory tackle a series of skill-testing challenges, with their every move captured on camera. Watch the pups hurtle through a time trial, take on a 'puppy patience' food bowl challenge and battle it out for glory in the 'dogstacle distraction course'. The games will stream at 1pm on Thursday via the event's website — and, whether you're in lockdown in Sydney, Victoria or South Australia, or you're located elsewhere in Australia, it sounds like perfect lunchtime viewing. The project aims to support fundraising efforts for the annual Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal, of course, but also promises a much-needed boost of dopamine and general happy feels all round. Viewers can donate to the cause by hitting the link on the event's website. This year, the appeal is shooting for a goal of $750,000 to help cover the costs of breeding, training and caring for at least 15 Seeing Eye Dogs. Can't make Thursday's viewing? Fear not, the full event will be up on YouTube to rewatch any time you need a mood boost. The Puppy Games will stream via the event's website from 1pm on Thursday, July 22.
No man is an island entire of itself. Except maybe Peter Thiel, co-founder of Paypal. Working in tandem with the Seasteading Institute, the Silicon Valley billionaire is making plans for the first floating city to be launched off the coast of San Francisco next year. As an organisation experimenting in the creation of floating island states, the institute is a hub of design and innovation in offshore communities. What can be best described as 'oil-platform like structures' will operate according to Mr. Thiel's ideas of a "more efficient, practical public sector model", unfettered by minimum wage, welfare, restrictions on weapons and tight building codes. Quite a list you say. The icing on the cake is Mr. Thiel's US$1.25 billion pledge, calling upon Seastead to 'open a frontier for experimenting with new ideas for government'. In an interview with Details magazine, founder of the Seasteading Institute has estimated the project to start small with 270 residents, and rapidly upscale to support over ten million by 2050. For those averse to the idea, Margaret Crawford, Professor of Architecture at UC Berkeley, cites it as particularly shortsighted, and "without any urban-planning implications whatsoever". And she has a point. Many other concerns that have been raised, namely "What about pirates?" and "Are seasteading enthusiasts just a bunch of rich guys wanting even more freedom?" are also addressed as perfectly legitimate in the Institute's FAQ section.
Step through the the mystical wardrobe and bring your childhood literary fantasies to life at The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition. Based on the hit film adaptations of C.S. Lewis' legendary books, the exhibition finally lets you explore the magical world you read about and watched on screen. Let the magic unfold as you wander through this incredible, hands-on exhibition. Once you have traveled through its 'wardrobe' and into the exhibit space, marvel at the place where all the magic began in a replica of Lewis' writing study. The stories leap off the pages throughout the rest of the exhibition as visitors are invited to touch the icy replica of the White Witch's throne, or run their hand over a frozen waterfall. Each bit has an informative or scientific component, connecting the mystical to our reality. Visit King Miraz's castle, or create your own Narnia-dwelling creature; lift (or attempt to lift) the armour displayed in the film's battle scene, admire the other costumes, or learn about the physics involved in a catapult. This Powerhouse Museum exhibition will thrill any C.S. Lewis and Narnia fan with its sheer multitude of activities and film artifacts to see. Diehard fans (akin to devotee, actress Christina Ricci, who sports an Aslan tattoo) should consider attending the exhibition's opening weekend.
Got a ticket to the game? What you need now is a trusty pub for a pre- or post-game bevvie, or two. No ticket? What you need is a pub with a big screen — chances are, you'll have a better view than half the people in the stadium. The trick is finding the right spot. For a venue to be game friendly, several elements need to be on point: well-positioned screens, a decent sound system, a friendly — albeit feverishly competitive — atmosphere, and quality food and beer. After all, watching a match can feel as taxing as playing one, so fuelling up and cooling down correctly is essential. We've joined forces with Heineken to round up four pubs that won't let you down. They're scattered across the eastern suburbs, the inner west and the lower north shore. So, wherever you are, both the game and a refreshing Heineken will be within reach.
Another year has come and gone, and Sydney's cinema community is ramping up for the return of one of its biggest events: the beloved short film festival Flickerfest. If you're not impressed by the slate of Hollywood's full-length film lineup anymore, then you need an evening at this festival of short films, which happens to be Australia's only Academy® Qualifying International short film festival. Returning to Bondi Pavilion for the 34th year running, Flickerfest runs from Friday, January 17 to Sunday, January 26 in Sydney before it packs up to tour screens across Australia. The festival program is comprised of 200 top films (handpicked from over 3500 entries) that will delight audiences while vying for prestigious awards like the Flickerfest Award for Best International Short Film, the Yoram Gross Award for Best International Animation, the Panasonic Lumix for Best Australian Short Film and the Flickerfest Award for Best Documentary - all of which are Academy® qualifying. Flickerfest prides itself on promoting talented, diverse filmmakers of all ages and walks of life. Elements of the program like Rainbow Shorts celebrate the work of LGBTQI+ storytellers; FlickerKids gathers the best of the family-friendly program; FlickerUp showcases the work of young filmmakers and Short Laughs keeps the audience laughing with a focus on hilarious comedy titles. All this, as mentioned, takes place in the stunning Bondi Pavilion. A great location like this means you can enjoy a meal or a swim in Bondi before the show. Then grab a drink from the festivals bar before you take your seat in the comfy indoor air conditioned theatre or outdoors in the Pav's palm tree-lined courtyard and enjoy a night of films under the stars with a drink in hand. After wrapping up its Sydney stint, Flickerfest will embark on its annual nationwide tour, appearing in over 40 venues across the country throughout 2025. The 34th Flickerfest International Film Festival will run from Friday, January 17 to Sunday, January 26. Tickets and the full 2025 program are available now. For more information, head to the website.
Already boasting boutique accommodation, a poolside bar and an all-day bistro, Paddington's Oxford House is unveiling its latest addition on Thursday, November 2. Bubsy's Wine and Record Bar will arrive on Oxford Street with a P&V-curated wine list, Maybe Sammy leading the charge with the cocktails, Automata's Clayton Wells in charge of the food and a rotating list of special guests taking charge of the soundtrack. Soft lamp-lit ambience and velvety red carpets set the mood at the new watering hole, acting as a counterpoint to the venue's upbeat next-door neighbours, the bustling El Primo Sanchez, as well as the summer-ready Oxford House pool bar. With an intimate atmosphere and exciting drinks list, we're predicting that Busby's will be a hit on Valentine's Day. [caption id="attachment_924013" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parker Blain[/caption] Known for making interesting and eccentric drops more approachable, P&V's Mike Bennie has helped create an expansive wine list spanning bottles from Australia, France and Italy. Maybe Sammy's Paolo Maffietti has similarly ensured the cocktail list isn't too intimidating, sticking to just five signature drinks that are designed to complement the minimal-intervention vino. Sip on an Abbey Road — a combination of citrus gin, vermouth blanco, Davidson plum and champagne — or opt for the tequila, grappa and ginger wine mix of the Megatone. [caption id="attachment_924014" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parker Blain[/caption] Public Hospitality's Group Creative Culinary Director Clayton Wells rounds out the offerings at Busby's with a snack menu you'll find difficult to turn down. Sydney rock oysters are topped with blackberry vinegar and roasted kelp oil, while the chicken liver parfait is partnered with spiced pineapple and liquorice. Then, there's the other key component of this wine and record bar: the music. Inspired by tuned-filled haunts around the world, Busby's will host a series of residencies from beloved Sydney figures. Kicking things off, Stones Throw Records' Jonti will be guest-selecting the opening-night soundtrack. [caption id="attachment_924011" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jonny Valiant[/caption] Busby's will open at 21 Oxford Street, Paddington on Thursday, November 2. It will be open 5–11pm Monday–Saturday. Top image: Jonny Valiant
One of 2022's absolute best movies explored loss, time, childhood and mother-daughter bonds, and did so with playfulness and empathy. Another pondered a fraught reality for women mere decades ago, exploring a situation that sadly isn't confined to the annals of history. Both hailed from France from female filmmakers. Both wowed the international film festival circuit. Both Petite Maman and Happening also share something else in common: they were highlights of 2022's Alliance Française French Film Festival program. It's worth remembering last year's standouts now that 2023's full lineup is here — because this new batch of flicks, some freshly announced and some revealed back in January as a sneak peek, will also contain some of this year's very best titles. In total, Australia's annual celebration of French cinema will screen 39 movies throughout March and April in its whopping 34th year, taking its selection on the road to Aussie capitals and a number of regional locations. AFFFF's 2023 opening-night pick sits among the previously unveiled films, with Masquerade spinning a tale of glitz, glamour and the Côte d'Azur's far-less-glossy underbelly under La Belle Époque's director Nicolas Bedos' guidance — and with Pierre Niney (Yves Saint Laurent) and Isabelle Adjani (The World Is Yours) among his stars. As a bookend, it's now joined by Freestyle, which takes to the road with Benjamin Voisin (Lost Illusions) and Marina Foïs (Stella in Love), and promises to end the fest as memorably as it begins. In-between, must-sees include AFFFF's big picks teased in its first program announcement: Saint Omer, with documentarian Alice Diop drawing from true events to craft a drama about a young Parisian journalist and novelist attending murder trial, then wading through the complexities it surfaces within her own family history; One Fine Morning, the latest film by Bergman Island's Mia Hansen-Løve, this time a family drama starring Léa Seydoux (Crimes of the Future); and The Innocent, as written by, directed by and starring Louis Garrel (A Faithful Man), based on his own experiences, and also featuring Noémie Merlant (Tár). There's also Final Cut, a French remake of Japanese cult hit One Cut of the Dead from The Artist director Michel Hazanavicius, starring Romain Duris (Eiffel); Winter Boy, the new film from Sorry Angel's Christophe Honoré, an autobiographical drama focusing on 17-year-old Lucas (newcomer Paul Kircher); Brother and Sister, with Marion Cotillard (Annette) playing a stage actor and sibling to Melvil Poupaud (Summer of 85); and Other People's Children, a Virginie Efira (Benedetta)-led effort about being a stepmother that's also inspired by director Rebecca Zlotowski's (Planetarium) own life. That's not the end of highlights, either already revealed or just-dropped — with the latter spanning two Quentin Dupieux films. The director of Rubber and Deerskin adds both Incredible but True and Smoking Causes Coughing to the fest's lineup, as well as a sense of humour that only he possesses, anchoring AFFFF's comedy selection. Plus, there's award-winner Playground, which focuses on a seven-year-old girl; On the Wandering Paths, which brings Sylvain Tesson's novel to the screen so swiftly after The Velvet Queen also turned his work into cinema (including at AFFFF 2022); and The Origin of Evil, an account of a dysfunctional family that's one of three AFFFF 2023 movies to star Full Time's Laure Calamy. Or, viewers can look forward to Country Cabaret, which is based on a true story about a bold move to save a family farm; Sugar and Stars, adapting pastry chef Yazid Ichemrahem's autobiography to the screen; the Christmas-set A Good Doctor; and Jack Mimoun and the Secrets of Val Verde, the fest's dose of action, adventure and laughs all in one. This year's focus is firmly on the new over the classic, but when it comes to looking backwards, 1988 French box-office smash The Big Blue does the honours. The full list of 2023 AFFFF titles goes on, as cinephiles have come to not just expect but thoroughly enjoy from a fest that's the largest celebration of French film outside of France. ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL 2023 DATES: Tuesday, March 7–Wednesday, April 5: Palace Central, Palace Verona, Palace Norton St, Chauvel Cinema and Hayden Orpheum Cremorne in Sydney Wednesday, March 8–Wednesday, April 5: Palace Cinema Como, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Westgarth, The Astor Theatre, The Kino and Pentridge Cinema in Melbourne Wednesday, March 8–Wednesday, April 5: Luna Leederville, Luna on SX, Windsor Cinema, Palace Raine Square and Camelot Outdoor Cinema in Perth Thursday, March 9–Sunday, March 19: State Cinema, Hobart Thursday, March 9–Wednesday, April 5: Palace Electric Cinema, Canberra Wednesday, March 15–Wednesday, April 12: Palace James Street and Palace Barracks in Brisbane Thursday, March 16–Wednesday, April 5: Palace Byron Bay Thursday, March 23–Wednesday, April 19: Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas and Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas in Adelaide Friday, March 24–Sunday, March 26: Northern Festival, Chaffey Theatre, Middleback Arts Centre and Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre in Port Pirie, Renmark, Whyalla and Mount Gambier Wednesday, March 29–Sunday, April 2: Riverside Theatre Parramatta Wednesday, March 29–Sunday, April 16: Dendy Southport on the Gold Coast Monday, April 3 and Monday, April 10: Victa Cinema, Victor Harbour Friday, April 21–Sunday, April 23: Star Cinema, Bendigo + encore dates in some cities The Alliance Française French Film Festival tours Australia from Tuesday, March 7–Tuesday, April 25, 2023. For more information, or to buy tickets from 9am on Thursday, February 9, visit the AFFFF website.
Sydney community radio station FBi Radio has been uplifting and celebrating Sydney music and the arts for nearly 20 years. A leading voice in the local music scene, the independent radio station puts on the SMAC (Sydney Music, Arts and Culture) Awards each year, and this year, the FBi team is taking things IRL to put on the SMACS Fest as part of Vivid Sydney. On Friday, June 10 FBi is running a full venue takeover of the Oxford Art Factory for the festival with a huge lineup filled with more than 15 of the city's best bands, solo artists and DJs across two stages. Heading up the lineup is rapper Tasman Keith in the lead up to his new album A Colour Undone, acclaimed singer-songwriter and producer Rainbow Chan, energetic punk and hip-hop trio Shady Nasty and multi-talented rapper and creative Jamaica Moana. Elsewhere on the lineup you'll find live performances from the likes of Moody Beach, 700 Feel and Wytchings alongside DJ sets from Spin the Bottle, Outer Shores, Radar Sounds, Club Boyfriend and Credcendoll just to name a few. The last FBi SMACS Fest was all the way back in 2015, and featured performances from Cosmo's Midnight, Tuka and Palms, as well as Sampa the Great, Hockey Dad and B Wise who were all cutting their teeth at the time. There was even a DJ set from now-Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The mini festival will be kicking off at 8pm and running all the way until 3am on Saturday morning. Tickets are $35 plus booking fees, however all FBi Radio Supporters can nab $10 off their ticket. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuiyJlCmPrA Top image: Destination NSW
With its latest movie-fuelled event, Underground Cinema is hoping that you've never felt like this before — and that you love Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey dancing up a storm in a much-loved 1987 romantic drama. As part of the outfit's new Immersive Cinema spin-off, it's promising to plunge cinephiles into the world of Dirty Dancing. And give you the time of your life, presumably. Hitting The Domain for three nights in March 2019, Dirty Dancing: The Immersive Cinema Experience won't just screen one of Swayze's biggest film roles, but will recreate the world of the popular film. That means that attendees will travel back to 1963 in spirit, check into Kellerman's Mountain House in the Catskills, and enjoy a day of painting classes, volleyball, croquet and — of course — dance lessons. You can probably also expect a stint of carrying watermelons, as well as a talent show. It all ends with a sunset screening of Dirty Dancing on the big screen. You'd be just a fool to believe that's all that's on the agenda. Actors and dancers will roam around like the wind, and, food and drink-wise, Americana-style eats and several pop-up bars slinging summery cocktails are on offer for those with hungry eyes (and stomachs). You'll also be able to wander through recreations of Kellerman's famous fictional spaces, from the staff quarters where Francis 'Baby' Houseman gets her first taste of dirty dancing, to the studios where she learns all the steps from and starts swooning over Johnny Castle, to the restaurant where nobody puts Baby in a corner. Like the film version of Kellerman's, the event is also an all-ages affair — Underground Cinema's first that'll welcome families and kids along. And everyone is encouraged to dress up like it's the 60s, although appropriate footwear for dancing is a must. Tickets are available in two tiers, with the $89.90 'Kellerman's Guest Experience' giving you access to all of the above, and the $129.90 'Time of My Life Package' (naturally) also letting you sashay in via express entry, nab a premium elevated viewing spot, explore secret spaces and take a group dance class with one of Kellerman's dance instructors.
The ol' nine to five (or really six-thirty, seven o'clock) can be tough. With getting up on time, pretending to be awake during meetings and making deadlines, there's little brain space left for deciding where to have lunch each day. Never fear comrades, we've got you covered. We've teamed up with Australia Square to bring you the best places to break for lunch all week long. [caption id="attachment_688489" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thr1ve, supplied.[/caption] MONDAY If the weekend involved more drinks and grease food than were wise, then set things straight for the week ahead with lunch at Thr1ve. Build your own nourishing lunch bowl, starting with a protein of your choice — such as chicken, slow-cooked pulled beef in barbecue sauce, chicken satay, salmon fish cakes, scrambled eggs or marinated silk tofu for the herbivores — then plump things up with fresh salad and dressing. If you're lunching on the run, grab a freshly made wrap (from $7.50) and head back to your desk knowing you've started the week on the right track. [caption id="attachment_688956" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ryans Bar, supplied.[/caption] TUESDAY Tuesday. It's so far away from Friday afternoon. No matter — congratulate yourself for making it through over twenty per cent of the working week by hitting Ryan's Bar for lunch. Put deadlines aside and join the throng around the fountain to watch the world go by for a while. On Tuesdays, you can get a small pizza and a schooner of Coopers for a cool $15. Aside from the strong pizza game, you can also choose from the holy trinity of Aussie pub offerings: fish and chips, schnitties or burgers. Or, if you're feeling virtuous, salad nicoise may be more up your alley. [caption id="attachment_689333" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Catch 22, supplied.[/caption] WEDNESDAY Work hours can sure seem long. Give your cooked brain a boost with some lunchtime omega-3s at Catch 22. If you're feeling traditional go for made-to-order battered NZ hoki and chips, or lighten things up with grilled fish served with garden salad and rice. Best of all, at under $11, you'll have plenty of change in your pockets by the time the weekend rolls around. [caption id="attachment_673446" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bellucci, Chelsey Rader.[/caption] THURSDAY Step away from your desk and smell the parmesan at Bellucci. This alfresco eatery atop of Australia Square offers the chance to get some wind in your work sails before heading back to the office. Former Fratelli Paradiso head chef, Teofilo Nobrega is behind the pans, so it's not surprising that the menu features tasty pizza and pasta. Escape reality for an hour and pretend you're in Italy by ordering an alpina porcini pizza ($21), lamb ragu pappardelle ($25) or saffron linguine with crab and chilli ($27). Or if the boss is calling, grab a freshly made panini ($10–12) to go. [caption id="attachment_688954" align="alignnone" width="1920"] O Bar and Dining, supplied.[/caption] FRIDAY Remember when it was only Tuesday? Well, congratulations are in order because you made it all the way through to the end of the working week. To celebrate, go high into the sky and treat yourself to lunch at O Bar. Head chef Michael Moore's menu offers deliciousness without steering towards decadence. Think fresh seafood, seared meats and jazzed-up grains. Taking in the rotating view from the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, you'll forget those unanswered emails as you gaze over the harbour, and by the time you do a full revolution and reach the harbour sights again, those emails will be but a distant memory — a Monday problem if you will. For a full list of Australia Square's food and drink venues, visit the website.
Are you a cat person or a dog person? Alongside whether or not you're a fan of pineapple on pizza, pet preference is one of humanity's great dividing factors. Some folks love the unconditional affection that a barking bestie brings. Others thrive on the contented purrs of a meowing mouser sitting on their lap. Whichever camp you fall into, here's something that even the most-avid pup proponents and feline fanciers can agree on: that an exhibition dedicated to both cats and dogs, charting their place in art, design and human history, is a delightful must-see. Cats & Dogs is that showcase, giving NGV Australia in Melbourne's Federation Square one of its big summer highlights. It's a great time to be an art lover in the Victorian capital, or visiting the city, with all things Yayoi Kusama taking over NGV International and beyond — and also this thoughtful and adorable exhibition bringing joy via more than 250 cat- and dog-focused works at the Ian Potter Centre until Sunday, July 20, 2025. If your camera roll demonstrates your firm belief that there's no such thing as too many pet pictures, consider this the wide-ranging display that understands, then illustrates that idea — literally — via art. Pieces by Rembrandt van Rijn, Francisco de Goya, Pierre Bonnard, David Hockney, Jeff Koons, Hulda Guzmán, Atong Atem, Charles Blackman, Grace Cossington Smith and Nora Heysen are among the works featured, spanning both international and Australian artists. And yes, because cats and dogs don't always get along, the exhibition places dog pieces on one side and cats on the other. For plenty of pet lovers, you could hang all the pictures in the world of cats and dogs in a gallery and it'd instantly become a cherished art experience, but NGV International has arranged its showcase thematically to dig into what these two types of cute creatures mean to us. Using works from the NGV Collection, it explores subjects such as working dogs and cats, how the two pets feature in mythology and the occult, and their significance in religion and spirituality. So, expect cattle dogs, superstition-inspiring black cats and everything in-between, Also included in a display that ranges from ancient history to today: a survey of cats in popular culture. And if thinking about moggies and art gets you thinking about Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen's 1896 Chat Noir art nouveau poster, the recent acquisition by the NGV is part of the exhibition. Paintings of cats and dogs, prints of cats and dogs, drawings of cats and dogs, photos of cats and dogs, sculptures of cats and dogs, fashion featuring cats and dogs: they're all covered, as are textiles and decorative arts heroing the two critters. Other specific highlights include Atomicus, the surrealist photography by Philippe Halsman with Salvador Dalí pictured next to flying cats; Thomas Gainsborough's two-metre-high oil painting Richard St George Mansergh-St George, focusing on a soldier and his hound; Atong Atem's 2022 self-portrait Maria of Mars, complete with a lapdog earning atttention; pieces by First Nations artists, such as wooden carvings of camp dogs by Far North Queensland's Aurukun artists; and fashion by Alexander McQueen, Romance Was Born and others. Do you know in your bones that your own cat or dog belongs in the same company? There's a pet portrait gallery, too, where attendees can share images of their own pets. "People have shared domestic life with cats and dogs for thousands of years. Through more than 250 works from the NGV Collection, this exhibition explores our close-knit relationships with these animals with both critical rigour and a sense of humour. Whether a self-proclaimed dog person or cat lover, there is something for visitors of all inclinations to appreciate and enjoy," said NGV Director Tony Ellwood AM. Cats & Dogs displays at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Federation Square, Melbourne, until Sunday, July 20, 2025. Head to the venue's website for tickets and more details. Images: Installation view of Cats & Dogs at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia from 1 November 2024 to 20 July 2025. Photos: Eugene Hyland and Tom Ross.
Australian fashion house and boutique store Aje is officially branching out with a new sub-brand of activewear called Aje Athletica. Launching with a line of sportswear featuring everything from sports bras to shoes, Aje Athletica promises high-performance activewear with a focus on sustainability. 70 percent of the material used in the debut sportswear line is consciously sourced, including a 100 percent recycled material puffer jacket. The commitment to sustainable practices is clear, with consciously sourced products across the line made from a mix of recycled, organic and eco-friendly materials. "With a respect of our environment, Aje Athletica embraces sustainable practices and local expertise to deliver quality product[s] with a minimal footprint. Informing the design process with 70 percent conscious fabrications from the ground up, impacting the foundations at elemental phase – has been very fulfilling," Co-founder Edwina Forest said. Edwina Forest started Aje in 2008 with her friend Adrian Norris as a women's clothing line all about effortless style. Norris brings an artistic background from his time at Liceo Artistico Venezia, and Forest brings her knowledge of fashion publishing from her time at RUSSH magazine. Head to Aje Athletica's website to browse the range of leggings, sweatpants, tees, tanks, socks and windbreakers, all designed for both your trips to the gym and your days hanging around the house. The products are designed to fit a wide range of women, with sizes available in Australian four through 18. Aje Athletica is available as of Wednesday, May 26 throughout Australia and New Zealand online and in-store. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Sydney's beaches might be famous all over the world, but its rivers, though lesser known, are just as beautiful. And, if you're looking for a peaceful camping getaway, then the banks of a meandering waterway are hard to beat. You can spend all your time lazing about on grassy clearings and sandy beaches, wading through pretty swimming holes and trying to catch a fish or two. Or, get active and go exploring on a kayaking adventure or bushwalk. Within a stone's throw of Sydney's CBD, there are streams of all sorts: from rivers with rushing rapids framed by sheer sandstone cliffs to cute, babbling creeks that travel through ferny forests. Luckily, many are equipped with easily accessible campgrounds. So, pack your tent and plan your next escapade at one of these five. NEPEAN RIVER, BENTS BASIN STATE CONSERVATION AREA About an hour's drive west of Sydney is this idyllic spot on the shores of the mighty Nepean River, which starts at Robertson in the Southern Highlands and, just north of Penrith, becomes one with the Hawkesbury. At Bents Basin, the Nepean enters a gorge — one of the deepest swimming holes in New South Wales — so, it's a good spot for dipping in, paddling and fishing. There are rapids nearby too, so pack your lilo. Campground facilities include hot showers, barbecues and a camp kitchen. Hot tip: book in advance, especially during holidays. [caption id="attachment_645703" align="alignnone" width="1920"] National Parks NSW.[/caption] LANE COVE RIVER, LANE COVE NATIONAL PARK To camp near a river without having to travel too far, pitch your tent on the banks of the Lane Cove River, a branch of the Parramatta River; the campground is just a 25-minute drive northwest of the CBD. Here, you'll find excellent views over Lane Cove Valley and you're highly likely to meet swamp wallabies, water dragons, kookaburras, lorikeets, bush turkeys and, if you're quiet and patient, echidnas. To explore the river more extensively, have a wander along the Riverside Walking Track. Facilities (which are pretty fancy) include a swimming pool, barbecues, showers, kiosk, wifi and power. [caption id="attachment_644586" align="alignnone" width="1920"] National Parks NSW.[/caption] HAWKESBURY RIVER, CATTAI NATIONAL PARK Cattai Campground sits on a bend in the Hawkesbury River on the edge of Cattai National Park, about an hour's drive northwest of Sydney. Along with camping, the waterway also offers perfect conditions for fishing, boating and bushwalking. To add some history to your trip, visit the Cattai Homestead, a National Trust-listed dwelling built in the 1820s. The home is also attached to the ruins of a windmill which is believed to be the oldest industrial building in Australia. Campground facilities include showers, toilets, barbecues and picnic tables. Oh, and the occasional kangaroo and possum, too. [caption id="attachment_644592" align="alignnone" width="1920"] National Parks NSW.[/caption] KINGFISHER POOL, HEATHCOTE RIVER, HEATHCOTE NATIONAL PARK Kingfisher Pool Campground is a secluded oasis tucked deep within Heathcote National Park — 5.5 kilometres to be exact. After a leisurely walk in, you'll be rewarded with a serene, undisturbed vista. So, despite being just 40 kilometres southwest of the Sydney CBD, the campground feels like it's in the middle of nowhere. The pool is a magical swimming hole along the Heathcote River, with rock platforms to lounge on and pretty cascades. Facilities are rustic, being limited to toilets and picnic tables, so don't forget to pack all the water you'll need. [caption id="attachment_644676" align="alignnone" width="1920"] National Parks NSW.[/caption] MARRAMARRA CREEK CAMPGROUND, MARRAMARRA NATIONAL PARK Like Kingfisher Pool, Marramarra Creek Campground is walk-in only, so there's a similar sense of escape and solitude. In this case, it's a 3.5-kilometre trek from Marramarra Ridge Trail management gate (directions are over here), which is about an hour's drive northwest of Sydney. If you're keen to catch your own dinner, throwing a line in could prove worthwhile. On top of that, there are kayaking journeys to be had through mangroves, century-old orange orchards to wander among and the 13-kilometre Marramarra Ridge to Smugglers Ride walk to conquer. Facilities consist of barbecues, toilets and picnic tables. For more inspiration to get outside and explore, visit National Parks NSW and check out their Instagram @nswnationalparks.
Eliette in Sutherland is a specialty coffee cafe run by the White Horse Coffee team. Taking its name from the owner's mum, the joint is a celebration of love, community, and delicious food and coffee. Expect to be fuelled by all your cafe favourites like bacon and egg rolls and porridge. And if you need a change of scenery, head around to corner (literally) to the original Flora Street outpost. Open from 6am six days a week (it's closed on Sundays), Eliette is perfect for pre-work coffees, quick mid-week lunches and long Saturday brunches.
There may be plenty of fish in the sea when it comes to sushi restaurants in Sydney, but few are as simple, honest and authentic as this stalwart in Potts Point. Dressed in jet black from head to tail, Busshari channels the dark and moody izakayas of Tokyo's late-night dining scene. The best seats in the house are those at the sushi counter where you can look eye-to-fish-eye at a cabinet of shimmery fillets, from tiger-striped salmon to snapper, scallops and a crimson strip of tuna, which is snuggled up against its pearly pink underbelly. The menu includes sushi rolls, with the colourful pinwheels available in all the west's favourite flavours, including the spider roll and spicy tuna roll for those craving a flavor kick. Crunchy little fried things are also an essential part of a Japanese meal. And at Busshari, they're serving a chook-load of karaage and pork gyoza. Simply add a squirt of lemon and settle in for the night with some beers. For a more compact meal, choose from their large assortment of Bento boxes, including the teriyaki kingfish box and assorted tempura veggie and prawn box. The drinks list is impressively diverse, with an emphasis on fish-friendly bevvies. There's umeshu, a sweet plum wine, as well as shochu, over 20 sakes, and a fine selection of Japanese whiskies, including cult favourites Hakushu and Yamazaki. Beyond the Asahi and Sapporo, Busshari also offers a matcha green tea beer for the health-conscious boozehound, as well as a malty sweet potato ale from Kawagoe. Images: Trent van der Jagt
Since HBO first introduced the world to Barry Berkman, the contract killer played and co-created by Saturday Night Live great Bill Hader has wanted to be something other than a gun for hire. An ex-military sniper, he's always been skilled at his highly illicit post-service line of work; however, moving beyond that past was a bubbling dream even before he found his way to a Los Angeles acting class while on a job. Barry laid bare its namesake's biggest wish in its 2018 premiere episode. Then, it kept unpacking his pursuit of a life less lethal across the show's Emmy-winning first and second seasons, plus its even-more-astounding third season in 2022. Season four, the series' final outing which hits Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand from Monday, April 17, is no anomaly, but it also realises that wanting to be someone different and genuinely overcoming your worst impulses aren't the same. Barry has been grappling with this fact since the beginning, with the grim truth beating at the show's heart whether it's at its most darkly comedic, action-packed or dramatic. In its prior batch of episodes before this farewell season, it went both bleak and deep on what makes its namesake tick, why, and the effects and consequences — and how catching the treading-the-board bug was never going to be a clean and easy solution to stopping being an assassin. The series has never simply been about Barry, though, or solely about his darkest traits and their persistent impact. In his new LA existence, he's surrounded by people who similarly yearn for an alternative to their current lot in life, yet also can't shake their most damaging behaviour. In that burgeoning thespian session all those episodes back, Barry met acting teacher Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler, Black Adam), a former star now mentoring the next generation. Fellow student Sally Reid (Sarah Goldberg, The Night House) also dreamed of escaping into a career spent playing other people, a desire that helped spark a relationship with Barry. But as the show has explored along with its titular figure's tale, Gene started his classes after proving a bully at the height of his career. As Sally's talent has earned her success and fame, including her own series in season three, she's been self-centred, and rude and nasty to everyone around her. Yes, Barry spies their cruelest attributes, too. In season four, it sees how they're always going to be the people they are absent any real willingness to change. Barry's old handler Monroe Fuches (Stephen Root, Succession) and his Chechen gangster pal NoHo Hank (Anthony Carrigan, Bill & Ted Face the Music) fit the same bill, all while dreaming of new futures as well. Pivotally, Barry doesn't posit that no one can improve, face their flaws and overcome their demons — rather, it spots the vast gap between saying that you will, or have, and how people instinctively act. The show's main quintet have experienced war, loss, abuse, power battles and more, and have plenty of life's horrors to process between them. In past seasons and now in season four, they's grasped onto everything from celebrity, money and glory to parenthood, faith and control as paths to new versions of themselves. But are Barry, Gene, Sally, Fuches and Hank all that different from who they were when Barry started? Have they processed their troubles? Have they stopped taking out their struggles not just on themselves, but on those around them? Hader and his fellow Barry co-creator Alec Berg (Silicon Valley, Curb Your Enthusiasm) keep asking those questions. Barry being Barry, posing such queries and seeing its central figures for who they are is an ambitious, thrilling, risk-taking and all-round exceptional ride in season four. When season three ended, it was with Gene and Jim Moss (Robert Wisdom, Black Bird), the retired-cop father of his murdered police-detective girlfriend Janice (Paula Newsome, CSI: Vegas), putting Barry behind bars — which is where he is when the show's new go-around kicks off. He isn't coping, unsurprisingly, hallucinating Sally running lines in the prison yard, Gene strolling nonchalantly around and his childhood first meeting with Fuches, and rejecting a kindly guard's attempt to tell him that he's not a bad person. With the latter, there's a moment of clarity about what he's done and who he is, but Barry's key players have rarely been that honest with themselves for long. "Each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done," says that prison employee, who is also a fan of Barry's work as an actor. Alas, a sea of destructive choices helps turn that idea into a fantasy that the show's characters can't seem to make true. Sally heads home to Missouri following her cancel-worthy season-three rant, but is desperate to do whatever it takes to regain any status she can in Hollywood. Gene wants more attention than he's already getting for capturing Barry, no matter the cost. Fuches says he's torn between putting himself or his ex-protege first, but he also hankers for stature and respect. And while NoHo Hank has made it to Santa Fe with his boyfriend Cristobal (Michael Irby, Mayans MC) after getting free of the Bolivians, there are new schemes to launch. Hader has a swag of awards to his name for his best-ever work across Barry so far, and best start making more room on his mantle for his season-four efforts as an actor, writer and helmer. Barry gets pulled in two extremes in his final run of episodes, with the man behind him unnervingly excellent in both fraying and calm mode. The show's scripting is as bold and complex as it has ever been, and as surreal — a trait that's just as true of its assured and masterful direction. Hader jumps behind the lens on all eight of the fourth-season instalments, which might lack the past go-around's big setpieces but are on another level in using every meticulous visual choice to convey how Barry and company feel. Incarceration scenes say everything with camera movement and precise framing, a simple zoom while staring at Hader's face is downright stunning, empty fields echo with feeling and meaning, and TV rarely manages to be as dreamy yet devastating. There's never been anything less than superb performances from the series' main cast, of course, and nor is there now. Winkler is just as remarkable as Hader at making someone who's such a giant ball of contradictions so compelling, while Goldberg, Root and the always-charismatic Carrigan are gifted weighty arcs — with Goldberg and Carrigan's especially evoking showcase performances. Barry remains a show-business satire, too, including a hilarious appearance by CODA director Sian Heder that's part of a biting caped-crusader parody, plus another big cameo best discovered by watching. It's also still one of HBO's all-time greats, and as sharp and smart as fellow four-season standout Succession. Wealth hasn't been able to make that program's players anyone but who they are, and neither can La La Land here. From its first moment to this last season, Barry has always known that that's a killer concept. Check out the full trailer for Barry season four below: Barry's fourth season streams via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand from Monday, April 17. Images: Merrick Morton/HBO.
Dust of your black-hued and gothic-looking outfits: what else do you wear to Wednesday Island, a fan festival dedicated to the creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky Netflix series, with Jenna Ortega (Death of a Unicorn), Emma Myers (A Minecraft Movie) and Tim Burton (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) in attendance? On Saturday, August 16, 2025, Cockatoo Island / Wareamah in Sydney Harbour is embracing the macabre with the Wednesday crew themselves. To celebrate the show's second season — which arrives in two batches, with part one hitting on Wednesday, August 6, then part two on Wednesday, September 3 — Wednesday Island will make you feel like you're at Nevermore Academy. Not only will Ortega, Myers and Burton be there, but also Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, who created the show in the spotlight (and wrote the screenplay to 2024's Burton-helmed, Ortega-starring Beetlejuice Beetlejuice). All five key Wednesday folks are making appearances at Wednesday Island as part of their global Doom tour to promote the series. Peach PRC and ŪLA are also on the lineup at Cockatoo Island's temporary makeover, providing the tunes. Netflix is calling the pop-up takeover a "Nevermore playground" and promising a "most grave surprise", too — and there'll be a walk-in doll's house and a cocktail spot as well. If you've always had a fondness for anything Addams Family-related, this probably sounds like a dream. Whether you first discovered pop culture's eeriest family via the 90s films, through old episodes of the 60s TV show, in various animated guises over the years — including on the big screen — or thanks to Wednesday, that fantasy can now become an IRL reality if you score admission to Wednesday Island. You can enter for regular passes between Wednesday, July 23–Sunday, August 3 via the pop-up's website. To do so, you'll need to provide your details, and give an original and creative answer to this question: "in 25 words or less, confess your most delightfully deviant Outcast trait — the kind that would make Wednesday smirk with approval". You'll find out if you've scored a ticket on Monday, August 4. Only those aged over 16 can go in the running, and you'll then need to dress in attire to suit the Wednesday celebration. Boat transport to the island, plus one food and one beverage token, will be included if you're selected. Images: Bernard Walsh, Helen Sloan and Jonathan Hession/Netflix © 2025.
The Yellow House leaves the '70s behind this September 8-15 for History Week as part of an exhibition that celebrates creative artists and muses across the decades. The Yellow House exhibition, inspired by the 1970s artist collective, will display the works of five renowned contemporary Aussie artists who’ve each taken inspiration from legendary artistic figures from Sydney’s past. Reg Mombassa pays homage to 1960s pop artist and Cream cover art designer Martin Sharp; Leo Robba takes inspiration from 1930s photojournalist Samuel Hood; Jane Gillings recreates the 1920s girl and ‘Queen of Bohemia’, Dulcie Deamer; Wendy Sharpe pays tribute to the 1950s cabaret artiste Tracey Lee; while Jenny Sages channels 1940s interior and wallpaper designer Florence Broadhurst in her works for this dynamic installation. Forget Andy Warhol’s factory and Hotel Chelsea, join some local talent down at David Jones. I mean, Martin Sharp and Florence Broadhurst-esque works in the one room? Unbeatable. On September 7, the On Seven at David Jones space will play host to the Artists' Ball, a contemporary reimagining of the bohemian Sydney Artist Ball of 1933.
Family-run for three generations, Woy Woy Fishermen's Wharf is one of those longtime, NSW Central Coast institutions, famed statewide for its top-notch fresh seafood offering and its idyllic patch of waterfront real estate. And this year, the Woy Woy legend's launched the latest iteration of its wharfside restaurant, swapping the former digs for a new dining space — the work of locals LAW Building Design, Parkwood Homes and Verve Building & Consulting. You won't find a much better spot than this for chowing down on the day's freshest catch and sharing a jug of something light and fresh. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows boast views across the water and a custom-made fish trap, crafted by Maningrida artists Bonny Burarn.gara and Freda Ali Wyartja, presides over the dining room. With this menu, the Cregan-Clayton family are continuing that long tradition of feeding their fans' seafood obsessions in style. The seasonal lineup might find you kicking off with local oysters and a sashimi plate of the day's best, tucking into some Singapore-style chilli crab, or settling for a family feast, sharing hot and cold seafood platters, barbecued scampi and spicy tomato mussels. There are endless crabs, mountains of prawns and a daily-changing carpaccio, though there'll always be room for the classic, no-fuss fish and chips. To match, you'll find an award-winning booze offering that holds its own against all that seafood — wines from across Australia and Europe, a sprawling selection of beers and a crop of classic cocktails, including share-friendly jugs of negroni and Pimms. Images: Nikki To
Love may not cost a thing, as many a pop song has told us, but a nice date often requires a little cash. The good news, of course, is that taking your significant other out for dinner needn't empty out your bank account. On the other hand, if you have some money to splash around, there's always a top-notch place to do so. Sydney's dining scene caters for both scenarios and everything in between at that. If you're all about quality time rather than dolling out the cash; if your wallet is feeling healthy, but not too stuffed; and if you're eager to go all out for a special occasion (or just because) — we've teamed up with Suncorp to find a tiptop date spot for any budget. Suncorp's Platinum Credit Card* works with your existing spending habits, earning you extra points for every dollar you spend on everyday essentials like groceries, that cheeky mid-week wine or this date you're now planning. Read on to discover five places for your next date night — whether you're looking to spend under $25 each or ready to make it rain. UNDER $25 EACH: BAR UME, SURRY HILLS Tucked away in the leafy backstreets of Surry Hills, Bar Ume is a relaxed Japanese-inspired burger joint-meets-wine bar. With a range of burgers with a distinctly Japanese twist, the menu has options for the vegetarian, pescatarian, fried chicken fiend and straight up carnivore. Try the fish katsu burger served with Japanese tartare sauce or the hand-crumbed chicken katsu burger with yuzu kosho mayo and tonkatsu sauce — and make sure to get a side of renkon chips and house-made Japanese pickles. Wash it all down with a glass or two of natural vino, a nip of shochu or a bottle of Asahi. The best bit? You'll wine and dine for under $25 per person. [caption id="attachment_623522" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To.[/caption] UNDER $60 EACH: DEAR SAINTE ELOISE, POTTS POINT As the week comes to a close, sometimes a plate of burrata and glass of pinot noir is all you need. If you're in the mood for a long, leisurely evening picking your way through share plates, this is the spot for you. Nestled in the heart of Potts Point, Dear Sainte Eloise delivers a wine-focused offering with a small but mighty set menu ($50 per person). The menu changes often, but you can usually expect to find the roe boats (crispy potato nests with salmon roe), a creamy pasta of sorts, fresh local fish, seasonal veg, plus a selection of cheeses or dessert to finish. Plus, with a 400-strong wine list that traverses the globe, you'll find a drop to suit your preferences whether that be a glass of something orange or oxidative, a bottle of something Georgian or, for something a bit more splashy, a magnum off the 'Big Bottles Are Best!!!' list. UNDER $80 EACH: STANBULI, ENMORE If Turkish cuisine spurs blurry memories of a late-night pide or kebab consumed curb-side, it's time to change that thinking. Perched proudly on Enmore Road, Stanbuli is an upscale Turkish eatery and meyhane (tapas bar). Its offering is made for cosy bar-side dining, with a selection of meze plates and charcoal meats designed to share. Dine on fried cauliflower, tahini and almonds and okra-braised in tomato and olive oil, paired with a serve of whole snapper or lamb and red capsicum kofte. Our tip? Let the chefs run wild and order the $75 per person set menu (baklava included, of course). UNDER $100 EACH: ESTER, CHIPPENDALE Fine dining tends to be stiff, formal and finished with a hefty bill. But, Ester doesn't like to live up to stereotypes. You won't find white table cloths or confusing sets of cutlery in this dining room. The 45-seat eatery is approachable, honest and the kind of spot where you'd likely find a group of top-notch chefs dining on their night off. Wood firing is front-and-centre on the menu, adding flavours of smokey goodness to plates of charred broccoli shoots, roasted carrots, hasselback dutch cream potatoes and slow-roasted snapper. There's plenty to sample and sip too with a hefty wine list to make your way through during the 12-item set menu ($92 per person). ONE BIG BLOWOUT: LUMI, PYRMONT Harbour-front dining and an eight-course dinner — the perfect ingredients for a truly memorable date night. At LuMi, they're pros at hosting unforgettable dining experiences, making it a must-try for those looking to spoil that special someone. As for the menu? It's a fusion of modern Italian and Japanese flavours, serving up refined seasonal produce over a series of spectacular courses that look almost too good to eat. The chef's menu ($185 per person) lets you explore it all, with the Italian-focused wine pairing highly recommended ($115 per person). Seize the day, make your everyday moments count and get rewarded all the while with Suncorp. Top image: Dear Saint Eloise by Nikki To. *Issued by Citigroup Pty Limited ABN 88 004 325 080 AFSL No. 238098 Australian credit licence 238098.
Western Australia is already home to Australia's best beach for 2022, the best beach in the South Pacific for this year as well, all that coastline and plenty of beloved sandy spots. But come the summer of 2024–25, it'll score a new reason to get splashing. That's when global surf park brand Aventuur is set to open a massive site in Perth, creating the southern hemisphere's largest venue of its type. Manmade waves have been having their moment Down Under of late. Urbnsurf opened Australia's first inland surf park near the Melbourne Airport in 2020, then revealed plans for Brisbane, Sydney and Perth sites. New South Wales' Hawkesbury region is also getting a giant wave pool and luxury resort, the Sunshine Coast is due to welcome Kelly Slater's second surf ranch, and the Gold Coast has been earmarked for an Endless Surf wave pool. But Aventuur is going as big as possible with its $100-million WA venture, which'll feature 25 different types of waves. Clearly, providing breaks and barrels that everyone can surf — no matter your skill level — is one of big aims of Aventuur's Perth Surf Park, which'll take over a 5.7–hectare site on Prinsep Road in Jandakot, adjacent to the Kwinana Freeway and the Cockburn Central train station. That'll include what it's calling a Wavegarden Cove, aka the huge 56-module surfing lagoon that'll be the key drawcard — and will constantly whip up perfect waves. Also set to feature: accommodation, which'll be handy for anyone making the trip west just for some manmade surf action; a beach club; bars and restaurants; and retail stores, all as part of a hefty surf sports, recreation, leisure and entertainment hub. There'll also be a health and wellness centre, co-working offices, and functions and event spaces. Get ready for provide personalised coaching, fitness and surf skate programs as well, and regular events such as outdoor surf movie nights and photography exhibitions. Yoga and meditation retreats will also make the most of the site, as will live music and cultural festivals — and, naturally, professional surfing competitions. Already an avid surfer? Know someone who might be the next Mick Fanning or Stephanie Gilmore? Then get excited about Perth Surf Park's high-performance surf academy. Whether you're a future superstar or just learning, there'll also be a hire store doing board, wetsuit and equipment rentals — so you won't have to bring your own gear with you. While surfers won't be able to live out their Point Break and Blue Crush dreams until the summer of 2024–25, Aventuur has just has signed a long-term ground lease with the Western Australian Planning Commission for its Perth Surf Park site. And if you're wondering why surf parks keep popping up — especially in a country girt by sea, and therefore surrounded by so many glorious beaches — they're able to provide controlled and reliable conditions, including waves that aren't daunting for newcomers. Perth Surf Park will feature knee-high whitewater for beginners, for instance, as well as ideal waves for experienced surfers. Aventuur's Perth Surf Park is due to open on Prinsep Road in Jandakot, Perth, Western Australia, in 2025. For more information, head to the venue's website. UPDATE, June 22, 2022: The headline for this article originally said that Aventuur's Perth Surf Park will open in 2024. Aventuur has since clarified that the park will be completed late in 2024, opening over the summer of 2024–25. The headline has been amended to reflect that change.
On the Quay end of George Street, at the base of the Four Seasons Hotel, the warm and inviting Mode Kitchen & Bar sits ready to welcome you. Striking a winning balance between casual bistro plates and finer dining, uncomplicated dishes of Australian ingredients with Italo influences are served with pristine attention to detail. As well as the bistro-style menu of refined bites, you'll find a relaxed atmosphere and a new winning weekday offering. If you're heading to a show at the Sydney Opera House, need to warm up before you venture into Vivid Sydney's bright lights, peckish after finishing work in the CBD or looking for a terrific spot to perch yourself before dinner, the Milanese-style aperitivo is for you. From 4–6pm, Monday to Friday, a bountiful spread of Italian antipasto awaits clued-in Sydneysiders for just $30 — with a drink alongside, too. It's a truly delicious bargain by anyone's standards. As a start, there are wheels of sharp cheese, cherry tomatoes ripe on their vines, plump salty olives and plates upon plates of salumi. House-made focaccia and woodfired pizzas are stars, too, though there'll be a rotating lineup of seasonal favourites in competition. For the accompanying aperitivo, you'll choose from a list of crafted Italian cocktails; think classics like negronis and Aperol Spritzes, and fun ones like Milano-Torino sours. There'll be a selection of vinos and beers, too. After your first, you'll pay $15 for a cocktail (or just $6 for a frothy brew). Perfectly placed to explore the Harbour City's waterside beauty, Mode Bar & Kitchen is a top spot to launch your night — make sure you nab a reservation. Aperitivo takes over Mode Bar & Kitchen from Monday–Friday, from 4–6pm. Bookings are recommended, so to plan your visit, head to the website.
When Stanbuli closed, many Sydneysiders waited with bated breath to learn what would take its place in its iconic Enmore Road digs behind the Marie-Louise salon facade. While a sense of cynicism would have been warranted with Sydney's track record of preserving beloved venues, you can officially breathe a sigh of relief with the Porteno crew maintaining its ownership of the building, opening a much-hyped Spanish tapas bar in the space. Named after the salon that occupied the building from the 50s through until the 90s, Bar Louise maintains the eye-catching pink and purple facade while giving the interior a makeover of warm yellow walls, rich wooden tones and fake leafy vines, all reminiscent of a southern Spain wine bar. "We just want to make it a fun place everyone can come and drink wine and eat great food — open seven days a week," Porteno Founder Elvis Abrahanowicz told Concrete Playground. The star of the drinks menu is sherry, with more than 15 varieties available by the glass ($12–32). The signature drop is an ideal start or end to your meal, accompanied by a cocktail, Estrella or minimal-intervention wine. The cocktails at Bar Louise include a coffee negroni ($22), manhattan on the rocks ($20) and Sangria de Maria Lousie ($15), while the wine list showcases tipples from Spain, Australia, Italy, Portugal, Argentina and France. Once you've ordered your opening glass of sherry, your attention will move to the food. The Pulpo a la Gallega octopus ($28) is an absolute highlight, served with potato, aioli and pimento chilli, but there's plenty here for vegetarians, pescatarians and meat-lovers to all discover. Kick things off with your choice of starters which range from gildas ($6) and paleta ibérico served with chips ($32) to mussel escabeche ($16). From there you can get a little heftier with your choices, with some of the exciting options available including charcoal-grilled eggplant and capsicum ($20), garlic and parsley mushrooms ($26), potato and prawn salad ($24), fried pork belly ($26) and thick-cut chorizo in a cider sauce ($26). The chorizo is made in-house, and a lot of the bar snacks are house-cured with the help of Continental Deli Co-Owner and Manager Michael 'Mikey' Nicolian. And, fans of Stanbuli, never fear — the former Head Chef Ibrahim Kasif is opening a manoush restaurant and wine bar with the renowned hospitality team behind NOMAD.
Two years ago, Pappa Rich gave tastebuds across Australia the culinary hybrid they didn't know they were craving: a nasi lemak burger. They were originally sneakily trialled in Sydney stores in 2018, then rolled out for a limited time in 2019. Now, they're back. The burger takes the typical accompaniments in this Malaysian rice dish and sandwiches them all between two toasted burger buns. There are layers of crispy Malay fried chicken, spicy sambal, peanuts and anchovies, all topped with cucumber, lettuce and a fried egg. As a side? Expect Pappa Rich's deep-fried chicken skin, of course. You can also opt for chips if you prefer. The Malaysian hawker chain is returning the nasi lemak burger to its menu — at all of its 31 stores countrywide, but only for two months. If you're instantly hungry, you'll want to pop into one of Pappa Rich's outlets between Monday, March 29–Sunday, May 30. Or, if you just can't wait to sink your teeth into a burg, you can score one between Friday, March 26–Sunday, March 28, but only via Door Dash. The delivery service is selling 1000 nasi lemak burgers for just $1 across the three days, so you'll want to get in quickly. You'll also need to enter the code 'MALAYSIANBURGER' while you're ordering. Otherwise, if you're happy to grab a burger from next week onwards, you'll still have a couple of months to enjoy as many as your stomach demands. If you're in Sydney, you can nab one in Bankstown, North Ryde, Chatswood or on your lunch break at the express outlet in Ultimo; in Melbourne, pop by Chadstone, Southern Cross or QV; and Pappa Rich in Wintergarden, Garden City, Indooroopilly and Coorparoo Square will be selling them in Brisbane. Perth residents can head to Cockburn and Joondalup, while folks in Adelaide will want to make a trip to Gouger Street in the CBD. There are a heap more locations though, so check the website if you're looking for one closer to you. The nasi lemak burger will be available Monday, March 29–Sunday, May 30 at Pappa Rich locations across the country. There are also 1000 up for grabs for $1 via Door Dash between Friday, March 26–Sunday, March 28 by entering the code 'MALAYSIANBURGER' while you're ordering.
A new and unique dining experience has arrived at Martin Place from the team behind some of Sydney's most renowned restaurants. Aalia is the new flagship restaurant from Esca, the hospitality group in charge of Nour, Lilymu, Henrietta and Cuckoo Callay. The group's latest and most extravagant offering, Aalia is opening in the new dining precinct in the former MLC Centre space. The 150-seat restaurant offers to take diners on a journey through the history of Middle Eastern food. The dishes have been created by the restaurant's Executive Chef Paul Farag of Nour to demonstrate the rich culinary diversity of the area. "Through food, we're trying to showcase a beautiful region of the world which almost everyone seems to forget has a luscious coastline, flanked by oceans, rivers, and seas," Farag says. "I want this menu to reflect a lighter way of shared eating — in the same way you assume a Mediterranean restaurant is going to be bright and fresh in flavour, this is truly the same principle for Middle Eastern cuisine." Diners will be presented with a wide array of raw and mezze options to begin their meal. Oysters, king salmon, potato and lentil tart, king prawn skewers and hand-stretched haloumi are all on offer for those looking to create an abundant table of shared dishes or ease into the meal before turning to the impressive selections of seafood and meat. As for the larger dishes, think Murray cod masgouf, almond-crusted john dory, lamb neck shawarma and mb5+ dry-aged wagyu rib. There's also Persian caviar service on offer, served with malawach, shallots, labneh, and a sprinkling of chives. The indecisive among us can leave the selections up to the chefs with the $125 per person banquet menu, curated by Farag himself. Designed to share, the degustation is available for parties of four or more and features the lamb shawarma, almond John Dory and haloumi, as well as eggplant mes 'a' aha, quail skewers, a spread of Middle Eastern sides and a decadent Valrhona chocolate kataifi for dessert. "The idea behind the menu itself is to start with a few raw dishes and mezze, followed by mains and sides, with each dish crafted to represent a particular region, or specific era of Arabic culture," Farag says. Highballs, spritzes and inventive cocktails are all on offer to accompany your one-of-a-kind feast. Start off easy with a peach vermouth and hopped grapefruit spritz, or opt for something a bit more stiff like the tobacco old fashioned made with raw cacao bourbon, date molasses and orange tobacco. Aalia is located at Shop Seven and Eight, 25 Martin Place, Sydney. It's open from Tuesday, March 1 for lunch and dinner Tuesday—Friday and dinner on Saturdays. Venue images: Christopher Pearce
Australia and New Zealand haven't been treated to Beyoncé's Renaissance tour, but we are getting the next best thing: RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ. The latest chance to worship the superstar on-screen was announced back in October and will hit cinemas worldwide in December. And, it will be arriving Down Under at the same time as the US: on Friday, December 1. What runs the movie world right now? Concert flicks, which are having a big-screen moment again. In the space of mere months, three huge examples of the genre are playing cinemas worldwide, much to the delight of folks who like getting their film and music fix in one go. First came Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour in October. In Australia, Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense, aka the best concert flick ever made, has returned to picture palaces since mid-November. Next, RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ will do the same — and it has dropped another trailer to celebrate. Beyoncé is no stranger to splashing her sets across a screen, after HOMECOMING: A Film By Beyoncé did exactly that on Netflix back in 2019. That movie covered the superstar singer's time on the Coachella stage, and came with a 40-track live album as well. This time, Bey is focusing on her 56-performance, 39-city world RENAISSANCE tour in support of the 2022 album of the same name. Now wrapped up after starting in Stockholm in Sweden in May and finishing in Kansas City, Missouri in the US on Sunday, October 1, the RENAISSANCE tour featured everything from 'Dangerously in Love 2', 'Cuff It', 'Formation' and 'Run the World (Girls)' to 'Crazy in Love', 'Love On Top', 'Drunk in Love' and 'America Has a Problem'. Given that audiences in Australia or New Zealand haven't experienced that setlist for themselves, with the tour skipping Down Under shows so far, RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ is the first chance for Bey fans in this part of the world to join in without heading overseas. "When I am performing, I am nothing but free," said Beyoncé in the concert film's initial trailer. "The goal for this tour was to create a place where everyone is free," the musician continued, in a sneak peek that includes behind-the-scenes glimpses, crowd shots and, of course, spectacular concert footage. In the latest trailer, Beyoncé expands upon her daily challenge. "In this world that is very male-dominated, I've had to be really tough to balance motherhood and being on the stage," shares the singer. RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ charts the tour from its first show until its last, as well as the hard work and technical mastery that went into it on- and off-stage, as 2.7-million-plus fans have seen in person. Check out the latest trailer for RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ below: RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ will release in cinemas Down Under from Friday, December 1 — head to the film's website for tickets and further details. Images: Julian Dakdouk / Mason Poole.
Hayao Miyazaki is back to spirit audiences away — again. Ten years ago, the Studio Ghibli great released The Wind Rises, which was expected to be his last film. The movie maestro even announced his retirement. Thankfully, however, he changed his mind quickly. Now, more than half a decade after that welcome news, his next film exists, has hit cinemas in Japan, is doing the rounds of the film festival circuit and just dropped its first trailer. Prepare to be enchanted: this sneak peek at The Boy and the Heron is pure Miyazaki magic. The My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle icon's latest was confirmed back in late 2022 for a 2023 release, at least overseas. Back then, it was known as How Do You Live, but has changed its title since. In what's described as "a semi-autobiographical fantasy about life, death and creation" in the official synopsis, The Boy and the Heron follows a boy called Mahito. Pining for his mother, he experiences the realm where the living and the dead converge — and yes, plenty of Miyazaki's trademarks already exist in that short synopsis. While The Boy and the Heron hit the big screen in July in Miyazaki's homeland, it did so without the usual promotional campaign, which is why a trailer is only dropping now. Indeed, the subtitled teaser is part of the movie's US release, which is slated for December. At the time of writing, the feature doesn't have a release date Down Under — but it'll obviously get one. There's nothing quite like a Miyazaki movie. While Studio Ghibli isn't short on gorgeous on-screen wonders hailing from a range of filmmakers, the Japanese animation house's best-known co-founder truly does make films like no one else. The Boy and the Heron already looks stunning — unsurprisingly — in its debut glimpse, complete with lush greenery, mysterious spaces and floating critters. And, of course, with Mahito and the picture's titular bird making appearances. The trailer opens with a city on fire, too, then includes beckoning frogs and a figure made of flames. A traditional Japanese home, a lit-up corridor, swords and arrows, a blazing sky: they all pop up as well. The Boy and the Heron marks Ghibli's fifth film since Miyazaki's last movie, following Isao Takahata's The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, page-to-screen treat When Marnie Was There, gorgeous French co-production The Red Turtle and the CGI-animated Earwig and the Witch. Check out the first trailer for The Boy and the Heron below: The Boy and the Heron is already open in Japan, and will release in the US on Friday, December 8, 2023. The film doesn't yet have a release date Down Under — we'll update you when one is announced. Images: © 2023 Studio Ghibli.
Swillhouse has added to its collection of moody underground venues with the opening of The Caterpillar Club, a new inner-city haunt specialising in sultry tunes. The team behind beloved subterranean standouts Frankie's (RIP), Restaurant Hubert and Shady Pines — as well as Le Foote and Alberto's Lounge — has just opened the doors to its latest venue, a walk-in-only record bar and live music den. Discover the venue's hidden entryway tucked away among office buildings and convenience stores on Pitt Street, then descend down the stairwell to find the expansive new cocktail bar and lounge in all of its glory. On entry, you'll find an ultra-long bar backed by shelves filled with more than 10,00 records. At the end of the bar, there's a DJ spinning vinyl from the team's personal collection, before the space opens up into a lounge area with conjoining booths and a stage for bands to perform. Live music will kick off at the venue from the week commencing Monday, December 18. Expect a genre-less list of performers to pop up on the stage, with an emphasis on jazzier sounds. Leading the kitchen is culinary superstar Isobel Little (ex-LP's Quality Meats), who's crafted a casual but sophisticated selection of eats, including next-level cheeseburgers, tuna melts and pies. The final element of The Caterpillar Club is the hidden speakeasy. Found through a discrete door out the back, The Bamboo Room serves as a secret cocktail den for those in the know, reviving memories of Frankie's famous Fun Room. The venue not only serves as another exciting place to get a drink and listen to good music in Sydney, but also adds to the growing number of venues reviving the city's status as a late-night destination. Licensed until 5am, The Caterpillar Club will be keeping the martinis flowing, vinyl spinning and kitchen open all the way until 3am Sunday–Thursday, and 4am Friday–Saturday. The Caterpillar Club is now open at 92 Pitt Street, Sydney. Follow the venue's Instagram to stay up to date with everything happening at the new opening. Images: Andrea Veltom.
The eye and the brain are incredibly powerful organs through which humans receive and process a large proportion of their sensory information. What we see every second of everyday helps shapes our understanding of almost every aspect of our lives. And our brains develop certain expectations about objects based on a long history of experience. However, sometimes optical illusions can challenge our pre-conceived ideas of structures and confound both our eyes and brains. Through clever deceptive techniques, artists and architects can create buildings that elude our basic understanding of how constructions are made and what they include. Here are nine bewildering optical illusions sure to confuse and amaze and challenge your conceptions of architecture. Warped Building This apartment building is your average apartment block...with a twist. A fairly large, warped twist. The unique structure is situated in the Czech Republic's capital city, Prague, and has picturesque views overlooking the River Vitara. El Grifo Magico Appearing to defy gravity and perform some magical feat, this 'floating tap' seems to be pouring an endless supply of water from its vantage point of mid-air suspension. Even though a magician should never reveal their secrets (and stop reading now if you would like the magic to remain), it has been revealed that a pipe hidden by the water actually holds the structure up. Upside Down House Spider-man? Gravity-defying shoes? Talented acrobats? No, it's another awe-inspiring architectural design that tricks and boggles the mind. This unorthodox house has everything upside down and back to front - literally. Trompe-l'eoil Ever after looking at this image several times, it is still impossible to fathom the appearance of this melting building, closer resembling a time warp than an apartment block. In actual fact, this image actually depicts a painting, but even then it succeeds in confounding the brain.The image uses the french art technique of tromp-l'eoil, which attempts to make 2D images appear like 3D optical illusions that really exist. One-walled House History has taught us to understand a house as a building comprising of at least four walls, a roof and a door. However, in Odessa, Ukraine, they have challenges this perception by creating a disconcerting house, which from the front appears orthodox, but when viewed from the side reveals only a single walled-building. Cafe Wall Illusion In 1979 a cafe was erected in Bristol, England, with a perplexing exterior that confused and bemused, and which continues to do so into the present day. A variant of the Münsterberg shifted chessboard illusion, this tessellating pattern uses light and alternating bricks of black and white to make the parallel and even lines appear to be sloped. All the line are actually horizontal and all the levels of the building perfectly equal in size. Bâtiment Another building which seems to flout all logical laws of gravity is the artist Leandro Ehrlich's mirrored art installation for the 'In Perceptions' exhibition in Paris. Whilst people appear to be casually hanging from 3-storey balconies or chilling whilst suspended horizontally to the wall, this trickery is actually a result of a mirrored painting of a building on the ground. 3D Lichtenstein House The top image gives the impression of a quaint and colourful little house that would be fitting within the setting of a fairytale story. The second picture, however, reveals its highly deceptive nature. Cleverly using only two walls placed at specific angles, when viewed at from a particular viewpoint, this house appears to be a complete 4-walled building. Sinking House Another sneaky illusion using angles, the top picture of this house depicts a building seemingly falling into the depths of the Earth. Yet when righted, the correct angle of the house demonstrates a perfectly average home located on the slope of a hill.
'Tis the season for home entertaining, which is the ideal excuse to elevate your kitchen space. Here to help is No. 22, a statement homewares brand based in Sydney. The team has just opened its first-ever pop-up store running until December 24. Head to the sun-soaked Darlinghurst space to explore a stunning range of tableware, including the brand's destination collections Capri and Mykonos. Both collections channel their namesake destinations with vibrant hues and beautifully crafted hand-painted pieces that bring big Med energy to any gathering. The collections — which also feature colourful glassware, placemats, tablecloths, napery and stationery — have been designed with mixing and matching in mind, making them perfect for setting the mood at your next summer affair. The store is open daily from 10am–4pm and will be open until December 24 — perfect for a last-minute Christmas gift for the entertainer in your life, or even yourself.
Steamy, sunny days are still upon us, making afternoons around the pool an enduringly high priority — and a surefire reason to leave the office inappropriately early. While swimming a few laps satisfies the large majority of water babies, there are those of us yearning for the playful days of yesteryear; when fighting your siblings on the back of inflatable dragons was the ultimate, when diving for sunken rings was the best of times, when blow-up alligator time had to be shared out and rostered by your tired-but-practical Aunty Jane. But pool toy companies haven't forgotten you. There's a huge market for pool toys to suit all ages, with plenty of stylish, weird and genius inflatable ideas on offer. From floating poker and ping pong tables to giant floating birds and watermelons, these are our favourite inflatables to make any pool party that little more Instagrammable — and your summer that extra bit more nostalgic. THE GIANT FLAMINGO/SWAN One of the most Instagrammable pool accessories around: the giant swan (or pink flamingo, if you're feeling more flamboyant). According to the Giant Swan website, the swans are "popular in fashion shoots", so for $99 you can nab your very own oversized aquabird and get yourself a perpetually summery profile picture. POOL SHOOTBALL If you like shooting hoops but find the asphalt a little too steamy in summer, this genius little game brings the court to the water. For just $40 with free shipping, this one's perfect for pool parties or sorting out sibling rivalries. AQUA ZORBS With the increasing popularity of Zorb Bumper Soccer and Human Zorb Bowling, Aqua Zorb water walkers could be of the most epic additions to home pool toy collection. One of the more exxy pool toys on the market, the Zorbs are $595 each — and obviously you're going to need two for battle reasons. One for the truly dedicated pool fiends. FLOATING POKER TABLE Now here's a truly grown-up pool toy. Bestway are responsible for the world's first pool poker set, complete with inflatable poker table, chairs, cards, chips and most importantly, drink holders. It's just $39.95 for the set, however a day of poker in the pool may end up costing you more. THE LAKE TRAMPOLINE You're going to need a bigger pool for this one, preferably lake-sized. Remember all those hours you spent as a youngster doing precarious trick jumps from your trampoline into your pool? Now your adult self can get some solid (and somewhat safer) air jumping off a giant lake trampoline, priced from a rather steep $1800 to $3700. With a price tag like that, might be worth getting your crew to chip in. MOTORISED BUMPER BOATS Yep, motorised bumper boats. Longtime aquatic toymakers Hammacher Schlemmer have created these floating vehicles for long afternoons spent crashing into your loved ones at four kilometres per hour. For $100 each, these bumper boats can also be used to ferry your summer snacks from one end of the pool to the other, or could be used as a flimsy excuse for a jetski in a lake situation. FLOATING POOL PING PONG Never chase ping pong balls around your garage again. Yours for around $60-90, depending where you buy it, this floating ping pong table is as summery an activity you can get. You're going to want to take this to the shallow end though; treading water and playing ping pong sounds like one hell of an exercise. AQUAGLIDE REVOLUTION If you're looking to make other people jealous (or highly confused) of your toys, this'll do the trick. Priced at $4500, the six-foot-high Aquaglide Revolution has it all: slides on one side, some form of extreme seesaw on the other, climbing walls aplenty. The Revolution allows up to ten people on board at once, and will have you outrageously exhausted and immeasurably happy by the end of the day. URBAN OUTFITTERS POOL FLOATS Another much more realistic and adorable option to brighten up any pool party. From watermelons, Monaco bars, snakes, suns, smiley faces to floating beer pong, American retail giants Urban Outfitters have a variety of novelty pool inflatables on offer for just $25 to $50 each. By Tommy Codling and Shannon Connellan.
Exuberant Aussie filmmaker (and unofficial King of Sparkles) Baz Lurhmann once said, "If Paris is the city of lights, Sydney is the city of fireworks." Touché, Baz. Our great harbour city is full of colour and sparkle, whimsy and excitement, especially in summer. It doesn't matter where you are — beach, bar, park or pub — Sydney always puts on a show. Buzzing new venues sit alongside age-old favourites, giving Sydneysiders endless locations to while away the sunny days. To make sure you're sipping and swirling in all the right places this season, we've partnered with the sparkling connoisseurs at Henkell to bring you five (not-so) hidden gems to discover and rediscover this summer. From a secret garden tucked away in Lavender Bay to a technicoloured art bar at the MCA, these eclectic spaces will add a bit of sparkle to your forthcoming adventure. VENTURE TO A SECRET GARDEN It's a secret spot that most of us Sydneysiders have uncovered, but still, there's something magical about this verdant wonderland, particularly in summer. Tucked away in Lavender Bay, the idyllic garden — complete with soaring Moreton Bay Figs, aromatic natives and harbour views — was brought to life by Wendy Whiteley, widow of renowned Australian artist Brett Whiteley. Following Whiteley's death in 1992, Wendy channelled her heartache into this landscaping project, slowly transforming the 100-year-old derelict railway yard in front of her home into an inviting public garden. This summer, take someone special to the secret garden for a picnic and BYO bottle of Henkell Trocken. Nab a spot on one of the benches and toast to heartbreak and renewal while taking in that sparkling Sydney skyline. UNCOVER REAL GEMS IN THE CENTRE OF SYDNEY To discover sparkling gems quite literally, make tracks to the Minerals Gallery at the Australian Museum. Here, you can spend the afternoon soaking in sparkles as you take a deep-dive into the world of crystallised minerals. Beyond sheer beauty, the collection also provides a unique insight into our country's cultural heritage — covering the full history of mining in Australia from the 1840s onwards — and demonstrates how minerals are used in modern life within mobile phones, watches, lipstick, talcum powder and, of course, your favourite jewels. Once you've finished marvelling at the glittering beauties, treat yourself to some sparkles in liquid form with a glass of Henkell Blanc de Blancs. CATCH SOME ART THEN A GLITTERING SUNSET It might've been a while since you popped into this contemporary art stalwart, but summer is the perfect time to get reacquainted with the paintings, sculptures and really good air-conditioning on offer. With a spate of new exhibitions taking place this season — including the MCA's annual exhibition of Australia's up-and-coming bright young things Primavera 2018 — the gallery is a perfect artistic haven for summer. Once you've had your arty fill, head to the Botanic Gardens, find a spot by the water and settle in for a classy sundowner picnic with one of the best views in town. FIND A GEM OF A SPOT AMONG THIS PARK'S 189 HECTARES Most Sydneysiders are familiar with this picturesque parkland — perhaps it's your go-to running spot or where you head to watch a movie by moonlight — but with its sheer size, you can surely discover a new gem of a spot to set up for the day. And the best way to enjoy the day is with a good old-fashioned barbie. Grab your crew, some snags and sparkling for the quintessential summertime hangout. There are eight free electric barbecues available for use in the expansive 189-hectare park — but on balmy days, they're snapped up rather quickly, so be sure to arrive early. Take a couple of lawn games like bocce, the addictive Scandinavian game Finksa or even frisbee to get everybody in the festive spirit. [caption id="attachment_644117" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Atlantis' at Belvoir St Theatre.[/caption] SEE SOME STARS SHINING ON STAGE See the brightest local and international stars sparkle centre stage at the Belvoir St Theatre. The company has a host of great plays taking place throughout summer, like The Wolves, which follows a team of teenage girls as they navigate adolescence — kind of like a stage version of Bend It Like Beckham — and Counting and Cracking, which explores contemporary Australian culture through the eyes of a Sri Lankan family. Once you've got your culture fix, grab a glass of Henkell Blanc de Blancs and debrief with your theatre buddy. Summer is here and it's time to pop the bubbly. Pick up a bottle of Henkell Blanc de Blancs or Henkell Trocken for your next sparkling occasion. Top image: Destination NSW.
Saying goodbye to 2025 at Lost Paradise means farewelling the year with a jam-packed lineup of tunes. Ben Böhmer, Chris Stussy, Confidence Man, Duke Dumont, I Hate Models, KETTAMA, Marc Rebillet, Maribou State, Underworld, X CLUB: they're all headlining the annual end-of-year music festival in Glenworth Valley on the New South Wales Central Coast this year. So, mark Sunday, December 28, 2025–Thursday, January 1, 2026 on your calendar — and prepare for a huge few days. Other acts on the bill include Anna Lunoe, BIG WETT, Channel Tres, Fcukers, DJ Heartstring, Hot Dub Time Machine, Omar+, VTSS and plenty more. Some people love last-minute New Year's Eve plans, going wherever the mood takes them. Others can't start planning early enough. If you fall into the latter category, this December is for you. For Lost Paradise newcomers, the multi-day event turns a slice of its setting — which is located an hour out of Sydney — into one helluva shindig, complete with live music and DJ sets spanning both international and Australian talents. This year, organisers are promising newly reimagined versions of the festival's Arcadia, Lost Disco and Paradise Club stages. Tunes are just one part of the Lost Paradise experience, though. Here, art, culture, wellness, and food and drink also get a look in. And, at Shambhala Fields, you can hear talks and take part in workshops — so that's where you'll find the likes of Dr Karl, Eric Avery, Deano Gladstone, Lara Zilibowitz, Kath Ebbs, Sez, Tom Carroll, Simon Borg-Olivier, Gwyn Williams and others. Since first unleashing its specific flavour of festival fun back in 2014, Lost Paradise has become a go-to way to wrap up one year and welcome in the next — including if you're keen to camp for its duration. Lost Paradise 2025 Lineup Ben Böhmer Chris Stussy Confidence Man Duke Dumont I Hate Models KETTAMA Marc Rebillet Maribou State Underworld X CLUB Anna Lunoe Baby J Bad Boombox & Mischluft Balu Brigada Bella Claxton BIG WETT Blusher Bullet Tooth Cassian Channel Tres Dameeeela DJ Heartstring Dombresky presents Disco Dom Dr Banana Fcukers Folamour Heidi Hot Dub Time Machine INJI Jazzy Josh Baker Juicy Romance Kilimanjaro Luke Alessi Merci, Mercy Narciss Notion Odd Mob Omar+ Pegassi Prospa Riria Ross From Friends presents Bubble Love Sex Mask Silva Bumpa Sim0ne Sumner Swim (live) Two Another VTSS Wolters Alex Dowsing Badassmutha Bella Backe Caleb Jackson Couch Mechanic Cricket Dayzzi B2B Daug Disco Dora Elijah Something GMOZ Grooveworks Kai Kawai Large Mirage LAYTX Lily FM Lost Soundsystem Madame Reve Maina Doe Mash Middle James Mina Tonic Oscill8 Pamela Penelope People's Party Roxy Lotz Salarymen Selve Siila Silly Lily Sim Select Tia Lacoste Tokyo Sexwale Tseba Waxlily Yasmina Sadiki Shambhala Fields: Benny Holloway Catriona Wallace Chanel Contos Deano Gladstone Dr Karl Eric Avery Gwyn Williams Kath Ebbs Lara Zilibowitz Plastic Free Mermaid Sez Simon Borg-Olivier Tom Carroll Lost Paradise mages: Jess Bowen, Jordan K Munns, Byravyna and Amar Gera.
With Australia's international borders unlikely to reopen until mid-2022 at the earliest, that next big overseas vacation you've been dreaming about is currently on hold. But that doesn't mean you need to spend all your time until then just looking at your own four walls. That's Airbnb's new idea, at least — and the house-share platform isn't merely talking about getting you out of the house for a weekend here and there. Fancy spending a year hopping between different places — and whichever places you like, too? Do three of your mates feel the same way? If so, you'll want to check out the just-launched Live Anywhere on Airbnb program, which is funding 12 people and their pals to hop between Airbnb properties for 12 months. Basically, at a time when holiday bookings are down for obvious reasons, Airbnb is endeavouring to change the way people use the platform — by encouraging everyone to use its rentals as places to live for longer-term stays, rather than just for vacations. So, the 12 selected folks will get to do just that, and on Airbnb's dime. In a number of countries — including Australia and New Zealand — Airbnb is looking for people who work remotely, creatives, staycationers and digital nomads, as well as people with young families and empty nesters. If that's you, and you can do your job from wherever you like, you can apply to spend the period between July 2021–June 2022 living in different Airbnb listings. As well as scoring enough credits to cover all of your rental fees (between US$24,000–48,000 for the year), you'll also get a one-time payment (between US$5–12,000) to cover transport and travel expenses. This does mean that you will still need to earn an income or have enough savings to get by — but you'll still be living in Airbnb properties without spending a cent. And, although border rules might be tricky to navigate, travelling internationally during the program is an option. The caveat: Airbnb will ask you to share your experiences with the company, including about the platform's features and services, and about living the nomad life. So, you'll essentially be product-testing its longer-term stays, then providing your feedback. "This program aims to give 12 lucky people (and their companions) ultimate flexibility when it comes to blurring the lines between living, working and travelling," says Airbnb's Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand Susan Wheeldon. If you're wondering where you could go — and what you could do while you're there — some of the suggestions include farmstays in rural Australia to living the beach life for a year. To apply, you'll need to head to the Live Anywhere on Airbnb website before Wednesday, June 30, 2021. Twenty finalists will then be selected and asked to submit a two-minute video about the program. After that, there'll be finalist interviews before the 12 winners are told to start packing their suitcases. For more information about the Live Anywhere on Airbnb program — and to apply — head to the Airbnb website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
In an era of hospitality chains and copy-paste websites, Sydney diners are beginning to crave venues with character. And what venues have more character — sticky floors and all — than dive bars? Rocking bar VASCO has been a cornerstone of the Sydney dive scene since 2012. At both the OG Surry Hills venue and the recently opened Newtown outpost, it's all about controlled chaos and striking the balance between grungy and overpolished. We sat down with VASCO's current owner, Sid Chand, to talk about the past, present and future of these beloved watering holes. How long has VASCO been in business and what's the secret to keeping a bar successfully running all these years? VASCO is a rock-and-roll cocktail bar and Italian restaurant...[that] has been running since 2012, and I've owned it for about six years now. Over time, we've developed into more than just a place to let your hair down; we overhauled the kitchen to create a dynamic and innovative menu that we see people travelling from all over Sydney to try. We kept going with providing good quality food, good quality service, and a vibrant atmosphere. The venue itself is so eclectic and aesthetically pleasing. Every now and then, I'll go there and just look at the [decor], and I still haven't seen everything. There's so much to look at. So you didn't really change the core fundamentals? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Exactly right. How would you describe VASCO to someone who has never been before? From the beginning VASCO has always been about organised chaos. If these walls could talk, we'd be in some strife — it's got character, let's put it that way. We're a loud rock and roll bar with good quality Italian food. When you think of a dive bar, food isn't the first thing you think of, but we've tried to subvert peoples expectations by providing good quality food without compromising on the chaos that people love us for. Do you have a favourite item on the menu? One day, our head chef at Newtown came in and said to me, "I had this dream. It's a hash brown but it's a carbonara... the egg yolk is inside hash brown batter and guanciale. Can I make it for you?". I tried it and was like, "What the f***? This is so good", and now it's one of our best sellers. Not to mention, we have the best vodka rigatoni in Sydney. How does the gritty, carefree attitude of rock n' roll music carry over to VASCO? When VASCO was opened, the owner and his family loved rock and roll, and Vasco Rossi is a massive rock star in Italy. So music has always been at the forefront of the brand for us. We want to embody the vibe of throwing TVs out of hotel windows, trashing tour buses, and staying out all night. We want to bring back the wrongness that Sydney is missing. We're a little messy and a lot of fun. How do you encourage customers to stay a bit later and get loose? I want to turn VASCO Newtown into a live music venue. We had the Frankie's House Band play a couple of months ago, and it was an exceptional turnout. So my direction for [VASCO] Newtown is to bring more live music and work with the local music scene to showcase some up-and-coming bands. The walls are absolutely coated in memorabilia. Which piece is your favourite and what's the story behind it? That's a tough question. There was a guitar that Max (the original owner) had that was signed by Dave Grohl. And when he sold me the business, he said, "Sid, I'm gonna sell you everything except for this guitar". If you notice that spot, there's a sign that says, "Don't touch the f*****g guitar". Sydney is full of polished venues and brightly lit interiors. Is there still an appeal for places that are a bit more rough around the edges? I definitely think so. I think people like the independence. I think people like supporting smaller businesses instead of just throwing money at these large corporations that open three to four venues a month. Obviously small venues can't compete with that, but I think what we do have is character. And that's something money can't buy. VASCO Newtown and Surry Hills have launched new winter menus, including home-made confit garlic flatbread, spanner crab crostini and crumbed pork cotoletta at Newtown and the aforementioned hashbrown cacio e pepe, artichoke, spinach and ricotta ravioli and more at Surry Hills, so it's the perfect time to swing by for a visit. VASCO Newtown and Surry Hills are open Tuesday to Sunday until late. For more information or to make a booking, visit the website.
Over the past two years, we've already spent too much time burning through our streaming queues, so simply settling in for a stint of TV has lost a bit of its lustre. And, there's also the fact that our day-to-days are pretty well dominated by screens anyway. From waking up and checking the weather/news/Instagram to then packing our days with staring at a computer at our nine-to-fives, sitting on the loo watching TikToks and cooking the recipes we view on iPads, it's no wonder we've got screen fatigue. So, put that remote down and treat yourself to another way to kill time: a jigsaw puzzle. Yep, it's time to get analogue. For many of us, 2020 was the year of hobbies and home activities. So, no doubt you already have a jigsaw or two lying around — which means you're in need of fresh puzzle talent. Or, you might've resisted the recent trend, only to now realise that you missed out on some wholesome, puzzle-piecing times. Either way, we're here to help. Here are our eight puzzle picks for when boredom next hits like a tonne of bricks — whether you just have a few spare hours, you're spending time in isolation or you feel like you've watched every streaming series there is to watch. AUSTRALIA UNSEEN Bring the beach to your living room with these serene coastal scenes in puzzle form. Australia Unseen's Vincent Rommelaere takes photos of Australian beaches and rock pools, and usually sells them as prints on his website. But in 2020, as iso-life became the new normal, Rommelaere began transforming some of his snaps into jigsaw puzzles. At the moment, he offers seven different puzzles available as 1000-piece ($49) jigsaws. If you're into ocean pools, you can keep your fingers busy with a puzzle of Bondi's famed Icebergs. Otherwise, there's shots of the Coogee Beach rainbow path, the Bronte Baths and people sunbathing at Bondi. Or, if you'd prefer to look at Melbourne, you can opt for one of the city's CBD skyline. Delivery within Australia is $10 and international shipping is also available, with cost and delivery time dependent on region. All jigsaw puzzles in stock are shipped from Sydney and you'll score free shipping on orders over $100. Buy via Australia Unseen's website. OKAY LADY Chances are at least one of your housemates developed a penchant for puzzles over the past two years and, if that's the case, a pressie from online jigsaw puzzle company Okay Lady will be a winner. Think of it as the perfect 'thanks for putting up with me' gift that you benefit from, too. Okay Lady puzzles champion Aussie women illustrators and come in environmentally friendly packaging — no plastic in sight. The artists also receive royalties from every single sale, which we love to see. If you happen to live with your bestie, there's a super-cute 400-piece jigsaw by Queensland artist Sophie Beer that features two besties and some adorable pups. Or, nab the Night Dancer puzzle, designed by artist Alice Lindstrom, for a truly vibrant work of puzzle art. All Okay Lady jigsaws are $59 and each 400-piece design is aimed to be more of a mindful activity than a super challenging, days-long process. Shipping is free across Australia with orders shipped from the Melbourne office every weekday, so expect about five–seven business days for your package to arrive. Can't wait? Opt for express delivery for $15. Buy via Okay Lady's website. SMOOCHY POOCHEY Ever wanted to piece together a portrait of your adorable pooch? Of course you have — which is why Queensland-based company Smoochy Poochey exists. While the company allows you to pick whichever kind of personalised puzzle you like, getting a jigsaw puzzle emblazoned with your pet's cute little face is a clear winner. Think of it this way: you've already spent so long gazing at them because they're just so adorable, and you've well and truly committed their face to your memory in the process, so this should be the easiest jigsaw you've ever done. And if you'd like to provide more than one photo for a single puzzle — as uploaded via the company's website — you can. Just simply upload multiple pics of of Fido, Fluffy, Polly or Nemo and create a collage. A number of sizes are available, ranging from a simple, kid-friendly 30-piece jigsaw to challenging 1000-piece ones for when you have hours upon hours to kill. Prices range from $28.25 for the smallest puzzle and up to $59.95 for the largest. Delivery is via Australia Post, with a standard $12.95 flat rate across Australia, or you can opt for express delivery for $16. Buy via the Smoochy Poochey website. PUZZLE POST You've done it: you've reached peak puzzle madness. You can't get enough of the brain-tickling activity and you want a regular rotation of jigsaws landing on your doorstep. Enter: Puzzle Post — Australia's first jigsaw puzzle subscription. Puzzle Post delivers a new jigsaw to your doorstep every month, and factors in your tastes. Now that's a service. From the same minds behind book subscription service Bookabuy, the idea for this new venture spawned after owners Chris and Mel Tantchev noticed something of a jigsaw puzzle resurgence. Look around these pandemic days and you'll notice those little cardboard pieces have made quite the comeback. There are a bunch of themes from over 20 categories — including cats, nostalgia, flowers, Disney and food — ranging from easy (500 pieces) to harder, 1000-plus piece puzzles. By answering a few quick questions at checkout, you'll end up with a jigsaw haul personalised just for you. You can opt for a one-off puzzle delivery ($29) or organise a three-, six- or 12-month subscription, which'll set you back between $87–348 up front (or $29 per month). If every month is too frequent, you can choose to get a new puzzle delivered in two- or three- month intervals, too. Subscribe via the Puzzle Post website. JOURNEY OF SOMETHING Journey of Something is a female-founded and Australian-owned company dedicated to combining art with activities (read: beautiful puzzles, art kits and games). But, you're here for puzzles — not the other stuff — so we'll get right to it. It stocks a bunch of jigsaws, ranging from mini puzzles to 1000-piece beasts, which are all designed by local artists. Order yourself a puzzle decorated with iconic women such as Dolly Parton, Frida Khalo and Malala Yousafzai — or, there's a cute mini puzzle that'll have you doing your daily affirmations in no time. Puzzles range from $20–64, and Journey of Something also offers some duo packs and a 12-month subscription. Shipping costs depend on how much you're buying — starting at $10 for one puzzle. Buy via Journey of Something's website. [caption id="attachment_708992" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rone[/caption] RONE If you're bored of putting together rainforest scenes or that 500-piece Monet puzzle was just too easy, Melbourne street artist Rone has come up with the goods, releasing three of his large-scale artworks (Home Wrecker, The Dining Room and The Study) as jigsaw puzzles. For those not in the know, Rone normally creates large-scale artworks on the sides of nine-story buildings or in abandoned spaces throughout Melbourne. He's particularly known for his massive portraits that combine elements of beauty and ruin, alongside concepts of new and old. Since bursting onto the local scene in the early 2000s, his work has been shown in London, New York, San Francisco, Miami and Hong Kong. So, he's kind of a big deal — and you can now build a piece of his art in your living room. Rone's puzzles are priced at a reasonable $64, considering his art prints are selling upwards of $400. Each art-cum-puzzle is comprised of 1000 pieces and includes enough detail for a challenging afternoon of puzzling. Shipping to locations across Melbourne costs $10.95, while it's $14.89 for the rest of Australia. Hot tip: buy two puzzles and you save yourself the delivery fee, thanks to Rone offering free shipping on orders over $100. Buy via Rone's website. SALTY GALLERY Similar to the popular Australian Unseen puzzles, photographer Dharma Bendersky and his gallery Salty Gallery have turned his stunning shots of Sydney beaches into 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles. So, if you're missing sunny afternoons at the beach and simply can't get enough of creating intricate cardboard artworks, then add these beauties to your cart. There are currently four idyllic puzzles on offer, featuring a selection of spots. If you're more a fan of concrete-covered bays, Bedersky also plans to unveil more designs. Each puzzle is $59, includes free shipping Australia-wide, can be delivered internationally, and are shipped in eco-friendly compostable bags. Buy via the Salty Gallery website. [caption id="attachment_822202" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Charles Conder, 'Rainy Day', 1888. Art Gallery of NSW's online art puzzles range.[/caption] ONLINE ART PUZZLES We know, we know — we told you to lay off the screens. But these digital jigsaws come in handy if you're an absolute puzzle fiend who can't wait till your next one arrives in the post, or you're a try-before-you-buy kinda person. Either way, these art-filled gems are sure to fill many hours (and save you some cash). First up, the Art Gallery of NSW has some killer online puzzles — seven to be exact — so you can digitally put together masterpieces such as E Phillips Fox's Nasturtiums and Paul Cézanne's Banks of the Marne. Melbourne Museum also has digital jigsaws on its website, including ones of fur seals, the Royal Exhibition Building and Phar Lap. Or, check out the National Library of Australia website to complete puzzles using its collection, with everything from art by Ellis Rowan to Australian birds. Head to the AGNSW, Melbourne Museum and National Library of Australia websites for some free — and wait-free — puzzling adventures. Top image: Australia Unseen
Just like that, we're halfway through the year, and the winter school holidays are here. Wondering how you'll keep the minis busy while you're still working, cooking, shopping and the rest? We've come to your rescue — with eleven irresistible activities happening in and around Sydney in July. Head to Macquarie Centre to lead the kids through a Coachella-inspired wonderland featuring magic shows and bubble-canopied dance floors. Then, make tracks to Taronga Zoo to meet several cute new arrivals. Plus, there are workshops galore for kids who like to learn — covering art, craft, public speaking, sport and more. Your house is now officially a whine-free zone. FOR THE KID WHO LIKES A LITTLE MAGIC: MACQTOPIA These holidays, Macquarie Centre is taking inspiration from Coachella and transforming into a dreamscape for children. Treat them to a live gig by The Vegetable Plot, then head to a show with fantastical magicians Magic of Petar or Adam Mada. That'll give them inspiration to create a little magic of their own — be it a terrarium fairy garden or a kaleidoscope. Got a budding creative on your hands? Book a session at Paint 'n' Slurp or take them for a dance under a canopy of bubbles. Macqtopia is taking over Macquarie Centre at Waterloo Road, Macquarie Park, daily from Saturday, July 5–Saturday, July 19. [caption id="attachment_1011302" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul McMillan[/caption] FOR THE KID WHO GETS HANDS-ON: NATIONAL INDIGENOUS ART FAIR LITTLE MOBS PROGRAM On the first weekend of the school holidays — Saturday, July 5–Sunday, July 6 — the National Indigenous Art Fair will take over the Overseas Passenger Terminal with artworks, jewellery, homewares, live performances, bush food, panel discussions and a communal weaving circle. While you check them out, the kids can get busy with the Little Mobs Program. Activities includes workshops in gum nut jewellery making, ochre painting and shell work. For kids who like to move, there are dance workshops with Buuja Buuja Butterfly, while green thumbs and budding chefs should join the native plants and bush food sessions with Indigigrow. Check out the whole schedule on the Art Fair website. FOR THE KID WHO'S PRETTY CRAFTY: WINTER WORKSHOPS AT DARLING SQUARE Are your little ones the types that need to keep their hands busy? Send them to Darling Square these school holidays. It's hosting a bunch of crafty, winter-inspired workshops for creative kids. From 11am–2pm on Friday, July 11, and Friday, July 18, snow globe making is on the agenda. For snowflake painting, head along from 11am–2pm on Thursday, July 10; Thursday, July 17; Saturday, July 19; or Sunday, July 20. To get your kids into the seasonal spirit, treat them to a free face painting session, where they'll get to choose their favourite wintry design — be it snowmen or snowflakes. You'll find the face painting station in front of The Exchange on Friday, July 11; Friday, July 18; Saturday, July 19; and Sunday, July 20, from 11am–2pm FOR THE KID WHO'S ALL ABOUT FUN: MINI-GOLF, BOWLING AND CHALLENGE ROOMS AT FUNLAB If your house is full of fun-lovers, then here's your school holiday solution. Funlab — which runs Holey Moley, Strike Bowling, Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq and Hijinx Hotel — is offering a bunch of family-friendly discounts and deals this July. Pay just $14 per kid for a game of mini-golf, a round of bowling, or a session in a challenge room. Double your dollars at Archie Brothers — spend $35 on game cards for $70 credit, or spend $100 and get $200 in value. Plus, there's a $20 food and drink bundle at all venues, which buys you a potato tornado, a panda keep cup and unlimited soft drinks. FOR THE KID WHO GOES WILD: NEW ARRIVALS, SHOWS AND SLEEPOVERS AT TARONGA ZOO If you haven't met Taronga Zoo's youngest residents yet, these school holidays could be the perfect time. They include Bair, an endangered sea lion pup; Eve, a long-nosed fur seal pup; and three koala joeys named Eugene, Busta and Yanada. Swing by anytime to watch them learning to swim, climb, and enjoy the sea, sun and sky. Meanwhile, for kids obsessed with things that slide and slither, there's the Crawly Critters Alive Show, which is on twice daily at 11.45am and 2.30pm. Or, to learn more about Australia's native creatures, follow the No Place Like Home Trail. Is one day not enough? You and the kids can always spend the night in a safari-style tent at Roar and Snore, or in even more comfort at the Wildlife Retreat. [caption id="attachment_858445" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Maja Baska (NIDA)[/caption] FOR THE KID WHO LOVES THE SPOTLIGHT: NIDA HOLIDAY CLASSES Kids as young as five and as old as eighteen can get involved in NIDA's massive school holiday program this winter. Classes for both primary and high schoolers take place at various spots across Sydney, from Kensington to Chatswood, and cover a range of skills. Send your budding singer to a workshop for mini pop stars, or your future film star to a screen acting session for heroes, villains and spies. Then, for kids with a deeper commitment, there are five-day drama school courses or five-day musical theatre courses for those who aspire to act, sing and dance. Whichever they choose, your stage-loving cubs will explore the limits of their creativity and imagination in a fun and supportive environment. FOR THE KID WITH A COMPETITIVE STREAK: SPORTS SESSIONS AT SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK Got kids who are keen to stay active these school holidays? Make a beeline to Sydney Olympic Park, which will host an array of sporty activities from Monday, July 7–Saturday, July 18. Whether your mini wants to run, kick, bounce, swim, or even shoot a bow and arrow, there's an activity with their name on it. Throw them into the deep end at an intensive swimming program, train their hand-eye coordination at a sharp shooters session, or give them a chance to try it all at a day-long multi-sports camp. Classes are led by professional instructors and cater to all levels of experience — whether your little one is looking for something new or hoping to develop existing skills. [caption id="attachment_858493" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Penrith Regional Gallery[/caption] FOR THE KID WHO'S A DAYDREAMER: ART WORKSHOPS If this world is but a canvas, it is better that the canvas is an actual canvas rather than, say, your walls. If the kids are channelling their creativity these holidays, sign them up for an art workshop. At Bankstown Arts Centre, they can take their pick of activities — from building a ceramic bear to getting an introduction to Chinese calligraphy or making a traditional Indonesian mask. Penrith Regional Gallery has an equally impressive program. Keep them busy making shadow puppets, sculpting animals from clay, putting together their own artist book or, for three- to five-year-olds, learning the basics of art. Closer to the city, head to the Art Gallery of NSW for creative cityscape workshops, pet portrait sessions and native bee classes. FOR THE KID WHO CAN TALK THEIR WAY OUT OF ANYTHING: COMMUNICATIONS WORKSHOPS Give your little one the gift of life skills these school holidays by enrolling them in an interactive communications workshop with Speaks Craft Australia. The two-day, four-in-one sessions cover public speaking, debating, creative writing and drama, and are held all over Sydney, as well as online. Kids of all grades — from kindergarten to year 9 — can attend. In years one and two, the focus is on building confidence through games and storytelling, while the year three to five sessions aim to develop skills in persuasive speaking and writing. For years six to nine, the workshops cover debating, impromptu speaking and leadership. FOR THE KID WHO'S ALWAYS ASKING QUESTIONS: PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS AND TOURS AT THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE A host of experiences awaits at the Sydney Opera House this winter. Roald Dahl's much-loved The Twits is a big part of the school holiday lineup for yet another year, with a fun and chaotic production by Shake & Stir Theatre Co. Also on the bill is The Princess, The Pea (and The Brave Escapee), presented by the Australian Chamber Orchestra. It tells the unknown story of why the princess was out on a stormy night in the first place, soundtracked by live classical music. Another headliner is the timely BullyBully, which pits two world leaders against one another in no man's land. Through laughter, dance and movement, the duo fights it out for their spot as top dog. Meanwhile, at City of Wonder, children aged four and above can use creativity, problem-solving and collaborative skills to help build an urbanscape for the future. FOR THE KID WHO'S ALREADY A FILM BUFF: THE CHILDREN'S INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Does your ankle-biter wander around the house quoting Finding Nemo? Or maybe sharing their opinion of Paddington in Peru like a mini David or Margaret? Fuel their future as a film buff these school holidays at the Children's International Film Festival. Having started in early June, it'll keep rolling until Sunday, July 20. The massive program includes the Australian premieres of A Tooth Fairy Tale (US), Bartali's Bicycle (Italy) and Norbert (Spain) — among many others. Plus, there are special screenings of Smurfs (with Funday Natural Sweets included with every ticket), and Friday, July 11, has been declared pyjama day.
Iberica takes inspiration from small Spanish towns along the stunning Balearic Islands, like Ibiza and Mallorca, so it's no wonder the restaurant chose Sydney's most iconic beach as its home. The venue is helmed by Managing Director Joaquin Saez (previously at Cho Cho San, Fratelli Paradiso, Alberto's Lounge and Ikaria Bondi). Joining him is Executive Chef Ivan Sanchez, who brings 15 years of experience in Mediterranean cuisine, including stints at Porteño and Bastardo. Head of Bar, Carlo Valdivia, who formerly worked at Porteño, Continental Deli, Bar & Bistro and Sokyo, is in charge of curating the Spanish-heavy wine list and creative cocktail menu. The menu focuses on supporting local suppliers and showcasing their produce. Start off with house-made bread served with a truffle butter candle, jamon Iberico, seared scallops and grilled octopus with Jerusalem artichoke and ajo blanco. Bigger plates include seafood paella, charcoal-grilled sirloin with a Pedro Ximenez reduction and a charcoal-grilled spatchcock with mojo rojo. Finish off with a caramel flan with manchego cheese, Basque cheesecake or a refreshing grape sorbet.
On the evening of August 22, 24 hours after the publication of The Sydney Morning Herald and Good Food's bombshell report on historical cases of sexual abuse, drug taking, mismanagement and widespread misogyny at Swillhouse venues, the embattled hospitality group — whose businesses include Restaurant Hubert, Le Foote and The Caterpillar Club — issued an apology via its social media channels. Now, a fortnight on from the horrifying revelations of The SMH investigation, Swillhouse CEO Anton Forte has revealed a suite of changes to his business to ensure Swillhouse venues are safe places to work. In a video posted to the Swillhouse Hospitality Instagram account, Forte once again apologised for his company's failures to its former staff. "People were and are the heart of our business. Every success we've had, we owe to them," Forte said. "We wanted to create a culture of generosity and openness, but along the way, we messed up." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Swillhouse (@swillhouse.hospitality) In a statement sent to Swillhouse's e-news subscribers, the company said it was building on improvements it had made to workplace culture and its HR practices in recent years, announcing the appointment of new senior roles within the company, albeit without identifying by name three of the four individuals filling those positions. Described in the statement as "one of the most respected female leaders in the industry," a new Strategic Advisor will be assisting Swillhouse to "build a new-look, much-improved" company. "As the former CEO of a leading hospitality company and a renowned champion of women in hospitality, she will bring her extensive experience — plus independence and honesty — to review our entire operations and guide us on how and where we need to change," the statement continues. Two independent expert consultants — one in culture and transformation and a second advising on workplace health and safety — have also been recruited to help overhaul internal processes. Swillhouse also announced the promotion of Hope Dawson, its Group Human Resources Manager, to the executive leadership team. The statement added that the company is fully cooperating with the Safe Work NSW inquiry into its historical failures. [caption id="attachment_673758" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cole Bennetts[/caption] Another major Australian hospitality group, Merivale, has also faced allegations of downplayed sexual abuse, toxic workplace practices, drug use among staff and a culture of misogyny at its venues, revealed in a major investigation published by the ABC on Tuesday, September 4. A second ABC report, published on Thursday, September 5, also revealed that CCTV footage of "hundreds" of patrons having sex, exposing themselves, falling down and urinating in public spaces within Merivale venues was shown at its annual awards night, The Merivales, in 2017. In response to the most recent allegations by the ABC, a statement from Merivale responded saying: "Merivale venues are comprehensively monitored by CCTV, a matter which is notified to patrons and staff with clear signage… It is lawful for Merivale to capture this footage and there can be no reasonable expectation of privacy for any patron attending." If you need to speak to someone about an experience you have had or are seeking information, please contact 1800Respect on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au. Top image: Kristoffer Paulsen
Inland from Port Stephens, away from the beaches and coastal tracks and closer to Newcastle Airport, you'll find the two towns of Raymond Terrace and Medowie. They're separated by the Grahamstown Dam, which boasts a cycleway along its southern shoreline. It's an easy 11-kilometre ride that is entirely off-road, so you can take your time and make multiple stops whenever you need. The path starts at the Lakeside Leisure Centre and passes by the Finnan Park Picnic Area, which has toilet facilities and a barbecue if you need a rest — or you can keep pedalling onward to the Grahamstown Aquatic Centre, which has a couple of outdoor picnic tables. Finally, you'll arrive in the small town of Medowie, home to Medowie Macadamias farm.
British culinary figure Rick Stein has had a years-long love affair with the Australian coast. In 2009, he opened Rick Stein at Bannisters by the Sea in the breezy south NSW coastal town of Mollymook, and followed it up a decade later with Rick Stein at Bannisters Port Stephens, which debuted in 2018. Now, the legendary chef, restaurateur, cookbook author and television presenter will bringing be his signature brand of "fresh fish, simply cooked" to Sydney for the very first time, with Stein and his Australian wife Sarah set to open their Australian flagship in one of the city's most iconic beachside destinations. Rick Stein at Coogee Beach — which comes 50 years after he opened his very first restaurant, The Seafood Restaurant, in a Cornwall fishing port — will be an expansive 224-seater set in the upcoming InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach, offering the refined beachside dining experience for which Stein is known. For his third Australian restaurant, Stein will be showcasing premium Australian regional and local produce across three distinct, yet quietly elegant, spaces: a signature dining room, a more casual bar area and a sun-washed courtyard terrace. "Coogee Beach is yet another stunning coastal location for our Australian restaurant portfolio — perched by the sea and full of the laidback charm we've come to love so much here," says Stein. "It's especially meaningful for me as my wife Sas grew up in Sydney, so opening a restaurant in her hometown makes this venture all the more special for us both." The menu will hero some of NSW's very best seafood, including mahi mahi from Nelson Bay, Stockton pipis from Port Stephens and line-caught mackerel from Ulladulla, while Stein's show-stopping Singapore chilli crab will feature blue swimmer from Nelson Bay. Naturally, Stein's beloved British-style fish and chips — complete with hand-cut chips and mushy peas — will also make the cut. "There's an abundance of top-quality seafood in Australia and we'll be championing local, seasonal produce with the benefit of accessing the biggest fish market in the southern hemisphere," says Stein. "We'll continue to utilise the relationships we've built in our regional locations to source that same produce in Sydney. It's the best of both worlds." On the ops side, Sarah Stein, Rick's wife and long-time collaborator, will bring her touch to the restaurant's interiors and ambience. For their Coogee dining room, the couple are working in partnership with Salter Brothers, who acquired the Bannisters Group in 2024 and will also operate the InterContinental Coogee. Rick Stein at Coogee Beach is slated to open in November, 2025 at InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach, 242 Arden Street, Coogee. For more information, head to the restaurant's website.
Tailgating. Not just driving up the arse of the car in front of you, it's a long-held American tradition that makes your regular sporting match into an epic escapade of Peter Jackson proportions. Everyone gets together in the stadium carpark, you throw back crispy bevs, you grill Various Meats, you partake in furious debates laden with snarky stats and high volume rants. It's a bonafide buzz-inducer, with some serious enthusiasts behind it. Until now, its a tradition Sydneysiders have only partaken in on trips to the States or vicariously through watching Varsity Blues (absolutely still relevant). But now Sydney is taking a crack at 'gating. Kicked off in Moore Park last Saturday, June 14 for the Swans vs Port Adelaide and Roosters vs Knights games on the weekend, two Australian entrepreneurs have brought the so-called Tailgate Experience to Sydney — during and after every game at either the Sydney Cricket Ground or Sydney Football Stadium (Allianz Stadium). Setting up shop in front of Kippax Lake opposite the SFS and SCG, this no-fee organised tailgate party is a fully-licensed, fenced-off area with noms, bevs, live tunes and ring toss. Having won the right to bags the space in Moore Park, Sydney duo Richard Colvin and Patrick Yeoland are aiming to bolster the social buzz around Australian sport. "Tailgate events in the US are such a hugely successful way of building momentum before major sporting events and bring a whole new level of social interaction to the games," says Colvin, managing director of hospitality group That’s Mint. "We’re hoping our idea can emulate the fun of a real tailgate and we think this is a natural evolution for Aussie sport. We hope that Australia’s sport codes and the public embrace it as an additional incentive to get out to games." Scheduled to get the pre-game party started four hours ahead of the live kick off, the Tailgate Experience raves on after the game — the perfect post-victory throwdown or commiseration wake. Whether Sydneysiders pick up on the tailgating thing (and whether the po-po/council shut it down) remains to be seen, with the next party scheduled for the Australia vs France rugby showdown, this Saturday 21 June. The Tailgate Experience current schedule: 21 June 2014 – Australia vs France (Rugby Union International) 28 June 2014 – Swans vs GWS 5 July 2014 – Roosters vs Sharks 6 July 2014 – Waratahs vs Highlanders 12 July 2014 – Swans vs Carlton
The 90s were great. That shouldn't be a controversial opinion. Whether you lived through them or have spent the last couple of decades wishing you did — aka binging on 90s pop culture — Oxford Art Factory's New Year's Eve shindig will indulge both your retro and your festive urges. Drinks, tunes, fashion: expect all of the above at the No Scrubs: 90s and Early 00s party from 9pm on NYE. Of course, it's up to you to make sure the clothing side of thing is covered, and to get into the spirit of the season. If you want to use Mariah Carey as a style icon, it'd be fitting. Expect to unleash your inner Spice Girl and Backstreet Boy too. TLC, Destiny's Child, Savage Garden, Usher, Blink-182, No Doubt — we'd keep listing artists, but you all know what you're getting yourselves into. Entry costs $23.36 in advance, with the fun running through until 3am. Image: Destination NSW.
