At Home: Watch, Read, Listen & Play

Have you ever watched this much TV in your life? Read this many books? Listened to this many podcasts?

Us neither, which is why we’ve launched this dedicated entertainment hub. Next time you’re stuck for something to pass a few hours, you might find an answer here, whether it’s a puzzle, board game or TV series. We might recommend the occasional show on Netflix or a new novel, but you can probably find those for yourself. We’re more likely to tell you about a live-stream DJ gig that’s coming up, or a new hard copy magazine that’s available for delivery.

Your Hearing Is Unique – And in 60 Seconds, These Australian-Designed Wireless Earbuds Digitally Adjust to It

EntertainmentHear your favourite songs in a whole new way with Nuratrue wireless earbuds, a follow-up to the groundbreaking Nuraphone and its “personalised sound”. The lightweight buds offer six hours of constant use, active noise cancelling and a decent waterproof rating.

Claire Ellis: In Any Way Shape or Form at Brunswick Street Gallery

Art & DesignThe debut solo exhibition of an ex-Attica chef – who also made plates for the fine diner – features 100 ceramic plates in playful shapes, from a folded dumpling and pasta-like coils to seashells and citrus slices.

SFF On Demand

EntertainmentStream more than 50 feature films from this year’s Sydney Film Festival from anywhere in the country – including A Fire Inside exploring Australia’s 2019-20 bushfires and Larissa Behrendt’s Araatika: Rise Up!.

The Disappearing Act: A Virtual Escape Room

EntertainmentFind clues, solve riddles and discover passwords to save your friend, who’s been kidnapped by a magician and locked up in the Sydney Opera House.

Three Indian Chefs Take You on a Trip Through the Country’s Regional Cuisines in a New SBS Series

Food & DrinkLearn to cook Hyderabadi chicken biryani, Bengali fish curry, Gujarati dal dhokli and more from Coda and Tonka’s Adam D’Sylva, Helly Raichura of Enter Via Laundry and former Masterchef contestant Sandeep Pandit.

Part Puzzle Game, Part Scavenger Hunt, Part Movie – Isklander Is the Online Adventure Game That’s Totally Worth the Extra Screen Time

EntertainmentZoom trivia nights have their charm, but have you tried solving the mysterious murder of Ivy Isklander from home with your friends on the line, the clock ticking and countless Google Maps tabs open? It’s a thrilling new experience blending theatre, film and gaming that you’ll want to see through to the end.

Find Some Much-Needed Serenity With Lego Group’s New Adult-Aimed Botanical Collection

EntertainmentDesigned for adults who’ve never spent much time playing with Lego bricks, the three-set collection includes a bonsai tree, a knee-high bird of paradise tree and a bunch of pretty flowers ready to be placed in your favourite vase. And with 756 pieces in the smallest set, you’re guaranteed plenty of mindful play.

Flox Botanical DIY Masterclass

Art & DesignLearn how to put together a floral arrangement, using seasonal flowers and a complimentary vase delivered to your door.

Section Aid

EntertainmentFrom laneway bar Section 8, this nonstop 12-hour fundraising festival will help support local musos, hospo workers and artists whose livelihoods have been ravaged by lockdowns. Stream it for free, then donate what you can – if you can.

Camille Henrot: Is Today Tomorrow Virtual Tour by NGV

Art & DesignOne of the works on display is an immersive room-scale installation featuring photographs, sculptures, books and drawings bought on Ebay or borrowed from museums.

Virtual Tiny House Clay Class by Elph Ceramics

Art & DesignLearn how to make a village of the ceramic studio’s iconic tiny houses over Zoom, with all the materials you need – including clay, tools and a pre-built tiny house – delivered to your door.

Blaksound

EntertainmentHear from promising and pioneering First Nations artists over three days, including Christine Anu, Ziggy Ramo, Alice Skye, Baker Boy, Rachael Hocking and more. It’s free for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, or anyone who isn’t in a position to pay.

Ben Quilty’s The Beach at Tolarno Galleries Online

Art & DesignThe acclaimed contemporary artist has turned his paintbrush to the subject of bodies locked in combat. He’s also fundraising to provide shelter, support and protection to vulnerable people in Afghanistan.

Antidote Festival 2021

EntertainmentTune in online for big-picture thinking and a dose of positivity from a New Yorker writer, a Greek economist, authors, academics and journalists on everything from the myth of the “fair go” to the climate crisis and alternatives to capitalism.

Jane Frances Reilly: Pour Me Out Window Show

Art & DesignWalk down Fitzroy’s Brunswick Street (if within your five klicks) and view an art installation that celebrates a nurturing cold weather warmer: the humble teapot.

Bored with Lockdown, a Top Aussie Chef Is Now Curating Natural-Wine-and-Record Bundles

EntertainmentWith his new side hustle Spinnin’ Juice, Igni’s Aaron Turner takes wines normally served with spicy chicken and instead delivers them to you with vinyl – everything from old-school thrash to country.

Bill Henson Online Exhibition by Tolarno Galleries

Art & DesignOne of Australia’s most celebrated photographers, Bill Henson spent Melbourne’s 2020 lockdowns mining his archives. It resulted in this brooding, reflective exhibition that’s now online-only.

Broadsheet’s Reading List: 12 Books We Couldn’t Put Down This Year

EntertainmentLooking for a good read? Here are the page-turners that have kept us captivated in 2021 (so far), including a gripping thriller about race and class, an insightful memoir about growing up in a Mormon fundamentalist community, a laugh-a-minute account of millennial life, and a beautifully written story of a hoarder trying to find companionship through objects.

Hit the Bottom of the Streaming Barrel? There’s a New On-Demand Service To Browse

EntertainmentParamount+ launched today with a heady mix of classic movies, smashable TV and new content – from a doco about Madonna to new Australian drama Spreadsheet.

Colournary Magazine Is a New Publication Championing First Nations, Black and POC Chefs, Writers and Creatives

Food & DrinkThe first 60-page print issue features recipes from Armenian-Australian chef Tom Sarafian and Filipino gelato maven John Rivera, plus an interview with Indigenous chef-restaurateur Nornie Bero of Mabu Mabu – and you can learn all about the intricacies of nasi goreng.

Bored of Your Music Selection? Here are 11 Newish Artists to Add To Your WFH or Office Playlists

EntertainmentIncluding homegrown hip-hop and R’n’B artists, overseas post-punk and brooding pop bands, plus that psychedelic-disco dude who lent his voice to a track from the Avalanches last year.

With His New Cookbook, Josh Niland Continues His Mission To Show There’s More Than Just Two Fillets to a Fish

Food & DrinkThe pioneering pescatarian-protein lover uses 15 varieties of fish to show how people can transform even the oddest bits into amazing dishes. His new book, Take One Fish: The New School of Scale-to-Tail Cooking and Eating, also includes 60 fun recipes.

Eight To Try: Online Classes and DIY Kits To Keep Your Hands and Mind Busy

EntertainmentGive your Netflix subscription a break (and stop doomscrolling social media) and shape some clay, make your own terrarium or even whip up some cheese at home.

Where’s the MSG? Youtube Character Uncle Roger Reviews Nat’s What I Reckon’s Egg Fried Rice

EntertainmentHe’s already critiqued Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver’s handiwork. Now the world’s most exasperated cooking-show viewer has turned his attention to Australia.

Here Are All the Fresh Films and Shows You Should Be Streaming This September

EntertainmentLooking for new TV or a movie binge? These are the best new additions to streaming services for September.

Two of Rone’s Striking Works Are Now Available in Puzzle Form

Art & DesignThe acclaimed Melbourne street artist has released two challenging, 1000-piece puzzles – including one immortalising his Empire exhibition (which transformed a sprawling mansion into a beautifully dilapidated art space). “They are quite difficult so [they] should keep you busy for a while.”

Australia’s Lennox Hastie Stars in Netflix’s New Four-Part Chef’s Table Series on Barbeque

EntertainmentThe Sydney chef is one of the skilled fire connoisseurs profiled. He’s joined by 85-year-old pitmaster Tootsie Tomanetz, a Mexican slow-pork expert, and a whole-hog authority.

The Avalanches and Attica’s Ben Shewry Are Throwing a Free Virtual Dance Party for Melbourne – And All Aussies Are Invited

EntertainmentShewry’s bringing the party-snack recipes, and DJ Soju Gang is making an appearance too. “This is a love letter and a thank you to this city that has supported us for so long.”

Free To Stream: SBS’s New Trailblazing Mini Series Hungry Ghosts Is a Supernatural Thriller You Won’t Want To Miss

EntertainmentThis four-part ghost story shot in Melbourne packs humour and pathos. And its cast of more than 30 Asian-Australian actors and 325 Asian-Australian extras is an Australian TV first.

Mammoth Retells the Earth’s History From the Perspective of a Prehistoric Fossil, and It’s a Wild Ride

EntertainmentThis fantastical, comedic novel by Phillip Island-based author Chris Flynn addresses some hard-hitting issues and deeper truths (including an examination of climate change from a totally new perspective).

Taylor Made x Omnom Cheese Making Online Burrata Workshop

Food & DrinkYou, a cheesemaking kit and a bottle of wine in the comfort of your own kitchen – it’s the best kind of cheese dream.

Editor’s Picks: The Best Things to Do (at Home) in Melbourne in August

EntertainmentAll the virtual events and new takeaway dishes we’re excited about right now.

MWF Digital

EntertainmentMelbourne Writers Festival has gone online for its 2020 instalment, and most events are “pay what you can”. Two ex-PMs, prominent Aussie novelists Helen Garner and Claire G Coleman, and the author of Crazy Rich Asians all feature on the line-up.

Journey of Something Puzzle Sale

Art & DesignMake the most of all that time at home with a playful new puzzle from this Aussie company.

Raph Rashid Is Launching a Home Cooking Show Resurrecting ’80s Cookbook Classics

Food & DrinkWhen did chicken kiev go out of style? What does the man behind 1800 Lasagne cook when he’s not cooking lasagne? Raph’s Mean Cuisine – filmed in the Beatbox Kitchen founder’s West Brunswick kitchen – sets out to answer these big questions and more.

Melbourne Writers Festival Has Taken Its 2020 Program Online – and Most Events Are “Pay What You Can”

EntertainmentThere are 100 guests from Australia and around the world on this year’s line-up, including two ex-PMs, prominent Aussie novelists Helen Garner and Claire G Coleman, and the author of Crazy Rich Asians. Expect authors’ talks, panel discussions, workshops and more.

We Couldn’t Be Any More Excited About This Friends Jigsaw Puzzle – And There Are Tiger King, The Office and Golden Girls Ones, Too

EntertainmentBask in pop-culture fandom with these 500-piece puzzles illustrated by an Australian artist.

On the Sauce: Shaun Micallef’s New Doco Explores Australia’s Turbulent Relationship With Booze

EntertainmentThe comedian’s new ABC show will stream free, and covers everything from jelly shots and shoeys to Friday nights in emergency. “We all have drinking stories, and we all tend to share them like war stories ... But if you were to actually strip away the laughter … they could be horror stories.”

What to Watch Right Now: Actors, Directors, Comedians and Culture-Makers Share Their Picks

EntertainmentWho better to get TV tips from than those in the entertainment biz? They’re watching ego-driven American chefs make too much ceviche, a show so beautiful it will turn you into a “weeping mess”, and a grizzly murder thriller set on the coast – and you should too.

Melbourne’s Best Independent Bookstores

EntertainmentThere’s a labyrinthine CBD institution, a handsome art bookstore that looks like a design boutique, and a 30-year-old queer bookshop. Trawl these shelves for new releases, classics and more obscure titles.

Eight Lockdown Playlists for When You’re Feeling Pensive, Pent-Up or Ready to Party

EntertainmentWe asked Wax’o Paradiso’s Edd Fisher to introduce us to the best playlists to emerge from lockdown. Whether you want to impress your colleagues with new music at virtual knock-offs, dance around the kitchen to ’60s French hits or listen in on someone’s musical quarantine diary, we’ve got tracks for you.

Keeping Your Kids Entertained in Iso (Without Having to Do Much Yourself)

EntertainmentBored of facilitating puzzle sessions? You’re not alone. In partnership with Museums Victoria, we find out what you can do online to keep your family entertained – and maybe give yourself a bit of a breather.

Binge Lords, Project Queens and Captain Domestics: The People We Became in Isolation

Art & DesignCoronavirus has changed all of us in strange, unpredictable ways. But some common personas have emerged. In this one-off illustrated series by Struthless in collaboration with Broadsheet, we identify five new species of iso-human. See someone you know?

Eight Grown-Up Games That Can Be Played at a Safe Distance

EntertainmentWe asked an Aussie game designer for his faves. There are brand-new games; cheeky updates on classics (including an extreme version of Guess Who with a table-tennis ball and no guessing); and free – actually fun – games you can play with mates online.

A Melbourne Animation Studio Has Created a Range of Diabolical Puzzles With Transparent Pieces

EntertainmentSay goodbye to the corner-piece anchor with Yelldesign’s “entry-level” circular puzzle. Then say goodbye to your sanity trying to assemble a puzzle that resembles shattered glass.

The Best Board Games For Every Situation

EntertainmentWith most of the country hunkering down at home, there’s never been a better time to get into gaming. Here are some titles worth tracking down, including one that’s over in 15 minutes, one that takes all day and another you can even play solo. Plus, a pertinent classic in which players have to contain a global pandemic.

Mass Isolation Australia: This New Photography Project Is Documenting Life in Lockdown, and It Wants Your Photos

Art & DesignIt’s a two-part exhibition – stage one is happening on Instagram now, and stage two will happen in real life (hopefully) in 2021.

Just Do It: Leading Australian Creatives Invite You to Take Part in an Interactive Art Project

Art & DesignEach Wednesday for three weeks, influential artists such as Tracey Moffatt, Sydney Dance Company’s Rafael Bonachela and florist Saskia Havekes set a task – all you have to do is create whatever you want.

Famed Photographer Spencer Tunick Talks to Broadsheet About Censorship, Virtual Reality and Staying Apart Together in the Time of Coronavirus

Art & Design“People need that connection, need this sort of platonic, physical, naked art action.” Applications for Tunick’s latest project are now open – and Australia’s the first country in the world to get the call-up.

From Rockface to Neon: A Virtual NGV Journey Through Radical Moments in Indigenous Australian Art

Art & DesignA new 3D online exhibition and five-part guided video tour, hosted by a senior gallery curator, are part of a colourful, intriguing show about milestones and breakthroughs that changed Indigenous art in this country forever.

Yes, Spencer Tunick Wants to Photograph You Naked During a Pandemic. No, Not the Way You Think.

Art & DesignWith Stay Apart Together, the famous American photographer has found a way to document mass nudity in the midst of a global pandemic.

Hugo Weaving’s Latest Film, Hearts and Bones, Is an Uplifting Story About What It Means to Be Australian Today

EntertainmentThe beautiful film, set in western Sydney, made its debut at the Sydney Film Festival but has been fast-tracked for a digital release. “[It’s] a very positive piece about who this country is now; we need those stories about community, particularly when we’re all isolated.”

The Best Food Shows, Films and Documentaries on Netflix Australia

EntertainmentAn unconventional doco involving a “meat ballet”; a Korean reality show that hauls celebrity fridges into a studio for interrogation; and first-person narratives from the perspective of a taco. There’s more to the ‘flix than Chef’s Table.

Cannes, Sundance, Venice, Sydney Film Festival – the World’s Biggest Film Festivals Are Going Virtual

EntertainmentThe 10-day streaming event We Are One: A Global Film Festival is being spearheaded by the Robert DeNiro-founded, Manhattan-based Tribeca Film Festival. There’s free films, shorts, documentaries, music and conversations.

With RedBalloon’s At-Home Experiences, You Can Pop the Question, Buy a Mother’s Day Gift or Glamp in Your Backyard

EntertainmentWondering what to do for that special occasion? Scrambling for a last-minute gift? This platform has you covered during lockdown.

Crockd’s New DIY Pottery Kits Get You Out of Your Head and Into Your Hands

Art & DesignEach kit comes with everything you need to make ceramics at home, no wheel required. There are step-by-step instructions, a block of clay, carving tools and, most importantly, a set of cards designed to start vital conversations.

Nine to Try: Get Your Art-and-Craft On With These Online Workshops, DIY Kits and More

Art & DesignPaint a dish so it looks like an Iced Vovo, fashion a ceramic mug (while snacking on wine and cheese) and stitch a masterpiece using a pattern by the Beyoncé of contemporary embroidery.

Plan Your Next Trip With This Family-Friendly Australia Map Jigsaw Puzzle

Art & DesignThe 252-piece jigsaw puzzle has hand-drawn illustrations of iconic Australian landmarks, animals and natural wonders – from kangaroos to Uluru to sausage rolls and more.

Campos Coffee Virtual Masterclass

Food & DrinkLearn how to perfect your piccolo and land your latte every time so your coffee game doesn’t suffer while you’re staying home.

Eight to Try: How to Entertain the Kids During Iso

EntertainmentStruggling to fill the days with your kids stuck at home? Try some of these tried-and-tested (and economical) activities, from a scavenger hunt to mini-Olympics to a DIY day spa.

Club Quarantäne

EntertainmentThis weekend, music publication Resident Advisor will stream another marathon virtual rave. And like the first edition, it promises to be surprisingly fun.

Keep Cooking Simple With Yotam Ottolenghi

EntertainmentThe Israeli-English chef and bestselling cookbook author sits down for a chat with Aussie chef Adam Liaw – and you can stream it online for free.

Quibi Is a New Mobile-Only Streaming Service

EntertainmentThe Los Angeles-based video service launched at the start of the month with shows starring the likes of Sophie Turner, Reese Witherspoon, Liam Hemsworth and Christoph Waltz.

Sydney’s MCA Launches Your MCA, a Huge Free Online Arts Program for Kids and Adults

Art & DesignGet your modern-art fix with virtual tours of the 2020 Biennale of Sydney and conversations with famous contemporary artists. Plus there are craft classes for kids; special programs for teens; and live performances for everyone.

Coronavirus Comfort Reading: Books to Make You Feel Better During a Pandemic

EntertainmentOr at the very least, distract you from your worries. Acclaimed author Benjamin Law, Archibald Prize-winner Yvette Coppersmith, Broadsheet editors and more share their quarantine reads.

Nine Food-Focused Podcasts to Fill That Restaurant-Shaped Hole in Your Life

EntertainmentGet lunch with veteran Guardian food critic Jay Rayner; improve your cooking with Samin Nosrat’s brand new show; learn about the surprising prevalence of cheese theft; and enter a made-up, magical dream restaurant.

The Amazing Face: Take a Free Online Art Class With Australia’s National Portrait Gallery

Art & DesignEvery day for two weeks, experts will analyse an iconic portrait from the museum’s collection. Armed with that knowledge, you’ll then create your own self-iso selfie.

Hannah Gadsby’s New Show Is Coming to a Small Screen Near You

EntertainmentThe Australian comedian’s latest standup special will land on Netflix next month. Douglas is a lighter affair than Nanette, the show that launched Gadsby to worldwide fame, but it still hilariously skewers the status quo.

Puzzled Over Which Jigsaw Puzzle to Buy? These Will Keep You Going Through Self-Isolation and Beyond

EntertainmentFrom the bite-sized to the brain-frying, from pictures of Sydney beaches to maps of Aussie cities, these are the essential puzzles to keep your mind and fingers busy.

This Unofficial Monopoly Board Featuring Melbourne’s Best Bars Makes for an Excellent Isolation Drinking Game

EntertainmentBuild houses and hotels on Bodriggy, the Gaso and Angel Music, then collect a $200 dole payment as you pass Go. Itching for a dance at Revolver? Well, now you can buy it, and do Chap laps from your coffee table to celebrate.

Iconic Aussie Artist Ken Done Is Teaching Kids About Art (For Free) Online

Art & DesignIntroduce your little ones to Done’s bold, colourful Australiana art world. Younger students can have a go at T-shirt design, counting, and adding creatures to Done’s works, while older kids will explore point of view, the use of different brush-strokes and critical thinking.

Dance Like No One’s Watching With Virtual Studio Classes By One of Australia’s Leading Dance Companies

EntertainmentSydney Dance Company is streaming hip-hop, ballet and jazz for beginners classes, and there's a Friday Feel Good party. And the best bit according to Broadsheet's arts writer? For a whole 60 minutes she didn’t once think about the c-word.

Prepare for Live-Streamed Animal Antics – Taronga Zoo Is Going Virtual From Today

EntertainmentTaronga’s Sydney and Dubbo zoos are closed because of coronavirus. But you can still check in on their tiger cubs, seals or even an Asian elephant calf.

Editor’s Picks: The Best Things to Do (at Home) in Melbourne in April

EntertainmentThe parties, events and new openings we were excited about are on hold for now, but there are still plenty of excellent things to do while we’re holed up at home – and we can keep supporting local businesses at the same time.

Top Picks: The World’s Best Galleries and Museums to Explore Virtually From Your Couch

Art & DesignWander Frida Kahlo’s Blue House, visit Madrid’s Prado, tour Saint Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum and step inside Yayoi Kusama’s celestial Infinity Mirror Room.

Stay Home and See the Sights of Melbourne With This Intricate 1000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

EntertainmentWe can’t explore our city right now, but we can check out the landmarks – and kill some time – with The Melbourne Map puzzle.

The World’s Best Chefs Are Stuck at Home Too, and They’re Teaching You How to Cook With Free Online Tutorials

Food & DrinkMassimo Bottura has turned dinnertime into a nightly cooking class. Jamie Oliver is showing you how to make fresh pasta. And one of the world’s best bakeries is guiding you through a sourdough-starter crash course.

With This Aussie Book Subscription Service, You Never Need to Wonder What to Read Next

EntertainmentWellread mails the best new literature to your door, so you can read something other than the news while you’re self-isolating.

These Melbourne Bookstores Are Doing Free Local Delivery (Some Same-Day, for True Literary Emergencies)

Art & DesignFrom the Bellarine to Brunswick – by bike, scooter, car, mail, even on foot – local businesses are changing tack to keep us well-stocked in the book department.

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