Latest news with #TumbalongPark
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Supermodel Tyra Banks reveals why she moved to Australia as she launches upmarket ice cream store in Sydney
Tyra Banks has officially unveiled her dream project in Australia – launching her first-ever SMiZE & DREAM ice cream store in the heart of Sydney 's Darling Harbour. In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia, the American supermodel-turned-entrepreneur revealed she fell head over heels for the Harbour City after visiting regularly for over a year while producing ice cream for a cruise line account. 'I was coming for about a year and a half and just fell in love with it,' she said. 'And I said, should we make this move? And here we are.' The 51-year-old said Sydney's relaxed charm and community energy helped seal the decision to base her global business Down Under, with one spot standing out above all others. 'I love Darling Harbour because of this park. Tumbalong Park is magical,' she said, adding that even before her shop opened, she and her family would spend their weekends there. 'I have friends that live an hour and a half away and on the weekends they drive here just to go to the water and put their feet in with the kids.' 'There's a playground for older kids, one for younger kids, Darling Square nearby, the harbour – it just felt natural.' Tyra's passion for the brand is personal, down to the flavours themselves. When asked about her favourite scoop, she didn't hesitate. 'My favourite flavour is called Tyra's Favourite – very creative, isn't it?' she laughed. The flavour features salted sweet cream with butter-roasted pecans and a thick, savoury caramel butter swirl. 'It's not your traditional ice cream taste – it has this surprising, rich sensation in the mouth,' she said. She also teased a potential first celebrity collaboration, revealing a well-known Aussie star is already in talks. 'I have a very good friend – she's coming today – and we've been talking about doing a collab,' she revealed. 'She's very known here, so I'm touched that she wants to do something. I think she'll be the first, hopefully.' Beyond ice cream, the SMiZE & DREAM founder wants the business to stand for something bigger – encouraging others, especially women, to reinvent themselves no matter their age. 'It's never too late,' she said, when asked what advice she had for women starting over. 'But we have to know our stuff. Unfortunately, women – we have to be better. We have to be smarter. We have to know more.' Her message was firm and inspiring: 'Just go deep, study hard, walk into that room head held high. You're going to hear 'no's – but one day you're going to get that 'yes'. And you just have to be ready for it.' Previously speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the former America's Next Top Model host revealed that she has embraced the Aussie lifestyle fully – and says even her mother can't believe they live here now. 'Australia's not real to Americans,' she said. 'I know you guys, this is where you're from, but this is like fantasy land.' She's swapped designer boutiques for shopping sprees at Kmart and lazy weekends in the park. Previously speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the former America's Next Top Model host revealed that she has embraced the Aussie lifestyle fully – and says even her mother can't believe they live here now 'I went the other day and bought stuff for our kitchen,' she laughed. 'Kmart here is fancy! Where's the cheque? This is ridiculous—I just keep talking about it!' Tyra hasn't ruled out returning to television – and this time, it could be in Australia. 'I think I'm going to go back to do some TV,' she teased. 'I might even do stuff here – morning shows, hosting, something. When I do, it's going to feel like home.' She admitted that after years in front of the camera, it's being a businesswoman that's truly tested her. 'I used to think, 'Oh, I'm so stressed with all these TV shows,' she said. 'But that is nothing compared to being an entrepreneur. When I go back to TV, it'll actually feel relaxing!'
Time Out
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Vivid Sydney 2025: Everything you need to know about this year's sparkliest season
Summer is officially over, and here in Sydney, the event calendar of the cooler months is dominated by one word: Vivid. The multidisciplinary festival of lights, music, food and ideas will return to the Harbour City for 23 sparkly nights this winter, promising its most creative and boundary-pushing program to date. Reimagined for 2025, the festival will unfold across five immersive zones – Circular Quay and The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, The Goods Line and Inner City, and Martin Place and the CBD – with a massive 75 per cent of the events program (and the entire Light Walk) completely free. Whether you're travelling from overseas or interstate, or just a local keen to see what's new, we're here to guide you on the best things to see, places to stay and dining experiences to book at Vivid Sydney 2025. When is Vivid Sydney 2025? Vivid is set to illuminate Sydney across 23 dazzling nights from Wednesday, May 23 to Wednesday, June 14, 2025. What to see at Vivid Sydney 2025? In 2025, Vivid Sydney is bringing us a reimagined program of light, music, ideas and food – all centred around the open-ended theme, 'dream'. If you're only in town for one night, the impressive Vivid Light Walk is a must, guiding you past all the biggest and best light projections from Circular Quay to Barangaroo and Darling Harbour. The best part? The Light Walk will be free for everyone to enjoy this year, along with 75 per cent of the festival's events. Music lovers can look forward to free live concerts at Tumbalong Park, exclusive gigs at Sydney Opera House and interactive shows at Carriageworks, to name a few. Foodies are in for a treat with the return of the Vivid Fire Kitchen, fancy dinners with the fabulous Nigella Lawson, and feel-good feasts by Australia's top chefs at Refettorio OzHarvest. Meanwhile, big thinkers can engage in thought-provoking talks and panel discussions featuring the likes of D.W. Pine, the Creative Director of TIME Magazine, who will deliver the keynote 'Where Do Ideas Come From?' You can check out the full program here. When does Vivid start? The lights switch on at 6pm every night and turn off at 11pm. When is the Vivid drone show 2025? Due to safety concerns, the Vivid drone show will not go ahead in 2025. Additionally, popular ticketed experiences, like the Dark Spectrum light journey in the abandoned Wynyard Train tunnels and Lightscape at the Royal Botanic Garden will not be returning this year. How to get to Vivid Sydney? With road closures and limited parking in the city, the best way to explore Vivid Sydney is on foot. If you're not staying within walking distance of the CBD and Circular Quay, you can easily travel to your starting point by train, bus, metro, light rail or ferry. Extra trains and buses will run on weekends, making it even easier for you to get from point A to B. Where to stay for Vivid Sydney? If you're coming to town just for Vivid, you'll want to stay in the heart of the action. That means booking a hotel or Airbnb anywhere in The Rocks, Circular Quay, Sydney CBD, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, Walsh Bay or Pyrmont. For the absolute best views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, you can't go past the Park Hyatt Sydney. It's located right on the Vivid Light Walk, with rooms boasting unbeatable views of the bright city lights and Opera House. Other popular stays with harbour views include the Four Seasons Hotel, Shangri-La Sydney, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, W Sydney, Crown Sydney and Pier One Sydney Harbour. If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, the YHA Sydney Harbour rooftop offers stunning panoramic harbour views at a fraction of the price. Where to eat and drink during Vivid? The 'food' pillar of the Vivid program is one of the biggest drawcards. This year, Vivid Fire Kitchen will be complemented by a fun plant-based diner next to a pop-up rollerskate rink in Darling Harbour, a series of dinners with the fabulous Nigella Lawson, a series of feel-good feasts by Australia's top chefs at Refettorio OzHarvest and a precinct-wide celebration in the Hollywood Quarter (home to some of Sydney's best restaurants). Plus, every year, Sydney's top restaurants and bars impress with Vivid-inspired set menus, colourful desserts, illuminated cocktails and more. While most will unveil their creations closer to the festival, we recommend booking your dinner reservations early if you're only here for one night. For a truly special experience, The Dining Room by James Viles is putting on a spectacular dream-inspired, multi-course menu ($95), where you can dine with front-row views of Sydney Harbour. If you're after something more laid-back, head to the rooftop of The Glenmore Hotel for epic harbour views, Hotel Palisade for elevated pub fare, Belles Hot Chicken Barangaroo for a no-fuss feed, or anywhere in Chinatown here, and our guide to the best restaurants around Circular Quay here.
