Earlier this year Christopher Lloyd and Moby broke our hearts. Knowing full well that everyone in the world was pining for a functioning hoverboard by 2015 — the year that Marty McFly travelled to in Back to the Future II — they toyed with our emotions to make a viral hit for Funny or Die. But now, we might just have the real thing. Journalists have talked to the creators, they've ridden it, they've got videos to prove it. This is not a hoax. In the past 24 hours the internet has exploded with news of the Hendo Hoverboard. Currently funding on Kickstarter, this working prototype may not exactly look like the bright pink contraption Michael J. Fox rode in the film, but it is an incredible step in the right direction. Though still in development, this certified hoverboard can carry the weight of a person while levitating one inch off the ground. It does this with the help of magnets. As the board requires a magnetic field in order to function, it needs to be used over a metallic surface. The current design has been trialled on a specifically-designed copper skate ramp — an idea which the creators plan to build upon in the future with a full 'hoverpark'. Before you ask, no, it can't fly on water. To continue developing the product, the engineers at Hendo tech need to raise $250,000 from their Kickstarter campaign. The rewards for those who pledge include a small piece of levitating technology called 'The White Box', an extended ride on the real-life board, or for $10,000, your very own hoverboard. Though they are only expected to produce 10 hoverboards for this first Kickstarter run, they'll knowingly be releasing them around October 21, 2015. They should have no trouble funding the project; the campaign has only been online for 24 hours and has already reached half of its goal. But many critics are understandably jaded. Both Gizmodo and The New York Times are expressing serious dissatisfaction with the project, claiming the technology we're seeing is disappointingly far from its filmic inspiration. Yes, the board needs to be used over a metal surface. Yes, it has a terrible battery life and makes a truly awful amount of noise. But this is the nature of invention, right? Any step closer to this, can hardly be a bad thing. Check out the Kickstarter campaign for more information about the project.
After Christmas 2020 saw Australians explore their own backyards, 2021's festive season will welcome the return of a familiar end-of-year tradition. If your summer break usually involves venturing overseas, that'll be back on the cards again as the nation reopens to international travel from November. And if you're still eager to enjoy the sunny, beachy weather, you'll be able to head to Fiji. On Monday, October 11, Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama announced that the Pacific nation will reopen its borders to Australian tourists, with quarantine-free visits restarting from Thursday, November 11. Australia is on a list of travel partner countries — which also includes New Zealand, the US, the UK, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Qatar, Germany, Spain, France, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Japan, and most Pacific Island countries and territories — that are being prioritised by Fiji due to their widespread vaccination status. There will still be protocols in place, however, so that's something you'll need to factor into your plans if you can now see a tropical holiday in your future. Firstly, there'll be a no jab, no fly policy, so you'll have to be double vaccinated with the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson and Johnson vaccines. You'll also need to test negative to COVID-19 within three days of departure — and, you'll have to download the country's Care Fiji app to your phone when you arrive. After that, tourists will also need to spend their first two days in Fiji in their hotels. You'll be free to use the facilities and amenities, but you won't be able to mosey any further until you take another COVID-19 test 48 hours after arrival. Once that comes back negative, you'll then be able to visit spots deemed 'safe-travel areas'. While exactly where these regions will cover is still being worked out, the Fiji Prime Minister advised that "they will be large enough for tourists to enjoy the best of Fiji, but restrictive enough to protect areas with low vaccination coverage." The two-day hotel period is expected to relax as more Fijians become double vaccinated. In response to Fiji's announcement, Virgin Australia was quick to reveal that it'll restart its flights to Nadi from Thursday, December 16. It'll fly return from Sydney up to twice daily, return from Melbourne once a day and return from Brisbane three times a week — and, it's doing a sale on fares from $289 one-way. Virgin's Fiji flights will mark its first relaunched international routes, ahead of restarting its services from Australia to New Zealand and Bali sometime in 2022. For more information about Fiji's reopening plan, head to the Fiji Government's website. For further details about Virgin Australia's Fiji flight sale, head to the airline's website.
It's not every day that one of the world's best bars starts pouring tipples in Brisbane. It isn't every day that you can sip a cocktail out of a treasure chest, either. But both of those things are now a reality at Brisbane's Living Room Bar, which has just kicked off a boozy collaboration with Spain's Paradiso, one of the top watering holes on the planet. That world's-best label isn't just hype; on the World's 50 Best Bars list for 2022, the Barcelona spot came in first — yes, it's the best bar on the planet — after placing third on the same rundown in 2021 . The venue is acclaimed for its striking design (which obviously hasn't made the leap to Brissie) and its elaborate Universo menu (which absolutely has). Wondering what makes a cocktail menu so beloved that it's named one of the globe's standouts? Paradiso's Universo lineup goes big on theatrics; think: glowing green concoctions, tipples in smoky domes, dry ice, light, innovative glassware and one particular drink served in a treasure chest. Inspired by the cosmos — hence the menu's name — the Universo range of tipples is led by the Mediterranean Treasure, which goes both savoury and sour with its blend of elderflower, honey, citrus fruits, coriander oyster-leaf sherry. And yes, it's the drink that comes in its own box, with smoke wafting out when you open the chest. Also on the lineup: the Great Gatsby, Paradiso's take on the old-fashioned, which is served in a glass dome with a chocolate and vanilla tobacco cloud (and features Glendronach Port Wood, amaro, white truffle honey and lavender bitters). Or, there's The Big Bang , which blends spiced cane rum, guava liqueur, earl grey tea, pandan, beetroot, clarified lemon juice and almond milk, and is served on a platter of sweets that are meant to mimic the creation of the universe. Plus, The Cloud uses a bit of levitation, with its mix of Amor de Maguey mezcal, Herradura Añejo tequila, Amaro Montenegro, Mandenii La Tonique vermouth, hibiscus and birch syrup topped with an edible coffee cloud. As well as ten tipples from Paradiso, W Brisbane is also plating up Spanish-style tapas such as jamones ibericos with guindilla peppers and picos (Spanish breadsticks); duck pate with davidsons plum compote on rye; and flatbread with hummus, fried chorizo and shrimp. And, it's pairing the sips and bites to eat with live beats every Friday and Saturday night. Updated October 5.
UPDATE: June 11, 2020: The Hate U Give is available to stream via Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. It doesn't take long for The Hate U Give to serve up an unflinching slice of reality. "I was nine years old when I first got the talk," Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg) notes, and she's not referring to the birds and the bees. In a flashback, her family sits at their dining table. The topic of conversation: how to behave if they're stopped by the police. Starr's father Maverick (Russell Hornsby) is firm with his instructions, telling his three kids to do exactly what they're asked and to always keep their hands in plain sight. With his wife (Regina Hall) by his side, he specifically stresses the importance of remaining calm and polite, even if they're being harassed for no apparent cause. The reason for his stern warning is obvious — by virtue of their skin colour and nothing more, they could find themselves looking down the barrel of a weapon, praying that a cop doesn't pull the trigger. You've heard of Chekhov's gun, which explains that every element in a story must be strictly necessary. If a writer introduces a loaded firearm, for example, then bullets need to fly before the tale is over. The Hate U Give follows this principle, not only starting with a conversation about police shooting unarmed African-Americans, but using that exact turn of events to kick its narrative into gear. In this case, perhaps the concept should be called Tupac's tattoo, with the rapper's words giving the movie its title, philosophy and dramatic arc. The slain star's 'THUG LIFE' chest ink is almost as famous as his music, and its full meaning dictates and shapes this riveting picture: "the hate u give little infants fucks everybody". Hailing from a poor black neighbourhood but attending a well-off private school, 16-year-old Starr knows how difficult American life can be. She can't act like herself around her white classmates, who all sling ghetto slang to appear cool. And she can't bring her school persona home, or tell her ex-con dad about her white boyfriend (KJ Apa). Already caught in a constant juggling act, she's forced into a trickier predicament while driving back from a local party with her childhood crush Khalil (Algee Smith). A cop pulls them over, a single gunshot is fired, and Starr is suddenly the lone witness to her friend's tragic death. Adapted from Angie Thomas' best-selling 2017 novel and inspired by the real-life killings of several black men by US police, The Hate U Give could've approached its story from several positions. It could've kept things personal, following Starr's attempt to balance her conflicting worlds. It could've remained grim, emotional and focused solely on the central fatal shooting. Or, it could've teemed with fury by jumping headfirst into the legal aftermath. Combining all three and more, director George Tillman Jr (The Longest Ride) and screenwriter Audrey Wells (A Dog's Purpose) craft a textured and intelligent movie, which might seem surprising given their last filmmaking credits. Cutting both deeply and sharply, The Hate U Give fleshes out its thorny narrative by embracing the complications of its subject matter. It's never constrained by its YA origins and, if anything, feels more honest, earnest and overt with its statement precisely because it's aimed at teenagers. Succeeding where other message movies have struggled, the end product offers an engaging, impassioned and detailed insight into America today. Here, nothing is simple. In fact, there's nothing straightforward about any aspect of Starr's existence. How could there be when a victim's criminal past attracts more scrutiny than a murderer's actions, when the #BlackLivesMatter movement sparks violent protests among some and becomes a trendy cause for others, and when gang activity fools the desperate into believing they've scored a better life? Examining a society happy to oppress part of the population, and dissecting the punishing cycle that springs when hostility thrives, The Hate U Give's shades of grey extend to the people in Starr's orbit, too. Her best friend (Sabrina Carpenter) can't see her white privilege, but her black cop uncle (Common) knows how the job can go awry. An activist lawyer (Issa Rae) urges Starr to speak up regardless of the cost, while a local drug dealer (Anthony Mackie) violently tries to reinforce the status quo. In a perceptive and powerful film comprised of layered components — difficult topics, diverging viewpoints, different angles and diverse tones — the most multifaceted element of all comes courtesy of its star. She might have just seven movies on her resume to date, including The Hunger Games and The Darkest Minds, however Stenberg shines as brightly and fiercely as her character's moniker. Demanding the camera's gaze and rightly adored by the movie's clear-eyed frames, her performance couldn't better capture the everyday toll of these racially divided times. When generation after generation only knows distrust, anger and prejudice, the world proves devastatingly vulnerable, overwhelmingly fractured and unwaveringly determined all at once. Stenberg makes this plain as much as any twist in The Hate U Give, and does so with both heartbreak and hope. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTKo2SVDwxw
One of the great things about Christmas is getting your family and friends to help you out with your homewares and furniture wishlist. Got your eye on a new lamp but spent your own pennies on festive shenanigans? Need some new linen, chairs or glassware, but not enough to bust your budget? Too busy splashing cash on gifts for everyone else to worry about your own broken shelves? Cue the handy answer to your mum's annual "what do you want for Christmas?" question — and cue IKEA's new way to assist, too. 'Tis the season for the Swedish retailer to launch its IKEA Gift Registry in Australia, capitalising upon all the present-buying — and just general browsing — that everyone's doing in December. This is a year-round offering, however, letting you set up a registry filled with all the IKEA products your house really needs, ready to send to whoever's doing the purchasing. Use it for Christmas or birthdays, the choice is yours. The registry will also come in handy for couples about to get hitched, and is bound to be super popular for housewarmings. Whichever fits, it operates in the same way — and it's also designed to help making gift-shopping even quicker. You'll need an IKEA Family account to create a registry, then it's a simple matter of adding whatever your heart and home desire, sharing it when your loved ones and waiting till the relevant big occasion. The gift registry updates in real time, too, so everyone can see what's already taken — avoiding double ups. IKEA has launched the registry alongside app-based checkout, a self-service feature that lets you scan what you're buying as you're browsing its ten Aussie stores. Once you've wandered the aisles, you can then just scan the QR code at the dedicated mobile checkouts, without needing to go through your trolley or bag again (or even unpack them). That leaves more time for eating Swedish meatballs, obviously. The last 12 months has seen IKEA add a range of new services in Australia, helping you fill your house with its wares. Also on the list: an online marketplace for discontinued, ex-display and pre-loved products, plan and order point concept stores outside its usual warehouse setup and sustainable living-focused shops. For more information about the IKEA Gift Registry, head to the chain's website.
Soon, in North Sydney, smokers mightn't just have to stub out their cigarettes in public areas — rather, puffing away in the entire central business district could be banned. At a meeting this week, the North Sydney Council moved to create a smoke-free CBD, prohibiting smoking in all public spaces within the North Sydney local government area. The motion received the unanimous support of attending councillors, with determining community support listed as the next step in the meeting minutes. North Sydney, Sydney's second largest CBD, already boasts a number of smoke-free zones at Brett Whiteley Place and Elizabeth Plaza. Both are self-regulated, which is how the council proposes that the new CBD-wide ban would work — and with participating restaurants, bars and cafes placing council-produced and -providers stickers in their windows to help raise awareness. "Council's creation of self-regulated, no smoking zones has been well received by the community and I believe a push to expand this policy would be widely welcomed," North Sydney Mayor Jilly Gibson states in the minutes. The mayor advised the ABC that fines won't be issued for those who flout the ban — and if locals supported the smoke-free plan, it could be in place by Christmas or early 2019. And, Gibson told the Sydney Morning Herald, the eventual aim is to make the entirety of North Sydney's shared public spaces smoke-free, including streets, plazas, parks and outdoor seating. Throughout New South Wales more broadly, smoking in enclosed areas of licensed premises has been illegal since 2007, while lighting up in outdoor spaces such as public transport stops and stations, the entrances to public buildings, around children's playgrounds and near spectators at sporting facilities has been banned since 2012. In 2015, the state prohibited smoking in outdoor dining areas as well, including on on footpaths outside licensed cafes and pubs. And, since September 2016, Pitt Street Mall Place in the Sydney CBD has been smoke-free. Queensland outlawed smoking in outdoor dining areas in 2006, while Victoria followed suit in 2017. And both Brisbane and Melbourne have designated smoke-free areas in their CBDs — either through state-wide restrictions on smoking in outdoor pedestrian malls, or through specific smoke-free sites. Hobart also has a number of designated smoke-free sites.
Each year Splendour in the Grass ups the ante. Combining the best in international and local acts, the music festival caters for all music tastes making it as inclusive as it is entertaining. Set at the picturesque Woodfordia site in Queensland, carloads of people from across the east coast plough up the highway, arriving at their destination to camp for the better part of the week in isolated companionship. But if you missed out on tickets never fear, Splendour sideshows have promised the best of the festival making its way to capital cities around Australia. Sporting some of the most illustrious names in today's music, the announcement of Sydney sideshows includes heroes of 90s Britpop Pulp, LA electo-pop lords Foster The People, post-dubstep poster boy James Blake, London indie kids The Vaccines, Swedish maestros The Hives and Bloc Party's Kele. Keep an eye out for more annoucements but in the meantime tickets for these excellent show go on sale this Friday, May 27. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MVgEaDemxjc
In the beginning there was Coca Cola, followed quickly by Pepsi. Diet Coke begat Pepsi Max. Pepsi fired a Gatorade salvo only to be hit back with Coke's answer, Powerade. Coke launched Sprite, Pepsi quickly responded with 7 Up. The product war has waged for over a hundred years and doesn't look like stopping any time soon, with both companies now aiming to create communities around their products whilst using the help of celebrity endorsement, collaboration and technology. At a recent trade fair, Pepsi unveiled its newest invention: the social vending machine. These touch screen incarnations don't just allow you to buy a drink for yourself now you can "gift" a Pepsi to a friend (who receives a code via text which allows redemption of product). You can also opt for what is by far the most philanthropic option: the Random Act of Refreshment. This will purchase a drink for a "complete stranger in a different city". It seems to be a natural progression for PepsiCo, who are rebranding themselves as more charitable and approachable than their competitors. Their latest PR campaign saw the introduction of the Pepsi Refresh Project grants, with Pepsi giving out millions of dollars in grants each month to ideas-based community projects across the United States. Coca Cola, the number one drink in the world, is continuing along a similar tack. Coke are trying to make the purchase of their beverage an experience to create a community as the cornerstone of the brand's latest efforts. The Perfect Harmony campaign teams up R&B artist Taio Cruz and American Idol, allowing Coke customers the chance to to write a verse for his next song and see it performed on national television. However, Diet Coke is opting for a different and more exclusive image. For the second year in a row the brand's bottles are being designed by fashion dynamo Karl Lagerfeld. The Chanel creative director, who famously lost 42 kg with the aid of the drink, says he's happy to work with Diet Coke because he's "a fan". Seems Coke is trying to use its industry weight to pull celebrity endorsements, not just for advertisements but for collaboration, attempting to best Pepsi which is better known for its celebrity endorsements (Michael Jackson, the Spice Girls and David Beckham to name a few).
Among the many ideas that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has conjured up, and the array of casting choices that've been involved as well, tasking Pedro Pascal (Materialists), Vanessa Kirby (Napoleon), Joseph Quinn (Gladiator II) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear) with suiting up in a Fantastic Four movie sounds particularly, well, fantastic. Audiences have had more than a year to soak in their excitement, but now discovering how this lineup of actors fares in The Fantastic Four: First Steps is almost upon us — and, as the film's July 2025 release date approaches, Marvel has unveiled a new trailer. Here's your latest look at Pascal, Kirby and company's battle against Galactus (Ralph Ineson, Nosferatu) — and at the space god's herald, aka the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner, Wolf Man), bringing ominous tidings. This is your newest sneak peek at Mister Fantastic, The Invisible Woman, The Thing and The Human Torch's beginnings in the 1960s, too, as alarms keep going off figuratively and literally. In a massive year for Pascal on the big screen — Down Under, first came Materialists, then arrives First Steps, then Ari Aster's (Beau Is Afraid) Eddington, all in a three-month span — The Last of Us star is getting stretchy as Reed Richards. Kirby is bending light as one of the Storm siblings, Sue; Quinn is proving fiery as Johnny, her brother; and Moss-Bachrach is no one's cousin here, but huge, rocky and super strong as Ben Grimm instead. The latter also knows what everyone wants him to say in the new trailer, but isn't eager to oblige. This is the third glimpse at The Fantastic Four: First Steps — and family dinners, big life changes, the worries that come with that, facing stresses together and world-threatening foes all keep popping up. WandaVision, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and Succession's Matt Shakman directs, with Paul Walter Hauser (Cobra Kai), John Malkovich (Ripley), Natasha Lyonne (Poker Face) and Sarah Niles (F1) co-starring. And yes, Pascal, Kirby, Quinn and Moss-Bachrach's characters have hit cinemas before. Before there was a MCU, there were Fantastic Four movies. The first two to earn a big-screen release arrived in 2005 and 2007, with the latter hitting the year before Iron Man kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As Deadpool and Wolverine did 2024's Deadpool and Wolverine, the Stan Lee- and Jack Kirby-created superhero quartet now join the list of characters who are being brought into the MCU fold, as has been on the cards ever since Disney bought 20th Century Fox. Pascal and company are taking over from two batches of past film takes on the superhero team. In the 2005 and 2007 flicks, Ioan Gruffudd (Bad Boys: Ride or Die), Jessica Alba (Trigger Warning), a pre-Captain America Chris Evans (Materialists) and Michael Chiklis (Accused) starred. Then, in 2015, Chronicle filmmaker Josh Trank gave the group a spin — still outside of the MCU — with Miles Teller (Top Gun: Maverick), Kate Mara (Friendship), a pre-Black Panther Michael B Jordan (Sinners) and Jamie Bell (All of Us Strangers). Check out the final trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps below: The Fantastic Four: First Steps releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Images: courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and 2025 MARVEL.
More things in life should remind the world about Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, 2021's wonderfully goofy (and just wonderful) Florida-set comedy starring Kristen Wiig (MacGruber) and Annie Mumolo (Barbie), plus Jamie Dornan (The Tourist) singing to seagulls. The also Wiig-led Palm Royale is one such prompt. Thankfully, watching Apple TV+'s new page-to-screen dramedy doesn't cause audiences to wish that they were just viewing Barb and Star, though. The two share the same US state as a locale, too, alongside bright colour schemes, a bouncy pace and a willingness to get silly, especially with sea life, but Palm Royale — which streams its first season from Wednesday, March 20 — engages all on its own. Adapting Juliet McDaniel's Mr & Mrs American Pie for the small screen, this 60s-set effort also knows how to make gleaming use of its best asset: Saturday Night Live, Bridesmaids and Ghostbusters alum Wiig. In its ten-episode first season, the show's storyline centres on Maxine Simmons. A former beauty-pageant queen out of Chattanooga, Tennessee, she thinks nothing of scaling the wall to the titular country club, then breezing about like she's meant to be there — sipping grasshoppers and endeavouring to eavesdrop her way into a social-climbing friendship with Palm Beach's high-society set — and Wiig sells every second of the character's twist-filled journey. Even better: she heartily and entertainingly conveys the everywoman aspects of someone who has yearning for a better life as her main motivation, and isn't willing to settle for anything less than she thinks that she deserves, even in hardly relatable circumstances. There's no doubting that Maxine is both an underdog and an outsider in the milieu that she so frenziedly covets. When she's not swanning around poolside, idolising self-appointed bigwig Evelyn Rollins (Allison Janney, The Creator) and ambassador's wife Dinah Donahue (Leslie Bibb, About My Father) among the regulars — their clique spans widow Mary Jones Davidsoul (Julia Duffy, Christmas with the Campbells) and mobster spouse Raquel Kimberly-Maco (Claudia Ferri, Arlette) — and ordering her cocktail of choice from bartender Robert (Ricky Martin, American Crime Story), she's staying in a far-from-glamorous motel. Funding for her quest to fit in with the rich and gossip-column famous comes via pawning jewellery owned by her pilot husband Douglas'(Josh Lucas, Yellowstone) comatose aunt Norma Dellacorte (Carol Burnett, Better Call Saul), the plastics and mouthwash heiress who ruled the scene until suffering an embolism. To say that Maxine has pluck is an understatement. To say that Palm Royale takes her lead is as well. Glossily made, and also supremely stylish in its gem- and pastel-hued costuming and production design — Maxine borrows from Norma's wardrobe, too; caftans, not culottes, are a favourite among the crowd she's clamouring to join — the series bounds along with wit, verve, humour and an eagerness to unpack as much as satirise. Creator Abe Sylvia (George & Tammy, Dead to Me, Filthy Rich), who also co-directs and co-writes, knows how ridiculous that lives revolving around superficial popularity, lavishness and being seen to host the best galas can seem — and how divorced from almost everyone's reality, whether or not you consider Evelyn and Dinah's existence aspirational as Maxine does — while devotedly ensuring that none of Palm Royale's key characters are as flimsy as their materialism-driven concept of happiness. Wiig sings Peggy Lee's 'Is That All There Is?' in her leading part — it released in 1969, the specific year when Palm Royale takes place — but the show itself doesn't inspire the same question. There's always more bubbling up in the series, which also finds a sweet spot in both Desperate Housewives and The Stepford Wives territory. Affairs, betrayal, secrets, blackmail, criminal antics and fraud flow as frequently as martinis and quaaludes, as do subterfuge, ulterior motives, big reveals and attempted murders. Patently, all that glitters for its characters doesn't equate to the gold that is blissful and carefree days. Palm Royale's aesthetics shimmer and shine, but the vision of the American dream that Maxine, Evelyn, Dinah and company are chasing is anything but flawless. A comedy, a skewering, a drama, a soap: this self-aware series isn't ever content saying "that's all there is" to any of them. Simply shaking together all of the above into a fun and chic blend doesn't satisfy Sylvia, either. Diving Mad Men-level deep may not be Palm Royale's aim, but there's weight to its time beyond the well-to-do in Nixon's America. The inclusion of Linda Shaw (Laura Dern, The Son), who runs a feminist bookstore in West Palm Beach with her friend Virginia (Amber Chardae Robinson, Loot) — and a collective that's actively protesting the Vietnam War — makes certain that the politics of the time are never ignored, for instance, nor the fact that doggedly pursuing the cashed-up fantasy life is not everyone's wish. Ambition isn't lacking for Maxine or for the show, then — or when it comes to making the most of such a starry cast. Surrounding Wiig, Janney and Bibb are each a treasure as frenemies with equally delicious lines, and as women who appear to uphold the rich idyll yet typify how money can't buy everything. Dern, who also executive produces as Wiig does, invests sincerity and earthiness; her moments with her IRL father Bruce Dern (Old Dads), playing dad and daughter, are a particular highlight. While being bedridden is her lot to begin with, no one casts comedy legend Burnett just to keep her character unconscious. And if there's a breakout surprise among the performances, it's from Martin, who inhabits Robert, a fellow interloper alongside Maxine, with soul and thoughtfulness as he weathers Palm Beach's la vida loca. It might seem erratic, seesawing between Big Little Lies-esque intrigue and dramas among the affluent, or pretending to be, and letting Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar-style absurdity kick in — and also bringing the far darker Ingrid Goes West, aka Maxine's plight if it was the 2010s instead, to mind. Indeed, it's no minor feat that Palm Royale's mix hit the mark. That said, the precarious feeling that tints Maxine's life and dreams is shared by the series, because there's no shortage of ways that this could've crumpled. Going all in while striving for glory may prove chaotic for its protagonist, but it works a treat for the show that she's in. Check out the trailer for Palm Royale below: Palm Royale streams via Apple TV+ from Wednesday, March 20.
All killer, no filler: when it comes to HBO comedy Barry, that firmly applies. The premise is pure TV gold, following an assassin who'd rather be an actor, but finds it hard to cut ties with his murderous gig. Making it even better across two seasons now, with a third set to drop in April: the pitch-perfect casting of former Saturday Night Live great Bill Hader as the eponymous hitman. Here's the setup: when Hader's Barry Berkman heads from Cleveland to Los Angeles for his job, he discovers a previously unknown passion for acting after he stumbles into a class held by veteran thespian Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler, The French Dispatch). The catch? Barry kills people for money, and that isn't a line of work that you can leave easily, especially when you become caught in the Chechen mafia's violent and deadly dramas. As SNL fans will already know, Hader is an on-screen treasure, but he's never been better than he is in this part-comedy, part-tragedy series. Barry's struggle mightn't seem that relatable on paper, but it proves exactly that with Hader in the role. Also excellent is Winkler, expectedly. And, similarly great is Bill & Ted Face the Music's Anthony Carrigan as Chechen gangster Noho Hank — who befriends Barry, isn't that skilled at the whole crime business and quickly becomes one of the most memorable characters to ever grace a TV series. It's no wonder that fans have been hanging out for the third season of this Emmy-winner, which finally arrives in April — on Monday, April 25 in Australia via Binge, in fact — after a three-year gap since season two. Based on the just-dropped first teaser trailer, Barry's quest to go on the straight and narrow — and pursue acting — is still as chaotic as ever. In fact, this season will focus on the other factors, including his own psyche, that saw Barry become a killer to begin with. Another big part of the new episodes, according to HBO: fellow characters trying to make the right choices. Also returning are Stephen Root (The Tragedy of Macbeth) as Barry's former handler Monroe, who is in hiding; Sarah Goldberg (The Night House) as Barry's girlfriend Sarah, who is also an actor; D'Arcy Carden (The Good Place) as a fellow acting student; and Sarah Burns (Werewolves Within) as Detective Mae Dunn. And Hader isn't just phenomenally excellent on-screen in Barry — he also co-created it, has directed a heap of episodes, and also co-wrote others. Check out the first teaser trailer for Barry season three below: Barry's third season will start streaming via Binge in Australia from Monday, April 25. In NZ, look out for the new season via Neon. Top image: Merrick Morton/HBO.
If you're the kind of person who can't stop moving up in the world — taking every opportunity to see whichever city you're in from towering heights, that is — then you'll understand why one Brisbane hospitality crew keeps being drawn to rooftop bars. Earlier in 2022, Icatha Hospitality's Ross Ledingham launched Lina Rooftop, which soars over South Brisbane. Now, with Evita's ex-head chef David Hernandez, he's about to add Soko Rooftop to the Fortitude Valley skyline. Set to welcome in patrons from November this year, Soko will sit on the 14th floor of Jubilee Place, which towers over St Paul's Terrace. If you've been in the area lately, you won't have missed the new building, which sits above the Jubilee Hotel. Perched on its top level, Soko will offer scenic views over the city to 500 patrons — and a mix of Peruvian and Japanese drinks and bites to eat. While the full menu hasn't been revealed as yet, ceviche, traditional lomito al jugo, yakitori and sashimi will all be on offer. So will grade nine wagyu served with yuzu kosho, which'll be created by the venue's specialist chefs on each counter. Drinks-wise, wine and sake will feature heavily, and the cocktail menu will include more than 40 flavours of pisco sours — including using sake and yuzu. Soko will take inspiration for its decor from South America, too, complete with an Amazon-inspired irrigated ceiling that'll be filled with greenery. And, while you're eating and drinking, you'll be listening to Latin music, and watching Latin dancers and bongo players, with the venue's live entertainment set to be as big of a drawcard as the obviously impressive vistas. Find Soko Rooftop on the 14th floor at Jubilee Place, 470 St Paul's Terrace, Fortitude Valley from early November — open 11am–3pm Monday–Friday for lunch, 5pm–late Wednesday–Friday for dinner, and 12pm–late on weekends. We'll update you with an exact launch date when one is announced.
By now, the fact that any new season will likely be hotter than average in Australia should hardly come as a surprise. It's a recurrent trend, especially in autumn and winter, when things are supposed to cool down. And, now that summer is behind us for 2021, this year is staying true to form. According to the Bureau of Meteorology's climate outlook for the March to May period, much of the country is in for both warm weather and wet conditions over the coming months. If you live in Australia's north, Tasmania, southern Victoria or along the west coast of Western Australia, expect toastier autumn days this year, with a more than 60-percent chance that'll be the case. Nights are also expected to be warmer over the same period, hitting an 80-percent likelihood in the northern tropics, eastern Queensland, southern Victoria and Tasmania. For folks in New South Wales, you could buck the trend. BOM is currently forecasting cooler than average autumn days for parts of the state, with a 60-percent probability. But, overall, even when Australia gets down to its minimum temperatures between March and May, they're expected to be higher than average across most of the country (other that parts of southern WA and western and central South Australia). To give an idea of exactly what that all means, the average daily maximum temperature for March sits at around 23.9 degrees in Melbourne, 24.8 in Sydney and 28 in Brisbane. In May, it's around 16.7 degrees for Melbourne, with 19.5 for Sydney and 23.2 for Brisbane. BOM is forecasting that in all three cities we'll see warmer temperatures than that across the three months — and in Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin as well — although some rises might be minimal. In good news for farmers, much of the nation's east looks set for more rain, too. That's predicted to be the case in most of NSW, southern and eastern Queensland, Arnhem Land in the NT, eastern SA and eastern Tasmania — although, the higher probability of that happening (over 70 percent) is largely concentrated to small parts of southern Queensland and northeast NSW). In WA, the rest of the NT, Victoria, and the western parts of Queensland, SA and Tasmania, there's no indication that it'll be much wetter or drier than normal. Autumn's predicted wetter and warmer conditions across parts of the country follow Australia's rainiest summer for four years, BOM announced, topping figures since 2016–17 everywhere except greater southeastern Queensland (from the NSW border up to the Capricornia region). To finish off 2020, the country actually experienced its third wettest December since national records began in 1900; however, the nation's summer temperatures also look set to be our lowest since 2011–2012, only reaching above average in parts of Queensland and WA's west coast. If you're wondering why rain has been such a feature lately, BOM attributes it to La Niña, but notes that it is starting to subside. Bureau climatologist Dr Naomi Benger says that "the tropical Pacific Ocean is forecast to return to neutral conditions (neither El Niño nor La Niña) during autumn, consistent with the typical lifecycle of La Niña events. However, it is not uncommon for the effects of La Niña to still be felt as the event declines. That means an increased chance of above average rainfall, particularly for eastern regions". For more information about forecast weather conditions between March–May 2021, head to the Bureau of Meteorology's climate outlook.
If there's one thing that the Queensland Government has enjoyed throughout the pandemic, it's easing the state's COVID-19 rules just before the weekend hits. And at 4pm today, Friday, August 27, that's exactly what'll happen again — with all of Queensland set to be under the same restrictions for the first time in some time, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced. Over the past few months, southeast Queensland has weathered quite the rollercoaster ride when it comes to COVID-19 requirements. The area has been through two separate lockdowns, and seen strict rules put in place after each stay-at-home stint, with requirements tightening and easing multiple times. But, this weekend, the region will revert back to some of the most relaxed rules it's had for more than a month. You always know things are getting loose when dancing is allowed again, after all. The state is rolling back its current restrictions regarding gatherings, venues and making shapes — so great ready for bigger parties, more folks hanging out in the great outdoors, and busier bars, cafes, restaurants and venues. The changes come one week after the last set of eased restrictions came in, and yes, things really have been changing quite quickly of late. BREAKING: More mates can gather at the pub with restrictions set to ease from 4pm in the 11 South East Queensland LGAs of Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim. #covid19 pic.twitter.com/s7inUak5tw — Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) August 27, 2021 Wondering what you'll be able to do? There'll no longer be any limits on how many people can gather outdoors in public spaces— and at home, the 100-person cap is back. Another big shift that's hitting at the same time: amending the rules for indoor premises, with a one person per two-square-metres capacity cap coming into effect. That'll apply to hospitality businesses such as clubs, pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants, as well as to galleries, museums, convention centres and places of worship. If these types of venues are ticketed and have allocated seating, they can fill those areas to 100 percent, too, as can cinemas, theatres and live music venues. And, dancing is coming back as well, after another month or of Queensland resembling Footloose. Also, you can eat and drink standing up again — hello, vertical consumption — so there's something else to say cheers to. Stadiums are back to 100-percent capacity for ticketed events with allocated seating, just in time for football finals across various codes. Indoor events can also either fill to 100-percent if seated and ticketed, or stick to the one person per two-square-metres rule if not. BREAKING: Restrictions are easing in Queensland from 4pm. Here's what you need to know about the latest roadmap 👇 pic.twitter.com/DCbQ9Ykp2d — Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) August 27, 2021 Masks are staying for now, however. Queensland has a standing mask mandate for flights, airports and stadiums, so you'll always need to mask up there — and, for the next fortnight at least, they're mandatory on public transport, in ride shares and while waiting for both; in all indoor spaces other than your own home, including hospitality businesses, unless you're eating and/or drinking; in schools; and outdoors if you can't remain 1.5 metres away from people who aren't part of your household. Also, you will still need to always carry a mask with you. In general, Queenslanders are asked to keep social distancing, maintaining the hygiene practices that have been in place since March 2020, and checking the state's list of exposure sites — and to get tested if you're feeling even the slightest possible COVID-19 symptoms. The Premier advised that Queensland's restrictions will be reviewed fortnightly from this point onwards, if you're wondering when the rules could relax again. Queensland's COVID-19 restrictions will relax further from 4pm on Friday, August 27. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. Image: Retro's.
It is said that the Lord Krishna opened his mouth and revealed the entire universe inside. Want to wear the entire solar system on your wrist, orbiting in real time? Try the Midnight Planetarium, which may well be the most beautiful watch ever made. Leading watchmakers went head to head at a private trade fair in Geneva, showing off their latest designs and being incredibly punctual. All manner of elegant and unusual timepieces debut at this convention, putting your plastic Swatches and iPhone clocks to shame. At the 2014 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, Van Cleff & Arpels unveiled a watch like no other, a watch so original, finely crafted and whimsical that its US$245,000 price tag almost seems reasonable: the exquisitely named Complication Poetique Midnight Planetarium. So what's the deal with this thing? How do you even read the time? The watchface contains tiny globes representing the planets visible from earth, from Mr. Sun to Saturn. Made of precious and semi-precious gemstones like red jasper, blue agate, turquoise, serpentine and more, our celestial neighbours are encased on their orbit inside an 18 carat rose gold mount, with a black alligator strap to hold your personal planetarium in place. They rotate on a glittering starscape, accurately mimicking the movement of the planets IRL — yes, that means the Mercury gem will rotate fully in three months, and Saturn? Twenty-nine and a half years. Such a meticulous and gradual rate of motion is truly a feat of fine engineering. The process of painstakingly assembling the 396 components must have required nothing less than a Pacific Ocean of Red Bull. As for clocking regular Earth hours, a tiny shooting star along the outer rim of the watchface indicates the hour. There's also a cute bonus in the form of a whimsical 'Lucky Star' which you can set to appear over the Earth on an appointed day, casting luck on all your doings. The Midnight Planetarium is one of a series of Complication Poetique watches which explore time in its poetic as well as literal dimensions. They're all worth checking out here. As for our little stargazer, watch the video below for more angles on this artistic marvel.
Couldn't make it to Australian Fashion Week this year? Keen to see one of the event's standout shows? Eager to celebrate and support First Nations talent wherever you can, including in the sartorial sphere? Then First Nations Fashion: Walking in Two Worlds is your must-attend part of Brisbane Festival 2021. As overseen by multicultural Australian artist Grace Lillian Lee, this runway show highlights contemporary garments and textiles by First Nations designers — giving Indigenous fashion and design a stunning showcase, complete with talent from across the nation, 20 local models, and live music from hip hop artist Kaylah Truth. Dance and film are also part of the event, although you'll be dazzled by the outfits on display, naturally. Brisbane Festival is hosting two sessions on Sunday, September 5, so you can either end your weekend with an afternoon stint of First Nations fashion at 4pm, or make a night of it at 7.30pm. Images: Stefan Gosatti/Getty Images
Florian Rivière, an 'urban hackivist', wants to inject a little fun into the urban mundane. Whether the 'fun' involves a spontaneous game of soccer or a curbside beer depends on whichever of Rivière's masterpieces you stumble across. His installations, or interventions if you will, convert the material of Strasbourg, France into a humourous spattering of playthings. Benches become recliners, a meter-maid becomes a bottle-opener, and an ironing board is stationed as a diving board. By cheekily altering the everyday objects one may pass on the street everyday, Riviere transforms the city into a giant jungle gym. [via Architizer]
Oliver Show's 'Street Furniture' has been taking over the streets of Hamburg, Germany, creating utilitarian yet comfortable seating out of existing city structures. By wrapping and securing flexible drainage pipes around the downtown infrastructure, Show hopes to reclaim the city for the public. Not necessarily designed for aesthetic pleasure, Show's pieces gather their charm from their intentionally simple, low-maintenance design. “The interventionist and experimental approach to me is more important than the quest for a ‘perfect’ product,” says Show, who has earned a design award from the HFBK Leinemann Foundation for Education and the Arts for 'Street Furniture'. Each installation is ingeniously resourceful: low-cost and weather-resistant. They are all entirely user-friendly as well. Suddenly, a bridge is an armchair, and a bike rack is a sofa, each beckoning to Hamburg residents, urging them to sit down and stay a while. [via Architizer]
Imagine flying to a mysterious and remote spot in the middle of the ocean, and not only enjoying the incredibly scenic surroundings, but also getting to live out your wildest dreams. From the late 70s until the mid 80s, that was the premise of TV series Fantasy Island — and while the fantasies came with a price, the show definitely didn't fall into the horror genre. Thanks to prolific producer Jason Blum, now that premise comes with bumps, jumps, thrills and scares. Already remade for television in the late 90s, Fantasy Island is getting another do-over — for the big screen, and as a horror movie. The setup is the same, with folks zipping into an idyllic locale ready to live out their fantasy of choice. The cost, though, now lingers firmly in nightmarish territory. Yes, it's basically a case of turning everyone's mum's advice — "be careful what you wish for" — into a scary movie set in luxurious surroundings. And, yes, it jumps on the eerie island trend that Netflix series The I-Land also leaned into a few months back. The original series was famous for the character of Mr. Roarke (Ricardo Montalban), who was in charge of making guests's dreams come true — as well as his diminutive assistant Tattoo (Hervé Villechaize). Based on the just-released trailer for the remake, it seems that only Roarke has made the leap to the movie. Here, he's played by Michael Peña (Ant-Man and the Wasp). Cast-wise, Fantasy Island circa 2020 also features Maggie Q (Designated Survivor), Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars), Austin Stowell (12 Strong), Portia Doubleday (Mr Robot), Jimmy O. Yang (Crazy Rich Asians), Ryan Hansen (Veronica Mars) and Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2) — and behind the camera, Jeff Wadlow (Kick-Ass 2) is in the director's chair. The filmmaker has played in high-concept horror territory before with 2018's Truth or Dare, although that didn't turn out so well. If you're a fan of unsettling flicks with a clear-cut gimmick, cross your fingers that history doesn't repeat itself. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QVk_lcMyx4&feature=youtu.be Fantasy Island releases in Australian cinemas on February 13, 2020.
Feeling a lust for life, literature fans of Brisbane? If you're not already, you might be when this year's Brisbane Writers Festival rolls around. No stranger to visiting the River City for this book-loving fest, Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh headlines BWF's 2023 lineup. He has a new release, The Long Knives, to talk about; however, given that this year marks a whopping three decades since his Scotland-set debut novel hit shelves, the book that then sparked a Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi)-starring cult-hit movie is also getting its own anniversary session. BWF has plenty more in its catalogue, too, when it unleashes its annual celebration of words and the tales they help tell from Wednesday, May 10–Sunday, May 14 at various venues around Brisbane — and at 150-plus live literary events. The first festival under new Artistic Director Jackie Ryan, this feast for bookworms and literature lovers also spans Booker Prize-winner Shehan Karunatilaka, who emerged victorious in 2022 for The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida. Plus, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow's Gabrielle Zevin will be on hand to explore the New York Times bestseller. [caption id="attachment_895237" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bianca Holderness[/caption] Among local names, Stan Grant, Grace Tame, Tim Winton and Kate Morton all feature. Grant has new tome The Queen Is Dead to chat about, Tame will dive into her memoir The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner, Winton's TV series Love Letter to Ningaloo is in the spotlight and The Shifting Fog's Morton will explore her latest, Homecoming. Other highlights from the full lineup span First Nations authors such as Lionel Fogarty, Brooke Blurton, Alexis Wright and Lystra Rose — and a big focus on South Korean authors including Bora Chung, Park Sang Young, Krys Lee and Kim Min Jeong. [caption id="attachment_893385" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Grace Tame by Kishka Jensen[/caption] In a deeply Brisbane inclusion, Regurgitator's Ben Ely also has a 30th anniversary to reflect upon — because that's how long it has been since the Brissie band got together, which he'll dive into with writers Tony Wellington and Andrew Stafford. Elsewhere on the bill, the Blockbuster Crime panel will see Welsh team up with crime-fiction names Tracey Lien, Candice Fox and Garry Disher; Boy Swallows Universe's Trent Dalton will turn his attention to romances; Nat's What I Reckon has a session about being a YouTube hit; and the Literary Death Match, aka a writers' battle royale, returns. [caption id="attachment_895239" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josef Ruckli[/caption] Sessions on democracy, YA, refugee and migrant stories, whodunnits, zines, making the leap from the page to screen, rom-coms, heroes and villains, poetry, Australian gothic, sporting books — they're all on the roster as well, in what's set to be a dazzling five days for word nerds no matter what kind of text you like to devour. [caption id="attachment_895240" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Morgan Roberts[/caption] The 2023 Brisbane Writers Festival runs from Wednesday, May 10–Sunday, May 14. To check out the full program and purchase tickets, check out the festival's website. Images: Bianca Holderness, Josef Ruckli and Morgan Roberts.
For more than a decade, Brisbanites have flocked to South Bank for Regional Flavours, the inner city precinct's signature food and wine festival. To the delight of hungry stomachs across town, the popular event is returning in 2021 — and, while hosting one big food fest is all well and good, this year three separate weekend-long festivals are on the agenda. So, if you haven't made it along in the past, you'll have multiple chances in multiple months to rectify that situation this year. Local providers will be in focus between June 18–20, feasting through international dishes is on the bill from August 20–22, and pairing wine, cheese and chocolate is in the spotlight across October 15–17. The first event, called Grazed and Grown, is all about Australian makers and chefs — and the Aussie landscape. You'll be able to shop through a range of wares from local producers and artisans, with everything on offer hailing from 250 kilometres of Brisbane City. The lineup will also feature cooking demonstrations, talks with industry leaders, live music, craft brews and cocktails, all by the river at South Bank. And, there'll be a series of signature events within the mini fest, which'll showcase different Aussie talents. At the second event, which has been dubbed Global Fiesta, multicultural cuisine will take pride of place. That'll span South Bank's eateries, as well as a marketplace showcasing international foods. Plus, you'll be able to check out roving performances, hit up a street party and take a spice tour through South Bank's Epicurious Garden. Last but by no means least, Providore Park is all about vino, dairy and cocoa. Wine tasting, cheese masterclasses and sessions about pairing drops are all on the bill, as is a market on South Bank's lawn, live music throughout the day and DJs once evening hits. Tickets for each Regional Flavours event will become available separately, starting with Grazed and Grown from Friday, April 23. And yes, that means you can now lock in your plans for three food-filled weekends across the year. Regional Flavours returns to South Bank between June and October 2021, hosting Grazed and Grown from June 18–20, Global Fiesta from August 20–22 and Providore Park from October 15–17. For further details, or to get tickets for Grazed and Grown from Friday, April 23, head to the event's website. First top image: Kiri Zweck
Awareness of one's surroundings is paramount while bike riding or jogging. With Chilli Technology's new headphones, you can maintain this awareness while simultaneously listening to music. Conventional headphones project sound directly into the ear by creating air pressure waves, but these "bone conduction" headphones use the cheekbone to transfer auditory signals to the ear. Thus, the ear is left uncovered and susceptible to passing sound. Even amidst traffic, music is still audible. The controls, which contain a volume button as well as an of-and-off button, can be clipped onto clothes. The speakers may be placed over the ears when not riding or running, although the original design does allow for ear comfort and less impact on ear drums. You no longer have to sacrifice your music for safety's sake. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MHkqyGLmhAk [via PSFK]
Your next Australian streaming obsession is on its way — and it's set to tell a story so wild that it can only be true. The tale of Australian cult The Family always falls into that category, as seen in the excellent and supremely creepy 2016 documentary that shares the cult's name, plus the 2019 series The Cult of the Family, both by filmmaker Rosie Jones. Now, the sinister Aussie sect is also providing inspiration for Disney+'s new eight-part series The Clearing, which will hit the service globally in May. First announced in 2022, this new show is a drama and based on a novel — but The Family is clearly an influence. If you're new to these details, then strap yourself in for quite the story. The Family was very real, forming in the 1960s around Melbourne, with charismatic yoga teacher Anne Hamilton-Byrne at its head. A cult run by a woman is already extremely rare, but this tale also includes adopting kids who looked identical, dressing them in matching clothing, claiming that Hamilton-Byrne was a living god and, because that's not enough, a lot of LSD. Police raided the sect's Lake Eildon compound back in 1987, all those children were removed from the property, and Hamilton-Byrne and her husband fled Australia, but were arrested in the US in 1993. There's more to this story, which inspired JP Pomare's book In the Clearing alongside other cults around the world — and that's what The Clearing adapts. The show steps into the fictionalised but still chaotic details by following a woman who starts to confront her nightmarish past to stop a secret cult that's gathering up children to serve its master plan. Unsurprisingly, the mood is tense in the psychological thriller's just-dropped first teaser trailer, which arrives ahead of the series premiering its first two episodes on Wednesday, May 24. Cast-wise, almost every famous Aussie acting name possible is involved, or so it seems, including Teresa Palmer (Ride Like a Girl), Miranda Otto (Wellmania) and Guy Pearce (Mare of Easttown), as well as Claudia Karvan (Bump) and Mark Coles-Smith (Mystery Road: Origin). Also set to appear on-screen: Hazem Shammas (The Twelve), Kate Mulvany (Hunters), Xavier Samuel (Elvis), Anna Lise Phillips (Fires), Harry Greenwood (Wakefield) Erroll Shand (The Justice of Bunny King), Doris Younane (Five Bedrooms), Miah Madden (Dive Club), Julia Savage (Blaze), Gary Sweet (Wentworth), Alicia Gardiner (Offspring), Matt Okine (The Other Guy) and Jeremy Blewitt (The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart), plus Lily La Torre (Run Rabbit Run) and Ras-Samuel Welda'abzgi (Neighbours). We told you it was a hefty list. Behind the lens, Jeffrey Walker (Lambs of God) and Gracie Otto (Seriously Red) are on directing duties, with Elise McCredie (Stateless) and Matt Cameron (Jack Irish) creating and writing The Clearing — with help from co-writer Osamah Sami (Ali's Wedding). And if all of the above information doesn't have you ready to watch ASAP, the trailer will — complete with blonde-haired kids everywhere, Otto at her most unnerving, Palmer looking frantic and a police investigation heating up. Check out the first teaser trailer for The Clearing below: The Clearing will stream via Disney+ from Wednesday, May 24.
From Brisbane Festival's free program comes A Force, an interactive, immersive installation from artists Hiromi Tango and Craig Walsh. Taking over Flowstate between Monday, September 10 and Sunday, October 14, it'll evolve and change over the course of its stay — adding materials, responding to ideas and capturing memories. This part of the festival isn't just something to look at, however. If you have a spare morning between Tuesday, September 11 and Friday, September 14, you can also participate. In sessions facilitated by Queensland College of Art students, you'll learn about transforming materials such as cables and wires into a piece of art, contemplate the connectivity that they represent and think about linking up with the world beyond the confines of a digital device. The workshops are also free, but you'll need to register to attend. Image: Simon Hewson.
We've all been there: watching our favourite Studio Ghibli movies, seeing how closely they combine wondrous fantasies and reality, and finding ourselves wondering what things would be like if life actually was that darn magical. Let this cute little clip help satisfy your imagination. Made by Kojer, aka a director in South Korea, it takes all of the Ghibli characters that you know and love, and places them in real-life settings. Think Spirited Away's Chihiro and No-Face on an actual train, My Neighbour Totoro's cute creature in the greenery of a real park, the abode that gives Howl's Moving Castle its name flying above cities, and the titular character from Kiki's Delivery Service floating through non-animated clouds. And yes, it really is as delightful as it sounds. In the absence of any new Studio Ghibli films on the horizon any time soon (although we're still crossing our fingers that their TV show will make it to Australia), it's just the dose of animated enchantment everyone needs. Plus, those keen on seeing just how it was done can also watch two behind-the-scenes videos, one stepping through the techniques used, and the other detailing the actual locations.
If you visited a supermarket on the weekend, you would've encountered mayhem: long lines, empty shelves, people battling over the last packets of beans. Many Australians are panic-buying in case they need to self-isolate because of COVID-19, and it's causing chaos at shops across the country. To help some of society's more vulnerable groups get the groceries and essentials they need, Woolworths has launched a dedicated shopping hour for the elderly and people with disability. Running from 7–8am from Tuesday, March 17 to at least Friday, March 20, stores nationwide will open exclusively to concession card-carrying people in these communities. The Woolworths stores will then open to the general public from 8am. https://twitter.com/woolworths/status/1239273390382276610 Woolworths says the decision was made after many elderly customers failed to purchase the items they needed. "While we'll continue to do our very best to restock our stores during this period of unprecedented demand, we know many of our elderly customers have been missing out on essential items when they shop," Woolworths Supermarkets Managing Director Claire Peters said in a statement. "This temporary measure will give them, and those with a disability, the opportunity to shop before our stores officially open - helping them obtain the essential items they need most in a less crowded environment." For now, the dedicated hour is only in place until this Friday, but Woolworths says it will "review opening arrangements" at this point. If you're unable to leave your house, Deliveroo has just added kitchen and household products to its remit and has implemented a 'no-contact' drop-off service, too. For more information about Woolworths' dedicated hour for elderly and people with disability, head to the Woolworths website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Most food festivals offer a variety of dishes, ranging from snacks to mains to treats. Sweet As, Brisbane's returning dessert fest, will too — as long as you're fine with meringues, marshmallows and macarons as appetisers, cakes and doughnuts for a hearty meal, and ice cream, sorbet, gelato and dessert cocktails to wrap it all up. That's just our suggested order. With all of the above on offer — plus everything from brownies and waffles to cheese and chocolate — there's no right or wrong way to work your way through the menu. All of the treats will be served up by a range of the city's best dessert-makers, with The World Food Markets overseeing the event. And while Brisbane is no stranger to sweet-filled festivals, it really is a situation where the more, the merrier applies. With the festival running from 10am until 5pm on Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15 at Musgrave Park, that means dessert is on the menu for a late brunch, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea — and if you opt for to stick around for a few of those meals, there'll be no judgement. You can also pretend it's breakfast with Gelato Messina's special festival menu item, a sundae that combines fior di latte gelato, housemade milo cake, salted caramel chantilly, chocolate-covered coco pops and dulce de leche sauce. For those with dietary requirements, there'll be lactose-free, gluten-free, nut-free and vegan options across the board as well. Yep, that truly is sweet as. Also on offer: non-sugary street food, pop-up bars, cooking demonstrations and live entertainment. Just nab your $5 (plus booking fee) early bird ticket in advance, as they're likely to get snapped up fast. Afterwards, entry will cost $10 online and $15 at the gate. Updated September 12.
Home, sweet tiny home. James Galletly (known locally as The Upcyclist) and the Bower Reuse and Repair Centre have teamed up to support the Tiny Houses Australia momentous architectural movement. The concept is simple: small, eco-friendly and sustainable living spaces that challenge the way you think of home. It's "guilt free living", as James puts it. The Bower, a Co-Op in the Addison Road Community Centre, has a commitment to waste reduction that is in line with the carpenter's background in Environmental Science and the project mantra: "less house, more living". Part backyard retreat, part child's dream home, The Upcyclist made this project "it's own tiny goal". He re-envisioned a 6 x 8 box trailer into a one-bedroom abode using 95 percent salvaged, recycled and donated materials. The structure is 100% waterproof and insulated for outdoor use. Galletly and his team of volunteers built all fold-up furniture, including a wooden table, crate chairs and a single, hand-painted bed, which allows the room to act as both a sitting area and bedroom. With the solar powered electrical system and gorgeously restored red cedar, double glass windows and doors, the room offers comfort even as a miniature. The size is charming to adults and children alike, and has been the interest of both architects and artists as a creative space. With this project, Galletly hopes to "re-empower people to shelter themselves", and to open minds to alternative living options that don't include "constantly maintaining your house". While it is technically a house on wheels, it is not a replacement caravan, but is a statement piece for the dangers of consumerism. "I want to ensure The Tiny will not become another consumable item and instead be the answer to a problem". This converted space will act as a prototype for the tiny house business Galletly will fund with the auction proceeds, with his future endeavors to include a kitchen and bathroom. 'The Tiny' will be auctioned off on Saturday, September 20, as part of the Bower's 15th Anniversary Event. Don't worry if you're not prepared to offer the starting bid of $10,000–$15,000, the full-day celebration is open to all and will include a BBQ, artisanal market and demonstration workshops within the Community Centre. The tiny houses concept originated in the USA but has been gaining traction in Australia and become a movement that is championed by architects, designers and engineers. The idea is broad enough to include a small, community project like 'The Tiny' as well as larger, million-dollar project such as one featured on Grand Designs Australia. Environmental and minimalist minds unite for this cause, proving that good things really do come in small packages. 'The Tiny' House Auction is on Saturday, September 20, from 12pm-1pm at The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre, Addison Road Community Centre; 34/142 Addison Rd, Marrickville. For more info on the project, head here. Images: Alicia Fox.
The April holidays are nearly upon us. And with the Easter long weekend and ANZAC Day landing on consecutive weeks this year, there's no better time to book a trip out of town. Might we suggest you land on Sydney? The city has so much going on this autumn, including highly lauded markets, blockbuster performances, massive new exhibitions and brand new venues to discover, plus all of the Easter treats and ANZAC Day specials in between. Here's our guide on how to make the most of your holidays this season in Sydney. [caption id="attachment_698137" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Grounds of Alexandria.[/caption] HUNT FOR EXCELLENT EASTER TREATS Throughout the month of April, Sydney's best chocolatiers turn out some delectable, hard-to-pass-up Easter treats. These include a larger-than-life Easter egg at The Grounds of Alexandria, which annually constructs a three-metre-tall egg stuffed with over 500 kilograms of chocolate. The 'community cracking' takes place on Easter Sunday — and there are no bookings, pre-orders or payments necessary to participate. There's also a sweets-filled family high tea and a free Easter egg hunt on the Saturday. For some over-the-top treats, head to Gelato Messina for a very indulgent Easter dessert. This year, expect the Hot Cross Bun Egg — that's hot cross bun gelato mixed with toasted hot cross bun pieces and an oozing dulce de leche 'yolk', all with a milk chocolate coating. The Messina concoctions sell out each year, so sign up here to be the first to order. Darlinghurst's Kakawa is across Easter, too, offering more hot cross bun-flavoured chocolates, chocolate-filled eggs and bunny pops. Other sweets to hunt down include the raw vegan choc eggs at Alexandria's Pana Chocolate and the range of luxe Easter treats at Haigh's in the CBD. [caption id="attachment_708768" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eliza Food and Wine.[/caption] VISIT ONE OF SYDNEY'S NEWEST VENUES While you're in town for a visit, be sure to check out a few of Sydney's newest openings. For a top-notch bar, head to the city's first dedicated mezcal bar, Cantina OK. The 20-person venue can be found hidden down a laneway in the heart of the CBD. But if Sydney's sunny skies are calling you outdoors, it's Chippendale's new rooftop Spritz Bar you should consider. It offers a whole menu of spritzes, along with Sicilian-style bar snacks and Mediterranean vibes. And for a real locals' haunt, make tracks to Newton to sip Scandinavian aquavit cocktails in the courtyard at the Danish-influenced Tandem Bar. For eats, check out RaRa Ramen, Redfern's new izakaya-style joint that's slinging some seriously authentic bowls of ramen, including a regularly sold-out vegan version. Finer fare can be found at Darlinghurst's Eliza Food and Wine, an eatery focused on local produce and brought to you by Michelin-trained chef Jeremy Bentley. And for a bit of both, don't look past the drinks and eats at Pyrmont's new natural wine bar and European-style eatery Bar Clementine — it's slinging funky drops, aperitif-style cocktails and European share plates to boot. [caption id="attachment_664206" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Australian Heritage Hotel.[/caption] GO FOR $5 ON HEADS AT A GAME OF TWO-UP If you're in Sydney over ANZAC Day, it's a given to take advantage of this beloved 'sport' — especially if you've never played before (we're looking at you Melbourne). What is it? A betting game of heads or tails that was played by the ANZACs during WWI. How should you prep? Take some cash out so you have notes (you'll want some fivers unless you're planning to play hard) and find a good pub where you can watch those sacred two-up coins fall. While there are many venues to choose from, hitting up one of Sydney's best pubs ensures a spirited crowd — and often discounted brews. Our go-to is The Bank in Newtown, where the sunken beer garden is transformed for the occasion with stadium seating, a tinny bar and pub grub — and it's all hosted by legendary local drag queen Tora Hymen. More wild two-up rings pop-up nearby in the leafy beer garden at The Courthouse and in the massive dining room at Darlinghurst's Dolphin Hotel. We also dig the Australiana-vibes at Paddington's The Unicorn and the historic feels at The Rocks' Australian Heritage Hotel. [caption id="attachment_712879" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lu Yang: Electromagnetic Brainology.[/caption] HOP THROUGH THESE NEW ART EXHIBITIONS Sydney has a lot of must-see exhibitions on during April. There's the massive The National 2019, a huge exhibition that features work from 65 contemporary Australian artists and spans the Art Gallery NSW, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Carriageworks. Also showing at the MCA is Janet Lawrence: After Nature — the first exhibition chronicling the Sydney-based artist's 30-year career. It explores 'the link between all living creatures' and includes environmentally charged sculpture, installation, photography and video. Another show-stopping exhibition on at the moment is Hot Blood at Chippendale's free White Rabbit gallery. Expect a showcase of emerging, post-'Great Firewall' Chinese artists who are out to disable our idea of traditional Chinese art. And if you are after traditional Chinese art, then kick on post-The National viewing at AGNSW for Heaven and Earth in Chinese Art. The exhibition features treasures from Taipei's National Palace Museum on display in the southern hemisphere for the first time. It features 87 masterworks, including a jasper stone that resembles a juicy piece of pork belly. VISIT SOME OF THE CITY'S FAVOURITE MARKETS If you're looking to hit the market scene, you can't go past one of Sydney's most lauded farmer's market, which takes place every Saturday within Carriageworks. Over 70 stallholders join forces to offer some of the city's best produce, and it's all curated by acclaimed chef Mike McEnearney. Located on the other side of Sydney's inner west is Tramsheds, a former tram depot-turned-shopping precinct, which holds a Growers Market every Sunday from 8am–2pm, including on Easter Sunday. Expect sustainably grown produce alongside workshops, masterclasses and live entertainment. Plus, heaps of the precinct's eateries will be open throughout the Easter long weekend and on ANZAC Day — including Spanish-style tapas bar Bodega 1904, fresh pasta spot Flour Eggs Water and Egyptian diner Bekya. If you're in town earlier in April, catch the monthly Brewery Markets at Yulli's Brews vegan taproom on Sunday, April 14. There'll be indoor plants, eco-friendly clothing and jarred preserves up for grabs, along with craft brews and restaurant signatures. [caption id="attachment_714401" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Handa Opera: West Side Story. Photo by Hamilton Lund.[/caption] CATCH A LIVE SHOW From Broadway hits and Opera House exclusives to local gigs and free jazz, Sydney has it all. One of the most impressive shows on at the moment is West Side Story, which is performed on a floating stage on Sydney Harbour and backdropped by some of the city's most impressive views. Within the Opera House, you'll find Basement Jaxx Vs The Metropolitan Orchestra, which will see the famed British electronic music duo perform with a live orchestra. And for something more specific to the Easter theme, there's the musical production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on at the Capitol Theatre till Sunday, April 14. And for more local (and budget-friendly) options, you can catch multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Little Green's jazz, folk and blues for just $15 on Friday, April 26 at 107 Projects. And, for a real bargain, there's free jazz at legendary Venue 505 every Monday through Wednesday. Plus, you can catch Drag and Dine at Priscillas any night of the week from 7.30pm. Forgo the tourist traps and traverse the great City of Sydney like a local instead. Discover more around the city here.
The 2019 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade is fast approaching, with Darlinghurst's Oxford Street set to erupt in a colourful celebration of LGBTQI+ culture and communities, as it has for more than four decades. But Australia is home to more than one Oxford Street — and, this year, seven other roadways with the same moniker are getting into the Mardi Gras spirit, all thanks to a series of glorious rainbow sculptures. In the New South Wales town of Mittagong, Deep Lead in Victoria, Rockhampton in Queensland, East Bunbury in Western Australia, Port Pirie in South Australia, Berry Springs in the Northern Territory and East Launceston in Tasmania, eye-catching new Oxford Street signs have popped up. Each bears the street's name, of course; however the designs vary otherwise. A rainbow branching out of a puddle, a giant heart pierced by an arrow, a pink-frosted cupcake, twin flamingos, a unicorn and a giant stiletto all feature across the bespoke signs, as does a cockatoo and akubra-adorned clothes line named 'I'm Spinning Around' after the Kylie Minogue song you now have stuck in your head. The overall exhibition has been dubbed Signs of Love, and it's spearheaded by ANZ as part of their ongoing association with Mardi Gras. For those who'd like to take a gander at the installations but won't find themselves in their vicinity, they'll also be available to view on Google Street View from Wednesday, February 27. While only seven Oxford Streets around the country have had a makeover, an eighth sculpture is also on display at Bondi Beach in Sydney. And while it isn't as brightly coloured as its counterparts, it points to 123 Oxford Streets across the nation. Oxford Street sign titles and locations: New South Wales – 'Signs of Love', Bondi Park, Campbell Parade, Bondi. New South Wales – 'Eternal Flame', Oxford Street (corner Bourne Close), Mittagong. Victoria – 'Coming Out', Oxford Street (corner Battery Rd), Deep Lead. Queensland – 'Pink FlaminGo-Go', Oxford Street (corner Talford Street), Rockhampton. Tasmania – 'Love is Love', Oxford Street (corner Abbott Street), East Launceston. Western Australia – 'I'm Spinning Around', Oxford Street (Austral Parade), East Bunbury. South Australia – 'Turn the Party', Port Pirie Regional Tourism and Arts Centre. Northern Territory – 'We're Not in Sydney Toto', Oxford Road (corner Cox Peninsula Road), Berry Springs. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade takes place on Saturday, March 2 in Oxford Street and surrounding areas, Darlinghurst.
UPDATE, Friday, July 26, 2024: Rivermakers Farmers and Artisan Markets are now occurring monthly, not weekly as first planned. This article has been updated to reflect that change. Since 2021, maybe you've made the trip to Colmslie Road in Morningside to enjoy a drink at Revel Brewing Co's second site. Or, you could've headed to the waterside Rivermarkers precinct in Brisbane's inner southeast for spirits at Bavay Distillery, a ceramics workshop at Mas & Miek or barbecued meat from Low & Slow Meat Co. A couple of times over the past few years, markets might've also beckoned — and if it's shopping at stalls that gets you excited, you'll soon have a monthly reason to visit. On Sunday, July 21, 2024, the Rivermakers Farmers and Artisan Markets will debut. On the third Sunday of each month afterwards, the markets will return. In the process, Goodwill Projects adds another site to its hefty range of pop-up browsing and buying spots around Brisbane. It's also behind the Brisbane City Markets, Milton Markets, Carseldine Farmers and Artisan Markets, West End Markets and Westoria. Nundah Farmers Markets is on its list, too, as is Redcliffe Farmers and Artisan Markets. Out of town, Goodwill Projects also puts on the Kuraby Farmers Markets, Beenleigh Night Markets, HOTA Farmers and Artisan Markets, and Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets. So yes, it knows a thing or two about bringing stallholders together — especially growers and makers slinging their wares. In Morningside, the company will set up shop from 7am–1pm monthly, welcoming 150-plus vendors such as Lunar Farms Organics, Good Growin' Gourmet Mushrooms and Bellmere Honey. That's your organic zucchinis, capsicums and tomatoes covered, plus everything from oyster to shiitake mushrooms — and the tastiest bee product there is as well. Other stalls at the dog-friendly markets will serve up deli goods, fresh seafood, preserves and handmade pasta — and also designer garments and jewellery. Entry will be free, as will parking in the 450 spaces. And once you're wandering around with a basket in your hand, you'll be getting your groceries and other items with the Brisbane River providing a view. The full Rivermakers precinct sprawls across a patch of land at the end of Junction Road that first housed a lime factory back in 1917. Since then, it's been used for alcohol distillation, radio broadcasting, naval barracks and a migrant hostel, and as the base for Hans Continental Smallgoods. Now, the 30-hectare heritage-listed spot is about to become your new monthly market go-to. Rivermakers Farmers and Artisan Markets will run from 7am–1pm on the third Sunday of every month from Sunday, July 21, 2024 at Rivermakers, 82 Colmslie Road, Morningside — head to the markets' website and Facebook page for more details.
UPDATE Thursday, June 17: Under current COVID-19 restrictions in Australia, there are various interstate border restrictions in place. Check out the latest information regarding travel to Tasmania over at the Tasmanian Government's website. Melbourne's current 25-kilometre travel cap lifts at 11.59pm tonight, June 17. Victorians can find information on local restrictions over on the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website. Of course, even border closures don't mean you can't start dreaming — bookmark this for when you can explore freely once again. Winter is an area where Tasmania truly excels. While the rest of the country might shiver through a mild chill or a few rainy, foggy months, the island has the full snow-and-frost experience, the kind you can properly bundle up for in your thickest of woollen socks and jumpers. Enjoy the clear, sharp bite of winter on your skin during a brisk walk with soul-stirring views then thaw by a crackling fireplace with a dram of whisky in hand — Tassie is the perfect spot for getting toasty. So, we've compiled a guide for making your southern winter jaunt a heart-warming and cosy one. There's something for everyone — from the irrepressibly outdoorsy to the decidedly indoorsy folks who crave the convivial warmth of a great big gathering. Whether you prefer to get rosy-cheeked by getting your blood pumping or rely on good old fashioned firewater to do the job, Tasmania is an island of winter-warming opportunities. [caption id="attachment_721394" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eagles Nest Retreat and Summer Rain Photography.[/caption] STAY SOMEWHERE WITH AN OUTDOOR HOT TUB Stripping down to your birthday suit in the great outdoors may not sound like an ideal way to get warm, but hear us out. You can luxuriate comfortably in an openair spa bath at your own private retreat while immersing yourself in the sights and sounds of nature. A steaming, saltwater timber hot tub on the wilderness deck at Aerie Retreat offers a secluded view over Bruny Island and Storm Bay — perfect for eagle-spotting — plus, sauna and a firepit. Those looking for a little luxury (and seclusion) will find it at Thalia Haven, which has outdoor bathtubs overlooking Great Oyster Bay. If you yearn for mountain vistas instead, book one of the 'nests' at Eagles Nest Retreat near Cradle Mountain or head to Pumphouse Point, an adults-only wilderness retreat nearby. (Re)treat yourself this winter and make your hot-tubbing a little wilder. [caption id="attachment_619649" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dark Mofo festival.[/caption] PARTY AT A WINTER FESTIVAL Nothing's warmer than the collective heat of an enthusiastic crowd, so get yourself to one of Tasmania's great winter festivals. First up is Dark Mofo (June 16–22), the annual revelry of fire, feasting, music and challenging new art that takes over MONA and the city of Hobart is making its triumphant post-pandemic return. Catch world-class performers and avante garde acts or brave the naked solstice swim. The Festival of Voices (June 30–July 11) in Hobart is Australia's most significant choral festival, complete with performances, workshops and a huge bonfire sing-along in Salamanca. Plus in July, there's the Huon Valley Mid-Winter Fest, celebrating the depths of winter with costumes, warm apple cider and plenty of convivial gatherings. And finally, for lovers of firewater, Tasmanian Whisky Week (August 9–15) gives you a behind-the-scenes look, with distilleries opening their doors for tours and events, sharing their stories and offering exclusive tastings. [caption id="attachment_719392" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rocky Cape Circuit Track, Rocky Cape National Park by Jess Bonde.[/caption] HIKE YOUR WAY WARM IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS If you can't sit still inside and need to sweat out the cabin fever, there are winter-appropriate walking routes throughout Tasmania. The Three Capes Track is a three-day journey with well-appointed, insulated shared cabins along the way, so you don't have to haul along all your camping gear. Guided track walks can also take in the Port Arthur Historic Site, while Rocky Cape National Park has a number of short walks with varying levels of difficulty, taking you along the majestic, sweeping coastline overlooking Bass Strait. For Hobart daytrippers, it's worth heading to the Hastings Caves State Reserve to experience the misty winter forest, bathe in natural thermal springs and explore dolomite caves for a different adventure out of the weather. Because of the pandemic, some of the tracks require bookings, so check the website before you head out. HEAD INDOORS FOR A COCKTAIL OR WINE One of the special joys of winter is getting properly toasty, cosy and rugged up and popping into bars for a soul-warming cocktail or wine. And, happily, Tasmania has plenty of them. In Hobart, you can pop into Tom McHugo's for fun things (like confit albacore and zucchini) on toast and a locally made beer, to Dier Makr or sibling bar Lucinda for minimal intervention wines and to Sonny for a bowl of prawn paccheri and acoustic entertainment in the form of spinning vinyls. Just out of the city in New Norfolk, you'll find some of the country's best potato cakes (or scallops, if that's your preferred name for them) and a menu of other delicious locally grown produce, plus plenty of wine, at The Agrarian Kitchen. Over in Launceston, we suggest you head straight for Geromino and order a plate of cacio e pepe croquettes and a warming cherry-tinted manhattan. [caption id="attachment_719391" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shene Estate and Distillery's roadside stall by Samuel Shelley.[/caption] STOP BY A DISTILLERY FOR A TIPPLE TO SIP LATER Nothing puts a fire in your belly quite like a dram, and when it comes to spirituous liquors, Tasmania has some of the finest. The historic Shene Estate may channel old-world aristocracy with neo-gothic architecture and polo games, but it also welcomes visitors for tours and tastings of its award-winning spirits — including Poltergeist gin and Mackey single malt whisky. Southern Wild Distillery produces Dasher + Fisher gin from the snowmelt rivers that pass by to create their Mountain, Meadow and Ocean varieties with uniquely local flavours. For some country-style cooking to go with your whisky, head to Old Kempton Distillery for a cellar door experience in a heritage 19th-century coaching inn. Top image: Dark Mofo's Winter Feast, shot by Rémi Chauvin.
It's been 14 years since Iron Man first soared onto cinema screens, started a huge film and TV franchise, and sparked popular culture's biggest current behemoth — and, 29 movies, a heap of streaming shows and oh-so-much success later, is there any realm that the Marvel Cinematic Universe hasn't conquered? It's the main reason that plenty of people go to the movies. It keeps pumping out new Disney+ shows every few months, too. All things Marvel were already a hit on the page, obviously, before the comic book company's wares became box-office catnip. And Marvel-themed events, including exhibitions, keep popping up as well. Back in Brisbane in 2017, the Gallery of Modern Art played host to a huge showcase of Marvel costumes and props, in fact — and while that was a one-city, once-off affair, Marvel fans can now take a gander at a new batch of MCU paraphernalia. Fancy getting a close look at mjolnir, stormbreaker, the necrosword, Zeus' lightning bolt, and Valkyrie's dagger and sword? Then you've clearly seen Thor: Love and Thunder, and you'll now want to make a date with the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Melbourne. The Federation Square venue has welcomed in a selection of items from the fourth Thor flick, including all of the aforementioned weaponry — which plays a significant part in the Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit)-directed feature. Also on display: outfits by costume designer Mayes Rubeo (an Emmy-winner for WandaVision and Oscar-nominee for Jojo Rabbit), including those worn by Chris Hemsworth (Spiderhead) as Thor and Natalie Portman (Vox Lux) as Jane/The Mighty Thor. ACMI's new Thor: Love and Thunder showcase includes pieces donned by Christian Bale (Ford v Ferrari) as galactic killer Gorr the God Butcher as well, and by Tessa Thompson (Passing) as King Valkyrie. And yes, clothing that decked out Russell Crowe (Unhinged) as a tutu-wearing, lightning bolt-flinging Zeus is also now in the museum's range. The Marvel costumes and props have joined the centre's centrepiece exhibition, The Story of the Moving Image, which is free to view — but they'll only be on display until July 28, 2023. And no, there are no screaming goats on offer, sadly — but if you've seen the movie, you probably still have that sound stuck in your head. The Thor: Love and Thunder costumes and props are on display at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square, Melbourne, as part of free centrepiece exhibition The Story of the Moving Image, until July 28, 2023. Read our full Thor: Love and Thunder review. Thor: Love and Thunder image: Jasin Boland. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved. Exhibition images: courtesy Marvel Studios, Peter Tarasiuk Photography.
This year, due to Australia's efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, Sydneysiders won't be heading to the now-cancelled Sydney Royal Easter Show. Brisbanites won't be heading to the Ekka, either, or Melburnians to the Royal Melbourne Show, with both of those events cancelled, too. But no matter where in Australia you're located, you can now order showbags online and get them delivered to your home. After the Sydney show's scrapping for 2020, showbag company Chicane Showbags is moving most of its range into a web store that's fittingly called Showbag Shop. Whether you can't get enough Bertie Beetles, have a hankering for a bag filled with KitKats, or would prefer pop culture-themed merchandise (think: The Simpsons, Star Wars and The Beatles), you'll find bags filled with your favourite items here. At the time of writing, only a small variety of bags are available; however Chicane Showbags is aiming to have the majority of its bags in its online store in the coming weeks. We mentioned Bertie Beetles first, of course, because they've become such a show favourite — and to reflect that fact, there are ten different options available. These self-isolating, stay-at-home, generally restricted times might go smoother with a big stash of insect-themed chocolates, after all, with three showbags available for $8, a huge 80-Bertie Beetle bag on offer for $29 and a box of 350 Bertie Beetles (with your choice of a Bertie Beetle mug or a Bertie Beetle plush toy) costing $99. [caption id="attachment_765741" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Chicane Showbags[/caption] Other items currently available include Smarties, Wonka and Snakes Alive bags stuff with lollies; Captain America and Black Panther bags filled with Marvel merchandise; Stella Athletic bags with sporty fashion items and Coast to Coast Skincare bags featuring the obvious. Bags ship Australia-wide, arriving in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane within one to three business days — and in Perth in around five to seven. There is a weight limit on each purchase, though, if you're currently thinking of filling your cupboards with showbags, with only 40 kilograms available per order. Chicane Showbags is now selling showbags online via the Showbag Shop — visit the store's website for further details. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Movie lovers of Brisbane, get excited: you can spend the last two days of June catching up on your must-see list on the big screen for cheap. Across Saturday, June 29–Sunday, June 30, Palace Cinemas is giving film fans a present. It's not just the gift of great flicks — that is, its daily bread and butter — but the gift of discounted great flicks. Head to one of the chain's locations across the weekend in question, and any movie at any time will only cost you $8. Want to check out George Miller's Anya Taylor-Joy- and Chris Hemsworth-starring Furiosa: A Mad Max Story, horror prequel A Quiet Place: Day One, Pixar sequel Inside Out 2 or the Mads Mikkelsen-led The Promised Land? They're just some of your choices. Booking in advance is highly recommended, given how much everyone loves going to the flicks for little more than the price of movie snacks. If you do nab your tickets online, you will have to add a transaction fee to the cost. The deal is running at all standard Palace locations nationwide, but there are a few caveats. You can't redeem the cheap price for film festivals, for instance, or for platinum screenings, special events and alternate content. You also can't bundle the $8 seats with other offers, such as two-for-one tickets.
When it was announced back in 2016 that Moulin Rouge! was being turned into a stage musical, fans around the world thought the same thing in unison: the show must go on. Since then, the lavish production premiered in the US in 2018, then hit Broadway in 2019, and also announced that it'd head Down Under in 2021 — and if you're an Aussie wondering when the latter would actually happen after all the chaos of the past two years, the same mantra thankfully applies to its upcoming Melbourne season. Originally set to debut in August — a date that was obviously delayed due to lockdown — Moulin Rouge! The Musical will now make its Australian debut at Melbourne's revamped Regent Theatre on Friday, November 12. It'll do so as a newly minted Tony-winner, too, after picking up ten awards earlier in October, and also becoming the first-ever Aussie-produced show to win the Tony for Best Musical. Based on Baz Luhrmann's award-winning, Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor-starring movie — which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year — the stage musical brings to life the famed Belle Époque tale of young composer Christian and his heady romance with Satine, actress and star of the legendary Moulin Rouge cabaret. Set in the Montmartre Quarter of Paris, the film is known for its soundtrack, celebrating iconic tunes from across the past five decades. The stage version carries on the legacy, backing those favourites with even more hit songs that have been released in the two decades since the movie premiered. The musical is heading to Melbourne in the hands of production company Global Creatures, along with the Victorian Government. The Government is also a big player behind the Regent's upgrade works, having dropped a cool $14.5 million towards the $19.4 million project. It co-owns the site, along with the City of Melbourne. Moulin Rouge! The Musical's spectacular spectacular Melbourne season is set to stick around for a while, with tickets currently on sale until April 29. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihH1VttqMzc&feature=emb_logo Updated October 26, 2021. Moulin Rouge! The Musical image: Matthew Murphy.
Another day, another reason to peer upwards. If it feels like the heavens are putting on a show more often than not at the moment, well, they are. On Thursday, August 11, staring upwards meant looking at the supermoon. Over Friday, August 12–Saturday, August 13, it means catching the Perseids meteor shower at its peak, too. It's been a busy few weeks, with three other meteor showers — the Southern Delta Aquariids, Alpha Capricornids and Piscis Austrinids — also peaking in late July. The entire trio are also still visible right now, in fact. Yes, if you have a telescope at hand, it's clearly a great time to put it to use. Back to the Perseids — aka the spectacular sight brightening up your Friday and Saturday night, and also sticking around until Wednesday, August 24. If you're eager to catch a glimpse, even from just your backyard or balcony, here's how. [caption id="attachment_864940" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brocken Inaglory via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] WHAT IS IT The Perseids meteor shower is actually a stream of debris called the Perseid cloud — and it's found in the orbit of the Swift–Tuttle comet. The latter was discovered in July 1862 by two separate people, spotting it independently from each other, hence the name, and then made a return appearance in 1992. The comet has a 133-year orbital period — but the Perseids are visible every year. So, from July 17–August 24, you might spot it if you are indeed peering up and towards the north. This one is generally best seen in the northern hemisphere, but that doesn't mean you can't spot it in the southern hemisphere. And, it's considered particularly impressive, with up to 100 meteors per hour. [caption id="attachment_864942" align="alignnone" width="1920"] John Flannery via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] WHEN TO SEE IT The shower will reach a peak overnight between Friday, August 12–Saturday, August 13, but will still be able to be seen until Wednesday, August 24. The best time to catch an eyeful is around 5am AEST, although the end of the supermoon might affect conditions during its peak. Still, you'll be in the running to see meteors moving at about 58 kilometres per second, and shining brightly. NASA has called the Perseids "one of the most vivid annual meteor showers visible in Earth's night sky" — but also notes that this year's full moon will likely reduce the peak "to 10–20 per hour at best". [caption id="attachment_864941" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NASA/Bill Ingalls via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] HOW TO SEE IT Whenever a meteor shower lights up the sky, a trusty piece of advice applies to city-dwellers: get as far away from light pollution as possible to get the best view. If you can't venture out of town, you can still take a gander from your backyard or balcony. To help locate the shower, we recommend downloading the Sky Map app — it's the easiest way to navigate the night sky (and is a lot of fun to use even on a non-meteor shower night). If you're more into specifics, Time and Date also has a table that shows the direction and altitude of the Perseids. It has been updating this daily. The weather might get in the way of your viewing, though, depending on where you live. On Friday, August 12, Sydney is set for rain at times, Melbourne for a few showers, Brisbane for possible showers and Adelaide for showers. In Perth, however, sunny conditions await. Top images: NASA/Bill Ingalls via Wikimedia Commons.
When the middle of any and every year approaches, we all yearn for a holiday. Summer feels forever ago, for starters. Months of life's chaos always spark getaway cravings. A change of scenery starts calling, too. With May more than halfway through and winter almost upon us for 2024, cue the ideal timing for Virgin's midyear sale on international flights. Return fares are a focus in this excuse to pack your suitcase — so whether you're keen on a trip to Tokyo, Bali, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu or Queenstown, you'll get discounts on the legs both there and back. And while the sale includes fares from Saturday, June 1, 2024, you can plan a trip as far away as autumn 2025, with Friday, April 11, 2025 the last date covered. Return flights start at $315, which'll get you from Melbourne to Queenstown and back. Sydneysiders will pay $365 and Brisbanites $425. If Fiji awaits you, return fares begin at $449 from Sydney. Bali flights start at $499 from the Gold Coast, while Vanuatu flights kick off at $579 and Samoa trips from $599, both out of Brisbane. And Tokyo fares come in at $675 to begin, which is out of Cairns. If you're only looking to make the trip to Queenstown without heading back, that's the only destination where you can choose between a one-way and a return option. The sale prices are for economy light fares — and, as usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick. Virgin's discounted fares are now on offer until midnight on Friday, May 24 or sold out, whichever arrives first. Some legs do have the pick of a choice fare as well, at a more expensive — but still on sale — price. Virgin's 2024 midyear international sale runs until midnight AEST on Friday, May 24 — or until sold out. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Is it a store? Is it a gallery? In Fallow's case, it's both. The brooding Fortitude Valley boutique has been lining its Brunswick Street shelves with fashion, accessories and other artful items since it was founded in 2008, however, now their rejection of conventional retail has undergone a slight metamorphosis. Meet Fallow [art space], the collective's foray into the gallery world. Fallow's home away from home brings more than just cloth and curiosities to a new, short-term pop-up at 60 James Street — it dives head-first into the experimental creative realm. Open every day of the week until the end of the year, it boasts a curated showcase ranging from ceramics and jewellery to paintings and light installations. Christmas shopping, anyone? The aim? To not only let Fallow's customers wear art from their main store, but experience the collection firsthand in its many forms. That includes taste, sight, sound and smell. And if you're wondering where the edible part of the equation comes in, just hope you drop by when the gallery is handing out champagne truffles. Other than delicious treats, you'll also find concrete sculptures by Luke Mansini, pieces by renowned local jeweller Luke Maninov, and handcrafted leather sculptures by Lyn and Tony on display. Add artisan ceramics inspired by the Aussie landscape thanks to Made of Australia, and unisex fragrances by Mad et Len, and you won't look at shopping the same way. Find Fallow [art space] at 60 James Street, Fortitude Valley, until December 31, 2016. Visit their website, Facebook page and Instagram feed for further details.
Singapore's Changi Airport is going all out this holiday season and giving travellers a rare reason to get to the airport early. In collaboration with Warner Bros, the airport has created a full-scale Harry Potter world, now open from November 16 through mid-February. The Wizarding World Holiday exhibition is spread across all three of the airport's terminals and brings to life some of the most iconic backdrops in the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films — think Hogsmeade Village, Diagon Alley, the Whomping Willow and Newt Scamander's Menagerie (which is depicted in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald). Wander through a snowy Hogsmeade Village where you'll catch sight of Zonko's Joke Shop, Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, the Owl Post and the Honeydukes sweets store. Or head to Diagon Alley, where visitors can dress up in Hogwart's school uniforms from Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions and create a GIF in front of a 'magical' mirror. There are also spell-casting lessons and Quaffle toss competitions — which let you 'ride' a broomstick and practise your Quidditch skills. Limited-edition Harry Potter-themed travel merch will be on sale in duty free, too. Plus, a snow and lights show will take place in terminal three each day. We reckon this is your best excuse to book a trip to Singapore (or organise a layover through Changi) these holidays. Wizarding World Holiday is located in Terminal 1-3 at Changi Airport until mid-February, 2019.
Bec Dean is co-director of Performance Space, one of Australia's leading development and presentation organisations for interdisciplinary arts. If you've ever marvelled at one of Carriageworks' stranger corners, you've seen their work. More than most, Bec spends her days seeking out the inventions, interjections and experiences that give colour to our lives. These are the five emerging artists she encourages us to keep a particular eye on. Michaela Gleave Jeff Khan (my co-director) and I just worked with Michaela Gleave on Our Frozen Moment, which was an installation of rain and light inside the gallery space here at Carriageworks. Michaela makes exquisitely beautiful, experiential work, but she undertakes her own fabrication of the complex system of pumps, pipes and reticulation required to make it rain on the inside. She also has an explosives license. She is true DIY. Eric Bridgeman Eric Bridgeman is a young artist from Brisbane, now working in Liverpool in the UK. We hope he may be back for our program SEXES in October. Eric head-on tackles issues that tend to simmer in our culture, from racism, to sexism, to homophobia…especially in sporting culture. He makes photos, performances and paintings that make everyone uncomfortable, and so they should be! James Brown James Brown is a composer and musician who has worked on many projects for Performance Space and PACT artists over the years. He is an artist that often gets credited as a part of new works but I think more and more that he should be the headline act. He is a brilliant and somewhat humble collaborator. Cigdem Aydemir Cigdem Aydemir is a photographer, performer and installation artist making difficult work that examines gendered and religious identity in Australia, and engages with certain right-wing attitudes about Muslim women and the burqa as a potential terrorist threat. We are hoping to commission a large-scale work by her later this year. Applespiel Applespiel is a collaborative team of eight young performers who premiered a new work with us at SHOW ON. It was a live rockumentary/rock concert called Applespiel Make a Band and Take on the Recording Industry. It’s pretty much what it says on the label, and they can write and play music too. I’ve never seen such a large group work together so harmoniously before. I expect way more shouting and discontent. It’s like they’ve all taken ego-supressing drugs…to make a performance that is all about an industry that thrives on fame, stardom and ego-mania.
Spending more time at home is much easier to stomach with a hefty rage of desserts on hand, or at least that seems to be Gelato Messina's pandemic motto. Over the past few months, the gelato fiends have served up plenty of tasty specials, including cookie pies in choc chip, red velvet, choc-hazelnut, and peanut butter and jelly varieties; 40 of its best flavours; and full tubs of both Iced VoVo gelato and Messina's own take on the classic Viennetta ice cream cake. This past week, it even whipped up a batch of sticky lamington-scroll hybrids. Next up (because this is a weekly occurrence, so it seems): Messina's version of Italy's famed cremino dessert. It's recreated with gelato, naturally. And it's another of Messina's limited releases, with tubs of the eye-catching creation available at all its stores for a very short period. Wondering what exactly Messina's cremino entails? It combines salted caramel gelato, gianduia fudge, fresh meringue and amaretti biscuits, when adds a layer of freshly piped and torched meringue on top. And if you haven't come across the cremino before, it's a chocolate from Piedmont in the country's north, it dates back to the 19th century and it's made up of three layers, with gianduia chocolate featuring heavily. The latest release in Messina's new 'Hot Tub' series, the cremino gelato can only be ordered online on Monday, August 24, with a one-litre tub setting you back $30. You can then go into your chosen Messina store to pick up your tub between Friday, August 28–Sunday, August 30. If you're in Melbourne, remember that you can only venture to shops within five kilometres of your house — and only once a day — to get essentials, including food. Gelato Messina's cremino gelato tubs will be available to order on Monday, August 24, for pick up between Friday, August 28–Sunday, August 30 — keep an eye on the Messina website for further details.
Last-minute shopping, over-indulging at celebratory shindigs, and pretending not to be annoyed about receiving another pair of socks: they're all a part of every Christmas. For kids and adults alike, so is many a seasonal-themed movie. If it has Santa or Christmas in the title, it's optimal viewing at this time of year. The folks at South Bank certainly think so, and have thrown together their yearly Christmas Cinema Series brimming with merriment. But these free films aren't just for families. Any Yuletide movie held under Brisbane's starry skies and by the water at River Quay Green at this summery time of the season is perfect for, well, everyone. Pack a picnic and enjoy double features every night from Saturday, December 17–Thursday, December 22. The familiar but still festive and fun lineup includes Elf, A Boy Called Christmas, Last Christmas, Arthur Christmas, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, The Holiday, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Happiest Season . Among a varied lineup catering for all ages, there's also Ghostbusters II, Daddy's Home 2, Elliott: The Littlest Reindeer and The Star. Attending is free, and the family-friendly flicks screen at 6pm, with each evening's second session showing at 8pm.
"Abbe May plays a scorching guitar — she is the f***ing s**t!" -Nic Harcout, MTV USA Still riding high after the tremendous success of 2011's Design Desire, one of Australia's most criminally under-appreciated artists is back with a brand-new album. And she's launching it by way of a national tour, heading to every state to seduce you firsthand. Or maybe punch you in the face. Or maybe even seduce you by punching you in the face. Abbe May might come from a tiny coastal town in the very southwest of WA, but over the course of four records she has built herself up to the precipice of world domination. Her last album was nominated for the Australian Music Prize and was roundly praised by nearly every person with ears who heard it, its dark, gnarly guitars oozing sultriness, her voice shining in the darkness like a switchblade at midnight. But May promises surprises on her new album, abandoning the '70s-psych influence of Design Desire in favour of "synth-driven doom pop". As May herself declares, "Kiss My Apocalypse is unashamedly sexual and would almost be romantic if it weren't for the vitriol." "Pop is sexy when done well and it's incredibly difficult to do it well if you try too hard," she says. "We wanted to get away from music that took itself too seriously. I'm so tired of this whole shoe gaze, it-cost-a-lot-of-money-to get-a-haircut-that-looks-like-I-haven't-brushed-my-hair-in-months type shit. 'Artists' in denial that they are basically just entertainers. Being an entertainer is more meaningful if you ask me. It's not such a selfish pursuit." For almost any other artist, a major shift in sound away from the most successful album of your career would be a death sentence, crippling you just as you were poised to make a real splash. But Abbe May isn't just any artist. And when you consider that her first two albums drew heavily from (a) Deep South devil blues, then (b) Hawaiian-inspired rockabilly, a fourth major shift on her fourth album could be just what we were all waiting for. https://youtube.com/watch?v=bDJx-yLk3d0
"Getting the chance to design a world-class steakhouse from scratch is a dream come true," says Michael Tassis. "With the original Fatcow, we inherited the old Cha Cha Char space and had to make it our own. This time, we're taking a site that's never been a restaurant before and turning it into the ideal version of Fatcow." Tassis' hospitality portfolio also includes Yamas Greek + Drink, Massimo, Opa Bar + Mezze, Fosh and Longwang (and will gain an overwater restaurant and bar, plus a landing cafe, as part of Kangaroo Point's new green bridge). In West End, Rich & Rare has steaks taken care of, too. But Fatcow was a beef-eating favourite in its original digs at Eagle Street Pier — and the aim is to repeat the feat now that it has moved to Fortitude Valley. It was back in late 2023 that Tassis Group announced that Fatcow on James Street — which was known as Fatcow Steak & Lobster during its CBD days — would return this year. It lost its previous site, where it had operated since December 2020 in the spot that was formerly home to fellow upscale steak joint Cha Cha Char, when the Brisbane CBD precinct was torn down to make way for an upcoming new $2.1-billion waterfront precinct. Now, since Wednesday, May 8, the new Fatcow is welcoming in patrons. The restaurant has relaunched in the Fortitude Valley spot that Space Furniture and David Jones each used to call home. The design led by Allo Creative and Clui Design harks back to steak-slinging eateries in the mid-20th century, complete with a bar made out of solid marble. Patrons can also peer through a window to the chef's grill to see where the culinary magic happens. Two private dining rooms are also on the premises at Fatcow 2.0, but just eating at a booth here means stepping into your own world. Each one comes with a floor-to-ceiling curtain that screens off the rest of the restaurant. That's another luxe touch at the steakhouse's new digs. Also on the list: wagyu tasting boards and a gold-wrapped 400-gram rib fillet on the menu. Neither comes cheap; the first costs $285 for three types of steak and three sides, and the second — aka the Golden Fatcow — is $190 for a 150-plus-day grain-fed black angus cut from the Riverina region that's wrapped in gold leaf. Under Head Chef Garry Newton, a Fatcow alum who also has Herve's and Rich & Rare on his resume, the new Fatcow's signature dishes also span a $199 steak-and-lobster combo and the butcher's choice, which varies in price. If it wasn't already apparant, this is a treat yo'self type of restaurant. All up, the menu features more than 16 steaks. You can also tuck into mains such as wagyu burgers, buckwheat risotto and lamb shoulder. Caviar is among the options, as are oysters fresh from Brisbane's only live oyster tank, raw scallops and beef tenderloin tartare as entrees, and tank-fresh lobster. The restaurant is taking a 24-hour approach to seafood — that's how long, maximum, the journey from the trawler to your plate will be. As for dessert, choices include a chocolate tart, lime sorbet and basque cheesecake, plus ten cheeses that come served in 50-gram pieces. To drink, a 300-strong wine list combines local and international drops, and cocktails are also among the beverages. Find Fatcow on James Street at 10 James Street, Fortitude Valley — open daily from 11.30am–late. Head to the restaurant's website for more details.
Once the site of Expo 88, and now a sprawling riverside precinct with everything from pools to eateries, South Bank is about to become a Christmas wonderland. When Friday, December 1 hits, festive cheer will take over the waterside parkland with activities for Brisbane's merriest residents. Chief among them: the return of the annual free outdoor Christmas cinema. Getting jolly by the river has meant settling in for themed films without paying a cent for years now, and 2023 is no different. With two screenings per night from Monday, December 18–Saturday, December 23 — at 6pm and 8pm — at River Quay, Christmas movie lovers can settle in for a selection of yuletide favourites, including Elf and The Holiday. Those dates will see the bulk of South Bank's Christmas festivities start raining down on the precinct, including a seasonal song-and-dance show, photo opportunities with Santa, carols by the river and live tunes performed on the lawn nightly, soundtracking bites and drinks from nearby eateries. When December kicks in, however, South Bank's Christmas tree will light up from that very day, with decorations set to dazzle the parkland until Wednesday, January 3, 2024. Another huge drawcard, especially if you're a last-minute shopper, is the return of The Collective Markets Christmas Edition from Friday, December 15–Saturday, December 23. Under twinkling lights, rows of stalls will sell everything from clothes to homewares — with a big focus on handmade goods — to help you find gifts for your nearest and dearest. While South Bank's Christmas antics light up the south side of the river in the inner city, the Brisbane CBD's already-announced festive lineup has plenty on offer across the water — including the return of The Enchanted Garden at Roma Street Parklands. Grinches, consider yourselves warned. Christmas at South Bank runs from Friday, December 1 — head to the South Bank website for further details.
Gelato Messina has whipped up a lot of of tasty specials in its time, and during the pandemic. Indulgent red velvet cookie pies, caramel scrolls with cheesecake gelato, Golden Gaytime-inspired Viennetta, 40 of its greatest gelato hits — they're just some of the OTT dishes that've been on the menu just over the past 18 months or so. Another that's proven particularly popular: Iced VoVo gelato. So, the dessert fiends are bringing back its frosty version of everyone's favourite childhood biscuit, and they're also turning it into a bavarian. What's better than turning an Iced VoVo into gelato? Taking that gelato and turning that into a bavarian, obviously. And, what's even better than that? Making something that can either be eaten frozen as a gelato cake, or defrosted as a mousse cake — or somewhere in-between if you'd like to go all semifreddo. Wondering what exactly an Iced VoVo bavarian entails? It layers coconut and raspberry mousse and raspberry gel over a coconut biscuit base, then tops it with raspberry marshmallow and desiccated coconut. And yes, the end result looks like the bikkies you know and love — but in frosty cake form. If you're keen to get yourself a piece — which'll cost you $38 — they're available to preorder online on Monday, September 20. And, because Messina's specials always prove popular, the brand is now staggering the on-sale times. Accordingly, folks in Queensland and the ACT are able to purchase at 9am, Victorians at 9.30am, and New South Wales customers split across three times depending on the store (with pies from Circular Quay, Surry Hills, Bondi, Randwick and Miranda on sale at 10am; Brighton Le Sands, Tramsheds, Parramatta and Darlinghurst at 10.30am; and Darling Square, Newtown, Rosebery and Penrith at 11am). The catch? You'll need to peel yourself off the couch and head to your local Messina store to pick up your order. The pies will be available for collection between Friday, September 24–Sunday, September 26. Sydneysiders, remember to abide by lockdown restrictions when it comes to picking up your bavarian — with folks in most suburbs required to stick to their Local Government Area, or within five-kilometres from home, and a strict five-kilometre limit in place in LGAs of concern. Melburnians, under new eased lockdown rules that come into effect at 11.59pm on Friday, September 17, you'll be permitted to travel within a ten-kilometre radius to pick up food. Gelato Messina's Iced VoVo bavarians will be available to order from 10am on Monday, September 20, for pick up between Friday, September 24–Sunday, September 26. Head to the Messina website for further details.
This winter, the seaside town of Queenscliff will be anything but sleepy. Playing host to the inaugural Low Light Festival, the Victorian spot will be brought to life across a month-long feast for all of the senses. A celebration of music, food, art and culture delivered by a huge lineup of homegrown and international talent, the event takes place over four weekends, running from June 22 to July 14. And if anything's going to pull you out of hibernation and down to the beach in the heart of a frosty Melbourne winter, it's this. Teaming up with the Icelandic Dance Company, along with local groups the Lighthouse Arts Collective and Bellarine Lighthouse Films, Low Light is set to screen exclusive Aussie premieres of three exciting new films. Catch the hypnotic ÖRÆVI or Life in the Undergrowth, with music by the legendary Sigur Ros, as it's screened under the stars, or immerse yourself in Gabríela Friðriksdóttir's compelling film Des Irae. Or, enjoy the goddess tale Union of the North, a collaboration between Matthew Barney, Valdimar Jóhannsson and Erna Ómarsdóttir, Music lovers will find their festival happy place within the Queenscliff Town Hall, as it hosts a series of one-night performances from the likes of acclaimed singer-songwriter Dan Sultan, folk-pop four-piece All Our Exes Live In Texas, and American alt-country star Justin Townes Earle. A tasty program of one-off food events will also feature throughout the festival, with highlights including a Bastille Day dinner with a French musical twist, and a four-course progressive feast showcasing the region's best produce and chefs. And you'll get even more of a taste for this charming corner of the world with a series of local art exhibitions, creative workshops, gin and whisky tastings, and heritage walks. Queenscliff is located about a 90-minute drive from Melbourne, or you can catch the ferry across from Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula. Low Light events feature Friday through Sunday across each week of the festival — perfect for a day trip or that winter weekend getaway.
UPDATE: MARCH 14, 2020 — Organisers have announced that Westpac OpenAir will no longer go ahead in Brisbane in April "in line with the advice of Australia's Chief Medical Officer and Prime Minister to cancel non-essential gatherings of 500-plus people". It will be rescheduled to a later date this year " the near future when current health concerns have passed". To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Perched right by the river, boasting views of the Story Bridge and CBD, and filled with plenty of grass, the Howard Smith Wharves precinct lawn was always going to become one of Brisbane's go-to hangouts. Picnics, parties and beer festivals have all popped up there, plus exercise sessions, too — and, come April, so will the city's newest openair cinema. Already a favourite in Sydney for two decades — and running in Zurich, Basel, Rio, Sao Paulo, Lisbon, Madrid and Okinawa over the past 30 years as well — Westpac OpenAir is finally making the leap to Brissie. Between Sunday, April 5–Sunday, April 26, it'll screen 22 nights of movies on one mighty big screen and with one helluva backdrop. The screen is as much an attraction as what it'll be playing. Measuring 170 square metres, it'll reach three storeys high. And, it'll be set against the river, so the city's skyline will form quite the striking background — so if whatever flick you're watching doesn't do it for you, you can always marvel at the surrounding sights. That said, OpenAir's film lineup boasts plenty of exciting titles. Kicking things off is the Keira Knightley-starring Misbehaviour, about the 1970 Miss World competition in Britain, while, at the other end of the season, Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan will eat their way around yet another country in The Trip to Greece. Both flicks will screen before they hit regular cinemas, too — as will Coogan's other new movie, satire Greed, plus Australian music biopic I Am Woman. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5KKS9xBzPc For those fond of catching classics under the stars, Pretty Woman and Dirty Dancing are both on the bill, as is an ANZAC Day session of Gallipoli. Otherwise, Brisbane cinephiles can catch up with the likes of The Invisible Man, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker on OpenAir's spectacular screen — or Little Women, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), Jojo Rabbit and A Quiet Place Part II. Food trucks will also be onsite from 5pm each night and, if you're looking for some pre-movie dinner, Felons Brewing Co, Greca, Stanley, Yoko, Ciao Papi and Betty's Burgers are right next door. Westpac OpenAir's debut Brisbane season runs from Sunday, April 5–Sunday, April 26 at Howard Smith Wharves, 5 Boundary Street, Brisbane City. For further details — and to buy tickets from 9am on Monday, March 23 — visit the cinema website.
It's summertime, which means plenty of days hanging at the beach, or in the park, and relaxing in the sun. And while summer reads are an essential part of any good trip outside, some days we're left either squinting against the glare or fighting that inevitable sunglasses tan. On those days, reach for your headphones and check out one of these podcasts instead. From true tales of murderous doctors to mind-boggling stories of viral Reddit threads, these podcasts will keep you entertained and informed this summer — whether you're relaxing at the beach or commuting on a train. SERIAL SEASON THREE The cult-favourite podcast Serial returned for its third season in September 2018, having been silent since season two aired back in 2015. Season three focuses on the entire criminal justice system in the US — and, more specifically, on the inconsistencies and failures of the courts in Cleveland, Ohio. Host Sarah Koenig (This American Life) and her crew spent one year in the Cleveland courts, where they recorded not only in courtrooms but also in judge's chambers, prosecutors' offices and back hallways, plus outside the courthouse in family members' houses, streets and prisons. Koenig witnessed an onslaught of court offences, including extra charges, pressure to plead guilty, shabby police work, "eleventh hour" evidence and dozing jurors and a judge — all ending with outsized prison sentences. Again, the story unfolds week-by-week, but this time follows different cases each time in the nine-episode season. Listen to Serial Season Three here. SLOW BURN SEASON TWO A Slate Plus production, Slow Burn explores "subplots, strange details, and forgotten characters" of contemporary political history in the United States. While season one focused on Nixon's Watergate scandal of the 1970s, season two (released in August 2018) investigates the 1998 impeachment of President Bill Clinton — during which Clinton was accused of having sexual relations with his intern Monica Lewinksy, and was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice for lying about it under oath. Host Leon Neyfakh explores this story of political and sexual scandal in depth, finding modern-day parallels, including similarities to the #MeToo movement. Whether you remember the scandal or not, the podcast explores it in a new, 2019-appropriate, light. Listen to Slow Burn here. DR. DEATH Dr. Death follows the deeply disturbing true story of Christopher Duntsch, a Texas neurosurgeon who was convicted of gross malpractice and sentenced to life in prison in 2017. A whopping 33 of his patients were left seriously injured from his operations — two of which died on the operating table. Created by Wondery — the network behind another wildly popular podcast, Dirty John — and hosted by the award-winning health and science reporter Laura Beil, the ten-episode season finished this December. It explores a medical system that fails to protect patients and the horrors that can await in the operating room because of it. Listen to Dr. Death here. NO MAN'S LAND No Man's Land dives into stories of some of the most trailblazing and game-changing, yet lesser known, women of history. The first season aired in November, with five episodes out so far. Some of the women featured include mid-1900s poet Sylvia Plath; investigative journalist and civil rights activist from the late 1800s, Ida B Wells; and Cuban-American artist Ana Mendieta. The latest episode examines the originators of women's social clubs, and the resulting groups' power and influence. Host Alexis Coe is also the in-house historian for the podcast's creators, The Wing — a networking company that runs community spaces for women. Listen to No Man's Land here. THE TEACHER'S PET A must-listen for fans of murder-mystery, The Australian-created podcast The Teacher's Pet looks into the 1982 disappearance of Lynette Dawson — the wife of rugby league player and teacher Chris Dawson. The podcast unveils large amounts of evidence that had not been previously collected or examined by police, including details of the couple's marriage, Lynette's disappearance and Chris Dawson's affair with a 16-year-old student. Late last year, the podcast was awarded the 2018 Gold Walkley Award, one of Australia's most prestigious journalism awards. Hosted by award-winning Australian journalist Hedley Thomas, the 14-episode podcast aired in May, with two additional episodes added at the end of December following Chris's arrest and release after being granted bail. More episodes are also expected to air as new leads are unearthed, so this is the ideal time to get into this podcast. Listen to Teacher's Pet here. THE WITCH HUNT SEASON TWO As the title indicates, The Witch Hunt investigates famous witch hunts in history, both "literal and metaphorical" — starting, of course, with Salem, Massachusetts in season one. In season two, which aired back in April 2017, the focus is on the 'satanic panic' of the late-1900s, when the imagined existence of satanic ritual abuse in the States led to a pandemic of fear and paranoia. The eight episodes feature interviews with the likes of award-winning investigative journalist Jordan Smith (The Intercept) and Historical Blindness podcast host Nathan Lloyd. The Witch Hunt explores scapegoating of all kinds, too, including topics like child abuse allegations and Dungeons and Dragons (yes, the board game). Listen to The Witch Hunt here. CALIPHATE The New York Times' podcast Caliphate follows reporter Rukmini Callimachi, whose career focuses on Islamic extremism. The investigative podcast centres around the fall of Mosul — when the Iraqi Army was defeated by the Islamic State in 2014. The ten-chapter season asks questions like "who is it that ISIS appeals to, and how?" and "who are we really fighting"? Callimachi speaks with recruits, former and returned ISIS members, and detainees, as well as enslaved victims of the Islamic State. Released in April 2018, the powerful series unveils the reality of being a terrorism reporter on the front line and sheds light on the nature of ISIS violence. Listen to Caliphate here. ENDLESS THREAD While some people like to focus on internet's ability to isolate, WBUR and Reddit have combined forces to explore the ways in which it creates shared experiences and connections between people — on all sides of the globe. Endless Thread digs through Reddit communities to uncover stories that reveal the true potential of the internet, and some of them are fascinating, hilarious and horrifying. The podcast is hosted by Ben Brock Johnson (Marketplace Tech, Codebreaker) and WBUR's producer Amory Sivertson (Modern Love: The Podcast). It launched in January 2018 and continues to air every Friday. It promises to be more than cat videos, but also full of cat videos, and covers everything from miraculous near-misses (including a pilot landing a plane sans windshield) to a viral flyer selling a Soylent sculpture. Whether you love or hate Reddit, this one is worth the listen. Listen to Endless Thread here. LADIES, WE NEED TO TALK Exploring topics of work, health and sexuality, Ladies, We Need To Talk is created by women for women. It's an ABC Radio Podcasts production and was the winner of the 2018 Australian Podcast Awards for Best Lifestyle and Heath Podcast. Hosted by Australian TV presenter Yumi Stynes, the ongoing episodes delve into topics like anxiety, hormones, being judged by looks instead of intelligence and society's obsession with youth. Styne — who's joined on the show by a lineup of influential female Aussies — shares personal stories and discusses the struggle for women to balance work and private life. Ladies, We Need To Talk also encourages listeners to call in and share their own stories. Listen to Ladies We Need To Talk here. HEAVYWEIGHT The award-winning podcast Heavyweight just completed it's third season in December and continues to be a firm favourite amongst audiences and critics alike. It's hosted by comedian and author Jonathan Goldstein (This American Life, WireTap), who considers himself something of a "therapist with a time machine". He presents an usual podcast that tells the stories of ordinary people who have a major regret in life. In each episode, Goldstein guides a different person back to a pivotal crossroad in their life and helps them confront and, hopefully, overcome it. For example, in the first episode, Goldstein attempts to reunite his 80-year-old dad, Buzz, with his older brother. Heavyweight also encourages email submissions for the show. So, if you have a moment in time you want to get back or change, might as well try your luck — who knows, we might be hearing you in a future episode. Listen to Heavyweight here.
