You've been there plenty of times to see a show, have a meal, or enjoy some free Friday night comedy, but you might not realise that Brisbane Powerhouse is one of the city's most interesting places. We're not talking about its lineup of performances and events; instead, we're looking at its architecture. The multipurpose arts centre was once an electricity station, then spent decades abandoned and derelict, and was even used as a site for target practice for the army. There's simply nowhere else like it in Brisbane, and the artists behind Made with Light clearly feel the same way. Each of the exhibition's six pieces shines a light — literally — on their heritage-listed, riverside, brick-and-concrete canvas. Audiences are invited to interact, observe and appreciate the familiar venue in its shiny new get-up. Works come from artists Sarah Oxenham, Jonathon Istria, Alinta Krauth, Kellie Williams, Sophie O‘Rourke and Jen Seevinck.
What's better than grabbing a meal from a food truck? Trying to choose from a lineup of meals-on-wheels vendors at a food truck pop-up, of course. And that's what's on offer at Abbeville Street Park in Upper Mount Gravatt on Saturday, August 29, with the event rounding up some of Brisbane's standout mobile eateries for a tasty afternoon. Micasa Burger Truck, Rolls Pho Mi and Tender Calamari will all be in attendance, so you can pick different types of cuisine for your late lunch, arvo snack or dinner — or grab something from all three. For dessert, Gelato a Go Go will be there too, so clearly you know what's on offer. Fittingly, this get-together is called the Mt Gravatt Food Truck Pop-Up, and it takes place from 3–7pm. Bring your wallet and your appetite, obviously. The Mt Gravatt Food Truck Pop-Up takes place from 3–7pm on Saturday, August 29 at Abbeville Street Park, Upper Mount Gravatt.
Ivan Sen has always gone it alone. In the world where we live, filmmakers have set decorators, editors, production managers, post-production technicians, concept artists, storyboard artists and legions of other scurrying assistants. Not Ivan Sen. He's an Australian filmmaker who does it all himself, and his outsider approach has so far taken him from his native rural New South Wales to places like Sundance, Cannes and Berlin film festivals. This directive — hands-on, honest, thoughtful, singular filmmaking — now stretches into the guts of his latest film, an outback murder case, Mystery Road. It's a quiet, steady yet thrilling film, held together by Aaron Pedersen's staggering performance as a lone, Aboriginal detective. To talk about Ivan's films, you have to talk about equality. In Sen's film worlds (Toomelah, Beneath Clouds), as in this world, some people are more equal than others. When Julie Mason, an Indigenous girl, is found with her throat cut off Mystery Road near Massacre Creek, no one gives a shit — not the cops, not anyone. This is the crime genre plot-point that opens up to a chasm of inequality. Underneath the high skies and low plains of Mystery Road, something else surfaces — a frighteningly beautiful, dead-on look at a troubled country. THE START OF MYSTERY ROAD "It's been a bit of a journey, this film," says Ivan. "I first mentioned it to Aaron in 2006 in Kings Cross, around midnight. We were passing like ships in the night, and I said, 'brother, I got an idea for you'. And he said, 'alright'. Then five years later, I ring him up and say, 'here's this idea, here's the script, it's time to do it'. It's a story that's come from my own experiences, my own heart, from my family and their experiences. So everything you see in some way comes from reality. The whole thing about Jay Swan being this cop caught between two worlds is something that's very close to my heart, coming from a small town, growing up, not quite belonging to the Aboriginal part of town, and not quite belonging to the white part of town. That's what I've always been fascinated by: the turncoat, the black tracker, the black trooper, the Native American scout. The person who's got a foot in both worlds, walking along the edge." Mystery Road comes at the crest of a wave of Indigenous storytellers making movies for all audiences — films like Bran Nue Dae and The Sapphires. "There are all kinds of young warriors trying to change the face of the industry, trying to tell our stories," says Aaron. "I've done a lot of mainstream material before on television. People used to always tell me, 'you play too many coppers!' Not now, because all those cops got me this job! Ivan wrote the role for me. It's something I'll never forget and a job I'll never get again." "I think [the murder storyline] is something that affects a lot of Indigenous families," says Ivan. "A distant cousin of mine was found underneath the roadway in very similar circumstances, a long time ago now. The killer has never been brought to justice. If you actually pursue reality in a film, that can make things more interesting and suspenseful than all this artificial and contrived conditioning." Adds Aaron, "This film is important to this country, the lessons of healing and understanding. It's about our lives. There are a lot of cold cases in this country, a lot of people left behind after murders." THE ONE-MAN BAND What's behind the all-encompassing role of director, writer, camera operator, editor and composer? "It's just easier to do it yourself," Ivan says. "I just started doing it a long time ago, back in the 1990s. And now technology's caught up and I can edit on the laptop, soundtrack on the plane, write in a cafe. For me, why should film production be the way Hollywood says it is? What right do they have to define all these things?" "Let's hope he doesn't learn how to act, because then there'll be no work for actors!" Aaron's having a go, but you suspect he might be right. "Ivan had all these hats that he'd been wearing [on set], but I'll keep saying 'till the day I die, if he was stressed out, you wouldn't have known. Incredible leader. I was so glad to be part of the project on this big scale — not just as a hired gun, but as someone who helped implement the operation. It was kind of like ceremony in a way. It was really beautiful, really personal. You don't usually have that relationship with a director. We became brothers." SEN GOES SCI-FI I've heard Ivan's next film is a science-fiction epic set in China, his new home. "Yeah, sci-fi," says Ivan. "Set in the future. Big action, romance. Commercial." At first it seems worlds away from the art-film vibe of Mystery Road. How do you cater for the largest possible audience without turning your film to shit? "Someone like Christopher Nolan is in massive demand," Ivan continues. "He puts his heart and soul into what he does, and really wants to give the audience something unique. There's not many other guys with the talent and heart trying to give the masses something special. Because it's all controlled by suits. Chris Nolan's not a suit, but he wears one. He gets the deals without losing any freedoms or destroy his personal approach." It's true — you see a big budget movie with heart and talent and intelligence (Robert Zemeckis's classic space movie, Contact, springs to mind), and you think, hey, that's what Hollywood could be for, that's what all those big budgets and beautiful faces could be doing all the time. They could have big ideas, too. "There's a big hole there, in the commercial arena, for quality," says Ivan. "There's so many shit films for big audiences. You go to the cinema and it's like, 'which crap movie do I have to pick?'" "I actually don't go to the movies very much 'cause of that," admits Aaron. "Too many people are spoon-fed their opinions in this world. That's another audience [than the one for Mystery Road]." Ultimately, for Ivan, leaping into sci-fi just makes sense to him as a filmmaker. "I don't want to make the same film over and over. It's boring. I'm a lover of cinema. Watching cinema gave me emotions that I'd never felt before in my whole eight-year-old life. I'd never felt that connection before." Mystery Road carries this sensibility — beyond being a genre piece, is cuts to the emotional heart of a country that's been torn by dysfunction for too long. At a screening of the film in Sydney's inner west, Aaron spoke plainly, and passionately. "History did not start 225 years ago in this country ... This role is more than a job, it's a chance for me to show my ancestral trauma. This film is larger than this script: it's a cinematic campfire. Sit around it. Take something from it. Be smarter for it. Be a better nation for it."
Looking for fancy accommodation in the heart of Cairns, but still within stone's throwing distance to the water? The Pullman Cairns International provides. It's right in the middle of the CBD but still provides harbour views and tropical pools. It's in the perfect place for maximum exploration of the surrounding region – the Great Barrier Reef, waterfalls, Fitzroy and Green Islands and northern beaches are all your oysters. It's easy to hop on a day tour from here, don a snorkel or scuba mask and find yourself getting acquainted with the sealife of one of the world's largest coral reefs. But by staying in far north Queensland's biggest city, you'll also have access to the wealth of bars, clubs, cafes and restaurants that add an epicurean dimension to your holiday by night. Another perk: you're close to Cairns airport, so you can minimise the transit time and maximise hours logged on sunloungers and sundowners. The Pullman Cairns International is the largest 5-star hotel in Cairns' CBD, and it isn't just its colonial era architecture which make it so luxurious. All rooms have a balcony and a view, and the Cairns International also has a gym, the Vie Spa, and a pool with attached sundeck and jacuzzi. You may never want to be dry and clothed again. Make sure you eat at the hotel restaurant Coco's – all we need say is "seafood buffet" and "share plates". If you're hungry in daylight hours, the Lobby Bar also does a decadent high tea. Once you've eaten, head over to the award-winning Vie Spa for a cheeky massage or three. Try to come up here between April and October — not only you escape the winter drudgery of Australia's southern cities, you'll enjoy the more comfortable conditions of far north Queensland's dry season.
When you're watching The Room, or reading behind-the-scenes memoir The Disaster Artist, or seeing the star-studded film the latter spawned as well, one big fact is always glaringly apparent. It's inescapable. It's as obvious as Tommy Wiseau's lanky hair and awkward demeanour. It's as plain as the spoons scattered throughout The Room. Yes, Greg Sestero went through one helluva experience. Of course, if it wasn't for The Room, Sestero mightn't have enjoyed his current fame. When you're in a movie that's so bad it's bad but also someone great to watch — but definitely not great itself by any standards — that's a particular kind of success. So, Sestero has made the most of it. He penned The Disaster Artist. He popped up in the flick based on it. He reteamed on-screen with Wiseau for the two-part Best F(r)iends. And he heads to screenings, doing Q&As to chat about all things The Room, too. It's been five years since Sestero last came to Australia to indulge the nation's The Room fixation, but for a week in February, he's back. His timing is perfect given that Wiseau's disasterpiece notches up 20 years in 2023. Spoons at the ready at Dendy Coorparoo on Tuesday, February 14, clearly. Sestero is doing two things: getting talking about The Room as part of 20th-anniversary sessions, and also showing his new horror film Miracle Valley. This one is a horror movie on purpose, rather than accidentally like The Room, and also marks Sestero's feature directorial debut. For newcomers to The Room — with your pristine minds currently untainted by its wonders, and your vocabulary free from constantly saying "oh hi Mark" — it tells the tale of a banker, his adulterous fiancée, his conflicted best friend, a local teen caught up in a drug deal, a mother with cancer, a particularly tense party, a bunch of guys playing football in tuxedos and the worst apartment decorating scheme you've ever seen. Wondering how all of these things come together? Even the wildest combination you can come up has nothing on The Room. As for Miracle Valley, it's about an obsessive photographer and his girlfriend, who head off on a desert getaway but get threatened by sinister forces. No — disappointingly or welcomely, depending on how you feel about The Room — Wiseau is not among the credited cast.
UPDATE, FEBRUARY 13, 2020: From Monday–Thursday for a limited time, KaiKai Chicken is serving up a 'super saver' buffet package for $20 per person. Chook fiends can munch on all-you-can-eat fried chicken in 12 flavours, plus bottomless servings of fries, spring rolls, samosas, pickled radish and cucumber — and bottomless iced tea. Why did the fried chicken fan cross Hawken Drive? To eat all the greasy chook they could handle, of course. What might sound like a groan-worthy joke is actually happening in St Lucia thanks to KaiKai Chicken and its fried chicken buffet. The shop is helping locals solve the eternal question faced by hungry chook fiends everywhere — aka whether to have one finger lickin' good piece, several, or more than anyone should actually admit to. Since opening its doors in July 2017, it serves up an endless array of poultry in 12 different flavours, plus all-you-can-eat pizza, fries, salads, other sides and desserts to round out the meal. A la carte orders are also available, but who wants that when there's fried chicken and pizza at arms reach? The affordable — albeit hardly healthy — package will set diners back $24.90, with bottomless homemade lemon iced tea available for an extra $1.50, and bottomless soft drink, bubble tea and ice tea for an extra $5.50. As of December 2018, unlimited chicken nuggets now included in the standard buffet, while the endless non-boozy beverage package also boasts three types of milkshakes, in creme caramel, triple chocolate, and peanut butter and jelly shake flavours. A rib buffet is also on offer for $35.90, as well as a scaled-back wing and fries-only version for $21.90. But wait, because there really is more. Not content with serving up all-you-can-eat wings and ribs, KaiKai also do a Chix 'n' Booze buffet, which features exactly what it sounds like. For $49.90, patrons can gorge on unlimited wings, fries, hot sides, dishes from the salad bar and dessert, plus alcoholic drinks. Tipple choices include international beers and their very own KaiKai lager; Blue Hawaiian, Lychee Fairy and Tequila Sunrise cocktails; and red, white and sparkling wines. Or, if you're particularly fond of sangria, you can choose a $40 package that pairs your favourite tipple with wings and beer. Indulge in a bottomless supply of each, as well as sides — with jugs of the venue's KaiKai Lager on offer, plus three types of sangria. For folks who like chicken nuggets more than chook pieces, KaiKai has started a $20 all-you-can-eat nuggets night too. It happens every Tuesday, with five dipping sauces and six kinds of loaded fries also included. If it sounds too good to be true, we're here to tell you that it's a clucking reality; however, each visit does have a time limit. Flocking customers are asked to get their chicken fix within 90 minutes due to the demand — and, let's be honest, after an hour and a half of seeing how much chook you can feast upon, you'll probably be ready to fly the coop anyway. Image: KaiKai Chicken. Updated February 13, 2020.
Perfect for a nature-filled long weekend, Grampians National Park boasts some of Victoria's best mountain views, waterfalls, and wildlife. For those looking to temporarily ditch the hustle and bustle of city life, or are after a secluded getaway surrounded by lush greenery, visitors to Halls Gap and surrounding areas can hike to famous mountain lookouts including the Pinnacle, explore the town's food and drink options, or just stay in, light a fire and take in the scenery. That sounds relaxing. In order to keep it relaxing, we did the research and found some of the best stays in the area to rest, relax and enjoy great views. These are some of the region's best Airbnbs for your next kangaroo-and-cockatoo-filled weekend getaway. Recommended reads: The Best Hotels in Melbourne The Best Places to Go Glamping in Victoria The Best Dog-Friendly Stays in Victoria The Best Places to Stay on the Great Ocean Road Blue Ridge Retreat, Halls Gap After a day of exploring Grampians National Park's bushland, pour yourself a glass of wine and settle into this property's spa bath with leafy outlooks from all angles. From $370 a night, sleeps five. Hemley House, Halls Gap Take in the picturesque view of the Grampians' notable wildlife against the backdrop of the mountains from your seat in this property's heated jacuzzi. From $368 a night, sleeps eight. Wine Down, Halls Gap Within walking distance to Halls Gap town centre, this cosy spot offers plenty of activity options. Explore the town's food and drink options, walk any of the several nearby nature trails, or light a fire and unwind in the outdoor kitchen area. From $210 a night, sleeps four. School House Villa, Halls Gap Nestled amongst the trees not far from Halls Gap town centre, visitors of this cottage can enjoy the best of both worlds: the creature comforts of town and the rugged charm of the bushland. From $190 a night, sleeps two. Aztec Escape, Halls Gap Light a fire and ease into a bottle of wine in property's picturesque living area, or step outside and relax on either of its patio areas. From $240 a night, sleeps four. Awonga Cabins, Halls Gap Rent out one of these six cabins for their proximity to an easy 1.3 km walking path to Main Street or to enjoy an evening BBQ on the deck. From $180 a night, sleeps two. The Escarpment, Halls Gap What better way to end a day than by relaxing in the outdoor hanging chair of this treetop-level home with sandstone cliff views — plus, this particular stay is kid-friendly with highchairs and cots provided. From $180 a night, sleeps six. Mountain Hideaway, Halls Gap Enjoy views of the Pinnacle from this property's front verandah or take the 20 minute stroll along the path into Halls Gap for an evening in town. From $205 a night, sleeps six. Heath House, Halls Gap You'd be hard-pressed to find better panoramic mountain views than from the floor-to-ceiling windows of Heath House. From $514 a night, sleeps eight. Redgum Log Cottage, Halls Gap Trade out your usual address for this rustic log cabin with epic mountain views and you might be personally greeted by the local emus, kangaroos, birdlife, and the property's free-ranging chooks. From $289 a night, sleeps six. Halls Gap Cottages Couples Retreat, Halls Gap Under the famous Pinnacle, lay out on this property's outdoor sectional and enjoy the fresh mountain air, views and nearby wildlife. From $317 a night, sleeps two. Hillrise Cottage, Moyston If you're willing to venture a little further, this remote cottage is the perfect base for the explorer. And, if you happen to overheat during your adventures, you can cool off in the nearby dam. From $250 a night, sleeps five. Ironstone, Hills Gap If you want to splurge, check out Ironstone. Designed to be the ultimate couples' retreat, this home's best asset is its spectacular mountain views from the living area, bathroom and bedroom. From $524 a night, sleeps two. Views at Pomonal, Pomonal Settle onto this home's front porch that is the epitome of rural single-level Australiana living with a drink in hand and watch as sunsets colour the skies. From $175 a night, sleeps five. Bush Lodge Retreat, Halls Gap Centrally located in Halls Gap, this cosy holiday home has all you need to relax indoors or out. From $317 a night, sleeps four. Romantic Tiny Home, Halls Gap If you're looking to see if the tiny house craze is for you, this tiny home is compact without sacrificing comfort. However, it also has easy access to trails into the mountains and to town just in case you decide you need to temporarily escape the close quarters. From $177 a night, sleeps three. Dacelo, Halls Gap If you're seeking out an eco-friendly option, there are many places to take in the mountain views in this two-storey home, although the soaker tub might be hard to beat. From $310 a night, sleeps eight. Mount Ida View, Halls Gap Hang out with the visiting cockatoos and kangaroos and take in the scenery on this home's shaded back deck. Or, enjoy a short stroll to the town of Halls Gap and explore the area. From $220 a night, sleeps six. Top image: Redgum Log Cottage courtesy of Airbnb. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
After headlining the post-parade party at the 2020 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and then bringing her Future Nostalgia tour Down Under in 2022, Dua Lipa has announced her latest trip to Australia and New Zealand. The Grammy-winner's massive Radical Optimism tour just got bigger, adding more than 40 new dates worldwide. On the 2025 list: stops in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. 2024 has been a huge year for the singer, with her third studio album Radical Optimism releasing in May and then the artist headlining Glastonbury. She also popped up in Argylle in cinemas. 2023 was no slouch, either, given that 'Dance the Night' graced the Barbie soundtrack and Dua Lipa featured in the film as a Barbie. But with her new tour, 2025 looks set to be even bigger. [caption id="attachment_972947" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tyrone Lebon[/caption] The Radical Optimism gigs kick off in November 2024 across Asia, with concerts in Singapore, Jakarta, Manila, Tokyo, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Seoul. Fans in Australia and Aotearoa get their turn to find the star under lights and turning the rhythm up in March and April 2025, thanks to shows at Rod Laver Arena, Qudos Bank Arena and Spark Arena. If you're located outside of Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland and you've noticed a lack of Down Under dates elsewhere, you'll need to travel to see the 'Don't Start Now', 'Physical', 'Break My Heart', 'Cold Heart' and 'Houdini' talent. The Aussie and NZ leg will restart the Radical Optimism tour in 2025, with dates also announced across Europe in May and June next year, and in North America in September and October afterwards. As well as Radical Optimism and Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa has tracks from her self-titled 2017 debut record to bust out, including 'Be the One', 'Hotter Than Hell', 'Lost in Your Light', 'New Rules', 'IDGAF' and 'Blow Your Mind'. Dua Lipa Radical Optimism Tour 2025 Australia and New Zealand Dates Thursday, March 20 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Wednesday, March 26 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Wednesday, April 2 — Spark Arena, Auckland Dua Lipa's Radical Optimism tour heads Down Under in March and April 2025, with Amex presale tickets from 11am local time on Wednesday, September 18, artist presales from 12pm local time on Thursday, September 19 and general sales from 1pm local time on Friday, September 20. Head to Dua Lipa's website for more details. Live images: Raph_PH via Flickr.
The idea behind The Lume was always a stunner, giving Australia its first permanent digital-only art gallery. When the Melbourne venue started welcoming in patrons in 2021, it lived up to its immersive, multi-sensory promise, initially with a spectacular Van Gogh exhibition that let visitors feel like they were walking right into the artist's work, and then with the French impressionism-focused Monet & Friends Alive. The latest showcase set to grace the site's agenda has those past shows beat, however, heroing First Nations art and music. On display from Friday, June 23, Connection features more than 110 Indigenous visual and musical artists in a dazzling fashion. At this Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre gallery, the art gracing its walls towers over patrons, with the space filled with large-scale digital pieces. And Connection is full thanks to more than 550 works — digitals and originals alike. Earning some love: art by Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Tommy Watson, Anna Pitjara, Lin Onus, Sarrita King, Kate Constantine, Wayne Qulliam, Clifford, Gabriella and Michelle Possum Nungurrayi, and many more, in a walk-through exhibition that presents its pieces through the themes of land, water and sky Country. Their work is scored a soundtrack by Yothu Yindi, Archie Roach, Emily Wurramara, Gurrumul, Alice Skye, Baker Boy and others, plus composers such as William Barton. Grande Experiences, the company behind The Lume and its touring exhibitions — Van Gogh Alive made its way around Australia, plus Monet in Paris from June — says that Connection boasts the largest representation of First Peoples art and culture ever assembled. It spans over 3000 square metres, and its remit is just as sizeable: highlighting pieces by past and present artists, and surveying the entire country and Torres Strait. Shining a spotlight on emerging talents while showing their work alongside their inspirations is another key mission. If it sounds familiar, that's because a smaller version premiered at the National Museum of Australia in 2022, with Grande Experiences joining forces with the Canberra gallery. Connection also benefits from an advisory panel featuring Constantine, Quilliam, King, Aboriginal art specialist Adam Knight, the National Museum's lead Indigenous curator and academic Margo Ngawa Neale, arts executive Rhoda Roberts AO, and designer and film producer Alison Page. Updated: Thursday, October 12.
Keen to learn more about coffee? Already know a bit, but want to know more? Here's your chance. Toby's Estate is inviting you to a coffee omakase at its flagship store in Newstead. You'll spend 45 minutes tasting a series of standout coffees, led by Toby's Estate's green bean buyer, Josh. While you sip, he'll fill you in on where each coffee is sourced, and how it's roasted and brewed. Since being founded in 1997, Toby's Estate has sourced specialty coffee from small communities all over the world. Its collection ranges from red bourbon beans harvested in the hills of Rimiro in Burundi to pink bourbon sourced from El Meson in Colombia. Coffee omakases are happening from 7am–2pm on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1. You can book your session online.
If you're a wannabe wizard or witch looking for more Harry Potter magic in your life, there's no shortage of ways to accio up some enchanting fun. Harry Potter-themed potions bars have been popping up across Australia and New Zealand for a few years. Pokemon Go-style game Wizards Unite is available to play whenever you like. In London, the Fantastic Beasts films have even inspired a natural history exhibition. And Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is still casting its spell on Melbourne, a city that's also home to Australia's biggest Harry Potter store — and screenings, parties, escape rooms, scavenger hunts and other HP-centric events are extremely common everywhere, really. Soon, all of above might pale in comparison to the kind of space HP fans can really lose themselves in — and one that, hopefully, visitors would need a Marauder's Map to get around. That'd be a dedicated Harry Potter theme park, which could be coming to Tokyo soon, The Japan Times reports. It seems that the owners of the Toshimaen amusement park in Tokyo's Nerima ward are thinking about closing down, ending its 94-year run. And, at the same time, it seems that Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc is contemplating taking over the venue — waving a few magic wands about and turning it into a Harry Potter-theme park. [caption id="attachment_761496" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Toshimaen. Image: Rsa via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Few other details have been revealed as yet but, if it does happen, it's unlikely to open until at least 2023. Variety notes that it'll probably feature sets that patrons can tour, rather than rides — so if you were hoping to play quidditch, travel by portkey or ride the floo network, that doesn't seem to be on the agenda. Generally, it appears that the Tokyo park will be modelled after the existing Harry Potter attraction in London, which also spans costumes, props, exhibitions and special events. For Valentine's Day, it's hosting romantic feasts in the Great Hall, for example, while 'A Celebration of Slytherin' will also deck the place in shades of green and silver later this year. Japan is already home to a Harry Potter theme park zone at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka — so diehard devotees just might have to visit two of the country's cities. If it does come to fruition, add the dedicated Harry Potter theme park to Japan's hefty range of pop culture-themed attractions. A Super Nintendo amusement park zone is due to open at the aforementioned Universal Studios Japan in Osaka by mid-2020, a forthcoming Godzilla attraction will let you zipline into the monster's mouth, and a Studio Ghibli theme park is in the works — and Tokyo already boasts huge Godzilla and Gundam statues, as well as the Studio Ghibli Museum just outside the city. Via The Japan Times / Variety. Top images: Warner Bros Studio Tour London.
Australian property developer has announced a proposed plan to build Australia's tallest-ever building in a partnership with the Trump family, with the goal of constructing Australia's first-ever Trump-branded project on the Gold Coast shoreline. Now in its final agreement stages, the partnership aims to construct a 91-storey tower on Rickett Street packed with 272 luxury apartments, a 285-room resort hotel, an exclusive beach club and a retail plaza. According to Altus Property CEO and founder David Young, the starting price of the apartments will be five million dollars, with the hopes of "attracting the world's wealthiest people." It's not set in stone yet, as Gold Coast Acting Mayor Mark Hammel told the ABC that the council is yet to receive a formal development proposal on the tower, which will occupy a lot that's sat vacant since 2013. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Trump Organization (@trump) In a press release, Eric Trump, Trump Organisation EVP and second son of the mogul and US President, said This development exemplifies the Trump brand's dedication to quality, sophistication, and unmatched service, and we are thrilled to bring this vision to the vibrant Gold Coast community." The enthusiasm was shared by David Young, who travelled to the Trump family complex of Mar-a-Lago in Florida to seal the deal, and wrote, "Trump International Hotel & Tower, Gold Coast will be a truly unique offering in the Australian market, bringing the prestige and allure of a world-class luxury brand." [embed]https://twitter.com/erictrump/status/2025936863001723097?s=46[/embed] The court of public opinion is less enthusiastic. On a video shared by Sky News Australia, one commenter wrote "when can we start pelting it with eggs?", while on X, author Craig Hill wrote, "I don't think Australia should allow Trump to build a tower on the Gold Coast. The man is a convicted criminal, adjudicated rapist and alleged pedophile. He should not be allowed to do business in Australia." Another X user said, "The Trump Tower being in the Gold Coast is the most Gold Coast thing to ever Gold Coast." Petitions are already circulating on platforms like Change.org to have the project stopped, but until the Gold Coast council receives a formal proposal, it's unknown when, or if, the project will commence in earnest.
Fans of huge pop-culture behemoths, we hope you have a comfortable couch, because you're going to be spending a lot of time sitting on it over the next month or so. Not one, not two, but four massive franchises are dropping new streaming series between now and mid-September — and with everyone's queues set to be so busy, one is now arriving a little later than initially planned. That show: Andor, the second Star Wars Disney+ spinoff for 2022, following Obi-Wan Kenobi. Originally set to debut at the end of August, it has just pushed its premiere date out to Wednesday, September 21, arriving after Marvel's She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon and the Middle-earth-set The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power — so you'll be waiting a bit longer to dive into its tale of espionage and rebellion. The rest of the series' details remain the same, though — including providing a prequel to 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and bringing some spy thrills to a galaxy far, far away. And yes, like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor takes a favourite big-screen character and steps back into their story before the events that viewers have already seen. As its title makes plain, Andor focuses on its namesake — Cassian Andor, again played by Diego Luna (If Beale Street Could Talk). Star Wars fans have already seen him as a Rebel captain and intelligence agent, and also watched how his story ends, hence the show's need to jump backwards. The focus: following Andor as he discovers how he can play a part in fighting the Empire. Indeed, charting the rebellion, and how people and planets joined in, is the series' whole remit. Alongside Luna, Andor sees filmmaker Tony Gilroy (The Bourne Legacy) — who co-wrote the screenplay for Rogue One — return to the Star Wars franchise as the series' creator and showrunner. And, on-screen, Luna is joined by the Genevieve O'Reilly (The Dry) — who is also back as Mon Mothma — as well as Stellan Skarsgård (Dune), Adria Arjona (Morbius), Denise Gough (Monday) and Kyle Soller (Poldark). Oh, and a cute-looking new robot that was first scurrying around in the show's initial trailer, although how big a part it'll play is yet to be revealed. Andor also just dropped its full trailer, which teases the titular figure's quest to make a difference against the Empire — with a big push at first, and with help where he can get it afterwards. Unsurprisingly, the mood is grim and weighty. "The Empire is choking us all slowly. We're starting not to notice," Andor is told by Luthen Rael (Skarsgård). "What I'm asking is this: wouldn't you give it all to something real?" Andor is set to span two seasons, both running for 12 episodes each and adding to Disney+'s ever-expanding array of Star Wars programming. Also on its way: the third season of The Mandalorian, which'll arrive in February 2023; and the recently announced Skeleton Crew, which'll star Jude Law and hit streaming queues sometime next year as well. Check out the full trailer for Andor below: Andor will now start streaming via Disney+ from Wednesday, September 21. Images: ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd & TM. All Rights Reserved.
One of the top ways to treat yourself is to check into one of the best hotels in Sydney for a few nights. At these joints, you get a little bit of everything (or even a whole lot of everything). You get fresh plush sheets (this may seem basic, but we all know how good this feels), room service that you can eat in bed, pampering packages at award-winning spas, pools with epic views and just about anything else your luxurious self desires. And Sydney is packed with five-star hotels and brilliant boutique stays that will help you live your best life. So check out our guide to the best hotels in Sydney, perfect for those after a luxury staycation or out-of-town visitors in need of a base for exploring the city. Recommended reads: The Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Sydney Sydney's Best Spa Experiences The Eight Best Glamping Spots in NSW The Best Luxury Getaways Near Sydney
The Australian-premiere season of Jean Paul Gaultier's Fashion Freak Show. Trent Dalton's Love Stories making the world-debuting leap from the page to the stage. A serialised live blend of dance and theatre that asks you to binge-watch in person. The return of both Lightscape to make the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens shine and The Art Boat sailing down the Brisbane River. You'll find them all at one place and one place only in 2024: Brisbane Festival, which has just unveiled its full lineup for this year. As fans of the Boy Swallows Universe author will already know, Dalton's Love Stories was announced in advance of the complete program — and now it has excellent company. Securing the only Australian run of Jean Paul Gaultier's Fashion Freak Show, a fashion show-meets-musical revue stage production that features more than 200 original Gaultier couture pieces and celebrates the designer's 50-year career, is an incredible coup for Brisbane Festival Artistic Director Louise Bezzina in her fifth year at the helm. Also huge as part of the performance, which is headed to South Bank Piazza: a couture piece by Queensland Indigenous designer Grace Lillian Lee, as chosen by Gaultier, will feature in the Brisbane season. Lee will also unveil her first solo exhibition The Dream Weaver: Guardians of Grace at this year's fest. The overall Brisbane Festival dates for your diary: Friday, August 30–Saturday, September 21. For that three-week period, almost every corner of Brissie will play host to the fest, as 1000-plus performances — more than 320 of which will be free, and with 13 enjoying their world debuts — fill the city. Some aspects of the program will get you seated in theatres around town, of course, but Brisbane Festival has always adored taking its roster of performances, gigs, installations and parties well beyond the usual venues. Hailing from Ireland, Volcano might be among the shows popping up in expected digs — at Brisbane Powerhouse — but it's anything but standard. Watching this performance means making a date with four 45-minute episodes, complete with intermissions, in a piece that riffs on a TV sci-fi thriller. Lightscape and The Art Boat are no strangers to Brisbane, with both making a 2024 comeback to dazzle iconic areas of the city with light and colour. On the latter, DJ sets will provide the soundtrack, while Briefs Factory and a range of other artists will be in the hot seat with burlesque, drag and circus performances. Firmly new not just to the Queensland capital or Brisbane Festival but to the world is opera Straight from the Strait, which is about the seven kilometres of railway track put down in a single 1968 day by Torres Strait Islander workers — and yes, it's a true story. Also enjoying its global debut is Lighting the Dark by Dancenorth Australia, in collaboration with Chris Dyke. The latter, a performer and choreographer living with Down Syndrome, has weaved his love of Banksy, David Bowie and Freddie Mercury into what promises to be a heartfelt presentation. Kitchen Studio from artist Elizabeth Winning is yet another certain highlight, acting as an installation by day and hosting small guests for a sensory experience by evening. Still getting interactive, Adrift tasks its audience with playing a role in a participatory theatre work — following instructions received via headsets — that's a mix of a mystery and a game. The standouts keep coming, including Big Name, No Blankets, which celebrates Warumpi Band across two nights of concerts, as inspired by founding member Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher's stories; Skylore — The Rainbow Serpent, as featuring 400-plus drones to tell a First Nations story above the city; GRIMM, with Shake & Stir switching from 2023's stage iteration of Frankenstein to a show that weaves in Snow White, Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood; and this year's round of Brisbane Serenades, complete with events in Moorooka, Northshore Brisbane, St Lucia, Kuraby and Victoria Park. Or, there's the Queensland premieres of Eucalyptus and Private View and — the first turning Murray Bail's Miles Franklin Award-winning novel into an opera, and the second exploring the intersection of disability and sexual desire across a four-room setup. Riverfire, Sweet Relief!'s return headlined by Kelis, the tradition that is the Common People Dance Eisteddfod, Cirque Bon Bon bring Le Retour back to Brisbane: they're all a part of the festival as well, as is plenty more — so whether you're a Brisbanite keen to hop around your home town or an interstater planning a visit, no one will be short on things to do across Brisbane Festival's 23 days. "Brisbane Festival believes in the transformative power of the arts to unite, inspire and empower and my fifth festival program is a creative celebration of this power on both a global and a local scale," said Bezzina about the 2024 lineup. "I am delighted this year to bring leading international artists as well as creatively significant, profoundly inspiring and wholly entertaining works from across the world to our city." "Brisbane Festival remains a celebration by and for Brisbane so when we bring these global works to our city, we create opportunities to spotlight the extraordinary talents of our local artists on the world stage." Brisbane Festival 2024 runs from Friday, August 30–Saturday, September 21 at various venues around Brisbane. Head to the festival's website for tickets and further details.
Brisbane is a river city, and there are plenty of things that you can do while you're on, near or around the Brown Snake that winds through the centre of town. But Brisbane's Art Boat, as part of this year's Brisbane Festival, just might be the brightest option — because it'll have you moseying along the waterway while checking out dazzling installations. Between Friday, September 3–Friday, September 24, this floating art experience is taking two of the festival's big attractions — Airship Orchestra and Sky Castle — and popping them on a boat. Yes, it's that simple. You can still enjoy both inflatable pieces on dry land, if you'd prefer, but this'll have you appreciating both the art and the city in a whole new way. Airship Orchestra is doing the honours for the first two weeks, then Sky Castle will bring its arches for the remainder of the fest. There'll be a bar on board, plus live performances by the likes of Tom Thum, Briefs Factory, Sahara Beck and more. And, as well as choosing which installation you want to see, you can choose between a few routes — including South Bank to Northshore, the reverse, or loops from either location. Top image: Airship Orchestra, Ben Weinstein.
Korean television made history in 2025, when season three of Squid Game broke Netflix viewership and ranking records. Parasite, Korea's big Oscar-winner, is in the spotlight at this year's Melbourne International Film Festival courtesy of new big-screen sessions with composer Jung Jae-il conducting and performing its score live. That movie's director Bong Joon-ho released his first feature, Mickey 17, since his most-acclaimed picture. They're just some of the ways that 2025 has already been excellent if you love Korean film and television. Here's another: from August–October, the Korean Film Festival in Australia is returning for its latest run. Back in 2010 when it debuted, it did so in Sydney. The Harbour City remains the event's main home in 2025, too. As the fest did in 2024, however, it's also taking the show on the road to regional locations — and when the KOFFIA Touring Program hits up Benalla, Toowoomba, Parramatta, Alice Springs, Victor Harbour and The Whitsundays, it will be free. Accordingly, the Korean Film Festival in Australia has a date with Event Cinema George Street from Thursday, August 21–Tuesday, August 26, kicking off its lineup of ten titles. Then, the KOFFIA Touring Program will visit Benalla Cinema in Victoria across Saturday, September 13–Sunday, September 14; The Strand Cinemas in Toowoomba for the first of its Queensland stops on Sunday, September 14; and Riverside Theatres in Parramatta over Friday, September 26–Saturday, September 27. In October, Alice Springs Cinema will play host from Friday, October 3–Sunday, October 5; Victa Cinema in Victor Harbour gives the event a South Australian location across Saturday, October 4–Sunday, October 5; and Proserpine Entertainment Centre in The Whitsundays will close out the tour, and add a second Sunshine State trip, over Saturday, October 11–Sunday, October 12. The schedule does mean that if you're in Melbourne, Brisbane or Adelaide and you want to attend KOFFIA in 2025, you do need to head out of town. At every stop that the festival makes, though, Hear Me: Our Summer is on the bill — including opening Sydney. The romantic drama co-stars former Iz*One member Kim Minju, remakes Taiwan's Hear Me and sees a love story blossom via Korean Sign Language. Sydney audiences can also catch the South Korean spin on 2011 Colombian film Hidden Face, with Parasite's Cho Yeo-jeong among the cast; see a new take on Mary Shelley's masterpiece via Frankenstein Father; watch more K-pop stars, including An So-hee leading the Seoul-set The Daechi Scandal and EXO's Doh Kyung-soo feature in Secret: Untold Melody; and get a dose of crime thrills via Dirty Money. A 4K restoration of 1999's spy thriller Shiri is showing in the Harbour City as well. If you're keen to hear more about a number of titles on the lineup in Sydney, Hear Me: Our Summer director Jo Seon-ho, Hidden Face helmer Kim Dae-woo and About Family's Yang Woo-seok are all attending the fest — and so is The Noisy Mansion's Lee Lu-da, plus actor Gyeong Su-jin. The last of those two movies are also on the touring program, with About Family a dramedy about a chef discovering that he might have grandchildren, and The Noisy Mansion focusing on a tenant and her neighbours trying to discover why their building is plagued by strange sounds. Sydney and regional audiences can catch Forbidden Fairytale, too, about a children's book author who starts ghostwriting online erotica. Korean Film Festival in Australia 2025 Dates Korean Film Festival in Australia Thursday, August 21–Tuesday, August 26 — Event Cinema George Street, Sydney KOFFIA Touring Program Saturday, September 13–Sunday, September 14, 2025 — Benalla Cinema, Benalla Sunday, September 14, 2025 — The Strand Cinemas, Toowoomba Friday, September 26–Saturday, September 27, 2025 — Riverside Theatres, Parramatta Friday, October 3–Sunday, October 5, 2025 — Alice Springs Cinema, Alice Springs Saturday, October 4–Sunday, October 5, 2025 — Victa Cinema, Victor Harbour Saturday, October 11–Sunday, October 12, 2025 — Proserpine Entertainment Centre, The Whitsundays The Korean Film Festival in Australia 2025 runs in Sydney from Thursday, August 21–Tuesday, August 26, with the KOFFIA Touring Program hitting Benalla, Toowoomba, Parramatta, Alice Springs, Victor Harbour and The Whitsundays between September–October. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the KOFFIA website.
UPDATE, August 30, 2020: Mary Shelley is available to stream via SBS On Demand, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. It has been exactly 200 years since Frankenstein's monster first shuffled through the pages of Mary Shelley's now-classic story, completely reshaping the gothic horror landscape in the process. At the time, no one anticipated the impact that the novel or the woman behind it would have. No one realised that Mary was responsible for the greatest horror novel ever written, either, a title it still holds today. In fact, only 500 copies of Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus were initially printed back in 1818. It was also published anonymously, with Mary's poet husband Percy Bysshe Shelley penning the introduction and originally thought by many to be the text's author. Today, the beast conceived by the teenage Mary has carved a path not only through the literary world, but across cinema screens for more than a century — but, as the movie's title suggests, Mary Shelley doesn't replay Frankenstein's familiar narrative. Instead, Haifaa Al-Mansour's follow-up to 2012's Wadjda subscribes to a different filmmaking trend. Like everything from James Whale's iconic 1930s adaptations, to Tim Burton's gorgeous Frankenweenie, Mary Shelley obviously owes its existence to Frankenstein. But this origin story is more concerned with the early life of its author than with an obsessed young scientist and his resurrected creature. It's not the first time that Mary has earned the biopic treatment, with 1980s flicks Gothic, Haunted Summer and Rowing with the Wind all exploring the woman behind the classic tale. Still, where that trio honed in on the Lake Geneva getaway that sparked Frankenstein into being (the novel originated from a holiday wager among friends to see who could write the scariest ghost story), this movie focuses on Mary's tumultuous adolescence, her relationship with Percy, and the influence of both upon her famous work. Before images even reach the screen, the sound of writing echoes from Mary Shelley. Before Mary (Elle Fanning) has even dreamed of Frankenstein, the film deploys her lyrical prose to set a distinctive mood and tone. Stylistically, that's Al-Mansour's vivid and evocative approach, infusing every moment of the movie with the same passion and poetry that drives its heroine. A willowy yet strong-willed teen, from the outset Mary is either spinning her own tales or reading others in her father's (Stephen Dillane) bookshop. In-between, she fights with her stepmother (Joanne Froggatt) and finds solace with her stepsister Claire (Bel Powley) — until Percy (Douglas Booth) comes along. Although Mary is just 16, and despite the fact that Percy already has a wife and child, the couple is determined to be together. In her debut feature-length script, Australian screenwriter Emma Jensen endeavours to examine a side of Mary's tale that hasn't previously received as much on-screen attention, championing her protagonist's achievements as well as the considerable obstacles that she faced. Neither can be downplayed and nor are they. That said, sometimes the scandalous love story that accompanies them is given a little too much prominence. Indeed, parts of the film feel like a stock-standard period romance that just happens to involve one of the most influential writers who ever lived. When Mary Shelley connects the dots between Mary's experiences and the book she'll forever be associated with, it's a much more satisfying, moving and involving picture. Likewise, when it delves into Mary's tussles with sexist, dismissive men who can't even conceive of a woman writing such dark, smart and terrifying things, the film comes much closer to doing justice to its subject, her struggles and her continuing importance. Thanks to Fanning's lively and spirited portrayal, there's no doubting the fire that burned inside Mary, even when the film does favour her amorous affairs. Whether surrounded by towers of tomes, scribbling by her mother's grave, or swooning over Percy, Fanning's take on the real-life figure always stands out — from the movie's sumptuous backdrops, which constantly catch the eye, as well as from the romantic plot. It's a performance worthy of the woman it depicts, and it leaves audiences wanting more. The same is true of Mary Shelley, although in a different way. You'll want to keep watching Fanning as she brings the fiercely independent and thoroughly fascinating Mary to life. But you'll also want the movie to flesh out the aspects of Mary's trailblazing existence that it sometimes rushes over. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zFFs6BHsS0
Unroll your posters, dust-off that secret diary and get ready to rock your body right: the Backstreet Boys are bringing their latest world tour Down Under in 2023. Get ready for another hefty dose of 90s nostalgia, too, given that you can now see the huge boy band and the vastly dissimilar blink-182 in Australia and New Zealand in the near future. With the sheer number of popular 90s gigs, nights and tours happening over the past five years or so, plus the remakes of childhood favourites like The Lion King and Aladdin, this is the run of shows that was always going to happen — and it was already supposed to. The targets of all your teenage affection were meant to hit our shores in 2020, but we all know what got in the way. Instead, Backstreet's back — alright — in 2023. Get ready to belt out the lyrics to 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back)', 'As Long As You Love Me', 'I Want It That Way', 'Larger Than Life' and 'Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely' when the famous five — aka AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson — head to Australia and New Zealand in February and March for a very nostalgic arena tour. Hitting up stadiums in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland, the Backstreet Boys will also be performing songs off their 2019 album DNA, which debuted at number one on the charts when it was released and features Grammy-nominated single 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart'. Fingers crossed that they also break out tracks from their new festive record A Very Backstreet Christmas, even though it won't quite be the season when the tour gets here. Either way, we know you'll most likely be there for the 90s and early 00s goodness. You've got a few months until the band gets here, so that's plenty of time to relearn the moves to 'Everybody' over summer. BACKSTREET BOYS DNA WORLD TOUR AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND 2023 DATES: Saturday, February 25 — RAC Arena, Perth Tuesday, February 28–Wednesday, March 1 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Saturday, March 4–Sunday, March 5 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Wednesday, March 8 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Saturday, March 11 — Spark Arena, Auckland The Backstreet Boys DNA World Tour heads to Australia and New Zealand in February and March 2023. Tickets are on sale now via Live Nation.
When it comes to eating at a restaurant, everyone broadly knows what to expect. You mosey on in, sit at a table, chat with whichever wonderful person happens to be sharing the meal with you, make plenty of eye contact over wine and dinner, and spend ample time soaking in the eatery's vibe and decor. That's the general process we've all been through countless times. Now, imagine what your dinner would be like if there were no lights. Actually, you don't need to imagine — you can simply head along to The Mix Bar's new Dining in the Dark series. There'll be food, drinks and everything else that goes along with the experience, but absolutely no illumination. The idea behind the concept is to heighten your other senses — taste, obviously, but also smell — and allow you to experience dinner in a completely new and different way. If you're keen, tickets cost $75 for a three-course sitting, with the Woolloongabba spot turning the lights out on select Thursdays — on August 22, September 12 and 26, and October 17 and 24. Image: The Mix Bar.
On the Gold Coast, sun, surf and sand go hand-in-hand with high-rise buildings, busy bars and plenty of theme parks; however one patch of the city still keeps things relatively low-key. While The Spit at Southport is home to Sea World and the Palazzo Versace, it's also filled with parkland, naturally vegetated sand dunes, a huge expanse of beach and the sand spit that gives the area its name — and soon it'll all be part of Australia's biggest ocean park. Announced by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and expected to take up to a decade to come to fruition, the Gold Coast Ocean Park will span 201 hectares, with 140 hectares earmarked for park activities. The green space north of Sea World is set to retain its current natural splendour while adding other attractions, from a restored 4000-square-metre rainforest by the water to an underwater sculpture garden. Crucially, existing favourites and features will remain as part of the just-released draft master plan, including the kiosk, marine rescue and boat ramps. As for the extensive sand dunes, they'll benefit from improved cycle and walkways. Splitting the area into seven precincts — the top of The Spit, Wave Break Island, the Federation Walk coastal reserve, Muriel Henchman Park, a village centre, Philip Park and a southern gateway — The Spit is also set to boast light rail through to Sea World, a super yacht marina, a seaside promenade as well as a broadwater boardwalk, an island viewing platform, a waterslide park and a selfie tower. The list of features continues, complete with picnic and event spaces, bird lookouts, an Aboriginal cultural centre, a new resort and a public beach club, with the latter concept floating around in different guises for a while. If that sounds like a lot to fit into one place, that's because the entire space will eclipse Brisbane's South Bank eight times over, the city's Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens by two-and-half times, and also prove 12 times bigger than the public areas at Sydney's Barangaroo. On the world front, the Qld Government has its sights set on ranking among global landmarks — with New York's Central Park coming in at 340 hectares and Hyde Park London spanning 142 hectares. Parts of The Spit — specifically areas around Fisherman's Wharf and Sea — have been earmarked for commercial development, and a cruise ship facility is still a possibility for Philip Park. The potential terminal been long been one of the contentious aspects of The Spit's proposed redevelopment over the years, with the controversial project earning a hefty outcry of opposition. While the current blueprint is the result of more than 21,100 pieces of feedback and over 2500 folks dropping by consultation sessions according to the government, interested parties can still have their say until 5pm on Sunday, March 31. For more information about the Gold Coast Ocean Park and the Southport Spit draft master plan can be viewed online.
It's been a year since Skygate Home & Life opened its doors at Brisbane Airport, giving the city a new homewares haven. To celebrate, the DFO-adjacent spot is teaming up with Sydney-based graphic designer and illustrator The Lust List to hand out free watercolour prints, plus host a meet-and-greet. The exclusive collaboration takes place across Saturday, November 30–Sunday, December 1, although those keen to nab a unique print will want to head by on Saturday. The first ten people in line at 10am will receive a free limited-edition custom print personalised by The Lust List's Sally Spratt in-person. Spratt will also be doing a meet-and-greet from 1.30–2pm — and, because shopping requires sustenance, there'll be free cold-brew coffee, refreshments and treats on offer. Spend over $100 in one transaction across the two days, and you'll also receive a free A3-sized print that you won't find anywhere else (and you can't buy). The summery artwork is available until stocks last, so get in early.
Who doesn't love a tap takeover? If you're keen on beer, bars and breweries, you're getting the best of everything: the atmosphere of your favourite haunt, the usual beverages and a limited-time-only selection of other tasty tipples. Most Tuesdays, all of the above occurs at Newstead Brewing Co, because those fine folks know how to take a good thing — aka one of the city's favourite purveyors of yeasty goodness — and make it even better. The guest brewery might change each week, but a commitment to damn fine drinks remains. To kick off 2016, the Tamborine-based farmhouse brewery that is Beard and Brau are in the spotlight. They'll be pouring their famous Miley's Mulberry Tart (aka kettle soured wheat ale), Mrs B's Spring Ale, Fox 'n' Hounds Pale Lager and Bon Chiens French Farmhouse Ale, so you'd better arrive thirsty. If you miss out, don't stress — another tap takeover is just a week away.
In 2024, sustainability is front of mind for consumers and creators. Fortunately, it has also never been easier to incorporate environmentally responsible ethos and practices into daily life and with your purchases. The BCG economy (Bio-Circular-Green) has led to the creation of products on the cutting edge of sustainability, which are the focus of the Naturally Good Expo at the Sydney ICC on Monday, June 3 and Tuesday, June 4. A series of brands and products being showcased at the Expo are part of Thailand's Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) and the Ministry of Commerce's initiative to position the nation as a global leader in sustainable products and designs conceived and manufactured in Thailand for a global audience. The products on display at the BCG booth range across four key areas: food and drink, decorative and tableware, personal care, and packaging. You'll be able to see all the products firsthand should you visit the expo (hint, it's booth D20), but we can give you an idea of what to expect. To spread the good (and green) word of this initiative, we've gathered some examples of brands leading the charge toward the products of a greener future. Khramer Indigo is traditionally associated with clothing, not skincare, but contemporary skincare brand Khramer aims to change that. That unmistakable deep blue colour is traced back to the indigo root, a plant that holds significance in Thai farming communities. Farmers in the town of Sakon Nakorn harvest the trees and use them to make dye to colour fabrics, which in turn protects farmers' skin from the harsh subtropical sun by keeping them cool and sunburn-free. Khramer knows the town well and took inspiration from the local community and their use of all the plants' elements. Khramer uses the tree's roots, discarded in dye making, to apply the numerous benefits of indigo plants to skincare products. The result is traditional skincare benefits made through contemporary sustainable thinking. SUPP As much as we all enjoy squeaky clean belongings and households, the unfortunate side effect of many high-end cleaning products is toxicity — both for us and our environment. SUPP is leading the charge of environmentally friendly alternatives in Thailand. SUPP has developed three core cleaning products: a floor cleaner, a bathroom cleaner and a dishwashing liquid. All three underwent rigorous testing to ensure they met the strict standards of cleaning materials being safe to use, effective and environmentally friendly. The products all come from natural ingredients and will, depending on conditions, biodegrade within two to thirty days in water. And though the packaging is plastic, it's refillable and completely recyclable. Coco Thumb If you love to highroad your tap-water-drinking friends with your preference for coconut water, this Thai brand is exactly up your alley. This convenient take on the popular healthy drink choice is a product of K Fresh, the world's biggest exporter of Nam Hom aromatic coconuts, which are native to Thailand and commonly grown in the coastal province of Ratchaburi. Coco Thumb sits halfway on the convenience chart in the realm of coconut waters. You don't have to desperately struggle to crack open the coconut on a sharp rock, and you're closer to the source than taking off the lid on a carton you got at the shops. Simply press on the cap, and you will open the still-sealed coconut, which you can sip directly from. Starch-Pac If you find yourself with an abundance of leftovers to be dished out after a dinner party or don't have much in the way of plastic Tupperware to transport your lunch to the office, it might be worth considering an order of these takeaway containers. A product of Global Biopolymers Co. Ltd, Starch-Pac containers are an eco-friendly alternative solution to your food packaging woes. Instead of being made with cheap or even recyclable plastic, the Starch-Pac, if you haven't guessed already, is made with tapioca starch. It's a much more environmentally friendly alternative to petrochemical plastic, capable of breaking down in landfills and soil and actually acting as a fertiliser in soil after degradation. AWA Decor Home furnishings are an art, both in creation and curation. If you ask us, they're what make a house into a home. If you're looking to impress guests with some seriously eye-catching homewares but aren't keen on supporting the big brands, then AWA Decor is a choice worth investigating further. These products range across lighting, kitchen, tabletop, accessories, and more, but specialise in wooden products. Every AWA product is made sustainably, using materials left over from manufacturing. No chemicals are used, and the process is carefully designed not to create any extra waste. They look fantastic, and you know it's come from a good place. Bioplus+iq Another excellent choice in the homewares department is Bioplus+iq, which uses bioplastics to create a wide range of products, from light shades and deck chairs to pet crates and storage bins. What do they all have in common? They're all made with leftover materials from the agricultural and manufacturing centres, mainly hemp stalks, sawdust, rice husks and PIR pellets. The result? Durable and stylish homewares that won't weigh on your conscience. For more information on these products and other sustainable brands, check out BCG at booth D20 at the Naturally Good Expo on Monday, June 3 and Tuesday, June 4. Visit the website for more information, or to get your registration.
Theatre fans, the latest production to hit Brisbane has more than a little bite. The creative folks at shake & stir theatre co are sinking their teeth into a certain gothic literature classic, complete with fangs, blood, lust and the v word. Yes, we mean vampires. For those who don't know the Dracula story, there's more to the tale than drinking from people's necks. Young lawyer Jonathan Harker journeys to the Carpathian Mountains for a job, and proves quite surprised by his mysterious client. Then there's Jonathan's fiancée, Mina, whom the Count becomes quite taken with through a photo. Leaving Jonathan alone in his creepy castle, Dracula heads to London seeking love and seduction. In its world premiere season, this bloody good production takes Bram Stoker's twisted tale and turns it into a gripping and gory modern-day piece. Yes, Dracula promises to be better than the last serious film version back in 1992. No, it doesn't feature Keanu.
Legendary UK pop star Robbie Williams announced yesterday that he'll return to performing in Australia and New Zealand this year for his first major tour since 2023. The gigs, which will take place in Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Newcastle (his first performance there), Brisbane, and then Auckland and Christchurch (for the first time in 25 years), are in support of his 13th studio album, Britpop. "Australia and New Zealand have always had a very special place in my heart. Ever since my first solo tours, you have welcomed me with open arms and made me feel at home," Williams said. "I'm beyond excited to be coming back this November for the BRITPOP World Tour. Can't wait to see you all there!" [embed]https://open.spotify.com/artist/2HcwFjNelS49kFbfvMxQYw?si=u7bUuycMSOq2xOzB4zVmWQ[/embed] Released in January, Britpop is a tribute to the famous '90s era and features collaborations with the likes of Coldplay's Chris Martin, Gaz Coombes (Supergrass), Black Sabbath legend Tony Iommi, Mexican pop duo Jesse & Joy and Gary Barlow. Earlier this month, Williams led an all-star band through a rendition of "No More Tears" as part of the 2026 Brit Awards' tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who also posthumously received the show's Lifetime Achievement Award. Williams, "a long-standing fan of the music and friend of the [Osbourne] family," was joined onstage by musicians who previously performed alongside Osbourne: guitarist Zakk Wylde, Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, Black Sabbath reunion drummer Tommy Clufetos, and keyboardist Adam Wakeman from Osbourne's band. General public tickets go on sale from 11am AEDT on Thursday, March 26th. Click here for more details. This article first appeared on Rolling Stone AU/NZ.
Like your culture with a side of scares, your tunes on the heavier end of the spectrum, and your performances gloomier than most? Does your festival-going experience feel incomplete if you're not donning a costume while you're taking in a show? Whether you want to indulge your dark side, or you're just looking to attend a different kind of shindig, one event has you covered. That'd be the Dead of Winter, Brisbane's horror music and arts festival. Because there truly is a place for everything, Australia’s only boutique celebration of all things brooding and mysterious, culture-wise, has enjoyed revelling in the type of stuff most other events overlook since 2009. Think motley crews of horror punk lovers and misfit metal heads — and that's only the beginning. Rock, hardcore, blues and psychobilly combines with burlesque, comedy and even fashion in an event that really isn't like any other. A lineup of local and international underground bands and sideshows — including Tumbleweed, The Go Set, Lord, Dreadnaught, The Resignators and A Breach of Silence — will span multiple stages for a whole day of on-theme fun of the macabre and moody variety. It all happens on Saturday July 25 at the Jubilee Hotel, with tickets already on sale. Until then, it is perfectly acceptable to hole up watching horror movies while trying to decide which costumes to wear.
Slinging fast-paced rhymes with a feisty attitude to match, Patricia Dombrowski (Danielle Macdonald) isn't naively chasing fame in Patti Cake$. With "mylifesfuckinawesome" one of her spirited rap anthems penned under the stage name of Killa P, she's certain that her music dreams will come true. The fact that she's stuck in New Jersey stringing together dead-end jobs to take care of her boozing mother (Bridget Everett) and ailing grandmother (Cathy Moriarty) might make it seem like her confidence is misplaced. But Patti's determination is as big as her smile. As quick as you can say "gender-swapped 8 Mile", Patti Cake$ takes its eager protagonist down the expected path, with her working-class background and plus-size shape thrown in as roadblocks. She's also got the requisite support from her old pal Jheri (Siddharth Dhananjay), as well as a new friend and collaborator in anti-establishment punk Basterd (Mamoudou Athie). They're soon laying down tunes, fighting for attention and eventually catching a few lucky breaks. It's all a bit predictable, but what this first feature from writer-director Geremy Jasper lacks in surprises, it makes up for in detail, heart and a stellar lead performance. With Jasper himself a Jersey native chasing dreams of his own, Patti Cake$ is filled with the kind of specificity that can only be plucked from real life. As a result, it has more than a few tricks up its sleeves. Audiences may be tempted to judge the movie prematurely due to its familiar narrative and slick-meets-gritty aesthetic. And yet, as the characters who underestimate Patti discover, there's a difference between appearances and reality. Just as there's more to Macdonald's protagonist than cruel nicknames like "Dumbo" and "white Precious", there's more to the film as well. Lurking within this standard underdog story is a clear-eyed portrait of small-town existence — from the sense of restlessness evident at every turn, to the need to seek escape by belting out tunes or taking to the bottle, to the distinct blend of hip hop and white working-class subcultures. Whenever the formula kicks in, the sights and sounds of Patti's mundane life don't quite counteract the obviousness of the plot, but they do give the film's feel-good trajectory weight and authenticity. There's bleak truth and an almost documentary-like spirit that accompanies every convenient twist and turn. Accordingly, when the big, crowd-pleasing moments come, the emotion that swells with them feels well and truly earned. The same can be said of Macdonald's efforts, with the Aussie actress dazzling in a way that would make her on-screen alter ego both proud and jealous. In her hands, Patti relishes the highs she has toiled for with the knowing smile of someone who has weathered the lows, and remains well aware that fantasies don't really come true overnight. It's a star-making turn in a movie that's all about chasing star-making chances, and it comes with excellent support from Everett and Moriarty. All that plus a catchy soundtrack will have your toes tapping even if Killa P's beats aren't your usual jam. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLUqLITumZA
From Godzilla to Studio Ghibli, Mario Kart street racing to robot restaurants and crazy karaoke bars to capsule hotels, Japan is known for many things. But — in the end — it's really all about the food. You could spend weeks in the country and plan your itinerary solely around its restaurants, street eateries, izakayas and other watering holes and have the trip of a lifetime. Recently done just that? Can't get the ace memories out of your head — or stop your stomach from grumbling? Brisbane might be a nine-hour flight from Tokyo, but it's overflowing with top Japanese joints that'll trick your tastebuds into thinking they're still on holidays. Some of them are luxe affairs that you might want to save for when you're feeling flush. Others are located in shopping centre food courts. To help you find them, we've teamed up with American Express. Together we've created the ultimate guide to pretending you're back in Japan — all while giving your Amex Card less of a workout than booking another trip. Can't wait to start travelling the world again? American Express has the card for you. Sign up for the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card and you'll score 55,000 bonus Qantas Points, plus $450 of Qantas Travel Credit and two passes to the American Express Lounge every year. And you'll earn 1.25 Qantas Points for every dollar spent. T&Cs, minimum spend and eligibility criteria apply.
Maybe you don't get paid until next week. Perhaps you're saving all your cash for your first holiday of 2020. Or you could've broken your bank account by buying, well, just about anything. However it happened, you're still short on funds. But, as long as you've got a fiver burning a hole in your wallet, you can still have a great Friday night out. Thank the legends at The Zoo for an evening's entertainment that everyone can afford. If you've ever wondered how the Ann Street icon has managed to keep the tunes pumping and the crowds coming since 1992, it's because of ace ideas like this one. Yes, Five Bands Five Bucks is exactly what it sounds like — and what it sounds like is 100-percent awesome. Atlas and the Attic, Hazel Mei, Action Slacks, Flamingo Blonde and Sir & Lydia will be on the bill on Friday, January 17, waiting for you to part with a piece of pink-coloured currency to hear their latest and greatest tunes. Images: The Zoo.
Delivery Man is not your typical Vince Vaughn film. Whilst we have grown accustomed to his formulaic comedic persona, here we are treated to a change of pace with a down-to-earth and likeable Vaughn. He plays David Wozniak, a perennial underachiever and incompetent meat truck driver for the family business (okay, so his stereotype remains to begin with). Triggered into bringing order to his life upon discovering his girlfriend Emma (Cobie Smulders) is pregnant, he is disturbed to find he is the biological father of 533 children, 142 of which are suing him to uncover his identity. This is all courtesy of a colossal mistake by the sperm donor facility a younger Wozniak anonymously frequented under the pseudonym 'Starbuck'. Delivery Man is the American adaptation of French-Canadian film Starbuck and succeeds largely due to the presence of Ken Scott, who wrote and directed the original. He ensures that the film retains its sincerity, allowing the exploration of the challenges of parenthood, albeit in farcically exaggerated circumstances, to bloom. Whilst the material provides plenty of opportunity for the film to descend into satire and farce, its decision to stay the course and explore the raw emotion of familial relationships is what makes this film worth giving a chance. It skips the diaper-changing staple of parenthood films and instead delves into the core of parenting: accepting your children no matter what. This allows for beautiful moments, the best of which is David visiting one of his sons who is severely disabled in a home. It is both touching and heart-warming, words I never thought I would write when discussing a film featuring Vaughn. Providing the comic relief is David's best friend and unsuccessful lawyer Brett, played brilliantly by Chris Pratt. Brett's attempt to single-handedly raise his four young children whilst pleading the case for his friend's anonymity provides the comic relief that frees Vaughn from his typical role of funny man. Pratt surely has a future of funny features ahead. Delivery Man of course has its faults, the largest of which is the injection of Wozniak's vegan hipster son Viggo (Adam Chanler-Berat); the writers clearly were unaware that these stereotypes were last funny three years ago. Viggo uncovers that David is the father of the list of plaintiffs (that includes himself) and yet saves nobody their suffering or legal costs by exposing him. Also, some of the connections feel short-lived, an inevitable product of suddenly trying to make a connection with 142 children in 100 minutes. This film won't win any awards, but it isn't trying to. Hollywood needs films like this to plug the gaps between the blockbusters and audiences need these films to watch in between the Harry Potters and Hobbits. Delivery Man fills this void and, if nothing else, should be a prime candidate for Cheap Tuesday. https://youtube.com/watch?v=yGAktL45XNQ
Children have an honest way of looking at the world. A child's point of view is often extraordinarily insightful and looking at the world through a child's eyes is a refreshing and inspiring experience. The Judith Wright Centre is hosting a unique project, The Walking Neighbourhood, created by Contact Inc. In each session, participants will be invited to take a brief walk accompanied by a child around Fortitude Valley. Your walking guide will spark your inner child as they disclose their curiosities and stories about Brisbane's inner city cultural hotspot. This innovative participatory performance is free and serves to address wider problems in our community such as building friendships and trust between children and adults. Support this project and help make the Valley a safer place.
The Art Gallery of NSW has announced the finalists for the 2016 Archibald Prize — and this year's got some good'uns. This is the 95th year for the highly sought-after portraiture award.Considered the "who's who of Australian culture", portraits entered into the prize generally depict notable Australians, from politicians and celebrities to artists and athletes. This year's finalists include Natasha Bieniek's oil painting of Wendy Whiteley (above), Clara Adolphs' portrait of actor Terry Selio, Betina Fauvel-Ogden's painting of MasterChef's George Calombaris (which is also the winner of the Packing Room Prize) and — our personal favourite — Carla Fletcher's portrait of fashion icon Linda Jackson. Seriously, look at those colours. [caption id="attachment_579238" align="alignnone" width="455"] Carla Fletcher, Twin souls, Linda Jackson, mix media on board, 200 x 150.5 cm, © the artist, Photo: AGNSW, Felicity Jenkins.[/caption] The Archibald finalists will be exhibited at AGNSW from July 16 to October 9, along with the finalists for the Wynne Prize (which awards the best landscape painting of Australia or figure sculpture) and the Sulman Prize (for the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project), which were also announced yesterday. After exhibiting in Sydney, the finalists will then tour regionally until August 2017, after which time the winner will be announced by the trustees of AGNSW. The winner will be awarded $100,000 in prize money and some serious bragging rights to boot. The prize was created by Jules Francois Archibald, the founding editor of The Bulletin magazine. He established the prize with the goal to promote both great Australian portraiture and great Australians. The only real stipulation within the contest is that the painting must have been created in the last 12 months and include at least one live sitting with the subject. The award is an open competition, which means that any resident of Australia or New Zealand can enter. Something to keep in mind for next year. Top image: Natasha Bieniek, Wendy Whiteley, oil on wood, 34.5 x 32.5cm, © the artist Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling.
If you have a soft spot for furry, feathered or finned fauna, find an organisation where you can do a bit of good while on holiday in Tropical North Queensland. Tolga Bat Hospital in the Atherton Tablelands offers guided tours of its flying fox and microbat rescue and rehabilitation centre. You can find out about the six species of marine turtle that dwell in the reef at the Cairns Turtle Rehab Centre. Wildlife Habitat offers the opportunity to swim (safely) with crocs, have brekkie with birds and even take a nocturnal 'wildnight' tour. The organisation also runs the Tropical Animal Rescue Centre that looks after displaced and injured native Australian wildlife. Want to observe the wildlife in its natural habitat? Head into the Daintree with FNQ Nature Tours for an afternoon walk as the rainforest comes alive, or bring binoculars for birdwatching in tropical wetlands.
Getting paid to do what you love is the ultimate employment dream. Finding a job doing something that everyone loves? That's a next-level kind of gig. When Gelatissimo turned taste-testing new gelato flavours into an actual position, it fell into that category. When Domino's wanted someone to eat garlic bread for cold hard cash, it did too. And over at hospitality group Australian Venue Co, there's a similar kind of job on offer. Fancy adding 'secret sipper' to your resume? That's the gig that AVC is currently advertising again, with 100 positions available around the country. You'll get assigned to cover some of the company's bars and pubs in your city, and you'll get paid for dining, drinking and then submitting a review once a month. If you've ever worked in retail and heard about mystery shoppers, then you know the drill. That's how these roles work, but in hospitality. So, you'll be posing as a customer and interacting with the venue's staff to scope out their service — and you'll be so discreet that they'll be unaware that you're on AVC's payroll, like they are. Members of the company's Secret Sipper Club, as the lucky wining-and-dining folks are called, will receive a $30 meal allowance for their monthly visit, plus $200 for each review. For that cash — which will make this a side hustle rather than your only gig — you do need to do more than offer a few words, completing a detailed written report after each meal. You don't need to have any experience in the field. Obviously, we're all veterans at eating and drinking, but you don't need to have done this type of job before. There are some pre-requisites, though, such as being over 18; having your own transport and access to a mobile device; being passionate about the industry; attentiveness and impartiality; and having time to do 12 visits each year. And if you're wondering which venues you might be visiting, it could be any in AVC's stable. In Sydney, that includes everywhere from The Winery, Cargo and Kingsleys through to BrewDog South Eveleigh, The Rook and Little Pearl. For Melburnians, you might be hitting up The Espy, The Duke and Sarah Sands Hotel, or BrewDog Pentridge, State of Grace and Trinket. Brisbane's venues include The Wickham, The Regatta, Crown Hotel and Riverland, plus the likes of Burleigh Town Hotel, The Local Tavern and Wallaby Hotel on the Gold Coast. In Adelaide, The Hope Inn, The Unley and The West End Tavern are on the list, while Perth residents could find themselves at Raffles Hotel, Sweetwater Rooftop Bar, The Globe and Wolf Lane. Find out more about AVC's Secret Sipper Club — and apply — by heading to the company's website.
In Melbourne the World's 50 Best Restaurants award ceremony has just wrapped up. We can only imagine (and dream of) how delicious the Neil Perry-supplied canapés would have been, how many recipes were swapped with slurred handwriting, and how cheery (read: boozy) all those chefs are right now. But we assume two of the most cheeriest will be Ben Shewry and Dan Hunter, as their restaurants — Attica and Brae, respectively — have just been named in the top 50 in the world. With the ceremony having just taken place at Melbourne's Royal Exhibition Building this evening (the second time the awards have been held outside of London), the two Australian chefs have had the honour of being placed in the world's best 50 restaurants while on home turf. Attica's ranking is pretty consistent with last year's results, with the Melbourne restaurant moving up one spot to 32 from 2016 (and regaining its 2015 ranking in the process). However it was Brae, which is located in regional Victoria, that was the biggest mover this year — it moved up 19 spots to land at number 44 this year, cracking the top 50 for the first time. It was announced that last week Sydney's Quay placed at number 95, so it's a huge deal for Australia to have three restaurants in the top 100. The top trio of restaurants for 2017 aren't staunchly different from previous years, but have been shuffled around a little. Last year's number one spot-holder, Massimo Bottura's Osteria Francescana, has been moved back to second place, to make way for last year's number three, Eleven Madison Park, to take the top spot. This sees Spain's El Celler de Can Roca move back to third place.
Think of a New York-set or -shot movie or TV show, and odds are that it probably featured the Waldorf Astoria. Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums filmed there, for one. Sex and the City did as well. Booking in a luxe stay within its stately confines might be high on your travel bucket list as a result — but come 2025, you'll be able to enjoy the Waldorf Astoria experience right here in Australia. Adding to its 30-plus sites around the world — including in Las Vegas, Cancun, Beijing, Berlin, Bangkok and the Maldives, to name a selection of spots — the hotel brand is setting up shop in Sydney in just a few years. Set to tower over Circular Quay, it'll be the Hilton-owned chain's first-ever Aussie location. It'll also join the lineup of six Waldorf Astoria properties in the Asia-Pacific region. [caption id="attachment_849250" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel[/caption] So, whether you're Sydneysider now dreaming of an indulgent staycation or you hail from elsewhere but you're always looking for an excuse to visit the New South Wales capital, you'll have a new place to spend a lavish night (or several). And, given the location — at One Circular Quay, 1 Alfred Street — you'll be able to lap up impressive vistas over the Harbour Bridge and Opera House while you're there. Now under construction, Waldorf Astoria Sydney will feature 220 rooms — 179 guest rooms and 41 suites — across its 28-floor expanse. Also a huge highlight: two new restaurants, the Waldorf Astoria Spa on level one, and the central gathering space that the brand has dubbed 'Peacock Alley' at its sites around the globe, which'll come complete with the Waldorf Astoria clock. Plus, to truly take advantage of the views, the hotel will also include a rooftop bar — and yes, peering out over the harbour here will be a given. Design-wise, Tokyo-based firm Kengo Kuma & Associates is doing the honours alongside the Sydney-based Crone Architects; expect a luxurious look that'll "artfully blend contemporary living with cutting-edge design," according to the statement announcing the hotel. "As the first Waldorf Astoria property to debut in Australia, Waldorf Astoria Sydney signals Hilton's commitment to expanding our luxury portfolio to the world's most sought-after destinations," said Hilton Chief Brand Officer Matt Schuyler. "Our highly personalised, elegant service and iconic environments are at the heart of every hotel, and we look forward to delivering unforgettable experiences to our guests in Sydney." Waldorf Astoria Sydney is one of 20 new hotels that the chain is set to open around the globe — so if you get accustomed to the brand's deluxe stays once it opens its doors locally, you'll have plenty of additional sites worldwide to add to your must-visit list. The Waldorf Astoria is due to open at One Circular Quay, 1 Alfred Street, Sydney, sometime in 2025 — we'll update you with further details when they're announced. Top image: Waldorf Astoria Beijing.
Plenty of movies have them: that moment when someone walks, moseys, runs or struts just as the music swells, soundtracking the act of putting one foot in front of the other in quite the spectacular fashion. You know the kind of on-screen scene we're talking about. When it happens, emotions swirling in the process, it's instantly memorable. Always wished that real life could feel like that? We all have. And if listening to your usual playlist isn't cutting it during your strolls around town, Brisbane now has a new audio experience you'll want to try out. Available until Sunday, July 24 — launching as part of this year's Curiocity Brisbane, but also sticking around for a couple of weeks afterwards — City Symphony adds a thrilling soundscape to wanders around the River City. It also has some help from David Attenborough, Greta Thunberg, Kate Miller-Heidke and Jesswar. Those famous names are all featured in City Symphony's interactive audio, which plays via an app as you walk through the Brisbane CBD. Also on the soundtrack: Keir Nuttall, Hope D, Ancient Bloods, Eve Klein and David Hudson providing tunes, plus original stories by Dr Helen Marshall, Kathleen Jennings and Anisa Nanduala. The brainchild of singer and composer Dr Eve Klein, plus creative coder and engineer Ravi Glasser-Vora — aka Textile Audio — City Symphony offers a site-specific but evolving soundscape that you listen to via headphones, and by accessing the app via a smartphone, as you hit up the inner city. So, you can head to the Queen Street Mall, the Flower Gardens in the City Botanic Gardens, Goodwill Bridge and King George Square, as well as Reddacliff Place, Queens Gardens, Bunya Walk, George Street and Albert Street, and get what's being badged a 'sonically mapped landscape' piped into your ears. In total, there's nine different pathways for folks to walk along, each with its own audio. And if you're wondering what kinds of things you might hear as you venture down Brissie streets and between landmarks, a mass choir singing a prayer to the Brisbane river, a rock concert buzzing with a roaring crowd, a pot-luck dinner and a whirring spaceship are all included — alongside those aforementioned tunes and tales. Feel like you've seen every inch of Brisbane from every angle? And heard it, too? Delivered in conjunction with Queensland Music Festival, City Symphony wants to change that while it's giving you an immersive soundtrack. And, making the experience unique for each user is video game creation technology, which helps the app use real-time data from your phone to adapt its sound mixes as you move through each space.
For some, friendly banter with whoever happens to be behind a car's wheel is a regular part of booking a ride. For others, the obligatory bout of awkward conversation with the driver is the most dreaded part of the trip. Or, maybe you're just having a bad day and don't feel like chatting. Perhaps you're usually happy to talk away, but you're stressed, have too much on your mind, and have emails to check while you're getting from point A to point B. Whether you like a good chinwag with your driver or prefer riding in silence, Uber has introduced a new feature that lets customers choose their level of conversation. It's called quiet mode, and it lets you choose if you want a chatty ride or a quiet one. The catch: it's only available for Uber Comfort trips, which are about 20 percent more expensive than regular UberX trips. But, according to the Uber website, the ridesharing service's Comfort offering also comes with a range of additional benefits, including requesting a specific temperature within the car (warm, hot, cool or cold) and giving passengers a bit of extra time to make their way to the vehicle (up to ten minutes). Drivers will also have a minimum rating of 4.85 and will have clocked at least 500 trips, and cars will be at least a 2013 model. It's certainly a sign of the times that ordering a conversation (or lack thereof) can now be done at the touch of a button, rather than in person. That said, pre-selecting quiet mode will stop the dreaded, always uncomfortable "I don't feel like chatting" convo before the uncomfortable silence, as well as awkward small talk. Uber Comfort is now available across Australia.
When you go to the theatre, you often seen it in two specific modes. First, it's a blank canvas waiting to come alive. Then, it's a place where absolutely anything could happen (and does). You watch, you're entertained — and then the curtain closes, and the venue seemingly goes back to normal. It's a bit of magic happening right before your eyes, but what about all of the bits and pieces that help contribute to the theatrical wonder? Dramatic Imaginations shines a spotlight not only on the process of staging a performance, but on the sketches, notes, set models, costume designs and finished outfits needed too. Alongside production photographs of the finished words, as well as other objects drawn from both the QPAC Museum collection and private collections, the three-month-long exhibition highlights the ingenuity, resourcefulness, skill and creativity (and yes, that's just another word for imagination) behind making great theatre.
"When you're standing at The Summit, you can see for miles — from the city to the bay and out to the hinterland," says Kym Machin. "We wanted the menu to reflect that sense of scale and beauty." As Head Chef at Mt Coot-tha's reborn restaurant, the ex-Urbane talent is guiding the kitchen at a new-but-old Brisbane venue. It was back in 2023 that word arrived about the eatery's transformation with Mantle Group at the helm. Now, the first results are on display. Heading upwards in this part of Brissie can again include a stop at The Summit Restaurant, although this lofty eatery has undergone changes via its multimillion-dollar revamp. Among its current features: a brewpub-style public bar, a dining room and a view-heavy verandah. This is just the initial stage of Mantle Group's Mt Coot-tha vision, with a two-level pavilion venue and a boutique gin distillery still in the planning stage — and ideally set to sit atop the mountain by the time the 2032 Olympic Games hit Brisbane. The same goes for a new cultural tourism experience that'll pay tribute to Mt Coot-tha's history and significance. "The Summit is one of the most-unique dining sites in the country: beautiful by day and absolutely spectacular at night. But most importantly, it's a place for the people of Brisbane. Our most-important guests are our neighbours — the locals who walk up the mountain every day, who bring their families here on weekends and who have made this place part of their lives. We wanted to create something that felt worthy of that loyalty," advises Mantle Group founder Godfrey Mantle. "Our ambition is to make The Summit one of the most-iconic destinations in Queensland — a place that captures the natural beauty, rich history and vibrant spirit of Brisbane. The Summit Restaurant is just the beginning and we're incredibly excited about what's to come." With the eatery now back up and running, there's plenty of reasons to visit already — including the fitout by Hogg and Lamb, joining fellow Brisbane venues such as The Albion Bathhouse, Tillerman, Babylon Brisbane and Lune Croissanterie in boasting the firm's aesthetic touches. Given the restaurant's history and leafy surroundings, finding inspiration for the look, feel and decor was easy. Think: contemporary elegance, complete with polished timber finishes and openair vantages over the stunning view. As for the menu, Machin is serving up modern Australian cuisine — modern Queensland, too — with Elliott Heads spanner crab on buckwheat crumpets, Daintree barramundi, Moreton Bay bug bahn mi and slow-braised Longreach organic lamb among the dishes. Sustainability and locality are key focuses, especially ingredients from The Summit's edible gardens and beehives, plus fresh produce from the Sunshine State. Across themed sections dedicated to the sea, air, land, earth and garden, seasonality is also in the spotlight. Other standout picks include white fish and wasabi tacos, snapper with wild garlic and native ginger, roast duck smoked over paperbark, almond-fed pork with pickled apples, squid risotto and pumpkin agnolotti with candied shoots. Or, try one of the two chef-curated tasting menus for either $79 (nine options) or $99 (ten options). Those dropping by for a drink can choose from bites from the bar menu, such as goat's cheese puffs, beef and beetroot tartare, lobster and prawn fried toast, sweet pea arancini, wagyu burgers and flathead. Fancy a cocktail? The signatures include a boozy iced tea made with fig gin and lemon myrtle liqueur; a quandong sour; and chilli, coriander and capsicum-infused mezcal, with agave, pineapple and lime. Find The Summit Restaurant at 2/1012 Sir Samuel Griffith Drive, Mt Coot-Tha, open from 11am daily — and head to its website for more details.
Known for its minimalist design, Japanese home goods giant MUJI made a sizeable leap back in 2015, adding houses to its range. As well as selling items to fill your home with, it started selling prefabricated homes as well. Compact but functional — and, perhaps most importantly, affordable — the new additions understandably garnered plenty of attention. But, while the company also released a tiny hut in 2017, it hasn't expanded its house lineup since. Until now, that is. And while MUJI's first three flat-pack houses were all multi-storey abodes made for city living, it has just designed its first one-storey version. Called Yano-no-ie, it's a response to customer demand — and its designed to adapt to different living requirements. Thanks to sliding doors that open out onto a deck, it's also the result of a concerted effort to combine indoor and outdoor living. https://www.instagram.com/p/B2atw0eHEUu/ Taking over 73 square metres of floor space, with a total construction area of 91.50 square metres, Yano-no-ie's standard configuration features a bedroom, living area, combined kitchen and dining room, bathroom and outdoor area — so, as you'd expect, it keeps things simple. That said, its spaces are meant to be multifunctional. The bedroom features furniture that can be used throughout the day as well, for example, with the company suggesting that you can deploy it as a place for reading or using a computer throughout the day, and to have a drink in of an evening. Designed in a box shape, Yano-no-ie is fashioned out of wooden siding made from Japanese cedar. Linking in with MUJI's existing products, it's made to accommodate the brand's storage range in its kitchen — and, in the bathroom, it features the same type of wash basin used in MUJI's hotels. https://www.instagram.com/p/B3wNEt9HMkc/ Like MUJI's existing prefab homes, it's also far more economical than your average house, starting at 15.98 million yen or around AU$211,000. Alas, although the company has stores in Sydney and Melbourne — including its first Australian MUJI concept store — the houses aren't available to buy outside of Japan as yet. Via: MUJI.
Naldham House is back — and the building that began its life as a shipping office isn't content with giving Brisbane just a single venue. This is now a three-in-one hangout, with the first two spaces opening in July 2024. If it's late-night drinks you're after, Club Félix is your destination. Head upstairs after 4pm Wednesday–Saturday and you'll be greeted by an oak timber bar that came with the building, a big focus on blue, a French-heavy menu, a covetable champagne list, and capacity for 150 standing and 110 seated. Club Felix is taking the fun into the night with midnight closing time — and the space can also be used for weddings and parties. Here, small plates and charcuterie accompany the libations, so snacking on salumi with gnocco fritto, a jamon and comte toastie, wagyu cheeseburgers, fried whiting sandwich fingers, salted cod and potato croquettes, and caramel profiteroles will line your stomach. Then, beverage-wise, expect rich tastes from the cognac- and Madeira-based Brulee Flip with chocolate bitters and grated chocolate, and from the Raspberry Tea Julep with black tea-infused bourbon — among other cocktails. French wines, including dessert tipples, are also a drawcard. Images: Dexter Kim.
The last time that Black Mirror released new episodes, no one had ever heard the terms COVID-19 and ChatGPT, the world hadn't been through a huge lockdown due to a pandemic, Succession was only one season in and Twitter had a far less chaotic owner. They're just a few ways to answer the show's new question, with Charlie Brooker's dystopian sci-fi hit getting tweeting for the first time since 2019 to start teasing its upcoming sixth season. That social-media query: the very apt "what have we missed?". Obviously there are plenty of ways to respond, which Black Mirror creator quickly Charlie Brooker did. 🤔 — Charlie Brooker (@charltonbrooker) April 25, 2023 Those four words from the official Black Mirror Twitter and that one emoji from Brooker is all that's been pumped out into the ether about the show's return, but it's enough to get excited about given that it breaks the series' four-year silence. Wondering when you might be staring at your own black mirror again to watch Black Mirror? That still hasn't been announced. News about Black Mirror's next go-around isn't new, of course, and has been doing the rounds since 2022. Last year, Variety also named a heap of cast members, including Zazie Beetz (Atlanta), Paapa Essiedu (Men), Josh Hartnett (Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre), Aaron Paul (Westworld), Kate Mara (Call Jane), Danny Ramirez (Stars at Noon), Clara Rugaard (I Am Mother), Auden Thornton (This Is Us) and Anjana Vasan (Killing Eve). Back when the sixth season was confirmed, how many more grim dystopian tales were on their way hadn't been revealed, however, and that's still the case now. That said, it's expected that the new season will run for more than season five's mere three episodes — and apparently each new instalment is being treated as an individual film. Black Mirror fans will know that the series has also released a direct-to-streaming movie, aka the choose-your-own-adventure-style Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, back in 2018 between seasons four and five. How exactly will the series manage to be even more dispiriting than reality over the past few years? That's increasingly been one of its dilemmas — and noting that something IRL feels just like Black Mirror has become one of the cliches of our times — but this'll be the mind-bending effort's first round of episodes following the pandemic. No one has ever watched the Brooker-created series for a pick-me-up, though. Since first hitting the small screen in 2011, Black Mirror has spun warped visions of where technology may lead us — and, no matter what tale the show has told so far across its 22 instalments (including that interactive movie), the picture has usually been unnerving. So, imagine what the program will cook up after what we've all been living through since it last aired. Brooker has already riffed on COVID-19 in two Netflix specials, actually: Death to 2020 and Death to 2021, which offer satirical and star-studded wraps of both years with mixed success. For something completely different, he also jumped back into choose-your-own-adventure content with animated short Cat Burglar, which hit Netflix back in 2022, has viewers play through it as a thieving feline called Rowdy and gets you to answer trivia questions to advance the story. While you're waiting for Black Mirror's sixth season to arrive — and a release date for it — check out a trailer for season three episode San Junipero below: Exactly when Black Mirror season six might hit Netflix is yet to be revealed. We'll update you when further details are announced.
The festive season is well under way: we're hurrying off to end-of-year catch ups every weekend, (hopefully) pouring sensational vinos and merrily sipping away our days. So, if you're like us, the pressure of trying to find the perfect gift can cast a dark shadow on the season. Sure, picking out the perfect gift for a special someone can be fun, but let's face it, it's pretty tricky to nail it year after year. The trick? Ditch the generic gifts and find something straight up your giftee's alley. And it's fair to assume we probably all know someone who is passionate about wine. The fine people at Handpicked Wines certainly are. With vineyards in the Mornington Peninsula, Barossa, Yarra Valley and down in Tassie, the biz makes region-specific drops with a sustainability-focused mindset. Beyond growing, prepping, juicing and fermenting the fruit, Handpicked Wines also have two urban cellar doors — one in Sydney and one in Melbourne. Together with Handpicked Wines, we've put our noses to the ground and found some brownie-point-scoring pressies especially for wine lovers (yourself included). Whether you're shopping for an office Kris Kringle or want to impress the in-laws this silly season, we've got options aplenty. HANDPICKED WINES CURATED WINE PACK, Prices vary Serious wine connoisseurs can be picky about their bottles. But fear not, Handpicked Wines is here to help you impress any sommelier (professional or wannabe) on your Christmas list. As a start, for the eighth year in a row, the winery has received a 5-red-star rating from the Halliday Wine Companion, the bestselling and definitive guide to Australian wine. Where to start? It's hard to go past the Summer Pack ($87), featuring three wines classified as "outstanding" in the 2023 edition of the guide. If you're going all out, plump for the Top Scorer pack ($200), which features six of Handpicked Wines' highest-rated drops from the 2023 Halliday Wine Companion. Whichever you choose, you know you'll be gifting some A-grade wine. For something a little different, gift your loved one the Sam Studd Pack. Along with their vinos, they'll receive three stand-out fromages curated by curd connoisseur Sam Studd — and quince paste and lavosh crackers, too. HANDPICKED WINES CELLAR DOOR EXPERIENCE, $72 If you'd prefer a more experiential gift for your vino-obsessed, opt for a gift voucher to the Handpicked Wines Cellar Door in Chippendale. They'll be able to take a special friend (aka you, the glorious gifter) and immerse themselves in an urban cellar door experience. For $72, the pair of you can each enjoy two delicious glasses from the Handpicked Wines Regional Selections range alongside two exceptional cheeses. It's the perfect gift for city slickers who enjoy a holiday to wine country — from this sleek central location, you'll discover (or taste, more like it) premium drops from the winery's vineyards across the Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, Barossa and Tassie. [caption id="attachment_880772" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Samantha Payne[/caption] FULL GLASSES McLAREN VALE CANDLE, $45 If you're looking to get a little more creative, think wine-adjacent. Maybe your wine-loving friend already has an extensive collection of bottles and has travelled to all the hot spots for a drop? If so, gift them the scent of that special vineyard. Sydney-based sommelier Samantha Payne, of Full Glasses, has created her own line of wine-centric candles focused on her memories and experiences in different wine regions. Her recommendation? The McLaren Vale ($45), which blends fresh figs and eucalyptus trees for a sweet take on the Aussie bush. But there's also Pinot Noir ($65), which marries the scents of grape skins, strawberries, cloves and cinnamon bark, Chardonnay ($65), for a hit of lemon, apple and oak, and more. Each candle is hand-poured and decorated — an extra special gift. CORAVIN TIMELESS THREE SL, $299.95 One for the wine lover with an extensive collection (and sure to put you firmly in the good books): the Coravin Timeless Three SL ($299.95). With this sleek, handy gadget — which is the easy-to-use preservation system working in tandem with Coravin's argon capsules — still wines will stay perfectly primed for weeks (or months or years, even). That friend of yours will be pouring their favourite drops without pulling the cork, so a glass of that extra special drop can be enjoyed without committing to the whole bottle. MAISON BALZAC WINE GLASSES, $129 This is perhaps for the wine-lover in your life that can't help but be persuaded by a beautiful label on their bottle. If they're into natural, fruity drops or can't look past a pet-nat, Maison Balzac's Pom Pom Wine Glasses ($129) are the ideal gift. This handblown pair is adorned with adorable cherry-red "earrings", but there are three other colourways to choose from. It's an extra-special gift for the new-age wine lover that doesn't take themselves too seriously. FESTIVE TABLEWARE, Prices vary Artful, style-heavy and deliciously unique tableware is a gift that will be eagerly received by the wine lovers in your life — chances are, if they like a good vino, they'll like to curate a vibe-heavy setting to sip it in. They'll kick their 2023 entertaining off with a bang with these hyperrealistic Heirloom Tomato Candles ($85) from Nonna's Grocer, sure to spruce up any and every tablescape; and a set of the brightly hued Cecilia Coasters ($29) from Sage and Clare for an aesthetically pleasing place to pop that drink. Or, stick with decor masquerading as food, and pick up this sweeter-than-sweet canelé from Corey Ashford, the candle holder ($125) sure to keep it moody. WANDERING FOLK LOVERS PICNIC BASKET, $195 For a gift that's perhaps a little more romantic, opt for a basket (with dedicated spots for wine) to bring on picnic dates. The picnic experts at Wandering Folk have you covered with the Lovers Picnic Basket ($195). Designed in Australia and woven by women in Vietnam, it's a stand-out gift that's been crafted consciously and creatively. Plus, if you're feeling generous, you can even stock up your gift with a couple of their favourite bottles and some picnic essentials. GIGI & TOM SEA SNAIL ICE BUCKET, $49.95 With a sea snail keeping a celebratory bottle of sparkling cool, this one's for the ocean-loving oenophile in your life. Unique, summery and chic, Gigi & Tom have you sorted with its Resin Sea Snail Centrepiece ($49.95). Practical? Tick. Fun? Tick. Meets the criteria for a winning gift. Watch them swoon. For the wine lover in your life, your best spot to start is with Handpicked Wines. Head to the website to get your gifting sorted.
Thank goodness it's any day of the week you like at southeast Queensland's newest eatery: the latest local outpost for TGI Fridays. Three years after launching its first venue in the region on the Gold Coast, the American brand has opened another venue in the city, and notched up another first. Now serving up its bar and grill-style fare in Surfers Paradise, this latest addition to the chain is its debut beachside spot. If you're familiar with the TGI Fridays name, you'll know what's on offer: tucking into the chain's array of steaks, ribs, wings and burgers while sipping a hefty array of cocktails, just this time with ocean views. Those waves will be visible from the eatery's level-one location — and this isn't just the first beachside TGI Fridays in Queensland or Australia, but worldwide. The venue is also the chain's Australasian flagship store, so it's clearly a big deal. If it's TGI Fridays menu rather than the location that's piqued your interest, it falls in line with the company's other Aussie eateries. The general range includes wraps, salads, starters such as mozzarella sticks and mac 'n' cheese-loaded potato twisters, and mains that span chicken tenders, salt and pepper calamari with fries, whisky-glazed salmon and bruschetta pasta. The dessert selection goes heavy on American favourites; think brownies, sundaes and strawberry cheesecakes. As for drinks, TGI Fridays takes its beverages seriously, with its standard menu serving up over 30 types of cocktails and 11 kinds of low- and no-alcohol concoctions. Wine, plus beer by the bottle and on tap, is also on offer. And, TGI Friday's famed daily happy hour runs from 4–6pm daily, with $6 bites, $6 house wines and schooners, and cocktails for between $7—15. Seating 180 in timber booths, at stools at the central island bar and at high tables, the Surfers Paradise store also features neon lighting — including a sign stating 'Paradise is only one cocktail away' when you walk in — plus huge windows to make the most of that seaside vista. And, it combines the signature TGI Fridays look, which includes timber accents and industrial-style lighting installations, with coastal furniture and a heap of greenery. When it comes to the venue's vibe, TGI Fridays pitches itself as part-way between a restaurant and a hangout spot. Back when the brand launched in the 60s, it was actually a singles bar; but these days it's focused on casual, novelty-based American dining.
It's not only the playing of tennis that works up a healthy appetite — it's also the watching of it. But, when you're at the Australian Open, surrounded by fellow ravenous spectators in 40-degree heat, working out where to get a decent bite can be a challenge. So, we thought we'd save you some trouble by tracking down the best places to eat in and around Rod Laver Arena this year. Whether you want to stick to the village or roam over to the CBD or Richmond, here are some spots to try. And if you're visiting from out of town, you'll also get to tick a few of Melbourne's best places to eat off your list. [caption id="attachment_704328" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 400 Gradi[/caption] GRAND SLAM OVAL, AUSTRALIAN OPEN VILLAGE Grand Slam Oval – located within the Australian Open village – is a gathering place for pop-ups, food trucks and bars. You'll find OTT kebabs by Biggie Smalls, Mexican street food by Collins Street's Mamasita, burgers by Neil Perry's Burger Project, some of the world's best slices from 400 Gradi, and, from Beijing Betty, Chinese fusion snacks created exclusively for the event. There are also bars for drinkers of all kinds, including one dedicated to champagne, one to beer and another to Aperol Spritz. Ideal if you don't have much time before the coin toss or can't be bothered to leave the village between matches. HARLOW, RICHMOND If you're looking for a new adventure, settle in at Harlow, a pub that, in December, took over the space then belonging to the Great Britain. It's on Church Street, Richmond. Whether you hang out in the dining room or head into the beer garden, you'll be starting with creative bites, like mini crab doughnuts and duck and bacon sausage rolls. The mains list is more about decadent takes on classics: there's a steak sandwich loaded with maple bacon and Swiss cheese, a smoked beer hot dog and a behemoth vegan burger. It's open from midday right through until late. ARBORY AFLOAT, SOUTHBANK Cool off by the Yarra at Arbory Afloat, at 69-metre-long floating bar that, since 2015, has set up on the river every spring, ready to get you through long hot days and balmy evenings. Downstairs is a citrus-and-fig grove, inspired by the Cinque Terre, while upstairs is dotted with day beds. Wherever you are, you'll be sipping on blood orange Aperol spritzes, watermelon sangria and piña coladas, and tucking into Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizzas, seafood platters and salads. Arbory Afloat is at 2 Flinders Walk – just a 15-minute walk down the Yarra from the Australian Open. THE CORNER HOTEL, RICHMOND Two years ago, this Melbourne live music stalwart scored a rooftop refurbishment and a tasty new menu. Thankfully, it hasn't lost any of its down-to-earth good vibes. If you haven't caught enough sun at the Open, go straight upstairs to relax in the fresh air; otherwise, stay downstairs where many a band has played into the wee hours. Either way, the food offerings include fried chicken, roast chicken roulade, the Corner parma and the Patti Smith beef burger. Craft beers a-plenty are on-tap. The Corner is a 15-minute walk from the Open. GAZI, CBD Weekend attendees can factor in a little trip to the Greek Islands at Gazi. This Hellenic eatery is hosting yum cha every Sunday, from midday till 3pm. The dishes have their roots in Mediterranean cuisine, but pay homage to Chinese, too. Among them are spanakopita gyoza, feta honey sesame spring rolls and sweet bread filled with lamb. A reasonable $49 buys a ten-course banquet and, for $35, you can add bottomless cocktails. Gazi is at 2 Exhibition Street in the CBD – 15 minutes from the action. FEAST OF MERIT, RICHMOND Fuel up before you hit the court at Feast of Merit, on Swan Street, around a 20-minute walk from the Rod Laver Arena. Among street art, vintage furniture and hanging greenery, you'll be feasting on hearty, Middle Eastern-influenced brekkies, such as börek, a vegetarian dish of corn fritters, poached egg, garlic yoghurt, feta and dukkah, or smoked ocean trout with asparagus, potato rosti and sour cream. For hardcore ticket holders, it's hard to knock back the büyük kahvalti, a big breakfast piled with eggs, sucuk sausage, haloumi, spinach, heirloom cherry tomatoes and flatbread. It's also open for dinner if you're looking for something post-match. [caption id="attachment_636986" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emily Blake[/caption] CUMULUS INC., CBD Take a rest from the heat, grit and grunts in a low-lit corner at Cumulus Inc., a dreamy escape designed to soothe your every sense. Owned and run by chef Andrew McConnell (Builders Arms Hotel, Cutler & Co. and Supernormal), this all-day eatery celebrated its tenth anniversary last year and has been stocking up on Good Food hats since 2010. Begin with beef tartare, tarragon and anchovy toast, then move onto snapper with mussels, fennel pollen and dill oil. There's also a tasting menu, which changes daily. Cumulus Inc. is at 45 Flinders Lane – 15 minutes' walk from the tennis. Top image: Visit Victoria.
In much of The Queen's Gambit, Beth Harmon sits at a chessboard. As a child (Isla Johnston), she pulls up a chair in the basement of the orphanage she calls home and demands that janitor Mr Shaibel (Bill Camp, The Outsider) teach her the game. As a teenager (Anya Taylor-Joy, The New Mutants), she plays whenever she's able, earning a reputation as a chess prodigy. As her confidence and fame grows, she demonstrates her prowess at tournaments around America and the globe, while also spending her spare time hunched over knights, rooks, bishops and pawns studying moves and tactics. None of the above sounds like innately thrilling television unless you're a chess grandmaster, but this seven-part Netflix miniseries firmly proves that you should never judge a show by its brief description. Based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Walter Tevis, written and directed by Oscar-nominee Scott Frank (Out of Sight, Logan), and dripping with lavish 50s and 60s decor and costuming to reflect its period setting, The Queen's Gambit doesn't expect that all its viewers will be chess aficionados. But it's made with a canny awareness that anything can be tense, suspenseful and involving — and that every different type of game there is says much about its players and devotees. The series doesn't lack in creative and inventive ways to depict chess on-screen, whether projecting imagined matches onto the ceiling or peering down on competitive bouts directly from above. It knows when to hang on every single move of a pivotal game, and when to focus on the bigger story surrounding a particular match or Beth path through the chess world in general. And it's especially astute at illustrating how a pastime based on precision and strategy offers an orphaned girl a way to control one lone aspect of her tumultuous and constantly changing life. Indeed, from its very first moments, the series peppers all that chess gameplay throughout a knotty coming-of-age tale — because, while this is definitely a show about chess that serves up an underdog sports narrative, it's really a story about Beth's journey. After a family tragedy, she arrives at a Kentucky orphanage as a defiant slip of a girl. Forced to navigate a stern and strict environment, she finds solace in the tranquillisers that are handed out to the children like lollies, and in the game that instantly piques her curiosity from the moment that she spies Mr Shaibel playing it. Both will change her life, not only during her stint in institutionalised care, but when she's later adopted by the lonely Alma Wheatley (Marielle Heller, who is best-known for directing The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Can You Ever Forgive Me? and A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood) and her frequently absent husband (Patrick Kennedy, Peterloo). By the time that Beth is busing around the US and jetting around the world to compete with the game's most formidable players, however, she's also leaning on alcohol as a coping mechanism. Taylor-Joy has had a busy 2020 — or, to be more accurate, audiences Down Under have been spoiled for opportunities to see her on-screen this year. The New Mutants finally reached cinemas after hefty delays, Radioactive just arrived locally after debuting overseas in 2019, and Emma released back before the pandemic changed 2020 forever. But The Queen's Gambit is her best role of the year and, alongside 2014's The Witch, her best work yet. Playing a teen and then a young woman who is constantly changing from moment to moment, and making that reality feel authentic and relatable, she's one of the key reasons that the series is so compelling. She's also crucial to all those chess scenes, with her determined stare and the gleam in her eyes the source of much of the show's weight and tension. She's in excellent company, too, not only thanks to Heller and Camp but also first-timer Moses Ingram as Beth's fellow orphanage resident and Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Game of Thrones, Love Actually) as the cowboy hat-wearing reigning US chess champ; however, she's always the most pivotal piece on the board. Before his death in 2008, Heath Ledger had been preparing to bring The Queen's Gambit to cinemas. It would've marked his directorial debut, and he would've co-starred alongside Ellen Page as Beth. We'll never know how that might've turned out, but this tale works exceptionally well as a miniseries, with the longer duration giving it room to breathe and affording its central character and the themes she's grappling with the space they need to ferment. The Queen's Gambit also benefits from arriving post-Mad Men, a show that it shares a time period with, and visually resembles again and again. And it now reaches viewers at a time when more stories about women fighting their way through male-dominated realms are being made; Frank himself was also behind Netflix's seven-part western Godless, for example. When you start dreaming about chess after watching a single episode, you'll know you're hooked. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDrieqwSdgI The Queen's Gambit is available to stream via Netflix. Top image: Phil Bray/Netflix.
