The new additions to King Street just keep coming in 2023, with the Bowen Hills stretch welcoming in crab shack Claw in August, then arcade bar Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq to kick off September. Launching next is Italian Riviera-loving restaurant Bar Gusto, the latest addition to Rydges Fortitude Valley. The 190-seater will join the precinct on Friday, September 15, giving pizza and pasta pride of place on the menu, and putting one of the area's fig trees at the heart of its outdoor space. Dine outdoors on the terrace here — or drop in for an al fresco drink — and being surrounded by greenery is part of the package. Bar Gusto's deck has been built around the century-old tree, in fact. Indoors, the fitout heroes walnut panelling with antique brass. The vibe that the joint is aiming for: laidback but timeless. In a place that seats 150 in its main areas, plus 40 in its private dining room, executive Chef Francesco Trucco leads the kitchen — whipping up a menu that goes big on tradition, with family recipes steering his dishes. "Gusto in my home country means taste, and we know it also means enthusiasm, which is perfect for the venue we've created here. Where I'm from we have an incredible culture around food, everybody can cook — your friends, your mum, your grandma — and at Bar Gusto with each dish, I'm sharing the love from my family with families here in Australia," said Trucco. Cooked in a Valoriani Vesuvio Igloo pizza oven, the restaurant's slices come in eight varieties, including sausage and taleggio; pancetta atop carbonara paste; a mushroom and ham number made with truffle paste; and a combination of Mooloolaba tiger prawns, caviar and crab meat. If you prefer pasta, black squid linguine is the signature dish, the ravioli comes filled with carbonara sauce and tucking into nonna's meatballs in napoli sauce is an option. Among the smaller bites, pumpkin and basil arancini, potatoes crocchette with crab and bruschetta sit alongside rosemary olives, fries and those Mooloolaba tiger prawns again, this time in chilli garlic butter. Gusto does grazing boards, too, while panna cotta and tiramisu are the dessert choices. Whether you're just after a sip or you're pairing your beverage with a meal, the wine list favours Italian and local vino. Prefer a cocktail? They're a big feature. Think: the Gusto Aperitivo (made with Campari, Regal Rogue wild rose, lime juice, grapefruit soda and orange slices), Dolce Colada (Sailor Jerry, banana liqueur, coconut, lemon, pineapple and coconut foam), Bond, Rosemary Bond (Tanqueray, Cinzano Bianco, rosemary syrup, lemon and peach bitters) and Razzmatazz (vodka and Chambord with citrus, vanilla syrup, seat salt and egg whites). In total, seven types are available for just one person, two more for sharing (including the summery watermelon punch), plus two mocktails as well. And, if you prefer a classic other than Bar Gusto's specials, just ask. Find Bar Gusto at 601 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills from Friday, September 15 — open 11am–9pm Monday–Saturday.
It was named one of the best places in the world to visit in 2022, and it isn't short on reasons to stop by whenever you like. Back in 2022, however, the Scenic Rim region gave music fans a hefty piece of motivation to make the trip. That's when it debuted the state's newest fest, aka The Long Sunset — and the event is returning in 2023. On Saturday, April 29, the music and camping festival will sprawl across Elysian Fields in Canungra — and it'll make the most of its almost 500-acre location. Listening to live tunes may be the main drawcard, as well as bunking down for the night both before and afterwards, but this fest also fills its sprawling venue with other highlights. Think: wine tastings, celebrating local artists and artisans, and a range of homegrown food options. On the bill for 2023: Lime Cordiale, Winston Surfshirt, Hatchie and Sycco, as well as Tia Gostelow, Peach Fur, bella amor, Baby Cool and Luke Brazier. If you're camping or glamping — which gives you access from Friday, April 28–Monday, May 1 — there's also a Friday-night campfire session with Laura Frank, Seasoning and The Inadequates. Yes, as the name suggests, you can expect quite the dazzling display as day turns to night — with sunset at Elysian Fields seeing beams of light flicker over from the region's surrounding mountain ranges. The Long Sunset forms part of the also-returning Queensland Music Trails, which is all about spreading tunes and tourists across the Sunshine State. Images: Mitch Lowe.
If all this social isolation has left you keen to kick start some positive lifestyle changes, helping to save the planet seems like a pretty good place to start. After all, there's nothing like being cooped up indoors to inspire a newfound appreciation for blue skies, clean beaches and big, green open spaces. As a whole, Aussies have been gathering some momentum in the war against plastic waste in recent years, embracing bans on single-use plastic bags, swapping out plastic straws for sustainable alternatives and championing the humble reusable coffee cup. But, if you're feeling a little overwhelmed and unsure where to begin your own journey to a waste-free life, we've found a new local read that'll help put you right on track. Penned by ocean-lover and avid enviro-warrior Kate Nelson — aka Plastic Free Mermaid — I Quit Plastics And You Can Too is a practical guide to ditching disposable plastics and living more sustainably. And, given that Nelson broke up with single-use plastics over a decade ago, it's safe to say she's something of a guru on the topic. Whether you're keen to follow her lead completely, or simply want to learn how to live a little lighter, consider this book your new encyclopedia. It's chock full of handy, helpful information, served alongside manageable tips and how-tos aimed at reducing your plastic use, easily. Small, everyday changes can do big things for the environment. You'll discover how to cut down on waste, while shopping, cooking, cleaning and living with a more planet-friendly, plastic-free mindset. And Nelson shares lots of easy-to-implement strategies along the way, with more than 60 recipes to help de-plastic all areas of your life — from bodycare to breakfast. This is one online purchase the oceans will definitely thank you for. You can grab a copy of 'I Quit Plastics And You Can Too' for $26.25 from Booktopia. 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.
Getting a glass of wine at a bar doesn't usually involve pouring your own drink. That's one of the reasons that Woolloongabba's soon-to-open Stickybeak stands out. The new 60-seater vino haven is taking over the corner site at 2 Logan Road, which was previously home to Thai Rose Cafe and Bar, with an innovative concept: top wines made available via self-serve dispensing technology. Fancy a taste or a proper sip? Stickybeak's method for letting patrons nab their own beverages dispenses 25-, 75- and 150-millilitre pours. Eighty wines will be on the venue's list at the two-storey space, with 64 on the menu upstairs and 16 on offer downstairs, giving customers ample choice. Set to open in early December 2024, Stickybeak is the latest venture from the crew behind BTG Wine, marking the team's first venue. The idea behind the bar isn't just to allow patrons get their own drinks, but to make top global drops available at affordable prices. Champagne and blanc de blancs will also feature among the curated range, but championing Australian winemakers will earn special attention. For something to line the stomach while you're sat either indoors or out — including on the upstairs balcony — there'll be a small array of bites. And if you feel like knocking back something other than wine, canned craft beer will also be on the drinks menu. If both picking and pouring your own vino sounds like being spoiled for choice — and the possible reason to get indecisive — the bar's staff will be on hand to help chat you through the wine selection. "Australia has some of the most-diverse and exciting wines in the world, and Stickybeak is all about celebrating that. This venue is not just about pouring wine — it's about sharing the stories of the winemakers, the vineyards and the passion that goes into every bottle," advises co-owner Anthony McConnel. "We want our guests to feel connected to the incredible heritage and innovation that defines Australian wine." Find Stickybeak Wine Bar at 2 Logan Road, Woolloongabba, sometime from December 2024, operating Wednesday–Sunday from 3pm–late — we'll update you with more details when they're announced. Keep an eye on the venue's Instagram page in the interim. Top image: Google Maps.
Diaries out: The Big Pineapple Festival is returning in 2024, hitting up its namesake on the Sunshine Coast for the first time since 2021, and it now has a date confirmed. Whatever else you had planned for Saturday, October 19, cancel it — you'll be dancing in the shadow of a giant piece of tropical fruit. On Australia's list of big things, the Big Pineapple is among the most famous. It's big. It's a pineapple. It's heritage-listed Queensland icon. It's surrounded by pineapple fields. Basically, what's not to love? It's not merely a reason to head to Nambour to gawk at over-sized fruit, though. Back in 2013, it also became home to a music festival, which ran annually until its current three-year break. That hiatus is coming to an end, however, with organisers announcing that the fest will return in October 2024 — and now locking in exactly when. There's no lineup as yet, but whoever takes to the event's stages will do so between 11am–10pm. And yes, camping is still on offer for two days. If you hadn't already, start looking forward to a Woombye fest that'll take over the location's natural amphitheatres, get folks pitching a tent at the 4000-person campground, and also span workshops and art installations in a relaxed setting, too. The fest has always drawn a crowd, selling out in its very first year and plenty of times since. In 2021, Alison Wonderland and Peking Duk headlined, leading a lineup that unfurled top-notch entertainment across four stages. Also included at past festivals: a ferris wheel, food stalls aplenty, arts, crafts and other activities, and camping — all in the shadow of a giant pineapple that's the Sunshine Coast's biggest tourist attraction. The Big Pineapple Festival's return is welcome news at a time when the Australian music scene has been seeing cancellations, rather than comebacks. Tasmania's Mona Foma said farewell forever after its 2024 event, both Splendour in the Grass and Groovin the Moo scrapped their 2024 festivals mere weeks after announcing their lineups, Falls Festival took summer 2023–24 off, Summergrounds Music Festival at Sydney Festival was cancelled and This That hasn't gone ahead for a couple of years now. [caption id="attachment_944026" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Big Pineapple, Alpha via Flickr[/caption] The Big Pineapple Festival will return on Saturday, October 19, 2024. We'll update you with more details when they're revealed — keep an eye on the fest's website, Facebook and Instagram in the interim. Images: Claudia Ciapocha / Charlie Hardy..
Melt is back for 2024. Melt is also brand-new for 2024. Both statements can be true because this year's Melt has expanded its celebration of queer arts and culture to also become a fringe-style fest, aka Melt Open. To mark this return-slash-transformation, Brisbane is in for a helluva few weeks come October and November — the kind where Sophie Ellis-Bextor returns to the River City, and to the fest, to murder dance floors again; a Wicked-themed Halloween ball will have everyone defying gravity; a party is taking over the Valley Pool; and Bidjara artist Christian Thompson will unveil a large-scale outdoor exhibition across town. With its Wednesday, October 23–Sunday, November 10 dates getting closer, Melt has dropped its initial big batch of program details after unveiling a few bits and pieces since late 2023. Accordingly, the above events — and a heap more — join Spencer Tunick's nude photography work on the Story Bridge, plus Brisbane's first-ever River Pride Parade. The first will close down the famous structure to fill it with a cast of thousands sans clothes, while the second will float boats from William Jolly Bridge to Brisbane Powerhouse. The news that Ellis-Bextor, who also played Melt 2022, is coming to Brisbane this year also isn't new. Fresh from the Saltburn buzz, she's supporting Take That at A Day on the Green at Sirromet Wines, all of which was announced earlier in 2024; however, now it's officially part of the Melt 2024 lineup. If you're excited about partying like you're in Oz, Club Broadway: A Wicked Halloween Ball is your shindig, occurring while the stage musical is in town and around the time that the first of two Wicked movies hits cinemas. Expect drag queens, tributes to the show aplenty, chances to get interactive and star-studded performances. Or, if you're keen on turning a splash into one of Brisbane's long-standing pools — it dates back to 1925 — then hit up Colada Pool Party: Melt Edition, where there'll be drinks, plus house and dance music for you to make shapes to on the waterside astroturf dance floor. Again diving into the complexities of identities deemed 'other', Thompson's addition to the program includes displaying new works on Brisbane Powerhouse's facade. From there, the lineup also features Hans: Disco Spektakulär!, The Ungrateful Bastards and The Lucky B*tches teaming up for a big night; the return of Halloween Hall for a DJ-soundtracked way to get spooky; Femme Follies Burlesque, which is led by queer artists and heroes the queer gaze; and James Barth's The Clumped Spirit exhibition. Or, you can also enjoy alt.BIMBO as it focuses on the likes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, The Craft and Charmed, alongside AFAB, non-binary and trans artistic talent — and then sip tipples at the Real Housewives of Drag Brunch. Confidence Man, Mark Trevorrow and Rupert Noffs singing Stephen Sondheim, the Pink Flamingo Spiegelclub: they're all on the list, too, with more to come. Melt Open was announced in 2023 as a fringe-style event to celebrate LGBTQIA+ art and performance everywhere from Fortitude Valley to Woolloongabba, showcasing queer work, talents, legends and allies. Brisbanites should already know that Brisbane Powerhouse has hosted Melt Festival for eight years and counting, with that event considered a predecessor to this newcomer. As its name makes plain, Melt Open is broadening its scope by building upon Melt's success — spreading beyond the Powerhouse, featuring more artists and venues, and operating as an open access-style shindig. "This new incarnation of Melt is an evolution of Brisbane Powerhouse's Melt Festival of Queer Arts and Culture. Melt is now much larger, and will be staged in multiple venues and precincts across Brisbane/Meanjin," explains Chair of the Melt Reference Group Luke Furness. "We have vibrant LGBTQIA+ communities here ready to take centre stage in a festival for the whole community. You can just feel it's time to shine." [caption id="attachment_939500" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jack Martin[/caption] Melt Festival 2024 will run from Wednesday, October 23–Sunday, November 10. Head to the festival website for additional information, and for tickets from 10am on Thursday, July 4.
Avocado on toast is back, not that it ever went anywhere. But there's a bit of urgency around tucking into the brunch staple right now, all thanks to Australia's massive avo glut. Yes, it's as straightforward as it sounds: we have too many avocados, we're not eating enough and only smashing avo onto some heated bread en masse will get us through. Obviously, tackling the country's current avo oversupply problem isn't just about eating avocado on toast for every meal. Still, Australia does have a huge amount of avos to consume. According to a report by specialist agribusiness bank Rabobank called The 'Avolanche' of Australian Avocados, this year's avocado supply is up 26 percent on the past year per capita — which is 22 avocados for every Australian. Remember the days when we were told that tucking into smashed avo breakfasts was to blame for young Aussies not being able to buy houses, because we were apparently spending too much money on avocado and not enough saving for a home? No one should've ever been floating that ridiculous argument, but you won't hear it now. Instead, the Avolanche report advises that Australians need to devour more avos — and not just this year, but for the next five years. The reason for the glut? A significant maturing of avocado trees in the past season, particularly in Western Australia and Queensland, which has sparked a bumper crop. So, avos are now everywhere at the shops, and prices have been falling to entice us all to eat them. In WA alone, Rabobank says that avocado production is up 265 percent on last year. That's a lot of guacamole needed for a lot of nachos, a lot of avo smoothies, and a lot of salads with green slivers in them — or just a lot of avo for however you like to eat it. If you need a few more figures to explain just why there really are so many avos, Australia's avocado production for 2021–22 is estimated at 124,000 tonnes, too — and we brought in another 12,500 tonnes in imports. Those numbers are forecast to go up as well, with domestic avocado production expected to expand by 40 percent — or 50,000 tonnes — before 2026, reaching 173,000 tonnes of Aussie avos. RaboResearch associate analyst Pia Piggott advised that Australia will need to significantly up its avo exports to manage the oversupply issue, so it's not just up to us to eat our way out of this avo onslaught. That said, if you were thinking about having smashed avo this weekend, for brekkie tomorrow or just right now after reading the word 'avocado' a heap of times in this article, you now have a very good reason to. For more information about Rabobank's The 'Avolanche' of Australian Avocados report, head to its website.
Damian Griffiths has done it again. The entrepreneur and restaurateur responsible for Doughnut Time and many a Brisbane hotspot has just added another delicious offering to his busy, ever-blossoming portfolio. Think cold, creamy and perfect for summer. Yes, Mister Fitz is his foray into the ice cream world — and it's just the venture this sweltering city has been waiting for. Having opened last night, chilled, refreshing desserts will now be served up daily from 10am in the brand new shop behind Les Bubbles on Little Street, Fortitude Valley. Of course, in classic Griffiths style, his frosty parlour won't be like anywhere else. Mister Fitz won't be boasting 31 different flavours, but will feature handcrafted ice cream, made with fresh milk, cream and free-range eggs, whipped up from an original recipe, and produced in small batches in-house. You'll also find ice cream sandwiches made with cookies, brownies and more — because if there's one thing Griffths' Doughnut Time taught us, it's that ice cream always makes something tasty even tastier. And, if you're not going to be in the vicinity of the Valley often enough to satisfy your creamy cravings, don't despair — a second store is already under construction, and is due to open at South Bank within a matter of weeks. Given that Mister Fitz comes from the man who made the Limes Hotel, Alfred and Constance and Les Bubbles the city's favourite hangouts — and catapulted Chester Street Bakery and Kwan Brothers to everyone's must-eat lists — ice cream lovers are allowed to be excited. As is everyone else. Brisbane didn't go bonkers for doughnuts until Griffiths started selling them, after all. Find Mister Fitz behind Les Bubbles on Little Street, Fortitude Valley from 8.30pm on Thursday, December 17. For more information, check out their website and Facebook page.
Once you've given Woolloongabba a stylish neighbourhood-style Italian trattoria, what comes next? If you're Vincent Lombino and Jared Thibault, you branch out with a new Chinese Peruvian restaurant and bar in the same precinct. Come Wednesday, July 27, Casa Chow will follow in Sasso Italiano's footsteps, joining the inner-east suburb's South City Square. The former Ovolo and QT Food and Beverage Directors are heroing Chino Latino cuisine, aka Chifa, in their latest 100-seat venture — a culinary style that matches Cantonese flavours with Peruvian staples. On the menu: dishes such as lomo saltado, a stir fry made with marinated wagyu, onions and aji amarillo chilli, and served over fries, as well as anticucho marinated skewers, plus a blend of dim sum and ceviche. The full food range hasn't yet been revealed, but Executive Chef Gabriele Di Landri will focus on Chifa dishes that are designed to share. Patrons will tuck in while listening to Latin tunes spun at the venue's DJ booth, and sitting within a pastel-hued space with blue and pink walls, flowing curtains, booth seating and an open-style bar. To wash Casa Chow's bites down with, Thibault and Bar Manager Shawn Brown are going big on pisco, the brandy made in Peru and Chile's winemaking regions. You'll also be able to sip Scorpion bowl cocktails, pick from a hefty rum list and enjoy the best vinos that South America has to offer. In collaboration with Aether Brewing, there'll also be a bespoke rice lager, which'll feature hints of Peruvian purple corn. "Casa Chow brings a sense of escapism, and we can't wait to open our doors to bring Peru's most inspirational cuisine, Chifa, to Australia. We've poured our hearts into this place and space, to bring an energetic new dining experience to town," said Lombino. Lombino and Thibault aren't done adding to South City Square yet, either, with more venues in the works — joining a precinct that's also set to score a cinema, beer hall, martini bar, and market filled with its own butcher, baker, deli and florist. Find Casa Chow at South City Square, 148 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba, from Wednesday, July 27 — open from 5–10.30pm Wednesday–Sunday.
Perched by the river between George Street and North Quay, Brisbane Quarter is already home to Chinese, Italian and Thai restaurants, coffee and bubble tea joints, W Brisbane and its bars, and fine diner Three Blue Ducks. But the growing CBD precinct still has room for a new addition: Japanese eatery Tenya, which'll open its doors in early September. The new restaurant comes courtesy of hospitality veteran Tony Cheng, who already has Sunnybank's Hana Zushi Japanese Restaurant to his name. This time, he's pairing modern-style dishes with a lengthy drinks list, with more than 85 types of sake and Japanese whisky on Tenya's menu. Obviously, the riverside views over to South Bank will also be a big feature. When it welcomes in patrons, Tenya will usher Japanese food fans into a space that seats 240 in total, complete with an eye-catching curved bar. The inside dining room caters to 120, the outside area seats 80, a VIP room and function area holds 20, and ten seats are available in the Kaiseki and Omakase room — which is where diners can watch the chefs prepare their dishes. Opt for the latter, and you'll also be eating a bespoke meal created using whichever seasonal ingredients are available that day. On the regular menu, Head Chef Yang Zhao's kitchen will cook up everything from sushi, sashimi, tempura and udon noodles to $45 three-course set lunches — and an array of rolls that'll include ocean king prawn, soft shell crab and flamed grilled beef. For dinner, Kagoshima wagyu, salmon tartare and char grilled cuttlefish are a highlight. And, drinks-wise, all that sake and whisky will be joined by Japanese-inspired cocktails, more than 250 wines from around the world, and a range of spirits, beers, soft drinks and tea. Tenya will open at Brisbane Quarter, 300 Queen Street, Brisbane in early September — we'll update you with an exact date when once is announced.
Naldham House will soon be complete. Part of Brisbane's CBD landscape since the 1800s, the three-storey former shipping office on Felix Street relaunched in 2024 as a multi-venue hospitality hub, opening Naldham House Brasserie & Terrace on the ground floor, plus supper club-style cocktail bar and lounge Club Felix on its second storey. That left the heritage-listed site's top level awaiting the last piece of the puzzle — and left Brisbanites wondering what else would be in store. The answer: Cantonese restaurant The Fifty Six. From sometime in February 2025, the landmark waterfront building's third venue will start welcoming patrons through the door, then upstairs to the third floor. Traditional recipes made with modern techniques will be the star, with Chef Gerald Ong heading the kitchen. His inspiration: both the initial wave of Chinese immigration to Queensland, and also the influence since that cuisine in both Brisbane and Australia has taken from Chinese culture and food. If you're hankering for familiar Cantonese dishes, they'll be on the menu, but given a contemporary spin. Seasonal local produce will also be in the spotlight. Accordingly, the steaming crystal skin dumplings will be made with Moreton Bay bug, while Mooloolaba prawns will come wok-tossed, then paired with with curry leaf and salted egg. Chef Ong is also set to whip up his own oyster sauce in-house — and, for roast meats, The Fifty Six will boast a dry-ageing program. "I am delighted to be making the move north and leading this exciting Cantonese food concept for Naldham House — it's truly a passion of mine to innovate traditional Cantonese dishes and I know Brisbane will love this restaurant. The array of incredible local produce available will always feature through the menu," said Ong, who brings his experience from Tiger Lane, Chairman & Yip, Mrs Wang, Lucky Duck and Golden Panda in Canberra. On The Fifty Six team, he'll be joined by dim sum expert Ka Wai Kwok as the venue's sous chef. Although the year listed above its entrance is from four decades back, Naldham House was first built 141 years ago. The site began its life as a shipping office, then underwent major renovations in 1988. From there, it became the Brisbane Polo Club from 1994–2015. Now, since mid-July 2024, it's one of the River City's newest drinking and dining destinations — still under the name Naldham House. Thank DAP & Co to transforming this patch of the Eagle Street side of Brissie's inner city into a three-venues-in-one haven. The hospitality group co-owned by Andrew Baturo, Denis Sheahan and Paul Piticco, which is also behind The Gresham, Popolo Italian and Walter's Steakhouse and Wine Bar, has made over the site as part of the Waterfront Brisbane project that's revamping this area of town. Find Naldham House at 33 Felix Street, Brisbane City, with Naldham House Brasserie & Terrace and Club Felix now open. Naldham House Brasserie & Terrace's brasserie operates from 11.30am–3pm and 5–10pm Monday–Saturday, and its terrace from 11.30am–11pm Monday–Saturday. Club Felix trades from 5pm–2pm Wednesday–Saturday. Head to the Naldham House Brasserie & Terrace website and Club Felix website for more information. Images: Dexter Kim and Markus Ravik.
You don't have to go to Tokyo to enjoy an immersive Japanese experience. You can, of course, and you should at some point, because there's really nowhere else in the world like it. But if you're eager to eat like you're already there, watch performances and take part in cultural activities, you can save yourself the airfare at the Matsuri Japanese Festival. Your bank account will thank you, and you'll take care of that nagging travel envy for an afternoon. A one-day celebration that's taking place at Whites Hill State College in Camp Hill in 2024 — the date: Saturday, September 7 — this is Brisbane's own ode to the country that brought us sushi, katsu, yakitori, sake, matcha lattes and more. Expect to find more than a few things from that list on offer, and plenty of things to see and do as well. Admission is free and, like every great cultural festival, you can expect a little bit of everything that makes Japan so ace.
Time flies when you're sitting in a darkened room in the middle of the city watching movies, and that's definitely proven the case for the Elizabeth Picture Theatre. It has been a year since the CBD cinema opened its doors, and it's celebrating the occasion. Sure, it's the venue's birthday, however they're turning the tables and giving you the gift of $5 movie tickets. The only caveats are that you'll need to see a movie on Friday, October 5 — and you'll need to do so before 5pm. Thankfully, there are plenty of flicks to choose from if you can manage a few daytime hours away from the daily grind. Why not spend your Friday finally catching up with Crazy Rich Asians or Ladies in Black, or perhaps seeing Tom Hardy turn into Venom? For those with a spare chunk of daylight, a fiver in their pocket and a desire to see a movie, you can also do so in style. The $5 tickets are also available in the Elizabeth Picture Theatre's Royal Rooms, aka the cinema's premium option.
After two years spent sipping more coffee at home than you might've liked, you probably don't need need an excuse to hit up Brisbane's cafes for your next cuppa — but Veneziano Coffee Roasters is giving you a reason to stop by anyway. The West End spot has just relaunched after hefty renovations, opening up its warehouse and cafe space so that patrons can make the most of getting their caffeine fix in a coffee joint that's also roastery. Expect to see the behind-the-scenes magic happen while you're drinking your warm beverage of choice, all in a space that can seat 50 inside and 16 outdoors. Veneziano's revamped site is airy, light and bright with white surfaces aplenty, plus glass walls that let you peer from the dining space to the coffee roastery and warehouse. And, it's also now home to training studios and a cupping lab, and will be running sessions for both professional baristas and folks keen to make their best coffee at home. The renovations come more than a decade after Veneziano opened in West End in 2009, with alterations made to the Montague Road spot with its Richmond headquarters in Melbourne and Surry Hills cafe in Sydney in mind. The aim: to ensure that stopping by is about more than just getting a buzz, turning it into an interactive coffee experience. Also new: a full-service food menu, so you can now grab something sizeable to eat alongside your caffeine hit. The Veneziano group's head chef KaiKai Yan has whipped up a range of dishes that focus on seasonal produce, still have room for the classics, and also offer a sizeable vegetarian and vegan selection. Think: a spin on eggs benedict with zucchini fritters, a citrus hollandaise and crumbled feta; chilled coconut rice pudding paired with seasonal fruits and dehydrated mandarins; the ol' favourite that is bacon and eggs; and weekly specials such as chicken and cheese spring rolls with Sriracha mayonnaise and duck massaman pappardelle topped with roasted peanuts and kaffir limes. Coffee-wise, Veneziano's Soar is the house blend, so expect honey, pineapple, cherry and chocolate malt notes in your cuppa. Or amid plenty of other options, there's a rotating range of microlots which are served via filter pour-over, plus a limited-edition selection of nanolots. Find Veneziano Coffee Roasters at 369 Montague Road, West End — open 6am–3pm Monday–Friday and 6am–2pm Saturday–Sunday.
Another supermarket staple is on its way out, at one Australian grocery chain at least. Single-use plastic bags have become a thing of the past, and other single-use plastic items have done the same. Now, Harris Farm Markets has ditched artificial colours from within the products on its shelves, too. In an Aussie first, the company has spent five years ensuring that artificial colours have been eliminated from all the food and drinks on its shelves at all of its locations. The supermarket chain, which operates in New South Wales and Queensland, is the only major grocery provider so far to go all-natural when it comes to the colours in its products. [caption id="attachment_815760" align="alignnone" width="1920"] J&A Photography[/caption] "For over 50 years, Harris Farm Markets have been delivering goodness to Australian families. To continue to do this, we knew we needed to eliminate artificial colours from our shelves," said Harris Farm Markets co-CEO Tristan Harris. "So, for the past five years we have been working with our suppliers to find new methods of production if needed and alternative ingredients if required. Now, our pasta sauces, dips, juices, peanut butter, cookie dough, curry pastes, chocolates, soups, noodles and even orange juices, just to name a few, are all free of artificial colouring," he continued. The move has seen everywhere from wholesaler The Market Grocer and chocolatier Koko Black to dip company Fresh Fodder and pastry chef Anna Polyviou change their products to comply with Harris Farm Markets' determination to eradicate artificial colours. "It has meant, however, that some product lines have been eliminated, because we have to stand firm on our commitment," advised Harris. "We take immense pride in what we sell, and even more pride in what we don't sell, and from now on, we don't sell food with artificial colours. We are also incredibly proud to be the only major grocery provider in the country to be now artificial colour-free." [caption id="attachment_815760" align="alignnone" width="1920"] J&A Photography[/caption] Harris Farm Markets has always had a particular focus on fresh local produce, which is one of the reasons why the chain has both stood the test of time and amassed a considerable following. Another big obsession: sustainability, including via its imperfect picks section. That's where shoppers can pick up seasonal fruit and vegetables that mightn't look picture perfect, but still taste as great as ever, all as part of the chain's efforts to help stop farm wastage. For more information about Harris Farm Markets, and to find your closest store, head to the company's website.
When Sleater-Kinney, aka Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein, take to the stage Down Under in May 2024, they won't just be touring their latest album. And they aren't simply making their first trip this way in eight years, since 2016, either. Started under the riot grrrl movement, the group will also celebrate 30 years since forming, plus just as long since they recorded their self-titled first record in a single night in Australia. That album has been followed by ten more studio releases, with Little Rope their latest. That gives the duo — after Janet Weiss left the band in 2019 — plenty to play through on a five-city visit to Australia and New Zealand. The tour commences in Auckland, then heads to Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, hitting up theatre-sized venues. "For all intents and purposes, Sleater-Kinney got its start in Australia. We recorded our first album and played our first-ever shows there," said Brownstein, announcing the Down Under leg of the tour. "Because of that, Australia feels like one of the band's spiritual homes, and returning there always feels like a homecoming, a reunion." [caption id="attachment_941986" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Raph_PH via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Sleater-Kinney have a stack of US dates locked in before hitting Australia and New Zealand, and will then make their way around Europe in August. Everywhere they play, fans can expect tunes from Little Rope — including singles 'Hell' and 'Say It Like You Mean It' — likely alongside past tracks such as 'One More Hour', 'Worry with You' and 'Jumpers'. As well as their three decades together — with a hiatus between 2007–13, between 2005's exceptional The Woods and 2015's No Cities to Love — Tucker has stints with Heavens to Betsy, Cadallaca, The Corin Tucker Band and Filthy Friends to her name, while Brownstein co-created and co-starred in Portlandia. Carol, Transparent, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Irma Vep are also on Brownstein's filmography. [caption id="attachment_941987" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Raph_PH via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Sleater-Kinney Little Rope Australian and New Zealand Tour 2o24: Wednesday, May 15 — Powerstation, Auckland Friday, May 17 — Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane Sunday, May 19 — Forum, Melbourne Tuesday, May 21 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Thursday, May 23 — Metropolis, Fremantle Sleater-Kinney are touring Australia and New Zealand in May 2024, with ticket pre-sales from 10am local time on Wednesday, February 21 and general sales from 10am local time on Friday, February 23. Head to the tour website for further details. Top image: Justin Higuchi via Wikimedia Commons.
Have you ever sipped a daiquiri under the Barbie-head chandelier at Lychee Lounge? Check. Dined whilst sat cross-legged on a rug at Garuva? Check. Visited the gents' with a one-way mirror at the Regatta? Check. But have you had dinner in a shipping container? Well, every Friday and Saturday night, you can do just that. Brisbane's patron saint of markets, restaurants and cafes, Peter Hackworth, will transform Hamilton Wharf into a foodie's dream, creating a gastronomic spectacle never seen in Brisbane before. The team from Eat Street Markets — including Hackworth, John Stainton and Jacki MacDonald — have worked together to deliver 60 shipping containers to the wharf, creating a street market with originality coming out the ears. The goal is to "recreate in Brisbane the hustle and bustle of the fabulous food markets of Asia" according to Hackworth, a goal that is set to be achieved by inviting local chefs to whip up their take on South-East Asian cuisine, complemented by boutique beers, cocktails and fine wines, all set to the unique aural offerings of local musicians. If you're heading down over the Australia Day weekend, expect special edition treats from your favourite vendors — we're talking a possible second batch of chocolate Cronut ice cream, a special 'Turkish Delight' dessert gozleme with Nutella, bananas and walnuts, special edition handmade confectionery from New Farm Confectionery and All The Lamb Chops from Redgate Farm — as well as live entertainment and your usual array of local food and wine delights. Eat Street is on from 4-10pm every Friday and Saturday night. See their website for more details.
When you think of goods made out of recycled cardboard, the most common objects that would spring to mind would probably be cereal boxes, toilet paper or drink bottles. A fully-functioning bicycle would most likely not make the top of the list. Yet, now thanks to Israeli bike enthusiast, Izhar Gafni, it will certainly appear somewhere on that list. Gafni has created a bicycle made entirely of recycled cardboard, and all using only $9 of material. The bike functions just like a normal bike, is water resistant and can carry riders of up to a massive 220kg. Despite the material costing between $9-$12 for each bicycle, Gafni is looking to sell his product for $60-$90 a pop, depending on the extra addition of an electrical motor. Nevertheless, this innovative creation is believed to change the world of bicycles by being significantly more eco-friendly and well within consumer's budgets. The inspiration for the recycled bike came after Gafni saw news that an inventor had developed a canoe made from recycled cardboard. Even through the skepticism and doubt he received, Gafni persevered with his idea and three years later achieved what three different engineers had thought to be impossible. Gafni's recycled bicycle has since been made into four different prototypes including one with training wheels for children. He is currently working with investors to establish a company that can produce and distribute his bikes on a global scale.
Next time you're slurping on some noodles or devouring a stir-fry, don't stop when your bowl is empty. If you're still hungry, set your sights on the utensils in your hand. Yes, chowing down on chopsticks has become a reality — and whatever you think they'll taste like, they won't. Unless you were really hoping they'd have the same flavour as furniture, that is. Unveiled by Japan's Marushige Confectionery, the edible chopsticks are designed to serve two purposes: provide a sustainable alternative to current chopsticks, which are usually made out of bamboo, wood, plastic or steel, and are used in the billions each year around the world; and provide a reminder about the country's agricultural traditions. It's for the latter reason that they're made out of igusa, the soft reeds usually used to make the tatami floor mats that are common around the nation. By turning igusa into chopsticks, then getting folks to munch on them, Marushige hopes people will come to appreciate the substance's cultural significance. At present, the tatami-flavoured chopsticks be made available at two restaurants in Tokyo, but whether they'll spread to become a broader trend is yet to be seen. No one can argue with the fact that it's an ingenious idea — how many pairs of disposable wooden chopsticks have you used and then thrown out recently? More than you probably realise. As for the taste, maybe it's the kind of thing that you just get accustomed to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBOXZBgXqDs Via MUNCHIES.
If you're one of those people that cannot live without caffeine, whetting your whistle with coffee is an essential ritual. Whether it's part of your 'morning exercise' — a five-minute walk and flirting with your favourite barista — or the carefully planned work catch-up, any excuse is a good excuse. As writers, there's nothing we love more than sitting in a cafe, typing at inhuman speeds to meet a deadline and sipping madly on our coffee of choice. We've teamed up with Milklab to showcase the trusty locals we rely on for all our caffeine needs. These go-to spots hold a special place in our hearts — and our fuzzy morning brains. ALCOVE CAFE AND DELI, WILSTON Since opening in 2012, Alcove Cafe and Deli has become a staple of the Wilston community — and a staple of CP contributor Cailin Sheppard's week. Here, you'll find homely brunch dishes, daily baked treats and a carefully curated specialty coffee menu. The baristas sling your classic espressos alongside cold brew concoctions served over ice with coconut water and mint or lemonade and citrus. Or you can enjoy the best of both worlds with the Fire and Ice, in which a cold brew and a flat white are served side by side. This helps the differences between the extraction methods to shine through, especially with creamy Milklab oat milk. [caption id="attachment_833054" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mitch Clayton[/caption] BESSA, MILTON A stone's throw from much-loved Milton coffee haunt Bunker is its sibling venue, Bessa, which CP contributor Neesha Sinnya recommends. The wooden kiosk was opened on Little Cribb Street to spread out the continuous stream of customers Bunker was (and still is) subject to. Bessa serves up Five Senses Coffee with Queensland roasters on rotation for batch drops from Monday to Friday. Jaffles, pastries and doughnuts are available as sweet or savoury sidekicks to your coffee or hot chocolate, which can come spiked with lemon myrtle, lime and salt, chilli or aztec spice. [caption id="attachment_833056" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mitch Clayton[/caption] JOSIE NORTH, TOOWONG Located down a lowkey arcade in Toowong, Josie North has slowly garnered a reputation as serving some of the best specialty coffee in Brisbane. The 17-seat cafe has a simple menu of eats and a regular rotation of three Australian roasteries: Seven Seeds, Small Batch Roasting and Wood and Co Coffee. The aim here — and at the roasteries — is to produce coffee which showcases the origins of the beans rather than how they are roasted, meaning black, filter or a light, creamy option like Milklab's oat milk is the way to go if you want the full effect of the flavour. BLACK SHEEP COFFEE, WOOLLOONGABBA Black Sheep has been a mainstay of the Brisbane coffee roasting scene for almost a decade. The soon to be renamed Joyce Coffee — which will happen first thing next year — is all about cultivating a culture of community and coffee. Keeping it simple with coffee and Sprout Artisan Bakery pastries served out of its roastery, the team here showcases the in-house selection of blends and single origins through an array of brewing methods. The coffee palace will also be relocating come 2022, but just across the road to a larger space on Norman Street. Plus, you'll be pleased to hear, pooches are more than welcome to pop by here, too. [caption id="attachment_833059" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mitch Clayton[/caption] HUNTER AND SCOUT CAFE, GRACEVILLE With a full breakfast and lunch menu, smoothies, coffee and plenty of space for dining, you certainly aren't left wanting at Hunter and Scout. Sit out in the courtyard filled with tropical plants and while away the morning with friends, or bring your laptop to work remotely with a coffee at the ready. While the midday menu here is made for long lunches, breakfast is a more easy-going but indulgent affair with options like a wild mushroom and tarragon omelette, burnt butter crumpets and a cheddar cheese and chive hash brown benedict. And yes, they have alternative milks aplenty here. CHAPTER IV, PADDINGTON Perched on the upper end of Latrobe Terrace with sweeping views of Paddington and the city is Chapter IV. This quintessential neighbourhood hangout dishes up an all-day menu of brekkie classics, sangas and boujie brunch specials — think Singapore chilli crab benedict, vanilla, pear, lemon and honey panna cotta and a Japanese fritter stack. Campos is the roastery of choice for the full-range coffee selection here, best taken on the back deck with a cute coffee date by your side. [caption id="attachment_833061" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mitch Clayton[/caption] COCO BLISS, NORTH LAKES Come for the acai, stay for the coffee at this bliss bowl powerhouse's North Lakes hub. The go-to spot is all about the wholefoods, blending them together to make smoothies, juices and smoothie bowls which make a perfect light brekkie or snack. With a predominantly raw and vegan menu, it makes sense to have plant-based milks on lock (cue Milklab) as they make up the majority of bases for smoothies and coffees. As for savoury, vego and vegan toasties make great grab-and-go options while wholesome salads make up the rest. We challenged one of our writers to switch to oat milk for a week. Find out what they discovered here. Ask your barista for Milklab Oat or head to the website for more information. Top image: Black Sheep Coffee
Every kid plays with sticks. You did it. You picked them up, gathered them into piles, tried to fashion them together and more, all while you were getting your hands dirty playing in a park or your backyard. Turning sticks into jewellery is much less common, of course, so no wonder Rebecca Ward's pieces are tiny works of art. On display as an aptly named collection called Bush Craft, her stick-based brooches don't just recall times gone by, however. They also contemplate a future that hasn't yet come. Drawing upon the modern survivalist movement, and also taking inspiration from the popular book series from the '70s and '80s that gives the exhibition its title, Ward ponders a situation where wearable art can only be made from things found in the forest and recycled fencing wire. Actually, that's how she crafted them, too, using sticks foraged around Maleny. As you gaze at their striking natural designs, you'll be certain to think about certain things: the bush life, the need for resourcefulness once you head out of the city, and what that kind of living does to your heart, spirit and mind. Image: Rebecca Ward, Bushcraft series, 2016. Found sticks and sterling silver. Photo courtesy of the artist.
No trip to Tokyo is complete without a visit to Shinjuku's Godzilla head, which towers down on the popular district from Hotel Gracery Shinjuku. If you're a fan of the King of the Monsters, you'll now need to add another stop to your next Japanese itinerary: amusement park Nijigen no Mori, on Awaji Island in Hyogo prefecture. From a yet-to-be-finalised date in mid-2020, the theme park will be home to a life-sized version of the scaly creature — even if Godzilla's actual size has changed over the course of its 65-year history. The kaiju was 50 metres tall in the 1954 Japanese classic that started the long-running monster franchise, and measured nearly 120 metres in the most recent US film. In 2017's animated Netflix flick Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters, it even spanned a whopping 300 metres. At Nijigen no Mori, good ol' Zilly will measure 120 metres according to Japan Times, and that's in length. Godzilla will be lying down, mouth open and presumably roaring, with amusement park patrons able to zipline into it. Usually folks are trying to avoid the huge creature and his fire-breathing gob, but that's obviously not going to be the case here. Called Godzilla Interception Operation, the attraction will dedicate a 5000-square-metre zone to the famed critter, asking attendees to take on the role of island scientists. In that guise, the ziplining occurs in the name of science, because the huge beast has become trapped in the earth. Shooting games are also part of the Godzilla zone and, naturally, so is Zilly-themed food and merchandise. Also, if you're wondering which Zilly this one will resemble — Godzilla's appearance has often changed from film to film, too — it's the version of the lizard-style gargantuan from 2016 Japanese movie Shin Godzilla. For more information about Godzilla Interception Operation, which is due to open in mid-2020, visit the Nijigen no Mori website. Via Nijigen no Mori / Japan Times. Images: Nijigen no Mori.
When Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi invited the world to experience the vampire sharehouse mockumentary genre, one of the best comedies of the decade wasn't the only result. Every film seems to spawn sequels, remakes, spinoffs and the like these days, but no one's complaining about spending more time in the What We Do in the Shadows universe. A follow-up, We're Wolves, is in the works, focusing on the undead bloodsuckers' Rhys Darby-led lycanthrope enemies. So is six-episode television spinoff Wellington Paranormal, following the movie's cops (Mike Minogue and Karen O'Leary) as they keep investigating the supernatural, and expected to air in New Zealand mid this year. Add a US TV remake of the original flick to the pile as well, but withhold any "do we really need a remake?" judgement. First revealed by Waititi last year, given a pilot order earlier in 2018 and now officially moving ahead with a 10-episode first season, the American version will be written by Clement and directed by Waititi, The Hollywood Reporter notes — and will see a documentary crew follow three vampire flatmates living in New York City, according to Variety. The series will star Toast of London's Matt Berry, Four Lions' Kayvan Novak, British stand-up comedian Natasia Demetriou and The Magicians' Harvey Guillen. It's unknown whether Clement and Waititi will reprise their on-screen roles in a guest capacity. With What We Do in the Shadows actually starting its life as a short back in 2005, the concept of flatting members of the undead arguing about bloody dishes has taken quite the journey since those early beginnings. If any idea was going to come back in multiple guises, it's this one. Of course, so have Clement and Waititi. Clement has a new Flight of the Conchords TV special airing on HBO this month, while Waititi two post-Thor: Ragnarok flicks in the works — a stop-motion animated effort called Bubbles, about Michael Jackson's chimp, and another by the name of Jojo Rabbit, set during World War II and starring Scarlett Johansson and Sam Rockwell. As for feasting your eyes into What We Do in the Shadows' new TV version, fans will have to wait until next year. The US remake isn't set to air in America until early-to-mid 2019. Via The Hollywood Reporter / Variety. Image: Kane Skennar.
If you've spent the past year with your nose buried in a book, that's about to pay off beyond the everyday joys and thrills of reading. Sydney Writers' Festival's 2023 lineup is here another hefty catalogue of thought-provoking events — 226 of them, with almost 300 writers and thinkers involved. From the recipients of the literary world's brightest honours to some of Australia's household names and faces, a wealth of talent is descending upon the Harbour City, and being streamed nationally thanks to SWF's online program. Every writers' festival converges around an annual theme, with Sydney's focusing on 'Stories for the Future' for its 2023 iteration from Monday, May 22–Sunday, May 28 at various venues around the city — and also beamed digitally. Thinking about what's to come has been an inescapable part of living through the pandemic era, which SWF knows, curating a bill of talks that'll contemplate moving through the chaos of the past few years and into in a different tomorrow. [caption id="attachment_893384" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eleanor Catton by Murdo MacLeod[/caption] Today's most current Booker Prize-winner, plus three from past years as well, top the lineup: Shehan Karunatilaka, who won in 2022 for The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida; The Luminaries' Eleanor Catton; The Narrow Road to The Deep North's Richard Flanagan and Girl Woman Other's Bernardine Evaristo. Still on highly applauded attendees, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist Colson Whitehead — for The Underground Railroad, which was then adapted into a TV series, and for The Nickel Boys — also leads the bill, arriving between Harlem Shuffle's 2021 publication and sequel Crook Manifesto's arrival this July. Among the international names, the above headliners have ample company. When Trinidad-born UK musician Anthony Joseph isn't talking poetry — he is 2022's TS Eliot Prize for Poetry winner — London restauranteur Asma Khan from Darjeeling Express, and also seen on Chef's Table, will chat about comfort food; Daniel Lavery from Slate, who penned the Dear Prudence column from 2016–21, will run through his best advice; and Vietnamese author Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai will introduce her new novel Dust Child. [caption id="attachment_893383" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Colson Whitehead by Chris Close[/caption] On the local front, get ready for two iconic pairings: former Prime Minister Julia Gillard being interviewed by Indira Naidoo, plus Jurassic Park favourite Sam Neill discussing work, life and writing with his Sweet Country, Dean Spanley, Dirty Deeds and Palm Beach co-star Bryan Brown. Also on the must-attend list: Grace Tame chatting about The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner: A Memoir, Heartbreak High's Chloé Hayden doing the same with Different, Not Less: A neurodivergent's guide to embracing your true self and finding your happily ever after, and Stan Grant on The Queen Is Dead. Also, on Monday, May 15 before the main festival, Tim Winton will discuss writing the ABC TV documentary Love Letter to Ningaloo. Under first-time Artistic Director Ann Mossop, opening night will feature Evaristo, Benjamin Law and Miles Franklin-winner Alexis Wright working through the impact that the past has on the present, as well as poet Madison Godfrey performing. At the other end of the fest, novelist Richard Flanagan will look forward, exploring why we need to tell our own tales to shape the future. [caption id="attachment_893385" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Grace Tame by Kishka Jensen[/caption] And, if your main relationship with the printed word is through recipe books, the 2023 festival is going all in on the topic for one day at Carriageworks Farmers Market. Stephanie Alexander and Maggie Beer will talk with Adam Liaw, while fixing the food system and family recipes will also nab chats by culinary talent. Capping off the bill will be foodie gala The Dinner That Changed My Life, with everyone from Nat's What I Reckon and Jennifer Wong to Alice Zaslavsky and Colombo Social's Shaun Christie-David involved. Among the rest of the program, other highlights include a tribute to Archie Roach and Jack Charles; comedians Wil Anderson and Laurence Mooney; the All Day YA lineup; a deep dive into crime podcasting with journalists Patrick Abboud, Kate McClymont and Hedley Thomas; and The Book Thief and The Messenger's Markus Zusak on bringing the latter to TV. Adaptations in general earn their own session, Shane Jenek aka Courtney Act is part of SWF's stint of Queerstories, Tom Ballard pops up on an OK Boomer panel, Australia's war on hip hop gets its time in the spotlight, and there's a look at AI in the age of ChatGPT. As always free events are a big part of the program as well, with more than 80 on year. And, also in the same category, the spread of venues is hefty — including Carriageworks, Town Hall, and 25 suburban venues and libraries across the Sydney. Sydney Writers' Festival runs at various venues across Sydney from Monday, May 22–Sunday, May 28. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday, March 17 via www.swf.org.au.
You know those bad Christmas gifts, the ones that make you slap on your very best fake smile in order to say thanks without groaning. A brick-like pud, some subpar sports socks, a sickly sweet candle — generic and uninspired clutter that you instantly want to return, regift or chuck in the trash. We don't want to sound ungrateful — sure, it's the thought that counts — but a poorly chosen present can be kind of disappointing, not to mention wasteful. Nobody wants to get — or give — a gift like that. Indeed, there's a fine art to Christmas shopping. Not all of us can be gift-giving masters, after all. So, to help you pick the perfect pressie and avoid any bigtime blunders, we've partnered with Australia Post to pull together ten stellar gift ideas, which won't warrant a return. They all cost less than a pineapple, can be ordered online and conveniently delivered to your nearby Parcel Locker so you can pick 'em up whenever it suits you. Let your fingers do the walking, forgo the crazy Christmas crowds and rest easy knowing your parcel is stored securely till you're ready to collect. Happy shopping, Santas. FRANK GREEN STAINLESS STEEL REUSABLE CUP Forget splashing cash on a mug with some trite "Keep Calm and Carry On" message inscribed on the front and get a cup that is both eco-friendly and uber trendy instead. The Frank Green stainless steel reusable cup is pretty much the Superman of drinking receptacles; crafted from commercial grade stainless steel, it's built to last forever (in a good way) which is great if you have clumsy caffeine-lovers in your midst. Drop this baby and there's no need to cry over spilt milk — it won't shatter or break. The cup is also stain and odour resistant, has a nifty spill-proof lid and a clever one-handed toggle button to drink and reseal — like we said, Superman. How much? $39.95 RELOVE PRINT BOOK SUBSCRIPTION We all know a bookworm and a surefire way to score a special place in their heart is to shout them a book subscription. Revolve Print will ship one quality preowned book to their doorstep each month, so they'll never have a shortage of great literature. What's more, they get to curate their reads and pick what kind of pageturners they receive. This gift is not only super thoughtful, but it's also eco-friendly. To take things up a notch, arrange to meet each month to discuss the books. How much? From $9 per month SMARTPHONE PROJECTOR An excellent accessory for the silly season, the portable Luckies Smartphone Projector 2.0 projects music videos, films and photographs anywhere you please. It's a great gift for the gadget-obsessed as it's both stylish and practical. With up to 8x magnification, the projector is light, compact and works with iOS and Android smartphones. Come Christmas Day, the family can stop crowding around one iPhone to look at Uncle John's travel photos and instead see them on the big screen. How much? $49.95 GROW YOUR OWN TEA Tea is a real crowd pleaser; young or old, most people enjoy a good cuppa. While you could gift a nice loose-leaf blend, why not go one step above and give that special someone a Grow Your Own Tea Kit. Each kit contains a growing pot, some soil, the tea seeds — choose between chamomile, peppermint, lemon balm or echinacea — as well as a mug and tea strainer to taste-test the brew. Not only is this pressie full of antioxidants, but it also gives the grower a sense of satisfaction and achievement, which is priceless. How much? $34.95 BACON MAKING KIT This gift is for that one friend or family member who always hangs by the Christmas ham — the bona fide pork fiend, the bigtime bacon fan. Introducing the Baconsmith Bacon Making Kit, which produces top-notch bacon in just seven days. The kit makes two-kilograms of tasty bacon — sweet or savoury, the choice is theirs. All it requires is a good slab of pork belly. The great thing about this present is that it's also like a gift to you. Give it to a housemate or your partner, and you'll reap the benefits, too, with some tasty homemade bacon to snack on next fry-up. We guarantee they (and you ) will be squealing with delight. How much? $34.95 MEMOBOTTLE A staggering one million single-use plastic bottles are purchased around the world every minute and most end up in landfill. Depressing, right? Do your bit and buy your mate a Memobottle. Remember the book Flat Stanley? This is the water bottle version of that; it's nice and slim and can slide right into compact spaces. Memobottles are great for students as they pack neatly into backpacks, between all those textbooks. The bottle has a 450-millilitre capacity and is BPA free — so the water will stay nice and pure. How much? $44.95 DIY BEESWAX WRAPS If you're friends with a passionate eco-warrior or want to inspire a less socially conscious friend, sling them this beeswax block and get them making their own environmentally friendly version of Cling Wrap. The Wanderlightly DIY Beeswax Wraps are non-toxic, biodegradable and reusable — save on cash and save the planet. Win, win. The step-by-step instructions are super simple, just add cotton fabric and you're ready to go. Since they'll be spending less money on plastic packaging for, well, the rest of their lives, it really is the gift that keeps on giving. How much? From $17.50 AESOP JET SET KIT Ah, the intoxicating aromas of Aesop. We still haven't worked out how they make it smell so darn good, but we're not complaining. Give the globetrotters in your life the gift of sweet smells and smooth skin with this Aesop Jet Set Kit. The assortment features the go-to products — like classic shampoo and conditioner, Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser and Rind Concentrate Body Balm — and can be stored in their carry-on for easy access. Aesop products are renowned for their hydrating qualities, exactly what one needs during a long-haul. How much? $41 COFFEE MUG BY INDIGENOUS ARTIST LUKE PENRITH Yes, this is the second cup we've mentioned but its eye-catching design warranted a spot on the list. Created by Aboriginal artist Luke Penrith, the mug depicts the Yilawura Camp Site in soothing green and blue tones. It's a statement piece, which would suit any kitchen or office desk. Since it's only $16, you can order two or three and gift a set. Let's face it, one can never have too many mugs. And if you're a fan of the artwork, you can pick up a range of other wares featuring the same design. How much? From $15.99 SOLAR-POWERED PORTABLE PHONE CHARGER We all have that one friend or family member who is forever searching for a phone charger. Treat them to this solar-powered portable phone charger and never hear "Hey, can I borrow a charger?" again. While the top of the line chargers can set you back around $100, hit up eBay to find a charger on the cheap. With USB connectivity, this compact little nugget will charge everything from an iPhone to a tablet to a digital camera. Just add sun and you're all set. How much? From $22.99 Christmas shopping has never been so simple — order online, ship to a Parcel Locker and avoid the hectic shops with Australia Post.
It's time to hit the galleries, as 22nd Biennale of Sydney is set to return from Saturday, March 14 through Monday, June 8. Sure, three months might sound like a lot of time, but this massive biennial showcase spans over 700 artworks and 101 artists from 65 different countries — as well as several galleries across our city, from Campbelltown to Cockatoo Island. The 2020 edition is entitled Nirin, which means 'edge' in the language of western NSW's Wiradjuri people. It is helmed by a new First Nations artistic director, famed Sydney-born, Melbourne-based interdisciplinary artist Brook Andrew. Andrew has selected an impressive lineup of artists and creatives — many of them First Nations — from around the world to exhibit at the Art Gallery of NSW, Woolloomooloo's Artspace, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Cockatoo Island, MCA and the National Art School for the exhibition's 12 weeks. The showcase brings together artists from all over the globe, with fresh perspectives on Australia that span culture, gender and place. Expect installations, performances, sculptures, videos, paintings and drawings that examine what it means to be First Nations. Here are ten highlights that you can't miss. Due to current concerns surrounding COVID-19, the Biennale has implemented precautionary measures at all its galleries, in line with advice from WHO and the NSW Department of Health. Venues are cleaned more frequently and hand sanitiser is readily available. It's also asking all visitors to practise good general hygiene and stay at home if they're feeling unwell. You can read its full statement and any updates over here. [caption id="attachment_765015" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Teresa Margolles, 'Untitled', 2020, mixed-media installation. Installation view (2020) for the 22nd Biennale of Sydney, National Art School. Courtesy the artist and Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zurich. Photograph: Zan Wimberley[/caption] UNTITLED BY TERESA MARGOLLES, NATIONAL ART SCHOOL Teresa Margolles' mixed-media installation Untitled is one of the most powerful and heart wrenching works of the entire Biennale. The Mexican artist's work acts as a memorial to murdered women and transgender women across both Mexico and Australia. Over 70 women were murdered in Australia last year alone. Untitled compiles acts of violence and trauma from several sites in each country — with Sydney-specific sites included. Margolles collected particles from these murder scenes through sponging the area with water and collecting any particles or residue that remained. The water collected from each site is used in the actual work, incorporated as droplets (each representing one life) that fall onto an electric copper hot plate in regular intervals. As you hear the water evaporate, it signifies the loss of a life, though every drop leaves a mark. Surrounding the installation is a blood-red butcher curtain, giving the entire scene an eerie edge. Margolles' work is a very visceral and emotive piece, with the viewer acting as witness to forgotten acts of violence. [caption id="attachment_765017" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Barabara McGrady. Installation view (2020) for the 22nd Biennale of Sydney, Campbelltown Arts Centre. Courtesy the artist. Photograph: Zan Wimberley[/caption] NGIYANINGY MARAN YALIWAUNGA NGAARA-LI BY BARBARA MCGRADY WITH JOHN-JANSON MOORE, CAMPBELLTOWN ARTS CENTRE Sydney-based photographer and Gomeroi/Murri/Yinah woman Barbara McGrady brings modern First Nations issues front-and-centre with her collaborative work, Ngiyaningy Maran Yaliwaunga Ngaara-li (Our Ancestors Are Always Watching). This Biennale installation acts as a photographic archive of McGrady's extensive work, which truly represents contemporary Aboriginal history. The artist aims to 'engage audiences with images through a black lens and document the diverse Aboriginal experience' — across themes such as sports, song and dance, community, politics and protest. The blacked-out room screens multi-channel audio-visuals across several large televisions, while R&B, rap and other culturally-specific music plays through the speakers. Black couches invite viewers to hang around and truly immerse themselves in the exhibition. [caption id="attachment_765039" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Colectivo Ayllu artists, Artspace. Courtesy the artists. Photograph: Zan Wimberley[/caption] COLECTIVO AYLLU/MIGRANTES TRANSGRESORXS, ARTSPACE The massive Artspace installation by Collectivo Ayllu is a collection of 11 works, which together form a labyrinth-like exhibition of four 'stations' all up. The political action group, formed in Madrid in 2009, includes five artists from South America: Alex Aguirre Sánchez (Ecuador), Leticia/Kimy Rojas (Ecuador), Francisco Godoy Vega (Chile), Lucrecia Masson (Argentina) and Yos Piña Narváez (Venezuela). The work aims to critique western heteronormative values through the lens of the Spanish colonisation of the 15th and 16th centuries — of which all of the Collective's members identify as descendants. This powerful installation tells the repeated and ongoing story of colonial pain and adds a contemporary lens to it. The floor of the entire winding exhibition is covered in sand, making reference to the images of colonisers landing on the beaches of South America and around the world. The artists have constructed the installation as an Andean huaca – a fundamental Inca sanctuary or sacred place. [caption id="attachment_765020" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view (2020) photographed in the Grand Courts at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. Photograph: Zan Wimberley[/caption] RETAULE DELS PENJATS AND MÀRTIR BY JOSEP GRAU-GARRIGA, AGNSW At AGNSW, the Biennale has been very appropriately integrated into the galleries on the ground floor, which primarily houses European art. This artistic decision forces the viewers to re-evaluate the history of art in Australia and the Euro-centric lens it often takes. Taking centre stage in the AGNSW Grand Courts is Retaule dels penjats (Altarpiece of the Hanged People) — a prominent 1970s work by Spanish artist Josep Grau-Garriga. His three-storey textile installation truly takes over the space, reaching to the ceiling, and works as a direct dialogue with the architecture of the gallery. His three-dimensional woven characters are a hanging memorial to tormented and suffering victims of war and martyrdom, which the viewer is forced to address — this massive installation literally cannot be missed. [caption id="attachment_765050" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo by Emma Joyce.[/caption] WATAMI MANIKAY BY THE MULKA PROJECT, AGNSW A stunning work by the Yolŋu digital artists of The Mulka Project, Watami Manikay (Song of the Winds) will transport viewers to another time and place. The artist collective works with digital technologies and video art. This specific project weaves the kinship of Yolŋu clans through the four winds in the form of a three-walled, floor-to-ceiling video projection that moved from sunrise to sunset — depicting lapping waves and sunny beaches. The focal point of the installation is a painted larrakitj (hollow ceremonial log), which represents the gunḏa rock that grounds each clan to its identity. It changes colour and glows in time with the mesmerising film. The cyclical work aims to express the 'countless generations of evolving Yolŋu art practice'. [caption id="attachment_765024" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Museum of Contemporary Art installation view. Photograph: Zan Wimberley[/caption] WHAT LASTS! (SARCOPHAGUS) BY AHMED UMAR, MCA For artist Ahmed Umar's autobiographical work he created an earthenware tomb, one which is meant for him. The lid of the ancient-looking, ceramic sarcophagus includes a full body cast of Umar. It is part of a sculptural triptych that the artist created after opening up about his sexuality — and being considered 'dead' by close family members. The tomb is both a reminder of the pain of oppression and a celebration of his death. This piece is a protest against his upbringing in Sudan, and Umar (dressed in traditional Sudanese clothing) also physically protests alongside the artwork (he'll appear at various times throughout the festival). He holds a sign that reads 'Sudan executes gay people under its government endorsement'. His form of protest creates a timely and meaningful piece of art that needs to be seen. [caption id="attachment_765051" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo by Emma Joyce.[/caption] KUINI HAATI 2 AND TOGO MO BOLATAANE BY KULIMOE'ANGA STONE MAKA, MCA For Biennale 2020, Christchurch-based and Tongan-born artist Kulimoe'anga Stone Maka has created an expansive tapestry which nearly takes up an entire gallery floor at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The two-in-one painting re-enacts the meeting between Queen Salote of Tonga and the UK's Queen Elizabeth II, when the latter visited Tonga in 1953. The tap cloth depicts Maka's actual memory as a ten-year-old boy, with yellow barricades around the piece recalling the crowds on the day. His memory also includes seeing someone with blue eyes for the first time — which you'll notice as blue dots on the tapa cloth. The artist's technique nods to the Tongan art of ngatu 'uli (black-marked bark cloth), which has a 'material connection to his homeland'. Through his work, Maka is simultaneously telling both a personal and global story of connection. THE LAST RESORT BY LATAI TAUMOEPEAU, COCKATOO ISLAND Tongan Australian artist Latai Taumoepeau's The Last Resort depicts an all-too-real dystopia where idyllic island landscapes have literally become garbage dumps. It specifically explores the vulnerability and fragility of the Pacific Island nations' saltwater ecosystems. Performer Taliu Aloua wears brick sandals and holds an 'ike (Tongan mallet), while surrounded by a wall of glass bottle-filled sacks. A sea bed of glass lays at her feet. She repeatedly (and very loudly) smashes the bottles with her feet and mallet, and adorns broken sacks in replace of a lei around her neck. This ongoing endurance performance acts as a response to the physical and emotional (as well as geo-political) labour of Pacific Island people against the agents of climate change. Their connection to the land and the true destruction happening to it is viscerally depicted here. RE(CUL)NAISSANCE BY LÉULI ESHRĀGH, COCKATOO ISLAND Sāmoan artist Léuli Eshrāgh created a peaceful and beautiful ceremonial space for the 22nd Biennale. Re(cul)naissance honours precolonial kinship systems, using natural light to shun western religious beliefs of bringing 'light' to colonised nations; instead, this work fully embraces Indigenous practices that are 'considered deviant by western missionaries'. The work specifically interacts with Sāmoan and other Indigenous concepts, namely 'mālamalama — the process of enlightenment through paying attention to symbiotic pō (the origin of the universe), lagi (multiple heavens) and other kin animals. The space and video performance openly explores multiple genders and sexualities in an engaging way that offers up a future 'free of colonial shame'. Eshrāgh collaborated with artists Tommy Misa, Sereima Adimate and Kiliati Pahulu on this project. [caption id="attachment_765031" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Laure Prouvost installing 'Into All That is Here With The Two Cockatoo Too' (2020), Cockatoo Island. Courtesy the artist; Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris/Brussels; carlier | gebauer, Berlin / Madrid; and Lisson Gallery, London / New York / Shanghai. Photograph: Zan Wimberley[/caption] INTO ALL THAT IS HERE WITH THE TWO COCKATOO TOO BY LAURE PROUVOST, COCKATOO ISLAND French artist Laure Prouvost's Biennale artwork is potentially the most unsettling of the bunch. Into All That Is Here With The Two Cockatoo Too is a site-specific work that uses the entirety of the island's Dog Leg Tunnel. Within the dark tunnel, Prouvost provides an immersive experience that touches many senses and mimics the 'daily flow of images and texts that assail us'. Think of it as content overload, while trying to traverse a house of horrors. You'll hear whispers throughout the tunnel, and one of those voices may just be the artist herself — who at times will be lurking in the shadows and encouraging you to sit with her. Further in, the tunnel begins to 'wind' as constructed black curtains make you weave in-and-out, which starts to feel endless. Needless to say, you better not be afraid of the dark for this one. Top image: Hannah Catherine Jones 'Ode to Diaspora'; photograph: Zan Wimberley
Whether you're after world-renowned cocktails, bevs with panoramic views or elegant twists on classic tipples, there's a bar in Singapore that caters to every whim and mood. The city's multitude of bars shine at crafting inventive drinks that highlight local flavours and showcase the creativity and diversity of its multicultural population. A night out in the city doesn't have to burn a hole in your pocket — with the help of Singapore Tourism, we've rounded up some top-notch happy hour deals at popular bars around Singapore, so you can sip and sit back without worrying about your wallet. At the time of publishing, 1 SGD is equal to about 1.14 AUD. [caption id="attachment_981032" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Elephant Room[/caption] The Elephant Room Step into the vibrant world of Little India at The Elephant Room. Ranked as one of Asia's 100 Best Bars, the cocktail bar in Chinatown showcases the flavours, aromas and culture of Singapore's Little India district. The drinks menu includes bold, spice-forward cocktails inspired by the area, as well as Indian twists on classic drinks and a selection of spirits from India. Jothi's Flower Shop is named after the iconic store that has served the community for over 50 years, while Buffalo Road recreates the gin and tonic using native ingredients flown in from India. There are even cocktails derived from Indian cuisine, like the Briyani, Chicken Curry and Spiced Crab Rasam. If you prefer your food in more solid form, pair your drink with one of the naan pizzas or small share plates. Between 5–7pm every day, you can sample any of the signature concoctions for only 20 SGD. Jigger & Pony If you're visiting Singapore, you can't leave without having a drink at Jigger & Pony. The esteemed bar has been featured in the top ten of Asia's 50 Best Bars and listed as one of The World's 50 Best Bars for the past six years. A themed cocktail list is released each year, presented in a 70-page menu-magazine (or "menuzine"). Some of the drinks for this year are the Smashing Sundae with gin, vodka, fernet, melon, green tea, shiso and vanilla ice cream; Ugly Tomatoes with gin, tomatoes, kummel and elderflower; Strawberry Fields with tequila and cold-extracted strawberry; and Champagne Ramos Fizz with gin, cream, lemon, vanilla, bread, port and champagne. Happy hour is available daily from 6–7.30pm and includes a cocktail of the month or one of three signatures for 19 SGD, wine for 14 SGD and beer for 12 SGD. Morton's The Steakhouse Next up on the cocktail tour, we're travelling stateside. Morton's The Steakhouse is a popular American chain with over 55 locations in the US and eight locations internationally. The Singapore outpost is situated at the Mandarin Oriental hotel, right by Marina Bay. Stop in for Power Hour between 5–7pm during the week for 12 SGD beers, 20 SGD wines and 19 SGD cocktails. If you order the signature MORtini, you'll also get to munch on a complimentary filet mignon sandwich before you head out for the night. [caption id="attachment_981855" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Store[/caption] The Store Now that you've had a touch of glitz and glam, it's time to go hip and homey at The Store. Hidden behind an unassuming teal door, the laidback bar feels like you're sipping in the elegant living room of your coolest friend. Drinks include accessible and elevated cocktails such as the Clamatoberry with tequila, clarified clamato, sherry, strawberry and umami bitters; Shibuya Sour with whisky, sake, elderflower, yuzu and wasabi; and Prickly Pearloma with mezcal, Ancho Reyes Verde, pear puree and grapefruit soda. Drop in between 4–6pm on Tuesday–Saturday for 11 SGD cocktails and appetisers. Southbridge For panoramic vistas across Singapore, head on up to Southbridge. The rooftop bar is perched next to the Singapore River, with views from Parliament House to Marina Bay Sands and Raffles Place. Southbridge's happy hour is perfectly timed between 5–8pm on Monday–Thursday, so you can enjoy the sunset as you sample oysters with a range of toppings for 23 SGD and sip on glasses of sparkling for 16 SGD, spirits from 12 SGD and buckets of Singapore Lager for 78 SGD. You're in for a treat if you visit on a Sunday, as the happy hour deals run all day. Hopscotch With three central locations across Singapore (Gardens by the Bay, Gillman Barracks and Capitol Arcade) Hopscotch is a convenient option for a refreshing drink after a long day of exploring. The casual venue pours inventive cocktails and shooters inspired by the city, incorporating local flavours such as pandan, kaffir lime, calamansi, mangosteen, gula melaka, milo and even savoury bak kut teh (pork and herb broth). The happy hour runs from 5–8pm every day, with wine, beer and house spirits starting at under 10 SGD, and all cocktails priced at 18 SGD. Book your Singapore holiday now with Flight Centre. Images courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board, The Store and The Elephant Room.
Whether she's blowing up brightly coloured pumpkins to larger-than-life size, creating mirrored infinity rooms or asking art lovers to put dots on everything, Yayoi Kusama's work has always had an immersive quality. That feels especially true when you attend one of the Japanese artist's shows around the globe, or visit her dedicated Tokyo museum; however her next huge project will take the notion to another level. In a site-specific exhibition exclusive to the New York Botanical Garden, Kusama's art will feature across The Bronx site's entire 250-acre location — both inside and out. Attendees won't just walk through multiple halls filled with her work, or mosey around an entire gallery. Rather, in a multi-sensory experience, they'll wander around the whole grounds, spying her pieces not only placed on walls and floors everywhere, but mixed among the natural wonders outside. When the showcase kicks off in 2020, running from May 2 to November 1, visitors can expect a host of Kusama's beloved works, plus brand-new items created specifically for the venue. That includes her famous mirrored environments, her polka-dotted sculptures and her giant floral pieces, as well as her nature-based paintings, botanical sketches, collages and soft sculptures. A horticultural showcase is also on the agenda — it is happening at a botanical garden after all — which'll be based on one of her massive paintings. Much to the joy of long-term Kusama fans, a new site-specific pumpkin will pop up, too. [caption id="attachment_732283" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] New York Botanical Garden, Robert Benson[/caption] As well as marking the first-ever large-scale exploration of the acclaimed artist's overflowing fondness for the natural world, the New York Botanical Garden exhibition will feature Kusama's first-ever participatory greenhouse installation. In the kind of news that aims to tempt folks along more than once or twice, it'll transform over the course of the exhibition based on audience interaction. The show's length is designed with the same goal in mind, with the seasons changing from spring to summer to autumn during its duration, each adding a new tone to Kusama's work. If you've been pondering making New York travel plans for next year, you now have some new motivation. Yayoi Kusama's exhibition at the New York Botanical Garden will run from May 2, 2020 to November 1, 2020. Keep an eye on the site's website for ticketing and further details once they're announced.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is one of last year's very best movies. It's one of filmmaker Quentin Tarantino's best features, too, and it won Brad Pitt an Oscar earlier this year. If you loved it, have rewatched it multiple times and have even checked out the making-of documentary that hit YouTube earlier in 2020, then you'll be pleased to hear about Tarantino's next Once Upon a Time in Hollywood-related project — because he's turning the movie into a new novelisation. Publisher Harper Collins has announced a two-book deal with the Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill and Inglourious Basterds director, including a movie based on his ten-time Academy Award-nominated latest movie. But while said novel will chart the events already seen on-screen, it'll also add to the story. Readers can apparently expect "a fresh, playful and shocking departure from the film" according to the publisher's statement announcing the news, with the book following TV actor Rick Dalton (as played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt double Cliff Booth (Pitt) "both forward and backward in time". Yes, Tarantino will be penning the text, which marks his first foray into printed fiction. Set to release in 2021, there'll be multiple versions available. A paperback is due to release by mid next year, along with ebook and digital audio editions. Then, come the second half of 2021, you'll be able to pick up a hardcover edition. In the aforementioned statement, Tarantino waxed lyrical about his love of novelisations — aka books that relay the narrative of big-screen releases. "In the 70s, movie novelisations were the first adult books I grew up reading," he said. "And to this day I have a tremendous amount of affection for the genre. So as a movie-novelisation aficionado, I'm proud to announce Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as my contribution to this often marginalised, yet beloved subgenre in literature. I'm also thrilled to further explore my characters and their world in a literary endeavour that can (hopefully) sit alongside its cinematic counterpart." For his second book in the Harper Collins deal, Tarantino will be going the non-fiction route — and veering away from his most recent flick. Called Cinema Speculation, it'll focus on movies from the 70s, combining "essays, reviews, personal writing and tantalising 'what if'-style pieces. In the interim, you can check out Once Upon a Time in Hollywood's trailer below. And, you can read our full review of the movie, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELeMaP8EPAA Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood novelisation is due to hit shelves in mid-2021 — we'll update you with an exact release date when it is announced.
Sydney might already be home to the Australian Centre for Photography, but there's room in this massive country of ours for more than one institution dedicated to excellent snaps. Soon, Ballarat will welcome another — with the regional Victorian town named as the site of Australia's new National Centre for Photography. Every two years, Ballarat plays host to the Ballarat International Foto Biennale, so it already has a strong interest in the art form. Indeed, the fact that the town already has a big photography festival is one of the reasons that the National Centre for Photography will also set up shop there. As announced on Tuesday, November 17, the new facility is supported by a $6.7 million investment from the Victorian Government as part of the state's 2020–21 budget. An opening date hasn't yet been revealed, but the centre will sit on Lydiard Street, in the 1860s heritage-listed Union Bank building owned by the Foto Biennale. That'll place it alongside the Ballarat Art Gallery and the Post Office Gallery, so folks will have plenty to look at in the one area. Inside, the site will include gallery spaces that'll host major temporary exhibitions, as well as a dedicated photobook library and storage for the Foto Biennale's permanent collection of images. Community artists will also be able to show their work, and the centre will run an artist-in-residence program. It'll also feature public and education classes in its workshop spaces, too, and a professional dark room. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BIFB | Ballarat Foto (@ballaratfoto) The aim is to attract visitors to the town — and local, domestic and international artists — and to enable year-round photography exhibitions at the centre. The Victorian Government did just announce a $200 voucher scheme to encourage folks to holiday throughout the state, after all, with increasing regional tourism clearly a big post-lockdown focus. The new National Centre for Photography will be located on Lydiard Street, Ballarat, opening at a yet-to-be-revealed date — we'll keep you updated with further details as they're announced.
When New South Wales last experienced a COVID-19 cluster, Queensland shut its borders — first to select hotspots, then to Greater Sydney, then to all of NSW. Accordingly, with Sydney's northern beaches cluster continuing to grow, it should come as no surprise that the Sunshine State is closing down again to folks from the Greater Sydney area. As announced today, Sunday, December 20, by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, that means that anyone who has been in the Greater Sydney area since Friday, December 11 will not be permitted to enter the Sunshine State — with the border closure coming into effect at 1am on Monday, December 21. All Greater Sydney local government areas will be declared a hotspot, with the new ban covering the areas that are either currently under NSW restrictions or will come under them from 11.59pm tonight. The northern beaches area has already been declared a hotspot by Queensland, with the border closing to folks from the area at 1am, Sunday, December 20. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1340529700238606342 The general advice: if you've travelled to those areas, don't plan on going to Queensland. Anyone who falls into the above categories will not be allowed to access or quarantine in the state, and will be turned away at the border — whether you live in the hotspot areas or have visited them in the specified period. You'll only be permitted into Queensland if you receive an exemption as part of the reintroduced Queensland Border Declaration Pass system. And, if you do receive an exemption, you will be required to go into forced quarantine for 14 days, in a hotel, at your own expense. A 14-day forced quarantine period will also apply to Queensland residents returning home from Greater Sydney — in a hotel and at your own expense, too. But, Queenslanders will have an extra day to come back. If you arrive back before 1am on Tuesday, December 22, you won't have to go into hotel quarantine, and can instead do your fortnight of self-isolation at home. From Tuesday morning, however, you'll be in the same situation as anyone else allowed to enter the Sunshine State from the Greater Sydney area. The move comes as NSW recorded 30 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday, December 19. Border checkpoints are being re-established, and anyone coming to Queensland from NSW — even from outside of Greater Sydney — now requires a Queensland Border Declaration Pass. That requirement came into effect at 1am, Sunday, December 20. Queenslanders are also urged to get tested if they experience any COVID-19 symptoms, and to maintain social distancing and hygiene measures. From 1am on Monday, December 21, anyone who has visited the Greater Sydney since Friday, December 11 will not be allowed to enter Queensland unless they are a returning resident or are entering for one a few essential reasons. For more information, head to the Queensland Government website.
It seems those wind turbines you've spied from atop the ridge at Meredith Music Festival could soon have a few new buddies. Victoria's latest wind farm project is one step closer to reality, with the mammoth Golden Plains Wind Farm being granted planning approval by the Victorian Government over the weekend. The decision follows a hefty environmental impacts assessment carried out last year and advice from an expert planning panel, with the project now headed to the federal government for final approval. If given the go-ahead, the $1.5 billion wind farm would cover a huge 17,000 hectares of land, about 60 kilometres northwest of Geelong. It's expected to produce almost 3000 gigawatt hours of electricity annually, or enough to power more than 400,000 homes. To put that in perspective, the project is expected to provide between 8–10 percent of Victoria's energy, according to The Guardian, with greenhouse savings of almost 3.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. One of the farmlands expected to gain wind turbines is the one that hosts the Meredith and Golden Plains Music Festival. But festivalgoers need fret not, with a government spokesperson telling the SMH that is was unlikely the project will have any impact on the festivals. [caption id="attachment_704549" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wind turbines on the horizon at Golden Plains by Steve Benn.[/caption] The Golden Plains Wind Farm, which, if approved, is slated for completion by 2023, would join a stack of other Victorian clean energy projects already under way in places like Moorabool, Lal Lal, Bulgana, Murra Warra and Stockyard Hill. It all comes as the government increases Victoria's Renewable Energy Target to 50 percent by 2030. In 2017, wind farms supplied 5.7 percent of Australia's overall electricity, according to the Clean Energy Council. While Victoria is currently home to the nation's largest wind farm, in Macarthur, SA has the most, but Queensland and NSW are also investing in renewable technology — as of December last year, Queensland had 27 wind and solar farm projects under construction and NSW had 23. If the Golden Plains Wind Farm is approved by the federal government, it is slated for completion by 2023. For more information about the project, head to w-wind.com.au/golden-plains-wind-farm.
Harold Hackett has been sending messages all over the world, but unlike most of us he hasn't been using a phone or a computer. Instead, he's taken old-school to a whole new level by writing dated letters on coloured paper, putting them in numbered juice bottles and throwing them in the Atlantic Ocean. Harold has been doing this from Prince Edward Island in Canada since May 1996. Of the 4,800 messages he's sent, he's received 3,100 letters back from places including Africa, Europe and America. That's an amazing success rate. Maybe I should start using this method to ask girls on dates. Hackett has seemingly perfected his art, and checks wind patterns before tossing his bottles into the water. One message took 13 years to be replied to after it was found in France. Still, it might be worth the wait as Harold now receives Christmas gifts and souvenirs from the unexpected recipients of his missives. While it's certainly not time-efficient, it makes you think that some means of communication have gained more significance because of how rare they have become. Harold purposely doesn't leave his phone number on the letters so that he can only get a letter in return. He promises to keep sending letters for as long as he can. With Harold's story gaining considerable media attention, could this mark the return of older forms of communication? At least he knows that if he gets lost in the depths of the African jungle, he might have one friend he can turn to. https://youtube.com/watch?v=_WKj2zWtFRo
Last-minute shopping, over-indulging at celebratory shindigs, and pretending not to be annoyed about receiving another pair of socks: they're all a part of every Christmas. For kids and adults alike, so is many a seasonal-themed movie. If it has Santa or Christmas in the title, it's optimal viewing at this time of year. The folks at South Bank certainly think so, and have thrown together their yearly Christmas Cinema Series brimming with merriment. But these free films aren't just for families. Any Yuletide movie held under Brisbane's starry skies and by the water at River Quay Green at this summery time of the season is perfect for, well, everyone. Pack a picnic and enjoy double features every night from Saturday, December 18–Thursday, December 23. The familiar but still festive and fun lineup includes Elf, The Polar Express, Last Christmas, The Grinch, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation — and, in case you're already feeling positively jovial and jolly enough already, there's some non-Christmas fare as well. So, you can also watch everything from Up, Crazy Rich Asians and Pitch Perfect to Babe, Ghostbusters and Men in Black. Attending is free, and the all-ages-friendly flicks screen at 6.15pm, with each evening's second session showing at 8pm.
Do your hump day plans usually include Netflix, toast and quickly fading memories of a weekend long gone? We get it — everyone knows what that rut feels like. That makes Holey Moley Mini Golf Bar the ultimate mid-week stress buster. And at $16.50 per player for nine holes of golf, it's wallet-friendly too. Play your way around a pop-culture infused course, with everything from The Simpsons to Game of Thrones represented at different points.
It might just be Australia's brightest festival, and it's returning to light up Alice Springs once again. That'd be Parrtjima - A Festival In Light, which will deliver its fifth annual program between Friday, April 3–Sunday, April 12 — and it has just started announcing its latest lineup. The nation's first indigenous festival of its kind, Parrtjima's 2020 event will mark the festival's second in its new autumn timeslot. That move proved a big hit last year, with a record crowd of 25,000 attending the 2019 event. As always, the fest will continue its free ten-day public celebration of Indigenous arts, culture, music and storytelling — and its focus on dazzling light installations — in the CBD's Alice Springs Todd Mall, as well as at tourism and conservation facility Alice Springs Desert Park Precinct just out of town. On the bill: new luminous displays, including a glowing sphere that'll be suspended three metres above the ground and a four-metre-tall flower, plus an opening night performance by Dan Sultan. They all fall under the theme 'lifting our spirits', with the 2020 fest particularly enthusiastic about "lifting the spirits from the work of artists, old and new, to the spirit of this year's audience". If the thought of towering art already has you excited, the two aforementioned pieces — Grass Seed and Alatye (Bush Yam) — actually form part of a larger new artwork called Werte. Taking inspiration from the circular and lined meeting place symbols painted by local Arrernte artist Kumalie Kngwarraye Riley, it's designed to take visitors on a journey through the Alice Springs Desert Park Precinct, and also features an eight-metre-high piece about emus dubbed Emu Laying Eggs at Night. [caption id="attachment_715722" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Lighting the Ranges, Parrtjima festival, Alice Springs, Australia.5/4/2019. Images courtesy Parrtjima / NTMEC[/caption] The 2020 lineup will also include Sultan's roots and blues tunes, with the musician hitting the stage alongside Australian earth sound band OKA — plus a heap of other Aussie acts that haven't yet been revealed. Then there's Deep Listening, a new series of talks in the Desert Park Cinema that'll pair contemporary topics of interest with a selection of films by Aboriginal filmmakers. And, over in the Todd Mall, Fire Stories will showcase local storytellers, alongside cabaret and music performances, and a roster of workshops. As always, the Alice Springs Desert Park will come alive with the festival's main attraction. Once again, a huge artwork will transform a 2.5-kilometre stretch of the majestic, 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges, showering it with light each night of the festival. Just what it'll feature this year hasn't been unveiled, but it's always spectacular — and it always highlights stories, symbols and knowledge of Aboriginal culture. Another returning favourite is Ahelhe Itethe – Living Sands (Grounded), where installations are projected onto the earth accompanied by a striking soundscape. [caption id="attachment_715710" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Parrtjima festival, Alice Springs, Australia. 6/4/2019. Images courtesy Parrtjima / NTMEC[/caption] Of course, Parrtjima is just one of Northern Territory's two glowing attractions in 2020, with Australia's Red Centre lighting up in multiple ways. The festival is a nice supplement to Bruce Munro's Field of Light installation, which — after multiple extensions — is now on display indefinitely. Parrtjima – A Festival in Light runs from April 3–12, 2020 around Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. For more information, visit the festival website. Images: James Horan.
Strolling through stunning lights as far as the eye can see, moseying beneath a canopy of glowing multi-coloured trees, wandering between ribbons of flashing beams, enjoying the most-luminous two-kilometre stroll through nature that you can imagine: you'll be able to do all of this again when Lightscape returns to Brisbane in 2024. If you went to the 2023 version, this second Lightscape stint in the Queensland capital will also take place as part of Brisbane Festival 2024. For two years in a row, one dazzling event hosts another, then, with this year's iteration running from Thursday, August 29 and staying around for a few weeks post-fest until Saturday, October 12. Once more, the after-dark light festival is taking over the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, beaming away from 5.45pm each night. Prepare to see the garden illuminated by immersive and large-scale installations scattered along the lengthy route, including sparkling trees, lit-up walkways and bursts of colour that look like fireworks. A big highlight: large-scale works like giant flowers and glowing tunnels, both of which will make you feel like you're being bathed in radiance. But don't go thinking that you'll just be repeating what you saw last year, because 2024's Lightscape in Brisbane has a few new additions courtesy of works by Queensland First Nations artists Paul Bong (aka Bindur Bullin) and Michelle Yeatman. The whole experience has also been reimagined, in fact. Also, pop-up food and drink stalls will be scattered throughout the walk. Images: Markus Ravik.
UPDATE, September 1, 2021: Due to Brisbane's COVID-19 restrictions in July, The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever 2021 was rescheduled, and will now take place on Saturday, September 4. This article has been updated to reflect that change. In 2013, 300 people danced to Kate Bush's' 'Wuthering Heights' in a field — and in 2021, the idea is back and bigger than ever. Yes, The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever is happening in Brisbane on Saturday, September 4. Yes, everyone should be dressed as Kate Bush, complete with a red dress, red stockings and black belt (men, that means you as well). On the day, a clowder (that's the collective noun for Kate Bushes, just FYI) will descend upon Milton and copy Bush's swaying, kicky dance in unison just for the pure joy of it. Support for this weird and wonderful outing has been widespread, and Kate Bush fans from around the world have been inspired to create events in their home cities. So get your gear together (dressmakers are usually flooded with orders for the day) and ready yourself to roll and fall in green, out on the wily, windy moors of Frew Park. If you need an incentive — other than the event itself, of course — it's now 43 years since the song was first released.
Eating hot dogs New York-style means tucking into dirty water dogs. The liquid they're heated in comes seasoned and spiced, hence the name, and they're one of the Big Apple's street-vendor specialities. So, when restaurateurs Bonnie Shearston and Tom Sanceau decided to open a NYC-inspired burger bar at Portside, and to add more than just burgs to the menu, of course they ensured that the humble dirty water dog is on offer. Dumbo's features two franks on soft buns topped with onions and yellow mustard. First announced mid-2024 and now open in Hamilton, Dumbo wears its love of New York right there in its name. Its moniker hails from the Brooklyn neighbourhood, aka Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass. The food naturally follows suit, serving up more dishes that'll make you think that you've headed to the US — all in a 121-square-metre space opposite 2023 arrival Fosh. The combination of NYC street food and burgers, a laneway, and Shearston and Sanceau first gave Brisbane Red Hook, with the Gresham Lane favourite launching in 2014 and satisfying River City tastebuds ever since. Accordingly, the pair are in familiar territory, just in a different part of town. They're asking one of the best questions that the hospitality industry can inspire, too. What tops one eatery from the duo throwing it back to the Big Apple? Two, naturally. Also behind Ruby, My Dear in Newstead — and with a past lineup of ventures spanning Coppa Spuntino, London Fields, Canvas Club and Pollen as well — Shearston and Sanceau have joined the influx of venues that are making Portside Wharf their home. The inner-north precinct's current $20-million revamp also saw Rise Bakery, Rosé Gelateria and Birds Nest Yakitori set up shop at the Hamilton spot in 2023. Portside Social, a gastropub from the Newstead Social crew, is a recent addition. The Ballpark Portside is another, with the fellow American-themed hangout, which features its own batting cages, also dishing up Dumbo's burgers. That gives diners after a taste of Shearston and Sanceau's latest joint two Hamilton spots to visit. At Dumbo itself, not just NYC but 90s NYC is the key influence — although with meals named Grandmaster Flash (a burger with beef, lettuce, tomato, ketchup and smokey mayonnaise) and Uptown Funk (beef, cheese, gorgonzola, bacon, caramelised onions and Dumbo's own sticky glaze), it's also taking cues from decades before and after. For both dining in and taking away, the menu spans Brooklyn cheeseburgers, plus the namesake burg (with double smashed patties, grilled onions, American cheese, special sauce and pickles). All beef burgers come with a choice of smashed or thick patties. There's four types of chicken burger as well, made with either grilled or southern fried chook, plus two plant-based burgers — one named after Wu-Tang Clan's RZA. Or, opt for either chicken and cauliflower wings, mac 'n' cheese balls, fries done three ways (salt and vinegar, bacon and cheese, and chilli cheese and brisket), poppy lox or pastrami bagels, and chopped beef and cheese heroes. With a fish sando, chicken and waffles, and a champignon po'boy also on the lineup, there's plenty to tempt tastebuds. And that's before picking from ice cream cookie sandos, waffles and thick malt shakes for dessert. Craft beers from both local and international breweries will help wash down your meal. Among the sips, so will spirits and wine. "The concept behind Dumbo is to bring a slice of New York's bustling laneway and bar culture to Brisbane's Northshore. Guests can expect a more-sophisticated and elevated take on a traditional burger restaurant, with its design echoing the charm of New York's 90s dining scene, and providing a welcoming space for people to catch-up, unwind and connect," explained Shearston when the venue was initially announced. "New York street food and burgers have always had a way of bringing people together, which is what we are wanting to achieve at Portside Wharf with Dumbo." "We have operated Dumbo's sister venue Red Hook in the CBD on Creek Street for more than a decade. We wanted to continue Red Hook's legacy and build on its offering, which has been loved by so many people over the years, by opening a similar concept restaurant with a unique style and flair," added Sanceau. Find Dumbo at 37c Harbour Road, Hamilton — open from 11.30am–9pm Monday–Thursday, 11.30am–11pm Friday–Saturday and 11.30am–4pm Sunday. Head to the eatery's website for further details.
Woolloongabba's South City Square precinct keeps getting bigger — and before it scores Australia's first Angelika Film Centre, and then a two-level brewpub with a Mad Men-themed chophouse, it has just welcomed in a new hole-in-the-wall joint. Meet Los Felix Taco Stand, which heroes Southern Californian-style Mexican dishes as paired with mezcal, tequila and margaritas. Now open and trading from lunch through to dinner five days a week — from Wednesday–Sunday — Los Felix is The Talisman Group's latest venture, too. The hospitality company is mighty fond of this patch of Logan Road, with the aforementioned The Wright House set to become part of its stable, alongside already-existing Italian bar and eatery Sasso, Chinese Peruvian joint Casa Chow, Palm Springs-inspired gin-pouring garden bar Purple Palm, and European-influenced wine bar and wine shop South City Wine — and now this. Taco fans can stop by for an openair bite, choosing from a menu overseen by Talisman's Head Chef Gabriele Di Landri, who has teamed up with San Miguel de Allende-born chef Aldo Lara. The latter is currently Head Chef at Sydney's hatted The Dolphin Hotel, and is known for consulting for Australian Mexican restaurants (see also: Carbón, Sonora and Santa Catarina). Here, he's also taking inspiration from Tijuana. Those tacos come served in soft corn tortillas with six varieties of fillings, starting with carne asada with guacamole and red onion, Baja-style beer battered snapper with chipotle mayonnaise, and orange confit pork carnitas with jalapeños. There's also lamb shoulder barbacoa, chipotle-style chicken tinga with shaved cabbage and pickled onion, and portobello mushroom with smoked mayo and then more mushrooms — wild and pickled — as well. Tuna aguachile tostadas, guacamole and chips, and Tijuana loaded fries — which includes chipotle mayo, pickled jalapeños and bacon — are similarly on offer. And for dessert, there's churros dusted with cinnamon sugar, then paired with ancho-infused chocolate sauce. To wash all of the above down, diners can pick from those aforementioned spirits and margs — which come in classic, Tommy's and frozen varieties — plus beers from Mexico and soft drinks. Find Los Felix Taco Stand at South City Square, 148 Logan Road, Woolloongabba — open 12–8pm Wednesday–Saturday and 12–6pm Sunday.
National Reconciliation Week is here for 2022, running from Friday, May 27–Friday, June 3 — and The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation and Australian clothing label Deus Ex Machina have just the threads for the occasion. Collaborating to raise awareness about the ALNF's efforts to transform and empower First Nations communities around the country via literacy, language and education, the two organisations have teamed up on a new range of 'Literacy Is Freedom' t-shirts. And, as well as adding to your wardrobe, they'll help you support Indigenous Aussies as well. On sale from today, Friday, May 27, the limited-edition shirts come in black and white, both featuring the same 'Literacy Is Freedom' logo on the front. Printed upon 100% cotton, that design emulates the colours and format of the Aboriginal Flag. But, it's the fact that 100% of the profits from the tees are going to the ALNF's work with First Nations communities that's even more exciting. To launch the shirts, the ALNF and Deus Ex Machina have launched a campaign featuring a heap of familiar faces — including ALNF ambassadors — all decked out in the new gear. Doing the honours: everyone from AFL legends Adam Goodes and Lance Franklin through to ex-footballer and ABC News Breakfast sports reporter Tony Armstrong, plus Baker Boy, Casey Donovan, Brooke Blurton, Isaiah Firebrace and Hugo Weaving. The list goes on, with Michala Banas, Isaiah Firebrace, Benjamin Law, and Chloe Zuel and the cast of Hamilton all involved, too. And, so are Miriam Margolyes, Tim Minchin, Asher Keddie, Vincent Fantauzzo, Virginia Gay, Jesinta Franklin, Nathan McGuire, Luke Carroll, Clare Bowditch, Eddie Perfect, Zoe Norton Lodge, Alan Brough, Narelda Jacobs and Zindzi Okenyo. If you're now keen to slip on a tee and help a fantastic cause, you'll find them on sale for $59.99 from David Jones online, in-store at select David Jones locations, and in-store at Deus Ex Machina Camperdown and Good Ways Deli Redfern. "We need collaboration, bravery and commitment if we want to pave the way for a brighter future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities," said ALNF Co-Founder and Executive Director Kim Kelly, launching the shirts — and the campaign. "We are excited to be partnering with an iconic Australian brand, standing with us and supporting our goal to give every single Australian a voice through literacy, language and education. Reconciliation is everybody's responsibility, and it's an important time for us all to reflect on what we can do to be part of the change. The simple act of buying and wearing this powerful t-shirt contributes to the creation of a fairer and more just Australia," Kelly continued. Deus Ex Machina and The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation's 'Literacy Is Freedom' shirts cost $59.99, and can be purchased at David Jones online, in-store at select David Jones locations, and in-store at Deus Ex Machina Camperdown and Good Ways Deli Redfern. For more information about the ALNF, head to its website.
After the year we've had, some relaxation time is just what we all need. And while putting on a face mask or body scrub is a great way unwind, a good skin care routine — with natural, locally sourced and cruelty-free skincare products — can often be hard to come across or too expensive. Body Blendz is an Australian owned skincare company that produces vegan skincare products that are not tested on animals — and it's offering a huge discount on its whole range this week. Its selection of face masks and body scrubs are designed to improve circulation and reduce inflammation and blemishes on your skin. The brand's best seller is its range of coffee scrubs designed for full-body exfoliation. The coffee scrubs come in four varieties: coco luxe, sugar glow, coffee buff and vanilla blush. Up until Tuesday, December 29, you can pick up 30 percent off everything on the Body Blendz store. Just head online, select what you want and then enter the discount code 'END2020' at the checkout to receive the discount. 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.
Every year since 2013, QPAC has thrown open its doors to an annual celebration of First Nations culture. Via a lineup of performances, workshops and conversations, Clancestry delves into traditional and contemporary creative endeavours, showcasing the works of Indigenous Australians. Whether you're keen to see a stellar theatre production or listen to tunes, the 2023 festival features another diverse lineup of events from Wednesday, November 8–Sunday, November 12 — and with a hefty lineup of contributors. More than 100 First Nations artists are supported by the fest, which proves the case each year, including with Clancestry reaching its tenth anniversary in 2023. Highlights include opening ceremony First Gathering, plus performances William Barton: Sky Songs and Song Circle, with the latter featuring Shane Howard, Troy Cassar-Daley, Dan Sultan, Neil Murray and Sara Storer — and with stories a focus as much of songs. Or, via Emily Wells' Face to Face, attendees can catch a drama about two women disconnected from Country, in a new season of the production that first premiered at Metro Arts in 2022. At the South Bank Cultural Forecourt outside QPAC, a Festival Ground site is popping up to host First Nations music by sunset on the Mob Music Stage. On the lineup: The Andrew Gurruwiwi Band, J-MILLA, Cloe Tarere, Tjaka, BIRDZ, Fred Leone and more. If you fancy learning a new skill, weaving workshops that'll get you using recycled materials are on the agenda on Saturday, November 11–Sunday, November 12. And for families, theatre show Bubs and Cuzzies promises an all-ages delight.
Already home to Vietnamese food hall Fat Noodle and upmarket steakhouse Black Hide by Gambaro, the Treasury Brisbane is expanding its food range — with potstickers, dim sum, barbecued meats and other Cantonese-style food. As first announced last month, the Brisbane CBD spot has welcomed Mei Wei Dumplings, with the new hawker-style eatery setting up shop on the basement level. Head underground every day of the week to eat your way through plenty of Mei Wei's titular dish — at the chain's second location, with its first restaurant already a favourite at The Star Gold Coast. Plus, in good news for Brisbanites hankering for some dumplings long after dinner time, the eatery is open until 11pm weekends and 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. Whether you like your dumplings fried or steamed — and whether you're dropping by for lunch, an after-work meal of a late-night bite, you'll find a variety of flavours on offer. Prawn dumplings, vegetable dumplings and three varieties of potstickers (beef, chicken and pork) are all on the menu, as are other dim sum staples such as spring rolls, barbecue pork buns and xiao long bao. Also on the lineup: char siu pork, crispy pork belly and Cantonese crispy duck, as part of an extended Brisbane-only selection filled with new signature dishes. If you can't choose between barbecued options, there's also a combination platter. And just like Mei Wei's Gold Coast site, there's a range of wok-cooked options, including sichuan beef, kung pao chicken and Singapore-style curry rice noodle. The restaurant also boasts a separate congee menu, with the rice porridge coming topped with the likes of pork and preserved egg, seafood, or chicken and mushroom. Design-wise, Mei Wei's Brisbane eatery includes elements of Chinese design while also taking into consideration the Treasury's 134-year history. And, in terms of places to sit, you can choose between booths, benches and tables. If you're already thinking about gathering the gang for dumplings next time you're in the vicinity of the casino, Mei Wei also features a 14-person private dining room. And, patrons can enter via a separate George Street entrance, rather than through the Treasury. Find Mei Wei Dumplings at Treasury Brisbane, corner of Queen and George streets, Brisbane — open Sunday–Thursday 11am–11pm and Friday–Saturday 11am–1am.
Whether you're working in the CBD or hanging out at South Bank, crossing from one side of the Brisbane River to the other is a straightforward prospect, especially if you're making the trip on foot. No fewer than five bridges for pedestrians are located between Hale Street and Gardens Point; however, that's clearly not enough, with the busy stretch of the river about to gain another crossover. Proposed as part of the Queen's Wharf development, the Neville Bonner Bridge will reach from the new precinct over to the Cultural Centre Forecourt. Earmarked solely for foot traffic and named after the country's first Indigenous Australian parliamentarian, it'll link Queen's Wharf's restaurants, bars and retail hub with South Bank's venues, plus the surrounding parklands. Construction and opening dates haven't been revealed, but the Queensland Government has just announced that the tender for the project will soon be unveiled, meaning that work could be underway sooner rather than later. An exact cost for the bridge hasn't been revealed either, but, speaking to The Courier-Mail, Tourism Minister Kate Jones noted that it's expected to range around the $100 million mark. She also advised that it would be paid for by the consortium behind Queen's Wharf — Destination Brisbane Consortium — rather than taxpayers. Of course, if you're thinking the obvious — that is, do we really need another piece of cement crossing the river in a part of city that already has plenty of them? — you're not alone. The Neville Bonner Bridge will sit between the Victoria Bridge and the Goodwill Bridge, after all. The former runs from QPAC to the Treasury Casino, is open to cars, buses, bikes and folks just using their legs, and is located incredibly close to the new bridge (particularly its southern section). The latter is already purely for pedestrians, spanning from the other end of South Bank over to the Queensland University of Technology. As for Brisbane's other three bridges with pedestrian access in the area, they're all nearby too — the foot traffic-only Kurilpa Bridge runs from the Gallery of Modern Art over to Tank Street, the mixed-use William Jolly Bridge links Grey Street with North Quay, and the Go Between Bridge, which caters for vehicles, cyclists and walkers, runs from Merivale and Cordelia Streets in West End to Hale Street in Milton. Perhaps the idea is for Brisbanites to spend more time walking across bridges, and less time walking to get to one? For further details about the Neville Bonner Bridge, visit the Queen's Wharf development website. We'll keep you updated with an opening date when we have one.
If there's one thing that Breath just had to perfect, it's something that everyone can relate to: the experience of truly appreciating the ocean's wonders for the first time. No matter when it strikes, the feeling hits with the power of a wave — whether it inspires you to jump into the sea, bake by the shore or just stare at the water in awe. Adapting Tim Winton's award-winning Australian novel for the screen, Breath conveys this moment in a simple but potent fashion, through the twinkle in two teenagers' eyes and an excited exclamation. "I'll surf that one day. You dare me? I dare you to dare me!" 14-year-old Loonie (Ben Spence) tells his 13-year-old best mate Pikelet (Samson Coulter). They've just hitched a ride from their inland home town to the coast nearby and, from the look on their faces, they've found their calling. In narration provided by Winton himself, Breath also describes the sea's allure in more poetic terms. "Never had I seen something so beautiful, so pointless and elegant, as if dancing on water was the best thing a man could do," says the author as the voice of an adult Pikelet. But the movie doesn't just saddle its characters with relaying this perspective. Thanks to the expert assistance of water cinematographer Rick Rifici (Storm Surfers 3D, Drift), Breath boasts jaw-dropping surf footage that captures the full majesty of the ocean. Grey might come in 50 shades (or so we're told), but there are just as many hues of blue in Simon Baker's first film as a director, most of them found in Western Australia's stunning waters. After locking their sights on the enticing waves in all of their crashing, thrashing glory, Pikelet and Loonie are keen to pursue their newfound passion. It's the 1970s and, while the duo are largely left to do what they please by their parents (played by Richard Roxburgh and Rachael Blake as Mr and Mrs Pike, and Jacek Koman as Mr Loon), surfing represents the kind of freedom and danger these eager teens equate with finally growing up. When they're not rustling up the cash to buy boards, they're convincing reluctant, reclusive ex-professional surfer Sando (Baker) to show them the ropes. Soon, however, Pikelet's attention is split — between catching bigger and bigger breaks with Loonie and his new idol, and spending time with Sando's injured aerial skier wife Eva (Elizabeth Debicki). Throwing its youthful protagonists into complex waters both figuratively and literally, Breath makes the most of its obvious metaphor. The movie's textured, detailed ocean imagery speaks to the sea's threats as much as its thrills, and really couldn't better encapsulate Pikelet's seething inner turmoil. In each meticulous, expressive shot, the character's restless energy, his desire to transcend his otherwise ordinary life, and his need to prove himself, all come to the fore. And while the parallels between the water's ebbs and flows and the film's exploration of one of Winton's favourite topics — blossoming masculinity — aren't particularly subtle, pairing them together is still effective on a visual, emotional and thematic level. If Breath's images swell with feeling, then so too does its cast, with Baker coaxing fine-tuned performances out of his small ensemble. While The Mentalist star himself is quiet and contemplative in his return to Australia's film industry after nearly two decades, and Debicki finds the line between no-nonsense and vulnerable, Coulter and Spence bring the film to life with the same force as the curling sea seen so often throughout the movie. The young talents are actually surfers who learned to act, rather than vice versa, and their portrayals always remain genuine and naturalistic. Whether Pikelet and Loonie are splashing around, testing the boundaries of their friendship, or grappling with what it means to become a man, the teenage newcomers ensure this soulful, lyrical picture never merely wallows in familiar coming-of-age waters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY8KFlOm7qo
As both a comedian and a dramatic actor, Bob Odenkirk has earned a lifetime's worth of well-deserved praise. Writing for Saturday Night Live and starring in Mr Show with Bob and David each sit on his resume, as does his pivotal part in Breaking Bad and lead role in the exceptional Better Call Saul. But in Nobody, Odenkirk highlights a facet of his work that's easy to overlook. Jumping into a new genre, he makes viewers realise a truth that cuts to the heart of his talents. Every actor wants to be the person that can't be replaced, and to turn in the type of performances that no one can emulate; however, only the very best, including Odenkirk, manage exactly that. A movie so forged from the John Wick mould that it's penned by the same screenwriter — and boasts the first film's co-director David Leitch (Atomic Blonde) as a producer, too — Nobody could've featured any existing action go-to. It could've been an easy knockoff of well-known hit, joining the swathe of direct-to-video and -streaming titles that use that very template. It could've given Bruce Willis his next role to sleepwalk through, added yet another Taken-style thriller to Liam Neeson's resume or proven one of Nicolas Cage's more straightforward vehicles of late. Thankfully, though, Nobody is all about the ever-watchable Odenkirk and his peerless and compelling ability to play slippery characters. When Nobody begins, Hutch Mansell's (Odenkirk) life has become such a routine that his weeks all unfurl in the same fashion. Plodding through a sexless marriage to real estate agent Becca (Connie Nielsen, Wonder Woman 1984), and barely paid any notice by his teenage son Blake (Gage Munroe, Guest of Honour) and younger daughter Abby (debutant Paisley Cadorath), he catches public transport to his manufacturing company job every weekday, always puts the bins out too late for the garbage truck on Tuesday mornings, and usually earns little more than polite smiles from his family while he's cooking them breakfast that they fail to eat. Then, the Mansells' suburban home is randomly burgled. Hutch confronts the thieves in the act, has a chance to swing a golf club their way, yet holds back. But when Abby notices that her beloved cat bracelet is missing in the aftermath, he decides to take action — a choice that leads him to an unrelated bus filled with obnoxious guys hassling a female passenger, and eventually sees unhinged Russian mobster Yulian Kuznetsov (Aleksey Serebryakov, Leviathan) threatening everything that Hutch holds dear. Derek Kolstad's script — his first feature screenplay beyond the John Wick franchise — teases that there's more to its protagonist's story right from the outset. He communicates with his in-hiding brother (RZA, The Dead Don't Die) via radio, for starters, and his elderly father (Christopher Lloyd, I Am Not a Serial Killer) has a gun and multiple forms of ID stowed away in the closet at his retirement home. But Nobody isn't a twist-filled thriller that snakes, weaves and tries to keep its audience guessing. Lean and economical across its swiftly flowing 92-minute running time, it instead pairs frenetic action scenes with a character study. Yes, the stellar John Wick movies do the same, but don't underestimate the difference that Odenkirk makes. Cartoonishness can come with the territory when a film unleashes punch after punch, and Nobody is rarely subtle, except where its star is involved. On the small screen, he's currently part of the best tragedy there is, with viewers watching as the enterprising Jimmy McGill becomes Breaking Bad's shady Saul Goodman. Here, he gives the same amount of flesh to a seeming mild-mannered everyman with a complicated background, simple dreams and a formidable battle to reconcile the former with the latter. Also helpful: Odenkirk's ability to deliver the line "give me the kitty-cat bracelet" without it ever sounding like a joke. With dialogue like that, Nobody could've quickly slid into parody, but that's never Kolstad and director Ilya Naishuller's (Hardcore Henry) vibe. While there's a knowing undercurrent to the film as it keeps thrusting its various frays to the fore, that mood — like so much in this cinematic cavalcade of violence — is intricately tied to Odenkirk. Indeed, Nobody constantly has fun with its casting, riffing on its star's unlikely addition to its genre in multiple ways. Some are visual and blatant. Odenkirk doesn't resemble Hollywood's typical action hero, after all. Nobody isn't a particularly contemplative movie, but it also emphasises how dismissively Hutch is treated by everyone in his orbit, despite secretly possessing skills that his detractors can only fantasise about. Of course, fans already acquainted with Odenkirk's knack for complex characters will instantly spy the texture to Hutch, who thankfully never joins the ranks of toxically pent-up men stereotypically pushed to their supposed breaking points. Hutch is barely interested in being a vigilante, in fact. He doesn't snap in a frenzy. Rather, he just wants to return to the one thing that he's always been good at, especially after spending a couple of decades in a rut. Again and again, Odenkirk is both essential and crucial to Nobody — but its fight choreography was always going to stand out. In line with its central character, all of the movie's attacks prove resourceful instead of slick. They're exceptionally, elaborately and engagingly executed, including by its star, who does most of his own stunts; however, they're also somehow both scrappy and dynamic. Naishuller doesn't skimp on bloodshed or style, though. He wants every over-the-top showdown to strike a chord, and he gets his wish. But it's the first big confrontation, on that bus, that Nobody will forever be remembered for. As well as being kinetically yet tightly shot and staged, it manages what Odenkirk does so well, and repeatedly: anchoring this gleefully OTT symphony of brutality in the everyday and commonplace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngy7grwzFTw
Brisbane's busy market scene loves an occasion. Mother's Day markets, winter markets, Christmas in July markets, spring markets, festive markets, Halloween markets — this city has seen them all, including in past years, and will continue to do so. Accordingly, it should come as zero surprise that Easter markets are also a thing around town, including at Redcliffe's regular excuse to get shopping by the sea. Indeed, only the Redcliffe Markets Easter Weekend Pop-Up Market will take you browsing and buying by the Redcliffe jetty. Fancy an excuse to eat sweet treats at an ace waterside location? That's on offer from 8am–2pm on Friday, April 18, 2025 and again from the same times on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Also on the bill: over 200 market stalls, live tunes, Easter bunnies (well, folks in the appropriate suits) hopping around, viewing the start of the Brisbane-to-Gladstone yacht race, and gifts and homewares to shop. And, among that heap of food stalls serving up bites to eat, plus drinks, there'll be everything from seafood and macrons to pizza and wagyu wraps — and a big focus on dessert. Yes, chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate features heavily. Entry is free, but you'll want your wallet for all that browsing and buying.
What's better than one place where you can blow off steam by hurling sharp blades at a target? Two such establishments, obviously. Not that long ago, Brisbane didn't have any axe-throwing joints — and now it's about to welcome its second with the arrival of Maniax. Three months after Lumber Punks expanded from the Gold Coast to Brissie, fellow weapon-flinging outfit Maniax is adding a Queensland venture to its existing Sydney and Melbourne empire. Opening on Doggett Street in Newstead on Saturday, November 10, the latter might be playing catch-up in Brisbane, but it was actually in the Australian axe-throwing game first, with its original Sydney digs launching back in 2014. Finally making its way up north, Maniax is bringing its range of blade-hurtling activities along with it — think solo or small group sessions, axe-throwing events for larger parties, date night options (because the couple that hurls hatchets together stays together, clearly) and even an eight-week competitive league. The different events all run for at least two hours, but take place on different nights. Every second Friday evening is all about couples, Monday to Wednesday will be dedicated to league comps, while solo and small group sessions are held on the last Saturday of every month. Bookings are essential — in fact, you can't just walk in and take part without a reservation — and as for how it all works, it's comparable to darts. Basically, you chuck axes at a board and try to hit a bullseye. Don't even know the first thing about picking up a hatchet? That's completely to be expected, with lessons included in every session, as well as in the league competition. Axe-throwing experts will also be on hand to help even when you think you've mastered the basics. The venue, which is in the process of being fitted out now, also features safety barriers to protect everyone — and, to the surprise of no one, is a completely alcohol-free affair. You can buy soft drinks, water and some snacks onsite, and you're welcome to bring your own too. And if you suddenly become an axe-throwing fanatic, Maniax also has its own line of merchandise. Find Maniax at 52a Doggett Street, Newstead from Saturday, November 10. Visit the venue's website for further details and to make a booking.
