There's a particular texture to Los Angeles after dark that suits stories of crime and self-interest to a tee. A desolate urban badland of freeways and fast food joints, there's this eeriness; this unnaturalness; this inescapable sense of menace; that seems to creep out of the concrete and set your nerves on edge. You can feel it in Michael Mann's Heat, or in Collateral a decade later. You can feel it in sections of Nicholas Winding Refn's Drive. And you can feel it in Nightcrawler, from writer-director Dan Gilroy, as it glides out of the darkness and seizes you by the throat. Always at his best when playing characters gripped by obsession — Jack Twist in Brokeback Mountain, Robert Graysmith in Zodiac, or Detective David Loki in last year's masterful Prisoners — Jake Gyllenhaal is in career-best form as Lou Bloom, Gilroy's unsettled protagonist, and our tour guide through the sordid LA underbelly. Inspired after witnessing a car accident, Lou decides to carve out a career as a 'nightcrawler', videotaping crime scenes and selling them to a local TV station for broadcast on the 6am news. As a portrait of the ratings-driven news industry, Nightcrawler is scathing, and brutally unsubtle. "Think of our newscast as a screaming woman, running down the street with her throat cut." That's the advice of Nina (Rene Russo), Lou's tough-as-nails contact at Channel 6 News. The fact that LA crime stats are actually going down is of little concern to her. In fact if anything, it makes Lou's footage ever more valuable. Watching the two of them negotiate the price of video from a triple homicide scene is so sickeningly callous that you may find yourself driven to laugher. To that end, it's tempting to call Nightcrawler a satire; a pitch black comic exaggeration of reality. And yet you can't help but wonder just how exaggerated it really is. Likewise, it's frightening to consider whether or not people like Lou actually exist. In an era in which film producers and marketing executives stress 'likability' above everything else, Nightcrawler strides boldly in the other direction. It's hard to remember the last film featuring a protagonist as flat-out sociopathic as Mr. Bloom. Hell, even Travis Bickle had good intentions. Full of wisdom cribbed from online self-help guides, Lou's wide grin and friendly demeanour is a bad approximation of humanity; a mask that hides a monster incapable of compassion or remorse.
While seeing fruit mince pies in your local shopping centre in October feels downright disturbing, there's one Christmas treat that no one ever minds arriving early: Four Pillars annual Christmas Gin. The latest iteration of the Healesville distillery's seasonal sip is coming in strong, set to hit shelves on Saturday, October 31. It's the delicious result of a yearly tradition that sees a bunch of Christmas puddings handmade with distiller Cameron Mackenzie's mother's recipe — the 1968 Australian Women's Weekly recipe, in fact — distilled with various festive botanicals to create a sought-after tipple that pretty much screams December 25. The flavours of an Aussie Christmas are captured in notes of cinnamon, star anise, juniper, coriander and angelica. The Christmas gin is then blended with some earlier gin that's been carefully ageing in 80-year-old muscat barrels. It's all finished with a hit of Rutherglen muscat for a bit of added richness and complexity. [caption id="attachment_785822" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The last five years of Four Pillars Christmas gin.[/caption] Each year, a new unique label is chosen to wrap up this Christmas creation, setting out to evoke that same festive spirit. The 2020's bottle design is the work of Melbourne-born artist Lucy Dyson, who has created a whimsical collage of a traditional Christmas day celebration happening in a surreal Aussie landscape of giant flowers and floating puddings. The distillers recommend you sip the limited-edition gin neat, mix it with ginger ale or whip up a Colada Punch with the festive gin, coconut water, sparkling wine and pineapple and lime juice. Or you can just splash a bit of it on your own Christmas pudding. If you want to nab a bottle, have your fingers poised over the 'buy' button when they go on sale online on October 31. Alternatively, you can stop by the Four Pillars HQ in Healesville, Victoria (if restrictions allow, of course) or the new Surry Hills shop. Bottles are $100 a pop and would make stellar Chrissy pressies, if you're already thinking about that. Four Pillars Christmas Gin is available to buy online, from the Healesville distillery and Surry Hills shop from Saturday, October 31. But you'd best be quick — there's only a limited amount of bottles.
On the lookout for a dope new denim jacket? Or do want to be rid of that weird-looking lamp taking up space in the living room? Then, by golly, you're in luck. The Garage Sale Trail works with local council partners Australia wide to get as many trash and treasure troves happening on the same day as possible. Last year, over 7000 garages opened their doors to bargain hunters, and they're doing it for the fourth time on October 26. Aside from the retro goodies up for grabs, the Trail is all about sustainability. Instead of ending up in landfill, unwanted clutter becomes a fantastic find. So get that tight pair of sunnies for peanuts and help the environment at the same time. The Garage Sale Trail began humbly in Bondi in 2010 and is growing bigger every year, so register online to pick up some sweet new threads, make a quick buck from your old junk and hang out with the friendly folks in your hood.
Nestled into the fast-growing Howard Smith Wharves precinct underneath the Story Bridge, Mr Percival's looks out over the Brisbane river — and, if that's not enough, the octagonal bar and restaurant is actually perched right on top of it. Here, you can grab a beverage and a bite to eat while both peering at the snaking central waterway and sitting in a structure elevated above it. It's Brissie's first venue of its type since Oxley's on the River in Milton was destroyed in the 2011 floods, although Mr Percival's is less about sit-down dinners and more focused on chilling out in a scenic and stylish spot. Once the doors open at 8pm on Thursday, November 29, Brisbanites can relax in a watering hole that's been designed with European beach clubs and the Brisbane's own park rotundas equally in mind. Think decking, six arched doorways, outdoor seats with a view underneath salmon-pink umbrellas, plus an indoor colour scheme that takes inspiration from the Mediterranean. Star windows, round lights, eye-catching wallpaper, 70s-style upholstered chairs, terracotta marble and a brass-fronted bar round out the hangout's inside decor, which was overseen by Brisbane interior designer Anna Spiro. With Damien Styles (The Fish House) taking on head chef duties, Mr Percival's menu aims to match its look and feel. And to think locally, too, with everything on offer inspired by produce from Moreton Bay and the general east coast region. Zucchini fritters, lobster rolls, whipped cod roe served with a warm baguette, and anchovies topped with olive oil, lemon and garlic all feature among the range of snacks, light meals and aperitivo-style nibbles. As for the drinks selection, it includes 17 different cocktails — complete with several types of spritz — as well as a 50-strong wine list that heroes rose and aromatic whites from artisanal producers. Beer-wise, Mr Percival's keeps things super local by pouring four brews from fellow HSW spot Felons through its taps. And if you're wondering about the moniker, it's a nod to Australia. Pelicans are a common waterside sight around the country, and the 1976 Aussie classic film Storm Boy features a pelican called Mr Percival. In a case of good timing, a remake of the flick will actually hit local cinemas in January 2019. Find Mr Percival's at Howard Smith Wharves, 5 Boundary Street, Brisbane, open from 11am until late from Sunday to Thursday, and from 11am–1am on Friday and Saturday.
When July 2021 came and went, it marked two years since Stranger Things last graced our streaming queues. That's two years of wondering what's become of Hawkins' beloved police chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour, Black Widow) — and where everyone else we've all come to know and love in the hit Netflix series has washed up, too. Sorry fans, you'll have to keep pondering for the rest of this year as well, as the streaming platform has officially announced that its 80s-set sci-fi series won't be returning till 2022. Fancy a sneak peek in the interim? In revealing that Stranger Things will finally make a comeback next year, Netflix has also dropped a new glimpse at what's in store. The platform has done so a few times already since the beginning of 2020, providing an initial clip back at the beginning of last year — which now seems like a lifetime ago — and a couple more teasers in May 2021. But hey, when you're hanging out for anything and everything related to the show's fourth season, each trailer and teaser drop is exciting. From that first 2020 teaser, we already know what happened after season three's big cliffhanger and Russian-set post-script — when Hopper, the mind flayer, the Russian lab below Starcourt Mall and that pesky gate to the Upside Down all had a run-in. And, we know that Hawkins Laboratory is going to feature again moving forward, with the last two clips focusing on Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown, Godzilla vs Kong) and Dr Martin Brenner (Matthew Modine, Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal). The new sneak peek combines both new and old footage, so parts of it will look familiar — and parts of it tease what's to come. There's little narrative detail provided, but that usually comes with the territory anyway. You already know you'd prefer to discover Stranger Things' secrets by binging your way through it as soon as new episodes become available to stream. Of course, it's worth remembering that when Netflix announced the show's renewal for a fourth season back in 2019, it did so with the catchphrase "we're not in Hawkins anymore". Naturally, we'll have to wait to see what that really means for its cast of characters — including not only Hopper and Eleven, the latter of which was last seen leaving town with Joyce (Winona Ryder, The Plot Against America), Will (Noah Schnapp, Hubie Halloween) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton, The New Mutants), but also for Mike (Finn Wolfhard, The Goldfinch), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo, The Angry Birds Movie 2), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin, Concrete Cowboy), Max (Sadie Sink, The Last Castle), Steve (Joe Keery, Spree) and Nancy (Natalia Dyer, Things Seen & Heard). Check out the new Stranger Things season four sneak peek below: Stranger Things season four will be able to stream via Netflix sometime in 2022 — we'll update you with an exact date when one is announced.
It's the beloved series that's been on the air for more than a decade, and finally made the leap Down Under this year. That'd be RuPaul's Drag Race, which first premiered in the US in 2009, wholeheartedly embraced its mission to unearth the next drag superstars, and debuted its Australian and New Zealand version earlier in 2021. And, in spectacularly great news for fans of local drag talent — and of the show's namesake — RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under is coming back for a second Aussie and NZ season in 2022. The original US series aired its thirteenth season this year, so this is a program with proven longevity. It has also spun off international iterations before, including in the UK — where it's also hosted by RuPaul — plus in Thailand, Holland, Chile and Canada. So, revving up the engines for another spin Down Under shouldn't come as a big surprise. And yes, RuPaul will be back on hosting duties again. After Kita Mean took out this year's first season of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under, exactly who'll be donning eye-catching outfits, navigating dramas and vying for glory next year hasn't been revealed — because casting is now open until Tuesday, October 5. Obviously, exactly when the second season will air on Stan in Australia and TVNZ OnDemand in New Zealand in 2022 hasn't been announced yet either. Neither has the lineup of celebrity guests, after 2021 saw Kylie Minogue, Dannii Minogue and Taika Waititi all pop up. Fans already know the format, which features fashion challenges, workroom dramas and lip sync battles aplenty. If you're still a newcomer to all things Drag Race, you'll watch the next batch of Australian and NZ competitors work through a series of contests to emerge victorious, and join the likes of Mean and US contenders Jinkx Monsoon, Sasha Velour and Sharon Needles in being crowned the series' winner. Check out RuPaul's announcement video for Drag Race Down Under season two below: RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under will return for a second season in 2022 on Stan and TVNZ. Top image: RuPaul's Drag Race.
UPDATE, December 18, 2020: Long Shot is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Binge, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Kick arse in huge action franchises. Steal scenes in beloved sitcoms. Find dark humour in different stages of womanhood. Is there anything that Charlize Theron can't do? A decade and a half ago, she rightfully won an Oscar for transforming into a serial killer in Monster, but the biggest coup of her career just might be her ability to keep evolving on-screen. After a five-year stretch that's included Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde and Tully, Long Shot is the latest example of Theron's chameleonic talents — a political rom-com that's as irreverent (and often inappropriate) as you'd expect of a flick that also stars Seth Rogen, and genuinely heartfelt and hilarious as well. Charlize Theron, romantic-comedy standout? You'd better believe it. With an accessible air of elegance and a can-do attitude but zero sharp edges, Theron plays US Secretary of State Charlotte Field, the youngest person to ever hold that position. When the current TV star-turned-"dumb-fuck president" (Bob Odenkirk) — the film's exact words — decides not to seek re-election because he'd rather move into movies, Charlotte secures his endorsement to run for the top job. But first, she has to win over the public. Her strategists warn that her wave is a problem, that she might want to cosy up to the attractive Canadian Prime Minister (Alexander Skarsgard), and that she should spearhead a new "bees, trees and seas" environmental initiative around the globe. Also, she needs to be funnier. Thanks to a chance reunion with Fred Flarsky (Rogen), a recently unemployed investigative journalist who she used to babysit when they were kids, she soon has a new speechwriter. He makes her laugh and this is a rom-com, so it's not long until more than jokes start flying, obviously. As well as referencing one of the film's climactic gags, Long Shot's title calls out both a cliche and a fantasy, as does its casting. Based on aesthetics alone, society has primed audiences to believe that this chalk-and-cheese pairing shouldn't work — although decades of movies have made the opposite case. As directed by Jonathan Levine (The Night Before) and written by Dan Sterling (The Interview) and Liz Hannah (The Post), Long Shot knows the status quo, but finds middle ground on a character level. There's plenty about the film's plot that's exaggerated for the sake of comedy, to make amusingly astute political parallels and even to bask in an idealised rom-com glow. However the importance of simply carving out engaging, multifaceted characters who complement each other in a messy and realistic way can't be underestimated. There's something else that can't be overlooked, and it's a pivotal factor in making Long Shot's protagonists work so well: chemistry. Forget all of the awkwardness that blights badly cast love stories, in which romantic leads gel about as well as the real-life US president and the truth — that's never the case here. The rapport between Theron and Rogen is loose and easy, and both the film and its characters are all the better for it. Theron brings depth (and grace, vulnerability, determination and humour) to her role, Rogen ensures that his part is never just a schlubby stoner stereotype, and they bounce off of each other from start to finish. They're surrounded by stellar comic talent, too, from obvious candidates such as Odenkirk, Andy Serkis (as a slimy Murdoch-like media mogul) and June Diane Raphael (as Charlotte's chief advisor), to Skarsgard's amusing turn (as a Trudeau-like figure) and an excellent O'Shea Jackson Jr (as Fred's best pal). Levine, who also worked with Rogen on poignant cancer comedy 50/50, deserves his own dose of credit — specifically for the snappy, outrageously funny film's pace and tone. While a two-hour rom-com might seem like a stretch, Long Shot never lags. And even with a Boyz II Men live performance, a drug-addled hostage negotiation in the situation room, a female-empowerment vibe, topical jokes and a Roxette-scored dance scene to fit in, the movie has room to breathe as well. With the latter sequence, the film gives an overt nod to the song's first big-screen appearance in 90s romance Pretty Woman. The Julia Roberts and Richard Gere vehicle mightn't be the best role model, but Long Shot gestures in its direction with more than nostalgia in mind. All rom-coms come with a dash of fairytale, however this refreshing flick saves its daydreams for making over (and making fun of) parts of the political sphere, while serving up its opposites-attract central pairing with relatable chaos and charm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ5X75F1YJw
If you watched Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi's vampire sharehouse mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows back in 2014, then instantly found yourself yearning for more, that's understandable. Smart, silly and hilarious, the undead flick is one of the decade's best comedies. Thanks to two TV spinoffs, that dream has come true, letting viewers keep spending time in the movie's supernatural world — and that's not going to end any time soon. Last year, the New Zealand-made Wellington Paranormal made it to screens, following the movie's cops (Mike Minogue and Karen O'Leary) as they keep investigating the supernatural. It proved a hit, unsurprisingly, and has a second season in the works. This year, an American television version of What We Do in the Shadows also started airing, following a group of vampire flatmates living in Staten Island. Featuring Toast of London's Matt Berry, Four Lions' Kayvan Novak, British stand-up comedian Natasia Demetriou, The Magicians' Harvey Guillen, The Office's Mark Proksch and Lady Bird's Beanie Feldstein, it follows the same basic concept as the original movie, just with memorable new characters. And now it has been renewed for a second season as well. Created and co-written by Clement, and executive produced by the Flight of the Conchords star with Thor: Ragnarok's Waititi, the US take on What We Do in the Shadows was first hinted at back in 2017, and then confirmed in May 2018. While the duo don't star in the new-look series, Berry, Novak and company have been doing them proud as the next batch of ravenous — and comic — vamps. Novak plays the gang's self-appointed leader, 'Nandor The Relentless', who dates back to the Ottoman Empire days and is somewhat stuck in his ways. As for Berry's mischievous British dandy Laszlo and Demetriou's seductive Nadja, they're like a blood-sucking Bonnie and Clyde (but much funnier). Guillén plays Nandor's familiar, who'd do anything to join the undead, while Proksch's Colin is an 'energy vampire'. And Feldstein's Jenna is a college student with a new craving. If you haven't caught the series yet, here's one of the first season's trailers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWUiU3t5udM Can't wait to sink your fangs into more? The first season is still on the air at present, and the second season will continue the story — charting Nandor, Laszlo, Nadja and the group's undead antics in the New York borough. It wasn't easy being a centuries-old bloodsucker in Wellington in the movie, and it's just as tough (and amusing) on the other side of the world. What We Do in the Shadows' first season is currently airing on Foxtel's Showcase channel weekly at 8.30pm on Tuesdays. Expect the second season in 2020. Via Variety.
Surfers of Melbourne — all 300,000 of you — don't go anywhere. Come Easter, the first waves will be rolling through Australia's very first surf park. And, no, you won't have to drive all the way out to Torquay or the Peninsula. Instead, Urbnsurf Melbourne will be located on a huge site in Tullamarine, just near the airport. Plans for the park first surfaced way back in 2016, and Urbnsurf has today announced that the park has installed its wave generator. That means it will be pumping out surf by April, with a view to be open to the public by spring this year. At the moment, the site is still a hole in the ground — but when it opens, the two-hectare lagoon will power up to 1000 waves per hour, day and night. And you'll get a choice of waves. Want to ride nothing but perfectly-formed right-handers for an hour? Or would you prefer a random selection, like what you'd experience in the ocean? You'll be able to take your pick. According to Urbnsurf founder Andrew Ross, "every wave has six different take-off spots", which equates to 3600 surfable positions every hour. The waves are created by Wavegarden technology, which was developed by a Spanish engineering firm of the same name. So how does it work? Basically, the waves come from an 85-metre pier that runs down the centre of the lagoon (which you can see in the image below). A series of pistons located on the pier then push the water to the left, then to the right, to create the waves. Ross likens the movement to "moving your hand back and forward like a shark's tail". [caption id="attachment_707250" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Urbnsurf lagoon under construction.[/caption] If you're worried about the amount of energy needed to drive such an operation, take comfort in the fact that Urbnsurf aims to run on 100 percent renewables within the first 12 months of opening. From the get-go, the rest of the facility's built environment — which includes a beach club, loads of eateries and a retail space — will be partially solar powered (with the rest sourced from renewable sources), and water will be sourced from storm water stores near the airport before being treated and filtered. Once the lagoon is filled, the team will then enter a testing period — if you're a keen surfer, you can sign up to give it a test drive before the park opens to the public in spring this year. The ability to create waves means that the park will be built for both pros who are looking for steep, barrelling waves and novices looking for a safe place to get their start in the surf. "Becoming a great surfer is all about getting waves under your feet," says Ross. "But, in Melbourne, the nearest waves are over an hour away. Unless you set up your life so you can get down there regularly, it's difficult to progress as a surfer, without dedicating decades of your life to it." At Urbnsurf, Ross predicts, most novices will stand on their board within an hour and ride across the green face within two. And not only will you get guaranteed waves — you won't be fighting for them. The park holds 84 riders per hour. And, should you get seriously hooked, you'll be able to enter amateur competitions, maybe with (or against) your mates. When completed, it will be the fourth commercial wave park in the world, and the first in Australia. But not for long. Urbnsurf has already has plans for a Sydney park approved, and it's also lodging a development application for a site in Perth. Another park has also been proposed for regional Queensland. https://vimeo.com/256710737 Urbnsurf is due to open in spring 2019 near Melbourne Airport. You can sign up to test out the surf park before it opens on the website. Top image: Wavegarden San Sebastian, by Ed Sloane. All images courtesy Urbnsurf.
Feeling a little anxious about saying farewell to Brooklyn Nine-Nine? Since it was announced earlier this year that the beloved sitcom would end after its next (and eighth) season, that's been an understandable reaction. Long-running shows become a comforting part of our routines, giving us something to look forward to with each new episode — and in the case of this supremely warm-hearted comedy, giving us all plenty of feel-good laughs as well. If you think that you're dreading B99 coming to an end, you might still want to spare a thought for Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio). If the show comes to a conclusion and sees him spend less time with Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg), he obviously won't cope well. That's the angle the just-released full trailer for the series' final season takes, in fact. "No more stakeouts, or drinks after a long shift, or midnight calls when you've had a breakthrough in a case," Boyle laments — while wearing a big fluffy coat for some reason. Heart and laughs: that's been a noice, toit and cool cool cool formula for Brooklyn Nine-Nine over the years. "Title of your sex tape" jokes, Die Hard nods and Halloween heists have all worked well, too. Cross your fingers that's all in the pipeline during the last batch of ten episodes as well, which will start streaming on SBS On Demand and airing on SBS in Australia come Friday, August 13. Definitely on the bill: other districts' versions of Hitchcock (Dirk Blocker) and Scully (Joel McKinnon Miller), Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher) accidentally sending intimate pics, Peralta and Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) trying to handle parenthood, Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz) on edibles and Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews) popping his pecs. And, to answer an obvious question, it wouldn't be a last ride for Brooklyn's fictional 99th police precinct without Gina Linetti (Chelsea Peretti) making a final appearance. Check out the full trailer for Brooklyn Nine-Nine's final season below: The first two episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine's eighth and final season will be able to stream via SBS On Demand (and to view on SBS) on Friday, August 13, with new episodes dropping weekly afterwards.
This Friday is a very significant religious holiday for some, but for the non-Christians can be a nuisance for putting a stop to good times for the day. Thankfully, the folks at Alfred and Constance are saving the day and pleasing everybody with their Fish and Chip Pop Up this Friday. You can head in for lunch or dinner for a serving of rough-cut chips and fresh, local fish cooked in the wood-fired oven or alternatively, dine on seafood cooked in the Josper Oven. “We wanted to keep with tradition and serve up fish and seafood dishes alongside A&C favourites,” owner Damian Griffiths said. “It’s a popular choice this time of year and we’ve put together some beautifully simple accompaniments to go with the sweet flavours of our fresh fish.” “Plus there’s nothing much open around town and we know people are looking for somewhere to eat.” What: Fish & Chip Pop-Up – no bookings, walk-ins welcome When: Good Friday, Friday 29th March, Open from 12 noon-late Where: The Vanguard Beer Garden, Alfred & Constance, corner of Alfred and Constance Streets, Fortitude Valley
Different people are scared by different things. Different folks can handle different levels of heat in their food, too. Do you get spooked by spice — but in a good way? If so, the Briz Chilli and Beer Fest is clearly for you. Obviously, things will be getting hot in Salisbury at this returning fest — which isn't officially a Halloween festival, too, as it has been in past years, but is still taking place just before the most frightening day of the year in 2024. From 12–7pm on Sunday, October 27, everything will be tongue-tinglingly hot. Face-meltingly hot. Homer Simpson running, screaming and waving his hands around hot. That's what happens when you spice up your weekend with a chilli festival, after all. Adding some zest to the Ballistic Brewery, there'll be plenty of stalls offering plenty of chilli — and not just in food form. Of course, there'll be enough edible hot hot heat to help you turn several different shades, but that's just part of the chilli fun. Chilli beer and chilli cocktails are usually on offer, and there's normally a chilli fancy dress competition. Basically, you'll be saying the word chilli so much that it no longer means anything. Tickets are on sale now for $12, and the full lineup of activities also includes chilli challenges for those with cast-iron stomachs. Our tip, and one we think you'll need: remember that milk is a chilli-lover's best friend.
First published 175 years ago, Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre just keeps haunting readers — and audiences and creatives. As well as sparking plenty of nights spent thumbing through the novel's pages, the gothic classic has inspired many an inventive stage and screen adaptation. They include all the obvious, faithful interpretations, plus 1940s horror films and even the book behind one of Alfred Hitchcock's psychological thrillers. At QPAC from Wednesday, June 8–Saturday, July 9, the latest version of Jane Eyre is playing out in the Cremorne Theatre under the guidance of Shake & Stir. If you liked the theatre company's take on Dracula, then you'll want to see it take on another beloved story in its own way — complete with original music not only written by The Superjesus' Sarah McLeod, but performed live on stage during the play. Starring Shake & Stir's co-artistic director Nelle Lee as Jane, the production delves into a moody coming-of-age tale as the orphaned titular character tries to fight against the social constraints of the time and find her way in the world. Securing a job at Thornfield Hall, she's drawn to its resident, Edward Rochester — a bond that causes plenty of secrets to spill out into the open.
Did reading (or watching the movie adaptation of) We Need to Talk About Kevin leave you feeling uneasy for weeks? Have you been getting your vampire fix by devouring The Passage trilogy? Did leafing through Looking for Alibrandi help you survive high school? If you answered yes to any of the above questions and you're keen to see your favourite authors chat about their work, then you're in luck. Yes, it's Christmas time for anyone fond of the printed word — the Brisbane Writers' Festival is back for 2016. Celebrating its 54th year from September 7 to 11, this year's BWF is bringing the authors of the aforementioned novels, Lionel Shriver, Justin Cronin and Melina Marchetta, to Brissie — and that's just the beginning of their hectic program. Keen on the comedy of English comedian Alexei Sayle? Or the complex fiction of Irish novelist Michael Collins? Maybe you've always dreamed of writing your own cookbook? Or perhaps you've been wondering why every second story seems to be about a dead girl? Well, you'll find sessions with all of the above on this year's lineup, alongside discussions of sensual reading that doesn't reference any shades of grey and a primer on making your own cryptic crosswords and other word puzzles. Basically, we could keep asking you about your reading habits for hours and we'd still come up with relevant BWF sessions for you to go to. That's what happens when the State Library of Queensland becomes a hive of literary activity for five busy days, after all. The rest of the fest's topics include the struggles faced by female writers, how to ensure a picture really does convey a thousand words, and instructive seminars about everything from getting published to uttering phrases on the radio. And, if you don't feel like trekking into the city, you can still join in the fun as part of the free BWF in the 'Burbs series. The Brisbane Writers Festival runs from September 7 to 11. To check out the full program — and to purchase tickets — visit the festival's website.
The Polish Club has supported generations of new migrants in Australia by keeping Polish culture alive in Brisbane from the heart of Milton. The weekly Saturday morning market is a longstanding tradition, open to all visitors and beloved by the locals. It's more than just a social event for club members. It's also a chance to share Polish food, crafts and traditions with the wider Brisbane community. Stop by and enjoy homestyle Polish cooking, with flavours that will keep you coming back time and time again. Here, you'll find the most perfectly pinched pierogi dumplings stuffed with meat, potato and cheese, or cabbage and mushroom. You can pick them up piping hot from the vendors tossed in butter and fried bacon bits, and then grab a pack of your favourites to take home for seconds. Deli items and handmade smallgoods, sausages and smoked meats are available alongside complementary Polish specialties, such as marinated mushrooms, pickles, sauerkraut and dark rye bread. Got a sweet tooth? You're in luck. Polish people take dessert very seriously, with an abundance of Mazurek cake, Polish cheesecake, the beloved makowce poppyseed roll, and filled paczki donuts up for grabs, too. Let musicians soundtrack your stroll from stall to stall then take a break in the restaurant for Polish beers and world-famous vodkas.
Worlds have collided and a few of your favourite chocolate and booze brands have come together in snack-friendly harmony. Renowned chocolate maker Haigh's has rallied three top Aussie gin distilleries to create one of the year's dream collaborations — a series of boozy chocolates. Fusing smooth Haigh's chocolate with artisanal spirits and boasting a careful marriage of botanicals, the limited-edition trio is known simply as The Collaboration. Not just a celebration of local produce and Aussie craftsmanship, it also makes for one pretty swanky gift, packaged in a handmade navy and copper embossed box, and complete with tasting notes. On the lineup, you'll find a dark chocolate creation crafted with Archie Rose's Signature Dry Gin, studded with pieces of macadamia and sandalwood nut, and infused with peppermint gum and mountain pepper leaf. Then, there's a milk chocolate number enveloping a white chocolate ganache centre, which pairs the bitter orange aperitif and 78° classic gin from Adelaide Hills Distillery with real honey and peach. And flying the flag for Victoria is a milk chocolate fudge treat made on Melbourne Gin Company's Melbourne dry gin and finished with an extra sprinkle of juniper. The gift box comes packed with four of each chocolate variety (so 12 in total) and tasting notes for $49.90, or you can buy them by the individual piece. Stay tuned also for details of an exclusive virtual chocolate and gin tasting flight, presented by Haigh's Chocolates Product Manager Ben Kolly, along with guests from each gin distillery. We'll let you know more about that closer to the date. The Collaboration chocolates are available now to buy individually, or as part of a $49.90 gift box. Find them online and in Haigh's stores.
This Christmas, all you need is love — and a festive little cabaret that showcases all of the hit tunes from Love Actually. It's the way to celebrate the season when you're not just leaving the seasonal favourite flick on repeat at home. Yep, that's Christmas Actually. Created by the folks behind Rumour Has It and Lady Beatle, and starring Naomi Price (Ladies in Black, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Christmas Actually features all of the tracks that've become synonymous with this merry time of year — including Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You', naturally. To help belt them out, Price will be joined by Mik Easterman, Scott French, Irena Lysiuk, Luke Kennedy, Michael Manikus, OJ Newcomb and Tom Oliver. There'll even be more than one nativity lobster, plus a jolly mood and a whole room full of festive cheer. That room is La Boite's Roundhouse Theatre, where Christmas Actually plays from Wednesday, December 15–Thursday, December 23. Get excited by revisiting Love Actually's trailer below. 'Tis the season, after all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWvZEaAdiDg
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are back in business — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7eZEZHRrVg PENGUIN BLOOM Nature is healing in Penguin Bloom, but not in the way that 2020's most famous meme has taught us all to expect. This Australian drama tells the story of Sam Bloom (Naomi Watts, The Loudest Voice), a nurse who becomes paralysed from the waist down due to a tragic accident during a Thailand vacation. Then, while adjusting to being in a wheelchair upon her return home, she finds solace in the company of an also-injured magpie chick. Her three young sons Noah (Griffin Murray-Johnston), Rueben (Felix Cameron) and Oli (Abe Clifford-Bar) name the bird Penguin. They're keen to look after it until it recovers, something they're unable to do with their mother. But the strongest bond between human and magpie forms between Sam and Penguin, albeit reluctantly at first. Traumatised by her experience, pushing her husband Cameron (Andrew Lincoln, The Walking Dead) away, subjected to her mother Jan's (Jacki Weaver, Never Too Late) fussing, and struggling with the changes from her old life — so much so that she's barely able to look at photos from the past — Sam is angry, upset and unhappy. She's hurt, and not just physically. As enjoying the presence of and caring for a pet is known to do, however, she finds hope, purpose and perspective via her new feathered friend. Describing Penguin Bloom's plot is bound to make anyone think that it's a piece of fiction conjured up by a screenwriter, but the Glendyn Ivin (Last Ride)-directed movie is based on real-life events — with scribes Harry Cripps (The Dry) and Shaun Grant (True History of the Kelly Gang) adapting the book by Cameron Bloom and Bradley Trevor Greive. Still, overcoming that manufactured, formulaic, sentimental feeling is the movie's chief obstacle, and one that it can't completely manage. In her first homegrown role since 2013's Adore, Watts puts in a film-lifting effort. The several exceptionally trained birds by her side all do too, vying with their high-profile co-star for the feature's best performance. And the rapport between human and magpie is as touching as it should be, ensuring that you don't need to have sat in Sam's exact seat or seen the world through the picture's wheelchair-height cinematography to understand the impact that Penguin has on her emotional and mental wellbeing. But, as most Australian films that that focus on a human-animal connection have been (with 2014's Healing a rare exception), Penguin Bloom is firmly a family-friendly affair. Movies that are suitable for all ages should genuinely earn that term, engaging adults as much as children; here, though, chasing that feat involves sticking to a noticeably easy, straightforward and simplistic template even when the film does strike a chord. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5Fr1M2fjY0&t=26s ONLY THE ANIMALS Murder-mystery Only the Animals starts with a killer opening image, featuring a live goat being worn like a backpack. The animal is slung over the shoulders of a cyclist as he rides through the streets of the Côte d'Ivoire city of Abidjan, and the unique picture that results instantly grabs attention — for viewers, even if it doesn't appear to interest anyone in the vicinity on-screen. This involving French-language thriller doesn't explain its attention-grabbing sight straight up, though. Instead, it jumps over to the Causse Mejean limestone plateau in southern France, where snow blankets the UNESCO World Heritage-listed site and — unrelated to the weather — a number of locals are icily unhappy. Indeed, farmer Michel (Denis Ménochet, Custody), his insurance agent wife Alice (Laure Calamy, Call My Agent!) and Joseph (Damien Bonnard, Dunkirk), one of her clients, are all far from content before word arrives of a shock death in the area. Doing house calls is part of Alice's job in the small, close-knit community, and it sees her embarking upon an affair with the awkward Joseph, who has shut himself off from everything beyond his property after his mother's passing a year prior. The surly Michel barely seems bothered about his marriage, spending all his time in the office attached to his cattle-feeding shed ostensibly working on the farm's accounts. When the grim news spreads, it has implications for all three. Adapting the novel Seules Les Bêtes by Colin Niel, writer/director Dominik Moll (News from Planet Mars) and his frequent co-screenwriter Gilles Marchand switch between Only the Animals' characters and relay the details from their perspectives. First, Alice's take on the situation graces the screen. Next, it's Joseph's turn. Waitress Marion (Nadia Tereszkiewicz, The Dancer) earns the third chapter, which charts her hot-and-heavy rendezvous with Evelyne (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Let the Sunshine In), the woman who'll turn up dead — while the final and longest segment belongs to Armand (debutant Guy Roger 'Bibisse' N'Drin), without the goat, as he tries to catfish his way to riches, success and the girl of his dreams. A whodunnit, Only the Animals tasks its audience members with sleuthing their way through its fractured tale, all to discover who is responsible for Evelyne's demise and why. Thanks to its multiple parts, it also gets viewers guessing about events that initially appear unrelated, and how they'll end up linking into the broader story. But the suitably cool-hued film is filled with other questions, too, ruminating on the primal nature of love and pondering the ways in which pursuing it — or chasing a mere moment, however fleeting, with someone else — can lead down immensely complicated paths. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5xoxzO9bRQ&feature=youtu.be DAWN RAID When Danny 'Brotha D' Leaosavai'i and Andy Murnane set up their own record label in the late 90s, they took its title from a bleak chapter in New Zealand's history. During the 70s and 80s, early-morning round ups were deployed by the government to locate and detain Pacific Islanders who had overstayed their visas — a racially motivated tactic that left a strong imprint in South Auckland, where Leaosavai'i and Murnane grew up. Accordingly, by using Dawn Raid as moniker for a venture that supported Polynesian artists, the duo were reclaiming and repurposing a problematic term. Their clothing line, also under the same name, was filled with slogan-heavy apparel that did the same thing with other words. And, as their business empire grew quickly to also encompass stores, bars and even a barber shop, the pair employed the same irreverent, enthusiastic, passionate but carefree approach at every turn. The local impact was considerable, launching careers, giving aspiring musicians a pathway and inspiring hope throughout the local community as well. But, as the new documentary that's also called Dawn Raid makes clear, Leaosavai'i and Murnane's entrepreneurial spirit and can-do attitude sent them on a complicated rollercoaster ride. Their rise was meteoric; their struggles, when they came, were just as significant. Filmmaker Oscar Kightley details Dawn Raid's tale, paying tribute to the label's influence and the artists that it brought to the public's attention as well — including hip hop group Deceptikonz; its members Savage, Mareko and Devolo, who have each pursued solo careers; singer Aaradhna; and R&B duo Adeaze. The filmmaker may have already been well-acquainted with Leaosavai'i and Murnane after the pair oversaw the soundtrack to Kightley's big 2006 hit Sione's Wedding, but he still takes a warts-and-all approach to their ups and downs. It'd be impossible to do justice to their story otherwise and, as the movie's main interviewees, Leaosavai'i and Murnane are just as frank and willing to discuss both the good and the bad. They need to be, of course; it's their experiences after meeting in business school, overcoming troubled childhoods, lucking into some of their success and making as many fortunate choices as mistakes that makes the documentary particularly compelling. Indeed, Kightley doesn't need to amass much more than talking heads, archival footage and music videos to unfurl Dawn Raid's history, or to keep viewers interested. Still, he not only skilfully weaves together this engaging and comprehensive chronicle, but also knows when to give particular incidents from the company's past — like Savage's surprise viral hit when his single 'Swing' was used in the movie Knocked Up — the spotlight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_T0F36YEi0&list=PLB5pxwdW-CtP4EVTJe_bHhQ-iBR8mBeBS THE MARKSMAN If film stars are ever able to digitise their likenesses, then let CGI versions of themselves do the acting for them, Liam Neeson could end up with an even longer list of forgettable action flicks on his resume. That idea for that kind of technology stems from the 2013 movie The Congress, which didn't feature Neeson — but, perusing much of his recent output, you can be forgiven for wondering if letting a computer insert him into however many Taken ripoffs that Hollywood seems to need would be any different. For now, Neeson keeps performing the usual way. And, he keeps making movies that call upon his particular set of fist-throwing, villain-dispensing skills more than the talents that saw him receive an Oscar nomination for Schindler's List. The good news with The Marksman is that it's an improvement on 2020's Honest Thief; however, it's also yet another thoroughly by-the-numbers movie that only seems to exist so that it can star Neeson. This time around, he plays a retired marine-turned-Arizona rancher who lives near the Mexico border, has spent his time since his wife died reporting illegal crossings, and earns a drug cartel's bloodthirsty interest after he helps the fleeing Rosa (Teresa Ruiz, Narcos: Mexico) and her 11-year-old son Miguel (feature debutant Jacob Perez). Neeson's character, Jim, isn't the type to let murderous thugs hunt down a boy — or to trust that they won't still get to Miguel in police custody, even with his own stepdaughter Sarah (Katheryn Winnick, Vikings) on the force. So, in an inversion of the role that cemented Neeson as a 21st-century action star, Jim takes the kid on the run in an effort to deliver him safely to relatives in Chicago, all while both assassins and the cops try to hunt them down. Unsurprisingly, The Marksman trades in routine action scenes, but it thankfully does so in an unflashy way. It's far less subtle about its patriotic imagery; when Jim is told that the bank is selling off his house, the cringeworthy scene sees him deliver a speech about serving his country and working hard all of his life while grimacing sternly and wearing an American flag slung over his shoulder. It's the type of dialogue you might expect Clint Eastwood deliver and, in case you weren't thinking about him during the film, writer/director Robert Lorenz even has Jim and Miguel watch a clip from the actor's 1968 western Hang 'Em High. The filmmaker has a history with Eastwood, actually, directing him in 2012's Trouble with the Curve and working on a long list of Eastwood-helmed movies. Lorenz doesn't have ties to John Wick, but that doesn't stop him borrowing a little from that franchise as well — and stranding Neeson in a passable-enough but always derivative movie several times over in the process. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23 and July 30; August 6, August 13, August 20 and August 27; September 3, September 10, September 17 and September 24; October 1, October 8, October 15, October 22 and October 29; and November 5, November 12, November 19 and November 26; and December 3, December 10, December 17, December 26; and January 1, January 7 and January 14. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as The Craft: Legacy, Radioactive, Brazen Hussies, Freaky, Mank, Monsoon, Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie's Dead Aunt), American Utopia, Possessor, Misbehaviour, Happiest Season, The Prom, Sound of Metal, The Witches, The Midnight Sky, The Furnace, Wonder Woman 1984, Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles, Nomadland, Pieces of a Woman, The Dry, Promising Young Woman, Summerland, Ammonite, The Dig and The White Tiger.
After opening several German-themed beer halls around the city, plus a colourful Mexican cantina, Rockpool Dining Group continues to expand its Brisbane footprint — this time, with a European and American-inspired joint that'll specialise in wings. Named Winghaüs by Bavarian, seating 240 both inside and out, and headed to Edward Street in the CBD, the new concept is an offshoot of the hospitality empire's popular Bavarian spots. When it opens in either late September or early October, it'll be the first venue in the country. Chicken is main culinary attraction — buffalo wings specifically — although you'll also be able to tuck into fried wings dusted in either chipotle or habanero powder, or opt for boneless chicken tenders. They'll all be available in servings of ten, 15, 20, 50 or 100 pieces, with eight hot sauces and five dips on offer, including teriyaki, blue cheese, ranch dressing, and honey and mustard. For folks hankering for other US-style bites, think burgers slathered with Texas barbecue sauce, sides such as onion rings, potato gems and deep-fried pickles, plus New York-style cheesecake. And if you like your desserts both sweet and warm, a selection of deep-fried chocolate bars are likely to prove a highlight, with patrons able to choose from hot, gooey Mars, Snickers and Picnics. [caption id="attachment_739499" align="alignnone" width="1920"] A render of the Winghaüs interior.[/caption] While the menu skews American, European influences will come through in the drinks and decor. Like The Bavarian, Winghaüs will feature a stein chandelier made from 200 one-litre glasses, and will serve German brews such as Löwenbräu, Paulaner, Franziskaner, Spaten and Hofbräu. US tipples like Budweiser, Stella Artois and Goose Island will also feature, plus Aussie beers like Pines and Pirate Life. And, cocktail-wise, the bar's taps will pump out margaritas, old fashioneds, spritzes, negronis sand espresso martinis. Brisbanites can also expect plenty to keep them entertained at the diner-style spot, whether you're settling in at the long bar or getting cosy in a leather booth beneath neon signs. Given that sports memorabilia will line the walls, it should come as no surprise that big-screen TVs will play up to 30 live sports attempts at a time — and that you'll be able to use your phone to listen into your game of choice. If you're not interested in whatever match happens to be on — or sport in general — you can hit the pinball machines and arcade games instead. Find Winghaüs by Bavarian at 144 Edward Street, Brisbane from late September or early October — we'll update you with an opening date when we have one.
Your mates have been listening to your 'big idea' for months. It's that passion project you dream all day about or that side hustle that's yet to get off the ground. And yet, somehow, another year has rolled past and you're still waiting for the time to feel 'just right'. Spoiler alert: the timing will never be perfect. Starting your own business can feel daunting and dazzling all at the same time. While you'll find yourself in the driver's seat, calling the shots and running the show, it's not all fame and control. With power comes chasing unpaid invoices, juggling timelines and hoping you're charging enough to cover the bills. So, to see your idea become a (profitable) reality, you have to be prepared. To help with the financial stuff, we've teamed up with Westpac, in celebration of its Presto Smart payment solution, to track down some Australian business owners — and ask for some advice. Read on to learn the biggest business dos and don'ts from three Australian hospo entrepreneurs: head chef and owner of LP's Quality Meats Luke Powell; Lyndon Kubis, co-owner of Melbourne's Milton Wine Shop; and William Edwards, founder of Sydney distillery Archie Rose (which also happens to be one of Westpac's Businesses of the Tomorrow). [caption id="attachment_511979" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Archie Rose by Nikki To.[/caption] DO: INVEST IN PEOPLE TO HELP BUILD YOUR BUSINESS As cheesy as it sounds, people are the backbone of every great business. Seriously. A great barista will keep coffee lovers coming back and a talented sales rep will build a thriving network of distributors and partners. They're the face of your brand and the people you'll be working alongside through thick and thin. Even during your first years of operation, as you're still working out how to be profitable as a business, you should consider ways to invest and give back to your team. This is especially true for Archie Rose's William Edwards. "You may not have the resources to give out big salaries or awesome job perks, but your people are literally the number one asset you'll have," he explains. "They will drive the business to places you would have never thought to go, or could not have gone on your own — so treat them with respect, empower them to lead the areas they are responsible for and acknowledge the contribution they make." [caption id="attachment_664743" align="alignnone" width="1920"] LPs Quality Meats via Destination NSW.[/caption] DO: DIVERSIFY YOUR OFFERING You've heard it plenty: "don't put all your eggs in one basket". When kicking off a business, this little phrase is essential. You want to build an offering that is resilient and, most importantly, sustainable. If your heart is set on selling handmade rings, you should consider broadening your focus. Release other accessory ranges; collaborate on a line of monogrammed notebooks. The key is to find multiple ways of generating income, rather than investing everything into one product or service. Powell is a master of this. The meats made at LP's are also supplied to other restaurants across Sydney, which opened up a whole new revenue stream for the business. "We have diversified our business by making smallgoods for other restaurants, cafes and venues," Powell reveals. "We were making them just for ourselves then other people started asking for them. We got a license as a meat processing plant and can now make and sell to anyone." [caption id="attachment_697656" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bella Brutta by Kitti Gould.[/caption] DO: TAKE THE LEAP BEFORE YOU'RE READY Still waiting to hit 'publish' on your website? To announce your business on social media? Are you still endlessly searching for the perfect space to house your new operation? Edwards' advice? Just go for it. "I've met so many people with so many good ideas and the talent to make them a reality, but they never did anything because it wasn't the perfect time," Edwards explains. "I'm not saying don't prepare for what you're about to undertake, but there will never be 'a perfect time' — at the end of the day, you just need to start." The business you launch isn't set in stone. While you want to have the practical stuff like budgets and point of sale technology sorted out, your concept, branding and offering will evolve over time. Just take the first step, and the rest will begin to fall into place. [caption id="attachment_724984" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Luke Power of LPs Quality Meats by Kitti Gould.[/caption] DON'T: FOLLOW TRENDS AND FORGET TO CRAFT YOUR OWN VISION Remember those jeans you bought in 2002? Yep, the ultra low-rise ones with raw hems that dragged along the floor. Everyone had a pair. And now? It's all skinny jeans and retro flares. Trends come and go, but a truly unique idea sticks. That's why it's key to use innovation as the foundation of your business. "Restaurant trends are constantly changing, but we do try and stay away from them as they are usually not enduring," says Powell. "We try to be as creative as possible while staying true to our brand to keep it fun and fresh for our staff and customers." His biggest tip for fellow entrepreneurs? "Don't do something because it's trendy. Make sure you are doing it because you love it, and play the long game." [caption id="attachment_724988" align="alignnone" width="1920"] William Edwards of Archie Rose by Trent van der Jagt.[/caption] DON'T: AIM TO GET EVERYTHING RIGHT FROM DAY ONE Starting a business means making tough calls and hoping you're on the right track. There are going to be plenty of bumps along the way, and striving for perfection isn't going to make the journey any easier. Edwards has some sage words of wisdom on the topic. "One thing I would do differently is to not try to set up everything perfectly for the long term on day one. [For example,] I purchased two 40-foot containers of 750ml bottles for the US market on day one in order to get a better cost per unit...those bottles are still sitting in storage." So what would he do differently? "In some instances, you're better off just perfecting what you need in the short term, and then getting a better understanding of what you're going to need in the long term as you actually operate and grow." [caption id="attachment_712428" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Milton Wine Shop.[/caption] DO: KEEP ON TOP OF YOUR CASHFLOW It goes without saying that money is essential to get any business off the ground (and keep it there once it's opened). But when you're caught up in brainstorming, building, hiring staff and making sure everything just keeps moving every day, it can be hard to stay on top of the cash coming in and going out. Lyndon Kubis, who opened Melbourne's Milton Wine Shop with his business partners back in 2014, knows that, when starting a business in hospitality, income doesn't necessarily come before expenses — or vice versa. So, he says, when trying to turn a profit in the long run, it's important to remember that "money in the bank account belongs to a lot of people" — not just you. Utilising new tech can help, too. On a day-to-day level, Kubis uses Presto Smart at point of sale to track and process cashflow. Powell uses Westpac's tools at LP's, too, saying the information it provides has been "insightful and useful" for growing the business. DON'T: BE AFRAID TO SHARE YOUR IDEAS WITH THE WORLD When you've invested so much of yourself in your business, it's then a huge leap of faith to announce it to the public. But don't let your apprehensions prevent you from creating buzz for your business. Powell wishes he'd taken the jump much earlier. "I held back on letting people know in case the build was delayed," Powell reveals. "It then took a long time to build momentum." So, start talking about your idea. Show your mates and their mates what you're working on. And in the words of the LP's founder: "get it out there and start building hype." Now that you have the dos and don'ts to get you started, it's time to make the jump. And when it comes time to set up your payment technology, look to Westpac's Presto Smart terminal. It's made for speedy payments, busting queues, removing keying errors and seamlessly connecting to a range of Point of Sales systems, including Kounta, to help you keep track of cashflow. Please note that the above information is intended to be general in nature and should not be relied upon for personal financial use. Request more info and speak to Westpac here. Top images: Luke Powell by Kitti Gould, followed by William Edwards by Trent van der Jagt.
Whether you work in the industry, or you're just obsessed with everything about it, BIGSOUND is just like a Brisbane-based music lovers version of Christmas. The Foundry clearly feel the same way, which is why their pre-event party comes with a serving of festive spirit. Grinches, don't despair — it's just the name and the night-before levels of excitement they're aping, with the rest filled to the brim with indie vibes and a rock 'n' roll atmosphere. Given that Katy Steele, I Know Leopard, Ayla, Waax, Lanks and Machine Age are in charge of the evening's music, it's safe to say it's going to be a kick-ass event overflowing with good cheer. This event is one of our top five picks of BIGSOUND. Check out the other four here.
Lust For Life Gallery are once again playing host to the annual exhibition which celebrates women in art, Viva La Femme. Twenty female artists will have their work on display, with mediums varying from mixed media to conventional painting to photography to drawing — each work full of life and showcasing a different vision of femininity and what it is to be a woman. There will be a performance by Lisa Fa'alafi, a Pacific performance artist who will be bringing humour, political satire, costume design and analysis of pacific heritage together to create a surely amazing piece of theatrical art. Artists on display include but aren’t limited to Rose Brixton, Kellie Jagoe, Cherie Barben, Rachel Hanwick, Kim Wheeler, Tiffany Atkin, Symone Male, Molly Shields, Candice Tomlinson, Vanessa Perske, Eleisha Boevink and Sundari Vanwolf. Bring a gold coin for donation and enjoy a night celebrating the achievements of women in art. All genders welcome!
"Things are mental at the moment." "I'm totally slammed." "Where has this month gone?" Sound familiar? At this time of the year, work schedules can get pretty crazy. With the end of financial year, the start of a new one and everything in-between, it probably means you're starting earlier, finishing later and answering emails whenever they hit your inbox — even if it's 11pm and you're in bed. So, no doubt, you're clocking a lot of hours of screen time. A huge problem with that is that screens emit a blue light that strains our eyes and makes our brains think it's daytime — even when it's midnight and you're about to go to bed. With your brain still running around in circles, chances are, you won't be able to switch off and drift into the deep sleep that you need to be chipper and productive the next day. But there's no need to throw in the towel (or throw out your phone) completely. Oscar Wylee offers lenses that filter out this blue light, which you can add to your glasses whether they're prescription or not. Think of it as an easy way to set yourself up for a restful sleep and a super productive day ahead. And that's just one way you can increase your productivity. Once you've got those eyes sorted, you can get into these stress-busting hacks that will help you make the most our of each work day and get stuff ticked off your to-do list. USE AN APP TO SORT OUT YOUR TO-DO LIST Almost missed that 2pm meeting? Keep forgetting to pay that overdue gas bill? Constantly double-booked on Saturday nights? There's a lot to keep on top of. From birthdays to boxing classes, we're swimming in a sea of emails, alarms, missed phone calls and unanswered messages. But there are several ways to make your life easier. Enter project management apps. They're the lifesaving, schedule-sorting saviours that keep your to-do list in check at the office and at home. These handy apps act as a virtual assistant, reminding you of all the stuff you've already forgotten about. Simply type whatever you need to do, add a due date and let the app do the rest. Talk about taking the stress out of adulting. Ready to get started? Check out Asana, Trello, Airtable or Wunderlist to get your to-do list sorted. INVEST IN THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT TO GET THE JOB DONE Eight hours of staring at a screen is, well, about as fun as it sounds. Hunched shoulders and headaches are usually how it ends. But there is a way to combat that 3pm fuzz, even if you just can't leave your desk for that highly necessary walk. Look to glasses that filter out blue light, like Oscar Wylee's blue light filter lenses. These bad boys help block the harmful rays of blue light that can lead to eye strain and disrupted sleep pattern. Using clear lenses, these glasses are perfect for digital desk dwellers who spend long hours on their computer or smartphone. Plus, blocking blue light will help you sleep better. Our brains associate blue light with daytime, so these lenses make winding down after a big day a breeze. BLOCK OUT YOUR CALENDAR SO NO ONE INTERRUPTS YOUR FLOW Meetings can chew up so much of time at the office. So treat your desk time like all those back-to-backs you've been in, and book it in like an appointment. Better yet, add a daily appointment in the cal for your lunch break. It's time to take control of your calendar. Set aside 15 minutes at the beginning of your week to block out 'no meetings' hours each day. Consider what project deadlines are looming and prioritise your time towards these tasks accordingly. Make sure to lock in time for yourself, too, such as lunch dates and midday workout classes. Establishing boundaries will help others better respect your time, which in turn, will help you get through the day's tasks they're nagging you about anyway. [caption id="attachment_728617" align="alignnone" width="1920"] April, @coffeewithme.[/caption] TAKE YOUR LUNCH BREAK AWAY FROM YOUR DESK We've all been there. You're swamped with reports to write and emails to respond to. Then Word crashes, your laptop freezes and all your hard work disappears into the digital abyss. Sure, you've now got your Oscar Wylee blue light filter lenses on to combat the strain on your eyes, but you need to combat the strain on your brain, too. As counterproductive as it might seem, taking a break away from your desk can be the best move. When we're flustered and overwhelmed, getting out and into the fresh air does wonders to clear the mind. Even just 20 minutes sitting in a nearby park or walking to a local cafe will do the trick. Soak up that vitamin D, take a brisk walk and try to avoid scrolling through your phone while doing so. You'll return feeling refreshed and, most likely, in a better mood, making the recovery of that hard work not so daunting. SWITCH OFF YOUR EMAIL AND PHONE NOTIFICATIONS Staying on task can be tough. The buzz of a phone and ping of our emails can be enough to pull us way off course. These might seem like tiny distractions, but their powers are mighty. There are plenty of findings out there linking mobile phones and depression, but also those distractions end up putting you in a state of multitasking. What's so wrong with that? Well, it slows your productivity right down. So, kick the habit of jumping between tasks once and for all. By turning off those pesky notifications that lure you back to your inbox, you'll be much better placed to smash through your to-do list. Plus, you can batch your time to respond to emails in one go, rather than drip-feeding responses throughout the day. Prime yourself for your productivity kick. Head to Oscar Wylee to pick your frames and speak to its team about adding a blue light filter to your lenses. You and your less-strained eyeballs can thank us later.
To some people, Doctor Who is just a television show and a character that likes telephone booths. To others, the time lord and his TV program are the inspiration for an all-consuming obsession. Rob Lloyd falls into the latter camp, and has dedicated himself to amassing as much Doctor Who knowledge and paraphernalia as he can afford since 1996. In his honest and hopefully hysterical one-man show, he details his fascination and its consequences. He also dares to ponder and answer the questions every pop culture fan contemplates: how did he get here? Why is he so fixated? Is his passion healthy?
When the eighth season of Game of Thrones finished its run a few months back, bringing the highly popular series to a conclusion, everyone knew that it wasn't really the end. The world created by George RR Martin will live on in his books, whenever the author finally publishes the long-awaited next instalment of his A Song of Ice and Fire series. And, because HBO likes both ratings and advertising dollars, it will keep the GoT-related TV shows going as well. Like residents of Westeros hoping that summer (or at least autumn) will last for ever, the US network isn't ready to let go of its highly successful commodity. For years, there's been plenty of chatter about what it'll do next, with HBO first announcing that it was considering five different prequel ideas, then green-lighting one to pilot stage, and then pondering adapting Martin's House Targaryen-focused Fire & Blood for the small screen. Now, the channel has finally decided what GoT fans will be watching next. Sorry, everyone who was keen to explore Westeros thousands of years before the events we all just agonised over for this entire decade. That series — which was set to star Naomi Watts, Miranda Richardson and John Simm — has officially been scrapped. While that's disappointing news, HBO has softened the below with some flame-breathing scaly creatures and the family that adores them, ordering ten episodes of the Fire & Blood-based House of the Dragon. If you thought the Targaryens were chaotic already, we're guessing that delving into their history — and their love of using dragons to wage wars and claim power — is only going to cement that idea. We all know what happened to the last surviving members of the family in GoT, aka Daenerys, her brother Viserys and her boyfriend/nephew Jon Snow; however, House of the Dragon, like Fire & Blood, jumps back 300 years earlier. Published in November 2018 and coming in at a whopping 738 pages, the first volume in Fire & Blood's planned two-book series starts with Aegon I Targaryen's conquest of the Seven Kingdoms — and then works through the family's history from there. He created the Iron Throne, so you'll probably get to see one returning favourite. And you don't have to be the Three-Eyed Raven to know that this tale involves plenty of GoT's staples: fighting, battles for supremacy and bloodshed. If you're wondering when you'll be able to feast your peepers on House of the Dragon, or who'll be starring in it, those crucial details haven't been revealed just yet. But, as well as announcing that House of the Dragon is definitely happening, HBO has unveiled the key folks behind the scenes, with Miguel Sapochnik and Ryan Condal acting as the series' showrunners. Sapochnik has a hefty GoT history, winning an Emmy and a Directors Guild Award for directing 'Battle of The Bastards', helming season eight's 'The Long Night', and doing the same on four other episodes. As for Condal, he co-created and oversaw recent sci-fi series Colony, and co-wrote the screenplay for the 2018 film Rampage.
Pretending you're somewhere far away from Brisbane without hopping on a plane, train, boat or in a car isn't a pandemic-era novelty. This city of ours has been hosting events that promise to do exactly that for much, much longer — even if some have been on hold over the past few years. One such shindig: the always-hefty, always-boozy, always-merry Oktoberfest Brisbane, which is finally set to return in 2022 after a two-year hiatus. Brisbanites, dust off your lederhosen or dirndl — and make plans to visit Brisbane Showgrounds between Friday, October 7–Sunday, October 9 and Friday, October 14–Sunday, October 16. Oktoberfest Brisbane will run over two weekends, giving the city six days to celebrate all things German. Usually, more than 35,000 people head along, so prepare to have plenty of company. The sizeable German culture festival will span traditional live music tents, Munich-style biergartens and carnival rides, as always. An all-day lineup of live music — including an Oompah band, yodelling and dance — will keep visitors entertained while they eat, drink and celebrate all things Bavaria. There'll also be plenty of food stalls offering hearty German cuisine when hunger strikes, including gravy-doused schnitties, candied apples, pork knuckle with sauerkraut, wursts and pretzels. And, when it comes to beer, the festival likes to keep things traditional: all beer served on-site has been brewed specifically for the event, following the Bavarian Purity Law, and all brews are served in steins. Not a big beer-lover? There'll be classic German wines and non-alcoholic drinks available, too. Because organisers are expecting crowds, this year's Friday sessions will kick off at 12pm for the first time — giving you an excuse to ditch work early. And, on Sundays, there'll be $25 tickets that include unlimited free rides. Perhaps don't take advantage of that after a few steins, though. Oktoberfest Brisbane will run from Friday, October 7–Sunday, October 9 and Friday, October 14–Sunday, October 16, 2022, at Brisbane Showgrounds. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the event's website.
When JK Rowling dropped those last terrible three words on us at the close of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, all was not well. It would never be well without Harry, Ron, Hermione fighting the Dark Lord in a series of fantastical and wholly engrossing scenarios. But little did we know, this would not be the end of the Age of Harry Potter. Thanks to the internet and the sheer demand for all things HP, Harry has lived on through new books, fan website Pottermore, film spinoff trilogy Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a series of film screenings accompanied by a live orchestra and all manner of pop-ups around the world. But one of the biggest things to come of the post-Harry Potter era has been Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, JK Rowling's West End play that's essentially the eighth book in the series. And now — are you ready for it, muggles? — producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender have announced that the acclaimed play will be making its way to Australia in early 2019. Harry Potter fandom aside, it's something all theatre-goers can get excited about. Since debuting in July 2016 the production has won 22 awards and has repeatedly sold out at London's Palace Theatre. It will head to Broadway next year, before gracing Melbourne's Princess Theatre in early 2019. So what exactly is The Cursed Child about? Well, it picks up 19 years after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and that abominably cheery epilogue on Platform 9 3/4. Harry is now an overworked Ministry of Magic employee, and the play focuses on both him and his youngest son Albus Severus Potter as they grapple with the past and future. The production is presented in two parts, so you'll have to book into two performances, either on the same day (matinee and evening) or on consecutive evenings. Update, June 27, 2018: It was announced this morning that tickets for the Australian premiere of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will go on sale at 9am (AEST) on Monday, August 6, 2018 via harrypottertheplay.com. Muggles can also follow that link to join the mailing list and receive priority booking access. The dates for the show, which will be shown exclusively in Melbourne at the Princess Theatre, have also been released, with preview performances running from January 16, 2019 to February 22, 2019 and regular performances running from February 25, 2019. Ticket prices will range between $65–175, with 40 seats priced at $40 released for every performance, too. For more information about the cheap ticket initiative, full dates and cast announcement keep an eye on the website. Image: Manuel Harlan. By Lauren Vadnjal and Nita Fredricks.
Roll out the blankets: after launching in 2023 to make the most of Brisbane's enviable winter weather, Providore Park is again set to unleash picnics amid greenery-filled scenery when the food festival returns for another year. The idea was a winner from the start, giving attendees a feast of reasons to wine and dine in Roma Street Parkland across two July days. For its second run, the same formula is at work — and the lineup of talents and businesses taking part is enough to make you hungry just reading about it. Again free to attend in general, but with paid experiences also on offer — and your wallet needed for whatever you'll eat and drink, of course — this two-day affair will make its 2024 comeback from 10am–5pm daily across Saturday, July 13–Sunday, July 14. Over that one big weekend, Brisbanites can drop by Providore Park's 16-hectare inner-city home for bites while you're there and to take away, craft brews, food-and-drink masterclasses, live tunes and simply sprawling out on the grass. For whatever you're keen to snack on and sip, The Village awaits with its roster of stalls for browsing, buying and sampling. Lune Croissanterie and New Farm Confectionery are among the highlights that'll be slinging delicious wares, as will Bunya Cheese, 3Geese, 31 Degrees, Lirah Australian Vinegar, Ugly Duck Fine Foods and Noosa Black Garlic. Plus, the folks behind them will be on hand, all chatting about their goods as well. Providore Park is also welcoming Bisou Bisou and Blackbird Bar, plus Catch and Kiss Seafood, Gelato à Go Go, Coco's Plant Powered, That Arancini Guy and Church Mouse Cheese for more culinary options. And when you're not getting a brew from the Stone & Wood Garden Bar as DJs spin up a soundtrack, you'll have City Winery, Seabourne Distillery and Sobah among the beverage options. Keen to leave the fest with more food knowledge than you arrived with? That's where the chef masterclasses come in, featuring Katrina Ryan from The Golden Pig Restaurant and Cooking School; Arte Assavakavinvong from sAme sAme; Peter Kuruvita from Alba Noosa; and Ben Williamson from Agnes, Bianca, Honto. The event's second run isn't promoting itself as a croquet club this time around, but it does also span the return of its food- and wine-matching sessions and VIP lounge, as well as a main stage pumping out live music on Roma Street Parkland's Celebration Lawn. Images: Cocom. Updated Tuesday, June 18, 2024.
Think blow-up pools are just for kids? Think again. They're also perfect for cooling down in on a warm early Autumn day, or chilling your beers in. If ever an event offered the chance to do both, it's at Brewsvegas. Because drinking beverages doesn't only happen in the inner city, Nundah's Fitz + Potts is the place to be for a session of Sunday fun that's certain to become an annual occurrence. Ekim Brewing Co. head brewer and founder Mike Jorgensen will be mixing up four beer-based cocktails for the occasion. You can be certain they'll be the kind of drinks that go down well while you're sat in a puddle of tepid water, on AstroTurf, surrounded by fake flamingoes.
It's that time again, Francophiles: time to get your fix of the European nation's best music. Every year, So Frenchy So Chic heads to Brisbane Powerhouse with a stellar act to knock your French-loving socks off. And this year, they've gone big. Consider yourself a fan of all things from the country in question, plus 80s new wave music and bossa nova? Then, consider yourself a fan of Nouvelle Vague. The beloved performers return to Australia to unleash their chilled out covers — and you can return for a dose of Gallic music bliss. They came to Brissie a few years back, but they're back with more of their French pop tunes to celebrate their 15th anniversary. If you're keen on French cinema, you might've noticed that the group's name actually means new wave; spanning sources of inspiration of both the screen and sound kind, they're certainly dedicated to their cause. Highlights of their career output to date include their own takes on Joy Division's 'Love Will Tear Us Apart', Echo & The Bunnymen's 'The Killing Moon', Blondie's 'Heart of Glass' and Violent Femmes' 'Blister in the Sun'.
Unless you took advantage of Australia's trans-Tasman travel bubble with New Zealand while it was open earlier this year, you've probably forgotten what an overseas holiday feels like at this stage of the pandemic. And with the entire states of New South Wales and Victoria currently in lockdown, and plenty of domestic borders closed as a result, the idea of jetting off overseas probably still seems like a dream. Qantas and its discount airline Jetstar are hoping it'll become a reality before the year is out, however. The Qantas Group, the company behind both carriers, is planning for that to happen in fact. Back in February, the airlines were aiming to start flying Aussies around the globe again in October. Then, in May, that idea was pushed back to December. Obviously, the latter is now inching closer, so Qantas has revealed that it's still working towards getting its international flights back in the air before 2022 hits. At present, those plans depend upon Australia's vaccine rollout, and also the National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID Response — which outlines what Aussies will be able to do once the country reaches various jab thresholds. When 80 percent of adults are fully vaccinated, Australians will be permitted to travel overseas again for holidays under the current proposal. At the time of writing, 31.6 percent of people over the age of 18 have had both doses. Previously, Qantas had revealed its intention to recommence flights to 22 of its 25 international destinations — including London, Singapore and Los Angeles — while Jetstar was intending to resume trips to all of its 13 international routes. In a statement today, Thursday, August 26, the Qantas Group have now advised that it'll be focusing on destinations with high vaccination rates, including Singapore, Japan, the US, the UK, Canada and Fiji. Singapore has previously been floated as a possible candidate for a future travel bubble by the Australian Government. Also, Qantas will put flights for Australia–New Zealand routes back on sale, operating on the assumption they'll be able to resume in mid-December. "Key markets like the UK, North America and parts of Asia have high and increasing levels of vaccination. This makes them highly likely to be classed as low risk countries for vaccinated travellers to visit and return from under reduced quarantine requirements, pending decisions by the Australian Government and entry policies of other countries," said Qantas. "This creates a range of potential travel options that Qantas and Jetstar are now preparing for. While COVID has shown that circumstances can change unexpectedly, the long lead times for international readiness means the Group needs to make some reasonable assumptions based on the latest data to make sure it can offer flights to customers as soon as they become feasible." Obviously, a lot still needs to go to plan for the two airlines to have you jetting off to overseas spots this summer. That's Qantas and Jetstar's current target date, though. Hong Kong flights are targeted to restart in February, too. And, if you're interested in trips to other destinations, Qantas has pushed back its expected takeoff dates in places that have low vaccine rates and high COVID-19 cases — including Bali, Jakarta, Manila, Bangkok, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh City and Johannesburg — to April 2022. When overseas flights do resume, Qantas will use digital health passes to verify vaccination and testing status. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has also previously stated that the airline would only allow vaccinated passengers to travel on international flights. Of course, even once international flights are up and running again, you can expect a much lower capacity than pre-COVID travel — Qantas previously said that it's not anticipating a full return to normality until 2024. As part of its efforts to encourage vaccinations — and to help speed up the return to its normal operations — the airline is also currently giving away discounts and frequent flyer points to vaxxed Aussies. To find out more about Qantas and Jetstar's international travel plans, visit the Qantas website.
Remember coming home from school with your latest vibrantly coloured artwork, then beaming with pride when your parents stuck it on the fridge for all the world to see? The Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art do the same, just on a larger scale. The exhibition takes a selection of outstanding pieces from senior students from schools across Queensland, then places them on display at GOMA. For the best and brightest teenage artists, their childhood dream has become a reality. They haven't even made it to university yet, and their work is already hanging in the state's premier gallery. For everyone else, it's the chance to sneak a peak at the next generation of creative geniuses, before they go on to even bigger and better things. Who knows — one day, you might even be able to say that you saw the early creations of an art superstar before they made it big. Image: Sophie Raymond / Goondiwindi State High School / Sucked In 2015 / Digital print / © The artist
It's Commonwealth Games time, which not only means plenty of athletes competing for glory on the Gold Coast, but a plethora of arts and cultural events as well. The latter falls under the guise of The Festival, the one-off fest running alongside the sporting action — and while it's largely focused on the Goldie, it's bringing some fun to Brisbane as well. Indeed, if you like live music — and you like seeing it for free — then you're going to want to head along to The Festival's Brissie music lineup. It's a packed bill featuring plenty of ace acts, including Regurgitator, The Preatures, Bob Evans, Kev Carmody, Ed Kuepper, Urthboy, Cheap Fakes, Airling and Major Leagues. They'll all take over South Bank's Cultural Centre Forecourt, and they'll be joined by Jackie Marshall, Don Walker, Thando, Shellie Morris, Digging Roots, Kardajala Kirridarra, Heart Music, Electric Fields, Abbe May, Stella Donnelly, a Pub Choir session and more. The list really does go on, meaning that seeing a gig — and not spending a cent — isn't going to be a problem for the 11 days between April 5 and 15.
Remember the days before coffee pods, when getting your caffeinated fix didn't involve spending many a minute trying to choose a flavour? Well, that experience has arrived at an Australian pub near you. Yes, beer pods are now a reality. Carlton & United Breweries has rolled out a trial of their new Bond Brothers Fusion brand to selected venues in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, adding a whole new dimension to ordering a drink. The base lager remains the same; however once you select your variety of choice — with pink grapefruit, honey, lime, raspberry and apple options available — the appropriate pod will be slipped into the tap, infusing your yeasty beverage with flavour as it is poured. Sounds like a gimmick that's trying to jump on the craft beer bandwagon, right? Yep, it sure does, but we all thought something similar when the concept first reared its head in the coffee world. Speaking to Nine News, CUB marketing director Richard Oppy said that they were looking to "add some excitement" to drinking beer (although we thinking having a bev is pretty exciting enough), as well as extra varieties. While this is the first time you can get this type of drink in Aussie bars, the concept isn't particularly new. Launching in 2014, US company SYNEK is a countertop beer dispenser that uses cartridges to let you pour and drink your favourite brews at home, while wine, spirits and cocktail takes on the trend are also in development. Via Brews News / The Drinks Association.
Whether we're putting stickers on everything because Yayoi Kusama told us to, or drawing on the walls because that's not just allowed but encouraged, everyone loves an interactive art exhibition. It's the reason that installation-based pop-ups filled with ball pits and supremely photogenic backdrops are such a hit, too. So, Museum of Brisbane is taking that idea and running with it at its latest showcase — and while sprinting through the City Hall gallery still isn't recommended, dancing, feeling and otherwise putting your hands on the art definitely is. Running from Saturday, December 10–Sunday, April 16, and free to attend, Play Moves is the CBD museum's largest participatory exhibition to-date, in fact, and it's all about the thing we've each been doing since we were born. Play isn't something anyone grows out of, after all, as the popularity of boozy mini-golf bars and challenge room hotels shows. While this exhibition is family-friendly — and doesn't involve drinks — it shares the same underlying idea that you're never too much of an adult to get creative and have fun. Six major projects comprise Play Moves, each one immersive, interactive and designed for audiences to be a key part in making them what they are. Sure, a giant loom catches the eye just by existing, and so does a fur-lined bathtub. But when you weave on the former and relax into the latter, they're not just objects to view but items to engage with. That loom comes via Slow Art Collective, while Sai Karlen's addition to the exhibition focuses on digital motion tracking. Or, thanks to Counterpilot, a party with dancing pot plants takes over an 80s-style office. Tara Patterden has art lovers focusing on a sound interactive environment, and Michelle Vine has contributed soft cocooned sculptures. Fancy a technicolour party as well? That comes via UnitePlayPerform. You'll discover — and play with — all of the above as you move through the museum's rooms, with the six pieces bringing together six national artists and collectives. Keep an eye out for the venue's events lineup as well, with after-hours sessions and pop-up performances planned for Friday nights.
UPDATE, November 23, 2022: Festival X has announced that Megan Thee Stallion will no longer be headlining the festival. This article has been updated to reflect that lineip change. It's been three years since the Australian music festival scene welcomed Festival X, which debuted back in 2019 with Calvin Harris leading the bill. We all know why the event hasn't been able to return since, but it's remedying that absence on the Gold Coast on Sunday, November 27 with Harris as one of its headliners again. That's fantastic news if you're a fan of the Scottish DJ. Also topping the bill: Don Toliver. If you're keen for a hot girl summer, Festival X's 2022 comeback was due to feature Megan Thee Stallion as well, who was set to head to Australia for the first time ever; however, she's sadly no longer coming Down Under. Festival X will take over Metricon Stadium, with Boys Noize, Green Velvet, John Summit, Luude and MaRLo also doing their thing onstage — and, yes, the list goes on. Festival X hails from quite the list of industry big guns, with Onelove (Stereosonic), Live Nation (Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival) and Hardware (Piknic Electronik, Babylon) behind the touring event. FESTIVAL X 2022 LINEUP: Calvin Harris Megan Thee Stallion Don Toliver Boys Noize Green Velvet John Summit Luude MaRLo Nina Kraviz Sub Focus (DJ set and ID) Tchami Wilkinson (DJ set) Anna Lunoe Babyface Mal Badrapper Blastoyz Choomba Cosmic Gate Franky Rizardo Haliene Key4050 featuring John O'Callaghan and Bryan Kearney Laura King Len Faki Nifra Nora En Pure Prospa Sunset Bros Taglo Tyson O'Brien
These days, plenty of events have been putting the 'fun' in fun run. Some take you jogging through a winery, then let you sip wine. Others ask you to dress up like your favourite Star Wars character, or as Batman. And, you can can decked out with colour while you put one foot after another, too. They're all well and good — but if you're eager to sprint through foam, tumble down waterslides and make your way through mud pits across a five-kilometre obstacle course, you'll want to head to the 5K Foam Fest. Hitting up Sirromet Winery on Saturday, January 11 and Sunday, January 12, this event will get you running, sliding, climbing, crawling, bouncing, hurdling, hopping through tyres and slipping over tubes. In total, you'll need to conquer more than 20 obstacles. And, although this should be obvious, you can expect to get wet, muddy and foamy while you're doing so. There's a reason that we keep stressing the foam, with 2.5 million cubic feet of it used across the course. Plus, there'll be some on your beer when you have a few cold ones in the beer garden once you're done. Tickets are on sale for both days of this family-friendly affair. If you'd like to have your entry fee reimbursed, you also have the option of using the event to raise money for the Make A Wish Foundation. Image: 5K Foam Fest.
Since opening late last year, Brisbane's Howard Smith Wharves precinct has continued to expand. The spot already boasts a riverfront brewery, an overwater bar and a sprawling Greek taverna, as well as an Art Series hotel with a rooftop pool and a waterside Betty's Burgers. A Cantonese restaurant and bar is on the cards, too — and so is Jonathan Barthelmess' new two-level Japanese izakaya. Called Yoko Dining, and set to launch in November, it'll mark restaurateur Barthelmess' second HSW venue. The new restaurant and bar will sit next door to his existing Greca restaurant, and take inspiration from his time spent in Tokyo, where his fine diner The Apollo is located. If you've ever visited the Japanese capital's izakaya and music bars, you'll be well prepared for Yoko Dining. Think tunes spun on vinyl, an upbeat vibe and a retro-yet-futuristic feel both in the downstairs restaurant and on Yoko's mezzanine level. The upper space will also feature a hidden bar and a dining space. Decor-wise, renowned interior architect George Livissianis is jazzing up the heritage building's original timber framework with bursts of yellow, concrete fixtures and blonde wood, plus an interesting lighting design. [caption id="attachment_702500" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Howard Smith Wharves[/caption] In the kitchen, Kitak Lee will lead the charge, with the head chef already a veteran of Barthelmess's Japanese joint in Sydney, Cho Cho San. A hibachi (a Japanese charcoal grill) will sit pride of place in the kitchen and a seafood-heavy menu will hero smoky flavours. You'll also find gyoza, noodles, wagyu and roasted duck among the mains — and desserts such as shaved ice kakigori, mochi and sweet waffles. As for drinks, expect to sip your way through yuzu slushies and wine on tap and in bottles — from a 100-strong list. Yoko Dining will open at Howard Smith Wharves, 5 Boundary Street, Brisbane from November. We'll keep you posted with an exact launch date when it is announced. Top image: Kitak Lee, Jonathan Barthelmess and Executive Chef Ben Russell. Photo by Sarah Marshall/The Photo Pitch
Both in Australia's nationwide lockdown between March and June and under Victoria's current Stage Four restrictions, the country's hospitality businesses have been doing it tough. Temporary closures, pivoting to takeaway and delivery, stocking sought-after grocery items, enforcing social distancing, operating at limited capacity — these have all been on the cards across the nation to help stem the spread of COVID-19, and they've all had a sizeable impact on restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars. In fact, in Melbourne, 15 percent of hospitality venues don't think they'll be able reopen after the present stay-at-home period. The situation is comparable worldwide, of course — and in the United Kingdom, a new scheme has just come into effect to attempt to help the culinary sector. Operational since Monday, August 3 and running until Monday, August 31, the UK Government's 'Eat Out to Help Out' regime is trying to encourage folks to head out of the house and have a meal, all by offering 50 percent discounts. There are a few caveats, understandably. Nonetheless, diners will indeed score a half-price feed if they sit down for a bite at a participating venue — of which there's more than 72,000, the BBC reports. As well as restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars, the scheme also applies to canteens at workplaces and schools, plus food halls. But, it's only on offer for dine-in customers, not takeaway or delivery. [caption id="attachment_763228" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julia Sansone[/caption] Among the other rules, the deal is only available Monday–Wednesday each week, only applies to food and non-alcoholic beverages (sorry, no booze), and only provides up to £10 (about $18 AUD) off per diner per meal. But, there's no minimum spend, no vouchers required to redeem the discount and no limit on the number of people per group. There's no cap on the amount of times a person can claim the discount, either, so UK residents could eat breakfast, lunch and dinner out of the house three days a week for the entire month if they wanted to. The UK's social distancing requirements and other COVID-19 hygiene practises still apply to anyone venturing out of their house for a meal, naturally. Still, if you're an Aussie currently thinking "that sounds like a good idea", you might want to cross your fingers that something similar is implemented closer to home — when it's safe to do so. If you're reading this from the UK, you can find more information about the 'Eat Out to Help Out' scheme via the UK Government's website.
Dark Mofo might've had to pull the plug on its 2020 event, but the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)'s other big annual arts festival, Mona Foma, will definitely be hitting up the Tasmanian site when January 2021 rolls around. On the agenda at the big summer fest: art, performances, music, eclectic sights, engaging sounds, and plenty to see and do across two weekends — at 58 venues in two cities. Plus, of the more than 352 artists involved, 90 percent of them hail from Tasmania. Although Mona Foma was originally held in Hobart, where MONA is located, the event made the move to Launceston in 2019. In 2021, however, it is splitting its program between both Tasmanian places. Launceston is up first, from January 15–17, with Hobart getting the nod the next week from January 22–24. Whether you pick one or you're keen to head to both, there's plenty on the bill. First up, in Launceston, the city's Cataract Gorge will host the latest work by audio-visual artist Robin Fox. The site's landscape will be taken over by immersive world-premiere installation Aqua Luma — which'll run on a 20-minute cycle from 9.30am–11.30pm, is free to attend, and includes 12 metre-high water jets that erupt in time with subharmonic frequencies, plus lasers tracing geometrical patterns in the watery mist. Or, you can hop on the Gorge Scenic Chairlift and listen to Chairway to Heaven, a suspended symphony in the sky. Other Launceston highlights include Acoustic Life of Boatsheds, where you'll flit between boatsheds along the Tamar and Esk rivers and listen to live music; All Expenses Paid, a dance piece about fast fashion and consumerism; 'Til It's Gone, combining installations, sculptures and videos in an old car museum that'll be torn down after the festival; and three interactive spaces as part of Soma Lumia's Lacunae, all spread around the city. A number of events will hit up both Launceston and Hobart, such as an evening concert series called Mofo Sessions, sound work Zinc, opening performance Relay / Country Remembers Her Names, the fest's beloved Morning Meditations, and After Erika Eiffel — where you'll fire an arrow on a custom-made archery course and learn about Erika Eiffel, the archer who married the Eiffel Tower. [caption id="attachment_790934" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] K&D Warehouse, Hobart, Tasmania. Photo Credit: Mona/Jesse Hunniford. Image courtesy of the artist and Mona (Museum of Old and New Art), Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] Taking place just in Hobart, Mona Foma is turning the site of former hardware store K&D Warehouse into a gallery — with exhibition No Place Like Home filling the entire place with video installations, art and sculptures all selected by Mona curator Emma Pike. You'll be able to wander through one of the city's best-known buildings, which dates back 118 years, and see works by artists such as Tony Albert, Zanny Begg, Andy Hutson, Rachel Maclean, Nell, Ryan Presley and Phebe Schmidt. Entry will cost $10 per person. And, of course, Hobart's program has more in store. There's also a musical version of Edgar Allen Poe's The Masque of the Red Death, blocks of ice hanging in the air as part of Lucy Bleach's Rueremus and a Forest Gin Walk. Or, you can check out Making Ground, an exhibition by First Nations and multicultural artists held on sites of colonial ruin; Let Me Dry Your Eyes, a sonic performance at Beaumaris Zoo; and World of Worlds, which is about fictional world-building, other dimensions and parallel realities. Top image: Aqua Luma, Robin Fox. Photo credit: Nick Roux. Image courtesy of the artist and and Mona (Museum of Old and New Art), Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
When you think of the Big Apple, you can't help the image of a yellow taxi springing to mind. That's even if, like me, you've never been there. It's the brightest of American icons and it's about to get a Japanese makeover. Automaker Nissan has won the exclusive 10-year, US$1 billion contract to produce the city's fleet of 13,200 yellow taxis. Nissan's North American take on the NV200, a model already in use in Europe and Asia, won over finalist manufacturers Ford and Karsan, from Turkey. Previously, the taxis of New York City have been produced by Ford: Crown Victorias and hybrid Ford Escapes. These models will be phased out over a 3 to 5 year period to make way for Nissan's new model. [Via Jalopnik]
“Your nose like a delicious slope of cream / And your ears like cream flaps / And your teeth like hard shiny pegs of cream.” Diner en Blanc — like Howard Moon's poem — will have you in all white. But sorry, Booshers: the fourth edition of this Brisbane event is just for the sophisticated. Now on five continents, the Diner en Blanc began in Paris 27 years ago thanks to François Pasquier and friends. This year, 2000+ of Brisbane's creme de la creme will once again dress in all white on Saturday, October 17, for the event held at a predictably stunning location that remains secret until the very last moment (for the last two years, it was the beautiful banks of the Brisbane River at Portside and Roma St. Parklands). Following an evening of elegance, fine dining and live music, the foodies then pack up their crystal, dinnerware, tables and litter. Like ghosts (white 'n' all), they leave behind no sign of their rendezvous (but don't get any ideas, a white sheet thrown over your figure will not do for an outfit). Diner en Blanc guests must either be invited by a member from the previous year, or get on the waiting list for a ticket. Here's what happened last year:
With summer upon us and Christmas on the horizon, it's the perfect time to treat yourself and sort out your sleep. If you're tossing and turning at night it might not just be because of the state of the world, it could be your mattress and pillow as well. Luckily, premium homewares brand Ecosa wants to help you get a good night's sleep. All items on the Ecosa website are 25 percent off from Monday, November 9 to Wednesday, November 11. If you've been complaining about a crook neck, maybe head off to the physio and get yourself fancy new memory foam pillow. The ergonomic pillow boasts an adjustable height, a curved shape that suits side and back sleepers and a compressible foam that supports the natural shape of your head. Plus, two compression bags so you can pack it up and take it with you everywhere. Yep, it's one helluva pillow. If that's not enough, Ecosa also offers free shipping and returns Australia-wide, plus a 100-day free trial period. And, with everything on sale, get in early with some Christmas shopping. Ecosa is your one-stop sleep shop, with luxe bamboo sheets, silk pillowcases, wooden bed base, memory foam mattress and weighted blanket all available at the discounted price. So, you can treat yourself, your friends and your whole family to a better night's sleep. 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.
The book-to-film adaptations of the Hunger Games have been entirely faithful to the series in that each one has been worse than the last. That's not to say that either of Catching Fire or Mockingjay Part 1 is a bad movie, it's just that neither stands up to the gritty suspense and honest emotion of the original. Then, of course, there's the issue of 'Hobbitification'. In Mockingjay Part 1 we find yet another example of a final book being split over multiple films; a plainly commercial shakedown that in recent times rendered both Twilight and Harry Potter's penultimate instalments dull and wildly inferior to the rest of each series. To this film, though, and Mockingjay Part 1 picks up where Catching Fire left off. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is now recovering in a rebel bunker surrounded by the remnants of 'District 13' — the infamous breakaway district responsible for the insurrection that ultimately led to the establishment of the Hunger Games. Katniss's defiance of President Snow (Donald Sutherland) has inspired sporadic rebellions throughout the country, but they're in danger of dissipating unless she can truly unite the people and spark an out-and-out revolution. Her new role, then, is to become an instrument of propaganda at the hands of Plutarch (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and the exiled President Coin (Julianne Moore). It all seems straightforward enough, but you have to remember Katniss is a teenager and, as such, seems required to dial the angst up to 11 and establish herself as a petulant little shit in possession of an unbelievable level of naive selfishness. It's put to her in no uncertain terms that if she’s unable to unite the people, the people will die, yet her focus remains squarely on her captured — would-we-call-him-boyfriend? — Peeta Mellark. Never mind the loving, courageous, selfless (and, let's face it, better looking) Gale (Liam Hemsworth) right by her side; for Katniss it's Peeta or bust. Here, then, is the bulk of Mockingjay Part 1: the rebels exploit Katniss, the Capital taunts Katniss and Katniss sulks and cries. Save for one SEAL Team 6-esque raid on the Capital, very little actually happens in this movie. "It’s the worst terror in the world — waiting for something," explains President Coin, and therein lies a stinging rebuke of the entire film. Again, it’s not necessarily a bad movie, it's just that you have to wade through a lot to uncover the fine performances and sporadic, gripping scenes. Lawrence, as always, does well with the limited material, though of the younger actors it's Hemsworth's understated yet simmering turn that most impresses. Moore's performance is an intriguing one, too, presenting Alma Coin as an uncomfortably uninspiring public speaker who yet proves herself a consummate general when the stakes are raised. In a film largely engaged with a clumsy 'actions vs words' debate, it's a welcome, nuanced portrayal. The star of this film, however, is Elizabeth Banks as the unhappily exiled ex-socialite Effie Trinket. She and Hemsworth both pack enormous depth into their limited screen time, offering a genuine range of emotions. Its shortcomings notwithstanding, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 will undoubtedly crush at the box office, though it's hard not to feel like you could miss this film entirely and wait for Part II without skipping a beat.
Maybe you've already been and can't wait to head back. Maybe it's sat on your must-attend list but you haven't yet made the trip. Whichever fits, add Parrtjima - A Festival In Light to your 2023 travel plans, with the luminous Alice Springs event — which might just be Australia's brightest festival — set to return for another year from Friday, April 7–Sunday, April 16. Parrtjima's 2023 fest will fashion its dazzling artworks and installations around the theme 'Listening with Heart', as inspired by the artwork surrounding the Statement from the Heart. That piece depicts Uluru-Ku Tjukurrpa, the Uluru story of connection, and was created by a group of artists from Multijulu as led by Maruku artist Rene Kulitja — and Kulitja will work with other of artists for Parrtjima to turn the Statement from the Heart artwork into a large-scale immersive light and sound installation. That means that Parrtjima attendees will find themselves plunged in the world of the Aṉangu people of the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands surrounding Uluru. The idea is to feature ancient songlines, plus Indigenous viewpoints on Country, as well as connecting to First Peoples' strong links with the land, water and sky. "There has been a growing realisation across the nation that Australia has something incredibly unique — its First Peoples. We are the oldest living, adapting culture," said Parrtjima Curator Rhoda Roberts AO, announcing the 2023 theme and key artwork. "The installation at the heart of Parrtjima 2023 will take guests on a journey through the lands surrounding Uluru, Australia's most iconic landmark. The installation will remind people of the eons of oral storytelling, and the story of Kuniya and Liru that shaped the landscape of Uluru through art." One thing that'll also be on the bill: the festival's regular annual attraction, aka a huge artwork that transforms a 2.5-kilometre stretch of the majestic, 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges, showering it with light each night of the festival. While it's too early to unveil the rest of event's lineup just yet, visitors can once again expect a big — and free — ten-day public celebration of Indigenous arts, culture, music and storytelling, including an eye-catching array of light installations. That'll all take over Alice Springs CBD's Alice Springs Todd Mall, as well as tourism and conservation facility Alice Springs Desert Park Precinct just out of town, as 2022's festival did. Registrations for the 2023 event have just opened, if you'd like to nab an early spot in line for tickets when they go on sale. Of course, Parrtjima is just one of Northern Territory's two glowing attractions in 2023, 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 will run from Friday, April 7–Sunday, April 16, 2023 around Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. For more information, visit the festival website.
More than 100 years ago, Russian composer Igor Stravinsky crafted The Rite of Spring. The ballet became famous not only for its tale of ritual and sacrifice during the eponymous season, but for its avant-garde music and choreography. Indeed, since first premiering in Paris in 1913, it has been held up as one of the 20th century's masterworks. Returning to Brisbane Festival after her 2017 hit Under Siege, Chinese choreographer and dancer Yang Liping has reimagined this iconic piece — filtering it through Chinese and Tibetan culture, and taking particular inspiration from the two nations' symbols of nature. Hitting the stage between Wednesday, September 25 and Saturday, September 28, the result is a fusion of old and new, east and west, and movement and music, complete with Yang's expressive style, 15 dancers, plus designer Tim Yip, who won an Oscar for art direction for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Drake's first tour of Australia in eight years kicked off in mid-February. If you haven't caught him already, you won't be on this trip Down Under. Organisers have announced that the remainder of Canadian artist's Aussie shows, plus his New Zealand dates, have all been postponed. There's no details yet as to when they'll be popped back on the calendar. "Due to a scheduling conflict, four of Drake's 16 sold-out shows in Australia and New Zealand will be postponed. We are actively working on rescheduling these dates along with adding some additional shows," advises the statement. "We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. Drake and the entire team have had an incredible time doing these shows and are excited to return soon. We look forward to sharing the rescheduled dates with you as soon as possible." The dates impacted: the five-time Grammy-winner's returns to Brisbane and Sydney, the former on Tuesday, March 4 and the latter on Friday, March 7. He's already played dates in both cities, unlike in Auckland, where his Spark Arena gigs on Saturday, March 15–Sunday, March 16 will no longer go ahead. Patrons can hold on to their tickets for the new dates, whenever they're revealed — or you can get a refund instead. Regarding the second option, the promoter offers a note: "as these shows are sold out, any refunded tickets may be released for sale at a later date". Drake's 2025 Anita Max Win tour was first announced in November 2024, and then kept being extended — not once but twice. The last dates added in Australia are the shows that've been scrapped for now. Before this year, the 'Hotline Bling', 'Too Good', 'Passionfruit', 'Nice for What', 'In My Feelings', 'One Dance' and 'Laugh Now Cry Later' performer last hit the stage in Australia in 2017 on his Boy Meets World tour. The Degrassi: The Next Generation star and platinum-selling singer is currently fresh off his 2023–24 It's All A Blur Tour, which saw him chalk up over 80 soldout shows in North America. Drake's 'Anita Max Win' Tour 2025 Postponed Dates Tuesday, March 4 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Friday, March 7 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Saturday, March 15–Sunday, March 16 — Spark Arena, Auckland Drake has postponed the rest of his Australian and New Zealand tour, scrapping dates in March 2025. Head to the tour website for more details, with tickets set to remain valid for yet-to-be-announced new dates or refunds available. Images: The Come Up Show via Flickr.
The pursuit of the American Dream at any cost has long been a fertile device for screenwriters. Just recently, both American Hustle and The Wolf of Wall Street showcased the extraordinary true stories of money-hungry shysters determined to rise above their humble or inauspicious beginnings, no matter the consequences. Similarly, Margin Call and The Big Short offered portraits of success attained by comparably distasteful (if rather more legitimate) means. In the context of these films, Gold, by writer-director Stephen Gaghan falls somewhere in between. Based on the real life events of the 1990s Bre-X Minerals fiasco, the film chronicles the rise and fall of a simple American prospector turned overnight millionaire named Kenny Wells (Matthew McConaughey). Balding, overweight and down to his last dime, Kenny's a third generation mining prospector staving off foreclosure of his family business, a predicament that renders him more than willing to embrace all that wealth and power can provide once they're suddenly within his grasp. Where the film departs from the norm, at least notionally, is that Kenny always maintains that his drive and determination is grounded in the discovery of gold, not the money that it provides. Gold hence finds itself in the peculiar position of framing the story as one of 'us versus them' in which both the us (simple prospectors) and them (hedge fund managers and mining companies) are ludicrously wealthy. Money itself is not the point of distinction but rather how that money was acquired: 'dirt in the nails grit' versus 'manhattan investment', so to speak. McConaughey delivers a committed and captivating performance; one for which he gained a full 18kgs to ensure his sizeable beer gut required neither special effects nor prosthetics. Gripped by a fever determined to kill him, and grappling with a Hail Mary mining prospect in the jungles of Indonesia that refuses to yield even a hint of gilded hope, McConaughey's performance oozes doggedness and desperation in equal measures. Opposite him, Édgar Ramírez puts in a far more reserved turn as Wells' geologist and business partner Michael Acosta. Together they make a likeable duo, and it's a crying shame how little of the film Ramírez actually occupies. Unfortunately, despite the fine work of the cast, Gold feels like a story unsure of how best to be told, flicking between Scorsese-esque drama and quirky irreverence. None of the characters feel entirely fleshed out, and are instead presented more like passengers on a plot line that prioritises events over individuals. The movie's eventual 'twist', meanwhile, is legitimately surprising to those unfamiliar with the Bre-X story, however its reveal so close to the end renders the remaining few minutes far too rushed to sufficiently deal with its impact and implications. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdLXPv5NsA4
Australia may be girt by sea and boast plenty of pools in plenty of backyards, but we're not really cabana dwellers. When we go for a splash, we throw our towels down on the beach or cement, bake under umbrellas, and eat ice cream and fish and chips, instead of hanging out in white-walled structures. If you'd like to experience a rather European-style of going for a dip, however, Noosa's latest addition has the answer — that is, five new luxe poolside spaces on Hastings Street. Part of the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort, The Cabanas takes inspiration from the French Riviera with their pristine shelters and decadent menus, aiming to make visitors think they've been whisked away to Europe. Open to those staying at the resort, they come complete with personalised butler service, fresh fruit platters, a selection of French still and sparkling water, and an iPad loaded with reading material. Champagne and seafood are available as part of customisable packages, and live music is also planned. In short, it's the type of luxurious waterside experience you won't get if you just head up for a Brissie day trip to the nearby beach, or as part of your usual Noosa long weekend. The resort is calling the first of its kind in Queensland, but, unsurprisingly, it doesn't come cheap. The basic half-day offering (sans booze and seafood) costs $125 and the full-day stint $175 — but, given that each cabana holds a maximum of four people, splitting the cost with your mates makes it much more reasonable. Find The Cabanas at Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort, 14-16 Hastings Street, Noosa Heads, or check out the hotel website for further details. UPDATE 13/9: This article originally stated that The Cabanas was open to everyone. As per the updated hotel website, anyone eager for a French Riveria-style poolside experience will need to be checked in for an overnight stay at the resort.
Artists are some of the most outspoken people on issues concerning us all. While they might not be protesting in the street, their art speaks volumes about their thoughts and opinions on topics close to their heart. While art isn’t always subversive, art that impacts on a large scale usually comes with a message. Agenda is the latest exhibition at the QUT Art Museum that showcases artists whose works have an agenda. Each artist has created powerful images that question notions and positions of authority on important topics. Political commentary at its sharpest, Agenda is a must-see exhibition for anyone with a mind for current affairs and a passion for commentary on controversial issues.
